#meki.fics

"Awww can't we stay just for a little?" The taller girl whined. "Nope," Iwaizumi replied, dragging Oikawa back over to the court. "He's got a lot of work today so please stop bothering our captain." His words were a little clipped this time. After all the girls seemed to be cornering him more and more recently. It was only a few weeks until the Inter-High Prelims and Oikawa needed extra practice. However, his fangirls didn't seem to care. "C'mon let's go," the smaller girl said. "You're just bitter because you don't have girls that like you." The tall ringleader quipped, sticking out her tongue as she and the group left the gym. "Yikes Iwa-chan, are your feelings hurt?" Asked Oikawa in mock sympathy. Another slap found itself on Oikawa's head as Iwaizumi responded. "Not as badly as I'm gonna hurt you if you don't get back to practice."

The team spent the rest of practice going over drills, practicing serves, and watching their best plays. Afterwards, they headed home. Iwaizumi went over his homework, had a bath and ate dinner before finally heading to bed. But sleep didn't come to him, the words of the tall girl kept ringing in his ears. You're just bitter because you don't have girls that like you. Was it true? I mean it was partially. No one in his year had confessed to him. And his one girlfriend in junior high lost interest after she saw Oikawa. Could it be that he was unattractive? Would he always lose to Oikawa? With these thoughts circling through his head, he managed to fall into a fitful sleep.

Morning came, and with it more drama with Oikawa. "Morning Iwa-chan, you look worse than usual? Is everything alright?" His sarcasm slipped through his trademark smile but Iwaizumi wasn't in the mood. "Shut up Trashykawa, not in the mood." "What's got you so down? I'm sure we'll do great in the prelims." Oikawa said cheerily. Iwa grumbled something as he took off his shoes and placed them on the shelf. However, they touched something and an envelope fell down in front of him. "What's this?" Oikawa asked gleefully as he snatched up the envelope. He gasped dramatically. "It's a confession!" "You're kidding." Iwa grabbed the envelope and opened it.

Iwaizumi,

I have finally worked up the courage to confess

Meet me in the back of the gymnasium at lunch time

Please come alone

-Iwaizumi's #1 Fan

"Wow Iwa, when did you get a fan club?" Oikawa snickered. But Iwaizumi was too entranced by the letter to even respond. Should he go? Was this a prank? Would he ultimately lose this person to Oikawa? His thoughts were broken by a slap to his face. "Snap out of it Iwaizumi. You're going to see this girl and at least hear them out." "Fine," And with that Iwaizumi picked up his bag and headed to class.

The morning was a blur. He could barely pay attention to his lessons and couldn't peel his eyes off the clock. Lunch time, lunch time, lunch time, lunch time. It rang over and over again in his head. Finally his class ended and raced over to the gym, only to find Oikawa standing outside the doors. "I'm here for moral support Iwa," Oikawa affirmed "And to comfort the poor girl in case you reject her" Socking him in the arm, Iwaizumi swung open the doors and entered the gym only to see... Nobody? He scanned the gym left and right. It was empty, it had been a prank after all. His heart sank and he prepared to go back through the doors when he heard a noise. Whipping around, he saw the supply closet door open and saw a girl in the Aoba Johsai uniform step out. "Iwaizumi-san, it's me, [Y/N]."

His jaw dropped. Was this the girl who had written the letter? It couldn't be how could someone as beautiful as you be interested in someone as ordinary as him? "I-i'm the one who wrote the letter. Iwaizumi's number one fan?" You stammered. He swallowed. You were even more beautiful up close. The way you looked at him and fiddled with your hands made him all the more nervous. And from here he could see the sparkle in your eyes and breathe in how good you smelled. His mind malfunctioned. "I'm I-iwaizumi Hajime." He sqeaked out, turning bright red. "I know," You giggled. "I've wanted to confess for a bit but I never had the courage."

"You've never had the courage? But you're gorgeous how could anyone reject you?" He gasped, turning a deeper shade of red. "Oh my gosh that makes me sound super shallow, I mean of course I know looks aren't everything. Personality is important too and I'm sure you're a lovely as a person too but-" "Iwaizumi-san," You cut him off and touched his arm. He froze, almost fearful of what you would say next. Taking a deep breath you replied. "You're really cute Iwaizumi-san." "You can call me Hajime," he managed to choke out. "Alright then Hajime, my friends are waiting for me to eat lunch right now but I'll talk to you later!" "B-bye!" He sputtered out as you skipped out the gym. He sank down on the ground and attempted to collect his thoughts. A pretty, no gorgeous girl was interested in him. What should he do? Would he take you on a date? How many compliments is too many compliments? Would you ultimately fall in love with Oikawa? He sat there on the gym floor muttering to himself when Oikawa glided in.

