He looked around. His sharp blue eyes scrutinizing every detail, taking in every little thing that he can see and his eyes landing on the interior of the Harukaze residence.

Just like how he saw the house from the outside, the Harukaze's abode emits something that is old. The floor was wooden and polished. Even without touching it, he can tell that it has been scrub diligently. The narrow hallway that he first saw the first thing he stepped inside was dark and empty. It looked like it came from a horror movie. There were no picture frames hung on the wall and looked plain. Still, it was dark over there. And the stairs that lead to the second floor were dark as well.

"Take a seat," Harukaze-san told him and he obliged. He took a seat from one of the chairs in the dining area after being led inside the kitchen. The living room, dining area, and kitchen are in one big room. It is connected and it looked comfy. He expected the triplets to be there, but he found none. He had a feeling that they're already asleep.

Harukaze-san came back with an ice pack. It was filled with ice cubes that he saw her getting from the fridge. She sat down on the chair beside him and watched how she faced him with a serious look on her face.

"Ah!" She blinked, surprised and he backed off enough to give the both of them space.

His ears warmed. T-Too close!

He swallowed his saliva. He has totally let his guard down from the moment she grabbed his wrist.

"Please, excuse me." She said in a small voice and gently placed the ice pack on his cheek. He could've just taken it from her and place it on himself but he just let her. Instead, he unconsciously held the wrist she held earlier. He can feel the fuzzy feeling in his stomach again.

What is this?

It was really weird. His heart was beating irregularly. He can feel it. It has been for a long time since his feet led him to stop in front of the gate. He couldn't understand and it was frustrating him to no end. The woman, Harukaze-san, his senpai was making him feel like this and it's driving him crazy! But instead of lashing it out or confronting her, he was absolutely left speechless the moment she grabbed him. And now, he's staring at her face that was closer than the previous encounters.

His cheek felt like it's going numb as time goes on. And just like that, he was reverted back to reality. He had a fight with Hinata. It's not their first, of course, but it was worse than the first. They resulted in something physical. Hinata attacked him and he threw Hinata on the floor. He could hear Yachi-san getting scared, telling them to stop. But he couldn't. Not when what he said was right and yet, Hinata didn't have any plans in backing down. It angered him until Tanaka-san punched them both.

It was really painful and his first time receiving a punch.

Ever since he came to Karasuno, he's always exposed to something new, experiencing something that he has never done and feeling of something he hadn't before.

Like Harukaze-san.

Harukaze-san, to him, is the calmest female he has ever seen. He's not talking about the appearance, but how it felt like he's at the most calming level he can attain off the court whenever he saw her. She has this air that makes him calm. Like now. The stress piled up from the previous defeat and Hinata's uncalled decision in the middle of the practice match against a powerhouse school set him on edge. The dumbass was right, he won't deny nor he won't tell Hinata that he agreed, but that was out of the blue! Those thoughts, with Harukaze-san, seem to disappear for a moment. Stress-free, that's it. Perhaps she didn't know, but he's slowly being comfortable with her around.

Ah…

He's thinking about her again.

"… don't look at me. I might get a heart attack." He heard her say.

Eyes widened, realizing that he did, he leaned back. Pink tinted his cheeks, warm from the blood and warm from the lost contact from the ice pack. "I-I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

He blinked his eyes to take it off from her. He looked away. Now, he didn't understand. "Harukaze-san said you'll get a heart attack."

"I… said it out loud?"

He nodded, still looking away. His eyes landed on a picture frame. He blinked. It was a family portrait. There were six people – two adults, one child, and three toddlers. He immediately recognized the child that sat in the middle from her black hair and eccentric eyes. It was a no-brainer – it was Harukaze-san looking adorable from the small dress that fits her small frame. Then he looked at the woman that looked more Japanese because of the kimono she was wearing. Sitting on Harukaze-san's left, her black hair was in a bun and brown eyes looked as if she was directly looking at him. Next to the tall man with blonde hair and bluish-green eyes that sat on Harukaze-san's right. He was wearing a pilot uniform. And then the three toddlers that sat on their laps. Of course, those were the triplets. The girls sported the same hairstyle while the only boy has his hair combed neatly. He couldn't tell which of the girls is loud and silent. He never had friends with twins before, they just confuse him. The three wore the same modern clothes as what their elder sister wore. Tobio couldn't guess how old Harukaze-san was when the photo was taken.

