It starts in the middle of the day during his class break. Tobio is staring blankly at his problem set when a splitting headache bursts in the back of his head, and he lets out a roar that alerts the rest of his classmates.<\/p>\n
\u201cKageyama?\u201d one of them asks, leaning over his desk. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHead hurts,\u201d Tobio grits out.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you need to see the nurse?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
He puts his head in his hands and breathes, thinks of the exercises he used to do when he felt a little sore or overwhelmed and the space between his eyes ached more than usual. He\u2019d do breathing exercises, get a glass of water, lie down, take a nap.<\/p>\n
But pacing his breathing is doing nothing, he\u2019s in too much pain to get up and get himself some water, and he\u2019s pretty sure his teacher will get angry with him if he just lay down in the middle of the classroom and decided to fall asleep. There wouldn\u2019t be any harm in going to the nurse\u2019s office, but then she would say something about his health and wellbeing and not let him go to volleyball practice this afternoon. Tobio doesn\u2019t want that.<\/p>\n
So he bares his teeth and toughs it out, even though he wants to scream again. His classmates keep glancing at him worriedly since he keeps letting out frustrated grumbles under his breath. When the lesson starts up again, his teacher asks once if he wants to go to the nurse\u2019s office, and also threatens to drag him there, but he manages, \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d and then, \u201cI\u2019m fine I\u2019m fine I\u2019m fine I\u2019m fine I\u2019m fine,\u201d until she stops and leaves him alone.<\/p>\n
He figures it\u2019s just a momentary thing. After practice, or maybe even during, it\u2019ll go away or he\u2019ll be distracted away from it enough that he won\u2019t have to worry about it anymore. He feels a little dizzy when the bell rings and he walks to the gym, but it\u2019s not all that bad. It would be worse if he actually did miss practice because of it.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s ready to endure the pain and let volleyball take over, wash away the headache. But as soon as he steps into the gym, it disappears.<\/p>\n
Tobio blinks. Mostly everyone is there\u2014he\u2019d been walking slower than usual, due to the pain. Hinata bounces over to him and says, \u201cHey, Kageyama! I heard you were shouting in your class earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u2019d you hear,\u201d Tobio grumbles, taking out his water bottle and placing it on the bench.<\/p>\n
Hinata goes on about how some of his friends in Tobio\u2019s class had told him, and Tobio rolls his eyes. His own classmates are exactly that, but Hinata likes making friends pretty much anywhere.<\/p>\n
Then Hinata is saying, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t go near Tsukishima today.\u201d He drops his voice into a whisper. \u201cHe seems to be in a really bad mood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care,\u201d says Tobio. He glances at Tsukishima from the corner of his eye, who is talking to Yamaguchi. Tsukishima is clutching the side of his face and frowning.<\/p>\n
Tobio doesn\u2019t think much of it when practice starts.<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n
He expects that to be the end of it, and practice goes on as usual. Hinata was right: Tsukishima is grumpier than usual, snapping too quickly when Tobio sets to him, despite that he hits it every time. Tobio has to hold himself from lashing out, because it\u2019s not like he wants<\/em> Tsukishima to miss; he\u2019s pretty satisfied that he\u2019s getting used to setting to him in the way that Tsukishima wants him to.<\/p>\n But he remembers what Hinata had said about Tsukishima\u2019s bad mood and chalks it up to that. When practice ends, Tobio gathers up his things and heads out of the gym, being one of the first to leave.<\/p>\n It comes back as suddenly as it had left\u2014a striking pain, in the middle of the skull, erupting out of nowhere. Tobio yells and falls to the ground, clutching his head.<\/p>\n Hinata and Suga are rushing over to him immediately. \u201cKageyama?\u201d Suga says, crouching down by his side.<\/p>\n Hinata exclaims. \u201cKageyama! Are you getting ill?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, dumbass,\u201d Tobio shouts between his teeth. \u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s happening!\u201d<\/p>\n Behind him, he can hear more noises. It doesn\u2019t drown out the searing pain and the rage of sound flooding through his head, senseless and noisy and piercing. Tobio cries out some more and bends his head between his knees, on the dirt and barren patches of grass.<\/p>\n Then Suga has his hand on his back and saying, \u201cThere\u2019s something wrong with Tsukishima, okay? I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d His voice is a little more distant when he says, \u201cHinata, look after him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t need Hinata to\u2014\u201d Tobio starts, but the hand on his back disappears and Suga is gone.<\/p>\n Tobio lifts his head up a little to see Hinata peering at his eyes carefully. \u201cMaybe you did something bad,\u201d Hinata says, conspiratorially. \u201cMaybe this is the universe getting back at you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd maybe you need to shut up.\u201d Tobio tries to punch him, but most of the energy in his body is trying to repair the pain in his brain, so it\u2019s half-hearted. Hinata doesn\u2019t flinch at all.<\/p>\n \u201cWonder what\u2019s wrong with you,\u201d Hinata muses.<\/p>\n Suga comes back out, jogging with a worried line between his eyebrows. \u201cTsukishima\u2019s having a similar problem,\u201d he says to the both of them. \u201cC\u2019mon, we should figure this out together.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio shakes his head. He grabs his things, which had fallen when he\u2019d crumpled to the ground, and manages to stand back up. \u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m going home.\u201d<\/p>\n He manages two steps when the pain gets even worse, not just in his head but flooding to his shoulders and starting a terrible ache at his elbows. Inside the gym they hear an inhuman yell.<\/p>\n Tobio falls to his knees again.<\/p>\n \u201cNo you\u2019re not,\u201d Suga says firmly, and clutches Tobio by his arms. At least he manages to do so gently; Tobio\u2019s knees are wobbly, barely keeping him up.<\/p>\n He hears Suga say, \u201cHinata, help me with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay!\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio wants to say something about how he doesn\u2019t need Hinata\u2019s help, goddammit, but it\u2019s hard to work his mouth and he\u2019s more concerned about how his face is screwed up and his skin is burning in pain. Suga and Hinata manage to lug him back inside the gym, dragging him up the steps and settling his feet onto the squeaky wooden floors.<\/p>\n As soon as his sneakers make contact, the pain subsides almost immediately. There\u2019s still a faint ache between his eyes, but it\u2019s more than halved; Tobio can stand up straight and see more clearly now. He rubs at his eyes and takes in his surroundings.<\/p>\n On the ground, Tsukishima is surrounded by everyone else, adjusting his glasses and rubbing at the bridge of his nose. \u201cI\u2019m fine, I\u2019m fine,\u201d he\u2019s saying, scowling at everyone. \u201cIt\u2019s better now. I don\u2019t know why.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d Suga says, from Tobio\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Hinata echoes him. \u201cHm!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKageyama.\u201d Suga turns to him. \u201cDo you think your headaches and Tsukishima\u2019s are connected?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2014no!\u201d Tobio gapes at him and presses his lips into a stubborn frown. \u201cWhat would that have to do with anything? Why would Tsukishima and I be connected<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Suga shrugs. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he says, but gets a mischievous glint in his eye. \u201cLet\u2019s find out!\u201d<\/p>\n And then he\u2019s pushing Tobio towards the crowd, while Tobio tries to protest. Hinata, because he\u2019s terrible, delights in Suga manhandling him, and helps Suga by pushing him with more force than necessary. Tobio almost trips over his own feet and also Kinoshita when he arrives at the crowd around Tsukishima.<\/p>\n \u201cOi!\u201d Tobio says, as Hinata shoves him into Azumane\u2019s back.<\/p>\n Hinata jumps back and grins. \u201cSorry!\u201d he says, not sounding sorry at all.<\/p>\n Tobio huffs at him and turns around. Tsukishima\u2019s eyes narrow at Tobio\u2019s sudden presence.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here, king?\u201d he spits.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not like I want to be here,\u201d Tobio grumbles, and doesn\u2019t meet Tsukishima\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n But Suga says, \u201cI have a theory,\u201d popping out from the crowd. He paces between the two of them, as everyone else steps back a little to give the three of them some room.<\/p>\n Daichi asks, \u201cWhat\u2019s your theory, Suga?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell these two had headaches at basically the same time,\u201d says Suga, gesturing between the two of them. Tsukishima glares at Tobio, probably because he doesn\u2019t want anything to do with him. Tobio doesn\u2019t know if he shares the sentiment, but he scowls back anyway. \u201cAnd it got worse when Kageyama tried to leave the gym. And\u2014let me guess\u2014you probably had headaches all day before you came to practice.