A/N)) Trigger warning! There may be slight suicidal thoughts here- and some blood

Yamaguchi-san apparently wanted to learn how to float serve, Ren thought, taking her mind off of Science class. I wouldn't mind teaching him but- Ren sighed, placing her head down on top of the table, I'm a terrible teacher. "Yoshida-san, can you not doze off please? It's very distracting," the sensei asked politely, making the 15 year old prodigy blush out of embarrassment. "S-sorry..."

---

"Yoshi-su!!!" Hiyori leaped on Ren who had been doing the Social work she had for their next class. "A-ah, yes- what is it, Hiyori?"

"Guess what, guess what, guess what!"

"What is it..?" Ren asked a little hesitant. Hiyori then took a slight glance at Sayaka who also smiled, but not childishly like she did. "Guess who asked me out!!" Ren's eyes widened slowly, and she dropped her pencil. "Y-you can't just make me guess like that," the 15 year old tucked a bang behind her ear, "besides, I'm not good at guessing."

"But..." Hiyori smiled, "it's good to at least try."

"Don't be a party pooper, Yoshida," Sayaka smirked, "just guess." Ren, being half hesitant and half anxious, mumbled quietly. "Is it Tsukishima-kun..?"

"Who? Speak up, Yoshi-su," Hiyori stood up straight, beckoning Ren to raise her voice. The girl nodded slowly, getting the guts to fake a believable smile. "Tsukishima-kun?" Hiyori squealed, "Yeah, yeah! Tsukki-su asked me out!" Sayaka gave a smug smile, calming the hyper girl down.

"Oh, really?" Ren chuckled lightly, looking over towards the blonde and brunette. "That's so nice! I wish my love would ask me out~" They bursted into laughter. "Kageyama-san seems like the perfect person," Sayaka snickered, as Hiyori grinned. "Nah," Ren tried to keep her cool, "I prefer someone like..." She tried to think of a person but the only person that popped into her mind was the middle blocker blonde. "Yama-su?"

"Yes," Ren snapped her fingers, "someone nicer. Someone who would go out of their way for me..." She lied- even Tsukishima did those things for her. You can't look so glum, Ren. Tsukishima-kun likes someone now, she stood up and grabbed her bags, and Hiyori is happy. Good for her.

Sayaka exhaled and asked, "so, what type of magic did you use on him?"

"None- none! I swear, Saya-su! He just-" the shortest broke eye contact and started to swirl her hair between her fingers, "he just asked me if I'd like to go to Hoshiyamakohi... The two of us."

"Fine, fine. I believe you," Sayaka smiled, pushing in Ren's chair. "Sorry about that, Sayaka-san..." The youngest apologized, clenching her Science textbook in her hands. "D-don't worry about it..." The second tallest had her eyebrows meet, "you don't need to cry over something like that..."

"I'm not crying!" Ren felt her cheeks, realizing that she was, in fact, crying. "Are you alright-?"

"The best! I'm alive, aren't I?" She then gave a big grin, putting a thumbs up with her free dominant hand. Sayaka and Hiyori looked at each other, "I guess if you say so, Yoshi-su..."

"Let's go then- let's walk home," Ren put out there. "Sounds A-okay to me," Hiyori smiled sweetly. "Alright~" Sayaka hummed, walking ahead. "Wait up!" The light haired brunette beckoned, following after her friend.

Ren wiped away the tears in a single swipe, following them. She then got into their conversation after she zoned out almost completely. "So I want to wear a really pastel blue shirt and a long skirt!"

"But it's hot these days, I prefer you wear a shorter skirt, Hiyori."

"No, no," the shortest beckoned, "I think Tsukki-su likes modest women."

"He obviously asked you out so... that goes against your theory."

"Hey-! I am modest!!" Hiyori puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Sayaka. "And pigs fly."

"No, seriously! I'm a modest person, right, Yoshi-su?" Ren snapped out of her thoughts, "e-eh?"

"Goodness, you're not even listening to me..!" Ren hesitated, "I-I was!" The tallest then smiled, "Tsukishima-kun likes the colour pink on girls."

"Eh- you're serious?" Hiyori blushed as she noticed that they were about to reach their stop. Ren nodded, "and act like you! There's no way he would ask you out if you didn't act like you."

"Well said," Sayaka added on, halting her movement. "This is usually where we part, no?"

"It is," Hiyori grinned, "thank you, Yoshi-su." Ren chuckled, "any time. I'm not close to him for no reason. It must be fate you guys got along." Hiyori's ears perked up, "you think so?"

"Mhm," Ren sighed, keeping her posture, "a match made in heaven." Sayaka smiled and waved Ren off. "We'll see you tomorrow, Yoshida."

