Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a breezy evening in Seasoning City, with full-running rush hour and the sun setting from behind the clouds and beeping and chattering all around.
There, a blonde man stood, holding a black leather canvas bag that matched his black suit. He stared at his flip phone, which emitted a blinding white light, which he didn’t seem to mind.
Opening a message from his boss about the papers due on Wednesday.

‘Reigen,
Please have these documents ready for collection on Wednesday. They are needed for next week's company conference.
Thanks’

*sigh*
An airy noise exited the man's mouth. He looked onto the street where children were walking from their schools, other people his age leaving their offices with briefcases in hand, and others awaiting their buses. His gaze locked forward, his eyes following the crowds, all differing.

“See you on Monday Reigen!” a man shouted over to the Blonde man. He could feel a pair of eyes locked onto him, turning round to see his tall, brunette co-worker, Serizawa. Reigen acknowledged the man's goodbye, giving him a nod.

“Goodnight Serizawa,” Reigen spoke.
Serizawa began his walk down the overflowing street. Reigen stayed put, pulling out a cigarette. He was in no rush,
Lighting it and beginning his slow walk the opposite way his co-worker had strolled.
Deciding to pass down a less busy street, Reigen cut down an alleyway, clutching the strap of his bag, the burning cigarette in his other hand. Trudging through broken glass and trash, he detested the squished streets that rush hour provided.
Blowing smoke into the already polluted air of the city, looking up at the orange sky provided by the conclusion of daytime.
Striding past abandoned buildings, broken and alone. Rats scurrying at the sound of the man's footsteps.

Once he’d passed a multitude of alleyways, he arrived at a less congested area of the city.
Reigen lived in a less well-kept area of Seasoning City, rent was cheaper and he could make do. With stray cats fighting at every corner, newspapers scattered and holes in the road.

‘I’m thankful I don’t have a car if this is what the roads are like’ Reigen always thought to himself.
As he arrived at his ‘Humble abode’, clicking the key into his apartment and twisting, as he opened the door , the air was colder inside than it was outside. Reigen frowned at this, entering the door to be met with numerous letters.

“Bills.” Reigen hissed, his voice sour with slight deteste. Picking them up from the ground, flicking through.
‘Electricity, gas, phone…and more and more..’
shoving them onto the table that lay like a lonely island in the narrow hallway.
The man was quick to take his bag from his shoulder along with his coat at the same time, hanging them up on a creaky wooden hanger that stood dormant at the end of the hall.

Heading for his sitting room which seemed to evidently be the most cold part of the apartment, placing himself onto his leather sofa which he’d retrieved from a dump. The cold leather seeped into him, even through his clothes.
The sun had now fully set and Reigens apartment had noticeably come quite dark, he blinked and reached for his chest pocket taking another cigarette out and lighting it, the small flame exiting the end, with smoke trailing up into the air and onto the ceiling.

Life was quiet for Reigen,
A generic office job that paid him just enough to get by, a roof over his head, and his expensive addiction to nicotine. He turned on the lamp that perched beside the couch he sat on, emitting warmth into the room, fighting away the darkness that overpowered him just a moment ago. The golden-haired man reached for his remote control to turn on the television.

‘Nothing is ever interesting but I’ll check anyway.’ Reigen thought, clicking the red button with his thumb.

‘Seasoning City News’
‘Game shows’
‘K drama central’

Reigen flung his head back over the sofa, he’d prefer to not watch any of it, none of it intrigued him. Gritting his teeth together in boredom, he left the room and made his way into the small kitchen which he kept nicely organized. Red edges of the counter, white walls, grey tiled flooring, and a large window facing onto one side of Seasoning City. Stepping over to the window, Reigen detached the latch and dismissed the ash from his cigarette out the window, proceeding to take another blow.
His head hung low, thoughts slowly going through his mind like a calm river, Reigen Aratakas mind was at ease.. He himself wasn’t, Reigen did not feel fulfilled.

The nicotine helped Reigen feel as though he was on a high, however as of lately, his intake of the cigarettes seemed to not provide that desired high Reigen yearned for, yet he continued the diseased habit.

‘Was life good? Or have I just become adjusted to the reality?’ Reigen thought to himself, It was truly a lot to think about as a man in his midtwenties.
He chuckled to himself,
“Oh Arataka, never pleased,” he whispered, shaking his head as he repeated a quote his mother used to say to him as a child when he didn’t like something.
Reigen thought long and hard, every waking day and night, during work and sleep, Reigen always questioned the “What ifs?” in life.

‘What if I tried to get a better job’
‘What if I made more friends’
‘What if I found a better purpose’

Squinting his nose, these thoughts usually didn’t last long, it felt like a grey cloud over Reigens head that he’d effortlessly swipe away. The ideas alone seemed too unrealistic and not something within Reigen's bounds. He blew his cigarette one last time before it reached the tip of his fingers, becoming blunt. Flicking it out the window, puffing out the last bit of smoke from his mouth that the cigarette had before making his way back to the sitting area.
Reigen retrieved his laptop from his bag, beginning his work on the documents due in a few days. Not meeting these deadlines is detrimental to his role, so Reigen took his duty as seriously as he could... It was all a bit easy. Too easy.
With that, Reigen began the work needed for the prints, information from databases, and spreadsheets. He didn’t enjoy this.

It didn’t take long for Reigen to stop typing on his laptop, after twenty minutes. Looking back up at the ceiling which had an orb shaped like his lamp, reflecting a large ball of light. Frowning to himself, looking out at his balcony and back to his laptop. His hands hovered over the keyboard like his muscle memory was triggering him to continue his work, but he couldn’t. With that Reigen slammed the screen down, unable to even look at the computerized information that hurt his eyes immensely.

It was now ten o’clock at night, Reigen now sat in just his shirt and trousers on his unkempt balcony which had vines growing on the surrounding walls. He’d ripped his suit, tie, and belt off hours ago, it felt confining yet he never removed them immediately simply out of habit. He sat out on his balcony, the breeze hitting his yellow hair and shaking it up, making it spikier than usual. Roughling his hand through his locks and tightening his grip to satisfyingly scratch his scalp. This side of the city was eerily quiet at night, however, Reigen always found comfort in this, he’d rather have peace over noise and discourse. He reached for another cigarette only to realize he’d run out.
“Tcch, shit.” the man mumbled, leaning back in his chair and letting his body completely melt into the chair as he gazed at the empty sky, the stars erased by Seasoning Cities light usage.

“I’ll pick up more tomorrow.” He spoke to himself, taking his phone back out to check any unread or miscellaneous messages. Nothing.
Suddenly a crash came from the street, two floors below where Reigen sat comfortably.

“Cats.” he sighed, standing up, his shirt slipping past his collarbone in a disgruntled manner. No cats.
“That’s weird, eh.” he shrugged, turning away until he saw a figure in the street. Headed for his apartment complex. A hooded person over a large jacket. Behind the figure was a tipped-over plant pot in the street. Figures.
Reigen didn’t take much interest, the person was probably a friend of his neighbours. As he sat back down in his chair, slouching this time, his hands clasped between his legs.

*creek*

The gate to his complex had opened, once again not thinking anything of it, assuming it was the same person he’d seen just a moment ago. Time passed, and so did Reiegns consciousness although out in the breezy night, sleep seemed to entice him. Slouching his head low so it rested on his hands, his back would kill him if he fell asleep like this. A yawn escaped his mouth, realizing it was time to call it a night and reside inside.
The blonde rose from his seat...

Another noise, not anything Reigen could pinpoint or decipher.
“huh…?” the man groaned, sliding the balcony door open and going back into his apartment. The noise, becoming increasingly more apparent. The noise emitted from the other side of his front door.

‘Weeping and gargling..?’
‘What the hell..’

Thoughts trailed through Reigens head as he trailed through his apartment, and down the hallway to his front door. Not knowing what to expect.
Twisting the doorknob and quickly pulling the door towards him. No one was there.
Reigens eyes widened, and the noises had quietened as he opened the door. The man looked around, his neck swishing left and right to try to spot the potential culprit of the odd noises. Another gust of wind hit Reigens face, causing his dark brown eyes to water, using his index finger to wipe away the tear that almost slipped out his eye.
“Probably kids pulling my leg,” Reigen smirked, reminiscing for a moment on the antics he used to pull as a child.

*sniffle*

Reigens pupils dilated, it never occurred to Reigen to look down.

‘Shigeo’ the cover of the note read.

—

Reigens' eyes widened, his pupils small, and the whites of his eyes dominating. His hands twitched in front of him, bewildered at what lay before him.

A baby, a very young baby, no older than a year old, curled up in a small pram, sucking its thumb. The baby had dark black hair, and big brown eyes, and was of a very pale complexion. Reigens mouth twitched, for a moment, unable to fathom a word.

“Hello?!” He shouted, almost desperation in his voice, looking around at the other doors surrounding, however all apartments were dark, with no answers.
‘Maybe the parents are inside the neighbors…’ Reigen considered with hope, as he was unable to comprehend why they’d leave their child here. He stared down at the infant who’d been looking at the man with his large eyes. Reigen felt as though he was looking at a lost puppy.

The blonde man bent down, folding his legs into a basket on his doorstep, facing eye to eye with the baby who’d followed him with his gaze, continuing to suck his thumb, drool drooping onto the blanket he was cuddled up in.
Reigen sighed,

reaching for the note that was placed on the baby’s pram, attached to a rattle. It read,
‘Shigeo, I’m sorry’.
Reigen squinted at the note, realizing this baby had been purposefully abandoned. The blonde bit his tongue and choked slightly, it slowly sank into the severity of the situation.
“I’ll have to call the authorities, poor kid,” Reigen mumbled, Pulling his flip phone out and dialing the number to the police of Seasoning City.

The man watched the baby as he did so, rattling the toy in front of him to entertain as he phoned.

*Ring*
*buzz*

“Huh?” Reigen grunted, yanking his phone away from his ear.
‘No service’
“The phone bill!” Reigen seethed, slamming the phone shut and back into his trousers side pocket. The lateness of the night was closing in and the police station was miles away, all public transport being off for the night..

“Well, shit,” Reigen whispered to himself, looking back at the foundling who was now holding his foot and rocking back and forth. Reigen continued to leer at the boy, completely clueless on what to do.
Reaching for the baby, he picked him up, the little one heaving a small grunt at being taken from his comfortable spot, dropping his rattle in the process. Reigen held the baby boy into his chest, he began to shake and suddenly small whimpers escaped the baby's mouth...
‘Oh, the toy’.
Reigen bent down, covering the young one's head, as he picked up the green rattle with pink and white spots and a bell in the middle.
The man handed the child his toy as he held him onto his hip, his tiny baby fingers managing to grasp it and rattle it back and forth in Reigens ear.
Realizing the cold, the man decided to head inside, with a baby that was not his, in his arms.

Dragging the pram behind him and placing it in his hallway, escaping the breeze of the night. Holding the baby as he locked the door. Safe and warm.
Reigen looked into the infant's eyes, cracking a small smile.

“Shigeo. Right?” Reigen spoke as if the young one would respond, bouncing Shigeo up and down on his arm, which was met with crackly giggles from the baby. Reigens mouth fell open slightly in awe. He’d never interacted this closely with such a young child, the innocence of young Shigeo causing Reigen to melt.
He coughed quickly to snap himself out of the trance he was in, proceeding through the house to the kitchen to retrieve any food he could provide for the baby until morning. Holding the baby tightly to his hip, Shigeos arms clinging over Reigens neck as he did so.

“Wheat bites, perfect” Reigen mumbled, pulling the box out of the cupboard. He knew babies could eat these as it was one of the main selling points of the brand, the cereal becoming mush when it clashed with milk, providing the best fibre for babies.
“Do you like these?” Reigen asked, holding the box in his left hand and Shigeo in his right, shaking the box to entice a response. Once again, he knew the baby wouldn’t respond but he talked and asked anyway.
Shigeo hummed and coughed, slight remnants of spit coming out his small mouth, as he reached to the box with his occupied hand which contained his rattle.

“I’ll take that as a yes” Reigen smirked softly, adjusting Shigeo tighter into his grip. Reaching up, he grabbed a bowl from one of the shelves, it was a mint green ceramic bowl with a detailed pattern on the inside of it. Opening the fridge to retrieve milk, he poured a substantial amount into the bowl and bashed it with a tiny wooden spoon.

There they sat at Reigens small wooden table, he placed Shigeo beside himself, holding the bowl as he faced him. The baby stared up at Reigen with confused eyes, his mouth closed and the rattling of his toy had slowed.
“Hey try this,” Reigen smiled solemnly, he scooped the mushy cereal up into a small portion on the spoon, placing it towards the young one's mouth. Rejected. Shigeo turned his head slowly away from the goopy food offered.
‘Hmph’ , Reigen scrunched his nose and thought of how to get the baby to eat. Lightbulb moment.
“Hey,” Reigen spoke quietly, tapping the baby softly. Shigeo met eye contact with the older man again, breathing in and out his mouth exasperatedly as though he was upset.
Reigen scooped the portion back onto the spoon and attempted once more with a bit more enthusiasm.
“Here comes the, Uh… choo choo train” Reigen cooed, a big fake smile plastered to his face. Shigeos eyes widened slightly, opening his mouth to take the cereal.

*slop*
*munch*
*slop*
*gulp*

The baby smiled, the wheat mush surrounded the side of his mouth, licking his lips in attempt to scavenge more.
“Here, oh this one's an airplane… Brrr” Reigen spoke, scooping another amount out of the bowl, Shigeo waiting for it to be given, his mouth opening almost immediately, Reigen spooning another portion in.

*slop*
*munch*
*slop*
*gulp*

The bowl was finished and the baby that sat in front of him seemed to be satisfied with the portion, his eyelids beginning to weigh heavier. A hiccup escaped his mouth as milk sploshes dropped from his cheek. Reigen picked Shigeo up and took him to his pram, wrapping the boy up in the thick blanket he came with and placing his rattle beside him. Reigen looked down at the boy,
“We’ll get you turned in tomorrow.” Reigen sighed, grabbing the handles of the pram pushing it into his own bedroom, and placing it beside his bed, Shigeo was in a deep food slumber. Reigen stared at the pram with the infant placed inside, gripping his nose, and shutting his eyes tightly.

‘Out of all the people, he was placed on my doorstep, why?’ he thought intensely. He wondered if the person who had left the child had intended for him to look after young Shigeo. Reigen was in no position to take such a challenge on. He could hardly take care of himself with bills let alone bring a child into the equation. It’s the sole purpose he hadn’t gone into the dating scene, he wasn’t ready to have to financially provide for a partner or a child.
*sigh*,
Reigen gripped his temple, unbuttoning his shirt in front of his mirror, scruffing his golden locks out his face. Another small sleepy hiccup came from Shigeo, Reigen didn’t smile this time he frowned. All he could feel was sympathy for the abandoned baby.

Staring at his ceiling and back at the pram. Reigens mind was no longer like the calm stream, it was like a river during a storm with debris. A weird twist lingered in the younger mans stomach, he didn’t understand why.

-

The sun rose from behind the clouds, casting its brightness over the city, the light seeping through Reigens blinds. The rectangular shape of light hovering over his face, as he lay in bed, his hair chaotic.
Slapping his mouth together, trying to form his mouth to no longer feel dry, slowly opening his eyes, unbolting the lids that stuck to his skin.
Adjusting to the intruding light, there sat the small red pram beside his bed. Reigen shook his head, rubbing his face as he looked up and down, from the handle to the wheels.
Standing up, he peeked over at the baby boy whose eyes were freshly awake. Looking up at Reigen with a small giggle, coughing.

Reigen sighed, picking the little one up from his pram…
That smell. “Oh god” , Reigen bolked.
“Shit I don’t have…” he panicked, holding Shigeo from his armpits. In his peripheral vision, he spotted a pack at the bottom of the pram,
“Diapers.” Reigen sighed in relief. However, his panic, although only short-lived, young Shigeo began tearing up, his small feet kicking back and forth at Reigen.

Shigeos eyes welled up like bubbles, his lip quivering, his hands and feet shaking and kicking in a displeased manner. Reigen panicked…again.

“Shh, it-it’s ok!” The man cooed, sweat dripping from his head as he readjusted Shigeos's position in his arms to a cradle. This seemed to help for a moment, however, it wasn’t long-lasting as Shigeo let out a sharp cough and descended into a cry, his small voice cracking and gurgling. Reigen took a deep breath, holding young Shigeo comfortably into his chest, stroking his minimal black hair. The baby continued to cry, little sobs. Reigen rocked him back and forth, supporting his head as he did so as he stared at Shigeo intently. His little eyes, nose, and cheeks were all a blush red from the outburst.

“You’re ok lil guy” Reigen spoke softly, Shigeos sobs had quietened to sniffles, his nose runny, another thing for Reigen to clean.

“Let’s get you tidied up…” Reigen smiled weakly, holding the child into his chest, and making his way out the room.

—

Shigeo had been cleaned up, it was time to head out and get the young boy handed in, he was not Reigens to keep. He was not to be treated like a stray animal, he was a baby human. The infant wore a tiny white shirt with little blue shorts and white footwear.

There they stood in the hallway, Shigeo looking up at the man with his big hazel eyes, beaming like a star.
“Don’t look at me like that!” Reigen spoke, furrowing his eyebrows with a frown, once again not expecting a reaction. However, Shigeo's gaze averted and his cheerful demeanor halted.
Reigen was taken aback, reaching his hand down to make sure the young one was ok, he felt a small hand grip his single finger.
Reigens breath staggered, watching as Shigeo held his finger with curiosity.

“Let’s go, buddy.” Reigen sighed, taking his hand back gently, unlocking his creaky, wooden front door, and pushing the pram and himself out. The guilt was immense.

Chapter Text

Stepping out of the gate, Reigen struggled to control the pram, his hands practically glued to the handles in fear he’d let go. Looking down at the baby, his hands clasping the blanket he lay under. The air was mild, not too warm, not too cold. Reigen was still worried, wrapping Shigeo up more with an extra blanket.

“We need to get the train to the nearest precinct…” Reigen said aloud, still gripping the handle with his right hand as they strolled down the littered streets. Taking out his flip phone with his left, the time read 09:30 am, opening the map. Reigen read the directions intently,
‘a twenty-minute walk and a train ride.’
‘Simple enough’ Reigen thought.
Placing the phone back into his jacket pocket and readjusting his hand onto the pram bar. Shigeo stared upwards, his eyes following the clouds behind Reigens head, with a flock of starlings flying up overhead.
Strolling down the more rundown area of Seasoning City, crossing at the half-broken traffic lights. Reigen was trying immensely to not look at the infant. His big eyes filled with curiosity, his hands, small and innocent. It filled the blonde with awe.

Finally reaching a more combust area of the city, It was a Saturday so many weren’t in work attire, from young women in flowy skirts and large sweaters to children covered in mud and crinkled shirts.
the rain had begun. It started as spits however quickly escalated to pours. Reigen folded the overhead of the pram for Shigeo to shelter him. Many umbrellas shot up as the rain began it’s havoc on the citizens, puddles forming beneath everyone's feet. Reigens hair slowly became a darker yellow as the rain took its effect. Shiego sat inside the confined space of the pram, cozy and untouched by the water.
Reaching the train station, the man retreated under the shelter in awaiting for the transport to arrive. He could hear the infant shaking his rattle about, undoing the pram shelter to take a peek at him.

Shigeo giggled as he saw Reigen, it echoed through the vastness of the shelter of the train station. A few heads turned at the noise. Reigen smiled, rocking the pram forwards and backward with his hand. The baby quietly clapped his small hands, his eyes closed from smiling.
A few women across from Reigen, all around his age whispered to one another whilst looking at the man. Reigens eyebrows raised, confused.
Turning back to Shigeo who was still letting out light laughs and disorganised claps,
The train had arrived at last.

Aboard the train, Reigen once again sat alone, with the pram in front of him which held young Shigeo. Reaching down to the storage of the pram, Reigen took out a sachet of baby yogurt.
‘Banana and Strawberry’ Flavour, untwisting the cap and holding it towards the infant's mouth. Rejected. Shigeo pushed the tasty treat away with a straight face.

“Not this again,” Reigen scoffed, a grin on his face. Suddenly an old woman sat beside Reigen, her eyes locked onto Shigeo.

“Oh, he’s beautiful” She spoke, a wrinkled smile on her face. She wore a violet scarf and a grey dress and was holding a small handbag. She turned to Reigen who was inbetween looking at the baby and her. He was nervous.

“Blessings, aren’t they?” She asked rhetorically, breaking the silence between the two adults. Shigeo letting out a small chortle.
“Truly,” Reigen replied, still holding the yogurt with one hand, turning to the old lady and finally making eye contact.

“You and him have the same eyes.” She commented, awingly. Reigen quivered a smile, trying to not choke out a laugh at the absurdity.

‘Her sight must be gone, how can she not tell he’s not mine-’ The man thought to himself.

He shook his hand in disagreement.
“I-I don’t see it,” he muttered, grinning at the woman who responded by shaking her head in disagreement.

“You’ll see it one day, trust me.” She chuckled.
An awkward silence filled the air for a moment,

“Ahh, are you struggling to get the rascal to eat?” She inquired, a warm smile still plastered on her face.

“He loves it when I pretend it’s a train or airplane.” Reigen sighed comedically.
The woman nodded, looking back down at the boy.

“Maybe taking him out of the pram will help?” She suggested, pointing. He hadn’t even thought of such a basic solution.
Reigen nodded, smiling. Reaching down for Shigeo, clasping him into his grip. The train started, and Reigen jolted, tightening his hold on the baby out of fear.

“Relax, he’s ok,” the woman soothed, Shigeo was buried in Reigens chest, looking up at him. The blonde took an exhale through his nose. Readjusting positon, Shigeos head now rested on the mans bicep, with the lower half of his small body sitting contently on his lap.
The old woman watched with gladness, reaching a hand, and brushing her mature hands over Shigeos hair.

“Here comes the choo choo train” Reigen cooed, holding Shigeo and wooshing the yogurt down to the infants mouth.
“Brrr” Reigen verbalised unenthusiastically, with a smile Shigeo accepted, as expected. Taking small sips of the pink-colored yogurt.
Reigen smiled once again, stroking his thumb over the baby's cheek. Staring down at him, his thumb slowing down as the train came to a halt.

“You’re a good father, Mr…?” The lady spoke, asking Reigen for his name. Reigen averted his eyes from Shigeo, turning his head to look at the elderly woman.

“Eh, Arataka Reigen” he responded, taken aback. The woman smiled.

“You’re doing a great job.” She spoke once more, picking her small handbag up and rewrapping the scarf around her neck to tighten it.
Standing up, she beamed once more, her wrinkles more prominent.

“Have a good day,” She whispered, stroking Shigeos head once more before walking gently towards the exit of the train.

“Y-you too ma’am.” Reigen spluttered.

Alone once again.

—--------

Now at the opposing end of Seasoning City, from where Reigen lived. The train ride had felt slow and steady, calming Reigens nerves. Shigeo had finally finished his yogurt. Reigen wiped his little face with a napkin from his pocket.

“Did you enjoy that?” Reigen whispered, Shigeo burped.
Reigen grinned from ear to ear.

