You were the only person who stayed.
When everyone left, you were the only one who stayed for Tobio.
Wc: 2.7k ~ Childhood friends to lovers ~ Fluff
The first time you met Tobio Kageyama, you were both four years old.
Your grandfather and Kazuyo Kageyama had been best friends for years and he asked if you wanted to train with his friend’s child.
"Y/N, say Hi. These are my friend's grandchildren." Your grandfather said, placing his hand behind your back, slightly nudging you forward.
You peeked out from behind him.
A tiny dark-haired boy stood quietly beside Kazuyo, hugging a volleyball almost half his size. Next to him was his older sister, Miwa, who grinned the moment she saw you.
"So you're Y/N!" she exclaimed, rushing over. "Grandpa talks about you all the time!"
Before you could answer, she grabbed your hand and pulled you toward the court.
"...But we were practicing."
"Then Y/N can practice too," Kazuyo said with a warm chuckle.
Your grandfather laughed in agreement.
"The more players, the better! Don’t worry Tobio."
From that day onward, Saturdays belonged to the five of you.
The grandfathers coached while the three of you played.
You noticed that Tobio had a burning passion for volleyball.
Even everyone stopped for water, he'd always ask for "one more."
One more set, one more receive, one more serve.
“Tobio-kun, do you like volleyball?”
Tobio looked up at you and stared for a while before finally answering.
By elementary school, you guys understood each other without needing much words.
You understood that Tobio wasn't unfriendly, he just simply expressed himself differently.
If you forgot your water bottle, he would silently pass a new bottled water to you.
If you tripped during training, he'd hold out a hand before you even looked up.
He never said "Are you okay?"
He just made sure you were, in his own way.
Miwa liked to tease him endlessly.
"You know, Y/N, he's nicer to you than anyone else."
Tobio frowned and looked away, tips of his ears slowly turning pink.
"I treat everyone the same."
Miwa burst into laughter.
Junior high arrived before either of you knew it.
The days of practicing together every weekend became harder to keep.
Tobio entered Kitagawa Daiichi while you enrolled at a different junior high nearby but the two of you still made time whenever you could.
If it wasn't Saturday practice, it was a quick stop at the convenience store after school.
If it wasn't after school, it was a short walk home together after the gym.
You called after him one afternoon as he left practice.
He stopped walking immediately, slowly turning back and waiting for you to catch up.
Without a word, he reached over and took your backpack from your shoulders.
"I can carry it myself ya know…"
Yet he kept walking with it anyway.
Some habits never changed.
The neighborhood gym wasn't as lively as it used to be.
Your grandfather still arrived before sunrise, keys jingling in his pocket.
Grandpa Kazuyo still insisted on setting up the net himself.
But now, he seemed to pause more often.
Sometimes he'd sit on the side while your grandfather adjusted the poles instead.
"You getting old on me?" your grandfather teased.
"I've always been older than you."
"That's still older ya know!"
The two of them bickered exactly as they always had.
Yet you noticed your grandfather watching his friend more carefully than before, a slight worry in his eyes.
One afternoon, after practice, Granpa Kazuyo called the two of you over.
"You know…" he said, breaking apart a popsicle and handing each of you a piece, "setting isn't just about putting the ball where you want it to go."
"It's about putting it where someone else is able to make something wonderful happen."
Tobio frowned thoughtfully, unable to grasp what he was saying.
You nodded, not fully understanding.
But years later, those words would mean everything.
One Saturday, Grandpa Kazuyo ended practice early.
"That's enough for today."
"You've been practicing for three hours."
"I know you can. But just because you can doesn't mean you should."
He said while resting a hand on Tobio's shoulder.
And for once, Tobio didn't argue back. He just simply nodded and helped to pack up.
A few weeks later, the Saturday practice never happened.
Your grandfather called you.
"Kazuyo's in the hospital."
The words made your stomach sink.
The hospital room felt far too quiet.
Machines beeped steadily, the smell of antiseptic wafted through the air.
Miwa sat beside the bed, trying to smile whenever her grandfather opened his eyes.
Your grandfather chatted with Kazuyo about old memories, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
Tobio stood near the window, completely silent.
Kazuyo eventually noticed him.
"How's volleyball ya little rascal? Are you still overtraining yourself?"
Kazuyo chuckled softly before continuing.
"I wasn't asking about your skills."
