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"It's just something you were born with, dear, it doesn't mean you're any different from the kids in your class." His mother told him once during dinner.
It didn't make Yahaba feel any less different.
He was the only kid in his class with hair as white as snow and skin as pale as a vampire. He was a bit tall for his age, too. But that was just his family genes; almost all of his cousins close to his age were as tall as him. But that didn't make him less of a target.
The sun was up high, and the breeze of fall made the air not too hot, but not too cold either. Kids were chasing each other playing tag, or running to see who could get to the swings first. Yahaba didn't indulge with other kids. he tried to stay small and hidden, residing in a corner of the blacktop with a book. But because of his stupid, bright, old man hair, He was spotted by other kids easily. He tried defending himself a couple of times, but he wasn't as intimidating as he wanted to be.
Defending himself today resulted in him being pushed by the biggest kids in the group.
Yahaba's hands scraped the tiny rocks that made up the blacktop when he caught himself. His pants that his mother steamed this morning were now covered in dirt. His eyes stung with unshed tears, and they fell slowly, no matter how hard he tried to keep them in.
"Aww, look! The freak's crying!" Said one of the boys in the group. "Guess he wasn't strong enough to defend himself."
Another boy chuckled, "Yeah! For a freak who's tall, you'd think he'd be more intimidating!"
"He looks so soft and fragile! Your skin and hair look like the porcelain dolls my grandma collects!" Said another.
Yahaba sniffled, "I-I'm not a doll!"
"Then what are you? Because normal people don't have white hair!"
"Maybe he was cursed by the old man in the snow!"
The kids laughed at that comment.
Yahaba could only cry. Maybe he was weak, maybe he wasn't strong enough to defend—
"HEY! JERK FACES!"
Yahaba opened his eyes just in time to see a ball slam into one of the kids' faces. The boy yelped in pain, and tears flooded his eyes. Yahaba turned his head to see another boy walk over. Yahaba's first thought was "He looks scary."
The kid had short brown hair, almost close to a buzz cut. he had an angry look on his face as he stood tall and crossed his arms over his chest. The boy reminded Yahaba of the police dogs he's seen on the news.
"Leave now before I decide to kick your butts!" The intimidating boy demanded.
"We—we're going to tell the teacher!" One of the bullies stammered.
"Go ahead! I've already been sent to the office 2 times this month! The teachers don't scare me!"
With that, the group of boys scampered off. Yahaba watched the boys run for a moment before shifting his gaze forward. The boy was holding out a hand, waiting for Yahaba to take it. He slowly grabbed the boy's hand and allowed himself to be pulled up. The boy didn't say anything at first, but when he spoke again, his voice sounded way softer than it did a minute ago.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Um… yeah, I think so."
The boy raised a brow, "Why were they picking on you?"
Yahaba looked down at his feet, "It's because of my dumb white hair."
"Why do you have white hair?"
Yahaba's hand came up to pull at it a bit. "I have albinism."
"Albin—what?"
"It's something you're born with, it's what makes my hair white and my skin pale."
"Whoa, that's kinda badass."
"Wha—" Yahaba stammered, "You—You can't say that! That's a bad word!"
"But my mom says it all the time."
"Well, she shouldn't! My mom says no one should swear until they're 18!"
The boy pouted, "That's a dumb rule."
Yahaba pouted back, "I don't think it's dumb."
"If that's not dumb, then why do you think your hair is dumb?"
Yahaba was caught off guard by the question, "Because—Because it makes me look weird, no one cool has white hair."
"That's not true."
Yahaba blinked. "It's not?"
"It can't be, Kakashi-sensei has white hair, and everyone thinks he's cool."
Yahaba blinked, "Who's Kakashi-sensei?"
The boy looked personally offended by the question, almost baffled that Yahaba hadn't heard of this Kakashi guy. "Kakashi-sensei! He's a powerful ninja from this anime called Naruto! Have you never seen Naruto!?"
"Uh—No, I don't watch a lot of anime."
Once again, the boy looked offended at Yahaba's statement. "How can you not watch anime? Some anime are really cool!"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm crazy sure! Naruto is an anime all about ninjas! And Kakashi-sensei is like—this crazy smart and powerful ninja, and he teaches kids about all kinds of ninjutsu! And he has white hair just like you!"
"He does?"
"Yeah! Well—I mean it's a little grayer than yours, but it's still white! And if white hair makes Kakashi-sensei cool, then I think white hair makes you cool too!"
Needless to say, Yahaba's little mind was blown. This Kakashi guy did sound cool. "You think I can be cool?" He asked.
"Yeah! Maybe even cooler!"
Yahaba felt himself smile for the first time since recess had started. "Well, I think you're cool too!" He told the boy.
The boy's ears turned pink, then he started waving his hands dismissively. "Nah, I'm not that cool."
"You're the first person who's ever saved me from the bullies! Kinda like a superhero!"
"You're crazy."
"I don't think so."
The boy rolled his eyes in response, then walked over to retrieve the ball he had thrown.
"What's that?" Yahaba asked.
"It's a volleyball."
"Volleyball?"
"Mhm, it's a sport that adults play! My dad took me to see a game once."
