BRILLIANT Y/N. HAIKYUU

chapter eight

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chapter eight
one more day
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"Why are you here, Nakata-san?" The boy asked, blinking at you with his big wide eyes. You could tell by the way his movements were slightly slower than usual that he was tired. Very tired, you thoughts as the dark-haired boy yawned loudly. Today had been an important day for his volleyball career. You had heard from Iwaizumi that the coach had especially singled him out amongst the first years to be the replacement for Oikawa in case anything ever happened.

You were sure nothing would, of course, and you sure Kageyama knew that, too, but it was still a very notable achievement for a first-year.

You were proud of him, and so you smiled, widely and freely, so much that your cheeks hurt. Kageyama tended to have this effect on you, so that you found yourself just being happy in his presence. Without wasting too much time, you sat down next to him on the bus, keeping your eyes glued to his with that bright smile Kageyama was not yet fully accustomed to. He slightly tilted his head to the side, watching you.

"You played really well today, I heard," you said softly, slowly reaching up a hand to hesitantly ruffle the younger boy's head. The boy's eyes shone slightly at the mention of that, and unconsciously, he leaned into your touch. Slightly, and you didn't even notice. Even if you had noticed something, you wouldn't have commented on it. It was a new territory for you as well, you not being used to being the one to freely give affection.

Tobio was open with you, felt comfortable with you — those were little things you had picked up on as you got to know him, and you presumed this sense of security he felt with you had resulted out of you not being particularly demanding when with him. Above all else, Kageyama Tobio didn't appreciate being confronted with things he didn't understand. You would try, for him, and for you, since you found that you quite enjoyed being a source of comfort for somebody, to let go of your at times overly overbearing personality.

"Yes."

"Was it fun?"

"Yes."

"Do you want some milk?"

His smile brightened. "Yes."

Smiling, you revealed what you had been previously hiding behind your back: strawberry milk. Maybe not the one he preferred, definitely not the one he drank on a daily basis, but, Tobio realized, as his cheeks reddened slightly, that all that didn't matter if it was from you.

He wasn't good at being friends, he just didn't understand what was expected of him, you knew this, you recognized this in him. You had been the same, you were the same, and so you were determined to be Tobio's Hajime and Tooru, all packed into one, because you were just that amazing.

"Are you getting along better with Kunimi- and Kindaichi-san?" Or anyone, really? That was what you wanted to add, but when you noticed the way he averted his eyes, downtrodden, you didn't. Sulkily, he put the straw into the carton, and shook his head.

Huh. Why were you caring about how other people felt?

You cleared your throat. "Ah, well, it's... Uh, I'm here."