The ringing sound of his alarm clock reached his sleepy ears. Awoken, he slammed his palm at the object to turn it off. He sat on his bed, dangling his food on the floor before standing up. Scratching his toned tummy all the while yawning, he entered the bathroom to wash his face. After doing so, he changed his wardrobe for his jogging attire. Grabbing his phone, he left the room silently.
The Kageyama household has been quiet for quite awhile now. With the absence of their regular father figure, their grandfather, the atmosphere has changed since then. His sister started spending a lot of her time at Sendai because of her work and often sleeps with her friends in the city. His father, who was just a regular and up-and-coming doctor, has been shipped off to the other country because of his study, while his mother remained at Sendai.
Whereas, he… he's normal who goes in and out of the house starting from as early as six in the morning until late seven in the evening.
The Kageyama household has been cold for a long time now. If it weren't for his grandfather who has been with him, seen him grow, and was the parent he needed – he couldn't imagine what kind of person he would be at this point in time.
Grabbing his rubber shoes by the shoe rack at the genkan, he tied them perfectly. He checked the time and found out that it was still five o'clock in the morning. And satisfied he was at his condition, resuming his activity of the day, he opened the door and went to warm up his muscles outside.
Just like the ambiance of their house, it was cold outside. Winter is coming, yet his body produced heat. Despite the absence of sweat, he huffed and breathed, watching the faint cloud of smoke that emerged. It was getting colder. Positioning, he began to take slow, large strides.
His mind wandered as he passed by through the houses on their block, to the neighbor block, then the other until he's far from home. A lot has happened. They won their match against Seijoh, winning against Oikawa-san then uncalled and unplanned, he met the rest of Harukaze-san's family. She attended and watched their match against Shiratorizawa the next day, bringing her whole family with her, as well as the legendary Coach Ukai.
Winning against the champion team in their prefecture gave them a ticket that hasn't appeared on their team for years. They've been blessed and the chance falls upon their hands. It means that Tokyo and the nationals won't be an unfulfilled dream, especially to their upperclassmen – the third-years.
But the idea of Tokyo gave him a surge of excitement of what is yet to come. It is Tokyo, of course, it's a big deal. It's a larger stage, a larger court, a larger number of people who are interested in the series of volleyball matches in five days, including important people that will grant him a space in the national league.
At fifteen, Kageyama Tobio started giving himself an idea of what he should do for himself after high school. Looking at Sugawara-san and the others, as well as watching Harukaze-san slowly drifting away because they're candidates of the incoming graduation, made him wary of his own future. Academically speaking, he's not great. He knows of his weakness and it was academics. But he knows that he excels at one field alone – volleyball. He began to think, perhaps consider challenging the world as he aims to stand at the top of the chain.
That's why, when he received the medal at the closing ceremony, he felt so proud of himself. It's here, a tangible reminder of their victory.
And he felt so tired. The five sets were a huge hurdle. He never felt so tired like that before. It was actually his first time to go on for that long, against Shiratorizawa to boot. The pressure was longer, the expectation was high, the precision should go on for longer than what they are used to, and dealing with monsters from the opposing team had been a challenge for him as a setter in order for the team to score. Despite getting used to barbaric treatment on their training, and having to deal with a seemingly limitless stamina monster named Hinata, the match was still able to take a toll on him. But what he remembered the most is what transpired after.
On the way to Karasuno for a celebration, the team was once again ambushed by the Harukaze family.
Miki-san congratulated Ukai-san and Takeda-sensei.
The twins cuddled with Shimizu-san and Yachi-san.
Harukaze lagged behind, the legendary Coach Ukai was with him.
Harukaze-san hugged the third-years and started patting their heads one-by-one.
When she stopped before him, automatically, he found himself lowering his head down in a sort of bow. He can only count the instances she would reach for his head to pat it with a fond look on evident on her face yet he acted, knowing immediately what she would do the moment she turned to him. And when she patted his head like the rest with that soft look on her face. He was tired. His legs ached, he's hungry, he's mentally exhausted – yet that moment was like the cherry on top of the icing of a delicious cake. He felt his knees going weak and jelly. All he thought that time was that her hand was really soft and light against his head.
