Archive of Our Own

Before: Hinata Katsumi

Hinata Katsumi carefully regards the highschooler from over her mug, her warm brown eyes devoid of their usual mirth. That spark, bright and impish, has been replaced with something a little heavier—a little more somber. 

They are at their usual coffeeshop, a small place decorated with twinkling fairy lights. Normally, Katsumi adores their meetups, hearing about all of the school gossip as well as updates on her son’s volleyball and social life, but today she feels heavy. Nervous almost.

“You’re sure the team will be alright with it?” she asks the boy before her, fidgeting with her drink. She sips delicately, but doesn’t take her eyes off of him, scanning him for any hint of hesitance. 

But there’s none to be found. His lips simply pull into a beautiful, yet almost heartbreaking smile. “For Shouyou?” Sugawara Koushi says, setting down his mug and clasping his hands together. There’s a gentleness to the way he moves, the way he smiles, and Katsumi finds herself relaxing. “Of course they will. We all love your son, Hinata-san.”

It feels a little backwards, the way he is reassuring her—like he is the adult and she is the teen—but she lets herself be reassured anyway. Even to the point of feeling her usual spark of mischief igniting.

She leans forward, setting her mug to the side and cradling her chin on the palm of her hand, fingertips tapping against her cheek. “What if we don’t tell him about it?”

Another thing Katsumi loves about these little meetups is how expressive Sugawara is. She watches with something akin to glee as his features transform from gentle to chaos, his smile a little too bright and his eyes a little too sharp.

It’s like looking into a mirror. 

The First Day: Hinata Shouyou

Shouyou hears his classmates talking about how awesome it is to have the house to themselves, whether their parents are out for the night or a week. He hears it all the time, and objectively he can understand the appeal. Staying up all night playing games. Eating whatever he wants. Playing the music too loud. Inviting friends over and making a mess.

Really, it makes sense, and as Shouyou is helping his mom load the car up, he starts to get excited about the prospect of coming home to an empty house.

But then he realizes what that means , and the excitement washes away in an instant.

He doesn’t let his expression fall, though. He simply bounds over to his mom and gives her a tight hug, a grin pushed onto his lips. The expression becomes a little more sincere when he feels his mother’s hand running through his unruly hair.

“Call if you need anything, even if it’s just to talk,” his mom says, her voice gentle, and Shouyou knows he will be taking her up on that offer, even if he wants to pretend he is brave enough to be on his own. 

Four days. He will be alone for four days.  

Shouyou pushes the thought away and simultaneously pulls out of his mom’s embrace. “I’ll be fine,” he says, a too bright grin on his face. He then looks down to Natsu and ruffles her hair. “Say hi to Grandma and Grandpa for me.”

And that’s that. He waves to his mom and sister, watching the family car shrink until he can’t see it anymore, and continues the gesture until his arm starts to tire. When he is really, truly alone, his arm drops to his side, limp. Lifeless.

He only allows himself ten breaths like that, unnaturally still as he stands in front of his home. Ten shallow breaths, his eyes becoming unfocused, then shutting tight. And, as soon as those ten breaths are over, he forces himself to take one deep one, filling his lungs to the brim with warm summer air, then lets it all out in one solid push .

When he enters the house, he doesn’t let himself dwell on the silence. He just jogs up to his room, grabs his bag, then hurries back outside and over to his bike.

Practice is a welcome distraction. He is a little later than usual, having stuck around to wish his mom and sister goodbye. It’s strange to see various bikes lining the gym’s outer wall—really, he can’t remember having ever seen so many bikes at once for practice—but the thought quickly flicks away. 

It seems he has not only missed the free court time (he usually spends it working on spikes with Kageyama), but also the official team warm-up as well. Ukai doesn’t reprimand him, though. He simply nods in Shouyou’s direction, then blows his whistle.

They start with serve drills, and it takes enough concentration that Shouyou forgets about the empty house he will be going home to.

He doesn’t remember again until the sun is low in the sky and Ukai lets them all go for the day. Instantly, his shoulders droop a little and his eyes tilt down, and—

“Oi, Hinata,” Nishinoya says, nudging him almost painfully with his elbow. Despite being almost the same build as Hinata, Nishinoya is significantly pointier, bony in a way that doesn’t quite make sense for someone who trains as hard as the libero does. “You okay?”

Right. This certainly isn’t something he wants to admit to any of his teammates. So he does the only logical thing he can. “I’ve never been that good at cooking, and my mom is visiting family” he says dramatically, amping up his saddened expression and turning it into a pout. “What am I going to even eat tonight? I’m so hungry, I could eat Asahi-san’s body weight in food.”

Nishinoya doesn’t look particularly convinced, but he cracks a smile anyway. “I’m sure you’ll think of something, Shou,” he says, clapping him on the shoulder. The contact from his hand almost hurts as much as his elbow.

Shouyou nods, giving his teammate a smile that is maybe just a bit too wide, and says, “I’m not too worried, Noya-senpai.”

And he isn’t. About the food at least.

He makes sure to keep his expression bright as he stuffs his drained water bottle in his bag, then slings it over his shoulder. Putting it off won’t help at all, so he vaguely says his goodbyes (the team never properly says farewells at the end of the day) and heads to his bike.

Once again, he is struck by just how many bikes there are. Two of them even look brand new. Yachi bounds up to one of the new ones, glancing over at Shouyou as she grips the handlebars. 

“I outgrew my last one,” she says in response to his inquisitive stare, but that doesn’t answer his question.

He wonders if it’s even his place to ask, and concludes that it isn’t, but he finds himself asking anyway. “Don’t you usually take a bus to school?” he asks, his head tilting to the side.

Yachi shrugs, though there is a splattering of pink on her cheeks. “I just felt like riding my bike.” Her answer makes Shouyou pause for a moment, until he notices something far more concerning.

Yamaguchi and Tsukishima have both straddled bikes, Yamaguchi’s looking a little worse for wear and Tsukishima’s looking perhaps a bit too small. Shouyou knows that they always walk to and from school, based on how many times they have passed Shouyou and Kageyama practicing at a somewhat nearby park.

And then there is Kinoshita on a bike that looks like it’s built more for trails and less for riding around town, and that’s confusing too. He takes the train. Has every single day since Shouyou started attending Karasuno. He knows this because he passes by Kinoshita walking from the train station every morning. He waves to him every morning.

