* Ossan: Uncle
* Obaa-san: Grandma
I'm not dead, I swear.
Between university, work and covid it wasn't easy, but I am finally able to write and I hope to return soon.
On June 23rd I will have the final exam, after which I will start writing all my stories again.
I hope you enjoy this chapter. For any errors, I remind you that English isn't my first language and I don't have a beta, so if you want to report something I will listen to the suggestions with pleasure.
Until next time
ArhiShay
For each child who resided at "SkyReach" orphanage, the day of adoption was without a doubt the most anticipated event of the year -second only to Christmas of course.
The idea of being able to have a family, live happily with someone they could call mom and dad, filled their hearts with joy and hope. The evening before the big day, they prayed to find the perfect couple, to be chosen and feeling part of something again.
Seiko had seen so many children find a new home and obtain they happily ever after -with some of them she was still in contact, those who felt gratitude towards her for welcoming them and giving them a chance- but she had seen so many others go by their days at the institute, never finding the right family to give them a new home. Some had chosen to stay and work for her, others had gone their own way upon coming of age, while she had never heard from others over the years: she wasn't so naive to believe that every child who had passed under her care had found happiness, but in her heart remained the hope that for each of them there had been some sort of happiness.
She couldn't bear to think otherwise.
With a smile, Seiko welcomed the candidates for parents in the large hall, giving each child the opportunity to introduce themselves and chat with the numerous couples who attended the event. She was pleased to see that everything seemed to be going well.
In the sea of people crowding the hall, Seiko's gaze instinctively sought out familiar figures, noting with bitterness that there wasn't trace of them anywhere.
Predictable.
Sighing, the woman wasn't surprised by the disappearance of that particular group of orphans -after two years spent by their side, she was able to understand them better than anyone else- that at every meeting for adoption always managed to disappear who knows where without ever being noticed by anyone: if Tetsuya was difficult to see even when he was just next to you, the others certainly didn't go unnoticed, and not being able to see Shoichi -the tallest, the first to stand out- nor to hear Kazunari's wild screams -now full of life and louder than ever- it was somewhat unusual.
«Tsurugi-kun.» she stopped one of her collaborators without taking her eyes off the crowd, before concentrating on the boy who was now giving her a puzzled look. «Did you happen to see Yukio, Shoichi, Kazunari and Tetsuya?»
Tsurugi looked around for a moment, as if expecting to find them in the crowd, playing with the other orphans; when it became clear that there was no sign of them, Seiko saw him turn white like a sheet, while he ruffled his hair and panicked over the disappearance of the four.
«How the hell did they do it?! I was so careful this time, I didn't even leave Tetsuya-chan alone for a second! I was sure they had come here with the others, those little pests... when I get my hands on them...!»
Seiko shook her head smiling and dismissed the boy, entrusting him with the task of managing the room while she took care of recovering their "lost sheeps"; she knew that for this particular group of children, adoption was seen as something negative -the very idea of separating them broke her heart too- and although she wanted to respect their wishes, she also knew that a new family was what all of them needed to start living a normal life again.
Immersed in her thoughts, Seiko found herself walking down the corridor leading to the classrooms, following the instinct and intuition that -without a shadow of a doubt- would take her to the missing children: she knew she was right when Ogai's figure appeared in front of her, standing rigid and motionless by the door of a classroom, staring seriously inside, probably looking for the same people she was looking for; Seiko know just how much her son had grown fond of those kids -since those four had arrived he visited the orphanage more frequently, spending almost more time there than at home- but she knows that Ogai would kill himself before admitting that he too loves those kids very much, especially little cute Tetsuya, who seems to love Ogai as much in return.
«Absolutely not!» Kazunari's shrill voice came clear, along with those of Shoichi and Yukio who supported their little brother: she couldn't hear him, but surely Tetsuya was also on their side.
Ogai sigh, reach for the pack of cigarettes he kept in his pocket, and pause for a moment, hesitating, putting it back without taking out a single one and concentrating on the children: Seiko knew he had an unbridled desire to smoke -the nervous taps of the fingers on the arm, the imperceptible snapping of his tongue- but he tried to restrain himself to set a good example and because he knew that if he was seen, he wouldn't get away with it.
He sighed again. «Stop acting like little children and go back, the old woman will be worried to death.»
«But we are children, Ossan.» Shoichi protests, but what really hit her was Ogai's earlier statement about the "old woman": he wasn't referring to her right?
