They're fighting again. 

It wasn't as bad in the beginning. A few words shared in the heat of the moment and maybe a cold shoulder for the morning but by the time lunch came around they'd learned to resolve their issues and carry on for the sake of a healthy marriage. For the sake of having a healthy family. A lover's spat here and there is normal, after all. 

But then shared words became harsh whispers and harsh whispers became screaming matches in the middle of the night—slamming doors and name calling and sometimes even the occasional pushing and shoving, God forbid it get out of hand. He hasn't tried to break them apart simply because he doesn't want to interfere; his parents are strong and he's sure most nights they can work past their differences. 

Tonight, he's not so sure. 

Eri has managed to find her way to his bed in fear and he doesn't attempt to make her leave; it's well placed. They're screaming at the top of their lungs, photo frames rattling against the wall as he's certain his father has just been shoved against it. He wants to break it up; they've never fought like this before. 

But Hitoshi can't believe what it is that his mother is being accused of. 

"You think I'm such a fucking tool, don't you, Shota? That I'm so goddamn gullible that I don't know what the fuck you've really been doing?!" His father yells---Eri flinches when the wall rattles again. 

"How many times have I told you that it isn't like that, Hizashi? Why do we have to do this every other night? Is it so fucking hard to believe that I'm actually out doing my fucking job---" 

"It's four in the fucking morning and you just came dragging your sorry ass back in here like we don't have a fucking toddler to look after! Not to mention that you fucking reek of alcohol and him ! You really expect me to believe you were at the fucking office?! You should fucking be ashamed of yourself---you just stopped breastfeeding two weeks ago and now your drinking like a goddamn fish?!" 

"I wasn't fucking drinking---I haven't touched a fuckin' drink over a year, you know that!" 

"I know that you're not telling me the truth about where you've been, either. Quit fucking dodging me and tell me the truth, Shota. Were you with him?" 

The pause that follows is telling enough…

But Shota tells him anyway. 

"You know that I was." It's a different tone than what he's used before---soft and wavering. Hizashi doesn't respond immediately but Shota's sniffles can be heard through the wall. 

" 'Zashi, I didn't---" 

"Don't fucking touch me." 

"We haven't  done anything." 

"So I'm expected to believe that you've been out drinking with him every other night this week until the early hours of the morning...and he didn't touch you?" 

The next blow to the wall causes the frame to fall and shatter, startling even Hitoshi as he realizes what's happening. His heart is racing so fast that he can hear his own blood pumping in his ears, chest heaving as he tries again and again to get himself to calm down. Eri can sense that he's distressed from his souring scent and she, too, begins to squirm uncomfortably. 

"Answer me, goddammit!" 

"You don't understand. We've been working really hard and Yagi has just been really stressed---" 

"And instead of just venting, you take him to get shitfaced until the crack of dawn."

" Yes, okay? I go with him to the tavern so he doesn't get himself into any fucking trouble---" 

"Because that's more important than spending time with your husband? With your son? With our fucking three year old daughter?" 

"Hizashi. What do you want from me, baby? You want me to apologize? I'm sorry for coming home so late---I really am. I hadn't realized it had been so frequent. I never meant for it to be---" 

"So you're not sorry for cheating on me, just for doing it so frequently." 

He can't be serious, can he? Hitoshi knows that his mother and Yagi have been close since they moved to Sapporo---he's the first and only partner that Shota has had since joining the SPD. His father's never been jealous like this. He's never once accused Shota of cheating before, no matter how many long nights he'd taken. Shota had even worked right through his pregnancy with Eri, not taking a single day off until after he'd given birth. Hell, his water broke in the middle of a prostitution sting. Having a few drinks with a friend after work should be fine. He deserves to relax sometimes. It should be fine. 

But Hizashi seems so sure. 

Is his mother really cheating? 

"Why do we have to do this? Why is it always about Toshinori? I was out with Kayama and Thirteen just last night and you weren't the least bit bothered. You're never bothered when I'm with them, it's only when---" 

"When you're hanging out with the guy that you're having an affair with." 

"I don't understand why you'd think that."

"I don't understand why you think I wouldn't notice. You're so obvious. And I thought I could just ignore it; to just let it pass that once for the sake of the kids but now you're just walking all over me. What do you think Inko would do if she knew? You want to ruin that family like you've ruined ours?"

