I can't believe I'm posting YET another chapter! ^^"
Oh well...
In this chapter there are some time jumping, of only a few days and we get to see Nekoma! :D
Thank you for the ones who followed and favorited!
Guest : You were curious about the ex-boyfriend but in the end, you had your answer! I'm glad you like this fanfiction! :D
Empryexl : I was surprised it surprised you that it'd be Kuroo! I absolutely love Bokuto, but no, Kohaku was with Kuroo! ^^ Tho, I didn't understand what you said in this sentence "I thought from the celebration of the win it'd be Bokuto." but I must be tired... Anyway! I'm glad you were surprised by the fact it was Kuroo and I'm glad you like this fanfic! :D
FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : From Evening to Dawn
CHAPTER VII : Overwhelmed and Lost
"When life gets hectic and you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to focus on the people and things you are most grateful for. When you have an attitude of gratitude, frustrating troubles will fall by the wayside."
― Dana Arcuri, Harvest of Hope: Living Victoriously Through Adversity, A 50-Day Devotional
"In this world, it is too common for people to search for someone to lose themselves in. But I am already lost. I will look for someone to find myself in."
― C. JoyBell C.
Tanaka and Nishinoya were the last ones leaving the gymnasium (after forcing Hinata and Kageyama out, going off sprinting and shouting).
"Y'know… It sorts of explain things," Noya suddenly said, hands behind his head as he looked up at the starry sky.
"What are you talking about?"
"Kohaku-san. She helped Asahi come back to us. Why would she have done that? But if she already knew volleyball, she must have been curious about Karasuno's team."
"I didn't think of it this way but it's true…" Tanaka murmured, "I wonder what the Nekoma's Captain is like."
"I mostly wonder how Asahi will react when we'll face him…"
Somewhere else in the quiet city, Asahi and Kohaku were walking side by side in a heavy silence.
"Sooo… Nekoma's Captain…?" He hesitated before cursing himself for starting to talk about this when he definitely didn't want to hear about him.
Kohaku looked up at him, silent for a moment before sighing.
"What do you want to know about him?"
"I-I don't… what… hm… W-what sort of player is he…?"
"I already said that. He's strong and powerful, a very good blocker. But that's not what you really want to know, Asahi, right?" She asked, stopping to face him.
His heart squeezed a little painfully but he looked at her, brave for once in his life.
"N-not really…"
"Then what do you want to know about Tetsurou and I?" She continued with a gentle, somewhat sad smile.
"W-what happened? Why…"
He looked down and she sighed once again, mostly because she wasn't sure what to say.
"We were together for about a year but in the end… we couldn't keep up with the illusions. He and I… we're too much alike…" She said with a hesitant smile, "But like I said we're still good friends, and it's best this way."
Asahi stared at her, feeling sad for the way she had just talked about her former boyfriend. She had a sad smile, but it wasn't a brokenhearted sort of sadness. She obviously cared a lot about this Tetsurou. But things didn't work out, and that was what saddened her most.
"I just live uphill, thanks for taking me so far, Asahi!" She exclaimed, starting to walk upwards to the hill.
"Ah… You're welcome…" He answered, more out of reflex than anything.
He stared at her figure for a moment before turning around and going home.
This night, after Kohaku had eaten her dinner and taken a shower, she opened her phone and stared at the screen for a moment. Opening her contacts list, she touched the screen and brought up the phone, a familiar voice answering after a few ringing.
"What brings the pleasure of you calling me, little feather?" A familiar voice asked teasingly.
"I already told you to stop calling me that… Tetsu…" She answered but a smile played on her lips.
Start of the Golden Week
The Karasuno boys were running in town, Daichi trying to keep in check all the crazy crows – especially the first years. No matter how hard he tried, though, there was so much he could do and Hinata and Kageyama went off running and shouting like crazy.
"Hey! Don't go off!" He exclaimed.
"Hinata! Kageyama!" Suga called.
"They're so enthusiast." Asahi said with a sheepish smile.
"I'm gonna race too! Tanaka!" Noya exclaimed but as he ran off, Daichi grabbed him by the collar before the other second-year could even think about racing him.
"No. We stay together. We'll catch up to them eventually. Perhaps. We keep running to the same pace!"
