As the week went on, Tobio began to get used to the rhythm of school, which was not as difficult as he had expected. The teachers were very attentive to his health, which encouraged him to sleep in the classroom whenever he wanted. But trust him, Tobio sleeps not because he doesn't understand anything the teacher is saying (he is) but his head often hurts suddenly, as well as the muscles throughout his body that throb anytime anywhere.

In addition, as expected, his classmates did not try to approach him at all, completely idealizing Tobio's wishes, not in vain he closed his mouth every time. But there was one person who wouldn't give up on dragging Tobio back to the volleyball court, that orange-colored puffer kept interrupting his breaks, Tobio was sure there was at least one screw missing from this freak boy's brain.

Hinata was always raging whenever he met Tobio. Almost all of his non-stop rambling was filled with volleyball, from the latest updates of volleyball sport magazines, the best teenage player at the moment which he shouted out with a loud 'Japan!', the behavior of his teammates, everything that happened when he practiced, his current technical progress, to random things like his mother's scolding this morning, his hyperactive sister, the taste of his dinner, the movie he watched recently and others that Tobio couldn't mention because he forgot because there were too many.

Tobio doesn't know why Hinata always follows him around like a duckling with its mother even though Tobio rarely replies to him (he listens very well and remembers a lot of Hinata's ramblings, but his high self-esteem doesn't let him confess it even to himself). What makes Tobio feel weird is that Hinata doesn't seem to mind his unusual silence, heck Hinata even patiently waits for him when he stops walking due to exhaustion.

Tobio has never been noticed like this, back when his mother always left bruises all over his body not a single person tried to ask or approach him. No one even glanced at him when he grimaced in pain, or offered him food when he was clearly starving. No one paid attention to the existence of an insignificant anomaly like him.

Tobio was unable to describe what he was feeling right now, his brain seemed to have stopped working and he was too lazy to think further. But honestly after a week of spending time with this orange chibi Tobio realized that he didn't mind it at all, it felt the same as when he spent time with Narumi-san in his weekly therapy sessions.

"Hey hey, why you don't want to see us play volleyball?"

Hinata actually wanted to ask this a long time ago after he discovered the fact that Kageyama was actually not that bad to be friends with. It was true that this black-headed teenager was very quiet and rarely made a sound, but Hinata was the type of person who was quick to recognize and learn about other people's characters, so he concluded that Kageyama was actually not as annoying and arrogant as others talked about.

The surprising fact for Hinata was that Kageyama's physique was really and definetly weak. He often fell asleep in the middle of classes and breaks, had sudden fevers up and down, nosebleeds at least once a week, his face very pale throughout the day and many others. Now Hinata understand why the teachers let Tobio do what he wants.

"I prefer sleep in my bed rather than sit at the corner like a stupid person" If it's Hinata from a week ago, he will explode after hearing that shit. But he will grow up okay? He will try to respect Kageyama's pov, even it kills him from the inside.

"But it's not stupid at all! Isn't it fun when you do something with your friends?" Hinata is a total extrovert, he think he will die from boredom when he can't meet people every three damn minutes.

"I almost never had a connection with people other than my family, like a friend or something similiar so I don't know" Hinata hummed in understanding tone, well Kageyama was freaky annoying everytime to literally every person he see so he's not suprised that the blue eyed teenager doesn't even have a single friend.

"I understand, no one wants to be friend with annoying person like you" Hinata let out his inner though, he slap his mouth with both of his hands, he quietly stare at the expresionless Kageyama.

"Exactly" The man said flatly and it stabs Hinata's heart.

"Huh?"

"What? You say I'm annoying and I agree with you" Kageyama said as it was the most norm out of the norm.

"I am annoying as hell, everybody in the earth knew it, so why should I hide my annoying side just because what people saying about me? It's useless and not important for anything" Hinata was speechless, that statement was something he had never heard from anyone before.

Hinata was raised by supportive and positive parents, it never occurred to him that it didn't matter if you didn't have friends and today, he met someone who didn't like making friends. This was an experience he would never forget for the rest of his life.

"Why? Why do you think like that?" Kageyama looked at Hinata as if he had grown a second head.

"And why do you keep asking me vague nonsense huh? Leave me alone damn it" Kageyama quickened his pace, he wanted some warm milk right now to calm his dizzy head.

"Can you please see us for once? I promise it just one time and I'll never be a bother for you again" Hinata clap his two hands in begging pose.