But what caught his attention the most is the small picture frame beneath in front of a cup and saucer. It was the same male with short-crop blonde hair, messy and shining under the sunlight. Older and bluish-green eyes. He knew. It was Harukaze-san's father.

"Her household is quite complicated."

"I… don't mean it… that way."

He turned to her. "Oh, sorry." He felt sorry, too, for looking at her father's photo. For looking at the family portrait and concluding on his own. For intruding the house at night and her family's asleep.

He was not looking at her anymore, neither she, looking at him. The house was silent. He heard crickets. A catfight. There were footsteps on the second floor. He blinked. Someone other than Harukaze-san was awake.

He slowly stood up, picking up the sling of his bag. "Thank you… I have to go now."

She seemed to have caught up and nodded. He waited for Harukaze-san and she led him outside. The slippers he wore, he changed them to his shoes. When done, they both left the residential area. He faced her and lowered his head. There was another bluish creeping on his cheeks. "G-Good night, Harukaze-san."

He saw her blushed. She smiled. "Good night, Kageyama-kun."

Oh shit.

He felt his heart tugged.

He felt so moved. Despite the warmth on his cheeks, he looked at her eyes. "Thank you!"

And embarrassing it may be, he ran away right after he turned to leave.

Lame.

He couldn't resist it. His long legs took him somewhere far away from the Harukaze household. His cheeks are still warm at her words.

"… Don't look at me. I might get a heart attack."

Well, he too felt like he's having one. For a long time since he stood outside.

It didn't take that long for him to reach the gates of his own home. He opened the gate slowly and headed to the front door. Quickly, he entered, and quickly, he closed the door. Then he just stood there. Breathing. Seeing the light in the living room and hearing the sound of the news on their television. He ran a hand on his hair as the blush that he's wishing to disappear was still there.

"Tobio? Are you home?"

He heard his mother's call from the living room. He immediately sat down at their own genkan, his back facing his mother to untie the laces of his shoes – in case, she approached him where he's at. He wouldn't want his mother to see his face right now. He certainly did not want to know.

"I'm home." He announced as he ran to his room.

"How about dinner?"

He closed the door. "Later!"

He wondered if lounging outside Harukaze-san's house was a bad thing. But he was able to see the inside of their house, learned a bit of her family structure, and she looked worried when she saw the bruise on his cheek. It was a good thing, wasn't it? There seems to have a progress in their…

Huh…

Relationship?

Did he get it right?

Relationship?

Moreover, are they friends? He and Harukaze-san, are they friends?

Unable to pinpoint what exactly their relationship or whatever it is and who he is to Harukaze-san, he sighed. The next time they'll meet, he shall ask. That is, if he could remember this newfound dilemma or if he can bring up the question.


But the next day, he had never seen her, not even a shadow. They only have two weeks left before summer break starts. He's obviously going to spend his summer training and getting stronger to the improvement of his skills and progress as a team.

His hands were on his pockets, they were already wearing their summer uniform. So, the white polo shirt is what has changed and the gakuran was kept for now. A breeze passed by, warm and comfortable, and it made his bangs swayed a little. His blue eyes looked up at the imposing wooden gate, to the placard where the kanji of the Harukaze was engraved then to the house where she lives. It already looked old, as if it bore no life and right now, that was the impression the house gave him. No life.

He touched his cheek. There was a band-aid now as his mother forced him to put last night upon seeing the bruise the moment he went down for his dinner. His mind reminisces on the thing she did for him last night. She surprised him then. Even now, he's not sure if what has transpired was a good thing.

Progress? It seems like they're stuck again.

