Chapter Text
It didn't happen very often where Tomioka found himself having a free day. Quite the opposite in fact. Most days, Tomioka's life would pretty much fall into the routine of waking up, eating breakfast, slaying demons, eat again, before going back to sleep and doing the whole thing all over again. His life, as it was, is mundane and a bit lonely but that's how the water Hashira preferred it anyways. He didn't exactly have any friends to spend his time with so the days he did have free he'd spend it with the kamados or go out to eat rather than bringing his food back home with him while he meditated.
Today however, fate decided to test him. He went about his usually routine of getting up in the morning, his bed head sticking out obnoxiously in either sides, and was about to go get some breakfast when he heard the familiar sound of old feathered wings flapping together along with heavy breathing. Tomioka instantly knew who this was.
"Kanzaburo, good morning." Tomioka causally said without having the need to look. The crow didn't exactly answer, only landing on Tomioka's head as he always done in the past and made himself comfortable while Tomioka finished buttoning up his shirt. Tomioka didn't mind, Kanzaburo was old and really the feeling on top his head was nice, it made him feel a bit less lonely. Though it did make Tomioka a bit sad when he thought about how he could remember the days when instead of an old bird Tomioka meet a mature and refined bird instead. The bird that mother-henned him whenever he did something close to reckless back in his junior days. How that same bird would land ontop his head and pick out the leaves or sticks that occasionally got stuck in his hair from the former Water Hashira's training.
Kanzaburo is getting old, very old, and soon or later he'll grow into a sickly old crow who won't be able to fly. Tomioka doesn't know that much about crow health but he's sure Kanzaburo would be better off with Shinobu - hell maybe Kanzaburo would have been better off with Sabito had the boy survived final selection. Still as time passed on, Tomioka knew Kanzaburo would one day leave just as the rest of his family did. Tomioka found it in himself to worry about that later though, so as long as Kanzaburo was still around Tomioka would hold on to him just a bit closer when they go out on missions together.
"Kanzaburo, my hair isn't food don't eat that." gently Tomioka scooped the crow out of his hair, placing him on his shoulder instead. "I'll get you something to eat so wait just a bit more, okay?"
"Caw!" the crow answered, nuzzling into Tomioka while it rested its eyes.
"I'll take that as a yes then. remember Kanzaburo, speak human words not crow ones."
***
"My My, Tomioka who would've known we would bumb into each other here on our days off, hm~"
Shinobu, ever the teasing lady, slides into one side of Tomioka, poking and prodding him while he continues to walk away trying desperately to get away from the younger girl. He should've known the peace wouldn't last; it was only his luck he'd run into Shinobu of all people of his day off.
"Kocho, I thought I told you to stop poking me." he flatly retorted lightly shooing away the hand reaching to poke his cheek.
"You know if you keep on being like that no one will be able to tell if you're kidding or not and then you'll end up all alone." she responded instead, ignoring the hand still grabbing onto her wrist and smiling like she always did.
"I'm not alone kocho, I have-"
"An old crow, an old man, and teenagers don't count."
"..."
"..."
seeming to make up his mind, Tomioka sighs as brings kocho's hand up to his cheek again to let her poke at him once more. "Tsun Tsun." he made the noise for her. Kocho smiled but didn't respond, taking back her hand instead and giggling into her hoari.
"oh, Tomioka san, you're so innocent like, you almost remind me of a -"
"a child."
"Yes, yes a child, though I appreciate it if you'd let me talk." Kocho knows he was probably only trying to help but she still can't bring herself to not being a bit irritated when the man just cut her off. the nerve of this loner. maybe she should tease him so more for revenge.
"No, I mean an actually child." Tomioka points out a random kid in the streets, they seem lost and are looking around in all directions. the kid's a little dirty, almost as if they were running and ended up falling to the floor multiple times. They looked so scared that both pillars couldn't help but feel bad for the kid. So, like any reasonable person would do they made their way towards the kid in hopes of providing comfort and hopefully answers.
"Hello there little boy, I'm Shinobu and the friendless loser behind me is Tomioka, what's your name little one?" Kocho, being the one with actual childcare knowledge, leaned down to match the boy's height making herself seem less threatening as she tried for a warm smile. Meanwhile, Tomioka, having taken care of children himself thank you, also tried his best to appear approachable, nodding his head to the child when the boy looked over at him-though he hated that the child's first introduction of him was that he was a friendless loser. He had friends.
"S-Shoichi...my name is Shoichi." the boy sniffled out wiping his tears on his dirtied sleeves to try and get a hold of himself. "I can't find my mom anywhere...one minute she was here and the next she disappeared. I was just holding her hand; do you think I squeezed to hard so she ran away?"
"No of course not that'd be silly, Shoichi looks like a good boy, I'm sure your mother is around her somewhere. I'll tell you what, me and Tomioka San here will help you find her okay?"
Tomioka continued to nod alongside what Kocho said, not exactly knowing when to step into the conversation and plus he didn't want to ruin it by saying something that might make the boy even more scared than he already probably was.
"Yeah, *sniffle* okay." Shoichi, feeling a bit better at the situation dusted himself off and cautiously, very cautiously, made his way over to Tomioka's side grabbing his hand in the process while he rubbed at his eyes with his free hand.
Tomioka was stunned, but only for a moment, this had happened before where little kids were to scared and reached for him in their hour of need, this was no different yet still Tomioka made an effort as to hold the hand as gently as possible to not accidentally hurt the boy. Kocho ever the tease was not making the situation better for him, but he ignored her just as he has before and started following her without a word as they called out for the mother.
Just as it was getting dark, Shinobu spotted a police box just up ahead with a women crying frantically and decided to test their luck. Turns out she was right; this was the mother of Shoichi, a very sad and angry mother who cried and hugged Shoichi close to her before scolding him and promising punishment when they got home. Shoichi was understanding upset that he'd receive a punishment but was happy to be with her again, nonetheless.
"Thank you both so much, I'm so sorry Shoichi is always running into trouble. I can't for the life of me get this boy to stay still." Bowing to both Hashiras', she expressed her gratitude by offering them some sweets she had bought earlier that day, to which both Hashiras respectfully declined.
"It was no problem at all, Shoichi was a very brave boy, right Tomioka San."
"hm. Shoichi was good."
Shoichi blushed at the praise but smiled proudly when his mother looked back at him.
"That's right mama, I even helped Mr. Tomioka learn about jellyfish!" He proudly exclaimed, puffing up his chest and placing both his fist palms on his hips.
Tomioka only nodded at the women looking back at the boy before saying in a flat tone, "Jellyfish are interesting."
"Yes Indeed...well thank you again, nonetheless, let's go Shoichi your father must be worried."
"Bye bye Mr. Tomioka bye bye Ms. Shinobu!"
"Goodbye Shoichi Kun make sure to stay close to mom," Kocho smiled waving her hand as the backs of both Shoichi and his mother faded away into the distance.
"..."
"..."
"...Kocho, I think I'm scared of jellyfish now."
"..."
"Kocho?"
"Tomioka san...you're hopeless."
***
"Kanzaburo, I got you some fish from the market, I'll slice it up for you to eat."
"Caw!"
"Kanzaburo, words."
"Caw, thank you Tomioka chan, Caw."
"...good enough."