After telling his parents about his soulmates, the only thing Kageyama was focusing on was the upcoming tournament. That's what his whole team was focusing on.

He wasn't talking much Oikawa or Iwaizumi at the moment, but that was understandable. They were all focused, and despite anything they had told each other, things were tense.

It was subtle, barely noticeable unless he was paying attention. But when he was paying attention, it was hard to ignore.

Sometimes, they would have random arguments over things that didn't really bother them. Sometimes they would just sit in awkward silence after talking about the tournament. Sometimes Kageyama just felt like being together was too draining and didn't show up.

The tenseness wasn't just about the tournament either. Oikawa's reaction to Kageyama telling them his parents wanted to meet them was a big factor that had contributed to some awkwardness as well.

They were sitting in Iwaizumi's room, trying to study when he'd asked. Kageyama didn't think the request was unreasonable, since they were his parents, and meeting them might help his parents opinion on them too. In the end, meeting could be a good thing for everyone involved, and if they didn't meet, everything could get a whole lot worse. Even if it wasn't the truth, Iwaizumi and Oikawa not agreeing would solidify the idea that they weren't right for him into his parents minds.

Still, he carefully watched for their reactions. Kageyama was no expert when it came to knowing how someone felt but it wasn't hard to spot the immediate distaste on Oikawa's face.

Iwaizumi was harder to read, his face almost blank. If Kageyama had to guess, he would say Iwaizumi had been expecting something like this.

Kageyama had met their parents after all. He had been inside both of their homes.

Granted, he hadn't met Oikawa's father, and he never wanted too. And he hadn't met Iwaizumi's mother either, but she didn't really seem to play an active part in his life.

Both Tobio's parents, however, were very involved in his life, it was only natural they would meet at some point. There wasn't really a logical reason not to.

"Do we have to meet them?" Was what Oikawa eventually said.

"No, you don't have to." Kageyama murmured feeling the tension in the room start to grow along with his own annoyance. "It would be better if you did though."

Kageyama knew he hadn't painted his parents in the best light, he could understand why Oikawa had reservations about meeting them, but did he really have to show his dislike so plainly? Kageyama didn't like the tone he took either, it made him feel defensive.

"Hey, don't be rude." Iwaizumi said with a harsh glare towards Oikawa.

"I'm just saying if it isn't a requirement, I'd prefer not to."

"Why?"

"I just don't feel like it." Oikawa grunted in response. "I don't see why it's such a big deal."

"They're my parents." Kageyama answered. "You can have your own opinion of them. You don't have to like them, that's not what matters right now. What does matter is them liking you enough to not forbid me from ever seeing you again."

Oikawa rolled his eyes and scowled. "Whether you like it or not, they already have a half-formed opinion of you too." Kageyama continued.

"What does that mean?" Oikawa's fingers clenched tighter around the book he was holding, and he was staring down at the pages so intently yet clearly not reading a word.

"It means they think they know you. They think you're selfish, manipulative, rude, a horrible influence on me, and they probably think you're just looking to gain something by dating me."

"What? But none of that is true!"

Kageyama shrugged without comment.

"I don't know." Iwaizumi said. "You are kind of a bad influence on Tobio." It was clear Iwaizumi was trying to deescalate the tension but Kageyama wasn't sure it was really working.

"And you aren't!"

"I don't think so. I'm the more mature one between the two of us after all."

"But—"

"Anyway," Kageyama interrupted, "The point is, if you don't show up that's only going to solidify their opinions."

"I don't see why I should care about their opinion."

"Because I care about their opinion. You're being incredibly childish, I'm not asking you to make friends with my parents, I'm asking you to show them I'm not dating a piece of shit!"

"Isn't that a little harsh when we haven't even met them?" Iwaizumi asked.

"It's extreme but it's what they're thinking." Kageyama said. "I need you to show them it isn't true. Not all soulmates are garbage."

Oikawa huffed and tried to deflect the conversation. "Yeah, maybe not, but soulmates is a pretty garbage concept if you ask me."

Kageyama knew he was trying to get out of answering by saying something like that. He was hoping it would spark conflict with Iwaizumi and they could forget about what they were really talking about. Tobio didn't like it, but he allowed it to happen for now.

