As much as Shouyou would like to pretend his baby sister isn't growing up and while he knows she won't always be his baby sister, he cannot ignore it when she does the unmistakably teenage act of… playfully flirting with his best friend, Kageyama.

He learned of her kiddie crush on the setter back when he was in his third year of Karasuno High at dinner, thanks to Mama Hinata–Shouyou reacted by spewing globs of rice all over the table in shock. She laughed it off, saying Natsu would grow out of it.

To his knowledge, she had done that until she came to Shouyou's debut match after returning from Brazil: the MSBY Black Jackals versus the Schweiden Adlers. The gleam in her eyes as she gawked in awe at the setter during the height of his kingly authority and power had told Shouyou that her crush was far from over. In his 'big brother knows best' speech, he let a tiny amount of discomfort leak through, thinking it would deter her–his stomach dropped when she glowed with excitement, her desire for a forbidden love igniting.

So Shouyou sits back and does nothing while she chases Kageyama the same way he had for years. He couldn't blame her, of course, high schoolers have a tendency to prod around, searching for points of weakness or contention, worming under skin the way they know how. At Shouyou's first sign of discomfort, intrigue bubbled, overflowing into the full-blown flirtatious crush it is now.

The spiker knows she's allowed to flirt with whoever she wants and Kageyama, as dense as ever, wouldn't even think of reciprocating even if he realized the true nature of her playful jabs. She can bat her perfect little eyelashes at him all she wants–it's not going to do anything.

It's just a harmless crush. Shouyou knows he shouldn't be bothered and yet… the irritated, blazing pit of coal in his gut, crackling and stoking brutishly whenever Natsu texts him selfies of her and the setter practicing together, a wicked grin on her sweaty, flushed cheeks, refuses to die down.

But whatever, he's an adult and he has to keep his petty grudge to himself for today's practice match… against the Adlers… with Natsu spectating.

It's fine. Everything's fine.

The tense game lasted all of the five sets, the Adlers narrowly beating the Black Jackals by three sets to two. Shouyou played his heart out on the court but during the water breaks, he could spot Natsu on the opposing side's seats, the grin on her lips and the same gleam in her eyes that went past admiration and into reverence for his best friend. The annoyed sirens blared in his mind, the same vague complaints ricocheting constantly until the break ended, only to begin anew at the next one.

Both teams bowed, a respectful finish to the tense practice match. Shouyou stared at the setter on the opposing side, his determined, royal blue eyes fixed on him with the promise of another defeat next time. Shouyou grinned back fiercely, his own resoluteness sharpening and already planning the King's defeat.

Both teams disappeared to their respective locker rooms, the spiker the last of the Jackals out the door to purposely steal one final glimpse at Natsu. Sure enough, she jokingly held out her journal for Kageyama to sign, as if this were a real match and she doesn't already have like seven of his signatures.

It's fine. It's fine! Why wouldn't it be fine?!

"Heya, Shouyou-kun, any particular reason ya were givin' yer sister the stink eye durin' the game?"

Shouyou, fresh out of the shower and grumbling to himself while he steps into black joggers, snaps out of his grumpy inner monologue. He gapes at Atsumu's question, their blond setter studying him with a quirked eyebrow as he combs through his hair.

"What?! Noooo, I wasn't–"

"Ya don't have ta explain yerself ta me, I get bein' annoyed at yer siblin', just didn't expect it from ya! If she did somethin' ta annoy ya, it'll pass soon enough. She loves ya enough ta come ta yer practice matches. That's sayin' somethin'!"

"Not as much as she loves Kageyama," Shouyou mumbles in a low, resentful voice.

Atsumu snorts, "so that's why she sat on their side?! She's crushin' on Tobio-kun?! Ha!"

Shouyou huffs, trying to sort through the many incomprehensible mental grievances. "I just… I don't get it! Why does it have to be him?! I mean, I get why why, but still why?!"

The setter's laugh slows before leveling Shouyou with a cool stare. "What da ya mean by that, that ya get why?"

