𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟑𝟖𝟏 [𝘛𝘰𝘫𝘪 𝘍𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘰]

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭

Spring comes quickly, meaning the death anniversary of your late husband approaches. Toji notices how you're feeling down, and he does everything in his power to cheer you up. He's more thoughtful than ever, and more affectionate than usual. He tries not to make it obvious but you notice it; it'd be hard for you not to notice your boyfriend's sudden behavioral change.

He invites you out to eat the day of, and you're sure that he asked to take the day off just to spend it with you. He knows that you're not going to work, after all, you're the person that takes Megumi to daycare so you gave him a heads up. He didn't want you to be all alone today, so you two agreed to spend the day after lunch.

After visiting your husband's grave, you go back home to get ready for your lunch date with Toji and Megumi. You dress casually, knowing that you're not going anywhere that's fancy. Regardless, you're excited to go out with them. You always are. Megumi and Toji are your new family, and you hold them dearly to your heart.

"Hi!" Little Megumi looks as cute as a button when he approaches your door. He's holding a bouquet of flowers that are almost his size. You wonder if Toji gave them to him now or if he forced Megumi to bring them here, causing the little guy to trip over himself. You chuckle at the thought before grabbing the flowers from him, bending down to kiss the top of his head. When you look up, you find his father right behind him.

"Hi, Toji." You greet him, putting the flowers on your counter. You walk back to him to kiss Toji's lips. You're about to walk away but he engulfs you in a hug. It takes you by surprise, but you hug him back. You feel like Toji is taking this tougher than you are.

"Are you doing okay?" He asks when he finally lets go. You smile at him as you nod. Maybe you cried in the morning and when you visited his grave and as you talked to the tombstone, but you're doing good now. Toji doesn't seem to think so though.

"How about we go now? Don't want the place to be filled when we get there." You suggest and he nods in response. You leave the apartment and head for his car. The place isn't too far away, and while Toji usually would tell you it's best to take a walk, today he will do just about anything you ask him to. He will do anything you ask him. He just wants to cheer you up– He doubts that you'll be happy but he'll do just about anything in his power to make a smile appear on your face.

He worries about the conversation that he'll make, and the music he'll put in the background for the very short ride, but luckily, Megumi takes over. Megumi talks about his kids show, and tells you just about every detail. It's easy for you to follow along because when you babysit, that's what you watch.

You get to the restaurant, one that has become one of your favorites in the area. Luckily it's pretty empty so getting a table isn't a problem for the three of you. You don't have to look at the menu since you already know what you want to order, Toji doesn't need a menu either. Megumi, on the other hand, doesn't know what to order and he's indecisive with the options that are read to him. He lands on the blandest option and decides that it'll be his lunch.

"When are you two moving?" You ask Toji, knowing that the day you dread creeps up on you. You try to ignore it and enjoy the time you have with them, but today of all days, your loneliness persists. Toji isn't going to tell you though, ignoring the question and pulling out his phone to show you a silly picture he took of Megumi. You smile at it, and then look at the child who colors a blank sheet of paper. You sometimes feel like Megumi is the closest thing you'll get to a son; if you do marry his father, he would be your stepson so technically your son.

"What do you want to do after this? Watch a movie?" Toji proceeds to change the topic, and you notice it right away. You know that the answer he'll give you will make you upset so you accept it.

"How about we take Megumi to the park? He'll have fun there." You suggest, and Toji nods in response. Toji isn't too set on entertaining Megumi and making sure the four-year-old is having fun, but he'll do just about anything that you ask him to.

"Can we get some ice cream too?" Megumi asks, and you smile at him. You nod in response, and Toji won't object to that at all. You're in complete control today.

"Toji, you don't have to treat me... As if I were fragile. I'm doing fine, I've been preparing for this." You tell him, and Toji purses his lips together before crossing his arms.

"I'm just being nice to my girlfriend." Toji claims, making you roll your eyes. Toji isn't normally like this with you. You would appreciate his kindness any other day, but not today.

"I have a girlfriend!" Megumi announces, and both your eyes widen. A girlfriend? That's the first time you hear about it. Megumi tells you absolutely everything that happens at daycare so this takes you by surprise.

"What the hell are you doing at daycare?" Toji can't control his tongue, and you slap your palm against your forehead. This is why you get complaints about Megumi using some foul language in his classroom. You glare at Toji before turning your attention to Megumi.

"Honey bear, do you know what that means?" You ask, having a feeling that Megumi doesn't know what having a girlfriend exactly means. Megumi nods his head in response, putting down his crayons on the table before he answers,

"I have a friend who is a girl." The response earns a chuckle from Toji, as well as from you. You were already preparing a lecture about how he's too young for dating– But perhaps you'd ruin his fun. You vaguely remember having a fake wedding when you were around his age, so maybe you shouldn't talk.

"Well, do you kiss your friend? Are you planning to marry her?" Toji asks, and the little boy sticks his tongue out in disgust. He absolutely isn't. "Then she isn't your girlfriend."

"She is!" Megumi claims, and the two argue about what a girlfriend is. Toji ends up giving up, realizing he's arguing with a four-year-old. He'll let Megumi believe whatever the hell he wants.

– – –

"Don't go out of my sight, Megumi. And don't start pushing kids... Or cutting hair." You never really thought that on the anniversary of your late husband's death, you'd be warning your boyfriend's son to not cause any trouble. You often wonder if you've moved on too fast, but you argue that this is better than just staying alone. You're happy with them.

"Okay... Can I go?" Megumi asks and you let him go before walking back to the bench where Toji sits. He throws his arm over your shoulder, bringing you closer to him as you lay your head on his shoulder. Toji kisses the top of your head, and it brings a subtle smile to your lips.

"You worry about him more than I do." Toji comments, and you chuckle.

"Maybe you don't worry enough?" You respond, making him click his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

"I worry as much as I should, you worry too much." He argues. Maybe he's right, but you have a huge soft spot for him. You love that kid to death and you don't want anything to happen to him. You sit in silence for a moment, enjoying each other's presence.

"You know... I like that you're overly nice and all, but I still want you to tell me the truth. Are you moving soon?" You speak up, and Toji bites his lip.

"In a month or two... The house is ready." Toji shares, and you're overly sensitive. You know you asked the question looking for an answer but the answer makes tears well up in your eyes. Perhaps it's the day that's making you tear up but you begin to cry and when Toji notices, he swears his heart breaks. He kisses your cheeks and then your lips before assuring you, "And I'll come to visit you everyday, I don't care how much I have to drive. I'll come see my sweet girlfriend everyday, until we move in together."

You continue to cry, but his words give you comfort. You wrap your arms around him, holding him close. You really don't know what you'd do without him. And it's as if he reads your mind when he tells you,

"I don't know what I'd do without you either."