Archive of Our Own

It smells like popcorn. It’s dark and all he can see for a moment is a bright screen. He must be at the movies. He sees an open box of Skittles offered to him from someone to his right. The one holding the box isn’t Tsukki, who he expects to see. To his surprise, it’s Kageyama, who raises an eyebrow when he doesn’t take any Skittles, and retracts his hand, deciding that Yamaguchi must not want any.

The next moment, Yamaguchi is sitting at his desk in his room, disoriented and a bit perplexed. Why was he at the movies with Kageyama? He searches his memories for any plans he might have made with his friend and finds nothing. The vision is innocuous, as far as he knows, so he decides to pay it no more thought further than curiosity as to what could lead him to that future. He’ll find out soon, anyway.

Two even knocks to start the day. Today is a Tsukki day, which means it’s Tsukki’s turn to pick Yamaguchi up on the way to school. The two live equidistant from the school so they alternate who goes to whose place in the morning. 

When Yamaguchi opens the door, Tsukishima is leaning on the railing that lines the hallway to Yamaguchi’s apartment, off center from the door, never looking straight on, never standing just outside the door because that just wouldn’t be cool enough for him. He gives Yamaguchi a glance before turning to leave without more than a, “Morning,” as if he knows Yamaguchi will follow. 

And he’s right to assume so. Several of Yamaguchi’s visions have been of Tsukishima’s back or his side profile, simply for the fact that Yamaguchi has decided to live so that his life is inextricable from Tsukki’s. This isn’t to say that Yamaguchi is without his own life and aspirations. It’s just that he’s been lucky enough to find someone that he wants to be a part of those things, no matter what. 

The first time Yamaguchi remembers having a vision is in kindergarten. The class is in the middle of a spelling test, and the teacher’s just called out a word for the second time in a row. He raises his hand to let the teacher know.

“Teacher, we just did that one.” A mixture of confusion and annoyance shows on the teacher’s face, and she requests that Yamaguchi only interrupt a test for serious questions or emergencies. Tests are not time to play and be silly. But Yamaguchi doesn’t feel like he’s being silly. He really did see and hear the teacher say that word just a moment ago. But having been shut down like that, Yamaguchi continues his test in silence.

The next time it happens, he learns what it’s like to be rejected by a friend. He’s talking to his classmate Satou about animals, and he tells her how he thinks her dog is so cute and soft and he wants one just like that.

“How did you know I have a dog?”

“I met him, remember? When you were taking him for a walk with your mommy. I was with my dad and I got to pet him!”

“That never happened. You’re making up things and lying. Lying is bad, Yamaguchi,” she scolds him. Yamaguchi feels a wave of panic and shame wash over him. He doesn’t understand, he saw it happen, he remembers it.

“I’m not lying! He’s white with black spots! I know it!”

“I never showed my dog to anyone! We just got him yesterday. I don’t want to talk to you anymore, you’re lying and scaring me.” With that, she leaves to play with someone else, and Yamaguchi is alone to sit in his frustration.

The next day, he’s walking with his dad to the grocery store, and he sees Satou with her mom, the dog walking a bit ahead of them, white with black spots just like he remembers. Their parents greet each other and Satou’s mom invites him to pet the dog. His classmate is looking at him with a frown, clearly disapproving but unable to say anything in front of their parents.

“He’s just as soft as I remember,” Yamaguchi remarks. Satou’s mom looks confused for a moment, then her expression settles into one of amusement that she shares with Yamaguchi’s dad, the kind of look that adults show when kids do something weird, but cute because they’re kids. They greet each other goodbye and continue on their separate ways. The delight Yamaguchi felt from petting the dog is quickly washed away by that familiar discomfort, a feeling that something is wrong but he can’t tell anyone because they won’t believe him. His dad asks him about what he feels like eating for dinner and he is quickly distracted away from those negative thoughts.

Over time, Yamaguchi starts to pick up a pattern, and after watching a movie about kids with superpowers, he is almost one hundred percent sure he’s one of them. At any given moment, he’ll be transported into a scene that feels indistinguishable from regular life, but it will only last a few seconds, and he’ll be transported back into his present moment. He’s gathered that these scenes are visions of the near future, and they always come true. He tries to tell friends at school, but they either don’t believe him or they think he’s inviting them to play pretend and start making up their own superpowers. It leaves Yamaguchi feeling discouraged and alone, so he eventually stops talking about it and just lets it happen. Superheroes have to hide their powers, anyway. He does find a little pleasure in being able to relate to movie and anime protagonists in that manner. 

But the downsides don’t just go away. The way he randomly spaces out starts to catch the attention of his classmates, and eventually makes him stand out a bit too much for a group of kids known for being unkind and ruthless towards anyone they deem “weird.” Visions of kids bullying him don’t mean that he gets to avoid the bullies any more than he can turn off the power that allows him to see it in the first place. Someone starts a rumor that his freckles are a hundred little eyes and they might as well be, the way he gets treated like some alien creature. 

He gets used to the bullies, and he thinks he’s about to get a new one when a vision comes and he’s sitting on the ground, face throbbing from being hit by something, and sees through his eyes stinging with tears, a blond kid who towers over him looking down his nose and declares, “That’s so lame.” The vision has Yamaguchi’s stomach in knots, wondering if this new, bigger bully could be worse than the ones he already has. Only a serious delinquent could dye their hair at such a young age, right?

But another thing he comes to realize is that his visions are often severely lacking in context. He learns that the tall blond boy he thought could be his newest tormenter is named Tsukishima and he ends up becoming his closest friend. The bullies don’t like the extra challenge that comes with going after Yamaguchi with Tsukishima attached, and eventually the bullies start looking for an easier target. Tsukishima doesn’t ask about why Yamaguchi spaces out the way he does, and being treated like just another person brings Yamaguchi more comfort than he expects.

