Step 2: Spend time with Hinata.

–Tsukki?... Tsukki!... TSUKKI! Are you OK? –Yamaguchi had been talking to Tsukishima about their usual topics like music bands and TV shows, until he realized that his friend wasn't listening anything he was saying.

–Eh? Ah, yeah, I'm OK.

–You look a little… distant today, I mean, more than usual –Yamaguchi was a little worried for his friend.

–I'm just tired.

–Didn't sleep enough?

–Yeah.

The next morning went normal as always, without anything particularly interesting, although Tsukishima had a weird sensation of anxiety that he doesn't experiment so often, maybe just when he is playing an official volleyball match, or when he is about to go home after a bothersome day, but certainly the fact of have this feeling at school and, furthermore, in the morning, was pretty rare.

When they arrived at the gym for afternoon practice Hinata and Kageyama were already there. Tsukishima wanted to talk with the short one alone so he had to wait and his anxiety increased. He could feel that Shouyo was looking at him during the practice, so an idea crossed his mind "if Hinata approaches first to me, surely it would be a double strike to His Majesty" and with that thought in his head the tall boy calmed down and patiently waited the opportune moment.

After practice, everybody cleaned the gym together and nothing happened. All of them went to the club's room to change their clothes and nothing yet. They walked to the coach's convenience store and ate some meat buns, "nothing". Everyone said goodbye and started to walk their homes, "¡nothing!". Tsukki had a bad sensation, he realized that he had lost his chance when he looked how Hinata and Kageyama were walking together a few meters in front of him in a different way from them. Yamaguchi started to walk too, but stopped a seconds before because his friend was immobile, staring at his little teammate.

–Don't come? –a little sign of worry reflected in Yamaguchi's eyes.

–Yeah –answered the blond guy, though he didn't move and continued looking at his teammates. "I'm a stupid. Lost my chance."

Tsukishima was about to move on when suddenly his chance came back. Hinata had stopped, said something to The King and started to run on his direction, carrying his bicycle and saying −See you on Monday Kageyama! –waving his hand in farewell.

"A miracle". –Go first Yamaguchi, I have something to do with that shrimp.

–With Hinata? Oh, the notes! I can wait for you –Tadashi remembered the weird demonstration of kindness that his friend performed a day before.

–No, go ahead, I'll catch you soon –Tsukishima, on the other hand, didn't even turn his head to see his friend when he was walking towards Shouyo.

–But...

Late, Tsukishima was already just in front of Hinata, smiling at him. He could feel the angry look from Kageyama, who was standing a meters in front of him, but didn't notice the sad look from his friend who started to walk away with his head down.

–Sorry for be annoying but you said that you would let me your notes to study for the next tests and since we have 2 days off for weekend I thought I could spend the time studying at home – Hinata looked nervous but had a small smile on his face and a little blush on his cheeks.

–It's OK –Said Tsukki drawing his notes from his backpack –Here, I totally forgot to give you them before. Sorry –of course he lied –I hope you can understand this without an explain.

–Eh? Without explain? Oh! I hope so too –said Hinata with a drop of sweat rolling down his forehead –Though it would be better if I have a tutor or something, I need someone smart like you teaching me.

"Bingo". The blond boy sighted in a false sign of resignation–I suppose it can't be helped, right? I can teach you, if you want, and of course, not for free.

–Can you? Are you serious?! –Hinata couldn't believe it, that was the same Tsukishima he met less than a year ago? Who was so mean with everybody? Well, if he wanted to increase his final tests scores, he couldn't lose any time, so if Tsukishima was kind or mean it doesn't really matter.

–Yeah, but there's one condition, you can't tell anybody that I'll teach you. We'll start tomorrow, study the first part of my notes tonight and come to my home at 10 AM, you already know where my house is. Don't be late, got it? –Tsukki turned around and started to walk, avoiding Shouyo's surprised eyes and hiding his smile. The feeling when he saw the mad face of Kageyama before he turned around and walked away, alone, in the darkness, without his beloved "friend", was "delicious".

–Wait! I don't have money, I need to ask mom for some and...

He was stopped by Hinata's voice –I don't need your money, but I'll need a favor later, that'll be enough –said glancing at him over his shoulder, then he resumed his way.

–A favor?... Wait! What kind of favor? –no answer –Tsukishima san? –He didn't stop neither –Well... See you tomorrow! –said the short boy seeing his new tutor walking away slowly.

–Go home Hinata! It's too late! –screamed Ukai san who was watching everything from his store.

–OK! –Hinata laughed and finally returned to his home.

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"Why he didn't want me to hear their conversation? Why he needed to be alone with him?". Yamaguchi couldn't forget the smile on Kei's face when he was talking with Hinata. Of course it didn't take much time, Tsukki had caught him fast, but anyway he had an uneasy feeling.

"Could it be that Tsukki... with Hinata? No! Impossible! It's just my imagination..." –calm down Tadashi! is just your imagination! – he said to himself and sighted, took his mobile phone and wrote a message – "You were tired today, right? Have a good rest, OK? And... wanna go somewhere tomorrow?" – Sent it.

