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Zoo

"Tetsu, spoke?" Aomine asked, glancing at the cyan-haired boy who was playing catch with Kise by the garden. "I don't think that's possible, considering he still hasn't warmed up to us,"

"I know what I heard, Daiki," Akashi said. He, Aomine, Midorima, and Murasakibara lounged by the gazeebo and watched as Kise played with the toddler.

"I know, but I'm just saying... you said you were asleep when you heard Tetsuya," Aomine said, "Are you sure you're not just dreaming?"

Akashi didn't answer. Maybe he did just dreamt Tetsuya speak and coincidentally, he woke up to see Tetsuya close to him.

"Though Tetsuya speaking might be possible once he feels safe around us enough to forget his past," Midorima said.

"Hmm? How do we even do that?" Murasakibara asked.

"Oh? Poor birdie," Kise said from a distance and they saw him and Tetsuya looking over a bush.

"Oi, Kise, what's wrong?" Aomine asked.

"Huh? Oh, nothing, I think a chick fell from its nest," Kise said then turned to Tetsuya.

Aomine stood up from his seat and took a look. "Oh? It did fell," he said then picked up the poor animal in his hand. "I'll return it,"

Before Aomine could stand up, Tetsuya had grabbed his arm to examine the trembling chick.

"Hmm? What's wrong Tetsu? Haven't you seen a chick before?" Aomine asked.

Tetsuya just looked at him before examining the chick, mesmerized.

"I don't think he's seen an animal before," Kise said then spotted a cat nearby. "Ne, Tetsuya-cchi, have you seen a cat before?"

"What are you talking about, Kise? Of course, he'd—" Aomine said but stopped when Tetsuya ran after the cat, amazed upon seeing the feline.

"Ne, how bad was Tetsuya-cchi's mom to not let her son get out of the house?" Kise said.

Before Tetsuya could even get close to the cat, Akashi had stood up from his seat and stopped Tetsuya from coming any closer.

"Tetsuya," Akashi said, crouching down to level the boy's height. "Would you like to go to the zoo today?"

He remembered very well how the toddler showed so much enthusiasm when they visited Takao for a pediatrics' appointment and he had shrugged it off-- like everyone else-- thinking that it was normal for a child to be that excited over an animal. But now, he was starting to think that Tetsuya was a different case.

"Ne! Akashi-cchi! I'd like to!" Kise answered.

"I wasn't asking you," Akashi shot a glare at Kise, immediately shutting him up.

He smiled at Tetsuya. "What do you say, Tetsuya?" He asked.

***

Tetsuya's eyes widened as he pointed up the giraffe while he rode on top of Murasakibara's shoulder.

"That's a giraffe, Tetsuya-cchi," Kise said, smiling at him.

"You look more amused than Tetsu, though," Aomine muttered, sniggering at the yellow-haired.

"Well it's because we hardly ever go out like this," Kise said, "And it was all thanks to Tetsuya-cchi,"

"Are you sure you're alright with going out today?" Midorima asked Akashi who was silently admiring his little brother's innocence. "I know you said you're already well and your fever's finally gone, but—"

"I'm fine, Shintaro," Akashi said, "I also need to get out of the house sometimes,"

"Ne, ne, let's go to the marine life section!" Kise said.

"Atsushi," Akashi called, "You can put Tetsuya down now. Daiki can take him from here,"

"Hmm? You sure?" Murasakibara asked.

Akashi nodded.

"Come on, Tetsu," Aomine said, holding the toddler's hand. "We can't let Kise beat us to the marine life section.

They spent the whole day roaming around the zoo, Kise and Aomine introducing Tetsuya to the animals he was unfamiliar with and by the end of the day, they went to the souvenir shop after Tetsuya pointed at the cat keychain he saw hanging by the stalls of the store.

"A cat?" Aomine asked, "Why would Tetsu pick a cat?"

Upon purchasing the item, Tetsuya ran to Akashi and gave the keychain to him.

"For me?" Akashi asked.

Tetsuya nodded.

Akashi smiled as he crouched down and pat Tetsuya. "You keep it," he said.

Tetsuya looked down at the keychain he was holding then smiled at Akashi.

"Oh?! Tetsuya-cchi's smiling!" Kise said, delighted to see the expressionless boy smile for the first time.

Akashi looked confused. "Is this your first time to see him smile?" he asked.

"Well, yeah," Aomine said, "Tetsu hardly ever does anything except stare and point,"

"Why, Aka-cchin?" Murasakibara asked, munching on his chips. "Have you seen Tetsu-cchin smile before?"

Akashi nodded. "If I remember it right, it was when he and I shared lunch together after getting back from a business meeting,"

"Hmm, looks like he's warmed up to you more than we all thought," Midorima said. "This is a good sign,"

"Ne, Ne, let's all take a picture to remember this day!" Kise said, bringing his camera out.

Murasakibara put Tetsuya over his shoulder while Aomine and Midorima stood beside him. Kise stood beside Aomine while Akashi stood beside Midorima.

"Say, cheese!" Kise announced as the camera started counting down to take their picture.

***

When the day ended, they all went back to their house with Midorima driving, Akashi beside him, and the other three at the back with Kise in the middle, holding onto Tetsuya who slept on the way home.

"Should we wake him up for dinner?" Midorima asked, glancing at the rearview mirror of their car to see Tetsuya sound asleep in Kise's chest.

"No," Akashi said, looking back at the toddler. "Let him rest for the day," he said.

Midorima nodded. "It's Aomine's turn to sleep with him," he said, "Maybe I can tell him to fix Tetsuya dinner once he wakes up,"

"That won't be necessary," Akashi said, "I'll do it,"

"What?" Midorima asked, glancing a surprised gaze at the red-haired businessman.

"I'll sleep with Tetsuya tonight," Akashi repeated.

What Akashi decided to do earned the same surprised reaction from the other three.

"A-are you sure, Akashi?" Aomine asked.

"Yeah, you aren't sick or anything right?" Kise asked.

"I'm sure I'm fine," Akashi answered. "And, yes, I'm sure I want to sleep with Tetsuya beside me tonight since I'll be working from home tomorrow,"

"Well then, here you go," Kise said, giving the sleeping toddler to Akashi. "He doesn't wake up easily and when he sleeps, he continuously does so until the morning so you won't be disturbed,"

"Thank you for the advice," Akashi said then turned to his room. "Goodnight,"