Zenya: Huh, what’s with this discrimination? I object!
Makoto: It’s fine! Ah, Youji, you come sit here.
Youji: Ah, all right…
Makoto: Heh, okay, and I’m next to Youji. Come, quickly, sit down, sit down! Shironuma, you can’t come here. And neither can you, Okinaga!
Tetsuo: And why are you the one making all the decisions?
Zenya: Exactly, I also wanna sit next to Youchin-
Makoto: Whatever! I was the one who invited Youji… and besides, you guys decided to follow us without asking!
Zenya: Huh?!
Makoto: At any rate, he’s with me today! Right, Youji?
Youji: I… I don’t really mind being together with the others…
Zenya: See!
Tetsuo: Sakiyama, are you bothered?
Makoto: Aah, god, shut UP! It’s fine, so sit down already! We’re wasting time!
Zenya: I got it, geez. Mako-chan, you spoiled prince.
Makoto: What do you mean “spoiled prince”? It makes no sense.
Zenya: Huh, what is this? You select songs with the remote control?
Makoto: Haah, you really don’t know anything, do you? Youji, what do you wanna drink?
Youji: I think… iced coffee.
Makoto: You, Okinaga?
Zenya: Hmm, I wonder… Then, maybe Moscow Mule.
Makoto: Suddenly, you’re ordering alcohol?! …What about you, Shironuma?
Tetsuo: Iced coffee.
Makoto: Ehhh… haahhh… Then I’ll get iced coffee too! All right then, Okinaga, please order using that phone over there.
Zenya: Eh, you mean this?
Makoto: Yes, that.
Zenya: Hmm, hello? Good afternoon, is this the karaoke?
Makoto: Why are you asking that?! Make the order, the order!
Zenya: I’d like to order, please! Um… one Moscow Mule and… Um… What was it again?
Tetsuo: Three iced coffees.
Zenya: Ah, right. Yes, yes, three iced coffees. Right, yes, thank you! Ahh, that scared me. This is my first time experiencing something like this. Karaoke is amazing!
Makoto: There’s nothing amazing about it! You really are a weirdo… Right, then! Let’s sing, Youji! Here’s the song list. I wonder what you’re gonna sing, Youji!
Youji: Me? Well, let’s see…
Zenya: Let me look at the song list too. Hey, Tecchan, have you been to karaoke before?
Tetsuo: I have.
Zenya: You’re kidding! For real?! By yourself? Or together with someone?!
Tetsuo: I wouldn’t go by myself. I get dragged along.
Youji: Dragged along?
Zenya: Eh, by who? Now I’m curious.
Tetsuo: Doesn’t matter.
Waitress: Pardon me! Sorry for the wait!
Makoto: Ah, two iced coffees here and one over there, the Moscow Mule is there. Thanks!
Waitress: Please have a look at this!¹
Zenya: Hm, the waitress left something.
Makoto: Looks like a flyer or something. What is it, what is it?
Youji: Let’s see… If you get 80 or more points on four of the listed songs you will receive Komanami Academy’s omu yakisoba sub special as a prize. On top of that, the room’s capacity will-²
Makoto: The omu yakisoba sub special?! What’s with that? First time I’m hearing of it! And why do they offer our school’s sandwich? Whatever, fine, I accept the challenge! And I’m gonna win!
Zenya: Really?
Makoto: Damn right! There’s no way I wouldn’t take advantage of such a delicious opportunity! With that said, whoever gets the least amount of points has to treat the others!
Zenya: Huuuh?
Makoto: It’s fine, it’s fine. This is what karaoke is all about, so have fun! Let’s see, are these the songs we have to choose from? Youji, are there any songs you know here?
Youji: Songs I know? Hmm…
Zenya: Mako-chan, what are you gonna sing?
Makoto: I’m selecting one right now, so wait a second. Let’s see… All right, Done!
Zenya: Woah, energetic!
Makoto: All right! The tension is rising! I, Mita Makoto, dedicate this song to Youji, who came here for the first time!
Youji: Makoto…
Zenya: Huh, Mako-chan, what about me?
Makoto: Shut up! I’m singing!
[song ends]
Youji: U-uhh…
Tetsuo: Hm
Makoto: Ahh, that felt amazing! Shouting really is the best! How was my song, Youji?
Youji: Ah… yes, I liked it. It was very energetic.
Makoto: For real?!
Tetsuo: Don’t force yourself, Youji.
Makoto: Huh, what the hell is that supposed to mean, Shironuma?!
Zenya: Mako-chan, my ears hurt.
Makoto: Shaddup! That’s how you’re supposed to sing it! Let’s see, how many points did I get?
Youji: 84 points! That’s really good, right?
Makoto: Aargh, I thought I’d get at least 90!
Zenya: Huh, you still got that much despite singing like this?
Makoto: Singing like what?! Shit, how annoying… Still, it’s over 80 points, so I guess it’s fine. Okay, next! Someone choose a song.
Zenya: Then, let me try. Let’s see… I think I selected one.
Makoto: What is it, what is it? What did you choose? Woah, you chose quite the song!
Zenya: Hehe… heh… Youchin, listen carefully!
Youji: Eh-
Makoto: Hey, Okinaga! That’s vile! Don’t stick out your pinkie! And don’t wink!
[song ends]
Youji: Ahh… amazing…
Zenya: Holy shit! Karaoke is so fun! Hey, Youchin, let’s sing together later.
Makoto: Hey, you… beginners shouldn’t get ahead of themselves!
Zenya: Huh? You’ve been so mean since earlier, Mako-chan. Right, Youchin?
Youji: Right… Ah, the results are being announced. …85 points!
Makoto: How audacious!
Youji: What is?
Makoto: No, well, somehow…
Zenya: What, I beat Mako-chan by one point?
Makoto: What, is that not enough for you?! Well, at least we have the 80 points cleared. Right! Youji’s next! Let’s hear you sing.
Youji: Eh? Me? Is it really okay…
Makoto: It’s fine, it’s fine. Did you choose a song?
Youji: I’m still not sure… I’ll go to the toilet for a bit, I got a little nervous.
Makoto: What kind of nervousness is this…
Zenya: Take care!
Makoto: So…
Zenya: Hm?
Makoto: I’m not really sure if I should be saying this, but… Honestly, do you think Youji can sing?
Zenya: Hmm… I wonder. He really does seem weak under pressure.
