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“Tsukishima-kun, Yamaguchi-kun, wait up!” Yachi called out, running to catch up with the two friends. “I have some good news!”
They both stop and turn to face Yachi, waiting for her to continue.
“Do you remember that guy I keep telling you about, Kageyama Tobio? Well.... I kinda told him that I’d introduce you to him, Tsukishima-kun,” Yachi said quickly, placing her arm on Yamaguchi for support as she caught her breath.
“Did you really set me up on some date with a guy I don’t even know?” Tsukishima grumbled, “What if I’m busy?”
“C’mon Tsukki, this could be good for you. It might help you stop complaining about that mystery guy,” Yamaguchi interjected, “Yacchan is doing more to help your love life than you are currently doing!”
“Thank you, Yamaguchi-kun. And anyways, we are all free for lunch, so you’re not meeting Kageyama-kun by yourself, so not a date really,” Yachi continued, she hit Tsukishima with her best puppy-dog eyes until he relented and agreed to meet this Kageyama Tobio.
“Fine. You’ve been singing his praise for god alone knows how long, let me see if he’s truly the guy for me,” Tsukishima said.
For the past few months, Yachi has taken it upon herself to find Tsukishima a boyfriend because of his endless complaining about being single, and she truly believes she finally found the one for Tsukishima. Kageyama Tobio was a loyalist, an easy person to talk to, a softie under his rough-ish exterior, a cat lover, a milk enjoyer, a volleyball player, and extremely pretty. What more could Tsukishima ask for?!? Yachi also got the blessing of Kageyama’s best friend, Hinata Shouyou, to set the two up, even he thinks they would be perfect together. And now with the blessing of Yamaguchi, she's finally bringing these two together, it might be her best pairing ever.
Kei kept crossing paths with this one guy, he didn’t know why, but they kept meeting. The first time Kei encountered him, they ran into each other – literally. The collision caused Kei to spill his iced coffee all over the other man, and milk – yes, milk – to spill on Kei.
“Watch where you’re going, asshole,” the black-haired man grumbled, the scowl on his face was fierce.
“Maybe I should tell you the same thing, asshole. Who even drinks milk like this?” Kei retorted; he was not going to let some guy curse him like that.
They argued a bit more before the black-haired man left, not without cursing Kei one last time. Gosh, what an asshole, Kei hoped he never had the misfortune of meeting him again.
But it seemed as though the universe had a funny way of messing with Kei because, after that messy encounter, Kei kept on crossing paths with this man. It was ridiculous! It was almost as if he was stalking Kei!
In the cafeteria, that guy was next in line to Kei, and he immediately scowled when he saw Kei. Rude! On the campus coffee shop, he apparently worked there now and rolled his eyes at Kei’s order. It took Kei all his might to not try and strangle the guy. This was beyond ridiculous.
“Yamaguchi, I’m being serious, this guy, he keeps following me!” Kei confided in his close friend, Yamaguchi about this man. He was still mad at Yamaguchi for laughing at the fact he got milk spilled all over him. “I met him in the library today, and he took the book I wanted to read!”
“Oh, the horror, a student in the library, really Tsukki?” Yamaguchi said, and Kei wanted to scream. “Maybe he likes you? Or you like him, so you keep seeing him in everyone?”
“W-What kind of preposterous idea is that?! Shut up, Yamaguchi!” Kei wanted to wipe that irritating smile off Yamaguchi’s face.
“Yes, yes, sorry, Tsukki.”
“Yamaguchi-kun, Tsukishima-kun, hi,” Yachi greeted, sitting next to Yamaguchi. “Is Tsukki talking about his mystery guy again?”
“He is not my mystery guy!” Kei really wanted to scream.
“If you say so. Oh! Tsukishima-kun, aren't you looking for a boyfriend? I think I might be able to help,” Yachi said, looking determined. “He may not be your mystery guy, but I think you two might hit it off. His name is Kageyama Tobio.”
