"Alright guys, fly a cool-down lap. That's more than enough for today." Coach Shen was sitting on the twenty-meter platform, watching Kageyama and Mei run their routines.
Kageyama gasped for breath. The only break he got was when Mei had to work on her routine, and since that was almost perfect, the break wasn't long. He was burning hot even though it was freezing outside. Kageyama wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his costume, the sparkly material scratchy on his skin.
Mei began gliding around the stadium, holding her hands in front of her to stay streamlined. Kageyama followed, glancing over at Hinata, Yamaguchi, and Takito.
They had finished their essay, and were now watching Mei and Kageyama fly. Hinata was in awe at how much you could do when you could fly, and he whipped his head back and forth, watching them. His messy orange hair bobbed in the slight breeze. Yamaguchi and Takito were discussing who would present the essay on Monday, Takito keeping one eye on her judge's notes.
He soared upwards, catching a tiny warm current of air, and that boosted him well above the 45-meter platform. Kageyama extended his wings fully, feeling the braces align and hold them back. He dipped back down into a small dive, coming up just above Mei. Mei looked up and grinned. She was tired, but would never show that.
After about five or so laps, Kageyama landed, stretching his legs and arms to make sure he wouldn't be too sore tomorrow. Mei followed, arching down into the splits.
"How do you do that?" Takito called from above.
Mei looked up. "What? You mean, the splits?"
"Yeah!" Takito hopped out of the stands, gliding down next to them. "The splits? Doesn't it hurt?"
"Well, you take one foot, and you stretch it forward until it's straight on the ground. Your other leg should follow if you're doing it right." Mei explained, switching legs.
Takito frowned. "No, I mean, I'm not flexible at all. I could never do... that..."
"I've never seen you try," Kageyama pointed out. "How about you try?"
Takito shook her head. "No way, man. I'm wearing jeans! Not some stretchy get-up like you guys are!"
"You should try," Mei hoisted herself up from the ground, brushing off her legs. "Maybe you're secretly flexible."
Coach Shen dove off the twenty and swooped over to the young trio.
"What are we talking about?"
"Takito doesn't want to do the splits!" Mei teased.
"The splits?" Shen frowned. "I don't even think I can!"
He lowered himself down halfway, Mei laughing so hard even her wings shook.
"See? I can't do it..." He declared, then slipped and fell into the splits.
Takito snorted. "Maybe you can."
"Yeah, maybe I can. Ow." Shen got up, shaking out his brown wings. "Do you guys want to go get ice cream or something? As a treat for getting a near perfect score today?"
"Only if Hinata can come!" Kageyama blurted out suddenly.
Coach Shen shrugged. "Alright, the small guy can come."
"Dude," Takito poked Kageyama again. "It's so cold outside. Why would you want ice cream?"
Hinata leapt down from the stands, Yamaguchi following close behind.
"We could get hot fudge sundaes! I hear there's a good place near here." Hinata answered.
Yamaguchi shouldered his bag. "Alright then, let's go!" He jumped up into the sky, spreading his wings.
Everyone followed except for Hinata, who stayed glued to the sandy floor of the stadium.
"What's wrong, Small Guy?" Coach Shen asked, flaring his tawny wings out. "Are you lactose-intolerant or something?"
Kageyama gulped.
He doesn't want to fly!
Kageyama glanced at Shen and declared, "I'll carry him." He dove down and grabbed Hinata's outstretched arms.
"Hinata's just tired." Kageyama added.
Hinata smiled up at Kageyama. "Thanks." He whispered.
They swooped through the sky, chatting and talking about life. Yamaguchi and Mei flew next to each other, and Takito flew next to Shen, discussing brace models.
"I'm going to fly," Hinata suddenly declared. "I have to show them."
Kageyama almost dropped him in surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah. I have to." His golden eyes were steely with determination.
"If you say so," Kageyama soared higher, ready to drop Hinata again. "On the count of three."
"One," They whispered together. "Two... three."
Hinata let go, and Kageyama watched him fall, panicking.
Great, Kageyama thought. Hinata's going to get himself killed, and I'll get sued.
Hinata flapped his wings, falling below the group. Kageyama tried not to scream. Suddenly, he shot upwards, gliding in beside Takito, who almost smashed into Shen in surprise.
Kageyama dove back down. He swooped in beside Hinata, who was pumping his wings so fast they were a blur.
"I'm... doing... it!" He said between gasps for breath.
Kageyama nodded, filled with pride. "You are." He inexplicably reached over and held Hinata's hand. It was warm.
Shen pointed out the brightly colored ice cream shop, and they all dipped down towards it. Kageyama helped guide Hinata into a proper descent, making sure he never let go of him, ever.
They all landed near the doors of the ice cream shop. A small girl with her older brother bounded out excitedly, holding a cup of hot chocolate. Her wings fluttered excitedly, and the older boy grabbed her hand. They walked down the road together.