Soon, Tsukishima stars in more and more of his visions, and it solidifies the idea that by making Tsukishima a part of his present, he also makes him part of his future.

Unfortunately, even with all the willpower in the world, some things just don’t work out as planned. This year Yamaguchi’s grades have placed him in a different class from Tsukishima, so he spends hours a day feeling like he’s without a phantom limb.

He’s on his way to Tsukki’s classroom to reattach that limb for a bit when he’s stopped by a voice calling his name.

“Yamaguchi.” He turns at the voice and sees its owner, his vice captain, Kageyama, looking at him like he’s on a mission. It’s a bit funny, Yamaguchi thinks, how Kageyama seems to approach conversations like they’re a battle to be won. He wonders if it’s fun to always live so intensely.

“Hey, Kageyama, what’s up?”

The boy takes a visibly deep breath and forms his face into some semblance of a smile. “Are you free tomorrow?” Well, that was unexpected, Yamaguchi thinks to himself. For a second the vision of him and Kageyama at the movies from last night flashes in his mind.  Maybe he’ll learn what that was all about now.

“Yeah?” Yamaguchi answers, waiting for Kageyama to continue.

“Will you go to the movies with me?” That answers one question.

“Oh! Uh, what movie did you wanna see?” This isn’t exactly the next question Yamaguchi wants to ask, he’s a lot more interested as to why Kageyama’s asking him and not Hinata, but he figures he can somehow get that information later.

“Me and Hinata were supposed to see that new one with that Yamazaki Kento guy in it,” Aha! Yamaguchi inwardly shouts, “but Hinata found out he’s gotta visit family last minute. He said he doesn’t wanna waste his ticket.”

“So you decided to ask me? I feel so special, Kageyama!” Yamaguchi grins, patting Kageyama on the head. Kageyama moves his hand away and looks at him intently.

“Yeah, well. You coming?”

“I’d love to be your second choice after Hinata!” Yamaguchi teases. “Really though, I’m down to go. We can talk more about time and all that after classes, yeah?”

Kageyama’s face relaxes and it’s as close to a real smile as his face seems to get off the volleyball court. “Okay. I’ll text you. Or call. Whichever.”

Yamaguchi is glad to hear that Kageyama is apparently making time to spend with Hinata, although it is surprising that it wasn’t somehow volleyball related. He wonders if this is a new development for the two. He’ll have to probe Hinata for information at some point.

He continues on his way to Tsukishima’s classroom for lunch, deciding not to tell him about his newly made movie plans just yet. As much as he loves to share everything with his best friend, he’s found a strange delight in keeping things to himself, even if just temporarily. He wonders if Tsukki is ever curious about him and the parts of his life that he doesn’t see. He hopes so.

“I’m leaving,” Tsukishima announces, the way he does every day, like he can’t stand to be at school a second longer, and anyone who has a problem with that can watch him go and he’ll pay them no mind. But he gives himself away, in his unnaturally slow pace that picks back up when he sees Yamaguchi has caught up to him. Every day he performs his leaving routine and Yamaguchi follows every time.

Yamaguchi is walking home with Tsukishima when he’s considering how he might want to tell him about his weekend plans. As far as Tsukishima knows, Yamaguchi’s coming to sleep over like he so often does, and he’ll hang out with Tsukishima all Saturday until he decides whether or not to stay for dinner and go home.

He glances up at the boy wearing headphones that probably aren’t playing any music. He offhandedly wonders if the combination of glasses and headphones ever hurts Tsukishima’s ears. 

Yamaguchi thinks about saying it plain and easy, “Oh yeah, I have a movie date with Kageyama tomorrow,” which he thinks would get a good reaction out of Tsukki for sure, but there’s also potential for something more if they’re in his room and he casually calls Kageyama while laying on his bed. He amuses himself thinking about how irritated Tsukki would get, since he knows how annoyed he gets when Yamaguchi is over but isn’t giving him enough attention. He doesn’t know for sure because he himself doesn’t have siblings, but he thinks it must be a younger sibling thing. Akiteru has conspiratorially whispered as much to him before and they both agree it’s kind of cute.

“What are you laughing about all by yourself?” Tsukishima asks, interrupting his thoughts. “You’re being creepy.”

“I was just remembering that one time you got mad because me and your brother wouldn’t let you help decorate your own birthday cake.”

“I wasn’t mad , your giggling and his stupid cackling were just too loud and I couldn’t hear the TV.”

“Mmkay, Tsukki. You weren’t mad,” Yamaguchi concedes with a patronising tone.

“Shut up, Yamaguchi,” he says, the slight smile in his voice contrasting with the harsh words.

“I mean, I was being quiet for once, but it seemed like you prefer when I talk your ear off instead,” he answers back. Tsukishima just hums in response, not denying the sentiment, but as always, not willing to confirm he likes something out loud in such a direct way. Yamaguchi thinks that’s cute too, how much Tsukki lets his actions and his way of being speak for himself rather than his words. It makes the times when the words do come all that more special, anyway, he thinks.

Yamaguchi prattles on about almost every bit of his day except for Kageyama and his movie plans. By the time they’re settled in Tsukishima’s room and Yamaguchi is laying on his bed just as he imagined before, he’s somehow too nervous to bring it up. He doesn’t understand why he’s feeling nervous, it’s not like he’s doing something wrong, but he’s no stranger to nerves without a clear source and just chalks it up to something to do with his social anxiety. He still has to plan out when and where he’s meeting Kageyama, so when Tsukishima goes to shower, he sends Kageyama a text.

