Archive of Our Own

"What the fuck," Kuroo states flatly. "Kenma," he bellows, "Get in here!" He sticks his head down the hall. "There's two of you. Kenma!"

Yachi Hitoka is, naturally, supremely bewildered at Kuroo Tetsurou's presence in her best friends' dorm.

At the sight of Kenma’s sluggish journey into the room, she brightens up. "Oh, Kodzuken! My girlfriend watches your streams."

Tsukishima, a bystander, is unperturbed, having been the unfortunate recipient of Kuroo's ideas, many, many times. So has Kenma, unfortunately, who is equally unimpressed.

"Kuroo." Tsukishima addresses him, who is still gawking at Kenma and Yachi standing side by side. "You said your schedule was full."

Kuroo, having recovered, shrugs. "Yeah, well, a spot opened up and Kenma happened to be free too so I thought, hey, why not pop down to see dear old Tsukki," he throws a flippant arm over Tsukishima’s shoulder, "and see how our favorite kouhai is faring in university!"

Seeing Tsukishima’s grimace, he quickly adds, "And I thought we could run a test for the ad I was talking to you about."

Tsukishima shrugs Kuroo’s hand away. "I never agreed to that." He points out, at the same time Yachi turns and asks, "Ad?"

Kuroo brightens up. "Yeah! I called Tsukki a couple weeks ago about a sponsorship opportunity for the Japan Volleyball Association, I thought he could model, or be the face of an advertisement we’re planning or something."

"Which I never actually agreed to," Tsukishima interjects, at the same time Yachi exclaims, "That sounds like a great idea!"

Betrayed, Tsukishima looks at Yachi. "Hitoka."

"What?" She points at him, accusingly. "It’s no secret that you want to go pro— yes you do," she hisses at him, "And this is a great way to get your name and face out there so teams can scout you!"

At least she’s excited. Still, Tsukishima can admit that yes, it is a rare opportunity for him, a privilege, even, but it’s Kuroo. Why did it have to be Kuroo?

Not to mention, Tsukishima was still miffed at Kuroo showing up unannounced. Naturally, Kuroo knew this would annoy him so he brought Kenma because Tsukishima actually likes Kenma, and Kenma came because Tsukishima once told Kuroo offhand that Yachi makes really good apple pie and he used it as an incentive because he's scheming like that, and of course, Yachi would jump at the opportunity to bake because she’s lovely like that. How tragic for him.

They spend the next hour setting up a shitty backdrop in Tsukishima and Yamaguchi’s shared living room, as small and cramped as it is. Namely, setting up refers to Kuroo pushing their sparse furniture away from the one wall untainted by ominous stains or moldy cracks, while Kenma and Yachi retreat away into the kitchen, a warm aroma beginning to emerge through the door. Tsukishima watches, disdainfully and unhelpfully.

"Voilà!" Kuroo exclaims triumphantly, brushing the dust off his hands. Tsukishima looks at the pitiful set Kuroo has constructed—the white wall that really isn’t white anymore cast in pitiful lighting from the awkward angle of the dormitory window—he is distinctly unimpressed.

"This is just for testing, the actual thing will be shot at headquarters," Kuroo insists. "This one is more for you."

It's at this moment that Yamaguchi decides to come home.

Yamaguchi Tadashi walks in blowing a stick of bubblegum, clad in a dark cropped top. His navel is exposed, freshly adorned with a shiny gem. He makes eye contact with Kuroo the same second the bubble in his mouth pops, and he chews his gum slowly.

"Sorry," he asks sheepishly, "Am I interrupting something?" Kuroo simply gawks. "I just wanted to show Kei and Yacchan my new stud, I can come back!"

Suddenly, Yamaguchi straightens up. "Oh! Nekoma! I remember you!" Kenma and Yachi have poked their heads out of the kitchen, hands dusted with flour. "And Kodzuken! I watch your stuff. You’re good," he adds, nodding appreciatively.

Kuroo looks him up and down, from his ponytail to his cropped shirt, his piercing, to his studded jeans and combat boots, and pushes Tsukishima away. "Nevermind," he declares, "I want that one. Hey, how tall are you?’ "

Yamaguchi laughs, abashedly. "One-eighty?"

Kuroo smirks. "About seven centimeters shorter than me then."

"Seven centimeters isn’t much," Yamaguchi protests, and this is how it begins.

Yamaguchi bonds effortlessly with Kenma over Smash as they embark on an ambitious tourney, deaf to Kuroo’s protests, playing round after round waiting for the apple pie to bake in the oven.

"Shit," Kenma mutters as the commentator in the background declares Yamaguchi’s victory. "You’re good."

Yamaguchi grins at him. "Thanks! I think Tsukki’s tired of me bullying the hell out of him, plus he’s trash, and only mains Ridley because he looks kind of like a dinosaur. I keep telling him that Ridley’s an alien but he won’t hear it."

Kenma cracks a rare, wry smile. They exchange friend codes, promising to play again in the future while Tsukishima protests in the background at the blow to his self-esteem.

A faint ding goes off in the background, and Kenma’s head whips around as Yachi pokes her head out. "Kodzuken-san," she calls, "Your pie!" Kenma is gone in an instant, the back of his hoodie just seen whisking away into the kitchen.

"Impossible," Kuroo shakes his head. "That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen him move, and we went to nationals together." Yamaguchi snickers lightly, and everyone misses the way Kuroo's eyes linger.

Yachi cuts them all slices and they gather together in the strewn living room, munching away happily. Tsukishima and Kenma claim the sofa while Yachi and Yamaguchi kneel together agreeably on the floor. Kuroo, banished, leans on Kenma’s side of the couch as he balances precariously on the armrest.

"Hitoka!" Yamaguchi leans into her, "This is so good! You should bake more often."

"Thanks," she grins. "Kodzuken-san helped too."

"You did most of the work," Kenma says, through a mouthful of pie. "Also, call me Kenma." He finishes his slice and stands up in search of seconds, allowing Kuroo to fall to his doom onto the couch.

Yachi blushes, but she looks proud of herself.

Tsukishima finishes his slice and stands as well, mostly looking to increase the distance between him and Kuroo. "Well," he says, brushing the crumbs off his hands onto Kuroo’s shirt, "I have practice soon."

Kuroo begins to open his mouth. "Most of the daylight is gone anyway," Tsukishima reasons. "We wouldn’t be able to do your ad today." Kuroo begrudgingly closes his mouth.

"I should get going too," Yachi stands, briefly checking the time on her phone. "Kanoka’s visiting tonight, and I want to save some pie for her before Kodz—Kenma devours it all."

Kuroo tilts his head towards the kitchen, from where Kenma has not returned. "Better be quick."

Yamaguchi takes Tsukishima’s place on the couch. "Are you guys leaving then?" He frowns, "You made the trip here, it seems a bother for you to return immediately."

"Nah," Kuroo reassures him, "I’m in the city for work so don’t worry about me. Kenma’s just here for pie, but he’ll just do whatever. It’s no trouble, really."

"Still," Yamaguchi insists, "Let me make it worth your while. Here," he compromises, "Before you go, let me show you around campus. It’s really nice! Plus I can show you the volleyball court and everything, maybe it can even help your advertisement."

