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“RISE AND SHINE, KIDDOS! ”
Satoru burst open the doors and didn't wait for a response as he marched to the window, caught the edge of the heavy fabric, and ripped the curtains back with enough strength to nearly pull the rod from the wall.
Instantly, the room was filled with the aggressive and unforgiving glare of the morning sun.
“The sun is shining, and your favorite father is officially lonely because Papa is in Kyoto!” Satoru sang, his voice hitting a pitch that was definitely too high for him.
Tsumiki was the first to wake. Wincing, she shielded her eyes against the blinding light with her small, pale hands. Her hair was a nest of tangled brown strands, the kind Satoru knew would take at least ten minutes of detangling spray and patience to fix and her pajamas were twisted from a night of tossing and turning.
Even half-asleep, she managed a sleepy, graceful smile that reminded Satoru far too much of Suguru.
“Uh, Papa is at work?” she asked, her voice thick with a yawn that made her shoulders hunch.
Satoru clutched his chest, leaning back against the window frame as if he’d been struck. “Yesss He had an emergency mission and left me here all alone.”
Satoru had really felt the bed shift in the middle of the night, he had heard the hushed, apologetic tone of Suguru’s voice, and he had felt a kiss lingering on his temple before the bedroom door clicked shut. Yet, he hadn't fully realized the disaster until his alarm went off at 6:30 AM and he woke up without the warmth of Suguru in his arms. On Suguru’s pillow sat a sticky note:
Emergency mission in Kyoto. I’m so sorry, Satoru. Will be back for the meeting. Please make sure the kids are neat for school. Megumi needs his permission slip signed. DO NOT let him leave without breakfast. I love you. Good luck.
Satoru had snickered while he flicked the edge of the sticky note. Normally, they handled the morning rush together well, which is a polite way of saying Suguru did the actual work because Satoru’s definition of helping mostly involved leaning against the counter and looking pretty while Suguru flipped the eggs. Still, he figured his presence alone was worth 50% of the work.
But doing it alone? Please. He was the strongest sorcerer in the world. How hard could four kids and a morning routine actually be?
Tsumiki giggled, her feet padding softly against the floor as she headed for the washroom.
“Good morning, Dad,” she called over her shoulder, used to his drama.
“Morning to you, too, princess,” he softened, watching her retreat.
The warmth in his gaze lasted exactly three seconds before his lips curled back into a mischievous, shark-like grin.
He turned his gaze toward the other three lumps still buried under blankets. The silence from the piles of blankets was far too suspicious; they were definitely awake and hoping that if they stayed quiet, he would go away.
Fat chance
“Okay, that’s one down,” he announced. He spun on his heel and marched toward the twins' beds.
“Mimi! Nana! If you both aren't awake in the next ten seconds, I’m letting Megumi choose the music in the car.”
The pile of blankets on the left side of the bed exploded. Nanako bolted upright like a jack-in-the-box, pointing a finger accusingly at Satoru with eyes wide with genuine betrayal.
"That’s cruel, Dad!" she shrieked, her voice still raspy from sleep. "That is a violation of my human rights. You know Megumi’s music taste, it's depressing and boring"
Satoru grinned, crossing his arms over his chest and looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"Oh, look at that! A miracle! Nanako is alive."
"I’m reporting you to Papa as soon as he gets home," Nanako grumbled, throwing her legs over the side of the bed and feeling around for her alarm.
“You can't let Megumi take control. Last time he played some weird classical stuff. I’ll get up! I’m up! Look at me, I’m standing.”
"And Mimi?" Satoru asked, gesturing to the still-silent lump on the other side.
Nanako didn't hesitate. She grabbed the pillow her twin was sleeping on and yanked. "Mimi, wake up. The old man is threatening us," she said, eyeing Satoru. From under the blankets, Mimiko’s muffled voice emerged: "Tell him… two more minutes."