"Nah" Kageyama said after took his outdoor shoes and move forward.

"Come on! Please! I'm begging you!" Hinata never gave up, following Kageyama from behind.

"I said no Mikan, remove your tiny presence in my way or I will do it on my own" Kageyama set his left hand to Hinata's face to distance that overgrown orange from him.

"Chill bud! I just want you to see all the fun you left behind! You coward!" Kageyama stop his movement, a deep frown imprinted on his face.

"What kind of bullshit is that? Even one of my on drugs neighbor's spat a better sentence than that!"

"I said what I said Bakayama!" The chibi look very sure in himself and Kageyama doesn't like it.

"Who the fuck you call Bakayama Boke!" Kageyama never felt this angry after Kazuyo-san died, he grab Hinata's collar uniform angrily.

"It's you who can't see what you left behind! You're the one who keep running away! Face your own problem dammit!" Hinata fight back with his hands on Kageyama's collar even though he have to jump first to reach it.

"And where the hell is the connection from my problem to your Mind hah? Leave me alone and mind your own bussiness! I don't care!" Kageyama push Hinata away from his collar and turn his back, seriously he need his warm milk right now or he will explode from the nausea.

"Oho you are Yamayama, I will made you mind your bussiness" Out of nowhere Hinata grab Kageyama's wrist and it was so strong that even a huge guy like Kageyama can't pull his own hand.

"Oi don't drag me like that! Hinata!" Hinata's ears turn deaf, he kept dragging Kageyama straight to their school's volleyball gym.

"Hinata! Why you drag Kageyama like that!" The third years said in unison when they see a view Hinata drag Kageyama who looked like he was going to throw up and punched Hinata at the same time.

Tsukishima's laughing voice at the background annoyed Kageyama.

"You guys always say you wanna see a picture when Bakayama saw us play isn't it? And there he is! I success to bring him!" All the people except Tsukishima drop their jaw together, like, be for real?.

"Hahahahaha what the heck, I can't-" Tsukishima even upgrading his way to laugh more lively.

"Oi Tiny! What on earth you do this time huh? Are you forget what I said when Kageyama first came here?" Their coach walk past Tsukishima and release the poor Kageyama from the tangerine active engine.

"To respect their privacy?" Hinata tittle his head like a cute toddler but Ukai ain't buying that shit. Not anymore.

"Exactly! And look what you do!"

"Hahahahahaha-" Tsukishima's face went red like a raw sashimi after five minutes.

"Tsukishima drop it!" After gather his own shit, Daichi began to control the tension on the air and scolding Hinata for being ridiculous.

Now only the voice of Daichi and Ukai who scold Hinata like a parents when their child do a funny behaviour and Hinata's ranting a endless apology fill the silent gym. Ten minutes later Daichi and Ukai gave one last word of advice to their troublesome little mikan and then shouted for all the volleyball club members to start practicing.

Hinata wandered around, looking for the blue-eyed figure he had forcibly brought here. He made an 'oh!' sound when his honey like eyes found the sight of Kageyama asleep sitting against the wall at the edge of the court. The teenager seemed to have fallen asleep by accident, too lazy to make his way home and not knowing what to do to strike up a conversation with someone else.

Hinata knew that, having accompanied Kageyama for a week made him understand that Kageyama's stamina and willingness to move was equally poor, he would rather sleep in class than eat his lunch or sit in the school garden until night came and one of the Sakusa couple had to pick him up after work just because he was too lazy to use his legs to walk back home.

None of the Karasuno team member disturbed the young man's sleep, clearly not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable with them. After all, the players in Karasuno were people with good personalities, they couldn't bear to wake Kageyama who was sleeping like a baby deer. Yes, even Tsukishima don't want to do that.

The training went on and as they entered serve practice, Kageyama woke up, his blueberry matched pupils blinking slowly, he blinked a few times before yawning as he raised his arms up. The cute actions did not stop there, Kageyama scratched his right cheek as his forehead furrowed, straightened his legs and turned his body left and right as if cooling down after a long workout.

Every eye looked at Kageyama who was acting like a professional athlete cooling down after a match and his expression looked even better after he did all those stretches, like an old man free from muscle pain, Kageyama cleared his throat contentedly and then nod his head like he's proud of himself after all that sleep.

"Hey, Kageyama-kun? Are you okay?" The freckled boy, Yamaguchi approach the straight haired boy and tapping his shoulder softly.

