𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟑𝟖𝟏 [𝘛𝘰𝘫𝘪 𝘍𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘰]

𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲

The heat starts to cool down a couple of weeks later, which you're thankful for. But now you have air conditioning that you could've used the hotter days, and it upsets you that slowly you have to start using long sleeve shirts because otherwise you'll be too cold. Either way, you like the current weather. It slowly turns into the perfect weather. Not too hot, not too cold.

Slowly you also build up a relationship with Megumi. You're spending some time together after all, and you hear that he's making friends. Your relationship with your neighbor doesn't change though. Whenever you talk it's about his son and about daycare. He still attempts to drive you to daycare and pick you up, but sometimes he doesn't get out of work till late so you walk back home with Megumi, and he stays at your place till Toji comes to pick him up.

You really don't mind taking care of a child even when you're not getting paid. Toji is extremely apologetic about it, but you know the man tries his best for his son, or at least that's what you think. Either way, you don't mind helping out with whatever it is since Megumi is extremely relaxed– Although the more he gets to know you, the more he wants to play with you and the less he wants to sit still, which you also don't mind.

For the first time in weeks, you get to sleep in. Lately Toji knocks at your door first thing in the morning because he needs someone to look after Megumi since he has had something urgent come up. But not this time.

Even though you get to sleep in, around eight in the morning your phone begins to ring. You groggily pick up the phone, only to find Toji's name displayed on the screen. At that moment you begin to regret ever asking for Toji's help when you met him. Ever since you've been repaying for his minor favor in a million other ways. But of course, that's a thought that only crosses your mind because you were woken up. You still pick up the phone,

"Hi." You respond, a yawn escaping your lips. You're thinking about having a chat with Toji about some boundaries because while you do enjoy helping, you barely do anything for yourself in your free time.

"Hi!" You hear a voice that's too babyish to belong to Toji, and immediately you regret the thoughts that you were having beforehand because Toji didn't do anything.

"Megumi... What are you doing with your daddy's phone?" You ask, getting up from bed and opening the curtain to let the sunlight in. At least you can start your free day early, so you can appreciate the call more. "Did you steal it?"

"I need Mr. Carrot." Megumi says, making you furrow your eyebrows. But you remember the bunny stuffed animal that Megumi carries with him when he spends some time with you. He doesn't like to let go of it, and it seems like it's one of his favorite toys.

"Where are you, Megumi? Can you put your dad on the phone?" You ask, and you hear Megumi's little footsteps and how he yells, 'daddy!' to get his father's attention. You wait for Toji's hello before you say, "Megumi wants his bunny."

"Did he call you for that?" Toji wants to chuckle, but he maintains a serious face so Megumi doesn't think what he did is funny. When you hum in response it's harder for him to suppress his laugh. Toji clicks his tongue and you hear him say, "bad Megumi" which makes you chuckle because he refers to his son as if he were a dog. "I'm sorry."

"I would bring it to him but it's not like I have access to your apartment." You respond, and from his end, silence is the sound thing you hear. You immediately know, so you walk to your dresser to get some clothes.

"Actually... There's a spare key under the welcome mat– But don't use it. You're spoiling the kid way too much." Toji says, but you've decided that you're giving him the toy.

"Are you at work?" You question, and you hear him sigh.

"I'll send you the address."

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