Part 1: Acquaintances

All-Japan Youth Training Camp, Tokyo, 2012

Mask securely on, Kiyoomi adorned his face with his usual scowl, hoping his expression would be readable even with his mouth and nose covered. Kiyoomi knew he belonged here, he wasn’t immune to the sense of pride he carried with his top-three title in the country. Still, he wasn’t an egotistical asshole that was going to waltz into the Japan National Training Facility like he owned the place. 

After his encounter with a first year setter just outside the gym, Kiyoomi sighed, wracking his brain to figure out where he knew the name Kageyama Tobio from. The thought was quickly forgotten as he mentally prepared himself to run into some egotistical assholes who were going to act like they were the greatest thing the Japanese National facility had ever seen. There were sure to be some, and Kiyoomi was not excited to spend the next week with them.

Kiyoomi’s cousin had also been invited to the All-Japan Youth Camp, but due to schedule conflicts, Motoya couldn’t accompany Kiyoomi to the gym and would be arriving later. This was a blessing and a curse as Kiyoomi now had no one to hide behind when trying to avoid social interactions, yet Motoya was typically the one to put the two of them into those situations in the first place. The libero was friendly and attracted people, he had a natural charm that earned him friends wherever he went, even within rival teams.

Wearing a mask everywhere you go earns you odd looks and prodding questions Kiyoomi would rather not deal with. However, he would take the stupid questions over having to be in a room with strangers who carried who knows what kinds of germs with no protection and not a single clue of their personal hygiene habits any day. Most people assume Kiyoomi is the one not feeling well, and as much as Kiyoomi would like to bite back and argue that “no, I’m not sick, you are the one unclean (probably),” these assumptions led to most people keeping their distance, just as he liked it. Key word: most .

The position crowned to house the most obnoxious volleyball players, in Kiyoomi’s humble opinion, is setter. It’s not necessarily a surprise, considering being the team’s control tower is a definition of the position, yet Kiyoomi is unpleasantly reminded every time he runs into another setter that assumes themselves to be in charge. Being a known top-three hitter within the high school volleyball scene seems to attract setters to Kiyoomi’s side like a moth to a flame. Players that want to be able to brag they set a toss to and had certain temporary reign and control over someone with such an impressive title. Kiyoomi wishes he could somehow set tosses to himself to spike, but he knows it to be impossible. He did try though, and Motoya caught him once and hasn’t let Kiyoomi live it down.

“Did you seriously just-” Motoya clutched his stomach as he wheezed, shaking with laughter and lack of oxygen intake. “Are you for real trying to set the ball to yourself ??”

In Kiyoomi’s defense, he thought he could run and jump faster than he was actually capable. So yes, he did try to throw the ball from one end of the net to a point right above the middle, thinking he could run and hit the ball over before it fell too far. Of course, naturally, by the time he got himself below the ball it had already fallen too far, so he proceeded to pelt it straight into the net. Much to Kiyoomi’s horror, Motoya had chosen that exact moment to come fetch him from the gym. He isn’t sure if it was for better or worse that his cousin was the one to witness the whole ordeal rather than one of their other teammates.

It shouldn’t have thrown Kiyoomi so off course when he walked into the gym and saw none other than the second-year setter from Inarizaki, yet Kiyoomi froze in his tracks when he spotted that head of ( way too yellow-toned) blonde hair across the court. Miya Atsumu was, unfortunately, a really good player, so Kiyoomi supposes he should have guessed beforehand Miya would be in attendance of this prestigious camp.

As the camp came to a close, it was evident Kiyoomi originally judged Miya Atsumu too harshly. Kiyoomi would rather die than admit this discovery out loud of course, but he did acknowledge it in his head. Miya’s sets were precise and easy to hit, as were Kageyama’s, but Miya had a more effortless way about him. While Kageyama operated like a machine, Miya was achingly human in the way he moved and reacted to different plays. He was still obnoxious like Kiyoomi remembered from playing his team earlier in the season and winning against them, but he wasn’t so unreachable like Kiyoomi once thought him to be.