He has always wondered why he's fixated on their progress – if they improved, stagnated, or worsened. He… ever since he saw her eyes, it became a thing that he'd like to search. It was interesting. It was rare. Her eyes and her being that he just started looking at her. He has been long fascinated at the sight of those long locks getting covered slowly by the snow and those eyes that danced along with the tiny snowflakes.

Tobio turned and started walking away from the house. He's feeling frustrated at the mere thought of their progress. Add the fact that Hinata's being a stubborn fool, they haven't talked much after their disagreement and he still couldn't grasp Oikawa-san's advice to him.

I wonder if the maintenance is over?

He's going to release those frustrations through volleyball.

Yes. That's it. Volleyball will solve these matters.

Volleyball is his best friend, his playmate, and his everything. Even now, even if Harukaze-san came into his life, volleyball still matters.

He clicked his tongue upon realizing that he thought of Harukaze-san just now. Then, he sighed. He was almost there when his phone vibrated. He took it out and blinked at the caller. It was an unregistered number. Who could this be? He didn't know, so he clicked the answer button.

"Hello?"

[ Kageyama! ]

He winced and blinked. It sounds like "Ukai-san?"

[ Where are you?! ]

His brows narrowed. "I'm on my way to school to check on the gym."

[ WHAT?! Stay where you are! ]

As confused as he was, he stopped walking. It didn't take long before Ukai-san emerged, running at him as if he was being chased by a bear. The older man even grabbed his shoulders to cage him as he spouted nonsense. And then, they entered the Sakanoshita shop together. Apparently, he got his number from Sugawara-san and Ukai-san wanted to talk to him about the toss – a different one than he used to, the nonsense he thought was nonsense, and perhaps, the toss that Hinata was asking for him. That, this is going to be part of their evolution.

He considered it after remembered meeting Oikawa-san earlier. "I'll give it a shot." He stood up and slung his bag to his shoulder. Then, he remembered something. He paused. "Ukai-san, I've been wondering…" He began.

Ukai-san raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

He carefully considered his words. Now that he did, it seems like it's the first time he looked at their coach properly. No matter how he looked and analyzed Ukai-san's face, Harukaze-san does not look like him at all. Their coach looked like a thug compared to the serene-looking third-year.

"What is exactly your relationship with Harukaze-san?"

Ukai-san raised an eyebrow. "Who are you talking about exactly?" He flicked his cigarette.

He fought a blush. "Harukaze Sawako-san." He admits, he almost forgot her first name.

The dyed-blonde blinked. "We're cousins. Our grandfathers were brothers, so you could say that we're cousins. Why?"

Tobio couldn't look at him properly this time. So, he looked away. He didn't say anything. Only did he look back at Ukai-san when the man tapped his shoulder. There was that grin on their coach's face and a look that knows something. Whatever that grin means was far away from the devil-looking grin their coach has sometimes.

"I don't see any problem with it as long as the two of you are happy."

For some reason, those words became an approval of something he can't figure out yet.


He didn't know why and what went wrong. He has not seen Harukaze-san throughout the week. Still, he was able to practice the falling toss as instructed to him by Ukai-san. There was a little progress. It was difficult. But why is it that things are awkward? To him and Harukaze-san? He literally had not seen her at all. Sure, he has seen her brother and the contrasting girls every lunch break. But Harukaze-san? No. It's as if she disappeared on earth.

And now, it's summer break.

They're in the gymnasium, sweaty, tired, and thirsty as the summer heat intensifies. Even then, the thing between him and Hinata remained and has not made any progress at all. But that's okay. That sucker would see his brand-new toss soon.

"Hey, Kageyama."

At the call of his name, he turned to his senpai. It was Sugawara-san with a cheeky smile.

"Hey, Romeo." Sugawara-san draped an arm on his shoulder to his surprise.

"Sugawara-san." For a thin built, his senpai was quite heavy. "I'm not Romeo."

Sugawara-san chuckled. "How are things going with Sawako?"

He blushed. "W-What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you know." He watched Sugawara-san's pinky finger held up. "You and Sawako." Sugawara-san began wiggling his eyebrows, still with a smile on his angelic face.

