CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
Let's Start To Fix Things Up

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AND SO HITOSHI AND YOU STARTED CLEANING UP YOUR HOUSE. You cleaned your own room first while Hitoshi went to fix things in the living room. Slowly picking up pieces of the remnants of what used to be a perfect household, you felt your heart start to ache again as you slowly put your boxes back to its cabinets and the clothes back to the closet. You took a deep breath and closed your eyes, only opening them when Hitoshi called out to you from the living room. Seeing that you have finished arranging some of your things, you walked out of your bedroom to see Hitoshi holding up a baby picture of you.

"Where the fuck did you get that?!" You exclaimed as you went down as quickly as possible. "And how the fuck were you able to clean half the living room in just minutes?" Hitoshi shrugged as he flipped your picture for you to fully see it. "I just know how to arrange things. I've stayed here for two months, in case you forgot."

"Right, right..." you nodded as you squinted your eyes, slowly picking the picture and sliding it off Hitoshi's fingers. "I remember this place. We used to live here before dad got the promotion." You smiled slowly, the good times flowing back to your mind as you chuckled slowly. "If only Eri was around at this time, everything would have been so much nicer!" The smile on your face was wiped off as you heard the opening of the front door. Hitoshi's eyes widened as he slowly gulped, watching your figure slowly stare at the small living room entrance, waiting for whoever it is that arrived.

"Oh, it's nice to see you kids are here!" Yshi gushed as she dragged a drunk Naomi into the living room couch. Apparently, the two had been bar hopping the past 2 hours and Naomi was the only one who got drunk after the first drink at the first bar. "And I see you decided to clean the place up..."

"Was it always a mess?" You asked as you tilted your head, the female nodding her head in response. "What's that you're holding?" Yshi had pointed to the picture in your hand and you cocked your eyebrows in surprise, stuttering in response. "O-oh, Hitoshi found it while cleaning the living room. I think it belongs t-to dad..." Hitoshi excused himself from the conversation and continued to clean the remaining mess in the living room. "I miss Shota!" Naomi had now screamed and cried on the sofa as the female slowly made her way to lay down. "My whole family's a mess, Ms. Yshi. I don't know what to do. I feel like this is partly my fault," you sighed as you looked down, facing the picture to the taller female.

"I can't say it is your fault but I also can't say it isn't. I can see why you reacted that way and why you got upset. And I can also see why your father does the things he does." Yshi placed a hand on top of your head. "Yes, I know he's always an overkill but both of you just wanted to prove to one another how you love each other. However, the communication may have gone terribly wrong and you had misunderstandings along the way." You nodded and she continued. "But before we actually figure out what to do next, can we try to sober your mom up?"

"Ms. Yshi?"

"Yes?" As the female turned to look at you, she felt the pang in her heart increase in volume as you intently stared right into her eyes. "Can my family stay here again?" The request was rather simple to say but for it to happen, especially if Naomi sobers up, might be a little too hard to put into action. "What made you change your mind, (your name)?"

"Hitoshi talked some sense into me earlier and he said that even if I couldn't forgive my dad, I should look at the people who still need him too. My mom still loves him and of course, she needs him as well. My sister wants to come home too," you sighed. "It hurts to see your family torn apart by yourself and your father." Yshi chuckled, understanding your predicament well. She told you to go get changed for a while before all of you would have a small meeting before Shota arrives. Yshi was sure he had a lot of paperwork today so he would probably come home late.

---

YSHI CALLED KEIGO ON THE PHONE, LETTING HIM KNOW THAT THEY WERE AT THE AIZAWA RESIDENCE. "You need to return Eri here this instant. When they decide to stay, we'll just pick up their clothes at home and... Keigo are you crying?" With evident sniffling, Keigo hummed in approval. The blonde's tears were falling from the side of his eyes and on his pants as he drove. Eri, who was watching him, blinked her worried eyes as she frowned at the crying Keigo. "Do we really have to now?"

"Keigo, she's their child, what the fuck do you mean?" Yshi exclaimed as she hit her palm to her forehead. "We're not supposed to keep her, that's kidnapping!"

"We can always adopt her..."

"Honey, please. Don't give me another headache..." Hearing Keigo sigh on the other line, Yshi chuckled. "I'll give you ten minutes to bring Eri here. Honey, this is for the best." As she hang up, Yshi walked back to the living room and took a seat on the chair in front of you. "Keigo's bringing Eri back here so we can then decide what to do."

Naomi, who had fallen asleep on the couch, woke up to the three of them staring at her and sighing in relief. She was now fully sober and her head was throbbing painfully. "Where am I...?" She asked as she stood up slowly to take a better look at her surroundings. Upon closer inspection and self-realization, the female's eye widened and her mouth spew out questions like a loaded gun shooting out its bullets. "Why are we home? Why are we here? Is Shota around? Was everything that happened just a dream?"

