“ 𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒚𝒄𝒍𝒆 ? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 ?”
.
𝟏
Kotei whined as she rolled over on the floor before reaching her brother who was sitting on the other side to kick him lightly. Kageyama stared at his phone with an incomprehensible look in his eyes, resting his face against his palm. Glancing at Kotei's lax figure, he asked,“ what's wrong ?”
Kotei whined again and rolled over to lay on her side. Gazing outside she saw a beautiful sunny day with a clear blue sky. She could feel the approaching summer lurking in the corner and couldn't wait for the holidays. But Sundays were always boring for her. While her friends always spent it outside with families, it was not the same for her. Her brother insisted upon getting extra practice time and her big sister wanted to do nothing but sleep in.“This is so boringgg~”
He didn't pay her much attention and went back to watching the game on his phone.
“ Oi ! Kageyama !”
The boy looked up. The voice felt awfully familiar and resounded just outside their house. What is he doing here ? He recognised the person when he called for the second time. Kotei didn't waste a minute rushing to the door.“ It's sensei !”
She jumped and turned the door knob to be met with Nishinoya, dressed in a red shirt and half pants, a big summer hat sitting atop his head, a pair of (funny) sunglasses, holding a red bucket and a fishing rod along with a net and a big bag slung round his shoulder.“ Kouhai, wanna go fishing with sensei ?”
“ Fishies ! Oh, yes ! Le’z go !”
“ Wait.” Kageyama held her back and forced a large straw hat upon her head.
“ Nii-chan, wanna come with sensei and Kotei?”
“ No, no, it's just us. Kageyama is not allowed,” Nishinoya said urging her to follow him but not before smirking at the confused brother.“ Payback for when you called me short. Come on, Kotei.”
“ Yes !”
Kageyama stood at his door, baffled. Did he do something wrong ? Besides, a short guy should be called short ? It's not like he's lying. Shrugging, he trudged back inside his house and made a mental note not to call his senior short again.
“ It's a bit away from here. So we'll go by my bike.” Nishinoya pointed at his cycle that rested against the cement wall.
“ Kotei will bring Clara-chan !”
“ It's a rocky path ahead. So no space for Clara-chan for today, okay ?” He said, apologetically, as he put his gears in the basket.“ Can you do me a favour and hold this ?”
Kotei willingly took the fishing rod twice her size and examined it, closely. Still in a state of awe, she felt herself being hauled up to be sat on the seat behind him.“ Sensei, Kotei doesn't know how to get them fishies.”
“ Don't worry. I'll teach you everything there is to learn. Now hold on tight, okay ?” He grinned before getting on his bike and holding the handles in a firm grip. As soon as he felt Kotei holding his shirt with one hand, safely seated in her spot, he took off.
𝟐
“ Here we are. Ta-dah !” Nishinoya presented to the child a scenic view out of the world.
A shallow water course flowed past the thickets of green, the water clear as crystal and illuminating the afternoon sun directly perpendicular to the surface. Although at a glance it might seem as a shallow stream, the further you walk towards the centre the deeper it gets. But the width was small compared to average water bodies of the same.
The place was situated approximately in the centre of the woods. The canopy of the trees is transparent enough to allow the penetration of the sunlight through its thickets and the entire place lit up in a magnificent green hue.
As Nishinoya set down the things in an orderly fashion, Kotei peered over the water before touching it with her fingers. It felt cool under the warm sun and brought relief to her sweaty palms. The area around the stream formed a cool niche surrounding her being.
The boy finally sat down on a protruded rock that had been formed along the bank after years of sedimentation.“ Time to catch some fish.”
“ Le’z get them fishies~”
“ So step one....................................................................................................wait, what's step one again ?” Nishinoya’s smile faltered as he looked at Kotei, blankly who tilted her head in confusion.“ It's been a long time. First I'll get the hook and attach it.....,” he muttered to himself invested in the job at hand,“... don't think I need these...,” he tossed aside the plastic bobber. The fishing line was in a mess and eventually he gave up.“ What's this ? I don't get it at all ! My old bamboo stick with a line was so much better !”
“ Sensei, Kotei thinks this thingy goes through these small holes,” she pointed at the tip top and then the guides. That's what she had seen on a TV show before.
“ You think so ? Let's try then.”
Nishinoya did as she said.
Remembering something he attached the reel first before spinning the line around it.“ I think I get it !” He stated excitedly as he finished setting up the line and pushed back the safety reel. Pleased with the setting he attached the hook as the girl fidgeted with the handle.“ Now comes the bait !”