Kageyama is surprisingly a fast texter, so by the time Tsukishima’s back from his shower, he and Kageyama have all the details worked out. Yamaguchi’s about to text Hinata and maybe get some gossip from him, when he gets an incoming call from the boy himself.

“What does Hinata want?” Tsukishima questions, grabbing a book from his desk that he and Yamaguchi both know he’s only pretending to read while he also pretends he’s very uninterested in what Yamaguchi’s doing on his phone. He doesn’t even bother to put his glasses on before he takes a seat at the end of the bed by Yamaguchi’s feet and watches him over the top of the book.

“Um, I don’t know, it’s always something random if he calls.”

Tsukishima turns a page. You’re not even reading! Yamaguchi inwardly shouts. “You gonna pick up?” 

“If you don’t mind?”

“I don’t care,” Tsukishima answers, but Yamaguchi knows he’ll be intently eavesdropping because while he may claim he doesn’t care, he does like to know everybody’s business, just because. 

When Yamaguchi finally answers the call, Hinata’s voice fills the room without even being on speakerphone.

“YAAAAMAAAAGUCHIIIII!”

“Hey, Hinata. What’s up?”

“I’m packing! What do you think I should bring? I have a change of clothes and I wanna bring a volleyball just in case, too, but I think my mom kinda wants me to leave it.”

“You called me for packing advice?” Tsukishima turns another page. Yamaguchi wonders why he even bothers with the charade.

“Ah, no, just packing is really boring and Kageyama just told me you guys are going out tomorrow! I’m gonna call him later anyway so I thought I'd talk to you first!”

“He told you? Okay, well, I’m at Tsukki’s right now--”

“HI TSUKISHIMA!!!”

“He says hi, Tsukki.”

“I heard,” Tsukishima says to his book.

“Are you excited?” Hinata asks.

“Excited for?”

“Movies with Kageyama!”

“He told you?” Yamaguchi repeats his earlier question.

“Yeah, he tells me everything! So? Excited? Scared it’s gonna be awkward?” Hinata laughs hysterically.

“I don’t know, should I be? Scared? It’s just a movie.”

“Yeah, but it’s Kageyama , you know?”

“I know what he’s like at practice, but he’s pretty chill otherwise, right?”

“He’s always yelling at me though, what if he yells at you?”

“I don’t think I’m gonna give him a reason to, Hinata.”

“What, you think I give him reasons to?”

“Nooo, of course not,” Yamaguchi answers insincerely.

“Well, if anything happens, you can punch him for me cause I won’t be there to do it.” Is this what it’s about, Yamaguchi wonders. Hinata can act worried for Yamaguchi all he wants, but Hinata’s not practiced in the art of deception at all. He wonders if this is the first time Hinata’s had to think about Kageyama spending time with other people. 

“Hinata, I don’t think anything will happen. My relationship with him is very different from yours.”

“I’m just making sure, cause what if--”

Yamaguchi is pulled from the room and the first thing he notices is that he’s somewhere cold. The next thing is… The taste. Taste? It’s not one he recognizes. He’s not eating, he’s... He’s kissing someone, he realizes. And it feels so… so smooth and warm. It’s comforting and he wants to feel it again and again. He feels himself smile, and he moves to lean back, but isn’t allowed to get too far since there are arms keeping him close. He’s about to see the face of his kissing partner, but in the next moment he’s back in Tsukishima’s room, already out of the vision.

What was that? He was… kissing someone, he thinks , is almost sure, because he’s never actually kissed anyone before. His face feels hot as he processes what he just saw.

“Yamaguchi? You there?”

“Uh, yeah. Sorry, I must be tired, I just spaced out for a bit,” he lies, which Tsukishima must know, as he gives him a look that says he doesn’t fully believe him. 

“Okay it was quiet on your end for a sec. Oh, Kageyama’s trying to call me. I’m gonna let you go now and finish packing! Good night Yamaguchi and Tsukishima!”

“Night,” he replies absently as the call ends. 

But he’s still replaying the vision in his mind, wondering who those lips belonged to, whose arms held him close. 

He thinks about how he’s going to the movies with Kageyama tomorrow and feels dread start to fill his stomach. He’s almost certain there’s something going on between Kageyama and Hinata, and his vision is scaring him into thinking he might somehow get in the middle of that. The last time he felt this much anxiety because of a vision was back in his first year, when he saw himself hit a serve right into the net during a game with Aoba Johsai. That time was especially crushing, because all of his worst fears were confirmed. 

But when he looks at the blond boy sitting across from him, he reminds himself that the visions are not always what they seem, and if the feelings of warmth and satisfaction during his vision were anything to go by, he wasn’t doing something he was unhappy with. He does his best to push it out of his mind and come back to the present moment.

“Who were you talking about? With Hinata.” Tsukishima has abandoned the book and is looking at Yamaguchi directly, and the heat that had temporarily dissipated immediately returns to Yamaguchi’s face. He’s definitely in the present now.

“Kageyama,” he answers honestly. Lying to Tsukki is an extreme sport that Yamaguchi doesn’t like to attempt often, if at all. 

“I saw you two talking earlier.”

“Yeah?”

“You guys looked. Close.”

“Yeah?”

“You gonna just keep saying ‘yeah?’”

“You gonna ask an actual question sometime soon?”

“Shut up, Yamaguchi.”

Later, when the two of them are lying in darkness, Yamaguchi finds courage in the fact that neither of them can see the other’s face clearly.

“I have to go back early tomorrow.”

“Yeah?” Tsukishima asks in a high voice, mocking Yamaguchi from earlier.

“I have to go back early cause I’m going to the movies.”

“With Kageyama?”

