“ 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒌𝒊𝒅 ?”
.
𝟏
Afternoon.....
“ Kotei will miss everyone,” she said. Although they were leaving the next day, she thought it'd be a good idea to start saying her goodbyes since the day before.
The Coaches allowed them the last day off and everyone was lounging about, some huddled in their rooms, some spending time with their dear friends, and some others busy trying to take the managers’ number for they'll not see each other for a long time.
Kotei was on the open ground, drawing something with the stick she had acquired on the very first day while Kenma, Kuro, Akaashi and Bokuto were standing/sitting around her, figuring out what to do next (minus Kenma who seemed busy on his phone).
“ I'll miss you too,” Bokuto cooed.
“ But we'll meet each other soon. Your brother is yet to come for more training camps and practice matches,” Akaashi pointed out.
Kenma sat down on the bench where Akaashi was sitting and nodded. Kotei peered up at them with a sad smile when a brilliant idea lit up her brain.“Hey ! Let's do a goodbye drama!”
“ What's that ?” Kuroo asked sitting down next to her to inspect her drawing which was pretty good for a six-year-old.
“ It's roleplay.” She cleared her throat before pointing at Kuroo,“ Kuro plays father and Kenma plays sister. Akaashi plays grandfather and Bokuto plays the dead great grandmother.”
“ Did you really come up with all that just now?” Kuroo raised his brows not liking the roles. It's all so weird. Akaashi was a little bit offended with his role but let it slide considering a child's mind.“ And what about you ?”
“ Kotei's the daughter who's bidding goodbye,” she said in a matter of fact tone.
Bokuto seemed pretty excited about it but he's yet to know all he has to do is hold a frame and stand still to pose as the photograph of the great grandmother.
“ Okay, so action !”
Kotei enacts tying her shoelaces so as to exit the household when Kuroo enters the scene from behind with a very offended look.“ Are you sure you want to follow this path ? What about your studies !”
Kotei gets up with a determined look and gave her father an intense stare.“Yes. Kotei wanna tour the world. So now she goes.”
In the meantime Kenma walks out.
“ Big sis, Kotei's leaving!”
Both of them stared at him for some sort of response but he just stared back at them with a blank look, the phone still clutched in his hands. Kuroo sighs but chuckles. Kotei grew annoyed because Kenma was not following the script. She angrily stomps towards Akaashi and continues with her dialogue deciding to ignore Kenma,“ old man, Kotei's going. Please don't cry too much.”
“ Did you bid your great grandmother farewell?” Akaashi asked crouching down and patting her on the head.
“ Oh right !” Kotei rushed off towards the side where Bokuto stood with the frame. He was dying to do something. Finally his time to shine has come. “Great Grandmother, Kotei's leaving. Please give her good wishes.”
“ I'll always be there with you, Kotei,” Bokuto said, grinning.“ Because hey, hey, heyy, I love you too much to leave you alone !”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“ Picture don't talk, Kou-chan ! Neither do the dead!” Kotei pointed out angrily.“ No one takes Kotei seriously ! And Kotei's leaving tomorrow!”
Kenma felt bad for her and Akaashi and Kuroo shared looks. Bokuto was still trying to figure out where he went wrong.
“ Kotei, look here,” Akaashi tilted her face up as she whined.“ Come on, look at me. We're taking this seriously, okay ? Let's try once more.”
“ Yeah, and this time let's do it a bit different,” Kuroo added.
Kotei stared at them with an expectant look and nodded.
“ Okay, so here we go ! Action !”
Scene—the Shinzen household.
Enter Kotei (as the daughter) and Kuroo (as the father).
(Kotei bends down to tie her shoelaces)
Kotei (in a deep melancholic voice): papa, Kotei's gonna go now.(She gets up to hold the straps of her bag)
Kuroo (fixing his glasses) : Are you sure you wanna do this? Think this through ! Once you step out of that door you're just a stranger to me!
Kotei : So be it. Papa doesn't understand Kotei's dream. Kotei wanna tour the world. So Kotei must go on !
Kuroo : I can't believe you're my daughter ! I had so very high expectations of you ! You were to fulfill my dream of becoming an excellent doctor !
Kotei : That's papa’s dream ! Not Kotei's !
Enter Akaashi (as the grandfather) with Kenma (as the big sister).
Kuroo : How can you be such an ungrateful brat! After all these years I've fended for you!
Akaashi (angry) : Is that the way to speak to your daughter ? I am ashamed of you.
Kuroo : Father, you have to be on my side. You aren't possibly supporting her, are you ?”
