"Uh... K-Kageyama-kun?" Sayuri asks carefully, eyes on her feet as she walks beside the boy.

Now isn't the best time to ask but she doesn't have much longer before they separate to make the rest of the way home. They'd taken to walking part of the way home together lately.

"What?" Kageyama snaps.

He's been in a foul mood all week. Sayuri doesn't blame him. Kageyama isn't the the type to get sad and seem sad like her. He's the type to get sad and seem angry. So he's been snapping and yelling at people more than ever since he confronted Hinata the other night.

"I, uh, was wondering since... Miko and Hinata aren't talking to me if you would come with me to a photo shoot this weekend." She replies, eyes still on the floor as she rushes to get the last part of her request out.

She's a little embarrassed about asking him. She's not even sure if Kageyama considers her a friend but he's the only friend she has right now. Well, she considers Hinata a friend still but she isn't sure if he'd accept and she doesn't feel comfortable asking him with Miko there. She'd convince Hinata not to go like she has before when Sayuri almost made a new friend.

Kageyama's eyes widen and he looks over at the girl. His anger at the world has disappeared for a moment and he gives her an odd half smile before nodding. "I'll come with you."

Sayuri looks up as well and gives a large grin in return. Kageyama said yes!

She'd never been to a shoot on her own, always asking a friend to come to calm her nerves. Even if they just sat and talked about homework it helps her calm down. Sayuri really didn't want to ask her mum either as she's busy helping a friend with a wedding this week. Her mum would definitely have come if she asked but Sayuri's glad that she won't need to distract her.

"Thank you, Kageyama-kun!"

Kageyama just nods and Sayuri can't help but giggle at his lack of social skills. Not that she minds. Kageyama is still a better friend than Miko ever was. Kageyama is rude and a bit scary but at least he isn't horrible.

"I'll be at your house at ten on Sunday, is that okay?" She asks, wanting to make sure that he could definitely come.

Kageyama nods.

Sayuri smiles widely.

"Hey... Sayuri?" Kageyama asks after a few moments.

"Yes, Kageyama-kun?"

He hesitates a moment before asking "Why are you a model? You get scared and nervous before every shoot. It must make you uncomfortable. It doesn't seem like a good job if it makes you feel that way."

"Hmm. Well, the first few shoots I did just for the money. I wanted to earn my own money and being paid for someone to take your picture seemed like a great idea. There's more work to it than that, of course, and I... Well, I'm not sure. I just sort of ended up loving the way it makes me feel at the end of it all and I see the pictures of me." She shrugs. "So I guess, in the end, it's worth getting nervous about."

Kageyama nods even though he still doesn't quite get how it could be worth while when she needs someone with her to help handle those nerves. Apparently his thoughts show on his face because the girl giggles again.

"Think of it this way," Sayuri says "before a game, you're nervous but you're not going to not play just because of that, are you? It's nerve wracking and scary but that will never overcome the feeling you get when you play and it'll definitely never compare to how it feels when you see the score at the end and you've won."

Kageyama's eyes widen as if he'd just been told the meaning of life itself. He nods, completing understanding now Sayuri had put it that way. "I get it!"

Sayuri laughs again. "I knew you would." She looks to the side, at the street she needs to go down now. "I'll see you Sunday, Kageyama-kun! Bye!"

"Bye." Kageyama gives a small wave before he continues walking.

He'd never before imagined having a friend like Sayuri. Someone who isn't a volleyball player. Now, though, he can't imagine not having her as a friend. Their friendship is new and still forming but Kageyama is positive that he's found another close friend in Sayuri. She's intelligent and able to communicate with him in ways that Kageyama thought only volleyball players would.

Kageyama smiles a little to himself. It's nice having friends.

*

Hinata watches as Kageyama walks out of the club room. He's off to meet Sayuri by the gate of the school. Biting his lip, Hinata thinks about what it would be like if he were there with them.

Shaking his head and scowling, Hinata pulls on his jacket. He can't. As much as he wants to, Hinata can't be friends with Kageyama. Not right now. That unfortantely somehow came to include Sayuri. He suspects Miko did something or said something to her.

