"No boys until you're married!" You remember your dad lecturing you. It didn't apply to you because you didn't even fancy boys. All you cared about was getting to nationals. It didn't occur to you that Kiyoko was going to fall in love.

What does falling in love even mean?

"But dad, I really like him. Can you at least just meet him?" Kiyoko pleaded.

"No, end of discussion."

"Shimizu-san. Is Shimizu-san here?"

"She's here." Mika said raising your hand. The teacher looks at the both of you suspiciously as you try to lower your hand in Mika's. You look at Mika and she gave you an apologetic smile. You realize a few people were staring and you slump over in your seat to avoid the glares.

"Typical." A boy sitting behind you muttered. Mika leaned back in her chair and replied,

"What's it to ya, four-eyes."

"Nothing." the boy said nonchalantly. She rolls her eyes at him and plants the chair legs back to the floor. Making a small 'thud' in the process.

Does she know this boy?

The boy adjusts his glasses and slumps forward in his seat. He puts his headset back on and he's blasting music. You could hear the tune 'Location Unknown' by HONNNE playing as the teacher clears her throat,

"Ah hem Tsukishima-san. No electronics in class please."

He grumbles and wraps the headphones around his neck. He took off his glasses and burrowed his face in his folded arms. His blonde hair disarrayed. He looks like my age. You look towards Mika, but she was too occupied with her thoughts as she looked out the window. You knew only three first years that were in this advanced class. You, Mika and I guess that blonde haired boy.

Hm, this is the calmest I've ever seen Mika.

The class droned on about dinosaurs and evolution. Something you weren't completely interested in, but Mika on the other hand, jotted down notes all seriously. Mika was always on top of things when it came to biology. You keep getting distracted by Daichi and Suga as they snicker over a picture in the textbook. They kept taking turns pointing and snickering at each other. You couldn't help but smile.

It was like they were kids.

You glance towards Daichi as he was making goofy faces at Suga.

Daichi, hmm. I can see why my sister likes him. He has broad shoulders, a nice smile and strong arms. He must be very responsible and put together since he's captain of the volleyball team and everything. I wonder if he knows...

"Well class, our first assignment will be a research paper on the evolution of animals that are listed on the textbook. Please choose a mammal in the indicated pages, 1-11. Have this as an opportunity to mingle along the class as I will randomly put you in pairs." The teacher announced interrupting your thoughts.

Everyone started to groan as they were upset they couldn't be with their friends.

"Now now class, how are we supposed to grow as individuals if we always stick with the same crowd?"

Man, this teacher is peppy.

The teacher turned around to her chalkboard and started to write more gibberish. You took off your glasses and rubbed your eyes.

It's a little dusty in here.

Mika suddenly sneezes loudly, jolting you in your seat.

"Bless you" you say trying to hold in your laughter.

An arm reaches over her shoulder, holding a handkerchief. The handkerchief read 'Kei' and it had a tiny dinosaur embroidered near his name in matching colours.

"Here" Tsukishima grumbled. He held out the handkerchief without making eye contact.

"Thanks?" Mika looked at him suspiciously as she slowly takes it. Before she could say another word to him, he slumped back into his folded arms.

How peculiar

"Okay class here are the partners! Don't be shy and give a good 'hi' to your new buddy!" The teacher clapped her hands together in excitement.

The chalkboard read...

.

.

Michimiya Yui + Daichi Sawamura

Sugawara Koushi + Shimizu (F/N)

Tsukishima Kei + Mitsuki Mika

.

.

Suga turns around and joyfully chirps, "Hey we're partners again!"

You felt a blush appearing on your face when you feel Mika's eyes on you. A smirk formed slowly on her lips.

Awe man, I thought I was going to be with Mika for once, not that I don't want to be with Suga or anything.

"I guess we are." You mumur quickly as you scribble in your notebook to avoid eye contact.

Before the class ended, the last thing the teacher announced was,

"Oh and class, this is due first thing in the morning. Please place them on my desk and don't forget to put your names!" she gleefully said with her pointing her stick in the air.

This teacher was way too peppy for a morning class. Can't believe it's the second day of school and I'm already drowning in homework. Plus, I have a volleyball team to manage and work on top of this?

You let out a sigh a bit too loudly and Suga turns around. He catches your eye and says,

"Don't worry (F/N), we got this! Count on me."

He's too cute for his own good.

The bell rang disrupting your thoughts. The chatter of the classroom and the movement of chairs irritated your ears for a bit, but it wasn't as awful as yesterday. Suga noticed and held out his hand, revealing yellow ear plugs. You were still sitting, so he seemed so much taller at this angle.

"I forgot, you might be needing these for volleyball club. With the noise and all."

You pick them out from his palms and look upwards. He was blushing a bit but his smile was warm and inviting.

He continues to take care of me in such subtle ways.

