Reclaim (Haikyuu Kingdoms!AU)

Train

"It's... brighter than I thought it would be," Tsukki said with wonder. Yamaguchi clung onto him with wide eyes, swiveling his head rapidly as he took in the sights, smells, and sounds. 

"Tsukki! They have lights! Actual lights! I've only seen the candles in my house!" he squealed, tugging on his sleeve rapidly. Tsukki smirked at his friend's puppy-like face and stared at the large buildings. 

"I think this brightness is nice." 

"Look at that babe! What if Kiyoko wore that?" Tanaka said to Noya, pointing towards a brunette girl with a curvy figure going into a club. Both boys blushed at the image of Kiyoko wearing such a skimpy, wine red dress. 

Daichi hit them. "We're on a mission. Don't get distracted."

"Are the trains even running right now?" Ennoshita asked the former king.

"They run late."

"Don't we need to pay to get on?" Tsukki said. 

"They like me."

"Really? I thought you were the most hated person in the entire kingdom! And with King Oikawa on the throne, your hatred will turn to loathing!" Hinata exclaimed before dodging Kageyama's swift kick to his face. 

"I gave them the blueprints to modernize the engine, making the acceleration time shorten without anything terrible happening to the machinery," he replied. "They owe me."

"You didn't ask for their life force in return for such knowledge?" Tsukki chuckled. 

"Don't push it. Just follow me and don't stray."

"Can't we explore?" Hinata asked in a dazed tone, spinning in place. "It smells good, it looks good, and it probably tastes good!" 

"I-"

"You said the trains run late," Daichi interrupted, trying to contain his overwhelming joy. "We have time, don't we?"

The former king really wanted to hop on the train and meet the king, but Karasuno would probably kick him out if he didn't bend to their wishes. They would probably bail on him even if he told them to stay close. "Go ahead. I'm sorry about the wall."

Everyone scattered like rats, leaving Hinata by his side. The orange head faced Kageyama with a drooling mouth. "I'm really hungry."

"We have no money. I don't know what the others are going to do."

"They'll do their own thing. It doesn't matter if we have money. We have curiosity, and that overrides the need for money. Sure, we won't get the entire experience, but we'll get a small taste." He leaned against Kageyama with a dreamy smile. "Please gain the throne back. I don't want to live with restrictions." 

He blushed, pushing him off and left his hand lingering on the boy's shoulder. "I'll win."

"Do we have everyone?" Kageyama asked. Everyone was gathered at the train station, shivering from the sudden drop in temperature.

"I'm surprised that you aren't missing," Ennoshita said to Tanaka. 

"You callin' me a traitor?"

"Your 'gang face' doesn't work on me after I've seen your 'rejected and now I'm crying in your shirt' face."

Everyone laughed as Tanaka sputtered incoherent nonsense. 

"All of you, get on board. I'll go talk to the conductor. He should be running his trusty train," Kageyama said. 

"I'm going with you," Ennoshita said, stepping up. "I want to learn more about this locomotive. Tanaka, you wanna join?"

"I'll pass. Gotta keep these runts in check," he replied with a grin. Suga and Daichi shook their heads simultaneously.

"Follow me." 

Ennoshita trailed behind Kageyama's imposing figure as he traveled down the train cars. "Are you alright without a disguise?"

"No one will recognize me with these dirty clothes," Kageyama replied. "My hair is also flatter than its usual fluff."

"You had no bounce to your hair," Ennoshita commented. 

"My hair had plenty bounce," he grumbled. "Ah, we're here"

He slid the car door open to reveal an old, wrinkled man hunched over a panel of buttons and levers. "Wha? Who're you?" he yelled in a grouchy voice, glaring one eye with a menacing sneer. 

"It's me. Kageyama Tobio, former king of the Kitagawa Kingdom."

His face lit up with recognition and let out a hearty laugh. "Well why didn't ya say so? Got kicked out of your cushion, hey?"

A sour visage crossed Kageyama. "Yes."

Ennoshita, looking around with wonder, took mental notes as Kageyama explained his situation. 

"Oh, oh! I see I see I see..." He paused for a moment, brows furrowing. "Ya know, what comes around goes around. Yeah, fine. Board for free, I'll tell Koyuki to pass you fellas. Just sit cushy, yeah?"

Kageyama grinned. "Thank you, sir!"

"Don' smile, it's scary as hell," he squawked. "You're a damn good king, and a fine man. Get movin'."

Kageyama turned around, casting a glance towards the curious boy. He noticed, and shook his head. 

"I'm staying here. Don't mind me."

"And who're you?" the old man said, whirling around to the neat-looking boy. 

"My name is Ennoshita!" 

"You can relax around me, I have a good feelin' 'bout ya."

"Okay, thanks! Can you teach me about this train?"

Kageyama closed the door and let them do their nerd talk. The old fart needed some company. He returned to the car where the rest of Karasuno resided. 

Hinata's face was squished against the glass, his eyes following everything that comes to view. Tsukki and Yamaguchi were making small talk in a small booth for two, and Tanaka was being restrained from stripping by Suga and Daichi.

"Where the nerd?" Noya asked with a grin. 

"He wanted to learn more about the train."

"You could've taught him," Asahi pointed out, holding his stomach.

"A guy like me would just ward him away," Kageyama replied, a dark aura flowing around him. "I'm nothing but a miserable speck of dust... I don't deserve to be king."

In a flash, the self-loathing royal was headbutted by a bright ball of orange hair. He fell on his butt, the wind knocked out of him. Hinata put his hands on his hips with a glare. "Stop saying that stuff! You're too pessimistic! We're trying to enjoy a nice train ride and you're ruining the mood!"

His words stabbed Kageyama in the chest. "Sorry..."

Hinata's shining smile spread across his face. "Don't be so hard on yourself!"

"Yeah! Even if you do fail, we'll still be here!" Noya said.

"Noya, I'm sure he'll be fine. I hope..." Asahi chimed in. 

The train car drowned Kageyama in positive words. When the flood drained, he was left in a blushing mess. 

"Do you get it now? You're doing something not just great, but revolutionary. Sure, the past kings weren't the best to the Outer City folk, but now you know how we live. We put all of our faith into you to make these changes," Suga said, placing a fist onto Kageyama's chest.

Yamaguchi yawned, leaning against the window as his eyes started drooping. Daichi noticed this, and crossed his arms. "Let's get some rest. We'll be in Nekoma tomorrow morning!"