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"Go on, Tetsurou. They're our neighbors; try to get along."
"But Dad, I don't know them… They look scary."
"Don't worry, young man, I promise you, Kenma doesn't bite. He's just as scared as you."
"Unfortunately my son's a bit of a brat. You behave, Suguru."
"Mom, they look weird."
"Be nice. He's new to the neighborhood."
"We're gonna go talk. You guys have fun."
Kids watch as the parents walk away. Neither child talks. Two too scared and one too stuck up.
~
"Whoa! Look at all the fish!"
"It's fishes, Kuro-Chan."
"No, there's only one kind of fish. Therefore the proper word is fishes, stupid."
Playful banter near a pond. Such a peaceful time. Kenma watches close as his friends argue.
"I'm not stupid. You're the stupid looking one! Your hair is stupid!"
"It's my bed head and I can't get rid of it. Not my fault."
"Well then don't sleep with your head under pillows."
A black haired boy and a green haired boy stick their tongues how those days were perfect. They were until Kuroo and Daishou entered Junior high. Then everything changed.
~
Laughter rang through the field. Not light hearted and good spirited. No. Mean laughter. Suguru stood with his new friend. A boy that turned him from a brat to a monster.
"Those glasses are so stupid looking Kuroo-chan. And don't you think your hair is too long to be a guy, Kenma?" Daishou's insults rang in their ears.
The boy next to him laughed. "Oh, are you gonna run to your mommies? Oh wait, Kuroo doesn't have one. I hear she left because of how ugly you are. Kenma can't even run, he's too fat."
Horrible boys. Kuroo takes his glasses off. He can stand by and be insulted by his 'friend' but he won't let some random person insult him and Kenma.
He opens his mouth to defend them but he's shut down before he can speak.
"What are you gonna do? Tell?" Daishou mocks. He's picked up the way the school's run now.
"No one's gonna care. The teachers especially. They only care about getting paid."
Their words cut deeper than any knife could ever. Particularly his words.
Kenma knows this. Even as the new friend leaves to go home, Daishou says his excuse, he knows that what he said he does not regret.
Yet every time Kuroo accepts the words.
"I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean any of it. I'm just trying to be cool." That's Daishou's excuse. His lie every time.
Kuroo hugs him to show forgiveness. He's always been a hugger. But Kenma shows no signs of forgiveness.
It's something Kenma and Daishou have come to terms with. Daishou will never feel truly sorry for what he says and Kenma will never believe that he is truly sorry. But he wonders how long Kuroo will.
~
"He's lying, you know that right? He doesn't feel sorry."
"I know."
"Then why do you forgive him? He doesn't even hug back."
"I will not be my parents. Now let's.go to sleep. You start your second year of junior high tomorrow."
~
Kenma never thought Daishou would break the last straw. Never thought his best friend would finally snap. Never thought that those events would ever come to pass.
*Earlier in the day*
"My mom's catching on to the fact I'm stealing her money. My sister is too much of a goody two shoes and my dad is barely keeping his mouth shut. So we can't sneak out tonight."
"Who says you have to steal it?"
"Huh?"
"Use your stupid friend with the ugly hair to steal it. He's still as loyal as ever."
"You're right. And I know just how to get him to do it."
Kenma couldn't believe what he overheard. This was too far.
*Moments before the snap*
Daishou walked up to Kuroo, and for the first time ever, he hugged him. He hugged him from behind making Kuroo jump as he had previously zoned out.
"Hey, Tetsu-Chan."
It's after school and Kenma is watching this all play out. The hug, the nickname that had been left unused. Manipulation.
Daishou's head rests on the shoulder of the boy who just recently turned 15.
"Could I ask you to do me a favor?"
A pause holds and unpredicted words flow.
"No. No I will not. Now get off of me."
The tone is harsh. Surprising to all. But Daishou does not let go. He intends to get his way.
"Please, Tetsu-Chan. Just this once? Just a small fav-"
"No. Are you deaf? Unhand me. You never wanted my hugs so I don't want yours. And it's Kuroo to you." Kuroo pulls Daishou's hands off of him and pushes him away.
