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Even a week after Kageyama Tobio had gotten kissed by the most insufferable guy on the team, he still tasted the tinge of sweetness and felt the warmth on his lips. It was a struggle, really, and that was no joke, considering that he could jump over hurdles significantly quickly if the task was in front of him.
But this time, the hurdle was high, like hands above a volleyball net: the hurdle being Tsukishima Kei, and how he couldn’t get used to being around him after they started dating.
When they kissed and started talking more personally, it really did unlock something in him and this shakiness filled him with a rush of excitement whenever he stood next to Tsukishima— unfortunately like a pathetic fangirl— and it would be hard to contain himself. At the same time, it felt so awkward it was like trying to wad yourself through a puddle of thick black tar.
Kageyama groaned and stuffed his face into his hands, about to plow his head into his homework and through his desk from the embarrassing thoughts— gosh, how do people do this? All he thought about was volleyball. The touch and how it soared gracefully off of his fingertips, the measurement of length between the ball and the attacker, that was very much familiar to him.
But love, dating, and the process of being boyfriends in highschool? It was like trying to solve a hard math problem, which he could never do even if his life depended on it.
I mean, what was he supposed to do? Kageyama thought measly, Do we go on dates? As if Tsukishima would be any close to an ounce at being romantic. Maybe I should get him something. What does he like? I heard he has a sweet tooth… the thought made him laugh quietly and he raised his head up from his papers, his outstretched desk lamp almost bumping into the back of it. He picked up his pencil and dragged it along the paper monotonously, thinking of ways on how to counter this difficult situation that was love.
“Need to call him,” He mumbled, “It’s better if I just not deal with the aftermath for now.”
He dropped his pencil, his mind completely eradicated off of homework as he found Tsukishima’s contact information and called him.
It rang for a few short seconds before Tsukishima picked up, a soft voice flowing through the speaker, “Kageyama.”
The tone suddenly made Kageyama’s muscles tense, then relaxed as if he were getting a soothing massage, “…Hi, Tsukishima. What are you doing?”
“Just about done with homework, I’ll have to be going soon, my brother wants me to go with him to his work today.” Tsukishima said, “Why? You’ve done your homework, right?”
He said it with that teasing tone he’s always had, right from the first year of meeting— that condescending but endearing voice that made Kageyama both angry and both fold internally at the same time. He coughed and stared down at his pile, phone raised up to his ear, “I’m— I’m getting through mine.”
“Whatever you say,” Tsukishima yawned and Kageyama quickly heard the shuffling of papers being stuffed and zipped in a bag, “What is it, really?”
Kageyama huffed, “Modern literature.”
“Oh. That’s easy.”
“Whatever you say.” Kageyama yawned.
Tsukishima snickered, but it soon faded into nothingness as the silence was accompanied by rustling coming from Tsukishima’s end of the phone. The setter frowned, “You sound like you’re busy.”
“Yeah,” Tsukishima’s voice was strained as Kageyama heard a door open, “busy trying to get to your house.”
“Wait— what?” Kageyama blinked rapidly and sat up in his chair, “Why?”
“I’ll help you with your homework.”
“No… no, wait it’s fine.” Kageyama quickly said, face turning hot, “What are you doing? Tsukishima—!”
The phone disconnected and Kageyama’s phone tumbled onto the ground, his body just believing it was better to give up. He crashed onto his bed and the bright lights above flashed his eyes and gave him a growing killer headache. The unfamiliarity of Tsukishima reaching out to him and helping him with things he’d usually tease him about made him flush, and he wasn’t sure how to react— though, this was a way to show you loved someone, right? He should take note of this and use it as a learning experience.
Even from the start Kageyama wasn’t the best at deciphering people’s differentiating personalities and emotions during a game, but he’s gotten better at it. He rolled over to one side and stared at his lamp.
Maybe that’d come in handy when dating Tsukishima.
His boyfriend seemed to be at his doorstep alarmingly fast, and he heard a quick rap against the door and he scrambled over to open it.
Tsukishima’s build was very leaned back, skinny but with some muscle, along with casual clothes, headphones and a scarf that represented the winter season coming through the falling leaves. His mouth was covered by the scarf and accentuated his eyes and glasses, which was what Kageyama mostly saw first— all of these visual details made him smile like a jerk, “You were serious?”
