Chapter 16: Meeting the Host Club, Gen 2

(Long chapter. Slight spoilers for my other story, "Ouran High School Host Club and the American." But if you don't read that, don't worry about it. These are just other characters to you.)

"Bokuto, let's go!" I urged banging on his bedroom door, "Our ride is here."

Finally the door opened and he came out of his room, wearing a white button down shirt and so dress pants with dress shoes. He was fiddling with a black tie around his neck as he muttered, "Alright, I'm ready." Then he looked up from his tie to see me. My hair up in a puff. In jean shorts and an orange cropped hoodie.

I laughed a little saying, "It's casual."

"What!" He screamed, looking as though he were ready to melt away.

I laughed full on now pushing him back into his room, "Just hurry up and change. We're gonna be outside so grab some sneakers."

He grunted, walking back into his room with a slouch. "Damn rich people," he muttered as he closed his door.

I chuckled heading outside, seeing the shiny black limo I told aunt Bri to send. I smiled, imagining Bokuto's face once he steps out and sees it.

I've alway preferred taking a car over a limo, same as most of the Hitachiin family. But I knew it would make Bokuto happy.

The driver side door opened and an older man stepped out, walking around the hood of the car calling, "Zara!"

I smile spread across my face, "Hey Jay," I called back. I hoped it would be him. He's been driving me around since I got here.

He used to drive my uncle Kaoru and uncle Hikaru around after their last driver got fired for being racist and trying to turn my aunt over to a KKK mob.

Needless to say, no one on the Hitachiin staff is racist now. Kinda hard to hate Black people when a Black woman signs your checks. Ultimate power move.

The adults took on older more boring drivers leaving the fun and nosy ones to the kids. That's how I got stuck with Jay. Always grinning wide, playing the music we want to listen too, and always having an ear turned to the back seat.

That wide grin spread to his face as he leaned on the hood folding his hands in front of him. "Living small I see, and walking to school?" He shook his head saying, "I could have handled the drive from the Hitachiin home."

I shook my head laughing, "I was not getting up at 5AM just to get to school every morning."

He shrugged chuckling, "Guess you're right."

He started walking towards the back door just as the front door of Bokuto's house opened. Quickly turned towards him, not wanting to miss a moment of his reaction.

His golden eyes widened as he stepped beyond the threshold. Jaw dropping yet the corners of his mouth still managed to rise. His fist began to rise as well, shooting into the air with an excited, "Hey, hey, hey!"

I laughed, stepping towards the limo saying, "Come on."

He stepped behind me with his arms still in the air. Not lowering them until Jay bowed saying, "Young master," as I stepped in. I moved aside for Bokuto to get in and as he did, Jay bowed again, grinning as he said, "Bokuto."

Spoke fell on Bokuto's face. Breathlessly he gasped, "He knows my name!"

Then his face went hard as he asked, "are you some type of spy? Or a robot?"

"My aunt told him, now come on!" I laughed. I reached out of the limo grabbing Bokuto's hand and pulling him inside.

Inside, the excited eyes began to roam. Flashing to every inch of the limos inside. Jay got into the car, cracking the old joke he would make. "Jay-Z, heading home." Then he turned on the radio playing Empire State of Mind. And started on the ride home.

Bokuto just had to touch everything, like my little brother in Target. About a quarter of the way there he relaxed enough for me to noticed the way his blue t-shirt hugged his arms tightly, his deep cutting muscles flexing as he put his hands behind his head. He slouched a little, causing his shorts to raise slightly up his thigh as he stretched his long legs out before him.

"I could get used to the leg room," he said.

Hearing him speak in japanese made me remember, "How's your English?"

He does well enough in English class, but we only practice rehearsed lines and let's face it. American English is not regular English. And my family's English, is all kinds of crazy.

"Good enough," he shrugged in English. Sounding, good enough.

"My grandparents are in town. They don't speak much Japanese at all. And my grandma doesn't like people talking around her when she doesn't understand what they're saying. Other than that, they're cool."

"The grandparents are great, it's the rest of the American family you got to worry about. Ooo, you are lucky. Her poor uncle Kaoru just stopped hiding from her uncle Mike." Jay was laughing in the front.

"Mind your's, Jay." I called up in English. Might as well give Bokuto some practice before throwing him to the sharks.

Bokuto looked confused. Quietly I said to him, "Mind your own business."

"Minding my own doesn't get me the big bucks Z, you know that." He chuckled and the ride went on.

Bokuto's entire body seemed to light up as we approached the mansion. Even his hair seemed to stand taller as his eyelids raised as high as they could go.

"You lived here, Baby Bird?" He asked excitedly, leaning on the door of the car.

I only shook my head laughing as Jay pulled up to the front of the house. The moment Jay opened the door Bokuto sprung out. He landed on the first step of the home before turning to see that I wasn't running behind him.

