Tendou hummed, leaning into Ushijima's shoulder. "Ah, right, I forgot to mention. Shirabu and Semi are working on finding out the first task for you."

Ushijima frowned. "The first task is supposed to be a surprise."

"...Surprise! Shirabu and Semi are finding out the first task for you!"

Ushijima stayed stoic.

"Oh, don't give me the look." Tendou rolled his eyes. "Half the tournament's built on using whatever resources you have available. It's nothing against the rules; this is playing the game."

Ushijima considered, his frown deepening slightly before nodding.

Tendou pinched his cheek. "Cute and adorable; but, have I ever told you that way too noble side of yours is going to get us into trouble one of these days."

"Once or twice," Ushijima admitted, voice softening just enough to be something almost fond.

Tendou grinned. "There we are. So, let's talk about weaknesses. I'm thinking we get Yamagata to track down everything he can on the Hoshiumi guy and Kawanishi can handle he-who-shall-not-be-named." Tendou winked at his new favorite nickname for the Hogwarts Champion. "I'd say Ohira and Goshiki could help; but, we both know Ohira's preferred way of gathering info is the Disappointed School Teacher look and Goshiki is…..well, Goshiki. Best to keep them back for when we need them, right?"

Ushijima nodded.

Tendou eyed him critically. "Hmmmmmm, I guess I should have asked. How are you doing, Soon-To-Be-Triwizard-Champion?"

"Conflicted," Ushijima answered.

"Going to have to be a bit more specific, darling," Tendou teased, rolling the last word in a so-far-failed attempt at getting Ushijima to blush.

"Oikawa," Ushijima said.

Tendou's good mood dropped ten points into the sudden death zone. "Ugh, what a surprise?" He peered up at him. "Keep up the fixation, 'Toshi, and you're going to make me jealous."

Ushijima blinked, blankness fading away to honest bafflement, and Tendou snorted, deciding to take pity on him. "I'm joking. Conflicted about what concerning Mr. Spare?"

"He said he didn't enter," Ushijima said.

Tendou barked out a laugh. "And you believe him?"

"Why would he lie," Ushijima asked. "To lie about this would be pointless."

"Yes, but humans are pointless, illogical, vicious little creatures, dearest." Tendou kissed his cheek, succeeding in finally getting that blush. "It also seems strange to enter someone else's name when you could try for the glory yourself. Much more likely to lie for attention and, if there's one thing Oikawa's got on you, it's experience with attention."

Ushijima tilted his head, thinking. "...I believe he's telling the truth. That isn't what's bothering me."

"Alright." Tendou held up his hands in surrender. "I suppose, for us, it doesn't really matter who entered him. What's bugging you, then?"

"It's unfair….to everyone, I believe." Ushijima paused a moment more. "Oikawa does not deserve to compete in a tournament he doesn't want-he shouldn't be forced into it. Hogwarts does not deserve a champion that won't take the honor seriously-they should be able to choose another for themselves."

Tendou snickered, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Trying to give our competition two champions now, 'Toshi? A four wizard tournament?"

"It would be fair," Ushijima insisted before continuing. "This country has not earned a champion that they themselves have mistreated. The tournament deserves champions that will respect the gravity of the tasks. And it's only right for Hoshiumi and myself to be able to face someone who is giving it their all-not someone who wants to get out of it." Ushijima nodded. "So, yes, I believe the current situation is unfair to everyone."

"Too noble for your own good." Tendou shook his head before looking back at his boyfriend, taking in the stiffness of his shoulders the tightness around his mouth. Tendou made a guess….he was rather good at those, actually. "That's not what's bothering you most, though, is it?"

Ushijima's back went impossibly straighter.

"...it's part of it," he allowed.

Tendou hummed, going back to lean on his shoulder. "And what's the rest?"

"...it was something that Oikawa said," Ushijima admitted, voice softer, "after we were finished speaking with the headmasters."

Ushijima's posture was perfect, entire frame tensed into something beyond reproach, nothing in his stance to give him away. Tendou could still imagine the way his hands ached to reach for the chain around his neck.

Suddenly, Tendou wasn't feeling particularly nice anymore….not to people who made Wakatoshi look like that…..but, even then, he'd still leave the final choice to Ushijima. It was the hero's choice to release monsters after all.

"Would you like me to talk to him for you," Tendou asked, venomously kind.

Ushijima shook his head.

Tendou pouted. "Are you sure, 'Toshi?"

"I'm sure," Ushijima said firmly. "...Thank you."

Tendou sighed, moving in a bit closer until he was a warm presence at Ushijima's side and he could finally feel Ushijima start to relax into his normal perfect posture rather than something tensely still. "Fine. Must have been something, though, if you're still upset about it today."

Ushijima nodded. "I believe….that Oikawa has no idea what honor truly means or what it means to sacrifice simply for the sake of others."

Tendou raised a brow, waiting for more information.

Ushijima was not forthcoming.

Tendou let it rest for now. "Well….good, then. That'll make it even more fun when you beat him, of course. Yeah, 'Toshi?"

Ushijima gave him a small smile. "Of course."

ooooooo

"Um," Akiteru said intelligibly.

Three sets of eyes stared back at him, heavy with expectation and surrounded by what looked like a Daily prophet had exploded in a Gryffindor dorm room.

Akiteru tried to think of something better to say. "Um."

"Now," Saeko began, "I know this isn't what you were expecting…."

Akiteru had to admit when his very wonderful girlfriend who he hadn't gotten to see in two months had pulled him aside and told him she had a top secret surprise for him that had to be revealed somewhere they could be alone…..Akiteru really hadn't been expecting being snuck into the Gryffindor fifth year dorm to face Saeko's little brother and the Nishinoya boy that he only vaguely knew from Saeko and Kei's stories.

In the still expectant silence, Tanaka gave his sister a very, very dubious look that Akiteru felt a little bit offended by even though he still wasn't even sure what was going on.

