[ It was spring, ]
Clad in a white kimono that was said to be a symbol of purity and her color in her family, Harukaze Sawako slowly stood up, careful not to wrinkle the cloth. Her dark hair that she loved to keep short had to grow longer for this special event. It is now styled up in a neat bun, decorated in pearl and Sakura hairpins covered in wataboshi. Her face was in light make-up and her lips painted red.
Four months have passed since she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Sawako poured her feelings into thinking of a name before settling with a male manga character owned – Megumi. In which it later sank to her that her fiancée uttered the name during her pregnancy.
And her life was never the same after childbirth.
It was tiring. Her little angel, newborn and growing, has taken her time and body raising the child with her whole heart. Despite the attention, the girl seeks and the energy she sapped; Sawako couldn't look away from her beautiful daughter. The baby looked exactly like him and she naturally fell in love over again.
"You look so wonderful, my dear."
Sawako smiled at her mother who walked beside her. Miki, her forty-five-year-old mother, wore a lovely kimono, looking teary in her direction.
"Thank you, mama."
The temple wasn't that far. A three-minute ride in a car and thirteen-minute walk, past a small barbershop in the area and near the Yukiya River, was all it took her and her mother to arrive. There, her bluish-green eyes landed on the sight of her cherished people looking dashing at their kimonos. Her high school trio, the second-year trio, her college trio, Satsuki, the Tanaka couple, the first-year quartet in her third year in high school, the first-year trio in his second year in high school, the Ukai family, his family, and her siblings smiled at her arrival. A few had taken their phones and camera to snap a photo of her attire. Her daughter, Sweet Megumi, was carried by Miwa-nee-san, looking adorable in her small dress and cat headband.
But amidst these people, one stood out that made her heart cry in glee. Sawako smiled at her groom, a blush already coating her cheeks at his muscular built in montsuki and hakama. His hair that he started to part in the middle after his debut in the Rio Olympics, looked neat like any other day. He's so attractive that Sawako never felt that lucky and blessed to be with this man.
A smile was exchanged between them, and they began to walk. Their hands are closed by their lap but as they walked closer, she could feel the cloth of his black kimono brushing over her white kimono. She could feel the warmth that radiated from his being while he walked by her side.
Their family and friends followed, forming a line behind them as their feet ventured towards the temple. It is where the priest waited for them. Upon entering, their guests went to each side and sat on the cushion laid and prepared on the tatami mat. Whereas Sawako and Tobio waited for them to settle down before continuing their walk in the small aisle.
They stood before the Shinto priest that began the ceremony of blessing them doing a ritual of purification. Later on, they were presented with a paper and they read their vows. Her hand twitched, wanting to hold his hand as her heart wanted to burst. But Sawako ignored the happy bubble, silently indulging herself at the emotions that surrounded the temple with their witnesses.
They were presented with three cups in different sizes, in which they had to drink the sake poured thrice. Her eyes would catch a glimpse of his face, both eyes briefly locking and mirroring the happiness that lurked within. Especially when they have presented with their wedding rings that the design was very familiar to Sawako. She almost laughed at the design, remembering her sister's words: It looks like a wedding ring to me.
His hand that was big was warm when he held her hand. It was shaking a little, surprising her, but calmly slid the ring on her finger – the fourth finger on her left hand that used to be decorated with his proposal. It's now attached in a thin silver band as a pendant in her neck – a memory of one spring day.
Sawako smiled at him, her lips stretching to meet her feelings as she took the ring for him and his hand. He watched her do the same process for the wedding ring, tears trying to break free from the duct at the sight of an unbreakable vow in him.
Their guests applauded, making her lose control. Sawako's vision began to blur as two sides of the family – the Kageyama and Harukaze, took sips from the nuptial cups to seal the bond of their families.
"Hey," He whispered, making her look at him. "Are you okay?"
She nodded and smiled despite the traitor tears prepared to leak anytime.
As they have to offer twigs or branches to Kami, Sawako, instead of saying it, decided to click her tongue as faintly as possible so that only he could hear. And he smiled with a trace of amusement on his face as he responded in the same manner.
Tch. Tch. Tch.
Tch. Tch. Tch. Tch.
[… of gracious endings… ]
"Pa!"
