I wrote this based on my first-year experience in a residency. Thus, it's a bit of self-inserting and I had created an OC a while ago so I decided to use him as my proxy. I made a pallet for him:

(Also, apologies in advance for the feels)

2015 - 2016

"On second thought, this is terrifying. I would like to move with in with you guys,"

"Aww come on Tsukki~. Just look at all the bumbling first years who think university life is the ultimate party scene and who are, most likely, going to drop out within the first semester when they fail a bunch of courses and/or become pregnant," Kuroo spoke highly, stretching his arms out to the crowd in front of them.

"Even if they don't have a uterus?"

"Even if they don't have a uterus," Kei sighed in despair.

"Isn't university supposed to be full of scholars and people looking for degrees? You know...educated people?"

"You can start saying that about your class when the guys who don't actually want to be here, drop out. If you want to get your degree, then you've got to work for it. You saw how Keiji was last year. It's not going to be easy," Kei sighed, turning to face Kuroo and look away from the place that he would call home for the next year.

"I'm a bit worried, if I'm honest," Kei let out a shaky breath, Kuroo looking onward at him with consideration. "Can you... make me a promise?"

"Of course," Kuroo nodded without hesitation.

"If it starts to seem that I might be pulling away or I don't come visit anymore or just generally if I'm not myself, then please come baring a hatchet and split open my skull to find out what's wrong. Normally I wouldn't be worried but if even Keiji could feel that much pressure... and we know me. There's no way I'll be forming some unbreakable bond with my neighbour who'll check in on me constantly or anything," Kuroo chuckled at his words.

"Come on, you don't even know who your roommate will be!" at these words, Kei froze.

"...roommate? It's not a single room?"

"Single rooms are only given out to second years and higher,"

"...I'm leaving," Kuroo caught Kei around his waist before he could get too far.

"Come on~, you said you'll give it a chance. "

"Words are trivial,"

"Here, here!" the two turned to see Bokuto and Akaashi head over, Bokuto addressing them like he was a squire boy. "What's this? Is thine prince attempting an escape? Halt! Thou shalt not pass without mine arms acting as thou chains! Thou shalt not commit adultery!" Akaashi hid his face behind his hands in embarrassment.

"Please, don't be so loud, Kō," he whispered harshly towards Bokuto.

"Hm? Oh! What do you think of my Shakespeare?" Akaashi groaned. "Oh, is it that good? Should I keep it for the pillow talk?" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Wow, that was so hot. I'm pregnant already," Kei spoke flatly. Bokuto's head whipped to him quickly.

"What, seriously? Do you have a uterus?" Akaashi wanted to sink into the ground and be rebirthed as something that would actually be able to handle Bokuto.

Well, at least he knew anatomy.

"Sure," Kei answered with a raised eyebrow, curious as to where this might go. Bokuto's jaw fell.

"You're trans. I'm so sorry for outing you! Tell me, what are your pronouns? Now I'm so glad we've been using protection all this time," Akaashi looked at him in disbelief.

On second thought, perhaps he didn't know anatomy at all. Bokuto knew exactly what Kei had down there.

"Wait!" Bokuto suddenly yelped, all heads snapping to Bokuto as a look of realisation passed over him. "Kei, are you lying to me? You can't get pregnant with just words. There needs to be intent,"

"What the fuck are you even on about anymore?" Kuroo dug his fingers into his own hair. Bokuto shrugged his shoulders.

"Meh. Kei seemed a bit stressed earlier so I'm glad to see him smiling now," sure enough, Kei had been thoroughly entertained by the scene and had a gentle smile plastered on him.

"I, for one, am quite glad to hear you've been using protection," Akiteru sauntered up to them, Kei's eyes growing wide as he saw his brother. "Don't know how I feel that you're already sexually active, though,"

"Why are you here?" Kei groaned, hiding his face between his hands. "Is mom here?" Akiteru waved his hand dismissively.

"Mom has work so I came here to do the parent orientation in her place," he answered.

"There's parent orientation?" Kei's jaw hung.

"Ohh can I come?" Bokuto popped up.

"To a boring meeting where they'll basically just be talking about how important it is to continuously pay the institution?" Akiteru looked to the owl with question. Bokuto blinked up at him.

"...on second thought, I'd rather go practice my Shakespearian talk for the bedroom,"

"God, Kōtarō," Akaashi sunk into a squat, wrapping his arms around his own head. "I'm dying over here,"

"Dying from my sexy talk, right?"

