"Etto...everyone..." Ayame started as she and the freckled teen held hands "Tadashi-kun and I are...dating..."

The players were sitting on the floor in front of them, staring to the two of them as they processed the information. Ennoshita raised his hand after seeing not one of them reacted.

"Ano...when did you guys started going out?"

Yamaguchi rubbed his nape "Etto... I think...it was during our 5 day training camp in Saitama..."

"It was in the third day, right?" she looked at him and he nodded.

"Uwaaah...these two are really good at hiding their relationship...no one suspected a thing...impressive" Ennoshita, Kinoshita and Narita thought.

"What the heck?!" Sugawara suddenly yelled "Why didn't you tell us?!"

"Suga, calm down" Daichi told him but a glare from the setter made him shut up.

He still hasn't forgiven the captain for not telling him about Ayame's feelings.

The two sweat dropped "W-We figured that we need more time. We were actually planning on telling you guys soon but..."

Tsukishima stood, his glasses glinting evilly. Yamaguchi and Ayame gulped when the megane stood in front of the two, his shadow looming over them.

"Why?" he asked while emitting a dark aura.

The two slightly looked away "Scary..."

"I'm your classmate. We're in the same class, same year and same club. I should have the privilege of knowing it first. Why didn't you two tell me?" he pressed as he loomed over them "Not even a hint? How cold, you two. I've known Yamaguchi since grade school and yet he didn't even tell me. Unfair, right? Aren't we friends?"

"Tsukishima's scary..." the males thought as he stood over the two in an intimidating manner.

"Well?" he raised an eyebrow. The two looked at each other and they lowered their heads.

"Please forgive us" they apologized in a formal manner.

"Seriously, why didn't you tell me?" he asked again.

Ayame spoke first "Well, I know you are our classmate and the closest to us, but, it was because you and Suga-san kept teasing Tadashi-kun that he's too emba-"

Yamaguchi quickly covered her mouth "You don't have to say it out loud!"

The other males can't follow what they are talking about.

"So, what you're saying is..." Shimizu said "You didn't want to tell them yet because Tsukishima and Sugawara are bullying Yamaguchi?"

He still has his hands on her mouth so she only nodded.

"Eh? Shimizu, you knew this all along?" Asahi asked her. The manager smiled and made a victory sign.

"Yes. Hitoka-chan and I knew since the training camp"

Sugawara wanted to complain and react that the girls know their relationship first but he was quick to defend his self "Hey, it's not bullying at all! We were only teasing him a bit!"

"Also" the megane pushed his glasses up "We were only giving him a push to confess to her. We knew that he had a crush on her for a long time-"

"Ah!! Please don't continue!! That's extremely embarrassing!!" Yamaguchi was slumping down while covering his red and steaming face with his hands.

"But he's too scared and nervous to tell her" the two continued.

"I get it. I get it" Ayame sighed and patted her boyfriend's shoulder "Please stop teasing him like that. That's why he didn't want you two and the team to know it yet"

"I understand how Yamaguchi feels..." Asahi agreed.

"I bullied you?" the setter asked him innocently.

The ace looked at him expectantly "Multiple times"

"I don't think that should count as bullying..." he looked up as he recalled it "I was only making fun of you, Asahi. It's not my fault that you have a glass heart"

"That's a mean way to say it, Suga..." he sighed.

"Still, I'm surprised Nishinoya and Tanaka didn't say much after knowing it" he noted as he glanced at the second year duo "I thought they would be against it"

"Suga-san" Nishinoya said in a serious voice "We are mature men who know when to accept our losses. Ryu and I accepted we lost this battle"

Hinata was innocently impressed "Noya-san, Tanaka-san, so mature!!"

"Eh~...really...?" Ennoshita sweat dropped as he recalled how the two acted earlier upon knowing the truth "Why did they look like they died earlier...?"

In the end, everyone could only congratulate the couple. The libero and his buddy repeatedly told the boy to take care of their precious angel and they stopped when Ennoshita and Kinoshita pulled them back when they got too annoying. Ayame made Tsukishima and Sugawara promise to stop teasing the freckled teen, to which they agreed with angel like background.

Shimizu told them to forget her drunken state, but it was really hard to forget when her personality has gone a total 180 degrees when drunk.

The remaining chocolates were given to their coach, since it's a waste to throw them and he's an adult.

"How was the visit with Seijoh?" Coach Ukai asked in a low voice as they watched the team resume their practice.

Ayame shuffled uneasily as she recalled what she saw "They are having practice matches with college teams. Also, earlier, Oikawa-san was placed in the college team and it seemed he just know them but..." she bit her lower lip "After a few plays, he totally fit in and brought out 100% of the spiker's strength"

"That sounds bad..."