Satoru chuckled, checking his watch. "Five minutes, girls. If I don't see teeth being brushed, I’m letting Megumi choose the snacks for later, too."
"YOU WOULDN'T!" Nanako screamed as Satoru sauntered toward Megumi’s bed.
"Try me!" he called back, adding a skip in his step.
Meanwhile, in the corner bed, Megumi hadn't said a word. He was currently a burrito, wrapped so tightly in his sheets that only the very top of his spiky black hair was visible. He was vibrating with the effort of ignoring Satoru’s whole existence.
"Oh, no," Satoru whispered loudly, leaning against the headboard. "It’s happened! My son has been replaced by a burrito."
The burrito didn't move.
Satoru poked the Megumi-burrito with one finger. “I know you’re awake, Gumi.”
He poked the side of the fabric roll again; it was solid. “It's late!” Satoru reached down to find an edge of the blanket, but there was none. Megumi had somehow managed to do a seamless,perfect 360-degree wrap.
"I’m not going to school," a muffled voice snapped from the blankets. "Tell the teacher I died peacefully in my sleep."
"I can't do that, Gumi! If I show up to your meeting alone, your teacher will think I’m a single parent and will start pitying me. Or worse, she’ll try to set me up with her sister. Do you want a step-mom? Because this is how we get step-moms."
The burrito finally twitched. A single green eye filled with judgment peeked out from a fold in the fabric. "Suguru would kill you."
"Exactly! So, save my life and get out of the blanket," Satoru exclaimed.
When there was no further moment, he rolled up his sleeves and cracked his knuckles like he was preparing to fight a Special Grade curse rather than a stubborn eleven-year-old.
"Alright, Gumi. You asked for this."
He loomed over the bed. The lump started shifting, trying to roll away, but Satoru was faster. He dove in, his hands found the slight gap where the layers of the blanket met.
"See? I got in," Satoru muttered in a mock-serious voice. He shoved his hands into the center of the fabric roll and tickled his way through the layers.
"Stop it! Get off!" Megumi’s voice was muffled but rising in pitch as he tried to squirm. "Your hands are cold! Dad— I swear!"
"Oh? Is the burrito talking back?" Satoru laughed, finally getting a grip on Megumi’s arms through the fluff. He began to pull. "Come on, out you go! And—voilà!"
With a final tug, Megumi was yanked upward. Since he was still wrapped so tightly, Satoru didn't just pull him out, but he pulled the entire ten-pound weight of the blankets with him. Satoru ended up sitting back on the floor with a thump, holding the Megumi-roll between his knees.
"See? That wasn't so hard," Satoru beamed, looking at the dangling, glaring child. "You look like a very angry kitten that just got a bath."
Megumi dangled there, his face flushed and his expression filled with pure venom. "I’m going to bite you. The second you put me down, I’m biting your hand."
"Aha! The aggression levels are normal, meaning the vital signs are stable," Satoru chirped, completely unfazed. He tucked Megumi under his arm like a football and headed for the door.
"Now, let's go wash up."
“I can do it myself!” Megumi wriggled and squirmed, but Satoru didn't let go.
“You look ridiculous. You’ve got a glittery butterfly clip stuck to your head,” Megumi said, descending the stairs while putting his school bag higher onto his shoulder. He had to raise his voice to compete with the high-energy pop song blasting through the speakers. Satoru said that this was the motivation for starting the day.
Satoru didn’t look up from where he was hunched over Nanako, his fingers working a braid from the crown with surprising precision. He just grinned with a flash of something devilish in his eyes. "Oh? You have a lot to say for someone whose hair looks like a sea urchin!" he shouted back over the music.
Megumi shot him a look and stuck his tongue out, wandering over to the large sofa.
“Jealousy is a bad look on you, Gumi-bear,” Nanako cooed from her seat between Satoru’s knees.
“Stop calling me that,” Megumi puffed, his face reddening.
"Sure thing, Gumi-bear," Nanako replied to the fuming Megumi.