Out of all the Harukaze he knew, her eyes were the prettiest.
Through his jog, he passed by their residence. A light from one of the rooms on the second floor and as far as he can remember, the L-DK area has its lights on as well. He didn't stop nor slowed down on his pace, Tobio continued jogging while looking at the imposing house of the half-Russians swiftly.
His jogging time ended with a smile etching on his face. The house remained quiet like how he left earlier and he didn't let it get to him. He did his hygiene and routine without any distracting thoughts. It didn't take that long for him to enter the dining area in his school uniform. There was a blue scarf on his hand while the other holding his bag.
Upon entering, he reached for a plate inside the refrigerator covered in plastic. Taking the wrapper off, he placed it inside the microwave and heat it up.
Ah. He remembered. It was one of the days that his sister slept over with someone at Sendai and his mother seemed to be on another set of surgeries, she was not at home again. But despite being absent for most of his life, for doing her duty as a doctor, his mother never fails to cook him meals as much as he can. She's barely around like their father on the years he grew up but he knew that his mother still wants to fulfill her duty as his mother.
He ate the pre-heat meal for breakfast before placing it on the clean sink. Doing hygiene again, checking his stuff for training attire, he decided it's best to leave now for school.
His trek was quiet and cold. He breathed, seeing the faint smoke again. He rubbed his hands before he placed them on his pants' pockets. October still has a few days remaining and two months away for the nationals yet he was experiencing early signs of winter.
His season.
He looked up and his eyes widened in surprise. Before he was Harukaze-san and the famed triplets They're all towering figures of four behind the walking body of Karasuno students. The male Harukaze was the tallest, followed by Harukaze-san, then the other girls shared the same height. Harukaze-san was reading a book, her brother has an earphone on his neck and seems to be having a talk with her. The other girls had their own chatter behind them.
He found himself in trance and his eyes focused on Harukaze-san. Her long, black locks were free and swaying. Ah, it's the first time he saw her wearing eyeglasses. It looked similar to what Shimizu-san wears but was more circular. Setting aside her eyeglasses, her eyes – those bluish-green eyes – looked brighter than the last time. It suits her. Her eyes sparkled while she animatedly talked with her brother.
Ethereal.
He slapped a hand on his mouth. He felt his cheeks getting warmth.
"What…" His heart thumped abnormally. His eyes locking on that black hair. He need help. He felt like he's having a heart attack.
The day for managing the pamphlet for the nationals arrived. After class, they had their height, fingertip height, maximum vertical reach, jumping reach, spiking reach, and blocking reach measured. He won three curry buns from Hinata when he had a higher maximum vertical reach than his dumb of a partner. He couldn't and shall not forget that he also won a week worth of Gungun yogurt. And then, to sum it up, he has been invited to participate in the National Youth Intensive Training Camp held in Tokyo and set to start on the first week of December.
Of course, such an opportunity shall not be put to waste and he immediately agreed to join at the invite. Even Sawamura-san told Takeda-sensei that he shall go. The team gave their full support at the idea that a player like him is turning to be on a national level of a player, except for Tsukishima. The lad was invited to the other training camp.
It was lunch break on the next day when he was at the vending machine that he met Harukaze-san again. For some reason, it felt like forever since he last saw her. As far as he can remember, it was last February when he first saw her.
"Kageyama-kun…" She said, upon seeing him when she arrived.
Ah. It all started in the same vending machine.
Like before, every now and then, he would feel embarrassed for various reasons whenever she's concerned. He managed to keep it to a minimum, though, but she's an enigma as well – an undefinable gracious being – that he has yet to grasp and understand her nature. He never understood women. No matter how he mentally prepared himself, she would pop out of nowhere when he least expects it and perhaps, she's not aware of what she's capable of but she's quite dangerous for his mind and heart.
Looking back, she couldn't look at his eyes longer than a minute and she used to stutter when she's speaking his name.
"Harukaze-san."
And so was he.
Slowly, with each encounter, there is progress. Step by step, baby steps, that thread in the path of change. He, as well, stopped stuttering of her name. It is because she's someone he got accustomed to. He may not know her that well yet but he really likes everything about her.
