Unabsolutely Absolute (Kuroko no Basket)

Chapter 16: Happiness?

I watched my siblings for a moment as they did their homework. "What would you two think about going to New York?" I asked suddenly.

Yukiko froze and dropped her pencil. She turned to me and her brown eyes lit up. "Really?" she asked excitedly. She ran over to me. "Really, really, really? Onee-chan, I'll never forgive you if you're joking!" 

I laughed. "Well, it's only if I get into a competition there, okay?"

"If it's Onee-chan, she'll definitely, definitely get in!" she cheered.

"But..." Fuyuhiko began slowly. He looked down at the table and shook his head. "Never mind."

"It's alright, Fuyuhiko. What do you want to say?" I asked. I sat down next to him and pat his back.

"Isn't that where Grandma and Grandpa live?" he asked. He looked away. "Don't they hate Mama for marrying Papa?" he asked, his voice getting quieter and quieter with each word.

I smiled softly and replied, "Well..." I began carefully. "That is true, but New York City is a big place with lots and lots of people. It's bigger than Tokyo and just a little less crowded, so we probably won't even run into them." I pat him on the head. "Would you like to go too, Fuyuhiko?"

His shoulders slumped a little and he stared at the table.

Yukiko jumped up and said excitedly, "Hey, hey! New York City is where they have that super, super pretty library with the lions statues in the front and the big museum in that movie with all the moving and talking exhibits! Don't you wanna go? You can even see the big dinosaur and Mr. Glasses on the horse!"

Fuyuhiko nodded hesitantly. "Maybe... just a little..." 

I smiled gently. "Let's all go together, okay? I'll bring you guys to all of Papa's favorite places and anywhere else you guys want to go."

Fuyuhiko nodded. "Okay."

"Yes!!" Yukiko exclaimed.

I laughed and pat them both on the head. "Alright, alright. Get back to working alright? I'm going to get practicing too."

"Onee-chan, can you play my favorite song one time?" Yukiko asked.

"Humoresque in G Flat, Op. 101/7 for Yukiko and Sonata Pathétique for Fuyuhiko, right?" I asked as I sat down at the piano.

"Yeah, that one!" Yukiko replied.

"Alright. You've got it."

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Later that night, I sat down with Fuyuhiko after Yukiko fell asleep. "Fuyuhiko, are you still worried?" I asked softly.

He nodded and I put a hand on his head. "Let Onee-chan worry about all the difficult things, okay?" I said. "That's my job after all. I want you guys to get to live with as few worries as possible."

"But..." he began. Tears gathered at his eyes. "But... You're always smiling even when you're not really happy," he admitted. "I liked it better when we were still in Tokyo and you smiled happily."

I raised my eyebrows. "Even though we had to cut back on a lot?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yukiko likes it here, but... we were okay in Tokyo and everyone was happy," he replied. "We're living somewhere nice now, but you're always sad."

I smiled at him and stroked his soft ashy-blonde hair. "You're so observant that I can't pull anything past you, can I?" I sighed quietly and continued to pat his head. "Right now, things are a little difficult for me, but I promise that I'm gonna find a way to make things all better."

"I know you will. If you set your mind to anything, I know you'll succeed, but will you be happy after that?" he asked.

I hesitated. Would I? How would I even make things better?

I pushed my worries down and nodded for Fuyuhiko. "I hope so," I replied quietly. We sat there together quietly for a moment. After a bit, I smiled at him. "It's getting late. Go to sleep, okay?"

"What about you?"

"I'm gonna work a little longer and then go to sleep too."

"Onee-chan, don't work too hard," he said quietly. "Even Mama is worried about you."

I nodded and kissed him on the forehead. "Alright, Fuyuhiko. You're right. For tonight, I'll go to sleep too," I said. "Do you want to wake up early and visit Mama tomorrow morning with me?"

He nodded. 

I smiled. "Alright, good night then."

"Good night, Onee-chan."

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As I head out of our room with Fuyuhiko the next morning, we ran into Akashi. I put a smile on my face. "Good morning, A-" I coughed. "Sorry, good morning, Sei."

Fuyuhiko's grip on my hand tightened. "G-Good morning, A-Akashi-san."

"Good morning, Masami, Fuyuhiko," Akashi replied. He turned to Fuyuhiko. "Are you going to visit your mother today too?"

"Y-Yes," Fuyuhiko replied.

Akashi nodded approvingly. "That's very kind of you," he told Fuyuhiko. "Masami, do you need the car?" he asked.

"No, I think we'll take a little longer than usual today, and it may cut into your practice, so we'll take the train," I replied.

He nodded. "Alright. I'll see you in school then."

I nodded and head down the hall with Fuyuhiko in silence. It wasn't until we got to to the station that Fuyuhiko spoke up. "He's being weird," he said quietly.

I nodded. "He is."

He said, "It's scary."

"It is," I agreed.