Takito and Mei-Lee stood next to each other in the official's room, willing the doors to stay closed. If those doors opened, they would have to follow the stupid instructions given.
"Walk slowly but with a purpose to the center platform and stand in your designated spot." One of the officials had told them, but Takito and Mei were too nervous to comprehend anything.
Mei was supposed to be in the competitor's area but since she was singing too, it had been decided the anthem would be sung first and then return to the competitor's area.
Kageyama was in one of the passageways that led into the stadium and it was Takito's job to announce each competitor who would be competing today. It all seemed like a chance to show off, anyways.
"How am I supposed to fly my introductory lap?" Mei asked, shaking her wings out.
Takito shrugged, stretching. She clutched a black microphone that was to be used to make her speech. "They'll send you off the platform to where Tobio is, I guess."
Mei wrung her hands out, fretting again. "I am going to die."
"You're not going to die," Takito sighed, checking the program again. "I'm not letting you die."
"I am going to die," Mei repeated, very sure she was on the verge of death.
Takito shrugged. "Did you write a will?"
"Nope," She responded dejectedly. "Never planned to."
"I knew it. You should, though." Takito responded, glancing around at all the other officials in the room. They didn't look like they were going to die. But they were older. Takito was the youngest in the room, Mei was the second-youngest.
"Something tells me I'm not supposed to be here," Mei said.
Takito frowned. "That something is wrong. I checked the itinerary table."
They turned their gaze back towards the door. Takito could hear the muffled buzz of the audience, awaiting the opening ceremony. She smoothed down her skirt with sweaty hands.
"Yeah, maybe we're going to die." She muttered, now feeling the weight being placed on her.
I'm speaking the official first words in this arena! And Mei is singing the first official anthem...
Takito shook her wings out, watching Mei ruffle her wings out and sweep her red-streaked hair behind her ear.
An official muttered something to another man and pointed at the clock. It was time. Takito felt a shiver run down her back.
The doors swung open to expose them to blinding lights and a roaring crowd. The older men marched ahead of them regally and... with purpose, wings flaring out behind them.
Takito glanced at Mei, nodded, and stepped out onto the platform, suspended above the audience. Mei followed; everyone was now walking in pairs of two.
The line stopped suddenly and Mei almost ran into a man in a blue suit. They sat down in comfortable chairs that were lined up in front of a raised circular platform. Takito observed they sat in speaking order, as the judges sat last and Mei was first.
She glanced downwards and saw the competitors crowding in the passageway into the arena. Surveying the huge crowd above and below them, Takito spotted Hinata and his friends. They waved to her and cheered.
Mei slid her wings down the wing rests on the side of the chair and Takito did the same, trying to relax. She watched the other officials, trying to see what they did. They sat ruler-straight in their chairs. The only aspect that showed the were at ease were their wings, resting on the sides of the chairs.
Takito sat up straighter, trying to look professional. Behind them, above the platform, was a huge screen that currently displayed the Nationals Logo and the time, which was currently 9:04. The ceremony would start at 9:05. Everything was on a strict schedule and very organized. It moved like clockwork. She balanced the microphone on her knees, staring at the ground below her and wishing it would swallow her up.
The clock hit 9:05 and Mei stood up like suddenly. She strode over to the circular platform and pressed her lips together, waiting for the music to cue her in.
The first few notes of the anthem began to play and Mei stood up a little straighter. She dropped her hands to her sides and flared her wings wide, exposing the red feathers.
On the screen, the cameras focused on her face, giving a full panorama of Mei's surroundings.
Mei sings the first verse as a solo then invites everyone else to sing... Takito remembered. She can do this.
Mei opened her mouth and the first few, breathy notes of the aria slipped out, clear and glassy.
Takito exhaled in relief. Once Mei-Lee started singing, she would be fine.
The rest of the verse soared over the stadium, naturally amplified by the curves and passages of the arena. Mei bent her wings skywards and threw her hands up in the air, inviting the audience to join in with her.
The crowd stood at once, and the row of officials, including Takito, stood with them. She knew the words by heart, having sung this song many times. They joined her in song, finishing with a glorious crescendo. Mei even dared to hit the high notes, something that was notoriously difficult to do but sounded great if you did it properly, which of course she could do.
