Hey, still nto settled down but I can post a chapter for the moment. I'll try posting one for Sowlmate as well but it takes me more time to write, so it'll depend on how much I can write in time.
Thank you to everyone for your support, your reviews, favorites and follows! :D
Houshikun001 : Good~ I hope the fluffiness will keep making you feel this way~ I AM OBSSESSED WITH BEAUTY AND THE BEAST SINCE I SAW IT AND I JUST LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH THE DISNEY WAS ALREADY MYFAVORITE ONE BUT THE LIVE ACTION IS SUCH A PERFECTION!
AnimeViolinist001 : Kiku IS pure and precious~ Aaaah~ How I wish more people could be liek her~ We need more kindness like that in this world... Thanks for your support and encouragement! :D
pinkdoughtnuts : Things will start accelerating between Kijime from now on, they'll be daitng ~soon~ - as in time-line soon, not chapter-line soon because theer will be lots of chapters and lots of things happening in what, in the story, is a few weeks. I konw everyone expects Hajime to have a sudden rival but... as interesting it'd be... it wouldn't be very interesting - he'd trust Kiku, and she only has eyes for Hajime and turning it into a love triangle... so cliché. They WILL have to go through some hardhips, like every couple, but it'll always be just the two of them~ (and their friends but it's a different rrelationship so)
LuxKlara : Spero che posso ti sorprendere, ah ah! Hajime sa che Kiku è il "ghost of flowers" è il più importante. Non perchè Hajiame SA, ma perchè lo capita da solo. Mostra che posso capire Kiku come nessuno. Hanamaki è un po differente perhè l'ha conosciuto per anni. Ci sono ancora una volta animali in questo capitolo! ;)
.To.Laugh : You have no idea how much your review shook me in the best way. Trying to make people be aware of prolems of the world is one of the reasons why I'm writing - of course, I mostly want you all to have a good time. But the fact that you mentioned in your review the awareness about animals' cruelty is... it made me very happy that it reached you. And I hope it reached other people. :)
Reader fan : No love triangle with another classmate, ah ah ^^" Like I said earlier to pinkdoughtnuts, it'd be cliché and uninteresting. A love triangle (even square) WILL be in Oikawa's future story, though. Even if a classmate or anyone was interested in Kiku, no need for Iwaizumi to give a long talk - a long glare will be enough to scare him off... XD Hayato knows Hajime from what Kiku tells him and he knows she's in love with him. ;)
GeminiRose : Thank you so much for your review! :D It made me very happy, I have a smile so big my cheeks hurt! :D Thank you for your support for both stories and I hope it won't disappoint you in the future! ;)
FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : QUIET VOICE
CHAPTER XXIII : The Akiyama Family!
"Do not think I am forgetful of you. You would not believe me if you knew how often you are in my heart & mind. I love thinking of you."
— Katherine Mansfield, "Letter to Virginia Woolf," August 13, 1919
"There's a beautiful thing that happens inside you when you care about someone."
— Unknown
"The funny thing about introverts is once they feel comfortable with you, they can be the funniest, most enjoyable people to be around. It's like a secret they feel comfortable sharing with you. Except the secret is their personality."
— Unknown
"And if I seem a little strange
Well, that's because I am."
— The Smiths
"Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day.
It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them."
― John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog
"It may be a cat, a bird, a ferret, or a guinea pig, but the chances are high that when someone close to you dies, a pet will be there to pick up the slack. Pets devour the loneliness. They give us purpose, responsibility, a reason for getting up in the morning, and a reason to look to the future. They ground us, help us escape the grief, make us laugh, and take full advantage of our weakness by exploiting our furniture, our beds, and our refrigerator. We wouldn't have it any other way. Pets are our seat belts on the emotional roller coaster of life – they can be trusted, they keep us safe, and they sure do smooth out the ride."
― Nick Trout, Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing, and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon
"Oikawa! Enough! You're going to hurt yourself!" Iwaizumi exclaimed, leaning on the side of the gymnasium.
Almost everyone was already gone but Oikawa was still jumping and serving, stubbornly ignoring the glare Iwaizumi was sending him, slowly growing more intense and threatening.
"Just a few more, Iwa-chan!" He said while Kiku walked back from the material room after a quick check-up.
