Notes:

Hello everyone, here Vera bringing one more chapter of this story. Which, although it will be short, I promise it will be touching and more that we will have a special moment between father and son which is necessary for this story.

I must confess that I cried when I was writing this chapter and more that here we will know a little more about Yuudai❤ our little astronaut👨 🚀 so I hope you like it.

Prepare tissues, this spaceship is about to take off to a galaxy that will move you.

Chapter 28. Yuudai, The Little Astronaut

[And I want a moment to be real
Wanna touch things I don't feel
Wanna hold on and feel I belong]

[And how can they say I never change?
They're the ones that stay the same
I'm the one now 'cause I'm still here
I'm the one 'cause I'm still here
I'm still here, I'm still here, I'm still here]

Continued.

11:00 p.m.

Once Yuta left that room, he went to the living room, dropped into one of the armchairs, leaning his back completely, his arms were also on the backrest, raising them to the height of his shoulders and made his head back.

"What a day..." he said to himself.

And yes, it had been a very busy day for him. First, traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto was not an easy task, as neither Satoru nor Takeru wanted to let him return, but luckily, Shoko intervened to let him leave the Gojo clan's residence.

And once he arrived in Kyoto, that sexual encounter between him and Maki happened, where finally, after seven years of being away, he was able to make love to her.

But after that "reconciliation" this special grade sorcerer had not been able to take a break since his children had returned home by surprise and from there, the three of them had to go shopping.

He also had to prepare food, bathe the children and send them to bed, thus discovering that being a father was not an easy task for him alone.

A flash of lightning illuminated the living room. The rain did not stop falling and that began to worry Yuta, since in that home, one more person was missing.

"Maki" he whispered that name wistfully, "Where are you?" he said to himself, worried about the mother of his children.

Yuta picked up his cell phone and looked at Maki's chat. It said that her last connection had been an hour ago, when she made that call.

"Maybe it's already on its way, but the rain must have stopped she" he thought as he watched the rain slide down the glass. It really was a strong storm.

Just as strong was his love for her.

A passing memory of what they had done that afternoon invaded Yuta's mind. Truly all that had been a breakthrough in the relationship of those two to make up for lost years, but there was another relationship to which, he felt was not fitting. Where even kintsugi couldn't even help, and that was with his children. Especially with Yuudai.

Yuta again looked at the ceiling, he was really tired as the whole afternoon was an up and down with his children, where he literally learned that he knew nothing about them.

And that made him feel quite guilty.

"How can I tell them I'm their father when I'm clearly the problem those two are arguing about?" he said quietly to himself, bringing his hands to his face.

The discussion his children had had a moment ago simply made it clear that they had a very unfavorable image of him. And even more so when they believed that their biological father had cowardly abandoned them before they were born and the discovery that the man they had called "father" for so many years was not really their progenitor, but their adoptive father who only gave them his surname to protect them, had been a hard blow for both of them.

Yuta sighed, "I wondered how Megumi did with this position that was mine..." he sighed again, "It seems that it's easier to be a sorcerer than a father... Will I do a good job as Yurika and Yuudai's father?" he questioned too sadly.

Another clap of thunder broke the night sky. The rain was really coming down hard. As were his emotions which overflowed and turned into a few tears that began to stream down his cheeks.

"Wasn't I being too harsh in punishing them by going to bed early?" he asked himself despondently, closing his eyes for a moment.

It was the first time he had scolded them, but he had to bring order. That's what a father does, isn't it?

The sorcerer was lost in thought, his eyes closed with fatigue, when a small voice caught his attention.

"Yuta kun..."

The sorcerer opened his eyes with a start and quickly became accustomed to the dim light that illuminated the room, since the only light that was illuminating the room at that moment were the night lamps on the sides of the couch.

At that instant, he noticed that Yuudai was standing there beside him.

"Yuudai?, What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" asked Yuta with concern when he saw his son with his little arms crossed over his chest.