Miya acknowledged and apologized for his mistakes, and even asked for constant feedback from his hitters. The majority of his sets were flawless, and Miya even said so out loud often, but he knew when to take fault. Miya was also observant. He caught on quickly to how each of the hitters played and moved across the court, subtly keeping a close eye on their conditions and setting less to anyone who was growing weary and less accurate as they aimed their spikes.

Considering how Kiyoomi felt towards being social and being near people he wasn’t aware of, or being near people in general for that matter, it wasn’t a surprise that he and Miya didn’t talk all that much off the court during the week of the camp. This was exactly the reason Kiyoomi was stunned when Miya walked over to him as everyone was saying their goodbyes, and extended his hand towards Kiyoomi, pinky halfway outstretched.

“Uhh…” Kiyoomi looked at the setter's hand in confusion. “Can I help you?”

“Don’t look so offended that I would have the nerve to approach ya,” Miya replied.

“I didn’t even imply anything of the sort,” Kiyoomi retorted back.

“I can see the face yer makin’ under that mask Sakusa,” Miya gave him a level glare and kept his hand out between the two. “A promise,” he finished like the words made any sense out of context.

“A pinky promise? Are we five years old, Miya?” Kiyoomi asked as he glared back.

“Acquaintances. It’s acknowledging we know each other so ya won’t be all awkward like we haven’t met before, next time,” Miya said, holding his hand higher in emphasis.

Kiyoomi glowered at the thought of touching the other man’s hand, and the way his eyebrows scrunched in was obvious.

“Ah, geez, ya don’t have ta touch me, that’s why I’m not extending my pinky all the way, obviously,” Miya spoke up again due to the lack of acknowledgement.

Kiyoomi sighed, loudly, and held up his hand to be beside Miya’s, pinky outstretched halfway.

Miya gave him a self-satisfied grin as he repeated the word from earlier.

“Acquaintances, Sakusa?”

“If we must,” Kiyoomi replied in an annoyed tone.

“Acquaintances and nothing less,” Miya claimed as he put his hand back down by his side.

“What would ‘less’ even mean?” Kiyoomi entertained the setter for some reason.

“Strangers, probably,” Miya answered easily.

Part 2: Rivals

High School Nationals, Tokyo, 2013

The next time the two met was on the court in their third year. Both teams, naturally, had made it to nationals once again and managed to be in the same block. Both teams had already been in the tournament for a couple matches and were now facing off once again. Itachiyama and Inarizaki had rivaled each other before, but this time was different. This would be one of the team’s final high school matches for their third years, so the stakes were that much higher to Kiyoomi and Miya. It was known that Miya had a career in volleyball lined up for him after high school, and Kiyoomi wanted to argue he himself did as well. However, it was more complicated than that as he had every intention to still attend college and spent many sleepless nights stressing about what exactly his future would look like. Kiyoomi wanted to pursue volleyball and had plenty of offers, but he couldn’t help overthinking: “What if something went wrong and I got injured badly enough I’d have to retire early? Where would that leave me?” so Kiyoomi decided to pursue a college degree first.

The whistle blew and the two teams lined up facing each other with the net between them. Kiyoomi initially didn’t spare a glance up towards whatever Inarizaki player was adjacent to him, but when a halfway outstretched pinky moved towards him, Kiyoomi looked up to meet the setters eyes and consciously tried to control his face since he wasn’t hidden behind a mask this time.

“Sakusa,” Miya acknowledged him with a grin that spoke volumes of ‘I’m gonna beat you this time.’

“Miya,” Kiyoomi replied back.

“Rivals?” Miya held his hand a little higher.

“Obviously, Miya, there’s a net between us,” Kiyoomi feigned his usual annoyed tone yet there was little bite behind it.

“Well, yeah, but we’ve faced each other before and didn’t acknowledge it, so I am this time,” Miya said in a snarky tone. “Rivals, and nothing less.”

