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Atsushi stared at the pink boy who was reaching for him. How did he get here? Carefully, he held onto his hand and scooted closer to the fence. Todomatsu brightened up, squeezing the hand of his friend.
“I knew it was you,” he stopped leaning forward on his tippy toes and sat down on the ground.
“How are you here?”
“Mommy still take me to park.” he looked past Totty's head at the park he often stared at. “I saw someone alone and I wanted to make friends, but it's Sushi!”
Atsushi giggled, looking at Totty. It’s been so long since they had seen each other, well it felt like forever anyway. He listened as Todomatsu described everything that he did this past week, not even minding that the time was passing. “You should come over to play again! I like when you do that.” the command caught him off guard. Atsushi’s mom specifically said that he wasn't allowed at their home anymore for some weird reason. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't do it right now.
“You can visit everyday! I’m here all the time while mommy works. I wanna see you..” he kissed his hand in their little friend way and looked at Totty.
“Sure! I can bring stuff!” he nodded before he heard Choro call out his name. “It’s time to go, I’ll come back soon.” he leaned his head against the wired fence and Atsushi's followed suit. Their foreheads touched a little before he had to let go.
Totty waved at him as he ran back to his mommy, getting scooped up into his arms. Atsushi's smiled for the first time that week, cheeks blushingly happily as he thought about how he would get to see Totty now.
The next few days, Todomatsu would come on by with his things. He brought food sometimes or a little gift for Atsushi to play with. He told stories about his home, about his big brothers, and that uncle of his.
“Now Uncle Kara has a special one! Its cute.” he squealed, clapping his hands.
“Very cute. Does your mommy know about this?” he grabbed an apple slice and sucked on it for the juices first.
“Nope! Not til later.” he shook his head.
“Oh..”
“Did you tell your mommy?”
“Never.” he chuckled, Todo laughing too.
The two sighed happily, playing with things they found in the dirt until Atsushi hummed. Totty looked over at him and noticed that he was staring. Confused, he sat a little better and set his stick down.
“I got you something since you get me stuffs all the time.” he sat up on his knees and dug into his pocket, pulling out a golden bracelet.
“Wow, pretty!” he stuck his hand through the wire and watched as Atsushi put on the thing.
“It's from my mom’s box. She won't notice.”
“Eh? But that's stealing.” he pouted.
“She got it from dad, but he's never here so it doesn't matter.”
Todomatsu stared at the shimmering bracelet, thinking about what to say when Choro called again. He patted Sushi's face and ran off to mommy. Totty hid the bracelet underneath his sleeve and put on his backpack. Oh well, there was always tomorrow.
“No, we can’t go to the park today Totty.” Choro responded to his kid’s request.
“Why?” he stomped his foot
“It's raining.” his answer seemed final.
Todomatsu teared up and started to cry. He ran across the hall and into Kara’s room where the man was putting his finishing touches on his latest outfit. He blinked when he saw Todo run into the room, mouth chewing slightly on his pins. Totty climbed onto his bed and laid his pudgey face there.
“Todomatsu, what is the matter baby?” he set his sewing items down and went over to the crying boy.
“No park..” he sobbed, beating the bed with his fist.
“But you’ve gone all week and it’s raining today. Mommy is starting to get tired you know? Give him a break so he could work.” as if on cue, the two could hear the sound of a violin playing from the second floor.
“B-But..”
“Tell me, why do you want go to the park so often?” he asked.
“I like to keep Sushi company.”
“Atsushi? You found him?” he gasped
“Yeah! He hides at daycare and I be there with him.”
“But Totty, it’s raining so he can’t be out there today.”
The tiny boy didn’t listen and rolled away from his uncle, wailing harder. Where was Osomatsu when he needed him, he wasn’t the babysitter. Still, he was a good uncle and he was part of this fault so he did he what had to be done. “We can visit a bit and see if he’s there though.” he suggested, Todomatsu immediately stopping his crying and nodding his head.
He told Choro he was going to the fabric store with Todo for an opinion and somehow that passed for the musical man. He dressed Todomatsu up in his new raincoat, boots, and hat to keep him warm and draw. He grabbed his umbrella and held onto Todo’s hand, walking him down to the park. Todomatsu messed around with something on wrist that he failed to notice before. It looked like an expensive bracelet, he should leave it alone for now. Karamatsu followed Totty over to the day care that happened to be nearby and sure enough, he could see a little figure in the distance.