Takito sat down in her seat, feeling the stadium shake with thunderous applause. Mei bounded back to her seat next to Takito, feeling relived. She let out a sigh that was barely heard amidst the roar of the crowd.
"I did it," Mei whispered.
Takito nodded, standing up and grabbing the microphone to make her speech. "You did great."
"You'll do great, too," Mei promised. "I know you will."
Takito shook her wings out, took a deep breath, and made her way up onto the platform. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as she ascended the steps to make her way to the center.
Her presence alone managed to silence the audience. She swept her gaze around the stadium, drawing eyes towards her. Takito flapped her wings out and gripped the microphone a little tighter.
I hope the microphone works.
She opened her mouth to speak, recalling the lines she practiced earlier. Takito noticed Mei was gone
"Good morning, everyone, and for those of you who don't live here, welcome! This is our one-hundred and second annual Nationals competition and the fifth time with Miyagi as our host prefecture."
Takito stopped, pausing to let her words sink in. She then listed a bunch of sponsors for the event, something she had to do for customary purposes.
"So without further ado, here are this year's competitors. First up, Junior class!"
The crowd roared as the Juniors shot out from the passageway, rising up to fly an introductory lap around the arena. As each competitor flew by, Takito announced their name, along with their National's-name.
"First, from Shiratorizawa Academy, Ushijima Wakatoshi, Cygnus!"
The crowd cheered as Ushijima flew by, chanting his name.
"Ushijima! Ushijima! Ushijima!"
Ushijima sped by the platform and dove back down, another competitor flying by.
"From Nohebi Academy, Suguru Daishou, Serpent!"
Suguru flashed by, flaring his emerald green wings.
"From Seijoh, Oikawa Toru, the Great King!" Takito announced, watching Oikawa fly by, spreading his hawk wings and dipping back down into a dive, waving to the audience. The crowd went absolutely wild for Oikawa, screaming his name.
"Also from Seijoh, Kindaichi Yutarō, Dark Arrow!" Takito called out the name of a competitor she didn't know.
She gazed down at the ring of competitors. "Next, representing Fukurodani, Bokuto Kotarou, the Shining One!"
The boy flew by silently with his snowy owl's wings, but the crowd loved it. They cheered and chanted for him, and Bokuto loved it, too. Instead of diving, he swooped upwards and yelled.
"Hey, hey, hey!" He called, before diving back down. The audience cheered again.
"From Nekoma, Kuroo Tetsurou, Iron Heart!" Kuroo soared by, his trademark messy black hair swept up by the wind.
The crowd roared for Kuroo, chanting his name.
"Tetsurou! Tetsurou! Tetsurou!"
He laughed and dove back down, waving to the audience as he flew.
Takito spotted Mei and couldn't help but smile as she flew by in her sparkling red costume.
"From Karasuno, Mei-Lee Yamaguchi, Blazing Thunder!"
The loudest cheers came from Hinata and Yamaguchi, whose voices could be heard well above the roar of the crowd.
"Representing Fukurodani, Akaashi Keji, Guardian of the Storm!"
A serene-looking black haired boy swooped up to the platform with a determined face and dove back down quickly, the sparkles on his gold and black costume flashing, but the crowd squealed and screamed for Akaashi.
"And the one you've all been waiting for..." Takito flicked her wings in excitement. "From Karasuno... TOBIO KAGEYAMA, BLACK LIGHTNING!"
There was a tremendous roar from the crowd, everyone enthralled by Kageyama, the young raven prodigy.
He flashed by in a streak of black, pausing in front of the platform long enough for Takito to see his dark blue eyes, lined with black. Takito nodded in approval and he dove back downwards, the competitors disappearing back into the passage.
"And those were our junior solo competitors!" She gestured to them below and the crowd cheered again.
Takito took a step towards on the platform. "And now, here's this year's National competitor's group teams!"
"Nekoma!"
A team dressed all in red and led by Kuroo sped by in tight formation, rising up into the sky and plummeting back down. They summoned quite a cheer from the people from Tokyo.
"Next, Fukurodani!"
Fukurodani shot high into the sky, pulling off a fancy formation and flared their wings wide, Bokuto holding Akaashi in a tricky pose before they swooped back down to the ground.
"Shiratorizawa Academy!"
Ushijima leads a fast charge around the arena, flying a lap above the audience's heads. Takito spotted Tendou Satori and Semi Eita, two famous fliers from the Academy. Semi was rumored to have a DragonWing for a father, and Tendou was the only one in all of Japan to have scarlet macaw wings.
