Nishinoya Yuu didn't seem like one of the stalker types. Hitomi really hoped that he wasn't, but she grew uneasy at seeing him waiting outside of the convenience store.
His eyes lit up when he saw her. Both of his arms flew up into the air, energetically waving at her. His laughter reached Hitomi's ears.
The girl blinked a couple times, trying to figure out the best course of action. After a moment of thought, she turned around and prepared to head back home. She could live without some snacks for a couple of days.
Her actions caused Nishinoya to shout in surprise, and he chased after her. "Hey, wait! Where you going?!" He skid to a halt just in front of her.
Hitomi backed away so that they wouldn't be so close. "Somewhere not here." She coldly answered.
Nishinoya just tilted his head in confusion, completely glossing over her unwelcoming tone. "But you just got here! You can't leave!" He exclaimed, wildly gesturing to the convenience store.
Just like the last time, Hitomi stepped to the side and passed him. "I can, and I will." She felt a pair of hands on her wrist, tugging her backwards. Thin and almost bony, yet incredibly warm.
She swerved her head back, glaring at the boy. "Don't make me call the police this time."
Nishinoya immediately released his grip, his hands flying into the air as if in surrender. "Woah! Okay, okay! Sorry! But really, you just got here! You need to buy some stuff, right?" He asked innocently.
Well, it's not like she just walked to the convenience store for no reason, but it also didn't mean she absolutely had to buy anything. It would be a shame to go back home empty-handed and with a stomach devoid of snacks, but she could always send one of the servants at another time if she really wanted to. That just wasn't something she often did.
This little walk to the convenience store and buying whatever snack she wanted – even though it may be rather mundane to most – was the closest thing to being 'average' that Hitomi could ever do.
She didn't want to give that up so easily.
It appeared that Nishinoya had not made the connection that his appearance caused Hitomi's sudden change in plans. He was genuinely confused, leading her to believe that he had no ill intentions.
Still, it was a bit weird that he had clearly been waiting outside the store for her. How long had he been there? How many days had he come by? He had only seen her once, so there was no way he had known anything about her habits. Not only that, but today wasn't even the same day of the week that she had come last time, nor was it the same time of day.
This boy was either very lucky or just very diligent.
Hitomi sighed, not responding to him and walked back towards the store. Nishinoya smiled brightly, following her like a puppy. "Welcome." They were greeted by the cashier in a less than enthusiastic manner.
What Hitomi liked about this store in particular was not only its close proximity to her home, but the fact that it often had female employees. She had much less to worry about if there wasn't a man behind the register.
Of course, there was always a chance that there were people that swung the other way. It was just far less common.
Besides, Hitomi had politely asked the manager for the workers' schedules every month. Though a very odd and perhaps illegal request, the male manager eagerly obliged, hoping to gain some brownie points with such a beautiful girl.
Hitomi only visited the store on days when a female cashier was employed. So far, none of them had expressed an interest in her in a romantic way. So, she would continue to follow the schedule.
Taking a shopping basket, she went to the candy and chocolates aisle first. She paid no mind to Nishinoya who was still following after her. He hadn't said anything since coming inside, so neither would she.
Hitomi slowly travelled down the aisle, taking whatever she fancied. Some Konpeito sugar candies, Kasugai assorted gummies, and various flavors of Kit Kat bars.
She paused, crouching a little to look at and decide on which Kit Kat flavors she would take home this time. She tapped the middle of her bottom lip with her index finger as she read the flavors, her brow furrowing slightly in her concentration.
Eventually, her brows furrowed deeper in annoyance. Nishinoya had been staring at her intently this whole time. His concentration on her far greater than her concentration on the snacks. "It's impolite to stare." Hitomi stated, turning her head to glare at him.
The boy jumped, his deep concentration suddenly broken. "Ah! Sorry! I couldn't help it! You're just so beautiful!" He laughed boisterously, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.
"Thanks…" Just as it is impolite to stare, it is also impolite to not express gratitude when paid a compliment no matter how shallow the compliment may be. "…but I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that." Though a bit contradictory, Hitomi remained polite in her speech but cold in her delivery.