He lunged. He was fast, but Tsumiki was faster. She expertly tackled Megumi down onto the pile of pillows with a dull thud, pinning his shoulders down just as he was about to pounce on Nanako, who was wearing a lazy and triumphant smirk.
Nearby, Mimiko was sprawled against Satoru’s side, holding the iPad up so he could see the screen. “You’re actually really good at this, Dad,” she noted, watching the Dutch braid tutorial.
"I have a secret weapon, you know," Satoru muttered. His tongue poked out the corner of his mouth in total concentration as he used his pinky to hook a fresh section of hair from the side and smooth it into the main flow.
He paused for a second, his expression softening suddenly into a look that was dangerously close to sappy and sweet.
"Your Papa used to let his hair down, you know. Back in high school. Who do you think brushed it out after we went to missions or stayed up late studying?"
"You did?" Tsumiki asked, pausing her work to help Megumi fix his coat.
“We thought you just used to pull it to annoy him,” Mimiko chimed in.
"I did that too," Satoru admitted, reaching down to affectionately flick Mimiko’s forehead.
He turned back to his work, pinching the tail of the braid between his thumb and forefinger to keep the braid perfect.
“I was the only one allowed to touch your Papa's hair," he said, his voice turning smug and full of pride as he took the large scrunchie Nanako passed him.
“There! Done. Check the mirror, Nana.” He patted her shoulder, watching with a satisfied hum as she tilted her head, examining the crisp lines of the braid before giving him an approving thumbs up.
“My turn!” Mimiko chirped, sliding into the vacant spot before Nanako had even fully stood up.
“Why are you holding the comb like a surgeon, Dad? ”
The question came from Megumi. There was a beat of silence before he spontaneously devolved into a fit of laughter. Everyone turned to look at Satoru’s hand. Sure enough, he was gripping the plastic comb like he was about to perform an open-heart surgery.
“You have a very strange sense of humor, Gumi,” Tsumiki said, watching her brother double over, practically hanging off the sofa as he wheezed.
Somehow, out of everything Satoru did, this was what he found hilarious.
Satoru let out an offended huff, reaching out to manually swivel Mimiko’s head back to the front.
“Turn back around, Munchkin. Don't listen to him.”
"You're pulling too hard," Mimiko complained, though she followed his instructions.
"Beauty is pain, kid. Ask Suguru how long it takes him to take care of his hair every morning," Satoru retorted.
But despite his words, he worked with surprising gentleness for someone who usually crushed curses for a living.
"And it’s called PRECISION, Megumi! PRECISION !" he barked at the boy, who was still laughing and shamelessly imitating Satoru’s grip.
When Satoru realized his dear son wasn't going to halt the teasing anytime soon, he opted to ignore him, finishing the second bun with a satisfying snap of elastic.
“Done and dusted. I should honestly open a salon,” he mused, leaning back to admire his handiwork. Mimiko now had two perfectly symmetrical buns.
“Gojo’s Gorgeous Braids. What’ya think?"
"The name is funny," Tsumiki said, taking her seat as the next in line. "But aren’t you too busy being the strongest sorcerer for a side hustle?"
Satoru smirked, tossing the comb into the air and catching it with a flourish. "I’m a genius, Tsumiki. Not just in jujutsu."
Megumi let out a disapproving noise from the corner of the sofa. Satoru ignored him, leaning over to grab the detangling spray.
"What do you want, Tsumi?"
"I want a bow in the middle," she said.
"A bow? Easy." He began brushing her hair. "I used to practice bows on Suguru’s hair while he was napping. He’d wake up looking like a gift-wrapped present and try to kick me off the bed."
Tsumiki laughed at that, the sound bright and clear. "I can’t imagine Papa letting anyone, even you, put ribbons in his hair."
