Chapter 23: Hosting Birds and Cat

I was woken by a knock on the door. It went silent for a moment as I forced my eyelids open, but started right back up again.

"Come in," I said, to the best of my abilities, voice still waking up.

I forced myself to sit up as Uncle Kaoru opened my door. He leaned in the doorway saying, "Good morning Zara."

"Good morning uncle Kaoru," I yawned, rubbing my eyes.

"Get up now, you're being a terrible host."

"What?"

He laughed a bit saying, "Your friend has been up for the past hour, running around the property. While you're still here in bed."

"Well your children are the host, not me," I grunted, flopping back down to my pillow.

Even when Bokuto is away from his dad, he still looks for distractions. A way to not think about it.

Uncle Kaoru laughed in my doorway saying, "Get up. Breakfast is in ten minutes."

Quickly I shot up to catch him as he was turning away from my room. "Oh uncle Kaoru!"

He stopped, turning back towards my room, "Yeah, kid?"

"Do you think I can borrow one of the game systems here? And a few games?" I asked carefully.

He leaned in the door frame again, his brows pulling together. "I don't recall you being much of a gamer."

I shrugged a little saying, "Well it's Bokuto. He um... he lost his system and all his games so he can't play anymore."

"He lost it?" He questioned.

"It got stolen," I threw out, hoping it would stick.

"Stolen?"

I nodded, but he wasn't buying it.

"You know kid, me and my brother were master liars growing up," he started to step more into my room now, "We were afraid that it might rub off on our children, which. It did." He walked over to me, patting me on the head saying, "I'm just happy that it hasn't rubbed off on you."

He kissed the top of my head asking, "He a Playstation or Xbox guy?"

"I don't know?" I admitted, we never really talked about games.

"Well what kind of games does he like to play?"

I shrugged.

He rolled his eyes before heading out of my room, "Find out by tonight and I'll see what I can do." He closed the door.

He'll see what he can do. Ha, he's rich. He can do anything. I really just didn't want to straight up ask, hey can you buy my friend a brand new game system? But I know that's what he's going to do anyway.

I'll just leave it in my room at the Ito house and he can come over and play it whenever he wants. That way, his dad can't sell it.

Quickly I got dressed and went out into the hall. Another door was closing as mine was. I looked up to see Kaoru, my cousin Kaoru.

"Kaoru, good morning."

"Morning Z," he smiled, waiting for me to step beside him before we started walking towards the dining room together.

"So," I started, "I could have sworn I saw a pretty little setter leaving your room at around 2 this morning."

His smile deepened as his head sank. He bit his bottom lip before looking up and saying, "Now you would of had to been in the hall to have seen that right. Maybe, leaving an owl head's room at 2 this morning. Does that sound about right?"

There was no point in lying to KJ, "sounds about right," I nodded, "I fell asleep talking to Bokuto though. Innocent enough. What about you?"

He chuckled and smirked, "Maybe not that innocent."

I gasped, "Kaoru," Smacking him in the chest.

He just laughed, "Don't be hate cuz you ain't get no action last night."

"Who are you right now," I questioned with narrow eyes as we made our way down the stairs.

He was playful, but genuinely excited. He tried calming himself as he said, "Nah, we only kissed a couple times but, it was cool hanging out just the two of us."

"Dang, you really like her."

He laughed more saying, "I'm not heartless Z, I'm not just gonna lead a nice girl on if I have 0 interest in her."

"You're a host," I said as we stepped into the dining room.

He nodded, "That's true, but I'm a good one because I see value in everyone."

He turned and stepped towards Aimi. As he sat down beside her he whispered something in her ear that made her smile and blush. My little cousin's got game. I can't deny that.

I searched for Bokuto, he shouldn't be hard to find the tallest person in this house but he wasn't in here. He can rushing in a few moments later saying, "Sorry. I wanted to grab a shower after my run this morning and I got lost on my way here." He chuckled a bit saying, "I haven't been in this part of the house yet."

