SEVEN ━━━ THE GIRL
WHO FINALLY MOVED ON

THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS SOON STARTED TO WILT AWAY as time began to introduce the hot summer heat in the land of the rising sun. Spring was now over, and the two lonely souls grew closer. They shared their stories and learned each of their feelings better than before. They bonded with each time they could spare and fortunately, Kageyama hasn't seen you done anything foolish since the day in the playground.

The two high schoolers were currently enjoying their Bentos by the small garden of tulips. Words were exchanged to each other as they talked about the setter's upcoming qualifiers for the Interhigh Tournament. "It's a shame that we have classes on the day of your competition." You said, your tone laced with a hint of disappointment as you finished the remaining katsudon on your bento.

Kageyama looked up from his lunchbox and turned his head to the side. "It's fine if you can't watch me play. I don't mind actually." He shrugged his shoulders, seeming not to care either way but you didn't take it too seriously.

"I'll treat you out to dinner if you snatch that trophy!" You smiled brightly to the male beside you as you slowly chewed on the lean breaded-pork.

Kageyama continued to gaze at your celestial smile like he was smitten down by your very existence. He could hear his heart drummed loudly by his ears and could feel the sweltering temperature of the summer heat got to his pale cheeks. He had been experiencing a few fevered scenarios in the past three weeks. It occurred every time he was with you as it initially got worse whenever you flash him a smile that could break his hollow facade.

It was a bit foreign for him to feel this type of way as his world would only revolve around Volleyball. He had never given any chance to step out of his comfort zone and fully experience the life of a teenage boy.

"Y/N, I-"

"Y/N-san..." The moment was abruptly shut down by a familiar masculine voice.

Your body tensed up from the call of your name, hearing the leaves crinkle and wrinkle as the person approached the two of you. You looked up and pursed your dry lips into a straight line. "Hiroshi..." You trailed, addressing the person in front of you as you stared at the boy who broke your feeble heart.

You felt Kageyama's stare penetrated Hiroshi from the way the second-year was awkwardly shifting on his spot. He knew that he was one of the reasons why you've been suffering all this time. "Kageyama-kun... Let him talk first." You spoke up, giving his hand a light squeeze as reassurance.

Kageyama kept quiet before he clicked his tongue in annoyance, deciding to let you handle the situation. You chuckled from his actions and turned your attention back to the black-eyed male. Although you were not at all ready to talk with the second-year, your nerves were lulled down by the comforting presence beside you.

"I'M SORRY!" You almost jumped on your seat as you watched Hiroshi's body bowed in front of you. "It was so childish and stupid of me to ignore you when you needed someone the most. I was selfish and only thought of my cool 'image' without giving any second thoughts about your feelings... I made the mistake of being ignorant before, and I will not make that mistake once again." Hiroshi admitted, ashamed by his actions and his negligence towards you as a friend.

You stared at the raven-haired male with widened eyes, befuddled from his words as you didn't know how to reply. Kageyama noticed your troubled look and caressed his thumb along your knuckles as comfort. His eyes watched your frozen form relaxed from the gesture and heaved out a breath. His gaze shifted to the second-year as he shot him with his sharp-piercing stare.

"Did you mean it?"

"W-What?"

"I meant your apology..." The setter stated as the corners of his mouth slightly hanged down. "Y/N was hurt by your selfish actions to the point where she started to ignore her mental and physical health." Kageyama gritted his teeth, feeling the embers of fury in the pit of his stomach as he remembered the times you would hurt or even kill yourself. "So tell me... Do you really mean it? Or will you just hurt her even more than before?" He asked, his voice tainted with diction and solemnity as he stared intensely at Hiroshi's dark eyes.

"Kageyama..." Words drawled out of your mouth as your chest swelled from his blunt but meaningful words. You gaped at the first-year beside you with your mouth slightly parted, not at all astonished by his conservatoire trait just like before, but you haven't become accustomed by it either.

Hiroshi straightened his posture and looked back at Kageyama with determination, "I wasn't able to protect her before... but I'll make up for all of the stupid things I have done back then! Please give me a chance!" He stated and bowed once again.

Kageyama contemplated for a moment and took a glance at your expression.

And he saw it.

The corner of your eyes relaxed as waves of emotions were flashing in those E/C-colored hues—a tidal wave of stupefaction and empathy. It soon clicked in his mind that deep inside your heart, that boy was still your first love after all.