Sawako followed the small pointer finger that encouraged two little hands to reach on something. Her bluish-green eyes landed on a big bulletin board filled with men. Familiar faces of top-tier athletes in volleyball were pasted in different poses. Letters in bright bold white wrote: [V. League Division 1 Men]. But it's not what was written that made her not look away. It was the gorgeous man that happened to be in the middle, making her grin at her supportive child wearing a small size of his jersey.
"Yes, Pa. It's Papa." Sawako giggled. With one arm supporting their little girl, her other fish out for her phone. Her fingers opened her phone, to the camera, and with a blush on her cheeks, she positioned for a selfie, the banner in the background. "Smile~"
One-year-old Kageyama Megumi looked at the camera. The shape of her eyes was something she inherited from Sawako while the color, blue as the ocean, came from her father. The small thick eyebrows almost met one another. Much to the joy and amusement of both their families, the girl had the habit of pouting as her father.
And click.
Papa Tobio
11/17/2018 Sun 9:46
Sawako sent a photo.
Tobio: I'm in the lockers.
Sawako: See you after the match then.
Tobio: Okay.
"Let's go inside!" She spoke.
Entering the gymnasium, the Sendai City Gymnasium from six years ago gave Sawako a sudden surge of nostalgia. Now called Kamei Arena Sendai, the area remains as it is. She can vividly recall how her family went together to cheer for the team. But the prefectural finals weren't as grandiose as the nationals, the same could be said to professional leagues like this that everywhere, Sawako could see various food and souvenir stalls: plushies, magazines, keychains, shirts, drinks, Takoyaki, onigiri – Miya-san?! The gymnasium is crowded as always.
The mother and daughter ventured further inside, reaching where the court is and the stands. There's a lot of press people inside that reminded Sawako of how Tobio isn't your normal athlete.
She smiled and broke her gaze away from the center court. "Now… where are they?"
"Pa?"
She shook her head. "Papa won't be coming out until later. He's shy–Koushi!"
Sugawara Koushi, also twenty-four, now works as an elementary school teacher and immediately found them. A large smile was on his face and his eyes twinkled. "Sawa!" The man pouted. "Mou~ We could've gone together, y'know."
She almost forgot. Sawako was so excited about dressing Megumi in the Schweiden Adlers' jersey number 20, it slipped her mind. Although close to home, she was sure that she went ahead of the current Karasuno team. In the end, they're going to meet inside the gymnasium.
"Hi, Megu! Cute, cute Megu!" The man cooed.
Megumi gave him a smile. Her small, growing teeth are already showing. "Kou… Kou!"
Her friend blushed, picking up Megumi from her arms. "Aww! Y'ar so cute! Call me Ji-chan."
"Kou!"
"Ji-chan!"
"… Kou...?"
"Jeeee-chan!"
Sawako shook her head in amusement at the exchange. Even though they've long graduated in high school and in college, her friend still acts the same as If they never grew up. But two familiar figures at the corner of her eyes caught her attention. She smiled and nudged the light-haired fellow teacher.
"It's Daichi and Asahi."
The man grinned and began to walk towards the other two. "Yoohoo!" He called, waving his arm while the other supported her baby.
The former captain and the former ace beamed. Sawako hasn't seen them since last week, on Megumi's first birthday and Tadashi-kun's twenty-second birthday, whom they decided to celebrate together.
"Oh, so you're already here."
Sawako curiously accepted her little girl when Koushi gave her back. Meanwhile, the man began to flail his arm with the largest grin she'd ever seen.
"Hey. Hey. HEEEY."
"Cut it out! Don't do that stupid playboy sort of think as if it were something we always did!" Enraged, their apparel designer, exclaimed. Asahi who sported the same length of hairstyle in high school, let his brown locks free and now wore an eyeglass.
She couldn't help but let out a laugh that joined the melodious baritone and tenor voices of her second favorite trio (the first is her siblings). Seeing them together again, brought her back to a time when they wore a school uniform and hung out around her desk. They're young and dreamers then but all of them achieved their goals in life. It was so long ago but it felt like it's yesterday.
"Ah! Megumi-chwan."
The aforementioned girl narrowed her brows at the big man. Her lips pulled into a pout as she hid with the crevice of her neck. Sawako smiled apologetically at Asahi, with her daughter still shy at one of the uncles who came over more than once since her birth.
