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Even after all this years, Kouki and Sango always spent New Years Eve together.
This tradition started during their third and last year of high school.
At the beginning, it was with the rest of the team, even the already graduated third years and some friends and family members came as well.
WIth time though, only the team members still regularly attended this party. It was some sort of yearly reunion where they commemorated of their past together, the chaos they created, and what life had handed them during the year.
It might have been years from that first time, but everytime the team was together it always felt as if they were back in high school, teenagers wanting to win the national tournament and have a good time on the court.
And just like every year, the team was back together.
And that meant, the famous Trifecta of Chaos was together once more. The unlikely trio that met through volleyball and got along like a raging fire, much to the chagrin of some of their teammates.
And while the Trifecta had never lost contact, not even after school. It was obvious the three of them had changed as people, grew up and matured.
And their friendship had done so.
As the party went on, everyone talked with everyone. Stories shared, and they only got more and more embarrassing as the alcohol flowed and the music grew louder.
At some point, Sango and Kouki had gotten separated, telling the other all they needed to ever since the last time they had hung out together.
It had been many years ever since high school.
They went to different universities and pursued different degrees. Sango became a veterinarian working in wildlife conservation; Kouki a marine biologist.
And while their jobs sometimes required the involvement and knowledge of someone of one or the other field of expertise, they had never actually been on the same team yet.
Still, that didn’t mean Sango and Kouki had stopped being friends. That simply was not possible with how close the two were.
Even with their busy schedules, they had always made it work to meet as often as possible. And, still now, whenever they met and were together, people mistook them for being together.
And well, they had never bothered denying nor confirming the rumors. The fact they were close, that they cared for each other wasn’t a lie.
Kouki and Sango shared a bond that went beyond friendship. It simply wasn’t romantic, but not for that any less meaningful. They had just developed a platonic relationship over the years, and the two were very content and satisfied with that.
It was also funny to see people’s faces when told they weren’t in a romantic relationship and they tried to understand what the two were. Both Sango and Kouki enjoyed the chaos and confusion created. That was something that had never changed ever since their high school years and would never change.
And no matter how many weeks or months it went by without seeing the other, conversation was as easy as always.
Even if, at the moment, they were having a trip down memory lane.
“Remember that time around Christmas when we managed to sneak some mistletoe to practice?” Sango questioned.
“I remember how someone, not looking at anyone,” Kouki said, accusatory glance thrown Sango’s way, “decided it would be funnier if instead of kisses, people caught under had to fight instead.” he finished, even if he was laughing at the memory too.
“Hey! I am still extremely proud of my Mistlefoe idea!” Sango exclaimed “And I perfectly remember how you readily participated, you overgrown beanpole.” they added, using of the many nicknames they had for Kouki. In Sango’s defense, those were terms of endearment to them.
“I mean, I was a dumb teen back then and, not only sometimes, you were an annoying jackass.” Kouki replied.
To which Sango simply smiled and winked a “I love you too, Kouki” the red-heads only answer making the two of them into a laughing fit.
“I do remember how the coach, exasperated as always, had to confiscate it.” Kouki added once they had calmed.
“Yeah, but not before the third years got caught underneath. Though they did kiss instead of fight, foiling my masterpiece of an idea.” Sango remembered.
Kouki patted their shoulder in solidarity. Kissing was way better than the three-ways pining and tension, and the both of them were much aware of that.
And, as much as PDA wasn’t something they had wanted to see at the time, they were indeed happy the three had gotten together after the many, many failed attempts.
The two continued to talk together until someone announced the New Year was few minutes away and for everyone to gather together near the balcony to witness the fireworks.
As the countdown started, they all counted down all together, cheering when the clock struck midnight and the new year officially started.
WIthe the fireworks and the music as background noise, they all cheered and drank, enjoying their first drink of the year with people they enjoyed spending their time with.
But after that initial moment had passed, Sango approached Kouki, a mischievous smile on their face.
Mischievous smile that Kouki knew very well it meant that Sango had one of their ideas in mind and nothing would stop him.
“Hey Kouki,” Sango started, “we got a tradition to follow.”
Oh. So it was about that.
Ever since the first time this party was celebrated, Kouki and Sango had been each other’s first kiss of the year.
It had started as a joke of sorts. Kouki complained about how single he was, complained about his situation, and Sango kissed him to shut him up without realizing the timing.
Then, the next two years. they were a bit too drunk and kissed each other at the stroke of midnight. And ever since that, every year, the two just continued to do so until it became their own tradition.
“Was wondering when you would bring it up.” Kouki said to Sango.
But, as he waited for a reply, he had seemingly not taken into account a very important fact.
Sango could, sometimes, be a very proactive person, acting instead of speaking.
And so, when Sango grabbed him by his shirt and pushed him down to kiss him, Kouki found himself surprised.
He did return the kiss after the initial shock had disappeared. One doesn’t kiss someone they had so many times without returning it.
It had been many years ever since high school and that first New Year’s Eve party.
The people involved might have changed, grown up into the adults they were now.
But there were some things that would never change.
Sango and Kouki’s kiss was a symbol of that.