What they didn't know was that at the far-off other side of the street, where the two first-years had run to, Kohaku was walking peacefully. She was about to turn at a corner when suddenly, an orange and shouting blur went right past her. She looked over her shoulder with wide eyes, curious about this strange animal that just ran like a mad creature. She turned to continue walking but before she could take another step, another shouting mad thing (this time with dark hair) ran into her violently.
They both fell on the ground with a loud yelp and groaned from the hard ground.
Realizing that the shouting abnormalities had been two idiots running and shouting like crazy, Kohaku saw red. Groaning she pushed off her body the dark-haired – still grumbling boy – just as the Karasuno team arrived at the corner and understood at once what had happened.
"Kageyama!" Daichi exclaimed, seeing the setter down – with a girl he had just tackled on the ground in his running – "That's why you can't go running off like–"
His voice trailed off when, ignoring him completely, Kohaku grabbed the imbecile's collar and got them both up, lifting him up with one hand, the other going into a fist ready to punch him. Waking up from his short moment of daze after falling so suddenly, Kageyama gasped when his feet didn't reach the ground anymore.
"Can't you watch where you're going, you bastard?!" She shouted, glaring ferociously at the setter whose eyes widened.
The Karasuno team, frozen in shock to see Kohaku – who was threatening and holding one of their tallest members without trouble. Only Asahi didn't look quite as surprised as the others, if anything he was just surprised to see Kohaku during the Golden Week.
Recognizing the boy she was holding by the collar, Kohaku blinked.
"Kageyama-kun?" She asked.
To his great shame, Kageyama Tobio squealed in answer. She dropped him and he wavered backwards, unstable on his feet after: running to great speed, falling violently, being furiously lifted up by his collar then dropped back on the ground.
"Kohaku-san, what are you doing here?" Noya asked excitedly while, in the background, Daichi and Suga scolded Kageyama for running off and (almost) injuring someone.
"I live in this town." She replied blatantly before pointing at the road she had come from, "I live up-hill, over there. I was just going in town for groceries then, I'm going to see some friends. What are you doing here? Sweaty and stinky in the middle of the roads."
"Running! And these two idiots went off on their own, shouting like mad-men and then they bumped into you." Noya explained.
"Two?" She hesitated, tilting her head on a side before glancing at Kageyama, still being scolded, "I only see one idiot."
The Karasuno team looked around and after checking on the ground for any corpse or other collateral damage, realized that, indeed, there was only one idiot.
"Where is Hinata?" Asahi asked at last.
"He must have gotten lost. This idiot wasn't looking where he was going," Kageyama said.
"You're not any better!" Kohaku hissed, glaring at the first-year who startled and looked away in embarrassment.
"We have to go back to school, but we can't let Hinata alone wandering in the streets…" Daichi started, frowning to himself.
"I'll go get him, you all go back to school!" Suga said before going off slowly, watching around for any sign of the short boy.
"All right, everyone! We start running again!" Daichi exclaimed, tapping in his hands to motivate his teammates.
Asahi and Kohaku glanced at each other as the team started running.
"Then… I'll see you back at school, at the end of the Golden Week!" He said before slowly going off.
Kohaku opened her mouth to say something but smiled, waving at the team.
It'll be interesting to keep it a surprise, she thought to herself with a chuckle.
Karasuno Sougou Sports Center, a few days later…
The teams of Karasuno and Nekoma, respectively representing Miyagi and Tokyo, were facing each other in front of the Sports Center. For the finale day of the Golden Week, the two teams would fight against one another for the first 'Battle of the Garbage Dump' in five years. Tension could already be felt despite the joyful feeling of playing volleyball.
After the initial first meeting, the two teams got to have a little insight of their members by chatting – or rather, trying to impress the other team and/or trying to maintain a ghost of order. It was a hard enough job when they were on their own, but now that the cats and ravens were reunited, they were even wilder.
Hinata and Kenma were discussing about their previous meeting a few days ago when the raven boy had gotten lost. Tanaka Ryuunosuke and Yamamoto Taketora were facing each other down while their teams' mothers, Sugawara Koushi and Yaku Morisuke, were taming them. For some reason, after spotting the Karasuno team's manager, Yamamoto started running away, crying and screaming.