"Well, well, Iwa, looks like you finally got yourself a girl." He sat down next to him and patted his shoulder. "Can I be your best man?" "One thing at a time Oikawa. I gotta see if she stays with me first." Oikawa tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Oh I know, invite her to volleyball practice to watch. She'd probably like that." Hajime rolled his eyes. "And what makes you so sure about that?" "Because she said so." Haijme turned to the captain in shock. "S-she said so?" Nodding Oikawa finally explained. "Well she's in Class 6 with me and she's mentioned her interest in volleyball and how much she loves our ace. Plus she's been to almost all of our games." Iwaizumi jumped to his feet. "YOU KNEW ALL THIS AND NEVER TOLD ME???" "Girls kinda all blend together after a while you know." He waved his hand dismissively. "No, Oikawa, some of us don't know." He groaned. "Look on the bright side. Now you do know and you have a girlfriend, invite her."

"Not right away, give me some time first." "Fine, you have until after lunch."

"Knock it off."

Before you knew it, lunch was over and it was time to head back to class. On your desk you found a note.

[Y/N],

Come to volleyball practice in the gym at 3:00. Someone wants to talk to you.

There was no name signed at the bottom so you eagerly awaited for practice to begin.

As soon as school was over, you raced to the gym. Opening the doors you saw the team practicing their spikes and receives. Hajime glanced over as he heard the doors open just as Kindaichi spiked one of Oikawa's sets. The ball collided with Iwaizumi's face, who had become entranced by you as soon as the doors open.

"[Y/N]!" Oikawa called jogging over to you. "I see you got my note." Sighing you looked him over. "I knew I should've recognized the crappy handwriting." "Now, now, now, is that anyway to treat your student"

"I was forced to tutor you so you could stay on the team. If it weren't for Iwaizumi, I wouldn't have-" Then you remembered the spike. "Hajime!" You ran over to him. "Are you okay?" Kunimi was walking over with some tissues and ice for his nosebleed." "I'm fine," he sputtered weakly. "Nice kill Kindaichi!" Oikawa smirked. "Shut up Oikawa!" You and Hajime spat in unison. "Wait a minute, you don't like Oikawa?" he asked, dabbing at the blood coming out his nose. "Of course not, he's egotistical, stuck up, and quite frankly a little stupid." You whispered. "I had to tutor him and he was such a pain to deal with."

"I will marry you right now." He blurted before becoming even redder and looking away. The rest of the team chuckled. You smiled. "Here, let me help you with the ice pack." And you gently put it against his cheek. "Hopefully the swelling will go down soon and I can watch you play." He hardly spoke while waiting for the swelling to go down but you couldn't help but notice the smile that he kept trying to hide with his hand.

After practice, he approached you. "Thanks for helping me with today with the nosebleed and stuff." He scratched the back of his head nervously. "If you'd like I can walk you home, or to the train station if you're a little farther than that. It's definitely alright if you're not comfortable with that or you don't want me to see your house-" "Hajime, it's fine." You gave him a warm smile. "I live about three blocks down from here so you can take me." And taking his hand the two of you walked home and talked about yourselves. He talked about adegashi tofu and his dreams of becoming an athletic trainer. You talked about school and hanging out with your friends. But both of you talked about your best encounters with Oikawa.

"I've caught him shoving two volleyballs under his shirt and chasing Yahaba with them." He laughed at the memory. "Mine is still better. I stepped out to get some water during one of our study sessions and when I came back, he was writing a love letter to himself." Both of you were so doubled over with laughter that the time seemed too short. Within no time you had arrived at your house. "Thanks for walking me home, I hope it wasn't too out of the way for you." He shook his head. "I actually live just one block down from here so it's very convenient." "Is that so?" You smiled. "I can do this tomorrow too if you'd like, no pressure or anything." "I'd love that Hajime." You have him a parting hug and went inside the gate to your house. "See you tomorrow [Y/N]!"

"See you tomorrow Hajiime!"

"Welcome back Toshi." You greeted as he entered the house drenched in sweat from his afternoon jog. "Good afternoon," he replied, "I'm heading to take a shower before lunch. I won't be too long." And with that, he disappeared into the master bedroom to bathe. You continued putting the finishing touches on lunch. The lasagna was finished and already cooling and the peach cobbler was almost done baking. Tryouts weighed heavily on your mind also. You knew Ushijima was working hard but wasn't he working a little too hard? He's a logical man to a fault but still, this felt a little unstable. Almost unlike him. You pushed the thoughts out of your head and put lunch on the table. He wouldn't overwork himself, not him.

"Lunch was delicious." approved Ushijima, as he started clearing the dishes. "Give my compliments to the chef." You chuckled. "So how is the ace of this household going to spend his day off?" He paused for a minute in thought. Please don't let it be more training. He turned to you and smiled. "How about we start the show you've been telling me to watch. We can close the blinds and spend the rest of the afternoon on the couch if you'd like." You were giddy at the thought. "That sounds amazing! I'll go set it up and I'll leave you to the dishes." "Sounds like a plan."

