(Friday, 5pm~ Sun Garden)
(Nagumo)

Today was the day. We were finally going back to Sun Garden after all these years. It was a good thing Suzuno was signed off for the week, otherwise who knows when we'd be able to organise this with his terrible schedule. He was very excited, and thankfully no longer ill, we'd both spent hours getting ready- well mainly me, I just couldn't decide what to wear, I wanted to impress after all. I was also excited, albeit slightly nervous; what if the kids don't like us? What if everything goes terribly wrong? It's not great that I still can't seem to shake this whole Darius thing off. I decided to finally ask him about it. "Hey Fuusuke?"

"Yeah?"
"Have you um, like noticed Darius acting...strange at all recently?"
He gave me a strange look "Well....if by strange you mean he hasn't talked to me all week then yeah I guess...why do you ask?"
'He wasn't talking to Suzuno anymore? He knows I'm on to him so maybe he's given up? Although he didn't seem all that threatened by me so maybe he's just trying to trick me into thinking he's given up...'
"No reason..."

Suzuno didn't seem all that convinced "This is about Tuesday isn't it?"
I huffed in annoyance "He was all over you Suzuno, I don't know why you didn't see that." I kept my voice low, not wanting to shout. "There's no need to exaggerate, besides I said I was done talking about it. So let's drop it, please?" He asked and I grumbled but conceded, this day was about Suzuno, and I'm not going to let Darius ruin that.
I looked back to see the Sun Garden gates and smiled, forgetting my problems for now.

"Haruya, Fuusuke, you're finally here, for a moment I thought you weren't going to show!" Hitomiko announced walking up to us, carrying a sleeping toddler, we smiled and followed her inside, seeing children of various ages playing outside. Some of them were playing football. 'That brings back memories, I guess not much has changed.'

Hitomiko had cut her long hair shorter, but it suited her really well, she looked much more mature now, not to mention friendlier. "If you two would like to take a seat, just gonna go put this one down for a nap." She pointed to her office and we let ourselves in. "It's weird being here, like as an outsider now, seeing the kids. It's been so long and now the tables have turned." I said, more so to myself, remembering my childhood at Sun Garden. It had been a bittersweet one. I'd only sat in this chair a couple of times, Suzuno had more than ten times....
'Hey, at least no one's judging you anymore, you don't have to impress anyone.'

I looked around the office; crayon drawings, thank you cards, motivational posters, letters and postcards- one from Brazil catching my eye. There was a painting too, of a night sky. Suzuno walked over to it and I immediately smiled realising it was one of his.
"I didn't realise she kept it." He mused, and I held his hand softly. Suzuno was a pretty good painter, I remember he used to disappear sometimes for hours on end and paint, I suppose it added to his mysterious vibe. Even though he didn't have the best materials to work with I was always astonished at what he was able to produce. I kinda wish he hadn't stopped...

"Sorry about that." She said, coming back in. We all took our seats. "Now then, I know we spoke a little over the phone, but have you two had any more thoughts?"
I looked over at Suzuno "We're not too fussed really but preferably a girl."
She opened a large filing cabinet before continuing "Age?"
"We were thinking maybe six years old, but again it doesn't really matter to us." My husband answered and Hitomiko began to sift through the files before pulling out a stack of brightly coloured files and placing them on the desk in front of us. "Well here's all our five to eight year olds but I'll let you take a look at the kids first okay?" I nodded and was about to get up when there was a knock at the door.

"Hey!" The person announced opening the door, I recognised that voice.
"Hiroto? What are you doing here?"
Hiroto just grinned at me before tugging someone else in behind him, Midorikawa. "We saw you guys coming in from the kitchen." Our green-haired friend stated as Suzuno beamed at him. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming?" He asked, shutting the door behind him and leaning up against it. I chuckled "Well it was sort of meant to be a surprise. Why are you here?"

"I'm just a bit short-staffed at the moment- seems there's a bug going round- so I asked if they could come down and help." Hitomiko answered before Kiyama could speak. "Not that I've actually seen them doing any actual helping." Hitomiko continued and Hiroto rolled his eyes jokily at her, suddenly a woman popped her head into the now cramped office "Hitomiko, can I just borrow you for a second?"
She nodded before negotiating her way around Midorikawa and Hiroto and leaving the four of us alone. I smirked "Let me guess, you were too busy making out with your boyfriend to help?"

Hiroto raised an eyebrow at me "Honestly Haruya, what kind of a person do you take me for?"
"Yeah, well the look on your boyfriend's face is saying otherwise." I stated, seeing how madly Midorikawa was blushing, he smacked me jokingly on the shoulder and huffed "Hey, you're the ones who can hardly ever keep your hands off each other!"