Annoyed, she reached him, hitting him with how much force she had in her hands, causing that degenerate son to lose his balance who was still able to not topple over to the ground.
Tze, too bad.
«Who did you call old woman?! I haven't reached the sixty yet, you know?!»
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Ogai glared at her but said nothing, rubbing the injured part and muttering disjointed words that Seiko couldn't translate. She ignored her son and concentrated on the room's inside, where the four fugitives had found a safe haven before the detective arrived and ruined their plans; the woman looked at them with a reproachful eye, sighing again as she noticed the sad faces of the children.
«Hadn't we already discussed disappearing on adoption day? Why aren't you in the hall?»
Shoichi stood between her and the others, proving once again to be the older brother they needed, taking on responsibilities and duties that Seiko wouldn't have wanted to give him at all: she wanted them to feel safe, in peace. She wished to be a person they could count, who they could always trust. She wanted them to be safe and happy, not always living on the defensive, always careful that someone didn't betray them and turn their backs on them.
They already had so many scars on those little bodies -on their skin, in their hearts, in their souls- she didn't want to cause any more.
«But we went into the hall with everyone else.» Shoichi affirmed, adjusting his glasses and smiling at Seiko in that particular way that not even her could always decode. «Then some strange adults came over, they wanted to talk to Kazu alone and he didn't want to. He didn't feel very well and we decided to come here to calm him down, we weren't hiding!»
The others lent a hand, supporting Shoichi's version and promising when Kazunari felt better, they would surely join them in the hall: instinctively Seiko knew that if she left them alone they would never come back.
She sighed, scratching her neck in distress, suddenly eager to smoke a cigarette and aspire to some peace -she had quit that habit years ago, but every time a complicated and stressful situation presented itself she couldn't help but feel the lack of a good smoke- which she knew wouldn't come until she convinced these four kids that adoption wasn't such a terrible thing to deal with.
«We don't want to be divided, Seiko-san.» it was Yukio's honest and sincere voice that called her back. She looked at him, and in the blue eyes of the child she read only so much fear and loneliness, the desire not to be separated from those his little broken heart had learned to love: and suddenly, ordinary adoption no longer seemed the right solution for them.«Without Kotaro and Tatsuya it's sad, if we were all separated it would be too painful.»
«We like it here, we love Seiko-san and the other teachers.» Kazunari continued, flanking Yukio and taking his hand, smiling at the woman sadly, almost afraid of receiving punishment for talking and expressing their feelings -his trauma was still there, alive, no ordinary family could ever help him.
Tetsuya clung to Ogai's leg, hiding behind the detective in search of something -maybe protection, maybe security, maybe the certainty that someone could see him, that he wouldn't be forgotten again. «We want to be together.»
Something in her heart stirred.
Seiko looked at them intensely, one by one for endless seconds. She couldn't do this.
She couldn't bring herself to separate them forever, not in the way she usually handles the others child: those four -probably Kotaro and Tatsuya too- had created a bond so strong and deep that separating them as if nothing had happened meant breaking them forever.
Seiko wouldn't let that happen, not if she could do something to prevent it.
But what to do?
On one hand, she understood their desire to stay together, to grow like the brothers they had become, but on the other one, she knew that a family was what they needed to heal their wounds and find the path of happiness that would lead them towards a bright future. An ordinary family, however, wasn't enough. She needed an idea, something that could make everyone happy.
Then a plan clicked in and Seiko found herself overwhelmed by a storm of thoughts which led her to a final decision. It wasn't an easy solution and she needed some help, but it was their only chance.
Finally she sighed, closing her eyes and putting a hand on her hip. «I understand what you feel, it's normal to want to be together, we love you too.» she smiled at them, lowering herself to their height and looking at them in the eyes. Ogai didn't say a word, standing still to watch as he stroked Tetsuya's head. «But it is precisely because we love you that we organize these meetings, to give you a home and a family so that you can grow in the best way possible.» She became serious, getting up and crossing arms under her breasts
They didn't like those words, she understood it from how their faces darkened, their eyes shone close to tears, and their little bodies stiffened. Seiko smiled, unable to restrain herself. «Know that I don't usually do this kind of thing, but since you don't seem to want to split up, I have a proposal for you.»
She just hoped that everything went as planned.
