Note: Yes, it took me almost 3 months to update this story. I was just super busy with college and when it's finally my holiday break, oh my god, I immediately typed this done! I'm so sorry if it's crappy. Like I said before, please pardon my English grammar. I'm still learning. I hope this story would receive more good reviews! I was also thinking of making a side character couples in this story lol... still had no clue which couples I should do. Enough talking and enjoy this story!

Kagayema would constantly consult his problems with Tsukishima, to which, he noticed as well. It's not like Tsukishima gave out really good advice, but it convinced Kageyama, surprisingly.

In areas whereas they don't know how to solve it, Tsukishima would consult Kuroo Tetsurou, Nekoma's volleyball middle blocker and captain, through mails.

Kageyama suggested to have a brief meeting with so-called captain of Nekoma and asked him directly, instead of Tsukishima.

Luckily, Kageyama heard from Hinata that Kuroo and Kozume Kenma, Hinata's close friend from Nekoma and the setter of the volleyball club, was planning to visit Hinata.

He also heard that those two would be spending two nights at Hinata's house. Kageyama was slightly envious about that idea.

"Hm? My mom suggested it when she heard me talking to Kenma!" Hinata explained one time. Tsukishima doesn't really mind, in fact, he was happy that Kuroo would be spending the night there instead of crashing at his place. Because Tsukishima isn't the type to keep a stray cat.

"I've said it before," Tsukishima said, eyeing Kageyama, who had been fidgeting ever since Tsukishima got a respond from Kuroo. "He isn't as bad as you think he was. He got this weird captain aura."

"Better than our captain?"

"I wouldn't judge that too quickly," Tsukishima's face darkened, as if he regretted saying that. "Ah, he's here."

Kageyama's eyes locked with the infamous Nekoma's scheming captain. He was tall, built up muscle, and a decent man. That was Kageyama's first impression of Kuroo, but soon, it was replaced with something.

"Oh? Are you the infamous King? Wow. You're a lot bigger than what I had imagined. But you don't disappoint me with that aura, though!"

Kageyama's face darkened.

The three of them settled in the nearby cafe, Kageyama was so curious on how Tsukishima gotten closer to this guy. He heard that Tsukishima and Hinata were practicing with Fukurodani's ace and setter, Nekoma's captain and the newbie.

Kageyama wanted to join, but then he was unable to since he was trying to perfect that falling toss that Coach Ukai had told them.

"Late introduction," Kageyama snapped from his own train of thoughts when Kuroo interrupted him. "I'm Kuroo, 3rd year. I've been practicing with Shrimpy and Tsukki here. A pleasure to meet you."

"Ah, I'm Kageyama. A pleasure to meet you, too, Kuroo-san."

Kuroo's grinned was wide, like he was looking through Kageyama's soul. Without hesitation, he asked how his relationship with Hinata, to which Kageyama casually replied they were okay.

"Huh?" Kageyama blinked. He looked up to Kuroo, who was smirking along with Tsukishima. "You told him, didn't you!?" Kageyama pointed out to Tsukishima, who sway his head in a dismay of false fact.

"I did not." Tsukishima simply replied.

"Ah, it's not Tsukki. In fact, it was your little boyfriend. He got so excited, so he blurted it out like it was a normal thing."

Kageyama was in a deep blushed. He can imagined how surprised the others were, except Tsukishima, and asked Hinata to repeat what he just told them.

"He was like, "Kageyama and I are dating, though. But despite that kind of relationship, either of us skip practice! It's our ritual and soul!" and here I thought it was a girl, but Akaashi said it was Karasuno's setter." Kuroo started chuckling once he finished his words.

"I'm... sorry." Kageyama unknowingly apologized, making Kuroo to cackled even more.

"Why are you apologizing? I've grew to like these two, like my own teammates. Tsukki said not to tell anyone, so we decided to keep it." Kuroo saw the relief expression on Kageyama's face, making him add something. "But is it true that you thought you guys are in a rut?"

"Given that kind of vocabulary, and this King doesn't know what it meant... Have you experienced it as well, Kuroo-san?" Tsukishima's trademark expression was on. Kuroo turned his head to give Tsukishima a positive expression.

"Rut? Well, we were, just recently. It's hard getting out of the rut, though."

"Rut?" Kageyama repeated that word, asking what that means.

"It's hard to explain what that means." Kuroo said, rubbing his chin. "Huh? No, it's not. It's when the relationship was at risk."

"You mean!" Kageyama slammed his hands down in the table, standing upright while looking down at Kuroo and Tsukishima. "Hinata and I are about to-"

"Hey, hold on. I didn't mean that way." Kuroo interrupted, sighing as Kageyama sat down. "Tsukki told me that you're having problems with Shrimpy. I may be wrong about it, though."

"Ah..." Kageyama mouthed.

"If you are curious on what's going on with Hinata, you should ask him directly." Kuroo added, leaning his back against the chair.

"Kuroo-san, Kageyama had tried that before. Hinata would simply answered he was tired from practice and etc." Tsukishima answered. "But I also noticed it. Hinata had gone skinnier than before. His face would sometimes become paler, and occasionally, he would lose his balance."

