A/N: HI.

What am I doing here instead of preparing for my board exams, you ask? Well, the answer that would make me look good would be I promised to update by Feb, like an idiot, not realising my exams get over until March, and so this is an apology fic. But the truth is that I made the decision to rewatch episodes of Haikyuu! to unwind (a horrible decision, really) and it. Just. Kind of took me over.

SO. Here's a friendship fic with vulnerable Kageyama (Shadow Mountain, I just realised! How cool is that?) and indignant Yachi. Started off with an image of her hugging him when he's curled up and sad, and just kind of went from there. I've also got lots of other oneshot ideas, which I will either post along with this (heh, my own anthology) or separately. You know. When I get around to writing them.

I'm noting them down faithfully, I swear!

And now - on to the story. My first foray into the beautiful Haikyuu! fandom! Yayyyy! :3

⸶⸷

A Shoulder To Lean On

Summary: Hitoka sees Kageyama hurrying away with an odd expression on his face, and tries to help. Sometimes even kings need shoulders to lean on - and some advice. My take on his fear of rejection. Oneshot, KageYachi friendship, slightly fluffy - because how can there possibly be no fluff with an adorable dork like Kageyama?

⸶⸷

Hitoka placed her chopsticks back in the box and snapped it shut with a satisfied sigh. She'd finished the homework she hadn't done the day before (she was usually a fairly diligent student, but she had been busy confirming the details of the next training camp with Takeda sensei) and in record time too. She'd even been able to finish her lunch with twenty minutes of lunch break to spare. She stretched her arms over her head and then relaxed into her chair, wondering if she should go over to Hinata's class, or Yamaguchi's, and spend the rest of the break with them. She'd told them not to disturb her because she had work to do, so they might be busy with something else . . . but even if they were practising volleyball she could throw for them, and they would welcome her. Or should she just stay here? It was a cool, bright day, and she could just relax and look out of the window.

She looked around the class for a moment. Shiori, Ayane and Natsuki were laughing together; mmm, she could join them, but she was feeling kind of lazy. Reina was lounging in her chair like a queen, with her usual gang clustered around her. Hitoka's nose wrinkled, she wasn't going to go anywhere near them. Her gaze drifted to the corridor, and she happened to catch sight of a figure with dark hair striding hastily past the first door. She frowned slightly - was it? As he passed the other door she looked more carefully, and - yes, it was Kageyama.

Plans of relaxation entirely forgotten, she sat upright in her chair, frowning harder. His expression had been - unusual, to say the least. She'd never seen that look on his face before. Should she go after him? Would that be a good idea . . .?

Warring impulses kept her frozen still for five heartbeats; then she sprang to her feet. If he didn't want her around he would tell her, and if he did she would regret not having gone after him.

She hurried out of the classroom and looked down the hall. He was walking at a brisk pace, and was already nearly lost in the mass of jostling students spending their lunch break in the corridors. She hurried after him, but his legs were longer than hers, and he was faster. He never seemed to get any closer, and she began to worry about losing him entirely. Then he took a sharp right turn and began to climb the stairs.

Huh? That staircase led only to the roof, and everyone knew it was always kept locked. The only time people climbed this staircase was . . . was . . .

. . . when they had arranged to spend some time canoodling with their boyfriend or girlfriend on the shady, deserted landing.

She shook her head, trying to cast off her reservations, and kept walking. Kageyama didn't have a girlfriend as far as she knew, and if he did he wouldn't go to meet her with an expression like that. Unless he was breaking up with her? Or rejecting a confession?

I'm letting my imagination run away with me again, Hitoka told herself. Kageyama-kun has never been involved in anything like that. Besides, if I hear anyone else I'll just slip away, and no one will be the wiser

She nodded firmly and began to climb the staircase, though more slowly, not wanting to inadvertently stumble into an awkward situation. But as she got closer to the landing she could hear no other voices. The sound of her shoes on the staircase seemed to become unnaturally loud, and she took each step with care, trying to make less noise.

She was nearly at the top now, and she couldn't see Kageyama. Confused, she paused at the step before the last, and suddenly spotted him sitting hunched over, with his back against the wall and his head on his knees, tucked under his arms.

He didn't look up as she hesitantly came closer. She paused for a moment, then crouched down in front of him - she didn't want him to be looking up at her when he saw her, that wouldn't feel right.

"Kageyama-kun?" she said softly.

His head shot up instantly, his eyes wide.

"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!" Her voice stayed in the same hushed tone, for somehow she felt like she should still be speaking softly, carefully.

He blinked at her. Then his expression settled back into the one he had had before - and -

She had only caught two brief glimpses before, and those had been enough to send her running after him. Now, up close, it was far worse.

She wasn't particularly good with words - but if she had to pick one word to describe his expression, she would choose 'breaking'. And she hated how accurate a description it was.