The moment Hajime noticed the young girl glancing curiously at the restless Captain, his entire focus was on her and Oikawa forgotten.
Realizing that Iwaizumi wasn't glaring at him anymore, Tooru turned around, confused because he was expecting the Ace to have left – but instead, he was staring with hearts in his eyes at Kiku. Tooru glanced between the two then smirked, deciding to thank Kiku later for distracting Iwaizumi from scolding him any further.
"What are you still doing here?" Kiku asked as she neared Iwaizumi, "Everything is done and everyone gone…"
Instead of answering, Hajime pouted and nodded towards Oikawa serving once again. She smiled to the Ace and patted his arm for good luck before exiting the gymnasium.
"Make sure to turn off the lights after you've left." She said with a smile.
"S-sure…"
He watched her leave before seeing from afar in the hall Hanamaki starting an argument with the girl – as per usual…
"Have you forgotten we're supposed to go to Hanamaki's tonight? You're the one who said you wanted to watch this movie all together…" Iwaizumi spoke up, turning once again towards Oikawa.
"Makki is still in the shower!"
"No, he's not, he's done, and you should be in the shower as well."
"I finish this cart of balls! Until it's empty and I'll stop!" Oikawa exclaimed.
Iwaizumi sighed then rolled his eyes. He pushed himself off the wall and while the setter was serving, Iwaizumi grabbed the light, and half full cart. With one hand, he lifted it up and made sure all the balls would roll out of it. Hearing the sound of rolling balls, Oikawa turned around with wide eyes as Iwaizumi put down the cart with a stern look.
"There. Empty. Now go get your shower."
"Iwa-chaaan!"
After some convincing that involved balls slammed at the back of his head, Oikawa went to take his shower while Iwaizumi was putting all the balls in the cart to lock everything. Because of his hand he couldn't use, it took him longer than expected and by the time he found Hanamaki and Matsukawa, Oikawa had joined them and they all started moving towards the bus that would take them to the neighborhood where Hanamaki lived.
"Where is Kiku?" Iwaizumi asked, turning around with the hope to see her.
"Gone already, for a long while now, she left on her bike," Makki answered with a shrug.
Hajime didn't say a thing but the others smirked at him teasingly:
"Disappointed? You won't see your girl until tomorrow…" Mattsun started.
"I'm fine," he mumbled with a frown, annoyed by their constant tormenting.
"Oh! We could ask Kiku-chan to join us tonight!" Oikawa exclaimed, jumping in front of them with his arms wide open.
"EH?! Oi! It's my home! Don't invite her for me!" Hanamaki hissed, "Also! One girl with four boys?! Her father will never let this happen – heck, my parents would never let this happen!"
"If your parents knew the number of girls you bring in your room, they'd be terribly disappointed, Makki," Oikawa said with a smile.
"Want me to share with your parents the number of girlfriends you had?!"
Oikawa startled guiltily because if his parents knew he was dating (often), he never talked about the girls to them, and heavens forbid even introducing her to them. They didn't like that, they thought he was fooling around – which Iwaizumi agreed to, but Tooru tried to keep his adventures unknown to his parents.
"It's too bad, though, we'll be right next to Kiku-chan, it'd be a missed opportunity…" Oikawa sighed, bringing the topic back on the main problem.
They all glanced at Hajime who startled and blinked.
"Oi… why are you staring at me like that?" He asked in a low voice.
"Sorry, buddy… you won't get laid tonight," Makki smirked, making the others snicker.
"O-OI! D-don't! YOU!" Iwaizumi started, blushing a bright red.
"You still haven't shared with us what happened when you were left together the other day?" Matsukawa continued, leaning towards Iwaizumi who blushed even more.
"N-nothing in particular, I told you…" He mumbled, glancing away.
They stared at him with teasing smirks and he knew that he wasn't fooling them but he was too stubborn to share anything. They would never stop teasing him. Also, it felt too intimate… Hajime had had a view into Kiku's life and personality like no one else had, she had opened up to him enough to show him how she was helping animals at the refuge… She had let her walls down just enough to let her sadness and loneliness show, and for him to comfort her – it proved she was trusting him a little more. It felt like an incredible accomplishment. A huge step forward in their relationship – whatever it was at this point. More than friendship, more than a crush, but they weren't dating… Hajime wasn't quite sure what they were and what they could become, but he was too embarrassed to ask Kiku anything. It'd mean acknowledging outloud his feelings for her, confessing to her in some way and he wasn't ready yet… Plus… he still didn't know if Kiku was willing to date him. She had told Makki she didn't want to date anyone and especially not Hajime, but it wasn't because she didn't like him… So why?
