A light voice.
The sound of rustling.
And the scent of antiseptic.
You squint, unaccustomed to the bright lighting.
"Asahi-San?" You groan in complaint.
A soft laugh puffs from the coils of the room.
A woman's laugh.
"He'll be back." The voice murmurs again.
It takes a moment for the voice to register.
"Kiyoko-Senpai?"
In answer a nearby curtain parts, revealing the vixen herself.
"Hello." She replies.
You sit up in an attempt to remain some composure.
"Hi." You nod, slightly embarrassed by your current situation.
It looks like I'm in the nurse's office.
Which is the very last place I want to be given my current predicament...
"Where is everyone?" You query.
Kiyoko cocks her head in thought, quickly occupying herself with a nearby first aid kit.
"I sent Tanaka and Nishinoya-San to collect your things fifteen minutes ago..." She trails off.
"The others should be here any minute." She sniffs, gesturing for you to sit up.
I sure hope those bumpkins didn't get lost.
I have a bad feeling that they've died...
"Now." The girl heaves the first aid kid in finality.
"Let's get some ice packs on that chest." She murmurs.
Reality quickly begins to set in.
"That's not necessary." You laugh, attempting to wave off her advances.
Kiyoko sighs, you successfully halting the girl's prodding.
"Come now, don't make this difficult." She hums.
"Don't make this difficult child."
The icy chill of those words send you into a catonic shock.
Your hands, previously detached, begin a deadly squeeze round the girl's wrist.
Kiyoko bristles, whether from pain or shock, you'd never know.
"(Y/N)-Kun." She puffs, trying to free herself from your grasp.
The sound of your name is more than enough to return you to reality.
You almost throw yourself away from the girl, closing your body off from any unwanted prodding.
"I-I'm sorry." You stammar, unable to make eye contact with the girl.
What's gotten into me?
"(Y/N)-Kun?" Kiyoko echoes, slowly joining you on your cot.
You don't answer.
"(Y/N)?" She attempts again.
Stop.
Please stop.
"Kiyoko-" You begin to growl, growing agitated.
You halt.
Slowly, oh so slowly Kiyoko places a palm onto your face.
Her fingers gently nestle underneath your chin, you shifting your eyes uncertainly.
A breeze cascades across your face, invited in by a window Kiyoko had most likely opened.
"You..." She trails off, peering into your psyche further.
"Your eyes.." She again trails off..
A powerful burn begins to make it ways across your face.
"They are so plainly feminine..." She admits, releasing you.
She shakes her head, at a loss.
"Too feminine."
Kiyoko...
"You're a girl?" She breathes.
A strange feeling of relief washes over your body, you nodding your head as if to confirm her suspicions.
"I-I didn't really intend on this, I promise." You scramble.
Kiyoko cocks her head, as if unable to comprehend your words.
"It's complicated." You smile apologetically.
"I would assume so, hiding one's gender is no small feat." She jokes weakly, almost awkwardly.
"So where do we go from here?" You bite your lip, nervous as to what your fate could be.
Kiyoko sighs, retrieving the nearby first aid kit.
"Well, let's not bite off more than we can chew." She replies, busying herself with the previously forgotten first aid kit.
She's purposely avoiding my question.
"If I may?" She gestures to your chest.
You nod, allowing the girl to enter your proximity.
I'm way beyond being self-conscious now.
Kiyoko is efficient, peeling your jersey off with ease, fingers easing under the hook of your bra.
She seems to pause almost, as if unsure whether or not to proceed further.
"Go on, it's not like they're going to bite." You murmur.
We're both women after all...
The girl purses her lips in a meager attempt to hide her amusement.
"I'll be brief." She puffs, unhooking your bra.
A layer of ace bandages is first to make aid, being quickly snuffed by the chill of ice packs.
The wrappings are tight and you can at last take a breath of air relatively pain free.
"Thank you-"
A commotion at the door cuts your speech short, a flurry of arms and legs scurrying into the room.
Instinctively, as if anticipating an interruption, Kiyoko steps in front of you protectively.
Followed by the scuffling is none other than a throng of familiar boys.
A distressed looking volleyball captain in the lead.
You shoot a worried glance to a stone faced Kiyoko, who still stood strong in front of your cot.
Daichi is first to acknowledge your state, settling heavily in a nearby chair.
"How are you (Y/N), Kiyoko fix you up?" He sighs.
You share an unnerved glance with Kiyoko, shifting uncomfortably.
"Fine, I feel fine." You reply.
"Thank goodness." He shakes his head.