"Aoba Johsai, Seijoh High!"
Oikawa shot out of the passageway with his teammates following close behind. They trailed hight into the sky before branching out in different directions and regrouping with Oikawa and a dark-haired boy with olive eyes and a grey costume in the center.
"Last but not the least, Karasuno High!"
Kageyama swooped high into the sky with Mei-Lee and a few other students behind him, going through a formation sequence and taking a few poses from their routine into their introductory lap.
Mei's hair streaked out behind her as Karasuno flew in a circle and spiraled downwards to the ground, prompting a huge roar from the crowd.
Takito introduced the rest of the classes, the U20s, and the Masters. She recognized a lot of famous competitors and felt extremely prided to get to introduce them.
After the lengthy introduction, the competitors stood on the diving platforms to take their oath. Takito got to lead it.
"Competitors, repeat after me. I promise to uphold the values of competition."
"I promise to uphold the values of competition." Numerous voices echoed.
"For the spirit of the games and for the value of my pride." Takito's voice rung throughout the stadium.
"For the spirit of the games and for the value of my pride." They repeated.
"I promise to compete fairly and protect these values, even at the cost of my life." That part was a bit morbid, Takito had to admit.
"I promise to compete fairly and protect these values, even at the cost of my life."
"For flight forevermore, I promise." Takito finished, hearing the competitors echo her promise.
The crowd remained silent as she passed the microphone off to another official, who would run the oath of office.
Takito returned to her seat and remained standing to say her oath as an official. Her heart was pounding from all the adrenaline and nerves.
"Officials, repeat after me," The man boomed. "I promise to uphold the values of competition, and be respectful to competitors at all times, be it my own team or another."
"I promise to uphold the values of competition, and be respectful to competitors at all times, be it my own team or another," Takito repeated, feeling a rush of pride.
"I promise to be fair in my conduct and remain courteous and professional at all times."
"I promise to be fair in my conduct," Takito said. "And remain courteous and professional at all times."
"And I promise to protect the competitors, especially my competitor."
She smiled, thinking of being an assistant to Kageyama. "And I promise to protect the competitors, especially my competitor." Takito flicked her wings thoughtfully.
"Even at the cost of my own life, for flight forevermore, I promise." The official stated.
Takito gulped. "Even at the cost of my own life, for flight forevermore, I promise." She promised, and she meant it.
The officials sank down into their seats and Takito followed, feeling very... well... official.
The judges took their oath and the opening ceremony was over.
"Our first event is Junior class, Group acts. We will resume competitions in half an hour. Let the games begin!"
Takito made her way back down from the platform and into the official's room, where she set the microphone down on the table and left. Since the first event was Junior Group Acts, Kageyama wouldn't be competing.
She made her way down the breezeway, nodding politely to Akaashi and Bokuto as they walked past. She brushed wings with so many competitors, she lost count. It was too much of an honor. Especially when she saw Ushijima and he asked her for directions. That was insane.
Takito knocked on Kageyama's door, but when there was no response, she just entered herself. To her surprise, Kageyama was already inside. He sat on the couch, one wing extended, holding a roll of tape.
"Hey, Black Lightning." She frowned, closing the door behind her.
Kageyama dropped the tape and folded his wings back in. He turned to look at her, startled.
"Oh, hey Takito. Nice job with your speech."
Takito picked up the roll of tape. "This is medical tape. You hurt yourself, didn't you?"
Kageyama shook his head. "I'm fine. I just over-extended my left wing."
"You what?" She shrieked. "What about your braces? Didn't you have braces?"
"I didn't put them on for the opening games. No one else was wearing theirs, anyways!" Kageyama protested.
"But you're hurt! Here, let me help you." She took the roll of tape, unwinding a large strip and tearing it with her teeth.
Kageyama extended his wing and Takito tried her best to use one hand to wrap it around the feathery base and secured it under his costume. "How's that?"
"It's fine." Kageyama flapped his wings a few times. "Yeah, it doesn't hurt as much."
Takito held out his braces. "Put these on before you hurt yourself." She clicked them on for him and tightened a few screws with her screwdriver. It was a struggle to do everything with one hand, but with Kageyama's assistance, it was eventually resolved.