He nodded at her, slipped double the number of coins on the slot. He knows what he's doing. He can still remember what she drank on that day, the drink the blonde girls bought for her months ago, and the drink that she bought last time from months ago as well. He clicked the button for plain milk and strawberry milk, before listening to the sound of the chunk. He bent down, taking it before he approached her to hand over the small carton of strawberry milk.
He did this with a slight flush on his cheeks.
"T-Thank you." She mumbled, taking the milk from his hand and plugged a plastic straw.
He copied her, looking away but decided not to leave. She, too, stood there as she sipped on her drink. As he took his own straw, his mind wandered on that night. How someone like her looked too good under the falling snow, how he was actually able to attract someone from the opposite sex, and how that moment changed the small part of his life that used to be just volleyball. It's not much but she created a great impact. He never really cared about women before. He never felt things he did right now before. He felt like a normal person because he felt things like this.
He looked at Harukaze-san, who silently drank her milk, looking startled when he glanced at her way. If it's from months ago, she would immediately avert her eyes with red cheeks but she's surprisingly looking straight back at him with red cheeks. He couldn't help but hold back his own flush. But he decided, she has to know. One way or another, she would learn of it but he has to be the one to tell her.
"Harukaze-san." He started and she didn't look away. "I've been invited… at the National Youth Intensive Training Camp."
She was quiet for a moment with a look of surprise. Her eyes blinked. Then, she started gaping at him, like a fish out of the water. "T-That's…" Slowly, a smile broke out and her eyes looked more alive. "Wow. Congratulations! That's… wow, sorry. I didn't know what to say but that's really… wow. Amazing."
And his heart fluttered. He stood properly straight, gripping on the carton a little bit tight, feeling proud. "Thank you very much."
She breathed. "When… when will it start?"
"December, they said." He recalled the talk yesterday. "A week-long."
Then, she hummed. She looked to be deep in thought. "Okay." Another smile.
Smiling… for Harukaze-san came off pretty easy. He remembered the one time he tried to smile for the team just like how Sugawara-san does it all the time, but the team reacted strangely. Hinata took steps back and accused him of planning something dangerous that he decided he'd rarely do it instead. If he smiled at Harukaze-san, would her reaction the same as Hinata? But he doubted it. Harukaze-san is too nice. Just like her smile that can easily make his heart tugged. In a good way, of course.
They walked side by side to go back to their own classes. He didn't notice before but, there are a number of heads turning in their direction. For a while, he forgot about who Harukaze-san really is. He's aware of the triplets' popularity, particularly in their year. He really couldn't say the same thing for Harukaze-san but she must be, as well. A look at her facial features, an exotic mixture of Japanese and Russian, was enough to make her someone that people would look at whenever she's in the area.
Of course, he won't admit it to anyone but she's always attractive to his eyes.
"You looked taller." He heard say.
He blinked. Then, he realized what she meant. "I did. We had our measurements taken yesterday." Woah. They're talking normally.
"Yeah. Daichi told me that he shrank." She giggled. His eyes widened a little at the mellifluous sound that it created. She continued. "He swore that Kiyoko pushed the measuring scale harder than usual. He couldn't believe that he actually shrank."
Oh. Now that she mentioned it… "Sugawara-san told me before to grow shorter."
Harukaze-san blinked. Then she erupted in laughter. "The nerve of that guy!" She exclaimed.
He has no plan on adding comments to what she said. He normally doesn't have any follow-up topics. He was rather in a trance of her laugh. The way her corner of her wrinkled and her cheeks stretched allowed her lips to widened. It showed her teeth, too and it was such a genuine expression. It was a beautiful sight.
Then he took of her height, too.
Harukaze-san is as tall as Sugawara-san.
On that same day, he has been called by Takeda-sensei regarding the camp. He was given a permission slip that he has to give to his mother to sign for him. It was good timing as well, for he has not told his family about what happened and what's going to happen. It crossed his mind a lot of times, of course. Even though they're rarely around and almost present at his matches since then, he would still consider telling them how the matches went.
Fortunately, when he arrived home, his mother was there as well as his older sister, Miwa.
