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Kei - Friday - 6:00pm
Kei stares at the fluffy curls before him, fighting an internal battle: touch the enticingly soft strands, or keep his hands to himself?
It's a struggle he is faced with every single time he and the other first years walk to the convenience store after practice, which is almost daily. And honestly, it's something that Kei has just come to accept about himself. He wants to touch Shouyou's hair, just as he wants to kiss his nose and lift him up onto his shoulders… and generally just be around him.
Actually, there’s a list. A plan, of sorts, of things he wants to do. With Shouyou specifically. So long as it all goes well and Shouyou seems interested. Oh , how Kei hopes the smaller boy is interested. Not that he would dare tell anyone this particular hope of his. Except Tadashi.
Well, he didn’t tell Tadashi, but his friend knows him well enough to have figured it out.
Besides, it’s not like Kei wrote this plan down on a piece of scrap paper nearly a month ago, and he definitely hasn’t kept it in his back pocket ever since. Because that would be pathetic, right?
Right?
Okay, maybe he is a little pathetic, but to be fair… he has it bad. The paper currently reads as such:
Refill Shouyou’s water bottle: He’s fucking adorable when he’s surprised.Buy him a meat bun: See above. Also, his cheeks puff out when he eats.Start eating lunch with him: See above. (Include Tadashi because he’ll just give you shit if you don’t)- Ruffle his hair: Sugawara-san does it all the time. As does most of the team. You can do it too.
- Study with him: He needs it. You’ll enjoy it. It’ll work. Probably. (Don’t insult him too much. Tadashi says you’re an asshole. He’ll take it the wrong way)
- Offer to push his bike: you know, so he doesn’t have to? While you walk to the convenience store.
- Hold his hand: If you’ve gotten this far…
- Take him on a date: Akiteru might have an idea for this. Approach topic really fucking carefully.
- Ask him to be your boyfriend: If he likes the date, that is.
- Carry him on your shoulders: He’s definitely light enough.
- Buy him a keychain for his bag: Ok… or give him the one you bought him last month. (Just don’t do this in front of Tadashi. He’ll give you shit if you do.)
-
Kiss him: …
"What the hell is stopping me?" Kei murmurs to himself without meaning to, the list burning a hole in his pocket and his eyes burning into the back of Shouyou’s head. Fortunately, the smaller boy doesn't hear him, but Tadashi does, and he gives Kei a level stare.
It's a challenge. It's as if Tadashi is saying, "Yeah, Tsukki? What's stopping you?"
It's a challenge Kei can't bring himself to back down from, because if he thinks about it, it's only his pride that stands in the way. And will his pride truly be wounded if he gives in to this desire?
After giving his best friend a dry glare, he raises his hand and gently drops it on Shouyou's head, ruffling his curls before pulling away. Almost reluctantly .
Actually, no. Definitely reluctantly. Shouyou’s hair is so fluffy—Kei had watched his hand nearly disappear among the orange strands as they tickled the back of his hand—pulling away is at the bottom of the list of things he wants to do. Hell, it definitely wouldn’t ever make any list of things he wants to do.
However, he isn’t quite ready to do any of the other things that are actually on his list, so instead he says, "Soft," just loud enough for Shouyou to hear before shouldering past him and into the convenience store. He also steadily ignores Tadashi's smug laughter.
Kei can’t help the tiny, little smile that spreads across his lips as he heads to the coolers. So long as Shouyou is alright with it, he will definitely be doing that again. Quietly, the moment he is in the back of the store pretending to browse for a drink, Kei pulls out his list and crosses out number four.
Ruffle his hair: Sugarawara-san does it all the time. As does most of the team. You can do it too.
Then, after a moment of deliberation, he adds a quick note: Soft.
Shouyou - Friday - 7:37pm
“Nii-chan,” Natsu whines, her cold foot connecting with Shouyou’s shin, making him jump. “You’re ignoring me.”
