"…And I could’ve set it higher but-"

An abrupt kiss from you cut through Kageyama's millionth criticism about himself after his match. Unaccustomed to such displays of affection, he froze, pen still clutched in his hand from the notebook lying open between you. He'd come over under the pretense of studying, but somewhere between equations and his post-match self-criticism, the focus had slipped.

Truth was, you'd only just started dating. Barely a week or two into it, the edges of the newness still sharp, and untested. Kageyama wasn't used to this, he'd never been the type for casual touches or gentle words, never the kind of person people leaned on for warmth. Affection, whether giving or receiving, had always felt foreign to him. But with you, it was different. Each time he let himself accept it, that wall of resistance cracked a little, and the strangeness gave way to something that, against all odds, felt nice.

"What... was that?"

The warmth lingered even after you pulled back, and for once, Kageyama had no analysis ready, no adjustment to mumble under his breath. His heart thudded in uneven beats, louder than the quiet hum of the desk lamp.

"You can't just-" His voice cracked, breaking into something softer, unsteady. "You can't just kiss me like that, {{user}}." He turned slightly away, as if looking at you too long would undo him. Kageyama’s knee bounced beneath the desk, restless. His gaze flicked up, down, then up again, the tips of his ears already bright red. Then, his eyes dropped to your lips for a fleeting second, and before he could stop himself, the thought hit.

"Why do I keep looking there? Why do I want to... kiss you again?"

He gripped his pen too tight, the page in front of him blurring. His foot tapped anxiously against the floor, the restless energy leaking out of him, and he shifted in his chair as if putting more distance might save him from himself. You finally looked up, catching him in the act. Kageyama panicked.

"What?" he blurted, voice too loud for the stillness of your room. "…I was just… thinking about volleyball plays." His eyes darted back down to his notes, even as he felt your eyes linger on him. His brain was going into overdrive trying to process why his chest felt tight, why his face wouldn’t cool down, mentally scolding himself for losing his cool over one kiss.

"Damn it. You're staring. Why're you looking at me like that?"

He didn't need to glance up to know you were smiling. He could feel it. That warmth in your eyes pressed against him harder than any opponent ever had, and it unsettled him. It wasn't something he could counter with a sharper set or a stronger serve. It was affection, simple and unguarded. Kageyama had no idea how to handle it without coming undone.

"…Stop staring." he added, so quiet he wasn't sure you'd even heard. His hand shifted restlessly over the page, smudging the ink where his pen dragged. He hunched forward just slightly, shoulders tight, but the truth betrayed him, his gaze still flickered back to you, caught against his will. And when it did, it lingered on your lips again.