Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Teru’s trouble started with a rumor.
A silly rumor that he initially paid no mind to- just some classmates he used to get along with quite well (when he was a huge ass to everyone he met, if that clears things up) stirring the pot to get a rise out of him. It wasn’t a huge deal if he ignored it. With matters like these, if he didn’t give them the reaction they were looking for, they would usually just drop their attempts after a few days.

But, this was different. It seemed the longer he put off responding to the accusations, the worse the mill turned. It was as if his lack of attention somehow confirmed every theory that was put out against him. More people he had forgotten about kept coming forward with horrible tales of mistreatment, somehow tied to everything everyone was already talking about.

It had been several years since his days of middle school shadow-leading. He wasn’t proud of how he behaved at the time, and he had already taken full responsibility for his wrong-doings. He had apologized to past girlfriends, resigned as the shadow-leader of black vinegar’s arbitrary gang of delinquents, and tried his best to mend broken promises and grudges. But, it seems like chocolates and perfume don’t cover up the worst of hard feelings.

An ex-girlfriend of his, Mio, still had business with how she was treated. She’d started spreading it around the school that Teru mistreated his ex girlfriends so badly that no one in their right mind would or should date him. Sure, Teru could admit that he was never the most attentive to his girlfriends- mostly using them as another source of expendable popularity. If he could keep a girlfriend long enough to have people believe he was genuinely interested in her, he had won. She would be dumped by Valentine’s day, as to not discourage his steady stream of affections, but never talked badly about. If anything, dating Teru was like dating a parrot. He would tell you what you told him to tell you, and that was about the extent of it. He’d pay for ice cream if he noticed you were upset that he didn’t pick up the bill last time, and walk home with you if you specifically asked for it.

But he never said anything bad about an ex. Despite Mio’s claims, Teru had reached out several times, even once in person (“Oh my god, he stopped her after class to intimidate her again, how horrible!”), to try and make amends with whatever bad feelings she still harbored. Teru didn’t remember much about their time together, but it sounded like she had a steady stream of horrible memories to make up for that.

Teru: Hi Mio! It’s Teru. I heard some stuff about myself the other day, and would love if I could talk to you. If you don’t want to, that’s totally understandable, but I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t fabricate anything about our relationship. Thanks.

Teru: Hi again, Mio. This is getting a little out of hand, and I just want to know what I can do to make up for whatever I did to make you feel like this. Let me know.

Teru: Mio, I just had someone who doesn’t even go to our school ask me if I really called you ugly and worthless. We both know that isn’t true. Please stop this.

Teru: Mio. Stop.

All these text messages fell on deaf ears (or eyes with read receipts turned off, who knows). All Teru could do was grip at his hair and yell into his pillow. It seemed like anyone who was anyone knew all about his supposed bad habit of belittling his partners. And it only looked worse as all of Mio’s friends (who maybe he had also dated- Teru doesn’t remember) came out with similar stories.

“Rei, what do I doooo…” Teru faux-sobbed into his comforter as the sound of Rei’s chip-chewing stopped for her reply.

“I’m not sure how to give you advice on this, buddy. I’ve never really ran in any circles like the ones you used to frequent, but I know they can get nasty. I guess the only thing you can do is try to discredit her claims?” Rei’s muffled voice came through Teru’s speaker with the occasional crunch, and Teru could picture her sitting at her desk, doodling away at a scrap piece of paper.

“But I don’t know how to discredit anything when she has a million people backing her up! And I don’t even know why she’s saying any of this crap in the first place. I wish she would just talk to me, ugh.” Teru flipped himself over on his bed with a huff.

“You haven’t really had a girlfriend in a while either, huh? That probably doesn’t help anything…” Rei chimed in with a hum.

Teru groaned again at his seemingly inescapable situation, “Yeah, she’s using that as ammo enough as is.”

Rei was quiet for a second as she chewed on another chip. She was homeschooled, so her knowledge of how cliques and bullies functioned was limited as far as Teru was aware. But, she was the only person he felt comfortable enough to vent to. The lonely hum of his air conditioner had served as conversation long enough.

“Well, do you have anybody you’re interested in right now?”

Teru scrunched his nose at the idea. “To be honest, dating anyone is the last thing on my mind right now. I’m kind of sick of all the issues it’s causing me.”

Rei hummed again, “Well, why don’t you get somebody to just… pretend to date you.” Teru could hear the smile in her voice, like this was the solution she had prepared from the moment he explained his situation.

Teru furrowed his eyebrows at her idea of a quick-fix. “Rei, that’s gotta be one of the most cliche things you’ve ever said to me. Is this something you read in a book?” Teru smirked, already knowing the answer.

“Ah! No way! I just thought this might be a good idea! It seems like a simple enough concept, right?” Teru could hear her flustered hand flapping through the phone, “You’ve got plenty of friends who would be willing, right?”

“Plenty is a strong word, Rei. And it’s not like any of them even go to the same high school as me.”

Rei groaned, noticing the same plot hole, “Uhmm… What about Minori? You’ve mentioned her to me a few times, she seems pretty nice.”

Teru smiled as he inspected his chipped nail polish. Minori was a good friend, but she would never agree to pretend to be in love with him. The thought of them holding hands in the hall was hysterical. “I don’t think that’ll work, really. I think she’d kill me before the end of the day.”

Rei huffed, the sounds of rustling papers drowning out any other complaint for a second.

“Well, even if you have to ask somebody who goes to a different school, you guys could make a pretty good show of them walking you to school, no?”

“Wouldn’t it be me walking her to school? Seems pretty pointless to put in effort like that on a different campus.”