Aunt Bri laughed saying, "It's a lot of house, takes a while to get used to, trust me."

"Alright, why don't we all sit down and eat." Uncle Kaoru said as he pulled a chair out for his wife. She planted a kiss on his cheek before sitting down. He sat beside her and none of us really shied away. Well beside Akaashi and Aimi. Aunt Bri and Uncle Kaoru love each other, that's not a secret around here. No one ever has to question it. You can see it in the way that he looks at her, every time, as though he's the happiest man alive. It wasn't disgusting or disturbing to be around, it was sort of peaceful. Knowing that a love can be so strong.

We all sat down around the table. Hina sat beside her father with Akaashi on her other side, beside Akaashi was Aimi with KJ at her side. Beside KJ was Ros, who I sat next to, leaving Bokuto to sit between me and Aunt Bri, closing up the table. Breakfast was severed and we ate talking casually. Aunt Bri looking up and smiling at the blend of such different students at her table. She's crazy for smiling at a house full of teenagers but she did anyways.

"Oh, Mrs. Hitachiin?" Bokuto said excitedly, "Do you think I can invite a friend here later? He's gonna help Z with her blocking."

"I don't have a problem with it," she said not looking at him. She didn't have to look, everything could be heard in the sound of her voice as it turned sharp, "As long as you and your little Baby Bird finish you school project. Honestly it was assigned on Monday, I don't understand why it's not done yet."

"We're almost done," I pleaded.

"Umm... When does your report card come in? I expect to see no less that a B."

Bokuto swallowed hard, as if she was talking to him. I typically don't bring home less than a B and the work at Fukurodani has honestly been easier than the work at Ouran. I can't say that I've been struggling academically.

Uncle Kaoru put on a chill, light tone saying, "Bri relax, they'll get it done. They work hard everyday, probably just used some time to unwind. Watched some movies, maybe played a few video games. Right?" Uncle Kaoru sent a wink in my direction, "Bokuto, what do you play?"

"I actually don't play that often but," Bokuto listened off about three games that he plays on the Playstation and I saw as Uncle Kaoru made mental notes of everything her said, while still keeping the conversation casual, not letting it turn into the feeling of an interview.

We finished our breakfast and Uncle Kaoru stood saying, "Alright, I'm going to a few stores today." He pointed to his eldest, "Ros, you with me?"

"Ah yes, even Daddy see that I'm the ultimate third wheel here." She stood as well saying, "I'm with you."

Uncle Kaoru smiled, walking over and wrapping an arm around his daughter's shoulders, "Alright, anybody need anything?"

"Ooo, Ros can you grab me some black tights? And that new manga of My hero academia?" I said remembering how the weather is starting to chill.

"SD card," KJ shouted out.

"Another one? I just got you one last week. It's already full?" His dad asked.

"Dad, do you know how much music is out there?"

"No, but you probably do. There's no doubt in my mind that you listened to every song on the planet."

"Now I have to own every song on the planet," KJ smiled, knowing his dad will meet his request.

"Anyone else," Uncle Kaoru asked, "I am addressing the whole table here. You do not need to be my child to add to my shopping list."

Bokuto spoke up, "Could you grab a few sports drinks?"

"Bokuto, yes, yes I can. Anyone else? Oh Akaashi, you said some take out for lunch would be nice. Noted. What was that Aimi? You're so quiet, oh you said that some ice cream sounds good. You're right, I'll grab some ice cream. Alright, Ros let's go."

Ros laughed at her father but turned with him and left. I laughed to saying, "He does that sometimes."

"He just wants everyone to feel included," Aunt Bri said. Then her voice turned cold as she said, "Now my Love, I believe you and Bokuto have some work to do."

I stood up right away nodding, "Yes, Aunty," and pulling Bokuto from his seat. He stumbled out of his chair and didn't catch his balance until we reached the hall.

