Kageyama wiped the sweat off his brow and grabbed his water bottle, taking a long drink before setting it back down.

"Good practice today!" Daichi clapped Kageyama on the back. "You too, Hinata." He added as the short boy bounced by. "Keep it up, and we'll go to nationals yet!"

Hinata grinned. "Yes!" His eyes glowed, and Kageyama could feel the anticipation radiating from him.

Kageyama knew he dreamed of going to nationals, to stand on the same court as his idol, the Little Giant. He knew Hinata fantasized about flying across the court, fans whooping as he scored one spike after another. Of their team's black banner hanging high above them with the white characters that spelled out "Fly."

Kageyama dreamt of that court too, but his fantasies were different from Hinata's. In his visions, he would set the ball, and it would zoom across the court into Hinata's waiting spike. He saw Hinata's expression of exhilaration as he swung, and the bright-eyed smile with which he would face Kageyama and say "One more!"

Kageyama wanted to stand on that court with Hinata.

He'd been in love with the boy for a long time, since the first time Hinata had yelled "Kageyama!" calling for the ball, then spiked it, trusting Kageyama completely with bringing the ball to his hand.

He had gotten closer to Hinata slowly, becoming his most trusted partner on the volleyball team, the greatest teammates. But it was only within the club. Outside of team activities, Kageyama never hung out with Hinata. The friendly, energetic boy had his own friends, and Kageyama, the socially awkward one, had none. Every day after practice he watched Hinata leave, running off to class with his friends.

He wished Hinata would wait for him after practice. "Oi, Kageyama! C'mon, let's go!" Then he'd get up and they'd stroll to class together. When it was time to separate Hinata would look up at him (maybe with a slight blush?) and say "See you later, Kageyama!" the rush off to his class, and he would stand there a moment longer, watching the boy's retreating form, before he went into his own classroom.

He looked around the gym. As usual, Hinata was pulling his jacket on, getting ready to leave. Tanaka and Noya were with him. Tanaka said something and rubbed Hinata's head affectionately, to which the boy laughed.

Then practice was over, and the group dispersed, heading out the gym door. First Hinata, followed by Noya and Tanaka, then Kageyama. The third years brought up the rear, locking up the door as they exited.

Hinata turned around and waved at the team. "Bye!" He said energetically, then pivoted and dashed off towards his classroom.

But today Kageyama wouldn't let Hinata leave like usual. He turned and bowed stiffly at the rest of the team, then ran madly after Hinata, his bookbag bouncing in his hip with every step.

"Hinata!"

The orange haired-boy skid to a stop ahead and looked back. An expression of fear manifested on his face as he saw Kageyama approaching.

Kageyama stopped when he reached Hinata and bent over to catch his breath. Then he looked up.

"I'm sorry Kageyama, whatever I did, I'm sorry, so please forgive me Kageyama, please?" Hinata began blubbering like an idiot. Kageyama felt his own flushed face. He must be making a scary expression again. He tried to make his face as neutral and harmless as possible.

"Um…"

He hadn't planned this far forward. It was all on impulse, like all his other moves. But now his instinct faltered and he didn't know what to do because he had never gotten this close to spilling his heart out to Hinata and his heart was beating out of his chest and he didn't understand it at all.

"Ah…"

Now Hinata took a step back like terrified prey in the shadow of its hunter. "Ka-Kageyama, your stuttering is scary."

Kageyama took a breath. Then another. And then he blurted it out.

"I like you, Hinata."

Hinata looked in confusion. Then he cocked his head. "Kageyama?"

"I like you, Hinata." He repeated it again.

"I like you too, Kageyama." But Kageyama could tell he didn't get it.

"I like you."

"Wha?" Hinata watched Kageyama in confusion.

"I. Like. You."

And then there was silence. Kageyama's heart was in his throat, and he couldn't breathe.

"Oh," said Hinata. "Oh. Oh."

And Kageyama stood there, awaiting the verdict.