Rei sighed, seemingly fed up with all of Teru’s interjections, “Don’t you have anybody who goes to a high school near yours? You could alternate between walking them and them walking you.”

Teru gave thought to the idea. Most of the people he knew from middle school had picked schools a good distance from his own. Tome went off to Peppercorn high school, which was a train ride away from Cardamom high. Walking her to the train station wouldn’t do anything for anyone. Tsubomi went to Yuzu Pepper, an entire hour away. He didn’t really know any other girls besides Rei, but she, again, was homeschooled. That wouldn’t work at all.

Teru gave an equally defeated sigh, “I don’t know enough girls for this to work at all.”

“Well, what about a guy?” Rei had picked up her chips again.

Teru sat up on his elbows as he looked at the plain wall of his apartment, “A guy? Do you think that would do anything? I thought the idea was that I would show them I could treat a girl nicely and that she could like me, even after a breakup.”

“Dating a girl would probably be easier, but I think it’s more about showing that you’re someone capable of treating people nice in the first place- like it shouldn’t matter what gender they are anyway. If they care about that, they’re a bigot.”

Teru snorted at her brashness. “I guess that could work, then. What high schools are even near mine, though…”

Teru put his weight on his left elbow as he picked at the nail polish on his right hand’s nails. There really wasn’t much around. Just Ginger high and…

“Oh! That’s it! Oregano high is just a few minutes from Cardamom, and I’m pretty sure that’s where Kageyama ended up going! I’m sure he’d be willing to hear me out on this!” Teru sat up straight as he picked up his phone, “Although, I’m not sure about roping him into all this… he probably has enough going on as is.”

Rei spoke through her chewing, “You could use any help you can get, so just ask him. If he says no, we can figure something else out.”

As Teru clicked on Kageyama’s contact saved in his phone, he considered just how perfect he was for something like this. Although they don’t talk a bunch nowadays, they were pretty close in middle school. Despite all of Teru’s attempts to run him into the ground, he ended up a stable force of improvement in his life. Before Kageyama, Teru was convinced that being above everyone else was simply a right for him. Thinking back to how easily the knives in the home-ec room slid out of their drawer sends a shiver up his spine. Teru shakes his head as he reads their last messages to each other.

13 days ago
Teru: hope you got home okay!!! ^^ I had a lot of fun hanging out! tell little bro I’m sorry about his controller lolol

Mob: I’m home. I’m sure Ritsu will be fine in a few days. Thanks for checking in.

Teru: lol we’ll see- lmk when ur not busy next!! ^^ I miss you guys so much!!!!!!

Mob: I will. Goodnight, Hanazawa.

Teru: goodnight kageyama!!!!!

A warmth spreads through Teru’s chest as he swipes up to refresh the chat. This was from a couple weeks ago when he invited the Kageyama brothers and Shou over to his apartment to play a new fighting game he’d bought recently. Somehow, in a room of four espers, nobody caught the controller accidentally flying out of Shou’s hand before it hit the wall and broke into three pieces. Ritsu must have shot Shou fifteen feet across the room.

“-might head to sleep.” Teru caught the last few words of Rei’s sentence.

“Ah! Alright. Sleep tight, Rei. Thanks for the advice. I’ll let you know how this goes.”

Rei yawned as the static of her picking up her phone crackled through the speakers, “Mhm, no problem. Goodnight, Teru.”

“Night.”

A soft click, and Teru was alone with his thoughts again.

He looked down at his phone, and let out a long sigh before drafting a message.

Chapter Text

9:23

Teru: hi kageyama!! I have a favor to ask of you, and it’s an odd one lolol

Teru: Rei and I have been talking, and she thinks some rumors being spread about me might be best calmed with third party involvement

Teru: this sounds so cryptic lol. lmk if you’re available to talk in person about this

Teru’s phone suddenly felt heavy in his hands as he read the messages he’d sent over and over. Despite his relationship with Kageyama, he still felt a spike in anxiety at the prospect of him actually reading it. Teru picked at the pills of cotton on his pajama pants, missing Rei’s input greatly. All he could do was stare at his screen, stomach churning as he waited for a swift let-down.

His message was opened within the minute. Teru sucked in a nervous breath as he exited their texts. For some reason, he felt like he shouldn’t be caught sitting idly in their conversation. His phone buzzed.

His thumbs hovered over the notification, letting it disappear from his screen. A quick rhythmic beat echoed through his ears as his heart pounded. Why this felt so different than any other favor he’d ever asked anyone was lost on him. He glanced back at Kageyama’s icon- a small photo of Mob standing at the entrance to the Ibogami Hot Springs, Yukata tied neatly around his waist with a small smile on his face.

He presses on the photo, watching it triple in size.

Kageyama’s appearance hadn’t actually changed much. Despite Tome’s advice, Mob never changed his haircut. Their trip to the hot springs must have been more than three years ago, yet his jet black mop of hair stayed consistent. Nowadays, though, he stands a little taller, runs a little faster, and shares more of his little smiles with those around him.

He’d been thinking for too long.

Letting out one final sigh, he bites the bullet.

9:25

Mob: Yes, I’m not sure what you mean. You can come over tomorrow around noon if you want. Ritsu will be home, but our parents should be out.

Teru: ah! sounds great! I’ll be there ^^

Mob: Goodnight, Hanazawa.

Teru: night!!!

After going through the motions of brushing his teeth, pouring himself a bowl of the same cereal he ate every day, and refreshing his phone several times to make sure his plans for the day hadn’t fallen through overnight, Teru allowed himself fifteen minutes of guided yoga before getting dressed.

