Family

Curious

Midorima pulled the blanket over the shoulders of a sleeping Tetsuya. He swiped a few strands of stray hair away from Tetsuya's face who mumbled and wrapped his arms around his stuffed dog he named Nigou. He smiled and turned Tetsuya's lamp off, leaving his night light open, as he closed the storybook for the night and put it back to the shelf before exiting the room.

It had been a year now since they convinced Tetsuya to move to a bedroom of his own since they were concerned at how early the kid wakes up in the morning every time one them starts preparing for work and Akashi couldn't keep on letting him sleep in his room since Akashi often sleeps late in the night and it was unhealthy for Tetsuya. In exchange though, one of them would stay with him and read him stories until he falls asleep which was what the older men agreed with. 

Midorima headed to Akashi's office where the redhead was working from home and intended to stay up late. "He's already asleep," he announced after making his presence known by Akashi.

"Thank you, Shintaro," Akashi answered, his eyes not taking off his computer screen.

"You shouldn't stay up too late," Midorima said.

"Just a few more minutes,"

"Your minutes mean hours," Midorima mumbled, making Akashi chuckle.

"Fine just a few more emails to answer and then I'll head off to bed," Akashi said, glancing at his family doctor. "Happy?"

Midorima snorted as he adjusted his glasses. "It's not I can do anything else," he said, "What are you doing, anyway? You didn't seem busy earlier but then after dinner, you locked yourself up here. Tetsuya wanted you to read to him tonight,"

Akashi frowned. "I'm sorry, I'll do it tomorrow night," he said, "It's just... this is important,"

Midorima was tempted to look over at Akashi's computer to see what he was working and but he already knew what it was and decided not to bother the redhead even more. 

"Was he mad at me?" Akashi asked when Midorima turned and went for the door.

"Worried," Midorima answered. "He doesn't like it when you stay up late and had often asked me to persuade you to sleep early,"

As funny as it sounded, Tetsuya thought that Akashi was the smallest among the five of his older brothers because he was the one who usually stayed up late and handled more stress than the rest. That's why he promised himself and to Midorima that he'd sleep on time and get plenty of rest since he wanted to grow up big like Murasakibara-- an exaggeration in Tetsuya's part if you ask the green-haired doctor.

"Fine," Akashi mumbled then started to tidy up his table as he turned his computer off after saving his work. "I can continue this tomorrow anyway,"

Midorima hid a smile. Four years since Tetsuya came into their lives and it still baffles him and the others at how easily can Tetsuya persuades Akashi into doing something they normally have a problem with.

***

He trembled in fear but kept himself in his position as he stood in front of the angry gaze of his father. Earlier, he had persuaded his personal butler to take him outside despite his father's strict instructions to keep him inside the mansion's premises today while his father was gone for a meeting.

But he had been cooped up inside the mansion for days now and was itching to meet up with his friends-- friends that his father did not approve of-- and had snuck out to play with them, only to come back home to see his father impatiently waiting for him with a scowl on his face and disappointment in his eyes.

"Did I not tell you that you are not to go outside today?" his father's voice was calm, making it scarier for the ten-year-old kid

"Y-yes, father," he answered, "But I--"