Work Text:
It was official.
Kageyama Tobio was going to be the death of him.
He might as well start picking out his casket and what outfit he wanted to wear for the funeral because there was absolutely no way he was making it out of this alive.
At least he lived a somewhat decent life.
Granted, his dad was never around and the closest thing he had to a positive male role model lied to him for years just to align with the idolized version that six year old Tsukishima created in his head. Then there's the fact that he consistently overthinks things and has a self esteem lower than Hinata's height and then there's...damn, Tsukishima's life was sad. He hoped that Yamaguchi made his life at least sound appealing in his obituary.
"I know that face," Yamaguchi said suddenly, stopping in his tracks.
Speak of the devil.
"That's your 'I'm planning my funeral, thought about my obituary, and realized how sad my life is' face."
Tsukishima wrinkled his nose, "I don't think I like how well you know me," he replied. "Nor do I like the implication that I've done this enough times for you to distinguish when I'm doing it."
Yamaguchi raises an eyebrow at him, "Not sure if you know this but you literally start planning your own funeral every time you-know-who does literally anything."
"Not true."
"Last week you started planning your funeral just because he sat next to you at lunch and so happened to bump your knee," Yamaguchi said.
...
Tsukishima stopped and stared at his best friend. "...You're not allowed to write my obituary anymore."
Yamaguchi shrugged, "that's for the best. I totally would've wrote: 'Tsukishima Kei: Japan's biggest yearning loser.'"
"You know, I wish you were still a timid little kid sometimes," Tsukishima said as he shook his head and put a hand on his chest. "You're so mean to me now."
Yamaguchi side eyed him, "you know what? How about we change that to just 'Japan's biggest loser' since the loser part seems to be completely unrelated to your yearning tendencies."
"I hope your crush rejects you."
Yamaguchi rolled his eyes, "spoken like a true loser."
"Die."
"Whatever," Yamaguchi said. "Seriously though, it is literally just a festival. And you won't be with him alone, the whole team's going."
"Easy for you to say, your crush is in an entire different jurisdiction," Tsukishima muttered.
"It's not easy, it's literally the truth. The likelihood of you two ending up alone is one out of twelve teammates," Yamaguchi reasoned.
Tsukishima thought for a moment, "I suppose you're right."
"What do you mean? I'm always right."
"Now you're starting to sound like Hinata," Tsukishima said, slowing down as they came to the split in the road where they always departed.
"Yeah...heard it as soon as I said it," Yamaguchi said, shaking his head. The two laughed briefly before Yamaguchi spoke again. "For real, though, don't think about it too much. If something happens, it just happens."
"I won't," Tsukishima assured, "think about it too much, I mean."
Yamaguchi grinned, "good! See you tomorrow morning!"
"See you tomorrow morning," Tsukishima repeated.
--
"Kei?" His mother called.
"Hm?"
"Since you're going to the New Years' Festival tomorrow, are you going to need your kimono? I'll need to wash it if so," his mom replied.
"Well, I don't need it but I'm pretty sure mostly everyone is going to wear one so yeah, probably," Tsukishima answered.
"Alright! I'll get it in the wash!" his mom said excitedly. "Oh, it's been a while since you wore it but I'm sure you'll look just as handsome! Who knows? Maybe you'll even get a compliment from that boy you like!"
Tsukishima turned beet red, "mom!" he yelled. "How do you even know about that?"
"Well, Akiteru was passing by your room one day while Tadashi was over and happened to overhear your conversation about this boy you seemed infatuated with! Naturally, upon hearing that you had a crush, Akiteru came and told me as soon as he could," his mom explained.
Tsukishima grit his teeth, he was going to kill both of them. Yamaguchi and Akiteru, not his mother. He liked her too much to do that.
"Well, I'd better get things cleaned up," his mom announced. "Make sure you get to bed on time."
"Yeah, yeah."
--
Tsukishima barely slept a wink.
Surprising--he knows. It wasn't even his fault this time--his brain kept picturing Kageyama in his kimono and making up stupid scenarios about what could happen at this festival all on its own! He definitely didn't entertain it by thinking about how some of them could actually happen. Pfft, why would he do that? Heh...whaaat?