"Hey, it's how we found each other." Iwaizumi defended. "And it isn't just some concept, it's how our world works."

"Just cus that's how it works doesn't mean it isn't dumb. Don't get me wrong, Iwa-chan, I think we're connected. But I think we would be connected whether the writing on our arms said so or not."

"And… what about me?" Kageyama asked quietly. He hadn't meant to interject himself into this conversation, but he couldn't help asking.

"We were connected long before we found out you were our soulmate. Before Junior High it was always just me and Tooru. And then suddenly you were there, everywhere I looked you were there."

"Kinda like a weed." Oikawa smirked jokingly as Iwaizumi slapped his arm.

The corners of Kageyama's mouth quirked up a little.

"You fit right where you were meant to. I didn't see it at the time, but eventually, it wasn't just the two of us. Because you were there too, and it always felt right."

Kageyama would probably never be able to properly express what those words meant to him. Hearing that reassured so many doubts that had always plagued his mind. Kageyama had always felt right with them too. Not in the same way he felt like he fit with his team, or even how he felt about Hinata. It felt complete. Like string knotted together instead of dangling all limp and lifeless.

Kageyama hadn't believed in fate, and so it was hard to accept what soulmates even meant for a period in his life. And he wasn't sure if he believed in fate now either, but he was more open to it.

"Well," Kageyama started, "I think soulmates as a concept is alright actually. But I think maybe people tend to misinterpret what a soulmate should be. A soulmate isn't someone you're always going to end up with for the rest of your life, a soulmate might not even be someone you're romantically interested in. I think a soulmate is someone who changes your life, one way or another. Whether they're with you for many years, standing by your side. Or whether they enter your life in one moment and are gone just as fast." He looked up to see Oikawa and Iwaizumi staring at him. "Or at least, that's what I've come to think." Kageyama added quickly, rubbing the back of his neck.

He had thought of the concept of soulmates for a long time. When he first realized Oikawa and Iwaizumi were his soulmates, he was so confused and desperate to figure out what that meant for him. He felt scared and alone and the only thing he really did back then was study and think. He ended up fearing that Oikawa and Iwaizumi would only be there for a little while and then leave him the first chance they got.

He was worried because he hadn't wanted that. He hadn't wanted them to leave him behind. And he had the luxury of that, to even know he'd met his soulmates. Some people might walk by their soulmate one day not realizing that's the last time they'll have the chance to meet them. They might have a friend who leaves one day and they only realize years later how much of an impact that friend left. Or, they might never meet their soulmate at all, and live without knowing someone who could've changed their life.

Kageyama didn't believe in happily ever afters, he didn't believe for one moment all or even most soulmates found each other and lived together for the rest of their lives. A soulmate wasn't always meant to stay forever. And Kageyama was pretty sure you would know when it was time for someone to go.

Only now, Kageyama also understood the feeling of not wanting people to leave. Kageyama wanted them to stay. He hoped they wanted the same from him.

"I guess that could be true. I mean it isn't like the system is perfect. Not like everyone would like to believe." Oikawa said.

Tobio nodded. "Back to what we were talking about," he shot a look at Oikawa, "my parents want to meet you guys. And… I'd like it if you did too."

"I don't mind meeting your parents," Iwaizumi said. "And I'm sure Tooru doesn't mind as much as he's acting."

Oikawa scoffed. "I'm saying exactly how I feel!"

"Maybe. But you tend to be dramatic and impulsive. At least think about it a bit more before immediately deciding. This is important to Tobio, so it's an important decision that you should think about."

Oikawa rolled his eyes.

"Please just think about it." Kageyama said.

"Only since you asked so nicely."

A knock on the door startled all of them. Iwaizumi's dad opened the door, informing them they should finish up since it was getting late.

It turned out that Iwaizumi's dad actually was a little shy, as he became less reserved and more natural the more Kageyama came over. The change started when he found out one of Kageyama's favorite foods was yogurt. They teamed up when Oikawa tried to claim it was one of the worst foods he'd tasted.

Slowly becoming closer with Iwaizumi's father was an interesting process since most of the adults he did talk to, like Oikawa and Hinata's moms, were very outgoing so he didn't really have to try at all to keep the conversation going.

