#Shimizu finds him very endearing

[consumeroflemoans]

Ryū Shimizu and Karasu (the dragon and the raven)

“Come on Shimi, I told ya there’d be less people roamin’ at night. Look, you can see the stars from the beach!”

“In all these centuries…only you have made me turn my gaze to the skies.”

Something something gay ass dragon

Applaud me for finally making a character with both a family name and a given name

[obwjam]

how i think the karasuno high school volleyball team would react to finding a tiny

hinata: would be a mix of being cautious and having no chill. the type to fire off a million questions and not even wait for an answer before asking a new one, and his intrusive thoughts would be to grab a tiny but he never follows through on it. he’s too loud for them but learns over time that he can’t scream around tiny ear drums all the time! he’s insanely protective tho and literally never makes height jokes bc he knows how it feels. they bond over this, even though the tiny thinks it’s hilarious that hinata is short by human standards. hinata would endear himself to a tiny so fast it wouldn’t even be funny, like even if it isn’t the same they could talk for hours about how frustrating it is to be too small. he loves giving shoulder rides and sometimes even head rides, ratatouille jokes and all. they would be like best friends, they just have this bond that nobody else could have

kageyama: i hc him as being obsessed with borrowers as a kid and he somehow knows everything about them and expects others to know too. like he legit gets mad having to explain borrower lore to everyone else. it would be like rekindling a childhood obsession but the tiny would be so scared of him bc he’s so INTENSE but he’s actually so gentle it shocks everyone, even though it's in a clinical kind of way. like he's like "i brought you food." because he thinks they need food kind of thing, like he knows the motions to go through but only because he read about borrowers as a kid, not bc he asked them. he’s so perceptive tho, he would be the one to catch a tiny in an instant. even though they find it strange at first, they come to appreciate that kageyama actually cares about them and thinks they’re cool. the tiny comes to him with any volleyball questions bc he loves yapping about setting so he will just ramble for hours about what goes on in his head during a match and the tiny eats it up

daichi: i mean he is the prototypical “i know how to handle this situation perfectly” type of person like he just knows exactly what to do, what to say, how softly to talk, how to move. if the entire team was swarming a tiny he would calmly bend down to their height, very softly ask for their name, offer to bring them anything they need, and the entire team would back off and follow his lead, naturally. he would be an instant beacon of comfort for a tiny, always taking care of them and listening to whatever they say without pressuring them. like he would know all the tiny’s secrets bc they want to tell him everything and everyone else is jealous that he knows super special information. also the king of handhelds, no explanation needed

sugawara: oh my god suga would be the softest, sweetest person on earth dealing with a borrower. like he’s so kind and gentle with a tiny it’s actually disgusting. he find the tiny so cute beyond all comprehension and above all just wants to make sure they’re comfortable and taken care of. he legit feels honored whenever the tiny talks to him or wants to see him, he feels like the chosen one and he absolutely does not hide it. he would love bringing them little treats, not just food to survive but desserts and sweet drinks and he LOVES putting them in his pocket and showing them around the school and around town, he just can’t help himself. he wants them to be included in literally everything. would ask very bashfully if he could hold them and the tiny is like 🥺 yes 🥺🥺🥺

tanaka: i pity the tiny who gets discovered by tanaka. i love him so much but oh my god he would really have zero self-control and he would not be able to contain himself. he would be picking that tiny up and holding it up to his face going :O :O :O GUYS LOOK AT THIS! like he would not be keeping that secret. he would listen when the tiny is like “BRO STOP” though and he would be insanely protective. like the way he gets when anyone else looks at shimizu. he would simply want to be the tiny’s best friend so badly and genuinely thinks they’re the coolest thing. but there would be no shortage of height-related nicknames. they would be unrelenting. but he loves talking to the tiny and including them in literally everything, like he would shit talk everyone with them (especially the CITY BOY ALLIANCE) and explain all the lore 

nishinoya: he’s kind of like tanaka lite when it comes to a tiny, but less with the picking up and more with the getting too close, staring too long and asking too many questions. but it’s lowkey endearing because he does it with such wonder and enthusiasm that the tiny can’t help but be almost be flattered at the amount of attention he’s giving them. he would also want to be best friends with them and him and tanaka would legit fight for their attention, like it would be a joke at first but then it turns into a real competition, much to the tiny’s glee. campaigns for them to be the team mascot but in a cute way. also loves giving shoulder rides and asking them what it’s like to be even smaller than he is

asahi: oh i love him because he would be more scared of the tiny than they are of him. like it would be so bad the tiny would think he hates them and they would be so scared of him because of it, which just makes everything worse bc them asahi feels even worse that he’s making them scared! he’s legit too nervous to so much as talk to them, and daichi and suga literally need to stage an intervention to sort things out. he would just feel so uncomfortable around a tiny but definitely warms up to them when he kind of understands that they’re just a very small human being and not like, a creature. he has to be convinced a million times he won’t hurt the tiny, and omg his first time holding them would be so cute and everyone would make fun of how scared he is to do it

tsukki: oh man. oh, tsukki. he would give zero shits about a tiny, and lowkey, he doesn’t fully believe they’re a functioning person for a while. like he truly doesn’t understand why everyone is so enamored with them, to the point that it kind of starts to piss him off. he wouldn’t like be a total asshole to them or anything, but he would 100% pick them up when nobody else is around, look at them for a little bit, then scoff and just plop them down at a high elevation where they can’t get down by themselves like he would be such a good foil to everyone else’s obsession with them. but of course he would eventually come around, and he would never fully say sorry but he starts getting them food and stuff and the tiny knows that’s his way of apologizing 

yamaguchi: he would think the tiny is so freaking cool but he would simply be too nervous to talk to them, not because he’s scared but because he just literally has no idea what to say. he doesn’t have the nurturing instinct of daichi and suga or the natural charisma of tanaka or noya so he kind of just stand there like 🧍‍♂️ and stares at them a lot, but would immediately go red in the face and look away when the tiny looks at him, and the tiny actually finds this very adorable. like of all the big scary volleyball players they have to face, yamaguchi is NOT one of them bc hell even his serve is understated. it’s the rare dynamic of the tiny wanting to get to know HIM more when they’re comfortable enough around everyone, and ofc he would just be a big flustered sweetie

[chimielie]

honey, honey

summary: pet names/nicknames headcanons. karasuno, nekoma, johzenji, aoba johsai included. established relationships implied in all.

word count: 1.1k

cw: cursing (which is admittedly in all my stuff). a few are very slightly suggestive.

a/n: i was gonna do more schools but then i got tired so have this. i know there are a lot of widely accepted terms of endearment in the fandom and i don’t have a problem w those at all but i’m afraid of just regurgitating other people’s hcs lol. i’m very basic :( just wanted to try my hand at it? idk don’t bully me if you don’t like it i know there’s a lot of authorial bias here also it’s midnight

KARASUNO

sawamura daichi — very traditional, very classic. mostly uses your name but isn’t opposed to baby, babe, babydoll (occasionally). when he gets older he’ll probably start using nicknames with more frequency and graduate to honey, hon, love, darling. he’s committed like that.

sugawara koushi — ONLY uses pet names in private or when he’s trying to prove a point. he loves pda, you two are all over each other all the time in public (assuming you’re comfortable with that), but he likes how intimate it is to call you lovely, sweets, soft stuff like that. he does occasionally refer to you as his spouse, even when you’re not married, just because he likes to see your reaction.

azumane asahi — the CHEESIEST shit. it’s not even intentional he’s just like “i want to show them i love them” and then he trips halfway over his words and accidentally calls you pookiebear or snookiebug or, on one memorable occasion, sugarbaby. it happens embarrassingly often in public, too.

nishinoya yū — wifey/hubby!!! he’s ready to lock it down from the start. he’ll call you things like babe, your majesty, god, goddess, fairly often too, but wifey or hubby or just generally implying that you’re married is 100% his favorite.

tanaka ryūnosuke — switches it every single time. sunshine? gorgeous? hot stuff? sometimes you don’t even register that he’s addressing you because who the fuck is mcdreamy. he’ll notice the ones you like (or at least don’t find completely objectionable) and use those more often.

kageyama tobio — oh god. he’s trying. he is! but no matter how comfortable he is with you, he cannot do “smooth.” he addresses you by your name at all times. once you thought he called you sugar and briefly died of shock. it turns out he was just asking where the sugar was. he tries it again on special occasions.

hinata shoyo — PLEASE SOMEONE TELL HIM TO STOP TAKING ADVICE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE FUCKING WITH HIM. he’ll hear tanaka and nishinoya or, later, atsumu, using the most embarrassing nicknames on their partners and try them out on you. if you show even the slightest hint of liking the pet name, he’ll use it exclusively to refer to you for the next six months. good going, nutter butter baby.

tsukishima kei — you are so funny. he’s really just honestly not into that kind of thing, the same way he thought he wasn’t into pda. after a little bit of acclimatization, he realizes that he really likes holding your hand and kissing your cheek in public, and similarly, he eventually starts calling you honey or something snarkier and more personalized, especially if it’s an inside joke between you two. every time he does it his face turns bright red but he pushes through.

yamaguchi tadashi — HELLO the sweetest. definitely calls you all sorts of flower names? it’s probably something personalized and so so cheesy. he hasn’t called you by your real name since you started dating.

chikara ennoshita — pls he’s cute. only uses pet names when he’s speaking very close to your ear and his voice is very low yk? like it’s just for you. he doesn’t like it if other people hear. pretty, darling, angel.

kiyoko shimizu — i really can’t see her doing that tbh. blushes really pretty when you use pet names for her, though.

yachi hitoka  — she’s so overenthusiastic about it it’s adorable. she’ll refer to you by a nickname even to other people, like “peach said… right, peach?” you’re flustered. she realizes what she said. she’s flustered. everyone’s a little embarrassed.

ukai keishin — calls you mean things very affectionately. call him out on it and he’ll say “so you want me to sweet talk you?” all slow and deep, and suddenly your afternoon is gone. and he still calls you his idiotic little shit afterwards. 👎

tanaka saeko — definitely once drunkenly called you her little meow meow and now you use it all the time as a joke. ryū cannot stand to be around you two together.

NEKOMA

kuroo tetsurō — he’s an idiot so expect at least one “what’s cookin’, good lookin’?” paired with a smack on the ass every day (if you’re cool with it). he’s actually pretty 50/50 with using your real name or a pet name. a big fan of beloved, honestly.

morisuke yaku — movie references!!! he’ll call you princess or prince or sleeping beauty or stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerf herder. you get the gist. once he called you pennywise and that was not cute at all.

kozume kenma — babe, but like, mispronounced. beeb. babs. boob. your contact is “soulmate” in his phone, too.

haiba lev — sigh. kitten. kitty. he asked his seniors what good things to call your partner are and got the worst responses. once you asked him if there were any russian phrases that would be cute, but he just looked at you blankly like “i don’t know russian?? why” he doesn’t get it. also a lot of jokes with him.

JOHZENJI

terushima yuuji — it doesn’t matter. no matter what he says, it comes off as hot. he sometimes does references to movies or tv like yaku, and he’ll pout if you call him nerdy. keep your nicknames a little mean, like dork, asshole, motherfucker. he likes it.

AOBA JOHSAI

oikawa tooru — a menace. when you two were flirting, he called you by a lot of really sappy, embarrassing pet names, plus a few he came up with himself. however, he actually regards using your real name as a lot more intimate, so once you’re in a relationship, the teasing nicknames kind of go away. he really likes just saying your name for the sake of saying it, muttering to himself while you cuddle or whatever.

iwaizumi hajime — he’s so fucking basic it’s embarrassing. never deviates from baby. not even babe. admittedly after he moves to cali he starts using wifey/hubby, too, and he might even branch into prince/princess. it’s so mmgksndjkgbdhf but it’s okay because he’s hot and sexy and giant muscles and a good guy and perfect and

matsukawa issei — mfcker calls you babygirl, babyboy, etc all the time. he’ll call you that in public. he’ll call you that in front of your father. he did call you that in front of your father (or like a boss, or a professor, or someone similar) and you almost fainted from the blood rushing to your head. it’s not the most embarrassing pet name out there but there’s something in the way he says it. 🥴

hanamaki takahiro — he actually only calls you pet names in public to embarrass you. in private, he’s partial to pretty, gorgeous, handsome, but in public, you have to close your eyes and pretend you don’t know the guy yelling “hi, sugarlips!” at you from across the street. also idk he thinks puppy is cute ngl. i’d let him call me that 😔

[yioh]

hii yura, i've been reading kieta hatsukoi and bloom into you recently and because you sometimes post manga stuff that looks interesting i wanted to ask if you could recommend some other lovely stories? :) also no pressure to answer this <3

oh yes i can definitely do that !! ill try and separate them by genres <3

romance :

sasaki to miyano - a school life romance between 2 boys, miyano who is obsessed with all things bl and sasaki who is 1 year older then miyano and is absolutely smitten by him,, they basically become friends and miyano ends up lending a ton of bl manga to sasaki and their entire relationship is miyano babbling on about whatever new bl he read and sasaki just being . heart eyes af :’) also it’s important to know that the author said they don’t regard this manga itself as a bl, it’s just a romance that happens to be between 2 boys,, you’ll understand why as u read it but dkdhdkdj it’s so adorable and cute and pretty and also has a fun cast !!!! ( also getting an anime in 2022) but i think the best part of this manga is miyano’s self discovery and him thinking about his own relationship w his interest in bl, it’s super super interesting …

run away with me girl - this is basically a romance about a girl called maki, she’s a phd student who has no idea what she wants to do w life and is enduring her nagging mother constantly telling her to get married, and then comes in her first love from her student days misaki !!! the dreamy and free misaki who always had both of them running off somewhere to go on adventures, only she’s now pregnant and apparently getting married soon? this is a story about a girl who wants to run away from the world and her lover who will hold her hand and take her all across the universe if that’s what she wants … the art is so so so spectacular you must must MUST read this, it takes u away into a whole other world ….

i hear the sunspot - this manga centres around taichi, a financially struggling student who’s constantly looking for part time work because he keeps getting fired for his fiery loud personality, and kouhei, another student who has a hearing disability. the way it shows the 2 of them falling in love so slowly but surely just feels so real ??? and believable ?? and it also talks so much on what having that disability entails and how it affects how u treat the world and how the world treats you in turn, it’s a very very interesting read !!!! also once again the art is … gorgeous

still sick! - this manga takes place in a company where shimizu, competent member of staff who is looked up to by all her juniors, has a secret hobby of being into gl manga,, and she ends up getting discovered by maekawa, her coworker.. maekawa ends up wiggling her way into shimizu’s life and they both have the cutest and chaotic relationship and they both have the most Beautiful impact on each others life, growth and self discovery ?? it’s a story about finding your way in life you could say, w load of comedy and romance <333

kieta hatsukoi - a school life story that revolves around aoki and his 3 friends !!! aoki basically has a crush on hashimoto (the girl who sits next to him) and finds out that She has a crush on iida, and then (yes there’s more djskdhdk) iida somehow misinterprets and finds out that aoki has a crush on iida himself 😭 now this might sound like a super tiring storyline but it’s the most beautiful love triangle ( if you can call it that even) i’ve ever seen and i enjoyed every single page of it, all the characters are SO endearing and the friendships are so wholesome and the comedy and art style is amazing … overall good vibes and will make u smile sm just please please trust me on this one chsndjxksm it’s so good ….

fantasy :

witch hat atelier - tbh i don’t know how to describe this story in a way that can encompass completely everything it is about, but it’s probably one of the, if not the, best story i’ve ever read :))) it takes place in a world where magic exists, magic that can be accessed through the art of drawing ! coco, due to unfortunate accidents, ends up becoming a magic apprentice of a man named qifrey along with 3 other girls and it’s a story that revolves around … learning, the morals and ethics of magic, what kind of magic is evil and what kind is good? it had lowkey made me cry on certain parts, not because of sadness but it just … made me think in a way i have never before?? it told me things i never knew i wanted to be told and yeah it jdhzkxjxjz also it has the most ENDEARING cast and i love them all and their dynamic together, not to mention the art ??? THE ART !!!! look it up because hdjdkxjsks BREATHTAKING …. it’s a story that has children characters and treats them exactly how children are meant to be treated :’) it will make u very nostalgic of ur childhood hxksndk

jujutsu kaisen - ok we’ve all heard of this one but ima put it in anyways bec imo the manga is suuuch an amazing read and it’s defo worth it even if you’ve seen the anime :’) gege’s sketchy art style is amazing and all the fight scenes are so cool and the way the story weaves together is just *chefs kiss* also has some very amazing and heartbreaking character arcs !!!!!

chainsaw man - i honestly don’t know what to say about this at all …. as in …. you should read it 100% but there is no way i could ever describe this manga other than, please read this in its entirety with no context i swear to god it’s a … uh…. experience 😭😭😭😭😭 but yeah in general it’s an action/fantasy manga and has some very complex storytelling !! :)

[thevolleyballidiots]

What your Haikyuu!! crush says about you: Karasuno Edition

Just a quick note before we start, this is primarily meant as a comedic exercise, so don't take anything herein too seriously. All right, let's get started!

