"Please help me, Hitomi-chan!" The libero begged, clapping his hands together as if in prayer and bowing his head to her.
The two of them were walking back home after Karasuno's two matches for the Spring High Preliminaries. Hitomi had found out that, despite having helped him finish nearly all of his summer homework, Nishinoya still had not done everything.
"I promise I wasn't lying to you! I really did try to finish the rest of it, I swear!" The boy tried convincing her.
Hitomi looked at him skeptically. "Then, what happened? The last few worksheets shouldn't have been a problem for you since we had already gone over those types of problems."
At her question, Nishinoya sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, when I got home, I tried doing them…but then I fell asleep. When I woke up, I had forgotten how to do the problems properly again." He laughed, hoping that it would soften the situation.
The girl gave a short breath of laughter herself, thinking that this was just like him. If he wasn't thinking about her, then he was thinking about volleyball. If not those two things, then it was probably about what flavor Garigari-kun he would have next.
Seeing her small smile, Nishinoya's eyes beamed up at her. "So, will you help me again? Pleassseee? I'll buy you some Garigari-kun in return! Whatever flavor you want and however many popsicles!"
Hitomi chuckled once more at the mention of the famous popsicle company. The boy had just proven to her the three things that filled his mind. "You don't have to get me anything, so long as you make sure to actually finish your homework this time. I'm not going to just give you the answers by the way." She warned him.
Nishinoya took that to mean she was willing to help him again, and his entire face brightened up. "Thank you, Hitomi-chan! You're the best! I won't let you down this time! I promise!" He declared, taking her hands in his as he thanked her.
The warmth from his thin hands almost seemed to travel straight to Hitomi's cheeks. Luckily, the sun had begun to set, casting an orange-reddish hue to everything it touched and disguised her blush.
Just in case, and out of embarrassment, Hitomi gently brushed his hands off and looked up in thought to avoid his eyes. "When do you want to work on it? Summer vacation is almost over." She asked.
"We can do it tomorrow! Since we had those two matches today, coach is giving us tomorrow to rest up before we go back to training for the Spring High!" Nishinoya exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
In the next moment, his brows furrowed slightly. "Oh, but where should we go? I would ask you to come over to my place, but my grandpa said that he was bringing over some guests tomorrow, so I don't think I can." His hand came up to his chin as he thought about where they could go on their date. Although, it wasn't actually a date. He just liked to think of it as such. Another study date, so to speak.
At his words, Hitomi thought about the possibilities. Both of their schools were out of the question since it was still summer vacation. She certainly didn't like the idea of going to the library again after being kicked out the last time. They could go to a family restaurant or something, but she feared that another unruly waiter would try to hit on her. Nishinoya definitely regretted his actions from before, but it was hard to say whether or not things would get out of hand again when it came to hormonal teenage boys.
Her lips thinned as she pressed them together, reluctant about offering her own home. It seemed to be the only viable option left, but that didn't make it any easier for Hitomi to decide.
By no means was her home like an average household. It seemed like it was relatively close to Nishinoya's house since the convenience store they regularly met at was near both of their homes, but her home was definitely not in the same kind of neighborhood as his.
In fact, her house was inside a gated community. Except, there wasn't a community. It was just the Fukumoto estate and its various additions. Hitomi lived in the main household. Not only was it far larger than the average home, it had far more inhabitants – and they weren't considered family either.
Even if the size wasn't the strangest thing to some people, the sheer number of servants working inside probably was.
Hitomi bit the inside of her cheek, trying to sort through this inner conflict. Nishinoya wouldn't be the type to care about her background…right?
By now, she held him in high enough regard that she believed he wouldn't be so shallow. After all, he already liked her from before without knowing this part of her. Of course, back then it was only because of her appearance, but she knew better than to think that was all he liked now. She was sure that he enjoyed her company as a person.
Then again, Hitomi was well aware of how quick attitudes changed when her family history was revealed. There were a number of times people changed their tune as soon as they realized she was the daughter of the Fukumoto family. She had witnessed it and personally experienced it. She didn't want that to happen again.
Even to those that were seemingly nice to her before then, there was a noticeable shift in their treatment towards her.
They still complimented her and treated her well, but after the knowledge of her social status, their dispositions seemed off. Their actions weren't completely ingenuine. Just that their kindness and support…it was being laid on a little thick. To a point that some would say is a bit excessive.
All for the express purpose of pleasing her, and thus gaining the favor of the Fukumoto family.
It was easy enough to see their motives. A snake can shed its skin, but it will always be just that: A snake.
