Eighteen (Oikawa Tooru Ambm)

Chapter Thirteen

Ethan's Pov
Logistically speaking, moving twenty-two people out of a house and into the public eye required the planning of a military campaign. Daichi stood by the front door with his trusty clipboard, executing a headcount as the kids filed past like a line of very chaotic, loud ducklings.

"Tanaka, Nishinoya, shoes on the correct feet, please," Daichi called out, ticking off two boxes. "Akaashi, do you have the backup juice boxes?"

"I have forty of them," Akaashi replied, completely deadpan as he adjusted a heavy backpack. He looked over at me and Tooru, who were standing by the kitchen counter packing a truly ridiculous number of sandwiches. "If we run out, I am not responsible for the riots."

Tooru laughed, leaning over to bump his shoulder against mine. "Don't worry, Keiji. If a riot breaks out, Ethan will protect us. Look at those dad muscles."

"Tooru, please, the teens are right there," I chuckled, my cheeks warming up as I tucked the final bag of snacks into the cooler. But the warmth in my chest was undeniable. It had been a week since our official date, and navigating this new reality being boyfriends while managing our separate, massive families felt incredibly natural.

Our destination was a massive regional park with a playground big enough to contain the collective energy of eighteen four-year-olds. We looked like a small parade walking down the paved path. Tooru and I pushed a double stroller carrying a fast-asleep Kenma and a very content Sugawara, while the rest of the toddlers marched ahead.

The moment we hit the grass, the peace was officially over.

"I am the king of the castle!" Atsumu screamed, immediately sprinting toward the tallest plastic slide, only for Osamu to tackle him by the waist into a patch of clover.

"No, I am," Osamu replied, his face completely blank as they rolled around.

"Akaashi, handle the twins," Daichi ordered automatically, already jogging toward the swings where Kuroo and Bokuto were trying to see who could swing high enough to "touch the sky," while a terrified Semi watched from a safe distance.

Meanwhile, near the grassy field, the ultimate toddler showdown was taking place.

"I'm gonna run faster than you, Bakageyama!" Hinata yelled, his little orange hair bouncing as he took a clumsy, aggressive running stance on the grass.

"No way, dumb Shouyo! I'm the fastest!" Kageyama shouted back, his brow furrowed in deep, four-year-old concentration. He glared at Hinata like they were competing for an Olympic gold medal rather than a race to a trash can fifty yards away.

"On your marks... get set... GO!" Hinata shrieked.

They took off simultaneously, a blur of tiny sneakers and flailing arms. Halfway through, Kageyama accidentally tripped over his own feet, tumbling into the grass. Hinata didn't hesitate; he stopped completely, turned around, and pointed a finger. "Aha! I win!"

"You didn't win, I fell down!" Kageyama yelled, scrambling back up to chase him.

I watched them from a nearby picnic bench, a deep, relaxed sigh leaving my lips. Tooru sat down right next to me, sliding his hand completely over mine, our fingers interlocking under the bright afternoon sun. He didn't say anything, but the gentle pressure of his grip told me everything. He was here. We were doing this together.

A few yards away, Daichi and Akaashi walked over to the shade of a large oak tree, finally catching a brief moment of peace while the toddlers were temporarily occupied. Daichi slumped against the tree trunk, looking up at the sky.

"I think my dad is actually happy, Akaashi," Daichi said softly, his voice dropping its usual authoritative leader tone. He looked across the park at Tooru and me sitting together. "I haven't seen him smile like that in... well, ever. He's usually so dramatic and stressed about managing all of us. But with your dad? He looks grounded."

Akaashi leaned against the tree, his sharp eyes observing the way I was laughing at something Tooru had just said. A rare, genuine softness filled Akaashi's face.

"My dad spent a long time being afraid," Akaashi murmured, adjusting the strap of his backpack. "He carried a lot of guilt from the past. He thought his only job was to protect us, and that he didn't deserve anything else. Seeing him look... safe? It's a relief."

Daichi smiled, reaching out to punch Akaashi's shoulder lightly. "We did a good job wingmanning, didn't we?"

"We did," Akaashi agreed, a tiny smirk playing on his lips. "But if your dad tries to move into our house with nine more children, we are redrawing the chore wheel. I am not washing forty tiny socks a week."

Daichi laughed out loud, the sound drawing the attention of toddler Ushijima, who toddled over and solemnly handed Daichi a very flat, squished dandelion. "For you, Daichi-nii."

"Thanks, Wakatoshi," Daichi said kindly, accepting the tragic flower.

Back at the bench, Tooru leaned his head onto my shoulder, watching the older boys interact with the littles. "They're good kids, Ethan. All of them."

"The best," I whispered, wrapping my arm securely around his waist, pulling him just a little bit closer. The park was loud, the toddlers were chaotic, and a five-car tricycle pileup was definitely brewing near the sandbox, but in that moment, everything was exactly where it was supposed to be.