𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗦

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔 : 𝕃𝔸𝕋𝔼 ℕ𝕀𝔾ℍ𝕋 𝕊𝕋𝕆ℝ𝕐 𝕊𝔼𝕊𝕊𝕀𝕆ℕ𝕊

" 𝑲𝒖𝒓𝒐'𝒔 𝒍𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 ! 𝑲𝒖𝒓𝒐'𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒈, 𝒃𝒊𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒓 !"

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𝟏

Another beautiful morning with a bird chirping in the background only that it's just an alarm ringtone and not an actual bird.

" Who the hell sets their alarm as birds screeching!"

" I do ! You have a problem with that ?"

" I'm warning you, you do not want to pick up a fight with me early in the morning !"

" Oh yeah ? You wanna go ? Is that an indirect threat ?"

Too bad the morning was not peaceful as usual.

The teams become too energetic at this time. It's literally a zoo in there. Only difference is you'll find new species that you've never heard of before with the Coaches acting as their caretakers.

" I want everyone to line up in the gym within five minutes !"

The boys groaned. It's more fun to be at each other's throat than to have a peaceful friendly conversation. If it's a training camp it's your ticket to the zoo. Picking fights with rival teams is given more importance than scoring points. I mean that's what's volleyball about, right ?

Right ?

Takeda pulled Kotei to the almost empty Cafeteria. Only a few remained to complete their morning meal but that too got ruined when Coach Nekomata dragged them off without letting them put those nutrients in their bodies.

" Today you'll stay with me, okay ?" Takeda smiled handing her the chopsticks.

Kotei couldn't hear him because she was still busy completing her dream from last night. Apparently she got to join the Survey Corps with the gang. Thus, her morning had already been ruined the moment her brother interrupted the bliss.

" So ? What do you wanna do now?" Takeda asked with a polite smile.

" Let's watch aot together !"

" Aot ? What's that ?"Kotei gave him a how-dare-you-sit-in-front-of-Kotei-not-knowing-what-aot-is look. Takeda genuinely had no idea so remained quiet (a bit embarrassed maybe). Then Kotei realised she's a grown up. So she should act like one. Clearing her throat she continued," okay. Then Kotei will be the teacher for today. Kotei will give Take-chan lessons on Aot."

" How about we do something else ?" Takeda emphasized each of his words to sent her a signal.

Of course Kotei wasn't able to catch it." Like what ?"

" I heard you've got your summer homework. And you've probably not touched it, have you ?"

" Definitely not," she said in a matter of fact tone.

" Then let's solve it, shall we ?" In return he received a disgusted look." I am a teacher so I'll help you."

" Take-chan will do Kotei's homework ? Yay !"

" I never said that. I'll help you do that."

"..."

" Please don't give me that look. It doesn't suit a child's face. Besides, you have to do it sooner or later."Kotei thought about it. Looking upon the good side Takeda is not always available. So atleast she'll know what's going on. On the contrary, her brother is like the dumbest idiot when it came to studies. So there's no hope of him providing help.

" Okay, Kotei agrees."

" Good. But let's do it in the gym. Because I have to watch over their practice, too." He is an advisor after all.

A few minutes later....

Kotei sat in the corner of the room doing her homework, quietly. Takeda sat just beside her occassionally helping her wherever she got stuck and then looking over at the team practice, noting the minute details, carefully.

He doesn't get paid enough for this job. And he's not saying that, I am.
During their break, Kageyama picked up his bottle to drink from it but spat back the content when his gaze landed upon Kotei. Throwing the bottle (poor Hinata got hit on his head) he rushed towards his sister. Takeda flinched as the boy shook her sister by her shoulders." Kotei, are you okay ? Why are you doing your homework !"

Kotei pouted." Don't disturb."

Kageyama let her go and stumbled back. He did get hurt hard in the face from the ball before so it couldn't be a dream. So that means it's reality !

" Just in case, what's the emergency number ?"

" Aren't you being a bit too much," Hinata groaned standing behind him, rubbing his sore head." And by the way, if you haven't noticed, you dropped this earlier." He handed him the water bottle that Kageyama had thrown at him, before.