"I need a vacation away from you," Bokuto's jaw fell at his words, dramatically placing a hand over his hand.

"Excuse you. I am the vacation! I'm an entire island resort, all compact within a ton of muscle and a whole ton of good looks!" he spoke dramatically.

"That's a whole lot of tons. The Earth trembles as you walk," Kei commented, Bokuto somehow taking it as a compliment and laughed with crossed arms.

Akiteru looked onward with a smile. Long gone were his worries about this relationship.

"Will you guys help him settle in?" as if he even needed to ask. Bokuto and Kuroo decided to straighten up and give him a salute.

"Yes, sir! Of course, sir!" Akiteru bid them a farewell and headed up to the campus where all parents of first years were requested to gather. Kei got himself signed into the residency the university appointed him and soon, the quad was helping him pack out the minimal things he brought in the double room. The roommate wasn't there yet and, by Bokuto's logic, that meant he could call dibs on the best side of the room.

Kei wasn't really one for a lot of possessions so the packing out had been quick and with four sets of hands, it was finished quickly. The three had printed out and framed some pictures of the four together, mounting and placing them around his side of the room. Bokuto had decided to have an additional home-welcome present made from his previous year's Black Jackals jersey, the material being used as the covering for a pillow.

"That way if you're ever missing me, you can just hug this pillow and it'll feel like I'm hugging you back!" Bokuto explain as Kei regarded the pillow in his hands, the four sitting shoulder-to-shoulder against the wall on his new single bed. The bed definitely wasn't made to accommodate more than one person.

Kei smiled gently down at torso-sized pillow, the number '17' printed on both sides with 'MSBY' on the front, 'Bokuto' at the back. The black material was a bit worn out from all the matches Bokuto had, the golden claw marks stretching across the background. Kei brought it close to his chest, hugging it tightly. It was so soft, and even smelled like Bokuto.

"Thank you, Kō. I love it," and he meant it, Bokuto's heart swelling at the earnest smile he received.

"Remember, if anything comes up, just say the word and I'll come pick you up," Kuroo whispered against Kei's side, his head resting on the crow's shoulder. "Even if it's just that the residency food seems like it'll poison you and you want to come have some proper dinner with us," Kei snorted at his words, ruffling his nose in the cat's hair.

"I don't know if the university would deliberately poison their students. Seems like it'll be bad publicity," Akaashi muttered against Kei's other side.

"Not just the food too, but if you and your roommate get into a fight then just call us and we'll come defend your armour,"

"...Bo, I think you meant 'honour',"

"Same thing," Bokuto folded his arms with a bright smile. "I'll beat 'em up for you!"

"...listen, I just came to get educated. Not to get my ass handed to me," the four looked up as a new face appeared in the doorframe. His blue eyes glittered, his grey hair cupping his face and falling down to his torso. "I don't think I even stand a chance against you giants,"

"AHHH it's the roommate! He's tiny and looks angry! Like a little demon," Bokuto cowered. The roommate huffed in amusement.

"I'm not angry. I just have a resting bitch face," Bokuto's eyes sparkled and looked to Kei, his thumb pointing at the guy.

"I like this one already," the roommate chuckled at that, stepping into the room.

"I'm Tsukibane Kaede Malek. Feel free to just call me Kaede," he introduced himself.

"Woah, you have two names! That's so epic!" Kuroo wacked Bokuto over his head.

"Excuse this guy for his rudeness," Kuroo apologized but Kaede just waved it off dismissively.

"Don't worry about it. I'm half-English so I inherited the name Malek from my mother's side. Kind of like a little tradition: pass on the name to every second generation," he explained.

"Ah, that explains it. You didn't look entirely Asian," Akaashi shrugged his shoulders. "Anyway, I'm Akaashi Keiji. I would get up to properly greet you but I'm a bit... tied up, at the moment," he referred to his sides being captured by Kei and Bokuto. Kaede laughed it off.

"No problem. No need to get up on my account," he moved his rolling suitcase into the room, placing it on his side of the room. "I'm too afraid that when you guys do stand up, you might slaughter me or something," he made reference to the earlier threats Bokuto had made.

"Ah! Sorry about that!" Bokuto piped up.

"No worries. So who's my actual roommate between you guys?"

"That would be me," Kei spoke up. "Tsukishima Kei. It's a pleasure," Kaede smiled at him.

