“ 𝑩𝒊𝒈 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 !”
.
𝟏
This is it.
Today's Kotei's birthday.
Without the child knowing that the Karasuno team has been planning a surprise birthday party for her, she played with her friend, Mio. Later in the evening her brother, Shiota, would drop them off at school.
4:15 pm
“ Okay, let's practice that synchronised attack once more,” Ukai said and the boys immediately took their positions. They had early morning practice that day (lucky) and the hours were supposedly over. So, they were improving on their individual tactics together.
The gym doors slid open and in came a tangerine haired girl, a paper bag in her hand.
“ I think Tanaka is a bit fast on there.”
“ Let's try to match our timing better.......”
“ Sorry, my bad.”
Natsu looked around the room and grumbled inwardly. Why are they practicing on such an important day ? Well, volleyball is their life so it's understandable.
“ Okay, let's finish up here for today. Tomorrow will be a day off and the day after tomorrow—”
“ Training camp ! Yay !” Hinata interrupted Coach Ukai who once again expressed concern regarding his declining authority.
“ Yeah, that. Do take a proper rest because I can't guarantee it during the training camp. That's all,” Ukai stood up and proceeded to exit the gym when a little girl blocked her way.“What's this ?”
“ Oh ! Natsu is here !” Shoyo happily waved her over. But the girl was busy eyeing the Coach with an intense look.
“ You can't go. Today's Kotei's birthday. Everyone has to be here !”
“ What ? I have a shop to look after, missy.”
“ This Missy is not going to let you leave until everything's over.”
Ukai glared back at the team, specifically at Hinata, who pouted.“Ukai-san, just stay back for a few minutes. Kotei will be really happy if everyone is here.”
“ She doesn't even talk to me. I doubt she even remembers me. So my presence here doesn't make a difference ,” Ukai said lazily, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“ That's not true.”
“ How can you say that so confidently ?”
“ I j-just can !”
“ If they're insisting so much, why not stay back for once ?” Takeda said keeping a hand on his shoulders.
“ I don't have any gifts to give, I'm warning you.”
“ Thoughts are all that matters,” the teacher said smiling brightly and the blonde finally had to give in. He sat down on the benches beside Shimizu who handed him her clipboard. Might as well do some work.
“ Okay, I'm gonna go now,” Takeda said loudly and proceeded to exit too when almost the entire team jumped on him.
“ Hey ! You can't just disappear after spouting that high and mighty stuff !”
“ That's right !”
Eventually, all the adults were made to sit down on the benches. Yachi was thinking of escaping too but looking at them now, she thought against it. It's nothing serious but she was a little shy to give her gift in front of everyone ; so proceeded to approach the girl some other time. But the prospects don't look so good now.
“ Woah, Natsu, did you grow tall ?” Nishinoya asked measuring her height from the last time he had seen her.
“ I did.” Natsu cheered. Her eyes landed on his height.“ I'm afraid, I can't say the same for you, Nishinoya-san.”
Nishinoya clutched his heart at the lethal attack as Tanaka slapped him on the back, laughing loudly.“ Even kids are bullying you, Noya-san !”
“ Shut up.”
On Natsu’s suggestion Hinata had later sent the information about Kotei's birthday in their groupchat. Kageyama was shocked at first. How did he know her birthday ?—was what he had thought. But when Shoyo further explained the situation, he calmed down.
“ I brought part poppers !”
Suga smiled.“ The credit goes to Natsu. She planned everything single-handedly. Kotei will be happy to hear that.”
“ Thank you for doing this for my idiot of a sister,” Kageyama said bowing before Natsu who just waved them off, looking up, proudly.
“ She bought the gift with her own pocket money,” Hinata pointed out and Natsu further gave off a triumphant smirk.
“ Talking about gifts..,” Tanaka started after finishing his streches,“..what will you give your sister ?” He asked Kageyama who looked at him smugly.
“ It's a secret.”
“ Come on, you jerk, out with it,” Tanaka grinned swinging an arm around Kageyama and punching him in the side which was a little too painful than usual.
“ You can see it when I give it to her,” Kageyama said, rubbing his side.
Small footsteps resounded on the short landing outside and everyone froze in their places.
“ Wait, is she already here ?” Hinata panicked.“ This is too fast !”
“ Hinata, calm down.”
