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Tenma Tsukasa was born on May 17th. But if you asked him, he only knew who he was less than a year later, on May 9th.
That was the day his little sister was born and he knelt beside his mom on her hospital bed, staring at the pink blob that his parents called Saki.
“Is she coming home with us?” Tsukasa asked, tilting his head slightly as he watched Saki. She didn’t do much so far. Mostly, she napped and snuggled against Mama’s side. But Papa had warned him that she would scream too. Tsukasa wasn’t looking forward to that.
“Yes,” Mama confirmed. She looked really tired, but so happy. Papa had cried earlier, which told Tsukasa that this was big.
But he didn’t know how to feel. That is, until he gently reached out to poke Saki’s cheek and her hand clamped around his finger.
Time came almost to a standstill then, until it was just them, Tsukasa and Saki, in the entire world. And Tsukasa could only watch in awe as his little sister’s eyes opened. When her eyes met his, she smiled a gummy smile and that was the end.
Or it would be better to say, that was the beginning.
“I’m a big brother,” Tsukasa whispered.
“You are,” Papa agreed, his strong, protective hand coming to rest on Tsukasa’s shoulder.
In that quiet moment that felt endless, Tsukasa silently promised Saki that he would be the best big brother ever. He was sure that she understood, because she let out a gummy laugh.
When Tsukasa grew older, the memory of the hospital faded away, but he never forgot his promise. He would be the best big brother ever, all for Saki, so she could smile and laugh.
For a while, that was easy. Saki loved playing with Tsukasa and their games became even more fun when they met Toya.
“I’m gonna catch you!” Tsukasa shouted as he chased after the younger kids. He was purposefully running slower so the game could keep going for longer.
“Noooo! Oniichan!” Saki shrieked, her blonde pigtails flying through the air as she ran.
“This way, Saki-neesan!” Toya cried, holding out a hand for Saki to grab onto. She did so without hesitation, allowing the younger boy to pull her around a corner of the garden, out of Tsukasa’s sight.
Grinning, Tsukasa slowed down and began to creep around like a monster as he ‘hunted’ the two children. He could hear them giggling from the bush they had taken shelter behind as he paused and raised a hand to shade his eyes.
“Hmm, I thought I saw them come this way. And I was so looking forward to my afternoon snack, too!” Tsukasa cried dramatically, glancing around but avoiding the specific bush he could hear even more giggles coming from. His smile widened when his back was to the younger kids.
Toya always looked so sad when he came to the Tenma household with his parents. But the longer he played with Tsukasa and Saki, the more his smile grew until he was laughing as gleefully as Saki when she declared Toya her little brother.
And perhaps this was how things were always meant to be. Tsukasa had been born to be a big brother, first to Saki and now to Toya as well.
“Then what about…here!” Tsukasa shouted as he suddenly pushed the bush aside to reveal the now squealing Saki and Toya. “Ha ha ha! It appears I have found my snack at last!”
“You’ll never catch us!” Saki shouted. She grabbed a stick from the bush and threw it at Tsukasa, who fell back dramatically. Saki giggled unrepentantly as she pulled Toya out of the bush and ran into the front yard.
“Sorry, Tsukasa-oniisan!” Toya yelled over his shoulder, not sounding sorry at all.
But Tsukasa was beaming as he chased after the two once more.
It was a good day and it was too rare that the three of them had good days like this, where Saki was home from the hospital and Toya was able to come visit them. Tsukasa wished that this day could last forever.
But the good days never do.
The hospital Saki stayed at became Tsukasa’s first stage when he was in junior high. He visited Saki every chance he had, determined to make her smile as often and as brightly as possible!
After all, what was a star without an audience to entertain?
And Saki was the best audience, of course!
“And thus, I shall ride into the sunset with my fair steed and found new adventures beyond the horizon!” Tsukasa declared, completely immersed in the role of Prince Pegasus before bowing deeply. “The end!”
“Bravo, Oniichan! Bravo!” Saki giggled as she clapped her hands excitedly. Her smile was bright, but if Tsukasa looked a bit closer, her eyes were sad.