Tobio frowned. Sugawara-san was thinking about something. He didn't get it though. And what's up with the pinky? "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

His senpai blinked. Then clicked his tongue. He stood there as Sugawara-san muttered something on his breath. "You're taking your sweet time." It sounded like a complaint. He only tilted his head in confusion. In response, Sugawara-san tapped his shoulder. There was another grin on his face. "Don't worry. Your dependable senpai will help you."

And so, he nodded. Still unsure of what he meant. Tobio raised his pinky, thin eyebrows almost meeting as his eyes narrowed at this simple gesture. His pinky finger looked clean, though. He watched his dependable senpai approached Sawamura-san and Tanaka-san as they began to talk about their synchronized attack. No, he didn't get it. But he has a feeling that he should prepare for something that's going to come. Probably an event that will knock him down if he didn't keep his guard up.

There was no improvement with the falling toss that day.


It has been bothering him. And he tried his best not to be obvious. Two or four in the team has an idea of why he invited Harukaze-san last time. One has to be her relative and the other, a close friend who wanted to extract progress on whatever he has with Harukaze-san. The other two, they could've known but maybe, they didn't push for more?

But what bothers him the most is that he hadn't seen her at all! Two weeks before summer break and a week before they departed for Tokyo!

She really disappeared.

But maybe, she's that busy. She's a third-year after all. A third-year with dreams. She could be busy with her entrance exams, he didn't know. Perhaps, busy with her family since it's summer break. He still didn't know.

It's been months. He met her last February and he's still unsure if they're friends. What he learned is that, she's a third-year, has three siblings, a mother, her father's absent, she's Ukai-san's cousin which means that she's already related to Coach Ukai of years ago, and she's friends with the team. Even then, she's still a mystery to him.

Tobio glared at the horizon. He took a seat by the window far back on the bus that the team rode. It was his first time with the team to go on a midnight drive.

He's thinking about her again.

Then suddenly, his phone vibrated on his pants. Taking it out, flipping it on, he squinted at the brightness of his phone. There was a mail from Sugawara-san. His blue eyes immediately darted to the smiling brown eyes from the seat in front. Sugawara-san was already looking at him and waved a hand when their eyes crossed. Curious, he opened the message.

His face reddened.


He woke up and the sun was barely out. He yawned, scratched his stomach, and sleepily gazed outside the window. He noticed the change of scenery that somehow looked the same. They must be close then. He heard that it's somewhere in a suburban area. But he's not sure. He didn't go back to sleep after that. Instead, he opened his phone.

No new mails except his mother, telling him to have a safe journey.

When he pressed the next button, Sugawara-san's mail appeared. He fought the impending warmth on his cheeks and looked at the horizon.

The week-long summer training in Tokyo felt like forever.

Day 1

They arrived at Shinzen. They said, Tokyo, but it's in Saitama. But where is Saitama anyway? Is it part of Tokyo? Or it's not in Tokyo? Apparently, there's no Tokyo tower in sight. When the training started, they were introduced to a new penalty, "Refreshing Sprint Up on a Grassy Hill." That hill was tough. His legs and thighs already burned from the game and the sprint added another wave of pain. And surprisingly enough, Hinata surprised him. And he guessed that he, too, was able to surprise Hinata. He tried the falling toss and he barely gets it right. Nevertheless, after their losing streak, they began their new quick training.

Day 2

That damn dumbass! He certainly disrupted the balance in the team by his attempt to steal a ball from Azumane-san. Tsukishima still sucks and the only good thing that he appreciated were watermelons. He ate three. Watermelons are the best in summer.

Day 3

He won't say it but he felt some change in Tsukishima. What happened to the jerk? Even there's a change in Yamaguchi, just lowkey. As usual, he and Hinata are still on a non-speaking term but here's gradual progress every day. For example, the nerve of that dumbass to get mad at him. It irritated and frustrated him to be precise but he learned one thing. There are instances that he would subconsciously hold back on himself. So, he decided, he's going to practice alone. To piss him off, he learned that the fool trained under Coach Ukai without even telling him. It only occurred to him that they're not on speaking terms at that time.

