Being a third year wasn't all it was cracked up to be in your opinion, it was a struggle and exhausting. Practice was intense and filled with more animosity than you could handle some days. Ukai had been pretty chill with you after you had made your choice known to the others, Tsukki however held a serious grudge. Conversations with him had been short or loud, he would only give yes or no answers, or he would yell or insult you when you tried to correct him at practice. Ukai would try to stand up for you and make him run laps for his outbursts but that didn't make anything better it just made him clam up and refuse to speak.

Things with Kuroo also hadn't been all sunshine and roses, long distance was hard, and you felt like you had handled that better before you were even a couple. He was very focused on his future and what he wanted to accomplish which was great but it was seeming harder and harder to fit into that picture. It wasn't all bad though, you both had grown in love and most days were what you had hoped for. Weekends were usually spent together at your house or exploring Tokyo, he was also a great help when it came to your studies. When graduation came you were beyond excited and quickly found an apartment near him to make seeing each other easier.

One afternoon while you were tidying up your apartment, waiting for Kuroo you got an unexpected text. You nearly dropped your phone when you saw what the text said, and your heart dropped into your stomach. The number was unknown, and the message simply said "Thought you should know" and then below the text was a picture. The picture was of Kuroo and Alisa, Lev's sister, his hands were on her hips and they seemed to be having a very intimate conversation. Your initial instinct was to pack a bag and just disappear and never speak to him again, but you knew you had to at least hear him out.

Hours ticked by and you sat there stewing in your own insecurities and keeping yourself from crying was about the hardest thing you had ever done. You began to pace the apartment feeling like you were going to burst from your own skin. When the door clicked open and he called out your name you stormed in and chunked the phone at his chest. He stumbled to catch it but managed to and looked at you confused.

"What was that for?" he asked annoyed.

"Unlock it" you managed to say in the most controlled voice you could manage. He looked concerned but slid the screen to unlock it and his face dropped.

"I swear this isn't what it looks like" he said shaking his head but not looking up at your angry eyes.

"And what does that picture look like to you? If it was me and someone else in that picture what would be the first thought that came to your mind?" you asked, the rage inside boiling at this point.

"She was jus-" he started to say some excuse but you cut him off.

"Answer the question, first thought seeing that picture" you snapped. He took a deep breath and dropped his hand holding the phone down by his side.

"I would think that you were cheating" he explained.

"Exactly, so before you give me this big explanation as to what was happening in that picture, I want you think hard on if lying and me finding out later is the better option" you balled your hands into fists at your side and prepared to hear what he had to say.

"I... I don't have an excuse. I'd had a crush on her for a long time and when she started flirting with me I lost my head. I didn't cheat on you though, it was just flirting I swear" he said trying to step towards you.

"Just because you didn't FUCK her doesn't mean you didn't cheat, you deliberately flirted with her knowing what it could lead to. What was it, did you think you would be big man on campus because a model flirted with you? Because all that you accomplished was looking like a complete asshat and losing the trust I had in you." you laughed and shook your head, your tears being the last thing you wanted to give him.

"Don't you think this is all blown out of proportion?" he asked. "I didn't do anything with her, I only love you" he said taking more steps towards you.

"If you really love me then answer my next question honestly, if I hadn't confronted you about this today how long would you have let it continue?" you asked looking him straight in the eyes.

"I....... I don't know" he answered honestly.

"Exactly, you would have probably continued until you "actually" cheated on me, and then what? Would you have ever told me? Seems doubtful" You walked away into your bedroom and grabbed the bag you had hastily packed in between your rounds of pacing the apartment.

"I wouldn't have Y/N I promise, I would never cheat on you! I just lost my head, I'm just a stupid fucking boy!" he said reaching for you but you moved swiftly out his reach. You marched towards the front door and opened it, but he fell to his knees making you look back at him.

"Please don't leave me! I really do love you, I'm so sorry, give me another chance!" he begged as tears slipped down his cheeks.

"Maybe one day, because I do love you but you need to grow up and I don't want to be hurt while you do that." You said looking down at his devastated face. "Lock the door when you leave, I'll send a crew to clear it out for me later" you said before closing the door behind you. Your feet felt like lead as you walked away, not daring to turn back worried he would be there with his pleading eyes.

The next several weeks were filled with an immense amount of doubt, did you do the right thing? Did you over react? Was him flirting really that big of a deal? You asked yourself these questions on the daily and the answer was always different. Somedays you would reach for your phone to call him but then you would stop yourself. He tried calling a few times and even stopped by your house but you had gotten rid of the spare key so he couldn't come in.

After a few months the calls and texts eventually slowed down and he stopped coming by. It didn't make you feel more at peace for him to stop, it actually made getting over him harder somehow. Deciding you needed a break you disappeared to the states and stayed with your parents for a few months, worst few months of your life. Then you traveled across Europe for the next year, eating, drinking and exploring until you finally felt like you could return home happy.

You had been home a few months when you got a surprise message from Hinata, he had invited you to come to one of his practices claiming he missed you. He had sent you the address to the gym his team practiced in and you made the choice to go see him the next day. When you arrived at the gym you felt nervous for some reason, it had been months since you had seen him but you had sent pictures to the group text you had with him, Yamaguchi, Kiyoko, Yachi, Tanaka and Noya. When you walked in you were surprised how large the gym was but he wasn't hard to spot with his bright orange hair.

"Hinata!" you called out to get his attention, his face turned quickly looking for you and a smile lit up his face.

"Y/N!!!!" he yelled excited and ran over tackling you in a hug.

