Work Text
It was a breezy evening in Seasoning City, with full-running rush hour and the sun setting from behind the clouds and beeping and chattering all around.
There, a blonde man stood, holding a black leather canvas bag that matched his black suit. He stared at his flip phone, which emitted a blinding white light, which he didn’t seem to mind.
Opening a message from his boss about the papers due on Wednesday.‘Reigen,
Please have these documents ready for collection on Wednesday. They are needed for next week's company conference.
Thanks’*sigh*
An airy noise exited the man's mouth. He looked onto the street where children were walking from their schools, other people his age leaving their offices with briefcases in hand, and others awaiting their buses. His gaze locked forward, his eyes following the crowds, all differing.“See you on Monday Reigen!” a man shouted over to the Blonde man. He could feel a pair of eyes locked onto him, turning round to see his tall, brunette co-worker, Serizawa. Reigen acknowledged the man's goodbye, giving him a nod.“Goodnight Serizawa,” Reigen spoke.
Serizawa began his walk down the overflowing street. Reigen stayed put, pulling out a cigarette. He was in no rush,
Lighting it and beginning his slow walk the opposite way his co-worker had strolled.
Deciding to pass down a less busy street, Reigen cut down an alleyway, clutching the strap of his bag, the burning cigarette in his other hand. Trudging through broken glass and trash, he detested the squished streets that rush hour provided.
Blowing smoke into the already polluted air of the city, looking up at the orange sky provided by the conclusion of daytime.
Striding past abandoned buildings, broken and alone. Rats scurrying at the sound of the man's footsteps.Once he’d passed a multitude of alleyways, he arrived at a less congested area of the city.
Reigen lived in a less well-kept area of Seasoning City, rent was cheaper and he could make do. With stray cats fighting at every corner, newspapers scattered and holes in the road.‘I’m thankful I don’t have a car if this is what the roads are like’ Reigen always thought to himself.
As he arrived at his ‘Humble abode’, clicking the key into his apartment and twisting, as he opened the door , the air was colder inside than it was outside. Reigen frowned at this, entering the door to be met with numerous letters.“Bills.” Reigen hissed, his voice sour with slight deteste. Picking them up from the ground, flicking through.
‘Electricity, gas, phone…and more and more..’
shoving them onto the table that lay like a lonely island in the narrow hallway.
The man was quick to take his bag from his shoulder along with his coat at the same time, hanging them up on a creaky wooden hanger that stood dormant at the end of the hall.Heading for his sitting room which seemed to evidently be the most cold part of the apartment, placing himself onto his leather sofa which he’d retrieved from a dump. The cold leather seeped into him, even through his clothes.
The sun had now fully set and Reigens apartment had noticeably come quite dark, he blinked and reached for his chest pocket taking another cigarette out and lighting it, the small flame exiting the end, with smoke trailing up into the air and onto the ceiling.Life was quiet for Reigen,
A generic office job that paid him just enough to get by, a roof over his head, and his expensive addiction to nicotine. He turned on the lamp that perched beside the couch he sat on, emitting warmth into the room, fighting away the darkness that overpowered him just a moment ago. The golden-haired man reached for his remote control to turn on the television.‘Nothing is ever interesting but I’ll check anyway.’ Reigen thought, clicking the red button with his thumb.‘Seasoning City News’
‘Game shows’
‘K drama central’Reigen flung his head back over the sofa, he’d prefer to not watch any of it, none of it intrigued him. Gritting his teeth together in boredom, he left the room and made his way into the small kitchen which he kept nicely organized. Red edges of the counter, white walls, grey tiled flooring, and a large window facing onto one side of Seasoning City. Stepping over to the window, Reigen detached the latch and dismissed the ash from his cigarette out the window, proceeding to take another blow.
His head hung low, thoughts slowly going through his mind like a calm river, Reigen Aratakas mind was at ease.. He himself wasn’t, Reigen did not feel fulfilled.The nicotine helped Reigen feel as though he was on a high, however as of lately, his intake of the cigarettes seemed to not provide that desired high Reigen yearned for, yet he continued the diseased habit.‘Was life good? Or have I just become adjusted to the reality?’ Reigen thought to himself, It was truly a lot to think about as a man in his midtwenties.
He chuckled to himself,
“Oh Arataka, never pleased,” he whispered, shaking his head as he repeated a quote his mother used to say to him as a child when he didn’t like something.
Reigen thought long and hard, every waking day and night, during work and sleep, Reigen always questioned the “What ifs?” in life.‘What if I tried to get a better job’
‘What if I made more friends’
‘What if I found a better purpose’Squinting his nose, these thoughts usually didn’t last long, it felt like a grey cloud over Reigens head that he’d effortlessly swipe away. The ideas alone seemed too unrealistic and not something within Reigen's bounds. He blew his cigarette one last time before it reached the tip of his fingers, becoming blunt. Flicking it out the window, puffing out the last bit of smoke from his mouth that the cigarette had before making his way back to the sitting area.
Reigen retrieved his laptop from his bag, beginning his work on the documents due in a few days. Not meeting these deadlines is detrimental to his role, so Reigen took his duty as seriously as he could... It was all a bit easy. Too easy.
With that, Reigen began the work needed for the prints, information from databases, and spreadsheets. He didn’t enjoy this.It didn’t take long for Reigen to stop typing on his laptop, after twenty minutes. Looking back up at the ceiling which had an orb shaped like his lamp, reflecting a large ball of light. Frowning to himself, looking out at his balcony and back to his laptop. His hands hovered over the keyboard like his muscle memory was triggering him to continue his work, but he couldn’t. With that Reigen slammed the screen down, unable to even look at the computerized information that hurt his eyes immensely.
It was now ten o’clock at night, Reigen now sat in just his shirt and trousers on his unkempt balcony which had vines growing on the surrounding walls. He’d ripped his suit, tie, and belt off hours ago, it felt confining yet he never removed them immediately simply out of habit. He sat out on his balcony, the breeze hitting his yellow hair and shaking it up, making it spikier than usual. Roughling his hand through his locks and tightening his grip to satisfyingly scratch his scalp. This side of the city was eerily quiet at night, however, Reigen always found comfort in this, he’d rather have peace over noise and discourse. He reached for another cigarette only to realize he’d run out.
“Tcch, shit.” the man mumbled, leaning back in his chair and letting his body completely melt into the chair as he gazed at the empty sky, the stars erased by Seasoning Cities light usage.“I’ll pick up more tomorrow.” He spoke to himself, taking his phone back out to check any unread or miscellaneous messages. Nothing.
Suddenly a crash came from the street, two floors below where Reigen sat comfortably.“Cats.” he sighed, standing up, his shirt slipping past his collarbone in a disgruntled manner. No cats.
“That’s weird, eh.” he shrugged, turning away until he saw a figure in the street. Headed for his apartment complex. A hooded person over a large jacket. Behind the figure was a tipped-over plant pot in the street. Figures.
Reigen didn’t take much interest, the person was probably a friend of his neighbours. As he sat back down in his chair, slouching this time, his hands clasped between his legs.*creek*The gate to his complex had opened, once again not thinking anything of it, assuming it was the same person he’d seen just a moment ago. Time passed, and so did Reiegns consciousness although out in the breezy night, sleep seemed to entice him. Slouching his head low so it rested on his hands, his back would kill him if he fell asleep like this. A yawn escaped his mouth, realizing it was time to call it a night and reside inside.
The blonde rose from his seat...Another noise, not anything Reigen could pinpoint or decipher.
“huh…?” the man groaned, sliding the balcony door open and going back into his apartment. The noise, becoming increasingly more apparent. The noise emitted from the other side of his front door.‘Weeping and gargling..?’
‘What the hell..’Thoughts trailed through Reigens head as he trailed through his apartment, and down the hallway to his front door. Not knowing what to expect.
Twisting the doorknob and quickly pulling the door towards him. No one was there.
Reigens eyes widened, and the noises had quietened as he opened the door. The man looked around, his neck swishing left and right to try to spot the potential culprit of the odd noises. Another gust of wind hit Reigens face, causing his dark brown eyes to water, using his index finger to wipe away the tear that almost slipped out his eye.
