Haikyu one shots

: "Closer Than Ever" Sugawara

Hasegawa Chiyo and Sugawara Koushi had been friends for as long as either of them could remember. From the very first day of high school, they had clicked in an effortless way. Chiyo was Sugawara's confidant, study partner, and occasionally his biggest critic when his pranks with the volleyball team went a little too far. They supported each other in everything, and for the longest time, their friendship had felt simple, natural, and pure.

But lately, things had started to change.

Chiyo couldn't pinpoint when her feelings shifted, but the difference was impossible to ignore. Maybe it had started during their third year, when they began spending more time together outside of school, or maybe it was during one of their late-night conversations when Sugawara would make her laugh so hard she could barely breathe. She hadn't wanted to admit it at first, but there it was—an unfamiliar flutter in her chest whenever he smiled at her, a quickening of her pulse whenever he called her name.

She found herself glancing at him across the gym more often than she'd like to admit. Sugawara, now vice-captain of Karasuno's volleyball team, was the same person he had always been—warm, funny, and kind. But now, the sight of him laughing with Daichi and Asahi, or watching him play, sent her heart racing in ways that left her confused.

"Chiyo!" Sugawara's cheerful voice pulled her from her thoughts. He jogged over, his signature smile lighting up his face. "I've been calling your name for the last minute! Spacing out again?"

Chiyo blinked, feeling her cheeks warm. "Oh, sorry! I was just thinking about, um, homework."

Sugawara raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Homework? Really?" He gave her a knowing look. "You never get this distracted over homework."

"Shut up, Koushi," Chiyo mumbled, playfully pushing his arm.

Sugawara chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, alright. So, are you staying for practice today? I could use some extra support from my favorite fan."

There was that flutter again. His teasing had always been light-hearted, but lately, every little comment felt like it held more weight than it used to.

"Of course," Chiyo replied, forcing a smile. "I wouldn't miss it."

As Sugawara jogged back to the court, Chiyo found herself struggling to focus on the practice. She watched him lead the team with his usual enthusiasm, encouraging his teammates with a blend of optimism and humor that made everyone feel at ease. He wasn't the most powerful player on the team, but he had an undeniable presence, like the glue that held everyone together. And that was part of the reason she admired him so much.

Admired him?

No, admiration didn't even begin to cover it anymore.

A Growing Distance

As the weeks passed, Chiyo's feelings for Sugawara only deepened, and she found it harder to act like everything was normal. Sugawara noticed, of course. He always noticed when something was off with her, but every time he asked if she was okay, she brushed it off with a joke or a smile. She couldn't tell him the truth—couldn't risk ruining their friendship with the overwhelming confession that had been building in her chest.

But Sugawara wasn't one to let things slide easily. One afternoon, after practice, he cornered her in the hallway.

"Okay, Chiyo," he said, folding his arms across his chest. "What's going on with you? You've been acting weird lately, and I know something's up."

Chiyo avoided his gaze, her heart pounding. "I'm fine, Koushi. Really."

Sugawara stepped closer, his expression softening. "You know you can talk to me, right? You always do."