Ritsu: ANNOUNCEMENT! Starting today (10th of July, Friday) First will be updated every Friday and Tuesday! Depending on timezones this might vary as I'm going strictly by my own timezone when updating. Regardless, I will do my best to stick to this updating plan! :) Enjoy the chapter!

Salome Maranaya: Ikr? Kageyama is pretty clueless :'D

To be honest, I'm not 100% sure of the status of cousin marriage in Japan, but in this fic, I'm having it a bit on the edge. Some will be fine with it, some won't, basically.

Heluvabtlr1: Mwahah! Assikawa must prevail, rawr! (I feel like Oikawa is totally whipped tho so it's like the opposite? XD) Glad you enjoyed the chapter c: Awww… If it makes you feel better, I'm turning twenty and still haven't had a proper relationship, so you're not alone!

BlackSakura-chi: Emi is the volleyball of Tooru's lovelife! Yesiree… Thank YOU for the review! :D Mwahahah, oh it'll be great, I hope! And yes… Tooru is a bit fitting for Spice, I agree XD Thank you!


He was used to comforting Emi, having done so since they were children, but he wasn't used to being on the receiving end.

And yet, when he'd found himself in despair after being switched out during a game, she'd been there. He didn't even know how she'd found out, probably Iwaizumi, but when he'd first seen her waiting outside of his house, he was overtaken by a sudden urge to run away. He didn't want to be seen like this, especially not by her.

Managing a shaky smile, he'd quietly asked her if there was something she needed.

She simply shook her head before she pulled him in for a hug. For a while, he simply stood there wide-eyed, unsure of what was going on, before the dam burst. She didn't say a word, but simply held him, as if saying everything would be okay. Burying his face in her shoulder, he held her tighter than ever before, sobs wrecking his body.

He lost track of just how much time passed before his eyes grew dry and his throat sore, but at some point they'd ended up seated on the ground and his numb knees practically begged him to move. Still, he couldn't bring himself to separate from Emi, instead letting out shaky breath after shaky breath.

"Do you want me to stay tonight?" she asked softly, receiving a nod in reply.

He was glad neither his parents nor his brother was home to tell him how inappropriate it was for the two of them to share a bed, because at that moment, he just wanted someone to be there. He wanted someone to understand.

And Emi did.