Nishinoya wasn't like that though…right? He couldn't be. At least, that's what she wanted to believe. She took a deep breath, strengthening her resolve.
"You can come over to my house tomorrow."
"I need you to do inventory on the—Hitomi-sama?!" The head maid, Chiyo, was walking down the halls and delegating work when she came across her charge gently wiping down the stair railings with a cloth, a spray bottle in her other hand.
The older woman rushed towards the girl, snatching the cloth and spray bottle from her hands. "What on earth are you doing, Hitomi-sama!?" She tried asking calmly, but her shock was very evident in her voice. "Is there something unsatisfactory or not to your liking?"
Hitomi avoided the woman's eyes, keeping them trained onto the stair railings. "Oh…no, it's not that. I just thought the railings looked a little dusty." She quietly explained.
Chiyo's eyebrows furrowed and bowed to her. "I deeply apologize, Hitomi-sama. Such matters are beneath a lady of your standing. I have failed to ensure that our workers are completing their tasks properly. I will have them reprimanded immediately."
The younger girl flinched, quickly bringing her hands up in panic. "No! You don't have to do that! I just…I just thought I should do a little more cleaning for…a guest." She stared down at the railings again when Chiyo lifted up her head to give her a look of confusion.
"A guest?" The maid echoed. "I was not informed that a guest was to be arriving today. The Master and the Mistress hasn't contacted me." The woman questioningly looked to the other two maids beside her, but both timidly shook their heads, also unaware of any guests to be received.
Hitomi pursed her lips as she wrung her hands together. "It's…It's not one of father's or mother's guests. It's my guest. They…Umm…They're my…friend…" She finally managed to get out after some time. She began fidgeting in place at the awkward silence that followed.
Eventually looking up, she was met with three astonished stares, the maids almost gawking at her. The girl was about to ask if they were alright when Chiyo was the first to snap out of it.
The head maid swiveled around, addressing the woman to her left first. "Go tell the head chef that there will be a change in plans in tonight's meal." She turned to the woman on her right as the other maid rushed to the kitchens. "Inform every available worker to report to the servants' quarters. We are in need of a house wide clean-up. I want all-hands-on-deck to get this place spick and span!"
Hitomi watched the other maids rush off down the hallways, now being the one that was astonished. "Umm…Chiyo-san…?" She prodded, the older woman busying herself with her phone to notify additional workers. "You really don't need to go through all this trouble." She was feeling guilty about causing such an uproar. In truth, the house was already spotless. Hitomi was just nervous about Nishinoya coming over for the first time that she needed to do something to busy herself.
"Nonsense!" The head maid bellowed. "A guest of yours is coming to the mansion, and we would be remiss if we were to treat this esteemed guest as anything less than royalty! It is our duty and our pleasure to serve you and any of your guests." The maid turned the girl around and gently pushed her up the stairs. "Now! Go and ready yourself to receive this guest of yours! Leave everything to us!"
At the top of the stairs, the young girl turned around to survey the state of the household. She watched as several maids and butlers ran around, following Chiyo's orders without question. With this series of events, Hitomi's shift in attitude was no fluke and it was obvious that today's guest had something to do with it. It had been three years since the last time Hitomi had brought someone over unrelated to business, and they weren't about to mess anything up.
Hitomi looked down fondly at them, a gentle smile adorning her face. She slightly shook her head in endearment and turned around, following Chiyo's advice to get ready.
"Hitomi-sama, I hope it is not too presumptuous of me to say this, but I assure you that we will welcome your guest readily and notify you promptly when they arrive. You can wait in the study until then." Chiyo tamely suggested, slight worry glimmering through her eyes as she watched the young girl nervously pacing at the front door.
Hitomi responded without stopping or looking at the maid. "No, it's alright. I'll welcome him myself. You all can busy yourselves with other things. I don't want him to be…overwhelmed." She explained.
The situation was already bad enough. Nishinoya would witness the sheer size of her house, but before he could even enter, he'd have to pass a screening at the front gates. Surely not something the average person had to do often. Hitomi didn't want to make it worse by bombarding him with numerous servants and possibly making him uncomfortable. She also didn't like the idea that it may come off as flaunting her wealth. While she couldn't control the size of the mansion, she could control his experience to an extent.
Chiyo tenderly smiled at the girl, taking great joy in Hitomi's recent changes. How long had it been since she was able to see her be so worried about inviting over a friend? To see her anxiously await their arrival, pacing back and forth, wringing her hands together, and biting her lip in suspense. And yet, there was that unmistakable twinkle of delight in the girl's eyes.
