||TsukkiYama||Sing For Me||Wattys 2020||

|59|

Tsukishima and I are surrounded by the five little kids as soon as we arrive downstairs. He scoops up the youngest with his free arm, refusing to let go of my hand.

'Hello there guys,' I greet them, still a bit awkward, especially since I can feel their eldest brother's gaze on us.

Careful not to knock the kids over, Tsukishima leads me to the couch, the children following us obediently. While he sits down, he places the happy little boy he was holding on his leg.

The other four also find their way on the couch, two crouching on Akiteru, one climbing on the arm rest next to him, and one just barely fitting between Tsukishima and Akiteru.

'I'm gonna have to make dinner soon, so it might be a good idea if you don't all sit on me,' Akiteru laughs. 'Will you be staying with us, Tadashi?'

'I'm afraid I can't... I think my chef will kill me if I change plans so suddenly again,' I sigh.

'No, you have to stay,' one of the kids says. It's not even a question. More of an obligation. Sounds of agreement come from the other kids, asking me to stay.

'He can eat with us. Old witch will understand. Just let me talk to her,' Tsukishima answers for me.

Akiteru frowns at this, the other kids oblivious to what he means, only hearing the words "he can eat with us". And after seeing their faces light up, I don't mind anymore.

'Fine, I'll text her,' I give in. I don't mind spending more time with Tsukishima and the kids. As I only have my right hand to send the message, it takes a long time to type and correct all my typos. Tugging at my hand does not help, as Tsukishima holds it tightly, and seems to not even think about letting go. As if we're not squeezed together on this couch already...

'What's your favourite drink?' the kid, who's the only one sitting on the couch normally, half-yells at me.

Again with the random questions? How adorable. 'I really like apple juice. Now it's my turn to ask a question. What's your name?'

'Ah, I have never even introduced them to you! I'm so sorry!' Akiteru gasps. 'Let's see...'

He puts his left hand on the head of the little girl sitting on the arm rest. It's the blonde one that introduced herself as "Tsukki" when I first met her, planting the nickname in my head, and I have been using it ever since. 'This is Hope.'

He then moves that hand to the boy sitting on his leg. 'This is her twin brother, Amare. They turned three a month ago.'

They don't look alike at all. I wouldn't have guessed they were twins at all. But I stay quiet, finding it rude to interrupt Akiteru, and thinking the kids may feel attacked by it.

Next, he places his other hand on the head of the girl who helped me out when Tsukishima fell ill. Unlike all her siblings, her hair is dark, and her eyes are a darker brown as well. The others are fair-skinned, but she is tan. 'This is Hana. She is daughter of our mother's latest husband, the father of the other four. She's been living with us ever since they got into a relationship.'

My blood runs cold at this. 'So she lost both of her original parents, then Ayako left her?' I can't help but speak up.

'How do you know her name?' Akiteru replies, his tone sounding more serious than ever.

'Let's talk about this later,' Tsukishima says quickly, before any of the kids get suspicious. Hana's already frowning, and the other kids are looking at their brothers, confused.

Though clearly unhappy with this answer, Akiteru continues. 'This little rascal,' he says, referring to the other boy on his leg, 'is our two-year-old Leo. The youngest one is just over a year old. His name is Kai.'