The ringing of the school bell signaled dismissal for the whole high school in Karasuno High. The students stood up, bowed and bid goodbye to their teacher after their last period of class for today. Kageyama started to put back his notebooks in his bag and grabbed his gym bag to head to training, excited for another volleyball practice. He was so focused on his sport that he didn’t mind any other things beside that. Well, except for one.

Sugimoto Hisano walked in front of him as if she was angel casually passing by. It got his feet stop from walking and his eyes captured by her frame. ‘T-Tenshi…’ he said to himself, admiring how beautiful the girl his in his eyes. “Su-Sugi-Sugi-” he stuttered in calling her name.

“Hmm, hai?” Hisano turned around charmingly. But behind that beautiful aura, “Kazehaya-kun, why are you stuttering like a broken CD there?” she tilted her head to the side.

Sugimoto is a dense introverted girl who forgets people’s name a lot because of her avoidance in talking to them. She’s actually wondering why Kageyama is talking to her in the first place. She preferred not to interact with others, but the king is fully determined to make friends with her.

“I-It’s Kageyama Tobio!” the king cleared out, clearly nervous around her.

“Ka-Kageyama…” Sugimoto muttered. “Your name’s too long. Can I call you Kage instead?” ‘K-Kage!’ that got the king blushing as he nods his head. ‘She has a nickname for me!’

“See you then, Kage” the long-haired brunette bid goodbye and went to make a run for it. ‘Dammit! Why do boys keep on approaching me these days? It’s just like that time when I was in school in Tokyo!’

As she left their classroom, she passed by Hinata Shoyo who was about to fetch his team’s setter to drag him to practice. “Oi Kageyama! What are you doing there spacing out? We still have to practice my receives, remember?!” he howled at the stars trucked Tobio who still can’t believe his long-time crush ever since middle school gave him a nickname.  ‘K-Kage!!!’ he repeated it inside his head.

“OI KAGEYAMA DUMBASS! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?!” And with that, the daily arguments of Hinata and Kageyama continued.

On the other hand, their two other teammates who are also freshmen were headed to the gym when a leggy clumsy girl went to ran after them, holding out two bento boxes in her hands. “Tadashin! Tsukkin!” Kajiwara called out with her usual bubbly atmosphere.

The freckled boy turned around to stop and talk to their childhood friend who’s been friends with them ever since they were little brats. “Oh Shinobu, what’s up?” he asked as the girl stopped in front of him.

“Mouu~~! Tsukkin, why don’t you pause just to greet your friend?” Kajiwara pouted, her eyes setting on Tsukishim who stopped on his tracks the moment she said that. “Anyways, Oka-san made bentos for you two since you’ll be starting practice in your club” she smiles, handing the wrapped up boxes to Yamaguchi.

“Really? Arigatogozaimashitta! I missed Auntie’s cooking!” said the pinch server who smiled gratefully at her.

“No problem! Do your best! Tadashin! Tsukkin!” She chirped giving an ‘ok’ sign to the both of them. The tall blonde didn’t bother to say thanks, instead, he ignore her and went ahead, leaving Yamaguchi behind.

“E-Eh? Tsukki, wait up – Thanks again Shinobu! Sorry about Tsukki! Ja ne!” Yamaguchi bid her goodbye and ran after Tsukishima who was annoyed again as ever.

‘Tsukkin seems irritated again’ Kajiwara observed, still unknown to her that Tsukishima has this overflowing jealous raging from within him.

‘He calls him with his first name while I’m stuck with that stupid nickname. Seriously, who did she mete first?’

“Tsukki! Tsukki! What’s wrong?” Yamaguchi called after his friend only to be ignored. ‘Tsukki?’ he blinked wondrously, staring at his friend’s figure walking away.

“Kageyama dumbass! This is why you don’t have a girlfriend! You’re such a perfectionist!” Hinata yelled at Kageyama after lamely getting hit by the king’s serve once more. They were practicing just beside the field where the soccer club of the boys and girls practiced.

“What? Where did come from? Also, you’re one to talk!” Kageyama countered but that didn’t attack Hinata. Instead, the shortie brushed his finger on his nose and smirked confidently.

“Hell yeah I do! She’s going to go out with me once we win that match against Tsukishima on Saturday!” he declared, fisting his hand in determination.

‘So she still isn’t your girlfriend…’ Kageyama thought, shaking his head at his partner. A soccer ball suddenly went to their direction with a pixie-cut girl approaching them, raising a hand. “Hey! Could you get that for us please?” she called in a loud voice for the two boys to hear.

They did hear it alright, especially Hinata. “Minami-chan!!!” he shrieked like a little boy with blushing cheeks. “You look cute as ever!!”

‘Minami-chan?’ Kageyama wondered and took the ball, throwing it back to the girl named Minami.

“Thank you!” said Shimazaki Minami who made a run for it after seeing Hinata’s kira kira smile aura. ‘Dammit, it’s that guy Hinata again!’ she frowned.

“Is that the girlfriend you’re talking about?” Kageyama questioned.

“Yep! Isn’t she cute?” Hinata beamed that got Kageyama weirded out.

“You, having a crush is weird” commented the king and went to pick up their ball to continue practicing.

“You’re one to talk! Weren’t you going to confess to that brunette in the classroom earlier? I heard you call her and stutter!” Hinata retort that was enough for Kageyama’s hand to claw his hand.

“You didn’t see anything” declared the prodigy menacingly. “OI! KAGEYAMA DUMBASS! THERE’S NO POINT IN DENYING YOUR LOVE FOR HER! I ALREADY KNOW!” “SHUT UP DUMBASS! IT’S JUST A SIMPLE CRUSH! I WOULDN’T GO THAT FAR!” by now, Kageyama’s face was steaming red. ‘It’s nothing but a crush…’ he told himself but keeping that admiration to himself for almost four years? It’s nothing like a crush.

“That’s what I told myself at first! But look at me! Head-over-heels for Minami-chan! And I only met her last year!” Hinata shouted, swatting away Kageyama’s hand. “It’s normal for us boys! So why are you denying it?!”

That got the king silent for a moment. Yes, it is normal for boys to lay crushes on girls. But to actually grow an intimate feeling for a girl who never even talked to him before? He won’t buy it.

Kageyama promised himself he’d make friends with her before he declares his feelings.

“Idiot, I told you I don’t love her”

“But you get worked up when she gets close with other guys. Tell me, Tsukki. You love Shinobu, don’t you?” Yamaguchi persuaded. He and Tsukishima were on their way home when the freckled pinch server asked him that question.

The middle blocker only got irritated instead of answering. “Shut up already, Yamaguchi” he sneered. This time he didn’t deny it and left Yamaguchi pondering.

“A crush on her then?” he coated his words, just to get word from his childhood friend.

“This conversation never happened” Tsukishima concluded their discussion and left his friend again.

 ‘I see…’ Yamaguchi stared at him at the same time Hinata did to Kageyama as both duos walked home with one contemplating about the other’s feelings for a certain girl. ‘I didn’t know guys with crushes are complicated beings…’ said the two middle blockers referring to their tall partners, Kageyama and Tsukishima.