But Iwaizumi's dad didn't mind the silence either, something Kageyama appreciated since he didn't always want to talk.

However, Kageyama hadn't gone over to Iwaizumi or Oikawa's houses since he'd brought up the meeting with his parents. In that time, Kageyama and his team practiced harder than ever. Interhighs were only a few days away and predictably, while Kageyama's volleyball playing improved every day, his grades took a nose dive.

"So that's what happens when you don't turn in any homework for any class for a whole week…" Kageyama said to Hinata as they were walking down the hall.

"Yeah, but I swear they don't give as many points for doing the homework as they take for not doing it." Hinata wrinkled his nose. "Like I turn stuff in and it doesn't do shit to my grade. Miss one thing and it drops a whole five percent."

"Yeah, I don't know why that happens."

"Oh well, I'm going to be a professional volleyball player anyway, and practicing extra is worth it!"

"I'm pretty sure your mom wouldn't see it that way." Kageyama smirked.

"Yeah, she was pretty upset actually… but I'll get those grades back up too, just you watch!"

"If you say so."

A few more days passed, and Kageyama's grandparents arrived the morning before interhighs. Kageyama didn't talk to them since their visit was brief and he'd been at school when they arrived, but apparently they were going to attend his first match tomorrow. That was something not even his own father was able to do since he couldn't get time off work.

Normally his mother wouldn't have gone either, but she decided to go because his grandparents were going. Kageyama didn't think she really cared to see his volleyball games, he thought she probably just wanted to give the illusion of being family.

Even so, Kageyama was happy to share one of his interests with his mother.

"Will they come over before I go tomorrow?" Kageyama had asked later after his grandparents left for the day.

"I don't think so since you'll have to be early to warm up but they'll probably want to do something after."

Kageyama grimaced. He knew his mother saw the expression but she didn't say anything about it. "Just focus on your game and don't think about it." She said and Kageyama could do nothing but nod.

He was nervous about tomorrows match, nervous because his grandparents would be watching him, and also excited because he got to play.

Tobio tried not to think about it and get some sleep before the match tomorrow.

The next morning, Kageyama got up earlier than he needed to, and left before he needed to as well. He just couldn't sit still, knowing that he would be playing in less than a few hours from now.

When he entered the stadium with the rest of his team, whispers started circulating almost immediately. About Karasuno, about Asahi, and even whispers about himself. It irritated him even though he knew people were just curious. Some of the whispers underestimated them, and that was what pissed him off. They wouldn't be saying anything about 'clipped wings' soon enough.

"I'm so excited!" Hinata exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He was practically radiating pure energy and wouldn't sit still no matter what Kageyama said. "Aren't you excited too, Tobio!"

"Of course I'm excited, dumbass." Kageyama said, carefully surveying the stands for signs of his grandparents or mother. When he didn't see them some of his nervousness subsided and he turned back to warming up while Hinata kept bouncing around.

He refused to look back at the stands the entire time because doing so would just unsettle his nerves, and he didn't need to be doing what Hinata did in their practice match against Seijoh.

This was their first game of interhighs, he needed to stay positive and confident if he was going to be helpful.

Kageyama gave it his all, and so did Hinata, and the rest of the team. His hitters kept landing one spike after another, over and over. It was exhilarating, and a feeling Kageyama had almost forgotten. The feeling of seeing your teammate happy to hit your sets and do it with passion.

After that game in middle school, he'd thought he'd lost that feeling, was scared that nobody would ever see him as anything more than a dictating king ever again. And the thought of going to Aoba Johsai with everything that happened made him feel physically ill. He thought that maybe if he had gone to Seijoh instead, he would've lost passion for volleyball, he thought maybe he would've given up on it.

Even if not going caused some tension between him and his soulmates now, Kageyama would never change his decision. Because he would never get tired of Hinata looking the way he did whenever one of his spikes got through. A look of raw excitement and awe. A look he knew he wouldn't have caused for the hitters at Seijoh.

It was a fun game while it lasted, and Kageyama felt their victory was well-earned. Now that he'd been playing a while, he'd gotten rid of the excited chills he felt at first and was calmer too. More tired and sweaty, but calmer.