Shouyou frowns, settling back into his seat and shaking his head. “M’not,” he counters, giving his little sister an ‘are you serious?’ look before returning to his dinner. “I’m just hungry.”
Natsu’s pout grows. “You’ve barely eaten anything!”
At that, Shouyou blinks, his eyes dropping to his plate which is… still very full. “I’m savoring it,” he counters with a huff, not wanting to admit to himself that he’s been too distracted to eat.
Because he hasn’t been.
He’s just savoring his food.
That’s it.
Except when he takes a bite, it tastes like nothing, and his mind begins to wander—to an unexpected moment that happened exactly an hour and thirty-seven minutes ago. Shouyou’s eyes flicker to the clock on the wall and he gives a subtle shake of his head. An hour and thirty-eight minutes ago.
Not that he’s counting.
It just so happens that he was looking at his watch at the time, and it had just turned six o’clock, and the event was so startling that he couldn’t help but remember every detail about it. The weight of Kei’s hand in his hair… the slight lingering of his fingers… the way his voice floated along the breeze, low and blunt as usual, but also so very gentle.
Soft .
“Nii-chaaaaaaaan,” Natsu whines, trying to get his attention by way of her foot, cold toes jabbing against his shin in three sharp successions.
Shouyou bounces back to reality long enough to give his younger sister a harsh glare. “I have homework to do,” he says, turning his attention to his mom. “May I be excused?”
Hinata Katsumi raises an eyebrow. “You’ve barely eaten.”
“Not hungry any more,” he counters. When his mom seems entirely unimpressed, he comes up with the most believable answer he can. “There’s a test on Monday. I’m pretty nervous for it. Are you sure I can’t go?”
While it’s true there is a test, he isn’t all that worried about it. Though, perhaps he should be.
No, he really just wants to be alone so he can puzzle over Kei’s actions in peace, without Natsu interrupting every minute or his mom’s too-smart eyes on him. And thankfully, he gets permission to go.
He is up in his room in less than a minute, leaning heavily against the door, his cheeks flushed.
That night, Shouyou doesn’t manage to get any homework or studying done, and he doesn’t manage to sleep either. Kei is the only thing on his mind.
Kei - Saturday - 7:12am
Kei can’t stop staring at number five on his list. Study with him. They do have a test on Monday, after all. Maybe Kei can convince Shouyou to stop by his house for a study session after practice today?
He can be nonchalant about the way he asks Shouyou. And, honestly, the idea sounds more and more appealing as he thinks about it. After all, this may be the best excuse he has to invite him over in a while.
Mind made up, Kei pockets his list and swings down to the kitchen, glancing at Akiteru and their mom before turning his full attention to the fridge.
“Hey, can I have someone over to study tonight?” he asks, his head tipping as he starts to pour himself his customary morning glass of milk. “We have a test on Monday.”
His mom’s voice is as sweet as always. “You know you don’t have to ask to have Tadashi over,” she hums. “He’s always welcome.”
Kei stills momentarily. “M’not talking about Tadashi. I was actually going to invite Shou… Hinata over.”
He keeps still, his back to his mom and Akiteru, just waiting for what he knows is to come.
“What the fuck?”
And there it is.
“Mom,” Akiteru warns. He always does whenever their mom swears. Either warns, or apologizes to whoever she is talking to.
“No seriously,” Tsukishima Kimi says, and Kei swears he hears excitement in her tone. Of course she is excited. “Hinata Shouyou. Number 10. The little shit that always makes you turn surly and touchy as fuck? That’s who you’re inviting over?”
Kei’s lips pull into a frown. “He isn’t a little shit.” Well, that’s a lie, but Kei is feeling protective, okay?
His mom giggles. “Oh, you have it bad.”
Kei knows. Of course he knows. He doesn’t say anything, just turns and meets her gaze as he slowly drinks his milk.
Her grin widens. “Alright. He can come over. I promise I’ll play nice.”