The spiker brings his hand to his chin in thought and begins, "Ohh uhh, I mean I can get why she likes him. Kageyama he's, he's… what isn't he? He's an amazing player, he's dedicated and super hard-working. He's really smart, I mean, not at school, not really at all for that, but for other things like self-care and cooking, he's really capable! Oooh, you wouldn't guess it, but he's a really great cook! One time, I had some of his family's special pork curry and it was soooo tasty! I watched him cook and he's so careful with his hands, it was like he was playing the harp or something, how he was so careful! It's kinda like his sets. OHH HIS SETS, HIS SETS ARE INCREDIBLE, THE BALL IS JUST RIGHT THERE! Ahhhh don't get me wrong, Atsumu-san, your sets are amazing but his are just… uwwahhh!"

Atsumu flicks his fingers, indicating his lack of offense, before returning his hand to his mouth in an extra effort to keep his laughter tucked in.

Shouyou barrels forward, completely unaware of the silent locker room and the rest of his teammates listening in with sheer awe at how stupid their spiker is.

"He handles the ball like it's another part of his body, his hands are so delicate with it! Which, I wasn't expecting! His hands are a lot bigger than mine so I first thought he'd be kind of a brute, but he's surprisingly gentle! His nails are always taken care of and his skin is really soft and moisturized. His skin tone has this warmth to it, it's soothing if you really look. Oh! Speaking of soft, his hair? He uses too much shampoo, I know that much, but it's really fine and neat and never completely flat. He always has some stray hairs sticking out, no matter how much he brushes! When we were at Karasuno, his hair was for shielding away his frown–"

Shouyou's fingers press down his voluminous locks into a very authentic mockery of Kageyama, right down to his pout. The spiker continues,

"He used to frown a lot more than he does now but sometimes during practice, when we'd get our quick right or we'd pull off a synchronized attack, his frown would soften. His pouty lips would release themselves and his eyes would… they would shine at me. His eyes are the purest blue I've ever seen and when he's excited, they sparkle!"

He finishes, his cheeks tight from the nostalgic grin on his lips. He resists the urge to sit, the long ramble tiring him out. "So… yeah, I guess I get why Nacchan could like him," he glances at Atsumu and tilts his head, "what do you think I should do?"

Atsumu blinks and clears his throat, "Shouyou-kun, I think ya might wanna figure out why it bothers ya that Natsu-kun likes him. Have ya ever asked Tobio-kun what he wants?"

Shouyou shakes his head. "I don't think he knows Nacchan likes him."

The setter shrugs. "Then ya got nothin' ta worry about! But maybe it would help ya ta find him and tell him… all yer thoughts? Just ta get it out of ya."

Shouyou pulls on a fuzzy green sweater and considers this. What good would come of him telling Kageyama that he thinks his hands are soft? Would anything even change? Would any of the inexplicable loose threads pull together, weaving themselves into something that Shouyou could grasp?

If it would help me understand, it's worth a shot.

"Yeah! Okay, I'll go find him and try. Thanks, Atsumu-san!" He yells, shoving his gym bag into his locker and rushing out the door.

Atsumu dramatically rolls his head back from all the pining.

"I'm surprised," a low, bored voice behind him declares.

Atsumu turns on his heel with a grin. "'Bout what, Omi?"

The spiker regards the setter, a pout under his mask, "you gave him decent advice. I thought you were going to laugh and not be of any help."

The setter gasps, "I'm plenty 'a help! Bein' a setter means I'm observant and I know what ta do! Fortunately for him and Tobio-kun, I have a special talent at seein' who's in love."

Kiyoomi almost laughs. "You're not as good as you think you are," he says, turning away a moment before his pounding, pining heart paints his cheekbones pink.

Shouyou speedily walks around the gym, trying to locate his best friend. He brushes his fingers through his damp hair and briefly notes his pounding heart and warm chest. He almost starts worrying about the implication of another fever when he turns a corner and sees Kageyama standing at the edge of the hallway… talking to Natsu.

The tempered coal flares to life once more, the searing flames scalding in his gut. His feet move on instinct, pulling him toward the two most important people in his life.

Natsu glances at Shouyou coming down the hallway and takes a pointed step closer to the setter standing against the wall, that same wicked glint in her eyes.

Shouyou zips down the hall and arrives in a moment, barely holding himself back from breaking into a dead sprint. From up close, he sees a subtle tint of makeup on Natsu's cheeks and eyelids. "Nacchan! Did you like the game?" He asks tightly, definitely not fixating on the way she inches closer to the clueless setter.

