Daycare

✧3:Daichi✧

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand and slammed the knife that occupied my other hand on the messy kitchen countertop. Tears of frustration almost fell from my eyes, my wrists throbbing from the hours of my countless attempts at cooking.

Looking at all the failed attempts materialized as inedible scraps of what once used to be food, I had almost tried to let myself believe I was only doing so poorly because of the pain of my wrists. Almost had half the mind to try and use the excuse of claiming the pain started from the hours spent typing and writing at my desk from work.

But I didn't even allow myself to further entertain my one-man pity parade, knowing fully well that it was better to just admit the inevitable then to live off a lie.

Nevertheless, even with the self-rewarding feeling of allowing myself to accept the truth, my pride was still hurt. I almost felt embarrassed; why was it so hard to make a simple boxed lunch.

Momentarily, I squeezed my eyes shut in hopes that the lack of a visual reminder of my shame would halt my embarrassment. when I opened them again, I quickly glanced at the clock on my laptop, 12:33 A.M. it read. I let out a huge sigh as I closed out of my countless "How to pack your kids lunchbox" tutorials and roughly pushed the laptop shut before tucking it under my arm. I was so exhausted that cleaning up my mess wasn't even a priority.

Pushing cleaning to the back of my mind, I almost let myself skip up the stairs until I remembered that Tobio had fallen asleep hours earlier on the couch while he was watching Voltron on Netflix in the living room.

Slowly and quietly, I tiptoed over the small sleeping boy where he was sprawled out on the couch and gently scooped him into my arms, leaving my laptop in the space that remained.

I carefully began walking towards the stairs, I couldn't help but look down at the raven-haired boy that I cradled in my arms.

I couldn't comprehend how someone so small could take up such a large portion, maybe even all, of my heart. I couldn't comprehend that, for him, I would risk everything. I would give him the moon, the sun, the stars, the trees if he so much as asked for it.

It was at this point that I had waddled up the stairs and was making my way towards Tobio's volleyball themed room.

The room was lined with posters of a variety of different volleyball teams and even pictures of me when I was a high school volleyball captain. On the floor were scatters of crayons and different portraits Tobio had drawn out of blank printer paper of himself and Shoyou, and Shoyou and Me and him, and even some of her.

I inwardly winced at the mere thought but quickly put it to the back of my mind, gently bending over to lay him in his bed.

God, I needed to sleep this day off.

I leaned over Tobio's bed, getting ready to tuck him in until I noticed his eyes slowly peeled open.

"Dad, can I sleep with you?" His voice was so quiet I almost didn't catch it.

My heart swelled. The sun, the stars, the moon, the trees, I wanted to give it all to him. Forget asking, he deserved it.

In fear of swooning to him out loud and boosting his already massive ego, I just nodded quietly. Tobio lazily lifted his arms up, letting me know without words that he had no plans of walking there himself. Chuckling at him, I bent over and gently picked him up. Instantly he clung to my neck while we made our way to my room, holding on to me as if I might vanish if he were to let go for even a second.

That is until my bed came into reach. Then he hopped out of my arms and sprawled out over the mattress, I soon followed his example.

Drifting off to sleep.