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After his shower, Kageyama sat down at the edge of the bed. His right hand moved lazily as he dried his damp hair with a towel, while his other hand scrolled across the screen of his phone. Three messages from someone, sent around two hours ago, immediately made his eyes widen. He tossed the towel aside carelessly as his fingers quickly tapped against the screen.
Sugawara Koushi
Kageyama~
Tomorrow’s the finals, right?
Good luck!! I’m cheering for you!
Kageyama reread the messages over and over until the corners of his lips lifted without him realizing; he looked ridiculous, smiling at his phone like that. Unsure what to reply, he spent nearly two whole minutes thinking before finally typing something.
You
Thank you, Suga-san
You’re not asleep yet?
Huh? Why had he suddenly asked that? And on top of that, he was replying two and a half hours late. For all he knew, Sugawara might already be fast asleep by now. Kageyama let out a quiet huff, beginning to regret what he had typed.
Fortunately, the reply came quickly.
Sugawara Koushi
Hmm, someone still hadn’t replied to my messages 🤷🏻
Kageyama smiled.
You
Sorry, Suga-san
I just got out of the shower
And why exactly was that important for Sugawara to know???
Sugawara Koushi
Okay. Get some rest, Kageyama
Tomorrow’s going to be a long day!!!
But I know you can do it~
Of course. Suga-san believed in him, just like everyone else did. That man had been pushing Kageyama forward ever since their high school days.
A faint smile lingered on Kageyama’s lips. He was about to type something else when he noticed Sugawara was already typing again.
Sugawara Koushi
No matter what happens, you and the others already did your best
So don’t overthink things, okay~?
And don’t forget to use the autograph I made for you hahaha
Yeah... Suga-san had always believed in him, always encouraged him.
And of course Kageyama would use that autograph.
You
And mention Suga-san’s name during my interview?
He remembered it clearly. Sugawara had once told him to mention his name whenever he got interviewed. Back then, obedient and painfully earnest, Kageyama had done exactly that. Sometimes he avoided saying the name directly because he worried his senior would attract too much attention, but even now, years later, he still found himself saying things like, “I had a very kind and supportive senior,” whenever people asked who had helped him grow in volleyball.
The notification sound from his phone startled him.
Sugawara Koushi
!!!????
That works too, and make sure to tell them I’m an elementary school teacher now and still single🫰🏻
This time, Kageyama did not smile. Instead, he frowned slightly and typed back almost immediately.
You
No
Of course not. Why would he announce to the entire world that the senior who had always supported and guided him was still single? The internet was full of nosy people. They would search for information about the senior Kageyama mentioned during interviews, start talking about him, try to find him, contact him, and then—
Kageyama shook his head.
You
Suga-san’s watching the match tomorrow, right?
Better to change the topic.
Sugawara Koushi
Of course!!
I already set an alarm so I won’t miss it
Just do your best, okay? The whole country’s cheering for you guys~
Kageyama’s thumb hovered over the screen while his mind debated whether he should type anything else.
You
Make sure you watch the interview too, Suga-san :)
Goodnight, Suga-san
The message sent.
Kageyama locked his phone and set it aside.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Sugawara’s eyes shimmered with tears as his country’s flag rose higher than the others. Japan’s national anthem echoed through the venue while the athletes stood proudly atop the podium, singing with solemn respect. Some of them cried openly, while others smiled with watery eyes, unable to hide their pride and happiness after winning the finals. Even the crowd inside the arena sang along, overflowing with joy for their country’s victory.
A single tear slipped down Sugawara’s cheek when the camera focused on his junior standing on that podium, expression calm as he accepted the medal placed around his neck. Not wanting to miss such a rare moment, Sugawara hurriedly grabbed his phone and snapped a picture of the television screen.
His junior looked incredible.
The ceremony eventually ended, and the athletes from all three countries stepped down after exchanging respectful greetings. The broadcast shifted toward the interview session. The players still looked exhausted and drenched in sweat after fighting so fiercely on court, but their expressions gave everything away; they looked genuinely happy.
