Division-10

Track 2. Doppo's No Good, Very Bad Day

Originally posted: July 14, 2020

Summary: Taking a train to Ikebukuro to babysit a couple of teenagers is the last thing Doppo thought he'd be doing on his day off.

Author's note: This was a birthday gift for my friend nichelium and is still one of my favorite things I've ever written.

-x-

Jakurai should've been the one taking a train to Ikebukuro on his day off, not Doppo. He should've been the one to knock on their door, greet his old friend Ichiro, say a few pleasantries about how nice the weather is, or how he hadn't had any trouble getting here, or whatever, but he canceled last minute. Because of course he did. Something about a patient waking up from a coma or something like that. And Doppo, having nothing better to do, agreed to take his place.

Hifumi could've taken his place, he'd been there for that conversation, but Doppo kind of just blurted it out without thinking. He hadn't quite heard what Jakurai had said, so when he thanked Doppo and handed him the directions to Ichiro's store in Ikebukuro, he felt like he could off himself right then and there.

But he didn't. And now here he was, standing under the awning to their shop. Well, he was pretty sure he was at the right place, if the giant sign that read "Yorozuya Yamada" was anything to go by. He knocked on the door and waited.

No one came to the door right away, but he could hear a rush of footsteps coming from the other side of the door and he cringed. Shouting. More footsteps. More shouting.

The door swung open and Ichiro had to shove his two little brothers away to stop them from crowding the door. Doppo thought they resembled hounds, the way they shouted and raced to the door to stop some perceived threat.

Why did they even need a babysitter? Wasn't the little one in middle school? He should be old enough to take care of himself by now. Even if he did need a babysitter, then wouldn't his slightly older brother be enough to fill that role? Why was he here again?

"Well, if it isn't the salaryman!" Ichiro said. He was wearing a green apron and a green matching baseball cap with the logo of a nearby convenience store sewn into the fabric. "Good timing! I was just about to head out."

"Ah, go-good afternoon." Doppo mumbled an apology for being late, but Ichiro didn't seem to hear him.

"Jakurai-sensei mentioned you'd be taking his place. I'm really sorry to make you come all the way out here."

"Oh, uh, it's no problem, really. I wasn't doing anything anyway..."

Jiro and Saburo peaked out from behind the doorframe, and Doppo recoiled at the glares he received from them.

Saburo looked over at Ichiro, disappointed. "You said Jinguji-sensei was coming over, didn't you? I was looking forward to hanging out with him again..."

"Why's this guy here?" asked Jiro, who seemed to share Saburo's sentiments towards the unexpected trespasser.

They were so disappointed by his presence it made Doppo feel even more reclusive than usual. Another adult not wanting him in their space was tolerable, he was used to that, but children? They were brutal.

Doppo didn't lead an interesting life like Jakurai did, nor did he have all the spunk and gusto needed to handle children like Hifumi did. Of course they wouldn't like him. He did have a younger brother, so it's not like babysitting was new to him, but this was... different. They weren't familiar. They weren't even acquaintances.

"Quiet, you two. He's a guest in our home." Ichiro scolded. "Where are your manners? Who raised you two?"

"You did," said Jiro.