Visiting hours were almost up.
“You’re so talented, Oniichan! I thought you were a real prince for a moment there!” Saki grinned. She didn’t give Tsukasa a moment to think, barreling on in the conversation. “Did you perform that for Toya-kun too? I’m sure he would have loved it!”
“Why, of course! Toya is my second biggest fan, right after you!” Tsukasa grinned, placing his hands on his hips and closing his eyes so Saki couldn’t see the bald faced lie.
Toya’s piano and violin lessons had increased exponentially since Saki entered the hospital for a long term stay. It was almost as if Aoyagi-san thought that just being near the Tenma household would make Toya sick.
Or maybe Aoyagi-san just wanted to keep Toya away from Tsukasa. He never did like how excited and adventurous Tsukasa was, especially when he ran into the man accidentally once. That had been the loudest piano crash Tsukasa had ever heard.
“I’m glad! I know Toya-kun’s busy, but I’m happy you have him by your side,” Saki smiled. There was a bittersweet edge to her lips and Tsukasa didn’t like how she spoke, as if she were Juliet delivering her final words to the friar before she slipped into a death like sleep, sealing her final fate. Saki’s voice brought Tsukasa out of his dark thoughts and this time, her smile was bright and genuine. “The next time you see Toya-kun, tell him to come visit!”
“Of course, Saki,” Tsukasa agreed. Perhaps he could tell Toya at school the next day? Aoyagi-san couldn’t prevent them from meeting there. “I can even ask Toya if he’d bring his violin, perhaps we could do a duet? Him on the violin and me on the maracas.”
“That sounds so fun!” Saki clapped her hands together. Her eyes sparkled and Tsukasa’s heart lifted.
“Then it shall be my honor to fulfill this quest for you, milady!” Tsukasa grinned, bowing deeply, as if he were a magician. “Next I return, Sir Toya of House Aoyagi shall be at my side!”
That was when the intercom buzzes and a woman announced that visiting hours had ended for the day. Tsukasa felt his heart rip in two when he watched the light from Saki’s eyes fade, her happiness snuffed out like a candle. Tsukasa so desperately wanted her smile to return, to take her back home happy and healthy, but that wasn’t an option right now.
So instead, he leaned in close and kissed Saki’s forehead.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he whispered. There was no character in his voice. In that moment, he was simply Tsukasa, simply Saki’s big brother. She was the only one who ever saw him like this.
Saki didn’t say a word. Instead, she just nodded her head and smiled shakily as she waved goodbye to Tsukasa.
The hospital hallways were becoming all too familiar in their white sterility and twisting pathways. Tsukasa was beginning to think he and his parents would be able to navigate these hallways with their eyes closed by the time Saki came home.
The thought alone sent shivers down his spine. He didn’t want to come here so often that he could navigate it so easily.
Tsukasa sighed in relief when he caught sight of the hospital doors, practically tasting the fresh air that was waiting on the other side. He was walking through the waiting room to finally reach them and leave this too white hell behind when he saw her.
The girl had long silver hair, so long that if she didn’t cut it soon it would no doubt reach her knees and perhaps the floor too someday. She was wearing a junior high uniform and was curled up in one of those too uncomfortable hospital chairs. She looked so small, as if she could disappear like a wisp of smoke.
Tsukasa knew that position so very well. He’d sit exactly like that every time Saki went to the hospital, just waiting to see how bad it was this time.
Before he even realized it, Tsukasa was standing in front of the girl, patiently waiting for her to feel comfortable before he spoke. The girl sniffed, tilting her head slightly so her blue eyes found his.
“Hello,” Tsukasa smiled. Normally, he’d be a lot more boisterous when talking to anyone but being in the hospital made him quiet. He had a feeling, however, that the girl appreciated it. “I’m Tenma Tsukasa. I just finished visiting my sister here. Are you waiting for someone?”
The girl nodded.
“My dad…h-he’s…” She broke out into sobs, unable to finish the sentence.