Ahem, anyways...
The lack of sleep was doing nothing good for his frayed nerves. If anything, it only made them worst.
Tsukishima groaned and rubbed his eyes.
"Rough night?" Akiteru asked as he walked over to the counter Tsukishima was sitting at and placed a cup of tea in front of him.
"Shut up. I'm mad at you," Tsukishima replied but took the tea anyway.
"What for? I thought we were finally getting closer after everything!" Akiteru said, feigning hurt.
Tsukishima paused before he took a sip to glare at him, "you told mom I had a crush."
"Oh, yeah...that," Akiteru said as he wisely took a step back. "You do though, don't you?"
"You--" Tsukishima huffed. "No, I don't."
Akiteru raised an eyebrow, "are you sure? 'Cause--"
"Akiteru."
Akiteru raised his hands in mock surrender, "Okay, okay! I'm sorry!"
Tsukishima took a long sip of his tea. Today was going to be a long day.
"Oh, yeah--you're going to the festival later tonight, right?" Akiteru asked suddenly. "What'cha planning to do until then?"
"Tadashi's making me go to the library with him at 9 and then we're going to lunch at 12 with the rest of the first years," Tsukishima answered as he sloshed around the tea in his cup.
"The library? For..." Akiteru thought for a moment. "Three-ish hours? Isn't that a bit long?"
"Not for two book nerds with poor time-management skills when it comes to their interests," Tsukishima replied dryly.
Akiteru snorted, "runs in the family."
Tsukishima furrowed his eyebrow, "Tadashi's not--" he shook his head, "you know what? Nevermind."
"What? That boy has been with you since you were kids, he might as well be your brother," Akiteru insisted.
"Opposed to you? I'd rather he was."
"Ouch." Akiteru deadpanned. "If I didn't know damn well you aren't being serious, that might've actually hurt."
"Who said I wasn't being serious?"
"Your right eye twitched as you said it," Akiteru answered immediately. "Which tends to happen when you're uncomfortable, lying, or not being serious."
"Or flustered," their mother added as she walked in.
"It does not."
"It just did again," their mother pointed out. "Don't lie to your mother, Kei."
"Yeah, don't lie to your mother, Kei," Akiteru teased, narrowly avoiding the pen Tsukishima threw at him with a squeak.
"Don't throw things, Kei." Their mother said exasperatedly. "And Akiteru, act your age."
"Yeah, act your age, Akiteru," Tsukishima mocked.
"Ah-Ah, both of you." Their mother said, pointing at both of them respectively before heading to the fridge.
"Sorry mom." Both boys said.
Tsukishima checked the time on his phone and swore. "It's almost 9, I gotta go."
"Here--take a muffin," His mom said as she handed him a blueberry muffin--did everything have to remind Tsukshima of him? "And watch your language."
"Right, sorry," Tsukishima said as he went over to the door, put on his shoes, and headed out.
--
"Good morning, Tsukki!" Yamaguchi said as he joined him at the entrance of the library. He then winced, "rough night?"
"You can tell?" Tsukishima asked as they started walking in.
"Visually? No. But you're drag-assing more than usual," Yamaguchi answered honestly.
"More than usual?" Tsukishima put a hand on his chest. "You wound me, Tadashi."
"No, we are not starting this again." Yamaguchi warned as they entered. He pointed at the ground, "We meet back here at 11."
"Yeah, yeah. You don't have to tell me every time," Tsukishima said as waved him off.
"Good."
--
Tsukishima was passing the traditional literature section, about to head to check out, when he saw him.
Crouched between the Traditional Literature and Lifestyle section, poking around at both shelves, was Tsukishima's current nuisance and nightmare--a very familiar raven with blue eyes: Kageyama Tobio.
What was he doing here? As far as Tsukishima knew, he didn't even know how to read!
The raven must've sensed his eyes on him because he looked up, both boys immediately flinched when they made eye contact. They held it long enough for Tsukishima to start feeling hot in the face.
