Ugh...what should I say...it's pretty hard to concentrate now that a lot of awesome animes are showing this season. Nevertheless, my love of KageHina will be my driving force to keep this story going on, and of course, you guys! :)
Chapter 4: Eye
No way. This can't be happening. I look at my hands, and I was pretty sure that I looked stupid ogling at them. I wriggled my fingers just to make sure that I could do it. I got out of the bed as fast as I could, and started jumping up and down. Not contented, I tried doing a flying kick—some martial arts move I saw on TV a couple of weeks ago—did it, and failed miserably by doing the wrong jerk and hurting my leg instead. I fell back to the bed, grimacing in pain.
"You dumb idiot!" A voice rang through my ears as I hugged my leg.
"Are you planning to kill yourself once again?! After all the effort I put through to give you a second chance!" It was that familiar bossy voice—stern and grumpy as ever.
I arched my head backwards towards the direction of the voice.
There, for the first time, I saw the eyes of the lad who had always been talking to me in the midst of my comatose state. Don't get me wrong. A couple of times, I've tried imagining how on earth he looked like. Since he liked to make fun of me and my height, I imagined that he was some kind of bully. Which is the reason why I pictured him as some nasty muscular guy that you usually see on school-themed shows. And yes. I received a smack for imagining it. There was also a time when I pictured him as some spoiled brat that's got some glasses stuck on his nasty face. I received a kick for that.
But he none of those images came close to how he really looked. He had an ordinary jet black hair, and it was cut nice. The way his bangs were also cut clean and arranged in an orderly manner gave me the feeling that he was one to fuss over details.
And his eyes. They just speak of authority. As if any word from him would make you do his bidding.
As if he was some King.
Guess I was right on that one.
"And what on earth are you smirking at?!"
I finally got up and sat on the bed.
"Nothing! It's just that I was right that—"
My mouth fell open.
"Ah—" My voice shook as I pointed at it.
"What?" He said, crossing his arms and raising his chin a bit.
"B-Black…"
"Huh?"
"B-Black…"
"Black wh—ah…" He narrowed his eyes as comprehension dawned on him. He looked back at the vestigial structure that stuck at his back.
"You mean these?"
He flapped his wings—dark as the night. A couple of feathers came flying my way, some settling on my bed.
"DEMOOOOOOOOOOON!"
Wham.
Another hit on the head.
"Why do you always hit me?!" I said, tears welling in my eyes. That one hurt a bit!
"It's cause you keep on saying ridiculous things. Is that all you say for the angel who just gave you a chance to live?" He said, looming over me as he got up from the window, standing in front of me.
"B-But it's true! Aren't angels supposed to have white wings?"
"Nonsense. And that's really mean you know. Well sorry for having black wings and for having crow ones for that."
I massaged my head once again and stared at him.
That was when I noticed that when you look closely, he wasn't that scary at all. Once you get past the shock, you'll notice. How different he really was.
His eyes were jet black, yet it was only when I studied them carefully that I took notice of that breath-taking detail. Amidst the dark expanse was a golden circle—more like a spiral—that spun at the center of his eyes.
"Amazing…" I could only whisper as I crawled over the bed, standing right in front of him.
"W-What…"
"It's like staring into the galaxy!" I said, squealing with excitement.
"Huh," He merely grunted, jerking his head to the side. He then looked outside the window, making the sunset hit his eyes. My eyes shifted to his wings. The way the gentle golden sunlight hit them just made them all the more beholding.
"Stop staring at me. You're creeping me out."
"Amazing…" I whispered.
"Huh?"
"You really are…different."
He blinked.
"Of course I am. I am an angel after all."
"Am I really alive again?"
He placed both of his hands on my cheeks.
And pulled them as hard as he could.
"Ouch ouch ouch ouch!" I screamed as I winced in pain.
"Of course you are. Or do you doubt my abilities as a heavenly being? Now go worship me and serve me for the rest of your life."
"Y-Yes! At your service Your Majesty!" I said, dropping to my knees and bowing as low as I could.
