Mr . Fushiguro [TOJI FUSHIGURO]

1

"I can't sleep," Toji mumbled, scratching his head. He poured himself another glass of wine, his words slurring. "Think you need to slow down, dude," Shiu said, trying to take the cup away gently.

Toji jerked the cup back and chugged the rest of the bottle. "Earned this," he hiccupped, a humorless laugh escaping his lips. "Wife's dead, son hates me, and my dad thinks I'm a failure." He looked down at his hands, his bravado faltering.

"No, but you need therapy," Shiu said, concern etched on his face. Toji scoffed. "Therapy?"

"I mean you're basically on the verge of becoming an alcoholic dude" Shiu countered. "Trust me, it helps. Look at me, new perspective and all." Toji eyed him skeptically. "Yeah your still still and broke..."

"Hey! at least I'm not drowning my sorrows!" Shiu exclaimed.

Toji slammed a dollar on the counter standing up to leave. Shiu stopped him in his tracks.  "Hey, Toji," Shiu called after him. "If you ever reconsider, I have a great referral."

Toji scoffed, walking away. Therapy was for weaklings who just wanted to vent about their failures. Pathetic.

He fumbled with the doorknob, surprised to see his 11-year-old son, Megumi, standing there. "Huh...when'd you get here?" Toji slurred, scratching his head.

"I live here," Megumi said bluntly.

Toji rolled his eyes and brushed past him. "You stink, and I'm hungry," Megumi said, following him with a side-eye. "So go get food," Toji mumbled, grabbing a beer from the fridge.

"I'm hungry," Megumi repeated, his voice rising with each iteration. The whining grated on Toji's already frayed nerves, the alcohol amplifying his irritation.

"Just shut up already!" Toji roared, throwing the bottle. "Always whining and crying! Be grateful you even have a roof over your head!"

Tears welled up in Megumi's eyes as he fled upstairs, slamming the door behind him. Toji pinched the  bridge of the nose, letting out a heavy sigh. He knew he'd messed up. The yelling, the throwing - it all spilled out of his self-loathing, his anger at his life spiraling out of control.

With another sigh, he reached for his phone.

"Hey Shiu, what was that therapist's name again?" Toji mumbled, scratching his head."I think I...really do need help."

1 day later.

"Okay, here we are!" Shiu beamed.

"What? I thought we were going to a therapist's office," Toji said, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Yeah, this is her house. Her office is inside," Shiu replied, rolling his eyes.

"A she?" Toji raised an eyebrow.

"Yes..." Shiu narrowed his eyes. "But don't even think about anything. She's strict about ethics, you know, client-doctor confidentiality and all that."

As they walked up the stairs, Shiu added, "I wasn't expecting the kid, though."

"Babysitter's busy, and nobody at the office has time to watch him," Toji explained with a side-eye. "So, unless you want to..."

"No can do, dude," Shiu cut him off, fixing his collar. "Got a date."

Toji burst out laughing.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Shiu yelled, knocking on the door.

"Coming!" a voice called from inside.

you had forgotten about the favor Shiu asked. You were supposed to evaluate his friend. Still in your sweatpants and tank top, you threw on a cardigan and without realizing it slipped into your fuzzy duck slippers  As you rushed downstairs, the sound of quacking echoed as you walked.

You flung the door open with a loud greeting. "Hi!" Glancing at Shiu, then at the tall, attractive guy beside him holding a child, Shiu Blurted  "Did you just wake up?"

"Uhm...no...maybe so" you said nervously. Toji glances at Shiu giving him the are you serious look. "Come in come in" you said moving out the way. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a date to prepare for," Shiu said with a smirk.

You burst out laughing, which also caused Toji to chuckle.

"You too?" Shiu said, rolling his eyes as he stormed off the steps.

You closed the door and now  you and the tall man stood inches apart in an awkward silence. Before you could speak, he did.

"Nice shoes," he said, looking down at your duck slippers.

"Why, thank you!" you said, smiling as you stuck your foot out playfully. This earned a snicker from Toji.

"And you were making fun of mine, weren't you?" you said, narrowing your eyes at Toji.

"I actually like them," the little boy piped up.

You smiled and bent down to his level. "At least someone has good taste! What's your name?" you asked, ruffling his hair.

"Megumi," he replied bluntly, looking away shyly.

"Hi, Megumi, I'm Y/N," you said, putting out your hand for him to shake.

He hesitated before shaking your hand and quickly  looked away.

"I hope you don't mind," Toji began, scratching his head. "I didn't really have a choice. I had to bring him."

"No, it's perfectly fine," you reassured him. "A lot of my patients bring their kids sometimes. That's why I turned my second study into a playroom. He can go in there. Follow me," you said, walking with your quacking duck slippers. You could hear both of them snickering behind you.

You opened the office door to reveal a playmat and a bunch of toys. Megumi spotted the gun arcade machine and immediately ran over to it.

"Our room is right there," you pointed down the hall.

The two of you sat down – you in your chair and Toji across from you. You grabbed your notebook and click your pen.

"So, shall we start?"