“You fucking better,” Kei grumbles, much to Akiteru’s dismay. Their mom just laughs in response.
Shouyou - Saturday - 7:24am
[Hinata Shouyou - 7:24am] I cant do ittttttttt
[Kageyama Tobio - 7:24am] Do what?
Shouyou stares at his phone. For a brief moment, he isn’t sure. What can’t he do?
[Hinata Shouyou - 7:25am] Come to practice. Jerkyshima is gonna be there…
[Kageyama Tobio - 7:25am] Duh. He is on our team.
[Hinata Shouyou - 7:25am] It’s a problemmm
There’s a moment of silence from his phone, and Shouyou buries himself deeper into his blankets. He should have left the house nearly half an hour ago, but the more he thinks about it, the more he just wants to hide away.
Just the thought of seeing Kei makes him feel sick to his stomach.
Not because he doesn’t want to see his jerk of a teammate, but because does . He really wants to see Kei, to feel his hand in his hair again, and he doesn’t understand why.
[Kageyama Tobio - 7:27am] Why?
Why? Shouyou’s fingers hover over his keyboard as he tries to figure out a response. Nothing comes to him. He… genuinely has no idea how to respond to Tobio. Why doesn’t he want to see Kei? Why does he want to see him? Why?
He doesn’t realize how long he has taken to respond until his phone chimes with another message.
[Kageyama Tobio - 7:30am] Do we need to talk to Coach Ukai about it?
At least that has a simple answer.
[Hinata Shouyou - 7:30am] No
[Kageyama Tobio - 7:31am] So, he didn’t do anything to you?
Shouyou has to think a little harder about this one. Kei didn’t do anything to him, except touch his hair. But everyone touches his hair. Constantly. So why can’t Shouyou get the taller boy out of his mind?
Maybe Kei did do something to him.
Still, his answer to Tobio is:
[Hinata Shouyou - 7:31am] No
[Kageyama Tobio - 7:31am] But you still don’t want to come to practice because of him?
Shouyou can practically feel Tobio’s exasperation through his text.
[Hinata Shouyou - 7:32am] …yeah, no…
[Kageyama Tobio - 7:32am] You’re such an idiot. I’m coming over.
Shouyou blinks in surprise. It isn’t like Tobio to purposefully skip practice. Did Kei do something to him too?
[Hinata shouyou - 7:33am] Whaaaat?! What about practice?!
[Kageyama Tobio - 7:34am] You have a volleyball, don’t you? We’ll practice in your yard.
Shouyou stares at his phone for a moment before nodding in relief, even though he knows Tobio can’t see him. He texts back the only thing he can.
[Hinata Shouyou - 7:35am] Thank you!!!
Kei - Saturday - 7:41am
Strange. Normally both Shouyou and Kageyama are warming up in the gym by now, but it’s eerily silent. There’s no squeaking of shoes. No thuds of a ball hitting the floor. No calls for a toss. No pants of exertion. Kei hears absolutely nothing as he passes the large gym doors, and he doesn’t like it.
The club room is full enough. Most of the team is getting ready for practice, wiping the sleep from their eyes and mussing up their hair.
Shouyou and Kageyama are nowhere to be found.
Daichi’s phone chimes, and Kei watches absently as Daichi checks it, a frown growing on his consistently stern features. “Alright team, we are down Kageyama and Hinata today,” he calls, shifting to set his phone down. “They aren’t sick or anything, so don’t get too worried, but we do have the Karasuno Neighborhood Association coming to help us with practice, so our initial line-up will be different. Just make sure you keep your focus.”
That last bit is directed at Kei. Or, at least Kei swears Daichi is looking at him. That doesn’t stop him from parting his lips and asking, “What the fuck?”
Kei can hear Akiteru’s voice in the back of his mind, scolding him. “Language, Tsukishima.”
