Chapter 1

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For six years since Suki was born, Kozume Kenma thought he already knew how hard it is to raise a child.

But he didn't know to what extent, not until at this moment.

"Suki," he called, his voice sounded tired, he's been calling her for a while now but the little girl had locked herself in her room for hours.

Kenma doubt if the girl is still awake, if she was crying she must have already fallen asleep. But he couldn't really leave until he sees her, whether she's awake or asleep. But to no avail, the door is still locked.

It would have been easy if it's just her locking herself in her room.

But no, she didn't just lock herself in her room.

She also refused to eat.

"If you're not going to eat your meal, at least take your vitamins."

No answer came, not even the sound of a pillow being thrown across the room, earlier Kenma had heard a few, as if it's going to hit him. It was just her trying to retaliate.

Kenma told her earlier that if she wants to hit her dad with a throw pillow she should have opened the door. But even that attempt to outsmart her into opening the door didn't work.

Now it's complete silence.

Kenma sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to bring your dinner back in the kitchen and take your vitamins. When I come back, unlock the door or else..."

Kenma trailed off, thinking of ways to threaten the girl into opening the door, if he couldn't outsmart her, then threaten her.

"I'll confiscate all your games and tablet and you wouldn't be able to use your computer."

Silence greeted Kenma. But when he heard shuffling from inside, he knew she's still awake and she heard him loud and clear.

Kenma left and took the already cold food back in the kitchen. He took her vitamins in the fridge and a glass of milk before coming back.

Just as Kenma was about to open the door, it suddenly swung open, revealing a six year old girl with onyx black hair flowing down her back, eyes that resembled that of a kitten. Only the kitten was hissing at its parent.

"Don't take away my tablet!" she yelled.

"Then stop acting like this and take your vitamins."

"No!" she yelled again, stomping her bare feet on the floor as she glared at Kenma. "You said to just unlock the door when you're back. I unlocked it now so don't take my games and tablet!"

Before Kenma can even say one word, the door was shut close again, slamming it in front of his face. At least this time he didn't hear the click of the lock.

Kenma can go inside her room and convince her to take her vitamins or at least drink her milk, but he decided not to go.

"I've had enough for today. I'm so tired," he said, downing the glass of milk that's supposed to be for Suki but he knew she wouldn't take it.

Kenma went back to the kitchen and put the vitamins inside the fridge again before he headed to his room to take a much needed shower just to cool himself off and the lukewarm water had made his stiff muscles relaxed.

Afterwards, Kenma went to the living room and sat on the couch, dialing a number. He waited for a few seconds until the person answered.

"Hello, mom," Kenma said. "It's me."

"Kenma!" his mother gushed. "Sorry I wasn't able to come to Suki's birthday yesterday. I thought I can book a flight back in Tokyo but things happen andβ€”"

"Mom it's fine," Kenma said. "It's your vacation, you should enjoy it to the fullest."

He heard his mother laugh lightly, almost apologetically. But then again, it was Kenma who gave his mother that plane ticket as a gift. And she deserves it more than anything. Besides, it's not like Suki was sad her grandmother wasn't able to come for her birthday.

"So, what happened yesterday?"

"Just the usual. Suki had a party at school. We had dinner at home and there were cake and lots of sweets."

That Kenma didn't know what to do with since Suki refused to eat them after that happened. At least the apple pie Kenma was able to finish.

"I should go buy Suki a gift while I'm here!"

Kenma was silent for a second, thinking about whether to ask his mother for an advice since she would be the only one who had always told Kenma what to do about raising Suki. She always helps Kenma as much as she can.

But Kenma told her not to. She's done her role taking care and raising Kenma and his sister. So Kenma believe it's his turn to take care of Suki himself, he doesn't want to burden his mother with taking care of her granddaughter as well.

And now that Kenma has money, he always give his mother plane tickets to travel to places she wasn't able to go to back when she was raising her children. He knew how much his mother loves travelling, being free from the constant bustle of the Metropolis.

"Mom, I have something to ask," Kenma started. "About Suki..."

"What about my granddaughter?"

"She refused to eat her meals. And I don't know what else to do. At this point she might starve and get sick."

Kenma was a bit surprise to hear his mother laugh. She started laughing and Kenma just sat there, confused as to why she's laughing. Her granddaughter isn't eating anything and she's laughing.

