Chapter 11: My shadow's over you 'cause I am the opposite of amnesia.
AN: don't own Haikyuu of Fall Out Boy. Thank you to all of the new favourites and follows! Shout out my reviewers ButterfliesInTheSkies (always there for a new chapter!), Lady Desdomona Hawkings (when Hinata is really motivated he is able to throw them off the trail – great decoy he is), and the guest! ( I was actually really happy that you reviewed! It made my day after I read it and I had one of those smiles that spread across your face involuntarily. It was great – I'm also really happy you picked up the different Yamaguchi's. I also really like how hardcore Tobio fanboys any setter he sees)
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"Okay Karasuno, let's get ready for training and get to breakfast!" Daichi announced. Groans and grunts of agreement followed as everyone slowly got up to face the day.
Kei surprisingly had a great night's sleep. He had never felt so rested since he was much younger and his parent's didn't fight. He was hypothesizing that it was because of how much closer he became to his team from his monologue last night. Having everyone on the team openly accept him just made the team feel like his home. He doesn't ever remember breathing this easy, feeling this light. Kei feels like he could conquer the world.
"Psst. Kei!" Hinata not so secretly whispers (yells really) across the room. Kei slowly turns his head to give him a look from over his glasses. "Last night, when I went to the washroom, I ran into Bokuto-san, Kuroo-san, and Akaashi-san. They all looked genuinely upset and they asked me if I knew anyone that had a soul mark that would match a circle and something flying underneath it. I know that you don't know what your soul mark looks like, but I think that those three are your best bet at finding your soulmates."
"He's probably right you know?" Tadashi chimes in. "Your arm has a tail of a black cat – Kuroo, your shoulder a horned owl – Bokuto, and a cluster of reeds on your back – I would guess with the pattern of last names probably something with Akaashi's kanji."
Kei slowly closes his eyes and hums as he thinks. They are probably right. There is no way to avoid this. He only hopes that they disclose this quietly. He much rather ignore anything to do with soulmates but really doubts if those three were on the prowl at 3 am to find their fourth that there is not much hope for him to escape them for the next two days. He'd be lucky if he could last breakfast. With the way his luck is going, he's likely to be accosted as soon as he enters the cafeteria for breakfast.
"Yosh! Okay everyone. We're going to the cafeteria together. Kageyama-kun, Yamaguchi-kun, you two try to bracket around Tsukki for breakfast – hopefully you will be enough to deter people from coming over and talking directly to Tsukki. Tsukki, take breakfast to think this over, and after that push it to the back corners of your mind until the day is over." Daichi said as he led everyone toward the cafeteria. Kei pulls out his music and headphones and places them over his ear. He knows today will be a long day.
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"How should we play this?" Tetsu posed to Kou and Keiji, the two having joined the Nekoma table for breakfast.
"Go right up and ask!" Kou whisper-yells. Kenma shoots a look at the three.
"Introduce ourselves and wait for them to do the same?" Keiji responds. Kenma huffs and tries to turn away from the conversation, it's none of his business and he's almost done this level. As the three bicker, Kenma notices that Karasuno has come inside. Kenma is glancing at them from under his lashes when he catches Shouyou's eyes and he waves exuberantly. How Shouyou has so much energy at this hour he has no idea. He vaguely nods and continues to assess the rest of the team. There pinch server, Yamaguchi his mind supplies, seems very familiar standing and talking with Tsukishima – the blond that wasn't at their first game. It picks at Kenma's head but exudes his grasp. Almost, mockingly because Kenma knows that if he can remember whatever it is, it will let Kenma focus on his game.
He's snapped out of his inner thoughts by Bokuto jumping up and marching over to Karasuno, the other two following quickly before Bokuto says something that no one really wants to hear.
Kenma wisely decides to go back to his game and ignore the world again.
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"Hey hey hey!" Is what Karasuno hears over their quiet breakfast, all eyes of the team snapping over to whoever spoke.
Bokuto-san freezes in place, suddenly not sure what to do now that all members of the team have their eyes on him. He was expecting maybe one or two people to stay looking at him, and the rest to glance away, but all eyes are pinned on him, waiting for him to make a move. Their eyes tracking his every movement, crow-like indeed.