Before she knew what she was doing, her arms were moving up and apart, offering comfort. It was a completely instinctive motion, one that her mother always used to meet her with when she had come home crying about tripping up or mean classmates. She caught herself halfway, and flushed. Kageyama was calmly polite at best and furiously scathing at worst. He was definitely not a touchy-feely person. What must he think of her? Soft, definitely pathetic, offering mushy comfort he didn't need, that she should have known he would dismiss -

But he didn't look offended or disgusted. He just looked at her blankly for a moment, confusedly, as though he was trying to decipher the meaning behind her action. So she swallowed and held her arms still, telling herself, I'll wait three seconds - If he doesn't move or speak I'll just pretend it never happened. One . . . Two . . .

Her arms were already beginning to drop, and she might have actually dropped them completely if she hadn't caught a slight flicker of motion - he had leaned forward just the tiniest bit.

She lifted her arms higher, wider, hoping frantically she was doing the right thing, searching his face desperately for clues that would tell her so. He met her eyes with his own - torn, dull, hurt - and then something in them seemed to give way, and, ever so slowly - like he was giving up, letting go - he leaned forward to rest his head on her shoulder.

There was only that single point of contact; the rest of him was still hunched over, curled inwards, held tight. She carefully placed one arm around his shoulder, and the other below that, across the middle of his back, and held him.

It wasn't very long before his breathing began to change. It had been fiercely quiet before; now it was getting louder, more irregular, like he was choking on every breath, like it would take nothing to tip it over into sobs. But when she squeezed him gently and, she hoped, reassuringly, he seemed to catch himself, and gradually began to quiet down. They stayed like that for a while, long enough that Hitoka's thighs began to ache from the awkward crouch. She began to worry that she hadn't put on enough deodorant that day, that her palms were becoming too sweaty, that she might sneeze and ruin the moment because of how Kageyama's hair was tickling her nose, that he was beginning to think of how to politely extricate himself from her arms . . .

But he remained there until the bell rang, whereupon he jerked back from her shoulder with a start. Hitoka watched him worriedly as he leaned back, and when he stood she did the same. She wasn't going to talk unless he did. He had always seemed like a very private person to her, one who had trouble opening up - he'd only just gotten comfortable with high fives from Tanaka-senpai, for heaven's sake - and she wasn't about to overstep her boundaries.

He avoided her eyes, keeping them trained on the floor. "Sorry," he said gruffly, so quietly she almost couldn't hear. And then he headed down the stairs.

Hitoka watched him go, stretching out her legs, and wondering what that could have been about. Well . . . if he wanted to tell her he would. And if he just needed a shoulder to lean on for sometime, I'm glad I was there for him, she told herself firmly. And I might be very curious, but I am not going to ask him. I'm going to respect his privacy. That's what I'm going to do.

And she hurried down the stairs, deliberately thinking about what to make for dinner that night so that she wouldn't be tempted to change her mind.

⸶⸷

" . . . if they continue like this we're going to do very well at the training camp!" Takeda-sensei said enthusiastically. "The first years are shaping up well too, aren't they, Ukai-kun?"

"Well enough," Coach Ukai agreed. "They're excited for their first training camp, too. By the way, Yachi-san, have they all confirmed?"

Hitoka flipped through the papers in her clipboard. "I think . . . All except Tsukishima-kun. And Serizawa-kun from the first years."

Ukai grunted. "Tsukishima will come. He won't bunk if Yamaguchi's coming, and our new wing spiker definitely needs more training, so his cold friend won't stay behind. Serizawa . . . I've been thinking that he might actually be good to take Sawamura's old position. His receives are shaping up well. He definitely needs to come, too. Can you convince him, Yachi-san?"

"Huh? Oh-" Hitoka hastily dragged her eyes away from the court. "He really wants to come, Coach, it's just that his parents are a bit apprehensive. I'm sure they'll come around in time, though. You don't need to worry!"

Ukai gave her an approving nod before turning to Takeda with a question about Hinata's marks. Hitoka let her gaze wander back to Kageyama. He seemed normal enough, if a bit more curt than usual, and he didn't seem to be playing at anything less than his usual level of skill. But he wasn't arguing with Hinata - or anyone else - anywhere near as much. It was like he could barely muster the energy to appear normal, let alone argue.

They took a break just then, and as Kageyama raised a bottle of water to his lips his eyes caught hers across the gym. Hitoka flushed and looked away hastily - then glanced back for a moment. To her surprise, Kageyama looked just as discomfited. He firmly turned away and took a long drink of water.

Mentally slapping herself, Hitoka vowed she wouldn't bother him again. She listened to Coach Ukai and Takeda-sensei's conversation, she got all the players their towels, she helped Nishinoya find his knee pads when he thought they were lost, and she tossed balls for Kageyama, Kinoshita and Okumura, a first year, to set to Hinata, Tanaka, Narita, Yamaguchi and Akiyama, another first year. On the other side of the net, Nishinoya, Serizawa, Tsukishima, Ennoshita, and the first year who'd joined the latest, Suzuki-kun, received the spikes.

Practice went by fast, as it always did. Before she knew it, it was seven thirty and the members had put everything away. Coach Ukai called for them to gather around, and then nodded to Hitoka.

