A/N: Finally! After several years, I decided to update this fanfic. I actually want to add more chapters but I realized that Noya and Aoi would probably maintain a healthy relationship despite the ups and downs. Anyways, here goes nothing!

Disclaimer: I don't own Haikyuu.


Aoi knows she doesn't need to feel guilty. After all, she didn't cheat on Nishinoya. It was an impulsive act made by Ichikawa towards her when she rejected his advances. True, Ichikawa can surpass Nishinoya with his looks, grades, height, and athletic prowess. But Nishinoya is Nishinoya. No one could replace him in her heart.

That's why when rumors of her and Ichikawa started flying around, she didn't know what to do. She was constantly bullied by his fangirls, claiming how brazen she is for making moves on their Ichikawa. There were even a few who started leaving negative reviews on their shop just to make her suffer. Nishinoya didn't know about this, of course. She didn't want him to worry, especially when he's training for an upcoming competition.

However, Nishinoya picks things up easily. He immediately knew Aoi was acting strange, but he didn't press her to open up about it. He wanted her to tell it to him on her own. But as days pass, she continued to isolate herself, even opting not to contact him for a week.

And then, he came across Ichikawa. Judging from his interaction with the playboy prick, it seemed that he was the cause of Aoi's suffering. He was agitated, of course. He wanted to punch Ichikawa for making Aoi miserable, but it was a good thing he defended her at the moment. If he let his emotions get in his head, he might get suspended again and rumors will only fuel.

Holding his winner popsicle stick, he stood in front of the Akihana shop and took out his phone to call Aoi. After a few tries, no one was answering. Nishinoya was anything but stubborn. He knows Aoi is still awake and ignoring him, so he sent her a text.

"Manju, please. We need to talk."

There was no reply.

"I don't know the whole thing, but I made that Ichikawa bastard pay."

After a few minutes, the door to the shop opened to reveal a disheveled Aoi in her cat pajamas. Seeing him today made Aoi relieved. Her week was a disaster lately so knowing that Nishinoya still trusts her despite not knowing anything means everything.

He showed her his popsicle, a toothy grin on his lips. "I got a price on my first popsicle! Pretty cool, right?"

She giggled. "What did you win, exactly?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, but we'll see. I hope it's something you can use."

It was the first conversation she had with him after a week and she's glad that nothing has changed.

"Come in," she beckoned.

Once inside, Aoi excused herself to make him some dinner while he went straight to her room. He remembered the time when he asked her out to be his girlfriend. Nishinoya is clueless about many things, but he didn't mind dating her. He knew to himself that he wasn't in love with her yet at the time, but if it was Aoi, he believes he will. That's why he made a pledge to take care of her despite his uncertainty.

The whole neighborhood rumor of him and her sleeping in each other's houses was just an excuse. Nonetheless, Nishinoya wanted to protect her from people who's constantly ridiculing and badmouthing her. That's why he asked her to be his partner.

Aoi went inside the room and placed the food tray on the ground. "I made you onigiri and oolong tea. I hope you like it."

"Thank you for the meal, Manju." He smiled at her.

Once he was done eating, Aoi spoke, "Umm... did someone tell you about Ichikawa?"

Nishinoya frowned. He really didn't want to recall the memory, but here goes nothing. "Not really. Our class just happened to share a PE class with Tanaka's and my match was against him. After that, I started hearing other people murmur you were cheating on me or something."

"Yuu-kun, I—"

"I know for a fact that you would never cheat on me. I just..." He wanted to ask her about the kiss. He needed to confirm if the Ichikawa bastard really forced himself upon her while he was busy training. "That bastard kept on saying that you two kissed, and I know you won't do that. I taught him a lesson not to make a move on you again."

Upon hearing his statement, Aoi was silent for a moment. She was at a loss for words until she started crying tears she held back.

Nishinoya slightly panicked. "I-I'm sorry, Aoi! I just wanted to protect you. That Ichikawa bastard has the guts to—"

"That's not it, Yuu-kun." She sniffed, wiping away her tears. "I'm glad you did that for me. It's just that..."

"Hm?"