"Alright." Kuroo assents, standing up and brushing off the pie crumbs. "Let me grab my jacket."

---

"So you graduated, like, this year?" Yamaguchi puts his hands behind his head as they stroll out of the dormitories. "I can’t imagine what that’s like," he marvels.

Kuroo hums. "Yeah, a couple months ago. That means you're, what, starting third year? Damn, that feels like ages ago. Time really speeds up once you’re out of school."

"Well, at least I’ve got that to look forward to," Yamaguchi shudders. "God, finding a job sounds like hell." He points to a building coming up on the left. :Gym’s in here."

"It’s not so bad," Kuroo chuckles. "Well, I chickened out and stuck with volleyball, but you branched out, didn’t you? I can’t remember what Tsukki told me you were studying, Robotics? Now that, that sounds like hell. Why that?"

"Computer Science," Yamaguchi nods, holding open the steel doors for Kuroo. "And I don’t know, I like solving problems, and I’ve never been interested in proper academics or art like Tsukki or Yacchan. It has its ups and downs, but at least it’s useful, not like Tsukki’s History courses," he deadpans.

Kuroo laughs. "Yeah, what an idiot. I took Business for the same reasons, and it’s worked out okay so far. CS though, that sounds hard. Very much more of a Kenma-esque course than me. Even chemistry got hard at some point, and I live and breathe chem."

Yamaguchi shudders. "It definitely has its hard parts. If it weren’t for Yacchan I think I honestly would have shattered my laptop over code by now." He directs Kuroo up a flight of stairs.

"Also," he continues, "I don’t think you ‘chickened out’ at all by joining the JVA. In fact," he adds, "I think it’s kind of admirable. I know you’re smart and everything, and I found it crazy when I heard you didn’t go pro, I mean," he glances over at Kuroo shyly, "You’re really good. Obviously. But you," he struggles to find the words and Kuroo stays silent, "You went to school! You did things you wanted to, things you maybe didn't, and you came back to what you know and love having bettered yourself through everything. You have more to contribute now. I remember, your team really looked up to you as captain. Daichi-san respected you, and the JVA is lucky to have you." Kuroo is quiet.

"Anyway," Yamaguchi clears his throat, pink spots appearing high on his cheeks. "We’re here."

He throws open a set of foam doors and strides ahead, breathing in the scent of rubber. Kuroo watches him for a moment, mind blank, before following him into the gym.

They walk out onto a balcony overlooking the volleyball courts, where practice is still in session. Yamaguchi’s eyes search the players, and he points a slender finger to a figure near the net. Kuroo sees Tsukishima, sports glasses strapped to his face and long arms raised high.

"There’s our golden boy," he says. Yamaguchi giggles lightly.

Kuroo turns to him curiously. "Why aren’t you down there? Kenma and I came to see your guys’ last games. You wanna talk about good team captains? You were great, seriously. Definitely made ol' Daichi proud."

Yamaguchi is pleased, rubbing the back of his head and mussing up his ponytail. His hot-pink hairtie briefly catches Kuroo’s eye.

"I love volleyball," Yamaguchi rolls his shoulders backwards in slow circles, "But I don’t think I care much for collegiate-level competition. Plus," he shoots Kuroo a wry grin. "School demands that all jewellery be removed in practices and games and," he gestures to his still-exposed navel and that shiny, shiny gem. Kuroo stares at it, having forgotten. "Can’t have that, can we?"

"No," he says slowly, still staring, "We certainly can’t." He drags his eyes back up to Yamaguchi’s. "How many of those do you have, anyway?"

Yamaguchi purses his lips and brings his hands up to his ears and face, mouthing silently. They travel downwards as he counts on his fingers. "Twelve," he says finally, "And this one makes thirteen."

Kuroo raises his eyebrows, impressed. "Thirteen, huh? I can only see, what, ten, eleven of them?"

At this, Yamaguchi laughs quietly, looking the other way. "Yeah well," he smirks, "Some of them are… elsewhere."

Kuroo chokes and Yamaguchi pats him on the back, still snickering. "I’m not in high school anymore, senpai," he jokes.

"Yeah, evidently," Kuroo remarks, under the heat of Yamaguchi’s hand. A shout from the gym below draws their attention, they look back just in time to see the ball come into clean contact with Tsukishima’s waiting fingers.

"Go, Tsukki!" Yamaguchi cheers, laughing.

"One touch!" Kuroo offers, and the two of them burst into laughter at the mirthless look Tsukishima shoots up at them, having noticed their presence.

"Oh, he hates us," Yamaguchi giggles, and Kuroo grins at him, thinking. "Hey," he asks suddenly, "Do you have plans after this?"

Yamaguchi looks up at him, squinting his eyes to the ceiling as he muses. "Mm, Hitoka’s out on her date tonight, and Tsukki’s going to be dead tired after this, so besides dropping a quick meal off for him, no not really. Why?"

Kuroo shrugs, "I don’t know, maybe you can show me around some more, we can stop at a cafe or something. This is fun."

A slow smile spreads across Yamaguchi’s face. "Yeah," he muses, turning back to the gym. "This is fun."

---

"And that’s where Tsukki fell asleep on his way to class." Yamaguchi points out a sad-looking bush on the side of the walkway, dimly lit by campus streetlights.

"Hitoka and I call it the Kei-ditch," they cackle at the prospect of Tsukishima’s lanky body collapsing into the grass, eyes lazy and no doubt grumbling to anyone in hearing distance.

"Man," Kuroo wipes tears from his eyes, "What a fucking dumbass." Yamaguchi nods in agreement, face split into a grin. "What a dumbass."

He leads Kuroo into the quad, pulling him under a large tree. The shadow of the leaves darken the grass, streetlights above and the rising moon casting a gentle glow over Yamaguchi’s hair and the back of his neck. "Here," he says, plopping down on the grass. "We eat lunch here most days, we can eat now before I deliver this stuff to Tsukki."

Kuroo sits, facing Yamaguchi, and the two of them reach for their loot from the campus cafe, as well as a six-pack of beer they grabbed last minute from the corner store. Yamaguchi bites happily into his onigiri, and Kuroo pulls out his own food, happy enough to secure the last sandwich before closing time.

"By the way," Kuroo starts awkwardly, "What you said earlier, about me in the JVA and everything…" He offers a small smile. "Thanks. It was kind of you."

Yamaguchi swallows his mouthful as quickly as he can, shaking his head wildly. "No!  It was—I don’t know, it was obvious to me. I mean, we are the Monster Generation," he makes awkward finger quotations with the hand holding his onigiri, "I’m sure all of them are grateful to see a familiar face looking out for them."

Kuroo grins at the prospect. "Maybe not all of them." A certain glasses-clad scowl flashes simultaneously through their minds, setting them off into helpless giggles again.

"Speaking of the Monster Generation," Yamaguchi stretches out, cracking open a can of beer. He passes one to Kuroo. "I'm dying to know, who have you seen since all this JVA stuff?"