"Yeah, I don't expect to has a real sleep in a place like this, I almost never had a long good sleep like that for a while" True, he would sleep if he chug those giant medicine before bed or he can't asleep at all. Screw all of his depression shitty drama.

"It- It's good then" Yamaguchi stutter in his words.

"Yes, thank you for not waking me up, I think I would punch you if you wake me before I wake up on myself" Kageyama said straightly, he used to say the truth even it's cost him a lot of hatred from other people, not like he care anymore though.

"We wouldn't do that bro! You look peaceful and we don't want to ruined it" The bald one, Tanaka said while pick the ball from the court and bring it to Sugawara who stand beside him. Slowly the third year silver head walk behind the court to start his serve and continue the practise.

"Then I will go and sleep here until Kouka-san or Takami-san went here to pick me up" The boy close his eyes once again and doze of in a few seconds later.

"Huh?"

Yamaguchi sway his left hand to the front of Kageyama's face and his lack of reaction prove the fact that he's indeed asleep.

"What?" All of the second years said in unison.

"The fuck?" Tsukishima completed his senpai's word with a scowl on his face.

"...."

"Let's ignore him? He looks comfortable and I don't have the gut to shake him up" Everyone nod in agreement with Ennoshita's suggestion.

"Yeah, sounds good" They all whispers at each other and continue to practise their serve and receive to prepare for the last highschool volleyball championship.

.......................................................................

Since then Kageyama really have the audacity to come to the gym every damn day just to lay around and sleep until the one of the Karasuno's volleyball club member wake him up because it's getting late or the Sakusa couple has arrived to pick their cute little bluejam back to their home.

The first three days he literally just slept there, but the following days Kageyama would sometimes watch them train with an intense yet empty gaze at the same time. It felt like something was holding him back from doing what he wanted, a jangle of chains binding Kageyama's soul away from the reality he felt himself in. That he still loved volleyball.

After one week, the members of the volleyball club slowly got used to the presence of a teenager who was always sluggish and contrasted with the energy of the trio of idiots among them. By the second week Kageyama began to open his mouth when he was asked questions, he began to wake up later than last week and by the third week the sight of Kageyama falling asleep after talking to them all had completely blended into the daily life of the Karasuno volleyball club.

Kageyama began to open himself up a little to the volleyball club, teaching Hinata to serve and receive even if it was only through words, bouncing balls that accidentally rolled towards him, answering questions about setter technique from Suga, listening to Noya's endless babbling, watching Tanaka carefully, helping Kiyoko pick up bottles from the sidelines and so on.

Slowly the Karasuno club members other than Tsukishima began to invite Kageyama to play even though their requests were always rejected by the owner of the blueberry pupils. But they, especially Hinata never gave up, every day they asked Kageyama to play with them until one day Kageyama granted their request after the fifth invitation from Hinata that day.

"But just one time, I'm a setter so I'll set the ball to you but don't expect much, I haven't played in over a year after all" Kageyama got up from his seat and started a light warm up, after five minutes Kageyama put on the volleyball shoes he borrowed from Suga and entered the court.

Kageyama stare at the familiar looking ball, his chest feels odd but he brush off the feeling quickly.

"Who's going to hit the ball?" Kageyama asked the group of volleyball teams standing on the sidelines.

"Me! Me! I want the feeling of hitting the ball you set!" Hinata jumped up next to Kageyama who immediately pushed his head away because he was invading Kageyama's privacy zone.

"Whatever, I don't care who hits the ball" Kageyama ignored the pouting Hinata while holding his head with both hands.

"Then I'll receive the ball! I want to receive the ball that Shouyo hit!" Nishinoya, their libero ran into the other side of the field.

"Tsukishima, Azumane, Sawamura! Go ahead and try to block their attacks, I want to see it," Ukai said as he pushed Asahi to the center of the court.

Tsukishima and Daichi followed their friend and stood in line in front of the net with their arms extended upwards, preparing to block the upcoming attack. Hinata retreated to the center of the court and ran quickly when Kageyama gave him the signal. Hinata jumped, his shoes squeaking as his upper body rested on his feet to propel him into the air.

Kageyama's pupils dilated slightly but he immediately targeted the spot right in front of Hinata's open palm and threw the ball there. Tsukishima, Daichi and Asahi jumped to block Hinata's attack but they were too slow, the ball shot towards the center of the field and left a loud boom! Sound as it hit the ground.

The middle blockers' gazes were indescribable, the entire gym was silent, their mouths open and their eyes wide, silently chanting the same thing in their hearts.

