Chapter Text
What a peaceful night. Arguably the first properly peaceful one in a long time.
Moonlight opened up a glistening pathway, creating an interstellar infrastructure along the streets of Shibuya. Air in the streets had been disturbed by the phenomena of the show, leaving the creation of luminosity in its wake; celestial bodies replaced lamp posts, twinkling in the structure of a line and following the strides of the Tenma family. ‘Tenma’ can translate to ‘Pegasus’ in English, and similarly to the inherent mystique of such a mythical creature, it seemed nonpareil wonder seemed to follow them wherever they went.
Perhaps, Touya thought, such wonder was just synonymous with being a Tenma.
Tsukasa and Saki had always seemed on another plane - glowing in a way that made the street signs they passed turn to look. Even when they walked along a path currently reminiscent of the asteroid belt, still glittering due to glass reflections, the brightest stars seemed to be Touya’s siblings.
Yet, as he walked alongside them, and too felt the embrace of the stars, a supernova ignited within his chest. Warmth flowed through him. Even the tips of his fingers - one hand holding a bag of plushies, the other loosely holding onto Tsukasa’s hand - radiated heat, to a point Tsukasa squeezed his hand in response.
Would it be egocentric to assume he, too, had the right to walk among stars?
Or even that he had recently had his birth as a star? Joining the mystique and being more than just a husk of a neutron star, having attempted to bloom years ago but being shut down due to the overwhelming intake of pressure?
A smile crept along his lips, and as his eyes lingered on the shining streets, he allowed the bliss to flow through his body.
“Do we need to grab anything?” A pointed finger towards the shop, down an adjacent street to the one they were walking along. At Saki’s prompt, Tsukasa and Touya turned their heads to look down at it, and they pondered it for a moment.
“Hm… well, consider it this way: would you or Touya like anything for this evening? Consider it my treat!” In an instant, Saki clasped Tsukasa’s arm and took a large step to face him head-on.
“No! I was planning on treating you and Touya! So what do you want?” A fight over expressions of love through culinary treats ignited between them. All while Touya spectated, pondering the more obvious conclusion. His questions wagered more on whether they would be willing to hear, given the playful fight between them.
“Guys…” their heads turned towards Touya, whose spine seemed to tingle from self-consciousness, and he continued, “we could just all get something for each other? I could get something for you two, Saki-onee-san gets something for me and Tsukasa-onii-san, and Tsukasa-onii-san gets something for-”
“AH!” Piecing the obvious together, Tsukasa slapped a clenched fist into his palm, and heartily laughed to himself. The laugh echoed through his ribcage, making Touya’s eyes widen a little, all while Saki had a hand upon her chin in a thinking motion. “That is a far more sensible idea! Why didn’t we think of that?” He nudged Saki, who remained in a thinking motion, “Touya, always the voice of sense!” Another laugh, the purpose of such a laugh completely flying over Touya’s head.
“I think you were both just caught up in a form of competition… it isn’t that ground breaking of an idea…” Saki and Tsukasa shared a glance, and as Saki began to approach the store, Tsukasa placed a hand upon Touya’s back to guide him forward.
“We do that sometimes… we get so worked up in offering something nice to each other that we tend to forget there’s a way we can both get what we want, all while giving our intended kindness.” In a hushed voice, Tsukasa leaned towards Touya and tried to explain, “I’m surprised you were never dragged into these as children. It’s been happening as long as Saki could pick up a crayon and insist on giving me her masterpiece of scribbles.”
“You probably did drag me into things like these before, I was just… very confused.”
“You often were… it’s understandable, though, considering how different Saki and I are to what you grew up with.” With a smile, Tsukasa took a stride in front of Touya and stopped him in his tracks, gently holding his shoulders as he said, “But look at you now. I’ve had the honour of watching you grow up, not only into the most wonderful of young men, but you’ve grown into the best younger brother I could have ever been blessed with.” Tears simmered at the edge of his eyes, and in an attempt to blink them away, Touya found them trickling down his cheeks. “I know it is very unprompted to say, but I’m proud of you.” By this point, there were no longer attempts to blink them away. Allowing Tsukasa to pull him closer, he allowed the tears to spill as he bit back a smile.
