“ 𝑯𝒆𝒚 ! 𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒌𝒊𝒅 ?”
.
𝟏
“ We don't know.”
“ What do you mean you don't know ! You were the one who dragged her off with you!”
Shiro looked behind him, feigning a curious stare.
“ You, I'm talking to you !”
“ Oh ! I see !” Shiro laughed, nervously, as Aoi sweatdropped realising they had caused a their biggest blunder by running behind the stag beetles instead of Kotei and Mio.
Hinata, who was also with Kageyama, poked him in the shoulder.“ Chill, man. You're overreacting.”
“ I'm not, dumbass Hinata !” Tobio faced the kids, again.“ And what're you doing all alone ? Didn't I tell you to stick together, all four of you ?”
“ Y-yes, you did."
“ Kill me now !” Kageyama ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “ And Mio ?”
“ Uh...”
“ She went with Kotei,” Shiro said trying his best to recall the events.
“ Wonderful.”
“ It is ?” Shiro grinned.
Aoi facepalmed and Hinata sweatdropped.
“ Wait, wait, I think I remember the guy. He was wearing blue white clothes and had blonde hair.” Aoi tried to remember more.“ He looked really grumpy and annoyed.”
“ Blonde ? Grumpy ?” Kageyama thought out loud. Hinata leaned in closer as Tobio opened his mouth to speak,“ how am I supposed to know with such little information !”
“ Oh no you're screwed,” Hinata said.
Shiro snorted out in laughter.“ That's why Tobio is lame.”
“ Right ?” Hinata and Shiro high fived each other but stopped when felt the intimidating heat burning their sides.
“ I think he has two black stripes across the side of his head,” Aoi added little details.“ And something was written on his jacket. Something ao...ba..jo..jo...uh..”
“ JoJo !” Shiro yelled.
“ No ! It was aoba something josai..maybe,” Aoi said. He couldn't read from afar. And he was still learning basic words and sentences till now. All he could understand were the letters. He had no idea what they meant.
“ Ao..ba...,” Kageyama muttered before looking at Hinata.
“ Johsai ?” Hinata completed.
“ Seijoh !!” They yelled out in unison.
He didn't think much as he rushed out of the park at once.
“ You two shouldn't be all alone. I heard you ran into trouble before ?” Hinata crouched before the boys.
“ Yeah. Then take us too !” Shiro chirped.
Hinata grinned. He wondered whether he could get the Seijoh students to toss for him. They wouldn't mind, would they ? Would they ? (Honestly they would, especially Oikawa).
“ Then try to keep up with me.”
The next second they found the boy a metre ahead as Shiro and Aoi gawked at his speed. Not to get left behind they got to their feet too and followed him.
𝟐
“ Okay you want ups ?” Oikawa asked, hopefully, looking down at Kotei. The latter shook her head.
“ Why not ?”
“ Because Kotei's grown up.” She stuck her tongue out at him before running towards Iwaizumi.
“ Kotei-chan, come back ! I'll give you candies !”
Kindaichi watched their captain in pure horror.“ Oikawa-san has a weird obsession.” Kunimi nodded.
So Kotei actually couldn't reach Iwaizumi because it somehow turned into a chase as she ran away from Oikawa. The latter, needless to say, was beyond happy.
“ Caught you !” He grabbed her by her arms. Kotei chuckled, nervously.
“ Okay, perv’s turn next.” She proceeded to free herself but the older wouldn't let her go.
“ Wait, wait, not so fast. Where's my reward?”
“ Reward ?” The little girl looked flustered as she showed him her empty pockets.“ Nothing here.”
“ I don't want money, silly.”
“ Then...?”
“ You have to call me big brother Tooru. Say it.”
She gave him a look.“ Why ?”
“ Because big brother says so.”
“ Fine. Big bro Toruu-hmph,” she said through gritted teeth.
“ My heart !” He clutched his shirt. Calming down he lifted her up by her armpits and took her to Iwaizumi. The latter looked up in question.“ Say it again.”
“ Big bro Toru.”
Iwaizumi stared at him blankly with a dude-wtf face.“ I'm concerned for you.”
“ You don't have to be !”
The slightly shorter boy rubbed his temple in annoyance. That's when he felt tiny fingers push his cheeks upward to tilt his lips in the way of a smile.“ Smile, Zumi, okay ?”
“ Let me adopt you !” Oikawa said, bluntly and Iwaizumi couldn't help but let out an amused chuckle.
