Chapter Text
In the Kageyama household, everything was quiet. Calm even.
That was until a small bundle of black locks came rushing past with a messenger bag in hand, another laced between the buttons of a school shirt.
“Tobio…” The little girl looked up from her buttons to the calm voice of her mother.
“Kaa-san!”
With a loving smile, Kageyama Ahri beckoned her daughter towards her. Dropping her school bag by the door, the younger then scuttled closer to her mother, getting a whiff of coffee she had been drinking, returning the smile with a bright-eyed grin.
“You need to calm down Tobi,” her mother softly reprimanded her as lithe fingers undid the mess of a shirt her daughter had made.
“Sorry, Kaa-san” She apologised, “but I get to go to big school today!”
“Oh, that was today?” a lower voice joined the conversation.
Ahri looked up from her daughter’s shirt with a gleeful glance, Tobio quickly whipping around to catch sight of her father entering the room with a tray of food.
“Tou-san! I told you yesterday!” Tobio pouted.
“Sorry, sorry. I guess I’m getting old.” Kageyama Dieta sighed dramatically.
“Yeah, Tou-san is an old man.” Tobio innocently agreed, nodding her head making the short, black locks of her hair dance along her brows.
Ahri hid a laugh with the back of her hand as she watched her husband blanch back.
“Hey, I’m not that old!” He denied.
“Nah…” Another familiar voice jumped into the conversation. Tobio turned her attention to the stairway where her older brother was lazily walking down from. “I’d say you’re pretty old. I can see the grey hairs from here~”
Dieta had just finished setting the table when he was verbally attacked by his eldest child.
“Oi, watch it, young man.”
Kageyama Kuza laughed as he took his place on the couch, ruffling his little sister’s short hair as he passed.
“Oh? Bi-bi looks a little different today…” he teased, “I wonder why?”
“I’m going to big school today!” She responded with an excited fist pump which narrowly missed her mother’s face.
“Tobio, careful.”
“Gomen…”
Moving her skilful fingers through the short locks of her daughter’s hair. Ahri began to tame back the mess it had become after the hair ruffle from Kuza. She smiled as she listened quietly at the conversation her kids where having. Kuza was dramatically retelling Tobio about his own first year of middle school which wasn’t too long ago.
Kuza, despite just turning 18, was getting ready to head to University abroad. His musical talent and genius was famed world-wide and had easily caught the eye of a top University who gave him an option to study at their institute, skipping the initial year and going straight into his second year. Jumping at the chance to fast track his dreams to become a successful artist, Kuza agreed immediately and was now in the long and complex process of paperwork. The whole situation was long and gruelling, he completed his high school studies last year in his second year and now had the rest of the year to sort everything out. Oh well, at least he could sleep all day, right?
The story he was telling his sister spiralled into a crazy tale about his entrance exam (which didn’t exist as junior high was compulsory) and having to wrestle a giant gummy-bear to which Tobio whole-heartedly swallowed up. Intently listening to her big brother’s spiel of nonsense.
With a twinkling laugh, Ahri bopped her son’s head. “Now, Kuza. Don’t go scaring your little sister like that.”
“Hai~”
Shaking her head, Ahri shifted both herself and Tobio to the table where a plethora of breakfast foods where found in front of them.
“Tobio?” Her husband spoke up, returning from the kitchen with a separate tray of drinks. “Why are you wearing the boy’s uniform?”
Ahri glanced at her daughter’s attire. She was a good girl, and quite independent. Not needing help to get ready for school anymore which she was quite thankful for considering the workload both herself and her husband had. Dressed in tapered black trousers, a button-up shirt and a sleeveless jumper, Tobio certainly didn’t look like a typical middle-school girl. Her short black hair also adding to that fact.
“Because I want to.” Came the simple reply.
“But-”
“Honestly,” Kuza sighed from his slouched position on the couch, “keep up with the times, old man. People wear whatever they want. And, I’ll have you know I look amazing in a crop-top!” Flipping his non-existent long hair, he proceeded to lean over to ruffle Tobio’s hair yet again.
“I think Bi-bi looks super cu-OW!” Kuza rubbed his sore hand to try to soothe the sting from the slap his mother gave him, pouting as he did so. Ahri looked at Kuza sternly she raked her fingers through her daughter’s hair yet again, slightly offended at how her own son could even attempt to sabotage her hard work.