I was taken aback, it was my turn to go red this time "Oi-" I stopped when I felt a pair of arms drape around my neck, I could feel my husband's warm breath on my skin "He has a point Haruyaaa..." Suzuno whispered in my ear, my eyes widened and I spun around to see Suzuno giving me a seductive look.

"Can you not." Hiroto stated bluntly and Suzuno just looked at the two of them innocently "I don't know what you're talking about." Suddenly Hitomiko walked back in, gesturing for Suzuno and I to follow her.
"See you two losers later." I said with a laugh as Midorikawa stuck his tongue out at me.

"Most of the kids are inside, but some of them are playing outside so we'll go out there afterwards." She explained as we headed into the main sitting room.
Some of the kids were watching tv, whilst others were colouring in or playing with toys. I recognised some of the toys from my own time here. It was clear that some had formed little cliques and groups 'boy if that's not history repeating itself...'

Looking at all these kids-it was like looking in a mirror; Reina, Saginuma, Ryuuji and Kiyama, me and Fuusuke, they were us. Waiting to be picked, getting older every year until we became teenagers and nobody wanted us. We weren't bad kids, people just tend not to foster or adopt when you reach a certain age, it's seen as too much hassle, too much work, people just want cute smiley kids. "But teenagers are so...difficult you know? They'll age out of the system when they turn eighteen anyway."

I remember when Hitomiko tried to explain it to me. I couldn't understand, all I could hear was that now there was yet another reason why no one would want me.
"But that doesn't mean the right person won't ever come along for you."
I thought back to Hiroto and Midorikawa in the office, I could never understand why Kiyama never got adopted or fostered, he'd been here longer than all of us, he was so kind and gentle and sweet- the perfect child. And yet, he never got adopted; even when someone took an interest in him he always turned them down. He loved us, his family, too much to do that. I thought back to the postcard from Brazil.

I saw some older kids watching tv-teenagers, instantly I was reminded of myself.
What was it Midorikawa had said? Something like if you see yourself in someone else's story, you'll start to see yourself everywhere. Something like that at least. I guess it was true, I sympathised with them. Maybe we should be looking to adopt a teenager instead? Give them the opportunity we never had. I know Fuusuke is dead set on getting a kid, but we didn't even talk about teenagers; maybe if there was one with a younger sibling I could convince Suzuno that we should adopt both so- no, I promised I would do this for him, do what he wants. Besides, I don't think I could manage more than one kid in the house.

I shook my head, 'don't see them as yourself, see them how they really are. They're all individuals.' We kept looking around.
There was one kid who caught my attention. "Who's that?" I asked and nudged Suzuno. A small girl who looked around six was sitting in a pile of beanbags all by herself, she looked at me and gave me the tiniest of smiles before going shy and pulling one of the bean bags in front of her face, hugging it tightly.
"That's Anaise, she came here last year." Hitomiko answered sadly, I looked back at the girl who had since got up and proceeded to observe the three of us from behind her new hiding spot-the sofa. She was black with short, curly lilac pigtails, with stunning grey eyes.

"You can come out, we just want to say hi." I spoke softly, she went a little red and hid again from view.
"She's pretty shy." Fuusuke muttered. Was that my fault? Maybe I was a little intimidating just speaking to her like that?
"She tends to be shy around new people, but she warms up pretty quickly once she's got to know you. She's rather the chatterbox actually." Hitomiko assured and I looked back at the girl- I just hoped that was true.

Hitomiko waved at the girl before we carried on with the rest of the walk.
It was nice to be back actually, I was worried it would feel too weird roaming these halls again. I had been feeling so sick in the car, I don't know what I was so worried about now.
"Babe?" I turned hearing my husband's voice, he had a very small smile on his face. "What do you think about that girl? She was pretty cute right?" He asked me, holding onto my arm.

I grinned "Yeah she was."
Hitomiko turned to us, lowering her voice a little "Anaise tends to not get as much interest as some of the other kids here."
"I see." My husband replied.
I looked between him and Hitomiko before deciding to just break the weird tension in the room, it was obvious we would be picking Anaise, no need to drag it out. She was the one for us, she was adorable and we both were immediately drawn to her. I placed my arm over my husband's shoulder, bringing him into my side. "Hitomiko, would we be able to look at Anaise's file?"