" Oh, thanks."

" You owe me an apology, jerk !"

" Hey, look at Kotei. Doesn't she seem strange?"

" You not being able to grasp the fact is much more strange to me."

" Just because the King is dumb in studies doesn't mean his sister has to be one, too."

The duo went on alert at the mocking voice. No wonder they were met with a pair of glasses when turned around. Tsukishima smirked at their reaction and took off his spectacles to wipe off the moisture.

" You take that back !" Kageyama growled.

" You can't take back what you've already said. Right ?"

" Argh...you ! Watch for your face because I'm gonna spike at you soon," Kageyama declared pointing at the tall boy.

Tsukishima chuckled before putting his glasses back on." Are you five ? You must have realised by now that I have something that you'll never have in your entire life. Know what that is ?"

Kageyama felt his whole body burning with rage and Hinata couldn't help but maintain some distance from the two. His danger sensing organ alerted him fast.

" It's called 'wits'."

" Woah ! That sounded so cool ! Tsukki, teach Kotei that line ! Kotei wanna sound awesome too!" Kotei said cheering, merrily.

" First get your pronouns right, pipsqueak."

Kotei pouted. Tsukishima shows no mercy. Not even to a kid.

" Shut up ! You do your homework!" Tobio yelled glaring at her. Kotei let out a 'bummer' and sat back down."And you! I'll show you on the court!"

" I'll be waiting."

𝟐

As usual, Kuroo dragged Lev to their practice with Bokuto and Akaashi as the tall boy whined behind him. He complained on how he'd die in a day or two because apparently last night he had dreamt of hell. Kuroo scoffed and pulled him inside the gym.

" We're here."

" You're late," Bokuto smiled approaching them.

" Because someone decided to be a brat."

Lev huffed crossing his arm.

" By the way, Kageyama was looking for Kotei earlier. Do you know where she is ?"

" Right here," Bokuto turned about, pointing at his back, to reveal the little girl hanging halfway through his back, her hands clutching on his shirt to not fall off.

" Yeah, I had expected something like this," Kuroo said leaning down towards Kotei who greeted him with a 'yo'. " What're you doing ?"

" She is climbing Mount Bokuto as you can see," Bokuto stated proudly as Akaashi avoided eye contact having nothing to do with it.

" Since when did you become a mountain, idiot!"

" Since today ! Hey, hey, hey !"

" Kotei, your brother wants you to have your dinner. Go meet him in the cafeteria."

" No, Kotei's not hungry."

" Then tell that to him."

Kotei finally reached his neck and peeked from behind his shoulder."You tell him."

" I'm not your mailman.You go and tell him yourself."

Kotei whined and slid down Bokuto's back. That's when they noticed the weird thing on her head." Are you wearing a cat headband?" Lev asked.
Kotei nodded and took it off to show it to him properly. Kuroo chuckled remembering yesterday evening. He was shocked at first when she had demanded of him to buy her that. But apparently it was for Kenma. He crouched on her right side and inspected the thing." You must have pulled it too hard. Look, this is coming off."

" Eh ?" Kotei, nervously, took it back and tried to press it together." It's all Kenma's fault !"

Getting a mischievous idea, a sly smile stretched across Kuroo's lips. Raising his hand he took it past Kotei's back to tap her on her left shoulder twice and quickly pulled back.

Kotei looked back but found no one. Shrugging her shoulders, she turned back again. The other three noticed what he was doing. Bokuto had a look like why-did-I-not-have-this-idea before. Akaashi was fed up with their childish tactics and pulled Lev and Bokuto towards the court.

" Is it okay now ?" Kotei held it up and Kuroo pretended to inspect it while his hand once again made its way across her back to tap her on the shoulder, lightly. Immediately he retreated his arm when Kotei looked behind her.

She tilted her head not understanding what was happening. She faced Kuroo who held in a laugh." What ?"

" What what ?"

" Kuro tapped Kotei on her shoulder."

" Huh ? What're you talking about ?" He asked mildly confused.

" Kuro didn't....?" Kotei wondered. She looked behind her, again, but found no one." Then who...?"