Tsukasa wrapped his arms around her without thinking, holding the girl against his chest as she sobbed. His fingers ran through her hair, gently undoing any knots he found along the way, and he started humming under his breath.
It was a Miku song, one Saki had said she and her band had been working on before she was hospitalized. She practiced it so often on the piano before she was admitted, Tsukasa could still hum it by memory.
By the time he reached the song’s end, the girl’s sobs had softened into sniffles.
“You…your humming is nice,” she whispered, her fingers twisting in the folds of Tsukasa’s uniform. It was almost as if she were terrified he’d leave her.
“Thank you, it’s one of my sister’s favorites. Do you like music?” Tsukasa asked. He spoke as softly as possible, not wanting to startle the girl anymore.
“Yeah.” She nodded. “My dad…he’s a composer. H-he taught me how to do it too.” Her breath caught in her throat. “But b-because of m-me…because of my s-s-song…”
The girl started crying again and Tsukasa tightened his arms around her. He had no idea what he could possibly say, what could help this unnamed girl feel even a bit better.
All he could do was hold on and give her a shoulder to cry on.
By the time her tears had run dry, Tsukasa’s uniform was soaked and he didn’t even care. He gently rubbed a hand up and down the girl’s back, soothing her even further. He wouldn’t give her empty platitudes, that only hurt whenever anyone said them about Saki.
The two of them simply sat in silence for what felt like an endless amount of time. It was only broken when a nurse stepped out with a clipboard.
“Yoisaki-san?” she called.
The girl’s head shot up and Tsukasa followed her gaze, his own heart racing.
The nurse was smiling.
All the tension bled from Tsukasa’s frame as he released the girl, Yoisaki, and stood up.
“I think your dad is gonna want to see you,” he smiled, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. “I hope he gets to return home with you soon.”
“Thank you,” Yoisaki whispered. There was still pain and fear in her eyes, but there was the barest hint of a smile on her lips.
Tsukasa returned her smile before he made his way to the front doors for the second time. The fresh air caused the rest of the tension that had been engrained into his very being to fall away, leaving him light enough to fly.
His encounter with Yoisaki would be something he didn’t think of for quite a few years. But in that moment, Tsukasa could admit that finding her, a kindred spirit, had made the world feel just a bit wider, a bit less lonely.
Tsukasa practically tripped over his own two feet as he left Kamiyama High School. That was most certainly not the position a star such as him should be seen in, but he thought it was excusable in this instance.
Toya was standing at the school gate.
Tsukasa felt as if he hadn’t truly seen Toya in years, helpless to do anything but watch as the sparkle in his eyes slowly died. But he looked…so lost now, even more so than usual. Tsukasa wanted, desperately, to hide Toya away from the world and keep him safe. He wouldn’t survive losing much more of his heart at this rate.
But the last thing Toya needed right now was Tsukasa being worried. So instead, the star put on a smile and ran to Toya’s side.
“Toya! I didn’t expect to see you here so soon into the school year! Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised! School must be so dull for you now without a star such as I to make it worthwhile!” Tsukasa declared dramatically, striking a pose as he spoke.
Toya’s lips twitched just the barest amount.
“Tsukasa-senpai,” he said. The use of the honorific made Tsukasa’s heart sink, but he didn’t let it show as Toya continued to speak. “I need your help.”
“Well of course! I am always ready to help you, Toya!” Tsukasa agreed. He led Toya away from the school, directing him to a park where they could have some privacy. Once he thought they were suitably alone, Tsukasa turned towards Toya. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing bad, it’s just…” Toya hung his head. It was as if he were ashamed to meet Tsukasa’s eyes. Tsukasa frowned, reaching out to grasp one of Toya’s hands in his. The younger boy returned his grasp with a vengeance, but Tsukasa barely even winced. Toya needed him to listen right now, so listen he shall. It took a few more moments before Toya continued to speak, almost too quiet to hear. “I don’t want to play classical music anymore.”