"I'm Kuroo Tetsurō, and mister fighter over here is Bokuto Kōtarō. He's not actually a fighter, so I don't think you'll have to worry. If he does come for you in the future though, just throw the Hamilton DVD off to the side and he'll be sure to go chasing after it," Bokuto fumbled at Kuroo's words, feeling betrayed that he would ever mention such cruelty to come to such an amazing musical.

"Ah yes, I know him," Kaede spoke, referring to Bokuto.

"Huh? Do I know you?" Kaede shook his head.

"Nah, I've just seen some of your matches," at those implications, Kei threw his face into the MSBY pillow.

"Not again!" he mumbled into the fabric. The others seemed to find this entertaining.

"The residency assigns roommates in the order they sign in, so when I spotted you guys outside, I made sure to go right after you. If I didn't end up being your roommate, then I would've ended up as your neighbour which isn't that bad either," Kaede explained, plopping onto his new bed.

"Huh? You wanted to be my roommate?" Kei looked up in question.

"Well, I didn't know it would be you to say. See, I'm new to Miyagi so I don't know anyone and probably just like you, hoped I would get someone that vaguely shared my interests. Because I saw Bokuto in the group, I kinda just assumed this was the best chance I got. See, I'm a volleyball player too, and I guess I was right," Kaede looked over to Kei's shelves where a volleyball ball was being kept.

"See? See? Volleyball brings people together!" Kuroo shook Kei's body viscously, happy to be making a point out of all that. "I can't believe the luck!"

"Well, can we really call it luck? Volleyball is huge in Japan so the chances are that at least a couple more people in this residency have before or are going to start volleyball in their lifetime. I follow the pro league's matches and Bokuto's a big name. It's not luck – I'm just a fanboy," Kaede smiled brightly.

"It's lucky that you managed to spot us at the right time and it's luck that you ended up being the second the roster assigned to be in this room," Akaashi pitched up.

"Meh. Guess you're right there," Kaede shrugged his shoulders. "So let me see if I get this right: Bokuto, Kuroo, Aa..."

"Akaashi," he helped out.

"Akaashi," Kaede repeated. "And then you were similar to mine. Tsuki..."

"Tsukishima,"

"Right. So you're Tsukishima, and I'm Tsukibane. Got it," he nodded to himself. "Do you still play?"

"Planning on it," Kei answered as Kaede threw his suitcase on his bed to start unpacking. "The Sendai Frogs. Can we help you pack out?"

"If you don't mind," the four got off the bed and headed to help him pack out his things. "Sendai Frogs? That's division two, right?" Kei nodded. "Wow. Congratz on getting in,"

"Thank you," Kei spoke. "Still nothing in comparison with this beast," he pointed over at Bokuto.

"Hey!" Bokuto felt offended but thought for a moment. "Thanks!" Kei rolled his eyes.

"What about you?" Akaashi questioned Kaede.

"Well, I used to be the libero for Namimori. I plan on joining the uni's team for a year, maybe two, then I'll try out for the pro league," he answered.

Akaashi pondered for a moment, trying to recall if he's ever gone up against Kaede before. Namimori was one of the top playing high schools in the country and three years ago, they had taken the number three spot in Nationals. After Itachiyama lost in the quarter finals to Inubushi East High, Fukurōdani had gone up against the victors to get to the finals. There, they lost against Ichibayashi High whom had defeated Namimori. That means, in that year, Namimori was on the same level as the people who defeated Sakusa and his team.

Of course, that was the year Itachiyama's captain and setter had gotten an ankle injury. It wasn't their best performance and perhaps not the best comparison. In the following two years, Namimori never fell from their position in the top eight. Namimori and Fukurōdani had squared off the year before, but that was after Akaashi and Bokuto had already graduated. If he remembered correctly, the owls had defeated the hedgehogs.

"What're you studying?" Kaede directed towards Kei.

"History,"

"Humanities. Nice," Keade commented. "I'm doing astrophysics," Bokuto would've pounced on him to hear about the awesome career choice but Kuroo held him back.

"I'm in literature, and Tetsu's in economics," Akaashi pointed his thumb back at Kuroo. "What a variety we've got here," Kaede let out a breath of relief.

"Oh good. I'm glad none of you is a professional fighter. I kind of like breathing,"

"I said I was sorry," but Bokuto's words were drowned out.