" Kotei you should get going. Your brother is waiting for you."

" Oh, yes !" She suddenly forgot all about the tapping and proceeded to walk away when she turned to face him again." Kotei will come back in a while."

" Of course you will."

In the end, her 'in a while' turned to an hour because Kageyama forced her to have her dinner before she gets a stomach ache. He let her go after a while saying to return by ten. It didn't seem fair because her brother stayed awake most of the night to practice with his team and she's left alone in the room to stare blankly at the ceiling.

" Kotei's back !"

" Welcome back," the players muttered not putting much effort into greeting her (except Bokuto). Tsukishima was also there. He grunted. Because Kotei reminded him of Kageyama. And he hated Kageyama.

" When will practice end ?" She asked hopefully.

" It'll take time. Why don't you sit over there and wait for us ?"

" Eeeeeeeeeeh ? But that'll be boring !"

" I heard you like Aot ! I have all the episodes downloaded. You wanna watch while you wait?" Lev suggested. Honestly, he was hoping he'd get atleast a few seconds off while showing her the settings. Kotei agreed immediately. So while the rest resumed their practice Lev took his sweet time showing Kotei how to switch it on and click on the next episode on his phone." But no looking into my gallery."

" Why ?" Kotei whined.

" So you did plan to look into it ?" Lev asked surprised and Kotei giggled."No. No means no. Or I'm not talking to you again."

" Kay."

" I don't believe you."

" Not Kotei's fault." She turned to click on the episode when Lev took it from her." Hey !" He specially set a password for his gallery file and handed it back to her, happily.

" Here you go."

" Lev is no fun."

" You think so ?"

" Oi, Lev ! Come back here ! I can see what you're trying to do !" Kuroo yelled out.

" Coming, coming," he sighed and got up sparing Kotei a last look of envy before jogging away.

One hour later....

" Kotei, practice is over ! Let's play !" Bokuto happily skipped towards Kotei who was too invested in watching Aot. She shushed him.

" Shh."

Bokuto's smile dropped and he pouted while turning to Akaashi." Akaashi ! Kotei shushed me!"

" Don't mind." Akaashi patted him on the back as Kuroo snickered before sitting next to Kotei to peek at the screen. It was the scene of Reiner and Bertholdt's betrayal revelation. Lev excitedly decided to join too and soon the entire group huddled about the girl, waiting in anticipation for what's gonna happen next (minus Akaashi and Tsukishima).

" I'll get going then," Tsukishima bowed excusing himself and Akaashi nodded in acknowledgement.

Finally, the episode ended and Kotei sighed in satisfaction. Aot really is the best. She handed the phone back to Lev and thanked him.

There was still some time left before going to bed so Kuroo suggested to tell stories to pass time. Suddenly the atmosphere of the room changed as the lights were turned off and the group sat in a circle. Akaashi, though he wouldn't admit it out loud, was starting to have some fun and enjoyed the company.

" The one whose story will give us the most creeps will win !"

So it was a horror story competition.
They had no candle. So Lev turned on his flashlight and kept it, upside down, in the centre. Kotei sat between Akaashi and Bokuto equally excited as she tried to think up of a story herself. Actually Miwa used to tell her one, weekly. Although they were not creepy at all, Kotei more or less figured out what a good horror story could be.

" Ah sorry, I forgot my...knee......pads.....," Tsukishima dragged on, unsure, as he stepped into the room. Everyone stared at him and he stared back at them. He cleared his throat, nervously. Their faces told him what's going to happen next. And he mentally felt tired. Good grief.

The next second found Tsukishima forced to sit between Bokuto and Kuroo, taking part in the game as well." You're ruining my sleeping routine."

" Like we care !"

" Think up of a story fast, Tsukki. Although I know who's going to win," Bokuto replied, proudly pointing at himself. Tsukishima groaned, observing his chances of escaping very slim.

" Who's gonna go first ?"

" Akaashi ! Because name (title in this case) starts with 'A' !" Kotei said, cheering.

" Okay, go !"