"Um, so I'm sure you all remember, but we're heading to Tokyo next weekend for four days of training camp. It's going to be only Nekoma, Seizen and Ubugawa this time - Fukurodani can't attend. Tsukishima-kun and Serizawa-kun, I still haven't received your permission forms, and I need them as soon as possible so we can inform the Tokyo schools about our numbers and bedding requirements."

Tsukishima nodded once. "I'll bring it by tomorrow."

"Thank you . . Serizawa-kun?"

He looked embarrassed and rubbed the back of his neck, his brown hair flopping into his eyes. "Eh, you know how it is with me, Yachi-san . . ."

"Would it help if I spoke to your parents personally?"

Serizawa valiantly ignored the outbreak of sniggering this triggered, as did Hitoka. "It actually might, Yachi-san. Could you come by tomorrow after school? Today we're seeing off some guests, so-"

She nodded. "That's fine."

"That's our Yacchan!" Nishinoya grinned. "Always dependable!"

A few months ago the comment would have flustered her. Now she just blushed slightly with pleasure and waved the comment away, retorting, "But you'd still like to have Shimizu-senpai back even if it meant getting rid of me, right, Noya-senpai?"

There was a low ripple of laughter, and Nishinoya grinned embarrassedly in a way that screamed Yes, of course! Ahh, Shimizu-senpai!

Coach Ukai smiled slightly. "Well, that's all your manager has for you today. You lot did well today - keep it up, especially you first years. Okay? Right, see you tomorrow."

A loud chorus of 'Ossu!' filled the air as they all got to their feet and began to pack up. Hitoka stowed her own things away and slung her bag across her shoulders, deciding to walk home in her gym clothes today. It was chilly anyway, and wearing a skirt would not be a good idea. She'd take a bath as soon as she got home, though, she was kind of stinky . . .

"Yachi-san!" Hinata yelled, running up to her. "I'm sorry I can't walk with you today! I need to go buy something stuff for my mother and I'll make you late!"

"That's fine, Hinata," she smiled. "I don't mind walking by myself."

"Okay!"

Yamaguchi, who had been standing nearby, said, "Uh, Yachi-san, if you don't mind, I could-"

"Yachi-san."

Hitoka squeaked and turned around. Kageyama was standing right behind her, a determined expression in his eyes.

"Do you mind if I walk with you? I need to talk to you about something."

"Uh - s-sure, Kageyama-kun," she stammered.

He nodded and headed towards the door. Hitoka, heart still beating fast with surprise, turned to say goodbye to Yamaguchi and Hinata, both of whom were staring at her in surprise. She flushed at their expressions. "See you tomorrow!" she said hastily, and hurried after Kageyama, who was waiting for her just outside the doors.

Ahh, I don't think I've ever been alone with Kageyama-kun before, she thought. This is kind of weird . . . She sneaked a glance at his hard profile. He looks - like he's trying really hard to look calm. I shouldn't mess this up by saying anything careless. I'll let him speak first.

And so they walked in silence, the only sounds of passing cars from the road and the tree-frogs chirping. They traversed the school campus and had stepped onto the pavement before he spoke.

"I want to apologize - once more - for what happened at lunchtime," he said, the words terse, his eyes facing forward fiercely. "I shouldn't have - I took advantage of your kindness. I'm grateful - and I'm sure you felt uncomfortable about it."

She glanced up at him for a moment, then looked back at the road. "If I didn't want it, I wouldn't have offered, Kageyama-kun," she said. "And you don't owe me an explanation. If you'd rather not talk about it, I understand."

"No, I do owe you an explanation. And I think - I need to talk about this to someone. That is - if you don't mind? Listening?"

"Of course I don't," she said, infusing her voice with as much warmth as she could. "I would be glad to."

He nodded once, still avoiding her gaze. They walked on in silence for a minute or so before he brought himself to speak once more.

"Do you - have you heard that I used to be called the King of the Court?"

"I have, yes."

"Do you know why?"

She hesitated, then said, "I've heard some vague stories. I know you don't like it much when Tsukishima-kun calls you that . . ."

He let out a long breath, shoving his hands into his pockets. "The name was - not a compliment. My junior high volleyball teammates gave me the title. Because I was selfish. I tossed high and fast, setting up the ball for spikes that would get past the blockers, that would blow them away, but - those spikes were not perfect for the spikers. They could never hit them. Too high. Too fast. And so the ball never reached the other side of the net. When they called me King of the Court, they really meant . . . tyrant. And I . . ." He rubbed his face, trying to warm it. "I didn't hear them until it was too late. I told them 'Move faster! Jump higher!' I couldn't understand why their will to win was lesser than mine. But it wasn't. They wanted to win, of course - until they stepped on the court with me. My demands led to them turning their backs on me in the middle of a game. In the middle of a match. I tossed, and there was no one there to spike. They all watched the ball fall to the floor, and just glared at me. They - rebelled. Against their tyrant king."

Blunt as ever, she thought. But-

"You don't sound particularly upset," she noted softly.

