Yo! Yuuri Nikiforov here with my first story. A series of short One-Shots based off a comment a friend made. My friend was wondering aloud if people think Kozume Kenma is rich or something because he often has lots of brand new video games in fanfiction. So, I was like, "Well, what if some of the characters were from really important families? Important enough that their families would arrange marriages for them to further the family business and such?" Of course, this means stories with lots of OC's, mostly because we know very little about a lot of characters families. The OC's won't be described much, except maybe for the girl that the chosen character will end up with since she'll be the most important and it's the character's view on her that matters. I try not to go too angsty, so most of these will be either good endings or open to interpretation. I think they'll be more about the bachelor finding out who he's going to marry and meeting her for the first time.
I'm not positive how many chapters this will have before I'm done, but I have the first two written so far. I'm willing to listen to requests if there's someone a lot of readers want to see react to an arranged marriage, but I already have future chapters planned for Bokuto, Oikawa, Kuroo, Yaku, and Daichi.
There are a few tentative characters I'm a bit iffy on like Ennoshita (underrated awesome guy he is), Konoha (underrated awesome guy #2), and possibly Kyotani (aka Mad Dog) just for the hell of it.
That's it for now, Yuuri Nikiforov out~!
First Arrangement: Akaashi Keiji
Fukurodani Academy wasn't just a school known for its volleyball. It was a school known to host the families of the rich and important. Normally, those children were so self-important and stuck up they were obvious to pick out. Such was not always the case, however.
"Why is Akaashi-kun mad at Bokuto-senpai this time?" One girl questioned as her classmate laid into their senpai with a good verbal tongue lashing.
"Apparently, Bokuto-senpai was complaining about not being able to get a girlfriend and that Akaashi was lucky to be so popular" A boy answered. "But now Akaashi is laying into him about why Bokuto-senpai is the lucky one."
"You really don't get it, do you?!" Akaashi's face was alight with fury. "You're lucky you get to choose who you'll date and marry! I don't have that choice! Do you think I turn all those girls down for fun?!"
"I-eh, w-what?" The owl-like senpai, Bokuto, stuttered.
"My family, the Akaashi family, is very influential in the business world. I have no choice of partner. I'm forbidden from dating or even falling in love unless my father deems the girl 'suitable'. You're lucky, Bokuto-san. You get a choice. You can go out and find the love of your life. By the end of this year…I'll be married to a girl who is likely a stranger to me. Don't complain about not being able to find a girlfriend, Bokuto-san. There are girls here who love you for who you are, not for being the volleyball team ace, and you can decide if one of them is right for you or if you'll wait a bit longer. I don't have that choice. That choice was stripped from me the moment I was born an Akaashi. My future wife has yet to be decided…but what I do know is I'll be married before my third year in high school and my wife will be unable to attend University because of her marriage to me."
The whole class was gaping at the black haired setter. They hadn't thought the quiet and mild mannered teen was from the Akaashi family. They'd just thought he had the same surname!
That was when Akaashi's phone began to ring. He quickly answered with a simple, "Good afternoon, father."
Their classmate was silent as he listened to his fathers words for several minutes.
"I see" Akaashi finally spoke. "So, I'm to marry her, then? No…that's fine. Thank you for taking my preferences into consideration at all. I look forward to meeting her tonight. Yes, of course. I'll notify the Captain at once, I was speaking with him just as you called. Yes…thank you for allowing me to continue in my club, father. Of course, my grades will be as high as always in return. Then, I'll see you at dinner tonight. Goodbye, father"
The call was ended, and Akaashi sighed.
"Your…uh…your dad…?" Bokuto mumbled.
"My wife has been chosen for me. The second child and heiress to a multi-billion dollar corporation. Thankfully, father took my preferences into consideration by choosing someone from the sports world that actually enjoys sports, though her sport of choice is baseball. At least she should be able to understand the love I have for Volleyball. Her family is the one that owns the companies to make our volleyballs and other sports equipment. ICS and Mikasa are owned by them."
"Sugoi…that's quite the family" Bokuto said in awe.
"Mm. I've never met her, despite the many meetings I've been to with both companies and with the family itself. Tachibana Nami...I wonder why she's been kept hidden until now…ah, but that reminds me. Bokuto-san, I won't be at practice after school today. I have to go home to get ready for dinner with the Tachibana Group. Normally, my excuse to get out of these dinners is having to stay late for practice, but it's a dinner to announce my engagement to Tachibana-sama's only daughter, so I must be in attendance."
Bokuto just nodded and stiffly made his way out of Akaashi's classroom.
Classes ended far too soon for Akaashi's liking and, soon enough, he was sliding into the back seat of a limo sent for him by his father.
Akaashi Keita usually allowed his youngest son to do as he pleased, so long as he didn't embarrass the family name in any way, but today was a day for all the pomp and circumstance that Keita knew Keiji hated.
Akaashi Keiji stepped out of the limo once it arrived at his family's large traditional Japanese-style house. He thanked the driver, who smiled gratefully (Keiji was the only one in the family that ever thanked him for doing his work well), and entered his childhood home.
The house itself was large and airy, being that it was a Japanese style house with sliding screen doors and tatami mats, but Keiji had always thought it felt rather lonely. He and his older by five years brother Keito, had grown up mostly without their parents influence, Keiji more so than Keito. As soon as Keito could walk and talk somewhat decently, he was being carted around and raised as their fathers heir. Keito had been married for two years now, had one child, and was a shell of the small boy Keiji remembered running through the halls with as a little boy.
After Keito's tenth birthday, their father forbid him to play, even in their own house. He said the help (the maids, butler, etc.) would spread rumors among their friends about how unprofessional Keito was if he played all the time.
