When the Sun Stops Shining

Chapter Twenty-Four: You're in the Wrong Palace

Kuroo was leaning against a nearby wall, waiting for the orange-haired ace. Kuroo somehow managed to look like a delinquent all of the time, which irritated him. He was going more for futuristic 'model-in-prison' realness. According to Yaku, it was the hair. But Kenma just thought that Kuroo was a delinquent, full stop.

"Hey. Looks like you've made an impression with the King," Kuroo remarked. "Nice one."

"Don't call him that. He doesn't like it."

"Okay, okay." Kuroo held up his hands in defence. "I'm taking you to meet Kindaichi and Kunimi. Well, he introduced them to you as Yuutarou and Akira. Kageyama just calls them by their first names because he can. If he's close to you, he'll usually call you by your last name. If he respects you but isn't close to you, he'll use first names. Well, except Daichi. Kageyama respects him more than anything. But with everyone else, that's the rule. He's weird like that."

"Oh. Right." They walked down from the two offices over to the cafeteria, which had a few people moving around in it. Tanaka, Nishinoya and Asahi were in the eating area, cleaning up the floor and making sure everything was spotless. Kuroo waved at each of them. When their eyes glanced over at Hinata, they stopped moving. All three of them stared at Hinata. He was sporting cuts and bruises that he hadn't had when he'd arrived. However, they knew better than to question him.

They went into the back of the kitchen, where Yamamoto was preparing lunch. He had a box full of yoghurt and he was handing it over to a guy with hair that was styled like a turnip.

"Kunimi, Kindaichi. Meet Hinata." The two turned around to face Kuroo and Hinata. Kindaichi almost dropped his yoghurt when he realised just who Hinata was. It was the same guy who had called Kageyama 'King' in front of his face and ended up with a faceful of dairy milk.

Yamamoto's eyes looked over the Wakunan member, before looking back over to Kuroo. "Kuroo, what are you doing?"

"Boss's orders." Kuroo grinned. "Kindaichi, Kunimi. It's twenty to eleven right now. Take him to the sheds first so that he knows how to get there. Then, take him over to the palace. Kageyama wants him there before twelve."

The two men looked like their ghosts had just left them. It took Yamamoto tapping the both of them on the shoulders to get them to blink once again.

"You must be kidding," Kindaichi said.

"Well, you can go ask Kageyama personally if you want... although, he'll be pretty pissed if you question him." Kuroo smirked. "I'd go along with it if I were you. Plus, come on. Shrimpy here isn't that bad. We're rooming together."

Kunimi's mouth was gaping wide open with shock. Or anger. Either way, it wasn't a pleasant expression. "But..."

"I'm going to find our dearest Tsukki. Later!" Kuroo dashed out of the room before Hinata could protest. While Kuroo was a bit of an idiot, he didn't seem to be judging Hinata because he was part of Wakunan. However, these three men staring at him... Hinata knew that they were probably thinking about all the different ways they could show him who's boss. None of those ways sounded particularly good.

Kunimi simply stomped back over to the box of yoghurt. He didn't speak, but his anger at the situation was made clear by the dark look on his face as he took the box of yoghurt into his hands.

"I... I'm sorry." Hinata wasn't sure what else to say. His apology only seemed to make the three men hate him even more, though.

Kindaichi stepped right up to him, stopping when they were a hair's width away. "I don't care if you're injured. I don't care if you're fucking dying. You can rot for all I care. But you're not just going to earn yourself a spot on our table because you're cosy with the boss. They're all filled. And I'm sure that I told you not to come near us or the boss again."