They arrived at the bus stop and noticed Kiku's bike, so she was already home. The boys walked into the Hanamaki house, greeted by Takahiro's mother before they all went up into his bedroom. It was a little tiny with four people, but they were used to spending time all together outside of high-school and practice.
Hajime eyed the window, knowing that Hanamaki was spying on Kiku from here. He must have stared for a long moment because Takahiro smirked and opened the window, leaning forward.
"Oi! What are you doing?" Iwaizumi asked, standing up at once to stop him from spying.
"Too bad, she pulled her curtains – you're really out of luck! Just the day you come and she closed it all!"
"It's enough with this already!"
"Is this music we hear?" Oikawa asked, leaning against the window as well – it was starting to feel cramped up with four big boys aligned there.
"Kiku's, she always listen to music very loudly. If we don't hear music, then we can hear her singing." Hanamaki explained.
"Y'know… I'm thinking but with the two windows open, it's close enough to put a ladder in between and send Iwaizumi in," Matsukawa said.
"OI!"
But they ignored his scream, eying the distance – about three meters. It really was close and Hanamaki and Akiyama's bedrooms were right in front of each other.
"Takahiro! Boys!"
They turned around towards his mother who smiled. If Takahiro didn't show anything, the others had the decency of looking a little sheepish at being caught possibly spying on the neighbor – or rather, Oikawa looked sheepish, Matsukawa looked too bored to care and Iwaizumi blushed terribly, already trying to find someway to explain it.
"Go buy some desert at Akiyama Bakery for tonight's dinner," she said, giving her son some money.
"Great," he smirked.
She left the boys and while Iwaizumi was breathing in relief, the three others glanced at each other with a familiar, mischievous light in their eyes. They looked back with teasing smirks at Hajime who startled under their gaze.
A few minutes later…
Akiyama Nanami looked up when the bell of the bakery rang happily and four voices greeted her.
"Takahiro-chan!" She exclaimed the others snickering with side glances at the tall boy who flushed in embarrassment.
"…Akiyama-san…" He started, approaching the counter.
Nanami looked over at the other boys, recognizing all of them. Issei-chan was coming often along with Takahiro-chan, and she recognized Tooru-chan and Hajime-chan from that time they had run here.
"Your mother already came to get the bread," Nanami told Takahiro.
He rubbed the back of his neck with a polite smile before continuing:
"I know, I'm coming for desert. We're having a movie and sleepover tonight," he explained, pointing at the group of boys behind him.
Tooru gave a peace sign with a big smile but Hajime slapped the back of his hand, the two starting a low-voice banter behind while Takahiro continued talking to Nanami-san:
"And so, we're here for desert and also, eeh… y'know since Kiku is our manager now, we saw she was here and we thought that perhaps, we could visit her? If you don't mind?" He asked.
Hajime – who was not aware of this part of the visit – stopped glaring and scolding Oikawa and turned wide eyes towards Hanamaki who had to bite the inside of his cheek to not laugh at the face he was currently making.
Nanami blinked, glanced at every boy and especially Hajime who startled and flushed under her gaze before looking back at Takahiro with a sweet smile.
"Of course! I'm so happy that Kiku finally has some friends she can trust and bring home!" She exclaimed, starting to walk around the counter.
"I wouldn't trust some of us, arhem," Issei added, coughing to cover his whisper while Hajime threw him a scandalized look.
Because even if Issei had meant Iwaizumi Hajime, the latter felt like answering that the real dangerous one here was the one that Nanami was trusting the most: Hanamaki Takahiro.
Nanami guided them towards a back door leading to stairs and while Makki and Mattsun discreetly high-fived, the second one slapping the first one's hand in his back, Iwaizumi grabbed Oikawa's collar and pulled him down.
"Ageeh!" The Captain screamed, almost falling off, the uncomfortable feeling of being strangled making him look up at Iwaizumi.
