Tu Bai gripped his wrist and slowly stood up.
His Red Eyes looked somewhat terrifying under the dim Light, the sclera even streaked with red from crying, his Lips were pressed into a thin line.
I'm in a very bad mood right now," he said, his Voice flat. "You'd better stay away from me.
The Yellow-haired man [male] was Stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Yo, quite fierce—"
Tu Bai didn't let him finish.
A punch landed squarely on his Belly.
The Yellow-haired man let out a muffled grunt and doubled over immediately. Before the Bald man and the Lanky man could react, Tu Bai had already kicked the Bald man in the knee, sending him crashing to the floor. The Lanky man raised a wine bottle to strike, but Tu Bai dodged to the side and slapped him across the face with a backhand.
Three seconds.
All three people fell to the Floor.
Tu Bai looked down at them, his Red Eyes showing nothing: "Get out."
The Yellow-haired man clutched his Belly and scrambled up, fleeing in a frantic crawl. The Bald man and the Lanky man followed him, leaving broken wine bottles scattered all over the floor.
The hallway fell silent.
Tu Bai stood for a few seconds, then sat back down on the steps, burying his head in his knees once again.
He seemed even more annoyed.
Upstairs, by the window on the fourth floor, Dazai Osamu leaned against the windowsill, looking down.
He wore a wrinkled White Shirt with the collar open, revealing a bit of Bandages. His Black Curly Hair was somewhat messy, his Iris-colored Eyes were slightly squinted.
"Bao'er," he called out, turning back.
No one responded.
"Bao'er." He called out once more.
Muffled grunts came from the Room.
Dazai Osamu walked over and pushed open the door. In the Bedroom, Tu Bao was sleeping soundly while hugging his Pillow, his pinkish white curls a messy tangle, his face pressed against the Pillow, with a bit of drool at the corner of his mouth.
Dazai Osamu reached out and pinched his nose.
Tu Bao frowned and waved his hand, but was not awake.
Dazai Osamu tightened his grip a little more.
Tu Bao finally opened his eyes, his Red Eyes filled with confusion: "Ugh.. Dazai-kun?"
"There is someone downstairs," Dazai Osamu said.
"Huh?" Tu Bao blinked his eyes, still not awake.
Your Younger Brother.
Tu Bao froze for about three seconds, then suddenly sat up: "What?!"
He threw off the blanket and rushed toward the doorway, not even noticing that his slippers were on the wrong feet. Dazai Osamu followed behind him, slowly walking downstairs.
When Tu Bao pushed open the Hallway door, what he saw was Tu Bai curled up on the steps.
A tiny figure with messy Black hair, wearing only a thin T-shirt and barefoot.
“Er Bao!” He rushed over and pulled Tu Bai into a hug, “What happened to you?! Running over this late, without shoes, you aren't even wearing a Jacket—”
Halfway through his sentence, he stopped.
Because he saw Tu Bai's face.
His Red Eyes were swollen, the sockets still red, with traces of undried tears clinging to his eyelashes. His complexion was frighteningly pale, his Lips had no color at all.
Tu Bao's heart suddenly tightened.
Did that silver-haired guy bully you?" His voice instantly rose, "Did he?!
Tu Bai looked at him, opened his mouth, but said nothing.
Tu Bao's tears fell instantly: "Er Bao, don't scare me! What on earth happened?! Did he hit you? Scold you? Or—"
Brother," Tu Bai finally spoke, his voice incredibly hoarse, "I have nowhere to go.
Tu Bao froze for a second, then pulled him up and dragged him upstairs: "Let's talk inside."
Dazai Osamu leaned against the stairwell, watching the two brothers come up, waved at Tu Bai. "Good evening~"
Tu Bai had no strength to respond, he only nodded.
After entering the room, Tu Bao pressed him down onto the Sofa and turned to pour some warm water. Dazai Osamu sat down nearby, observing Tu Bai without saying a word.
Tu Bao brought the warm water over and pressed it into Tu Bai's hands: "Drink some first."
Tu Bai held the Cup, motionless.