"I'm not. That is how I was. That is what I did. I don't blame them." Kageyama looked down at his shoes, and for a moment or so, there was no sound but that of their shoes on the pavement. Then he said, quietly, "When I came to Karasuno, I was determined to do better. To do anything, try to get along with everyone as much as I could, as long as I could keep playing volleyball. On the first day, though . . . I ran into Hinata in the gym." The corner of his mouth quirked upwards. "He was so horrified to see me. I didn't feel exactly the same, but - just kind of - argh, that damn annoying guy is here? The one who played with that horrible team in junior high, who has no skills apart from jumping?

"But he turned out to be the only one who could hit my fastest toss. Yachi-san, I don't know how to explain to you . . . how that felt. The confidence it gave me. He could keep up. He could spike anything. He had the same drive I did. And he would never, never abandon a toss - abandon - me - because he was just grateful to get the ball. To score a point. It was like - he was the best teammate I could have asked for. Well - volleyball wise. He's still an annoying little shrimp."

Hitoka gave a soft giggle, trying to ignore the oddly warm feeling blooming in her chest at his unusually open words.

"If it wasn't for him . . ." Kageyama kicked at a rock that came in the way of his shoe. "I doubt I would have become as open with everyone else. I wouldn't have made those connections with them that are so essential to playing a good game, to building a good team. Or I wouldn't have made them as soon. I think I still would have made an effort to be as cordial as possible with them, of course, but - all that - high fives and calling each other cool and heroes and complimenting each other on good receives and serves -"

"I know."

"They're - well, not second nature now, but I can do them. Without feeling overly conscious. Hinata played a major part in opening that up for me, though, and he paved the way for my good rapport with the team. We're like - a family? And I don't know what my place in it would have been - if he hadn't been there."

Hitoka kept quiet, listening to the rough cadence of his voice, the warmth in her chest becoming more intense. She felt amazingly honoured that he was trusting her with this. But she couldn't help wondering wondering whether he was going to continue in this vein, and when he was going to get to what had been bothering him. Or was it related to Hinata? Had some problem come up between them? But they had seemed perfectly normal -

"I haven't really had - a place. Anywhere."

That made her look at him. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and then looked down again, flushing slightly. "I don't - you and Hinata are - bright people. You make - the people around you feel - happy about being around you. You're -" he gestured awkwardly with one hand, trying to find the words. "- kind of . . . chirpy," he finished lamely. Hitoka looked down, fighting the awkward smile spreading across her face. What on earth was she to reply to that?

Just then, she realized that the bus stop they had crossed a minute ago was the one where she caught the bus. "Oh! Um - sorry to interrupt, but we kind of passed the stop I catch the bus from. Do you mind if we turn back?"

"Oh, yeah, of course . . ."

He followed her back in silence, and when she sat down on the metal seat he followed suit on her left. The brief interlude seemed to have allowed him time to regain his composure. He glanced at her, and she nodded encouragingly.

"You were saying I'm kind of chirpy," she grinned, and he gave her a half smile.

"Well. Yes. Um. The point I was trying to make is - I don't know how to be like that. How to make people like me. Want to be around me."

She waited for him to continue. When he didn't, she said, "But why do you need to be like that, Kageyama-kun? Sawamura-senpai wasn't. Asahi-senpai wasn't."

"Daichi-san was strong, and reliable, and he motivated us all. Asahi-san was quieter, but he was kind and motivated us in his own way. And he had a - kind of a core of determination. Encouraging him and supporting him was enjoyable, because as the ace, we all wanted him to do well. To live up to the standards he had promised to deliver."

"Shimizu-senpai? A lot of people have told me that she was very quiet and kind of standoffish before I joined."

He snorted. "Everyone liked Shimizu-senpai because of her - uh. You know. She was pretty."

"Okay, then what about Tsukishima-kun?"

"Urgh. He's still insufferable."

"But he's very much part of the family that you were talking about, earlier. Nobody blames him for his attitude - that's just how he is. Everyone knows they can rely on him when they need to. As they rely on you, and trust you -"

"But that's in the club! With the team! Nowhere else!"

Ahh . . . I think I see.

"Is that the problem, Kageyama-kun?" she asked quietly.

He leaned his elbows of his knees and pushed his face into his hands, letting out a kind of frustrated groan. She just watched him, waiting for him to tell her.

He huffed a breath in that peculiarly exasperated way he had, and slowly lowered his hands, clutching them together in his lap instead. "Like I said . . . I've never really had a place. My only place in the world, the only place where I can possibly fit, is on the volleyball court. On a volleyball team. And even there - well, I told you about Kitagawa Daiichi. Outside of the court - people tell me I'm more polite than others my age. That's because being polite is safe. I can't be like Hinata, always saying the first thing that comes into his mind; I can't be like you, always kind, always helpful, always encouraging; I can't be like - like Oikawa-san, acting silly yet still strong, still commanding respect; I can't be like Daichi-san, who leads everyone so effortlessly; I can't even be like goddamn Tsukishima, who's an asshole but knows it and doesn't care what people think of him. I'm always the odd one out in class, that boy with the stony face and the weird glare who's always too serious. Who doesn't know how to smile. It's like - I'm missing some instructions on how to deal with the world. With people. I default to politeness because it's the one thing that can't go wrong, ever. But otherwise I'm - blunt and rude and I just shout and - I just can't seem to get it right, get people right, even though I know, it just never hits me until later and then it's too late -"

"Kageyama-kun!" She laid a tentative hand on his back as he stopped short. His voice, raised in hurt and exasperation, seemed to remain in the air for a moment, like it was still echoing off the road. "Calm down. It's okay."