“Probably kids pulling my leg,” Reigen smirked, reminiscing for a moment on the antics he used to pull as a child.*sniffle*Reigens pupils dilated, it never occurred to Reigen to look down.‘Shigeo’ the cover of the note read.
—
Reigens' eyes widened, his pupils small, and the whites of his eyes dominating. His hands twitched in front of him, bewildered at what lay before him.A baby, a very young baby, no older than a year old, curled up in a small pram, sucking its thumb. The baby had dark black hair, and big brown eyes, and was of a very pale complexion. Reigens mouth twitched, for a moment, unable to fathom a word.“Hello?!” He shouted, almost desperation in his voice, looking around at the other doors surrounding, however all apartments were dark, with no answers.
‘Maybe the parents are inside the neighbors…’ Reigen considered with hope, as he was unable to comprehend why they’d leave their child here. He stared down at the infant who’d been looking at the man with his large eyes. Reigen felt as though he was looking at a lost puppy.The blonde man bent down, folding his legs into a basket on his doorstep, facing eye to eye with the baby who’d followed him with his gaze, continuing to suck his thumb, drool drooping onto the blanket he was cuddled up in.
Reigen sighed,reaching for the note that was placed on the baby’s pram, attached to a rattle. It read,
‘Shigeo, I’m sorry’.
Reigen squinted at the note, realizing this baby had been purposefully abandoned. The blonde bit his tongue and choked slightly, it slowly sank into the severity of the situation.
“I’ll have to call the authorities, poor kid,” Reigen mumbled, Pulling his flip phone out and dialing the number to the police of Seasoning City.
The man watched the baby as he did so, rattling the toy in front of him to entertain as he phoned.*Ring*
*buzz*“Huh?” Reigen grunted, yanking his phone away from his ear.
‘No service’
“The phone bill!” Reigen seethed, slamming the phone shut and back into his trousers side pocket. The lateness of the night was closing in and the police station was miles away, all public transport being off for the night..“Well, shit,” Reigen whispered to himself, looking back at the foundling who was now holding his foot and rocking back and forth. Reigen continued to leer at the boy, completely clueless on what to do.
Reaching for the baby, he picked him up, the little one heaving a small grunt at being taken from his comfortable spot, dropping his rattle in the process. Reigen held the baby boy into his chest, he began to shake and suddenly small whimpers escaped the baby's mouth...
‘Oh, the toy’.
Reigen bent down, covering the young one's head, as he picked up the green rattle with pink and white spots and a bell in the middle.
The man handed the child his toy as he held him onto his hip, his tiny baby fingers managing to grasp it and rattle it back and forth in Reigens ear.
Realizing the cold, the man decided to head inside, with a baby that was not his, in his arms.Dragging the pram behind him and placing it in his hallway, escaping the breeze of the night. Holding the baby as he locked the door. Safe and warm.
Reigen looked into the infant's eyes, cracking a small smile.“Shigeo. Right?” Reigen spoke as if the young one would respond, bouncing Shigeo up and down on his arm, which was met with crackly giggles from the baby. Reigens mouth fell open slightly in awe. He’d never interacted this closely with such a young child, the innocence of young Shigeo causing Reigen to melt.
He coughed quickly to snap himself out of the trance he was in, proceeding through the house to the kitchen to retrieve any food he could provide for the baby until morning. Holding the baby tightly to his hip, Shigeos arms clinging over Reigens neck as he did so.“Wheat bites, perfect” Reigen mumbled, pulling the box out of the cupboard. He knew babies could eat these as it was one of the main selling points of the brand, the cereal becoming mush when it clashed with milk, providing the best fibre for babies.
“Do you like these?” Reigen asked, holding the box in his left hand and Shigeo in his right, shaking the box to entice a response. Once again, he knew the baby wouldn’t respond but he talked and asked anyway.
Shigeo hummed and coughed, slight remnants of spit coming out his small mouth, as he reached to the box with his occupied hand which contained his rattle.“I’ll take that as a yes” Reigen smirked softly, adjusting Shigeo tighter into his grip. Reaching up, he grabbed a bowl from one of the shelves, it was a mint green ceramic bowl with a detailed pattern on the inside of it. Opening the fridge to retrieve milk, he poured a substantial amount into the bowl and bashed it with a tiny wooden spoon.There they sat at Reigens small wooden table, he placed Shigeo beside himself, holding the bowl as he faced him. The baby stared up at Reigen with confused eyes, his mouth closed and the rattling of his toy had slowed.
“Hey try this,” Reigen smiled solemnly, he scooped the mushy cereal up into a small portion on the spoon, placing it towards the young one's mouth. Rejected. Shigeo turned his head slowly away from the goopy food offered.
‘Hmph’ , Reigen scrunched his nose and thought of how to get the baby to eat. Lightbulb moment.
“Hey,” Reigen spoke quietly, tapping the baby softly. Shigeo met eye contact with the older man again, breathing in and out his mouth exasperatedly as though he was upset.
Reigen scooped the portion back onto the spoon and attempted once more with a bit more enthusiasm.
“Here comes the, Uh… choo choo train” Reigen cooed, a big fake smile plastered to his face. Shigeos eyes widened slightly, opening his mouth to take the cereal.*slop*
*munch*
*slop*
*gulp*The baby smiled, the wheat mush surrounded the side of his mouth, licking his lips in attempt to scavenge more.
“Here, oh this one's an airplane… Brrr” Reigen spoke, scooping another amount out of the bowl, Shigeo waiting for it to be given, his mouth opening almost immediately, Reigen spooning another portion in.*slop*
*munch*
*slop*
*gulp*The bowl was finished and the baby that sat in front of him seemed to be satisfied with the portion, his eyelids beginning to weigh heavier. A hiccup escaped his mouth as milk sploshes dropped from his cheek. Reigen picked Shigeo up and took him to his pram, wrapping the boy up in the thick blanket he came with and placing his rattle beside him. Reigen looked down at the boy,
“We’ll get you turned in tomorrow.” Reigen sighed, grabbing the handles of the pram pushing it into his own bedroom, and placing it beside his bed, Shigeo was in a deep food slumber. Reigen stared at the pram with the infant placed inside, gripping his nose, and shutting his eyes tightly.‘Out of all the people, he was placed on my doorstep, why?’ he thought intensely. He wondered if the person who had left the child had intended for him to look after young Shigeo. Reigen was in no position to take such a challenge on. He could hardly take care of himself with bills let alone bring a child into the equation. It’s the sole purpose he hadn’t gone into the dating scene, he wasn’t ready to have to financially provide for a partner or a child.
*sigh*,
Reigen gripped his temple, unbuttoning his shirt in front of his mirror, scruffing his golden locks out his face. Another small sleepy hiccup came from Shigeo, Reigen didn’t smile this time he frowned. All he could feel was sympathy for the abandoned baby.Staring at his ceiling and back at the pram. Reigens mind was no longer like the calm stream, it was like a river during a storm with debris. A weird twist lingered in the younger mans stomach, he didn’t understand why.
-
The sun rose from behind the clouds, casting its brightness over the city, the light seeping through Reigens blinds. The rectangular shape of light hovering over his face, as he lay in bed, his hair chaotic.
Slapping his mouth together, trying to form his mouth to no longer feel dry, slowly opening his eyes, unbolting the lids that stuck to his skin.
Adjusting to the intruding light, there sat the small red pram beside his bed. Reigen shook his head, rubbing his face as he looked up and down, from the handle to the wheels.
Standing up, he peeked over at the baby boy whose eyes were freshly awake. Looking up at Reigen with a small giggle, coughing.Reigen sighed, picking the little one up from his pram…
That smell. “Oh god” , Reigen bolked.
“Shit I don’t have…” he panicked, holding Shigeo from his armpits. In his peripheral vision, he spotted a pack at the bottom of the pram,
“Diapers.” Reigen sighed in relief. However, his panic, although only short-lived, young Shigeo began tearing up, his small feet kicking back and forth at Reigen.Shigeos eyes welled up like bubbles, his lip quivering, his hands and feet shaking and kicking in a displeased manner. Reigen panicked…again.“Shh, it-it’s ok!” The man cooed, sweat dripping from his head as he readjusted Shigeos's position in his arms to a cradle. This seemed to help for a moment, however, it wasn’t long-lasting as Shigeo let out a sharp cough and descended into a cry, his small voice cracking and gurgling. Reigen took a deep breath, holding young Shigeo comfortably into his chest, stroking his minimal black hair. The baby continued to cry, little sobs. Reigen rocked him back and forth, supporting his head as he did so as he stared at Shigeo intently. His little eyes, nose, and cheeks were all a blush red from the outburst.“You’re ok lil guy” Reigen spoke softly, Shigeos sobs had quietened to sniffles, his nose runny, another thing for Reigen to clean.“Let’s get you tidied up…” Reigen smiled weakly, holding the child into his chest, and making his way out the room.