"I did! It was a great game, but it would've been cooler if you won," she teases.

"She has a point, Hinata," Kageyama sneers, as kingly as ever in his royal blue sweatshirt.

"Next time! We won't lose to you again!" Shouyou declares, a wide grin on his lips, momentarily forgetting any anguish in Kageyama's presence.

Natsu brightens, "Ooh, that reminds me, Tobio-nii, can you show me how you did that backward set from the third set of the game? It looked so bbwwaahhh!"

Shouyou's annoyance announces itself again, the still unknown but very irritating presence dares to gut him and messily spill whatever contents it has been storing.

"Oh, sure. It's easier than it looks, you'll pick it up quickly."

"Okay! Just text me whenever you're free and I'll take the train to you! It's a date!" She gleefully sings.

Shouyou's blood pressure peaks, the spiker about 28 seconds away from violently vibrating out of his own skin. He knows that Natsu can tell. "Nacchan, don't you think that's a little inconsiderate of Kageyama's busy schedule?" He spits through gritted teeth.

"Dumbass, I'm not gonna overtrain or anything, don't worry about my free time," Kageyama says.

Natsu's eyelids flutter, giving her the appearance of large, innocent eyes. "He'll let me know when he's free. I'm not being inconsiderate, why are you getting so worked up?"

"I'm not worked up!" Shouyou says, getting worked up, "I'm just fascinated by the sudden interest in my best friend! What's that about?"

The corners of Natsu's mouth upturn, a devious smile hinting on her tinted lips. "Hmm, jealousy doesn't become you. Aren't you, as my big brother, supposed to graciously put aside your feelings so I can practice as I want?" She says, sickly sweet and laced with venom.

"Jeal–I'm not jealous of you!" Shouyou sputters, edging closer to them both.

"Liar liar, gym shorts on fire!" Natsu laughs "maybe I should practice more than just setting with him, then, if you're not jealous…" she coos, nudging her bottom lip with her thumb.

Shouyou burns with the need to scream, tear his hair out strand by strand, but he maintains his tight expression; but even with his effort to snuff the kindling, this isn't enough to fool Natsu, the resident Shouyou expert, even more so than Kageyama.

"You can practice all you want, Nacchan, I just think Kageyama wouldn't want to practice with you," he grits.

Kageyama frowns, "I always want to practice volleyball. Did you hit your head or something?"

Natsu squints her eyes at Shouyou, a challenge forming on the creases of her pouting lips. "Maybe you should practice with him then! Since you're so tense…"

Kageyama glances between the two siblings, his frown morphing into a look of pure confusion. "Hinata and I just had a practice match, but our bus leaves soon so I can't stay for more. Are you both feeling alright?"

"I think Niichan's a little lost," she whispers like velvet, her golden brown eyes pouring into Shouyou's, the same raw, unnerving power in her gaze that he holds, "either you practice with him or I will."

Something in Shouyou snaps. Call it petty revenge, perhaps, as he hollers: "FINE!" and launches himself toward Kageyama.

Everything falls away as he inches closer and closer, Kageyama's wide eyes gleam with surprise, and yet, he does not push Shouyou away.

Shouyou kisses him, just for a moment, their gazes trained on each other for the moment's expanse, the experience slowing with the beats of his heart.

One beat and he feels how delicate Kageyama's lips are, full and plush, much more than he ever could have imagined.

Two beats and Shouyou's grimace softens as his lips start brushing against Kageyama's own.

Three beats and Kageyama does the same, his relaxed lips earnestly pressing forward against Shouyou's, creating friction and a spark of electricity through Shouyou's chest.

Four beats and Shouyou realizes they kiss just like their quick: complementing each other in the best way.

Five beats and Shouyou notices the lack of disgust in his body, only a cautious newness, a sweet acceptance, a joyful defeat.

Shouyou pulls away, his breath stilting over Kageyama's reddening lips, his gaze fuzzy and unable to tear itself from his rosy cheeks and shining, enlightened eyes.

Is that how kissing is supposed to feel?

Shouyou hears a cry and takes a moment to remember the real world, blinking heavily to awaken from that endless, unexpected moment. He turns his head to see Natsu running away, an arm against her face.

