"Your parents never came to any of them?" Kise asked. He knew he was lucky that his family came. Akashi's father never did. Midorima's sister always did. He thinks some of Murasakibara's siblings showed up here and there. "I'm sorry."

He squeezes back. "I think youth lasts longer than high school. I think it lasts as long as you want it to. Dad's fifty-one and mom's fifty-five, and they still go on dates, have their inside jokes, get together with friends, go dancing, and a lot of other things. I'd say they're still youthful. Mature doesn't mean boring. I think it means knowing the correct time to put on a hat, like your job hat or your parent hat or your meeting the prime minister hat, and when you don't have to have it on."

He grins. "You know, I once told Midorimacchi at Teikou that acting too mature was being immature. He called me a fool, but I think he's finally starting to learn that." His grin widens. "I'm still a little immature, though."