Hitomi covered her mouth with one hand while the other clutched her stomach. Her shoulders shook with silent, suppressed laughter. Just as he had done at her house previously, Nishinoya had received every single attack perfectly.
The boy stared blankly at the 'K.O.' screen, trying to process what had just happened. Once again, he had lost every single round against her. Not just by a little either. It was by a landslide.
Hitomi took a glance at him as her finger wiped away a tear in the corner of her eye from laughing so hard. She felt slightly guilty again for not taking it easy on him, but she just couldn't pass up this opportunity.
She wondered…did she have a bit of a sadistic side to her? Thinking about it brought up a memory. It was the time when she met with Nishinoya before they went to the public library and he had that weird, blissfully happy face that made him look like a pervert. Then, when they got kicked out and he tried to make it up to her, he said something along the lines of punishing him any way she wants. Did he…have a bit of a masochistic side to him?
The girl shook her head and gently slapped her cheeks to snap herself out of it. To think of such things! This boy was rubbing off on her too much.
Nishinoya was about to demand another rematch when the front door slammed open, followed by a boisterous laugh and voice calling out, "I'm home!"
"Dad! Welcome back, but could you be a little bit more refined!? We have a guest over today!" Nishinoya's mother reprimanded back.
He was of a shorter stature with a balding head and gray hair along the sides. He wore shorts and a plain, white shirt with an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt on top. He sported a large smile showing his pearly whites that was oddly familiar to Hitomi.
"Guest? What guest?" The older man questioned as he sauntered in.
Nishinoya jumped up and tugged on Hitomi's hands, helping her up. "Hitomi-chan! That's my gramps! Let's go greet him!"
The girl simply nodded, her focus more on his hands gripping hers. As she did every other time, she noticed that they were thin, almost bony. Yet, she felt that comforting warmth seeping out of them like always. She felt a small blush on her cheeks as he dragged her along.
"Gramps! Welcome home!" Nishinoya exclaimed as he threw his hands up in greeting. The older man turned to his grandson with the same large smile, his arm coming around the boy's neck as he gave him a playful noogie.
Looking at them side by side, Hitomi noticed just how similar their smiles were. Not to mention how similar both of their energetic personalities were. Something that ran in the family she supposed.
The older man looked up, making eye contact with Hitomi. She flinched at the suddenness, frantically shifting into a respectful bow. "Ah, my name is Fukumoto Hitomi. It's nice to meet you." She introduced herself, hoping her nerves didn't seep through to her voice.
"Gramps! This is my friend, Hitomi-chan! She'll be joining us for dinner today!" Nishinoya explained with excitement.
His grandfather stared at Hitomi for a moment and then looked back at him. His large smile seemed to turn into a smirk as he raised a single eyebrow suggestively at his grandson. "Your 'friend,' huh? Well, I've brought over my fair share of 'friends' too!" He laughed, the same boisterous one from when he entered.
"Dad! Behave yourself!" Nishinoya's mother scolded him. The man just laughed it off, his eyes meeting Hitomi's once more.
He smiled at her, introducing himself. "The name's Mineo! It's nice to meet you too, Hitomi-chan!" He then nudged his grandson, his hand coming up to his mouth to whisper to him. Except, Hitomi could still clearly hear the man. "She's a real beaut! You hit the jackpot with this one, boy! Hey, you wouldn't happen to know if she's got any older sisters, now would you?"
"DAD!" Nishinoya's mother screamed at him. Hitomi pursed her lips, trying not to laugh out loud as she looked on fondly at the scene.
Mineo was laughing at his daughter as she tried threatening him with a ladle in her hand, the last kitchen utensil she was using. Nishinoya was smiling alongside them, trying to answer his grandpa by telling him Hitomi is an only child.
A small giggle was released from Hitomi's lips. This family's antics were just too much! She expected no less from the people who raised Nishinoya. The warmth they radiated was wholly unfamiliar to her, but she yearned for it no less.
After calming down, Nishinoya's mother gave a sigh of exasperation. "Dinner is ready, so both of you, sit!" She commanded, referring to her father and her son. Her demeanor flipped entirely as she addressed Hitomi. "You can sit wherever you like, Hitomi-chan!" She suggested with a bright smile, as if she hadn't just given her family a menacing demand.
The girl nodded her head, her attention shifting to Nishinoya who was already sat at the dinner table. He looked up at her with eyes that strangely resembled those of a puppy as he pat the seat next to him, almost begging her to sit there.
She smiled, internally chuckling at him, as she sat down next to him. His smile beamed back at her, a flowery aura surrounding him.