"Isn't that a normal mild-heat stroke? It is quite hot today, though."

"That's not it. Our gym is quite freshing than you think, Kuroo-san." Kageyama's turn to reply. "He hasn't even gotten than weak until..."

Kuroo's head tilted to the other side, indicating this conversation was getting off the topic, or so he thought. He excused himself as he promised Hinata and Kenma that he would join them for dinner.

"I'm sorry for taking your time." Kageyama bowed his head, earning a genuine smile from Kuroo.

"Like I said, I've grew to like Tsukki and Hinata. Well then, we'll come by to your afternoon practice tomorrow!"

As Kuroo disappeared from the sight, Tsukishima told Kageyama that he had to repay this meeting. He was set on having a lunch date with Yamaguchi, to which Kageyama remarked that he was being lovey dovey with Yamaguchi and hadn't noticed that the latter felt the same way towards Tsukishima.

Tsukishima brushed off that thought and walk away.

Knowing Tsukishima, he might ended up taking that route. Kageyama knew Tsukishima's little secret but since it's a secret, Kageyama got forbidden by telling anyone.

Surprisingly, Kageyama was good at hiding things.

"Hm?" Kageyama hummed when his phone rang, he answered it without looking at the caller ID and he was surprised to hear Hinata's voice.

Hinata was going on about their small sleepover, to which Kageyama got envied how he wasn't invited. He wanted to sleep at Hinata's room, but then, Kenma might noticed something.

Kuroo knew it already, but making Kenma know their secret isn't what Hinata had wish for.

"I can use Natsu as my excuse," Kageyama grinned as he turned his heel towards the other direction. "I need candies for that, though."

The prelims of the Spring Tournament went by so fast. Occasionally, their volleyball club would be staying late to practice more, but for some reason, Daichi had suggested to end their practice early to get a nice and long rest.

It didn't saddened Hinata at all, in fact, he was calm about it. Nishinoya and Tanaka had pointed it out as well, but Hinata said he was super tired so having a long rest would be the answer.

"I didn't know Hinata can mature within those weeks," Kageyama turned his head slightly towards to the source of the voice. It was Sugawara. He looked at Kageyama with a smile as he added. "Having Kuroo-san practice with him really matured Hinata."

"It's too scary, though." Kageyama replied, earning him a low chuckle from Sugawara.

"Say, Kageyama..." Sugawara started off softly quickly. Kageyama hummed as the tone of Sugawara's voice changed. "Did you notice something off about Hinata?"

Kageyama blinked his eyes, confused on how Sugawara interpret his problems.

"I mean, I saw him by the corner eating something. He's also drinking something weird. I got a glimpse of the smell, though."

Kageyama tilted his head. He was clueless on what's Sugawara talking about. To be honest, from the moment Sugawara started talking, Kageyama was clueless.

"I'm just saying... I feel like something's off with Hinata. And I figured you would know, because, uh..." Putting it on a word really made Sugawara uncomfortable. Kageyama signaled him that he knew what he was going for. "Anyway, I'm just worried."

"Maybe he's taking supplement. He did broke his arm not too long ago." Kageyama casually replied. And he paused. He remembered at lunch that Hinata was shoving something on his mouth and when Kageyama asked what was that, Hinata replied that it was his medicine.

Kageyama didn't asked furthermore, as it is self-explanatory.

On the way home, Hinata was going on about how he's nervous. Defeating Aoba Jousai was in his journal and he had always been wanting to have his revenge for the team. Kageyama was thinking the same thing, but the scene of Hinata taking medicine was playing on his mind.

"Say, Hinata..." Kageyama started off calmly, but he got interrupted when Hinata butted in loudly.

"Hey, Kageyama. Can I start calling you Tobio?"

"Huh?" Kageyama was taken aback at the sudden favour. He had always wanted Hinata to call him freely with his given name. To be exact, he was planning to ask Hinata about it in the future.

But Hinata beat him into that.

"I really want to start calling you Tobio, though. I call Kenma by his given name. I also got a permission from Kuroo-san to call him by his first name!" Kageyama's eyes were twitching.

Kuroo may be from a different school, and currently in good terms with Hinata, but he can't possibly be making a move on Hinata, right?

"But I said no and decided to stick on calling him as Kuroo-san." Hinata giggled, but his giggle died down when he turned his head to Kageyama, locking his eyes with the taller boy's eyes. "I want to start calling your given name first before anyone!"

The look at Hinata's face showed him how serious he was. That was the look that made Kageyama fell in love with this small bird.

His fierce expression made Kageyama to stuttered his words. It was too intimidating.

"We haven't been dating that long, Hinata..." Kageyama shook everything and said it calmly. His eyes were trying to avoid Hinata's, who was looking for more answers. But that took a lot from Kageyama and he felt tired from just actually saying that.

"Ah... So, you want me to address you on your given name by the time we're officially dating?"

Kageyama gasped, shaking his head furiously while gripping tightly onto Hinata's hand.

'I wanted that, too...' But he can't possibly say that to Hinata. Not because he doesn't want to, instead it was too early to tell everyone about them.

