Haru had been in Osaka for three weeks now, the hotel room neat but lonely, laptop open late for video calls home. The branch project was intense—meetings, reports, team building—but his heart was three hours away with Chris and Ichigo.
Tonight's call connected quick. Screen lit: Chris in living room, Ichigo on lap waving crayon drawing.
"Papa! Look! School project!" Ichigo's bright brown eyes sparkled, wavy black hair messy from day.
Haru leaned closer, soft smile cracking tired face. "Hey, buddy! Miss you. What's the project?"
Ichigo held up paper proud. "Family tree! Draw everyone!"
Chris angled camera better. Drawing colorful: stick figures connected branches. Big Haru in suit, Chris with teacher apple, Ichigo center with dino. Aiko branch with Mia, even "Dino-Fish" in bowl.
Haru heart swelled. "Amazing, little man. Best tree ever."
Ichigo beamed. "Teacher say 'special families okay.' I told about you away work, but come back. And Chris my bonus daddy!"
Chris laughed soft. "He presented today—class clapped. Teacher said inclusive gold."
Haru eyes misty. "Proud. Miss helping with glue messes."
Chris voice gentle. "We saved some for you. Weekend visit soon?"
Haru nodded. "Train Friday night. Can't wait."
Call ended hugs through screen.
Weekend home—train ride anxious joy. Door open: Ichigo tackle, "Papa back!"
Chris hug tight, kiss lingering. "Missed this."
Friday night: project show-and-tell. Ichigo explained branches: "Papa work far, but love big. Chris teach me read. Mommy Aiko play Mia. All family!"
Haru teared up quiet. "Perfect, buddy."
Saturday: park, Mia join. Ichigo show tree drawing proud.
Evening quiet—Ichigo out early, travel tired.
Living room dim, lights low. Chris pulled Haru close. "His project... hit deep. Family tree strong—even with you away."
Haru arm tight. "Because of you holding it."
Kiss started soft—absence longing deep. Turned sensual quick. Chris lips teasing, tongues brushing slow savor. Hands framed faces, breaths mingling warm.
Shirts shed gradual—Chris unbuttoning Haru's deliberate, palms gliding chest warm. Haru lifted Chris's shirt gentle, fabric whispering away, skin meeting soft.
Mouths wandered: Haru neck kisses feather-light, tongue tracing pulse slow. Chris sighed deep, body melting, hips shifting languid.
Pants eased away unhurried, fabric pooling floor. Bare, warmth intimate. Bodies aligned—Haru's hand wrapping gentle firm, stroking long deliberate rhythm. Chris rocked slow, moans hushed sweet, legs loose wrap.
Haru's free hand traced inner thigh feather, fingertips teasing sensitive till Chris trembled deep. Pleasure built gradual—warm waves rising sensual, every caress lingering. Eyes stayed locked—hazel shimmering emotion, brown full devotion.
Whispers filled space: "Missed your touch," Chris breathed shaky; "Never again long," Haru murmured husky.
Climax crested gentle intense—Chris tensing graceful, body bowing soft, release spilling warm muffled sigh into Haru's neck. Feel pulled Haru over moments later, pleasure surging deep slow waves, shuddering tender.
Tangled long after, breaths evening sync, foreheads pressed. Candlelight danced skin, afterglow soft.
Chris lazy smile. "Homecoming magic."
Haru kissed slow. "You are home."
Sunday family—project displayed fridge proud. Ichigo "teach" them tree branches.
Haru return Osaka lighter—project reminder: family tree grew strong, roots deep.
Absence short—love eternal.