Akaashi : I have grown up all these years hearing the same thing over and over. And now that I'm old, I have much greater experience than you in life. And the saying I still support is ‘always follow your dreams’. And Kotei's just following it. There's nothing wrong in that !
Kotei (with grateful tears) : Akaashi, thank you!
Akaashi (sighing) : How many times do I have to tell you not to call your grandfather by his name !
Kotei (nervous chuckle) : sorry.
Kuroo (beyond angry) : I-I....I.
Kenma (typing on his phone) : Just let her do what she wants. It's not like you can stop her.
Kuroo : Now don't you start on me. And get off your phone ! You have an exam tomorrow !
Akaashi : Now this is what I'm talking about. You don't care for your children at all. First you ruin Kenma’s life and then you're doing the same with Kotei !
Kuroo (baffled) : I ruined Kenma’s life ! What are you trying to say, dad ?
Akaashi : Exactly what it sounds like. Kenma wanted to be a gamer, clearly. But you made her follow your own dreams ! Let her have a say in it, for God's sake !
Kotei (staring blankly) : Um....that was Kotei's dialogue—
Kuroo : How can you say that, dad ! You clearly misunderstood everything !
Kenma (typing furiously on his phone) : No, he didn't ! I did want to be a pro-gamer ! But you wanted me to become a lawyer !
Kuroo : Kenma, you're not talking sense !
Kenma : Maybe if you take off your glasses of self-desire and conservativeness, you can see better !
Kuroo : Kenma, how dare you—
Enters Bokuto (as the dead great grandmother whose spirit has somehow descended upon the face of earth)
Bokuto (putting on shades) : Finally, my time to shine has come, b*ches.
Akaashi : Mom, how many times do I have to tell you not to use that word in front of Kotei!
Bokuto : Excuse my intrusion, sweety, but hey, hey, hey ! There'll be no commotion in my household under my supervision !
Kuroo : Grandma, didn't you go to heaven? How the hell are you here !
Bokuto : It's because you pulled my soul down to this corrupt place, kid. I can't leave when you're torturing my dear Kotei and Kenma like that, you idiot of a grandson.
Kuroo : What in the name of Asahi has happened to everyone here !
(Asahi sneezes somewhere in the background)
Kotei (finally getting her chance to speak) : Kotei's gonna go now. Goodbye papa, goodbye big sis and Akaashi (runs upto her great grandmother’s spirit to hug her) Goodbye, Kou-chan!
Akaashi : Don't call me by my name ! And don't call your great grandmother by her first name, for god's sake !
Bokuto (with tears) : I'll miss you, Kotei ! Hey, hey, hey !
Kotei : Kotei's gonna miss all, too. Hey, hey, heyy!
Kuroo : I'm tired of this shit ! There's no respect in being a father ! I quit !
Kenma : You can't just leave like that, old man. Give me back my 15 years of life !
Akaashi : And give me back my favourite walking cane that you had broken !
Bokuto : Give me back my will to live life !
Kuroo : Why are you all bullying me ! And Grandma, you're already dead !
Kenma : Then do us all a favour and let Kotei go. She wants to see the world. What's wrong with that !
Akaashi : I support.
Bokuto : Agreed.
Kotei (crying) : Everyone....
Kenma (in a soft voice): Come on, show your daughter some leniency that you never did with me.
Kuroo (sighing) : I am completely defeated.
Kotei (hugging Kuroo’s leg) : Papa, Kotei's gonna miss you. Kotei will write letters. Papa will never be forgotten.
Kuroo (breaking down) : You're so understanding. Kotei, sorry for not listening to you all these years. Kenma, I'm sorry for ignoring you till now. Can you please forgive your fool of a father ?
Kotei : Yes.
Kenma : No.
Bokuto (nodding): Looks like everything's under control. Can you please give me a coke, Akaashi ? I get so thirsty up there in heaven.
Akaashi :....
And that's a happy ending.
(Curtain falls)
There was loud clapping heard in the background as the five of them got surprised. They were too invested in their play to notice that they had gathered a huge audience in between their skit. Kenma grew shy under all their attention while Bokuto and Kuroo seemed pleased with it. Akaashi just nodded at the crowd in acknowledgement and Kotei stared in awe. Who could've thought her first film would be a hit !
“ That was some good shit !” (Yamamoto)
“ It was awesome !” (Yaku)
“ Thanks for the free entertainment !” (Lev)
“ Make a joke.” (Tsukishima)
“ I cried !” (Inuoka)
“ Mind-blowing !” (Daiki)
“ Lunch is r-ready, everyone.” (Yachi)
“ I loved the dead great grandmother’s part but it would've been much better if she hadn't spoken at all !” (Konoha)
“ Hey !” Bokuto yelled.
