The wind howled outside of the Karasuno gym, the powerful fluorescent lights stark against the darkening night sky as the day for the boys' volleyball team winded down.

Captain Sawamura Daichi clapped, signaling the end of another practice match and the practice as a whole. Today, the fierce competition was of Karasuno vs Karasuno, their team of 12 evenly split down the middle to make two mini teams. Nationals were coming up soon and they were diligently working everyday, sharpening their skills to play at their best against whichever team they might be pitted against.

Collectively, the team relaxed at the sound of his clap, nearly everyone tired at the end of this particularly draining match. The two temporary teams lined up at the boundary lines and bowed at each other, game tradition coming through.

A loud and proud "thank you for the game!" coming from both sides.

Daichi cheerfully led his half of the team to victory, so he made sure to bow extra low, respectfully to the other half. Despite not having his vice captain and crush, Sugawara, on this side as his setter, he had the next best thing- the insane first year duo.

Of course, these two volleyball talents were the only ones that weren't tired.

The players of Karasuno moved to the side of the gym next to the open doors. They grabbed the standard yellow water bottles and sweat towels from Kiyoko and Yachi. Daichi walked over to the empty corner and, leaning on his back against the padded wall, he closed his eyes and drank.

"You could go pro with those receives," Suga teased with some sincerity.

Daichi opened his eyes and smirked at his VC, "you think so?"

Suga nodded, silver hair falling into his hazel eyes. "Hey, Asahi!" He waved to their ace, who was talking to Kiyoko.

The gentle giant walked over and Suga began talking to him quickly about the game, animatedly gesturing with his hands.

Daichi snickered to himself at the ever-growing nervous expression, like moss, on Asahi's face, his arms raising automatically in self-defense.

Their conversation faded as Daichi took in the whole team: Noya and Tanaka getting scolded by Ennoshita, while Yamaguchi and Tsukishima were snickering to themselves in their own little world. Kinoshita and Narita making conversation with the coach while Takeda packed up his notes.

Daichi almost returned his focus on Suga and Asahi when he heard some words that had no chance of being missed.

"Hinata, do you want to practice more? Hey, dumbass? Oi, Shouy- HINATA! Uhhhhh, Hinata," their starting setter and resident terrible communicator stammered out at a, unfortunately for him, loud enough volume to be heard by the whole team.

Daichi's fingers tightened around the neck of his water bottle as the almost-word seeped through his unfocused mind. He realized at this moment that the gym was completely silent. Bodies still, words held.

Everyone hung on the moment of Kageyama Tobio nearly saying Hinata's given name, for teasing purposes or just to watch the show, Daichi couldn't tell. He just watched because he might need to step in if the pair got violent.

Hinata Shouyou whirled on his feet to make eye contact with their setter; his eyes adorably large and filled with light, a barely-visible blush on his cheeks, and a giant, goofy grin filled with joyful shock. The spiker dropped his water bottle and leaped right in front of the frozen Kageyama.

"Call me Shouyou again!" He yelled vibrantly, his hands forming encouraging fists.

has stopped responding.

"Uh-uh, I-" Kageyama stammered, his face deeply reddening by the second, panic clear on his deeply creasing brow, "dumbass, I uh, didn't-"

"Yes you did!" Hinata exclaimed, delight radiating off of him.

Kageyama couldn't find the words, his arms weakly coming up to cross into an X-form in front of his body. This did exactly nothing to quell the orange-haired sun in front of him.

Daichi stayed put, it didn't look like Kageyama was, er, in the right state of mind to kick his spiker's butt, even though that hasn't ever stopped him before. He was quite enjoying the show, frankly- it was rare that Kageyama was the frazzled one out of the pair.

These two insane players were a big reason the team was where they are now: their shared competition and drive pushed the rest of the team to step up. Kageyama's talent as a setter gradually worked to pull the best out of their spikers and Hinata's talent as a decoy, adding in his speed and general energy, made for an intimidating presence on the court.

Together, the two boys fought all the time, yelled at each other, called each other names, and never let the other rest for even a second. And yet, neither could leave the other's side. Daichi couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Kageyama came back to himself, grimacing in embarrassment as he yelled, "do you want to practice our quick or not, idiot?!"

Hinata quelled his energy and he took a step back, his head tilting in calculation as he deviously rubbed his hands together. "Sure…"

Kageyama nodded once curtly and turned around, walking to the middle of the court next to the net. He only made it a step or two when he heard it.

"...Tobio."

He froze mid step. For a moment, he was completely still, Daichi was sure he didn't even breathe. Then, the setter's hands formed into fists, his shoulders hunching under the weight of his reaction.

Here we go, Daichi thought.

Kageyama turned at his waist at a deadly snail's pace to make eye contact with his spiker, who stood at the corner of the court, near the large double doors that opened the gym.

"What was that?" The setter asked in a low, dangerous voice. His royal blue eyes sharply focused on the shit-eating grin on his spiker's face. There was just a hint of a blush on his cheekbones.

Hinata casually swayed on the balls of his feet. "I didn't say anything… Tobio."

With a growl, the setter lunged at Hinata, who was already running out the door and cackling like a child. He chased the spiker out into the dark courtyard and the gym was, once again, quiet.

Daichi heard some laughs from the team and an "idiots" from Tsukishima. The captain rubbed his temples, it'd been a long day and these two always manage to tire him out even more. He hung his head against the padded wall; he knew he'd get them and break up whatever fight they had gotten themselves into, but just for a moment, the captain wanted some peace.

"Those two are going to end up killing each other one day," he heard Asahi say, worriedly.

Suga considered this and chuckled, "that or they'll get married."

That got Daichi out of his moment of forced relaxation.

"What?! Married?" The ace asked.

Suga shrugged and crossed his arms, a teasing smile on his lips. He's so cute, Daichi thought.

"That's what I said, they seem to be inseparable," the silver-haired setter said. "Kinda like you and Nishinoya."

Asahi's words caught on that, the gentle giant's nerves beginning to show. He rubbed one hand into his hair bun. "Noya and I aren't like that…."

Suga's eyebrow quirked as he kept teasing. "Shall we bet on it?"

"Bet?! Bet what?"

Daichi warned his VC, "Suga, what are you planning?"

Suga pouted innocently. "Just 500 yen. If they get married within 15 years, you owe me. If not, I owe you."

Suga held his hand out to Asahi, whose eyes were quickly darting between his very not-kidding face and his waiting outstretched hand.

"So?"

Asahi looked at Daichi, pleading non-verbally for help, only to be met with a shake of Daichi's head. His friend was on his own against Suga and he knew that very well by now.

The ace sighed and took Suga's hand. "Alright," he said, resigned.

Suga beamed as he shook the hand that sealed their bet.

Daichi rolled his eyes at this weirdo he had to have fallen for.

He put his water bottle down and kicked off the wall, walking into the chilly, gusty night of the courtyard. Under the deep blue sky, Daichi followed the sounds of Hinata's teasing laughter and Kageyama's angry yells to wherever the duo had found themselves this time.