Title: A child’s laughter
Rating NC-17
Word Count: 10.846
Pairing: Jun/Nino; Aiba/Ohno
Warnings: none
Summary: Paying back debts isn’t always easy, especially when you need to do a job you absolutely despise.
Notes: Dear <“lj user= “learashi”>, I really hope you’ll enjoy this. I was so excited when I saw that I write for you, and I really hope I was able to write something you like.  I had so much fun writing it <3



“Uncle Ninooooooo!!!” Nino closed his eyes and breathed out deeply. He grumbled something before he took the plate with the cut fruits on it.

“Stay calm, Nino, we’ll make it through this.” Jun smiled at him.

“Yeah, I hope you are right,” Nino sighed. He hated this job. It was even worse than the part-time job at construction site and the second part-time job in the toothpaste factory. With three jobs Nino tried to pay back the debts he had together with Jun, who had two part-time jobs at the moment. One in a dance school and one here – he definitely had it easier, and Jun didn’t even seem to suffer here, like Nino did. Nino had many talents, but handling children wasn’t one of them.

“I swear, I’ll go to the sea for one month when we have finally paid our debts back,” Nino grumbled. He knew he wasn’t allowed to complain too much, because it was also his fault that they were in this situation, but he hated it and sometimes he just had to vent his anger.

Jun turned to smile at him. “That’ll take some more months, Nino.” How could Jun stay so calm in all this misery? Nino didn’t understand it.

“You act like you don’t care about this mess!” Nino said. He stepped to Jun and leaned against the cupboard.

Jun cleaned the plates. He had cooked the lunch for the children for later on. “I do care, but it can’t be helped, right? We need to make the best thing out of it.”

Nino rubbed his face. The best thing? Did Jun ever look outside? Nino saw two boys chasing each other, one was crying, the other screamed while he hunted him through the corridor. “Have you realized that we are in the middle of a war? We against the diaper-cry-sullen-mini-humans.”

“They are also called children, Nino,” Jun chuckled. He could make Nino really angry with his calm attitude.

“You know what I mean, I hate it here, Jun. I am not the one who should take care of children,” Nino said honestly.

“I know, but it can’t be helped. So take the fruits and go back to your group of diaper-monsters. We are soon done for today.” Jun smiled encouragingly at Nino.

“I hope you are right and time goes by fast,” Nino said.

Three months ago Nino’s life had been perfect – till the day he and Jun had experienced the worst day in their life. They had been sharing an apartment since university. At one point they hadn’t wanted to stay in a dormitory and had searched for their own shared apartment. It hadn’t taken long till they had found the perfect place with two separate rooms for each of them. Everything had been perfect, and Nino had even been motivated to go out again, searching for a possible lover – but the first evening he had went out had ended in the worst day. He and Jun had taken the car to drive to a bar farer away from their apartment.

They had driven down the main street. Till today he couldn’t say why this had happened – it had been like a black out. Nino and Jun had laughed about something Nino couldn’t remember, and then everything had gotten black around him. He had woken up in hospital, next to Jun.

When they had gotten the bill for the strange sculpture Nino had ruined when he had crashed into it with his car, Nino had thought about going back to hospital because of a heart attack. For that ugly thing Nino wouldn’t have paid one yen – but it had been from a famous artist.

And now Jun and Nino tried to pay back the damage they had caused. “Uuuuuuuuuuncle Ninoooo!” Nino winced. He felt something clinging to his leg, pulling on his pants.

“Yes, Ami-chan?” Nino said. No, he really didn’t like children, but for an unknown reason they liked him.

“I want some fruits, I am hungry.” The girl looked up at him. She was cute with her small space between her front teeth, but nevertheless she was a screaming, crying, yelling, annoying brat.

“I am about to bring you the food,” Nino said. He tried to stay calm. He had started here two weeks ago, and slowly he got used to the feeling of working in a kindergarten. “So, go back to your group and I’ll come in a few minutes.” Nino could see a guy strolling down the corridor. He needed to talk with him before he’d go back to his group.

“Okay, but don’t take too long, I am hungry,” Ami whined. She let go Nino’s leg and walked back to the small room on the right side. Nino looked at her till she disappeared and went after the man who now looked into a small room.