Yshi looked at you before looking back at your mother who was hopeful for a positive answer but only to receive one that made her frown and pout. "Can we leave now?" She asked as she gave a small glare making you slump in your chair. "Actually, Naomi. (Your name) here wants to make a proposition." Yshi spoke calmly as Naomi leaned back and crossed her arms on her chest, looking at you with a softer expression that earlier. "What is it dear? Whatever it is that you need, I will try my best to give it to you."

"Actually, mom..." your voice was quiet and you wanted to just move away from her vision to not see how disappointed she'd get if you finally tell her. "I wanted us to live here again and try to fix things up. I mean, we don't have to force it. Hitoshi just told me that maybe it'll be easier to see improvements if we were together...?" Seeing the look on your mother's face made each one shudder. But the tension was cut when Eri barged into the living room smiling widely. "Are we finally going to stay here?"

The hopeful tone in her voice made everyone feel awkward and tensed again. Even you could start hearing the crickets chirp along with the silence. "Well, that is if mom agrees. I mean, I just suggested. This was all Hitoshi's idea."

"Why are you pointing it to me? You agreed with it! I just didn't think you'd bring it up right now!" Hitoshi defended himself while he looked at you with disbelief. "Besides, every one of us here has something we dislike about Mr. Aizawa. I can't be mistaken."

"Is there anyone here who doesn't hate Shota?" Yshi questioned as she cocked her eyebrows, Naomi's glare at the group getting stronger by the second. Eri, who was now standing beside you, tried to raise her hand but you slowly put it back down, shaking your head with eyes wide. "Eri, baby, I know you love dad but not now... Mom looks like she's about to eat us..."

"No matter what you say, I will never want to stay here!" Naomi exclaimed as she finally spoke after what seemed like a few minutes of silence. "After what he did to us, I can't bear to see his face!"

Yshi scoffed. "That's not what you said when you were drunk with the bottles of wine you drank."

"That's a whole different story!" Naomi hit Yshi's shoulder playfully, sighing. "Besides, I don't want you to get hurt anymore, (your name). If leaving him means you'll be alright, I have to accept it." Naomi looks down to her feet, her hair strands covering her face slightly. "Mom," you sighed as you stood up, walking closer to her. Your footsteps were quick and light and once you were in front of her, you slowly grabbed her hands. "I know you only want the best for me but I don't want to be the reason you hate the person you love. I mean, that must suck a lot--based on experience."

She chuckled as you tightened your grip on her hands, her fingers feeling softer than the last time you held them. "What I'm saying is, I'm doing this for us. I don't want to grow up having lots of regrets and I don't want to grow up thinking that the last memory I have with my family is something negative. It sounds so wrong." Naomi tilted her head, small sobs escaping her lips as she reached out and wrapped her arms around your waist. "Oh, honey... I'm sorry..."

"Mom, you don't have to be sorry. There is still time to fix everything. And if we can't fix it, we can always try and make it into something more useful and more beautiful," you smiled. "For now, let's just concentrate on trying to fix us."

---

"WHAT DO I DO WHEN HE COMES HOME?"

Naomi was now in slight panic as she pranced around the living room as you helped Hitoshi tie the garbage bag. You glanced over at your mother with furrowed brows as you brushed off the dust away from your shirt. "Mom, just act natural. Just be you. Besides, didn't you say you'll be sleeping in Eri's room?" Naomi bit her lower lip as she looked back at you, golden irises swirling with confusion and resentment. There were lots of emotions to describe whatever the hell was going on right now but only one stuck to you the most; fear.

It was the mere accumulation of what ifs that drove you and your mother out of your sanities. Honestly, both of you weren't sure of the outcome of this situation but one thing was for certain--this would lead to two things. One, Shota would be happy and would be willing to try to start over and fix things or two, he would be too sad to even realize that they are trying to forgive him. "Do you think everything will be alright?" Naomi snapped you out of your thoughts as you shook your head. "I'm not sure, mom. But whatever happens, I'm here and I'm sure dad wouldn't want to lose you again."

"I hope so too..."

Right after your mother said that, Shota froze on his steps as he saw you, Naomi, Eri, and Hitoshi huddled up in the living room. You and your mom were standing in the center while Hitoshi carried the garbage bag. "Papa!" Eri exclaimed as she ran towards the black-haired male and hugged his knees. "I missed you so much, papa!" It was taking a lot in Shota not to let out tears of joy as he kneeled down to meet Eri's height and hugging her back. Naomi didn't know what to do so, she went away and up to Eri's bedroom, slamming the door behind her. You flinched as you heard the loud sound but was only surprised, when you turned back, to see Shota with Eri in his arms walking near you.