“That was unprompted… but thank you.” Tsukasa swayed his younger brother a little as he held him. Laughter escaped Touya’s throat, bringing forth further tears, and Tsukasa couldn’t help but join in with the laughter.
“You know what we Tenma’s are like… entirely unprompted shows of affection, in the most elaborate way possible!” As he spoke, he unhooked Touya from his embrace. Just as Saki turned around from ahead, wondering the cause of the delay. Expecting the tying of shoelaces or something more logical, she instead found herself greeted by an elaborate pose from Tsukasa - his arm had been firmly raised, another resting on his hips, and his legs had been split apart with little care for balance.
Then again, it’s the Tsukasa.
Expect the elaborate, not the logical.
“Come on, you two! I want to get home soon!”
“Ah!” Nearly falling, Tsukasa swiftly turned to face his sister. “Coming, dear Saki! Do not fret!”
“Don’t worry, I’m not!” Offense fell upon Tsukasa instantly. He slapped a hand to his chest and groaned in agony, only to be ushered towards his little sister by his little brother. Not without a stumble or two, of course. For the dramatics!
The time spent in the shop, while short, had an eerie vibe to it.
Truly, that was the best possible description.
For starters, one of the lights flickered to its own rhythm, disturbing Touya greatly. Saki attempted to steer him in a way that would not make him face the flickers, and if passing near it was necessary to progress to the next aisle, she asked her siblings to cover their eyes and run with her around the corner. The effort to not alienate or critique Touya for his disturbance, while perplexing, made him feel comforted. After all, the few people in the store did not focus nor comment on his increased stimming (and even if they had , he would simply explain how it's a sensory aid and not a threat to a literal bystander)... rather, their focus was on Tsukasa.
The first corner.
Saki yelled go, and as she and Touya giggled at their attempt to evade the flickering, Tsukasa had… other ideas.
There had been a collision. Then a collapse. Then half the shelf's content collapsed with him.
So, to put it in brief, Tsukasa had been sent outside. Apparently he was a ‘menace’ and a ‘threat to his surroundings’, according to the bystanders. The employee who had unfortunately witnessed the collapse was just… exhausted, and although the Tenma’s frantically offered their aid to either pick it up or either take on a day of work to make up for the complications upon this poor worker, they insisted in a hushed tone how his employer would kill them for allowing exterior aid. Plus, Tsukasa’s offers of aid had slowly escalated into screaming, and it came off more threatening than helpful after a while. The intention was there, though!
So, Tsukasa had made sure to put extra money in Touya’s pocket to offer as an apologetic tip - if he couldn’t make up for his misdeed due to expulsion, he could at least ensure the worker got a bit more money for their efforts.
Eventually, they reached the till, bought the desired desserts - Saki wanted microwaveable pastries and chocolate, Tsukasa wanted sour candy and gumballs, and Touya had bought himself grapes and a box of mini brownie bites - and Touya placed them in his bag. While he wasn’t fond of overly sweet things, for simply the smell made him itch in distress, he thought Saki and Tsukasa would enjoy them too. As for the grapes… Well, it was a nice snack as he sat and read at night.
This would be the first night he could do this in a while! Gosh, just the realisation made his heart race in excitement. He’d missed his reading, and apparently, Tsukasa had a shelf of mystery novels that Touya had been hoping to borrow for a while. Surely, if they accidentally landed in his room, it wouldn’t be too bad, right…?
Books aside, the remaining Tenma siblings paid, and offered the employee three doses of a tip - considering the time of night, and the more pressing issue of products being ‘shelved’ on the floor, it seemed only fair that this employer would be given a form of apology. In return, he promised to put in word to prevent Tsukasa being banned, because he wasn’t that bad of a customer usually. Neither Saki nor Touya had even considered banning, but as they left, they made sure to inform him.
