Archive of Our Own

Almost everyone on the Nekoma volleyball team had a crush on the older Haiba sibling. Whether it was only surface-level—undoubtedly from her captivating green eyes or her cute bubbly personality—everyone had a hint of affection for the young woman, only two years older than the third-years.

Captain Kuroo was no exception.

On several occasions, you observed Kuroo as his attention was irresistibly pulled towards Alisa. 

His quiet eyes seemed to fixate on her whenever she entered the room. Yaku, on the other hand, never held back, frequently showering compliments to Alisa without reservation.

The rest of the group readily echoed his sentiments.

While it was entirely justified for them to admire her unique appearance—I mean, she was definitely beautiful—this situation prompted you to contemplate whether a particular individual ever regarded you through a comparable lens of appreciation.

Kuroo had been your best friend for years and it was he who had persuaded you a long time ago to take on the role as manager for the men's volleyball team. You had pushed against him, never personally having interest in volleyball yourself, but he insisted day and night until you finally gave in.

Over the years, you couldn't help that small tendril of hope, that maybe he was trying to deliberately keep you close. This was his most favorite hobby; of course he was trying to find a way to rope you in, right?

When you had finally mustered the courage to ask about his true motive all those years ago, he said it was simply due to your exceptional qualities. According to Kuroo, your innate aptitude for organization coupled with your passion for the tasks you undertook rendered you the ideal candidate for the role of manager.

Essentially you had high grades and a good head, is what it boiled down to.

You tried to tell yourself you were not disappointed.

As the years rolled by, Kuroo wasn’t just that nerdy best friend with an ugly laugh. 

The image of the eccentric enthusiast of fish now stood before you as a charming and intelligent individual, adorned with the prestigious mantle of being captain of the volleyball team.

Over time you were seeing him in an entirely new light and your heart fluttered with a fervor that you had never expected, never experienced.

You had a big fat stupid crush on Kuroo. 

How could you do something so cliche? So stupid and capable of ruining all the years of hard-earned friendship?

But…

There were always these small, tiny little instances that left you wondering. 

Could it be possible… 

That he liked you back?

There were times that Kuroo treated you as more than just a friend. It was small, but you could feel it in the air at times, the random charge of chemistry that made your heart beat suddenly rapid.

How many times had Kuroo called you beautiful, pushing your hair out of your face? How many times had he played the part of a jealous boyfriend, shooing away the boys in your class as he threw an arm across your shoulders?

That had to be flirting, right?

That was, until you actually saw Kuroo flirting.

It was different and yet the same. Gone was the playful smile that he used with most people, replaced with a more serious smirk that borderlined a husky smolder. 

And it was never used towards you.

Even in the crowded gymnasium, surrounded by your close friends cleaning and laughing at the end of a game, did your eyes follow Kuroo as he made his way over the beautiful young woman. She just happened to be at the practice match today, cheering on her brother as the members of your team tried a little harder to show off. And Kuroo himself, well he smirked, told some sort of line you couldn’t hear, and watched as she leaned into his space with a smile of her own.

Yaku playfully pushed your back to get you to move it and help clean, unaware of the blank shock taking place at that very moment.

You never had his regard.

It only served to break your heart more when you heard the news at volleyball practice the next day.

Kai had his arms crossed while sporting his usual neutral smile. Lev was scowling, but you could tell that he was withholding a playfulness to himself. Kenma was in the far corner, playing something on his phone, uncaring of the group of teens forming. Inuoka and Shibayama both looked excited, the former even jumping a few times to physically voice his eagerness.

“Kurooooo.” Yaku prolonged his name as he groaned aloud. “You lucky asshole.”

“You better treat my sister right!”

“What does a college woman have in common with you?” Yaku continued complaining.

“She graduated high school last year, there’s only a year between us.” Kuroo responded.

“Bah.” Yaku whined, “But it’s you.”

You should’ve known. If Kuroo wanted something, he wasn’t the type of person to dawdle or hesitate. Their mutual smiles and dusty pink cheeks played in the back of your mind all of last night.

You had watched in the distance as your best friend slipped from your fingers.

(Or was it ever truly in your grasp if he never regarded you as a woman?)

They were dating. 

Kuroo and Alisa were dating.

The captain in question rolled his eyes at some reply, unaware of how you were notably silent. 

When he finally noticed you, he pushed past the other members and walked over to you with a smile. “Hey, can I ask you for a favor tonight?”

“What’s up?”

He raised a hand to sheepishly rub at his neck, “I have a date tonight and…”

What the fresh hell on earth was this? 

There was no way he was coming to you for advice. What God was looking down at you now, pointing and laughing at the ironic misery?

“And you need pointers talking to a female?” You joked to hide your pain, as if inside you hadn’t wanted to scream. 

He rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless. “Please?”

You should say no. 

The love of your life was asking for help with another woman and here you were considering trying to help him??

Were you insane??

There was only one clear answer to this question.

“Sure, anything for you.” You said with a smile.

The smile he gave you back was almost blinding. All teeth and without a hint of hesitation, the honest truth that he did love and appreciate you.

Just not the way you wanted.

“Thanks, you’re the best.” He replied simply, before ruffling your hair.

You sighed deeply the second Kuroo turned to join the rest of the others, unaware of Kenma’s long stare in your direction.

Dear god, did you just hate yourself? Did you really just pine over nothing for years and then get disappointed when his attention was on someone else?

It wasn’t his fault for your feelings. He didn’t even know!

And true to your word, you trudged over to Kuroo’s house later that night. Kenma was an unwilling member of the audience as well, sitting on his bed with a gaming console in hand. You heard the telltale sounds of power-ups and eliminations, but the both you and Kuroo were used to it by now.

You watched Kuroo model two different outfits, trying to look casual as if he had not put that much effort into his clothes. It became obvious how nervous he was when he even contemplated styling and taming his hair, but you simply smiled and rebuffed that it was one of the things girls loved about him.

In the end he went back to the original outfit he tried on, making Kenma sigh and you try your best to put on a kind smile.

After all, none of this was his fault. You could cry in your room and scream into the abyss, but your feelings were simply your own. He didn’t ask for you have to crush on him. And, honestly at this point, it’s not like he knew about it either.

You put on a brave face, remembering at the end of the day this was your best friends attempting to pursue his own happiness.

He thanked you before leaving saying, “Again, you’re the best. I’ll treat ya to ice cream one of these days.”

You smiled and said it was not necessary, still sitting on his bed even after Kuroo closed the door behind him. You heard Alisa’s bubbly voice downstairs, his mother cooing over her. It was only when the sound of the front-door closed that you let out the sigh you had been holding, letting it hammer down on your heart.

You hadn’t realized how quiet it was until the moment dragged out. Kenma was looking directly at you, completely unaware of when he had paused his game and tucked it to the side.

“You okay?” He asked, patting the spot next to him for you to take.

The blond knew about your feelings for a while, not like you ever had to say anything. Kenma was the type to just know things. Whether from your behavior, from the way you spoke, anything was enough for the blond to tell your true feelings before you were even sure. He had urged you on two separate occasions to get over the captain, but had never truly pushed the topic.

“Yeah, I’m okay. It’s just a crush.” You bit out, less to reassure him, but more for yourself. “And after all, it’s just one date, right?”

“One date for now.” Kenma reasoned.

Though you were well aware that Kenma's words were devoid of any malice, the impact felt like a delicate fracture forming in your heart. Kenma's honesty cut clean, not with the intention to hurt, but to ground you to a truth that stung.

“He’s never liked me like that.” You finally said aloud.

“No, he hasn’t.”

If this was anyone else you would have gotten annoyed or angry, the candid reply rude. But this was Kenma, his blunt honesty was not unkind. 

It just was. 

And he was right.

“He’s never had feelings for you like that.”

You laid back on the bed, sighing as you closed your eyes. 

“And now he’s pursuing someone who he does like.” Kenma continued.

“Yeah. He’s… on a date.”