"Hm," Kuroo leans back, mimicking Yamaguchi’s posture and taking the can gratefully. "I talk to Bokkun—I mean, Bokuto, alot, he got picked up by the Jackals almost immediately, and he sends me all his professional questions. Oh and, not me but a colleague of mine talked to some kid, I think he used to live in Miyagi too?  Koga—Kogami?"

"Koganegawa." Yamaguchi supplies. "Yeah, he went to Date Tech! Wrecked us our second year," he mutters, and Kuroo puts a hand over his chest in mock support.

"Happens to the best of us. Yeah, Koganegawa, he’s got his eye on some Div. 2 team. Oh god, speaking of Div. 2 teams," Kuroo wrinkles his nose. "Suguru Daishou," he spits out. Yamaguchi tilts his head in question.

Kuroo waves a hand. "An outside hitter for the Motor Spirits now, you know, the Yotsuya area, but he used to go to Nohebi, in Tokyo like me.  Slimy little bastard," he mutters, "But he had a good arm and almost too good of an eye. Freaked me out, if I’m being honest." He takes a sip of his beer, grimacing at the memory.

"I knew a player like that too," Yamaguchi nods, "We played him in our first year, I think in the spring tournament? His team was, uh, crazy, for lack of a better word." He shakes his head in wonder. "I wouldn’t say they were slimy , but they were… unpredictable." He smirks. "Still beat them though."

Kuroo tips his can at him. "I’m sure you did. Unpredictable, huh? That scare you?"

"A bit," Yamaguchi ponders, tilting the rest of his beer into his mouth. He looks at Kuroo from behind his eyelashes, pale in the moonlight. "I’d say I’ve gotten just a little more daring since then though."

"Just a little," Kuroo smirks. "I’m sure."

"That player," Yamaguchi drawls, "That was the first time I’d seen a tongue piercing in real life before, and he had his hair dyed all cool too."

Kuroo laughed, gesturing at Yamaguchi’s very green hair and the metal littering his body. "So you, what, took a little inspiration?"

Yamaguchi nods sheepishly. "Yeah! It was awesome. I saw his and just had to get a tongue piercing too."

"Oh yeah?" Kuroo leans forward. "Show me."

Yamaguchi complies, sticking his tongue out to play with the tab on his beer can. The metal barbell catches the light of the streetlamps and gleams coolly. He retracts his tongue.

"It’s one of my favorites," he says.

Kuroo’s mouth, for some reason, is dry. "I’m sure it is," he says, and takes a swig of his beer can only to find it empty.

"Well," Yamaguchi rolls his neck, "This has been fun, but I wanna get some of this food back to Tsukki before he passes out. You’re still in the city for a bit though, yeah?"

Kuroo nods hurriedly, standing up. "Yeah, for a week or so."

"Cool," Yamaguchi picks up his bag. "The university is actually hosting a fair this week, so if you’re gonna come back for Tsukki’s uh, advertisement thing, maybe we can go look at some showcases or something?" He grins at him.

Kuroo finds himself grinning back. "That sounds great."

"Great," Yamaguchi says, teeth bright under the streetlights.

"Let me walk you to the dorm," Kuroo finds himself saying, and Yamaguchi murmurs his assent. The walk back is quiet, casual, with Yamaguchi pointing out particular buildings and accompanying anecdotes and Kuroo nodding along, laughing on occasion.

"Well," Yamaguchi says, "This is me." He glances at Kuroo, looking down at him from the doorstep. "Today was more fun than I thought it would be."

"What, you find me boring?" Kuroo jokes, leaning against the wall.

"Anything but," Yamaguchi laughs, reaching into his back pocket for his keys. "See you around, Kuroo-san."

"Just Kuroo," Kuroo replies as Yamaguchi unlocks the door.

"Alright," Yamaguchi slips inside, green hair whisking around the corner. "Goodnight, Just Kuroo."

"'Night." He says back, and only as he walks away, pulling out his phone, does he realize he forgot to get Yamaguchi’s number. For the university fair. He texts Kenma.

kuro

ayo

sorry i lowkey ditched you

was hanging out with yamaguchi

kenma (don’t you dare give me a dumb nickname)

all good

just chilled with hitoka until she left

back at hotel now

u hv fun?

kuro

yea actually

got invited to uni fair, thinking of going in for it

u in?

kenma (don’t you dare give me a dumb nickname)

eh, mayb

don’t wanna get recognized

kuro

oh kay celebrity-sama

kenma (don’t you dare give me a dumb nickname)

stfu

kuro

oh yea i forgot to get his phone number

did u happen to get it

from ur hive mind gaming session

kenma (don’t you dare give me a dumb nickname)

stfu

but yea

here

kuro

tyty

Kuroo pulls up the phone number Kenma gave him, entering the contact name and sending a quick text.

kuroo

yo

got ur # from kenma

realized i forgot to ask for it earlier

this is kuroo

btw

had fun today! see u later this week then?

---

"Shut your phone up," the lump in the bottom bunk groans. Tsukishima sits up, dazed. Yamaguchi snickers at his sorry state.

"Brought you food." He says, turning on his desk light.

Tsukishima makes grabby hands. "Gimme."

Yamaguchi hands him a bag of French fries, lukewarm from the time he had spent sitting outside. Tsukishima doesn’t seem to mind, tearing into them with fervor.

"Who’s texting you anyway," he mumbles through a mouthful of food.

"No idea," Yamaguchi glances over at the phone he placed haphazardly on his desk. "Unknown number. He peers over the screen. "Oh. Kuroo-san. From earlier."

"I know who Kuroo is." Tsukishima grumbles. "Unfortunately. What does he want?"

"Uh," Yamaguchi opens the text chat, typing a quick hello. "We’re making plans for the uni fair this week."

"Hm," Tsukishima hums, listlessly.

yamaguchi

hey!

no worries

i had fun too!

kuroo

i’m glad

so when’s ur fair starting?

yamaguchi

uh tmr actually

u wanna come in?

or is that too soon

kuroo

no not too soon at all

i’ll be there

looking forward to it

yamaguchi

me too!

how’s 10?

kuroo

10 is great

see u then

yamaguchi

see you then!

goodnight, kuroo

"Right," Yamaguchi says, switching his phone off. "We’re meeting again tomorrow and I’m gonna show him around some more. Just, you know, casual stuff."

"Hm," Tsukishima says again. "What did you guys do today anyway? Besides embarrass me, I mean." He scowls at the memory of earlier. He had gotten some joking nudges in the locker room after that.

Yamaguchi grins and then shrugs. "I don’t know, we just walked around, and talked. Made fun of you a bunch. Had some food." At Tsukishima’s unimpressed expression, he laughs slightly. "It was fine! It was fun." He trails off.

"Alright." Tsukishima shrugs, eyeing him tiredly. "If you say so. All the better to take him off my hands anyway."

"All the better," Yamaguchi echoes, walking into the bathroom.

---

"Kenma," Kuroo calls into the hallway, "What do you wear to a university fair?"

"Clothes." Kenma’s dull voice floats into the bathroom, where Kuroo is looking at himself in the mirror.

"Very helpful," Kuroo calls back, "Always grateful for your input."

Kenma appears in the doorway, wrapped in a blanket. "Does it matter? It’s a university fair, not a business conference."

