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“We will now introduce the starting members on both teams! First up is Karasuno High School!” One of the commentators announced.
Tsukishima tuned out the noise buzzing all throughout the arena. The commentators drone on as they introduced each person on the court. Hinata's loud thumping as he warms up was a great distraction to the fact that he was actually nervous for this specific match. Bravado and confidence be damn, he was about to play against his mate—his mate who taught him how to read block and reawaken his love for volleyball. It's quite a performative experience.
If you actually think about it, he's essentially playing against a more skilled and experienced version of himself, and he's not quite sure if it's a good or a bad thing.
“Hey! Look! It's those two cute pair at the opening ceremony!”
Yeah, what are the odds that they're actually gonna go up against each other.”
“Ugh! Now I don't know who to root for!”
“Damn. Look at that tall blonde omega bagging a third year, and the captain to boot!”
“Isn't Kuroo-senpai kinda hot? He seems so mature.”
“What?! I prefer that halfie over there, Lev-kun I think his name was? He just looks so good when he's making a serious face like that!”
“Kuroo-san I think I might need to go poop again.” Lev whined as he stood next to his captain.
“What? Seriously? You poopy-leftovers bastard.” Kuroo quips. “Sucks for you, we only got 5 minutes left of warm ups before the game starts.”
“Lol, poopy-leftovers bastard. Hahaha!” Yaku echoed, clutching his stomach from laughing.
Kuroo glanced at the other side of the court to gauge how the other team was fairing, to his surprise he caught Tsukishima looking at him and the blonde immediately turned away, ears bright red at being caught staring at his lover. Kuroo sighed as he covered a hand on his mouth to stop himself from smiling silly.
‘Ah... Tsukki, can you get any cuter than this?’
“Dude, seriously?” Yaku scoffed, staring at his captain with all the disdain in the world. “The game is about to start and you're acting like a high school girl catching glimpses of his crush from the other classroom.”
“Wha-?! I would have you know, I am technically a high school student, mind you?!”
“Hello, mister high school student, third year captain of the Nekoma High School Volleyball Club, mind getting that ugly head of yours in the game?”
“Excuse you and your docosahexaenic acid deficient ass, I'm well and truly in the zone right now!”
“Now, now, you two—the game is about to start.” Kai butted in to appease the two's usual banter.
“I bet my Kubro is buzzing right about now, that guy's the most excited about playing against our Tsukki and Karasuno, other than me of course, right, Akaashi?” Bokuto said as he observed his friends on the court, watching the two teams warming up gives him the urge to jump inside the court as well.
“That pain in the ass Kuroo-san couldn't even shut up about it since last month.”
＋☽＋☽＋☽＋
“‘Four-eyes Number 11 is the cornerstone of Karasuno's blocking game!’ am I right?” Mika recounts excitedly to Daishou, echoing her boyfriend's remark from yesterday's match against Inarizaki.
“You're right, you're right! Hmm, I've never played against Karasuno before but something about that first year four-eyes just gives me the bad vibes... I can't quite put my finger on it...” Mika snickered at Daishou's inquisition, glaring daggers at Number 11's back as he walks to the court to take his position.
Tsukishima stands face to face with Kenma in front of the net, he sees the sour look on the setter's face.
‘It's written all over Kozume-san's face... I don't think he likes me very much? My pleasure, I guess.’
‘Ugh, why do I have to be up against him across the net. It's like playing against Kuro. Not to mention Kuro's scent is so heavy on him, it's like being smothered in Kuro on both sides of the court...’
“What's the current score?!” Akiteru harriedly asks as soon as he spotted the three at the front of Karasuno Cheering Squad's designated bleachers.
“Calm down, the game just started.” Saeko reassures him.
“Saeko-chan! You look so cool!”
“Thanks~!”
“Ahhh, I really wanted to watch the warm ups too...” Akiteru lamented.
“Well, aren't you busy?” Takinoue chided.
“Have you guys been here since Day 1?” Akiteru asked as he settled himself next to the two men up front.
“Yeah, I requested for a 3 days leave while Shimada had his shift covered by someone else.” Takinoue boasted.
“You guys are hard core. But anyways, this is amazing, Karasuno finally got to play against Nekoma at the Nationals. So, anyone interesting I should look out for in Nekoma?”