Tsukasa’s mind whirled as the implications of what Toya had just admitted to hit him.
The Aoyagi family was made up of some of the most famous musicians in the world. Tsukasa was pretty sure that if someone looked back to some of the most famous musicians in the past century, the Aoyagi name would be mentioned repeatedly. Tsukasa’s mother had often told stories of how starstruck she’d been the first time she’d met Aoyagi-san, even more so when they became friends. They were that big of a deal. And never had a member of that family quit being a musician.
Not until Toya.
And he had come to Tsukasa for advice. Not his brothers, but Tsukasa.
“You must have thought about this for a while,” he commented quietly.
“I have.” Toya nodded. He still refused to meet Tsukasa’s eyes, but his iron tight grasp was unrelenting. Tsukasa held on just as tightly back as Toya remained silent, almost as if he were expecting an executioner’s axe to fall upon his neck.
That was the last thing Tsukasa would ever give him.
“Then do it,” Tsukasa stated. Toya’s head shot up so fast, Tsukasa was pretty sure his neck cracked. His eyes were wider than Tsukasa had seen them in years. And…yes, there it was, that spark of life in Toya’s eyes. Tsukasa continued on, confidence growing as he watched Toya’s reaction. “Quit playing classical music. Find something else you like, your own show! And pursue it with everything you’ve got!”
“My own show…” Toya trailed off. His eyes swept through the park, as if he could find what he wanted to do simply by looking around. Perhaps he could, Tsukasa knew Toya was brilliant. After all, he was Tsukasa and Saki’s little brother. “Oh…”
At Toya’s whisper, Tsukasa followed his gaze only to find a street performer. He didn’t know who the person was, but their singing was unlike anything he’d ever heard before. It resonated through Tsukasa’s body, even from this far away when he could just barely hear them. He glanced over at Toya, only to find the boy completely entranced.
“Tsukasa-senpai…” Toya whispered. “Do you think…I could do that someday?”
“Why, of course!” Tsukasa shouted, leaping up to his feet and putting his hands firmly on his hips. “For you have the support of I, Tenma Tsukasa, future star! And a star like me would never support someone who couldn’t reach their dream!”
Toya gaped up at him in silence for several moments before a smile, small and shaky but undeniably there, bloomed on his face.
“Thank you, Tsukasa-senpai,” he smiled.
“You’re welcome, Toya,” Tsukasa smiled. “Now, how about we go see the rest of that performance?”
“Yes!” Toya agreed, reminding Tsukasa of those old days of fun, when the world had just been him, Saki and Toya, just for a moment. Tsukasa grinned brightly back at Toya.
He was, after all, an amazing big brother.
Tsukasa felt as if he were flying as he watched the front door open and Saki walk inside for the first time in far, far too long.
“Saki!” he screamed, picking her up and spinning her around as soon as she stepped inside. “You’re home!”
“Oniichan!” Saki shrieked in delight. Laughter spilled from her lips and she returned her brother’s hug as tightly as she could. “I’ve missed you!”
“As I have missed you!” Tsukasa grinned as he finally set her down. “I have no doubt you are going to shine as brightly as I do from now on!”
“That’s the best compliment I could have ever asked for!” Saki gasped, clapping her hands excitedly. “I’ll shine as bright as I can, when I go shopping and to cafes and to concerts and school! Oh, I can’t wait to go back to school!”
“Are you sure you’re ready for that, Saki?” their father questioned, a worried furrow to his brow.
“Dear, I’m certain she will be just fine. Besides, she’ll have her friends watching out for her,” their mother smiled. She laid a reassuring hand on her husband’s shoulder and Tsukasa watched as the tension bled entirely from their father’s body. “I know we can trust them.”
“Yes! You can! Ichi-chan, Hona-chan and Shiho-chan will watch over me when oniichan can’t! And I’ll take extra good care of myself! I promise!” Saki insisted, turning determined pink eyes towards their father. “Please, Dad? I want to live a normal life.”