I walked calmly, stepping up the three stone steps and up to the large door that opened at my arrival.

"Welcome home Young master," said the female twin servant. They've been around since my twin uncles were kids.

"Thank you," I nodded as I stepped inside. Bokuto trailing a step behind me.

"Welcome Bokuto," they said to him.

He jumped, startled at the use of his name.

Still smiling I asked the servants, "Where's Rosalind?"

"The den," they both answered before heading off. I know the house, they know they don't need to escort me around.

Bokuto looked around in bewilderment. And I chuckled, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the den.

"Warning about my cousins, Rosalind's a bit of a hand full and the twins. Well..." I tried to find a way to put it nicely but there isn't one. "They're demons," I shrugged.

"They can't be that bad," Bokuto said, still looking around.

"Ugh...," was all I could say, "Then there's the extended family. And they are all characters. But everyone is extremely charming. Perfect host," I chuckled.

I stopped outside the double doors of the den. I turned to Bokuto looking him up and down. There was no one at Ouran like him. Such strong arms, such defined legs, every muscle carved to perfection.

I laughed a little saying, "I'm sure my cousin Rosalind will love you."

"What?" He asked, he's wondering eyes finally falling to me.

I did not answer though, just turned the knob and opened the door. I saw my cousin plopped into an armchair with her phone in hand. With a few more people lounging around. The young ones. Gen 2, stuffed up in a room while the adults are who knows where.

"Ros," I called out.

Excitedly her eyes flicked up from her phone, "Z," she said cheerfully, fumbling from her chair to her feet.

She rushed over to me, throwing her thin arms around my neck. I wrapped my arms around her waist hugging my cousin. Behind her back I waved to everyone else in the room. Behind my back, she was checking out Bokuto and I knew it.

She pulled back, eyes already locked on him. "So this is him," she gave a smile, "The ace of Fukurodani. The great Bokuto." She stepped around me, delicately offering a hand to Bokuto, "I'm Rosalind, Zara has told me all about you."

Bokuto reached for her hand and she took this chance to get her first feel on him. She reached, placing a hand on his forearm. Her Carmel brown eyes widened as she gasped, "wow you're solid." Her hand started creeping up his arm to his bicep, "And you're not even flexing."

She still held his hand in her right as she slowly began to close the gap between them, letting her left hand move to his chest. "Umm," Bokuto looked to me confused.

I just laughed, "Rosalind Hitachiin, 3rd year, current president of the Ouran Highschool Host Club."

"Nice to meet you," Bokuto said in a worried tone, watching her hand slip down to his abs that were already simi visible from the tightness of his thin t-shirt.

"It is nice, isn't it." She tilted her head up and the closeness suddenly became real for Bokuto. If we wanted to kiss her, all he would have to do is lean down. But he just stood there, eyes flicking to me as I tried not the laugh out loud. I knew Ros would behave like this.

"Rosalind, you're off duty today," called a voice from the corner, his dark eyes peering over his black book. His voice calm, like Akaashi's when he went on to say, "No need to be a hoe." I made an unnatural sound, throwing my hand over my mouth, trying to hold in a hollering laugh.

Ros took her hands from Bokuto's body and placed them on her hip. He then raised an innocent smile above his black, saying charmingly, "I mean, a host."

I died. Bent over laughing as he approached. I held a fist up for him to bump as he stepped closer. As he did I said, "Nice one."

I stood up tall saying, "Takshi Ootori, 3rd year at Ouran middle."

Takashi reached for Bokuto's hand but he was pushed aside by the blue eyed golden boy, "Yes, and he apologizes for using such crude language," his blue eyes darted over his shoulder at Takshi but he was unfazed.

"Ryouji Suoh, 1st year at Ouran high. Vice president of the Ouran Highschool Host Club."

"Host club?" Bokuto questioned. Both Ros and Ryouji looked as though they were ready to explain to him what that was but before either could, two bodies appeared in the door frame of the den.

In unison, the two voices said, "So you are here Zara." Their voices sound so monotone. Their golden eyes then looked up to Bokuto, "And you brought someone from school."

"Bokuto, these are the birthday twins, Hana and Kaoru Hitachiin. We call Kaoru KJ though, since he's a junior."

The twins stepped into the room, walking perfectly together, their golden eyes staying on Bokuto with each step. They began to step around his, one on each side until they came together behind his back, both looking him up and down. Finding everything they can to attack.

Bokuto spun around quickly to keep up with them. He laughed nervously saying, "Wow, you two look alike."

Ros and the twins looked similar, all of them sharing the same tone of bright brown skin, tan like the meat of a walnut. Aunty Bri's skin was light as well, well lighter than me. She was the brown bark of a young walnut tree. While me, I was the fertile dirt that held these deep roots.

