"Where do you want your uniform shirts?" Kagami asked.

Kuroko was sitting cross-legged on the bed in the spare room. ("Your room," Kagami kept saying. "Stop calling it the spare room. It's your room now.") Kagami knelt on the floor surrounded by open boxes as he pulled articles out and put them away. He refused to let Kuroko help because of his fever. He was supposed to sit and direct Kagami where to go.

Kuroko sighed. "The closet, please." He was pretty sure Kagami could have made that decision on his own. But he insisted on hearing and following Kuroko's opinion for every little thing.

Kagami climbed to his feet with an armful of shirts and started hanging them in the closet. Kuroko yawned, his entire body drooping. He had spent a good part of the day napping in the blanket fort, yet he was still exhausted.

Kagami finished with the shirts, then hung the trousers and jackets next to them. ("Where do you want these?" "Same place, please.") He pushed the boxes full of books over to the wall, then stood with his hands on his hips and frowned down at them. "We'll buy a bookshelf tomorrow. Maybe two. How many books do you have, anyway?"

Kuroko tilted his head to stare at the boxes. He had never realized how many books he owned. Seeing everything he possessed in boxes around his feet was a rather strange experience. It all seemed like too much (Did he really have this much useless stuff?) and too little at the same time (Did these few boxes really hold his entire life?).

And seeing the boxes also made it all feel...more real. He really wasn't living with his father anymore. He really wasn't going back. He really was going to stay with Kagami.

This really was...his room. Not Kagami's spare room anymore. His. Kuroko Tetsuya's room.

It had all happened so fast.

"Kuroko?" Kagami's voice was much closer this time. And more concerned. "Are you all right?"

Kuroko looked up and found him standing next to the bed, looking down at him with his eyebrows bent in worry. Kuroko shrugged. "I'm fine. Just tired."

"Busy day, huh?" Kagami plopped down next to him on the bed and slung a casual arm around his neck, reaching up to ruffle Kuroko's hair midway through.

Kuroko barely flinched at all. He was getting used to Kagami's gestures and movements. He felt like less of a freak, more like himself. And it had only been three days. It felt like a major accomplishment, though he didn't know whether to credit Kagami or himself with the success. Probably Kagami.

"Busy day," he echoed softly. "Hard day. Good day, too, in the end. Bad in parts."

"Yeah." Kagami was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry Aomine did this without asking you. He was an idiot."

Kuroko hummed. "If he'd asked me, I could have given him my key. They could have gone and gotten my things when my father wasn't home."

"Yeah." Kagami sighed. "I think half of the reason was because he wanted to confront your father, though. And hey, he got what he wanted. Your dad got punched in the face. By Midorima, though."

"That was a surprise."

Kagami grunted. "There were a lot of surprising things. Imayoshi. Kasamatsu. What did Kasamatsu say to you before they left, eh?"

Kuroko looked down at his hands, twined in his lap. It had happened just as their visitors were taking their leave, putting on their jackets and shoes in the entryway, saying their thanks to Kagami for his excellent hospitality. Kasmatsu had hung back from the others a bit, looking awkward but determined, and gestured Kuroko over to the wall so he could speak to him.

Kuroko spoke slowly. "Kasamatsu-san said... That he was sorry to intrude, he was sorry he'd been thrust into my business like this and it was not his place to say anything. But now that he was there, he wanted to tell me..." Kuroko drew a breath. "He said he hoped that I would keep playing basketball. Because I was a good player, an interesting player, and he knew how much I loved it. Kise-kun told him all the time, and it's not many who have earned Kise-kun's respect. And Kasamatsu-san hoped that my difficulties would not spoil that for me. He wants me to continue to find pleasure and joy in the sport I love."

Kagami was silent for a moment. "What did you say back to him?"

"I thanked him for his concern and said I would do my best. I didn't want to tell him that...that my basketball is gone."

"Good," Kagami said at once. "Because it's not. Not forever, anyway. You know that, right?"

Kuroko hesitated. "I know you believe that."

"Yeah, I do. I'll make you believe it, too." Kagami tightened the arm he had slung around Kuroko's neck, dragging him in closer until their temples touched for a moment. Then he let him go and stood up from the bed, bare toes wiggling on the matting. "Stay here. I'll be right back. There's something I wanna share with you."

He had already trotted out of the room before Kuroko could protest that Kagami had already shared pretty much everything with him. Kagami returned in just a minute or two, carrying his laptop and a bright grin. "Okay, let's get comfortable."

He arranged some pillows and bedding against the wall behind Kuroko's back, then wiggled down into them with a sigh. Kuroko watched him work, too tired to help, but scooted back to join him when Kagami patted the mattress beside him. Kagami situated the computer on his lap and opened a program.

"Do you want to watch the rest of the movie?" Kuroko asked, still confused. Kagami's manner seemed to indicate that this was something more than just finishing Castle in the Sky.

"No. I want to introduce you to my dad." It was a video chat program. And it was beginning to connect.

