Akashi arrived earlier than he announced, catching everyone in the mansion by surprise. But Akashi seemed to not mind the mess his tenants made and proceeded to his room, his body aching all over as it begged for him to lie down.
"You're home early," Midorima said as he stood by Akashi's door. He was able to shake Tetsuya free after asking Aomine to carry the sleeping toddler.
"I finished early," Akashi answered, his voice hoarse.
"Are you alright?" Midorima asked walking towards Akashi.
"I'm fine," Akashi said, making Midorima stop. "Just... tired. Who will be babysitting Tetsuya tomorrow? I need to finish some paperwork for the rest of the week so I can't afford any distractions,"
"We still haven't thought about it, now that the four of us will be working tomorrow," Midorima said.
"Call Momoi,"
"I did," Midorima answered. "Unfortunately, she's loaded with work and won't be able to come by tomorrow,"
Akashi sighed silently. "This paperwork is important, Shintaro," he said.
"The boy is obedient," Midorima said, "He will listen if you tell him that you don't want to be disturbed,"
"And if not? You know I'm not very good with children,"
"If there's any trouble, I'll be happy to drop from work tomorrow, but I can't take another unpaid day off," Midorima said.
"Fine," Akashi answered.
***
Midorima was indeed correct about Tetsuya being obedient. The toddler, having slept early last night, woke up early just to see Midorima off.
"We will be back before the big hand points to eight," Midorima told the toddler who clung to his slacks tightly. "In the meantime, you do whatever you want here,"
Tetsuya looked up at him, silently pleading to go with him as he still hasn't warmed up to Akashi that well.
"Your brother will be busy for today," Midorima continued, trying to ignore Tetsuya's begging. "Try not to be noisy so he wouldn't get distracted,"
When Midorima left, Akashi stood just behind Tetsuya who tried to reach for the knob to run after the green-haired doctor. Akashi just sighed and went back to his office, ignoring the attempts of the cyan-colored toddler to run after Midorima.
After a while, Tetsuya seemed to have given up and just sat by the halls, waiting for the front door to open upon the arrival of the four other tenants. When Akashi got out from his workplace to use the bathroom, he saw Tetsuya holding the little rubber basketball they got at the mall and Midorima's Romeo and Juliet book. A half-eaten Maiubo was placed on the floor beside him as he continued to wait for the others.
"Tetsuya," Akashi called, making the toddler flinch and look up at him bashfully.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, and as if on cue, Tetsuya's stomach growled, making the boy blush pink.
"Come, let's have lunch," Akashi said and did not wait for the toddler to follow him.
He stopped at his tracks, though, when Tetsuya grabbed his pants and pulled slightly. Akashi realized that a walk to the dining hall was too much work for a toddler so he picked Tetsuya up and went to the dining hall with him.
Akashi didn't mind eating leftovers as long as it was Murasakibara who made it. Unfortunately, he wasn't a fan of vegetables like Tetsuya. But his grumbling stomach told him that any food will do just to get him by for the day.
After heating their lunch, Akashi sat down at his usual chair with Tetsuya beside him. He was actually amazed at how the toddler can munch on his lunch despite showing displeasure in front of it. Akashi smiled when Tetsuya looked at him, remembering how his mother often tells him to eat his vegetables and not leave them untouched.
"Whats is it?" Akashi asked when Tetsuya kept on looking at him.
Tetsuya glanced at Akashi's untouched food, silently asking why hasn't Akashi touched his food.
"You mind your own food now, Tetsuya," Akashi said, looking down at his own plate.
When Akashi looked at Tetsuya again, the toddler was now holding his spoon up at Akashi, broccoli resting upon it.
"No, no," Akashi said gently. "You eat that,"
But Tetsuya had other plans and remained to lift the spoon towards Akashi, even if it meant standing up from his seat.
Akashi sighed and forcefully ate the green vegetable and surprising as it may seem, it wasn't as bad as he remembered when he first tried the green food.
"Delicious," Akashi smiled.
Tetsuya broke into a wild smile that froze Akashi. After adopting the little boy, Akashi often wondered if Tetsuya truly was his brother as they didn't share the same traits: Akashi's hair was red while Tetsuya's were cyan colored. But after seeing that smile, Akashi confirmed that they are indeed brothers, for Akashi saw in Tetsuya, the little boy he once was— happy, care-free, innocent, and content.
After lunch, Akashi felt generous enough to let Tetsuya inside his office while he worked, providing him with scratch papers and pencils to keep himself distracted.
However, thrilled upon discovering his new talent in arts, Tetsuya often runs to Akashi to show him the random circles and lines he made. A behavior Akashi finds both annoying and amusing. Amusing because he admired how in simple ways, Tetsuya can be happy on his own, a trait every child shares. Annoying because he always shows his art to Akashi when Akashi needed to focus on his work more.