"Okay! How about if I just look at you a little!" It wasn't so much a question from Nishinoya, as it was a declaration. He looked at the snacks on the shelves, occasionally peering over at Hitomi to admire her.
What an odd boy.
"Don't you have something better to do with your time than to bother me?" Hitomi accused, moving down the aisle and turning to the next one. Finished with the candy and chocolates aisle, she went to the drinks aisle.
"Well, volleyball practice already ended and I hate studying! And I'd much rather be with you than studying, my beauty!" Nishinoya gazed up at her expectantly, eyes shining with wonder. Hitomi ignored him, choosing to place a few bottles of Calpis and Mitsuya Cider in her shopping basket instead.
The boy didn't seem to be fazed by her blatant disregard for him as he continued. "I'm Karasuno's libero and Guardian Deity!" He proudly declared, puffing out his chest with his thumb pointing to it.
Hitomi had no idea what those titles meant.
One seemed to be an actual position while the other was most definitely a childish name he thought of for himself.
Sports didn't interest Hitomi too much. Her cynical and unfriendly nature didn't match well with most sports' aspects of teamwork.
However, she was well versed in ballroom dancing, fencing, horseback riding, and other so called high-class physical activities. Not because she was interested in them, but because it was expected of her. Being in a high-class family herself, she had taken lessons in such activities since childhood.
She didn't bother to learn much about other sports, like volleyball for instance.
Hitomi didn't take much pride in her ability, but Nishinoya seemed to be the very opposite. Going so far as to bestow upon himself a grand title. Her thoughts were interrupted by another loud declaration of his.
"People call us the Fallen Crows, but we're making a comeback! You'll see! We're making Nationals this year!" Suddenly, he paused his speech, seemingly hatching an idea. "Hey! Why don't you come watch one of our games!"
"No, thank you." Hitomi immediately responded, leaving the drinks aisle to go to the ice cream freezers.
Nishinoya snapped out of the small shock to quickly follow her. "Why not? I promise our team is good! We'll definitely make it!" His eyes widened in realization. "Could it be that you don't know a lot about volleyball? I can teach you! Just come to one of my practices!"
"No, thank you." She repeated. "Also, you're being really loud."
The libero was about to just laugh it off when he noticed Hitomi's gaze travelling past him. She was looking at the cashier.
The woman probably wasn't much older than the two of them. Maybe college? However, the tiredness in her eyes seemed to age her. The cashier held her hand to her head, like it was hurt. On the counter in front of her was a half-drunken bottle of Pocari Sweat. The energy drink was quite popular among athletes as well as people looking to cure a hangover.
Suddenly, the dots connected in Nishinoya's head.
Hitomi had accused him of being loud not just because she was annoyed at him. She had noticed that he was unintentionally hurting the hungover cashier with his volume.
As Hitomi picked out a few flavors of Garigari-kun popsicles, she saw from the corner of her eye that Nishinoya had left her. She breathed a slight sigh of relief, not bothered that it may have been her harsh words that sent him off. Finished with her convenience store run, she walked to the front counter and placed the basket on it for the cashier to ring up her items.
She paid for all the snacks and was almost out the door when Nishinoya's voice shouted out. "Just this, please!" The cashier winced a bit at his shouting, causing him to jump. "I mean! Just this, please!" He whisper-shouted, as if repeating the phrase in a lower voice would undo the damage.
The cashier handed him his one item, but he pushed it back at her while shaking his head. "It's for you!" He declared cheerfully.
The cashier lifted up the object to read the label. It was a spice container filled with curry powder. She looked at him, then back at the curry powder, then back at him. "Uhh…thanks…I guess? But what am I supposed to do with curry powder?" Utter confusion lacing her voice.
Nishinoya tilted his head. "Huh? Don't they say that curry powder helps with hangovers?"
He heard small peals of laughter from the entrance. Unable to contain it anymore, Hitomi had released some giggles behind her hand.
It was only his second time seeing her, but it was still the first time he had seen her smile, much less laugh! It was such a stark contrast to her constant glares and cold gazes.