"Saeko," Tanaka asked, "are you sure about this?"

"Trust me." Saeko grinned widely. "Akiteru's exactly who we need!"

"What is this," Akiteru asked cautiously, finally settling on a safe question to ask.

"It's our investigation," Noya said seriously.

"...Okay?"

Akiteru wasn't an Auror-was just barely a Ministry clerk, who's job mostly consisted of coffee orders and filing-but he was fairly sure that investigations had things like files and notes and, well, something a little more logical looking than the parchments that seemed to be scattered in little clumps all around the room.

He tried again. "An investigation for what?"

The two siblings and Noya all looked at each other as if asking who was going to answer first.

"He's your boyfriend," Tanaka argued.

"You two are the ones who started all this," Saeko argued back.

"Okay." Noya's hands clapped together. "So, here's what happened. Saeko and Ryuu's parents-the worst, absolutely awful, Ghosts that got locked away years ago. You know that, yeah?"

Akiteru blinked before nodding, now less sure than ever where this was all going. "Yes?"

"Right, moving on," Noya shoved a letter at him. "So, Ryuu and Saeko got these notes last winter. From their parents, duh. You can tell by the symbol, see? So, yeah, creepy and ominous-one hundred percent. Only they told the aurors who did jackshit about anything other than dumb stuff like 'oh yeah, no worries. No way anyone could ever send letters out of Azkaban'. Only people can and worse! Like breakout of Azkaban, which also definitely happened!"

"WHAT?!" Akiteru's head jerked up. "Someone broke out of Azkaban."

Noya held up a finger. "I'm getting to that. Anyway, so the Ministry was a pile of useless, no shock. Um, also, no offense, I guess? And, then, we found out Kirika Uragiri broke out of Azkaban like a year ago so she could impersonate our Defense teacher and maybe kill some people, maybe try to help Yachi, maybe both-honestly, not really sure at that point. And," Noya was getting into it now, "that would only be a bit of a disaster, so the Ministry swore us to secrecy and-again, no surprise-did nothing. And then, Ryuu got another letter, only it was after the not so departed Tanakas were supposed to have died so-"

"Bro," Tanaka interrupted, "no offense, but he kind of looks more confused now than when you started."

Akiteru stared blankly, mouth gaping as he tried to pick one thing to ask about first.

"Huh?" Noya pulled back. "Oh, sorry, normally people just kind of figure out our stuff on their own so we don't have to explain things. Anyone else want to try?"

Saeko sighed. "We think our parents are still alive and that Kirika Uragiri broke them out of Azkaban and faked their deaths."

"Like we know she already did for herself because she was here last year," Tanaka added.

Noya nodded. "So, now, we just need to figure out how they did it and try to find where they are now."

"Even though the Aurors couldn't find anything," Tanaka concluded.

Saeko looked back at him. "Does that make sense?"

Akiteru wondered what having an beginning life crisis felt like….because he kind of felt like he might be having one. He also quite suddenly gained a new appreciation for what Kei meant when he mentioned his and Tadashi's 'weird friends'.

"Someone broke out of Azkaban," Akiteru put his head in his hands and breathed steadily. "Wait, you think three people broke out of Azkaban? Three Ghosts?" He looked up, eyes finding Saeko. "We have to warn someone! People could be in danger! A lot of danger! How could the Ministry just give up on this? How could-"

Saeko squeezed his hand, cutting him off, and her smile was the wild, fierce Gryffindor one that Akiteru remembered vividly even years after the first time he saw it.

"That's the plan," she promised. "But, we need to prove it first. That's why we need your help."

Akiteru frowned. "Why me?" He shook his head, blushing. "I mean, yeah, of course, I'll help. How could I say no? But, what do you need me to do?"

"We need everything we can get on Azkaban," Tanaka answered. "Everything the Ministry has that they don't just give to civilians. Autopsy reports, cell layouts, anything that'll help us figure out how they know each other and how they escaped."

Akiteru blinked. "That stuff's in the Auror department."

"Can you get it," Noya pressed.

Akiteru hesitated, thinking about the many, many times he'd been sent to file room to file room with all the tiny notes and papers that were too sensitive to risk flying there with magic-or papers he was sure people were just too lazy to charm.

"I think so. Not, um….not legally."

"Oh." Three shoulders slumped down, not quite daring to look at him even while everyone knew what they wanted to ask.

Akiteru watched them, thinking for himself.

…..Honestly, Akiteru had always thought of himself as the type of person that lived a life where nothing truly exciting had ever happened. He grew up watching a war, but only through headlines and radio broadcasts, safely tucked away in a manor with parents that knew enough about avoidance instead of interaction. He went to Hogwarts where he felt that he had faded into the background, a good friend never the leader, always reaching for the things he dreamed of but never being enough to grasp them. Even now, Akiteru took his current job because it was easy to get, easy to do, probably even easy to be promoted in over years and years of work. He'd always been fine with that, really-accepting with warm appreciation what was in his path without the envy of what could have been. Still, sometimes he wondered….

But, then again, maybe all of that was just details. Maybe none of it truly made any difference in comparison to the one major decision that Akiteru had made as soon as he was old enough to think about who he wanted to be.

Akiteru always wanted to be the type of person to do the right thing.

"I can get them," Akiteru promised.

All three of them looked up.

Saeko's smile turned back up which was worth a lot already in Akiteru's mind. "Akiteru, you sure?

"Absolutely," Akiteru paused to think. "It might take me a bit, though, if I want to avoid people getting suspicious. Especially since half the time I'm working here at Hogwarts for the tournament." He sighed. "Would a few weeks be fine?"

Tanaka snorted. "Well, before this, we basically had nothing. So, yeah, a few weeks will work."

"We almost were thinking about calling in the others," Noya mumbled.

Akiteru tilted his head, suddenly realizing what felt entirely wrong with this picture.

"Where's Kei and Tadashi," he asked. "They've gotta know about this, right?"