“ Keep it up ! You're the future actors !” (Fukunaga)
“ Kotei, well done !” (Shibayama)
“ Kotei did the best !” (Masaki)
“ Keep up the good work.” (Nobuyuki)
“ I'm in love with Kotei ! Can I get your autograph! I need to show off !” (Anahori)
“ You really did make me Jesus, didn't you?” (Asahi)
“ Do that once more !” (Onaga)
“ Kotei's cute, right Tsukki?” (Yamaguchi)
“ Please take us in the next play !” (Tanaka)
“ That's right !” (Nishinoya)
“ The next play should be on volleyball and I'll be the main character !”
“ You already are, boke Hinata !”
“ Thank you for the love,” Kotei waved at them as the crowd went crazy (minus a few you can guess who).
“ Yes, now bow before me, peasants,” Kuroo laughed out loud.
“ Boo!”
“ You suck, Captain !”
“ Who said that !!!!!!!”
“ Call me the king of acting !” Bokuto yelled and Akaashi sighed.
“ How about drama queen ?” (Konoha and Komi)
Kenma hid behind Kuroo not liking the attention and went back to his game.
Anyway, the evening was fun and Kotei was the source of it. She really did turn the training camp more chaotic than usual.
The Coaches watched from the distance glad to see their players happier than ever. It's important to be in a good mood and shape to score points on the court.
“ Should we tell them about the barbecue?”
“ It's already a zoo in here. I don't wanna turn this into a jungle.”
𝟐
“ Let's do another play like today,” Kotei said as she rushed to sit beside Akaashi with the regulars at the table. It was time for dinner and the cafeteria was buzzing as usual. Kuroo and Bokuto greeted her and Kenma just ate in silence.
“ You're really excited, aren't you?”
“ Kotei's excited,” she agreed and held up her chopsticks.
Kageyama stomped his way towards Kotei and put some vegetables on her plate. Kotei whined and Kuroo snickered.“ Here, eat it up. I'll come check,” he glared at her before walking away to sit with Hinata.
Kotei made a disgusted face and left it for the last. She also had to finish her carton of milk.
“ What a sweet brother you've got,” Kuroo said with a sly smirk.
“ Brother is a big meanie !”
“ Even Bokuto-san doesn't eat his veggies,” Akaashi said taking another bite.
“ Hey ! I do eat ! Look !” Bokuto proudly stuffed it in his mouth and then said to Kotei,“ you should eat it, Kotei. It gives you strength.”
“ Kenma, you done ?”
Kenma nodded and pulled out his phone to wait for the others to finish. It's rude to get up while the others are still eating.
“ You said you wanna do another play?” Kuroo asked pretty excited.
“ Hm. This time Kotei will play the role of Akaashi’s commuter wife !”
Akaashi choked on his food and Bokuto quickly handed him a glass of water. Kenma hid his smile behind his phone screen and Kuroo barked out in laughter. Tsukishima, from the other end of the room, spared him an annoyed look before scoffing.
“ Who teach you these words ?” Akaashi asked sipping on the clear liquid.
“ Because Kotei loves ’kaashi !” She said hugging his waist, sideways.
The latter looked around the room before his eyes fell on two energetic Karasuno members skipping behind their manager, Kiyoko. Well, she does spend most of her time with Karasuno so that could be a possibility.
“ How cute.” (Kuroo)
“ Hey, hey, heyyyy ! What about me !”
“ Kotei loves Kou-chan too !”
“ And m-me ?” Kenma asked hesitating a bit.
“ Kotei loves Kenma the best !”
“ Me ?” Lev yelled appearing out of nowhere.
“ If Lev let's Kotei watch another Aot episode, Kotei will love Lev too !”
“ Are you trying to bribe me, kid ?”
In between the chaos Kotei slid her veggies on Bokuto’s plate who was busy bickering with the others on who's Kotei's favourite. Akaashi saw this and before Bokuto could notice he put it back on her plate.
Kotei gave him a pouty face.
“ You love me, right ? So eat it up. For me.”
“ Then Kotei doesn't love Akaashi anymore.”
Akaashi gave her a strict glare and she gulped before closing her eyes and putting it in her mouth, at once.
“ Good.”
Gosh, he can be pretty scary at times.
“ AS IT'S THE LAST DAY TODAY LET'S DO A COURAGE TEST !”
“ HELL YEAH !”
“ Can you morons please stop shouting ?”
“ It's in their genes.”
𝟑
It was exactly midnight when everyone gathered outside the Shinzen High School. The test of courage was going to be held under the supervision of the Coaches and Coach Nekomata seemed the most excited out of anybody there.