He pulled a familiar pink and cyan sweater over an old band tee (if he was upset it still fit the same as ever, he would never say), and stepped into a well-worn pair of jeans, patched with hand cut stars and other forms of embroidery. He cuffed them a few times so they would sit right above his sneakers before checking how everything looked in the mirror leaned against his wall.

His reflection stared back at him, hair tousled in a way he hoped came across as effortless. He replaced the thinner double helix earrings he slept in with some thicker gold ones- not that they could be seen well with the length his hair was at. God, should I get a haircut? Cycling through several hair ties, bobby pins, and scrunchies, he landed on clipping a hair claw in that pulled his overgrown bangs back.

Teru huffed, tugging his sweatshirt down. Two weeks was a very standard amount of time to go without seeing Kageyama. It wasn’t as if Mob would have forgotten what he looked like- or even that he’d care how his hair was pulled back. Nothing had changed since they’d hung out last.

Still, Teru checked his reflection three more times before leaving his apartment.

With three knocks that felt too loud for how meek he felt, Teru waited on the doorstep to the Kageyama residence with sweaty palms. His fingers twitched restlessly as he stared, eyebrows furrowed, down at the doormat.

The sounds of the lock inside unlatching stirred another uneasy feeling in his stomach as he tried to run through the script in his head as quickly as possible before he had someone not following it to talk to. The door squeaked open as Teru looked up to make eye contact with Ritsu.

“Ah! Otouto-kun! It’s nice to see you again. How have you been?” Teru plastered a shaky smile on his face as his internal dialogue was derailed.

Ritsu pushed the door open a little wider for Teru, but didn’t reply with anything more interesting than “Fine. Nii-san is at the table.” Stepping inside, Teru wrung his hands together as Ritsu’s elusively discomforting presence worked its magic.

“That’s good to hear! How are you feeling about high school, then?”

Ritsu shot Teru a confused look over his shoulder as he walked further into the house, “It’s fine. But, you’re not my aunt or anything- and we saw each other a few weeks ago.”

Teru felt his face flush. Normally he was better at conversations. “Ahaha… right.”

Padding into the dining area behind Ritsu, Teru made quick eye contact with Kageyama. He was turned around in his chair, plain white tee and jeans, smiling expectantly at him. “Hi, Hanazawa.” Teru felt his resolve crumble.

“Kageyama!” He let himself commit Mob’s features to memory- wondering how he could forget the mole on his neck or the patchy part of his left eyebrow- the product of an impulsive slit shaved into it during their third year of middle school, “Anything interesting I’ve missed out on since I saw you last?” Teru tried a charming smile on, but it felt like it tugged at the corners of his mouth wrong.

If Mob noticed any nervousness, he didn’t say.

“Not really, no. It’s mostly just been Ritsu and I hanging out if Shou isn’t stopped by.” Ritsu turned around from his spot behind the kitchen island at hearing his name. “He’s been coming by more often. You should, too.” Mob met Teru’s gaze with a nerve-wracking sense of comfortability and a steely reserve. It was hard to tell what kind of emotions were supposed to be conveyed with the suggestion.

Teru wrung his hands together again before responding, “Oh, if you’d have me! I’ve missed your guys’ company.” It’s not a formality when he says it. He’s rewarded with a sweet smile from Mob and a small nod from Ritsu.

Mob turned back around in his chair, a silent invitation for Teru to take the opposite chair from him. The soft clattering of Ritsu pouring a bowl of cereal served as ambiance as Teru sat down.

“So…”

Kageyama didn’t let up his eye contact, waiting for Teru to continue.

“I guess I should probably… explain the text I sent you…” For all the time he’d spent with Mob and Ritsu, having the younger brother present for the flurry of nonsense he was about to spew felt… wrong. His quiet presence was like having an uninvited referee. As Teru collected his thoughts on what he could and couldn’t say in his current company, a tinny tune sounded from the counter.

Ritsu flipped open his phone, surveyed the screen, picked up his cereal bowl, then promptly made his way up the stairs. As the two older boys sat, listening to the pitter patter of his footsteps, the click of a door and a foreign, boisterous laugh replaced them. 

Turning back around to look at Teru again, Mob says, “I guess Shou’s here. Pretty good timing.”

Teru lets out a sigh of relief at the escaped scenario in which he’d have to potentially ask Ritsu for permission to fake date his older brother. Now, he was alone with Kageyama- and the weight of what he needed to ask him. 

Kageyama sat across from him at the table, his head tilted slightly in quiet curiosity, waiting with that patient calm that always made Teru feel like an exposed nerve.

“So,” Teru started, his voice cracking slightly before he coughed and tried again. “Uh, so there’s this thing. A... situation.”

Mob nods, encouraging him silently.

“Rei and I have been talking… Because there’s this girl I used to go out with in middle school- before I even met you- She’s just been spreading it around that I’m like…” Teru considered what to even call what she was accusing him of with furrowed brows, “a cruel partner? Or a serial bad boyfriend. I haven’t dated anyone since her, so I guess she’s using that as backing evidence.” Teru did his best to keep his eyes glued to his lap.

“This wouldn’t normally be something I’d be concerned with, but people who don’t even go to my school are starting to ask me about it. I wouldn’t be surprised if you or Otouto-kun had heard of it.” He snuck a glance upward at Kageyama, but his expression was vaguely sympathetic- no other clues on his prior knowledge evident. “So, Rei suggested that I get someone to change peoples’ minds… It’s like, a way to prove I’m alright and I can be a good partner, y’know- even after a breakup.”