The two men jolted in place, back tracking months prior to the first practice match that Karasuno had with Nekoma, and how Nekoma's captain had shown interest towards Akiteru's younger brother during the end of their match, and now just earlier how Shimada noticed those little glances the two players from both teams were making at each other.
“Oh yeah! That Nekoma captain was really making eyes at Ke–mph!” Takinoue immediately covered Saeko's mouth from saying anything further.
“Y-yeahahaha, those Nekoma players are quite the cunning little ones...” Shimada covered.
“Blocked!” The commentator screamed into his mic startling the three men. “Nekoma High scores a quick point with their block!”
“Just now, even though Karasuno had five people to attack! The middle blocker Kuroo-kun, observed the situation carefully! Tsukishima-kun was also amazing earlier, when he gathered together for the double block and succeeded in pulling off a no touch!”
“Both Nekoma and Karasuno have adopted the style of the majority going in for a synchronized attack. But both schools fight each other, attacking and defending like a spear and a shield!”
“That's the first time Nekoma has faced a ‘Five Person Attack’ right? But Kuroo still completely followed...” Sugawara said with a complicated look on his face.
“Well, Kuroo-san is the one who taught Tsukishima's persistent blocking...” Hinata said matter of fact as he stood next to his co-captain.
“I've said it before, that your hands have to be in front, right, Nobukatsu-kun?" Kuroo said with a provoking grin on his face with his arms up, wriggling his fingers, making an exaggerated show of mocking Tsukishima's blocking stance.
“Handing out advice to opponents again? I see you are as self confident as ever, Kuroo-san.” Tsukishima responded in his usual deadpan, but deep down he was feeling extremely giddy, of course he'll never admit it though.
‘Seriously, this guy does not pick the right time and place to be an insufferable flirt!’
“Nah, I was just messing with you.” The older said, smirking with his usual Cheshire grin to rile the younger up even more.
“Tsukki!! Don't let him getcha!!” Bokuto screeched and did punching motions to convey his feelings.
‘I bet Kuroo-san is saying something to get under Tsukihima's skin again. Those two may be pairs, but they were rivals who hated (wanted to fuck) the other's guts, first and foremost.’ Akaashi thought to himself.
“Yes! Team captain Kuroo-kun had a great kill block earlier. And for a middle blocker, he's excellent at floor defense too. He's not usually a flashy player but he consistently gets deflections and always arranges his blocks to maximize their floor defense options. He is undoubtedly a major factor in Nekoma's stalwart defense!”
“This is also worth mentioning, but according to yesterday's interview from players in Fukurodani, Nekoma, and Karasuno, Kuroo-kun is responsible for Tsukishima-kun's persistent one touches!”
“That's news to me! No wonder their play style is so alike! This is another showdown in the making! Yesterday we had a setter show down with Kageyama-kun and Atsumu-kun who were both participants in the Under Eighteen Youth Camp, and now we have a Middle Blockers and Liberos showdown!”
“And the fun facts doesn't stop there, as these two pillars of their team's defense are also mates!”
Collective gasps could be heard from the whole Court A of the gymnasium at the bomb the commentator just dropped.
“Oy, oy! Kuroo, what the heck?!”
“NOOOOOO! Kuroo-senpai already has a mate?!”
“Damn Kuroo, no wonder he keeps declining my invite to mixers, Blondie long legs over there has our boy wrapped up in his fingers.”
‘Now I know why I don't like that glasses guy! He's just like that slimy rooster-head bastard!’ Daishou thought to himself, gritting his teeth in annoyance.
Takinoue and Shimada caught Akiteru in time just before the man hits his head on the bleachers railing.
“Oy! Get yourself together!”
“M-My precious Kei...”
“Hey, it's not that bad, Kuroo-kun is a nice kid.”
“My cute baby brother...”
“Oh, don't be dramatic, it's not the end of the world~! If it makes you feel better they've been like that since their training camp during Golden week!”
“SAEKO!” The two adults holding Akiteru up shouted.
“GOLDEN WEEK?!” Akiteru repeated as his knees gave out.
＋☽＋☽＋☽＋
Karasuno moves up for a rotation, with Tsukishima getting back into the court.
“GO TSUKISHIMA! DON'T LOSE TO KUROO!” Sugawara screamed at the top of his lungs.
Tsukishima paused as he was about to walk back into the court to look and Sugawara.
“Impossible.” He deadpans, earning a dejected look from his upperclassman.