Kageyama was the one to break it, seeming as the books in his hand tumbled to the floor. Tsukishima barely got a glimpse of several "How to" covers before he scrambled to pick them up. That seemed enough to snap the raven out of whatever standstill they'd been stuck in and he ran off to check out.
Tsukishima stayed standing in the same spot for a moment. Whether it was to give Kageyama time to leave (he didn't quite fancy the awkwardness of standing behind him in line) or out of shock, Tsukishima wasn't sure.
He only snapped out of it when Yamaguchi came looking for him.
"Tsuki, what did we agree on--" His best friend then stopped upon seeing his face. "You good? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Did you know King could read?"
Yamaguchi blinked. Once, twice. "Yes...?" He answered, confusion and hesitance in his tone. "I would hope he could."
"No, like, willing read." Tsukishima elaborated. "Like, a book?"
"Are you okay Tsukki?" Yamaguchi asked, concern seeping into his tone. Tsukishima wasn't sure if he'd rather it was genuine or not. "Do you need to lay down?"
"No--I'm fine!" Tsukishima said immediately, swatting away his best friend's hand when he tried to touch his forehead. "I'm not sick!"
"Why are you acting so weird then?" Yamaguchi asked.
"Kin--you know what? Forget it," Tsukishima sighed. "Let's just go to checkout."
"Okay..."
--
"Hey, we're right on time!" Yamaguchi said as he pushed open the doors of the cafe.
"For once." Tsukishima snorted as he followed.
"We've been on time before," Yamaguchi argued--his eyes scanning the room as he looked for a familiar head of orange hair.
"Not when we go to the library."
Yamaguchi paused, "are we lame nerds?"
"Nerds? Yes. Lame?" Tsukishima pretended to think for a second. "Well, I'm not lame."
"But you are a loser." Yamaguchi snarked as he started walking again.
"I am not a--"
"GUYS!!" A familiar voice shouted from across the cafe. "OVER HERE!!"
Tsukishima and Yamaguchi walked over and sure enough, there were the wonder duo themselves: Kageyama and Hinata. Hinata was standing, half on the ground, half on his chair, and Kageyama was...glaring out the window?
"Sit here, Better-yama!" Hinata said as he pulled out the chair across from him. Which left Tsukishima...
...right across Kageyama. Great. Just the person he wanted to see.
Tsukishima sighed and sat down in the seat, decidedly keeping his feet under his chair.
Kageyama glanced at him briefly, opening his mouth to say something before he shut his mouth immediately and looked away.
What is his problem? Tsukishima thought. He's acting like I caught him doing something inappropriate.
"-yama? BAKAYAMA!" Hinata shouted in the raven's ear, making him flinch and whirl around.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT YOU IDIOT?!" Kageyama shouted.
"The waiter will be over here in a minute, what are you going to eat?" Hinata asked, unperturbed by his shouting.
"Curry, obviously." Kageyama replied. "It's what I get every time."
"Yes, yes, we're well aware curry is one of your safe foods," Hinata teased.
"THE FUCK'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?"
Tsukishima sighed and picked up a menu as the wonder duo kept fighting, why was he even here?
Because you're a lonely loser and when they sent your precious King to ask you, you couldn't say no, his brain supplied.
Shut up, he told his brain.
"Are you gonna keep sighing dramatically or are you going to pick something?" Yamaguchi asked, unimpressed.
"Shut up. I'm getting the strawberry shortcake," Tsukishima replied.
Kageyama paused in his rant about god knows what and turned towards him. "We're gonna be walking around a lot later, you need to eat more than that."
Really? Those were his first words to him today? "What?" He crossed his arms. "Are you my mom now?"
Kageyama prickled, "no! I was just saying--"
"There's going to be food at the festival, I can eat there."
"What if they have food you don't like? Then what?" Kageyama asked. "You gonna starve the whole night?"
Tsukishima clicked his tongue. Dammit--he had a good point. "Fine. Whatever. I'll get a sandwich. Happy now?"
Kageyama nodded, satisfied. "Yes, very much."
"You irritate me so bad," Tsukishima said through gritted teeth. God, I wanna kiss him so bad.
"Likewise," Kageyama replied before turning back to his argument with Hinata.