Makoto: I know, right? He’s really earnest. But what if he’s actually… Shironuma, what do you think?
Tetsuo: It doesn’t really matter. It’s good enough if he gives it his all.
Makoto: Ugh, that’s right. That’s absolutely right. All right! Let’s get pumped up! No matter what the result is!
Zenya: Right, let’s do that!
Youji: Sorry, I kept you guys waiting.
Makoto: Yo, Youji, let’s choose a song.
Youji: Right, I will.
Makoto: Look, can you sing this one?
Youji: Yeah, I can.
Makoto: Then this song it is! All right, selected!
Zenya: What is it, what is it?
Tetsuo: Ahh…
Zenya: Ooh!
Makoto: Youji, can you do it?
Youji: Probably… I’m a little embarrassed. Sorry, if I mess up.
Makoto: You can do it, Youji!
[song end]
Youji: Ah…
Makoto: Ooh
Zenya: Woah
Makoto: Woah woah!
Zenya: Youchi, you’re so good!
Youji: I uh, I’m sorry.
Makoto: Huh? Why are you apologizing?
Youji: Well, it’s just… somehow…
Makoto: No no no no, and besides, I’m the one who’s sorry, Youji!
Youji: Eh? What for?
Makoto: Ah, well… At any rate, I’m sorry!
Zenya: That’s right, Youchin, you’re the best!
Youji: Oh?
Tetsuo: You’re really good.
Youji: Eh-
Zenya: Let’s see, how many points did you get?
Makoto: 89 points! What a great score!
Zenya: Congratulations!
Youji: Ah… thank god.
Makoto: Holy shit! The tension is rising and we’ve almost cleared the challenge! …and Shironuma goes last, huh?
Tetsuo: What?
Makoto: Don’t “What?” me! Besides, can you even sing?
Tetuo: I can, generally speaking.
Zenya: I can’t imagine Tecchan singing.
Makoto: Me neither, me neither. I can’t imagine it at all!
Youji: Heh… Shironuma, did you select a song already?
Tetsuo: I'll do it now.
Zenya: I wonder what it’s gonna be.
Makoto: Tsk, whatever…
[song ends]
Makoto: Ah- ahhhh…
Zenya: Incredible! Tecchan, you’re amazing!
Youji: Shironuma… 95 points! Amazing… Have you taken singing lessons before?
Tetsuo: Not really…
Makoto: Karaoke is all about the energy! Techniques don’t matter!
Zenya: Eh? Really?
Makoto: Yes, really! Ah, shit! So frustrating!
Zenya: Now, now. But we got more than 80 points on four songs! And… The loser has to treat the others.
Makoto: Hey, now… I’m getting a really bad feeling about this, but… Could it be that, by any chance… I’m the loser?
Zenya: That’s right! You’re the one with the lowest score, Mako-chan!
Makoto: Really?! Are you for real?! Aaah, why did I have to go and say that… Fuck! In that case, I’m gonna keep singing and singing until I’ve cleared every song!³
Zenya: No fair, Mako-chan. I wanna sing as well.
Makoto: Don’t lean on me! Look at your own song list!
Tetsuo: Sakiyama
Youji: Hn?
Tetsuo: Would you like something to drink?
Youji: Ah, thank you… Then, I’d like some oolong tea.
Tetsuo: Got it.
Youji: I was surprised. You’re really good at singing. You’ve probably gone to karaoke quite a few times already.
Tetsuo: Yeah… But it was different now.
Youji: Different how?
Tetsuo: Because while I was singing, I kept thinking… about you.
Youji: Shironuma…
Makoto: Okay okay okay okay, that’s enough of that, both of you! Let’s go! Shironuma, you play the tambourine.
Tetsuo: Ah…
Makoto: Hey, Okinaga! Why are you grabbing the mic?!
Zenya: Zenya is going to sing!
Makoto: Aah! God!
Zenya: Ah, that was fun!
Makoto: Right. It was fun, right.
Zenya: Huh? What? Mako-chan, didn’t you have fun?
Makoto: Is there anything fun after having my wallet completely emptied?
Zenya: But at least you got the Komanami Academy’s omu yakisoba sub special!
Makoto: I can’t do it without any happiness! Well, even so, lots of unusual stuff happened today, huh?
Youji: Unusual?
Makoto: Yeah, for example… how we got to see a different side of one another. Like, say, Shironuma…
Tetsuo: Hm?
Makoto: Your singing… Well, honestly, it surprised me a bit.
Tetsuo: Heeh?
Makoto: Hey- What’s with the chuckle?! I praise you and you do this! So irritating!
Zenya: Irritating, isn’t it?
Makoto: Shut up! You keep your mouth shut!
Youji: Haha
Makoto: Youji, don’t start laughing as well! Say something!
Zenya: Then I’ll say something instead.
Makoto: I wasn’t talking to you!
Zenya: Why? What does that mean, Mako-chan?
Makoto: Exactly as it sounds! I’m not talking to you! Get lost!
Zenya: Even though I’m supporting you!
Makoto: You-⁴
=END=
Footnotes:
¹ She uses a standard Japanese expression, meaning “(Sorry) I’ve bothered you”. English doesn't have that, so it sounds rather unnatural, which is why I left it out.
² Not sure what he’s saying in that last sentence
³ That’s not exactly what he’s saying, I can’t really understand him here, but it’s more or less what it means.
⁴ I can’t hear him well
The songs in order:
The Hunger - Ken1
VLG - Watanabe Kazuhiro
I’m in Blue - Pale Green
Miracles May - Watanabe Kazuhiro
Grind - Watanabe Kazuhiro
!!! The next (and last) track, Track 02, is a song, How - Pale Green
You can listen to it here, there are also lyrics in the description
A really corny, fluffy piece with domestic af Nanami x gn! Reader
No warnings apply
WC: 1k
Send me prompts
“It smells amazing in here.” Kento said first thing as he walked into your home.
“Fresh yakisoba, your favorite.” You replied, smiling at him. Nanami walked over to the kitchen and kissed you passionately.
“Welcome home, baby.” You said against his lips. Kento leaned back in and pressed his lips into yours.
“I missed you.” he said.
"I missed you too. Take a seat, dinner’s almost ready.” You kissed him again briefly and gently pushed him away towards the dining table. You soon joined him at the table with two plates of yakisoba. Nanami had already filled your glasses with wine. "So, how was work?" you asked.