"Why join the pro league instead of the college league? University teams work around exam times and adjust to the school year, so it works out better. Also, pro teams unusually have practice during the day so when are you going to practice? Is it like part time? That's kind of a lot to take on in the first year, don't you think?" after the three had to leave and Kei was left with his roommate, he soon learned of what a curios hedgehog he was. He wanted to get all backstories, likes, hobbies and the works out of the way before the academic year began. He also wanted to settle on room rules and chores which Kei greatly appreciated.

"Never really considered the college league. I've always wanted to jump to the pro and start working up through the divisions. I guess you could say Kō motivated me a bit, but don't you dare tell him that," Kaede just snorted, the two sitting across from each other on their respective beds. "I will only be part-time active with the team so I probably won't be in that many official matches, if any. It'll just be a lot of training and I'll be kept in reserve but for now, I'm okay with just focussing on getting better. If we compute in the training hours I'll be able to make, my workload won't be different than anyone else. See, I took an extended degree," Kei explained.

"What's that?"

"Instead of completing my degree in three years, I'll be doing it in four. That way, my courses are more spread out through the years and I'll have time for the pro league," Kaede hummed in interest.

"But why? Why not rush your degree finished and then have all the time for the pro league?" Kaede tilted his head.

"...see, there's no reason to rush,"

"Huh?"

"I want to do things properly, and if I have the option to do it on a longer time frame, then I'll take it. There's no reason to rush forever," Kaede thought it was an interesting choice of words, but didn't mention it.

"So that adorable pillow you've got over there," Kaede pointed to the one made from Bokuto's jersey. "Are you a fanboy of your friend?" Kei chuckled at the thought of him being Bokuto's fanboy, rushing to grab his autograph and swooning at his every word. Well, Kaede had made sure to grab Bokuto's autograph before he had left.

"In some way, maybe you can say that," Kei settled on answering. "He's my boyfriend,"

"Oh that's so cute," Kaede couldn't help but get heart in his eyes. "And are the other two also a thing? You guys were all practically on top of each other when I came in though... are you guys like a four-way?"

"...yeah. You actually guessed right," Kaede threw up his hands in celebration.

"My roommate is dating the ace of the Black Jackals. I can't believe this. Can I have your autograph as well, in case you become like this crazy popular guy?" Kei scoffed at the thought.

"Don't overestimate my skills," but Kaede was unconvinced.

Of all the people in the world to end up as his roommate, Kaede wasn't bad – not at all. When the year started to kick in and academics became a priority, Kaede became extremely invested in his education as a scientist so Kei was able to focus in a work-orientated atmosphere. Kei worked hard from start to finish and had no real problems. The roommates had no issues with each other and adhered to the rules they set out for the room. They stuck together during the residency orientation, but they had different faculty orientations. There wasn't really a lot of people he connected with within his faculty and after six months, the class had dwindled a bit and the numbers were cut. Kuroo had been right.

Kei did end up having some practice matches with the Sendai Frogs and both Yamaguchi and Kaede would sometimes go watch. Yamaguchi ended up studying electrical engineering at another university but they never fell out of contact. Yamaguchi made a valuable friend in the mechatronic engineering department and a few weeks into the second semester, he happily announced that he had been asked out and was now in a relationship. Kei was happy for Yamaguchi and his girlfriend.

The Sendai Frogs had quite a few people in reserve and those people were able to form another seven-man team – thus, the frogs generally could play full-on practice matches within their own ranks. Kei was a part of the reserve team which wasn't unexpected at all. The middle blocker they already had was filled with years of experience. He was far from being a main man, but he would rise to the role soon enough.

The second team had practice matches with other teams in the pro league, but also in the college league. Nearing the end of the year, Kei went up against his own university's team.

Against Kaede.

Kaede had once told him of how successful his years at Namimori had been but he didn't expect his roommate to be as talented as he was. It was after that match where the frogs lost 2-3 against the uni, that he learned that Kaede had actually been named the best high school libero the year before. He thought it ironic how Kaede had asked for his autograph and wondered if he would be a rising star when in actuality, Kaede already was one.

Looking up some of Namimori's matches from the previous years, Kei discovered Kaede had worn the number '4' in his final year. The Libero Ace, they called him. He was breaking down all the norms. Bokuto was all over Kaede's case when he found out about that.

In the college league, their university team did quite well in the ranks but come November of 2015, Kaede slumped back into their shared room with a pout. Their team had lost, and it was to the university team that had Sakusa Kiyoomi.