That reminds me of Natsu, Kageyama thought. Some people just have so much energy, all the time.
Takito pushed open the door, gesturing all of them inside dramatically. The shop was vintage, with classic 50's decor, complete with a retro soda fountain and the special, faux leather booths and stools. The cashier almost did a double take at three nationals competitors entering her shop, but managed to keep her cool.
It wasn't that noticeable, but all of the group besides Shen and Kageyama kept shooting strange glances over at Hinata. Kageyama guessed it was something along the lines of,
I didn't know Hinata could fly!
Yamaguchi hopped onto one of the stools and stared at the menu.
"What are you getting, Mei?" He asked.
Mei pulled out her wallet, extracting a ten-dollar bill. Sundaes were five dollars each. "Something tastier than whatever you're getting."
"Oh no!" Hinata tugged on Kageyama's sleeve. "I didn't bring my money!"
"It's fine," Kageyama assured. "I'll pay for yours."
"Really? Thanks, Yama-kun."
Takito handed five dollars over the counter to the cashier, a hawk-winged girl who couldn't have been any older than Kageyama. She returned with a caramel sundae in her hands.
"Look what I got!" She twirled around, landing in the seat next to Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi was holding a chocolate sundae, posting a photo of it on the internet.
Takito shoved hers next to him. "Hey, let's do a collab!"
Yamaguchi grinned and continued taking photos with his galaxy-patterned phone case.
Shen got a pecan-crunch sundae and sat down on the other side of Yamaguchi.
"Which one should I get?" Kageyama asked Hinata, who was peering at the menu.
Hinata shrugged. "You pick."
"Umm..." Kageyama looked over the menu of hot sundaes. "How about... apple cinnamon?"
"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Hinata grinned.
Kageyama pulled five dollars out of his bag, handing it to the cashier, who tried her best not to ask about the eyeliner, the costume, or the fact that he, the famed Tobio Kageyama was buying ice cream.
The girl took it. "What will it be for you today?"
"Ah... Apple Cinnamon sundae." Kageyama answered.
She grabbed a sundae cup. "And for you?" She asked Hinata.
Hinata blushed. "Um... we're sharing."
Kageyama almost groaned.
Great, Hinata. Just great.
Kageyama took his (their) food from the girl, glaring at Hinata.
"What did you do that for?" He growled.
Hinata shrugged innocently. "You only had seven dollars in your wallet. There wouldn't be enough."
"Fine, whatever. Get a seat."
Kageyama slid into a chair, grabbing an extra spoon from the canister on the counter. Hinata took the spoon from Kageyama, poised to take a huge scoop.
"Hey! Wait! I bought it. I get first scoop!" He argued.
Hinata pouted. "No fair! Does it really matter?"
"Yes," Kageyama answered, gripping his spoon. "It does."
"Fine then! How about we both take a scoop at the same time?!" Hinata poked Kageyama in the side.
They both stabbed their spoons into the ice cream at the same time.
"There!" Kageyama declared. "Happy now?"
Hinata looked up from an empty spoon, a dot of caramel sauce on his nose. "Yeah!"
"You have food on your face," Kageyama commented, eating his scoop of ice cream. "Let me get it off."
Hinata blinked. Kageyama reached over, wiping the caramel off with his finger. A soft click behind them startled the duo. It was Takito, on her phone.
"Hi, guys. That made a great photo." She showed them the photo of him booping Hinata on the nose, Hinata laughing and Kageyama smiling.
Hinata smiled. "Yeah, it does! Can you send it to me?"
"Sure. Yama-kun, do you want me to send it to you?" Takito nodded.
Kageyama looked at the photo. "No, it's fine. Hinata will probably spam me with it later."
The truth was, Kageyama was actually pretty embarrassed by that photo. Takito was a good photographer, but she had a talent for taking... stealth photos. That's how she got good pictures of animals. She'd sneak up on them then wait for the perfect moment.
They soon finished the sundae, and Kageyama slid the bowl down the counter to Yamaguchi, who placed it in the dish bin.
Hinata went off to the washroom, and Takito handed Kageyama a five dollar bill.
"What was that for?" He asked, taking the money.
Takito sighed. "I was betting that Hinata couldn't fly since I was ten, and I promised five dollars to whoever helped him if it ever happened. I didn't know he could fly! I'm so proud of him!"
"Alright," Kageyama frowned. "That's a weird bet..."
Yamaguchi laughed. "You're the one to talk. Don't forget you and Mei's corn-on-the-cob bet. That was hilarious."
"What happened?" Takito asked.
Shen answered for Kageyama. "Last year's nationals, Kageyama bet Mei that she couldn't eat more than three ears of corn. After the competition, she bought seven and ate them all. He lost fifty dollars."