Arriving at the station nearest to the Police department, Reigen placed Shigeo back into the little compartment of the pram and wheeled it out onto the platform, the rain had thankfully not reached down over this part of the city, with Reigens hair still fairly damp.
Walking in strides through the streets, it was busy here too. Shigeo had his arms lifting out from the pram, trying to garner Reigens attention, which was deemed to be unsuccessful as Reigen was occupied trying to get them across the busying road of cars, awaiting the traffic light change.
At last, Shigeo had caught the blonde adult's eyes, the baby was attempting to reach for his rattle which lay at the end of the pram, out of pudgy baby arms reach.
Reigen half smiled, shaking the rattle to Shigeos face, which Shigeo took happily and shook it himself, the jingle of the rattles bell could be heard as the pair went down the street.

The Police Station stood before Reigen, the shadow of the building engulfed the pair. The man could only feel a sense of gloominess in the place.
Entering the glass double doors, he was met with a large rounded desk and a woman on a computer.
She looked up from the business she attended to on her computer, her eyes locked onto Reigen and the pram he pushed.
He made his way up to the desk, the woman like she was on autopilot placed a clipboard with sheets of paper attached.

“Are you reporting a crime, sir? Please take a seat and sign the information below.” The woman spoke, taking a mug into her hand and sipping a steaming black coffee.
Reigen gulped, his hands slightly shaky as he looked down at the now non-smiling Shigeo, who gazed at him in confusion.

“No ma’am, this baby..” Reigen began, the woman put her mug down and raised an eyebrow, stretching her neck up to see more of the pram.

“Sir?” she asked, a slightly snappy tone in her voice. Reigen had zoned out.

“This baby was left on my doorstep.” he blurted, pinching his nose. The woman's eyes widened, this was a super rare occurrence and if it did happen it was usually on the doorsteps to orphanages.
Picking up the phone and clicking numbers into the operator
*ring ring*

“Hello,” A muffled voice spoke, Reigen unable to hear it very well.
“We have an abandoned baby in the front reception if you could attend immediately.” The receptionist replied, a cool tone in her voice.
Without hearing any more of the conversation, the woman placed the phone back down on the receiver and looked back up at Reigen.

“They will need to ask you questions, is that ok?” She asked, pulling a pen from behind her ear and writing on an empty document.

“Yes that’ll be fine” he replied, shaking the pram back and forth gently once again, watching as Shigeos eyes began to close.
A male officer and a female detective entered the room, escorting Reigen to a separate room.

—

“What’s your name sir?” the officer asked, looking down at the now sleeping Shigeo.

“Arataka Reigen,” he replied, as they entered a three-seated beige room, with bland pictures framed on the wall.

“Well, Mr Reigen you did the right thing handing the infant in” The woman spoke up, her colleague nodding in agreement.
“Do you happen to have any documentation that was left with him?” She continued.

Reigen paused, thinking for a moment. Crouching down from his seat and reaching down to the prams storage where he’d received the note with the young boy's name on it.
It still reading, ‘Shigeo’.
The woman inspected the very blunt piece of paper that only retained the baby's name on it, her eyebrows furrowed and her nose scrunched, confusingly. She quickly opened her laptop and began searching for any missing children under the name of ‘Shigeo’ however was met with nothing on the system.

“I assume you don’t get cases like this often?” Reigen questioned, facing the male officer who stood beside him. The officer nervously chuckled and nodded in agreement.
“It’s very rare.” The detective spoke from her laptop, tapping the keys and clicking the mouse repeatedly.

“Can I take your statement Mr Reigen?” The male officer asked, pulling a small notepad from his right chest pocket, with a blue pen attached.

“Just so we know how the events unfolded, it might assist us in finding any links to young Shigeo’s family.”

“Of course,” Reigen replied almost relieved.

“I was out on my balcony having a smoke, I heard a clash down the street assuming it was cats but it was just a person from afar who knocked down a bin, thinking back… I didn’t take into account they were wheeling a pram.” Reigen spoke, the officer intently listening as he bullet-pointed all the key information the blonde was giving.

“Then the next minute I heard my apartment complex gate open and then a knock at my door. That’s where this little guy was left, just staring up at me.” Reigen continued. The officer looked back up at Reigen, putting a full stop on his final point.

“And did you get any glimpse of what this person looked like?” The officer asked, Reigen shook his head.

Looking back down at the note that now lay on the table as evidence,
‘Shigeo’.

“I’m surprised that’s all the person left with... Mr Reigen I’m going to inspect the pram for any more potential documentation if that’s ok.” The officer spoke as his partner scanned the systems, standing up and heading for the pram.
The storage of the pram consisted of yogurt sachets, extra nappies, and toys. All pulled out onto the floor.

“Bingo.” the officer sighed, pulling out a slightly wrinkled hard sheet of brown paper. “His certificate is in here.” He continued, Reigens eyes widened.

“I didn’t even think to check, I only used a few of the nappies and a yogurt.” Reigen stuttered slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. Looking down at the ground.

“No need to worry Mr Reigen, It’ll make this whole process a lot easier” The friendly officer smiled at the blonde man, handing the envelope to his detective counterpart, who took it right into her clasp to inspect.
Opening it up, delicately to not disturb any vital evidence. Reigens mind wandered looking around the room, the light from above beaming down at him.

‘Hopefully, Shigeo would be back with his parents… or put with a pair of loving grandparents… or be reunited with siblings.’
He’d only spent 10 hours with the baby, however it still hurt knowing he’d have to say goodbye.
Reigen smiled to himself, looking down at the pram which he was naturally still rocking slowly.

The officer and detective scanned through the birth certificate intently. The officer's mouth went slightly limp. Staring up at Reigen, the detective frowned in more confusion.

“Mr Reigen?” the woman spoke, a slightly stern tone riddled in the back of her throat.
Reigen snapped out of his trance, stopping his eyes from locking onto the pram to face the two other adults.

“Is… everything ok?” he asked, almost a pinch of bother in his voice as if he was tired of this investigation already.
The officer sighed, taking the certificate into his large hands, and re-reading the lines to ensure the information was viable.

“Mr Reigen, it states you’re the father to young Shigeo here” the officer spoke, almost as confused as Reigens face warped into.

“What, that’s not possible?!” Reigen stammered.

“Arataka Reigen have you done this to waste out time?” The woman interrogated, slamming her laptop down. Shaking her head disapprovingly and closing her eyes.
Reigen couldn’t utter a word, only stare with his mouth agape at the officer and detective.

“Mr. Reigen, It states you’re the father and there is bloodwork from a paternity test conducted at Seasoning City’s hospital. It’s all official paperwork.” The officer sighed, rubbing his palm on his cheek.
Reigen had sweat dripping down his forehead, unable to comprehend much of what the officer had just uttered to him.

“I-It can’t be possible.” He whispered, holding his chin with his hand tightly.

The detective rose form her seat, taking the wired phone into her hand and dialing another number in, raising her finger at the two men to be quiet.

“My colleague here is calling the hospital to have this information verified.”
The officer whispered, he seemed to empathize with the younger man, patting his shoulder. Reigen nodded, his mouth dry and his eyes almost watery.

After a painful long five minutes of questions and hums. From the detective and the person on the receiver.
She placed her phone back down on the table in front of herself, looking back up at them.

“Arataka Reigen, You are most definitely the father.”

Then it suddenly hit him like a truck. He remembered. He remembered that night.

Chapter Text

Two years prior ..

There the man sat at his desk, papers piled up into mountains, his computer slow and the keys on his keyboard jamming. Emails upon emails, letters, and databases to be filled out.
Picking his green tea up from beside him, the steam heating up his face in a blissful way before taking a small drink.
Reigen removed a folder from one of his cabinets, a large red binder that held information needed for a statistic sheet he was working on, scanning through the pages with his finger. The office ambiance filled the broad room, with chattering echoing from the coffee table. Reigen remained silent, his eyes averting to see the group of suited men discussing something. However, it didn’t concern or matter to him, so he remained uninterested, Reigen never cared much about colleagues around him, he never saw the point in befriending them or getting attached, as at the end of the day, they were colleagues, and one day were destined to leave for a new job elsewhere, and so Reigen kept to himself.

However…
The sounds of footsteps pattering along the carpeted ground towards Reigens desk,

“Hello, Reigen,” A deep, cracked voice spoke,
Reigen took a breath out of his nose, and a sip of his tea, and placed it back down on his desk.
‘Serizawa.’

“Hey Serizawa,” Reigen spoke, raising his hand, however remained facing his computer. Serizawa was a nervous and easily choked-up man, he’d never adjusted to Reigens mannerisms and just assumed the blonde hated him.

“I-I was just at the table, and the other guys-” Serizawa began, pointing with his thumb to the men who remained together, all drinking their mediocre coffees.
Serizawa scratched the back of his neck.

“And?” Reigen asked, finally turning round to face the tall-statured brunette, taking his green tea with him. Reigen looked up at him, raising his eyebrow slightly, a small grin formed from one side of his lip.

“Well, they’re inviting us out for some drinks tonight? You up for it..?” Serizawa finished, Reigen put his finger to his lip, pondering. Tilting his head, scrunching his face.

“I’ll have to see, Serizawa…” Reigen answered, he looked at the cheap watch he had attached to his wrist, squinting his eyes to read the time. Then back up at Serizawa, who didn’t seem to take that as an answer, remaining in front of Reigen nervously, almost spaced out.

“so … after work, yea?” Reigen reconsidered. No answer.

“Serizawa?” Reigen questioned, waving his hand around in front of the navy-suited man. Serizawa was startled, staring back down at his colleague.

“Okay, see you after work then, Reigen!” the man sighed in relief. Reigen smiled back, but as the man walked away, his eyebrows furrowed.
‘What was that about..?’ Reigen wondered, he shrugged his shoulders marking it down to just how Serizawa acts.
Reigen turned back to his computer, it had shut off whilst he was occupied. The young man groaned under his breath, clicking the monitor back on which would take multiple minutes due to the janky system it ran on.
How bothersome. Reigen truly hated it here.

—

It was Friday, The sky turned a hue of purple and grey, commencing nightfall. The streets lit up, with restaurant signs blaring on and off with obnoxious lights and people embracing the night as more flooded into the streets of Seasoning City.
There, Reigen sat, shutting off his computer for the last time today.
He stared at the black screen, ringing in his ear as he made eye contact with his reflection.
The office lights dimmed, and the purple seeped into the room, taking his phone from his pocket and noticing a message from Serizawa.

‘We’re outside :)’

Reigen grabbed his bag, tucking away his papers and chucking his phone to zip the bag up. Flinging the bag over his shoulder and making his way to the cold flite of stairs.

“Oh Mr. Reigen,” a woman spoke, it was the deputy manager of the company. She was a middle-aged woman, with dark red hair, holding a clipboard into her chest, a sweet expression on her face.
Reigen turned to her as he had the door in front of him half opened.

“Are you able to meet these deadlines, it’s for a potential investment?” The woman spoke, pointing to the paper, Reigen couldn’t hide his frown as he read over the amount of overtime that was written out in front of him.
He rubbed his cheek, sighing. His manager's face had turned slightly sour, waiting for his answer.

“Yep, I can have those ready.” He replied, not wanting to deal with any hassle that came with saying no. The woman’s face quickly turned back soft, nodding her head and walking away, ticking a box on her requirements.
The blonde shook his head, finally escaping through the front doors.

“Hey, Reigen!” A man spoke, hitting his shoulder as Reigen exited the office building with his canvas bag attached to his shoulder. It was another of Reigens colleagues, all bunched up together with Serizawa nervously twiddling his fingers to the side. With that, they made their way down the increasingly busy street.

“So, where are we going for drinks?” Reigen asked the few men at the front, him and Serizawa behind. One man turned back and shrugged.
“Any bar that's close by, we need to diffuse…” One sighed, obviously under the same pressure Reigen was with the unrealistic deadlines, work amount, and hours.

The streets were heavy, traffic lights chopping and changing every second, cars trailing down the road, with motorbikes zooming. Many other men in suits walked by, old ladies walking their dogs, young children clinging to their mother's hands to make sure they didn’t get separated in the sea of people.
Reigen looked to the ground as he walked, watching his shoes scuff over the uneven concrete. His black suit, breezed in the wind slightly.
The sky had now melted into a dark blue, with the edges of the sky only gleaming out tiny particles of yellow, like it was desperately trying to escape the grasp of the mass.

“Do you drink often, Reigen?” Serizawa asked out of the blue, cutting Reigen from his thoughts. Reigen shook his head, readjusting to his situation.

“Oh, not often, no. How about you?” Reigen asked politely.

“It’s not my thing, but I think getting out is important,” Serizawa answered honestly, with a guilty smile.

“Yeah, staying cooped up in that office all day isn’t good for any-” Reigen began, however, croaked out a yawn, turning to Serizawa, who noticed the dark circles that lay under Reigens eyes like overhead shadows and his hair being evidently overgrown, before being further interrupted by the colleagues who trailed ahead of them.

“Hey, let’s head in here!” one shouted over, it was a bar located down some flights of stairs with red and blue lights glistening from the outside of it.
The noise from inside riddled into the outside of the street, it was packed in there.
Entering the bar, the lighting was dim, with many sofa seats and bar stools all across the area, even a jukebox. It was filled with businessmen and women alike, older men watching the television provided and younger women out for a night with their friends. Bustling.

-

The five men headed to the main bar, the three taking their orders whilst Serizawa and Reigen held back, unsure and inexperienced.
Their older colleague clasped their shoulders in his hands, smiling at them.

“Get something you think will be nice, help get the edge of y’know.” he nudged Reigen before returning to his allocated spot beside the other two men.
Reigen stared at the board, which read many different options,

‘A lemon sour didn’t sound too bad…’

With that both Reigen and Serizawa ordered lemon sours, sitting on the tall bar stools, Reigen leaned over the bar, not caring if it was slightly sticky from all the drinks that had spilled on it. Reigen lacked the thought of caring.
However, he did care about wanting to forget his worries, just for a moment, just for an evening. He grabbed the Lemon sour, removed the straw that blocked his path, and quickly took two large chugs.
Serizawa stared as Reigen wiped his mouth of the remnants of the alcohol, covering his mouth and coughing as if he’d forgotten that it was alcohol... And it would have a kick.

“Haha, look at that, not bad, Reigen!” His oldest colleague beamed, looking at the other two men who were now also taking large chugs from their drinks.
Serizawa swished the drink around in his hand, watching the ice dance around the rim of the glass before finally taking a small sip.

Reigen raised his hand to the bartender,
“Hey, can I get another Lemon sour please?” Reigen requested, putting cash down on the bar. The bartender smiled and nodded before turning away and scooping ice into a glass cup.

“I thought you didn’t drink often, Reigen?” Serizawa questioned curiously as he held his glass with both hands. Reigen blinked, frowning as he got handed his second lemon sour, already feeling the alcohol beginning to consume his mind, as he was a severe lightweight.

“Eh, well, I might as well indulge.” Reigen smiled, nodding towards Serizawas glass, encouraging the man to also drink. Serizawa smiled weakly lifting his glass to meet Reigens before they clashed them together. Cheers.

—

And with that, Reigen was heavily intoxicated with three lemon sours. He was already drunk by halfway through his second lemon sour, but that didn’t seem to deter him as he just kept going, even after Serizawa and his other colleagues attempted to slow him down.
Reigen lay dormant, outside on a lonesome table underneath the dark yet brightened sky of the city, with a cigarette in between his fingers, it slowly burnt out as he forgot he’d even lit it. His eyes hurt and his throat was dry from what he’d just thrown up.

‘What am I even doing…’ Reigen thought, criticizing his choices.
His mind often wondered when he was alone, his body was physically outside a bar but his thoughts reached endlessly. His eyes were closed and his headache was like someone was knocking on his skull.
His hands gripped his hair, massaging his blonde roots as he yanked slightly.
‘I can’t even enjoy this,’ his inner monologue sighed.

Serizawa exited the front door, meeting the blonde man who had his suit jacket over his shoulders.

“Feeling better?” Serizawa asked nervously, still holding his first and only Lemon sour. Reigen turned to him, his cheek squished into his arm, his eyes half closed and slightly red. He groaned and dug his head back into his hands.

“Don’t let me do that again,” Reigen joked as he muffled a laugh. Serizawa half smiled looking down at his colleague before dragging another high chair to take a spot beside Reigen.
Reigen turned to the brunette, as he adjusted himself onto the ripped leather seat, his eyes half shut.

“I can call a cab for you if you want Reigen?” Serizawa offered, finally taking some drinks of his lemon sour, the ice cubes were now tiny, wiping his mouth, and resting his arms on the table that Reigen's head remained dormant on. The blonde blinked, in attempts to form a thought of what Serizawa had even said.

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I just shouldn’t be drinking that quickly.” Reigen coughed a chuckle out, as he remained sprawled over the table, his wrist hanging off one side with his hand completely limp. Serizawa looked on in concern, as he looked Reigen up and down, his shirt was disheveled, the tips of his ears red and his breathing staggered, most likely due to just puking up 3 lemon sours…
finally regaining his composure.
The two men sat there in comfortable silence, outside the bar with blurred music, laughing and cheers radiating from inside. Serizawa took a few more sips of his drink, thumping it back onto the table, a sound of minor distaste leaving his mouth, sticking his tongue out.

“Not your thing?” Reigen asked curiously,
“Not my scene in general, to be honest with you Reigen.” Serizawa shrugged as he held the glass in his large hand, looking forward towards the bar he’d just exited.
The blonde sat quietly, a silent understanding being exchanged between the two.

–

The night had begun to fall cold, colder than what is bearable to stay out in. So the two men decided to venture back into the bustling bar, with people being just as wild and louder as they were before exiting.
The co-workers that Reigen and Serizawa had come with were now gathered around a TV in the corner with their beers and a few other men. Reigen nudged up to the bar, Serizawa squeezing in beside him, in turn having to apologize to a woman he’d nudged in doing so.

“Can I get a couple of shots please?” Reigen asked the bartender who was cleaning his glasses with his cloth, swinging the cloth over his shoulders before taking out two small shot glasses.

“Shouldn’t you avoid alcohol for now?” Serizawa replied to Reigens request to the bartender, his frown falling more sharply.

Reigen chuckled, as he got handed the shots.
“Cigarettes can’t be my only escape , Serizawa, I’ll just take it slowly this time.” Reigen smirked,

Serizawa raised an eyebrow as Reigen passed him one of the shots.

“It’s ok if you don’t want to” the blonde added, proceeding to down his shot.
Serizawa declined. However, Reigen continued.
And with that he was back into his loop, ordering shots and Lemon sours.

‘Disastrous.’

Serizawa looked at the blonde, holding his shoulder as he almost tipped over his chair due to his state of influence.

“Maybe you should slow it down, y’know?” Serizawa asked nervously, Reigen turned to him as he was taking another ice-cold, lemon sour down his throat, pulling away from the rim of the glass and smiling, not answering the other man's concern.

–

The night went on, the bar slowly emptying as the night went into the early morning of 1 am.
The three older coworkers of the two younger men had said their goodbyes as Reigen had another cigarette. The music was dimmer and the bartenders were tired.
Until the door opened, but no one was leaving, rather coming in. It was a woman on her own, her hair was long, very dark black and her skin was fair and slight eyebags sagged under her, she wore dark brown trousers and a cream sweater, her posture and movement filled with certitude yet fatigued and she was around the age of Reigen.
Reigen didn’t take much notice of her, only acknowledging she had entered, strolling up to the bar, inserting herself between the half-asleep Serizawa and the drunk Reigen.

“Strawberry tonic please.” She asked, not looking at the bartender and down at her purse as she took out a note. Reigen took another gulp of his lemon sour, turning to his right and seeing the woman who’d just placed her order, and then to Serizawa who was shaking himself to stay awake.

“What’s your name then?” the woman said, her voice was calm and collected yet had confidence in it. Reigen looked up expecting her to be talking to the bartender or another person, however, she had her eyes locked down on him. Taken aback Reigen stopped slouching, making eye contact with her.

“Reigen Arataka..?” he questioned, confused by the sudden conversation. She nodded, as her drink was handed to her, a pink and fizzy concoction.

“Y-yourself?” Reigen stuttered, he wasn’t good at this. He barely even talked to people outside work, nevermind women.

“eh nothing special,” she spoke quickly, not abruptly, before taking a drink of her beverage. Reigen nodded.
“Oh that’s nice…,” he commented drunkenly, unable to think of anything else he could say in his state. The woman shrugged, in a confused agreement.

By this point, the bar was almost emptied with only one booth still having a few people and the bar only consisting of three people. That being Reigen, Serizawa, and the woman.
Their chatting had improved from their awkward beginnings, Reigen ordering himself and the woman drinks as his coworker who was now passed out on the bar snored.
Clinking of glasses before drinking, contained laughs and some ranting.

“All these papers and documents in when I just can’t... Do all of that!” Reigen rambled, slamming his glass on the bar, waking Serizawa up for a moment before his head hit the deck again.
“I understand, the deadlines are so unrealistic. I work at a well-known firm within the city, I’d know.” She sighed, chugging the other half of her second strawberry tonic.

The conversation grew to like how a seed sprouts from the soil and into a sapling, with enough attention being able to blossom into a beautiful flower, with unseen roots underneath beginning to take their form.

“I prefer smaller breeds of dogs as their easier to handle, however, I would never be opposed to a larger dog. They all deserve love.” The woman chatted, taking another swig from her glass, Reigen looked at her in admiration.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Reigen sighed, with a satisfied grin on his face.

The two had much in common, from their stress ridden work to their love for dogs. She was quiet yet had much to say, Reigen was loud but could only say so much, or at least couldn’t find the words. Yet the woman seemed to fill in the blanks for what Reigen couldn’t pinpoint, resonating further and further with one another like a key to a lock. With that, he was feeling a slight hint of happiness that he’d seriously lacked for this evening. This was strange.

“Tab us out.” the woman smiled to the bartender.
Serizawa had finally awoke, seeing Reigen and a new face in front of him, rubbing his eyes.

“Oh Serizawaaa, you’re awake!!” Reigen beamed, his drunkenness very prominent.
Serizawa smiled, laughing almost.

“I see you’ve got it from here?” Serizawa questioned the dark haired woman, trying to seem as polite as possible after napping on a wet and sticky bar for two hours straight, his back and shoulders aching severely.
Almost wishing he’d left Reigen to his own devices hours ago.
The woman smiled gently, nodding at the taller man.

-

Wondering down the now quiet streets of Seasoning City with a woman he’d met at the bar. Reigen offered her a cigarette which she accepted with gratitude.
The smoke trailed above them as they made their way across what once was a busy road only some hours ago. Her hair wished in the slight breeze, turning to Reigen as she puffed out another breath of smoke provided by his cigarette.

‘Wow.’ the man thought, although his vision was blurry, her face imprinted on him, her smile wide but rare, her eyes hazel and wide. In Reigens drunk mind, she was gorgeous.

The city's lights were mixed of yellow and white, the shutters to shops had clasped down many hours ago, with only a few cars passing by at a time, the traffic lights stuck in time, remaining a radiant green. The streets were slightly wet from a small spout of rainfall earlier, their shoes being subjected to the wetness that the pavement provided through small puddles. The cold night engulfed the two, with their cigarette smoke being mixed with the cold air they’d exhaled.

“Soo wanna go back to my place, I’m close by?” The woman asked in a cheeringly drunk yet silenced tone, the alcohol causing her to trip over her words. Reigen smiled, his face going almost blush red, he agreed. The young woman wasted no time, yanking Reigens sleeve at a fast pace down the street, her smile remaining wide and full of life unlike earlier when she’d first entered the bar.

