Just a Fairytale [Kuroko Tetsuya x Reader x Nijimura Shuzo]{KnB}

[M.17] Middle School: Diary Entry Seventeen

Nibbling at your pencil's eraser, you attempt to solve your math homework. Deep into concentration, you don't hear your mother open the door and allow someone in. It isn't until they clear their throat do you tear your eyes away from the blank sheet of paper.

"Shuzo?" You tilt your head when you spot his hard gaze on you. "What's the matter?"

"I have to talk to you about something." He seats himself across from you at the small table in your room.

If he was delivering the news in person, it had to be bad. "Is it your dad?"

There's tension in his facial features, and as always he's good at keeping himself together amidst his burdens. "Yeah, he's gotten worse. We might need to take him to America."

"A-America?!" you gawk while sliding your homework away from your sight. "He's going to go by himself? Or are both your parents going?--"

You have so many questions for him, and he's aware of that as he's quick to answer. "We decided it best that I go with him. As soon as I graduate, I'll transfer to an American high school."

"But your English isn't that great--"

"[Name]."

"You can't just leave your siblings like that--"

"[Name]."

"What about your basketball team?"

"[Name]."

"YOU'RE LEAVING ME AS WELL!" you raise your voice as you spit out your true concern.

Nijimura snaps and slams his fist against the table out of frustration. "Dammit, this is what I was worried about. I told you that you had to stop relying on me so much."

You press your lips together as you realize how selfish your outburst was. There's a moment of silence as you bask in your shame while Nijimura tries to find the right words to ease your nerves.

"My siblings are going to be fine. They promised me that they'll keep my mom safe... I'm having Akashi become the captain since he's more focused on the team than I am."

You jump to your feet and muster the fiercest glare possible. "What are you doing?! Why are you giving up everything? It doesn't seem fair to you--"

"It's my dad," Nijimura breathes out though it comes out cracked and weak. He doesn't face you, but you can tell that it's taking him everything he has to hold himself together. It's a side you've never seen to him, and it has you weak in the knees--literally.

You collapse back onto the floor as you ponder on how to console him. You don't want to give him a hard time or cry. The best remedy you can think of is physical contact as it had helped many times in the past.

You reach out and grab hold of his hand, squeezing it tightly. "Don't worry about me," you whisper. "I'll miss you so much but I'll be fine. I'm doing a lot better with my anxiety, and I'm relying on myself a lot more." You weren't sure if that was true, but you were desperate under his broken stare. "I'll be all right, so go to America."

He squeezes your hand back and gives you a sigh, "Thank you, [Name]. I... feel better hearing you say that. I guess I'll have no regrets knowing that you'll be safe."

You force a smile, "I'll be fine without you, Shuzo. I promise."

It's an empty promise that you wished you had never said.