His shoulder twitched as though to throw her hand off, and his mouth twisted, but he didn't try to dispute the sentiment, and he took a long, deliberate breath. When he exhaled she could feel the muscles in his back relaxing and settling. She left her hand there for a moment more, fascinated by the motion, the feeling, then removed it.

"Before I answer - all that . . . Can I ask you a question?"

He looked at her frowningly, then gave a short nod.

"I understand how you feel, I really do. I was just wondering . . . Don't take this as an insult, Kageyama-kun, but you don't seem like you ever worry about this kind of stuff. You don't seem like - it would matter to you." She gave an awkward smile. "It's like anything outside volleyball wouldn't matter to you. Anyway, my question is - how long have you been worrying about this?"

"Not - since I came to Karasuno, I stopped worrying as much. I told you - feeling like part of a family -" She nodded. "It's just been - since this school year started. I mean, it's not like, last year, I made really good friends in class or anything, but there was no one I couldn't talk to. No one who seemed to hate me or anything. But this year there's - you know Tachibana?"

She could see him instantly. Slightly tall, with a mop of blonde hair that he kept artistically rumpled, and almost oozing confidence. He was charismatic, and he tried to be kind in his own way, but he got offended easily, and whatever he said was law. Always. People were blinded by his utter self confidence and never stood up to him whenever he did or said something ridiculous, and so he always carried it off. And he wasn't the most emotionally stable person, either. He'd been in her class, last year. She'd seen him become furious with another classmate, Saito-kun, and for the whole day poor Saito-kun had been an outcast. Then the next day Tachibana had decided to forgive him with a rough punch and an hasty, "Okay, let's forget about the whole thing. Are you coming to lunch or what?" And the next instant he had been utterly charming. She'd found him - well, kind of dazzling, but overpowering, and more than slightly terrifying, and she really didn't like how he treated people. She'd always tried to keep out of his way.

"Yes," she said, her voice going dangerously quiet in a way it almost never did. "He was in my class last year. What did he do?"

"He decided he doesn't like me."

Hitoka's breath hissed out. Kageyama looked at her, startled.

"I understand," she said, her voice now hard.

He looked back down at his hands. "Yeah. It's like junior high all over again . . .And Hinata isn't in my class, now. He would know how to fight Tachibana, but . . . he isn't there. And it's like - Hinata is all brightness and sparks, and I'm something cold. Steel, maybe? We kind of balance each other. But when he isn't there, it's like I'm just falling further into darkness, becoming colder, without him to pull me out. Him or the team."

Hitoka gaped for a moment, a mixture of emotions briefly trumping the anger in her heart. Kageyama-kun was being - so open with her. She'd never realized he trusted her this much.

I don't know what on earth I did to gain his trust, but - ah, I'm really glad he decided I deserve it.

She shook her head slightly, pushing away the - twisted sympathy-sorrow-compassion - that was making her throat close up, and tried to think of how to reply. The first thing that came to her mind was, "You really depend on him, huh?"

He looked slightly grumpy at that, more like the Kageyama she was used to seeing when Hinata did something silly. "It's not that I depend on him. I just trust him in a lot of ways, for a lot of things. He's like -"

"- your partner." She felt embarrassed by his startled expression, and tried to wave it away. "Hinata told me something like that, once. Kageyama-kun . . ."

"Yeah?"

"Did something happen today? Specifically? With Tachibana?"

"Uh . . . no. He was absent today. It was kind of because it wasn't him - his little gang were there, and they surrounded me and . . . it was really stupid, what they were taunting me for, and it was everything all over again - grade school, middle school, junior high. I mean I was never really bullied, but there was always this unspoken current of -" He broke off. When he continued, his voice was subdued. "And they were so blatant about it. 'You just sit by yourself all day long, you think you're better than us? Urgh, you always look like you've swallowed a lemon; don't try smiling, though, your smiles are actually worse than your glares . . . You're such an asshole, no one in this class has ever heard a kind word from you-' Like that. Trashing my locker, my desk sometimes . . . And it just kind of - hit me all at once - I always thought they did all that because Tachibana egged them on. I mean, I wasn't so bad, right? Or else my classmates last year would have hated me too. And Daichi-san wouldn't have let me back in the gym. And Tanaka-senpai wouldn't praise me, and Nishinoya san would hit me on the head far more often. I thought it was just this asshole's skewed view of me, so I just shut up and took it. But he wasn't even there, and they were just as - so there must really be something wrong with m-"

"Don't say that. Don't you dare say that, Kageyama-kun. There is nothing wrong with you, you hear me?" Hitoka said forcefully.

He blinked at her.