"No need for the yanking Baby Bird," he said as we reached the stairs. I looked around, stopping, standing a step ahead of him, bringing me to about his height.

I turned to face him and for the first time, I grabbed Bokuto and kissed him. He pulled back, surprised, "What's that for?"

I shrugged saying, "Just because I can. I can right?"

He smiled, leaning in more as he said quietly, "You can." He brought his lips back to mine, kiss growing deeper, like he's been waiting to do this for a while. But this time I pulled back.

"Come on," I said taking his hand, "We have to finish the project."

"Sure, after you tell me what's gotten into you?"

We went to my room and I shut the door chuckling, "I may or may not have seen Aimi leaving KJ's room at like 2AM."

"What?" Bokuto laughed.

I nodded, "Yeah, we talked and I think it's safe to say that she's over you. And said that she wouldn't be upset with me if me and you happen to start dating at some point in the future."

He plopped down on my bed saying, "Another two weeks til fall tournaments. Anything could happen between now and then. I mean you did go out with that one guy from class B on Thursday. What was his name again?"

"I don't even remember," I shrugged. I grabbed my bookbag and snatched my laptop out of it. "Now let's finish this up, we're almost done."

We had a presentation due for geography. Each group got a major country in Europe, we got Hungary. When our teacher was calling out names of counties, people raised their hands if they wanted it. When he said, Hungary? Bokuto heard, Hungry? And raised his hand with a grumbling stomach.

We had a few more facts to put in, and Bokuto added some more images to our powerpoint. Once we finished, we decided to practice a few times, but first, "Call Kuroo, tell him to get ready. I'ma text Jay to go get him, we should be done by the time he gets here."

He nodded, pulling out his phone and calling him. "Kuroo, puts some clothes on, this guy named Jay in gonna pick you up soon? Where do you live?"

This, this was not enough information at all. I don't know how I would feel if someone called me telling me some random man was about to pick me up. "Um... I think he needs a little more information than that."

Bokuto looked confused for a second, but then Kuroo said something, probably asking for more information. "Oh, it's Baby Bird's driver. You're gonna come to her aunt's house and help her with her blocks."

None of this was a question. Bokuto simply just stated that he would come, as if he had nothing else to do on a saturday.

"Oh, and if you wanna stay the night, pack some clothes. Akaashi's here too. We're leaving tomorrow night. Alright, text me your address, and look out for a black car in like 20 minutes. Alright, see you later." He hung up the phone and that was it.

"That was it?" I couldn't help but ask.

"What?"

"You didn't even give him a choice."

"Yes I did," he shrugged, "I said that if he wanted to stay the night then he had to pack some clothes. If."

I shook my head. My phone buzzed in my lap, it was Bokuto sending me Kuroo's address. I sent it to Jay and tossed my phone on the bed beside me.

"Okay, let's practice," I said.

I started to scroll to the top of the powerpoint. Bokuto leaned closer saying, "Okay," he wanted to practice alright, but not the presentation. He brought his lips to mine, kissing me gently at first. As he kissed me he moved my laptop behind him on the bed so there was no longer anything between us but air. Which he quickly cut through that air, pulling me closer to him.

I pulled away from his kiss, chuckling, "I thought we were supposed to be practicing?"

"We are," He said, coming in again. Stronger this time, pushing me back onto the bed, his upper body hovering over mine.

His lips pressed to mine, my aggressive and demanding than pasted kisses between us. Yet still soft, and welcoming. I wanted to feel this, this heat between us, feel his body so close to mine as our lips moved together. He found an opening, letting his tongue slip into my mouth, and that is what woke me up from this trance. Feeling his tongue slid across mine made me pull back, sitting up and inch away from him.

He sat up too asking, "Are you okay?" His eyes questioned worriedly, but his mouth still held a grin.

I nodded, maybe a little too much, "Yeah, yeah, just, you know, that was... Different."

"Different good or different bad?"

I shrugged high saying, "I don't know yet, just... different."