Okay, so maybe it’s not Akiteru’s voice in the back of his mind. Maybe it’s Daichi’s voice. Right in front of him. He responds with a scowl. "They are fu-" Kei catches Daichi's warning glare and cuts the curse off before trying again. "They are starters. We shouldn't give them a free pass to skip."
Daichi raises an eyebrow. "Kageyama said it's 'imperative to Hinata’s performance' that he takes the day off. I'm not going to question it."
Imperative. Kei knows he isn't the only one who thinks it comical that Kageyama would use that word. Really, Kei is fairly certain that the only reason Kageyama knows that word is because it was on the vocabulary quiz last Tuesday.
But… if Kageyama is resorting to using big words, then maybe something is wrong. Kei's stomach twists unpleasantly, and he resolutely ignores Tadashi's knowing look.
"If we give them a free pass to skip today, then what shit are they going to pull next week?" Kei asks, ignoring Daichi's narrowed eyes at the profanity. He presses on. "They'll start slacking."
Right. As if either of them would slack on volleyball .
Suga pipes up, his tone light and his expression somehow lighter, as if he is finding this entire situation amusing. “Come, Tsukishima-kun. You know that won't happen." A knowing smile passes over his lips as he steps up to Kei, a gentle, yet firm, hand landing on the first year's shoulder.
"Perhaps, if you're still concerned by the end of practice, you can go check on them," Suga says. Then he leaves the club room as if he hadn't just added a new item to Kei's list.
"I'm not concerned," he grumbles, but once everyone leaves, he pulls out his list and scrambles a few words between numbers four and five:
Go check on him. At his house. (Text mom before you go, or she'll get worried).
Shouyou - Saturday - 3:12pm
When there is a knock on the door, Shouyou is up on his feet, prepared to respond. He doesn’t freeze until he is at the edge of the genkan, looking at the large shape just barely visible through the frosted glass accents on the door.
Or maybe not exactly large , but tall. Lanky. Thin set shoulders and a hint of fluffy hair. Shouyou swallows thickly and backs away from the door.
“Kageyama!” he whisper-yells, turning his head to the kitchen. “Kageyama, go find my mom. I can’t answer this.”
Tobio doesn’t look impressed. He watches Shouyou for a few terribly long seconds before he sighs and stands up. “I’ll get her. Pour me more milk,” he demands in a grumble, as if he knows Shouyou doesn’t want to be too far from the door despite claiming to not be able to answer it.
Shouyou gives a resolute nod of his head, shifting to do what he was asked to. As he pours more milk into Tobio’s cup, he hears snippets of his friend’s conversation with his mom.
“...ou can’t, why?” Katsumi’s voice carries slightly. Shouyou hears hers and Tobio’s footsteps wandering from room to room upstairs.
“...milk…” is the only word from Tobio that Shouyou can make out.
“Right. Who is less important than your milk?” Katsumi asks. She sounds amused, and it makes Shouyou’s ears burn.
He doesn’t hear Tobio’s response, but Katsumi snorts out a laugh and comes down the stairs a few moments later, pulling her bright hair into a ponytail and heading straight towards the door. Shouyou very courageously hides behind the kitchen counter, eyes just barely peeking over the top, as his mother opens the door.
Because he isn’t nervous at all. No. Definitely not. This is a strategic hiding place.
He ignores the way his stomach flips as Kei is revealed, looking put out. Probably from having to wait so long. “Hinata-san,” Shouyou’s teammate says in his usually uninterested tone. He blinks slowly, his eyes darting past Katsumi into the house, and Shouyou ducks. “Where the fuck was your son today?”
Kei - Saturday - 3:16pm
Oh no . He did not. He did not just say that .
Kei swallows thickly, his expression darting back to Shouyou’s mother. “Pardon my language,” he says, but it feels empty. He hears Akiteru’s voice in the back of his mind again, exasperated, scolding him for speaking in such a way to Shouyou’s mother of all people.
The woman blinks, and Kei swears he sees something cross her expression before it is wiped clean. He just wishes he knew what that something was, because it surely couldn’t have been amusement.