“ Do you even know the f of formalities?”
“ So mean, Iwa-chan !”
On the other side...
Pop ! Pop ! Pop !
“ Finished !” Mio chirped as she handed Hanamaki the bubble wrapper. The latter took it, hesitantly.
“ Look, I know it's fun and all but use it only at times of need.” He took away the second bubble wrapper from Mio’s hand who had stolen it from his bag. She looked up at him with a sad gaze.“ Ugh, don't give me that look.”
“ You have to resist it, bro. It's the ultimate child charm technique. Just to let you know I have been a pro at it,” Matsukawa whispered near his ears making the latter flinch.
“ Don't just creep up on me like that !”
“ Ah, sorry,” Matsukawa sat down on the floor beside his friend.
“ And there's nothing to resist. I found that Mio here is a good girl. She's not like kids her age, always creating trouble. That kid there is a literal example of trouble,” he pointed at Kotei in the distance who was trying to climb Mount Kyotani.“ Mio is not like that. I like her better. But it doesn't change the fact that she's a crybaby.”
Mio burst out in tears.
“ You made her cry, dude.”
“ S-sorry, Mio-chan ! Big brother didn't mean that! Sorry, please ! Look at me !”
Kunimi who passed by glanced at the scene.“ Someone call the police.”
“ What for !” Hanamaki yelled and quickly held out his spare bubble wrapper to Mio who instinctively stopped wailing and began popping the bubbles in peace.
“ And you finally gave in,” Matsukawa pointed out, grinning.“ You just gave in to the kid's charms.”
“ What're you so happy about ?”
“ Just reminiscing my childhood,” he sniffled in reply, wiping off a fake tear.
“ Why are you even talking like an old geezer ?”
As Kotei hung by Kyotani’s back his senses spiked up, all of a sudden and his ears twitched in alert. He sniffed the air sensing danger approaching and crouched down motioning Kotei to get off. The latter pouted before complying.
Iwaizumi froze upon noticing this behaviour.
“ What's wrong, Iwa-chan ?”
“ Something’s gonna happen,” Iwaizumi said, nervously.
“ How do you know ?” Oikawa asked throwing the ball high up in the air before catching it, perfectly.
“ Kyotani’s danger-senses say so.”
Oikawa narrowed his eyes.
“ What are you ? His body language interpreter ?”
“ He spends a lot more time with me than you. So it's natural.”
“ Are you trying to bring me down?”
“ What ?” Iwaizumi realised what he said and kept a hand on Oikawa’s shoulder.“ No, I didn't mean it like that. You've got it wrong.”
The latter sighed. And a sudden tingle alerted him too.“ Oh, my Tobio-danger signals are going crazy.”
“ The hell is that ?”
“ It's near. It's very close !” The trio looked at the door as Kyotani caught a familiar whiff. He went on his guards as the door slid open and everyone stopped what they were doing.
Kotei gulped and ran up to Oikawa because her instincts told her she'd be safe if it's with him. Oikawa gladly welcomed her in his arms as he picked her up and glared at the newcomer.
Kageyama stood panting at the doorway, his eyes scanning the entire gym before he found his bastard of a sister in someone else's arms. But he paid no attention to him.“ Kotei!”
Hinata peeked from behind him and his eyes lit up. Noticing the first years he waved at them who stared back at him, blankly. Did he forget they're rivals ?
Kageyama stomped his way upto Kotei before raising his fist to give her a good beating but Oikawa guarded the girl in his arms by slightly turning her away from him. Kageyama stopped, finally noticing the person.
“ How dare you raise your hand against a child in front of me ?”
“ Oh, Oikawa-san, good morning,” he bowed respectfully which further irked him.
“ Hey, drop the act ! I'm talking to you, genius!”
“ That child's my sister. She can be a brat sometimes but you don't have to worry about it. She knows what she has done.”
“ B-but, nii-chan, that was nii-chan’s favourite ball ! Kotei had to get it or nii-chan would have killed Kotei, anyway !” Kotei loudly, protested.
“ That's right.”
Kotei pursed her lips and buried her face in Oikawa’s chest, angrily. He just didn't get her at times.
“ Tobio, calm down first, okay ? It was no one's fault. We had a good time today so you can rest assured that she didn't cause any trouble for us,” Iwaizumi quickly came to the save as he patted his junior who gave him an apologetic look,“ okay?”
“ Hm.”