Ros had hair that was a lighter, sandy brown. Thick in curls that hung down to her shoulder blades. Not thick in curls like mine, that reached up to the clouds.

but the twins, their brown curls reflected reddish in the light.Their eyes golden like their father.

The twins did carry the same features. They would be identical if one wasn't a boy and the other a girl.

Those golden eyes slipped to each other, conforming something in their private language before looking up to Bokuto.

"And you know what you look like to us? An owl."

Bokuto looked prideful for just a small moment before the twins went on.

"Do you think he did that on purpose KJ?" Hana asked, trying to sound innocent.

"Who would do something like that on purpose?"

"Isn't their school mascot, an owl or something?"

"Oh so he's the mascot," KJ said before giving a cold look, "I can't see him being much good at anything else."

Bokuto started to lose color and I tried not to laugh, as I said, "He's not the mascot."

"Oh!" They said together before Hana offered, "Well maybe it's to make him look taller."

"But he's already so tall," KJ pointed out before giving a mischievous grin saying, "Unless he's compensating for something else." He's eyes slid down Bokuto's body to a place that made Bokuto turn red.

While Hana's eyes turned to me saying, "Z would know, wouldn't she?"

My mouth dropped now. They both turned to me with that grin saying, "How was your little sleeper over?"

KJ's eyes flicked back to Bokuto's crotch as he asked, "As little as I predict?"

"Leave Zara and her boyfriend alone will you," said the final one in the room.

I sighed, "He's not my boyfriend."

"Good," Ros and the twins all said, all in relief.

I rolled my eyes pointing to my other cousin. My uncle Hikaru's son and aunt Ren's, "Kata Hitachiin, 2nd year Ouran middle."

I looked to Bokuto and he was still pale and staring off into space.

Hana leaned over to KJ saying, "Think we broke him?"

"That or he's just stupid," KJ responded.

From the hall someone called out, "You kids get outside, foods going on the grills now." My grandma appeared in the doorway and everyone headed for the door saying, "Yes grandma," even if she's not the grandmother of a few people in the room.

Bokuto didn't move as everyone shuffled out. I hugged and kissed my grandma telling her, "I'll be out in a sec."

She looked back into the room at Bokuto then gave a suspicious, "Oh alright," before following everyone to the back garden, "You got two minutes before I send in your grandpa."

I laughed, waved it off and turned back to Bokuto. He regained his color but was still staring off into space. "I told you the twins were demons. But that'll probably be the worst of it."

"Baby bird?" He questioned softly, "What did she mean when she said grills?"

"Oh," I said looking confused, "Um, we're having a barbecue."

His eyes lite up, everything coming back to life. "Barbecue?" Drool was already falling from his lip.

I rolled my eyes, saying, "Wipe your month and come on." I turned to leave the den and he followed, practically walking on my heels. At least until we got outside.

I spotted my grandpa standing at one of the three grills and ran towards him shouting, "Grandpa!" He turned and opened his arms wide for me to fall into. Grandpa was dark, like the damp earth. Like me. The only one like me. My family is a rainbow of browns and me and him are the deepest of brown.

Bokuto caught up to me and my grandpa held a hand out to him saying, "Black."

Bokuto looked confused, 'I'm sorry, what?" He said in English, looking to me.

I laugh, "He's called Black. He's so black his nickname is Black."

"That's right," he nodded with a wide grin, sweat beads glistening in the sunlight.

Bokuto nodded still confused saying, "Bokuto."

"Bokuto," grandpa nodded before tilling his head to the grill, "Know anything bout grilling son?"

"Nope," Bokuto said, looking at the meat on the grill in a daze.

Grandpa placed a hand on his shoulder saying, "Let me teach you a few things."

And just like that, I lost Bokuto and had to go entertain myself.

I made my way around to all the adults first. Getting all my hugs and how are yous out of the way from my real aunts and uncles and my fake ones from the family uncle Tamaki started years ago. The original host club. Been together so long, what else can you call them besides family.

I caught up with my cousins on what's been going on at Ouran and with the host club. Same old stuff as always. Then the conversation turned to me. Well to Bokuto. We all sat in the grass and Ros turned to Bokuto turning meat on the grill beside grandpa.

"So," Ros said, "Since he isn't your boyfriend he's open game right?"

"I wouldn't say that," I said shyly.

By Ouran standards, Rosalind was prettier than me. She had just enough black and just enough Japanese to make her into the beauty she is. Me, I'm just black. Dark black. Nappy headed black. When given the choice between Ros and me, people picked Ros, everytime. And I didn't want Bokuto to pick her too. She is the president of the host club for crying out loud. She knows how to make anyone fall for her.