“Satoshi, wait a moment,” Nino said.

The man turned around. “Yes?”

“Could you take my group for your art class tomorrow?” Nino wanted to know.

Ohno Satoshi was a strange guy, Nino never knew what the other was thinking. He was closed and air-headed and it was totally difficult to tell if he was daydreaming or listening to someone. He was the prime example for an artist – and Nino didn’t know why he was here in a kindergarten, but he didn’t dare to ask.

“Sure, no problem.” Ohno nodded. “Do you have plans?”

“The parents of one child are going to visit me tomorrow,” Nino sighed. It was something he tried to avoid. He didn’t want to talk with the parents, because honestly, the parents were more tiring than the children.

“Oh, yes, I know what you mean. That’s why I never meet with the parents.” Somehow Nino envied Ohno for that. He had talked with three parents during the last two weeks since he had been here.

“How do you do that?” Nino wanted to know.

Ohno chuckled. “I let Aiba do it.”

Nino rolled his eyes. “Yes, great, you sleep with the boss and everything is settled.” Nino had seen Ohno and Aiba together when they had walked home one week ago, and it was definitely clear that they weren’t just friends.

“You just need to make sure that the way you choose has some special benefits. And that was a win-win situation for me. Aiba – and no nasty parents I need to talk to,” Ohno explained. “But you could ask Aiba if he helps you out?”

Nino sighed. He was sure Aiba would do this, because he was too good-hearted, but Nino didn’t want that. And he knew he’d get scolded by Jun if he’d pass his tasks to Aiba. And the last thing Nino wanted was a fight with Jun. “No, it’s okay. I’ll go through this hell.”

“But how about going for a drink after work tomorrow?” Ohno asked. “I am sure the others will join us, what do you think?” He added.

“Sure, but I need to go to another work tomorrow afternoon. But I am free in the evening.” Nino had to go to the building lot to do some small works. He didn’t earn much money for the one hour he spent there, but it was more than earning nothing and being able to quickly settle his debts for that stupid sculpture.

“Sounds perfect.” Ohno smiled. “I think your group is calling for you,” he added and grinned brightly when he saw three tiny girls running up to them. Ohno slipped through the door to his room and closed it behind him. Not fair, Nino thought.

“Uncle Nino, you are late, and we are still hungry,” one girl cried out.

“Yes, yes, I know.” Nino tried to calm them down. “I go to the kitchen right now and bring your food.” He started walking to the kitchen. The three girls walked up behind him, like they wanted to make sure that he was really going for their food. “Shh!” Nino turned to the girls, his index finger on his lips. “There is a shy and rare animal in the kitchen, hunting for food. Don’t stress it, and don’t scare it with fast moves or hectic actions. He is really jumpy, and maybe he’ll burn down the kitchen when you scare him.” The girls giggled about Nino’s jokes.

Nino’s looked up to the man. “You are totally not funny, Ninomiya-kun,” the man said.

Nino cleared his throat. “Yes, you are right, Sho-san. I am sorry.” He turned to the girls, his hands on his back. “Children, this man is able to burn down the kitchen without being scared and without being a rare animal.”

Nino felt a wet cleaning rag hitting the back of his head. “And you see, he is totally not into jokes.” Nino turned to Sho. “So we take our food and run for our life now.” Nino grasped the plates with food and started running to the room. “See, we got the food.” Nino held the plate up like it was a kind of trophy. He placed it on the table. “And now let’s eat.”

The girls sat around the table and took some berries and an apple. “That’s so good,” one of them said.

“And healthy,” Nino added. “And you need some strength if you want to give your best in uncle Jun’s dancing class.”

“Uncle Jun?” One girl giggled.

Nino blinked at her. “Don’t you call him like that?”

The girls laughed. “No,” the third one said. “We only call you uncle.”

Nino thought for a moment if he really wanted to know how they called the others, but what should happen? "And the others?”

“We are allowed to call Aiba-san by his first name, Masaki,” Ami said. “And Ohno-san is Oh-chan. Jun allowed us to call him onii-chan,” she explained further. “And Sho-san is …,” she stopped for a moment. “Is Sho-kun.”

Now Nino got curious. “And why am I called uncle?”