The manipulator hit the final straw and it broke. The puppet was cutting off his strings.
"Tetsu-Chan, why are you upset? I wasn't doing anything."
"Did you not hear me again? It's Kuroo to you. You don't deserve to use my first name or any nicknames. You call me Kuroo and that's it, Daishou."
"Hey I'm the oldest one! Respect me!"
"You're older by 3 months! Does not count! And I don't have to respect anyone that treats me like shit!"
"Fine! Have it you're way because I'm going to Nohebi next year!"
"Totally fine, I'm going to Nekoma."
"Like the bitchy, motherless cat you are."
"You have no room to talk. At least my older sister likes me, you slimy, manipulative snake."
"You're gonna miss me in two weeks and I'm not coming to comfort you."
"You were never comforting in the first place. I didn't need your attempts to help me before, I don't need them now, and I won't need them later. Have fun with your new best friend Hiroo."
That day, the November sky seemed to agree with the mood. Dark clouds, harsh winds, thunder, and rain. It honestly was a surprise it didn't turn into a tornado because that day seemed to destroy every path of a friendship once more.
~
"Alright team, Daishou and his stupid team are coming by for a practice match today. Now we know how they like to cheat. Don't give them a chance to. Yes, Lev?"
"They find a way to cheat every time, how are we to prevent that from happening?"
All members agreed. At this rate, it seemed impossible. Their captain had no counter or real answer.
All he said was, "I don't know! Just keep them from winning. I am not losing to that snake again."
Mutual hate blossomed over the years. Competitiveness in their favorite sport. Every time they saw each other it was insult after insult. The teams were getting tired of it. None knew why they didn't like each other. Or how they knew so much about each other. They just knew they didn't want to hear arguments over and over again.
It's not long after Tetsurou Kuroo, Third year Scorpio and Captain of the Nekoma high volleyball team, gave his attempted speech of motivation that his enemy (Suguru Daishou, a third year cancer and captain of the Nohebi high volleyball team)'s team arrived at the practice match.
"Pleassssure to sssee you again, fellow captain."
"why meowst you talk like that?"
"I apologize, I was simply trying to speak your language."
"And I was speaking yours, four eyes."
"I'm not even wearing them, Draco Malfoy."
"Don't you compare me to that brat."
"Oh I'm sorry. Is your father going to hear about it? Oh wait, he's six feet under, isn't he? He can't hear shit."
"At least I have mom, you fucker."
"I have a dad."
"Yeah but can he really be considered a dad at this point? My parents actually cared about me. And where's your mother? Abandoned you with a father that you have to parent."
"SHUT UP! BOTH OF YOU! You can take your anger out on the court. Let's get this shitty match over with so we can all go home and not have to listen your guy's sexual tensions."
Yaku breaks the argument making both captains look at him. Kenma can be seen being held back by Yamamoto so he doesn't attack the snake-like captain. Daishou pays no more attention to the short libero.
Kuroo, who paid more attention to Yaku's speaks with cheeks red of embarrassment or of anger, which Nekoma doesn't know. "We do not have-!"
"I don't want to hear it. Get in the gym."
Reluctantly Kuroo leaves the fight and enters the gym with both teams following right behind.
The match goes smoothly for the most part. Both teams kept their captains away from each other and Nekoma somehow accomplished keeping Kenma from going feral and attacking the other captain too.
In the end Nekoma managed to take the win 2 sets to 1. But barely as they had stopped several of the opposing team's cheats.
"Nice job team mission accomplished."
On the other side of the net.
"There's no way they stopped that many. They had to have been cheating too."
"Or they simply just bested us. Why do you two hate each other so much?"
Their captain doesn't answer and just leaves the gym without saying any formalities. His team sighs in unison. Their captain could be so difficult at times.
"Maybe Nekoma's libero is right. They do have sexual tensions. And romantic ones." Nohebi's libero, Sō Akama, a bald second year student, says.
They had to agree.
"I think they just like each other in general." It wasn't a Nohebi member that spoke. Instead, it was one of the Nekoma first years, Inuoka.