The coach started filling them in on their next opponents for the next game. Hinata started looking more nervous as the coach went on, causing Kageyama to scowl.

"If you freak out on us I will punch you."

"I'm not freaking out!" Hinata hissed but he definitely looked freaked out.

"The next game is against Date Tech. They're a top school most known for their blocking ability." The coach continued to explain. Apparently, their specialty was reblocking, which would normally put them one step behind, but their guys were big and perceptive enough to make up for most of the difference.

Kageyama doubted that would be the case with Hinata, which he was willing to bet the coach was hoping for too.

Besides Hinata having a mini freak out, Kageyama also noticed that Asahi seemed nervous. He was hiding his expression well, but his body language was unmistakably nervous because it was how Kageyama looked whenever he tried talking to someone new.

During his time getting to know the older boy, Kageyama found out why he quit volleyball in the first place, and he knew this was the team that kept shutting him out. Sugawara had asked him after practice one day, to make way for Asahi too.

And that was exactly what he planned to do.

The entire game felt like a blur and forever at the same time. Date Tech's reblocking ability almost intimidated him. Asahi really pulled through though, with his last few attempts at getting the final point. He was glad he could use his setting to help someone feel powerful like that.

Nishinoya was incredible too with his last receives. Kageyama almost hadn't been prepared for the ball to go up at the end. Now matches were over for the day. He was disappointed since it meant he didn't get to play anymore and he needed to go say hello to his grandparents and possibly have dinner with them or something.

Maybe he was being a bit harsh. Maybe they changed a lot since he last saw them, or maybe his younger self was just blowing the situation out of proportion in his mind. Either way, they probably weren't as terrible as he remembered so he should try to make the best of it.

As he and the rest of the team were leaving the gym, Kageyama noticed the Aoba Johsai match, 24 to 13.

At least he had a pretty good idea of who they were going to play next, not that he was surprised.

"Well, well, well, look who made it out alive." Oikawa said, bouncing the volleyball two times. He was up to serve. "Guess we get to be the ones who chew you up and spit you out."

Kageyama glared. "Stop trying to sound cool, Oikawa-san."

"What? 'Oikawa-san'! I—" Oikawa didn't get the chance to say anything else before the whistle blew and he had to serve.

Tobio just rolled his eyes and left before he could see whether Oikawa got the point or not.

"Don't you think that might've tripped him up?" Hinata asked after they left.

"If he didn't want me to say anything he shouldn't have said anything either. 'Chew you up and spit you out'. Who actually says shit like that?"

"Oikawa-san I guess." Hinata giggled before perking up like he remembered something. "Oh yeah, about Oikawa-san, you still call him that?"

"No. I just said it to piss him off."

"Oh… isn't that just a little mean?"

"Don't talk shit if you can't take shit." Kageyama said. Truthfully, he was just more impatient than usual. There were certain people in Kageyama's life who just set him more on edge more than others. Oikawa happened to be someone who would sometimes set off a buzz inside him where tiny things he did would annoy him more than usual. Today he was just annoyed though and didn't feel like letting Oikawa tease him.

Really, he just didn't want to see his grandparents, even if he knew that was unfair, they'd left an impression on him that he couldn't shake. They invaded his home, his personal space, and insulted him and his parents. There wasn't much for him to like about that. It didn't help that neither of his parents liked them either. No matter how much his mother tried to pretend they didn't bother her, he knew they did.

"Anyway," Kageyama started, "I have to go meet my mom. She came to watch me." He didn't say anything about his grandparents, didn't think it was necessary. They weren't really an active part of his life, and he would keep his friends away from them if he could.

"Oh that's cool your mom could come watch. My mom's always busy with Natsu. She needs to be watched over, like, all the time. Even though she tries to act big like me." Hinata laughed.

"Act big like you?" Kageyama asked wryly.

"Don't fucking say it." Hinata warned, noticing the look in Kageyama's eye.

"You aren't that big."

Hinata punched his arm. "Oh yeah, haha so funny, short guy jokes are just hilarious." He grumbled.

Kageyama shrugged. "I mean, you left yourself open. What was I suppose to do? Anyways, I gotta go, see you later."