"Pretty dull. Nothing happened today that hasn't happened before."
"I wish we could be on the same schedules again… I know it's just a two hour difference but leaving before you and being home before you feels lonely sometimes." you said.
"I know my love. Me, too. Every morning I just want to tie you to the bed so you can't leave me." Kento replied, making you chuckle.
"I wish I could stay, too. I guess I could talk to my superior and ask if they can match my schedule to yours. My work hours don’t really matter as much as yours do.” you replied thoughtfully.
“You think they’d let you?” Nanami questioned.
“Maybe. Couldn’t hurt to try.” you smiled. The wine was flowing and your food disappeared off your plates pretty quickly.
“You want to watch a movie?” Nanami asked.
“Sure, did you have one in mind?”
"Not really, you choose."
After some suggestions, you settled on John Wick. While it was playing, the pair of you snuggled on the couch.
“I fucking love these films.” you hummed sleepily.
“They’re fantastic.” Nanami agreed. “Would you like some more wine? Or some tea?”
“I might pass out if I have more wine. I could go for some tea.” Nanami’s fingers trailed along your scalp softly, combing through your hair.
“Okay angel, I’ll go make us some tea.”
“Thank you love.” you smiled up at him. He kissed your forehead before gently lifting your head off his lap.
A few minutes later he returned with two cups of steaming hot tea, placing both of them on coasters on the coffee table. You got up to grab one of the cups, but Kento held you back gently.
“Let’s wait a few minutes for it to cool down, I wouldn’t want you to burn your pretty mouth.” he chuckled.
“Mmmmh.” you hummed as Nanami sat down, and laid your head on his lap again.
“Do you want to continue watching the movie?” Kento asked her as he stroked your hair again.
“I’d much rather look at you.” you replied and smiled. “We’ve been together for years and I still can’t get tired of you. I fall in love with you more every day. You’re such an amazing, hard working, gentle, honest and sweet man. I couldn’t have wished for anyone else in this world. You are beyond perfect, and I’m so lucky I spilled my coffee all over you on my first day of work.” you started babbling drowsily. Nanami wholeheartedly chuckled at your words and bent down to kiss you.
“I’m also very happy you ruined my most expensive suit.” he said before pressing his lips into yours.
You yawned and wrapped your arms around his neck.
"I love you."
"I love you too, baby. Let's get to bed."
"Mmmmh but our tea…" you pouted. "I'll bring our tea with us, come on baby." he got up from the couch and held his hand out. You grabbed his hand and got up as well, waddling over to your bedroom. Kento followed closely after, carrying your cups of tea. You were already sprawled across the bed.
"That wine really did a number on you.” Nanami chuckled. “Let’s at least get you undressed.”
“But I’m so comfortable.” you groaned. Kento smiled and crawled on the bed next to you. “Come on baby, arms up.” he laughed and you complied.
Nanami removed your clothing piece by piece, leaving you just in your underwear. He was extremely focused on the task at hand. You laid there looking up at him in adoration. “There.” he smiled and put the duvet over your shivering body.
“Thank you.” you hummed and Kento replied by kissing you gently. “Here’s your tea.” he said after grabbing your cup off his nightstand. You held onto the cup, basking in the warmth of the porcelain and the smell of the black tea. Nanami quickly stripped himself of his clothing and joined his lover underneath the duvet, grabbing his own cup of tea off his nightstand.
You both lay quietly sipping your tea, staring into each other's eyes.
"You're amazing." you told him with a smile.
“You’re drunk.” he replied with a grin plastered on his face.
“Drunk in love.” you said and immediately started laughing, joined in by Kento. “Oh my god. I.. I can’t believe I just… said that!” you stuttered in between laughter.
“Me neither. Never say that again.” Nanami laughed.
“Nghhhh, it’s the wine.” you snickered and put your empty cup on the nightstand.
“Sure, babe.” Kento said sarcastically, earning a weak slap to his arm before you buried your face in his chest, making him laugh even more. “Nice one, babe.” you could just hear him smiling through those words and looked up at him with the meanest expression you could. Nanami smiled and raised a brow at you. “You need to sleep, crazy.”
“You’re not my dad.” you huffed.
“I sure as hell am not. That would make things a little weird, wouldn’t it?” the smirk never left his face.
"Kento… I love you." you breathed and looked into his eyes.
"I love you too, (Y/N). Sleep my dear." you nodded and laid your head back down on his chest. He pulled you as close as you could get and draped an arm across your bare waist, the skin on skin contact being everything he had needed on that night.
He felt safe, and he felt loved. He knew this is where he needed to be, where he was destined to be. Right here, holding onto the one he loved, being closer to them than anyone has ever been, and protecting them from all evil in the world.
blurb: Harry and Model Y/N always record tons of tiktoks together but Y/N never post it. Then on a date night they record a funny tiktok and she accidentaly posts one.
word count: 1.989K
author's note: I received this request and I just wanna say how much I loved it. The concept it's everything so thank you to whoever sent me this and I hope you like it💗💗
here's how the tiktok was like: click here
You and Harry have this tradition of cooking together every Friday night. It was a moment where it was just you and him and no one else doing something you love to do. It’s a time to connect and spend quality time together as a couple and actually, most of the time those cooking nights ends up on a very spicy night, if you know what I mean.
This Friday, you both are currently in Palm Springs. You and Harry decided to rent a house in there, so he didn’t have to drive from LA every morning and this would make things easier. The house itself had a really calming Californian desert vibe, it was really colorful and had a yellow front door that you loved the most. It even made you tell Harry you wanted to dye your front door in LA yellow because it just made the whole place feels happier.
It was already 7:30 pm now and you were sitting on the living room sofa in your gray sweatpants, turtleneck blouse and your damp hair being just showered. Your day was full, you took some photos for Cosmopolitan magazine so there were people putting a lot of makeup on you and touching your hair all day long and honestly, after all these quarantine months you weren’t pretty used to it. Messy hair, no makeup and sweatpants were your daily routine now. So at that moment, an eye mask, comfortable socks, sweatpants and spending time with your favorite man in the world were all you wanted.