“Sushi!” he called out, running over to his friend in the rain.
“Totty” he looked up from his spot, shivering from the slightly cold rain.
“Are you crazy little one? You could get sick.” he said, rushing over and putting the umbrella over all three of them. This was crazy, he can’t just be left out here alone. He was two, he needed a mother to take care of him. He knew being a parent was hard, but if she could barely pay attention to her son because of work and the father, then that wasn’t right. While the two talked, Karamatsu called Osomatsu; it was the only thing he could think to do with this moment.
“And apparently he just stays out here. No one knows where he is every day and I have no idea what to do. He’s obviously miserable, he’s just too young to realize it.” he said into his phone.
“Woah really? Man you fucked up his life. Maybe you should take him with you two. Go out for awhile and bring him back home. Make him say that the daycare offers a new service that drives you home! She’ll be so wrecked that she wouldn’t give a fuck.” Osomatsu drunk noisily out of his silly straw.
“You want me to kidnap a child?! Osomatsu that’s too far!”
“It’s not kidnapping if you know the kid and he’s friends with your kid and you know the mom. Look here’s what you have to do.”
Karamatsu swore under his breath as he held Totty’s hand. He couldn’t believe that they were actually going through with this, but as long as it made the boy happy. He closed the dripping umbrella and went up to the front desk.
“Hello, I’m here to pick up little Atsushi.” he said, taking the sign out papers.
“I didn’t see you this morning.”
“Ah well, I am a friend of his mother and she had been leaving him here because she is too busy with work. I offered to take care of him along with my son. So, she will now be dropping him off here for an hour or two while I get ready and then I’ll come pick him up!” he said, exactly as Osomatsu had told him.
The woman took the lie though and allowed him to take Atsushi with him. She certainly had a look on her face when she saw a very wet Atsushi walk by the counter. All that aside, he brought the two children with him, away from the daycare. Atsushi held onto Totty hands as they crossed the street.
“Alright little Atsushi, what time does your mommy come to get you?” he had to make sure he got him there before she went to pick him up.
“Supposed to be three, she’s late.” he mumbled
“Well then, let’s get you home by three! I actually do need to go to the fabric store though so you may join us.” he led the way to the shopping district that was nearby.
Atsushi hummed and looked around at the fabric store, it smelled different. It had a funny way of displaying everything too. He touched at the soft fabrics that were on display and grabbed one, it felt like his favorite blanket. Todomatsu reached up and grabbed at the shiny fake jewels in their little box. He giggled and looked at the pretty little jewels, cradling them in his hands. Atsushi stared at his wrist and smiled, grabbing it.
“You have to tight it or it falls.” he twisted the golden band once to make it smaller and fit it onto Todo’s wrist.
“Oh wow, thanks Sushi.” he messed with the bracelet.
“My little ducklings, stay close to me. You wouldn’t want to be lost.” Karamatsu reminded them, hearing them agree as he searched for the right texture of cloth.
“Who’s he?”
“My uncle! He makes clothes! Like this” Todomatsu gave him a little twirl in his raincoat.
“Yup, hand-made that myself. I need to make more to give in my demo.,” he trailed off, pulling out the sloth and shaking his head.
Atsushi tilted his head and looked down at his own clothes that were slowly drying and becoming way too cold. He pouted and laid his head on Kara’s leg, just wanting to be there for some reason. When Karamatsu touched his head with a gentle hand, he nuzzled deeper, craving that attention. Karamatsu felt pity and picked him up, finding the fabric that he was looking for. It hurt him that he had to leave him again, he wanted to just take him home with them, but he knew that that was too far.
“I’m sorry that we took long, we have to get you home.” he held his bag in one hand along with Todo and the other held Atsushi.
When they made it to his big house, Todomatsu gave Atsushi one last longing hug and a kiss on the forehead. They said they would see each other tomorrow before the little boy ran off to the front of his house and knocked on the door. Karamatsu and Todomatsu quickly left, heading back home after that experience. Having a best friend was more tiring than he thought.
“Oh Atsushi? A new bus service? Alright, at least I don’t have to drive there anymore, food is on the table.”