You turned on the movie and settled in. However, Ushijima could tell something was bothering you but waited until after the show to tactfully address it.

"I was thinking, and I'd like you to see one of our practice games next week. I already asked the coach and he said it would be fine. I don't want you to think I'm overdoing it so I'd like to you come and see my progress." He looked at you expectantly. You felt the heat rise to in your face with excitement. "Really? I'd love that!" You squealed. "What day were you thinking?" "How does next week Wednesday sound?" "Perfect!"

Time flew and before you knew it, you were driving down to the gym where Ushijima was having his practice match. You parked and quietly tiptoed into the gym, not that anyone would notice you over the rapid smashes of the volleyball. You settled into the seats on the far side of the gym. The game was still in view but you were a safe distance away. Thanks to an unfortunate incident with an erratic spike, you knew to keep your distance.

Scanning the gym you saw that Ushijima was up to serve. The ball flew up in the air before making a solid connection with his palm. The bull rocketed over the net, barely giving the opposing team's libero any time to respond. Somehow they managed to receive it but it ended up being a chance ball for Ushijima's team. It was set perfectly to Ushijima who executed the cleanest line shot you'd ever seen. He was in top form. "Nice kill! His teammates cheered.

Before you knew it, they were in the middle of another rally. Unlike his high school days, Ushijima did a lot more receiving even though it wasn't his strong point. This rally was particularly long with neither side wavering. Suddenly, the opposing team did a block wipe and it launched towards the out area. Ushijima lunged for it with a speed you'd never seen before. He had improved. But then it happened. The snap was followed by a loud bellow as Ushijima collapsed. Time froze. His teammates rushed over and medics came too. An ambulance was called. You got in it. Ushijima writhing in pain the whole time.

What had happened? You wondered and looked down at him in the stretcher as the ambulance rushed to the hospital. His knee. You saw it now. It was twisted at an insanely painful angle. Knees were not supposed to bend to the side and yet his was. The swelling was intense and purple and you couldn't bear to look anymore. Instead, you turned your attention to Ushijima's face. His usually somber olive eyes now had tears in them. Your chest tightened and you felt tears build in yours as well. Kissing his forehead, you held his hand as he eventually lost consciousness.

You sat impatiently in the sterile waiting room chair as Ushijima was taken into surgery. He had partially torn his ACL and completely torn his anterior knee ligament. You were more concerned about him being alright but you couldn't help but think of the unavoidable. Would he be able to play volleyball again?

You were told the surgery would take 2-3 hours. 2 hours in, Tendou arrived. "I came as soon as I got your text. How are you doing?" He asked, giving you a hug. You started sniffling on his shoulder, hot tears racing down your cheeks. "Hey, hey it's alright. Let it all out." he comforted, pulling your tighter. You began to sob as he sat you down. "He's in surgery now so all we can do is wait. Drink some water." He offered you a bottle on the table next to you. As you sipped, he continued.

"When was the last time you ate?"

You paused, realizing you weren't sure of the answer. You ate lunch before going to the practice match but that was at least 6 hours ago. But before you could respond, Tendou interrupted your thoughts. "I'm sure it's been at least 8 hours. Let's get something before you end up a patient." And with that, you headed to the cafeteria.

There were various options available. Their enticing aromas tickling your nose, but you still didn't feel ready to eat. Tendou guided you over to the deli aisle to find something to take back to the waiting area. Chicken sandwiches, greek salads, and then you saw it. Pickled plum onigiri. Catching a glimpse of your watery eyes, Tendou wordlessly purchased the rice ball and you returned to the waiting room.

"So how are you feeling?" You looked up, the tears making your onigiri saltier as you munched. "This was his favorite food." You muttered. "Now, now, don't talk as if he's dead. I'm sure he'll be out soon." The redhead patted your head. "However, if you don't wanna talk about how you feel, I'm more than happy to sit with you until he gets out. I'll be here if you need anything." Nodding, you returned to your meal, thoughts racing inside your head. What if something goes wrong during surgery? Will he be able to walk? How long will recovery be? When can he come home? How will he handle it? What if they need to amputate? A clear voice cut into your thoughts.

"[Y/N], the surgery was successful and Ushijima is now in recovery."

You practically jumped to your feet, however, you began to sway a little as Tendou stabilized you. The exhaustion began to set in and you slowly sat back down. "Thank you, nurse. Are we allowed to go in?" He asked concernedly. "He should be waking up soon but you can see him. He's right down this hall."

The corridor was a blur. 303, 304, and... Room 305! Quietly, the door opened and you were able to look inside. There Ushiwaka lay, all 6 feet 3 inches of himself on the stark white hospital bed. His knee was covered in bandages and his face was gradually becoming more and more strained. He was beginning to feel the pain from the surgery. You felt the tension grow in your chest as he began to groan, the nurse went over to him to check his vitals. "Everything looks good. Some pain is to be expected but I'm giving you some medication to alleviate some of it. You'll be monitored and the painkillers will be administered every few hours." She washed her hands and walked towards the door. "Visiting hours end at 11 so you have 45 minutes." Tendou thanked her and the two of you went inside.