\u201d<\/p>\n Tsukishima doesn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n So Tobio says, \u201cHow did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Suga shrugs and smiles. \u201cTsukishima was in a foul mood, and you weren\u2019t any better,\u201d he says. \u201cBut neither of you complained until you started leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is like magic,\u201d says Nishinoya, awed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey make each other suffer when they\u2019re around each other, so now it\u2019s the same when they\u2019re not, too!\u201d Tanaka exclaims.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s so morbid,\u201d Azumane says frightfully. \u201cWhat if they\u2019re just like, soulmates or something?\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio sputters. Tsukishima sputters, too, and glances to Yamaguchi for help. But Yamaguchi is hiding a smile behind his palm. Tobio doesn\u2019t try to think about what it means.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might be onto something, Asahi,\u201d says Suga, and he and Daichi snort at the idea at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cWell that\u2019s great,\u201d says Tsukishima. He picks up his bag and slings it over his shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m soulmates with this idiot. Can I go now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure if you leave, the pain will return,\u201d Suga says thoughtfully, because apparently now he\u2019s in charge of this whole operation. Tobio doesn\u2019t know what to think of that, but he trusts Suga for the most part, so he doesn\u2019t protest.<\/p>\n Tsukishima scoffs. \u201cI can live,\u201d he says, and takes a step forward.<\/p>\n Tobio pinpoints the moment the pain begins in his head again. And with each step Tsukishima takes toward the door, it gets worse and worse until he\u2019s clutching at his cheeks, trying to move the ache elsewhere so it won\u2019t feel like someone is trying to squeeze his head to death.<\/p>\n \u201cStop it, Tsukishima,\u201d he hears Suga\u2019s voice say, because Tobio\u2019s vision has gotten blurry and all he can look at is the wooden ground. He thinks he hears Daichi trying to calm him, but he can\u2019t focus on anything right now.<\/p>\n There are more useless footsteps. Then the pain is decaying further and further away until it\u2019s a faint spot in the back of his head.<\/p>\n Yamaguchi has dragged Tsukishima back, who looks reluctant but no better than Tobio feels.<\/p>\n \u201cI was right,\u201d Suga says proudly. Tobio and Tsukishima try to glare at him, but Tanaka and Nishinoya praise him with too-loud shouts, and Azumane pats him on the shoulder.<\/p>\n Daichi looks between Tobio and Tsukishima carefully. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be apart,\u201d he says to them.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather stick pins in my eyes,\u201d says Tsukishima, glaring at Tobio.<\/p>\n Tobio scoffs. \u201cLike I\u2019m enjoying this any more,\u201d he mutters.<\/p>\n Daichi folds his arms and stares at the two of them like they\u2019re two particularly troublesome pet dogs. \u201cI\u2019m serious,\u201d he says. \u201cWe can\u2019t have either of you out or in pain, especially for the sake of your wellbeing.\u201d He smacks them both on the back, which really does not help with the stupid headache that is starting again.<\/p>\n But Tsukishima steps closer to Tobio by an inch\u2014whether intentionally or by accident, Tobio can\u2019t tell\u2014and it lightens significantly.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re going to stay together until whatever this thing is,\u201d Daichi gestures between the two of them, \u201cgoes away.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio crosses his arms and huffs.<\/p>\n Tsukishima glares at their captain. \u201cWhat do you expect us to do?\u201d he says, and that he referred to them as us<\/em> makes Tobio a little less reluctant about all this. \u201cI need to go home. I haven\u2019t had dinner yet. And I\u2019m sure Kageyama has even more needs than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d Tobio says.<\/p>\n Daichi ignores them.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s Yamaguchi who pipes up, \u201cYou can stay in the club room if you want. You can call your parents and say it was an emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a great idea, Yamaguchi,\u201d Daichi says gratefully. Yamaguchi beams.<\/p>\n Tsukishima, for some reason, is glaring at him. But Tobio says, \u201cFine,\u201d and takes out his phone.<\/p>\n He begins to trudge away to call his parents. To his surprise, though, as soon as he takes a step, Tsukishima yanks him back by his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you stupid?\u201d Tsukishima demands. \u201cDon\u2019t you remember what happened the last few times we moved away from each other?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need to call my parents if we\u2019re doing this,\u201d Tobio retorts.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I do, too. Just\u2014stay here.\u201d Tsukishima waves vaguely and takes out his own phone.<\/p>\n They stand with their backs to each other, calling their respective families. Tobio\u2019s parents understand, though they don\u2019t really ask for any more details after he says he\u2019s going to stay overnight in the volleyball club room; they probably think he\u2019s overworking himself, because in middle school sometimes he\u2019d accidentally sleep overnight after a private practice and they\u2019d berate him thinking that he hadn\u2019t had any sleep before he mentioned that he was getting ready to go home and had just closed his eyes for too long. They\u2019re not any less worried now, but it hasn\u2019t really happened much since then.<\/p>\n Tsukishima\u2019s phone call takes a little longer. Tobio talks to Hinata to pass the time, and Yachi, who has been cowering in the back fearfully since this all started.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh, you\u2019re going to spend the night with Tsukishima,\u201d Hinata says eagerly. \u201cYou better tell me how it goes!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to tell you anything,\u201d Tobio growls, shoving at his shoulder a little.<\/p>\n Yachi\u2019s eyes dart between him and Tsukishima. \u201cWhy do you think this is happening?\u201d she asks worriedly.<\/p>\n \u201cBeats me,\u201d says Tobio, shrugging.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you are<\/em> soulmates,\u201d says Hinata. He chuckles. Tobio tries to hit him again, but he dodges more easily this time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not soulmates with anyone,\u201d Tobio insists.<\/p>\n Hinata snorts. \u201cExcept for volleyball.\u201d<\/p>\n Tsukishima closes his phone shut and huffs. \u201cI can stay,\u201d he says, to the room at large.<\/p>\n Suga claps his hands together. \u201cGreat!\u201d he says. \u201cLet\u2019s get dinner then, and then you can come back together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait\u2014what?\u201d says Tobio, confused.<\/p>\n Suga gestures to himself and the others. \u201cWe need to go home after dinner, of course,\u201d he says. \u201cBut you two are staying here, right?”<\/p>\n Tobio doesn\u2019t know what to say. For some reason, he\u2019d been under the impression that one of them would stay with them. To chaperone, or something.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, dinner!\u201d says Suga.<\/p>\n Tobio doesn\u2019t glance Tsukishima\u2019s way once as he joins them out the gym, though at least this time it doesn\u2019t end with him in a splitting headache and humiliatingly on the ground. He sticks by Hinata\u2019s side at the back of the flock, letting Hinata engage with him on what they should get for dinner, and pretending that Tsukishima\u2019s presence which used to be a little less than unpleasant before is like a tense warmth that he doesn\u2019t want to address.<\/p>\n He doesn\u2019t say anything about it, but Tsukishima and Yamaguchi stay in the shop even after they\u2019d bought their own dinners, as Hinata and Tobio get their own. Then they congregate outside, and Tobio grudgingly walks over to Tsukishima as Yamaguchi strays towards the others.<\/p>\n \u201cHave fun, you two,\u201d he calls back. Tobio catches the sound of him snickering.<\/p>\n \u201cStop that, Yamaguchi,\u201d Tsukishima says uselessly.<\/p>\n Yamaguchi waves a hand back behind him.<\/p>\n Tobio glares at their retreating backs as they bid their goodbyes to the two of them. \u201cI can\u2019t believe I\u2019m going to have to spend the whole night with you,\u201d he mutters, not looking at Tsukishima.<\/p>\n \u201cBelieve me,\u201d says Tsukishima dryly. \u201cThis is not a walk in the park for me, either.\u201d<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n They head up to the club room, because Coach and their advisor had patiently stayed out of it, and handed over the key to Daichi when he asked, who in turn gave it to Tsukishima (well, it was more like Tsukishima had snatched it up before Tobio had the chance to grab it) and said, \u201cPlay nice, we don\u2019t want to see either of you limbless tomorrow morning.\u201d The school is dark and barren at this time of night, and they make their way through the eerie pathways and creep up the balcony.<\/p>\n Tobio flinches when one of the staircase steps creaks underneath their feet.<\/p>\n In the dark, he can see the outline of Tsukishima\u2019s smirk. \u201cScared?\u201d he taunts.<\/p>\n Tobio snorts. \u201cYeah, right,\u201d he says, and climbs the rest of the way up.<\/p>\n Tsukishima turns the light on in the room as they step in, moving miscellaneous things strewn on the floor out of the way, like Tanaka\u2019s lucky volleyball and Narita\u2019s PSP that he always leaves up here. The battery\u2019s dead, but it\u2019s not like Tobio is very good at puzzle games, anyway.<\/p>\n Tsukishima sets up camp at the back of the room, taking the only open space and settling down. He stretches his legs and places his bag next to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d says Tobio.