Her eyes slide sharply to me with a sly smile, as if she plotted this, "So there is something there."

"Called it," the twins said.

"It's not like that." I Said, lying back in the grass, letting the sun soak into my skin.

Music poured across the yard, grandma's Playlist of old r&b and hip hop songs. Cookout music.

Ros laid back next to me asking, "Well what is it like?"

What was it like? I couldn't seem to think of anything other than, "Complicated."

"Ros, Zara," Grandma called from the house, "Come help me get this food."

We got up walking towards the house. Ros was dying to tell her that there are servants to do that but we keep our mouths shut and listen. I've grown up around grandma, but Ros has spent enough summers with her to know not to talk back. Just do what she says.

We followed her into the kitchen where the cooks were all standing around. Grandma stuck a big bowl of green beans in one of my arms, and a bowl of potato salad in the other. She handed Ros a big pan of baked Macaroni and cheese, then shooed us to the door talking about how these cooks don't know nothing bout soul food. Some servants came out behind us with plates, napkins, silverware and condiments. Grandma came out with a big pitcher of lemonade and another pitcher of sweet tea. We set the side dishes on a table beside the first grill. There was also buns for burgers and hot dogs, and the plates and everything. Everything set up as an assembly line. Start at this table, grab a plate, work your way down.

Mom set down the pitches and called out to the yard, over the music and conversations. "Alright, adults ya'll come grab your plates first."

Then she looked at me saying only to me, "Zara, make sure you make your friend a plate first."

Then grandpa joined her side and she began making both her's and his plates. After so many year of marriage, she pretty much knows what he wants. But will still point to something every now and again asking, "You want some of this? A lot or a little?" Then her top food saying, "You can always come back for more."

In my family, there was always enough food. Always. You could always come back for more.

I saw my aunt Bri come up to the table with my uncle Kaoru. Him looking down the line at my grandparents, making sure they weren't watching before wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder and whispering his order in her ear. Probably a few other things too from the way she giggled. Ew. They'll be 40 in a few years and still act like lovey-dovey teenagers. But still, aunt Bri was always given the same instructions grandma just gave me.

Make the man's plate. I'd love to say that Bokuto has two hands, he'll be fine, but, you just don't talk back to grandma.

All the adults made their way down the line and seated themselves at a huge oval-shaped stone table. Specially made for big family gatherings like this.

They all sat, filling most of the table, leveling a row of chairs for us young ones to fill after making our own plates.

Everyone else was already getting started as Bokuto stepped to my side, "Your grandpa is really cool."

"Yeah," I smiled, "He's always friendly with the newbies." I grabbed two plates and turned to Bokuto asking, "What do you want?"

"What?" He asked, looking confused.

I sigh a bit saying, "My grandma will kill me if I don't make your first plate for you, so, tell me what you want."

He blinked hard, "Oh, um... meat."

"What kind of meat?"

"All of it," his mouth began to drool again.

I turned to the table and just started throwing things on the plates saying, "Well you not just gonna sit here with a plate full of meat, so I'ma give some sides too. Just a little bit, if you like it you can always come back for more." I felt like my grandma saying that. But I just shook it off and made our plates with a little bit of everything.

I told Bokuto to pour us some drinks and to carry them over to the table for us. The last two seats were waged between Ros and Tamaki. I placed Bokuto's plate beside my cousin and sat down next to Tamaki.

"Thank you for the food," we all said before we started to dig in.

Bokuto looked at the melting square of noodles and cheese on his plate asking, "Hey Z, what's that?"

"Macaroni and cheese," I answered plainly.

"Like the stuff in the box?"

"Boy, that's my home made macaroni." Grandma called out from across the table.

"Nothing like the stuff from the box," uncle Hikaru smiled. Uncle Kaoru nodding at his side with a mouth full of it.

Tamaki smiled beside me, "It's good trust me." He lifted his fork taking in some.

I've never tasted any Mac and cheese better than my grandma's homemade Mac and cheese. I took a bit myself, letting the blend of cheesiness fill my taste buds.

Bokuto smiled, taking his fork to the cheesy noodles. "You know, I always thought rich people had other people cook their food and bring their plates to them and stuff."

"Oh we used to," uncle Kaoru smiled, "Then I married Bri and she decided to bring some of her family traditions here."

"And family recipes," Haruhi said through a mouth full of potato salad.

Aunt Bri laughed saying, "We do a little of both around here."

"We'll invite you back when we have all the servants out and stuff," Hana said politely, as if she didn't roast him the first time they spoke.

"As long as you behave yourself this time," KJ said before sipping some sweet tea.

"Ignore him," Kata said, pushing back his orange hair to take a bite of grilled corn on the cob.