It’s not strange to see Tanaka on a bike, at least. He once told Hinata that he either runs or bikes to school in the morning to warm up his body. But it is a little weird to see Sawamura and Sugawara each on well-worn bikes. They both live fairly close to the school, and are regularly seen walking together.

The most concerning to see pulling his bike away from the wall—the second brand new looking bike—is Kageyama. Shouyou hadn’t even been aware he owned a bike, which might have been true up until the day before. Seriously, the bike looks like it’s never been ridden even once.

Kageyama definitely prefers running. Shouyou is sure of it. So why—

“Dumbass. Are you going to just stand there all night?” Kageyama asks gruffly, walking his bike up next to Shouyou, his eyes narrowed. “If you don’t get a move on, we won’t get home before dark.”

“Of course I’m not going to stand here all night,” Shouyou scoffs in return, swinging a leg over his bike and kicking back the stand. “I’m hungry.”

When he starts peddling, he notices that the rest of the team start as well. For the most part, at least. Some start a little later, waiting until there is space for them to move before filing into line. Kageyama is by his side, which isn’t exactly strange (they always go to the edge of town together, waiting until the last moment to break apart for reasons that Shouyou hasn’t looked too closely into). 

What is strange is that twelve other people fall into a haphazard formation behind them, all going in the same direction when Shouyou knows that a few of them live in, quite literally, the opposite direction.

He debates commenting on it, but eventually decides against it. Maybe they just wanted to get a little extra exercise in today?

When Nishinoya rides up beside Shouyou and asks him about what he likes to top his pizza with, he quickly forgets about, well, everything aside from food.

At some point, Narita replaces Kageyama and strikes up a conversation about music (a topic that Shouyou admittedly knows very little about, but he does like songs that have a good beat!). Tsukishima joins in on this conversation, though that isn’t surprising.

What Shouyou does find surprising is that his own personal music taste is more similar to Tsukishima’s than Narita’s. It’s interesting knowledge to have, and maybe… just maybe… it will make it so he can get closer to Tsukishima.

Before Shouyou knows it, the entire volleyball team is halfway to his home, and as they are pushing up a relatively steep incline, Shouyou can hear desperate pants for breath coming from behind him. Most of the conversation has stopped by now, reduced to singular words gasped out at a time.

He isn’t tired, though. If anything, he normally takes this hill faster . But he also understands that he has more stamina than even the average athlete. So, he makes an executive decision. 

“Something wrong, Hinata?” Ennoshita asks as Shouyou slides off his bike and begins walking it instead of peddling up the hill.

“Nope,” he replies with a smile as bright as the sun. “I just sometimes walk this hill, and I’m kinda tired today.”

That’s definitely a lie. First of all, he still feels energy tingling under his skin, begging him to move his muscles. And second, he has never once walked this hill. He never thought he ever would .

But once he ‘admits’ to being tired, there is a collective sigh of relief from his teammates, and they all follow suit. Slowly, the sound of labored breathing recedes, and conversations begin again.

Azumane asks if Shouyou has any manga he likes. (He would, if there was one about volleyball, but nothing has caught his eye enough to make him a fan.)

Yachi asks him what his favorite color is. (It used to be green, but now it’s blue. To be more precise, it’s the blue of the volleyballs they play with. It just so happens to also be the same shade as Kageyama’s eyes, and Shouyou might be a little jealous of that, but he doesn’t mention that part to Yachi.)

Sawamura asks if Shouyou has a pet. (He had a fish once, but it didn’t live for very long. Shouyou finds out that his Captain has two dogs, though. His younger sisters gave them the names Kitty and Duck.)

Shouyou is having fun. A lot of fun. Talking to his friends like this makes him warm, and the feeling doesn’t fade until his house comes into view. That’s when the dread starts to kick in.

As well as the confusion.

He pauses just in front of his house, turning to his team—his friends —and opens his mouth to ask them why they all followed him home.

“You want to come in?” he asks instead, trying not to get his hopes up. “It’s getting dark, so maybe you should all just… sleep here.”

No one hesitates.

Shouyou breathes a silent sigh of relief.

The First Night: Sugawara Koushi

Fitting all fourteen of them in Hinata’s living room is a bit of a challenge, but they make it work as soon as Koushi suggests turning a movie on and settling down for the night. It’s definitely a tight fit, but Hinata seems happy as the team squishes together, some practically laying on others.

The sight makes Koushi smile.

The movie they all decided on is some foreign film that Koushi doesn’t remember the name of. It’s a little slow, but that’s a good thing. Maybe, just maybe, some members of the rowdy team will fall asleep.

“Are you going to sit down?” Sawamura asks, stepping up beside him. His hand brushes against Koushi’s arm, and it makes his skin tingle.

“In a moment,” Koushi replies, tilting his head to the side as he gives Sawamura a smile, nudging him towards the rest of the team. “Go on. I’ll be right over.”

Sawamura nods once, steady and collected, before shooting a glance at all of the kids in the living room. Once he confirms that no one is watching, he leans in to press the slightest of kisses to the corner of Koushi’s mouth.

It makes him blush. It always does, and Koushi thinks it alway will. As he watches Sawamura walk away, he can’t help but think how lucky he is that Sawamura is his.

It’s new, the two of them. New enough to be a little scary, still life-altering. It’s why they haven’t told the rest of the team yet (Koushi is okay with it… he likes having this bit of Sawamura Daichi to himself, and himself only), but they both know it won’t be long before the others find out. 

Koushi brings his hand up to his rapidly beating heart, pressing hard against his chest. Then he shakes his head and brings himself back to the world around him, cracking a small smile when he hears Nishinoya loudly proclaiming how comfortable Azumane is.

Azumane looks like he is in serious pain as Nishinoya lays on him. Anyone would be, with how bony the boy is. But, to his credit, he doesn’t push Nishinoya away. (If anything, Koushi might say he pulls Nishinoya closer .)

The whole team is adorable, Koushi decides, the way they cuddle into each other. Hinata and Kageyama are already dozing off, Hinata’s head practically on Kageyama’s lap. Yachi is tucked into a protective Shimizu’s side (the boys had given them the most room). The second years, sans Nishinoya, are all huddled together with Tanaka sitting between Ennoshita’s legs, though not leaning back… yet. Koushi knows that will change as soon as the two of them start to get tired.

The only ones who aren’t cuddled into at least one other are Yamaguchi and Tsukishima. They are barely separated, though, and Koushi wonders if they will end up any closer while they sleep.

