Chapter Text
"You're coming over. Mom said so," Hinata hissed from the corner of his mouth.
Kuroko, still humming with yes we won and muted relief that he hadn't been useless, quirked a half-grin. In a bubbling of mischievousness he hadn't felt since middle school, he hissed a reply back. "It's late, I still have homework, and I don't have a bike."
Hinata bounced slightly, eyes twinkling in a way that almost belied the smirk on his lips. "Mom has food ready for us, your teachers don't ask for it anyways, and we can double," he shot back.
Kuroko did scoff then. -breathy, an almost a hysterical laugh, because when was the last time he had had this much fun bantering with someone?- "The day I double with you on a bike is the day I stop caring about living." He returned quietly, before stilling.
The words had exited almost without thought, but even that wasn't as surprising as the fact that he had managed to say them at all. Managed to joke about something that had only ever accompanied his lowest lows. But in all honesty, dinner he didn't have to prepare himself made the notion of imminent death almost worth it.
If Hinata noticed his stillness, he didn't comment on it, instead turning those wide, clear eyes on him in a clear puppy-dog expression. "Are you going to make me tell Natsu that her Ghost-nii doesn't care about her anymore?"
"That's just cruel," He said instantly, ignoring the panic that rose at the thought. -I didn't mean it that way, I was just joking, can't you see that this isn't funny anymore?-
"Can you two please leave your argument for after we go over our practice match?" Daichi snapped, looking vaguely irritated. Kuroko took in a shaky breath even as Hinata turned to give Captain a pout. He didn't know whether or not Captain had interrupted purposefully, but he was grateful all the same.
Takeda-sensei's voice started up again, the low rumble echoing through his ears, and he felt his body sag just a bit. Like a switch had been flipped, he suddenly felt exhausted. -Understandable. Your last dose of medicine is wearing off and you played despite it. There are some things even adrenaline can't cure.-
"You okay?" A low murmur in his ear made his eyes jerk open -when had he closed them?- vision going slightly cross eyed at the sudden change. He blinked firmly a couple times. Hinata's orange hair came in and out of focus, and through his fuzzy vision Kuroko thought he almost looked concerned.
"Fine," He whispered back, straightening up and propping his elbows on his knees just to make sure he wouldn't fall asleep and draw attention to himself.
"Liar."
The word was barely audible, but when Kuroko looked back over in surprise, Hinata was staring dedicatedly at the front, showing no sign he had said anything.
Daichi's clear voice brought his attention back. "As Takeda-sensei said, we did okay for our first match, but there were obviously things that we could improve," He commented, glancing around. "Our receives, for example."
Tsukishima twitched, and Kuroko rubbed his arms, mindlessly prodding at the sore spots that were sure to form spectacular bruises given a couple hours. Oikawa didn't just have an arm on him- he had the precision to match. The way he had aimed specifically at those he had suspected of being weak receivers...
Kuroko, for his part, was grateful that he was invisible. There would've been no way for him to pick up those serves, inexperienced as he was, if the Kise lookalike hadn't thought that Kuroko's position was a gap he could exploit.
Still, he thought, sharing a look with Tsukishima. We'll need to get better if we hope to win against them next time.
"Well, that's something that can only get better with practice," Daichi said, shrugging. "We can work on it and improve, but receives aren't something you perfect overnight, and we're going to have to face them again if we want to get to Nationals," His gaze hardened. "And next time, they'll probably have Oikawa as setter the whole time."
Kuroko blinked, eyes flicking to the side in time to catch the careful -focused- blankness on Kageyama's face. What was the history there? He knew that Kageyama had suffered at the hands of his teammates, but Oikawa wasn't even in his year. He wouldn't have been around...
Except as a senpai.
What had he called Kageyama? In that tone of disgust and jealousy that set his nerves on edge? His little genius kohai?
Kuroko's nails dug into his knees, forcefully driving off the beckonings of sleep. Hinata bumped against his shoulder, and one glance at the oranget told him Hinata had caught it too.
"So, ideas for improvement, anyone?" Daichi said, clapping his hands together, and hands started coming up.
Well, Kuroko thought, he could say with certainty that there were at least two resident experts on difficult genius-senpai relationships on the Karasuno team. He breathed in deeply, straightening as people began giving different suggestions.
It didn't matter. Kageyama was theirs now, so not-Kise could keep his hands to himself.