It would be selfish of you to be angry. To cry and demand he not spend time with her. This was him pursuing a young, attractive woman he was genuinely interested in. You were just the friend on the sideline, the pal. The pal who was stupid enough to fall for a man who never say you as a woman.

You would support his happiness.

“Maybe you should get some distance.” Kenma offered.

“Trying to get rid of me?” You joked, eyes already glistening with unshed tears.

This felt so final. You had loved Kuroo for years—supporting him at his highest and lowest. Who stayed up with him all night when Nekoma didn’t make Nationals when you were first-years? Who stayed up for hours tossing him balls for practice?

Kenma gave you a soft smile, wistful and sadder than you had ever seen him. A gentle hand reached around your shoulders, pulling you against him. He was never good at comforting you in these moments, but he would still be a shoulder for you to lean on. And in the quiet bedroom of your childhood crush, you resolved to not think about Kuroo like this anymore.

You withstood it all: listening to Kuroo recount his date to the other team members, smiling and encouraging him to muster the courage to ask her out on another date, and even later congratulating him during their one-month anniversary.

It wasn’t just one date.

Not that Kuroo was forgetting his friends, he still hung-out with you and Kenma and upheld his responsibilities as Captain. But there were small changes, like Kuroo almost constantly texting his girlfriend, having busy on weekends that were now dedicated to dates, and just overall the schedule of a man newly in love.

In kind, you found yourself reaching out to your other friends more. You went out fishing with Kai and Fukunaga. You accepted Lev and Inuoka’s invitations to go to the arcade in Shibuya. Yaku was someone you were often hovering around, the kind-soul inviting you out to dinner after school just the two of you.

Apparently, Yaku had known as well.

It didn’t take much to figure it all out, Yaku stated not unkindly. From your constant flirting to the fact that you and Kuroo used to basically spend every free second together, he had thought long ago that you were already dating when he first met you.

Hearing that only hurt more, to which Yaku immediately jumped out of his seat to sit next to yours. Yaku disregarded any concern for the public setting and enveloped you in a warm and reassuring embrace.

“I’m sorry.” He said. 

“This is no one’s fault but my own.” You countered, holding back the next onslaught of tears.

He couldn’t refute you, simply offering you a shoulder to cry on. You had to get over your feelings, there was no other way to let go of this pain.

It was strange to be in Kuroo’s circle from then on, but you honestly did try your best. You were still his friend, offering advice and hanging out with him in groups. 

But there was a distance that you were putting, a figurative wall that was being built with every waking second. He had never questioned it, but you already had an excuse on the tip of your tongue if Kuroo ever did: you were giving him time and space with his new girlfriend, it was only natural.

As the relentless march of time continued, you found a sense of solace in the fact that you too could move on and be happy. You had your friends and volleyball was honestly something you loved, it was no longer just a hobby you got dragged into.

Seeing Kuroo and his girlfriend still brought a distant pang, but it no longer rang in the depths of your bones. You simply watched and smiled, content that he was happy as you were learning your own happiness.

That was, until a particular weekend training camp with Fukurodani.

You were long familiar with both Bokuto and Akaashi. Kuroo had tons of antics with both boys and honestly many other members of their team, to which you often joined in. From hang-outs on the weekends to these annual training camps, you were on friendly terms with the captain and his vice.

“ Hey hey hey!” Bokuto greeted you at the onset, the setter was a little ways away behind him. 

Akaashi smiled and waved at you in greeting, which was the usual as you were cordial in the past. But it was obvious that his teammates were crowding behind him, mischevious smiles on their faces as the setter was getting crowded toward you. 

You shot Bokuto a confused smile and Akaashi shot him a small glare, a look as if he would neuter the ace where he stood.

Bokuto scurried away just as quickly, causing Akaashi to sigh before turning to you. 

“How have you been?” He asked politely, as if there wasn’t a mob of teens lingering around you for no reason.

Regardless, you always appreciated how friendly the setter was, no matter how attractive or intimidating he looked.

It was an admission you couldn't deny—Akaashi Keiji stood as one of the most captivating men your had ever encountered. 

His ebony hair and the aura of seriousness he exuded were like a veil concealing a reservoir of subtle kindness and a genuinely appealing sense of humor. Sure, you had a crush on Kuroo, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t appreciate this absolute 10/10 in front of you. Even at Nationals, spectators and commentators alike would double-take at how handsome this man was.

And hoooo boy, was he just?? 

So perfect??

You had to mentally slap yourself to remember to answer his question, his eyes captivating the longer you stared into them. 

“I’m doing alright, school exams. A dozen different guidance counselors asking me about my future, the usual. How about you?”

“Much of the same.” He replied before moving to clasp his hands behind his back. “Would you like to go out for dinner after this?”

You accepted without thinking too hard. After all, over-analyzing did nothing for you in the past. “Sure! Who else is going?

There was a twitch of a smile at the corner of his lips, “Ah, I meant… Just the two of us.”

“Like a date?” You asked, again without really thinking.

He laughed fully before looking at you, an expression you came to recognize as fondness. “Yes, exactly that.”

Akaashi? Akaashi Keiji? This absolutely perfect man wanted to take you out on a date? How could you ever be so lucky?

You smiled back, a twist of something real, something you hadn’t felt in a long time, in the depths of your stomach.

“I’d love to.”

Akaashi’s smile was radiant, like a warmth of a thousand suns before blinking away in an instant, rare like a beauty only few were blessed with.

“Thank you. Let’s have fun later.” He said simply before grasping your hand gently. 

He lifted the top of your hand to his lips, a fleeting flutter of a kiss that barely counted, but was every bit of chivalry that he was known for. You felt your cheeks redden, already slightly overwhelmed from the amount of affection the setter was willing to give. You had only agreed to a date and he was already uncaring of the public setting, affectionate regardless of anyone.

Akaashi bid you farewell and turned toward the other side of the gym, but the expressions on his teammates faces showed this was a joint effort.

Bokuto rushed to slap him on the back while Yukie and Kaori shot him a thumbs-up. Haruki was smiling brightly at their vice captain and whatever Konoha said caused the setter to erupt in a blush. You were curious and for once, that hope that had long since disappeared was gradually coming back.

Your team instantly tried to bombard you with questions, but you maneuvered them back to their warm-ups and said they had games to win rather than being nosy. 

There was one look from Kuroo that you could not decipher, one you spotted when you first stepped away from Akaashi. It was long, like he had not even been looking at you, but a thousand different thoughts behind that quiet facade.

After the practice matches you were free game, Inuoka being the first to rush you after he finished mopping his section of the gym.

“Is Akaashi your boyfriend?” He asked as he jumped from your peripheral to right in front of you. “How could you keep this a secret from us?!”

“You and Akaashi are so cute! We had no idea!” Shibayama added as he walked up to you. With those two breaking the ice, it seemed that was enough for the others of Nekoma to crowd you as well.

Kenma patted you on the shoulder, a knowing, yet happy look in his eye. 

Yaku shot you the same expression, but offered you an out in any form of call or text if you needed it. “If you need to come home, say the word and we’ll get you home.”

Kai nodded in agreement while the others expressed other forms of their excitement for you.

All but one, at least.

Something did not sit well in Kuroo’s stomach.

He watched you get buried by the group, curious questions linking you to the Fukurodani setter that many girls called the perfect boy next door. He was soft-spoken and yet confident. Had a good sense of humor and yet not immature. Akaashi was a great catch and, if there was anyone in the entire gymnasium right now that Kuroo had to pick for you to end up with, it would without a doubt be the setter.

At least… 

That’s what Kuroo thought.

As Akaashi emerged from the locker rooms, having completed his post-shower routine and changed into regular street-clothes, a subtle shift occurred within the group. The collective presence seemed to part instinctively, akin to the parting of the Red Sea in ancient tales. It was almost overwhelming how every eye in the gym was watching as Akaashi stepped out toward you.