Daichi patted Asahi's shoulder. "Don't mind."
And Koushi laughed. "Not new."
Seeing the pout from the gentle man, Sawako turned to her. "Com'n, remember Asahi? He was there for your birthday last week."
But the girl was unperturbed.
Asahi sighed. "Can't be helped…" Before turning to look at the sole court.
Sawako followed his gaze. Her mind began to flood with a crying team of crows at their first ticket to the Nationals in years. This same court witnessed the growth of one tall blueberry and short tangerine; of unshakeable support, unwavering ace, intense wing spiker, nonchalant middle blocker, and flamboyant libero through their defeats and victories.
Even though athletes who played here have stopped coming through the years since their matches ended, the court will never forget.
"Well… this sure brings back memories."
"Yeah. It feels like it was just the other day."
And she smiled.
After their little embarrassing situation of Koushi raising his voice, they went to look for their seats not too far nor too near from the court. Later on, they reunited with the Tanaka couple, whom Sawako was glad to see Kiyoko in short hair like her. Kazuhito-kun, and Hisashi-kun told them that the former captain, Chikara-kun, couldn't make it because of his work, and the third kouhais: Yaotome, Shouji, and Tokita who filled the gap in their court when the second-years graduated, also came.
Everything was so nostalgic for Sawako, even though they were there at the wedding last April and a few who went to celebrate Megumi's and Tadashi-kun;s birthday, it truly is different when everyone reunites in the court. Everyone is all grown up and 2012 was a long time ago.
Soon, the game is starting.
[2018-2019 Season V. League Division 1: Schweiden Adlers' Home Game!]
[in Sendai!]
She applauded, joining the whole crowd in their adrenaline of seeing their favorite athletes. These familiar players from their youth have played and participated in the previous Olympics that qualified and brought Japan to Brazil. These players became known, now battling for volleyball and each was able to garner the attention of the whole world with their outstanding skills in the sport.
For Megumi, this match will be the first time that she will get to see her Papa play in person. For Sawako and the others, this will be the long-awaited battle of the oddball-combo rivalry that started six years ago.
[Introducing the Schweiden Adlers' starting lineup! #21! The captain! Hirugami Fukuro!]
Having been her first time to be in a match as big as the professional league as well, Sawako was startled at the loud cheers. It was really loud that further escalated when the southpaw of Miyagi, Ushijima Wakatoshi-kun, appeared. No high school team cheers couldn't compare.
And then…
[#20! Kageyama Tobio!]
She's not different from the others that streamed his name upon his graceful entrance.
"Pa! Pa!" Megumi startled to flail her arms around excitedly, eyes sparkling, it surprised her.
"I'm gonna cry."
"I've got tissues."
"KAGEYAMAA!"
Sawako laughed. Her daughter is very attached to the father like a hip, literally and figuratively. And Tobio was surprisingly mediocre in parenting that it made her wonder how many parenting books he read. He missed the chance to attend child-rearing classes during her pregnancy due to his schedule in the league that she always wondered about. It's not bad but Sawako's getting concerned about what if Megumi picked up a word or more, she's yet to learn. She's entering the age of imitation after all.
"Mama… Papa!"
She nodded and tried to calm her daughter before she could hit anyone (or Koushi). "Yes, very good. That's papa. He's going to play."
Her small head tilted. "Pa?"
She nodded again. "Volleyball."
"Bo-bo…"
Bo-bo? "Yes, with Shouyo-chan."
Her daughter pouted. Such action urged her to plant a kiss on Megumi's cheek and she did it again when children from the Aoba Junior Volleyball Club and the Date Angels entered the court. The children from Aoba lined up to where the MSBY Jackals are while the Date Angels went to Schweiden Adlers' side. Because of this, Tobio had to hold hands with a child that looked terrified at his face.
"Kageyama with children… Kageyama kids…"
She laughed alongside Asahi at the former vice-captain's tears. It was so weird but she understood. No one would think that Kageyama Tobio would have a kid and a wife anyway. And children were easily scared because of his intense gaze before.
"Are you his dad?"
And the crying man held Megumi's head with tears. "Kageyama's kid…"
Megumi smiled at that.
Throughout the whole game, the little girl behaved. The players that were on the court, her little Megumi only knew Shouyo-chan aside from her Papa that she would clap when it's the two showing off. As if she understood the importance of this match to the Karasuno family.
