Ardor (Nishinoya Yuu)

Fright

"Aimi!" came Koushi's yell from down stairs as I threw my toiletries into my back pack

"Coming!" I called back, zipping my bag up and throwing it over my shoulder - smoothing down my skirt before running down the stairs to where my Auntie, Mother and little cousin were kissing him goodbye before the training camp.

"I'll miss you two!" my mother smiled, kissing my cheek.

"It's gonna be way too quiet" Auntie agreed as she clung to her son. I picked my little cousin Tsukiko from the floor, sitting him on my hip. He was only pushing four years old. I don't think he really understood his father had passed.

"I'll miss you, little monkey" I grinned as his sleepy face, he smiled at me, snuggling into my shoulder.

"Alright, be careful, don't push yourself too much" Auntie said sternly to Koushi who nodded "and have fun, and Aimi make sure he eats three meals"

"I will" I chuckled, handing Tsukiko back to her as he was falling asleep on my shoulder. We waved goodbye as we headed out the door into the late afternoon, heading towards the school gymnasium which is where the bus was taking the team to their camp - well after practice that was. Though I was getting a ride with Kiyoko to the camp before the boys. As we reached the gymnasium the sound of squeaking shoes and bangs could already be heard from inside. Kiyoko was standing outside, her nose in another book, she looked up as we walked to her, Koushi walking into the gymnasium with a quick smile in her direction.

"You ready to go?" she asked, I nodded. The two of us were going early to cook them something to eat after they would probably walk in exhausted from their practice. Plus the place was kinda empty so we were gonna turn down the beds and obviously claim the good ones as our own. I climbed into the front seat of Kiyoko's tiny car, clicking the seat belt as she took off across town. The place we were staying was pretty nice and clean even if it hadn't been used in a few months. I claimed the only single room as soon as we got there, I wasn't too big a fan of sharing with the boys. She wasn't staying overnight as she lived close by. Much to Tanaka's dismay.

"Wow, this is huge!" I breathed as we checked out the kitchen

"There's actually food" she commented in a monotone and I walked over to where she was looking in the fridge "I guess the owners were nice enough to leave us some"

"Let's get to work then!" I grinned, yanking my long silver hair up into a pony tail as we pulled out the food we needed. Kiyoko was teaching me how to make her grandmothers Nikujaga - which was very nutritious apparently and we knew the boys needed to eat something other than Pork buns. She had me chopping ingredients most of the time while she handled the harder stuff.

We soon heard voices from outside of the door and I could hear the boys walking towards the kitchen. I pulled open the doors too see Noya and Tanaka at the door first.

"What is that incredible smell?" Koushi asked from behind them

"Our cooking" I smirked "Well, mostly Kyoko's but thoese vegetables are cut to exact measurements"

"Thank god!" Noya exclaimed, throwing his arms around my shoulders and I flushed pink "I'm starving - you're my saviour Suga-chan"

I giggled "Get off me, Noya-kun or I will use this" I said, waving my wooden spoon threateningly, he jumped away, raising his hands in mock surrender

"You guys go sit down, it'll be ready in 10 minutes" I said and they did so obediently. After the boys had fought over which beds were who's and Kiyoko and I had set up the table and everyone had sat down to eat it was around 20 minutes later. I was squished between Koushi and Noya with a huge plateful of Kiyoko's Nikujaga in front of me as they all chattered loudly to each other. I almost choked to my death ad Noya cracked one of his usual awful jokes, leaving Koushi to hand me water as I nearly died. It was a great time. I finally felt like I was fitting in to my life back in Japan.

x

I sighed happily as I stepped out the shower later that night, my wet hair dripping down my back as I wrapped a towel around myself. I pulled my hand across the condensed mirror to look at my reflection - my skin flushed from the water in stark contrast to my pale hair. I pulled my comb through the ends of my hair before pulling it into a braid - my laziness stretching to not being bothered to blow dry it. I yanked on my clean pyjamas - going for my usual tank top and shorts as I think the boys had gone to sleep so hopefully none of them would see. Which, to my luck, as soon as I opened the door I careered into a sightly damp Noya. The result of which was me falling on my ass.

"Suga-chan!" he fussed, horrified at me on the floor "I'm so sorry, are you alright?"

"I'm fine" I laughed "I mean, my butt hurts but yanno"

"Sorry" he chuckled, holding his hand out to help me to my feet, as I scrambled back upright I only just noticed his hair lying flat around his face and I smiled, it suited him. He looks so different, in the best way possible.

"What?" he asked, noticing my staring

"N-nothing" I flushed "your hair's different..."

"Oh.." he said

"I mean, I like it!" I said quickly and very awkwardly

"Thanks" he smiled as I stifled a yawn

"I should head to bed" I smiled and he nodded, walking with me towards where we were sleeping. As we walked down the corridor I noticed Hinata and Tanaka were awake and talking at the end of the corridor, I walked behind him as he walked towards them. As we walked into the light I jumped from my skin as the two of them let out the mother of all screams - I grabbed Noya's forearm out of fright. When they stopped screaming - having noticed it was only us and not a murderer - they calmed down.

"What are you screaming about?" Noya frowned as I let my heart rate go back to normal "Daichi-san will get mad"

"It was just Noya and Suga-chan" Tanaka sighed, punching Hinata lightly on the arm

"Noya-san? Suga-chan?" Hinata frowned "B-but... Noya-san grew shorter!" he pointed at his hair and I had to stifle a laugh - it was true his hair added a good 10cm to his height.

"That's true!" Tanaka laughed "your hair adds to your height"

"Ryu, you bastard!" Noya yelled "it's not funny!" it was at this point a large hand fell on my shoulder and I stiffened turning my head reluctantly to see a large, dark figure with pale ghostly skin.

"Don't make so much noise" he spoke gravely "Daichi will get mad" it when at this point I screamed in fear, jumping away from the figure and tripping over my own feet, Noya just managed to grab me around the waist before I hit the ground.

"It's me!" said Asahi's voice and as my eyes adjusted to the light I saw it was

"You scared me!" I hissed, trying not to blush at Noya's hand sitting on my waist at this point but it was too late and I flushed red before steeping away from him "well, that's enough terror for one night - good night you crazy boys" I sighed and walked to my bedroom, my heart still racing.