≪ Chapter 23 ≫

No One's POV

● • ● ☁︎ ● • ●

"Sugawara-kun," a voice called out, making the silver-haired setter perk up in response.

"Shimizu! What do you need?" Sugawara smiled warmly, attending to the female in front of him.

"I am sorry to bother you, but can I talk with you for a short while? I need to ask you something." The beautiful Kiyoko looked away bashfully.

"We'll see you outside. Go talk with her," Hikari grinned assuringly, "we'll save you a spot."

"Yeah, see you!" Daichi waved, and the two were off.

● • ● ☁︎ ● • ●

The seven students were all seated at a table outside the campus building, enjoying the fresh air.

They were all chatting happily together, eating some food that they grabbed from nearby student stalls. The weather was quite nice but chilly indeed.

It was just suddenly that Hikari felt a tap on her back.

Swiftly turning around, she was shocked to see a familiar face, but nevertheless, she was pretty happy to do so.

"Teru-kun!" Hikari exclaimed, standing up and throwing her arms around the tall guy.

"Nii-chan, I told you not to visit today," Tsukishima muttered irritatedly, "why are you here?"

"Nii-chan?" Ezakiya echoed.

The supposed 'nii-chan', who was hugging the female who wouldn't really let go, answered, "Tsukishima Akiteru's the name. I'm here because Ayu-chan told me that I had to see Kei's outfit. And check on him. How're you feeling, little bro?"

"Gomen, Kei~! It's been a while since I've met with Teru-kun. It was the perfect chance!" Hikari chuckled, an arm still around Akiteru. "We should all go around together!"

The younger Tsukishima grumbled, picking up his lunch. "Whatever, you guys go on without me, then."

"Will I be that much of a bother?" Akiteru asked sadly.

"Maybe you will be," Tsukishima answered, standing up.

"Kei, come on," Hikari pleaded, "please?"

"No."

At this point, Akiteru and Hikari were shaking the taller (but nevertheless, younger) blonde's shoulders, begging him.

"Kei, it's my last year, the last year I'll ever get to celebrate a culture fest in high school with you, Tadashi, Teru-kun, and everyone else! Please have at least a little compassion!" Hikari told him, bowing.

"Do it for Ayu-chan, Kei. For Ayu-chan," Akiteru added, bowing as well.

The first-year looked at the two in amusement. "You guys have no sense of inner pride. You're both at my knees."

Hikari straightened her posture. "It's not that I have no pride. Can I not wish to spend the culture fest together?"

"We should go as a group," Ishinomori stated, Ezakiya nodding beside him.

"I believe so, too! The more is truly the merrier!" Daichi agreed.

"Tsukki, I'm going to go with them, so you'll be alone if you head back," Yamaguchi notified him.

Sugawara was only silent, nodding his head whilst smiling.

Tsukishima clicked his tongue. "Fine, whatever, can we just go already? Tch, you are so annoying."

Everyone cheered, heading off.

● • ● ☁︎ ● • ●

Hikari and Ezakiya were washing their hands in the ladies' room, the sunlight subtly creeping in through the tiny windows.

On their way out, Ezakiya tapped her friend lightly, making her spin around a little. "Hey, who're you going to dance with?"

"Hmm?" Hikari hummed, taking in the question after a few seconds. "Oh. I'm not going."

"What aren't you going to, Ayu-chan?" Yamaguchi perked up from in front of them, raising the curiosity of the group of friends.

"Oh, uh, Mikocchi asked me who I'm going with to the dance. You know. The one around the huge bonfire. I just told her I'm not going. I... kind of have some work to do. Study for tests, finish up a couple of drawings," Hikari explained, hands fidgeting a little as she gave off a small grin, breathing out a huff of air. "Besides, I wouldn't really have anything to do."

Tsukishima snickered. "Ayu-chan's just embarrassed to say nobody asked her. Isn't that right, you lame-o?"

She scoffed. "It's not like you have anyone to go with either, Kei."

"Yachi," Yamaguchi grinned teasingly, poking his friend. "He asked Yachi. And guess what she said~?"

"No way, Kei's actually taking part in this?" Akiteru gasped, shedding a tear. "I am so proud."

"Yamaguchi, urusai," the blonde hissed, ears turning pink. "It's not a big deal. I can get girls to fall for me. Tch, and she asked me."

"What a liar~!" Yamaguchi whispered, then announced, "I'm one of the official photographers, so I'll be sure to send you some nice pictures, Ayu-chan, if you decide not to go. Although, you should go! I'm pretty surprised you're not going to take pictures to spite people later on like you usually do."