And then there is Sawamura. Koushi’s heart skips a beat as he realizes that Sawamura is waiting for him.

He bites back a smile, raises his phone and snaps a quick picture. He sends it, along with a few others that he had taken throughout the evening, to Hinata’s mother. Then he sets his phone down and picks his way through the team to get to the free space beside his Captain.

The Second Day: Hinata Shouyou

Shouyou vaguely realizes someone is pushing on his shoulder with sharp fingers and probably good intentions, but he isn't ready to face the world. Not yet. Not when he just had a night with happy dreams. Not when he feels this warm.

“Shou. Shou you have to see this,” Nishinoya says in an urgent whisper. Honestly, Shouyou didn’t know Nishinoya could whisper. The strangeness of it all is enough to snap him to attention, pushing Nishinoya off of his shoulder so he could sit up.

He’s about to ask what’s happening, but is quickly stopped by Nishinoya’s hand clamping over his mouth, making Shouyou wince. “Don’t talk. Just look over at Suga and Daichi.”

Shouyou blinks once in confusion, then once in understanding, but it isn’t until he actually nods that Nishinoya removes his hand. Once free from that near brutal grip, Shouyou turns to face the direction that Nishinoya points in, and his eyes widen.

Sawamura is half-propped up against the sofa; Sugawara is all propped up against Sawamura. He has his face tucked where Sawamura’s shoulder and neck meet, and his legs are thrown across Sawamura’s lap. He isn’t the only clingy one, though, because Sawamura has his arms around Sugawara’s waist. 

Shouyou watches as Sawamura shifts in his sleep, then pulls Sugawara closer . 

It can’t be a comfortable position to have spent the night, but Shouyou definitely thinks it’s cute. “Are they dating?” he asks in a whisper, unable to tear his eyes away. Not that Shouyou thinks people need to be dating in order to cuddle.

But… they look like they just fit together.

“Definitely,” Nishinoya grins before tugging on Shouyou’s arm, pulling him to his feet. “But that’s not all. Kageyama is cooking.”

“Kageyama is what ?” 

“I know. I had the same reaction. Just c’mon.” Nishinoya tugs Shouyou through his house until they are in the kitchen, and Shouyou can hardly believe what he is seeing. (Seriously. At least Sawamura and Sugawara dating makes sense .)

Kageyama is in the kitchen, bangs pulled away from his forehead by two of Natsu’s little clips. His expression is surprisingly calm as he works in front of the stove, stirring something that Hinata can’t see from his vantage point. Ennoshita is beside him at the counter, chopping up some sort of vegetable.

Shouyou actually squeaks, which alerts Kageyama of his presence. “Go wake up the others,” he says, not turning around to look at Shouyou. Just trusting that he will be heard. “Breakfast is almost ready.”

Still in shock, his eyes wide, Shouyou nods, then flees the kitchen to do as he is told. 

“Weird, right?” Nishinoya laughs, walking back to the living room to wake up the slumbering remains of the team. “Did you know he could cook?”

Shouyou just shakes his head, speechless. He doesn’t know why, but the sight of Kageyama sitting in front of the stove, cooking with such a calm expression (which is something that Shouyou definitely can’t do) doesn’t fill him with the intense desire to up his own cooking game.

Instead, it shoots a tingling sensation through his whole body.

It’s off-putting, but not necessarily unwelcome. 

Shouyou decides not to dwell on it, and instead puts his thoughts into gently nudging his teammates awake. He and Nishinoya save Sawamura and Sugawara for last.

Once Shouyou and Nishinoya corral the mostly half asleep volleyball team into the kitchen, then eat a surprisingly flavorful breakfast (Kageyama looks so pleased with himself, it makes Shouyou feel warm), everyone quickly gets ready for the day and goes out to their bikes.

Azumane and Narita both groan audibly, and Yachi looks a little sick to her stomach, so Hinata doesn’t straddle his seat and kick off like he would most days. Instead, he turns to his team and says, “We have a little time, so why don’t we take it easy for a bit? I’m definitely not awake enough to ride full out.”

No one complains about that, but Sugawara does give Shouyou a knowing look. In response, Shouyou bites back a smile and simply shrugs, then starts walking in the direction of Karasuno High School.

It feels a little awkward… until Kageyama falls into place at his side. 

“I don’t think any of the others will be able to come over for the rest of your mother’s trip away, but I will,” Kageyama says after a few moments of silence. The rest of the team is chatting amongst themselves (most of them grilling Sawamura and Sugawara on their new relationship). Shouyou is glad they are all distracted because Kageyama’s words catch him off guard.

“What?”

Eloquent. 

Shouyou wrinkles his nose as he turns to glance at Kageyama, who just rolls his eyes. “You don’t like being alone, right? I’m going to make sure you aren’t.”

The tingly feeling from seeing Kageyama make breakfast is back, but Shouyou resolutely pushes that away, ignoring the heating of his cheeks. “How do you know that?”

“Sugawara-san,” Kageyama says, expression pulling into a frown. “Do you… not want me to come over again?”

“What? No. Of course I want you to come over again,” Shouyou says quickly, maybe too quickly, before realization dawns on him. “Wait, so that’s why everyone came over last night? Because I don’t like being alone?”

Kageyama’s frown deepens. He almost sounds tired when he says, “You are such a dumbass.”

It makes sense, Shouyou realizes as he falls into silence, listening to the laughter of his friends all around him. He knows Sugawara talks with his mom, and he knows his mom understands just how much he can’t stand being by himself… especially at home. But the fact that his team all took the time to come be with him?

The thought makes him breathless.

“Are you okay?” Someone asks him, and Shouyou looks up to see Sugawara giving him the most gentle, understanding look. 

Shouyou swallows thickly, fighting back actual tears, and nods.

“Thank you, Sugawara-san,” he breathes, voice almost shaking as much as his hands.

Sugawara just smiles softly, reaching out to squeeze Shouyou’s shoulder. “For you, Shouyou? Anytime.”

Shouyou loves his friends. He really, really loves them all.

“What is with you guys today?” Ukai asks, his face a little red. “Keep going until you get it right!”

Everyone is exhausted. Well, everyone aside from Nishinoya, Tanaka, Kageyama, and (of course) Shouyou. In fact, Shouyou is on top of his game, his smile blinding and his energy unwavering.