"What's the meaning of this?! We were supposed to just get the desert and go back to Hanamaki's house! Why are we going to see Kiku?! We didn't warn her!" He hissed, making sure not to be heard by Nanami who was discussing light-heartedly with Issei.
"That's the funny part, Iwa-chan!" He whined, getting away from his friend's grip, "Someday, you'll thank us for that!"
Iwaizumi glared at him hard enough to make Oikawa fear for his life the moment Nanami wouldn't be here anymore.
They arrived in the family living-room/dinner room space, with what seemed to be the kitchen at the other side. Hajime couldn't help but slow down when he noticed pictures on a table but he didn't have time to see closely that the others were continuing to the other side for a hall leading to the bedrooms.
"It's been so long since you visited Kiku in her room, Takahiro-chan!" Nanami continued as they got closer to the faint sound of music, "I was afraid the two of you didn't get along as well as when you were children…"
"Naah, we get along so great," he said through gritted teeth, the others smirking at his obvious lie.
But Nanami didn't catch on it or ignored his words as she stopped in front of Kiku's bedroom. There wasn't anything to distinct her bedroom's door to the other rooms except the sound of music that was obviously loud. Nanami knocked and called for Kiku a few times before sighing with an amused smile and entering. The four boys tried to have a look, a little taken aback when they saw Kiku dancing crazily in the middle of her bedroom. She hadn't heard a thing and when she turned around and saw her mother, the door open and the four boys grinning at her, she freaked out.
Kiku jumped out of her skin and screamed (loud enough to cover the music and make everyone flinch) and she grabbed the nearest thing she could get a hold of: a big book. Then she threw it across the room, simply out of reflex of defense of her territory. Thankfully, it avoided Nanami who had entered but hit Issei right in the face, making Kiku herself startle and cover her mouth to stifle her scream of shock and panic.
"Kiku! How many times have I told you to not have such loud music? You can never hear when we're coming in!" Nanami scolded loudly, turning off the stereo that was letting the music out.
"Waah… she's a screamer…" Takahiro complained, rubbing his ear.
Then, he blinked and threw a teasing smirk towards Hajime who only glared at him, silently threatening him to not utter another word. Issei massaged his nose and Oikawa took the book in his hands after it had landed on the floor.
"They've come to visit you! Welcome your friends properly! Have fun everyone!" Nanami exclaimed as she pushed in the boys in to close the door.
The four turned to the girl who was still frozen in the middle of her bedroom, hands over her mouth, her expression distorted in shock and panic because the four boys – and among them the one she liked – had entered her room while she was dancing like an idiot!
"Waah, it hasn't changed since we were kids…" Takahiro hummed, walking closer and looking around.
Except Hajime, they immediately felt at ease and started exploring the girl's bedroom curiously, even though they were keeping their hands off her stuff – for now…
They all looked around closely: a bed pushed against the wall under the window, a desk, shelves with books and dvds and the stereo and on the other side of the room… Hajime didn't have time to look twice or rejoice about that fact that he was in Kiku's bedroom that the others' mayhem started.
Kiku startled out of her shock and finally started screaming:
"W-wh-what are you doing HERE?!" She exclaimed, turning towards Hanamaki who was probably behind it.
"Visiting you, be grateful we're gracing you with our holy presence," he answered without blinking, "You're back to eating more chocolate than you can handle? You're gonna gain weight again." He continued when he saw a tablet of chocolate laying on her desk.
He took a square to bite but Kiku jumped to pry the chocolate away from his hands, dying in embarrassment. She threw it into her desk drawer then pushed it close violently.
"That's not what I was asking! What are you doing all here?!" She continued, whipping around to stare at the others.
"It's Wednesday," Issei answered as if it explained anything.
She gave him a confused look all the while angrily ripping from his hands the car toy he had picked up.
"You're still playing with children toys? I thought you were older than us?" He mocked.
"Shut UP!"
"Wednesday is movie night!" Oikawa explained.
"Not in my room! I don't know how you all ended up here but go back to where you come from!" She shrieked as she put down the car toy back on the ground.
"So mean, Kiku-chan~! You really want us all away…?" He continued, wiggling his eyebrows and glancing over to Hajime.