Tsukishima caught his best friend's eye and raised an eyebrow, "what?"
Yamaguchi stared at him, "In the nicest way possible, that was the gayest shit I've ever seen."
"Oh shut up."
--
Their food came thirty-ish minutes later and they spent the next couple of hours talking and goofing off.
Around 2:30-ish, Kageyama checked his watch.
"Shit," he swore, "I've gotta go."
"Huh? We're not meeting up at the festival until four, where are you going?" Hinata asked.
Kageyama froze halfway out his seat, "uhm...I've got a thing?"
"What kind of thing?" Tsukishima asked because that's how he was. Plus, Kageyama was so clearly lying.
"Just...a thing. With my sister--" Tsukishima could practically see the lie formulating in his brain. "--she wants to style my hair for the festival. She told me to come back home by 2:30 so I'm already late."
"Right..."
"Well, bye Kags!" Yamaguchi said. Hinata said the same.
"Bye you two," Kageyama said as he stood fully and gave a little bow. He then turned to Tsukishima. "You're not gonna tell me bye too?"
Tsukishima scoffed, "nope." Then, "...bye."
"Bye, Tsukki," Kageyama said as he turned and left.
Yamaguchi side eyed him before leaning over and whispering, "loser."
"Shut it."
"...am I missing something?" Hinata asked.
"No." Both boys said at the same time.
"Okay...?"
--
An hour and so later and Tsukishima was dressing in his kimono--a light yellow one with white accents--and combing his hair (for no particular reason of course...).
His mother knocked on his door a moment later.
"Come in," Tsukishima said as he fussed with his hair.
Tsukishima's mother opened the door and gasped. "Oh, dear! You look amazing in your kimono, Kei!"
Tsukishima flushed, "it's the same kimono I've worn for the past two years."
"Maybe but you still look so handsome!" His mother said. She then hummed in thought before reaching into her pocket. "Come here."
Tsukishima hesitated for a moment before he turned and walked over.
"Bend down," His mother said. Once he did, she pushed something into his hair--pinning back his bangs.
"What'd you put into my hair?" Tsukishima asked as he turned back around to look at his hair. It was--
A moon hair clip.
Specifically, it was the one he thought he'd lost when he was a kid. "Where'd you--?"
"Between the couch cushions," his mom answered. "Which is interesting because I swear I've told your brother a million times to clean them out since you lost it."
Tsukishima snorted, "sounds about right. Thanks mom."
His mom smiled sweetly, "anytime sweetie."
She turned to leave and then paused, "oh! Have fun at the festival!"
Tsukishima smiled, "of course."
--
"Tsukki--hey! You don't look like shit for once!" Were Yamaguchi's first words upon seeing him.
"You're being so mean to me lately," Tsukishima commented as he fell into step next to his best friend. "Did I do something?"
"Nope. I'm just being as mean as you are gay," Yamaguchi answered. "And since you're being extra gay lately, I'm being extra mean."
"So you're being homophobic?"
"Tsukki, we were literally each other's first kiss. Don't even start," Yamaguchi deadpanned.
"Stop. Do not remind me of that," Tsukishima said with a nasty grimace.
Yamaguchi scoffed, "what are you trying to say?"
"That I'd rather kiss a dog on the lips before I kiss you anywhere again."
"Rude!"
--
They managed to arrive a few minutes early.
Most of the team was already there...and crowding around Kageyama?
"Wonder what that's about," Yamaguchi wondered out loud.
As if sensing their presence, Hinata turned, gasped, and immediately bounded over. "GUYS!!"
Tsukishima winced at his volume, "do you have a volume button on that empty head of yours?"
"GASP--TSUKKI!" Hinata shouted. "No, wait--you're trying to ragebait me and it won't work!"
"Right."
"Shh! You two need to see Bakayama!!" Hinata said as he bounced up and down on his heels. "He looks so pretty!!"
He always looks pretty, Tsukishima thinks and immediately curses himself for it. "I doubt it, I mean, with a scowl like his? Please."
"Don't be mean!" Hinata said as Yamaguchi gave him 'now you know damn well...' type look. (Tadashi was well aware of what he thought about Kageyama's scowl).