He shook his head, "I just can't sleep..." said the boy in a discouraged voice, "I miss my mother... and this rain scares me...".

Yuta lowered his shoulders a little, as he empathized with his son's feelings.
"I know... Sleeping away from home the first night is difficult..." He said it from his own experience "Don't worry, maybe Maki san won't be late in arriving, she said she was already on her way here and maybe only the rain delayed her a little bit"

"I hope it won't take long... because I really miss her..." whispered the little boy, holding back the urge to cry.

At that moment Yuta noticed that his son was carrying something in his hands as he held something against his chest.
"What do you have there?" He asked with kindness. He wanted to start being closer to his son and even more so after he had shown some rejection towards him that afternoon.

Yuudai showed that little book he was holding in his hands.
"It's my favorite tale... when I can't sleep, I like to read it... especially when it rains... rain always scares me" he answered a little embarrassed, looking down and pouting slightly.

"Do you think I could take a look at it?" asked Yuta kindly.

Yuudai hesitated a little. Yet he could tell that the man wanted to gain his trust. He felt that perhaps he too should give Yuta a chance as his sister had implied.

"All right, but don't make fun" he handed over the book as he sat down next to Yuta in the sofa, where the lamp illuminated them warmly.

"Why would I make fun of something you like?" Yuta asked confused and raising an eyebrow.

"Yurika says this is a book for babies..." Yuudai answered with a long face because of his twin's teasing.

Yuta stroked his hair.
"I would never make fun of your favorite book" he smiled, "Would you let me read it with you?"

The child nodded yes.

"Thank you, now let's read a little while this rain goes away" Okkotsu thanked with a smile.

He took the book and looked carefully at its cover.
It caught his attention that it had a very striking cover, since it was a drawing of a small astronaut, surrounded by stars and galaxies.

Yuta had noticed that lately Yuudai had a new obsession: stars and astronomy. Something completely normal for a six-year-old who was discovering the world at his own pace. According to Yurika, it wasn't the first time it had happened, as in the little girl's words, first it was pirates, then dinosaurs, and now astronauts. In the end Yuta concluded that her son was just a curious little boy.

"I'm going to start reading it, okay?" Yuta smiled kindly at him.

Yuudai just shook his head yes.

"Neo" the sorcerer read the name of the book in a calm voice. At that instant he felt a tug on the sleeve of his sweater. Yuudai was holding his sleeve. That boy had that habit, especially when he felt nervous or afraid.

It seemed that holding the other's sleeve gave him some security. And even more so at that time of the night where he was still quite frightened due to the rain that kept crashing hard against the building.

"Relax, everything is going to be fine, okay?" said Yuta looking at Yuudai, who had crystal clear eyes, "Let's start reading, okay?"

The little boy again nodded his head yes while still clinging to his sleeve.

Yuta turned the page and noticed that the book was one of many pictures and few words, so it would be an easy read to share.

He looked at the drawing of a little astronaut, who was sleeping very comfortably in space, surrounded by stars and an aura of total peace. That drawing caused him tenderness and even more when he saw that his son did not take his eyes off him. But he was struck by the fact that the little astronaut had a long white line attached to the navel of his suit, which seemed to simulate an umbilical cord.

Yuta turned to the next page and began to read.
"I remember I was alone for a long time, floating in space. It is not cold, as everyone thinks, but warm and pleasant"

The drawing was still the space full of stars and that white cord crossing those leaves.

Yuta turned to the next page. Now the little astronaut was with a black background and the little guy was floating towards a bright light.

He continued reading, "One day I began to feel short of breath. I felt like my body was being crushed and I had to find a way to escape"

The sorcerer began to understand who this little astronaut was and how he was beginning to relate to his son.

Yuudai looked at him and blinked a couple of times, as if to say that he will continue reading.

Yuta turned the page, now they showed the dense darkness of space, while a faint trail of light crossed it, as if it were a shooting star crossing the firmament, moving away quickly.