“And who might be asking?” Her voice is bright, a lot like her son’s. Kei feels embarrassment climbing up his throat.
He has to swallow it down before he can speak again. “Tsukishima Kei, ma’am,” he manages, keeping his tone even. Then he opens his mouth again and fucks it all up. “He didn’t even try to give a bullshit excuse. Where was he?”
Shouyou’s mother’s lips twitch; Kei nearly huffs. Akiteru yells at him in his mind, and Kei wishes he were beside him, able to apologize on his behalf.
Fuck it all.
“My apologies.”
This time, Shouyou’s mother actually smiles, and Kei realizes with a jolt just who Shouyou gets his light from. “He wasn’t feeling up to it today. I thought it best to keep him home.”
It should be reason enough. A mother has the right to keep her child home if there’s something going on, even if it’s nothing serious, but it’s not good enough for Kei.
Because he is worried .
Shouyou doesn’t just skip out on volleyball practice. He wouldn’t unless there was something absolutely life-shattering. So, there has to be more to the story. As if he might be able to find the answer, Kei looks past the woman in front of him again and sees a familiar shock of bright hair hiding behind the counter.
“Hinata-san,” he starts, his calm voice not betraying any of the nerves he feels, “what the fuck is going on with Shouyou?”
Kei hears a squeak. An utterly undignified, high-pitched squeak, and his eyes narrow. The curls have disappeared, but Kei knows that Shouyou didn’t just vanish into thin air. That means he’s hiding fully behind the counter.
And Kei wants to know why.
Shouyou - Saturday - 3:17pm
Firm hands clamp over Shouyou’s mouth, and it takes him a moment to realize they are his own. Breathing out shakily, he presses himself against the kitchen counter, not caring if the wood leaves bruises on the ridges of his spine. He doesn’t drop his hands.
“Pardon my language,” Kei says, and Shouyou might find it endearing… if this whole situation wasn’t so terrifying.
Or maybe terrifying isn’t the right word. Shouyou doesn’t really know, but his hands are trembling, and his chest feels funny. It’s the same way he felt when Kei touched his hair the night before.
And the way Kei had just said his name… his given name… made Shouyou feel completely and totally untethered. Like a spike with the wrong contact point, sent barrelling across the court, completely out of bounds while working on a new technique.
But is it really terrifying? Or is it exhilarating?
Shouyou thinks he knows the answer to that, but he doesn’t quite understand why. Letting his head rest against the wood behind him, he tunes himself back into his mom and Kei’s conversation.
Only, the conversation seems to be over, because he hears Kei growl a soft, “Fuck this. Sorry. Can I please come in?”
Shouyou squeaks again, the sound traveling past his hands and he knows that his mother and Kei hear it because Katsumi chuckles, and Kei thanks her.
Does that mean his traitor of a mother stepped aside and let him in? How dare she!
Shouyou isn't sure why he does it, just as he isn't sure why he is exhilarated by the sound of Kei's voice, or why he refused to go to practice earlier, or why he just can't get his mind off of that gentle hand buried in his hair. So no, Shouyou isn't sure why he does it, but he runs upstairs, bolting from behind the kitchen counter and taking the steps two at a time.
Tobio is at the top, and Shouyou lets out an almost victorious shout. He has found a new hiding place!
Kei - Saturday - 3:18pm
A blur of orange and panic races from behind the kitchen counter, and Kei nearly trips over his mostly removed shoes in his attempt to give chase.
Sure, Kei has long legs and an even longer reach with his arms, which certainly helps in volleyball and chasing after the boy he has a… crush… on, but Shouyou is fast . Incredibly so, and he has the reflexes to avoid Kei’s outstretched fingers. Barely .
Kei feels his fingers graze the material of Shouyou’s shirt, and he hears another squeak. Then he comes face to face with a glowering Kageyama.