“Mhm.”

“Are you homewrecking?”

“You know that word?”

“I know every word.”

“No you do not.”

“Try me.”

“Je ne sais pas."

“I don’t know.”

“See? You don’t know.”

“Yamaguchi.” He swears he can hear Tsukishima roll his eyes.

“I’m not homewrecking.”

“Do you know that word?”

“Yes, I do, and I’m not. He just asked me because Hinata couldn’t make it.”

“What, so you’re the second best thing?”

“That’s what I said!”

“Well, have fun, I guess. If that’s possible.”

“Thanks, Tsukki.”

“And you’re not.”

“Hm?”

“You’re not second best.”

“You saying I’m the best?”

“Go to sleep, Yamaguchi.”

Yamaguchi is getting ready for his… day with Kageyama and if he hadn’t had that vision last night, he thinks he wouldn’t feel apprehensive at all.

In the early days of their friendship, Yamaguchi didn’t know what to make of Kageyama. During their first year, it felt like there was an us-vs-them kind of thing with him and Tsukki, and Kageyama and Hinata. It was difficult not to take it personally, initially, because none of the duo’s ire seemed directed at anyone else. Later, he’d understand that it was largely due to the fact that Tsukishima kept antagonizing the both of them, and Yamaguchi felt horrible thinking about a team where Tsukishima had no one on his side. Whenever Yamaguchi spent time with them away from Tsukishima, however, he found their enthusiasm contagious. He also felt bad about creating an environment that made poor Yachi feel like she was walking on eggshells around them, so he put more effort into at least establishing a rapport with his fellow teammates. Eventually, he felt more comfortable thinking of them as his friends in addition to Tsukki. Hinata had declared them friends soon enough, and so he was left to wonder just what Kageyama thought of them.

At the beginning of their second year, Kageyama had asked Yamaguchi to teach him his jump float serve. Apparently he wanted to add it to his repertoire, and so the two started doing extra practices, sometimes with Shimada, to work on the serve. It was after one of these practices, where Kageyama seemingly out of nowhere asked the question.

“You’d consider yourself and Tsukishima good friends, right?”

“Yeah, we are. How come?”

“How did you become good friends?”

“We met in elementary school and kind of just got closer over time?” He absentmindedly draws shapes in the condensation of his milk tea cup as he searches his mind for the words he could use to describe how he and Tsukki became whatever they are now. “It’s hard to say what exactly led to us being good friends, but one day he helped me out with some bullies and back then I thought he was so cool and found lots of chances to be around him, I guess. Persistence and time, if I had to name it. What’s this about?”

“I’m working on friendship. Getting better at it. I don’t think I can count on having years every time, though. What if you wanna become friends really fast?”

“I think how fast you become friends depends on how much you have in common. You and Hinata became friends really fast, don’t you think?”

“Hinata? ‘Friends’ is… I don’t think he’s a good example. I’ve never met anyone like him so I think he’s special, probably. What about with anyone? What would work with most people?”

“Hmm, I think making time to hang out and learn about each other is a good start. Do something fun and stress-free together. Like a first date, but for friends, you know?”

“What kind of thing is fun and stress-free?”

“Um, maybe going to the mall? There’s a lot of different kinds of shops and you can learn a lot about each other even if you just talk about what you see in the windows. Plus there’s always food.”

“Do you want to go to the mall with me, Yamaguchi?”

“Huh?”

“Do you want to--”

“No, I heard you the first time, it’s just… We’re already friends, right, Kageyama?”

“Are we good friends?”

“Sure, I mean. I think so?”

“Well, what if I wanna be better friends with you?”

“Kageyama, you don’t have to worry, just keep doing what you’re doing. We could hang out more if you wanted, though, I just honestly never thought about hanging out outside of practice and school.”

“Oh. But if we weren’t friends, could that make us friends quickly? Going to the mall together?”

“You’d have to give it time, I mean some people hit it off really fast, but with others you have to be patient with it.”

“I don’t know if I’m gonna have years to become good friends like you and Tsukishima did.”

“If it’s a friendship you value, I’m sure you can get years out of it, at least most of the time.”

“Teammates change more often than that, though. I wanna be the type of setter who can establish strong connections quickly, even if I’m with people I’ve never played with before.”

“Oh. I should’ve known this was about volleyball at its core.”

“Did I not mention that? My bad. I guess it’s more accurate to say I’m trying to get better at building relationships with my teammates.”

“In that case, I’m not sure I’m the best person to give you advice. It might be better to ask someone with the kind of experiences you’re talking about, like our upperclassmen who went into the V-League?”

“That’s true, and I was going to ask them as well. I just thought since the new members liked you so quickly, and you seem to be good at friendships, you’d be good to ask.” 

“What makes you think I’m good at friendships? I’m like. Normal?”

“You got Tsukishima to be your friend. And I just never see you alone. I figured someone who’s never alone’s gotta be good at friendship.”

“That’s probably less to do with ‘friendship skills,’ whatever those are, and more to do with the fact that I’m actually just really uncomfortable with being alone,” he admits.

“I don’t think that’s bad. I didn’t know before, back in middle school, but now that I’m not alone, I don’t ever wanna go back. I like it when people are there better than when they’re not there.”

“I think I agree with you, Kageyama.”

Right before he sets out, he gets a text from Hinata that reads, “I forgot to say, thanks for doing this Yamaguchi! I knew if I didn’t make him invite someone he’d just go alone and be all sad by himself, so I really appreciate it!” Then a few seconds later, “When you get the chance, take a selfie of you two for me, please!!!!! Okay enjoy your movie!” 