In April of 2015, Kageyama made it into the Schweiden Adlers. They were the reigning champions of the pro league and hailed near Tokyo. The Adlers had their own dormitories near their training gym so Kageyama had to move away from Miyagi, now living under the same roof as Ushijima Wakatoshi, Hoshiumi Kōrai and, believe it or not, the world class player Nicolas Romero.

With Hinata taking a gap year, Kageyama thought it would be a good opportunity for him to join him in Tokyo and see the pro league up close and personal. Kageyama had been insanely excited by the idea, thinking how many opportunities could be created for Hinata and his independent training. Most of all, he wanted to be closer to Hinata. He wanted them under the same roof as roommates. He wanted Hinata to see how much fun the Schweiden Adlers and being in the pro league would be. Until the bitter end, Kageyama wouldn't give up.

Hinata had an entire year to himself and he used that time smartly. He agreed to stay with Kageyama, but on the condition it wouldn't be permanent or official. He wasn't going to move in with his boyfriend, but spending a few weeks at a time with him would be nice. Thus, Hinata's place of residency was on-and-off throughout the year. Between the Hinata household, staying with Kageyama, Hinata also stayed with Kenma in his house – yes, an entire proper house he afforded easily with his success – with Atsumu, and even had to crash with Bokuto, Akaashi and Kuroo a few times. This was when he was travelling between destinations and needed a place to stay the night on the way.

Hinata was almost happy Kei moved into a residency, otherwise he would have encountered him each time that happened.

Kageyama, along with the Schweiden Adlers, was also training for the Olympics that would be coming the following year. He encouraged and involved Hinata in his training whenever he could and he was there, his intentions completely focussing on improving their combination attacks. He was convinced he was doing it in Hinata's best interests. He was convinced he was doing what Hinata not only wanted, but needed. Hinata wanted to train so he tried to give him as many opportunities to do so.

He had been so sure...

"Tobio," Hinata's bags were packed, his form in the doorway of the Adler's dormitory. This was concluding another few weeks he had stayed with Kageyama in Tokyo, and now he headed back to Miyagi. "I came here to spend as much time with my boyfriend before I leave. I didn't come here to be your teammate," Kageyama didn't know what Hinata meant, not immediately. He sat in the common rooms for hours pondering the words but he knew, he knew, he fucked up. It wasn't until his fellow teammate and captain, Hirugami Fukurō, sat down next to his still form that he addressed it all.

"That boy that always stays with you left today again. Is that what's gotten you in such a slump?" Kageyama sighed and threw his head back onto the couch. "Come now. I may almost be a decade older than you and straight, but relationship problems always boil down to the same set of things. What happened?" so Kageyama confided in him, telling him of Hinata's upcoming Brazil trip and the cryptic words he had spoken before he left.

"...Tobio, tell me, how do you want your relationship with him to grow? What's your ideal future?" his captain posed the mind game, Kageyama pondering over it carefully.

"I want to play with him. I want to be on the same team as him and live together and be his favourite person forever," he answered.

"Do you think the only reason why you want to be on a team with him is because your relationship started with you two being on the same team?" Kageyama began to waver. "Do you think your relationship will crumble as soon as you're apart?"

It was Kageyama's biggest fear. As soon as he had come to Tokyo, things had been a bit tense between the two. They spoke a lot over the phone when he wasn't visiting - mostly about Hinata's independent journey - and he tried to do as much as possible for him when he was in Tokyo. Wasn't he doing enough?

"You're doing more than enough, Tobio. You guys are talking and keeping the relationship alive, it's just... well, I don't think you're going about it the right way,"

"What do you mean, Captain?" What was he missing? What was he doing wrong? He knew he wasn't the best stud or the ultimate bachelor, but they're relationship had been doing great for over two years already.

"What's great for one person, might not necessarily be great for the next," Kageyama was having difficulty processing his captain's words. "And he tried to tell you what's wrong already, but it seems I'm going to have to spell it out for you. Tobio, I know you're trying to be considerate and help out your boy with his volleyball and everything but that's not what he wants," Kageyama frowned.

"But then what does he want?!" he grabbed at his own hair in frustration.