Shoyo Hinata: You love enthusiasm, and Hinata's unabashed enthusiasm for all things volleyball makes you smile. He's kind, energetic, athletic yet kind of clumsy, and generally is high on the happy. You love that about him, yet, you also love that he can go stone cold serious in the blink of an eye, and that intimidating side to him is also something that is attractive to you.

Tobio Kageyama: Did somebody say beautiful broody boys who are bad at feelings? You have a type, and you know it. Don't try and deny it.

Tadashi Yamaguchi: You think his clinginess is endearing, and if he paid the same level of attention to you as he does to Tsukishima, you might actually die. You may also have self-confidence issues, and seeing Yamaguchi overcome his own struggles in that regard has made him the height of cool to you. You also dig freckles.

Kei Tsukishima: You eat, sleep, and breathe salt. You dig smug jerks with a hear t of gold packed in so much salt it might as well be fast food. You want him to act smugly towards you. If necessary, you would choose to wear glasses because you think they are attractive.

Koshi Sugawara: You are an enabler, and you find sass very attractive. You want a partner who will ensure you are taking care of yourself when you are stressed. You want someone who will give you tea, in both senses of the word.

Daichi Sawamura: You like nice guys who are stable and dependable. You've been told your romantic tastes are boring before. You both love it and hate it whenever someone makes a 'Tanaka, Nice Kill!' joke.

Asahi Azumane: You own one of those giant teddy bears don't you?

Yu Nishinoya: You would die for this chaotic short king. This man exudes pure charisma and you are here for it.

Ryunoske Tanaka: Hair is not an essential part of your ideal man. You value loyalty in a partner, and you can't help but feel a little jealous of Shimizu.

Chikara Ennoshita: You live for his few episodes in the spotlight. You are often thrust into leadership roles despite your complete lack of confidence in your leadership skills. David Bowie's Under Pressure is your favorite song because it speaks to your soul.

Hisashi Kinoshita: I'm fairly sure you're a mythical creature of some kind, only rumored to exist in old wives' tales and the like.

Kazuhito Narita: You only like him because of the stage play. Either that, or you just wanted Tanaka without the widow's peak.

Kyoko Shimizu: Noya and Tanaka are out for your blood. Run!

Hitoka Yachi: You have a thing for characters with anxious tendencies. You have been cast as villager b in a play before.

Couch Ukai: His singing voice is very attractive to you.

Takeda Sensei: You can relate. And to be honest, who doesn't?

[krsnbgirl]

Fly High! || Kageyama x Fem!Reader || Part 2

Summary: Still reeling over what had happened the week before, you look back at how your daily life at Karasuno immediately changed for the better. Nishinoya also comes to ask you for a favor that helps you grow closer to the weird quick duo after school. The boys also learn more about your past from middle school.

Pairing: Kageyama Tobio x Fem!Reader

Genre: Rom-Com, Slice of Life, Sports

Word Count: ~3.1k

Warnings: Slight swearing, smoking (for Ukai), Signs of Anxiety from Reader, Timeline heavily based on the anime

Author’s Note: And here is part two of the series! I hope you guys enjoy it! Thank you to anyone that has interacted with the first part :) Taglist is still open if any of you would like to be a part of it! Also crossed posted on AO3! xoxo, Ren  ❤

Taglist: @misnmatchedsox​

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Masterlist

It’s been a week since the boys caught you doing a serve in the gym and a distraught look could be seen on your face as you made your way to the rooftop during one of your breaks. The boys began to try and convince you to become their manager even more ever since that practice. Tanaka would always call you their manager, a hopeful glint in his eyes, in the midst of his jokes. Hinata would try to bug you whenever he bumped into you in the hallways with Kageyama being dragged behind him. Then there was also Yamaguchi who would just give you a smile while Tsukishima would give you snide remarks whenever they passed your desk to sit at the back of the classroom. You sighed as your daily life at school was becoming more filled with the different presences of the boy’s volleyball team. It was nice finally getting to see the boys that Nishinoya always talked about, but you heavily underestimated the chaotic energy they brought with them. Escaping to the rooftop had become more of a daily thing for you so you could take a moment to breathe. You rested your arms on top of the railing as your mind flashed back to the moments right after you served the ball.

The boys gaped at you as Hinata began his typical rambling after seeing something amazing with Nishinoya and Tanaka closely behind him with proud smiles. Sugawara, Daichi, and Asahi shared a look before smiling to themselves and giving a thumbs up to Shimizu. The second and third years were aware of your situation with volleyball because you used to frequently appear at their games when Nishinoya, Tanaka, Ennoshita, and the others were first years. The team had found out that you used to play volleyball when Nishinoya mentioned that he was going to attend one of your matches as his weekend plan. You were similar to Nishinoya on the court and a lot of people at Chidoriyama used to call you two  ‘The Yin and Yang Twins.’ Nishinoya was always the hyper one but quiet on the court meanwhile you were the more composed one but very hyper on the court. They were all there when you got injured and watched your downfall. All of them tried their best to be there for you, but the players knew how devastating it was to have one’s ACL tear. It’s one of the worst injuries to have and the hardest to come back from depending on the degree it got injured. Unfortunately for you, it was the degree that had to be taken with caution and the healing process was a lot longer. 

So once the boys gave up on finding Kageyama and Hinata on their jog, they decided to return and Nishinoya was the first to come back. He noticed right away the look in your eyes and looked to his side to find the rest of the team approaching. Motioning them to stay quiet, he pointed towards you and they all crowded by the entrance. As they watched you serve the ball, those that were by your side and respected your space felt a warm feeling spread across their chests. This could be your time to finally realize your worth once more. Before they knew it, they all surrounded you and complimented you on the serve.

You ruffled your hair in frustration as you looked over the school grounds to find Hinata and Sugawara practicing at the gym’s entryway. You noticed Kageyama walking towards the vending machine near them and pressing the buttons to get his drink. A chuckle escaped your lips as you watched a couple of students get scared of his presence. You shook your head in amusement and raised an eyebrow once you noticed a soft expression on his face as he enjoyed his drink. ‘So he does have a soft side to him…’ you thought to yourself as your eyes followed him.

“(Y/N)-chan~” 

“Oh, Yu-nii, did you need anything?” you asked as Nishinoya joined you by the railings and he shrugged. 

“I just wanted to check up on you after everything that’s happened.” he asked and looked at you from the corner of his eye. 

You gave him a scrutinizing look because he typically checks in on you like this if he needs something. He’d usually just try to tease you or joke around with you when he knows that something is troubling you or waits until you come to him. Besides, he already scolded you on your way home about being more careful with your knee since you haven’t been conditioning lately and skipped more than one appointment with your physical therapist.

“Liar, you need something from me.” 

Nishinoya laughed out loud and smiled at you. “You know me too well, (Y/N)-chan.” 

Turning your attention fully onto Nishinoya, you waited for him to speak. He rubbed his neck sheepishly and said, “Daichi said that we needed to pass our exams in order for us to go to Tokyo for training. If we fail, the supplementary exams fall on the day that we leave.” 

“Yu-nii, I can’t help you with your studying. I’ve tried and can be a lost cause sometimes.” you sighed.

He winced at your bluntness but knew he had it coming. You were always the more studious one and had to always make sure he concentrated on homework whenever he came over. But in this case, he already had the third years and Ennoshita whipping him into shape during their after school sessions. But seeing the first years struggle and being the amazing upperclassman he was, Nishinoya wanted to give his beloved underclassmen some help. 

“It’s not for me, (Y/N)-chan. If you think Tanaka and I are stupid, Kageyama and Hinata are struggling more than us.” 

You couldn’t believe what came out of Nishinoya’s mouth and you burst out laughing. “W-Wait, are you saying that Kageyama-san isn’t smart? But he looks like he has good grades!” 

“That’s what we thought too but I guess he’s only smart when it comes to volleyball.” Nishinoya pouted. 

You couldn’t stop imagining Kageyama failing at regular school work because he just gave off that impression that he had some common knowledge in him. With Hinata, you had a good feeling that he wouldn’t be that smart since it looked like volleyball was the only thing on his mind. But it was a good surprise to you to find out that Kageyama was just as bad because it proved to you that you shouldn’t have assumed in the first place. It did give you some amusing thoughts though. Crossing your arms, you looked at your best friend as he rubbed his hands together and bowed slightly towards you.

“Please, I’m begging you (Y/N)-chan, please help Kageyama and Hinata! We need them to be there with us! I’ll even buy you lunch for a week straight because you helped them!” 

With such a good offering, you smirked to yourself and ruffled his hair. “Alright Yu-nii, I’ll go help them.” 

You could see his eyes immediately light up and was about to go hug you when you held your hand up to him. 

“But, they have to come and ask me for help first.” 

Nishinoya cheered before hugging you tightly, thanking you a million times before darting off to tell them the good news. You shook your head in amusement and gathered your things to head back to your classroom and get a jump start on your homework in order to help the team’s newfound duo. 

------

The lunch bell finally rang and you mindlessly sipped on your carton of juice that you got during the previous break. You weren’t sure if the boys were going to come to you that day since Nishinoya never texted you back after the conversation on the roof. Listening to your stomach, you considered dropping by the shop that Coach Ukai ran for some snacks and a meat bun. You frowned to yourself as you realized that Coach Ukai still wanted to talk to you about your volleyball history. The grip on your juice carton slightly tightened and your other hand began to tap your desk as you thought about the questions he was going to ask. With a sigh, you shook your head to try and clear the questions and assumptions racing through your mind. You were snapped out of your thoughts when you heard your name being called and looked over to see Hinata and Kageyama walking into your classroom. You smiled at them and waved them over. The look of determination was evident on their faces as they stood in front of your desk and you couldn’t help but find their dedication towards the sport endearing. 

“Hey (L/N)-san!” Hinata greeted you happily and Kageyama met your eyes as he nodded at you and said, “Hey.” 

You held his gaze and greeted them back. Kageyama’s eyes widened slightly, surprised that someone was able to hold his gaze like that outside of practice, and looked outside the window. You smiled to yourself and turned your attention towards Hinata who asked you a question. You laughed to yourself because seeing Kageyama be so awkward outside of the gym was a cute sight to see.

“(L/N)-san, do you like studying?” 

You looked up in thought before shrugging. “I don’t hate it…” 

With a hopeful look on his face, Hinata held out his notebook and asked, “Could you teach me this English?” He tugged on Kageyama’s shirt too and continued to say, “You should ask her, too, Kageyama!” 

You looked back to the quiet setter who stuffed his hands in his pocket and you met gazes once more. “Please teach us.” 

Hinata continued to try and convince you as he stepped forward and said, “If we fail any tests next month, we won’t be able to go to the Tokyo away games, so we’ve been having the tall guy with glasses named Tsukishima help us...But lately, he’s getting irritated because Kageyama and I are so stupid.”  

“I’m not scared of him.” Kageyama snorted, glaring at Hinata.

“But it’d be better for someone to teach us nicely!” Hinata huffed.

You couldn’t stop yourself from letting out a soft chuckle, holding your hand to your face to cover your reaction. “You guys are really too much. I didn’t think you guys would be struggling this much.” 

Kageyama felt an unfamiliar burning on his cheeks as he noticed your cute expression and shook his head to get rid of any unnecessary thoughts. He couldn’t get his focus messed up now, even if you did catch his interest. He didn’t need any distractions but a small part of him wanted to do something to keep seeing similar reactions from you.

Giving both of them a warm smile, you gestured towards your desk and said, “If I’m good enough-” 

“Really?!” Hinata excitedly asked. 

You pursed your lips as you let them know what you were thinking, “But I wonder if I’ll be able to teach in a nicer way than Tsukishima...I used to get really strict when I helped Yu-nii with his homework.”  

Both of them shook their heads simultaneously as Hinata reassured you, “You definitely don’t need to worry about that.” 

“Well, then shall we get started?” You smiled as you clapped your hands together and opened up your notebook. 

As the study session took place, you simplified what was being taught to them in a way the two would understand it. If what Nishinoya told you was true, then the way that you outlined things would be easy enough to teach to them. 

“I see! Wow!” Hinata exclaimed as you explained the construction of an English sentence to him. 

You rubbed her your sheepishly and shrugged. “Oh, it’s nothing..”

“Your notebook’s really easy to look at, (LN)-san. You’re great at drawing too.” Hinata commented when he noticed the small doodles that covered the sides and corners of your notes.

“Ah well, when I was on a break I suddenly got into drawing and I typically try to be the best in everything I get into so I guess it’s from my perfectionist side.” you sheepishly replied before pointing at Hinata’s notes. “Oh, if you leave a space here, it’ll be easier to fill in later. Also, if you limit the number of colors you use, it won’t get confusing.” 

Kageyama watched as you bit off the cap of your pen and began to write guides on Hinata’s notebook. He wasn’t much of a talker, but he was grateful for you being willing enough to help them. There was something about you that helped calm down his nerves as you taught them their class’s material. He didn’t feel as competitive or stressed when they studied with Tsukishima and Yamaguchi. You were encouraging but knew when to be strict with them. As he quietly took down his notes, Kageyama listened in on your conversation as you and Hinata talked about his dislike for studying and how he’s just trying really hard to get to Tokyo. 

You were amazed at Hinata’s passion and was surprised to also find Kageyama chiming in on the conversation when Nekoma High was brought up. She vaguely remembered Nishinoya complaining about Nekoma one time so she assumed they were pretty strong opponents and now friends off the court. Especially if Kageyama mentioned that there was someone as good as Nishinoya on their team. It reminded you that you should check up on your friends from that school and filtered a mental note to do so once she got home. You lost contact with them for a bit during your rut and since volleyball was starting to make a comeback in your life, it was a good idea to check up on a childhood friend. 