<\/p>\n Tsukishima raises an eyebrow. \u201cMaking myself comfortable, what does it look like?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re\u2014\u201d Tobio helplessly glances around the room. \u201cWhere am I supposed to sit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t know.\u201d Tsukishima is grabbing a book and a mechanical pencil out of his backpack. \u201cDon\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio splutters for a moment, then sits down in the middle of the floor. This isn\u2019t going to be good on his back, and he blames Tsukishima entirely for it. He blinks, not knowing what to do for a second, because his weights are at home and so are his pens and pencils\u2014he usually just asks one of his classmates for one each day, and somehow ends up losing them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d he asks Tsukishima, again.<\/p>\n Tsukishima sends him a long-suffering look. \u201cDoing my homework,\u201d he says. \u201cThough I don\u2019t suppose you know what that is.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio glares at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have a pencil,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Tsukishima doesn\u2019t look up from his book. \u201cGood for you,\u201d he say absently.<\/p>\n Tobio places his hands on his knees, crosslegged. Tsukishima is taking up too much room and his feet are almost touching Tobio, but not quite. Tobio wants painfully to just get up and go, but he\u2019s afraid that if he does, he won\u2019t even make it back home. He\u2019ll probably end up passed out at the side of the road somewhere, and who knows what will happen to him while he\u2019s out.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I,\u201d Tobio grits out, staring at the musty floor. \u201cCan I borrow a pencil?\u201d<\/p>\n Tsukishima looks up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d he mocks. \u201cKageyama is asking me for help? On his own?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said, can I borrow a pencil<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Tsukishima is grinning now, tapping the plastic back end of his own pencil against his chin. Tobio bares his teeth and forces himself not to say anything. \u201cWhat if I said no?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I\u2019ll sit here and stare at you until I fall asleep,\u201d Tobio shoots back.<\/p>\n \u201cTerrifying,\u201d Tsukishima says, dry.<\/p>\n But he reaches into his backpack and pulls out another mechanical pencil. \u201cDon\u2019t break it,\u201d he says to Tobio.<\/p>\n Tobio begins to pull out his own homework. \u201cI\u2019ll try,\u201d he replies.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Some time passes, when they\u2019re scratching in their respective books and putting up with each other\u2019s company. It\u2019s surprisingly not that terrible, when they\u2019re not speaking. Every once in a while Tobio has problems with his homework, but he\u2019d rather eat five tubes of wasabi than ask Tsukishima for help.<\/p>\n The urge to use the restroom hits him after a bit. Tobio starts up and heads toward the door, until Tsukishima\u2019s sharp voice says, \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBathroom,\u201d Tobio says, opening the door.<\/p>\n Tsukishima is scrambling up. He dusts off the front of his shirt, and then says, \u201cI\u2019m coming with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio frowns at him. \u201cYou need to use the toilet, too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you\u2014\u201d Tsukishima closes his eyes in what is probably annoyance. Tobio doesn\u2019t think he deserves to look like that.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to stay around each other, remember?\u201d Tsukishima says. And then, probably because he feels obligated to, he adds, \u201cIdiot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d says Tobio.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m coming with you,\u201d says Tsukishima.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n They walk down the balcony, the key to the club room jangling a little in Tsukishima\u2019s pocket. It\u2019s darker than before, the moon peeking out from behind a building, against the blue-black of the sky. Tsukishima shivers a little.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you cold?\u201d Tobio asks. He\u2019s wearing his maroon gym outfit today, so the long sleeves are covering most of his skin.<\/p>\n Tsukishima shoots him a glare, visible under the white light. \u201cNo,\u201d he retorts, and shivers again.<\/p>\n Tobio rolls his eyes as they finally make their way to the men\u2019s room. He opens the door for Tsukishima, to let him in, but Tsukishima scoffs.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going in there with you,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Tobio frowns. \u201cThen what was the point of you coming with me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo I don\u2019t fucking pass out while you\u2019re gone, and you don\u2019t go unconscious when you\u2019re in the middle of taking a piss.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio didn\u2019t think it was possible for Tsukishima to sound angrier, but evidently he was wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cJust don\u2019t make me wait too long,\u201d Tsukishima grumbles.<\/p>\n Tobio uses the toilet as quickly as he can and washes his hands. The pain stirs in the middle of his head again, so it generally chases away any stronger urges to relieve himself. He looks at his reflection in the mirror\u2014there are bags from under his eyes, probably from his body hating existing for most of the day today. He scowls before heading back out.<\/p>\n Tsukishima is sitting on the ground, arms across his chest like he\u2019s cold, eyes closed. He peeks an eye open when Tobio comes back out.<\/p>\n Tobio is struck with the urge to help him up. But then Tsukishima\u2019s already standing up, looking Tobio up and down.<\/p>\n \u201cAll done?\u201d he says wryly.<\/p>\n Tobio shrugs, and they walk back to the club room together.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Somehow they manage to make it through the night without killing each other. Tobio miraculously finishes his homework in what feels like the first time ever, and after he\u2019s done he yawns immediately. Tsukishima suggests for him to turn out the lights, and Tobio realizes that Tsukishima\u2019s now reading a book; he must\u2019ve finished his homework a while back and just waited for Tobio to finish his, too.<\/p>\n Tobio does not think too much about it as he gets up and goes to shut off the light.<\/p>\n He falls asleep with his head on his backpack, Tsukishima presumably still sitting up with his back against the wall. Tobio isn\u2019t particularly picky about where he sleeps, so he doesn\u2019t stir and only wakes up when the next morning the room is flooded with light, and a loud voice is shouting, \u201cThey\u2019re alive!\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio groans and sits back up, shielding his eyes from the strain. Behind him he hears Tsukishima groan, \u201cShut up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s no way to talk to your captain, Tsukishima,\u201d says Suga\u2019s morning cheerful voice.<\/p>\n \u201cWake up you sleepyhead!\u201d shouts Hinata.<\/p>\n Tobio has no qualms with getting up in the morning, especially with the promise of volleyball. He rubs his eyes to see Kinoshita wavering over to him, a small smile on his face. He\u2019s holding a small duffel bag.<\/p>\n \u201cWe figured that you guys wouldn\u2019t want to walk around today in yesterday\u2019s clothes,\u201d he says to Tobio. \u201cSo we dropped by your houses to pick some stuff up for you guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio is grateful; he has to remind himself from time to time that his teammates aren\u2019t just that. \u201cThanks,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Kinoshita graces him with a small smile before going back to join the crowd.<\/p>\n Ennoshita and Nishinoya are at Tsukishima, with a similar looking bag. Tsukishima is glowering at them, though the thank you that he grounds out doesn\u2019t sound short of sincere. Nishinoya exclaims a you\u2019re welcome back, and Ennoshita bumps Tsukishima\u2019s shoulder with his own and tells him to sound more genuine.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re glad you didn\u2019t kill each other,\u201d Daichi chuckles, as Tobio and Tsukishima inspect the contents of their bags. From the corner of his eye, Tobio can see Tsukishima tug out his sweater immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cAsahi here was really worried you were going to,\u201d Daichi continues.<\/p>\n Azumane turns crimson. \u201cI was not!\u201d he lies, unconvincingly.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say that,\u201d Suga teases. \u201cDidn\u2019t I hear you say on the way here, oh no, what if we left weapons in the club room<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh no<\/em>,\u201d Daichi mocks in a similar voice. \u201cWhat if one of us should\u2019ve stayed to make sure that they\u2019re alright<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave more faith in your kouhai, Asahi,\u201d Suga teases, elbowing him.<\/p>\n Azumane sputters and mumbles incoherent excuses.<\/p>\n They all change together, even though Tobio and Tsukishima have already started and are the firsts ones done. Tobio fidgets between all the bodies, as Yamaguchi ropes Tsukishima aside and Yachi joins them to say something about Tsukishima\u2019s big brother. Hinata bounds over to Tobio, trying to wring his t-shirt on.<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d he says, leaning in too close to Tobio. \u201cHow\u2019d it go?\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio rolls his eyes and bumps his palm against Hinata\u2019s forehead. \u201cIt went fine,\u201d he says, honestly.