Kei proceeds to walk back in the court. “Tsk. These commentators are unprofessional.” He grumbled, inconspicuously glancing at his brother to see his reaction from his periphery.
‘I bet it was Bokuto-san who babbled on about us. That guy really has no filter...’
‘My apologies in behalf of Bokuto-san, Tsukishima.’ Akaashi apologizes as he sagely closed his eyes and prayed.
“Cat's outta the bag~!” Kuroo chimed. Though he may sound teasing, but the way his hand scratched the back of his head and that bittery note building up in Kuroo's sandalwood scent indicates otherwise, which did not go unnoticed in Kei's eyes how uneasy his mate was.
“It's okay Kuroo-san, I'll just introduce you to him properly later. It's about time anyways...” Kei reassures, then paused. He sighed before channeling a resolute expression.
“You know, I've never thought about winning against anyone stronger than me, let alone that person being Kuroo-san. But I didn't say I had to win it on my own.”
“Your best friend plans to do so otherwise.” Kuroo points out as he eyed Yamaguchi taking his place to serve.
“You're right, he's the guy who surpassed me after all.” Tsukishima said with a contented look on his face.
‘Dang Tsukki, way to make your mate feel jealous...’
Another intense rally commenced, Tsukishima observed and timed his block.
‘That's more than enough.’ Tsukishima surmised as he read through Kenma's set to Fukunaga, earning a scowl from Nekoma's setter.
Kuroo's words of advice echoed through his mind right before he blocked in that moment.
“Blocked! That point has finally established the atmosphere of the game!”
“Hahaha! Did you see our Tsukki?!” Bokuto boasted.
“Tsukishima isn't ours, Bokuto-san.” Akaashi corrected.
“This is all your fault!” Yaku complained. Kicking at Kuroo repeatedly, while Kenma had an equally displeased look on his face for being read blocked.
“What are you talking about?! That was all Tsukki’s ability!” Kuroo retorted, making sure his mate's effort weren't credited to him.
“Nice one, Tsukki!” Yamaguchi cheered, both hands up in the air for a high five which Tsukishima gladly accepted.
“You too.”
As both teams went back to their rotating formation, the two middle blockers are face to face on the net once again, everyone in Court A watched with held breaths at the star crossed lovers.
“Those two are insane.”
“If my mate taunted me while playing a serious match, he would've been single by now, just saying.”
“They're a match made in hell, that's for sure.”
“I can't even hear what those two are saying whenever their up against each other, but I know flirt-fighting when I see one~!”
“Tsukki.” Kuroo called out. “How's volleyball been for you lately?” He already knew the answer, but he still wanted to make sure. He wanted to hear it come out from Tsukishima’s own mouth while at the height and adrenaline of the game is at an all time high.
Tsukishima stared at his lover's face, drinking in the sight of his inquisitive eyes and satisfied smile, waiting for his answer.
“Thanks to you,” The omega smiled contentedly, remembering all the moments he had with everyone who helped him shape who he is today as a player of Karasuno, with Kuroo at the forefront. “Once in a blue moon, it's fun.”
“Hehehe, I never thought I'd here you say that out loud.” Kuroo laughed boyishly, extremely happy with the answer he got from his lover.
“Well, don't get used to it.”
＋☽＋☽＋☽＋
The 3rd set has just started with another intense rally, scoring at 3 - 4 in Karasuno's favor. Kuroo and Tsukishima are at the net again gearing up for the next serve.
“Will you come block for us?”
“I'm about to take a break.”
“Let's train spikes again today.”
“Sorry, but I'll pass.”
Tsukishima doesn't know why he's being sentimental, images flashing through his mind of those times Kuroo and Bokuto kept inviting him to extra practices while in the middle of the game right now.
Kenma sets the ball to Taketora—going for a spike, but Tsukishima and Kageyama are already at the net blocking his path, Taketora dinks the ball; but Tanaka dives in to save it. The ball is back in the air, Kuroo and Tsukishima immediately goes up the net, anticipating the ball's descent. They jump at the same time as the ball nears the net, both their fingertips touching each side of the ball for a joust—Kuroo's the first to push the ball on Karasuno's court, earning Nekoma a point.
“I just don't get it, how can you guys practice so hard?”
“Dammit Tsukki, quit tryin' so hard would you?! You keep making these rallies so freaking long, I'm starting to get tired over here...” Kuroo huffs out in complaint as he latches on to the net, slouching to catch his breath.