“Out of my fucking way,” Kei says, and his voice is surprisingly calm. After trying to look around Kageyama, he sees that Shouyou is gripping the setter’s shoulders, hiding behind him, and it’s equal parts amusing and concerning.
Why is Shouyou hiding? And why does it have to be behind Kageyama of all people?
Kei feels his chest tighten in anger, or maybe it’s jealousy, when Kageyama shakes his head, adjusting himself to take up more space. “No. Hinata doesn’t want to see you right now.”
He what? Kei’s breath catches and he frowns slightly, hiding the expression by adjusting his glasses. Kageyama is just blustering. He has to be. There is no way Shouyou is avoiding him specifically. Kei has done nothing wrong…
Right?
Unless it’s the swearing. Akiteru has warned him that it could make him appear unseemly or violent. Has he scared Shouyou off with it?
Kei pales, an apology on the tip of his tongue, when Kageyama opens his mouth again. “He should go, right Hinata?”
Shouyou - Saturday - 3:18pm
Kei looks terrified. Then hurt. Both expressions last only a moment, then they are gone, replaced with a much more guarded look, and Shouyou can’t help but shake his head.
“No!” he says, and his voice comes out so high-pitched, he immediately clamps his hands back over his mouth. He quickly clears his throat, his eyes darting up to Tobio, who is frowning, before trying again. This time, he fights to keep his voice even. “No. He can stay.”
It’s just as confusing as everything else. He is, quite literally, hiding from Kei. He stayed home from practice because of Kei. So, why does he want Kei to stay? Why doesn’t he ask Tobio to throw him out?
The answer comes in a rush. Shouyou has been leaning over the edge of this knowledge for at least the last twenty-four hours, maybe even longer, but the expression on Kei’s face gives him the nudge he needs.
It’s a myriad of emotions, concern being one of the most prominent. However, Shouyou also sees clear amusement and pride and sadness… and a hint of shock, shown by the slight flush high up on his pale cheeks. It’s beautiful, even though he hides it under a mask of indifference.
It is beautiful.
Kei is beautiful.
Dear Lord, Kei is beautiful .
Shouyou loses his breath in an instant, blinking to try and regain control of his mind, because it’s suddenly a mess of ‘I am gay,’ and ‘Kei is beautiful,’ and ‘I am gay for Kei specifically.’ And it’s not like his sexuality is much of a surprise, but this… Kei … is. Shouyou is no longer sure how to function.
He knows he is blushing, and it’s probably crawling down his neck in such a splotchy mess, no one could ever call him beautiful, but that’s just how his blush is. It appears often enough for him to know exactly what it looks like. Kei has to know what it looks like too.
When Shouyou looks up at the taller boy, confusion is the most prevalent expression hidden behind his carefully sculpted mask. It’s noticeable in the pinch of his eyebrows and the slight part of his lips.
His lips .
Shouyou squeaks again. “Stay for dinner?” he manages, still hiding himself behind Tobio.
Kei - Saturday - 3:20pm
Dinner. Shouyou wants him to stay for dinner . He’s too stunned to answer, but it seems that Kageyama isn’t because he lets out a huff. “Dumbass, dinner isn’t for hours. We were going to practice some more.”
Kei lets out a slow breath. It figures that offer would be too good to be true. He is about to cut in with what feels like a sharp retort on the tip of his tongue, when Shouyou beats him to it. “I know. He can practice with us.”
“Wait… really?”
Kei asks his question right as Kageyama butts in with a very exasperated sigh. “Did you forget that he’s the reason we didn’t go to our team practice?”
“...What?”
Once again, Kei’s question goes unheard, and he’s too confused to process the way Shouyou’s face darkens in embarrassment. “I know, Jerkyama. But I want him here now.”
“You… do?”
Kei feels like he’s stuck on a turbulent plane, his stomach dropping out from under him as he continues to be ignored, the winds of their argument buffeting around him. Kageyama huffs dramatically, crossing his arms over his chest. “You are such an idiot. Make up your mind about him!”
