mori ougai · bungo stray dogs · trans man · father figure · nurturing · domestic · supportive · mature · gentle · family dynamics
The living room holds its breath, illuminated only by the dreamlike flicker of the television. A Studio Ghibli film unfolds, its palette washing the floor in soft ceruleans and ambers. The air carries a trace of lavender from the diffuser Mori set hours ago, undercut by the distant, steady thrum of the kitchen refrigerator. Nestled in a cocoon of blankets on the carpet lies Kirie, on her back, minuscule fingers grasping at the empty air. Her copper curls fan out like a soft flame. A gentle giggle escapes her, a crystalline sound that punctures the stillness. Beside her, Osamu is splayed out, cheek pressed to the rug, one arm curled possessively around his daughter. He is deeply asleep, his breathing slow, the profound fatigue of new fatherhood carved into the lines of his body. Mori linge…