A double update!

May christmas BEGIN!

LilweenGalatrass: There you have it xD

PandaHee: You can expect a lot my dear :)

Yunrii: Oh, you are right. Dunno how that happened D: Sorry, the wrong name is stuck in my head. And no, it's not rude. Thank you for pointing it out!

Tamani: Thank you :3 Well, let's see if there will be a mistletoe.

ENJOY!


Chapter 23 - A snowy season

As christmas came ever closer, the towns were bathed in many lights. Snow began to fall every now and them. The days were getting colder, darker and busier. Shoppers were preparing for the annual christmas feasts and even Tamiko enjoyed the business of the shopping district. The last school day of the year was behind her and she wanted to enjoy it. She had a big day planned today and now only had to wait and time flies when you are having fun. It was fun to look at the brightly coloured shop windows, especially with your best friend. The girls were in one of the many shops that guaranteed the best christmas presents.

"Do you think Ichiro would like this?" Izumi asked.

She was holding up a small keychain with a small metal katana dangling at the end of the thin chain.

"Why are you asking me? He is your boyfriend, not mine." Tamiko mumbled.

"I just want to hear your opinion." Izumi begged.

Tamiko took another look at the keychain.

"He probably will like it." she shrugged.

"Good." Izumi nodded, satisfied with the answer.

She went over to the cashier and paid for it before they walked outside into the cold but busy street.

"You need to learn what boys like." Izumi told Tamiko.

"I have a brother. I should know." Tamiko reminded her.

"Brother and boyfriend are not the same, especially when it comes to presents." Izumi winked.

Tamiko only smiled to herself. Izumi's big brother was already out of the house, studying electronics. She still remembered what a technology geek he used to be. As they walked through the crowds, the girls exchanged their plans for the holidays. Izumi, like every year, offered for her to come to come to her home but she was surprised when Tamiko told her about how it was planned this year.

"You are celebrating Christmas with the boys?" she asked.

"Yah, I promised it." she sighed.

On the last day of the training camp Semi had approached her and told her about his idea. At first she was a little sceptical, but when he had mentioned that the favour she owed Ushijima could be repaid that way, she had agreed to attend. Izumi nodded when Tamiko told her the whole story.

"Ushijima will be there too, right?" Izumi asked.

"Most likely."

Izumi looked over to Tamiko, her nose red from the cold air. Her lashes were long, her skin fair and clean, a pretty girl. Izumi had know this girl since elementary and she had changed so much over the years. For as long as she can remember, Tamiko had always been surrounded by boys. She had raced them, challenged them, won against them. Tamiko had been taller than most boys but now, she was even shorter than Izumi. The tomboy had faded away and the girl had emerged. The identity crisis was difficult with her. Why should I wear that? I'm ugly anyway. No boy will like me. And then Oikawa had confessed to her. Since then, Tamiko had been cautious. She had never seen the need or rather, never liked a guy more than a friend. That's what you get as a tomboy. But Izumi was determined. Tamiko had to feel the wonders of love at some point and she was sure that Ushijima was the best candidate.

"Any idea what you will do if he asks you out?" Izumi asked, grinning.

Tamiko stopped. With a disgusted face she looked at Izumi. Typical.

"What?" she shrieked.

"You heard me." Izumi teased.

"I would say no!" Tamiko claimed loudly.

Bystanders were a little confused but kept walking past them. Tamiko was breathing heavily, frowning at her friend who looked at her, emotionless.

"Do you mean it?" Izumi asked, this time serious.

"Of course! He's an idiot, he is dense, he only thinks about Volleyball. You heard what the girls that dated him complained about." Tamiko said and then quietly mumbled. "It would never work."

"Don't you think if he ever really liked a girl, she would be more important than Volleyball?" Izumi asked her.

Tamiko thought for a moment, but her thoughts didn't change.

"She probably would be. But it will never happen. Nothing would ever be more important than volleyball for him, believe me." she told her.

"Whatever you say." Izumi laughed and walked ahead.

While others did their Christmas shopping or enjoyed the last school day by spending one more day with friends, others trained. Ushijima was running a much bigger round than usual on his afternoon jog. His mind was lost in thought about many things. Especially the christmas party. He had never been to one. Usually christmas was spent at the dormitory with all the students that didn't spend the holidays with their families. And even then, he would go and train by himself. Now he would spend it with Tamiko and all the others. He was excited. They would spend three days celebrating together, that's how it had been decided, and the boys had already decided on this they wanted to do. Tendou had mentioned something about a mistletoe but Soekawa had decided against it. Movies were mentioned but otherwise Ushijima hadn't really listened to the plans. Drowned in thought he stopped at a red traffic light. He wasn't out of breath, like the other jogger next to him. He focused on the red light when a bus drove through his vision and he recognised the fellow jogger next to him. A glance to the side confirmed his assumption. Black hair, blue eyes.

