It was one of those usual nights again when Aoi was already sound asleep and Nishinoya was just laying beside her, his hazel eyes content at her closed eyes, brown hair sprawled on his sheets, and peaceful face that calmed him down.

He brushed a strand of hair and pushed it back to see more of her face. It reminded him of the first time she slept over in his room. That time, she wasn't able to sleep without a warm presence beside her so she would tire herself out, like telling countless stories about her manjus; counting the stars; even praising him for being the Guardian Deity of the Karasuno Volleybal Club.

It wasn't until he found out that she's really uneasy without a presence of either a large stuff toy or human beside her because the warmth reminded her of her parents. So he told her to move over and he'll do his best to be her own guardian deity so she could rest.

"I'm so lucky," she cooed that time, snuggling in the blanket. "Karasuno's guardian deity is beside me."

He looked away to hide his blush. "This is nothing. Not getting enough sleep will make your cheeks thinner so this way is better."

He heard her giggle until she drifted off to dreamland.

But their relationship suddenly took a twisted turn when Aoi informed him that she won't be staying over anymore at his house. It was one of those times when she and Tanaka went over to his house with his grandfather going somewhere for business.

The three were situated at the living room. The two boys were laughing at something when she dropped the bomb with a nervous expression.

"What are you saying, Manju? We already agreed that you're sleeping over here," Nishinoya said.

Tanaka nodded. "Besides, I still see that Morimoto lingering around here. If he finds out you're alone, he might harass you again."

"I don't think he will do that," Aoi countered. "There are times that I go home alone and sleep in the shop but I'm perfectly safe. I guess it's time that I stop relying on you guys."

Instead of witnessing an approving reaction, Nishinoya fixated his eyes on her like she's some suspicious criminal.

"Nishinoya-san?"

"Manju, is there something wrong?"

"N-Nothing."

She stuttered, the two boys thought.

"Did I do something when I'm asleep? 'Cause if I did, then I'll—"

Aoi stopped him before he could say more. "You didn't do anything, Nishinoya-san. I just... I just want to do things on my own from now on."

"Do things on your own?" he repeated. "Why? Can you defend yourself from that stalker in case he comes on you again?"

"Er... no—"

"What if he breaks in and goes beyond what he did last time?"

"Noya, calm down," Tanaka interfered, sensing the tension between the two as he placed a hand on Nishinoya's shoulder. "I think Aki-chan just wants to learn to defend herself alone. Isn't that right, Aki-chan?"

Aoi nodded and Nishinoya was only displeased.

"Then show it to me."

Before she could speak, Nishinoya suddenly tackled her on the ground with his hands gripping her wrists and his whole body towering over her. Tanaka tried to remove him from her but it was useless; Nishinoya was using his full strength on her.

Aoi struggled to break free only for him to tighten his hold. "Nishinoya-san—"

"You want to defend yourself, right? Then show it to me. Prove it to me then I'll let you do whatever you want."

"NOYA, STOP IT!"

"SHUT UP!" His eyes were full of fury. "You think men are so simple that they'd back away if another man scares them?"

"Nishinoya-san, please let go of me!"

"OI NOYA! LISTEN TO HER!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MEN, AOI. YOU SAY YOU WANT TO BE ON YOUR OWN BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN BREAK FREE FROM ME."

Aoi was frightened. Even if she continued struggling, he'll only trap her with his might. It was futile to resist. She was sure there's gonna be bruises later on.

This Nishinoya-san... I'm afraid of him.

"What's the matter, huh, Aoi? Can't defend yourself?" he taunted, inching his face closer so he could take a peek of her expression. "Why not show me how you can handle yourself from that Morimoto bastard?"

"NOYA, THAT'S ENOUGH ALREADY!"

"Please let go of me," she mumbled, looking away from as a tear escaped from her eye.

But even with her helpless expression, he still wasn't letting go of her wrists. He wanted her to fight back. He wanted her to kick him or slap his cheek in mad fury like those girls in school whenever he tries to peek under their skirts.

He clenched his jaw. "Fight me."

There was a sniff. Her voice was shaking. "Please let go of me," she repeated.

He was beyond mad. To think that she could do things on her own was one thing. But selfishly saying things without proof was another.

His hold on her finally loosened as her tears flowed freely and her cries could be heard in the whole room. Tanaka looked back and forth between a pitiful Aoi and a disappointed Nishinoya who were both caught up in the tension that they forgot about him.

"Suit yourself," Nishinoya murmured then left the room.

BONUS:

After the fight, Tanaka convinced Aoi to stay over at his place because it won't be a good idea to sleep alone at the shop.

"Nee-chan might be able to cheer you up a bit," he said.

But Aoi was silent the whole time even when Saeko told her funny stories about Tanaka's childhood and such. It was when she accidentally mentioned Nishinoya that Aoi cried again, feeling up the bruise on her wrist especially when he seriously said her name.

"It's all my fault," she told her.

"No, Aoi-chan, it's not your fault," Saeko responded. "I mean you have the freedom to rely on yourself for once. As a woman, we cannot always depend on men."

Aoi only shook her head. "I should've told him that I cannot sleep in his house anymore because I don't want to like him more than I should."

Tanaka and his sister were frozen after the statement with Aoi crying in the background.

We've been suspecting something going on and she just blurted it out like it's nothing, the siblings thought.