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You didn't feel like going to school. F/N didn't come and pick you up today, like she normally would, which, as much as you hated to admit it, dampened your mood even further from yesterday. You didn't get much sleep that night.

You couldn't stop thinking about them. Their faces. How they felt.

You just couldn't understand, and it stressed you out.

You slipped on your uniform and looked at yourself in the mirror. Your eyes were dull and you did not smile. You had to tear your eyes away from a person you barely recognized as yourself, sucking in a breath and walking out of your bathroom. You slung your bag around your shoulder, and walked out of your house, locking the door behind you.

The walk was unusually silent. You had gotten so used to F/N's loud voice doing enough talking for both of you, that when she was not here, it felt almost wrong.

You don't remember when you started getting so used to her, or when you started expecting her presence.

Your heels making contact with the concrete beneath you was the only sound you could hear. There was nobody around you, no birds, not even any cars.

And for the first time in a while, you felt lonely.

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You didn't see F/N at school until it was lunch, and you walked outside, finding yourself walking to the first-year rooms on nothing but instinct.

You bumped into something- more accurately, someone, who fell backwards with a shriek. You recognized that loud voice anywhere. Looking down, you outstretched your hand. "F/N." 

She looked surprised to see you, cheeks going red and she hesitantly grabbed your hand. "Y/N...-sama..." Her voice is lower than a whisper.

"You... didn't walk with me this morning." You said, as she stood up and started to walk beside you. "Why?"

"I thought..." She gulped and tore her gaze away. "I thought you wanted space. You looked... different yesterday, and you seemed to be conflicted about something. I don't really know what... but I thought that... maybe, it would be better if I just left you alone."

"You..." You had never expected her to be so thoughtful... but then again, you had never expected her to do anything. You didn't have expectations of her... and maybe, that was your mistake. You didn't care what she did for you, because you didn't expect it from her.

Maybe I should start caring. You purse your lips.

"Thank you." You say quickly, and F/N barely catches the words as they tumble from your lips. "I didn't know you thought of me like that. I... didn't know you knew I was upset."

"Of course I knew." She looked up at you and her eyes were filled with worry. "You're my friend. Even if you are mean to me sometimes, I hang around you because I care about you, Y/N. I wanted to talk to you.. but you obviously didn't feel like opening up, so I just left you alone, so that when you were ready, we could talk... or something."

You think that this is the first time she has just called you by your name. You thought it was nice.

"I..." You close your mouth before you say anything else. Instead of heading back to your classroom, you both walk up the stairs and end up on the rooftop. You sit down, and she follows suit. "I... don't even know how I feel."

You do know how you feel now, though. You feel upset, vulnerable, and guilty. "When I saw the looks on their faces... I just..." You suck in a deep breath, trying to not let your voice shake. "I felt an overwhelming feeling, and I needed to leave. Their feelings affected me so much... why?"

F/N snorted, then snickered, and then it turned to full-blown laughter. You looked at her in shock at why she was laughing at your heart-to-heart.

"Ahahah! You... you really are clueless!" She held onto her stomach, leaning as she tried to catch her breath. She caught your frown, and wiped her eyes, placing a hand on your shoulder. "Sorry! Sorry... I just... you're so funny, Y/N-sama! You were affected by their sadness... because you care about them. That's what happens when you see somebody you care about get hurt or feel upset. You must think it's silly... how that happens... because why should somebody's emotions affect you?"

A bright grin stretched across her lips. "But I think that really, you're a big softie deep down, and you care for all of them. Even me. Maybe that's why you looked so bothered when I didn't come and pick you up today, huh, Y/N-sama?" 

You shake your head, feeling your ears grow hot and you close your eyes. "No, I just hate that you broke the routine."

But as F/N laughed once again at your response, you had the feeling that she knew exactly how you felt. And it felt nice, to know that somebody understood you even when you did not understand yourself.

You feel lucky to have somebody like F/N as your friend.

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You chew on a rice ball. F/N leaned on your shoulder, picking out a few of the vegetables you had and eating them herself.

You didn't mind. You make a mental note to pack extra food next time.

She smiled widely at you, standing over you when she got up. "Hey, Y/N-sama! Do you think we should go to the gym? I'm pretty sure I heard some screaming... from a little orange first year...!"