"Kageyama Tobio." Ushijima said.

Tobio turned around to face him. He was just as surprised.

"Ushijima-san."

Those were the only words they exchanged in that moment. Their eyes were locked for a long time, many thoughts going through Ushijima's mind. Then the lights turned green. Both began to run down the same street as well. Like last time, Tobio had no trouble keeping up with the ace and he seemed faster as well. There was no Hinata to lose breath to. They stayed neck on neck when they both reach another red traffic light. While they waited, Tobio did a few stretches and jumps, as if to ready himself for another race. Ushijima had other ideas. He turned to the young setter.

"I need to talk to you." Ushijima said.

Tobio raised an eyebrow but stayed. He waited. How was he suppose to know what he was going to say? And what the ace had to say, came at a surprise.

"I want to engage in a close relationship with your sister." the ace said.

1 second.

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

"What?" Tobio almost stuttered.

Had he misheard? Had he misunderstood? Did Ushijima Wakatoshi himself just ask him if he could date his older sister? No, he heard it right.

"Since you are her only family, I wanted to ask you if you give me the allowance." Ushijima told him.

To that, Tobio blinked a few times. The third best high school ace in all of japan was asking for permission to date his sister. He didn't know what to make of it. Both things were confusing him. Someone wanted to date his sister and that someone even asked if he was allowed to. And that someone was Ushijima Wakatoshi himself. Tobio didn't even know the relationship between the two. Did his sister even like him?

"My sister has only been asked out once before, and that was by Oikawa-san. She had rejected him." Tobio informed him. "What makes you think that you have a chance?"

"If she rejects me then that's how it is." Ushijima said bluntly

Tobio studied the captain closely. He couldn't put a finger on it but somehow, this guy was more than serious. Then he sighed.

"If you hurt her I will never forgive you. She is all I have." Tobio told him.

"I know. I do not plan to take her away from you." Ushijima insisted. "I simply wish to be a part of her life."

Hearing himself say those words didn't feel wrong at all. Ushijima was sure that he was making the right decision, even it were to be difficult.

"Then it's fine by me." Tobio said as he relaxed his shoulders.

When he saw Ushijima's smile, he flinched.

"Thank you." Ushijima said and bowed.

And then he was gone. Tobio shook his violently and also continued his jog. The conversation he just had, every single word were repeating in his mind. When he got back to Karasuno, the others were already ready to pack up for the holidays. Sugawara was the first to notice that Kageyama wasn't really himself.

"What's wrong Kageyama? You look a little pale." the vice captain asked.

"I just met Ushijima-san." Tobio answered. "We talked."

"What did Ushiwaka want?" Suga asked.

All of the others looked at him with anticipation.

"He asked me if he could date my sister." Tobio said.

They all stared at him, at first, not believing a single word. But they knew Kageyama. He wasn't someone who would lie. That's when the mayhem started.

"What?" they all shouted.

"Ushiwaka wants to date your sister?" Nishinoya laughed.

"That guy has feelings?" Tanaka wondered.

"He can't do that." Yachi squeaked. "He's so big and scary."

"Yeah." Asahi agreed. "He would probably break her when he hugs her."

While they were all having a panic attack, someone approached the small gym.

"Who is going to break who?" they heard that someone say behind them.

They all turned around to see Tamiko stand at the door. She was in her uniform, wrapped up warmly. They all flinched together.

"Oh, Kageyama-san. Why are you here?" Sugawara asked.

"I'm picking up Tobio. It's his birthday today." she revealed.

"What?" they all bellowed.

They all complained. Why didn't he tell them sooner? They would have thrown a party and gotten him presents. Tamiko only laughed. Shimizu approached her and apologised for not having found out sooner but Tamiko wasn't upset. Her brother never celebrated his birthday. He never had brought a friend home for many years.

"Kageyama, could it be that you are 16 today?" Daichi asked.

"Yeah." Tobio nodded.

"Looks like he is the youngest of the first years." Ennoshita smiled.

"And who is the oldest?" Nishinoya asked curiously.

"Let's see." Yachi looked over the list and then turned white. "It's Hinata-kun."

Mayhem and laughter spread again. Hinata, the smallest of them was the oldest of the five first years. Even Tamiko was surprised.

"That information should stay from the light of day." Tsuuki grumbled.

"Well, I wish you all a merry christmas." Tamiko told them with a bow.

And so the Kageyama siblings departed from Karasuno high and went home.

"You have some great friends, Tobio-kun." she pointed about and Tobio smiled to himself.

"Yeah."

Ushijima's words were still present in his mind and his eyes wandered over to his dear sister who he loved so much. Should he tell her? Could he give her up to someone else? I do not plan to take her away from you. I simply wish to be a part of her life. Could he trust Ushijima? He could give it a try. After all, Ushijima was, in his eyes, manly enough to protect her. At least that's what he hoped.