If Yamaguchi had to guess, he’d say Hinata was half motivated to request this because he likes any picture of Kageyama that he can get, even if someone else is in it. But Yamaguchi has seen Hinata’s photo albums and knows that there are plenty of him in the one affectionately titled “MY FAVORITES!” He doesn’t know just how selective the album could really be, with a photo count upwards of five-thousand, but he’s glad to know that no matter how many friends Hinata makes, he’ll always have space for Yamaguchi. 

“It was nice actually hearing the whole movie for once,” Kageyama muses aloud. “Hinata’s usually jumping out of his seat and getting shushed every five seconds.”

“No, but really! When I go with Tsukki, he makes comments the whole time!”

“And I didn’t have to sit all the way in the front row ‘cause that shorty can’t see over anyone’s head.”

“Don’t get me started on Tsukki’s super specific seat preference. You know he has one for every theater layout? And I got to actually have popcorn. For all his constant chatter, apparently the sound of chewing popcorn is too noisy for him.”

“Yeah and the popcorn didn’t end up all over me or the floor, thank god. Hinata one-hundred percent would’ve spilled it at that first jump-scare.”

“Which one was that, when she opens the closet?”

“No, no, the dog. Right after she breaks into the house.”

“What? I don’t even remember that. I guess when I don’t have an expert movie critic in my ear I don’t get every little scene and detail burned into my memory.”

“It’s kind of… weird. Usually I’d be arguing about what happened, or who the stupidest character was.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? Not arguing?”

“I guess, but…”

“I get it. All we’ve been doing is talking about them, anyway.”

“It’s just different.”

“Maybe next time we should all go together.”

“Wouldn’t that be super annoying?”

“I don’t know, I think it’d be funny. Tsukki would try to make his comments but Hinata would be so loud that I can’t hear him, and then he’d get super frustrated that he doesn’t have an audience for his special commentary. Now that’s entertainment.”

“Your entertainment is Tsukishima getting frustrated? I thought you were close.”

“It’s because we’re so close that I get to be just as much of a dick to him as he is on a daily basis.”

“Fair enough.”

They make their way to the milk tea place and Yamaguchi decides it’s time to sate his curiosity.

“So you go to the movies with Hinata often?”

“Yeah, like every other week just about.”

“When did this start?”

“Mm, probably somewhere near the end of first year?” That long?! “You remember that sleepover at Tanaka’s place when we watched the movie with the really white monster people?”

“You mean Twilight? With the vampires?”

“Yeah, that. So at one point, Nishinoya’s like, ‘can you imagine if they played volleyball? That would be insane!’” And now Yamaguchi does remember, because everyone started arguing about who should have what power, and he just thought to himself that his own precognition was little help in actual games. He wonders where Kageyama’s going with this, though. 

Yamaguchi nods to tell Kageyama to continue. “And so for the rest of the movie I was just thinking about all the characters as volleyball players, cause that made me actually wanna pay attention. And I realized I could be watching movies and learning about people and thinking about volleyball all at the same time!”

“And Hinata?” Yamaguchi reminds Kageyama that there’s a certain orange-headed movie partner he hasn’t addressed yet.

“And of course Hinata wanted to come with me, cause then we could talk about if like Wreck It Ralph was an outside hitter or how the rat from Ice Age would be a crazy defensive specialist, but only if the ball was an acorn.” Yamaguchi is certain he’s never seen Kageyama this animated, except for in the middle of an actual match. He also thinks Hinata might be the only one who Kageyama feels comfortable doing all that with because he wasn’t doing any of this during the movie they just watched together.

There was still something Yamaguchi was curious about. “Do you guys ever watch rom-coms? Romantic comedies?”

“Um, there was this one with Zac Efron? I don’t know if that counts. He turns into a teenager. Well this old guy turns into him.”

“You guys watched 17 Again together?” He wishes he could’ve seen that.

“Yeah, but then I had to deal with Hinata talking about how he wishes he could go back in time to play with the young versions of everyone old that he could think of, like even the old man from Nekoma, but then again that was kind of interesting after all. And then he got Kozume to send him a picture of the old man in high school and he actually looked kinda nice…” Yamaguchi is starting to think that Kageyama could talk forever if it involved Hinata. He decides whatever reaction he gets to his next question will be informative and entertaining.

“So, have you guys kissed?”

“Huh? Have you even been paying attention to the conversation, Yamaguchi?”

“Yes, and it’s because I’ve been paying attention that I’m asking! I’ve been listening to you gush over your movie dates with Hinata that have apparently been happening for over a year, and so I just wondered if you two have kissed yet.” Yamaguchi takes a long sip of his milk tea, enjoying Kageyama getting flustered a bit too much. Then his phone vibrates on the table and it’s a message from Tsukishima.

“And what about you? Have you kissed ‘Tsukki my #1’ yet?” Kageyama asks, pointing at his phone while leveling his gaze at Yamaguchi. “Does your boyfriend know you’re on a date with me?”

Yamaguchi raises an eyebrow. “So you admit these are dates.”

“So you admit he’s your boyfriend,” he shoots back.

“Neither of us are answering any questions,” Yamaguchi points out.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Yamaguchi bursts out laughing and Kageyama breaks into a reluctant smile. He checks the message.

“Are you still with Kageyama?”

And then one sent soon after, “Did you have dinner yet?”

And still one more, “Hinata said you two look cute together.”

What the… He texts back, “Do you agree?” and attaches the selfie of Kageyama and him that he sent Hinata earlier. In it, Yamaguchi’s holding up a peace sign while Kageyama’s in the middle of sipping his soda in one hand, the other hidden in the popcorn bucket that’s sitting in Yamaguchi’s lap.

“I bet all the popcorn he touches tastes like volleyball.”

