It was 7pm and the training officially ended. Coach Ukai dismissed everyone and some people, including you, continued to stay for their own individual practices. You wanted to watch Kageyama and Hinata's quick again, it was mesmerizing. The speed, the timing, the accuracy of the toss and the perfect spike, it left you bewildered.

"Haru-chan?"

You shook your head as you were too focused on Hinata jumping and Kageyama setting. You looked up from the bench where you were sitting on to see him. Noya held a volleyball in his hand and extended it to you, he some how managed to look extremely cool doing it. Maybe it was the way the gym lighting shined on him, or maybe he was just THAT good looking.

"O-Oh, Yuu-kun! Wassup?" you stuttered as your cheeks turned red. He wasn't even doing anything, but he made the butterflies in your stomach as energetic as they could be.

"Teach me."

"Teach you?"

"Yeah. Teach me how to receive a jump-float serve."

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Kinoshita stayed behind to help with Noya's and your practice since Yamaguchi had left with Tsukki. Hinata and Kageyama left a little earlier too, they were apparently going to the old Coach Ukai's place to practice with him.

You and Noya stood on the opposite side of the court from Kinoshita, ready to receive his serve. With a graceful jump and a perfect jump serve, the ball came floating over the net. You watched the course of the ball carefully.

Its short!

You ran a little to the front of the court and put your hands up, fingers making contact with the ball as you tossed the ball to where the setter would normally be. Noya stood at the side, studying your every move.

"Like that!" you turned and smiled at him.

"Ah, that was an easy one wasn't it... You received it so easily..." Kinoshita sighed.

"Hisashi! Give me a good one!" Noya called and got into position.

"You won't get this one!" Kinoshita shouted as he served to the same place he had served to you. Kinoshita was consistent. He would aim for the same place each time he served, but would change the course of the ball. Sometimes it would be long, other times it would be extremely short or even touching the net, but you could never predict his moves. If he was feeling a little more daring, Kinoshita would change the place he aimed for and control the ball to go wherever he wanted it to. He really was an excellent pinch server.

Just then, the ball touched Noya's fingers and fell right behind him.

"GAHHHHHHHH!" Noya yelled as he rubbed his hands on his face. He fell onto the floor with a loud 'thud'.

"GGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHH!" Noya growled as he did multiple finger push-ups like they were nothing. After 15-20 more push-ups, Noya dropped on the floor, his cheeks puffing up as he panted lightly.

"PFFFTT HAHAHAHAHAH" you laughed at the sight of this masculine man being so adorable. You were amused at the strength he had despite his small body frame.

"Yuu-channn~ you hesitated just now. You were right on point though!" you stretched your hand out for him to grab. He looked up at you and smirked. He grabbed your hand and pulled you down, now you were face to face.

You knelt down in front of Noya, both of you taking in each others' presence, not breaking eye contact for a single moment. Damn, it didn't feel real at all. Just 3 years ago, you left his side. For 3 years, you yearned to hear his voice again. 3 years, you couldn't see him. After you returned to Japan, there was no guarantee that you would find him again, in your new highschool of all places. But now, he was right in front of you. His pretty brown eyes staring into yours.

"You're really here..." he whispered and leaned closer.

"I missed you so much, you don't even kno-" you were cut off by his hand on your cheek, and then the sensation of soft, warm lips on your other cheek. Your face started heating up, turning a faint red as a smile appeared on your face. He left a kiss on your cheek and turned to look at you. You pulled him into a tight hug and his weight pushed you onto the floor. He lay on top of you, hugging you just as tightly, like it was the last time he could hold you.

He's here... with me.

.

.

.

"Oi, guys I'm still here... geez."

"Don't ruin the moment!" you and Noya shouted at the poor single pinch server who was standing at the other side of the court awkwardly, and then laughed.

"One more serve and I'm going home so take it or leave it Noya." Kinoshita scoffed. Noya sprung up and held your hand as you got back on your feet.

One serve became 2, then 3, and then 5... before you knew it, it was 8pm and Noya had successfully learned to received a jump-float serve with an overhand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You, Noya and Kinoshita lay on the cold floor of the gym, panting and sweating heavily.