There would be no more player-snatching from this team. Not if they could help it.
"Chinese dumplings? The soccer team bought the last of them. Besides, we're closing for today."
Kuroko merely sighed, disappointed, but Hinata was more vocal in his displeasure.
"What a lazy clerk!"
The blond's eye twitched. "Shut up! Go home and eat a proper meal!"
He sighed, trying to ignore Hinata's pointed look.
-Dang it. I'm too tired to cook for myself, riding home with Hinata is courting death...- He sighed again. Maybe he could do without? He wasn't especially hungry anyways- he hardly ate anything on a normal day, let alone when he had to fight against puking it up.
-Even if I wanted to cook for myself I still haven't gone shopping.- If he'd learned anything last night, it was that he needed to go shopping more regularly. With the amount of fuss that the team had kicked up about the obvious lack of food in his cupboards, he might find himself with chaperones just to make sure he ate more than fast food.
Which could be considered sweet, if it weren't for the fact that it was completely unnecessary. He ate enough home cooked meals with the amount of times he got dragged over to Hinata's without having to take the time out of practice to make them for himself.
A bike bell ringing behind him jerked him back to reality, and horrified he realized he had completely missed the conversation. Somehow he had ended up walking in Hinata's shadow as the team headed down the street in loose clumps, some of them munching on- were those granola bars?
Where did they get those?
He shot a baffled look at Kageyama, who just raised his eyebrows and held out a second bar. Kuroko took it, eyes furrowing slightly in bewilderment. Kageyama merely nodded approvingly, shoving the last bit of his own into his mouth.
"So how did you guys like your debut match?" Daichi asked, turning from where he was walking side by side with Sugawara.
Kuroko shrugged, unwilling to talk after he had just taken a bite. Hinata had no such reservations about talking with his mouth full.
"It wash greaf!" He spewed, and Kuroko sighed again. Kageyama took the cue to act as the voice of reason, whacking the oranget upside the head.
"Chew with your mouth closed, boke."
Hinata choked, coughing and spluttering as he tried to get air through his granola-blocked windpipe.
He took the ensuing fight as his cue to answer. "I enjoyed it," Kuroko said, fiddling with the wrapper to unfold another segment. Enjoyment didn't quite cover it. A smile twitched on his lips. "I want to play again."
When he looked back up, both Daichi and Sugawara were grinning goofily at him. Even Hinata and Kageyama stopped flinging punches to stare. Self conscious, his shoulders raised again and he took a bite, eyes searching around for something else to steer their attention towards.
As usual, Hinata came to his rescue.
"Me too! It was great to be able to play together again. We never got to in basket- which is stupid, cuz we kick trash together!" Hinata boasted, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Tsukishima interrupted then, not even bothering to look at them as he and Yamaguchi ambled past.
"Ho? I thought you two were part of the glorious Generation of Miracles," He said, and Kuroko's shoulders tensed, wrapper crinkling dangerously in his hands.
Hinata's bouncing stopped. "We were," He said slowly, tone clearly indicating he had no idea why this was coming up. "But we never got to play on the same team."
Confusion reigned on the team's faces. "We played against each other often," Kuroko explained, focusing on loosening his grip and trying to salvage what remained of his crushed dinner. "The Miracles, I mean. But Hinata and I were never on the same team. Never in real matches."
Kageyama's eyebrows were furrowed in concentration, but, as if sensing that the topic was closed, turned to Daichi. "Teiko might've had enough players to switch out specialists like that... but what about us? What are we going to do about the open positions?"
"Open positions?" Hinata asked, before growling and kicking the pedal of his bike that kept whacking his shins. It spun around and just hit him higher. Hinata cursed.
Sweatdropping at his antics, Daichi ignored the cursing to answer the question. "Karasuno is fundamentally short of players. Normally, a volleyball team will have both a Libero-defense specialists- and an Ace. We have neither, currently."
Defense specialist. Kuroko's back straightened, and he ignored the aches and pains that accompanied the motion. -I didn't realize volleyball had a position like that.-
"I could be the Ace!" Hinata volunteered, waving his hand in the air. Kageyama was already shaking his head.
"You can't be the Ace," He said bluntly, and Kuroko's thoughts were momentarily derailed as Hinata's fists clenched. He glanced between Hinata and Kageyama fearfully. What would he do if they came to blows? Thankfully, Kageyama remained calm as he explained.