Then everyone seemed to get quiet, watching Bokuto as he lifted the fork to his mouth. He began to chew, then life seemed to stop for him, he paused, eyes widening as he looked back down at the golden cheesy delight. Quickly his fork dove make into it, ending the little bit I had given him in just too bites.

He looked up to grandma asking after a deep swallow, "Can I get some more?"

She laughed saying, "Go ahead baby. You can always get more."

He rushed up from the table hurrying back to get more. Everyone at the table began to laugh while grandma clapped her hands together saying, "I did it again."

Everyone laughed, but I felt cold all of a sudden. My eyes shifted down the table at the twins, who's sharp eyes were on me with grins that made my skin crawl. Then they turned to the grandparents and smiled innocently, "Nice to see everyone's getting along with Z's boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Grandma snapped.

Aunt Bri looked to her twins, already knowing the deal, "Mom relax, Bokuto is just a friend of Zara's." But then her eyes turned to me, turning just as sharp as her children's, "Good friends," She said over a glass of lemonade, taking a long sip with her eyes locked on me. My thought's slipped to last night, Mrs. Ito shouting, "Good friends uh?" After spotting us kissing outside. Dang it, she knows.

"Oh like when you said the twins were just good friends?" Grandma went on, cutting into a piece of steak, "Then you went on to marry one."

Aunt Bri looked around at the table laughing, "It's not like it was a bad thing."

Uncle Kaoru laughed at her side. Grandpa chimed in, "I like the boy."

I looked back to Bokuto, walking back to the table with a giant scoop of mac and cheese. I wanted to change the subject, but my thoughts were still on last night. Then it hit me. Tell them about last night.

"I actually went on a date last night," I looked down the table at the twins, "Not with Bokuto. There was a summer festival at the school."

"Oh yeah," Aunt Bri said, "Mrs. Ito called me last night after you left. How'd it go?"

I rolled my eyes saying dramatically, "It was the worst!" Just as Bokuto reached the table. He sat down and I just went on telling them about all the stereotypes that were attempted on that date.

"He seriously shouted Kobe?" Mori asked in his low voice.

"I kid you not," I said, then saw the confused look on Bokuto's face, quietly I said to him, "I'm not lying." Translation the not so simple English into simple English.

I turned back to the table laughing, "By the end of it, I swear I thought he was gonna pull out a buckle of fried chicken."

Everyone was laughing and Ros added on, "Pulls out a drumstick and starts rapping into like a mic."

The twins beside her picking up, KJ holding an invisible mic rapping in the Fresh Prince rhythm, "Now this is a story all about how, I messed up a date with a girl that was brown."

Hana picked up her invisible mic rapping, "And I'd like to take a minute just sit right there, I'll tell you how not to date a black girl, and to never touch her hair."

I couldn't help but join along, making the beat to the fresh prince, me, my cousins and my aunt Bri all doing the cabbage patch in our chairs and snapping on beat.

Bokuto looked assounded watching us all laugh and dance and talk. "Is this normal?" He asked.

"Normal for us anyways," said grandpa.

Kyoya pushed up his glasses with a smirk, "You get used to it after some time."

"Yeah," Mori smiled beside him.

Tamaki sat up tall, stunning as always, "So Z, tell us how volleyball's going. You know, since my team wasn't good enough for you."

"Uncle Suoh, give it a rest," I laughed.

"Zara's doing great," Bokuto blurted out, "She practices with my team too and even my coach is impressed."

"You practice with the boys team?" Uncle Hikaru asked.

I was going to play it off as no big deal but Bokuto went on, "Oh yeah, she's more at home on my team than with her's, but we're gonna fix that. Right, Baby Bird?"

I slumped in my chair, coving my face with the shirt right before KJ blurted out, "Baby Bird?" With a huge laugh that seemed to spread around the table. I'm going to kill him.

But in the family, nothing stayed serious for too long. Almost anything can be laughed off, and we went on eating and laughing until everyone was full.

Night began to creep in on us as we tossed a frisbee around the garden. The light clouds reflect shades of orange and pink. Servants moved quickly and quietly, lighting tiki torches and string lights. A bonfire was lit as well, the adults gathered around it as we weren't on playing in the grass, trying to avoid the mosquitoes while admiring the first lightning bugs to show their glow. This felt like summer back home in America. Just family and fun.

As the sky grew darker and only a strip out light sat upon the horizon, we were all gathered at the bonfire. My aunt Bri and uncle Kaoru hand in hand standing with the back to the flames, "Come on, everyone," Uncle Kaoru called out, "Time to wish a happy birthday to the second best set of twins here tonight," he winked to his twin brother and Aunt Bri slapped him in the chest before waving in her twins.

"Hana, KJ," She said softly. KJ stepped in front of his mom and Hana in front of her dad, who bent down kissing her on the top of her head.