Imayoshi Hotaka had been one of Seiko's boys at the "SkyReach" institute when he was already fifteen, the day his parents were involved in an accident and no one could take care of him while his father and mother were hospitalized in serious condition.
Hotaka just wanted to scream, run away from that place and stay in the hospital next to his parents, go back to his home and take care of everything until they could return, yet it seemed that no one wanted to hear his voice.
Adults always did as they pleased, deciding for him without questions, sure they were doing the right thing when it would be enough to listen to his voice to understand how wrong they were. Being abandoned in an orphanage until his parents were completely cured -if they ever woke up- wasn't what he wanted.
It didn't matter anyway. Hotaka already had a plan in mind to escape the very night they would drop him off at the institute, the hospital address in one hand and some emergency change in the other: if the adults didn't want to listen to him, he certainly wouldn't listen to them.
He quickly realized that Seiko was different.
«Does the boy agree?» was the first question she had asked when they showed up in front of her door -there was also a little boy by her side, black hair and blue eyes, with an icy cold look- welcoming them with ruffled cherry red hair, a cigarette in her mouth and no makeup to cover her face's imperfections. Even so, she was still a beautiful woman.
With her blue eyes, she had stared at him for several moments, then shifted to look with doubt and disgust at his companions, while they assured her that he had voluntarily agreed to their conditions.
Hotaka snorted but remained silent, sure that even if he had protested the director of the orphanage wouldn't have believed him: the word of a fifteen-year-old boy against that of two adults was worth nothing, it was the harsh reality with which he collided when his life began to fall apart.
No matter how different the director looked, no one would ever listen to a kid rather than an adult.
Ogai was irreverent and impassive, heedless of everything and everyone, outspoken and who always says what he thought, while Chika was an energetic girl who talked too much and smiled constantly, the radiant sun cheering up the house.
Lastly, there was Seiko.
A single mother, independent and capable, who constantly complained about her age and how her children did not give her due respect, but that she always had an eye out for them if something worried one or the other.
He had ended up spending two weeks under the same roof as this bizarre family, which in a few evenings had dragged him into their crazy routine. They were completely crazy, irreverent, and sometimes even scary -seeing Seiko angry once was enough to animate his worst nightmares- but Hotaka was surprised to find that he didn't mind.
It was nice to feel part of something again, to feel at home. If he hadn't had parents in serious condition who needed him, he probably wouldn't have minded staying.
«And where do you think you're going, kiddo?»
The night he planned to escape, Hotaka had taken care not to arouse suspicion, behave as usual and retire to his room at the usual time. He had studied every detail so that no one would find out, so when he sees Seiko standing there, leaning against his door's jamb, he didn't understand why. Her arms were folded under her breasts and her blue eyes scrutinizing him intently.
Hotaka froze, unable to respond.
He had his backpack on his back, a pair of shoes in his hands, and the sheets balled up to form a long rope. It was obvious what he was trying to do.
Hotaka didn't answer, looking away, not having the courage to face the woman who had welcomed him and treated him with kindness in the eyes. In the end, all adults were the same, even if he tried to explain, she probably wouldn't understand.
He heard her sigh, calling Ogai back and entrusting him with the task of keeping an eye on him until the following day, when she would take him to "SkyReach" for his stay at the orphanage.
«You kids are really impatient... and problematic.»
With this she was gone, leaving him alone with Ogai, in a heavy silence that neither of them seemed to want to break.
«You're an idiot.» the other boy then came out, unleashing the fury of those who now have nothing to lose in Hotaka.
Ogai couldn't understand -no one could- he still had his family, if the positions had been reversed he would probably have done the same.
«What do you want to know about...?!»
«What I know.» he had interrupted, staring at him with those cold eyes from which Hotaka couldn't break away. «It's that the old hang wants to help orphans, help those like you at any cost. Maybe not everyone listened to you, but rest assured she did.»
Hotaka didn't understand the meaning of those words until the following day, when instead of the orphanage he found himself in the hospital, next to his parents, with special permission to stay at their bedside as much as he wished, every day that he wanted.
Seiko then handed him a key, at which Hotaka looked at her in confusion.
«It's the key to your new apartment. It's halfway between the school and the hospital, plus it's close to my house, so if you need anything you can come to me at any time. I will be your guardian and I'll take care of you until your parents can do it again. That was the condition imposed by the social services to grant you this possibility.» and it had been more than he could ever ask for.