Tanaka shrugged. "Nah, we wanted to wait for proof before we told them."

"Plus, they…..already get a little bit dramatic over the actually harmless things," Noya admitted. "We thought we'd work them up to this."

Akiteru…..had doubts; but, he figured it wouldn't hurt to let Kei and Tadashi have a relatively peaceful year until they found something.

"They really haven't figured out any of this," Akiteru asked, gesturing to the mess of the room.

Noya and Tanaka looked at each other before grinning.

"No worries," Noya said. "We're really good at distractions!"

ooooooo

The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the Crows were beginning to experience the first taste of the tantalizing wonder that they thought might be called peace.

So, no, of course, they weren't bored. That would be utterly ridiculous and they would deny it heavily if ever asked.

And it had barely been a month! Of course, they wouldn't be bored in a month.

Ennoshita just wanted to record every ooze of Flumpy's new mucus inducing superpower. For fun. For science. And not at all because they had never actually made it this far in a semester without experiencing at least some level of abject terror.

Yamagichi stared up at the sky over the lake. "...you know I never learned how to play Gobstones."

Daichi gripped his shoulder and said with more seriousness than was really warranted for the situation. "Then, you can learn Gobstones, Tadashi. We can all learn Gobstones. This is what free time means!"

"Right!" Yamaguchi agreed, more because Daichi seemed desperate for an answer.

Tsukishima wrinkled his nose. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" Daichi shouted before breathing in. "I'm perfect. Noya and Tanaka still seem absolutely interested in Flumpy. Which means our plan is going great. Which means we finally have a perfect year with….with fun and relaxing. Which means everything is perfect and we can all learn Gobstones…..or…..or do whatever."

Asahi was idly drawing designs in the sand of the shore. "You can go see Suga more, I suppose."

"Exactly!" Daichi grinned before rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, right now, he's kind of busy with the tournament so…." He coughed in his hand. "Anyway, what are the rest of you doing with our new free afternoon?"

"Avoiding Akiteru," Tsukishima said flatly.

Yamaguchi gave him a look. "Tsuki…."

"What?" Tsukishima shrugged. "I'm thinking of it like a hobby. A sport maybe."

"You know what's also a sport," Yamaguchi poked his side. "Quidditch! If you're so free, you can help me before the game."

Tsukishima's face scrunched up in distaste.

Yamaguchi rolled his eyes. "I'm asking you to help me, not play."

"...Fine," Tsukishima muttered.

Ennoshita raised a brow. "What's your problem with Quidditch anyway?"

"I don't believe in pointless endeavors meant to distract from things that might actually have a meaningful contribution to life," Tsukishima said archly.

Ennoshita rolled his eyes. "You were the kid that told others Father Christmas wasn't real, weren't you?"

Tsukishima tilted his head. "Father what?"

"He's-," Ennoshita pinched the bridge of his nose. "Nevermind, it's a Muggle thing."

"Noya asked me to be the announcer again," Asahi paused. "Oh, um, for the Quidditch game, not….er, not for the Muggle thing."

"Yes, we assumed,"Tsukishima said dryly. "And you're happy about that?"

"Yeah, I think I am. Noya said he'd be my co-announcer this time." Asahi blushed. "I don't know, it's a little bit fun."

Daichi slung an arm around him, looking vindicated. "See, and this is what our perfect year is supposed to be. Asahi's following his announcer dream-"

"...well, I don't know about my dream."

"Yamaguchi's probably going to become a Quidditch star," Daichi continued heedless, "and a Gobstones champion."

"Um, thanks," Yamaguchi tried.

Daichi nodded. "Tsukishima's using his time to become closer to his brother."

"Literally the opposite of what I said."

"I get the chance to hang out with my boyfriend," Daichi grinned, waving a hand, "and Ennoshita's doing….whatever Ennoshita's doing with Flumpy, but probably more fun than getting killed by something Noya and Tanka adopted."

"I'm monitoring the mucus discharge." Ennoshita held up his notes, gesturing with his other hand at a snoring Flumpy. "It's boring, sure, but we have to have at least something to show we're still interested. It's a miracle they're still interested on their own."

"That's true," Asahi said quietly with a small smile. "Honestly, I thought Noya would get bored in a day."

The rest of the group nodded solemnly.

And then, suddenly, Yamaguchi let out a cut off laugh.

They looked at him.

"Oh, sorry, it's nothing." He scratched the side of his cheek. "I mean….it's….well, it's a little bit funny, you know?"

"What," Daichi asked.

"I guess strange is a better word." Yamaguchi shrugged. "It's just….you're right, it is a miracle. Tanaka and Noya always seem to find dangerous creatures to be interested in and, now, it's just Flumpy who's….the complete opposite." He laughed again awkwardly. "It's just funny, I guess. I almost feel like I'm missing something huge and Flumpy's going to be just as dangerous as the others. Only this time, we won't even see it coming."

There was a beat.

"Ha….," Ennoshita coughed. "Flumpy? Dangerous? Look at him!"

Flumpy hadn't moved a centimetre, still appearing to be asleep.

"Right, right." Yamaguchi nodded quickly. "Only….well, I suppose there has to be something keeping Noya and Tanaka interested, right?" He trailed off. "Not that Flumpy's dangerous. That would….that would be silly."

"Yeah, silly," Daichi agreed immediately.

They looked down at Flumpy, still sleeping with trails of mucus hanging off of him, and let out forced, stilted laughter.

Flumpy snored once loudly, almost a growl.

The laughter trailed off abruptly.

ooooooo

Bokuto had come to a realization.

He didn't have any clue what he was doing.

Akaashi was sitting across from him, silently working on homework….probably like Bokuto should be doing; but, personally he thought what he was thinking about was much more important than Headmaster Washijo's massive reading assignments.