“Sorry, coach,” Sugawara says, flashing Ukai a tired yet still apologetic smile.

After everyone completes the basic Serve and Receive drill properly, Narita nudges Shouyou’s shoulder. Then he bends over and props his hands on his knees, tilting his head to look at Shouyou inquisitively. “How do you do this every day?”

Shouyou looks him over. The second year is clearly exhausted, face flushed and covered in a sheen of sweat.  “I’m not sure, but I do it so I can play with you guys,” Shouyou says with a small, slightly uncertain smile.

“Well… I clearly need to get my stamina up,” Narita says after a moment, chuckling. Shouyou’s heart stutters when Narita adds, “You’re pretty incredibly, Hinata.”

He wants to say something, to express how lucky he feels to have Narita as a friend, but Ukai interrupts him before he can. “Because you guys can’t seem to grasp the concept of speed today, go run laps around the gym until I call you in for a cool down.”

Narita looks a little sick at the command, but straightens up. 

Not wanting to miss his chance a second time, Shouyou carefully grabs Narita’s arm, his eyes open and honest. “Thank you,” he says, putting as much emotion into his voice as he dares.

It’s enough, though, judging by the way Narita’s expression softens. He reaches out and ruffles Shouyou’s hair. Then he pulls away and walks outside to get started on the punishment laps, a determined air settling over him like a blanket.

Shouyou can’t contain his grin.

Somehow, by the end of practice (extra laps and all), Shouyou still has energy. Fortunately, Kageyama does as well, so they make a race out of the ride home.

It’s a bit tiring, but Shouyou is laughing most of the way and even Kageyama has a little grin on his face. (The expression makes Shouyou feel happier than it should, but he doesn’t question it.) The sun is still up when they both come screeching to a halt in front of Shouyou’s home. 

“You win,” Kageyama says, panting slightly from the exertion. He sets his bike to the side, then runs his fingers through his hair. It’s probably sweaty and gross, but Shouyou wonders what it feels like.

The thought makes him flush. “What are you, a dumbass? That was a tie.” Honestly, Shouyou isn’t sure how he made it through that sentence without stuttering.

Kageyama rolls his eyes, taking Shouyou’s bike from him and setting it beside his. Then he squats down to lock them in place. “You are such an idiot. What do you want for dinner?”

That does leave Shouyou sputtering, unable to form a comeback, his mind becoming empty of everything (except the memory of Kageyama standing in his kitchen). It seems to amuse Kageyama, because his expression twists in that way where it’s obvious to Shouyou that he is trying not to smile. Really, his shoulders raise a little bit, making his chest curl in, and everything.

Shouyou thinks he hears Kageyama mutter, “An adorable idiot,” but that seems like a very un-Kageyama thing to say. So he doesn’t respond or let himself think about it. Just shakes his head and tries to pull himself back together. 

“We can order whatever you want,” Shouyou offers once he has reeled his mind back in. 

Kageyama’s little expression of contained happiness morphs into something like disgust and maybe even disappointment. “That’s not nearly as healthy as eating a home cooked meal, dumbass,” he says, shaking his head. He storms into the house, leaving a slightly confused Shouyou out in the yard.

Though, Shouyou doesn’t stay out there for long. He quickly runs in after Kageyama, closing the front door behind him. “I can’t cook… like… at all.”

“I can. Unless you didn’t like breakfast?” Kageyama fires back, turning to face Shouyou in the hallway, arms crossing over his chest.

“What?” Shouyou nearly yells. “Of course I liked breakfast! But I thought take-out would be easier. I mean, you don’t really want to cook for me, do—”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Oh…”

Oh!

Shouyou covers his face with his hand, dropping his gaze to Kageyama’s feet. He feels weird, the tingling sensation from the morning back in full force, his skin hot. Plus his stomach is flipping, which he doesn’t necessarily dislike, but it’s weird .

“I guess, then, we can eat whatever you want,” Shouyou says, shifting awkwardly in the hallway. “I’m sure I’ll like anything you make.”

And Shouyou does. Shouyou really, really does. But…

It’s a little hard to eat around all of the butterflies in his stomach.

The Second Night: Hinata Natsu

“Mama, I miss Nii-chan,” Natsu says, climbing up onto her mom’s bed. It’s too late for her to be up, but she is used to waking up around this time, a little after midnight.

Her body has become conditioned to it, with how often she has woken up in the middle of the night to hear soft sobs coming from the bedroom beside hers. Her brother is rarely awake when he is crying, so Natsu knows it’s because of his dreams.

Bad dreams. Really bad ones.

She wishes her brother could have happy ones, like she does. It’s not fair.

Natsu’s mom blinks, sleep in her eyes, and Natsu feels a small stab of guilt for waking her up. But then warm arms are embracing her, pulling her in. “I miss him too,” Natsu’s mom says softly, cuddling her close.

She often sleeps like this with her brother. When he cries and wakes her up, she sneaks into his room, climbs up onto his bed, and snuggles into his chest until he stops. She doesn’t leave him the whole night after that. She can never leave him. Not when he needs her.

“Do you think he’s okay?” Her voice is small. She feels powerless, so far away from her brother. What if he needs her tonight? What if he’s crying, and she can’t be there to help him stop?

Her mom stifles a yawn, but nods. “Tobio is with him tonight,” she promises, eyes closing as sleep starts to reclaim her.

Natsu gives a small little nod of relief. “Good. Tobio-chan is good.”

She had met him once, her brother’s person . She has a feeling that if her brother’s bad dreams come back, hurting him, Kageyama will hold him close.

The Third Day: Hinata Shouyou

Shouyou wakes up with Kageyama staring at him. They had gone to bed in his room the night before, Shouyou on his bed and Kageyama on a futon on the floor. It had been an uneventful night, really, which Shouyou is grateful for.

Except now Kageyama is kneeling beside him on his bed, eyes a little wide. 

When he notices that Shouyou is awake, he looks conflicted for a moment, then he wrinkles his nose. “You drool when you sleep,” he says plainly. Then he climbs off the bed, acting as if nothing happened.

Except… Kageyama won’t stop looking at him, which Shouyou normally likes (having Kageyama’s attention feels like an accomplishment of sorts), but not when he is looking at him like… this.

To an outsider, Kageyama might look uncomfortable and slightly annoyed with how his expression is pinched and his eyebrows are drawn together. But Shouyou knows better. 