"Kenma." Kuroo says, seriously. "It’s a university fair. There are kids. Naive, impressionable kids. I gotta make a good impression! I gotta seem young, and hip, and cool, or whatever."

"Kuro." Kenma is not impressed. "You’re like, two years older than them. Three at best. Shut up. You’ll never be cool. Plus," he says, voice floating away, "Don’t act like you care about impressing kids. You just wanna impress Tadashi."

"Tadashi?" Kuroo echoes. "No. What? Tadashi? I mean," he scratches his head. "Tada—Yamaguchi is like. The very essence of cool."

Kenma makes a noise of agreement. "You’re right there. Tadashi is cool. You have no hope in catching up to him. Just wear, like, jeans? I don’t know why you’re asking me."

"You’re right," Kuroo agrees, "You haven’t taken off those sweatpants since high school, I don’t know why I’m asking you."

"Because you have no friends." Kenma appears back in the doorway, a cup of coffee clutched between his fingers.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Kuroo says, walking past him into the bedroom to leaf through his suitcase for a pair of jeans.

Yamaguchi is cool. When he meets him at the university gate, he isn’t wearing a cropped top like the day before, unfortunately, but his t-shirt is ripped in an artsy way that makes him seem cool and decidedly not clumsy instead, and his jeans are dark and baggy and also ripped in a way that looks deliberate, and not like Kenma’s ratty sweatpants. How he does it, Kuroo will never know. He waves a hand in greeting.

Yamaguchi pops a pink gum bubble in his mouth and waves in response. Airily. Coolly. Very coolly.

"So," Yamaguchi asks him, rolling his shoulders. "What do you wanna see first?"

They end up skipping most of the stalls and showcases—they pop by the volleyball club to poke fun at Tsukishima, who got roped into promo-ing the team although his scowl is not doing him any favors, and spend some time at Yachi’s design exhibit, cooing at the styrofoam people propped up in the big three-dimensional structures.

‘"That one’s Tsukki," Yamaguchi gently taps the head of a styrofoam man, decidedly turned away from the of the room and instead facing the corner.

Kuroo snickers. "He’s in time-out. Hey, that one’s Kenma." He points to another styrofoam figure who, similarly, has been banished to the furthest bathroom stall on the top floor.

"That’s you," Yamaguchi says gently, pointing to a taller figure among a large cluster of styrofoam people. "You’re giving a big important conference to the JVA and they’re all thinking about how lucky they are to have you on board."

Kuroo looks at the styrofoam figure Yamaguchi is indicating. Its arm is outstretched in a gesture. Something settles in Kuroo’s chest and he smiles, quietly.

Small knuckles rap against their skulls. "Are you guys done crowding the exhibit?" Yachi reprimands, tone friendly. "Some people are actually here to look at our exhibits and not roleplay as literal styrofoam."

"Alright, alright," Yamaguchi laughs playfully. "We were just admiring the craftsmanship."

"Craftsmanship, my ass," she laughs, small smile gracing her face. "Still, glad you’re having fun."

"I glanced at your exhibit, by the way," Kuroo says, facing Yachi, and both she and Yamaguchi turn to look at him. "I liked it. Very spacious, clean, nice lightning. Wish JVA headquarters were like that. God, that building is so old and damp it feels like Kenma’s bedroom." Yachi giggles lightly.

"I liked your report too,’ he continues, "Read well, easy on the eyes. Very graphically pleasing."

Yachi is flushed a pleased pink, and Yamaguchi looks similarly happy as well.

"Well, thanks, Kuroo-san," she smiles. "Alright, you’re forgiven for messing around my exhibit. Now," she takes their elbows. "Go have fun! I spotted a takoyaki stand nearby, go grab me one of those."

Yamaguchi runs a hand through his hair as they exit the design building, on the hunt for takoyaki. "That was nice of you," he says quietly, looking up at Kuroo as they navigate the busy crowds.

"Hm?" He asks, "The exhibition? I was just being honest."

"Still," Yamaguchi persists, not breaking eye contact. His eyes are brown. Light brown. Kind of hazelly. "Yacchan’s been nervous about her exhibit for weeks, and I didn’t notice you looking over her stuff. It was kind of you. Thanks for that, Kuroo-sa—Kuroo. It’s nice hearing you talk."

"I—" Kuroo is, oddly, at a loss for words. This is the second time Yamaguchi has rendered him silent in two days. He thinks of styrofoam figures in front of styrofoam crowds. "It was nothing."

Yamaguchi smiles. "It wasn’t nothing. Now," he turns his head. "That takoyaki stand."

The day passes quickly. They visit food stalls and snack intermittently as they traverse campus. Yamaguchi dutifully puts aside a takeout box of takoyaki for Yachi, and they end up, as fate would have it, watching the volleyball exhibition games, this time with significantly more people loitering around them.

At the sound of a quiet sigh, Kuroo turns. Yamaguchi’s eyes are glued to the court as he absentmindedly chews on an egg waffle.

"Sometimes I do miss volleyball," he mumbles, offering the waffle to Kuroo, who dutifully tears off a piece and pops it in his mouth.

"Me too," he says, glancing down at his hands, the ghost touch of a leather ball trailing his fingers. He pictures Nekoma’s ever-faithful red lining his back and a circle of tall, sweating boys with their heads bowed together, hands clasped in the center. He pictures a certain green-haired player on the other side of the net, watchful, purposeful.

Yamaguchi winces at a shrill blow of the whistle and turns his attention back to the game, as does Kuroo. He scours the players on court, and, satisfied that a certain player is not occupied, discreetly turns his phone on.

kuroo the wise

tsukki

tsukki <3

i’m busy

kuroo the wise

no ur not

benchwarming scrub

anyway i gotta question

---

Kuroo’s not really sure who wins the game, in all honesty he isn’t really paying attention.

"One sec," Yamaguchi turns his head. "Bathroom."

Kuroo nods. "I’ll be downstairs." He makes his way to the main floor of the gym, where players and spectators alike are already filtering out the main doors. He stops a pair of freshmen in the process of taking down the nets.

"No need," he says. After a quick explanation, they nod and jog over to inform the manager, who clears the rest of the team out pretty quickly. When Yamaguchi returns, he glances around, looking for Kuroo.

"Yo." He hears a call and looks up. Kuroo is sprawled out in the referee’s seat, grinning lazily, its metal legs creaking as he sways.

"Fancy seeing you here," Yamaguchi calls back, grinning slightly.

Kuroo hops down from the seat, picking up a volleyball from the ground. He tosses it in a slow, high arc to Yamaguchi, who digs it back effortlessly. Kuroo sets it to him, and they begin an easy series of passes.

"Your school has pretty lax rules about facility booking and everything," Kuroo says, offhand, "So I got the gym under your name for like, an hour."

Yamaguchi laughs. "I… didn’t know you could do that. I usually just come to watch. Cool. Uh, why?"

Kuroo catches the ball and shoots him a toothy grin. "You said you missed volleyball. Turns out I did too. Now, show me that floater." He throws Yamaguchi the ball and ducks under the net, dropping into an exaggerated defensive stance. "Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten."