The young setter extended his hand towards you once he was close, a gesture that dusted your cheeks pinks. With an air of ease, he reached over easily to shoulder your gym bag, as though its weight held no significance to him. 

Together, the two of you held hands and walked out the gym, even as the whispers from your teammates grew louder with each step. Clearly everyone was blind-sided, yourself included. Akaashi was just so kind to everyone, you never would have even thought he was remotely interested in you.

Clearly you were wrong. 

You first date was perfect , just like he was. 

You ate at a restaurant in Shibuya, having learned later he made reservations. (It was adorable to think he planned this far ahead.) He held your hand as you spoke, learning about you, your friends, your family. He left nothing to be speculated, words and actions clearly showing his interest.  

And as you came to know Akaashi, he was exactly that: perfect for you. Blunt in a way that reminded you of Kenma, but still somehow emphatic to your feelings.

He would buy you a cold drink on hot days. Walk all the way to your school just to walk you home. Would call and text you throughout the day. Could tell when you were feeling stressed, offering you a silent hug and a sweet kiss on the forehead.

And, on a day you were feeling particularly daring, you cuddled together on a couch as some mindless rom-com played in the background. Akaashi nuzzled your neck before placing gentle kisses along the skin.

He showed you how you wanted to be loved—loud and without any semblance of a doubt.

Akaashi treated you right, no doubt.

And with each and every day, it looked like you were genuinely falling for him. It wasn’t odd to see you two holding hands around campus, going to restaurants on dates, or giving each other sweet little kisses when your schools played against one another.

So why did it feel so wrong to see you in the arms of another guy?

Kuroo was quickly learning the complications of desire firsthand.

The first time he thought poorly of Akaashi, thinking that he didn’t deserve you, Kuroo wanted nothing more than to snap himself out of that thinking. 

Why would he even dare think that? Akaashi was the perfect man for you and he was in a relationship with another person, why would he get so oddly possessive over you ?

That wasn’t right in any way. And even if he tried to lie to himself, saying it was just because he was protecting you as your best friend, even he did not truly believe that. 

It ate him up from the inside as his eyes slid to you, unable to look away from you even in the classroom as the teacher droned on and on. He hated himself that his thoughts were wandering off to you rather than his girlfriend of several months.

It was not even that long ago that thinking of the grey-headed woman in front of him would cause a raging swarm in his stomach. Something had unknowingly shifted, the only feeling left was the sinking pit that grew every time he saw Akaashi.

It was regret.

Kuroo kept constant tabs on you, not wanting to ask you out-right how your relationship was going. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say Kenma was being deliberately vague whenever the captain asked a question.

“Oh, they’re doing well.”

He wanted to pull his hair out. 

It was Bokuto who became his silent savior.

“They’re uh… real serious. I think.” The owl-haired man responded, his usual brand of enthusiasm gone. 

Kuroo sighed for a long moment, trapped in his own disappointment. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Bokuto paused for a moment, making Kuroo raise a brow. But the wing-spiker continued before he could ask. “They go on dates, all the time.”

“But that’s just dating right?”

“Well...”

“Well??”

Bokuto frowned to himself. “I know Akaashi. He wouldn’t do all this unless he was serious!”

“What like, forever?”

“Yeah dude.” Bokuto leaned in and started whispering. “I saw them, one time. They were at an arcade and I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But he wrapped his arms around her while she was playing a game. They looked like newlyweds.”

“Akaashi is affectionate?”

Bokuto nodded quietly.

Goddamnit. 

Fuck it all. 

Not to mention Kuroo’s interactions with you were few and far between. Sure, you attended classes together and were cordial to one another at and around volleyball practice. 

But you were distant in an understandable way, spending time with your budding relationship. You still made yourself available to him and the rest of the team, but it was different now in a way that mattered.

And it was making him irritable.

God, why was he so fucking messy?

Why now was he fucking up his life so much?

He had a beautiful young woman who he was dating and he was getting irritable over his best friend’s relationship? What the fuck was wrong with him?

His heart told him to say something, to change the outcomes that he had caused. But to do anything would be so selfish! How could he ever interrupt how happy you looked?

It was like feeling alone in a crowded room. He wanted to be the one to hold you and hug you. But that could never happen now. And so instead he joined the others around you, cheering on your new relationship.

Throughout the tapestry of Kuroo's life, you stood as resolute and an unwavering presence, a constant that he had taken for granted in the worst possible way. 

The notion of your absence was a foreign concept to him, a concern that never even managed to even gain a foothold in his thoughts before. Whether it was volleyball practice or the demands of school, you were a fixture by his side, a reliable companion who shared the highs and lows of life.

How could he ever forget how you impacted his life? From the dimly lit late-night study sessions to the cozy realms of even later video game marathons, these were the threads that wove his cherished memories. You were a constant to his happiness—something he held dearer than even he recognized.

Kuroo remembered the first time you all went to the beach together as a team. You had worn a bathing suit that he, for whatever reason, did not approve of and had you change before heading out together. He remembered playfully dragging you into the freezing, early summer water and you throwing hands with him right after.

How long had it been since he laughed like that? Smiled like that?

God, he was a fucking terrible person.

It was because he wanted to be your boyfriend.

It was one of the worst types of epiphanies someone could ever come to. 

To realize you had feelings for someone you knew you shouldn’t have.

Kuroo’s true feelings must have surfaced somehow, since Alisa ended their relationship at the three-month mark. She invited him to a dessert place somewhere in Shibuya, but never took off her coat and only ordered a drink. It was enough to signify that she had to leave quickly—that she was in a rush to not be there.

Her smile was sad, but not unkind. “We’re growing in separate directions. It’s best if we part ways now.”

Kuroo didn’t want to ask her to specify, worried that she was going to say an answer that he was not ready to hear out loud. It was one thing to believe he had feelings for you, but accepting it would be the final nail in his coffin.

It was all too much at once—him realizing his feelings and coming to the conclusion that he wanted to act on it.

Every day was a reminder of things that he could not and should not have. 

At the next practice match with Fukurodani, Kuroo had to endure watching you kiss Akaashi on the lips and sweetly wishing him ‘good luck.’ Sitting with you at lunch entailed listening to you go on and on about your perfect boyfriend Akaashi. The others would even agree, complimenting Akaashi’s chivalry and expressing their gladness that someone was treating you right.

Apparently Alisa hadn’t told Lev, since no one on the team had yet to bombarded him with questions about their breakup.

At least…

Kenma had long noticed his best friend’s, Kuroo’s , prolonged looks toward you. 

But that would not do. 

When given the chance, Kenma would say something.

And it came in the form of the two of them sitting outside at lunch, waiting for the others when they saw you with your group of female friends. You waved at the both Kuroo and Kenma before heading towards the other table. It would take a couple minutes before the other volleyball players would leave their classrooms and arrive at the caferia.

“She looks really happy these days.” Kuroo commented as his eyes followed you.

“Yeah. And you shouldn’t try to mess it up.” Kenma replied, not missing a beat as he didn’t even look up from his Switch.

Kuroo stiffened at the direct callout, but turned to his childhood friend slowly. “And how would I do that?”

“She’s finally falling in love with someone else. Just let her be.”

There was a long silence.

“With someone else…?”

Kenma put down his Switch fully, looking at Kuroo flatly directly in the eyes. A frown formed on his lips and there was a small crease at his brows.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice she was in love with you?” The setter asked.

“No?” The Nekoma captain replied, voice small as it sounded more like a question. 

Had he truly not known? Even with all the hangouts and flirting, had he really been that obtuse?

Kuroo continued. “I had no idea…”

That was apparently not the reaction Kenma was hoping for, since he sighed for a long moment. Instead, his sharp golden eyes focused and searched Kuroo’s eyes, for what he did not know. 

Kenma replied. “It’s not like it makes a difference now, right?”

Kuroo hesitated, his response drawn out. “Right.”