The volleyball team knew already way before they even started dating. A few of Hinata's close friends from his class, the group that Hinata had been practicing within their away trips, and Oikawa Tooru.

In fact, it was Oikawa's words that made Kageyama realized he felt something to Hinata.

"Natsu and my mom already knew, though." Suddenly, Hinata interrupted Kageyama's train of thought. It cut off everything he was thinking and those words that Hinata had just said, repeated in his mind like a broken recorder.

"Wha- How?!" Kageyama shouted, making Hinata to jump in surprised. "Did you tell them, you dumbass!"

"What? No!" Hinata quickly defended himself. "Natsu said, "Tobio love my brother so so so much!" to Kenma, though! Kuroo-san even defended you, and for your information, I tried really hard to defend you too but my mom started asking a lot of questions!"

Kageyama went quiet the moment Hinata started screaming.

"Mind you, but I didn't directly tell them we're dating!" Hinata ended his side of the argument with that, following a huffed of air.

Kageyama was so bewildered that he couldn't respond properly.

Hinata started pouting on their way. Kageyama couldn't talk to him because of how Hinata sounded like when he explained everything.

Out of nowhere, Kageyama felt Hinata's grip onto his hand tightened. He was about to pointed out how tight it was but he got cut off by Hinata's random loud cough.

"Hey, are you okay?" Kageyama asked, knowing his cautious of things like that, Hinata quickly replied it was too cold. "Then, why don't we rest a bit over there?"

Kageyama suggested the place out of nowhere. He doesn't really know anything about this place, but for sure, he can guarantee they can order some hot drinks.

He ordered two set of hot chocolate, two donuts, and one milk. He turned his head around to check if Hinata had found a table. He took the tray and went straight to where Hinata was.

Hinata took off his winter coat and also his Karasuno's jacket. It was pretty warm inside.

"Ah!" Hinata leaned his back against the chair, stretching his arms out in the air. "Kageyama~"

Kageyama hummed, mixing the cocoa powder into the hot water in the cup. Due to his concentration, he wasn't really paying attention to Hinata.

"Ka~ge~ya~ma~" Hinata sang, nudging Kageyama under the table with his foot. As if the cue finally hit Kageyama, he looked up and asked Hinata what's wrong, to which he answered that he's starting to get warmer.

"You get warm so fast," Kageyama groggily replied, handing the cup to Hinata. "Don't drink it too fast. Blow it first."

"Yes, yes, Kageyama-kun."

They both ate their snacks and finished their drinks. Hinata stretched his arms in the air, walking towards to the bathroom, but within those seconds, Kageyama saw something weird on Hinata's body.

Hinata came back after a few minutes, he told Kageyama that he would pay those drinks, to which Kageyama said it's his treat. Hinata was so happy about it.

"Huh? Red spots?" Hinata repeated Kageyama's words.

The moment they stepped outside, Kageyama asked about the red spots he saw on Hinata. He wasn't planning on telling Hinata, but his curiousity got a hold of him.

"I saw them. At your back, around your waists."

"It might be because I kept on falling."

Kageyama shook his head, calling Hinata stupid as he added, "You didn't fall today. To be honest, I was amazed how you kept your balance today. But overall, you didn't fall. So, what are those red spots?"

"Kageyama-san, it's just red spots. Nothing to worry about. It's not like I have a cancer because of that red spots." Hinata jokingly said, giving Kageyama a pat in the back as he walked ahead. "I'm leaving you behind, Mr. Meticulous."

Kageyama blinked and sighed, running towards Hinata to catch up on him.

Cancer? That would be impossible. Kageyama saw how healthy this boy. He knew that Hinata wouldn't be in that stage, whereas a wild cancer started eating him up and leave volleyball and Kageyama.

That can't be real, is it?

The following day, Kageyama woke up at the sound of his phone ringing. It was only 3 in the morning. He answered it without looking at the caller ID and he wasn't surprised to hear that voice in the morning.

"What? You can't sleep?"

The other person on the other line sighed, humming to answer Kageyama's question.

"We have a game today, Hinata. Try to rest. If you still can't sleep, I'll keep on talking to you."

"But then, you won't be able to sleep." Hinata quietly answered.

It was obvious from his words that Hinata was hesitating to dial his number and call him. Truthfully, if he was on Hinata's shoes, he would definitely call Hinata.

"That's fine. I might also fall asleep while talking to you. You're very important to the team so you need plenty of rest."

A yawn escaped from Kageyama's lips.

Hinata hummed but then quietly told Kageyama to sleep instead.

Kageyama was too tired and sleepy to even argued with Hinata that he decided to fall asleep. But he wasn't going to hang up, instead, he wants Hinata to hang up.

Hinata hummed and when Hinata heard Kageyama light snore, a smile appeared on his face. He gently kissed the speaker of his phone, whispering a few words through the phone.

Kageyama still had his sense or his soul awake, but slowly, he fell deeper and didn't catch on Hinata's last words. Despite the fact Kageyama unconsciously tried to complete Hinata's jumbled words, it was still unknown to him.

"... Tobio... continue... volleyball... though... with you..."