Kei notices the other two not far behind and sees Akaashi-san step up from Bokuto-san, clapping him on the shoulder, as if to restrain him or pull him back, Kei isn't sure.
"I apologize for Koutarou." He begins. "I don't believe we've properly met. Tetsurou speaks highly of Karasuno, so we thought that we'd introduce ourselves. You probably heard Koutarou announce himself yesterday, but for manner's sake, this is Bokuto Koutarou, I'm Akaashi Keiji, and you all know Kuroo Tetsurou. Pleasure to meet you." Akaashi-san bows and subsequently forces Bokuto-san to bow as well.
Daichi stands up and begins to introduce everyone, starting from the third years and working his way down. Kei turns back to his food and starts playing his music again, choosing to ignore the newcomers in favor of food. Tobio takes one look at him and decides to follow his lead.
It isn't until Tadashi taps him on the shoulder that he arches an eyebrow at him in inquiry, Tadashi motions for him to remove his headphones. He looks at his face and knows he has to actually pay attention to the conversation. He pulls his headphones to hang around his neck and waits for Tadashi to repeat what was said.
"Kuroo-san asked you a question Kei." Swiveling his head, Kei focuses his attention on Kuroo-san. Kuroo-san sucks in a harsh breathe and just stares at Kei. Kei has been told that he comes across as intense. His eyes for one are a unique shade, but it was more the sense of feeling that Kei projects. Due to Kei distancing himself from everyone for so long he had become very adept at reading and observing people. This means that Kei has also, in turn, become very proficient at exuding emotions – pressure, intent, aloofness, determination – Tadashi tells him that this is really why people avoid him. He can make them feel that they are tiny and Kei is a titan. Kuroo-san physically shakes his head, as if to ward of Kei's aura he's giving off and clears his throat.
"You're pretty tall for a first year – are you a middle blocker?"
"Yes." Before Kuroo-san can follow up with anything, Bokuto-san jumps in.
"You can help me practice spiking after the games today! Tetsu's blocked for me for so long it will be good to have a new person and a new challenge!"
"No."
"WHAT?!" Squawks Bokuto-san. He must not be used to people denying him so often.
"I'm practicing with Tadashi and Tobio. Shouyou will probably crash it at some point." Kei is succinct in his response and would much rather have preferred this conversation did not occur in the first place. There are other blockers that could benefit from this much better. Kei downplayed his skills for the first day of training camp, thinking that the other players could work on their receiving (Hinata) so Kei didn't try to stop most of the blocks.
"The more the merrier, right Kou?" Kuroo-san says before Bokuto-san can protest. "Third gym, after dinner, 7 pm. Feel free to bring your friends, maybe they'll learn something." Kei nods in acquiescence before turning around and going back to his breakfast.
He felt more than heard the three leave him be.
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Before Kei knows it, he's in the third gym. He's with Tobio and Tadashi and they are playing keep it up between the three of them. Kei is the only one allowed to volley it, the other two are practicing their receives as he passes between Tobio and Tadashi. They made sure they were at the gym early and no doubt, Shouyou will show up halfway through and try to jump right into the fray.
Tadashi is anxious for Kei but also excited to have stronger opponents to work on blocking and receiving. Tobio hasn't shut up about being able to talk to Akaashi-san, and how great a setter he is. There are all but hearts in Tobio's eyes and he starts waxing poetic about Akaashi-san's technique.
Voices behind him make them all stop and turn to face the door. The three senpai's enter through the door and the three crows turn around to face them. Before Kuroo-san breaks the silence Tobio jumps in, social awkwardness and all.
"Akaashi-san." Tobio really means to speak at a normal level, but is practically yelling. Kei catches Bokuto-san out of the corner of his eyes jump in place. "I really admire you as a setter and if you are willing I would be honour to learn something from you." Tobio finishes it off with a 90-degree bow – much more than ever needed. Kei almost wants to face plant. Tadashi just giggles – yes, giggles. This is whom he willingly surrounds himself with. He almost is ready just to call it a night and go to sleep.
Kei has heard and witnessed Akaashi-san's cool demeanor and seen Bokuto-san do some outrageous things and Akaashi-san isn't even phased, doesn't even bat an eye. But as Kei turns to look at him, his entire face is red and he seems to be in shock. Bokuto-san is laughing as Kuroo-san supports his weight while trying not to collapse himself. It is only thanks to Tadashi's interference that they move forward.
