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Kenma adjusted the red parasol so that no part of his body was exposed to the sun. It was still sweltering hot. He wasn’t sure when he had agreed to go to the beach, but apparently he had, in a moment of weakness. He vaguely remembered Kuroo entering his bedroom - without knocking as usual - to force him to eat watermelon and drink water. Apparently the whole beach idea was Bokuto’s - and he’d brought a volleyball. Clearly, Kenma had been tricked.
Summer did not agree with Kenma. Or rather, summer did not agree with Kenma’s body. Summer definitely agreed with Kuroo though (and his body). Kenma was happy to see him running around with an energy that rivaled even Bokuto’s. Kuroo didn’t even burn in the sun; he just magically tanned if you looked away for a few seconds.
After a while, Akaashi joined him in the shade. Kenma alternated his attention between the game and keeping up with Kuroo’s antics. Kenma suspected Akaashi was mainly observing Bokuto.
—oOo—
Akaashi was mainly watching Bokuto. However, he felt he could hardly be blamed for doing so. First of all, he was used to watching Bokuto and he didn’t get to do that as often as he’d like these days. Being a third year, studying for entrance exams and keeping up with being volleyball captain took almost all of his time and energy. Kenma was in the same boat. This was just one day of break and doing something different, but the setting made it feel almost like a full vacation.
Watching Bokuto running around in swim trunks, trying to dunk Kuroo, was also quite entertaining. It came with added bonuses. 1) Bokuto’s hair down (he supposed Kuroo-san’s hair was also down, but that was probably more of interest to the boy next to him. Personally, Akaashi thought Kuroo-san resembled a wet cat.) 2) legs without compression socks (Akaashi refused to label it a fetish) and 3) wet gleaming torsos (hey, he was only human).
It was so nice to spend the day like this and escape the stress. He wondered if Kenma had received his admission letter yet. His own had arrived only yesterday and it had taken all he had not to immediately tell everyone. After working hard for so long it was a relief to have succeeded.
He would tell Bokuto later tonight. He wondered how he would react.
—oOo—
“‘Kaashi! Come and play volleyball with us!” Bokuto yelled, waving at him. “Kenma! You too!”
“No way,” Kenma muttered.
Akaashi huffed a laugh and went to join Bokuto. He was standing next to Kuroo who was holding a ball and talking animatedly with two strangers.
“We’re doing a 3 on 3,” Kuroo said gleefully. “Takashi here is with you and Yun is with me and Kenma.”
Akaashi nodded in greeting to the two guys. They appeared reasonably fit, but not professional players, and had likely just asked Kuroo and Bokuto on a whim.
“I don’t think Kenma is very keen on leaving his spot,” Akaashi said, gesturing to the parasol where Kenma was indeed still hiding.
Kuroo glanced at the sun.
“It’s still a bit hot, but I’ll convince him. You guys can set up the court; I’ll be right back.”
—oOo—
“Do you think it’ll work Akaashi?”
“It’s a 3 on 3 and he wouldn’t want Kuroo-san to be sad, so he’ll feign extreme reluctance, demand future treats and then give in. Your plan is solid,” Akaashi added, so Bokuto would stop fretting.
“Which one is Kenma?” Takashi asked.
“The blond boy over there,” Akaashi pointed.
“Oho? Cute, but kinda short? Is he any good?”
“He’s brilliant,” Bokuto said with conviction. “And he’s not that short. He’s probably a bit taller than Yun.”
—oOo—
Kenma glared up at Kuroo’s hopeful face.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“I’ll buy you ice cream.”
“You’ll do that anyway.”
“I’ll play games with you later.”
“You’ll do that anyway.”
“But I really want to play volleyball with you,” Kuroo pouted. “It’s been so long.”
It had been a while, Kenma realized. He’d missed it too, not that he planned on telling Kuroo that.
“I guess…” Kenma sighed eventually, getting to his feet, ignoring Kuroo’s victory dance. .
“You can’t play like that,” Kuroo said, eyeing his shirt. “It’ll be way too warm”.
“I’ll burn,” Kenma protested.
“We’ll put on sunscreen. Strip.”
Kenma reluctantly removed his shirt and turned around so Kuroo could put sunscreen on his back and shoulders.
“Let me just fix your ponytail first,” Kuroo said, pulling it out of its band and carding through the tresses before he managed to secure it.
“Passable,” Kenma said, not unkindly, while trying to apply sun lotion over his arms.
“I’ll need to practise. I’m not used to your hair being this long.”
Kuroo bent down in front of Kenma’s face. Kenma blinked.
“You have to even it out on your nose.”
Kuroo carefully applied more cream on Kenma’s nose and cheekbones.
“You’ve got freckles,” Kuroo smiled.
Kenma felt his face heat up.
“Shut up.”
“It’s cute.”
“You’re embarrassing.”
“You love me.”
“Kuroo! Stop fondling Kenma and get over here so I can beat your ass!” Bokuto yelled.
Kuroo glared back, slightly red in the face.
“Prepare to get beaten to a pulp!”
“Bring it!”
Kuroo slung an arm over Kenma’s shoulder and led him towards the court.
“3 on 3 then,” Kenma mused. “Who do we get?”
“We get Yun here,” Kuroo gestured towards a guy who reminded Kenma of a slightly taller Shibayama.
“Any intel on your friend that we can use?”
“Well, he’s decent at receiving, but not very fast.”
Kenma nodded.
“Let’s make him run.”
—oOo—
“Nekos 15, owls 13!” Kuroo yelled gleefully, even as Bokuto let out a loud yell of disappointment. In true Nekoma fashion, they’d taken set 2 and 3 after the owls won the first.
“You work well together,” Yun remarked, still panting hard after the workout.
“We were on the same team in high school,” Kuroo said proudly. “I still play, but in college.”
“What about you?”
“I still play too,” Kenma replied. “3rd year.”
“Kenma, you’re the team captain,” Kuroo complained. “Don’t be so modest.”
“That’s so cool! Where are you going for college?”
Kuroo swallowed. Kenma claimed to have applied to several places and that he’d let him know the results, but he hadn’t said anything yet, even though Kuroo had heard several others getting their letters already.
“Todai,” Kenma said softly, glancing at Kuroo’s stunned face.
“Aaah, you’ll get to play together again!” Yun said.
“Yeah maybe,” Kenma said, as there was no reason to explain to Yun that Kenma would most certainly not be playing college volleyball.
Kuroo still looked stunned, but a small smile was beginning to show and it wasn’t long until it was a full-fledged grin.
“Kuroo! Kenma! Let’s swim and then go eat!” Bokuto yelled. “Takashi here says they have a train to catch.”
“You look creepy,” Kenma told Kuroo under his breath. “Stop that.”
“Hey, I'm allowed to be happy,” Kuroo protested as they waved goodbye to their temporary teammates. “I miss you, you know.”
“...I miss you too.”
“What was that?”
“You heard me.”
“I did. Are you going to swim with me or do I have to bribe you again?”
“I’m sweaty, so I guess I can at least give it a minute.”
“It was fun though, wasn’t it?”
“I am never playing beach volleyball again.”
“Never say never Kenma-kun,” Kuroo sing-songed, even as they strolled towards the water to join Bokuto and Akaashi.
Kenma supposed the hand-holding was really to make sure he didn’t run back to the parasol, but he couldn’t help that it felt like a cliché beach promenade.
(He was secretly glad that Bokuto was taking a lot of pictures. He hoped one of them captured the way Kuroo was gazing down at him right now, though he was not likely to forget it anytime soon.)
—oOo—