Resting your chin on your palm as the two boys got lost in their own banter, you began to think about going to their games more. Nishinoya had been trying to get you to come back to their games but then he got suspended after his scuffle with Asahi. You mentally sighed and realized you had been so caught up with your own problems, you fell short on supporting your best friend. If anything, you should be thankful for Nishinoya introducing you to his new friends at Karasuno. With your budding relations with the current team, you were able to make new friendships with classmates you never noticed before. Your eyes unconsciously went towards Kageyama and you began to admire his features as he continued to talk to Hinata. You hated to admit it but now looking up close with him off the court, Kageyama was quite attractive. It was funny to you because people often got scared of him, but all you saw was a socially awkward guy. Also having grown close to the second and third years, you saw those boys as older brothers so none of them had gotten your attention when you got to know them. It didn’t help that Nishinoya would try to get in on your business to see if he could play cupid between you and a member of his. That idea didn’t sit right with you in the beginning but now, you might just be open to it. 

“So, (L/N)-san, did you used to play volleyball?” 

You sighed as you knew that this question was going to be brought up sooner or later after they saw you serve. 

“I’m pretty sure Yu-nii has already told you guys this, but we went to the same middle school together. He was the libero for the boy’s team and I was the wing spiker and pinch server for the girl’s team. Our school called us ‘The Yin and Yang Twins’ because of how our personalities switched in and out of the court.” 

The boys noticed your eyes softened as you remembered your days playing the sport that they loved and Kageyama couldn’t help but ask, “How come you stopped?” 

“I tore my ACL during my final match.” 

They winced trying to imagine how that went down and you shrugged. Kageyama couldn’t help but blame himself for making you remember something that terrible and murmured, “Sorry, I didn’t know.” 

You shook your head dismissively and looked down to play with your hands. “It’s okay. To be honest, taking time off to heal has opened my eyes a lot. I just don’t know if I’ll ever be fine to properly play again.” 

“Have you tried to give yourself that chance?” Hinata asked.     

You looked up to find Hinata smiling down at you as he stood up from his seat, palms resting on top of your desk. “I know that there are times where things seem to be impossible. I’ve had those thoughts for the longest time, but giving myself a chance to try things out and see where it goes has gotten me to where I am now. A lot of people underestimate me for being small and even if I’m not big, I can fly.” 

Your eyes widened as you saw the look in Hinata’s eyes. His words had an impact on you and you sat back in your chair, your mind going back to your serve. Kageyama noticed the thoughtful look on your face and understood that you needed your space for the time being. 

“Hinata, don’t you need to copy this down?” Kageyama asked to divert Hinata’s attention from you.

You looked out the window as Hinata sat down, continuing to write down his notes. While doing so, he began to ramble about volleyball again and while listening, you mindlessly said, “Then you’re like the Little Giant of the team, Hinata.” 

Kageyama sighed as Hinata got amped up again just by hearing the nickname he respected so much and then met your gaze. It was asking for him to help you calm him down so that you could all wrap up the study session. Turning his attention back to his notes, Kageyama continued to write down what he needed to know. 

“Hey, Little Giant that’s not gonna make it to Tokyo, hurry up and copy this.” 

Once the two finished copying down your notes and finally understanding some of the material, you agreed to continue to tutor them. You walked them to the hallway and the both of them thanked you once more before bumping into Nishinoya who held up your lunch in the air on the way back to their classroom. 

“I hope she’s been treating you well, boys!” Nishinoya greeted his underclassmen before walking up to you. 

Kageyama couldn’t help but turn around and watch as you gave Nishinoya a bright smile and hug. An unfamiliar feeling crept inside of him as he grew irritated for some unknown reason. He clicked his tongue and tried his best to forget about the part of him wishing that you would greet him like that in the near future.

[fishiegil]

Shoyo is so cute! This wasn’t a request, I simply had the incessant need to write for him. A word of warning: this is long as hell. 😂 -♓︎

Imagine: Being Shoyo Hinata’s five-foot-ten girlfriend.

You’re his kind giant, he’s your small bundle of energy.

Being in a relationship with Shoyo is an adventure. He’s talkative and optimistic, and just a tad chaotic, and that’s okay; you have your ways of keeping him grounded. You’re cool as a cucumber, very down-to-earth, and responsible. Your voice is also quite hushed, which is a great contrast to your boyfriend that talks in all capital letters.

This boy is constantly high-strung and bouncing off the walls whenever you see him. You’re on high alert when you know he’s in the area.

Shoyo somehow has even more of a spring in his step now that he’s with you. For starters, you’re REALLY pretty. Sure, your height is what caught his attention, but in addition, he finds you’re also very easy to talk to. He likes you instantly. When you start dating, he has a mental and physical breakdown trying to initiate your first kiss. Not to worry Sho, she’s got it covered. ;)

He also starts drinking milk more to try and grow taller in efforts to impress you.

You’re both high-schoolers who aren’t financially stable just yet, so fancy-shmancy dates are out of the question. That is, of course, unless you or Shoyo absolutely insist on at least one very nice dinner. But you have no complaints whatsoever if he just wants to grab a bunch of meat buns and call it a day.

Speaking of which, this is how Ukai finds out about your relationship. One late night as he’s supposed to be locking up shop, he sees Hinata in the back of the store, playing peek-a-boo with someone on the other side of a large shelf. He can’t see you, but he can hear your gleeful giggles.

He honestly thinks it’s sort of cute, but has to tell you kiddos to leave eventually. He watches as you two finally frolic through those doors, hand-in-hand, with assortments of buns in your free arms. Behind you, Ukai smiles, happy for Hinata.

Not long after, for the first time ever, you’re officially introduced to the volleyball team by Shoyo as his girlfriend, which he’s extremely excited about!

“She is not.”

“Quit lyin’, ya little punk! She’s WAY too cute for you!”

Honestly, it kind of irks you that they think he’s lying. Shoyo starts to sulk, but you don’t let him finish, and when you pull him in for a sweet kiss, you can physically hear the team’s jaws collectively drop.

“HOW IN THE ACTUAL HELL.”

Later on, you discover that they are a band of misfits, but they’re great people! Your favorite person on your boyfriend’s volleyball team (other than your boyfriend himself, that is) is Tadashi Yamaguchi. He’s a total sweetie and his freckles are just the most adorable little things! Kei Tsukishima is actually rather polite to you, and his quips and sarcasm make you giggle, when they aren’t directed at Shoyo. Kiyoko Shimizu and Yachi Hitoka are nice. Hitoka is SUPER intimidated by your height in the beginning, until she realizes that you’re another gentle giant, like Asahi Azumane.

You actually end up hanging around the team so much, that Ukai dubs you an unofficial Karasuno cheerleader. Shoyo thinks Tanaka and Nishinoya are getting carried away with this concept, as he watches them try to convince you and the other girls to make coordinating outfits.

You gift Shoyo multiple nicknames, and while he finds them endearing, everyone around him finds it laughable.

Some of your favorites include Tiny Giant, Muffin, Pipsqueak, Tinkerbell, Pun’kin, Reese’s Pieces, Bitesize, Knee-high, Low Rider, Nugget, Gremlin, Sparky, Munchkin, Shortcake, Little Trouble, and Twinkle Toes. The most frequently used are Muffin, Shortcake, and Nugget. If you use Little Trouble, his matching nickname for you is Big Trouble.

You called him Apple once, and when he asked why, your response was because his cheeks were just as small and just as sweet as them. Said cheeks and his ears were red for, like, an hour afterwards. Now, you call him that to make him bashful. It always works.

Twinkle Toes is reserved for when you’re ticked at him.

“Ex-cuse me, Twinkle Toes.”

Shoyo is not afraid to get verbally aggressive if someone comments about his own stature, so he’s protective for the both of you. If anyone says something even remotely out of line about your height, they should prepare to have their ankles promptly bitten off.

Shoyo’s only bothered that you’re so much taller than him because his height complex makes him believe that he isn’t enough... person, for you. He thinks, at first, that you’d be better off with someone your height or above. It makes you sad to hear, but you know it’s because of his feelings of inferiority. To chase that negativity away, you pile praises on different aspects of him; his bright, fluffy hair, his little nose, his squishy baby cheeks, they’re all fair game.

He returns the favor by assuring you that your long legs and torso make it easier for him to hug you around your hips or your tummy. He’s cute like that.

He’s too embarassed to say this part to your face, but he thinks your long legs make you look hot.

You yourself don’t have a mean bone in your body. HOWEVER, if some mindless ninny dares to demean YOUR boyfriend about his ADORABLE height in your earshot? They’re asking for it. If they want a fight, they will get one! Not a physical one, but your tone bites when you address this brainless idiot and totally POP their inflated ego.

You absolutely get hit on by other teams at Shoyo’s games. For the most part, you’re good at blocking them out when they try to ask for a date, until Shoyo pops into your line of vision and you wave him over with a brimming smile. Who has hit on you, you ask?

From Nekoma, Tetsuro Kuroo and Lev Haiba wink every few seconds at you in the bleachers. If Shoyo’s looks could kill, they’d be piles of mush on the court. When that game is over, Lev is already halfway across the court and standing in front of you. You see your little boyfriend getting pouty in the background, so you stand up, acknowledge... whatever the hell Lev said, and skip over to your Muffin and give him his well-deserved winner’s kiss.

From Fukurodani, take a wild guess, it’s Kotaro Bokuto! But he’s so friendly, respects Shoyo a lot, and the feeling is mutual, so you can’t get mad at him. He’ll still flirt with you, but it’s all in good fun.

Yuji Terushima from Johjenzi High is not debatable. He WILL flirt with you and he does NOT care if Shoyo gets pissy about it. It actually starts to frighten you how pushy he is, so Tanaka and Nishinoya come to your rescue! You hold Shoyo like a protective blanket the whole bus ride home.

And finally... sigh. Toru Oikawa, no questions there. You don’t hate the guy (much), but you could have lived a much happier life thinking he didn’t exist. He’s cocky and childish. You spot him one time before a game, outside the gym and surrounded by girls. This is the first red flag. The second is when you can clearly hear him bashing on not only Shoyo by himself, but the team as a whole. And the the third...

Shoyo is literally right there when Oikawa strolls up to you. He calls you beautiful, asks you on a date, yada-yada, and then this happens:

“Back off, man. She’s not interested.”

“Oh what, like she’d be into the kid she babysits?”

The pure, unadulterated HATRED you look at him with right then might as well have melted his head from his shoulders. Legitimate fear crawls over his skin when you say, very clearly:

“Stay the hell away from me.”

In the background, Tanaka, Nishinoya, and Oikawa’s own team are positively DYING of laughter. Ukai has to slap a hand over his face so no one can hear his snickering. Shoyo thinks: Score!

Shoyo can get a li’l nosey, and it’s true that his volleyball schedule can take away precious time for you to spend with your Muffin. But you love him and love watching him succeed, so you deal.

Shoyo isn’t the most desirable boyfriend candidate and he knows it. Even so, he does do his best to remind you every day that he cares, and even if they’re just little things, you appreciate them all the same. His best is always good enough for you.

You’re just two dumb kids in love.

[bokutokoutarou]

congrats on 1k love! may i get a matchup? 3rd years, any school preferred! 5'3" bi girl. I’d say I’m curious, open-minded, analytical & talkative (I can talk for hours if not stopped hh). i enjoy learning new things (so long as I’m not being graded on it bc Oh Boy do I procrastinate!) I try my best to be a good friend, & to prioritise compassion & patience. I’d like to think I’m creative (I love to write!) but, i tend to overthink & catastrophise bc ANXIETY. I can also be a bit sensitive (1/2)✨

i’m also prone to feeling down, but I’m working on it! i’m trying my hardest to be optimistic. my sense of humour is pretty “adaptable,” but it errs on the side of absurd (i can be a bit of a goblin sometimes). v affectionate w loved ones! my interests are varied, but if I had to pick a few it’d be anthropology, history and mythology/folklore. other than writing, i enjoy reading (when I can commit to a book). friendship is v important to me, & i have a lot of love to give. thank you sm! (2/2)✨

aaah tysm babie! i hope u like ur matchups

side note: this was sent in during my temporary 1k event. matchups are closed unless i hold another event for them

your first mini matchup is...

SUGAWARA KOUSHI

A WHOLE GOBLIN COUPLE AGSHSHSH

suga’s the perfect mix of an adorable and caring bean + a chaotic disaster, and his personality would mesh really well w/ urs

suga loves showing affection just like u do, so prepare to be SHOWERED with his love because he honestly has so much of it to give

he’d pull u into a hug every time he sees u, and he’d press small and gentle kisses to ur forehead as he asks u how your day was

also, just IMAGINE cuddles w/ suga aaah they’d be so precious and soft

of course, despite how adorable suga is, he’s also a goblin and he’d highkey LOVE ur absurd sense of humour

u two would both be so chaotic with each other, and just IMAGINE all the inside jokes that u two would have (no one could understand them even if they tried to bc they’re so absurd and random)

the whole team would think that u turned suga into a goblin, but he has always been one — it’s just that now he has someone to be one with: you

also, i feel like u’d highkey get suga interested in mythology and folklore. at first u just brought it up randomly one day when u were talking, but then he pestered u into telling him more stories and legends and now it’s just a regular thing u two talk about

and he totally thinks it’s ADORABLE to see ur eyes light up in excitement whenever u talk about it aaaah

whenever ur feeling down or are anxious about smth, suga is legit the BEST person to calm u down

he’d play w/ ur hair and hold u in his arms, telling u that everything will be alright in the end and that he loves u more than anything else in the world

honestly, suga would treat u like a queen and u CANNOT convince me otherwise

your second mini matchup is...

KIYOKO SHIMIZU

urs and kiyoko’s personalities would balance each other’s out really well, and ur relationship would be literally perfect bc of it

ur really talkative and would get kiyoko to open up more, and ur the only person who can make her talk for hours on end

at first, tanaka and noya would LOVE u so much for making kiyoko talk more, but then they realized that u two were dating when u pulled her in for a kiss, and they died inside bc they were so jealous

although kiyoko will NEVER admit it, she finds ur chaotic “goblin” energy extremely endearing

ur sense of humour doesn’t make a lot of sense to her, but she finds it hilarious when u get riled up over the most absurd things

plus, she thinks it’s absolutely adorable when u laugh ahsjsjsjjsjsj

on the other hand, kiyoko’s the perfect person to help u when life gets difficult

if ur ever really anxious about smth or just need advice, KIYOKO’S GOT U SET

she literally gives the best advice and u CANNOT tell me otherwise. if ur ever catastrophising, she’ll assure u that things aren’t as bad as they seem, and she’ll give u all the support that u need to get through it

also, procrastination who? kiyoko’s not leaving ur side until ALL ur work is done, and she’ll encourage u and help u with it as much as she needs to

PLS LET HER READ UR WRITING! she’ll so invested in the plotlines and she’ll talk to u for hours about ur works in progress

and if u ever need an editor, kiyoko is DOWN to help u out!!!

kiyoko’s very intuitive, so she’ll pull u in for an unexpected hug if ur feeling down, and she’ll give u a soft kiss on the cheek to remind u that she’ll always be there for u when u need her

ahhshsjsjs i’m so soft for kiyoko help me

[washing-machine-headcannons]

could i please get a haikyuu matchup? i’m a 5'3" bi girl. i’m curious, pretty open-minded & enjoy learning new things. i try my best to be a good friend, as well as a decent conversationalist & listener. i’d say i’m extroverted, but i come off as quite reserved at first. i’m patient & affectionate with my loved ones, & usually compassionate. but i can be indecisive, sensitive & prone to catastrophizing. i have a tendency to overthink, & i’m very talkative; i also love analyzing things!! ���(½)

my sense of humour can be quite flexible, but i think “chaos goblin” is the best way to describe it? i’ve been described as a “mixed bag of human”. i’m majoring in anthropology, but my other interests include history, mythology/folklore & writing (when i’m not procrastinating/being lazy akfjdkj). i can be prone to melancholy, but i try not to take life too seriously. all in all, i just have a lot of love to give, & i really don’t shut up. thank you so so much!! 🦋 (2/2)

So... I may have gone a little overbored and did two people for your matchup! I hope you don’t mind! ack, i’m nervous.

