TW: NONE.

Soft headcanon. Slightly angsty.

TW: NONE.

So since it's canon, that it's just Shōyō and his little sister, Natsu, at home, Shōyō has nights where he just... CAN'T. He's so young and he doesn't know how to parent. So some nights, when Natsu refuses to sleep, to the point they're both in tears, Shōyō calls Keishin, literally begging for him to come over and calling him dad, (by accident. It just slips out.) And Ukai is there, so fast.

He gently rocks Natsu to sleep, while Shōyō just lays on the bed, curled up. He's softly singing lullaby by Nickelback, while gently running his fingers through Shōyō's hair, till both of the kids are asleep.

Ukai stays the night, and this goes on for a week or 2, till either he moves into their place, or they move into his.

But then the same thing happens with Tanaka, one night. He's just so fucking drained from having to relentless put up with Saeko being drunk nearly all the time. And he doesn't have anyone to turn to, since it's just him and her.

So Ukai takes in Tanaka, and they both save up, and get him his own place, next door or a few houses down the street, when he's ready.

And he even pays for Saeko's aa meetings and therapy. But he absolutely sings Tanaka to sleep as well. But he sings how you remind me, for him. Cause it's just more fitting.

And before he knows it, Keishin realizes that.. maybe.. having a family of his own.. having a few kids, ain't so bad. He doesn't really know why he kept pushing it away all these years.

Cause he's the happiest he's ever been.

Hinata wakes keishin up at like 2am because he just can’t do it and keishin can’t make out the blubbering but he’s able to hear “please help dad” and then he’s pulling on two different sandals and putting his shirt on backwards before busting out the door.

//////

One night, Natsu can't sleep cause it's getting close to summer, so her room is hot, even w/ ac. So she goes to get some water in the kitchen, and Ukai is up cause of the same thing and when he hears her footsteps he turns and leans down a bit and asks "Hey baby ginger, what's up?" In the gentlest voice.

And she says "Room's too hot. Need water." So he gets it for her, and they end up sitting on the couch for most of the night, and Natsu is regaling her memories of how Shōyō-nii got her into volleyball and everything he's told her about him (Ukai) and Takeda. And they end up asleep in the living room together.

She's on the couch, he's on a roll out futon sleeping bag. And their pinkies are linked, as a comfort habit Natsu has formed w/ Shōyō-nii. Cause knowing someone's there while she's asleep helps her stay asleep.