Through the Boundaries ~ Kageyama Tobio

16

Later that evening, Saerin and Kageyama found themselves back on the park bench, the air around them cool but not enough to drive them away. The night sky was scattered with stars, and the faint rustle of leaves filled the comfortable silence between them. It was the kind of quiet that didn't need to be filled with words, and they were starting to appreciate that about each other.

Saerin leaned back, closing her sketchbook after a bit of doodling, and let out a soft laugh. "You know... I don't think I've ever spent this much time with someone who says so little." She teased, her voice light, though she was clearly enjoying it.

Kageyama glanced at her, one corner of his mouth twitching upward. "You're talking enough for both of us," he muttered, though there wasn't any real bite to his words. It was more of a comment than a complaint, and she could tell.

Saerin grinned, nudging him slightly with her elbow. "You're getting better at this, Kageyama." Her eyes met his, sparkling with humor and something else, something warmer. "I'm starting to think I might be rubbing off on you."

He didn't say anything, just huffed a quiet breath through his nose, but his hand, resting on the bench between them, subtly shifted a little closer to hers. It wasn't much, but it was something.

They sat in silence again, Saerin swinging her legs slightly under the bench. She suddenly blurted out, "I don't like seeing you with other girls."

Kageyama's head whipped toward her, eyes wide in surprise. She seemed embarrassed by her own confession but held her ground, turning her gaze away and looking out over the empty park. "I mean, not that you're with other girls a lot or anything," she added quickly, her cheeks tinged pink. "But it just... it gets to me sometimes. I guess I don't really like the idea of sharing."

Kageyama blinked, processing her words. It was strange hearing this from her, but in a way, it made him feel... good. Maybe even a little relieved. He had never thought someone like Saerin would feel possessive of him, but he couldn't deny that he liked it.

"I don't hang out with anyone else," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Just you."

Saerin's smile softened at his bluntness. "I know... that's what makes it so confusing for me sometimes." She hesitated for a moment before quietly admitting, "I've never really spent this much time with a guy who actually wanted to get to know me. Or at least, I think you do."

"I do," Kageyama responded firmly, his words coming out a little too quickly, as though he wanted to make sure she didn't doubt it.

They fell back into another comfortable silence, but this time, their hands brushed against each other. The contact sent a shock through Kageyama, and he had the sudden, intense urge to take her hand in his. He didn't know where it was coming from, but the feeling was there, stronger than anything he had felt before.

For a moment, he hesitated, but then his fingers closed around hers, holding her hand in his. It felt so natural, but also foreign—like something he'd never done but had always wanted to.

Saerin glanced down at their joined hands and then looked up at him, her expression softening even more. She squeezed his hand back gently, a small gesture of understanding and closeness.

"You know," she said quietly, leaning her head on his shoulder, "I like hanging out with you."

The simplicity of her words hit him harder than he expected, and he found himself staring at the top of her head, feeling the warmth of her resting against him. His heart was pounding in his chest, and for a split second, he wondered what it would be like to kiss her. The thought made him nervous—he'd never kissed anyone before, and it wasn't something he knew how to do.

Kageyama stood up first and held his hand out to her. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

Saerin took his hand without hesitation, letting him pull her to her feet. They began walking, their hands still entwined, neither of them willing to let go just yet. The quiet streets felt even quieter as they strolled, the night air cool but not cold enough to break the warmth between them.

As they reached the front of her house, they stopped, both lingering in the moment. Saerin turned to face him, her eyes flickering between his and their joined hands. She smiled softly, her gaze full of something playful but sincere.

"I had fun tonight," she said, her voice a little quieter now, almost as if she didn't want the night to end.

Kageyama nodded. "Me too," he muttered, his voice a bit stiff, but the look in his eyes made up for it.

Before either of them could say anything more, Saerin stepped in closer, standing on her toes to press a soft kiss against his cheek. Kageyama froze, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest at the contact. He wasn't used to this—this kind of closeness, this kind of warmth—but he liked it. A lot more than he expected.

When she pulled back, she gave him a look that nearly knocked the wind out of him. "You don't have to say it, Kageyama. I know you're not good at stuff like this... but I can feel it," Saerin said softly, her voice laced with that gentle teasing tone she always had with him, though this time it felt more intimate. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Kageyama couldn't find the words. All he could do was nod, his throat tight and his mind racing as she slowly pulled away from him and walked toward her door.

Just before disappearing inside, Saerin turned one last time and added, "You know, I think I'm starting to understand you more than you think."

With that, she smiled—bright and beautiful—and left him standing there, his heart pounding in his chest, a strange mixture of satisfaction and longing twisting inside him.

As Kageyama stood alone in the dark, he realized something that made him swallow hard. He wanted more than this—more than just these moments. The thought of not being close to her, of not feeling this way again, was suddenly unbearable.

He wasn't sure how or when, but he knew he had to make it official.