Chapter Text
Okay. So sure, they had lost against Seijoh, but it's not like that marks the end of the world. He was going to defeat Oikawa-san next time.
Definitely.
Okay, hopefully.
Okay, he needed some work.
A lot of work.
God damn, he needed to improve. Not in the way you would think, though. I mean, honestly? He was the best player on the team...next to Nishinoya-san, of course. That's not what he needed to work on though. No, the thing that he really needed to work on was something so basic. So fundamental. So obvious. So...
Not his thing.
Sigh.
What was he supposed to do in this situation? Sure, it wasn't rocket science, but Kageyama was next to an amateur when it came to getting along with others, especially making friends. It's not like he was introverted or nervous around others, it's just...
How do you even just "start up a conversation"
People like Nishinoya-san would just run up to others and start talking about the "AWESOME NEW COOL ROBOT MOVIE THAT EVERYONE JUST HAD TO SEE!" to everyone in the club and get everyone in a new conversation. Meanwhile, Suga-san seemed to always know what to say in times of need, kind of like a mom, scarily enough. I mean, you could literally go to Suga-san for anything and he would have an answer-
Wait.
That was it.
"Suga-san?!!"
The older setter was currently folding up the net, making sure to not let some of his kouhai "help him" in which "somehow" the next would end up tangled. Did he mention how much Suga-san was like a mom?
"Oh, Kageyama? What's up, heading home already?" The silver-haired sempai turned to him.
"No, I just-" he cut off, "I, um, I actually wanted to ask for some..." he continued, "for some advice." He finally finished, with a struggling look on his face.
Sugawara just laughed. "Oh? What about?" He smiled.
"Well, in our last matched I thought you did really amazing..."
Okay. Now that got his attention. The younger setter was a much more gifted setter than he was, so for him to say that he was the one that played amazingly, something must be amiss.
"Thank you, but you did as well, Kageyama," Sugawara added.
"No, that's not what I meant." he continued. At this, the upperclassman looked at him, confused. "You just," sigh "you came in and everyone was just so happy and relaxed. You calmed everyone down and set up amazing spikes for all the spikers. You knew exactly how Asahi-san wanted his spike and you even-" Sugawara could see how much the next sentence sickened the young setter, "you even made Tsukishima listen and get into the game a little." At this, Sugawara just let out a little chuckle. "I just, I wish I could do the same..."
So that was the problem.
Well, it did make sense. Even though Kageyama was way ahead of him when it came to technique and plays, as a seasoned player and someone who took pride as a general confidant of his kouhai, Sugawara was just overall better when it came to teamwork. It was his one strong suit and the reason that some plays were able to be made when only he is a setter. He'd be lying if he said that maintaining a good relationship with everyone on the team was easy, but in all honesty, he really enjoyed getting to know everyone and being able to help. The very fact that Kageyama was envious of him for this though was very surprising.
"So, you want advice on how to, should I say, make friends with the team?" Sugawara finally asked. Kageyama nodded. "I see."
The solution, in theory, was quite simple actually. All Kageyama has to do is hang out with the team, maybe talk to them about something on TV, or about what happened in their class that day. It isn't very difficult at all. The problem is simply the way to go about doing it. It's not like someone like Kageyama can just show up all buddy-buddy to Tsukishima or Yamaguchi going "So how's everything in your life?" and expect a normal response. Hell, Kageyama even coming up to talk to people for something other than volleyball was a foreign concept, let alone to people he rarely even talks to (or people that hate his guts, like Tsukishima). So, the question is, what is a good starting point?
Maybe someone like Nishinoya, who would welcome the sudden change in nature and start talking up a storm? No, that might be a little to overwhelming. Afterall, Kageyama didn't have much in common with Nishinoya and wouldn't know how to keep the conversation going.
Maybe Asahi? Once again, what would they talk about? He would probably be really quiet and not start up a conversation without it being something he was really interested in. After all, he was more of a listener (one of the reasons why he could put up with Nishinoya so well). So, he was out of the question.
Daichi? Maybe? Daichi, could work-
"Suga-san! I finished mopping my side, I'm heading home for supper! It's curry night!!!" A spot of orange appeared from the doorway.
Ah.
"Hinata? Come over here for a bit, will you?" Sugawara called out.
"Huh? Okay!" he jogged over. It was at this moment that Sugawara turned to Kageyama. In a whisper, the upperclassman began to start the tutorial: "This will be an easy first step. Try becoming a closer friend to Hinata, afterall, you guys get along fairly well considering your relationship with others. I'll talk to you later and give you some steps and pointers on how about doing this, but for starters, just follow my lead, 'kay?" He finished with a wink.
This could work.
"What's up, Suga-san?" Hinata asked his sempai.
"Actually, Kageyama was thinking about improving his cardio training. You bike through the mountains, right?" He asked.
"Yeah! I sure do! Why? Do you want my regiment or something?" He looked to Kageyama.
"Uh, actually I-" Kageyama started.
"No, actually I wanted to suggest for you two to go biking in the morning together." Sugawara cut him off.
What? Kageyama looked to his sempai. He did not sign up for this.
"H-huh? Sure, I guess? I didn't know you owned a bike, Kageyama," Hinata looked towards him.
Crap.
"U-uh, of course I do, dumbass!" he shouted. He didn't.
"Jeez, Bakayama! Sooo-rry! I just never see you riding one, so EXCUSE ME!! Blehhhhh~" He stuck his tongue out at him. At this point, Kageyama looked ready to pounce on the carrot-top. Thankfully, Sugawara was there to hold him back.
"So, then, tomorrow? Kageyama, you'll meet Hinata at the foot of the mountain?" He looked at his kouhai.
"Huh? Yeah." he looked back and forth from the upperclassman to the carrot-top. How he was going to do that without a bike was besides the point.
"Okay! See you lat-oh wait!" Hinata turned around immediately, "Kageyama, can you give me your number so that I can text you what time to meet up?" He looked to his teammate.
"Oh, yeah, sure, hold on." He pulled out his cell as Hinata did the same. After holding up their phones to each other, the exchange was completed. Sugawara smiled.
Good. Not a bad start.
"Alright, got it! See you tomorrow, Kageyama! I'll text you when I get home!" and with that he was off.
"There you go, that's your first step done. Great job, Kageyama!" Sugawara looked to his kouhai.
"Uh, yeah..." he looked to Sugawara a little confused. Sugawara caught on to this quite quickly.
"What's up?" he gave him a concerned look.
"Um...Suga-san..." he started. His sempai looked at him, listening with his full attention.
...
...
"Can I borrow your bike?"