"He wants to spend quality time with the person he loves, Tobio. Of course I don't know the specifics of what he wants, but he probably wants to be all sappy and go on dates and talk about literally anything else than volleyball. He'll be going to Brazil, completely alone, to improve himself and he'll be taking two years to devote himself to nothing but volleyball. He's going to be gone for two years, Tobio. Don't waste this precious time you have together,"

Hirugami felt he had said enough as Tobio grew silent. He left the young adult to ponder to himself, rolling the words over in his head over and over. He was quiet the rest of the day, dinner with the team passing uneventfully before he eventually found himself sitting by his lonesome in his room. Ushijima felt compelled to check in on him, hoping his setter wouldn't be falling into a dump. He needed him at the top of his game.

"Have you ever been in love, Wakatoshi?" not that Kageyama thought the volleyball superstar ace would think about such things.

"Love is supposedly an intense feeling, so I don't know if I've ever reached that level," Ushijima settled on answering.

"Anything close to it?"

"Perhaps," did Ushijima actually like someone? Was that even possible? "I assume this has to do with Hinata Shōyō?"

"Yeah. I think... by trying to show him that he didn't need Brazil, I thought I was pulling him closer. Instead, I was pushing him away," it hurt Kageyama to admit.

"You need to let him go," his head shot towards Ushijima, surprised that he would state such a thing so bluntly. "Let him go to Brazil. It's his choice. It was never yours to question,"

Kageyama felt hurt and his heart clenched, but this wasn't about him. This was about Hinata and what he wanted. He had been hurting Hinata by doubting him and his choices. Kageyama had once told Hinata that nothing he could do would ever be able to hurt him, but he had truly been hurt when it started to seem that he would chose Brazil over him. Now he was able to see that Hinata wasn't trying to make it an 'either or' question, but he had been trying to make it an 'and'. He wanted them both, and he was trying to make it work.

And Kageyama forced him to choose.

That night, Kageyama called Hinata and apologised sincerely. Hinata listened intently and his heart swelled by the end, happy that Kageyama was finally able to see. Unfortunately, by then it had been nearly two years since Hinata revealed he wanted to leave. It had been two years of Kageyama unwillingly breaking him down piece by piece, little by little until the damage was no longer undeniable. Hinata lost some of the trust he had in Kageyama, and that made a dent in their power-couple status. Only with time and proof that Kageyama no longer pressed the subject, would Hinata be able to fully regain confidence in their relationship again.

By the end of the call, Hinata sat in silence with dried out tears on his cheeks. It had been an emotional day and he was confused about what he wanted and where he stood with everything. Without him even realising, two arms wrapped around him for comfort and he fell asleep in those arms. Those arms carried him to the guest room and tucked him into bed. Those arms, without him even realising, had begun to feel like home.

Hinata had never wanted to keep anything from Kageyama and that's why he had told him about his friendship with Atsumu when it was in the early stages of development. Kageyama, if he was being honest, had been jealous and emotionally confused. Hinata spoke of so many promises of their love and forever that Kageyama believed him, yet here Atsumu came sauntering into the picture. The thought kept him awake at night and haunted him. Hinata realised Kageyama's upsetting reaction, had decided then-and-there that his friendship with Atsumu wasn't going to be something he exploited in front of his lover. Kageyama cooled himself down and calmed his mind thereafter, coming to the realisation that they were just friends.

Of course, Hinata was allowed to be friends with other people. Of course, he didn't have to devote his entire being to only Kageyama and no one else. Of course, he loved and trusted Hinata to know that Hinata wouldn't string him along or cheat on him. If Hinata ended up liking Atsumu, then he trusted him to let him down slowly before anything happened.

And here they still were, together. Kageyama trusted Hinata enough to not lie to him when they said their 'I love yous'.

So then why has Hinata's words been so empty recently?

For the next three months, Hinata would continue to come and go between Tokyo and Miyagi. The next time they spoke after that call, it had seemed as if Kageyama had been trying to steer their relationship to what it had been in their 'honeymoon phase' as Kei called it and to some degree, Hinata returned the same energy. If only they were like how they once used to be, maybe all their problems would vanish – the exact same problems they seemed to be avoiding any follow-up conversation on. With every passing day, their conversations seemed more strained and forced. Hinata started to go to Tokyo less and less and when he was there, it wasn't for long. He would tense away from Kageyama's touches that only seemed to serve the purpose of reeling him back in, the touches no longer meaning what they used to. Their kisses were flat and emotionless and their 'I love yous' began to wither away.

"Kenma, what am I supposed to do?" he laid crying in Kenma's arms, fingers working on his phone as he scrolled through sweet pictures of him and Kageyama in their second and third year when they went on cute dates.