"You're the team's Ultimate Decoy. You draw all the blockers to you and open the way for the spiker. You can't do that and be the Ace at the same time."
Hinata's face ran through a variety of emotions- like he couldn't decide whether to be pleased at the compliment or mad that his hopes had been dashed. Eventually he just punched Kageyama's arm and let the point drop.
Cautious about asking the question right after Hinata's had been smacked down, he shifted from foot to foot, going to pop the last bite in his mouth before pausing. "What- what do Liberos do?"
Daichi hummed, turning to press the button at the light for the team. Tanaka hammered a couple more times just for good measure. Daichi huffed in exasperation, turning to Kuroko. "Liberos are the specialists in defense- they're the main receivers on the team, and are actually forbidden from attacking. I guess they'd be like rebounders in basketball?"
More like Passing Specialists. He hummed thoughtfully, shoving the rest of the bar into his mouth. If they were forbidden from attacking, then it meant that Libero was a position you couldn't spike or set from. Not flashy in the way that Hinata always yearned to be, for sure. But unlike Shoyo, Kuroko was used to staying out of the limelight, single handedly laying the foundation for the connectivity of the team. This wasn't too different from that, was it? After all, the set and spike was determined by whether or not the receivers did their job.
The light turned green and they ambled across the street, his mind racing a hundred miles an hour.
"But if they're not allowed to attack then what do they do when they're on the front line?" Kuroko mumbled, trying to reason the logic out.
"Oh, they don't go on the front line," Sugawara explained, snagging the wrapper out of his hands and tossing it into a nearby trash can so he would stop ripping it to shreds. "They get switched out, see? One player on the rotation is designated to switch with the Libero when it comes their time to go on the front line. That way you keep the right number of players without breaking the rules."
"Speaking of," Kageyama mused, propping a hand on his chin, "You said something about a Guardian Deity, right?"
"Right," Sugawara said, smiling slightly. "We're not particularly strong, but we're not weak either. We've had great players in the past- we were just never able to apply their strengths effectively."
A somber mood fell over the group, and Hinata and Kuroko shared a glance.
Ironically, that could've been the Miracles, had Akashi not found them all and applied their strengths to basketball. They might've gone on, being decent players, and never anything more.
He tried not to feel bitter about that.
"But," Suga continued, "if all of us come together, utilize the strengths we have, including our new first years-"
"We could definitely win the Inter-High." Daichi finished.
Kuroko's breathing hitched. Inter-High. The prerequisite to Nationals. His stomach tightened, and all of a sudden even the tiny amount of food he'd eaten seemed ready to burst, and he didn't think it was because he was sick.
Nationals. That was when it had all went wrong, wasn't it? It was when Aomine had bloomed, when he had abandoned Kuroko, when Murasakibara had challenged Akashi... the list went on and on and on.
It won't be the same this time. Karasuno is different. He thought harshly, trying to pay attention to the words coming from Kageyama's mouth.
Are they though? That little voice whispered back. They still have trouble seeing you when Hinata isn't with you, and Captain-san didn't want you playing today in the first place.
That's because I was sick, not because he didn't want me to play. Plus, everyone has trouble seeing me. He tried to convince himself, but...
See? Exactly the same. Still unnoticed. Still overlooked except when they need you.
I like being needed, He thought, offended by his own inner voice.
"So he's a delinquent?"
Wait what?
"Who's a delinquent?" He asked, sending a baffled look to Hinata.
"No way! He just gets too fired up, is all," Tanaka protested.
He blinked, feeling even more confused. "Are we talking about Hinata?" He shot the oranget a look. "Have you been tagging in your spare time again?"
Hinata spluttered, nearly tripping over his bike. "Tagging is your pastime! And no! We were talking about the Guardian Deity guy!"
"Nishinoya!" Tanaka corrected, vein bulging on his forehead.
He blinked. "Must be some guy if Tanaka-senpai thinks he gets too fired up," He mumbled. Hinata snickered.
Daichi chortled, and Tanaka pouted. Kuroko felt a flush crawl up his neck. He'd thought he'd spoken soft enough that they wouldn't hear.
"Call him Senpai when he gets back," Daichi advised them, grinning over his shoulder as he branched off down the road. "You'll make him just as much a gleeful idiot as Tanaka."
"Oi!"
His breathing was sharp and labored, and Kuroko rested his hands on his knees to gasp in air.
