#krtsk Twitter Stories

a/n: in which Tetsu celebrates his birthday with his family. #krtsk

~*~*~

Kei and Keiji were in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the meal they'd put together.
Kou was on kid watch.
The boys were all upstairs, taking turns looking through a pair of binoculars and a telescope, both pointed at the street.
Megumi was sleeping.

"When is his train due?" Keiji asked.
"Should've arrived already," Kei answered checking his phone. There was a single text message, 'On My Way!' that had been sent around the same time he arrived at the station. "He should be home in the next 10 minutes."
"Perfect."

As Kei was setting the table, he heard the boys all start screaming and cheering.
"DADDY'S HOME!!"
"UNCLE TETSU!!"
And then total chaos as four pairs of little feet, and one big, all thundered down the stairs.
Megumi was startled awake, and let everyone know she was displeased.

"I'll finish up here," Keiji said, grinning. "Kou will calm Megumi down," he grabbed Kou's shirt as he spoke. There was no resistance as his husband changed direction and headed for the baby. "Kei, you go with the boys."
"Thanks, Keiji," Kei replied as he followed the tiny horde.

What he found when he made it outside was, well, chaos. The boys were laughing and screaming, running around the tall, dark-haired man who was trying to catch them all. Kei rested his arms on the porch rail, watching everything. It was an awesome start for Tetsu's birthday.

At first chance, Tetsu made his way to the porch, and looked up at Kei.
"Welcome home, love," Kei said, bending over the rail so he could kiss his husband. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks," Tetsu replied. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too." He looked up and smirked. "So did they."

Tetsu was once again swarmed by four little boys, clamoring for all his attention. Kei stayed where he was, just happy to watch. He'd welcome Tetsu home, properly, later. Once they were alone. Until then, their children would have all his attention.

Around the dinner table, they listened as Tetsu told them all about his latest trip. He'd traveled to Hyogo, Osaka, and Mie prefectures to give motivational speeches to high school volleyball clubs, both boys and girls. He'd been invited to stay to watch practice matches, too.

Kei smiled as Tetsu told them how he'd even gone out on the court to offer advice on defense, and give examples on blocking moves. Tetsu might not be actively playing volleyball anymore, but it was still in his blood.
Tetsu caught him looking and winked.
Kei winked back.

After Tetsu gave the kids souvenirs, he put them to bed and tucked them in, telling them a bedtime story and promising to see them in the morning. When he returned to the kitchen, he found his husband and brothers waiting. There was a strawberry cream cake lit up with 27 candles.

"Happy birthday, Tetsu!" they said quietly, so as not to wake the children. Well, not Megumi. She was with them. Tetsu took her from Kei, sat down, and doted on his daughter. While he was diverted, Keiji served the cake, Kou poured drinks, and Kei put the gifts on the table.

They talked for hours, most of it about the children, but also stuff about work, and any new news from friends scattered around the country. Once Megumi fell asleep, he opened each of his gifts, and he loved them all, as they knew he would. But there was one he loved most of all.

Kou had given him a new volleyball bag, which was patterned much like the one he'd carried in high school. It was solid black, with JVA and his surname embroidered in gold on the front. The backside had Nekoma, Karasuno, MSBY, and Sendai Frogs embroidered in each team's colors.

Keiji had given him a new cookbook filled with recipes that they'd made over the years, including Mom's. Some were new favorites, some were old favorites. The idea was that Tetsu would cook these and improve his culinary skills. But they all knew he preferred eating over cooking.

Kei's gifts were his favorites. There was a large framed picture of their family. It was taken the day after he brought Megumi home, and everyone was there. The picture had been taken by Ni-san's friend, Udai-san. There was one just like it here, so this would go in his office.

A flash drive was placed in his hand. Tetsu knew what it was before he plugged it into the laptop someone handed him. Kei had taken the last year's worth of pictures and video clips, and edited them into a visual playlist. He'd been making these since before they were married.

"Thanks, guys," he said quietly as they grouped around the laptop to watch Kei's latest creation. "Best. Birthday. Ever."
"You said that last year," Keiji deadpanned.
"And the year before," Kou added cheerfully.
"Pretty much every year since 2012," Kei said sardonically.

*Much Later*

"I think we overdid it," Tetsu mumbled from Kei's chest.
"No such thing," Kei replied, catching his breath. He'd just given Tetsu a proper 'welcome home' and 'happy birthday' wrapped into one. Now, they were a sweaty, tangled mess in a heap on their bed.

"Since you said that," Tetsu started leaving a trail of kisses from Kei's chest to his neck. "Why don't we go again?"
"You're insatiable."
"So are you."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
They spent the rest of the night celebrating Tetsu's birthday the best way they knew how.