WARNING: Future arc spoilers from here on out

Bit of a filler to get things going~

2013 - 2014

"He's over two metres and he plays outside hitter. Tetsu, I can't even with this man. I feel like I've scored gold with this team. I don't know why he decided to join Japan's V.League but damn I'm glad he did," Bokuto's form was sprawled on the bed within the apartment he and Kuroo shared, his muscles quacking from the workout he had gotten that day.

"Hm?" Kuroo looked up from his laptop, tired eyes looking over to his laid-back boyfriend. "Sorry, you were talking about a teammate, right?" Bokuto hummed in confirmation.

"Oliver Barnes. I like him. I like this team bro. I'm so happy I got in," Kuroo smiled at him gently. When Bokuto had been accepted into the MSBY Black Jackals a few weeks back, it had been the cause of huge celebration. He had actually made it into the team he wanted to.

Kuroo, on the other hand, had a slight mishap within these first weeks of university. By some miracle, his marks got him into medical sciences. As a medical student, there was a lot of work to be put in and it wasn't anything out of his reach. Kuroo was smart and he wanted this – he wanted medicine. He had always stated that he didn't want to compromise medicine, but now actually having been in an environment that showed him the workings of his future career... he was unsure.

"And I like the colours man. Our uniforms are sick. I can't wait for next week when it arrives. I want to see our beautiful angel or firefly walk around with just my Black Jackals jacket and-,"

"Bo," the owl immediately stopped his rambling, lifting his head off the covers to peer at Kuroo's tense face.

"Hey man," Bokuto immediately sat up, worry evident on his face. "What's wrong?"

"I... I miss volleyball," Kuroo spoke hesitantly, his eyes glancing towards his laptop for a second.

"Then... you can join the college league? Your uni has a team, right?" Bokuto offered.

"Yeah, but... I don't think I miss volleyball in that way," his face scrunched up in confusion, Kuroo himself not knowing what string he was clutching. Bokuto was more confused than ever.

"Then... in what way?" Kuroo thought about it. He thought about what he liked most about volleyball as a player and a teammate. He thought back to Nekoma and what made him go there in the first place; what made them stood out to him.

Strategy.

All those days he would sit with Kenma as a child and work out volleyball plays and analyse figures... was that really all Kenma's passion or did it somehow transfer to Kuroo? Volleyball was always Kuroo's baby much more than it was Kenma's.

"I need to talk to Coach Nekomata," and although it was a Saturday, Kuroo knew Nekoma had training on from his informant, Kenma. Bokuto didn't question when Kuroo ran out of the apartment, leaving the owl with more questions than answers.

That night, he would come to hear about Kuroo's day – how he stormed the practice and pulled Nekomata away, leaving the assistant coach to deal with the team. Kenma did not question his friend's weird behaviour when it happened.

"I became more proactive in volleyball as a child when Kenma and I met Coach Nekomata at a training camp in middle school. He was all about enjoying the experience and not worrying too much about the technicalities. If you enjoy something, you'll become good at it. Forcing yourself to become better when you don't enjoy what you're doing is just useless. It's all about lowering the net first. Coach really helped me gather my thoughts about that today," Kuroo was telling Bokuto as the two were busy cooking dinner.

"That old coach of yours is like the wild sage that appears out of nowhere to give you advice on your journey; so how about it? Was his advice useful?" Bokuto questioned.

"Extremely. I think..." Kuroo put down the cutting knife and turned down to face his lover, his back pushing into the kitchen counter. Bokuto stopped what he was doing and looked to meet the feline eyes. "I think I'm going to switch departments – I'm moving to economics. I'm quitting medicine,"

"Neh, neh, Tobio~," Hinata cooed from his position next to Kageyama, the two having just finished a comedic movie on his laptop. Kageyama groaned with fatigue, scooting up so that he could throw his arm around Hinata's shoulders. The ginger happily moved into his body, snuggling up against his warm side. Their legs intertwined, their body heat merging. Kageyama brought his fingers up to intertwine with the carrot locks, the pure softness rubbing against his skin.