"See ya." Hinata pouted as Kageyama ran off to go find his mother.

She was by the entrance of the stadium, talking with his grandparents. Kageyama could tell from her rigid posture the conversation wasn't pleasant.

"Hi." He said, walking up. The three immediately stopped talking and turned to him.

His mother's mouth twitched in the barest hint of a smile after she saw him. She also looked relieved to have an excuse to change the conversation.

"You did very well on your games." She congratulated him. "I didn't know you could play like that."

Kageyama's mother knew approximately nothing about volleyball but at least she was able to tell whether he was a good player or not. "Thank you. I'm glad you were able to come watch me play." He technically addressed them all, but the thanks was mostly directed at his mother. He was glad she got to watch him play, but he couldn't bring himself to care that his grandparents had come, even now.

"Of course we came. We wouldn't miss this." His grandmother started. Kageyama braced himself for the next half because it was most likely to be a criticism.

"What I don't really understand, however, is why you would go to a school like Karasuno." She continued. "Not that I commend any of the schools in this prefecture, but wouldn't it have at least been better to go to a school with a reputation like Shiratorizawa?"

"I…" Kageyama paused, unsure what to say, and glanced at his mother. She didn't look like she wanted him to answer any specific way so he just told the truth. "I didn't get in."

His grandmother furrowed her eyebrows. "Didn't get in?" She asked in disbelief.

Kageyama winced and went on to explain. "No. I didn't pass the exam nor did I get an invitation. I decided to go to Karasuno because I believed that I would do well in that school." Well in volleyball, anyway.

"You didn't pass the exam? When we last visited you, you had top marks in all your subjects."

"It's been four years since then." His mother explained calmly. "Tobio has changed a lot in that time."

His grandmother narrowed her eyes when she heard that. "So he changed into an uneducated, typical, athlete? How will he get anywhere like that? You, as his mother, should be considering that, and make him pay more attention to his studies! How else will he make it as a well-educated, big businessman when he graduates!"

Kageyama wrinkled his nose at the thought.

"How will he graduate from top colleges and become a famous politician. If he can't do that then where will he be?"

Did she want him to be a businessman or a politician? Could you be both? It didn't really matter. Kageyama didn't want to be either, he wanted to be a professional volleyball player. Besides, it wasn't that Kageyama didn't care about his grades at all, it was just that he wasn't good at school. The way he figured, he could either waste his time doing something he wasn't good at, and didn't enjoy. Or, he could use that time to do something he was good at and did enjoy. Something he planned to make a career out of. He didn't understand how it was any different than someone being really good at science and wanting to be an engineer.

"Tobio is only a first year. He has time to learn and grow." His mother said. "And besides, grades aren't always everything."

Kageyama looked at her, shocked. He never thought those words would ever come out of her mouth after years of thinking grades were the only thing that mattered.

Then again, his parents had stopped pressuring him to get the best grade a while ago. They seemed to be content now as long as he wasn't failing the class.

"Of course you would say something like that! Only you would think education wasn't important." she sneered. "I knew my son never should've married you."

"No he shouldn't have." His grandfather agreed.

"That's not what I said. Education is important, and Tobio is getting it. I just said that grades aren't always everything."

Kageyama was about to say something to his grandmother too, although he didn't know what he was going to say. Defend his mother? Tell her he didn't want to be a politician?

He never got the chance to say anything though because a voice spoke before he could. "Oh, Tobio-chan~! How could you leave without watching me serve that…" Oikawa trailed off and his jog came to a stop when he saw Kageyama with other people.

"Who are you?" His grandmother demanded almost immediately. "Are you a friend of my grandson?"

"Oh, uh…" Oikawa looked at Kageyama who could only shrug in response. He had wanted to avoid this interaction but now there was probably no getting around it. There wasn't really a reason to lie anyway since his grandparents were enthralled by soulmates if their last visit was anything to go by.

"Well, actually, I'm his boyfriend… and his soulmate." Oikawa said slowly, as if testing out the phrase. Kageyama understood since he often felt nervous and giddy about calling Iwaizumi and Oikawa his boyfriends too.