Keiji was lucky, unlike his brother. As the second child, he still learnt all he needed to one day take over the company, just in case it turned out his brother was unfit. But Keiji was given more freedom.
He was allowed to join a club at school, he could go out with friends who were 'commoners' and behave somewhat like a normal teenager if one ignored the fact that he had to keep his composure and behavior perfect at all times (which he sometimes wasn't able to, but his father thankfully chalked it up to teenage hormones instead of Keiji just having bottled up too many emotions).
Keiji showered and changed into one of his 'important dinner' approved suits. God, he hated those things. He secretly hoped Keito would live a long life and pass the family company on to his own children, just so Keiji wouldn't have to deal with it after his marriage to form an alliance with the Tachibana Group.
Keiji wanted to play volleyball as a professional, he didn't want to be stuck in some stuffy office all day.
The restaurant they went to was very high class. High class enough to have a private room for them to use. Keiji had to meet his parents, brother and sister-in-law there. His brother's nanny was likely caring for baby Kenta at home during the meeting and meal.
"Why, Keiji!" The lady Tachibana-san cooed the moment she saw him, "You've certainly grown up into such a fine young man! So handsome!"
Keiji bowed politely in greeting, "Thank you for the kind words, Tachibana-san. You look lovely this evening yourself"
"Please, please, just call me Yuko! Now, Nami-chan isn't quite ready. She's in the bathroom collecting her nerves but she'll be out in just a moment. I do hope she's to your liking"
"I'm sure the two of us will get along fine" Keiji replied diplomatically. "We have several points in common, after all"
"That's right, you like a sport too, don't you? It may not be the same sport, but you can at least bond over a shared love for your particular sport! What sport is it that you enjoy?" Yuko questioned as he husband approached the two.
"I play volleyball for Fukurodani Academy. I'm the first string setter" Keiji said proudly. "I have to put up with a wild flock of owls…but I wouldn't have them any other way"
"Seems you're enjoying your team, Keiji!" Yuko's husband, Jin, stated with a smile. "Are there any good players on your team?"
"Being bias, I'd say everyone" Keiji replied, to laughter from the Tachibana couple, "To be honest, though…Bokuto Koutarou, our Captain and Ace, is among the Top Ten high school spikers in Japan. He could easily go pro…but his emotional state depends on his team. He easily gets depressed. I suppose…moody, is the word for him. He needs someone that can handle him as his setter, otherwise he slips into a depression if something isn't going his way in a game. If the setter and team know how to pull him out of it, though…he bounces back tougher than ever. I've been told from the moment I became interested in sports that 'one person can make the mood of a team'. I didn't understand until I met Bokuto-san and saw how he encouraged the team to rise from even the lowest of moods. He's…the best captain I could ever ask for."
"You speak so passionately about your team, Keiji" Jin mused. "I might just have to come watch one of your games this year. I don't often get out to see the volleyball games and it would be a good chance to see our products in action as well as see you play"
"I'd be honored if you could come" Keiji said, "Nationals are coming up soon. Perhaps you could come to a game or watch one on television? There will be live broadcasts of all the games past the preliminaries."
"I'll be sure to!" Jin laughed heartily.
Everyone was soon called to sit for dinner, which was when the mysterious Tachibana Nami made her appearance.
She wasn't overly flamboyant and beautiful like her mother, dolled up though she was. She had a simple elegance about her, with her long brown hair tied in a simple bun and a light application of makeup that complimented her black and white dress. The amount of jewellery she wore was minimal, but what she did wear was all solid gold.
Keiji noted that her outfit was mostly Fukurodani's colours, just as his was with his black suit, white dress shirt and yellow tie.
There was no way it could have been organized that they would match, seeing as he had chosen his own outfit, but he was sure that someone had arranged for her to wear Fukurodani's colours for a reason.
She took the only free seat, to Keiji's left, and both Jin and Keita stood.
It wasn't just the Akaashi's and Tachibana's there that evening. Their associates and several important business partners were present as well.
"We've gathered you all here today for a celebration" Jin began. "My daughter is seventeen years old now. She'll be eighteen in a few months and it's time she get engaged to be married"
Several of the younger business men, all in their early twenties and the heirs to their families companies, leaned forward eagerly as if they expected to be the ones announced as her husband-to-be.
"Tachibana-san has long-since been hinting on offering his daughter's hand to my youngest son" Keita picked up. "We hadn't wanted to formally agree on anything until they were both old enough to not only understand the decision, but to understand each other. In the end, we want what's best for our children, and we believe that what's best for them is a future together."
Nami shifted uncomfortably in her seat and mumbled so low Keiji barely heard her, "If I was really loved…they wouldn't force me to marry…"
He knew how she felt, of course. He'd felt it on multiple occasions.
Without thinking, Keiji reached over and took her hand on her knee. He laced their fingers together and gave her hand a squeeze.
It might not have been their choice…but they could at least weather through it together.
It might not truly be an end, as he had thought, but a beginning. He and Nami shared some common interests, for a start, even if they couldn't fall in love they could become good friends and survive the perils of an arranged marriage together.
Deep in his heart of hearts, though…he hoped they could find love in each other. It would be a lonely life, otherwise, and Keiji was tired of being lonely so often.
Thanks for reading! Just a simple note: Updates will be sporadic at best. My inspiration for stories goes all over the place and I can spend a month writing one story then not go back to it for another four or five months so just a warning. But, because these are so short, I'll probably write two or three at a time and post them a few days to a week apart so that there's time for me to write new chapters.
Thank you for your patience,
Yuuri Nikiforov