28-3-2036

"here we are," oikawa smiles softly.

"here we are," kuroo repeats. "remember when you stopped by here?"

"yeah. my few days i actually went to school."

"i was so happy you were there," he chuckles, "sad you didn't stop by more, though."

"stoop, i'll feel guilty," oikawa groans.

"dad!" kazuhiko exclaims as he runs over, "dad i got a bug!"

"stay away!" oikawa shrieks, jumping behind his husband.

"kazuhiko, why," kuroo asks pointedly.

"to scare dad."

"fistbump." the small boy happily complies, before placing the bug back on the ground.

"now, kazu," oikawa says, kneeling down in front of him, "you have a good day, okay? listen to your teacher and do your best."

"i'm gonna colour all the alien pictures!" he grins happily, and oikawa almost tears up.

"you colour every single one of them," he says firmly, "and you show them how amazing you are."

"go get 'em, kid," kuroo laughs, running a hand through his hair, surprised by how the kid doesn't seem scared at all.

"i will! bye dad! bye dad!" and without waiting for a reply, he runs off to the entrance. oikawa stands up again, sighing deeply.

"he's already going to school."

"that's a good thing," kuroo reminds him, "we have a healthy and happy kid. the best we could wish for."

"yeah, he is. i just wish, sometimes, that he'd rely on me a little more, y'know?"

"he relies on you plenty," kuroo says, taking his hand, "your pep talks are the reason he's so excited in the first place."

"they are?" he asks, insecurities obvious in his voice.

"they are. he loves you more than anything. and so do i."

"tetsuuu," he whines, "now i feel bad."

"don't feel bad." he looked over at oikawa. "hey, by the way, i have the day off."

"you do? awesome! we can wa—"

"we have the house to ourselves," he says in a sing-song tone. oikawa looks up at him, blushing.

"tetsurou! we're on school grounds!"

"so we should hurry."

oikawa sped up. "i hate you so much."

28-3-2036

"dad!" kazuhiko exclaims as he runs over to oikawa, jumping up into his arms, the taller catching him easily. 

"kazu!" he laughs, hugging him, "how was it?"

"look! i made my own alien!" he says, shoving a piece of paper with some scribbles on it in his face. 

"that looks great!" he grins, kissing his forehead quickly. "did you make any friends?"

"mhm!" he nodded enthusiastically, "i played with nana-chan and yasu-kun!"

"that sounds great, buddy," he says, "hey, let's go home, we have to make dinner for dad."

"yay! is he home?"

"he'll be home at five."

"oh, that's when the... the small hand?"

"yep"

"the small hand's almost down!" he continues as oikawa sets him down. oikawa smiles at him as they walk to the car, his little hand holding his.

he couldn't be happier.

2-4-2036

"etsuko!" kazuhiko says enthusiastically when he spots the little girl sat on the terushima's couch, "what're you doing?"

"i'm colouring," she replies, smiling up at him.

"i made a drawing too! it's an alien! dad, where's the alien?!"

"it's back at home," oikawa chuckles, "we'll show her next time, okay?"

"oh," he says, his mood dropping, "i wanted to show etsu-chan..."

"we can bring it next time, okay?" he asks, looking down at him.

"b-but dad," he stutters, starting to get upset, "i—"

"look, kazu-chan! i made an alien for you!" she says, standing up and skipping over, "i saw a picture of your alien so i made one too!"

kazuhiko starts bawling his eyes out, and etsuko stares at him with wide eyes. "k-kazu-chan?"

"i love you etsuuuu!" he says, hugging her tightly.

"look at them. i ship them already," tetsurou says dreamily.

6-8-2036

when kuroo walks through the hall, he can hear oikawa reading to kazuhiko. he decides to go over and join them.

he stops when he stands in the doorway, seeing kazuhiko curled up against oikawa under the blanket, his spiky hair in oikawa's neck. oikawa reads him a mr. men book and kazuhiko's entranced. mirai's in kazuhiko's arms, purring softly.

"and that," oikawa concludes, "is why mr. tickles scares the crap out of me."

"that's a bad word!" kazuhiko says crossly, pouting.

"shh," oikawa chuckles, "don't tell dad."

"don't tell dad what?" kuroo smirks, and oikawa jumps, making kazuhiko giggle.

"nothing!" he says quickly, "well, goodnight kazu!" he quickly kisses his cheek before standing up and walking out past kuroo, smiling at him innocently. kuroo laughs to himself, before walking over to his son's bed.

"hey there buddy."

"hi dad," he says, sleepiness hitting him suddenly as he rubs his eyes.

"i'll just say goodnight and go, shall i?" he asks teasingly. kazuhiko pouts, mumbling 'goodnight kiss', and kuroo complies, pressing a gentle kiss against his forehead.

"goodnight kazu."

"say goodnight to dad from me," he mumbles, "love you, dad."

"love you too buddy," he says as he stands up, turning off the spaceship-shaped light. kazuhiko falls asleep as he does, and he closes the door softly behind him. he heads over to the living room and spots oikawa in the kitchen, pouring two glasses of red wine, before he turns over and hands one to kuroo.

"you're such a great father," kuroo smiles, taking it from him.

"i didn't say crap in his presence, if that's what you're thinking," he says innocently, averting his eyes playfully. kuroo quickly kisses him.

"shit happens," he shrugs with a lopsided smirk, and oikawa laughs, wrapping his free arm around him.

"no, crap happens." they both laugh, and oikawa smiles to himself. "this is my favourite adventure so far," he whispers, "i'm happy, tetsurou. and i'm happy it's all with you."

"aww, c'mere," he chuckles, pulling him closer.

"if you spill wine onto the carpet i'm filing for a divorce."

"i'll be extra careful."