" Whatever you do please don't start it with 'once upon a time-"

" Once upon a time," Akaashi gave Kuroo an apologetic look and continued," there lived an old couple in the forest."

" Why do they live in the forest ? Like man we're in the twenty first century," Lev complained.

" Because it's 'once upon a time'," Akaashi reminded him.

" Ah, understandable. Go on."

" Every morning the man left to work leaving his wife behind to manage the home. He used to chop logs for a living."

" You can chop logs for a living ?! Why did no one tell me that !" Bokuto butted in and Akaashi couldn't help but give him an annoyed look. Initially, Tsukishima had said he was not interested. But he can never say no to feuds. Secretly, he liked dramas.

" Ahem..," Akaashi cleared his throat loudly before continuing," one day while returning home he found something strange. It was his wife sitting on the side of the road. She was heavily injured and was groaning in pain. He recognised her under the cover of blood and bruises, and rushed to help her at once.' What happened ?' he asked her but she refused to speak. It's because she couldn't speak due to the pain. So the old man carried her on the back and began his way towards the local medical centre."

" Question. There's a medical centre in the forest ? That doesn't sound right," Kuroo protested.

" There are nearby settlements," Akaashi said. He was starting to lose his patience. It annoyed him when people continuously interrupted him." Totally understandable. Continue."

" Now you know how you need money to stay in the hospital. The couple didn't have any. So the doctors said while they're treating her the man must find a way to deposit the amount required. Not sensing any other way, he decided to look for other works. Within three days, he barely collected the money. Tired from overworking he thought of seeing his wife once so he walked back toward his home to take with him the little money he had collected."

" Once again, I didn't know you could make money just by chopping logs ?" Bokuto thought out loud.

Ignoring him, Akaashi continued,"when the old man returned home he was shocked to see his wife sitting there, waiting for him as usual, totally recovered. Dropping his things he rushed towards her in worry,' what are you doing here ? How did you reach here ? What about the money? You look alright now ! Am I dreaming ?' The wife told him to calm down and explained that they had treated her. Not explaining in details she told him what had happened that day. Some burglars had broke into their house and she managed to escape somehow. Thankfully, she had hid some money in a place in the forest, by digging the soil. This the burglars couldn't find. She informed him where it was and showed him the place."

" The next morning the old man found his wife missing. Concerned, he searched for her everywhere but couldn't find her. Later, he received a letter from the local medical centre. He, panicked beyond hell, asked them if they knew anything of their wife. But the the staff was shocked to hear his side of the story.' That cannot be possible,' said the staff. ' What're you talking about? I don't understand !' he said. With a grim voice the staff informed him,' your wife died last night.'"

Akaashi completed and was met with dumbfounded faces." That's the end."

" Uhhh, excuse me, but what's the scary part in this story ?" Kuroo asked.

" I still can't believe you can earn money by chopping logs," Bokuto replied.

" You...could have tried better," Tsukishima said.

In the meantime, Akaashi felt a weight on his lap and looking down he saw Kotei had dozed off. Lev laughed loudly before slapping a hand over his mouth. Kotei groaned as she woke up and clenching her eyes, she opened them to gaze up at Akaashi with an apologetic look," ah ! Sorry, Kotei dozed off. So what happened after old man found old lady hurt ?" She asked smiling.

"...."

" I am sorry I couldn't entertain you. I'll take my leave now," Akaashi said standing up and bowing, apologetically.

" Wait ! We were kidding ! Your story is the best !"

" Akaaaashi ! Please don't go !"

" Don't go yet ! It's still the beginning !"

" Yessss, please, Kotei begs !"

"..." (Tsukishima)

Akaashi sighed. These kids....he shook his head as Kotei pulled him back down, getting onto his lap so that he couldn't escape.

" Next is me !" Bokuto yelled.

" Yay, let's go !" Kotei cheered as she took Akaashi's hands and made him put them around her to rest on her lap. Leaning back against his chest she raised a finger giving the 'go' sign.

" Okay, so once upon a time-"

" Not your once upon a time shit again !"

" Well, how am I supposed to start then !"

"Whatever."

