Just over a week later, Kei and his family attend the wake and funeral. Ms. Yamaguchi had requested that the team members attend the ceremony as well, since she knew that they gave Tadashi a sort of 'home away from home'. Tsukishima wishes that he remembered more from the event, having been numbed out for the majority of it. He had been asked to speak, and he wrote a small eulogy a few days in advance. He didn't practice beforehand, knowing that he would probably break down mid-speech, and it took all of his strength to avoid weeping in front of everyone.
After the ceremony, Ms. Yamaguchi approached the Tsukishimas, "Thank you for coming, it would've meant a lot to Tadashi."
Kei feels his heart squeeze as she uses past tense to refer to him. Not trusting his mouth to obey his mind, he nods.
"We offer our condolences," Ms. Tsukishima says as she bows, and the two brothers follow suit.
When the younger brother returns to his rigid posture, Ms. Yamaguchi takes hold of his hands in her own.
"He cared so much about you, Kei," she nearly whispers.
"I do too." He speaks in present tense, his love didn't die along with Tadashi.
She lets go of his hands for a moment, reaches into her handbag and pulls out a small piece of folded paper. Knowing exactly what it is, the sight of it makes Tsukishima's breath hitch.
"He left it on his bedside table, it's addressed to you," she says while pressing the note into the palm of left hand before placing it between her own.
He forces himself to speak, "Thank you." A few tears escape from his eyes and roll down his pale cheeks.
She lets go of his hand, and the Tsukishimas and Ms. Yamaguchi bow to each other once more, bidding each other farewell.
***
A week passes and Tsukishima is starting to feel better. He's regained his appetite, but he still feels hollow, like a piece of him is missing. He and his mother, despite Ms. Yamaguchi's objections, had gone to visit her a few times since the funeral. Each time, it takes every ounce of his strength to keep himself from crying in front of her and each time, Tsukishima's mother has to put more effort into convincing her son that they should go visit.
It is now the third time they've visited her since the funeral.
Just as they are about to leave she stops them, "Wait!"
Tsukishima turns around and tilts his head.
"I...I have something for you." She runs upstairs and returns with a small bag, "Here."
He accepts the bag and peeks inside to see navy blue fabric, and he holds his breath and he takes it out of the bag.
It's Kei's middle school graduation hoodie.
It takes all of his effort to not break down right then and there.
"Thank you," he says quietly.
YOU ARE READING
Under the Stars
Fanfiction"Have you ever thought about killing yourself?" "What the hell? Of course not! Why would you even ask something like that?" "I don't know, the thought just came to my mind I guess." Tsukishima Kei was never one to socialize or be overly friendly. A...