–

Entering her apartment, it was well kept however with Reigens blurry vision he was unable to fully take in his surroundings, only focused on the woman in front of him who was speaking, yet no words left her mouth as his ear rang, silencing the world around him.
He held his face in his hand, groaning as the ring intensified. Grabbing his wrist, making eye contact with the blonde. Suddenly the ringing halted and the concerns poured out of her mouth like a waterfall.

“Headache? Dizzy? What's up?” She asked almost desperately. None of that. Reigen stared on at the woman in slight awe, his face as red as a strawberry as he reached for her face clasping her cheek with his hand.
Would he regret this? He didn’t know, he didn’t care right now, he was living in the moment, not the future. Staring up at the man, leaning into his touch with her eyes closed. Reigen leaned down to her face, almost stumbling as the alcohol controlled his limbs like a puppet, and with that, his lips locked into hers. Taken aback, the woman's shoulders perked up, her hands naturally gravitating to the man's shoulders. Pulling away, Reigen tensed up slowly coming down from the high of the kiss, realizing the gravity of his situation, his heart pounded, and his eyes averted from hers. Her head tilted, placing her index finger on his lips and giving him a small yet meaningful grin, before reaching for another warm embrace that Reigens lips provided.

Slowly the city awoke with the sun's arrival, cars beginning to leave for a journey ahead, and people leaving their houses for days out or their weekend jobs, the sounds of trains flashing by and dogs barking from the park.
There Reigen lay, shirtless and disgruntled. He’d never felt so rough, his head radiating a pounding noise. Finally able to open his eyes which felt tightly shut together, he took in his surroundings, quickly becoming confused. This wasn’t his place. Turning to the right of himself, there lay a woman's figure, black hair trailing onto the mattress, her back turned to him. Reigen flushed a dark red, his mouth agape and his hands almost shaky.

‘Her…’ he remembered, his thoughts trailing and his mind piecing together small segments he was able to remember like a jigsaw puzzle. He had to get out of here. He felt wrong.
Adjusting his shirt back on, watching her closely as she made small movements in her sleep. Reigen bit his lip, was he supposed to leave… he’d never been in this sort of scenario, he never expected to be anyway. He sighed, pulling his notebook out and leaving his name and phone number on it

‘What a shitty thing to do…’ he thought, beginning an internal war as he held the notebook before ripping the sheet and placing it on the bedside cabinet. The man shakingly made his way to the bedroom door, his hungover state not wanting him to even move a muscle, however, his brain said otherwise. Looking back at the woman, his hand leaning on the wooden door frame, her black hair covering half her face, her eyes remaining closed as her mouth lay slightly agape.
The blonde let out an exhale, turning back to the exit of the room, before placing one foot out.

“It was nice to meet you, Arataka.” The woman spoke, her hands unraveling the hair that silked over her face, as she remained in the same spot.
Reigen turned back, meeting her eyes, which were still half shut however a small pitiful smile stayed on her face. Reigen scrunched his face, nothing but shame running through his body, lifting his hand to wave.

“It was nice to meet you too.” the man spoke quietly with a slight regret riddled in his voice, talking like he was a kicked puppy.
He didn’t regret meeting her, he’d just wished he’d met her under better circumstances.

-

Weeks passed and Reigen continued his boring life, continuing to feel unfulfilled. Unable to take himself back to any bar out of fear of a good time just to be snapped back into reality within hours. Why should he subject himself to something he wishes could last forever when it wouldn’t?

Her face was embedded into Reigen’s brain from her raven-hair with her beautiful light freckles, along with her wonderful yet endearing personality which had Reigen at even more at a loss as to why he never even got her name or stayed for that matter.
He silently hoped that she would contact him, but it never happened. That was ok, it just wasn’t meant to grow any further from that.

And with that, a freshly bloomed flower was picked from the land, its roots departing from its purpose. Treated as though it was that of a weed.

-

Reigen sat in silence as the officer and detective looked at him with concern. His eyes were wide and his whole body shaky.

‘He is mine.’

And suddenly Shigeos eyes looked more recognisable than ever.

Chapter Text

Sitting on the padded chair, his fists curled up into each other until his knuckles turned white, his breath staggered with sweat drooling down his forehead. Unable to avert his eyes from Shigeo, the cogs in his mind turning at lightning speeds, trying to see himself within the child. He couldn’t.
The Detective and officer quickly realized with Reigen's reaction, that he truly hadn’t known about his child. Watching on in concern, the room filled with a very uncomfortable silence. The officer looked down at Reigen, his eyebrows scrunched in a commiserating manner towards Reigen.
Finally, the detective coughed, placing her notepad down on her desk along with her steel pen.

“Mr Rei-”
“It has to be a mistake, he can’t be mine,” Reigen muttered under his breath. The detective held her breath, looking at her colleague with an almost exhausted expression on her face.
Taking over, the officer patted Reigens back in a comforting approach.

“Mr Reigen, things like this happen… it’s a lot more common than you think.” The officer offered,
“Sometimes you just get, arguably… unlucky, just how it goes.” The officer chuckled, in an attempt at comedy, receiving an elbow to his side from his detective colleague who wanted to keep a standard of professionalism.
The officer winced, continuing.
“However… I wouldn’t call this unlucky.” the officer finished, removing his hand from Reigens shoulders and kneeling beside the pram Shigeo nestled in quietly. There the baby lay, his eyes sealed shut and his tiny body curled up into itself.

Thoughts rushed through Reigens head, he hadn’t felt this immense feeling of anxiety in years, and its return wasn’t welcomed.

‘How could I of been so stupid’
‘I was so drunk’
‘Was the little moment of tranquility I had worth it now.’
From freak questions to self-berating, any sort of reasoning had raced out of his mind and into his stomach where it turned into an erupting panic.

Reigens brain rushed through everything. From the night he’d met the woman who he was sure never gave him a name, to the baby that lay in front of him. His life, his shitty life that he’d indirectly dragged a baby into like the world was trying to ambush him. A mediocre man, with minimal means and little to no purpose set out other than to get through another day, hardly living. A baby such as Shigeo didn’t deserve that, he deserved to live, live to his fullest and Reigen couldn't give him his fullest, an unfortunate truth.

“I can’t keep him.” Reigen cracked, his throat closing up as he finished the short sentence, the room remained silent for a moment.

“Mr Reigen, his birth mother abandoned him, legally we cannot give him back to her. She broke the law.” The detective spoke, trying to spoonfeed the scenario and its severity. Reigen nodded, acceptingly, Biting his lip.

“What about the foster-” he cracked again, his eyes welling up with tears, clutching his hand on his trousers, creasing the fabric, like a child unable to regulate their emotions. The officer and detective stared on, awaiting for Reigen to say more, as his lip quivered, his mouth moving in quick movements yet nothing coherent came out, only small and breathless gasps like he was struggling to breathe like he was being strangled.

“I can- can’t be a dad for h-him.” Reigen sputtered, his head diving further in shame, now holding both his hands at the back of his scalp, gripping his blonde locks which he felt he’d rip out if he tightened harder.

“I can’t be a good dad.” he caved through bared teeth, the tears overflown, unable to keep them locked up within his eyes, they spilled out onto his lap like a small spring shower.
Sobs broke out, his usually ordinary voice snapping through the sheer pressure that weighed on his heart. Reigen was never used to crying, always resorting to suppressing but the affair at hand was too dire to just gloss over with minimal reaction.

“I won’t be any good for Shigeo. I’m not good for anyone, how would I be good for a child.” Reigen rambled to the two officials, finally unlocking his hands from his hair and dragging his fingers down his face, the bottom of his eyes revealing pale red, tears continuing to dribble and distort his iris. His ears rang like they did the night he met Shigeos mother, however, two very differing emotions caused the reverberation through his skull. His sobs weren’t able to be held back, low cracked groans of a grown man's voice ruptured through the small room.
Shigeo awoke, his small eyes fluttering awake, sitting in the unfamiliar room. He let out a silent yawn and sniffled, his nose slightly runny. His view was on the blonde, whose head was hung low and shoulders lay slumped over his already narrow posture, with a shaky demeanor. Light sniffles escaped Shigeos's nose, his small pudgy arms reaching out for attention. More sniffs and a small croaky cough came from the baby who became increasingly upset as the moments passed.
With a choked gasp, the infant cracked out into small sobs, yearning for the attention he wasn’t receiving. Whipping his head up, his hair swooshing as he did so, Reigen stared at the now slightly pink-faced Shigeo who had little tears dribbling down him. Reigens face although stinging from the tears and scrunched expression, which quickly warped to concern, coughing into his hand before reaching over to the pram and pulling it towards him.

“Two criers in the room.” The detective sighed, before swiftly turning back to her desk and perching herself onto the wooden surface. Her colleague rolled his eyes at the attitude of his partner.

“H-hey you can’t- why are you crying too?” Reigen asked, his voice hoarse as he clasped his hands onto Shigeos armpits and lifted him toward himself. Shigeos small cries escaped, his vocal cords only able to let out small squeaks, as Reigen placed him on his lap and had him leaned onto his chest. Stroking his soft, dark hair with his thumb.

“Shhh” Reigen spoke soothingly, holding Shigeo tightly like he’d never let go, like his body was rejecting his brain. His brain provided logic to let Shigeo go, hand him over, and leave him. His body clung to the tiny human, as if both their lives depended on it, if it was just Reigens life it depended on, his grip would soften. Shigeo had a lot more ahead of him than he did. Was letting him go setting him free or was it pure, seamless selfishness?

“Mr. Reigen, I don’t mean to bother you but…we have other matters to attend to..” The woman began, sliding documents out from her comically large binder. Clapping the papers to align with one another she handed the front one to face the blonde.

“In the end, it is your decision.” She admitted, letting go of the paper for Reigen to finally set his eyes upon it.
No brief insight into what would happen to Shigeo… Care, fostering? Flicking through the pages with Shigeo still in his grip, tears dried up on the man's face, becoming sort of sticky. Shigeo had also settled and was leaning his little head into Reigen.

“By signing the infant over, you’re giving your rights of the child to us. If this process is to be reversed, it may be deemed difficult, you might not get him back, do you understand?.” The woman spoke up again, her pen in hand as she clicked it open, the inky tip pointing out sharply.
Reigen swallowed a mouthful of nothing, staring at the paper that sat in his shaky hands, the paper making a silly wobbling noise.

“I would be lying if I told you both that I know what I’m doing, I can’t tell what would be better for him, I only want what's in his best interest.” Reigen sighed.

“Mr Reigen, if I may. Please think about this-” the officer spoke,
“Don’t interfere, this is a decision he must make on his own.” The stern woman spoke, raising her eyebrow at her officer counterpart.
Reigen stared on in horror at the paper below him, the sinking gravity of the decision he would have to make.

“Your child… rights… helplines….” the document turned into a blur after moments of his eyes following the lines aimlessly, two words sticking to his memory, two words alone.
‘Your child.’
‘YOUR CHILD.’
Those words repeated in his head like a banging drum, vibrating through his soul like it was sucking the life out of him yet restoring a long-lost warmth.

“My child?” Reigen whispered, his mouth barely open to pronounce it properly. The officer tilted his head in confusion at the mumble that emitted from Reigens mouth.

“Can you repea-”
“He’s my baby, right,” Reigen spoke, a quietness in his voice.
The officer and detective took confused glances at each other, then back to Reigen, the woman’s foot tapping on the ground.
Holding Shigeo into his shoulder, the baby leaning into his neck, his small little breaths with a slightly stuffed nose emitting into Reigens ear. He took Shigeo away from his shoulder, placing him on his lap, facing him. His small body wobbling as he did so, Reigen panicking trying to adjust him more comfortably.
His big brown eyes were locked onto Reigen, his little hands reaching back out to be embraced again.

‘Can I always be there to give him the love he deserves?’
Reigen asked himself over and over. He punched himself on the inside, should this not have an obvious answer? The answer should be “Yes”. But Reigen continued down a path of doubt.
‘But could he learn to do so?’, that for Reigen was more answerable.

“Mr-” The woman began, now slightly more irritated. “I understand this is a big decision but you either hand him over now, take him, or go home and decide.” She lectured.
“I can give you the papers to take-” she said before being cut off. Reigen ripped the papers out of her grasp, whilst still holding Shigeo.

“Where do I sign,” Reigen asked, sighing.
The woman let out a breath of air, her colleague looking at her with a furious grimace, he didn’t agree with her methods. It was her that lacked professionalism, she had zero empathy for the father about to let his child go.

“Where do I sign to have his surname changed to mine?” Reigen asked, his face cleared of any sign of tears. His eyes were wide, his face genuine. The woman was taken aback. Her face was a confused mix of surprise and bewilderment. Taking the binder from in between her hand and hip, flicking through it again, and slipping out much fewer papers than the initial documents, her silence filled the room.

“Here.” She offered, her voice had toned down completely. The police officer's eyes lit up, unable to hold his smile back. Reigen made eye contact with him, as he took the sheets from the woman. For some odd reason, the officer and his non-verbal encouragement sent warmth through Reigen, the blonde inching a slight smile back before looking back down at Shigeo, who was clasping and crunching the corner of the paper that Reigen held in his hands. The tiny smile that Reigen mustered up, grew.

Looking at this set of papers, a lot fewer writing and legality issues.

‘New legal Guardian, sign here.’

Reigen shook as he took the pen and glazed it over the signature box.
‘This is what he needs.’
‘This is what I need.’
Thoughts racing, palm sweating, heart pumping.

‘Arataka Reigen’, and with that signature the woman Reigen had met that night's ties had been cut, ties he never knew existed. Suddenly Reigen felt lighter, which he hadn’t expected now that he was responsible for a whole baby human being, nevertheless, he didn’t feel wrong, in fact, it felt so right.
Would there be struggles? Yes, but for his baby he was willing to overcome that. Reigen was never strong-willed, his family knew this and slander was persistent. But for Shigeo, something inside Reigen changed, he’d always failed to change but it was different this time around. His strength to sign the papers was his first step, he had many more to go. But he’d do it for this child, The child he never even knew he had.

“Mr Reigen, I admire you for your decision.” The officer spoke up once more, uninterrupted. The detective had now turned, taking her briefcase and going to the door. Turning back to Reigen,

“So do I.” She commented, with a minimal smile. “Come now, we have cases to get on with.” She demanded gently to her officer, he stood up instantly and made his way to the door.

“Oh- escort Mr Reigen and his son out, please” she added, going on her outdated phone, and clicking on a call contact before walking away.
‘Son’, Reigen liked the ring to that, filling him with a foreign snugness that graced his chest.
Clicking Shigeo back into his pram, taking a gentle pinch at the baby's chubby cheek before standing upright.

“I apologize for my-”
“Don’t worry. It’s a tough situation and decision you’ve been put in. I understand”, the officer assured, escorting Reigen and the pram out of the small room once again.

The three made it down the narrow hallway, the silence was not as uncomfortable as it was in the room.

“So about Shigeo’s mother. I never even got her name. What will happen with her…” Reigen asked, questions of her running through his mind. Her face which had such significance to him for one night had completely faded from his vision, like a marker had been scribbled over the remnants that he was struggling to even piece together, the only piece left residing was Shigeo himself.

“Well, on top of hundreds of other abandonment cases, she’ll be put on the everlasting list to investigate.” The officer responded. Reigen tried to crack a laugh but couldn’t, it felt too serious to even create a comedic comment.

“You didn’t even get her name?” The officer questioned, looking to his right where Reigen walked beside him. Reigen continued looking forward, deciding against eye contact. Nodding.

“Yeah, she.. she might’ve told me, I’m quite a lightweight, to put it bluntly,” Reigen admitted, slight shame seeping into his confession. Rubbing his hand onto the back of his neck,
‘I sound like a total douchebag.’

The officer chuckled, opening the front doors of the present.
“No judgment here.” he joked putting his hands into a surrendering position. As the pair of men stepped outside, the sky now had a tint of orange to signify the beginning of the mid-afternoon. Reigen let out a sigh, gripping his hands on the handlebars of the pram.

“Thank you.” Reigen let out, keeping his eyes on the sky above them. Squinting to adjust to the sunlight, his demeanor still shaky and his posture slightly slouched in exhaustion from the emotional turmoil. Finally letting out a sigh, before turning to the officer.
“I believe in you Mr Reigen.” The officer gave him one final smile, and a pat on the shoulder before making his way back into the building. The click of the door snapped Reigen out of his hasty trance.
There the wind blew gently, the tree above Reigen rustling, dark green leaves falling from it and landing into the pram with Shigeo.
The infant gripped the two leaves in his palm tightly, putting them in his mouth for a taste.
“Absolutely not.” Reigen gasped, taking the leaves from Shigeo and replacing them with an already opened yogurt pouch which Shigeo surprisingly accepted as a replacement.

As they walked down the path of the unfamiliar side of Seasoning City, Reigen kept at a moderate pace, his mind on autopilot as he pushed the stroller. His brain hadn’t fully seized the choice he solidified just under an hour ago. His emotions came to a halt, pushing the pram into a small desolate grass area, with a couple of benches laid out. Reigen took a seat, wheeling the pram to be right beside him. Shigeo still had the remnants of the yogurt, as Reigen watched him intently, his mind began to wonder, spacing out.

Reigen never expected to have ever had a child, a son. Nor a partner. Reigen from a young age knew this, he knew he was incapable, and that always hurt his heart in ways he never knew he could hurt. Through his teenage years, this was solidified with consistent heartache due to the absence of connection within his short-lived relationships who quickly grew tired of the boy's obsolete emotions.
His mother was never pleased with Reigens mindset, by the age of twenty-two she was already trying to set him up on dates with her acquaintances' daughters, it never appealed to Reigen as it would for many men. His mother had always pestered him about the topic but she never knew the extent of Reigens uncertainty. The sheer thought of having to emotionally cater to a significant other when he couldn’t even do that for himself made the butterflies in his stomach flutter to the point of hurting his insides, like they nibbled his flesh to escape. The pressure wasn’t necessarily about settling down, merely having to find someone, the right one. Was there a ‘right one’ for Reigen?
It wasn’t as if Reigen was incapable of loving, he was incapable of thinking he was good enough for the people around him. Isolating himself, losing himself in his mind.

But with Shigeo it could be different, Shigeo wouldn’t judge him, Shigeo wouldn’t rip out and point out all his flaws or berate him for his incapabilities. No, Shigeo was his child, someone Reigen knew he could connect with, without fear of perception. As for Shigeo, Reigens goal remained, to be the best dad for his baby. One that could give advice, ward away his troubles, and of course help with homework.

Now that’s something Reigen could do.

Chapter Text

It was ‘9:20’, the office was bustling, printers spewing out important documents, the kettle boiling from the staff room, and the excessive noise of computer keys typing. Reigen was twenty minutes late, which was out of his ordinary. The man was usually early, so he would get through the most work to avoid dealing with it at home.

“Where on earth is Reigen..?” the navy-suited man spoke, Serizawa. Who was looking at his watch whilst stirring his coffee?.
“It’s not like him, is it?” a familiar co-worker replied to Serizawa, crouching down to the fridge and taking out a carton of pineapple juice, stabbing the hole and taking a large gulp.
“I wouldn’t be worried, he’ll show up. It’s Reigen.” The colleague spoke, taking another sip from his carton. Serizawa fidgeted with his hands, nodding.
Suddenly, a loud batter was ejected from down the hall, frantic footsteps, and a sudden quietening in the environment, bursting into whispers. Serizawa and his fellow workmate placed their drinks down on the counter, both going to peer out of the staff room. There was Reigen.

His bag was leaking with papers, some neat, some scrunched. His trousers and white shirt were creased, and his suit blazer and tie were nowhere to be seen. His hair was messy, his locks growing out and reaching his eyes. His eyebags had sunk even more than ever before, and his demeanor was a sense of exhaustion.

“Mr Reigen.” A serious and unsmiling voice rang from down the hall where Reigen had just trudged from. Reigen turned round, slowly and unbothered, gripping his bag and holding it to his chest in an almost defensive manner. Reigen's face was unbothered, however.

“You roll in…” The man began looking at his watch and making his way towards Reigen. “Half an hour late, no calls, and you arrive like… this.”
This was one of Reigen's bosses, who held everyone to an unrealistic or over-the-top standard for such a mediocre company.
He arrived in front of Reigen, staggering over the younger man, the boss's eyes piercing through Reigen's entire being. the blonde couldn’t do anything but clasp his lips together and look to the ground in slight shame.

“Have some decorum.” The boss growled lowly, continuing to look Reigen up and down. Reigen tried to swallow, but a lump in his throat had formed, choking him up and making his eyes water slightly. Composing himself, Reigen let his guard down with the bag and looked to his boss.
“M-my apologies. It won’t happen again.” He stuttered, his face still very indifferent to the situation. Without another word, his boss left Reigens' view.

Reigen felt like a schoolboy again. At a younger age, getting scolded was admirable amongst teens; you were going against the set system, rebelling. That was commendable among children. As an adult, it’s different, it’s shameful, and stomach-twisting, in a place where you’re meant to be treated as an adult, but you’re humiliated like a child, in front of everyone, and all you can do is hang your head in shame. Reigen, however, got over these feelings as quickly as they happened, letting out a fed-up sigh and turning to see his two co-workers peeking out of the staff tea room.

“Oh-” Reigen let out, seeing the two. He brought his hand up to gift a small wave to the two before walking past them and to his desk. There he sat, his reflection staring back at him with bloodshot eyes and dry lips. Booting up the computer, the fan blaring at the effort of turning on after a weekend.

*beep beep*, his phone buzzed from his pocket; it was his mother.
-

*A day prior”

Scrolling through endless websites of childcare, babysitters, and nurseries. Reigen's heart was in his mouth as his laptop sat heating his knee, with baby Shigeo sleeping, nestled on his hip between his arm.

‘I can’t even afford to take a week off… Not now that I have this little guy.’
Calling all the numbers listed within Seasoning City for childcare.

‘Childcare, most didn’t take on children as young as Shigeo.’
‘Babysitters, all out with Seasoning City.’
‘Nurseries need to be booked months in advance.’
He clasped his palm over his mouth as he looked at every website. It was useless. He was on a two-month waiting list for one of Seasoning City’s many nurseries, and that was the earliest they could muster.
Reigen didn’t let himself panic too much; the last time he had done that, it had oddly set Shigeo off.

Picking his baby up and setting his laptop down, Shigeo shot awake, letting out a small, inaudible yawn. Reigen had bought in a substantial shopping haul the same day, not willing to let his child eat instant ramen like he did daily. With vegetables boiling over the stove, small chopped up carrots floating around the bubbles, with broccoli pieces. In another pot were small chunks of penne pasta cooking to be as soft as possible.

“I’m not a great cook, kid. I’m sure you’ll like this.. And I got us some dessert,” Reigen blabbered, rocking Shigeo in one arm as he stirred the pot of pasta. Shigeo stared out the window, unable to understand or acknowledge his dad's words. Continuing with one hand, Reigen mixed up a tomato base for the pasta using an old whisk. Slowly pouring the penne into the bowl with the sauce and mixing it around, setting it by the window as the steam emitted off it, in an attempt to cool it down. Not noticing some spilled water that had congealed on the ground after transferring the pasta, making his way back to the other counter, the slippery substance caught Reigen off guard, his foot giving way underneath him.
‘shit’
Quickly securing Shigeo into both arms, taking him into his chest, and covering his small head. There, Reigen lay on the kitchen floor, the back of his blonde hair damp from the water, his body shaky, Shigeo lay on his chest as Reigen's hand lay over his small head of hair.