“I can promise that she’ll be safe,” Tsukasa added, entirely serious. “There’s no reason Ichika, Honami and Shiho won’t be there for Saki.”
“I guess you’re right…” their father sighed, smiling slightly.
“Aren’t we always?” their mother beamed, clapping her hands lightly. “Now then! Let’s get started on Saki’s welcome home dinner!”
Tsukasa was running to the kitchen before she could even finish her sentence. He’d spent hours working on this, wanting to make it just right, so he wanted to be certain it was perfect for Saki.
“Oniichan? What are you doing?” Saki questioned as she followed him.
Tsukasa only grinned at her as he grabbed his surprise off the counter and spun around to show it off.
“Welcome home, Saki!” he declared. The cake he held out to her was a bit sloppy, with some parts of the frosting not covering the cake and the writing being barely legible, but Saki’s smile in response made everything worth it.
She gave him another beaming smile, waiting until he set the cake down before hugging him tightly all over again.
Saki ate every bite of the piece of cake she was given until she couldn’t eat anymore. Then she gave Tsukasa a frosting covered kiss on the cheek, their mother eagerly snapping as many pictures as she could while it happened.
Tsukasa beamed, not even caring if there was frosting dripping off his face.
Saki was home and finally, finally, everything was getting back to normal.
“Tsukasa-kuuuuuuuuuunnnnn!” Emu shrieked as she collided directly with Tsukasa, knocking them both to the ground. “I missed you!”
“Ahh, Emu!” Tsukasa groaned. His head was just barely saved from hitting the ground, so at least he didn’t have a physical headache to contend with. “You just saw me at rehearsal yesterday!”
“Yeaaaaaaaaah, but Rui-kun and Nene-chan get to go to school with you!” Emu pouted, crossing her arms as she pulled away. “I miss all of you!”
“Hehe, we miss you too, Emu-kun,” Rui smiled. He helped her up as he spoke before he offered his hand to Tsukasa, who gratefully allowed the director to pull him up. A star can’t shoot to the top without help, after all.
“Ooh! I got it! I’ll just join you all for lunch tomorrow, it’ll be super wonderhoy!” Emu beamed, throwing her arms out excitedly.
“No, no, don’t do that!” Nene shook her head frantically. But Tsukasa could already tell that Emu was most assuredly planning to do that.
“But Emu, you get to go to school with Saki. Isn’t that better?” Tsukasa asked. He really, really, really didn’t want Emu to get caught sneaking into Kamiyama. They’d all be in a lot of trouble if she did.
“Mm, I guess so. Oh, Rui-kun, did you bring it?” Emu asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet excitedly. Her attention had shifted so suddenly, Tsukasa felt as if he’d get whiplash. “The boom-boom-woosh!”
“The what?” Nene asked, now eyeing the bag Rui held warily.
“Indeed I did, Emu-kun,” Rui grinned. He set the bag down and pulled out what looked like two bombs and a catapult. “With this, Tsukasa-kun’s final battle against the mighty sorceress will be as grand as possible!”
“Wooooooo!” Emu cheered.
“You’re not gonna blow me up, are you?!” Tsukasa cried, feeling his pulse start to race.
“Of course not,” Rui denied, his eyes wide in shock. But then a cat like smile grew on his face. “It’s perfectly safe and very impressive once pulled off, especially by a star such as yourself, Tsukasa-kun.”
“Well of course! Only the greatest stars can pull off a stunt like this! Give me everything you’ve got, Rui!” Tsukasa shouted, clenching a determined fist. He could do this, he could! In fact, he’d blow Rui out of the water so much, his smile would be seen from the stratosphere, just as it should be!
Because…Rui’s smile was nice, of course! Beautiful, in fact, and everyone should have the chance to see it!
“You just walked right into his trap…” Nene sighed, hanging her head slightly in exasperation. But even she was smiling as they made their way to the Wonder Stage.
Tsukasa could feel his heart racing in his chest as he stared at them all, his troupe, his friends. They were all smiling brightly and ready to bring smiles to everyone else too. He felt as if he could do anything with them at his side. No, he knew they could do anything.