“ Bait ?” Kotei asked as Nishinoya grinned pulling out a small container and opening it to show the worms.
“ This is a bait, to lure them in.”
“ Lure ? That sounds so mean,” she replied, sadly.
“ It's the cycle of life.”
“ Cycle ? Life ?” Kotei's expression grew serious and she gasped, covering her mouth.“ Life has a cycle ? What does it look like ?”
“ Disgusting. But don't you mind the details.” He stuck out his tongue as he stepped back to swing the rod with all his might before dropping the line on the deeper side.“ Good spot !” He sat back down on the rock.“ Now we wait.”
“ Oooooh, wait !” She repeated crouching down staring intently for any sudden movement.
One hour later....
“ Did it catch now ?” Kotei asked for the umpteenth time pointing at the line.
“ Be patient, my dear student. Patience is the key!” He yelled and pointed at the kanji written on the back of his shirt. She couldn't read but inferred something similar to what he meant was etched onto the fabric.
“ Can Kotei go into the water ?”
Nishinoya looked over in the distance and wondered whether he should allow her. It's not like the current is too strong. But for her it might be. Besides it's a bit deep. Yet he tried to acquire a teacher's perspective.
Daring is good and a sign of courage on the first steps of the ladder to life. He should encourage her productivity. And it'll be fine as long as she remained near the banks.................................. right ? He smiled at her.“ Go right ahead.”
“ Yay !” Slipping out of her slippers she stepped into the cool water and immediately a shiver ran down her spine.
“ Wear your sandals, Kotei.” The boy warned remembering how he had cut himself on a broken piece of glass in the water.
“ Okie~”
Although Kotei was reluctant to dirty the clear water with her worn-out shoes, she obliged.
Taking a few more steps she stopped. The current suddenly grew strong.“ Oops,” she almost lost her balance when a pair of hands caught her by the shoulder and pulled her more towards the edge.
“ I told you not to walk deeper.”
“ Sensei is so strong !” She chirped observing how he had no problem standing in the knee deep water.
He laughed out loud on being praised openly.“ That's right, kouhai, I am !” Resting his hands on his hips he couldn't help but pose.“ Hey, can you take a picture of me standing here ? I think I look pretty cool right now !”
“ Rogerr !”
A few hours later.....
“ Sensei, sensei, Kotei had a great idea !”
“ And what's that ?”
“ Here.” Kotei handed him the transparent flask bottle and told him to empty the content. It was half filled so they took turns in doing so. She smiled, feeling smart and stepped back into the water but not too deep. Tiny fishes swam past her legs as the liquid trickled past.
Nishinoya, understanding what she was trying to do, chuckled.“ Forget it, kouhai. There's no way you can—”
“ Got one !” She shouted as she showed him the small fish that swam in the clear stream water in the bottle. Grinning triumphantly she declared,“ Kotei's gonna catch three more and gift fishies to boss, Suga, Asahi and Kiyo-chan !”
The latter still sat there in shock not believing his eyes. Did he really just lose to a child ? It's true he was waiting for a bigger catch and not the small ones. Yet he felt defeated. Atleast she got something.
But he grinned back at her, encouragingly.“ I'm not gonna lose to you !”
“ Good luck, sensei !” She giggled showing him a thumbs up.
.
It was evening by the time they decided to clean up. Kotei sadly stared at the bottle, three tiny fishes swimming in it. She wanted another since there're four of the third years.
Nishinoya noticed her disheartened state and smiled softly at her. Holding up the bucket filled with a far greater number of fishes than her he offered her his free hand,“ let's go ?”
“ Mhm.” She nodded slipping her hand into his.
Soon they reached the main road where he had parked his bike under a shade. Carefully, he placed all his things and tightly hooked and secured them. Slinging the bucket onto the side of the bike, he asked Kotei to hand him her bottle so that she could get up freely.
“ Can you look after them for me ?” Nishinoya pointed at the red bucket as he checked everything once again and got on his bike.“ Hold on, okay ?” He pushed his weight upon the peddle and took off towards home. The evening breeze hit their faces with a thud. Kotei kept a watch on the fishes in the bucket and wherever there were bumps on road, held it firmly so that the water didn't spill along with the fishes.“ Did you have fun today ?”
“ Lots of fun !”
“ Cool ! Let's come together again !”
“ Let's come ! Let's come !” She cheered along.
