Family

Akashi and the others waited by the car along as Tenma brought Tetsuya to Tetsuo's grave. The child got home a short while after the big revelation and he had asked to see where Tetsuo ask. He was silent on the whole way home and Akashi was afraid it would overwhelm the child and have him revert back to his old self-- the others were thinking the same thing as they glanced at the kid every now and then during the ride to the cemetery.

"Nii-san," Tenma called out to Tetsuo's tombstone as he held Tetsuya's hand. "This is little Tetsuya... Akano's kid... your son,"

Tetsuya just stared at the tombstone as he clutched the letter Tetsuo had addressed to him. Tenma pursed his lips and let go of the child's hand. "I'll go ahead for a while, okay?" he said then turned and left.

Tetsuya sat down on the grassy field and unfolded the letter where a picture slid off and landed on his lap-- it was a picture of Tetsuo and Akano together as they spent a vacation at the local beach where they met. Tetsuya trailed his hand over his parents' faces before reading the letter.

To my dearest son,

If you're reading this right now, it means that I have left this world and Tenma has finally found you. If that's the case then your mother lied to me-- she kept you and I hope that she loves you very much.

I have so many things to tell you, but the first word that I could think of was 'sorry'... I'm sorry that I wasn't able to fight for my love to your mother, I'm sorry that I was a coward.. afraid to take the risk to keep your mother and you safe... I'm sorry I wasn't there to hear your first cry... I'm sorry I wasn't there to hear your first laugh... I'm sorry I didn't hear your first word-- but I'm sure that it was Mama. I'm sorry I wasn't there to witness your first steps, or saw how you grew inch and inch every day... I'm sorry I wasn't there to take you to school, or help you calm down when nightmares arrive or wipe your tears whenever you cry for me...

I'm sorry.

I know you're mad at me-- how can you not be? I left you and your mother even before we knew you were growing inside of her. I want to ask for your forgiveness and hope that you'll be a better man than me when you grow up and have your own family.

I want you to know that I loved you and your mother very much but I had to make hard decisions to protect both of you and hope that your uncle Tenma would explain and make you understand. I love you, my son.

Tetsuya folded the paper and remained seated in front of Tetsuo's grave and he didn't move away or utter a word when Akashi sat down next to him and put a hand around him in comfort. They only went home that day after Tetsuya fell asleep next to Akashi.

He refused to cry.

He refused to ask questions.

He refused any valid emotion.

The next day, he refused to utter a word.

***

True to their words, the gang was complete for Tetsuya's Family Day and all eyes were on them because in a sea of parents-- five older brothers, an older cousin, and an uncle accompanied the cyan-haired kid to his classroom where the Show-and-Tell was going to happen.

"Kuroko!" Ogiwara called and hugged his best friend in delight, but Tetsuya just smiled at him-- a smile that didn't reach his eyes-- and moved to prepare his props for the Show-and-Tell and sat quietly on his chair.

"What's wrong, Kuroko-kun?" Yumi asked but the child just shook his head and stayed silent.

"Ayachin," Murasakibara called and urged her to come over to where they were sitting. "Please be gentle with Tetsuchin today,"