"Just come see him!" Hinata said as he took both their hands and dragged them over. He then pointed at the raven, "Look! Look! Look!"
Tsukishima wretched his hand away from the ginger as his eyes found the raven. Kageyama's back was to Tsukishima but he could see his bangs were pinned back and he had a flower pin in his hair but--
Kageyama turned and Tsukishima's breath caught.
Makeup.
Kageyama Tobio was wearing makeup.
His eyes were winged in traditional eye shadow, red blush adorned his cheeks, and--was he wearing lip gloss? dear god--the only thing that strayed from tradition was the the color--he'd went for blue instead of red--of his eye shadow and lip gloss.
He looked beautiful. He was wearing a midnight blue kimono and the blue eye shadow he was wearing brought out his eyes, the blush made a warm contrast to his pale foundation and, god, the lip gloss? Finished the look perfectly. Tsukishima was sure if he was some romance anime protagonist, his nose would be gushing blood at the sight.
Fortunately, he wasn't a romance anime protagonist. Unfortunately...
"Dude, fix your fucking face!" Yamaguchi hissed in his ear, "you're blushing like crazy!"
...He blushed really fucking easily.
Kageyama flinched upon seeing them before he started heading over to the three of them cautiously.
"Hey--"
"You wear makeup?" Tsukishima asked instinctively.
"Hello to you too," Kageyama snarked. "And my sister did it to me--she needed a live model to practice on for her own look."
His face was neutral but something in his tone made Tsukishima waver--was he lying? What about?
Tsukishima didn't get to dwell on it for much longer because Daichi was clapping his hands for their attention before he could.
"Alright, we're going to go about today responsibly so we're gonna stick together and if any of you want to go somewhere else, you're gonna buddy up," Daichi explained. "If no one wants to buddy up, just find me and I'll come with you. Understood?"
"Understood!" The boys confirmed.
"Great," Daichi responded. "What first?"
"CARNIVAL GAMES!" Noya, Hinata, and Tanaka shouted immediately.
"Okay, any objections?" Silence. "None? Carnival games it is then."
"YEAH!!"
--
"These things are so rigged!" Hinata shouted in exasperation after he lost another 400 yen to some random toy shotgun minigame.
"Of course they are. It's not like these things are famous for being just that or anything," Tsukishima remarked sarcastically.
"Shut up!" Hinata snapped.
Tsukishima ignored him as his eyes drifted back to a familiar raven for the thousand time that night. He was also attempting the same minigame Hinata had but he was entirely more focused than the ginger was.
BANG!
The cans cluttered to the ground, one after the other.
Tsukishima smirked, "well, look at that. Perhaps it's not rigged at all, you just suck."
Hinata bristled, "you try it then!"
"No thanks. I'd rather not waste my money on games I know I can't win," Tsukishima replied.
"Then you admit--"
"WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP?!" Kageyama snapped as he readied his toy shotgun. "I'm trying to focus over here!"
"You're so right, of course, so sorry your majesty," Tsukishima snarked but it lacked it's usual bite.
Kageyama rolled his eyes but didn't comment further, instead pulling the trigger.
BANG!
Once again, all the cans cluttered to the ground.
"Congratulations, you win." The worker said, uninterested. "Pick a prize."
"But I still have a bullet--"
The worker glared, "I said you win--" he took the shotgun from him, "--pick any prize."
Kageyama's eye twitched before his jaw clenched, "YOU--"
Yamaguchi and Hinata immediately intervened, Yamaguchi grabbing Kageyama around his chest and Hinata grabbing his arms as he continued to struggle against them.
"Kageyama, please calm down--" Yamaguchi said as Hinata said, "think about your makeup! You don't want to smudge all of your sister's hard work, do you?!"
"Don't tell me what to--" Something caught Kageyama's eye and he suddenly stopped struggling. "Let me go."
Hinata and Yamaguchi exchanged a glance, hesitating.
"I SAID LET ME GO!"
The two immediately did just that. "Right." "Sorry, Bakayama."
"I want that one," Kageyama told the worker as he pointed at a blue and black dinosaur plush on the top shelf.
