“ 𝑲𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒊, 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒃 𝑴𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝑯𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒂 ?”
.
𝟏
It was almost evening, the sun gradually setting at the horizon. The entire academy was quiet and still except for the occasional squeaking of shoes and hitting of balls that resounded within gym 1 and 2.
A small little girl was humming to herself as she played on the silent grounds, by herself, all alone. She had acquired a long stick from somewhere and was drawing with it on the dusty grounds. There was nothing specific in mind and so she tried to draw herself.
She was stealing frequent glances from the gym waiting for someone to come out. But eventually realised no one was coming just yet. The practice will probably go on till late and she has to wait for a few hours more.
Bringing her attention back to the drawing, she focused on it. Finally done with her masterpiece she threw the stick and skipped towards the bench to sit down for a while. She was feeling tired all of a sudden and found herself out of breath. Taking a deep breath she stared up at the sky.
It was beautiful but immensely boring. Now that she thought about it, staying back home might have been a better choice. Atleast she could watch some TV.
Sighing, she kicked her feet and looked down at her creation on the dirt.
It looked so dull and boring.
Nothing cheered her up. All she wanted to do is to have some sleep and then Miwa would take her away tomorrow. It seemed she has to break the promise she had made with Kenma and Kuroo, today.
Without her knowledge, time flowed as smoothly as it could and slowly it was dark. Finally, the squeaking and hitting stopped and a whistle pierced through the silent night.
As soon as practice was over Yachi handed the team all their necessaries and rushed outside to check up on Kotei.
The sight that greeted her didn't fit right, at all.
The next Kageyama saw his sister was when Yachi entered the gym, holding Kotei in her arms who had buried her head in her blonde hair. So, the boy could only see her back. Yachi met him with a nervous look.
“ Did she fall asleep ? Just keep—why do you look so pale ?” Kageyama put down his towel before approaching the girl.
“ Actually...Kotei...”
𝟐
K
otei was down with fever.
Some said it might be because of the change in weather. But Yachi thought none of that was the cause. There's a thing called psychogenic fever where the fever is caused by psychological factors instead of virus. It's just her guess...but seems like that's exactly the case.
Kuroo pushed open the sliding door and entered the room which they were sharing with the Karasuno team. It was basically a hall. Everyone was engaged in their own business. Only Kageyama sat dejectedly beside his sister who was sleeping at this time. There was a wet towel placed on her head and she panted lightly in her uncomfortable sleep.
“ Is it any better ?” The Nekoma captain asked sitting beside the futon, facing Kageyama who shook his head, slowly. “ I see. Don't worry she'll get better by tomorrow—”
“ Kotei doesn't fall sick so easily.” Kuroo shut up when Kageyama expressed his true feelings.“ It's a very rare case.”
“ Now that you say it, she played all by herself today. Don't you think it must have been too lonely for her ?” Kuroo said folding his legs to sit in a more comfortable position.
Kageyama didn't reply but just stared at Kotei's face. He was finally realising his mistake. Yachi had said something similar before.
“ Well, I should get going. I have to take a shower. If you need something don't hesitate to speak up,” Kuroo said and got up.
Kageyama bowed gratefully as the older took his leave. Putting a hand over her head he lightly caressed her hair.
Later that night Kotei was woken up by a nudge and she immediately closed her eyes when the bright light pierced her gaze. Adjusting her eyes to the bulb she looked beside her to see Kageyama trying to wake her up.“Kotei, you have to eat something. Get up slowly.”
The girl had lost her appetite by then. Her entire body was hurting so much, she felt sick all over. Shaking her head, she went under the covers again.
“ Please, Kotei. You have to eat to regain your strength.” But she was persistent.
Kageyama couldn't bring himself to smack her and force her to eat the food. Not after all the guilt he bore. He sighed putting down the tray. Yaku who had noticed everything offered his help.
“ Here, give me that. I'll feed her.”
“ Huh ? You don't have to do that. She's big enough to eat by herself.”
Yaku stared at him, dumbfounded.“She's sick and just a child. It's better to feed her.”
Well, you can't blame Kageyama. Kotei had seldom fallen ill before and Miwa was usually the one to take care of her. So he had no experience of this stuff.
“ Kotei, wanna hear a story ? Kotei-chan !” Yaku lightly patted her shoulder and the little girl finally peeked from beneath the covers.“ If you take the first bite, nii-chan will tell you a story.”
“ Story ? What story ?” She was starting to get curious but still refused to get up.
