This chapter is going to be quite long~ 1.5× times as much as I normally write, so enjoy!

Kiyoko climbed up the last steps before swinging herself onto the platform. It was crudely formed, held together by selfmade ropes of grass and fur of captures animals, and the planks were broken off piece by piece.
She felt pretty high up at this point and weirdly, seemed a little more uncomfortable than when she was on Bokuto's back.

Kiyoko backed a step away, pressing for a second against a wall of dried mud, wood and leaves.

"Bokuto-san...!" she whispered, earning a small chirp in response a few inches further.
"What do you propose we do? If we wake them up, we will have them at our throats instantly...!"
Bokuto paused, then shrugged to himself. His wings did a cute little flap as he used the guiding rope to reach Kiyoko's platform.

"I dunno but I gotta be back by dawn. Can't cross your village in daylight."
Kiyoko fell silent. Finally, her eyes lit up.
"If we can find Hinata, Kageyama or Nishinoya in this village, they might be able to soften the immediate chaos."
She threw a warning glance at Bokuto.
"Look through the nests. But be quiet...! If you see a human like me, let me know."
With that, Kiyoko stepped onto the rope leading to the next platform and held onto the upper rope, shimmying across as graceful as she could.

Bokuto watched her for a moment, concerned she might fall, but quickly convinced by her own balance. He instead flew off of the platform, starting on the one furthest away with his search.

***

"...mhm... 'yama... sleep..."
Hinata let out a quiet whine, tugging a little at Kageyama's arm to get the setter back into a lying position- currently, he was sitting up, staring into the black abyss outside.
"Something's not right." he muttered, glaring at the entrance.
"I... think I heard something."
" 's probably 'ne of the 'dults... sleep..."
Kageyama pulled free from Hinata's arms and stood up, shaking the dried grass and a few of Hinata's feathers off of himself, before carefully stepping towards the entrance. Grabbing one of the sharp stones he used to cut plants with, he quietly peeked around the corner.

"...Hinata there's someone."
The lad threw a glance at his parents, then sighed and sat up.
"I am telling you baka it's one of the adults."
Slowly, a large shadow began to spread over Kageyama, growing taller. Said one swallowed.
"Hinata...!" he whispered, "This is not one of the adults...!!!"

The shadow was looming over Kageyama at this point, before finally, the shadow began to speak- strong hands falling onto Kageyama's shoulders.
"Ha! Human! Gotcha! Kiyoko I win!"
Kageyama flinched, staring pricelessly into the stinging eyes and goofy grin of a boy.
"L-let go of me please."
"Ah! My bad!" He let go. "Kiyoookoooo!! Hurry up!"
"SHHHH!!!!" came from across the platform and finally, Hinata got up to stand next to Kageyama, more than surprised.

"...you're not with us." Hinata blurted out, and as soon as Bokuto laid eyes on him, he gasped.
"You're real! You're here! We have neighbors!! I'm Bokuto!!!"
He grabbed Hinata at his hands and twirled him around, earning a startled but excited chirp.
"Shouyou what's the ruckus...?!" Hinata's father called from inside the nest and Kiyoko facepalmed. They were done for.
"We got visitors." Kageyama calmly threw back, and rustling came from the nest as the three birds moved to get up.
"Visitors...? What are you talking about Tobio, it's the middle of the-"

Hinata's father cut himself off as he saw the giant grey wings, and the human on his platform.

That about a good night's sleep.

***

Kiyoko looked somewhat intimidated, making herself as small as possible sitting crosslegged next to Kageyama on the community platform, surrounded by the elders of this village.
"Another human." one of them sighed, eying Kiyoko up from head to toe.
"That is indeed news," another one of the elders mused, eying Bokuto instead. "I was not aware of a tribe living so close nearby."

"Aye. The human village parts our territories, that's why we never saw one another." Bokuto was grinning from ear to ear, his feathers fluffed up excitedly.
"And so you flew the entire way with this stranger to find our tribe."
"Yup! Kiyoko's been a real help! Thanks Kiyoko!!"