Hitomi observed the food in front of her. As promised, the table was full of traditional Japanese dishes. While not as many dishes served when Nishinoya was at her house, it was still an impressive array when considering the fact that his mother was the only one in the kitchen. Perhaps she was used to cooking this much, regardless of having guests. Her son's enormous appetite would suggest so.
After Nishinoya's mother served everyone a healthy bowl of white rice and sat down across from Hitomi, everyone clapped their hands together and gave their thanks for the food. While the men at the table immediately dug in like ravenous beasts, Hitomi calmly picked up her chopsticks.
While not entirely unfamiliar with them, it was quite rare for her to use chopsticks. As she had told Nishinoya before, she didn't partake in traditional Japanese cuisine too often. As such, she often used a knife and fork rather than chopsticks. She had to take a moment to adjust.
She used the point of the chopsticks to slice into the grilled fish, the skin giving a slight crackle as it was punctured. She pinched a small section of the white meat, placing it atop her bowl of rice. Paired together, she gently placed the food in her mouth, a comforting flavor spreading over her tongue.
The food the chefs in the kitchen made at home were certainly good and Hitomi never had any complaints, but this food was just…different. Just like with everything else in this household and with this family, it was warm. It wasn't the heat. It was the feeling of love that she could sense was poured into this meal.
Hitomi gave a small, tender smile and went in for another bite. However, she felt a pair of eyes on her and looked up, meeting the eyes of the older woman across from her. She was met with an astonished gaze.
The young girl blanched at that, blinking once. She instantly set down her chopsticks and reached for the napkin beside her. She used it to softly dab at and around her lips. "I'm sorry, did I get something on my face?" She apologized, misunderstanding the woman's stare.
"Oh no, no, no! That's not it! I was just amazed at how elegantly you eat, Hitomi-chan! As you can see, it's quite a sight when compared with how these two eat." The woman explained, side-eyeing the other two at the table currently stuffing themselves silly. She shook her head in disdain at their table manners, or rather lack thereof. Something that also seemed to run in the family.
"I noticed it last time too! Hitomi-chan is like a princess, right mom?" Nishinoya asked, his words being muffled by the amount of food in his mouth. So much so that his cheeks were all puffy like a chipmunk's.
His mother scowled at him. "Yu! Chew your food first! I raised you better than this!" She wondered how he could act so uncouth, especially around the girl that he likes.
Nishinoya apologized to his mother as Mineo laughed on the side. "Hey, little missy! You can eat pretty all you like, but if you're that slow, there'll be no food left for you!"
"Dad!" The older woman called out exasperatedly. The man only laughed again. She sighed in defeat, her head falling into her palm. She looked back up at Hitomi with an apologetic face. "I'm sorry for the two them, Hitomi-chan! Please don't mind them."
Hitomi gently shook her head and waved her hands around to dismiss any of the woman's worries. "It's alright. I don't mind." She reassured her.
The dinner was…loud. It was loud, but like she said, she really didn't mind it.
All of her life, she had only had two kinds of dinners. The first being the kind with nearly absolute silence. Only the sounds of utensils clinking against plates and the occasional question from a servant would interrupt the deafening silence.
The second kind of dinner was no less uncomfortable. It was one filled with upper class talk that bored her. Business speak and bragging rights from one person to the next. Wasted flattery and empty compliments faced with a fake smile.
An animated household and a lively dinner like this one was unfamiliar for sure, but certainly not unwelcome. In fact, it was the kind of dinner Hitomi hadn't even known she was yearning for until today.
She had a feeling that if Nishinoya wanted to invite her over more often, she would say yes every time.
After the meal, Hitomi used her hand to cover her mouth, successfully suppressing her laughter.
Both Nishinoya and his grandfather were slumped in their chairs, bellies bloated and bulging. Their eyes were closed, blissful smiles stretched on their face as they gently rubbed their stomach. It was just like when he had dinner at her house last time, but now with his grandfather.
Nishinoya's mother walked back over to the table, setting down a plate. "I cut up a few apples if you'd like to have some, Hitomi-chan!" She offered with a smile.
Hitomi nodded in thanks and used a toothpick to pick up one of the apple slices. It was cut in the shape of a bunny. She slowly twirled the toothpick around, looking at the apple slice in all different angles.
The older woman noticed that the young girl had yet to take a bite. "Do you not like apples?" She asked, her hand laying on her own cheek with worry.
Hitomi hastily shook her head. "I was just admiring how you cut them to look like rabbits. They're cute." She explained, clearing up the misunderstanding.