Hotaka had cried for hours that day, thanking Seiko heartily and promising that one day -whatever the cost- he would repay the debt he owed to her.
He had stayed in touch ever since, both for his gratitude towards the woman and for the bond of deep friendship that he had developed with Ogai and Chika, which even miles away remained as strong as the first day.
So when he had received a call from Seiko, which had mentioned an important favor, Hotaka hadn't hesitated to take his wife and leave for Tokyo, to meet the woman and hear what he needed.
«You look good, Hotaka-kun.»
«All thanks to you and your help, Seiko-san. It's a pleasure to see you again." he smiled at her.
His wife walked forward with him, bowing to the woman out of respect. "Good morning Seiko-san, I'm glad to see you look good.»
«I'm happy to see you too, Imayoshi-san, I hope your son is doing just as well.»
«Oh yes, he grows beautifully. By the way, thanks again for the new ball you sent us, he really enjoyed it! And please, Emiko is more than enough.»
Seiko smiled and nodded, then returning to focus her gaze on him, serious and composed as he remembered. When one of her orphans was in trouble and desperately needed her help, Seiko always assumed that expression of hers, which she wouldn't let go of until the matter was resolved.
«I know it's quite sudden, but I wanted to ask you an important favor, Hotaka-kun. Obviously only if you agree, it isn't an obligation, but a proposal.»
Hotaka pricked up his ears, adjusting the tie without taking his eyes off the woman. «What kind of favor, Seiko-san?»
The director smiled, moving a cherry-colored lock behind her ear and crossing her arms under her breasts.
«Would you be interested in an adoption?»
Before marrying her husband and thus acquiring a surname, Hisako had been a nobody for a long time.
Mistreated by her own family, beaten and disfigured by the people who should have taken care of her, she had repudiated any connection with them as soon as she was removed by the social services.
Only when she accepted Yuji-kun's proposal she had agreed to take on a new identity, to go back to being someone. She had since become Takao Hisako, and she proudly bore the family name as a precious treasure to be cherished and protected.
It hadn't been easy to overcome the traumas and fears of the past, the insecurities due to the scar that disfigured the right side of her face, but thanks to the love of Yuji-kun and the sweetness of Chika-chan -her best friend- in the end Hisako had been able to live a normal life, without the constant fear of running into unknown people and not being able to move for fear of having unwanted, even innocent, touch.
At the time, the mere idea of an arm touching her by chance made her uncomfortable: Seiko and Chika had played a fundamental role in her rehabilitation, she was extremely grateful to them for this as well.
They had somehow taught her how to live again.
When her best friend had called her -it was always nice to feel Chika's energy, she hadn't changed at all over the years- telling her about one of the children of "SkyReach" with a similar past to hers, with the same kind of trauma and that because of this he was unable to adapt to any family, Hisako had immediately told her husband about it, expressing her desire to go and meet him and -if the child had wanted to give them a chance- she would have liked to welcome him into the house.
Yuji accepted without delay, and in a few days, she found herself on a direct train that from Yokohama would take them to Tokyo, where Seiko was waiting for them anxiously.
Ogai had picked them up from the station.
Hisako had been happy to see that he hadn't changed at all, still the stoic expressionless kid of their youth, but that had the kindest heart than anyone she'd ever known.
She had hugged Seiko once she arrived at the orphanage, and was then overwhelmed by the sparkling energy of Chika, who was also there to spend two weeks with her mother as she used to do -«Since Kotaro made friends here he can't wait to come back! If he used to enjoy spending time with his grandmother, now he would like to live with her rather than with me and his father!»- and Hisako couldn't be happier to have her best friend next to her in such an important moment.
«Later I'll take you to meet the children, but first there's something I'd like to talk to you about.»
Hisako clung to Yuji, fearing that some serious news was about to strike them like a bolt from the blue.
Maybe something had happened to the child, maybe someone inexperienced had managed to adopt him before they could get to them, making it even worse and making impossible any kind of hope for the future of that poor creature. At the very thought, a vise tightened her stomach, bringing to the surface a retching that she managed to hold back.
Yuji shook her hand, trying to give her strength, but he too didn't feel comfortable. Even if it was a rash and sudden decision, they both had already taken the child to heart even before they knew him, and the mere thought that something could have happened to him -not having been fast enough, if only they had done faster- gave both of them an unpleasant feeling of sadness and pain.