"Are you going to watch Mei preform?" She asked once Kageyama was ready.
Kageyama nodded. The competitors had a special spot to watch the acts, in a different area that had better views.
"Well," Takito announced. "I just stopped by to get my tuning kit. The booth is going to be busy soon. You should stay here and stretch. Warm up. Shen should be here any moment." She grabbed the toolbox and slipped out the door.
Takito walked briskly down the hallway, on her way to the tuning booth. She glared at her cast angrily.
"Hey, Takito!" A voice in front of her made Takito look up.
It was Shen. He folded his wings politely, clutching a map of the arena.
"Hey, Shen," Takito replied, nodding curtly.
"Where's Kageyama?," he asked, "I looked everywhere."
"He's in his room."
"Ah." Shen smiled.
"Oh, and he extended his wing," Takito added. "He's fine. I taped it and tuned his braces so they would support it a bit more."
Shen raised an eyebrow. "Alright. I'll make sure he's okay. Thanks for telling me!" He grinned and jogged off. Takito continued down the hallway.
She almost screamed when she brushed wings with Suguru Daishou, who was on his way to the washroom.
"Hello there." He nodded.
Takito stopped and turned around. "Good morning, Suguru-san."
"Good morning. And who might you be?" He asked, flicking his bangs out of his face.
"Mitaichi Takito. I'm Kageyama Tobio's assistant."
They shook hands, Suguru grinning. "Nice to meet you. I guess you're the one who tunes everyone's braces with your father?"
"That's me." Takito nodded.
Suguru stuck his hands in his pockets. "I'll see you later, then. I look forward to it." He strutted off to the washrooms, leaving Takito kind of awestruck and shaken.
She shook her head and continued down to the brace tuning booth, where Yamaguchi and Hinata sat excitedly, waiting for Takito. As soon as they saw her, they ran over.
"You did great, Takito!" Hinata squealed.
Yamaguchi nodded. "You got the crowd so excited!"
"They were cheering so loud," Hinata explained. "I thought they would bring the stadium down.
Takito took a seat at the tuning booth and flipped the sign to "open". Her father was in the back room, getting supplies. He would be back soon.
She fiddled with the screwdriver and checked the specifications and rules for tuning competitor's braces. The shop had already been quite busy the past few days with competitors.
Takito looked up and saw Kuroo Tetsurou grinning at her and holding his pair of dark red braces.
"Hey, Takito. Still tuning with that wrist?" He asked, setting his braces down on the table and twitching his wings expectantly.
Takito nodded. "I'll try my best."
Kuroo and Takito had met last year at Nationals and they had kept in touch over the summer, now good friends.
"I'll take the usual tune-up," Kuroo stated. "And can you oil them, too?"
"Sure." She inspected the braces, from a brand she didn't know in Hokkaido.
Takito grasped the screwdriver in her left hand and slowly unscrewed the main tension pin. So far, so good. She grabbed the oil dropper and oiled the joints, bending and flexing them to make sure they were okay.
She passed them to Kuroo. "Put these on."
Kuroo clicked them over his wings and turned around, spreading his wings wide so Takito could tune them easily. She stuck the tension pin back in and set it to number 3.
"Do you usually have it on 3?" Takito asked.
Kuroo shook his head. "Four."
Takito switched it to a four and stepped back. "How are these?"
"Great, as usual!"
Takito put all the screws back in place and sent Kuroo on his way.
"Thank you, Takito!" Kuroo waved before heading back to the competitor's area to warm up before his performance.
An announcement over the loudspeakers stated that there were five minutes until the group event started and that competitors competing should be in the competitor's area by now.
Takito made her way to her seat in the stadium since she wasn't helping Kageyama with anything. She sat next to Hinata and Yamaguchi, with Natsu a few seats away from her. Sugawara kept a close eye on Natsu.
"So this is it, huh?" Daichi asked Takito. "What's it like being among all those competitors?"
"I ran into Suguru-san when he was going to the washroom. Well, he was on his way to the washroom." Takito replied.
"Wow..." Suga gasped. "That's cool."
Takito shifted her gaze to the arena. She scanned the glossy floor until it rested on the judge's table.
"Wait a minute," Yamaguchi pointed to one of the judges.
Hinata leaned over to see. "Isn't that..."
"...Kageyama's old coach?" Takito finished.