Nishinoya's mother laughed and waved her hand. "Oh, it's just a simple thing every mother can do!" She dismissed jovially, but instantly saw something was off.
Hitomi looked down at the apple slice with an indescribable expression. "I see." She said before taking a bite. "It's delicious, thank you." She smiled, finishing the slice and poking into another.
The older woman could see that her smile was half-hearted. Her expression just now was gone too quick for her to properly discern all of the emotions, but she was sure that it was tinged with sadness. Her brows furrowed with concern, worried that she accidentally hit a nerve.
Before she could redirect it, her son caught their attention. "I was right, wasn't I, Hitomi-chan!? My mom's Japanese cooking is the best!" He had snapped out of his food coma-like state and excitedly anticipated her response.
The girl smiled at him. A genuine one. Not the half-hearted one his mother saw earlier. The older woman observed the girl as her son chatted with her. She shook her head and let them be, thinking on a few things.
Checking her phone for the time, Hitomi got up. Nishinoya's mother noticed and asked, "Leaving? It is getting late and you kids should go to bed earlier for school." Out of habit, the woman was about to add on something about not wanting her parents to worry about her staying out too late but stopped herself.
With the Belgian chocolates, the girl's sophisticated table etiquette, and her reaction to the bunny apples, Nishinoya's mother had a few guesses as to the girl's family situation. She didn't want to inadvertently bring up something the girl didn't want her to.
"Yes, thank you so much for having me. The food was delicious." Hitomi complimented, bowing respectfully.
"I'll walk you home, Hitomi-chan!" Nishinoya declared. Hitomi didn't object even a little bit.
Nishinoya's mother followed them to the door. "Get back safe, and you're welcome to come back any time, Hitomi-chan!"
The girl gave a small bow and thanked the woman before setting off with Nishinoya. They walked down the streets at a leisurely pace. Nishinoya looked up at Hitomi with a bright smile. "You heard my mom! You can come back any time! I'll even invite you every day!" He exclaimed.
Hitomi chuckled. "Every day is a bit much but…every once in while wouldn't hurt." She compromised.
"Whenever you want, Hitomi-chan!" The libero beamed up at her as he walked with his hands behind his head.
"We could even alternate…if you want. Next time, you can come over to my house again for dinner." Hitomi timidly suggested, peeking over at him.
It was nighttime and the sun had already set, but Hitomi could easily see the pure joy emanating from him. "Next time!" He repeated with enthusiasm, giving her a smile and gaze so full of love.
She quickly turned to look ahead of her out of embarrassment, hoping the darkness of the night hid her blush, but she smiled all the same.
Next time.
Another unassuming promise with each other. One that she already knew she was looking forward too.
As they reached the gates of her home, Hitomi stopped to think about something else she could look forward to. "Nishinoya-kun…" She started hesitantly. "If it's alright…I-If you want…" She fidgeted in place, gently biting her lips as she tried to relay her thoughts.
She took a deep breath before continuing. "About your volleyball practice…That is…Would it be alright if…" She sighed, frustrated with herself. It should be such an easy question. It should have been just a few words, so why was she so scared?
Taking a glance at his face, she realized there was absolutely nothing to be scared of. He was waiting patiently for her to finish her question, but it seemed like he already knew what she was going to ask after hearing her fumbling.
His eyes were shining with expectancy, his whole body leaning forward in anticipation. His lips were tilted upwards, waiting to turn into the biggest smile he could give.
Hitomi chuckled, the sound drifting into the night air along with her worries. This boy didn't give her any reason at all to be scared. In fact, her question probably didn't even need to be a question in the first place. She already knew what his answer would be. "Would it be alright if I came to see your volleyball practice?" She asked clearly.
"Yes!" He immediately responded, so quickly that he very nearly cut her off at the end. "You can even come tomorrow!"
Hitomi giggled at his eagerness. "Slow down there. I still have prep school, remember?" She reminded him. "But…how about the day after?" She asked, but Nishinoya was already furiously nodding his head before she even finished, causing her to laugh again. "Okay, I'll see you then. Get home safely." She finished, the gates opening before her.
"I'll call you when I get back, Hitomi-chan!" The libero shouted after her as she walked towards the front door.
She turned around to look at him once more. She saw his face pressed up against the bars of the gates, one hand holding onto a bar and the other widely waving. She gently smiled, giving him back a small wave of her own before going inside.
Nishinoya waited until she was fully inside and for the doors to close before he stopped waving. His hand slowly came down, gripping a bar of the gate along with his other hand. He released a loving sigh as a goofy smile plastered on his face.