Gale (Haikyuu Fanfiction - Nishinoya)

05: A Tender Feeling

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Nishinoya and I walked together towards my home. We didn't say anything during our journey there, partly because we couldn't hear out voices over the sound of the rain. But I could feel my cheeks burning more and more as my shoulder and his made contact with each other. He would hold the umbrella closer to my side, while his shoulder got wet. Sometimes, he was kinda sweet towards me. 

I noticed that his hair that usually stood up when dry was flattened by the water and looked normal now. He looked kinda cute now, to be frank. 

"Are you cold?" he asked, offering his jacket to me and putting it on my head. 

"T-Thanks..." I stammered.

"It somehow feels like you are my little sister," he chuckled and I noticed his cheeks were red too. Maybe it was from the cold. Winter was getting closer anyway. 

I smiled a little, feeling his warmth from the jacket as I cover my flushing face with its sleeves. It smelt like him. We didn't say anything else until we got to the doorsteps of our apartment. Satoru was probably sleeping already. 

"Hold on," I dug out my keys from my pocket, opening the door. "I'll get you a towel for all your trouble. Make yourself at home."

"No- it's fine!" he insisted but I quickly pushed him inside. 

"I don't want you to go home soaked," I said, closing the door behind me.

"Well aren't you exceptionally nice to me today," he smirked.

"D-Don't take it the wrong way! I'm just repaying for what you did today," I blurted out. 

"Alright, tsundere-chan," he grinned even wider.

"Sis!" I heard Satoru from inside call. 

"Satoru! It's past your bedtime-"

"Oooh! It's the hedgehog guy from last time!" Satoru exclaimed, pointing towards Nishinoya. 

"Hedgehog guy?" Nishinoya grunted, pointing to himself with a frightened face. 

"That's what he called you since he never knew how to pronounce your name," I explained, laughing from his expression. 

"Why hedgehog guy, though?" he asked.

"Because when you shouted to those bullies, your hair was standing up!" my little brother chuckled. "You were so cool, just like one of those heroes from the anime!"

"Mmm... hero, you say?" Nishinoya asked proudly, sticking out his chest, returning to his usual old self again. "Did you know, kid, I'm the libero of my team in volleyball? And my name is ' The Guardian Deity'?" he flaunted to my little brother.

"And he is the shortest too," I chuckled. 

"I'm still taller than you!" he protested. "Anyway, being tall isn't such a big thing!"

"If I was tall... I would like to take the books from the tallest bookshelves in the library..." I mumbled.

"That's what you are only thinking about?" he asked awkwardly. 

"If I was tall I will beat all the bullies in my school!" Satoru shouted, lifting his fist up in the air. 

"That's the spirit!" Nishinoya beamed at Satoru. 

"Don't encourage him!" I scolded him. 

  -~-~-~-~- 

 "All right, done," I sighed as I got out of the bathroom, drying my hair with my towel. I looked at the sofa, where Nishinoya was gazing at me, his cheeks blushing red. 

"W-what?"

"Y-your hair looks nicer like that," he complimented, scratching his nape as he looked away. I blushed, biting my lip tightly to stop myself from smiling. 

"Nii-san, do you like my sister?" Satoru asked, looking up from the book he was reading.

Nishinoya said nothing, covering his cheeks with his arm. I simply stood still, my whole face redder than ever. I quickly changed the subject by telling Satoru that it was his bedtime. 

"Aww... but I want to talk to Nii-san! He is cool!" he offered excitedly, his eyes glistening with hope.

"You can see him tomorrow," I told him flatly as he pouted. 

"Well, I guess I shall be going off," Nishinoya said, lifting his school bag over his shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Nagi-chan!" 

"Nishinoya-senpai," I said without thinking and he hummed in return. "Uh... Jun... you can call me Jun..." He said nothing, staring at me blankly before a smile spread across his lips.

"Then, in that case, you can call me Noya-senpai," he winked. "and don't forget to say 'senpai'!" He added, grinned stupidly and my cheeks turned pink and I smiled a little.

"Bye, Jun!" he waved, walking outside the door. 

"Bye... Noya-senpai," I said, my voice nearly a whisper but he didn't seem to hear me. 

-~-~-~-~-   

I yawned loudly as I walked to school, my feet dragging as I advanced. I put up an all-nighter yesterday to study the syllabus for the upcoming exams. At least I am able to catch up with the lessons. 

"Man... I wish I had breakfast..." I said mentally to myself. 

I almost fall when I felt an arm coil around my shoulder but I regained my balance. I glare daggers  to the person who almost caused me to fall on my face, puffing my cheeks.

"Sorry," Nishinoya apologised, flashing his goofy smile to me as an apology but I walked on without him. "You seem pretty exhausted," he changed the topic, catching up to me.

"I had to stay up all night studying," I yawned. 

"Ha! Who needs to study when you can ace your exams easily!" he said loudly, placing his hands on the back of his head as he stuck out his chest.

"We'll see about that," I grin evilly.

"When it comes to smiling, you are like Kageyama," Nishinoya stammered, pretending to back away a little.

"Let's make a deal then," I ignored him, closing my eyes and smirking to myself. "If I get higher marks than you in the exams, you will have to go to school with no gel on your hair."

He gulped, looking frightened at the idea of showing his 'uncool side' of him. But nevertheless, he kept his head held up high and accepted the deal. "And if I get higher than you, you will have to do anything I say," he added, poking my nose teasingly.

"T-that's not fair!"

"We shook on it already, are you backing up now Juny~?" he winked, creating a new nickname for me. 

"Never," I hissed, smirking and glaring at him. 

"That's the spirit," he chuckled. "I'll be waiting then~" he turned around and raised his hand as he ran towards Tanaka and the rest of the gang that was walking towards the school gate. I was blushing like mad, trying to keep my head down. 

"He is... kinda cute..." I thought in my mind. I shook my head roughly, neglecting that thought. "I have to win this deal. I will not lose to him."