#kikuka

(part - 2)

"Hey King!"

Kageyama turned to scowl at the salt bottle walking beside him.

"What?"

Tsukishima looked at him seriously for a minute.

"Good luck"

Kageyama stared at him dumbly.

OK, out of all the things he was expecting the blocker to say, this, was not one of them.

Caught off guard he could only nod, as he looked straight ahead and walked in through the gates of Aoba Johsai high school. The whitewashed main building had a huge 'WELCOME' banner hung up. The entrance was decorated with white and turquoise crepe roses and streamers, posters announcing the event, and a few faculty members greeting the students from different schools as they came in.

"Tsk", Tsukki muttered at the sight of so much frivolity.

Kageyama agreed. This whole thing was already a huge pain in the ass, must they make a spectacle out of it, on top of that?

As they both entered the building, followed by some of their classmates and also three of their juniors from the volleyball team, faculty bowed to them and confetti rained down. All of them bowed lower in return.

A middle-aged guy in an ash suit stepped forward and introduced himself as the principal and began giving them a welcome speech, warning about breaking rules, and general instructions about what to do, in a mix. This made several of Kageyama's classmates snigger behind their hands.

Finally, they were done, and the group moved forward to the get their registration done and grab their timetables and ID cards from the office room. Kageyama stood towards the back, wanting to prolong the insufferable thing for as long as he could. Tsukishima shook his head at the idiocy but with warnings and orders from the whole volleyball team he didn't say a word. He had got outright commands never to let Kageyama get hurt, physically or mentally, from Daichi and Suga, the ex momma and dad, a fumbling request from a still nervous as ever Asahi and a hopeful request from still cool as cucumber Kiyoko. Yachi had tried to do the same as her senpai, but ended up shaking and shivering, much to Yamaguchi and Hinata's chagrin.

How was he to blame for that? Tsukishima thought now.

But nevertheless he had nodded and agreed. But he'd only got the seriousness of his assignment, when Kageyama's class rep approached him (not fearlessly) and requested him the same.

Apparently, Hinata had, in a Samaritan act, disclosed the whole King of the Court thing. And instead of scaring off people or making them pity Kageyama, they'd only shown him kindness. Especially after knowing the reason for his insensitivity was trauma, lack of emotional support and loneliness.

The whole class had become extra protective of the youngest, just like Suga, Daichi and Hinata had at first, followed by Yamaguchi and Tsukishima. The ravenette had almost cried, the day his whole class along with his homeroom teacher told him that they'd have his back always and be there for him. Boys and girls alike, had attempted to dry his tears or wrap him in hugs to comfort him. His homeroom teacher had thanked Hinata fervently, finally understanding the reason for the quietest kid in her class being so. She had gone so far as to praise him in class. Hinata had had a swollen head for about three days, and Kenma totally hadn't helped, praising the moron every time he recounted the story.

As soon as Kageyama's classmates had got news that Seijoh was his placement, they'd decided to help Tsukishima with his task.

Coming back to the present, he noticed several of the said students waiting about for Kageyama and the few others who weren't done yet.

Just then, a tall boy came up to him.

"Tsukishima", he smiled a charming smile at the bespectacled boy.

"Yamato" He nodded back.

Yamato was a well loved boy, who was in the same class as Tsukishima. The attention and flattery of more than half the girls of his school hadn't spoiled him or gone to his head. He still remained the same humble, helpful guy. He was also from Kageyama's old school, Kitagawa. One of the few who had been nice to him even after the King had been ostracized by his teammates.

His friendship with the King was a most intriguing one, thought Tsukishima, observing the handsome boy next to him, from the corner of his eye. He could see a few girls in the Fukurodani uniform gloating at Yamato. At his silky russet hair, the longer wavy tips almost reaching till his neck. At his bright emerald green eyes. The toned body that came from playing basketball (not volleyball Tsukishima had learned via Yamaguchi that although the boy played volleyball, he only did it to help Kageyama with his sets), his friendly smile his charismatic aura.

Yamato smiled politely at the girls, who almost squealed (Tsukishima snorted) and returned his attention to his classmate.

"Where's Tobio?"

Tsukishima pointed out the reluctant setter. Yamato sighed. Then approached the boy, smiling at him and spoke to him. Kageyama nodded in response. Most people were done by now, and were moving away in small groups.

Kageyama seemed to have finished with the formalities too.

As Tsukishima watched, he saw two boys in volleyball jackets walking upto the desk on which Kageyama was bending over, signing his name. As one of them tilted his head slightly, Tsukishima's eyes widened.

Not good, he thought alarmed.

He tried to wave to Yamato to get him to pry Kageyama out of the path of the approaching boys. But neither Yamato nor Kageyama noticed. Neither him, nor the sleepy looking boy or the 'turnip head' walking next to him.

Not until it was too late.

Not until Kageyama whirled around to come face to face with the two people he most wanted to and did not want to meet with.

"Gah!" all three gasped at the same time.

Kageyama stared at Kunimi and Kindaichi.

Kindaichi and Kunimi stared back at Kageyama.