“You think his fingers taste like volleyball?”

“Ew wtf.”

“Kageyama, do your fingers taste like volleyball?” Kageyama licks one of his fingers.

“Hm. I guess I have to go taste a volleyball now.” (Later that evening, Yamaguchi gets a message from Kageyama with a baby picture of him with his mouth on a volleyball and the text “Yum.” ) “You should see your face when you’re texting him.”

“I could send you a picture of your face when you’re watching Hinata spike but that would just be the same picture.”

The two finish their drinks and it’s sunset when they head home, splitting up after they get to their train stop. Yamaguchi’s walking when he gets another text from Tsukishima.

“Are you done yet?”

Yamaguchi texts back, “Yeah, I’m omw home now. Walking from the station.”

“Come over real quick.” Yamaguchi adjusts his route to head towards Tsukishima’s place and doesn’t feel inconvenienced at all. Rather, he feels excited, especially because he thinks Tsukishima must have missed him, too.

“Tsukki!” Yamaguchi calls out to the boy sitting on the porch. “Why are you outside, aren’t you cold?”

“It’s not that cold.”

“Yeah, but you have no jacket.”

“I’m fine. Come here.” Yamaguchi goes to sit beside him on the step. “It’s ‘cause you look funny when you walk.”

“I look funny when I walk? That’s not very nice.”

“I mean. No, you don’t look funny. I just can’t see you from my window, so. I sat here. Where I can see you walk up.”

“Oh. Well, don’t know why you’d wanna see that.”

“You look.”

“I look?”

“Cute.” He winces like he regrets the word as soon as he says it. 

“Tsukki!”

“Shut up.”

“Where is this coming from?”

“Nowhere,” he answers, looking somewhere off to the side. He should know Yamaguchi’s not letting him off easy.

“Nowhere, my ass! You think I’m cute! I think you’re cute all the time,” Yamaguchi gushes in that excited way he’s never been able to control when it comes to Tsukishima.

“What the fuck.” He thinks Tsukishima must be having a processing error if he’s run out of witty comebacks.

“Just like that. So cute.” He watches Tsukishima’s cheeks get pinker by the second. Strawberry shortcake might just become his favorite, too.

“Ugh, I’m really regretting my life right now.”

“Tsukki, why did you ask me to come over?”

“That’s the question of the century.”

“Tsukki…”

“Are you gonna go out with Kageyama?” The question proves the point that he can never really know what Tsukishima is thinking. 

“What? No!”

“But you went on a whole date with him and took a dumb little couple selfie and shared your popcorn.” The tone he uses is one of nonchalance but the words are as salty as the popcorn.

“Tsukki, you don’t even like popcorn.”

“So?”

“I’m not dating Kageyama. He likes Hinata,” he explains.

“I know that.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Are you being dense on purpose?” Tsukishima huffs.

“No. I’d just like to hear your thoughts. You know lots of words, right? Try using them.”

“I rubbed off on you in the worst way.”

“Do you wanna rub off on me in the best way?” he asks, grinning mischievously. He thinks years of banter with Tsukishima have turned him into somewhat of a quip machine. 

Tsukishima gasps as he realizes what Yamaguchi just said, then the two promptly burst into laughter. 

“Yamaguchi!” Tsukishima yells through his laughter. “What the hell!”

“I’m joking, I’m joking!” Yamaguchi laughs, then, after a dramatic pause, and a raise of one eyebrow, “Or am I?”

“I love you.”

“WHOA.”

“Ah-I.” Tsukishima composes his features and clears his throat. “I’m not joking. I’m also not saying it again. For the next hour or so.”

“But I can say it. I love you, too, Tsukki.” It feels like a weight’s been lifted off his chest.

“You do?” he asks in a small voice.

“I do,” he answers honestly, “I love you.”

“Don’t say it again.”

“Aw, but I want to.”

“Just don’t,” he almost whines.

“Can we… kiss?” Yamaguchi asks tentatively.

“I don’t know, can we?” Tsukishima asks back, using his go-to strategy of covering up his embarrassment (badly) with snark.

“I’m asking for your permission, Tsukki,” Yamaguchi clarifies.

“…I know, just. Let me take my glasses off.” The movements are slow and measured, like he’d rather be dead than have shaky hands. After setting the glasses down on the porch, he shifts to face more towards Yamaguchi and rests his hands on his lap.

“How many fingers?” Yamaguchi teases.

“You wanted to kiss me, right?”

“Sorry, sorry. Kissing time. Okay, Tsukki?”

“All right. You can kiss me now.” He should have known Tsukishima was just gonna wait there for him. That’s how it always is, anyway. Yamaguchi runs up to meet him where he’s waiting. And he wouldn’t change a thing.

As he leans in, he takes one of Tsukishima’s hands in his, and uses the other to cup his face, the tips of his fingers catching in his soft curls. They look into each other’s eyes until they’re just too close, and finally, their lips meet.

It’s just like his vision, but so much more . It’s the warmth under his hands, the shiver down his spine, the inhale of breath, the sigh of contentment. It’s Tsukki resting his forehead against his, it’s feeling the lift of his cheeks with his own as they breathe in each other’s laughter. Tsukki’s eyes look sparkly and happy, and Yamaguchi feels like he’s got a front-row seat to a meteor shower.

“Cute,” Yamaguchi murmurs.

“Shut up.”

“Okay,” Yamaguchi gives in, and lets Tsukishima shut him up in their new favorite way. They kiss gently and leisurely, until Tsukishima pulls away and they finally catch their breath.

“It’s even better than I remembered,” Yamaguchi breathes.

“What?” Tsukishima asks, still a bit dazed. 

“I mean. Imagined. That’s so embarrassing.”