«It isn't only because of the similarities in your cases that I have called you, Hisako, there is also another... problem, if we can call it that.»
Hisako winced slightly but didn't dare to interrupt. She had sworn to herself that she would do anything to help that child. Just as Yuji, Chika and Seiko had done years ago with her, she too would restore joy to someone who had suffered through from the hands of those who had brought him into the world.
At what cost she would have thought about it later.
Kasamatsu Koichi and his wife Miyoko were a happy couple.
In their comfortable home in Funabashi, Chiba prefecture, with their four-year-old child, the spouses led a simple but comfortable life, happy and satisfied with their possessions, with the sole ambition to raise their child without ever letting him lack for anything.
As a couple, they couldn't be more different.
Miyoko was rational and poised, pursuing equality and justice towards anyone who stood before her, while Koichi was energetic and tireless, always on the move and at times too noisy, able to overwhelm with his joy even the most serious of people.
Yet in their differences, they had found the love that many times remained only a dream for many couples.
Although they now lived in Funabashi, Miyoko was originally from Sapporo -she then moved to Tokyo during her first year of high school, where she spent her entire adolescence- while Koichi was born and raised in Tokyo, along with another child who he had pointed himself as his best friend.
Of course, Ogai wasn't the easiest person to interact with -every time he tried to call him, the phone was slammed in his face before he could even speak- but he loved him like a brother.
They had grown up together, same school and same class every single year as if united by a red thread of friendship that wanted to bind them together forever.
Koichi liked to think so.
Perhaps it was because of his romantic conviction that when Ogai called him -it was the first time he took the initiative, for each of their meetings Koichi was usually the organizer- asking him to go to Tokyo with Miyoko as soon as possible, he didn't lose a single second.
A week later he was on his way to the Japanese capital with his wife and son, whom they would leave in the care of his grandparents before going to "Skyreach", to hear the urgent request Ogai had spoken about on the phone.
However, it wasn't his friend who welcomed them, but Seiko -his mother- who with a tired look had escorted them to her office while she explained to them the reason why she had asked Ogai to call them so urgently.
«He should have mentioned something to you, don't mind it, he's always been an idiot, he's only gotten worse with age.» Koichi barely held back a laugh.
Seiko's bluntness was always disarming.
«Why did you want us here, Seiko-san? Did something happen with the last donation?»
By mutual agreement, Koichi and Miyoko had become donors for the orphanage, spending a large sum of money every month to help the institution to stand up and continue to welcome as many children as possible.
They knew that Seiko's family could support themselves and the orphanage quite well, but they agreed that a few more yen could only benefit the personal coffers of "Skyreach".
The director shook her head.
«It's not about the money, it's a more personal favor than that, and much more important.»
Koichi raised an eyebrow, exchanging a look with his wife and listening to Seiko, hanging completely from the woman's lips.
«I'll be direct, turning around won't do any good: will you be interested in an adoption?»
Of all the things Koichi could have expected, this was certainly the most unexpected.
«Sorry?»
Seiko took a deep breath, guiding the couple through the corridors that would lead them into what he knew was the woman's office.
«Two years ago, some... special kids have come to the orphanage.» she began, as a smile broke on her face. Seeing it, Koichi realized that whoever these new children were, they had won Seiko's heart more than she ever wanted to admit. «It's not just they who are special, the circumstances that brought them here are also quite special.»
They arrived in front of the white door of the office, where Seiko made them sit.
To their surprise, Koichi and Miyoko discovered that they weren't the only ones called up, all familiar faces with whom they had spent most of their adolescence and who still regularly dated.
Hotaka was sitting to the left of the desk, near the wall Ogai was leaning against, with Emiko beside him who turned to look at them with a nod in greeting. Next to her sat a smiling Hisako, but if Koichi knew her as well as he believed, he could see the impatience behind her happiness, an emotion reflected in a similar way in Yuji's gaze, sitting next to his wife who shook her hand as if to support her. Chika was also in the room, sitting behind the desk, next to the black armchair that probably belonged to her mother.
If before Seiko's request had seemed strange, now the Kasamatsu spouses were certain that these children were special to the woman as no one had ever been before. There were only trusted people in the room, who knew each other, on whom Seiko knew she could count.
These children must have been truly exceptional.
Inviting Koichi and Miyoko to take their seats next to Yuji, on the two free chairs prepared especially for the occasion, Seiko went to her place behind the cabinet, sitting down and passing her gaze from one of her guests to the other.