“Oh, Kageyama, I know him! He’s on the school’s volleyball team, right?” Yamaguchi asked.
Yachi nodded, “Yes, and apparently, according to his friend Hinata, he’s also looking for someone.”
“And how did you even find out this? Don’t tell me you just went up to his friend and asked,” Kei said, sounding horrified.
“Hey! We’re friends now! One of the perks of being the assistant manager for the volleyball team,” Yachi said, and she pointed her finger in Kei’s direction. “You played volleyball in high school, so you guys already have that in common. He's a really nice guy, Tsukki, I think you guys can hit it off.”
“You should give him a chance, Tsukki, I trust Yacchan’s judgment,” Yamaguchi added, joining in with Yachi to give Kei their signature puppy-dog eyes.
“I’ll think about it,” Kei relented.
“You won’t regret it, Tsukishima-kun!” Yachi assured, her smile bright.
A few weeks later when Yachi finally introduced him to this Kageyama Tobio, Kei felt his entire world tilt off its axis.
“No fucking way, it’s YOU!”
The first time Tobio met him, he was doused in iced coffee and Tobio lost his milk in the process. The other guy didn't even apologise. And he got into an argument with the blond-haired man. Just awful all around. Tobio hoped he wouldn't ever have to meet this man again.
But it didn’t take long for Tobio to cross paths with the blond-haired man again. Seriously? Tobio was just minding his business in the cafeteria line, waiting to get his usual pork bun but then he heard someone scoff behind him.
“It’s you again,” the man sneered.
Tobio rolled his eyes, his mouth already pulling down into a scowl. “I should be saying that about you.”
“Of all the cafeterias on campus, you just had to be at this one, huh?”
“I’ll have you know that this cafeteria has the best pork buns.”
“How convenient for you, at least you’re not carrying that carton of milk.”
Tobio made an offended noise at the back of his throat, “It wasn’t a carton of milk, for your information. And thank god you don't have that sticky concoction with you as well.”
“Who are you to insult my coffee order?” the blond-haired man shot back.
“Can’t you just visit another cafeteria?”
“Just like you, I happen to like the egg salad sandwiches here, so too bad!”
“Bakayama! Stop fighting with random people and order!” Hinata shouted, elbowing Tobio's side to get his attention.
Tobio held back from picking another fight when he heard the blond-haired man laugh at him. Hmph!
Tobio had naively thought it would be the last time he saw that annoying guy. But – but the universe had some cruel tricks up its sleeve.
It was a gloomy morning shift at the campus coffee shop for Tobio. He had stayed up late the previous night catching up with assignments and he felt like death, Tobio wanted nothing more than to crawl back into his bed and sleep until evening practice.
However, before Tobio could hide away in the back, a customer came in. Tobio tried to look as personable as possible as he greeted the customer.
“Welcome, are you ready to order?” he asked.
“No way. This must be a joke?” the customer said, and Tobio was taken aback.
Until he looked at the customer properly, and it was him! That blond-haired jackass he kept seeing!
“At my place of work? Really?” Tobio grumbled, crossing his arms.
“I can just take my business elsewhere if it’s such a problem,” the man responded, and as soon as he said that, the rain immediately started pouring.
Tobio smirked, served that asshole right. “Too late, looks like you don't have an umbrella as well. What will be your order?”
“You're unbelievable! I better not see your face after this!”
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, and Tobio was sick of it.
“And did you know, he had the audacity to ask me if I’m actually going to read that book? What's his problem?” Tobio ranted, it was a few weeks after his encounter at the coffee shop. This time Tobio had met up with this guy in the library this time. “How do I avoid seeing his stupid face?”
“Are you sure you hate him? You keep talking about him, Kageyama, it’s like you like him or something,” Hinata unhelpfully said, reaching across to grab one of Tobio's pork buns. Tobio slapped his hand away and Hinata pouted. “Mean!”
