What you're name ?

Chapter 11 New Normal

Made by @cataclysmiceve1 on Twitter!
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He's really gonna be fine with me staying here?"

"Honestly, Chuuya? You worry too much. I have a theory that it's the stress that's stunting your height—"

"ExCUSE ME?!"

That was what Mori Ogai came home to, the night he discovered his nephew was harboring a teenage runaway.

Life throws a lot at you. It takes your sister away too soon. It slaps you with a lonesome teenager that doesn't particularly like you. It gives you a bizarre relationship with your ex-brother-in-law. But this—this is new.

Mori pauses in the doorway, keys still in hand. Dazai glances up, and his face breaks into a huge smile, really more like a shit eating grin. "Uncle! You're home!" He's never called him uncle before.

"At the same time as usual," Mori frowns, his eyes sliding over to the other boy—a small redhead, who looked sheepish. "I don't believe I've met your friend...?"

"Well, Chuuya's actually my," Dazai pauses with a frown. They haven't actually discussed that bit yet. He looks to Chuuya for guidance, but the redhead just throws his hands up, as if to say, 'beats me.' "well, that's not the point—"

"Then what is going on, Dazai? I've had a long day."

"Chuuya needs a place to stay. I told him that could be with us, for now."

Mori looks back to the redhead, who seems to have the sense now to be looking back at him. And he seems nervous. "Where was he staying before?"

Dazai's eyes slide over to Chuuya, trying to gauge what the redhead is comfortable with sharing, and he takes a deep breath. "It's—not really safe for me at home right now."

Mori frowns. "Not safe?"

Chuuya chews his lip nervously, crossing his arms over his chest. "I—um—" Chuuya clears his throat. "I came out. And my Dad, he's—" Mori's eyes widen with understanding, and then they soften.

"Osamu—" he reaches for his wallet. "Go get dinner for the three of us—the Izakaya should still be open."

"But—"

"If you want me to agree to this, go."

Dazai glances over at Chuuya reluctantly, but the shorter teenager gives him a reassuring nod, silently telling him it's fine. When Dazai disappears out the door, Mori calls after him, "Do NOT order the entire menu!"

"I make NO promises!" The door slams shut, and they're alone.

Mori glances over at Chuuya, who seems a little jittery—but not completely uncomfortable. "Do you and Osamu know one another from school?"

Chuuya shakes his head, "No, I go to Kanagawa—we met through Odasaku, actually."

Oda. Mori's always liked that kid—that's a good sign. "Well—" Mori sighs, and he stops using his normal voice—instead he speaks to Chuuya like he would a patient. He's calm, precise—and unemotional. "I'm going to need to get a better grasp of your situation before we decide what to do. Why don't we sit?"