Kageyama is concerned. Very concerned. And, in turn, it’s making Shouyou concerned.

“What is it?” he finally asks over breakfast, narrowing his eyes at the setter. 

Kageyama blinks, frowns, then looks away. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it. Eat your food.”

Shouyou does eat his breakfast, but he doesn’t stop his worrying. Mainly because Kageyama won’t stop staring at him like he is a riddle to be deciphered (which Shouyou knows just how bad Kageyama is at deciphering riddles).

It’s off putting. But Kageyama told him to not worry about it , so Shouyou really does end up trying to ignore those glances as they clean up the kitchen. 

It’s Sunday, so they don’t have practice, but this awkward air surrounding Kageyama is stifling, and impossible to actually ignore, so Shouyou grabs his volleyball and turns to his partner. “Set to me?” he asks, his head tilting. 

When Kageyama hesitates, his eyes flickering, Shouyou’s throat tightens. What could possibly be going through Kageyama’s mind that he won’t set for Shouyou? His heart rate starts to increase in a mild panic, but then Kageyama is nodding and Shouyou feels like he can breathe again.

They practice together. It’s not as distracting as Shouyou hopes it to be.

After they fail to match up for a freak quick for the tenth time, Shouyou tucks the volleyball under his arm and turns to Kageyama, eyeing him carefully. “C’mon. Something’s bothering you,” he says, narrowing his eyes once more.

At least Kageyama has the decency to look embarrassed for still acting weird after he told Shouyou to not worry about it. His cheeks darken and he looks off to the side, bringing his hand up to scratch at the back of his head.

(And maybe Shouyou wonders again what it feels like to touch his hair, but this isn’t the time to be thinking things like that, so he shakes the thought out of his head.)

Kageyama is quiet, though, and now resolutely looking away from him, so Shouyou does the only thing he can think of. He drops the volleyball, grabs Kageyama by the wrists, and tugs him down so they are both sitting on the concrete. 

“Talk to me,” he says, voice a little harder than he means it to be, but it does the trick.

Kageyama takes a shuddering breath, looks across at Shouyou, then nods. “You were crying last night.”

Blunt. Honest. Exactly what Shouyou wants Kageyama to be with him, but the words feel like a punch to the gut. “I was?” he breathes. His face quickly loses its color, and he feels a little sick.

Shouyou doesn’t like to lie. Really, he makes a habit out of being truthful as much as he can, unless it’s something very small, like telling his team that sometimes he walks instead of bikes up a big hill so that they don’t push themselves too hard.

But he has two secrets that he will lie about to cover up.

The first isn’t as big of a deal. Really, his entire team had found out just a couple of days ago, and everything's still fine . The fear of being alone might be a little embarrassing, but it’s not something anyone would look pity or down on him for. He just prefers it if people don’t know.

But the second thing? The second thing is Shouyou’s biggest kept secret. No one aside from his immediate family knows, and Shouyou wants to keep it that way for as long as physically possible.

“You were,” Kageyama says quietly, bringing Shouyou back to reality. “I think it was a nightmare. Do you not remember?”

Shouyou swallows past the lump in his throat, letting go of Kageyama’s wrists and bringing his knees up to his chest. He wishes he hadn’t asked Kageyama to talk to him. He wishes that Kageyama hadn’t come over and spent the night, even if it had made the waking hours bearable.

He’s scared. Terrified even. That Kageyama will make fun of him for the things he can’t control. Or that Kageyama will pity him and treat him as if he is fragile—easily broken—and not worth keeping around anymore.

“Hinata…” Kageyama starts to say, though he cuts himself off quickly. Then he takes a deep breath and tries again, using Shouyou’s name and own words from before against him. “Shouyou. Talk to me.”

Shouyou’s eyes snap up to Kageyama’s, wide and surprised at the use of his given name, despite the nature of their conversation. It gives him courage, though, to admit his deepest, darkest secret.

“I actually don’t remember the nightmares,” he says quietly, and now that he has made the decision to tell Kageyama, he can’t look away. “I only know they’ve happened when I wake up with Natsu sleeping next to me. I think I wake her up at night, but we… we don’t talk about it.”

Kageyama’s look of concern doesn’t fade, and when he doesn’t make a move to speak, Shouyou continues. “I used to remember them, before I taught myself not to, so I know what they are about. They are always the same. I doubt they’ve changed after all this time.”

He attempts a smile, but when it falls short, Kageyama asks, “What are they about?”

Maybe the question is insensitive, but Shouyou doesn’t care at this point. He’s already started baring his soul to Kageyama. Why stop now?

“My dad… the last time I saw him.”

Shouyou takes a deep breath, emotionally preparing himself for the story, but then he feels Kageyama’s fingertips on his cheeks and realizes that it’s too late. He is already crying. He barely feels like himself as he pitches forward, wrapping his arms around Kageyama’s waist and burying his face in his chest.

He half expects Kageyama to push him away—because, who would want someone so stuck in the past that it leads to emotional breakdowns like this, right?—but Kageyama just hesitantly hugs him back, gently brushing his fingers down Shouyou’s spine.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Kageyama says after a moment. Shouyou can feel his voice rumbling in his chest. It’s strangely comforting.

He can do this.

Shouyou carefully shakes his head, then adjusts himself so he is still hugging Kageyama, but sitting a little more comfortably. When Kageyama doesn’t push him away or tell him to move, he breathes a sigh of relief.

“I was eight when it happened,” he starts, no longer having the strength to look up at Kageyama, but he can hear his heartbeat, and that’s enough for now. “Natsu had just been born, but something went wrong so she and my mom had to stay the night at the hospital. There wasn’t really a place for us to sleep, so my dad brought me home.”

He pauses to take a shaky breath, then forces himself to continue. “When I was younger, everything scared me, so my parents used to let me sleep in their bed a lot just so I wouldn’t be so scared. And that night I was really scared because mom and Natsu were still at the hospital, so my dad let me sleep with him.”

He’s crying significantly harder now, and he can feel how tense Kageyama’s arms are around him. When Shouyou pauses, though, Kageyama gives him a gentle squeeze. “You can tell me, Shouyou.”

Again, the use of his given name brings him the smallest amount of courage. Enough to continue.