They were Wonderlands x Showtime, after all!
And…they were becoming his family, just as surely as Saki and Toya already were.
“Ahhhhh! This place is amazing, Oniichan!” Saki squealed as she led the way into the live house. Tsukasa followed right behind her, their parents on their heels. “Toya-kun is really performing here?”
“Yes! He was very excited when I asked him at school, so I thought it would be a nice surprise if we all came to support him,” Tsukasa smiled. “It is, after all, a star’s duty to support his family!”
“This was a fantastic idea, Tsukasa!” their mother beamed, clapping her hands together. “I’ve never heard Toya-kun sing before, I’m sure he’s going to be excellent!”
“Of course he is! Toya-kun’s amazing at everything!” Saki grinned. “He’s gonna be so surprised to see us, I can’t wait to see the look on his face!”
“Indeed and we must capture this moment forever!” Tsukasa agreed, raising his phone as if it were a weapon of war. In this moment, it might as well be.
“Now, now, let’s not overwhelm Toya-kun,” their father chuckled. “If he wants to take a picture then we will, deal?”
“Deal!” Tsukasa, Saki and their mother cried in unison.
It wasn’t too long after that the event began. Group after group performed and Tsukasa’s ears were ringing within moments. But he grinned through it all, waiting for that one name to be called.
“Our next group is Vivid BAD SQUAD!” the MC announced and all four Tenmas screamed, even Tsukasa’s more mild mannered father. Tsukasa knew the exact moment Toya saw them, his eyes widening in shock as he took them in. Tsukasa cheered even louder, waving his arms for Toya and grinning as he watched his little brother smile first at the four of them and then at his three teammates.
And then…they began to sing.
Saki’s screams grew even louder the longer they performed and Tsukasa didn’t even care that he was probably losing his hearing. Emu encouraged that particular ailment on a daily basis, after all, and besides…Toya looked so happy, happier than Tsukasa had ever seen him before in their entire lives.
There was no doubt in Tsukasa’s mind that this was what Toya was meant to do.
As soon as Vivid BAD SQUAD came out to join the crowd, Saki had pounced on Toya, Tsukasa not too far behind while their parents walked at a more sedate pace.
“Toya-kun! You were amazing!” Saki screamed, her arms tightly wrapped around Toya’s neck.
“S-Saki-san, Tsukasa-senpai…I didn’t expect you to come,” Toya explained. He returned Saki’s hug instinctively, but otherwise seemed to still be in shock and riding the adrenaline from his performance.
“That was the plan!” Saki beamed as she pulled away. “Oniichan bought tickets for all of us so we could surprise you!”
“Tsukasa-senpai did-”
“Why, of course! And I’m glad I did, you truly earned my title of star tonight, Toya!” Tsukasa declared, wrapping an arm across Toya’s shoulders to pull both him and Saki into a hug.
“I agree!” their mother smiled as she finally reached them with their father in tow. “You were so good up there, Toya-kun! Even better than when you play classical music!”
“T-thank you, Tenma-san,” Toya replied, his cheeks stained a light pink. Tsukasa let his younger siblings go, smiling at them both happily. He glanced over at Toya’s teammates, easily recognizing both Akito and Shiraishi, though the other girl was unfamiliar. The two girls were talking to a bespectacled man who resembled the girl Tsukasa didn’t know while Akito was awkwardly observing the four Tenmas and Toya.
“Do you and your friends have any plans after this, Toya-kun?” Tsukasa’s father questioned, tilting his head to the side slightly.
“Yes, we were going to a café that Shiraishi’s father owns,” Toya answered.
“Awww!” Saki and their mother whined in unison.
“We were gonna invite you all to come home with us!” their mother pouted, crossing her arms childishly.
“Now, now, perhaps next time,” their father reassured.
“Next time?” Toya repeated, looking even more shocked then he had previously.
“Yes, next time,” Tsukasa smiled. “You’re like a part of our family, Toya. We’ll always support you however we can.”