" Okay, forget it. Let me tell you one of my original stories, hey, hey, heyyyy ! It was after school, in the summer vacation. I had to stay back because I had remedial classes."

" So you flunked your tests ?"

" Shut up !" Bokuto glared at Lev who was no better than him." And then-hey, hey, heyyy ! No sleeping during my story !"

" Kotei's not sleeping. Kotei's resting Kotei's eyes."

" Is there any difference ?"

" LET ME CONTINUE !!!!!!!!"

"..."

" Good. Back to the story, I had left something behind so I had to come back. It was dark and I almost didn't think the school gates would be opened. The student Council President said she was just going to lock up. You'll not believe what I saw next. One of the lights in the classroom just beneath us was on ! And guess what ! The student Council President had said that she had checked everything before leaving. So there's no way possible that someone could be there !"

" Maybe she forgot to switch off the lights," Tsukishima suggested in a nonchalant voice.

" But the strange thing is I saw someone switch on the light through the window. But by the time I pulled her back to show the room, I was baffled to see that it was dark again !" Bokuto facepalmed.

" So you did see a shadow ?"

" Of course. A black figure. He was wearing our school uniform. The classroom also happened to be the same where the President sits in. There's absolutely no way she'll forget to check her own room before locking it. She must have seen someone there before leaving !"

Lev was starting to feel the chills while Kuroo was just finding it too hard to believe because it's Bokuto we're talking about. For all we know he might have dreamt the whole thing. Or he might be hallucinating. Or he just simply made it up. Tsukishima, well, he couldn't care less. Kotei was getting excited but not so much afraid. The story wasn't that scary for her.

On the other hand, Akaashi, was deep in thought." By any chance, was it the day before our first practice match with Nekoma ?"

Bokuto got surprised and tried to remember." Hey, hey, hey, what're you getting at Akaashi ?"

The latter sighed knowing Bokuto surely doesn't remember." Was it just before the day when you made your first super duper ultra delux cross shot ?"

" Now I remember ! Yes, yes that's right. It was !"

Kuroo and Tsukishima sweatdropped. He remembers those shots by crappy names? Is he five ?

" Well Komi-san was flexing to us all, once, that he spent a night in his classroom all alone for a dare. So as not to get caught by the President (who's also in the same class) he hid in the small locker at the back of his room," Akaashi said.

" Nah, it was not....," Bokuto was going to protest but remembered that it was the same as Komi's classroom that he had seen the lights turn on.

" Bokuto-san ?" He noticed how be suddenly went quiet." He also said how he had almost got caught while switching on the lights. But thankfully he had seen the student Council President from the window and immediately switched off the lights."

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" How dumb can you get, idiot ?"

" Sh-shut up."

" Kotei liked it ! Next !"

Bokuto brightened up." Really ?"

" Not really. Kotei's saying it not to dis'earten Ko-chan !" She said happy to use a new word.

Bokuto's hair drooped behind him as he huffed, resting his face on his knees which he had drawn closer to his chest. Akaashi patted him on the back to console the poor owl.

" I don't wanna brag but I think I'm gonna win tonight," Kuroo said. His gaze turned directly towards Kotei and he smirked, already pulling the strings of his plan into action." Kotei, unlike this idiot, my story is a hundred percent true one. So listen to this carefully, okay ? Because the site of this story is apparently the very academy we're residing in, right now."

" Oooh, Kotei's not scared of ghosts," she laughed but everyone noticed how her tone suddenly shot up. She looked around quickly before covering it up with another awkward laugh.

" Many, many and many years back this place happened to be a graveyard. You know what that means ?"

Kotei shook her head.

" It's where you bury the dead," Tsukishima put in nonchalantly and Kuroo glared at the latter for saying it so blankly. It's a creepy atmosphere. So you ought to make everything creepy, as well.

" Continuing, many corpses still lie here. Technically, their skeletons do but that too have started to crumble in with the soil. Among these, belonged a small child about Kotei's age. She had died of an illness that had no cure at those time, neither it does in these times. You can never cure this disease. You know what disease it is ?"

Kotei, no longer feeling sleepy, shook her head.