Mob lets out a soft hum.

“So I guess I’ve just been looking for… somebody to fill the partner position- someone within walking distance of my school…” 

As Teru’s nerves grew, and Mob’s expression stayed the same, a hefty silence fell over the two.

“You want me to…” Mob scrunched his nose and looked upwards to find the right words, “lie about my feelings?”

Teru’s strained smile falls in record time.

“Ah! I wouldn’t phrase it like that…” but Teru found himself with no holes to poke in Mob’s takeaway. At the end of the day, their entire plan was… lying. Something Kageyama had never been that great at. “Well, you’ve got the gist of it anyway.”

Teru looked back over to Mob.

“I’m not trying to pressure you into this, of course! You can decline if you’re uncomfortable with the idea…” 

What would he have said if Mob came up to him with the same idea? Sure, Kageyama’s always been a good friend, but faking something as intimate as a relationship was difficult, and could end up making them both look bad if it didn’t go well. Was it even worth it to drag someone else down with your own sinking ship? Decidedly not. But Teru wanted to. He wanted someone to see him and know him and tell him they were okay with it- that they would stay. He was still selfish.

“I’m not sure,” Mob looked down at his lap, clenching and unclenching his hands, “it’s kind of a big deal to say you’re dating someone. I hear people in my class discussing that sort of stuff all the time. And I don’t think I’m very good at lying.”

He was very selfish indeed.

“You don’t have to give me your answer right now. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable with me, so I understand if you want to decline- but please, sit on it for a day or two, yeah?” Teru did his best to plead his case, “And we don’t have to… kiss or anything serious like that.”

Kageyama’s face grew redder, “Ah… okay. I guess I’ll let you know when I decide.” 

“Great!”

The violent hum of cicadas and the muffled laughter of Ritsu and Shou became the conversation’s forefront- neither Mob or Teru knowing what else they should say.

It wasn’t usually this awkward between them. 

“Well, I should get-”

“Do you want to-”

Teru waves his hands in front of himself, “Ah, sorry! You go first!”

The corners of Kageyama’s mouth quirk upwards as he asks, “Do you want to watch a movie with me?”

Teru’s shoulders leave his ears as he let his hands fall back down to his sides. This was more familiar territory.

Settling into their unassigned-assigned couch seating, Mob fiddled with the start menu for the dvd he’d popped in. It was a newer movie about delinquent girls starting a jazz band, according to the synopsis he rattled off- something his mother rented. Teru’s knowledge on jazz was scrutinous at best, but he guessed he wouldn’t need too much background information.

Mob leaned back into his nest of throw pillows and blankets as the screen finally left the start menu. A girl on screen complains about the summer heat as Teru makes himself comfortable as well. With one leg tucked underneath him, and the other splayed out over the cushion between them, Teru’s just far enough away to avoid touching Kageyama. Not that it was something he couldn’t do. They were close enough to not be weird about stuff like that- close enough to bump shoulders while walking home, and to share a hug for the occasional sentimental goodbye. Close enough.

“I don’t know any of these actresses, really…” Mob whispered. Kageyama and Teru looked at each other through the corners of their eyes before looking back at the screen.

“Me neither.”

There was a slight weight at the side of Teru’s leg as Mob turned more onto his side (Teru had little faith that position would keep him awake enough to finish the movie). Mob’s legs were now leaning into his. 

Ah.

Should he move his leg back to give him more room? But what if he thinks he’s uncomfortable with the contact and feels bad? He’d hate to have them both shrank into cocoons on either end of the couch, both too afraid to reach for the popcorn bowl. 

He’s not sure why it matters so much to him, anyway.

He keeps his leg where it is.

As predicted, Mob falls asleep just 30 minutes into the movie. As he tosses and turns, he winds up almost completely horizontal, neck just barely propped up by the rigid arm of the couch. His legs hook themselves around Teru’s, socked feet kicking at him in his sleep. He’s always been in awe of Kageyama’s ability to fall asleep so quickly, but a nasty crick was begging to form in his neck.

Teru holds his breath as he slowly tries to retract his leg. He could pull Kageyama down fully onto the couch and take the floor for the rest of the movie. The careful untwisting of his leg proves easy enough as Mob continues letting out soft huffs. Pushing up off the area not yet occupied by him, Teru stands up in front of the couch. He wiggles one hand under Kageyama’s neck before pulling the blanket he’s laid on further down the cushion. Mob’s head lands down onto a throw pillow soundlessly, and Teru lets out a deep sigh. 

Has he always been such a deep sleeper? Teru thinks back to watching over Mob at his apartment after Ritsu was kidnapped and decides, yes, he has been. Without the bloody nose and scattered cuts and bruises, he looks a lot more peaceful now, though. His jet black hair falls just short of his eyebrows, parting in odd ways because of how much he’s moved, and his face twitches every few seconds.

Maybe he’s having an interesting dream.

Teru can’t find it in himself to look back at the screen. The buzzing of a saxophone prattles on behind him as Mob’s breathing evens out.

Teru feels his chest tighten.

Chapter Text

6:23

Mob: I can do it.

Teru did a quick double-take at his notifications before fully processing it. I can do it. No flowery language or enthusiasm to be found, but it didn’t matter. Kageyama said he’d do it. Teru allowed himself a small smile as he flipped his phone back over.

This was really happening.  

7:01

Teru: i just cant believe he’d help me out like THAT!!!!!!!!!!!! X) he really is amazing!!! :D

Rei: so you’ve said 3 times now!! 

Rei: i’m just excited he didn’t think it was a stupid plan lolol

Teru: ur a real genius yknow?? r u psychic or something lol 

Rei: something like that!