The third-year brunette chuckled a bit. "I'm relying on you, Tadashi. Take good one-"

Ezakiya placed her hands on her friend's shoulders, eyes wide. "Ayumu, what are you saying?"

"Mikocchi, you don't have to be so upset, I-"

"You are not going to trade in studying or whatever for this. You would never miss a second of this whole event, not even if you were feeling sick! And you're telling me that you're missing this because no one asked you?"

She shrugged. "Relax, I'm not going because no one asked me, I just- I just don't feel like it. Y'alls can just, I don't know, video chat."

"What's going on, Ayu-chan? You haven't missed any post-culture-fest nights since elementary school," Akiteru cut in, genuinely worried.

"Guys," Hikari smiled, attempting to assure her friends, "stop it. There's really no need to-"

"Why?" Tsukishima questioned, eyeing her carefully.

"Look, I don't know. Let's just go, and stop worrying. I'm fine, guys."

● • ● ☁︎ ● • ●

There was still a generous amount of time left for the group to enjoy the culture festival, as their shifts had been over anyway.

Laughing, smiling, and talking, the small group walked along the Karasuno halls, trying out different activities in different rooms.

There were many fun things to do such as watching student-managed shows and performances, games, and most importantly, trying out the different foods of the stalls.

The eight were enjoying themselves very much, even if a certain someone acted like he didn't. They were having a grand time, not regretting hanging out with one another.

They engaged in a little game of truth or dare while walking around, just to make the time a little more interesting. So far, there were already a number of hilarious things that had happened and that had been discovered.

Yamaguchi was dared to try some incredibly spicy ramen, Ishinomori was asked to sing along to a band performance, and it was discovered that Daichi liked to watch dramas.

They were walking along the second-year halls, and it wasn't soon until the group stopped at a room that caught Ezakiya's eyes.

"Look, it's a photo booth!" she pointed out, excitedly hopping over to the room. "We should all have a photo together."

Tsukishima unexcitedly looked away. "I'll pass."

Hikari rolled her eyes. "You aren't going to pass."

The blonde looked pissed. "Who're you to tell me what to do? Maybe you hang out with Kageyama too much, his kingly attitude is getting to you."

"I don't even see him that much. You are so rotten, you killjoy, blonde, skyscraper. Don't take it out on people that aren't even here," she huffed.

The blonde megane folded his arms. "Tch, so forceful. Let's just go."

Hikari sighed. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

"Well, maybe I'm fine with it now," he whispered quietly in her ear, making sure no one heard him.

She whispered back, a laughing tone in her voice. "You let your pride down that easily? I'm honestly shocked."

"Do you want your picture or not?" Tsukishima hissed.

"Hey, it's our turn. Kei, you coming?" Akiteru called out, pointing to the booth.

Hikari pulled the blonde first-year along. "I'm going to be forceful, he is coming."

Mouthing a small 'thank you' to her, he followed, heading into the photo booth with the others.

'For what?' she mouthed back, grabbing a pair of comical shades.

'For not revealing my senseless pride to them.'

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After heading into the booth and taking pictures, the group headed to the final floor, which was the third-years'.

Everyone was engaged in excited chatter, but Hikari chose to stay behind everyone, following silently.

She was quite exhausted. The day's activities had tired the girl, and although she had the opportunity to join in, she decided that it would be better to regain a bit of her stamina for the short while.

Sugawara noticed this and decided to fall back a little, walking at her pace.

"You're surprisingly silent," he commented.

"Oh, so you care?" she shot back sarcastically.

"C'mon. You're not this quiet, what's up?" he asked politely, turning to her.

"Exhausted, is all. You can go catch up with them, I'm just catching my breath, alright?"

"Tired could be one reason amongst many. You sure you're just tired?"

"Mmm, yeah."

'...What is this? It feels quite... different? Something feels missing,' she thought, shifting her gaze to her walking feet.

'Ah, something's up with her. She's looking at the floor again,' he thought, stopping. "Hey. Are you really alright? You're... noiseless. And, you're not going tonight. Why? I think it's only fair you tell us; everyone's worried about you, they just don't want to push too many buttons."

"To be honest," she began, "I don't know. I just... there's this pit in my stomach and it wants me to just stay home. Do you know what an ambivert is?"

"Yeah, middle of an introvert and an extrovert."

"Most people think I'm purely an extrovert," she explained, "but... I'm not. Some days, I really like to go out and hang. Other days, I have an extreme desire to just lie down and watch some anime or something. It's something that's really up and down. Today is one of those days I kind of just wanna sleep after heading home. But, I'm not even sure my ambivert-ful feelings are why I'm not going. On the contrary, I really wanna go, but I don't. It's complicated. I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't understand."