Soon it screeched to a stop in front of the Kageyama household and Nishinoya helped her get off before handing her the bottle. Kotei walked around the bike and peered down at the bucket filled with grey-ochre coloured medium sized fishes and waved at them,“ bye bye fishies !”
Although they were going to be cooked later....
“ Kotei, where's your hat ?” Nishinoya pointed out.
“ Hat ?” Kotei stared above and couldn't see the hem of it. Oh no.
Somewhere in the faraway stream, a single straw hat floated leisurely in the steady current as few fishes moved away from its course to give it way to it's new found adventure in this world. Bye bye, me hat. And good luck on yer journey.
“ Kotei's hat is gone,” she said patting herself on her head, feeling lonely all of a sudden.
“ Who said anything about that ? Here's your hat,” the older said quickly, taking his own hat off and placing it on the little one's head. It slid off to one side and Kotei looked up at it in awe. She tried to position it right but it seemed her head is just too small compared to her teacher's.“Looking good,” he struck a thumbs up.
“ Yippee ! Thanks, sensei !” She happily waved at him before running towards her house, still holding the hem of the hat with both her hands to prevent it from slipping off.
Kageyama was in the backyard covering his daily toss practice while Miwa prepared for dinner. The former was just beginning to feel the absence of his sister when the front door opened and closed with a slam. It didn't affect his form in the least bit so he continued with his tosses. It was the oldest sibling who greeted the smallest at the door.
“ You're back—Kotei ! You're dripping wet !”
Kotei stood there smiling, confused as her pants which were folded up failed to save it from getting splashed and her shirt drenched in the cool water. She vividly remembered playing and splashing water at Nishinoya as they endeavoured to pass the long waiting hours.“ And that's not your hat. Don't tell me you stole his hat !”
“ No ! It's a gift !”
A tall shadow loomed in the corner of the hallway as Kageyama’s head leaned on his side to peek behind the wall. Something vibrated in his pockets as he held up his phone to see a picture sent by his senior.
It was a selfie taken by Nishinoya as he grinned at the camera holding up his fingers to form a victory sign and a small head belonging to Kotei peep from under his arm, trying her best to match his height too, holding up two arms, the fishing rod clutched in one and the bucket in another, showcasing the fruits of hours of hard labour.
“ Look. He sent me this.” Kageyama approached the girl and showed her the picture.
“ Wow ! Kotei will frame this !”
“ You can't.”
“ Why not ?”
“ Because I said so.”
Miwa returned with a towel in the meantime and got to wiping her still damp face and slightly wet hair. Kotei turned back to face her sister with a smile before holding out the bottle in front of her.“ Kotei got them fishies ! Look at them, Miwa-nee ! Aren't they cute ?”
“ You caught them all by yourself ?”
“ Hm !” She acted all smug in response as Kageyama stared at the bottle with narrowed eyes. What's so great about that ?
“ Awesome ! You're so smart, Ko-chan !” She ruffled her head, proudly as the boy scoffed loudly. “Now change your clothes fast. You don't wanna catch a cold now.”
“ Okay.”
When the six-year-old stepped back in the living room, she let out a high pitched scream to see Kageyama very close to the fishes she had caught in the bottle and dashed across the room to hold it close to her chest, away from her brother, glaring daggers at the latter.
“ What ?” He asked, dumfounded.
“ Hmph.” She huffed in attitude and walked away with her priced possesion as of now.
“ What's her problem ?” He asked, irked.
Later that night, both Kotei and Miwa were watching the fishes swim in the water, together when the latter disrupted the silence with,“ what are you planning to do with them ?”
“ Kotei will gift them to the third years,” she muttered back, peering down through the opened cap of the bottle.
“ I see.” They sat in silence when Miwa’s expression grew grim. She's not so sure about it but was it really okay to leave them like that ? Will the fishes even survive out of their natural habitat? She did not have the slightest idea on how to look after them.“ Shouldn't you give them something more permanent ? Like something that they can keep with them their whole life.” She suggested.
“ Pam-a-net ?”
She smiled down at her.“ Think about this, okay ?”
A knock resounded at the door and Kageyama opened it realising no one made a move to get the door.
Grunting, he jerked it wide open and got surprised at the face that greeted him.“ Nishinoya-san ?”
The teen greeted him with an (un)equally bright grin as he held up a pair of chopsticks and a plate. It's the fish that he had caught earlier and after cooking it he thought he ought to share the taste with his diligent student.“ It's only fair. Kouhai ! Sensei’s here to deliver your reward !”