Kageyama felt someone's eyes on him and when he turned he came face to face with Kyotani.“ Uh...sorry.”
Kageyama tilted his head.“ For what ?”
The rest stopped in their tracks, realising what he's gonna say next. Trying to send secret signals, they sighed when all their efforts failed.
“ Your sister followed me because I took her ball. Also...,” he hesitated for a bit. Kyotani didn't like any of it. He never apologised to people. Firstly, it's nerve-wracking, second, it somehow undermines his self esteem which is not at all acceptable to him,“...I lost my calm and hit your sister hard on the head. But it's not serious. Anyway...sorry for that too.”
“ Is it really Mad dog ? He broke his record of putting more than ten words in a sentence,” Yahaba muttered as Kindaichi nodded in agreement.
“ That's fine. Atleast she got her lesson,” Kageyama muttered. His eyes finally caught sight of the bandages wrapped round her head. There was a glint in his gaze as he glanced back at Kyotani who took a step back in a stance.“ But please be careful from the next time. Taking responsibility and accountability for it are two different things, after all.”
Iwaizumi could feel the growing tension and Hinata slipped away from the setter, afraid.
“ Wh-why don't you sit for a while there ? You've run quite some distance,” Iwaizumi suggested.
“ Can you please teach me your service ace ?” Oikawa glanced down at the tuft of orange who looked at him with literal stars in his eyes.
“ No,” Oikawa stuck his tongue out and received a smack from the ace.
“ And there he goes again,” Kunimi sighed.
“ If you want we can go for a friendly match.” Matsukawa appeared out of nowhere patting Hinata on the back.
Oikawa grunted.
In response, the former held up Hinata’s face towards their Captain,“come on, look at this kid's face. We're doing him a favour. You'll have a chance to get back at him later.” Hinata grew flustered and wiggled out of his grip.
“ Hey ! Who are you calling a kid ?”
“ You,” he said, baffled.
“ I'm not a kid !”
Oikawa thought about it. Favours were not a bad idea. This way they'll be burdened with their own demands and he can ask for repayment later. On the plus side, he'll get to spend more time with the kids.“ Okay, all right. Since coach is not here I'll let it happen.”
“ Don't talk like you own the place.”
“ Tobio-chan ? Are you up for it ? If I defeat you here you might as well take it that we'll beat you in Spring High too.”
In the meantime, Shiro and Aoi finally managed to catch up to the energetic tangerine who had almost forgotten about the boys.
“ Am I in heaven ?” Oikawa skipped towards them. Unfortunately, his tall, looming figure scared Shiro who was at the front and the boy headbutted him in his guts.
𝟑
Later in the evening, after playing around a lot, Hanamaki volunteered to bring in the melons and Oikawa couldn't help but grow angry at the thought that their rivals would have them too.
“ Why are we sharing it with Tobio-chan again?”
“ Are you five ? Even kids are more understanding than you,” Iwaizumi said.
“ Captain, if you're forgetting we had kind of almost sent his sister to hospital,” Matsukawa whispered.
“ Yay, melons !” The kids jumped around Hanamaki’s feet who tried to maintain his balance.
“ You'll make me trip, kids !”
“ Hey ! Line up, all of you !” Kageyama clapped his hand, loudly, to gain their attention and to their astonishment they followed him.“ I said line up, Kotei !” He flicked her on her forehead.
“ Okay,” the latter grumbled.
Kageyama muttered a thanks before taking their share.“ Aoi’s name starts with an ‘A’ so he gets first.”
“ Yess ! Thanks for naming me Aoi, mama,” Aoi cheered stepping forward to take his share.
“ Didn't you say your grandpa came up with your name ?” Shiro pointed out.
“ Who cares. It's just a name.”
“ Of course it is.” One by one Kageyama settled the dispute as everybody got equal shares and the Seijoh team gawked at his new side.
“ He's rather reliable, don't you think ?” (Yahaba)
“ He is a big brother. What do you expect.” (Iwaizumi)
“ I'm a better brother than him !” (Hinata)
“ Woah, you have a sister ? You have to introduce her to me, shrimp.” (Oikawa)
“ God must have dozed off for a bit while making you, Oikawa-san.” (Hanamaki)
“ Don't blame God for creating this idiot.” (Iwaizumi)
“ Yeah, blame his parents !” (Yahaba)
“...”
“...”
“....”
“...”
“....”
“....”
