Too engrossed in his own thoughts, he misses the casual glances Wakasa gives him from across the table.

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    Ever since Wakasa became Takemichi's and Haru's guardian, he began assigning the boys chores so they could help out around the apartment.

    Wakasa taught them how to wash dishes, sweep the floor, and throw the trash away. At first, Takemichi and Haru were very annoyed by this new development, but –after a while– the chores slowly started to become rather calming.

    For Takemichi, atleast.

    Haru still hates doing chores.
   

    Takemichi's in the middle of washing his dirty bowl when Wakasa strolls up to him, his gaze unsettling and sharp as if he's taking the boy's mind apart with a single look.

    Takemichi decides to ignore it, his fingers growing soapy and crinkly as he scrubs his bowl with a sponge. Dish soap covers his forearms, nearly crawling up his shoulders, but he doesn't mind it in the slightest. The warm water feels nice against his skin and it gives Takemichi something to focus on instead of the razor sharp stare Wakasa is giving him.

    Out of the corner of Takemichi's eye, he sees the white haired man leaning against the kitchen counter, his shoulders slouching as he watches the boy wash his bowl.

    Takemichi ducks his head, hoping that–by obscuring his vision of Wakasa–that the man will simply take the hint and walk away–

    "So Yuzuha, huh?" Wakasa mumbles, making Takemichi heave out a defeated sigh.

    Of course Wakasa still decides to ignore the signs Takemichi was giving him. He should've known better...

    "What about Yuzuha?" Takemichi mumbles back, hoping that playing dumb will get Wakasa o back off.

    Spoiler alert–It doesn't work.

    "Haru said something about you being upset with her–"

   Takemichi immediately perks up, His eyes blown wide by the accusation. "Eh?! I'm not mad at her at all!" Takemichi corrects, automatically hating the thought of being mad at Yuzuha.

    Wakasa tilts his head, curiosity swimming within his purple irises. "Then why'd Haru say you were upset? Did something happen?"

    Takemichi clamps his mouth shut, unsure if he should share his theory with Wakasa. If he does open up to wakasa about Yuzuha then he'll probably say the same thing Haru, Mitsuya, and Chifuyu told him earlier this week. Takemichi's not sure if can handle hearing those words again, especially from Wakasa of all people.

    But Wakasa's an adult–He knows more about the law than Takemichi, Haru, Mitsuya, and Chifuyu combined. What if he actually gives Takemichi good advice as to what to do? Should Takemichi risk it and tell him? Or keep it to himself and suffer in silence?

    It doesn't take long for Takemichi to come to his conclusion.

    So, with his eyes pinned to his dirty bowl, Takemichi tells Wakasa everything that he's told Haru, Mitsuya, and Chifuyu. And, like the three boys, He listens intently with a serious look on his face, nodding along to whatever Takemichi is saying. He doesn't interrupt him–He just stands next to Takemichi and listens quietly, his purple staring into Takemichi's soul.

   After Takemichi is done ranting, Wakasa inhales sharply through his nose and exhales out his mouth.

   "Huh. I think you might be right, Takemichi," Wakasa huffs out, his face contorting into a look of complete frustration. "But I gotta admit, I have a feeling she's being abused by a family member."

    A...A family member?

   "but–But Hakkai doesn't have any bruises on him–"

   "That you know of."

    Takemichi freezes up, his blood instantly running cold as Wakasa's words run through his head.

    Hakkai could very well also wear bruises and scrapes beneath his clothes.

    "Oh...oh my god..." Takemichi whispers, his soapy hands dropping the clean bowl into the sink with a loud clank. "But why? What did they do to deserve this?" He asks, knowing that Wakasa wouldn't be able to give him a clear answer, especially since the older man has no idea who these kids are.

    "Some parents just don't deserve to have kids," Wakasa sighs out frustratedly, his hand moving to grasp Takemichi's shoulder to keep him from falling to the floor in shame. "The Shibas have done nothing to get hurt, that i know for sure, but–"

    "But we can't do anything about it?" Takemichi finishes for him, having already expected that kind of answer because it's the same damn answer everyone else has given him.

    "No," Wakasa protests, surprising Takemichi. "There is something you can do."

    Takemichi's face lights up at his words. "Really?! What can i do? How can I help them?" He asks, his voice full of desperation as he begs Wakasa for an answer.

    The white haired man smiles down at him and grasps the boy's other shoulder with his other hand, his purple eyes clashing with Takemichi's.

    "Be there for them. Help bandage them up. Don't push them to talk about anything sensitive–show them that you're safe to be around. Show them that they can trust you. Then, when they do trust you and tell you the truth, that's when we can finally take action. Got it?"

    Finally, for the first time in days, a feeling of hope blossoms in Takemichi's chest.

    "Yeah–Got it."

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