"What is it? Thought you wanted to sleep," his voice was laced with sleep already, but Hinata ignored it. He beamed up at him, his teeth glittering.

"About after school-," he started.

"After school? That's still two years away. Why are you worrying about it now?" Kageyama jumped in, his eyes closed.

"Because I have a game plan already," Hinata announced. He had been thinking about it a lot and wanted his love's honest opinions about it. He wanted; no, needed his support.

"Hm? A game plan? Join the pro volleyball league, go to Rio in 2016 for the Olympics, and become the best duo in the country," Kageyama listed off his fingers.

"Duo? I still want to go against you in the future, though," at Hinata's whispered words, Kageyama lifted himself onto his elbow. His face loomed over Hinata's, brows furrowed together in question.

"Against? Are you talking about our rivalry?" Hinata hummed in confirmation at his question.

"Yeah! I know we've been building each other up being on the same team, but I still want to beat you in an official match," with those words, a smile adorned Kageyama's lips.

"Yeah. I would like that too,"

"But then... we have to be on different teams then, right?"

"Oh...I guess you're right," a moment of silence overtook them. "But, maybe after the Olympics then?"

"No, I don't want that,"

"Oh. Okay then..." the atmosphere grew a bit heavy then, Kageyama shifting his body around to gain a comfortable seating within the awkward situation. "Then... what do you want?"

"I want to train. I want to get stronger until I can fly on my own," Hinata sat himself up, now looking down on Kageyama. His eyes were serious, confidence swirling beneath the surface.

"How are you going to do that?" Kageyama found the words slipping from his lips, a bit terrified at what the answer may be.

"I want to temporarily leave indoor volleyball, and switch over to beach,"

"Beach?!" Kageyama looked at him with a frown, hoping he had heard wrong. "You want to play beach volleyball?"

"Yeah! I think it will be fun! That and, well..." he shrugged his shoulders. "Remember all the 2v2 matches?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I learned the most about all-round playing in those matches. Blocking, receiving, setting, serving... I'll have to do it all. Of course, 2v2 matches always happens in volleyball practice but it's not enough. I need to break it down and start from the beginning. That's why in beach volleyball I would have to relearn everything about volleyball, I would have to work all-round and I would have to conquer the sand. In beach volleyball, I can't depend on everyone else to cover my numerous weaknesses. I need to get strong enough that I can cover others' weaknesses," Kageyama was stunned.

Kageyama was thrown back to the Tokyo training camp the previous year – when Hinata had stated he would open his eyes during the quick. Back then, Hinata had declared that he would shed his dependence on Kageyama during the quick. Of course, back then, Kageyama was the only one who could set him his quick but now he could see there were other setters he could work with. Other setters he had to adapt his attack too.

And now Hinata was saying he would shed Kageyama completely.

His heart quacked.

"Oh. Okay," Kageyama tried to hide the hurt in his words. "That sounds extremely ambitious. But, how are you going to do it? Beach volleyball isn't big in Japan, is it?"

"Oh," realisation hit Hinata. "I guess I'll ask Coach about it," and that was the end of that conversation, their topics shifting to other things before eventually, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next week, Coach Ukai began to look into his request. Hinata was found watching beach volleyball videos anywhere he could, studying the techniques of players who had to done the role of setter, blocker, spiker and receiver all in one. These were incredible people and all the best hailed from Brazil. That's why when the Miyagi Prefecture training camp came around and Shiratorizawa's coach, Washijō Tanji, mentioned he had a contact in Rio de Janeiro – Hinata didn't even hesitate. He would go. This was the opportunity of a lifetime and he wasn't about to let it pass.

As Hinata's resolve for his future mission to Brazil set in stone, Kageyama's heart began to clench a little more every day. Knowing that one day he and Hinata would have to part and not see each other for two years was heartbreaking. They had just gotten their relationship to a top tier level and already they would have to say goodbye. Would they be able to do the long-distance thing for that long? Was their relationship strong enough for that?

