2

"There's no one there to hit your tosses.

No.

What can you do besides your king toss?

Please...

No one wants to hit your tosses.

That's not true!

No one's there, who are you setting to?

Shut up!

Everyone's gone.

Go away! You're just a voice...

They left.

Your own team doesn't respect you-who'll respect you if you own team doesn't?

No one will."

The voices in Kageyama's head wouldn't go away. Nightmares. Thoughts. The remainder of his junior high experience.

"Set to me! I'll hit any kind of toss! Just set to me!"

But Hinata was there for Kageyama. Usually the Nightmares would just lead to Kageyama waking up, panting and sweating. There was never a happy ending- except for this moment.

"Hinata..."

"Just toss to me! I believe you can do it!"

It wasn't that obvious at first, but Kageyama realized soon enough. He couldn't live without Hinata. Volleyball was nothing without Hinata.

"WAH, THE BALL JUST STOPPED IN FRONT OF MY EYES! YOU REALLY ARE AWESOME KAGEYAMA!" This scene had replayed in his head constantly but never in his dreams.

"Dumbass..."

"Awesome! Awesomeeee!"...

*RING* *RING*

Kageyama slammed down on the alarm and sat up sleepily. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Just another day... time to go to volleyball practice.

Wait a second.

Volleyball.

Hinata.

His eyes widened in realization. He should go to the hospital to visit, right now. He jumped off the bed and got everything ready and proceeded to run.

"Tobio!" A woman's voice called out from behind him.

"Yeah, mom?"

"Where are you going? Not to school, it's a bit early for volleyball isn't it?"

"I'm going to the hospital. To visit my... friend."

"Oh," She said surprised that Kageyama had acknowledged someone as his friend. "You should bike, it's a bit far. Be careful!"

"Right. Thanks."

And so he biked. It was far but worth biking to.

☆☆☆

"Because I care for you... you dumbass... and I can't do with the fact if you actually can't hit my sets anymore."

Did Kageyama really say that? He... cared? Hinata had thought of himself as practically useless most of the time, and his only use was his quick. But... Kageyama had... said...

Hinata couldn't bring himself to think it, it was all too confusing. What could he think after all? He was a mess. His feelings were all bundled up randomly. What the heck was wrong?

"Kageyama..." The middle blocker whispered to himself. "What did you do to me?"

"Hinata you have a visitor." The nurse, who told Hinata to call her Nini, said. This early? Who could it be? Kenma? Probably not, considering he lived so far. The team? Or...

"Dumbass..." Kageyama entered the room somewhat softly.

"Kageyama-kun? Why are you here so early?"

"Because I can visit you then... go to volleyball practice." The word volleyball struck Hinata hard.

"I have to get out of here... I need to go practice."

"Shut up, you can't leave."

"Nationals are right around the corner!"

"That's exactly why you can't leave!" The setter retorted, scowling.

"I need to practice so-"

"I know your restless, but you can't leave until you're well enough." Kageyama said regaining his composure and talking calmly but firmly.

"N-no... no... no..." Hinata repeated the word so many times the word lost it's meaning. Kageyama stood there silently, watching him continuously recite the word.

"Kageyama... I can't stay here."

"You'll only get worse, don't you see how much we care? How much... I care." Kageyama said, choking up. He was suddenly horribly embarrassed. What had he said? "Uh, I..."

"Do you really?" Silence followed the question. "I mean-"

"Do you doubt me?" Kageyama asked quietly.

"No! Definitely not! You're not one to lie like this... I was just... surprised." Hinata responded immediately.

"Alright." Was all Kageyema could muster.

"Kageyama..."

"Yeah, dumbass?"

"I..." Hinata started. "Nevermind. You should go to practice now."

"How long did the doctor say that you have to stay here?" The setter asked, trying to hide his emotions.

"A week, most likely."

"Hang in there." Kageyama mumbled, walking out and shutting the door behind him. Hinata was once again speechless.

"He said... he really..." Hinata exclaimed, a moment later. Nini turned to him, in confusion.

"What's wrong?" She asked,

"He... he said... he told me to hang in there..."

"Is he your boyfriend?" The question caught Hinata completely off guard.

"What? No!"

"Do you like him?"

"I..." Did he? Was that the case?

"No... I mean... I don't think so... I-" Hinata realized all he was doing just muttering absolute nonsense.

"If you like him I think you should tell him." The nurse says simply. Hinata was completely speechless, which was quite odd, considering he always had something to say.

"I know now," Hinata whispered to himself. "I need to rest... because my team needs me to... because Kageyama needs me to..."

☆☆☆

Practices without Hinata was so... lonely, to Kageyama. The gym wasn't quiet, considering the fact that Nishinoya and Tanaka were there, but it was so... empty. His heart also felt lonely, and he just  couldn't tell why, exactly but...

Hinata was always there. He encouraged Kageyama. He was there to hit his impossible tosses. It was so exciting- every time it succeeded. Every time they won... it was all so exciting.

But at the moment he had the rest of the team. They were all supportive of each other (except maybe Tsukishima) and seemed to practice like they usually do. But even Kageyama could tell... they all missed Hinata. He was the mood-maker, the sunshine, the ultimate decoy- he was everything. At this point he was also everything in Kageyama's life.

Why?

The question lingered in his head. It made it hard to focus, and his concentration wasn't good. Hinata would be healthy and back... he hoped for that. He would be back for the nationals... he would be back for Kageyama.

"Kageyama!" The ball barely missed his head.

"Ah, sorry."

"Are you okay? You can't seem to focus... is it because of Hinata?" Daichi asked worriedly.

"I... think we all are." This remark surprised the entire team.

"Yeah, that's true. But I think it's been bothering you the most."

"No... I'm fine." Kageyama lied, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"How lame-" All eyes were on Tsukishima.

"Tsukishima-" Tanaka growled, moving forward, but Suga held him back.

"Wouldn't Hinata be disappointed when he comes back? To find out that you haven't been practicing well because of him?" Tsukishima continued, unfazed by Tanaka. Everyone looked from Tsukishima to Kageyama.

"He..." For some reason, what Tsukishima just said... it suddenly made him feel good and bad. He knew now- he had to practice well, for  Hinata.

Both of them felt it at the same time. The undeniable feeling of need. They needed each other to get better, for each other.