One girl robbed closer to Nino before she kneeled in front of him. “You seem so mature, but not like Sho-san. Sho-san is strict and like a father, but you are more like the strange uncle.”

Great … Nino remembered why he actually didn’t like children. “Strange uncle?”

Nino heard laughter. He turned to see Jun standing there, a bright grin covering his face. No, that was definitely not funny, especially because he knew that he’d get to hear that from Jun every evening from now on.

~~~

Nino stretched his tired limbs. Every bone in his body hurt. He didn’t know when he had played cops and robbers for the last time. Especially not when he was the only robber and everyone had been hunting him. In the end three girls had climbed over him, pressing him to the ground. He could hear someone chuckling behind him, and again he knew that Jun would remind him of this moment for the next three months (or even longer…)

“Aiba invited us for meal tonight, so how about we join?” Jun stepped next to Nino, who hurried out of the kindergarten.

Nino grunted. “I don’t think I am able to communicate tonight. I talked too much today.”

“But you didn’t talk with adults, Kazu. It’s something different, you know.” Jun grinned at him.

Nino rolled his eyes. Sometimes he really hated his friend for teasing him. Jun knew exactly how much Nino hated this job, and he would never stop making fun about it. “You know that I am really tired after long working days with these incredibly annoying children.”

Nino already knew what Jun would say, and he never was wrong when it came to Jun’s answers. “They aren’t annoying, Kazu. They are all pretty cute, and they really like you. I don’t know how you do this, because you aren’t exactly nice to them, but nevertheless they found something in you, which is a miracle for me – and maybe all the other adults around us.”

“Pfff … “ Nino snorted. He didn’t want those brats to like him, he really didn’t want to be connected to them in any kind of way. No matter how much he tried, his cheeks got a little bit rosy because of the thought that the kids liked him – stupid Jun with his stupid words.

“So, what do you say about coming to dinner with Aiba and Ohno, and probably also your favourite teasing victim – Sho – will be there,” Jun said and poked Nino’s side slightly.

“If that’s the case.” Nino waved. “I’ll of course come.”

“Great,” Jun said. “When does your job at the building lot end?” He asked.

Nino looked at his watch. “I start in one hour, and I will be done around 7pm.”

“Okay, that’s perfect, I am done in the dancing school around 6pm. I need to shower afterwards, but I can pick you up?” Jun suggested.

Nino nodded. “We have a shower right next to the lot, so I should be done around half past 7pm.”
“Okay,” Jun said and waved at Nino before he walked done the opposite street to get to the dancing class. Sometimes Nino wished that he had a talent like Jun, because in this case he wouldn’t need to work at a building lot. He gave guitar and piano lessons, but Nino didn’t think about it as a talent. He was never able to make money out of it. The few lessons he gave couldn’t even pay for the food he needed per month.

Nino pulled the silly yellow helmet out of his bag and changed his clothes when he had entered the building lot. Nino wasn’t strong or tall, but he had a certain talent for laying bricks – or they just didn’t find someone better to do this work. Nino smiled a little. He exactly knew what Jun would say if he were able to hear Nino’s thoughts. “Don’t think of yourself as looking small. You have great talents. And no – you aren’t allowed to start a discussion with me.”

Yes, it was always like that. Even though they were just friends, they sometimes behaved like an old married couple.

Nino shook his head to get rid of his air-headed thoughts and started with his almost daily afternoon work.

~~~

Nino felt the cold water running down his back. It felt good after a long and exhausting day. He could feel the dust peeling off him. The water ran down his hair and face and covered him in a warm feeling. The day after tomorrow he’d have the work in the kindergarten and the rest of the day would belong to him and his biggest love: videogames. And no one would be allowed to disturb him. He’d even lock the door to his room, so that even Jun wouldn’t be able to interrupt him.

Nino stepped into his street wear and walked to the small shrine where he’d meet Jun. To his surprise he saw his friend there, praying. It was a rare picture, because Jun wasn’t the type who prayed often. “Is everything okay?” Nino asked a little worried.

Jun looked up at him, smiling. “Yes, perfect. I just wished for your annoying-bratty-attitude to disappear.” Jun said. It wasn’t the truth, Nino knew him too well. Jun wasn’t able to lie to him.

