III
“Little kitten, are you sure you’re okay?” the spikey-haired king asked Kenma once again, getting more worried by the second. “I’m… fine-…” Kenma sighed. Hinata noticed this and calmed down a little.
“Kenma!” He shouted. “Are you okay?” Kenma looked at Shoyou with puzzled eyes. “Yeah.” He responded. Hinata smiled and walked back to Kageyama.
They started eating the delicacy that Kageyama had ordered. “This is so delicious!” two of the shorties grinned. “hm” Kageyama and the others hummed in agreement.
“I’m okay, stop staring at me… sir…” Kenma sighed and looked at his king. “alright, alright- sorry” Kuroo sighed before continuing to eat.
Once they had finished eating, they proceeded to walk back to the castle. The slaves did nothing but talk about how the food was so good.
“Look at all these things!” Yamaguchi gleamed as he looked at the stores beside him. “Do you want one?” Tsukishima asked. “Ah- master… no need! I’m just going to feel selfish if you bought me one…!” Yamaguchi nervously smiled.
“hm…” Tsukishima stared at him for a moment before sighing. “w-well… what about we buy them for our vacation?” Tsukishima looked away, embarrassed.
“really…? Okay then Tsukki!” “Oh shut up…” Tsukishima smiled softly. Kageyama watched the two from a distance. ‘hm…’ He thought.
He then looked at Hinata. “Ahem,” Kageyama coughed, wanting to get Hinata’s attention, but to no avail. “a-ahem!” He coughed louder. This time, Hinata noticed him. “your majesty, are you alright? Should we speed up the walk?”
The little redhead asked. “uh, no need… um…” Kageyama looked at his surroundings, scratching his neck every now and then. “Do you want… anything?” he asked, glancing around the place.
“Can I really?!” Hinata beamed. “Of course- I mean… uh, whatever… sure.” Kageyama scoffed. Hinata looked around before looking at kageyama once again.
Smiling warmly, Hinata thought; “He really isn’t cold-hearted…’
“there are many things I haven’t seen before so I don’t know what to get…” Hinata sighed. “oh, well-… I can pick for you…” Kageyama mumbled. “Well then, thanks your majesty!” Hinata smiled at him before walking away to Kenma and kuroo.
Kageyama thought for a moment. ‘What would he like?’ he asked himself. He wasn’t sure as to why he wanted to make his slave happy.
If anything, the slave should be making him happy. But why…
Why does it feel like everything the slave did made the king so happy? He believed it was only his Imagination, but he also knew there was something more than that, otherwise, he wouldn’t be treating his slave like this.
The king looked at Hinata, who was talking to Kenma and Kuroo. He looked around and spotted a necklace. Going into the shop, the people there Immediately bowed, including the staff. “Your majesty! What brings you here tonight?” The staff asked.
“I saw a necklace displayed on your window, and I was wondering- no… I want one like that.” Kageyama gulped. He never really bought stuff like this before.
“Of course your majesty! W-what will be the material?” The staff nervously asked. “diamond.” Kageyama quickly stated. “um…” “actually, I’ll just take one of your 5 carat diamond necklaces.” The king coughed. “I don’t have time to wait for a custom one.” Kageyama growled.
‘Although I really want to give him a custom one… wait- just be patient Tobio, you can give it to him once you’re-…’
Kageyama paused.
‘Once we’re what? What am I thinking about? What is wrong with you Tobio?’
“um, sir- here is your necklace…” The staff muttered, giving him a medium sized box. “U-um, have you by any chance found a lover…?” The staff giggled. “no.” The king glared at her.
“and I don’t see why I have to answer a personal question from an inferior person.” Kageyama snarled. “R-r-right!” The staff gulped. “How much?” “Um about 16,405,350 yen…” The staff hummed. “Alright,” Kageyama walked out of the store before ordering one of his guards to pay for the necklace using his money.