Yamaguchi lets out a laugh, jogging to the baseline. "I’m rusty," he warns, but when he turns to face him, the glint in his eyes looks no different from all those years ago. He tosses the ball up.

---

Kuroo collapses onto the floor next to Yamaguchi, panting. He turns to look. Yamaguchi’s eyes are closed, an easy smile gracing his face. His limbs are spread like a starfish, and he looks happy, sated, Kuroo thinks. Kuroo hopes.

"That was fun," Yamaguchi laughs, the sound reverberating around the empty gym. His eyes are still shut.

"Yeah." Kuroo is still looking at Yamaguchi. He fell asleep the previous night to a nature documentary airing on the hotel television about the Amazon rainforest—the infinite forestry eerily matches the deep green of Yamaguchi’s hair. The afternoon sun drips through the skylight and makes the metal in his face and ears gleam. He glances down, Yamaguchi’s shirt has ridden up, the gem in his navel visible. "That was fun," he echoes.

They are engulfed in shadow; glancing up, they see Tsukishima peering down at them.

"How were your club duties?" Yamaguchi inquires. Tsukishima snorts "I’m quitting volleyball forever."

Yamaguchi snorts. "Please. The team would crash and burn without you." He reaches his hand out and Tsukishima wordlessly pulls him up, mumbling something unintelligible. Kuroo watches their hands connect.

Tsukishima kicks lightly at his arm. "Get up," he says.

Kuroo grins up at him. "What, don’t I get a lift too?" Tsukishima snorts and walks off. "Your gym hour’s up. It’s the basketball team’s turn."

Yamaguchi snickers and extends a hand to him. Kuroo takes it. Yamaguchi’s hand is surprisingly soft. He pulls him up effortlessly. Soft, but strong.

After saying their goodbyes, Kuroo thinks about Yamaguchi’s hands all the way back to his and Kenma’s hotel room. It had taken him a couple tries, but the jump floater had come back, strong as ever, into Kuroo’s waiting hands. He rubs his forearms.

That night, he dreams of leafy rainforests shaded Amazon green, of afternoon glows seeping into dark hair. Upon waking, he thinks he prefers the latter.

---

Yamaguchi can feel Tsukishima’s eyes boring into him as they walk back to their dorm. He’s quiet. He’s always quiet, but this quiet is different, somehow.

"Where’s Yacchan?" Yamaguchi tries. Tsukishima shakes his head. "Kanoka’s in town this week, remember?"

"Ah. Good for them. How were your club duties?"

"You already asked me that."

"Ah. You gonna tell me why you keep staring at me?"

Tsukishima scoffs, looking forward instead. "Whatever." He mutters.

They arrive at the dorm, and Yamaguchi sheds his clothes in favor of a dark sweatshirt. "Man, I’m beat," he yawns, collapsing into Tsukishima’s bunk.

"That’s my—" Tsukishima gives up, sitting next to him. Yamaguchi leans into his side, blinking sleepily.

"The second day you’ve met with Kuroo, then?" Tsukishima asks. Yamaguchi looks up. "Mmhm," he murmurs.

"You guys having fun?"

Yamaguchi leans back against the wall. "Yeah," he says slowly, blinking lazily. "Kuroo’s… Kuroo’s nice." Tsukishima looks back at him. "Nice?"

"Yeah," Yamaguchi says, eyes falling closed. "He’s nice."

---

Kuroo comes onto campus to see them again the next day. Naturally. He didn’t text ahead but it should be fine, right? He needs to come in to see Tsukishima for the JVA thing at some point, right? He lifts his fist to knock, but to his surprise, the door swings open before he can make contact. He’s greeted with a scowl. The usual welcome.

"Tsukki! Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you about the—" Kuroo is perturbed. Tsukishima is frowning at him. Tsukishima frowns at him often, and for many reasons, but this one is different. He can’t quite put his finger on this one.

"Look," Tsukishima starts, and his tone is different too. Curt. Aggressive, almost. "I know you’re just… like this," Tsukishima gestures fruitlessly, "And you know I couldn't care less, but not with Tadashi."

He looks Kuroo in the eye. "Not Tadashi," he repeats.

"Like what?" Kuroo is slightly flummoxed. "Yamaguchi? Is he in?"

Tsukishima sighs impatiently. "Like this," he repeats. "I know you’re, you’re a people person, you’re outgoing, you like, you like messing, you just like… playing around with people, having fun, but Tadashi… he’s not like that, he's trusting, so lay off it, okay?"

Kuroo is beginning to understand what Tsukishima is implying, but this is a misunderstanding. It’s really not that deep.

"Tsukki," he begins complacently, putting a hand on Tsukishima’s arm. He garners no reaction from the nickname or the touch, which means that Tsukishima must be really worked up about this. Huh.

"It’s not…" His struggle to find the appropriate words surprises even him. "This is different. I’m not—we’re not doing anything. Yamaguchi’s cool, and I just want to get to know him! We’re just hanging out! I'm not… messing with him, or just ‘passing the time’ or something, I don’t know. I promise."

Tsukishima isn’t convinced. "That's what you always say," he mutters. "Just... if Tadashi gets hurt, it’s on you." His eyes take on a steely look and Kuroo resists the urge to gulp. "It's all on you. I have class." He strides away.

Kuroo doesn’t find Yamaguchi that day, who is still asleep, as he later finds out. Instead, he texts Kenma, who, lo and behold, has discovered the campus bakery, directions no doubt supplied by Yachi. They settle down and get seated by a window, Kenma munching on a danish contentedly. Kuroo settles for a coffee.

He asks Kenma about Tsukishima. "I don’t, I don’t know, play people, right?"

Kenma meets his eyes and shrugs. "I don’t know, Kuro."

"What is that supposed mean?"

Kenma speaks slowly. "I don't think you mean to play people, but I just think you—" He pauses. "I think you get bored easily."

Kuroo's face scrunches up. "I've never gotten bored of you, Kenma, and you’re boring!" He exclaims. Kenma wrinkles his nose at him. "Please," he says, "Get bored of me sooner, then maybe you’ll leave me alone."

"As if," Kuroo snorts, pushing lightly at the side of Kenma's head. "I could never get bored of Yamaguchi though," he argues, "He’s so… cool."

"That's what you said about the last guy," Kenma reminds him gently. "What was his name again?"

Kuroo’s mouth dries. "Takuma," he tries. Kenma shakes his head. "Takumi," he says, taking the last bite of his danish.

Takumi. Kuroo hadn’t remembered that at all. Tsukishima's icy glare flashes through his mind and he gulps.

This is different. It’s not like he has some kind of goal or anything. He’s here for leisure! He’s here to have fun!

Fun, he thinks, mind cast back to the night on the quad, to easy conversations over beer. Jokes over styrofoam people and takoyaki. Fun, on a volleyball court of all places, with the soft sunlight and that hair—

"Shit," he says out loud, and Kenma hums, unsurprised.

"Yup," he says. "It’s not your fault, you’re just stupid like that."

Kuroo shrugs helplessly. "I didn’t mean to," he pleads.

Kenma meets his eyes again. "I know, Kuro." He says, gently. "I know."