"Whoa, that's amazing."
"I plan on joining the sport once I'm in middle school. I'm going to become a spiker!"
"What's a spiker?"
"They're the people who score the most points! They're in charge of hitting the ball after the setter passes it to them!"
"A setter?"
"Okay, you're asking too many questions, I'll show you a game sometime! My dad has a bunch of volleyball DVDs."
"But, wouldn't that mean I would have to come over to your house?"
"Yeah, that's the whole point."
Yahaba couldn't stop the smile that formed on his face. "I've never been invited over to someone's house before."
"Really? Well, when you come over, I'll show you Naruto first, then volleyball, and if we have time, then maybe we can play! Or, well, try. It's hard to spike a ball when I have no one to set to me."
Yahaba thought for a moment. "I could set to you."
The boy blinked, then smiled. "Really?"
"I don't know much about the sport, but I'll learn to set so you can—Uh—spike! It's called a spike, right?"
"Yeah! See? You're learning already!"
Yahaba smiled as a response.
Before they could say more, the bell to signal recess being over could be heard.
"Do your parents pick you up from school?" the boy asked.
"My mom usually comes to pick me up."
"Mine too! After school, meet me at the front gates so our moms can meet each other."
"Uh—Okay!" Yahaba replied with excitement.
As the two returned to line up, Yahaba asked, "I never got your name."
The boy smiled and jabbed his thumb to his chest. "My name is Kentarou Kyoutani."
"Shigeru Yahaba."
"I'll see you after school then, Yahaba."
"Yeah! see Ya!"
As Yahaba sat back down at his desk, he could barely even remember what names he was called today. Because today, he finally made a friend.
…
"Damn headphones," Kyoutani muttered as his headphones ran out of battery. He sighed, guess he's walking to practice in silence.
It was nice out today. Not too hot, but not too cold either. The school itself was fairly quiet, too. He was feeling oddly sentimental today. He wasn't sure if it was because of the weather or because of his boyfriend's text he got earlier today. It was crazy to think a boy he stood up for would become so important to him later on. He caught himself smiling at the thought. Yahaba always had that power on him.
He was thinking about what he should make for himself and Yahaba for dinner when he heard the sound of someone running behind him. He tensed, already bracing himself for what was going to happen. Even still, the bastard always managed to knock Kyoutani off his feet… take that as you will.
"KENTAROU!!!"
"Shige—DON'T—"
Too late, Yahaba threw himself at Kyoutani and wrapped his arms around the spiker's neck. Kyoutani grunted as he worked to keep his balance. The next thing he registered was that his face was being attacked affectionately by kisses.
"KENTA YOU JERK!" MWAH! "YOU DIDN'T RESPOND TO MY TEXT!" MWAH! "I WAS WAITING FOR YOU AT LUNCH, BUT YOU DIDN'T SHOW!" MWAH MWAH MWAH!
"Well, if you give me—hey—a minute! I can explain—QUIT ATTACKING MY FACE!"
"NEVER! THIS IS PUNISHMENT FOR IGNORING ME!"
"THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL PUNISHMENT!?"
"YES!"
"Oh my god—" Kyoutani brought his hands up to cup Yahaba's cheeks, making the setter pause his assault.
Yahaba blinked, then smiled. "Hi."
Kyoutani smiled despite himself. "Hi."
"Were you planning on walking to practice like a lone wolf today?"
"Originally."
"Damn, you're one lonely man."
"Okay, smartass, and what were you doing?"
"I was coming straight from student council, y'know, important stuff."
"Right, because you sure as hell don't gossip instead of doing actual work."
"That's false news."
"Is it?"
"Asshole."
"Brat."
"Kiss?"
Kyoutani chuckled. "You just assaulted me with them."
"I meant an actual kiss."
"I dunno, do you deserve one?"
Yahaba scoffed and started to untangle himself from Kyoutani. "Okay then, forget I said anything—"
"C'mer, brat."
Yahaba giggled as his lips met Kyoutani's in a soft kiss.
"To answer your question," Kyoutani said as he pulled away. "I saw your text today."
Yahaba pouted, "Then why didn't you respond?"
"Got it confiscated because I was looking at your text instead of the lesson. And that led to a lunch detention, which is why I didn't meet up with you like usual."
"Oh… I guess that's a proper excuse."
Kyoutani rolled his eyes, but they shone with affection. He ran a hand through Shigeru's hair. Still soft, still fluffy, still beautifully white.
"Did anyone give you trouble today?"
"A couple stares, but nothing like back then."
"Good." He paused. "You're still super cool."
Yahaba giggled. "Just like Kakashi?"
"Exactly like Kakashi."
Yahaba smiled. "Am I invited over like always?"
"You practically live at my place, you don't need to ask."
"I know."
"Then why ask?"
"Dunno, just a habit."
Kyoutani leaned in for one more kiss. "We should head to practice."
"Fine, but I expect more apology kisses later."
"Of course you would."
Yahaba just giggled in response. He laced his fingers with Kyoutani's and started toward the gym, his spiker in Tow. Kyoutani couldn't help but stare at the way the light from the sun made Yahaba's hair glow.
Yeah, he was the luckiest bastard alive.