"I'm not going anywhere," the 15 year old tucked a strand behind her ear.

--

Ren plopped down on her bed. "Tsukishima-kun asked Hiyori out," she threw her socks and school jacket off. She gritted her teeth, "why are you sad, Ren? As long as they're happy, so are you."

Liar.

"How could you be so stupid? Why didn't you notice my feelings..?" Tears streamed down her face as she just let them... fall. "I-I knew I wasn't good enough," Ren started to rub her eyes, sitting straight up on her bed. "You could've just told me that, Tsukishima-kun..." She then felt her heart drop and she smiled although her eyebrows slanted.

"At least I'm his friend; some people don't have a chance like yours, Ren.

"It really is your fault. You let him go because you're stronger than this.

"The strongest person is the one who smiles through the hardest of times," Ren grinned, staring at herself in her phone's reflection before dropping it. "But I don't know why it's not true now of all times..." It's because you're a terrible person, her eyes widened. "Don't say that-" Nothing really changed.

No matter where you go, what you do, a girl like you couldn't possibly have a happy ending. The girl's eyes softened, "because happy endings don't exist."

--

It had been two days before the Inter-high preliminaries. That means a couple of days passed and Hiyori and Tsukishima had been getting closer to their date. "Oh, Yoshida-san, you're not coming to practice?" Yamaguchi questioned, looking at her. She packed her bag and took a quick glance at the freckled male, "I have some... important things to do."

"No way... You said that for the last three days now..."

"Because I'm busy," Ren snapped, going back to her backpack. Yamaguchi's eyes widened and Tsukishima slow blinked. Why was she acting so odd? This week wasn't a good one for the trio. The blonde waited for her to say something, but Ren hadn't said anything at all.

"Let's go, Yamaguchi." He ordered, clicking his tongue. "O-okay, Tsukki." It had only been with them. She was perfectly fine around others, but not them- not her close friends.

Ren felt like she made a mistake, but she laughed it off, no way they'll forgive me now. She then picked up her work and left home, it's better if I'm away from them. Luckily, she didn't encounter anyone special on her way home. Not Kageyama, not Hinata, not the captain or the coach. Especially not her higher up, Takeda.

"Yoshida isn't coming again today?" Coach Ukai placed his hand on his chin, "that's strange... She did say she wasn't feeling well."

"Y-yeah... I don't mean any harm, but she isn't acting like herself." Yamaguchi stood with the coach, watching the rest of the team stretched. "I'm kind of worried," Takeda sensei commented, having a reassuring nod from Kiyoko. "I miss her."

"I don't know what's up with her," Ukai said, "do you know if she has any family complications? Is she fine at school?"

"Yoshida-san doesn't seem like she has anything against her family... I'm pretty sure she contacts her mom every day. But yeah, she is good at school- She just doesn't speak to Tsukki and I."

"I see," the second oldest snapped his fingers. "Thank you, Yamaguchi. Go do your stretches now."

"A-alright!"

--

Yamaguchi walked along the pavement. "It's pretty late... Should we really check up on Yoshida-san?" Tsukishima didn't even bother to look, "we? You mean you."

"I don't mean me," the freckled of the two looked at the tallest, stopping in front of her apartment. "Right now, she needs both of us."

"I'm busy."

"That won't work on me, Tsukki."

"But really," Tsukishima sighed. "I don't think I'll be of any use. If she is going through all this stuff," he pushed Yamaguchi ahead a bit, "she most definitely needs someone to talk to, and that someone is you." Yamaguchi felt his heart leap. With what? He didn't even know that.

"Tsukki," he smiled, and had to admit that his blonde friend was being extremely kind. There were times like these, but only when they were needed. This meant that he was serious about helping Ren. He was serious about getting her back on her feet. The preliminaries were just around the corner, after all.

Or was that really only it? "I'll see you later then," Yamaguchi grinned, waving his hand. "See you tomorrow, Tsukki."

"Vice-versa, Yamaguchi." As soon as the blonde was nowhere in sight, the male gulped. He took out his phone and read the time. 8:14pm, not bad... is she even awake?

He looked at his messages to her, "speaking of which, she hasn't replied seriously to me either. She always dodges the question." Yamaguchi felt his cheeks warm, "typical Yoshida-san." He then climbed the stairs and went to her door, 207, 207... He then stopped in front. "Ah, here it is!"

Ringing the door bell a few times, he noticed how he felt no movement come. Maybe she is asleep... Just then, he swore he heard something drop. A metal object? His eyes expanded, and he knocked on the door. "Yoshida-san, it's me, Yamaguchi!"

No answer. "Please open up- I'd like to see you." After a while of silence, another voice spoke up. "Go away! Why did you even come here?"