“ Mhm..tastes good..” (Kyotani grumpily)
“ Sorry, I think I said something offensive......?” (Yahaba)
“ Can we pack up already ? I wanna go home and have a nice bath.”
...
“ I swear if you forget your belongings you'll not call me up at 4 am to unlock the gym just to take them back. I'll beat you to death,” Iwaizumi warned and all of them nodded (except Oikawa who was busy fixing his hairstyle by looking at his phone screen).“ Did you hear me, shittykawa !”
“ Of course.”
Kageyama stared at Oikawa in awe. He was trying to record his every move in his mind’s eye to copy him later. So it is necessary to become a fashion icon to be an excellent setter and volleyball player ? He thought as he saw the latter taking out his glasses.
Iwaizumi noticed this and gave a tight lipped smile. Unknownst to Oikawa, Tobio had mad respect for the older. He literally worshipped him at some point. But Oikawa was too much of a dense idiot to see that.
While fixing his glasses, Oikawa realised that Kageyama had been staring at him and purposely pushed up the bridge with his middle finger, smirking as he very discreetly flipped him off. Tobio flinched at his sudden hostility. The first year, too, was too oblivious to notice that the third year setter hated his guts.
“ Bye, bye, Kotei-chan. Please do visit us again,” Oikawa said as he patted Mio who was still under the misconception that he was an angel.“You too, Mio-chan.”
“ Next time Toru-nii-chan should come visit Kotei,” the child squeaked but Oikawa didn't look that pleased with the idea. Hell, he'd commit suicide before stepping foot in Tobio’s household. But, anything for Kotei.
“ Sure.”
Tobio, on the contrary, seemed to like the idea.“ Yes, please come visit us sometime. I have a lot to learn."
“ Don't get the wrong idea. I'll visit Kotei, not you ! Get that through your thick skull!”
Kageyama cocked his head in confusion.
“ Okay, okay, that's enough.” Iwaizumi got between them. “ Please don't mind his words. You can come visit us anytime you want. Unlike Shiratorizawa our school doesn't have severe restrictions.”
“ Yess ! But.. why would you bring up Shiratorizawa all of a sudden?” Hinata thought out loud.
“ Just because...haha..”
“ He still holds a grudge against them,” Kunimi informed Yahaba who nodded in understanding.
“ Bye bye ! Let's meet again !” Shiro and Aoi chorused and received similar waves in return.
“ Be careful on your way back !” Iwaizumi yelled back as they acquired distance and Hinata waved back in response.
“ Don't worry. Mad dog is with them. And he's pretty much feral himself.”
“ You shouldn't speak of him like that.”
Unfortunately, the whole walk to home was basically quiet because Kageyama suddenly forgot how to speak, Kyotani didn't speak at all and Hinata thought he'd appear pretty dumb if he went on talking to them without either party replying.
Aoi and Shiro were strangely whispering amongst themselves and keeping everything really low profile. Mio walked beside Tobio who held her hand, quietly, because the girl looked nervous without the bubble wrapper. Also she had started to like Hanamaki’s company. Her eyes were already moist but she was too sleepy to cry. Thus, Kageyama led her.
Thank god Hinata got some company with Kotei. His extrovert self said ‘yes.’ But even Kotei seemed a bit tired from all the jumping around. Moreover, her forehead still throbbed. So she didn't feel like shouting and skipping about.
“ Shoyo, let's play tomorrow, okay ?”
“ Sorry, Kotei, next time. I really need to study for the upcoming exams. Or I'll fail,” Hinata said with an apologetic smile.
Kageyama almost tripped hearing that. Hinata is studying ? Hinata is studying ? Hinata Shoyo is studying ? That can't be right ! He can't lose to the tangerine in academics of all the things ! No way will he let that happen ! He'll study too !
“ Our practice resumes from Monday,” Kageyama said clearing his throat.
“ Yes, I know that.”
Kotei shuffled around before walking to match step with Kyotani. The latter felt tiny hands wrap round his right arm and he glanced down to see Kotei give him a bright smile. “ Let's play again, soon, okay ?”
“ Sure.” He gave a monotonous reply.
It shocked Kageyama and Hinata who had only witnessed the boy shouting or yelling at others. Kyotani felt a bit awkward and so speedwalked before gaining some distance. Kotei, of course, followed and again began at a normal pace.
“ Why Toru calls Kyo mad dog-chan ?” Kotei asked finding the topic interesting.
