Level Pair; Day Nine 1/4
Don't ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, or my kindness for weakness. ~Carson Kolhoff
Daichi is back this morning to collect him and Kageyama irritatedly notes how his father has turned the larger crow into a messenger. Daichi is no minion or errand boy, he is their unit leader. But the other boy doesn't seem bothered. The larger crow is brisk when he opens the door, instructing him to get up and follow him.
Tch.
As if he could have slept. Kageyama estimates maybe three hours. Maybe. And rough at that. His gut had twisted all night with nervous tension and he'd been awake through both the evening and sunrise rounds. He has no connection to anything happening on the outside and the informational deficit is killing him. He hates it. It doesn't help that he's been kept away from Hinata for a third night.
He doesn't get the chance to really talk to his unit leader and follows Daichi out the door only to be flanked by a pair of sentries.
Heh. Isolating me away from everyone wasn't enough? Still, he doesn't know why it really surprises him.
Daichi leads him through the halls and Kageyama feels a sense of calm overtake him. This is it. He will have one chance, and one chance only to fight for Hinata. He must play his hand correctly to get it, must speak succinctly and sensibly. He'd thought that his own nerves would jeopardize it but as he watches the space between the wings on Daichi's back ahead of him, he is overcome with serene control.
He'd thought his own unease would be choking him by now, but he can't feel any trace of it. His fear of making a single misstep, the way he's always felt caught in his father's shadow, the fact that his wing is still not in good shape… all things he'd thought would trip his comprehension— are gone and there is only one reality going through his head. Hinata's future is at stake; failure isn't an option.
Daichi leads the way into one of the meeting rooms his father uses. Tooru and several other sentry leaders are standing around a table littered with maps and markers much like the one Kageyama destroyed yesterday. Kageyama absently exults momentarily at the extra bodies. His father will be less likely to back down or cop out if he has an audience.
The Grand King pins him with one of his calculated, easy smiles.
"Ah, Tobio. Have you had enough time to organize your thoughts?"
Kageyama holds his father's sharp gaze with a bland one of his own.
"I did. I have a proposal, Father."
He doesn't think he's ever called his father by his title and the reaction in the room confirms the complete and jarring obscurity of it. The room is silent for a moment and he can feel the tension mount around him. Good. Those extra faces will work in his favor. Kageyama can feel Tooru's minor annoyance at how he's using those around them to exert silent pressure on him, can see how one of his brows quirks just so and the smile turns wry.
"A proposal. Fine then, let's hear it." He says amiably and Kageyama knows he's forcibly commanding the room by placating him. That's fine… that was what Kageyama was after.
"A Volley death match between my sentry unit and you and whoever you chose for your team. First team to twenty-five wins, deuce rules. If my team wins, Hinata stays." He says simply and catches Daichi glancing sidelong at him from his peripheral. But he is focused on the Grand King, determined to hold those hardening eyes without relent.
"Still on about that?" He asks lightly, but Kageyama can see how his face creases slightly with anger.
But don't lose your cool in front of your subordinates.
This is the precarious point in his plan. If his father refuses, he will have failed to buy that one chance. He cannot stumble now. So he holds that gaze fearlessly, banking that he will not back down in front of the others. And it pays off. His father scoffs and waves a hand.
"Suppose I consider this proposal. If you win, the scout can stay. But what happens if your team loses, Tobio? What are you offering that could buy that stake?"
Kageyama's chin lifts slightly and he has to force the urge to smirk back down into his gut. This will all be for nothing if he slips and fails to play the part. But Kageyama knows he can win now. He can secure that one chance.
"If we lose, I will not argue or protest his displacement." He says and his father's head tilts.
"You intend to spare me one of your tantrums? That is hardly enough against what you seek to gain if you win. Regardless, your team will be at a disadvantage without him."
"Then you shouldn't have any reason to worry."
The Grand King flashes an amused grin that sets his teeth on edge and for an instant, Kageyama wonders if he's made a mistake somewhere and his father will refuse.
"I'm not sure you are ready to stomach this loss, Tobio." He says much too cavalierly, but Kageyama doesn't waver. He'd spent every waking hour that he couldn't find sleep moving that damn wing through the exercises Shouyou had recommended for this purpose; he would need it to be loose if he wanted it to be worth anything in a match against his father.
"I've never had any intention of losing." He states bluntly and Tooru laughs.
"Very well then, I agree... but I will amend the terms." He says and Kageyama falters for a moment.
Amend the terms? He had never considered this… but it would be just like him to add a condition.
Crap.
Before he can come up with a countermeasure, the Grand King is speaking again, drawing his attention.
"Whether you win or lose, you will be placed under my direct supervision. You will be removed from your unit and they will be placed under someone else. Is this acceptable?"
Separated… from his unit. He would be cut off from everyone he cares about.
"Oi, Kageyama—"
"I agree." He cuts Daichi off, leveling his father with a fierce stare. "I agree. Name the time and field."
Tooru's grin feels insulting, but Kageyama keeps his eyes on him.
"Excellent. Let's set it for six tonight on the south center field. That should be enough time for you to track down the rest of your unit and time enough for me to put my team together. I hope you bring your best, Tobio."
"Yes sir. We will be there." Kageyama responds automatically and turns to leave, finally breaking eye contact with the Grand King while Daichi shadows him with a critical glance.
"Ah, Tobio. I would like you to stay and assist with tactical analysis here for a bit. I would like you to show us where you ran into the cats and offer some input." His father says pointedly and Kageyama stiffens just a touch.
"May I have a moment with my unit leader?"
There is a pause before the answer comes and Kageyama swears that his father sounds quite satisfied with the situation.
"Granted."
His eyes trained on the door, he heads outside, Daichi following him silently. They reach a suitable point beyond earshot and Kageyama stops.
"My father has no intention of letting me mentally prepare for this, Daichi. I will need you to go and get the others together." He says without looking at him, and he flinches slightly when Daichi grabs his arm.
"Kageyama, what were you thinking?"
Kageyama looks up at the other crow, his gaze still even and blank like it had been with his father.
"Hinata is part of our unit, Daichi. We should all be there to fight for him."
Daichi shakes his head.
"Not that. Why did you agree to his terms? The amendment… none of us would have said okay to that." The corners of his eyes betray how upset he is, and his face narrows into a scowl.
"It is okay, Daichi. The Grand King's been looking for an opportunity like this for over a century. The truth is, I'm a hazard to my unit because of him. This way, you won't end up parsed out to other units or worse. You will all be safe."
"You think the danger frightens us?" He barks but Kageyama just stares back up at him.
"Not in the least. I doubt any of us fears death. But I'm not the one at risk so the danger terrifies me all the same."
That's right, he realizes. His father doesn't have to compel him physically; he can use the others to force his compliance because Kageyama is too invested in his unit to ignore the threat to them. If it were just him, he doubts he'd have batted an eye… but when his choices and actions directly affect those he cares about— he will not stand for any of the others being used as leverage against him. This way they will stay together— and away from himself and the Grand King. And if they can win this match against his father, Hinata will be able to stay as well. This is the best chance, the best outcome for his unit, even if he will no longer have a place in it.
Daichi blinks at him, his face a mask of incredulity and Kageyama releases a long breath. Stepping back around the crow, he raises a hand to Sawamura's shoulder.
"Daichi, the others still need to know about the match. You and Suga know them best. Whether it's all of it or nothing, tell them whatever you need to in order to make sure they bring everything." He says quietly before reentering the meeting room without a backward glance.