"If someone is hurting because of someone else, and it's the other person's fault, then the other person needs to be the one to do something, right? With you two: who's the one who's hurting?" Kenma had never thought himself to be placed in this situation. He never wanted to see his friend in such a state ever again.

"Both of us. We're both hurting," Hinata finally admitted. "For different reasons,"

"Then isn't that a clear enough sign?" Kenma took Hinata's phone from him, not wanting him to force himself down a memory lane trip just to convince himself that they could still be fixed. "He's trying to chain you down and keep you from ever leaving him. You're tiptoeing around him and keep pulling on his heartstrings of hope. This needs to stop. This is toxic,"

To think Kenma would finally be the one to say it.

"But I still want to play with him; I still want to be rivals with him! I don't want him out of my life. I love him, Kenma,"

"But be honest, Shōyō: the love you feel for him now isn't the same love you felt for him a few years ago, is it?" Hinata chocked on his tears at Kenma's words. "You fell out of love, Shōyō. Acknowledge it. You two are still incredible people and you care so much about each other that I have no doubt that you'll be able to regain your friendship and your rivalry. You two are going to be okay, but you'll have to give it time. Please, stop forcing this dead relationship to keep on walking - for your sake and his. Something needs to change, now," Hinata balled his eyes out, holding Kenma tight as he let out all of his emotions. Kenma supported him throughout the entire emotional journey, the entire relationship and he been there every step of the way to catch Hinata if he stumbled.

Kenma was truly his best friend - his forever friend.

Kenma was home.

"Neh, neh, Tobio~. Why me? Out of everyone, why me?" Hinata remembered a conversation he had with Kageyama before. They were celebrating Valentine's Day together, the two deciding to go out for dinner where they stuffed themselves full.

"Hm? You remind me of home, I guess," Kageyama answered his silly question. "What about you? Why me?" and Hinata had looked at Kageyama and perhaps he had looked through him and saw somebody else. Perhaps even, he saw a few different people.

Home could be more than one thing. Home could be a variety of different things, of different people that offered importance to his life in different ways.

"You remind me of home, I guess,"

"Kenma?"

"Hm?"

"You can drive, right?"

"...I'd prefer not too but I'm able, if you really want me too," Hinata sniffled and sat away from him, wiping away his tears on his sleeve. "Why?"

"I want someone to take me to Tokyo," he admitted.

"...and you want a get-away car?" Hinata reluctantly nodded. Kenma thought about it and if Hinata was going to do what he thought he was going to do, then he'd rather be comforting him in the backseat all the way back to Miyagi than sitting behind the wheel – powerless.

"Would you mind if we ask Kuroo instead? I'll still come with," Hinata thought about it only a second and nodded in affirmation. "When?"

"What's the time?"

"Uhh it's 3A.M., actually," Kenma was always a night owl with his live streams and keeping up with his business degree and being a CEO, so he was used to it. This was probably very uncommon for Hinata who took care of his body, but these were abnormal circumstances.

His heart was crumbling into dust.

"It's a Sunday so there's no practice. I...I need this over with. I need to do this before I change my mind and start..."

"And start the cycle of forgiving, hurting and evading?" Hinata nodded. "Go take a shower and clean yourself up. Get yourself calm. I'll call Kuroo awake so we can leave at latest by five. We'll be in Tokyo before seven then," maybe it was his 'boss mode' that was taking over, but Kenma felt weird by being this abnormally calm but he had to be. If he was anything else, he might be an influence. He needed Hinata to see that he would help him with whatever he decides without prejudice. He had expected something to happen, something to change – not necessarily this.

This was all Hinata's call.

Kenma rung Kuroo while Hinata headed to shower and rid him of his dry tears. When Kuroo didn't answer, he tried Bokuto. He knew, one way or another, he was going to be waking up the entire unit but didn't exactly care. This wasn't about them.

"Hmm Kenma? Why are you calling me?" Bokuto's fatigued voice slurred through.

"Put Kuroo on. It's urgent," Bokuto headed to shake Kuroo awake, the other two bodies waking up in the process as well. It was one of the weekends where Kei had decided to stay with them.

"Kenma, what's wrong?" Kuroo's voice was filled with worry and sleep.

"I need a huge favour," Kenma spoke. "Can you come get me and Shōyō and drive us to Tokyo?"

"What, now? Why?"

"Because I think Shōyō is going to break up with Kageyama,"