She blushed but the Ace didn't notice any of this as he had been looking anywhere but in Kiku's direction.
"Never thought you'd wear that under your uniform!"
They all turned towards Hanamaki and Matsukawa who had opened her wardrobe and shamelessly opened the drawers in it. They were playing with her underwear – especially the lacy or naughty ones.
"W-wh-what!" She hissed.
Hajime blushed but was unable to tear his gaze away from the pink lacy panties and the (big) black bra the two idiots were playing with. The impossible duo snickered as Kiku ran to them, Oikawa laughing happily in their back. She tried to get her panties and bra but they lifted up their arms and she was too short to reach. She kicked Hanamaki's shin and with a yell of pain, he fell forward. She snatched her underwear (Mattsun surrendered before she'd kick him too) and quickly put everything back in her drawers before slamming the doors of her wardrobe close. She whipped around, cheeks a bright red while she leaned against the doors. A murderous aura was surrounding her as she glared furiously at the two boys who weren't even blinking at this – they were used to Iwaizumi's anger, they weren't that impressed. Though, they had to admit they didn't think she'd have it in her – or that she'd have such a powerful kick.
"Y-you! YOU!" She started, unable to find an insult strong enough for these two.
"Assholes!"
Blinking, the four boys all turned towards the other side of the room… And saw a big cage with two birds, and another smaller and empty cage. The cages were partly covered with sheets – which was why they hadn't caught onto it right away.
One bird was white with some yellow feathers on top of its head, he was balancing on a bird swing. The second was smaller with green feathers, its tummy and front greyish and the tip of his wings blue. Both birds were looking at the four boys with a mix of curiosity and mockery.
"I'm sorry?" Oikawa hesitated, blinking in disbelief.
The white bird balanced himself from one side to another and opened its beak once again:
"Assholes! Assholes!" He repeated cheerfully.
Kiku blinked as well, totally stunned before speaking up, forgetting for a moment that her teammates were here and watching the whole scene with wide, stunned eyes:
"Barnaby! I never taught you this word! Where does this come from?! Is it dad again?! He keeps teaching you bad words!"
The bird – apparently called Barnaby – made a squeaking noise that sounded a lot like a laugh. Kiku then turned towards the others with a pout:
"I'm so sorry, he's always so rude to strangers! And I don't know where he learned this word…" She continued, muttering to herself with a frown.
No one dared say a thing to this but then, Matsukawa jumped on top of Hanamaki, screaming in a not-so-manly way before adding:
"WHAT THE FUCK! It moved!"
Both Mattsun and Makki went to hide behind Iwaizumi while Kiku walked over to a little pile of clothes at the bottom of her wardrobe. It was moving but then, a little snot escaped from under the tshirt and Kiku was quick to join her little friend:
She lifted up the tshirt and delicately took in her hands a… hedgehog. The brown little animal quickly settled in her hands and made a tiny sound that she apparently managed to interpret:
"Congratulations! Not only you woke up Kyuu, but you scared him too!" She scolded, but keeping her voice down to not scare her pet.
She walked towards the small and empty cage and put 'Kyuu' in it, making sure he was well settled before turning back towards the four boys.
"…Are there other living things in this room we should be aware of?" Makki asked hesitantly.
"I wanna go home… That thing scared the fuck out of me…" Mattsun added, slightly trembling.
"We heard that," Iwaizumi mocked, glancing behind him at the young man.
"You'd be scared too if clothes started moving suddenly after a bird insulted you!"
"Assholes, assholes~!" Continued to happily sing Barnaby.
"So, you have pets?" Iwaizumi asked instead with a smile, approaching Kiku, "I had seen marks on your forearms but I didn't know what type of animal had caused them."
"Aah… that's my birdies, they used to have some trouble controlling the strength in their claws when they were on my arms… Pip is still a little scared to fall off – these two can't fly because of an injury on their wings… which is why I took them in." She explained.
Hajime glanced quickly at Kiku, guessing that these three pets had been taken in by the girl from the refuge… She smiled to him, confirming he had guessed right – for this short moment, with this knowing smile, they felt like sharing a secret no one else would ever have access to.
Then she continued speaking to the four young men. Matsukawa and Hanamaki had approached Kyuu, watching up-close a hedgehog for the first time while Oikawa was grinning at the two birds who were showing off to him.
