Family

Stranger

"We can take you home if they're still not here yet," Ogiwara offered as his mother came to pick him up from school while Tetsuya sat patiently and waited for his chaperon to arrive.

Unfortunately, it had been an hour since their classes ended and his chaperon should've arrived five minutes before like they always do. But today, none of the rainbow-haired males arrived on time and Tetsuya was left waiting by the school premises.

"No, thank you," Tetsuya answered with a smile. "I can still wait for them,"

"But... it's getting a bit late," Ogiwara said.

"I'll be fine, Ogiwara-kun," Tetsuya said with a smile. "I'll wait,"

"Are you sure?" Ogiwara asked.

"We can call your brothers to tell them that you're still here," Ogiwara's mother said.

Tetsuya smiled. "Thank you, Ogiwara-san," he said.

Unable to do anything about Tetsuya, the mother and son left him sitting alone by a bench by the school playground where Tetsuya usually waits for his chaperons to arrive. Yumi called a day off today and said she was sick and had asked the substitute teacher to accompany Tetsuya while she was gone-- unfortunately, the said teacher had an urgent errand and couldn't wait with Tetsuya.

"Mind if I join you?" A voice asked, causing Tetsuya to look up and see a man with azure hair and eyes looking down to him. He looked like a few years older than Mayuzumi, considering he was the oldest one that stayed in the manor.

Normally, Tetsuya wouldn't talk to strangers, but there was something in his eyes that made him comfortable around him and caused the kid to smile at him.

The stranger smiled kindly at Tetsuya then sat next to him, giving enough space for the kid to feel comfortable. "Are your parents not here yet?" he asked.

Tetsuya shook his head. "Nii-san will pick me up," he said.

"Where is he then?"

"At work,"

"Work?" the man said, confused as he glanced at his wristwatch.

"Oji-san," Tetsuya asked, "Do you know who I am?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Nii-san told me that I shouldn't talk to strangers, but... it doesn't seem nice if I don't answer your questions," Tetsuya said.

"Aah, sorry..." the man said, scratching his nape in embarrassment then held out his free hand. "I'm Tenma Tanaka, what's your name?"

Tetsuya looked up at him before averting his gaze. "Nii-san said I shouldn't tell my name to strangers," he said.

"Clever kid," Tenma said, "But I'm not a stranger anymore, aren't I? I told you my name already,"

Tetsuya looked down, thinking about whether to trust this guy or not, then looked around-- no one was arriving to pick him up.

"Tetsuya," he said, "That's my name,"

"And your last name?"

Tetsuya shook his head. "Nii-san say I can't tell strangers my full name,"

Tenma chuckled.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Tetsuya-san," Tenma said with a grin then looked around. "When did you say your nii-san was going to arrive?"

Tetsuya shrugged. It was already afternoon and was already getting dark-- Tetsuya hated the dark-- and he wanted to go home already to finish his homework.