Forever My Player Two
Chapter 018: Communication
P.O.V: Kozume Kenma

A few years later...

"How long has it been since you've last sat in my office Kozume? It's good to see you again, I'm glad to see that you're doing much better than the last time we spoke." Dr. Sherman smiled contently as she was happy to see me again. I turned towards the large standing mirror that sat in the corner of her office and smiled; I must really look different now, I was slightly taller, I grew my hair out and I no longer had that baby faced look that everyone was nagging me about, I was handsome, and older which apparently was a good thing.

Doctor Sherman swiped her beautifully manicured fingers across the screen to her tablet probably going through my flies and reading up on my progress report from the doctor she referred me to while I was living in Tokyo. After Shiroi moved back in with his mom it was like he never left, he was at our place any other day and it honestly was a treat, we loved having him around and it made our goodbye seem so meaningless but then he started school and his mom had the baby which meant we saw less of him more and more. We only saw him on important holidays or when he was on break from school. Our lives continued though; after we graduated Kuroo began working almost immediately after, he started working as salesman at a local company in the city while I remained home and started my own "Brand" so to speak. I had leveled up from a streamer to V-Tuber and I was also now working as a professional VA for Anime and games. We got engaged on my birthday and married on his the following year, it wasn't anything grand just a simple ceremony with friends and family back in our home town. After that we both sort of grew home sick and wanted to move back to our old town, the city life was to wild for us, we exhausted our youth there so we decided to move back home. We bought a building in the shopping distract and transformed the top floor into our home and the first floor into a bakery which we now co-owned, but Kuroo mainly manages it and I stick to what I was best at; streaming and voice acting. I love my life with Kuroo; everyday may seem ordinary but it was an adventure in of itself with many exciting things happening every day. Of course we fought and we argue with one another but we'd always find our way back to each other, but this time I fear that I don't think we can get pass this hurdle, it was a difficult boss that I wanted to face but he didn't, and no matter what I say or do, Kuroo had stubbornly made up his mind; he doesn't want to have kids, which is understandable, after what had happened with Shiroi some time ago I think he was still traumatized by the whole ordeal.

"So Kuroo, Kozume here tells me that you don't want to adopt? Could this have anything to do with what had happened in the past with Shiroi?" Dr. Sherman said, directing her first question of the session to Kuroo who sat beside me on the sofa, arms folded over his chest and a leg crossed over the other. Kuroo too looked a bit older then he did back when we were around24 to 27 years old but he still looked the same; much more handsome and the older look suited him quite well.

"Dr. Sherman I just don't think that we're ready to have that kind of responsibility in our lives again; I'm happy with how things are now, and I don't want us taking something on that neither of us can handle right now. We both work very demanding jobs; I manage and tend to our bakery and sometimes Kozume has to leave for Tokyo for jobs in his field of work so I don't think we're at that stage yet in our lives that where we can become father's...at least not yet." Kuroo said, replying to Dr. Sherman's question. "But that doesn't mean we can't revisit the idea later." He added as he turned to me who sat there with my hands in my lap, fiddling away with my thumb.

"We can do both our jobs and still adopt Kuroo, you make it sound like I'm never home, that I spend weeks in Tokyo but that's not true! Most of the times I either at home streaming or I'm helping downstairs in the bakery. I want us to adopt now Kuroo, I'm not asking for two or three kids, just one. I want us to go through all of the firsts while were still so young before we grow old and wrinkly and we can't even pick up our own kid cause of back problems." I expressed.

"Well this isn't a decision you can make on your own, Kozume. I'm not ready yet, and you aren't either. You always get like this when you see the kids running outside the bakery, it's cute and I love watching them running around too but it's not our time yet, Kozume, and I wish you didn't have to blow all this way out of proportion like this."