‘Stay calm’
‘He’s ok’

A small ‘gaa’ verbalised from Shigeo, causing Reigen to strain his neck upwards to face Shigeo directly. There the baby lay, reaching his tiny palms out, touching Reigens nose. Reigen stared at the baby, his hands still gripped around his tiny body from instinct. Shigeo cooed out little sounds of disinterest as he took his tiny hand over Reigen's face and cheek.

Finally, Reigen stood up, still covering Shigeo's head. As the baby looked up at him in his arms, Reigen placed a small peck on the top of his head. Shigeo let out a small splutter of coughy giggles.

Finally, the food was ready, there they sat back at Reigen's small dinner table, he was still to order in a highchair…
Sitting on Reigen's lap, a small teaspoon met Shigeo's mouth with lukewarm pasta and moist vegetables.
“You’re not going to take them, are you-” Reigen sighed, which was cut off as Shigeo took the food to his mouth and reached for more on the plate Reigen held in his other hand. Shigeo's small cheeks bloated, becoming those of a chipmunk with rations. Small little chews, drool, and hums of enjoyment.

“Hah, that’s a first!” Reigen congratulated, spooning more up for the baby. Reigen watched on as Shigeo dug into the mediocre cuisine he’d whipped up without hassle. Shigeo did not care about Reigen's cooking method or the bumps he made whilst making them, he was just happy to have a fulfilling meal.
Once the plate was cleared, Shigeos' hiccups arose. With an all-nighter of tutorials the previous evening, Reigen was sure he could handle it. Taking the baby back into his grasp and having his head hung over his shoulder as he petted his back gently and with care. The hiccups sounded almost painful as Shigeo kept croaking them out, his nose becoming sniffly, and his small grasp on Reigen flared.

“It’s ok…” Reigen whispered as he made his way into his room, with a brand new crib he was yet to set up sprawled on the ground. Bumping Shigeo up and down as he kept burping him. Slowly, Shigeo calmed down, and Reigen placed him on his bed with his rattle and a few other toys Reigen had picked up, one being a brand-new teddy. Reigen knelt on the ground beside the bed, watching as his baby rolled around the duvet, teddy in hand, and a small smile plastered on his face.
Beginning work on Shigeo's sleeping arrangements wasn’t an easy task, with the instructions being paragraphs among paragraphs of different languages, and the diagrams not making sense to the man. However, perseverance and commitment a along with having to change Shigeo's nappy three times within the hour, the crib was complete. It was a small wooden crib with a soft cushion with stars on the sheet. The crib also came with a mobile of small animals hanging from it, which Reigen attached to the overhead with pride, like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
Speaking of Ice Cream, Reigen remembered what he decided to get at the supermarket: a small pint of vanilla ice cream for Shigeo to try.
Sitting beside Shigeo's newly built crib, with a small portion of yellow coloured vanilla ice cream and a tiny spoon.

“This is ice cream. If you don’t love it now, you’ll love it later in life. Trust me on that one.” Reigen spoke, offering Shigeo a small serving. Shigeo wasn’t convinced, folding his arms and leaning into Reigen's stomach.
“Aw, come on, small guy, it’s delicious.” Reigen chuckled, placing Shigeo beside him and showing himself having a bite. This caused the infant to perk up and reach his palm to Reigen as if he wanted ice cream to be placed on his bare little hand. Reigen smiled, swooshing the spoon to Shigeo,
the spoon reaching Shigeo's mouth, which was welcomed. As soon as the cold adjusted to the baby's mouth, his small hands covered his lips, and his eyes squeezed shut. Swallowed. Shigeo blew his tongue out and wiped it with his hands, trying to get the cold off it.
“Brain freeze, yikes…” Reigen joked, placing the bowl down and picking Shigeo up, who now seemed unfazed by the brain freeze ordeal.

The late night began to set in, the street lights radiating a warm yellow from outside as the sky went a dark blue. Peaking out the blinds of his room, as he cradled Shigeo, whom he was attempting to put to slumber.
After ten minutes of cooing and shushing. Reigen put the youngling into his crib. Switching the room light off and clicking Shigeo's brand new night light on. The man let out a staggered sigh. Shigeo melted away his worries in the moment, but once he was alone again, thinking of ‘what ifs and what to do’s.’ Reigen felt as though a darkness engulfed his entire state of mind. Leaving his bedroom, and heading to the balcony, which he hadn’t been out on in days, since the night the baby had been left on his doorstep. A pack of newly bought cigarettes lay in his trouser pocket, unopened.

“Forgot I picked these up…” Reigen said with relief riddled in his voice, like the nicotine was going to be a medicine to his boiling anxiety. He stared at the box, almost in a trance, spacing out further than the stars above him.
His finger grazed over the brand name and the ripable cardboard piece to tear the box open. Blink, his gaze shot back behind him through the balcony door. No noise. Only an instinct to listen for Shigeo. Shigeo.

“What am I doing…?” Reigen said with distaste in his tone, as he looked back at the cigarettes before crushing them in his hand with very little hesitation. The dust crumpled all over his fists before flinging them over his balcony.
Rubbing his palms together to rid them of the remnants of the crushed cigarettes. There, Reigen stood outside, the wind minimal on his hair and his face experiencing a nice hint of coolness as he leaned his elbow onto the barrier. Many thoughts graced Reigen's mind, unlocking more possibilities as to what might be for him and his child. He knew he couldn’t do it all on his own, swallowing his pride in defeat. Letting out an annoyed groan, Reigen reached for his phone.

There, Shigeo lay under the dim light of his starry nightlight, his thumb in his mouth and his eyes closed tenderly. Reigen yawned, setting himself onto his bed, which was beside the crib.
And there he lay, hours into the night, staring up at his… Not so blank ceiling, with the night light projector creating floating moons and stars. His hand lay on his bare chest, thumping at an unsteady pace…

‘Did I make the right call?’

-

*back to Current day*

Still in a slight hypnotic state at his computer, the screen finally flashed on, Reigens face disappearing from the reflection. Snapping him out of his tired state.

*beep*, a new notification from his phone.

‘Mother’
“Shige is having a wonderful time, Arataka.”
*image insert*,

Loading the image up was a picture of Shigeo, playing with a box of Reigen's childhood toy cars in the same living room he grew up in. A smile grew over the man's face in awe, it was like seeing a miniature of himself… only with black hair, of course.

thoughts of unease crept into Reigens mind about his mother, due to their rocky relationship later on in his life. He knew… well, he hoped things could be different for Shigeo and herself. Unlike him.

Chapter Text

“Arataka...” a voice spoke, a slight gasp hitched in her throat. A slight quiver from her lip formed as she stared at her son while grasping the handle to her front door.

“Hey, Mom,” Reigen replied, unable to meet her eyes. His hands in his pockets gripped the fabric within his jacket.
The wind blew a slight breeze, sending leaves flying around Reigen's legs and up towards his hair, his locks breezing through the air as he kept his head low.

“Oh, come in.” His mother scoffed with slight amusement and a nervousness riddled in her voice. Reigen finally met eyes with her, his eyes slightly watered from the elements and his heightened emotions, biting his lip.

“What’s the issue, Arataka..?” His mother asked, peeping her body out more to lean out to him, he stepped back. This caused his mother to retreat halfway to the door once more, her son unreachable.

“I-I don’t want to burden you… y’know that right?” he said lowly, almost indecipherable to the fading ears of his aging mother.

“Of course not…” she replied, her eyes narrowed and slightly squinted in confusion as she stared at her fidgeting son.
It was silent for a moment before Reigen let out a large sigh, turning away from the door.

“Ara-” she began, before Reigen turned back with a handle in his hand connected to a pram, pulling it into view. Time froze, as if both parties were unable to comprehend the situation they were in. Reigen willingly seeing his mother after many years of minimal contact. His mother, mouth was agape, and her eyes were hurting from the unblinking shock that ran through her body as she locked her eyes onto the small baby within the pram.
In seconds, her eyes welled up.

“Did I miss this much, Arataka?” his mother cracked, finally exiting the house and straight for the pram where young Shigeo had his tongue sticking out.

“I missed this-” his mother cried, picking Shigeo up within his small blue blanket.
“I missed it too,” Reigen spoke up, watching on as his mother took his baby into her arms. She paused, looked up, tears flowing down her face with no expression.

“I don’t understand?”
“Let’s go inside, I’ll tell you everything.” Reigen began,
“I’ll make us tea,” he offered.

-

“So…you didn’t even get her name. I thought I raised you better than that.” His mother finally spoke up, blowing on her tea before taking a sip.
Reigen held Shigeo in his arms, holding him closer as she spoke.

“I guess I didn’t, you haven’t changed much since you were a teen,” She added. Reigen coughed, louder than he intended, causing Shigeo a small fright.

“It was dumb, I am more than aware of that,” he grimaced, stroking Shigeo's head. His mother tutted, taking a sip of her tea once more and placing it down onto a small plate, the ceramics making a satisfactory click.

“But from what you told me, Arataka, you seemed to of liked her?” his mother raised an eyebrow. Reigen's leg was bouncing up and down, with his patience dwindling and Shigeo's blatant boredom, which was obvious from the audibles.
‘grrs’ ‘ahhs’ ‘gaas’.

“So tell me? Why did you leave, or at least… not express your interest in pursuing… leaving a note doesn’t scream intent.”

“Because I didn’t have an interest.” Reigen bit back.

“You know my struggles with relationships,” Reigen muttered like a child in a fuss.
“Oh, do I know about it? I saw it all!” his mother chuckled.
“You and your sister are opposites in that asp-” she blabbered.
“Mom.”
“Sorry.”

A long wave of silence.

“And you’re keeping him?” She clarified, Reigen was caught off guard by this question. Simply because he thought it was obvious he was keeping the infant, and because his mother wouldn’t even let him put Shigeo into care even if he wanted to.

“I can’t imagine leaving him or… more so him leaving me,” Reigen admitted, continuing to cradle the small boy, placing a kiss on his head of hair.

“Good, now that’s a wise decision,” she smiled.

“I assume you’re here as you are unable to enroll him in a nursery?” his mother's smile turned into a soiled grin. Reigen bit his tongue, unable to look at his Mom.

“Arataka, of course I’ll look after him when you work,” she spoke up, attempting to spark some comedic value, breaking this short-lived silence she caused. Reigen let out a small smile, taking Shigeo to his chest and bouncing him up and down.

“Arataka support his head-” she chimed in, reaching her arm out. Reigen pulled him closer to himself and put his large hands over Shigeo's small head.

“I know I got it,” he nipped.

Yes, the decision was hard. To allow a person whom he had been very indifferent to back into his now shared life with his son was a hard bargain, but he needed it. Of course, he felt disingenuous, especially considering the strain on him and his family. Especially his mother. It was the most logical, keeping Shigeo a secret forever wouldn’t end well or go smoothly by any means, with Reigen a single parent and his family being a lot more unwilling if they had met Shigeo later on in his life, this is what Reigen had to do. Once again, in Shigeo's best interest.

-

A week had passed, and Reigen was adjusting to a still very ‘work in progress’ routine with his baby.

His eyes were restful, and the office quietened. Everyone was hard at work, Reigen lay his head in his hand, his breathing steady.
Clicking his mouse through a website unfamiliar to the computer's usual tasks.
‘Seasoning City Hospital’, the phone number appeared on the screen, his mouse hovering over it.

Taking the phone that sat on his desk, the wire trailing. He steadily and carefully clicked the numbers into the phone. Once all was typed in, his finger hesitated over the dial.
‘C’mon, Arataka, ’ he internally scoffed, clicking it.
The phone began ringing, the rings reverberated into his ear, and he flinched slightly at the suddenness.
*Click*, a woman began speaking.

“Hello, Seasoning City Hospital, how can I help?”
Reigen breathed out his nose and took a notepad out of his pocket, clicking his pen, in case he had to write things down.

“Hello, this is the father of a child born at the hospital. I was hoping to access his records.” Reigen spoke

“Hello. Can I please have your child's name?” the woman asked, the computer in front of her clicking.
“Shigeo Reigen.”
“Ah, Arataka Reigen, am I correct in saying this?” The woman asked, clicking onto her database.

“Correct,” Reigen affirmed to the woman.
The woman scanned through the database to find Shigeo's exact records, clicking her mouse more and more as she scanned through pages. Reigen tapped his desk, reaching for his cup of green tea and taking a sip, the tea slightly burning the roof of his mouth.

“I have it right here, Mr Reigen. Are there any inquiries you are looking to find out?” She asked, putting the phone on her shoulder and leaning her head into the receiver as she reached for paperwork within a drawer.

“I was wondering if I could have the file sent over to me?” Reigen questioned, and the lady fell silent for a moment before clicking her tongue.

“Yes, certainly, I’ll just need to verify it’s you before sending, is that alright?”
“Of course,” Reigen replied,

After a longer call than Reigen had expected, with his ID, passport, and many more personal identification sprawled onto his desk, he sighed, placing the phone down. Looking back at his computer screen and shutting the hospital's tab off, he returned to his never-ending cycle of emails that resided in his inbox from his boss’s deadlines, colleagues' pleas for help on input for a presentation they left last minute, and so on.

*Bleep*
‘New mail’ - ‘Seasoning City Hospital Records’,

“That was quick,” Reigen chuffed. Clicking on it, a PDF file with a lengthy automated message appeared. Shigeos's record with a minimal summary of his appearance followed, along with his vaccines, suspected allergies, and potential genes that will be passed down. Not much was filled within these brackets.
There it was, the picture of newborn Shigeo lined up with all of his records,
His eyes were tightly shut, his hands even smaller and clasped together, cradled in arms, his mother's arms. Her face, however, was not shown; the only thing shown was her gentle hands holding Shigeo up and the hair trailing from her shoulder. An overwhelming cloud of sadness and guilt riddled Reigen's mind, and he felt ill.
Scanning through Shigeo's records intently, his finger scrolling slowly.
Information such as his birthday, the twelfth of May, his mother's undecipherable signature, and the father's signature box remaining absent.

Reigen grimaced.
He felt like such a failure, although it was a drunken decision and Reigen had noutirously run from his problems, this one, this would’ve been different, could’ve been different. But once again, without realising he had run from a growing possibility, he left her after realising he’d made a potential mistake; his lack of trust in himself to make a genuine connection was his weakness. She inherently knew this throughout their night of getting to know one another, inevitably assuming he would want nothing to do with Shigeo.
Although Reigen probably wouldn’t have played along with the role of ‘happy family’, he would’ve wanted his son,
It all felt so wrong.

And yet no matter how long Reigen scrolled, it was only him mentioned as the guardian, updated under a week ago. It was as if she didn’t exist, like she had just vanished. This was stumping.
Reigens eyes wandered over the screen, his pupils watering from his lack of blinking. He had read everything he could, scrolling back up to the picture. Reigen felt as though he’d missed out on a lifetime, although it was only that of a year. Footsteps approached on the carpet outside Reigen's office space. The blonde paying no attention to it.

“Reigen, would you like a coffee?” A familiar voice asked, peering into his office unsuspectingly and with a timid demeanor as usual.
Reigen blinked, quickly snapping himself out of it, as he looked at his computer screen, then at Serizawa, his heart dropping.

“Hah- um, no thanks, Serizawa. I have my green tea right here.” Reigen staggered, his eyes darting between the man and his screen, trying to find the ‘X’ to close the file. Serizawa's mouth went slightly agape in confusion at Reigen's sudden panic, then he saw the baby photo just as Reigen shut it off.
Serizawa cocked his head, looking back down at Reigen.

“Is everything alright…?” The navy-suited man asked with genuine concern, remaining half in and half out of the small office, questioning. Reigen scratched his head, his fingers grasping his blonde hair for a moment. He looked up at Serizawa with a disoriented smile.

“Of course,” He replied, lifting his hands and doing a finger gun at the other man before turning back to his computer. Serizawa smiled back, brushing off the tiny glance he’d captured of the image on the other man's screen; it was not his business, but to see Reigen act in such a manner was quite different, to say the least.
Serizawa began walking away with an empty mug in his hand.

“H-Hey Serizawa!” Reigen called, his voice still slightly cracked, before coughing to clear his throat. Serizawa stopped in his tracks and turned back to Reigen, peering back through the door.
‘Should I ask him.. Beg him? To not repeat anything he saw to anyone. Play it off… no, I’ve already gotten his attention. Damn it.’
Reigen internally sighed, realising his heightened panic had made the mess bigger.

“Want to go grab food during the lunch hour?” Reigen asked, now a lot more composed and convincing, gulping his green tea. Serizawa's eyebrows raised in slight surprise.

“Y-yea sure, I could do with proper food.. Rather than the sloppy vending machine stuff-” Serizawa replied, chuffed.

“Great, see you in an hour!” Reigen interrupted, before waving and turning back to his computer, feeling the aftermath of sweat on his forehead and armpits.

On the exact second the clock hit the next hour, Serizawa was standing patiently outside Reigen's office. The blonde flung on his dark brown coat over his black suit, covering his disgruntled and unironed attire.

“It’s not like you to get lunch,” Serizawa smiled, trying to break the silence and have a conversation. Reigen smiled weakly, turning to the other man as he placed his flip phone within his pocket.

“It always just completely slips my mind, I have so much going on as it is,” Reigen replied, coughing up a short laugh.

“Oh, is that so.. hmm, workload, family?” Serizawa asked sincerely, trying to be there for his colleague. Reigen paused.

Previous Night -

“C’mon, Shigeo, it’s ok, I’m here. Shh shh.” Reigen hummed, the digital clock on his bedside table read ‘4:33’, and he frowned.

Shigeos' cries echoed through the small apartment, the lights dim, and a lullaby emitting from a small baby product Reigen had purchased.
The baby's eyes were filled with upset, for the life of him, new dad Reigen could not figure out the issue.
He made a small bottle of formula, which he should be completely weaned off of having at all, didn’t work.
The man tried doing funny expressions, dances, and noises to humour Shigeo, but this pushed the baby further to cry. Humbling the man immediately. All of that just to result in Reigen appearing like a complete clown to his infant son.
He even got Shigeo's teddies out, all of which the boy loved dearly, not tonight, however, and grabbed one of the teddies' arms and flung it at Reigen's head. It did not hit Reigen; it plummeted to the floor instantly. After the baby's ruthless attack, he rolled back over and continued sobbing, his crackling little cries filling Reigen's ears with anxiety.
He took Shigeo onto his bed with him, lying him beside himself, the lamp on the cabinet highlighting Shigeo's small face, all blotchy from crying. Reigen’s eyes softened as his son continued to sniffle. Taking him in his arms, laying the baby on his bare chest, warm. Shigeo liked that. Reigen could feel the little tears from Shigeo on his neck, which he wiped away swiftly with a gentle tap of his finger. His sniffs and snots continued for a few more minutes and then… silence.

‘5:00’, the digital clock swiftly turned.
Reigen didn’t have a single bit of anger in his body, only relief. He’d rather never sleep, so Shigeo would be ok.

Back to Current time -

“Oh. nothing, just up late into the night.” Reigen replied, yawning as he made his way out of the office and brushed past Serizawa.
Making their way out of the building, Reigen was not too fussed about food, however, he wouldn’t mind a nice portion of sushi.

“How about the place down the road that makes fresh sushi? I could go for a portion of nigiri.” Reigen spoke, turning to Serizawa, awaiting a response. The darker-haired man blinked, opening the main doors to the office to be met with rain.

“Now that you mention it, I would love sushi. I haven’t had it in quite a while….” Serizawa replied, clicking his white umbrella up that Reigen hadn’t even noticed he’d brought.

“Great, this way.” Reigen pointed, and the two men headed into the partially emptied street and down the wet concrete, which seeped into their shoes and dampened the bottom of their slacks.

The sushi place was around a ten-minute walk, nothing the two men couldn’t handle with light rain. The walk consisted of Reigen and Serizawa exchanging their current work and the stress it put on them.

“The boss's workload has me on through to late nights, no pay,” Reigen complained, trying to spark a casual conversation, turning to Serizawa.

“What’s with you, though? I can tell you hate the job just as much as I.” Reigen chuckled, pointing to the man. Serizawa choked on air, coughing and gripping his umbrella.

“I don’t hate it by any means.”
“Cut it out!” Reigen laughed, “C’mon.”
Serizawa pondered, his mouth shut as they continued walking.

“Uh, it is just my team. They get frustrated easily...don’t talk to me, I just get on with the work, nothing much.” Serizawa admitted, shrugging and looking to the ground, not seeming to care much.
Reigen raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to the other man, a pang of guilt rang through the younger man as it was evident Serizawa had attempted in many ways to befriend him when his team wouldn’t.

“Eh, well, we’re getting sushi and they aren’t right?” Reigen said with a forced nonchalant tone riddled in his voice. Serizawa grinned.
The two arrived at the sushi place, a small building, however warmly lit.

*ring ring*

“One moment, can you just order me some Nigiri?” Reigen asked, handing Serizawa money from his wallet as he leaned the phone on his shoulder and kept his head tilted, keeping it in place. Serizawa nodded, watching as Reigen headed back out into the rain.

“Hey Mom, what’s up? Is Shigeo ok?” The man asked as soon as he hit the accept button.

“Shige is absolutely fine, we’re just about to have lunch.” The older woman spoke into the phone, whilst mixing something, as Reigen could hear the clattering of ceramic and metal.
Reigen sighed,

“So, is there anything you need to tell me?” Reigen sighed with a slight annoyance,

“Lose the attitude, Arataka!” She hissed through the phone, causing Reigen to flinch and tighten his eyes shut.

“Your sister would love to meet Shige! Can I have her over to meet him at some point?” His mother asked with a complete tone change.

“I-I’m not sure, maybe? Just not today. I don’t want to overwhelm him with new people, considering it was just him and his mother.” Reigen pondered.
His mom rolled her eyes over the phone, scoffing.

“She left him, Arataka! Shigeo needs more,” his mother piped up once more, the phone crackling beneath Reigen's ear due to the limited reception and his mother's slightly raised voice.
Not even the first week in, as Reigen expected, his mother was attempting to infringe on not just his life but Shigeo's now. Deeming she knew what was best, deeming that she had the answer to every problem, big or small. When in fact she didn’t, she never would, but her facade never got past Reigen, and he certainly wouldn’t let Shigeo undergo it.

“I can take Shigeo someplace else? That sounds like a more appropriate arrangement.” Reigen spoke after a long pause. A slight grunt could be heard over the phone.

“I-I’, Arataka, I just want to give Shigeo-”

“I know, I do too. But to do that, you need to support my decisions, his father's decisions.” Reigen pointed out before the phone line dimmed, and the reception had cut off.
‘Shit’ Reigen thought in annoyance, putting his arm into the air as if that would bring the connection back to his old flimsy phone, without noticing, Serizawa was standing behind Reigen with two portions of sushi in hand, the nigiri just as he requested.

“Hah, how much did you hear?” Reigen spoke monotonously, reaching for his sushi box and taking it gently, he’d blown it. Serizawa looked down at his portion of food, unsure of how to answer, not wanting to upset.

“W-well, I didn’t know you were a father!” Serizawa smiled widely,
“That’s amazing!” He added, opening his sushi and breaking his chopsticks, trying to defuse the situation. Reigen choked, putting his hand into his pocket.

“I-I didn’t want anyone to know.” Reigen sighed, a sense of defeat in his voice. Serizawa chewed on his sushi rolls, swallowing before laughing quietly.

“I mean, I saw your computer screen. To be honest, I didn’t connect the dots, but it did make me think.” Serizawa admitted, taking another roll out of his box with his skilled chopstick use and taking one to his mouth. Reigen frowned.

