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Romeo and Juliet

Like it had been before, the day was cold and gloomy. But nobody liked it more than Midorima.

It was times like these that Midorima liked best: Him home alone, no Kise or Aomine disrupting the peace and quiet that lingered throughout the mansion, and his unlimited access to his bookshelves where he can live in peace. Akashi had yet, another, business plan to run to and won't be home until the day after tomorrow so Midorima won't have to deal with another "kid" that needs tending to for two days.

Though, he was not entirely alone with Tetsuya and Murasakibara inside the mansion where they both found fun activities on their own after Midorima made it clear that he just wanted to read in peace.

FLASHBACK

"Play with you?" Midorima asked, seeing Murasakibara holding a basketball.

The purple-headed giant nodded. "Tetsu-cchin wanted to play catch, but it's too gloomy to go outside so I figured you'd do it," he said.

"Can you not see that I am enjoying my own time off, Murasakibara?" Midorima said.

Murasakibara frowned. "I'll give you half of my snacks if you agreed,"

"Do I look like a child that can be bribed with, Murasakibara?" Midorima asked, glaring at him.

"Maybe not," Murasakibara said, "If only you were Kise-cchin, maybe it would've worked,"

"You go play catch with the boy," Midorima said. "Weren't all of you fond of him a few days ago?"

"Yeah, but I realized having a kid is bothersome," Murasakibara said, "You can't say no, and you have to bribe them to make them obey you,"

"That's because your disciplinary actions are wrong," Midorima said. "Try talking to him, explain to him why you can't play catch and ask him what other games does he wants to play or offer a new one,"

"Hmm, that might work," Murasakibara said then left. "Arigato, Midorin,"

END OF FLASHBACK

Despite being years younger, Tetsuya seemed to get that Midorima likes it quiet and chooses to just either watch from the television or eat snacks with Murasakibara, who was on a day off. But after Murasakibara fell asleep in front of the television, Tetsuya roamed around the mansion and saw Midorima reading in peace by the gazeebo.

His cyan-colored hair was able for anyone to detect in broad daylight that Midorima saw him coming towards him.

"What is it, Tetsuya?" Midorima asked.

The toddler just stared at him and then at the pocketbook he was holding.

"This? This is Romeo and Juliet," Midorima said, "One of my favorite novels, actually. I'm rereading it,"

Tetsuya walked closer to him and gripped his slacks, a gesture that he wanted to be picked up. After weeks of staying with them, they eventually picked up the signal Tetsuya gave and seem to understand what he wanted than before.

Midorima picked the toddler up and placed him on his lap. "Would you like to read with me, Tetsuya?" he asked, earning a nod from the toddler.

"This isn't like any other storybook you know," Midorima said, but Tetsuya sat there, eyes focused down the book Midorima held, ready to listen and understand the complicated words of Shakespeare.

Midorima read all the way, Tetsuya glancing up at him in random occasions, trying to ask for a simpler explanation from the lines and when Midorima was done, Kise and Aomine had come home from work and it was already dusk.

"How did you like the story, Tetsuya?" Midorima asked and looked over the cyan-haired boy.

But he was surprised to find the toddler already asleep using his chest as a pillow.

Carefully, Midorima stood up from his seat and got inside where he was welcomed with the noise from the bickering of Kise and Aomine. Fortunately, Tetsuya was a heavy sleeper and didn't seem to be disturbed by it.

"If you wake him up and he starts crying," Midorima warned.

"Gomen, Midorima-cchi!" Kise said.

Midorima sighed and went upstairs to lay Tetsuya down his bed, but the toddler whimpered and gripped on Midorima's shirt, afraid to be left alone.

Midorima sighed silently. He still had some paperwork to do, but with Tetsuya clinging to him, he won't be able to focus at work but if he left Tetsuya alone, he might wake up and cry resulting in a bigger problem.

He sat down on Tetsuya's bed, the boy still cuddled in his arms. He didn't realize that he was smiling as he examined the toddler he held. For just short weeks, Tetsuya was able to change the individual behavior of everyone residing the mansion and he secretly hoped that he changes Akashi too.

"Eh?!" Kise's surprised tone could be heard faintly from Tetsuya's room. "Akashi-cchi?!"