'What the hell is that!!!'

"Wa wa- WHAT THE HECK! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE! YOU! JOIN THE CLUB! I WANT YOU!" Ukai screamed in excitement, a player with the talent like Kageyama was super mega rare so Ukai doesn't want to lost him.

"I'm sorry but I plan to quit Volleyball forever so I'm not interested to play anymore" Kageyama took off the shoes he borrowed and returned them to Sugawara's hand.

"Then you can't sleep here anymore Kageyama-kun, only members of the volleyball club are allowed to enter the gym and use it" Everyone's gaze fell on their coach, since when was such a rule made?.

"Really? Then I'll find another place to sleep" Kageyama grabbed his school bag which he left behind the net. The teenager started to walk home but Ukai stopped him by grabbing his right arm.

"Uh wait! What if I let you do anything here as long as you train with us? Just one round every day! I promise!" Kageyama turned his body around and stared flatly at Ukai, his face revealing true disgust.

"I can't, I can't play every day Coach-san" Kageyama didn't want to see Kouka-san and Takami-san crying anymore because he couldn't hide the helpless sobs that came out of his mouth as he was unable to endure the pain of his muscles tightening without cause at very random time.

"That's right! Yamayama will look like a drugged farmer's chicken if he's exhausted! He can't even keep up with gym class, I guess practicing every day is too much for him Ukai-san" Hinata said while swaying Kageyama's arm.

"You heard him Coach, I can't do that" Kageyama let go of Hinata's hand on his arm and start to heading out.

"Then every two days! Just one round every two days!" Apparently Ukai doesn't want to gave up easily.

"Nah I passed" It's not like Kageyama can do all That shit, his body will be sour and he doesn't like that fact.

"Three days and a mattress! And a meat bun too!" Kageyama scowl at Ukai's face like he just had commited a large crime or something.

"I love meatbun but I can't eat something other than the food on the doctor's diet list so no" Kageyama shake his head left and right softly.

"Please! Whatever, you can say anything you want, I will do my best to fulfill them so please!" Ukai seem to be desperate but Kageyama's expression is still the same until the boy let his thought won.

"Anything?"

"Yes! Anything!"

"Then..."

Kageyama managed to win the negotiation with a futon with pillow and blanket, unlimited drinking water, Karasuno volleyball team jerseys and jackets and most importantly study notes from Tsukishima (forced) and Yachi because he was too tired to stay awake for a study session.

.......................................................................

Another week passed, it had been two weeks since Kageyama joined their training, now he was officially a member of the Karasuno volleyball club. Due to his body condition, Kageyama was only able to play one round every three days, and even then he severely restricted his movements and his team took great care to keep Kageyama from having to move too much.

So far, everyone at the club has been impressed with Kageyama's setter skills, which have not slacked off at all despite not playing for over a year. They were clearly shocked when they heard Kageyama's frank explanation that his technique had declined drastically since he quit Kitagawa Daichi. Sugawara even lost his focus for a few hours because of that.

Although Kageyama's skills surpassed almost everyone in the gym, their team's main setter was still Sugawara. It was just that everyone was given special training to receive by Ukai. So far they had relied too much on Nishinoya or Daichi to receive the ball, with the presence of the extremely weak Kageyama, they had to rack their brains to create conditions where Kageyama didn't have to move his body too much.

Karasuno soon learned that Hinata's words were very true, Kageyama's stamina was weaker than a chick's and he would fall sick for days if he pushed himself. None of Karasuno wanted to face Kouka-san's furious rage. Not again.

They held a long meeting, discussing the right way to play so that Kageyama could play comfortably. The solution came after Hinata showed the game footage of Nekoma at Interhigh yesterday, when Karasuno lost to Aoba Johsai. The solution is that they will change their way of attacking and defending a little, each individual is trained to be able to receive well like Nekoma does.

Nekoma is known for its calm play with a high level of concentration. Their setter, Kozume Kenma is credited with being the brains behind their sure-fire victories. The roles of the other team members are similar to red blood cells that flock to deliver oxygen to the brain so that the center of their strategy can run.

Karasuno was a different team to the cats, they were more open, rushed and attacked with all their strength without hesitation, trying again and again until the end.

It looked like Karasuno would have to change that strategy a bit, Nekoma was able to be a healthy red blood cell as they were able to receive all the balls and return them to the setter so that Kenma could focus on determining which spiker had the highest potential to score points while watching the opposing team carefully so that they could discuss counter strategies during time outs.