"Well Kuroo there isn't really a 'right time' to become parents; sometimes it just happens just like how you two became parents to Shiroi." Dr. Sherman intervened, as she felt that their conversation might get a bit heated without them noticing. "Planned or not we don't have control over everything that goes on in our lives. You two need to understand and value each other's opinion; because just as much as you want to adopt a kid, Kozume, Kuroo feelings are just as equally important. Marriage is all about understanding one another, and it's also about sacrifices and loving each other unconditionally no matter what, through the hard times and through the good times."

"Then what are we supposed to do then? Kuroo's not ready but I feel as if though we are, Shiroi came into our lives in the most unexpected way imaginable. We raised and loved him with everything we had; we were college students working part-time jobs for god sakes, and although things didn't go as we planned we still did that, we took care of another human being together and although it was short we still helped raised that beautiful boy. Look at him now, all the way in America living his best life, doing what he loves." I express wholeheartedly, as tears began to pool in my eyes. "This isn't about whether or not we're ready, this about avoiding having to go through what happened with Shiroi, and I get that, but just like Doctor Sherman said; we can't control what happens in life, but living in fear is no way to live and running from our problems won't help us either." I paused briefly to wipe a single tear that had escaped and to control my shaky breathing. "I want us to adopt, and I know you do too because you wouldn't have gone to that orphanage with me last month, and I know you fell just as in love with that little boy as I did Kuroo."

Kuroo looked away from me sucking in his lower lip, I was right and he knew it, this wasn't about us being ready or not, it was about him being too afraid to open his heart to another beautiful bundle of joy and having it ripped right out of his arms again. "His names Katsumi, his four years old and he loves chocolate chip cookies and he also likes to draw, his a quiet kid but they love him nonetheless, his also quiet popular too. Does he remind you of two people?" I said, moving closure to him and resting my head against his shoulder. "We can do this Kuroo, I know you're scared but we can do this—you can do this, you'd make a wonderful father."

"Katsumi sounds like a lovely name, and he sounds like quite the treat. I might have to ask the wife if we can foster another kid while ours is away at college." Dr. Sherman chimed in, a soft and warm smile plastered on to her face. "Life sometimes is all about taking chances; and you should take another chance Kuroo, you aren't alone, Kozume's going to be with you every step of the way."

"She's right Kuroo, but if you really don't want to then we don't have to, we can revisit this again at a later time." I assured him, looking up at his face which has had a sad expression on it for quite some time now and I couldn't tell what he was most sad about; disappointing me or having to be reminded of what had happened with Shiroi back when he was living with us. Kuroo suddenly stood up from his seat his hands balled up into a tight fist which made me worried, then he took a deep breath and relaxed. "Thank you Doctor Sherman, I might need some time to think about a few things before I can come to a decision. Kozume is important to me, I want to make him happy, always, but this isn't something I can easily just swallow my feelings and go with it." Kuroo turned towards me with smile on his face as he held his hand out for me. "Let's go, I won't run away, just give me some time to properly think about this." Kuroo said, squeezing my hand a bit.

"Well that's the shortest session I've ever had—wait no that's a lie, I've had patients walk out on me not even a minute into their session. I can see that your relationship is still going strong if you two were able to resolve such heavy topic all on your own. Normally something of this magnitude takes time, and a lot more 'communication' between both parties alike. Kozume I want you to know that this isn't necessarily a 'yes' but it isn't a 'no' either so whatever his decision ends up being communication is key so I want you to also think long and hard about what lays beyond this if Kuroo decides that he doesn't want to adopt, that he isn't ready yet, and if he does decide to go with his original answer then you as his partner might have to try to understand each other, and if you two ever feel as though you can't handle this alone feel free to contact me and we'll set up an appointment right away." Dr. Sherman smiled warmly at the two as she too stood up from her seat. "And Kuroo I'd like to see you at least once a week to talk about the 'Shiroi incident'. Clearly it's something that's still got quite a hold on you." She advises, handing Kuroo her business card which she took from the stack on her coffee table.