"I'll make you regret this!" He exclaimed, being followed by Yaku.
"Yamamoto, shut up! You're embarrassing!" Kuroo Tetsurou, Nekoma's Captain, exclaimed, frowning at his sparse kittens.
Suddenly, his vice-captain, Kai Nobuyuki, blinked, looking a little astonished.
"Oh, Kohaku… Kohaku is here!" He exclaimed.
At once, all members of both Nekoma and Karasuno froze and stopped everything they were doing to turn around. Minamoto Kohaku was approaching the Karasuno Sports Center with a bag, dressed casually, smiling and waving at them.
Kuroo's heart missed a beat but no one seemed to notice his trouble. Further away, Asahi felt the exact same way.
"Kohaku-senpai!" Tanaka and Yamamoto exclaimed in the same time before glancing at each other in confusion.
"How do you know Kohaku-senpai?" Yamamoto asked.
"Because I transferred at Karasuno, that's why, Yamamoto," Kohaku answered as she arrived in the middle of the ravens and cats.
"You went to the enemy?!" Yamamoto exclaimed, overly dramatic.
She shook her head with a light smile, amused by his behavior more than anything.
"Kohaku-san, why are you here?" Daichi asked, coming up to her.
"I came to watch your match, of course!" She answered, "I hope you don't mind?"
"I don't mind at all but…"
His voice trailed off and he glanced between Asahi and Nekoma's team before looking back at the young girl.
"I hope you'll enjoy the match." He said with a smile.
She smiled back just as Kuroo went to her. They stared at each other for a moment before she smiled. The Nekoma team was perfectly aware that their Captain had dated Kohaku – which was part of why they knew her already. And as for Karasuno… they already knew about Kohaku's past with Nekoma's volleyball team, especially their Captain, and it was obvious to them which one was the Captain at this very moment.
"Tetsurou…" She started with a smile, "I'd love to say it's been a while but…"
"We've seen each other just a few days ago." he finished, making everyone's eyes widen – no one knew that, a few days ago, when Nekoma's team had arrived in town, these two had met without telling anyone.
Asahi glanced from afar between the two. He didn't know much about the Captain but he was tall and handsome – it annoyed Asahi to admit it, but this Captain looked wilder than him with his spiky hair. Some time ago, Kohaku had said that the reason why it hadn't worked between them was because they were too much alike. From the outside, it definitely didn't seem like it.
Kohaku's eyes shone in this slightly joyful light, bathed with a hint of sadness. A similar expression was on Kuroo's face.
The two teams stared at the former couple, slightly worried of what might happen.
Suddenly, their expressions changed completely: a side-grin came on their faces and their eyes glinted with a dangerous, mischievous light.
"I know you miss me, little feather, but you should have warned me you'd come." Kuroo started with a wink – making Karasuno's team, and mostly Asahi, choke.
"And miss to see your adorable and surprised expression? No way." She replied without even blinking.
"You're charming me, little feather."
"I told you to quit it with this ridiculous nickname."
"But it suits you so well – especially now that you've gone over to Karasuno. You're a raven now, right? Don't you know how dangerous it is to come here, today, when so many cats are around? You might get eaten, sweetheart." He continued with a flirtatious grin, his eyes sparkling in amusement.
Kohaku chuckled before leaning forwards with her sly grin – it was the first time Karasuno was seeing her so… bold and flirting, it was highly disturbing (especially for Asahi who didn't know how to feel anymore).
"We both know you've never managed to keep up with me, hun."
"Careful what you wish for, sweetie."
She smiled in an amused way while silence fell between them. Kuroo jerked his head backwards, laughing, followed by her own laugh.
"I missed you, Kohaku!" He exclaimed before taking her in his arms.
"I missed you too, Captain!" She mocked with a snort.
He pulled away, frowning lightly, faking to be hurt by her ironic tone.
"You hurt my feelings, I'm a very good Captain!"
"U-uh. I know you are. You were cut for the work, after all…" She added with a wink, walking past him.
He threw her a playful look and as she walked past him, she tapped his butt joyfully. Kuroo wasn't even phased by it, his grin getting bigger.