Kiyoomi rolled his eyes but held up his hand next to Miya’s like last time.

“Are rivals a step up from acquaintances?” Kiyoomi asked in a mock, interested tone.

“Acquaintances don't really account for a future, while rivals have an underlying promise of seeing each other again,” Miya replied with a saddened expression.

“Don’t go getting all sappy cause it’s our third year,” Kiyoomi tried to lighten the mood. “I won’t go easy on you out of pity, just cause this is our last match in high school. For one of us, at least,” Kiyoomi added at the end in a more bitter tone than he meant to let out.

“Yer gonna keep playing though, right?” Miya asked, hopeful.

“Eventually, yeah,” Kiyoomi didn’t elaborate.

Just as Miya was about to ask Kiyoomi what his words meant, the whistle blew for the starters to get in their positions so the match could start.

Part 3: Teammates

MSBY Black Jackals Gym, Osaka, 2018

The sounds of sneakers squeaking across the vulcanized rubber floor and volleyball’s being hit reverberated around the gym, loud enough Kiyoomi could hear it as he skulked towards the open doors. Kiyoomi was excited, of course, he had been working towards this for years and was finally part of a professional team. However, he did know the current MSBY players roster, and he was certainly in for pure chaos and nauseating headaches this season.

Hoping for a quiet introduction to the team was foolish, Kiyoomi learned, as soon as he moved the net covering the doorway to enter since none other than Bokuto Koutarou just happened to be on the bench taking a water break at that exact moment. Bokuto didn’t even opt for any words as an introduction, he simply looked up at Kiyoomi wide-eyed, almost choked on his water, then pointed and let out a loud sound in acknowledgement and shock, rivaling the sound of the Itachiyama high school fire alarm.

“Bo! I faltered my set just now cause of you, what are ya-” Miya spoke in a slightly raised voice but cut himself off as he met eyes with Kiyoomi.

“Why are you guys acting like you’ve seen a ghost?” Shugo Meian, the team captain, spoke up from beside Miya, where he had been prepared to hit the setters toss until Miya botched it and threw it way past Meian instead.

“I told you all a month ago Sakusa would be starting today,” Coach Foster walked over to the team from where he was on a different bench on the far side of the court.

“Well, yeah, but practice was going on as normal and I don’t really pay attention to the date unless we have a game coming up,” Bokuto admitted.

“You all know each other from high school, right?” another player Kiyoomi recognized to be the libero, Shion Inunaki, asked towards Miya mostly, who was still frozen in front of the net.

“Yeah! We were both in the top five of wing spikers in high school,” Bokuto bragged as he stood from the bench and made his way over to where the team had started to crowd Kiyoomi. Although, everyone seemed to have understood quite quickly how Kiyoomi was, as they all kept more distance than Kiyoomi suspected they would typically think twice about.

“Wasn’t Sakusa in the top three though?” Inunaki asked with the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.

Bokuto pouted and went to retort but didn’t seem to find the words as he opened and then promptly closed his mouth.

“Okay!” Meian said as he clapped his hands once in order to get everyone’s attention. “Let’s all do some quick introductions, shall we?”

Inunaki managed to drag Miya over to the rest of the team as they formed a more proper half circle in front of Coach Foster and Meian, who were on either side of Kiyoomi.

Meian looked at Kiyoomi expectantly, and Kiyoomi was grateful to have put his mask on before he entered the gym earlier. The mask was for sanitary purposes, but it had the added bonus of helping him feel more secure and less exposed.

“Umm, so,” Kiyoomi looked at the ground and cursed himself for being so awkward as he tried to figure out what to say. He hyped himself up internally and did his best to lift his head and look at his new teammates as he spoke, meeting eyes with Miya in the process. It was oddly reassuring as Miya had broken out of his trance from earlier and offered a light and encouraging smile, so Kiyoomi was able to finish his introduction without any more hesitation.

