CHAPTER 3: The Crowning

The whole team was wondering what's happening to those two. Well, it wasn't like they're still fighting like before but, were they on a ceasefire or something? Like that, everyone was, well not actually troubled, but somewhat concerned - of course.

Kageyama chose not to attend the afternoon classes because his strength hadn't came back to him yet, and he's still internalizing how he melted last night, and like that, he felt how embarrassing that lewdness was, that he just wanted to disappear or be buried six feet under quickly. Same thing goes for Tsukishima, well especially for him, he initiated everything, took off his pride, he confessed - just at the very instant moment he understood his feelings to boot. He weighed more pressure than his King's, he also of course, had this feeling that who knows, he might be rejected on the soon fifth day.

He won't let it slip away, not when he already did grab a hold to him.

Well, it's not like Kageyama wasn't pressured, he was, but you could say he's more likely puzzled.

And so this led to the next morning.

"Here, your drink. Bastard." Tsukishima smashed the strawberry-milk drink to Kageyama's face and walked away after giving a glance to the boy beside him, which happened to be Hinata that was busy chomping his sandwich. Hinata was shocked that Kageyama didn't get mad instead received the drink silently, shook it, opened and drank it swiftly, also he was shocked why would Tsuki gave him such?

Anyone would be shocked how calm he looked.

"W-what are you two doing?" This is impossible, was all Hinata could think. Kageyama to be kind like this.

"We're getting along. Isn't this what everyone wants?" He answered as a matter of fact, maybe it wasn't shown in his face, or maybe Hinata was just that oblivious, but Kageyama was rather shivering to the encounter. That's why he instantly opened the drink so that he could gulp all of his uneasiness.

"Well, you're getting along pretty weird ne?" Hinata was talking even when his mouth was full.

"Whatever. By the way today, we're planning to talk to Captain." Actually, they hadn't had a clear talk about this after yesterday, but he was really planning to approach him for them to do so. He, or they, was at least aware that they went wrong.

"Well, as long as you realized what you've been doing wrong all this time, fine. I hope this won't happen again. I don't want to take the trouble finding excuse to lock you two again." He rang a bell to that last sentence, anyone could tell.

"Daichi-s-" Suga-senpai intend to cover up, but it was too late.

"THAT! WHY THE HELL DO THAT?!" Kageyama remembered how angry he was then, like they're reflecting just now, then, he's angry and grouchy again. He gritted his teeth as all the annoyance were one by one coming back to him. If it wasn't for that they wouldn't be put on that situation and he wouldn't be under pressure to the result of that epic night.

"Oh that, at least it went all through this right? A good result. He-he." Suga-senpai replied with an obvious forced smile.

"It was Suga-senpai's idea, if you're wondering." Hinata revealed, innocently.

"What?!" The two boys shouted in sync. They couldn't believe that of all people it was their Suga-senpai's idea, to think that the guy act like a mother or a sister or anyone who wouldn't do such foolish thing - in short, the only level-headed one in the team.

"Why such a fuss? It seems fine now you know?" The smallest boy, Nishinoya butt in, or maybe purposely did so that Suga wouldn't be put in the hot sit.

"Yeah, also, I'm wondering how that night went." Ace-senpai added.

"Me too, actually, they seem rather close when I opened the door last morning. It was a very short show, but wasn't Tsuki leaning on your shoulder there?" Tanaka supplemented rather intriguing to make the flow of conversation different, turning tables, if you worded out.

You could say these boys before the freshmen, already established a certain connection to each other that they can understand one another just by breathing the same atmosphere. This is what real accomplices are.

"Eh?" This time, it was Tsukishima's reaction that fluttered. How were they going to answer that?

"Uhm…" Kageyama scratched his nape, remembering that night, well both of them did, take a glimpse to Tsuki who wasn't able to look at him.

How would they explain such events?

"Anyways, well, if you're going to lock us at least leaves us some foods or water." What a bright remark Tsukishima.

"Yeah, our stomachs growling echoed around the gym." The King followed. See, they're really both smart on their own ways.

And, they tried to crack laughter, it failed though.

"Well, whatever, let's leave it like that, as long as everything's fine now. Since, it seems like they obviously don't want to talk about that night." The Captain stated, causing the two boys blush internally, well, as if they would let it surface on that crowd right?

"Well, aren't people get closer when they share some secrets inside their pockets?" This motherly tone was of course came from Suga-senpai smiling because of relief that he was instantly released at the hot sit, and of course relief that the two were okay now.

After all, that was the reason why he thought of that trap, upon all others, he's the most worried one. He's always is, he's aware that the situation was stressing out Daichi and so went to come up to any solution possible to help.

"What do you mean Suga-senpai?" Hinata scratched his head showing he extremely had no idea what.