"Did she just flirt with Nekoma's Captain?" Suga asked Daichi, leaning towards him.
The Karasuno Captain shrugged while Tanaka leaned towards Nishinoya, talking low so that he would be the only one to hear.
"Hey… I thought they weren't together anymore? Did she lie?"
"I don't know? They look a bit too playful for me. It looks like they're still dating…" He answered with a shrug.
"I never thought she'd be able to be so…"
The others all nodded silently before they seemed to remember Asahi's presence. They turned towards him, slightly worried but he had a blank and neutral expression on his face. He looked into Kohaku and Tetsurou's direction but didn't seem to care about their interaction.
"I have something for you, boys!" Kohaku exclaimed at the Nekoma team, "The usual Good Luck!"
She pulled out a big bento box from her bag and all the cats surged towards her with big smiles.
"Kohaku's cookies! I had missed them so much!" One of them exclaimed happily as they distributed equally for each and everyone of them.
"Kuroo! Date her again! We'll get the cookies again! The first-years, come here and taste!" Another added to this gesture that used to be a ritual.
Only Kenma stayed away from the overwhelming team, but his eyes were staring right at his friend and ex-girlfriend. They acted fine and relaxed, but everytime no one was watching, their bodies would tense and they'd glance nervously at one another. Kenma sighed to himself, wanting the day to be over with.
"They were pretty shaken to not have you around at the beginning of the year," Kuroo said to Kohaku so she would be the only one to hear him, "They miss their lucky-charm."
"I've never been your lucky-charm. You're good enough on your own." She answered with a smile, "I miss them too…"
"And you don't miss me?" He asked, glancing down at her.
She looked back up at him, a strange expression on her face. They stared at each other, electricity sparkling between them before she looked away.
"You know I do…"
"I'm the shocked one this time…" He hissed to himself in a low voice.
He hadn't wanted her to hear, but she did anyway, sadness taking over her features.
"Testurou, I–" She started.
"Later – we have a match to play! Everyone, go inside! You'll finish eating once you've won!" He exclaimed loudly so that everyone would hear him.
His team half-growled, half-mumbled with mouths full with cookies before advancing towards the entrance, followed by their Captain and setter who hadn't missed a thing that had just happened between Tetsurou and Kohaku, even if he hadn't heard the words.
"We should do the same, let's go," Daichi said to his own team that followed him.
As he was about to walk past Kohaku, she lifted up her arm against Daichi's chest, stopping him and all the rest of the members behind. He gave her a surprised expression as she took another bento from her bag and handed it to him with a smile.
"Don't eat too much before the match." She said, addressing to the whole team, "Good luck, crows."
Realizing that she wasn't siding with anyone, they smiled back before walking into the gymnasium. Several (mostly Hinata, Nishinoya and Tanaka) were trying to force Daichi to feed them but he was holding up the box to keep it away from them.
"You'll eat once you've won – isn't it motivation enough?" He said stubbornly.
As Asahi walked past Kohaku, she glanced up at him, both their hearts beating a little faster. She swallowed nervously, looking up at him with the hope he wouldn't feel anything wrong after seeing her and Tetsurou together. Asahi couldn't help but stop beside her, something he couldn't understand unraveling within him.
He had felt many emotions watching them – bitterness, jealousy, self-pity, sadness… But now that he was looking into her eyes… He felt invincible. He felt something that didn't happen between Kohaku and Tetsurou earlier. He swallowed before forcing a soft, heart-wrenching smile.
"I'm glad you're here…" He whispered without knowing why he'd say such a thing.
The relief she felt overwhelmed her and a huge smile appeared on her face, her eyes sparkling happily as they entered the Karasuno Sports Center.
They were unaware of Tetsurou staring at them from afar – confusion and a tiny bit of jealousy swirling in his eyes, covered with an unexplainable fondness.
Among all the players and people here, they all felt many emotions for many reasons. But three young people were particularly confused, not understanding what had happened to them, what was happening to them and what were these feelings within them. They were so young, but felt so much. They were overwhelmed and so lost.
Aaaand we got to have Nekoma's team and some interaction from Kohaku and Tetsurou as well as the sweet Asahi...
I hope you like it, don't hesitate to tell me what you think! :D
Yours Truly,
May