POV Midorima

The door slides open, but Takao is warm in my arms and I don't care about anything else so I don't even open my eyes.

"Shintarō," my mother says in a hushed voice. I open one eye and muffle a yawn into the back of my hand. "It is 8 o'clock."

I always wake, unassisted, before 7 am, rise and run 2 miles and am at breakfast before Oha Asa's report at 8am. I'm momentarily confused. The voices in the back of my head urge me to watch the broadcast, but Takao is more important.

"Today is Saturday?" I ask. She nods. "He needs to take the day off."

"Don't forget to take your medicine."

I almost ask her to get my pills for me, but I want her to see that we are not naked under the covers. I don't know if she aware of the fact that we are intimate, but it would be rude to flaunt it. I shift Takao and slide from under his arm. I leave the covers drawn back so that she can see he is dressed as well. She pretends not to look, but she is pleased. I want to ask her why she is so happy, but I know she will respond by asking me a questions I don't want to answer. I swallow my pills and snuggle down to waste the rest of the day being a pillow.

While Takao undergoes another exam and wound cleaning with Dad, Mom sends me to the market to buy supplies to make Takao's favorite meal.

"How many kinds of panko are there?" I am irritated that the list isn't more detailed. Even a brand would help, but my mother does these things as therapy for my OCD.

"What do you need it for?" a familiar voice asks. I turn to see Serin's ace rubbing at the back of his neck, a shopping basket in his hand.

"My mother is breading tofu to fry," I answer, trying to keep my eye from twitching. We've gone back and forth for two years winning and losing to each other – I acknowledge him, as I do Kuroko and the other members of Serin, but I don't consider them friends.

"Hm, well I guess it would depend on the tofu you get."

"Extra-firm," I consult the list.

"I like this one," he hands me a black box with gold lettering. "It is a bit pricey, but it won't destroy the tofu."

"Something tells me there will be more than one kind of extra-firm tofu as well," I say and place the box in my basket.

"Lots and lots. Want a recommendation?" He's learning how to deal with people better than he used to and thanks to Takao's tutoring, so am I.

"Yes, if you have time to spare."

"I do," he says and leads me to another section of the store. "I'm just doing my weekly shopping." He helps me find the last few items on the list as if it natural for him to shop with others.

"Thank you," I say and I think we are both surprised I mean it.

"No worries," he says in English, sounding awkwardly American. "Some of us are getting together up at Komazawa Park tomorrow at 3 to play. You should join us, bring Takao."

Basketball is my therapy and it may do Takao well. We only have so much precious time alone; will Takao want to spend it with Kagami? Ultimately, we will have to check with Dad first.

"Don't count on us, but if he is up to it, we will join you," I say. He's confused, either by my tentative acceptance or my comment about Takao. I use his confusion to pay for his groceries as well.

I arrive home, eager to tell Takao about the invitation, but when I come into the living room, mom is sitting on her knees with Takao's head on her lap, facing away from me. She gently strokes his hair and makes soothing noises that I have heard myself a thousand times.

"Mom," I whisper. She looks up at me, almost pityingly and her smile does not reflect in her eyes. "What's happened?"

"Takao-kun," she calls to him and pats his cheek, "Shintarō is home."

Takao stirs and rubs his face as he makes an effort to raise himself on one elbow. Mom slips out quietly and I take her place on the floor, sitting into the warm spot she's left behind, but I can't suppress the shiver that runs up my spine when I see his red-rimmed eyes. This is a look that has become too commonplace.

"Your mom's the best, you know," he says and his eyes unfocused. He tries to look at me, but tears well up in his gentle gray eyes and he bites his lip.

"What's wrong, Kazu?"

He looks up at me, sharply, when I shorten his first name. I compartmentalize our affection so efficiently that unless we are in bed, naked together, I have never called him anything but Takao and I see happiness dance behind his eyes before he remembers that whatever is wrong is so terrible that even this momentary change in our pattern cannot distract him.

"My mom called," he begins and he shifts uncomfortably, as if there is no way to say what is on his mind.

"Are they well? Your mother and sister?"

"They're fine," he says and I can see already that this is not the issue. "We're…" he says, but he cannot finish the sentence. I crawl forward on my knees and slip my arms around him. He leans into me sideways, his legs jutting out, and puts his head on my shoulder. "Mom's decided that we have to move. Her sister lives in Osaka and that's where she went last night and she said she wants me to pack up all the stuff and…and…"

My heart stops for a beat and the panic wells in my chest in a way I haven't felt in the last year and a half. I want to get up and run to the bathroom to vomit, but I can't move.

"Shin-chan?" he must feel my tension because he is shaking me.

"No," I growl. "Osaka is 3 hours away by train, that's not acceptable."

"Shin-chan, what else am I to do? I can't live with my father."

"I don't know, but this can't happen."

POV Takao

That evening at dinner, Nobou had a creepy little smile on his face, but Shin-chan was too morose to notice.

"So, Takao, I spoke with your mother today."

"Oh?"

"I did and to your coach," he said and turned to his wife. "Why do children always have to make things so complicated?"

"Boys," she shrugged.

"I told your mother that once you moved to Osaka she would have a permanent house guest. I told her all about Shintarō's medical needs and gave her some advice to deal with his idiosyncrasies. Your mother was, let us say, less than happy."

I responded with a short bark of laughter. Shin-chan's face scrunched up.

"My medical history isn't any of her business," he snarled.

Nobou ignored his son's outburst. "Of course, I told her, that if you were allowed to stay behind and become our permanent house guest, she wouldn't have to deal with any of that."

"I can stay?" My voice broke, betraying all the emotions I had thought I had sealed down again.

"She was a bit reluctant, but as long as your grades are maintained and your scholarships continue, you can reside here with us."