Day 4

They showed changes! They had some close matches but it still ends in their losing streak. It has been exactly four days since he received Sugawara-san's mail and he still didn't dare to save the content but every night, he would check the mail before he goes to sleep. There was progress in his training and Yachi-san was patient the whole time as she tossed to him the ball. Takeda-sensei would help once in a while and he's truly grateful for that. Finally, the falling toss was unlocked.

Day 5

He was told he's creepy when he worries about the others. They're getting better every day such as Hinata pulling off a damn feint, Nishinoya-san's toss, and the synchronized attack. Surprisingly enough, even the beanpole of a jerk could block properly with intimidation tactic. But what is the highlight of the day? It's barbeque! Sawamura-san boosted their morale before their match with Fukurodani and he was able to eat lots, he almost died from choking. Fortunately, Akaashi-san saved him through a cup of water, or else, he'll never live to see another day.

"Hey, Kageyama."

He turned, still chewing the meat he just ate. It was Sugawara-san, wearing that smile again while holding his own paper plate. He nodded at his upperclassman in a form of greeting.

Sugawara-san chose to stare at him.

"What is it?'

His senpai grinned. "Judging by the look on your face, you haven't messaged her yet."

His eyes widened. Ignore.

"Am I right?" Sugawara-san chuckled.

Tobio grabbed another meat and ate it. Ignore.

"I sent her your mail." Ignore.

And there was silence. As if it has just sunk, suddenly, he couldn't breathe. "What?!"

He watched Sugawara-san placed two onigiri on his plate. "You should eat more. Although you're taller, you're still a growing boy. Get shorter next time."

"Sugawara-san."

But his senpai ignored him just how he ignored what his upperclassman told him. "Sent her a message okay?" And he received a wink.

He just blushed. Like hell, I would!

However, despite what he thought he shouldn't be doing, he is slowly becoming conscious of the fact that he has her mail. He grabbed his phone on the headstand and flipped it on. His fingertips automatically pressed buttons that lead him to messages.

Shall he save it? Perhaps, delete Sugawara-san's message? But Sugawara-san told him that he sent Harukaze-san his.

His fingers itched to press the delete button. But he decided not to and close his phone instead. He sat up from his bed, wore the slippers, and walked towards his closet. Soon, he changed his wardrobe and grabbed his phone. He left his bedroom and went downstairs.

"Out for a night jog?" He heard his mother in the living room.

"Yeah." He answered and started tying his shoelaces.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" His mother's voice is getting nearer and there are footsteps behind him. "Matches starts tomorrow, right?"

He stood up and tapped the toes of his shoes. He faced his mother. "I'll be quick."

His mother sighed. "Alright. Be careful." She smiled.

"Yes, ma'am."

And he left. Once outside, he warmed up. He stretched his muscles. When heat entered his system and he felt like sweating, he began his jog. His long leg and slow pace still took him further in their household in a short amount of time. It is only when he realized that he's getting nearer to Karasuno, that he slowed down. The Harukaze household is once again in his field of vision. He skidded into a stop and breath.

He thought of the mail and began to think if he really should delete it. Because there's no way in hell that he would save it much less use it to communicate. He shook his head. Tomorrow's finally the start of the Spring Tournament. He shouldn't be thinking of such and focus on tomorrow. Oh yeah, should he invite her? But his cheeks turned warm. He touched the cheek where a band-aid used to be. His eyes widened in realization and shook his head. He continued.

He was about to take a turn from the Sakanoshita Shop when he heard a voice.

"Good night, Kaede-san."

He froze.

'"Good night, Sawako-chan."

He didn't have the time to turn and return to his jog when they locked eyes. Shit. After the number of days that he hasn't her, she would appear in the days he least expects her to.

"Ka-Kageyama-kun!" She sounded surprised.

"Hello…" He acknowledged her and breathed.

"Night… jog?"

