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“I can't believe you're in France.”
“Koushi, don't be mean, congratulate me on getting in the student exchange !”
They already did, twice – first when Chikara called to tell them in an overexcited hushed voice that he was in the toilets during chem class but had a very important announcement to make, and then when they had a night out with Keiji in order to properly celebrate, so now they have a right to pout about it. But they're two hours into their skype call, Chikara has been showing them the view of Paris out of his window, and they're starting to get hungry, completely legitimate reasons to complain.
“I didn't think I'd see the day where you'd complain about not having enough sugar and tolerating the awful jokes we make about it.”
“I'm just saying it's not fair, Chikara !”
They can hear him huff a laugh in his microphone, and they smile as well – they're whining more for the fun of it than out of actual annoyance, the illusion of a lazy afternoon of playing video games and eating junk food that they haven't done in too long and that feels weird with only the weight of Keiji pressing against their side.
“You don't even know how to speak French, what are you going to do when you enter a bakery ?”
“I'll speak English ? Don't tell me you can speak French, I won't believe you.”
“Rude, Chikara, I've learned several full sentences just in case you said that.”
“You've been spending way too much time with Oikawa again. I'm wounded.”
The speakers crackle, crappy dorm wifi and tired computer telling them they should probably let Chikara go to class – but Koushi doesn't want to, it's so nice talking like this, words a bit slurred, they don't want to move. If they're here for long enough, Keiji might join the call and keep Chikara here for a little bit longer
“I still can't believe you're in France, though.”
“Oh my god, stop it !” Chikara's smile is wide when he says that – Koushi can't see him because the video made everything lag horribly but they're sure of it, they're smiling the same.
“No, but, like, really. You're in France. Actual thousand miles away.”
So far away, so very far away – it's terribly strange that it's daay where Chikara is but Koushi can see the moon from his window, that three dorms away is another person, that Chikara will be back in two months, not a day sooner – suddenly it seems too much.
“Hey. Come see us.”
“I'd love to, Koushi, but my feet are kinda tired. And there's uni in about two hours.”
“I don't care ? I'm serious. Take a plane. Ditch university. And bring cake.”
Chikara sighs, probably runs a hand through his hair and he's going to look dishevelled and if they could Koushi might even kiss him, even though they don't really like doing that.
“I miss you too, Koushi. Oh, wait, Keiji's on, I'll add them to the call.”
There is a moment of silence before the speakers crackle some more and Keiji's voice tiredly says hello. Their eyes are probably even droopier than usual, and Koushi can hear Chikara's breath catch in his throat at how quiet they sound.
“Hey,” Chikara says softly, “how are you ?”
“Koutarou made me wake up at seven to toss to him before classes.”
“Oh my god. This guy is insane, I swear.”
“He says he still likes my tosses best.” The happiness is clear in Keiji's voice. “You all place so much faith in me. Thank you.”
Silence again – they're stunned, Chikara and them, like every time Keiji expresses affection so openly – Koushi feels the distance between the three of them stretch painfully, tug at their heart-
“Koushi.” Chikara's voice is dry, maybe his throat feels tight too. “Koushi, can you ?”
“I'll go, wait a sec.”
They get up too fast, their head is spinning, but Koushi doesn't wait before grabbing their keys and running to Keiji's dorm – their breath is loud, so loud in their ears, and they feel cold without their jacket, Keiji's words ringing in their ears and mingling with Chikara's – Koushi means it when they said they wanted Chikara back now, it's been three weeks and they did worse before, when Koushi was in their first year of university and Chikara and Keiji were still in high school, but they've gotten used to the closeness now – the door is already open, they barge in and crumble on Keiji's knees.
“Welcome back, Koushi.” Keiji managed to turn on the video feed and Koushi can actually see Chikara, crossed leg on the ground, eyes red and smile wobbly. “Can you please hug Keiji and stop crying ?”
“I'm not crying ! I'm – I'm-”
They're maybe crying, all right, a little bit, Keiji's hand soothing through their hair and Chikara still smiling softly.
“I wouldn't mind something sweet right now.”
Chikara laughs, the sound a bit wet, distorted by the computer, and Keiji kisses the top of their head.