Crazy how time flies. It was like yesterday when Yaku Morisuke–still young, still naive–took his first step into the grounds of his dream high school, Nekoma High School. The memory was as the day it had happened. It's like it was only yesterday when he met Kuroo Tetsuro–tall and proud rooster-head–who became his friend and enemy for three years, at the volleyball court and bickered with the brat about all sorts of things. They literally fought about everything; anything about girls to anything about food; from clothes to shoes. After all, they were polar opposites. Morisuke loved eating meat, Kuroo loved eating fish. Morisuke was short, Kuroo was tall.

It was only yesterday. Three years were not supposed to fly so fast. Three years were not enough. Not quite long enough. He wanted to play more volleyball with his team. He wanted to receive more balls spiked by well-known spikers from all over the country. He wanted to take on more challenges and meet new foes. He longed to create more friendships like those that Nekoma High School shared Karasuno High School. He was not yet prepared to leave Kenma–no matter how cringe-y it is to watch him and Kuroo flirt–and the team. He was not yet prepared to leave... him.

Morisuke-5-foot-6 in height, hair brown and cut almost too close to the scalp, and skin a bit tanned from all the time he spent outside-took a shaky breath as he slid the doors to the gym and was welcomed by the familiar scent of floor wax and Air Salonpas... and by silence. It seems that the players were asked to go home early this time. His home for the past three years took him in with open arms, an embrace for the sole soul in the gym, one last time before he moved to the real world... Before he starts his education to become a teacher. This is it. The end. Tears blurred his vision before they flowed silently down his face. His vision may have impaired slightly but he stepped forward, taking one last time, one last moment, to enjoy this environment. Taking his time to appreciate the youth that he had here, the memories he shared with his whole team, and the connections he had created. He was no genius but he knew he added life to the team. Honor and pride made him grin despite the tears and the heartbreak.

Before the ceremony, Lev had asked to be the one to pin the flowers to Yaku-san's blazer. Kenma had begrudgingly pinned the flowers to Kuroo's blazer. Lev managed to stay composed while watching the graduation ceremony. He wanted to show his senpais that he was proud and that the team would be left in strong hands. After, he watched Kuroo run cooing toward Kenma. Lev would congratulate him after he found Yaku-san, but when he couldn't find Yaku-san to tell him... he didn't even know. Congratulations? Well done? I'm happy I know you... I'll miss you...

Not being able to find him, felt like he'd lost him. It made the feeling of abandonment too real. Lev made his way to the quietest spot he could find. He sat, hanging his head in his hands. The deep breath he took released into sobs. He wanted to play once more with his senpais, to be with Yaku-san on the court.

With every step he took towards the center of the court, Morisuke's breath hitched harder until they have become full-on sobs. Oh, gods... This was for real. This was ending. His high school life, his high school volleyball journey (he still plans on playing volleyball even in college), and his young first love. They're all ending. All at once. He will miss Coach Nekomata-his and the team's second father- Coach Naoi, and the players. The feeling of loss was already huge and it was still growing in size. It left a gaping hole in his chest. How he wished he could hug them before he left. How he wished he could have told them all that he had inside–the pride that grew every day, the joy of having them as friends, and sadness of walking away from the three years' worth of memories. His journey with them was worth every second, every sprain, every sleepless night, every drop of sweat, and every tear. It was all worth it. They were all worth it.

He sat cross-legged in the middle of the court and looked around. He could almost see Lev's silhouette on the floor, drenched in sweat and panting hard, begging Morisuke for mercy after hours of practicing receives. What an idiot. Idiots didn't deserve mercy when they had sharp tongues as Lev has. They didn't deserve mercy when all they did was tease Yaku Morisuke-the resident demon of Nekoma Volleyball team-about his height. And they didn't deserve mercy when they made Morisuke fall in love.

Of course, he cannot confess to that giant ball of energy. He couldn't. He wouldn't. He shouldn't. Love is a fleeting emotion after all. They were young. Too young to be talking about love and romance. In their lives, they will meet new people. They will be attracted to others. Nothing's wrong with that. He wished Lev the best in life and in love.

That's it, Lev thought, the court. He sprung up, rubbing his eyes with his palms and sniffling. He headed to the gym. If Yaku-san is there, he will tell him, 'congratulations, your team will miss you, please do well and take care.' What else could he say? He cannot and he will not confess. They are both guys. The real world does not look kindly on love like this. The feelings will go away, right? Lev will grow up and grow out of them. Better not to burden the other boy or taint the friendship they have by saying anything.

Lev nearly ripped the door off its track. He really needed to understand his size and strength. He saw Yaku-san sitting in the middle of the court. Lev's heart felt like it stopped only to jump into his throat. He just stood there taking in the heartache that this will be the last time he sees Yaku-san on the court. He briefly wished he hadn't found him here like this, wanting his last volley court memory of Yaku-san to be in jersey, playing.