"Oh, you're here just in time," Nee-san told him as soon as he opened the door and he has yet to remove his shoes.
He blinked at the smell. Something smells really good.
"Hurry up."
So, he was told and he nodded.
Dinner was quiet that night. The sound of the news from the television that both his mother and the older sister were watching at the dining area, the cluttering of their utensils through clashing at one another as they feed themselves were the ones that made a sound. Tobio drank the rest of his water, carefully and gently placed it down while he thought of the words he's going to use. He has been thinking of this for a long time now and on how to tell them. This is an opportunity.
He looked at the two older women. "Mother, I have news."
His mother, a full-fledged doctor in Sendai, Kageyama Reika, turned to him. "What is it, Tobio-chan?"
Nee-san didn't look at him but he knew that he caught her attention as well.
"I've been invited to participate in the National Youth Intensive Training Camp."
His older sister swiftly turned to him with wide eyes. "D-Did ya' just say, National?" He nodded. She whistled and a thumbs-up.
He knew then, that despite being detached from his older sister since she decided to quit volleyball, that she approved of his current situation, even amazed at the level he reached. He smirked in response and looked at his mother. There was a huge smile on her face. He was caught off guard when her fingers caught his left cheek and pinched it tenderly.
"That's really great news! Congratulations!"
He nodded and mentally thanked her. Hearing her say it still made him proud. He's glad he told them.
"When would that be?"
"First week of December."
Reika nodded and retracted her hand. "I see. How about your studies?"
He stared, remembering the permission slip that he was given earlier. "Takeda-sensei gave me a permission slip. It'll be part of my excuse letter, he said."
She nodded in approval. "Don't worry about your father. I'll tell him."
He nodded. He's really glad he told them.
"The training camp's gonna be in Tokyo, right? Are you gonna be okay? Moreover, have you been to Tokyo?"
He pouted. "I have. In Saitama last summer."
"Do you even know to get there?" He clicked his tongue and narrowed his eyes at his sister. Nee-san grinned in response. "Thought so."
His mother smiled. "Well, your sensei must've been prepared for that if he agreed that you'd go. Don't be afraid to ask him, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Do you have your training necessities?"
He nodded.
And just like that, telling them went well. After dinner, his mother asked for the paper and signed it with her signature. He looked at it with pride swelling on his chest. It was like an approval. And his family approved of his step. Tobio kept it, tucked between his notebooks safely to avoid wrinkling. He even had to listen to his parents talk over the phone about the invitation and he's basically good to go to the most-awaited training camp in Tokyo.
It's not his first training camp per se, but this is a mark of a huge step for himself and his family. Because it's nationals. People around his age all over Japan will gather in one place for that big event and he is genuinely fortunate to be a part of it. He may be in the same league as them for being a fellow candidate but these same set of people are probably stronger and more skilled than him. They are a good reference and motivation for him to get stronger as well.
It's a heaven-sent opportunity.
One time on a weekend, when there was no training at school and his mother's at home, he decided to tag along on her grocery shopping – as it was requested and he couldn't turn it down because his sister was already back in the city for her work. It was on that day that he came across Harukaze-san, Miki-san, and Suzaku on their own grocery shopping.
Actually, it was Suzaku whom he first saw in the middle of picking up products by the meat section.
Long, slender hands reached out for a whole chicken. Another pair reached over to the pouch of grinned chicken. Tobio raised an eyebrow at the newcomer and found the indifferent look of the youngest of the Harukaze.
The blonde nodded at him, still silent as ever. "Kageyama."
"Harukaze." He nodded back.
Then, his mother emerged. Her dark blue eyes instantly saw Harukaze and had probably watched their small interaction. Tobio's mother smiled at the other lad. "Hello." Then she turned to him, a questioning and somehow expectant look were on her face. "You're friend?"
He glanced at Harukaze. Are they? He still didn't even know if he and Harukaze's older sister, Harukaze-san are friends. She's been so nice to him and her family as well. Do friends do that? It's not like the male Harukaze protested and denied her question. "I guess."
Then the Harukaze mother, Miki-san, appeared. "Succhan, have you picked yet? Are~ Tobio-kun. It's nice to meet you."