The rest of the school day crawled by in a haze of anticipation. No amount of pencil-pushing or restless shoe-tapping made his english teacher lecture any faster. After a dozen ‘thank you’s, Teru asked if he could meet Kageyama after his club was over. “Sure” was the last message he got during classes, but it had the unfortunate side-effect of making Teru want to rip his hair out when, each time he checked the clock, only two minutes had passed since the last time he looked.

Lunch was no better. He sat at his regular spot, picking at the pork and rice on his plate as the handful of people around him chatted away. They weren’t friends- more likely to be labeled as classmates if anyone were to ask- but Teru got along well enough with them to avoid sitting by himself.

“Hanazawa, what did you think of it?” A bleach blonde girl named Rin is staring down at him expectantly from her seat atop the table. He thinks her last name is Kimura, but that’s where his recollection stops.

“I thought it was okay,” Teru makes steady, rehearsed eye contact as he leans forward onto his elbow, “I don’t think it was worth all the hype, though.” He hadn’t seen it.

Rin grins and whips her head back around to argue with a younger boy at the table. I guess I answered right. 

Teru does a once-over to everyone else. The younger boy is called Takkun anytime he’s referred to, but he has no idea what that’s short for. There’s a quiet girl with brown hair who gives him a small wave when they make eye contact, which Teru returns. He has no idea what her name is, or when her birthday is, or what her favorite foods are, or even how old she is. The things he picks up about people have always seemed unimportant. He can’t recall them when it matters, anyway.

He doubted they cared for him much, either.

Teru goes back to picking at his food, and lets his mind wander to his plan. Rei says they should go over their story together before starting anything more serious. The less discrepancies the better! She was probably right.

“No, I see what she’s talking about, he looks so moody…” Teru accidentally tunes into the thinly veiled conversation happening two tables over. He glances lazily towards the source.

Two girls with large hairstyles and enough hair clips to ensure a lifetime warranty on them sit, legs crossed, looking right at him. The girl on the left puts a manicured hand over her mouth as she loudly exclaims, “He’s looking at us now, ugh!”

Teru wasn’t sure if this was supposed to be a private conversation, but he looks back at his tray. This wasn’t anything new. Her bangs were held back by a thick, plastic, turquoise clip, its glued-on gems catching the light. Teru found himself wondering if she made it herself or if it was something he could buy.

In the wake of his disinterest, Rin kicks at his side with a little more force than what would be considered an acceptable way to gain someone’s attention. Hiding his annoyance, Teru looks over at her with a tight lipped smile.

“Are you doing okay?” Rin cocks her head.

The concern evident in her voice takes him by surprise. He didn’t think she was paying attention.

“Ah, yeah. Just eavesdropping on a conversation about myself.” Teru trails off with a small laugh, waving his hand in front of himself- he hopes it was enough to stave off interest.

Rin ducks down into Teru’s space, giving him a smug smile, “Is it those two princesses?”

I don’t know if princess is the right word… They just have a more distinct style.

“Oh, yeah. Don’t worry about it, though.”

Teru watches as Rin spins around from their two-person huddle and promptly throws up a middle finger at them. A loud exclamation, resembling an “UGH!” follows her as she turns back around, but he can’t find it himself to glance back over at them. Rin shoots him a grin before inserting herself back into the conversation being had at their table.

Teru stares at the back of her uniform, feeling the corners of his mouth tug upwards. The underside of her hair is dyed red.

After the bell rang, it took Teru fifteen minutes to get to Oregano High School’s gates. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken longer, but if Teru had taken up jogging on the way, who’s to judge him for it? Fight On!

Their campus is generally deserted, save for a few stragglers chatting by the lockers. As far as Teru knew, Kageyama had taken the concept of the body improvement club with him. Whether or not this was a legitimate club or not was anybody’s guess before seeing them in action.

Pushing open the gate, he made his way over to the group by the lockers.

“Hi, so sorry to bother you,” Teru threw on a charming smile, “but do any of you know where the body improvement club would be?”

A taller boy with spiky brown hair shot him a lopsided grin and a half-wave, “Their club room is 146 I think, but they’re outside right now, actually.” Teru thanks him, and cuts through the freshly-mowed lawn to the opposite side of the building.

Oregano is a decently sized school, probably only a quarter smaller than Teru’s. Rather than wandering the halls for an abstract number that meant nothing without a map, Teru parks himself on a small hill behind the track. A few people circle it endlessly, but none of them look familiar.

Just as Teru pulls his phone out to text Kageyama, a distant thundering of footsteps draws his attention away. A large pack of high schoolers, probably twenty or so, rounds the corner towards the hill he’d made camp at. Like, right towards. 

Teru scrambles to his feet, snatching his bag up from where he’d tossed it. As he slings it over his shoulder and turns to back out of the way, a notebook and a few papers tumble out.

This is my worst nightmare.

Fed up, he outstretches a hand, flared in frustration as he lets the aura that envelops him extend to his fingertips.

“Keep going!” A familiar voice shouts. Worn and grass-stained sneakers stop just in front of him as the first stray page starts to return.

Kageyama’s face feels brand new as he smiles at him, bangs sticking to his forehead and chest heaving up and down. He hadn’t seen him like this in a while. The whistle around his neck swings as he bends down to pick up Teru’s flyaway school supplies. Teru’s throat feels incredibly dry as he reaches down to snag the last page still on the ground.

“Sorry to crash your practice, captain.” Mob hands his notebook over and gives a shy smile at the honorific.