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? I thought maybe you and Tsukishima annoyed each other\u2019s brains out.\u201d Hinata chuckles like the prospect of that is amusing, even though Tobio doesn\u2019t particularly want Tsukishima to be the reason of having his brain disappear, or whatever.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Tobio says. \u201cWe just did homework and went to sleep, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you feel better now?\u201d Hinata asks. He stands on his tiptoes to look Tobio more directly in the eyes.<\/p>\n Tobio pushes Hinata\u2019s face down and ignores it when Hinata yelps. \u201cWhatever,\u201d he answers.<\/p>\n Nishinoya swings in to yell at Hinata about something so Tobio is left standing alone again. But then Tsukishima is sidling up to him, not really looking at him in the eye. He asks Tobio, \u201cWant to go to the gym?\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio is at a loss for words. Tsukishima glances at him then, so Tobio manages out, \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n They walk together, but it\u2019s only torturous for a minute because then Hinata is running out, shouting something to Yachi over his shoulder, who is trying to keep up with him to maintain the conversation. Tobio runs after him because Hinata shouts, \u201cI\u2019ll beat you to the gym, Kageyama!\u201d and Tobio shouts back, \u201cNo you won\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAgh<\/em>,\u201d Tsukishima moans from somewhere behind him, and then he\u2019s running after them, too.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Morning practice goes along fine, though by the middle of it, Tobio\u2019s stomach is growling. He\u2019d filled up his water bottle with the others\u2014which meant Tsukishima had been there too, so it\u2019s fine\u2014but none of them had the foresight to get them food, so Tobio forces himself to endure the crippling hunger all morning. As soon as practice is over, he packs up his things and leaves, ignoring the internal strike between his eyes as he steps out of the club room.<\/p>\n But then it disappears when he hears footsteps and Tsukishima\u2019s voice is saying, \u201cAre you an idiot<\/em>?\u201d He swivels around to see Tsukishima there, in his class clothes with his bag swung over his shoulder. The top buttons of his shirt are undone like he\u2019d left before he had the chance to do them up, and he\u2019s clutching the side of his head.<\/p>\n Belatedly, Tobio goes, \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop leaving without me,\u201d Tsukishima grounds out. \u201cUnless you like killing my brain. In which case I\u2019ll do the same thing to you, and that won\u2019t be fun for either of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d says Tobio. He has a feeling he should say sorry, but that\u2019s not really something he and Tsukishima say to each other.<\/p>\n Tsukishima huffs and adjusts his bag. \u201cI\u2019m assuming that you\u2019re hungry and you\u2019re about to get breakfast,\u201d he says. \u201cI might as well come with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d Tobio says, again. \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n They walk in less than companionable silence, but only because after a moment Tobio asks, \u201cWhat should we do about classes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking the same thing,\u201d Tsukishima says, striding along at his pace. He\u2019s not like Hinata, who has to jog every once in a while to keep up with him. \u201cI figured we could tell our teachers about this, and then I could come with you to your class, since it\u2019s not like you\u2019ll be smart enough to keep up with mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWh\u2014Hey!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough it\u2019s going to be embarrassing and I\u2019ll be a laughingstock.\u201d Tsukishima frowns, and shoots the look at Tobio. \u201cI blame you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat,\u201d Tobio snarls. \u201cIt\u2019s not like I asked for this, either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell I didn\u2019t do anything to deserve this,\u201d Tsukishima says, like it should be that obvious. \u201cSo it must be you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did we even manage a night of not killing each other,\u201d Tobio mumbles.<\/p>\n They get to the cafeteria and manage to procure some food, because even though the chefs don\u2019t usually work in the mornings, they\u2019re more distraught at starving students who might not have enough brain energy to study if they don\u2019t have enough food in their bodies. Tsukishima snorts and makes a comment about how Tobio doesn\u2019t use his brain for anything other than volleyball, and Tobio nudges him in response. Tsukishima is kind of smirking, though, and it\u2019s not really terrible\u2014it\u2019s kind of nice, actually.<\/p>\n They eat and walk back to the first years\u2019 hallway. Tsukishima makes Tobio stand outside his classroom\u2014\u201cI can\u2019t bring you inside, you might pass out from being around so many people who are smarter than you\u201d\u2014and goes inside to talk to his teacher. But being away from Tsukishima for more than two minutes makes Tobio\u2019s head start to pound and skin start to sweat, so he rushes in anyway, despite Tsukishima\u2019s words.<\/p>\n Tsukishima seems to be in a similar state anyway, bent over his teacher\u2019s desk. He glowers but turns back to his teacher as soon as Tobio comes in.<\/p>\n \u201cSee?\u201d he says to her, as the pain at the side of Tobio\u2019s head subsides.<\/p>\n So they do a similar thing to Tobio\u2019s teacher, and then Tobio can go through class with the only painful aspect of it being that he pretends to pay attention. He stares into space and doodles miscellaneous volleyball things in his notebook, like usual.<\/p>\n Then something hits him in the back of his shoulder. Tobio scowls and turns around, to see Tsukishima, where he\u2019s been strategically placed diagonally and behind him, glaring. A crumpled piece of paper lies at the floor behind Tobio\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Tsukishima hisses.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business!\u201d Tobio whispers back. But he lifts up his notebook, anyway.<\/p>\n Tsukishima reels back. \u201cWow, your drawings are terrible,\u201d he mutters. He ignores Tobio as Tobio\u2019s scowl deepens. \u201cPay attention,\u201d he whispers, and gestures to the front of the classroom.<\/p>\n Tobio shoots back, \u201cDon\u2019t tell me what to do\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKageyama? Tsukishima?\u201d calls his teacher from the front of the classroom. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me that Tsukishima\u2019s presence will be a distraction for you, Kageyama,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n The rest of their classmates giggle. Tobio faces forward and slinks down in his seat. \u201cNo,\u201d he mumbles, face warm.<\/p>\n His teacher nods shortly. \u201cGood,\u201d she says, before returning to the lesson.<\/p>\n Tobio sneaks a glance back, expecting Tsukishima to look smug, victorious even. But Tsukishima\u2019s cheeks are pink too, and his glare is enough for Tobio to turn back around and pretend to be paying attention a little more.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n They sit together at lunch, resigned to having to share space with each other now. Tsukishima doesn\u2019t say anything as he eats his bento, and Tobio holds himself back from asking about Tsukishima\u2019s lunch as he sits next to him. Because even though the rest of his teammates are more than just that, some he might even consider his friends, Tsukishima has always been a weird exception to that rule. Tobio doesn\u2019t think too much about it.<\/p>\n Yamaguchi, Hinata, and Yachi have joined them, too, so it\u2019s not all that terrible. They start off with a weird conversation about Tsukishima having spent the whole morning with Tobio in class, but then Hinata gets distracted and starts talking about volleyball again, and Tobio is more than happy to join in. Yamaguchi and Yachi pitch in with their own thoughts as Tsukishima pretends not to pay attention, as Tobio corrects all of Hinata\u2019s horrendous history of volleyball knowledge.<\/p>\n Then Tobio is getting a chopstick full of rice when something bumps against his foot. It\u2019s probably just someone else\u2019s, but it sends an electric tingle through his bones and up his spine. He startles, but no one really says anything, or reacts either, though Tsukishima is drinking from his water and swallows a little too hard and chokes. Yamaguchi pats him too hard on the back and Hinata frets about them maybe needing to perform CPR (Yachi is certified, she exclaims) until Tsukishima tells him not to be ridiculous.<\/p>\n Tobio figures it\u2019s nothing, mostly, until later when they\u2019re at afternoon practice. Tobio is toweling sweat off his forehead while Tsukishima is at the bench, tying his shoelaces, because Tobio had wanted to start as soon as possible while Tsukishima insisted on being the slowest person alive with getting himself ready. He followed Tobio to the gym, though, while sliding on his shirt.<\/p>\n Tsukishima says, \u201cHey, king, get me my water bottle,\u201d and Tobio, too used to the nickname (at least when it\u2019s coming from Tsukishima) only glares a little and grabs Tsukishima\u2019s water bottle from the bleachers.<\/p>\n Their fingertips touch as soon as Tobio hands it over. He drops it and Tsukishima just barely catches it, scowling at him as he does.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that for?\u201d he demands.<\/p>\n Tobio\u2019s fingers are tingling like his foot had earlier at lunch\u2014but even more now, because it\u2019s bare skin contact, and the pads of his fingers are prickling with warmth where Tsukishima\u2019s had been. And not even in a bad way; in fact, Tobio wants it to happen again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou kicked me during lunch,\u201d he says, suddenly.