Chapter 5: This is Your Kingdom
(Third Person Point of View)
The first snowfall of the year has already started, and snow continued to pile up in the paths of the kingdom. It was such a silent morning, and King Tobio was left alone with his thoughts.
I wonder how Hinata is doing...
Hoshiumi's armour was dragging heavily on his shoulders as he ran along the palace halls to deliver a telegram to King Tobio.
"Kageyama, sir!" Hoshiumi salutes. "A telegram addressed to you from the kingdom of Orel! I am perfectly capable even though I am short!"
"Oh? Ushijima-san? Wait... I thought Sushinoya-san is supposed to be handling the telegrams during winter."
"He is Nishinoya, not Sushinoya, Kageyama, sir! He is currently playing with Tanaka-san in the courtyard under the snow. But it is okay! I am perfectly capable even though I am short!"
"I see... Thank you, Hoshiumi-san."
"Call me anytime, Kageyama, sir!"
King Tobio opens the telegram written to him by King Wakatoshi.
It is sure a nice snowfall, right King Kageyama?
If you would not mind, I would like to visit
And discuss some matters with you
After this telegram has been shortly delivered,
I will come shortly afterwards also.
King Tobio was in hysterics. He was not prepared.
"HOSHIUMI-SAAAAAAAN!"
"YES, KAGEYAMA, SIR?!"
"USHIJIMA-SAN IS GOING TO COME SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, PLEASE PREPARE THE PALACE AND CALL EVERY KNIGHT AVAILABLE!"
"YES, KAGEYAMA, SIR! WHY ARE WE SHOUTING?!"
"I DO NOT KNOW!"
"....Kageyama, sir, did you actually read the letter?"
"No, but I read 'he will come shortly'. That alone is enough. No need to read it all."
"Okay...."
The loud horns were put out as King Wakatoshi made his gracious presence inside King Tobio's palace. What is even more surprising is that King Wakatoshi came alone riding a giant Eagle. The Kingdom of Orel is such a weird place.
King Tobio shook his hands with him. "Welcome, Ushijima-san."
"Your kingdom has been steadily progressing since my last visit. As expected from a ruler like you, Kageyama."
"Nuff... niffs... Nice."
Tanaka was quietly whispering to the sides.
"That is not how you respond to a compliment! Say thank you!"
King Tobio, upon hearing, blinks. "Thank me, Ushijima-san!"
Tanaka facepalms while Tsukishima just sighed in disappointment.
King Wakatoshi just smiled. "Should we take a walk around the courtyard while we talk?"
"Okay."
The snow was not heavy, and the winter was not yet cold enough to freeze their balls off. King Tobio and King Wakatoshi were taking a small, gracious walk while his pet Eagle roamed around the kingdom of Vorona.
"Ushijima-san, I have been wondering...."
"Yes?"
"How do you govern the kingdom of Orel? I want to be like you. Strong. Amazing. Dependable. How do I do that?"
"Maybe the secret ingredient is just to be yourself, Kageyama. You do not need to force yourself to be another person. Your people already love you."
"B-but what if the system does not comply with my persona? What if my true self is not compatible with this world's system?"
"What do you mean?"
"May I ask you a personal question?"
King Wakatoshi blinks. "I.... I have always wanted to be a farmer. You know, raising cows and plants..."
"No, not that kind of personal question."
"What is it, then?"
"Have you ever been in love?"
King Wakatoshi looks out to the horizon, then smiles.
"I have. I still am."
"Really? What is it like?"
"We all have our different versions of 'love', Kageyama. It is a fleeting moment, and no words in the encyclopedia could ever attempt to describe the feeling of falling in love. But we all do intersect at some point, though."
"Yes?"
"It will always be us against the world."
"..."
"I remember everything, as if it happened yesterday. He was my knight. Just a regular knight. He was not special, and some folks were even terrified of him because of his abilities and appearance, but he was my closest friend. I knew I was in love with him when I defied the world for him."
"It is like the system, Ushijima-san. They said we needed to follow the route of fairytales where we should happily live with some princess or queen. I do not want that."
"Do you dare defy the system, Kageyama?"
"Fuck the system, Ushijima-san. I want that dumbass Hinata. Is it wrong for me to want and cherish him because I need to marry a queen just because I am a king? If this system is like this, then I refuse it. I do not want to be a king anymore."
King Wakatoshi pats his shoulder. "This is your kingdom, Kageyama. You are the king of it. The highest magistrate. You can do whatever you want with it, it is your own system. If you want to marry Hinata Shouyou, what is stopping you? You are the king."
"Is that alright? Will the people still accept me as their king and Hinata as their queen?"
"I married Tendou and the people of my kingdom are more than happy to receive us. I believe it will be the same for your kingdom. However, it is your choice. You can always stoop down from your position and select an heir if things do not go well."
"You are right, Ushijima-san. Love has many meanings, but for me... I would defy the system, just like what you did. After all, he is worth the world. He is my sunshine. Ushijima-san, I thank you for all your words. You helped me a lot. It has taken my mind off of the things that I should not even be worrying about in the first place."
King Wakatoshi smiled at him. "I am happy to help."
King Tobio bid King Wakatoshi goodbye that afternoon as he rode in his giant eagle and went back to his own kingdom. Nishinoya was beside him, clearing the path off some snow.
"Nishinoya-san." He called out.
"Wow! You got my name right this time! Maybe King Ushijima did really smack some sense into you! How can I help you, King Kageyama?"
""Can Oikawa-senpai bless my wedding?"
"What is with this sudden question...?"
"Ushijima-san is right. This is my kingdom, and I can make my own system. I do not need to follow some children's fairytale to make my own happiness. I have my own principles."
"Um, are you alright?"
"Would we require a wedding banquet? Do we have to invite the kingdom's townspeople?"
"WHAT IS WITH THE SUDDEN WEDDING?! PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME!"
"I... I need to tell that dumbass Hinata that I love him."
"Wooh!" Nishinoya's mouth formed an O shape. "You finally realised it? Congratulations, King!"
"I thought this thing was supposed to be kept secret."
"Hardly. The only one who does not know that you like Shouyou is you yourself, King Kageyama."
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