The car ride had been quiet, a bit tense. Not in a negative way, just full of anticipation and a bit of anxiety.

Mafuyu hummed their song, eyes on the street but subtly glancing at Uenoyama from time to time. He sat still in the passenger seat, acting nonchalant but clearly overthinking.

…

The front door opened almost immediately, as if the people inside had been waiting just behind it.

“Mafuyu! You’re early!” Yayoi brightened up, totally ignoring her brother. “Long time no see, uh? Thanks for coming.” she said with a softer smile.

“You’re doing good, Yayoi-san.” Mafuyu bowed slightly.

“Hey, I’m here too y’know-“ Uenoyama started, but was interrupted by a figure emerging from behind her.

“Hey Ritsuka! This is your niece!” Take stood there, smiling proudly and showing off his newborn daughter like Simba in The Lion King.

Needless to say, Uenoyama short circuited. (But with the corner of the eye, he could still catch a fake-innocent Mafuyu clapping and teasing: “Congratulations, Uncle Ritsuka!”)

…

“Alright, I’ve already fed her so she won’t need to eat for a few hours. Diapers and talc are in the bathroom, if you need ‘em. She shouldn’t wake up before we’re back tho, so you should be fine.”

Yayoi had already grabbed her coat and bag, when she turned back.

“Thanks for staying with her. You really saved us!”

Uenoyama and Mafuyu exchanged a slightly anxious glance.

“What if she DOES wake up?!” Uenoyama shouted in a whisper.

“Our numbers are on the fridge.” was Take’s simple reply, before disappearing behind the front door.

…

Uenoyama and Mafuyu stood there, eyes fixed on the closed door. Then, as if suddenly remembering the baby girl’s presence, they exchanged another look, walking back to the living room as if in a minefield. They sat on the rug, next to the cradle, quietly watching her sleeping.

“…She’s so small.” Uenoyama whispered, totally captivated.

“Mmh.”

“Is she… alive?”

“I guess so.”

They were still contemplating her small chest, rising and lowering with every breath, when a small hand suddenly grabbed Uenoyama’s hovering finger.

Oh no. She was gonna prove she was, in fact, very much alive.

The guitarist froze.

“Mafuyu… sh-she’s waking up…”

“…”

“Let’s wait. Maybe she’ll fall back asleep.” Mafuyu said calmly, gently rocking the cradle.

The baby looked around, searching for a familiar face. But when her gaze landed on the two guys, soft moans quickly escalated in a loud, pained cry.

Uenoyama twitched, panic growing in his eyes.

“…This is bad. ‘She shouldn’t wake up before we’re back’ my ass! Oh god… what do we do now?! Should we call Yayoi…? Think of something, Mafuyu!”

The redhead was surprisingly calm. He reached for the cradle, slowly picking up the baby. He clumsily hold her in his arms, supporting her back and head as Yayoi had showed them earlier.

Uenoyama’s jaw dropped, as if he’d just seen someone approach a ticking bomb.

But the baby girl cried even harder.

“…Is she hungry? Imma try and heat some milk up-“ Uenoyama hurriedly stood up.

“Wait.” Mafuyu stood up as well. “Yayoi-san said she’s eaten already and won’t need to for a few hours. I think… she’s just stressed because her parents aren’t here.”

They exchanged a silent look, before Mafuyu started pacing around the room, gently rocking her and humming some notes under his breath.

Uenoyama felt a sense of warmth building up in his chest. Surely, the sight of his boyfriend with a baby wasn’t something his heart could easily handle. But it wasn’t just that.

That voice that could express the strongest emotions in the softest way. Those eyes that could see the grief and sorrow in people’s souls.

They were the same of ten years before, and reminded him of the times Mafuyu sang for him on the school’s staircases.

…

“Uenoyama-kun, want to try holding her?”

Mafuyu suddenly appeared in Uenoyama’s field of view, making him snap back to reality.

He looked at the baby, his cheeks still slightly pink from his previous thoughts. She was now staring at Mafuyu, her little fingers wrapped around one of his.

“What?”

“Want to try holding her?”

“Eh? Me?!”

He paused for a moment. She was his NIECE (he still had to get used to that), of course he wanted to. But he had no idea how to handle babies…

“…what if I drop her?! Or hurt her?!” he shot back, genuinely scared.

“You won’t. Just support her head properly.” said Mafuyu, already handing him the baby.

And there they were, uncle and niece, studying each other like opponents in a chess game.

But the quiet lasted for just a few seconds, not even enough for the former to celebrate. The little girl started shouting at the top of her lungs, much to Uenoyama’s dismay.

“…there. She hates me. Imma be such a terrible uncle!” he sulked in defeat.

Mafuyu tried his best to repress a chuckle. Being dramatic was a trait of the Uenoyama family, apparently.

“Mmh. I think… she can actually feel how tense you are. Uenoyama-kun… show her she’s safe with you.”

Uenoyama looked up at Mafuyu for a few seconds, something clicking in his mind. There was something… personal in his words, as if speaking from experience.

‘I’m so lame’ the guitarist thought. It was so simple. He remembered of all the times he had felt helpless in front of Mafuyu’s pain, and yet his presence was all he needed.

Uenoyama sat down on the couch, laying the inconsolable baby on his chest. He embraced her wholly, left arm wrapped around her back, right hand caressing her head.

The world around them disappeared.

He even whispered “I’m here”, just once. He wasn’t sure she could actually understand his words, but it didn’t matter.

…

When she eventually calmed down, faintly grabbing Uenoyama’s shirt, he didn’t loosen up the hug.

On the other side of the room, Mafuyu had been watching the whole scene, a familiar feeling warming up his heart.

Uenoyama had always had such a gentle and caring way of just being there that came natural to him - well, with his loved ones at least - but Mafuyu wasn’t sure his boyfriend truly realized how much that had always meant to him.

He crossed the room, sitting besides them without a word.

“Mafuyu! I… I did it!” Uenoyama said with glassy eyes, almost not believing it himself.

“Mmh.” Mafuyu nodded, resting his head on the other’s shoulder. HIS safe place. “I knew you would.”

~Fin~