Maybe it wasn't such a great idea to ask Kageyama to help with my receives while still recovering, he thought, using his sleeve to wipe off a couple drops of sweat.
Fwip, went the ball in Kageyama's hands in the sound that was quickly becoming familiar. "You ready for the next one?"
Not at all, he thought sarcastically. But he was the one who'd approached Kageyama right after class ended, determined to put in the same amount of effort into learning how to receive properly as he had passing, so he'd have to deal.
So he nodded, coming back into the position Daichi had shown him and watched as Kageyama tossed the ball up into that arc, arm swinging-
There!
He dove, arm reaching- but he hadn't stretched last night, collapsing right into bed after fending off Hinata's attempts to manhandle him onto the bike- and his arm came up just short.
Thump.
"... Are you okay?" Kageyama asked, sounding a cross between amused and concerned.
"Just fine," he mumbled, voice muffled from where he lay splayed out on the floor, ball rolling innocently away from where the bluenet had tried to rescue it.
Maybe I'll just stay here, he thought hazily, noting how gloriously cool the floor felt against his sticky skin. He ached all over -I haven't hurt this bad since my first day on Akashi's training regimen.-
A yell interrupted his musings. "Kageyamaaaaaa! Have you seen Kurok-" Hinata's voice had been getting ever louder as he neared the gym doors, but cut out suddenly.
"Kuroko! Teme, what did you do? You killed him!" Hinata roared, feet hammering towards him. Kuroko groaned. He knew he'd forgotten something.
"Hinata, m'fine," He mumbled, trying to push himself to his feet. He swayed dangerously, floor spinning beneath him.
Thankfully Hinata came to the rescue, grabbing his arms and holding him up so he didn't faceplant again, yelling all the while.
"- supposed to wait for me, baka! We always head to the gym together! Look what happens when you don't! Kageyama kills you with his serve!"
"I didn't kill him," Kageyama said exasperatedly, voice closer now. As his vision cleared of spots he could see the setter had moved to his side of the court and was looking him over, concern belying his blasé tone. "He asked me to help with his receives, stupid."
Hinata just scoffed, pulling one of Kuroko's arms over his shoulder to keep him upright. "Yeah well, he shouldn't practice receives unless he can actually see straight."
"I can see straight," Kuroko protested, stumbling slightly over his own feet.
"Sure you can," Hinata drawled.
Hinata settled them down next to the wall, where they could rest without risk of being hit. Kageyama shifted a couple feet away, looking awkward. "Do you mind if I keep practicing?"
"Not at all," Kuroko said instantly, ignoring Hinata's grumble of protest. "You need something to aim at?"
Hinata crowed his disapproval, and Kuroko actually rolled his eyes, though winced as it made his head twinge. "Not me, Hinata. Like a water bottle or something. I used those all the time when I was practicing my passes. They help you learn how to aim."
"Oh," Hinata said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head and giving him a sheepish smile. Kuroko just shook his head -carefully, so he didn't make his headache worse- and twitched his lips, and Hinata perked back up, knowing he was forgiven.
"That might not be a bad idea," Kageyama responded, propping a hand on his chin before murmuring, "I'm pretty sure that's what he used to do, actually..."
Hinata and Kuroko shared a loaded glance, seeming to have a whole conversation with the motion.
Oikawa-teme again?
That would make sense- he didn't respond very much when Takeda-sensei talked about him, but there was definitely something there.
Old grudge?
Kuroko frowned. Maybe.
Kageyama had wandered away, placing a water bottle on one end of the court and was spinning the volleyball thoughtfully in his hands.
Maybe... He thought, watching carefully. Maybe they-
Kageyama let the ball fly, and Kuroko knew it was going to hit. Years of calculating trajectories on the fly- he almost missed the blur of white streaking across his vision, planting itself right in front of the water bottle, and the ball went up.
He blinked incredulously, leaning forward to see past Hinata's head of hair. That. That was a perfect receive. Granted, Kuroko didn't know technique very well yet, so he couldn't be sure, but that had looked even smoother than Daichi's receives.
He didn't realize he'd gotten up until he was standing in front of the kid -not much shorter than he was, and his height wasn't that impressive-.
"Who are you?" Kuroko asked, and the guy stumbled, nearly dropping his jacket in surprise.
"Woah, where'd you come from?" The guy demanded, blinking up at him.
