“ 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒊 𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍, 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒚 !”
.
𝟏
“ Kou-chan !”
“ Kotei !”
“ Kotei will miss Kou-chan !”
“ I will miss you too !”
“ Who's dying?” Tsukishima said who passed by the dramatic duo, two big bags in his hand.
Karasuno was getting ready to leave and Kotei decided to say goodbye to everyone in the meantime. Kuroo walked behind Tsukishima with two more bags and handed it to Daichi who thanked him.
“ Next time Kotei will bring souvenirs !” She declared proudly.
“ I'll be waiting for that day.” Bokuto smiled and swung their joined hands, side to side. Although he didn't understand what souvenirs she was talking about but he's not the person to think too deep about things.
Akaashi, who stood beside him, watched their exchange with a small smile on his lips.“ So when will you visit us next ?” He asked in a not-so-serious tone.
“ Kotei doesn't know,” she said bluntly.
“ I see,” he chuckled.
“ Kotei will miss Akaashi too. Well Kotei is Akaashi’s commuter wife after all,” she grinned, brightly. Bokuto thought whether the girl knew what it meant. On second thought, he didn't know what it meant, too.
“ Of course you are,” Akaashi commented with sarcasm.
On cue, Tanaka and Nishinoya passed by, surrounding Kiyoko, dying to offer her their help. Yes, they're the culprits. Akaashi's sure of it.
Soon the Fukurodani team came outside to see them off too. Everyone exchanged their farewell and good wishes.
“ And don't leave out your veggies. They're tasty. Just get to know them closely. And then you'll see how they open up to you. There needs to be depth in your relationship. It must not be one-sided,” Yukie advised Kotei in a serious voice and the latter listened, carefully.
“ They're talking about vegetables ? I thought Kotei had a boyfriend at this age !” Konoha muttered to Akaashi who rubbed his temple. He's really gonna miss the energetic child. She's like a mini Bokuto yet somewhat different.
“ Hey, bring me souvenirs too,” Komi said who had earlier overheard their conversation.
“ Of course. Kotei has a big, big heart.”
“ I like this kid !” Komi happily admitted ruffling her hair. “ But you know what ? I'm used to cheap gifts. So bring me something expensive. Like something that I can show off.”
Kaori smacked him on his head.“ Like how cheap can you get !”
“ Kotei doesn't have money. But when Kotei earns Kotei will bring Komi lots and lots of rich stuff !”
“ No, sweetie, you don't need to spend your pockets on this cheapster. First make yourself happy then you make the others,” Kaori stated engulfing the child into a warm hug. Kotei hugged her back, nodding.
“ What a bummer,” Komi muttered.
“ Kenma, let me know if there's another practice match coming up,” Hinata said holding up his phone.
Kenma nodded.“ It's time you get a smartphone, Shoyo.”
“ Eeeeh ? But that's such a hassle.”
“ No it's not. You're not a caveman, are you?”
“ You're over-exaggerating.”
“ Well, I heard you have a sister. You didn't tell me,” Kenma said a bit offended.
“ Uh... because I didn't feel the need to.” Hinata scratched his cheek nervously.“ Wait, how do you know that ?”
“ Kotei told me.”
“ Ah, I see. Don't worry. We can do facetime and I'll introduce you to her.”
“ Not with that antique phone of yours.”
“ Kenma ! Wow, I didn't know you were so fond of kids ! Is that why you were asking me to get a smartphone ?”
“ Wh-what ? No ! Where'd you get that idea from ! I was just curious.” He muttered the last part. He just felt the need to deepen their friendship. But looks like it was a wrong move. He sighed......shouldn't have said all that to Shoyo. He's still taking notes on how to befriend someone and trying to come out of his unsocial cocoon.“Just forget I said anything.”
“ No need to be shy.”
“ I'm not !”
On the other side, Kuroo and Daichi shook their hands together as the Coaches and Takeda were having a conversation amongst them. There are more training camps yet to come. So they have to be in contact.
Kotei said her goodbyes to Ubugawa and Shinzen. Both her and Daiki have formed a chaotic bond causing trouble for everyone. But they made it fun and exciting at the same time and even Masaki had grown to like their company.
Lastly she went to Nekoma.
“ Did you take everything ?” Yaku asked, removing the small creases on her shirt. Kotei saluted saying yes.“Good. It's good if you leave something behind. Then you'll have the excuse to come visit us again,” he whispered the last part, as if exchanging top-secret information.
“ Oh ? Should Kotei leave herself behind ?” She asked with sparkling eyes. Yaku laughed but realised a few seconds later that the girl was not joking.