"Oh, he didn't let me," Satoru winked, pulling a strand through a loop. "But he’s a heavy sleeper when he’s tired. One time, I got twelve bows in before he even twitched. He went to the kitchen to make coffee without realizing, and the look on his face when he saw his reflection in the toaster..." He trailed off, his eyes crinkling at the memory.
"I bet he actually kicked you," Megumi chimed in, leaning back as Satoru finally finished Tsumiki’s hair.
But Satoru didn’t hear him. Because suddenly the song changed on the speaker and, as the iconic opening chords of "I Want It That Way" filled the living room, Nanako and Satoru shared a knowing glance. He pointed a trembling, dramatic finger at Nanako, and without missing a beat, she started singing.
“You are… my fire…” Nanako crooned, her voice full of pop star yearning.
“The one… desire…” Satoru added, leaning over her shoulder to provide a backup harmony that was far too loud and incredibly, dramatically soulful.
Megumi groaned, shoving his face into a sofa cushion. "Stop it. It's too early. My ears are actually bleeding."
“Believe… when I say…” Nanako sang, ignoring him and pointing a dramatic hand toward the ceiling as if addressing a sold-out stadium. Satoru lunged behind her, providing backup "ooh-ah" vocals while performing a series of interpretive hand gestures that kind of looked more like some demonic ritual than a dance to Megumi.
“I WANT IT THAT WAY!” They both screamed the chorus in unison. Satoru dropped to one knee with a hand over his heart, clutching his stomach as if he’d been physically wounded by the emotion of the lyrics.
“But we… are two worlds…. apart!” Satoru wailed, feeling the pain because his husband left him for work. He scooped Mimiko up under one arm and Nanako under the other, spinning them to the melody.
“Can’t reach to your heart…” the girls sang in high-pitched harmony while dangling from Satoru’s arms.
“When you say…” Nanako belted it out while Mimiko just giggled and held on for dear life,
“That I want it that way.”
Satoru dumped the twins back onto the sofa, effectively sandwiching Megumi between them.
“Sing, Gumi! It’s the law of the house!” Nanako yelled, grabbing Megumi’s hands and trying to force him to clap along.
“No! Get off!” Megumi muffled.
“TELL ME WHY!” Satoru cried, reaching a hand out toward Megumi as if pleading for his very life.
“Ain’t nothin’ but a heartaaaaaaa-che!” Nanako and Mimiko shrieked back, jumping onto the sofa cushions and flanking Megumi like professional backup dancers.
“TELL ME WHY!” Satoru’s voice cracked into a glass-shattering falsetto, a sound so high and sharp it probably prompted a nearby flock of birds to change their migration pattern.
“Ain’t nothin’ but a mistaaaaake!” the girls chorused.
“Dad, stop! We are going to be late!” Megumi yelled, finally surfacing from the cushions. He grabbed a decorative pillow that had ‘home sweet home’ written on it and hurled it at Satoru’s head with everything he had.
The pillow hit the invisible wall of Infinity that Satoru turned on just now and it hovered an inch away from Satoru’s face, suspended in space, while he continued the song without missing a single note.
“Now number five,” Satoru yelled, pointing the microphone comb at Tsumiki. He grabbed her hand, spinning her into the middle of the living room.then snatched up the detangling spray and used it as a smoke machine, misting the air around for atmospheric effect.
“I never wanna hear you say…” Tsumiki sang, leaning into the bit and tossing her hair back through the scented mist with the grace of a performer.
“I WANT IT THAT WAY!” they all bellowed together.
“OH MY GOD, DAD! YOU’RE JUST SINGING TO DISTRACT THEM FROM THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T DO THEIR HAIR WELL!” Megumi screamed. It had no real bite to it, but it was loud enough to pierce through the chorus.
Satoru froze mid-note. He slowly turned his head, the pink comb still clutched in his hand like a microphone.
Megumi knew he was playing with fire, but teasing his dad was essentially a part-time job for him. And he wasn't about to quit now, even if the girls actually looked cute—never mind about that.