You continue to go through the Instagram feed when you hear the sound of keys and then the front door opens. Your eyes met the apparently tired figure of Harry entering through it, you didn't judge him. This man was waking up every day at 5 in the morning and came home around this time, but you knew it was for something good and that he was actually having a great time on set. Your dog, Charlie immediately ran up to Harry, barking a little and basically jumping at the man's feet. Harry smiled tenderly and crouched down to pet the little dog, while you closed your laptop and stood up walking towards your tired boyfriend. He stood up when you approached him trying to smile at you, but you could see in his beautiful green eyes that he was really tired. You smiled at the boy, placing your left hand on his shoulder, approaching to give a peck on his lips and then you ran your hand through his hair, making him sigh with satisfaction at the feeling he loved.
— Hi! — You spoke in a cheerful tone but not so much, it was calm, but he could feel in your voice that you were trying to cheer him up — How was it today? You look tired, my darling.
He then sighed as he put his keys and cellphone on the small table by the door.
— I am! I had so many scenes today, and to make matters worse, I had to redo the same scene about four times! — Harry said, sounding frustrated
— Oh, I'm sorry! — You said, propping up the on wall right behind you and crossing your arms trying to think of some way to make his day better. —
Why don't you take a shower, use the bath bubbles and relax? And I’ll order something for us to eat, anything you want. What do you think? Pizza, Chinese food? Anything you want.
— But today is Friday, we always cook together on Fridays! — Harry argued, frowning at your suggestion. And you actually did, it was probably one of the few things you both did by the beggining of your relationship that became a tradition to you.
— But you're tired, and it can be cool too either way! — You said, placing your hands on his shoulders starting to massage them calmly, then giving a small kiss on the back of Harry’s neck.
— No, no! It’s alright! — Harry said, shrugging you off and starting to walk straight to the bedroom while you followed him thinking what the hell did he wanted to say with that. It’s the confusion for me. He walked into the master suite bathroom starting to take off his shirt. You were surprised by the lack of tattoos, of course you knew they were covering it up for the film but it was really hard to get used to it, when you were so used to seeing his tattoos for almost three years now — I’ll take a relaxing bath and then I’ll be ready so we can cook together and bing watch a show or a movie, okay? — Harry said entering the shower. You really didn’t matter to skip one cooking night, but it was important to Harry, he loved those nights as much as you did and he didn’t want to make you lose a cooking date because of his tiredness. You just agreed with him even though you were not doing it.
So, you just went back to the living room where you took your cell phone on the couch and ordered Chinese food, since you both loved it. It didn't take long for Harry to come out of the bathroom in his sweatpants and damp hair. You sure loved Harry anyway, but when he was like that, with the damp hair of someone who just got out of the bath he literally looked like a Greek god. He sat beside her on the couch, lifting his legs and placing them over his lap. Harry propped his head on the back of the couch watching you place your cell phone on the coffee table.
— Have you decided on today's recipe? — He asked, stroking his calf.
— No, I ordered food! — You answered calmly watching the boy's facial expressions change.
— What? Because? I said we could cook! — Harry said settling himself on the sofa so he could face her better.
— You said, but we can't! — You replied approaching your face to him, putting your arms over your shoulders — But it will be cool too. We can eat, watch some movies, some tiktoks, I can even massage you since you have the worst back in the world! — Harry chuckled at hearing his words, not that you could say anything about bad backs, but he will just let it go for the moment.
Harry leaned in kissing your lips as his right hand was now in your cheek. Deep down, he knew this was exactly the best thing for today. The kiss started to get steamy. It was slow but passionate, Harry slid his hand that was previously on your cheek down your body until it reached your waist where he lifted you and placed you on his clothed lap.
You brought your right hand to the boy's neck and pulled his hair lightly causing Harry to groan as he squeezed your waist. He slid one of his hands down the sides of your body and brought it back to your cheek where he started to kiss your neck making you roll your eyes. It wasn’t anything higly sexual, it was more about the intimacy, the initmacy of being so closed to his lover.
And then the doorbell rang alerting that his order had arrived causing you to llet out a frustrated sigh as you separated the kiss looking at the smirk on your boyfriend's lips.
— Chinese food... — You said withdrawing from his lap and getting up starting to walk to the door.
— I said it would be better to have cooked! — Harry said ironically running his hands over his thighs covered in sweatpants.
You had already paid by credit card over the phone so thank god it was just getting the food. You returned to the living room in a few seconds, placing the packages on the coffee table and sitting on the carpet. Harry then slid from the couch to the carpet on the floor and sat beside you.
— Should we film a tik tok? — You said, opening the bags getting your orders out of it. You ordered Chicken Yakisoba for you and shrimp yakisoba to Harry as he’s a pescatarian — Like, while we eat! We’re never gonna post it, so whatever!
— Sure! — Harry said, handing you your phone and grabbing his order — Oh, which one should we do? Like, the couple challenge, or should we like lip sing to one? — Harry asked.
— Oh, OH! I saw a heard an audio today — You started laughing just about remembering it. Harry thought it was so adorable when you’d do it, so whenever you were trying to tell a story and started laughing because you remember it perfectly and it was so funny to you, he’d just stay there with a cheeky smile admiring your face and laugh — Alright, so it’s like a song and then the girl it’s singing like ‘’my man ain’t shit’’, ‘’my man ain’t shit’’.
— Excuse me?? Why would we do it? I’m like the coolest person! — Harry interrupted you making you look at him with a mocking look.
— ANYWAY, wait for it! — You put a few strands of your hair behind your ear while taking the spring roll with a napkin — Then the girl says like ‘’why you won’t leave him?’’ and she answers ‘’’cause bitch, dick too bomb’’. — You couldn’t help laughing at it, because it was just so funny to you. Harry laughed too, he loved that you could find the funny side in the silliest things, but could also be so mature when it was needed.
— Ok, I like how it turned out, let’s do it! — Harry said taking a bite of his food as making you chuckle. It was true though, this man’s dick? too bomb.
You then entered the tik tok app and prepared everything and positioned the phone in front of you both.
— Wait, what should I do? — Harry asked as he stand up behind you.
— Nothing, just copy the obscene gesture that I’ll do in the end and you’ll be fine. — You said with a mocking smile at him.
— Why? I wanted to lip sing too! — Harry said, looking at the camera, pouting like a child.
— Because I don’t have a dick, so it would be weird if you sang! — You argued, turning your head to face him.
— Oh, is there any audios about boobs? Because love, yours are spectacular — He said widening his eyes, making you laugh and turn again to face the camera now.