Tu Bao sat down beside him and looked at him, his tears still falling drop by drop.
What's wrong?" he asked, his Voice trembling violently, "Tell me, no matter what it is, Brother will help you.
Tu Bai looked down at the water in the Cup.
The White Steam rising from the Hot Water blurred his face.
A long silence.
Then he spoke.
He doesn't want Baby anymore.
The Voice was very soft, so soft it was almost inaudible.
Tu Bao froze: "What?"
That Gojo Satoru." Tu Bai looked up, his Red Eyes fixed on him, tears beginning to flow again, "He doesn't want this child.
Tu Bao's expression shifted from heartache to anger, then from anger to bewilderment.
What did he say?" he asked. "Did he say directly that he doesn't want it anymore?
He didn't say.." Tu Bai wiped his face. "But the things he asked.. things like what would happen if the Child had an accident, he kept staring blankly at my belly.. He must be..
He couldn't continue speaking.
Tu Bao clenched his Fist, the veins bulging on the back of his hand.
Where is that person?" He stood up. "I'm going there right now—
Bao'er." Dazai Osamu pulled him back, "Sit down first.
But—
Sit down." Dazai Osamu pressed him back onto the sofa, then looked at Tu Bai. "Tu Bai, what did Gojo Satoru say to you? Word for word.
Tu Bai thought for a moment, then recounted the conversation from that night in a halting manner.
.. That's just his attitude." After he finished speaking, he wiped his face again. "He definitely doesn't want it anymore.
Dazai Osamu said nothing after listening. He leaned against the back of the Sofa, his finger tapping his knee, lost in thought.
Tu Bao could no longer hold it in: "What right does he have! Why didn't he think about it back when things were happening! Now that he has him, he doesn't want him—"
"Brother!" Tu Bai blushed.
Exactly!" Tu Bao stood up and began searching through his mobile phone. "I'm calling Chuuya right now to have him help me book a ticket. I'm going to Tokyo tomorrow to settle the score with that white-haired man!
Bao'er, calling Chuuya at three in the morning?" Dazai Osamu said lazily. "He's going to curse at you.
I don't care!
Tu Bai watched his brother crying while looking for his Mobile Phone, the slight sense of grievance in his heart suddenly faded a little.
He reached out and grabbed the hem of Tu Bao's clothes.
Brother," he said, "don't go.
Why not go!
I.. I just want to stay for a while.
Tu Bao turned back to look at him, saw the exhaustion in his eyes, his heart softened again.
He sat back down and pulled Tu Bai into his arms.
Fine," he said. "If you don't want to go, then we won't go. Just stay here, stay as long as you want.
Tu Bai leaned against his brother's shoulder, smelling the familiar scent on his brother—the smell of laundry detergent, along with a hint of sweetness, likely left behind from stealing snacks again.
He closed his eyes.
His eyes grew sore again.
But this time it wasn't grievance, but something else.
Tu Bao patted his back, stroke by stroke, just like in his Childhood.
It's okay now," Tu Bao said. "Brother is here.
Tu Bai said nothing, only shrinking further into his embrace.
Dazai Osamu watched from the side for a while, then stood up and walked into the Bedroom. When he came back out, he was carrying a Pillow in his arms, he lightly and carefully covered Tu Bai with it.
Tu Bai thought dizzily that this Dazai Osamu, who had stolen his Brother, didn't seem all that hateful after all.
Then he fell asleep.
---
Tu Bao waited until Tu Bai was fast asleep before slowly laying him down on the Sofa. He then took a Pillow and placed it under his head, tucking him in with the Blanket.
Tu Bai curled up, his hand still clutching the edge of Tu Bao's clothes, gripping it very tightly.
Tu Bao did not pull away, just sitting by the Sofa, looking at his face.
"You've lost weight," he said softly.
Dazai Osamu leaned against the Bedroom Door, watching him.
Your dark circles are so heavy; it's obvious you haven't slept well for several days," Tu Bao continued. "How on earth is That white-haired man taking care of you..
"Bao'er," Dazai Osamu called to him.