"Let me do the introductions," she started giving every boy's names who didn't really react to it because they didn't see the point of being introduced to birds (but Oikawa waved at the cage anyway, earning a suspicious and unimpressed look from the green bird), "The white and yellow bird who acts like Oikawa-san–"
"Eh!" The setter exclaimed, frowning.
"Eh! Eh!" The bird imitated him, actually sounding offended as he hopped from one side to another.
"The resemblance is troubling," Iwaizumi commented.
"Is a sulfur-crested cockatoo! His name is Akiyama Barnaby, or 'Birb'! Both can't fly because of an injury when they were younger. But Birb manages to get around, he got used to it and he has the personality of a show-off but he's a nice bird."
"Barnaby Birb! I am Barnaby!" The bird introduced himself, bowing his head several times to the boys.
"The green one who is sulking in a corner is Akiyama Peppermint 'Pip' – his species is a Quaker parrot. He doesn't like strangers, especially men. He's got a bit of a bad personality but if he likes you, he's the most adorable bird to be – but I'm the only one who can touch him…"
She opened the cage and Oikawa and Mattsun instinctively walked away. Kiku calmly put her hand in the cage and Birb happily hopped on her hand before she took her arm out of the cage, the bird walking over her forearm to reach her shoulder.
"I'm not asking you if you want to come, Pip?" She asked the bird, leaning forward.
The bird, unhappy that his mommy's attention was shared with four men, looked away before turning around completely.
"You could at least say 'hello'…" She sighed.
Pip turned his head and looked straight at the boys before opening its beak:
"Hello, idiots," he greeted before going back to his initial, sulking position.
"That's one nasty personality you've got there, Pip," Oikawa commented but the bird ignored him.
"Do you not know where he learned 'idiot' as well?" Makki mocked, raising an eyebrow.
"No… this one is my father's doing. Dad taught him to greet every boy who would approach me by saying 'idiot'… I'm sorry…" She sighed, shoulders dropping a little.
"Why am I not surprised?" Matsukawa asked, rolling his eyes.
Birb went on Kiku's shoulder as she moved to the last cage:
"The hedgehog is the last one arrived in the family! Akiyama Kyuupid, 'Kyuu'! He's a little lazy during day-time but he's cute and affectionate."
As if on cue, the hedgehog turned around and opened his mouth a little, as if yawning before going back to his sleeping position.
"I knew you had birds, but I had no idea you had a hedgehog as well…" Hanamaki commented, tapping lightly on Kyuu's cage, the girl slapping his hand much the way Iwaizumi usually did with Oikawa.
"He arrived recently, and I don't like taking him outside… He was found injured after being hit by a moto… I think that it stresses him when he hears cars honking or sounds of the street…" She explained, Birb perfectly at ease on her shoulder.
"Wait – you knew?" Iwaizumi asked, turning away from Pip to stare at Hanamaki.
"Well, yes, these birds are her pride and joy. In spring and summer, she takes them outside and let them play in the garden. Also, she sings for them and–"
"For someone who pretends he doesn't care, you know an awful lot about Kiku and her birdies." Mattsun remarked, Makki sending him a sour look.
"Of course I'm proud of them! I raised them! They're like my babies!" Kiku explained as she walked towards the car toy.
She put her hand next to her shoulder for Birb to climb on her hand then she put him into the toy car. Almost immediately the bird settled and with his beak, he pressed on the steering wheel which made the toy advance forward. Oikawa lifted up one leg before the bird could drive on his foot, Kiku watching her bird tenderly.
"He can drive… your bird can also drive?" Tooru hesitated, amused and in awe at the capacity of the little animals.
"He's a very intelligent bird," Kiku said, looking almost offended Tooru had ever doubted her bird's capacities.
"If they're your babies, it explains your bird-brain," Makki mocked, grinning at Kiku.
A pissed off look appeared on her face and she glared up at him.
"You can be such an asshole, seriously!" She hissed before turning away from him.
"Asshole, asshole!" Birb sung happily as he was driving around.
Hanamaki and Matsukawa stared at the bird driving around – he could only do straight lines but as soon as he'd hit an obstacle, he'd get off the car, push it around (it was apparently light enough) and going back on to continue his driving.