“Wait, can we—”
Shouyou cuts in sharply, his own arms shooting out to the side. “I have made up my mind, Kageyama. And I want him to stay!”
“Hold o—”
Kageyama shoots up a hand, holding it up towards Kei as if to ask him to wait , and annoyance burns in Kei’s chest. He doesn’t manage to cut in, though, because Kageyama continues the fight. “Why would you want that? You said yourself that he’s a jerk!”
“I…”
Kei trails off on his own this time. Because it’s true. He knows he struggles with people, and he hides behind his salty comebacks and harsh language. He understands that most people see him as a jerk, because he is a jerk. But a part of him had hoped that maybe Shouyou would see more than that.
That same part of him is quickly let down when Shouyou lets out a laugh, somewhere between sharp and bright. “He is a jerk, and so are you!” he shouts back at Kageyama. “That doesn’t mean you aren’t my best friend, and that really doesn’t mean he doesn’t make my heart go all gwah and my stomach all whoosh and my brain all aargh !”
Shouyou - Saturday - 3:22pm
Shouyou is breathing hard when he finishes his rant of sound effects, and how heated he got in his argument with Tobio does nothing to help the flush on his face. However, It’s only after the hallway descends into silence that Shouyou truly realizes what he has said.
His eyes widen, and he glances past Tobio to Kei only to find the taller boy’s carefully composed mask is completely shattered. His expression is a mess of emotions all at once, but confusion is the most obvious.
After a few tense moments of eye contact, Kei finally breaks the silence. “What the fuck are you guys talking about?” he asks, his voice sharp, but quiet.
Tobio knows. He knows exactly what Shouyou meant by his gwah, whoosh , and aargh , and even if he doesn’t look too happy by it, he relaxes somewhat. “You are an idiot, but whatever. I want my milk.”
Shouyou frowns as Tobio turns to leave, still trying to catch his breath. The setter continues. “Work it out quickly, then both of you come outside. I want to get more practice in today,” he grumbles before shifting his glare to Kei. “Tsukishima, if you so much as raise your voice at him…”
Kei - Saturday - 3:25pm
Kageyama’s glare is not one that Kei likes to be on the receiving end of, and it’s almost enough to have him making a King comment. But just almost . Kei would much rather have answers to what Shouyou was talking about than to piss everyone off more by antagonizing Kageyama.
“Stupidyama. You’ve been yelling at me all day,” Shouyou says, but there’s no venom behind it. Kageyama simply snorts in reply and shoulders past Kei to walk down the stairs, leaving the two of them in another awkward silence.
Kei clears his throat, shifting his eyes to Shouyou, whose face is almost as colorful as his hair. “I’m sorry if—”
“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Shouyou cuts in quickly, and he sounds so honest, but…
“Kageyama said you didn’t come to practice because of me,” Kei says quietly, hating how timid he sounds.
Shouyou pulls his lip between his teeth, like he is actually thinking about what he wants to say, and Kei’s anxiety grows. “Look, I’ll try and cut back on the swearing,” he says quickly, not wanting Shouyou to confirm that he thinks Kei is a jerk again. “And the insults. I rarely actually mean them, I just…”
When Kei trails off, Shouyou smiles. “I know, and you don’t have to hold it back. I did skip practice because of you, but not for the reason you think.”
“Then why?” Kei asks, and it comes out in barely a whisper.
Shouyou - Saturday - 3:27pm
He doesn’t know how to say it. He doesn’t know how to tell Kei that he likes him. Really likes him. And probably has for a while, but was too much of an idiot to realize it until now.
It’s not a surprise. Shouyou has never been particularly good with words. Sure, sometimes he can lift his teammates spirits up a little, but that’s hardly poetry or a confession. So, Shouyou does what he does best; he acts.