The worker blinked and looked at the plush. "Okay."
He handed Kageyama the plush.
Kageyama gave a slight bow as he took it, "thank you."
Then, to the other three, "let's go find Daichi. I've gotta take a massive shit."
--
"Daichi."
Daichi turned, "oh, hey Kageyama--" he paused. "--why is Yamaguchi in tears?"
Kageyama glanced at the green haired boy who was--barely--holding back his laughter and was leaking tears from the effort. "Fuck if I know."
Daichi sighed. "What did you need?"
"I gotta go to the bathroom," Kageyama answered.
Daichi nodded, "Figures. Find a buddy--"
"Tsukki."
"Huh?"
"Tsukki." Kageyama pointed at the blonde, "I wanna go with Tsukki."
"Okay..?" Daichi said, though it sounded more like a question. "Go with Tsukishima then, I guess?"
"K. Bye."
--
"Tsukki."
Tsukishima flinched and then proceeded to pretend he didn't as he turned around. "What?"
"Daichi says come to bathroom with me," Kageyama said.
"Why me?" Tsukishima asked, irritation slipping into his tone. One out of twelve chance, huh?
"Because." Kageyama told him like it was an explanation. "Now come on."
"Tch. Whatever."
--
As they walked to the bathrooms, Tsukishima's eyes kept drifting to Kageyama. He couldn't help it, he looked so pretty. Sure, he's thought Kageyama was pretty before but today? God.
It was so hard to put into words but it was like...like he was ethereal--something to be admired and looked at. Strangely, that made him even harder for Tsukishima to keep his eyes on for more than a few seconds.
"Wait here," Kageyama told him as they reached the bathrooms. He then shoved the dinosaur plush in his hands into Tsukishima's, "And hold this."
"Yes, your majesty," Tsukishima said with an eye roll. As Kageyama left, Tsukishima turned his attention to the plush. It was fairly big but not one of those huge life sized ones. It looked pretty cute. And no, that was not a biased opinion because Tsukishima liked dinosaurs nor because he found the owner of said plush cute.
Definitely not.
With it's...big blue body and raven black spikes...
Okay...maybe there was a little bias.
Kageyama returned 30-ish minutes later.
"Okay, I'm back," he said as he held his hands out for the plush.
Tsukishima narrowed his eyes at him, "did you wash your hands?"
Kageyama blinked, "HAH?!" He shouted. "OF COURSE I DID!"
"Why don't I believe you?"
"They are literally still wet!" Kageyama argued as he held his hands up. They were, in fact, still soaked.
"And why exactly are they still wet?" Tsukishima asked.
"There were no paper towels," Kageyama answered. "And unless you want me to use your kimono as one, it'll stay that way now give it."
Tsukishima hesitated--he may have only had the damn thing for 30-ish minutes but he's grown kinda fond of it. Nevertheless, he sighed and held it out for the raven to take. "Here."
Kageyama stared at him for a moment before looking away. "Tch. Keep it."
Huh?
"Keep it?" Tsukishima echoed. "Why--?"
"You like dinosaurs, don't you?" Kageyama interrupted. "I don't. It'll be in better care with you."
"Wow, leaving the menial task of care for the peasant, huh?" Tsukishima snarked. Oh my god, I could kiss him right now.
"Shut it. I could tell you wanted it," Kageyama threw over his shoulder as he turned and started walking. "And I decided to give it to you."
Tsukishima blinked. He really hoped his face wasn't red as it felt.
--
They were heading back to the others. Emphasis on were.
Kageyama saw a takoyaki stand, got reminded of how hungry he was, and dragged them over there. And then they went to another stand...and then another and then Kageyama got them lost.
"This is all your fault," Tsukishima accused.
"My fault?!" Kageyama said, "you were the one who wanted to go that taiyaki stand so far out of way!"
Okay, so it might've been Tsukishima's fault.
"Unimportant, we're still lost," Tsukishima said as he pulled out his phone. "I'm gonna call Tadashi."
"You do that," Kageyama said as he leaned against a vacant stand--probably sold out for the day--and Tsukishima stepped away to call his best friend.
When he returned, he was frowning.