She nodded "His versatility to fit in any team is impressive. Ah, they also have a new player, though, he didn't practice with them but...I'm kinda wary about this one..."

She could still recall the goosebumps on her skin when he passed by her.

He ruffled her hair "Good job for the undercover mission"

"Speaking of which... wasn't that a date with Oikawa earlier?" the man thought "Damn. And I even told her it will be like cheating if she had a boyfriend...Ah well, Shimizu told me that she asked permission from Yamaguchi before going. It's a good thing these two understand each other..."

***

"Good job for today!!"

"Yamaguchi!" Sugawara slung his arm over the teen's shoulder "Let's go home together, okay?"

"Eh? S-Suga-san?"

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Tsukishima stood next to them with an innocent smile on his face "We have a lot of things to talk to, right?"

He placed his hand on his shoulder, to which he jolted nervously when he knew what the two meant.

"A-Ayame, I'm going ahead!" he called out as he was dragged by the two.

"Take care, Tadashi-kun" she then called out to the two "Tsukishima-kun, Suga-san, please don't bully him, okay?"

"We won't~"

Ayame looked at him worriedly. Yamaguchi looked back at her and smiled to assure her he'll be fine...somehow. Daichi took the chance that she'll be going home alone.

"Ayame-chan" he stood next to her "Let's go home together?"

She nodded "Okay, nii-chan"

The two childhood friends started walking on the dimly lit street.

"Really..." he looked up and scratched his head "I didn't really expect you and Yamaguchi would become after a couple after you told me that you like him..."

"Sorry, I didn't tell you, Daichi-nii"

"Nah, it's fine" he smiled and ruffled her hair "Can you tell me why you like him?"

She fiddled with her hair bashfully "W-Well...Tadashi-kun is such a kind and understanding person and I really like that about him. His bashfulness is really cute, too. He always says that he doesn't look good enough because of his freckles but for me, he is cute with the freckles on his cheeks. But..." she slightly covered her now red cheeks "W-When he makes a serious face or when he's serious about something, it's making my heart beat like crazy... sometimes, he can be cool, too"

"You're in love with him, huh?" he chuckled "That's good. You're growing up, Ayame-chan"

"Except for my height..." she gloomily added.

Mizuki Ayame's height: still 154 cm.

"Don't worry about that" he told her "The important thing is you are growing up emotionally"

"I guess..." she said as she kicked a stone on the pavement "Which reminds me...nii-chan, how is it going with Michimiya-san?"

***

"Achoo!!"

"Yui, you okay?" her female member asked her.

"Yeah, I'm fine"

***

Daichi nearly tripped over from her question "Why did you suddenly ambush me with that question...?"

"Hahahaha"

***

"Uwaaaaaa!!" Yamaguchi covered his face "For some reason, I feel so embarrassed..."

"Here, a drink from your senpai!" Sugawara grinned and tossed him a canned coffee.

"T-Thank you..."

The three of them stood outside the convenience store, sipping the drinks the setter bought them. The freckled teen couldn't help but feel anxious that the two accompanied (note: dragged) him here and they haven't assaulted him with questions....yet.

"Say, Yamaguchi..." the third year looked at him and smiled apologetically "Sorry if we sometimes tease you too much about Ayame-chan"

"Eh? A-Ah, it's fine..." he replied as he stared at his can "That threw me off guard...Sugawara-san apologizing about that..."

"It's just that we find it fun teasing you and trying to set you two up" he replied.

Tsukishima nodded "At the same time, it was frustrating that you haven't made a move on her"

He sweat dropped "They were really that supportive...?"

"Sorry..." he told them "I was pretty much of a coward trying to tell her that I like her"

"It was a good thing it was mutual, right?" the grey haired setter grinned "Who would've thought that she also fell for you. It's a good thing our ship finally sailed"

He and the megane made a fist bump. The freckled teen said nothing about their teamwork and dedication.

"By the way" Tsukishima glasses were suddenly glinting as he pushed them up "How did you manage to confess? Knowing you, I was pretty sure you'd confess to her by the time we're third years"

"Tsukishima, that's too long!" the setter complained "If that happens, I can't witness their relationship!!"

"Too long...but, Tsukki might be right..."

"During the training camp" he told them. He then explained the events that happened, minus the convenience store incident. He noted how the two were listening to him intently with a grin plastered on their faces.

"So it was because of that accidental kiss you confessed and then by the next night, she gave you her reply, correct?" Sugawara concluded.

"No, I don't think so, Sugawara-san" Tsukishima shook his head "That wouldn't happen if Haiba didn't make him jealous the moment we arrived"

***

Lev sneezed loudly and nearly dropped his meat bun if it weren't for Yaku's reflexes.

"Cover your nose when you sneeze!" the libero nagged him.

