"Is… Is that Really you Suga?"

Staring up at Daichi with wide alarmed eyes, the boy turned cat looked down to where his hands should be and began backing up as if he could step away from the sight of two beige and white paws. They moved with him, and then he was looking back and forth behind him to find a sweeping grey tail, his pink nose puffing out anxious breaths, a little black speckle beneath his left eye.

"I-… H-How? AhhHHH! I'M A CAT!"

Continuing to back up as his panic got the better of him, Suga bumped into someone's shoes and let out a startled feline cry, flinching at the noise he'd just made and feeling threatened by the massive players that surrounded him.

"Er- it's okay, calm down." Daichi said, squatting beside his fluffy friend and reaching out to pat him on the head.

Lashing out unintentionally, Suga clawed the Captain's hand and then curled in on himself horrified as Daichi gasped and yanked his hand away.

"I- I'm sorry! I don't know why I did that, I'm so sorry!"

Putting his index finger to his lips to suck away the blood, Daichi shook his head.

"Don't worry about it, just try and breathe."

"Try and breathe?! I'm a cat, Daichi! How am I supposed to-"

Suddenly there was a gentle finger stroking under Suga's chin, both startling and ceasing the setter's rant as it drew a little chirp out of him. He tried to remain focused on the situation at hand, but he found himself stretching his neck out to better enjoy the chin scratch.

"Look at that… He's purring."

Tsukishima was staring down at Suga with a disturbed expression, his brows screwed up as he watched Yamaguchi pet their Vice-Captain.

"Oooh, how'd you know he'd like that?" Hinata asked, crouching down beside the forest haired server and leaning in fascinated

"My grandma feeds a lot of cats that live around her house, I go over on the weekends to help out sometimes. Most of them like their chin scratched." He replied casually, moving to scratch at the side of Suga's face, sinking his fingers into the soft cream mane.

Leaning into Yamaguchi's palm, Suga closed his eyes and forgot who he was for a moment. The first year chuckled.

"They like this too."

"D-Daichi, what do we do? How do we change him back?"

Asahi had also come to crouch beside cat Suga, picking up his friend's clothes that had been discarded and gripping one of the shoes anxiously. The Captain shrugged his shoulders incredulous.

"How would I know? This isn't something that should be possible, I have no clue how he became a cat, much less how to change him back."

Reluctantly pulling away from Yamaguchi, Suga slunk up to the brunette and hid beneath his knees, perching on his sneakers.

"Guys, I can't go home like this, my Dad's allergic to cats! What am I going to do?"

"Weren't you planning to bring that other cat home?" Daichi questioned.

"That's not the point! I can't show up as an animal, what would I even tell them?"

"If he can't go home, maybe we could take him to a shelter." Kageyama Suggested.

"What?!" Suga yowled.

"We can't dump a talking cat off at a shelter, use your brain!" Tanaka contradicted, smacking the genius setter on the back of the head as Ennoshita shook his at the two of them.

"More like we can't dump our Vice-Captain off at a shelter."

Tanaka stammered.

"Well yeah- I was going to say that too."

"I'll take you home, Suga!"

Peeking out from under Dachi's tanned leg, Suga peered up at their shortest player with his large hazel-brown eyes.

"Nishinoya?"

"Yeah, man! Just gotta look out for my Grandpa's dog. He's pretty chill most of the time, but he hates cats. I don't think he's ever caught one, but with those teeth, I'd bet he could rip you to shreds!"

Sugawara bristled horrified and ducked beneath Daichi's knees once more.

"Thanks… I think I'll pass."

Rubbing his neck, Narita looked apologetic.

"I'd volunteer, but I don't think it would work out well. My Mom is terrified of anything that isn't a goldfish."

"Yeah, my sister would probably dress you in doll clothes." Hinata sighed.

"I'm actually allergic." Kinnoshita admitted.

"What about Tsukishima?"

"No."

"Why not?" The Libero prodded as his idea was shot down.

"Don't want to."

Suga made an affronted noise from his hiding place, flattening his ears as he glared at Tsukishima. The tall blond shrugged shamelessly apathetic.

"No offense. I don't like cats."

The setter huffed angrily.

"How is that not offensive?!"

"Alright, calm down."

Daichi reached between his knees to pick up the sulking cat, holding him beneath the armpits as he stood up and took a good look at his fluffy friend who hung limply in his hands.

"I guess I'll sleep in the trashcans out back like a stray." Suga muttered miserably. "Maybe I'll get lucky and find myself some dinner before the raccoons do."

Daichi rolled his eyes and shook his head at his friend.

"Don't be so dramatic. You're coming home with me."

"With you?" Suga mumbled, ears still flattened.

"Of course."

"What about your parents, will they mind?" Asahi asked as everyone got to their feet once more.

"I don't know, I'm sure I'll figure something out if they do."

"Perfect!" Tanaka crowed.

"It's settled, cat Suga will go home with Daichi. Does this mean he'll have to shit in a litter box?"

Daichi let out an exasperated sigh.

"Seriously, Tanaka?"

"What? It's an honest question! He's already got his balls on display, what's talking about his bathroom habits?"

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD- Stop talking!" Suga hissed, squirming with embarrassment in Daichi's grasp.

The captain struggled to hold onto Suga, adjusting him so that he was perched in his arms against his still bare chest. Turning his attention to the rest of the team, Daichi raised his voice so everyone could hear.

"You guys lucked out, we'll end practice early today and pick up things tomorrow, 10AM sharp. Get this place cleaned up, except you, Tanaka. You're doing a flying lap since you can't get your mind out of the gutter."

"Ah, man! You have no sense of humor, Boss…"

"That's what you get for talking about the Vice-Captain's balls." Tsukishima taunted from behind his hand.

"You can join him, maybe you'll find your appreciation for cats while you're at it." Daichi said, fighting the urge to smirk as the middle blocker instantly lost his smug attitude. Tanaka laughed raucously and slapped him on the back to lead him away.

"Ha! Move it, four eyes!"

Tsukishima frowned, knocking the hand away.

"Get off me."

Coming to stand beside Daichi with Suga's bundle of clothes, Asahi chuckled lightly.

"And he said you had no sense of humor."