“Can’t let the King be at the bottom of the food chain in education.” Tsukishima yawned and brushed past him into the hallway.
“Huh? Could you try and use a different nickname, that one’s old.”
“I’m hurt you don’t like the routine.”
They proceeded to his living room and Tsukishima sat down near the edge of his bed, setting his bag down and taking out supplies and different sources. Kageyama say down at his desk and asked, “It’s cold, do you want tea or anything?”
“No, it’s fine.” The blonde waved off. Kageyama knew he wanted something hot to drink m, but he brushed it away for now, “Let’s get started.”
“What about going to work with your brother?”
“Ah… well,” Tsukishima pursed his lips, looking down at his source, “I guess it wasn’t really mandatory.”
Kageyama frowned deeply, “Did he tell you that?”
“No, I just told him I couldn’t go.”
“So blunt…” Kageyama muttered.
“You’re the one to talk,” Tsukishima smiled and poked a pencil into his stomach before he continued, “So… what are you confused about on this subject?”
The studying session went on for about an hour and a half, and this time period was where they really started sinking in— their postures were straight up, Kageyama’s brain was working deftly in gears, ticking and turning with Tsukishima right next to him supporting. It was a peaceful time— until Kageyama decided to break the flow and ask, “Hey Tsukishima, are we ever going to tell anyone else about us?”
Tsukishima looked up, eyes calculated and soft. “If you’d like. I don’t really care, but it’s—“
“But it’s what?”
“Just a little… embarrassing.” Tsukishima confessed.
Kageyama blinked, connecting the dots and scribbling harder on his paper out of a sense of bitterness— then again, Tsukishima was sort of right. He felt like it was too fresh to tell anyone just yet. “That’s fine, then.”
Then, an awkward silence. Kageyama itched to ask, so, what do we do now? Do we go out on dates? Who initiates it?
His head got unreasonably hot at the thought of them going on a date and he sighed in distress, taking his pile of homework and beginning to put it away in defeat. Tsukishima stared at him, “I’m not done.”
“Well I am.” Kageyama muttered harshly, zipping up his bag and landing right next to Tsukishima and laying down, his ceiling creating colors in his eyes.
“This is one of the only types I’ve ever helped you and you decide to throw it away?” The blonde leaned over him with a smile, and Kageyama wished he could just stop, because it was getting infuriating in a horribly good way.
Kageyama’s eyes fell half-lidded, “You’ve already helped me.”
“Really? It doesn’t seem like you get it.”
“No, I mean…” Kageyama inhaled, nails digging into his blanket in embarrassment and irritation, “You’ve helped me… realize a lot of things, you know?”
The silence was heavy, with only the faint whisper of the ticking clock mounted on his wall being the only breakthrough of sound. Tsukishima stared at him earnestly, and Kageyama saw his muscles ease a little bit into a softened expression for a moment before it steeled like ice. Tsukishima huffed and ripped his gaze away with the back of his palm bashfully covering his mouth, “Don’t be so sappy.”
Kageyama tried for a smile, “You don’t like it?”
“I regret coming here.” Tsukishima sighed, and despite that statement, the blonde cleaned up his things and laid himself down next to Kageyama, face up to the ceiling but his gaze flitting to Kageyama momentarily.
“Does it feel different now, Tsukishima?” Kageyama asked. This honest, curious tone was something that differentiated from his usual, slightly abrasive demeanor.
“What does?”
“I don’t know… being with me.”
“Well sure.” Tsukishima said, “we’re dating now, so of course the mood is going to feel different.”
“Uh-huh.” Kageyama responded hazily. He found his body inching a little closer and he tilted his head so that his temple hit Tsukishima’s shoulder, nuzzling into it ever so slightly in the thick silence.
He wanted to ask how love worked, or what happened after they did all of that confessing and finished their denial. But he was sure that Tsukishima would just tease and rip him apart all over again.
Then again… that was unfortunately one of the qualities Tsukishima had that he found enjoyable.
“I think Yamaguchi and Hinata already know.” Tsukishima said suddenly, snatching Kageyama right out of his admiration.
“…Yeah.” Kageyama murmured, “yeah,
Yeah I guess.”
“Hinata.”
Kageyama lightly tapped the shorter one on the shoulder, and he asked, “Could I— could I ask you something?”
Hinata blinked, staring at him with blank eyes before managing out, “Oh— yeah, sure. What is it?”
