Ryosuke rode his bicycle and sighed. "Shoyo, your house is seriously far."
Hinata, sitting on the back seat, smiled sheepishly. "Are you tired? Want me to ride instead?"
Ryosuke let out a soft laugh. "Even if you've got great stamina, if you ride with me on the back, it kind of feels like I'm bullying a kid."
"What?! Are you saying I'm short?!"
"Nope~"
The bicycle stopped in front of a secluded little house.
A fence surrounded the yard, covered in clusters of tiny wildflowers. It looked like a little paradise tucked away from the world.
Hinata pushed the bike and shouted, "Mom! I brought a good friend home!"
With a loud bang, the door flew open. Another orange whirlwind shot out like a cannonball and slammed straight into Hinata's arms.
"Big brother, welcome home!"
Ryosuke blinked in surprise. "You have a little sister?"
"Of course!" Hinata proudly lifted her up and held her in front of Ryosuke. "Look! My cutest little sister! Her name is Natsu Hinata!"
She really was adorable—bright orange hair just like Hinata's, tied into two little pigtails. Her big, sparkling eyes looked like glossy grapes, and her gaze carried the exact same warmth and enthusiasm as her brother's.
Natsu chirped brightly, "Hello! My name is Natsu Hinata!"
Ryosuke gently patted her small head. "Hi. I'm Ryosuke Hanyu."
Natsu jumped down from Shoyo's arms and grabbed both of them, tugging them inside.
"Mom! Big brother brought his friend home!"
"Oh? That's wonderful, Natsu!"
A middle-aged woman in an apron leaned out from the kitchen, spatula in hand. She had the same vibrant orange hair.
This whole family feels warm, Ryosuke thought.
"Oh my, so you're Shoyo's good friend? You look like such a nice boy."
Ryosuke smiled softly. "Hello, Auntie. I'm Ryosuke Hanyu."
"What a lovely name. Shoyo, take Ryosuke-kun to your room and play for a bit, alright? Lunch will be ready soon."
"Okay, Mom!"
Hinata picked up Natsu and motioned for Ryosuke to follow.
The house wasn't big, but it was neat and lively. Colorful hand-painted curtains hung by the windows, and the balcony overflowed with flowers. The walls were covered in family photos—even pictures of Hinata when he was little.
Ryosuke glanced back at Hinata holding Natsu.
Hinata really had grown up surrounded by love.
No wonder he carried sunshine wherever he went.
The two of them, along with Natsu, practiced bumping in the backyard for a while. Later, Ryosuke and Hinata sat on the doorstep, watching Natsu try to keep the ball up.
Hinata suddenly turned toward Ryosuke, his expression growing serious.
Ryosuke looked back at him, confused. What was that face for? Was he about to reveal some earth-shattering secret?
Instead, Hinata spoke with complete sincerity.
"Thank you so much, Ryosuke-kun. For the training plans you wrote just for me. I asked Coach Ukai—he said they're all really professional."
Ryosuke waved his hand. "It's nothing. I'm just glad I could help."
Hinata grinned, then continued more quietly, "I know exactly where my weakness is. I'm too short. Volleyball players need height to have a future. But I really love volleyball. I love competing!"
Bathed in sunlight, Hinata's face glowed with a soft golden sheen.
Ryosuke reached out and ruffled his hair.
"It's okay. You'll succeed. Height and talent aren't the limits of sport. The determination to keep going—that's where this path really begins."
Hinata nodded, half-understanding.
Ryosuke opened his mouth, wanting to say more.
"I know someone at Karasuno—"
Mrs. Hinata's lively voice interrupted from inside.
"Shoyo! Natsu! Ryosuke-kun! Come eat!"
Hinata looked up. "Hm? What about Karasuno?"
The words slipped back down Ryosuke's throat.
Forget it. I'll say it after lunch.
He smiled gently. "Nothing. Let's eat first."
Hinata happily ran to the dining room.
Seeing the bowl of rice topped with raw egg on the table, his eyes lit up. He grabbed Ryosuke excitedly.
"Ryosuke! You have to try raw egg rice! It's super, ultra, explosively delicious!!"
Ryosuke couldn't help but laugh as he sat down.
"Alright. If Shoyo says it's good, then it must be."
Hinata nodded proudly while eating.
But once lunch was over, Ryosuke completely forgot what he had wanted to say.