The captain was interviewed first, smiling proudly as he thanked everyone in Japan who had supported them. Sugawara smiled too, nodding quietly while wiping away tears as though the athlete were speaking directly to him.
“Is there anyone you’d recommend to speak here next?” the reporter asked teasingly.
The captain laughed softly before glancing behind him. “One of my teammates said he wanted to talk if he got the chance,” he said with a grin toward someone off-camera. “Kageyama-kun, come here.”
Once they returned to the hotel, Kageyama immediately headed for the shower, just like the rest of his teammates. He bathed quickly, carelessly, barely paying attention as water ran over his body.
Happiness swelled inside his chest. Of course it did. He had just won a gold medal for his country after only taking bronze four years ago. Kageyama was happy they had achieved the best possible result, happy that he had played well, happy that all the effort had finally paid off.
His heart pounded for two reasons. First, the victory itself still replayed vividly inside his mind: his teammates embracing each other, the deafening cheers and applause from the audience. Kageyama had won many times before, but this felt entirely different.
And the second reason...
The second reason his heart would not calm down, the reason he still refused to open his phone despite the constant stream of notifications demanding his attention. Someone, or perhaps several people, kept sending messages. Kageyama scratched awkwardly at his hair, unsure what to do. His frustration only deepened when his roommate, freshly out of the shower, laughed at him.
“You should probably check your phone,” the tall man said. “He definitely contacted you, right?”
Kageyama stiffened at the comment. Quietly, he glanced toward the phone lying on the bed before hesitantly picking it up. Just as expected, countless people had messaged him, asking questions or demanding explanations.
But there was only one message he truly wanted to see.
Sugawara no longer remembered when the snacks in his hand had slipped onto the floor. He did not remember how long he had been sitting there with his mouth hanging open either, eyes fixed unblinkingly on the television screen long after the volleyball program had ended.
Everything had been perfectly fine three minutes earlier, when Kageyama appeared on screen to replace his captain. The reporter began asking ordinary questions about how he felt and whether there had been any difficulties during the match. Kageyama answered calmly and confidently, which moved Sugawara so much he nearly burst into tears on the spot.
His junior had grown up.
He looked so composed on television, speaking with confidence and grace. And he looked handsome too, standing there in Japan’s national team uniform. Sugawara could feel his cheeks warming without warning.
Then the reporter asked, “Is there anything you’d like to say to the people of Japan who’ve been supporting you all this time?”
At that moment, Sugawara wiped his tears away, eager to hear what Kageyama would say.
“I... Of course I’m grateful to everyone. The support from the people of Japan truly means a lot to us,” Kageyama said with a slight bow of his head.
Sugawara nodded enthusiastically while more tears gathered in his eyes.
“And, uh... There’s something I want to say to someone.”
“Oh! Someone? Then by all means, say it through this interview!” the reporter encouraged excitedly.
Sugawara frowned slightly. Was Kageyama really going to mention him? Don’t tell him the kid had actually taken that joke from high school seriously all this time..?
“This is for my senior, Sugawara-san.”
Oh no.
Oh, he really did.
“I have a senior who’s supported me ever since the beginning, even though we were technically rivals competing for the same position on the team. Sugawara-san, I wouldn’t have made it this far without your support and everything you’ve done for me. Thank you for that.”
Sugawara’s tears completely overflowed.
“Aah, that’s so sweet...” the reporter murmured.
Kageyama’s cheeks turned red. Sugawara wasn’t sure whether it was embarrassment or exhaustion from the match.
“He once told me I should mention his name during interviews... so... I did.”
Sugawara was shocked. “Oh my god!” mentioning his name during a high school tournament interview had been one thing. But during the Asian Games? An international competition held only once every four years?
“Sugawara-san, my wonderful senpai. He’s a teacher now and still single...”
“Oh, he’s a teacher? That’s wonderful. Anything else you’d like to say, Kageyama-san?”