" It's called mental depression. Watching her parents fight, day by day, having no friends to interact with with, the still ongoing war taking thousands of her relatives' lives, she grew tired and eventually gave up on life. That means she died."

Strangely, Kuroo's story was gaining more attention, excitement and anticipation than any of the others. Even Tsukishima grew a bit keen. It's because the boy has a good skill of narrating the story in a spooky way.

" Let's come back to the present. Do you know there has been instances of students hallucinating a light image of a little girl running in these very corridors ?"

" I think I've actually heard this before," Akaashi pointed out remembering some of his seniors talking about these sightings.

" Hey, hey, hey, Akaashi, stop scaring me," Bokuto said. He didn't wanna ruin his image by earning the title of a coward.

" It's true. Her spirit has not yet been free. She still roams this place in hopes of a more satisfactory role. She couldn't live a good life while living but she wants to do so after death-a peaceful, satisfactory time. Too bad loneliness is a disease in itself. So sometimes the low moaning and howling of her cries is often heard across the campus. She wants someone to accompany her. It's still unknown if she wants that person alive or dead."

" I will tell you one short event from my memory. It was the time of summer when we first met here for the training camp. Something strange happened with one of my teammates then, a fellow third year, my senior named Hoshiro."

" I remember this story vividly," Bokuto said and Akaashi nodded along. Kotei leaned back towards Akaashi trying to gain some sort of comfort.

" It was one such day he was walking back to his room after our evening practice. Of course it was dark but he felt the atmosphere somewhat chilly. He was all alone and humming to himself a shitty tune. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. He felt like he was being watched. But found no one so once again trudged along the way. Now something strange happened. He felt someone tap him on his back. By the touch he sensed, it was someone much shorter in height for the person had tapped him midway through his back. He turned and looked down. Once again he found no one."

" Shrugging, he continued on his way but once again he felt someone tap him. This time it was on his shoulder. He jolted and looked back and once again found no one. By this time he had started feeling the sweat on his face, his hair sticking to his damp skin. Despite being a hot day, he felt a chill creep down his spine."

" The third time the same thing happened and the tap was on the head. Hoshiro-senpai thought someone from the team was pranking him and naturally he called out to the person. No one stepped out of their hiding spot. Sighing, he turned back but right then and there he went completely still. A cold liquid had trailed down his neck. He touched it fearfully to have a look and a frightened gasp escaped his lips. Know what that is?"

He was having fun to look at Kotei's pale face. Akaashi, already knowing what the further story would be, motioned with his eyes for Kuroo to stop. The latter sighed." Okay I'll stop here. But aren't you curious ?" His question was mainly directed at Kotei.

The little girl realised her reputation was at jeopardy. Besides, the story's scary enough for her. Not to say, she was feeling more and more like Hoshiro in the story. An icy chill travelled down her spine and she wondered why she was feeling so cold in this hot room." N-no ! Kotei's a brave girl ! Continue !" She yelled the words a bit louder than necessary.

" Are you sure ?"

" Yes.

" You'll not cry later ?"

" No."

" Okay then what do you think the liquid was ?"

Kotei shook her head showing that she doesn't know (and doesn't want to know too). Biting on her lips she looked up at Lev who raised his hand like a student raising his hand up to answer a teacher's question.

" I-is...i-i-i-it-"

" Stop stuttering, Lev. I can't understand you."

" I-is it....a certain red liquid ?" Lev asked slightly moving closer to Akaashi. The latter felt a bit stuffy from all the cuddling. On one hand, there's Kotei sitting on his lap. On the other hand, there's Lev trying to ease up against him and clutched his shirt in fear. And then there's Bokuto who had already cozied himself against him, wrapping his arms around his torso to calm himself down. It was too scary for his poor, oh-so-poor, heart. And it was scarier knowing that this had actually happened here.

Akaashi sighed.

Tsukishima felt his misery but didn't do anything. He wants the story to end soon so that he can have his precious sleep.

" Bingo ! It's blood."

Kotei let out a small squeak and unintentionally pushed her elbow a little too back, digging Akaashi in his stomache. He winced but held it in for Kotei's sake. The older boy, to keep the girl from moving too much (and to prevent accidents like this one), tightened his grasp around the girl and made sure to push down her hands so she couldn't move it much.