Aunt Bri then looked at us all, nodding as she started singing, "Happy Birthday to you," everyone joined in singing as two servant carried over a large flat cake on a tray. It was nothing fancy. White frosting, 15 gold candles lit, all of which were blown out at the end of our song. Two wishes made, and a sweet cake before us that must be eaten. We let the servants handle this one, cutting cake, scooping ice cream and passing it around to everyone as we sat around the fire.

"So," Ryouji said after licking his spoon clean, "Anyone up for amateur night?"

"I'm in," I said in a hurry.

The young ones all agreeing. Some a little reluctantly.

"What's amateur night?" Bokuto asked.

I laughed a little, taking another spoon full of cake and ice cream.

"Volleyball. We just call it amateur night because I'm the only one who actually knows what they're doing."

"And yet our team still loses," KJ muttered.

"Sometimes," Hana said with a laugh.

"But," Aunt Bri said, "Now there are two of you who know what you're doing. Meaning, you can't be on the same team. And Bokuto?"

"Yes," he smiled.

Aunt Bri let out a breath before laughing, "Please don't kill my babies."

His smile deepend as he said, "I'll do my best."

KJ went on muttering, "What's he gonna do anyway? He's probably not even that good."

"Feel free to hit that one," Uncle Hikaru said, pointing to KJ.

People are always laughing that uncle Kaoru ended up with a little Hikaru, and uncle Hikaru ended up with a little Kaoru. I wish I could have known what they were like when they were our age. There's a box of DVD's that are off limits to us, and for some reason my aunt Bri has banded the app, Wattpad from us. They're always reminiscing about some author who had a big role in their lives. Then tell us, that they want us to live unscriptedly. We all find it a bit strange, but life is too good to question.

Once we all finished our cake and ice cream, we started down a path in the garden. The motion sensored lights cutting on, as we moved. Then Bokuto questioned, "Wait, how are we going to play volleyball in the dark?"

"You'll see," said Kata as we approached the court.

The court was installed after I moved in. The floor of it solid, but sort of spongy. Like the ground of playgrounds in good neighborhood. The net was set to female height and I walked over to one of the poles as Ros walked over to a waterproof chest where we keep the balls. I flipped a switch on the net pole, causing fairy lights to light up. The lights wrapped around each pole and wove through the top and bottom of the net.

Ros pumped a bit more air into the ball and held it still as she said, "Time to pick team. I wanna be with Bokuto," she jumped to his side.

I shrugged, "Fine, my pick, Takish." He's the best setter, if we can get the ball to him. Playing with amateurs can be rather sloppy, but that's what makes it fun.

"Ryouji," Bokuto picked, beaming in confidence.

"KJ," I called.

Bokuto took Hana as his last pick leaving me with Kata.

Ros handed Bokuto the ball, telling him to serve first, but before he went away I grabbed his arm saying, "Pretty loose on rules here. Route serves but routing position is up to you. Out lines are still the same, if these guys fall in the net, ignore it. If we touch the net, it counts. Got it?"

"Got it." He nodded, looking excited to play.

"Oh and Bokuto," I remembered.

"Yeah?" He smiled.

"Don't be a jerk. Aim for me or KJ, the other two are kids."

"I'll try," he said, before turning to jog to the serve line.

He went back a few steps and I knew he was going to do a regular serve. It was too dark to see his eyes, to see where he planned to send the ball. Because he can actually plan where to send the ball. Not like I'm jealous or anything.

He tossed the ball to make his jump serve and his hand made contact with the ball, it lit up, bright orange. Bokuto was mesmerized by the glowing ball. Forgetting to move, but it's not like he had to anyways. His ball went straight to KJ. Who turned out of the way as though he were trying to dodge a bullet.

He looked at me, bewildered, asking, "What the hell was that?"

I felt proud myself saying, "National level ace."

Bokuto was targeting KJ, just like uncle Hikaru said he could. After running from the second ball he finally tried to get it. The ball flew off his arms at a high speed. I tried to cover but the ball was already on the floor before I could make a full step.

"You got the next one," I said. Again and again. Until Bokuto was about to score his fifth point on us. I creeped closer to KJ, and once the ball was served, I moved closer, pushing him out of the way and digging the ball up myself. "Ootori, get the ball up, KJ last hit."

I didn't want KJ to feel useless after I just shoved him out of the way, so I wanted him to get the first real hit of the game. A hit that Ros flumbled to dig up. It was low, Ryouji sent it over to us with a pass, perfect for me to hit a direct. I approached, jumping for it and swinging, not too hard. This is just a game for fun. But right as I began to swing, Bokuto's arms appeared above the net, killing my spike.

"Not gonna be that easy Baby Bird," Bokuto smiled, it seemed like a smile that should have been private. Hidden for only us, but my side of the court could see it and KJ let out a grunt as Bokuto went back to serve. "This one's for you," he called out.