He continued reading.
"I remember seeing the little light in the distance and my desperation to reach it"

Yuta felt his heart grow small when he saw that the next page continued with the drawing of that cord that continued to cross the space, but now, around it, it had black and red colors just like the most distant galaxies in the firmament. Yuta had the feeling that something important was about to happen with that little astronaut who was drifting.

But even with a withered heart and the rain sounding behind them, he continued reading.

"When I finally reached it, I had the sensation of being born again. For the first time I knew cold and fear. Then..." he was interrupted as Yuudai completed that sentence.

"Then, when I felt a warm light cover me, I fell asleep" Yuudai looked at Yuta. "That's what I felt when I was born" said the little boy in a low voice and moved his little feet on the edge of the sofa. He looked a little sad when he said that.

Yuta controlled his tears. He now understood why his son felt so familiar with that book and perhaps that would explain a lot about him.

They turned the page and there he was, that little astronaut sleeping surrounded by that light, which looked like the moon behind him as the astronaut's cord was cut, showing slight flashes as if something was short-circuiting.

Yuta turned the page and now they showed that little astronaut in a transparent space rocket, with several circular windows around him.
"Then I woke up in a crystal spaceship. In which I traveled for a long time in it"

"I also traveled a long time in such a spaceship when I was a baby" Yuudai said with a soft smile, "That's what Mom and Aunt Miki say"

"Were you on a spaceship like this?" Yuta asked, pointing to the drawing. I knew what he meant. That was a clear reference to an incubator.

Yuudai nodded his head.
"Yurika also spent some time with me in that ship. But she didn't last long there because her health was better than mine, but I lasted for months... maybe that would explain why she has more energy than me..."

"I understand..." Yuta began to understand his children better thanks to those words.

"Keep reading Yuta Kun! One of my favorite parts is coming up!" Yuudai said with a smile, not letting go of his sleeve.

Yuta turned the page, wanting to know what else was going on in the story.

The next page showed the astronaut in the-er, with a small probe in his mouth and holding some wires in-front of a console full of buttons, the little one was working out what each one was for.

He continued reading, "I had everything I needed to face any space adventure; I had enough air and food. Navigation controls, white lights to keep me warm and red lights to warn of danger. And big round windows through which I could see the mysterious outer space"

Yuta looked at his son, who gave him a big smile, his puppy-like eyes begging him to keep reading.

They turned to the next two pages, where the little astronaut could be seen, who had a probe in his nose to breathe and several more wires on his suit, trying to get away from the two hands that had, through those two circular Windows, entered his spaceship.

"I remember when giant hands came through the windows one day. What a fright I got! They entangled me with wires and tubes and put bracelets on me with lights that made noise" Yuta was interrupted.

"But the hands on the next page are not like these scary hands... those hands are warm and comforting, they were like mom and aunt Miki's" said Yuudai pointing to the drawing.

Yuta turned the page and understood better what Yuudai was saying.
He looked at the drawing on those two pages, where he could see that little astronaut, lying face down on a star, while two warm hands were taking care of him.

"The hands came every day, but they were not always the same. Some of them came at the right moment when I was feeling bad, to soothe and caress me. They enveloped me with gentleness, and I wanted to stay in them forever" Yuta read, realizing that the warm hands Yuudai felt as a child were indeed those of Maki and all the others who cared for his son when he was a premature baby.

"Yuta kun, please keep reading, we are almost at the end!" said the boy with a tender smile. It seemed that his fear of the rain was gone.

The sorcerer listened to his son and turned the page. On the next two pages, the little astronaut could be seen greeting another little astronaut who was on another spaceship.

"I remember looking out the window and seeing that other spacecraft flying next to me. It was good to have a traveling companion! And we chatted about astronauts"

"Aunt Miki says that I had several traveling companions while I was interned" Yuudai commented, smiling a little, "Although I don't remember them"

Yuta understood what his son was talking about. He would have liked to have supported him while he was in those incubators, he would have liked to take care of him and show him that he was a great astronaut.