He nodded as he took a good look at her. It didn't seem to contradict the air she has around. Despite being serene-looking and calming on his feeling, she looked laidback on her set of clothes that was big for her figure. He couldn't really tell. He was being distracted by her face. "Harukaze-san?"

She blinked and tilted her head.

Tobio almost chokes on his saliva. "How about Harukaze-san?"

She turned to look at the shop then back to him. "Just bought something."

He nodded and made a sound of an agreement after seeing a paper bag on her arms. He inwardly sighed.

"Tomorrow…" She started. "Is the match, right?"

Tobio immediately turned to her, blinking. "Y-Yeah."

She smiled. Small but there's a smile. "I see. Go–" She paused. His eyebrow raised. Why'd she paused? He waited. "Do your best."

Is this his first time hearing her say that? He couldn't remember the last time someone told him to do his best aside from his mother who just happens to be out from hospital duties every now and then. But hearing it from Harukaze-san, he felt warm inside. There's that fuzzy feeling again on his stomach that erupted once more. He's not hungry, nor having a stomach ache but it's certainly weird for his stomach to do those things.

He just felt warmth. "Yes, ma'am." He answered.

And silence.

They had a number of encounters before and most of them were usually being Harukaze-san looking embarrassed and him unsure of what to say or do next. Nevertheless, the silence that embraces them in the time they're seemingly undecided for words gave him a sense of serenity. He was sure that it's because it's Harukaze-san that he felt that way. She never forced him to say anything at all, nor he forced her to speak. Whoever wanted to say something is free to break the silence. That somehow became an unspoken rule. After all, he does not talk much even if it's not volleyball related. But even if it's silent, it is still okay. Her presence alone is enough.

That's why slowly, he's getting accustomed to the silence that embraces them whenever they meet.

Ah.

He looked at her. "Harukaze-san, do you want to watch?"

Wah, I invited her again. This time, he didn't stutter.

Then her eyes went wide. It was silent but a small smile appeared on her lips, it made him sigh. Inwardly. "Yeah."

"Before lunch…." … is the match.

She nodded as if she understood what he meant. "Okay."

"Okay," He nodded. He found himself grinning. He thought of inviting her, and he did. She accepted his invitation. Twice, now. He felt…

… happy.

"Goodnight, Harukaze-san." He bowed.

She returned his gesture. "Goodnight, Kageyama-kun."

He returned to his jog and went home instead. When he reached the house, he silently opened the door and loosened his shoelaces at their own genkan. Yet despite how silently he entered, his mother's head popped out.

"Welcome home, Tobio." Her mother welcomed him. Suddenly, she stared at him. "Did something happen?"

He blinked, unable to form words. "Why?'

His mother smiled. "You looked happy." A hand clasped on his mother's mouth. "Oh my…"

He looked at her mother, oddly. "You're being weird."

A strong slap on his arm was what he received. "Oh, my baby boy, since when did you become a man, huh?"

"What?"

"A man. Since when did you become one?"

"The moment I was born?"

Another slap but this time, on his head.

"What's that for?!"

"For being slow."

He paused. He tilted his head in confusion. What the hell was that?


n o t e:

i read a book before from david levithan? i'm not sure. but it has such interesting chapters. odd numbers tell what happened in the present while even numbers tell what happened in the past. or vice versa? i like the changing of turns then that's why, as you can see, there's a changing of turns in every chapter. it was sawako's from the previous chapter and now, it's tobio's.

t:

whenever people ask me something and i answered their question right away, there's always a follow-up question that irritates me to no end.

"Are you mad?"

even my peers admitted that they thought i would snap at them if they said something wrong or offend me with their words. but honestly, i'm not that type of person. people thought i'm always mad, mistaking my face that shows boredom or confusion as a face that's angry at them for no apparent reason. and then, i get tired from those follow-up questions that i had to put on a face that shows, I AM NOT MAD because seriously, i am not.

my point is, don't be shy to leave a review. as much as how favorites and follows makes me blush, a review is greatly appreciated. such as critics from my written work or the story itself.

special thanks to Tora3 for making me squeal in delight whenever i check my mails from .