Meian thanked Kiyoomi and offered him a “welcome to the team!” once he finished speaking. There wasn’t much to do other than change and simply join practice, as the paperwork had been taken care of two weeks prior in which Kiyoomi met Coach Foster and Meian for the first time in person in the gym office during a rest day for the team. Meian broke them off and Kiyoomi bowed before he was led to the locker room by Oriver Barnes, an opposite hitter not unlike himself.

Barnes introduced himself more formally on the way to the locker room yet didn’t extend his hand in greeting like Kiyoomi did his best to mentally prepare for. Kiyoomi learned why later on, as Barnes gave him a brief tour of the facility after he changed.

“This hallway leads back to the office, which I’m sure you know since you had to come in and do your paperwork I assume,” Barnes guided Kiyoomi around the facility at a somewhat awkward distance beside him.

“Sorry, you’re… a little far away and it’s hard to hear you,” Kiyoomi spoke sheepishly.

“Ah, I apologize, I wasn’t sure how close would be too close for you, since Atsumu let us all know beforehand you’re uncomfortable with touching and being too near to people,” Barnes rubbed at his neck awkwardly.

“Oh,” Kiyoomi said, almost dumbstruck. “Is that why you all stood so far away and didn’t try to shake my hand?” The thought occurred to Kiyoomi as the two kept walking, now on the very edge along the inside of the gym. The two were walking a little closer now that Kiyoomi reassured Barnes it was ok.

“Yeah, Atsumu told us it’d be best to give you your space and not direct our handshakes or anything like that towards you. The kid is observant, I’ve noticed since he joined MSBY, I bet you never even told him what made you uncomfortable but he just… knew,” Barnes looked at Kiyoomi thoughtfully.

“You’d be right about that,” Kiyoomi admitted. “I never told him yet he was so cautious around me in high school. I assumed my cousin had told him or something, but Motoya said he didn’t.” Kiyoomi thought back to high school and how Atsumu never tried to get too close or touch him, even when he offered friendly gestures towards other players casually, he opted to just send a smile and a thumbs-up Kiyoomi’s way.

It wasn’t long after that Barnes went back to practice and Kiyoomi went off to one side of the gym to stretch before he joined himself. Kiyoomi worked out daily and still played volleyball in college, but he wasn’t as consistent as he was in high school. His muscles were stiffer than usual and Kiyoomi psyched himself out about the condition of his shoulders, although that wasn’t anything new.

Kiyoomi stepped up to the court a few minutes later and Atsumu immediately gave him a shit-eating grin from where he stood by the net. Kiyoomi knew that look, so he prepared himself to run and hit the toss Atsumu was about to set to him with no words spoken. Atsumu grabbed a ball from the cart beside him and Kiyoomi raised his eyebrows at the setter in challenge. Next thing Kiyoomi knew he was receiving the ball and making sure it went right back to Atsumu so he could set it up well, Kiyoomi running the length of the court as soon as the ball was in the air and glancing between Atsumu and the positioning he was wanting to reach at the net.

The set went up flawlessly, per usual, and Kiyoomi scoffed before he slammed it down on the other side of the net.

“Aww, and here I thought you might be rusty so I could make fun of ya,” Atsumu whined.

“I thought you said anyone who couldn’t hit your tosses was a lousy player,” Kiyoomi replied.

“Confident, are we?” Atsumu teased further.

“I was scouted for a V League team wasn’t I?” Kiyoomi replied in a snarky tone this time.

“Speaking of…” Atsumu said, now walking towards Kiyoomi. Kiyoomi tilted his head in confusion and waited for Atsumu to finish what he was saying.

Atsumu held his hand out in front of him and outstretched his pinky halfway, giving Kiyoomi an expectant look. Kiyoomi rolled his eyes but held his hand up in the same gesture anyways.

“Teammates,” Atsumu declared.

“Just my luck,” Kiyoomi said with less of an annoyed tone than Atsumu expected.

“Teammates and nothing less,” Atsumu said confidently.

“I guess I can share a side of the net with you,” Kiyoomi entertained him.