So….um, alright, so here's what Bokuto knew. Bokuto liked it best when things were simple. Like math and Quidditch and his favorite foods-simple. Simple didn't have to mean easy. Math wasn't always easy. Quidditch wasn't always easy. But, everything made sense. They were steady with rules set firm into the ground about how it would work and how it wouldn't work.

Simple meant something you could depend on.

Life wasn't really that simple, though. People weren't. Thoughts and feelings and emotions were where things always got complicated and sometimes, it was too complicated. And that's when Bokuto felt overwhelmed like he couldn't breathe and didn't have anything to grab onto to pull him back.

It used to be worse when it was a kid. Back then, he didn't know how to not get caught in exactly what he was feeling. He'd get lost in it and it felt like nothing was going to be simple anymore, like nothing made sense, like everything could fall apart underneath his feet under the onslaught of a bad mood.

Akaashi was the one who taught him how to breathe through it, to find the little things-like his sister's laugh and his mum's off pitch singing and the smell of the garden-and weave them together until they were a rope to hold onto.

He still felt it sometimes, that gnawing sense of being overwhelmed, but now he was at least a little better at finding the way out on his own. Of making his way back to the ground.

And the thing was….Bokuto really liked that feeling. He liked being able to make complicated things simple. He liked getting them to make sense, like working out a hard equation. He guessed he got kind of lucky in that-his friends were always finding things that were too complicated. Heck, his friends themselves were complicated.

But, right now was a new experience. Because, right now and for the last few months, just looking at Akaashi made him feel like he was overflowing and bursting at the edges and Bokuto found he really enjoyed this kind of being overwhelmed.

He really liked being in love with Keiji Akaashi.

It felt like the simplest thing in the world.

Akaashi glanced up at him, blinking as he found Bokuto staring. "Did you finish your assignment already?"

"Um, nope," Bokuto grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I got distracted."

….Just because it was simple didn't mean Bokuto had any idea what he was doing. And, for once, it wasn't really a question he could ask Akaashi.

Akaashi nodded in sympathy. "About Oikawa and the tournament?"

"Oh," Bokuto considered, "well, yeah, that's….a lot to think about."

Akaashi reached out to lay his hand on Bokuto's and Bokuto could feel the warmth like laying on the grass on a summer day.

"I think you'll do fine," Akaashi paused. "There's always a lot of ways these tournaments can go, I suppose. Too many paths to know for sure. But, you've always been good at finding the best one."

"You think so?" Bokuto perked up.

Akaashi gave a wry smile. "Trust me, if anyone can make the odds work, it's you."

Bokuto hoped he was able to find the right path for this.

But, he guessed the first thing he had to do was make it more simple.

He turned his hand until it could thread up with Akaashi's. Akaashi went still as if just noticing that his hand was there.

Akaashi looked up. "Bokuto…."

Bokuto tried to find his voice before he lost the nerve.

"...I think your friends are looking for you," Akaashi finished.

Bokuto stopped, twisting his head to see where Kuroo was trying to wave him over, gesturing to some parchments.

"Oh," Bokuto finished lamely.

Dang, that was probably important, then.

Across from him, Akaashi had extracted his hand, using it to tuck a stray hair behind his ear.

Bokuto stood up, grabbing his bag and beginning to turn before….

"Hey, Keiji, let's eat dinner together, okay?"

Akaashi blinked before frowning. "We….we usually eat together?"

"Great," Bokuto said cheerfully. "See you, then!"

He was taking that as a win. It was a small step; but, at least it was something.

The rest were already gathered around the table by the time he took his seat, Suga throwing a few privacy charms around them.

"You look happy," Iwaizumi commented.

Bokuto beamed. "I asked Akaashi if we could have dinner together!"

"You normally have dinner together," Oikawa said.

"I know," Bokuto reassured, "but, now, he knows we are."

Kuroo shrugged, apparently giving him the win even if it was just in order to wave the parchment about. "In other news, guess who finally became useful!"

"The Ministry," Bokuto guessed.

"You hair stylist," Oikawa threw in.

Suga hid a grin. "The Hogwarts hiring committee."

"Any of you," was Iwaizumi's answer.

"It's Daishou," Kuroo pressed the parchment down, "geeze, it's Daishou. All of you are the worst!"

"In our defense," Oikawa said breezily, "even expecting it, Daishou being useful still felt like the least likely answer." He dodged a perfunctory swipe from Iwaizumi. "Oh, come on, it's Daishou. If I'm actually too nice to him, he'll think I've been Imperiused."

And, then, he opened the parchment and read it.

"Ah," he said, not looking pleased at all.

"Apparently-and, no, I don't know how nor do I want to-Daishou figured out the bare basics of the first task for us," Kuroo explained when it seemed clear Oikawa was settled on glaring at the paper. "It has something to do with dueling."

Suga winced. "That's….not immediately in our favor, I'll admit."

"Well, maybe," Bokuto shrugged, "but, only because Ushijima's like a super powerful dueling prodigy that already knows how to do wandless magic."

"Yeah, Bo," Kuroo said dryly, "I believe that's what Suga meant by 'not in our favor.'"

"But," Bokuto insisted, "I haven't heard anything about the Beauxbatons guy and dueling, so maybe he's really bad." Bokuto grinned. "That way we only have to make sure you can beat Ushijima and, then, we're good!"

"Great," Oikawa said, unenthused. "Bastard's already got a leg up."

Iwaizumi shoved him. "Hey, Shittykawa, exactly what have we been doing the past four years if not dueling? Maybe Ushijima's famous in it or whatever; but, that just means he doesn't have anything on your dueling style to work with."

Oikawa frowned, looking up. "...Iwa-chan….that…."

Iwaizumi glared. "What?"

"That actually sounded like strategy, for once." Oikawa fake sobbed, launching his arms around him and not budging as Iwaizumi immediately tried to throw him off. "I'm sooooooooo proud of you! I knew you could be taught!"

"Nevermind, I hope you get knocked on your ass," Iwaizumi complained.

