he almost lets the words get to his heart.
your will is not necessary.
no no no he tells himself,
shakes his head
kageyama’s afraid.
i am too.

they meet again on the court
on opposite sides
(it’s familiar,
hinata has to blink away the maroon.)

not yet. it’s not time yet.
come back to me soon
they look at each other in the eyes.
they know then.
(fear stopped them,
trust started them.)

when they pull off the new quick,
a chemical reaction,
something amazing.