Tsukishima shifts closer to the net, “Don't blame me! If you would just stop resisting so much... Then this would be over a lot more quickly!” He retorts back, equally as out of breath as his mate.
“So, Tsukki is also the type to snap when he gets exhausted.” Kai bemused.
“Hah! You can blame most of that to Kuroo and Bokuto!” Yaku added, always making sure to remind everyone that it's their Captain's fault for raising a mini (taller) version of him.
“Thank you oh so much.” Tsukishima says sarcastically.
Kuroo looks away, suddenly bashful at Tsukishima's sudden gratitude—even if it was delivered in a snarky way, he wouldn't be Tsukki if it weren't.
“No... Thank you.” Kuroo replies in a hushed tone, immediately speed walking back to his position.
‘Thank you for giving volleyball another chance.’
“If you swallow a watermelon seed, it'll start sprouting in your stomach, and if you ignore it, it'll expand.”
“Oh, is that so? I will be careful.”
“Hey, did you know? Bokuto's–”
“I probably don't know, but it's alright I don't need to know.”
“I'm Kuroo.”
“I'm Bokuto. Hey hey hey!”
Tsukishima should've known then, the reason Kuroo was so persistent in including him in practices and trying to get him involved in mundane things a team would usually do, the alpha has got him all figured out before he could even internalize his struggle with his relationship with volleyball, being fated pairs was just an excuse for him to get closer.
‘Damn him acting like a real mate, solving my problem without me noticing... How dare he chip off the walls I built bit by bit...’ The omega thought helplessly as he watched his alpha demonstrate again how cool he is as he shuts off another one of Tanaka's straight shot.
“Shake it off!”
“Tsukki, you know how you're know for your super tenacious and persistent blocking, and just how much it ticks everybody off, right?” Kuroo starts.
Tsukishima squints at him questioningly, wondering what his mate has to say this time.
“If you're having trouble wording a retort, I could punch him for you.” Daichi gladly offers.
“Well, seeing how successful you are at it, I can't help but think... Thank God, I wasn't wrong.”
Tsukishima didn't know how to respond to that, but his omega was definitely preening at the acknowledgement though, even if it was in Kuroo's own convoluted way of saying it—and he can't help that it actually always gets to him in the most random times. Like right now, where he's a blushing mess from his ears down to his neck and he couldn't control that sweet euphoric pheromone of happiness he's emiting.
“Oh.”
“Oh, indeed.”
”I feel like we're intruding here.”
“I wonder what that Number 1 said to 11, he's blushing so much, how cute!”
”Stop making us feel single damn it!”
”Bleugh! That shameless fuckin' rooster-head!”
”Aww, is Suguru-kun jealous?” Mika teases while poking at Daishou's arm.
”Wha–?! Jealous of who?! I have you!” Daishou said incredulously.
”It's okay, I understand that you and Nekoma's Number 1 had a thing before.” Mika insists with a knowing grin on her face.
”NO! We do not have such a thing going on! You know what, nevermind. It's hard arguing with you...” Daishou drops the subject, he knows it's a losing game when it comes to explaining things to his girlfriend when she already has her own conclusion about him and Kuroo's petty rivalry.
”Kuroo-san!” Tsukishima reprimands, still a blushing mess.
”My bad, I didn't think you'd be that pleased with what I said just now.” Kuroo replies as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
The blushing referee who just witnessed all of that in full view saves Tsukishima the embarrassment as he blows the whistle.
”Don't mind, don't mind!” Nishinoya and Tanaka patted Tsukishima's back teasingly.
It's Kuroo's turn and he delivers a powerful jump serve aiming at the back line, Daichi saves it as Kageyama waits for the balls descent and sets, Tsukishima jumps for a fake with Asahi ready to spike at the back.
“‘Read blocking is the kind of blocking that let's you get the last laugh.”’ Kuroo recalled his own words.
‘Okay, let's show these crows who gets the last laugh!’
Lev and Kenma jumps to block, but Kuroo completely reads Karasuno's attack and saves the ball straight to the opponents court. Both teams were in awe at Kuroo's prowess. The alpha laughs heartily after successfully pulling off that save.
‘Damn it, I just can't beat him.’ Tsukishima laments as his respect for Kuroo only grows stronger the longer this game keeps going.
The ball comes back to Nekoma's court, Kenma sets as Lev jumps for a fake with Kuroo actually hitting from behind. Tsukishima reads and deflects it.