Groups of three would be selected on a secret ballot method where members who pick up the same number will come under one team. The Shinzen students won't participate because they know their school inside out and the test will commence in the building. None of the others but the Coaches knew that the Shinzen students will take on the role of scaring the players.
“ Kotei wanna go with big brother.” She held Kageyama’s hand who visibly froze. Glancing down at her form, he quickly avoided eye contact.
“ Well I don't.”
“ Meanie !”
When her turn came to choose a number, Kageyama helped her by picking her up to reach the box and she took one, randomly. Opening it she loudly read it out,“ two !”
“ Two is here !” Lev ushered her over from afar and Kotei jumped off Kageyama's arms to run towards her teammate.
Kageyama looked at her receding form, feeling disappointed. Of course he wanted to be in the same team as her sister but fate decided to put him with a certain tangerine head. His teammates were Hinata and Kenma.
“ Oh ! Bakayama, who are you scowling at?”
Kageyama's intimidating glare turned towards Hinata who nervously stepped back putting his hands up in surrender. Kenma felt a shiver run down his spine. He was happy to be in the same team as Hinata but not so happy to be in the same team as Kageyama Tobio.
“ Lev !”
“ Kotei !”
The duo danced a certain happy dance to be on the same team and the others nearby, sweatdropped.
By the time all teammates were decided, Kotei had climbed Mount Lev and sat on his shoulder while the latter held her legs to prevent her from falling. Kotei's face brightened at the sight of a tall boy approaching them with a sigh.
“ Tsukki !”
“ Don't call me that,” Tsukishima grunted as he stood beside Lev who greeted him with a pat on his back which was more of a harsh slap.
“ Kei !”
“ Don't call me by my first name without my permission.”
“ Eh ? Then what should Kotei call ?”
“ Don't call me at all.”
“ You guys seem to have a good bond,” Lev commented and received a are-you-serious look from Tsukishima.
The first slot consisted of four teams.
Team 1 : Bokuto, Kuroo, Yachi.
Destination : Class 1A.
Mission : Write your names on the board with a pink chalk.
Oh my gosh ! Two big giants ! Yachi cowered in fear behind them as Kuroo and Bokuto patted each other happy to be in the other’s company. Looking at Yachi’s face now the rest thought there wouldn't be any need for ghosts to scare her.
“ Ya-chan ! Let's do our best !” Bokuto approached her and slapped her on her back which almost made her lose her balance.
She nodded, nervously.
She's so tiny, thought Kuroo, mildly impressed by the fact. It's a feat in itself.
Team 2 : Tsukishima, Kotei, Lev.
Destination : Music room.
Mission : blow the trumpet loudly to signal their arrival.
“ What's a trumpet ?” Kotei asked excited to hear the foreign name. By the sound of it she thought it's some sort of an animal.
“ I have no idea,” Lev admitted.
Tsukishima facepalmed.
Team 3 : Tanaka, Kiyoko, Nishinoya.
Destination : Chemistry lab.
Mission : light a candle and hold it at the window to show that they've reached it.
“ This must be destiny, Ryu !”
“ You bet, Noya-san !”
There were flower petals and little hearts floating around the duo as they basked in their imaginary bliss. Kiyoko stared at them blankly wondering when they were gonna stop embarassing themselves. But to one's surprise she was happy to be in their presence. They always tend to make things more interesting than usual and then there's Tanaka.
She has started to like the wing spiker’s company bit by bit.
Team 4 : Hinata, Kageyama, Kenma.
Destination : Rooftop.
Mission : Sound a clapper three times.
“ Let's do this,” Hinata cheered swinging an arm around Kenma’s shoulder who nodded, unenthusiastically. Meanwhile Kageyama was busy glaring at Tsukishima in the distance. He has no problem with anyone being with his sister. Heck, he wouldn't even mind if someone kidnaps her. He couldn't care less. But Tsukishima is a big problem. He hated him with every bone in his body.
“ What's with the scary face ?”
“ This jerk,” Kageyama groaned.
“ Hey ! Who are you calling a jerk !”
“ I don't think it's you, Shoyo.”
Takeda sensei and Coach Nekomata stood at the entrance and handed each of the teams a torchlight.
“ Good luck. Meet you in the afterlife.”
“ THE HELL YOU MEAN BY THAT !!”
______________________________________
I had so much fun writing this part. Hope you'll have as much fun reading this.
Classes are gonna start shortly but I'll try to update as usual. Btw, I'm starting my college life very soon. I'm a bit scared but excited at the same time....no idea what to expect but hopefully I'll survive 😅 wish me luck :))
“ 𝑇𝒉𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔.”