— Ok, focus Harry, focus! — You said as you press the button to film and started lip singing. When the time ended, you both sat down to watch it and it actually turned out really funny, and Harry doing the gesture was totally the best part of it.
When you were about to save it privately on the app, Harry accidentally spilled the soy sauce on the carpet. Yes, the white carpet in your rented house. You clicked on any button to save the video and ran to get a floor cloth or anything that could remove that stain. In fact, you knew I wasn't going to leave, the act of trying to clean up was a spur of the moment. Well, you couldn’t clean it and a few minutes later your cell phones started to vibrate a lot due to notifications and when you clicked to see what it was they saw that in the moment of despair, you didn’t press the button that would save the video privately, but yes to post publicly. The video was basically all over the social network and even if you delete it now, you very much doubt that the whole world hasn't seen it yet.
[a/n: alrighty so I know it seems like I’m spoiling my baby @shinaus, and I totally am because she deserves the world, but I promise that I’ll get back to normal requests and some ideas I have soon BUT for now, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE! 🥳 Here’s a little gift for you, I just wanna say that I appreciate you so so much 💓 you’ve been here since the start pretty much and I thank you for all the kindness and support that you’ve given me, I’m so excited to see how our friendship will grow as we both progress in our blogs. i love u 🥺 here’s a little soft boy shinso for your birthday, and for anyone else who wants to read, so enjoy! -yours truly, bunnyy -`ღ´- ]
He knew who you were, he knew your name and order by heart. You came in almost every morning before your 9am lectures, then you would come in for lunch and do some homework before going back for your 1:30 lecture. So when you came in at 8am on the dot, your drink was all ready waiting for you.
“Morning Toshi.” He blushed at your sleepy little smile.
“Good morning (y/n).” He slid the cup of iced coffe to you. “And happy birthday.” He then slid a cake pop over to you. He hoped he got the date right, he vaguely remembers when you told him but he’s guessing that the expression on your face meant that he had been correct. The fact that he remembered your birthday made your poor little ole’ heart beat erratically in your chest. The way he tilted his head just enough to make him look like a confused kitten hadn’t helped either.
“O-Oh thank you, I can’t believe you r-remembered.” Your smile grew a bit wider when he looked away, sheepishly rubbing his neck.
“It’s nothing, really.” He noticed his cheeks starting to feel hot so he scrambled to change the subject. “So uhh what’s the rest of your day look like? You gonna go party it up at the club with a few friends?” The way your face fell just a bit made his heart ache.
“Well uhm not exactly, I actually didn’t plan on doing anything today.” There was a small silence that followed directly after you had said that because he was hoping to hear a ‘just kidding’ leave your lips but it never did.
“Seriously? You’re not gonna do anything?”
You shook your head.
“You’re just gonna go to your 1pm lecture later on then go home?” He honestly couldn’t believe it.
“Well not exactly. My professor actually cancelled so I’m just going to my morning class.” That still didn’t seem like a good plan. You sipped on your drink while he looked deep in thought. Seeing as this had happened from time to time during your many idle conversations, you just patiently waited until his idea was formed.
“That just won’t do.” He clicked his tongue, head shaking in disapproval. “I’ve got a plan.” You were intrigued to where this would go so you motioned for him to continue. “I get off at like 2:30 so why don’t I pick you up then and we go have some fun. Hmm? Whaddya say?”
“H-Have some fun? But what would we do?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He cheekily winked at you. “So? Sound like a plan?” As much as you’d want to argue that you didn’t want to waste his time, the little grin on his lips was enough to draw out a ‘yes’ from you.
After talking for a bit more and exchanging phone numbers, you left the coffee shop and made your way to the lecture hall. It was surprising to say, but you couldn’t concentrate for the life of you because you were excited. You were excited to hang out with Shinso, even if that little voice in the back of your head was saying he was doing it out of pity. You pushed the thought away and once the lecture was finally over, you rushed over to your dorm, excitement rushing through your body when your phone buzzed with a few texts from him.
From Toshi:
I should be by to pick you up around 3pm
Make sure to wear something comfortable
You had about an hour and a half to kill so you got some notes out of the way before starting to get ready. Now, did comfortable mean some sweats and a hoodie? Or did he mean more along the lines of a t-shirt and jeans? Opting for the safe option of jeans, you started to get ready. Your heart was thumping in your chest once more. It kinda felt like you were going on a date. You had let your mind wander for a bit, so much so that the second time the doorbell sound echoed through your place was what pulled you out of your trance. You quickly made your way to the front door and opened it to reveal a casual Shinso standing behind it. He looked quite good, well he looked good ALL the time but it was different to see him out of his work uniform.
“You ready?” Not trusting your words, you nodded and followed him out of the building. The both of you had walked in a comfortable silence before he turned to look at you. “Alright, so first item on the agenda. I thought we could go get some ramen because I don’t know about you but I am starving. But if your not down for ramen, I am so down to go for anything else.”
“No no, ramen works. I actually didn’t eat lunch so that sounds amazing.”
After having an amazing bowl of tonkatsu ramen and a pork bun or two, the both of you continued your journey.But as the two of you approached, you could tell exactly where you were headed.
“No way...” The way your eyes sparkled at the sight in fron of you made his heart pick up the pace. “I-Is this the Sakura festival?”
“You bet it is! I actually-“ He froze when you wrapped your arms around him, hugging him close to you and whispering a ‘thank you.’ Once you pulled away from him, he could see that a few tears had run down your face, she he carefully moved his hand to cup your cheek while his thumb had moved to get rid of those pesky tears. “Now come on, let’s enjoy the festival.” The softness of his voice made you swoon and since the both of you arrived when the festival had started, you both instantly made your way to the entrance. Now if you were to ask when exactly he had slid his hand into yours and intertwined your guys’ fingers, you wouldn’t be able to say when. It seemed like that’s how it was the whole time, not that either of you were complaining. When he’d softly run his thumb over your finger in an almost comforting manner, or when he’d squeeze tighter whenever the both of you were walking through a particularly crowded area, it all seemed like a natural reflex.
He had watched you eye a specific plushie a good 6 times before suggesting going over to the booth to play the game. It had seemed easy enough, get all four of the plastic rings around the neck of a milk bottle. Oh how wrong you were. You had played three rounds and lost three rounds. He hated seeing the pout on your face when you hadn’t made any points so when the both of you were waiting in line for some taiyaki he said he had to go to the bathroom and went off. You didn’t think much of it, too busy mourning over the loss of your desired plushie.