"I've been here the whole time," He sighed, trying to resist pinching the bridge of his nose. Is it going to be like this every time I meet someone new? "But really-" he said, feeling strangely insistent. That receive- it was like when he had first watched a national level basketball player. He'd instantly known what he wanted to do, and had sacrificed schoolwork and sleep until he was able to do it. "Who are you? Are you part of the volleyball club?"
And if not can how can we get you to join?
The guy straightened, beaming as he jerked a thumb at himself. "Sure am! I'm Nishinoya Yuu- Karasuno's Libero!"
Realization struck. "You're the delinquent?" He asked, slightly incredulous. Granted, if he looked a bit closer, he did have the dyed and spiked hair- but his aura was completely different. He just didn't have the arrogant air that rang to Kuroko as delinquent.
No. He's completely different from Him.
"Hah?" Nishinoya asked, eyebrows scrunching. He didn't get the chance to explain as Hinata bounced up to them, one hand coming to rest on his arm as the oranget peered curiously at the newcomer.
"Wow, you're even shorter than me! How tall are you?"
"159 centimeters," Nishinoya shrugged.
"Wow, the 150s!"
An eyebrow twitched. "Don't cry at it!"
Kuroko had no problem interrupting their antics. "Nishinoya-san," Nishinoya paused from where he had been yelling at Hinata, head turned in curiosity. "You said you're the Libero." And didn't that hurt? Getting his hopes up only for the spot to already be taken.
It's not like you have a right to it. He's a second year, and has probably been playing twice as long as you have.
"Yeah? What about it?" He asked, and Hinata rocked back and forth on his heels, eyes flicking back and forth between them.
"What drew you to it?" He wondered.
"It's not because I was short, if that's what you're asking," Nishinoya said, back straightening. "I'd be a Libero even if I was two meters tall."
Hinata snickered, and the twinkling of mirth in his eyes almost made him want to smile himself.
The picture of Murasakibara being a Libero was just- ludicrous.
The Libero might have taken the laugh the wrong way, because he continued, flicking the ball with his foot and into his hands before prodding different spots on it. "Libero's are the team's defense specialists. We pick up balls that are blocked, attacks that other receivers would miss. I open the way for the spikers- they don't have to worry, because they know they have me at their back."
The fierce pride that Nishinoya was exuding made Kuroko inhale sharply. -I've felt that kind of pride before, haven't I?-
Nishinoya tossed the ball in the air and began bumping it in controlled hops, but Kuroko couldn't take his eyes off the Libero. -That pride in being the glue to the team. The one who opens the way for other plays, even if you can't score yourself. He...-
A call came from the door as more club members filed in, and Nishinoya stopped bumping to grin and welcome them.
-Reminds me of who I used to be.-
"If Asahi isn't coming back, then I'm not either!" Nishinoya shouted, stomping out of the club doors.
"Nishinoya-!" Daichi called, but the Libero was already gone. The Captain sighed harshly, rubbing his brow.
"Why does he not want to play?" Kageyama asked, coming to rest on his right side. -and somehow that was normal by now, with Hinata on his left.-
"Nishinoya and Asahi... well, Asahi quit after our loss against Dateko, and Nishinoya... didn't take it all that well. I guess it's not surprising he would quit, knowing he couldn't do anything after that last match..." Sugawara explained, biting his lip as he stared out the doors.
Quit. He quit. Kuroko's fists clenched. Nishinoya, the person who had been able to dash into the gym, calculate the trajectory of the ball and perfectly receive it in an instant- against Kageyama's serve, no less! And he was going to throw it away- all the talent and skill that Kuroko was trying to build- like it didn't mean anything.
Quitter.
A hand brushed against the back of his, and his shoulders twitched. He shook his head at Hinata's wordless question. Are you alright?
No. No he wasn't. He had quit basketball, the thing he had worked so hard for, the thing he had poured everything into.
He had just. Left. He had walked away.
Weak.
"Of course he left," Kuroko said, voice catching wetly in his throat. "How could he not? His best friend quit. Why would he want to play after that?"
-Dead eyes, lead feet, silence where there should be noise. A light that had once shone so brightly on the court- put out.-
How could he play after that indeed? Kuroko thought bitterly. Two fingers intertwined with his, and he gripped them desperately.