♥ Kiyoko Shimizu ♥

↪  Kiyoko's personality would be absolutely excellent and adorable with yours! Her more calm and quiet outlook on life would combat your extroverted personality in the best way. You would surely bring out a lively side to her.

↪ Your catastrophizing would be easily calmed by the rational black-haired female. She would talk you through what you're concerned about, convincing you that it won't happen or won't be as bad as you think it is. While you're anxious she'll run her fingers through your hair and press herself close up next to you.

↪ The constant talking may annoy some people but Kiyoko absolutely adores it. She doesn't always have something to say so the fact that you talk a lot makes her at ease. When you prompt her to talk she will happily do so.

↪ Whenever you bring your writing to her, Kiyoko will read every word with extreme interest. The way you put your words together makes her extremely immersed in the story. Write her a letter or some sort of poem and she may just start to cry.

↪ Kiyoko will occasionally use pet names while in private such as, "Darling" or "Hun". She won't use these in public unless you're comfortable with it. During high school, it will mostly stay to when you both are by yourselves or talking on the phone. Once highschool has finished she will get more confident with calling you these in public.

↪ If you were to ever start ranting about history, she would be very entertained seeing as she also finds it fascinating.

↪ Overall your relationship would be very sweet and gentle. The occasional teasing and neverending laughs make it something worth looking forward to.

                    🐱 Kuroo Tetsurō 🐱

↪ Kuroo is known to be quite the pun master along with being a giant tease. One of his favourite activities is teasing you on your height and your tendency to overthink things. It may seem like he's doing it to be mean sometimes but that really isn't his intention. You being quite patient would be a good thing for him, you would be able to handle his comments.

↪ If he had ever overstepped your boundries he would be very quick to apologize and try to make it up to you. He would never hurt you or your feelings on purpose.

↪ At first, Kuroo will seem quite annoying, being a "cool" and "scheming" person but later on, you'll get to see how silly he truly is. He would understand why you're quiet at first, determined to get you to open up your more extroverted side with time. You both could be capable of some pretty stupid stuff.

↪ Kuroo has a variety of names for you, such as; Worry Wort, Shorty, Gremlin and Troll. Those at least are some of the more playful names but there are more intimate ones as well. Kitten, Dolly and Sweets are just a few that are used in a more endearing manner.

↪ The fact that you enjoy history and learning new things is a bonus for Kuroo since he's quite intelligent. His intellect is displayed multiple times, being in college preparatory classes and knowing some complex scientific definitions. It may seem like he's not listening sometimes but in reality, he's very interested in what you're saying.

↪ Kuroo is quite open to PDA [public display of affection], he loves to hold your hand or have an arm wrapped around you. If you're open to it he'll always have you like that. He is very touchy so expect lots of kisses and hugs when around people and in private.

↪ Due to his height, Kuroo can and will rest his chin on your head just because he wants to. He'll have a shit-eating grin while he does it as well, the more it annoys you the better.

↪ If you start to get worried about something, a lot like Kiyoko, he'll reason with you. He'll talk you through it and crack a few jokes, none that may hurt your feelings though. He is very observant and can easily tell when you're upset or not in the right headspace.

↪ Your relationship would be filled with lots of dumb moments and laughs, that is a guarantee. Not to mention the cuddles, annoying his teammates and teasing each other.

[spring-emerald]

we love our bread, we love our butter

But most of all we love each other

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAICHI!! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!!  °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

“My, my,” Kuroo backs away in time to avoid Daichi’s arm that flailed on instinct upon being startled.

Daichi sighs deeply in relief upon seeing the peach brioche still in his hand and more importantly, still intact. “You almost made me drop my bread,” he whispers to Kuroo with a frown.

“What’s the guest of honor of tonight’s ball,” Kuroo leans closer, watching as Daichi gingerly wraps said bread in tissue paper and carefully puts it inside a drawstring bag, “is doing with a bag, stealing breads?”

“It’s not a bag, it’s a purse,” Daichi replies, emphasizing the difference that Yui imprinted on him earlier, primly. “And lay off of me,” he continues with a huff and pout that amused Kuroo. “My last meal was breakfast. And some guest of honor I am that they actually forgot to feed me lunch and won’t even let me have my dinner in peace.”

Kuroo chuckles softly. Daichi tends to get mumbly and rant whenever he doesn’t get enough food on him. “What travesty,” he nods emphatically. “How did you get away, anyway?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

Kuroo hums in affirmative. “I can keep you too, if you like.”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

Daichi looks at him. “Do you have another purse where I can stow away more of these baked goods?”

Kuroo blinks. “…No,” Daichi deflates. “Though I think I have the next best thing,” Kuroo continues and Daichi looks at him, hopeful.

He unbuttons his suit and opens one side and shows off a secret pocket, considerably roomy enough to fit a fist in. Which means that it’s roomy enough to fit a small piece of pastry. “Thank god Alisa-san always listens to my requests.”

She does, begrudgingly, at least on only one and not before giving Kuroo a stern lecture about properly wearing suits and how a secret pocket this big would ruin the fit should he put something inside, ‘so please avoid it at all costs’. Thankfully, Kuroo always looks good, whether he’s got the suit buttoned up or not. Formalities for the night are done already anyway and they are somehow well away from the distinguished guests, so he can definitely wear it loose.

“I’ve no such luck with Suga,” Daichi laments softly, motioning Kuroo to get some of the colorful macarons from a platter nearby.

“So?”

Daichi finishes wrapping yet another brioche, a blueberry this time, before facing Kuroo again. “The twins,” he says simply.

Kuroo raises his brows, impressed at the audacity. “Is that why they’re acting up?”

Haruki and Harumi are both generally polite and well-disciplined, but tonight of all nights, they had been rather ‘rowdy’, in a subtle but demanding kind of way. Thankfully, the guests find it endearing because they got their cherub faces and doe-eyes working to their advantage, though he can’t say the same for the twin look of exasperation Ennoshita and Shimizu both are wearing, last he’d seen them.

“It’s what I asked for my birthday, you see. Nothing fancy, just a little distraction that will allow me to escape without notice.”

“They’re doing a good job.” Because Daichi’s still here, successfully stuffing his bag-oh sorry-his purse, with bread. Kuroo gets a few butter packets, just to be on the safe side.

“I’m good,” Daichi grins up at him and pulls at the drawstrings but not quite closing the purse, lest it deforms the topmost bread.

“Me too,” Kuroo lightly pats on top of a noticeable bulge in his suit,

-----

“So,” Kuroo dusts his hands off of the powdered sugar, “now that you’ve come-of-age, what’s next for the Crown Prince?” He leans back and drapes an arm on the bench.

Daichi finishes the mango macaron before replying. “More lessons on how to be a proper royal, that’s for sure.”

Kuroo snorts softly, then reaches out and wipes some crumbs off Daichi’s cheeks, receiving a soft thank you for his efforts. “That’s a given. Anything else?”

“Well,” Daichi’s eyes flicker at Kuroo’s face. “Engagement is probably going to be on the table.”

Kuroo smiles at that. “Yeah?”

Daichi rolls his eyes but sidles up close to Kuroo and rests his head on the space between Kuroo’s neck and shoulder. Kuroo’s hands automatically drape over Daichi’s own, pulling him even closer. “Someone’s very eager to ask your hand for marriage, I heard.”

“I know.” It’s Daichi’s turn to smile.

“How soon can he ask the King and Queen’s blessings?”

“Not this week, definitely. This party exhausted me and I don’t think I’m ready for another grand one anytime soon.” Daichi puts a hand on Kuroo’s chest and looks up at him hesitantly. “You can still wait for a few more days, right?”

Kuroo looks down on him, fondly, the yellow light from the nearby light-post is casting his gray eyes a golden hue. “I’ll wait however long it takes, just as long as I can call you mine.” He drops a kiss on the side of Daichi’s head.

Daichi breaks out an affectionate grin. “Sap,” he says.

“I helped you steal your bread and butter. Of course I’m a sap.” Kuroo heartily agrees, making Daichi laugh at the ridiculousness of what they had been up to the past few minutes.

“I graciously shared some of my treats as token of my gratitude.”

But all the same, he cranes his neck to kiss Kuroo, a chaste one on the side of his lips, one that Kuroo returned in kind.

[spider-moon-princess]

Time Travel CH 22

Part 21

His hazel eyes busily scanned the page, reading up on a patient. Hijikata-kun had asked him for his opinion on his upcoming surgery and one of his many jobs was to provide his expertise. Though Hijikata-kun was a very talented surgeon, he always seemed to seek him out for advice. Likewise, many doctors sought out his expertise. Even after the car accident that had rendered his hands useless as a surgeon, Sannan Keisuke rose to be Chief Physician. Before that, he was the Head Surgeon. He took on the more complicated and challenging surgeries. He wouldn’t call himself a miracle worker, but he was successful most of the time. He never let it get to his head though, since lives were precious things that he could help continue to improve or end. 

With a doctorate in psychology, a degree in chemistry, and an MD, Keisuke was more than qualified to become Chief Physician in Kondō-san’s and the board’s eyes. With his numerous degrees, he wasn’t rendered useless after his accident. He followed a physical therapy plan so he was able to use his hands without much difficulty, though there were things he couldn’t do as before. His hands were no longer the steady hands of a surgeon, but at least he could hold a pen and sign papers. The subtle click of heels on the white tiled floor had him come to a stop before the conference room door. He looked up, a strained smile on his face. “Shimizu-san, good morning.” “Good morning, Sannan-san.” Scarlet eyes met his hazel ones. She tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder with one hand and held a folder close to her chest in her arm. They continued staring each other down, neither moving an inch for a few moments until Shimizu Akane stepped forward and she stopped right in front of him. Keisuke’s hazel eyes trailed down and over her lean body, and back up to her eyes. When she’d first joined the board, he thought that it was her family’s influence that placed her in such a position, but time and time again, she proved herself a brilliant doctor. He was not immune to her brilliant mind or good looks.

Akane’s scarlet eyes did the same, admiring his broad shoulders and chest underneath his lab coat and white button-up shirt. He continued to stare into her eyes as he reached for the doorknob, opening the door for her. “Please, after you.” Another unpleasant smile. She mirrored his smile and entered the room. “Thank you, Sannan-san. I see you’re busy as always.” She gestured to the file in his hand. “Hijikata-san is rather incompetent then, not being able to pull his own weight.” “He is more than a capable surgeon. There is no shame in asking for help, Shimizu-san.” Keisuke’s eyes narrowed a bit as he took a seat next to the head of the table. “We must work together to ensure the safety and the well-being of our patients.” Before she could retort, Kondō-san walked into the room, cheerfully greeting the both of them. “Good morning, Sannan-san, Shimizu-kun.” Before greeting Kondo-san, the pair gave each other displeased looks before turning their attention to the rest of the board members that were entering the room and taking their seats. --- Sanosuke sighed, finishing up some paperwork, transferring some of his notes to the electronic chart. He wondered how Souji was dealing with Shinpachi’s excitement. He chuckled at the thought and pushed his glasses up his nose. His amber eyes glanced at the door when he heard a light knock. “Come in, please,” he called, glancing back at his typed notes. He stood up instantly when he recognized the light footsteps. “Haruka…” He stepped forward to take her small frame into his arms. He leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “I was going to be home soon. You didn’t have to come here.” Her dark-brown eyes looked into his kind amber ones, and she smiled up at him. She had to practically jump to reach his lips. He chuckled and met her halfway, leaning down to kiss her. She was a little over a head shorter than him, but he thought it was endearing. “I couldn’t wait, Sanosuke.” “Ma, it can’t be helped now. Let me take you out to dinner. We’ve both been busy lately after all.” Sighing, pulling her into his arms again, he rested his chin on top of her head. “Sound good?” She nodded eagerly. “Yes, my husband-to-be!” Sanosuke chuckled and kissed the back of her hand. “Very well, my wife-to-be. Let’s discuss dinner then.” He went back to his desk to lock his computer and took off his lab coat, which Haruka took a moment to admire. They walked hand-in-hand, discussing their dinner plans. Haruka’s heart warmed just staring at the man in front of her. Her unhappy past was long-forgotten, where her family had tried to control her and the path she’d taken in life. After meeting Sanosuke, she was inspired to make her own choices. They hadn’t been able to be together for a long time because of how strongly her family opposed their relationship. She’d decided to leave them behind and now was able to be with him. They got in Sanosuke’s car and before he started to drive, he looked over at her and leaned over to kiss her. “I love you, Haruka.” She kissed him again. “I love you too, Sanosuke.” --- A honk snapped Chizuru out of her thoughts as she looked up. Souji had told her to wait at the hospital so that they could take the bus home together. She'd had a late night helping with a c-section. Luckily, the mother and the baby were fine. A red sports car stopped right in front of her, and she tilted her head in confusion. The tinted window lowered, revealing Souji. He tipped his sunglasses down and peered over them, giving her a triumphant smirk. "Surprised, right?" She giggled and leaned over to kiss him in greeting. "Did you rent a car today? What kind of date are we going on?" "Chizuru-chan, I'm offended. This beaut is mine." He motioned her to get in. She quickly skipped to the passenger side and eagerly got in. "Really? You didn't tell me you were going to buy a car, Souji." He took her hand in his and smirked. "It was a surprise. Now we can drive wherever we want where no one can find us. No more annoying double dates if we want to go somewhere far." Chizuru laughed and fastened her seat belt. "Souji, our double dates with everyone are fun. You enjoy them too, don't tell me otherwise." "But now we can be alone. The backseat's pretty wide, you know." He winked at her and started driving. She flushed in response. "Souji!" --- Chizuru sighed, entering her shared office in Obstetrics, her shoulders were slumped and heavy with dreariness. She was exhausted despite having two days off. The whole ordeal about moving in with Okita-san and just interacting with him was hard for her. She still had trouble with her feelings and with Souji’s death…All of this was a lot to take in… Sighing again, she slumped into her chair, placing her head on the desk. She lifted her head up when she heard a soft, velvety chuckle. “Iba-san…” The man, Iba Hachirō, was handsome with rather gorgeous features, soft green eyes, dark brown hair that framed his face. He could’ve passed as a model, but he worked as an obstetrician. He was a rather popular one due to his kind nature and good looks. "Welcome back, Chizuru-chan. Here." He placed a small paper bag on her desk. Chizuru excitedly reached for the bag. Iba-san was rather fond of sweets, and it was always a treat when he shared some with her. She peered inside and saw about a dozen different macaroons. "Oh, these look delicious, Iba-san! Thank you!" "They're from a new cafe that just opened by my apartment. I took Pocchi out for a walk and couldn't resist trying them. I'll bring something different tomorrow." He smiled and sat at his desk. "A few of your patients called yesterday, but I took care of their questions. I also had them leave messages for you." Chizuru nodded as she munched on a rose macaroon. "Thank you so much, Iba-san." Iba cast his eyes down. "I'm going today with Reiko to pay my respects, since I haven't been able to go."

There was a comfortable beat of silence between them. "Thank you, Iba-san." Iba smiled again and logged onto his computer. "Say, Chizuru-chan," his voice trailed.