“ Someone switch off the lights !”
They ran about the room finding good positions and eventually settled down. Yachi switched off the lights and tiptoed to the space beside Shimizu.
“ Woah ! This is really fun !”
“ I feel like I'm in a spy movie.”
“ It's been so long since I've done this.”
“ Oh, should we give her a jump scare? I have scary costumes and masks.”
“ Why the hell do you have that ?”
“ Shh, she's here.”
The footsteps left the landing and sounded on the steps before stopping before the door. The door slowly slid open.
“ HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!”
Various popping sounds resonated inside the gym as everyone greeted the girl loudly. The lights were turned on and they peered at her face for her reaction only to find.....
“ What's this ? Today's my birthday ? Why nobody told me ?”
Shiro.
“ Oi, you idiots, today's Kotei's birthday.”
And Aoi.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“ WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU WASTED OUR CONFETTI !!” Nishinoya and Tanaka cried out in perfect harmony dropping to the floor.
“ It's not our fault that you're such big fools,” Aoi muttered.
“ Don't you dare disrespect your seniors like that, you brats !!”
“ Calm down, Tanaka. It was kind of our fault. We should've checked first,” Sugawara said.
“ Suga-san is just too nice !”
𝟐
This time Natsu was given the task of a gatekeeper. Taking a chair she slid it just by the window and peeked through the rails. It was almost dark outside. She could get a clear view of the entrance to the Karasuno High.
Everyone went back to do their business. It's no use crying over spilt milk, afterall.
Natsu heard shuffling feet and gazed over to see the black outline of a small figure rushing towards the gym. Excited, she got down and declared loudly,“ they're here !”
This time Hinata ran up to switch off the lights. It's sad that they didn't have anymore party poppers left with them to give her a cheery greeting. That's when Yamaguchi pointed out,“ Tsukki hadn't used his one yet. Is one enough, though?”
Everyone gawked at Tsukishima.
“ Oi, four eyes, you stand in the front !”
“ Why ?”
“ Because you'll be the one to bring out the confetti.”
Before Tsukishima could protest, he found himself already being pushed to the front, before the door and grumbled under his breath.
The footsteps got nearer and the door gradually slid open. This time Kotei's cheery face came into everyone's view and before the child could process the information, Tsukishima popped the popper and together they all yelled,“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KOTEI !!!”
The lights were turned on.
Kotei stood shocked at the door. Behind her Mio cheered loudly and Shiota just smiled happy to be the one to escort the birthday girl.
“ Oh ? Oooh ? Ooooooooh !” Kotei flushed up from being the centre of attention, her gaze quickly finding Natsu who gave her a knowing look.“Yay ! Kotei's very happy !!”
“ Should we cut the cake ?” Shimizu smiled down at her.
Kotei's eyes sparkled in the lights.“There's a cake ? Woah, that's awesome !!!!”
Kageyama felt at ease to see her this excited. They didn't get to celebrate her birthday properly till now. Growing up by a year was all she could look forward to. But it's gonna change from this year onwards, I guess.
“ Ahem,” Coach Ukai cleared his throat to capture their attention. Kotei looked up at him, expectantly.“Before you can cut the cake, I want to give you something.” As hard as it is to believe, Ukai had finally found something ‘giftable’ in his bag, which happened to be...
“ Candles ?” They deadpanned at his choice.
“ This is my gift to you. It has the power to grant you a pass on the way to life, a golden ticket to become a grown up... blowing them out you'll turn six and thus a new look of the world will unravel itself before your eyes.....ta-da !”
“...”
“....”
“....”
“....”
“ A-Aw-Aw-Awesome !!!!” Kotei yelled, although she didn't get half of what he said.
‘ Our coach is good at speech.’
‘ Too good.’
‘ He turned a candle into some sort of unknown power.’
‘ He really did.'
‘ Kotei is too dumb. It's the perfect birthday gift for her. But I won't let coach surpass me,’ Kageyama thought, clenching his fist.
Candles were blown, cake was cut, wishes were exchanged and Kotei finally turned six.
And then came the most awaited moment of the day....the gifts.
They sat in a circle with Kotei in the middle. Unknown to all, the child was the most excited for this part. It's true she never got to celebrate her birthday extravagantly. Thus, her expectations were too low.
By the way, her definition of gift was somewhat different.