-I did the right thing, right? By leaving? It was killing us. Both of us.-
How could he be mad at Nishinoya for doing the exact thing he himself had done? He couldn't imagine playing volleyball without Hinata. If Hinata ever quit Kuroko would be right there handing in his resignation with him. He'd follow him to the ends of the earth if the oranget asked him.
A bump on his other shoulder. Kageyama. His eyes burned, but no tears fell. It had been a long time since he had last cried.
"Yeah well I'm not giving up," Hinata said, grip tightening until it bordered on painful. Kuroko blinked. Hinata was standing ramrod straight, eyes blazing. "You don't throw away something you love just because you lost a game. You get up and keep going. Come on, Tsu-kun, we're gonna talk some sense into him."
Kuroko didn't protest as he was dragged along in Hinata's shadow.
After all, He thought. There are worse shadows to walk in.
Kageyama wavered for a moment between going with them and staying behind. But Kuroko's fingers were still clenched in his jacket sleeve where they'd entwined themselves, so there wasn't much of a choice.
Well, besides shoving the hand off, but that wasn't even an option. Maybe a year ago it might've been- heck, a month ago he would've been shocked simply at the notion of someone wanting him close.
He never would've imagined that coming to Karasuno would become this. Walking side by side with two people he could call Friends, like he was meant to be there.
Because the two Miracles were inseparable most of the time- even now they glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes, scrutinizing each other for the slightest sign that something was wrong. He'd felt awkward, constantly thinking he was intruding- but Kuroko came seeking him out for receiving help, and Hinata always came bouncing up to him with a bone to pick.
And over time it had just become natural to fall into step with them in the hallway, walking home from school with them at his side, routinely asking for an extra granola bar when it was obvious the clerk hadn't seen Kuroko.
So maybe this is just what having friends was like? Joking around, covering each other in class, sharing notes and tips?
His eyebrows scrunched, subconsciously shortening his stride as Hinata slowed to look for where the Libero had gone.
Their reaction to Nishinoya's proclamation had been... worrying. Hinata had flinched as if the words had physically injured him. The simmering of anger and confusion had been palpable, and Kageyama had placed himself on Kuroko's other side just to make sure it didn't lash out at him on accident.
But then Kuroko had spoken in that raw, broken, wet voice that made his throat close up just listening to it. His shoulders all hunched in on themselves like he was going to come apart with just the slightest touch, and for a moment, Kageyama hadn't known what to do.
Hinata had no such uncertainty. He grabbed Kuroko's fingers with his own in a white knuckle grip, desperately searching the bluenet's face for... something. Something Kageyama couldn't see.
Still, he had to do something- but they weren't close enough to hold hands like Hinata was... Eventually he had just brushed his shoulder against his, hoping Kuroko would understand the gesture. The tangle of fingers in his sleeve was unexpected but not unwelcome.
-Judging by the distant look he had in his eyes, I'm not sure Kuroko even realized he did it.-
Now, Kuroko was looking slightly more grounded, less likely to fall apart at a touch. Which was good, Kageyama mused, because it was strange seeing anything resembling emotion from him. Especially the dark shadows that had seemed to envelop Kuroko, dragging him down. He had felt like he was drowning just at a glimpse of it.
It was wrong. No one should look like that. Which begged the question.
What happened to put it there? He thought harshly, looking to the side as Hinata turned, Kuroko following seamlessly even as Kageyama was left being tugged along by his sleeve. What happened that made these two like this?
And how was he supposed to fix it?
If I was a loser running away from a sport I loved, where would I go? Shoyo thought sourly. It had hurt enough just hearing Nishinoya bad talk the thing that had become a refuge for him and Tsu-kun, but then the Teme had nearly made Tsu-kun cry.
It wasn't Nishinoya that made him cry- you know that. A quiet part reprimanded.
I know that, he thought back, stride stuttering somewhat. It's just...
You're hurting. The voice, that was starting to sound like his mom, continued. That's fine. But you don't get to blame other people for what happened to you.
"Hinata?" Kuroko asked softly, and the internal conversation was instantly deserted, his shoulders turning towards his best friend. Kuroko still had that wary edge to his gaze that made him want to hit something, but he had stopped shaking.
"Are we lost?" Kageyama finished bluntly. Shoyo spluttered.
"Of course not!" He squawked, quickly gazing around him trying to find his bearings- somehow he had gotten turned around while he had been fuming.
"So we're not going in circles around the gym complex...?" Kuroko said, voice still low and thick, but he almost didn't care that it was just a bit forced because at least he can still tease.