He was a middle blocker with brown hair that was likely gelled up. Next to him was their tall half Russian middle blocker, Lev.
"Yeah. They just don't want to admit it."
"What are you two doing over here," Hiroo, a Nohebi middle blocker and third year, asks.
"We're tired of their constant arguing and we need to see if they do like each other and then get them together so they'll stop arguing."
"Say less. We're in. Do you guys have the keys to the equipment closet?"
"Of course."
"Alright."
A few minutes later Nekoma started cleaning up with the assistance of Nohebi except for their captain. Soon all of Nekoma was aware of the plan.
Well everyone except Kuroo. So when Kuroo left to use the restroom and came back, they set the plan into motion.
"Kuroo!"
"Yeah, Yaku?"
"I think one of my items accidentally ended up on the top shelf in the equipment closet and Lev fell asleep."
Kuroo laughed as he responded, "Sure."
Step 1. Get Kuroo into the closet. Check.
"Daishou!" Akama ran to his captain outside.
"What?"
"I broughty signed volleyball to show off to the others but I think it accidentally got cleaned up with Nekoma's volleyballs. We all feel too awkward going through their stuff and Nekoma refuses to help. Will you look please?"
"What idiot brings something valuable to a practice match?"
"It was to show we were better. I'm sorry. Please."
Daishou groaned. "Fine."
"Thanks!"
Step two. Get Daishou into the closet. Check.
"I'm not seeing it, Yaku."
"I'm not Yaku."
"What- No, don't shut it!"
Slam!
"Huh? Don't you dare!"
Click.
Step three. Lock them in together. Check.
Now all the teams had to do was wait.
"Yaku, you short ass! Let us out!"
"Sō Akama! What the fuck?!"
"You two can stay there until you're friends."
"Or more."
"We don't care."
"As long as you two stop arguing it's good enough for us."
"I'm sorry. We'll stop arguing. Just let me out!"
"I'm not pleased about this either, asshole. It's 'let us out'."
"Snakes like you like closed in spaces. This is your ideal home."
"And it's just like a cat to claw at a door."
"Why do you hate me? I never did anything to you."
"Because you're a loser obviously. You're hideous."
"Alright, so even if you never met Hiroo, you were going to manipulate me into stealing money for you anyway. I was just a puppet the entire time?"
"How the hell did you know what I was going to do?"
"Kenma told me, Jackass."
Silence took over. They walked to different sides of the closet.
They sat in silence for a few minutes until they heard footsteps on the other side of the door but they were fading. Some words floated to them.
"Let's let them be."
"Who wants American food?"
The sounds became distant and their hope of being let out left them.
"This is your fault."
"How is it my fault?"
"You shouldn't have gave a reaction to the shorties earlier when he said sexual tensions."
"Well if you weren't gonna say otherwise someone had to or they would all think that we like each other."
"Does the idea of admitting your feelings towards me disgust you that much? I mean understandable. We're both guys. Totally weird and gross."
"You're talking to someone apart of the gay community. Watch your mouth."
"Wait so you're actually gay?"
"Pansexual, but yes."
"Bet your father isn't happy about that. I know my sister would flip out if I told her I was bisexual."
"Wait, you're a part of the community as well? But you said homophobic things."
"I thought you were homophobic so I pretended to be as well. And yes. Have you seen men?"
"Touche."
Silence once again filled the room. It seemed to go on forever until one of them finally spoke.
"How's your dad? Is he actually better than what he was in junior high? Or do you still have to wake him up to make him work?"
"He's drinking now so I still have to wake him up and force him to go to work. But he doesn't listen half the time so he may be getting fired soon. I'm currently working two part time jobs just to pay for groceries and help with the bills. He does nothing around the house so coffee has become my new best friend. Well, aside from Kenma."
"He doesn't abuse you when he's drunk does he?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because a minor shouldn't have to take care of the parent and themselves."
"Says the spoiled child."
"Tetsurou Kuroo, answer the question. Does he abuse you when he's drunk or not?"
He doesn't speak for a minute.
"I'd be lying if I said I haven't had my hands under boiling hot water once or twice."