The answer arrived a few minutes later, as always –"I'll rest properly, don't worry. And about tomorrow, sorry, I have something to do. See you on Monday. Good night" –Yamaguchi felt even worse than before, with that answer it was obvious that go out with him on Sunday was discarded too.

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–"I can study without his stupid notes! But now because of him I have no excuses to go out with Hinata this weekend" –Kageyama had had complaining in his room since he arrived at home –"Wait a minute! We can study together yet and Tsukishima will never know! –He took his phone and called Hinata.

–Kageyama! Do you miss me already?

–How can it be? You, dumbass! –he lied.

–Haha! OK... so what's up?

–Do you want to study with me tomorrow? No matter what that idiot said, we can improve our scores, somehow.

–"Oh crap! Tsukishima told me that I'm not allowed to tell him about it!" –Hinata thought –Sorry, I can't. I have something to do. See you on Monday. Good night! –hang up.

–Wait! Hinata! Shit! What the hell is up with him?!

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–Ah! That was close! Though, it would be more fun if we could study together. I wonder why Tsukishima doesn't want anyone to know that he will be teaching me? Maybe he really is a shy guy –Hinata laughed, took his teammate's notebook on his hands and prepared himself for a long study night.

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Nobody but Tsukki, who slept like a baby, could sleep that night. And the next morning...

"09:30 AM. Why is he already here?"

There was Tsukki, looking out the window. His little new student was stand across the street, watching at his house and probably waiting until 10 AM to be able to ring the bell. "Ridiculous". A friend maybe would open the door, but he was NOT his friend, Hinata was just a part of his plan, so, without any sign of blame, Tsukishima had his breakfast as usual, lying on the couch and watching a morning TV show, and opened the door at 10 AM when the bell rang.

–Good morning! –an effusive Hinata said with a brightly smile, but standing in the front door ecstatic like a soldier. He looked nervous and Kei even could say that the young boy was afraid of him.

–Come in –was the sharp answer from the tall middle blocker.

–Excuse me for disturbing –they went directly to the Kei's bedroom. He entered into the room looking carefully every detail –as I thought, your room is so clean and orderly –both of them sat on the floor.

–Yeah... Wanna drink something?

–Oh! No, I'm fine, thank you.

–'Kay, what did you study last night?

–Emm... I tried some maths, your notes are as orderly as your room and I think I have a good idea of what to do because of that, but I didn't understand some formulas –the boy explained with nervousness.

–Which ones?

–These... –Hinata showed his notebook to Kei.

"That are the most! Crap!". The blond sighed, for the first time he questioned himself about how a good idea was to offer to be the tutor of the boy. Was really that valuable just see the angry face of Kageyama? "I could go out with Yamaguchi and now I'm stuck with these simple maths problems", then he remembered the expression on The King's face the last night and sighed again–Pay attention then.

In the afternoon, they ate some curry into the room, Hinata wanted to talk a little, they were teammates after all, and more than that, they played the same position, so he mentioned something about their next training match but the blond just answered with monosyllabic words. The whole day Tsukishima tried to explain to the short guy in the easier way possible how to solve some math exercises. He knew that he should be nice with Hinata but it was so difficult, he was not like Sugawara senpai or Daichi senpai, he wasn't that patiently, and he hadn't had kind with anybody, even with Yamaguchi who was actually his most important person besides his family, and sometimes, more than his family.

Tsukishima wasn't sure about how supposed he could be close to that boy; he had never tried to be close with anyone. With Yamaguchi was too easy, he "helped" him with some bullies and then Yamaguchi followed him until they grew up. Yamaguchi was who invited him to go out, Yamaguchi was who went to his house to play together, Yamaguchi was who went after him, and Kei just used to walk in front of him pretending that he had the control of the situation, but it was always Yamaguchi who propitiated all for him to look more cool than he actually was. "And how the hell can I save Hinata from the bullies when I'm his bully? the glasses' boy asked to himself, he had no practice in that kind of situations, so the only thing he could do was "suppress the impulse to call him 'stupid shrimp'".

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–See you tomorrow, the same hour.

–OK! Sorry for the inconveniences caused. Thank you! And see you tomorrow! –Hinata rode his bicycle.

"Say something nice, if I spend all this time with him but we don't get close it'll be a waste of time" thought Kei while Hinata started his way to home –Be careful! Have a good sleep! Good night! –said almost screaming at him, "OK, if I wanted to scare him more, I succeeded". That was weird for both of them, and Tsukishima was a little blushed because of the embarrassment.

Hinata stopped and looked at him with a weird expression, then laughed and finally showed him one of that shining smiles that perfectly could clear a cloudy day –Good night! Have sweet dreams! –finally ran away.

"That smile..."

"How cute..."

"Shit"

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A/N: Hi! I hope you liked this chapter. I particularly enjoyed a lot writing it. I'll try to update on Friday. Last Sunday, September 25, was my birthday, and today, September 27 (yesterday in Japan) is Tsukishima's birthday! That explains why my personality and Kei's is so alike LOL. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TSUKKI! See you later, my dear readers!