—Shigeo had been cleaned up, it was time to head out and get the young boy handed in, he was not Reigens to keep. He was not to be treated like a stray animal, he was a baby human. The infant wore a tiny white shirt with little blue shorts and white footwear.There they stood in the hallway, Shigeo looking up at the man with his big hazel eyes, beaming like a star.
“Don’t look at me like that!” Reigen spoke, furrowing his eyebrows with a frown, once again not expecting a reaction. However, Shigeo's gaze averted and his cheerful demeanor halted.
Reigen was taken aback, reaching his hand down to make sure the young one was ok, he felt a small hand grip his single finger.
Reigens breath staggered, watching as Shigeo held his finger with curiosity.“Let’s go, buddy.” Reigen sighed, taking his hand back gently, unlocking his creaky, wooden front door, and pushing the pram and himself out. The guilt was immense.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Stepping out of the gate, Reigen struggled to control the pram, his hands practically glued to the handles in fear he’d let go. Looking down at the baby, his hands clasping the blanket he lay under. The air was mild, not too warm, not too cold. Reigen was still worried, wrapping Shigeo up more with an extra blanket.“We need to get the train to the nearest precinct…” Reigen said aloud, still gripping the handle with his right hand as they strolled down the littered streets. Taking out his flip phone with his left, the time read 09:30 am, opening the map. Reigen read the directions intently,‘a twenty-minute walk and a train ride.’‘Simple enough’ Reigen thought.Placing the phone back into his jacket pocket and readjusting his hand onto the pram bar. Shigeo stared upwards, his eyes following the clouds behind Reigens head, with a flock of starlings flying up overhead.Strolling down the more rundown area of Seasoning City, crossing at the half-broken traffic lights. Reigen was trying immensely to not look at the infant. His big eyes filled with curiosity, his hands, small and innocent. It filled the blonde with awe.Finally reaching a more combust area of the city, It was a Saturday so many weren’t in work attire, from young women in flowy skirts and large sweaters to children covered in mud and crinkled shirts.the rain had begun. It started as spits however quickly escalated to pours. Reigen folded the overhead of the pram for Shigeo to shelter him. Many umbrellas shot up as the rain began it’s havoc on the citizens, puddles forming beneath everyone's feet. Reigens hair slowly became a darker yellow as the rain took its effect. Shiego sat inside the confined space of the pram, cozy and untouched by the water.Reaching the train station, the man retreated under the shelter in awaiting for the transport to arrive. He could hear the infant shaking his rattle about, undoing the pram shelter to take a peek at him.Shigeo giggled as he saw Reigen, it echoed through the vastness of the shelter of the train station. A few heads turned at the noise. Reigen smiled, rocking the pram forwards and backward with his hand. The baby quietly clapped his small hands, his eyes closed from smiling.A few women across from Reigen, all around his age whispered to one another whilst looking at the man. Reigens eyebrows raised, confused.Turning back to Shigeo who was still letting out light laughs and disorganised claps,The train had arrived at last.Aboard the train, Reigen once again sat alone, with the pram in front of him which held young Shigeo. Reaching down to the storage of the pram, Reigen took out a sachet of baby yogurt.‘Banana and Strawberry’ Flavour, untwisting the cap and holding it towards the infant's mouth. Rejected. Shigeo pushed the tasty treat away with a straight face.“Not this again,” Reigen scoffed, a grin on his face. Suddenly an old woman sat beside Reigen, her eyes locked onto Shigeo.“Oh, he’s beautiful” She spoke, a wrinkled smile on her face. She wore a violet scarf and a grey dress and was holding a small handbag. She turned to Reigen who was inbetween looking at the baby and her. He was nervous.“Blessings, aren’t they?” She asked rhetorically, breaking the silence between the two adults. Shigeo letting out a small chortle.“Truly,” Reigen replied, still holding the yogurt with one hand, turning to the old lady and finally making eye contact.“You and him have the same eyes.” She commented, awingly. Reigen quivered a smile, trying to not choke out a laugh at the absurdity.‘Her sight must be gone, how can she not tell he’s not mine-’ The man thought to himself.He shook his hand in disagreement.“I-I don’t see it,” he muttered, grinning at the woman who responded by shaking her head in disagreement.“You’ll see it one day, trust me.” She chuckled.An awkward silence filled the air for a moment,“Ahh, are you struggling to get the rascal to eat?” She inquired, a warm smile still plastered on her face.“He loves it when I pretend it’s a train or airplane.” Reigen sighed comedically.The woman nodded, looking back down at the boy.“Maybe taking him out of the pram will help?” She suggested, pointing. He hadn’t even thought of such a basic solution.Reigen nodded, smiling. Reaching down for Shigeo, clasping him into his grip. The train started, and Reigen jolted, tightening his hold on the baby out of fear.“Relax, he’s ok,” the woman soothed, Shigeo was buried in Reigens chest, looking up at him. The blonde took an exhale through his nose. Readjusting positon, Shigeos head now rested on the mans bicep, with the lower half of his small body sitting contently on his lap.The old woman watched with gladness, reaching a hand, and brushing her mature hands over Shigeos hair.“Here comes the choo choo train” Reigen cooed, holding Shigeo and wooshing the yogurt down to the infants mouth.“Brrr” Reigen verbalised unenthusiastically, with a smile Shigeo accepted, as expected. Taking small sips of the pink-colored yogurt.Reigen smiled once again, stroking his thumb over the baby's cheek. Staring down at him, his thumb slowing down as the train came to a halt.“You’re a good father, Mr…?” The lady spoke, asking Reigen for his name. Reigen averted his eyes from Shigeo, turning his head to look at the elderly woman.“Eh, Arataka Reigen” he responded, taken aback. The woman smiled.“You’re doing a great job.” She spoke once more, picking her small handbag up and rewrapping the scarf around her neck to tighten it.Standing up, she beamed once more, her wrinkles more prominent.“Have a good day,” She whispered, stroking Shigeos head once more before walking gently towards the exit of the train.“Y-you too ma’am.” Reigen spluttered.Alone once again.—--------Now at the opposing end of Seasoning City, from where Reigen lived. The train ride had felt slow and steady, calming Reigens nerves. Shigeo had finally finished his yogurt. Reigen wiped his little face with a napkin from his pocket.“Did you enjoy that?” Reigen whispered, Shigeo burped.Reigen grinned from ear to ear.Arriving at the station nearest to the Police department, Reigen placed Shigeo back into the little compartment of the pram and wheeled it out onto the platform, the rain had thankfully not reached down over this part of the city, with Reigens hair still fairly damp.Walking in strides through the streets, it was busy here too. Shigeo had his arms lifting out from the pram, trying to garner Reigens attention, which was deemed to be unsuccessful as Reigen was occupied trying to get them across the busying road of cars, awaiting the traffic light change.At last, Shigeo had caught the blonde adult's eyes, the baby was attempting to reach for his rattle which lay at the end of the pram, out of pudgy baby arms reach.Reigen half smiled, shaking the rattle to Shigeos face, which Shigeo took happily and shook it himself, the jingle of the rattles bell could be heard as the pair went down the street.The Police Station stood before Reigen, the shadow of the building engulfed the pair. The man could only feel a sense of gloominess in the place.Entering the glass double doors, he was met with a large rounded desk and a woman on a computer.She looked up from the business she attended to on her computer, her eyes locked onto Reigen and the pram he pushed.He made his way up to the desk, the woman like she was on autopilot placed a clipboard with sheets of paper attached.“Are you reporting a crime, sir? Please take a seat and sign the information below.” The woman spoke, taking a mug into her hand and sipping a steaming black coffee.Reigen gulped, his hands slightly shaky as he looked down at the now non-smiling Shigeo, who gazed at him in confusion.“No ma’am, this baby..” Reigen began, the woman put her mug down and raised an eyebrow, stretching her neck up to see more of the pram.“Sir?” she asked, a slightly snappy tone in her voice. Reigen had zoned out.“This baby was left on my doorstep.” he blurted, pinching his nose. The woman's eyes widened, this was a super rare occurrence and if it did happen it was usually on the doorsteps to orphanages.Picking up the phone and clicking numbers into the operator*ring ring*“Hello,” A muffled voice spoke, Reigen unable to hear it very well.“We have an abandoned baby in the front reception if you could attend immediately.” The receptionist replied, a cool tone in her voice.Without hearing any more of the conversation, the woman placed the phone back down on the receiver and looked back up at Reigen.“They will need to ask you questions, is that ok?” She asked, pulling a pen from behind her ear and writing on an empty document.“Yes that’ll be fine” he replied, shaking the pram back and forth gently once again, watching as Shigeos eyes began to close.A male officer and a female detective entered the room, escorting Reigen to a separate room.—