“ What story do you want to hear ?”
“ A happy one,” she said after some thinking.
“ Okay. For that you have to take a bite.”
Kotei groaned slowly losing her interest. But she also wanted to hear the story. Unwillingly sitting up, she opened her mouth obediently as Yaku fed her.
“ Brilliant. Okay, here goes.....once upon a time.....”
Kageyama looked at the exchange in envy. Sometimes he got the feel that he's not a good brother. It's true kids are afraid of him. But this is his own sister we're talking about. He blamed himself for not spending more time with her.
“...and they lived happily ever after.” Kotei’s face gave a disgusted look as Yaku fed her the last bite. It was hell, believe her.“ Kageyama, it's better if she gets as much rest as possible. Are you sure you want her to keep here ? We can arrange a different room for her.”
Kotei's eyes went dull at that. The very thing she feared was to stay alone. The fever would possibly get worse that way. But she was too small to understand that and thought it's best to stay out of the way.
“ It's okay. She can sleep in my futon. I don't wanna leave her alone,” Kageyama said which shocked both the girl and the older libero. Yet he smiled.
“ That's good enough,” Yaku said getting up with the tray. He looked down at Kotei.“ Get well soon Kotei. So that we can all play together, alright ?” Sparing the brother-sister duo a last glance he walked out towards the cafeteria.
“ Here,” Kageyama handed her a water bottle. She took it, happily. All of a sudden the pain in her chest went away as her brother scooted closer and helped her to sit straight. After drinking it, he laid her down.“ Okay. Now go to sleep.”
“ Will nii-chan go now ?” She peeked from under the covers as the boy sighed. Shaking his head he got under the covers too and supporting himself by his elbow patted her on the area of the blanket that covered her tummy.
“ I am right here. So go to sleep, okay ? I promise I'll not leave.”
Kotei nodded fixing her eyes on his face. He continued patting her till her vision turned blur and eventually fell into a deep slumber.
...
The next Kotei opened her eyes it was afternoon. Sunlight flooded into the room through the parted windows and lit up the entire space. She felt a lot better than before though the fatigue was still there. The room was empty... everybody seemed to have already left for practice. So that means....
She felt shifting beside her and a heavy weight moved over her. As her eyes adjusted to the room, she saw her brother's large hand laying still on top of the covers. Looking above her head she caught view of Kageyama's sleeping face as he snored, lightly.
It confused her. Isn't there practice ?
Fidgeting around she tried to removed the covers along with the giant hand but found herself too lazy to move around. So, turning to face her brother, she buried her head in his chest. Laying still for a few more minutes she realised that the time has come to wake up her brother. Not in the mind of embarassing herself the first day by wetting the bed, she made effort to nudge the sleeping moutain beside her.
“ Nii-chan !” She pushed him. Kageyama was a heavy sleeper. He slept like a dead log. So aborting to her last resort she pulled his hair. That didn't work too.
Gulping, and mustering up all her courage, she held his nose with her tiny fingers. This went on till his face grew red. Finding it hard to breath the boy shot up, panting crazily.
“ What the hell, Kotei !” He glared at her.
She said in a small voice,“ toilet.”
“ Huh ? Oh.” Yawning, he put his hand over her forehead and sighed in relief when found no temperature. When she stood up, her feet looked very wobbly so not seeing much of a choice he scooped her in his arms.
“ Nii-chan, hurry !” She said desperately tapping on his head.
“ Wait, wait, I'm hurrying !” In the end, he had to run all the way to the bathrooms. He shyly knocked on the girls bathroom but when no response came from inside he sent Kotei in to hurry up. If someone were to see him....he couldn't imagine what'd happen. The stalls were empty so there was nothing to worry about as stated by Kotei later brought relief to her brother who was waiting outside.“ You're awake already. So brush your teeth and have your breakfast, first. You must get in some nutrients in your body.”
They walked along the corridor. Kotei was once again in his arms and she had buried her face in his neck, clutching his shirt tightly.
Remembering something she asked in a muffled voice,“ what about Miwa-nee ?”
“ She has a hectic schedule. More hectic than me,” Kageyama started in a slow, embarrassed tone.“ So I volunteered to look after you this whole week. You're staying here with me.”
“ What ? Really ?” Suddenly, Kotei felt like jumping with revitalized energy. Pulling back she held Kageyama’s face with her little ones before forcing him to look her way.“Really ?”