He was getting unnecessarily worried over something that would be in the distant future. For now, he enjoyed every moment they were together and cherished the memories. Hinata made him stronger – both in volleyball, and as a person.

"Ever since they got this smoothed over power-couple-of-the-year thing going on, they have done nothing but get on my nerves. Mister Prom King and Mister Prom King can just take this honeymoon phase of theirs and crush it beneath the crippling deadweight of their failing grades," Yamaguchi looked onward at his irritated friend with concern.

"Uhm... are you okay, Tsukki?" Kei sighed.

"I mean, we've been dealing with their shit from day one and don't get me wrong, I'm glad they worked out all their communications problems and whatnot. If they broke up, I think they'll take the team with them and I'm not up for dealing with that. I just wish they had some constraint," a specific incident came to him, a memory resurfacing of him walking in on a half-dressed Hinata and Kageyama making out in the clubroom. It was enough to traumatise him. From the sounds of it – with Hinata still deciding he could go to Kei for relationship advice – half-naked kissing seemed to be their limit. Kei silently thanked the deities for that, not knowing what he would do if Hinata came to him for sex advice. Even worse, with those two if they did actually end up in a sexual relationship, then the entire team would know about it. Hinata was as blunt and unfiltered as a hammer to the head. The new first years could barely keep up with the two and if it got any worse, Ukai would have to step in.

But what was there to say?

They were just two boys in love.

"High school sweethearts. Disgusting," Yamaguchi looked onward at Kei, not saying anything but his eyes revealed his doubt and his hidden message. "Yamaguchi, do not compare my relationship with theirs,"

"I didn't say anything," Yamaguchi spoke amusedly. "Just wondering how you would act if one of the other three were in Karasuno,"

"No different than I am now. If it were Keiji, sure, but the other two? I would keep them on a tight leash. Luckily, they've graduated now," Kei commented. "Tetsu got his driver's licence recently so he's all threatening that he can easily pop in on all the schools whenever he wants. Just the other week, he drove all the way to Nekoma just to speak to his old coach. Think he kind of forgot that he doesn't live in Tokyo anymore,"

"Yeah, to think you and Akaashi kind of switched roles now," Yamaguchi noted.

"Yeah, I'm glad that we could pinpoint an apartment that would be in the middle of all of our future destinations - MSBY's training gym, Tetsu and Keiji's university and Sendai. I'm happy Kō and Tetsu are closer to me but now Keiji is a bit isolated,"

"Oh, did you decide on the Sendai university? You've been quite ahead in the game with this entire university stuff. I haven't even really decided what I want to do yet," Yamaguchi admitted. Kei shrugged his shoulders with a huff.

"I think it's only because of Tetsu. The entire process with him getting into university and seeing the difficult decisions he had to make, kind of motivated me to start looking. That, and if we really do intend to..." Kei swallowed, Yamaguchi looking over worriedly. "When they chose their apartment, they asked for my insight to try and accommodate what I would want after graduation. I looked at the uni Tetsu's going to - where Keiji also wants to go - but their humanities department isn't the best. The Sendai uni is a much better option so they tried to stick near to that place as well,"

"That's really considerate though," Yamaguchi commented with a smile.

"Maybe, but it's just..." Kei sighed. "Kō and Tetsu were the ones who moved in together. They were the ones who graduated and started a life together. I'm two years younger than them. We haven't even been together a year. Yamaguchi, I completely adore that they're being proactive and shaping everything with me in mind but it's just..."

"Too fast?"

"Way too fast," Kei shook his head, covering his face with his fingers. "I'm still the new guy in the relationship and already, it's like we've been together a lifetime. They're making a space for me in their home, as if it's a given that we'll end up riding into the sunset with our happily ever after," he spoke with a frown.

"Isn't that what you want?" Kei's head shot to Yamaguchi in a sharp movement, eyes piercing. "I just mean, we've already settled that you're basically madly in love with them and that you don't want a life without them, so wouldn't you want to move in with them?" Yamachi spoke hesitantly, fingers scratching at his neck. Kei stared at his friend intensely, finally giving up the locked staring with a sigh.