"No luck?" Kageyama asked.
"Nope. Tadashi's not answering and his location is off," Tsukishima replied. "I don't suppose you have anyone's location?"
"Nope."
"Looks like we're gonna have to find our way back on our own," Tsukishima said with a sigh.
"Looks like it."
They started walking again, passing by stalls of games and food. At some point, Kageyama ended up walking behind Tsukishima before he fully stopped walking.
"Tsukki?"
Tsukishima stopped walking and turned around. "What?"
"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked.
Tsukishima blinked. "What are you talking about? I'm literally walking and talking with you."
"Yes, but you're standing at a distance and you're not even looking at me," Kageyama pointed out. He looked...nervous.
He noticed that? Tsukishima thought as he swallowed thickly.
"Is it because..."
Tsukishima could feel himself start sweating.
"...you think boys shouldn't wear makeup?"
Tsukishima gaped. What? "No?" Then, more firmly, "No. Why would I--? No. What the hell made you think that?"
Kageyama's ears turned red, "well, you won't look at me! Forgive me for assuming it's because you think I'm disgusting!"
"That's not why I won't look at you, you idiot!" Tsukishima spat. "God, the exact opposite."
"'The exact opposite'? What--" Kageyama blinked, realization dawning on his features.
Fuck.
"King--"
"Do you think I'm pretty, Tsukki?" Kageyama asked, a rare undercut of smugness in his tone.
"No, shut up," Tsukishima said immediately as he looked away, his face steadily turning red.
"Yes, you do--you fucking liar!" Kageyama accused. "Your eye just twitched!"
Does everyone know his fucking tell? "Shut up!"
Kageyama crossed the distance between them and poked him in the chest, "you didn't deny lying--so you do think I'm pretty?"
Tsukishima hesitated before sighing heavily, crumbling under Kageyama's gaze. "Fine. Yes, I do. Happy?"
Kageyama nodded and was about to step back before he looked back at Tsukishima. "Can I tell you something?"
"Depends..." Tsukishima began, trying to ignore how fast his heart was beating, "are you confessing to murder?"
"No, not yet," Kageyama deadpanned. "I did it."
"...the murder?"
"The mur--no, my makeup!" Kageyama snapped.
"My bad, I got distracted by your...everything--" Tsukishima blinked. "Sorry, did you just say you did your own makeup?"
"Yes," Kageyama confirmed. "I've been learning for a few months now and I wanted to try my hand at the traditional festival makeup."
"Huh." Realization hit Tsukishima. "Is that why you were in the library earlier today? Trying to learn how to do it?"
"Yep."
"Why did you run away?" Tsukishima asked. "Matter of fact, why'd you lie earlier?"
"I was...afraid you might judge me," Kageyama responded.
"The hell do you care what I think?"
"You're smart. Think about it," Kageyama said.
Think about it...?
After a moment of silence, Kageyama scoffed.
"God. I like you, you dense idiot."
"I'm dense? That's rich coming from you--" Tsukishima blinked. "Wait--"
"Yes, I like you romantically," Kageyama confirmed. "And as of, about thirty seconds ago, I know you like me romantically too."
The raven took a step closer. And then another. And another until they were practically sharing breath.
Heat crawled up Tsukishima's neck and he was sure his brain had checked out long ago because there was no way this was real--
"Can I kiss you?" Kageyama asked.
"It's may I--"
Kageyama rolled his eyes, "come here, smartass." With that, Kageyama cupped Tsukishima's cheek and leaned in, connecting their lips.
His lips were warm against Tsukishima's and he could taste the taiyaki had earlier and something almost salty Tsukishima couldn't quite put his finger on and it was borderline intoxicating the way Kageyama tasted--so intoxicating, Tsukishima almost forgot to kiss back. Almost.
He dropped his recently acquired bag--the dinosaur plush stored safely inside it--and braced his hands on the other's shoulders and kissed him back. Kageyama hummed deep in his throat, tilted his head, and deepened the kiss in response. A strangled noise escaped Tsukishima's throat and Kageyama took the opportunity to slip his tongue in his mouth, making Tsukishima's grip on his shoulders tighten.