She glanced up after entering her password. "Y-yes, Iba-san?" "I noticed you walk in with a man. Is he a friend of yours?" Iba had seen Chizuru walk by as he was making his rounds. He only managed to see them from behind. The man next to her seemed rather familiar...it was almost as if he were walking alongside her again, but perhaps it was just his imagination. Panic started to take a hold of her. How was she supposed to explain Okita-san?  Hijikata-san and the others hadn't agreed to tell anyone else!  "Ah...well, he's not a friend...more like...a special case?" "Ah...a special case?" He chuckled. "Very well, I won't pry anymore." She felt terrible lying to her senior like this, and he had gotten rather close to Souji during their residency, but it wasn't her call to make... "W-well, I should go make my rounds!" Chizuru hastily stood up and grabbed her clipboard to check on her patients.

----++-----

At long last @very-x-vice‘s OC for Sannan-san and @lescahiersdesable‘s OC for Sano make an appearance! I hope I did them justice! 

Thank to @hidetheremote​ and @sabinasanfanfic​ for beta-ing this for me!!! I super appreciate it~~!!! 

Tagging: @resshiiram @hakuouki-or-hakuoki @flower-dragon @lescahiersdesable @221bbakerstreetirregular (PS: if you’d like to be included in the tagging list, let me know)

[ffxivakyi]

Counting - Akyhi Talrhin

ONE INSECURITY

Forever an Outsider - Akyhi feels the city life is one she is just pretending to be apart of. Mimicking what is expected, but it is not her. Inside she knows, she is a savage, and waiting for someone to point her out as a pretender.

TWO FEARS

The Cut that Bleeds - The path of the Dark hunt is in her blood, that rage and wrath just below the surface. The thrill of the hunt and ravel of the kill, she has known both, and is afraid her anger her darkness will lash out and hurt others.

Dying A Hunter’s Death - Alone, a huntress hunts and for what. Food, pelts, gil.. In the end there will someday be a beast Akyhi can not best. Her well laid clever traps are not enough, that will be the last day she draws breath. That fear of dying alone in the woods, no one to comfort her, no hope for seeing the next dawn. She has faced death once, and lived, she has no illusions of being able to make it out of Death's grip twice.

THREE TURN ONS

Sharp Minds - Intelligence, she thought was raised in a Dark hunt clan, the Tribal Seer Isic was far more intelligent and they took it granted. He passed down as much as he could to Akyhi, as he worked hard to protect her. Passionate words - Not words of passion but words spoken with passion, conviction, from the heart, and soul. So many people on this star, keep their hearts far away, and think far to hard. Dark Side - Akyhi has always been drawn to those with a dark side. Perhaps it is that need to feel she is not alone in the struggle. Though that dark side has to be something they fight against, someone who gives in to darkness is a turnoff.

FOUR LIFE GOALS

Missing Soul Piece - Though she will not admit it out loud, finding someone to be at her side, and feel safe with, is something she does want.

A Hunter’s Legacy - Akyhi can not have Kit’s of her own, but she can still be a mother. Perhaps when she is too old or too injured to hunt, she hopes to have a life stable enough to adopt.  

Stain on Her Skin - Though she has not yet pursued this actively, Akyhi wants to have her mark of the Unseen removed. The scar is all the reminder she wants of her Blood Clan’s beliefs, she knows she has a soul. Though she is pretty sure magic is the only option for a clean scar free removal.  

Huntress of Three Tribes - Though she is told her brother’s all have her in their tribes. She want to prove herself to them. Akyhi sees the title as honorary, only words, without deeds. To go to the Aziem Steppes and prove she is worthy of being called a huntress in both the Kagon, and the Malaguld, tribes. To make her brother’s proud to call her of their blood.

FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM HAPPY

Fastest way to a Heart - Akyhi loves food, meat especially. A deep rumbling purr can often be heard while she is eating. Though better have meat in it some place, she will just neatly organize ‘prey food’ on a plate if you forget.

It’s so Fluffy! - Perhaps it is because she is short, or because her hair looks so soft. People love to put a hand on her head and mess with her hair. Akyhi loves it to, as a sign of endearment and something she just likes the feel of.

Can I Touch it? - If you have ever taken any time just watching Akyhi you will find she likes touching things. Textures of all kinds makes her happy, if caught she will just simply explained that she is ‘tactile’. Playing with the hair of others, running her fingers over table tops, hands placed on others as a show of connection. This is apart of her everyday life, and how she makes better connections with those around her.

Huntress gotta Hunt - The thrill of the hunt, the enjoyment of the chase, the exhilaration of the kill. Akyhi was raised to hunt, not just beasts but people. It is a huge part of her life, and something that takes up most of her nights.

Will you Smile for me? - Her light as she called it, perhaps an empathic connection she makes with those she talks to. If it is in her ability Akyhi will try to brighten people’s day, and if she is lucky she will get a smile or a laugh out of them. This she feels is her gift to the world, to shine her light on them so they can be free. She has found time and time again that she can help people by just being there.

SIX WEAKNESSES

Aether Sensitive - Allergic to Aether, this is not a small allergy, Eorzea is rich is aether, in the air and as crystals jutting out of the ground. This plagued her life with constant sickness and weakness, she will never have a soul stone or use even the most basic of magics. Healing magic burns her, though it does heal her, she will be very ill afterwards.

Rituals and Blood - Do to the Ritual of the Unseen, Akyhi’s body has weaknesses, places that if hit hard enough will cause internal bleeding. She is unaware how sever this can be, or how fatal it could be. Going to places like Fight club is a risk she doesn't know she is taking.

Moon Kind - As a Keeper her eyes and skin are made for the nocturnal life. The sun, not even trying to be mean, hurts her eyes, and she easily sun burns.

Not of the City - She is a Tribal Keeper, and time can not help her understand some of the ways of the city. Though people enjoy her different point of view of life, it can blind her from understanding ways of the city.

The Monster Inside - The dark hunt is in Akyhi’s blood, and she will do what she can to keep that anger and violence suppressed. Though everyone has their limits, and those who are good at using words as weapons test her self control.

Is that Sexist? -  Being raised in a clan where Females dominate and compete for title and standing. Akyhi is predisposed to being standoffish towards other females. The more forward and aggressive the Female the less likely Akyhi will even give them a chance to be friends.

SEVEN PEOPLE / THINGS THEY LOVE

Hope Evans - Best friends. Akyhi is sure this one was her mate in a past life. They both bring out the best in each other, but would never work out as mates.

Kiyoshi “Sea Brother” Shimizu - Brother of the sea. When faced with the chance of starving to death, this one male helped Akyhi get on her feet, and find a home. He is protective of Akyhi and takes his title of brother very seriously.

Mica “Moon Brother” Kagon - The love of the moon, the blood of a tribe. These two have a common background, and understand the traditional older more simpler ways of life. They have been there for each other, when the city kind would never understand.

Spring Brother - This is the last and third brother Akyhi picked for her soul family. This streetwise Ul’da raised soul brother, has been beyond important to Akyhi’s survival. The city life is harsh to a naive newcomer, Spring was there to help her understand its dangers, as well as how to make it work for her.

A’vraiya “Hunter” Tia - This Seeker male has been an adviser for Akyhi, as well as a good friend. There is a kinship Akyhi shares with him that allow them to speak honestly to each other. She often seeks him out and keeps him up to date on her life, and keeps him informed on the comings and goings of the underworld.

Ensei’to Shuse - This Keeper male is a long time friend of Akyhi, and someone who has her back. They meet up weekly and talk about life, and spar. He also has a kit named Ame, who Akyhi adores and hopes to see her grow up.

You may have noticed how Akyhi does not have any of her recent friends or current suitor on this list of 7. Well I decided I wanted to put those 7 who have made made a lasting long term commitment to her. If it were 10 people.. You would see names like Bri, Mikha, and Raz’a added to the list. Not a slight to anyone, just if I have to only choose 7.

Tagged by @seascrapes

Tagging @hopplepopple @pictishus @oetw-p0926

[clubakashi]

a cute story of Akashi and his mini-bokushi by @active-mind-15​

Link to: Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14 - Chapter 15

Chapter 16

It was a Thursday evening and Bokushi had just been called down for dinner. Coming down the stairs and making his way to his chair in the dining room, he sat down and waited to be served. A few moments after he sat down, his father came into the dining room as well, Bokushi looking up from the table and nodding to the middle-aged man in greeting.

“Good evening, father.” His father nodded back.

“Good evening, Bokushi.”

Ever since that conversation Bokushi and his father shared in the garden, he found that it became easier to share conversations with the man. Even if they were short, or they weren’t as deep and insightful as that one occasion, he still found that his father was actually willing to talk.

Another thing that happened since that conversation is that his father finally started addressing him by name. Bokushi was no longer referred to as ‘child’ or ‘boy’. His father finally began to address him by name, and the young redheaded boy thought that his father was at last beginning to put in effort into, well, whatever this relationship was. Yes, Bokushi and Masaomi were not close by any means, this is the type of relationship Bokushi would have with an acquaintance, not a father. But he thinks that maybe, just maybe, they were taking steps towards that. Baby steps, but steps all the same. A little at a time was better than nothing.

That time they talked in the garden, they, unfortunately, got cut off when Masaomi had to go to a meeting. Bokushi realized that his father was more of an emotional man than he was ever made out to be. To think that every time the man looked at him, he thought of his mother, someone so precious to him, it made him wonder that day.

“Um…Father…”

“What is it, child?”

“I…”

I…

I was wondering…

If, maybe…

You felt the same way about me…

That was what he would have liked to ask. In such a once-in-a-lifetime moment, he would have gotten his answer—he could have gotten his answer, had he just asked even a few seconds earlier instead of hesitating so much. Now his nerves won’t let him ask again. And God knows when another opportunity like that afternoon would ever turn up again. He might never know the answer; unless his father has some other tragic backstory about a loved one he would like to share. For now, he’ll just stick to their dinner time talks.

Today’s topic of conversation at the dinner table was about his father’s business. Well, it was more of Bokushi listening to his father complain about several of his underlings and business partners (Bokushi came to realize that one way or another, every conversation always ended up with his father complaining about someone) and whatever faults he found with their lifestyle. It could be pretty amusing at times, and Bokushi realized that whenever he let his father vent out his endless frustration at whichever unsuspecting victim he wanted, it actually made him easier to approach him afterward. He tended to imagine his father as a ferocious beast at times. On some days, he should be approached with caution and one single slip-up could cost you your life. But, if the beast is appeased, then he becomes docile and more likely to comply with Bokushi’s requests. Whenever his father went on tirades like these, Bokushi always let him, because it decreases his father’s stress levels; and when his father’s stress levels were down, it benefited everyone.

Tonight, the conversation took a rather interesting turn. It happened so suddenly, after their previous conversation had ended, and it would be an understatement to say that he was taken off guard.

“Bokushi, tell me about this Miyoko girl that you are acquainted with.”

Bokushi nearly inhaled his water.

Why? Why does he want to know all of a sudden? Bokushi thought to himself. It’s not like his father ever cared before about who he associated with, as long as it didn’t affect his grades. So why was he asking now? Ever since he came back home his father just kept surprising him one day after another. This was not good for his blood pressure.

“May I ask why it is you want to know about her?” he asked, putting his glass on the table. He observed those mysterious golden eyes of his father flash with contemplation.

“I suppose you could say I was curious.”

Bokushi quirked a brow. “Curious…?”

“Indeed.” Masaomi folded his arms on the table. “She must be quite the interesting character since you are always willing to give her your time.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong, the boy mused. Whether it was him or Akashi, anyone person that they deemed a nuisance would not be given the time of day. That was what it was like with any person, actually. Everyone always had at least one person who they would not tolerate in any situation. The only difference was that all members of the Akashi family tended to have inhumanly high standards for the people they surround themselves with. Well, it was much less apparent in the newer generation (because they were friends with people like Aomine for crying out loud), but the same rule still applied. Only the people who held the most sentimental value had the pleasure of being friends with Akashi or Bokushi. Anyone else was a mere stranger in their eyes. The redheaded boy gazed off to the side and nodded.

“Yes,” he said carefully. “She is quite the interesting character…” He saw his father nod, but he continued to sit in silence, and so Bokushi took that as a sign that he wanted him to keep going.

“She’s very kind-hearted, I suppose…and also very enthusiastic, on many occasions…” Why wasn’t his father saying anything? Just having him explain why he enjoyed Miyoko’s company was way more awkward than he thought it would be, and Bokushi found himself periodically pausing, hesitant to keep talking, but forcing himself to continue while his father was still listening.

“She is always eager to learn new things; however, she is also eager to teach me things as well. It is a bit endearing in a way…” He really didn’t need to mention that last part, and he was starting to regret it, but it’s already slipped out of his mouth and he can’t backtrack anymore. He hurriedly cleared his throat and tried to steer his answer back.

“Anyway, I enjoy spending time at their house, and it most definitely keeps me occupied. I do frequent their house often, perhaps three maybe four times a week. It’s more entertaining than sitting around in the library. Not that the books aren’t engaging—but the same pattern can get tiring. Miyoko was very interested in the kinds of books I read, though, but they’re probably too complex for her. After all, she only started proper school this year so she’s just barely started to learn her first-ever set of kanji. Perhaps I should visit more often to teach her. Although I suppose if I did that it wouldn’t be easy on Shimizu-san…” Where was this conversation even going? He had no idea, at some point, this all became incessant rambling. He could just stop talking and find a better way to conclude his reasoning but with his father staring at him like that he honestly had no idea what to do. What was the question again?

Right when he was about to attempt to change the subject altogether, he perked up when he heard the phone ring in the other room. After two rings, he heard a deep, matured voice answer the phone which he recognized as the butler’s. There was a short exchange of words before Bokushi heard a brief “I will go and get him, please hold on for a moment” and brisk but quiet footsteps approached the dining area. They weren’t going towards his father like Bokushi expected, they were towards him. The butler in front of him bowed politely.

“Young Master,” he began. “If you are finished, then there is a phone call for you. Your friend.” He was saved!

Bokushi nodded fervently. “I see. I will answer it immediately.”

Masaomi watched Bokushi jump off the chair and politely excuse himself from the table (It was supposed to be the other way around, wasn’t it? Oh well.) before padding off to the phone and answering it. He turned to the butler.

“Abe-san. Would that be the younger sister of Midorima calling?”

The elderly man turned around. “Yes, Akashi-sama,” he answered. “She has informed me that her fever has passed, and so she felt it imperative to put Young Master on the phone.”

The butler seemed quite amused, looking at his face and the tone of his voice. It was to be expected, Masaomi knew, for that was how all the staff were around children. Even when Akashi was a child, there were times when they would fawn over his son whenever he did or said something. Masaomi admits, yes, that back in those times he could be amused by his son at random times when he did something that marginally surprised him, but it was only for rare and fleeting moments, and there was never usually anything to fuss over too much. One could only imagine what it would be like if Miyoko actually came over.

If Miyoko came over…

Hmm…

Masaomi excused himself from the table as well.

“I’m sure your fever wasn't that high, Miyoko. Five million degrees is a bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think?”

Bokushi was still on the phone with his friend, discussing some trivial topics. Miyoko huffed on the other line.

“It was super high!” she told him. “I was sick for four whole days! Do you know how long four days are?”

“Four days long, I’m guessing,” he replied drily. “Anyway, I hope you were able to catch up on whatever lessons you missed in school.”

“Onii-chan would chew my head off if I didn’t. When it comes to school, he nags me even more than okaa-san.” Bokushi chuckled when he heard an irritated “Oi” come from Midorima in the background.

“Glad to know he’s keeping track of your progress,” he replied. “At least tomorrow is Friday, so you can have the whole weekend to relax. Being sick can always be stressful.”

“You should come over tomorrow! You can teach me some more basketball!” Bokushi smiled.