It was silent minus the occasional beeps and whirrs of the room's equipment. Ushijima shifted and attempted to open his eyes before squeezing them shut again. You reached for his hand and held it gently. "It's alright Wakkun, the surgery went well and you're in recovery. Everything is going to be fine." You felt his hand relax, and despite the assurance your voice held, your eyes betrayed you as you felt more tears. "We just stopped in to say hi but we'll be back tomorrow morning. Sleep well Wakatoshi-kun." And with that Tendou, led you out the room and gingerly closed the door behind him. "Let's go home, I'll spend the night by you so you don't have to be alone."

The apartment was still too empty even with Tendou in the living room. He had long passed out on the couch but you were all alone in the bedroom. Even wearing Ushijima's jersey didn't help, the bed was still too empty. Whenever you were sad or down. You could bury your face in his chest and he would hold you. He would listen if you talked about what was bothering you, but he would always hold you. But now he's.... Tears began to fall again, staining the pillow and his jersey. Despite your sorrow, the exhaustion took over and you fell into a fitful sleep.

Morning came and with it the smell of Tendou's famous French toast. Somehow you had an appetite despite the harrowing day prior. You trudged into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. "Good morning!" Tendou chirped, elaborately flipping the toast. "I know you're probably itching to get to Ushijima but as your friend, I refuse to let you leave without a solid breakfast." He slid a plate over. The golden French toast was adorned with raspberries, almonds, and a swirl of whipped cream. Complimented by a drizzle of chocolate and powdered sugar on the corners. You blinked at the sugary meal. "Tendou, if I eat this, I am going to get diabetes." "Well," He responded, flipping another piece. "We're going to the hospital so you'll be in the right place." Upon hearing the silence he meekly asked "Too soon?" You chuckled and took a bite of the toast. "Nope, it's just the perfect time."

Back at the hospital. Ushijima had woken up for the umpteenth time this morning. Every time he got to sleep the pain would wake up back up. Especially when it was time for him to get another dose. The nurses were nice and he understood that there was a lot of pain ahead, but he had also avoided asking the question that plagued him most. Would he be able to play volleyball again? However, it turned out that he didn't need to ask because the surgeon had just come in to give him instructions for his recovery. No strenuous activity for the next 9 months. And an entire year before he could even attempt volleyball again. This was not good news. It was already obvious that he would not be able to try out for the national team this year, but this made him wonder if he'd be able to play again. He decided to give it his all in recovery just for the hope of playing again.

Weeks past. Ushijima gave 110% in physical therapy. It was nice to have him home again but he struggled so much. Walking was excruciatingly painful and seeing his pained face twisted your heart in agony. However, he seemed to have adjusted well mentally. He still watched his teammates' games and seemed pleasant enough when they came to visit, but you couldn't help but think he was taking it a little too well. After all, volleyball was his passion and his career and it had been taken so quickly. Shouldn't he be at least frustrated?

The days went on and soon 6 months had passed. He was walking better now but was still banned from strenuous activity. But since he could do things on his own around the house, he suggested that you go out with some of your friends for the evening. "Are you sure? I don't want you to get into any trouble?" He gently chuckled. "I'll be fine. You haven't done anything for yourself in so long so go out and have fun." You quickly got dressed and went out with your friends. The evening was lots of fun and within no time it was late and you headed home.

The house was silent. After all it was almost midnight and Ushijima always kept a strict nighttime ritual. Sneaking in and quietly shutting the door behind you, you placed your keys on the hook and slipped out your shoes. Suddenly, you heard a noise from the bedroom. Peeking in, you Ushijima having a night terror. "It hurts." He whimpered as tears streamed down his face. Fitfully tossing and turning, drenched with sweat. His large fists clinging to the sheets. You rushed over.

"Hey," you whispered gently, wiping his face. "It's alright. Nothing is hurting you." He trembled. He's still asleep. Hopefully it'll go away. "I'm right here with you. You don't have to worry." You continued whispering softly until you felt his body gradually relax. The tears slowed down to a trickle. It was finally over. You quietly held him and stroked his face until you also fell asleep.

When morning arrived, Ushijima woke up first, still in your arms. "What time did you get back last night?" Slowly opening your eyes, you yawned. "Good morning, I think around midnight." "Oh." The short, rather clipped reply made you replay the events of last night in your head. "I think you had a night terror last night." He sat up and avoided your gaze. "Probably, they've been somewhat frequent I suppose." Somewhat frequent? Are these a normal thing for him? "Do these happen often Wakkun?" He shifted uncomfortably, and you managed to get a glimpse of his olive eyes which were rapidly becoming moist. "A-almost every night." He whispered. The words cut through the clear morning. Almost every night? Why didn't he tell me anything? "Why didn't you sa-" But he began speaking before you could finish.