“ No, you can't do that.”
“ Don't forget me, okay ?” Lev said, butting in, leaning over Yaku’s shoulder making the latter almost lose his balance.
“ Lev is too tall to forget !” Kotei cheered.
“ Right ? Next time you get to climb an even taller Mt Lev.”
“ Yesss !”
“ Mountain Lev ? What's that ?”Inuoka snickered.
“ God knows,” Fukunaga laughed and waved his hand when caught the little girl waving at them.“ Bye bye, Kotei. When you get a cellphone please contact us.”
“ Or she can just use her brother’s phone,” Nobuyuki pointed out.
“ That's right ! Kotei, you have a pen ? Write down our numbers !” Inuoka said, excitedly.
“ Wait, wait, wait, pen ? Where's pen ?” Kotei fumbled with her clothes but found nothing. She started panicking. An idea clicked in her head as she ran towards her brother.
The Nekoma team members slightly froze when she pulled Kageyama towards them. Needless to say they're a little intimidated by the latter. He always had this scowl on his face, making it too difficult for them to approach him.
“ Brother, give the phone ! Phone !” She jumped about his feet and Yaku flinched when Kageyama suddenly bowed before them.
“ I apologise for her behaviour. She can be a handful at times.” He smacked Kotei when she wasn't bowing with him and Yaku prevented him from beating the girl anymore.
“ Ouchie,” Kotei whined rubbing the sore spot, already used to it.
“ Actually we're the ones who wanted to keep in touch, if you don't mind.” Lev and Inuoka chorused.
Kageyama looked taken back. He glanced down at Kotei who gave him a cheeky smile. Wow, Kotei sure is an extrovert. He's more of the reserved type so sometimes he envied his sister for that.
“ So, will it be a problem ?” Yaku asked politely.
“ N-no, not at all. It'll be a pleasure.” He exchanged numbers with almost everyone and his eyes lit up at the list of new contacts on his phone. It felt kind of good. Atleast he's one step closer to beating Hinata now. Knowing the extroverted tangerine, his cellphone is surely full of contacts.
“ Well, it's only fair. We've known each other for quite some time now,” Yaku smiled patting Kageyama on the back.“ Okay ? Kotei?”
“ Yup !”
“ Thank you,” Kageyama bowed again. He looked down at his phone screen and a small smile threatened to play on his lips. He covered it up with a cough. But it didn't go unnoticed.
“ I didn't think he was capable of smiling,” Lev whispered and got a kick in the gut from Yaku.“ I take that back.”
Kotei skipped over to where Nishinoya, Tanaka and Yamamoto were muttering something among themselves. Knowing them it's probably got to do something with girls.
“ Hey there, rascal ! Come see us soon, okay?” Yamamoto said as soon as she approached them.
Kotei puffed out her cheeks.“ Stop calling Kotei rascal, shitty boy !” She yelled copying Tanaka and the duo burst out in laughter.
“ It's city boy not shitty boy,”Nishinoya said trying to hold in his laughter.
“ Shitty boy ?” Kotei tilted her head.
“ No, it's shitty boy not shitty boy,” Tanaka said, repeating the wrong one.
“ What's the difference, dude ?” Yamamoto grumbled.
“ I think it's the pronounciation. Sorry,” Tanaka sweatdropped.
“ Don't mind shit—I mean city boy.”
This went on till the time arrived to say their goodbyes. For some time now the zoo will go back to being peaceful with some of the animals being let off their cage. But they'll return someday, eventually, to create more chaos than ever.
On the way back home the atmosphere was slightly gloomy. Tanaka and Nishinoya were out cold after creating their usual racket. Kageyama, strangely, hadn't fallen asleep. He was busy saving the contacts in a meticulous manner. He seemed more than enthusiastic to do so. Hinata typed on his phone rapidly sending texts to Kenma who was replying back. Takeda was driving for now and he's gonna switch with Ukai, midway.
Kotei asked permission from her brother before walking up to the front to get on the empty space beside Daichi. The older glanced down at her once but made no effort to greet her. He was too tired and a bit annoyed even.
He knew who was the culprit who dropped the trumpet on his head. Of course the messenger was Tsukishima.
“ Boss, Kotei wanna say something.”
“ Say,” he muttered resting his elbow on the window sill, staring at her, lazily.
“ Um...you see...Kotei wanna say sorry for throwing the trum..trum...,” she hesitated. Well she forgot what it's called. She grew a bit nervous when the older didn't help,“the Trump card.”