“What’s your name sir?” the officer asked, looking down at the now sleeping Shigeo.“Arataka Reigen,” he replied, as they entered a three-seated beige room, with bland pictures framed on the wall.“Well, Mr Reigen you did the right thing handing the infant in” The woman spoke up, her colleague nodding in agreement.“Do you happen to have any documentation that was left with him?” She continued.Reigen paused, thinking for a moment. Crouching down from his seat and reaching down to the prams storage where he’d received the note with the young boy's name on it.It still reading, ‘Shigeo’.The woman inspected the very blunt piece of paper that only retained the baby's name on it, her eyebrows furrowed and her nose scrunched, confusingly. She quickly opened her laptop and began searching for any missing children under the name of ‘Shigeo’ however was met with nothing on the system.“I assume you don’t get cases like this often?” Reigen questioned, facing the male officer who stood beside him. The officer nervously chuckled and nodded in agreement.“It’s very rare.” The detective spoke from her laptop, tapping the keys and clicking the mouse repeatedly.“Can I take your statement Mr Reigen?” The male officer asked, pulling a small notepad from his right chest pocket, with a blue pen attached.“Just so we know how the events unfolded, it might assist us in finding any links to young Shigeo’s family.”“Of course,” Reigen replied almost relieved.“I was out on my balcony having a smoke, I heard a clash down the street assuming it was cats but it was just a person from afar who knocked down a bin, thinking back… I didn’t take into account they were wheeling a pram.” Reigen spoke, the officer intently listening as he bullet-pointed all the key information the blonde was giving.“Then the next minute I heard my apartment complex gate open and then a knock at my door. That’s where this little guy was left, just staring up at me.” Reigen continued. The officer looked back up at Reigen, putting a full stop on his final point.“And did you get any glimpse of what this person looked like?” The officer asked, Reigen shook his head.Looking back down at the note that now lay on the table as evidence,‘Shigeo’.“I’m surprised that’s all the person left with... Mr Reigen I’m going to inspect the pram for any more potential documentation if that’s ok.” The officer spoke as his partner scanned the systems, standing up and heading for the pram.The storage of the pram consisted of yogurt sachets, extra nappies, and toys. All pulled out onto the floor.“Bingo.” the officer sighed, pulling out a slightly wrinkled hard sheet of brown paper. “His certificate is in here.” He continued, Reigens eyes widened.“I didn’t even think to check, I only used a few of the nappies and a yogurt.” Reigen stuttered slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. Looking down at the ground.“No need to worry Mr Reigen, It’ll make this whole process a lot easier” The friendly officer smiled at the blonde man, handing the envelope to his detective counterpart, who took it right into her clasp to inspect.Opening it up, delicately to not disturb any vital evidence. Reigens mind wandered looking around the room, the light from above beaming down at him.‘Hopefully, Shigeo would be back with his parents… or put with a pair of loving grandparents… or be reunited with siblings.’He’d only spent 10 hours with the baby, however it still hurt knowing he’d have to say goodbye.Reigen smiled to himself, looking down at the pram which he was naturally still rocking slowly.The officer and detective scanned through the birth certificate intently. The officer's mouth went slightly limp. Staring up at Reigen, the detective frowned in more confusion.“Mr Reigen?” the woman spoke, a slightly stern tone riddled in the back of her throat.Reigen snapped out of his trance, stopping his eyes from locking onto the pram to face the two other adults.“Is… everything ok?” he asked, almost a pinch of bother in his voice as if he was tired of this investigation already.The officer sighed, taking the certificate into his large hands, and re-reading the lines to ensure the information was viable.“Mr Reigen, it states you’re the father to young Shigeo here” the officer spoke, almost as confused as Reigens face warped into.“What, that’s not possible?!” Reigen stammered.“Arataka Reigen have you done this to waste out time?” The woman interrogated, slamming her laptop down. Shaking her head disapprovingly and closing her eyes.Reigen couldn’t utter a word, only stare with his mouth agape at the officer and detective.“Mr. Reigen, It states you’re the father and there is bloodwork from a paternity test conducted at Seasoning City’s hospital. It’s all official paperwork.” The officer sighed, rubbing his palm on his cheek.Reigen had sweat dripping down his forehead, unable to comprehend much of what the officer had just uttered to him.“I-It can’t be possible.” He whispered, holding his chin with his hand tightly.The detective rose form her seat, taking the wired phone into her hand and dialing another number in, raising her finger at the two men to be quiet.“My colleague here is calling the hospital to have this information verified.”The officer whispered, he seemed to empathize with the younger man, patting his shoulder. Reigen nodded, his mouth dry and his eyes almost watery.After a painful long five minutes of questions and hums. From the detective and the person on the receiver.She placed her phone back down on the table in front of herself, looking back up at them.“Arataka Reigen, You are most definitely the father.”Then it suddenly hit him like a truck. He remembered. He remembered that night.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Two years prior ..
There the man sat at his desk, papers piled up into mountains, his computer slow and the keys on his keyboard jamming. Emails upon emails, letters, and databases to be filled out.
Picking his green tea up from beside him, the steam heating up his face in a blissful way before taking a small drink.
Reigen removed a folder from one of his cabinets, a large red binder that held information needed for a statistic sheet he was working on, scanning through the pages with his finger. The office ambiance filled the broad room, with chattering echoing from the coffee table. Reigen remained silent, his eyes averting to see the group of suited men discussing something. However, it didn’t concern or matter to him, so he remained uninterested, Reigen never cared much about colleagues around him, he never saw the point in befriending them or getting attached, as at the end of the day, they were colleagues, and one day were destined to leave for a new job elsewhere, and so Reigen kept to himself.However…
The sounds of footsteps pattering along the carpeted ground towards Reigens desk,“Hello, Reigen,” A deep, cracked voice spoke,
Reigen took a breath out of his nose, and a sip of his tea, and placed it back down on his desk.
‘Serizawa.’“Hey Serizawa,” Reigen spoke, raising his hand, however remained facing his computer. Serizawa was a nervous and easily choked-up man, he’d never adjusted to Reigens mannerisms and just assumed the blonde hated him.“I-I was just at the table, and the other guys-” Serizawa began, pointing with his thumb to the men who remained together, all drinking their mediocre coffees.
Serizawa scratched the back of his neck.“And?” Reigen asked, finally turning round to face the tall-statured brunette, taking his green tea with him. Reigen looked up at him, raising his eyebrow slightly, a small grin formed from one side of his lip.“Well, they’re inviting us out for some drinks tonight? You up for it..?” Serizawa finished, Reigen put his finger to his lip, pondering. Tilting his head, scrunching his face.“I’ll have to see, Serizawa…” Reigen answered, he looked at the cheap watch he had attached to his wrist, squinting his eyes to read the time. Then back up at Serizawa, who didn’t seem to take that as an answer, remaining in front of Reigen nervously, almost spaced out.“so … after work, yea?” Reigen reconsidered. No answer.“Serizawa?” Reigen questioned, waving his hand around in front of the navy-suited man. Serizawa was startled, staring back down at his colleague.“Okay, see you after work then, Reigen!” the man sighed in relief. Reigen smiled back, but as the man walked away, his eyebrows furrowed.