"Psh, of course not," He scoffed as he waved the hand not linked with Kuroko's through the air, trying to hide a grin. "I know exactly where we're going."
"And how can you do that if you don't know where Nishinoya-san went?" Kageyama drawled, raising a judgmental eyebrow. He pouted.
"Stop being mean," He whined, turning to sulk. There was a tug on his fingers, and he looked back to see Kuroko's face twisted in worry.
"You don't actually think that, do you Shou-kun?" He asked hesitantly, glancing at Kageyama as if worried.
And he may not be smart in the way everyone else thought he should be, but Shoyo wasn't an idiot. He might act the part most of the time, -a way of avoiding notice, mistakes being overlooked as just not understanding, people expect it anyway- but the genuine worry masked as a guilt trip was audible to his ears, and he grinned softly.
"Course not," He said gently, tapping his fingers on the inside of Tsu-kun's wrist. A short laugh wormed its way out his throat. "But I would like more quiet and less teasing."
Kageyama huffed, shaking his head, but it was the return of the twinkle in Kuroko's eyes and the slight slumping of shoulders in relief that really brought it home for him.
And heaven help whoever puts those shadows in his eyes again, he swore. I don't care if it's Tsukishima or Captain or Kami himself.
Suddenly Kageyama's spine straightened. "So I know you said you wanted quiet," He said with a pointed look, which had Shoyo instantly protesting, but Kageyama ignored him, jerking his chin to the side, "but I think I just found our target."
Shoyo's head whipped around, and, sure enough, black hair and bleached spikes sat lounging under the big oak tree him and Kuroko had eaten at their first day here.
And, because Shoyo lacked all manners -hey, he had learned it, he just didn't bother to use it most of the time, the they were weird here anyway- he instantly shot forward, waving his hand, yelling.
"Hey you-!"
The Libero jerked, juice flying everywhere. Shoyo stopped, grimacing at the stains covering Nishinoya's shirt. Those'll be a pain for him to get out...
"Nani?" The Libero grumbled, trying in vain to get his white shirt clean, before giving up and staring at each of them in turn. "Trying to get me to come back to the club? It won't work."
"Ah, no," Kageyama stuttered, looking at him and Kuroko, completely lost. "Well, yes, but that's not- we're not-"
"We were wondering if you could help us with our receives," Kuroko spoke up, evidently deciding Kageyama had suffered enough. Shoyo didn't miss that the bluenet's shoulders tensed when Nishinoya jerked at his "sudden" appearance, and felt his dislike for the Libero rise a bit more.
"What are you, a ghost?" He muttered, straightening. "Anyways, why do you want to learn receives from me? Because I'm short?" he asked, propping an elbow on his knee and staring them down.
"That's not it." Shoyo interjected firmly, stepping forward. "We do need help receiving, but that's not why we want you to come back."
Nishinoya blinked, raising an eyebrow as he looked Hinata up and down, like he was trying to figure him out.
Good luck.
Kuroko inhaled. Shoyo looked back, fingers twitching when he saw Kuroko's scheming face on. It was dangerous to see when you were playing against him, but... Does he have a plan?
"I know you said you wouldn't come back unless... Asahi-san, was it? Came back, but... I had a favor I wanted to ask," Kuroko said, shifting from foot to foot, gaze turning to the ground. "I- I joined volleyball fairly recently, so I know it's presumptuous to ask, but... I want to be able to play," He said firmly, head coming back up as Nishinoya's expression shifted into surprise.
"I want to stay out on the court for as long as possible. I want- I want to be able to keep the ball in play, even against blocks or spikes. I want to open the way for the spikers," He glanced at Shoyo with this statement.
Nishinoya leaned back, both feet coming to rest on the ground. A shift of clothing saw Kuroko bowing deeply.
"I know you don't want to play anymore, but please, teach us, Nishinoya-senpai." He asked softly, and Shoyo's eyes widened. At a glance from Kuroko, a lightbulb went off. He turned and bowed as well.
"Senpai!"
Nishinoya made a choking sound- not unlike Midorima when Aomine was being especially pervy. "You guys..."
Shoyo braced for impact when shoes scuffed against the ground, heart skipping a beat when a hand landed firmly on his shoulder. He was just about to shove him off and get Kuroko safely behind him when- "I'll treat you guys to popsicles after practice." Nishinoya declared, and they both glanced up in shock.
