Kageyama Tobio stepped out of the crowded airport foyer onto the crowded footpath in front of the taxi bay. He pushed his slipping sun glasses back in place, tugged twice on the lapels of his black button up vest, readjusted his dull orange shirt, tugged on the belt loops to his black skinny jeans and stepped toward the taxi bay in his black low globe mahalo's. He avoided looking up at any signs in his vicinity least he see himself there in some ridiculous pose he'd end up laughing at and blow his cover.
He had places to be and dropping off the face of the earth for a couple days as he does every so often is a good way to get things done. He was on his way. He hailed a cab and prayed he wouldn't be too late. He knew Ukai hadn't told anyone he'd be there today. He'd just arranged the meet after Tobio had finally found a way to find someone.
The cab pulled up out the front of the foothill store two hours later. Kageyama shoved whatever he grabbed out of his wallet into the cabby's hand, hoped it was enough and jumped out snagging his black, worn backpack from behind the front seat seconds before he slammed the door closed. His nerves had grown the closer they'd gotten to the point where the cabby had asked if he was ok he'd been shifting in place so much.
He took a moment to calm himself, took off his sunnies and let them hang off his collar, took a deep breath, let it out and walked in…
To the loudest room he'd ever been in, in Japan. Japan was nothing to America, he'd been to some pretty wild parties over there, none of which he'd ever be telling anyone who didn't know what happened about. But damn was this noisy, even for Karasuno.
They were all catching up with each other. Hinata flitting between three or four conversations at once, Kageyama couldn't tell. Tsukishima was arguing with Tanaka, reaching for his headphones, the latter had stolen and was currently teasing him about.
Nishinoya was chatting with Asahi. Surprisingly one of the more tame members though his animated gestures had gotten bigger and he was even harder to understand then he had been in high school. Asahi was following along just fine though, nodding in mostly fake comprehension. It was lucky he knew enough of the Nishinoya language to respond correctly, even if he didn't actually know what had been said.
Yamaguchi, Narita, and Kinnoshita hadn't been able to make it today but they'd be there tomorrow. Ennoshita was talking and laughing with Suga and occasionally Hinata when he wasn't off interrupting everyone else's conversations, and Daichi who noticed him first but didn't recognize him.
"Ah sorry, this place is closed today." Daichi called to him. Kageyama smiled, not his creepy forced smile that made him look like a demon but a handsome, effortless smile of simple pleasures filling him with nostalgia as he watched the entire team turn to him.
"That's alright, I'm not here to buy anything."
Daichi's eyes widened in realization and he stood, making Hinata, who had been leaning over him, jump. "Kageyama!?" Daichi exclaimed surprise stamped across his face from one side to the other.
"It's good to see you all again." Kageyama replied, nodding and confirming Daichi's and the rest of the teams' question.
"Kageyamaaaaa!" "Oof"
Hinata barrelled into Kageyama, squeezing his arms around Kageyama's middle and driving him to the ground. He dropped his bag next to him wincing when he remembered what he'd put in there. He'd be so pissed if Hinata had made him break anything.
He ruffled Hinata's hair and gently pried Hinata's death grip from his body so he could breath again. His smile never left his face. He ignored Tsukishima snapping a photo of him without his demon smile and helped Hinata to stand. In high school he'd never have done this, he'd have thrown Hinata to the floor and told him to get up himself no matter how much he whined.
America had changed him. Not on court though. There he was as intense as always if not more. He'd taken up modelling for money, it was a good side job for extra cash, it payed well, like, really well, if you were good and damn was he good at what he did. But he'd finally gotten what he wanted.
"Where the hell have you been Kageyama? You didn't even contact us or anything. Not a call or a letter or an email or even a stupid post it note on the camera of the international news. Come on, you have to tell us everything now." Hinata demanded, stamping a foot in his frustration like a kid.
He reached down, grabbed his bag and allowed himself to be towed to the table of crows that welcomed him home as if he'd never left the nest. Five minutes of hugs later and he was sat down and wrung out for every miniscule scrap of information he'd give up about his time in America.
He gave them secretive smiles when they asked about any parties, only telling them he'd been to a few and hosted some others. He told them of a small homeless child that used to follow him home until he decided to tell her to knock it off or come inside and stay there. Of the homeless man he'd walk past everyday after that who'd thank him as if he'd done some great deed. Of the rude star bucks waiter who served him everyday and was Tsukishima and Oikawa combined into a horrifying mix of Hinata's energy and Kuroo's smooth attitude and always, purposely spelt his name wrong even after they'd become 'friends'.
Of the teacher who seemed to stalk him at one point and that one kid who never came to class but passed with flying colours anyway and was even set as his tutor in English. His roommate Vin who was loved by everybody but was so air headed it was impossible to believe he could function like a normal human with out someone responsible there to take care of him. Of his other roommate Daniel, who took care of both of them because in his words they were "Just as bad as each other".
That one girl who tried to pin a robbery on him. The time he was almost mugged. His lucky break with a modelling agency and finally getting enough money to come back home. Finding Ukai's number on the school website and setting up the meet. His plane ride over and the terrifying moment the lights in the plane shuttered out when they'd hit turbulence. The rocky landing and taxi ride over.
"You had things going for you in America. Why show up now?" Suga asked nursing a cup of hot tea he'd poured himself after brewing a large pot during Kageyama's story.
"Ah that. I promised didn't I, that I'd be back." Kageyama stared down into his own half empty mug of tea, another soft smile turning up the corners of his mouth. " And I was scouted for the Japanese national volleyball team… What better excuse than that."
Tanaka slapped him on the back with his usual regard for the other persons' safety and laughed happily. "That's great Kageyama. Hinata has as well you know, and Tsukishima's working with the team as a physiologist and… What's with that look?" Tanaka asked adopting small delinquent like glint in his eyes.
"It's nothing, I didn't realize know you knew any big words." Kageyama's reply sent the rest of the team into fits of laughter.
"Huuuuh. What was that Kageyama-kun, disrespectful brat." Tanaka shot back, his delinquent stare full blown as he pulled Kageyama into a headlock and mussed his hair until it stood up like Hinata's.
"Oi be careful, I have shoot in a few days and I can't get any bruises." Kageyama yelled, muffled by Tanaka's jacket. Tanaka laughed at him again and pushed out of his chair and onto the floor. He wasn't going down alone though.
On reflex he grabbed the person next to him to steady himself and ended up bring Hinata down along with him. The atmosphere around the team was the same as back then, tight knit and strong. An unbreakable bond no matter how long you stayed away. You'd always be welcomed back here.
It was like he'd never left. Karasuno was home.