"Hey, Noya, I wanted to know. You could easily use your underhand receives to receive the jump-float serves, so why are you trying the overhand tosses?" Kinoshita sat up and asked Noya.

"I mean, I'd like to do just underhand receives, but there are people who are much better than me. It's no fun if you don't try other options once you know they exist." Noya said, sitting up and eyes looking more determined than ever.

Ah, there you go, saying something so cool... You and Kinoshita thought the same thing.

"Ah, I see. Well, you successfully learnt how to do it so great practice, Noya. Lock the gym before you go yeah! I'm leaving first~" Kinoshita said as he stood up and packed his bag. He tossed the gym keys to Noya and waved goodbye to both of you.

"We should go soon too." you sat up and wiped the sweat dripping down the sides of your face.

"I'll walk you home." Noya said, scooping a lock of brown hair dangling from the longer ends of your bangs and putting it behind your ear. He walked off and finished packing up. You went to the bench, picked up your bag and swung it over your shoulder.

"Okay, let's go!" you dashed out of the gym excitedly. Noya watched your small self run out of the gym doors and chuckled to himself, then he switched off the lights and locked the door.

You paused and waited for Noya to catch up, and then you two walked side by side, hands brushing past each other every now and then, making you blush furiously. You didn't know that such a small contact could make you feel this way, Noya was no different.

"U-Uh, where do you stay now Haru-chan?" Noya asked, trying to break the awkward silence and start a conversation. He ran his hand through his hair, and then down to the brown streak in the center.

"I actually live in the same neighbourhood that we lived in last time! Your house should be just a little further down the road than mine, if you haven't moved that is." you informed him.

"Woah really? I still live at the same place, so we can walk to school together everyday!"

"Sure! You can't be late though, or else I'll-"

"ICE-POPS!!!!!" Noya exclaimed with sparkling eyes. You and Noya had walked to the convenience store near Karasuno and he ran in to buy 2 popsicles. He gladly handed one to you and you both continued walking. Noya finished his popsicle in two bites.

So happy over an ice-pop? Ahh why is everything about you so lovable? You've always appreciated the smallest things, which I admire you so much for... The popsicle was cold but your heart was melting and felt warm as ever. You licked your popsicle.

"So, what have you been doing the past 3 years?" You asked curiously, wanting to get to know the new Nishinoya, he was probably still the same though.

"Ah, I mainly focused on volleyball. You know that 'Best Libero' award you got for the girls' volleyball? I got it too actually, but I didn't get a scholarship since they didn't need another male libero that year." Noya sighed and looked up at the sky. The stars were out.

"Do you have a crush?" you thought, well, out loud. Realizing what you had said, you quickly covered your mouth and slapped yourself lightly. Stupid, stupid, why would you say that? Noya's face turned a beet-red colour as he stammered a "E-Ermm n-no.. kind o-of, s-sort of..."

You felt a pang in your chest. Your heart sank. In these 3 years, you had been waiting and hoping to find him again. Although you did set your eyes on some people, your heart remained true to one man only. He found someone else, of course he would! With looks and a personality like that, why wouldn't he? Did I really think he would wait for me?

"A-Ah, I see! Who is it?" you mustered up every ounce of courage and determination to not show your sadness to ask him the question. You knew the answer wasn't you but you just had to know who the lucky girl was. You held back the tears that were fighting your eyelids to flow down, blinking them away. You kept a smile on your face, gritting your teeth inside.

"Umm, i-its just a crush... I just like her for her looks. She's the prettiest girl in our school. People call her a goddess! Maybe its not a crush, just an eye-candy... Oh you should already know her, its-"

"Shimizu-senpai?" you finished his sentence.

"Yeah, me and Tanaka are always trying to get her attention, its like our thing now hehehe.. but i can say that I wouldn't date her. To me, she's just a pretty face that's all, and sometimes I just find it fun to sort of 'chase' her with Tanaka. But, I do have my eyes and heart on someone else now..." As he said that last sentence, he turned to you and looked into your brown hues. Your pupils dilated at the sight of the man in front of you. His soft shiny black hair that swayed with the wind, his cute lil nose that would scrunch up ever so slightly whenever he was frustrated or shy, and his eyes. Those pretty brown eyes that were so bright, full of hopes and dreams.

