#replacing

[applepi-1]

Not Replacing Anyone-Kageyama

I didn’t mean to overhear it.

That was the worst part — that I wasn’t supposed to know.

I was halfway down the hallway outside the gym, arms full of stray water bottles and towels I’d volunteered to return, when voices drifted through the open door. Familiar ones. Teammates laughing, stretching, cooling down.

And then my name.

“…it’s just weird, y’know?” someone said. “Ever since she started coming around more, Kageyama’s different.”

Another voice snorted. “Yeah. It’s like he replaced—”

The rest of the sentence blurred.

My feet froze to the floor.

I didn’t hear who they were talking about replacing. I didn’t need to. The implication settled heavy in my chest anyway, like something fragile cracking.

I backed away before anyone noticed me, heart pounding too loud in my ears. I dropped the bottles off in the equipment room instead, hands shaking as I set them down.

I told myself not to overthink it.

But I always did.

I’d been hanging around Karasuno more lately — helping with homework, watching practice, sitting in the stands with Hinata while he loudly narrated plays like I couldn’t see them myself. And Kageyama… Kageyama had been there too. Quiet, intense, always glancing my way when he thought I wasn’t looking.

I thought maybe I imagined it.

Now I wasn’t so sure.

When practice ended, I tried to slip out unnoticed.

I didn’t make it three steps before a familiar voice cut through the hallway.

“Hey. Wait.”

I stopped.

Kageyama stood there, towel around his neck, hair still damp, eyes sharp but uncertain — like he wasn’t sure what to do with them yet.

“You didn’t stay,” he said. It wasn’t an accusation. Just an observation.

“I have stuff to do,” I lied, shifting the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder.

He frowned slightly. “You always stay.”

The way he said it — like it mattered — made my chest ache.

“I’m tired,” I said instead.

Something in my voice must’ve given me away, because his posture changed instantly. Shoulders stiffening. Jaw tightening.

“Did someone say something?” he asked.

I blinked. “What?”

He stepped closer. Not crowding me — just enough to be there. Solid. Grounded.

“You do that thing,” he said, frowning harder. “Where you pull away instead of arguing.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “Wow. Didn’t know you were that observant.”

“I am,” he said immediately. Then, quieter, “About you.”

That did it.

I swallowed hard. “I heard people talking,” I admitted. “About how you’ve been acting. About me.”

His eyes darkened. “Who?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said quickly. “I just— I don’t want to mess anything up for you. Or replace anyone. Or be… some distraction.”

The word tasted bitter.

Kageyama went completely still.

Then he did something unexpected.

He reached out and gently grabbed the strap of my bag, stopping me from turning away. His grip wasn’t tight — just enough to keep me there.

“Look at me,” he said.

I did.

His expression wasn’t angry. It wasn’t flustered. It was serious in a way that made my heart skip.

“You’re not replacing anyone,” he said firmly.

I opened my mouth, but he kept going.

“You’re not taking someone’s place. You’re not a substitute. You’re not a distraction.” His brows furrowed like the idea offended him. “You’re you.”

My throat tightened.

“I didn’t start playing worse because of you,” he said. “I play better.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I focus more,” he admitted. “I try harder. I… want to be better when you’re watching.”

Heat crept up my neck. “Kageyama—”

“I’m bad at this,” he interrupted quickly, ears turning red. “At explaining. But when you’re around, things feel clearer. Like I’m not just chasing perfection for myself.”

His hand tightened slightly on my bag strap.

“I don’t care what they think,” he said. “I care what you think.”

Silence stretched between us.

My chest felt too full.

“…You’re not replacing anyone,” he repeated, quieter now. “You’re adding something I didn’t know I was missing.”

I laughed softly, tears stinging my eyes. “You’re really bad at being subtle.”

He huffed. “I wasn’t trying to be.”

I took a breath. “I just didn’t want to be a problem.”

“You’re not,” he said immediately. “You’re… important.”

The word landed heavy.

He released my bag and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “So. Uh. If you stop coming around because of that… I’d be pissed.”

I smiled through the ache in my chest. “Is that a confession?”

His face went bright red.

“I— I mean—” He stopped, exhaled sharply, then met my eyes again. “Yes.”

My heart stuttered.

“Kageyama Tobio,” I said softly, stepping closer this time, “you’re really bad at lying.”

“I’m not lying,” he said. “That’s the point.”

I reached out and took his hand.

His grip tightened instantly, like he was afraid I’d disappear.

“I’m not replacing anyone,” I said.

“No,” he agreed. “You’re staying.”

And for the first time, the word didn’t scare me.

[atsushi-oncrack]

Some silly fanart i forgot to post about.

[ghostaar0n]

I’m replacing ai,I’ll drink a gulp of water a draw something LET ME BANISH ARTBLOCK. (And support a small artist/future illustrator)

[runcie149893]

Do you know the Pinterest picture in which there was lots of ways to replace “said” in writing? It had like four big categories and red titles. Does anyone have it and can pass it?

[nexus-null-n-void]

Guys im replacing ai.

Ask me something- or to do something, ill chug some water and do it wrong.

[mistpool]

i hope ivypool is mad. mad at herself. mad at starclan. mad at shadowsight. mad at ashfur. mad at bramblestar. mad at the world for taking her daughter. and mad at bristlefrost

grief will distort your emotions. the people you love will be a victim of your rage.

she shouldve died instead. rootspring shouldve died instead. shadowsight shouldve died instead. starclan never should have led ashfur into its ranks. bramblestar shouldve died and let each life slip away. the world let her daughter die.

bristlefrost let herself die.

did she know how much that would hurt her mother?

that ivypool will never, ever be able to hold relationships normally again

she needs to always know the schedule of her family; which is why she is so glad to be deputy

she can send them on hunting patrols in the safest areas

but if a single family member gets distracted and goes off on their own?

its like losing bristlefrost all over again.

where did they go? will they ever return?

but then they appear in the entrance to camp.

and ivypool feels a complicated mixture of relief and fury- because how dare you leave her

[starblaz1ng]

No voices in here! Must've been the wind… Blowing through… The walls? Content with his own answer, off Toy Bonnie goes to harass Foxy the pirate, once again. But the question does arise, why is Mangle keeping her other head a secret? Is she scared of being different? Or are the two of them in cahoots, orchestrating this whole affair..? It's still too early to say… Fnaf belongs to Scott Cawthon.