"…I have a feeling I know already but do you and Kiku ever argue from your windows?" Matsukawa asked his friend.
"Yeah."
"Does she call you an asshole?"
"Yeah."
"…I think I know where he learned this word…" Mattsun whispered to him, making Makki roll his eyes.
A few minutes later, Oikawa and Iwaizumi were both sitting on Kiku's bed while she was giving some fruit to Birb. Noticing their gazes, she turned to them and handed the cut apple to Oikawa.
"Do you want to feed him? He'll love you if you do that," she explained.
"Uuuh…"
Before the duo could say anything, Kiku made Birb go onto her hand and she leaned down towards Iwaizumi's, her hand close to his shoulder.
"Don't move to let him be stable," she said in a hushed voice while he froze.
Birb didn't seem to mind being on another shoulder. He turned around, Hajime leaning his head away when the bird's tail feathers almost hit him in the face. He lifted up his arm awkwardly and didn't dare move too much while Kiku settled between him and Oikawa. The setter was too happy to feed a bird to notice the way Hajime kept glancing at Kiku, a flush on his cheeks.
Kiku's leg was touching Hajime's and she leaned closer to him to make sure Barnaby would be fine, she put her hand on Hajime's shoulder blade to reassure him but it made him startle. Birb opened his wings to get stable and threw what was the bird-version of a glare before turning his attention back to Oikawa who was feeding him. Hajime glanced over his shoulder and behind the bird's body, seeing Kiku close to him… so close he was suddenly very aware of her perfume of lemon covering the smell of Barnaby on his shoulder.
"By the way, are you the one who chose their names?" Makki asked Kiku while Mattsun was filming Hajime's staring and embarrassment.
"Yes, why?" She asked, glancing up at them.
Somehow it made her inch even closer to Hajime and he stopped breathing, staring at her and totally forgetting he had a bird on his shoulder – Birb was still busy eating everything Oikawa was giving him and because Kiku wasn't paying attention, he was getting more than his usual treat (he was happy going unnoticed by his mommy in this situation).
Takahiro snorted then smirked teasingly at the couple with a bird in between:
"Please, don't choose the name of your future children… Let Iwaizumi do that!"
Both Kiku and Hajime blushed terribly at that, frozen in shock at his words and embarrassment filling them.
Not getting his fruit portions anymore because Oikawa had emptied the stock by now, Birb turned around and seemed to notice whatever was going on between Iwaizumi and his mommy because the bird flopped down on Iwaizumi's legs. The young man startled, his attention back on the bird because he was scared he had fallen – but Birb had done it on purpose.
"Dada, dada!" He piped, walking around on the boy's thighs.
"B-Birb!" Kiku exclaimed, turning even redder than before..
Hajime was lost, not knowing what to do with his hands and the bird on his legs calling him 'dad' while his friends were laughing so much they were holding their stomachs.
"Barnaby! What– are you!"
Kiku reached for the bird but by doing so, her body and especially her breasts pressed against Hajime's side and arm. He startled, almost screaming but Birb jumped away and out of Kiku's hands, flapping his wings to stabilize his landing. It had the unfortunate consequence of Kiku's hands landing, instead of around Birb, on Hajime's thighs close to his crotch – TOO close because he reacted at once. Hajime screamed and jumped up but he hit Kiku who rolled off her bed and on the floor.
"A-AAAGH!" He shouted, cheeks red.
"IYAA!" She screamed when she hit the floor.
She moaned after the harsh fall, Birb running behind Hanamaki's legs while Hajime was staring down at the girl at his feet.
"K-KI! Kik…. Kyama! Akiyama! Are you all right?! I am SO sorry I didn't mean to make you fall!" He exclaimed, leaning down to help her up.
"Fall in love with you~" Oikawa hummed form behind, making them startle once again.
"Too late…" Kiku muttered after a stunned and embarrassed pause, rubbing the back of her head.
Hajime froze, not sure if she had answered to him or Oikawa… he decided it was to his sentence and not Oikawa's teasing – his mind would blow up if she had said that after the 'fall in love with you'.
Hajime helped her up and Kiku – after running after a particularly playful Barnaby who was more of an attention-seeker than usual with a public – put him back in his cage with a still sulking Pip.
