A few days later, the volleyball team has finished practice, and they've all decided to go out for some food at a local spot. Saerin is invited along by Sugawara, who enjoys her company and probably senses the tension between her and Kageyama.
Kageyama, of course, is less than thrilled about her coming along. Every time she's near, he feels out of control. Even when he's not looking at her, it's like he can sense her smile, her presence, and it completely unnerves him.
At the table, the group is having a good time—joking around, eating, laughing—but Kageyama is unusually quiet, silently stealing glances at Saerin while she effortlessly engages with the rest of the team. Sugawara and Nishinoya keep chatting with her, trying to get her attention, and she's smiling the whole time, that same contagious, bright smile that makes everyone at ease.
Sugawara leans over and nudges her with a grin. "So, Saerin, are you coming to our next practice too? The guys seem to perform better with you around."
Saerin laughs softly, her eyes sparkling. "Maybe I will. But I don't want to be a distraction."
Tanaka chimes in, "You'd be the best kind of distraction, trust me."
Kageyama, who has been listening in silence, feels his irritation spike. Before he knows it, he speaks up, his voice sharper than intended. "Maybe you should just stay away if you're going to be distracting."
The entire table goes quiet, and all eyes turn to Kageyama. Saerin's smile falters for the first time, and there's a moment of palpable tension.
Saerin looks directly at him, her expression unreadable. "I didn't know I was bothering you."
Kageyama feels cornered, his own words ringing in his ears. His jaw tightens, and before he can think, he mutters, "It's not about me."
Sugawara, sensing the tension, tries to ease the situation with a laugh. "Kageyama's just grumpy because he can't focus when pretty girls are around."
Saerin, catching the playful tone, smiles again, though it's smaller this time. "Is that it, Kageyama?"
Kageyama looks away, avoiding her gaze. His heart is pounding in his chest, and he hates how vulnerable he feels in this moment. He knows he's being rude, but he can't stop himself. He's too frustrated with how much she affects him, and he doesn't know how to deal with it.
Later that evening, after they've finished eating, the team starts heading home. Sugawara and the others offer to walk Saerin back, but Kageyama, still silently fuming, ends up walking in the same direction.
It's awkward at first, with Kageyama trailing behind as Saerin walks a bit ahead with Sugawara and Tanaka. She's back to smiling and joking with them, but every now and then, she glances back at Kageyama, as if she's waiting for him to say something.
Eventually, Sugawara and Tanaka split off, leaving Kageyama and Saerin walking alone together. The silence between them is tense, but Kageyama doesn't know how to break it.
Saerin, as usual, is the first to speak. "You really don't like having me around, do you?"
Kageyama stiffens, not expecting the direct question. He clenches his fists, his voice low and almost defensive. "That's not what I said."
Saerin looks at him curiously, tilting her head. "Then what is it?"
Kageyama struggles to find the words. He's never been good at this kind of thing—talking, explaining himself, especially to someone like her. His frustration boils over again, and he blurts out, "You just—make things complicated."
She raises an eyebrow. "Complicated? I'm just standing here."
Kageyama feels like an idiot, but he can't explain it. How can he tell her that just her being around is enough to throw him off? He doesn't know how to handle her presence, her smile, the way she seems so comfortable with everyone except him.
Before he can respond, Saerin smiles again—this time, it's softer, almost understanding. "You're really bad at this, you know."
Kageyama glares at her, but there's no bite behind it. "At what?"
"At talking to people," she says matter-of-factly, though there's no malice in her voice. "Especially girls."
Kageyama doesn't have a comeback. He's too caught off guard by her calmness, by how easily she calls him out without making him feel small. It's infuriating and strangely comforting at the same time.
As they walk in silence for a few more moments, Saerin stops suddenly, turning to face him with that same bright, beautiful smile.
"Kageyama," she says softly, her voice almost teasing but with a hint of sincerity. "You don't have to be so tough all the time, you know?"
Her words hit him harder than he expected, and for a moment, Kageyama doesn't know how to respond. He feels something shift between them—a crack in the walls he's built around himself. But he's not ready to let them come down just yet.
Instead, he simply nods, his expression still tense but a little softer than before. Saerin gives him one last smile before turning away, walking ahead of him without another word.
As Kageyama watches her go, he realizes that no matter how much he tries to fight it, something mabout Saerin is getting to him in ways he can't control. And for the first time, he's not sure if he wants to.