"You'll spread the bacteria, Lev~" Kuroo told him "Our setter might catch a cold~"

"I'm not that delicate" Kenma mumbled.

***

"I guess we owe it to him" he grinned "Although he is Yamaguchi's rival...I mean, he obviously had this huge crush on her, right?"

Yamaguchi's heart stung a bit and he grumbled "She only sees him as friend, like what she told me"

"Jealous now, aren't we?" the megane smirked after picking up the tone of jealousy in his voice "How stupid. No one would take her from you. Aside that she's too dense to pick up other people's feelings, she only has her eyes on you, remember?"

"R-Right..." the freckled teen already knew she's like that and it was one thing he was relieved of.

Sugawara remembered something he wanted to ask "Say, have you guys dated?"

He nodded "Hai"

"Nice" he grinned "Do you want senpai to give you some advice?"

"Ah..." he sweat dropped "Should I...? I admit I have zero experience in dating but...I'm not so sure about taking Sugawara-san's advice..."

"Sugawara-san, how many girlfriends do you have? You seemed so knowledgeable about this" Tsukishima asked.

"I'm offended, Tsukishima" he feigned a hurt face "I may have no girlfriends yet, but I know about stuffs like this. And besides, I have given some advice to Ayame-chan about her feelings"

The freckled teen sighed, thinking that he might pick a thing or two from the setter "Please give me some advice, Sugawara-san"

"That's more like it, Yamaguchi!" the third year grinned "It's not much but, the thing about dating is quite simple, although it depends on the type of person you're dating"

He nodded in understanding.

"In your case, Ayame-chan is easy to understand. She loves volleyball with the same passion as Hinata and Kageyama, and she has a sweet tooth. She's also very kind and understanding, right? Add that she's a bit dense to pick up the mood sometimes so, you have to take the lead in your relationship, Yamaguchi"

"I see..."

"Heh~...Sugawara-san's actually wise about this..." the megane thought as he sipped his drink.

He continued "You have to be the first person to ask if you two have the time to date. Considering that we are a team and we're constantly having practices in the weekends and during club activities, it might be hard to insert the time to date"

"It's okay. We already understood that" he told him "Ayame's already busy making strategies and studying other teams and I'm also practicing. We know that we don't have all the time in the world to date"

"Still, you should date from time to time" he said "Other girls would hate it if they're not given time to be with their boyfriends. However, Ayame-chan's not like that but, it will be hard to deepen your relationship with her if you two focus on volleyball only"

The megane nodded "Give time to your selves"

"Hai. I understand" he looked ahead "I think I shouldn't tell them that Ayame and I can still have time with each other when I'm having practices with Shimada-san or Kazumi-san"

"Good thing you are taking this seriously" the third year grinned and patted his back "Ah, before I forget. Try to be a little possessive, Yamaguchi"

"Eh?!" he blushed beet red and looked at him in shock "Is it really necessary?!"

"Of course" Tsukishima scoffed and pushed up his glasses "If you're not possessive, other guys will think that she's still single and make a move on her. Put a little restraint on her since she's easily tricked as long as volleyball is mentioned"

He was feeling uncomfortable about that, though he agreed that they have a point on the last part "I-I can't be a possessive type of guy...I imagine that other people will find it hard to believe that I'm her boyfriend..."

"Well, truth to be told, if I don't know you guys, I will actually find it hard to believe you're dating" Sugawara admitted while rubbing his nape.

An arrow of hurt stabbed the first year on the back.

"It doesn't matter if they find it hard to believe or if you're not a possessive type, but it is important to let them know that she belongs to you" the blonde told him "You don't want any other guy, like the Great King to take her from you, do you?"

"Of course I don't want that" he replied "I won't be possessive but I'll still protect her from other guys"

"Great conviction, Yamaguchi!" the setter made a thumbs up "That's what we needed to hear from you. You really need to have more confidence in yourself"

"He may not look like it but he can be gutsy when needed" the megane smirked, recalling when he reprimanded him during the training camp.

"Is that so~?"

"Ano... I need to go first" Yamaguchi said after checking his phone "Etto...thank you for the advices, Tsukki, Sugawara-san"

"Oh, sure. Take care" the third year waved at him "It was fun talking to you about your love life"

"Just so you know, it still stings you two haven't given me a hint that you're going out" Tsukishima reminded him.

He flinched and bowed "Sorry, Tsukki. I'll be going first"

He walked away to his home. Sugawara checked his phone and looked at the pictures he took.

"I took a lot of good pictures earlier but it's waste we never took that kiss"

"We didn't had the chance since it was sudden"

"Shall I send some to Yaku-kun?" he asked in a teasing tone.

"I think it's better if we surprise him" he smirked.

"Oooh~! I like that"