“Tomorrow?” he said. “If that is what you would like, then just tell me when I should come over and I will stop by.”

In the midst of their conversation, he heard footsteps and turned to see his father coming over to the phone. He blinked. What was he coming over to the phone for? What should he do? Does he keep talking or does he address his father? He doesn’t even know at this point. He just kept staring at his father, blocking out the sound of Miyoko’s voice so he could pay attention to what his father was going to do. He decided to go for broke and address him.

“Yes, father?” He held a hand over the speaker of the phone. “Did you want me to…” He trailed off when he felt something slip out of his grasp, and he looked down at his hands, only to realize that he wasn’t even holding the phone anymore. His eyes widened in surprise, looking up at his father and praying that he wouldn’t see what he was desperately hoping against. Lo and behold, his father was holding the phone, and Bokushi was more horrified than ever.

“Midorima Miyoko, I presume? Good evening, this is Bokushi’s father.”

“FATHER WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING.” was what Bokushi would like to have said at this point, but he couldn’t and settled for screaming internally while he stood there, tongue-tied, at the concept of his father talking to Miyoko.

His emotions were all over the place at the moment, he could barely identify what he was feeling. What was it? Was it fear? Was it embarrassment? No—this was far beyond embarrassment. This was pure mortification.

The phone wasn’t on speaker, so he couldn’t properly make out what his friend was saying on the other line, all he could hear is that Miyoko sounded excited to talk to his father which she absolutely shouldn’t be she has no idea what she’s getting herself into and oh my God what is his father even going to say to her—

“Yes, yes, it is a pleasure. Bokushi has told me a bit about you in fact. I overheard your conversation just now—” (“You mean eavesdropped”, Bokushi wanted to point out) “And I heard that he was planning to pay you a visit tomorrow.”

The young redheaded boy froze. What does it matter to him? What he does at Midorima’s house and when he goes there shouldn’t concern him, so why was he even bringing it up? A feeling of dread crept over him… His father wasn’t planning on canceling it, was he? No, that couldn’t be possible, there was no reason for him to cancel. But still, Bokushi was suspicious of what he was going to say. If his father dared not let him go tomorrow, he swore he would lock himself in his room for the whole day. He narrowed his eyes as he heard some form of agreement from Miyoko on the other line, completely silent to hear what his father was going to say, expecting something along the lines of ‘I’m sorry but Bokushi will not be able to make it’ with some generic excuse following after. What he was not expecting, however, were the words that his father had actually said in response.

“Would you like to visit our home instead?”

Bokushi was five hundred percent certain that his brain just short-circuited. Had his father completely lost his mind?!

Now he could clearly hear Miyoko from where he was standing because she was now shouting in glee at the prospect of visiting Bokushi this time around instead of him visiting their house. He inwardly cursed. Great, she’s already excited.

He wasn’t going to intervene before, but he most certainly was now. He was staring at his father, the look on his face screaming 'Hang up the phone, now!’. His father stared back, then turned away with a disinterested expression, going back to the phone call.

“If you so wished, you may even stay for the weekend.”

NO, NO, NO, THAT’S ENOUGH, FATHER. Bokushi was now trying to grab the phone from him because Miyoko was voicing her exclamations on the other line even louder than before, and Bokushi was having a sinking feeling that it was too late for him. Unfortunately for this five-year-old boy, he was still three and a half feet tall, so attempting to take the phone off a six-foot-tall man was out of the question. And he still continued the call.

“Yes, would you please put one of your parents on the phone? I would like to arrange the details with them.”

If word reached their parents, then Bokushi wouldn’t be able to stop it. He threw away whatever dignity he had left and resorted to jumping to grab the phone, but his father just effortlessly dodged his attempts and began speaking with Midorima’s mother.

“Of course. It would not be any trouble at all, Midorima-san. I assure you there is plenty of room for her.”

God how Bokushi wanted to slam his head into the table. Or perhaps he could just keep pinching himself to wake up from this absurd nightmare. Miyoko, here, in his house, under the scrutinizing gaze of his father? The thought of it sent chills down his spine. If people thought Bokushi was intimidating enough, then they would not be ready to meet his father. He would probably assess her for the entire duration of the weekend with those critical eyes of his like he was analyzing a biological specimen of some sort. Miyoko is the last person he wants to go through that.

“I am sure that she is excited. We will be looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.”

The redheaded boy whipped his head up to his father to see that, much to his dismay, Midorima’s mother had agreed and they had everything set. It was already too late, and he was in the process of ending the call.

“Yes, until tomorrow then. Goodbye.” He jolted.

“No, wait—”

He hung up the phone before Bokushi even had a say. As for Bokushi, well, he was looking at the phone as if his life was about to end. He held his head in his hands and groaned in despair.

“Father…” He took a very deep breath and exhaled sharply, glaring up at the man in question. “What have you done?”

“Exactly what it looked like,” Masaomi replied without missing a beat. “I was curious to meet this girl you have befriended.”

“Yes—but why bring her here?” That question almost left his mouth. Almost. But he didn’t ask. His mind was in shambles at the moment, just thinking about her staying here for an entire weekend. While two and a half days didn’t seem like much to anyone else, it most certainly did when it came to this particular situation. Why did he disapprove of this so much, anyway? It wasn’t embarrassment or humiliation or anything. But still he was feeling something and he didn’t know what it was. All he could do was nod like a dumb thing, forcing himself to come to terms with this arrangement.

“If…If you say so…”

“Good then.”

His father didn’t even wait to see if Bokushi had anything else left to say. He began walking back to the dining room, leaving the young redheaded boy to stare at his disappearing figure, still in this trance of his. It was only after a few moments that he finally shook himself out of it.

This was insane. Absolutely insane. His mind could barely function as he had no idea what to do. As soon as his father was out of earshot, Bokushi, out of pure instinct, grabbed the phone one more time and hurriedly dialed a number…

…

Akashi was in his room, in the process of wrapping up some Japanese History homework when his phone began to ring. Looking down at the ringing phone on his desk, he picked it up and eyed the Caller ID. It was his house number. He gets quite a lot of calls from home these days. It was probably Bokushi calling, anyway. He answered it on the third ring and put the phone up to his ear.

“Hello?”

“I think our father is planning the murder of a five-year-old girl.”

Well. That was unexpected.

“As usual your topic starters never fail to surprise me, Bokushi.” Normal people would probably be concerned if someone told them that their own father was planning to kill someone, but this was Bokushi he was talking to and Bokushi was a very dramatic person. “What has he done this time?”

“Miyoko is coming over to our house for the weekend.”

“…I don’t think I understand how this all connects.” Akashi wasn’t necessarily getting the logic on how a simple playdate can link in with homicide but, well, a lot of people wouldn’t. “What does this have to do with father?”

“Seijuro-nii. Father is the one who invited her.” The Rakuzan captain furrowed his brows.

“He did?”

“Exactly my point,” Bokushi said to him, thankful that someone else shared his surprise. “It came out of nowhere as well. I was talking to Miyoko on the phone and he just took it from my hands and suggested that she come here instead. I don’t even know why.”

Now, this changed things. He thought that his father simply approved of this arrangement that Bokushi had made. He didn’t think he was the one who did it himself. Now he was really curious. Self-control be damned, Akashi just had to know the reason behind this.

“Bokushi,” he said to the boy. “Do you think you can get father on the phone?” His younger brother let out a small noise of confusion before hesitantly agreeing.

“I suppose I could… Please wait a moment.”

There was a click, signifying that he had put the phone down and Akashi heard small footsteps hurriedly leave the vicinity. Then there were a few distant verbal exchanges, and moments later more footsteps came back, and the phone was picked up again.

“Seijuro-nii, I’m putting this on speaker.”

“Alright…? If you want to…” He didn’t know why that was necessary, but Bokushi was not about to tell him that he was only putting it on speaker because he didn’t want to be left out of the loop (which was something he probably should have done when his father took the phone from him). Never mind. He just shrugged and went along with it. Their father finally spoke on the other line.

“Yes?”

“Good evening, father,” Akashi greeted him. “How has your week been?”

“Fine, I suppose. We have just finished dinner.”

“I see.” How was he to approach this topic? He wasn’t quite sure what the deal was with their father’s attitude at the moment towards Bokushi, or him, or anyone for that matter. Maybe he should just get to the point. “So, I hear the house is expecting company tomorrow.”

“We are indeed,” their father answered. “Bokushi’s friend, Miyoko, will be coming to stay over.”

“Did Bokushi invite her?” He already knew the answer was no, but he wanted to see what his father would say in response. Bokushi noticed this as well and refrained from correcting him, understanding what Akashi was trying to do.

“I did, in fact, invite her over,” their father said. “I had arranged everything with her parents.”

Well, Akashi figured he’d say as much, but he wasn’t really expecting him to be that honest with his answer. Although in all fairness, he didn’t even know what he was expecting.

“May I ask what brought up the suggestion?”

Bokushi unknowingly on the other line, was looking expectantly up at the middle-aged man, anticipating his answer with bated breath.

“I admittedly wanted to see what she was like,” their father explained. “And it would make perfect sense for her to come here. Shimizu-san has had to do many back-and-forths to take Bokushi to and from their house as well, so by doing this he would not need to drive anywhere.”

Well, when he put it like that, it made it very hard for Akashi to side with Bokushi; because if there was one thing he knew about their father, he was almost never wrong. The red-haired teenager felt his breath hitch, audibly wavering because he agreed with their father’s reasoning but remembered that he was supposed to be backing Bokushi up. Yet somehow could not decide what to do.

“Uh-huh…” With just that one utterance he probably dropped a level in formality, but that was honestly the best response he could come up with at the moment. Bokushi must have recognized the indecisiveness in his response and decided to speak up as well.

“Seijuro-nii.”

Akashi recognized his tone. It was the tone that he sometimes used to slacking teammates during basketball practice. As in the tone of voice he used when he was about to tell someone to get their act together. He was starting to think that Bokushi was becoming agitated. Well, unfortunately, Akashi would have to become the parental figure this time around. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and resigned to his fate. Forgive me this once, Bokushi.

“I think it might be a nice idea, actually,” Akashi finally says after several seconds of contemplation (Several seconds too many, he thinks to himself). “You do go to her house often, Bokushi. It would only be common courtesy to invite her to yours.” Bokushi seemed scandalized by the comment.

“I know what common courtesy is,” he shoots back. “It’s just…”

“Just what?” Akashi asked him. “Are you embarrassed to have her over?”

“No,” Bokushi grinds out because he was an Akashi and embarrassment wasn’t in their spectrum of emotions, or at least that’s what he was trying to convince himself. “I’m not embarrassed to invite her over.”

“Then what might you be feeling?”

“I don’t know” Bokushi wanted to respond but decided against it. Perhaps this conversation would have gone differently, had their father not been in the room because at the moment Bokushi didn’t know what to say. For starters, he wasn’t going to start talking about what he 'might be feeling’ in front of their father; if he was going to feel embarrassed over anything tonight, that would be it. And even if he wanted to, again, he didn’t know. He was still trying to get accustomed to feeling emotions, so sorting them out was completely out of the question. Because of this, he was left floundering for words.

“I…it's…ugh.” This was so unfair…

Ah. I flustered him. Akashi realized he probably shouldn’t have asked that as he continued to listen to Bokushi struggle to produce a coherent sentence.

“Never mind, you don’t have to answer,” he managed to add, effectively silencing his younger brother. “I do hope it goes well for you, though, Bokushi. I’ll call tomorrow to check up on things. Or Skype, perhaps—”

“Yes.” Bokushi could have sounded a little less desperate, but whatever. “We could Skype.”

“If that is what you would like, then I will allow him to borrow my laptop,” Masaomi offered. “You will have to tell me ahead of time when you plan on using it, however.”

“Thank you, father.”

“Well, I should be going now, I still have a few things left to do. I’ll be available to talk around the evening, Bokushi.”

“Okay.” Was Bokushi’s voice suddenly lighter? Maybe that was Akashi’s imagination. “I will talk to you tomorrow…and you can say hi to Miyoko.”

Ah. Right. That was still a thing. And it was still happening. Well, one more person to chat with over Skype seemed nice.

“Of course,” Akashi said. “I’ll be looking forward to it. Goodnight, father. Goodnight, Bokushi.”

“Goodnight, Seijuro-nii.”

“Yes. Goodnight.”

The call ended and Akashi locked his phone before putting it down. As he began to start organizing his things and move onto his next assignment, he realized that this was actually the first conversation with his father that he didn’t actually hate. He considered this for a moment, and then slowly but surely, a small grin slipped onto his face.

Interesting…

~O~

Bokushi lay in his bed after bathing and slipping into his pajamas, staring at the ceiling above him once he had turned off his lights. He honestly couldn’t believe that Miyoko was going to actually come to their house tomorrow.

He still had mixed feelings about that, and he didn’t quite know what to do. And Akashi (that traitor) had still sided with their father in the end. He turned over on his side and stared at Yuki, who was sitting there complacently, watching his owner with those black beaded eyes. Bokushi absentmindedly patted the stuffed horse once on its head before sighing, thinking back to the phone conversation some hours ago.

“You do go to her house often, Bokushi. It would only be common courtesy to invite her to yours.”

“I know what common courtesy is. It’s just…”

It’s just that father is acting weird and I don’t know whether or not I will be able to deal with that. His father must be in some sort of weird transitioning phase that he isn’t completely aware of; half of what he used to be and the other half—well—Bokushi could only imagine. He wished that it didn’t feel so awkward, though. He wasn’t used to his father talking to him so much, or being more lenient, or humoring his requests, or doing things like voluntarily suggesting that Bokushi invites his friends over and then proceeding to arrange the details himself. Although it’s not like he wanted his father to go back to how he was before. By all means, that part of him could stay in the past where it belonged. But seeing the way he interacts with both of them now…it just feels weird. The boy sighed and decided to drop the matter, letting his eyes fall shut to let sleep overtake him.

Well, I guess I’ll have to get used to weird.

[nyxysabyss]

LEVEL HORIZON; YEAR FOUR.50 1/2; Dyspathy

Chapter 31!

The wings of transformation are born of patience and struggle. ~Janet Dickens

~Seven Months Later, Early Autumn~

Keiji Akaashi moves into position for the set off Yaku’s receive in the waning fall light.

It has been over eight months since the earthquake.

Sheru Bay is well on its way to being rebuilt, the beach crew having had a hand in supplying much of the muscle to do it. The docks have been restored and ships now come in again, several of the mainstay shops have been replaced, and almost a third of the homes stand once more. Ukai has his shop back as do Sugawara’s relatives. A small section near the center of the docks where the main road meets the ocean had been set aside as a memorial for those lost, a Volley net erected there that sees daily use by the inhabitants of the small coastal town.

Saeko Tanaka had stayed close to a month, the blond woman a hurricane of a personality on her own let alone surrounded by the rest of them, and everything had seemed… quieter since she’d left. Akaashi hadn’t minded the constant bickering with her brother and the other former sentries, had found it quite endearing, actually. It was fascinating to see a facet of the world the Karasuno group had come from, and it was somehow gratifying to instantly have been inducted into her line of fire—Akaashi knew that Bokuto’d been secretly stoked to have caught flak from her as much as any of the others for scarfing down a meal she’d made far too quickly to have actually tasted it.

They were all so used to the reserved Shimizu and flighty Yachi that having another female as loud and colorful as Noya and Tanaka was initially intimidating for everyone except the Karasuno unit. The female crow’s ease in readily assuming an older sister role with them all—even Kuroo, which the black cat hadn’t quite known how to handle—and the confidence with which she’d slipped into it had been slightly unsettling. She’d taken the reality of the unusual number of level pairs among them in stride, too, it seemed; she’d been appropriately flabbergasted for several moments when Tanaka had awkwardly explained his own situation, but she’d been largely unfazed by most of it.