Oh no!

He gasps, a chill licking his spine. With effort, he releases himself from Kageyama and stumbles into a run after his heartbroken sister, leaving the setter standing against the wall, gazing into nothing and feeling ghosts of perfect lips on his.

"NATSU!" He chases her out into the daylight, the gym leading to a parking structure and some patches of nature. Shouyou desperately whips his head around before spotting her brilliant hair leading to the mini garden area.

She collapses under a tree and digs her head into her knees, a loud wail escaping her bowed face.

He sprints to her, the light spring breeze flowing through his hair. He falls onto the grass next to her, tripping over his feet and words alike in his guilt, "Nacchan, I–I'm so sorry, I got carried away," he tries, her whimpers only growing in volume. "I'm really, really sorry! I shouldn't have kissed him, I know you like him, I should've backed off!"

Natsu cowers more deeply into her arms, her breath hitching loudly.

Shouyou's hands jitter in his lap with the urge to comfort her, his despair exponentially increasing as she cries. "Uwwaahhhh, I didn't realize how much it would bother me that you like him. Maybe I am jealous? I just… I couldn't stand that you wanted him so I butted in, I'm so sorry!"

Her shoulders shake.

A boulder sinks into Shouyou's stomach; there's no doubt about it, he's the world's worst big brother.

Natsu mumbles out something, a high-pitched word jumble that Shouyou immediately understands.

"Why did I do it? Uhh, I'm not sure. I just… it's Kageyama. He's… everything to me," he confesses, gingerly, finally putting it together. "I like him, don't I?" Flashes of his life overwhelm him with evidence of silent moments, all filled with devotion, affection, passion, and longing. The burning coal tempers and sends the lingering heat into his chest, keeping him warm, comfortable.

I'm in love with my best friend.

Natsu sniffles, "so, d– do you admit it?"

Shouyou leans in and lays his hand on her shoulder, "admit what?"

"That you looooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee him?!" Natsu's cries morph, her shoulders rising and falling with her changing energy until she's laughing like an evil mastermind. Her face rises, exposing her red cheeks and her eyes, dry and bright with mischief and joy.

Shouyou blinks before emitting a sound not unlike a keyboard smash. "YOU WERE LAUGHING?!"

Natsu tries to catch her breath amidst her cackles and fails, "yo–you looked so–worried!"

"Yeah, I thought I broke your heart!?" Shouyou yells, his guilt halting in a very unsatisfying way.

Natsu grins and rubs her eyes, clearing away the fake tears with some dramatic flair. "Niichan, my heart is fine! I… didn't actually like Tobio-nii."

Shouyou frowns. "WHAT?!"

"I thought that if you thought you had some competition for him you'd finally realize how much you like him!" She declares, like a mastermind, "seriously, I've been watching you two flirt with each other for years now, have you never considered how annoying it was? I was sick of the pining and I wanted to help! Well, and tease you a little too," she slyly states, her face alight and happy.

Shouyou sits there for a moment, processing the fake-out crush and his sister's terrifying wit and acting ability. "So, you're okay? I'm not an awful big brother?"

Natsu shakes her head, the strands from her ponytail gleaming in the sunrays. "I'm okay! I'm happy you finally realized your feelings! That's what I was hoping would happen a lot sooner, but you're both so stubborn, it took a while!"

The spiker considers this. If she's right… then he and Kageyama have liked each other for years. Years! And he never put the pieces together, never dared to challenge what they had.

"You really think he's liked me this whole time?" He whispers, suddenly stripped raw.

Natsu scoots closer and lays her head on his shoulder. "I've been watching him fall in love with you ever since you started at Karasuno, I don't think even he knows how deeply you're carved into his heart."

Shouyou takes a sharp inhale at that, the tiniest bit of clarity cutting through the murk, the loose threads beginning to weave around themselves. There's always been love between him and the setter, but now, there's this possibility for something new; an unwritten, plotless chapter in their complicated tale. Kageyama has meant the world to him since that first match and that won't change for anything, but starting today, there could be this new piece to them. Something pure. Tender.

"I am still sorry for this, and I'm sure he is too," he remarks, gesturing vaguely to her.