Meanwhile, Toshi had gone back to the booth to try and win the game. So far, he was four rounds in and still hadn’t made enough points. Just as he was going to give up, the booth attendant gave him a free pass at the game seeing as he had already spent so much money, so this time around he took a different approach. Instead of rushing into it, he took his time with each toss. So when he had made all four rings, a huge grin split his lips as he pointed out his prize.
“I wonder if he ate some bad shrimp in the yakisoba from earlier.” You mumbled to yourself. Even if you were still waiting in line, there was only two more people in front of you.
“Hey (y/n)!” You turned to the source of the shout and your jaw dropped. There stood Toshi with the cute squid plushie you wanted.
“Seriously? You won this for me?” He could see the way the tears in your eyes shone in the low light of the booth lights but you were far from sad. There was a genuine smile on your face as he nodded and held it out to you. He watched as you grabbed it and hugged it close to your chest. His chest filling with warmth as you nuzzled into the soft fabric of the squid.
With taiyaki, milk tea, and squid plush in hand, the both of you looked for a place to settle on the grass and get ready for the fireworks show to end the night. The both of you had settled against a tree trunk, sitting side by side. Shinso had grabbed your legs and rested them over his. Subconsciously running his hand over your knee as he munched on his taiyaki.
The both of you chatted as you waited for the show to start but as time went on, the colder the summer breeze got. He noticed that you were shivering quite a bit so he softly shoved your legs off of his lap and opened his arms. Your confusion was quelled when you saw his open arms, you ungracefully fell into his chest and wrapped your arms around his waist to absorb all the warmth he had to offer. He just chuckled and shook his head while holding you tight, rubbing your back in small circled to generate as much warmth as he could. He tried not to think about how you felt while pushed up against him, how he could just lean down and place a kiss on the top of your head.
Sadly, this hadn’t lasted very long. The moment the fireworks started you had sat up to be able to watch them clearly. As much as he wanted to watch the fireworks display, the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ from the crowd enticing him to look, he just couldn’t tear his eyes from you. The way the explosions in the sky lit up your face, the pink tint on the apples of your cheeks and your nose, the way your eyes were wide with wonder, and the way your lips were curled up into a little smile. You were way more breathtaking than any firework could ever be.
“(Y/n)?” You tore your eyes from the glittering lights and turned towards him, blush painting your cheeks an even darker red when he was closer than you expected. Both his hands came up to hold your face, the pads of his thumb gently running over your cheeks. “Can I-.” He swallowed nervously, leaning in close enough to where your noses were touching. “Can I kiss you?” The fact that he even asked made you giggle.
“Of course you can, silly.”
Once he got the ‘okay’, he tilted his head a bit and brought you closer, your lips meeting his in the sweetest and softest ways possible. Your lips moving in sync as the taste of chocolate still lingered on your tongues.
“Mmm I knew you’d taste sweet.” He chuckled once the two of you pulled away.
“Oh yeah, how sweet?”
“I’d have to say sugary sweet but maybe even sweeter than sugar. I’d have to get a second taste to know for sure.” He shrugged innocently. You fondly shook your head, a squeak of surprise when he pulled you onto his lap. His hands were holding your hips while your arms wrapped around his shoulders, your fingers fiddling with the ends of his gravity defying hair.
“Happy birthday (y/n)...” you bit your lip to hold back your smile before releasing it and diving into another dizzying kiss.
Summary: Hinata and Kageyama come over for a tutoring session since exams are right around the corner. Finally, they have a chance to have a little peek of your personal life at home after getting to know you more through your lunch time tutoring sessions. Kageyama also touches base with you about your decision which has finally come to an answer.
Pairing: Kageyama Tobio x Fem!Reader
Genre: Rom-Com, Slice of Life, Sports
Warnings: None for this chapter
Chapter's Word Count: ~3.1k
Author's Note: This is somewhat of a filler chapter, well in some cases hahaha. There are more moments with Kageyama though! All interactions with the story are much appreciated, but I would love to hear some feedback through the comments ; ^ ; I'm not sure if my writing is any good, but I'm assuming it's been going alright considering all the notes on the series?? Don't mind me, just being a little insecure about my writing atm...^^;
Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || || Part 5.5 || Part 6 || Masterlist
The blaring sound of a phone going off echoed through the bedroom as you sleepily reached out for it and took it off its charger. Squinting at the sudden brightness, you saw who was calling you and sighed. Right when you pressed the green button, the upbeat voice of your best friend could be heard. Still trying to wake up, you changed the call to be on speaker as you listened to Nishinoya ramble about his morning. Then you winced when he suddenly exclaimed about the new information he received from his fellow teammates during their morning practice.
“You’re tutoring the two idiots later today?!”
You yawned and stretched to get your body to feel more awake before replying, “Oh yeah...Hinata asked if they could squeeze in some more studying time before exams this week.”
“(Y/N)-chan, you’re a girl and you can’t just have two boys over when you’re home alone!”
You rolled your eyes and picked up your phone as you got out of bed. Making your way towards the kitchen, you smiled to yourself as you saw the plate of food your mom left. Taking a seat in front of the food, you settled down to enjoy your meal.
“You’re being overprotective Yu-nii. Just because our moms went on a trip together doesn’t mean you’re in charge of me.”
“UH YES I AM, I AM OLDER THAN YOU BY A YEAR.”
You laughed before digging into the food and said, “Okay and if it’ll ease your mind you can come over if you’d like and join us.”
“Ugh I wish I could, but I already promised Ryuu and Ennoshita that we would study together...we’re not trying to let you first years beat us!”
“Wait, how did you know they were coming over anyway?” You asked before taking a sip of your water.
“We had an early practice today and during our jog, Hinata was saying how excited he was to hang out with you.”
“Aw, that’s cute. He really is a ray of sunshine, isn’t he?” You snickered.
“(Y/N)-CHAN! Do you have a crush on Hinata?”
You burst out laughing and immediately said, “No I don’t Yu-nii, he seems like a brother to me at this point. Because of how innocent and bright he is, it makes me just want to take care of him like an older sister y’know?”
“Oh okay, that’s good to hear. Well, I’m glad BECAUSE I’M NOT READY TO LET YOU GO TO ANYONE ELSE. YOU’RE MY PRECIOUS LITTLE (Y/N)-CHAN.”