Although, it had frankly been hilarious watching her catch Tanaka in a headlock and threatening him with monumental amounts of pain if he so much as looked at little Natsu wrong for the next several centuries as she was getting ready to leave. The bald crow had managed to look horrified in her chokehold while Natsu had simply stared at the spectacle with a bewildered expression. She’d had that kind of effect the entire month she’d spent with them—during which time they’d seen an unusual amount of Ukai as well. Word from Yaku was that there was a very good reason for that…

They’d finished rebuilding their beach house only last month in close to the same place it had been before. They’d done their best to keep it the same as it had been, but they had made the front room bigger to accommodate what seemed like an ever-growing number of people. Ukai had even pulled some strings and had a massive pane of glass shipped in for the big picture window— something Lev had been slightly less than impressed at. Among the many things Saeko had brought with her were cooking utensils, household items and everything that had belonged to the former first unit including bedding and clothing that had been sent along by their parents which helped to outfit and stock their new home.

The beach itself is much different than it used to be, though; much of the shoreline weathered away completely and the ocean is now closer to their front door. A new net had had to be set up on the other side of the small stream in order to avoid the high tide line, and it was almost out of sight of their new home. Once again, Ukai had come through for them and secured a sack of Volley balls for the town so they could actually use it.

It had taken Lev and Yaku about a month before they stopped glowing, indicating that they were completely recovered; Kuroo had taken longer. The black cat had glowed a brilliant red every night for close to six weeks, and it had made him a bit sullen; to be fair, it had been something of a blessing to have Saeko halfway filling that ‘sibling’ position while he’d been laid up. It had been like getting a glimpse of Tanaka’s potential future, and alongside Daichi, she’d very much kept things running smoothly while the black cat had been restricted on movement. The first night he hadn’t lit up, he’d gone for a cup of sake the next morning and had promptly joined the others in helping rebuild Sheru Bay.

To the surprise of everyone, no one had seen Tsukishima glow during his recovery. It had made the ibis completely salty when Bokuto had asked him about it and Yamaguchi had quietly explained that they weren’t, in fact, levelers. And the quiet breath of pity that everyone had breathed around them had only served to make Tsukishima all the more cranky. Yamaguchi had once more pleaded for their austerity with their interest of any type into the matter, that they didn’t need the empathetic looks and murmured sympathies. They were aware and they didn’t really care whether they were levelers or not; they intended to stay together regardless. The one who’d managed to do just that the easiest had been Hinata. Akaashi had asked him about it one day and the redhead had turned to him with a thoughtful expression.

“I think they actually are. They aren’t as physical as the rest of us, so I don’t think they know how to initiate the ‘binding’ effect. But if they really aren’t levelers, I would commend them for staying together when they are surrounded by the rest of us. I think it would take a lot of courage to do something like that, and to pity them in that case would be to insult that resolve.”

Akaashi had been quietly surprised at the redhead’s rather profound remark— and it had been easier to accept with his insight. Even so, they still had three glowing pairs, down from five at the beginning of the summer.

Asahi’s wing had mended itself with impressive speed given how many places it had been broken. The large crow still couldn’t fly, but he could bend the wing at all the right joints now, and they all were waiting for him to take to the air once more. Natsu still glowed obliviously, but she’d begun itching the ends of her wings something fierce, and they’d all been awed and ecstatic when the buds of new feathers had shown up. Hinata still glowed as he had every night for over four years.

All in all, it had been a full summer.

Akaashi sets the ball for Bokuto just a touch higher than normal, his gaze sharp and focused. The other owl still isn’t quite set to hit after diving for a glance off a block as the ball leaves Akaashi’s fingertips; the extra height will give him that split second he needs to analyze its path and line up his attack. As Akaashi drops his arms and sinks down for a block follow, the streaked owl’s eyes snap to the floating target, his feet shifting into place without thought.

And then the muscles in his shoulders and back ripple, his arms leading his first step before whipping behind him on the next as his body coils to leap. There’s a tautness in his wings, but they barely shiver as his feet come together, his arms driving forward once more. The owl leaves the ground, his back arching with steep inversion as his hand pulls back to swing. His body snaps forward, his hand connecting with the ball, his arm completely extended in perfect tandem with the toss.

Akaashi can’t help but be awed at the fluid execution, at the way Bokuto’s momentary lapse of balance compromised none of the power of the hit.

There’s no way anyone can touch it.

He almost relaxes in his stance before he catches a glimpse of orange hair—and he’s instantly back on high alert. The shrimp has massive hops and maddening hang time, and he reads hits well enough to be a threat… even with his performances slipping the way they have been the last few months.

It must be a good day, because he’s well in place to slow down the hit. It pops up off his palms with a crack that follows the one from Bokuto’s hand so fast that Akaashi is confident that if the redhead had been just a little faster and had his hands roofed correctly, he’d be eating it before Bokuto ever touched the ground beside him again. Instead, it flies high off his hands, giving Noya plenty of time to react on the other side of the net.

Akaashi is secretly relieved that they have Yaku on their side; the typical lineup on the other side is formidable in any capacity, Hinata’s declining performances notwithstanding—and the small cat is truly a gift to match the unsung strength of the godlike reflexes of the smallest crow on the other side. The two back row players’ sheer ability and skills are pretty even and Akaashi is glad they have an asset like that on their side, too.

The former Karasuno unit members frequently stick together, but they occasionally mix up the teams for variety. He’ll set for Bokuto any day, could do it in his sleep, but Akaashi enjoys the challenge of trying to match sets to others besides the streaked owl. He regularly sets for Kuroo and Lev and frequently the thrush when he isn’t rotating in on the other side, but switching it up keeps him sharper.

The ibis is collected and methodical and as long as Akaashi gets it up high enough for him, the blond can adjust and find his own stride. Asahi is frighteningly powerful, his hits echoing off his hands like Bokuto’s, and Akaashi always feels a thrill in his gut when he can sync with the large crow. Daichi might not be the strongest hitter but he’s steady whereas Tanaka is the opposite and a complete wildcard.

The bald crow reads sets well and can adjust to anything, so Akaashi has really struggled to pin down a good set for him. The slender owl’s mouth sets just a touch. The last time he’d sent him a toss, the bald crow had hit it off his left hand and it had still flown as if it were his dominant arm… it had honestly made Akaashi’s eyebrow twitch, and he’d been tempted to just throw his hands in the air and tag Suga in for the next play.

But there’s one person he rarely sets for.

The only two that are never apart are the dark-haired crow setter and his fiery leveler. If Hinata is playing, Kageyama is right next to him, his designated setter— exclusively. Kenma has no issue letting the crow run through endless tosses with the redhead, and remarked on how he’d been only too happy to pass that task off when Kageyama had gotten used to not using his wings.

“I can’t slack at all when Hinata is hitting… he’d know it.” The golden cat had said simply, a quiet smile at the edges of his mouth.

Akaashi imagined that would make sense—Kageyama was always dead on with his sets, every one of them nothing less than perfect. The black-haired crow had even tossed a couple for him and he’d had to agree with the sentiments of Tsukishima… it was disconcerting to have the ball placed so perfectly for a hit every time.

That wasn’t to say he didn’t like them—they were freaking awesome and made you feel like you couldn’t miss, but the eerie accuracy of the crow really made him wonder if Kageyama were somehow more than human. Tsukishima had hypothesized that his mad skills at Volley contributed to the reason for his personality deficit; he was that good at Volley so he had to fail at something else and that just happened to be human interaction.

The ball comes off Noya’s arms with controlled precision and Kageyama barely has to move from his position. Akaashi’s eyes dart between the Karasuno players, his mind racing to determine who’s most likely to get the toss. Kageyama is up out of the back row so they have three front line hitters available, but Asahi’s back row attack is still powerful in its own right. Tanaka’s wild hits are always a gamble, but they can easily return results if misread. Daichi has mastered a swing hit that cuts across court and hits just in bounds almost every time. And of course, there’s Hinata.

It hasn’t happened as often lately with Hinata’s growing limitations, but they seem to be clicking today. Which means the little bugger is damn hard to read and tougher to follow when he turns on a dime to find the hole in the blocking line. Kageyama’s wicked fast and spot on tosses have the redhead scoring almost before their team can react sometimes.

But even if he’s playing today, Shouyou’s movements have still been pretty stiff, and they’ve only gotten off a couple real shots. The redhead zips forward regardless, before sidestepping to the right and Akaashi glances at Kageyama for any clue, but he’s as collected and on point as ever, his eyes focused on the ball. Kuroo subconsciously shadows Hinata a half step and Akaashi knows Kageyama won’t miss it. The ball isn’t going to go to Hinata.

The ball leaves Kageyama’s fingers as Hinata leaps… but it’s heading for Tanaka. Akaashi wants to scowl. One on one, Tanaka can usually beat a single blocker; he hopes Yaku is ready to taste some sand for this one.

But out of the corner of his eye, he sees Kuroo’s dark hair and a flash of smirk as the middle whisks to his side.

The cat faked out the crow.

Akaashi wants to grin. Kuroo has experience on his side and he’s succeeded in influencing Kageyama’s decision to toss to someone the black cat has an easier time blocking simply by taking that single step after Hinata. Tanaka winds up at the same time that they leap. The ball cracks off Kuroo’s palms and snaps down on the Karasuno side. He, Kuroo, Lev, Yaku, and Yamaguchi cheer.

But there’s one voice he’s not hearing on his side, and he turns toward Bokuto who’s not joining in. Akaashi wonders with annoyance if he got sucked in by Hinata’s fake and is moping now, but when his gaze lands on the streaked owl, he’s still got a bright smile on his face. He’s just focused on the shrimp on the other side of the net.

“You might not have fooled Kuroo, but you still got me.” The wing spiker says to Hinata who’s bent forward, bracing himself on his knees.

He grins up at Bokuto, and Akaashi can’t help but think they are a little alike. Akaashi himself would have been just fine letting well enough alone when they’d first stumbled on the beach group. He’d been actually rather alarmed when he’d seen a mass of people flood out on the heels of Hinata’s screech when the streaked owl had obliviously pushed in too close in his single-minded curiosity—really, Feathers’ freaky flat death glare had been quite chilling as he’d dropped between them with a murderous glint in his icy cobalt eyes. And he’d known when the redhead had extended the tentative challenge to play Volley with them masked as an invitation that Bokuto had been unable to help himself.

Akaashi didn’t need constant human interaction to stay sane. He had no issues living with other people, and he’d lived for centuries completely alone, too. It didn’t bother him one way or another whether he shared a living space with a roommate. At least it hadn’t until he’d become the unwilling Velcro buddy to a certain streaked owl. Seriously, those first few years had been maddening.

Akaashi really has no idea how the relationship between himself and Bokuto ever grew out of that initial fracas. He’d even tried ditching the other once or twice early on only to be faced by an undeterred Bokuto who was surprisingly adept at tracking. The streaked owl never seemed put out—Akaashi almost wondered if he even realized he’d been aiming to shake the larger owl. He’d grudgingly resigned himself to being attached to the blasted avian for the foreseeable future after a third failed attempt where Bokuto had shown back up with food and a declaration that he would make sure that Akaashi was never lonely.

He doesn’t know where along the line the streaked owl’s occasional bouts of thoughtfulness stopped striking him as stupid. He has no idea how the utterly vexing moments where he seemed to occasionally lose all sensible mental function ceased to be infuriating and had become amusing—or at what point his mood swings had no longer been a chore to deal with. He doesn’t know when the irritation at his presence had grown into something he didn’t think he could live without. He has no idea how they’ve come so far… because he’s never really needed other people like he does Koutarou; they were simply fixtures in the world.

But Bokuto… was far more like the shrimp spiker than most people probably realized. Akaashi had watched the other owl quite literally come alive in the weeks following that first tense meeting on the beach. He’d gotten so excited, so happy, so vibrant at simply being surrounded by other avians, that Akaashi hadn’t had the heart to tell him he hadn’t been as keen on staying. Years of wariness from other people had in turn made him uneasy around everyone; Bokuto, on the other hand, had thrived on the interactions of playing, eating, and conversing with the others without being ostracized or feared.

And Akaashi is grateful to the beach group for that; they’d given Bokuto something Akaashi never could have managed alone. Having gotten to know and love the rest of the beach crew probably almost as much as the streaked owl aside, he’s gotten to see so many new faces of the streaked owl since, and he can’t regret the decision to stay. He might have never learned that this occasionally childish, charismatic moron is his leveler—and the circumstance that led to that knowledge had been more terrifying than he’d ever admit. Seeing Koutarou speared through the chest with that rod had felt like he’d had his entire world upended; it was the first time he’d realized that he could no longer picture his future without the streaked owl in it. Without the beach crew, he might never have realized what Bokuto was to him.

But knowing Bokuto that well, he knows that with how volatile his moods can be, the larger owl would never be so jolly if he’d actually just been sucked in by the redhead’s bluff attack, but if Hinata had said something similar to the owl, Koutarou would have puffed up in pride just like the shrimp is now.

Bokuto is surprisingly good at sympathizing with others, so Akaashi knows what he’s doing now. He’s constantly been buoying the shrimp up since that run in with the snakes with an urgency that sometimes makes Akaashi concerned that he’s bordering on annoyance, but that’s not what’s happening this time. The other owl is humoring Shouyou, and the setter’s gaze narrows on the redhead.

His shoulders are tense and his jaw is tight around his bright smile, a good indication that he’s probably hurting. Bent over like he is, Akaashi can see the definite ridges that run down his back through his shirt.

They’ve really grown more prominent in the last year, Hinata’s declining performances directly correlating with their rapid onset development. They’ve always been raised against his ribs and noticeable if you were looking, but Akaashi is positive their protrusion from his back has grown. The long bones beneath the skin are now accented with sinewy ligaments and muscles, their hardness tempered with the firm rope-like tendons that stretch from the main joint by each hip. If Hinata ever has his shirt off, it’s almost possible to make out the outline of naked folded wings.

Hinata used to be able to bend and move—for the most part—normally. Those first few years, the bones used to just pull the skin and distort it into some freaky web-looking growth that everyone found both hilarious and disturbing when he’d bend, but with the appearance of the corded tissue for mobility and control, virtually all spinal movement had been gradually restricted to almost nothing. The inversion he used to get when he’d spike is nonexistent now and his back is always ramrod straight… to Akaashi, it seems to have entered into a permanent state of slowly worsening tetany.

A lot of the power he’d had was lost without the flexibility of his back and the muscles hadn’t been legitimately stretched out in probably a year. There were days where Hinata could barely move because they were cramping so bad, and he couldn’t sleep on his back anymore at all. It had steadily worsened until even the ‘binding’ connection with Kageyama wasn’t always enough to completely ease the seizing muscles anymore.

Akaashi has never heard Hinata complain, but it’s gotten bad enough that he’s begun willingly subbing out and letting others play in his stead—there are days he’s even begged out of Volley altogether. It’s the single greatest indicator about how much pain he’s actually suffering, because the kid lives to play Volley.

And all this has done nothing but frazzle Kageyama. Honestly, the crow setter was probably getting about as much sleep as the redhead. Akaashi had woken on more than one occasion in the last few weeks and found both the setter and small spiker awake at unholy hours of the night with eyes dulled by exhaustion despite the way Hinata’s feathers still glowed.