“Vice captain, actually. The actual captain is up front.” They both glance over at the slowly disappearing group. Mob fidgets with the whistle, running his thumb over the sides.

Teru looks back up at Kageyama and smiles. “Well, you’re still a captain then, aren’t you?”

Kageyama rewards him with a huff of laughter before looking away, face red from exertion or embarrassment or both.

Teru makes a mental note of the sound, then continues, “Anyway, are you still up to come back to my place after?”

Mob gives an enthusiastic nod before his antsiness shows as he starts to jog in place. Teru smiles again, and bumps his shoulder with his own. “Well, you’d better catch up, then.”

“Right! I’ll see you in a bit if you wanna wait by the lockers out front!” Teru shoots him a thumbs up as Kageyama turns back around and breaks into a sprint.

He’s fast.

And tall.

Teru trudges back to the front doors.

It’s another ten minutes before he sees Kageyama again. A few stubborn drops of sweat stick to his skin, but he’s changed into the button up and pants from his uniform. The same smile from before hasn’t left his face since they began their walk to Teru’s apartment.

The small tapping of their sneakers against the asphalt replaces conversation until Teru speaks up.

“You really like doing the body improvement club, huh?” It’s more of a ploy to get Kageyama talking than a genuine question, because he already knows the answer. Kageyama’s never done anything half-assed in his life.

Mob lights up further, if possible. “I do! I think it’s really rewarding to see all these people who used to be strangers get together to better themselves.” Teru hits the crosswalk button. “It makes me want to push myself further every day.”

You really are amazing.

“So, when did you start it? Just right out of the gate as a freshman?”

Mob looks up at the sky as he pushes his bangs up off his forehead to wipe the sweat there. “Pretty much. I asked a couple upperclassmen I knew, and they told me to talk to Ken because he’d been wanting to start something similar.”

If the usage of this Ken ’s first name irks Teru, he’d never admit it.

“Ken’s the captain?” The crosswalk button beeps, ringing a tune as they cross.

“Yeah! He always makes sure everyone’s doing okay, and gives us some really great pieces of advice on our form, pacing…” Kageyama counts on his fingers as he prattles off a few other things he’s great at.

Teru keeps quiet as Mob continues talking about exercises.

“Did you know that the wide stance that a lot of people use for deadlifting actually forces your muscles into an inefficient place to contract, which can make lifting the bar harder and potentially dangerous?”

Teru softens his gaze as he whispers, “I didn’t know that.”

“Okay! So, I think we should get our story straight before we really enact any of this for real, right? At least, that’s why I asked you to come over.” Mob shoulders off his bag at the entrance, nodding up at Teru as he slips off his shoes.

“Makes sense, I guess.”

“Do you want a drink or anything?” Teru slips off his own shoes before padding his way into the kitchenette.

“Yes, please. Just water, or milk if you have it.”

Teru pours a glass of milk for Kageyama, and a glass of water for himself. He meets Mob by his bed, handing him his glass which is downed within the minute.

Teru plants his hands on his hips, tilting his head to make the pose look casual. “So, we need to work out why we’d be dating in the first place and who asked who out, yadda yadda…” There’s an intensity to his delivery, but his eye contact with Mob stays soft.

“I guess…” Mob sits down on the side of Teru’s bed gingerly as it squeaks under his weight, “I’d be happy to just go with whatever you want.” 

Teru doesn’t know what he wants in this situation. Was it better to take the reins and feed Kageyama lines for whoever asks about them, or should he base this more in reality?

He takes a second to collect his thoughts, tapping a socked foot against the hardwood. Mob keeps himself busy by inspecting his apartment.

“Okay… how about…” Teru takes his hands off his hips and waves them around, as if trying to assemble an invisible vision board, “we start this off as if we’re not dating yet, but both like each other- it might make it easier to convince anybody nosy that it’s genuine.”

“That’s fine with me.” Mob doesn’t make eye contact, but nods his head.

Teru smiles to himself, admiring his own genius, “I’ll walk you to school a few times, just to make it obvious I’m interested, then we can both say that I went ahead and asked you out after a couple days.”

Kageyama nods again, scrunching Teru’s duvet under his fingertips.

“But, let’s just go over a few details so our stories match, okay?” Teru lets some of the intensity leave his voice, stepping a little closer towards Mob. He finally meets his gaze, somehow sweatier than before.

“Right. That’s a good idea, Hanazawa.” Teru keens under the praise.

“We can just use reasons we like each other as friends as reasons we like each other romantically, so it'll be easier to…” Teru winces as he says, “lie… But, for stuff like first dates, we’ll have to collaborate!”

“What if you ask me out on Valentine’s day?” Mob pipes up, hands now folded in his lap.

Teru scrunches his nose, letting his hands fall to his sides. “Valentine’s day? Wouldn’t you rather have me do it before Valentine’s so you wouldn’t get all those letters?”

Mob furrows his eyebrows as he looks away, face red.

“I don’t really get letters like that, so I think I’m… okay. But, if you don’t want to do it on Valentine’s day, that’s fine- just a suggestion.”

The thought swirls around Teru’s head for a moment before he makes sense of it. “Ah! That’s so smart, Kageyama! That way, I could ask you out in a tangible way without having to do a whole act of it- I could write you a confession! You don’t need to get me anything big for white day, though. I know the supermarket has some cheap coconut and belgian chocolates around that time…” Teru taps his chin.

“You don’t like coconut, though.” Mob looks up at Teru, expression unreadable.

Oh yeah. I don’t.