Morisuke's head snapped back, an action that almost made his neck snap, to see who it was. And there he was... the boy with the most beautiful platinum hair and the greenest eyes Morisuke had ever seen. The boy who was more than a couple of inches taller than Morisuke... and lankier too. How handsome... How proud...His heart... his heart needed to stop drumming like that or else the whole school would hear how fast and hard it was beating. He wiped his tears with the sleeves of his uniform, making it a little bit wet. "Whatcha doing here, you giant oaf?" he asked, his grin wide and bright enough to hide all the pain and regrets. He's leaving this beautiful soul behind. He knew that Kenma, Kuroo's childhood best friend and now boyfriend, will handle him. After all, Kenma, who was currently still in his second year and already the regular setter for Nekoma, was much gentler than Morisuke in every way. The setter will make sure to whip-maybe literally and figuratively-the tall freshman into shape.

He pushed himself off of the floor, dusted his pants, and put his hands in his pockets as he tilted his head back to smirk at Lev. "Make sure to give the Freak Duo hell next time you guys play," he demanded, pertaining to Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio of Karasuno Volleyball Team who took the Nationals into a flurry of quicks and new techniques. "Take revenge for our defeat in the Nationals. And for the love of all that is holy, learn to receive properly!" Damn was he proud that his voice did not shake and that his feelings overflowed. He gave himself a pat on the back for not tearing up. His whole core shook with regrets and feelings for the other boy.

Lev's eyes pinched up. He forced a smile so big it hurt. That was his logic; to smile so big it hides your whole face. "Yaku-san, I won't let you down!" He bowed to show respect. "I came to find you. I wanted to see you. Ah, I mean that is to say con-congratulations. Today, you begin the next chapter of your life. Your team will miss you. Pl-please, don't forget us, me, and take care, Yaku-san."

Lev would normally be frustrated with stuttering so much. He would normally retort with teasing about height in turn to being called a giant oaf. He just couldn't, he couldn't bring any more words out. He was grateful he was even able to say what he said. His heart hurt looking at this adorable man, noticing that his eyes, too, were tear-stained.

Morisuke knew that Lev had been crying and wasn't that a wonder? Their time together was not even long. Not even a full year. There was supposed to be no reason for any of them to be attached. There was no reason for Yaku Morisuke to fall in love with a ray of sunshine called Haiba Lev. He had no reason at all, but he fell nonetheless. He took a huge dive and free fell hard and fast–without any cushion to catch him or to soften the impact. The need to embrace the tall boy was almost impossible to resist but he held back. He couldn't hug the other boy. Not when his feelings were threatening to spill at any unprovoked moment. Not when his lips wanted to say three words that could make or break a deeper relationship. They were at the peak of their youth. Life will offer them more.

He straightened up, pulling his hands out of his pockets, and gave a bow to Lev, not caring about their age difference or his seniority. "Thank you for working hard with me and the team. I appreciate the time and the effort you took to be a part of the team..." and my life... he wanted to say but he straightened up once more, beaming with pride for the younger man. "Haiba Lev, I expect great things from you. You are a great person. Keep on growing. Keep on becoming a good person. The world needs more people like you."

Pride overfilled Lev. His senpai is bowing to him! Happiness as well as insurmountable sadness overcame him at the words spoken to him. His heart screamed, 'but my world needs you, Yaku Morisuke.' I was no use, his eyes betrayed him, letting tears stream, stinging his cheeks, as they fell dripping down his chin onto the floor.

"You are the best, Yaku-san, and I am better for knowing you. Thank you for teaching me to become this man. You will be a great teacher. You already are. One day, I hope that my path makes you as proud of me as I am of you. I promise to keep working hard, Yaku Mor–" Lev stopped himself. He was breaking social etiquette and felt he would break it even more if he let the name of the boy he loves slip from his lips. "I'm sorry, Yaku-san. I can't." He let out a sob. I came to say goodbye. "Goodbye, Yaku-san." He bowed once more, smiling and sobbing–such a sight–before he fled.

There were tears in Lev's eyes, dripping down his beautiful face. Morisuke couldn't do anything to wipe it. Oh, he wanted to. He wished to all the gods out there that he could. But he couldn't. He had initially flinched when the freshman almost called him by his full name but then it sent waves and waves of pleasure from the top of his head down to his toes. He never thought that his name would sound so beautiful and priceless from the lips of the young man he cherished in his heart. The thrumming in his chest drowned any other sounds. And as Lev said his goodbyes and fled, Morisuke was left to his own thoughts and regrets.

He had wanted to embrace the younger boy. He had wanted to press his lips to those pouty and trembling ones. To comfort him and wipe his tears away. And to do a lot of things. Things he knew he never should do. Not if he wanted to keep Lev pure. Not if he wanted their friendship to continue. But... he took a deep breath. He had to leave. He had to leave Japan if he wanted to forget Lev. Isn't it a lucky thing that he got accepted to his beloved university?