Nishinoya thought he had died and gone to heaven. He was seeing an angel and her laughs were the sounds of the heavens flitting through his ears.
"It's supposed to be turmeric." She corrected him between laughs, snapping him out of it.
"E-Ehh!? Not curry powder?! I'll go buy another one!" He was about to race back deeper into the store when the cashier promptly stopped him, saying it was unnecessary and to just take the curry powder back.
He took it and walked out of the store, following after Hitomi. "I thought for sure it was curry powder…" He mused, inspecting the container of spice.
"Well, you were close at least. Most curry powders do contain some turmeric, but people with hangovers don't use just the spice itself. They need a turmeric drink like Ukon no Chikara. I guess it's the thought that counts." Hitomi joked, giggling a bit behind her hand again.
Nishinoya stared at her with big eyes, a small blush dusting his cheeks. When she noticed that he was looking at her, Hitomi immediately wiped the smile off her face and quickly turned to go in the direction of her house.
The libero followed her, shouting his thoughts. "You're even more beautiful when you smile like that! You should do it more often! And you're super nice too! Are you my ideal girl or what?!"
Nice…that was something Hitomi hadn't been called in a long time.
"I was hardly being nice to you this whole time." She admitted, but with no remorse.
"But you noticed that lady had a hangover, didn't you? That's why you said I was being loud! That was really cool of you!" He smiled at her, his eyes sparkling in admiration.
Hitomi stared at him for a bit and then looked forward again. "I was mostly saying it because I found you annoying."
That may have been true, but she didn't deny the whole hangover part.
"Why are you following me? Don't you live in the opposite direction?" She accused him, remembering that he walked off the opposite way their last encounter.
"Yeah, but I can't let a girl walk home by herself! Especially not this late!" Nishinoya exclaimed.
Hitomi sighed. The walks to and from the convenience store were the most 'average' thing she could do in her life, but they were still far from average. Though it may seem like it, she was never actually alone when outside. Her bodyguards were littered around the neighborhood, keeping a watchful eye on her.
In fact, when Hitomi had pulled out her phone and threatened to call the police those times, she had secretly been threatening to press a button that would alert her bodyguards.
It was a hassle, but it was the only way her servants would let her out of the house without direct supervision. It had taken her years to get their consent, and these were the conditions they set.
At first glance, it may have seemed heartfelt that they cared about her safety so much. In reality though, it had more to do with their job. If anything were to happen to Hitomi, they would all, no doubt, lose their job. Perhaps even worse.
Still, at least Hitomi was allowed this one small luxury.
"You really don't need to do that. My house is—" She was about to say, 'not far' but abruptly stopped herself. In case Nishinoya did turn out to be one of the stalking types, it would be really bad to let that slip. "Anyways, I can get home by myself. Thank you." She recovered.
She wasn't usually this careless. She had always been on top of things.
There was just something about Nishinoya that made her lower her guard.
His attitude and aura was completely…genuine. He didn't have ill intentions or ulterior motives. He expressed real amazement towards her. It wasn't exactly innocence, but it was maybe something along those lines?
Or maybe he was just genuinely an idiot and that made Hitomi see him as less of a threat.
Either way, she needed to send him off. "Please, don't follow me or I really will call the police this time." She threatened, though she really meant her bodyguards.
"Okay, okay! Girls sure are sensitive about guys coming to their house, huh? Tsukiko-chan was like that with Ryu too!" He surmised, not taking into account her very real threat.
That really wasn't what Hitomi was bothered about, but if that's what it took to get him to leave her alone, then she'd take it.
"Then, at least tell me your name!" He requested. It was true, he still hadn't known her name this entire time.
"Good night." Hitomi coldly replied, quickly walking away from him.
"Can I come see you again!?" Nishinoya shouted after her. She turned around and narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm sure you'd come here even if I told you not to."
"So, in other words, you're saying I can! Yes!" The libero pumped his fists and dashed off in the direction of his house. "See you again, my beauty!" He shouted in the distance.
Hitomi sighed and shook her head, pulling out a Garigari-kun popsicle to nibble on during her walk home.
Nishinoya Yuu…What a strange boy.