Also, when exactly did Miya turn into Atsumu , for Kiyoomi?

Part 4: Friends

MSBY Black Jackals vs. Schweiden Adlers, Sendai, 2019

It may not have been Kiyoomi that guaranteed his team's victory by scoring the final point in their fifth set, but the excitement and pride he felt wasn’t diminished by this fact. Kiyoomi was, if anything, proud that it was Hinata to have received that final toss from Atsumu to ensure their victory against the Schweiden Adlers. A victory, for Hinata, that finalized a promise he made to his long-term rival, friend, and partner, Kageyama Tobio. 

Hinata celebrated by giving hugs to his own teammates before meeting Kageyama on the sidelines and hugging him as well. Kageyama wore a smile Kiyoomi didn’t think the setter was capable of, especially after losing a game. Still, Kiyoomi had heard enough about the relationship between the high school teammates since Hinata joined MSBY, so he supposes it wasn’t completely out of left field that the Adlers setter was capable of such emotions considering the context.

The rest of the MSBY team met them on the court in celebration and they all nodded towards Kiyoomi in acknowledgement as they exchanged more high-fives and hugs amongst themselves. When the crowd was finally beginning to quiet down, Atsumu made his way over to Kiyoomi where he stood not far from the net.

Atsumu hadn’t even raised his hand in the gesture Kiyoomi knew all too well at this point before Kiyoomi gave him a prodding glance and spoke.

“What is it this time?” Kiyoomi asked, and Atsumu nearly flinched as Kiyoomi seemingly read his mind.

“Friends,” Atsumu said, raising his pinky towards Kiyoomi.

Now, Kiyoomi, albeit never out loud, would argue that he and Atsumu have been friends for a while now. They spend nearly every day together and Atsumu is less obnoxious than he was in high school. Kiyoomi often found himself enjoying being in Atsumu’s presence and even went so far as to seek out his company during their days off.

“Friends,” Kiyoomi agreed, less reluctantly than Atsumu expected for some reason.

“Friends and nothing less,” Atsumu gave a smug grin and nodded his head.

“Whatever you say, Miya,” Kiyoomi said as he reached his hand towards Atsumu’s and properly intertwined their pinky’s this time. Atsumu may have been Atsumu , in Kiyoomi’s head, but he wasn’t about to call him that out loud just yet.

Atsumu practically shut down as his whole body went rigid over the contact. Kiyoomi just tilted his head at him as if he wasn’t honestly expecting such a reaction.

“Miya?” Kiyoomi tried to get his attention as they kept their fingers intertwined between them.

“No fair!!” Hinata came shouting back over to their side of the court. “Omi you don’t even let me give you high-five’s,” he pouted, “but you let Tsum-Tsum hold your hand??”

“We are not holding hands,” Kiyoomi scoffed, feigning a disgusted tone as he gently pulled away from Atsumu.

“Boys!” Coach Foster shouted towards them on the court. “Line up! We have to give our post-game bows.”

As the team lined up on the edge of the court, Kiyoomi was in between Atsumu and Hinata. Atsumu leaned forward slightly to acknowledge Hinata for a moment and spoke up.

“Are ya and Tobio a secret or somethin’ Shoyo?” Atsumu asked. “I figured ya’d kiss him or whatever after that.”

“ What?? ” Hinata whisper-shouted at the setter, and it was practically in Kiyoomi’s ear despite their height difference. “Why would I kiss Kageyama??” Hinata was red in the face at the notion.

At this point Bokuto, Atsumu, and Kiyoomi all tilted their heads in sync with the confusion they shared.

“Man, I totally would have kissed Keiji if he had been able to come down to the side of the court,” Bokuto sighed from beside them.

“You and Akaashi are together so that makes sense, but I’m still confused!!” Hinata was practically jumping up and down due to the whirlwind of emotions he was experiencing.

“Uh, Shoyo?” Inunaki joined in the conversation since the entire side of the gym they stood on could probably hear them anyways. “I thought you and Kageyama were together ? Like, since high school?”