The head maid waved the other servants away. They silently bowed and went off. The remaining two jumped when they heard the distinct sound of a bell. "H-Hello…? Is this Hitomi-chan's house…?" Nishinoya's nervous voice crackled through the speaker, his image being displayed on the small screen of the intercom.
Hitomi nearly slammed herself against the wall, pressing a button on the intercom. "Nishinoya-kun! Just a second and I'll let you in!" She punched in the passcode, hearing the creaking of the gates through the speaker afterward.
The girl breathed in and out slowly. Why was her heart beating so erratically? There shouldn't have been anything to be so nervous about. It was just Nishinoya! He'd come in, overly dote on her, and they'd go to study just as they did before.
Unfortunately, that kind of reasoning didn't do Hitomi any good. When she heard a knock at the door, she still jumped in surprise, her heart doing the same. Her hand gripped the handle of the door, pausing to take one last deep breath. Chiyo quietly looked on, a tenderness in her eyes.
Hesitantly opening the door for him, she allowed Nishinoya to poke his head through, his eyes darting to and fro before landing on her. "Hitomi-chan! This is really your house!?" He exclaimed.
She bit her lip before answering. "…Yes. I-If it makes you uncomfortable, we can go somewhere else…" She suggested, an unsettling feeling growing in her stomach.
"No way! I was just surprised! Besides, I think if we went somewhere else, I'd probably get us kicked out again." He laughed sheepishly, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck. He suddenly and finally noticed Chiyo standing a bit away from Hitomi, as if she were overseeing everything.
Seeing his attention on the maid, Hitomi introduced her. "Oh! Nishinoya-kun, this is Chiyo-san. My…um…" Her eyes drifted a little, clearly tense.
Chiyo instantly chimed in. "I am Hitomi-sama's personal aide. It is a pleasure to meet you." She greeted, giving Nishinoya a respectful bow. Nishinoya could be an idiot at times, but he wasn't completely stupid. Anybody could see at first glance that Chiyo was a maid in that outfit.
However, the older woman was well aware of how uncomfortable such titles made her charge feel. Hitomi had always hated revealing how high her social standing or how wealthy her family was because of how people reacted to that knowledge. Even out of public view and within closed quarters, the young girl always treated Chiyo and the other servants fairly. Even on equal standing, some would say. If this boy meant as much to her as Chiyo surmised, she would gladly help her.
"Hello! My name is Nishinoya Yuu! It's nice to meet you too!" The boy quickly introduced himself and bowed back to her. Behind him, Chiyo could see Hitomi giving her a grateful smile, fully understanding the woman's consideration.
Chiyo smiled softly at the boy, appreciating his manners. "If either of you should require anything, please do not hesitate to inform me."
"We'll be in the library, so you can rest for now, Chiyo-san." Hitomi nodded to the woman and then turned to Nishinoya. "Follow me."
The libero obediently followed behind her, his head tilted up so that he could take in everything. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was agape as he admired the grandiosity of her abode. They were still just in the lobby too! He felt as though he could fit his entire house in just this one section of her mansion.
"Wow…This place sure is huge, Hitomi-chan!" He exclaimed, several other sounds of amazement echoing throughout the hall. The girl watched him from the corner of her eye.
This was it. This was the moment that usually changed everything. The moment where everyone realized just how powerful and influential her family was, causing them to change their attitude towards her. Hitomi gently bit the inside of her cheek in apprehension, anxiously waiting for Nishinoya's reaction.
"If you set up a net, you could totally play volleyball in here!" Nishinoya laughed, completely serious. Hitomi blanched at that, blinking once in astonishment.
Soon, she burst with laughter, the sound echoing in the lobby and through Nishinoya's ears. He smiled wider, enjoying seeing her smile and her happiness. Even if he didn't know exactly what caused it. "No? You don't think so?" He asked, tilting his head at her.
"I've never tried it before, but we definitely could fit a net in here." She said between laughs. What was she ever worried about? Just yesterday she confirmed that there were only three things on Nishinoya's mind most of the time: her, volleyball, and Garigari-kun popsicles. Lo and behold, this held true again today.
Hitomi had nothing to fear when it came to Nishinoya.
She grabbed his hand, pulling him forward to follow her to the manor's library. The boy's heart leapt up to his throat, a massive blush spreading over his face. Of course, he'd grabbed her hands or wrist plenty of times before, but this was the first time she'd ever done the same to him.
It was a good thing that she was pulling him along behind her. Otherwise, he wasn't sure he'd be able to stay conscious in this moment if he saw her beautiful smiling face.
Chiyo looked on with fondness, her own heart swelling with warmth at their display before leaving to fulfill her duties.