Kenma frowned again, looking at his friend straight-on with an agonized look. He was Kuroo’s friend the longest, but the gamer still cared about you.

The sight of your sadness over these past few years exacted a toll on Kenma's own mental state. It was hard to see the smile on your face when Kuroo would be particularly affectionate with you, only for it to lead to nothing. 

Kenma found himself urging you repeatedly over the years to speak up, to break the silence that hung heavily, and to address the unresolved feelings with Kuroo. And so it was all the more frustrating when time after time you refused to, opting to remain silent for reasons that he didn’t quite understand. 

If Kuroo truly didn’t feel the same for you, there was no way that it would completely ruin your friendship. You were all childhood friends with years and years of memories and trust between one another. Your families went on vacations together and you all did everything together. Sure, it might be awkward for some time, but you could never lose them. 

Like it or not, you had a bond for life now. 

But time and time again you stayed silent. And while Kenma didn’t exactly believe Kuroo didn’t know about your feelings, he also knew that it wasn’t the captain’s fault either. You had never tried to confess your true feelings. Kuroo was just a guy, a teen who found someone he wanted to date. 

And so Kenma's heart found a measure of relief, knowing that you had found a way to move forward and discover a happiness that had previously eluded you.

Seeing you with Akaashi made him happy, reveling in the genuine cheerfulness he hadn’t seen so candidly on you in a while. Your natural, bright smiles were on display once again; rather than the tight ones Kenma had been seeing as of late.

But it seemed to have the inverse effect on his other friend.

Kenma long noticed the prolonged looks in your direction, the wistful smiles that Kuroo had whenever you laughed about something from the group. But what Kenma was not expecting was the pure anguish on his friend's face after seeing you with your boyfriend.

Never had Kenma thought that Kuroo would reciprocate your feelings. After all, how many years had you all been together and nothing happened?

And yet he saw .

But you were both dating other people, this would do no good and only bring unnecessary drama when you were both finding happiness in other people. And so Kenma thought it was time he guided Kuroo back on the right path, back to Alisa where he was obviously interested before.

“How is your girlfriend?” Kenma asked,and while usually he would not actually care, it seemed Kuroo needed the reminder.

Or at least, so he thought.

“She’s not my girlfriend anymore.” Kuroo replied, eyes scanning the many students passing by behind Kenma. 

But the setter knew better, he was looking for you. Whether consciously or not, Kuroo’s attention was drawn back to you.

How ironic was it that it seemed you had it now, when you no longer wanted it.

Kenma decided not to push it anymore, Yaku and Kai were coming up from the path and waving at them both. They would be joining their lunch table soon and Kenma was sure he was just given a major secret, given how neither Lev nor Yaku had yet reacted to the news.

Was Kuroo developing feelings for you? 

Now of all times??

It seemed so when the situation only continued to drag on, Kuroo’s feigned smiles even enough for you to realize were a little too tight to be considered genuine. Eventually news did break out that the two of them were over. Lev glared at the captain for all of two weeks before his sister explained that they grew apart. Yaku asked if you were okay, but otherwise the team did not dwell on it much. They had only dated for a handful of months and they weren’t particularly close in the last. 

After all, for the first time in a while, you were happy.

Or at least, that’s what it looked like on the surface.

“Can I ask you something, honestly?” Akaashi asked you after a few months of dating, the both of you lounging in his living room.

Akaashi was perfect in so many ways, there were times that it felt like he could read your mind whether it was your needs and wants. So much so, that it often had you nervous or feeling inadequate in the eyes of the setter. There was always something that you thought you could improve on, always something that neither of you could see eye to eye to.

The setter made you feel adored, cared for. And while in the beginning it was exciting, to have a potential new love on the horizon after years of suffering in silence. When he kissed you, it felt nice. You reveled in the feel even, but never had you felt especially passionate. 

He made you feel safe, but not special.

And now, a few months into your newfound relationship, there was something obviously missing to the both of you.

“How do you feel… about us?” He asked, eyes boring into your own as he sat across from you on the coffee table, you on the couch.

That was a loaded question.

You felt safe with him—the chivalrous prince of Fukurodani.

The perfect boyfriend.

Perfect perfect perfect.

That word was almost always associated with Akaashi, it honestly ate at you sometimes that you would never be adequate enough. But it was true—he had perfect grades, performed amazing at volleyball, treated you exactly how you should be treated. Other than some overthinking at times, he had no weaknesses, no faults.

Rather than loving or kind or the man who gave you butterflies, you thought he was just perfect. 

And so you responded with that. 

“You’re perfect.” You replied. 

Akaashi looked at you calmly, reaching for your hands and clasping them in his own. “Perfection isn’t always what we want.”

“Is something wrong, Keiji?” You asked back. 

He smiled wistfully before saying. “Ask me the same question.”

You paused. “How do you feel about us?”

“I’ve really come to care about you. I love talking to you and confiding how I truly feel with you. Yu’ve grown to be one of my best friends.” He answered candidly.

There was something clearly missing.

You filled in the blank for him. “But you're not in love with me.”

“No, I’m not.” Akaashi held your hands tightly, squeezing unconsciously before continuing, “Are you in love with me?”

You couldn’t even hesitate. 

“No, I’m not.”

There was no sudden heartbreak, no reason to suddenly burst out into tears. You were not in love with Akaashi, not in the way that you wanted to be.

A part of you was screaming internally, telling you to look at the man in front of you and be happy for what he was willing to give you. But another, the one that had wallowed in sadness for years for a certain someone, told you that running away would only cause pain in the long-run.

Akaashi had a blank expression as he took in your words before continuing. “We have everything that should make a relationship work—we make time for one another, we communicate, and we love each other very much. But we’re not in love.”

“I’m so sorry, Akaashi.” You felt something inside you break, voice wavering.

He had a slight smile, letting go of one of your hands to cup your cheek. “Why are you sorry? I’m sorry I asked you on a date in the first place, when my heart ended up not being present.”

You whispered back. “I wish I was in love with you.”

“I wish I was in love with you too. I’m sorry.” Akaashi repeated. “I owe it to you to be honest. I remember when I first thought I liked you, how you wished me a good match and treated me kindly during last year’s training camp. But I think I was just looking for a distraction for my heart.”

You perked up at his last words. “Is there someone you’re running from?”

“No, at least I don’t want there to be anymore.”

“Humor me, one of your best friends.” You attempted to jest, a small smile on your face. Akaashi just looked at you with one of his tired smiles, before glancing away. 

There was only one person in Akaashi’s life that it could be.

Even before you were dating, it was always obvious who he spent all his time with. Even though they weren’t in the same year, not even in the same classes, they were always just together somehow even outside of volleyball.

“… Was it Bokuto?” You asked. 

The setter sighed before leaning back, “Was I that obvious?”

“Wait, what? You guys are so close!”

Even after you started dating, Bokuto still tried inserting himself between you guys. He would try to join you on your dates, saying that dinners at restaurants and whatnot were things he could join in like a group meal. It was Akaashi who would draw the line and leave him behind. You could still remember how heartbroken the Ace looked at having been denied by Akaashi.

“Yes and I will continue to be his close friend probably for the rest of our lives.” Akaashi replied. “But he does not have romantic feelings for me, or any male really.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. He will never notice me for who I am or how I feel. He just doesn’t understand.” Akaashi replied before moving to sit next to you. “I’m sorry if it feels like I led you on.”

“No, don’t think about it that way.” You quickly squashed that thought of his, moving a comforting hand over his own.  “You had every right to try to pursue someone you thought would be enough. And honestly, you’re not the only one who doesn’t feel that spark.”

Akaashi leaned into you and you nuzzled your head against his shoulder. “You’re the first person I’ve ever told about Bokuto.”

You turned to him fully and smiled, “Thank you for trusting  me. You know, it’s weird. I know we just broke up. But I still want to be really good friends with you.”

Akaashi caressed your fingers. “Me too. I always felt drawn to you, but I guess I know why.”

“Can people have platonic soulmates?” You joked.

