“This is just like volleyball!” he exclaims. “The more we practice, the better we get!”

“Yeah,” says Tobio, although his mind kind of backtracks and reels at the more we practice because – what? Tobio just kind of wants to try kissing Hinata once.

“The scary Ravenclaw Chaser,” Kenma clarified, as Shoyo shifted on the bench. “I’m pretty sure he’s trying to stare you down two ways to Sunday.”

(Hinata wants to be a professional Quidditch player when he grows up. Kageyama is the grumpy Ravenclaw Chaser Hinata manages to charm anyway, in ways more than one. Tsukishima makes obnoxious cameos.)

It’s Tobio’s last day of middle school when he finds the crow.

“I didn’t plan on spending my weekend groveling at Kageyama Tobio’s front door,” Kindaichi’s shouting, wriggling in Kunimi’s grasp.

Tobio says, “Er.”

Kunimi turns to him, innocently like he’s not clutching his best friend in a death grip. “Hi, Kageyama-kun,” he says. “Do you have a few minutes to spare?”

“nice toss,” said hinata. “i didn’t know you owned a volleyball, santa. what are you doing?”

tobio pines (obliviously)

“What the hell,” Kageyama whispered between a rotation. “How do you survive being this short, dumbass? Can you even reach things?”

“Shut up! That’s my body you’re talking about,” Shoyo said defensively.

“And it’s useless! How do you even play volleyball—”

“I’m sorry,” said Shoyo, “but I can’t hear you from up here—”

Hinata Shoyo moves in across the street before Tobio’s third year of elementary school. Inevitably, they become friends.

Kuroo thinks it’s a brilliant plan to get the Karasuno team to recreate the Lizzie Bennett Diaries.

Oikawa plays Caroline.

When Shoyo comes back to the lockers because he’s forgotten his elbow pads, Kageyama’s there too, rustling with something in his bag. Shoyo feels his heart rate spike, consciously aware of every single one of his own movements. The tension lies thick in the room.