FIVE ━━━ THE GIRL
WHO'LL NEVER EAT ALONE

DAYS PASSED BY WITH A BLINK OF AN EYE and with each day ending, the two high schoolers began to crave the warm presence of their acquaintance. Kageyama was searching for something, a being that could append the missing dynamic colors in his dull monochromatic palette. Nothing ever caught his interest except for the ball sport he had been playing for the longest time.

But when the setter saved you from your misery back at Karasuno's rooftop, his listless life was gradually getting more vivid and intriguing. You were always at the back of his mind. The concern for your well-being and safety was grounded in him like how a gardener would act when it comes to nourishing a tiny flower.

The loud ringing of the lunch bell echoes along the hallways of the high school. Kageyama held the wrapped bento with care as he trudged through the groups of students, their chatters scattering with different topics in each conversation. The voices began to simmer down once he stepped out of the vociferous hallway.

His dark-blue hues scanned around the outskirts of the school institution and landed on a certain H/C-haired second-year who was sitting alone on a bench by the small garden of tulips.

Her hands rested on her lap as her slim fingers fiddled with the end of her blazer sleeve. Her gaze was fixated on the bed of flowers until it shifted over to Kageyama when he finally approached the female. "Sorry, I'm late..." Kageyama apologized as you scooted yourself over to the side of the wooden bench.

"No need to apologize Kageyama-san... I don't mind waiting." You assured, your voice becoming small and soon diverted your eyes away from the male. A few strands of your H/C-colored hair got swept from the wind as you pulled your hair up and styled it into a messy ponytail. A wrapped bento box appeared in your line of vision and noticed it came from a slightly flustered ebony-haired male.

Kageyama kept his mouth shut and shifted his eyes around the place, hesitating to look at your reaction on his unexpected gesture. It was unusual for him to bring another bento for the female. Every break time, the two would eat together at the same place by the miniature garden and share Kageyama's lunch. This kind of routine began when he coincidentally found you all alone during break time. You never brought your lunch with you as the only thing you had was a small carton of chocolate milk.

Maybe that's why he had the sudden urge to make an extra bento.

"You never really ate a complete meal... And eating half of my bento isn't enough." He spoke up, taking a glimpse at your flabbergasted expression.

Your eyebrows raised in shock from Kageyama's act of generosity and reluctantly took the bento out of his large hands. A shock of electricity ran throughout your nerves as the tip of your fingers slightly brushed his calloused ones when you received the wrapped lunch box. You felt the heat rise to your cheeks from the brief contact and turned your head to the side, trying to hide the evident flush as you fiddled with the cloth of the bento.

Once your blush settled down, your E/C-colored eyes wandered over to the still-wrapped box and quietly admired the design of the cloth.

The red linen had white floral designs decorated as golden glitters that glints like tiny stars coat the spaces of the cloth. You placed the bento box on top of your lap and unwrapped the designed bundle. You opened the lid and immediately had a whiff of the home-made pork curry.

You paused for a moment as you stared down at the bento box, almost hearing the loud thumping of your heart from your silence.

Your lips curved into a slight frown while your eyes looked up at the taller male. "You don't need to do this." You murmured as you furrowed your brows disconcertingly. Your eyes held a sense of self-loathe and melancholy. You were never able to bring back the confidence you had when you were just a child. The insults that were thrown at you since middle school changed you and made you doubt yourself bit by bit. "You don't have to act like my friend."

"What made you say that I was acting as your friend?"

Kageyama gave you a light scoff before he sat beside you and gave you a solemn look. "I would never force myself to do something I won't like." He stated and brought his focus backed on his bento, taking out the wooden chopsticks stored at the side of the lunch box. The male carefully opened the bento, turning the lid over before he set it beside him.

You felt your heart skipped a beat from Kageyama's statement and didn't know how to reply. You were at a loss for words. No one was ever there for you when you need them the most. Of all the times you ate alone on the wooden bench, you'd never thought someone would keep you company. You were no one, a nobody that everyone tries to avoid.

But then you met him.

You watched the male pierced his chopsticks on a pork cutlet and brought the meat up to his mouth. He then stopped mid-way and noticed your frozen form. "The curry's not gonna finish itself you know." Kageyama pointed out and gestured over to the extra bento box on your lap, popping the meat into his mouth as he continued his feast.

You stare at the setter in slight amusement as your frown disappeared and got replaced with a small genuine smile. "You're right..." You trailed off and turned your attention back to your bento box. You picked up the chopsticks from the side and quietly ate your lunch.

The delicious aroma passed through your senses and it made you feel a sense of nostalgia. It almost felt like your mom's cooking as the warm feeling of home mended your impaired heart. You could tell that this dish was made with love by the way each ingredient was fresh and thoroughly cooked.

"Hey, Kageyama-san..."

Kageyama halted his actions and gazed back at your E/C-colored orbs. He looked taken aback as he saw your facial features relaxed in contentment. Never before had he saw that complacency expression. The way the corner of your eyes crinkled from your genuine smile charmed him completely. Since the day he met you on the rooftop, Kageyama didn't think that he would see such an angelic smile that could brighten up his monotone life. Your smiles never held any sort of emotions behind it. But as he sat down and adored your pure characteristics, this was different.

Kageyama then realized why he was so adamant with this girl.

He wanted to show her what life is all about. He wanted her to cherish the gift of life and live it to the fullest. He wanted her to realize the small beautiful silver linings in this crazy world filled with discrimination and judgment.

"Kageyama-san?"

The male blinked his eyes as his trance got cut off with a call of your small but gentle voice. "What were you saying again L/N-san?" Kageyama asked, finally realizing that he wasn't paying attention to your words before.

You smiled fondly at the first-year and set the chopsticks aside. You closed the lid of the already-emptied bento box, shifting your body to the side as you faced the male.

"How about going to that cafe again?"

Kageyama pursed his lips and thought for a moment. The Inter-High Volleyball Tournament was now drawing closer and he shouldn't ditch any practices. After all the hard work he had done. He'd never miss a chance to compete in Nationals.

His dark blue eyes trailed back up at your hopeful look before he let out a sigh. "Sure... Let's go after school." Kageyama murmured and went back to his lunch once again.

Your smile grew even wider from the male's decision as a sense of relief wash over you. You gave a nod of your head and smiled to yourself, watching Kageyama eat the pork bento in glee.

Unbeknownst to the both of you, a pair of hazel eyes were staring at your sitting figure with spite and envy.

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