Happy family

10 months old

"Kei? Hoshi?" Yachi called out as she opened the door to their comfortable house. she had just come back from her job and Tsukishima was meant to be home with their cute baby girl. She dropped her bag and locked the door. She took off her shoes and walked through the hallway.

She arrived at the living room to see Hoshi sleeping beside Tsukishima who seemed to be dozing off too, dinosaur figurines and books scattered around them, the living room was basically a mess. Yachi grinned as she walked closer to them. Tsukishia mumbled something as he rubbed his eyes to check on the sleeping baby.

"I guess Kei-chan didn't do many chores today?" Yachi said, giggling. Tsukishima looked at her and smiled tiredly. He got up to hug her.

"I'm home," Yachi said, hugging him. Tsukishima nodded, patting the back of her head.

"Welcome home," Tsukishima grinned as he pulled away to give a small peck. Yachi smiled as she felt his lips on hers. Just then Hoshi started crying, startling the adults. Tsukishima turned to their child, hushing her gently. he picked her up.

"Guess my little baby want's mommy's kisses too, huh?" Tsukishima said, laughing when Hoshi had stopped crying and looked at her father with curious eyes. Yachi walked to them, giving kisses to Hoshi. She giggled at her mommy's kisses. Tsukishima sighed in content, pulling Yachi nearer to him.

-

3 years old.

A startling cry woke Tsukishima and Yachi up.

"Kei, it's your turn," Yachi muttered, tugging on her husband's shoulder. Tsukishima groaned in agony, but he still got up and got his glasses. He made his way to their crying toddler. Hoshi was 3 years old that year and she just got her new bed a week ago. She had been crying constantly to the new environment, although it pained them whenever she asked for her crib back, their child advisor told them not to as it can damage her mental growth if she gets things her way. So they had to endure the pain of waking up at 3 in the morning for the next few weeks.

"Hoshi, daddy's here," Tsukishima said softly, he on the cute Dinosaur lamp that Hoshi loved. They got it when they were shopping for her new bed and they decided why not get her that too.

Hoshi sat up and held her arms open for her dad, her tears streaming down. Tsukishima sat on the bed and pulled the child into a hug, humming softly to her. her tiny arms held onto his shirt.

"I want my crib back!" Hoshi whined. Tsukishima rubbed his tired eyes, it was one too many nights of waking up at 3 am. He patted the girls back in a soothing rhythm.

"You're a big girl now and big girls sleep in big beds. Aren't you a big girl?" He recited that line many times. Hoshi sniffled and whined a yes.

They stayed like that, Tsukishima humming a soft tune of Hoshi's favourite song, Beuty and the beast. After who knows how long, Hoshi had finally gotten back to sleep on his shoulder. Tsukishima gently placed the girl back on the bed and tucked her in, making sure to place her favourite bunny plushie next to her. He gave her a kiss on the forehead before heading back to Yachi.

He sighed contently when his head hit the soft pillow, he was drifting off to sleep when Yachi rubbed his back.

"Good job hubby," She muttered, her voice drowned out by the pillow covering her face. Tsukishima turned to face her, he gave a hum of appreciation when she came closer to him, her face flinching at the cold air, he pulled her in a comfortable position as her heat radiated onto him. He finally got back to sleep.

-

6 years old.

"Daddy! Mommy! can I go play!? Can I!?" Hoshi asked, jumping up and down and pointed at the playground. Tsukishima and Yachi looked at each other and nodded.

"Okay, but we will be meeting your Uncle Shoyo and Uncle Tobio, so it'll be quick," Yachi said, going down to their daughter's level. Hoshi nodded excitedly. She ran to the playground while Tsukishima called out to her to be careful and not run that fast.

"A jeez, I might die from overstressing," Tsukishima said, Yachi laughed and gripped his hand tighter.

"I know, she's growing up so much, I just wanna protect her at all cost!" Yachi agreed, they sat down on a bench near the playground as they watched their daughter sliding down the slide and making a friend.

"Hitoka, she's growing up." Tsukishima cried out, Yachi comforted her husband. She noticed how much emotions he showed over the years. He is actually a very emotional person which surprised everyone, well maybe not Yamaguchi.

"Yep, Kei, don't feel so sad! She'll still run back to us." Yachi said, Tsukishima nodded and held her tighter. Hoshi had started playing with the very cute boy that had a poker face. He didn't seem to talk much and showed no emotion. Yachi laughed and found it quite funny.

"I think she takes after me," Yachi joked and Tsukishima rolled his eyes, he playfully ruffled her hair.

"Well, she has great taste." Yachi laughed even harder which Tsukishima could help but join. Tears were pricking Yachi's eyes.

-

12 years old.

The rain poured down heavily as the sobs and whispered goodbyes filled the air. Black umbrellas and black dresses with black suits laced with pity and sadness.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Kei," Yamaguchi said softly, patting his friend's shoulder. Tsukishima rarely cries, only on his wedding day and when Hoshi was born. So Hoshi seeing her father crying silent tears was more heartbreaking than ever. Their friends and family came to mourn her death.

She was a great mother, a great wife, a great colleague and she was certainly a great friend. Tsukishima knew all that.

He knew how gentle she was with their baby girl, her soft motherly touches that helped him grow Hoshi. How she would tell the greatest bedtime stories and knew just how to cheer their daughter up when she was crying.

He knew she was the greatest wife when she would wrap her hands around him when he came back home with the biggest smile she could ever give him, her worried naggings to take care of himself and how sweetly she would call him by name which could bring him to happy tears.

He knew she was a great colleague as he remembered getting worriedly sick when she wasn't home yet, he called in Yamaguchi to babysit while he quickly went to her workplace, she was there helping her junior getting settled in and how sorry she was for not calling him and even making him come down there.

