birds of a feather | haikyuu x male

prolouge

Shotaro's birth mother was deported from Japan when he was three, and though he was young, he remembers her. He stopped speaking when his mother left; it was as if his voice was ripped away from him, and maybe it was. Sofia Reyes was deported because she and Shotaro's father, Isamu, got a divorce. That whole diabolical situation resulted in her getting sent back to Mexico. Soon after, his father married a Japanese woman. A very famous Japanese woman, Nakamura Asuka, better known as Takahashi Asuka. She was a prolific volleyball player, one of the greatest at that. A killer on the court, and one at home too. 

Shotaro Nakamura, who likes to go by Shotaro Reyes, stood shocked as his step-mother tore apart his room. His eye was dead as she raided everything, tearing posters off his wall. She'd just found out that Shotaro denied all recommendations to Aoba Joshai and Shiritorizawa—the top two schools in Miyagi. Instead, Shotaro told his school counselor back in Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High that Karasuno was the school he wanted to attend. 

It was honestly simple why he wanted to go to Karasuno: to not play Volleyball, the sport that he had grown to hate. Karasuno was shit at Volleyball, which meant he wouldn't have to play. It'd be perfect. It felt wrong to play volleyball, which had once been a source of joy and connection to his mother, had become a suffocating burden under Asuka's iron-fisted rule. 

As Asuka continued her rampage, her voice pierced the air, sharp and unforgiving. "Why would you throw away such opportunities? Do you know how many would kill for a recommendation to Shiratorizawa?" She sneered, ripping down a poster of a favorite music group that had provided Shotaro with a small measure of comfort.

Shotaro remained silent, his hands clenched at his sides. He knew better than to argue; it would only make things worse. His father, Isamu, was rarely home, always traveling for work, leaving Shotaro to endure Asuka's wrath alone, and even when he was around, it was no good. He was basically Asuka's yes-man.

In the midst of the chaos, a single, torn photo fluttered to the ground. It was a picture of Sofia holding a young Shotaro, both of them smiling brightly. Asuka's eyes narrowed as she picked it up and glanced at it before crumpling it in her fist and tossing it aside. "Enough of this nonsense. I am your mother," she spat. "You're going to Karasuno, fine. But don't think for a second you can escape volleyball. You'll join their team and make something of yourself, or I'll make your life even more miserable."

With that, she stormed out, leaving Shotaro in the ruins of his room. He stood there for a long moment, his chest tight with suppressed emotions. Slowly, he knelt down and retrieved the crumpled photo, smoothing it out as best he could. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, but he blinked them away. He wouldn't cry. Not anymore.

He let out a shaky sigh, grabbing his wallet and his headphones. He wasn't going to let Asuka win, not when he was fucking 16. He had free will, and he was going to fucking use it.

Shotaro walked downstairs, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. Asuka was lounging on the couch, her eyes fixed on the television. She glanced at him as he approached, her expression a mixture of disdain and curiosity.

Without saying a word, Shotaro handed her a note.

"Going to 24-Mart," it read.

Asuka's eyes narrowed. "Don't take too long. And remember what I said about volleyball," she snapped, turning her attention back to the TV.

Shotaro nodded curtly, slipping his headphones over his ears as he left the house. The sound of 'died flower' by wave to earth flooded his ears, bringing him temporary peace. The cool night air hit him as he stepped outside, a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside.

It was around 2 a.m., and the streets were quiet, the world wrapped in a serene stillness. Shotaro walked like a dreamer, his body going in whatever direction. The wind wafted and played with his hair; it felt like a fatherly tousle. Instead of heading to the 24-Mart, he made his way to a nearby 7-Eleven, which was not much different but one that was far away from home.

The fluorescent lights of the store were a stark contrast to the darkness outside. Shotaro entered, making his way to the refrigerated section. He grabbed a bottle of banana milk and a packet of peach gummies, simple comforts in an otherwise chaotic life.

As he approached the counter, the older man behind it looked up from his magazine. His eyes were kind but filled with concern as he took in the sight of the young teen.

"Late-night snack?" the clerk asked, his voice gentle.

Shotaro shrugged, then nodded, placing his items on the counter. The clerk scanned them, his brow furrowing slightly.

"You shouldn't be out this late, kid," he said, his tone fatherly. "Are you okay?"

Shotaro didn't respond, his shy facial expression and uneasy shrug speaking for him. He looked up at the clerk handing over a few bills. The clerk shook his head, pushing the money back towards him.

"On the house," the clerk insisted.

Shotaro shook his head, pushing the money back with a sense of urgency. He made frantic "no" gestures with his hands, his eyes pleading.

The clerk sighed, a mixture of frustration and empathy in his gaze. "Okay, okay," he relented. "But at least take this." He reached behind the counter and pulled out a cup of instant ramen, placing it in Shotaro's bag.

Shotaro hesitated, but the man's kindness was overwhelming. Finally, he nodded, accepting the gift. He took out a small notepad and scribbled a quick note.

I'll pay you back. Promise.

The clerk read the note and smiled; he was a tad confused as to why the boy wasn't talking but patted Shotaro's shoulder gently, nonetheless. "No need to worry about it. Just take care of yourself, alright?"

Shotaro nodded, a small, grateful smile tugging at his lips. He left the store feeling a little lighter, a little more human.

As he walked back home, the early morning air felt different—less oppressive, more hopeful. A part of his brain wanted to believe Karasuno wouldn't be so bad, but he couldn't be so sure.