[][][][]

Getting yourself associated with the Karasuno volleyball team was easier than you had originally thought. There was a energetic and cute little Hinata Shouyou, the tall, brooding but handsome Kageyama Tobio. A giant blonde-haired blocker with pinch of salt named Tsukishima Kei and his little and adorable best friend Yamaguchi Tadashi.

As you had already been familiar with the rest of the team, they welcomed you as usual as you had already been a regular fan girl that spent all of her wasted time in the gym. 

"When's the practise match?"

The players looked back at you, all except the first years who you weren't familiar with, Suga smiled at you as did Tanaka and Nishinoya too while Asahi was in the air about to spike a ball. 

"[Name], hey, it's next Wednesday. You're coming?"

You nodded at Daichi who smiled towards you and a smile grew when Tanaka cheered with excitement, about to rip his shirt off before Daichi turned to glare. Nishinoya laughed from beside him and then approached you where you stood by Kiyoko on the side lines, "[Name], I thought you'd bring Ryusei here too?"

His smile was wide and so welcoming, it was infectious but you became nervous when you thought of what to say, saying the same thing once again would surely put another bruise in your reputation- in how other student's saw you as a fellow pupil. 

"Ah, we had a little argument-" Noticing the way Tanaka's face twisted, you jumped and waved your hands dismissively, "It's nothing to worry about! I swear, everything's fine."

Nishinoya's eyes narrowed as he stood with a hand on his waist, "If he does anything wrong by you, Ryu and I will settle it, okay?"

Chuckling, you had crossed your arms defensively, "What is this, I thought I was your senpai."

"Our treasured senpai beside the beautiful Kiyoko-san!" Both Ryu and Yuu boasted wildly.

"Uh- How do I respond to that?" They ran before you could get an answer and you huffed.

The players had gone into positions with Kiyoko seated beside you with her clipboard in her arms when you had caught sight of a word, Kiyoko noticed and spoke, "That's who we're versing next Wednesday; Nekoma High."

With a little smile on your face, you had opened your mouth, "Cat's verses Crows hmm.."

When nothing but yelling and screams of encouragement caught your attention, you had looked sideways to admire Kiyoko's grey eyes that seemed to analyse every inch of your face in silence.

"Uh.. Kiyoko-san?"

She looked away slowly and then watched your eyes again, "Are you sure you're okay?"

Flinching lightly, you nodded and smiled crookedly in a confused manner, "Yeah, I'm alright."

"It's just.. I've heard things- about you and I want you to know that we're always here for you."

Lowering your head as you were already aware of that, she began watching the team play as they attempted to and almost successfully connected though there was still a bucket-load of work to do, just as she had spoken those words, Hinata took his eyes off of the court to see you, curious of you but smiled nonetheless.

A yell broke through the gym, "Watch out!" But you didn't hear it fast enough for you to move away and shield yourself when a slam made you realise that Kiyoko had moved her arm out really quickly, protecting your face from the ball.

You would've moved but her words had stunned you immobile. Frozen, Tanaka had jumped with shock when the ball hit his hand awkwardly and almost knocked you to the floor. He ran to you, making sure you were okay.

Nishinoya laughed after realising Kiyoko had saved your face, slapping Tanaka's back as the second year student turned red and yelled out in embarrassment 

Daichi shook his head in both amazement and almost condescendingly though the smile he delivered was utterly refreshing as Suga had been frozen in awe.

Kageyama was still as his arms were placid in the air in his position for setting, his mouth slightly agape as Hinata's eyes were shining in awe.

It was comforting, bringing a warm feeling to your stomach when all these set's of eyes were on you kindly, filled with care. They were all there watching you and making sure you were all right and only for the smallest thing. It was only a volleyball to the face- well, yes it would've hurt but it was something trivial compared to the negative emotions stirring within you in the form of a  small void in your heart.

It was still there though, begging to be filled and Kiyoko may have helped you realise how much bigger that hole was getting.

"You don't have to cry alone, you know?"

[][][][]