"Thank you, Suga" you smile and put the ear plugs in your bag.

"Oh (F/N), where should we do the report?" he asked holding his bag strap tightly. He rocked ever so slightly on his heels.

"I didn't think of that... hey Mikaaa."

"Yesss" she chimed while shoving her crumpled notebooks in her book-bag.

"Are you doing your report at your house by chance?" you ask with puppy eyes.

"Fine, you guys can come. We were going to do write it in my house anyway." she accepts while her eye drifts to her partner. He didn't seem to care about what we were saying as he packs up his notebooks haphazardly.

"Shall we meet up after volleyball club today?" you asked as you get up from your seat.

"You're in the volleyball club?" Tsukishima piped up. You all turn to him and his face carried a blank expression. He was already standing up; he was at least 6 feet tall.

Wow, he makes me feel so tiny

"Um yeah. We'r-" you were fidgeting with the zipper of your bag.

This guy makes me nervous, I don't know why.

"We're your managers." Mika said, finishing your sentence. She broke into a bright smile, a guy's weakness, but Tsukishima looked at the two of you and shrugged his shoulders.

Strange.

"Right..." Tsukishima said uninterested. He finished packing the rest of his books and slings his bag over his shoulder. He doesn't say another word and the three of you watch him walk out the classroom.

"Don't worry guys, he's like that."

You turn around and realize it was Daichi. You tilt your head and give a confused look. Daichi continues,

"Since all three of you missed half of practice, which is understandable" he looks at you and you couldn't help but fiddle with your zipper again.

"Him and another boy, Yamaguchi, came into volleyball club. Seems like we'll be getting four new first years."

"Anything else I missed?" you ask apologetically

"No need to be sorry (F/N). And no, not really? They're preparing for a 3-on-3 match today."

"Oh? A 3-on-3 this early in the semester?" Mika asked with excitement in her eyes.

"Yeah, apparently Kageyama and Hinata couldn't get along together. So we put them in one team to prove to us they can work together. Boy, do they argue a lot." Daichi let out a small snicker. He tried covering it with his hands as he looks at you and Mika.

I thought I heard Mika and Kageyama arguing when I passed out. I'm so embarrassed.

"Well, anyway we better get to our next class." you say in a hurry. You drag Mika out into the hallway as she waves bye to the two boys.

"You know, I don't want to be the one lecturing you about Kageyama." You whisper to Mika. Your eyes were scanning the hallway to see if anyone would hear.

"Whaaat you hate him too, don't you?" Mika whined with her arms crossed.

"No not really, and us being managers... I don't want him to hate us. It might cause more drama than needed."

She let out a sigh of defeat and said, "Fine, but are you going to talk to him?"

"Eventually" you say looking down to your feet. There's something you never admitted to Mika before.

You remember your heart skipped a beat when you caught a glimpse of Kageyama in volleyball practice. He was so determined to be his best, it motivated you to do the same. It didn't make sense, how you were attracted to him. He was cold and distant. He didn't open up much, but on rare occasions he would. And when he did, your heart would flutter out of its chest. Is this what Kiyoko was feeling? The words Kiyoko said about love were ringing in your head: 'no matter how lost you are, love will always find you' she would say messing up your hair.

I really don't get it.

You stare out the hospital window, it started to drizzle with rain. Day 1 post-op. You hazily look at the multiple tubes connected to you. You felt like a machine with all the beeping sounds. You lift your left arm as best as you could and notice the slow drip of IV solution entering your veins. You couldn't lift your right arm as it weighted like a ton of bricks. You notice there's endless bandages that wrap your cast. The bandages engulfed the whole right side of your body.

Uhhh so sleepy.

You try to find a comfortable position but it was pointless with the hospital ruckus. You lay still on the hospital bed, unable to move anything. The morphine drip was taking the physical pain away, but you were on the verge of tears.

Everything, gone.

You kept repeating it in your head; the more you said it, the harder it was to believe. Lost in thought, you try your best to close your eyes when suddenly you hear the door open.

"Hello? Mom?" you say weakly.

You couldn't move your head as it was also wrapped in bandages. The person stayed out of your peripheral vision. You started to panic and in fear you say,

"Who's there?"

You grip the hospital bed sheets tightly. No reply. The dark figure walked forward and there you saw him. Kageyama.

"W-wha Kags?" You sheepishly murmur. You couldn't believe your eyes as he suddenly leans forward planting a gentle kiss on you lips. You were in shock as you try to push him away, but you were pumped up with pain killers that you couldn't process what was happening. Your mind starts drifting as the drugs start kicking in. You're losing consciousness as your eyelids start to feel heavy.

How did he get here? Is- is he really here?

"I thought I lost you" he whispered into you ear.

Lost me?

"I love you (F/N)"

———- end p 14———-

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