Hinata dragged him off for a nap.
"There's only one bed," Hinata said as he spread out the futon. "You'll have to sleep with me, Ryosuke-kun. We're both boys, so it's fine, right?"
Ryosuke nodded. It sounded perfectly reasonable, and yet… something felt oddly off.
Hinata rolled himself into a bundle near the edge of the bed. Ryosuke wrapped himself in another quilt and lay down.
The bedding carried the same sunny scent as the family. Ryosuke buried his face in the soft, fluffy quilt and rubbed against it. Before long, he drifted into a deep sleep.
In his dream, he vaguely felt someone choking him. His breathing grew tight, and he struggled desperately—
He jolted awake.
Blinking groggily, he realized that at some point they had rolled together. Hinata's arm was locked tightly around his neck.
No wonder I almost suffocated.
Looking at the tangled quilts and Hinata sprawled over him, Ryosuke felt that strange sense of something being off again.
He gently held Hinata's waist and shook him.
"Wake up, Shoyo."
Hinata's face had left a red imprint on Ryosuke's shirt. He blinked sleepily at the close-up sight of Ryosuke—and maybe still half-dreaming—wrapped his arms around Ryosuke's neck again and nuzzled him twice.
That weird feeling intensified.
Ryosuke immediately threw off the quilt and hauled him upright.
"Hurry up! If we're late, Daichi-senpai will be mad!"
At the mention of "Daichi-senpai," Hinata jolted fully awake and shot Ryosuke a resentful glare.
Ryosuke gave an awkward smile. "Alright, go wash up."
Hinata shuffled off in his slippers.
After getting ready, the two of them rode their bikes back to Karasuno.
That afternoon, at Hinata's suggestion, they played 3v3 for the entire time. Everyone else rotated in and out.
Only Ryosuke got completely drained.
He lay flat on the floor, barely alive, pounding the ground weakly.
Why are the Karasuno guys this energetic?!
Hinata laughed and pulled him up. "You're leaving?"
"Yeah." Ryosuke ran a hand through his sweat-damp hair and nodded.
"Oh…" The disappointment in Hinata's eyes was obvious.
Ryosuke flicked his forehead. "Why so gloomy? Karasuno and Shiratorizawa are just a few streets apart. Just come find me next time."
"Oh! Right!" Hinata perked up instantly.
Ryosuke covered his face.
You really didn't think of that? Single-celled organism, seriously.
Daichi, Sugawara, and Hinata walked him to the school gate.
Daichi clapped his shoulder. "Haha, Ryosuke-kun, everyone had a great time today. You're always welcome at Karasuno."
Ryosuke pursed his lips.
No. I didn't have a great time at all. They all ganged up on me.
"Alright. See you."
"Bye~"
"Ryosuke-kun, message me when you get home!"
"Hey, don't cling to people like that!"
Amid the noisy chatter, the day came to an end.
On his way back, Ryosuke scratched his head again.
What did I forget this time…?
Back home, he took out the small desk calendar from his drawer and crossed off "Visit Karasuno."
Only one red-circled reminder remained—for tomorrow.
The faint characters "Sakusa" could still be seen…
After a long day, Ryosuke collapsed onto his soft bed, narrowed his eyes comfortably, and fell asleep almost instantly.
The next morning, he woke up in an unusually good mood and started rummaging through his wardrobe.
Mrs. Washijo came upstairs, glanced at him, shook her head helplessly, and left.
Ryosuke pulled out a ridiculously flashy pink T-shirt, examined it from every angle, and nodded in satisfaction.
This is the one.
He trotted downstairs.
He hadn't told Sakusa he was coming. He loved surprise visits—showing up when the other person least expected it.
After breakfast, he sat there with his phone, secretly plotting how to fish for information. If Sakusa wasn't there, the surprise would be ruined.
Cat Hero: Poke poke.jpg. I'm off today~
Sakusa was just getting ready to leave for extra practice when his phone chimed.
Holding a bottle of disinfectant spray in one hand and his phone in the other, Sakusa glanced at the message. Seeing it was from Ryosuke, a smile flickered in his eyes.
Clean Freak: Then have a good rest. I'm going to school for extra practice.
A few seconds later, perhaps feeling the message was too cold, he sent another one.
Clean Freak: Cat head-pat.jpg.