A year old and she already has her favorites.
Nevertheless, Megumi didn't cry nor had the urge to sleep. The child would ask for soft foods and would even ask her in words she's unable to understand but her enthusiasm to her Papa. She's… very like her who was entranced at the majestic being she calls her husband. Six years and he's still able to make her heart flutter with his volleyball skills.
"I'm going to get a sign," announced Koushi beside her when the players cooled down.
"Papa. Papa. Pa." Megumi started pointing at the said man, now standing in front of his fans that was his sign and picture.
It grabbed Koushi's attention. "Ah! You want a sign too, Megu?"
However, the answer was just, "Pa!"
The man just beamed and she's getting amused while the two other men laughed. Rather than his sign, Megumi just wants to be with him. What a clingy child. Koushi glanced at her and she understood, she nodded.
"Let's go then! I have an extra here…"
"Why do you have two?" asked Asahi.
"Why do you have to fall in line?" Daichi added, sighing.
"Why do you need his sign when you're the one who came up with the idea?" She raised a brow at her friend, adding fuel to their teasing while she accepted his extra pad.
A blush formed in his cheeks. "Shut up. There's more joy in waiting in line for fan sign events than casually asking for it whenever." He answered before turning to her. "And I'm not Kageyama. I want Kageyama!"
Sawako gasped. "Are you… trying to take my husband behind my back, Koushi?"
The men laughed.
"That's not what I meant! I mean the sign! S-I-G-N!"
She laughed.
"Oh well, while you're at it, we're heading over to where Hinata is." Daichi turned to her, standing. Asahi followed.
Koushi and Sawako nodded in agreement and stood up as well. Both men waved at them, heading to the other direction of the court while they slowly joined the line for Schweiden Adlers. She fell behind Koushi.
At the age of 24, this grey-haired man who still looked like an angel in disguise hadn't changed much except his aging face and deep voice. She watched her friend, distracting Megumi and talking about how great her papa was despite the team's defeat. But it's not just Tobio-kun who's great. Koushi, too, for guiding Tobio-kun as a setter.
"Pa! Pa! Papa!"
She immediately caught his eyes and he looked surprised.
"S-Sawako!"
"Pa! Pa!"
He blushed. "Megumi!"
Sawako just smiled. The eyes of his fans looked curiously at her and the child in her arms, making her blush at the attention she's receiving.
Five years together, everyone knew who she was but not the child with her. There was no announcement from the team he's in and Tobio himself regarding their new status as she kept her profile private through the years. Tobio just had his profile private from the very start, by not really being a fan of social media. Even then, people would recognize her as the author of two published books – for children and for young adults.
It was flattering to be known as his woman but his spotlight truly outshines hers that she's not used to it even now.
As if sensing her discomfort, she noticed his rush. The action made his fans return their attention back to him. Still, that won't change the minds of those who heard Megumi, especially when the child wanted to break free from her arms at the mere thought that her papa is closer.
Alas, it's Koushi's turn. Megumi wiggled and Sawako, having no choice with her child struggling, brought her down. The little Kageyama happily walked in small strides towards the man before latching on his leg. Tobio-kun immediately picked her up, and the girl began her baby talk. She loves him a lot.
"How come you didn't notice me?!" The former setter complained, making her laugh.
"Ah, sorry. Here you go, Sugawara-san." Tobio-kun gave the pad back to his senior. "I did. I forgot to say your name."
"Of course. Your wife's the first thing you noticed." Koushi pouted.
"No, it's Megumi."
Her brow twitched. You said my name first.
Without asking, he took the pad in her hand. He made sure to glance at her eyes, smirking in victory at the behavior of the child he carried before signing it. But she smirked when Megumi accidentally smacked his face.
She turned, started wondering where the mischievous male with a mole went. Answering her question, her eyes caught a glimpse of people waiting behind for their turn until she saw Koushi chatting with Takeda-sensei and Keishin, who were with the current Karasuno volleyball team. She smiled at the pair of teenagers behind her before turning to her enthusiastic daughter.
"Alright, Megumi. Let go of Papa now." There was no point in hiding the fact he has a kid now.
Megumi tilted her head. Sawako immediately picked it up as her daughter's confusion. She gestured at the eager teens. "Because they want your Papa's sign, too."