"It seemed unusual that your arms look burned. Let me see them."
"No. You're gonna make fun of them."
Daishou sighed and moved over to Kuroo and looked at his arms. There are burn scars all over his wrists and scattered up and down his arms. The man in front of him tried to pull his arms but he held them tight enough that he couldn't but loose enough that it wouldn't hurt.
"How long has he done this?"
"Since my birthday in my first year of highschool. It's only happened five times over the past three years."
"At least it's only five. After we're out of here, I'm calling child protective services."
"If we get out of here."
They both laugh and sink to the floor so they don't have to stand the entire time. It had been so long since either of them heard the other laugh in a joyful, getting along manner. It was nice.
"I didn't realize I missed your crazy witch cackle."
"Now don't go falling for me, snake. I know I'm handsome but too fast."
"Do I need to point out the color of your cheeks when we were told we had sexual tension?"
"I was embarrassed that anyone would think that."
"Alright, what about the junior high crush?"
"You knew about that?"
"Yeah. It was rather obvious to Hiroo and he pointed it out to me. We're you not paying attention to how I hugged you then for better manipulation affect?"
Kuroo pause for a second and gasped in realization.
"You hugged me at the waist, what the fuck? That is cruel. It's a good think I stepped away then."
"Did you miss me?"
"Hardly."
Daishou raised an eyebrow with smug grin.
"Alright fine. It was hard to avoid you at first."
"You always were too loyal. You're a cat that acts like a dog."
"How am I cat?"
"Cats sit on laps without permission."
Kuroo looked confused till he realized how they had sat down a few minutes before. Daishou had sat cross legged and he had sat on top of him in his lap. How had he not realized that they're faces were way too close for comfort?
He immediately tried to get off his lap but arms around his waist and a head resting on his shoulder prevented him from moving.
"How are your arms strong? You look so scrawny."
"Clothes make me look weaker than I am and you're one to to talk Mr.Man tits."
"Pervert."
"That's offensive. But not wrong."
"That's what I thought- you admit it?"
"What's your owl best friend's name?"
"Bokuto?"
"Yeah, him. I bet you he would do the same thing. You're just too attractive."
"Why did you suddenly become hot?"
Daishou hummed an I don't know as he took that question as permission to let him beginning kissing his neck.
"What- what are you doing?"
"Kissing you neck. Would you rather I stop?"
He hesitated but only for a second.
"No. Continue. It feels nice."
Daishou hummed again and went back to kissing his neck. They stayed like that for a while with soft kisses on his neck and maybe a small moan or shiver of delight. It was nice. Then, Daishou started to get lower on the neck, getting rougher with each kiss till he reached Kuroo's weak spot.
"Mmmmmm~."
Daishou smiled hearing the beautiful noise and continued with what he was doing till he started nibbling and licking the man's ear which earned him more moans. And louder ones.
"Hey, we're not doing anything until after we've kissed. Ok?"
"Hmmm~. Alright."
Without hesitation Daishou grabbed his face and kisses him on the lips if he couldn't be a pervert till after they kissed then he could just kiss him now. Or make out with him and steal his breath.
As they kiss the cancer of the two bites the other's lip asking for permission, only to be denied. Sneaky little cat. His response was to slide his hand up his shirt surprising him and making him gasp mid kiss giving him plenty of entry way.
From there the battled for dominance, Daishou coming out on top. While they kissed, they didn't hear the returning foot steps of their teams. And before either party knew it, the door was open to reveal both captains making out.
Daishou was the first to take notice the door had opened. He broke the kiss and look towards all the teens that just walked in on them. Kuroo, meanwhile, was too disoriented from lack of breath and felt dizzy.
"Darling, our teams have returned."
"Hi- hide me. I don't wanna look- submissive."
"Too late. Would you like to continue this at my place? My mother won't care."
All he could do was nod.
"So I was right. There was sexual tension."
"Yes you were."
"He looks cute like that, would you be willing to share?"
"No."
"Hurt him and I'll cut off your dick, skin it in front of you then shove it down your throat."
"Noted."