Ryosuke didn't understand why Sakusa voluntarily told him his plans, but he was thrilled anyway. His goal had been achieved.
He quietly pumped his fist.
Seeing the sticker Sakusa sent made his eyes curve with laughter. It was the one he had sent to Sakusa last time—he hadn't expected Sakusa to save it.
A strange wave of happiness wrapped around him.
His grin stretched nearly to his ears, and he radiated pink, flowery energy from head to toe.
He tapped rapidly on his phone, so absorbed that he didn't notice Tanji Washijo walking over.
Cat Hero: Happy cat.jpg.
Cat Hero: Got it! You too~
"Hmph!!"
A heavy snort made Ryosuke jump, nearly dropping his phone.
Mrs. Washijo came out of the kitchen just in time to see it and immediately smacked Tanji Washijo's arm.
"It's early in the morning! Why are you scaring the child?!"
Tanji Washijo glared, pointing his cane at Ryosuke.
"Off to Tokyo again to see that brat from the Sakusa family?! It's almost the Interhigh—put your mind on training! Stop running around with that… Sakusa!"
Mrs. Washijo slapped him again. "What's wrong with the child going out to play? Why do you nag all day? If you've got time, go wash the dishes!"
At the same time, she shot Ryosuke a meaningful look.
He instantly understood.
Grabbing his backpack from the sofa, he bolted.
"I'm leaving! Bye, Grandpa and Grandma! If I don't come back tonight, I'll message you!"
Tanji Washijo raised his cane furiously.
Ryosuke was already gone in a flash.
"You little brat! Just wait till you get back! If you've got guts, don't come back tonight!"
"Oh, enough," Mrs. Washijo said helplessly. "The child's grown. You can't control him forever."
Ryosuke ran off with a smug grin, looking so pleased he practically seemed to have a wagging tail.
Back at home, Tanji Washijo continued fuming.
"I'm telling you! That brat from the Sakusa family might be good at volleyball, but he doesn't look like a decent guy! Look at Ryosuke—completely smitten! Grinning at his phone all day like he's head over heels! He's going to give me a heart attack!"
Judging by his booming voice, he didn't sound remotely like someone with heart problems.
Mrs. Washijo tugged his arm, both amused and exasperated. "Enough. The child's grown. You can't control him for life."
Tanji Washijo hunched over and sighed, rubbing his aching back.
"I'm old… really old…"
For a moment, neither spoke.
Meanwhile, Matsukawa had received the young master's message the night before and had already parked the van near the Washijo residence early in the morning.
Ryosuke spotted the white van immediately.
She could endure hardship—but she would never pass up comfort. Mostly because she was delicate. If she took a bus, she might even get motion sickness.
After all, a purebred, money-raised cat was bound to be high-maintenance.
The van was already cool with air-conditioning. Matsukawa respectfully opened the door.
Ryosuke collapsed into the leather seat, lounging without any proper posture.
"Let's go. To Itachiyama. I'll sleep for a bit."
"Yes."
The car moved smoothly.
Ryosuke leaned against the window and fell asleep again.
Teenage growth spurts hit hard. Ever since his physical training intensified, he had been shooting up in height. Coach Washijo's grasp of his physical condition was frighteningly accurate.
During this period, Ryosuke slept poorly at night. His knees would start aching as soon as evening came. Sometimes it was bad enough that he tossed and turned.
Strangely, though, his knees behaved perfectly during the day.
Which meant he'd been dozing off in class a lot lately.
Even Coach Washijo was so worried he was losing hair in clumps.
When Ryosuke slowly woke up, more than an hour had passed. They had already reached central Tokyo.
He rested his chin on his hand. "Just drop me at Itachiyama's gate. Come pick me up tonight and take me back to the main house."
Matsukawa had been struggling with how to tell him that the eldest master wanted him to return home.
She hadn't expected the young master to bring it up himself.
"Yes!"
When the gates of Itachiyama came into view, Matsukawa parked the car.
Ryosuke got out, backpack slung over his shoulder. Still looking down at his phone, he waved casually, signaling Matsukawa to leave first.
Cat Hero: Poke poke.jpg.
Cat Hero: What are you doing~
The reply came instantly.
Clean Freak: Just finished a 3v3.
Ryosuke smiled at the screen as he quietly made his way toward the gymnasium.
...
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