“That was really fun!” Hinata smiled, walking inside of the king’s room with Kageyama following behind him. “So um… sir, I have been wondering but…” Hinata scratched his cheek.
“You haven’t really given me orders.” Hinata muttered. The king sat down on the edge of his bed, patting beside him, gesturing to Hinata to sit beside him.
Hinata obliged and sat beside the King. Kageyama examined Hinata’s face. He didn’t know what kind of expression he was making.
“Your Majesty… am I…” Hinata looked deeply at Kageyama’s eyes. At that moment, Kageyama knew. ‘This guy is going to change my life’ He thought.
“useless?” Hinata mumbled. “what?” Kageyama blinked his eyes twice. Hinata sighed before looking at the ground. “That's because… when we went outside, everyone was giving orders to their slaves every now and then!”
Hinata paused. “Even Mr. Azumane, he seemed nervous but he didn’t hesitate to make Noya-san do something!” Hinata exclaimed, grasping his pants.
“even when we were walking home… Kenma said that Him and his master didn’t communicate much, but Kuroo-san still talked to Kenma about what he was going to do when they got home…”
“And I’m here… just, sitting around… being taken care of…” Hinata sighed before looking up at Kageyama again.
“I’m supposed to be doing stuff for you… yet it seems to be the other way around… so am I really useless?” Hinata muttered.
Kageyama looked at him. “O-of course not boke!” Kageyama growled to himself. Turning his head away, he began to think.
‘is this what he’s been thinking this whole time? Tobio, you’re so stupid…’ He regained his composure and grabbed Hinata by the shoulders, pulling him in for a hug.
“I want you to know that you’re not useless at all. And this is my first time hugging someone… that means that… you’re…” Kageyama paused.
‘he’s…? Tobio, why do you always do this?’ Kageyama sighed, pulling away from Hinata but keeping his hands on his shoulders.
He stared into Hinata’s eyes. “You’re special.” Kageyama blushed at that and quickly stood up, and walked away, leaving a puzzled but red Hinata in his room.
“h-huh?” Hinata mumbled.
Kageyama quickly walked away from his room. He was covering his mouth with his hand while his face was glowing red. “Um- sir?” Kageyama snapped back into reality, realizing that Sugawara and Daichi were in front of him.
“ah, right…” Kageyama sighed. “Um… how are you two?” The king asked. Daichi and Suga looked at each other before looking at Kageyama once again. “S-sir, are you sick? Should you be resting?” Daichi asked with concern.
“Hah? Of course I’m not sick.” Kageyama scoffed. “um, sir… not to interrupt your conversation with sir Daichi, but you do look awfully red now…”
“D-do I…? well- I’m sure this is… nothing…” Kageyama sighed. “now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to go and do some work” Kageyama walked off to the throne room and began to do his work,
“There’s something else, isn’t there?” Sugawara looked at Daichi, knowing that there was something else bothering him.
“Oh, you catch up quickly…” Daichi sighed. “Yeah, I get that a lot.” Sugawara smiled nervously. “Well, yeah… there is something else bothering me.” Daichi started.
“The king usually doesn’t care about us, and when he’s in a bad mood, he’d give us daggered stares… which he hasn’t ever since he picked that little redhead.”
“yeah? Well, Hinata’s like that. He’s like… the person who can light up your whole life in a blink of an eye.” Sugawara smiled warmly.
“ah… I think anyone could make someone happy if they put effort into it, though” Daichi smiled back at Sugawara. “Let's go, we have to leave right away for the mission.” Daichi walked out of the hallway with Sugawara following after him.
‘Anyone could make someone happy if they put effort into it?’ Sugawara thought. “Um… sir, I was going to ask… what was the mission that the king gave you and sir Azumane?” Sugawara asked the captain.
“ah, well… There's this continent run by the king of Aoba Johsai. Our king and their king, Oikawa Tooru, are practically Frenemies.” Daichi informed me.