"Everyone is worried-!"

"That doesn't matter. I'm doing fine."

"If that's the case," Yamaguchi hesitated, "if that's the case, open the door." After he said that, there wasn't any type of response. He knew she wasn't okay. He knew that Ren Yoshida, the girl who acted more than anyone, had needed someone. And he will try and be that person.

It's not Tsukki this time around. He thought, but couldn't find any words to get her to open the door. She'll make a mistake she'll regret. If I were Yoshida-san, where would I hide my spare key? This thing was normal, at least to Yamaguchi. They were friends after all.

She acknowledges her height, so- he reached up and touched a metal object on top of the door frame. Jackpot! He placed the key inside the knob, turning it open. Pretty good if you ask me, he grinned although his eyebrows met, it seems I got that on my first try. I'm having a lucky day~ Yamaguchi stepped inside, closed the door, and looked around. Her voice wasn't too far, so she shouldn't be upstairs...

The living room? He thought, approaching the middle of the apartment. To his luck, he spotted the figure curled up and hugging her knees in the corner. Yamaguchi dropped his bags. "Yoshida-san..."

"Why did you come here..?" She mumbled, turning her head away. "How did you even get in here- Why would you waste your time?" Yamaguchi stepped closer, his voice a little more stern than usual,"y-you're not a waste of time."

Ren's shoulders rose and she lowered her head, "that's a lie-"

"It's not a lie," the male then noticed a crimson liquid on her hands. She was wearing shorts and a tank top, so the substance smeared on the skin of her legs. But where did it come from? Yamaguchi crouched down, realizing the blood had been coming from her ankles- her shins even? "H-hey," his eyes suddenly expanded, "are you..-?"

"O-oh, this?" The female tucked her legs inwards, and gave a heart broken smile. "It was an accident."

He crouched down, exhaling, "you do know that we are here for you? You don't have to lock everything away anymore." Ren's eyes widened, but she avoided eye contact. Her eyes were swollen, and she buried her head in her knees once more. Yamaguchi stood back up and looked around. He was keeping his calm, this was good.

The first aid was what he needed. He went into her kitchen, and opened her medicine cabinet, or what looked like one at least. He grabbed some Hydrogen Peroxide spray and quite a few bandages. Getting back to next to Ren, he placed his hands on her shoulders. "This may hurt a bit-"

"It can't hurt more than this," she gripped her legs tighter; "i-it doesn't hurt." He took a deep breath and sprayed her legs. He felt terrible... He should've known- he should've realized sooner. Then maybe she wouldn't be like this. What on earth happened..?

What an odd place to self harm, but it was a place no one would see. Is that why she wore tights? Yamaguchi brushed it aside, that's impossible. He started to wrap her ankles, Yoshida-san has never acted this way before. His hands shook a little, ceasing his help, or maybe she has and no one has realized it.

"I can do that myself-"

"It's the least I can do, Yoshida-san." Yamaguchi stated, his heart beating with anxiety. She started to get aggravated, knowing what he was doing for her was probably bothering him. "It's no use..." She spoke out and looked at him, making Yamaguchi look up at her, "what was that?"

"I'll do it again, and again, and again. There's no use treating something that can't be helped." Her hands formed a fist and her short nails dug into her palm. "Yes there is," he finished putting the bandage on, "I can help. Thus, I can try and treat it." He gave a smile that made Ren's eyes water. "I'm not worth it." Her heart dropped, and she gritted her teeth harshly, "why are you doing this, Yamaguchi-san..! I didn't even ask for your help!"

"Of course you didn't," he grinned sweetly, "but even so, it doesn't mean you don't need it." Ren's tears started to fall again, and she looked at the male who had seemed to look away as well. "Don't worry," he grabbed her hand slowly, gently grabbing the razor. "I bet you guys hate me, too-"

"Not at all- Tsukki wants to see you come back to practice as well." Her lungs suddenly felt like they lost all the air that seemed to fill them. "I'm a terrible person... I said I wanted the best for someone," she chuckled slightly, "when I really didn't."

"Everyone does. That just proves how much you love them, I guess." The freckled first engulfed Ren in a hug. She then looked to the floor, "I'm s-sorry." Yamaguchi took his arm and gently ran his fingers through her hair, "it's alright." Ren calmed down and nuzzled her head in the crook of his neck.

His face warmed up but he didn't care. He calmed her down; that's what matters the most. But the next thing that happened was beyond their control. Yamaguchi leaned in close enough to feel her breath. His heart raced and he hesitated.

That was until their lips met.

A/N)) I'm so sorry for not updating~ I hope this chapter makes up for it rip. So much drama... such wow.

Dw this isn't the end. There's way more coming~~