Teru’s not sure why the statement shocks him so much. Valentine’s Day had always been a nuisance. It’s a holiday that provides an excuse for any girl too nervous to ask him out to do so. Every year, surface level letters filled his locker and desk, discount coconut chocolates and pre-made cards stuffed into any free space. There was nothing genuine in trying your luck with a guy you knew nothing about. Coconut had become his standard.

He feels his face heat up.

“I don’t. I’m surprised you remember, I don’t know when I ever brought that up.”

Mob keeps his eye contact. “You haven’t. You just never take anything offered to you if it has coconut in it.”

To be seen and known- it’s so ridiculous.

Teru clears his throat, “Well no coconut, then.”

Chapter Text

“Are you okay?”

Mob’s head whips around in record time, “What’s up?”

Teru leans over into Kageyama’s space before repeating himself, “I was just asking if you’re alright. I promise it’s not much different than us hanging out like normal.”

But he knows that’s a lie.

After a few hours of deliberating and running off topic, they settled on the general outline of their plan- Teru would walk Mob to school, increasingly becoming more affectionate with him until Valentine’s Day arrived. There were just a few weeks until then, so the prognosis was speed over material.

It’s day one, and Mob already seems to be cracking.

“Ah, I know, it just feels like this is a really big deal for some reason.” Mob looks back down at his feet, kicking up rocks on the sidewalk.

Teru lets the corner of his mouth turn up in a smirk before hopping one step closer to him.

“Cause I’m doing this?” He turned his head to face Mob, leaning even further in before bumping his shoulder into his own and jumping back. He rubs at his shoulder, a faux expression of pain on his face.

“The electricity between us… I think it just shocked me!”

The breaking of Mob’s worried expression should be recorded and hidden in a box of home movies. The corners of his eyes crinkle before his mouth follows suit, quickly unraveling into a fit of hushed laughter as he tries to cover the sound with his fist. Teru feels his stomach flip before it becomes contagious and he’s stuck giggling to himself as well.

Mob offers a meager attempt at covering his smile, “You’re so corny.”

Teru shrugs his shoulders, “I get that a lot.”

And that’s not true either.

Outside of their banter, day one is not so eventful. Mob’s uniform, a shock of blue among the students clad in purple, pulls a few curious gazes away from their own circles, but nothing more than that. The familiar feeling of eyes on his neck isn’t anything he’s uncomfortable with, but the same can’t be said for Kageyama.

Teru can’t help but notice the steady stream of sweat that lines Mob’s forehead. It’s a typical late winter morning, so he’s shocked he can manage to overheat. 

“You’re alright, though?” He’s not pretending to be worried.

“I’m alright, just… not used to this.” Mob avoids eye contact with him, instead finding purchase on a patch of grass just behind Teru.

“Well, let me know if I’m ever too much, alright? I don’t mean to make you nervous.” Kageyama responds with a curt nod. Teru smiles in response, batting at the whistle that hangs from Mob’s gym bag.

“See ya, coach.”

He turns on his heel and heads into the building before checking his reaction, but the distinct lack of movement behind him speaks for itself. He allows himself a small smirk, the ego-inflating sense of accomplishment he got from wooing the girls he used to date in middle school floods back into his senses. 

He brushes a hand over his forehead, peeling away the few loose strands plastered to it.

Maybe I’m not so different nowadays.

10:14

Ritsu: Has anything happened between you and my brother?

The message comes between periods as Teru pulls a juice box from the bottom flap of a vending machine. He lets it marinate all the way to his next class, sipping grape juice through a thin plastic straw.

What the hell do I even say to him?

Unlike Mob, Ritsu wasn’t new to letting people know how he’s feeling. His scowl came through at a moment’s notice, and Teru was well acquainted with it by this point. They weren’t buddy-buddy, that’s for sure.

Has anything happened between you and my brother?

What did “anything” mean? Did Mob say something to him? Was it just a feeling he got between them?

Since he was asking in the first place, Teru figures it’s the latter option. Still, Ritsu being suspicious of them so early on makes him nervous to a new degree. Who’s to say everyone else hasn’t caught on too?

Pausing outside the sliding door to his history classroom, Teru drafts a few different messages.

whaat x) we’re good!!!!!!

not as far as i know!!! <3

did kageyama say i did something wrong?

Three decidedly horrible texts are scrapped in favor of a cooler response.

10:16

Teru: nuh uh! :p

However Teru felt about not clueing Ritsu into their plan was ignored in favor of not causing issues where they didn’t need to be. He could always bring it up to Mob when they saw each other again tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

The concept was still fresh. Seeing each other every morning wasn’t anything either of them planned on this year, yet here they were- working out a schedule for who walks who to school on which day. The idea felt newly ritualistic in a way that wasn’t unwelcome. Hopefully, as they settle into their new routine, Kageyama will be able to relax.

It wasn’t like Teru didn’t take some kind of sick joy out of teasing him. As far as flirts go, he’d always been a natural, and Kageyama was the easiest target he’d ever had. The simplest of jokes and the gentlest of touches made him jump, and an incomparable rush of satisfaction found purchase in Teru’s head every time.

His favorite was walking side by side with him. Teru could inch the smallest bit closer, and purposefully bump their hands into each other as they swung between them. Kageyama’s hand shot to his chest, where he clutched it in his other palm. Teru allowed himself the faintest swell of pride- or some other similar feeling.

It wasn’t entirely right- to poke and prod at his friend. He was already doing him a huge favor with no return. He didn’t have to do any of this when no one was around to witness it anyway.

Maybe it was his own version of training.

Teru leaned back in his chair, letting the fluorescent lights burn his eyes.

