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Yahaba Shigeru was a pain in the ass. Since taking on his position as captain after Oikawa's leaving, he’d been monitoring Kyoutani as if he were his mother. Kyoutani hadn’t been able to ditch any practice since they’d started their senior year of high school. And he was pissed.
But Yahaba's nuisance didn’t end there. No, he also seemed to have taken on the role of being his warden, because in addition to demanding more from him than anyone else at the club, he also was on his back about his academic performance.
“I don’t want a clod as my ace. Either you pass the next test or I won't set for you,” he’d told him pressing his finger against Kyoutani's chest.
And since there was nothing more stupid than being forced to attend practice but unable to hit the ball, Kyoutani began to study more. He had always struggled with school, but his pride didn’t let him turn down a challenge like that.
So a week later, when the biology teacher handed him back the exam with a pass mark over his name, he’d thought the issue was solved. However, when he proudly showed Yahaba the result, his captain simply nodded and said:
“Well done, for the next one I expect a B.”
What the hell. If it were anyone else, Kyoutani would have snapped at him by now. But Yahaba intimidated him, so he simply grunted and walked away.
Studying to pass was one thing, but to get a B, Kyoutani needed help. That's why one day after training he approached Watari to ask for his aid. The libero was in class 6, so his grades had to be excellent. He also seemed friendly, nothing like the sociopathic Yahaba.
Indeed, Watari was incredibly kind, but it seemed that their schedules were completely incompatible. The only time the two could coincide was at volleyball practice, and Kyoutani couldn't miss practice to study so he could play. It just didn't make sense.
His face must have looked even more sour than usual, because Watari patted him on the back apologetically before saying, “I think Shigeru has the same evenings off as you, why don't you ask him instead?”
And that's how Kyoutani ended up sitting across his kitchen table from Yahaba Shigeru three times a week. He hated to admit it, but the truth was that he was a very good teacher. He was finding it less and less hard to understand the exercises, and there was a day he even raised his hand in class.
Of course, he didn't want to tell Yahaba any of that. It was hard enough to spend most of the week with him without having to endure his smug look from across the table.
In fact, Kyoutani spent more hours a week with Yahaba than with his own family - he had counted them. His family didn't seem to mind, however. His mothers were delighted to have Yahaba around the house all the time.
And that was another thing about Yahaba that irked Kyoutani. Everybody adored him. He seemed to be the only one who knew his captain's dark side. The others might fall for his sweet looks and angelic smiles, but Kyoutani knew he was evil.
“I’m so glad you and Yahaba are so close,” his mother said one day after the other boy had left. “Since you've been with him, your grades have improved and you look in happier spirits.”
Kyoutani was puzzled - close, Yahaba and him? Yes, they spent the day together, but it was out of necessity. And of course they talked more than they used to, it would be weird not to. And what if Kyoutani laughed at Yahaba's jokes? Sometimes they were funny. After walking home together so many times, he had grown accustomed to his freaky sense of humor.
“He's such a polite boy, he always compliments me for my food. Besides, he's so handsome,” his other mother added.
Kyoutani blushed - what would that have to do with anything?
“Look how red you are! Don’t tell us you like him?” his mother teased.
Kyoutani didn't want to dignify that question with an answer, so he simply gathered his books from the kitchen and went to his room. What a stupid thing to think. Why on Earth would he like Yahaba? The mere idea made his stomach twist.
He decided to ignore that thought and banish it to the back of his mind because every time he contemplated it a very uncomfortable feeling ran through his body. Yet another Yahaba-sponsored hassle.
He didn't think about it again until weeks later, when Yahaba, instead of going home as usual after their study session, suggested Kyoutani watch a movie.
“Okay? Sure,” he replied bemusedly. It was a change in their dynamic, but it was actually a pleasing one.
Not that Kyoutani thought Yahaba disliked him, but he was still glad to be assured that he wanted to spend time with him beyond his duties.
Once on the couch, Kyoutani started zapping for something to watch. Yahaba was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, his knee resting on Kyoutani's thigh. For some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about that point of contact.
“Is there anything you want to watch?” he asked hoarsely.
“Whatever’s fine,” Yahaba answered while scrolling on his phone.
He put on a sleuth movie that seemed like it had just started. It shouldn't be hard to follow the plot. However, his mind was elsewhere. Namely, in the smell of Yahaba's fabric softener. It was a fresh scent he’d grown used to overtime, but being so close to it was intoxicating.
Kyoutani glanced sideways at Yahaba. He seemed to be paying attention to the TV, his long eyelashes barely blinking. The screen’s blue light glowed his cheeks, much less rounded than when he first met him almost three years ago. He was pursing his lips in concentration and looked kind of adorable.
Kyoutani noticed a warmth sweep across his face as he realized his mothers were right - Yahaba was very pretty.
“Wasn't that one dead?” Kyoutani was startled at the question. Truth be told, he had no idea what was going on in the movie.
“I’m not sure,” he mumbled. He was too busy sniffing his suddenly handsome friend to pay attention to the plot.
