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They were third years and reminiscing. It might have been the soft morning light mingled with a perfect breeze, but whatever it was it made Kageyama and Tsukishima's steps sync.
'You did a few good service aces yesterday,' said Tsukishima, 'was the king ever close with the great king?'
'Oikawa.'
The name was icy clarity on Kageyama's tongue.
'We weren't friends,' said Kageyama simply, 'but he did teach me a few things.'
Kageyama balanced on the tip of the elevated side path.
'Was he always good at his service aces?' Tsukishima asked.
They both shared frustrated looks on their faces as they remembered the way Oikawa weighed down on them with his persistent service aces. They both had feared they might lose their match at least once during the match. Oikawa was just that frightening.
'Yes and no,' said Kageyama and it would have sounded cryptic but Tsukishima knew well that talent wasn't one dimensional.
'I wasn't born a good setter,' said Kageyama.
'No, but you're a prodigy.'
'Prodigy.' Another word that weighed differently depending on who said it. It rolled uncomfortably on Kageyama's tongue. This wasn't always the case though.
-
Every time Kageyama would come to talk to Oikawa, he reminded Oikawa of an annoying spring thing that bounces at you.
Kageyama was a proud little boy even back then. He wasn't annoying, what child thought that about themselves? People were more likely to think about him as being mature and focused. Not everyone, clearly.
'No, you're not annoying,' Oikawa said to him when Kageyama asked him. Kageyama didn't think twice and merrily skipped away.
But if Oikawa was honest with himself, he had to admit that he was annoyed. Iwaizumi would have had his neck though.
A few days later,
'When can we train, Oikawa-san?'
Oikawa looked around him. He had barely left his classroom, so he definitely didn't deserve to see Kageyama's face at lunchtime. But he had enough.
'Let’s train together today!' said Oikawa in a sickly fake grin.
Kageyama didn't know any better, so he waited for Oikawa to come to the volleyball court all through lunch. But Oikawa didn't come. Maybe he forgot?
He felt sadness wash through him when again Oikawa 'forgot' about him. He just wanted to spend time with his role model.
'Oikawa, don't apologise about not coming, but after your match this week will you be less busy?'
'Of course Tobio-chan!' Oikawa lied. He felt like an idiot for lying. But he suspected that Kageyama was purposely only asking him in front of others so that he would agree.
-
Kageyama continued to be persistent.
His grandfather told him that if he got really good at volleyball, someone better will find him. So, he wasn't concerned about the constant whispers around him that he was 'too good'.
'Teach me how to serve!' Kageyama's voice was bright and loud the next morning when all Oikawa wanted to do was eat his lunch.
'No. Go away!' Oikawa pulled his tongue out at Kageyama who didn't budge.
'Anyways, I won't go away,' Kageyama spoke on top of his voice, 'Iwaizumi said you aren't busy this evening.'
-
'Yeah, the great king- I mean Oikawa did teach me a few things,' said Kageyama to Tsukishima who let himself be distracted from thoughts of their first class in favour of hearing Kageyama spill the tea.
Kageyama had a certain frown whenever he was frustrated. He had just tried to explain to Tsukishima that yes, Oikawa was his senpai but no, they were not friends. Except he didn't say it like that, he stumbled over his words a lot because he was afraid of Tsukishima's taunting. But more than that, he was ashamed of himself.
'What do you mean it "didn't work"?' Tsukishima asked him, curious, but the question ended on a tone of laughter.
'I mean it wasn't a good service ace when I did it!' Tobio gritted his teeth, trying not to let it all get to him. Tsukishima was almost a friend now, and he shouldn't get angry when Tsukishima was actually trying to listen to him this time. Tsukishima was always laughing at him, but then again he was always snickering at everyone. He always came to confide in him because Tsukishima was smart about everything.
'Yes, you've already said you weren't good at the service aces. But why?'
'I did not say I was bad at them. I followed them completely. They were bad.'
'So your favourite senpai, who you thought taught you how to do his perfect service ace…actually didn't?'
Tsukishima's voice drew out. He frowned as he really thought about it. Oikawa seemed horrible. Tsukishima hated liars so much.
He shivered at Kageyama's glare that burnt into him. He really had gone too far this time.
Tsukishima's words stewed in mid-air, burning Kageyama's face in this cold weather.
'He said sorry to me, he said it was just a joke and that I was getting too much.'
'No,' Tsukishima interrupted him, 'you don't need to forgive him for everything.'
'I…don't?'
'Do you ever feel petty?' said Tsukishima.
No, I'm not petty, thought Kageyama to himself.
'I don't mean revenge or anything. I mean, he's not all that great, is he? He's simply not the best mentor.'
'I don't care about that anymore,' said Kageyama letting out a puff of air, 'all the mentor stuff. But he’s a decent player. And also, I don't think he's mean or anything.'
The heat in Tsukishima's chest burnt him before it evaporated, 'yeah. I guess it shouldn't matter anymore.'
Tsukishima knew this conversation meant more for Kageyama than he let on. He might have figured out that volleyball is more than a club. But there was yet more about people like Kageyama that he might never figure out. Something caging and freeing all at once.