The child looked at the young lads, a pout forming before turning to her father.
Tobio-kun looked back at the baby and so was their daughter; blue eyes clashing with blue eyes. It was just a split second but there is a shared silence between the two. Until Megumi began to reach for her.
"Mama…"
Tobio-kun assisted and she carefully took her in. She smiled, kissing the crown of her child's forehead. "Good girl."
Megumi looked at her father once more and the out was gone. Instead, she raised an arm and moved her fingers. "Bai-bai."
He laughed a little at her farewell and affectionately pinched her cheek. His blue eyes flickered to her bluish-greens, his happiness shadowing the depth of his blues. "I'll join you later."
And she smiled. "Understood." But froze when he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Alarmed, her eyes widened. I-Is… Is this PDA?!
He pinched her cheek before turning his back on her for his fans. A blushed already formed on her, red face and flustered, she watched the man dumbstruck at his affection. Although no one knew what it meant beside them, he's able to convey his feelings through tapping thrice on the back of her earlobe.
How sneaky. But creative nonetheless.
[… when love is more than just a feeling.]
The sound of the bell chiming echoed throughout the area. Bluish-green eyes swiftly glanced at the schedule in her post-it notes by the desktop. Her lips fell into a curve, mind formulating what to cook for dinner as her husband's supposed to arrive today from Italy. After the Tokyo Olympics last year, her husband began to prepare for his plan to enter an international team of another country. He landed himself a spot in Ali Roma which he faced Shouyo-chan in the Finals.
Thus, she began to clean her table to leave.
The man occupying the table beside her noticed. "Leaving already, Kageyama-sensei?"
She smiled. "Ah yes, Takeda-sensei. He's going home today."
A flash of recognition crossed the man's face and he smiled. He looked old, now in his forties, being with her former class adviser was nostalgic alone. "I see. Thanks for the hard work today and for the chocolates."
Another smile. "Happy valentine's, sensei. I'll be going ahead." She announced that earned her a chorus of hum and grunt from the senior faculty.
Students passed by her, smiling, greeting, bidding her goodbye on the school grounds. The memories of her youth would never fail to make her happy at the fact that she used to be like those students. The seven years she spent outside the town upon graduating high school made her reconsider. Now, she's back at Karasuno High School which gave her so much.
In the end, despite our first disagreement, I stayed and listened to him.
Before walking past the main gate, her foot skidded into a halt. Her ears caught wind of familiar shouts normally uttered in every volleyball team that she became accustomed to hearing in her last year of high school. The school itself has precious memories she couldn't forget, especially that vending machine.
That vending machine…
[It was spring…]
A smile formed on her lips, an image of her seventeen-year-old self that was excited at the idea of the festival, and hanami had stopped by in the area for a drink. And a tall, dark-haired child in a blue scarf and different uniform sipping on his own drink when the snow of February began to fall. She never knew that it was an encounter that would last a lifetime that they met here again, in the same vending machine, that witnessed their confession.
And six years ago, they had their first child. Soon, it was followed by their wedding in spring. Although it was delayed, Sawako took four years for her to achieve her goal of teaching professionally. But it was fine. She had taught her own bundles of joy the beauty of life as early as she could.
That is why, before she goes home, she's going to pass by the nursery that is an eleven-minute walk from home to pick up her little angels.
"I'm sorry?" She blinked.
"T-They're picked up earlier." Nakamura-san, the caretaker, said suddenly looking worried. "H-He said he's the father and the kids know him… s-so I…"
"Eh?" Sawako blinked once more. Oh. She smiled at the woman who diligently took care of the little kids in the area. "That's fine. Thank you for the hard work, Nakamura-san."
"So, he's…"
She nodded. "My husband."
With that, she bid her farewell and walked back home. She would have to pass the elementary but knowing he already passed by, she concluded that he also picked up Megumi.
Soon, she was home. The front door slid open, revealing Sawako.
"I'm home," She announced. She took off her heels, placing them on the shoe rack before replacing it with an indoor slipper. She took off her beige coat and her scarf hung on her arm. Looking up, she blinked, surprised at the grins of the two children that popped by the door.
"Welcome home!"
[… of humble beginnings…]
Then gone.
Hm?