Yuudai pointed to the book, so that Yuta turned the page.

The next drawing saddened Okkotsu too much, as it showed the little astronaut surrounded by ugly monsters.

"I remember all the times I fought against the space monsters. Many of them were horrible and very powerful, they could poison me just by touching me" Yuta read, even clearing his throat a little to try to get rid of the lump that had formed in his throat "Sometimes, I won"

Okkotsu turned the page and that drawing broke his heart completely.

The next page showed that sick little astronaut, with a pale face and very weak. And behind him was a serum and a monitor.

"And other times, I would lose... That's when I would get sick. But the hands always came and cured me...doing everything possible to help me..." Yuta read with difficulty as the lump in his throat did not let him speak well.

Yuudai began to explain, "According to my mother, I got sick many times, even in the hospital. But always her hand supported me to get through" He looked at that drawing "Even Mom kept supporting me and accompanying me years ago when I was still sick often, but now I'm much better... or so I think... although sometimes I stop breathing at times and that's when I have to use my inhaler" he said moving his feet and looking at that adult.

Yuta wiped away a few tears with the back of his hand.

"Are you all right Yuta kun?" asked Yuudai seeing him sad all of a sudden. He was even surprised to see a man like him crying.

"I am" Yuta stroked the boy's hair and smiled a little, "You sure were a strong astronaut"

"Thank you..." Yuudai smiled at those words, which he considered as a compliment from the man. "Please, keep Reading!" he asked.

Yuta turned the page and there was that astronaut, who seemed to be quite cramped in his ship, as that baby was now bigger. He had grown.

He continued reading, "I remember when my spaceship mysteriously shrunk. I could hardly move inside it. I felt I had to escape from there as soon as possible. I was short of breath and my body was getting crushed a little more each day"

"Please continue! The best part is almost here!" Yuudai waved his hands happily.

Yuta turned the page and now, that crystal ship was alone, floating in space.
"And one day, when I stopped feeling bad and also when I noticed that my spaceship was already quite small, the hands that heal everything came and took me out of my crystal ship and took me with them"

That astronaut was now being held by two gentle hands.

The next page was now very comforting to the heart, as they showed that baby in his mother's arms.

"Then, I knew that those hands would take care of me..." Yuta reached the final page, where that baby astronaut was now a bigger and healthier boy, and his hands were holding his parents' hands, as they left the rocket behind "... Forever...The end" he said finishing reading that story.

"Did you like this story?" Yuudai asked excitedly, watching Yuta close the book.

"Very much so. I must admit that it is a very nice tale" commented Yuta quite moved. He was really trying not to cry.

"This is why this is my favorite story, because it is very similar to mine" said Yuudai, wiggling his feet in a cheerful manner.

"You were a brave little boy, just like your name" said Yuta, stroking his son's hair.

"Thank you, that's what mom always says to me... since that's what my name means... "Great Brave" said Yuudai with a big smile "Although she says that my name was chosen by someone who was very special to her in her youth..." said Yuudai looking at the floor from the edge of the couch.

Yuta knew that someone was him, as he had chosen that name in his high school years after reading a book.

"And I think that someone..." commented Yuudai breaking the silence, "It was my dad..." he whispered with a touch of annoyance, he could still feel the rejection towards that man.

"Even so, maybe your father chose your name because it was special to him..." the adult managed to answer. Yuta really felt that he should tell him the truth, but he didn't know how.

"Yuta kun" the little boy called out, and even more so after hearing that last one.

"Yes?" the adult looked at the little boy, who was still moving his feet, sitting next to him.

"You're a detective, aren't you?" Yuudai asked curiously.

Yuta scratched his head.
"Yes" He proceeded to explain, "Actually I am a sorcerer, although let's say that other people have put me in this business of being a detective to solve some issues that they have not been able to, but why is that question?" he answered with a slight smile of curiosity.