"I'm just scared that I'm like those two bumbling idiots," he referred to Hinata and Kageyama. "That I'm in honeymoon mode and that I don't have my best intentions in mind – that I don't truly know what I need. Maybe I do want to move in with them and live with them and be with them for the rest of my life, but maybe that's not the best decision at all. I just wish I could've been with them longer before these important decisions started to be made," he admitted.

"So you're afraid that in two years, the love you have for them would be gone and the space in their home they created for you would all be for nothing? Are you worried for yourself, or are you worried for them?" Yamaguchi tried not to sound too prying but that might not have been successful.

"...Yamaguchi," he gulped.

"Yeah?"

"I'm not worried that I would fall out of love with them," and he didn't need to say anymore – Yamaguchi got the message. "I'm afraid I'm setting myself up for hurt,"

Kei was worried that given time, that the other three would realise he wasn't as amazing as they thought he was. He was worried they would no longer want him, no longer love him.

Wow. How far had Kei come to actually admit to Yamaguchi that he was afraid?

"Do I want to live with them? Yes. Do I want to go to university? Yes. If those two could be combined, then it would be the best thing ever but the implications of moving in would mean... Yamaguchi, I don't think I'm anywhere near ready for that step yet,"

"Well, you'll just be roommates – not spouses. Besides, it's not like it's going to happen tomorrow. Kuroo and Bokuto already being in that position does make it seem as if your time is right around the corner but it's not. By graduation, if you four are still together, then it would've been about three years that you were with them. By then, surely you would definitely know if you don't want to be with them and vice versa?" Kei considered his words and shakily released a breath.

Yamaguchi was right. He might be walking along with Bokuto and Kuroo on their journey, but it wasn't his journey yet. There was still a lot more for him to do and experience within the relationship before he moved in with them. Bokuto and Kuroo have presently been together for four years now. For them, this was the next step in the relationship.

"I'm happy for them," Kei spoke after a moment of silence. "And I'm happy that I'm only still just in second year of high school," Yamaguchi smiled at those words.

"Well said,"

In June of 2013, Karasuno lost to Date Tech in finals of Miyagi Prefecture Interhigh Qualifier. Luckily, just like their first year, they were able to win a trip to Nationals at the preliminaries held in October. All too soon, Hinata was back at the stage that robbed him the previous year. Since then, he had grown. He had realised the mistreatment of his body and how he hadn't been placing his health as a top priority. This year, he would have no fevers. This year, he would face Hoshiumi Kōrai once more and beat him.

Unfortunately, they never got as far as facing Kamomedai High. A strong challenger came before them in the third round in the form of Inarizaki High. After months of blissfulness, now here stood the challenger Kageyama didn't even know he had – Miya Atsumu. He hated the way the fox would peer at Hinata throughout the match and it had him on edge. He hadn't really felt jealousy with anyone else but when it came to Atsumu, it was uncharted territory. He seemed to have an interest in the ginger, and the feeling seemed to be mutual.

"Why are you and Atsumu giving each other the googly eyes from across the net? It's making me sick," Kageyama pulled Hinata off to the side during a time-out in the match. Hinata, completely oblivious to Kageyama's concerns, tilted his head with question.

"Hm? Because he's a good opponent?" as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"It just... It seems as if you're watching him closely," Kageyama added, not much helpful.

"But I am? How else are we going to beat him?"

Kageyama was having trouble conveying to Hinata in what manner they had each other's gaze, but now definitely wasn't the time to start something.

"Listen... I love you, okay?" he felt the need to add. At his words, Hinata's face lit up in a glorious smile.

"I love you too!" and Kageyama didn't even realise that was their first exchange of 'I love yous', he was still worried – more so about Atsumu than Hinata. He trusted his boyfriend, but he definitely did not trust the fox. He needed this match over and done with so that they could part ways – forever. The Miya twins would lose Nationals here and graduate and be gone.

