Chapter Five

Brothers

While Hibiki never went to his brother's entrance ceremonies, he always kept an eye out for their graduations.

Haruhiko, unlike Akihiko, never came to visit him but would call him on occasion. He wasn't as close with him as he was with Akihiko but Hibiki liked to know how the boy was doing.

"My, my, look how the time flies. It feels just like yesterday that you were only this tall but now you're all grown up and going off to university."

"…You sound like an old man when you say things like that."

Hibiki just laughed and ruffled Haruhiko's hair at this, his smile growing even wider when he saw how red his brother's ears were getting.

Hibiki normally wasn't one to judge but when Akihiko came to visit one day with a boy named Takahashi Takahiro, he couldn't help but give the boy a good look down.

By the looks of it, Akihiko was in the early stages of his one-sided crush, but no matter how much Hibiki wanted to prevent his little brother from going through the heartbreak, it was best to let things be. After all, it wouldn't be too long till a little ray of sunshine would fall into his little brother's arms.

"A pleasure to finally meet you Usami-san! I've heard a great deal about you from Akihiko."

"Pleasures all mine. But please, I prefer being called Hibiki."

"Hi-cha!"

"Hello to you too, Hiyo-chan."

Kirishima Hiyori was a small bundle of joy that Hibiki liked to spoil. While it wasn't normal for editors to bring their children to work, Hibiki had never been normal.

Hibiki hadn't been planning to care for the girl as he did, but he just couldn't stop himself from lending her father the much-needed hand when he saw how the man was struggling to come with his wife's death.

It had started off with a few packed meals Hibiki would thrust into his hands when he left, then turned into babysitting the girl from time to time when Zen needed the time to himself.

Hiyori didn't come to his house often as Zen normally left her with his parents but she came often enough that she would recognise him on sight.

"Hi-cha, up!"

"Look! Look Kyo! Isn't she just the cutest thing?"

Kyo didn't know if he should laugh or cry at the sight of his lover hold the small toddler in his arms. While the sight itself was adorable, he couldn't help but feel a little bittersweet when he thought about the fact that a child of their own was something they could never have.

"Ko-cha, sad?"

Kyo was pulled out of his thoughts as Hiyori tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. The toddler's words brought a small smile to his lips and he gladly took the girl from his lover's arms.

'Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to wish for something like this for a little bit longer...'

Hibiki isn't surprised when Akihiko tells him the news of his first publication but congratulates him nonetheless.

Akihiko was in his last year of high school now and already had plans to enter Teito University Law School. With how far the Usami estate was from the University Akihiko mentioned to him that he needed to find a place to stay.

While he didn't lack the money to buy his own house, before Akihiko could ask if Hibiki knew any places nearby, Kyo interrupted him by pointing out he already had a room in their apartment.

"Why go through all the trouble when you have your own room right here."

It took a few moments for either Usami to register just what Kyo had said but when Akihiko did, he flung himself into the arms of the older man.

It would be the first and last time Akihiko ever willingly hugged the man but Hibiki still managed to capture the moment with his handy camera.

"Umm, Natsu nii… can Takahiro stay here a bit?"

"I- I'm sorry for the inconvenience!"

Hibiki was a little caught off guard when Akihiko brings home Takahiro and his brother one day. But seeing as it wasn't really his business, he doesn't pray into it.

"If you need anything, just knock on my studio door."

"Thank you so much Hibiki-san!"

Seeing as in the Manga, Akihiko hadn't met Misaki in his childhood the whole thing was a little unnerving but Hibiki didn't try to think on it for too long.

As it turned out, a fire had started in their neighbour's house and had spread to theirs. There wasn't much damage to the house itself but Takahiro had been worried that Misaki had been a little shaken by the whole thing so Akihiko had hastily offered to let them stay with him until the repairs on their house were finished.

The sudden influx of people had Kyo a little on edge at first but somehow, he came to like how lively the place became.

"Misaki, do you want to help me with the pudding?"

"UH! I wanna help!"

They only stayed a month but Hibiki grew very fond of both boys during that short time. He offered to let them stay a while longer but Takahiro hadn't wanted to impose for longer than they had.

Even after they went home, Hibiki kept in touch with the siblings. He even secretly sent them presents for Christmas, something he was scolded for by Takahiro not long after.

"So, did Misaki like his present?"

"He loved it! He even took it to bed with hi- don't try to change the subject Hibiki-san!"