‘What was that about..?’ Reigen wondered, he shrugged his shoulders marking it down to just how Serizawa acts.
Reigen turned back to his computer, it had shut off whilst he was occupied. The young man groaned under his breath, clicking the monitor back on which would take multiple minutes due to the janky system it ran on.
How bothersome. Reigen truly hated it here.—It was Friday, The sky turned a hue of purple and grey, commencing nightfall. The streets lit up, with restaurant signs blaring on and off with obnoxious lights and people embracing the night as more flooded into the streets of Seasoning City.
There, Reigen sat, shutting off his computer for the last time today.
He stared at the black screen, ringing in his ear as he made eye contact with his reflection.
The office lights dimmed, and the purple seeped into the room, taking his phone from his pocket and noticing a message from Serizawa.‘We’re outside :)’Reigen grabbed his bag, tucking away his papers and chucking his phone to zip the bag up. Flinging the bag over his shoulder and making his way to the cold flite of stairs.“Oh Mr. Reigen,” a woman spoke, it was the deputy manager of the company. She was a middle-aged woman, with dark red hair, holding a clipboard into her chest, a sweet expression on her face.
Reigen turned to her as he had the door in front of him half opened.“Are you able to meet these deadlines, it’s for a potential investment?” The woman spoke, pointing to the paper, Reigen couldn’t hide his frown as he read over the amount of overtime that was written out in front of him.
He rubbed his cheek, sighing. His manager's face had turned slightly sour, waiting for his answer.“Yep, I can have those ready.” He replied, not wanting to deal with any hassle that came with saying no. The woman’s face quickly turned back soft, nodding her head and walking away, ticking a box on her requirements.
The blonde shook his head, finally escaping through the front doors.
“Hey, Reigen!” A man spoke, hitting his shoulder as Reigen exited the office building with his canvas bag attached to his shoulder. It was another of Reigens colleagues, all bunched up together with Serizawa nervously twiddling his fingers to the side. With that, they made their way down the increasingly busy street.“So, where are we going for drinks?” Reigen asked the few men at the front, him and Serizawa behind. One man turned back and shrugged.
“Any bar that's close by, we need to diffuse…” One sighed, obviously under the same pressure Reigen was with the unrealistic deadlines, work amount, and hours.The streets were heavy, traffic lights chopping and changing every second, cars trailing down the road, with motorbikes zooming. Many other men in suits walked by, old ladies walking their dogs, young children clinging to their mother's hands to make sure they didn’t get separated in the sea of people.
Reigen looked to the ground as he walked, watching his shoes scuff over the uneven concrete. His black suit, breezed in the wind slightly.
The sky had now melted into a dark blue, with the edges of the sky only gleaming out tiny particles of yellow, like it was desperately trying to escape the grasp of the mass.“Do you drink often, Reigen?” Serizawa asked out of the blue, cutting Reigen from his thoughts. Reigen shook his head, readjusting to his situation.“Oh, not often, no. How about you?” Reigen asked politely.“It’s not my thing, but I think getting out is important,” Serizawa answered honestly, with a guilty smile.“Yeah, staying cooped up in that office all day isn’t good for any-” Reigen began, however, croaked out a yawn, turning to Serizawa, who noticed the dark circles that lay under Reigens eyes like overhead shadows and his hair being evidently overgrown, before being further interrupted by the colleagues who trailed ahead of them.“Hey, let’s head in here!” one shouted over, it was a bar located down some flights of stairs with red and blue lights glistening from the outside of it.
The noise from inside riddled into the outside of the street, it was packed in there.
Entering the bar, the lighting was dim, with many sofa seats and bar stools all across the area, even a jukebox. It was filled with businessmen and women alike, older men watching the television provided and younger women out for a night with their friends. Bustling.-The five men headed to the main bar, the three taking their orders whilst Serizawa and Reigen held back, unsure and inexperienced.
Their older colleague clasped their shoulders in his hands, smiling at them.“Get something you think will be nice, help get the edge of y’know.” he nudged Reigen before returning to his allocated spot beside the other two men.
Reigen stared at the board, which read many different options,‘A lemon sour didn’t sound too bad…’With that both Reigen and Serizawa ordered lemon sours, sitting on the tall bar stools, Reigen leaned over the bar, not caring if it was slightly sticky from all the drinks that had spilled on it. Reigen lacked the thought of caring.
However, he did care about wanting to forget his worries, just for a moment, just for an evening. He grabbed the Lemon sour, removed the straw that blocked his path, and quickly took two large chugs.
Serizawa stared as Reigen wiped his mouth of the remnants of the alcohol, covering his mouth and coughing as if he’d forgotten that it was alcohol... And it would have a kick.“Haha, look at that, not bad, Reigen!” His oldest colleague beamed, looking at the other two men who were now also taking large chugs from their drinks.
Serizawa swished the drink around in his hand, watching the ice dance around the rim of the glass before finally taking a small sip.Reigen raised his hand to the bartender,
“Hey, can I get another Lemon sour please?” Reigen requested, putting cash down on the bar. The bartender smiled and nodded before turning away and scooping ice into a glass cup.“I thought you didn’t drink often, Reigen?” Serizawa questioned curiously as he held his glass with both hands. Reigen blinked, frowning as he got handed his second lemon sour, already feeling the alcohol beginning to consume his mind, as he was a severe lightweight.“Eh, well, I might as well indulge.” Reigen smiled, nodding towards Serizawas glass, encouraging the man to also drink. Serizawa smiled weakly lifting his glass to meet Reigens before they clashed them together. Cheers.—And with that, Reigen was heavily intoxicated with three lemon sours. He was already drunk by halfway through his second lemon sour, but that didn’t seem to deter him as he just kept going, even after Serizawa and his other colleagues attempted to slow him down.
Reigen lay dormant, outside on a lonesome table underneath the dark yet brightened sky of the city, with a cigarette in between his fingers, it slowly burnt out as he forgot he’d even lit it. His eyes hurt and his throat was dry from what he’d just thrown up.‘What am I even doing…’ Reigen thought, criticizing his choices.
His mind often wondered when he was alone, his body was physically outside a bar but his thoughts reached endlessly. His eyes were closed and his headache was like someone was knocking on his skull.
His hands gripped his hair, massaging his blonde roots as he yanked slightly.
‘I can’t even enjoy this,’ his inner monologue sighed.Serizawa exited the front door, meeting the blonde man who had his suit jacket over his shoulders.“Feeling better?” Serizawa asked nervously, still holding his first and only Lemon sour. Reigen turned to him, his cheek squished into his arm, his eyes half closed and slightly red. He groaned and dug his head back into his hands.“Don’t let me do that again,” Reigen joked as he muffled a laugh. Serizawa half smiled looking down at his colleague before dragging another high chair to take a spot beside Reigen.
Reigen turned to the brunette, as he adjusted himself onto the ripped leather seat, his eyes half shut.“I can call a cab for you if you want Reigen?” Serizawa offered, finally taking some drinks of his lemon sour, the ice cubes were now tiny, wiping his mouth, and resting his arms on the table that Reigen's head remained dormant on. The blonde blinked, in attempts to form a thought of what Serizawa had even said.“I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I just shouldn’t be drinking that quickly.” Reigen coughed a chuckle out, as he remained sprawled over the table, his wrist hanging off one side with his hand completely limp. Serizawa looked on in concern, as he looked Reigen up and down, his shirt was disheveled, the tips of his ears red and his breathing staggered, most likely due to just puking up 3 lemon sours…
finally regaining his composure.
The two men sat there in comfortable silence, outside the bar with blurred music, laughing and cheers radiating from inside. Serizawa took a few more sips of his drink, thumping it back onto the table, a sound of minor distaste leaving his mouth, sticking his tongue out.“Not your thing?” Reigen asked curiously,
“Not my scene in general, to be honest with you Reigen.” Serizawa shrugged as he held the glass in his large hand, looking forward towards the bar he’d just exited.
The blonde sat quietly, a silent understanding being exchanged between the two.–The night had begun to fall cold, colder than what is bearable to stay out in. So the two men decided to venture back into the bustling bar, with people being just as wild and louder as they were before exiting.