"Tooru slow down you fucki…" Iwaizumi's eyes landed on Oikawa and the entourage behind him. He stopped running and swiped his hand along the side of his neck. "Uh… fudging… cookie." Iwaizumi fell quiet, awkwardly twiddling his fingers.

"And this," Oikawa said with emphasis, "is our other soulmate, Iwa-chan."

"Hello." Iwaizumi said, waving clumsily with an uneasy look on his face.

Kageyama didn't know what to expect from everyone crashing together like this, but he did not appreciate the look his grandmother was giving all of them. "I've just had the perfect idea." She said. And Kageyama knew that meant trouble. "You two should have dinner with us."

Kageyama thought his boyfriends looked like deer caught in headlights, which would normally be comical, except Kageyama had the feeling they probably had good reason to be looking like that.

"Oh… well, we probably shouldn't. We have a ton of homework." Iwaizumi said.

"A ton of homework." Oikawa reiterated nervously.

"Oh, well that's okay, maybe next time." Kageyama's mother said. She was never really one to push people too much, probably because she didn't usually care what they decided to do.

"I insist." His grandmother said, completely contradicting her.

They all fell quiet for a moment before Iwaizumi, almost sounding strained, said, "Well I suppose since you insisted we could show up for a bit."

Oikawa just looked at him with shock and betrayal, and for once Kageyama pitied Iwaizumi for being so polite.

"Just for a bit." Iwaizumi said defensively.

Kageyama saw irritation flash on Oikawa's face before it was instantly replaced with a charming smile, "What time would you like us there."

"Six, sharp." His grandmother said.

Kageyama's mom glared at her, which he understood considering his grandmother was basically inviting people into his moms house without permission.

"We'll be there, don't be too sad until then, okay Tobio-chan!" Oikawa called, pushing Iwaizumi in the opposite direction a little too quickly.

"I won't." Kageyama said with a sigh.

When his parents said they wanted to meet his soulmates, Kageyama had decided that would be for the best. Even if his parents personally didn't like them, they would at least be able to see that Kageyama really did. And he felt that would've been enough for them to let him keep seeing them.

Unfortunately, with his grandparents added to the mix, that became a lot more complicated. Kageyama didn't think his mother would let his grandparents opinions on his soulmates influence her opinion, but his father might dislike them out of spite.

He was hoping that didn't happen, or if it did, he hoped he could still do damage control so that his father didn't completely hate them.

But there was also Oikawa and Iwaizumi to think about. Oikawa already wasn't fond of the idea to meet his parents, and now he'd basically been forced not only into meeting them, but also meeting his grandparents.

All of it, was a recipe for disaster, and Kageyama knew it.

"I think that went well." His grandmother said.

His mother stared at her with the most irritated expression he'd seen her have in two months.

"Right." She didn't sound like she thought so. "We should get going if dinner is going to be ready by six."

"I can help you with dinner." Kageyama said.

Before his mother could answer his grandmother interjected, "You shouldn't go through all that trouble. Focus on cleaning up before your soulmates arrive."

He didn't think his mother had ever looked like she wanted to kill even his father as much as she looked like she wanted to kill this woman right now.

"Yes, you should focus on that." She agreed anyway, no hint of frustration in her voice.

"And try to look presentable this time."

"I'll do that." Kageyama gritted out.

This was going to be a long night, Kageyama could already tell. All he could do was hope this didn't affect his parents opinion of his soulmates or his relationship with them.

A pleasant family dinner was probably too much to hope for though, so he settled for hoping for a civil one.

A/N Hey... it's been a little while. This update took a long time because so much shit is happening right now. Not all of it is bad it's just a lot. So basically, I'm moving... in under a month I'll be moved, yay (kinda lol it's going to be a lot of work). So yeah. I also got in a car accident. I'm okay, but my car wasn't so I had to get a new one. That also meant doctors appointments to make sure I heal right and get fully recovered (physically anyway). I was also sick this week with a cold so that took me tf out for like five days. Annnd finally school is starting again in a couple weeks. I don't know how the new work load is going to be so I could either update the same, (which still isn't very frequent but yknow), or I would update maybe once a month. So yeah.

That's what's up with me, that's why this took a little longer than usual... but I'm excited for the next chapter. For both this fic and my life lol. Hope you liked, and thanks so much for reading!