Chapter Text
25 years later, Kingdom of Seijoh
Oikawa Katsumi has been waiting his entire life for this moment. Son of the Omega King and the great Iwaizumi, he’s been raised to have absolute confidence in himself and his abilities as he prepares to take the throne. He was born in a time when his mother was known as the last Oikawa, first male omega to become king, his father the alpha with the best senses in both kingdoms. Now, there are many Oikawas spread across both Seijoh and Shiratorizawa, and Katsumi himself surpassed his father’s senses just a few years ago.
Today, Oikawa Tooru will be stepping down from his throne after ruling twenty seven years and leading Seijoh into a time of peace and certainty that was lacking when he first became king. Katsumi is much older than his mother was when he took the throne, but Katsumi is much more prepared. Under more usual circumstances, Katsumi wouldn’t take the throne until Tooru’s death, but the two have come to the agreement that Katsumi will take the throne now and allow his parents time to rest.
The coronation will be happening later in the afternoon, and Katsumi stares at himself in the mirror, wondering what he’ll look like with the crown. Though he has his mother’s eyes, Katsumi looks more like his father than anyone else, which is why it surprised no one when he presented as an alpha. When his best friend, Matsukawa Akio, presented as an omega, many people believed the two would wed. Katsumi hated to prove them right, but when he was nineteen and Akio admitted he might leave the palace, Katsumi couldn’t bear the thought of being without him, and the two announced their engagement not a month later.
Now, Akio sets his chin on Katsumi’s shoulder, bright eyes meeting Katsumi’s in the mirror. In his expression, Katsumi can see that Akio is telling him all will be alright, and the two of them will do a wonderful job as king and queen. Katsumi turns to his husband, setting their foreheads together. Their hands meet on Akio’s slightly raised stomach, as they have ever since they realized that Akio is pregnant.
“You are going to be a wonderful king,” Akio whispers. “And an even better father. Not to mention that Ema will be coming, and I know how you miss her.”
“Ema’s more excited to see you and Asami,” Katsumi says. “She also wants to meet the baby.”
Ushijima Ema, once Oikawa Ema, hasn’t visited Seijoh since her marriage to Ushijima Satoshi last year. Since Katsumi wrote to tell her of the pregnancy and of the coronation, she hasn’t stopped talking about meeting the baby, who won’t be born for a few more months. She’s also excited to see her twin sister Asami again, since the two were very close growing up.
“Well, the baby isn’t the star for another few months,” Akio says. “Today is about you.”
Katsumi can hear and smell his parents approaching and presses a kiss to Akio’s forehead. “And my parents.”
“This is about saying goodbye to your parents,” Akio says as there’s a knock at the door. “Come in!”
Tooru pokes his head in, a wide smile breaking across his face as his eyes settle on Katsumi. Hajime is a few steps behind him, face soft with pride. Akio steps back so the two can gather their son close for a few long moments.
“We are so proud of you,” Tooru says. “I remember when you were just born, and even though you looked almost exactly like Hajime, all I could see was the rest of the Oikawa family, happy that I was no longer alone.”
“Maybe you were delusional from the pain,” Hajime mutters, and Tooru begins protesting loudly. “But really, even if you weren’t Tooru’s only hope to no longer be alone, you were still our beautiful little boy, and you’ve grown up to be an alpha we can’t help but be proud of.”
“And you let us be related to Takahiro and Issei,” Tooru says, sounding pleased.
“Yes, that’s the most important part of this,” Hajime sighs. “We just wanted to make sure you’re ready. Coronations are scary things, but I’m glad you aren’t alone.”
Katsumi turns to smile at Akio, lacing their fingers together and pulling him forward. There’s another knock at the door, and then Kyoutani Kazumi opens the door and tilts her head down the hallway.
“Show time,” she says. “And you’ll do fine. You managed to get Akio to marry you, so you’ve already done the impossible.” The alpha has never been afraid to tear into Katsumi, always keeping him on his toes and his only real competition when it comes to training.
“Thanks,” Katsumi says dryly.
“We all know you actually really like him, Kazumi,” Akio sings as he tugs Katsumi forward. “You aren’t fooling anyone.”
“Stop bothering each other,” Tooru scolds. “You’re in laws now, and I doubt Asami and Satomi-chan would be pleased to hear that you can’t get along.”
Katsumi and Kazumi have had a bit of a rivalry ever since they presented as alphas, but it mellowed out a lot when their sisters announced they were together, though it hadn’t been that long ago. Just a few months after that, Kazumi had been chosen as Katsumi’s guard and they mostly get along now. They still poke and tease each other, but it’s friendly now.
Tooru and Hajime lead the group down the hall, walking close together and having a murmured conversation that Katsumi doesn’t hear, too focused on making sure Akio is alright. Tooru is a male omega and Katsumi’s heard just how hard both pregnancies were on him, he even remembers some from the second, as he was four, so he’s been making sure to keep a very close eye on Akio and how the pregnancy is affecting him. So far, everything seems to be okay, but anything could happen. He knows that Akio is well aware of the attention but doesn’t mind it; they both want the best for their child.
Asami, Satomi, Issei, Takahiro, Matsukawa Chiaki and Kindaichi Yukio are waiting for them, and Asami is eager to inform them all that Ema will meet them at the temple with Satoshi and his guard, Semi Kimiko. Once, her name was whispered throughout the kingdoms for being the adopted daughter of Semi Eita and Shirabu Kenjirou, but now she’s known for being the older sister of Semi Ami, the omega at the forefront of the fight for equality in Shiratorizawa. She and Ema are close, both omegas who want better treatment from and for their people.
