Switched

Part 3

It had been nearly a week since the group's double date to the festival, and Yamaguchi pestered Kageyama every single night to come over. So far, Kageyama had been able to avoid it, each time upsetting Yamaguchi just a little more, but he felt guilt weighing heavier and heavier on him. He gave in that Thursday.

"Really?" Yamaguchi beamed up at Kageyama as they walked to Yamaguchi's after practice; he seemed like he wasn't expecting Kageyama to agree. "Great! My mom has been gone on business all week, so it's just been me."

"You should have said that sooner," Kageyama replied with a hint of guilt. Every time his parents worked late Hinata came over to keep him company.

"Yeah, but you said you had homework," Yamaguchi said sheepishly.

"That's not as important as you."

The things Kageyama naturally said to Hinata when they were alone seemed more or less foreign to Yamaguchi, like Tsukki never said these types of things to him. It made Kageyama wonder if he should meddle, if he should tell Tsukki to say more sappy things. He shook the thought away just as soon as he thought it; he shouldn't stick his nose into it. It wasn't his relationship, he was just...borrowing it. Yeah, that seemed about right. Borrowing.

They walked in silence the rest of the way, and Kageyama found that he missed Yamaguchi's rambling; it almost reminded him of the steady stream of conversation Hinata always had going on their walks. A few times he glanced over to make sure Yamaguchi was okay, but the smile on his face told Kageyama he'd at least done something right.

When they finally got to Yamaguchi's house, Kageyama felt the weight of the situation settle in. He didn't know how Yamaguchi and Tsukki acted when they were alone alone. Walking home together and spending the night together were two very different things, and one of them likely involved sleeping in the same bed. Kageyama's face flushed; he and Hinata had only slept together once, and it was purely by accident (Hinata had rolled onto Kageyama's futon during a training camp).

"Tsukki, can I ask you something?" Yamaguchi murmured as he let the two of them into the house.

"Of course," Kageyama replied in a soft voice. He forgot for a moment to turn on the bored infliction in his voice.

"What's going on with you?"

The question shocked Kageyama. He thought, based on how Yamaguchi was responding to him, that he hadn't caught on. And yet, here they stood, Yamaguchi hanging his head as if embarrassed for even asking. Kageyama felt the urge to look anywhere but Yamaguchi, so he settled for looking around the small home.

There were potted plants on practically every surface, and the style of the home felt more western than he was used to. There was a small television near the corner, and Kageyama spotted a pet food bowl on the ground near his foot. "Nothing," he said finally, realizing he hadn't responded to the boy in front of him.

"Bullshit," Yamaguchi scoffed. "You've been...um," he wrung his hands. "I'm not trying to accuse you of anything. You just..."

"What is it?"

"Are you like...into Hinata?" Yamaguchi's face glowed bright red. He realized what he'd said and immediately sputtered, shaking his head and stepping back until he bumped against the couch. "I-I didn't mean it like that, I swear!"

Kageyama hung his head shamefully. He had been trying so hard not to harm their relationship, and he felt backed into a corner. He didn't want to hurt Yamaguchi further; he remembered the feeling of jealousy when Hinata first went to spend the weekend with Kenma, and how he'd been so upset he didn't even want to speak to the boy, but he knew how much it hurt both of them and he couldn't subject Yamaguchi—dare he say, his friend—to the same feeling.