He looked at her. "If it helps, I didn't plan on going either."

"But?"

"But... maybe I want to now. With you. What I'm trying to get at is..."

"Is?"

He looked away hastily, red-faced, and apparently embarrassed. "D-Do you wanna... maybe... go with me? We don't have to hang around people if you don't want to. We can just... sit down. Watch the stars. Eat something. Sing a song. You brought your ukulele, didn't you?"

"Aren't you going with Kiyoko or something? She asked you, didn't she?"

He sighed. "I... I said no?"

"Are you okay?"

"I- no. Maybe. A little. Actually, not at all. Goodness knows what you're doing to me, Ayumu," he blurted out, "I-I mean, it's taking me a lot to be concerned about you, you know! It really is!"

Hikari stared at him like he was crazy. Bold, even. To ask her in the hallways, of all places?

And Sugawara looked at her looking at him. His face was redder than a cherry.

But they both burst into laughter.

They both realized it then, that it was out-of-character for them to be like this, that they were being incredibly strange, that they were, perhaps, being somewhat too comfortable.

In a few months, what had happened?

Why did he say what he had just said? Why did he do it so casually? How did he manage to say it like it was nothing?

Why did she tell him all the things she had so naturally? To him, of all people?

Where did the wall go?

They looked at each other shyly, smiles complimenting the bashful tints on their cheeks.

"It's liberating, you know," Sugawara spoke first, breaking the ice. "You know, not having a barrier. Everything feels a little lighter."

"Mmm, yeah. And you know," she began, "I think I just might go."

"You think?"

"Don't be pretentious, and get over yourself. Being over-confident leads to loss, mind you," she smirked, folding her arms. "Remember, I'll never forget that one time you were so sure you'd beat me but oh, you were so wrong."

They continued walking.

"Oh, I hate you," he chuckled.

"Really? That's not what you said a few minutes ago, though it's none of my business."

Sugawara decided that two could play at that game. He grinned. "You're right, that isn't what I said a few minutes ago. Now, excuse me while I take this call."

● • ● ☁︎ ● • ●

It was time. Students gathered around a pile of logs in the center of the running track.

Throughout the crowd, an excited chatter was heard. Even a certain blonde was enjoying himself.

The mousse-haired third year was subtly excited, wearing a giddy smile on her face. She would not admit that she was happy to have gone and most of all, spend time with a friend.

"Hika-chan! You're here!" Ezakiya exclaimed, hugging Hikari tightly. Ishinomori stood by watching, smiling while he pushed his glasses up.

Hikari hugged her best friend back. "Yeah, I sure am."

"What made you come? And where's your date?" Ezakiya questioned.

"The reason I'm here is the same person as the, uh... the person who's with me here," she explained, refusing to call it a 'date' or whatever. It wasn't like it was, anyway. It was an event that he and she were attending.

"Where's Sugawara? We were looking for him," Ezakiya smirked, her plan taking action.

Hikari glanced at her watch. "Wakaranai. Etto, he was supposed to meet me here, but it's been like ten minutes."

"Oh so I was right," Ezakiya smirked, "Sugawara is your date."

Hikari blushed profusely. "Urusai. It's not a date. He just... said that he'd accompany me to make me go."

Ezakiya giggled, wrapping an arm around her friend. "I know, but you said yes."

"Would you rather I stayed home?" she hissed, folding her arms.

"Alright, alright, we'll leave you to your date. Have fun!" Ezakiya grinned.

"And you, on yours. Nice job, Prez, taking Mikocchi out on a date," Hikari waved, sticking out her tongue.

"It's not a date!" Ezakiya yelled.

"That's not what Prez said when he asked you, but whatever floats your boat!" Hikari shouted back, taking yet another worried glance at her watch.

● • ● ☁︎ ● • ●

It had been thirty whole minutes. And not a single silver-haired setter showed up. Hikari was getting impatient.

She whipped out her phone and irritatedly sent a couple of text messages to Sugawara, none of which were replied to.

"That jerk. If he doesn't pick up, I'm going to kill him," she thought, disappointment rushing through her veins as she held her phone to her ear.

Nothing.

She shut her phone off, hastily shoving it in her pocket, deciding not to wait any longer. Grabbing her bag from beside her, she stood up and started to walk.

'Well, he was a no-show. I... probably shouldn't be angry nor disappointed. I was going to stay home anyway. Oh, maybe Sawamura saw him.'

Hikari chose to look for the captain, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. 

Daichi felt a tap on his shoulder before he turned around, shocked to see who was standing in front of him. "Hikari-san?"

"Sawamura-san, I uh, am looking for Sugawara," she mumbled, looking at the short-haired girl beside him. 