“You really are old Tou-san~” Kuza taunted with a grin, only to be met with a pillow from the side-chair. Thus, starting a pillow fight between father and son.
Ahri sighed as her boys fought, yelling movie quotes dramatically much to Tobio’s amusement. Bringing a plate closer, she began to pile food onto it then placed it in front of her daughter. Catching her daughter’s attention, she gave a motion towards the plate she had placed in front of her.
“Itadakimasu!” They said in unison, then began to tuck into their food as the feathery battle and muffled war cries continued on in the background.
-
As the bell rang through the halls of the school, tired sighs of relief echoed loudly as students slumped and stretched in their seats. The first day of school was… Normal? Up until now anyway.
Just this morning before homeroom, there was a large spectacle on the school grounds about joining clubs and activities. Booths, posters and people were scattered in the school courtyard as the new first years poured in. Each handing in their application forms to their desired club before heading off to their designated homeroom class, only to start with the basic introductions for each lesson.
The first years were drained from the information overload, happy for the bell that signified lunchtime. Of course, that was not the only thing they were happy for. It was just previously mentioned by their homeroom teacher that after lunch, they would go to their decided clubs for extended club activities to get them welcomed and settled, only for today.
The first years chattered happily with one another about their chosen clubs. Some gathered into groups in the class as they pulled out their home-packed food, others wandering out to get some lunch from the cafeteria.
Seated in the back of the class was a young student with short-cut hair and inky blue eyes. Taking out her packed lunch her mother had made, Kageyama opened up the bento box to see a meat bun, vegetables, rice and some snacks. She couldn’t help but softly smile.
As she quietly munched on her food, she didn’t notice two boys slowly approach her.
“Hey!” Kageyama slightly jumped in her seat as a tall boy slid into the seat in front of her, facing her desk. Beside him stood a slightly tired looking boy who gave a simple greeting paired with a nod.
“H-hi…” She slightly cowered into her seat as the sudden attention pulled her into shock.
“My name’s Kindaichi!” said the tall boy, his spiky hair moving with him as he flashed a bright smile, “This is Kunimi, we saw you at the volleyball stand this morning and then we found you in our class!”
Kageyama had no idea how to respond. The energy from this boy was really something, it definitely seemed to make up for the lack of energy the other boy seemed to have.
“My name’s Kageyama, uh, yeah…” She trailed off at the end, not knowing what else to say.
“Are you joining the volleyball club?” Kunimi asked from beside Kindaichi, a ball of onigiri in hand.
At the mention of volleyball, Kageyama immediately lit up. “Oh, um yeah! I’m joining, I heard the team is really strong!”
Kindaichi smiled and gave a confident fist pump. “Yeah! Apparently, there is this super strong 3rd year, he plays setter. And they have a really cool ace too!”
The three of them continued to talk through lunch. Kageyama opening up more, happy to be talking about something she loves, Kunimi eating quietly beside her as he had pulled up a seat and Kindaichi stuck between chewing and asking more questions about Kageyama (Kunimi had scolded him for that, saying it was gross as flecks of rice flew from his mouth when asking about her playing position.)
The conversation flowed seamlessly between the three first years, even touching on subjects other than volleyball such as food, everything always circled back around to the sport though. Just before lunch ended, Kageyama had finished her bento, shared out her snacks with the two boys and had quickly packed away. Kunimi had finished his onigiri while Kindaichi finished his grilled corn.
Her first impressions of the boys when they first walked over was that they were pretty tall considering their age. Especially Kindaichi, but Kageyama firmly believes that it was the copious amount of hair product that formed that fact. Kunimi was much more reserved, but she could tell that his mind was whirling at every little thing happening, even though his tired eyes tried to mask that. They were fun, she concluded. She liked them.
It was almost surprising how well they had gotten to know each other. Kindaichi and Kunimi having known each other from their elementary school, only briefly noticed Kageyama by spotting her blue eyes in the classroom and finding them to be the same ones at the volleyball stand they saw this very morning. Kindaichi wanting to make more friends, (definitely not because his mom is forcing him to) he dragged Kunimi along and started a conversation.
They moved to the gym together as the bell rang, weaving between the masses of students moving through the hallway as they headed to their club activities. Kageyama and Kunimi walking behind Kindaichi as he seemed to stick out like a sore thumb thanks to his height. Though this proved to be an ineffective plan as they found themselves lost in the large middle school. Apparently, Kindaichi had no idea where he was going and kind of just wandered.