“My dad died in his sleep, and I didn’t find out until the next morning,” Shouyou says, and he feels Kageyama’s breath hitch. “He was just… lying there. I didn’t understand why he wouldn’t wake up, but then I touched him and he was so, so cold, and I—” His voice breaks in a sob, and he shakes his head. “They told me it was a stroke and that there’s nothing I could have done to help him, but…”

Shouyou lets himself trail off, his voice becoming too broken to be of use anyway. He allows himself ten breaths like this, shaking as he clings to Kageyama. Ten breaths that present more like sobs, crying hard enough that he feels Kageyama’s shirt dampening beneath his cheek. But as soon as those ten breaths are over, he forces himself to inhale until it feels like his lungs might burst, then he lets the air out slowly, taking back control of himself.

He swallows down his next sob and straightens up, wiping at his cheeks. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to cry on your shirt or anything.” He forces a smile onto his lips. He just doesn’t want Kageyama to see him as weak. “One would think that I’d be over something that happened so long ago, but—”

He is cut off and his eyes widen in shock, but he doesn’t process what it is that cuts him off until Kageyama pulls back and looks away. “Sorry,” Kageyama says, arms still around Shouyou. Still tense . “I shouldn’t have done that.”

Shouyou blinks in surprise, his thoughts no longer on the past or being seen as weak and not worth having around. In fact, his mind is completely blank aside from one very specific thing. “You just kissed me,” he says, and he is in awe . 

Kageyama’s face flushes. “Yeah? Well, you’re on my lap!” he shoots back defensively.

The absurdity of it all bubbles up in Shouyou’s chest, and within seconds he is laughing so hard, his stomach hurts. “Oh my god, you just kissed me while I’m on your lap .”

He looks up at Kageyama with bright eyes, slightly shining with leftover tears, and Kageyama is looking back at him with the most pinched yet flushed expression Shouyou has ever seen.

“You’re such an idiot,” Kageyama says, shaking his head, but he doesn’t seem offended that Shouyou is laughing. If anything, he looks like he might want to join in. “And if you aren’t careful, I’m going to do it again.”

This sets Shouyou off into another round of giggles, and he unwinds his arms from Kageyama’s waist, instead sliding them up to rest on his shoulders. He feels hints of the sadness from before in the tightness of his chest—he knows that this moment doesn’t erase what had happened—but he also feels the tingling under his skin and the flipping of his stomach, and he knows he has been wanting something like this to happen with Kageyama for a long time now. 

“Do it,” he dares, choosing to live in the moment.

Kageyama gives Shouyou a little grin (which makes Shouyou feel like he can fly knowing he was the one who put that expression on Kageyama’s face). This time, Kageyama kisses Shouyou long enough that he can process what is happening while their lips are touching.

It’s light, a bit hesitant, and maybe a little weird, but Shouyou thinks it’s perfect.

As they climb into Shouyou’s bed together (unlike the night before, where Kageyama had slept on the floor), Shouyou can’t help but feel a little anxious. The last time he had shared a bed like this, purposefully, had resulted in the worst possible outcome. A terrible morning, followed by a horrible mourning period and constant nightmares.

He is nervous, to say the least, and it must show on his face because Kageyama leans close to him and kisses his cheek. “I won’t leave you, Shouyou,” he says quietly.

And maybe his words aren’t enough to change fate, if fate decides to be cruel tonight, but it still puts Shouyou at ease. Just a little.

Enough for him to fall asleep, soothed by the sound of Kageyama’s steady breathing.

The Third Night: Kageyama Tobio

Tobio doesn’t think anything of it when he leaves a sleeping Hinata to go grab something to drink. After sipping on some nice and cool water, he takes a detour to check his phone. He even spends a few seconds in the hallway, looking at a meme his sister had sent (and cracks a small smile at it). He isn’t gone for very long. It’s only been a few minutes.

But it seems that a few minutes is long enough.

From where he stands, the sound of quiet sniffles reach his ears, and his breath hitches in his throat. Without hesitation, he pockets his phone and takes off. He is inside Hinata’s room in an instant.

Carefully, ever so carefully, Tobio climbs into his bed, then pulls him against his chest, his heart pounding. He has never seen Hinata as weak (not even back in middle school when he was on a weak team, and definitely not now), but hearing his soft little sobs and feeling the trembling of his body… it scares Tobio. 

At least tonight he understands why, though. The night before had actually made him sick with worry. But now... he realizes that even the sun can be speckled with dark, cold spots.

Tobio hates it.  

Hinata, his Shouyou , deserves the world. He deserves happiness and stability and comfort and the freedom to fly. Not this fear and sadness. Not to spend every night trapped in hellish memory.

Keeping a close hold of Hinata, Tobio reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, adding three people to a group chat. He’s never done something like this, and it’s late (technically really early), but he is sure they will understand. 

Tsukishima, surprisingly, responds right away with a simple message. 

Okay.

Breathing out a slight sigh of relief, Tobio turns off his phone and sets it to the side. Then he tilts his head down and, ever so gently, kisses Hinata on the forehead.

It isn’t long before Hinata stops crying and Tobio is able to fall asleep.

The Fourth Day: Hinata Shouyou

For the first time since his mom and sister went out of town, Shouyou wakes up before Kageyama. Which… waking up cuddling Kageyama is very different from waking up cuddling Natsu. 

Natsu is always buried in Shouyou’s chest, gripping his shirt so tight by his ribs that most of his sleep-tees have permanent wrinkles. She is small enough where Shouyou is practically curled around her.

Kageyama is much bigger, and he isn’t tucked into Shouyou’s chest at all. It’s almost the opposite, actually, but not quite . Shouyou’s head is resting on Kageyama’s bicep, his hands in the space between their chests. Kageyama’s other arm is draped over Shouyou’s waist.

And he is warm.

When Shouyou shifts, trying to extract himself from Kageyama’s hold without waking him up, he feels another weight and frowns, stilling himself. Kageyama’s leg is hooked over Shouyou’s thigh, knee bend and foot tucked between Shouyou’s calves. 

Kageyama is like a koala, and there is no way Shouyou can get out of bed without waking him up. So he decides to just… stay. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

It gives Shouyou time to do something he has been wanting to for a little while now. Carefully, as not to wake him up, Shouyou reaches up and pinches a lock of Kageyama’s hair between his thumb and pointer finger. 

He holds his breath as he carefully rubs the strands between his fingertips. Kageyama’s hair is as soft as it looks, and Shouyou makes himself let go before he loses control of himself and grabs a handful.

