Through the Boundaries ~ Kageyama Tobio

4

It's a few days after their awkward encounter, and things between Saerin and Kageyama are just as tense—if not more. He's trying to avoid thinking about her, but it's impossible. Every time she walks into a room, his attention is instantly drawn to her. The more he tries to ignore it, the worse it gets.

Kageyama is in the middle of practice, his usual focus strained. His sets are slightly off, and he's more irritable than usual, barking at his teammates over the smallest mistakes.

From the corner of his eye, he notices Saerin again—this time, talking to Sugawara by the entrance of the gym. She's laughing, her short hair bouncing with her movements, her bright smile lighting up her face in a way that feels almost unfair. Completely unaware of how much she's distracting him, Saerin leans a little closer to Sugawara, teasing him about something.

Sugawara, smiling back, nudges her lightly. "You've got a dangerous smile, Saerin. It's too bright—you'll blind someone one day."

Saerin's laugh is melodic, and she gives Sugawara a playful nudge in return. "Is that your way of telling me to tone it down?"

Sugawara chuckles. "No way. Just saying we're all lucky you're not on the other team—no one would be able to focus."

Her smile widens even more, and Kageyama's frustration flares as he tries—and fails—to look away. The sound of her laugh stirs something in him, but he shakes it off, feeling irrationally annoyed by her presence and the easy way she flirts with Sugawara.

After practice, Kageyama lingers in the gym, collecting his thoughts. He's still aggravated by how distracted he's been, and he hates that Saerin has anything to do with it.

Just as he's about to leave, Saerin walks in alone, apparently looking for something she left behind. The gym is quiet, and the tension between them is palpable as their eyes meet. She doesn't acknowledge him immediately, making him feel even more on edge.

Kageyama scowls, speaking without thinking. "You really shouldn't come in here if you're just going to mess around."

Saerin looks at him, not exactly offended, but clearly unimpressed. "I wasn't aware I needed permission to walk into a gym."

He feels a surge of frustration but can't deny that her presence pulls at him in ways he can't explain. Instead of backing down, he steps closer. "You're distracting the team," he blurts, his words harsher than intended. "I can't—" he cuts himself off, realizing he's said too much.

Saerin raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "I'm distracting you? Or the team?"

Kageyama's jaw clenches, but he can't find a proper response. The tension between them is thick as Saerin studies him, her expression amused. Her bright, contagious smile lingers on her face, and though it frustrates him even more, he can't help but be drawn to it.

She finally smirks, her voice casual but with a slight edge. "Maybe you should focus more on your practice instead of who's around."

Her words strike a nerve, and for a moment, he's too stunned to respond. No one talks to him like that—especially not someone like her. But something about her confidence, her complete lack of intimidation, keeps him from lashing out.

As she turns to leave, Kageyama opens his mouth to say something—anything—but no words come out. He watches her walk away, feeling the weight of her presence long after she's gone.

Right after the encounter with Saerin in the gym, Kageyama storms into the locker room, barely holding his frustration in. His teammates notice something's off, especially Hinata, who can never seem to mind his own business.

As Kageyama slams his locker shut, Hinata—still clueless—asks, "What's up with you? You've been weird all practice."

Kageyama snaps. "Shut up, Hinata! Maybe if you were better at spiking, I wouldn't be so 'weird.'"

The others, including Tanaka and Nishinoya, exchange knowing glances. They've all noticed Kageyama's been acting differently since Saerin started hanging around. Tanaka, always the instigator, smirks and steps in.

"Is it Saerin?" he teases, his voice playful but with a bite. "She's always around lately. You get flustered around her or something?"

Kageyama glares at him, feeling the heat rise in his chest. "Shut. Up."

But Tanaka presses on. "No shame, man. She's got that smile, right? Can't blame you."

Kageyama can't handle it anymore, his temper boiling over. "You don't know anything, so stop talking like you do." He storms out of the locker room, leaving his teammates stunned but entertained by the obvious.

After cooling down a little, Kageyama ends up walking through the school corridors, deep in thought. He feels ridiculous for getting so worked up over Saerin, but he can't stop himself from thinking about her—her smile, the way she confidently dismissed him, and how much she stood out.

Suddenly, he spots Saerin walking ahead, alone this time. She's not with Sugawara or anyone else, and for a split second, he thinks about turning back—but then she glances over her shoulder and catches him staring.

She smiles, that same bright, contagious smile that makes him freeze in place. "Kageyama," she calls out, her tone friendly but with a hint of curiosity. "You heading somewhere, or just following me?"

Caught off guard, Kageyama scowls, trying to play it off. "Why would I follow you?"

Saerin shrugs, her smile never fading. "You tell me. You've been acting weird."

Her casual observation catches him off balance, and for a moment, he doesn't know what to say. He feels his face heat up as she steps a little closer, clearly unafraid of him or his bad attitude.

Before he can think of a reply, Saerin tilts her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, if you're going to stare, you might as well say something."

Kageyama clenches his fists, trying to keep his cool. He can't tell if she's messing with him or if she's genuinely trying to get him to open up. Either way, he can feel himself getting more flustered by the second, and it's driving him insane.

"I'm not staring," he mumbles, looking away, embarrassed at how weak his response sounds.

Saerin chuckles softly, clearly amused. "Sure. Whatever you say."

As she turns to leave, Kageyama finds himself blurting out, "Why are you always smiling like that?"

She stops and looks back at him, her expression softening for the briefest moment. "I guess it's just who I am."

For once, Kageyama is at a loss for words. He watches her walk away, feeling like something between them has shifted, but he's still too stubborn to fully understand it.