The co-workers that Reigen and Serizawa had come with were now gathered around a TV in the corner with their beers and a few other men. Reigen nudged up to the bar, Serizawa squeezing in beside him, in turn having to apologize to a woman he’d nudged in doing so.“Can I get a couple of shots please?” Reigen asked the bartender who was cleaning his glasses with his cloth, swinging the cloth over his shoulders before taking out two small shot glasses.“Shouldn’t you avoid alcohol for now?” Serizawa replied to Reigens request to the bartender, his frown falling more sharply.Reigen chuckled, as he got handed the shots.
“Cigarettes can’t be my only escape , Serizawa, I’ll just take it slowly this time.” Reigen smirked,Serizawa raised an eyebrow as Reigen passed him one of the shots.“It’s ok if you don’t want to” the blonde added, proceeding to down his shot.
Serizawa declined. However, Reigen continued.
And with that he was back into his loop, ordering shots and Lemon sours.‘Disastrous.’Serizawa looked at the blonde, holding his shoulder as he almost tipped over his chair due to his state of influence.“Maybe you should slow it down, y’know?” Serizawa asked nervously, Reigen turned to him as he was taking another ice-cold, lemon sour down his throat, pulling away from the rim of the glass and smiling, not answering the other man's concern.–The night went on, the bar slowly emptying as the night went into the early morning of 1 am.
The three older coworkers of the two younger men had said their goodbyes as Reigen had another cigarette. The music was dimmer and the bartenders were tired.
Until the door opened, but no one was leaving, rather coming in. It was a woman on her own, her hair was long, very dark black and her skin was fair and slight eyebags sagged under her, she wore dark brown trousers and a cream sweater, her posture and movement filled with certitude yet fatigued and she was around the age of Reigen.
Reigen didn’t take much notice of her, only acknowledging she had entered, strolling up to the bar, inserting herself between the half-asleep Serizawa and the drunk Reigen.“Strawberry tonic please.” She asked, not looking at the bartender and down at her purse as she took out a note. Reigen took another gulp of his lemon sour, turning to his right and seeing the woman who’d just placed her order, and then to Serizawa who was shaking himself to stay awake.“What’s your name then?” the woman said, her voice was calm and collected yet had confidence in it. Reigen looked up expecting her to be talking to the bartender or another person, however, she had her eyes locked down on him. Taken aback Reigen stopped slouching, making eye contact with her.“Reigen Arataka..?” he questioned, confused by the sudden conversation. She nodded, as her drink was handed to her, a pink and fizzy concoction.“Y-yourself?” Reigen stuttered, he wasn’t good at this. He barely even talked to people outside work, nevermind women.“eh nothing special,” she spoke quickly, not abruptly, before taking a drink of her beverage. Reigen nodded.
“Oh that’s nice…,” he commented drunkenly, unable to think of anything else he could say in his state. The woman shrugged, in a confused agreement.By this point, the bar was almost emptied with only one booth still having a few people and the bar only consisting of three people. That being Reigen, Serizawa, and the woman.
Their chatting had improved from their awkward beginnings, Reigen ordering himself and the woman drinks as his coworker who was now passed out on the bar snored.
Clinking of glasses before drinking, contained laughs and some ranting.“All these papers and documents in when I just can’t... Do all of that!” Reigen rambled, slamming his glass on the bar, waking Serizawa up for a moment before his head hit the deck again.
“I understand, the deadlines are so unrealistic. I work at a well-known firm within the city, I’d know.” She sighed, chugging the other half of her second strawberry tonic.The conversation grew to like how a seed sprouts from the soil and into a sapling, with enough attention being able to blossom into a beautiful flower, with unseen roots underneath beginning to take their form.“I prefer smaller breeds of dogs as their easier to handle, however, I would never be opposed to a larger dog. They all deserve love.” The woman chatted, taking another swig from her glass, Reigen looked at her in admiration.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Reigen sighed, with a satisfied grin on his face.The two had much in common, from their stress ridden work to their love for dogs. She was quiet yet had much to say, Reigen was loud but could only say so much, or at least couldn’t find the words. Yet the woman seemed to fill in the blanks for what Reigen couldn’t pinpoint, resonating further and further with one another like a key to a lock. With that, he was feeling a slight hint of happiness that he’d seriously lacked for this evening. This was strange.“Tab us out.” the woman smiled to the bartender.
Serizawa had finally awoke, seeing Reigen and a new face in front of him, rubbing his eyes.“Oh Serizawaaa, you’re awake!!” Reigen beamed, his drunkenness very prominent.
Serizawa smiled, laughing almost.“I see you’ve got it from here?” Serizawa questioned the dark haired woman, trying to seem as polite as possible after napping on a wet and sticky bar for two hours straight, his back and shoulders aching severely.
Almost wishing he’d left Reigen to his own devices hours ago.
The woman smiled gently, nodding at the taller man.-Wondering down the now quiet streets of Seasoning City with a woman he’d met at the bar. Reigen offered her a cigarette which she accepted with gratitude.
The smoke trailed above them as they made their way across what once was a busy road only some hours ago. Her hair wished in the slight breeze, turning to Reigen as she puffed out another breath of smoke provided by his cigarette.‘Wow.’ the man thought, although his vision was blurry, her face imprinted on him, her smile wide but rare, her eyes hazel and wide. In Reigens drunk mind, she was gorgeous.The city's lights were mixed of yellow and white, the shutters to shops had clasped down many hours ago, with only a few cars passing by at a time, the traffic lights stuck in time, remaining a radiant green. The streets were slightly wet from a small spout of rainfall earlier, their shoes being subjected to the wetness that the pavement provided through small puddles. The cold night engulfed the two, with their cigarette smoke being mixed with the cold air they’d exhaled.“Soo wanna go back to my place, I’m close by?” The woman asked in a cheeringly drunk yet silenced tone, the alcohol causing her to trip over her words. Reigen smiled, his face going almost blush red, he agreed. The young woman wasted no time, yanking Reigens sleeve at a fast pace down the street, her smile remaining wide and full of life unlike earlier when she’d first entered the bar.–Entering her apartment, it was well kept however with Reigens blurry vision he was unable to fully take in his surroundings, only focused on the woman in front of him who was speaking, yet no words left her mouth as his ear rang, silencing the world around him.
He held his face in his hand, groaning as the ring intensified. Grabbing his wrist, making eye contact with the blonde. Suddenly the ringing halted and the concerns poured out of her mouth like a waterfall.“Headache? Dizzy? What's up?” She asked almost desperately. None of that. Reigen stared on at the woman in slight awe, his face as red as a strawberry as he reached for her face clasping her cheek with his hand.
Would he regret this? He didn’t know, he didn’t care right now, he was living in the moment, not the future. Staring up at the man, leaning into his touch with her eyes closed. Reigen leaned down to her face, almost stumbling as the alcohol controlled his limbs like a puppet, and with that, his lips locked into hers. Taken aback, the woman's shoulders perked up, her hands naturally gravitating to the man's shoulders. Pulling away, Reigen tensed up slowly coming down from the high of the kiss, realizing the gravity of his situation, his heart pounded, and his eyes averted from hers. Her head tilted, placing her index finger on his lips and giving him a small yet meaningful grin, before reaching for another warm embrace that Reigens lips provided.Slowly the city awoke with the sun's arrival, cars beginning to leave for a journey ahead, and people leaving their houses for days out or their weekend jobs, the sounds of trains flashing by and dogs barking from the park.
There Reigen lay, shirtless and disgruntled. He’d never felt so rough, his head radiating a pounding noise. Finally able to open his eyes which felt tightly shut together, he took in his surroundings, quickly becoming confused. This wasn’t his place. Turning to the right of himself, there lay a woman's figure, black hair trailing onto the mattress, her back turned to him. Reigen flushed a dark red, his mouth agape and his hands almost shaky.‘Her…’ he remembered, his thoughts trailing and his mind piecing together small segments he was able to remember like a jigsaw puzzle. He had to get out of here. He felt wrong.
