Suga and Daichi didn't talk to Hinata much about the discussion the three of them had a couple weeks prior. They all mutually decided it was best to not bring it up at school, and Hinata was in no hurry to get into a car with Daichi again.

Kageyama cornered Hinata in the locker room one day about a month after their meeting. "Hinata," he said. Hinata couldn't tell if he was worried or annoyed.

"Y-yeah?" Hinata gulped. He'd been avoiding Kageyama ever since that night. Most often Hinata found himself hiding out with Suga at lunch.

"What's up with you?" Okay, Hinata could tell he was concerned now. The furrowed brow and scowl Kageyama wore was softened from worry. "You haven't come over in weeks and our quick is getting worse because of it."

"I'm f-fine, just having family issues!"

"What's going on?"

Hinata was taken aback. He tried not to show it, but it was the first time Kageyama had asked more about Hinata's family life. "U-um..."

"Let's not talk about it here," Kageyama muttered. "Come over tonight? We can talk while we walk, then we can practice our quick when we get to my place."

"A-ah, okay."

Kageyama stayed silent for most of the walk. Hinata explained what was 'bothering' him about his family (though if he was being truthful, the situation he described was one he'd been living with his entire life). Kageyama would nod and make noises of acknowledgement when the boy stopped talking.

"My dad is just gone all the time," Hinata said as they turned down Kageyama's street. "It's stressing my mom out because she doesn't have anyone to watch Natsu."

"Natsu?" Kageyama questioned.

"My little sister."

"You didn't tell me you had a little sister..."

"Well, you never asked."

Kageyama pulled his house key out of his pocket as they walked up his driveway. Hinata leaned his bike against the side of the house while Kageyama unlocked the door. They both went inside and Kageyama took off his shoes and set his stuff aside. Hinata did the same.

Kageyama went into the kitchen and began digging through the cabinets. His eyes lit up and he pulled a box of cereal out of the cupboard. "I was really hoping my mom would buy this," he mumbled in embarrassment, cheeks turning pink when he realized Hinata was staring.

Hinata only laughed. "That's my favorite kind."

"Mine too," Kageyama sighed as he pulled two bowls out of the cupboard. "Now I have to share."

"Y-you don't have to!" Hinata said quickly, but Kageyama ignored him and went to get the milk out of the refrigerator.

"Seriously, you've been giddier than usual," Kageyama sighed, "even before you started ignoring me."

Hinata watched Kageyama pour two bowls of cereal. He reached for the bowl across the counter and his hand brushed Kageyama's. Kageyama lit up red and pulled back quickly. "S-sorry," he mumbled.

"For what?" Hinata asked, propping his arm on the counter. Kageyama just shook his head and grabbed two spoons from a drawer. He slid one across the countertop to Hinata, then leaned against the counter and ate his cereal in silence.

Hinata didn't do anything to break the silence. He wondered why Kageyama was so concerned with his home life all of the sudden. He wondered why Kageyama had blushed so hard when their hands had accidentally touched. Still, he had no problem eating, and he scarfed down the entire bowl of cereal quickly.

"Quick time?" Hinata asked when Kageyama finished his bowl.

"Let's go," Kageyama agreed. The two rinsed their bowls and threw on their outdoor shoes. Kageyama reached into his bedroom to grab his volleyball and Hinata tightened the net outside.

The two practiced their quick until the sun went down, and it was as if they had never taken a break.

Hinata stopped Kageyama before they went inside. "Oi, Kageyama," he said, tapping his partner's shoulder. "One more."

"The sun's going down," Kageyama argued. "We can barely see the ball."

"I want to try something," Hinata mumbled. Kageyama, skeptical, shrugged.

"Alright. Fine."

Kageyama tossed Hinata one more, and Hinata hit the ball while it was slightly higher than usual. The ball rolled off his fingertips and landed on the other side of the yard, having backspun in the air. Kageyama watched his partner land with a soft thud, jaw slightly dropped.

"The hell was that?" he asked in slight awe, though he was trying not to make it obvious.

"I-it needs work," Hinata mumbled. "But my mom used to play on a beach volleyball league and she told me it was pretty popular for her and her teammate because it's hard to make quick moves in sand! I figured it would be-"

"We'll work on it," Kageyama interrupted, "but this will be fantastic!"

Hinata beamed and Kageyama rubbed his head. It took a few seconds for Kageyama to realize what he was doing, but when he did, he blushed and backed away. "I uh, I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"It's alright," Hinata beamed over at him, also blushing. "I'm just glad you like it!"

"Don't show anyone yet," he said quickly. "I want this to be perfect before we show anyone."

"Oh, does that mean I shouldn't have been watching?" Kageyama's mother peeked over the book she was reading. She was sitting on the porch's porch swing, smiling.

"M-mom!" Kageyama blushed even darker and tensed up. "How long have you been sitting there?"

"Long enough to see that really cool spike," she smiled warmly. "I'm so proud of you two."

"Th-thank you!" Hinata bowed.

"Dinner will be ready in a while," she said as she stood up. She tucked her book under her arm and smiled at the two. "Please come in soon so you can wash up."

Hinata was helping Kageyama's mother clean up in the kitchen when the phone rang. Kageyama picked it up. "Kageyama residence," he said. "Hm? Yeah, he's helping clean up in the kitchen."

Hinata shot a look at Kageyama and Kageyama's mother chuckled. "That must be your mother," she said. "Go ahead, I'll finish in here."

"Thank you!" Hinata said and took the phone from Kageyama. "Mom?...well, I don't know. Why? What's wrong?...huh?!" Hinata pulled the phone away from his ear, frantically searching around the small house. He threw his bag over his shoulder. "I'm coming home!...what do you mean I can't?!" He groaned and handed the phone to Kageyama.

"Mrs. Hinata?" Kageyama asked.

"Oh, Kageyama," Hinata's mother sighed. "I was just telling Shouyou he needs to spend the night at his aunt's tonight. Would you mind telling him that?"

"Um, okay," Kageyama pulled the phone away from his ear. "Why do you have to spend the night at your aunt's?"

Hinata, who had settled on a chair, crossed his arms and huffed. "My dad is home, and my mom doesn't want me around while he's..." he sighed.

"While he's what?" Kageyama's mother asked gently.

"Just never mind," he shook his head. "I'll go to my aunt's. Thank you for dinner."

"It's not a problem, Shouyou," Kageyama's mother smiled warmly. Kageyama handed the phone to Hinata.

"I'll see you in the morning?...alright. Bye," he hung up and sank back into the chair with a soft sigh. "I'm really sorry to bother you with this," he mumbled.

"It's okay," Kageyama said before his mother could. "How far away is your aunt?"

"Next town over," he groaned.

"What?" Kageyama's mother exclaimed in surprise. "You shouldn't be going out this late anyways! Why don't you just spend the night here?"

"I-I don't know that that's such a good idea," Hinata mumbled sheepishly, blushing. "Plus I don't want to intrude."

"It isn't intrusion at all," she assured. "Tobi has some clothes from junior high that'll fit you. You can change into those and I can wash your clothes for you," she smiled warmly. "It really isn't any trouble."

"O-okay," Hinata smiled shyly. Kageyama wasn't saying a word; instead, he was staring off into space, wearing a blush that matched Hinata's. Hinata had never been more curious as to what his partner was thinking about.