‘I can only fight him in front of the net.’
‘It's scary... But because it's scary, you don't give them time to think.’
Kageyama waits for the ball with Lev looming behind him, ready to block.
‘Go faster and shorter, right in the middle as you power your way through height.’
He sets high, Tsukishima gears for a run up and jumps higher than his usual height, he aims it straight to the middle—shy of where Taketora and Kuroo are. Kuroo goes in for a dive to save it but misses the ball by mere seconds as it lands perfectly in front of him.
Tsukishima couldn't help it as he let's out an unbridled smile. He finally got to one up his mate in volleyball for the first time.
Kuroo laid there on the floor as he gaped, almost taken a back. This is his first time seeing his omega smile so openly and freely. It was beautiful—is all he could think to describe that smile, so utterly breathtaking seeing him enjoying volleyball to the fullest.
”Awww! Look at them smiling at each other!”
”Oh my God! That is so fucking adorable!”
”I can't do this anymore, Number 1 and 11 is about to kill me with their cuteness, the hell?!”
”Kei...” Akiteru was bawling. His baby brother was smiling happily because of volleyball.
”You can thank Kuroo-kun for that!” Saeko boasted smugly, making Akiteru bawl harder.
”SAEKO!” Takinoue and Shimada reprimands again.
＋☽＋☽＋☽＋
The game finishes with a bit of an anticlimactic ending of a sweat covered ball with Karasuno winning the 3rd set.
Both teams approached the middle of the net for a final handshake. The two teams waited as the captains patted each other's back, taking that as the signal to congratulate one another.
A round of handshakes and congratulatory words were exchange, Kuroo wasted no time and went to were his mate stood awkwardly.
He puts an arm around Tsukishima's back and rested his head on the omega's shoulder. He felt Tsukishima freeze as he breathed in his mate's scent to relax.
”Thank you, Tsukki.” Kuroo said sincerely, he lifted his head up to look at Tsukishima. The blonde sported red ears, glaring at Kuroo for the stunt he just pulled. He clicked his tongue at him before composing himself.
”Thank you too, Kuroo-san... For not giving up on me. I wouldn't be having this much fun if you weren't so meddlesome.” Tsukishima admits timidly with a bit of indignation.
Kuroo was dumbfounded. He started at Tsukishima who stood in front of him, both hands clasped together, head slightly tilted, round doe eyes looking at him in question as to why he suddenly stopped in place.
‘I can only tear up too many times in one day, you know...’
”Nothing...” Kuroo shooks his head, he let's the picket sign he was holding drop to the floor and hurriedly wraps an arm around Tsukishima's shouder and waist, burying his face on the crook of the omega's neck.
Tsukishima freezed for the second time, his whole face blooming red as he noticed everyone on the team and most likely the audience too, are watching them.
”Aren't you gonna hug your mate back?” Kuroo mumbles teasingly against Tsukishima's neck, making the blonde shiver involuntarily.
”Pull another shit like this again and I'll make your life a living hell.” Tsukishima warned before latching both his hands onto the hem of Kuroo's jersey.
”Is that a proposal?”
Bonus: After the match
“Onii-san, this is Kuroo Tetsurou. Ku-Tetsurou-san, this is my brother, Akiteru.” Kei corrects himself. If he was going to introduce his mate to his overprotective brother, he needed to do this right.
“It's nice to finally meet you, Akiteru-san, Kei has talked a lot about you.” Kuroo musters cheerfully, initiating a handshake. The older takes his hand and squeezes, hard.
“A pleasure.” Akiteru's face is blank, void of any indication to reveal his emotions. He stared, sizing Kuroo up and down, trying to intimidate Nekoma's captain.
Kuroo tried not to squirm in place and stood his ground. ‘Man, his grip is tight. Tsukki said his brother couldn't hurt a fly, but what is this strength?’
Tsukishima elbows his brother, and finally the older let's go of Kuroo's outstretched hand, which was now slightly red from Akiteru's death grip.
“I do not approve of this–”
“Onii-san.”
“But, Kei–”
“No.”
“Are you sure about thi–”
“Yes.”
“Fine.” Akiteru grudgingly concedes. He knows how stubborn Kei is, he learned that the hard way.
“So, Tetsurou-kun,” He puts an arm around Kuroo's shoulder and practically drags the captain with him. “Let's talk about those times Kei mentioned me to you.”
“AKI-NII!”