Oikawa just hummed, smushing his face into Iwaizumi's shoulder to singsong. "But, you don't mean that, do you, Iwa-chan?"

Iwaizumi didn't honor that with an answer.

"There is another bright side," Suga added. "Now that we know what it is, it means we can all work on helping Oikawa practice. The first task isn't for another month. That gives us a head start on the other champions."

"Oh, I'm sure the other champions will figure it out sometime," Kuroo picked up the parchment, wielding it like an impromptu fan. "But, bonus, for having a snake on our side, I'd put money on Daishou finding this first." He glanced at Oikawa. "Daishou offered to help practice dueling, too-well, 'offered', demanded, same difference."

"Mhm," Oikawa finally dropped back from Iwaizumi, apparently deciding to be serious. "Good, if the first task is dueling, there's a few strategies I want to practice first. Ushijima's the kind of duelist that focuses on blunt strength, I want to have options." He tapped his fingers along the table edge. "What do you think about practicing spell redirection?"

Kuroo lifted a brow. "Could work. It's a good idea, at least. Redirecting an opponent's spell back at them is the best way to preserve your magic while letting the other guy wear himself down. Might work well to face Ushijima's style, especially since we don't know how long the duel's going to last."

"Of course," Oikawa sighed, "it would be better if I could get wandless magic down, too."

"But, I wouldn't say it's necessary," Suga smiled. "We can find a way to win without it."

Oikawa nodded, still not looking particularly pleased with the idea.

"Any clue for the other tasks," Iwaizumi asked.

Kuroo shrugged. "Nah, from everything I know about the old tournaments, the first task normally ends up with some kind of clue for the second; so, for now, the tournament officials are probably keeping it as locked down as they can."

"Dueling does give us a hint, though," Suga said. "The tournament still follows the normal steps for rituals, right? A task of mind, body, and heart." He grabbed the parchment from where Kuroo was still waving it, smoothing it out to scan the details. "Dueling sounds pretty obviously like body; so, that still leaves mind and heart for the other two."

"Oh," Bokuto slammed his hand on the table. "Maybe the heart task is the Yule Ball!"

Oikawa fluttered his lashes. "No problem, then."

Iwaizumi rolled his eyes hard.

"I doubt they'd make the dance into a task," Suga said. "I mean...how would you even win that?"

"Love's a war, Suga," Kuroo joked before turning to Oikawa. "That's it! Maybe the heart task is figuring out which of your exes most want to poison you."

"Excuse you," Oikawa scoffed. "I'm a delight! A treasure, really, even to my exes."

Suga hesitated, sitting straighter. "Kuroo may have a point."

"Suga," Oikawa whined. "I'm a delight!"

Suga shook his head. "I didn't mean your dates. I mean….well, it probably wouldn't be a terrible idea for us to keep an eye out. Just because the champions aren't supposed to fight each other outside the tournament, doesn't mean other people won't try something."

Bokuto was watching Oikawa which is why he thought he was the only one who noticed how his face went oddly blank before flicking too fast back into an easy smile.

"Don't worry, Suga," Oikawa drawled. "If there's one thing Matsu and Makki have given me-other than inhuman patience-it's knowing how to spot pranks. I know how to take care of it."

"Suga's right," Iwaizumi frowned heavily. "We don't even have any clues who entered your name yet. Or why. Wouldn't hurt to have some extra protection."

Oikawa looked tired, brow drawing down to an argument and his mouth opened to…

"HEY," Bokuto broke in quickly. "I got it! We need a new name!"

Oikawa blinked, pulling back in confusion. "What? No! We already have a name! I barely agreed with the Investigators' Club."

"More like you were overruled." Kuroo smirked.

"Another name" Bokuto emphasized. "A special name, a secret name. You know, for the tournament! So, we know this year is something different and cool!"

Suga smiled in amusement. "What were you thinking?

Honestly, Bokuto didn't really have a good idea yet; but, he was pretty sure he could come up with something.

He beamed suddenly. "I got it! The Official Oikawa Protection Squad! It's perfect!"

"I like it," Kuroo said immediately, mainly because of how Oikawa was gaping.

"...That….," Oikawa blinked rapidly before his voice dropped down into a whine, "that spells O.O.P.S! That literally spells oops!"

"Heh, oops," Bokuto said sheepishly.

Suga laughed. "Sounds good."

"I'm in," Iwaizumi added.

Oikawa moaned, burying his face in his arms. "I hate you all!"

Suga patted his shoulder sympathetically.

"Traitor," Oikawa complained

Kuroo rapped his knuckles on the wood. "Let the first meeting of the Official Oikawa Protection Squad come to an end." He eyed Oikawa. "Hey, think we should add Daishou as an honorary member?"

Oikawa kicked him under the table.

Bokuto laid his head down beside him, smiling innocently. "Do you like it?"

"Oh, don't give me that face," Oikawa pouted. "Fine, fine, I'll tolerate it!"

"Yay!" Bokuto cheered immediately. "I knew you'd love it!"

"Tolerate!"

"Yeah, yeah," Iwaizumi thumped him in the shoulder, "just watch, you'll have gotten used to it by the game this weekend."

ooooooo

The late afternoon sun was blaring down on newly built Quidditch stands, packed tight with a hundred eyes hungrily watching the field.

There was something different about today and it seemed like everyone could feel it, even if they couldn't begin to name the source. It felt like electricity, like heat running down the stands and onto the field to catch the players.

It was fun, it was exciting, it felt like something more just waiting out of reach.

Kageyama….felt like something was wrong.

Hinata was quiet.

Not doing anything, just staring out on the field with an expression calm enough to border on eerie.

"Okay, if everyone's ready to start," Asahi announced in a soft voice, but with a hint of a smile.