“Tch-” Reigen snapped, opening his box, proceeding to frustratingly eat his sushi. Serizawa watched the other man, his mind a bit blank as to what to say or do. Before he could say anything…

“Just don’t tell anyone, ok?” It wasn’t meant to happen, and I’m already being shamed enough by my mother as is,” he sighed, turning to the street they’d come from. The rain had stopped, and Reigen was ready to cut the conversation and leave.

“I-I wouldn’t do that, Reigen, why are you being shamed? Isn’t this a thing to congratulate?” Serizawa asked, his inexperience conveying a slight innocence to him. Reigen smiled, exhaustedly.

“Remember that woman? At the bar.. A couple of years back?” the blonde admitted, taking his phone out to see a message from his mother.
‘Phone back soon’
Which he ignored swiftly, placing the phone in his suit pocket.
The sentence was going round and round in Brunette's head, computer noises and static would’ve been audible if one could read Serizawa's brain.
He halted, gasping.

“You had-!” Serizawa spoke up, his voice hoarse and cracked.
“Yes! Don’t finish that sentence!” Reigen groaned, face plaming himself, rubbing his eyelids as he did so.

“Wait- why is that so shocking to you?” Reigen questioned, with full seriousness and slight concern. He turned to his taller colleague, who had a straight face and non-blinking eyes, and shrugged.

“J-just not something I’d know about,” the man answered honestly. Reigen didn’t expect anything less from the overly nervous and quiet man. The blonde chuckled a sad laugh.

“Off topic… anyway, what’s his name?” Serizawa smiled again, very intrigued, and his judgment of Reigen being non-existent. The younger man could feel this, his chest slightly warm.

“Shigeo. His name is Shigeo. He was left on my doorstep late into the night, and when I went to hand him in, well, I got some pretty big news that he was, in fact, mine.” Reigen spoke, mustering out a laugh.
Serizawa's mouth wasn’t open in shock, but more was a twinge of acceptance in his expression.

Reigen went on to explain to the other man his whole situation, he couldn’t do this or vent to his mother about the emotional turmoil it had put on him. She’d blame it all on him.
The impact of the circumstances had taken a toll on Reigen's professional life, even in the little time that Shigeo had been with him. From arriving late to work or his constant declining to go out with co-workers, not that he went out much before, but he was insistent on rejection.
His mother was a whole other kettle of fish that weighed on Reigens' shoulders and mind, the stress he felt handing over his baby to the woman who loved him but didn’t ‘like’ him. The constant scrutiny he would face from her, the disappointing lectures, and awkward dinners after his sister had moved out. Why did he let her look after Shigeo? He had little to no choice, but it still felt like he could’ve avoided it.
The man went on to explain to Serizawa that although it was a hard pill to swallow, he wanted Shigeo in his life, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything. Therefore, his social and professional life would be somewhat tainted. But as long as Reigen can keep Shigeo safe, fed, and loved, then there isn’t an issue.
The taller and older colleague took in Reigen's words, commending the younger for his choice.
Soon they arrived back at the office, Reigen halted outside the main door, turning to Serizawa.

“Hey, thanks for listening. I don’t usually have that-” Reigen admitted with a straightforward attitude. Serizawa's neck went back slightly in surprise, rubbing the back of his head.

“Well- I-you’ve always been genuine with me, Reigen,” Serizawa replied, putting his umbrella down and to his side.
“And if you need any help with young Shigeo, please ask. I won’t mind,” the man smiled with empathy. Reigen's eyes widened slightly, turning to the door, his expression subtle but grateful.

“That would be nice.”

Chapter Text

The time had come to go and retrieve Shigeo from his grandmother's care, and work in the office was over. The evening was colder, immiting a sad purple into the building as Reigen packed his bag up. The support offered from Serizawa was like a plaster on a large open wound; it was appreciated, but there still seemed to be a void Reigen couldn’t decipher.
He huffed, chucking the bag over himself, before clicking his phone open to be met with ‘17;40’ and ‘5 new images from mom’, all of which were Shigeo. Reigen didn’t open them, not wanting to stall his time inside the office any longer than he had to be. Walking into the street like he did every day and every night, it was quieter than usual. He wasn’t complaining.
Walking down to a more central area of the city, his head tilted downwards and his expression blank. The cold air seeped into the front entrance of his jacket, which he had not zipped up, causing him to tense up and his eyes to water. Blurred music could be heard in the background of Reigen's hearing, turning he saw the bar. The bar he’d gone to a couple of years back, and had met her. It’d never dawned on him to return as he simply didn’t want to. Peering in as he walked past, it was nearly empty with the two bartenders talking to one another, looking fed up with the lack of life within the environment. Reigen pushed on, not wanting to get too close as he continued on his walk. Approaching a supermarket, Reigen entered, the warm air going against his body, and he welcomed it as he took a small basket.
Scurrying down the sections in a slight rush, he picked up basic produce such as cabbage, carrots, with some fruits and berries.

“Hmm, I should try him on some different meals,” Reigen said aloud, picking up baby pancake mix, more pasta shells, and different packets of meat. His basket was filled to the brim with Shigeo's meals, including animal-shaped biscuits which Reigen admittedly thought were cute. Going down one more section of the store, he was met with a small rack of different flowers. There sat some white lilies, which the man scooped up, trying to act natural as he did so.
As he reached the counter, he picked up a single cup of ramen for himself, setting it down on top of the rest of his shopping before approaching the cashier.

Leaving the shop, two bags in hand, the night was closing in as the sky began to darken into a harsh dark blue. The bags had a slight strain on Reigen's fingers, not that he couldn’t handle it, but with the cold air, it became quite a nuisance. As he passed stations, apartments, bus stops, and flipped over trash cans. He’d taken a different route in attempts to get to the train station quicker to commute to his mother's house, who lived on the far and well-kept side of the city. Crossing a set of traffic lights, Reigens' surroundings seemed to dim the people around him, becoming a blur as he approached a specific building. Gripping the two bags within his hands and looking up, he was right, it was her place. His lip scrunched as he contemplated entering the complex.

‘What was the worst that could happen?’
As he entered, he was met with two separate doors. He recalled hers was to the right, he was certain. He put the two bags of shopping into his right hand, his work bag hanging over his shoulder, as he held the flowers in his left.
He felt the same type of anxiety he’d felt calling the hospital the same day, his hand was trembling over the door as it had with the phone.
A weak knock, he breathed in.
Before he did two more prominent knocks, he stood back.

‘You look pathetic right now. What will she think if she opens the door?’
‘Jeez, who did I leave my son with?’
‘God, you’re stupid for this.’
Self-deprecation was a bad habit the young man had, but it wasn’t as simple to get rid of as his nicotine addiction was.

He finally heard a key unlock the door. Reigen felt as though he was about to throw up his own heart, one of his ears ringing slightly.
There, the door opened, as he opened his mouth to speak, he was met with a face, a face he had no recollection of. Another woman, around his age, her hair a caramel brown as opposed to the pitch black, a clear and slightly tanned face as opposed to the pale with freckles. The woman looked tinged with confusion as she stared at the man holding flowers. Reigen swallowed, his throat dry.

“Sorry, I think you have the wrong apartment.” She smiled at Reigen, a different smile.
It wasn’t her. Of course, it wasn’t her.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but-” Reigen began. The woman on the other side of the door now had a slight annoyance on her face.
‘Is this guy a weirdo?’
Reigen sensed the woman's displeasure with the situation, coughing.

“Sorry, she… obviously doesn’t live here anymore. My apologies.” Reigen spoke, bowing to the woman whose face was now more concerned than irritated, opening the door wider and reaching out slightly, the jewelry on her arm jingling as she did so.

“Oh- sorry about that,” the woman spoke under her breath, She looked at Reigen who was now stepping away, his head turning.
“Do you not have her number?”
Reigen spun back around, his face straight, and was slightly taken aback.

“Why would I of come to the door of where she used to live, if I had her number?” He asked. The woman he was talking to, the one residing in Shigeo's mother's old home, frowned. Reigen turned around, his heart rate going back to a steady pace, but all the blood in his hands circulating as he gripped the flowers in one hand. He felt as though something was tying a knot within his chest, and it clogged his throat. Fighting it, Reigen exited the back onto the dimly lit street where the orange street lights blared down onto him, emphasising his blonde hair into a harsh orange.
He looked up through the buildings as he walked down the street. The breaths escaping his mouth were harsh and slow, his eyes squinted as he held the three bags and flowers, focusing on the stems, his eyes trailing towards the lilies, which were hardly opened yet, the large white petals peeking out. The street was empty, he looked around for a moment before harshly dropping the lilies onto the cold concrete ground with a very defeated expression, conjuring his face. Unopened and without water, the lilies had no chance of ever sprouting. No thanks to Arataka.

All he could hear was the ambience of the nearby train station, with the screeching of the tracks and the wind clashing. As he stood on the empty platform, his train approached, with very few people on his section, however, he remained standing, too phased by what he had just tried to do. He found it quite comedic, he thought he could just show up at her door with some lousy flowers? Now he was grateful she had moved; it would’ve looked stupid. But the question still stood: should he try to find her out or just protect his peace, however much peace there is left in the man's life? His thoughts halted; it was his stop. It had been such a quick ride.

-

Knocking on the front door to his mother's house, she answered within mere seconds to be met by her son, whose hair was messy from the wind, his tie loosened from his neck, and the bags he held slowly trickling to his fingertips.

“You look-”
“How’s Shigeo?” He interrupted, before brushing past his mother and back into his warm childhood home. There, the little boy lay on the carpet, staring at his teddy bears. Reigen’s mood shifted almost instantly.

“There he is!” he laughed, picking his son up into his arms and taking him to his chest. Shigeo cooed and let out a giggle as his father embraced him. Shigeo knew his dad. Reigens mother stood at the doorway of the room watching on with her arms crossed and a slight smile.

“He always cries after you leave, yknow?” She broke the silence, tutting walking up to the pair and tapping Shigeo on the nose which he responded to with a sniffle and putting his two tiny hands over his nostrils.
“Hey-” Reigen began.

“Would you like to stay for dinner, Arataka?” his mother asked, now trailing into the kitchen area of the home. He looked down to his son, who was now snuggled up to his chest sucking his thumb. Rubbing his thumb up and down the back of Shigeo's head.
“I’ve got dinner covered Mom, gonna get him home,” Reigen replied after a moment of thought, pulling the pram from the corner of the room and placing some blankets in there with Shigeos teddy and rattle, and then placing the baby himself in.

“What-? Ramen cups and mushed pre-packed baby food?” His mother hissed with a condescending tone from the other room. Reigen frowned, placing the bags in a storage underneath the pram.

“I feed my kid home-cooked meals, you realise that, right?” Reigen asked, beginning to head to the front door with the pram, his mother now with her apron on peeking out the kitchen with a sour expression and waving her hand.

“Do what you want, Arataka! I’ll see you on Monday.” She spoke, walking to the door to bid farewell to her son and grandson.
“Goodnight Shige,” she spoke comfortingly, stroking his black hair. Turning to Reigen who didn’t want to meet eyecontact with her particularly.

“You too, Arataka.” She grinned, pinching her son's suit.

-

The arrival home was warm, and Reigen had fixed the place up more for a suitable environment for Shigeo. With all of the lights being fixed and the heating being turned up more for comfort. The apartment wasn’t in such a state as it was just a month ago, Shigeo had begun to have an impact on Reigen, positively. Taking Shigeo's small shoes off and placing them on a rack, lifting the little one out of his pram, he swung him up onto his Shoulder. Both smiles, wide. Reigen walked to the kitchen, Shigeo clinging as he giggled. Reigen placed the boy down onto the ground beside him, bending down to look into the cupboards for seasonings.

“What do we want tonight, then? I picked up some meat, so shall we try some of it? With vegetables on the side.” Reigen blabbered to the oblivious Shigeo, who just looked at his father whilst sitting flat, holding his feet.
“I got you some new vegetables like leeks and tomatoes, I think you’ll maybe… like them, I don’t know, you babies are confusing sometimes,” Reigen complained, reaching into a taller shelf to retrieve a pot and some utensils to begin dinner.
Shigeo rocked back and forth on the ground, slowly becoming disinterested, not that he could be interested in what his father was saying, considering he couldn’t yet comprehend language.

“Dinner will be ready in ten minutes, does that sound-” Reigen began as he turned around with his seasonings and pots in hand. He froze, looking towards the doorway of the kitchen. Shigeo slowly adjusted himself as he put his little arms onto the frame, balancing, wavering, and mumbling incoherent grumbles. His two little feet shaking, trying to find a balance on the ground he’d only ever traversed on with knees and hands. Finally letting go of the frame, there the little one stood, his hands and arms flailing about as he tried to keep himself upright. He looked back up at Reigen with a small smile. Reigen dropped all the equipment onto the counter, his eyes locked onto Shigeo, and he allowed silence to fill the room for a moment. Shigeo stood, his hands to his side now, but his little body was waving back and forth.

“Hey, do you wanna try walking towards me?” Reigen offered, putting his arms out under a metre away from his baby. Shigeo muffled, taking his hand to his nose and wiping it, as he did so he took one step.

“Well done, come to dad,” Reigen beamed, the excitement in his heart was uncontainable, and any sort of negative emotion Reigen had felt that day vanished. Shigeo stepped another, almost stumbling over this time however managed to keep his balance and continue. He was only a couple more steps from Reigen who now had tears welling up in his eyes.

“C-cmon, you can do it!” Reigen laughed through a slightly cracked voice. Shigeo completed his final two steps very quickly before falling into Reigen’s arms and letting out a tired huff. Reigen held him, his little breaths tired.

“I’m so so proud of you!” Reigen giggled, sitting on the floor with his legs in a basket as he held Shigeo on his lap. He scruffed his small head of hair. Shigeo clapped.

“Y’know, I was going to save them for tomorrow. But I bought some chocolate animal biscuits, I think you deserve some after dinner.” Reigen chuckled, rubbing Shigeo's cheek with his thumb. A high-pitched giggle emitted from Shigeo before Reigen completely embraced the baby into him.

“I wouldn’t change this for the world,” Reigen whispered as his son gripped his shirt as he hugged him, remaining on the kitchen floor where Reigen wanted the hug to last forever. His breath staggered as he held his son, before breaking away after a minute to be met with Shigeos large brown eyes staring at him with a big cheeky smile.

“Let’s get you fed, little guy.” Reigen coughed, blinking his watery eyes away as he finally retreated from the kitchen floor that he didn’t want to leave. He wanted to continue embracing the small being, his baby. He wanted to cherish him evermore.

-

It was bedtime, with a belly full of new cuisine and animal biscuits, Shigeo was very sleepy. Yawning as he gnawed on his rattle with little to no force. Reigen had his arm curled round the sleepy child whilst his free hand was typing emails on his laptop, his lap heating up by the minute due to the usage of the old piece of metal junk. Slowly, Shigeo went limp, letting go of his rattle as he fell asleep within Reigen's arms. The blonde followed suit, clicking his laptop shut as quietly as he could and placing it on his bedside cabinet, switching his lamp off at the same time. Before gently placing Shigeo in his crib and turning on the night light.

Reigen was tired, no, exhausted. It all felt worth it somehow. Shigeo was happy and that’s all he could want. Reigen was alone with his thoughts once again, looking over to his window, which had the light from the street peeking through the blinds and onto the man's face.
His mind wandered back.

There he lay, bare. In a bed that he’d never resided in, with white curtains blowing from the window, and the blue sky evident from the brightness. His head pounded, and his throat ached from the vomiting that occurred the previous night. An annoyance rang through Reigen as he realised he’d slept with her, not considering the potential implications that could occur, just that he knew it wasn’t going to work out because of him, because of the way he is. He knew she’d deserved better.
She slept her eyes peacefully shut, and every time Reigen recalled this memory, her face became blurry and more disoriented. Like he wasn’t allowed to remember her, like how the only parts of her he was allowed to see were now residing within Shigeo's features. Then his brain cuts back to his son, his son who he’d just witnessed the previous hour take his first steps.
Maybe, he wasn’t meant to find her, herself. Maybe he was meant to find her within Shigeo.

Reigen somehow felt at peace with that, deciding that from then on. His focus would be completely on Shigeo and not the woman who brought him into this world. It felt difficult to let that go, but it was blaringly obvious she didn’t want to be found, so he’d let it be. If she wanted to, she could find them.

There, he turned his head to Shigeo's crib, who was sleeping in tranquility. The night light circling the room, the patterns of moons and stars rolling over the baby's face. Reigen now stared at the ceiling, his fringe falling back over his head, and his body warm.

“Everything’ll work out. It will, yeah,” he whispered as he watched his child's night light circle. He smiled, his hands lay on his chest, fidgeting with his fingers.
Sleep wasn’t a usual thing for Reigen lately as he eyeballed the window, the ceiling, and the crib, or thought of his work, what he needed to do for this week, and how he could maybe get out of the hellhole of the dead-end job.
But tonight, he felt his eyes grow heavy as his mind finally rested. His hands flattened out and fell off his chest and to his sides. He was too tired to think any longer, finally letting go. Letting himself fall into a deep sleep without trying to shake awake.

The two slept harmoniously, as the streets outside quietened as the time drew into the early hours, cars stopped and buses were now terminated. With the only sound being from the minimal wind, which the window shielded them from and an owl which called through the night.

Shigeo slept, wrapped up in himself like a little ball, and Reigen was sprawled over his bed, like a tired dad would be.

It was getting better.

Chapter Text

Months had passed, and Reigen had finally adjusted to his new life, his reality like regulating into hot boiling water. Shigeo was over two years old and the same as ever, fussy and filled with small laughs. His birthday was small, with a vanilla cupcake and two little candles, and plenty of toys from Reigen's and a drawing pad gifted from Serizawa, which had Shigeo constantly drawing absolute nonsense. He’d also begun talking, minimally; however, it was something.

-

It was a quiet night in, and as Shigeo waited for his dinner as he sat impatiently in his highchair.

“D-da!” he hiccuped, Reigen once again, reacted the same way as when Shigeo had first walked. Dropping what he was doing and leaping towards the dining table where his son sat with his fists in little balls and his face scrunched. Crouching to the level of his baby in the seat and giving him a huge smile.

“Wanna say that again?” Reigen asked, raising his eyebrows, his voice slightly shaky. Shigeo squinted and opened his mouth. Reigen was hopeful until he felt a wet sneeze land on his face. How considerate.

“Maybe I’ll see you say it another-” Reigen began, wiping his face with his sleeve, chuckling to himself. Before he was cut off.

“Daa!” Shigeo uttered, reaching his arms out to his dad. Reigen remained crouched, bewildered, before scooping his baby into his arms and tickling his small tummy gently with his fingers and laughing hysterically, almost jumping in the air, but restraining himself.

-

Nights had become quieter, and Shigeo adjusted, crying and disturbances became smaller as he grew bigger. Reigen couldn’t quite keep up with Shigeo's rate of growth; it was almost time to enlist him into kindergarten, which had Reigen’s stomach in knots that tightened and butterflies that flapped rapidly.

The sun was up, with the summer air leaking into the apartment, nice and warm. It was Shigeo's first day of kindergarten, and he wanted him in as early as possible, for the sole reason of his mother, his mother's behaviour over the months had become somewhat troubling and overbearing, with threats of taking Shigeo away from Reigen's custody.

Reigen grimaced at recalling the argument that had just happened in the past day.

“You’re always at work, even at the weekends, you're doing overtime!” his mother squinted.

“Do you think I’m doing it for fun? I’m doing it for him.” Reigen spoke, crouching to pick up the now uncomfortable-looking Shigeo.

“You think you’re doing what's best for him, you’re failing him.” his mother practically hissed, approaching her son and attempting to rip her grandson from his arms. Reigen tightened without hurting his baby, keeping his Shigeo within his grasp and staring at his mother with an anger like no other.

“Get the hell away?” Reigen yelled in confusion.

“You want me away?! Well, it won’t just be me that goes.” She snapped as she eyeballed her son, pointing at Shigeo as she made her snark comment. Reigen bit his tongue, picking up the baby bag full of diapers, food, and his toys. His mother had backed off and was now a few steps away. Reigen looked over at her, his face riddled with a sense of defeat.

“It seems like you can’t stand me. Why should I trust you with him?” Reigen sighed before exiting through the front door, baby in hand. His mother tried to shout after him, but the door clicked shut, and her chance had slipped through her fingers like water.

Kindergarten, in retrospect, was a much better option.

-

“Up you get, little guy!” Reigen smiled, lifting Shigeo from his crib, and was met by a small yawn with tiny little teeth that were still growing. Shigeo groaned and rubbed his eyes as he perched over his dad's shoulder on the walk to the kitchen.

“First day of kindergarten calls for some blueberry pancakes with yogurt, in my opinion.” Reigen grinned, pulling the frying pan off its hook whilst still supporting Shigeo's bottom. Turning on the old rustic radio, which emitted static and quickly cut to some classic jazz, which played as a good source of background noise, combined with the small twitter of birds that came from the open window.

After a couple of failed attempts, Reigen had made two perfect little pancakes for Shigeo, cutting some strawberries and bananas up for the side and mixing them within a Greek yogurt and a small cup of milk, because Shigeo loves milk.

“Dad! Berry!” Shigeo blabbered over to Reigen from his high chair as he chewed on the juicy, vibrant strawberry. Reigen had his laptop open on the small dining table, scrolling through some emails. A message from the kindergarten had come through about Shigeo's registration for today, which sent a sense of warmth through Reigen.

“Your baby school is messaging me about you,” Reigen chatted, booping Shigeo's nose as he typed, and Shigeo had his whole hand in his mouth with pancake slop dropping out. Reigen smiled at his baby and reached for his steaming green tea that sat beside his laptop…it was not beside his laptop? It was now on Shigeo's side of the table, Reigen's eyebrows furrowed, and he reached for it, gripping the rim.

“Nice prank.” Reigen pointed, obviously joking as he took a sip. He must’ve misplaced it.

-

The journey to the Kindergarten wasn’t long from home, within walking distance, and with Shigeo able to walk, they left the stroller behind. The small boy kicked stones as they walked down the street in his new clothes. A small pair of brown trousers and a yellow shirt with monkey faces on it, Reigen was reluctant, but Shigeo seemed very eager to get this shirt.

“Are you excited?” Reigen asked as he pushed the button at the traffic lights, gripping his son's hand tighter. Shigeo put his small index finger to his lip and looked down in thought as he and his father crossed the road.

“Mmm no,” Shigeo hummed, before looking up at Reigen as they reached the other side of the road, before shrugging. Reigen looked ahead to the emptier streets; the morning rush hour hadn’t started yet. Shigeo waddled beside him. Reigen's pace was slow, not to tire his son out. Unexpectedly clouds overcast the sky covering the sun, with the wind at a minimum, and from a distance, the laughter of small children could be heard. As the pair approached a corner, turning, they were met with a small building, fenced up, and plenty of children by their mothers' sides within the gates.
The blonde approached the gate, slipping Shigeo into his arms, awaiting a teacher.

“Hello! You must be Arataka Reigen?” The older woman spoke, looking at her clipboard from behind the gate, as she slipped a small key into the lock, allowing the father and son into the playground area.

“Yeah, that’s me and this is Shigeo as you probably know?” Reigen smiled at the lady, then his son, who was clinging to his chest. All the children in one space spooked the boy a bit.
“H-he’s a bit nervous, I think, hah.” Reigen chuckled nervously, holding his son, whose head now rested on his shoulder.