They’re directed to the proper transportation, and Katsumi glances back at the palace one last time before they leave. It’s the last time he’ll be here as the crown prince and not the king.
There’s a big crowd in front of the temple who cheer loudly as Tooru and Hajime exit. It’s their last event as king and consort, and the two are well loved in Seijoh. Katsumi remembers hearing the stories of how before Tooru was crowned, they used to spend days in the city, learning about their people. Katsumi has never had much free time, but Asami and Ema were granted the same privilege Tooru had. They both loved it, often talking of the people they met and all they learned. Katsumi found that they're stories helped him learn too, even if he couldn't join them.
Katsumi helps Akio down and the two wave at the crowd before joining the others at the temple. Tooru kisses Katsumi’s forehead, and Issei and Takahiro tease Akio a little, while Chiaki just rolls her eyes at her fathers’ antics, Yukio smiling from his spot beside her. Kazumi watches the crowd as the others file into the temple. Katsumi and Akio are last, elbows hooked together; Katsumi pretends not to notice how heavily Akio is leaning on him as they make their way forward.
Katsumi is convinced that he spots a silver kitten perched in the rafters of the temple, but other than that one moment of clarity, the ceremony is a blur. The next thing he knows is the priest saying the closing words of the ceremony: “I present to you, King Oikawa Katsumi of Seijoh. May the Guardians bless his reign with peace and prosperity. Long may he reign!”
“Long may he reign!” the crowd echoes, and Katsumi is officially the new king of Seijoh.
Tooru, Hajime, Takahiro and Issei are the first to congratulate him, Shigeru and Kentarou a few steps behind. Ema and Satoshi are next, and because Satoshi hasn’t been crowned yet, they bow together. Ema hugs him afterwards and then coes over Akio’s belly. She’s nearly five years younger than Katsumi, so she likely won’t have a child for at least a few more years but looks very pleased by the prospect that she’ll be an aunt soon. After Asami and Satomi congratulate them, there’s Chiaki and Yukio with Akira and Yuutaro, and then advisors and nobles that Katsumi can’t really keep track of.
After that’s done, he and Akio face the kingdom, side by side, as king and queen, as they will for many years to come.
Karasuno Plains
“The coronation went off without a hitch, as expected,” Kinoshita says as he enters the room, Narita at his side. “Shimizu-san just confirmed and is on her way back now.”
Oikawa Tooru is no longer king of Seijoh, and it’s a strange thing to think. They were so heavily involved in ensuring that he stayed on the throne that it’s a bit strange to think that it is now his son who rules. Chikara remembers all too well when he was asked to confirm that the baby was still alive when the young king arrived in the Plains after fleeing his kingdom.
“Good,” Suga says.
“If that’s the case, why do you look concerned?” Noya asks.
Chikara looks closely at Kinoshita and realizes that yes, the other crow does look concerned. Narita’s face is much more neural, but Chikara notices the hard set of his mouth. The rest of the council look at the two, waiting.
“There are foxes at the border,” Narita says. “Not the leaders.”
“Do you think the foxes are finally ready to be Guardians?” Hinata asks, voice bright as usual.
“If they are, I hope the owls and cats put them through the same stupid trials we had to do,” Tsukishima mutters, and Kageyama echoes the sentiment at the other side of the room.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Yamaguchi says. “This time we’ll get to come up with one too!”
“Let’s send them to the source of our last problem,” Ryuu says, smiling wickedly; Tsukishima laughs.
“Enough,” Daichi warns them before he turns back to the spies. “Do we have any idea what they want?”
“No,” Kinoshita says. “They’ll only talk to Hinata.”
“Probably because he was the one to talk the foxes down from killing Oikawa,” Asahi muses.
“How many are at the border?” Hinata asks, sounding more serious than he usually does.
“Three,” Kinoshita says. “Two dark haired, one blond.”
“We’ll go to them,” Hinata says. “Tanaka-san and Noya-san should come with me.”
“Alright,” Daichi says. “Yamaguchi and Suga will go too but will stay back from the talks. Let’s go.”
Ryuu is curious about the foxes. Judging by Hinata’s expression when Kinoshita described them, he’s assuming it’s the same foxes who once threatened Kageyama and Oikawa’s life. He can feel Chikara in his head, demanding he pay attention, and Ryuu dutifully follows Hinata and Noya towards the border, keeping a close eye on his surroundings. He spots the foxes almost immediately, and is very glad that they look intimidated when the three of them slam down on the ground in front of them. Chikara laughs in his brain.
“Hinata Shoyo,” the blond fox says. “We meet again.”
“Miya Atsumu,” Hinata says. “You’ve returned. And you’ve brought Miya Osamu and Suna Rintaro.”
“And you’ve brought other councillors with you,” the blond Miya continues. “I’m afraid I don’t know them.”
“Tanaka Ryuunosuke,” Ryuu says immediately, Chikara scolding him.
“Nishinoya Yuu,” Noya says, wings flaring a little. “What do you want?”
“The foxes have remembered our true purpose,” the dark haired Miya says. “We are ready to become Guardians again.”
Ryuu feels a slow smile spread across his face.