Adjusting his shirt back on, watching her closely as she made small movements in her sleep. Reigen bit his lip, was he supposed to leave… he’d never been in this sort of scenario, he never expected to be anyway. He sighed, pulling his notebook out and leaving his name and phone number on it‘What a shitty thing to do…’ he thought, beginning an internal war as he held the notebook before ripping the sheet and placing it on the bedside cabinet. The man shakingly made his way to the bedroom door, his hungover state not wanting him to even move a muscle, however, his brain said otherwise. Looking back at the woman, his hand leaning on the wooden door frame, her black hair covering half her face, her eyes remaining closed as her mouth lay slightly agape.
The blonde let out an exhale, turning back to the exit of the room, before placing one foot out.“It was nice to meet you, Arataka.” The woman spoke, her hands unraveling the hair that silked over her face, as she remained in the same spot.
Reigen turned back, meeting her eyes, which were still half shut however a small pitiful smile stayed on her face. Reigen scrunched his face, nothing but shame running through his body, lifting his hand to wave.“It was nice to meet you too.” the man spoke quietly with a slight regret riddled in his voice, talking like he was a kicked puppy.
He didn’t regret meeting her, he’d just wished he’d met her under better circumstances.-Weeks passed and Reigen continued his boring life, continuing to feel unfulfilled. Unable to take himself back to any bar out of fear of a good time just to be snapped back into reality within hours. Why should he subject himself to something he wishes could last forever when it wouldn’t?Her face was embedded into Reigen’s brain from her raven-hair with her beautiful light freckles, along with her wonderful yet endearing personality which had Reigen at even more at a loss as to why he never even got her name or stayed for that matter.
He silently hoped that she would contact him, but it never happened. That was ok, it just wasn’t meant to grow any further from that.And with that, a freshly bloomed flower was picked from the land, its roots departing from its purpose. Treated as though it was that of a weed.
-Reigen sat in silence as the officer and detective looked at him with concern. His eyes were wide and his whole body shaky.‘He is mine.’And suddenly Shigeos eyes looked more recognisable than ever.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sitting on the padded chair, his fists curled up into each other until his knuckles turned white, his breath staggered with sweat drooling down his forehead. Unable to avert his eyes from Shigeo, the cogs in his mind turning at lightning speeds, trying to see himself within the child. He couldn’t.
The Detective and officer quickly realized with Reigen's reaction, that he truly hadn’t known about his child. Watching on in concern, the room filled with a very uncomfortable silence. The officer looked down at Reigen, his eyebrows scrunched in a commiserating manner towards Reigen.
Finally, the detective coughed, placing her notepad down on her desk along with her steel pen.“Mr Rei-”
“It has to be a mistake, he can’t be mine,” Reigen muttered under his breath. The detective held her breath, looking at her colleague with an almost exhausted expression on her face.
Taking over, the officer patted Reigens back in a comforting approach.“Mr Reigen, things like this happen… it’s a lot more common than you think.” The officer offered,
“Sometimes you just get, arguably… unlucky, just how it goes.” The officer chuckled, in an attempt at comedy, receiving an elbow to his side from his detective colleague who wanted to keep a standard of professionalism.
The officer winced, continuing.
“However… I wouldn’t call this unlucky.” the officer finished, removing his hand from Reigens shoulders and kneeling beside the pram Shigeo nestled in quietly. There the baby lay, his eyes sealed shut and his tiny body curled up into itself.Thoughts rushed through Reigens head, he hadn’t felt this immense feeling of anxiety in years, and its return wasn’t welcomed.‘How could I of been so stupid’
‘I was so drunk’
‘Was the little moment of tranquility I had worth it now.’
From freak questions to self-berating, any sort of reasoning had raced out of his mind and into his stomach where it turned into an erupting panic.Reigens brain rushed through everything. From the night he’d met the woman who he was sure never gave him a name, to the baby that lay in front of him. His life, his shitty life that he’d indirectly dragged a baby into like the world was trying to ambush him. A mediocre man, with minimal means and little to no purpose set out other than to get through another day, hardly living. A baby such as Shigeo didn’t deserve that, he deserved to live, live to his fullest and Reigen couldn't give him his fullest, an unfortunate truth.“I can’t keep him.” Reigen cracked, his throat closing up as he finished the short sentence, the room remained silent for a moment.“Mr Reigen, his birth mother abandoned him, legally we cannot give him back to her. She broke the law.” The detective spoke, trying to spoonfeed the scenario and its severity. Reigen nodded, acceptingly, Biting his lip.“What about the foster-” he cracked again, his eyes welling up with tears, clutching his hand on his trousers, creasing the fabric, like a child unable to regulate their emotions. The officer and detective stared on, awaiting for Reigen to say more, as his lip quivered, his mouth moving in quick movements yet nothing coherent came out, only small and breathless gasps like he was struggling to breathe like he was being strangled.“I can- can’t be a dad for h-him.” Reigen sputtered, his head diving further in shame, now holding both his hands at the back of his scalp, gripping his blonde locks which he felt he’d rip out if he tightened harder.“I can’t be a good dad.” he caved through bared teeth, the tears overflown, unable to keep them locked up within his eyes, they spilled out onto his lap like a small spring shower.
Sobs broke out, his usually ordinary voice snapping through the sheer pressure that weighed on his heart. Reigen was never used to crying, always resorting to suppressing but the affair at hand was too dire to just gloss over with minimal reaction.“I won’t be any good for Shigeo. I’m not good for anyone, how would I be good for a child.” Reigen rambled to the two officials, finally unlocking his hands from his hair and dragging his fingers down his face, the bottom of his eyes revealing pale red, tears continuing to dribble and distort his iris. His ears rang like they did the night he met Shigeos mother, however, two very differing emotions caused the reverberation through his skull. His sobs weren’t able to be held back, low cracked groans of a grown man's voice ruptured through the small room.
Shigeo awoke, his small eyes fluttering awake, sitting in the unfamiliar room. He let out a silent yawn and sniffled, his nose slightly runny. His view was on the blonde, whose head was hung low and shoulders lay slumped over his already narrow posture, with a shaky demeanor. Light sniffles escaped Shigeos's nose, his small pudgy arms reaching out for attention. More sniffs and a small croaky cough came from the baby who became increasingly upset as the moments passed.
With a choked gasp, the infant cracked out into small sobs, yearning for the attention he wasn’t receiving. Whipping his head up, his hair swooshing as he did so, Reigen stared at the now slightly pink-faced Shigeo who had little tears dribbling down him. Reigens face although stinging from the tears and scrunched expression, which quickly warped to concern, coughing into his hand before reaching over to the pram and pulling it towards him.“Two criers in the room.” The detective sighed, before swiftly turning back to her desk and perching herself onto the wooden surface. Her colleague rolled his eyes at the attitude of his partner.“H-hey you can’t- why are you crying too?” Reigen asked, his voice hoarse as he clasped his hands onto Shigeos armpits and lifted him toward himself. Shigeos small cries escaped, his vocal cords only able to let out small squeaks, as Reigen placed him on his lap and had him leaned onto his chest. Stroking his soft, dark hair with his thumb.“Shhh” Reigen spoke soothingly, holding Shigeo tightly like he’d never let go, like his body was rejecting his brain. His brain provided logic to let Shigeo go, hand him over, and leave him. His body clung to the tiny human, as if both their lives depended on it, if it was just Reigens life it depended on, his grip would soften. Shigeo had a lot more ahead of him than he did. Was letting him go setting him free or was it pure, seamless selfishness?“Mr. Reigen, I don’t mean to bother you but…we have other matters to attend to..” The woman began, sliding documents out from her comically large binder. Clapping the papers to align with one another she handed the front one to face the blonde.“In the end, it is your decision.” She admitted, letting go of the paper for Reigen to finally set his eyes upon it.
No brief insight into what would happen to Shigeo… Care, fostering? Flicking through the pages with Shigeo still in his grip, tears dried up on the man's face, becoming sort of sticky. Shigeo had also settled and was leaning his little head into Reigen.“By signing the infant over, you’re giving your rights of the child to us. If this process is to be reversed, it may be deemed difficult, you might not get him back, do you understand?.” The woman spoke up again, her pen in hand as she clicked it open, the inky tip pointing out sharply.
Reigen swallowed a mouthful of nothing, staring at the paper that sat in his shaky hands, the paper making a silly wobbling noise.“I would be lying if I told you both that I know what I’m doing, I can’t tell what would be better for him, I only want what's in his best interest.” Reigen sighed.“Mr Reigen, if I may. Please think about this-” the officer spoke,
“Don’t interfere, this is a decision he must make on his own.” The stern woman spoke, raising her eyebrow at her officer counterpart.