Except, they didn't lose and in a glorious turn, Atsumu followed through on his promise from the previous year. He beat Hinata and Inarizaki sent Karasuno home early. They only made it to the top 16. This time, it hadn't been because of Karasuno's weakness – it was because of Inarizaki's strength.

And Hinata couldn't be mad about that.

"Stingyshima, Yamaguchi; where are you headed too?" Kageyama questioned them after their defeat, the team having cooled down and left to roam the rest of the tournament. Kei gave him an uninterested look.

"Fukurōdani's match," he simply answered. He wanted nothing more than to forget their humiliation by the hands of the fox and seeing his precious angel in battle would certainly do the trick.

"Ah. I'll come with. Shōyō?" Kageyama looked over to Hinata in question.

"I'll join up in a second. I want to go find Kenma," Kageyama nodded in confirmation, heading off with Kei and Yamaguchi. Hinata headed off in the vague direction he had seen his multi-colour-haired friend run off too. In that attempt, another beast spotted him and went to sink their teeth in first.

"Yo, Shōyō," he turned at the smooth use of his name, a sly fox coming into his view. He seemed to be bathing in the aftermath of his victory, the glow almost blinding. He was like a nine-tailed spirit, his golden pelt reflecting all the battle scars he adorned on the trip to the top. The amount of work he put in since their last match was unbelievable and it showed. He didn't want to break the promise he had so declaratively made the previous year. He didn't want to be all bark and no bite.

Now, there was another promise he had to follow up on. As he sauntered up to Hinata's side, he allowed his chest to fall in and his victorious expression to fade into a soft smile. Their battle was over, no need to continue talking about it. He would have to continue on playing, yes, but his high school time with Karasuno has come to an end.

Aw well. The crows had put up a good fight against the foxes while they still could fly.

"Ats- uh, Miya," Hinata nodded in greeting, trying not to hide his surprise at the sudden appearance. Atsumu waved his hand dismissively.

"You can call me Atsumu, Shōyō. No need to be all formal and call me by my family name, especially not since there's two of us," he spoke, digging his hands into his pockets. A toothy grin adorned his appearance, one void of being smug. He was just... bright. "I was hoping we could talk a bit?" he spoke smoothly. Hinata tilted his head in question.

"Huh? About what?" Atsumu grinned.

"I just wanted to say how amazing you looked out there today," he said it so calmly, Hinata couldn't help but get a bit flustered and smile widely.

"Thanks Atsumu! You were pretty amazing too! You and your brother's combo was all woosh and then in that last set you went all kablam and it was so cool!" Hinata began to grow excited as he thought about the amazing plays he had seen that day.

"You see, you see?! You had gotten so amazing as a decoy that you had me fooled right to the end! And that back attack you used was all swoosh that I thought you actually sprouted wings, Shōyō. You've gotten so good!" and just like that, the two were fanboying about each other. "It's a shame I won't get to play against Karasuno anymore but you'll definitely continue in the V.League, right?"

"I'm first going to Brazil but then yeah! I'll come back!" Atsumu blinked in surprise at that.

"...Brazil? For what?"

"Beach volleyball!" Atsumu was stunned for a hot second before a grin plastered itself onto his face.

"But you said you were coming back then for the V.League, right? That sounds awesome man. You do you," and gave him a thumbs up and a smile. Hinata could feel the hype building up.

"Yeah! I'm really excited to try other training techniques as well!" and Atsumu's breath hitched at the swirling excitement in the ginger's eyes, his heart skipping a beat at that tender smile.

Hinata looked so in his element.

"Hey, I want us to talk some more but unfortunately I am the captain of my team and I need to go prepare for my next match. Can I give you my number and then you decide later if you want to text me or not?" and he meant it – he didn't want to force a friendship if Hinata didn't want it.

"Sure!" Hinata spoke without hesitation, handing his phone over for Atsumu to put in his contact. After the deed was done, the fox had to scram. He wanted to catch Hinata before he left and lost his chance, but that meant cutting it close with next match's time.