"Well, it means there's something they couldn't just easily tell to anyone, something so sensitive." Noya-san poked Hinata and moved his eyebrows up and down, and then he looked to the two and winked.

"Well, enough for that, how about we start practicing no? Let's see what changes it will make now that these two's…okay now, I suppose?" Daichi announced, and then the rest followed obediently.

… …

They're certain that thing happened, but the two, their getting weird to the top. It's been few or hour since the practice game started, but weird enough, seemed the atmosphere was real quiet. Everyone wondered why, but it was like they're all affected to the silence of the two on the court. Literally, the only sounds that could be heard on the gym were the squishing noise from their rubber shoes, the dribbling of the volleyball, and their heavy breathing.

"Uhm, can we take a break?" Hinata, finally – obliviously, broke the silence. "Yanno, don't you think it's weird? We've been too quiet that it's creeping me out. I wonder why and how?" He crossed his arms and brushed each other while saying that sentence.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm feeling awkward and can't reason out why, too." Tanaka supplied.

"Hey, you two! I thought you're okay now?!" That one who yelled out was Nishinoya, hands on waist - annoyed.

"Y-yeah? So? Got problem ne?" Kageyama questioned back.

"No, nothing of course….but don't you think…why you two… so… ugh.." Nishinoya clenched his hands on his hair and bend a little over because he couldn't seem to find a perfect word to use for.

"Tsukishima-kun, Kageyama-kun, you said you'd be getting along, but it seems to us that you two came to be stranger to each other. It's affecting us since it felt like we're playing along with two strangers." Finally, perfectly, Suga filled words Noya couldn't vent out.

"So, is the war really over or you're just on a ceasefire now? Don't think you can pretend or lie to us, heh?" This time it was Daichi-san wearing a very gangster like face talked. Anyone would turn scaredy-cat to that image of his.

"N-No! It wasn't like that." Tsuki opposed, tucked his glass and looked at Kageyama.

"Yeah, I guess we're just feeling awkward…rather embarrassed after all what happened that night." Kageyama said, rather, murmured the last sentence as if anyone could understand what he said, well, that was the purpose of course.

"If it's going to be like this, we won't be able to practice accordingly. Fine, you two…get out and take breaks… You'll allow that right?" Daichi announced after he sighed then looked at everyone else to ask an 'okay' to his decision.

"Don't you think, we've been kicked out? … … at long last?" Kageyama wondered, asking Tsukishima as they left the gym and walked through that bench over there. Tsukishima cracked laughter instead of a clear answer. They're obviously trying to act normal and brushed feeling embarrassed. "What's funny?" the king furrowed his eyebrows to the tall boy's reaction as they sat up to the bench with a little not so little distance between them.

"Nothing…"He's to calm himself before continuing, he breathed rather deep. "It's just that…we really had the feel of strangers there…" He looked down with sorrow striking him one by one, knowing Kageyama won't see that.

"… …" Of course Kageyama got no say to that.

"Uhm… If it's going to be like this… You, we could just forget about that thing, don't you think?" He paused thinking Kageyama would say anything but no response so he continued. "I mean, don't think about it anymore, of course I'll also won't…so let's pretend that didn't…gah, what I'm saying is…" He inhaled as if he'd gather courage to that act.

"…Let's be friends like in any normal circumstances…like we're supposed to be…and live an easy life…I mean, if this goes big enough that it's affecting the team… I don't want to be selfish so…" He laid his elbows on his laps, his eyes on his hands, hid his face looking so down. He's been thinking about it seriously of course, it goes without saying. He wanted to cry right that moment but all he could do was swallow all those tears back.

Amidst the easy atmosphere, he hadn't had any sleep or peace since, his mind won't stop going gaga over and over that he came up to this, retreating after all the bravery he did. He just wanted to go back to that time he's still ignorant to his feelings for that King.

On the other hand, it's not like Kageyama didn't gave thought about it too. Before anything else, he was confused, I mean, he's a boy too. I guess that was what missing on the logic –so how? He's been listing all of the answer he came up but nothing felt right. So basically, he really didn't know why, what or how. A day or two passed but his mind won't stop thinking about Tsukishima, what he should do to him, how he'd deal to him, his image while his on his lips – on his knees. It was just that it felt like Tsukishima evaded his brain and he couldn't get him out of it.

Kageyama sighed. "I guess, after all, five days are long enough to think about this." He looked up to sky with birds passing by, and the wind whistling smoothly – the only witnesses they have.

"Yeah." It was a faint reply from Tsukishima thinking at last, he'd be dumped…but he was wrong.

Kageyama removed his hand, and grabbed his chin to face him up, pasted his forehead to the other and shot his eyes to him wearing all of his resolve.

This is it.

And he clamped his lips against the Highness.

The King has decided.