They walked side by side in the halls, Kageyama sliding his hands into his pockets and staring off into the view in the windows. He murmured incoherently.
“…What was that?”
“I need… some help on…” He trailed off.
Hinata slammed his hand onto his back, causing Kageyama to lurch forward and almost fall down the couple of steps they were about to take— Hinata grabbed him in alarm. “Speak! I don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I need help figuring out what to do with Tsukishima.” Kageyama blurted out, rubbing his back with a wince.
Hinata’s eyes went wide at the name, but then shortly after his face morphed into a horrible, embarrassing grin that stretched from ear to ear and he whistled and circled him teasingly, “Ah— are you trying to be romantic? That’s just funny.” Hinata whistled around him and shouldered his bag with a giggle.
Kageyama reddened and said, “It’s not like you can do any better.”
“Well, actually—!”
“Just answer the question!”
Hinata frowned and looked up, deep in thought when all of a sudden he blurted out, “Oh, you should totally take him to somewhere really extravagant or somewhere that’s really touristy, you know?”
“Touristy?”
“Yeah, touristy.” Hinata extended his hands out and grabbed at the air like a child, “It’d be romantic. Getting him gifts at the arcade or paying for entrance tickets at the amusement park…”
The thought of him and Tsukishima being next to each other on a rollercoaster made him queasy. He couldn’t really imagine Tsukishima liking receiving a haul of stuffed animals and living off of dango for a couple hours in daylight. Then again, maybe if there were dinosaur plushies… no, too low of a chance. Kageyama waved it off, “Maybe not.”
Hinata glared, “If you’re gonna shut me down that quickly you shouldn’t have even asked! My suggestions were good!”
Kageyama was already racking his brain and walking away into the gym and blasting the doors open, separating from Hinata and spotted Yamaguchi talking with Yachi in the corner. Kageyama nodded in approval in his head, Yes, that’s good— if I ask Yamaguchi he’d know what to do. Yachi-san would know as well.
“Yamaguchi.” He called out, and the boy glanced at him with a smile.
“Kageyama! How’s it going?”
“Fine.” He politely waved to Yachi before asking, “Yamaguchi— or, Yachi as well— could you help with something?”
“Sure, what’s up?” The blonde girl smiled, hugging her clipboard.
“Ah well…” Kageyama inhaled sharply, “I need help on what I should do with Tsukishima after school today. Hinata suggested lively things like taking him to a carnival or getting him plushies at the arcade, but I just thought it’d be nice to get advice from someone more… trusted.”
Yamaguchi tilted his head and smiled, “I mean, he enjoys some amusement parks from time to time, along with plushies, but ah… maybe you can really go for something more modest? Like a picnic date or a cute date at a bakery… Tsukishima likes his sweets.”
Kageyama grinned at the mention of sweets. He remembered the times where he saw Tsukishima snacking on shortcake during lunch and that glazed over stare he had while eating. The setter quickly cleared his throat and said, “Like something way more romantic than thrilling?”
“Yeah.”
“I agree,” Yachi started, “Tsukishima is a very calm person, so a bakery would be good and you could even pay for his food.”
“That does sound nice…” Kageyama pondered. Unfortunately, there were a few problems— if he were to do either of these with Tsukishima, he’d combust from the embarrassment and the tension they’d probably have, and second, he didn’t really have that much money to pay for Tsukishima’s food. It’d be rude if he didn’t— he sighed, and nodded in defeat, “Well… thanks for the ideas.”
As he went away and got ready, he spun a ball in his hands and huffed. It was a pain, he couldn’t decide…
Kageyama just had to think of something himself.
Despite all of the suggestions, Kageyama had turned into a complete chicken and decided to do something casual. He cursed himself for it, sure, but it was better than just not being by him and calling instead— that would drive him mad.
He arrived at Tsukishima’s doorstep— he brought a couple of competitive video games to play once Tsukishima had informed him that his mother and brother were out— so there he stood, hand rapping on the door as he tried his best not to uncomfortably shift his weight around tensely.
Tsukishima opened the door and regarded him with soft eyes, “Kageyama.”
“Tsukishima.”