<\/p>\n Tsukishima adjusts his goggles and straightens the back of his shoe. \u201cI didn\u2019t kick you,\u201d he says defensively.<\/p>\n \u201cBumped against me, whatever,\u201d says Tobio.<\/p>\n And then without warning, he touches Tsukishima\u2019s shoulder. Tsukishima yelps and springs free.<\/p>\n \u201cAsk before you touch someone, idiot!\u201d he shouts.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Tobio says absently. His mind is replaying yesterday, like it would if they\u2019d played a volleyball match, but instead of that it\u2019s his whole afternoon with Tsukishima. Since the headaches had started, he realizes that they haven\u2019t touched once\u2014they\u2019ve been in each other\u2019s companies, firing off unnecessary commentary, spending the night together in the club room. But he can\u2019t recall a point of physical contact before the lunch not-kick, and\u2014and now.<\/p>\n Suga jogs over to them, glancing between them worriedly. \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d he says. \u201cAre the headaches coming back? I saw Tsukishima shout.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d says Tsukishima.<\/p>\n At the same time, Tobio says, \u201cSuga-san, I think\u2014I think something\u2019s happening when Tsukishima and I touch each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d Suga raises his eyebrows. \u201cIn a bad way?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, in a good way,\u201d says Tobio.<\/p>\n He glances at Tsukishima, who is standing around, looking like he\u2019d rather have an extended practice than have this conversation. But he\u2019s still around, anyway.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I?\u201d Tobio asks, reaching out hesitantly.<\/p>\n Tsukishima sighs, but nods. Tobio touches his fingers on Tsukishima\u2019s elbow.<\/p>\n Immediately warmth blooms up his fingertips, to his wrist and rocketing through his arm, staying at the left side of his body. Tsukishima lets out a content sigh which is probably involuntary, judging by how he turns pink as soon as he does. Tobio tries not to analyze it as he tugs his hand back, body going cold again.<\/p>\n Suga\u2019s eyes are wide. \u201cI see,\u201d he says. \u201cThen\u2014what do you think you should do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Tobio says helplessly.<\/p>\n Suga shifts his attention. \u201cTsukishima?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n Tsukishima purses his lips, eyes darting between the two of them. \u201cI suppose Kageyama and I should remain in physical contact as long as we can,\u201d he says. \u201cWithout hurting each other,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure if that\u2019s possible,\u201d Suga chuckles, and ignores Tobio\u2019s mumble of assent. \u201cBut that sort of thing should be put off until after practice, right? So we can take care of this later.\u201d<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Suga\u2019s words sound nice, but all through practice Tobio can\u2019t help but let his mind wander at how warm he had felt when he\u2019d touched Tsukishima, a pleasant tingling that he wants to experience again. He glances at Tsukishima more, and he\u2019s pretty sure Tsukishima knows\u2014he stoutly avoids Tobio\u2019s gaze when he can, and even when Tobio is too slow with his set, instead of yelling at him Tsukishima stomps off to talk to Yamaguchi, who is sitting on the bench.<\/p>\n Narita comes in his place. Tobio tries not to feel too disappointed. And he\u2019s kind of pissed at himself, anyway, because since when does he need Tsukishima\u2019s attention and approval, outside of pure volleyball things? When he and Hinata do their quick attack, Tobio is off by a mile and Hinata yells at him and starts another unoriginal rant about how Tobio should focus if he wants to go to nationals.<\/p>\n Afterward, Tobio half-expects Tsukishima to storm off without him, headaches be damned. But instead Tsukishima lingers back and doesn\u2019t look Tobio in the eye as he does.<\/p>\n Tobio says, \u201cGuess we\u2019re stuck here together again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWow,\u201d says Tsukishima. \u201cSound a little less excited, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n They go to the clubroom as usual, having already eaten their dinners with the others, and having called their parents once more. (Tobio\u2019s mother had insisted that he better not be pulling all nighters, and he\u2019s pretty sure Tsukishima\u2019s phone call had been longer than before, too.) Tobio pulls out his backpack and searches for a pencil, but, as usual, comes up with nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I borrow a pencil?\u201d he asks Tsukishima, who has resumed his regular spot against the wall.<\/p>\n Tsukishima glares up at him. \u201cDidn\u2019t you borrow one earlier today?”<\/p>\n Tobio shrugs. \u201cI lose them a lot,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n To his surprise, Tsukishima flings one at him, nearly poking Tobio\u2019s eye out. \u201cDon\u2019t lose this one,\u201d he says, before taking out his own homework that he\u2019d picked up from his teacher this afternoon before practice.<\/p>\n Tobio glares, but Tsukishima\u2019s already started on his homework. Sighing, Tobio forlornly takes out his own.<\/p>\n Tsukishima\u2019s feet are only a few inches from him. Tobio remembers how nice just having their shoes brush had been, and figures a little more contact couldn\u2019t hurt. He touches his shirtsleeve to the bottom of Tsukishima\u2019s shoe, enjoying a little how his left side yet again shimmers with a comfortable warmth.<\/p>\n But then Tsukishima jerks his foot back, and he\u2019s going, \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio\u2019s mouth is dry. \u201cI just,\u201d he starts. \u201cWhen\u2014earlier, and the water bottle\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Tsukishima grits out, and for a second Tobio thinks he\u2019s not going to let Tobio touch him and make him suffer.<\/p>\n But then Tsukishima is moving his bag from his side so it tosses in front of his shoes. \u201cCome here,\u201d he says, as Tobio stands up.<\/p>\n Tobio stares at him.<\/p>\n \u201cCome here<\/em>,\u201d Tsukishima says, again. \u201cGod, if you\u2019re going to touch me, don\u2019t touch my shoes. That\u2019s disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI,\u201d says Tobio, taking one step hesitantly. Tsukishima doesn\u2019t bark at him, so that\u2019s a good sign. \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n He settles at Tsukishima\u2019s side, trying not to react so much when his entire left side practically springs alive at the contact. Tsukishima must be feeling the same thing, because he lets out a badly disguised shudder as Tobio\u2019s thigh nestles against his.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t sit too close,\u201d Tsukishima says, though he doesn\u2019t sound like he really means it. \u201cDon\u2019t make it weird.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio nods, trying to meet his eyes and failing. \u201cOkay,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n They settle into a pattern after that, bumping the backs of their hands together, waking up the next morning and letting their spaces linger together. Tobio finds that just being closer to Tsukishima helps things, even though he\u2019s been around Tsukishima for twenty-four hours so he hasn\u2019t really had a headache since then. In the morning this time the second years have remembered to get them breakfast, and they walk together to Tobio\u2019s class, a little closer than yesterday, hips bumping against each other every once in a while.<\/p>\n Neither of them comments on it, so Tobio figures that Tsukishima doesn\u2019t mind too much, either. In fact, a lot of his comments are less biting for<\/em> Tobio and more about<\/em> him. Hinata makes this observation and says that it\u2019s progress and that he\u2019s jealous. Tobio tells him there\u2019s nothing to be jealous of.<\/p>\n After their lunch break, when they\u2019re back in Tobio\u2019s class, Tsukishima excuses himself to go to the men\u2019s room. As soon as he steps out the door a wave of pain floods through Tobio\u2019s body and he\u2019s up and out of his desk before he knows it. He tells his teacher that he\u2019s going to the restroom with him, and they both do their best to steadfastly ignore the giggles that erupt around them.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe this isn\u2019t over yet,\u201d Tsukishima mutters, disgruntled.<\/p>\n Tobio mumbles in agreement.<\/p>\n It\u2019s only been a few days, and he\u2019s stopped hating it, really. Their arms brush together and Tsukishima doesn\u2019t complain as he heads into the restroom. He makes Tobio stay outside, because, \u201cBoundaries Kageyama, really.\u201d But on their way back, when Tsukishima is done, Tobio notices the way the sunlight from the nearby window hits Tsukishima\u2019s face, carving a light yellow outline around his profile.<\/p>\n He quickly turns back and tries to shake the detail out of his head.<\/p>\n At practice, he can\u2019t find any excuse to touch Tsukishima more than usual, so instead he just takes his breaks whenever Tsukishima does. However, Tsukishima takes a lot of breaks, and quite often; it\u2019s about the eighth time (because Tobio is counting) when Tobio gets his water bottle along with Tsukishima\u2019s and Tsukishima glares at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n Tobio shrugs. \u201cI need to stay with you or else I\u2019ll get a headache,\u201d he says. It\u2019s not a lie; they haven\u2019t been longer than a court length away for them to really test this theory.<\/p>\n Tsukishima rolls his eyes but doesn\u2019t complain the next time it happens. When they play a practice match, Daichi initially puts them on different teams until they both wince, blocked by the net. Rolling his eyes, Daichi switches Tsukishima over for Ennoshita.