“No pork buns for traitors who imply I'm in love with my stalker!”
“Who said you loved him?” Hinata shot back, grinning at Tobio who just sputtered. “Maybe you should ask him out.”
“Like if! Even if we were the last two people on earth, I would never!” Tobio sounded horrified at the prospect. No way. No way. Never!!!
“Hinata-kun, Kageyama-kun, what are you guys talking about?” a familiar voice pulled Tobio out of his conversation with Hinata.
“Yacchan! We're talking about Tobio's ‘stalker’,” Hinata replied all too gleefully.
“He showed up in the library, Yachi-san, the library!” Tobio felt like he was on the brink of madness.
“The horror. Stop being so dramatic, Bakayama!” Hinata flicked Tobio on his forehead.
“You–!” Tobio moved to flick Hinata back but Yachi interrupted, clearing her throat to get both of their attention.
“I come with good news! Kageyama-kun, I think I found the perfect guy for you!” Yachi said, clapping her hands together as a bright smile graced her lips. “His name is Tsukishima Kei, he's a history major, but hear this, he played volleyball in high school.”
“Oh, I heard about Tsukishima in passing, I know his friend Yamaguchi though, we're un the same Maths class,” Hinata popped in. “I think you should give him a chance, Kageyama.”
“And how are you so sure he’s even looking for anyone?” Tobio asked.
“We're friends! And I already told him... about you, so please Kageyama-kun!” Yachi said quickly, she almost stood up to bow but Tobio stopped her.
“Yeah, I'll meet him,” Tobio said, he rested his face in the palm of his hand. “Tell me about him.”
“Oh! Tsukishima-kun is a really nice guy, even if he seems standoffish at first, once you get to know him, he really does care a lot about the people he’s close to. He's really smart, so I can see a lot of study dates in your future, Kageyama-kun, and he still plays volleyball on occasion,” Yachi rambled on, taking a break to sip on her coffee. “I'll set up a meeting when we're all free so you two can meet, will that be okay?”
“Yes, I trust you, Yachi-san,” Tobio agreed easily.
A few weeks later, when Tobio finally met the Tsukishima Kei that Yachi told him all about, he felt as though he could've fainted.
“No fucking way, it’s YOU!” that blond-haired asshole, who was allegedly Tsukishima Kei, shouted.
“I should be saying that about YOU! What are you doing here?” Tobio shouted back.
“No way you’re Kageyama Tobio?!?” Tsukishima asked, disbelief colouring his voice.
“Don’t tell me you’re Tsukishima Kei?!?” Tobio countered.
“Uh... boys, what is this?” Yachi asked, looking even more shocked.
“Wait, Kageyama are you....” Tsukishima’s friend, Yamaguchi, began.
“You’re Kageyama's ‘stalker’,” Hinata shouted out.
“You called me a stalker? Are you insane? If anything, you’re my stalker!” Tsukishima exclaimed.
“You were the one that was everywhere that I was, so it was only natural I would call you that,” Kageyama defended himself.
“Boys... wait, wait. You two knew each other already?” Yachi interjected, looking frazzled.
“He’s the one that spilled iced coffee on me!”
“That’s the guy who spilled his milk on me!”
They accused simultaneously, and unbeknownst to them, their friends finally put the pieces together.
“Wow, you guys were really meant to be together,” Yamaguchi snickered, and Tsukishima turned to face his friend before retorting.
“The tension here is crazy, you can't deny that, Kageyama,” Hinata said, not helping in the slightest.
“Don’t say a word again, oh my god,” Kageyama sounded even more mortified.
“Yachi-san, thank you for trying to set me up, but I’m not too sure,” Kageyama continued, sounding a bit calmer.
“Yes, Yachi, I’m sorry but I don’t think I can get along with this guy,” Tsukishima came into the conversation again.
“Well, that’s great! I hope to never deal with you again!”
“I feel the same way!”
