The 'Almighty' King

Summer's End

Hinata's POV
"Can you believe it Tobio? We start our second year tomorrow. Summer has gone way too fast." I said with a slight sigh as I slumped into my bed, on the phone to my boyfriend.

"I agree. But I heard from Ennoshita we get to meet the new first years that are meant to be joining to team tomorrow." Kageyama replied making me perk up a little.
"Do you think any of them will be better than us?"
"I doubt it. We may have narrowly missed nationals last year, but I know this year will be different. Now your receiving is finally getting better Boke."
I gasped dramatically. "Well that's rude, receiving is harder than it looks!" I half whined, freezing when I heard Tobio chuckle a little. It made me smile. After the incident, Kageyama has seemed less open and more focused. He rarely laughed and he didn't let me stay around as often as he used to. It made me worry about him a lot. Every time I tried to ask him about it and how he felt he would always say he's fine and change the subject almost instantly. So those moments when I heard him crack his newly formed shell slightly made me feel just that little bit more relieved.

"Are we still meeting where we usually meet?" I asked, calming down slightly.
"Of course we are. You think I'd ditch you on our first day as second years?" Kageyama replied.
"Shut your face. But its going to be really weird. What if the first years that join the team start calling us Senpai? GWAHHH!" I suddenly screamed without realising how late it had gotten.
"STOP SCREAMING BOKE HINATA!" Kageyama snapped through the phone as Natsu slammed my door open and yelled "SHUT UP SHOUYO!"

"Sorry-" was my only response before my sister slammed my door shut behind her.
"I think it's time we sleep now. Don't want Ennoshita snapping at us because we're too tired to practice." Kageyama suddenly said, his tone unusually quiet and distant making me worry again.
"Oh... O-Okay then. Good night I guess..." I replied a little sad, now hugging the jacket I'd 'borrowed' from Kageyama.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"I love you...."
"Love you too-" With that, Kageyama hung up, leaving me staring at my concerned and worried reflection in my phone screen.

I was snapped from my trance when Itazura flew down from her perch in the window an knocked the phone from my hand. A soft caw left her beak as she landed on my shoulder. I smiled but it was weak and fell quickly. "I'm worried Itazura... What can I do to help him?... It's clear he's hiding something from me... And it's more important than he's making it seem." Once again Itazura let out a soft caw before she gently nuzzled her beak against the crown shaped earring that I was wearing. It was a gift from Kageyama for my birthday just before we broke up from school for the summer holidays. I ended up getting him a sun earring for his birthday last year. It was our way of reminding each other that we were still with each other no matter where we were.

Unconsciously my hand moved and my fingers started to mess with the earring - a nervous habit I'd picked up during the two weeks Kageyama had gone away to London with his mother in the middle of the holidays. I turned my head when Itazura ruffled her wings slightly. Looking into her eyes made me feel a little better. The only thing I can do is be patient. Stay with him and support him until he's ready to tell me. With that thought, I finally lay down, Itazura going back to her nest in the window and settling down for the night as I drifted into a light sleep.

~Time Skip~

I was awake early as usual the next day, climbing out of bed and doing my usual stretches on the floor to wake me up a little. I was in the middle of getting changed into my practice kit when I heard a ping from my phone. Itazura gripped my phone in her talons and flew over to me, dropping it into my open hand before she landed on the bar at the bottom of my bed to preen her feathers. Smiling softly I opened the message from Kageyama and read it. "Morning my Tangerine" was what he'd put making me giggle as I replied. "Morning my King". He'd gotten used to the nickname now he'd gotten over what happened in middle school, knowing the team was behind him no matter what. I put my phone down and finished getting changed, packing my bag ready for my first day as a second year. As I was putting my shoes on by the door, Natsu walked up to me carrying an apple. "Here Shouyo. Have a good day." It made me smile that I could count on my little sister. "Thank you Natsu. Enjoy your first day back too." I replied taking the apple after tying my lace.

With Itazura flying above me, I waved goodbye and began riding up the mountain to school - racing Itazura down the hill making me giggle at the adrenaline rush.

As promised, Kageyama was waiting at our usual meeting spot near Karasuno, fussing over Shinryaku. But as I got closer, I noticed something shiny fall down his cheek. A tear?

"Hey Tobio!" I yelled catching his attention. I watched as he jumped slightly and ran a hand across his face before he stood up and looked at me. "Morning Shouyo." Itazura flew over and landed on Shinryaku's head and cawed happily, flapping her wings. We didn't need to hide them anymore since everyone knew about their return after the incident. I stopped my bike just before I reached Kageyama. "Are you okay? Were you crying just now?" I asked genuinely concerned. I watched Kageyama hesitate before he answered. "No. Now lets go or Ennoshita will set his peacock on us." His tone was colder than usual as he started to walk. Shinryaku followed beside him, gently padding along as I got off my bike and walked the rest of the way to school on the other side of him.

The walk was silent but I expected it. Eventually we made it to the clubroom and I locked up my bike before we met up with Ennoshita and Tanaka, both bonding with their companions. Tanaka's wolf, Meishu turned when she noticed Shinryaku walking over to her. Meishu ran from Tanaka and went to play with the other companions that had joined.

"Good morning you two, nice to see you here on time. Tanaka you owe me ten bucks." Ennoshita said, grinning smugly at Tanaka. "Oh come on!" Tanaka yelled frustrated before handing the money to Ennoshita.

"Did you make a bet on us?" I asked confused.
"Yeah, I thought the both of you would be late to practice today. Turns out I was wrong." Tanaka grumbled.

Eventually the other third years, Tsukkishima and Yamaguchi showed up and we all headed into the gym to warm up for practice. We were in the middle of stretching when a voice was heard from the door.

"Hello is this the volleyball team?"