<\/p>\n They go through their usual post-practice routine with getting dinner and being abandoned by the others. Today, though, when they get back to the club room, Tobio sits next to Tsukishima and Tsukishima doesn\u2019t complain. In fact, he adjusts himself so they\u2019re pressed even tighter together, trickling up Tobio\u2019s side into hot spots.<\/p>\n He tries not to react and starts on his homework, this time not asking Tsukishima for a pencil because he\u2019d managed to keep (and not lose) the one Tsukishima had lent him the night before.<\/p>\n Tobio gets through two problem sets and frowns. He doesn\u2019t see the point of doing language and literature\u2014if he can read enough, and speak enough, it\u2019s all he really needs to know.<\/p>\n Tsukishima is reading and listening to music, though turned down soft enough so that Tobio doesn\u2019t need to complain about it. After a second, though, he leans over Tobio\u2019s shoulder to look at his homework.<\/p>\n \u201cWow, did you pay attention at all today?\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Tobio glares at him. \u201cShut up,\u201d he says. Maybe if he stares at the problem enough, he\u2019ll scare the answer out of it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou covered this in class,\u201d says Tsukishima. \u201cWell, you should\u2019ve if you were paying any attention.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up,\u201d Tobio repeats.<\/p>\n Tsukishima ignores him and sighs. \u201cYou\u2019re hopeless,\u201d he says, but instead of turning back to his book, he slides his headphones down and reaches across Tobio.<\/p>\n Tobio is so surprised at the sudden contact that he doesn\u2019t know what to say. Tsukishima makes a grabbing motion for Tobio\u2019s pencil and says, \u201cGive that here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat,\u201d says Tobio.<\/p>\n But he lets Tsukishima take the pencil from him, anyway, and then Tsukishima is scribbling on his homework. His handwriting is pointy and elegant, compared to Tobio\u2019s messier scrawls.<\/p>\n He tells Tobio what type of answer he\u2019s looking for, which Tobio feels should be obvious even though he hadn\u2019t known at first. He doesn\u2019t admit this and grounds out, \u201cYeah, so?\u201d and Tsukishima lets out more impatient sighs before he walks Tobio through the problem, until Tobio manages to get to the answer himself.<\/p>\n After that, it\u2019s a matter of Tsukishima hovering over his shoulder and watching Tobio fill in his answers, making weird grumbly noises when he thinks Tobio is wrong. Tobio darts nervous glances to him when he\u2019s at the eighteenth problem, but at this point Tsukishima is just watching patiently, and gives a clipped nod when he sees Tobio waiting for his approval.<\/p>\n When he\u2019s done, he sits for a moment, staring into space. It feels a little like something significant has happened, but Tobio doesn\u2019t know how to place it.<\/p>\n The warmth disappears from his side. Tobio starts. But Tsukishima is just going up to turn out the light, before stumbling through the darkness and rejoining him.<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight,\u201d Tsukishima says shortly.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Night,\u201d Tobio replies, insides soft.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n \u201cOhohoho, Kageyama!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTsukishima<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTsukki?\u201d says Yamaguchi\u2019s bewildered voice, even closer than what sounds like Tanaka\u2019s and Nishinoya\u2019s. \u201cKageyama?\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio blinks awake. All around his head is warm, but not hot like in a way when he practices volleyball for five hours (which he sometimes does on the weekend.) He tries to move his head, but finds that there\u2019s a small warmth above it, and he doesn\u2019t really want to leave it alone. It burns nicely against his ear.<\/p>\n And then above him is a mumbled, \u201cIt\u2019s too noisy,\u201d and Tobio realizes that the warmth there is Tsukishima.<\/p>\n He nearly jolts out of his skin. But Tsukishima would probably hate that, so he doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Hinata shouts, shoving his way in front of everyone, \u201cKageyama, you and Tsukishima slept<\/em> together?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hate you,\u201d says Tobio. He grabs absently for Tanaka\u2019s lucky volleyball and throws it at Hinata.<\/p>\n Hinata laughs even as it bumps at the front of his thigh. \u201cOw,\u201d he says, without feeling. \u201cThis is cute! Yacchan, come take a picture of this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you dare,\u201d Tobio tries to grit out, but his eyes are still bleary and he rubs them awake.<\/p>\n Yachi is biting her lip, badly keeping herself from smiling. \u201cI have to admit, Kageyama-kun, this is kind of cute,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cI hate you too,\u201d Tobio says.<\/p>\n Hinata gasps dramatically. \u201cDon\u2019t say that to Yacchan!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on,\u201d Tsukishima manages, finally awakening. His glasses are folded in his lap, as well as his hands, and he\u2019s finally stirring as Yamaguchi shakes him from Tobio\u2019s head.<\/p>\n Tobio nudges him off a bit, trying not to mourn the loss. \u201cGet up,\u201d he says. \u201cYou fell asleep on me.\u201d<\/p>\n Tsukishima jerks back so quickly that Tobio may as well as told him that they lost nationals before they even tried to get in. \u201cOh,\u201d says Tsukishima, and he blinks the sleep out of his eyes before shoving his glasses back on. He doesn\u2019t meet Tobio\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n Tobio doesn\u2019t have time to mull over it when Ennoshita says, \u201cIt was pretty cute to come back to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up,\u201d Tobio and Tsukishima say in unison.<\/p>\n Tobio glances over, but Tsukishima\u2019s cheeks turn pink when they do. He grabs his things and stands up, shoving back a yawn.<\/p>\n Ennoshita just shrugs and smirks. \u201cEveryone agrees, so it\u2019s true,\u201d he says. \u201cC\u2019mon, we got morning practice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Bakageyama,\u201d says Hinata. \u201cDon\u2019t let me beat you to the gym again!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t beat me yesterday, dumbass!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t leave me,\u201d Tsukishima mutters, as Hinata laughs and races out, oblivious.<\/p>\n Tobio pretends he doesn\u2019t hear and chases Hinata out. He slows a little, anyway, until Tsukishima has clambered up and forced himself to the doorway, messy and worse for wear.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Nothing\u2019s really changed, except it feels like things have, during practice. Their rotation for their mock game has Tobio practicing his sets with the other spikers more than Tsukishima, and Tsukishima spends a lot of the time sitting by Yamaguchi at the benches. Tobio wants to be annoyed with Tsukishima for snubbing his position as a regular when Yamaguchi isn\u2019t, but Tsukishima has been looking more and more tired as the week\u2019s gone on.<\/p>\n He\u2019s probably even less of a morning person than Tobio is, not like that\u2019s a surprise. When Tobio accidentally falls asleep in class, though, Tsukishima prods him awake, even though his classmates are dozing off too.<\/p>\n Tobio glares. But during their break Tsukishima says, \u201cDidn\u2019t get enough sleep on my shoulder last night?\u201d and Tobio doesn\u2019t know what to say to that.<\/p>\n Tsukishima sounds a little irritated, maybe, but not in the way that he usually does. Tobio scowls at his back as they go to Yachi\u2019s classroom for lunch today, and Hinata takes out his notebook for him and Yachi to pore over his homework. Tsukishima snorts when he sees what problem they\u2019re working on.<\/p>\n \u201cKageyama was having issues with that one yesterday, too,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n But his elbow is pressed against Tobio\u2019s so maybe he\u2019s not being too critical, or at least it\u2019s not a terrible thing, or something. Tobio finds that he\u2019s not really offended, and kind of shrugs when Hinata looks at him questioningly.<\/p>\n Yamaguchi asks, \u201cDid you help Kageyama with his homework, Tsukki?\u201d His eyes are wide.<\/p>\n Tobio absently thinks, how did he know that?<\/em> Tsukishima mumbles something that no one really understands and continues on with his lunch.<\/p>\n The day goes on like usual, with Tsukishima trailing Tobio with less grumbles than usual, looking like he doesn\u2019t mind, even. He shoves a notebook at Tobio at the end of the day and Tobio expects maybe a passive aggressive remark\u2014instead, it\u2019s an organized collection of notes, from today\u2019s lesson. Tobio opens his mouth, intending to say something to him, but Tsukishima\u2019s already shoved his headphones back on and doesn\u2019t look like he\u2019ll even try to answer Tobio if he asked.<\/p>\n It could be just his imagination. But after they get changed and go to the gym together, in a group where Tsukishima is ghosting behind Tobio\u2019s back while talking to Yamaguchi, Hinata bounds over to Tobio, a curious brightness in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cTsukishima seems to like you more today,\u201d he says thoughtfully.<\/p>\n Tobio cuffs his ear. \u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m serious!\u201d Hinata says, seriously. \u201cAnd you seem to like him more, too! You\u2019re not glaring at him anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no reason to,\u201d Tobio mumbles. His cheeks feel warm.<\/p>\n Hinata leans in, with interest. \u201cAre you guys friends<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous,\u201d Tobio says again, even though his chest lurches at the thought.