A sleep deprived Hinata wasn’t as sunny; a sleep deprived Kageyama was downright surly. The avian heir was so cranky with worry that he’d even bested Tsukishima in a battle of barbs a couple times. Akaashi can’t help but feel sorry for the two—Hinata because he constantly seems like he’s in pain and Kageyama because there’s nothing he can do to fix it and he knows it.

No one can do anything… except wait. Akaashi wishes for the millionth time for Hinata’s wings to hurry up and finish growing so they can break out.

The black-haired crow in question comes up behind Hinata with a feather light touch on his shoulder, a silent question in the tension at the corners of his eyes and mouth.

Are you okay? Akaashi can almost hear the unspoken words. Hinata glances back at him with a bright smile before straightening up—an affirmative—and Kageyama holds his silence and returns to his position.

Another couple plays, another rotation, and the shrimp and setter sync as if they’ve finally hit the same wave length. The little redhead gets two consecutive points off his hits, the first a complete misread on their side and the second a block out off Kuroo’s hands that no matter how far Yaku stretches for, he comes up short.

Tanaka’s serves are as varied and unpredictable as the bald crow himself and the next one chips the top of the net and Akaashi dives to keep it up. Kuroo scrambles and takes the set, sending it to the back row for Yamaguchi. The crow lines up and his hand connects perfectly. The ball whizzes past Hinata’s block and down just in front of Asahi. Hinata is doing well; his hands were well above the net and he seems to be loosening up, but Akaashi has to smirk. The diminutive freckled crow at his back is a shoo-in for dynamite serves and his back-row attack is pretty close to one.

They rotate and in a moment where Akaashi is sure he’s gone completely mental, he serves the ball straight into the net. Bokuto laughs and murmurs some encouragement but Akaashi scoffs as he lines up to receive.

“Shove it you streaked pigeon.” He grumbles, irritated with his own lapse of concentration.

Hinata rotates into the back and his serve floats high. Akaashi quickly moves forward, letting Yaku and Lev cover the back line. Though nothing impressive, the lanky cat has gotten much better at receives– what with Yaku as his leveler—and Hinata’s will be light enough that the owl setter isn’t worried. As the ball pops up for him, he takes stock of the other side in an instant.

Tsukishima is in front again and the only one on their side who can legitimately outjump the blond is Lev who is back line at the moment. The blocker is clever and good at picking up cues so Kuroo will have a challenge to get it past him—especially if they pull in either side blocker for a double. But as good as the ibis is at reading hits, Daichi is better and Bokuto would be facing two blockers guaranteed unless the black cat could draw Tsukishima off, so his default to the other owl is probably less sound than Kuroo.

But… Hinata served so that means Noya isn’t in again yet and with Kageyama setting, only the redhead and Tanaka will be guarding the back.  The real threat is Tsukishima; if Kuroo can fool him, Akaashi can find one of the wing spikers. And since the longer set from his position—and therefore the easier one to read with more time to react—is to Bokuto, the optimal choice is Yamaguchi behind him. If the crow goes up against Asahi alone, he has a good chance of beating him.

Kuroo is very attentive and Akaashi knows he doesn’t miss the motion when he ticks his left ear as he brings his hands over his head for the set. The cat lines up and rushes a step ahead of tempo, faking a quick… and Akaashi smothers his grin as Tsukishima bites. The ball leaves his hands headed for Yamaguchi and he hears the ibis swear.

He turns in time to see the crow connect, the ball just outside of Asahi’s elbow and headed for center court. Tanaka dives and gets under it but it ricochets. Hinata’s feet are flying before any of the other Karasuno members react. The ball sails far off-court and Noya whistles on the sideline, but the short crow grins confidently at the small redhead speeding toward it.

Hinata’s nearly in the reeds at the edge of the beach when he turns to get a visual back on the court and swings, stopping his shoulders and arms to make the platform solid even as his feet and body keep going. Really his ball control and handling has improved immensely. The redhead stumbles backward as the ball leaves his forearms and there’s a catch in Akaashi’s head—like he’s forgotten something—before the ball is heading straight back to the court almost on top of Tsukishima’s position.

The ibis sets his feet and simply leaps, aiming for Lev’s back corner. Akaashi knows the grey cat will never reach it as it slips by Kuroo and Yamaguchi and it drops before he can dive. The owl setter straightens and blows out a half sigh.

Tsukishima won’t fall too often for Kuroo’s slips. He turns back toward the net, resolved to try Kuroo this time as he waits for Hinata to serve again… but the redhead is nowhere in sight. His eyes snap toward the last place he saw him and he almost flinches.

That’s what he’d forgotten.

There was a log firmly lodged into the sand after the tsunami amid the seagrass where the redhead had chased the ball down, the reeds almost completely hiding it from view. But the grasses are disturbed, the stalks broken and bent, and Akaashi knows the small spiker went over it. Kageyama is already headed his way and Akaashi notices Kuroo go rigid.

“Hinata?”

Kenma jerks to his feet from the sideline behind them, sand flying, and when Akaashi looks toward him, the golden cat’s pupils are huge as his gaze locks with Kuroo. None of them can really see him, but the odd catch in the redhead’s voice puts everyone on alert when he answers.

“K… Kageyama…” It’s half whimper and sounds like he’s in some steep pain and Akaashi automatically assumes he landed on his back. Kageyama is instantly hurtling over the log, his shoulders tense—and then he freezes.

“Shit.” The expletive is out of his mouth almost too quietly to hear as he drops down and Daichi starts heading toward them with a frown that borders on anxious.

“Suga?” Kageyama’s voice is full of fear and uncertainty as he calls for the thrush. “Suga, we need Kiyoko!”

The thrush nods and splits to go find the female crow while the entire Karasuno side immediately drift toward the terrified words of the other setter, Noya scrambling with panic.

“Better get Yachi, too.” The black cat says and Kenma takes off without a backward glance, streaking toward the house. The owl takes quick stock of the other two cats and notes how they both look tense from head to toe.

“Oi.” Akaashi says at Kuroo’s shoulder. “What do you guys know that we don’t?” He says uncertainly, because the black cat had sent Kenma for Yachi.

Yachi…that can only mean…

“Blood.” Kuroo says heavily as he starts toward where the Karasuno unit huddle with horrified gasps around Kageyama’s bent shape on the other side of the log.

“A lot of it.”

Level Pair ; Chapter 1; Chapter 30; Chapter 32

A/N:  An Akaashi chapter ^.^ I'm not sure how to write him, because my biggest impressions on him are polite, but occasionally blunt.

I have spent the last twenty four hours in the company of an 18mo old and a five year old... yearly dose of birth control covered, lol. They are hands down honestly some of the BEST kids I've ever been around and I love them, but I'm never having my own. If any of you people have children, I raise my drink to you, because I don't think I could ever do it.

So, looks like i'm going to have 37 chapters total. I currently have two chapters I still have to hash out, so I don't know if I can promise daily updates on those two, but I should have some down time and will be working to finish them on schedule. Again, you guys are the best. Have a lovely evening guys!

[recentanimenews]

Bookshelf Briefs 12/12/17

Captain Harlock: Dimensional Voyage, Vol. 2 | By Leiji Matsumoto and Kouiti Shimaboshi | Seven Seas – Harlock has a scar. This is useful information in this volume, as in some panels it’s the only way to tell that you’re looking at him and not Tadashi, who has that same hair that seems to be blowing in the wind even in the corridors of a spaceship. The highlight of this second volume, though, may be the flashback to the first meeting of Harlock and Tochiro, which we’ve seen before in other adaptations and no doubt will again, but is always fun to show off what a badass Tochiro is despite looking like a short creepy guy. There’s also more drama from the Mazon, who now have a bounty out on Harlock. Dimensional Voyage continues to be a decent adaptation in any case. – Sean Gaffney

Cells at Work!, Vol. 5 | By Akane Shimizu | Kodansha Comics – We reunite with a cell with a history of befriending germs. He’s feeling lonely and bored, and wishes he could save someone and earn their gratitude. The chance presents itself and he ends up saving… some cute bacteria. Turns out, they’re good bacteria, and the whole volume consists of White Blood Cell giving the cell a tour of the digestive system, during which each variety of good bacteria finds its specialty and ends up saving the day. The cell bravely protects the bacteria throughout, and meanwhile we get an actually fairly dramatic return of Cancer Cell who is being protected by a regulatory cell, and who pitches his version of utopia in which the body’s cells revolt and refuse to kill each other for the body’s sake. There was almost some kind of plot there for a second! All in all, this was a pretty fun volume. – Michelle Smith

A Centaur’s Life, Vol. 13 | By Kei Murayama | Seven Seas – You never quite know from chapter to chapter what kind of Centaur’s Life you’ll get. Sometimes the “wtf” comes from the historical or political chapters, such as the retelling of the movie The Thing with snakes, or the ongoing war with the frogs (and their human advisor). But oftentimes it’s also with our main cast. We get another chapter devoted to Michi and Mitsu, the lesbian couple in the series, which shows us that one is the heir to a yakuza family, complete with assassination attempts. And sometimes there’s bizarre dream sequences, like Suu and Hime setting fire to the creepiest “factory” you’ve ever seen. Sure, sometimes we get adorable toddler sequences, but they’re fewer and fewer in number. The author has dreams, that’s for sure. – Sean Gaffney

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 21 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki | Viz Media – More exams, and much as I’m enjoying these chapters the arc is already feeling dragged out. Turns out that when you actively try to suppress the resisters by cheating, it doesn’t work, as they’re clever enough—and good enough chefs—to get around such petty tricks. Which leaves more time for sightseeing in Hokkaido and bonding with unusual pairings—I was amused at seeing Ikumi, Isami, Erina and Megumi walking around town and thinking it’s an unusual group, only for Isami to say the exact same thing. Things may get harder soon, though, as now Soma has to fight Hayama, and the ingredient is absolutely stacked in his favor. Is this the end for our hero? Well, no. But find out why next time. – Sean Gaffney

Giant Killing, Vol. 8 | By Masaya Tsunamoto and Tsujitomo | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – ETU’s game against Osaka continues, though it’s not going well, as the first half ends with the score 2-0. And yet Tatsumi smirks, sure that his counterattack is going to be effective. Soon, though, it becomes clear that he had misjudged Natsuki’s confidence, as the latter fumbles chance after chance that his teammates worked their butts off to create. Seeing the continued growth of ETU members is great, but I also really liked getting a glimpse inside the mind of Kubota, one of the Osaka forwards, who looks plain and unassuming, but who makes great split-second decisions (wholly unlike Natsuki) and who spurs Tsubaki to greatness. I kind of want him to join ETU, in fact, though that seems unlikely. The volume concludes before the match does, so I am definitely looking forward to volume nine! – Michelle Smith

Haikyu!!, Vol. 18 | By Haruichi Furudate | VIZ Media – Karasuno has made it to the finals of the qualifying round, where they’re up against the prefectural favorite, Shiratorizawa. They lost the first set, but in the second they’re starting to get a hang for how to combat their powerhouse rival. Surprisingly, Tsukishima is utterly key to this, as he’s the one who figures out some of their patterns and timing, and starts blocking them in such a way that allows Nishinoya to do his thing. Somehow, Tsukishima has really endeared himself to me lately, and I love seeing him actually get fired up and relentless about something in his own way. (I also adored the Potteresque poster at the end featuring him!) The volume ends with each team struggling to make two consecutive points and take the second set. How does this series manage to become even more nail-bitey each time?! Not that I’m complaining. – Michelle Smith

Haikyu!!, Vol. 18 | By Haruichi Furudate | Viz Media – The evolution of Tsukishima from “tall grumpy asshole” to “CLEVER tall grumpy asshole” has been highly rewarding, and this volume shows off his maturation to excellent effect, to the point where he actually leads some of the strategy. He’d do well in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, I think. Nishinoya is also impressive throughout, and there are the occasional moments for our two leads. It’s still a tight game, though, and we get a lot of chapters devoted to showing us that while they have one really talented guy, that’s not quite all they have. The cliffhanger shows us veering back and forth between set points, but this is best 3-of-5, so I’m sure we have a ways to go. Excellent sports manga. – Sean Gaffney

Helvetica Standard: Italic | By Keiichi Arawi | Vertical Comics – As with the first volume, we start with the Helvetica Standard 4-komas. They have the strange sense of humor we know and love from Arawi, but do suffer a bit from lacking a lovable main cast—there are some recurring roles, but it’s even more random than Nichijou was. After this we get the original art that was used for the DVD/Blu-Ray covers, and again I like the way he works surreal art styles into them. He enjoys playing with the space given to him, sometimes in a very Escher way, and dislikes leaving blank space when he can fill it with something else. This is inessential, but I was pleased to see it anyway, and it’s whetted my appetite for the new series City in the spring. -Sean Gaffney

Kuroko’s Basketball, Vol. 17-18 | By Tadatoshi Fujimaki | Viz Media – As you’d expect, Seirin have managed to score some points by the end of this omnibus, so they aren’t shut out. Things still aren’t looking good, though, despite their amazing secret weapon—Kuroko actually shooting and scoring! He’s sort of hit-and-miss, but it’s another unpredictable aspect to his game. Things aren’t going nearly as well for Kagami, who’s finding it very hard to get past the huge and somewhat arrogant Murasakibara on the other team. He wants to get back in ‘the zone,’ but easier said than done. As for Kiyoshi, well, he’s still injured, and thus can’t contribute the way he wants. Though hopefully Riko beating the injury out of him offscreen may help. Exciting stuff. – Sean Gaffney

Queen’s Quality, Vol. 2 | By Kyousuke Motomi | Viz Media – After some terrifying sequences last time, we’re dealing with the aftermath—a lot of the students that Ms. Hayashi had been “dealing with” are also infested with bugs. As for Ms. Hayashi herself, she’s dying—and only Fumi seems to want to try to take the “save her” option. Of course, saving her might involve becoming the Black Queen again, but Fumi is able to move past that and become… possibly Fuyu? Whoever it is that takes over Fumi, she brings a memory of the traumatic death of her mother with her. But it’s not all drama and thrilling tension—Fumi’s choice of a weapon to fight with is a gag that will make you laugh hysterically, something Motomi excels at. Definitely recommended for shoujo fans. – Sean Gaffney

Waiting for Spring, Vol. 3 | By Anashin | Kodansha Comics – This third volume shows off more of the love triangle between Mitsuki, Towa and Aya, but two of those three are just so awkward that there’s not really any danger of sparks flying—even the one-on-one basketball game between the two guys is cut short by Mitsuki, who has a sneaking suspicion it would go badly for Towa. We also get the addition of another female friend, not always something that happens in a shoujo series. She’s shy but also straightforward, and has a pretty obvious crush, so I hope their friendship can survive things. This isn’t top-drawer shoujo, but it’s pleasant enough, and the lead girl is indecisive but not dragged around by the plot as much as some. �� Sean Gaffney

Welcome to the Ballroom, Vol. 8 | By Tomo Takeuchi | Kodansha Comics – It’s not that this volume of Welcome to the Ballroom is bad by any stretch, but for 99% of it, Tatara and Chinatsu are failing to communicate as partners, and it’s a bit excruciating. I suppose enduring this does make it all the sweeter when they finally achieve a few measures of harmony whilst competing in the Metropolitan Tournament, though. I did enjoy seeing Tatara briefly looking manly, and it seems like he’s on the verge of overcoming his timid personality. There are a couple of brief panels that look like Tatara’s mother abandoning the family when Tatara was a kid, which suggests he’s afraid to drive people away by really expressing himself, but Chinatsu is just the one to demand that from him. After all of their struggles, it sure will be gratifying to see them get it together. – Michelle Smith

By: Michelle Smith