«Thank you for coming. I would never have called you if it wasn't important.» taking a deep breath, exchanging a knowing look with her children, the woman continued. «I think the time has come for the explanations, and for the proposal I have in mind to make to each of you.»
He didn't know where that confidence came from, yet Koichi couldn't shake the feeling that whatever the woman's proposal was, no one would have the heart to refuse it.
It was going to be an intense reunion.
Tetsuya was sitting in the living room alone, holding in his hands the only object that made him feel at home, as if his brothers were still there with him, and not headed for their future homes, together with their new families. Tetsuya was young, but he understood the world better than any other child.
He was swinging his legs in the air, his chair too high to allow him to reach the floor, waiting for Mrs. Seiko as he had been told to do, always behaving like a good child. If he had behaved well, maybe someone would have wanted him too.
Seiko arrived a few minutes later accompanied by Ogai, strangely more relaxed and happy than he usually was. It was difficult to understand what Ogai thought, but Tetsuya was proud to say that he always knew what the man thought, despite the expression of the latter was always serious and frightening.
He saw the director bend down to look him in the eyes, a reassuring smile illuminating her face.
«Listen to me Tetsuya, a gentleman has offered to adopt you. Normally it wouldn't be possible, we always try to favor couples, but this person is a reliable acquaintance of mine, and I know that he will treat you with affection and kindness. What do you say?»
Tetsuya blinked thoughtfully. One person meant that he would only have a dad, no one to call mom, unlike any family that had taken away his brothers just hours before. He nodded, thinking that as long as he was good, he would never be alone. At least that's what he hoped.
Seiko smiled again, standing up and inviting Ogai to come over. Tetsuya looked at them confused.
«Let me introduce you then: Tetsuya, this is Ogai, your new dad. Ogai, this is Tetsuya, now legally your son.»
Usually expressionless and quiet, Tetsuya began to cry, as he threw himself into Ogai's arms and thanked him continuously, wrapped in the familiar warmth of the man who had already saved him once. Ogai also let out a small smile as he gently stroked Tetsuya's back, in a vain attempt to calm him down.
With his eyes tired from all the emotions of the day and the crying, Tetsuya was about to fall into Morpheus' embrace when Ogai's words reached him, giving him more happiness than he thought he could feel.
«Welcome to the family, Kuroko Tetsuya.»
Smiling, he fell asleep.
The bothersome call of the alarm clock woke him from his dreams, awakening him.
Annoyed, Kuroko reached out from under the covers, trying to extinguish the cursed object that had been piercing his ears for five minutes.
A spiteful ray of sunshine hit him in the face, frustrating his attempts to roll over in bed and go back to rest.
Whiffing, he surrendered to the universal force that wanted him to awaken at any cost. Toiling he sat on the bed, looking for his slippers so he wouldn't add the chill of the floor to the list of worst ways to wake up ever tried.
Lazily, stretching his back like a cat, he decided to leave the comfort of his room and go down to the kitchen -not before having dressed in the uniform he had prepared the night before- where he was sure a hearty breakfast was waiting for him.
He walked wearily down the stairs, still asleep, cursing the length of the corridors that, in the morning, made it difficult to reach the dining room to have the most important meal of the day, the one that would have given him the energy to start a new and long day of school.
«Good morning, Obaa-san.» he greeted.
The woman's figure was covered by the newspaper she was reading with interest, but which she set aside to look at the young man with disappointment and reproach.
«I'm still in my sixties, you know? I'm not that old.»
Tetsuya only nodded, proceeding to the kitchen and leaving the woman to her reading, while the noise of sauteing grew louder as he approached the room.
When he was inside he noticed that there was already a figure turned from the back, fully dressed in a school uniform different from his own, with a nice pink apron to protect it from any splashes of oil and more.
«Good morning, Kazu-kun.» he greeted, his voice thick and too low, but Kazunari heard anyway.
He was whistling but immediately stopped to turn around and greet Tetsuya with a smile.
«Good morning Tecc... pff... Ahahahahahahahah! What's with that hair?!»
Tetsuya tilted his head slightly, confused, while Kazunari continued to laugh incessantly. He had tears in his eyes and was holding his stomach with one hand to try to hold them back, to no avail.
«Loud even early in the morning, Kacchan?»