Confused and wondering what her children were up to, Sawako headed to where they disappeared. What she found caught her in surprise, seeing her husband – twenty-seven and an international athlete – sleeping on a futon laid on the tatami mat. Their lovely twins found comfort in his chest and side, sleeping soundly beside him.
As for his face that still looked pretty despite the years…
"Pft."
There, their second child of three years, held a pen, doodling on his father's face. The culprit seemed to be Megumi but knowing how this toddler behaved, Kento was the one who started this play. He likes to write on the floor despite being given a number of pads. This time, it seems that their child has targeted his face.
How cute.
She couldn't stop herself from taking out her phone, her belongings dropping on the floor as she took a video, giggling at Tobio-kun's situation. He was still sleeping, unaware of the color black marking on his face temporarily.
"Mama, you're having fun." Their eldest, turning seven this year, said beside her with an amused face.
But suddenly, the man moved, startling them.
"Kento, stop. Papa's waking." Megumi ordered and the little guy froze.
"Huh…? Sawako? You're finally home…" Tobio-kun mumbled, still groggy at his nap. His eyes were still half-asleep as he looked at her.
Sawako fondly watched at how he reached for her hand to hold. His long arm was able to reach her and his fingers wrapped themselves around hers, tightening the hold like a child he still is at heart. She rubbed her thumb on his finger, trying to lull him back to sleep but couldn't. His blue eyes widened at the sight of the camera pointing at him. Only then, did he notice their children – Megumi by her side covering the lower part of her face, the twins sleeping on him, and Kento sitting innocently as if he had done nothing mischievous moments ago.
She bit her lips, and Megumi looked away.
"What… What did you do?" The Kageyama patriarch turned to him.
"Doder." How honest.
"Huh?"
She held back a laugh and kissed his hand. "No matter what, you are so lovely." She told him.
In which, he blushed like a teenager he once was. Suddenly, the twins woke up. Their attention turned to the two, watching how these almost two years old peas looked at their Papa, then to their Mama before standing up. Shakily, wobbling, Tatsuki and Taiga walked towards her with a sleepy look on their faces.
"Mamaaa…"
Sawako patted both of their heads, smiling at how dear they were. "You haven't had enough nap time?"
Tatsuki, the third child, snuggled closer.
"That's apparently the case." Tobio-kun sat up, free from the heavy weight that slept on top of him. "They were so energetic when I picked them up."
And that was when he finally realized.
"Wait." He turned to Kento.
The poor child tried to hide the ball-point pen from his Papa he and Megumi probably stole from her pencil case. Poor Tobio-kun walked towards the end of the hall of their humble abode to wash off the ink on his face.
She smiled, amused at the two older children that followed him to the bathroom while she placed the dozing twins back to the futon.
"Papa, please teach me how to receive!" Megumi exclaimed.
"Ken-kun, too!"
"Wait… let me wash it first!"
Sawako chortled.
[… when love bloomed to blessings.]
n o t e:
/ giving virtual tissues to self and to you
I never thought I'll make it this far. Although how the story will end has already been decided a long time ago, there have been revisions. The story was supposed to end with Tobio's graduation, the ending of Kiss Him, Not Me Manga gave me an idea but as I said, the live-in days, Sawako's graduation, the pregnancy, proposal, and wedding are just so important. I couldn't deny them and decided to add them to the story.
I finished editing this two days ago, giving me time to rethink how my two planned special chapters will go. I ended up with:
Special chapter 1: still undecided whether it's going to be: Parenting101 or The Kageyama Name written in either Megumi or Kento's POV. (HELP ME)
Special chapter 2: Kageyama Taiga and Sawako's journal (already done writing)
The number of children probably came out as a surprise. Did you think I would settle for one child? Nah. I'm convinced that the Kageyama genes is strong. I dropped a hint on the previous chapter in one of the weeks (I forgot which), thus, Kento and the twins being born. I just lately realized that the number of children they have is similar to the Harukaze siblings. I added twins because I've been reading the manga, Love So Life and Life So Happy this week. HAHAHA
The current situation of the family members will be explained and mentioned in the special chapters.
/ cries
THIS IS THE END.
OMG.
aivernir: / gives you tissues.
bbymojo: OH YES. I feel like a mom sending her children to their own future like Miki. You being here in this journey is very comforting. I appreciate you! Thank you very much!
See you in the special chapters!