"Nishinoya!"

Sugawara pushed his way to the back of the group, where the small boy was shrinking, attempting to not be seen. But it was too late. The setter was in front of Noya in an instant, grabbing his left arm roughly.

"What in the hell are you thinking?! You're going back to the bus with me, now."

"But-"

"Now."

"Fine."

Suga stormed back to the bus with Nishinoya in tow. After he basically threw Noya into a bus seat, he sat down next to him and shouted.

"What were you thinking?! You could have gotten hurt, you could have gotten killed-"

"So what?!"

"What?"

"I said, so what?! You may not understand this, Suga-san, but I can take care of myself. I'm not helpless just because I have a broken arm. Hell, I survived in a closet for two weeks, went on a food run while there, got to here without dying, and all with this arm in a cast! Why don't you think-"

"That's not why!"

"Then why is it?!"

"Because I'm scared! I'm scared, okay?"

"That's not an excuse."

"I know."

The two boys sat in silence for a moment, before Sugawara spoke again.

"I watched him die. He was killed, and it was my fault. He was there, and then he wasn't."

Narita.

"I know."

"No. No, you don't know. You think you do, but you don't."

"Fine. I don't. But let me try to help!"

"You can't. I'm scared, Nishinoya. Your strength has nothing to do with it. I can't lose someone else."

"One day, it'll happen. I've seen how it affects people. Don't you think I've seen Tanaka? Kinoshita?"

"...you're right."

"What?"

"You're right. From now on, you come on the food runs."

"I- thank you."

"But for today, let's both just stay here. And don't tell anyone about this. Ever. Got it?"

"Okay. Yeah. Got it."

Suga-san...you don't have to be scared to let your guard down. We're all in this together.

"And one more thing?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

Nishinoya didn't know how to respond to that. On one hand, he was angry. Sugawara had prevented him from being truly included in the group for his own selfish reasons. But at the same time, he could understand it...

He didn't want to die either.

Soon, everyone walked into the bus and sat down in the seats surrounding Suga and Noya. Daichi approached but was waved away with a promise to be filled in later from Suga. As the bus made its way back to the gym, Hinata spoke to Kageyama quietly.

"I'm scared."

"I know."

"I know, but, like- more scared than usual."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"...I miss my family."

"Me too."

Hinata leaned up against Kageyama and brought his knees to his chest. "You're the only family I seem to have left."

"Yeah. Me too."

"It's weird."

"What is?"

"There's an apocalypse. People are dying right outside these doors. And yet, somehow...I feel safe."

The bus screeched to a halt and everyone sprinted to the gym. No one died. The raid was a success. 

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom."

Ennoshita watched as Nishinoya ran away, his figure getting smaller as he got farther and farther from the brunette. Eventually, the libero couldn't be seen anymore. The teen sighed and slid down the wall. He figured this would happen, and he knew that he couldn't stop the other. Besides, it was his choice. His life. His...

"Be safe out there, Noya. Don't do anything rash or stupid."

Once everyone was in the gym, Suga and Akaashi did a headcount. Everyone from the bus was there, but Ennoshita had disappeared. This worried Suga. He was too smart and rational to go running off like, well, like Noya. Tanaka volunteered to look for him.

The first place the wing spiker looked was the bathrooms, and they didn't disappoint him. There was Ennoshita, sitting in the corner, and what sounded like loud sobs coming from him. Immediately, Tanaka was there, by his side, calming him down.

"It's fine, Chikara. I'm here."

The brunette was unsurprised by the use of his first name. They always called each other by their given names when they were alone. It was like a sign of friendship, almost. At least, it probably was to Tanaka. But still, it calmed him down.

"I- I know."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm just- s-so confused!"

"About what?"

"I don't know! Life! Death! The undead! You name it, I'm questioning it!

"Are you questioning?"

"Questioning what?"

"Your sexuality."

"How did you know?"

"Chikara, I know you really well."

It was true. The two had lived next to each other for years, and were basically the same person by now. Except for the fact that Tanaka was rash, and, well, an idiot.

"True, true. How did you figure out yours?"

"I liked a girl, then I liked a guy."

"It can't be that simple."

"It was for me, but not for everyone. There are so many different things that add into the equation, like the fact that there are more than just the two binary genders, what crushing and love means to you, and what you want it to be, if you want a label at all."

"That's a lot."

"Yeah, but not every factor has to be included. I mean, look at me! I just one day realized it!"

"...Yeah."

"Besides, you can change your label anytime you want if you choose to pick one. I picked Bi because I liked the way it resonated with me, but you don't have to resonate with anything. It's okay to just say I don't know."

"Ryuu?"

"Yeah?"

"I- I know this might be out of the blue. But can I kiss you?"

"I- uh- yeah, sure!"

Ennoshita screwed his eyes shut and gave his- maybe boyfriend?? a tiny peck on the lips, then sprung back, blushing furiously. Tanaka did the same. Butterflies flew through their stomachs, but, they felt...good. Before they knew it, they were kissing again, this time for longer.

Oikawa flung the door open.

"EEW! Are you guys making out?!"

"What?! No! It was kissing, not snogging! God, you're gross!"

"You're still transmitting thousands of bacteria to one another! I think you're the gross one here!"

"Shut up! Maybe you're just jealous because you don't have anyone to kiss!"

They all stalked back to the gym together, but Ennoshita and Tanaka were both surprisingly quiet that night, when asked what was wrong, a slightly smiling Ennoshita simply said, "Nothing."