"Man how I missed this!" you said out of breath from being knocked to the ground.

"I missed you too!" he laughed getting up and helping you to your feet. "I'm so glad you came, and that your back!" he said jumping in the air.

"Hey y/n" a calmer voice said coming up behind Hinata. You looked up meeting eyes with Bokuto, his golden orbs looking excited but nervous to see you.

"Hi Koutarou" you said giving him a genuine smile.

"You look amazing" he said taking in your appearance. You had grown your hair out while traveling and your skin looked sun kissed and glowing.

"And you look much more muscular, I'm into it" you joked making him blush.

"I-I mean I did workout a lot, just trying to keep up my strength" he said scratching the back of his neck to flex his bicep.

"I've always said that volleyball does the body good" you said with a laugh, a memory trickled in though and your face dropped slightly. You remembered you had said that to Kuroo once and now the sadness crept in.

"So I invited you today because we have a big game this weekend, its going to be on tv and I wanted to know if you wanted to come?" Hinata asked. "Coach said he can get you a pass to be on the sidelines so you can be close" he explained.

"Yea you should seriously come!" Bokuto added.

"Well then of course I'll be there! Need to see two of my favorite guys kick some ass!" you said hyping them up. They both smiled huge and started rambling about the team and all the things they had done until their coach called them back to the court.

When the weekend rolled around you got more excited to watch them play, you even dressed up just incase you ended up in the camera background. Hinata escorted you into the arena and set you up in the side viewing area where a lot of reporters and camera men were. You leaned up against the barrier and watched as the game started. It was amazing to see how both of them had developed as players, even Atsumu who you had grown to be friends with over the last few years, had improved a lot. They were really a force to be reckoned with and you couldn't have been more proud.

"They really look good out there today" a familiar voice said and leaned down next to you resting his forearms on the barrier. Your heart instantly beat faster and you had to fight past your nerves to look at the bed headed man next to you. He smiled sweetly as your eyes met, he was dressed up nicely in a suit and had a badge hanging from his neck that was similar to yours.

"Kuroo" you said letting his name escape your lips in surprise.

"Y/N" he said in response, his tone a bit nervous. "I'm really surprised to see you" he admitted.

"Yea me too, hope its okay I'm here, Hinata invited me" you explained.

"Just because I'm surprised doesn't mean I don't like it. Its actually really nice to hear your voice, didn't know if I would ever hear it again" he confessed.

"My voice isn't anything to write home about" you joked turning back towards the game to hide the light blush that dusted your cheeks.

"Even so I missed hearing it, so uh how have you been?" he asked trying to change the subject.

"I've been good, did some traveling for awhile and just lived life you know? What about you?" you asked to be polite.

"I did some work on me, found this really great job, and have gotten to meet a lot of cool people. I work for the Japan volleyball association and I get to promote the sport I love" he said with a smile.

"That's great, I'm glad things have worked out for you" you said.

"So ummmm, are you seeing anyone?" he asked.

"Ha, no I've been single for awhile. What about you?" you asked turning towards him expecting him to say something about whatever girl he happened to be with now.

"No, I haven't been with anyone since we broke up" he said taking you by surprise.

"Things with Alisa not work out?" you asked still feeling bitter about it which you hated to admit to yourself.

"There was never anything real there, I was just a horny dumb teen who liked the attention. When I realized what I had done to you I decided to never speak to her again." He explained.

"So you haven't dated anyone else?" you asked feeling a slight bit of hope inside which surprised you.

"Nope, no one. I decided I needed to be a better me and there was only one girl for me so why play around with the rest" his face was serious but kind and it made your heart flutter. "What about you? Did you have some wonderful out of country love?" he asked nervous.

"Unfortunately no, my focus was trying to get one guy out of my head but no matter which country I flew to, what food I ate, or what beautiful sight I saw I could only think of him and how I wish he was there to see it with me" you confessed.

"Must be one heck of a guy" he joked.

"I thought so too until he broke my heart" you said with a tight lipped smile.

"If he wanted a chance to fix it would you give him one?" he asked.

"Probably, but it would take me awhile to trust him again and he would have to be patient" you explained.

"Could he maybe start by asking you to dinner and getting your number?" he asked hopeful.

"If he asked me properly and not in third person" you teased.

"Would you like to get dinner with me tonight so we can catch up?" he asked.

"I'd really like that" you said smiling. He handed you his phone and took yours entering his number before exchanging them back. You both turned back towards the game and chatted back and forth as it played out. Towards the end he put his hand on top of yours and you looked up at his face, he stayed looking forward.

"I missed you a lot Chibi-chan, thank you for giving me one more chance, I promise to make the most of it, and to make you fall back in love with me, because I never stopped loving you." he confessed.

You weren't sure what to say in response because as much as he had hurt you, the love was never really lost. He had filled your dreams everyday and when you were alone it was the thought of him that filled the empty space you felt. The memories with him laughing, playing around, and making jokes at each other were played on a loop in your brain in every quiet moment. When the mood hit it was his lips that you would still feel against your skin, his hands gripping your hips and his deep growling moans that lit you up inside. The fear of being hurt was the only reason you had stayed away because everything inside you made you want to run back to him at every moment. He was the one you wanted a future with, but you knew you both needed to grow or it would end in disaster. Time was what you had needed and hearing him say he still loved you was something you had only hoped for never thinking it would happen.

"I didn't either" you confessed and turned back towards the game. His hand gripped your tighter and you felt a tinge of hope inside that was scary but something you had missed.