#SMALL hint of wakashin

[shiniichiro]

who let the dogs out ft. shinichiro, tiny mikey, tiny emma & tiny baji

"mikey, you know we'll get into trouble for this right.." emma glanced warily at the mischievous look on her older brother's face. she knows that look, he has an idea, and it's not a good one.

"no way, emma, you're overthinking it. we'll just bring him home, bath him, feed him a little and we'll let him go after that! nobody will know about it, promise."

"but shinichiro..." emma wanted to help, she really did. but the thought of her older brother lecturing the three of them for bringing a stray puppy home without permission was daunting to her. shinichiro is a dotting brother, and he's never too harsh on them. yet, the thought of upsetting him was never an option for her.

"shinichiro-kun would definitely understand! he would never allow a poor doggy starve on the streets! trust us emma. i'll receive the punishment in your place if it makes you feel any better. pleaseee." for a pair of young boys, they sure were resilient, and emma could never find it in her to say no to her brother and childhood best friend.

With pursed lips and crossed arms, emma gave in reluctantly, but not before making them pinky swear on letting the puppy go after they've done their part in caring for him.

fast forward to a few hours later, shinichiro stood in front of the three children, who were drenched from head to toe, and their tiny little heads hung low. Baji was whimpering silently, afraid of what is to come after they were found screaming in the dojo's yard by the older man.

"none of you had any idea how to bath a puppy, don't you?" shinichiro questioned, the puppy in question sound asleep in his arms. if it weren't for his big brother duties, he would've found this scenario a little comedic.

gang activities ended a little earlier today. shinichiro came home with a bag of snacks he bought on the way home for his younger siblings and baji, only to find them running around the yard, screaming their heads off, and a wet puppy on the loose. it took shinichiro 10 seconds to react appropriately when he sees the petrified puppy running towards him. he caught him on time, gently cooing and calming him down.

the children came to a halt in front of him. baji was especially frantic, as he realized they were busted, judging by the look on shinichiro's face.

"what do you have to say for yourself. manjiro?" shinichiro was holding in his laughter. he swears it wasn't intentional, poor baji and emma were on the verge of tears, his own younger brother shifting his feet from side to side, avoiding the elephant in the room as best as he could. but he has a big brother role to play, and he has to play it right now.

"he... we... we found him on the streets. he looked so weak and dirty. we just wanted to help him. we didn't mean to keep this a secret but..." mikey is pouting now.

darn it, this brat. he knew exactly how to get to shinichiro.

"we're sorry, shinichiro. we know you are upset, but we just wanted to help the poor puppy. you can punish us if you want, but can we clean and feed him before we do that?" emma chimed in and tucked on shinichiro's trousers.

double kill. brilliant. these children are brilliant.

"yea shinichiro-kun. we're very sorry. but.. but you wouldn't abandon him like this, right?" baji was practically BEGGING at this point, and who is shinichiro to decline their requests? that would be absolutely absurd of him, no?

with a defeated sigh, shinichiro crouched down to their eye level and ruffled their (extremely wet) hair.

"next time, tell me before you proceed to terrorize this poor puppy, alright? i know you mean well, but we can do this together, got it?"

the children nodded frantically, all of them letting out a sigh of relief. off the hook this time.

"well, can't do anything since the puppy is asleep. probably exhausted after having to run around for god knows how long. why don't all of you take a hot bath and we'll have snacks while we wait for this little one to wake up, hmm? don't want all of you to fall sick now." shinichiro smiled reassuringly and stood up, gesturing for them to enter the dojo.

"YAY SNACKS" the children cheered (read: mikey and baji), and raced each other to the bathroom.

"shinichiro?" emma was still tugging on her older brother's trousers, seemingly reluctant to let go and trail after the boys.

sensing that she had more to say, he grabbed hold of her hand and tugged her into the house. placing the puppy in a basket (as a makeshift bed), he sat emma on the couch next to him.

"im very sorry. i know you forgave us, but please don't be upset at me. i'll behave next time."

emma has always been sensitive. shinichiro knew that. it genuinely pains him whenever his younger sister expresses her fears. for years he has been trying to ensure she felt safe and secured with the sano family, since it is indisputable that she is indeed, his beloved sister.

"emma, don't worry. im not upset, promise. your big brother isn't that short-tempered, don't you know that?" tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ears, shinichiro smiles at the sight of her younger sister's smile.

"now what does my little princess want for dinner tonight?"

"can we have oyakodon tonight? i'll help!"

"of course. i bought manjiro's favorite taiyaki too. we can have that for dessert, deal?"

"deal!" and off she goes into her own designated bathroom. shinichiro huffed, mentally patting himself on the back for another (difficult) day as a big brother. he'll have to change out of his uniform and prepare himself to bath the stray. to be honest, he did pity the poor thing, and they were right, he would never abandon a lonely stray.

deja vu, if you ask him.

"aren't you adorable." he looked so much at ease. perhaps he would stay here for good, who knows?

"wonder what wakasa would say if i told him i named a puppy after him?" shinichiro wonders aloud. "he'll drop kick me and probably tear me to shreds..... but worth it!" he exclaimed, adorning the same mischievous look as his younger brother.

welcome to the sano family, waka-kun.