" Hoshiro-senpai was too scared to look up. But you know how the main character in every horror movie looks up to get a glimpse of the evil. He got paralysed by fear as he took in the view. A little girl, hanging upside down from the ceiling, on all her fours, crawled towards him. She was wearing a light coloured kimono and her long sleek hair fell beneath her. The blood was trickling down her hair and seemed to be oozing from a head injury. Her face was visible for she was directly above him. It was that of a very cute, young one. There was a sort of serenity on her face that gave off creepy vives. Her lips stretched slowly as she grinned down at him.'Will you be my friend, onii-chan ?' she uttered in a bubbly little voice."

" For a moment he forgot all about his worries. The small girl was in a dishevelled state and he took pity to her. Ignoring the weird situation he had somehow got into, he asked her what she was doing there so late.' I came to play with you, onii-chan,' she replied in the same cheery voice. ' But it's too late. Come back tomorrow and then we can play as long as you want, okay ?' The girl didn't like the idea and further pressed,' can we play now ?' He said it's already dark and her parents might be worried for her."

" His words didn't sit well with the girl. She frowned as her smile dropped.' So you'll not play?' She asked him in an innocent voice. He was hesitating and the girl took the answer for a no. ' No one plays with me. _______wants a friend too. She wants to be happy. But everyone runs from her. People like you,' she suddenly snapped her head in a weird angle making her neck bleed profusely and blood oozed out of her mouth as she grinned down at him with a horrendous expression,'DESERVE TO DIE !!' And she jumped down on him like a hungry lion and after that Hoshiro-senpai lost his consciousness."

Tsukishima couldn't help but admit how great Kuroo's storytelling skill was.

" Akaashi, I'm scared," Bokuto let out a shriek and hugged the poor guy, sideways. Lev had already done it without permission.

" The next morning some of the Fukurodani managers found him passed out in one of the corridors. After regaining his consciousness he looked around in fear. Muttering incoherent words he said how he met a girl yesterday that looked too unreal. He admitted that it was a ghost. But no one believed him thinking he might have been too hard on himself lately and overworked. He denied saying that he had heard the girl mutter her name before passing out. Her name was...," Kuroo took a dramatic pause before his eyes widened to form a creepy expression and looked at the girl,".....KOTEI !"

" Aaaah !" Bokuto immediately let Akaashi go and ran to Kuroo's side, suddenly scared of the girl. Lev didn't react at that because he knew (and he's absolutely definite about it) that the last part of the story was totally a fragment of Kuroo's imagination. He added the 'Kotei' part to scare the girl, specifically.

Kotei got up with wobbly legs and pointed at Kuroo, accusingly." No way ! Kuro's lying ! Kuro's a big, big liar !"

" It's the truth. Why'd I lie ?"

" To scare Kotei."

Kuroo scoffed." And what good would it do me to scare you ?"

Kotei gulped and bit back her tongue. Kuroo is lying, right ? It can't be true, right ? How is she supposed to wake up for bathroom break in the middle of the night !

As far as I remember, Hoshiro-senpai had gotten drunk and hallucinated the entire thing, Akaashi thought to himself. And Kuroo just added a little spice at the end.

" That's right, Kotei. Earlier you were saying someone was tapping your shoulder. Don't tell me that you've.....," Kuroo asked in a sly voice.

" No ! No !" Kotei pleaded with her shaky tone." K-kotei just hello-sin-ate !" (hallucinate)

What the hell is hello-sin-ate! Tsukishima wondered.

" Then it's good. I have heard that the girl's spirit still roams these grounds. So be careful. Or you'll meet the same fate as Hoshiro-senpai."

Like the one hour lecture he had got from the coach for getting drunk the previous night, Akaashi thought and sweatdropped.

" I'll take my leave then," Tsukishima got up and Kotei scurried towards him. He was not interested in telling meaningless stories and it seems no one was in the mood to tell or hear creepy tales, anymore. Hell, Lev was took shaken to get a word out of his mouth.