“Ahh, I can assure you and your son that he will fit right in; the children love meeting new friends.” The old woman smiled from ear to ear before walking away to sign another parent in. Reigen's eyes slowly blinked to his left, where Shigeo dug his head away. Tapping him on his shoulder, Shigeo turned his head slowly, his eyes squinting.

“Hey, you’re gonna have so much fun, look at all the toys?” Reigen whispered, and Shigeo grunted a “nuuh”. Reigen hugged him longer, allowing him to just perch. The children started trailing into the building, the parents all beginning to leave through the gate, waving their goodbyes.

“Buddy, I’ll be back after work, and we can get ice cream? Doesn’t that sound good?” Reigen continued whispering, aware he had to let Shigeo go soon. His little boy untucked himself from his father's shoulder and looked straight at him, holding his pinky out to Reigen.

“A pinky promise?” Reigen grinned, and Shigeo nodded profusely with his cheeks blown up. He linked his larger pinky to Shigeo's small one.
“Promiseeee?” his son carried his word,
“Promise,” he smiled.
Reigen lowered Shigeo to the ground, a younger worker approaching from the door after having every child inside now, she waved at Shigeo and bowed to Reigen, which Reigen requited.

“Come in now, little one,” she spoke in a soothing voice, reaching her hand out. Shigeo looked to his father, tall and in his suit, and with a warm smile on his face, and back to the teacher with her hair tied up and an unfamiliar smile, but welcoming. Letting go of his father's hand and latching onto the lady's hand, the warmth transferred into his opposing palm. As Reigen felt the small, slightly clammy, tiny fingers leave his grasp, his heart dipped a little. Watching as his little boy walked away with what was a stranger to both of them, Reigen's smile had faded away before Shigeo turned back to him at the front entrance of the colorful kindergarten.

“Bye, Dad.” Shigeo waved, his voice still quiet but loud enough for Reigen to hear, his smile returned, and he lifted his arm to wave his son away.
“See you later, Shigeo!” Reigen shouted, and the door closed. Reigen was the only parent left in the empty playground. He turned to the gate, the older lady allowing him out before he made his leave towards work.

His walk felt quieter than usual.

-

Staring at his computer screen as a new, unrealistic deadline made its way into his inbox, Reigen sighed, already wanting to go get that ice cream with Shigeo as he sipped his second tea of the day. Clicking through the contents of what was needed, Reigen started immediately.

Work was quiet; most wanted to get their tasks done as soon as they could, so they could leave on the hour to catch the rest of the summer's day. Scanning through spreadsheets and documents that needed printing, Reigen sent them to the office printer, getting off from his seat to retrieve them, giving Serizawa a small wave as he approached.
The printer clicked and processed, the internal noises blaring as it inked the paper, releasing the few papers Reigen had put through; they were warm.

“Ah, Reigen,” a familiar voice spoke, not one the man wanted to hear. It was his boss. Reigen internally groaned, cringing at his last encounter with the man about his appearance.

“Mr Suzuki!” Reigen yelped, turning round with his papers in hand, his blonde hair spiking up as he whipped his head. Suzuki looked down at the pile.

“You look a lot more presentable,” the taller man nodded, his eyes piercing through Reigen like knives. Reigen did not respond, awaiting a follow-up.

“Anyway, the papers you have here are quite important, and I’d like for you to be the one presenting them,” Suzuki said, not even making eye contact with the younger man.
‘Shit’ Reigen screamed inside his head, biting his tongue as he looked down at the papers he held. ‘Why ME?’

“This could come with a promotion if you’re willing to cooperate?” Suzuki added, turning to the door, not awaiting a response from the now underlying panicked and unspeaking Reigen.

“Unless you say otherwise, I’m under the impression you’ll do it. The date is in the email.” The boss spoke as he exited the printer room, leaving Reigen's mouth slightly agape as he looked onwards to the now-empty doorway.

‘A promotion, it seems unrealistic. Or maybe my extra effort this past few months has been noticed… no, it's Suzuki, he doesn’t care?’ Thoughts scattered around Reigen's mind.
‘A promotion could mean better things for Shige, right?’
‘Yea’, the cogs in Reigen's brain turned as he thought of different possibilities, such as better birthdays, maybe living in a nicer area? Ok, ok, now he was thinking a bit big.
Nevertheless, he’d do it.

-

Work was finished, and Reigen was eager to see Shigeo. It felt different sending him to kindergarten than it did his mothers, it felt as though he abandoned him. Approaching the gate, he frowned at all the awaiting parents, lined up behind each other, he took his phone out in slight eagerness and impatience as he watched the minutes tick by and the line to the gate not move more than a few inches due to the sign in process, at least it was safeguarded well?
Reigen finally reached the sign-in,
‘thank god.’

“Ah, Hello Mr Reigen, how are you?” The same old lady asked, still with her clipboard in hand as she ticked a few boxes on her sheet and flicked through to a different page, allowing Reigen into the premises.

“Ah yeah, I’m fine, how’s Shigeo?” Reigen asked with a slight desperation in his voice, not only did he want to get to his kid, but he wanted to make sure he was ok, that he actually had a nice day. The lady rocked her head left and right in a confusing manner, her face straight as she kept writing on her sheet.

“He was ok, nothing bad happened, I can rest assured. He just enjoys playing alone more, however he got quite upset that you weren’t here, he called for you-” The lady went on, with a small and sympathetic smile on her face as she tried to reassure the now wide-eyed Reigen.

“My personal and work phone number is linked to my application. I could’ve come and gotten him, no?” Reigen replied, slightly deadpanned.

“Ah- apologies, we just didn’t deem it too serious as most children cry for their parents when they are still adjusting,” the lady explained. Reigen calmed down.

“That makes sense, sorry. But can I see him now?” Reigen smiled weakly.

The lady nodded and went to the front door entrance, where a teacher stood with Shigeo on the other side of the door. With his little backpack, clinging to the straps and looking at the floor, Shigeo didn’t seem to be happy about his first day.

“Hey kiddo!” Reigen beamed, crouching down to Shigeo's height, his son looked up and the look in his eyes changed immediately, charging towards Reigen at the full speed his little legs could go as he jumped into his dad's arms only to be hugged back just as tight.

“I missed you, too,” Reigen laughed, picking Shigeo up.
“Ice cream, pleaseee,” Shigeo begged, untangling from the hug and looking up at his dad. Reigen chuckled to himself; he didn’t realise how much Shigeo acted like the younger version of him at times.
“I did promise, didn’t I?” Reigen said, raising his eyebrow with a grin.

-

The two sat on a park bench, enjoying their ice creams, which both came in tubs as Reigen did not trust Shigeo to hold a cone. They both got the same flavours of vanilla and strawberry with sprinkles.

“So, do you wanna tell me about today?” Reigen asked, taking a small portion of the ice cream to his mouth. Shigeo rocked his legs back and forth as he gripped his ice cream cup with one hand and his spoon with the other.

“I-it twas boring,” Shigeo replied, stabbing his spoon into his ice cream to take another large scoop. Reigen didn’t like the thought of his baby not playing with anyone all day and getting sad.

“Hm, well, did you make any friends? All those kids seemed very excited to meet you, y’know.” Reigen pointed out, turning to his son, who had now stopped kicking his feet in the air and sat still.

“Nono, I didn’t wanna.”
“Why's that?”
“Cuz I wanna be like you?”
“Shigeo not making friends isn’t being like me?” Reigen furrowed his eyebrows.
“Ya, it is?” Shigeo replied with a hint of genuine confusion.
“Grandma said.”

Reigen looked to the sky, his hair blowing in the evening wind,
‘What the hell?’ he scowled to himself.

“Grandma is silly.”
“Ok, Dad”. Shigeo replied innocently before eating the rest of his ice cream with his bare hands, Reigen watching on in slight agony as he had no tissues.

-

The street lights began to turn on, with Shigeo on his shoulders, for a piggyback ride home was certainly owed after such a busy day at the kindergarten. He clung to Reigen's hair, gripping it harshly to stay balanced.
The man didn’t mind at all; he just felt content with his son being with him.

That’s all Reigen needed.

Chapter Text

Reigen sat in the living room with comfy attire, unlike his usual everyday black suit, as Shigeo played on the carpet below with a small set of Legos and cars. There he sat on his laptop, working on his day off, a cold and rainy Saturday, not suited for a day at the park with Shigeo. Anyway, he was having fun playing pretend around the apartment, from fake picnics with his teddies to indecipherable scenarios he created with his Lego pieces and sets. He was more than content, or so Reigen hoped. Besides Shigeo, who was a fairly easy child to handle, Reigen still had his work cut out for him. Suzuki's assignment had a guaranteed promotion behind it, like a carrot in front of Reigen's nose that was just a month away, and Reigen wasn’t going to let this slip, not for anything.

*plop* his daze and engagement into his laptop was cut -
Reigen looked up to see a few Legos beside him on the couch; however, Shigeo was in the same spot he’d just looked up to see from a minute before. Reigen rolled his eyes. Shigeo was getting slick after learning how to properly walk, and he’d not taken notice due to how engrossed he was with his work. His usual green tea had turned into a sour black coffee, and the work consumed him, but it’d be worth it.
Taking a sip from the distasteful drink, he circled back over every single word that was on the documents to make sure he didn’t miss anything. From the charts and databases on the sales to the persuasive slideshow as to why the company’s collaboration would be a great success, blah, blah, blah.
Anything to make Suzuki look like an almighty God that you would be lucky to collaborate with, like you’ve just been offered a one-way ticket to paradise. Of course, this was just Reigen working his expertise on exaggeration, which was not in his resume.

“Daaa.” Shigeo chirped, tugging Reigen's leg and wrapping his body around his father's calf.
“What’s up, bud?” Reigen asked, with his cup still in his mouth.
“hungyyyy”
Reigen took the cup away from his mouth and closed his laptop screen halfway so the tabs would stay open whilst meeting eyes with Shigeo. His tummy also rumbled.
“Yeah, it’s time for some lunch.”

Walking to the kitchen with a small shadow trailing right behind him, Shigeo.
A pack of rice sat on the counter, and some pre-packed tempura prawns were stored in the refrigerator.
Shigeo had brought some paper and crayons into the kitchen to wait for his dad, who was attempting to cook.

‘Washing the rice, placing it into a pot, and putting it over the stove. Preheat the oven for the prawns. What else..’
Reigen’s mind wandered at a moderate pace now that he was finally away from the enthralling screen of his laptop. Oh, he hadn’t restocked the treat cabinet. Shigeo wouldn’t be getting a biscuit or a candy today; that’s what he was forgetting.
Shigeo remained on the floor of the kitchen, drawing a new masterpiece that Reigen would cherish on the fridge as if there wasn’t already a museum of Shigeo's art staggering onto it already.

“What are we drawing today then?” Reigen asked as he knelt down beside his son, leaving the pot of rice to slowly boil. Shigeo untightened his grip on the light blue crayon and moved his arm out of the way to reveal the ‘work in progress’; there on the sheet stood a yellow blob with a black blob beside it, and a sun with sunglasses on.

“Ahh, whose that then?”
“Uh, that me … and then… and that is you.” Shigeo pointed to the black, then the yellow blob.
“Is my hair as bright as the sun, or do you just not have enough yellow crayons?” Reigen asked, snickering,
Shigeo smiled and shrugged before Reigen patted him on the back, and he got to his feet to continue stirring the rice.

“What else are you going to add?” Reigen asked, turning back to his child, who had now gotten straight back to his hard work.
“Trees, cats, and hmm…”
“Dogs?”
“No.”
Shigeo never liked how loud dogs barked when he and Reigen passed them in the neighbourhood, unlike Reigen, who would always want to pet them.

“Maybe that,” the young boy spoke to himself,
“That?”
“The thing everyone in the class draws.” Shigeo paused and put his finger to his lips, “long hair anddd beside them.”
“Oh, like grandma?”
“Nuuh”
Reigen had a feeling of exactly what Shigeo was talking about and came to the quick conclusion that neither he nor Shigeo was ready to talk about it. Shige was still far too young to be told his mother had left, being two and a half, and that mental load wasn’t fair. Selfish thoughts also crossed Reigen’s mind, not wanting to talk about it himself either. He missed this woman who he only knew for a night more than anything, and yet she was still here, just within another human.

“Hey, kiddo?”
“mhm?”
“Can I ask you to add something to the drawing?” Reigen asked, adjusting himself back to Shigeo's eye level on the ground. Quickly thinking of a solution to avert Shigeo.
“Ya?”

“How about you try to draw us holding our favourite ice creams… Oh, and you know what would be cool too? A rocket ship.” Reigen listed these requests, holding his hand in the air. Shigeo looked at his dad curiously, tapping his blunt crayon to his soft chin.

“Yeah, that will be, yeah!” Shigeo whispered as he grasped the pack of crayons and tugged greens, reds, and pinks.

Reigen didn’t know how it would be, ‘Yeah’ like Shigeo just described, maybe he meant ‘cool’ or ‘I’ll do it for you, dad, even though I don’t see the vision’ either way, Reigen didn’t mind, he was quite excited to see what Shigeo would muster up. It’d be nice to have a rocket ship and some ice cream in a sea of cats and ‘Yellow Reigen blobs’ on the fridge.

The rice had finally softened and was ready to be dished out and cooled down; the prawns and sauce were also finally ready. As Reigen gathered the cutlery and Shigeo's small silicone plate, mixing the food and lathering a hearty portion onto his son’s dish and a smaller, more contained portion into his bowl. Reigen decided to go for a green tea after living off black coffee for the past weeks, also pouring Shigeo a cup of milk; Shigeo liked milk.
Out of nowhere, Reigen felt a small object hit the middle of his back. As he was handling the food, looking down at his feet, he saw the red crayon rolling by.
Turning round, Shigeo's face was slightly skewed, displeased by his drawing, slamming his small hand onto the kitchen floor in a heap of infant frustration. Reigen’s eyes softened,

“What’s up?” the man asked, placing the spoon back into the rice pot.
“I-I got the wronggg color for, for .. the rocket sip!” Shigeo blurted, clasping his small hands onto his puffed-out cheeks in frustration.

“Who says the rocket can’t be red?” Reigen asked, with a non-babying tone, he wanted Shigeo to know he was serious and considered his displeasure.

“I- don't know.”
“See, I’ve never seen anyone draw such a cool red rocket. This is much better than all the grey ones. Don’t you think so?”
Shigeo had calmed down, placing his yellow crayon beside him and then looking over to the one he’d tossed at his dad's back, the red one sitting at a halt near the end of the kitchen.

“Shigeo, it’s ok to be angry, but don’t chuck things at people, ok?” Reigen tutted, taking his little boy in for a hug.
“I didn-” the small, black haired boy whispered into Reigen's shoulder, his voice muffled by fabric as he hugged back as tight as his small arms could.

-

The rain poured louder outside, as the grey clouds cast a blanket of darkness over the area. Reigen placed Shigeo into his high chair and served him his food, giving him a spoon he knew he wouldn’t use but thought he’d try anyway.
The wind screeched through Seasoning City as the two sat at the table eating their lunches. Reigen finished within a few minutes; half of Shigeos was in his stomach, and the other half was on the floor. Good enough.

“I don’t think the weather is going to clear up today, Shige. Anything else you’d wanna do besides the park?”
Shigeo munched on the rice in his palm, not paying much attention to Reigen as the little rice grains attached themselves to his lips.

“Clip,” Shigeo responded with a mouthful of rice as he reached for his cup of milk. If Shigeo weren’t cute and a baby, this would be a very unflattering and gluttonous scene.

“Like a movie clip?” Reigen asked, raising his eyebrows and tapping his fork onto his plate, the ceramic echoing. Shigeo now had his cup of milk in his mouth and was spilling most of it onto his bib, but still managed to nod in agreement to his father's question.

Reigen loved movie nights with Shigeo; it was calming. Unlike most children, Shigeo sat still and watched intently. Reigen spoke more.
He specifically loved animated films. The colors and music made Shigeo feel like he was in a different reality. The power of a child's imagination and immersion is something Reigen missed dearly when he saw his son's eyes twinkle at the screen.
Shigeo was also a very emotional child, and Reigen had caught him sniffling at the sad parts of the movies. Instead of comforting him verbally, Reigen would just hold him tighter.

“Well, I’ll pull up MobFlix and you can choose, ok?” Reigen grinned, resting his cheek on his fist as he watched his son eat and eat.

“Ye!” Shigeo mumbled through a mouth full of food.

After a quick clean up, wiping the table and Shigeo down, Reigen handed him the small remote to choose a movie on the TV. Scruffing his black hair and heading back into the kitchen for the dishes.

“I choose one!”
‘That was quick. The dishes can be done later’ Reigen thought as he waved the bubbles and foam from his hands.

-

The night closed in quicker than usual today, due to the rain clouds. There the two sat watching Shigeo's pick of ‘Spirited Away'. On the sofa and under cozy blankets, Reigen clicked the play button as Shigeo scrambled onto his lap and into his father's warm embrace.

It had been a while since their last movie night due to work and Shigeo being very tired after kindergarten. Shigeo had his thumb in his mouth as the colors practically erupted through the screen.

“That’s awesome, isn’t it?” Reigen whispered, holding Shigeo to his hip. The little one nodded in awe as the movie captured all his attention within the span of literal seconds. Reigen wasn’t one to ever indulge in movies, never mind animated ones, but when you have a child, I guess it’s part of the deal. Reigen sat, holding Shigeo as even he felt himself slowly immerse in the film.

The movie was around halfway done, and admittedly, Reigen felt himself slipping in and out of consciousness due to the amount of work he’d taken on. The sky had dimmed further as the rain continued to pour through the city, with the movie also taking a turn, causing Shigeo to tense up while Reigen shook himself awake. He felt small hands grip his hoodie as Shigeo's whole body turned around to bury his head into Reigen's chest. Reigen eased, taking Shigeo and hugging him back.

“Do you not like this scene?” Reigen whispered gently into Shigeo's ear, bopping his leg up and down to try to keep Shigeo in high spirits.
Shigeo shook his head and dug deeper into the thick hoodie, pulling at the drawstrings of the hood, which Reigen felt tighten around his chest.

“Do you want dinner, Shige?” Reigen asked, continuing to whisper. Once again, Shigeo shook his head,

‘Well, he’s not going to bed without a meal… I’ll try that question again soon. Anyway.’

“Shigeeee,” Reigen purred, remaining quiet to calm Shigeo. The living room was dim, and the only light emitting was from the now paused television and the yellow-toned kitchen light. Shigeo’s sniffles only became prominent once he’d finally lifted himself from Reigen’s hoodie, leaving an unappealing snot trail attached. Reigen didn’t even grimace or flinch; it was his Shigeo after all.
Shigeo rubbed his eyes with his small fists and slumped back down onto Reigen. From the outside, the weather brewed, and a heap of thunder spat from the sky with a spark of lightning reverberating. Shigeo's crying only increased because of this. Reigen rose from his seat, taking the little boy into his arms, almost cradling him as he walked around the room steadily.

‘Note to self: read the reviews of movies, find reliable age ratings, and don’t fall asleep next time. God dammit Arataka.’

Another pulse of lightning crackled down. Shigeo cried louder, and without warning, a toy smashed onto Reigen’s face, a plastic one at that, causing the bridge of his nose to immediately ache as soon as the toy hit the ground.
‘What the hell.’
As Reigen blinked a few times, whilst still holding Shigeo in his chest with one arm and the other hand grazing his nose. The room felt off, like a weird energy seeping into the environment.
That’s when Reigen noticed the slightly elevated toys, blankets, and laptop. The blonde's eyes widened,
‘What?!’
He could hear the dishes from the kitchen begin to shake, and even heard a glass fall and smash onto the ground. Shigeo was still crying, and the lights flickered.
‘Power cut, no. Earthquake, maybe. Supernatural activity, ridiculous.’

“Shigeo, I’m here. Don’t be scared-.” Reigen spoke louder as he scanned the room for the objects that were still levitating. He was beginning to feel disoriented. He stroked Shigeo's silky black hair, combing his fingers through it gently. After a few seconds, the objects dropped, and Shigeo's cries too. Looking down, Shigeo was no longer even awake; in fact, he was completely knocked out, asleep with a runny nose and red eye bags from crying.

As he cleaned Shigeo up with a lukewarm towel, thoughts filled Reigen’s mind.
‘It must’ve been an earthquake. Surely,’ his heart pattered in place. He was never one to believe in ghosts or spirits… was his apartment haunted, did they need to make an immediate move? But it only happened when Shigeo…

‘6:30 pm’
‘I’ll call Serizawa. Yea.’

“Hey, Sorry for the late call, especially on the weekend and all…” Reigen began, scooping Shigeo up to place him into his crib.

“No problem, is everything alright. Do you need help on the assig-”

“N-no, it’s not that. Weird question, did something… ‘weird’ happen to you just a few minutes ago by chance?” Reigen bit his lip, realising how insanely stupid he sounded.
There was a pause over the phone, as if Serizawa had to process what Reigen had seriously just asked him.

“Not on my end, no. Just a lightning storm…. Is everything alright, Reigen?” Serizawa asked, with concern.
The inside of Reigen’s head was in a fit of laughter.
‘What the fuck!? Ha!’

“Oh, sorry to bother you, Serizawa. Must’ve just been some… dodgy pipes in my apartment. See ya.” Reigen hung up the phone abruptly. He stared down at Shigeo, as he kept him held in his arms, not wanting to lay him in his crib.

-

Was he being stupid? What had he just witnessed? Surely it was the sleep deprivation finally kicking him in the ass. Or it was just ‘faulty pipes’, or was he kidding himself?

After hanging up, a few older notifications made themselves apparent, and of course, Reigen’s mother was a part of this barrage. She was persistent with him, not because she wanted to see her son, Morley, her grandson. He didn’t need to be seeing this right now, or preferably ever.

“You can’t handle fatherhood, Arataka.”
“Shigeo will overwhelm you, and you’ll give him up.”
“Why are you so stubborn?”

He grabbed his locks with his free hand and clenched his fist as he closed his eyes for a moment. Just when he thought they’d finally reached a clear path forward, not a finish line but an easier journey ahead. Reigen had taken to working like a dog for Suzuki just for the minimum to keep himself and Shigeo from drowning in a world of struggle. He could feel the words of his mother engrave themselves into his already uneasy mind, and suddenly, he was failing, not just Shigeo, but himself.
‘Enough’
He snapped, slamming his phone to the ground. The bang of the phone caused Shigeo to shudder within his sleeping state. Doubt filled Reigen’s consciousness.

“Maybe mom was right, I’m not good at being a dad, I can’t even stay awake for his movies…and I imagined objects flying-” Reigen whispered aloud whilst he recited the scene in his head, as he stroked the bridge of his nose, wincing as he felt a lump.
“Hmpth.”
He brushed the pain off quicker than the toy hit him.

“You’re with me tonight,” Reigen spoke gently, clambering into his bed and laying Shigeo beside him, flopping into the soft and welcoming duvet. The night light was left off, but as the clouds departed, the moonlight bled into the room, highlighting Shigeo's sleeping state, unlike the cries and sobs which erupted from him only half an hour ago, Shigeo was finally at peace again. Reigen, however, was restless, unlike earlier. Where he’d missed out on segments of the movie Shigeo had chosen because all he did was fall in and out of sleep, but now, sleeping was the last thing the man could even muster to think about.

As he gazed at his son,
‘What had happened or more so, what was happening?’