Noya grabbed a mic. "GET READY FOR THE ONE, THE ONLY-GAME OF THE MILLENNIUM! THREE SCHOOLS, SOMEWHAT ALIKE IN DIGNITY, COMBINE THEIR PLAYERS FOR THE GREATEST CONTEST KNOWN TO MAN-THE INTERHOUSE QUIDDITCH LEAGUE! ONLY THE BEST MAY WIN, ONLY THE FIERCEST STAND THE CHANCE, THE BRAVEST, THE STRONGEST, THE BOLD AND THE-"

"Noya, we still need to announce the teams," Asahi mumbled, pulling on Noya's shirt to get his attention.

"Right!" Noya did a show man's wave to one side on the field. "So, today, in black we've got-The Sly, the Quick, theeeeee Kitsune Tricksters."

Asahi cleared his throat. "So, on Keeper and team captain, we have Shinsuke Kita, Michinari Akagi for Seeker, Ren Omimi and Rintaro Suna as Beaters, and Aran Ojiro, Osamu Miya, and Atsumu Miya as Chasers."

A cheer rose up from the crowd for the collection of Beauxbatons and Hogwarts team players. Atsumu made a show of waving to a crowd of screaming fans to the growing exasperation of his team.

"That's a lot of Beauxbatons members for one team," Hyakuzawa whispered, next to Kageyama. "I wonder how they'll play."

Yaku shrugged. "Apparently, Bokuto and Terushima updated their arithmancy thing. Guess it makes sense people who haven't gotten to play yet got better odds." He paused. "Honestly, I'm surprised so many were interested. I didn't know Durmstrang and Beauxbatons even did Quidditch."

"Beauxbatons does but nothing like this," Komori put in cheerfully. "We're mainly focused on racing; but, this is incredible."

Their two Durmstrang members, Yamagata and Ohira exchanged a glance.

"We were talked into this," Ohira admitted, smiling. "Vigorously."

"Bloody Goshiki and those stupid puppy dog eyes," Yamagata grumbled. "Tendou taught him that on purpose, I swear."

On the field, the fans had finally calmed down and Atsumu, incredible though it seemed, had subdued very suddenly with a single look from his temporary team captain.

Hinata was still quiet.

Kageyama was starting to get nervous.

"For the Ironbellies," Noya practically beamed at the name, "we've got our Keeper Morisuke Yaku, Seeker is Motoya Komori, Beater Hayato Yamagata, Beater and team captain Reon Ohira, aaaaand our Chasers Tobio Kageyama, Shouyou Hinata, and Yuudai Hyakuzawa." He popped back to his feet. "Oh, wait, Asahi, you want to do it?"

"Go ahead." Asahi smiled.

"So, with Asahi and I as your gorgeous, wonderful announcers" Noya sucked in a breath to shout. "LET THE GAME OF THE MILLENNIUM BEGIN!"

Miyanoshita, their temporary referee for the game, stepped forward to call both teams to the air.

Kageyama hesitated beside Hinata. "Hey, are you….okay?"

Hinata's head jerked up in a single sharp movement to meet Kageyama, eyes focused and feeling like they were looking directly through him. Kageyama felt a shiver run down his spine, the back of his neck warming inexplicably.

And, then, Hinata blinked and the force pulled back.

"Oh." Hinata looked down at his hands, flexing them. "I think I'm nervous."

Kageyama had seen Hinata nervous. Hinata nervous meant stomach cramps and shivering and Hinata moaning as he was draped along a bench with Futakuchi forcing a wet towel on his head and Bokuto panicking around the locker room.

This wasn't nervous.

This….Kageyama didn't know what this was.

"Hey, Kageyama," Hinata said and that at least sounded mostly Hinata even if it felt like there was something else laying just below the surface. "Could you do me a favor?"

"What," Kageyama demanded.

"I need you to play the best you can, alright?" Hinata stared up at him and his voice had gone low, serious.

Kageyama didn't know if he felt more off kilter or offended. "I always do, dumbass! What are you saying? Do you think I don't?"

Kageyama seriously didn't know what was going on with Hinata lately.

….and it was starting to scare him.

"No, I mean," Hinata licked his lips and Kageyama followed the movement without meaning to. "Just pretend….pretend like you don't even have to think about what I'll do. Just give me your best throw, the best possible angle you can think of, alright? And I'll….," Hinata nodded, "I'll just trust you. That's all I'll do. I'll just trust you and catch it. So, everything else is up to you."

Kageyama narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what Hinata was trying to say.

Because that seemed...well, it seemed like what they always did, honestly. Kageyama thought about the angles, the other chasers, the positions, Hinata just had to be there. Well, and catch it. From playing this year, if there was one thing Kageyama had learned, it was that not everyone seemed to be able to catch his throws like Hinata could. They hesitated, looked for the Quaffle, adjusted, so maybe….

Kageyama did try to give Hinata a little more space-less than anyone else because Hinata had never needed it-but, he tried to give the Quaffle just a little bit more arch like Bokuto and Akaashi had taught him so Hinata had a bit more breathing room to work with. Maybe….

Maybe that's what Hinata meant. He didn't want that right now, he just wanted Kageyama to do it as fast and precisely as he possibly could, use Hinata like a tool to get the point rather than giving him any room that would mean time.

Kageyama would make the decisions. Hinata would be there.

"Okay," Kageyama said.

Hinata smiled-wait, wait he hadn't meant smiling, why wasn't Hinata smiling, that was wrong. "Thanks, Kageyama. Just do your best. I need to know something."

He took to the sky before Kageyama could ask….which was just as well since Miyanoshita looked like she had already been trying to get their attention with the whistle

The whistle blew. The game started.

And, at once, if there was electricity before, it turned into lightning.

Miyanoshita had barely thrown the Quaffle into the air before Atsumu had it and threw it seemingly blind, only for his brother to catch it halfway down the field while Yaku barely had a chance to get to the goals.

The Quaffle threw it and Yaku swung, too fast to even aim as he whacked the Quaffle away with the side of his shoulder, too badly positioned to catch it and redirect.

The Quaffle went into freefall.

