the car was quiet except for the occasional murmur from yuuji, still high on the anesthesia. you sat in the backseat next to him, your shoulder pressed gently against his head as he leaned into you, his weight relaxed but heavy in a way that made you chuckle softly. nanami, driving in front, glanced in the rearview mirror, his eyes soft but amused as yuuji’s words slurred out.
“hey, mom… dad…” yuuji muttered, his voice low and drawn out. his eyelids fluttered open, gaze unfocused, but the grin on his face was pure, contented warmth.
you looked at him, unsure whether to laugh or just smile quietly. “yuuji, we’re not your parents,” you said, brushing a strand of his messy hair from his forehead. “but… we do look after you.”
“yeah,” he mumbled, blinking up at you in a sleepy daze. “you’re like… my mom and dad. i’m safe with you.”
you could feel your heart tighten at his words. even half-conscious, yuuji’s sincerity was clear, and it struck something deep in you. you glanced at nanami, who didn’t meet your eyes but gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, his hands steady on the wheel. he’d heard it too.
“you’re always there, like they are,” yuuji continued, his words trailing off as he shifted, settling more into the curve of your shoulder. his breathing evened out, and for a moment, there was only the sound of the car and the steady rhythm of his pulse against your arm.
you reached down, gently brushing your hand through his hair. “we’ll always be here, yuuji,” you said softly, your voice barely a whisper. “whenever you need us. like family.”
his eyes fluttered closed again, a peaceful expression settling on his face. “thanks… mom… dad…” he murmured again, his voice drifting off into sleep.
you glanced at nanami, who was looking at the road but his jaw was tight, a quiet emotion lingering there. it was subtle, but there, and something in you softened further.
as the car rumbled through the streets, you sat there with yuuji nestled close, the weight of his trust, his unspoken affection, making your chest tighten with a feeling you couldn’t quite put into words. it was small moments like this, these quiet, tender ones, that made the world feel a little more right.