"Since I got out of the hospital, they started happening. I have nightmares of the accident almost every night. I can hear the ligaments tear and they hurt in my sleep." He took a shaky breath before continuing. "The nightmares were always worse after a rough physical therapy session. I had hoped they would go away, but they don't." A tear darted down his face. "I-I can't play volleyball anymore [Y/N]." He was facing the wall now, face beginning to soak with his sorrow. You felt your chest tighten. This had been your fear from the beginning. He seemed to have taken the news that he couldn't play volleyball anymore a little too well. And now here it was, all crashing down. Suddenly, you didn't have any words that could comfort him, so you held him as he cried. All the emotion, frustration, disappointment, and pain flowing down his face. And you cried with him.

"What do you think about having kids?"

You choked. Coughing and sputtering you looked up at him. "K-kids?" He nodded. "Well I'm very happy with you." You offered. He gulped down some of his water. "I kinda gathered that, but what about our own version of us." A mini... us? A mini-me? A mini Kuroo? Cutting into your thoughts, Kuroo continued. "We're financially stable, you love your job, and the housing market is currently cheap." All of these were true. You weren't against the idea of having kids, just now out of your own body. The day you heard about fistulas, was the day that dream died. The body changes, feeling sick, and childbirth was enough to make you want to vomit. However, the kids themselves weren't that bad.

"I'm not against having kids, but the idea of childbirth isn't that appealing to me."

He hesitated for a second before his trademark smirk appeared. "Aw, you sure you wouldn't want to see what our genetics could come up with?" Without missing a beat you replied. "Not at the expense of tearing my vagina in half." The color drained a little from Kuroo's face and he returned to his water bottle sullenly. "Alright, I hear you." And with that, the matter was dropped.

Months passed. You continued doing well at your job and received a promotion. This included more benefits and better, stable hours. It was also less stressful and you had flexible working options. Most days you were now able to work from home instead of the office. There were even travel opportunities which you absolutely adored. Kuroo was doing well too. Work was steady and he was able to hire a few more employees for his business. You moved into a house that had two offices since he could also work from home more often now. Things were great, which is why you were shocked when Kuroo suggested something that would completely change the course of your lives.

The day was completely normal. It was an office day for Kuroo so he left the house early, kissing you on the forehead as you set up your webcam for some meetings. Things were fine as you sent each other your lunch pics. It had become a tradition and a way of keeping each other updated throughout the day. Today, Kuroo had a meeting with another business at a restaurant so he had Wagyu Beef with a red wine sauce.

[Y/N]: Luxurious, but you can't beat mine.

You texted him a photo of your lunch. It was a baked macaroni and cheese but that wasn't the highlight. Next to it was a large bowl of vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate syrup and sprinkles. And if that wasn't enough, there was a caramel infused whipped cream and cherries.

Fine, you win this round, I give you an 8/10 but only for dessert.

You giggled. I'll save you some for when you get home

You'd better

You clicked off the phone and returned to your work. It was somewhat slow today so you finished early. At about 4pm, you heard the familiar jingle of Kuroo's keys in the door. "Welcome back, Kuroo." You called cheerfully. "Hey [Y/N], he responded quietly. Odd. He seemed energetic enough today and he's home early. "Is everything alright?" You asked. "Can we talk, I brought home some of the beef in case you wanted to try." His serious tone took you aback. "Sure," You hopped off the couch and headed over to the dining table where he sat, still dressed. "You sure you don't want to get changed and relax first?" He shook his head.

The silence before he spoke seemed eternal. You quietly chewed the beef. It was delicious, but the somber mood stopped you from enjoying it fully. "You know how we talked about having kids a while back?" Swallowing, you looked back at him and nodded. "And I completely respect your decision to not have them yourself but have you ever considered adoption?" The fork fell from your hand.

"Adoption?"

"Well, technically for what I'm really getting at, it would be foster care."

A million thoughts raced through your head at once. What brought this on? Why was he being so serious? Does he really want kids? Is this even okay? Shaking out of it, you turned your attention back to him. "I'm sorry Kuroo, could you start from the beginning?" He shook a little bit, and sipped the glass of water in front of him. "Well today at my meeting, we didn't actually meet with a business." Not a business? Seeing the inquisitive look on your face, he clarified. "We actually met with a non-profit that helps kids in foster care get adopted." He looked down.

"They told us a lot about what the organization does and it's really great what they do. The CEO organizes meetings himself with businesses to get sponsorships. It's all above ground with no shady business." You were interested. It sounded like a good organization, so why was Kuroo so down?

"But they also told us about some of the kids," he mumbled. "One pair of siblings in particular is about to come out of their foster home because their foster parent is suffering from some serious health issues."

"That's awful." You commented.