Hitoshi goes to stand from the bed; he demands answers. What did Hizashi know that makes him so sure? Are they...are they breaking up? 

Eri's tiny, trembling fingers tangle into the fabric of his shirt and he knows that he can't just leave her there---he can't take her there to see what a mess they've become, either. 

He's never felt so helpless.

"What did I do to make you not trust me?" 

Nothing makes any sense without knowing. The only person who seems sure of anything is Hizashi. 

And it seems that he intends to keep it that way. 

"I won't leave. I can't do that to Eri---to our baby. But I don't want to sleep in the same bed with you anymore. Take your shit, sleep on the couch." 

"A-Are...are you breaking up with me?" 

"Call it whatever you want." 

Their bedroom door opens and slams against the wall and Hitoshi can hear loud, frantic footsteps going down the hall. 

"Hizashi, please don't do this. Why don't you believe me? Why does it have to be like this?" 

"I gave you a chance to tell the truth; I'm done talking about it." 

"I am telling you the truth!" 

"Fucking get off of me, Shota!" 

"Stop it!" 

"I said don't FUCKING touch me!" 

And just like that, they're back to screaming over one another. Hitoshi is afraid that it's about to become violent so he steels himself and jumps out of bed, taking Eri's smaller hands in his. He can't tell if he's shaking or if it's just her, leaning down to look her in the eyes. 

"Stay right here, Eri. Don't leave the bed, okay? I'll be right back, I promise." He assures her, flipping his bedside lamp on so that she's not in the dark alone. He rushes out into the hall, nearly tumbling down the stairs when he misses one and has to quickly grab hold of the railing as he slides down onto the last step. 

They haven't escalated to a fist fight but there's definitely a struggle. 

"Hey! Hey---what the fuck is wrong with you two?! Are you out of your fuckin' mind?!" He yells, prying them apart. His mother has to adjust his clothing, shirt having ridden up to his collarbone during the altercation. Hitoshi stands between them to keep them separated, but it doesn't stop the nasty look that his father gives. His mother, on the other hand, is incredibly distraught. 

"You're scaring the shit out of Eri. Hell, you're scaring the shit out of me !" 

"Go back to bed, Hitoshi." His father tells him and Hitoshi turns on him in visible frustration. "How the fuck are we supposed to sleep when you two are screaming at the top of your fucking lungs and breaking shit?!" 

He turns himself to his mother when his father offers no answer. 

"Mum---" 

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause such a mess and I surely didn't mean to pull you two into the drama going on between your father and I." Shota cuts him off, trembling hand raking through his son's hair. "I'm gonna go stay with your aunt Emi for a while so I need you to look after Eri for me, okay?" 

"Mom---no! Don't do this! Please don't leave!" 

"Honey. I don't think staying here is a good idea right now. I don't want to keep fighting with your father. I'll be back, I promise---it's just for tonight. Okay? You trust me?" 

Reluctantly, Hitoshi nods. It's not that he doesn't believe Shota. Just that he doesn't want this to have a chance to become permanent. 

He doesn't want his parents to split. 

"O-Okay."

"That's my boy." Shota leans in to hug him, lightly scenting him in an attempt to soothe him even a little. He pulls away, purposely avoiding eye contact with Hitoshi as he quickly goes to grab his coat and keys without another word. 

Hizashi sighs a breath of relief behind him. 

"Hitoshi---" 

"Fuck you. Go upstairs and explain to your daughter that you're tearing our family apart because I sure as hell won't be the one to take responsibility for that."

He feels so sick to his stomach. He needs Fumikage.

#

Hitoshi looks as if he's just been summoned from the grave. 

Touya doesn't say so aloud simply because Hitoshi tends to look like a walking corpse even on his best days, pale and groggy with those ridiculously huge dark circles underneath his eyes but today he just seems miserable. His usual snark and sarcasm is non-existent---hell, Touya doesn't think he's spoken a single word since they've seen each other that morning. 

The biggest indication that something is wrong, however, is how Fumikage has been coddling and babying him all day. 

He wants to ask about it but they haven't had a moment alone and asking in front of their friends doesn't seem to be the best idea. His condition has worsened throughout the course of the day. Is he sick or something? At this point, Touya is prepared to simply pull him to the side.

"Yo. The hell is up with you today?" 

Izuku seems to have other plans. 