“There, there Yu-nii. You’ll always be my best friend, no one’s ever going to replace you. Even if I did get a boyfriend you’d just have to live with it.”
“Ugh whatever, I don’t even want to think about it yet. Anyways, I’m stopping by for dinner tonight. I’m going to need a breather after studying with the guys.”
Finishing up your breakfast, you hummed in response and gathered your dishes to clean them.
“What do you want for dinner? I’ll bring it over!”
“Oh~ if it’s your treat then I want takoyaki and yakisoba pan!”
“You’re so cheap.”
“Oh? So if you’re okay with paying more I want tonkotsu ramen, carbonara pasta, fried chicken, onigiri-”
“OKAY, OKAY TAKOYAKI AND YAKISOBA PAN IT IS. Geeze, you’re more simple than I thought.”
“I’m being easy on you, Yu-nii.”
“Alright, I got it. I’m about to go over to Ryuu’s house so let me know if Hinata or Kageyama do something you don’t like. We’ll be there in a flash to whip those two in shape.”
“Yeah, yeah~ take care Yu-nii.”
“You too (Y/N)-chan, I’ll let you know when I’m on my way later. Bye-bye!”
You smiled to yourself as you dried your hands and put away the dishes. It was always nice to know that Nishinoya would always be looking out for you even if he did so in such outgoing ways. His positive personality always lifted up your spirits especially since you were the more reserved one between the two of them. Taking a look at the clock the time for the boys to come over was nearing, so you decided to go ahead and get ready before cleaning up the apartment.
‘I wonder how today is going to go?’
---
Hinata and Kageyama were walking side by side as they made their way towards your area. The two had met up at the intersection they usually split up from to walk together since they didn’t want to awkwardly show up and make a fool out of themselves in front of you if they had shown up by themselves.
“Hey Kageyama, I wonder what her room looks like? Do you think it’s all frilly and pink like on TV?”
“I don’t know.”
“I hope she doesn’t think we’re even more stupid since we’ll be studying with her longer.”
“Who knows?”
“Kageyama, you also need to be more welcoming to her.”
“Shut up, Hinata. I already know what I need to do.”
“Are you sure, you seem pretty scary towards her if you ask me.” He laughed.
Kageyama clicked his tongue before slapping the back of Hinata’s head. “You’re just imagining things, you idiot.”
He quickly fastened his pace to get a head start and the boys began another race to see who would reach there first. In a matter of seconds, they were standing in front of your apartment complex and Hinata called you to let them in. The boys made their way up and Kageyama knocked on the door to let you know that they had officially arrived. They could hear your footsteps approaching and their eyes widened at your appearance. Your hair was out of its usual braid and you were wearing an oversized graphic t-shirt that was tucked into a pair of light denim high-waisted shorts.
“Hinata, Kageyama-kun I’m glad you guys made it.” you smiled at them before walking into the apartment.
“H-H-Hi (L/N)-san! T-Thanks f-for h-having u-us!” Hinata stuttered as he clumsily took off his shoes.
“Y-Yeah, excuse us for the intrusion,” Kageyama said softly as he followed Hinata towards the living room.
“We’ll be studying in my room if that’s okay with you guys?” you asked as you began to make some tea for them.
“A-A-Are you sure?” Hinata asked as he blushed.
“Hinata, relax. You don’t have to be so formal. I thought we’re all friends at this point.” you replied as they watched you rummage around for their cups.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right, haha. My bad…” Hinata sheepishly said.
“It’s the room at the end of the hall, make yourselves comfortable! I’ll be there once the tea is finished.”
The boys followed your instructions and entered the room. They were surprised to find it very minimal. The walls were painted white with black trimmings and were filled with medals and certificates from the years that you played volleyball. There was a bed at the corner of the room next to your balcony and a desk that sat at the center and against the opposite wall. An array of polaroids were posted on the wall where your floor desk was. It had your laptop and textbooks neatly on top with a floor chair and your blazer hanging over it. On its side was a shoe rack and had a volleyball sitting on the corner of its top rock. A white coffee table sat in the middle of the room on top of a black rug with a couple of cushions for guests to sit on. Your closet was closed and located nearest by the door; painted with a chalkboard medium that was filled with all sorts of critiques for volleyball, self reminders, and important dates to keep an eye out for. Along the wall where your bed was, there was a body-size mirror snuggled on the opposite corner and a bookcase near it. You had a record player sitting on the floor with a couple of your favorite albums sitting in its holder.
“Woah...it’s so organized,” Hinata muttered as he let his bag drop by the coffee table and wandered over towards the wall where all your medals and certificates hung.
Kageyama let his eyes wander as he took in all the small things that you kept for yourself. He made his way over towards your desk and looked at the different memories you captured through your Polaroid. There were many of you and Nishinoya throughout the years from early childhood days to when you went to middle school together. He noticed that if you smiled hard enough, there was a small dimple that would appear on your left cheek. His eyes softened as he continued to see small tidbits of your life before you came to Karasuno. There were funny ones with your old teammates and a couple of photos with you and the upperclassmen. The one that mainly caught his attention was one that Nishinoya probably took for you. You were surrounded by your teammates as you held up the national trophy with happy tears streaming down your face, sitting in a wheelchair to celebrate your victory.
‘She really loved volleyball, huh?’ He thought to himself as Hinata walked up to him and looked at the photos as well.
“Do you think we’ll make it on her wall someday?”
Always leave it up to Hinata to voice some of his own personal thoughts that he could never say out loud. He shrugged and went to go sit down to get ready for their session. Hinata joined him as well just as you walked through the door with some snacks and their tea. As the three of you got out your notebooks, Kageyama couldn’t help but peek at the polaroid wall once more wishing that he’d have a special photo with you soon.
---
Before you knew it, the sun had already begun to set and Hinata freaked out. He was supposed to be on his way home already to look after his baby sister and Kageyama also needed to leave in order to pick up some food for his family. You walked them down towards the entrance and was taken aback to see both of them bow to you in thanks.
“Man, you’re a lifesaver! (L/N)-san, thanks for helping us study on a Saturday!” Hinata exclaimed with a bright smile on his face.
“Thanks,” Kageyama said and nodded at you.
“Sure, let’s do our best on the exam!” You smiled and Kageyama’s eyes slightly widened as he saw your dimple.