“Yeah! So come visit us anytime!” Saki nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling eagerly.
“I will,” Toya promised. He smiled, that soft precious smile that showed he was truly happy and Tsukasa felt his heart melt at the sight.
“Toya,” Akito called, drawing Toya back to the event.
“My apologies, I have to go with my team now. But I will see you later?” Toya said, his voice a bit unsure, as if he expected for the offer to be retracted.
“Of course you will,” Tsukasa’s father smiled as the rest of them nodded eagerly in agreement.
Toya smiled once more before he went off to join his team to await the results of the event.
As soon as Toya was no longer facing them, Tsukasa’s mother frowned in concern.
“He looked so shocked to see us,” she whispered. Tears glimmered in her eyes. “I should speak with Harumichi, see if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“You can try, dear, but we may need to do more soon,” their father pointed out, concern in his eyes.
Tsukasa shared a look with Saki before they both silently turned to watch Toya. He was smiling, looking far happier than he had in years. Tsukasa grasped Saki’s hand tightly in his own.
Whenever Toya needed them, they would be there to protect him. Of that, Tsukasa had no doubt.
Tsukasa didn’t like hospitals. In fact, they were one of his least favorite places to ever be.
But despite his aversions, he still was required to go, both for his necessary visits and whenever Saki went for a short stay. Because if he disliked hospitals, he couldn’t even begin to imagine the aversion Saki had to them. The fact that she asked if he would come with her every time told him everything he needed to know.
It was on one such visit that he saw her again.
Yoisaki.
Tsukasa didn’t say anything to her the first time he saw her, but he recognized her easily enough. After all, he didn’t know too many people with silver hair so long it brushed the floor. But it was her eyes that really drew his attention.
They looked so full of pain.
Tsukasa finally found the courage to talk to her one day when he was waiting for Saki. Yoisaki was standing outside the hospital, staring up at it as if she were terrified to go inside. Perhaps she was, Tsukasa couldn’t blame her.
“Yoisaki-san?” he called gently as he approached her. Even with how quiet he was, she still jumped, her eyes wide. He raised his hands to show he meant no harm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Tenma Tsukasa, we met once in junior high?”
“Oh…yes, you’re the boy who visited his sister,” Yoisaki realized. Her shoulders relaxed and she smiled slightly. “I suppose I never gave you my name. I’m Yoisaki Kanade.”
“It’s nice to meet you officially, Yoisaki-san,” Tsukasa smiled, placing his hands on his hips, the pose coming naturally to him. “I’m waiting for my sister’s appointment to end. May I ask why you’re here again?”
“I’m…visiting my dad,” Yoisaki admitted, her eyes growing sad once more. “It’s just…difficult sometimes.”
“I can imagine, but it’s still something you need to do,” Tsukasa stated. Yoisaki looked up in surprise, as if not expecting him to understand. She smiled gently as she nodded in agreement.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Well, I can keep you company until you’re ready to go inside,” Tsukasa offered.
“That…would be nice. Thank you, Tenma-san,” Yoisaki smiled.
“Call me ‘Tsukasa’,” Tsukasa grinned.
“Then…you can call me ‘Kanade’, Tsukasa-kun,” Yoisaki, no Kanade, offered. Tsukasa beamed as he leaned against the wall the two of them stood next to.
They talked endlessly until Saki arrived and even then, it took them many minutes to finally leave the little corner they’d carved for themselves outside the place neither truly wanted to be but came anyway.
From there, a new routine started. And as Tsukasa learned more and more about Kanade, he started to form a plan.
“You’ve been thinking hard, huh, Tsukasa-kun?” Rui asked as they were cleaning up after rehearsal one day. Admittedly, there wasn’t much to clean since they’d practiced in Sekai today, but there was enough.
“You can tell?” Tsukasa asked, surprised. He hadn’t thought he’d missed anything too important. Kaito, at least, hadn’t said anything and he was the most perceptive of the group, barring Rui.