At least Sayuri has Kageyama. She doesn't need me.

Hinata nearly jumps out of his skin when an arm is suddenly thrown over his shoulder and he's pulled to the side, breaking his away from his thoughts.

Noya looks at Hinata, grinning widely and with that glint in his eye that makes Hinata equal parts scared and curious. Scared in case he's the butt of some joke and curious to see what he's up to.

"So, are you going to explain to me why you and Kageyama aren't talking?" He asks, expression becoming more serious.

"I... I..." Hinata stutters, eyes wide. He's like a deer caught in headlines. Panicked. Frozen.

Noya glances to the side at Daichi and Suga. He doesn't want to cause a fuss in front of their Senpai.

"Let's go for a walk, yeah?" Even thought it's a question, Noya says it in a way that makes it obvious Hinata doesn't have a choice.

Hinata nods, holding his breath as he considers a way out of this. He doesn't want to explain. He can't explain properly. That's why he has Sato-sama. She can explain his feelings to him better than he can himself.

Noya pulls Hinata out of the room and Tanaka sends him a thumbs up as he leaves. Noya returns it. Hinata swallow thickly, suddenly realising that Noya isn't just randomly attempting to talk to him. This is planned. Noya is determined to get answers.

When they're a fair distance away from the club room, Noya stops and turns to face Hinata.

"So, why aren't you talking? Did you guys have a fight?"

Hinata shakes his head.

Noya frowns, clearly having expected an argument to be the cause of the sudden silence between the usual glued together duo.

"I..." Hinata stutters before taking a deep breath. "I can't explain."

"You can." Noya says simply.

Hinata shakes his head. "Y-You don't unserstand. I'm... This is better. If I stay close to Kageyama, everything will be ruined. We need to be teammates and nothing else!"

"Shoyo... What do you mean? You and Kageyama have been friends for th-"

"That's it!" Hinata nearly yells. "I don't want to be just friends and neither does Kageyama."

Noya's eyes widen as he realises exactly what's going on. A matter of the heart. A love story.

Noya is about to reply when Hinata continues.

"Over the long weekend, Kageyama and I kissed. Twice! But we argue all the time. Imagine a relationship between us! If something happened and one of us had to quit the team..." Hinata is hyperventilating by this point, panic settling in again.

Noya places his hands on Hinata 's shoulders and squeezes firmly but not to the point it's painful.  Just enough to get Hinata to look up and pay attention to him.

"Shoyo, do you want to be with Kageyama?" He asks.

Hinata hesitates before he nods.

"Then what's stopping you?"

"Volley-"

"No. Shoyo, you know as well as I do that nothing could tear any of us away from volleyball. The love with have is on par and maybe even above the kind of love that can be felt for another person. Nothing, not even the messiest of break ups, would keep you and Kageyama from volleyball. You know that, deep down. So what's stopping you?"

Hinata stares at Noya in awe. He didn't have any idea that this senior was so wise. He's always admired the other and he never thought that there was a way for Hinata to have any more respect for the other. Noya is amazing.

"Noya-senpai! You're awesome!" Hinata exclaims, grinning and eagerly leaning towards Noya.

"Hah?" Noya yells, cheeks turning red at being called Senpai and awesome. Once he recovers, he grins and puts his hands on his hips. "Hahaha. Call me senpai again!"

"Noya-senpai!"

Noya grins before his expression becomes serious once again. "Shouldn't you be running off and making up with Kageyama?"

Hinata laughs. "You watch too many movies."

Noya chuckles too before Hinata gasps, eyes wide. Noya raises an eyebrow.

"Sayuri..." Hinata mumbles.

He needs to talk to her. Explain.

"Sayuri?" Noya asks. "I thought you liked Ka-"

"Thank you, Noya-senpai! I'll see you on Monday!" Hinata shouts, turning and running towards the bike shed before he's even done talking.

"Huh?" Noya's head tilts to the side. He's back to being confused.