And he knew she was the greatest friend that would drop everything just to help her friends out, even as far as to lend money or babysit or even be a supporting pillar to her friends.

It hurts, it hurts that she was gone. The warm hugs will never be there anymore when he gets home. The soft kisses and the smiles. Her gentle hands caressing his cheeks, her sweet voice calling out to him. She will never be there when he wakes up in the morning and she will not be there when Hoshi has a tournament, or when Hoshi wins trophies and medals, she won't be there for her birthdays or her first crushes or even her first boyfriend and her first kisses. Yachi won't be there to experience these things because she's gone.

"Daddy?" A small hand was placed on his shaking ones. He turned to his daughter, her innocent eyes filled with sad tears, her small innocent world has now changed and he'll be alone, trying to help his child grow into a beautiful lady. He gave his best smile and gripped her tiny hands into his. He can do this, he'll be someone that Yachi would be proud of.

"We'll be fine. Mommy is in the heavens, looking after us." Hoshi said, whimpering a bit. She was a strong girl, Tsukishima was proud of how she was trying to be brave. But now's not the time to be brave, now's the time to let it all out, before facing the world.

"It's okay to be hurt, Hoshi. It's okay to cry sometimes. because after crying, we will be stronger." Tsukishima pulled his little daughter into a hug as he felt her wet tears on his suit. Her loud cries and hiccups were the only thing that was keeping him strong, he will be strong for both of them.

-

25 years old.

"Dad! Over here!" Hoshi called out, Tsukishima looked at his daughter, now a young lady. She had just finished university and she wore her graduation cap and cloak. He walked to her, giving her the biggest hug. Hoshi wiped her tears and held out her master's degree.

"I'm proud of you, she's proud of you," Tsukishima commented, a small smile on his face. Hoshi sniffed but nodded. "Oh, I have a surprise for you! I know you've been eyeing it for many months, I saw your saving's account too and... I think it's a great gift to start your path." Tsukishima said, Hoshi widened her eyes as he held out car keys to a car she had really wanted.

"R-really!? Oh my gosh! Dad, are you serious!?" She said holding the keys excitedly. Tsukishima laughed and nodded.

"Yes, you are driving us to her right?" He teased, Hoshi nodded excitedly.

"Oh! Thank you, dad!" She said hugging him again. Tsukishima laughed and nodded. Hoshi pulled him along to meet her friends and a particular guy who she had been glancing at.

"So, who is this young man?" Tsukishima said, glaring. He had dark blue hair with nerdy glasses, he held a blank stare that Tsukishima knew very well (Considering he also held those cold staring eyes)

"Dad! T-this is... Akiyama Kendo... A-and can he join our dinner tonight... as my boyfriend?" Hoshi said, stammering her words. Tsukishima smiled gently and nodded.

"Is he joining us to her grave?" He asked, Hoshi pouted and turned to the male who seemed to be okay with it.

"I-if he can..." Hoshi asked even more shy than the last. Tsukishima patted the male's shoulder.

"Hurt her and I'll hurt you, so let's get going?" Tsukishima said menacingly, which Hoshi frowned at, muttering a 'father, stop.'

They got on the new car which Hoshi excitedly got in, she marveled at the new seats and the fresh smell after 10 minutes of the two male's ears dropping off, they finally started the car.

"Where are the flowers? should we stop at a nearby one?" Hoshi asked, Tsukishima shook his head.

"The flowers are at the trunk with other supplies." The car ride was a bit awkward with Tsukishima asking many questions about the other male and Hoshi getting embarrassed. They finally arrived to Hoshi's relief.

Tsukishima grabbed the pretty bouquet, it had baby breaths and red roses. they made their way to Yachi's grave. He knelt down and gently placed the bouquet.

"Our little rascal finally graduated." Tsukishima joked, which earned a small punch from Hoshi, Tsukishima chuckled.

"And she has a young man with her, I'm sure you would have approved instantly, I bet you're so happy huh..." He whispered, patting the grave and giving a small smile. Hoshi sighed and knelt down too.

"I'm going to be a web designer and work at your old workplace, mom. I hope you're proud of me. I- we miss you very much." Hoshi said, tearing up a bit. She held out her master's degree to the grave, like showing Yachi what she had accomplished.

"Dad even got me a car! can you imagine? I thought he'd be stingy-"

"I am not!"

"You are! Anyway, We are doing fine here. so don't worry!" Hoshi said, patting the grave too. They stayed silent before finally agreeing to leave.

"You guys go ahead and go first, we will meet at the restaurant at 8 pm, sound good?" Tsukishima said, Hoshi was going to tell him to get a ride but Tsukishima shook his head and told her he wanted to stay a bit longer. The pair left after many attempts to wait for Tsukishima.

He looked back at the gravestone, smiling brightly as his glossy eyes covered his vision.

"I'll be seeing you soon huh? I hope you're waiting for me, I've done good have I?" He felt his tears drop. He wasn't sad, just happy to raise Hoshi. He remembered the hard times of waking up and those few seconds of him trying to reach for her but his memories coming back and somehow he found himself choking out a sob. Or when he comes home to not meet her bright smile. But he was happy to have met her daughter's smile.

"She has your smile. your eyes and even your character. That's not fair, maybe that hurt me more, she is a reminder of you that I love and hate." Tsukishima smiled brighter as he stared at his wife's grave.

"Again, I miss you so much, so much it hurts. I'll be back again okay? wait for me."

Not gonna lie, I couldn't see my laptop screen halfway writing that. I love the pain. I'm sorry for hurting you guys. It hurt me to write this- like physical pain. I had to stop just to cry my eyes out. ;(