“ It's called trumpet.”
“ Yes, right. Trumpaeti.”
“ Trumpet.”
“ Trumpaeti.”
“ Continue.”
“ Kotei thought the aim was to throw it outside the window. But it was to blow it. Please forgive Kotei,” she said, bowing before him on the seat.
Daichi was noticing her gaze till now. The girl looked genuinely apologetic. Besides she showed the courage to apologise. That means she remembered his last lesson.
“ Okay.”
“ Huh ?”
“ I said okay.”
“ Really ?”
“ Yes, really.”
Kotei released a deep breath and collapsed back into the seat.“ Thank goodness. Kotei was so scared.”
“ Don't look so relaxed. You're always causing trouble for others. I can't really blame Kageyama for his behaviour. So I'm gonna test you, whether you're sorry for real or not.”
“ O-okay,” she stuttered.
“ You sit beside me quietly until we reach home. That's the task. No moving at all.”
“ That's easy,” Kotei proudly stated and sat in a definite posture.“ Kotei's a big girl now.”
“ Yes, you are.”
The rest of the ride home was silent and peaceful. Kotei slowly grew restless as she found that sitting in one place doing nothing is really boring and tiring. So the next time Kageyama peeked above his seat, he found the girl sleeping quietly. She had fallen upon Daichi’s lap. The latter didn't mind, keeping his hand on her shoulder. He felt older than ever doing so. Kageyama sighed to find the girl completely knocked out.
Leaning back on his seat he continued saving his contacts.
𝟐
By the time they reached Karasuno High, it was evening. Their Coach had told the team to stay back for a meeting. Kotei spent that time exploring the school grounds more closely. Eventually it ended and the boys dragged their feet to their club room to change. They were too tired from the morning practice with all the schools. You can say it was a parting gift.
Tsukishima and Yamaguchi went ahead first. Next was Shimizu and then Takeda and Ukai. The rest stayed back to lounge for a bit in the club room. It was small but accomodated everyone. Kageyama and Hinata asked for extra practice and dragged poor Yachi to pass them the balls. While the trio played around in the gym, Kotei was with the second and the third years.
“ And then...rolling thunderrrrr !” Nishinoya yelled as he demonstrated his special move.
“ Hahahah !” For some reason it was really hilarious for Kotei who dropped to the floor laughing her butt off.
“ What's so funny in that ?” Suga asked and Asahi shrugged before getting back to filing his nails.
“ Okay...once more. Rolling thunderrr !!”
“ Ahahahahaha !” Kotei clutched her stomache as she laughed loudly, rolling on the floor. Containing herself she managed to say,“ once more ?”
“ This is the last time. Pay attention,” Nishinoya bent down and took his position before yelling loudly,“ROLLING THUNDERRRR..... AGAIN !!”
“ AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!” At this point she had started panting, her tummy hurting.
“ Seriously ? It's that funny ?” Tanaka narrowed his eyes at Nishinoya who gave him a thumbs up.
“ Kotei, breathe. Okay ? Calm down,” Suga rubbed her stomache lightly as she lay flat on the floor already out of commission.“ It's been a long day.”
“ Yeah. Can't wait to meet those guys again,” Ennoshita commented.
Nishinoya laid down beside Kotei who faced him with an excited grin.“Sensei, wanna go fishing someday?”
“ Hell yeah ! I've been thinking about that, lately.”
“ Yay ! Let's all go together !” She cheered.
The next Daichi turned around he found Kotei sitting on Nishinoya’s back as the latter did push ups while the little girl counted for him. He sweatdropped. There seems to be an addition to Karasuno’s energetic (idiotic) squad.
“ 56, 57, 58, 59.......70 !”
“ Rip 60s,” Tanaka made a Bodhisattva face.
“ Kotei, your counting is horrible. After 59 comes 60,” Suga taught her as she stared at him with an oblivious smile.“ And Tanaka stop making that face.”
Nishinoya laughed loudly.“ Look who her brother is. It's to be expected.”
“ Like you're one to talk,” both Ennoshita and Kinoshita muttered.
𝟑
Bam !
Kotei peeked behind the wall to see Kageyama and Hinata practicing together. Yachi was passing the balls and Kageyama was setting. She pouted not being able to see her brother spiking. Happily she skipped her way behind Yachi and jumped on her back.
“ Ah—oh,” Yachi let out a small yelp at the sudden weight but sighed on seeing who it was. Kotei climbed up her back to reach her shoulders and peeked beside her neck.“ Kotei-chan.”