"You know what startled me? You said you can't be kind like me. And the first thing I thought was 'wait, but he already is'! You remember when we went to Tokyo for a week? When I had just joined as manager? I thought you had started to hate Hinata - all that time you were practicing the falling toss on your own! But when he told you 'I want to hit that toss!' I didn't expect your reaction at all! That was when I realised that you were actually trying to respect him, to perfect the toss so that he could hit it without faltering! And in that match a month ago, when we couldn't seem to shift the point gap - you made a point of complimenting every single player and trying to keep their spirits up, even though you normally aren't very comfortable with that. And when Nekoma came over - when Inuoka cuddled up to you in his sleep and drooled on you, you didn't tell anyone, not a single person. And when Saeko-neesan fell sick and had to stay in bed for more than two weeks you went with everyone when they went to meet her and you left her a container of amazing soup - she told me it was one of the best things she'd ever had and she was sure it helped her get better quickly and -" She paused for breath, chest heaving, eyes still flashing.

He looked dumbstruck "H - hey, that was my mom's soup, she just sent it with me and - how do you know about Inuoka?"

"The point here is the you are a kind person. You care about other people. You help them. I could keep going with the list of kind things you've done, all right? So don't tell me you're not a good person."

His mouth was slightly open, but he managed to nod. "O-okay . . . If you say so?"

"I do," she nodded firmly. "Now . . .the second thing you need to understand is that you were right about Tachibana and his cronies. It is just their perception of you. Anyone who has seen you during club hours, in a game, even when you're just talking to the rest of the team - no one who has seen any of that could doubt that you are a good friend, a good teammate."

"Yachi-san, that's still - only volleyball. I'm not going to be playing for the rest of my life. What's the point of people liking how I am on the court? I can't always be on the court, right? How do I deal with people then?"

She didn't speak for a moment, getting her answer clear in her mind. Then she said,"Would you mind if I'm - a bit blunt?"

He looked confused. "No, of course not."

"Okay. Now - I'm going to tell you what I think of you, okay? I might be wrong, of course, so there's no reason to take what I say as the truth. And I don't want to be presumptuous. But if it will help you -"

"Please go ahead, Yachi-san. I won't be offended."

She nodded. "Okay, then. Kageyama-kun, I don't believe that there is anything in your values or morals that can cause others to dislike you. Like I said, you are a good person, a kind person, a determined person. You're also not an arrogant person, or else everyone calling you the genius setter would have made you -" she couldn't help smiling, "- insufferable by now. In my opinion, it takes time for you to see your own faults, but when you do see them, you have the quality of - you have the drive to improve yourself. I heard Coach say, once, that that is one of your best qualities. This also applies to how you see other people. It may take you some time to understand why they act as they do, but once you do you are able to analyze your understanding well, and figure out how to deal with them effectively. And every time you do this, you get better at dealing with people of all kinds. So it's just a communication problem you have, at the beginning. Does that make sense to you? Or am I completely wrong . . ?"

With a shock of joy, she saw that the look of pain that had persisted till now had vanished. He seemed completely focused on what she was saying.

"That . . . does make sense. But - what exactly is my communication problem?"

"I think . . . your bluntness? When you find a fault with someone, you don't hesitate to state it loudly and directly. That's something some people might not appreciate."

He frowned slightly at that. "Hinata is just as blunt as I am, and he doesn't have a communication problem," he pointed out.

"That's true . . ." she tapped a finger on her knee, thinking. "The difference between you and Hinata is . . . I think your enthusiasm?"

"I could never be as enthusiastic as him, Yachi-san. If that's the only way to -"

"No, no it's not! Look-" She shifted on the bench to face him, gesturing emphatically to make him understand. "You don't have to be like Hinata at all. You don't have to be like anyone but yourself. We're just trying to figure out why his bluntness is better received, right? And I think - it's maybe because - he's blunt about everything, good things and bad. He can say 'Kageyama, that was an amazing toss!' or 'Kageyama, you eat too much fugashi!' equally easily."

"But I don't even like fugashi that much-"

"It's just an example, Kageyama-kun! The point is, since he's so open about everything, people always know that he's saying things honestly, not with malice, even if it's something that they don't like to hear. Do you get it?

"I guess so. So basically, I should say more nice things to people?"

"Well, not just randomly - the goal is to get you to become as comfortable with complimenting people as, you know. Telling them when they're wrong. So yes, try to say what you think when you have a compliment to give. But!" She held up a finger. "To people outside volleyball club. Because there you're already used to complimenting people. Right? So if you could get used to it in the same way with classmates, or shopkeepers, or people like that - so could you try to give me an example?"

"An example?"

"Yeah. Tell me anything good you thought about a classmate recently."

"Well . . . uh . . . " He looked blank. "Maybe . . . yesterday, Kamitani dyed his hair? And I guess it looks kind of cool?"

"You're on good enough terms to tell him that, right? So go ahead and tell him."

"Hm. Okay. What else can I do?" He looked at her with the air of an audience member expecting a magician to pull a rabbit out of her hat. It made her feel slightly abashed, and rather more flattered, but that was secondary to her overwhelming determination to give him the best advice possible, so that he wouldn't have to worry about this issue again.

