Chapter Text
it was the start of another year of highschool and for kiyoomi, it was his last. he was relieved that he'll move on to college after this, but also kind of hoping it won't end so quickly. after all, kiyoomi still wants to play more volleyball.
the day went according to what he expected and just before he turns another left towards the club room, he can see motoya running in the hallway to his direction with papers in his hand.
"kiyoomi!" the libero called out panting, when motoya was finally at a reasonable distance in front of his cousin, he asks, "aren't you going to check out the application form for the club?"
"how many applied this year?" he said, voice muffled with the mask he's wearing.
motoya quickly scanned the papers and folded it afterwards. "seven student applied, one of them went for the manager."
he sighed and just nodded.
"are you going to the gym?" motoya asked, tucking the papers back into his bag.
"yeah," kiyoomi turned around and started walking again, his cousin following behind.
when they arrived at the gym, the both of them greeted the other members and started warming up, doing diving laps and spiking drills afterwards. it was around 2pm when the coach called for them to gather around for a short discussion, going back to their last preliminaries and spring high.
it was a short discussion filled with regrets and accomplishments all at the same time.
they were on their second break from practice, huddling and sitting on different corners of the gym to take a rest. kiyoomi was discussing some videos he watched with motoya two days ago when one of their teammates approached them, crouching down just beside his cousin.
"is it true that the new manager is a second year, komori-san?" they asked, water bottle in their hand.
"wait, really? i thought coach wanted a first year?" the libero asked confused, finger scratching the side of his head.
the middle blocker stood up and lightly chuckled. "maybe coach has a reason.."
a reason.
kiyoomi haven't lost his mind, not yet. at least that's what he believes.
but this right here, he doesn't believe this at all. even motoya who is standing right beside him can't look away.
"hinata shoyo, second year from class 1-3." the redhead greeted with a smile, kiyoomi was sure he heard someone muttered a bright.
kiyoomi internally groans and cursed at whoever is punishing him for having his crush for two years stands before him and introduce himself, obviously a part of their team now.
"drooling, babycakes.." motoya whispered besides him, tugging the side of kiyoomi's shirt.
"shut up, motoya," kiyoomi snapped back, breathing out to reduce the tension of his body.
motoya only giggles in reply. this tease.
kiyoomi expected it would be a normal school year, normal practices with the team, and normal heartbeats for the majority of his time playing volleyball for his last year.
obviously, my heartbeats aren't normal.
but the heartbeats does not concern him, it's his fucking cousin who can't stop teasing him about his crush on their new manager. the one who will poke his side and say something embarrassing about kiyoomi whenever shoyo was near.
kiyoomi was pretty sure the latter has caught on with motoya's antic. he will have to take matters into his own hands now.
he didn't took matters into his own hands.
the ace didn't get the chance to because before he knew it, motoya pulled him out of his class and into the cafeteria to have lunch with shoyo.
with shoyo. oh, fuck.
it wasn't really a problem looking for their manager. with a fluffy orange hair that could rival the sun, kiyoomi was convinced the team won't have a problem in the future. but the thing is, kiyoomi would rather sit in his class than be in the almost-crowded cafeteria for his own good (and his heart too).
motoya is just a little shit.
"where's your friend, hinata? the setter..?" motoya starts, unsure of what he said.
kiyoomi just listens as he eat his lunch, not making any eye contact to avoid unnecessary flutters in his chest.
"kageyama?" shoyo asked, holding his half-eaten tuna onigiri.
motoya hums. "he was with you a while ago."
"oh.. he went back in class. said he have an early subject to attend to," shoyo answered, finishing the onigiri.
kiyoomi picks at the vegetable with the chopsticks, fingers tightening around it.
he doesn't know if he's losing patience because of motoya nudging his left knee with his or for himself because of his sudden exposure to shoyo. either way, he feels that he might explode because of annoyance and for how his chest tightens and flutters everytime he hears shoyo speaks.
keep it together, kiyoomi. it's just shoyo and your idiot cousin.
kiyoomi straighten his back and glanced at motoya, sending him a glare as he nudges back the libero's knee.
"sakusa-san, does the food not taste good?"
kiyoomi flinched, eyes focusing on shoyo who is staring at him with a worried look on his face.
he heard a snicker coming from motoya, but decided to just ignore him for the meantime. kiyoomi looked down to his bento and answered shortly, "it's okay. though i'm not that hungry to finish it all."
shoyo gave him a smile and nodded.
"as long as you're comfortable and not forcing yourself then it's okay."
it's only been two weeks since shoyo showed up but kiyoomi is already feeling things, the fluttering in his chest keeps coming back whenever he's in a close proximity with the boy.
kiyoomi can only sigh and went back on staring at his bento while listening to the sound of shoyo's laughter that came from an obvious stupid statement, courtesy of motoya.
yep. he can definitely keep it together.