He yelled loudly and Kotei raced from the inside, perking up at his voice.
Kageyama would be lying if he said he wasn't envying his sister. Staring at the plate in his hand, he watched in a daze as the second year senior fed Kotei a piece of it. He flinched when both of them looked at him at the same time to catch him staring intensely.
Nishinoya grinned.“ What's this, Kageyama ? You should just say it if you want some.”
“ What ? No—”
“ Say ah !”
“ I—”
When he opened his mouth to speak, the latter shoved a piece and Kageyama’s eyes lit up, savouring the taste.
“ Nii-chan, it's good right ?” Kotei asked chewing, her hands resting on her cheeks as she gave her brother a close eyed smile.
“ Hm ? Mhm.” He nodded, flustered.
“ Courtesy to your senpai....you could enjoy such delicacy ! Hahahaha !”
Nishinoya seemed pretty pleased with himself and soon Kotei joined in on his laughter too as both of them talked animatedly about their experience at fishing. The spiky haired boy even took it upon himself to take Kageyama on their next fishing tour too.
Miwa smiled leaning against the wall. It brought her relief to see her siblings’ excited faces.
They seem to be enjoying themselves.
𝟑
Graduation Day
“ Come on, come on !” Kotei slipped in between the crowd, running through the empty spaces, occasionally pushing some as she dragged her brother by the hand towards the third years who stood by the entrance to their gym.
“ Slow down !” Kageyama almost tripped on his feet. He shouldn't have brought the girl. But she insisted. And now that the ceremony was over and done with, Kotei can finally give her parting gifts.
“ Boss !” She laughed calling out to the first person who stood in her way.
“ I beg of you, please don't call me that ! Please !” Daichi cried animatedly joining his hands in a pleading manner.
“ Wow, he seems desperate,” Asahi commented.
“ He sure does.” Suga nodded along.
Kiyoko greeted her with a smile. Although the vicinity was clear some of the students nearby stared at the beautiful goddess in a daze, mesmerised by how pretty she looked.
“ Congratulations...,” Kageyama faltered mid sentence as he remembered the words Miwa had instructed to tell them.“ Thank you for guiding us till now,” he bowed before them to offer the appropriate respect and felt a bit awkward when nobody said anything. He looked up only to be met with surprised faces.
He's not exactly the person to express his feeling so openly but maybe because it was their last day in Karasuno, Sugawara grew emotional and captured the baffled first year in a bone crushing hug.“ Kageyama ! You really had to say that, today, stupid ! We're more than happy to guide you anytime !!!”
“ Suga, calm down,” Asahi said timidly.
Kageyama didn't mind the affection and he rather leaned into the touch feeling a foreign emotion stir within him. He realised how blank and empty the court would look without the seniors. Everyone might already know this but according to him they were very good players and had the potential to become professionals in the field if they did want to pursue it. Yet, the gaping emptiness would take time to subside.
Kotei pouted when her brother got all the love and attention. And perhaps noticing her sad frown Kiyoko picked the child up in her arms and gave her a small hug. The child looked lost for a second before returning the hug and said,“ Kiyo-chan, Kotei brought something for all of you !”
“ What is it ?”
Kotei motioned for Kageyama to hand over her presents. She happily took (snatched) them from his hands and held up the objects before them. Four different stones which weirdly took the shape of fishes were hanging from strings of black and apparently they were meant to be worn round the neck. Each of the stone had a picture of a fish drawn on them neatly with black sharpies and Kotei insisted on them to be termed as ‘amulets’ although she had no idea what the term meant.
It was of course Kotei's creation as she drew them by watching the fishes they had caught days before. Basically, she visited the place with Miwa to set the them free in the stream again as the child didn't like the idea of holding them captive. Instead of the fishes she gifted the third years something different.
“ I don't know what this is but I'll cherish it till my death,” Asahi said softly carefully taking his and wrapping it around his large hand.
“ No, no ! Like this !” Kotei tugged the thing out of his hand and tried to slip his head through it but soon found out it wouldn't fit. Her face grew pale as she noticed none of the boys were able to wear it round their neck, with the exception of Kiyoko whose fit perfectly but felt a bit tight near her throat.“ Oh no ! Kotei failed !” She panicked.
“ Come on, we'll wear it on our wrists,” Suga calmed her down patting her head as he slipped it through his wrist.“ See ?”
“ Really ?”
“ It's a man’s promise,” Suga said proudly knocking on his chest.