Kenma was the one who found Hinata instead, the two heading to join the others in the audience. Kenma was telling him of his recent success – how his channel had grown and how his position on the stock market began to make him profit already. Kenma's pockets were starting to get full and by the end of high school, he would hopefully be able to fall into the business world with ease.

Kuroo and Bokuto were present for the tournament as well, cheering on all the younger players they knew. Nekoma and Karasuno had been thrown out of the game, but Fukurōdani was still rising up on the leader board along with Inarizaki and Itachiyama.

Members of Itachiyama were currently present in the audience, their matches finished for the day. The number one high school ace was among them, his interest drawn away from the matches to his tablet.

"What are you watching, Sakusa?" Komori questioned his cousin, popping up at his side with lunch in hand.

"Wakatoshi's game," he answered without looking up.

"Oh? He's part of the Schweiden Adlers now, right?"

"Correct,"

"Hmm are you thinking of going there next year?" Komori questioned, himself thinking of joining the Eastern Japan Paper Mills. He didn't know if he could get into a team as high up as the Adlers.

"No, I wouldn't want to be on the same team as him. Also, I'm going to college so it'll be a couple of years before I join the pro league," this surprised Komori.

"I had thought even if you went to study that you would join a pro league. You want to play for your uni?" Sakusa hummed in confirmation.

"Middle school, high school, university, professional... I want to challenge them all," Sakusa Kiyoomi wasn't someone who would ever leave something unfinished, so it definitely made sense why he decided to go this direction. "I will face Wakatoshi... when I get to it,"

All too soon, the year ended. Akaashi, Sakusa, Kenma, Atsumu, Hoshiumi and the others of the same year graduated and the holidays began.

A first-year designer student stood at the airport, watching as a plane flew off with the person nearest to his heart.

"Nishinoya will come back, Asahi," Daichi threw his arm over the kind-hearted giant's shoulders with a grin. Asahi smiled back.

"I know that, it's just... I'm going to miss him," Daichi grinned.

"Come on. Kōshi said he picked up some takeout. You can have as much ice-cream as you want and cry about your future lover running off to another country," at Daichi's unfiltered words, Asahi became flushed and stammered over his words.

"I-it's not like that!" but no one believed him.

Tanaka summoned up the courage to ask Kiyoko out – and this time, he did it properly. No fawning over her or making jokes. Seeing he was finally getting serious, Kiyoko accepted his advances and surprisingly, something began to bloom between the two.

Hoshiumi joined the Schweiden Adlers. Atsumu joined the MSBY Black Jackals. Sakusa went to get his degree and play for his college team. Kenma went to university for his business degree while starting up his Bouncing Ball Corporation and various other moneymaking schemes. Akaashi moved in with Kuroo and Bokuto and went to study literature.

It had truly been a successful year for love – whether that love is for volleyball, money or others.

A few weeks before Hinata's third-year experience would begin; he got a phone call from a man he had formed an online friendship with recently.

"Hey, Shōyō!" at the sound of his voice, a smile glazed over his face.

"Atsumu! How are you?" he dropped everything he was doing, moving outside to get a better cell signal.

"Amazing, now that I can hear your voice," Hinata grinned to himself. "Say, would you be up for helping me move? Now that I got into the Black Jackals, I have to move closer to the training gym,"

"Black Jackals?! Like Bokuto?" Hinata had not yet heard of Atsumu's acceptance into the team.

"Yeah... I'm hoping you can give me some tips for dealing with him," Atsumu admitted with despair.

"Sure! Although, Stingyshima might be able to help more with that since they're boyfriends and all... but sure! I'll help you move!"

"Splendid," and you could almost hear how wide his smile was. "Don't worry, I'll try to not make it a boring experience for you. I'll make it up to you, I promise,"

"You don't need to do that! I'm just helping out a friend," Atsumu grinned on his side.

"Thank you for giving me a chance, Shōyō,"