He claps Hitoshi on the shoulder rather harshly in a way that only seems to serve in agitating the alpha further. Fumikage whispers some sort of reassurance into his lover's ear to try and calm his irateness, coaxing Hitoshi's glaring gaze back in his direction. Izuku should take the hint and drop it---Touya gets the feeling that things could get very violent rather quickly. 

But Izuku hasn't ever been good at knowing when to shut the hell up. 

"What, you gettin' ready to go into a rut or somethin'? Stop acting so fucking moody and just relax, man." 

"Izuku, stop. That's enough." Shouto scolds him, casting a worried glance in Hitoshi's direction. "Is there anything we can do to help, Toshi? I'm sorry you're having such a hard time." 

"It isn't his rut. He's...he's just not feeling well." Fumikage offers but even so, it isn't very convincing. Maybe he was being obvious on purpose. Another hint to fuck off and leave Hitoshi be but Izuku, like always, perseveres. 

"Seriously? Little tummy ache has you all broody? Come on, man---" 

"Izuku. I would appreciate it if you did not antagonize him." Fumikage suggests.

Or more-so warns him. 

"What? I'm not antagonizing him, I'm just trying to get him to relax is all. Toshi's never been soft and sensitive like that; he's fine. I sure as hell don't expect him to whine about a little teasing---" 

"I'm not in the fucking mood." Hitoshi finally says, voice like gravel. He's tense, ready for a fight. 

Izuku scoffs, turning to face him incredulously. "Seriously? What the fuck is your problem?" 

"You're my fuckin' problem." Hitoshi stands, shaking Fumikage's fingers free from his hand. "You think you're so fucking special that you just get to walk over people? How many fucking times would anyone have to tell you to fuck right off before you get the picture through your thick ass skull? Or did Touya bounce you on your fucking head one too many times?" 

"Hey, guys, really. That's enough---" 

"What the fuck did you just say to me?" Izuku challenges as he stands and they can all sense that this is about to go sour rather quickly. 

"Midoriya. Sit down, dude." Tetsu tells him, already preparing to break them up if necessary. 

"Fuck that. Just because he's in a bad mood, he gets to bitch at everyone?"

"You started with him first, don't make a fucking scene." 

"I'm not making a fucking scene; Hitoshi's being fucking dramatic!" He accuses, stepping into Hitoshi's space. 

"You need to sit down." 

And Hitoshi rears back, lips curling into a snarl as he headbutts Izuku hard enough to send him stumbling back. 

"You need to tell your dad to keep his dick out of my mom!" He growls, grabbing at Izuku only for Tetsu to restrain him and practically drag him away from the table as the cafeteria erupts into a cacophony of gasps and whispers and a startled shout from Shouto. The half-and-half teen is fussing at and over Izuku, going to nurse the freckled alpha's bloody nose. Izuku's eyes are wide and disbelieving, breath heavy and labored as Hitoshi's words seem to take root inside of him. 

"W-What?" 

"Your dad's the reason my fucking family is falling apart! Does your mom know? Does she know that your dad is a piece of shit fucking traitor?!" 

Touya's head is reeling; everything's moving much too fast for him to keep up. 

Toshinori cheated on Inko?

That doesn't even sound right. Toshinori loves his family more than he lives himself---he cherishes his wife and his son. But Hitoshi didn't pull such an idea out of thin air. What did he see? What happened?  

"Y-You...you're lying! You're a fucking liar---my dad wouldn't do that!" 

"Ask him where the fuck he's been at two AM every morning then. Ask him who he's been with! Ask him what the fuck they were doing and I guarantee you he won't be able to look you in the eyes when he fucking lies to you!" 

"Tetsu, get him out of here and calm him down." Touya speaks up, waiting until his friend manages to wrestle their angry friend out into the courtyard before he offers Izuku a hand up from the floor. Fumikage chases after them without a word. 

"Come on, get up." Touya encourages but Izuku slaps his hand away in rejection, pulling himself up from the floor in a bit of a scramble. His gaze darts around, taking note of the many prying eyes glued to him as he struggles to catch his breath. 

Izuku turns on his heels and quickly darts off in the opposite direction. Shouto goes after him, calling after him all the while but the older boy doesn't seem to be interested in a lecture or a pep-talk. 

What the fuck just happened? 

"I gotta get to Nori."