“Ban me ?!” Tsukasa shouted, only to be angrily hushed by a passing elderly woman. “They wouldn’t… Well, actually, it's a logical decision to make, but!” Entirely ignoring the previous hushing, Tsukasa began to yell, “I am a valued customer! And I am! Very polite!”
“Can you be quiet , young man?”
“Sorry…” Touya spoke on Tsukasa’s behalf. “Come on, Tsukasa-onii-san… let’s get back, before you get banned from the entire neighbourhood…”
“I SHALL NOT BE SILENCED!” This time, both Saki and Touya hissed through their teeth to silence him.
“Usually, I would join in, onii-chan, but it is very late! If we get done for being a public disturbance at night, I don’t think Mom will take kindly to it!” Hearing this, Tsukasa clammed his mouth shut. Their mother was not strict - in fact, she embraced his passionate actions, and when she wasn’t working to financially support her children’s ambitions, she attended his shows - however, she would not stand for her son causing public disturbances. He’d likely write personalised apology letters to every home, and while it would be his own choice due to guilt, she would encourage the personalisation to the final letter.
Having silenced Tsukasa, the Tenma’s approached their home.
Upon reaching the door and opening it, Touya found himself being ambushed with a comforting smell. He couldn’t entirely figure out what it was, due to the amalgamation of smells, he knew he would enjoy it. Just as he took his shoes off, with the intention of investigating and sorting out his recent purchases/winnings, the Tenma mother appeared in front of him.
Now, in honesty? He still couldn’t bring himself to refer to the Tenma mother as his mother. His ‘mother’, a cruel woman laced with poison, did not fit the semantics of the word, yet he clung to the word. Perhaps it was just a plea for a rotten apple to be ridded of its toxins, despite the flocking of flies towards it.
“Touya, darling? May I have a word?” He hadn’t really spoken to her properly outside of his first day of arrival. To give him the benefit of the doubt, it was not at all intentional avoidance - they just did not have overlapping free time. So, despite her embracing of him on the day of his arrival, he couldn’t help but shy away from her eye contact a little.
“Of course…” Readjusting his posture, he handed the bag that had etched markings into his fingers to Saki, who rummaged through it. Though he had since followed the Tenma mother, watching her eyes sparkle through his peripheral vision made him feel at ease - she had received the gifts and realised the intention behind them.
Eventually, they reached… his room. Placing a stray hair behind her ear, she opened the door and beckoned her hand for his entry. Having been a spare room, his room remained plain, spare a few plushies and items of Akito’s across his room. While he preferred plain decoratives as they appeared pleasing to his eyes, he did desire a few trinkets… Though, the question remained fresh in his brain. Why his room? And, evermore, what did she intend to say?
“Sit down darling, if you would like.” He nodded, and sat on the edge of his bed. After shutting the door behind them both, she sat beside him. “My husband is currently dishing up our dinner, but I’ve informed him we both may be a little late, because this is the first time I’ve been able to properly speak to you since you moved in.” After a deep inhale, she asked, “You do… remember me, from when you were a little boy, right?”
He had to think. Not because he didn’t remember her - the opposite, in fact - but rather of how to respond.
What was he to say? That she had remained etched in his brain as the first adult to not only treat him as a child, but a young boy? He remembered how she had offered him some of Tsukasa’s old clothing to take home when he had expressed extreme discomfort with dresses, and how she would gently comb his hair before they would practice the piano. How she always had tissues near the piano, in case he got upset or frustrated. Though tears never spilled, his face would always scrunch up in the tiniest of crevices, and she would gently wipe his face to prompt giggles rather than sadness. Sometimes she would take him, Tsukasa and Saki to the park. Sometimes she would take him and Tsukasa to visit Saki in the hospital. Not once did she ever isolate him - whenever he came for piano, she made sure he could exist outside of classical music. For that, he had always been grateful.