Atsumu caught it, throwing it up to Aran, who hit it with all the force of a canon, sending it into the goal before Yaku could adjust.

The Quaffle got thrown into play a second later and Kageyama didn't stop, catching it and trying to find the right angle, only to be hit with a particularly well placed bludger by Suna.

Merlin. They were fast.

Insanely fast and, as Kageyama now thought about it, maybe there was a really good reason to be wary of a school that specialized in broom racing.

Atsumu got the Quaffle again, skimming it off his fingers in a move that barely seemed like he was touching it but somehow landed it in the perfect place for Osamu to hit it through Yaku's blindspot.

There was a moment of silence before the crowd went wild.

That was….it couldn't have been much more than five minutes and the other team was already up by twenty.

On reflex, Kageyama ground his teeth and looked back for Hinata, waiting to see his reaction only, frustration reflected….

Hinata was smiling.

It wasn't a nice smile. It seemed….his eyes were still too intent, a smile that seemed more like a predator seeking out prey, hungry and….

Kageyama's blood thrummed hard in his veins.

Okay. Okay, Kageyama could adjust to whatever was going on weird with Hinata...at least long enough to corner him after the game and demand what in Merlin's name was happening with him.

It was fine.

Kageyama thought he knew that look.

It wasn't….it wasn't the usual look Hinata had in a game, but he thought he recognized something of the taste. It felt like what Kageyama felt in a really good practice, at the end of a game, with that aching tug in his chest that begged him to push him just the little bit more that he needed to win.

Kageyama could do this.

Hinata said he was trusting him.

In the end, it was the same as always. They needed to win.

The Quaffle was thrown back into play and this time Kageyama got it. He thought-what was the wind speed, where were the Beaters, the other Chasers, the angels, how fast could Hinata fly-and there.

He threw it straight, the fastest line he could make, impossible to catch with even a moment of hesitation.

….Hinata had already caught it by the time Kageyama's eyes could focus.

Score.

The stadium stopped. The noise stopped. Not even the whistle.

That was….that had to be nearly sixty meters….with a pinpoint catch.

….They had never made a catch that far.

Kageyama heard his heart beat fast against his eardrums.

And, then, the stadium exploded. Students tumbling to their feet as a roar broke out that Kageyama could hear even five stories in the air.

"THAT WAS-IT-AHHHHHHHH," Noya's voice called out on the mic, "THEY JUST-ASAHI, TAKE OVER!"

"Um, the Ironbellies score," Asahi jumped in.

Kageyama was still staring.

Okay, he thought again.

He knew exactly what Hinata meant.

….This was going to be fun.

ooooooo

Yachi was slightly concerned that her eyes were going to be permanently stuck this wide.

Kageyama and Hinata raced overhead, another blink and miss it pass forty meters, fifty-Yachi had given up counting-and another score.

The audience around her went wild, Yachi's ears ringing with how the stands around her seemed alive with a palpable energy so thick it almost felt like a kind of magic

The Ironbellies were up to seventy to forty, both teams playing as hard and fast as they could but there was nothing like…..it was nothing to…

"They're incredible," Shimizu said and Yachi nodded vigorously.

Hinata and Kageyama were playing like she'd never seen.

It was like there wasn't even two players, like Kageyama was just throwing it from all the way across the field and, a split second later, Hinata was simply finishing the throw into the hoops.

Yachi started to laugh.

"They really are," she whispered. "They're amazing."

ooooooo

Kageyama had never played like this.

It was incredible, dizzying, overwhelming.

It felt like he could do anything, make any plan and-as long as he estimated the field right-Hinata would just be there. Like something that Kageyama didn't even need to stop to consider, didn't need to account for. Like everything was right in Kageyama's palm and Hinata was the sword he could wield to victory.

Kageyama knew, without any doubt, that this was the best game he'd played in his entire life.

He'd been right. The other team was fast and able to adapt better than any team Kageyama had seen before. It was almost scary that they had only started practicing with each other a week ago.

Even one of their Chasers, Atsumu, had been able to pull off something like Kageyama's tosses to Hinata. Not close to the distance and a little bit off in the way it landed against Osamu's palm but still, close enough that Kageyama could feel all he needed was time and he could copy it.

It was a strange feeling.

Part of Kageyama still stood straighter and flew a little bit faster at the thought of someone there to challenge his throws, especially someone with the precision of Atsumu. But, this time, the rest of him could only feel the challenge in a vague, distant kind of way.

It didn't matter how well Atsumu could throw the Quaffle.

He still didn't have Hinata.

Ohira whacked the Bludger off of Aran, causing him to drop the Quaffle. Hyakuzawa just barely caught it, movements still untrained and hesitant but long enough arms to correct for most mistakes.

He threw it to Kageyama and Kageyama got ready….

This angle. This position. This arc.

Atsumu darted in front of him, arm stretched to intercept

There.

Kageyama threw centimetres before Atsumu could block him.

It was an uncompromising throw, no room for mistake or pauses, almost unable to be caught in a way that could be considered ruthless.

Kageyama didn't have to look to feel when Hinata caught it, like an extension of his own hand.

The whistle echoed the score.

Atsumu looked at him, breathing heavily with sweat dripping down his face. He tried to throw up a smirk anyway; but, Kageyama could see the same excitement in the way his eyes were lit up. "Well, what do ya know? Here I thought ya were always a goody two shoe, Tobio?"

Tobio met the challenge. "We're going to win."

Atsumu's smirk widened. "Game's not over yet. Think you and Shorty can still keep up?"

But, that was the thing.

Kageyama knew they could.

The Quaffle was thrown back into play and Osamu caught it, bringing it back down before he was thrown off track by one of Yamagata's Bludgers. He hissed at the hit to his shoulder, throwing it off angle to Aran before Hyakuzawa had a chance to catch it.

The Quaffle hit against Hyakuzawa's side, too fast for him to grab back.

It was falling, up for anyone and just waiting to be grabbed.