“Class, we’ll be collaborating with class 2B for today’s lesson, as their own teacher is out sick,” his instructor clears his throat, “so, please make some room for a few extra chairs.”

Teru slips his phone into his desk as a small handful of students file into the classroom. Most of them he doesn’t recognize, but a flash of pink box-dyed hair catches his attention. In some ways, he still admired Mio and how bold she was.

He let all four chair legs sit against the wooden floors finally as he sat up straight. As the classroom filled up and more seats were taken, it became increasingly obvious to himself and Mio that she would have to occupy one of the two empty chairs on either side of him.

They made quick eye contact, both sets of eyebrows furrowing at each other, before Mio huffed and pulled the chair to the right of him out with a sickening scrape. She threw her hefty, charm-covered book bag down on the ground and let her attention gravitate to her nails instead of Teru.

Being dismissed was something Teru had come to enjoy. If he was glanced over in the hall, or if someone forgot his name, it only solidified his identity as a regular person. He was, in no way, more important or more deserving of attention than anyone else.

Being dismissed by someone he had been trying to talk to for weeks was an entirely different issue.

As their instructor prattled on about their assigned reading, Teru and Mio engaged themselves in the most passive aggressive game of footsie to ever be played.

It started with a light kick to the side of Mio’s desk. She only huffed and worked at the gum in her mouth in response. Teru felt the veins in his forehead strain as he kicked at the metal table leg again. Still no response.

Teru’s glare grew harsher as he puffed out air through his nose. He redirected his foot and landed a solid kick at her book bag, rattling the lobster clasps and silver hoops that anchored the plush toys and keychains to her bag straps. A large, dusty shoe print was left as evidence.

Mio popped the gum in her mouth before whipping her head around and leaning over to mutter a “STOP. THAT,” through gritted teeth. She shoved the side of his chair with her penny loafers hard enough that Teru slid a few inches back.

Funnily enough, this was the first time she’d spoken to him since all these rumors began surfacing.

As Teru scooted his chair back up to his desk, Mio threw a hand across it, pushing his notebook off the side and onto the floor. It landed on the wood with a single smack. 

For a moment, their professor paused his lecture and locked eyes with the two of them at the disruption.

Teru cleared his throat, bending down to retrieve it with a sheepish smile.

After a beat of awkward silence, the lecture resumed.

Mio and Teru turned their heads toward each other in sync.

“Did you know that you’re, like, super annoying?” Mio whispered, tapping a pencil on her desk in a quick, angry rhythm.

“I wouldn’t have to be so annoying if you’d just talk to me!” Teru bit out, “You know what you’re doing!”

Mio scoffed. “Have you ever considered that you deserve it?”

Teru felt his jaw go slack, dumbfounded. “To have you spread rumors about shit that never happened? No! I’ve never thought that I deserved that!”

“Well, consider that as a possibility.” Mio leaned forward on her elbows, seemingly done with the short confrontation.

Teru felt himself slouch back in his chair, letting the steam pour out of his ears silently.

They keep to themselves for the rest of the period until the bell rings and Mio pops out of her seat to stamp on Teru’s bag before bolting out of the room. Any hope of the situation being handled civilly flees Teru’s body as he brushes the dust off it.

“Alright day?” Rei settles onto Teru’s bed, stealing a decorative pillow to sit up against.

Teru huffs, throwing himself next to her as the bed squeaks under him, “Ugh! Pretty much the opposite.” He began a long groan of displeasure, muffled against his blanket.

Rei rolls her eyes, pulling her knees up to her chin before patting his back.

“Mio?”

Teru nods his head into his bed.

He turns over and stares up at the ceiling, letting his hands flail around animatedly as he speaks, “It’s just not fair! Like, the day started out great. Today was mine and Kageyama’s first day of our plan, and it actually went pretty well. I was really professional and put together about the whole thing, but he was pretty nervous. I was totally guiding him and telling him what to do. I actually think I kind of enjoyed it. It was nice to spend some time with him, even if it was technically for nefarious purposes. I dunno, it was just really sweet. He’s one of my best friends, you know? I don’t get to see him this often usually, so this whole situation is good for one thing at least.” There’s a beat of silence before, “Wait, what was I talking about?”

Rei snickers into her hand, petting Teru’s mop of blonde hair with the other. “You know, you shouldn’t let Mio ruin your whole day if you had such a good time this morning.”

Teru sighs, deflating as he lets the tension leave his shoulders. “You’re right. I don’t know why I’m even concerned about what she says to me now. We have this plan set up for a reason.”

Rei nods matter-of-factly before asking, “Anything else happen?”

Teru lets his diaphragm fill up with air as he remembers Ritsu’s message. He fishes his phone out of his back pocket to check if he had followed up at all. 

Nothing. Just a little read checkmark. Somehow that’s even scarier.

“Ritsu messaged me, asking if something happened between Kageyama and I. I don’t know what happened to make him catch on so quickly!”

Rei smiles at Ritsu’s name being mentioned, “You know how those two are! They’re pretty close nowadays. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mob let something slip about it.”

Teru’s face pales at the idea.

“Ah!” Rei waves her hands, “but that doesn’t mean that’s what actually happened! Ritsu probably would have killed you or something by now if he knew, right? Ha… ha…” her face loses its smile as she meets Teru’s terrified eyes.

“Rei! That’s not comforting at all!” Teru sees stars at the edges of his vision as he digs the heel of his palm into his eye.

“Well,” Rei crosses her arms defiantly, “I never said I was good at comforting you, did I?”

Teru smiles as he looks over at her smirk, quickly smacking it off her face with a tasseled pillow.