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There was a brief round of applause as Kageyama stepped down from the podium. In the past six years Karasuno gym had become a monument of sorts due to the increasing popularity in Kageyama’s book. People would gather to mourn lost loved ones and reunite with family.
Everything felt so nostalgic, but also melancholy. As if something was missing, a piece of his heart maybe.
“Tobio are you okay?” Kenma placed a hand on his back and Kageyama sighed quietly.
“It’s strange, being back here.”
“Yeah.” Kenma smiled, although the pain was evident in his facial expressions. Six long years had passed, a reunion had almost become a distant hope, but they hadn’t completely given up and they probably never would.
Some days he would lay awake remembering the day he was able to leave Awa, it was a bittersweet day. Everyone had anticipated the return of Kuroo’s team to happen within a few months maximum, but they never came back, not to Awa at least.
Kageyama would sometimes spend hours in libraries looking through missing persons files or through books and computers for any glimmer of hope, but there was none. No records of Shoyou Hinata or Tadashi Yamaguchi, nothing.
It was then that he started to question if they were even alive. Although still he continued to hang on to the hope that they were out there somewhere.
“Kageyama!” A hauntingly familiar voice beckoned out to him from the crowd. Of course tonight was a popular memorial ceremony, so it could be anyone, but this sound was different.
“Kageyama over here!” The voice called again. There was a waving of hands near the exit of the gym, where lights and flowers were displayed.
It felt almost to good to be true, and suddenly everything felt dream like. As he made his way through the flock of people everything seemed to move in slow motion, although he was running.
“Kageyama I have so much to tell you-.” Hinata was cut off by one of tightest embraces he had ever received in his entire lifetime, the air was practically nocked out of his lungs as the other tackled him to the ground with a hug.
“It’s you.” He began whimpering whilst still clinging to the other, afraid he would slip from grasp and disappear again if he dared let go.
“This is nice.” Hinata mumbled, returning the others embrace. This kind of touch was something he had yearned to feel ever since he left Awa, he missed his best friend, and now he had him again.
“It’s really you. Shoyou Hinata, I fucking hate you. But I fucking love you and you need to tell me everything and I mean everything.” Kageyama finally let go of him, however his hands remained on his shoulders, gripping them tightly.
“Kuroo!” Another voice called, it was Kenma. He was running towards the tall male with the brightest smile he had ever worn, yet his eyes were overflowing with tears.
Hinata turned to face Kageyama and it was only then that he noticed the dramatic change in his appearance.
His hair was no longer a ‘messy birds nest’ as he liked to call it, but it remained flat and straight on his head. However it was still as ginger as ever. His eyes were bright yet sunken into his skull, he was a lot paler, with a few new freckles. Despite his pale skin he had gained a lot of muscle tone, that would make sense, being a wastelander for so long must’ve taken a tole on his body.
“Was this the reunion you dreamed of Kageyama?” Hinata raised a hand to Kageyama’s cheek and placed it there gently.
“Everything and more. I’m just, so, it’s really you.” He began to sob again, this time breathlessly, his tears allowed him no room to take in any air. Hinata attempted to usher him to breathe properly, but it didn’t help.
Once the chaos had died down the reunion really began.
After the initial shock of six years apart and suddenly turning up out of the blue the group finally had alone time together.
“Idiot.” Kageyama gripped Hinata’s head and ruffled his hair, something he had been wanting to do again for so many years. The little things meant so much right now.
-x-
“Then somehow we ended up in America and we were stuck there for years! I’m telling you it was crazy! Especially the prison, that was the worst part but-.”
“Wait. Prison?” Kageyama interrupted, of course shocked at this story. I mean how do you accidentally end up in a prison in America, the other side of the globe?
“Allow me.” Kuroo smirked, a facial expression that was oh so familiar.
“After we left Awa we wandered for a while, nothing interesting happened. There were times we considered returning but never did. For once in our lives we let the adults handle things, it was horrible, I don’t feel I should go into detail now.”
Kuroo paused, thinking of where to pick up next. The entire room waited eagerly for an explanation even Tsukishima, who had been there with him, waited restlessly for him to tell the story. Hell, maybe Kuroo should be an author too, Kageyama thought.
“But an unexpected bomb exploded and we got separated from the adults. Hinata and Yamaguchi were badly injured, the rest of us had minor injuries.” Kuroo thought for a moment before continuing the rest of his story.
“A helicopter arrived, though it was American forces. We didn’t trust them but they were our only source of aid. Next thing we knew we were on a plane headed for America.”
“Okay my turn!” Bokuto interrupted, clearing his voice before speaking.
“When we got off the plane we were arrested along with the people who flew us there for being illegal immigrants from enemy territory. They had a prison for people like us, but we weren’t there for long because the war ended four months later and we were freed!”
Bokuto was such a fast talker, Kageyama could hardly keep up. So Akaashi took it into his own hands to finish his part of the story.
“Although when we were freed we had nowhere to go. No way of contacting anybody, not even you guys. It was agonising. In the end though, we found a shelter for people like us. It was a weird place, but I’m trying to tell this story quickly so I’ll skip over minor details.”
He swallowed before carrying on, attempting to catch his breath. The story of their journey was certainly overwhelming.
“Two years later we found accommodation and work, we lived together in an apartment. Yes it was very cramped and yes Hinata does snore, but that’s okay. We all wanted to contact any of you so terribly, but we didn’t know how to get a hold of you, nor did we have the money to return home. So we learned English, survived, worked and hoped one day we could return. And then-.”
Akaashi was interrupted by Hinata’s eager, flailing hands.
“Your book Kageyama, your book! Last year when you announced it I saw you on TV and and told everyone! I worked at a library with Akaashi so I picked up a copy and read it. Oh boy was it so accurate, then I knew we had to return home as soon as possible and make more memories and have more adventures in our new world!”
Kageyama began to tear up again, Hinata’s attitude towards life hadn’t changed one bit. He was still as energetic as ever.
“So this shrimp made us save up money to book a flight home.” Tsukishima pushed up his glasses awkwardly. “Not that I regret it though.”
“Aww Tsukki you missed everyone really.” Yamaguchi teased.
It was nice to hear that Yamaguchi spoke more now, apparently all of them had attended counselling sessions whilst in the shelter. Both groups had come to terms with past events by now, although they did struggle sometimes. Maybe now that Hinata and the others were home safe they could really move on, or at least gain the closure they so desired.
“I’m sorry for the heavy subject change.” Yamaguchi’s smile turned to a frown as he lowered his head. “I couldn’t help but notice Sugawara’s memorial on my way in and I was wanting to know where he was buried, I have flowers.”
The group gave a sympathetic smile before Daichi spoke.
“There’s a graveyard near Awa, it’s quite far from here. Since the roads down there have been rebuilt we could go on a road trip? For old times sake, an adventure you know.” Daichi smiled awkwardly, placing a hand at the back on his neck.
“Come on you guys I can’t wait any longer!” Noya protested. “Group hug!” He threw his arms around Hinata and Asahi, only seconds later were the now fully grown men sobbing on the wrecked gymnasium floor at their reunion.
“Welcome home.” Iwaizumi choked out.
“We’re really home.” Hinata whimpered, burying his head into the crook of Kageyama’s neck who responded with;
“You’re home now, safe and sound.”