The second year was posing, practically glowing as he jerked a thumb into his chest. "Cuz I'm your senpai!"
All three freshman looked at each other, shock etched into their faces. I can't believe that actually worked.
They started their walk back to the gym, Nishinoya slinging an arm over Kuroko's shoulders and crowing about how he was going to teach him the move to end all moves, going a much more direct route than the circuitous one Shoyo had taken them on. Shoyo lagged behind, falling into step with Kageyama.
I'll treat you guys to popsicles!
Popsicles. It... felt like passing the torch. From Miracles to Crows. The Past to the Future. Tradition kept going.
"Hinata?" Kuroko called, voice carrying despite the noise emanating from the gym. Shoyo's head jerked from where he'd unconsciously rested it on his hand in a thinking position. Kuroko had escaped the hold Nishinoya had had him in and was waiting in the entryway, Nishinoya cocking his head back, smirking at them.
Shoyo grinned despite himself, nudging Kageyama before jogging towards them.
Haven't had popsicles in a while. Wonder if there are any new flavors?
Kise trotted over to the side of the gym, tossing the ball over his shoulder, satisfied when he heard it swish into the ball bin.
He wiped the sweat from his cheek on his shirt, taking a deep breath. Kaijou's training wasn't as brutal as Akashi-chii's was, but that didn't mean it wasn't rigorous.
He rifled through his bag, wrapping a towel around his neck with one hand as he flipped his phone open with the other, surprised when it started to ring.
A glance over his shoulder told him Kasamatsu-senpai was busy coaching a first year through a drill, so he'd at least have a minute.
"Moshi moshi?" He answered, tucking the phone under his ear, biting his lip as he dug through the bag again. Dang it, I thought I brought my wristbands with me. Did I leave them in the wash?
A familiar voice nearly made him drop the phone in surprise. Momoi-chii didn't normally call during practice- she knew Kaijou's schedule had changed in preparation for the Inter-High, right?
All that flew from his mind when he heard the uncharacteristic somber tone of her voice.
"Kise. We need to talk."
Omake
"So, when you go to receive you go whoom, and shwoop and pow." Nishinoya explained, mimicking a receiving motion that was nearly dancelike.
There was silence.
"I don't get it," Yamaguchi lamented, shaking his head.
Kageyama blinked. "What's there not to get? I understood it."
Sugawara shook his head, looking like he was trying to hold back laughter. "That's because you and him belong to the same species of genius. Hinata, on the other hand-"
Whatever Suga was saying was cut off by Hinata nodding emphatically. "I totally get it! It's different from the pew receives I've been doing! So if I do it more pow it'll work?"
Nishinoya nodded proudly. "Yeah! Exactly."
Seeming desperate now, Suga turned to Kuroko. "Kuroko-san, please say you don't..."
Kuroko was already on the other side of the court. "Hey, Hinata, give me a spike. I need to try it."
"Wait," Daichi said, trying to get them to just hold on a moment, but Kageyama was already setting it, Hinata's hand whacking down on it.
The team groaned. Of course the idiots had done a quick instead of just a normal spike, and they all waited for the head-shot or whatever other chaos this could cause. Narita even started looking for the first aid kit, no doubt remembering the nose bleed from their match against Seijou.
He didn't quite get under it, misjudging just how quickly the ball would come at him, and narrowly escaped a spike to the face.
"I told you-" Daichi groaned, trotting to the side of the court, but Kuroko was already shaking out his wrists and nodding for another one. Daichi noticed too late, not having enough time to push the bluenet out of the way or even get into position himself.
But with a look of concentration none of them had seen from him before, Kuroko appeared straight under the ball's path, lowering his gravity and cushioning the ball before sending it spinning into with a poom.
"Yeah, perfect!" Nishinoya rejoiced, bounding over to fluff Kuroko's hair in congratulations. "I mean, not perfect, you've got a ways to go, but that was awesome for a second try! You're a natural!"
Doom radiated from the rest of the team. "We have some scary first years..." Tanaka said, voice shaking with the effort of holding back an almost hysterical chuckle.
"Agreed."
"Seriously, the King of the Court and two Generation of Miracles?" Tsukishima huffed, walking away to go back to his own practice. "They're making us normal people look bad. Come on, Yamaguchi. Help me with my blocking."
"A-ah, Tsukki wait for me!"