“Yeah! I can hear your brain going groooooooan-groooooooooan-groooooooooan!” Emu chirped. As she spoke, she mimed the action, holding her head as if gears were spinning her brain around.
“I don’t think you can actually hear his brain spinning, but Emu’s right,” Nene agreed, crossing her arms. “You’re clearly not focused. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, why would you think that?” Tsukasa questioned, furrowing his brow.
“Because you never think this hard over something good,” Nene deadpanned.
“Yeah~!” Emu nodded in agreement.
“Exactly,” Rui confirmed with a giggle. Tsukasa was about to yell at them in an overly exaggerated manner when Rui sobered up. “If something’s not wrong, then what are you thinking about so hard?”
“Adoption,” Tsukasa admitted.
“Ehhhhhhh? Is Tsukasa-kun old enough to adopt a kid?” Emu asked, a finger poking her cheek.
“Of course he isn’t,” Nene sighed. “So there must be something else. Spill it.”
“Well…there’s this girl I’ve become friends with,” Tsukasa explained, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “She’s gone through a lot and is basically living alone right now. So I’ve been trying to figure out how I can convince both my parents and her to have her join our family.”
Silence hung over the troupe long enough that Tsukasa began to feel nervous. He looked over to judge their reactions, only to find a teary eyed Emu tackling him.
“Tsukasa-kuuuuuuuuun! You’re such a good big brother!” she screamed as she clung to him.
“E-Emu! I’m right here, there’s no reason to scream!” Tsukasa shouted. That only caused Emu to laugh through her tears.
“I think what Emu-kun means is that you’re being very thoughtful in this, Tsukasa-kun,” Rui smiled, causing Tsukasa’s heart to flip in his chest. He refused to attribute the sudden heat in his cheeks to anything other than Emu squeezing him tightly enough that all of his blood was forced upward.
“Yeah, surprisingly,” Nene agreed. She completely ignored Tsukasa’s indignant shout at her word choice, placing a thoughtful finger on her cheek. “But I think you should just tell them. I mean…you can’t make this decision if neither of them want it, you know?”
“I suppose you’re right,” Tsukasa sighed.
“Don’t worry, Tsukasa-kun! I’m sure they’ll all agree!” Emu insisted. She finally let him go, clasping her hands to her chest with stars in her eyes. “I already know how good of a big brother you are, I’m sure you’ll be just as good for this girl too!”
“And even if it doesn’t become a legally binding agreement, you can still assist this girl,” Rui added. “After all, you have two more little sisters right here, do you not?”
Tsukasa blinked repeatedly before he turned to look at Emu and Nene.
“I wouldn’t call myself his little sister…” Nene muttered, her cheeks stained pink as they puffed out.
“I would! I would! Wonderhoy!” Emu cheered, striking the wonderhoy pose excitedly.
Tsukasa smiled at them before he shared a look with Rui. The setting sun was shining directly behind him, giving him an almost angelic glow that left Tsukasa breathless.
“Yeah…you’re right,” he agreed.
All he had to do was ask. It would take some legal finagling he had no doubt, but he knew his parents would be willing to put the work in. And Tsukasa had no doubt that Kanade’s grandmother would be grateful to know her granddaughter had more family to help watch over her, never mind the possible offer of joining the Tenma family herself. Tsukasa had no doubt Saki would love having another grandmother. And if things went forward with Toya as well, then the Tenma family would grow even larger.
Yeah…Tsukasa could do this. If nothing else, he’d give Kanade and his parents the option. And no matter what they collectively decided, Tsukasa would continue on as he always had: as the best big brother ever.
He grinned over at Rui, only to find the director gazing at him already, an unreadable look in his eyes.
“What is it, Rui?” Tsukasa questioned, concerned.
“Oh…it’s nothing.” Rui shook his head with a sheepish smile. “We should finish up here. You have a new show to prepare for now, after all.”
“Good thing it’s a role I know how to play,” Tsukasa laughed, playing along with the joke.
Rui’s smile was a bit uneven but sincere.
“Indeed, it is.”