"Are you for real?" He said, sounding annoyed as always.
"Seven days."
"Eh?"
"You are seven days away from that exact moment. All you have to do is get away from that road and everything will be fine. In other words, try not to get yourself killed."
I nodded with enthusiasm.
"Ugh…you look like a dog wagging its tail."
"I could play volleyball again!" I said, jumping up and down. "And then…I can finally enter a formal volleyball club…become like the little giant…and then go to the nationals! People will cheer for me, and I will become famous!"
"Ha…" was his unenthusiastic reply.
"Kageyama-kun…"
His eyes met mine at the mention of his name. It was weird, but now that I knew what he looked like, it felt like there was some shock-like sensation that hits me every time I meet those galaxy-like eyes.
"What."
I grabbed his wrist.
"We musn't waste any time."
"H-Ha?"
"Toss to me!"
"E-Eh?!"
And just like that, I dragged him outside the house, leading him to our backyard where I practiced my beloved sport.
It must be the first time that I've felt so happy just from running.
I am alive.
I am alive.
I am alive!
"Oiiiiii! You're hurting my wrist idiot!"
I let out a laugh. Even my laughter sounded like music to my ears. After days and days of darkness in that hospital, I could finally open my eyes and see everything. The sunset. The sky. The clouds. I could finally jump and run the way I used to. I could finally speak, yell all the stupid stuff that I could say, and scream out all of those emotions I've held up.
I looked back at Kageyama. He was still looking surly when I looked back at him and stopped running.
"I really have no idea what happened but—"
"Really, thank you!" I said, bowing as low as I could to the celestial being.
I heard him hiss.
When I looked up, he wasn't wearing his sour expression anymore. He was just looking at me with his eyes. I could never get over them.
"People are sure interesting huh?" He said, gazing at the sky. "They take their life for granted, waste it on stupid things, and then when they come close to death, they beg on their knees…asking for a second chance."
He then looked back at me.
"Hinata."
I flinched at the mention of his name. Even his voice had a certain magic to it. So this is how angels are.
"Don't you waste this life. This is your last chance. There won't be a third one."
"H-Hai!" I yelled with all the fervor that I got.
"So where's the ball?"
"E-Eh?"
"You mean you dragged me out here and you forgot the ball!? Please!" He yelled, poking my head again and again.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!" I chanted again and again.
Continuing, that 'somebody' said to me
"Arms, legs, mouths, ears, eyes,
Hearts, breasts, and the holes in your nose,
I'll give you two of each, so
Isn't that great?"
Night fell. The golden shades that have bathed our residence has turned into a gentle shade of black and blue. It must have been a hundred tosses or more that I tried to receive in pain and vain (with a lot of yelling from the haughty angel of course). The sun had set from the horizon when I finally received Kagayema's toss perfectly.
I have never felt so proud and complete. I looked to him, waiting for him to praise me.
"Don't get so cocky now shrimp. You only learned how to receive my tosses. That won't be enough for you to be an ace."
I was about to drop my head.
"But…"
I looked up.
"You sure worked hard. And that's something that not even a genius athlete can possess. Keep that up and you'll get what you want."
I could have cried at those words.
"A-Arigatou!"
"Huh. Whatever, let's go back to your room. I'm hungry as a horse."
"E-Eh? Angels still eat?"
"Yes we can, we don't need it but please, human food is a bliss. Agh, I hope your mother cooks ramen…"
"Kageyama-kun…"
"Huh?"
"You know what, you've got the most beautiful eyes!"
What made me say that, I have no idea. But man, what a pleasure it was to see the haughty angel finally gain some color in his face.
"W-What are you even saying?!"
I laughed as I started to sprint towards the house. I finally got back at him.
"It's a race!"
"As if I'll let you win, shrimp!"
A.N. I watched Re: Hamatora earlier this morning. I wanted to punch the wall. DMMD feels surreal. I was half-expecting choices to appear and Aoba moan for some reason. Enough of the blabbering, the fluff will be up next for this story! Look forward to it!