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The All-star special match that everyone in the whole of Japan and other countries fervently watched has successfully concluded. Fans, players, staff, and the media all gave their regards to each other after pulling off such a spectacular event. The man behind it all, Tetsuro Kuroo, had no shortages of hands to shake, compliments to receive, and even pats on the back. All were aware and thankful of the fact that without him, this moment would've never had happened.
Obviously, after being the one to arrange and manage the whole ordeal, Tetsuro was beyond exhausted. He felt like he could sleep for a week and then some. It was only after the event had finished that the fatigue and jetlag hit him like a bulldozer because unbeknownst to everyone who attended the match, everything that could go wrong with the event went absolutely & horribly wrong. And so, Kuroo spent most of his time fixing and trying to make things work together in hopes of pulling some kind of miracle that can save the disaster waiting to happen.
The caterer ran late, the security guards were short staffed, there weren't enough rooms for the athletes and their coaches, the sound system malfunctioned; these were only few of the many issues that Tetsuro had to mend before and during the event.
So, him being tired would be the biggest understatement of the century.
And just when things couldn't get worse, his car just had to go and break down, tonight out of all nights. His chances of hitching a ride with his friends grew dimmer and dimmer as he realized that most of them had shuttle services courtesy of Tetsuro Kuroo himself.
He wanted to pull his hair out, kick the walls, punch someone in the face, anything that can make him feel some sort of release from his exhaustion and frustration combo. Kuroo was tired and all he wanted was to go home. It was too late to call for someone and he really wasn't in the mood for public transport.
He was having the worst day he could possibly imagine.
"Are you alright, Kuroo-san?"
"Kageyama? What are you still doing here?"
"Ah, I was-- uhh--"
"... Were you practicing still?"
"It was only for two hours! I swear! just so I could get rid of the excess adrenaline from the match..."
"You never change, do you, Kageyama-kun?"
Kuroo chuckled and joked lightly. He recalled some of his brief moments and interactions with Kageyama during the week. It was when he was with the ravenette that Tetsuro felt an odd wave of calmness sweep through him.
Kageyama was the one who helped Kuroo find sports equipment sponsors just in the nick of time; the one who gave Kuroo the numbers of some players that many people would pay to see in the match; the one managed to procure the venue for which they'll have the afterparty,
the one who actually took the time to ask Tetsuro if he was alright.
"Why are you still here, Kuroo-san? Aren't you tired? Shouldn't you be at home sleeping?"
".. My thoughts exactly, Kageyama-kun. But as fucking luck would have it, my car broke down,"
"Oh, really? What are you planning to do to get home?"
".. I don't know, sleep here? I guess"
"You're planning to sleep here? On the sidewalk"
Trust Kageyama to make anyone laugh just by his naivety and stupidity alone.
"I have still the key to an office here, it's as good as I can get,"
Although, lethargic as hell, Kuroo was having a great time talking with Kageyama. He felt at ease with his presence. No tension, no rush, no discomfort. Everything he didn't have in his week, he now had with his conversation with the blue-eyed setter.
Kuroo wasn't as oblivious as people make him out to be. He's actually very perceptive and aware of his feelings and the ones others had for him. He liked Kageyama before, in their limited interactions in and off the court. And he still does.
The way Kuroo puts it is that his feelings for Kageyama is like a toothache.
It's not something that happened spontaneously, it was developed. It's also not something that just goes away when it wants to; no, it's a constant tingle. A dull but real reminder that it's still there, even if it was masked or shadowed by other things.
"Kuroo-san? Is that a yes or no?"
"I’m sorry, what was that?"
Fuck, he must be more tired than he initially thought. Here he was, daydreaming about Kageyama and toothaches, that he can't even be bothered to foster a normal conversation.
"Oh, well, I asked if you if you wanted a ride? Your place shouldn't be that far from here, I remembered your condo from when we were looking for sponsors, and no, it's not a bother and I don't mi--"
"Yes! Uhh, I-- mean, yes. I'd love that, Kageyama. Thank you,"
Kuroo didn't mean for him to sound THAT excited when Kageyama asked him if he wanted a ride. But the thought of him ending the night with Kageyama, and him at his house in his bed asleep is all that Tetsuro can see for the time being.
And so, walking towards the lot, Kuroo can already feel himself sinking into Kageyama's car seat, the gentle lull of the engine luring him to sleep.
However, his thoughts were quickly snatched out of his head when Kageyama handed him a helmet.
"Uhh, what?"
"What do you mean, what?"
"A helmet?"
"Yeah? We don't want to be caught by the police now, do we?"
A motorcycle. Kageyama Tobio owns a motorcycle. Kageyama Tobio knows how to drive a motorcycle. Kageyama Tobio on a motorcycle. Kuroo's head was about to implode from the amount of stimuli his brain is currently receiving.
