When They Realized (GenMui)

8

A few days had passed in the Tokito household since the Kamaboko Trio visited. It was a quiet Monday morning, and the abode was alive with the usual breakfast hustle. Muichiro stumbled into the kitchen, his hair an unruly mess, eyes half-shut with sleep, and oversized pajamas nearly swallowing him whole as they usually did. The sun streamed through the window, casting a bright glare that made him squint.

"G'morning," he mumbled with a yawn as he reached for a box of Cheerios perched on the top shelf.

The individuals already seated at the kitchen island turned their attention to him, their eyes widening slightly at his disheveled appearance. It wasn't often that he slept on the wrong side of the bed, but it was amusing to the eldest Shinazugawa, nonetheless.

"Looks like somebody isn't a morning person," Sanemi joked before popping another dry Reese's Puff into his mouth. A glass of milk sat respectfully at the side of the bowl he ate from. It was an optimal breakfast.

Muichiro let out a subtle grunt in response as he poured some Cheerios into a bowl followed by some milk. Once he'd gotten his breakfast completely situated, he found a comfortable spot at the island, right beside Genya.

Genya looked up from his bowl, his gaze softening as he took in Muichiro’s state. "Oh, good..." He paused, noticing Muichiro's sloth-like movements as he ate. "Good morning?"

"Morning, Genya. I'm so tired..."

"I can tell," Genya chuckled, reaching over to gently tuck a strand of hair behind Muichiro's ear with his hand. "Your eyes... Muichiro, you need to get more sleep. How long have you been staying up at night?"

Muichiro glanced up, his eyes still heavy with fatigue. "I know, It's just—well, my Sims. They can't live without me."

Although Sanemi sat peacefully at the dining room across the island, he couldn't help but notice the sudden physical action Genya enacted upon Muichiro. His eyes briefly widened in shock, the intrigue instinctively kicking in.

"Woah, Genya!" He exclaimed, slamming his hands on the dining table for his attention. "A little too close for comfort, don't you think?" A vein popped in his temple as he smiled with ill intent.

Genya flinched in surprise, removing his hand as he faced his elder brother. He didn't realize what he was doing when he was doing it, but Sanemi managed to snap him back into reality before Muichiro ever had the chance to.

"What did he do?" Yuichiro mumbled, slowly dozing off at the living room couch. He was eager to be involved.

"T-that's my bad," Genya sputtered, receiving a disapproving shake of the head from his brother. "I guess I was just... worried."

"Genya, don't listen to Sanemi," Muichiro assured with the roll of his eyes. "I had no problem with it. You can touch me however you want."

That quote alone had awakened the eldest Tokito. Unfortunately for Muichiro, it was taken out of context.

"Woah, Muichiro!" Yuichiro exclaimed, immediately whipping out of his lingering stupor. "Have you no dignity? You can't just say things like that."

"What..."

"That's the last straw!" Sanemi strained, arising from his seat at the dining table. "Little buddy, you're coming with me," he told the smaller one.

Genya's face reddened upon realizing Muichiro's unintentional poor choice of words. Perhaps he was just sleepy, and his sentences weren't coming out exactly as he wished for them to, but it was still embarrassing. The last thing Genya wanted was for Sanemi to get the wrong idea. In fact, even Genya was beginning to get the wrong idea himself, and the thought only flustered him all the more.