“ Mount Yachi is too short,” Kotei said, nonchalantly, raising her hand to measure her height and compare it to hers.
“ Was that an insult ?”
“ Not really.”
They focused back on the match.
Once again the genius setter tossed the ball to Hinata. Both the girls noticed how high it was...too high for the spiker to hit it.
Kotei was going to climb down her back when.....
BAM !
Her eyes widened as Hinata took a huge leap in the air, his legs pushing back the ground. There was a glint in her gaze as her lips parted in astonishment. The boy threw his hands behind him to gain momentum and for a moment it looked as if he took flight into the air, his feathers blocking their sight as he spiked the ball beautifully on the other side of the court.
Kageyama mentally patted himself for the perfect toss and the latter looked down at his red hands, his lips trembling at being able to achieve the spike.“ Okay, one more time !”
Kotei jumped off Yachi’s back and rushed towards Hinata, excited.“Shoyo-nii can fly ? Why nobody told Kotei ?” This is the first time she saw him jump this high. So she genuinely thought he flew halfway there.
“ Eeeh ? I can fly ! How come I don't know that yet !” Hinata said flapping his arms excitedly.
“ These dumbasses,” Kageyama muttered, shaking his head in disappointment.
Yachi laughed nervously before Daichi called them out to get going already. It was already a long day and Kotei wanted to see Miwa as soon as possible.
They finally packed their bags and set out on their way home.
“ We're back !” Kotei declared loudly as she threw away her shoes, hurriedly.
“ Hey ! Line your shoes properly!” Kageyama scolded but the girl didn't listen.
“ Miwa-nee ! Miwa-nee ! Kotei's home!”
“ Kotei !” Miwa’s head peeked out from the corner, her apron still on as a sweet aroma wafted through the air. Kotei perked up and ran towards her sister who held both of her hands and swung her around, spining along.“ I missed you !”
“ Kotei missed Miwa-nee too !”
Kageyama scoffed before picking up Kotei's shoes and lining them in the correct way. He sat down to untie his own shoes next.
“ Kotei brought souvenir !”
“ Yay ! What did you bring ?”
“ This.”
Miwa stared blankly at the rock that Kotei held up.“ What's that, Ko-chan ?”
Kotei perked up as she was reminded of Bokuto. Smiling she informed,“ a stone from Tokyo !”
“ Oh, I see ! I'll preserve this !” Miwa acted happy and took the stone to place it on a nearby rack.“ Thanks. Now let's take a shower, okay? But first gurgle.”
“ Hey ! I need to take a shower first ! I'm sweaty!” Kageyama protested.
“ You're always sweaty. And anyway ladies first,” Miwa smirked picking up Kotei who nuzzled her head into her neck. Kageyama gritted his teeth as Miwa turned her back on him and getting the perfect chance, Kotei pulled down the skin under her eye to stick her tongue out too at him.
“ Who are you making faces at !!!” Kageyama yelled pointing at her and immediately froze when Miwa glanced back at him with a threatening glare.
“ No shouting in the hallway, Tobio.”
“ Th-this is not fair ! Is it really that fun to bully your brother ! Both of you !”
“ Take a hint, genius.”
He stood there dumbfounded as the two walked away.
While in the bath, Kotei recounted a particular event of the day. Miwa, outside, arranged her dirty clothes in the basket to set the washing machine. “ Tobio, hand me your shirt ! I'm gonna wash them today !”
“ Coming !”
Kotei sighed as she remembered the event.
Getting on the bus, the little ravenette rushed to grab the nearest window seat. Neatly keeping her shoes under the seat, she got on to peer out through the window. In the distance, the group of boys waved at them and she smiled, waving back.
“ Kotei ! Did you pack everything ?”
“ Yes !”
Turning a deaf ear to her brother’s next words, her gaze got stuck to the Shinzen school in the background. It stood, towering over the students who appeared nothing but black dots against it. It was a lot bigger than their Karasuno high school so its height fascinated her. There were no ongoing classes due to vacation and the classrooms were empty; locked. All the windows were shut tight except one.
“ Is everyone in ? Check your belongings once more !” Takeda loudly announced from the front end, with everyone settled in.
The one big window situated at the centre of the second floor, the room dark inside despite the bright sun hovering high up in the sky. The white curtains fluttered in the wind as a soft tune entered Kotei's ears.
That's right ! It's the music room ! Kotei remembered the piano placed against the window and scrunching up her eyebrows, she caught a glimpse of the black musical instrument.