"It really is," The water glass was empty now. You stood to refill it but he touched your arm gently, signaling you to sit back down. "These siblings lost their mother about 5 years ago and their father was an abusive alcoholic. Their grandmother had taken them in but she passed away about 2 years ago." He whispered, voice growing thick with emotion. "They were very close to her and now their foster mother can't take care of them anymore." His eyes began to well up with tears. "Do you have any idea how old these kids are [Y/N]? 7 and 9. They're just little kids and they've had to put up with so much already!" Hot tears raced down his face. Now you understood it. But it was still strange to see such emotion in Kuroo. Your own tears began to rise as you reached over and wiped his face. He took a deep breath and continued. "I was wondering if you'd be open to fostering them."

Despite knowing that this was coming, you were still stunned by the sheer impact of the request. He was asking if you'd be open to becoming parents to fully grown children. Not babies who haven't completely formed their personalities yet. Not toddlers who rely on you to dress them and make sure they don't eat play dough. Kids. Kids with a troubled past who likely would have a hard time adjusting to yet another change. But yet, they would likely bounce around a lot more if someone didn't take them. The hurt would just grow deeper and deeper. Despite the amount of effort you knew this would take, you still wanted to help them. Wiping your own tears you looked up at Kuroo and gave your answer. "I'd love to look into fostering."

Two months later, you had graduated from your foster parent training course and were ready to begin. Well, almost ready. First, you had to make sure your house became a home. The two of you went shopping for the best decorations money could buy. You had decided on a nice sky theme for the girl, Melanie. You found a white loft bed with a desk underneath. A cute cloud lamp caught your eye as well as an ombre pink and blue rug. A white trunk with gold trip would hold all her toys and a nice white bookshelf complimented the theme perfectly.

For the boy, Miles, Kuroo asked the employees at the store what 7 year old boys liked. He eventually decided on a mountain theme with charcoal blues and burnt oranges. A rustic themed loft bed with storage in the stairs worked perfectly. A woodland mural was painted on the bedroom wall and an orange beanbag was placed in the corner. The two of you stocked your kitchen with snacks and had matching lunch boxes for the kids. Your desks had been moved into the spacious master bedroom so the kids could each have their own rooms. Now you anxiously awaited their arrival.

A few days later, there was a knock at the door. Kuroo opened it to see the social worker and two children standing wearily next to her. "Good afternoon, Mr and Mrs Kuroo. This is Miles and Melanie." The two children looked up at you expectantly. "Pleased to meet you both." Kuroo said cheerily, squatting down to shake both of their hands at eye level. The social worker continued. "I'll just be here for a bit to make sure they get settled in alright before leaving them in your care." The children stepped inside, eyes widening at the sight of the large house. "No problem," Kuroo replied, turning his attention to the kids. "Do you want to see your rooms?"

Kuroo led Miles and Melanie upstairs, stopping at the first room on the right. This one is Melanie's room. He opened the door to gentle fairly lights twinkling around the white loft bed. A cloud lamp hung delicately and bathed the room in a warm glow. A cute desk was under the loft with lots of color pencils, notebooks, and stickers. Melanie's eyes opened wide at all the things before her. "Is this all for me?" She asked softly. Kuroo nodded and gestured towards the large picture of the Eiffel tower hung next to the window. "Your social worker told me you've always wanted to visit France so we decided to keep that in mind while decorating." Her eyes sparkled as she stepped into the room, fascinated by all the features. "Mellllll," Miles whined, "I wanna see my room too." She snapped out of her trance and returned to her brother. "It's alright, Melanie, you can take your time here if you want." You offered. She shook her head before taking her brother's hand. "Alrighty then, onto Miles room."

As Kuroo opened the blue door, Miles began to fidget with excitement. "Wow!" He squealed before bolting in and crashing on the orange beanbag in the corner. He was already out of breath when he caught sight of the next thing. "Mel there's a tent! There's a tent!" He dove inside and wriggled around. He then climbed up his loft bed to get a view of the whole room. "It's like being a ranger of a park!" He giggled. Touching, everything on the way back down, he soaked in all the features of his room. "Thank you, thank you!" He ran up to Kuroo and gave him a hug. "You're welcome Miles" Kuroo laughed. "If you could just go over some last minute things with me, I'll be on my way." The social worker said with a smile. "No problem,"

"Alright then," The social worker pushed back from the table. "That should be everything." Miles and Melanie were getting settled in their rooms upstairs while You, Kuroo, and the social worker were going over some final details. "I'll be back in about 6 weeks for an update to see how they're settling in, If anything happens before then, be sure to call the office." "Thank you so much for everything." Kuroo smiled. "We'll take good care of them." You affirmed. She grabbed her bag and headed towards the door. "I'm sure you'll be great parents." And with that, the social worker left you, Kuroo and the kids to start your new life as a family.

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@shinsouscorner @koushisbutterfly @kyomihann

Practice finished and the two of you headed to Hajime's house. His parents were going to be working late tonight so the house was all yours. "I'll go ahead and start the popcorn while you set up the movie." He offered. "Sounds good," You loved Iwa's kettle corn. It was perfect. Not too sweet, not too salty. You selected the movie and decided to scroll on your phone through social media. That's when you saw the post from the Aoba Johsai confessions page.