Shouyou’s hand now tucked back against his chest, he takes a moment to examine Kageyama’s face, which is completely relaxed without a single hint of his usual scowl. It’s not something Shouyou has ever really thought of before, but Kageyama is really, well, pretty.

Sure, he has noticed that Kageyama is attractive before, hell he noticed that the first time he met him (plus he has had a crush on him for a while now that he hadn’t really even admitted to himself until the day before), but being attractive and being beautiful is different.

Kageyama is beautiful. Shouyou could probably watch him forever, just like this.

But the sun is already up and it’s Monday, so they really should be getting out of bed.

“Kageyama,” Shouyou says quietly, bringing his hand up to gently push on his shoulder. It doesn’t wake him up. Shouyou tries again, but this time… this time he takes things a little farther, trying something he has never allowed himself to try.

“Tobio. We need to get up.”

Saying his name, his given name, makes Shouyou’s heart race a little, but it feels right. It feels special, like something Shouyou wants to do. To hang on to. It makes him feel important.

Kageyama’s face twists, then his lips part in a yawn, and Shouyou just can’t look away. 

Beautiful.

Steady.

Perfect.

And even cute.

Shouyou bites back a little grin. “C’mon, Tobio. We gotta go.”

Finally, Kageyama’s eyes open up, and Shouyou can’t contain his smile anymore. This close to him, Shouyou can see all of the different shades of blue in his eyes, ranging from so dark it’s almost black to a bright sapphire. Beautiful .

“You called me Tobio,” he grunts, voice thick with sleep, but he doesn’t seem annoyed. Not in the slightest. “I like it.”

Shouyou’s smile widens into a grin too blinding for this early in the morning. 

Things between them aren’t exactly different. They race to school, practically flying over the mountain and through town, and end up there before anyone else. After setting the court up and doing a few stretches, Kageyama asks if Shouyou wants to hit a few spikes.

Which, of course, he does.

It’s comfortable with Kageyama. Shouyou quickly realizes how wrong he had been to be nervous that anything would change.

Kageyama knowing his past and his biggest secret, as well as Kageyama kissing him… it just feels like how things should be. Shouyou trusts Kageyama with everything he is (and he really has for a while now).

Once the rest of the team starts to filter in, Kageyama and Shouyou stop practicing and grab their water bottles. While Shouyou nearly drowns himself in his, Kageyama steps up to Tsukishima. There’s a serious expression on Kageyama’s face (though, really, when is there not?) and a slightly apathetic one on Tsukishima’s (again… that’s not unusual).

What’s strange, though, is that they both are civil to each other. Tsukishima doesn’t smirk and make any loud, snide comments, and Kageyama doesn’t growl or yell. Not once. They are talking in quiet tones, so quiet that Shouyou can’t hear what they are saying, and at the end of the encounter, Kageyama’s lips twitch into something that’s almost a smile.

Shouyou tries not to stare. He really does. But he fails.

He’s so enraptured by that tiny, almost smile, that he doesn’t notice Yamaguchi walking up to him. “All of us first years are coming over tonight. You good with that?” he asks.

Shouyou jumps at the sound of Yamaguchi’s voice, then he lets out a laugh, turning to face his friend. “Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be?”

Yamaguchi is smiling as he shrugs. “I didn’t necessarily think you wouldn’t be, but I don’t have Suga telling me to keep it a surprise today, so I figured I’d just check.” The look on Yamaguchi’s face turns from friendly to something sly, and he nudges Shouyou’s arm with his elbow. “Besides, I thought you might want Kageyama to yourself.”

“What?” Shouyou sputters, far too quickly. He can feel heat rising up to his face, so he quickly looks away. “Why would I want that dumbass alone, hah? He’s nothing but a nuisance to have around.” He knows he should shut up, but he can’t stop himself. “I totally don’t like him or his eyes or that tiny, stupid smile or the fact that he is such a good cook . Nope! Not at all! Where did you even get that idea?”

“Oh my god, Hinata, you are so obvious,” Yamaguchi laughs, reaching out to ruffle Shouyou’s hair. “Please tell me something happened between you over the last two days.”

Shouyou’s face is positively burning, and suddenly, he is at a loss of what to say (because the only thing running through his mind is their kiss).

Yamaguchi’s laugh turns a bit brighter. “Okay, you’re definitely telling me what that look is for. Spill.”

“What is Shou spilling?” a new voice chimes in. Nishinoya jumps into the conversation as well as props his hands on Shouyou’s shoulders and physically jumps, making Shouyou cringe inwardly. Just slightly. 

Nishinoya’s hands hurt, but Shouyou loves it when he jumps on him like this. It’s fun being his support. 

“Nothing,” Shouyou says, glad Nishinoya can’t see his face.

Not that it helps.

“Ooooh what happened?” Nishinoya says, rounding Shouyou’s side, an arm around his shoulder. “It’s something to do with Kageyama, isn’t it? Tanaka and I were wondering if something was gonna happen over the weekend.”

Again, Shouyou is silent, which is all the confirmation that Nishinoya needs. He cheers loudly, shaking Shouyou’s shoulders in celebration, which quickly draws the attention of the rest of the team. Before Shouyou can stop it, he is blushing and surrounded by inquisitive stares.

“What’s going on?” Sawamura asks, almost frowning as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Shouldn’t you be warming up?”

Nishinoya grins. “Warming up can wait. Shou was just about to tell us what happened yesterday.”

Sugawara takes interest in that, his eyes lighting up. “Oh? And what is it that happened yesterday, hmm?”

It’s all just a little too much. Shouyou feels like he is about to burst , and he rubs his cheeks, not able to look anyone in the eye. He isn’t even sure what he is embarrassed about, though. Not even with what happened between him and Kageyama. (Though, he’d rather the others not know about his… secret. Or the fact that he had been sitting on Kageyama’s lap for their first kiss.)

He isn’t sure how long he stands in silence like that, getting hotter and hotter while the team presses in for information, but he does pinpoint the exact moment when things become bearable again.

It’s when Kageyama settles an arm around his shoulders. “I kissed him, and now we are dating,” Kageyama says, blunt and to the point. When Shouyou looks up at him, he can see the tiniest splotch of pink high up on his cheeks. Otherwise, he looks unaffected. “So you all can stop your leering.”

“You’ve expanded your vocabulary,” Tsukishima says before anyone else can respond, voice a mix of insulting (in-salt-ing) and appraising. “Not the word I would have used, though.”