You gulped as a million thoughts raced inside your head. What do I say? What do I do? How do I--? Your thoughts were cut off once more when Shota's lips were moving and even though you were staring right at him, you couldn't hear his voice but just by studying the movements, you were sure he said one thing. "Thank you." Tilting your head, your eyelids blinked a few times, unsure of whatever he meant by it. "Thank you? For what?"

"For wanting to be here again..." Shota stopped himself. He honestly doesn't know where to or how to start. He was confused whether or not you were forced to do this or you actually did this with sheer genuineness. As your father, he was unsure how to make it up to you without trying to control your life. As a husband, he was unsure how to make it up to Naomi without trying to hurt her again. "I don't actually want to be here, dad..." you said while you looked down, Shota's heart feeling the pang of pain as he comprehended the sentence.

Hitoshi's eyes widened at your response. He wanted to interfere but he knew you needed to let that upsetting feeling out for now. You continued, "I didn't want to go back here but I also don't want to live my life with so many regrets..." Shota listened intently, watching you carefully as your body started to shake from the emotions you felt inside. Looking up, your dark eyes met with his and you swore you felt like you were looking at a mirror on how slightly identical the two of you looked. "I just don't want to grow up thinking that the last memory I had with my family was something not worth remembering. I don't want that."

Shota nodded but what you said next made his heart had a tinge of hope that he still might have a chance to set things straight.

"I hope you don't want that too..."

You walked out of the living room, not saying another word to him. You felt your tears start to fall as a tiny prick was pulled out of your heart. Closing your eyes, you hoped that what you said back there was enough to make him realize that he needs to work his side of the stick for all of you to work too.

---

HITOSHI FOLLOWED YOU OUTSIDE CARRYING A TRASH BAG. You were sitting down the porch stairs, sobbing and he frowned at your state. Settling the trash bag near the door, he walked up to you and sat beside you, watching as a few cars pass by and the lights from the street lamp and a few buildings scintillated. Feeling his presence, you quickly wiped away your tears with your shirt, looking at him with the most deadpan expression you can muster out. "What're you doing here?"

"Well, I was about to take the trash out but that conversation you had inside was kind of steamy." He shrugged as he gave a small smile. "And when I went out here to see a pretty girl sobbing and crying, I just couldn't help but wonder what's going on in her mind." You scrunched your nose as you laughed sarcastically, thankful that the darkness didn't really show your blush. "I wasn't aware a babysitter is supposed to be that smooth to the older sister..." you teased as Hitoshi's mouth fell agape. "Are you saying a lot of babysitter's flirt with the older siblings?"

"Mostly, yes."

"You're not wrong though," he nodded, an approving expression plastered on his face. "I mean, who wouldn't want to when the older sibling is all they needed--in this case, you're all I need." You bit your lower lip to hold in a smile but failed. "Damn, that's unfair. Shouldn't you be taking out the trash?"

"I was but you know, I realized something, (your name)." Hitoshi leaned back, using his arms as his support. His violet eyes staring at you as you slightly moved to take a closer look at him. "There are more important things to take out than trash. For example..." Hitoshi slowly grabbed your hand, standing up and pulling you along. "Hey, what the fuck are you doing?" Ignoring your laments, he continued to walk until you were a but farther away from your house. You gathered all of your strength to pull him back to you.

"Hitoshi Shinso!"

Looking back and right into your eyes, he smiled widely. "(Your Name) Aizawa?" you glared at him, your mouth slanting as you placed your arms across your chest. "Just what the hell are you doing?"

"As I said, there are more important things than taking out the trash. Like, taking you out on a small evening date." Hitoshi ran his fingers through his lilac hair, his violet irises pleading for you to agree. "I just don't like to see you so sad, (your name). Hopefully, this might help you get your mind off things as well." Profusely blushing, you shook your head and rolled your eyes at the male's kind and sweet gesture. Your heart started beating fast and your lungs were practically not trying to burst from the pressure you built up for yourself.

"I wish I could truly hate you sometimes, Hitoshi."

"Wait, why so?"

You shrugged, trying not to make a sound. He tilted his head as he pouted, his grip on your hand tightening as you continued to stay silent. What you said was true, you wished you could hate how he's always like this towards you and nobody else. You wished you could hate how much he makes you feel so happy and loved. You wished you could hate how the little things about him--from the way he moves to the way he laughs--make you want to fall for him harder. But you can't.

"Let's just go!" You exclaimed as you started dragging him. "Complain and I'm leaving!"

"(Your name)! That's not fair!"

Because he was right. You needed an escape from the harsh reality and your harsher thoughts.

And Hitoshi Shinso was your best in between.

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A/N: yay chapter! I have been going through some setbacks but i'm gonna try to piece myself together. I'm sorry for another shitty chapter. I'm trying my best but the motivation bar for my physical body is just getting lower and lower as I try to write.

But hopefully, I hope you still enjoyed this chapter and stay safe, everyone! ♡