After the crazy events of the end of the afternoon, the group of boys decided to leave the Akiyama Bakery – mostly because Hanamaki and Matsukawa were hungry and wanted dinner. Kiku accompanied them downstairs to give them the desert of their choice (she discreetly added some individual cakes after she noticed Hajime eying some) then they left.
Hajime hesitated before glancing over his shoulder at the girl watching them leave.
"Eh… I'm sorry that we arrived unannounced and out of blue… it might have ruined whatever you had planned to do tonight…" He apologized, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I-it's fine… I was shocked at first but… I had lots of fun…" She said with a soft smile, "Ah, and sorry for the um… touching earlier… it was unintentional…" She mumbled hesitantly with a blush on her cheeks.
"I-it's fine, I didn't mind…" He answered with a blush of his own.
She glanced up at him, blinking as he froze realizing how twisted his words sounded.
"I-I mean!" He started, moving his hands around in a panic.
But Kiku chuckled and he calmed down – but his heart didn't… They stared at each other for a moment before he continued rubbing the back of his neck and glanced down at his feet almost shyly.
"A-also… next time we have a Wednesday movie… it'll be at my place… you could join us… if you want…" He mumbled, "O-of course! We'll leave you in my bedroom so you can sleep in peace a-and we'll go in the living-room, o-or Oikawa's bedroom considering he's my neighbor o-or…!"
Stumbling with his words and explanations and praying he didn't sound like a total pervert because he had just invited the girl he likes in his bedroom (but his intentions were pure), Hajime went silent, holding back the urge to bite down on his lower lip in embarrassment.
Kiku stared at him before smiling – her beautiful, earnest smile she only showed to him…
"I'd love to! T-though… it'd be even better if we don't have to be separated…" She added to herself.
Hajime blinked not sure he had heard well. A deep blush crept on his cheeks and he tried to cover up his joy at her answer but an awkward, way too enthusiastic and unmanly chuckle escaped his throat:
"G-great!" He exclaimed.
They both hesitated until finally, he turned around to follow the others. Before he could disappear, he glanced over his shoulder and waved a little at Kiku who waved back with a soft smile and tender gaze… He smiled and walked towards the Hanamaki house, staring at the girl until she was out of sight… Then he sighed and his shoulder dropped, all tension disappearing to leave the euphoria…
"You guys are so sweet it's disgusting me…" Makki mumbled with a roll of his eyes, leaning against his fence.
"Y-you heard…?" Hajime hesitated, mortified that his friends had heard not only his unintentional innuendo but also the proposition he had given Kiku – especially considering he had half-hoped she would come when the others wouldn't… but now that they knew…
"Everything," Oikawa said with a huge smile, "Is it finally a date~?" He continued teasingly, winking at his friend.
Hajime froze and opened his lips to deny but… he frowned to himself in slight confusion… he had invited Kiku to watch a movie with him, at his apartment, with the intention of being just the two of them… was it a date? But she thought that, not only the others would be here, but that it'd be as friends? Did it count? If they ended up alone, would it become a date?
He glanced up at his friends who sighed with little smiles when they understood his confusion.
"Ah, well, I guess it's a start, whatever it is…" Mattsun sighed.
"Can we go eat now? I'm hungry!" Makki whined as the four made their way to the Hanamaki dining-room, already smelling the delicious dinner.
I don't know much about birds so I apologize to bird-owners if I miswrote anything when it comes to behavior and personality. I tried watching videos to have an idea of what it's like, but it's never the same as a real-life experience... As for Kyuu the hedgehog, they are more active at night which is why he was sleepy there! ;) I just wanted some fluff with mommy Kiku and her birdies. :)
I don't know when I'll be able to post the next chapter - both concerning Quiet Voice AND Sowlmate... Unfortunately, as you know, I'm moving out... plus there will be finals soon... and I have to find lots fo stuff for this summer and next year... T.T
NEXT CHAPTER : SECRETS AND DENIAL (I lovedwriting this chapter and I'mimpatient for you to read about it mostly because we learn more about Kiku and her best friend from chapter ...2? we had quickly seen and it'll make things accelerate and MOSTLY IT INTRODUCES OIKAWA'S STORY. sort of.)
Yours Truly,
May