Hinata melted to the floor with his head in his hands and tips of his ears bright red. He mumbled words none of them could make out. Soon, someone from beside them was heard clearing their throat loudly and somehow with a tone of impatience. The boys looked up from where Hinata was on the floor to see Meian giving them all an unimpressed look.

The team was quick to straighten themselves out just before the whistle blew, indicating both teams to bow to each other and then turn around to acknowledge and thank the crowd. It was obvious Hinata was still spiraling, so eventually Barnes took matters into his own hands and offered a comforting hand on the wing spikers back and talked to him in a low enough tone no one else could hear them. Kiyoomi could guess what it was about when just a few seconds later Hinata suddenly puffed out his chest in confidence and nodded towards Barnes.

After a quick meeting on the sidelines with their coaches, Coach Foster and Coach Suzaku met in the middle and shook hands before they proceeded to talk to the rival team. Coach Suzaku scanned over the MSBY team with prodding eyes and landed on Hinata before he spoke.

“You must be Hinata Shoyo,” Coach Suzaku said with a prodding look.

“Um,” Hinata hesitated, not understanding what was happening but nervous nonetheless, “I am, sir,” he opted for a simple reply.

“Congratulations on your victory,” Coach Suzaku continued, supposedly acknowledging everyone but still focused on Hinata.

Coach Suzaku continued to praise the team on specific plays and offer advice for ones that could have gone better. He said he looked forward to his team playing against theirs again and knows how many of the players between the two are old high school teammates and rivals. Coach Suzaku left the team off with a final congratulations, and then gestured for Hinata to follow him, making the wing spiker once again nervous and confused.

Atsumu, being the nosy bastard he was, suddenly appeared beside Kiyoomi and watched the other side of the court to see what exactly was going on. He whispered something to Kiyoomi that he couldn’t quite make out, so Kiyoomi leaned closer to him, causing Atsumu to falter for a second.

“What did you say?” Kiyoomi asked.

“I, uh… just that Coach Suzaku must know somethin’ about those two,” Atsumu answered. “He’s probably tired of hearin’ Tobio talk about ‘im and is takin’ matters into his own hands,” Atsumu lightly laughed.

Hinata was talking to Kageyama, Ushijima, and Hoshiumi when Kiyoomi glanced back towards them. It was reasonable to guess the three of them, or, mostly Hoshiumi, probably whined at their coach to let them have a chance to properly talk before they all had to pack up and head out. Both teams were lodging nearby and were given a free day tomorrow, so Kiyoomi didn’t understand why they couldn’t just wait until then, but he supposes the reunion was long overdue and anticipated.

Part 5: Partners

Japan v. Argentina, 2021 Olympics

Officially becoming friends with Atsumu led to a natural progression over the years that somehow entailed him and Kiyoomi practically living together with how much they were in each other’s spaces. When Kiyoomi learned he truly did not hate Miya Atsumu and didn’t even mind the thought of touching him, he knew he was screwed. Since their pinky promise was made, properly, about two years ago, Kiyoomi brought it upon himself to theorize and test what exactly he could handle when it came to physical touch with another person.

First, Kiyoomi just simply decreased the proximity in which he stood next to Atsumu on a daily basis. This was easy, and casual, and hopefully not embarrassingly obvious since Atsumu was a gossip and often went to whisper things to Kiyoomi anyways. Contrary to popular belief, Atsumu could be quiet when he needed to be, so Kiyoomi brushed off his advances as simply not being able to hear Atsumu unless he was entirely too close to him, to the point where Atsumu’s breath could be felt on the shell of Kiyoomi’s ear.

Second, whenever the two were inevitably spending their free time together in one of their apartments, Kiyoomi sat close enough to where some part of him was always brushing up next to Atsumu. Both Kiyoomi and Atsumu alike couldn’t seem to sit normally, so their legs were always all the way up on the couch in a criss-cross position. They were both tall, so Kiyoomi hoped Atsumu didn’t suspect anything when he rested his knee on top of Atsumu’s as they sat and talked, or watched one of the shows they started together.

