Guardian (Nishinoya x Reader) 🏐

Chapter 43: The End

*Y/N's POV*

As Akaashi rolled up to my house, he had to park in the street because there were three unfamiliar cars parked in our driveway... weird.

I smoothed out my newly purchased sundress and stepped out of the car... Maybe this was why Bokuto and Akaashi wanted me to wear the dress?

"Guys? What's going on?" I asked confused.

The two just shared a glance, but kept their mouths shut. Akaashi kept a straight face, but I could see Bokuto's face reddening as he managed to hold back a smile.

I let out an exasperated sigh, "Fine, don't tell me."

As I walked up to the front door of my house, I could hear faint whispers coming from the other side. What is going on?

As I turned the door knob, the whispers hushed to silence.

When I flipped on the light switch, I was met by the faces of all my friends. All those who have been supporting me throughout my crazy journey.

"Congratulations Y/N!" they all yelled in unison.

Huh?

First I was approached by Tōru. Well... approached is not quite the word... more like pounced on. Squeezed to death in an iron grip of a hug.

"Y/N Chan!! I'm so proud of you for graduating from treatment!" he cried into my hair.

Ah... that's what this is about.

"You are so beautiful and strong and I am so so proud of how far you have come!" Tōru exclaimed as he roughly swayed me back and forth in his arms. "Remember when Mr.Refreshing and I came over to babysit you?! Remember? Remember?" He shouted excitedly. "You've come so so far since then. You don't run away anymore and you're finishing more of your meals!"

He's still squashing me with his hug...

"Shittykawa!" A voice boomed from across the room. Oikawa immediately releaed me from his grip, his face fear stricken and pale. "Get off her right now!" That's definitely Iwa-chan. Who else would it be?

Sure enough, Iwa-chan came stomping towards us. "My apologies little Y/N," he said with a grin, then returned to a scowl, grabbed Tōru by the back of the shirt, and dragged him away.

I heard a faint chuckle come from my left. Koushi.

Without a word, Koushi comes over, carefully takes my hand, and leads me to the couch.

We were facing each other. Not saying a word. Umm... should I say something?

But before I could open my mouth, Koushi pulled me into a hug. His arms hung loosely around my petite frame, holding me in a much more delicate manner than the previous setter's suffocating hug.

"Sweeite, I am incredibly proud of your progress," he whispered into my ear before pulling away again. "Keep pushing forwards, Y/N, even when the eating disorder voice screams at you. Things tend to scream most when dying."

As soon as he pulled away from the hug, I drew him right back in. I can't even express how grateful I am to him. "Koushi, you deserve a proper thank you, for the first time you supported me back at the training camp to giving me relationship advice with Yuu to never leaving my side at the hospital, and to staying patient during a whole day of me whining and pouting over meals."

I heard a small sniffle, so I leaned back to look at Koushi's reddened face. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he let out a low chuckle and wiped it away. "Ah honey, look what you're doing. You're making me cry!"

"Ah, Sorry!" I exclaimed. "But I'm not quite finished yet." I rubbed the back of my head and grimaced. I didn't mean to make him cry!  "It's just that I've learned so much from you in general. You have taught me a lot about life and how to better handle the tough challenges I am faced with. You inspire me to continue to grow and become a better version of myself. You have made such a positive impact on my life. So thank you. Thank you for being there, listening to me, and making me smile, even when I wasn't feeling my best. With you kindness, selflessness, and determination, you are destined to do great things."

He was left speechless. "Y/N...," he breathed out.

"You don't have to say anything," I explained. "I just figured I should tell you, just in case no one has told you how amazing you are." I paused before saying my next thought, making sure to choose my words carefully. "You're more than my best friend, but like an older brother. For a while it was just me and Tobio battling the world together, but then I met so many great people who stepped in to take some of the weight off our shoulders."

Suddenly I felt a smack on the back of my head. Ow! "I'm your only brother, boke!"

"Oh hey, Tobio," I winced, rubbing the back of my head. Perfect timing...

"He's more like a mother," Tobio scoffed.

"Hey! cut it out!" I scolded him playfully, barely able to keep a straight face. Cause really, he wasn't wrong...

"Yeah, he's probably right, little one," Koushi laughed as he pinched my cheek.

Tobio flopped onto the couch next to me and peered over at Sugawara. "But for real, thanks Suga," my brother spoke across me, "You have been a really great help."

"Did THE Kageyama... just... THANK ME?!" Koushi fake cried as he waved his hands in front of his face.

"Okay that's it! I tried playing nice!" He lunged across at Sugawara across my lap, but I grabbed his wrists before he could get very far.

"Chill," I ordered simply. I released his hand and he sat back in a huff and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Thanks Oniichan!" I said in a cute little voice as I squished his cheeks together with my hand. His face soften up immediately and the anger wash away.

"Hey. Mind if I cut in?" OMG YES FINALLY.

"YUU!!!" I screamed, causing many heads to turn my way. I leaped off the couch and into his arms, embracing him tightly.

"I know I haven't formally said it yet. But I am proud of you too. I was really scared because it looked pretty rough at the beginning of your treatment, but you powered through it and are still fighting every day. Your strength inspires me, Y/N."

"No no no, you're the one who's inspired me!" I exclaimed. "You helped me find my confidence and have taught me how to be more accepting of who I am and where I'm at in life. You stayed with me through the lowest of lows, yet you still accept me for who I am."

"I more than accept you, Y/N." His hands resting on my lower back, he drew me closer to his body and planted a soft kiss on my lips. "I love you, Y/N Kageyama," he whispered.

He said it. He said exactly what I needed to hear.

"I love you too," I whispered back and squeezed him tighter.

How grateful I am to have a life filled with such wonderful people...

With them, I know everything is going to be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.

———

A/N: I really don't want to end this story, but with classes coming up again, I don't know when I'll ever finish this. I feel really bad for ending it this way, because it just feels so unfinished. BUT I will be posting random little chapters here and there afterwards (and maybe an epilogue) so stayed tuned, folks!

I want to thank you all for being so supportive and showing my story love. Your comments all mean so much to me. Remember you are all gorgeous and deserve the absolute world.