“frenemies?” Sugawara questioned. “Well, they’re not exactly on good terms, but let’s just say that They have a past together, and we shouldn’t pry on that…”
“But anyway, Asahi and I’s mission is to bring him and his men with safety here,” Daichi sighed. “Why do you look so troubled then?” Sugawara asked Daichi.
“You really do catch on quickly… I don’t see why we need to do this… Aoba Johsai is practically one of the most well-formed kingdoms. That means that they have good defense and offense,” The captain explained.
“Their Soldiers are probably well-trained, not to mention Captain Iwaizumi… anyway, let us go, or else we’ll be late.” Daichi continued.
“Um, sir Sawamura…” The two turned around to see Yamaguchi peeking from a corner.
“Pfft- what are you doing yams? Come out!” Sugawara chuckled. “Um… I don’t think the king is feeling good… He looks pale-…”
“Huh?” Daichi rushed over to the king. “Your highness?!” “Huh…? Sawamura-…? What are you doing in my t-throne room without permission…?!” Kageyama Groggily exclaimed.
“Sir- you- you have a fever!” Daichi panicked. “Call Azumane!” Daichi ordered Sugawara. “Sir, Azumane-san is already at the dock…” Sugawara stated. “Ha? Then… what about you green- green-haired boy.” Daichi asked Yamaguchi who was about to leave.
“Oh! Um… I have some antibiotics here, but they won’t cure him completely… I also can’t stay and heal the king as my master is waiting for him in the air-balloon…” Yamaguchi handed Daichi a small bottle of antibiotics before leaving.
“i-I… I’m fine…!” Kageyama growled. “You’re not sir!” Daichi yelled. “Do-don’t yell at me, Sawamura!” Kageyama yelled back. Daichi took a deep breath before sighing.
“Sorry sir, I…” “Sir, we have to go… Azumane-san said that King Tooru is waiting.” A soldier informed, walking inside of the throne room. “Right…” “Um… sir Daichi, if- if it’s okay… I think that it would be best if Hinata takes care of the king-…” Sugawara mumbled.
“T-the little redhead?” The captain stuttered. “Yes... um… as It looks like, the king is very comfortable around him and- it is also his duty to take care of his master, is it not? And I assure you that Hinata is very good at taking care of sick people, his sister… um… Natsu has a weak immune system, therefore she always gets sick… and Hinata’s mother already died so if you get what I’m…”
“I get it.” Daichi interrupted, “Kinoshita, Narita!” Daichi yelled before two soldiers barged in the throne room. “get the king to his room. Now.” The captain asserted.
Hinata was sitting at the edge of the king’s bed, thinking about what the king had said to him.
“you’re special.”
“GAAAHH, what are you doing to me, your majesty?!” The slave yelled, grabbing a pillow and screaming into it. “ah, god…” Hinata mumbled, his face as red as a cherry.
“EXCUSE ME.” The two soldiers barged in. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE KING’S BED, GET OFF!” One of them yelled. Hinata flinched but obliged. The two soldiers put Kageyama on his bed, “Agh… I’m… I said I’m fine…” “We’re sorry sir, but the captain ordered us to get you to bed.” The two stated. “Your majesty?!” Hinata yelled, running towards Kageyama. “Get away from the king, as he is currently sick right now…-“ one of the guards was cut off when the king walked towards and rested his head on his shoulder.
“Your Highness…” Hinata worriedly sighed. “Will you please go to bed?” The redhead requested. “Hn…” Kageyama raised his head and stared at Hinata. “Fine… only for you…” The king mumbled the last part.
“Huh?” “Nothing.” The king smirked and took a slumber on his bed. “Is there anything else?” Hinata turned to the two guards who were in utter shock. “N-no…” They muttered before leaving the king’s room.
Hinata walked towards the king and knelt down on the floor, taking a good look at the king’s face. Hinata reached out his arm and pushed away Kageyama’s bangs.
Before he could take back his hand, the king grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer to his face. “Hm, what were you doing?”