I readied myself. And the glowing ball came to my zone. It was coming in fast and short. I dove for it, sending it the ball up. Quickly I rolled to my feet, calling "Mine!"

KJ, bumped the ball towards the net but not over. I stepped up, seeing Bokuto approach as well, ready to block me. Still I came in, having to delay my jump but still coming in with a full swing, looking as though I was ready to slam this. Only to let my fingertips push the ball right over Bokuto's block.

"You little -"

"Our ball," I shouted cheerfully. Looking Bokuto dead in the eyes I smiled, "Now let's get those points back."

And we did. We were neck and neck the whole game. Bokuto getting more fired up with every point. Kata sent the ball up, it went over my head and just over the net, perfect to a direct that I knew Bokuto was going to take. He jumped and I saw his eyes connect with Kata. Bokuto looked like he had no interest in going easy. As if his life depended on this spike.

Before I knew it I was in the air, arms up, strong, slightly forward, stretching as high as they can go. I shouted, "No," just as the ball bounced off the palms on my hands. The power of the swing made my arms fly back, putting some strain on my shoulder. My whole body seemed to fly back, throwing me off balance for my landing. I fumbled backwards onto my butt. The ball fell to the ground towards the back of the court. Hana tried to save it and couldn't back up in time. But I didn't pay much attention to the ball. My eyes were on Bokuto, "Bokuto, I said take it easy on him. He's a kid."

Bokuto wasn't even looking at me, his eyes were at the back of the court where the ball had landed. He murmured something but I didn't hear him.

"What?"

He finally looked to me, looking confused for a moment as he said, "You blocked me."

"What?" I said again, still sitting on my butt. Still letting it sink in.

Now excitedly he said, "You blocked me!"

My eyes widened, "I blocked you," I said softly first, then cheered, "I did it! I blocked you!"

Bokuto dipped under the net, taking both my hand, lifting me to my feet before throwing my arms around his neck. He pulled me into a tight hug, lifting my feet from the ground before I could even find balance. He spun me twice, before putting me down but still holding me close saying, "You have to try that again!"

"Not tonight," aunt Bri called. I pulled myself from Bokuto's arms, distancing myself a bit.

Everyone let out a grown but no one protested. It has been a long day, and I could really use a hot bath.

As we walked back to the house aunt Bri turned to Bokuto, "What size are you? I'm sure I have some spare things around here somewhere for you to sleep in and something for you to throw on tomorrow. I already talked to your mom, you'll be sleeping over tonight."

"Oh, um..." Bokuto gave her his size and we went inside. Bokuto was given the room across from KJ, the room Kata usually uses when he sleeps over. We were all in the same hall though. My room was between Bokuto's and Ros's, across from Hana's.

The room was bigger than the one I have at Mrs. Ito, but it didn't feel as warm. Though that didn't matter though, not as much as the private bathroom with the deep tub that I was going to fill with hot bubbly water. My shoulders ached from that block. But still, I pulled it off. And if I can do it once. I can do it again.

If I can block Bokuto, then there won't be a girl around here that I can't block.

The best thing about this room is that I have a private bathroom. I feel bad sometimes at the Ito house for taking so long in the one bathroom they have. Here, I don't have to worry about it.

I blocked the drain, and cut the water on in the tub, before going to the cabinet to grab my lavender, well everything. Lavender helps you to relax and ease muscles, so I got my bath bomb, bath bubbles and body wash. Readying myself for a goodnight sleep.

Then I heard a knock on the door. I checked my tub, seeing that I still had a long way to go before it was filled to my desire.

I left the bathroom and walked through the bedroom to see who was knocking. And of course, Bokuto.

Excitedly he shared, "Baby Bird, they just brought me the smoothest PJ I have ever felt in my life. And -" I pushed him out of my room, saying,

"Just go take a bath Bokuto." I closed the door and went back to the bathroom.

I leaned on the edge of the clawfoot tub, scrolling through my phone for a good playlist to relax to before bed.

Then my phone buzzed, showing me at the top of the screen that an image was sent to me from Bokuto.

It was a picture of his legs, fully stretched in the white empty tub. Below the picture was a text,

'I haven't fit in a tub since I was 12!!'

I smiled, shaking my head at his excitement. With one hand I texted back,

'You know it's better with water in it.'

My other hand waved around in the bubbly water, making sure it was a good temperature.

I put a Playlist on, set my phone down on a tray beside the tub and began to strip down. I sank into the tub, before dropping my bath bomb in, and felt the tingles around my thighs as it fizzled.

Then my phone buzzed again. I shook water from my hand before reaching for it. Another image from Bokuto. This time with the water running into the tub and a text saying,

'Working on it 🛁'

'There's some bubbles in the cabinet.' I informed him, laughing a bit as I sunk my shoulders into the tub, yet keeping my phone out of the water.