Yet, all he said was, “...yes, of course. You were always… very kind. I’ve been meaning to thank you for years.” To admit what had just crossed his mind would be an attempt to unlock a vault within his throat, containing the words from his mind not yet linked to his lips. They would never get out. At least, not the way he intended.
“You don’t need to thank me, love.” She placed a hand on his, stroking his hand with her thumb as she continued, “I… always wanted to take you in as my own. I know that is odd to think of another child, especially one from another home, but I could tell you were unhappy with the Aoyagi’s. I was acquainted with them through business. As people, I despised their attitudes… all fake, as if they were adhering to Victorian standards.” Hissing her words, Touya’s eyes widened; he had not expected this to emerge from her , yet knowing even somebody as kind as her felt the same way validated his worries as to his attitude towards them, “And when I saw how you behaved with them, compared to my little ones? Oh, I just wanted you to embrace that smile and freedom. I’ve always been of the belief that kids should remain kids, and choose their own paths. You were never allowed that privilege, and I am so sorry.”
Oh, the tears began to form. His throat seemed to clog up, and in an attempt to swallow his growing dread, he made a little hum.
She didn’t need to apologise.
They did. But such a thing wasn’t in their dictionary.
“It’s okay… you did all you could, given your position as my piano teacher. I’m just grateful you allowed me to spend time with Tsukasa-onii-san and Saki-onee-san.” Gripping his hand a little harder, her voice wavered.
“I should have done more, though… Every day when you went home, I would think to myself, ‘why didn’t I say something? Why didn’t I offer for him to stay the night, or something that would allow him more freedom?’. But your parents were very rigid souls, and despite my subtle suggestions, they would insist on keeping you on the seat of the piano.” Another deep breath. “Besides, you don’t have to be grateful. I’m grateful you kept my little ones company, especially during a tough time in their lives - with Saki’s health, we were all worried, yet I always remember her brightening up whenever you visited and read her a story you and Tsukasa wrote. She would sit and ask me, ‘When is Touya coming again?’, because you allowed her to experience small things she missed while in the hospital.”
It was so much. Too much, even. He wiped a few tears, and watching the Tenma mother do the same, he knew these feelings had never been admitted prior to today.
In retrospect, it made sense. While their experiences could not be interchangeable due to the different factors, and by no means did Touya wish to compare his experience to Saki or even Tsukasa’s, he pondered on what the Tenma mother had said.
They all enabled each other to have segments of a childhood that they desired most.
For Saki and Touya, that involved the experiences. Even considering the limited time, and in Saki’s regard, her health and physical position, they got to do something. Read together, create stories, sing little tunes and lullabies, play with each other’s hair, watch a show… he had always, always felt gratitude for those experiences, despite the limited time he had with each one. In what could be dubbed a self-centered oversight, he hadn’t even considered what it meant to Saki, too. Gosh, his heart swelled in gratitude that she had further opportunities now.
And when it came to the collective? They all resolved one thing. Loneliness.
Whether siblings by blood or circumstance, their bond was unmatched.
“And, if I may continue on a slightly different, perhaps lighthearted point…” Interrupting his chain of thought, Touya looked up at the Tenma mother in anticipation, “since you are a Tenma now, we need to discuss your residence here as well. Naturally, we will figure out things as this progresses. But let’s consider the setting first…” She unhooked her hand from Touya’s and panned it across the room slowly, his gaze following her moving hand, “would you like any specific decorations?”
“Hm…” Accepting the subject shift as a means to clear his throat, for doing so when tears were rising through his system would result in a choking hazard, Touya pondered. “I’m not too sure yet…”
“We can always dedicate a day to shopping for these things, in case there’s any wallpaper or flooring you would like fitting.” Standing up, she approached one of Akito’s tossed shirts and lifted it up, “Also, since you do have that boyfriend of yours, I suppose we must consider a slightly larger bed in case he stays over…” At the inference towards Akito’s existence, Touya threw himself to sit upright, trying to ignore the growing heat flowing through his cheeks. “I don’t mind him staying, by the way. I’d quite like to sit down with him over a hot drink and meet him properly, though… from what Tsukasa and Saki have told me, he’s quite the interesting character!”
