I LOVE YOU, I’M SORRY . . .
౨ৎ megumi is injured at school and needs his papa
cw – hurt/comfort, petnames (lovey, sweetheart), toji’s good parenting, mentions of the zenin clan (minor), proud dad toji
𝓢ince Toji had started to pick up more shifts at the agency, you were picking Megumi up from daycare most afternoons. You didn’t mind, in fact, you quite enjoyed spending time with the toddler and he seemed to like you too.
Just like you had been, you pulled into the parking lot and got out of your car with a sweet smile on your lips. You chatted with Yuji and Sukuna’s mother who had become a good friend while the other mother’s were envious of your relationship with Toji. The two of you walked into the centre together as you spoke.
“And how is that going?” Kaori asked with a hum, covering her mouth slightly with her hand. She was referring to Toji and his job.
“It’s good,” you nodded and rubbed your arm. “He’s tired a lot but he still makes time for Megumi and I. It’s nice but I hate to see him overwork himself this way.” You paused and realised she was laughing at you. “I– I didn’t mean it like that! He doesn’t need to make time for me, I just–“
Kaori looked concerned as you both reached the kids’ classroom, she was looking through the window.
“Megumi’s crying,” she spoke almost in disbelief.
“What?” You whipped around immediately and gasped, nerves twisting. You had been in Megumi’s life for a good few months and you had never seen him cry, not even when he’d scraped his knees.
You hurried into the classroom and over to the teacher’s desk where Megumi was sitting next to her on a chair with his hand covering his forehead. He really was crying, tears running down his chubby cheeks as he sobbed and sniffled.
“Oh my goodness!” You gasped and walked over, “what happened?”
You picked Megumi up and gently kissed his head, setting him on your hip as he lifted his arms up at you. His teacher frowned and pointed to a little girl with shirt hair in the corner. “We had a punching incident. Megumi was good, he didn’t punch back and when I asked why he said he didn’t want to hit girls.”
“Why did she punch him?” You asked as you stroked Megumi’s hair, his head in your neck as he sniffled and one hand fisted your shirt tightly.
“I’m not entirely sure what started it,” she sighed with a frown as she shook her head. “That’s Mai Zenin, Megumi’s cousin– well, Aunt, technically.”
“R– Right,” you nodded, a little confused. Toji hadn’t really mentioned his family apart from his late wife but you knew he had a rocky relationship with them.
Megumi had fallen asleep in your arms, crying himself to sleep. You wondered what must’ve caused the incident the whole way home as you kept an eye on Megumi while he slept. It was a strange situation considering his teacher said that Mai had never been hostile towards him before.
When you finally arrived back at the complex, Toji’s truck wasn’t in the parking lot and you remembered he had to work late today. You sighed as you got Megumi out of his carseat and took him up to your apartment, laying him on the couch.
As he slept, you turned on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for when he woke up (one of his fixations lately) as you took it upon yourself to make an afternoon snack.
You were in the kitchen, peeping in to check on the toddler every few minutes as you cut up some apples and strawberries. You stopped what you were doing, hearing it first. Little feet and sniffles moving toward you – then, a little hand pulling at your flowy skirt.
“Hi baby,” you cooed and picked him up again, frowning and wiping more tears from his cheeks. “What’s wrong, little one?”
“Where Papa?” He asked through hiccups as he whined softly, pout on his lips.
You sighed as you gently moved his hair away from his eyes. “He’s still at work, sweetie. He should be home later, okay?”
The toddler didn’t like that answer beginning to cry harder. “Wan’ him!” He sobbed as he threw himself about in your arms before smacking his head onto your shoulder. “Wan’ Daddy!”
You weren’t sure what to do. You’d taken care of children like this plenty of times before but Megumi was different. He didn’t cry, especially not like this. Against your better judgement, you went to sit on the couch with Megumi to call Toji.
You dialed his number, praying you’d get a response as you heard the soft noises of the call tone.
“Hey lovey,” you heard a gruff voice on the other line after a soft tone letting you know the call had been answered. “I’m just about finished here, what’s the matter?”
“I’m so sorry to bother you, Toji,” you mumbled guiltily as you rubbed Megumi’s back. “There was an incident as daycare today… Megs is a bit upset and I think he really needs you back here…”
“Uh, okay. I’ll be home soon, Sweetheart. I’ll be finished in another hour or so.”
You hesitated for a moment before nodding, “yeah, okay. Um.. he– he’s just… he’s crying so–“
“He’s what?!” Toji sounded like he was panicking on the other side of the phone, things clattering around and you heard a zip. “I’m coming home right now.”
“What? I thought you said–“
“Forget that! Megumi doesn’t cry. I’m coming home.”
Your eyes widened slightly, pulling the phone away from your ear as the call disconnected. In a way, you were relieved.
“Comin’ home?” Megumi asked with a sniffle as he looked up at you with watery eyes, your hand still rubbing his back ever so gently.
“Yeah, baby, he’s coming home.”
Megumi instantly perked up as he heard your front door open, the waterworks starting up again as he saw his father walk through the door. He ran over to him as he cried, “Papa!”
Toji dropped his duffel bag and picked his little boy up to hug him. He squeezed him so tight, looking flustered and like he’d just ran a thousand miles.
“What happened, Meg?” He asked, using a nickname that was actually somewhat appropriate for once.
He looked over at you for some answers, walking towards you with the toddler and gently wrapping an arm around your waist to kiss your head.
“Mai punch me!” Megumi cried as he sniffed, nose running.
“Tch,” Toji scoffed, jaw clenching as he gently took the tissue you offered him to wipe Megumi’s nose. “I hate those rotten kids.”
Before berating the girl any further, Toji stopped for a second and asked Megumi, “you didn’t hit her back, did you?” Almost like he was ready to scold his son.
“He didn’t,” you assured him with a gentle touch to his bicep. “Told his teacher he didn’t want to hit girls.”
Toji smiled and gave an approving nod, ruffling Megumi’s hair before kissing his cheek. “That’s my boy.”
©lovdigital. do not copy, translate, or claim my writing as your own, use for ai bots etc. 🪽