And that should be the last of it. Yet... the universe truly worked in mysterious ways.
Even after that explosive confrontation, Kei still saw Kageyama anywhere he went. The coffee shop he had yet to stop coming by, and no, it was not because Kageyama made his favourite drink just the way he liked it. The library near his dorm made him find out that apparently, he and Kageyama live in the same dormitory, but on different floors, thankfully. But Kei sometimes gets a glance or two of Kageyama on his morning run when Kei pulls all-nighters for assignments. It was as if the universe was teasing him.
And the cafeteria. One day Kageyama took the last egg salad sandwich, most likely to spite Kei, and in retaliation, Kei took the last of the pork buns. If Kageyama wanted to be petty, Kei would be pettier.
“That irritating Kageyama was in the library again today. He was in my usual seat. He's trying to provoke me, I just know it,” was the first thing Kei said as he sat across from Yamaguchi in the cafeteria.
“Not even a hello? Just straight to talking about Kageyama? Ask him out at this point, Tsukki,” Yamaguchi groaned.
“I don’t like him!” Kei defended. “It's just – he's everywhere.”
“Yacchan told me Kageyama rants about you the same way, really, you guys are perfect for each other,” Yamaguchi said, more focused on the meal in front of him.
“How could you betray me like this? My own friend.”
The next time Kei crossed paths with Kageyama, it was after his shift at the coffee shop, and Kageyama looked different. Instead of his usual scowl – that looked more like a pout, if Kei was being honest – he just looked... tired. Normally, Kageyama would have something snarky to say to Kei, but this time he walked past Kei without even acknowledging him. Which was even weirder.
“Oi, Kageyama, too good to talk to me now, huh?” Kei called out.
Kageyama stopped in his tracks and turned to face Kei, “Not today, Tsukishima.”
Even his voice sounded exhausted. Now, Kei’s concerned. Not that he cared about Kageyama or anything, it was just weird.
“What’s wrong? You’re never this gloomy looking.” Kei asked, hoping he didn't sound like he cared. He moved closer to Kageyama, and Kei could see the bags under his eyes.
“The usual. I'm drowning in assignments, and I haven't even begun studying for finals,” Kageyama said, he bit his lip and cast his eyes downwards, focusing on his shoes. “It's all a bit overwhelming, that's all.”
Kei bit his lip as well and weighed his options. Should he even entertain that idea? Would he come to regret it? He hoped not. Here goes nothing.
“Hm, would you mind, if – if, I helped you with studying?” Kei asked.
“Are you being serious or – ?” Kageyama looked genuinely surprised and confused.
“Dead serious. College is crazy, even if you're annoying, I don't want to see you fail,” Kei responded.
“Even when you're being nice, you still gotta be an asshole, I see,” Kageyama grumbled.
Kei couldn't help the smile that made its way onto his face. “There's the Kageyama I know.”
And with that, Kei without even realising, began to grow closer to Kageyama.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Kageyama-kun, I thought you never wanted to see him again?” Yamaguchi asked during their lunch hour.
“Since when you’re that close with Kageyama?”
“Ohoh, are you jealous, Tsukki?”
“Shut up, and I am not –” Kei began, the words catching in his throat when he saw Kageyama walk into the cafeteria.
“Oh, look, you’re even distracted by him. Cute,” Yamaguchi giggled, and Kei rolled his eyes.
“I’ve been helping him study. He was looking so down… and I dunno, I offered to help him study,” Kei shrugged like it was no big deal.
Yamaguchi dropped his chopsticks and slammed his hands on the table. “What do you mean ‘I’m just helping him study’, who are you and what have you done with my best friend, Tsukki!”
“It’s not a big deal, really!”
“Oh Tsukki, Tsukki, you really don’t get it, huh?” Yamaguchi said, looking sagely at Kei.
“Shut up, Yamaguchi. Eat before your food gets cold,” Kei responded.