Third, at practice and during matches, Kiyoomi would sometimes initiate the gestures the rest of the team had already been well versed to, such as pats on the back and high fives. Of course, Kiyoomi still only did these things with Atsumu, much to Bokuto and Hinata’s distress. While the two did whine at Kiyoomi, they never pried as to why Atsumu was the only one receiving his so-called affections, but Kiyoomi knew the two were suspicious, along with other members of the team. “Whatever,” Kiyoomi thought, they can think what they want since Kiyoomi himself wasn’t entirely sure what this newfound part of him and Atsumu’s relationship entailed.

It was weird, Kiyoomi realized one day, how Atsumu never asked what exactly had gotten into Kiyoomi and what the affection and extended time spent together meant. It may have been wishful thinking, but Kiyoomi decided to conclude that Atsumu enjoyed it, not wanting to push his luck and have everything stop if he asked questions.

When the Olympics roster released what was now almost a year ago, Kiyoomi decided this was his chance. Him and Atsumu had been at a push and pull for what felt like ages now, and Kiyoomi wasn’t about to ignore the feelings he only recently came to terms with, as much as he almost wanted to. 

“If we win,” Kiyoomi thought to himself, “I’ll tell him how I feel.”

Kiyoomi almost felt sick at how cheesy the notion was, yet he was more tired of whatever game he and Atsumu had been playing. Even Kageyama got his shit together two years ago and finally confessed to Hinata before the wing spiker had a chance.

The MSBY and Adlers teams decided to all meet up at an izakaya after their game to celebrate the reunion of old high school teammates and rivals alike. Snacks and alcohol were shared amongst the lively chatter and the proximity in which Kageyama and Hinata sat mirrored the way Kiyoomi was practically clinging on to Atsumu for dear life, seeking comfort in such a crowded and loud space. The difference was the way the setter and wing spiker were enjoying themselves, laughing entirely too much at the littlest things, despite both being completely sober. Still, Kiyoomi noticed another detail not unlike him and Atsumu, and that was the way the two looked at each other.

It was a miracle Kiyoomi even heard the words Kageyama sputtered out of nowhere, and way louder than he needed to out of nervousness, what with the way he was hanging onto every word Atsumu said beside him, even if the words weren’t directed towards him. With such an abrupt statement however, Kiyoomi supposes it would have been impossible to miss.

“I think I’m in love with you,” Kageyama said out of seemingly nowhere, and the bar went silent as the words echoed through the tobacco hazy air.

Hinata was stunned into uncommon silence for just a moment before he burst into laughter and slapped the setter's shoulder out of what Kiyoomi could only assume was disbelief.

“You think ??” Hinata teased a now wide-eyed and red-faced Kageyama.

The two bickered like usual after that, a declaration of wins and losses between the two, because of course even this, was a competition to them.

Kiyoomi recalls Atsumu looking between the two with soft affection and, what may have been wishful thinking, but slight jealousy and determination before his gaze lingered back to Kiyoomi beside him. Kiyoomi raised his eyebrows in question before Atsumu leaned closer to his ear.

“Wanna head back?” he asked Kiyoomi, knowingly.

Kiyoomi just nodded in response before they stood and gave their goodbyes, opting to walk to the hotel both teams were lodged at just a few blocks away.

It would be Kiyoomi’s luck that he and Atsumu were always roomed together for away games. It turns out the Olympics were no different, as the thin metal bedframes and no better than cardboard mattresses lay on opposite sides of a small room, the two boys unpacking their stuff into the shared dresser that sat against the far wall in the middle. Kiyoomi’s promise to himself lingered in the back of his mind, making him act uncharacteristically awkward for how comfortable he was around Miya Atsumu after all these years. Kiyoomi almost convinced himself he was more nervous about the potential confession than playing in the Olympics . A ridiculous thought, really.