<\/p>\n Practice is normal, though one time after Tobio sets to Hinata, it rolls away and Tsukishima picks it up. He tosses it back without either Tobio or Hinata needing to ask. Hinata jumps up and yells, \u201cThanks Tsukishima!\u201d while Tobio takes the ball, trying not to notice how his hands can immediately detect the place where Tsukishima\u2019s had been, tingle and warm at the spots.<\/p>\n Everything is normal\u2014well, as normal as this whole situation is\u2014and they wait for it to wane off. Tobio and Tsukishima say goodbye after getting dinner with their team, and walk back to the club room without much fuss or debate.<\/p>\n Tobio\u2019s knuckles brush against Tsukishima\u2019s hand, but he does his best not to notice. It makes him feel excited, like when he serves particularly well or blocks so fast that they get a point. He wants to do it again, but Tsukishima would probably scowl at him and things will be even more awkward.<\/p>\n But then it happens again. Tobio looks down at his hands, and then up at Tsukishima. Tsukishima\u00a0\u00a0has his headphones in, and meets Tobio\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Tobio faces forward again. \u201cNothing,\u201d he says, neck hot.<\/p>\n He swings his arm a little and his knuckles hit the back of Tsukishima\u2019s hand some more. Tsukishima doesn\u2019t say anything, so he figures that he hasn\u2019t noticed or it\u2019s okay. Either way, it\u2019s no reason for Tobio to stop.<\/p>\n In the club room, Tsukishima finishes his homework and glances over at Tobio\u2019s every once in a while, tsking when he thinks Tobio is doing something wrong that Tobio hastens to backtrack every so often and correct himself. Although one time he insists that he\u2019s right and Tsukishima is wrong and they have an argument that doesn\u2019t really feel like an argument and Tobio keeps his answer on his paper. \u201cFail all you like,\u201d Tsukishima huffs, folding his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for caring,\u201d Tobio replies sarcastically.<\/p>\n Tsukishima doesn\u2019t say anything to that.<\/p>\n When Tobio is done, though, Tsukishima pokes his arm. \u201cOi,\u201d he says. \u201cI need to go to the bathroom. I\u2019ve been waiting for you to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to,\u201d says Tobio.<\/p>\n Tsukishima rolls his eyes and stands up.<\/p>\n Tobio follows him to the bathroom, habitual now, through a night soaked campus. Even though it\u2019s only been a few days, falling into this\u2014thing with Tsukishima had been so natural. Sometimes he forgets that it had started with headaches in the first place, but he\u2019s just glad he doesn\u2019t have to suffer through the awful pain again.<\/p>\n He knows it\u2019s not done, though, when Tsukishima leaves into the men\u2019s room and it begins between his eyes again. He rubs at them, hoping it\u2019s just exhaustion, when the door to the restroom opens.<\/p>\n \u201cCome in then,\u201d Tsukishima says grudgingly. \u201cIt hurts me, too.\u201d<\/p>\n So Tobio walks in and hums so he doesn\u2019t have to listen to Tsukishima relieve himself. Tsukishima seems kind of embarrassed, too, when he comes back out. Tobio kind of likes seeing Tsukishima pink-cheeked like this. It\u2019s not that he thought Tsukishima was a robot or anything, at first, he just\u2014hasn\u2019t really seen much past Tsukishima\u2019s frosty exterior.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes I forget that you\u2019re human,\u201d Tobio blurts.<\/p>\n Tsukishima looks up from where he\u2019s washing his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust.\u201d Tobio shrugs. \u201cYou always say shit against me, I don\u2019t usually remember that you\u2019re\u2014\u201d Real? A teenage boy like him? Tobio\u2019s not sure what word he\u2019s looking for.<\/p>\n Tsukishima shuts off the faucet and goes to dry his hands. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I should be offended by that or not,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Tobio furrows his eyebrows. \u201cI wasn\u2019t trying to offend you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I\u2019m not offended.\u201d<\/p>\n They head back to the club room; but as they do, Tsukishima goes, \u201cShit.\u201d He rifles through his pockets, turning them inside out.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d says Tobio.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew there was something wrong when we\u2014\u201d Tsukishima exhales. \u201cI forgot to unlock the door from the inside when we came in today. And I left the key in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio frowns. \u201cThe door locks from the inside, too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d know if you were paying any attention.\u201d But Tsukishima sounds more like he\u2019s releasing his anger than that he\u2019s actually angry at Tobio. He turns his pockets out again, and then swears loudly. His voice bounces off the walls of the building.<\/p>\n Tobio is bewildered. \u201cCan\u2019t we just,\u201d he says, and tries to tug the door open.<\/p>\n Tsukishima snorts. \u201cIf you really think you\u2019re strong enough to pull a metal door open, be my guest.\u201d He slumps down against the wall. \u201cWe\u2019re doomed.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio joins him. \u201cDaichi-san is going to kill us,\u201d he agrees.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t even have my headphones,\u201d Tsukishima moans.<\/p>\n They sit next to each other. It\u2019s autumn and the days have been feeling a little shorter, though Tobio also chalks that up to the excitement of the spring highs, and their weekend outings. He wishes he had the foresight to bring a jacket when he came out to the restroom with Tsukishima\u2014it\u2019s chilly, and he\u2019s back in his regular uniform, the short sleeved white button up.<\/p>\n Tsukishima frowns at him after a moment. Their hips and feet are touching, but Tsukishima is straight-legged while Tobio stretches his at an angle, so nothing else is.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you cold?\u201d Tsukishima asks.<\/p>\n Tobio clutches at his elbows and glowers down at his lap. \u201cNo,\u201d he says, because that is less humiliating than admitting so.<\/p>\n Plus, he remembers the first day when Tsukishima had been so obviously cold and insisted he wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n But Tsukishima says, again, \u201cKageyama. Are you cold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just said, no<\/em>,\u201d Tobio bites out.<\/p>\n Tsukishima yanks his hand suddenly, and twines their fingers together. He is warm and it sends a shock through Tobio\u2019s body, more than just one side of him, now\u2014it fizzles through his veins, touching every nerve ending.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a terrible liar,\u201d says Tsukishima, like them holding hands is no big deal.<\/p>\n Tobio tries not to analyze it and lets it happen. Tsukishima\u2019s fingers are long and kind of bony but not in an uncomfortable way, and his thumb is rubbing absently over Tobio\u2019s. Tobio wonders if he should say something about it, or bring it up; but it feels kind of good and he\u2019s worried that if he does, Tsukishima will stop. So he doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Eventually he dozes off on Tsukishima, so close that he can feel the pulse point at Tsukishima\u2019s wrist, hear the steady breathing under him. Today Tsukishima has already nodded off on his shoulder. He would be pissed if he knew. But Tobio kind of likes it, so he keeps quiet and waits to fall asleep, too.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n They wake up the next morning before the others arrive, mostly because despite that hand holding warms them both up a bit, it\u2019s still not enough for the shocking October weather. They stand up and don\u2019t meet each other\u2019s eyes, and Tobio brushes off the back of his pants and leans forward on the balcony as they wait for the others to arrive.<\/p>\n Tanaka teases them endlessly for getting locked out and Daichi scolds them, but Tsukishima points out (yet again) that the door locking from both the inside and outside is stupid so it\u2019s not their fault. Tobio catches Tsukishima\u2019s eye for a second; but then the moment\u2019s over and they\u2019re getting ready for morning practice.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Friday, and Tobio is concerned about how they\u2019ll deal with the weekend\u2014maybe they\u2019ll have to spend it at each other\u2019s houses. Several days ago he would\u2019ve hated the idea, but today it doesn\u2019t sound too bad. Maybe Tsukishima can help him with his weekend homework.<\/p>\n They go through their routines as usual. Over lunch Tobio stares at Tsukishima\u2019s hand too long, thinking of how warm it had felt the night before. Tsukishima catches him staring and Tobio expects him to accuse him of being weird or whatever, but instead Tsukishima quickly draws his hand back and engages into a conversation with Yamaguchi, cheeks pink.<\/p>\n His strange behavior doesn\u2019t go unnoticed. While Yachi and Tsukishima try to help Yamaguchi with his English, Hinata whispers, \u201cDid something happen last night?\u201d to Tobio.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Tobio says absentmindedly, because he\u2019s staring at the curve of Tsukishima\u2019s elbow.<\/p>\n \u201cKageyama, you idiot,\u201d Hinata teases. Then he brightens up. \u201cOoh, wait\u2014did you figure out that you really are<\/em> soulmates?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about,\u201d Tobio bites out. \u201cWe\u2019re not soulmates.\u201d<\/p>\n But he finds that he doesn\u2019t mind the idea of it\u2014the idea of Tsukishima. Tsukishima is annoying with the way that he prods Tobio during the lesson later, passing him a note that says, This is the stuff you had problems with yesterday, PAY ATTENTION<\/em>. And when they go over the homework, there\u2019s another one: See, I was right<\/em>.