When They Realized (GenMui)

10

On the day of the bonfire party, the entire house was bustling with activity. Mr. Tokito had just returned from logging in the forest, and Muichiro accompanied him into the shed. They worked together for what seemed like hours before deciding it was finally time for lunch and to head over to the manor.

By the time they returned, Sanemi had since finished with the fried rice he'd been preparing. He situated the dining table, placing every dish in coordination before wiping off the lingering debris. Removing his apron, he joined the rest at the table and enjoyed a lunch well-made.

As the individuals stuffed their mouths with yakimeshi, they began to share their plans for the day.

"Sanemi, I heard you've been trying to get a job here recently," Mr. Tokito said, a smirk forming on his lips, amused.

"Oh yeah, of course," Sanemi confirmed with a shrug. "Just a little summer job."

Genya's eyes lit up in surprise.

"Really, Nemi? That's so cool."

"Mhm, yeah, anyways, I've been thinking about working at that one convenience store near the school here."

"Not too shabby," Mr. Tokito responded, a hint of mischief in his eyes as he spoke. "Why that place, though? Does it have anything to do with a particular someone behind the counter?"

Sanemi visibly reddened, sinking into his seat in embarrassment. He nervously focused on the bowl in front of him, refusing to look back at everyone else's pupils as they waited patiently for his response.

"Nemi, is that true? Have you really been interested in—"

"No! No, it's none of your business. He's lying..."

Mr. Tokito arched an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. He'd never seen Sanemi so flustered before in all of the years he's known him.

"Ooooh~," Muichiro sang, a subtle laugh escaping his lips as he did so. Who knew seeing Sanemi embarrassed would be so amusing?

"I'm sure Shinobu wouldn't agree with that," Mr. Tokito exposed with a sigh. "She said you looked very interested when asking for her sister's number."

"I'm gonna leave now," Sanemi muttered, exiting the dining table with his already empty bowl.

He didn't even bother cleaning it, leaving it in the sink altogether before heading up to his room. Yuichiro let out a scoff, facing his father with the slow shake of his head.

"Daddy, you really know how to piss people off sometimes," he said jokingly, a lingering smile never leaving his face.

"Oh... ouch."

Muichiro let out a sigh. "It's not your fault. What Yui meant to say is that Sanemi needs to learn how to control his emotions."

"I agree," Genya said, earning an up-top from the smaller one. He would never say that to his older brother if given the opportunity.

Mr. Tokito shrugged, taking another bite of his rice as he agreed mentally. He glanced up with curiosity at the people around the table eating with him. Between working in the shed with his children and savoring meaningful meals, he seldom had the chance to see them. This lack of time troubled him, particularly now that he had another teenager on his shoulder to look after.

"So, what've you been up to lately, Genya?" He asked, arching his eyebrows  curiously.

Genya instinctively looked up in response to his name. "Oh! Uhm, you mean like since I came here?"

"I guess you could say that."

As Genya began to think, the room went silent, anticipating his potential response. The Tokito's grew tense, anxious for an opinion worth considering. They were eager to hear that Genya was enjoying his time, especially Muichiro, who hung out with him the most. He needed the validation.

"I actually toured the surrounding neighborhood the other day. Everyone seemed pretty nice, but Inosuke, if you know him. He tried to pick a fight with me the last time I visited. It really pissed me off, but luckily, Tanjiro was able to break it off before it even started."

"Oh, that's... wow, Genya, that's a handful," Mr. Tokito joked, cleaning up the rest of his dish with a spoon.

Muichiro nodded, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion. "Isn't it? When was this and where was I?"

Genya chuckled, a deep chuckle that sent sudden shivers down Muichiro's spine.

"Well, you were playing the Sims, and I didn't want to disturb you, so I just went alone."

Mr. Tokito scoffed, subtly disappointed. Let's just say it wasn't the first time he had to hear a story like that regarding his youngest son.

"Yeah, Muichiro and that game," he said, shaking his head slowly. "It stops him from socializing with the outside world."

"Uhm, no, it doesn't," Muichiro denied, his mouth parted as he furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance. "Genya and I literally went on a walk yesterday."

"Mhm..." Yuichiro hummed, seeking for mischief nobody was willing to condone.

"Yuichiro, stop instigating."

"I'm not—"

"Anyways, that's nice, Genya. Anything else?"

Genya lit up as he finally remembered the event partaking that day. "Well, Yuichiro, Muichiro, and I are going to a bonfire party later today. I hope to make the experience fun for Muichiro since it's supposed to be his first time."

Upon perceiving Genya's future plans, Muichiro's eyes immediately widened. The illusion was over. He'd been exposed, and his idea of sneaking out was ruined. There was a reason why he'd never been to a bonfire after all. His father wasn't quite fond of those places, and it was the last event he would ever let any of his children involve themselves in.

"Oh, really..." Mr. Tokito hummed, facing Muichiro, who only proceeded to look away, blatantly ashamed. "You mean those gatherings where teenagers do drugs, vape, and have sex? Yeah, I don't know about that."

The twins groaned in unison, clearly embarrassed by their fathers millennial morals. He only ever parented topics and events he wasn't familiar with. It was infuriating.

Genya visibly reddened in shock. "Oh, u-uh... that's not what I was—"

"Don't even bother trying. He's definitely not letting us go," Yuichiro advised, rolling his eyes at the thought of it alone.

Mr. Tokito shook his head, finishing up his plate with content. "No, I'll let you all go on one condition."

"And that is?" Yuichiro stretched, unamused but willing to hold onto hope.

Mr. Tokito let out a sigh, somewhat hesitant to feed his children to the sharks at a bonfire party. There were still so many intolerable acts that partook in such a setting. His younger days were a testament to that theory.

"As long as I can trust Genya to keep you all safe as the eldest of the trio," Mr. Tokito said, his expression unreadable. "Then I'll let it slide."

"Yes!" The twins exclaimed, followed by Genya's sincere nod of triumph.

"You guys seem a little too excited, but I'll look past that."

"You don't have to worry about us, daddy," Muichiro clarified, closing his eyes with pride. "I won't even look at a vape."

"Yeah, yeah, I trust you. You don't have to try so hard."

The conversation flowed from there, the table blatantly filled with puns and laughter. Even when Sanemi wasn't present, they still managed to make the moment entertaining. Sanemi would learn to come around eventually, and when that day came, he'd face it with integrity, prepared to embrace the sensation of an interactive setting. It would be hard, but Mr. Tokito prepared for that day, and he prepared significantly well.

Eventually, time would pass, and the sun would drift slowly. As the clock ticked, an intro of the evening came to be, reminding the trio that day was falling shortly. When they realized, the house was filled with their cacophony as they began to prepare themselves.

The twins got ready together, following after Genya, who waited patiently in the living room. Afterward, Sanemi came down shortly with the car keys in his grasp. He sighed, not so prepared to be driving at a time when he could be resting. However, as much as he berated the younger ones in a way most wouldn't even begin to expect, he still held a sense of self, a selfless one at that.