1 prologue

It was an early morning when Kageyama made his way to the gym. He already wore his sport clothes and had put his uniform into his bag.

There were only about 100 meters to the gate, but when he heard the rusty bicycle that he was very familiar with, he got ready to run. He mentally prepared to yell "that's unfair, you had a head start!", but it seemed like Hinata didn't even look at his setter. He ignored him.

That's what left Tobio speechless. They would always share at least a glance at each other, mostly racing to the gym together and yell at the other one if they had lost. But today was different.

He arrived at the gym, kicked of his shoes and put on special ones made for volleyball. His hands found place in his pockets as he walked around, looking for the tangerine. When Kageyama couldn't see him anywhere on the court he decided to go to the club room, since he had to drop off his bags anyways. So he changed his shoes again and jogged over to the clubroom, relieved to feel a bit of air during summer.

The setter was able to hear Shōyō's energetic giggle outside already which left him suspicious, but he just pushed the door open. With the first step in he looked directly into Hinatas brown eyes. His giggle stopped for a second and they just stood there, looking in each others eyes deeply. „Good morning.." Kageyama started then and interrupted the silence. „Morning..." Hinata mumbled and turned around quickly after, continuing the energetic conversation he had with Noya.

They left together to go to the gym and Kageyama couldn't but look after them. „Tangerine's weird today.." he said, sighing softly but finally dropping his bag.

When he got back to the gym he could already hear loud chatters and Tanaka's yelling he probably started for no reason. The moment the King of Court stepped onto the wooden floor with his volleyball pair of shoes again, everything went back to normal again. At least that's how it seemed.

„Okay! Let's warm up and practice receives afterwards!" Daichi commanded with a bright smile on his lips, getting partly motivated, partly unmotivated answers back. Usually Tobio and Shōyō would warm up together, throwing insults at each other and making comments about how weird the other one ran, but Hinata stayed with his senpai Noya, while Kageyama ran next to a quiet Tsukishima.

„Tz, so the king got left alone by his most loyal companion." He said with a grin, having totally noticed that something was different between the duo.

Actually almost everyone did. They had no race, no fight, no insults and weren't running together. They didn't share a glance except for the one in the clubroom. Weird.

Kageyama, though, stayed calm and looked at the other first year. „Stop calling me king Tsukishima."

It was a calm, short answer. Tsukishima made a face at that but stayed quiet for the rest of the warm up.

Now, that they were practicing receives, the milk boy looked at Asahi, who would serve the balls to anyone until he's next. The ball was served hard, but Kageyama still got it, even if it wasn't smooth.

„Nice receive Bakageyama!"

It was the light voice of Hinata. Kageyama looked up and put a thumb up when he went back into line. He made sure everyone turned around for the next serve and when they did, he smiled a little. It might still be looking creepy, but at this point, Tobio was happy.

Shōyō talked to him again, as if nothing happened. It might just have been a small phrase, but it meant a lot to him.

The next time Kageyama had to receive, it didn't go as smoothly as before. The ball hit his forearms, flew high, but in the wrong direction. In a game it would be out of the court. The raven haired boy was in a slow movement to look where the ball would land, but he hadn't counted on Hinata, who ran out of line quickly, jumping up and spiking the ball into the other half of the court.

„Nice spike tangerine"

„your receive sucked Kageyama"

„as if yours are better, Boke!"

„Don't call me that!"

„What if I do? Boke, Hinata, Boke!"

Hinata had an angry expression on his face. Without hesitation he sped up into Tobios direction. His knees bend and he jumped onto Kageyamas back.

That was the first time they were that close at that day. And it was their first fight. Unusually late, but it finally happened. The raven haired tried to push him off, but he failed. Tangerine's grip was just too tight.

„Baka! Get off my back idiot!"

„Only if you take back the "Boke"!"

„Never, you're just an idiot Hinata!

„I'm not-" the smaller boy wanted to say something, but they got interrupted by Takeda Sensei who ran into the gym.

„Is everyone there? Good Morning! Coach Ukai, I received a call by Nekomata-Sensei! He invited us over for a practice camp again! Next week, once summer vacation has started." he explained, being completely out of breath.

Hinata finally got off his setter's back and sprinted to the front.

„A match against Nekoma?! I'm in!"

So it was settled. They would go to Tokio for at least a week. This would be an interesting trip, with less volleyball, than you might think.