Yamaguchi snickers, shooting Kageyama and Shouyou an apologetic look that somehow doesn’t look apologetic at all. It’s then that all hell breaks loose.

A chorus of “Congrats!” and “Finally!” hits Kageyama and Shouyou, and there is an excessive amount of cheering and shoulder patting, and Shouyou is sure that if he didn’t have Kageyama by his side, he would simply float away like an untethered balloon.

Karasuno’s Volleyball Team at full volume is a lot to take in, even for Shouyou, who has boundless energy and no concept of noise control. 

The cheering lasts long enough that it’s still going strong when Ukai walks into the gym, and he winces at the racket. “Oi. What is going on, and why is no one warming up?” he asks, rubbing his temples, already looking done for the day.

Yamaguchi is the one who grins over at him and says, “These two finally got together.”

Ukai’s frown deepens, and he gives Kageyama and Shouyou a once over. “Really? Huh. I didn’t realize you two weren’t a couple before .”

Really, Shouyou thinks that maybe they had been before. He has trusted Kageyama since the very first spike, and always knew that they weren’t just friends. They were partners, and not just on the court. Plus, they have clung to each other (as well as cuddled on the bus to and from just about every match) from the beginning.

The only difference now, though, is that they are official.

And they can kiss. Shouyou likes that addition to his and Kageyama’s relationship.

“Enough is enough,” Ukai says after a few moments, clapping his hands together. “Let’s get to work!”

The Fourth Night: Tsukishima Kei

When Sugawara had first mentioned going over to Hinata’s house while his mother and sister were away, Kei had been skeptical. He only agreed because it was Sugawara who told him about it. Kei isn’t afraid of anyone… with Sugawara being the only exception. (As well as sometimes Sawamura. Maybe. But Kei will never admit that.)

But then he had seen Hinata’s expression that first day whenever he wasn’t sufficiently distracted. Kei knew then and there that he would do anything to keep that look off of Hinata’s face, if only because it just isn't right to see him so down.

So when Kageyama texted him the night before, asking for help keeping Hinata’s spirits lifted, Kei agreed immediately.

It isn’t that he is regretting that decision now, because he isn’t, but…

“Tsukki, you’re still awake?”

Kei looks over at Yamaguchi for a single moment only, then quickly looks past him. The television screen is static, their movie long since finished, and Kei allows that static to wash over him, calm his thoughts.

It’s hard to do with Yamaguchi watching him, though. Kei grimaces inwardly, then glances at Kageyama, who is very much asleep and comfortably cuddling Hinata. Who he kissed. Bastard.

If Kageyama had managed it, why can’t Kei?

Letting out a tired sigh, he nods. “Insomnia. Don’t worry about it, Yamaguchi,” he says quietly, wishing he could be bold enough to call him by his given name, like he had heard Kageyama call Hinata earlier that night. 

He is still looking at Kageyama and Hinata (over Yachi, who is also very asleep), when he feels Yamaguchi tugging at his shirt. “It’s annoying, isn’t it?” Yamaguchi asks, voice barely above a whisper. When Kei looks at him, he swears he can see a light flush rising under his freckles, though the light is so low, he isn’t sure if that’s what it is. “How did they get together before us?”

Kei nearly stops breathing. “Us?”

“Yeah, us,” Yamaguchi confirms, tugging on Kei’s shirt again. He looks away, and Kei wonders if Yamaguchi’s heart is beating as loudly as his own. “C’mon. Let’s lay down. Insomnia or no, you won’t be able to sleep standing over here.”

Kei blinks, but gives a small nod, letting Yamaguchi lead him to the others. Wordlessly, he settles down. As Yamaguchi hesitantly tucks into his side, Kei thinks that maybe it isn’t so bad that Kageyama and Hinata figured it out first. And maybe, coming over to Hinata’s twice when he never thought he’d ever even come over once , wasn’t awful either.

After all, it led to this.

(Plus, Hinata had talked to him for almost an hour about music earlier, and that had been… fun .)

Not letting himself overthink it, Kei wraps his arms around Yamaguchi and closes his eyes.

After: Hinata Katsumi

Katsumi and Natsu are home fairly early in the morning. Early enough that the first years are still asleep, which Katsumi is eternally grateful for because the sight she comes home to is the most precious thing.

Shouyou is laying on his back in the middle of the living room, though his knees are twisted to the side, touching Kageyama’s. His expression is so peaceful, Katsumi can’t help but smile. Then there is Kageyama who is curled up in a ball, his head on Shouyou’s chest. They look comfortable, though it’s a little entertaining to see Kageyama, who is so much bigger than Shouyou, rolled up into such a tiny position.

On Shouyou’s other side, Yachi is curled up, back resting against his ribs and head lying on his arm. Probably not the softest of pillows, but she’s in a deep sleep, so it can’t be too bad. She’s in a much looser ball than Kageyama, her knees bent and barely touching Yamaguchi’s lower back.

Yamaguchi has his face pressed into Tsukishima’s chest, arms wrapped around his waist. Tsukishima, the only one who doesn’t seem to be ‘curled up’ at all, has his arms wrapped around Yamaguchi’s shoulders in return.

Unable to help herself, she fishes her phone out of her pocket and snaps a quick picture. She doesn’t hesitate to send it to Sugawara.

Then Natsu comes barrelling in, excited at the prospect of seeing her brother. “Nii-chan!” she shouts before Katsumi can stop her, effectively waking all of the first years up in one fell swoop.

For a brief moment, everything is chaos. 

Shouyou jumps up immediately, collecting an excited Natsu in his arms, grinning from ear to ear. Kageyama grimaces and rubs his eyes, seeming a little peeved to have been woken up and pushed off of Shouyou so violently. 

Tsukishima breaks away from Yamaguchi like he has been burned, his ears red as he sits up and resolutely looks away, but Yamaguchi doesn’t seem too worried. He simply runs his fingers through his hair and laughs out a soft, “Sorry, Tsukki.”

Then there is Yachi, who is immediately alert and on her feet. She bows to Katsumi with wide eyes, absolute nonsense spewing from her mouth.

It’s adorable. They are all adorable . Katsumi laughs softly, knowing she’ll need to reign this chaos in at some point to make sure they all eat a good breakfast. 

But, for now, she is happy to let them be, glad that Shouyou has friends who both match his wild energy as well as support him when he needs it the most.