"CRAP-AH, MERLIN!" A string of Noya's swears echoed over the speakers. "Okay and the Quaffle goes into freefall at the same time it looks like both Seekers have caught sight of the Snitch. Current score has the Ironbellies up by forty; but, there's still a chance-"

Kageyama tuned the rest out.

Both Atsumu and Kageyama didn't hesitate, racing neck and neck for who could catch the Quaffle before the Seekers could grab the Snitch.

Kageyama felt Atsumu shove against him, trying to knock his broom off course and Kageyama fought to stay steady, giving Atsumu a knock back. He could hear Atsumu's high laugh in his ears and Kageyama could feel it, too, the feeling running up his veins, undefinable, unable to be placed, a sense that was almost like lightning; but….

No, it was like fire.

It was like Kageyama was chasing the heat burned off by the sun.

His fingers skimmed the Bludger a hairbreadth before Atsumu but it was enough, enough to bring the Quaffle in his hands, enough to pull back and….one more time...forever…

This angle. This position. This arc.

And….

ooooooo

….Here.

The Quaffle landed in Hinata's hand without thought, without effort. Just like he knew it would. Just like it always did.

All Hinata had to do was be there.

Kageyama always did the rest.

And Hinata was smiling.

At first, he'd been nervous, probably even scared. But, here the chance was to know. They were playing against one of the fiercest teams he could remember. They were playing the best he could remember.

And, so, Hinata knew.

He could feel the fire burning in his chest, tightly restrained, held back enough that he almost felt numb. But, at the same time, Hinata could breathe easier than he had in months.

Because finally, finally Hinata knew exactly what he needed to do.

He threw the Quaffle not even a second after it had first touched his hand and found himself completely unsurprised when it scored. The Snitch was caught a second after. His team won. Around him, the stadium went wild and it felt so far away.

All Hinata had done was catch it and his team won.

That used to be enough.

Hinata's smile widened and he felt the hunger gnawing against him in a way that was actually reassuring.

Because, Hinata didn't want to be just enough anymore. He wanted to climb walls, high enough that he could burn at the top of them.

And he was so, so ready to actually start.

ooooooo

The teams both landed together, absolutely exhausted but mostly smiling as Miyanoshita gestured for them to shake hands.

Kageyama still felt like he was in the air, his breathing was shaky and his nerves were buzzing like there was so much more he wanted to do.

He wanted….he wanted to talk to Hinata.

He wanted to see Hinata.

Because the game was incredible, the game was perfect, and Kageyama could still feel the sting in his palm like it was connected in a direct line to Hinata's own.

His pulse was thrumming in his ears like the beat of a drum, hard enough that he could barely think.

But, finally, the field started to clear. Even the stands starting to empty on, that same electric energy carrying them through to no doubt the party that some common room was throwing.

Kageyama didn't care about any of that. He just wanted to talk to Hinata.

Atsumu hesitated before he left, titling up his chin and lifting his hand until it pointed straight at Hinata.

Hinata cocked his head, waiting.

"Listen up," Atsumu breathed in like making a hard wrought revelation, "one day, I'm going to throw to you."

Hinata blinked. "Huh?"

Kageyama grit his teeth, something about his mood suddenly plummeting.

Atsumu wasn't finished. "But before that happens, I'm gonna-"

"Hey, Hinata," Kageyama cut him off, grabbing Hinata's arm. "Need to talk to you."

Nevermind, Kageyama didn't like Atsumu at all. In fact, that guy was an asshole.

It was somewhat better to still hear him spluttering and squawking behind them as Hinata willingly let Kageyama pull him off down the field.

"Um," Hinata paused, "wait, was that Atsumu or Osamu?"

"Doesn't matter," Kageyama grumbled. "Probably won't see him again anyway."

"...well, we kinda go to the same school, so, I don't know about that."

Kageyama didn't really want to talk about Atsumu anymore, not when Hinata was back in front of him and Kageyama was starting to feel that same sense of flame licking through his veins.

It didn't even make sense anymore.

The game was over. There wasn't anyone here to play against. Even their brooms were left by the stands. So, why did Kageyama still feel….

Oh.

Kageyama finally got it. The source of the inexplicable energy that had burned its way through the crowds, through their opponents, their team, even Kageyama-especially Kageyama.

The sun was already setting, the last traces fading away behind the mountains.

Kageyama couldn't tell.

Because, right now, Hinata was standing in front of him and it was like the light was everywhere. Bright enough that Kageyama felt like he couldn't breathe right, could feel the burn rising in his cheek and down his neck, and he had to fight against the urge to shield his eyes.

Hinata. Of course, it was Hinata.

The sun was setting around them; but, it felt exactly like watching the sunrise.

"Thank you," Hinata said, meeting his eyes and burning through them.

For a second, Kageyama was terrified that he'd just said all of that out loud before he realized Hinata meant the game, meant the "favor" if it could really be called that.

Kageyama shook his head. "We were perfect."

Hinata laughed. "Nah, you were perfect. Thank you."

Kageyama didn't know what to say to that. He'd never been good with words and felt lucky that this was Hinata so he probably didn't need them.

Hinata was looking away, out at the field. He'd gone silent again, eyes sharp but he was smiling in a way that seemed so sincerely happy that Kageyama couldn't quite work up the same worry he felt earlier.

After all, it seemed like the worry had been pointless anyway. Especially after a game like that.

And, then, Hinata looked back, words firm without any sign of hesitation.

"Kageyama, I can't keep playing like this; I need to stand on my own. But, to do that," Hinata took one last deep breath, "I can't keep playing with you."

ooooooo

A/N:

Hey, guys! Really sorry I'm a couple days late on this one; first weeks of school hit harder than expected. Hope the longer chapter makes up for it. Thank you so much for your patience and, as always, your continued support of this story. I really appreciate it!

Next Chapter: Fighting
Post Date: Sunday-Monday, Sept. 13-14th