His Warrior Queen: A Haikyuu!! Novel (Tsukishima x OC)

Chapter 43: I Am a Paleontologist

Kei's face broke into a smile.  Nakano smiled in return, chuckling a little at the wide eyed stare she was receiving from the boy.  "Can I..." she began.  She never finished her question, as her boyfriend grabbed her hand, yanking her into his house and into his arms, as if he hadn't seen her in ten years, instead of the about ten hours it had actually been.  

She gasped, then giggled.  "Goodness, did you miss me that much?"

"Yes," he answered immediately, and with a surprising amount of sincerity, "I always miss you when you're not with me, Roses."  He'd noticed she was carrying the bag she usually used when they went on volleyball camps.  "Are you staying tonight?"

"Well...remember when I said I had another present for you, but I couldn't give it to you until Monday?"  He nodded.  "I actually have to give it to you very early Monday morning.  So early, that it will be much easier if I stay here with you tonight.  That okay with you?"  She grinned wickedly at him.

He laughed.  "Okay?" He was hugging her tightly again.  "I can't imagine anything better.  This really has been the most amazing birthday I've ever had.  But, we've got school tomorrow,  how are we going to convince..."

Akiteru's voice rang out from the kitchen.  "Kei, don't keep her on the doorstep.  Bring her in here so we can have some cake!"

He suddenly realized Akiteru had known who was at the door the entire time.  Whatever she was planning, his mother and brother, and probably Emiko-san too, were already in on it.  His face, which had been entirely overjoyed at seeing her, suddenly turned sly and suspicious.  "What have you done, Roses?" he asked, both amused and curious, "What's going on?  Why is everyone in on this?"

She took his hand, pulling him towards the kitchen.  "Come on, Kei, let's go eat some cake and you can speculate all you want."

Sure enough, the pink box was out, and four slices of strawberry shortcake were waiting, along with tea.  Kei showed Nakano his watch that had once been his father's, and Akiteru resisted all attempts at tricking him into revealing Kei's forthcoming present.  Nakano was equally firm in her refusal to share anything about what was going on tomorrow, and Kei's suspicions were entirely confirmed as he watched his mother's and brother's eyes sparkle with mischief as he tried his best to pry information from them.  The four of them laughed and enjoyed a little time together, with Akiteru and his mom once again exchanging meaningful glances at how much happier Kei seemed now that Nakano had joined them.  And he hadn't exactly been down in the dumps before.  Kei tried to be annoyed as he occasionally caught these looks, but he simply couldn't bring himself to do so, not when Nakano kept squeezing his hand under the table and smiling at him so sweetly.  Dammit, he thought, you've reduced me to a smiling, happy idiot, Roses, and damned if I don't love every moment of it.

After a little less than an hour, Akiteru stood, beginning to clear the table.  "Hey you two," he said, looking at Kei and Nakano, "you'd better start thinking about getting some sleep.  We have to be out of here at absolutely no later than 6AM tomorrow, and Kei still needs to get packed, right?"

"Packed?  6AM?  What's this all about?  Where are we going?  And why is Akiteru coming with us?"  Kei rounded on his girlfriend, pummeling her with questions.  

Nakano just smiled, standing up and giving Kei a look that suggested he should do so too.  "Ah, you're right Aki-nii.  There is a lot to do, and we'll definitely want to be well rested for tomorrow.  Do you need help..."

Kei's mother gave the girl a hug.  "Aki and I will clean up here.  Have fun tomorrow, you two."  The woman turned and engulfed her younger son in a hug as well.