"Hmmm, can you ask Yacchan for me to meet her girlfriend's team? To make up for the pain," she throws a hand on her forehead in a 'woe is me' gesture.

Shouyou chuckles and nods. "Sure, you'll learn a lot from them!"

"I'll ask Tobio-nii to practice setting with me for extra make up. I do want to get better, Niichan, just you wait! I'll be better than you someday!" She declares into the breeze, a fire in her voice.

Shouyou grins, any prior guilt or confusion dissolved completely, "I won't lose! You're gonna have to get really good!"

"I will!"

I know you will!

Shouyou stands and helps Natsu to her feet before squeezing her into an obligatory 'big brother' hug. He feels so much better, lighter than he did all week and his caring sister is the one to thank.

"Niichan, go get him," she whispers.

"What?"

She hops onto the balls of her feet, urgency in her tone, "his bus is going to leave soon! Go get him before he goes! I'll wait out here."

Shouyou's heart pounds at the thought of seeing him again, the memory of Kageyama's flushed cheeks and enormous, adorable eyes so clear and nerve-wracking. He nods, hyping himself up. "You're right!" He plants a kiss on her forehead before sprinting back to the gym.

Natsu smiles and pulls out her phone to send a text: Miwa-nee! You owe me 5000 yen :)))

Shouyou crashes through the doors and begins his frantic search, dashing around like a chicken until he sees a flash of blue. He skids to a stop to see Ushijima standing in front of Kageyama, the setter slouching forward and frowning harder than usual.

"Kageyama!" He yells, his chest fluttering with relief.

They both jerk toward the sound. Kageyama stands frozen while Ushijima welcomes him. "Hinata Shouyou, your team played well today. I eagerly await your improvement for the next match," he says in a monotone voice, though Shouyou can tell that he's excited in his stoic way.

"Thanks, Ushijima-san. Could Kageyama and I have a moment alone, please?"

"Of course," he states and walks away, footsteps echoing and filling the deadly silent space with some noise.

Shouyou walks toward Kageyama, who doesn't dare move. Shouyou feels his pounding pulse everywhere, his rapidly beating, vulnerable, love-filled heart in his fingertips. He stops a foot away from the setter.

His eyes are still wide and shining, Shouyou realizes before the word stunning pops into his mind.

"Is she okay?" Kageyama asks.

Shouyou nods. "She's alright! She says you should teach her more about setting to make up for it," he chuckles.

The setter gives a small smile at this, of course, that'd be no issue with him.

Here goes nothing…

"How…how're you… after… that?" Shouyou tries, his voice uneven.

Kageyama's eyes dart away, his shaking fingers brush through his hair, "I'm fine, dumbass, wh–why wouldn't I be fine?"

Shouyou gathers his courage, "because you kissed me back."

Kageyama blinks hard.

"It felt… right," Shouyou whispers, every syllable ripe with honesty.

The setter frowns as he inhales, his next words dancing on the tip of his tongue, "I've never had a kiss like that…" he confesses.

"Me neither." Shouyou returns immediately, reassuring Kageyama that he's not alone in whatever this is.

They fall silent for a few moments, neither man exactly knowing what to confess next.

Kageyama is the first to break the silence, "if it didn't feel… off… then, what are we?"

Shouyou bites his lip in thought, "I don't know… but we've never needed a label, I don't think," he says, shyly.

Kageyama's lips crease into a tiny pout, his cheeks barely blooming in color. "I guess not…"

The air around them bristles with energy, both men quietly accepting this new connection, this new layer of love into their lives and each other. It feels so natural, so easy.

Shouyou doesn't resist the lopsided smile that bubbles onto his lips, "Kageyama, when we have a free weekend next, do you think we could, maybe, get dinner together?"

Kageyama nods instantly, the casual request for food coupled with the undertone of a date sounds like a match made in heaven.

Shouyou perks up onto the balls of his feet in somewhat contained excitement, "I'm gonna plan the best date ever!"

The setter's eyes narrow as he grins, "I'll plan a better second date."

Shouyou freezes mid-bounce, his soul electrifying the way it's always done when Kageyama challenges him, the urge to defeat the King he helped create too overpowering for his own good.

"Oh, Tobio! There you are!" A deep voice calls to them.