«Can we know what's going on?»
Two other people entered the kitchen, attracted by the sudden laughter and curious to find out what had triggered them. Tetsuya turned slightly, greeting the two newcomers with a nod.
«Good morning, Shou-nii, Yukio-nii.»
The two older boys responded to the greeting holding back a smile at the sight of Tetsuya's disheveled hair.
«Neh neh, Tecchan look here!»
As soon as Kuroko turned to Kazunari, he took a photo with the cell phone he had promptly prepared, then sent it to the chat line that they all shared together.
«This will end up on Tecchan's album, hands down!»
A second message received followed shortly after, showing a photo of Kazunari wearing the pink apron with his bangs tied on the head with a practical hair tie.
Shoichi grinned triumphantly at the boy's bewildered expression.
«Hisako-san will be happy to add this to your album, Kacchan.»
«You are mean, Shocchan!»
Yukio and Tetsuya smiled at the scene, then brought everyone's attention back to the most important thing at that moment: breakfast.
«How come you're cooking, Kazu? Today was Sho's turn if I'm not wrong.»
Yukio pointed out, helping to carry the plates with freshly baked pancakes into the dining room.
Kazunari smiled, turning off the stove and hanging the apron on the hook. «Well, I've been living here for two weeks now, I wanted to do something to celebrate our newfound cohabitation!»
A smile formed on the lips of the boys at the thought of being all together again -not really everyone, but they had to make do.
Once they were all seated around the table, they enjoyed their meal in each other company, talking about school, how the lessons proceeded two weeks after the beginning.
«So, how's your life as Kaijou's captain, Yukki?» Shoichi asked, drinking his hot tea.
Yukio sighed, tasting the pancakes and complimenting Kazunari on the taste. A different breakfast every now and then was not bad at all. «The boys of the past few years aren't bad, and among the freshmen there is someone with potential, however... there is someone who incredibly gets on my nerves.» he stopped, drinking from his cup as a nervous vein throbbed in his forehead. «How's Tōō?»
Shoichi sighed. «Let's say I have some problems managing a listless freshman who refuses to participate in training. Wakamatsu is becoming unmanageable when it comes to that freshman, a real pain.»
«Well, when it comes to pain, Shūtoku is no exception! There is this classmate who is also on the basketball team, a real conceited narcissist!»
Kazunari snapped, annoyed, biting into one of the pancakes and gulping down a glass of milk, then throwing himself on Tetsuya with mock desperation, preventing the latter from finishing part of his breakfast.
«If only Tecchan was in my school, everything would be wonderful!»
«Kazu-kun, you are suffocating me.» was Kuroko's slight protest.
«Ahn? If he ever changes his mind, I'm sure Kaijou would be the best choice for him. Those exalted ones would benefit from Tetsuya's soothing presence.» Yukio added.
Shoichi didn't miss the chance to join the fray. «If ever Tecchan were to change his mind, Tōō would accept him without any problem.»
«Hey! You two have been able to enjoy Tecchan's company for two full years! Now it's my turn!»
In the morning chaos that was his family, Tetsuya smiled as the others argued, aware that they were doing it for him, to heal at least part of the wound that still throbbed open on his chest, a few steps away from a heart that was now beating slowly.
If it weren't for them, he probably would have stopped by now.
«Have you finished making all this noise?» Seiko interrupted the discussion whit a nervous voice, pointing to the clock on the wall.
It was 8 o'clock.
«I have not agreed to host idle latecomers! Get moving and go to school, see you again tonight.»
«Yes ma'am!» they answered, each arranging their own dishes and then heading to the entrance.
They changed their shoes and went out, covering part of the journey together, before separating and heading each to their own school. As they walked side by side they quarreled, laughed and joked, with Yukio scolding them for the noise, Shoichi grinning, Kazunari laughing rudely telling of funny scenes seen on television the night before, and Tetsuya listening and watching as the shadow that was.
When he was separated from his brothers, Tetsuya took out a book from his bag and began to read it -always paying attention to the road around him- focusing on it as he reached his school, enjoying the calm that separated him from the entrance to the Seirin.
«I WANT TO BECOME JAPAN'S NUMBER ONE BASKETBALL PLAYER!»
«Bakagami, the challenge was yesterday, no need to shout it every day, BAKA!»
Here it is.
He sighed.
A classic morning for the ordinary Kuroko Tetsuya.