??????? | kageyama tobio x fem reader

chapter one

Hitoka smiled back, looking relieved. "I hope so. It's a big step, but I feel good about it now."

"Orrr— you just wanna get some?" I smirked. "Y'know, the team full of handsome volleyball players..."

"Girl, bye."

"What? Are they not? You must admit some of them are actually cute. And the third years, they all handsome."

"I mean— yeah? But I'm not that desperate." She laughed. "I'll just try to get to know that freckled guy..."

"Oooh, I knew something was up!"

"You know there's something like befriending people?"

"Yeah, and you know I'm just messing with you?" I grinned at my best friend.

"He just seems like a nice guy!"

I still remember the first time I met her. It was at the beginning of our first year, in our first class. I'd been nervous, wondering if I'd find anyone to connect with in this new sea of faces, but the moment I walked into that room and saw Hitoka sitting quietly in the back, scribbling nervously in her notebook, something just clicked. She was this tiny, quiet presence, like she was trying to blend into the background. But when she looked up and our eyes met, I saw the same flicker of curiosity and uncertainty in her eyes that I felt inside. Without really thinking, I decided to sit next to her and introduce myself.

She gave me a small, shy smile, and I knew right then I wanted to be her friend. We were like two opposite ends of a spectrum—me, a little more outgoing and talkative, and Hitoka, so soft-spoken and reserved—but somehow, our personalities balanced each other perfectly. I was the one who'd pull her along on spontaneous hangouts, while she'd remind me to slow down, to notice the little things, like the way the clouds changed shape or how the light hit the leaves just right in the afternoon.

From that first day, it was like we'd known each other forever. We didn't need a lot of words to understand each other. She might've been more introverted, but she wasn't afraid to speak up when it mattered, and she had this quiet strength about her that I admired. Being around her made me feel more grounded, more at peace with who I was. And I like to think that maybe I helped her come out of her shell a little bit, too. If you really get to know her and she's comfortable around you, she loves to joke, laugh, and isn't afraid to do something a little weird just for fun.

We've been inseparable since then, our friendship growing stronger with every shared moment, whether it's sitting in class together or wandering around after school. It's funny how life works sometimes—how you meet someone who seems like they'd be the complete opposite of you, and yet they turn out to be the person who understands you better than anyone else.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked out of the classroom with Hitoka at my side. The hallways buzzed with the usual after-school chatter, students milling about as they made their way to clubs, cram school, or just home to relax.

"Good luck at the gym," I said, giving her a reassuring smile as we reached the doors leading outside. The autumn breeze greeted us as we stepped into the open air. "You're going to do great as team manager."

"Thanks," she replied, her voice a mix of excitement and nerves. "I'm a little scared, but I think it'll be okay."

"You've got this, Toka. And hey, if any of those guys give you trouble, you know where to find me," I teased, flexing my arm in a playful show of strength. She giggled, the sound light and bright against the backdrop of fading daylight.

We parted ways with a wave, Hitoka heading toward the gym while I made my way across the courtyard, aiming for the vending machines near the entrance. My throat was dry after a long day of classes, and all I could think about was getting a cold drink to tide me over until I got home.

But when I reached the vending machine and slid in my coins, I hit a snag. I pressed the button for a bottle of iced tea, but the machine just whirred and clunked, the drink stubbornly stuck somewhere inside.

"Seriously?" I muttered, pressing the button again and leaning in close to see if the bottle was caught. When nothing happened, my annoyance flared. I wasn't in the mood for this.

I gave the machine a shake, hoping to jostle the drink loose, but it stayed stuck, mocking me with its stubbornness. Frustrated, I kicked the base of the machine, half-expecting it to miraculously work. No such luck.

"Come on!" I groaned, smacking the side of the machine in a last-ditch effort to get it to cooperate. "Why do you have to pick now to break?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure approaching, and I turned to see a boy with raven-black hair, his hands in his pockets, watching me with a raised eyebrow. I recognized him instantly—Kageyama Tobio.

"What?" I asked, feeling my face heat up as I realized he’d been watching me struggle with the vending machine. "Is something funny?"

He didn't answer right away, just stepped closer and peered at the machine with a small smirk tugging at his lips. "You're not going to get anything out of it that way," he said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, it's not exactly giving me any other options."

Kageyama let out a small chuckle, surprising me. Without a word, he moved to the machine, his hands still in his pockets, and leaned in to take a closer look. With a swift, precise motion, he gave the machine a firm tap on the side, just above where the drinks were visible. There was a clunk, and the bottle of iced tea I'd been fighting for suddenly dropped into the slot.

"Seriously?" I said, staring at the bottle as if it had betrayed me. Kageyama stepped back, a satisfied look on his face, and for a moment, I could see why his teammates relied on him so much. He was cool under pressure, even if the pressure was just a stubborn vending machine.

"You just needed to hit it in the right spot," he said, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

I huffed, grabbing the bottle from the slot and twisting off the cap. "Thanks, I guess," I muttered, taking a long, refreshing sip. The cold liquid was worth the battle, even if it was a little embarrassing that I needed help to win it.

"No problem," he replied, his tone casual, but I caught the faint hint of amusement still lingering in his eyes. He turned to walk away, but then paused, glancing back at me. "You should probably avoid kicking things, though. Might hurt yourself."

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

"Hey, um, I never really catched your name...? Even though I see you in hallways all the time." He scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"Oh, don't worry, it' L/N Y/N." I smiled.

"Kag—"

"No need to, I know your name," I chuckled. "I mean— don't think I'm a stalker or something, no! Those girls be talking about volleyball boys all the time and you know—"

"Okay, L/N," He said calmly. "Um, sorry, I gotta go to practice. See you?"

"Yeah, sure, see you!"

With a final nod, he continued on his way, heading in the direction of the gym. I watched him go, still holding the bottle in my hand, and shook my head with a grin.