Yuudai took a breath, he didn't know if what he was going to ask was right or not. Although for a year ago, he had a small thorn in his heart. One that he wanted to get rid of because of the pain it caused him.

"You..." Yuudai hesitate a bit "Do you think you could help me find my real dad? Or at least..." his lips went from one side to the other, in a grimace of sadness "Know who he is or who he was?" Yuudai asked stopping the movement of his feet and looking at the ground with discouragement "I would simply like to know why he left my mom before we were born ..."

Yuta was heartbroken to hear that.

Unfortunately, he could not yet tell her the truth about the fact that he was already at his real father's side. And more so at Maki's request and above all, because he still had to win the affection and trust of both twins. But especially of his son.

Yuta's hand slowly lowered "I..." he slightly moistened his lips, while Yuudai looked back at him.

Yuta took a breath and continued talking "I could in my spare time look for some information about your real father..." he lied with his heart in his throat.

Yuudai at that moment hugged him, that was the first hug that boy gave him in that free and grateful way "Thank you Yuta kun... you are a good person... now I understand why everybody at home likes you... specially Yurika and Mom" he said with a trickle of voice, hiding his face because he didn't want to cry.

Those words broke Yuta's heart a little more. What was it to be a father? What kind of father did his children expect him to be?

"There's nothing to be thankful for..." Yuta said quietly, as he watched Yuudai's eyes begin to grow heavy with sleep and begin to close.

It was as if, at last, sleep had begun to take effect on that little boy.

"Come on, let's go to sleep. It was a hard day, wasn't it?" asked Yuta, observing how his son nodded his head and rubbed his eyes.

"Yes..." Yuudai slurred that word.

Yuta carried him in his arms very carefully, the little boy laid his head on his shoulder, it seemed that he was really dying of sleep.

"What must it have felt like to hold you as a baby?" Yuta wondered mentally as he carefully carried his son.

He opened the door noiselessly and placed Yuudai on the bed beside Yurika, who was sleeping soundly.

Once he put his son to bed, Yuta covered him well so that he wouldn't get cold with the blanket they bought at the mall. He also covered Yurika again, since he noticed that she was moving a lot in her sleep, even uncovering herself and drooling a little.

That scene of her sleeping children gave her a little twist in her heart. She wanted to protect their sleep, she wanted to always take care of them.

"Rest...children..." he said in a very low voice, but quite affectionately.

And before leaving, Yuta went to his closet and took a pair of jeans and a more comfortable T-shirt, because since they arrived, he had not had time to change clothes, even making the food he even stained a little that shirt that belonged to Megumi.

Yuta never imagined that taking care of children would take a lot of time and above all dedication.

But, even so, something else would make him cry that night and more than that he was about to see that photo album that would make him make a decision that could bring him consequences as a sorcerer.

Notes:

I hope you liked it ❤

And tell me, what did you think of this chapter? What did you think of Yuudai's favorite story? What do you think of this child? I'll be reading your comments.

I need to know your opinion about Yuudai or how you as readers perceive him, especially because in the following chapters we will see the internal struggle of this little boy regarding the issue of his biological father, as well as the awakening of his cursed technique, which will soon cause a great disaster in the zoo.

An apology if it was a bit short, as I said, I decided to keep it that short to focus on Yuudai.

The next chapter will be longer and I can assure you that you are going to cry because the photo album of the twins is coming.

Finally, the story I'm telling you here is called "Neo" and is by Gabriela Cortina. You can find it in Spanish on my Instagram, Vera1794_ (double underscore at the end), if you want to see it in color ❤

There (on Instagram) I upload content from my fics (only in Spanish). You can follow me there if you want.

Anyway, I will be reading your comments, theories and doubts.

See you soon❤ Pd: happy beginning of spring here in the northern hemisphere and happy beginning of autumn in the south. ❤