“Ah, that doesn’t work. My mother has been trying it since I am four years old. I dyed the neighbour’s daughter’s hair pink back then,” Nino chuckled. He wasn’t good at dealing with other’s feelings. He always got a little nervous, because he often didn’t know what to say. So he ended such talks mostly with a joke, or with a totally different topic – like a silly story from his youth.

“You are something,” Jun said while he stood up. “Come on, let’s head to our beloved kindergarten. I am sure Aiba’s already waiting for us.”

“Who the hell wants to live above a kindergarten?” Nino said. He knew it was Aiba’s profession, his life goal and whatever … but living above the working place? No, he couldn’t imagine that.

~~~

It was strange to reach the kindergarten in the evening, when no children were around. The whole setting seemed a little spooky to Nino. He didn’t even need the children to feel the goosebumps on his skin. “Imagine all the dead people running around here,” Jun whispered.

How could he know? Nino really wanted to punch him. He pushed his elbow into Jun’s belly when he passed him. “Ouch,” Jun whined. He stepped closer and clung his hand around Nino’s neck before he started tousling through his hair with the other hand. “You brat,” Jun added.

“Hey, let me … not my hair … don’t dare to touch my hair …,” Nino shifted to get out of Jun’s grip.

“We could hear you through the whole house.” It was Sho’s voice in front of the stairs leading to the first floor. Normally there was a chain with a note on it, which said that the way was only for Aiba and in special dangerous absolutely important situations for children. Aiba had made some pictures of dangerous situations like a dragon hunting the children, or a child who cried because of a cut in the knee – two totally possible situations. Nino never asked, but he was sure that Ohno had drawn the pictures, because Aiba really didn’t look like he could do something like that.

“We just bring good mood along,” Nino said when he passed Sho.

Nino walked into the living room, which looked cosy and well planned. He hadn’t guessed that Aiba had such a soft spot for furniture and style, but the whole combination in his home was just perfect. “Welcome,” Aiba chirped from the kitchen. “I cooked something. Sit down, I am with you in a minute.”

“I can help you,” Sho said.

“Don’t dare to enter my new kitchen, Sho-kun.” Aiba appeared with a wooden spoon at the entrance to his kitchen. “You sit down and wait for everything.”

Sho turned to Nino. “I really don’t understand why I am not allowed to help.”

Nino chuckled. He exactly knew why it was like that. “You are even able to burn down the kitchen while making bread and butter.” Nino patted Sho’s shoulder. “But hey, maybe that’s your superhero ability.”

Sho blinked at him. „Superhero ability?“

Nino rolled his eyes. Okay, Sho was definitely the wrong one to talk about nerd-stuff like superheroes. Sometimes Nino wondered why Sho worked here. He was totally not the type who looked like he was into working with children, but to Nino’s surprise Sho did a great job. “You really should come to my training course about ‘Superheroes of the 21st century’,” Nino mocked him.

“Oh, talking about training,” Nino heard Aiba calling from the kitchen. “You, Jun and Sho are going to do a training with Ohno.”

Nino had already feared something like this. He hoped this day wouldn’t come. Not only because he didn’t want to, but also because he was sure that he would make Ohno cry – even though Ohno always seemed like he couldn’t get affected by anything. “You aren’t talking about …,” Nino started. He turned to look at Aiba, who walked into the living room with some nice smelling burgers on a plate.

“Yes, you’ll get a paint training,” Aiba chirped. Nino had never seen him in a bad mood, and he wasn’t even sure if Aiba could get mad. Somehow he couldn’t imagine a furious or strict Aiba.

“Nooo,” Nino leaned backwards against his chair theatrically. “I am going to die,” he sighed deeply.

Nino felt an almost soft smack on his head. He turned to Jun and glanced at him. “I am just worried about Ohno’s health.”