Is anyone else surprised by the Seijoh's Secrets site?

You didn't know what the website was, but you decided to check it out. Through the link in the bio, you learned that it was a site that was started by a student from Seijoh. People could anonymously rate each other and leave comments. There was a profile for every student as well as weekly polls. It was honestly somewhat creepy, but your curiosity took hold and you decided to check out some of the profiles. The top-rated one was Oikawa with a solid 9.9 rating. Not surprising. You thought before opening the comment section of his page.

Oikawa is just sooooo cute!

I saw him in the last volleyball match and he was incredible.

I want to confess but I'm just too shy.

You continued scrolling to find some more... interesting comments.

Oikawa is just so hot I want him to [REDACTED] me up against the [REDACTED].

Toru please [REDACTED]

Alright, that's enough internet for today. You closed your phone temporarily to grasp what you just read. "You alright?" Iwaizumi asked concernedly. "Oh I'm fine, just saw something weird on Instagram." You assured him. "Oh, those are the worst. I was just wondering if you wanted to try my new mocktail as well." He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. "It's totally fine if you don't, I was just experimenting with them and-" "Hajime," You cut him off. "It's fine, I'd love to try it." You gave him a warm smile. "Alright then, I'll get right on it." And with that, he returned to the kitchen. You slowly picked up your phone again, curious as to what the other members of the volleyball team were rated. Kindaichi got a 7.8, Kunimi had an 8.2, and Mattsun had an 8.5. Their comments were alright as well,

Kindaichi is just an all-around good guy, I'd love to have him as my boyfriend!

Kunimi is so cool! He's so unbothered and it's kinda hot.

Mattsun is so mysterious. I love the way he's just always there but you can't tell what he's thinking.

You smiled, thinking of how excited the team must be to see their ratings. Especially since a lot of them were concerned about getting girlfriends. Suddenly, you got a text from one of your friends with the link to your page. Drawing a deep breath, you opened it and slowly peeped at your rating. 9.1. You were shocked. While you didn't think of yourself as ugly, you definitely didn't expect to be in the top 5 rankings. You were in third place, just two spots lower than Oikawa. But what about Iwaizumi? You quickly searched the site for his name. However, you were not prepared for the results.

Iwaizumi Hajime, 5.9. Impossible. You thought. This man was a solid 11/10 and they had the nerve to rate him as a 5.9? Shaking, you scrolled down to check the comments.

I can't believe Iwaizumi is the shortest of all the Seijoh team. And he's dating [Y/N]?

She needs some standards

I'd honestly ship her with Oikawa if I didn't already have my eyes on him.

She and Mattsun would be so cute!

You quickly reported the site for bullying, but it didn't help your anger subside. How could they? Don't they know how wrong they are? You sat anxiously, trying to think of a way to stop Iwaizumi from seeing the site before realizing it was ultimately inevitable. Putting on a smile, you decided to just continue loving him like you always did and just hope he didn't see the website.

Returning with the drinks and popcorn, the two of you cuddled up on the couch and watched the movie. You eventually fell asleep and woke up covered in a blanket while Iwaizumi cleaned up the kitchen. "Rise and shine angel," he called. "It's getting dark so I'll walk you home." You stretched and grabbed your bag before sliding your hand into his as he led you home.

The next day, everyone was talking about the website and comparing rankings. You felt somewhat flattered since yours was so high, but you couldn't stop worrying about Iwaizumi. As soon as school ended, you rushed over to the gym to see how he was doing. You quietly slipped in, observing the boys improve their spikes and receives. Scanning the room, you quickly noticed Iwaizumi stretching over by the bench. He seemed in good spirits, still cracking jokes with Mattsun and throwing shade at Oikawa. What a relief. You snuck back out and headed home to study. Maybe the ratings hadn't bothered him after all.

That same day, at the Iwaizumi household, Hajime went to his room after practice. He didn't have any homework for the day so he decided to relax and go through his phone. He'd heard about the ratings all day, and Oikawa had even teased him for getting a 5.9. But those things shouldn't matter, right? He had other qualities that made him special. He was intelligent, athletic, and respectful. Plus popularity polls come and go so it didn't really bother him. However, he decided to check yours out of curiosity. Upon seeing the 9.1, he smiled. Of course, his beautiful, wonderful, girlfriend would deserve nothing less than a 10/10, but he was also quite proud that other people saw you the same way. However, he wasn't happy about some of the thirst comments under your rating.

But then he saw it. The link back to his page with the 5.9. He hadn't meant to click it but his thumb slipped. And it was there that he saw the comments.

I can't believe Iwaizumi is the shortest of all the Seijoh team. And he's dating [Y/N]?

She needs some standards

I'd honestly ship her with Oikawa if I didn't already have my eyes on him.