He nodded, still chuckling and grinning, "Sorry, I lost control for a sec."

"It's fine," I said, "Just not used to this. I told, never really been with anyone and you're the only person I've ever kissed so..."

"Yeah, same here?" He nodded.

"What?" I said, shocked a looked that at to what he was trying to tell me, "You never had a girlfriend?"

He shook his head, "Nope. Never kissed anyone either." He grabbed the laptop from the bed and placed it on his lap saying, "I always thought that girls would be a distraction from volleyball, so I sort of just stayed away. Then well... You came and I can be with you and still do volleyball stuff, it's like the perfect combo of hot girl and volleyball partner. And you're smarter than me so, we are totally acing every school project." He put the powerpoint on present mode and asked, "Alright so I think I should do the introduction since I'm great at attention getters."

And he went on, so casually transitioning into study. It honestly amazes me how nothing is a big deal to him. Or I suppose most things aren't a big deal to him.

We went through our presentation a few times before changing and heading down to the court. Aunt Bri doesn't agree with people looking unpresentable, even at home, so slumming around in gym clothes all day is a no go. I changed into some black leggings, and a yellow t-shirt with the logo for UA on it, as though I went to My Hero Academia rather than Fukurodani. On the back it read Deku, at the top, like on a jersey. It reminded me of my jersey for a moment. The way the girls laughed when I got the number 4. But those girls laugh at everything. I snatched my sneakers and hurried down to the court. Bokuto was already there stretching. I joined him asking, "Can we work on serving first?" I wanted to be able to aim my serves like Bokuto does. Yeah, this might not happen in the few week before the tournament, but I plan on playing even after the tournament.

"Whatever you want Baby Bird," he said but his voice got more serious as he said, "But you will block me today. At least once."

I nodded, "Got it."

I stretched deeply, preparing myself for a lot of jumping. Volleyball requires a good amount of flexibility to get your body to move how you want it. I have a little more than a good amount of flexibility. And Bokuto may have been staring a little more than needed, but I said nothing. Just grabbed a few volleyballs and started working on my jump serve. Bokuto worked on his too, trying to push more power into his already powerful serve. If only the other teams saw this guy in the weight room. He's a lot stronger than he looks. And he already looks strong, you just have to really look at the way his muscles are cut and defined. He's lean and fit.

He must have noticed most of my balls going to a specific area on the court. I stopped and watched me for a few serves before asking, "Are you trying to aim your serve?"

"Trying," I huffed.

He laughed a little. He dropped the ball in his hand and walked to the other side of the net. He placed himself in the center of the court saying, "Hit me." He opened his arms out wide, trying to taunt me. He dropped his knees and loosely got into position.

"Fine," I shrugged. Giving it a shot. I was off, by like a lot. Like a lot of times.

"Come on Baby Bird, I'm getting bored." He taunted. Still standing the the middle of the court.

"This is the one," I said, trying to convince myself more than him, "This is it. This is the one, I got you." I grabbed a ball and went back to the edge of the court. There's so many mechanics to it. The toss. The jump, the position in which I hit, the power in which I hit, the angle in my hand, the timing, the spot I wish to hit.

There's been so many times people have come up to me saying volleyball isn't a real sport or volleyball is easy, trying to convince me to join the basketball team. They have no idea the work you have to put in. They say it's easy, but no sport is easy.

I did my two hand toss, feeling good about it. I jumped at my highest point and made sure my timing was right before my eyes shot to Bokuto. I know I already lined up my shot, I just have to make it, I just have to swing. Which I did, taking some of the power off to focus more on aim.

The moment my hand hit the ball, I heard Bokuto shout. "Yeah Baby Bird!" He lowered himself into position and received the ball, pushing it back onto my side of the net.

I wasn't expecting it to come back, but my body wouldn't let it fall, not with it being touched. I ran for it, diving last minute to get under it and get it up. I got it up high enough but not enough to push it over the net.

"Got it," I heard someone shout out.