Yeah, Kiyoko-san is beautiful. She's a goddess and there's no doubt about that, but there is someone better. Maybe its just my opinion, but when I saw her today, all the memories of the past came flooding back to me. My feelings never changed. I may sound like an asshole, but Kiyoko-san was a distraction. I always missed her, and no one could EVER replace her.

The way her eyes crease when she smiles make my heart melt. The sound of her giggles and her laughter are music to my ears, they light up my whole world. Sounds corny, but its true. When she left, I felt empty, like I lost a part of myself somehow. So I threw myself into volleyball, the one thing that could keep my mind occupied from the memories and pictures of her in my head. It hurt to miss her, so the next thing I did was to get a little distraction.

But it's different now. She's right here, standing in front of me, her face inches away from mine. I didn't believe this at the gym until we hugged each other, and until I kissed her cheek. But this is real. She is real, she is here right now, and I'm going to cherish every second of it.

"We're here!"

Noya takes your hands into his and holds them tight.

"You remember how we made our promises? When we were 5?" he looks at your interlocked fingers with his. You nodded.

"Well, I'm going to walk with you to school every morning every single day until I graduate, is that okay?" now making eye contact with you, Noya lets go of your hands and sticks out his pinky.

"I'll wait for you every morning, just don't be late heheh"

Your pinkies intertwined gently...

Then the tip of your thumbs rested on each other...

But then, instead of resting his forehead on yours, Noya held your head and gave you a light peck on your forehead, then he pulled you in for a hug.

"I'm changing it up a little okay?" you heard Noya whisper as you nuzzled your face into his neck and smiled.

You felt the warmth of Noya's body against yours, his toned chest against yours and well-developed biceps on your back, hugging you firmly. You felt safe in his arms, you felt loved, you felt at home. You stood there, engulfed in the arms of the man you love so much. You raised your hands to his waist and pulled him in closer, savouring the moment together.

"I promise."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm home!" you called out to your parents while taking off your shoes. You didn't notice standing them right in front of you and jumped.

"What the-"

"Language, miss." you mother stopped you.

"I was just shocked geez, you two just appearing in front of me out of nowhere..." you pouted.

"Was that Nishinoya?" you dad asked, a tinge of anger in his voice, or maybe it was irritation, or annoyance, or all 3. You sweatdropped.

Oh shit... they must have saw...

"Yes, we saw you both hugging like there was no tomorrow. What are the odds? We just came back from Japan and you've already found him!" your mom added, receiving a sigh from your dad.

"Well, Nishinoya Yuu is a good guy. I'm not worried but always be careful okay? We trust him but can we trust you?" your dad warned and raised his eyebrow.

"Dad, I'm your daughter aren't I? How could you trust Yuu-kun and not me?" you folded your arms across your chest, acting like you were offended.

You mom let out a laugh and pulled you and your dad into a hug. "Of course we trust you Haru, we love you and we support whatever you and Nishinoya have." she reassured.

"MOM! We don't have anything going on, we're just friends..." you corrected her, a little disappointed at the reality.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After that cute little family moment you had, you showered and brushed your teeth and flopped yourself onto your bed in your comfy pajamas. You whipped out your phone and saw a notification of Suga adding you to the volleyball group chat and a text from Noya.

Yuu: hey :) got your number from the group chat!

Haru: sup!

Yuu: huhhh, its so late and youre still awake? go to sleep soon okay? :

Haru: you go to sleep too -_-

Yuu: okay okay, i'll see you tmr

Haru: heheh okie, see ya tmr! gn ^-^

Yuu: gn :>

You switched your phone off and hugged your bolster tight. It didn't provide the same warmth as Noya's hug did, but it would suffice. You hugged the bolster between your legs and arms and close to your chest, gleaming like a child as you dozed off to sleep.

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