“ Don't know.” He narrowed his eyes at her.“ I'm older than you. Don't just call me by my name.”
“ Why ?” She was genuinely curious.
“ Because....,” Kyotani thought for a moment,“... that's what my mom says.”
“ Oh, Kotei sees.” She nodded her head so very seriously, rubbing her chin, thoughtfully as if she had gotten a clue on the beginning of the universe.
Kyotani stared at her blankly before stating bluntly,“ you're weird.”
“ I am ? Hehehehe,” she scratched her cheeks, flattered.“ Everyone says that...Kotei wonders why?”
Hinata and Kageyama stared at the duo, in front of them, who swung their hands back and forth, with priceless expressions. They looked like kids out for a walk. It's understandable for Kotei but Kyotani ? Mad dog ? And he bites ?
“ He seems like a pretty good chap closeup,” Hinata muttered to Kageyama who couldn't help but agree.“ People spread very bad rumours these days.”
“ Wait, weren't you the one who said something offensive about him after our last match against Seijoh ?”
“ Did I ? Hahaha, you're funny Kageyama.”
“ ....”
“ Your ears must have been ringing.”
“ Yeah sure.”
“ Or maybe you were high or something ?”
“ I'll punch you in the face.”
“ Kay.”
🅱🅾🅽🆄🆂
In the evening, the Kageyama household was strangely silent as opposed to the common nature. Even their front door neighbour tried to peer in at intervals to ensure the house wasn't on fire and its occupants hadn't passed away while asleep.
But it was peaceful. The entire neighborhood was glad for that.
Kotei peeped inside the living room to see her brother lying at the centre, his head resting on a cushion as he snored away without a care in the world. She did a certain victory dance and finding the golden opportunity, sneakily grabbed the remote to switch on the television.
“ I AM HERE—”
“ hush. Hush. Hush. Hush.” Kotei clicked her tongue and lowered the volume, in a hurry. She dropped it a few times in the process. Nevertheless, triumphed in getting hold of the controls. Craning her neck, she glanced at Kageyama’s motionless figure, with bated breath before releasing a huff.“ Brother’s still asleep...hehe~”
She giggled and quietly put on the recorded video of Aot that Miwa had so carefully preserved. Fetching a pack of chips and pouring herself a glass a cola, she sat before the tv grabbing a cushion to rest her back. Now this is life ! She thought, refreshed, as she took a sip of the cold cola.
Two whole episodes. She got to watch two of them ! That's a big feat (for her atleast). Deciding not to take further risk, she switched off the television and very carefully observed Tobio for signs of movement. But he slept as still as a corpse. It fascinated her as an idea clicked in her brain. She giggled and slid closer to him.
Kageyama let out a grunt as he felt something heavy on his chest. He dreamt that Hinata had turned into a giant and was trying to squish him with a 4000 kg volleyball. It's not a dream ! It's a nightmare !
Kotei grinned as she placed the last item.“ Tada ! Kotei's Tokyo tower !” She showed the readers as she got off the stool. She had built it upon his chest with whatever utensils and rubbish she could acquire; books, toys, frying pan, bowls, glasses, sanitizer bottles, etc etc.
Finally, she held a handkerchief over his face and watched with blank eyes as his soft snores sent it fluttering at periodic intervals.“Ooooooooh.....,” she observed in awe.
Eventually, getting bored, she left him alone to draw something in her sketchbook.
“ I'm back ! Did you miss me, guys ?!” Miwa yelled, bursting through the front door. Not getting any response she walked upto the living room to halt in her steps. The smile dropped from her face as she witnessed a strained Tobio buried under a tall tower built of......wait ! Is that her most precious beautiful china set that she had bought last year sacrificing her blood, sweat and tears ?!
“ T-tobio...,” she trembled as she looked around. Something or someone seemed amiss. Her face turned red from anger as she realised who the culprit was.“ KOTEI !!!”
The said girl hid in the closet, cowering in fear as she further buried herself in her clothes.
And once again the entire neighborhood huffed in exasperation, but somehow relieved as loud noises erupted from the Kageyama household.
“ What did she do this time ?” Rin thought aloud, balancing her mechanical pencil on the upper portion of her lips, just below the nose. It dropped on the table, upon the stack of papers she had drawn panels on, before rolling upto the ink pot as a string of flowery profanities ensued from Miwa, her front door neighbour.“Yosh, time to get to work !”
______________________________________
“ 𝑇𝒉𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 !”