Kenma thought that maybe he shouldn't have told her after all.

"Kenma," she said after a while, hint of laughter still in her voice. "It's just normal for kids her age to refuse meals from time to time. When you were at that age, you used to refuse your meals as well. Whom do you think Suki took after?"

"It's not as simple as that mom," Kenma said. "The reason why Suki refuse to eat was because..."

Kenma trailed off, debating whether to tell her or not.

But in the end Kenma decided not to.

"Never mind. I'll try to make her eat breakfast tomorrow. If she refuse, I'll seriously take all her games."

His mother laughed again. "Why don't you take her to a Pediatric Nutritionist instead and ask for advice on what to do with Suki's meals. While you're at it, you might as well ask what kinds of healthy food to give your daughter."

A nutritionist for children, Kenma didn't think about it. She already has a doctor, but not a nutritionist. Kenma doesn't want to keep on asking his mother about Suki's meal from time to time.

"Alright, I'll look for one."

"Oh I think your friend, Tetsurou-kun, had mentioned once that he knows a Pediatric Nutritionist."

Kenma furrowed his brows. "He did?"

"Yes, I think he did."

Since Kenma doesn't have much choice, whether Kuroo is telling the truth or not, he still decided to call him the next day.

Suki still refused to touch her meals that morning, she only took a few bags of chips and locked herself in her room again playing games in her tablet. Kenma didn't stop her, since it would be better than not eating at all. Even though those junk foods are unhealthy.

Which reminded him of what his mother suggested the night before.

"A Pediatric Nutritionist?" Kuroo asked.

He decided to come to Kenma's place to give Suki her gift since he wasn't able to come the other day and yesterday. He is often busy with work and Kenma can understand that. Although it's not like he can relate to it, since Kenma doesn't really have many shackles when it comes to work.

He earns money every second after all.

The perks of being a stock trader.

"Yes, mom said you mentioned you knew one."

Kuroo took a sip of the coffee before he nodded. "I know one. You know her too. You two met before."

"We did?" Kenma asked. It's not like he keeps tab on every single person he met.

"L/n Y/n. We all went to the same University. And now she's a Registered Dietician and she's working at a children's hospital here in Tokyo."

"L/n Y/n," Kenma muttered, trying to recall the person with that name.

"I'm sure you'd recognize her when you see her," Kuroo said. "She has distinct features and she's really pretty and kind. She also takes her job seriously and is passionate about it."

Kuroo took a sip of his coffee even before it could go cold.

"By the way you're putting it, it seems you and her are more than just friends."

Suddenly Kuroo almost choke in his drink, the liquid almost went down the wrong pipe and he coughed a few times.

"What?! No way! I don't see her anything more than just a friend and she made that very clear to me a long time ago."

"Ah, so you liked her."

"No!"

Kenma nodded his head, dismissing the subject even before Kuroo can make more noise and wake Suki up since it's her nap time and Kenma is sure she's sleeping.

"Anyway," Kuroo said, composing himself. "Why do you even need to see a Pediatric Nutritionist? Did something happen to Suki-chan?"

"Yes, she refused to eat her meals. And now she's only eating junk foods."

"That's concerning," Kuroo said, nodding his head.

"Mom said it's normal for kids her age to refuse eating their meals. But I don't think that's theβ€”"

"Come to think of it, when we're in high school you have a small appetite and I would need to force you to finish your meal, even taking your PSP from time to time," Kuroo said, cutting Kenma off.

"Yep, like father like daughter," he continued, nodding to himself.

Kenma simply looked at Kuroo nonchalantly. He was actually going to tell him something before Kuroo interrupted him by bringing up the past and how he used to take Kenma's PSP just so Kenma can finish his meals.

"So, what were you saying?" Kuroo asked after a moment, blinking his eyes as he looked back at Kenma.

"I said I don't think it was because she's at that age where she refuses to eat her meals."

"Then why wasn't she eating her meals?"

Kenma had gone silent for a second, averting his eyes from Kuroo before he spoke. "I think it's her way of retaliating."

"For what?"

"On her birthday, I asked her what she wants."

"Then? It's not like you can't give her anything at this point."

Kuroo was right and wrong at the same time.

"She asked me for something I can't possibly give her."

"And what could it be?"

"A mother."




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