He couldn't call her by her name, not with his mother by his side, who has been aware of his non-existing circle of friends. But he still greeted her mother with the respect she deserved. Both of their mothers exchanged pleasantries that he tuned out. He had been thinking about it.
As far as he can tell, Harukaze-san and Harukaze are quite close. Perhaps, it was because of what he saw the other day that they're in the middle of a good conversation that he thought that she's closer to the youngest. But that was not the point. If Harukaze's here, and Miki-san's here, that would mean that Harukaze-san was with them at the grocery store as well.
His gut feeling was proven correct the moment a tall girl with long raven hair and bluish-green eyes approached them with a bottle of oil and three cartons of milk in her arms.
Sawako-san looked surprised. "K-Kageyama-kun?"
He lowered his head, hiding his surprise. "Harukaze-san."
He saw her glanced at his mother and she bowed. "Hello."
Reika greeted her back and looked at him with a questionable look before looking back at Sawako. That gesture made his cheeks flushed a little and he looked away.
"Oh ho? Is that all, Sawacchan?" Miki-san looked at the items Harukaze-san had in her arms and Harukaze took it for her, placing it on the cart that Miki-san parked a few feet away from where they stood.
"Yep. All set."
And before he knew it, he has been dragged by another interrogation tactic of the Harukaze family, minus the Hitori and the other girl. His mother joined as well. The other family was done with their grocery shopping and asked his mother for lunch. But because he and his mother barely started with the activity, Miki-san suggested that their work will be done in no time if they helped. Of course, his mother was delighted at the idea. For Kageyama Reika, time is gold.
He remembered walking behind Harukaze-san as she ordered Harukaze to grab a sack of rice. Both of their mothers were at the front, chatting about what adults normally talked about. Every now and then, Harukaze-san would order him, his mother's grocery shopping list on her hand. Shopping was done in no time just as what Miki-san said.
But one thing that he learned, after that odd interaction by the meat section and while walking around with their children did the picking up grocery items, Miki-san and his mother formed an unlikely friendship. He had no idea what is Miki-san work. He later heard that she teaches at Tohoku University. The heaviness of their profession – a doctor in the hospital and an educator with a doctorate degree, must've been one of the factors why his mother and Harukaze-san's get along after that interaction.
Now he knew why Harukaze-san studies a lot.
Perhaps he had his guard down on that day or it was because he was easy to read, that his mother instantly caught on what was what. Miki-san filled her with information, including how her younger daughter, the bane of his poor ear, Hitori, brought him home.
"Oh my! That's incredible, Tobio-kun…!" Miki-san clapped upon hearing of his participation at the training camp. Again, their mothers did the talking.
"Thank you very much." He said, still couldn't believe that his mother and Harukaze-san's mother were being friendly.
"You'll be gone for a week, huh." She hummed then smirked at her daughter. "My Sawako will miss you."
There it is!
Getting flustered was what he mostly did the whole time. If not for the pasta that they ordered, he would probably have been melted at his seat. He was surprised to get a short glance at Harukaze-san whose cheeks are red on another level.
He heard his mother laugh. "Easy to read, isn't he?"
"My daughter was on the same boat."
He decided to eat the spaghetti that he ordered. For some reason, he felt like he's being insulted by a blonde Harukaze at the sight of that pasta and red sauce before him.
Not much happened after that. It was just the two mothers talking about their sons and daughters. It ain't much. If he didn't know when they met, Tobio would've mistaken them as long-time friends. It was a first time as well. He hasn't been to the hospital to see how his mother works, but it was such a sight to see her and Miki-san blabbering at almost everything that involves him and Harukaze-san. He was being reminded that his mother is a woman.
Oh, the seating arrangement? He just happened to sit across Harukaze-san. His mother was on his right and was facing Miki-san. Suzaku sat by the window, on Harukaze-san's right. He must say that it was such a nice sight. It's his first-time sharing a table with Harukaze-san in casual clothes. It's actually pleasing in his eyes.
He won't admit it but she's been quite a nice sight.