“You said ‘remembered,’” Tsukishima points out, not letting it go.

“I did.”

“Can I ask you a question?” Yamaguchi’s already racing heart speeds up even more.

“Yeah?”

“You’re like Raven Baxter.”

“That wasn’t a question,” he deflects. “I didn’t know you watched That’s So Raven.”

“Akiteru did. Are you gonna answer my non-question?”

“How about we just kiss some more!”

And in the blink of an eye, Yamaguchi is looking at Hinata collapsed on the ground, panic rising in his chest. What’s going on, why is he on the ground?

“Hinata! Hinata, can you hear me?”

“Hinata!”

Yamaguchi can remember the first time he desperately wanted one of his visions not to come true. They were in middle school, and it was a time during which he recalls his world expanding so much since Tsukishima, and soon after, volleyball came into his life. For the first time, he felt like one of the lucky kids, he played a cool sport, he had a cool best friend, classmates talked to him like he was just another kid their age instead of someone to bully. So when the vision came, he didn’t know what went wrong. He saw his best friend, who seemed to never let anything bother him, utter the very same words he did when they met, but on his face was an expression of shame, disappointment, betrayal. He had never seen Tsukki look so broken before. He was determined not to be the cause of that expression. He treated Tsukishima extra nice, even finished his homework earlier than usual so they could have more time to hang out, but all the trying of a middle school friend couldn’t have prevented the build-up of events that came to its head when Tsukishima learned about his brother’s deception at that Karasuno game. 

The year following that incident was different, as Tsukishima had withdrawn, never getting as excited about anything as he had before. He didn’t reject Yamaguchi, at the very least, just let him stay nearby like he always did, but it had taken months of mostly one-sided conversations to coax Tsukishima back out of his shell. Yamaguchi never wants to go through that again, but he’s afraid he might have to. He’s been keeping a secret from Tsukki since the day they met, and he’s been living with the fear that his confession will be met with that same look of betrayal from all those years ago that he remembers so vividly.

But now the fear of that happening is eclipsed by the fear that his friend is going to get hurt and he doesn’t know if he can do anything to prevent it.

“You saw something.”

“He’s, I think we’re at school, and he’s just on the floor, something happened to him, but I don’t know what. Tsukki, something bad’s gonna happen to him!”

“Yamaguchi. It hasn't happened yet. Do they always come true?”

“They always come true. One hundred percent. It’s always some time in the near future, it could be the same day or sometime in the next few days.”

“Then all we can do is take care of what might happen before or after. Do you wanna tell him?”

“I don’t know, I’m scared, that’s why I haven’t even told you until now.”

“Let’s think about it. What kinds of things could have him on the floor that are preventable? Someone pushes him, he faints from exhaustion, he has a really bad stomach ache.”

“Tsukki be serious.”

“I am being serious. I’m being realistic . You can only let yourself consider the things that are most likely and are actually things you have control over, or else you’ll spiral.”

“Do we tell Kageyama?”

“I don’t know. He’s not always the most level-headed when it comes to Hinata. When does Hinata come back from his trip?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“Keep in contact with him like you’ve been and we’ll get to school early on Monday, and we’ll keep an eye on him as much as possible. That’s all we can do. Okay?”

He nods in response. “I just wish seeing the future was something cool and helpful. But it’s like, more often than not, it just brings me anxiety.” The two sit in silence for a moment, then Tsukishima looks Yamaguchi in the eye, like he’s thought of something.

“You said your visions are something that happens in the near future, and happen one hundred percent, right?”

“Yeah,” Yamaguchi answers, wondering if Tsukishima could have thought about some sort of time-space smart person theory in these few minutes.

“Then, let me give you a vision right now,” he declares.

“Huh?” Before he knows it, Tsukishima is pulling him into a tight embrace, one hand on the back of Yamaguchi’s head and the other across his waist. His chin is over his shoulder but his voice sounds like it’s right there in his ear when he speaks.

“You’re seeing the future now. Sometime in the future, I’m gonna hold you, just like this. You’re gonna be safe, and I’ll be right there, holding you, and it’s gonna happen. Hundred percent.” 

Yamaguchi feels his eyes sting with tears. He doesn’t know if it’s okay to feel this level of comfort when he’s sitting on the knowledge that misfortune is going to befall his close friend soon. But he feels infinitely comforted nonetheless, and he wants Tsukishima to know how thankful he is for his presence, now and in the grand scheme of his life.

“Thank you, Tsukki.” For now, these words will have to do.

“That was a good vision, right?”

“Yeah it was a good one,” Yamaguchi manages a little laugh. “Actually, my first vision of you really helped me out.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, cause I thought you were gonna be really scary but now you’re just my best friend.”

“How is that helpful? And how was I scary?”

“You were giant for a fifth-grader. And ‘cause it was the first time I learned that the visions could actually mean something amazing was coming into my life. Even if it seemed scary at first.”

They talk for a bit more, trading memories back and forth on the porch they both know so well, until Akiteru opens the front door asking if Yamaguchi is staying for dinner. The pair come in from the brisk evening air and Yamaguchi stays over for the second night in a row, this time with Tsukishima’s physical comfort to soothe his nerves.

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi wait at the school entrance Monday morning, watching student after student pass by. When Kageyama comes, they tell him they’re waiting for Hinata, and he waits with them, too. He doesn’t ask why they’re waiting, just complains that it’s cold and how he bets Hinata forgot to wear a jacket. The comment introduces a whole new slew of imagined ways Hinata could fall into Yamaguchi’s mind and Tsukishima squeezes his shoulder to try and ground him.

When Hinata arrives, he’s running his bike toward the gate. He spots his friends and slows down, lifting one hand from the bike’s handlebars to wave.