"It's true," Mei confirmed. "I still remember how loud my mom yelled. 'You're going to get fat, now!'"
Yamaguchi nodded. "I heard it all the way from the backyard."
Kageyama opened his wallet to put Takito's five dollars inside, but stopped. Sitting in plain sight, right in the middle of the pocket in the wallet, was a clearly visible ten dollar bill.
"Hinata!" He yelled in anger... or excitement.
Hinata came back from the washroom. "Yeah?" Kageyama could tell he wasn't trying to look at the wallet, but he had briefly flicked his eyes towards the black pouch, and that was all Kageyama needed to know.
"Nothing... just wondering where you were." He covered, blushing.
Hinata smiled. "Sure, Yama-kun."
Tsuki stood on the front lawn, watching Hinata stretch his wings out wide.
"Watch me, Tsuki!" Hinata called.
"I am," Tsuki sighed. "What are you going to do anyways?"
Hinata hopped up and down excitedly. "Just watch! You'll see!"
"Okay, whatever. Make it quick. I have stuff to do."
"Alright!" Hinata backed up a few feet, then took a running start, flaring his wings out.
He leapt upwards, beating his wings frantically. The air caught his wings, and he rose slowly up into the sky, until Tsuki looked like a toy figure below him.
I'm doing it!
Hinata dropped suddenly, and he snapped his wings open, causing him to jerk upwards clumsily.
Okay... maybe not.
The winds picked up, and Hinata was tossed around by the buffs. He angled himself downwards.
I better come down...
He plummeted towards the ground, heart pounding. Tsuki was grinning, something he almost never did. Hinata's feet touched the frosty ground, and his heart sank with disappointment. It was always like this when he landed.
If he had it his way, he would stay in the air forever.
"See, Tsuki! I told you it would be cool!" Hinata beamed with pride.
Tsuki hugged Hinata. "I didn't know... you could fly! I'm proud of you. You'll have to show Kichimiri now..."
They broke apart, grinning.
Ever since the trip to the ice cream parlour, Hinata hadn't felt bad about his wings, and he even had shown the others that he could fly. That was pretty epic.
Hinata had to give credit to Kageyama this time. Kageyama had helped Hinata so much, even though their friendship had kind of cracked early on.
Tsuki leaned on Hinata's shoulder with a bony elbow, something Hinata would never be able to do with his short height.
"Hey, Hinata. Now that you can fly, you'll be able to impress all the girls at school with your super-rare raven wings."
Hinata thought about all the second-years fangirling over Kageyama's wings.
"There's no one I need to impress, Tsuki..."
Besides Kageyama, he thought.
Tsukishima snorted. "Sure. What about that girl in your English class, Mitaichi?"
"Takito's just a friend!" Hinata protested. "Besides, she'd punch me in the face if I did so much as try to hug her."
"Anyways, Hinata. I do really have to go, so I'll see you at school." Tsuki grabbed his bag off the ground and took off into the sky, fluttering his hummingbird wings in graceful figure eights.
He watched Tsuki soar into the open air until he disappeared over the rooftops. Hinata looked over his shoulder. The door to the house still hung wide open and he could see Natsu inside on her iPad, playing Neko Atsume, her favourite game.
Hinata stepped back inside, shutting the door behind him silently. Natsu hated to be disturbed when she was playing Neko Atsume . She said it needed to be 'Absolutely quiet so the cats will come.'
However, contrary to the 'being quiet' rule, Hinata's phone rang, causing Natsu to squeal in surprise.
"Hinata! Your phone is ringing!" She hopped off the kitchen counter, wings fluttering happily.
Hinata ran over to Natsu. "Who's calling?"
"It's... um..." She glanced at the phone in her hand. "It's your boyfriend, Hinata!"
Hinata gasped and grabbed his phone from his younger sister. "For the sixty-ninth time, Natsu. Kageyama is not my boyfriend!"
Natsu stuck her small pink tongue out. "Yama-kun says otherwise!"
"What?" Hinata blushed. "Are you serious!?" The phone kept ringing in his hands.
Natsu giggled. "No way. I just wanted to see how you would react."
Hinata glared at her, then answered his phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Hinata," It really was Kageyama. "What took you so long to answer?"
"Natsu was playing Neko Atsume." Hinata answered, sinking into the couch by the television.
Kageyama snorted. "Doesn't Kenma Kozume play Neko?"
"Well, I don't know," He shrugged. "Kenma plays a lot of games."
"True. Anyways, Hinata, I have something to ask you..."
Hinata's heart and wings twitched. "Yeah?"
Kageyama cleared his throat. "Well, you know how Takito's shop is sponsoring me?"
"No," Hinata actually didn't know you could have sponsors for the Nationals. "But, okay?"
"We were thinking, Takito has extra tickets to give away. We can get you in for free." Kageyama explained.