“I know you’re mine.” He answered back with a smile. 

You leaned into him as you had done a hundred times before. The setter wrapped his arms around you, cuddling you from behind as he kissed the crown of your head.

“Thank you, Keiji.” You nuzzled into the motion. “And being completely honest, you weren’t the only one with unrequited feelings for a teammate.”

“It was Kuroo-san, wasn’t it?”

“… Was I that obvious?” You repeated Akaashi’s earlier question back to him. 

“Honestly when I first met you all, I thought you two were already dating.”

“Yeah. It was just stupid ole me in love with my childhood best friend.”

You felt Akaashi shake his head. “You aren’t stupid. The lingered touches and pictures made it seem like it was mutual.” 

“Not by a long shot. And he ended up dating Lev’s sister.”

“Aa, it was actually when I heard that that I thought I had a chance with you.”

“How funny.” You said to yourself. 

“But at least I gained a lifelong friend.” The setter continued.

“Keiji… you taught me so much. How I wanted to be loved. How much love I can feel from one person.” You swallowed deeply, leaning back to look akaashi full in the eyes. “It was just short of enough and it hurts to know that.”

Akaashi leaned forward, his forehead resting against yours. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” You felt your voice waver at the end. He had an arm around your waist and a hand holding your own.

"One more for the road?" He leaned into you, noses brushing.

“One more." You smiled back. 

Only with Akaashi would you ever have this hushed understanding. With a tender smile, you leaned in, your lips meeting in a kiss that spoke of gratitude for the unwavering support and a tribute to the countless memories that had woven your lives together in such a short amount of time. 

The touch was gentle, and as the kiss lingered, the world around you seemed to recede into the background. The embrace was both a farewell and a promise, an acknowledgment that even thought your paths were diverging, your hearts would always remain intertwined.

As you finally pulled away, there was a lingering warmth, a soft trace of the moment that had passed. With a wistful smile, you exchanged a final glance, the unspoken promise of friendship enduring, even in the face of change. And with hearts full of fondness, you turned to embark on your respective journeys, leaving behind a memory of a kiss that spoke of cherished memories and the beauty of a connection that transcended romantic notions.

Even after you left Akaashi’s home, he texted you to make sure you returned home safely and even then you talked that night over FaceTime. Was it really that strange that you had broken-up but your schedule hadn’t really changed. You were actually really excited to tuck into bed and listen to Akaashi’s light snore as he slept, it was like an anchor that everything was going to be okay. 

Akaashi was still one of your close friends, someone you could be honest to without fear and get the same communication in return. 

But there was a small pit in the deepest part of your stomach—had your feelings for Kuroo ruined you for all other men?

On paper, Akaashi should have been the perfect boyfriend that would help guide you out of your feelings. Everything about him screamed that he was the man you would end up with forever. But there was no spark there, nothing that ignited between the two of you to be all over each other and fall in love with one another.

Would your heart be stuck on the one person you could never have?

The next day at school, this very thought continued to plague you. You were quiet through class and even worse during lunch, keeping to yourself and gazing out the window wondering if your heart would ever accept someone else.

Both Kuroo and Kenma had sent you prodding looks throughout the day, your childhood friends almost instantly aware that something was off. But you did not want to face them now, not when you were still unsure about life in general.

How’s your day going?

Akaashi had texted you a little after lunch. Again, while it should have been weird for exes to stay in contact, Akaashi did not necessarily feel like that. He was one of your best friends now, you never wanted to let go of that fact. And it seemed you were also secret keeper for each other. 

You 11:05 AM
Absolute shiet. And you?

Akaashi 11:05 AM
Very much the same.

You 11:05 AM
Existential crisis if you’ll ever love again?

Akaashi 11:05 AM
Yes and it doesn’t help that Bokuto parades like a peacock.

You 11:05 AM
But you love it.

There was a small pause for a few minutes. 

Akaashi 11:10 AM
… I do.

There was something comforting about talking about this with someone else. At least you had a close friend who understood what it was like to be in love alone. The others could listen and follow along, but Akaashi knew what it was like to have the heartbreak of a long, unrequited love.

You felt a small vibration after a few minutes and turned back to your phone.

Akaashi 11:19 AM
Have you told the others yet?

You: 11:19 AM
Not yet, you?

Akaashi 11:19 AM
I probably will today after practice.

That was another problem you did not want to breach. It would be hard to explain why you two had broken up, but at the same time it was not anyone else’s business. Regardless, that was a bandage you had to pull off later. And so you just kept staring outside the classroom window, hoping for this day to pass quickly.

You 11:28 AM
best of luck to you

Akaashi 11:28 AM
you too.
love you.

You smiled to yourself. You were probably one of the only exes in the entire world who could love each other more right after breaking up.

You 11:28 AM
Love you too.

Hearing you sigh for the ninth time in ten minutes, Kuroo could feel himself almost physically itching in his seat to ask you what was wrong.

Did Akaashi do something wrong?

Were you guys okay?

...

... Were you still dating?

But the look Kenma was shooting at him was enough warning that Kuroo should not interfere. You would come to him and your other friends if it was truly important, but a big part of him wanted to know now .

And throughout volleyball practice and after school, Kuroo felt his gaze almost latch onto you in every free second he had. From when you were filling up water bottles to adjusting the scoreboard, Kuroo’s anxiety kept his eyes on you at all times off the court. Yaku had even kicked at his knees for being so obvious.

But you said nothing, withdrawn like you had been all day throughout class. You were still physically present, but your smiles were noticeably tight and your words clipped. You did as you were asked, helping collect the volleyballs and organizing the water bottles, but you were notable quiet enough for everyone to notice.

It was only when the five of you had departed from school—Kuroo, Yaku, Kai, and Kenma were the only ones left—did you decide to open up. 

“Akaashi and I broke up.” You said simply, walking alongside them on the way home.

A pregnant pause filled the air, a suspended moment that seemed to stretch in time as all four boys exchanged looks. Even Kuroo, who had been begging the night sky for this to happen, found himself caught in the inertia of those fleeting seconds. His step faltered for a brief second before he unconsciously stepped closer to you.

Beside him, Kenma immediately set his phone aside, his gaze focused on you. You stopped in place while Yaku stepped forward first, resting a gentle hand on your shoulder.

“I'm so sorry." He said instantly. "When did this happen? Yesterday?”

You nodded.

Yaku huffed, anger rising visibly on his face. “What did he do!? Did he hurt you?”

Kai looked equally worried to your left.

“What? No!” You stopped in your tracks and raised your palms in defense. “It’s not like that… It’s actually mutual.”

Yaku’s eyes widened and then narrowed in confusion. “What? But you guys were doing so well.”

“Maybe on the outside.” You replied back. “But he didn’t feel like my boyfriend, only in name. We both agreed that something was always off, it didn’t feel exactly right.”

“What do you mean?” Kuroo asked this time, his cat-like gaze clinging onto your words.

You looked up to the sky, unsure how to even begin to describe the feeling without giving away your true feelings. It was like life kept handing you this terrible hand, the perfect boyfriend and yet somehow your heart refused to open up to him. Why were you like this?

You felt your frustration bubble at the surface as you ranted out. “I just couldn't! I'm the problem! I love Akaashi, I do! But I couldn't fall in love with him.”

“I’m sorry. I'm sorry I asked.” Yaku put his arms around your shoulders, pulling you into yet another deep hug. "We love you so much."

“I’m so scared.” You admitted to your close friends, feeling yourself tear up against the libero’s chest.  “If I couldn’t fall in love with Akaashi who was perfect , what’s wrong with me?”

You felt something shift as Yaku maneuvered you around to a new set of arms, enveloping you in a different comforting warmth.

“Nothing is wrong with you.” You heard Kuroo’s familiar voice above you. He reassured you quietly, his taller stature dominating the hug as his strong arms pressed you into his chest. You rested your forehead against him and Kuroo took that as a sign to pull you even closer.