---

"So, Kuroo, huh?" Yachi climbs into the top bunk where Yamaguchi lies unmoving.

"Hm?" He responds intelligently, still half-asleep.

Yachi shrugs. "Kei told me you’ve been getting along well with Kuroo-san recently."

Yamaguchi hums. "Morning to you too, Yacchan, hey, how was your date?"

"It was nice," she muses, "She liked the pie, we baked some more. We’re meeting up again, later today, so I have some time to kill, so I came here, and so I ask again, Kuroo?"

"Yeah, Kuroo, what about him?" Yamaguchi rolls his neck, joints creaking, and props himself up in bed. Yachi wordlessly hands him a paper bag, which he opens to find a warm croissant. He takes a large, grateful bite.

"Well, how is he?" She inquires.

"He’s, uh," Yamaguchi swallows his mouthful. "He’s nice. He says interesting things. Good company. Fun."

Yachi nods patiently. "Nice, good, fun. Cool. Gotta tell you though, Kei seemed a little concerned."

"Concerned?" Yamaguchi tilts his head. "Shit, he was a little weird yesterday." He sits up. "Concerned about what?"

Yachi looks at him reproachfully. "Tadashi, he thinks you’re getting too attached."

Yamaguchi stares. "Attached. To Kuroo." She nods.

"Yacchan," he laughs, crinkling the paper bag. "Kuroo’s not a pet. So, I’ve made a new friend! It’s not that deep. Tell Tsukki," he says, finishing the croissant, "That I’m grateful for the concern, but he’s overreacting. Now, I’m going to nap until tomorrow, seeing as I have no classes today. You wanna join me?"

Yachi takes the bag from him, throwing it in the general direction of Tsukishima’s bunk. "I'm not your messenger," she says, settling down next to him. Yamaguchi cards his hand aimlessly through Yachi’s hair as he stares at the ceiling. He doesn’t fall back asleep for a while.

---

"Hey," Kuroo says. "You never told me you had a tattoo."

"Hm?" Yamaguchi looks down, where the sleeve of his shirt is riding up. "Oh yeah, just the one though. I’m more of a piercings kind of person, but I like tattoos too."

They’re in the city this time—Kuroo had invited Yamaguchi out, insisting that he should plan an outing for once. Yamaguchi had obliged, and they had gone to the cinema, a shitty action film, and had cracked jokes over lame punchlines, quietly booing plot holes and lackluster acting. Eventually they found themselves at a public park, seeking shade along with treasures they had collected from a nearby vending machine.

Kuroo laughs. "Really? A crow?"

Yamaguchi shrugs, grinning slightly. "Tsukki and Yacchain have matching ones."

"Oh," Kuroo says lightly, "Cute." He reaches out a finger and traces it absentmindedly. "Not with Karasuno, though?"

"Huh?" The touch of Kuroo’s hand makes Yamaguchi shiver, but he doesn’t appear to notice. "Oh, nah. We haven’t had time for a reunion so they haven’t actually seen them yet. Actually we showed Shouyou over video call. He liked them."

The breeze is nice. Kuroo likes the way it pushes Yamaguchi’s hair back, exposing his ears. Yamaguchi has opted for black jewellery today, hoops and studs weaving their way through lobes and cartilage. They match the black ring threaded through his lip. It suits him. Kuroo wonders if he chose a black barbell for his tongue as well. He swallows, and looks away. Yamaguchi is pretty today, he thinks. Pretty, and ever so cool.

"So," Kuroo tries, "You really got me sold on the whole piercing thing here."

Yamaguchi turns to him, eyebrow raised and eyes dark with interest.

"Have I?" He drawls, grinning slightly, inadvertently letting his tongue piercing show. It’s black too. Of course it is.

Kuroo swallows again.

"What, think it wouldn’t suit me?" He manages.

Yamaguchi gives him a once over. "I don’t think anything wouldn’t suit you."

Kuroo grins. "I honestly would have maybe gotten one in high school, but you know, volleyball."

Yamaguchi nods. "Hey, my piercing studio isn’t too far from here," he offers, "You wanna check it out?"

Kuroo shrugs. "Sounds like fun," he says. Fun.

Kuroo doesn’t know what he expected. The interior is dark but not moody, and the energy in the room is palpable, alight with electricity and excitement. Walls are lined with art prints, big, bold splashes of ink, alongside delicate, intricate displays bursting with color. Glass cabinets with hundreds of barbells, studs, hoops, chains—they gleam like the gem in Yamaguchi’s navel. People crowd, interspersed, but most seem to recognize Yamaguchi, who smiles and waves at his leisure. He is completely at ease. There’s something thrilling about seeing Yamaguchi in his element, Kuroo likes it.

"Tadashi!" A tall woman calls across the room at him, and he waves back, grinning toothily. "My piercer," he mentions to Kuroo. "We’re just here to browse," he calls back, and his piercer shoots him a big thumbs up.

"I see why you like this place," Kuroo remarks, and the wide grin Yamaguchi shoots in his direction puts an identical smile on his own face.

"I love piercings," Yamaguchi says, almost dreamily. He subconsciously touches the ring in his lip, and Kuroo tries to not let his eyes linger. They do.

"—to get one though." Yamaguchi is speaking. Yamaguchi is speaking and Kuroo is too concentrated on Yamaguchi’s mouth to listen. Oh God.

"Sorry?"

"Don’t feel like you have to get one, get a piercing, right now," Yamaguchi repeats, seriously. "A piercing is a permanent, strenuous process. You have to be sure about it."

Kuroo nods, just as serious. "Alright. I’ll think about it." He gestures to Yamaguchi’s array of piercings, gleaming prettily in the ambient lighting of the studio. "Which are your favorite?"

Yamaguchi smiles again, oh, that smile. "Well," he says, fiddling with his ear. "If we’re talking ear piercings, I have a soft spot for rook piercings, here, it’s this upper, inner one," he turns his head and leans into Kuroo, using his index finger and thumb to point out the black hoop resting in his ear.

Rainforest green obstructs his view, and Kuroo gently parts the curtains of Yamaguchi’s hair to get a better look. He hums appreciatively. "Rook, huh. That’s cool as hell."

He can feel Yamaguchi’s grin. "I think so too. If we’re talking body piercings," he straightens up and Kuroo immediately misses the closeness. "I love my tongue piercing, which you know," he sticks his tongue out for good measure, Kuroo’s eyes darting to it. Yamaguchi doesn’t miss the furtive glance, his own eyes twinkling knowingly.

"But for beginners," he continues, unfazed, "I think either standard lobe piercings or a cartilage piercing would be best. Not an industrial though," he adds quickly. ‘That’s a cartilage piercing, but advanced.’ He grins, shooting a glance at his piercer. "I’ve got mine lined up for next month."

"Can’t wait to see it," Kuroo says, honestly.

He doesn’t end up getting pierced. It’s okay though, seeing Yamaguchi in the studio, eager and attentive was worth it, to say the least. They end their day at an arcade of all places—it had caught Kuroo’s eye as they left the studio and he had demanded they pop in. Yamaguchi was all too happy to accept, fond of the delighted look on Kuroo’s face.