Kuroko's eyes widened in alarm. He shifted away almost instinctively, trying to make sure he wouldn't be in the shot. Kagami gave him a look, eyebrows furrowing, but didn't force him to come back. "It's okay. I'll talk to him first, then bring you in."

The program was still connecting. Kuroko watched it spin, his eyes wide, heart fluttering in his chest. "How...how do you know he'll be available? Your father is busy, isn't he?"

"We often chat on Sunday nights. Not every week, but he usually lets me know if he's not going to be at his laptop." Kagami gave him another look, a small frown pulling at his mouth. "Don't look so worried. He's going to love you."

"You sound so certain," Kuroko murmured.

"That's because I am..." A video window finally opened on the screen, revealing the smiling face of an older man who looked very much like Kagami, though his hair and eyebrows were much more respectable, the usual Japanese black instead of dark red. The connection was good, only breaking slightly every few seconds, and the picture was quite clear. He looked well-groomed and polished, bright eyes glinting behind round spectacles. And he was completely delighted to see his son.

Kagami lit up like a firework. He greeted his father in English, loud and enthusiastic. "Hey there, Daddy-o!"

"Hey there, Tiger Cub!" his father replied, and he said something else in English that Kuroko couldn't follow.

They said a few things back and forth to each other, and Kuroko only picked up a few words here and there: notably "basketball," "Seirin," and "fun" among them. Then Kagami cut a glance to Kuroko and abruptly switched to Japanese.

"Hey, Dad, you remember what I was telling you about my friend, Kuroko?"

His father followed his change of language without hesitation. "I do. Did you find out what was wrong?" He had settled down from the enthusiasm and joy they'd greeted each other with, meeting his son's seriousness with his own.

Kagami nodded solemnly. "I did. And it's really bad." He hesitated, looking at Kuroko again, then looked back to his father. "Just a second, okay?"

His father nodded. Kagami muted the program and looked at Kuroko. "I need to tell him, all right? I know...a lot of people found out today against your wishes, and it was very uncomfortable for you. If you want me to wait, I will. But Dad needs to know what's going on eventually."

Kuroko pressed a hand to his chest. His heart was pounding. But the man on that screen...not only was he Kagami's father, but he was the one who paid for the place where Kuroko was now staying. Where he wanted to continue staying for as long as possible. If anyone deserved to know all of the details of Kuroko's life, this man did.

It didn't really make it any easier to accept. But it did make it necessary.

Kuroko nodded, slow and shaky, but as firmly as he could. "You can tell him now. He should know."

Kagami watched him for a moment longer, as if giving him a chance to take it back, then faced the computer again. His father's face was solemn, watching with care and concern, his expression exactly like his son's. When Kagami unmuted the program, he spoke first. "Is Kuroko-kun with you now, Taiga?"

Kagami nodded. "Yeah, he is." He turned the laptop so that Kuroko appeared in the small inset window on the bottom right.

Kuroko blinked at both Kagami's father and at the image of himself at the bottom of the screen. Kuroko was still clutching his chest with one hand, and his face was pale where it wasn't flushed. He looked thin and ill and wary. Almost...cornered.

Pitiful. This was why he'd been avoiding mirrors.

Kagami slung an arm around his neck again and pulled him in. Kuroko's temple bumped against Kagami's chin, and he squinted one eye shut at the contact. But he didn't look as lonely in that little inset window with Kagami's face pressed close to his.

"Dad, this is my friend, Kuroko Tetsuya," Kagami said. "Kuroko, this is my father, Kagami Hiroshi."

He sounded proud, and happy, and satisfied. He sounded like he'd wanted to do this for a long time.

Kagami Hiroshi's face opened into a gentle smile. His eyes were soft, and his voice was kind. "Kuroko-kun, I'm very pleased to meet you. Taiga has told me so many good things about you. I'm very happy to see you face to face, even though it's not in person."

"Hello, Kagami-san," Kuroko greeted him softly. "Your son is very good and kind. You should be proud of him."

He beamed at Kuroko with no hint of surprise, as if this went without saying. "I am the proudest father in all of America and Japan. All that, and he's good at basketball, too!"

Kuroko nodded solemnly. "He's the best at basketball."

Kagami grinned at them both, eyes sparkling. Then he brought himself back down, smile fading little by little. By the time he spoke again, his voice was entirely serious. "Dad, I need to ask a favor."

His father looked at him expectantly.

"I want Kuroko to stay here from now on. No...that's what needs to happen. Kuroko can't go home anymore. You remember I told you I thought someone might be bullying him?"

"Yes, I do." The elder Kagami's voice was serious, too.

"Well, I found out who it was. It wasn't just some kid at school. It was Kuroko's father. And bullying is not the right word. It's not the right word at all."

Silence. Kuroko lowered his eyes. His hands twisted in his lap. At least his heart wasn't pounding anymore. He felt numb and distant. Why was this so hard, every single time?