The girl blushed, hiding her face a little.
"And how come you knew where to find us...?" The voice was sharp and serious, and Kiyoko could feel herself trembling a little.
"I-..."
She couldn't exactly spill the beans on Hinata and Kageyama, could she? That they had been mingling with the humans this entire time?
"Tobio, you seem to know this human. Enlighten us."
Tensing as well, the setter clenched his fists and refused to look up, keeping silent. Finally, Hinata took a deep breath, deciding to take the hit.

"We've... been playing with the human village's young. Every day. We're good friends. Kiyoko-san is... the manager of their sports club. Tobio used to be part of them, before... Well..." Hinata gestured wildly in the air, "...all this."

The group fell silent. All eyes were staring holes into Hinata, Kageyama and Kiyoko. Bokuto chose this as his moment to shine.
"Ay but the humans' young are nice! I mistook their village for yours on a scout, and they got a hold of me. Kiyoko's snuck me outta there and freed me."

"To be clear."

The elders were clearly enraged, it was a calm but silent fury that spread amongst them.

"Not only did you disregard our traditions..."

"Not only did you endanger our village by seeking the humans..."

"Not only did you show the humans where we are..."

"You have been putting yourself and your entire flock at risk of being killed and sacrificed."

"Are we clear about this? Did we miss anything?"

Nishinoya whinced a little in the background, before quietly piping up. If Hinata and Kageyama are going to be murdered by the village, he might as well confess too.
"I-I... There is a reason I have no been accepting proposals of the flock's women... I've been courting a human since a while as well..."

They all flashed a glance at Nishinoya. Natsu, yawning a little, began bouncing on her mother's lap.
"I've been playing with Tsuki-onii-san! He's a really nice human! He gives me food and candy and he shows me the human village every time!"

"WHAT?!"

Hinata and Kageyama gulped. Now there was nothing holding back the flock's fury. They all squeezed their eyes shut, waiting for the screaming to begin. For the elders to shout at them, to ban them from their village, to chastize their disregard for their rules.

Silence.

"...how long have you all be doing this?"

Nishinoya carefully piped up again.
"I've... been courting Asahi-san since about three years. I've been talking to him since four moons I think...?"
"Asahi-san had the idea of playing volleyball with the group! Was around two moons ago since we started playing!" Hinata was slowly gaining a little confidence at this point, regarding the lack of reaction.
"They're all really nice! And we exchange snacks when we play!"
"I met Tsuki-onii-san three moons ago for the first time!!" Natsu chirped.

"I'm sorry." Kageyama finally said. He bent over, bowing down with his forehead on the ground.
"You took me in as your own and I have not been following your guidance as well as I should have. I... I will accept whatever punishment you see fit. I will tell Asahi-san that we will not be meeting again with the volleyball c-club..."
Kageyama was choking up a little at this point. He was scared. Oh so scared of being banned by this village, as well.

Hinata's mother slowly moved her wing around Kageyama, smiling halfheartedly. She could sense the terror and trauma within him just well.

"That... won't be necessary." one of the elders finally said.
"There is no need for punishment. If this has been going on for so long... and going on well... Who are we to deny progression and acceptance. It is in our tradition, to accept nature and its turns and twists. If the gods wish us to mingle with the humans, it shall be so."
"I agree. If this is the will of our gods, then we will oblige and form a bond with the human race."

Baffled eyes fixated on the elders. Nobody would have believed it was this easy. Nobody would have ever believed they could earn the elders' approval. Kiyoko quietly cleared her throat.
"I-I... I-I believe the new generation of humanity will accept winged family very well. The issue is our... our own elders. They are too far pressed in spirits and deities, they see you as death bringers and omens of misfortune, and seek to falsely protect their village by destroying said omens."

"I see."

Another few seconds of silence.
"Very well. You are allowed to interact with humanity's offspring. But take care not to be seen by their elders. We will... discuss a proper way to approach a future bond with humanity."