“ Yes, really.” He pulled down her hands by his large one as his other hand supported her weight. “ But you have to promise to be a good girl.” He hiccuped and Kotei looked at him in surprise. Kageyama blushed before gulping hard.“ And also, I'm sorry for pressuring you so much, yesterday. I hope you will forgive me.”
He looked away, grumpily.
Kotei stared at him blankly and a mischievous grin appeared on her face.“ Kotei will not forgive nii-chan unless nii-chan gives Kotei something.”
“ Don't get so full of yourself.” He deadpanned. But soon realised he was not getting off for free.“ Wh-what do you want ?”
“ Um...Kotei wants, you see, Kotei wants...to watch more aot !” She cheered loudly.
“ Not that gory stuff again.” He grunted.“ Okay just one episode.”
“ Three !”
“ Two.”
“ Deal !”
𝟑
The entire day Kotei had rest because she was still feeling tired from before. The Karasuno team members dropped by frequently, in between their matches to check up on her. Kageyama was exempted from practice for just that day. He was dying to get on the court but Kotei is his first priority. He realises that now. So he swore not to leave her side the whole day.
Later that night Kageyama had to go take a shower. To his disappointment Hinata volunteered to look after her in his absence. Eventually, Kuroo and Kenma stayed back to play with her too. Needless to say Kotei was beyond happy to get so many playing partners.
“ Let's play catch !”
So sitting at the four corners of the the futon the three olders conversed among themselves about their matches the entire day while Kotei quietly listened to the funny tales, passing the ball silently.
“ ...and then I said ‘hey there's a dead body’ only to realise it was Lev,” Kuroo snickered. Hinata snorted out in laughter which resulted in his hand slipping and sending the ball up higher than usual.
“ Oh sorry about that Kote—”
Before he could finish and the others could comprehend the situation, Kotei jumped up in her place before hitting the ball with immense force and if it wasn't for Nishinoya passing by, who received the ball with his rolling thunder, it'd have hit straight into someone's face.
Kenma dropped his psp (yes he was playing on his psp with one hand and passing the ball with the other) in surprise. Hinata’s jaws dropped to the ground and Kuroo sat dumfounded, still trying to process everything.
That spike was too perfect for a five (he doesn't know that she had turned six) year old.
Nishinoya was surprised too but didn't look too shocked like the others. He grinned when Kotei ran upto him to retrieve the ball.“ How was Kot—my spike, sensei ?”
“ The aim was a bit off considering you were supposed to pass it to pudding head there,” he pointed at Kenma who gazed at him through narrowed eyes,“ but besides that, I'm impressed of my kouhai ! Keep it up !” He showed her a thumbs up.
“ Thank you for the encouraging words, sensei,” Kotei said, bowing respectfully.
“ W-w-wait ! Kotei, you're amazing ! How did you do that!” Hinata yelled.
Kuroo and Kenma shared looks.
“ It happened on it's own,” Kotei said.
“ What're you talking about ? Kenma, pass her the ball again ! I wanna see it again !” Hinata said as he ran up to Kotei and taking her ball tossed it to Kenma who looked a bit curious too.
But...
All their hopes got ruined as this time Kotei was so busy tracing the ball with her eyes that it hit her in the head.
They tried it several times but in vain.
Finally getting the ball in his grasp Kuroo stopped, momentarily.“ It must have been a coincidence.”
“ Of course it was,” Kenma agreed.
Nishinoya didn't think much of it and ran off to take his shower.
“ Are you kidding me ? Kotei, do it again !” Hinata whined shaking her back and forth by her shoulders which led to her slowly getting dizzy.
“ Shoyo, she's not yet well. And coincidence can happen,” Kenma commented getting back on his psp.
“ Oh no ! Why do these coindences not happen with me ?” Hinata ruffled his own hair in frustration before laying back down on the soft cover and whining into it.
You want more coindences after this ? Kenma thought thinking about those weird quicks and almost perfect spikes.
Kuroo stood up before relieving his joints. He must get going or that idiot owl might come to look for him.“Kenma, I beg you please keep that thing away and go to practice with Yaku.”
Kenma pouted angrily, his cheeks puffed out as he huffed.
“ Kuroo is leaving ?”
The Nekoma captain felt a weight near his leg and he sighed.“ Yeah, we have practice.”
“ Again ?” Kotei asked disappointed as she tried to climb up his back by clutching on his shirt.