Maybe it was bad this time because it was Kagami's father, and Kuroko very much wanted this person to like him. He didn't want to feel weak and pathetic and worthless in this man's eyes. Kagami Hiroshi was also the first adult to find out, and that was a barrier Kuroko had not mentally prepared himself to breach. It was all happening so fast...

Kagami and his father were still talking, though Kuroko did not have the wherewithal to listen to them. The words washed over him, the outraged tone of Kagami's voice, the concerned tone of his father's. ("...beating him, he was beating him, with a strap, he's covered in welts..." "...you did the right thing, you truly did, never doubt that...") Kagami's arm remained tight around Kuroko, holding him close, so Kuroko finally gave in and just rested his head on Kagami's shoulder. There was a slight pause in the conversation, then, before it went on.

They switched to English at one point, probably so they could discuss terms that didn't have exact Japanese equivalents. The words "Japan" and "America" and "different" were prominent. When they moved back to Japanese, they seemed to have come to an agreement, though Kagami-san's voice was sharper than it had been before.

("He looks terrible. You should take him to a hospital." "He won't go, Dad, and it's just a fever. He's been under a lot of stress. I'm taking care of him.")

Kuroko was so tired. He couldn't go to sleep with all the noise, though. At least his heart had settled down in his chest. He didn't have the energy to be afraid anymore.

"Kuroko-kun. Kuroko-kun?" Kagami-san's voice was worried.

Kagami gave his shoulder a little shake. "Kuroko, Dad is talking to you."

Kuroko raised his head from Kagami's shoulder with great difficulty. His eyelids were heavy, but he forced them open. "Yes, Kagami-san?"

Kagami-san's eyes were bright and fierce behind his glasses, but his expression was gentle. "Kuroko-kun, I wanted to tell you myself. Everything will be all right. You are here now, and this is where you will stay. Do you understand?"

Kuroko nodded. "Yes, Kagami-san. Thank you."

He gave Kuroko a smile, slight and strained. "You could call me Hiroshi if you like. You're under my roof now."

"Dad, Kuroko never uses people's given names. Even when they tell him to."

"But I insist. No son of mine should address me so formally."

Kuroko's eyes widened. He felt frozen. He couldn't even form the words to question this.

Kagami-san nodded. "I know it's sudden. And it won't be official for quite a long time, probably. But please think of me as your guardian until further notice. You are safe now. I swear it."

The tears came again. Kuroko couldn't believe he had any left. His face wrenched up, and he turned and hid his eyes against Kagami's shoulder, fingers twisting in his shirt. "Yes...Hiroshi-san," he choked out. Kagami's arm tightened around him, and his other hand rose to comb through Kuroko's hair.

Silence held for only a few seconds.

"I'll fly out tomorrow."

"C'mon, no. You have that big meeting you're worried about. We'll be okay."

"No. I'm coming."

"Ugh, Dad, this is why I didn't tell you right away. So pushy."

"I think I have a right to be. And I think I have a right to punch that man in the face."

"What, again! Don't dibs mean anything to anyone? One of Kuroko's friends from middle school already punched him, okay? He's been punched."

"Not enough."

"Well, you definitely can't come to Japan with an attitude like that. This is a peaceful country."

This nonsense continued for a while. Kuroko sagged on Kagami's shoulder, unable to hold himself upright. At length, it seemed that Kagami managed to persuade his father to hold off. "I'll call you every night so you can see him for yourself, all right? We'll be fine, I promise."

"You'd better be. Now, you should both get some rest. Forget about homework. Sleep is more important tonight."

"Thanks, Dad. You're the best."

"Don't I know it."

The good-byes went on for a bit, too. Kuroko managed to raise his hand and give a little wave when Hiroshi-san specifically wished him a good night. Then the noise finally, finally stopped. Kagami closed the laptop and set it aside, then sat there for a moment, still and silent, letting it sink in.

"Well," he said. "That's done. From here on out, everything changes."

Kuroko nodded, slow and already half-asleep. Kagami patted his head. "C'mon, let's get you under the covers."

Kuroko let Kagami maneuver him around. Somehow Kagami seemed to know already that Kuroko wanted to sleep on his side, his knees drawn up and his face toward the door. Kagami smoothed the pillow under his head and pulled the blankets over his shoulder.

"Kagami-kun...?" Kuroko just had one more question. He couldn't drag his eyes open to ask it, though.

But he felt Kagami pause, even so, listening carefully.

"Why... Why didn't you ask your father for advice? That first night? You're obviously very close. Why did you turn to your brother instead?"

"Because you wanted it to be a secret." Kagami patted his head one more time, gentle and kind. "If I had mentioned it to my dad, he would have known right away that it was you no matter how I tried to disguise it. Aniki figured it out, too, but it took him a while. But my dad... He knows a lot about you. I talk about you all the time."

"Oh." Kuroko snuggled down into his bed, curling up a little tighter. "Then...to him, it wasn't that sudden."

"No," Kagami said softly. "It wasn't that sudden at all. I told you he would love you, Kuroko. Because he already did."