She paused for a moment, thinking. "So . . . right, so complimenting people more helps you build a solid foundation for a friendship, because it shows that you appreciate them. But to sustain it, you need to learn to be sensitive to them, and you need to learn how they would like you to be towards them. So, let's say-" she racked her brain for a suitable situation. "Okay, lets say Tsukishima and Yamaguchi ask you to teach them how do a jump serve. Okay?"

"Okay." He tilted his head slightly, confused, but listening intently.

"So you teach them. Then a week later, Tsukishima tells you that he's been practicing, but he can't get it, and he doesn't think he'll ever be able to do a jump serve properly. What would you tell him?"

"I'd . . . I'd tell him he's being an idiot, that he can do it because even short guys can and he's tall - that all he needs to do is keep practicing instead of dithering about it like the dumbass he is. And I could show it to him a couple more times, I guess."

Hitoka grinned at this answer. "Okay, now what about if Yamaguchi comes to you with the same problem?"

"I'd tell him the same thing, of course." He looked at her quizzically.

"But would that encourage Yamaguchi to practice more and pull him out of his dejection? Would he be fired up and truly believe he can do a jump serve?"

"Wouldn't it?" he said helplessly.

"See, Kageyama-kun, Yamaguchi-kun is a softer person than Tsukishima-kun. What Tsukishima-kun would accept and understand isn't the same as what Yamaguchi-kun would. Telling him that he's a dithering dumbass and that he should just go and practice more - he might actually do it, but he would probably feel worse, and the next time he faces a setback, he might give up all together."

He looked slightly ashamed of himself. "That makes sense, I guess . . "

"So how would you rephrase it?"

"Um . . . uhh . . . 'Yamaguchi, you're the only one of us who can do a jump float serve. So you can do this as well. Just keep practicing.' Um . . . 'It took me a long time to master it as well, so . . . so don't worry about it.' Is that okay?"

"That's perfect!" Hitoka clapped her hands joyfully. "That's excellent, Kageyama-kun! So like that, everyone needs a different approach. And the way you say something makes a huge difference to how people react to you. You could say something in a blunt way and get yelled at- or you might say the same thing kindly and get thanked. Right?"

"Ohh, I see." He nodded seriously. "Thank you, Yachi-san."

"Also there's one more thing . . ." She flushed slightly.

"What is it?"

"Ah, well, you . . . kind of have a temper, don't you?"

She looked at him anxiously, but he didn't take offence, he simply agreed, "Yeah, I kind of do."

"Well, trying to control that a bit would also help people respond to you better. When you feel like you're going to start yelling, just try to take a deep breath and wait for three seconds. Think about whether you can say the same thing calmly. I think this would really help."

"Got it. So . . . control my temper more, say nice things more, and . . . and choose what I say depending on who i'm talking to. That's what I need to do, right?"

"Yep!"

"But will this really - I mean - it's not that I'm doubting you, it just that it seems pretty simple, and I'm - worried that -"

"You're scared it might not work?" she asked gently.

He looked away, nodding stiffly.

"Kageyama-kun, I truly believe with all my heart that you are an amazing friend, and an amazing person. Anyone who has you for their friend is lucky. Anyone who doesn't is missing out. So don't pay attention to the horrible things people say about you. Okay? And you'll always have me to help you out if you need it. I'll be right by your side. I'll make sure that you succeed so well that you will never have to worry about people not liking you again, with my expert advice and invaluable assistance!" She gave him a wide, silly grin, trying to make him smile as well as project a reassuring air of confidence. But her grin faltered a bit when she saw his wide-eyed ( Awestruck? Fervent? Something between the two? ) expression.

"Um, Kage-?"

"Can I call you Yachi-neesan?" he blurted out.

There was dead silence. Then-

"Hah?!" Hitoka nearly jumped to her feet in surprise. "What? N-n-neesan?! Why?"

He looked embarrassed. "Well, because - isn't this what older sisters do? They look out for their younger brothers? And you've really helped me, and - and given me hope - so - I wanted to - but if you don't -?"

"No, I just - I was surprised! I mean - I don't really think I'm worthy of being called that! I'm very honoured that you wish to do so! Thank you very much!"

He was smiling reluctantly, now. "Calm down a bit . . . I - I think you're very worthy of being called that. You've really helped me out, Yachi-san, and I - really appreciate it. More than I can say. Um - when's your birthday?"

"September fourteenth," she said faintly.

"Mine's December twenty second, so you're older than me. So it's not weird. Right?"

"R-right . . ."

"So it's okay? To call you that?"

"Y-yeah, it is."

"Okay then - Yachi-neesan."

Her thoughts were kind of a big mess of Neesan neesan what the heck is this even happening he's calling me neesan! by that point. She might have made a faint squeaking noise; she wasn't really sure.

She could hear the bus approaching, then, a faint rumble of wheels on tar. Kageyama looked down the road. "Is that your bus?"

"Uh?" She turned to look. "Uh, yes, it is."

He nodded and got to his feet, and she followed suit, still feeling dazed.