"It looks okay, I guess," Megumi said, his voice cracking slightly with a smirk. "But you’re doing it so slow. Papa does all three of them in ten minutes. You’ve been working on that one bow for ten”
"Slow, huh?" Satoru repeated, his voice dropping to a dangerous, playful purr. “You think it’s funny, Megumi?”
Satoru started walking toward him, fingers twitching in a way that suggested a tickle-attack was unavoidable.
"You think you’re safe because you don’t have long hair? Come here, Gumi. Don’t you want to look as pretty as your sisters?”
Nanako and Mimiko shared a devilish look. The betrayal was instant.
"No," Megumi said, his eyes widening as he realized the tactical mistake he'd made. "Wait, no—"
He bolted.
"Get him!" Nanako yelled, dropping her mirror and sprang into action.
Megumi scrambled around the couch, but Satoru was faster, laughing like a maniac as he leaped over a stool with effortless agility. "You can’t run from me! Tsumiki, block him! Mimi, get the hairspray!"
Like a well-oiled machine, the girls moved. Tsumiki blocked the hallway with a sweet, apologetic smile; Mimiko snatched the hairspray like a weapon; and Nanako dove for Megumi’s ankles. Within seconds, the boy was pinned to the rug by his three sisters and one very determined father.
"I'm telling Papa!" Megumi yelled, his voice muffled by the carpet as Satoru hauled him up by the waist and deposited him onto the sofa. The girls immediately surrounded him, caging him in.
"Tell him," Satoru chuckled, already beginning to comb through Megumi’s dark spikes. “He’s the one who taught me how to tie these, anyway. “
Megumi started wiggling, but Tsumiki sat by his side, gently holding his chin still with practiced patience. "Just let it happen, Megumi. It’s easier if you don't fight it."
Megumi let out a long, suffering sigh. "You're all insane," he muttered, finally closing his eyes in resignation as a set of hands descended upon his head.
"Hush," Satoru murmured. His touch was surprisingly gentle as he carefully pinned a bright pink bow right at the front of Megumi’s stubborn bangs. "You're going to be the prettiest urchin in the fourth grade."
By the time they were done, Megumi sat defeated. Satoru stood back, hands on his hips, looking immensely proud of his handiwork. Just as the final notes of the song faded into the morning air.
“I never wanna hear you say…” Satoru whispered the last line, winking at the girls. “That Megumi is the cutest today!”
"Perfect," Satoru declared.
"You look beautiful, Gumi-bear!" Nanako cheered, clapping her hands.
“Sooo cute!” Mimiko cooed, leaning in to pinch his right cheek with a grin, while Tsumiki followed suit, gently squeezing the left one.
“I hate all of you,” Megumi muttered, though his protest was weakened by the fact that he was physically incapable of moving his head. He looked at himself in the mirror—two tiny, adorable braids sat right at the front of his hairline, secured by shimmering pink butterfly clips that caught the morning light. Despite the scowl on his face, his ears were burning a bright, betraying red under the parade of compliments. "I’m taking this out the second I get to school."
"You do, and I’ll tell Suguru you didn't appreciate my hard work," Satoru threatened, his voice teasingly serious as he fished his phone out of his pocket.
He grabbed the back of Megumi's shirt and herded the rest of them into the center of the living room.
"Everyone! Look cute for the camera! We need to show your Papa what he’s missing."
In the photo, Tsumiki was beaming, showing off her hair, while the twins were throwing peace signs.
In the middle, Satoru was grinning widely, one hand holding the phone high and the other pointing a dramatic finger down at Megumi, who refused to even pretend to enjoy it, staring deadpan into the camera with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, the pink butterfly clips perched on his head like cute little crowns.
Satoru tapped the screen with a flourish. "Sent! He's going to love it."
[photo attached]
The Salon is officially closed. I expect a 5-star review and a kiss when you get back. Also, Megumi is a difficult client. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️