I couldn't see Suzuno's smile but I could feel how happy he was at that sentence.
Hitomiko smiled lightly at the two of us, taking a moment just to stare at us, a soft happiness on her face. I wondered, was this how she looked at all the parents who came through these doors, or just because it was us? I remember how scared I was to come out to her; I wanted to tell her before I left Sun Garden, that much I was sure of. I knew she would be supportive- she was always so loving and supportive of us all, even if she didn't always outwardly express it. But I was still terrified.
And then when I told her Fuusuke and I were getting married, when I told her over the phone and she yelled at me for not telling her that we had been dating but she congratulated us all the same...
And when she turned up at our wedding, and I looked out and saw all my friends, and the woman we all regarded as our 'older sister', I couldn't help but think how this was the closest Fuusuke and I were to having a parent, a mother, at our wedding. I just remember bursting into tears.

"Is something the matter?" Suzuno asked and she shook her head "Sorry. I was just thinking. Well, I'll take you two back to the office then in that case." She said, walking off. Suzuno stopped, I looked back at him confusedly to see his eyes downcast. "You okay baby?-"
"Oh sorry, it's just..." He paused for a moment before carrying on "It's just, this place...brings back so many memories... I'm just feeling all nostalgic I guess..." He gave a slight chuckle but it sounded so strained, I frowned worryingly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, he looked over at Hitomiko who smiled "I guess, a quick wander couldn't hurt...for old times sake..."
"Are you sure that's alright? I wouldn't want to intrude-" She cut him off, turning on her heel "It's fine. Once a Sun Garden kid, always a Sun Garden kid. This is home remember?"

She gestured to me to follow but I declined, unlike my husband I didn't really want to reminisce.
"I'll only be a minute Haruya, I'm sorry." Suzuno called, already disappearing down the hallway. I just waved and opened the door.

Instantly regretting it.

"What the fu- h-heck are you two doing?!" I whisper shouted. I've never seen two people jump off each other so quickly before. They were both bright red, with Midorikawa desperately trying to explain himself whilst Hiroto tried to pretend to be filing some paperwork, as if I hadn't just walked in on the two of them making out.

"I thought you locked the door?" Midorikawa whispered, glaring at his boyfriend.
"Well I was about to when you decided to-" Midorikawa punched him in the arm so I didn't get to hear the rest-not that I wanted to. "Um hello are you forgetting something here?! There are children literally on the other side of the hallway! Are you guys insane!" They both looked at each other and hung their heads in shame. "I'm sorry Haruya, I don't know what came over me...." Ryuuji said solemnly, tugging on his hair. I wasn't going to let them off that easily. "You damn well should be sorry! What if some child had wandered in or something huh?" 'And they say Fuusuke and I can't keep our hands off each other?!'

Hiroto took a seat next to his boyfriend "We know, it was really dumb."
"Suzuno and Hitomiko would have seen you two as well!"
"We said we're sorry already." Midorikawa moaned, grabbing hold of his boyfriend's hand and fixing me with a pleading look. I folded my arms and smirked at the two of them "What if I was to let this slip to Hitomiko hm?"
I saw the colour drain from both their faces.

"You wouldn't!" Ryuuji pleaded, running over to me "No, she'll never be able to look at me the same way again!"
I pried his hands off of my shirt "Well I will never be able to look at you the same way again."
"T-that's not fair! You and Fuusuke live together so you can do whatever you want whenever you want! It's not the same for me and Kiyama, we live far from each other and hardly get any time together! You understand, don't you?" He pouted but I was not about to relent, it was too much fun to mess with them. "I can't wait to tell Suzuno this."

The look on Midorikawa's face was just priceless. Hiroto- who I'd almost forgot was here- placed a hand on his boyfriend's shoulder. "Nagumo."
I looked over at him.
"Osaka 2016."
'Oh shit, he's really bringing out the big guns.'
We stared at each other for a few tense moments before I finally spoke up. "Fine, your little secret is safe with me."
Hiroto smiled whilst his boyfriend just looked between the two of us in confusion "Wait, what happened in Osaka?"
"Nothing." We both replied at the same time.

(Meanwhile)
(Suzuno)
"So...what's up Suzuno, since it's obvious something's on your mind." I sighed, Hitomiko could always read us like an open book- even me. I might as well just tell her.
"That." I stated simply, pointing down the hallway. The walls were bright yellow, with paintings of zoo animals on it. She gave me a sympathetic smile "So when you said that you would be sticking to the original plan..."
I sighed heavily, playing with my hair- a nervous habit of mine. "That's what I said but..." I frowned "I just- I just wanted a baby so badly, and Haruya was very much opposed to the idea. I know I shouldn't be feeling like this, we decided to do this together after all, but I just feel like- I can't ignore it. I know he's scared but... I don't know." I pulled my hand through my hair "I can't help feeling like a bad person for wanting this."

