Interlude I: Of Childhood and Memories

A child no more than eight years of age peers from his book to the light blue sky above. Tufts of the same color sways in the breeze as he continues his reading. For a child he was considered to be different from the others children of his age. That, and since his 'ability' couldn't allow him to be like his peers.

He was interrupted in his reading once he heard small footsteps from behind.

He looks behind and he saw a small auburn haired girl in twin-tails staring at him. At the same time a woman with the same sky-blue hair approached them.

"Tetsuya-kun, this is Shirai Kuroko-san, your cousin and from now on she'll be living with us. Now, why don't you greet her?" his mother stated with a smile. The boy named Tetsuya then turns to the girl, probably of five years of age and started to introduce himself.

"Domo, I'm Kuroko Tetsuya. Nice to meet you, Shirai-san."

Well that sounds awfully monotonous.

The girl simply stared at him and started announcing herself, albeit a little meekly than his.

"N-nice to meet you too, Tetsuya-aniki."

Well Tetsuya never knew that the both of them will play a large part of their respective lives.

Living in Academy City sure is a hassle. Well Tetsuya can never voice this to his father who was working hard as an Anti-Skill member, or else they'll lose their funds as per what his mother had told him.

Earlier, his little cousin had gone multiple experimentation and tests to determine her ability which Tetsuya can't help but cringe to. He doesn't like those things and can only be thankful once he was discovered as a gemstone like his mother. But… that also has its own drawbacks.

Second grader Tetsuya can only ponder in the path that will led him to his school in the Kindergarten District, school bag in tow. He didn't even notice a little light-haired girl of the age of six running into him, which results for a collision between them.

"Itte… who-?!"

The girl in a fit tries to shout at the one who struck her instantly cut-off herself once she found no one in her front.

"Arre, I thought I bumped into someone?" she said as she looks around her.

"Sumimasen, it's my fault."

That little dull voice mutters out-of-nowhere and the girl snaps her head once again in her front.

And voila! A boy she had not seen before appeared like a ghost… wait-

Wide-eyed with sparks running in the locks of the light-haired girl, she sprinted as fast as she can to get away from the 'ghost'.

Thus begins her trauma against them.

Tetsuya can only blink owlishly at what had happened, and decided to continue on his way to school.

"Hey did you hear?"

"What?"

"That we have a 'ghost' classmate!"

"Ehh?! No way, that's not true!"

"Of course it is, look in that chair, he sits there!"

"There's no one ther- KYAAH! Wh-when did he get there?!"

"Told ya so~"

Tetsuya was calmly sitting in his desk when he heard those gossiping around him and he can't help but be curious himself. Indeed, who is this 'ghost' student they kept chit-chatting about?

But once he looks at the face of his classmates he instantly knew.

Young Tetsuya knew when he found his classmates staring at him. Of course, who is he to think that there's other than him they'll be talking about?

His ability truly sucks.

It was around summer when his little cousin seems to be clingy to him. He doesn't know but he does get the idea that perhaps it was his cheerful mother had rubbed off of her. That, or she was just happy that she already got her ability, albeit she still does need more practice to hone it.

Tetsuya had been happy for her and seems to be less lonely now that they got each other, and now the both of them were coming on and off to school together. They would even get popsicles with Tetsuya always winning a free one much to Shirai-san's delight.

Shirai-san only has one problem.

And she boldly stated it one fine afternoon.

"Ah mou!Tetsu-nii, why won't you call me by my first name?!"

"That will be rude to do so."

"Mou!"

Shirai-san, no, Kuroko pouted as she started mumbling to herself. Honestly, the girl just started her first grade and yet she was still the five-year old child in Tetsuya's eyes. He can't help himself though; old habits are hard to break. And since when did Kuroko call his Tetsuya-aniki as 'Tetsu-nii'? Well, that is a story for some other time.

"For now, why won't we head back home first? I'm sure Okaa-san was waiting for us already."

Tetsuya said, casually dodging the topic and Kuroko nods, beaming.

It's also around that time when Tetsuya's elementary school life takes a drastic turn.

The hate-letters in his lockers.

The worms in his shoes.

The harassments.

Jeer laughs in his ear.

He never spoke about it to anyone, his parentsor to his cousin. He decided to keep it all in, all to himself for if he does let them know, they'll be involved.

Two years later and he left it like that; well not until his parents finally knew.

And they decided to move out of Academy City just because of that.

Kuroko was left in a dorm, since they knew that it's her dream to be there and at the same time, it's also her wish for them to stay.

Tetsuya left with a broken heart when he saw his little cousin's face that day.

End of Interlude I

~Author's Notes~

Yukisu:Whew~ short Interlude as an update~ Is this good enough? *readers throws rotten tomatoes at him*

Kagami: TEME! What took you so long?! *shields himself at the barrage of tomatoes*

Yukisu:Ahahagomen~ gomen~ *still smiling upon the 'rotten tomato storm'* Well I got hooked up in an another anime series that I momentarily lost my fanaticsm for the KnB series so I'm thankful that they already released the S3 whohoo~

Kagami:Actually it's almost 3 months since…

Yukisu: So this chapter is meant to be filler, which it's actually is, depicting their childhood, a drabble maybe~ Oh, and maybe I'll do some more of it some other time~! Don't worry though, I'll be back in what we had left up next chapter and I hope to see you again there~

Well to greet our reviewers~

to celmiji-san, ahaha, I'm glad you like this omake~ Thank you~ anyways for pairings hmm... sorry there's none, I'm going to make this as General as possible~

to TasyaMarvell-san, ahaha, yup he's very scary(not), okay, I'll try to update too~

to MystaSilentKiller-san, thanks again~

Kagami:Thanks for the follows/ favorite, WHATEVER! Leave a Review!-desu.