Their tongues tangled together as their mouths moved together in a way that was making Tsukishima feel dizzy as fireworks exploded behind his eyelids--or maybe it was the actual fireworks? Tsukishima wasn't sure.
Kageyama's free hand found Tsukishima's waist, pulling them closer, and Tsukishima was sure his brain was positively mush then and there was nothing else he wanted to be doing right now--
"I think I see them over there!
Typical.
They pulled apart, a string of saliva the only thing connecting them before it broke too. Tsukishima wiped his mouth out of instinct and it came back blue.
"Fuck," He swore as he pulled out of Kageyama's grasp. He'd forgotten he was wearing makeup. "Is there any more lip gloss on my face?"
Kageyama looked up from the foldable handheld mirror in his hand, which he was using to fix his lip gloss, and looked him dead in his eyes, "nope."
Still slightly dazed from kiss, Tsukishima (foolishly) believed him. "Okay."
"Bakayama!! Where'd you you two go?! We were looking for you everywhere!!" Hinata said as he practically tackled Kageyama.
Yamaguchi chuckled as he came into view, "Yeah, we were afraid you'd murdered each other--" he paused upon seeing his best friend's face. "Tsukki? Can I see you really quickly?"
"Sure, Tadashi."
"Just...over here for a sec?" Yamaguchi said as he pointed off to the side.
Once over there, he immediately pulled Tsukishima in by the arm. "Did something happen between you two?"
"No?" Tsukishima lied, totally inconspicuously.
"Right," Yamaguchi said, unconvinced. "And that lip gloss smudged across your lips came from a snow cone."
Tsukishima glared. "That fucking liar."
Yamaguchi sighed, "just--come here."
"I'm already 'here', you pulled me 'here', remember?" Tsukishima snarked.
"Shut up. You're lucky I didn't let you walk around here like a fool," Yamaguchi replied as he wiped Tsukishima's mouth with a handkerchief. "And if you're going to be lie, at least try not to be obvious."
"You better not lie either then," Tsukishima remarked. At the confusion on his best friend's face, he elaborated. "You think I can't see that hair pin with the dog charm tucked into your obi?"
Yamaguchi froze before he slowly removed both his hands from Tsukishima. "...I may have ended up seeing my crush after all."
Tsukishima raised an eyebrow, "and?"
"And I have a boyfriend now," Yamaguchi replied. "And you?"
"I'm sure I'd also have a boyfriend if you and the ginger hadn't interrupted," Tsukishima complained half-heartedly.
"Right. Well, the rest of the team is waiting for us on the hill. They're about to set off the second round of fireworks," Yamaguchi informed him. "Ask him then."
"Sure."
--
They arrived to the hill just as they readied the second round of fireworks.
Tsukishima found a blanket laid out by their teammates and sat on it, Kageyama sat next to him--much to the suspicious/confused looks of their teammates (sans Yamaguchi)--the blue dinosaur between them.
"Hey, I didn't notice before but you have a moon hair clip in your hair," Kageyama pointed out. "It's pretty."
"It's just a moon clip," Tsukishima protested (albeit weakly) but blushed nevertheless.
Silence fell between them and Tsukishima thought about how to broach the impending subject when Kageyama beat him to the punch.
"Kei?"
Tsukishima flinched--not used to hearing his name on the raven's lips--before he settled back down. "Yeah?"
Kageyama tilted his head, making Tsukishima meet his eyes, "will you be my boyfriend?"
"Damn, you beat me to it," Tsukishima sighed. "But yes...I guess I will."
"You guess?" Kageyama repeated. "You seemed pretty eager earlier."
"Oh my god--shut up!" Tsukishima hissed as he pushed Kageyama away playfully.
Kageyama laughed and his smile was crooked and weird and so pretty in its imperfection, Tsukishima couldn't help but laugh too. Only once their laughter died down did Tsukishima speak.
"Ki--Tobio," Tsukishima corrected himself, "may I kiss you?"
Kageyama smirked, "you may."
They leaned in again and kissed--right as the clock struck 12.
Tsukishima would be starting the new year off with a kiss from the love of his life.
What a great way to start the year.