Hinata blinked. "Really?"
"Yeah... I mean, we could get tickets for Natsu and your parents, too, I guess, if you wanted to."
"No, no, it's not that," He replied. "It's just... tickets are expensive! Do I have to pay you or anything?"
Kageyama sighed. "Well, since I managed to save money buying ice cream yesterday, Hinata..."
"Yeah..." Hinata blushed, again. "About that..."
"Okay, I'm sure you didn't see the other money I had in my wallet. It's fine."
Hinata actually did see that money. He just... well...
Why did I do that, again? Maybe I was just crazy from flying all the sudden. No idea.
"Hey, Kageyama? Do you still have your eyeliner on? And how did you get that, anyways?"
Kageyama sighed. "To answer your second question, it was Takito. I still have it on, but not my costume. Mei says I might spill something on it then ruin 'such a pretty article of clothing'." He chuckled.
"Oh, okay." Hinata smiled.
Natsu yelled something from her room over to Hinata.
"Hey, Hinata! Can you ask Yama-kun how to get another rare cat in Neko Atsume?"
"I don't think Kageyama plays that game, Natsu!" He shouted back.
"Sure he does!" Natsu declared. "Everyone does!"
"Not me!" Hinata retorted.
"Well I'm sure he does!" She retorted.
Hinata shot back, "No, he doesn't!"
"How would you know?"
"Good point," Hinata snapped. "But does it seem like Kageyama to play Neko Atsume, a game where you collect cats!?"
"You don't collect cats! You attract cats!" Natsu explained impatiently.
Hinata sighed. "Fine! Attract cats! But Kageyama doesn't play Neko!"
Kageyama interrupted their yelling match. "Actually, I do."
"Wait, what?" Hinata almost fell off the couch.
"Yeah," He responded. "What cat does she want?"
Hinata had no idea how this game worked. "Um... just a rare one, I guess."
"A rare one, huh? Tell Natsu to try using a watermelon ball with a large box. Last time I checked, that worked."
"Um... what?" Hinata was perplexed.
Large box? Watermelon balls? What even is this game?
Kageyama laughed. "You really should play Neko Atsume. I think you'd like it."
"Yeah," Hinata sighed. "Okay, whatever, Kageyama."
"Well, I have to go!" Kageyama announced.
Hinata was dejected. "Why?"
"Coach Shen wants an emergency meeting about my Solo act," He explained. "I'll talk to you later."
"Okay. Bye, Kageyama-kun!"
"Goodbye, Hinata."
Hinata set his phone down on the table by the television. He stretched his wings, leaning forward on the couch.
Natsu thudded down the stairs. "So?"
"So, what?" He leapt off the couch, turning to face Natsu.
Natsu put her hands on her hips. "What did Yama-kun say about rare cats in Neko Atsume?"
"Well," Hinata explained. "He said a watermelon ball and a... large box?"
She grabbed her tablet again, and tapped at it happily. "See! Told you he plays Neko!"
"Whatever. Did it work?"
"Silly Hinata," Natsu shook her head. "You have to wait. It takes a while for the cats to come. And you really should get Neko Atsume! It's fun! And you could play with Kageyama!"
Hinata walked over to the fridge, opening it and scanning its contents for edible food. "Okay, sure. I have to make dinner. What do you want?"
"Chocolate! Like I said, Daichi-san gave me chocolate!" Natsu announced proudly.
Hinata sighed.
I'm going to have to talk to Daichi about that...
"No chocolate. Want katsudon? We have leftovers."
She ignored him, running laps around the kitchen. "Daichi can't give me chocolate, I guess."
"Why?" Hinata pulled out the bowl of rice and pork cutlets from the night before, along with a plate of meat buns. That was probably a bad question to ask, though.
Natsu grabbed the plate and slid it into the microwave. "He's out with Suga tonight!"
"Wait, what?" Hinata asked, dumping the katsudon into a bowl. "Kōshi Sugawara?"
"Yeah! The third year?" She ruffled her wings out, hopping onto the kitchen stool.
Hinata blinked. "Let me get this straight... Daichi's going out with Suga?"
"No, stupid!" Natsu giggled. "They're out with their friends. You know, Asahi, Noya, Tanaka and Ennoshita! It's not like that!"
There was a pause, accented by the hum of the microwave.
"I think." She added thoughtfully.
The microwave beeped, and Hinata pulled out the plate, sliding it down the counter to Natsu. "It's hot. Be careful."
"Okay."
Hinata scooped some katsudon out for Natsu into her favorite bowl, the one she had dropped a few days ago, then grabbed some for himself.
"Be right back. I have to do something."
He stepped out of the kitchen, grabbed his phone, and ducked into the washroom. Once he was inside, he opened it up.
And downloaded Neko Atsume.