“I like Suga-san. That’s all. So please stay single until I come back to Miyagi.”
Sugawara genuinely thought he was about to pass out.
Sawamura Daichi: KAGEYAMA
Tanaka Ryuunosuke: ARE YOU SERIOUS KAGEYAMA
Sawamura Daichi: Oh my god
Yamaguchi Tadashi: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Yachi Hitoka: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Azumane Asahi: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Sawamura Daichi: ...What’s wrong with all of you
Azumane Asahi: it’s just... that was shocking...
Shimizu Kiyoko: how’s Suga doing?
Sawamura Daichi: Oh he definitely watched it, we were on the phone before the match started
Sawamura Daichi: I’ll call him now
Nishinoya Yu: I KNEW HE HAD A CRUSH ON SUGA-SAN!!!!! I WAS RIGHT @Tanaka Ryuunosuke
Yamaguchi Tadashi: Everyone knew..
Shimizu Kiyoko: even so, who would’ve guessed he’d confess during an Asian Games interview?
Yachi Hitoka: 😭😭😭😭😭
Tanaka Ryuunosuke: honestly this is ridiculously funny hahaha
Tanaka Ryuunosuke: imagine his teammates teasing him like a little kid
Azumane Asahi: hinata must be losing his mind..
Yamaguchi Tadashi: pray for Kageyama
Nishinoya Yu: and Suga-san 😠
Sawamura Daichi: Suga was speechless 😂
Ennoshita Chikara: “😂”?
Nishinoya Yu: IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY FAVORITE SUGA-SAN I’LL FLY FROM SINGAPORE AND BEAT YOU UP!!!!! @You
Yachi Hitoka: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Sawamura Daichi: Yachi, stop crying..
Yachi Hitoka: 😭😭😭😭😭🙏🏻🙏🏻
Every single one of Kageyama’s former teammates had been shocked. Some of them teased him endlessly like children, just as Tanaka said they would. Hinata, who was also part of the national team, had apparently been so stunned he could barely speak. Ushijima had only asked, “The one with gray hair?” and Kageyama had answered with a silent nod.
People were understandably surprised. More and more messages flooded Kageyama’s phone, including ones from his family, but he ignored them all for now.
There was still no message from Suga-san.
Kageyama bit his lip anxiously. What if Sugawara hated the confession? What if he felt embarrassed or angry? Kageyama had to admit that what he did earlier could absolutely be considered reckless.
After finishing the team photos and post-match conversations with the coaches and staff, Kageyama finally returned to the hotel. He showered quickly before climbing back onto his bed with his phone still clutched tightly in his hand. It was late now, nearly midnight. The roommate who had told him to check his phone earlier was already asleep.
Kageyama was just about to either call Suga-san or force himself to sleep when his phone vibrated with a new message. He jolted immediately and opened it without hesitation.
Sugawara Koushi
You
I almost died from a heart attack
Kageyama winced.
You
Sorry...
He was in the middle of typing a much longer apology when Sugawara sent another message.
Sugawara Koushi
It’s true that I told you to mention my name during interviews...
Kageyama scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck. Suga-san definitely hated this.
Sugawara Koushi
You said on national television that I’m still single. And guess what? Do you think I’m still single now?
Kageyama’s heart nearly stopped. Had he just confessed to someone who already had a lover?
You
Suga-san I’m so sorry
I didn’t know..
Sugawara Koushi
When are you coming back to Miyagi?
You
Probably three more days..
Sugawara Koushi
Alright then, see you soon
You
Suga-san do you want to see me??
Sugawara Koushi
?
Don't you think we need to talk?
You
Sorry... Please forgive me
Sugawara Koushi
Is it wrong for me to want to see my boyfriend who just won a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games?
You
Huh
Sugawara Koushi
I’m going to kiss you until you can’t think straight, Kageyama
Consider it my revenge
You
Suga-san
Sugawara Koushi
I'm sleepy
I have to go to work tomorrow
Goodnight
😘
Kageyama genuinely thought he was about to pass out now.