After Dr. Sherman saw us off Kuroo and I took a long walk together before we made our way back home, we stopped by our parent's house on the way back home where we were given plentiful side dishes that they had prepared for us. By the time we reached the street where our home was it was still pretty early in the afternoon; kids were running up and down the streets, many shops were closing while other remained opened or were just about to open. Our hands remained securely in each other's hands, our fingers interlaced as we walked down the street together. Out in front of the shop we saw the usual kids that hung outside before closing time playing and most likely waiting for leftovers that we'd give out, but this time the lady from the orphanage we visited last month stood outside our shop with many kids at her side and among them was Katsumi. I couldn't hide the smile that appeared on my face and neither could Kuroo; I knew that he was just as in love with him as I was. I tugged at his hand as we raced towards the front of the house where we were greeted by the all of the kids at once each one of them looking to us eagerly waiting to tell us something. I turned to Kuroo who had immediately scooped Katsumi up into his arms and Katsumi allowed him too, I wanted to cry but I held my tears and pulled the lady from the orphanage aside so we could speak privately while Kuroo entertained the kids with a few ball tricks with a ball he had borrowed from a few kids down the street who were playing with one, the kids themselves opted to stay and watch too, they'd always enjoyed having Kuroo play Volleyball or basketball with them.

"I'm sorry for showing up without calling first; We usually let the kids decided where they want to go on Friday's and Katsumi really wanted to try the cookies you baked here again so I brought the kids for a visit but I guess we showed up at a bad time, didn't we? I mean you're just getting back home and all." The lady rubbed her hands together nervously as she watches the kids from where we stood next to do front door. I smiled softly and shook my head dismissing her concern. "Please don't apologize, and we'd be more than happy to bake those cookies for them." I beamed enthusiastically. I looked to Kuroo for approval which he gave me as he was telling Katsumi and the others about when he used to play Volleyball back in High School and College. "You and the rest of the kids can stay in the backyard while Kuroo and I go to bake you guys a batch of freshly baked cookies!"

"You hear that guys? They're going to bake us cookies, you hear that Katsumi!" Ms.Bellami from the orphanage rallied the children and gathered them all together before she took them outback into our backyard along with a bunch of the kids who were playing outside. The children's laughter along with Ms.Bellami's field the afternoon air and it got me all excited to help bake those cookies with Kuroo. I turned to him and saw him and Katsumi still talking to one another hand in hand. I approached the two and placed a hand on to Kuroo's shoulder, he turned to me who held a cat-like smirk on my face and watched as his face was dipped in a crimson red color.

We took Katsumi along inside the bakery and gave him one of Kuroo's spare hats and sat him down by one of the counters as we got to work. We decided to make a rather large batch since we wanted them to have some to bring back home with them and share. Kuroo took care of the baking and I took care of the decorating once the cookies had cooled off a bit. Kuroo had baked cute little animal shaped cookies each with their own unique flavors like he did once for the local schools around the area for children's day. Kuroo and Katsumi left to hand out the cookies together and I remained by the back porch watching the two together from a distance munching on a few cookies myself. Kuroo played with Katsumi and the other kids until the sun had fully set, and by that time the kids were exhausted and it was time for them to go home, another one of the works showed up sometime around 6:30 in a van to pick the kids up along with Ms.Bellami. Katsumi had fallen asleep by then which meant Kuroo had to carry him into the Van which he didn't mind doing one bit. We saw Katsumi and the other kids off until they were no longer in view before we stepped inside the bakery.

Kuroo latched on to me from behind and embrace me against him, I smiled from ear to ear as I looked back at him, he had tears streaming down his face and I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped me. "I want to adopt him with you, I really do but I'm scared Kozume, really scared..." Kuroo worried, tucking his face into my shoulder. I pat his head softly and let out a small 'hum' to let him know that I was listening. "We don't have to rush it, let's take it slow and when you're ready we can do this together. Why don't we bring some leftover baked goods to the orphanage tomorrow? Katsumi would be overjoyed, wouldn't you say?" I let out a small chuckle as I continued to pat his head softly. Kuroo smiled and planted kiss along my cheek causing my chuckles to turn into giggles; Yes, this is my life and I love every minute of it, and as long as I got him in it then I can't possibly complain.