"Ichikawa-kun... he told me you don't care about anything except volleyball. That if you really love me, you'll always be by my side. And then..." Aoi remembered how Ichikawa had forcibly kissed her in their classroom. She pushed him away and slapped his face, but when she did, there were already a few spectators in the room. "And then... when he kissed me, I felt disgusted and terrified. I felt like I let someone else touch me without your permission. I didn't like what he did to me, not even a bit, and I fear what he can do to me after that."

That bastard, I should've really just punched him in the face earlier.

Aoi cried even further, pouring out her feelings to him. If there's one thing that Nishinoya learned from his grandfather and older sisters, it's that doing romantic things to the other party always requires consent. That's why, when Ichikawa proudly boasted about what happened between him and Aoi, it was enough for Nishinoya to deduce that he wanted the two to break up.

Nishinoya scratched the back of his head. "I'm sorry, Manju. I wasn't there when you were suffering."

Aoi looked up and felt guilty and embarrassed at his confession. "You don't have to apologize, Yuu-kun."

Nishinoya shook his head. "I have to." He looked away from her. "Ever since I got back from training, I felt you were hiding something from me. I wanted you to tell me what was wrong, but I told myself that you'll tell me when you're ready. I just didn't think it already got out of hand by the time I knew."

"No, Yuu-kun! It's also my fault," she insisted, cupping his cheeks and turning his face towards her. "I should've told you earlier on instead of keeping you out of the dark."

Nishinoya snickered, placing his hands on top of hers. "I always tell you I'm the Guardian Deity, yet I let them harm you."

"You don't have to worry about it anymore, Yuu-kun," Aoi assured, leaning her forehead on his. "You have protected me earlier from them, and that's what matters."

Nishinoya gently smiled at her before capturing her lips in a slow, gentle kiss. When he wasn't satisfied with one taste, he dipped down again. And again. And again. He kissed her many times until they were both out of breath.

"Aoi."

"Hm?"

He was now leaning above her, caressing her cheeks with his fingers. "I still carry that pledge I made to you before."

She remembered when he asked her to be his girlfriend. They were on his bed, his fingers intertwined with hers. He didn't understand his feelings at the time, but he cared deeply for her. Besides, he vocally tells her he doesn't like it when other guys touch her. Nishinoya would always complain, "Why do you let them approach you like that? I'm the only one allowed to touch you, especially your cheeks!"

So when he told her, "If it's you, I wouldn't mind. I believe everything will be worth it, as long as you're that person with me," that sealed the deal. She hugged him tightly, not minding his frantic gestures and blushing face. She was full of joy, knowing that her love has finally reached him, even a bit.

But now, looking at his serious face, she knew something has changed within him.

"I like you, Aoi," he confessed with sincerity.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm glad you do."

That night, they slept peacefully beside each other. Nishinoya was cradling Aoi in his chest to make sure she was warm and safe.


BONUS:

The next day, at afternoon practice...

"OH! AKIHANA-SAN IS HERE TO WATCH! SO IT'S TRUE THAT NISHINOYA-SAN AND YOU DIDN'T BREAK UP!" Hinata beamed, eyes gleaming. It was as if he's the number one fan of their ship and is relieved that they're still together.

The others seemed to pick up what Hinata said. Break up? Nishinoya and Akihana?

Nishinoya grinned. "I told you, Shoyo. Everything's fine between us."

While everyone had already gone to their own businesses, Daichi kept replaying what Hinata said as flashbacks of Nishinoya over-exhausting himself and receiving balls like a robot kept appearing on his mind. What's more, Nishinoya seemed a lot more serious and wasn't joining Tanaka as much when shouting. He even made a mistake on one of his Rolling Thunders.

That's when it dawned on him. He has to do something. The team doesn't need a robot Nishinoya.

He approached Aoi at the benches. "Akihana-san."

"Yes, Daichi-san?"

He bowed firmly. "Please don't break up with Nishinoya. Never ever."

Everyone was dumbfounded. Yachi dropped the towels. Hinata gagged on his spit. Kageyama accidentally hit Tanaka on the face with a ball.

Aoi was surprised. "E-Eh?!"

"Please, I beg you! For the sake of our team."

Nishinoya and Aoi were both blushing. They were both clueless about their effect on the team's performance.


A/N: And that's it! I'll be doing a side story of this fic and it will be an Oikawa x OC one. Stay tuned!