Through the Boundaries ~ Kageyama Tobio

15

The air was unusually tense that afternoon as Saerin sat with Kageyama by the edge of the gym, the volleyball practice wrapping up. It had become routine for her to be there—watching, sketching, and sometimes even getting roped into the team's antics. The mood had been light, as usual, Kageyama's subtle closeness and their growing connection evident in the small touches and shared glances.

But the air shifted when Sakura entered the gym.

She'd been around before, clinging to Kageyama with that fake familiarity that irked Saerin. At first, Saerin had been unsure—she didn't know the full story and had even considered the possibility that Sakura might know something about Kageyama's past that she didn't. But after spending so much time with him, she saw through the facade. Sakura didn't really know him, at least not like Saerin did.

Kageyama had barely acknowledged Sakura's presence, something Saerin had noticed time and again. But today, Sakura wasn't just lingering at the edges like she usually did. She was making a direct beeline for them.

"Kageyama!" Sakura's voice was sharp, cutting through the chatter of the gym as she stormed toward them.

Saerin, sitting cross-legged next to Kageyama, glanced up from her sketchbook, but her expression remained neutral. Kageyama, on the other hand, tensed immediately, clearly not in the mood for whatever was about to happen.

Sakura came to a stop in front of them, her eyes flicking between Kageyama and Saerin, a mixture of irritation and something almost accusatory in her gaze. "So, this is what you've been doing? Hanging out with her all the time now?" Sakura said, her tone laced with jealousy as she looked at Saerin.

Saerin raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. She could already feel where this conversation was heading, but she wasn't about to engage in some petty back-and-forth.

"What do you want, Sakura?" Kageyama asked flatly, his tone void of emotion as he met her gaze.

Sakura huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I just think it's funny how you're acting like you're so close with her all of a sudden, when we both know I've known you way longer." She shot a glare at Saerin, who still remained calm and quiet. "Isn't it weird, Saerin? Don't you ever wonder what you don't know about him? I mean, Kageyama and I—"

"There's nothing between us," Kageyama interrupted sharply, cutting her off. "Don't make things up."

Saerin glanced at Kageyama briefly before standing up slowly. She dusted off her skirt, her movements calm and deliberate. "You're right, Sakura," Saerin said evenly, finally looking directly at her. "There are probably things about Kageyama I don't know yet. But I'm not concerned about that. I'm not here to play games or argue about who knows him better." Her voice remained steady, mature, and completely unbothered.

Sakura blinked, clearly thrown off by Saerin's composed response. "You—what do you even mean by that?" she snapped. "I've known him since middle school! You just showed up out of nowhere, acting like—"

"I'm not acting like anything," Saerin said, cutting her off with a soft but firm tone. "It's clear you want to create some kind of competition between us, but I'm not interested in that. If you knew Kageyama the way you claim, you'd know he doesn't want this drama either."

Sakura's face flushed red with frustration, her voice rising. "You don't know anything! You think you're so much better than me just because you hang out with him now? You don't even—"

Before she could finish, the tension in the gym had attracted the attention of the other guys. Hinata and Nishinoya were the first to move toward the scene, eyes wide as they sensed the growing argument.

"Whoa, whoa, what's going on here?" Nishinoya called out, trying to lighten the mood as he stepped between Saerin and Sakura. "No need to get so worked up."

Hinata, standing beside him, threw a glance at Kageyama, his expression both confused and concerned. "Uh... is everything okay?"

Kageyama hadn't moved, but the anger in his eyes was visible. He opened his mouth to say something—probably something he'd regret—but Saerin gently placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"It's fine," Saerin said calmly, her voice low but soothing as she looked at Kageyama. "There's no need to make this worse."

Kageyama hesitated, his jaw tightening, but he nodded slightly, letting out a slow breath. He kept his gaze locked on Sakura though, his frustration still simmering beneath the surface.

Sakura, feeling cornered and humiliated by the way Saerin had handled the situation, crossed her arms and muttered, "You're both so pathetic. Have fun while it lasts."

Kageyama's eyes narrowed, and before he could stop himself, he muttered back, "Just leave already, Sakura."

Sakura's eyes widened, a mixture of shock and anger flashing across her face. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Kageyama said, his voice colder now. "I don't want to see you again."

The gym fell silent as everyone watched the interaction. Sakura stared at him for a moment, clearly offended, before turning on her heel and storming out, leaving an awkward tension in her wake.

Saerin let out a small sigh, her hand still resting on Kageyama's shoulder as she looked up at him. "Thanks, but you really didn't have to say anything," she said softly. "I had it under control."

Kageyama met her eyes, the anger slowly fading as he relaxed. "She was being annoying," he muttered.

Saerin smiled faintly, lowering her hand from his shoulder. "Yeah, she was. But it's over now."

Hinata, still standing nearby with Nishinoya, let out a low whistle. "Man, that was intense."

Nishinoya nodded quickly. "Yeah, but Saerin handled it like a pro!"

Saerin gave them both a small smile. "Thanks, guys."

The tension that had filled the gym slowly dissolved as everyone went back to their business, the confrontation already fading into the background. As Saerin and Kageyama stood together, the unspoken understanding between them grew even stronger. They didn't need to say much—everything was clear between them without words.

Kageyama glanced at Saerin, his expression softening slightly as he saw the way she handled things. There was something about her calmness, her maturity, that made him feel grounded in a way he couldn't quite explain. He liked that about her.

And as they walked out of the gym together, side by side, Kageyama couldn't help but think that, for once, things finally felt right.