The Sum of Our Parts

Chapter 2

Hinata was happily running around and cleaning up the gym. The bandage on the side of his neck stood out like a flashing neon sign of what they had done. Kageyama sat patiently in a chair as Yachi fussed with the first aid kit, and applied a bandage to his neck as well.

"Did you hypnotize him?"

Yachi had held her tongue the entire time, focusing only on the fact that they were bleeding. Now, she asked the question soft enough for only Kageyama to hear.

"Yes." No point in trying to mince words about it.

"With a Talent?"

"Yes."

"Oh..." She was silent for a time as she made sure the bandage would stay in place. "Can you undo it?"

"Yes."

"...Will you?"

Kageyama took a deep breath. "He's an idiot. The suggestion will stay until he's safe. After that, I can remove it. Assuming he doesn't break up with me before that. I'm aware that I'm not anyone's first pick for a mate."

"But you hypnotized him into thinking you were together. Why would he break up with you?" Yachi pulled her hands to her chest, casting Kageyama a worried look.

"The suggestion only refers to the past, not the future. He'd have to actually like me in order to be happy with me from here on out. Unless I add constant suggestions, which I won't do."

"Oh..."

"This is just to keep him safe." Kageyama turned to look at Yachi who kept her eyes on her feet.

"I know... It's why I didn't stop you earlier..." Yachi glanced over to Hinata as he ran around the gym with his usual boundless energy. "I owe Hinata, for making me believe that I could still be a part of this team even though I'm an omega — just a Townsperson B."

"I won't do anything to hurt him."

Yachi blushed, and looked back down at her feet. "I believe you. You're a good person. Just..." She swallowed and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Won't he be mad when you undo the— the thing?"

"Anyone would be..." Kageyama said quietly, and looked down at his hands. "But it's fine. It's just long enough to get him through the medical checks. He can be mad at me later. At least he's safe for now."

"So in the meantime you have to greet his parents, and make a contract, and then date." Yachi pointed out all the parts Kageyama had been trying to ignore.

"Hn... I'll have to greet his parents tonight. There's no way we can hide the bonding mark."

"They'll probably be suspicious."

Kageyama frowned hard as his nerves kicked up. Trying to convince Hinata's parents that he wasn't trying to use Hinata for his sexual alpha urges was going to be tough. That was not something he wanted to deal with, but he would deal with it. Anything was better than Hinata being locked away in some unknown place.

"Hey!"

Hinata's voice cut through his thoughts, and he looked up into wide and warm eyes. "What?"

"Why do you have that face?" Hinata poked at the frown line between Kageyama's eyebrows, and Kageyama slapped the hand away.

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"I'll have to greet your parents tonight."

"Ohhh!" The realization must have just occurred to Hinata, as his eyes went wide and his mouth formed a perfect circle. "My mom's gonna lecture our ears off because we're still in school!"