Now, Kuroo watches Yamaguchi furiously try for a plush cat among a sea of stuffed animals. He slightly regrets his decision to come, feeling his chest warm without his permission. Yamaguchi is groaning as the tabby falls from his metal grasp yet again. Kuroo smiles fondly. He reaches over and takes control of the joystick from Yamaguchi’s affronted hand, but also comes away with little success.

"Unbelievable," Kuroo mutters, glaring reproachfully at the stubborn cat. Yamaguchi stifles a giggle behind his palm. The tabby is nestled happily within an ocean of its traitorous companions. "Unbelievable," Kuroo says again, shaking his head. He tries again.

"That looks like Kenma," Yamaguchi remarks, pointing to a black cat with yellow streaks.

"It certainly does," Kuroo agrees. "Actually, Kenma would probably love it here. He’s not big on people, but cats? Cats he can get behind."

Yamaguchi nods solemnly. "A man of taste," he says, saluting jokingly. Kuroo returns it. Suddenly, Yamaguchi brightens up.

"Oh!  I need to send this location to Yacchan, she’s gotta take Kanoka here before the season starts." He pulls out his phone and Kuroo nods, eagerly.

"Maybe we should bring everyone here some other time," he offers, and raises an eyebrow at the look Yamaguchi shoots him over the top of his phone. "What?"

Yamaguchi shakes his head. "Something tells me Tsukki would not be amused."

Kuroo snorts, imagining Tsukishima surrounded by stoic machines and even stoicer cats. "Something tells me that he would fit right in."

"Honestly," Yamaguchi muses, "Tsukki’s the kind of guy who would try to befriend all cats, I think. Of course," he continues, "They’d be scared shitless of him, but I think he’d try."

Kuroo laughs. "Ah, the best friend speaks. You think Tsukki’s soft enough for that?"

Yamaguchi grins in response. "Tsukki’s decent, sometimes too decent for his own good. All the," he gestures, "The meanness or whatever, it’s mostly for show. Or for you," he adds onto the end, teasingly.

Kuroo sighs. "No doubt. Kenma’s the same." At Yamaguchi’s nod, he elaborates. "Kenma’s not high-maintenance by any means, but in high school everyone thought I was, I don’t know, babying him or whatever. Which is ridiculous, Kenma can take care of himself and, honestly, he has my back better than I do his. People get the wrong impression." He trails off at the sight of Yamaguchi staring at him. "What?"

Yamaguchi shakes his head. ‘Nothing,’ he says, but the smile on his face says otherwise. Kuroo wants to ask, but he doesn’t.

They get ice cream; Yamaguchi picked strawberry, and Kuroo opted for matcha. If he ordered it because his brain now operates solely in shades of green, well, that wasn’t something that needed to be shared.

They eat in comfortable silence. Yamaguchi’s hair has fallen into a sweeping fringe, and Kuroo longs to pin it back or hold it up to treasure the soft look on his face for just a moment longer. He looks down at his melting ice cream, where the scoop has been distorted in a way that looks distinctly cat-shaped, like it's mocking him. Of course. He takes a bite.

"Kuroo."

"Hm?" He looks up to see Yamaguchi’s hand extended towards him, holding a spoon with a scoop of ice cream on it. "Here," Yamaguchi offers, "Try."

Kuroo swallows, leans forward, and closes his mouth around the spoon. His eyes never leave Yamaguchi’s face. The ice cream is good, he’s sure, but he barely tastes it.

He can see Yamaguchi swallow, eyes dropping briefly to the movement of his Adam’s apple, and back up again. He leans back.

"It’s good," he says. "Yeah," Yamaguchi replies easily. He scoops some more ice cream, with the same spoon, and puts it into his own mouth. "Good."

Of all the people to suddenly flash through his mind, Kuroo thinks of Tsukishima. Not with Tadashi. Not Tadashi.

Not Tadashi? Kuroo thinks helplessly, meeting Yamaguchi’s eyes. What had Kenma told him, that he gets bored? Absurd. Bored of what, of Yamaguchi? He could never. Yamaguchi looks ever so bewildered and ever so pretty sitting before him, with his green hair and black jewellery and not Tadashi?

Tadashi’s all I want, he thinks, desperately, hopelessly.

"Kuroo?"

He clears his throat. "The sun is starting to set. We should get going." Yamaguchi scrambles to follow him.

Kuroo offers to walk Yamaguchi as far as the university gates. Yamaguchi accepts. This silence is different from the one in the arcade—there’s something terse hanging between them, something unspoken.

When they get to the gates, the afternoon sun has made its grand entrance. Unlike the slivers that snuck through into the gym only a couple days ago, the rays of light stream over Yamaguchi’s face, setting his green hair ablaze. The metal in his lip gleams,  beckoning.

"Well," Yamaguchi says, breaking the silence. "This is me."

Kuroo nods, clearing his throat. "Today was fun." He tries.

"Yeah. Fun," Yamaguchi echoes. "You’re leaving tomorrow, right?"

"Mmhm. Kenma and I were here for just the one week, unfortunately, but hey," Kuroo manages a bright grin. "You definitely made it worth my time."

Yamaguchi returns the smile, nodding slightly. "I had a really good time, Kuroo," he says gently.

Kuroo looks down. "Look. Yamaguchi—"

He looks back up, and Yamaguchi’s face is much closer than it was moments ago. Kuroo can see the sun streaking through his lidded eyes and across his face, bouncing off his cheekbones; he can see the twinkle of his tongue piercing through his parted lips.

Not Tadashi. It’s all on you.

Before he knows it, his hands are firmly on Yamaguchi’s shoulders, not pushing, but applying pressure. He can’t meet his eyes, but he’s certain that surprise is reflected in them. Fuck. This is his fault.

"Kuroo—"

"I gotta go," he chokes out, pulling his hands away from Yamaguchi and stepping back. His voice has taken on an urgent tone that he just can’t control, and he still can’t meet Yamaguchi's eyes. "Gotta pack. For, uh, the return trip. Yeah. And I gotta get Kenma. This was f—thanks. For this week. Bye!"

He walks off in long strides, ignoring the bewildered calls of his name. Hands shaking, he fumbles for his phone, blinking rapidly.

"Kuro?" Kuroo has never been more grateful for Kenma’s tinny voice filtering through the speakers.

"Kenma? Hey." He takes a deep breath in once he’s turned the corner. "I think I fucked it."

---

jump float xx

hey!

tsukki said you came by for the jva thing

must have missed you

anyway you’re probably on the road by now but i just wanted to apologize

about a couple days ago

i’m really sorry kuroo

i shouldn’t have assumed or acted or anything

i’m really sorry if i made you uncomfortable

i had a super great week, really

have a safe trip!

and sorry again

Yamaguchi barely manages to hit send on the final text before his phone is snatched roughly out of his hand.

"Tadashi. Forget it." Tsukishima pockets Yamaguchi’s phone, long arms sneaking over the railing of the top bunk.

"Tsukki." Yamaguchi sits up. "It’s fine, really." He offers a small smile. Tsukishima is not convinced, clambering halfway up the ladder of the bunk bed and resting his weight on Yamaguchi’s legs.