“ Kotei, that's so thoughtful of you,” Daichi sobbed as Sugawara muttered out a low comment on how dramatic the former captain was being.
“ Boss, don't cry !” Kotei reached over from Kiyoko's arms to tap on his shoulder, reassuringly.
“ KIYOKO-SAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Asahi sweatdropped as two weeping second years made their grand entrance, literally kicking and pushing past the crowd, to drop to their knees before their goddess as they immediately jumped to their long speeches of farewell.
“ Ahem,” Suga cleared his throat loudly gaining their attention.
“ SUGA-SAN !”
“ SUGAWARA-SENPAI !”
Nishinoya and Tanaka literally jumped on top of the silverette who gasped for breath. Daichi gave them intimidating looks as they were creating a lot of chaos and commotion while Kotei helped Kiyoko put on her ‘amulet’.
“ Daichi-san !” Next came a sobbing Ennoshita followed by a crying Kinoshita. Narita seemed to be wiping his tears too as they approached the third year and hugged him tightly.
“ Come on, relax, guys. We're just graduating, not dying,” Daichi said nervously trying to push them away but they further tightened their hold on him, refusing to let go. Sighing, he didn't resist and instead patted them of their backs, encouragingly. He smiled.“ Look after them for me, okay ?”
Kotei watched the scene with eyes as big as saucers. She faced Asahi who looked just on the verge of breaking down.“ Asahi ! Asahi !” Her voice snapped him out of his trance.“ Why are they crying?” She asked with a pale face.“ Is Asahi, boss, Suga and Kiyo-chan going far far away from here ?”
“ Not exactly.....”
Her lips trembled as she watched them with a depressed, downcast look, a tinge of childish innocence mixed in it. She wondered whether they'll go away like her grandfather and never return. That'd be so sad. She didn't like the idea of never seeing them again.“ Say ?” She leaned towards Asahi.
The latter smiled.“ What do you want, Kotei ?”
“ Kotei wants everyone to stay together, happily,” she said hesitantly.
“ Then that's what's gonna happen. Don't worry too much.” Asahi crouched down to match her height and ruffled her hair softly.
Soon Hinata arrived with Natsu followed by Yamaguchi, Tsukishima and Yachi. The last girl couldn't keep her tears in as she repeatedly bowed and expressed her gratefulness towards all of them, especially Kiyoko who dismissed her fretting with a pretty smile (lethal for Nishinoya and Tanaka).
“ Congratulations, everyone ! I wanna say that I'll try to become a volleyball player someday too and I got to learn a lot from all of you,” Natsu said as Shoyo rubbed his nose proud for his sister.
“ Thank you for that,” Suga smiled ruffling her hair and Daichi showed her a thumbs up.
“ Hi, guys !” Michimiya waved at the big crowd as she approached them followed by her teammates, Aihara and Sasaki.
“ It's the big sis that peeps on boss, secretly !” Kotei pointed out.
“ Bye, guys !” Michimiya waved again pulling her friends away.
“ What was that about ?” Daichi asked still clueless as ever.
Eventually, Aihara dragged the former Captain to the tall male while Suga did the same with his friend.
Michimiya just stared at him for a good few minutes before handing him a good luck charm to attain his future goals and rushed out of the scene.
“ I just wanna say....that...that....I’LL MISS YOU GUYS SO MUCH !”
“ Take-chan, you didn't need to shout that out.”
“ How about a commemorative photo ?” Keishin suggested holding up a Polaroid camera.
“ Just the third years ? I wanna be in the frame too!” Tanaka complained loudly.
“ Kotei too ! Kotei too !”
“ Natsu three !”
They ended up handing the camera to a student who was kind enough to click a nice photograph of the entire group together.
Everyone happy, Kotei promised to cherish the moment forever in her heart.
______________________________________
*ahem*...........SORRYYYY GUYS TT FOR THE LONG WAIT !!!!! IT TOOK ME YEARS TO WRITE THIS ONE ! AND AFTER BEING DETERMINED TO PUBLISH ONE CHAPTER PER WEEK🥺I FAILED TO KEEP THE PROMISE !!!
But seriously I didn't plan to stretch it this far. I had thought of ending this book on this chapter, yes this was supposed to be the LAST chapter of this book.
But I regained my lost motivation after rewatching Haikyuu for the third time in a row (proud smirk) and now I wanna add a few more chapters before closing it.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter Thank you for reading !
Till next time :)