“ Kageyama is the big brother. So he should go first.”
Hinata and Natsu, who were sitting next to each other, looked at Kageyama in confusion as he approached his sister, empty-handed.
Kotei smiled at her brother as he kneeled down before her and holding her shoulders to keep her steady, kissed her lightly on the forehead. Pulling back he smirked,“ a kiss on the forehead from your beloved brother—that’s your birthday gift this year.”
In case you're wondering, last year it was an hour long hug.
“ Kageyama....,” Shoyo muttered as he stood up in slow motion. Raising his hand he pointed at him with an accusing finger and yelled,“ how cheap can you be, you jerk ! That's no birthday gift—”
Before he could complete Kotei yelled out in glee.“ Woah !!! Sugoi !! Big brother gave Kotei forehead kiss ! Kotei is really happy!!!!” She started jumping about while the rest of the gym gave the girl sad glances.
“ Right ?” Kageyama smirked and shot a look at Hinata who couldn't say more so decided to sit back.
“ Next--”
“ Me ! Me ! Me !” Natsu sprang up and ran towards Kotei.“ From me you have....this !”
Asahi gave a fearful cry as Natsu revealed a small clear case with a rhinoceros beetle in it.
“ Coooool !!!” Kotei took it.
So, that's why she was late, Hinata thought.
“ Kids are sort of scary these days,” Asahi said glancing at Kotei who took out the beetle and inspected it closely, in her hands.
On the other side of the gym, Yachi had somewhat of a similar reaction.
“ Next are we !” Shiro said and the three of them (Shiro, Aoi and Mio) held up some sort of banner.
“ X Gang..?” Yachi read it out.
“ And guess what...as your birthday gift you are the leader of this gang !” Shiro stated proudly.
“ Oh my god, are they planning to be delinquents when they grow up ?” Yachi muttered fearfully.
“ Eh ? Kotei was already the leader. What does this mean ?” Kotei pouted although she has to admit, this birthday gift made her beyond happy.
“ You never were. But you are now.” Aoi stated, nonchalantly.
“ Be happy, Ko-chan,” Shiro said in a mocking tone.“ You have to give up the position soon. Because Aoi’s birthday is drawing near.”
“ So what ?” Kotei grunted.
“ On his birthday, we're gonna make him the leader.”
“ That sucks !”
“ For you, yes.”
Before Shiro and Kotei could tackle each other, Suga interrupted them and gave the signal to move on.
“ Tsukishima, you go next.”
“ Good grief,” Tsukishima pushed his glasses up and stood up with an indifferent look. Standing before her he simply took off his Karasuno jacket and wrapped it around Kotei's shoulder.“ This is my gift. I'll let you become a Karasuno volleyball player for just one minute.”
“ Tsukishima, you cheapster, is that the best you can !” Tanaka yelled angrily.
“ One minute ? Really ? It can't be called a gift if you take it back, eventually,” Nishinoya joined Tanaka’s yelling.“ Atleast give it to her forever.”
“ Huh ? If I giver her my jacket then what am I going to wear ?”
“ Then give her something else, stingyshima !”
“ Can I keep it ?” Kotei asked, hopefully.
“ No. And your one minute is over. So I'm taking it back,” Tsukishima said and Kotei chuckled, not minding his saltines at all. She handed it back to him and almost everyone in the gym shot lazer beams at him.“ Thank you.”
“ This is from us, kid ! Cheer up!” Both Tanaka and Nishinoya leaped forward and handed her something. Her eyes went wide as she held it up in the air, shouting louder than before.
“ What did you give her ?” Hinata asked glancing over her shoulder.
“ Kotei doesn't know what this is but Kotei is happy !!”
“ What're you saying ? These are tickets to the Aquarium. It's a one time opportunity to visit it was me and Ryu,” Nishinoya said pointing to himself.
“ Aquarium ? Where there are fishes ?” Kotei asked in awe.
Tanaka nodded.
“ Eeeeh ? That's not fair. I wanna go there too,” Shiro grumbled.
“ Sorry, kid. But it's exclusively for the birthday girl,” Nishinoya said swinging an arm around the boy who punched him in his lower region. Nishinoya’s soul left his body as he clutched his stomach in pain.
“ Wait for your birthday, then. I, Tanaka Ryu, promise to take you to the amusement park... it's an oath,” Tanaka said ignoring Nishinoya.