Kunimi then took lead as he essentially dragged the two through the school, following the signs put up to specifically help the new first years around. Ignoring the grumbles of Kindaichi who insisted that they weren’t there before.
Finally making it to the volleyball gym they stepped inside to meet a tall man with a welcoming expression on his face.
The coach. They all thought simultaneously.
“First years! Gather around.” He called.
The first years, still dressed in their uniforms all crowded the tall man, some still with nervousness others slightly more fidgety.
“Go get changed in the changing rooms, it’s just around the corner on your left. Then, come back to me and I can give you a few words before introductions.”
“Hai!” A chorus of childish voices replied, and they all turned to get changed.
It was only then when Kageyama realised her sports clothes were in her school bag which she left in the classroom. Telling Kunimi and Kindaichi to go on ahead, she told the coach her issue who then replied with a soft voice.
“Ah, it’s okay. Just go back and grab it. Get changed and meet the rest of us here. It shouldn’t take too long.”
She dashed through the school, following the route she took with the other two boys until she made it back to their classroom. Rushing over to her seat at the opposite end of the room, she grabbed her bag and rushed back down to the gym, hurrying into the changing room.
Panting as she opened the door, she realised that no-one was in there.
Finding a spot to place her belongings, she quickly got dressed in the standard school sports uniform and jogged over to the main gym, meeting up with the rest of her fellow first years.
“Welcome to the Kitagawa Daiichi volleyball club.” Opened the coach with a warm tone. “As you know, we have a very strong volleyball team here, so we expect great things from you guys! We will help you improve both your skills and knowledge within the sport with the aim of winning the next tournaments you will have together.”
The coach was straight to the point, something Kageyama was very happy with. She just wanted to play. After being introduced to the sport by her father in her 2nd year of elementary school, she joined the junior lessons at the gym near their house and even trained with her father when he had the spare time. Her interest in volleyball only grew from there, Kuza always teasing her as she bounced in excitement when the name of the sport was so much as mentioned.
To join a team was one of her dreams. To achieve greater things in volleyball, to be the best of the best. That was what she was striving for.
“Okay, first years line up. I will have the second and third years come over and you can introduce yourselves. Then the captain and vice-captain will have a few words.”
As they stood in line, they watched as their tall upperclassmen filtered into view. They all looked very tall and very strong.
As they stood in-line, the first years began to introduce themselves, voices shaky as they spoke in front of the older players in front of them. At the end of the line, Kageyama fiddled with her shirt’s ends, that was until Kunimi’s tired voice broke her out of her trance.
“Ah! My name is Kageyama Tobio. I’m from Akiyama Elementary school and I’ve been playing volleyball since the 2nd grade. Uh, nice to meet you!”
-
Kitagawa Daiichi’s famed captain seemed to have an unsettling fascination towards the new first years. Specifically, a raven-haired, blue-eyed boy with a constant grin glued to their face as they worked through the drills.
“Hey, Iwa-chan.” Oikawa Tooru nudged his best friend.
“What is it?” Came the reply, mimicking a snappy grunt.
“Don’t you think our new kohais are so cute!” He gave a large grin to his vice-captain who gave an incredulous look in return.
“You’re thinking something weird again.”
Reeling back at the awful accusation his best friend had just made, Oikawa tilted his head up in a childish manner. Continuing to watch the small boy pass the ball cleanly to his fellow peers and completing the drill, Oikawa decided to act.
Strutting up to the little first-year after the coach called for a break, Oikawa draped his larger frame over the smaller one. What did he say his name was again? Oh yeah-
“Tobio-chan~”
Striking blue eyes widened as Kageyama felt the weight of her captain on her back.
“Oikawa-senpai!”
The rest of the practice went exactly like that. Oikawa shifting up to the little first year, a mischievous grin on his face as he hounded her with questions.
Iwaizumi could only watch with a sigh. Giving up on his best friend’s attitude he turned his attention to the other first years and began to run them through their next drill, all because their captain seemed to forget the existence of every other person in the gym. Glancing back at the two, Kageyama gushing at the amount of attention her senpai was giving her, Iwaizumi decided to check on the first year after the club, just to make sure his idiot friend hadn’t caused any psychological damage.
With another sigh – he’s lost count – Kitagawa Daiichi’s vice-captain continued with his little speech to the remaining first years, ignoring the flamboyant gloating of his best friend behind him.