The bright light of the bus drew nearer and nearer, and when Hitoka looked up at Kageyama, he was rubbing the back of his neck, his cheeks red, looking - well, kind of oddly indecisive? Unless she was mistaken. Was she? Urgh, she didn't even know anymore

Ahh . . . She tried to surreptitiously fan her cheeks. At least he seems to be feeling as embarrassed as me, at least I'm not the only one . . .

The bus began to slow, and Hitoka looked down to make sure she had everything in her bag. As she did so, an arm encircled her shoulder and squeezed it very briefly, and the tip of a nose quickly bumped into the top of her head.

Her eyes snapped to Kageyama in astonishment. He let go and took a step back, then bowed slightly.

"Thank you - so much. For - everything. Good night."

And he hastily took off jogging down the pavement.

The bus stopped, and the doors opened with a hiss. Hitoka stood there blankly, slack-jawed, until the driver cleared her throat. She jumped and hurried inside, sinking into a seat gratefully. As she did so, she caught sight of her reflection in the window, and saw that she had unnaturally bright red cheeks. She leaned her face against the cool glass, closing her eyes. A slightly hysterical and very over excited giggle began to claw its way up her throat.

Ahhh . . . he's totally some version of the tsundere type, isn't he!

This thought made her want to giggle even harder, until she had to press her face to her knees to muffle it. When she had recovered, she leaned back with a sigh, still grinning happily to herself - happy that she had apparently helped Kageyama so much and so well that he had felt compelled to hug her. The gesture touched her in a way that few other things ever had before.

Yachi-neesan . . .

Oh, she couldn't wait to tell her mom about this. She'd be so proud!

She'd leave out the hug, though. Moms tended to get weird ideas into their heads about things like that.

⸶⸷

The next evening

Hitoka hurried through the gym doors, arms full of heavy water bottles.

"Oh, Yachi-san! Thanks for filling the bottles for us!" Nishinoya grinned, plucking his bottle out of her arms.

"Thanks, Yacchan!" Tanaka echoed.

"Thank you, Yachi-neesan," Kageyama said, taking his bottle.

Nishinoya, Tanaka, and Hinata, who had been about to take his bottle, all stopped dead and turned to look at him.

"It's fine, Kageyama, Noya senpai, Tanaka senpai," Hitoka said hastily, trying to divert their attention. "Hey, do you know if-"

"Neesan?" Tanaka demanded. "Since when do you call her that?"

"SInce I decided to," Kageyama said calmly, but with a hint of red on his cheeks. "And since she let me." He nodded politely, then headed back to the court, calling over his shoulder, "Hinata, if you want me to toss for you, let's go!"

Hinata glanced at Hitoka, wide eyes saying Explain this to me later, then shook his head and hurried after Kageyama. Nishinoya and Tanaka switched their gazes to Hitoka for an answer. She shrugged, trying in vain to fight her own blush. "He asked if he could call me that, and I said okay. That's all."

"But-"

"Why-?"

"Noya, Tanaka!" Ennoshita called loudly. 'Break's over! Get back to practice!"

Grateful for the interruption, Hitoka went back over to Takeda-sensei to see if he had managed to arrange the bus.

Later, when she was stowing away Tsukishima's permission slip, Kageyama tapped her shoulder.

"Oh! Yes, Kageyama-kun?"

"I just wanted to say - before, you didn't use 'kun' with my name-"

"Oh, didn't I?" she said, distressed. "Sorry-"

"- and I like it better that way."

"Ah? Okay, if you say so . . ."

He smiled a bit. "No sister calls their brother 'kun', am I right?"

She grinned. "Right! Got it, Kageyama!"

"I'll see you later, then." He bowed slightly and was about to turn away when she said, "Kageyama-"

He looked at her inquiringly. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "You've been smiling more today. It's - good. Looks good. It helps with-" She made a vague gesture.

His expression didn't change for a moment; then it relaxed into a bigger smile than before. "I'm glad to hear you say so."

She smiled in return.

"Yachi-san, you're coming over, right?" Serizawa-kun called from across the gym.

"Yeah, Serizawa-kun! Just give me a minute to change, okay?"

She watched Kageyama walk out of the doors, head higher than usual, eyes more cheerful than usual, a faint smile still upon his lips, and thought to herself, He's going to be fine.

I'll make sure of it.

⸶⸷

A/N: Aaaand scene. Three cheers for ProtectiveMomYachi!

I've never liked the name Tachibana, somehow. Every anime character I've encountered with the name hasn't been likeable.

Please do nitpick and tell me about each and every defect - I don't think my editing has been done very thoroughly, and I want the characters to be as canon as possible.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoyed!

22/2/18

(15/4/18 - Why. Just why. You are a beautiful site for budding writers, so why must you insert random typos into their work, Fanfiction . net ? Or is it only me? Have I done something to make your omniscient presence mad? If so, forgive me, and please refrain from adding extra fullstops or vanishing words into thin air.

It's not nice.

Uh yeah, so I went through this and cleaned up some typos, added words, subtracted words. No big changes :))