“You guys waited for me!” Then, with a suddenness and speed that would have been almost comedic if it wasn’t so terrifying, he stumbles, sways, and falls to the ground, the bike clattering to the floor soon after.

“Hinata!” 

Kageyama is at his side, his distressed calls met with no response. Yamaguchi hears Tsukishima say he’s going to go get a teacher, and Yamaguchi is frozen. All he can do is watch, the shock turning every moment into what feels like a thousand years. 

The scene is just like his vision but ten times worse, because it’s happening now and he can’t move, and Hinata is still not moving.

He’s never seen Kageyama like this before, so afraid and helpless. He wonders if Kageyama’s remembering the same thing he is, that time when Hinata collapsed at nationals in their first year. But back then, Kageyama was calm and collected, he’d seen Hinata’s collapse coming from a mile away. Yamaguchi thinks he should be the same, he literally saw this coming. But instead, he feels so out of his depth. He vaguely registers other students walking by, giving them a large radius, but moving on in their own lives, as if they and he are stuck in an infinite vision, during which they cannot interfere, only idly watching as life happens before them.

And then, finally.

It happens.

Hinata wakes up.

“Huh? Why am I lying down?” Hearing him ask in his characteristically curious way makes it seem almost anti-climactic, as if this was just another happening in his life.

“Hinata, you scared the shit out of me!” Kageyama cries, pulling Hinata into his chest. Yamaguchi can move again and he feels like he just ran a marathon with the way his heart is beating and his chest heaving.

“Kageyama, let’s get him to the nurse.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He gets Hinata onto his back and Yamaguchi accompanies them on the way to the nurse. They run into Tsukishima on the way and explain what happened. He and Tsukishima wait outside the nurse’s office while Kageyama and Hinata speak to the nurse, and Yamaguchi rests his head on Tsukishima’s shoulder, relieved at the comfort.

“Are you okay?”

“Better, now that he’s safe.”

“I’m sorry I left you alone.”

“Don’t be sorry. You did the right thing.”

“You did, too.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Tsukishima pulls him into a hug, making good on the promise he made to hold him once more, to make the vision he gave him come true.

“You brought him here with Kageyama. We wouldn’t have even been there at the gate if it wasn’t for you. You did more than enough. Okay?”

“Okay. Thanks, Tsukki.”

They stay as long as they can before a teacher tells them they have to go to class, and Yamaguchi is at least comforted by the fact that for now, Hinata is safe on a soft bed rather than in some unknown state on the ground.

When they check his classroom at lunch, he’s talking to Yachi and a couple other classmates animatedly at his desk, which is filled with at least five different sandwiches and pastries. As they get closer they realize he’s telling the story of this morning, complete with sound effects and dramatics typical of the lively boy.

“They say it was probably ‘cause the last time I ate was like yesterday afternoon. I skipped breakfast cause I woke up late and I was too excited and my usual bike to school was too much to handle without any food in me. But I’m okay now! They gave me food and juice. I just have a bruise on my hip from when I fell, I guess. That’ll go away, though.”

“You could have died, Hinata!” Yachi exclaims. “Do you want my melon bread?” She adds her bread to the pile on his desk, but Hinata just puts it back in her hand with a smile.

“You dumbass, why didn’t you eat! Haven’t you learned how to take care of yourself by now?” Kageyama scolds.

“Did you come all the way here just to scold me, stupid head?”

“My classroom is just next door, fainter.”

“We’re really glad you’re okay, Hinata,” Yamaguchi tells him.

“Aw, thanks Yamaguchi!” Hinata turns to the blond at his side. “Were you worried too, Tsukishima?”

“Worried Yamaguchi might have to date Kageyama in your place, maybe.”

“Da-what?” Hinata yelps.

“Jealous, Tsukishima?” Kageyama taunts, despite the red staining his face.

“Why would I wanna date you, anger issues?” Tsukishima shoots back.

“Tsukki…”

“Not me, glasses-face.”

“Was that not basically what happened on Saturday?” Tsukishima retorts.

“No!” Hinata interjects. “I just wanted Kageyama to have company.”

“Well, make sure you don’t get hurt so you can keep him company yourself.”

“‘I’m happy to see you’re okay, Hinata, I was really worried,’ is that so hard to say, Tsukishima?”

“Good to know you’re capable of saying that many words at once, Hinata.”

“That’s as close as you’re gonna get with him, Hinata, take it or leave it.”

“I know you love me, Tsukki!”

“Don’t call me that.”

“I can’t wait till next year when we don’t have to watch over that idiot anymore,” Tsukishima says as they’re leaving the classroom.

“You’re gonna cry when he leaves.”

“Did you see that in a vision?” Both he and Tsukishima know that he must be joking, since Hinata’s not due to leave to Brazil for another year.

“No.” He smiles, “But you will.”

“Whatever,” he mutters, not denying the statement. “Anyway. I was wondering.”

“About what,Tsukki?”

“Do you see yourself on a date with me in the near future?”

Yamaguchi widens his eyes comically, looking at nothing in particular, then exclaims, “Why, I just did! I saw us at the waffle house on Saturday! Isn’t that crazy?”

Yamaguchi feels a rush of pride when Tsukishima breaks into laughter. 

“Well, now I guess I have to go, don’t I? Since they always come true.”

“I also saw myself doing this!” He tiptoes and puts his lips up to Tsukki’s ear.

I love you!

He watches Tsukishima's ear turn pink as he speeds away.

“Shut up, Yamaguchi,” he tosses over his shoulder, slowing his pace ever so slightly.

“Sorry Tsukki!” He grins as he runs up to meet him.