Chapter Text
“Niichan’s taking such a long time,” Natsu complained, swinging her legs back and forth. She sat at the usual bench, watching kids run around on the playground. “He promised to pick me up early today, too...” she pouted, standing up on the bench. She gazed off into the distance, squinting to see if her brother was closeby. After doing a 360 spin, she sat back down with a small ‘harumph.’
“Tobio!” A loud shout made her look in the direction of a distressed woman. Black lines stained her face, and she was flailing her arms as if she were a bird.
“She looks like a crow,” Natsu muttered, watching as the woman ran around, trying to ask people something. Everyone in the park ignored her presence, almost as if she didn’t exist. Why doesn’t anyone help the poor woman? Natsu had been taught by her brother that she shouldn’t talk to strangers, but if someone needed your help, you could take them to the nearest police station. I don’t know where the nearest police station is...
Her thoughts were interrupted by a trembling figure sitting on the other edge of the bench. She glanced over at him and her eyes widened when she saw a cut on his chest. Her first instincts were to run to another person and ask for a first aid kit, but something stopped her. Maybe it was the ever-present scowl that contrasted greatly with his shaking body, or the familiar black jacket tied around the boy’s waist-
Wait, that looks like Nii-chan’s jacket! Natsu instinctively scooted closer, trying to see the embroidered kanji. Even though she couldn’t read it yet, she knew what the school’s name looked like.
“Karasuno!” she exclaimed, hugging the boy’s torso. She checked to make sure she avoided his injury before looking up at him with a bright smile.
“Um...” the boy was internally panicking on what to do. Who is this girl? He tried to push her away, but winced when he twisted his body. Damn it, I need to run away!
“Tobio!”
The boy froze when he heard the voice again. He untied his jacket from his waist, cursing when he remembered it didn’t have a hood. Aughhh, screw it! He wasn’t thinking in his right mind when he pulled the jacket over his face, effectively covering his whole head. If she’s gonna find me, then I’d rather not see her face anyways.
“Oniisan, are you playing hide-and-seek?” Natsu asked, shifting even closer to the boy next to her.
Kageyama nodded, before he realized she couldn’t see his head. He muttered a quick “yeah,” then flinched when he heard loud footsteps coming closer and closer... Shit, shit, shit, she found me...!
Kageyama jolted when a small weight landed on his lap. What-
“Hello princess, have you seen a tall boy walking around here?” the sickeningly sweet voice spoke from right in front of him.
“Mhm, there’s been so many tall boys!” Natsu answered excitedly.
“Oh, have you seen one with black hair and blue eyes?”
“Black hair and blue eyes?” Natsu tilted her head to the side in confusion.
“You haven’t...” the voice trailed off with a hint of disappointment. “I’ll be searching some more then...”
“Oh yeah! I saw a boy like that!”
Natsu felt like she was on one of those massage chairs at how much the boy was shaking. The woman immediately perked up, but it wasn’t because of excitement. Natsu held back a shiver when she felt a wave of malicious intent flow from the woman.
“He was running in that direction!” Natsu answered innocently, pointing in a random direction.
“Hmph, that boy, is he trying to hide in plain sight?” the woman muttered, then gave the girl in front of her a twisted smile. Natsu forced a smile back.
The boy’s body gradually stopped shaking as the footsteps grew quieter.
“She’s gone,” Natsu muttered, trying to scoot off of the boy’s lap. She jolted when she felt an arm wrap around her stomach.
“Oh, sorry, you’re really warm and-”
He was cut off by two small hands wrapping around his wrist. “You have battle scars, too,” Natsu whispered, rubbing at the white lines criss-crossing across his arm.
Crap, I washed off the foundation! She’s gonna freak out and-!
He was interrupted again, this time by short arms wrapping around his middle. “My brother told me to hug any person with battle scars, since they’ve been through a lot,” she explained, loosening her hold when she felt the taller boy stiffen.
“I-” Kageyama wasn’t one to cry, but he was having a hard time keeping his tears at bay. This kid looks like she’s six and she knows what these scars are from? He finally shrugged off his jacket and looked down to see the girl with a blazing smile. No, I don’t think she understands my scars. But she understands my feelings.
He tightened his arm around her, reveling in her comforting presence.
“Oniisan, what’s your name?” she asked, peeking up at the other boy’s face. The boy’s eyes flickered around like he was surveying the area. “Haha, you don’t have to tell me, I can just call you oniisan!” Natsu exclaimed.
“What’s your name?” the boy asked, giving her a tiny smile.
“Sorry, but I can’t tell you my name. Niichan told me not to give my name out to strangers,” Natsu realized a little too late.
“And you asked me for mine?”
“Aren’t you an adult?”
“No, I’m only 15 years old,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Wow, that’s how old my brother is!” she exclaimed.
“You’re okay with talking about your brother, but not yourself?” he held back a snicker.
“He never told me I can’t talk about other people!” Natsu yelled, putting her hands on her hips. He let out a small snort, which devolved into soft chuckles. It’s so refreshing how honest this girl is. Almost reminds me of someone...
“Oh, niichan’s here!” Natsu’s back straightened when she spotted a familiar figure in the park. “I have to go now!” she yelled, softly grabbing the boy’s hand. She squeaked as the taller one picked her up by the waist, but giggled when she was gently set back on the ground. “I’ll see you again, oniisan!” she exclaimed, before running off in a random direction.
He knew he should make sure she got home safely after she potentially saved his life, but he was too exhausted to see where she had gone. He sighed, sinking lower into the bench.
Where can I go today?' He checked his phone and groaned when he saw the time. It’s only two o’clock; I’m gonna be hungry later... I think I might have a few hundred yen on me. He rummaged through his pocket and found a crumpled ten thousand yen bill at the bottom. Even better.
A small smile blossomed on his face, before it was overtaken by his usual scowl. Ugghhh, that girl’s happiness is contagious. Oh shit, I forgot to thank her! His scowl deepened until he let out a soft sigh. She did say we’d meet again though. I wonder why...? The odd feeling of her aura being familiar was not lost to Kageyama as he continued to wonder about today’s fateful meeting and what was to come afterwards.