“Sure,” Jun grumbled.

Ohno looked from one to the other. “I think I can handle a bunch of untalented guys.”

Nino sighed. He knew he wouldn’t get out of this. When Aiba wanted them to do something, there was no chance to escape. “I am really not good at arts.”

Jun suddenly started chuckling – oh no, Nino already had an idea what would come next. “You’re just good at ruining it,” Jun finally said.
Nino knew it. “You distracted me, Jun. It was also your fault.“

“You know, Oh-chan, those two are the ones who ruined the Yamasaki sculpture,” Aiba giggled.

Nino blushed a bit at that. He didn’t like what they had done, but he really hadn’t had the intention to do it. He looked at Ohno, who had his mouth wide open, his eyes looked pretty shocked. “You… no … I was so shocked when I saw this on TV. He is one of my favourite artists and I was so angry when I heard that someone had ruined his work.”

Nino blinked. Okay, the sculpture was pretty nice, but it wasn’t that perfect and amazing like Ohno did here. “Thanks, nothing happened to us, we got out almost healthy.”

Aiba couldn’t hide a grin, which made Nino angrier than he already had been. “Oh-chan is just a little … pain in the ass when it’s about art. Don’t take him too seriously.”

Ohno poked Aiba’s side, growling something about art and importance and painful feelings. Then he stood up with a short “need something to drink” and walked into the kitchen. Aiba obviously waited till he was out of reach before he bent over the table to whisper at the others. “I once called one of Yamasaki’s works ‘rubbish’. Don’t ask about the outcome of it. He didn’t talk to me for two days, and didn’t let me touch him for almost a week. It’s really his softest spot,” Aiba explained. “But believe me, this art was rubbish. It was a dustbin with some paper and old socks lying around it.“

“Socks?” Nino asked.

Aiba nodded. „You see? Rubbish…,“ he looked towards the kitchen, but Ohno didn’t appear there. “But for Oh-chan it’s the deepest soul of the artist’s feelings and it tells him how much he is able to express his anger and frustration because of the world’s economic state.”

Nino burst out. “That’s hilarious.”

„Yeah, only if you don’t have to act like you understand what he’s talking about,” Aiba sighed.

“I really don’t understand how you can live with him sometimes,” Jun said. “He seems to be pretty airheaded and his attitude sounds pretty annoying to me.”

“Sometimes it’s really not easy, and I ask myself why and how I am able to stand this, but then are the other times when he’s really caring and not only a partner but also a good friend to me,” Aiba smiled. He looked content and for a moment cheesy lovey-dovey. Nino didn’t like this kind of attitude, but something in him started twitching and pulling. When had he felt that way for the last time? Had he ever felt like this before?

“I wish I would have someone to feel like this with.” Jun looked like he was daydreaming.

“What about you Sho?” Nino didn’t want to hear Jun’s stories about his love life, he was totally not interested in it.

Sho looked up at him. “Why, are you interested?” It wasn’t Sho who answered, but Jun. Why did he sound that offended?

„Maybe,“ Nino replied. Sometimes Jun reached the point in Nino, where he couldn’t hold back his stubborn way anymore.

Jun’s eyes sparkled even though they were dark. Nino knew those eyes, but they only showed up when Jun was really, really, angry. Like the one time Nino had accidentally washed Jun’s favourite white shirt together with his red socks and it turned into a pink shirt. It still fit Jun, but he had been furious. Or the one time Jun wanted to stay in a spa for a weekend and returned earlier and found their apartment in the biggest mess he had ever seen. But this time? Nino hadn’t done anything wrong.

„Sho, would you go out with Nino?“ Jun turned to the other, his hands crossed. What the hell was wrong here?

Sho blushed. “I am sorry, but I am married and I expect my first child to be born next month.”

Nino could see Jun’s limbs relax. “I am sorry, I didn’t want to act that direct, but Nino really needs a partner soon. He is already so frustrated,” Jun joked.