“ It's what a training camp means. Hey, don't fall !” He glanced past his shoulder to see Kotei struggling. He sweatdropped. Am I a mountain to climb ? He maintained his balance as Kotei finally reached near his neck and wrapped her arms round it. Her legs were hanging in midair as she tried to climb higher.
“ Kotei will go with Kuro !” She declared as she finally reached her destination. Sitting on his shoulders, she rested her left hand on his head, raising the other one before him to point at the direction of the exit.“Forward, Kuro !”
Immediately, large hands were put under her armpits and Kuroo put her down, back on the ground.“ No, not today. You need your rest.”
“ Eh ? But Kotei climbed Mount Kuro !”
‘ So what !’
“ You did a great job. You can climb many more mountains tomorrow, okay ?” He said ruffling her hair and before she could again latch onto him ran outside the room towards the gym.
“ Kotei, wanna climb Mount Hinata ?” Shoyo said proudly pointing at himself.
Kotei looked at him, uninterested.“No.”
“ Wh-why not ?”
“ Mount Hinata is too short. Kotei wanna climb higher mountains !” She said with sparkling eyes.
Kenma snickered behind his psp as Hinata could slowly hear his heart crumbling. He collapsed on the soft cushion once again as he tried to proceed her words. It sounded worst coming from a child.
Why am I so short !
A few minutes later found Kotei bored out of her mind. Hinata was still in his frozen state while Kenma was too invested in his game to pay her attention.
“ Kenma ! Let's play, okay ? Okay ?” She asked shaking him by his knees.
“ Mhm. What do you want to play ?” He asked not even looking at her.
Kotei pouted and jumped over his torso as the force pushed him back. He fell back but his priority was his game. He held the device up so that it doesn't break. Kotei whined loudly, pulling on his arm which refused to let go of the psp. But he paid no mind to it and continued playing his game.
“ Kenma ! Here you are—what are you doing ?” Yaku sweatdropped as he witnessed a pouting Kotei throwing a tantrum on Kenma who was completely oblivious of her.“ Kotei, what happened ?” He pulled her up and Kenma finally completed the level.
Putting his psp away he looked around him.“ Did you say something to me ?”
“ I did !” Yaku sighed, rubbing his temple, putting Kotei aside. Resting his hands on his hip, he glared at him.“ What about practice ? Come with me.”
“ No, I'm sleepy.”
“ Not a word. Come on,” and he dragged the annoyed cat out of the room.
Looking around Kotei found Hinata sitting still, his back facing her. She peeked over his shoulder.“ Shoyo-niiiiiiii, let's play, okaayyy ?”
She shook him but he didn't look at her. He was pissed.
“ Okay ? OKAY ?”
Hinata refused to look at her.“ I'll not play with you. You insulted me earlier.”
“ Eeeeeh ? No ! Let's play !” She said poking him in his shoulder.“ Okay ?”
“ No.”
“ Please ?”
“ No.”
“ Kotei's sorry. Okay ?”
“ You don't mean it,” he looked away.
Kotei was at her wit’s end.“ LET'S PLAY ! OKAY? OKAY ? OKAY ?” She started pulling him by his shirt and it turned into a one-sided tug of war.
“ K-Kotei..wait—”
“ Play with Kotei ! Okay ?” Her immense strength showed as she started dragging his huge weight (compared to her) by pulling his shirt.
“ Kotei, wait ! You'll rip it !” Hinata tried to pull back but she didn't listen.
“ Let's goooo !”
“ Okay ! Okay ! Fine ! Let me go !”
“ Really ?” She smiled and let him go which caused him to fall back.“ Let's play chase ! Shoyo will chase me !”
“ No one's chasing no one.”
“ Who said that—"
Kotei went to protest but bit her tongue when found a scary looking Daichi staring her down. “ I said that. You have a problem ?”
“ N-no.”
“ Hinata, you're wanted in the gym. If you don't mind....”
“ Y-YES !” hinata saluted and slipped off, discreetly. Kotei stared at his receding back with a pout but then her eyes met with Daichi’s scary ones.
“ Go to sleep.”
“ Um...you see, eh, you see, Kotei doesn't go to sleep without watching an episode—”
“ Go.to.sleep.”
“ Yes boss !”
She rushed towards her blanket and crept under it peeking at Daichi from under it. The older boy gave a satisfied nod before switching off the lights behind him and exiting the room.
“ Kotei swears Kotei will play all day tomorrow!” She promised herself before turning on her side to close her eyes.
It's a promise.
That night she went to sleep with a smile on her face.
______________________________________
“ 𝑇𝒉𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔.”