“ Really ? Wow ! Tanaka-senpai, you're the nicest big bro I've ever met in my life!” Shiro cheered and Tanaka puffed out his chest, liking the sound of it.
“ Ryu, you backstabber !” Nishinoya grumbled to himself. It's not fair. He wants to be called ‘senpai’ too.
“ Shiro idiot, this is Kotei's birthday ! How dare Shiro steals the spotlight !” Kotei pointed at him angrily.
“ D-don’t fight,” Mio stepped in between them.
“ Mio’s right. Let's move on, okay ?” Suga suggested ruffling Mio’s hair.
“ I didn't get much but...,” Asahi handed the girl a headband, a cool one like himself.
“ Wahhh !!!” Kotei took it gently in her hands as if it's a really fragile thing. Then shocking everyone wore it round her neck.
The team sweatdropped.
“ Are you stupid ? It's a headband not a necklace,” Kageyama scolded hitting her on the head .
“ Ow,” Kotei rubbed her head and finally wore it properly. The metallic band held up the hair from her face. Showing everyone the new look they moved on.
The next gifts were something like this.
Kinoshita — a gigantic leaf
Ennoshita — a red stone
Sugawara — a long pole
Narita — a bottle cap
Yamaguchi — an empty tin can
Takeda — a keychain
Yachi — a handmade tribal clay piece(?)
Shimizu — her most favourite stamp collection
Daichi — a bubble wrapper
“ Oh, no ! (Jojo voice) Even the Captain?” Hinata shouted loudly.“What is she supposed to do with a bubble wrapper ?”
“ Pop it, I guess ?” Daichi said.
Hinata facepalmed. To his horror, Kotei gave such varied reactions to each of the gifts...it looked like she's getting diamonds and gold. How can a child be happy with these garbage ?
They smiled nervously while the girl ran about in the room like she got a lead on some gold mine.
“ Okay, now comes my turn,” Hinata stood up. He was very disappointed at their gifts. Kotei is a kid and so she didn't get it. But he gets it. It's pathetic ! But now he's there to show them what real gift looks like.
“ Presenting Hinata special....tadaaa !!”
“..”
“ A handfan ? Really ?”
“ You're the biggest cheapster of us all. Moreover, it looks used !”
“ Hinata boke !”
“ I've never used them. And I think it's better than all of your gifts combined,” Hinata pouted and grumbled.
“ Kotei loved it ! Thank you Shoyo-nii !” She beamed at him brightly and he proudly puffed out his chest.
“ Okay, I'm changing my gift,” Tsukishima intervened, raising his hand up.
“ Like hell you are. You didn't gift her anything in the first place.”
“ Shut up.”
“...”
“ Here.” Tsukishima handed her a small piece of paper with something written on it
“...do.....t-ticket,” Kotei tried to read it when Kageyama snatched it from her.“ Hey ! That was Kotei’s !”
“ Yeah, it's hers not for you,” Tsukishima grumbled in annoyance as Kageyama read the line.
“ I'll do whatever you want ticket...and with a one time validity,” Tobio read it out loud before handing it back to Kotei whose eyes sparkled like stars. She's literally on cloud nine.
“ Validity ?”
“ Meaning it's a one time thing,” Tsukishima said.
“ Tsukishima, you cheapster--”
“ I don't wanna hear that from you.”
“ Guess all members of the Karasuno team are cheapsters.”
“ No doubt in that.”
“ Everyone, thank you !”
They stared at Kotei's happy face. That was enough to cheer them up. She looked genuinely happy with or without the gifts but it's true this was going to be the most memorable day for her, ever (till date).
𝟑
“ Now that you've turned six you've also become a grown up. Don't you think you should act more like a one now?” Suga suggested.
“ How should Kotei become a grown up?” She asked moving closer to the teen.
“ Uh...,” Suga thought hard before continuing,“ ah, yes. For starters, how about you get your pronouns right ?”
“ P-pronouns ?” She gulped. What's a pronoun again ? She totally forgot.
“ The others of your age are already comfortable with.”
“ Hear that, Ko-chan ?” Shiro said standing on his tip toes to appear taller than Kotei. He gave a smirk full of pride.
And like a truck realisation hit her hard.