" Kotei will go along," the girl declared and Kuroo smirked. Tsukishima narrowed his eyes at her and she quickly said," it's not that K-kotei's scared. It's just Kotei forgot the way!"

" Yeah, sure," Kuroo prevented himself from laughing out loud.
Tsukishima didn't say anything and let the girl tag along. Kotei quietly followed him through the dark, clutching his shirt behind him, in case a jump scare occurs and looked about, nervously. Everything suddenly seemed to look ten times creepier. Tsukishima was the one thing that gave her a feeling of safety.

" Akaashi, will you accompany me to the bathroom ?"

" No."

𝟑

Later that night....

" Nii-chan. Nii-chan."

" Mhm...," Kageyama groaned before turning on his side to face away from Kotei. In case you forgot I'll remind you Kotei sleeps in a seperate futon that's her size. And just beside her sleeps her brother in another futon. He had brought the small one from when he used it at a young age. That's because Kotei was used to sleeping on a bed.

" Nii-chan," she gently nudged him but he wouldn't wake up. Her face grew pale. Due to immense fear, she felt her bladder full and currently was holding it in with all her might."Nii-chan, toilet," she whispered, again, near his ears so as to not wake up the rest.

But Kageyama was too deep in his slumber.

Gulping, she walked through the middle of the room. In the way, a body lay blocking the way. It was Hinata who had rolled off his futon and laid in the middle of the passage. Kotei glared at his sleeping form and jumped over him to pass. She's already in grave danger.

Sliding the door open, she peeked out into the dark hallways. No way ! No way ! It's pitch dark ! She couldn't even see the other side ! She looked around the room, helplessly.

A few seconds later, Suga felt someone shaking him. Yawning, he looked behind him and immediately slapped a hand over his mouth to prevent the shriek that was yet to escape his lips." God, Kotei, are you trying to scare me ?"

The little squeak that left Suga sent a sound across the room. Nishinoya, groaning in his sleep, suddenly kicked the person beside him (who happened to be Inuoka) who further rolled off his futon to headbutt Hinata in his stomache and the latter grunted, holding his tummy. The strange thing is, nobody woke up in the process.

Kotei sobbed as she lit her face with her brother's flashlight giving her a look of the spirit of a weeping girl. Tears trickled down her cheeks as with her other hand she was trying to restrain her bladder.

" And why are you lighting up your face like that?" Sugawara asked running a hand through his messy hair. He took the phone from her as she wiped her face.

" Because Kotei's scared of the dark," she motioned towards the door and Sugawara realised what was the problem.

Sensing an emergency he whispered,"hold it in, Kotei. I'll take you there. Wait." He picked up the torch from beside his futon and switched it on. Holding the device between his teeth, he carried Kotei on his back and rushed towards the bathrooms.

Sighing, he leaned back against the door waiting for Kotei outside.

" Suga, are you there ?"

" Yes, I'm here."

A pause.

" Are you there ?"

" Yes, I am."

A few seconds later...

" Suga-"

" I am here, Ko-chan. I'll keep talking to you, okay?"

She nodded although he couldn't see her. That's the nickname that Miwa uses for her. So it reassured her and she completed whatever she was doing. Done with her business she washed her hands and stepped out of the bathroom. Shyly, she twiddled her fingers and looked down at her feet,"th-thank you, Suga, for being with Kotei."

" Anytime," Suga gave her a close-eyed smile and together they started back to the common rooms.

She felt less scared than before.

The next morning...

" Suga, once again, thanks !" Kotei yelled as they entered the cafeteria together.

" For what ?" Suga asked confused.

" For going with Kotei to the bathroom," she chirped.

" Huh ? What're you talking about ?"

" Last night....," she urged, pouting. But smiled anyways." Thank you for helping Kotei."

" Last night ? I slept like a dead log. I didn't wake up at all."

" Huh ?"

" Seriously, Kotei, you must have dreamt it all."

"...."

" Kotei ?"

"..."

" Kotei-chan ?"

"..."

" ...?"

The end.

______________________________________

" 𝑇𝒉𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 !"