“He should’ve been the one.” Your voice was near whispering. “And now it’s over.”

Kenma held one of your free hands, squeezing it as he looked at you. “I have ice cream at home if you want to share.” 

You knew that he wasn’t the most comfortable in these situations, but your heart felt full knowing he wanted to comfort you in his own little way.

You shot him a smile, the first real one today. “Thank you.”

Kuroo let go of you, but he continued to hold your other hand.

"I'm sorry that it feels hopeless, but Akaashi Keiji isn't the only man on the planet." Yaku said, cupping your cheek comfortingly and wiping away some of your tears.

"I know I just... It almost felt like enough.  It really almost did." You admitted, taking a long deep breath after. "So what was missing? Will I ever find it?"

Yaku looked at you sadly, but his words were reassuring. "You will. I know you will."

You nodded as the libero took you into another hug, the calm Kai hugging you directly after. They both told you to text them the moment you were home, to which you nodded silently. Unfortunately, they had a train to catch and had to leave, but they kept turning to look at you as they waved goodbye. 

Kenma let go of your hand before, but Kuroo grasped your left hand again to hold. You looked at the middle-blocker, the person who was probably the most reason why you couldn't fall in love with another man, and a petty part of you wanted to wretch your hand away. This man held your heart for years, to the point that not even Akaashi could rid his place in your heart. And now he wanted to comfort you? You swallowed the toxic thought down, it was not his fault that you had feelings for him before.

No, but you wouldn't be fooled again.

You told yourself that Kuroo was just comforting you. He was one of your best friends, that’s all there was. There was no point in looking for more, especially when that overthinking is what got you so latched on in the first place.

Of course that was easier said than done. This was the man you were in love with, those feelings didn't just wither away especially when he was right there. And now you were especially hyper-aware of Kuroo’s touch. It was more than just holding hands as you walked to the train station. When you took seats on the empty train, Kuroo sat you between him and Kenma, before throwing a lazy arm across your shoulders. In his other hand was yours—it was like he was attempting to drape himself all over you.

Just a week ago Akaashi had you in a more intimate hold. The two of you were lounging on his couch, cuddled up under a blanket as you nuzzled your head beneath his chin. But somehow, here on this dusty train, something as simple as hand-holding had your heart speeding up quickly. 

God, Kuroo had you under his spell this entire time, hadn’t he?

It did not let up when you were eating ice cream at Kenma’s house and a part of you wanted to signal the blonde for help when Kuroo offered to walk the rest of the way home with you.

But Kenma knew you better than your own mind, offering you a mischievous smirk before waving the two of you goodnight.

Kuroo reached for your hand again and you pretended to be on your phone, occupied before he could make the move. But when you put it away, there was no mistaking it, he grabbed your hand then and the fight was over.

How ironic. 

You accepted a break-up with your boyfriend because of how hung up you were with the middle-blocker in front of you.

And now that you had his attention, it only made you want to run away.

“Thanks for walking me home.” You tried to pull your hand away once your house was in sight.

But Kuroo’s grip was relentless. “A lot of bad stuff can happen between here and the end of the block.”

And so you followed along, holding hands like two friends being bro’s, you screamed at yourself that that was all there was.

"Thank you Kuroo, for being here for me."

He smiled at you, "You'd do the same for me."

"Yeah, right. Because we're best friends." You replied, attempting to draw an invisible line in the sand.

Kuroo paused, not dignifying your words with a response. Instead, he pulled you along into your own home. "Come on, we're not done."

"Huh?"

You followed behind him wordlessly as he punched in the code to your front-door, having done it dozens of times before.

Your mother's voice rang out in greeting and you responded. "I just got home after practice! Kuroo is here with me."

Her head poked around the corner and she had a wide smile on her face. "Oh, brilliant! Good to see you Kuroo-kun! I have to leave for the airport in an hour, mind taking care of our girl for me?"

"My pleasure, as always." He responded, making you internally grimace at the word choice.

He led you into the kitchen where dinner was already served, a single table setting left. Kuroo sat you at the table as he moved about the kitchen, readying a plate and some utensils for himself. He even set your backpacks together on the floor next to the entrance to the living room. After saying thanks, you ate in a comfortable silence. After all was said and done, this was Kuroo. He really was one of your best-friends and just having him here felt better than being alone.

"Thanks for being here." You said.

He reached over to your hand and said. "You mean more than the world to me."

You felt that same telltale bump in your chest, the tendril of hope that you had only been trying to squash after all this time. He was just being your friend, nothing more nothing less. You shouldn't hope in something that didn't exist. Shouldn't assume over actions that were just platonic.

Kuroo continued before your mind spiraled more. "We have that calculus homework due tomorrow, want to work on it together? I know your mind is probably just... all over the place right now."

"Honestly, it completely slipped my mind." You replied candidly. "I wasn't paying attention at all in class today."

"Well thankfully your best friend is a genius."

You smiled at him. "And so humble too!"

Your mother started to drag her suitcase down the stairs, but the middle-blocker easily lifted it the rest of the way to the door. "Quite the gentleman, it's always great having you here Kuroo-kun."

She saw you at the table, quiet and without your usual bounce, and walked over. Your mother held your face in her hands, kissing your forehead before saying. "It gets better, it just takes time."

You smiled at her, but said nothing.

"Better might already be here." She whispered to you, before winking. "Don't make me regret trusting you, Kuroo-kun."

"No, ma'am." He nodded before helping her out the door. A taxi was already waiting for her and she waved one final goodbye to you both.

"Get upstairs and change into your pajamas." Kuroo basically instructed. "I know you want nothing more than to get into your sweats and get under a blanket."

Even you couldn't resist the slow upturn of your lips at him. "You know me so well."

"I'll wash the dishes and clean this up here. Just get settled for us to work together and I'll meet you."

"You're the best."

"I know."

You rolled your eyes at him, that same comfortable easy feeling settling in your bones. Being with Kuroo was easy, you both knew each other so well. He made you feel seen, feel known. No wonder it was so easy to fall in love with him. You took a breath before heading upstairs, steeling yourself from falling into those dark eyes of his.

Kuroo returned a half-hour later, school uniform pushed up to his elbows and tie undone. He looked sexy, sure. But he also looked exhausted, after all it was a long school-day for him also.

"Are you sure you wanna help me?" You asked. "It's already pretty late."

Kuroo glanced at the clock, some apprehension in his expression. He lived not too far, but it was still time consuming to have to pack his stuff up and walk home even later.

"Why don't you throw your uniform in the wash? You have some clothes left over here from before..." You offered.

He paused for a few seconds, turning to you with a wide look on his face. "You want me to stay the night?"

His hesitation only made you more reluctant, like you had somehow pushed him too far. "Only if you want to?"

He raised his palms in defense. "No, no. I'd love to. I just don't want to overextend on you."

"You never could." You replied back, a reassuring smile on your face.

There was an excitement in his step as he grabbed his backpack, changing in the bathroom into some oversized sweat pants and throwing his uniform into the washing machine. You were absently working on some of the homework questions that you were confident in when he walked back in the door, notably with one detailed missing.

Your eyes trailed up from the waistband of those grey sweats and up his toned body. You had to stop yourself from lingering, but regardless the damage was done and you knew he caught your gaze from his smirk.

"Is it too hot or something?"

"Ah, that tshirt doesn't fit me anymore."

"Oh."

You couldn't help yourself from looking back at his chest. That shirt must have been from over a year ago, had he really bulked up that much in such a short amount of time? You guessed it made sense, he was a growing boy and he had really taken on his training regimen after becoming captain of the Nekoma volleyball team.

You shook your head to snap out of it and Kuroo laughed at you, as if sensing the true reason. He sat on the futon you had rolled out for him next to your bed before taking his books out of his backpack.

Thankfully the rest of the study session went on rather boringly. You worked on the homework questions, somewhat proud that you understood and even recognized some of the questions yourself. You were on the final question when your phone rang out with a familiar text-tone, some KK slider tune that even Kuroo recognized after having to hear it a thousand times over the past few months.