So, Japan may not have won, but Kiyoomi had hyped himself up way too much to not go through with his plan. Him and Atsumu had shared way too many late night conversations and evenings spent flush against each other watching movies on one of their laptops in the entirely too-small-for-olympic-athlete beds for Kiyoomi to not just end his own suffering no matter which direction his confession took them.

Besides, looking at the gleaming smile on his setter’s face despite their loss, (after he decided to get up in Oikawa Tooru’s face after the match, “all in good fun and sportsmanship,” Atsumu had argued), it was impossible for Kiyoomi to keep in everything he felt at the moment. He had made it to the olympic stage, win or lose, and he did it beside Atsumu. A notion his high school self would have hated, calling Atsumu his setter, teammate, and even friend, was no longer enough. Those words didn’t encapsulate them anymore, they had grown out of those labels.

“Atsumu?” Kiyoomi walked up to the setter and regarded him almost in a whisper, a volume only the two of them could hear over the chaos erupting in the gym after such a game.

Atsumu looked towards Kiyoomi and gave one of the brightest smiles he usually saved for winning a particularly rough set.

Kiyoomi extended his arm and held up his pinky between them. Atsumu tilted his head in confusion for a moment before opting to seal the promise anyways.

“What could we possibly be now, Omi?” Atsumu asked.

“Partners?” Kiyoomi opted for the term and begged to the gods Atsumu would know what he meant. He could, of course, use a much cheesier and more direct term, but he would rather give a long-winded explanation as to how he found himself here, with the feelings he held for the last person he expected to, than call Atsumu his ‘lover’ or worse, ‘boyfriend.’

“Partners? ” Atsumu almost laughed and then straightened himself out, knowing what Kiyoomi meant considering the lack of eye-contact and almost-pout on his face. Atsumu wanted to make fun of the term, much preferring something more direct and cheesy like ‘boyfriends’ or ‘lovers’ but he gave Kiyoomi the benefit of the doubt and decided to not take advantage of such a moment he had been (admittedly) waiting for.

“Are you gonna reject me or not?” Kiyoomi eventually asked, now full on pouting and not trying to hide it.

“I’m holdin’ your hand aren’t I?” Atsumu stated with a sassy tone. “And why would I reject ya? I thought ya had more self confidence than that.”

“Just, shut up Miya,” Kiyoomi practically winced at his words, and not out of being flustered, of course not.

“Aw, we’re back to Miya? Wasn’t I Atsumu just a moment ago Omi- OW! ” Atsumu yelped as Kiyoomi pinched his side with his free hand, as his other was still interlocked in a pinky promise.

“Partners and nothing less,” Kiyoomi said the words, trying to feign nonchalance as if he hadn’t bought into the silly gesture and declaration all those years ago.

Met with another blinding smile, Kiyoomi had finally looked up from the part of the gym floor he had become familiar with and felt the grip of their pinky promise tighten, not knowing if it was his doing or Atsumu’s at this point.

Not one to relish in silence like Kiyoomi, Atsumu eventually spoke up again as the two had decided to make their way over to the rest of their team, walking side by side.

“So…” Atsumu trailed off, peeking at Kiyoomi from beside him, head tilted forwards and practically skipping, “are ya gonna kiss me or-”

“No,” Kiyoomi stated firmly.

“Why not??” Atsumu whined. “Shoyo and Tobio kissed!” Atsumu went on as if that meant anything to Kiyoomi.

“Hinata and Kageyama have been together for two years, and their relationship has been public for almost six months now,” Kiyoomi stated matter-of-factly.

“We’ve practically been together that long as well,” Atsumu pouted.

“Where did you get that idea from?” Kiyoomi asked, stopping in his tracks just feet away from where their team stood, “you’re delusional,” he finished saying.

Atsumu scoffed in fake offense but was quick to lighten up when he noticed that Kiyoomi had kept their pinkies intertwined at their sides and showed no signs of wanting to let go.