“He’s… He- I-”
“Touya, my lovely, I’m only teasing. He’s your boyfriend, so he is more than welcome to treat this home as his second. I want a mention at the wedding though~” This was the second time a member of the Tenma family had inferred he and Akito would get married someday. If Akito were here, he would have since stood up and frantically taken to defending his honour… but since Touya was the one to hear this suggestion, all he could do was sit and ponder the concept of marrying his beloved. While he did not wish to forcibly confine himself and Akito to societal expectations, the concept of a big ceremony to declare to all the people he loved about how much he loved his partner… well, to say it seemed invited would be an understatement. Perhaps he’d have to ask Rui about creating a mock marriage between him and Akito, to be wed in all terms but legal. Rui had made his discreditment of the law clear before, anyway.
“Oh!” As if his train of thought continuously crashed into her wall of speech, the railway path intentionally causing this collision every time as this was a conversation, she spoke once more, “One more thing about you living here, and do forgive me for how embarrassing this may be, but it's normal and necessary!” Oh no. “Now, Touya… you are a growing boy, and sometimes, boys have periods-”
“N-”
“I am just saying , if ever you need pads, or stacks of chocolate, as well as a warm bath or a day off school due to pain, I won’t judge! They are difficult to handle, and-”
“ Mom .” The word just slipped out. They both paused - the Tenma mother, in the middle of speaking with her hands, and Touya, who had covered his reddened face and visibly scrunched into himself. His breaths unstable, he seemed to try and wipe the red off his face, though it felt more like melting his hands on the radiated heat.
“You called me mom.” Looking at her through a side eye, Touya did not dispute the referral. Yes, it had been a slip of the tongue, but it felt… right. “If embarrassing you with normal bodily functions is what I need to do to get you to call me mom, then-”
“I… I don’t need the period talk.” The word turned to air, too embarrassing to outright state, and he noticed a smile through his slightly split fingers upon his face, “But thank you… for not treating mine like a taboo subject.” Okay, so it was embarrassing. It made him physically recoil. But, considering his previous treatment of his puberty (being misgendered ‘on accident’ and being forced to hide away the fact he had a body at all), it didn’t… entirely feel wrong?
‘Some boys get periods’.
He had never really heard it stated like that before.
After a lifetime of being left out of such a conversation - while the topic was still horrific - he felt grateful that his lived experience was not a singular one.
“Darling, your existence is never a ‘taboo subject’ to me. I know it may be… uncomfortable to hear about these things, but that’s always the first step to normalising what is a normal occurrence, hm?” After a moment to think, he nodded. “Anyway! I apologize, but you can’t say I didn’t pre warn you!” To this, he chuckled; he could truly see Tsukasa in his mother.
His actual mother.
It felt so right.
“Thank you… for everything.” After the words fell from his mouth, he pushed himself up to stand, and outstretched his arms a little. It only took a moment for her to realise what he meant. As she hugged him, he felt embraced with a rose-scented perfume, as well as a soft fabric. His arms made their way around his mother, and he repeated it in his head a few times.
His mother.
His mother.
The Tenma mother, his mother.
If you speak of it three times, surely it sticks?
However, due to being closed off from the rest of the house, the moment was swiftly interrupted.
A door flung open, and through the gap peeked Saki and Tsukasa.
“Guys! Your food is getting cold!” Saki spoke first, her voice trailing out as she realised what was happening. “Oh my god. Can I join in with the hug?”
“Why would you ask such a thing, Saki?” Playfully critiquing her inquiry, Tsukasa nudged his sister and whispered, “They’re having a moment. I think they needed it.”
Sure enough, they did.
Shortly after his siblings departed from his doorway, his mother pulled away from the hug.