He’d notice a few occasions today, specifically with objects. From when Shigeo was bored and hungry, to when he was drawing and coloured something wrong, and the final straw was a scary moment within a film, which was combated with a storm.
And now Reigen was sitting in his bed, a stressed mess, except items didn’t float when he was feeling this way. What could he possibly do in this situation, sit and ponder? Cry? Ask for help? No, that wouldn’t fix anything. Questioning himself was always a go-to for Reigen, diminishing himself to nothing as he asked his mind over and over.

“Do I even know what I’m doing?” Reigen spoke, staring at the ceiling with his fists in a ball, and his chest tightening. He’d gotten Shigeo into kindergarten, held up a job with a baby, and was getting a promotion, everything in line for a better tomorrow for his son. But was Reigen being the best version of himself? It didn’t feel like it. He felt like an insanity case waiting to happen.

“Am I doing the best for you, or have I just told myself that?” he continued, with defeat riddled in his tone, turning his head to the peaceful Shigeo, with his two hands supporting his small head as he slept. Reigen melted, but his heart squeezed with anxiety, not happiness.
He stroked his hand over Shigeo's small and still slightly reddened face.
As he blinked, Shigeo's face became blurry as a few tears had escaped his eyes.

Am I doing ok?

Chapter Text

Reigen sat slumped at his desk, the fluorescent office light casting harsh shadows over the exhaustion etched into his face. The past few weeks had felt like a relentless marathon, late nights, early mornings, and a creeping sense of dread that never quite left his side. Yet, through the chaos, one thing kept him moving, the small, steady glow of hope that was Shigeo. As deadlines loomed and Suzuki’s all-important presentation drew closer, Reigen found himself teetering between panic and determination, desperate to pull everything together before time ran out.
​
“Hello, Reigen,” Serizawa called out, poking his head into the office. He took in the sight of Reigen, hunched over, eyes rimmed with exhaustion, coffee cup clutched, even though the effects of caffeine wore off on Reigen many weeks ago. A sorrowful look crossed Serizawa's face as he grabbed a magazine and sat at the opposing side of his colleague's desk.
​
“What’re you doing…?” Reigen practically drooled, as his mouth lay agape from above his hand, drizzle seeping in between his fingers from his limp jaw.
“I’m on my break,” Serizawa answered with a small smile, handing Reigen a tissue for his drool before shaking his magazine to the first page.
Reigen watched the man across from him, in tired confusion, as he clicked his mouse through the pages and tried to decipher what else to say for his presentation. Serizawa stayed still, sipping at his can of juice as he flipped to the next page.

“Serizawa, why are you spending your break here?” Reigen asked seriously, finally lifting himself, however failing immensely as he melted back into his desk.
“Is Shigeo keeping you up again?” Serizawa asked, and Reigen dragged the skin down his face in annoyance.
“For two weeks, he’s not settled. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I must be doing a shit job.” Reigen spat the last part.
“Hey-” Serizawa snapped, fluttering his magazine to the next page, “you’re doing great. What’s got him so worked up?” the man asked.
Reigen shrugged, his head back on his desk, wanting to close his eyes so desperately.
​
“He- it’s weird. You wouldn’t get it.” Reigen spoke quickly.
“I wouldn’t get what?” Serizawa raised one eyebrow, his voice curious.
Reigen flailed his hands around in a sporadic manner, trying to work up the words, trying to convey to his colleague what’d been happening.
Serizawa might actually want to help or tell him to admit himself into a mental hospital for severe hallucinations or a wild imagination that has no place in being influential on a child. Reigen bit his tongue, looking everywhere but at Serizawa. His screen with the document awaiting Reigen to finish his sentence, his black coffee, which had now lost all the comforting steam, or his slightly disorganised desk with Shigeo's nursery dates and work folders. Reigen took the sheet of Shigeo’s nursery dates, ignoring his co-worker.
​
The sheet read a multitude of different days; one stood out to Reigen in particular, because it was next week. He hadn’t seen…well, hadn’t read it. But it didn’t seem to overlap with his presentation, so it would be absolutely fine to attend the ‘Salt Kindergarten Play’ on the upcoming Monday, the fifteenth. Which was a performance acted out by the children with costumes and scripts accustomed to each child, where they’d sing and dance… or something like that, he knows his mother has his recording of when he was a young boy.
Reigen might have looked silly in a costume back then, but thinking about Shigeo being in the play made him feel warm inside, almost like he could melt right there in his seat.
‘This is exactly how mom felt, I get it now.’
‘What date did that say aga-’ He thought,
​
“Reigen?” Serizawa asked, cutting Reigen out of his calculative trance. The blonde shook,
“Sorry..” Reigen spoke, going for a sip of his cold coffee. “But as I said, Serizawa. You don’t have children, you simply won’t get it, they’re complicated, Shigeo is that and more.”
​
- A couple of days ago -
​
“Daad!” Shigeo cried as he stood in the middle of the living room, his knees trembling as he held his favourite teddy. The energy around the room overwhelmed the pair, as tears continued down Shigeo's face.
Today in kindergarten, a few children had poked fun at Shigeo, the staff told Reigen. But all of his son's emotions seemed to erupt into Reigen's face as soon as they arrived home, as if Shigeo were embarrassed or perhaps ashamed to even express them among his peers.
​
“Buddy, you’re fine, s-see I’m here, right?”
“I am not.” Shigeo would mutter, his little lips trembling as his strength increased along with his energy, ultimately ripping the head off his teddy, the stuffing landing on Reigen’s lap as he knelt by his outbursting son. Reigen picked up the white softness; it was the teddy that Shigeo’s mother had left. Reigen couldn’t even keep up with appearances; he didn’t smile or make a funny face to cheer Shigeo up. He didn’t know what to do. His almost three-year-old son didn’t feel like himself.
​
Shigeo's small head tilted downwards to his now ripped teddy,
“I am sorry d-daa,” Shigeo cried. Suddenly, the apartment felt cold and unfamiliar. Pictures fell, toys scattered, and Reigen could only watch, painfully exhausted, as his son struggled with his emotions over again, like a hamster on an endless loop within its wheel.
“It’s ok,” Reigen whispered, sitting among the chaos as he clasped his son, the stuffing of the teddy still seeping out of its body and spilling out beside the two. Reigen spoke, his tone calm but not soft, serious. As he took Shigeo into his arms, collapsing, along with everything else in the room.
​
– present -
​
Snapping out of last night's situation, or was it last week? He couldn’t remember. Of his increasingly ‘complicating’ son. He leaned forward in his seat, still looking at Serizawa across the table.
Serizawa sighed quite gruffly, very uncharacteristic of his usually awkward co-worker. Reigen was confused by this, tilting his head slightly.
​
“What was that for? Me calling my own son diffi-” Reigen perked up, tired and almost argumentative.
​
“What? You mean psychic powers?” Serizawa asked, looking back down at his magazine, licking his thumb to the final page. Reigen dropped his mug, the liquid bouncing up slightly.
​
“What!?” Reigen squinted.
Serizawa looked up, closing his magazine.
“I remember my mother having the same look as you when I was younger.” Serizawa chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. Reigen stopped squinting,
‘Am I hallucinating this too. What on earth is he talking about?’ Reigen’s inner voice echoed.
Serizawa suddenly became slightly nervous-looking as he saw the cogs in Reigen’s head jam.
​
“H-here.” Serizawa muffled, lifting his hand. Reigen felt the atmosphere around him change, just like it did with Shigeo. This one felt more controlled, less crazy, like Reigen didn’t need to go into flight or fright mode. And as he blinked, his cold coffee and folders were floating around him.
​
“It’s the same, isn’t it?” Serizawa asked, expecting to be right.
“You’re like him?” Reigen asked, in disbelief as he collapsed into the back of his chair, exasperated. Serizawa dropped the items slowly, everything landing exactly where they’d lifted from. The brunette exhaled.
​
“The short times I’ve been around Shigeo, his aura was noticeable. But of course you’d rightfully call me crazy if I’d called your two-year-old a psychic, right?” Serizawa asked. Reigen thought for a moment. He wasn’t an overly judgmental person; however, this scenario does surpass normality. So yes, he probably would’ve given Serizawa the cold shoulder had he told him about this “absurd” aura he noticed within his son.
Reigen sat for a moment, pondering his thoughts.
​
“It’s just not great. He’s been going to kindergarten tired, upset, and I can’t seem to do anything for him, Serizawa. I am stuck.” Reigen vented, turning his computer off, his eyes unable to bear the white screen anymore.
​
“One of his teachers informed me… ‘Shigeo told me today that he made you upset last night. Is everything ok at home, Mr Reigen?’. in what I can only categorise as one of the most condescending things I’ve ever been asked.” Reigen groaned, running his fingers through his fringe as he tugged on it.
“And no, he didn’t make me upset… Or cry? I never shouted, he- I just felt helpless. I was upset at myself for not being able to do anything. Because, unlike him, in these scenarios, I’m powerless, literally.”
​
- the same couple of days ago -
​
Stroking Shigeo's smooth black hair, the room was dark, the lightbulb had gone out again due to the high energy of power Shigeo emitted. The living room sat in what Reigen could describe as if a fight had broken out.
The only framed picture he owned, smashed on the ground, of him and Shigeo on his last birthday, his mother had taken the photo on her old, janky Polaroid. It depicted Reigen and his Shigeo sitting at the table, with a small vanilla cake with the number ‘2’ on it. The blonde was seen giving Shigeo a large scoop of the cake, with Shigeo's mouth wide open in delight.
‘Where have you gone, Shigeo?’ Reigen asked, with Shigeo laying his head on Reigen's lap, remaining seated on the living room floor, the teddy now sat beside his leg, the buttons as its eyes had ripped out along with half of its stuffing, its body limp.
​
“I-Im sorry, Shige, I really don’t know… I do not know what I’m doing. And I’m sorry.” Reigen whispered to himself, unaware that his son had awoken but remained still.
“You deserve more and I can not give-” Reigen continued, his whisper cracking as his voice broke, his throat closing up.
Shigeo felt a small droplet land on his hand, and there was silence from his dad. Reigen above him, covering his mouth and steadying his breathing, his hair sitting over his eyes as he tried not to let the tears fall.
​
- present -
​
Serizawa watched on to his co-worker, the bloodshot eyes going redder, his hands continuing to rip at his blonde locks, his stutters.
Exactly how he grew up, with a mother who didn’t fear him, but a mother who feared she could do nothing for him. Reigen’s helplessness was raw; his love for his son overrode the fear of Shigeo hurting him. Reigen was truly an admirable father, but Serizawa knew his friend couldn’t see that within himself; it was painful to stand by and watch. As Shigeo's powers increased by the day, and Reigen's self-worth as a father plowed by the hour.
​
“Psychic powers thrive off of strong emotions. He must be feeling something strong,” Serizawa suggested. Reigen looked defeated.
‘All those late nights, where I was too tired to spend time with him. ’
‘Sending him to mom… well, kindergarten now.’

“It isn’t you, Reigen. Shigeo’s emotions are what every child goes through, except his psychic powers feed off them.”
Reigen still sat in defeat; no words could really comfort him right now.
​
“Reigen, I can’t lend you solid advice. My powers started at a later age; therefore, I was more in sync with my emotions and understood how I felt. However, I never fully knew them. I can’t imagine what an almost three-year-old is thinking.” Serizawa spoke, his voice soft, his sentences slow and gentle.
​
“Just be there for him, is all I can say. Don’t do what my mother did and hide away like it was her fault I was born like this,” he added.
“I’m sor-” Reigen began.
“Don’t be, I’m ok now. Please give me a call, ok?” Serizawa cut Reigen off as he glanced at his watch. His break was over. He headed to the door of Reigen’s office.
“If you don’t call, I will,” Serizawa stated, before making his way down the hallway. Reigen appreciated it.
​
He found himself alone again, the hum of the office air conditioning filling the room. His unfinished cup of noodles sat on the desk; he hadn’t been able to eat. With his arms crossed, he sat thinking. Suddenly, his computer screen lit up with a new email notification.
​
‘Toichiro Suzuki @ company.email’
The blonde swallowed the saliva that rested in his mouth as he opened the computer and clicked straight to his inbox.
‘Is he going to fire me?’
‘Is the promotion called off?’
‘Did he find out I left the other day at lunch because Shigeo had an unresolvable meltdown at kindergarten… no.’
​
‘Company Collaboration
Reigen Arataka.
‘Hello Reigen, I hope the presentation is coming along.
As expected. I expect the highest standards from my employees.
like you…
​
‘God, what on earth does he want? Is he just doing this to keep me on edge? Get to the point…’ Reigen shouted in his mind. As he hovered his mouse over the sentences.
​
The collaborators would like to move the presentation to earlier.
Next week. This is non-negotiable. Here is the exact date and
time.
​
Monday the fifteenth, 12.30 pm. The presentation and questionnaire will take over 2 hours.’

Reigen felt a small ache in his chest. Maybe he was just tired, but something about the date didn’t feel right. He didn’t have time to think about it, though. With only five days left, he stacked his folders and binders on the desk and got to work. He wanted to do his best for the company, for Suzuki, and for Shigeo. It felt like everything was finally coming together.
Reigen let a weak smile out to himself as he thought about all of this, as the papers continuously piled onto the desk. The small, colorful leaflet sinking to the bottom of the corporate sea of files, Shigeo's Play.

-

Admittedly, by the end of the day, Reigen was once again like a zombie, walking out of work with a shit posture and eye bags for days. But it was time to pick up Shigeo, that was his highlight.
​
As he reached the kindergarten, most of the parents had begun to take their leave, Shige being one of the last few to be picked up. At the sight of Reigen, Shigeo ran out to him, straight into his arms, Reigen requiting as he engulfed his son in a tight hug. His teacher followed behind. She was quiet, holding Shigeo's lunch box.
​
“Oh, sorry, thanks.” Reigen laughed nervously, removing himself from his child's hug to take the lunch box from Shigeo's teacher. She remained silent for another moment, looking around at the playpark, the sky, anywhere. Before she finally piped up.
​
“Shigeo's behaviour-” She began, before Reigen fully stood up, now above eye level with the woman. His head slightly tilted as he grabbed Shigeo's head in a playful manner, shaking him about slightly before scruffing his hair.
​
“Sorry- excuse me. What did you say?” Reigen asked, hadn’t he been distracted, he probably wouldn’t have missed that. He felt bad.
‘Idiot, you just look rude now.’
​
The teacher looked down at Shigeo, who had the biggest smile plastered over his face as he tightened his grip around his father's leg and slid down it while laughing.
“Hey you-!” Reigen laughed, once again getting distracted. Coughing before looking back up at Shigeo's teacher.
The boy was always happiest to see his father; he never smiled this wide in class, even during his favourite subjects. The closest they’d gotten to Shigeo smiling widely was when they gave out milk cartons for the first time. The novelty wore off pretty quickly, but he still enjoyed the milk nonetheless.
​
“It’s j-” she began, watching the clearly exhausted father who only wanted to do the best for his son. Maybe this wasn’t the time.
​
“Shigeo ate all of his lunch today, Mr. Reigen.” The woman forcefully smiled, pointing to the lunch box, which now remained in Reign’s grasp.
Reigen smiled at her,
“Glad to hear it,” he responded with a cheesing grin, before looking back down at Shigeo and beginning to make their way out of the kindergarten gates.
​
“Let’s go home, Shige,” Reigen said, before swooping Shigeo up and spinning him around to land on his shoulders. The teacher watched in awestruck…where was this Shigeo during kindergarten hours? He must really just love his dad. Hm.
​
“I luv you, daad” Shigeo whispered loudly into Reigen’s ear as he clasped his little hands into the man's hair.

Chapter Text

Today was the day. Suzuki's presentation was to show off the company image. To finally be seen and given a better opportunity than anything he’d been offered for years within the business. His alarm rattled the side cabinet, Reigen’s hand crashing on top of it to shut it up.
‘6:00am’, he decided to set it earlier to do last-minute preparations. Pouncing from bed and straight to the cold floor, his legs shook slightly as he adjusted his balance; his nerves were truly biting him now. As Reigen stood in front of the mirror, inspecting his face for any stubble growing in before grabbing a comb and sleeking it through his hair, his skin grew cold as it acclimatised to no longer being within the warm duvet cover. He ignored it; it was too early to put on his attire for such an important presentation, besides, he or Shigeo might dirty it. So, he’d have to deal with just his pyjama bottoms and shirtlessness for now.

​Clicking his door open, right across the hall was Shigeo’s newly established room with a sign that read ‘Shige’ with a few clouds behind it. Shigeo's door was never fully closed; the boy liked having a peep of light cracking through as he fell into his slumber. Peeking his head in, Shigeo lay peacefully with his hand clasped to one of his plush paws as it swung off the side of the bed.

Reigen slowly backed away before heading through to the kitchen to make himself a coffee. Grabbing one of the instant coffee sachets and pouring it into one of his plain white mugs, along with the now boiling hot water. ‘An omelette doesn’t sound bad,’ Reigen thought before grabbing two eggs out of a carton and heating up a pan. The shells were crushed and sizzled as the coffee steamed through the room. The heat was on low, the eggs slowly cooking. The morning sky still had the nighttime darkness, with purple overlapping the oranges as Reigen looked out the window. The streetlights remained on, with minimal cars on the street.

‘Ding ding’, the cooker went off. The eggs were a bright and appealing yellow color, almost the color of Reigen's hair. Seasoning the meal with a pinch of salt and a generous amount of pepper before dishing it onto a plate and grabbing his coffee. Reigen grabbed his face as he crouched over the counter and opened up his laptop to check emails whilst he ate his breakfast by his side.

‘Suzuki, Serizawa, clients…’ the usual. The warm coffee graced his tongue, sending a wave of heat through Reigen’s body, fidgeting his shoulders as he remained focused on his laptop, placing the coffee back down.

​A creak of a door, and small and quiet footsteps could be heard trailing through the apartment. Reigen averted his gaze from the screen, and to no surprise, his son appeared in the kitchen's door frame. His hair was scruffy, his pyjama shirt was unbuttoned at the top and creased, plush still in hand, and the other hand was rubbing his eye.

“Good morning, bud,” Reigen smiled, taking the fork to his mouth and eating a bit of his breakfast. Shigeo stayed quiet, dropping his plushie to rub both his eyes. Reigen tilted his head, confused.

“Do you want something to eat?” Reigen asked, with a mouth full of food.
Shigeo nodded, approaching Reigen and slouching down to a seat by Reigen's ankle. Reigen opened the cupboard above him, grabbed some fibre cereal, and poured it into a bowl.

“Do you want fruits, Shigeo?” Reigen asked, looking down at the half eyed toddler. Another nod from Shigeo. The blonde reached for the fridge, taking some mixed berries and a banana out with some milk. Mixing it all into one bowl, Shigeo's usual. His favourite. Reigen scooped him up and took him to the small table within the living area, placing the bowl down with a small wooden spoon before ruffling Shigeo's head.

“Thank you, Dad,” Shigeo turned to his father, now holding the spoon and digging straight into the crunchy, fruity, milky goodness. Reigen smirked, heading back to the kitchen and finishing his omelette before shutting his laptop down. Shigeo remained seated in the living area, a blanket now over his shoulders with the television remote in his hand as he flicked through the channels. Reigen was standing in the doorway with his coffee still in hand. Shigeo turned the channel to Pokémon, which he was immediately immersed in. His father approached from behind, handing Shigeo a cookie and having one himself to dip in his coffee, as the two sat watching Pokémon in the early hours of a very important day… for both of them, unbeknownst to Reigen.
-
Reigen made his way back to his room, leaving Shigeo to the entertainment on TV. The man inspected himself in the mirror once more; he felt quite egotistical. He’d left his suit, shirt, and tie laid out the night before; instead of his usual black suit, he decided to wear a grey one, with a pink tie. Buttoning up his white shirt and tying the soft pink tie around his neck, as well as placing his documents and laptop within his bag and zipping it up. The sun had finally made itself present, and the clock read ‘7:40am’; it would be time to leave soon. Shigeo laid his head on the table with his half-eaten cookie. Reigen called for him.

“ok,” Shigeo said, clicking the red button on the TV. The screen went black.
His little tired body carried itself to Reigen. Reigen stood in the hallway with a hairbrush, an outfit, and Shigeo's school bag. A green monkey hoodie and a long pair of blue shorts.

“I made you some rice balls today, and you’ve got your fruit and some crackers,” Reigen explained, holding Shigeo's lunch box before placing it in the boy's backpack. Shigeo smiled.
Reigen buttoned up Shigeo's jacket and then his own, and they set off out of the apartment and into the warm spring air. The streets were tame at this hour, with only a few cars driving by every so often. Shigeo walked ahead, skipping on one leg and hopping over the cracks in the sidewalk, whilst Reigen held back, securing the bag over his shoulder.

“Shige, not too far.” Reigen called over to his son who was now trailing up to a colony of ants on the pavement, kneeling down to watch them. They waved through the gaps of the concrete like little spectacles. Shigeo watched with zero emotion wavered on his face.

“C’mon, we need to get you to kindergarten," Reigen spoke, waving his head, having now caught up with the child. Shigeo sighed and grabbed onto Reigen’s hand. The blonde raised an eyebrow but decided to shove off the weird feeling he felt. Nothing could distract him right now. The pair walked down the orange streets as the sun made itself present within the early morning. The street lamps had finally turned off, and cars started to congregate. There the nursery stood, under the warm light of the morning, and the teachers standing at the gates, greeting parents and their children. Shigeo slowed as his teacher gave a small wave over to him. Reigen smiled at the teacher as he put his hand behind his son's back to encourage him to keep going, Shigeo gripping the straps of his backpack.

As they reached the gates, the teacher greeted them both and leaned down to talk to Shigeo.

“Are we feeling good today, Shigeo?” she asked. Shigeo nodded. She smiles before turning to Reigen, her mouth only opening a small gap, before Reigen’s phone blares from his pocket.

“O-one second, sorry.” Reigen panicked, reaching for his phone and clicking the ‘accept’ button. It was Suzuki, in his usual over-serious voice, who made the microphone on Reigen’s phone crackle slightly.

“Hello Reigen, although the clients will be here at 12:00 pm. I would much rather you had everything set up before 9:00 am. Any later than that and you may as well call it quits on this whole thing, understood?”
Reigen paused for a moment, his pupils small as he whipped his wrist up to his face.
‘8:10’. Great.
“Y-yes, Sir, I-”

“Good.” Suzuki cut the younger off, ending the call abruptly like he was in some sort of rush or he just didn’t care enough to even hear Reigen speak. The second option was most likely.

“I’ll be right there…” Reigen trailed into a whisper, his shoulders dropped as the phone beeped into his ear. Whipping his body back around to Shigeo and his teacher to get the farewells out of the way as soon as possible.

“Hah- sorry about that, anyway- I really have to go-” Reigen said loudly, patting Shigeo's small head as he looked at the teacher. Shigeo did not appreciate this.
"Ahem, M-mr. Reigen- the show?” The teacher began, before Reigen averted his eyes, not hearing what she had said, he truly didn’t have time for this.

“Love you, Shigeo. I’ll see you later, yeah?” Reigen spoke, his words quick and sliding off his tongue. Shigeo nodded, a small smile on his face as his dad turned round and walked quicker than usual down the street.
-
The meeting room was large, with a long table that could at least fit a whole conference. Turning his computer on, and going to the presentation which he’d put his soul into over the past couple of months, there it sat, over thirty pages and a multitude of documents to sign, laid on the table if the presentation was a hit. He sighed a relief, it was all coming together.