"Maybe we should start?" He prompts.
"We were thinking that Keiji can set it to Kou and you can try to block, if it gets by, try to receive and then Kageyama-kun can set it and we can go from there." The three crows shoot each other a look before nodding and heading to the other half of the court and gets into position. "Great! I'll watch and see if I will be able to help any of you!" Kuroo-san smirks before adding. "You crows just might need it if you ever want to get to battle at trash heap; I suggest you start working harder, I've seen your games and no one here's stopped Kou before."
Ignoring the background noise of Bokuto-san 'Top five ace in the country!' the three share a look as Akaashi-san holds a volleyball and is patiently waiting for the crows to start. Bokuto-san is getting geared up.
"Ready?" Akaashi-san prompts
"Let's go all out Kei." Kei glances at Tadashi and Tobio to judge what they are saying. Kei wouldn't mind going all out, he knows that with how hard he's worked that he can stop Bokuto-san no problem. It's a huge gamble to show his hand here though – it's just practice but Kei can see how Tobio agrees with Tadashi. They both were fed up with being underestimated and it seems that Kuroo-san's quip was the last straw. Kei nods to Akaashi-san to start.
It seems that everything is going in slow motion. Kei sees Akaashi-san set the ball, notes the arc, speed, height, expected impact point. He watches as Bokuto-san does his run up, draws him arm back, prepares to unleash it and – THERE. Kei focuses his all and jumps up and prepares to hear the familiar smack of the ball hitting his arms. He watches as Bokuto-san goes from focusing on the ball, determination etching his features, underlined by a hint of confidence and amusement. While Kei can't say for sure that he is reading Bokuto-san correctly, but he knows that based on the games that they've played against Fukurodani, he knows that Bokuto-san is coming into this spike expecting to be able to blow past Kei. He also knows, that despite Bokuto-san expecting to smash through Kei's defence, Bokuto-san would never give less than his all.
Kei slightly winces at the strength behind the spike as it hits him and he angles it back down to the corner where it smacks the ground and rolls away.
There is utter silence in the third gym. Shocked silence. Kei can see the gobsmacked look on all the senpai's and can feel the smug grins of his teammates behind him. Kei simply adjusts his glasses and turns to give his teammates a meaningful look – are you happy now? – They nod in response and before they can get anything else out they hear a shriek and suddenly Bokuto-san is very close and very much in Kei's personal space.
"How did you block that!? You haven't been able to stop me this entire training camp! The ball always blows past the block!" Bokuto-san is very loud and grating on Kei's ears being this close.
"You're too loud." Kei deadpans. Honestly, has no one taught him to speak at an average volume?
"YOU DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION!" Rubbing his ear, Kei tries to get the echo out of his mind. Bokuto-san in his rage is practically standing toe to toe with Kei.
"Tadashi asked me to. So I did."
"YOU MEAN YOU COULD BLOCK ME THE WHOLE TIME BUT DIDN'T?!" Apparently that was not the right thing to tell Bokuto-san because he is currently shaking Kei and he would really prefer to be far away from his current location. He can hear everyone around him, the senpais asking Bokuto-san to back off while Tobio and Tadashi are asking Kei if he is okay and yelling about his personal space issues.
Kei is focusing on breathing at the present moment. Knowing that anyone is touching him startles him more than needed. Knowing that it is his soulmate? Kei knew he really shouldn't have agreed to this.
He snaps out of it when Tobio rather viciously snarls and rips Kei away from Bokuto-san, pulling him behind him and Tadashi as they glare at all three senpais.
"Kei doesn't like people he doesn't know touching him. He doesn't know you. Stop touching him." Tobio's face takes on a decent impression of Daichi when Yuu and Tanaka start going off on each other. Bokuto-san is frantically nodding in agreement and the other two actually look cowed at the look Tobio is shooting them – a mixture of disappointment and 'I expected better of you' – before Bokuto-san yells he's sorry and sprints back to the safety of his side of the court. Kei sighs and resigns himself to another hour of having to deal with this.
He knew he shouldn't have gotten out of bed this morning.