She was acting more jumpier than usual

I insert a coin into the vending machine and press a button. I got my usual. Milk. Inserting a straw in the box forcefully, I drink it down fast. Tilting my head to the sky, I pondered about the times I tried confessing to (F/N) that I love her. I recall that I wrote a love letter but I never had the courage to give it. I wasn't the best with words, so writing it down made it easier.

Felt like forever ago, but it's weird that my feelings haven't faded. I remember the times she would sit beside me in class because everyone was too scared to. Or the time she'd pass notes to me in class with funny drawings when I was sad. Or when you'd spend time studying together because I sucked at math, but she was so patient with me. She took the effort to make diagrams, step by step tutorials and everything. She was amazing.

I don't know where I went wrong.

I left off on a bad note with her when I overreacted seeing her with Suga. I acted badly on my part. Controlling my anger was difficult. 'King of the Court', the nickname given to me from my anger issues.

I was angry at her for not telling me about the accident. I know it seems selfish but I just wanted to be with her; she left me without notice.

Her words echos in your head, 'you were everything to me'

I really hope she meant that.

"Kags. Break's over" a voice called over to me. They startled me and I dropped my box of milk. Irritated at first, I realize it was (F/N) as she peeps out from the gym door while smiling apologetically. My anger dissipated.

She's the only one that makes me feel this way.

Entering into the gym, coach Ukai yells,

"ALRIGHT! WE'RE GOING TO PRETEND THIS IS THE REAL DEAL. IF YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN BEAT SEIJOH, YOU MUST HAVE THE MENTALITY YOU'RE PLAYING THEM RIGHT NOW. DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN AND NEVER LET THE BALL TOUCH THE GROUND. PLAY LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!"

After he draws a bunch of diagrams on the white board he blows his whistle.

"PRACTICE UNTIL YOUR ARMS FALL OFF!"

It's like another Mika. Where did this guy even come from?

My eyes catch (F/N) doing more wicked spikes and even some sets. I didn't know she could set like that. Sugawara is teaching her and she tries to mimic his actions. He's adjusting her arms to demonstrate a perfect setting position. Irritated, I grab a volleyball from the nearest cart and squeeze it between my fingers.

What does she see in him anyway? He's such a flirt.

I make a jump serve towards the net but it was purposely low, aiming for Suga. Suga ducked down to tie his shoes just in the nick of time. The ball instead hits (F/N) at full force in the face.

OH CRAP

Everyone in the gym immediately stopped what they were doing and all eyes darted towards me. A lump in my throat formed as the guilt in my body consumed me.

Hinata pointed at me, "see this is why you're still single."

Grabbing him by the throat, I start choking him out of anger. Tanaka ran over to separate us,

"You're like a bunch of animals!"

Hinata's legs and arms were flailing in the air when Tanaka lifted him from the back of his shirt. Checking to see (F/N) was okay, I see her pinching the bridge of her nose, blood was dripping on the floor. I gave her a nosebleed. While approaching her, Tsukishima clapped slowly and yelled,

"Look everyone, the classic King of the Court"

I tried ignoring that bean pole as my blood started to boil. Focus on (F/N). Every time I think of her, she gave me clarity.

"Sorry" I murmured to her. She looks towards me with kind eyes and a smile. Even when she's in pain she's always tries to hide it.

Haven't seen that smile in so long. I miss it.

"Keishin, I'll sit out for a bit." she coughed to the coach still pinching her nose. The blood was staining her shirt and hands.

"Yes (F/N) please, take a time out." he said softly. The coach seemed to hate everyone except (F/N). It was like a quality she had.

"I'm just going to go to the washroom." she points outside. Her shoes make a squeaking noise when she heads out of the gym. Everyone was still staring at me.

"Geez it was an accident." I state with your hands in the air

"Sure it was" Mika rolled her eyes at me. I kinda missed Mika teasing you but you were too prideful to talk to her. Even if I tried, she would always end up yelling or getting angry.

After everyone settled down, they resumed to their exercises and a practice match began afterwards. Even when I tried concentrating, I still kept worrying about (F/N).

I'm so sorry (F/N).