You pause, chewing slowly, before swallowing. You look up to meet her bright eyes. "Sure. I think there's about 25 minutes until lunch is over, anyways." You put the last rice ball in your mouth and throw away the container and chopsticks. 

"Yay! Let's go!"

F/N trotted alongside you, and you felt your eyes crinkle upwards. Maybe... this wasn't as bad as you thought.

It took about five minutes for you two to arrive at the gym, where you saw almost everybody there already, without the third years, with the exception of Kiyoko.

"Hey!" F/N peeked out from behind the door, catching Hinata's eyes and smiling at him. "I thought you guys had the day off?"

You didn't know that. You lock eyes with Yamaguchi, and look away, almost shamefully. You feel embarrassed, and you don't even know why. It was if you were a teenage boy going through puberty.

"Y/N-chan!" Noya's eyes turned to hearts and he blushed. "You're here! You didn't eat with us last time, and it was so lonely!"

You press your lips together, and you close your eyes. "I... I'm sorry. I should've... gone with you."

He stopped in his tracks from running at you and looked dumbfounded for a second. "...huh?" He looked at Tanaka, who shrugged, and then they both looked at you. Suddenly, it hits him. "You... DO YOU FEEL BAD FOR NOT GOING WITH US?!"

You jolt back and feel your cheeks burning up. But, you can't help but nod.

Tears appear in the corner of their eyes, and they sob, "That's so cute! It's okay, we forgive youuu!"

F/N glared at them, standing in front of you like a guard dog. "Shut up! You're making her embarrassed, you freaky weirdos!" She continued to throw insults at them, but they literally just bounced off of them as they sobbed in happiness.

Kiyoko walked up to you and tapped your shoulder, catching your attention was her soft smile. "Hey. You shouldn't feel too bad about not going with us. It's not that big of a deal. Really, the only one who was really bothered by it was F/N, honestly." 

Her playful tone made you take in a sigh and give a half-smile back. "Thank you. That... means a lot to me."

Suddenly, the missing third-years run in, panting and trying to catch their breath. "Hey, we're late!" Sugawara called out, before stopping to a halt and resting his hands on his thighs, breathing heavily.

Tanaka laughed, rushing up to them and grinning, "What kept ya nerds?!"

Suga looked up a bright smile on his face. His eyes curved up and crinkled, and he yelled out, "Let's do this, okay?!"

"YEAH!!"

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You watched as they played with a sense of something you couldn't really name. They jumped up in sync, slamming the ball down and cheered and praised each other. They seemed to be determined, so happy to just be there.

"They're so weird," F/N said, hands on her hips and lips formed in a pout. "I don't know how they can play a game like this constantly... but look at how happy they are. Huh."

"If something made me this happy, I would want to play it constantly too." You said, turning your head to look at Kiyoko. "What about you, Shimizu? If you like a sport this much, would you want to play it all day, every day?"

She considered your words, pushing up her glasses and turned to make eye contact with you. "I think... I would. Until... I can't play it anymore, I would." She sounded sad, but the small smile on her face had convinced you otherwise.

"That's what I thought, too."

A loud bang at the door caught your attention. You look at the door, to see... Ukai.

"Coach!" The players all yell, rushing up to him. You, Kiyoko, and F/N follow. 

He smiled at the sight of them all here and training. "Well, how about that? Hard at work, huh?"

Daichi bows his head, "Thank you, sir, we hope you will continue coaching us!" The rest of the boys all follow him, bowing and yelling thanks.

His eyes softened, a grin stretching across his face. "Hm."

...

"We did the best we could, and lost. Seijoh beat us," Ukai leaned back in his seated position. You watched curiously as you picked up a few of the balls and rolled a cart away, all seemingly very focused on his words. "And that proves they're the better team. You can like it or not, but that's what happened out there."

Kiyoko took a seat, but you and F/N didn't follow. You tapped on her arm, which drew her attention and stopped her from walking over to where they were sitting, too. You shook your head and pointed to the door.

"Let's go. We have a paper to write," you spare her a single glance, and start walking out. Your footsteps catch the attention of Tadashi, who looks back to where you and her were walking out.

You catch his stare and stare right back. Right before you look away, and leave, he could truly swear he saw a curved smile on your lips.

The tips of his ears grow red, and he places his face in his hands. 

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