Both players break out of their competitive enthrallment to spot Romero nearing the doors. The setter calls, "yes, Romero-san?"

"The bus leaves in five, don't miss it," the older player states.

Kageyama nods. "I'll be right th–"

"No, don't misunderstand me. You have five minutes," his eyes flash between him and Shouyou, "use them well."

He winks and exits the gym doors, leaving the two of them alone, the tension rising enough to spark.

Five minutes, huh?

Kageyama clears his throat. "Hinata, um, could you? Do you mind…?"

Shouyou looks back to him and sees the shy darting of his eyes and the subtle chewing on his lip. The spiker suppresses a smile, opting instead to lick his lips and leap:

"Tell me… Tobio."

Tobio's eyes flash to him in shock before melting into care and unmistakable softness. His lips crinkle as one of his hands nudges Shouyou's own, "can you kiss me a little more, please?"

Shouyou steps forward, just a short eternity away from his… Tobio. He traces his fingertips across the back of the setter's hand, circling around to trace the veins that carry his pulse. Shouyou feels his thundering heart, every beat a crashing of ice cold waves, an explosive crack of a volleyball from his set, a promise made at 15 that they shared at 24.

Shouyou brings the appendage to his lips and gently twists his hand, pressing delicate, feather-light kisses down Tobio's thumb all the way to his wrist. He lays the setter's hand against his cheek and showers an extended kiss onto Tobio's pulse, the speeding beats against his lips.

He hears the setter's breath hitch, his fingers brushing against Shouyou's cheek and hair. The spiker stays in place for a beat of Tobio's heart longer when he feels the setter's thumb writing 宿 onto his cheekbone.

Shouyou's eyes fly open, his gazes holding Tobio's as his index finger writes the uniting 縁onto the back of Tobio's hand. The spiker glances over the setter's pouring, richly blue eyes, his rosy, flushed cheeks, and barely quivering lips parted.

We've waited long enough.

Shouyou lets their clasped hands drop to their sides as he rises, his absolute reason for existing, even for these precious minutes, consisting solely of kissing Kageyama Tobio.

"Come here," he whispers, a breath away.

Tobio chases his lips on instinct as if this had been their thousandth kiss, instead of their second. He brushes Shouyou's lips with his own, claiming them, learning them, dragging them closer, closer.

Shouyou squeezes his hand while his other runs through Tobio's silky hair, holding him oh so gently. His cheeks heat, his eyes fluttering shut as the renewed sense of love after loss takes hold. Six years and all those missed opportunities, missed kisses, missed moments of love. He mourns the days he could've done this and yet, they do not pain him.

On the contrary, it makes Shouyou step against Tobio, his broad back resting on the wall as Shouyou presses into his space, chest to chest, their love growing into something sweet, experimental, and so purely them.

The shared breath between their lips as they discover each other, the tightening, sturdy grip of Tobio's palm against Shouyou's back, keeping him close and steady. Every light whimper, minuscule tremble, and tender squeeze against Shouyou's fingertips sends a fresh wave of life into his heart, the petals blushing and glistening.

Three hundred some-odd beats of his euphoric heart pass and Shouyou finally lets them breathe. He rests his forehead on Tobio's, his own lips swollen and his spirit doing flips. His setter breathes heavily, his hazy, blown-open eyes, his heavy, cute blush, and his wet lips paint him full of life and color. He's so, very…

"Beautiful," Shouyou whispers after greedily stealing his lips once more.

Tobio whimpers under the compliment, a note that Shouyou files away for future teases.

"I have to go," Tobio says, mournfully.

Shouyou nudges his nose with his own, "I know, it's okay! Just come back to me soon."

"I will," Tobio gazes into his eyes and lets slip, under his breath, "Shouyou."

Shouyou nearly gasps at his given name gently tumbling off of his lips, the silkiness of Tobio's vulnerable voice making his name sound like a sweet prayer.

Tobio brings his free hand up to cup Shouyou's blushing cheek, the setter closing the distance for the final time to kiss a trail from his lips up to his eyes, pressing his lips to each of Shouyou's closed eyelids before knocking his forehead with his own, "I'm here. I'm yours."

He says it with such conviction that Shouyou knows it to be true.

(Well, that and if they ever messed this up, he'd never hear the end of it from Natsu.)