It took a week before she got in contact with him again. He purposely avoided her, making her feel as if apologizing to him won't be enough because he doesn't want to her excuses. And there she learned that Nishinoya was a stubborn fellow when he wants to be.

"Please don't mind that Noya," Tanaka assured her one time. "Sometimes he has a hard time accepting things."

Aoi nodded and sensing her forlorn expression, Tanaka added, "Besides, I believe he's still worried about you. I mean there are some times that he really listens especially when it's about your safety."

The problem might've also took its toll on Nishinoya because when Tanaka hit the ball at his direction, it immediately landed on his own face and bounced in the air. Everyone was worried because Nishinoya never makes a mistake in receiving all their spikes.

When Kiyoko placed a hand on his forehead, she confirmed it. "He has a fever."

Coach Ukai sighed. "There's nothing we can do about it. Nishinoya, pack up and take a rest. We can't have our libero tiring out."

Hinata nodded furiously. "Noya-san, defeat that cold immediately so you could teach me Rolling Thunder!"

"Osu!" The others agreed which was a little bit loud that Nishinoya might have thought that his brain shook a little at the intense emotion.

"Nishinoya, it would be best if someone accompanies you back home," Daichi suggested.

"You might faint in the middle of the road or something," Asahi added further but Nishinoya shook his head and tried to smile.

"It's fine, Asahi-san. I can manage on my own. After all, I am the Guardian Deity."

After the remark, he went to the locker room and everyone turned to each other.

"Noya-san is in low spirits," Hinata noticed, his tone in worry.

Yamaguchi agreed. "He's been distracted for a few days since."

"Tanaka, you're the closest one to him," Ennoshita said. "Do you know something?"

Tanaka just shrugged. "I don't know. Noya's... well... he's been like the usual."

Sugawara and the others squinted their eyes in suspiscion. He's lying.

But they didn't interrogate Tanaka further and Nishinoya silently left the gym, thinking of possible routes to take so he won't meet Aoi or (please don't make this happen) bump into her.

As he walked down the road, he let out a heavy breath and felt his eyes drooping down. He slapped his face. Just a little bit longer and I'll be able to rest.

His body was already betraying him though. His vision was getting all blurry and the road down to his house seemed to swirl. Afterwards, he saw nothing but darkness.

When he opened his eyes, he was already wearing his 'A Match For Thousand' shirt and a pair of shorts. He slipped down the blanket that was covering him and was about to stand up from the bed when he heard noises.

"Sorry for disturbing you during your work hours, Aoi-chan. If only I didn't have to go out with some important friends, I would've taken care of him," Nishinoya heard his grandfather say.

He immediately lied back down and covered himself with the blanket, trying his best to pretend that he was asleep.

What's she doing here? As if I'll forgive her that easily, he bitterly thought, remembering the time when he pushed her down and taunted her, only for her to cry and look at him as if he's the one at fault.

"It's fine, ojii-san. I wanted to be of help to him since Yuu-kun's been protecting me," she replied.

Nishinoya frowned. And since when has she been calling me by my name?

Aoi always calls him by his last name. When he told her to call him by his given name to avoid confusion with his grandfather, she still insisted to call him 'Nishinoya-san'. He remembered being jealous of Tanaka when Aoi instantly called him 'Ryu-san'.

He felt her place a wet cloth on his forehead gently, humming the same happy tune like she always does. Nishinoya was secretly enjoying her caresses despite his brain telling him that he should awaken and tell her to leave.

"I'm glad that you're sleeping," she told him. "Because if you were awake, I probably wouldn't get the chance to talk to you."

He wanted to huff in response. It's all her fault. If she wasn't stupid and just relied on him, maybe they would've—

"I want to apologize first for not calling you by your name." She breathed out a sigh. "You're too special for me. I want to be able to call you by that name when the right time comes."

What right time is she talking about? I wouldn't mind if she calls me 'Yuu' by now.

"And honestly, I lied... about wanting to sleep on my own."

There was a pause. Nishinoya could feel his heart thumping in anticipation.

"The truth is, I really like you."

He heard her laugh softly, as if she was testing out the waters. Nishinoya was only surprised though, as she brushed her hand on his cheek. "I like you. I've been liking you since middle school."

Middle school? So she meant those times when she would drop by the house to chat with Gramps?

"I was always amazed at your passion for volleyball and your determination in achieving your goals." Then she added, "I am happy that I got closer to you. But the more I was relying on you, the more I hope for something which cannot be."

Aoi tried not to cry. This will be the last time, she told herself. "Which is why I wanted to confess now, so I could let this out of my chest and move on."

She must be fumbling with her fingers again, he thought, knowing that it was her usual habit whenever she confesses something so personal.

"And after this, maybe we could talk again like how we used to."

And how do you expect me to do that? Nishinoya wanted to ask.

"And maybe by then, I could finally call your name."

She was smiling at him softly, her fingers still tracing the lines of his face.

"For now, I hope you get well soon, Karasuno's Guardian Deity," she whispered.

Then he felt her lips on his-soft, gentle, quick, but sincere. Afterwards, she pecked his forehead and left the room. Nishinoya waited for a few minutes before sitting up on the bed and covering his mouth with the back of his hand. His face was red with steam shooting out from his ears. He wanted to be mad but found no reason to be.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Damn that Manju. She thinks I'd bend that easily?

He frowned. "That idiot! She shouldn't just easily give her first kiss like that. What if I didn't like it?"

BONUS:

Back to present...

Nishinoya was the first to wake up. When he opened his eyes, her sleeping face and the gentle smile on her lips were the first things to greet him.

He smiled back and softly kissed her lips. "Ohayou."

Then he got up from the bed, did a little stretching, and went downstairs.

What he didn't know was Aoi being awake the whole time, covering herself with the sheets from head to toe.

She was blushing mad. That Yuu-kun! He's getting his revenge.