More quickly than carefully, he reaches up and grabs Kei by the cheeks, drags him down to his height, and presses their lips together in a clumsy kiss made clumsier by Kei’s surprise.
But Kei doesn’t pull back. He freezes for a moment, then he shifts ever so slightly, helping their lips meet in a kiss rather than a harsh press, and Shouyou lets out a noise of triumph.
Kei - Saturday - 3:27pm
Kei’s list is burning a hole in his back pocket. Number four and a half, checking on Shouyou, can be officially crossed off, but so can number twelve. So, what about numbers five through eleven?
What about his plan ?
A voice in the back of his mind, one that sounds an awful lot like his mother, says to fuck the plan. Improvise. Go out of order. Kei can still do all of the things he wants to do, but maybe he can kiss Shouyou after he crosses off each item, and that sounds good.
That sounds really good.
Kissing Shouyou is really good.
His lips are soft and warm against Kei’s, and his hands are adorably small and warm where they rest on Kei’s cheeks, and Kei swears he can hear Shouyou’s heartbeat with how close they are, but maybe that’s just Kei’s own heartbeat.
It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters aside from the perfect and warm kiss.
Slowly, still trying to wrap his mind around the kiss and the failed plan and the confusing fight between Kageyama and Shouyou, he pulls away. “What the fuck?” he breathes, then curses again under his breath.
Shouyou - Saturday - 3:29pm
Kei is in the process of stumbling through an apology when Shouyou feels a laugh bubble out of him. “Idiotshima,” he says, effectively shutting the taller boy up. “Will you be my boyfriend?”
His question is marked with silence, and he wonders if maybe he had rushed into that. He makes up his mind to pull away—to backtrack—when Kei’s expression pulls into a slight pout. “I was supposed to be the one to ask you,” he mumbled.
And Shouyou can’t help his smile.
Kei - Saturday (one week later) - 4:15pm
Most of the items are checked off on his list, and he has made the decision not to add any more. All of the items since the fourth have gone out of order. The keychain was given before Kei got the chance to hold Shouyou’s hand, and he pushed Shouyou’s bike to the convenience store while carrying the smaller boy on his shoulders.
There is actually only one item on the list that Kei hasn’t managed to accomplish yet. Number eight: taking Shouyou on a date.
Kei looks down at the list in his hands and breathes out slowly, and he drags his pen across it, biting back a smile. Then he pockets the paper, wanting to hold onto it for a little while for sentimentality’s sake.
“Ready?” Shouyou asks, walking up to Kei, his eyes bright. He is freshly showered, as is Kei. They both wanted some time to get ready after practice ended before going out, and Kei hasn’t been waiting outside for very long.
Just long enough to examine his list and make one last change to it.
“You fucking know it,” Kei replies with a slight grin, leaning down to give Shouyou a quick kiss before entwining their fingers and leading him down the street.
Refill Shouyou’s water bottle: He’s fucking adorable when he’s surprised.Buy him a meat bun: See above. Also, his cheeks puff out when he eats.Start eating lunch with him: See above. (Include Tadashi because he’ll just give you shit if you don’t.)Ruffle his hair: Sugawara-san does it all the time. As does most of the team. You can do it too. …soft.Study with him: He needs it. You’ll enjoy it. It’ll work. Probably. (Don’t insult him too much. Tadashi says you’re an asshole. He’ll take it the wrong way)Offer to push his bike: you know, so he doesn’t have to? While you walk to the convenience store.Hold his hand: If you’ve gotten this far. …how is he so small?Take him on a date: Akiteru might have an idea for this. Approach topic really fucking carefully. He suggested the aquarium. Shou would like that.Ask him to be your boyfriend: If he likes the date, that is. …he beat me to it.Carry him on your shoulders: He’s definitely light enough.Buy him a keychain for his bag: Ok… or give him the one you bought him last month. (Just don’t do this in front of Tadashi. He’ll give you shit if you do.) …he liked it!Kiss him: … warm… perfect… do this again asap.