He fished your phone from your backpack for you. "Why is Akaashi texting you?"

You sighed before saying. "It's hard to explain."

Kuroo stood up, putting the phone on the bed next to you.

"I wasn't lying when I told Yaku it was a mutual breakup." You explained. "I wasn't in love with him. And he wasn't in love with me. We were doing all the right things to make a relationship work, but it wasn't enough."

The middle-blocker took the seat next to you, staring into your eyes as you spoke.

"Honestly, I feel closer to Akaashi now then I ever did as his girlfriend. I can be fully honest with him in a way I couldn't be before."

"What do you mean?" Kuroo asked.

"As his girlfriend I would spend all this time with him, but I didn't feel that spark. It just felt like a best friend who I could talk to. Not someone who I was in-love with and wanted to spend every second with. When he had practice or training camps, I was okay not talking to him. I didn't feel any different. But we would hug and kiss and I thought, this is enough right? And so I felt so guilty hiding how I really felt."

Kuroo put a comforting hand over your own and you instinctively leaned into him.

"Someone who can make you feel that spark is out there, don't give up." He said simply.

"Easier said then done."

"I know." He leaned forward until your foreheads met. "We'll all get there."

Your breaths mingled for a few seconds and a part of you wanted to risk it all, lean forward and kiss him. But another part of your brain, the one that flashed with images of Lev's sister, told you to stop being such an idiot over something that'll never be.

"There's no rush." Kuroo broke your train of thought as he leaned away from you. "Take your time until your heart settles. I'm here for you."

You smiled to yourself as Kuroo squeezed your hand twice before going back to his futon. He always knew what to say to make you feel better. And if not, he knew what to do even without you having to ask for it. So how could someone like that not realize you had feelings for him?

Ugh.

Who’s looking into this?

Not you.

But it only persisted as the days went by. 

You broke the news to the rest of the team the next day, getting matching looks of anger and confusion. After all, just a few days ago Akaashi had kissed you in front of your entire team. How could it all be over? Lev offered to stomp him into the ground during the next practice match. But you reassured them by no means was Akaashi in the wrong. 

Still, the other members coddled you in smaller ways. 

Yaku kept an eye out for you while Lev and Inuoka would pull you into sweaty hugs. Kai would offer you fruit packs time to time and Kenma had even let you play his newest game. They were all trying in their own little ways, but Kuroo was the most prominent of the bunch.

He was especially hanging around you, making arrangements to sit next to you at lunch, even when you started off the class-period with someone else. He didn’t want you to be alone at any point at this hard time. Any and all of your free time between periods was somehow spent together, whether in the classroom, the art room, the gymnasium, or anywhere else on campus. 

He was just being a good friend!!

You went through a breakup with the person everyone thought you’d end up with, he was just looking out for one of his best bro’s.

Right?

“You’re an idiot.”

“I know, but what for now?” You asked Kenma, his dead-panned face across the lunch table giving away nothing.

But the rest of the next few days, next two weeks, went on the same way. Kuroo was at your side like a silent sentinel, whether you were simply walking through the halls between classes or going home together while your parents were away. You appreciated it, of course, but you wondered at one point would the dream shatter and you were back to just being friends on the sidelines of each other's love lives.

Over the next coming weeks the thought of Akaashi Keiji hadn't stung anymore.

You were by no means hung-up on the setter, but the thought of not falling in love with him no longer scared you. Akaashi just wasn't the one. And you knew you weren't the one for him either. Instead, you found a new best-friend who recommended niche cafes and his own brand of satirical movies.

To think you thought of Akaashi as perfect the entire time you were dating.

But now as friends, you got to know him as quite sassy, sarcastic, and even deadpan.

How much of each other had you missed trying to maintain the semblance of a perfect relationship? It was sad, but you had kissed and cuddled without even really knowing each other. You relationship was clearly better off, like this.

Even being with Kuroo didn't hurt anymore. It felt right to be by his side again, regardless of how you felt for one another. He was kind and funny, with his own brand of ugly laughter than made you smile just on its own. You wanted to be around him, to grow old with him even as friends.

After classes, you retreated to the roof just for a quiet moment alone before volleyball practice. Not that you didn't want to see them, but you wanted to revel in the feeling of your heart and mind feeling so light for the first time in weeks. You could let go of Akaashi and Kuroo, let go of all those toxic feelings that sat in your chest like a stone. You wanted them both in your life, even if it didn't go exactly according to plan.

Of course, it should not have been a surprise that Kuroo found you at the roof. Tucked under his arm was some milk bread from the school concession stand, even though you knew for sure it sold out this morning, and some juice packs.

He greeted you before motioning to his makeshift care-package. “Thought you’d like a snack.”

“Thanks, Kuroo.” You motioned to sit-up, but he took the seat on the bench next to you. “How'd you even know I was here?"

"I can read your mind, didn't you know?"

You shot him a deadpan look as he handed you the bread. You broke off a slice, munching it and maintaining your look toward him. "Uh-huh."

Kuroo paused before putting a gentle hand over your own. “Your BeReal was on the roof, Sherlock."

You slapped your forehead, before sighing. "Damnit."

"So why the roof?" He asked.

"Just wanted to admire the roof. This is going to sound weird, but for the first time in a long time, I feel like I have both eyes wide open." You said with peaceful smile.

"Wide open for what?"

"Like I can see the future, silly."

"Like a fortune teller?" He nudged you lightly.

"No. Like, like I'm okay with what's to come. I'm happy with the cards I have in life now. Like I can take on the world with you and everyone else by my side." You replied.

"That's amazing."

"It feels amazing. Is this what superhero's feel when they use their powers for the first time? Like 'woah i can fly now!'"

"Okay All Might calm down, don't start jumping off this roof."

You rolled your eyes before staring into his eyes. "But I have you to catch me."

"Always." He said back. "I love you.”

“I love you too.” You answered back easily, offering one of the juice packs back to him.

But you hadn't noticed that Kuroo went completely still, surprised from his own words just a few moments ago. He hadn't meant to let that slip, that he loved you. But it was oddly touching to know that you had answered back so easily.  Even just as friends, you loved each other. But, that wasn't exactly the true extent of his feelings. And he'd be damned if he wasn't completely honest with you about how he felt. Not after all these regrets and time wasted.

“No, I mean like." He said suddenly. “Here.”

Kuroo put both juices down, his free hand now a warm touch caressing your cheek in a tender motion. Your eyes widened at the sudden movement, the air suddenly different after you had just been joking around. Your heartbeat somehow seemed to sync with the rhythm of his actions, a moment of stillness that enveloped the two of you in its cocoon. 

As his lips traced a featherlight path just above your brow, you felt a surge of warmth radiating from his touch. The sensation held you in its thrall, your body responding with an instinctive stillness. Kuroo lingered for just a single second, but it was enough to make your stomach do flips into itself. 

His gaze, now deeply anchored in yours, conveyed a myriad of emotions that words could scarcely encapsulate—want, hope, fondness…

Love.

“I’m in love with you. Please give me a chance to show you.” Kuroo explained. 

You backed up immediately, palms flying upward between you as you straightened your back.

“Wait what, how? Since when?!”

“Since a few months ago.” Kuroo stood as well, “Just enough to realize I didn’t want to lose you to anyone else.”

You groaned, your chest falling to your stomach as you misconstrued his words. “Kuroo, that’s not what love is.”

“Yes, it is. Love means wanting to see your smile, to make you happy and want to share your happiness. To kiss you now and every day if I can. To hold you in my arms and support you however I can.” He retorted, not moving in his spot and his eyes connected with yours.

“Kuroo, this… Why now?” You stumbled along your words, unable to hold his intense gaze as he bared his feelings. 

“I don’t mean to rush you, I know things are still messy. But I think it’d only be fair if you were aware of my feelings. I don't mean to pressure you or make you feel like you have to reciprocate them, I just wanted you to know."