I got to my feet quickly, seeing Akaashi get under the ball to set it, "Z, last hit."

I backed up a step to make my approach. And jumped, slamming the ball down right out of Bokuto's reach. He dove for it, getting a hand on it, but it wasn't enough, and Akaashi was on my side now. At least for the moment.

"Nice one," Akaashi said high fiving me.

I smirked, mimicking Bokuto by saying, "Hey, hey, hey," but more calmly than he does.

"Akaashi!" Bokuto shouted, getting up from the ground, "You're supposed to be on my team!"

"Well Aimi is changing, she's be down in a sec." He smirked a little saying, "she actually came to me, asking for help with her setting."

"Wanting to grow on her own," I smiled smugly. It's an addictive feeling truly. The need to be better, to improve, even if only by the slightest. And Aimi has not only gotta a taste of this embetterment drug, but she's getting hook. Like Bokuto. Like me.

"Umm...?" Sounded a deep voice at the entrance of our court. I looked over to see Kuroo standing there with one hand on his hip, the other rubbing the back of his neck, "I think I'm missing something here. This guy in all black shows up at my house, puts me in a car and drives to this mansion. What don't I know? Is Z's family like mafia leaders or something?"

"Or something," I chucked at the rooster top, "Come on. Bokuto said you could help me with my blocks."

"Last time we were here, Baby Bird managed to block me, but she hasn't been able to do it since." Bokuto explained.

Kuroo stepped onto the court pulling his arms in a stretch, "You weren't taking it easy on her were you?"

"Of course not," Bokuto shouted.

Aimi came onto the court chuckling, "You sure? We all know you got a soft spot when it comes to your little Baby Bird."

I could choke her.

"Not on the court he doesn't," Akaashi stated, "As long as she's on the other side of the net. She's a threat, and he treats her as that."

Bokuto clapped, pulling everyone's attention to him, "Alright then. Now that we're all here. Aimi, set me up, Akaashi, couch her through it. Z, you're on blocking, Kuroo, eyes on Baby Bird."

Kuroo eyed me with his smug grin, "No problem."

"Alright, let's get this going," Bokuto called out, jogging to his spot. Everyone got on board, listening to the instructions of the captain.

By the time Uncle Kaoru came down, shouting for us to come in and eat lunch, I had blocked Bokuto four times with the help of Kuroo. Bokuto was right about him. Though they may not be on the same team, he's great when it comes to blocking. I don't think I could have gotten help like this from anyone else.

Which only led me to wonder, "Hey, Kuroo, why are you helping me? It's not like I go to your school or anything." I asked as we made our way back into the house.

"It's not like I have to play you," he huffed, then more senierly said, "Our girls club doesn't take the sport as seriously as we do. They don't feel a real need to improve, but after they played against you. They started working harder. So they stronger you get, the stronger they'll get, and Nekoma will have a double victory at nationals this year."

"Keep dreaming!" Bokuto shouted as we entered the dining room.

Uncle Kaoru was passing around boxes of noodles takeout when he looked up at us. He smiled, "Zara, you gotta stop bringing kids taller than me into my house."

He stood up straight and stepped forward reaching for Kuroo's hand, "Kuroo right, Kaoru Hitachiin."

"Thank you for having me," Kuroo said politely, shaking his hand.

"No problem, always room," Uncle Kaoru took a few boxes and started out of the dining room saying, "Now I'm going to go have lunch with my wife. Movie night tonight."

He left us in the dining room and us volleyball players sat down at the table my cousins were already seated at. "Kuroo, these are my cousins-" I was going to introduce them, but they jumped in taking over.

"Hana," she said cheerfully.

"Kaoru or KJ," KJ nodded before digging into his food.

"Rosalind," she smiled charmingly, folding her hands beneath her chin, "I hope you enjoy your time with us."

He leaned forward in his seat across from her grinning, "I'm sure I will."

These damn host. It's like they have a super power or something.