Akashi's POV
Watching the shadow player disappear through the double doors, I scoff silently.
"Why does he have to be so sensitive?" I ask to no one in particular. I turn to see almost all of the restaurant costumers looking at me, looks of varying disgust flooding their expressions. Across the room, a little girl hops down from her chair, looking to me. The first thing I notice about her is the hair, a strikingly familiar shade, with a dark blue bow in it. Her eyes, the same color, are filling up with unshed tears. She wears a little pink dress with purple hearts lining the border, and shiny black shoes. A woman, who I'm guessing is her babysitter, starts to get up from her chair.
"Nina, please come sit back down." He asks, hint of nervous bitterness in his tone. She looks about in her twenties, long brown hair falling past her pink hoodie. Blue skinny jeans stop just above black Vans. Her eyes darker than black, are narrowed with a hint of detached interest. Nina looks back, her lips pausing from their previous quivering.
"Gimmy a second." She whispers. I take a slight step back as the child marches towards me. Stopping in front of me, she looks almost straight up, trying her best to meet my eyes.
"What is your name, mister?" The tiny voice reaches my ears, and before I know it, I'm replying.
"Uh, Akashi." I mumble, just loud enough for Nina to hear. She pauses for a moment before poking my stomach.
"Well , I don tink dat was vwery nice. Your boy-fwend was vwery upset! Nobody is awowed to make my brodder sad. You should go apowogise! " She yells before teetering back to her high chair. My eyes widen as I register her high pitched voice. Her brother? Wait... you mean that's his little sister?! Looking around, I see everyone's attention on Nina, her babysitter's eyes giving way to reluctant pride. I step back, once again, and blink. Most children run to their mommy when I talk to them, if not giving me a bewildered look. Looking to the younger version of Tetsuya, I grin slightly.
Pushing my legs into motion, I take deliberate steps towards the cashier's counter, digging into my pockets. If she's anything like Tetsuya...
"I'll have one child size vanilla milkshake." I whisper to the nervous cashier. Nodding, she disappears into the back for a minute or so, before coming back with a small cup. Tossing my change onto the counter, I grab the drink and walk back over to Nina.
"Have you ever had one of these before?" I ask her. Nina's expression is taken over by one of excited curiosity. Looking up to me, she tilts her head.
" What is it ?" She asks. My smile now noticeable on my face, I chuckle.
"Your brother's favorite. These are his purpose for coming here." I chuckle as I hand the drink to her babysitter and watch as she pops open the lid to look inside. Upon seeing the contents, she forces a grin and hands it to Nina.
"That's Kuroko for ya." We turn to watch Nina try it, and almost burst out laughing at her response. She puts her mouth to the straw and, after a moment's hesitation, takes a sip. Immediately, her eyes widen and she continues drinking. Almost everyone stays in amused silence as we listen to the loud slurping. Soon, the straw goes hollow, and her excitement drops.
"Awwww. It's gone." She sighs.
"Do you want more?" At my offer, her eyes seem to shine as she nod her head. With a nod of concerned permission from the woman with her, I hold Nina's hand, and guide her to the cashier. Lifting her up, so that she could reach the counter, I hand her some money, and tell her to go on.
"Uh, hi mam. Can I hab a... a..." She pauses, not sure what to call her new favorite drink. I lean down to her ear.
"It's a milkshake." I whisper.
"Can I hab a miwkshape?" She asks excitedly to the cashier. The woman looks to me, and I mouth the words
"A large size." Grinning, the she nods, heading back to grab another one. Resurfacing with a larger cup, she places it onto the counter. Beaming, Nina carefully hands the money before scooping up the drink. I put her back onto her feet, and watch the bow in her hair bounce around as she runs back to her table. She thrusts the drink onto the table, smiling ear to ear.
"Look! Look what I have! It's a... a..." She pauses again, trying to remember what I had said it was. She turns to see me starting to open my mouth to help. Before I can, she raises her hand to me.
"No! Stob it! I can do it." The whole restaurant chuckles as she tries to recall the name. Silence passes for a few moments before an item in my pocket vibrates. Fishing out my phone, I quickly type in my pass code and peer at the screen. The alarm for afternoon training had gone off, and I press my thumb onto the glass stopping the ring. Pushing the phone back into it's pocket. Looking back to Nina, I see her eyes brighten.
"Right! It was a nilshape right?" She asks. Shaking my head, I correct her.
"No, sorry. It's a milkshake. I have to go now, but maybe I'll see you later." I turn to go, but a tiny hand latches onto mine. Noticing the smooth softness to her grip, I turn slightly to look at her.
"Yes?" I ask. She pauses before tightning her hold.
"I don't know you vwery well, but Kuwoko says so many nice things about you. I wan to beweive all of these things, but you hab to pwomice to be nicer." She holds out her pinkie, looking to me with wide, moist eyes. Looking into them, I think of Tetsuya, and how I had talked to him earlier. I extend my own finger, and mine wraps around hers in silent promise.
"it's a pinkie promise then." I mumble. I watch as she skips back to her seat, waving at me. Smiling slightly, I wave back and start towards the door. Stepping past the double doors, I start to walk down the road, before a voice calls to me.
"Akashi." Looking back, I see the babysitter at the door.
"Yes?" I ask, once again. She crosses her arms, glancing back into the store. Following her glance, I spot Nina sitting in her chair. Content with her drink, her legs swing back and forth. My sight still on the little sister, her voice starts again.
"You might of fooled everyone else, but know that I can tell. I've seen him come home, his eyes filled with nothing but heart break. No one else can see past his blank exterior, but I can see the pain in his faint smile." My eyes widen at her claim. Tetsuya was hurt? Did I do that? I watch as she turns to join up with Nina, my mind a hazy fog.