He took a minute to observe the scene unfolding right in front of him. It was only now that he realized what Kageyama was wearing. His hair was carefully slicked back, still wet from a light shower with a few strands falling gracefully on his face; his body was hugged with a tight but fitting leather jacket; and his legs were covered by black ripped jeans. What in the actual fuck?
Kuroo was admittedly tired but holy shit, Kageyama looked like sex. Tobio mounting himself up to start up the motorcycle was enough to make Tetsuro bite his lip. Yes, Kuroo was tired, but he was also hot and bothered, not that he minded. He gladly embraced these feelings with open arms.
"Are you going to get on or not? we don't have all night, Kuroo-san,"
Snapped out of his trance, Kuroo was quick to put the helmet on and carefully climbed on the back seat of Kageyama's bike. Truth be told, he wasn't used to riding vehicles like this and Kageyama could tell as much. After a minute of Kuroo flailing his legs around to get to a comfortable spot,
"You can hold on to me if you'd like. It's more comfortable that way since it's your first time,"
".. Are you sure that's alright? I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, Kageyama"
"I don't mind, Kuroo-san. It's just you anyway,"
Previously, Kuroo was tired and hot and bothered. Now, Kuroo was awake, flustered, and a sputtering mess. If his legs weren't about to give up on him, he would like to entertain the idea of him being in a romcom with Kageyama and him as the lead. I mean, how romantic can this be?
So, gently, and ever so slowly, Tetsuro manages to wrap his arms around Kageyama's tiny waist. Warm and soft, Kuroo thought. And although he was the one who was probably blushing a new shade of red, he vaguely felt the way Kageyama tensed his back as his touch landed on him. There was a slight tremor in Kageyama's chest but maybe, that was just the engine purring.
"Are you settled, Kuroo-san?"
"Yeah, let's go,"
And off to the dark night they went.
Kuroo cannot recount how much of Tokyo he has recognized and seen by travelling in this region alone. He knows the place more so than the back of his hand. But why is it that at 2:30 in the morning, underneath the pale moonlight and towering buildings that Kuroo felt as if he was seeing Tokyo's beauty for the very first time? The air was crisp, the lights were shining, the streets were quiet.
It was just him and Tobio in Tokyo at that very moment.
If someone had told Kuroo from the very beginning that at every hardship, suffering, or struggle that he would go through, there would be a Kageyama Tobio and a motorcycle ride with him at the very end of it, then he would’ve challenged every single one of them to come his way.
This was a feeling that Kuroo has all but longed for but never quite got, until now. It was very new to him. Everything was light and good and calm. All in his life were everything but and so him, feeling it for the very first time was monumental.
After 10 minutes of Kuroo blissfully daydreaming, they finally reached his unit.
"Ta da, we're here, Kuroo-san."
"Yes, Tobio, I can see that."
Kageyama Tobio laughed. He laughed with Tetsuro. And truly, it was a sight and sound to behold.
"Thank you, Tobio. I really appreciate you doing this,"
"Oh... uh, no worries, Tetsuro? That's your first name, right?"
Yeah, and it sounds hella nice when it rolls off your tongue just like that, Kuroo shamelessly thought.
"What was that?"
"Nothing! I said nothing!"
Kuroo was exhausted. He wanted nothing more than to sleep this day off. However, he just can't seem to move from his place. He knows what he should do next but before he could even control himself,
"Tobio-kun? Would you like to have breakfast with me tomorrow? Just so I can thank you properly for the ride?"
Tetsuro's heart was beating a mile per minute. It actually was pulsing in his ears. He had no idea that his mouth would betray him like that, but it's not like he minded. Saves him the trouble of thinking up of a bullshit excuse just so he can see Tobio again. But with a growing headache, sleep deprivation, and anxiety creeping over at him all at once, he couldn't think properly so he just,
"You don't have to go if you don't want to, I mean, you're probably tired too and are busy with other stuff so I totally understand if--"
"Sure, I'd love to, Tetsuro."
If Kuroo had just stopped his mouth from word vomiting all over the place, he would've noticed the slightest pink that rose from Tobio's cheeks, the small smile that graced his lips, and the adorable stare that Kageyama's blue eyes could muster. He was looking up at Kuroo with googly eyes, like if a kid had just seen the world's most amazing magic trick. Tetsuro was smitten; all fear and worry banished away from his body.
"Okay, Tobio. I'll see you tomorrow morning"
"Yeah, oh, uh-- good night, Tetsuro."
"Good night, Tobio. Take care, ok?"
He waited until Tobio was out of his line of sight before collapsing to the nearest wall. Things were finally looking up for Tetsuro.
I guess it's true what they say, when you hit rock bottom, the only place you can go is up. And Tobio Kageyama with his motorcycle and damned smile took Tetsuro all the way up to high heaven.