Nino pulled one eyebrow up. Frustrated? He? Since when? Of course he couldn’t start a big discussion now, but it would lead into a major fight, and he was totally not interested in fighting with Jun here, but he knew that this would come up another time. “Yes, of course. I am frustrated, at least as much as that you are.” Nino grinned.

„Okay, stop now.“ Aiba raised his hands. „How about a nice lemon sorbet?”

“You made it yourself?” Sho asked.

“Yes, I found a new recipe and a mother of one of the children gave me some special tips,” Aiba chirped. Nino was sure that Aiba would have been the dream-boy for all single mothers.

Ohno came back to the room, four sorbets and a bottle of wine on a plate. “I think I need some alcohol because of the art shock you gave me here.”

“Oh, we are sorry, Ohno, but we try to pay for the damage we have created,” Jun bowed.

“Yes,” Nino agreed, bowing at the same time. Ridiculous, but if it helped to get back to normal, Nino would do it.

Ohno placed everything on the table and handed everyone a sorbet. Nino took a bite and the tasty sweet whipping cream felt amazing on his tongue. Aiba really had a talent for cooking. “Wow, that tastes wonderful.”

„Thank you.“ Aiba smiled.

For some moments it got silent in the room and they only ate their dessert, till Jun broke the silence. “So you become a daddy, Sho?”

Sho nodded at him. His whole body language expressed how chipper he was about that and how nervous he must have been. “Yes, I wait for a call almost every day.”

“Do you know what it will be? Boy or girl?” Nino asked.

„I don’t know it. I want to be surprised,“ Sho said.

“It must be so amazing and wonderful to get a baby,” Aiba said. “It’s the only thing I am sad about, because I won’t have children.”

Nino saw Ohno’s hand touching Aiba’s under the table. “But that’s why you have this kindergarten, right?”

Aiba nodded. “Yes.”

„What about you two?“ Aiba asked innocently.
Nino had never thought about children. It had never been a topic for him, and in the end he wasn’t a big children lover.

“I already have a child,” Jun said, pointing at Nino.

“Hey, that’s really not fair. I am not a child,” Nino grumbled.

“Sometimes you are.” Jun placed his hand around Nino’s shoulder. „Stubborn like a teen, messy like a child, grumpy like a baby.“

Nino’s eyes got small. “Okay, daddy, I understand.“

The others laughed at that. Nino hated it to be laughed at, but Jun’s caring way always made him feel bubbly and cosy. He shook his head – now wasn’t the moment to think about that, but his mind decided differently and the pictures when he had been sick popped up in his mind. Nino had had high fever and Jun had cooked for him, had brought fresh clothes, had made tea, had made some cold towels for Nino’s forehead and he had let Nino bitch around like a teenager. Okay, maybe he was really annoying sometimes. But Jun was never about to leave their apartment, so it couldn’t be that worse, right?

“And you Nino?” Sho asked.

„Me?“ Nino pointed at himself. “I never thought about children, and I don’t like them much.”

Aiba chuckled. “You are perfect in a kindergarten.“

“Why don’t you sound sarcastic?” Ohno asked him. It was right, it sounded like Aiba meant what he had said.

“It’s true. The children always love the ones who don’t like them much, the most. It’s murphy’s law for children’s love I think,” Aiba chuckled. Murphy’s law for love? Nino grinned.

„You seem to like that they adore you?“ Sho said.

“No, they don’t like me, I am the strange uncle,” Nino growled. He hadn’t forgotten about those almost rude words from the children on that day.

“Oh I don’t want to think about what I got called the last years. Believe me, strange uncle is pretty cool.” Aiba waved his hand.

“The worst name was probably pancake face,” Ohno laughed. He earned a dark glance and a smack from Aiba, like he had told them an embarrassing secret.

Nino felt a good feeling spreading in him. This job wasn’t the one he wanted to do, but he started really liking the people around him – and he didn’t care about the children anymore.