The thought of (F/N) being hurt bothered me as it shrouded my mind. Asahi served the ball to my side and it came at you fast.

"KAGEYAMA!" Mika screams at me. Before I could react, the ball hit me in the face causing me to see black spots. My face felt numb as the ball bounced off the ground and rolls off the court. I felt lightheaded. The coach blows his whistle and yells,

"Kageyama. Your head's not in the game. Hit the benches."

I grumble to myself. It felt like being benched again back in middle school. This time I wasn't angry, I was just distracted. Walking out of the gym, I go immediately to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face. My hands hold the sides of the sink as I inspect my face in the mirror. My eyes read lonesome and empty. Splashing more water furiously at my face, I take a deep breath and head out again.

Why do I always feel so angry all the time? It's like this emptiness in my chest I can't get rid of. I'm longing for something and I don't even know what.

Heading back to the gym, I notice (F/N) sitting near the benches under a tree. She was still pinching her nose but she had tissues this time. I walk towards her but I hesitate and think it's a bad idea. Just as I try walking away, my feet scuff the ground, creating a noise. She turns around and catches my gaze. I wanted to just leave her be, but she motioned me to sit down with her. I took a seat on the bench, but I left a space in between. I didn't have the courage to face her as I say,

"I'm sorry again. I didn't mean to, um, break your face."

Seriously Kageyama? Break her face? What are you, in the MMA?

She lets out a small laugh but more blood escaped down her shirt. Her shirt had dark blood splotches that dyed her white gym uniform.

"Thank you." she says looking upwards.

"Thank you?" I questioned.

"If you didn't hit me, you would've never talked to me." her voice was muffled under all the tissues.

Oh.

"(F/N), you're so weird." I let out a weird laugh. Our eyes finally meet and I can tell she was grinning under all the bloody tissues.

"Yet you stick around. That's why I thank you." she murmured. More blood escaped her nose and I can see the blood spreading quickly on the tissues. I scooch over to her side of the bench and put my left hand on top of hers.

"Kageyama, you're going to be covered in bloo-"

"Shh, don't talk you're going to get it all over your clothes" I interrupt

Wrapping your right arm around her you say,

"Rest your head on my arm."

She didn't refuse as she tilts her head back and closes her eyes. Her eyelashes accentuated her beauty as she lies there in my arms. I still had my hand on top of hers but it didn't bother me that her blood was on on hands. It reminded me of the times when she would get bad nosebleeds in middle school and she would scream for Mika from the bathroom. She laid there silently as you gaze upon her resting face. I held her there for a moment and thought,

Whoever gets to date you, is the luckiest guy in the world.

The gym door creaks open as Mika steps out of the gym. Her eyes scan the area as it falls on us.

Crap Mika not now...

As she walks towards us, her feet stomp loudly with every step. Just when I think she was going to yell at me for touching (F/N), to my surprise she stops right in front of me. Her feet remained planted to the ground and her fists were held tightly to her sides. My head turns upwards towards her face and I see streams of tears trickling down her cheeks.

Mika crying? I've never seen her cry before.

"I-I missed this so much." her words faltered as she tries to stop herself from crying. She takes a seat beside me and wraps me and (F/N) in her arms.

I missed this too.

I was smiling from ear to ear. A pleasantly familiar feeling I haven't felt in a long time. A feeling I've lost when Mika and (F/N) left. My heart felt full as we all embrace each other.

"Ah, sorry to break up a moment, but coach wants us back to review the game plan for tomorrow." Sugawara points awkwardly to gymnasium.

Damn it Sugawara, you ruin everything.

Mika gets up first and quickly wipes her tears away. I knew she never like showing people she had any other emotions than angry. That's why I'm friends with her. She's just like me.

"C-coming!" Mika yells while patting down her hair and adjusting the hem of her shirt. She walks away leaving me and (F/N) at the bench.

"We should probably go too. I think the bleeding has stopped."she mumbled. She lets go of the tissues and my hand was still holding hers. She crumples the tissues in her hands and stands up from the bench. As she was about to leave, I grab her by the wrist and boldly say,

"I meant what I said, when I said I love you (F/N)."

------------------end pt. 28----------------