Kageyama frowned at the sight and could feel his heart clenched painfully. He then cleared his throat, dismissing the uneasy feeling in his chest as he looked away. "I have Volleyball practice after school... So I'll leave Y/N with you then." The setter sighed out and crossed his arms, pulling it up against his broad chest.

Hiroshi's eyes lit up by Kageyama's final statement and nodded his head at a speedy pace. "Thank you so much for giving me a second chance! I think we haven't introduced ourselves yet. My name is Hiroshi, Hiroshi Watanabe." The second-year flashed him a friendly toothy grin, which made the setter cringed slightly from the light aura emitting from the man before him.

So that's your type, huh?

The school bell rang aloud, signaling that break time was about to end soon. Hiroshi bid both of you a farewell and retreated inside the school building. You glanced back at Kageyama and smiled up at him, showing your pearly-white teeth. "Thank you, Tobio." You said solemnly and stood up from the wooden bench.

He was stunned when your soft-mellowed voice spoke out his first name. It was a cacophony melody twanging across his eardrums as his heart skipped a beat. "Y/N..." Kageyama uttered your name out, watching you smoothen out the visible creases on your skirt.

You turned your attention back to the ebony-haired setter and tilted your head, waiting for his next words before you'd leave for classes. "I... Have fun later." You raised your brows and nodded your head slowly, expecting something else but your hopes soon washed away.

"Yeah..."

"You've been out of it lately, Y/N."

"Huh?" You blinked, looking up at the second-year who was sitting across from you at the round-table. The two had just arrived inside the gelato shop by the shopping district. You'd inadvertently lose some of the conversations due to your mind wandering off on a certain first-year setter, and Hiroshi quickly noticed your adrift character.

The ravenette gently stuffed his spoon in his gelato cup and lifted his arm, twisting the baby bangs that were dangling in front of his eyes. "About... About that confession Y/N..." He began.

Your ears perked up while your body went stiff from the upcoming topic. 'He's gonna end it.' You wondered as your fingers fiddled with the end of your blazer sleeve. The walls started to close in on you as it suffocated you and squeezed the oxygen out of your lungs. You have never liked this feeling since the very beginning.

'Breath, Y/N.' You could hear Kageyama's gruffed voiced ringed through your ears. The way he'd held you close to his arms and caressed your back comfortingly were vivid in your mind whenever you had your sudden sessions. It was the small things he'd do that drives your inner demon back to its hell of oblivion.

You fluttered your eyes closed and inhaled the milky-buttery aroma of the shop before letting out a deep breath. Your breathing steadily went back to normal as your tensed posture composed into your casual form. "We should stay as friends, Hiroshi." You replied in a straight manner, scooping up your chocolate gelato with your tiny spoon.

His eyes widened from surprise by your response, watching you licked off the gelato with slight confoundment fixed in his expression. The corner of his lips twitched, "Yeah... T-That's what I was supposed to say." Hiroshi muttered and cleared his throat after, not expecting you'd say those kinds of words.

"He really took care of you, huh?"

"W-What? What do you mean?" You unknowingly stuttered as you stared back at him.

Hiroshi smiled softly and propped his elbow on top of the round table, leaning his chin on his palm as he gazed at you with wonder. "I never really seen you smile so brightly when you were with me and yet, you'd do it so naturally whenever he's there." The second-year mused and noticed your ears turned red from his remark.

A flush crept onto your cheeks once you realized what the male meant. "Kageyama? Oh, I don't know..." You chuckled nervously and brought your hand up to the nape of your neck, trying to break eye contact as you look around the gelato shop.

Hiroshi cocked a brow from your flustered behavior, his grin growing wider from your reaction as he observed your jumpy actions in amusement. "He seems like a good guy though, since he deeply cares about you." He pointed out, although the thought didn't seem to reach you before.

"I won't be surprised if you do like him, Y/N."

Although you'd think that it was always the wrong time, Kageyama had always been there when you were at rock bottom. You were alone and helpless and he kept you company, replacing your current problems with rapturous moments between the two of you. You had been searching for someone, someone who could be your rock, someone who could help you fight through this war between you and your inner demons, someone who could give you the slightest hope to live.

And Kageyama was that someone from the very beginning.

Your heart squeezed tightly in your chest, and your lips tugged up into a small smile. Your eyes shifted back to Hiroshi as you parted your mouth, uttering out the words you have come to face the revelation of.

"I do like him, Hiroshi."

OHOHOHOHO I WONDER
WHAT'LL HAPPEN???

hope you enjoyed this long
ass chapter shxhxhhchs

was it to your liking? ;))