Chapter 6

Temari stared at Daichi as the hot noodles burned her feet. Was she seeing things? What was Daichi doing inside her house? Who let him in?

"Temari!" Miwa exclaimed and she snapped back to reality looking down at the floor. Temari dropped to her knees trying to hide the burning sensation filling her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed.

"It's okay," Daichi dropped to his knees as well and helped her pick up the noodles.

"Young man, you don't have to do that," Temari's grandpa said.

"It's no problem at all," Daichi said. "It's the least I can do for startling you Temari."

"You didn't startle me," she said quietly. "I'm just surprised you're here."

"Well I guess its a good thing we have left over noodles from yesterday." Miwa said walking over to the fridge.

Temari didn't say anything though her grandfather continued to grumble about her clumsiness. When they had picked up the noodles, Temari quickly turned and threw them away then grabbed towels to clean the floor. Then she scrubbed her hands in the sink. Daichi wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say.

"I'll show you to the living room." Kageyama said and Daichi followed.

Once they were out of ear shot Miwa hit Temari on the arm.

"Ow what the hell was that for?" she asked.

"That's Daichi?!" she exclaimed, excitement written across her face.

"Yeah," Temari said turning back to the sink trying to hide her face.

"He's such a cutie!" she exclaimed kicking her feet up. Temari grumbled under her breath. "And you totally embarrassed yourself,"

"Yeah I got that!" Temari snapped at Miwa.

The two finished making dinner and then set the table. Temari then walked to the living room where Daichi, Tobio, and Grandpa were sitting looking at Grandpa's old high school photo album.

"Dinner is ready," she said not bothering to look at them. She then turned and walked into the dinning room taking a seat.

"Something smells delicious," Grandpa said as the three came into the room. Grandpa wheeled his way to the end of the table. Miwa and Tobio sat across from Temari and Daichi sat right next to her.

"Well thank Temari, she made it all by herself." Miwa said looking at Daichi. Temari felt her face get hot and kicked Miwa under the table.

"Ow!" Tobio exclaimed. Temari looked up to see Tobio sitting directly across from her, not Miwa.

Damn!

"I think that was meant for you," Tobio told Miwa calmly though, he shot Temari a look that could kill.

"Enough bickering and eat up," Grandpa said. They did as told.

"So Daichi, when did you start playing volleyball?" Grandpa asked.

"Middle school," Daichi answered. "My friends and I joined the club because we were bored and wanted to try it out. I ended up falling in love with the game."

"That amusing," Grandpa laughed. "Were you any good?"

"No, not at all," Daichi laughed. "But as long as I got to stay on the court, I didn't care. Being out there, with my team, my friends, that's all that mattered."

Temari stared at him in awe. She had never met someone with such a big heart.

"Tobio, you could learn a few things from him," Grandpa said. "My grandson focuses so much on winning he looses sight of the real importance of the game."

Tobio didn't look up from the table. Temari chewed her food silently.

"Grandpa, not now," Miwa said quietly.

Grandpa took in a deep breath and let it out then turned back to Daichi.

"So what are your plans after high school?" Grandpa asked.

"I plan to join the police force," Daichi said proudly.

"The police force?" Grandpa said though it sounded more like a question. "An admirable profession."

Daichi nodded. "I want to help people."

"Yes, well, there are plenty of people who need help." Grandpa said. "Maybe you will be the one to find my son's killer."

Temari shot a look at her grandfather. Why would he bring that up?

Daichi nodded. "I'm sorry about your loss. Temari told me what happened."

"Yes, well, it seems bad things like to happen to good people." her grandfather said.

"Grandpa," Miwa said quietly telling him to change the subject. Grandpa looked at Miwa and cleared his throat.

"You'll have to forgive me," he said. "Our encounters with the police department have been all but pleasant."

"I understand," Daichi said. "There are many bad people in the world. I believe change starts somewhere, so why not with me."

Temari looked at Daichi who had an unwavering smile on his face. She didn't know what it was but something about it made her feel an instant comfort.

"You're a very optimistic young man," Grandpa said. "The world can use more men like you."

"Thank you sir," Daichi said.

The five went on to eat in silence. When they had finished eating, Temari collected the dishes and took them to the kitchen. She filled the sink with water and bubbles and began cleaning the dishes.