Tobio looked confused while Kazuyo smiled.
"What I mean is, are you enjoying it?"
Kazuyo closed his eyes with a content smile.
"Good. That's all I needed to hear."
He passed away not long after.
The funeral was filled with familiar faces.
Former teammates, neighbors, old friends.
Your grandfather stood near the front, eyes fixed on the framed photograph of the man he'd spent decades laughing alongside.
You had never seen him look so small.
He accepted every condolence with a polite nod.
Only when the hall had emptied and it was just your grandfather, Miwa, you, and him then did you notice his hands trembling.
You quietly slipped your hand into his.
After Kazuyo's passing...
Everything became volleyball.
Practice before school, practice after school, practice until the gym closed.
Whenever you visited, Tobio was already there.
Sweaty, setting, serving and running.
You started bringing dinner because you knew he'd forget to eat.
He never thanked you but the empty lunchbox was thanks enough.
By his third year of junior high, people had started talking around the neighbourhood.
“Kitagawa Daiichi's setter is impossible to play with."
"Apparently he orders everyone around."
"He acts like some kind of king."
You ignored the whispers.
Until one evening, you found him sitting outside the gym.
A volleyball rested in his lap, his gaze fixed to the floor.
You sat beside him and for a while, neither of you spoke.
"They called me the King."
"They stopped hitting my sets."
"I thought I was helping them."
He looked down at his hands.
"If I gave them the best tosses...then we'd win."
"They said I only cared about myself."
The silence stretched between you.
You remembered something from years ago.
A popsicle, the old gym and Grandpa Kazuyo's smile.
You reached over and gently took the volleyball from his lap.
"Do you remember what Grandpa told us?"
He frowned, furrowing his eyebrows.
You nodded, poking your finger in between his eyebrows while smiling,
"It's about putting it where someone else is able to make something wonderful happen'"
His eyes widened slightly.
"He never said a setter had to do everything alone. You’re on a team for a reason y’know?"
For the first time that evening, Tobio looked at you.
"I think you were just trying so hard to become stronger that you forgot volleyball has always been about six people."
You bumped his shoulder gently.
"Don't worry! I'm still here to support you."
You said, smiling widely and pointing towards yourself.
A quiet huff escaped him. It was not quite a laugh but it was close.
Together, the two of you stood up and without another word, Tobio tossed you the volleyball.
You caught it instinctively.
The next spring arrived faster than either of you expected.
The two of you stood at Karasuno's gates.
"We actually made it to the same school!"
You said while grinning. Beside you, Tobio adjusted the strap of his bag.
Students hurried past, chatting excitedly as they searched for classrooms.
"I'll see you after school?"
"...I’m going to the volleyball club."
"Figures." You say, shrugging.
You adjusted your bag on your shoulder.
"I think I'll spend the first few weeks settling into classes."
The first few weeks passed quickly.
Whenever your classes ended, you'd walk toward the gym and wait for him to walk home together.
Sometimes you waited on the steps outside with your homework, sometimes you brought two convenience store buns because you already knew Tobio would forget to eat.
Even through the closed doors, you could hear Hinata and Tobio arguing.
"...You're setting too fast!"
"THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM!?"
One afternoon, Tobio finally emerged from the gym, hair damp with sweat.
Without a word, you held out a bottle of sports drink.
He took it automatically.
You handed him another bag.
"...You brought curry? Thanks."
"...Tell him I said thanks."
As the two of you walked home, Tobio suddenly spoke.
"...We're getting our ace back."
"His name is Asahi. Nishinoya should be coming back too. He’s Karasuno’s guardian.”
For the first time since entering Karasuno, you heard genuine excitement in his voice.
The atmosphere around the volleyball club changed after that.
You noticed it immediately while you waited for him to finish.
The players laughed more.
Even Tobio seemed different. He was still serious and blunt but he was no longer carrying the entire court on his shoulders.
A few days later, you were sitting outside the gym with your textbook when the door slid open.
A beautiful third-year stepped out.
"You've been here almost every afternoon."
"I hope I'm not in the way."
"You're waiting for Kageyama?"
"I've been waiting for him after practice since we were little."
The corners of Kiyoko's lips lifted slightly.
"I've been managing the club by myself and I’m leaving soon… I could use some help."
"...you're here every day anyway."
You couldn't help but laugh.
You looked through the gym doors.
Daichi was organising practice.
