The King of The Court

"How did you get to be that alone, Kageyama?" Hinata pushed, as oblivious as ever as he needled the sorest spot of the fallen liege. "How did you get to be called the King?"

Kageyama's grip tightened around the plastic bottle he held, crushing it in an instant as he stood. This was not a conversation he wished to hold, nor had ever truly planned to..

As he stalked away, tossing the destroyed soda bottle at his spiker, he only said one thing. "Don't call me that."

Part One: The Making of

"Hello, ladies!" The ever playful voice rang out as the gym's door hit the wall. He spotted Kageyama and grinned, his eyes narrowing with some negative emotion as he threw his bag to him. As was his usual. "Thanks for coming to help, my little kohai!"

"I'm not-" Tooru then promptly proceeded to walk over to the girls that were always there waiting for him, ignoring the smaller boy that had been waiting for him. Kageyama did not pout or sigh, he simply stared and ignored the apologetic pat on the back he recieved from Hajime. He was focused on his target, although, it did not seem like his target was bothered by that fact in the least..

"Iwaizumi, does that kid ever give up..?" He could hear them, of course he could, just because he was focused on this flirting session didn't mean he was deaf..

Oh, who are you kidding? The only reason you want to be setter is because of him!

"I'd be kind of disappointed if he did!" He turned away as he sawOikawa's eyes tighten at their laughter, huffing quietly. It was not so much annoying, as it was infuriating to Kageyama. He did not understand any of this, not in the least. Why was it that the man he was trying so hard to learn from was so..

"Senpai is false."

The first year glanced around after a moment as the comfortable hum completely faded, realizing that there was an aura of hostility surrounding him. No, it wasn't simply surrounding him, it was aimed at him..

"Tobio-chan, by the way your eyes are widening," Kageyama inhaled sharply and his grip tightened on the bag in his hands, knowing that he was right behind him, waiting to strike. "I'd say you didn't realize you spoken aloud.."

How I hate that nickname..

Kageyama exhaled slowly, knowing he was in trouble, and turned around. He did not hesitant to bow to the man that was 'teaching' him to become a setter, he knew better than to piss him off. "Gomen. It was.."

He paused, not sure what he wanted to say. It was not wrong, what he had said, and Kageyama was simply too straightforward to understand why such falsities were necessary. It was how his father had raised him, for better or worse.

"Well?" Iwaizumi called from where he was sitting, or rather, stretching. It seemed that, while he usually took the younger boy's side, was on his friend's today. Perhaps it was the uncharacteristic frown that Oikawa was sporting that had everyone, minus Kageyama, on edge.

"It was too straightforward for someone like you." Kageyama finally managed to blurt out, silencing whatever little chatter had started back up.

"Kageyama." Iwaizumi called out again, his voice sounding strained. "Laps, now."

"No." The third year setter tossed a ball to the the waiting spiker, completely shutting down the boy for the third time that day.

It wasn't as if the prodigy would just give up, of course not, he had made a name in the club for being just as stubborn as Tooru. "Just.. Once. Please, Oikawa-senpai.. Just correct my form-"

He was cut off as a ball hit his face and the setter stomped away.

"Y'know there are others that can teach you, Kageyama.." The second year started slowly, picking up the ball that was now graced with the growing first year's blood. Of course he knew that, he had known that from the get-go, but..

"No one can play like he can." He spat out, staggering to his feet and motioning for the spiker to throw up the ball. "Let me try.."

"Iwaizumi-senpai.." Kageyama said softly, innocence and frustration clear as day. "Why does he hate me?"

Hate was a strong, although correct, word and Iwaizumi disliked it greatly. He frowned, placing a gentle hand on the raven haired prodigy next to him as he gathered his thoughts. "It's not you so much as.. The thought of being surpassed by someone like you. He doesn't like that prodigies are.. That you have it easier."

This promptly brought a frown to the face of the young setter. It was clear enough that he didn't understand. "I work just as hard as everyone else, sometimes harder, to be this good. It's not.."

Fair? Right? A lot of things having to do with Tooru don't end up being 'right' in my book..

"It's how he thinks." A sigh escaped the older boy as he stood, promptly ending the conversation. "Now, you need to find a way to get through or a way around it."

Kageyama simply blinked, still frowning as he watched the boy leave. A way around it..?

"Come on, Oikawa, set for me!" A gleam entered Kageyama's eyes as he realized that someone had left the door to the gym partially opened. He could watch him set again today..!

He found himself staring in awe for the next two hours, completely mindless of his limbs going numb and his positioning. However his joy was destined to be short-lived.

"Kageyama, we don't mind, but.. Don't completely block the doors." A loud whisper came to his ears, courtesy of one hotshot first year named Kindaichi, along with a rather sharp kick to his side.

"Oi, teme!" They were at it in a moment, and in Kageyama's brain, he couldn't understand why it was natural to kick someone, so clearly it was he was in the right to start a brawl.

Of course, sadly, the seniors never saw it his way. It was becoming a bit of a natural incantation, one that everyone in the gym could time and join in on.

"Kageyama, laps, now."

It was also commonplace to hear a small protest come sputtering from the sullen first year. "B-but what about-"

"Are you questioning the captain!?" Not that Tooru or anyone else ever bothered to heed him.

Life was not fair..