Sugawara, Tsukishima, Ukai, Ennoshita and Yamaguchi, the brains of many of Karasuno's strategies eventually formed a new strategy modified to suit Karasuno's way of playing. The trick was that everyone would connect the ball to Kageyama and then attack together with combination attacks and Kageyama would decide which spiker was deemed capable of scoring.

This was similar to Nekoma's strategy but the difference was that it was only done in one round, or perhaps less since Kageyama wasn't allowed to play if he wasn't feeling well. It sounds trivial but with Kageyama's setter skills, they believed they could trick the enemy with this strategy.

"Oi Tiny! Why you take the ball with your balls? Somebody help him to the infirmary!" Ukai shouted and Narita take his kouhai to the nurseroom.

Today is the day Kageyama is allowed to play, he play slowly but deathly.  His connection to the team increase even though he remain silent almost all the time. His team didn't mind that, other than Tsukishima who often teased him as the unseatable king, Kageyama didn't receive any unkind words from the others.

Honestly, he was getting used to and comfortable with the dynamics of this crow team. They could be very rambunctious and could not keep quiet but they respected each other's privacy zones (except Hinata), no one forced Kageyama to do something he did not like, everyone left him alone and no one asked him things that would obviously make a normal person curious.

How could he not? He was too quiet, too weak, too weak, too uncaring and not normal at all. He used to be an irritable child but now he hardly felt anything, he was a little grateful that everyone knew their place and didn't ask anything but Kageyama was a little uncomfortable with all the intense stares directed at him every time he changed his clothes.

"Hei Guys! Look what I get!" The cute looking man with a glasses took of his shoes, entering the gym with a sheet of paper in his left hand.

"Take-chan! What's that?" Tanaka approach his teacher and take a look on the paper.

"It's an invitation from Aoba Johsai!" Their sensei, Takeda Ittetsu say happily.

"Those jerky Seijoh? Are you sure Sensei?" Ukai furrowed his brows, he's sure those little bastard, especially Oikawa never invite anyone from a little school like Karasuno.

"Yes! They invite us to do friendly match with them!" The whole Karasuno members gather around in one circle with Takeda in the center.

"What? For real?" Yamaguchi said while sitting himself besides Tsukishima.

"Yeah! But they want it under one circumtances though" Daichi and Suga exchanged glances, they agreed that this was suspicious.

"What do they want Sensei?" Daichi raised his hand to ask.

"They want Kageyama-kun as a main setter" Shocked gasps rang out in all corners of the gym, what nonsense were those 'go into national' wanna be talking about?.

"Hah?! Then reject it!" Nishinoya went into a rage followed by Tanaka, their protective senpai souls screaming for justice, at least that's what both of them thought in their heads.

"Right! Right! We can't force Kageyama's condition! It's too risky!" Tanaka, be the best senpai he is, show a disgust expression on his face.

"I agree to these two Ukai-san, Kageyama is too weak to compete, I don't want to face Kouka-san again" Everyone nodded in agreement at Ennoshita's words.

"I understand Ennoshita-kun, so take it easy! I've proposed a condition for one set only if you want to compete with Kageyama-kun as our setter" Unconsciously everyone let out a sigh of relief at Takeda's explanation, the experience of coming face to face with Kouka-san's lion wrath was really imprinted on all of their brains.

"We can't decide this on our own Sensei, well Kageyama, what do you think?" Daichi changed the subject making all eyes turn towards Kageyama.

Kageyama blinked before snorting and answering quietly.

"As long as it's just one set, I think I'll be fine" Daichi, Takeda and Ukai nodded their heads as they heard Kageyama's agreement.

"Then let's take the invitation Sensei, we can't waste an opportunity like this" Daichi once again looked at Takeda but Takeda didn't seem too convinced. He locked his eyes on Kageyama's, looking for the point of the lie there.

"You sure you'll be alright Kageyama-kun?" Takeda asked once more to ascertain whether Kageyama was feeling forced or not.

"Take it easy Sensei, I'll bring one of Kouka-san's children as my escort later" Kageyama remembered Kiyoomi would be home for the weekend, he was sure the young man wouldn't mind.

"That's good, it's settle then, we will face them in the saturday's" Takeda smiled at his students, he's glad they get along so well.

"Don't let them won again! Show them who we are!" Ukai shouted with a bright spirit.

"Karasuno!!"

"FIGHT!"