Just as you are

ArokuRaita

Disclaimer: 'Haikyuu!' is Haruichi Furudate's work and this fanfic was written nonprofit.


3. And she too?

That night, Hinata couldn't sleep either. This time, was another feeling: he had seen Asahi-san and Kageyama, and the first had been too affectionate with the setter. Well, that was their problem, but... why did he worry so much? Asahi-san didn't need to do that. Then he remembered Noya-san's expression and felt worse. Maybe the ace hadn't thought about his friend's feelings?

He slept late at night, trying to find an answer that never came.

The next day, there was some tension in Karasuno's gym. Asahi and Nishinoya barely spoke, althought that didn't affect their game style. However, it was strange that the second year boy didn't praise Asahi's spikes and that he didn't blush. Sugawara looked at them, worried. First and second years maybe wouldn't notice, but Daichi would. If that tension was transferred to volleyball, it would be serious. Should I talk to them, or better wait for more information?, he asked to himself.

On the other hand, Tanaka had a long face. After practicing some spikes, he went to sit on the bench and drink some water.

"You know, Sugawara-san? There's something bothering me", he started.

"What is it, Tanaka?"

"I don't like the current Kageyama. It's true that he smiles more and is nicer, but... I find him very weak". After a pause, he added: "I'm not saying that kind people are weak! His passes are good, but no longer have energy, got it?"

"I think I do, Tanaka. Let's hope it's just a momentary side effect".

I hope this can be resolved before it affects the whole team, the third setter said to himself.


Kiyoko Shimizu preferred to stay apart from men, because sometimes they could be annoying. She knew that many people watched her from afar, but that attention made her feel uncomfortable. Because her mere presence was enough, they didn't even care if she spoke. She also understood that they could feel intimidated, but if they wanted her so much, why didn't they bother doing anything, instead of looking at her like fools? Didn't they realize that she would never develop an interest in them if they did that?

That's why she had the same attitude with the vollyeball club guys. Most of them had eyes only for volleyball and just a couple of the 12 team members professed to her their undying love, but usually they treated her like a sister. She felt comfortable with them and, although the first year boys were too small for her, she liked them.

That day was the cleaning shift for the freshmen. Tsukishima behaved especially unpleasant with Kageyama, who responded with a smile to all his provocations, while Yamaguchi and Hinata looked at each other nervously. Kiyoko knew that the setter had changed quite a bit after Hinata's failed serve, but she hadn't paid attention to his behavior. It reminded him of Sugawara.

Finally, the blonde got bored with Kageyama and, after saying goodbye, left the room with Yamaguchi, who turned to look at Tobio all the time.

"Wow, Kageyama, didn't it bother you that Tsukishima told you all those things?", Kiyoko asked, impressed. She imagined how the setter would have reacted before the accident.

Hinata was speechless. Kiyoko-senpai was talking to Kageyama? Although he had nothing to do with the conversation, he blushed.

"No, Shimizu-senpai. Maybe he was going through a hard time. Besides, nothing he said seemed offensive to me. He mentioned that I was a king, and the rest, my vassals. Isn't it absurd?"

"Yes. Actually, you would be a kind king now, wouldn't you?"

"Now? Yes, I think..." the young man hesitated.

Kageyama's expression had turned sad. Shimizu was worried. Did she say something bad?

"I'm sorry, I said something strange...", she apologized.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just that I don't remember many things, but I'm fine", the brun boy encouraged her and, addressing Hinata (who was already prepared to apologize for the umpteenth time), he added: "Don't even think about apologizing again or something! The past is in the past. Also, I feel excellent".

Well, if he said it, then there were no more reasons to worry...

"Kageyama, would you like to walk home with me?", the red haired boy asked, cheerfully. His friend said 'yes' with a smile and they left the gym together.

Kiyoko stayed in the gym with a pensive expression. Actually, was it so important if the first setter was two years younger than her? She just wanted to get closer to him and talk, nothing more. For the first time, she felt interest in someone of the opposite sex. And it was someone who could speak to her normally, without hidden intentions! With a smile, she left the room and took the key to the school manager.


She tried to go unnoticed, but it was difficult. Shimizu greeted the young setter more often, smiled at him, sometimes talked to him and looked at him during class. However, she didn't notice changes in Kageyama's attitude, so she decided to go one step further: take him bentos. That way, she could see more closely his features and appreciate that sweet laugh that had been hidden for so long. The boy was grateful and devoured each of her bentos. Although he continued to meet with Hinata for lunch, he spoke more with Kiyoko, who seemed much more cheerful than before.

Their closeness was unnoticed by Nishinoya, because his attention was focused on another person, but not for Tanaka (nor for Asahi and Yamaguchi, who also tried to prepare bentos, with relatively good results). If Tanaka was already struggling with the new Kageyama, now he flatly detested it.

"I'm going to restore that weakling's personality with my spikes", he mumbled during a break, with his face contorted by rage. "Now he's not just a weakling, he's taking Kiyoko-san away from me!"

"She never was yours to begin with", Sugawara said next to him, but the sophomore ignored him.

"I don't know what to do, Suga-san. It's hard for me to focus. I'm happy to see her smile and I'm content to be ignored, but when those smiles are for another... It hurts"

The third year setter looked at him seriously. It seemed Tanaka's infatuation wasn't superficial. At least, that was evident in his eyes. Maybe it was better not to mention the bentos...

However, he realized anyway. And the explosion would've been great if Daichi hadn't been nearby. The captain dragged the furious wing spiker out of the gym when the latter noticed that Kiyoko was delivering a beautifully wrapped lunch to the first year setter (It's not the hand of the dream, Tobio thought at that moment). Some shouts were heard through the closed door and then there was silence. When Sugawara decided to go out looking for them, Sawamura came in with Tanaka behind. The two looked serious and, throughout the class, didn't talk about it.

At the end of the day, Tsukishima approached to Tanaka.

"It seems that they nagged at you a lot, huh?"

The older one glared at him.

"Wanna fight? Huh?!"

"Not at all. I suppose the King of the Court has you fed up..."

"Don't talk to me about that... that weakling!"

"Calm down, I can't stand him either. At least, two of us feel the same"

"Three", a voice said behind them. It was Nishinoya, who had been listening to them. "If you have any idea to return him to his old personality, count me in".

"We haven't thought anything yet. But we must be cautious, think carefully about it...", Tsukishima explained, until Noya-san and Tanaka interrupted him with a more direct idea: Hinata-style kicks.

"We'll throw the ball to him until old Kageyama comes back!"

It was an interesting idea and even Tsukki agreed. But when they tried, Tobio's fans didn't like it at all and they got angry. Hinata remained silent. He had planned to do the same before, but he didn't dare. Now he saw it was useless.

When Daichi considered that Tobio's trio of detractors was going too far, the idea died. Kageyama left the tensions behind with a sweet smile, but these worsened...