"Ah, he's probably with Kiyoko. I believe they're going together?" the girl piped up, grinning. "Hikari Ayumu, right? I'm Michimiya Yui. You can find Kiyoko over there at the center, near the bonfire." 

"Oh, um, hajimemashite. I'll get going now, though. Jaa," Hikari bowed, then headed for the center. 

'Didn't he say no to Kiyoko?' she wondered, a pang of emotion knocking in her heart. 'Wouldn't be surprised if he left me for her.'

It wasn't long until she found the third-year she was looking for. After all, a certain second-year duo was yelling what seemed to be a serenade.

"And I'd love you 'till- oh! Hikari-senpai! Quick, quick, pick up that guitar of yours and start strumming a tune!" Nishinoya exclaimed.

There was no silver-haired setter in sight. "Gomen, Nishinoya! I actually have to be somewhere, but I promise I'll play you a song next time I see you guys in the court!" she smiled. "And for the record, this is a ukulele."

"Hear that, Ryuu? I get a song from Hikari-senpai!"

"No fair, you sly beast!"

She forced a grin and proceeded to turn away. Alone. 

Her legs were alternating between steps very quickly, as she did not want to be alone any second longer. Her breath hitched a little, and her eyes seemed dead.

Maybe he got sick. Or maybe something came up, she thought, but he'd tell me, wouldn't he? Isn't he known for his chivalry or something?

The mousse-haired megane brushed past crowds of people to get to the benches. Maybe if she waited a little more, he'd arrive. 

● • ● ☁︎ ● • ●

The lampposts and streetlights lit up the roads colorfully, and the breeze was cold. Hikari's fingers shivered, and she mentally slapped herself for not bringing a scarf. Her shoes tapped against the concrete, and her eyes wouldn't gaze anywhere but forward. 

Trying not to feel disappointed, she walked towards her homestead, face flushed. 

She knew she'd be alone for the rest of the evening.

It didn't take her much time to get to the train station. She'd prefer walking over riding the train when going home and vice-versa, but today, she just wanted to wrap herself into a burrito with the help of her blankets.

She tapped her wallet on the ticket gate, quickly heading to her destined track. The train arrived in no less than five minutes, and she was fortunate enough to catch a not-so-empty car.

The ride to her stop was barely even lengthy; she was grateful for that. She headed out, fast walking her way out of there. 

The station was relatively near her home. Just a straight, a right, a left, and then another left would bring her to her beloved house, and in her beloved house was her beloved bed. She turned a corner. 

Her mind was full of thoughts, and it exhausted her. She knew she needed sleep. And a nice cup of matcha latte. 

Finally, she could see her house. She had never dashed so fast in her life. 

The sound of the gate latch was heard from a couple of feet away before the gate itself could be heard colliding with the wall. Hikari closed it again. 

With a breath of relief, she thrust open the door, yelling a "Tadaima!" as she kicked off her shoes. 

She smiled, the warmth of her home embracing her every step of the way. This is what made her home so special to her. The way it comforted her. 

As she approached the living room, she could laughter. And chitchat. 

"Konbanwa-" she greeted, only to notice not one, but two familiar faces staring back at her, both equally as shocked as she was. 

"What are you doing here, nee-chan... and Sugawara?"

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a/n: 

hEY WHAT'S UP HELLO

'WAKARANAI' means 'I don't know,' in jaPanese if y'alls didn't know

chachacha 3000+ words going strong

ack i fINALLY FINISHED IT 

FINALLY 

I'm reaLLY sorRY IT TOOK SUPER LONG 

I was pretty busy with life, if my tons of 'im sorry' updates weren't enough for y'alls to see that- but yOOO !! an upDATE !!

I smile to myself as I write this chapter, for it has been awfully fun to do. Perhaps you'll find out why soon.

<<33 But as I returned from the war, I checked my profile only to find out that

1k

followers

what

who

wh

w

??????

????????????????????????????????

confUSED

PRETTY CONFUSED

HOW ON CACTUS PLANTS DID THAT haPPEN????

what the teacups i am shOCKED??? i am in pure shocKKK???

im crying actually

i'll pro'lly do a special thing like have an art giveaway or

even possibly an update spam with not just writing but drawing (and videos aka animatics honhonhon)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! i really would not have done it without you lovely folks. and special thanks to my friends for their eXTRA EXTRA support !! you know who you are <<33

//sends a hug

ouo i rlly hope y'all can buckle up !! bc it !! will!! be!! MORE joURNEY-fuL as we !! head!! on!! 

in not just account-wise but story-wise, too

hmhmhm

HMHMHMHMHM

//finger-guns to u

catch'a later, kids !!

jaa~

- cerys