“ Shut up.” She turned to face Suga and with clenched fists requested,“Kotei wanna learn pronouns. Teach Kotei.”
“ Huh ? Why don't you ask your brother?” Suga said.
At his words Kotei turned to stare at Kageyama who stared back in confusion. Her gaze had underestimation written all over it. With an unsure face the child let out a ‘tsk’.
“ Don't give me that disgusted look !!!” Kageyama yelled.
“ No ! Kotei wanna learn from Suga-san! Big brother is illiterate !” She said pulling on his silver hair.
“ Ow ! Ow ! Okay ! Okay ! I get it !” Sugawara sighed as she finally let him go. This child is as dangerous as her brother.
A huge boulder crashed on Kageyama's head as he repeated the word to himself.“ Illiterate ?” Now, he knows he's dumb. But his sister views him as something worse than being dumb ? He's not illiterate at all !
Hinata snickered.
“ What are you laughing at, moron !” He smacked Hinata’s head who clutched it in pain.
“ Is everything done here ? We need to pack up now,” Takeda said getting up. He doesn't like being scolded by the vice principal. That man’s a lot to deal with.
...
🆂🅷🅾🆁🆃🆂
“ Happy birthday, Kotei ! Look what sister got you,” Miwa smiled and picked up a paper bag.“ By the way that headband looks cool.”
“ Right ?” Kotei stood up on the couch showing off.
Kageyama sighed as he silently watched a volleyball match on his phone in the corner. He still had to know what was the best gift. It has to be him ! But his face dropped when Miwa brought out a wrapped garment.
“ Ooh, what's that ?” Kotei yelled as she got up on Miwa's shoulder, dying to get a glimpse.
“ A kimono. You like it ?” Miwa carefully unwrapped the delicate piece and held it before her as Kotei's eyes lit up in recognition. It's that one ‘dress’ she had seen many people wear on the streets during the festival.
“ Yesss, Kotei liked it !”
It was a simple dark blue garment with a red sash. Kageyama slowly got interested and put his phone aside. This has to be the best gift of the day. He gave a sad sigh as Miwa shot him a triumphant look.
“ You wanna try it on ? I'll put it on for you.”
Kotei nodded almost immediately. Miwa got off the couch and sitting down on the floor patted the space in front of her for Kotei to stand.
“ Do you even know how to put it on? I've never seen you wear one before,” Tobio said sitting down on the floor, beside his sister. Miwa picked up the garment and made her wear it over her regular clothes.“ And don't you need to take off the clothes first ?”
“ Chill, dude. She's a kid. It won't make a difference.”
“ I mean, I'm as much as a novice as you.”
And so the two idiots proceeded to dress their little sister in a kimono. Kotei watched in fascination. She's always happy to be the centre of attention (just in the case of her siblings).
“ Looks okay.” Miwa said pulling back picking up the belt next.
Kageyama smoothened the creases and steadied the collar from behind. Kotei was eager to look into the mirror. It's somehow really exciting for her.
“ Oi, Tobio. You tie the belt.”
“ Why me ?!”
“ Because I don't know how to do it,” she said with a blank look.
“ I don't know too.”
They spent the next hour trying to figure out how to tie a belt. Kageyama pulled the sash from behind and as he was going to wrap it around the waist, Miwa tugged it so hard from the front that it came off.
“ What are you doing, you idiot !”
“ How dare you call your older sister idiot!”
“ Because I can.”
“ No food for you tonight.”
“ That's totally unfair.”
“ I don't care.”
“ I hate that you're my sister !”
“ I am ashamed to have a brother like you!!”
“ Stupid !”
“ Moron !”
“ Idiot !”
“ Dumbass !”
“ Shithead !”
“ Asswipe !”
“ Bitc--ahem, s-stupid.”
“...”
“...”
“ You did not—”
“ It was slip of tongue.”
“ It definitely wasn't !”
“ It was !”
“ Wasn't !”
“ Was !”
“ Wasn't !”
“ You wanna take this outside ?”
“ You bet, I do !”
“ One on one volleyball match !”
How do you even do that ?
“ Hell, yes !”
And they went to the backyard to play a one on one match (god knows how) while Kotei slept peacefully on the floor, her sash undone only with the cloth on. In her sleep her lips tilted upward with a visible smile on her face.
Today was fun.
...
“ 𝑇𝒉𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔.”