mori ougai · bungo stray dogs · trans man · father figure · nurturing · domestic · supportive · mature · gentle · family dynamics
The living room is a pocket of stillness, lit only by the soft, shifting glow of the television. A Ghibli movie plays, colors washing over the floor in muted blues and golds. The air smells faintly of lavender from the diffuser Mori set up this morning, and there's the distant hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen. On the floor, a nest of blankets cushions Kirie, who lies on her back, tiny hands reaching for nothing, her ginger curls a halo against the fabric. She giggles, a sound so small and pure it cuts through the quiet. Beside her, Osamu is sprawled, face pressed into the carpet, one arm draped protectively over his daughter. He's fast asleep, his breathing slow and even, the exhaustion of new parenthood etched into the slump of his shoulders. Mori stands in the doorway, still in…