He looks like he's aged ten years.
You turn to the rest of your comrades, as if to assure them.
"I'm fine." You say, stronger this time.
At least physically.
A chorus of sighs radiates throughout the room.
"You're made of tough stuff kid." Tanaka laughs, settling on the opposite side of the cot, Hinata crowding to your left.
You lean against the fiery haired boy, his warmth a welcome reprieve from the drafty room.
"Don't mind me." You murmur, almost nuzzling the boy.
Hinata doesn't object, sitting still for once.
"For some reason I have a feeling (Y/N) and Hinata are going to unfortunately be joint at the hip." Tsukishima sniffs, elbowing a nearby Yamaguchi.
You roll your eyes, unamused with the boys teasing.
"Don't fret (Y/N), us third years will make sure you're well taken care of." Sugawara purrs, patting the edge of your cot.
Well taken care of?
You raise your eyebrows, taken aback by the sudden warmth coursing through your body.
"That's right." Daichi nods, rising from his crumpled state.
This...
What am I doing?
Getting excited over something like this.
You shoot a glance at Kiyoko, who still has yet to break her silence.
Your fingers itch into your hair, tugging gently.
"T-Thank you, but I don't thin—"
"Excuse me." Kiyoko interjects, muffling your dribble.
She purses her lips, a soft whistle escaping.
"I'd like to get (Y/N) up and dressed, you understand, don't you?" She echoes, gesturing to your underdressed state.
At last embarrassment rears its ugly head.
You yet again reminded of your less than favorable attire.
They can see.
See everything...
Yet?
I haven't been questioned.
You shakily rise from the cot, your chest protesting softly.
"You guys wouldn't happen to have my bag would you?" You wince.
Nishinoya holds up your bag in answer, you making a start towards the boy.
"Thanks—" You grimace, your chest again voicing it's distress.
The wave of pain passes, and you open your eyes to see not just one but every boy in the room has taken a step forward.
Arms outstretched, as if anticipating something.
As if to catch you.
"Guys?" You grunt, taken aback by the sudden change in atmosphere.
Kiyoko is quick to swoop in, easing you back onto the cot.
"I'll take it from here." She says dismissively, retrieving your bag from Noya.
"We'll see you downstairs."
The boy's collectively shrug, trickling out into the hallway at last.
Kiyoko seems to wait a moment, as if to ensure the boy's were no longer within earshot.
"That's a first." She mumbles, riffling through your bag.
"First?" You echo, confused.
Kiyoko retrieves your uniform from your bag, laying it flat onto the cot.
"Daichi, and Sugawara I'd expect to be concerned, seeing as though their Captain and Co-Captain..." She trails off.
"The rest of them were so unusually attentive." She answers, easing your shirt over your head.
Feels good to be wearing a shirt again.
"Even Kageyama and Tsukishima we're concerned." She purrs, at a loss.
She stops her primping to look you in the eyes.
"They like you." She notes, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Like me?" You scoff.
Kiyoko smooths your hair into place.
"It appears so." She nods, helping you to your feet.
They like me.
Why?
Kiyoko's words bounce around your head as you make your descent back to the ground floor.
An uneasiness filling your stomach.
Guilt.
Upon nearing the gym you settle yourself on a nearby bench, tired and heaving.
Kiyoko leaves with the promise of food and drink, leaving you to ferment in the humid air.
The lights are burning me alive.
You dry swallow in an attempt to cool yourself.
"Here."
A familiar voice calls.
Asahi.
You swivel your head, only to be met with the chill of an aluminum can.
Asahi slides the can across your cheek most likely in an effort to offer some relief from the heat.
"Thanks." You reply, gesturing for him to sit with you.
The boy accepts your invitation, settling on the bench beside you.
For what seems to be a great while you say nothing, silently drinking away the night.
"Where's everyone else?" You finally breaking the silence.
"Convenience store." He replies.
"Why didn't you go?" You murmur, curious.
A pause.
"I don't like the dark..." He puffs, embarrassed.
"....And you seem like the brightest light source right now."
For a brief moment.
Just for a second.
Kiyoko's words made sense to you.
"They like you."
You had no idea how you were going to tell them the truth.
Author's note:
Round of applause for Faith and Saniah for blessing us with art and revisionary genius.
I hope you've enjoyed this rewrite and for putting up with the wait.
You're simply one hell of a reader.
-Author San.
Editor's note:
Poopoo Peepee buy a new shirt.
-KamiSama
Artist's note:
If Kiyoko touches my cheek oNE MORE TIME
-Lukas