~~~

It was late at night when they arrived at home. Nino took a long and hot shower before he crawled into his bed, the blankets tight around his body. He was already snoozing away, when he felt something cold hitting his face. He yelled out and pushed the towel down from his face.

Jun stood at the door, grinning at him. “You left your towel on the floor again. I told you, I don’t know how many times, that you should put it on the hook or you throw it in the basket. That’s not nice, Nino.”

“Yes, daddy,” Nino grumbled. “It’s okay. I will think about it next time.“ His eyes started getting heavy again. He was about to fall asleep when he felt Jun’s finger poking Nino’s side.

“Don’t dare to sleep now, I want someone to talk about that evening.” Jun made himself comfortable on Nino’s bed, pushing him to the side a bit to get more space. He slipped under the blankets. A light wind had touched Nino’s body when Jun had raised the blankets. It made him shiver, maybe also because Jun’s body was close to his.

Jun lay down and rolled to the side, so that he was directly looking at Nino, who was sure that he blushed right now. He and Jun didn’t do that often, but sometimes they slept in the same bed when they needed to talk about something important.

“What do you think of those guys?” Jun asked.

Nino shrugged. “I don’t know. We already talked about it, Jun. They are nice.”

Jun nodded. “But don’t you think that they are weird?”

„Not weirder than we are,” Nino chuckled.

“You think I am weird?” Jun said theatrically. He rolled on his back, his hand touching his forehead like he was about to faint. “I am deeply hurt now, you know? I am not weird, I am cool and great, and sexy and the very best!”

Nino laughed out loud. „Oh yeah, sure. I am sorry queen MatsuJun.“ He wiped away a tear running down his cheek. Sometimes he needed to be remembered how good it felt to laugh full-heartedly.

Jun rolled his eyes. He took the pillow to throw it directly at Nino’s face. “Ts, stupid brat.” Then he started laughing himself.

They laughed and started a pillow fight. Nino felt the tension in him fading. He knew they behaved like four-year-olds, but he didn’t care about it. It was nice to stop thinking about anything for at least some moments.

Some time later they dropped back down on the bed and Jun snuggled up under the blankets. “Hey, that’s my bed. Go to your own.” Nino whined. He pushed Jun’s side, but the other wasn’t moving at all.

“Too tired,” Jun yawned. It was senseless, Jun wouldn’t leave his bed now.

Nino snorted and pulled on the blanket to get a part of it for himself. He slipped under it and curled up next to Jun. He smiled when he fell asleep.

~~~

“Uncle Nino, your picture looks like a duck throwing up,” the child laughed. Nino raised the brush and held it in front of the child’s face, but before he could say something he heard Sho laughing out loud next to him.

“She’s right, it looks strange,” Sho said. Nino’s eyes got small. He didn’t like to be criticized for his drawing skills. He knew that he had no talent, and he wouldn’t sit here if Aiba hadn’t forced him to do so.

Nino leaned to the side, staring at Sho’s drawing. “You know, Sho-san, you shouldn’t laugh about someone else.” He pointed at Sho’s easel.

The little girl giggled happily. “The both of you aren’t really talented. But the funniest is Ohno-chan.”

Sho and Nino looked through between their easels to see Ohno running after a child, who was robbing through the room, various colours on its hands and feet, covering the whole floor with all kinds of colours. Nino blinked. He hadn’t even heard Ohno whining, he had been totally into drawing this awful bowl with fruits in it – as if he’d need this when he was with the children.

Nino chuckled. “Looks good how he runs after the kid.”

Ohno turned to Nino, glancing at him. Ohno had one small red hand on his cheek and a blue one on his other cheek. “That’s not funny, help me catch this brat.”

Nino stood up and knelt on the floor. “Yuri-chan, come here.” But the boy didn’t seem to think about listening to him. He happily robbed to the cupboard and pulled on the blanket till the palette dropped down on his head.

The three of them yelled out together. “No, no more colour.”

The boy giggled. He smeared the colour around his face. He looked a little bit like an alien. “Maybe we can sell this as art?” Nino asked.

He looked at Sho, who seemed rather shocked than amused. “Ohno, do something.”

Ohno sighed. “I have no idea why Aiba thought it’s a good idea that I look after a 15 month old boy. I am not able to work with children that age.”

Nino blinked. “But that isn’t the most exhausting age. They are pretty easy to handle. Except you let them run and play with the colours you have in your room.”

Sho took Yuri up and held him a little away from his body to not get dirty at all.

“You really have no talent. The both of you,” Ohno stood in front of their paintings.

“Do you really think that this is the right moment to talk about art? You should get this child cleaned before his parents come here,” Sho said.

Ohno suddenly looked like he had seen a ghost. “Me?”

“Who else?” Sho’s voice sounded annoyed. „It’s your fault that he looks like he has fallen in a pot of colours.”

“Actually,” Ohno started. “I’ve never washed a baby before.”

„Then it’s time to learn it,“ Sho stepped forward and placed Yuri in Ohno’s arms. “And you don’t run away here, you’ll stay and help.” Sho pointed at Nino. Nino cursed. He thought he could get away without the others realizing that he was gone. He didn’t want to help out with the baby.

“Of course,” Nino sighed. “I am fully into it.”

~~~

Part Two