"Missed you at the match today," Daichi said walking into the kitchen. "Too busy working on a big project?" He walked over to her side and grabbed a dish towel.

"No," Temari shook her head. "Miwa was sick so I stayed to take care of her."

"I'm sorry to hear that, I was a little nervous that you had gotten caught last night and I was never going to see you again." he said.

"Please, once my grandpa falls asleep I don't even think a tsunami alarm could wake him." she giggled setting a dish on the counter. Daichi chuckled as he picked it up and dried it. "You don't have to do that."

"Please, it's the least I can do after that amazing meal." Daichi said. "I wish I could cook as well as that, I always manage to burn something."

Temari giggled. "I had to practice a lot, Miwa is a horrible cook too."

Daichi smiled. "So how did you learn?"

"Trail and error mostly," she continued cleaning. "It's like art, you throw things together until it tastes beautiful."

"Tastes beautiful?" he chuckled.

Temari looked down at the dishes, her cheeks growing warm. "It's hard to explain."

"There's no need, I can see that you know what you're talking about." he said.

Temari smiled setting another dish down.

"So how are you liking Karasuno?" Daichi asked drying the dish.

"It's nice," she said. "People aren't as mean,"

"What do you mean?" Daichi dried every dish she put down.

"At my middle school people would bully me because I was Tobio's sister." she said. "Most people were intimidated by him and he's a jerk so people would take it out on me."

"You didn't do anything," Daichi said.

Temari shook her head. "Being Tobio's sister was enough for them. Most of it came from the other volleyball players."

"That's pathetic, who takes their anger out on a girl?" Daichi muttered the last part more to himself.

"Karasuno isn't like that," she said with her face down, letting her bangs block Daichi out of her peripheral view. "Thank you for being nice to me," Daichi just stared at her unsure of what to say. Why was she thanking him?

She turned off the water and drained the sink as the last of the dishes were done. Suddenly her phone rang. She dried her hands and took it out of her pocket. She looked at the screen to see it was Sadu. Panic set in when she realized the last time she spoke to him was the first day of school. She should call him but... She would call him later, right now she wanted to hang out with Daichi. She ignored the call and put it back into her pocket then turned to Daichi.

"You're not going to take that?" he asked curiously.

"No," she shook her head.

"Angry boyfriend?" he asked.

"No," she laughed. "Just a friend..." There was a silence and she didn't know what to say next. "What about you?" she asked curiously looking down at her feet.

"What about me?" he asked leaning back against the counter.

"Do you have a girl friend?" she asked quietly.

"No not at all," Daichi said confidently.

"Why not?" she asked before she even thought about the question. She quickly covered her mouth surprised she even asked such a thing. "I'm sorry that was rude of me,"

"No, no, its okay," Daichi chuckled holding his hands up. "I don't know, I guess I just haven't been interested in someone like that for awhile." For awhile? What was that supposed to mean? Was he interested in someone now? "What about you?"

"Me?" she asked surprised. "Have you met my brother?" she said and Daichi let out a chuckle.

"Yeah, I guess most guys would be intimidated." he said.

"Intimidated or couldn't stand him. Either way guys didn't want anything to do with me." she said.

"Their loss," he said causing a smirk to appear on her lips. Before she could say anything else, Daichi's phone rang in his pocket. "I'm sorry, its my mom,"

Temari shook her head and he answered the phone.

"Hey mom," he said though he didn't sound to pleased that she called. She could hear a faint voice on the other end of the line but couldn't understand what they were saying. "I'm at a friends," Friend? Did he consider her a friend or was he just saying that to get his mom of his back. "Okay... okay... fine... okay bye..." He then hung up the phone and looked at her. "I should get going."

"I'll walk you out," she said.

As they walked out, Daichi made sure to thank Temari's grandfather. Then Temari walked Daichi out to his car.

"Thank you for dinner," he said. "It was delicious."

"Anytime," she said. "Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends are my days to cook so I suggest that if you want to live avoid Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays because those are Miwa's and Tobio's turns."

Daichi chuckled. "Good to know,"

Daichi stood there, like he didn't know what to do next. "See you at school Monday?"

Temari nodded and Daichi smiled then he walked to his car and drove off.