She and Mattsun would be so cute!

His breath caught in his throat. It was one thing to rate him low, he could handle that. But to bluntly say that he wasn't good enough to be with you, shattered him. He kept rereading the comments, the words like a dull, rusty knife twisting into his fragile heart. Am I not good enough for her? Would she leave me someone else? No, Iwa, this is [Y/N], she'd never leave you. But what if... The thoughts circled around in his head, his insecurities growing and stifling his breath. Tears began to form in his eyes at the thought of you breaking up with him. Wouldn't it be best for him to let you go if you deserved to be with somebody else? If he truly loved you, wouldn't he want what's best for you? The pain was nearly unbearable. He picked up his phone to text you before placing it down again. He couldn't face you. Not someone like him. How pathetic was it that he was so hurt by a few opinions of his peers? You deserved someone who wasn't so insecure and weak. He sniffled, wiping his tears quickly. Taking a deep breath, he collected himself. His decision and was ready to face tomorrow.

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"Nice kill Hinata!" You yelled while tossing another ball for Kageyama to spike. He was laser-focused today which wasn't unusual for him. But today seemed different. His tosses weren't aggressive and his attitude was as usual but there seemed to be something clouding him. You'd have to ask him about it later. Right now the team needed your help and you were dedicated to the team, not just Kageyama.

After practice, you handed out the water bottles and helped pack up the stuff. "[Y/N]!" Hinata yelled. "Can you help me practice my spikes some more?" He asked cheerily. "Not today Shoyo, I have to get home and study. Plus we just practiced for an hour, you need to rest." "And I'm sure you need to study also. Yachi and [Y/N] won't always be here to bail you out." Tsukishima sneered. "Shut up Saltyshima! I'll have you know that I've passed 80% of my subjects." He stated proudly. "What happened to the other 20%?" The two boys started bickering as Yamaguchi and Noya laughed in amusement. "Um, Kageyama can I talk to you for a second?" You asked as he began collecting the volleyballs. "Hm? Oh sure. Let's move the net to the supply closet first."

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Questioned Kageyama. "Is everything alright? You seemed a little troubled today." He stared at the ground. "Um yeah, just a little stressed out about prelims." That's not true. How can I be okay when I'm not with you? "I thought as much." You affirmed. "You're gonna be alright. The team has trained really hard and you all have more experience. Karasuno is really becoming a powerhouse. Just be sure not to slack off on your work or forget other things." Kageyama nodded but still wouldn't meet your eyes. "And Kageyama," You lightly touched his arm. "Be sure to text me if you need anything." You flashed him a smile and went back to join the others.

You went home and immediately got started on studying. While you weren't a bad student, you needed to study to maintain good grades. Especially since prelims were going to take up a significant amount of time. Time flew and it was now after 10. As you were closing your books, your phone buzzed. You picked it up to see a text from Kageyama.

Kageyama: Hey, I hope I'm not bothering you but need something - 10:13

[Y/N]: Sure thing what's up - 10:13

Kageyama: Could you come outside -10:14

[Y/N]: You're outside???? - 10:15

Kageyama: Yeah it'll be quick - 10:15

[Y/N]: I'll be out in a minute - 10:16

You grabbed your hoodie and threw on some shoes. What could he want at this time? It couldn't be homework otherwise he would've called. Pushing open the gate, you walked out to see Kageyama in a t shirt and shorts, clothed by little more than his track jacket. "Aren't you cold?" You asked. "It's a little chilly." He shrugged and kicked at some pebbles and looked away. "It's really pretty out. The stars are gorgeous." You looked up at the majestic constellations before you. If he was here, why wasn't he saying anything? "I love the nighttime when it's quiet and no one's out. It's so peaceful."

"Are you dating anyone?"

His blunt question cut through the clear night. "N-no what makes you ask?" You asked. "No reason." He mumbled, fiddling with the keys in his pocket. "I just wanted to know." Ah, I see it now. You now had a theory you wanted to test. "Come here," You patted to a spot on the curb next to you. "I want you to help me with something." You reached over and took his hand, causing a deep blush to spread across his cheeks. "Um, there's someone I like." He blurted, snatching back his hand. Now you felt your cheeks burning. "Oh, " You took back your hand and placed it in your lap, rubbing it awkwardly. "Can I ask who-" "It's you." He cut in, looking at the ground. "I got really flustered for a second and took back my hand but I really liked it when you held it.." He hid his face in his hands. You giggled a little in relief. "It's alright Kageyama. You did scare me a little though."

"Sorry about that."

You sat there on the curb looking up at the stars when you finally remembered the text. "Oh right, what was it that you needed help with?" Kageyama seemed even more flustered. "Um, well I got the first part out the way but I might need your help on the second." "The second part?" There's more he wants? "Can I-" He gripped your hand a little tighter. "Can I kiss you?" His voice was barely above a whisper and his fingers shook. The night air was still and filled with anticipation for your answer. "Sure."