You bit your lip, it seemed your life was full of ironies. Of course he decided to confess now, after heart break after heart break.

“I used to be in love with you for so long, Kuroo.” You admitted. 

He stopped then, eyes widening in surprise as you dropped your longest secret on your best friend. He knew from Kenma, but to hear it confirmed from your very own lips was a different story.

“Then you were in love with Alisa.” You continued. “After that, I wanted nothing more than to move on from you. And for my feelings to be nothing but a memory.”

“I wasn’t in love with her.” Kuroo cut in.

“That doesn’t really matter, does it?” You countered. “Because I wasn’t enough for you to see then so what difference does it make now?”

“Wait.” Kuroo stepped closer and you took a reflexive step back, making him stop. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you were going on and on about her! All of you—the whole team talked about her like she was the perfect person for you.” You answered, getting visibly agitated. “And who was I to stop you from being happy?”

Kuroo sighed, a small wistful smile on his face as he heard of your struggles. “God, I love you.”

“What?!”

“She doesn’t make me happy. Not like you do.”

“Kuroo—!”

“Stop overthinking.” Kuroo took two wide steps before you could run away, grabbing at your waist and encasing you in his arms. “I’m sorry that I hurt you in the past, but I am begging you to let me show you how much you mean to me now. You're assuming if you told me your feelings a year ago that I would've rejected you. But I didn't know, genuinely. I liked Alisa because that's all I saw. But I see you now. Please."

“But what if—“

“No. Stop thinking about the if's.” Kuroo interrupted, leaning forward to press his lips against your forehead. “Let me prove to you how much I am in love with you.”

A soft breath escaped your lips as you discerned the gentle press of his lips against your skin. The sensation was delicate, a barely perceptible movement that sent a cascade of tingles racing along your nerves. His touch was deliberate, trailing a leisurely path as if mapping the contours of your emotions.

The journey of his lips, unhurried and deliberate, traced from your brow down to the precipice of your lips. Every inch traversed was a quiet acknowledgment of the emotions that had remained simmering beneath the surface. And then, as if guided by an unspoken agreement, his lips met yours in a chaste peck. The contact was tender, the press of his lips against yours was brief yet laden with love, all the love you had both been holding back.

He could feel your hesitation, the way your hands stayed balled at your sides. “I won’t rush you. But please, give us a chance.”

You closed your eyes shut, taking a deep breathe before raising a palm to his chest.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

You laughed lightly, “Yes, you big ole nerd.”

Kuroo shot you one of his honest smiles back, not one of the goading smirks he sent opposing teams or the charismatic one when we wanted something. One of the arms around your waist crawled it’s way upward, settling behind your head as it pulled you closer.

He kissed at your forehead again, especially careful before he made his way downward. Taking some initiative, you leaned upward to kiss him firm on the lips.

Kuroo recoiled back in surprise before smiling again, pulling you into his chest as he leaned down for another smooch. The skin of his lips was surprisingly smooth, silky as it moved against yours.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Kuroo.”

.

.

.

.

.

.

Extra:

Your break-up with Akaashi was so minimal in your mind that you were actually excited to see the setter during the practice match with Fukurodani. Leading up to the event, you were still in constant contact with him, texting and memeing as if the break-up had only made your relationship stronger.

If only your team felt the same.

You reminded them all time and time again that it was nothing to worry about and should definitely not be the reason behind unnecessary drama. Especially since you were perfectly fine dating Kuroo now, not even two weeks after. But with the way Lev and Yaku were training, quiet despite their usual brand of expressiveness, you were sure they were going to attempt a beat down.

When the Fukurodani team entered the gym the next day, you waved at the managers excitedly and it was Kaori that came up to you looking sheepish.

“How’ve you been holding up?” She started.

“Honestly, really well!” You answered.

“Oh, so you haven’t heard?” She leaned forward and asked in a low-whisper.

“Heard about what?” You asked back, only to light up when Akaashi neared you two.

Extending his arms in a welcoming gesture, Akaashi triggered an eager sound from you, prompting you to leap into his embrace for a long hug. You had been texting all night, excited to finally see each other. The last time you actually saw him was during your break-up.

“Woah.” Kaori commented.

“How’ve you been doing?” Akaashi asked as he pulled away from your prolonged hug, still shoulder-to-shoulder with you.

“Good—I would watch out for Lev though. I think he wants to pummel you.”

Akaashi sighed. “Beautiful.”

“ Hey hey hey! ” Bokuto cut in, literally pushing you away from the setter as he settled in-between you. “Who’s beautiful?”

The setter sighed, but you knew it held no real weight since there was a fond smile on his visage, before turning to look back at you.

“Don’t worry, Bokuto. We can both appreciate Keiji’s beauty.” You joked, but the wing-spiker threw a possessive arm over his shoulders.

“Good—as long as you know he’s all mine.” Bokuto continued, puffing his chest at you and pulling a red-faced Akaashi toward him. 

You smiled, as if you were any real competition for the owl. Seeing Akaashi blush so fiercely made you want to tease the poor boy. It was odd, but seeing the setter happy made you feel happy. You were about to make a joke when you felt a possessive arm around pull you close.

“Am I missing out on the party?” Kuroo asked, playful tone contrasting with his hard gaze. 

He was trying a little too hard to look casual, but it was clear from his eyes that he was sizing up your ex-boyfriend. Even Akaashi had noticed, a hint of something mischievous right below the surface of his striking steel eyes.  

“Nothing to miss out on.” You responded. “Just wanted to say hi to my good friend, Keiji.”

Bokuto turned to the man under his hold and the setter nodded in agreement. “It’s nice to see each other. It’s been so long since last time.”

“You’re never this excited to see me!” The owl exclaimed, joking but with a hint of hurt underneath.

Akaashi smiled playfully before replying, “Koutarou, we see each other every day. Seeing her is special.”

Kuroo narrowed his eyes, clearly not liking the direction this was going. But you nodded in agreement with the setter and it was enough to annoy him on the inside. He had nothing against Akaashi, but could he go be handsome and perfect somewhere else please?

The middle-blocker hesitated for a few seconds before responding. “Y’know what? Fine. Why don’t we catch-up too, Bokuto?”

He sputtered out in response. “What? Are you crazy—!?”

But Kuroo ignored his exclamation, leaning down to give you a sloppy kiss with the other three as the audience. With an obvious flourish, your boyfriend curled a possessive arm around your waist to pull you toward him. One hand cupped your cheek as he melded your lips together. After you broke apart, he gave you a light kiss on the forehead before leveling Akaashi with a flat glare.

The setter shot you a knowing glance, expression mixed with amusement and something else. It was likely something tired, since neither you nor Akaashi thought of each other in that way anymore. You purely were just friends, not that they would ever understand.

“You asshole!” Bokuto exclaimed when Kuroo grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling the Ace along as you stood there attempting to fix yourself.

Akaashi laughed at the display before turning to you with yet another genuine smile.

It was the most you had seen him this happy.

“What a kiss.” Kaori had her hands to her face, secondhand embarrassment from the very spicy PDA apparent from the blush. “Looks like Kuroo is every bit the jealous-type like Bokuto.”

“Not usually.” You replied, still feeling the heat from your cheeks.

“I’m glad you found someone who makes you happy.” Akaashi stated, grabbing your hand and squeezing it. 

“I’m glad Bokuto came to his senses too.” You responded back, squeezing in kind before hearing both your names exclaimed from across the gym. 

“Five feet away, minimum!” Bokuto was stretching out a space between his hands, pointing at the two of you.

Akaashi sighed before letting go, shooting you a tired but endearing smile. Kaori laughed, saying you two were so odd, but glad that the friendship between schools was preserved.

But it was the look on Kuroo’s face, as his narrowed eyes traveled from the setter than back to you, that told you just what was in store for you later.

And you wouldn’t have it any other way.