Reigen stared on in horror at the paper below him, the sinking gravity of the decision he would have to make.“Your child… rights… helplines….” the document turned into a blur after moments of his eyes following the lines aimlessly, two words sticking to his memory, two words alone.
‘Your child.’
‘YOUR CHILD.’
Those words repeated in his head like a banging drum, vibrating through his soul like it was sucking the life out of him yet restoring a long-lost warmth.“My child?” Reigen whispered, his mouth barely open to pronounce it properly. The officer tilted his head in confusion at the mumble that emitted from Reigens mouth.“Can you repea-”
“He’s my baby, right,” Reigen spoke, a quietness in his voice.
The officer and detective took confused glances at each other, then back to Reigen, the woman’s foot tapping on the ground.
Holding Shigeo into his shoulder, the baby leaning into his neck, his small little breaths with a slightly stuffed nose emitting into Reigens ear. He took Shigeo away from his shoulder, placing him on his lap, facing him. His small body wobbling as he did so, Reigen panicking trying to adjust him more comfortably.
His big brown eyes were locked onto Reigen, his little hands reaching back out to be embraced again.‘Can I always be there to give him the love he deserves?’
Reigen asked himself over and over. He punched himself on the inside, should this not have an obvious answer? The answer should be “Yes”. But Reigen continued down a path of doubt.
‘But could he learn to do so?’, that for Reigen was more answerable.“Mr-” The woman began, now slightly more irritated. “I understand this is a big decision but you either hand him over now, take him, or go home and decide.” She lectured.
“I can give you the papers to take-” she said before being cut off. Reigen ripped the papers out of her grasp, whilst still holding Shigeo.“Where do I sign,” Reigen asked, sighing.
The woman let out a breath of air, her colleague looking at her with a furious grimace, he didn’t agree with her methods. It was her that lacked professionalism, she had zero empathy for the father about to let his child go.“Where do I sign to have his surname changed to mine?” Reigen asked, his face cleared of any sign of tears. His eyes were wide, his face genuine. The woman was taken aback. Her face was a confused mix of surprise and bewilderment. Taking the binder from in between her hand and hip, flicking through it again, and slipping out much fewer papers than the initial documents, her silence filled the room.“Here.” She offered, her voice had toned down completely. The police officer's eyes lit up, unable to hold his smile back. Reigen made eye contact with him, as he took the sheets from the woman. For some odd reason, the officer and his non-verbal encouragement sent warmth through Reigen, the blonde inching a slight smile back before looking back down at Shigeo, who was clasping and crunching the corner of the paper that Reigen held in his hands. The tiny smile that Reigen mustered up, grew.Looking at this set of papers, a lot fewer writing and legality issues.‘New legal Guardian, sign here.’Reigen shook as he took the pen and glazed it over the signature box.
‘This is what he needs.’
‘This is what I need.’
Thoughts racing, palm sweating, heart pumping.‘Arataka Reigen’, and with that signature the woman Reigen had met that night's ties had been cut, ties he never knew existed. Suddenly Reigen felt lighter, which he hadn’t expected now that he was responsible for a whole baby human being, nevertheless, he didn’t feel wrong, in fact, it felt so right.
Would there be struggles? Yes, but for his baby he was willing to overcome that. Reigen was never strong-willed, his family knew this and slander was persistent. But for Shigeo, something inside Reigen changed, he’d always failed to change but it was different this time around. His strength to sign the papers was his first step, he had many more to go. But he’d do it for this child, The child he never even knew he had.“Mr Reigen, I admire you for your decision.” The officer spoke up once more, uninterrupted. The detective had now turned, taking her briefcase and going to the door. Turning back to Reigen,“So do I.” She commented, with a minimal smile. “Come now, we have cases to get on with.” She demanded gently to her officer, he stood up instantly and made his way to the door.“Oh- escort Mr Reigen and his son out, please” she added, going on her outdated phone, and clicking on a call contact before walking away.
‘Son’, Reigen liked the ring to that, filling him with a foreign snugness that graced his chest.
Clicking Shigeo back into his pram, taking a gentle pinch at the baby's chubby cheek before standing upright.“I apologize for my-”
“Don’t worry. It’s a tough situation and decision you’ve been put in. I understand”, the officer assured, escorting Reigen and the pram out of the small room once again.The three made it down the narrow hallway, the silence was not as uncomfortable as it was in the room.“So about Shigeo’s mother. I never even got her name. What will happen with her…” Reigen asked, questions of her running through his mind. Her face which had such significance to him for one night had completely faded from his vision, like a marker had been scribbled over the remnants that he was struggling to even piece together, the only piece left residing was Shigeo himself.“Well, on top of hundreds of other abandonment cases, she’ll be put on the everlasting list to investigate.” The officer responded. Reigen tried to crack a laugh but couldn’t, it felt too serious to even create a comedic comment.“You didn’t even get her name?” The officer questioned, looking to his right where Reigen walked beside him. Reigen continued looking forward, deciding against eye contact. Nodding.“Yeah, she.. she might’ve told me, I’m quite a lightweight, to put it bluntly,” Reigen admitted, slight shame seeping into his confession. Rubbing his hand onto the back of his neck,
‘I sound like a total douchebag.’The officer chuckled, opening the front doors of the present.
“No judgment here.” he joked putting his hands into a surrendering position. As the pair of men stepped outside, the sky now had a tint of orange to signify the beginning of the mid-afternoon. Reigen let out a sigh, gripping his hands on the handlebars of the pram.“Thank you.” Reigen let out, keeping his eyes on the sky above them. Squinting to adjust to the sunlight, his demeanor still shaky and his posture slightly slouched in exhaustion from the emotional turmoil. Finally letting out a sigh, before turning to the officer.
“I believe in you Mr Reigen.” The officer gave him one final smile, and a pat on the shoulder before making his way back into the building. The click of the door snapped Reigen out of his hasty trance.
There the wind blew gently, the tree above Reigen rustling, dark green leaves falling from it and landing into the pram with Shigeo.
The infant gripped the two leaves in his palm tightly, putting them in his mouth for a taste.
“Absolutely not.” Reigen gasped, taking the leaves from Shigeo and replacing them with an already opened yogurt pouch which Shigeo surprisingly accepted as a replacement.As they walked down the path of the unfamiliar side of Seasoning City, Reigen kept at a moderate pace, his mind on autopilot as he pushed the stroller. His brain hadn’t fully seized the choice he solidified just under an hour ago. His emotions came to a halt, pushing the pram into a small desolate grass area, with a couple of benches laid out. Reigen took a seat, wheeling the pram to be right beside him. Shigeo still had the remnants of the yogurt, as Reigen watched him intently, his mind began to wonder, spacing out.Reigen never expected to have ever had a child, a son. Nor a partner. Reigen from a young age knew this, he knew he was incapable, and that always hurt his heart in ways he never knew he could hurt. Through his teenage years, this was solidified with consistent heartache due to the absence of connection within his short-lived relationships who quickly grew tired of the boy's obsolete emotions.
His mother was never pleased with Reigens mindset, by the age of twenty-two she was already trying to set him up on dates with her acquaintances' daughters, it never appealed to Reigen as it would for many men. His mother had always pestered him about the topic but she never knew the extent of Reigens uncertainty. The sheer thought of having to emotionally cater to a significant other when he couldn’t even do that for himself made the butterflies in his stomach flutter to the point of hurting his insides, like they nibbled his flesh to escape. The pressure wasn’t necessarily about settling down, merely having to find someone, the right one. Was there a ‘right one’ for Reigen?
It wasn’t as if Reigen was incapable of loving, he was incapable of thinking he was good enough for the people around him. Isolating himself, losing himself in his mind.But with Shigeo it could be different, Shigeo wouldn’t judge him, Shigeo wouldn’t rip out and point out all his flaws or berate him for his incapabilities. No, Shigeo was his child, someone Reigen knew he could connect with, without fear of perception. As for Shigeo, Reigens goal remained, to be the best dad for his baby. One that could give advice, ward away his troubles, and of course help with homework.Now that’s something Reigen could do.