“ Tanaka ! Nishinoya ! Sit down right now !” Daichi’s angry voice floated in the background but it was faint compared to the sweet melody that rang in her ears.
The smile gradually faded from her face as a white apparition playing the keys caught her view.
“ Kotei, sit back. You're gonna topple over.”
Kageyama’s voice didn't reach her ears. Her eyes were trained on the lady....no, not lady....a girl...whose black hair cascaded down her back.
“ Kotei, are you listening ?”
The music stopped.
Kotei's hands tightened on the frame as the girl stood up to walk towards the window. Stopping near it, she rested her left hand on the sill. A serene smile illuminated her cute, little face as she lifted her right hand to slowly wave.
“ Bye....bye....,” a soft, contended voice reverberated within her eardrums as Kotei kept staring at the figure.“Thanks......for playing....with....me....”
The bus took a start and Kotei craned her neck to keep holding eye contact. The girl smiled at her before retreating her waving hand and took a step back. The curtains fluttered once more....
“ Kotei !”
She disappeared.
“ You damn brat, I am talking to you!”
“ Ouch !”
“ Stop hitting your sister, Kageyama !”
(probably Suga)
🅱🅾🅽🆄🆂
Kageyama rubbed his eyes as he slipped into his sandals and walked down the stairs. It was dark. A few street dogs barked outside as he fumbled with the bathroom door.
Washing his hands and wiping it with the towel, he glanced at the clock in the hallway. It was one at night. Suddenly, he heard a faint noise coming from the living room and he stopped in his track.
What's this ?
With hurried steps he approached it and pushed open the sliding door. He was met by a darkened room with neon blue tv light illuminating the figures sitting in the middle, on the floor. Miwa sat there with Kotei eating late night snacks on her lap.
A loud ‘tatakae’ filled the air and Kageyama’s eyes twitched in annoyance.
“ Oop,” Miwa smiled nervously.
“ What the hell are you two doing !” He yelled and took a good look at the screen.“ And you're watching gory stuff again ! Nee-san !”
“ What ?”
“ Don't ‘what’ me ! Is this how you educate your children!”
“ Kotei's my sister,” Miwa said, blankly.
“ You fool ! That's not what I meant !”
“ Who do you think you're calling a fool, dumbass !”
“ You, of course.”
As they bickered among themselves Kotei watched the scene closely, having a cracker.
“ Now you're into this too !”
“ Well, anime is fun,” Miwa said leaning back as she turned around to continue watching.“ Besides I've got a day off tomorrow. So let me watch it.”
“ But—”
“ You can watch with us. Come on.”
“ No—”
“ It's really great. You'll get hooked by the first episode itself. Come on, Tobio,” before he could protest Miwa pulled him down to sit beside her.
“ Yeah, it's fun, nii-chan. Definitely not lame like you,” Kotei squeaked using Kageyama's lap as her cushion and laying her head against his chest, hitting him in the process.
“ I'm not lame. You are.” Kageyama pulled her hair to which the child whined.
“ Stop doing that,” Miwa smacked his hand away.
They stayed up late, re-watching the first few episodes from the first season. Kageyama, though he wouldn't admit it, liked it very much and couldn't wait to see the rest of the story. As a child he had enjoyed reading a volleyball manga that used to be pretty famous at the time. After that, he got into sports so aot would be a completely different genre for him.
Miwa gets pretty serious when it came to suspense. She deliberately creates a serious mood and her blank stare looks more like a hateful glare. You can say she looks like an exact copy of Kageyama—female version. Anyways, she had fun explaining things to Tobio here and there.
Kotei watched the first season for the third time in a row because frankly she didn't understand a word they said from third season onwards. The plot is too complex for her knowledge. And yes her favourite character is Eren although it changes from time to time. Mikasa was her favourite initially because she found certain similarities between her and Miwa (like their resting poker face).
“ But it's still too bloody for a kid,” Tobio complained as he pushed off a sleeping Kotei off his lap not caring if she was asleep. Kotei dropped to the floor and hurt her head.
“ No, it's not !” Kotei protested, suddenly all awake from the slam on the floor. She scratched her head thinking if her brother pushing her was a dream as well.
“ Yes it is. No more aot for you.”
“ Oh ? And what about you ?” Miwa whispered near his ears.
“ I'll definitely continue it tomorrow,” Kageyama’s eyes twinkled as his face remained hard and stoic.
“ Let me accompany you,” Miwa showed him a thumbs up and they had a secret deal with each other.
All the while, Kotei sulked in the corner.
______________________________________
“ 𝑇𝒉𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔.”