Alas, it was over. When lunchtime ended, the two mothers decided to part ways and call it a day with a promise of another lunch together. They parted ways at the parking lot of the grocery store, each going on inside their own mode of transportation.
It was during the drive home when his mother talked to him for what felt like the first time.
"So, she's the reason for your happiness."
"W-Wha–!" He blushed.
His mother let out a small laugh. "I almost forgot that you're not a child anymore." There was a tint of bitterness in her voice.
He blinked and calmed down. He listened.
"Seeing your face looking happy like that beside volleyball made me realize that you've grown so much." She glanced at him and quickly pinched his cheeks. "Look at you. You're taller, you look manlier. Your cheeks used to be stuffy but they're long gone. You're more muscular than last year because of all that volleyball training and puberty. And you used to play at that gym and now, you're going on a national stage." She sighed. "Slowly, you're beginning to look like your father. But you're still my baby boy, okay?"
He nodded.
"Do you like her?"
Tobio blushed and chose to look outside the window.
"You feel a different kind of happiness when you're done with her, aren't you?"
He just grunted in response.
"Love is a strange emotion, Tobio. I hope you'll get your answers one day."
Love?! "You're surprisingly okay with things like this, mom."
She laughed. "It's because I'm your mother. I know things that you haven't learn yet and things you'll about to learn." She pinched his cheeks once more and he couldn't help but rub the spot that she attacked. "Besides, it's natural for humans to feel that way." She looked at him. "It's natural for you to like her if you found her attractive. No one can dictate the heart."
He didn't ask anymore after that and decided to ponder on what his mother told him.
Finding Harukaze-san attractive was easy. He has been for a long time since then. But dictate the heart?
It was on the night before the training camp started when he reached for his phone on the headstand. He set aside the volleyball beside him, unaware that he's actually doing what his mother meant.
He flipped his phone open. His fingers incessantly pushed the buttons back to find the mail he received five months ago. It was a good thing that deleting mails wasn't a habit or else, he might've already lost the chance of making a new kind of change.
Alas, he found it. He automatically saved the newly-added recipient in his contacts and opened it to type a message.
Date: 12/04 19:21
To: Harukaze Sawako
Subject: None
Hi.
He immediately flipped it closed the moment that the mail was sent. He placed it a little further away and stupidly waited for a message. He's quite hoping that she'll answer. He waited. For how many minutes has he been waiting? He couldn't remember. Now that he thought of it, it took him months before he could actually send her message just as what Sugawara-san told him on the summer training.
He tried counting, bothered at the lack of response, and lost halfway to the hundred and decided to just stare at it until it vibrated.
He quickly grabbed it when it lit up and moved. Opening, he saw a mail.
Date: 12/04 19:23
From: Harukaze Sawako
Subject: Re: None
Hello.
OMAKE
A short gossip between the three third-years before their match against Datekou.
"Hey, Daichi. Didya' think that Kageyama likes Sawako?"
"Huh? I'm not sure. Isn't the question should be how they met?"
"But did you really think that he likes our Sawako?"
"Sawako isn't ours, Suga."
"I haven't asked you yet but your thoughts, Asahi?"
"Ah... well... I didn't know that Kageyama can like someone."
"Yeah. Kageyama's crazy over volleyball."
"You're saying that he can get crazy over Sawako, Daichi."
"H-Hey, that sounds scary. Should we tell Sawa?"
"You're missing the point! He's crazy over volleyball. Does he really have the time to like someone?"
Sugawara and Asahi shared a look.
Daichi sighed. "It's puberty."
"That's the reason?!"
"What else could it be?"
n o t e:
I sincerely apologized. I'm actually quite disappointed at myself for falling asleep in the middle of revising this chapter. I was sure that I was just distracted by the shopping app because there's a sale and was ecstatic that there's a huge discount. But gosh, no, I fell asleep and my sister told me that I forgot to turn off my lamp.
Anyways, anyways, look, look! A MAIL!
A little update of my life: I just finished painting a doodle art for our Music & Arts class. Man, it took me four days. I'm relieved but there's a follow-up activity - painting a landscape. I wanna cry. Next week, I'll do my best to post the next chapter on time.
Your thoughts on the chapter? Please comment!