<\/p>\n Tobio smiles at the paper despite himself, pocketing it away. It\u2019s warm in his jacket, though it doesn\u2019t compare to holding Tsukishima\u2019s hand last night.<\/p>\n When they walk to the club room, he thinks of holding Tsukishima\u2019s hand. He brushes his fingers against Tsukishima\u2019s to maybe suggest it, but Tsukishima just says, \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Tobio blinks at him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s embarrassing if we do it in front of other people,\u201d says Tsukishima, like he\u2019s a mind reader. \u201cMaybe\u2014later, or something.\u201d He doesn\u2019t meet Tobio\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n Tobio bites his lip. \u201cWhat are we going to do about the weekend?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Tsukishima answers right away, like maybe he\u2019d been thinking about it too. \u201cWe\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe should figure it out now,\u201d Tobio insists.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll figure it out later.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio huffs. Tsukishima doesn\u2019t really look at him while they walk to the club room, but he says, \u201cMeet me here after practice,\u201d once they\u2019re in front of the same door that had locked them out the night before.<\/p>\n Tobio looks at him incredulously. \u201cYou don\u2019t really expect us to stay the whole weekend, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust meet me here after practice,\u201d says Tsukishima. He doesn\u2019t glower; he only looks tired. \u201cI have an idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t you tell me your idea now?\u201d Tobio demands.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it\u2019s embarrassing and I\u2019m not going to tell you. Now shut up and just say yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d Tobio mumbles, ears burning. He doesn\u2019t want Tsukishima to be so impatient with him\u2014and this is another thought he didn\u2019t think he\u2019d have in the beginning of the week. He doesn\u2019t want any of this; it\u2019s not like he\u2019d planned the past few days to stay attached to Tsukishima at the hip.<\/p>\n But as they join the others to change into their gym clothes, Tsukishima grabs his hand for a quick second and squeezes it. It lasts for a second and he drops it immediately. Tobio looks around to see if anyone had noticed, but everyone else continues with their conversations obliviously.<\/p>\n \u201cJust,\u201d Tsukishima mumbles, so Tobio is the only one who can hear. \u201cTrust me.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio never has before, but he does. Tsukishima\u2019s words ring through his head, making practice go by too slow. But it also feels so fast, because soon enough they\u2019re getting dinner and then doubling back, after suffering through questions from the others about how long they\u2019re going to stay there (Daichi), if they plan to spend the whole weekend there (Suga), and are they really that boring to do nothing else except stay around school (Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka.)<\/p>\n Only Yamaguchi smiles and says, \u201cGood luck,\u201d to them. Tobio has a sinking feeling that he knows what Tsukishima is planning.<\/p>\n They walk back slowly, eating their dinners. Tsukishima says thoughtfully, \u201cI just realized we didn\u2019t really have to come back to school to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio growls, though he hip checks Tsukishima and Tsukishima just chuckles. \u201cThen where do you suggest we go?\u201d he asks through his food.<\/p>\n \u201cFinish chewing. And I guess if this doesn\u2019t work then we really might as well spend the whole weekend here.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio stares at him for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re joking with me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Tsukishima shrugs. \u201cI am,\u201d he agrees, and doesn\u2019t look at Tobio as he says it. But his tone is light and Tobio finishes his pork bun, unusually content.<\/p>\n They throw their trash in a bin near the entrance of the school. Tsukishima stops and says, \u201cHere is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine for what?\u201d Tobio asks.<\/p>\n Tsukishima stares at him for a moment. The moonlight reflects off his glasses. He sighs.<\/p>\n \u201cCome over here, Kageyama.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome over\u2014?\u201d Tobio furrows his eyebrows and takes a step forward.<\/p>\n Tsukishima reaches for his hand, warm and electrifying. That jolts Tobio to bridge the space between them until he can see how much taller Tsukishima is than him, which really isn\u2019t much when he\u2019s not this close. Tsukishima looks Tobio in the eye like he\u2019s searching for something, but Tobio is strangely hot and flabbergasted at this amount of contact.<\/p>\n Then Tsukishima mutters, \u201cGoddammit,\u201d and then his lips are on Tobio\u2019s, new and soft.<\/p>\n Tobio hasn\u2019t really thought about kissing anyone, much less actually having experienced it, and it doesn\u2019t feel like Tsukishima has either. He lets their mouths linger like he\u2019s not sure if it\u2019s enough, until Tobio opens his mouth a millimeter and tries to exhale, and puffs out a small, desperate noise instead.<\/p>\n Tsukishima isn\u2019t that tall, he reflects, as he touches at Tsukishima\u2019s chin to see if his response will be more interesting. Tsukishima mumbles something that sounds like, \u201cToo long,\u201d and Tobio doesn\u2019t try to decode what that means, because when Tsukishima opens his mouth back, Tobio finds that kissing is not that bad. It\u2019s pretty nice, actually, and it\u2019s a lot like the sparks that usually happen when they touch are lighting up every nerve ending of his body\u2014but then it disappears, and even when it does, Tobio finds that he\u2019s still kissing Tsukishima, still wants a little bit more.<\/p>\n When they break apart, Tobio is panting. So Tsukishima is, the moonlight lighting up his pink cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was,\u201d Tobio says. His voice is throaty. \u201cNew.\u201d<\/p>\n Tsukishima shrugs like he\u2019s trying to look cool. His face is still flushed, though.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess,\u201d he says airily.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t hate it,\u201d Tobio accuses.<\/p>\n Tsukishima shrugs again. But he glances to the side, and admits, \u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio doesn\u2019t know what to say, trying to wrap his mind around kissing<\/em> and Tsukishima<\/em> and other weird things he didn\u2019t think he liked before.<\/p>\n Tsukishima says, then, \u201cSo I think the weird headaches are gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2014oh,\u201d Tobio realizes. \u201cThat was your idea?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter our,\u201d Tsukishima raises an arm, \u201chands. It felt logical.\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio nods. That makes sense.<\/p>\n He says as much.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d says Tsukishima.<\/p>\n He looks like he\u2019s about to step back, go home like this entire week hadn\u2019t happened, like last night hadn\u2019t happened, like this night hadn\u2019t happened. Thinking about it Tobio realizes he really doesn\u2019t want that, so he blurts\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to eat lunch with me?\u201d And then processing his own words, \u201cOn Monday?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been eating lunch together already,\u201d Tsukishima says wryly.<\/p>\n \u201cAlone,\u201d Tobio clarifies.<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d Tsukishima stares at him for a second. Tobio worries that he\u2019s going to say no.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Tsukishima says, instead.<\/p>\n Tobio lets out a sigh of relief. \u201cOkay,\u201d he agrees, and averts his gaze to the ground. \u201cI\u2019ll just\u2014Bye, then.\u201d He turns away.<\/p>\n Behind him, Tsukishima calls back, \u201cSee you later, king!\u201d<\/p>\n Tobio glances back. Tsukishima\u2019s face is guarded with one of his rare genuine smiles that Tobio has caught sight of only a handful of times this week, convincing\u00a0\u00a0himself it was a trick of the light. But there is Tsukishima looking at him like that now, and the tingling he\u2019d been feeling from their touches, even though they\u2019re more than ten feet away from each other now, hits him full force.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tobio can\u2019t help a smile of his own. He waves and bounces back to his house, looking forward to the next week like it\u2019s better than nationals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The one where Kageyama and Tsukishima can’t be in different rooms if they don’t want to die (or at least hurt each other), and Kageyama has feelings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[450],"fandom":[479],"rating":[675],"ship":[566],"relationship":[606],"minorfandomships":[],"class_list":["post-586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-default","tag-bonded","fandom-haikyuu","rating-teen","ship-kagetsukki","relationship-slash"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=586"},{"taxonomy":"fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fandom?post=586"},{"taxonomy":"rating","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rating?post=586"},{"taxonomy":"ship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ship?post=586"},{"taxonomy":"relationship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/relationship?post=586"},{"taxonomy":"minorfandomships","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/minorfandomships?post=586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}