Sugawara was laughing at something Hinata had done.
Tanaka and Nishinoya were being far too loud.
Asahi was apologizing for something that clearly wasn't his fault.
Tsukishima looked mildly annoyed by everyone's existence.
Yamaguchi was trying not to laugh. And in the middle of it all, Tobio was setting.
For the first time in years, he wasn't alone.
He trusted the hitters and they trusted him.
Looking at the court now, you realised he finally understood what Grandpa Kazuyo said.
You smiled and looked back at Kiyoko.
The next afternoon, you stood beside Kiyoko in a navy manager's tracksuit.
When practice ended, Tobio looked toward the benches out of habit.
"...You're wearing the manager uniform."
Before he could answer, Hinata appeared beside him.
"WAIT. You two know each other!?"
Tobio looked at him as if the answer were obvious.
"...Since we were four. She’s been waiting outside practice everyday, how could you miss her??"
"...Since you were four?" Sugawara repeated.
Hinata looked between the two of you, utterly betrayed.
"YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU HAD A CHILDHOOD FRIEND!"
"I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD TO?!"
Tanaka dramatically clutched his chest.
"So the King has a childhood friend..."
It didn't take long for you to settle into your new role.
Kiyoko patiently taught you everything she knew.
"You packed extra rice again?"
Daichi blinked as you unpacked the lunchboxes before a training camp.
"...I know how much everyone eats."
"Manager-san, you're an angel!"
Across the room, Tobio quietly opened his lunchbox.
Sugawara leaned toward Daichi.
"I don't think he realizes how often he thanks her."
"I don't think he realises a lot of things."
As months passed, everyone began noticing the little things.
Whenever practice ended...
Tobio instinctively looked toward the manager's bench.
He'd glance around until he found you.
If you carried too many boxes...
He'd silently take half of them without asking.
One evening after practice, the team was cleaning the gym.
Tanaka watched Tobio carry your equipment bag alongside his own.
"...Hey. You like L/N, don't you?"
"...What?" Tobio blurted out, stopping in his tracks.
"You always look for her after every match."
"...Doesn't everyone? I fail to see the correlation."
The second-years exchanged amused looks.
“They don't." Daichi answered.
For the first time all evening, Tobio had no response.
That night, he found himself thinking.
Ever since they were children, you had always been there
At Saturday practices, outside hospital rooms, on the walk home after junior high, waiting outside Karasuno's gym.
She had never once asked for anything in return.
He thought back to something Grandpa Kazuyo once told him.
"Volleyball is about trusting the people around you."
Somewhere along the way without realising it, he had started trusting you with everything.
The realization came slowly.
During the Tokyo training camp, whenever Karasuno finished a difficult match, Tobio's eyes instinctively searched the sidelines.
Not for Coach Ukai, not for the scoreboard but for you.
The moment he found you standing beside Kiyoko with your notebook, the tension in his shoulders eased.
After Karasuno secured their place at Spring High, the team celebrated at Sakanoshita Store.
Laughter filled the shop as everyone dug into steamed buns.
You stepped outside for some fresh air and the door slid open behind you.
Tobio quietly joined you.
"I just needed some air."
He nodded and stood beside you. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Tanaka asked if I liked you."
"That’s random. What did you say?"
"Pfft. That sounds like you."
He looked down at his hands.
"But I've been thinking."
"When I lose...I want to see you. When I win...I want to see you too."
A small smile crossed his face.
"When Grandpa was alive...I always wanted him to watch me but now I always look for you instead."
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I don't really know how people confess. But um...I know I want you beside me."
You smiled through the tears forming in your eyes.
"Took you long enough, you dummy. I've liked you for years!"
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Years later, very little had changed.
Tobio went on to play professional volleyball, chasing the dream he'd had since he was four years old. No matter which arena he played in, his eyes always searched the stands before every match.
You married a few years after graduation in a quiet ceremony attended by your grandfather, Miwa, and your old Karasuno teammates. Hinata complained that Tobio's vows were "too short.”
On the shelf in your home sat your wedding photograph beside an old whistle that had once belonged to Grandpa Kazuyo along with a faded volleyball from the neighborhood gym where everything had begun.
From a tiny gym where two grandfathers coached three children, to the biggest volleyball stages in the world, Tobio always found you in the crowd.
Because no matter where life took him, you were the only person who stayed.