“I’m going to go eat now, my dear. Would you like to join now, or-?”
“I think I’ll sit in here for a moment.” While not stating his intention, she figured it out swiftly - he needed to think. So, she left him, and after a moment of pure isolation, he pulled out his phone.
He could think after checking the 99+ messages from the Vivid Bad Squad group chat. Not the most practical of solutions, given his cold food, but sometimes opening his phone to An’s forehead with an insulting caption towards Akito was what his brain needed.
Akito <3: an i am just saying that IM lens favourite so like. Get fucked
An Shiraishi: NAHHHHH SHUT UP BRO
An Shiraishi: HIS FAVE IS LITERALLY YOUR BF
An Shiraishi: BEATEN BY YOUR OWN PARTNER LMFAO
Akito <3: BRO DON’T MAKE ME BRING UP YOUR STUFF WITH KOHANE I WONT HESITATE
An Shiraishi: Go on pussy.
Ah. Even better. They were arguing . The betterness was laced with sarcasm, for the record, for the little ‘read by Kohane Azusawa’ in the corner made Touya wonder just how much she had witnessed.
An Shiraishi: omg wait pause
An Shiraishi: dickhead your bf is here
Akito <3: TOYUYA
Kohane Azusawa: Touya! Hi! :)
An Shiraishi: hey dude! :D
His presence having been acknowledged with such kindness (apart from the… Akito dickhead comment…) made his heart swell a little.
Touya: Hey guys :)
Kohane Azusawa: I’ve been meaning to text you all day! How was the show that Wonderlands x Showtime put on for you? I hope it was a good suggestion, I was worried I was overstepping my position but I wanted to make you feel better and I know you love their work a lot!
Touya: It was lovely, thank you for suggesting it
Kohane Azusawa: Oh, I’m so glad! Also, about those photos you asked about the other day, I’ve managed to process and print them and now I have them on the specific photography paper! Would you like frames or do you have some at home? I always have spare frames, whether it’s for the walls or with backings on them, to place on your bedside table or something!
An Shiraishi: omg hes gonna have a picture of akitos ugly mug next to his bedside table i bet
An Shiraishi: i love you touya but i cannot forgive you for liking THAT
Akito <3: SHUT YPUP YOURE SO FUCKING RUDE
Akito <3: I HOEP KOHANES SNAKE EATS YOUR HEAD OFF
An Shiraishi: DONT BRING COUNT PEARL INTO THIS
An Shiraishi: COUNT PEARL ISNT THE REASON YOURE UGLY
Touya: Guys. Can I please reply to Azusawa before you start arguing again.
An Shiraishi: yes sorry </3
Akito <3: of course babe
An Shiraishi: lol
Akito <3: can you be quiet for once in your life
Touya: Anyway, Azusawa, I am not sure about our frame situation but i believe we have a few spare ones. One for the bedside table will be lovely though
Touya: I’ll meet with you at some point so we can discuss this a little easier
Kohane Azusawa: Of course! I don’t mind that at all, I’d be more than happy to do so! :)
Touya: :)
Touya: I’d love to stay and chat but i need to go eat dinner
Touya: Speak to you all later <3
Akito <3: BYE I LOVE YOUUUUUU
An Shiraishi: BYEBYEBYE TOUYA ILYY
Kohane Azusawa: Enjoy your meal! :)
Closing his phone, he placed it to his heart.
The traditional perception of ‘family’ and its meaning was, quite frankly, bullshit.
He had a family in the Tenmas. Family in Vivid Bad Squad. Hell, he even found a family in the Street Sekai.
Tradition did not make his heart feel this at ease. Tradition did not embarrass him with classic parent conversations, all while they embraced him. Tradition did not welcome him into their home without a second thought after he rushed there in the rain.
Touya had found a family.
He had found acceptance, love, comfort.
Turns out it had only been down the street, after all this time.
He was so grateful to be a Tenma.
Touya Tenma… what a beautiful ring to it.