“Bakayama! Tell me why you’re spending so much time with that Tsukishima!” Hinata said suddenly.
“Shut up, you dumbass. Tsukishima is here and he might hear you,” Tobio hissed, dragging Hinata to a seat far away from where Tsukishima and Yamaguchi were sitting, and Yachi joined them shortly after.
“Kageyama-kun, I’m curious too. You both shared some serious animosity, what changed?” Yachi asked.
“It’s nothing, he offered to help me with studying for finals,” Tobio responded, then redirecting his attention to his meal, unaware of the chaos he unintentionally caused.
“What do you mean he offered to help you study?!” both Yachi and Hinata exclaimed at the same time.
“What? Is there something wrong with that?” Tobio queried.
“No, no… it’s just Tsukishima-kun isn’t one to just offer help like that,” Yachi explained. “I had to beg him for help with my gen. ed. courses. He didn’t make you beg at all?”
“No? He asked me, actually,” Tobio said.
“Oh my god… Wow. Just wow.” Yachi said in disbelief.
“Hmmm. It sounds like Tsukishima likes you, Kageyama,” Hinata added.
“No way, that guy hates my guts,” Tobio immediately retorted.
“It doesn’t sound like he does. Do you like Tsukishima, Kageyama?” Hinata asked, looking at Tobio with wide eyes.
“Maybe. I don’t know. He’s just so annoying.”
When final grades were being posted, Kei was more nervous than usual, he had yet to hear from Kageyama about how his grades were. It’s not that Kei cares – it’s just he doesn’t want his hard work to go to waste. Yeah.
Kei didn’t have to worry about his own grades, he managed to get As for all the courses he did for the semester. However, Kageyama… was pretty average, Kei hoped Kageyama would keep it up, or maybe even do better.
Kei couldn’t stand waiting around for a text message from Kageyama, so he opted to head outside for a short walk. Before he could make any type of distance, Kei’s phone buzzed, he opened it to see a text from Kageyama, reading look behind you.
“Wow, totally not creepy, Kageyama,” Kei said, unimpressed, walking to be closer to Kageyama.
“Whatever, nothing could dampen my mood right now,” Kageyama responded, and only then did Kei see the brilliant smile that adorned Kageyama’s face. Oh, he looked so pretty.
Wait, pretty? Kageyama and pretty? Kei must be losing it.
Kei couldn’t help but smile as well. “So, can I assume your grades are good?”
“Yeah. And thank you, for helping me study, Tsukishima,” Kageyama said, voice earnest.
Kei felt his breath catch in his throat. Was Kageyama’s eyes always this blue or was it the sunlight? Did his lips always look that soft? Kei wondered how they would feel against his… Huh, what? Why was Kei thinking about Kageyama like that? Was this the sleep deprivation messing with his mind?
“You’re welcome, you weren’t so bad to help,” Kei returned, he couldn’t help but stare at Kageyama. Maybe Yachi was right.
“Kageyama, tell me to stop and I will, push me away if you have to but I just…”
Kageyama could only gasp Kei pulled him in for a kiss, crashing their lips together like Kei had done it a million times before, only pulling away to get air back into his lungs.
“Took you long enough,” Kageyama whispered before pulling Kei back in for another kiss.
“Yachi was right, huh?” Kei said, breathless.
“Maybe she was,” Kageyama replied, his now kiss-bitten lips curving into a smile.
(A few weeks later, when Kei and Kageyama finally confirmed their relationship, their friend group congratulated them on ‘finally opening their eyes.’
“We knew since you two met – officially – for the first time,” Yamaguchi had said when Kei asked what they meant by that.
“Was it that obvious?” Kageyama questioned.
“You were unbearable, Bakayama! You owe me free meat buns for the next semester for all the emotional damage!” Hinata exclaimed.
Yachi just smiled and pulled Kei and Kageyama into a hug. “You two are so going on my blog, my greatest success story to date!”)
fin.