"Come on. It’s two in the afternoon." He pokes at Yamaguchi’s calf. "We have to meet Hitoka for lunch."

Yamaguchi nods faintly. "Not hungry yet, sorry. Can you guys pick something up for me?" His stomach chooses that second to rumble, like a traitor.

Tsukishima’s eyes narrow. "Come on," he protests, "You need to eat." He pokes at Yamaguchi until he relents and lifts his face to meet Tsukishima's eyes. His face is creased with worry, signature frown making its appearance.

"Come on." He says again, quieter this time, and huffs as he climbs properly onto the bunk, putting his full weight onto Yamaguchi’s legs. He ignores Yamaguchi's hushed grunt, sprawling further onto his bed.

He pokes at Yamaguchi again, this time squarely in the center of his forehead. "Tadashi," he says.

"What, Tsukki," Yamaguchi sighs tiredly.

Tsukishima shakes his head, turning away to hide his annoyance. "And I told that bastard too," he mutters under his breath. "Look," he says, turning back. "Kuroo isn't shit." This coaxes a short laugh out of Yamaguchi. Tsukishima looks relieved, sitting back on his haunches.

"Okay? He’s not worth shit. Now, let’s eat."

---

"And he just… walked off? Like that?" Yachi’s eyebrows are furrowed in confusion. "But I thought it was going so well!"

Yamaguchi sighs, leaning back until his head is in her lap. "Yeah, I thought so too. I don’t know," he admits, "He was being weird that last day."

Yachi tilts her head. "Weird? Weird how?"

"I don’t know," Yamaguchi shrugs. "Just… weird."

Tsukishima scoffs. "Yeah, ‘cause Kuroo is a conniving—ow, Hitoka!" He protests, rubbing his arm where Yachi had leaned over and hit him.

"Not what we need now, Kei," she reprimands, and he sighs, sullenly.

"I’m just saying," he pulls himself up straighter. "You can do so much better, Tadashi."

Yamaguchi lets out a breath of laughter. "Alright, Tsukki. Thanks."

Yachi still isn’t satisfied. "I just don’t get it," she laments, "I saw you guys, we all did. You were getting along, you were having fun!"

Fun. Yamaguchi thinks of dark hair and dark nights, golden eyes and that grin. He sighs, fruitlessly. "Guess he thought differently."

"He won’t be thinking anything if he shows his face here again," Tsukishima warns darkly, glaring at nothing. "Not that he thinks at all."

"Evidently," Yachi sighs, having given up on restraining Tsukishima. Yamaguchi is so very grateful for them.

---

jva king

hey

im so sorry about that

i was just overthinking things

im really sorry

i just

[message deleted]

[message deleted]

[message deleted]

[message deleted]

[message deleted]

---

"Hitoka’s here!" Yamaguchi calls down the hall to Tsukishima, who is towelling his hair dry.

"Literally in the shower," Tsukishima calls back, "As we speak."

"I can literally see you in the doorway. Fully clothed. Perfectly capable of answering a door."

Tsukishima reaches over to turn the showerhead on. "Sorry, showering."

"Asshole." Yamaguchi swings his legs over the sofa, pulling on a green hoodie. He stumbles down the hallway.

"Sorry, Hitoka," he starts, pulling the door open.

It is definitely not Hitoka.

"Go the fuck away." Tsukishima appears behind Yamaguchi before he can say a word, tight grip on his shoulder. "You’re not wanted."

Kuroo sighs. "Fuck," he mutters, and Yamaguchi hadn’t forgotten his voice for a single second. "I know, Tsukki, I know. Just—"

"Why’re you here?" Yamaguchi asks.

Kuroo looks up. God, his eyes are so bright. Something in Yamaguchi aches, delicately, carefully. "I wanted to give you this."

He pulls a dark shape from his bag and presses it into Yamaguchi’s hands. He looks down.

In his palm sits a small, stuffed cat. It's green, a deep, seafoam color, a safety pin stabbed through its ear. Something inside Yamaguchi begins to stir.

"And," Kuroo starts, and Yamaguchi looks up. "I booked a piercing appointment. At your place." He rubs the back of his head, sheepishly. "It’s in a couple days. I was wondering if you’d accompany me?"

Tsukishima’s hand on his shoulder tightens. Yamaguchi leans into it.

"Tsukki," he says lightly, "I’m fine." A heavy sigh hits the back of his neck, but his presence disappears. "I’ll be inside," he murmurs. Yamaguchi nods, and turns back at the gentle click of the door closing.

He crosses his arms, still clutching the stuffed animal. "Why’d you go?" He asks.

Kuroo wears a pained expression on his face, shifting his feet awkwardly. His eyes don’t leave Yamaguchi’s.

"I’m sorry." he starts. "I really am. I’m not usually like this. I’m usually so much better. I just… I’ve been told I can be, uh, reckless. With people," he gulps. "I didn’t want to be reckless with you.

"I guess I just got into my own head. And this isn’t an excuse," he says suddenly, putting his hands out in front of him. "And if you never want to see me again, that’s… I understand. But I hope you do. Want to see me again, I mean, because I do. I want to see you."

Yamaguchi looks at him. "Well, here I am."

They stand in silence, just looking at each other. Kuroo’s eyes are so big, Yamaguchi kind of can’t stand it.  He also can’t look away.

"Remember what I told you," he finally says, "about the JVA?" Kuroo nods, slowly.

"You did your thing, or whatever, and you came back having bettered yourself. So have you?" Yamaguchi steps down from the threshold. Kuroo is taller. He has always been taller. Still, he seems quite small in front of Yamaguchi, eyes hopeful. Seven centimeters really isn’t much.

"Are you better?" Yamaguchi repeats.

"God," Kuroo sighs. He is so close, Yamaguchi can practically feel the warmth radiating from his body. He wants it. Something inside of him is stirring and, despite everything, despite himself, he wants it.  

"Tadashi," Kuroo breathes, "You’re just so fucking green," and Yamaguchi pulls him in.

---

"That hurt like shit."

Yamaguchi laughs, and Kuroo would take a hundred more needles into his ear to hear that laugh just one more time.

"But hey, it looks awesome." And it does look awesome. Kuroo brings his hand up to his ear to brush the metal in his cartilage, Yamaguchi dutifully slapping his hand away.

"Don’t touch it, fool, do you want an infection already?"

"No," Kuroo grimaces, taking Yamaguchi’s hand. "Not going through that shit again."

Yamaguchi curls his fingers agreeably around Kuroo’s. "You’ll get used to it," he grins, and Kuroo will never tire of the way Yamaguchi’s eyes soften when he looks at him. He’ll do everything in his power to see them like that all the time, every second of every day, dedicated towards those eyes. He tells him so.

Yamaguchi looks away. "You’re embarrassing," he mutters, and Kuroo gets an armful of green locks and a chest full of something he can’t quite place, something he wants with him, always.

"Hey," he says into Yamaguchi’s hair. He thinks of bubblegum and crop tops, of styrofoam people in styrofoam crowds, volleyballs and stuffed animals and afternoons really are the best time of day, and his grip tightens.

"Hey, Tadashi, have you ever seen the Amazon?"