It wasn't long before another image was sent from Bokuto, this time it was a picture of his hand, holding three bath bombs with the text, 'I've always wanted to try one of these!!'

'Do it,' I texted back. I laughed feeling my muscles easing in the warm water.

I found myself waiting for the next text, the next image to keep me smiling.

Another image from Bokuto, A picture of a tub filled with water and bubbles.

'Tubs ready, time for me to get ready.'

I thought to what he meant by getting ready. Then it final hit me, I was naked, texting a boy who is also soon to be naked. He was probably undressing now, pulling the thin cotton t-shirt of his body, damp from the sweat of playing volleyball. The blue just peeling off of his body, leaving just skin and muscles. His hands loosening the belt of his shorts...

Thankfully another buzz interrupted my thoughts of Bokuto. Thoughts I probably shouldn't be having.

Another image from Bokuto, but my hand froze before opening it. Bokuto has been sending me step by step his process of bathing. If his last text said he had to get ready. Then this text must be him being ready to get in the tub. And with Bokuto, there's no telling what this image could be. I wouldn't put it past to Bokuto to casually send nudes out.

Another text came in. I was able to read it without opening the conversation.

'What, you not answering me now?'

I took a deep breath and opened the conversation. The image was a selfie, carefully cropped. Showing Bokuto's grinning face, holding up the peace sign. But the image was angled downward, showing his abs, stopping at the V line at his waist. Inches away from this being profitable on onlyfans. Below the image was the text, 'Time to get clean!'

It started to feel as though the water in the tub had gotten hotter somehow. Just knowing that I now have an image of a naked Bokuto in my phone. Sure, everything wasn't showing. Thankfully. But still, naked Bokuto in my phone. If Ros or the twins saw this, I'd never live it down.

Then my phone buzzed again. 'Show me what you're doing??'

I thought about it for a while. Thought about what to send, if I should send anything at all. Because, then Bokuto would have a naked of me in his phone. Even if I just show a finger, technically, I'm still naked.

I raised my knees out of the bubbly water, and snapped a picture. My deep brown skin, contrasting so much against the white bubbles and the white tub. Seemed innocent enough. I pushed send before thinking about it. But again, the water felt as though it was heating again. I set my phone face down on the tray outside of the tub. Sinking into the water, down to my chin, wondering what I have just done.

I heard my phone buzz again and I waited, taking a deep breath before looking at the text.

'So we're both naked together huh?👀'

Then it buzzed again,

'Kinda hot 😏'

I almost dropped my phone in the water, reading that. Instead I decided to put it down on the tray again, and this time leave it there. I just soak a little longer, cleaned myself and got out. I wrapped myself in a towel before heading back to my room. First putting lotion on, before slipping on some underwear and a nightgown that was styled as a long t-shirt.

I turned to go put my towel back in the bathroom and to finally get my phone, but stopped once I heard a knock on my door. I went to the door to open it and again, it was Bokuto. His hair flopped down and pushed back with strains of white and black falling across his forehead, stopping at the lids of his bright eyes. He grinned widely, chuckling a bit as he said, "You didn't answer my text."

He walked past me into my room and plopped down onto my bed.

"I didn't see them," I shrugged truthfully, leaving the door open, "What did you say?" I tossed the towel onto the chair of my vanity and joined him sitting on the bed.

He laid back now saying, with a smile, "You'll have to read it yourself."

"But you're right here, you can just tell me."

"You know, your family is really cool," changing the subject, great, "Not what I was expecting at all."

"Well what were you expecting?"

"Snobs," he admitted.

I didn't even get the chance to answer before my aunt Bri did. She stood in the doorway saying, "Well sorry to disappoint."

Bokuto sat up quickly, "Mrs. Hittachin, I didn't-"

"I'm joking Bokuto," She said, putting a hand up, "But I think you both should get some sleep. So say goodnight."

Bokuto stood up nodding, "Goodnight Zara," and started for the door.

As he began to step past aunt Bri she giggled, "What? No goodnight kiss for your Baby Bird?"

He stopped, turning and saying, "Well if you insist."

But Aunt Bri grabbed him, pushing out the door saying, "Goodnight Bokuto."

"So you know," I said.

Aunt Bri smiled saying, "Mrs. Ito is old, that woman has nothing to do but sit around and gossip. Part of the reason I'm letting you stay with her." She laughed, "Now goodnight love." She blew me a kiss before turning away.

"Goodnight aunt Bri," I said right before the door closed.

The moment the door was closed, my eyes shot to the bathroom. Where my phone still was. And already, my body began to heat, feeling as though I was back in that tub. Just thinking about the things Bokuto had sent.