Yahaba frowned. “Well, I guess they'll explain it later.” Kyoutani nodded silently and willed himself to focus on the story.
This task got trickier when Yahaba yawned and rearranged his position on the couch, lying down with his head on Kyoutani's lap.
“Do you mind?”
Kyoutani just grunted, which elicited a chuckle from Yahaba. “Sometimes you do act like a dog.” He looked up at Kyoutani, who was glaring at him half offended. “But not a mad dog. More like a cute puppy,” he said with a playful gleam in his eye.
Kyoutani was glad he turned his head back to the screen, or else he would have seen the blush that was taking over his face.
After another murder of a character Kyoutani didn't remember, they went on a commercial break. Yahaba took his cell phone out of his pocket again and started flicking through photos. He was placed in a way that Kyoutani could clearly see the screen.
Wait, was that a shirtless man? Kyoutani frowned. “What are you looking at?”
“Ah, just some Tinder profiles,” Yahaba answered lazily.
The information hit him like a cold shower. Kyoutani cleared his throat and tried to steady his suddenly fast heartbeat. “And how’s it?”
“It’s quite funny, actually.”
“Funny?” Kyoutani didn’t know how to take that statement.
“Yeah, look at this one!”
Yahaba sat up and returned to his original spot, sitting next to Kyoutani. He immediately felt the warmth of his arm pressed against his.
He opened a chat and showed the thread to Kyoutani. «What do you like to do in your free time? Besides volleyball» a certain Takeshi had sent. Kyoutani thought this was quite normal until he saw Yahaba's answer. «I like reading books and snorting cocaine :)»
“What the fuck? Yahaba?” he asked staring at him with wide eyes. The other boy was laughing himself silly.
“Now look at his reply,” he told him as he clenched his belly.
Kyoutani scrolled down. «I like books too!» He bit back a smile. It was kind of funny.
“But don’t you want to really talk to him?” he said, trying to feign indifference.
“Nah, he’s gutless.” Yahaba shrugged.
“Then why do you keep texting him?”
“I told you, it’s hilarious! They're so desperate that you can say anything you want and they'll keep trying to make conversation.” And there it was, the mischievous look on Yahaba's face that only Kyoutani seemed to know. A very sweet boy, my ass. Yahaba was a public menace. A pretty one.
“I thought this app was for finding someone appealing to you, not for messing with the dupes.”
Yahaba stopped laughing.“I’ve already found someone,” he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper.
At that, Kyoutani looked up quickly from the screen. Yahaba was watching him with an amused smile on his face, his eyebrow raised in defiance.
For the first time in his life, Kyoutani did not know how to face a challenge. He looked away, pretending to pay attention to the TV commercials.
“And how’s that person like?” His voice sounded much less confident than he’d want it to.
“You see, he acts so toughly, but he’s actually a softy.” Kyoutani could feel Yahaba's gaze on him but was unable to return it. “The kind of guy who rescues stray dogs and takes care of them.”
His heart was about to burst out of his chest. Could it be…?
“He has a lot of determination, you know? You had to see how hard he’s worked this year to achieve his goals. Quite admirable.”
Kyoutani swallowed hard, did Yahaba think that of him? He felt his cheeks burn.
“Until now, I thought he was very brave, but he seems to be proving me wrong.” The slight sneer in Yahaba's voice was enough to make Kyoutani finally look him in the eye. Yahaba was grinning at him with his head leaning against the back of the sofa.
“So what do you think?” continued Yahaba. “Should I make the first move? Or wait for him to grow a pair?”
Yahaba's laughter was drowned by Kyoutani's lips. The kiss was nothing more than a peck, short and chaste.
It shook Kyoutani to his core.
“I am not a coward”, he whispered over Yahaba's lips.
“Could have fooled me.”
“You’re an emotional terrorist,” growled Kyoutani. But he wasn’t angry. He couldn’t, when Yahaba was smiling at him like that, the ghost of his mouth lingering on his own.
“And yet you like me.”
“And yet I like you.”
Their second kiss was more leisurely, their tentative lips barely able to hold back a smile. Soon, their hands began to move toward each other. Gentle caresses on toned arms, light touches along their necks, fingers tangling in unbelievably soft brown hair.
The sound of a gunshot made them break the kiss. “It seems that the film is back,” Kyoutani noted, trying to catch his breath.
“You weren't watching shit”, Yahaba laughed.
“And whose fault is that?”
“What, now I have to apologize for being hot?”
Kyoutani snorted. “And a menace.”
Yahaba batted his eyelashes innocently. Kyoutani shook his head, unable to stop smiling. Quietly, they settled on the couch so that Yahaba's back rested against Kyoutani's chest, their hands intertwined on Yahaba's lap.
And thus they remained for the rest of the film, cuddled and happy, drawing patterns on each other's hand. The same hands they would be holding on their way to school the next day. And the next one, and the one after that.
And even if they’d already spent a lot of time in each other’s company that year, they were still looking forward to all the life that lay ahead for the two of them.
Together.