It was a common routine for them to just lock eyes for a moment and say their names— like Kageyama racing Hinata, it was a procedure that was very much needed for a calm consistency in his everyday life. He took off his shoes and went inside, proceeding to his boyfriend’s bedroom. Tsukishima trailed slowly behind and peered inside his bag. He blinked, “You brought a lot. Are you sure we’ll get through all of these games?”
“I had too much and I wanted you to choose.” Kageyama admitted, setting down his bag and rummaging through his video games. “Which one do you wanna do?”
Tsukishima looked inside. He pointed to one at the very bottom, “Let’s play go-kart racing.”
They sat down on the floor, their backs against Tsukishima’s bed as they both held controllers in their hands and set up the game— Kageyama relished the feeling of Tsukki’s shoulder brushing up against his as he yelled, “That power-up is mine!”
Tsukishima shoved him, “Are you serious?”
The setter laughed, letting the round play out. Soon enough, on Kageyama’s last lap, he completed and landed in first place, with Tsukishima placing a snarky second. “I regret playing this game. You’re too serious.” Tsukishima slouched.
“No, you just need to learn how to get competitive.” Kageyama shot.
“Uh-huh…”
“So are we playing another one?”
Tsukishima looked over to the games. “Let’s play that one.”
This one was more casual— a cute little cozy game in which two players complete obstacles to gain new materials for a cottage. It was fairly easy compared to the heart-racing pace of the go karts, which ultimately left Kageyama roaming in his thoughts— he suddenly felt jittery. Was he doing the right thing? He pursed his lips, was this romantic enough?
He stared at Tsukishima’s intent gaze at the screen as they built their house with cute light red plaid curtains. At the same time with his nervous prancing, he felt almost sleepy, head softly laying on Tsukishima’s shoulder as he watched Tsukki’s fingers control the console. “You can’t sleep,” Tsukishima mumbled, “I can’t decorate the house without your thoughts.”
Kageyama smiled warmly, but it faded soon after, and he asked, “Hey, is this fun?”
Tsukki set down the controller, leaning his head a bit as well, “Yeah, why?”
The setter prided himself on getting Tsukishima to admit that to him so easily. “I’ve just been wondering,” he swallowed, “what am I supposed to do after we start getting more personal?”
“Well… what do you think’s right?”
Tsukishima’s usually sarcastic tone turned sweet and soft, like a cherry blossom's first open sight of the sun, and Kageyama’s heart fluttered, reaching over for his boyfriend’s hands on the console, “I don’t know,” he shrugged casually, “I always think that dates are key after becoming partners. You know, like something super romantic and lovey-dovey— but I had a feeling you wouldn’t enjoy it, so I decided to do this… and wasn’t sure if it was right.”
Kageyama ended his sentence, his grasp squeezing the blonde’s hand in hesitance.
Tsukishima fell quiet and murmured moments after, “You know you don’t have to take me out anywhere extravagant for it to mean something.”
“…Is that so?” Kageyama glanced at him.
“I’m—“ Tsukishima looked away sharply, continuing with a slightly harsh and bashful tone, “I’m fine with whatever we do together as long as I’m with you.”
…
“Wow,” Kageyama teared up, “You’re horrible at being romantic.”
“You’re the one who overthought the entire thing!”
They laughed, and right now, Kageyama thought there was really not a lot that could beat this interaction. He’d have more memories with Tsukishima, he knew that, but this one— the sensation of his swirling feelings, the gentle and light touches from the both of them, the smile Tsukishima worre— all shaped the moment and Kageyama couldn’t have asked for anything better.
“So this is romantic enough?” Kageyama asked as he raised his head up from the blonde’s shoulder and stared at him.
“Yeah.” Tsukishima murmured, locking eyes with him, face inches away. “I’m fine with anything, Tobio.”
The setter shut his eyes in a daze as he leaned back, palms on the ground taking in all of his weight as Tsukishima held him by his back and kissed him softly, glasses knocking Kageyama’s nose bridge ever so slightly— his skin felt fuzzy, head light and soaring up into the sky, into heaven as he was pushed further back into the floor with a gasp. Tsukishima pulled away and saw the redness of his lips, letting out a weakened laugh. Kageyama sighed, “Who knew you could be such a sap?”
“Says you.” Tsukishima snickered, “But you were right. Honestly, if we went anywhere too romantic it would be too much for me.”
“I’m glad I was right.” Kageyama finalized.
And once more, Tsukishima dove in for another kiss, and another, and it was the only game he won that day.