She placed a hand on my shoulder and I calmed a little. "C'mon, don't be like that. Your husband's just scared that's all. And with good reason, it's not easy to look after a baby, takes a heck of a lot out of you, can test relationships to breaking point you know, babies are a handful."
I lowered my head "I know, it's just-"
She shook her head at me "It's not something you can just decide on quickly."
"I'm sorry. I was acting like a child." I muttered, taking in a deep breath. I thought back to Anaise, I shouldn't be thinking about anything but her right now.
"Hey, it's not me you should be apologising to." I nodded "You're right, we should head back."

"We're back, sorry for taking so long." I explained as we stepped into Hitomiko's office, Midorikawa and Hiroto looked up before excusing themselves "Uh we'll just be going now!" Ryuuji said in a rushed manor before literally pushing his boyfriend out of the door. I heard a chuckle from Nagumo.

"So...here it is, Anaise's file, take a look." We all took our seats as she handed us a purple folder. Everything seemed in order, no outstanding medical problems other than a mild peanut allergy, no behavioural issues, she seemed like the perfect child for us.

"So, as you must have noticed, Anaise is a bit different from the other kids."
We both nodded.
"She was born in Hawaii, but moved here when her parents separated when she was three. Her mother was a translator. Nice woman." She looked at us sadly. "Unfortunately, her mum got very sick very quickly last year. Anaise was incredibly brave through it all though."
"I see." I said quietly. Haruya squeezed my hand. Those words, it was the same kind of language 'they're very very poorly Fuusuke, do you understand?'
Something that Midorikawa had said suddenly popped into my brain - something about not seeing others in yourself?

Hitomiko placed her hands on the table "Her Japanese is very good so you don't have to worry about that, although she has struggled when it comes to making friends at school. She's a very good girl but there have been some instances of...well the school won't class it as bullying but I think it is. She understands it's just because she's so different, and kids are curious and I've told her that differences make her special but..." she sighed. "She needs role models who can help her understand that it's okay to be different, and it's not something she needs to be self-conscious or ashamed of."

I looked at my husband and sighed.
"Well, I think we both understand what it's like to be different." He said and rubbed my hand soothingly.
"I couldn't think of a better match really." I mumbled.
My husband spoke again, his tone lighter now "Is she um, okay with animals, cats I mean?"
Hitomiko smiled at the two of us "Yes, she loves animals and she's not allergic to pet hair, I'm sure she'll get along with...Cookie wasn't it?"
I let out a tiny laugh "That's right."
She stood up, gathering Anaise's file "I'll bring in Anaise so that she can meet you two before we make any further decisions, alright? I'll be five minutes."

"I can't believe it, I mean this kinda feels like it's meant to be, don't you think Fuusuke?"
"Oh...yeah it does, seems like the perfect match..." I muttered, staring off at nothing in particular. He grabbed my hand, I felt him place a hand on my cheek and turn my face gently to his. Those eyes, such warm amber eyes. I'd always thought they were so beautiful, like pools of melted gold. "Are you okay? Coz if you're not happy about this that's fine we can just-"
I leaned forward and kissed him gently on the cheek "-It's not that." I stroked his cheek, tracing a small pattern on his skin. I looked down "I just...feel so terrible for that little girl, going through something like this, at such a young age too.."

I looked back at him, my lips quivering. 'There's more...but...'
"I just..." He placed both hands on the side of my face, his warmth spreading through my skin. "I know Fuu. Ands that's why we're gonna  make sure to give her the best life we can give her. Love and cherish her as our own. We'll do this right, don't worry."
"I love you so much baby." I whispered and held him tightly in my arms.

There was a knock at the door and we pulled apart, Hitomiko opened it, the little girl standing behind her. "Anaise, this is Suzuno and Nagumo, they're thinking of adopting you."
She peeked out shyly from behind Hitomiko "Me? Really?"

(Nagumo)
Anaise jumped off her chair and ran away to play, she was such a cute child and she seemed to like the two of us; I was so worried that she wouldn't like the fact that we were a gay couple; "Two daddies, wow how lucky!" Yep, I definitely like this girl. She seemed to come out of her shell quickly too- Hitomiko was right.

"So, it'll be a little time for me to sort everything out, do all the boring legal stuff, you've already had the social worker visit your home so that's fine...just need to get the final details sorted, and then you'll be able to take Anaise home." Hitomiko announced and I was just so happy, Suzuno squeezed my hand and I looked at him-he looked like he could cry.
"I love you." Was all he said before hugging me tightly, not caring that Hitomiko was there. I hugged him back just as tight and he placed a sweet kiss on my lips as all those nagging fears I had melted away....

((Woo another chapter redone, this one had been bugging me for ages so I'm glad I finally got to it, even if I'm not 100% happy with it.
Also: to avoid any confusion, in this AU Hiroto is just like the other Sun Garden kids, I just thought adding the whole bit with his 'father' would overcomplicate things otherwise.
Enjoy!))