The door clicked open. Ah, Suzuki.
“Good, you’re here.” The darker-haired man spoke, his voice as shallow as always, with his eyes daring not to meet Reigen’s. The blonde nodded and bowed towards his hard work,

“I can assure you, this will sweep the collaborators off their feet, sir.” Reigen blabbered enthusiastically. The boss didn’t answer him, simply continuing to pull a chair out from under the large table and making himself comfortable.

“Serizawa will be arriving with the clients when they arrive,” Suzuki spoke. Reigen
Reigen’s mind was clear; he knew he could do this, it was all or nothing, and he was sure as hell not picking nothing.
After sitting amongst Suzuki for what felt like an eternity, going over everything he was planning to cover, twelve o’clock rolled around before he even knew it.
nodded, pulling out his small notepad filled with his sticky notes.
‘Introduce in name exchange,
Shake hands, lead them to their seats, not difficult at all.
The door clicked open once more, lifting his head from his notes and Suzuki standing from his chair, both headed to the entrance. There Serizawa stood, holding the door open for two very sophisticated men, both in black suits and black ties.

“It is a pleasure to meet you both. I am Toichiro Suzuki, and this is my subordinate, Arataka Reigen.” Suzuki bowed. Wow , this was a first. Suzuki must really want this deal. Reigen had never seen him so polite or… docile, for that matter.

“Yoshioka Ekubo," he introduced enthusiastically. This man was tall and had very short, sleek black hair and a lot of red pigmentation around his cheeks and a big smile that reached from ear to ear, slightly unsettling.

“Keiji Mogami,” the other spoke, not as enthusiastic, more blunt, more uninviting and cold, unlike this partner. His hair, slightly longer, with large droopy eyebags seeping under his eyes.

Reigen bowed at the mention of his name, and once Suzuki had shaken both clients' hands, Reigen followed. He hadn’t realised how warm he was until he felt the freezing hands of the clientele. Reigen gave his signature grin as he reclaimed his hand. A moment of silence filled the room as the four men had finished their exchange, and Suzuki gave Reigen the nod of approval before returning to his seat at the far end of the table.

“I’ll show you to your seats then.” Reigen nodded before turning. The two men looked at one another before following the younger blonde male. So far, so good.
-
Shigeo sat in the empty corner with a book in his hands, which he could not read, but enjoyed the pictures. He just wished his dad were here to read it for him. Other children were scattered through the classroom, playing with the sandbox, the coloring table, and the playsets.

“Hey, Mob!” a more mature boy called from the toy racetrack. A few other boys darted their gaze to what their friend was talking to.
‘Mob.’ Shigeo hated this nickname, ignoring the boys who were now making their way towards him as he lifted the book's pages over his face.

“Why not answer Mob?” another boy spoke, with a cheeky tone in his voice. Shigeo tightened his grip on the book,
‘Why can’t they leave me alone…?’

“Children gather round! We need to begin our preparation for the play today!” The younger teacher rang, clapping her hands to garner the children's attention. The boys pushed past each other, forgetting Shigeo's existence as they waddled to the front of the class.

The teachers checked through their clipboards, assuring they had all the right props and instruments assigned to the correct children. Shigeo sat; he didn’t get one. He was simply in the back, singing along. But he was ok with that, he’d see his dad and that is all that mattered.

“My mama and dad are coming today,” a girl bragged to her friend, beside Shigeo.

“My mam and pa and grandparents and aunt and uncle and cat are coming to see me,” her friend responded in a very clear attempt to one-up. Shigeo ignored this. He looked on at the teachers who were showing a boy how to properly use a triangle and another boy who was bashing his fists on an already rundown bongo drum, which the teacher swiftly removed from his grasp.

“Mob only has his dad,” an older boy from behind the two girls whispered. The two girls covered their mouths with their hands.

“His mama probably did not want him.” Another boy chimed in.

“Maybe cuz he acts weird and bad.”

Shigeo sat, now looking at them, they stared back, not realising the impact of their words, for in their young minds, they just spoke their thoughts and feelings. Shigeo stood up and made his way back to the corner, slouching back with his book.
-
Yoshioka Ekubo and Keiji Mogami had made themselves comfortable, awaiting Reigen to begin his presentation. One optimistic, the other giving Reigen a death glare, which admittedly made his back sweat.

As Reigen pressed play on the presentation, he took a deep breath, picked up the remote to control the monitor, and turned to his small audience.
“Where should I begin?” Reigen smiled, ready to turn into the weirdly natural salesperson he was. Clicking onto the first slide, showing multitudes of statistics and bar graphs, all of which the two men seemed not to understand where Reigen was going with this.

“For many years, whilst working within CLAW Association, Seasoning City’s top Data and protection company, I have noticed L.O.L being a close contender within this field…” Reigen began, lifting his finger up and pointing to the exact statistic which showed the two companies' percentages, and there was only a 0.5% difference in customer numbers. The two men looked at each other and nodded, confirming this was correct information.

“So what my boss, Mr Suzuki, is proposing is the merger of the companies.” Reigen continued, lifting his hand and motioning towards Suzuki.

“How would this benefit us, Mr Reigen?” Mr Mogami interjected. Reigen clicked onto the next slide, going into all the benefits of the merger, such as combining resources, cost-cutting for both parties, and doubling the knowledge.

“From research within your reviews, L.O.L. exceeds exponentially in customer experience and happiness. However, sometimes it lacks the long-term fixture. For example, your employees are very skilled in being able to handle situations at hand…” Reigen began, clicking the remote to bring in another box of information onto the screen. The two men's eyes followed it.

“However, it is seen within the complaints that these fixtures only last so long before relapsing again due to your outdated fixtures and technology. Whereas here at CLAW, we have solutions to protect our citizens forever and not temporarily, and employees who know how to do this.” Reigen concluded this slide. Ekubo seemed more intrigued as the presentation went on. The blonde was right; their technology wasn’t nearly as up to date as CLAW's was. The reason people stayed with L.O.L. so long was based solely on customer loyalty created by devoted but slightly flawed workers. Mogami didn’t like much criticism of his own company, scoffing quietly as Reigen pointed out the truth. Reigen ignored him to continue.

The next pages consisted of how the companies would mix well, company buildings being shared, and integrating more specific groups for specific tasks.
Reigen was flying through this, even receiving a nod from Suzuki and a multitude of specific questions from Ekubo and Mogami.
-
Shigeo sat by the old rickety swing set in the kindergarten playground, as he held a toy car, bouncing it up and down in his hand. The sky was a baby blue, and the breeze was minimal, but the ambience was prominent, the trees rustling and the birds chirping.

The rest of the children once again ignored their classmate they knew as ‘Mob’, Shigeo watched on, fiddling and fidgeting with the toy, the light wind flowing through his small head of hair. Lifting his index finger, the small toy car was slowly engulfed in a flowy purple aura and levitated into the air, above Shigeo's fingertip. The car spun in place, Shigeo's face remaining unfazed. Footsteps from behind Shigeo grew louder; he hadn’t even heard them until now.

A girl from his class came up behind him, her face full of concern and slight judgment. The car dropped to the ground, smashing the front of it on the harsh concrete. In a panic, Shigeo folded his arms at a rapid pace as if he wasn’t using his powers.

“Freak.” The girl said bluntly, her eyes not even able to look towards Shigeo as she slowly made her way back to the populated sandbox. Shigeo froze, his face dropping further than it already was as the girl walked away. Unfolding his arms, he looked at his hands, his lip quivering slightly as he didn’t know nor could comprehend what he had done wrong.
Some time passed, and Shigeo remained in his spot beside the old rusty swings. By this point, he’d been handed his lunchbox from his kind teacher. There he sat, the broken car by his side as he used both his small hands to grip the delicious riceball his dad had made him.

As the hour passed, no one sat by Shigeo to eat. But this has been the norm for a long while now. Shigeo didn’t seem to mind, as he finished up his riceball with the grains stuck around his lips before beginning to indulge in all the fruit that was packed away.
-
“Mr Reigen, I like you. I like your ideas. Your challenge is trying to convince my partner here.” Mr Ekubo explained, nodding towards Mogami with a large grin on his face. Reigen was starstruck at the fact that he even had one of them on board. Mogami leaned back in his seat, exhaling and clicking his pen.

“I would be ignorant if I sat here and denied your ideas and recorded statistics.” Mogami shrugged. “I request to have these contracts ready to potentially sign; however, I’d like for Mr Reigen here to finish up this presentation. It seems he has a lot more to show us here. Am I correct?” Mogami concluded.
Suzuki made his way to the door and whispered to a worker who was standing outside it, requesting the papers. Reigen nodded towards the L.O.L. partners, clicking on his remote.

“I can assure you both these last pages will be worth your while.” Reigen smiled, turning back to the screen.
-
The children gathered onto the stage, the teachers lining them perfectly, as perfectly as toddlers could be aligned…? With fingers on lips, yet excited chatter still escaping into the air. Parents slowly flooded in through the doors and made their way into the seats. Children gasped at the sight of their loved ones through the curtains.

Shigeo kept his eyes fixed on the doors as he peeked at the far end of the curtain, awaiting the head of blonde hair. The teachers scrambled around the stage, heels clicking and objects being dropped by accident.

“Look, Mooob is looking for his family.” The same older boy from earlier spoke to his friends, pointing at Shigeo. The other boys and girls snickered. Shigeo backed away from the curtains as he felt eyes and fingers piercing his soul before turning to his classmates.

“I have dad, dad is coming,” Shigeo spoke quietly, shuffling his feet on the ground. The children around him looked at each other and then back at him. Shigeo blinked, closing his eyes longer as if that would shut out everyone around him. The teacher clapped, gaining everyone's attention. One last peek from the curtain, no, Dad, he’d come soon.
-
The presentation screen shut off on a “thank you for listening” screen. Reigen turned to his potential collaborators and his boss, bowing in a mannerable fashion. Mr Ekubo clapped once, Reigen’s head whipping up. Suzuki stood from his seat, and so did the two opposing company men.

“Well, Suzuki. You chose the right man for the job, that’s for sure. I am personally swayed. However, I am not the sole owner. Do you mind if I and Mogami have a chat?” Mr Ekubo spoke, requesting some privacy. Suzuki nodded, signalling for Reigen to exit the room with him.
“I hope you give that young man a raise, Suzuki!” Mr Ekubo blurted as they left the room. Reigen couldn’t help but smile to himself; a feeling of warmth grew in his chest as he walked into the corridor with natural yellow light leaking in through the blinds. Suzuki was silent for a moment; the air felt tense.

“I commend you, Reigen. It was a great presentation.” Suzuki broke the silence using his usual cold tone; however, Reigen’s heart beat in exhilaration rather than anxiety in response to the boss's voice.

“It was my pleasure, Mr Suzuki.” The younger man replied with a slight crack in his sentence as the emotions overwhelmed him. This was it; he’d done it. bowing although Suzuki wasn’t even turned towards him, his nerves were through the roof, he thought he could feel his veins pumping out his skin and his heart crawling up his throat. He had to elevate himself.
Suzuki finally turned back to his worker, looking slightly downwards.

“I do not doubt they will reject this. Thank you.” Suzuki sighed, with gratitude in his eyes. Reigen could’ve just burst. It was all falling into place like a puzzle, how amazing. He and Shigeo could finally move out of the crappy neighbourhood, and Reigen could finally get a car to take Shigeo to newer and further places. This raise was everything, and as his mind wandered as he and Suzuki remained waiting outside the meeting room, a familiar voice of Eukbo called.
Suzuki clutched the handle of the door and clicked it open, greeting the gentlemen once more as they bowed to each other.

“Well, myself and my partner here are ready to sign the papers when you are.” Mr Ekubo said. Reigen couldn’t keep it professional any longer, letting out a big smile to the two men. All he was experiencing right now was sheer bliss.

“Give me a moment to get the papers out of my binder, Mr Ekubo and Mr Mogami.” Reigen bowed; he wanted to run down the room and click his heels together. He reached for his binder, with unorganised documents spilling out of it, swiping through until he found the specific documents within a pocket. There they were. As he reached to get them, slowly slipping them out, he didn’t want to crease them; he noticed a small pamphlet. It was brightly coloured like a children's book; maybe it was from one of Shigeo’s books. He heard the men mutually conversing down the room, and he took the bright piece of paper out and placed the documents down beside the desk. As he took the pamphlet to his face, reading it, every sense of joy died like a flame under rain. From an outside perspective, this was an accident, and Reigen would have plenty more opportunities to see his son in school shows, performances, graduations… and more. But his heart shattered into a million pieces as he gripped the paper, crunching it within his palm as his body shook.

“Mr Reigen, we are all ready to sign.” Mr Ekubo spoke up, holding his pen. Suzuki looked on at Reigen to come over with the documents at once. Swooping the documents up and speed walking to the three men.

He approached , placing an extra pen down on the table beside the men, with the documents neatly in front. He kept a brave face.

“Thank you, Rei-” Suzuki began,
“My apologies, Mr Suzuki. But you must excuse me.” Reigen stuttered; he was fearful. But Suzuki seemed to somewhat let it slide, judging by the fact that his face didn’t turn into blazing rage. Plus, the boss had gotten his deal; he just had to say his goodbyes alone.

Reigen didn’t await his answer, excusing himself to the men with this stupid piece of paper in his hand, he trudged past his office, leaving his bag; he’d get it later. Serizawa opened his mouth to greet Reigen- only to be met with the dust Reigen left in his tracks as he moved so quickly through the office.
-
The kindergarten's show was coming to an end, with the children still chanting their song, as Shigeo kept his mouth closed. Maybe he just couldn’t see his father, maybe he’d jump up in applause once the song had finished. But when your dad has bright blonde hair in a room filled with adults that possess mostly black hair, even a young mind can decipher that he’d have probably spotted him by now. His eyes grew droopy, slouching as the song ended. All the parents cheered, shouting their children's names, not one ‘Shigeo!’.

The applause faded, and so did the visibility to the audience as the curtains drew to a close. All the adults took their cameras down and talked amongst themselves with proud and heartwarming expressions. Beside Shigeo were his classmates, coming down from their highs of enjoyment of their performance and showing off to their families. His eyes felt watery, not here, he couldn’t. He remained away from the large group of children.

“No one comes for you?” Shigeo’s usual perpetrator spoke up. Shigeo nodded in agreement, turning away to hide his face. The kid grabbed his shoulder, trying to see if Shigeo was crying, a craving to belittle the weaker.

“Hah.” The older boy spoke, shoving Shigeo. He humphed as he stumbled to the ground, his small knees turning red like his cheeks and nose. With the upset Shigeo felt in the moment, unknowingly, he raised his hands to his face as if surrendering to the older boy. But as he opened his eyes, the boy who once towered over him lay on the floor at the very other side of the stage. He was shaking, pointing, and letting out wails, which caused an alarming concern for some parents within the crowd. The teachers, on Shigeo's classmates' side, were aiding him.

“He is evil!” a young girl shouted, also pointing at Shigeo. In the moment Shigeo had raised his hands, his psychic powers, which had resonated with his sadness, had garnered a surge of power to propel the other boy across the room. Shigeo took his hands down from his face immediately and tucked them to his sides, hugging himself.

“I-im sor- I did not me-” Shigeo couldn’t even make the words out, as his tears spilled. The other children watched on as their usually quiet classmate let out indecipherable yells and groans as he tried to speak through his sobs.
“My d-da dad. He-” Shigeo wept as he stood up on shaky knees, watching as everyone looked at him. He wanted out.
-
Reigen exited the office, it was around 14;30pm, his heart pounded, sweat already collecting itself on his back. He’d failed Shige, just like his mother said he would, just like all his self doubts said was inevitable. They were right. Shigeo’s consistent meltdowns, his powers being out of control, all led back to Reigen.
‘It’s just a school play,’ and to Shigeo, his whole world, his rock, his guardian didn’t show. Reigen knew he’d royally fucked up.

He felt his legs pick themself up, like his body was reacting to the situation more than his brain was within that moment, as he picked up a light jog down the streets of Seasoning city. But that wasn’t enough, he had to get there quicker, tell Shigeo he was sorry, make sure he was ok, assure he didn’t let his powers hurt… no, he couldn’t even picture that outcome. His legs picked up quicker. The man hadn’t hit the gym in quite some time, but he didn’t even feel or concern himself with the fact that his lungs burned and his throat dried. Almost running into a few people as he accelerated into a sprint, maybe he was overreacting. But when you have a child with psychic powers, this reaction is warranted.

Running across roads, narrowly avoiding green lights and cars beeping at the man's last-minute sprint across the road, his eyes watered as the air hit his unblinking eyes. Ripping his suit jacket off and carrying it by his side instead, taking the physical weight off his shoulders as the mental weight drew heavier.
-
Shigeo had managed to slip through the door as the teachers pandered to what was inherently Shigeo’s bully, the one that pushed him to defend himself. Parents began questioning what had happened, which the children chanted about their classmate having powers and being ‘evil’ for pushing their friend, the parents mostly chalking this up to ‘large imaginations’. As mothers and fathers took their children's hands and began leaving the area and back out to the playground to where the gate was to exit, the teacher attended with them, clipboard in hand.

Shigeo had weaseled out into the playground, already sitting by the grass, trying to remain unnoticed as his tears drew silently and his sobs fell on deaf ears. The wind around the kindergarten had picked up, grey clouds surrounding, the grass beneath his feet swishing uncontrollably. He picked up a daisy in front of him, his aura holding it in place, unaffected by the wind he was unknowingly causing.
Parents noticed the wind, ushering their children out, and the teachers were chatting to other parents about different businesses.
Shigeo stood once again, walking past the occupied adults, noticing the open gate. He’ll go find Dad.
-
Reigen was still booking it down the streets, making no wrong turns like his life depended on it. His legs ached and his lower back was sore, but that didn’t matter right now. He was mere minutes from Shigeo’s kindergarten. The pamphlet was still encased within his hand, with his adrenaline, he hadn’t even let it go, the paper had creased with Reigen's anxiety, crushing it, a paper cut actually drawn on his index finger. He was so close, he just had to get there.

“You can’t handle fatherhood, Arataka.” Oh, how right she was. He wasn’t built for this, and in retrospect? Was he ever going to be? He’d already failed Shigeo, not being there for his first year of life, Shigeo’s mother remaining untraceable as she assumed he wouldn’t want to be with her, and his inability to balance work and his son fairly. As these thoughts ran rapids through his mind, the sky above him grew darker, the wind pushing against his body.
-
Shigeo walked out of the gates, the wind continuing its wild rampage. He held the daisy within his hands; he’d give it to Dad. Cars sped down the road. It was a busy area during this time due to schools also being within the vicinity. Shigeo trailed down the pavement in the direction he watched his father run down this morning; it was his only lead. Shigeo approached a road, hardly able to reach the traffic lights. The road seemed clear within that moment, and in the young boy's mind, there was no time to lose, right? With his tears now dried, he smiled, a rarity. Knowing he was going to see his dad soon, he ran out onto the road.
-
Reigen’s body pushed harder and harder against the wind. He felt his body grow weaker as he carried himself. He was one street away; he’d be there in a matter of seconds. He just wanted to hold Shigeo in his arms, caress his soft black hair,
Tell him he was sorry, tell him that his powers are ok. He wouldn’t let work consume him again like he let it, let himself be the best version of Reigen he could be for Shigeo. Hope filled Reigen’s mind as he drew closer to his destination. He’d see his Shige soon.
-
As Shigeo ran out onto the road , his infant legs a lot slower than he thought they were, his eyes only facing ahead of him, like he was trapped in tunnel vision. His emotions were strong and filled with a hope to see his dad. But with strong emotions came hand-in-hand with his powers, The wind, blending all the sounds around him into one. In Shigeo’s vision he saw a blonde head, running down the street right towards him. It was him! He knew he’d reach him.
-
The kindergarten was within Reigen’s view, and as he ran towards the final road crossing, he spotted a little figure, black hair, his green monkey hoodie, and a big smile on his face that Reigen hadn’t seen in months. He was seconds away, but so was something else that Reigen wouldn’t be able to compete against in speed.
As he spotted Shigeo and locked eyes with his son, he didn’t smile; he didn’t feel happy, because unlike Shigeo, who was blissfully unaware, Reigen wasn’t. Terror-filled Reigen instead, absolute terror.

Shigeo was halfway across the road, still smiling towards his dad, the light was still green, Shigeo was small, the light was still green, and some would argue that Shigeo wouldn’t have even been noticeable.

Bright yellow lights emitted onto Shigeo,

“Dad! You came!,” Shigeo shouted, holding the daisy he’d picked out, still smiling. Life was in slow motion, and time felt like it was stopping. The headlights grew closer.

Shigeo’s mind went dark.

The sound came first, rubber screaming against asphalt. Shigeo’s body lifted, like he was weightless for a heartbeat. Then followed by Reigen’s gut-wrenching scream, as he watched his son being thrown over the road, nauseating. Reigen skidded onto the road, the concrete ripping the knees of his trousers. The car had halted. Reigen kneeled in front of his son's limp body, blood pooling out from his head. He scooped his son's head to look at him, his eyes closed and his mouth agape. His face bled, Reigen wept, and shouted distorted words. He held his son, the blood still trickling out, and his small body,contorted.

“S-someone HELP,” Reigen screamed, his throat felt like daggers getting punctured into him, and he felt himself choking when he tried to call for help again. His words didn’t make it out, his hair dishevelled and his eyes red. A crowd had gathered, from people getting out of their cars to the parents and teachers.

“P-ple-easeee. Some, any. Am-ambulance, Hospital.” The father cried, a host of words. He took his two fingers, which were covered in Shigeo’s blood, to his neck, checking for a pulse. It had to be there; it would be there. It was faint, but it was there.

“M-my shigeo…” Reigen whispered into his ear, his sobbing uncontrollable, he cradled his son in his arms, picking him up as gently as he could, not wanting to further damage his already broken body.

“Shigeo!” Reigen wailed as he held his head over Shigeo’s hair, breathing into it, his tears falling onto Shigeo’s head. He embraced his son within his arms, stroking his hair like he’d just wished to do only moments before. More people gathered around Reigen and his son, one holding his shoulders, others on the phone to services.

The blonde remained holding his bloodied son, the red liquid soiling into Reigen’s white shirt and grey trousers, his pink tie now mostly a deep red. A small, white daisy fell out of Shigeo’s palm.

“Please don’t- don’t leave me, Shige,” Reigen whimpered, “You’re- my everything. My everything,” he repeated, his throat tightening with every word. The clouds above them began to produce rain, and as the water bounced onto him, he tried to shelter Shigeo’s body with his embrace. The world around was a blur, and people tried talking to Reigen, but he just held Shigeo tighter and kept sobbing incoherent words. He heard people on the call with dispatchers. People shouting, bystanders emotionally stunned by the scene at hand.

Reigen stared on, eyes half closed from all the tears, as the rain grew heavier and the blood started trailing out more and more. He put his hand on Shigeo’s chest, needing reassurance as they waited for an ambulance, that his son was still within this life.

He hugged Shigeo as softly as he could, closing his eyes as the weather grew slightly more dire. The world was cruel, trying to take Shigeo from him. The blaring of sirens and the flashing lights of an ambulance approached, paramedics jumping out within seconds with a stretcher. Reigen’s breath hitched as he knew they were about to rip.

“I love you so much, Shige. I need you to hold on…You are my...my only purpose in life… please.”

Giving him a kiss on top of his head, as he felt the weight on his lap lighten within a blink of an eye, the paramedics lifted Shigeo away. With Reigen’s hand reaching out as he almost collapsed onto the wet and bloody ground.

Reigen’s tears blended in with the rainfall.