‘Cute…’ He thought as you and Hinata engaged in another conversation about your time as a volleyball player. Kageyama sighed and shook his head to get rid of those thoughts. He didn’t understand why his attention slowly shifted towards you whenever he was in the same space as you. His main priority was to focus on getting better as a setter so Karasuno can beat Seijoh the next time they plays against them.
“Oh? The two idiots are still here?” Nishinoya asked as he walked up to the trio with a plastic bag filled with food slung over his shoulder.
“Noya-senpai!” Hinata exclaimed.
“I hope she was a good teacher to you guys?” He smiled at them before taking his place next to you.
“Yeah! I’m gonna ace that exam for sure now! I think!”
Nishinoya burst out laughing and went to slap Hinata on his back for some encouragement. “Just as I suspected, Hinata! You’re always so positive and let’s hope that what you’re actually saying is true! Or rather, I won’t let (L/N)-san’s kindness go to waste!”
“Kindness…'To have a caring heart. A term used to express a caring attitude one has for another.’” Kageyama muttered as he continued to mentally go over what they had been studying for.
Nishinoya stared at him before laughing again. “You better pass too or else you both won’t be able to go to Tokyo. That and you would have wasted my precious best friend’s time.”
You sweatdropped and tried to calm them down. “Now, now let’s have some faith in them Yu-nii. You’re basically in the same boat as them so don’t be trying to act so superior towards them.”
Nishinoya pouted while Hinata and Kageyama gave you thankful looks. You sighed as your best friend jumped onto you and looked at the other boys. “Have a safe trip home Hinata-kun, Kageyama-kun.”
They waved goodbye and Nishinoya let go of his grip on you. He cheekily held up the food he brought and stuck his thumb towards your apartment. “Let’s go eat shall we?”
You playfully rolled your eyes and made your way up to settle down for the night. Once all of the food was laid out in front of you, Nishinoya was about to play the movie you were planning on watching when out of nowhere your cell phone rang. You picked it up and was surprised to see who called you.
“Kageyama-kun?” you answered and Nishinoya sprang up from his seat, pointing at your phone with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
You let out a small gasp but Nishinoya was too quick for you as he tackled you, trying to get the phone out of your hand. On the other side of the line, Kageyama weirdly looked at his phone when he heard the chaos happening in your apartment. He raised an eyebrow at the clatter of the phone and slowly brought the phone back to his ear in time to hear Nishinoya over the line.
“HUUUUH?! KAGEYAMA?! LET ME ANSWER- WHAT ARE YOU- HEY DON’T SLAP ME AWAY- (Y/N)-CHAN!”
“Um...is everything okay?”
You kicked Nishinoya off of you and quickly ran to your room. Locking the door behind you, you walked towards the bed and plopped down onto it.
“Yeah, everything’s fine, sorry about that. Yu-nii was being annoying.” you laughed, slightly out of breath.
“...R-Right…”
Smiling in amusement, you shook your head and caught your breath. You mindlessly kicked your legs and asked, “Um...is there anything you needed, Kageyama-kun?”
“I...um...accidentally left my notebook.”
You sat up and glanced towards the blue notebook that had fallen off of the table. You went to go pick it up and said, “Oh yeah, I see it. Did you want me to give it to you tomorrow?”
“Actually...I’m downstairs…I wanted to try and study more tonight.”
Running towards your balcony, you looked down to see Kageyama looking down and then scuffed the ground with his foot. You giggled over the phone and leaned against the railings.
“Kageyama-kun, look up.”
His eyes widened as he heard you and looked up to see you smiling at him from your balcony. He felt something in his stomach that he only felt when his nerves were high during matches. As he racked his brain for the answer, you waved him up to signal that he could come to pick up his notebook. Clutching the strap of his bag, he swallowed down the nerves and couldn’t believe that he was nervous around you.
“What’s this?”
Kageyama was greeted by Nishinoya and a teasing smile. “Are you trying to get at my best friend, Kageyama?”
The setter clicked his tongue and was about to retort back only to have you intercept and push Nishinoya out of the way. You sheepishly smiled at Kageyama as you lightly pushed him towards the hallway and followed him out. He watched as you glared at the libero and closed the front door, then sigh in relief before turning your attention towards him.
“Sorry about Yu-nii I know he can be overbearing sometimes.” you said while holding out his notebook.
“I-It’s fine...I’m used to it because he’s like that at practice.” He mumbled and gently took it out of your grasp to put it inside of his bag.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, I can walk you down too.” you offered and the two of you began to make their way towards the entrance.
A short and comfortable silence fell and Kageyama was trying to figure out how to start a conversation with you. You looked up and smiled to yourself when you noticed his eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. Trying to help him relax from worrying so much about his social nature, you decided to start the conversation.
“Are you nervous for the exam?”
Kageyama looked down at you as you looked in front of them with your arms behind your back and he shrugged. “Not really, you’ve been a lot of great help to us.”
“That’s good.”
Another silence fell and you finally reached the entrance. You stood in front of him and rocked on your heels, waiting to see if he would say something. He cleared his throat and looked towards the street before he asked, “Have you decided if you’re going to be our manager or not?”
You hummed in thought as you guys ended up looking at the strangers that passed by. “I’m still thinking about it. There are still some things I need to figure out.”
He peered down at you before readjusting his bag and said, “(L/N)-san, at this rate, you can’t move forward. If you want to do this, you have to just believe in yourself that you are able to.”
“Yeah...I guess you’re right.” you softly said as once again, Kageyama knocked some sense into you as if he could read right through the barricade you put up for yourself.
“...And I’d like to have you as our manager too…” Kageyama quietly added.
Your eyes widened as he rubbed his neck, a slight tinge of red could be seen on his cheeks. You chuckled and warmly smiled at him.
“Well if you put it that way, I guess I can’t say no to this offer, huh?” you teased. “I’m kidding, but really though, thanks Kageyama-kun. I guess I can’t let you down after all that you’ve said to me. Just wait for me to settle some things first.” ‘Like going to Ukai-san’s store tomorrow to talk about my past and how we can incorporate my skills into your practice…’ you thought to yourself as a million of new ideas began to form in your head. It also reminded you that there was finally something could do that would help the team raise money for their bus.
His eyes softened and a faint smile could be seen on his face. “You’re welcome, (L/N)-san.”
You smiled widely and excitedly tugged on the strap of his bag. Kageyama raised an eyebrow at you. “In that case, there’s something I need from you and Hinata for help.”
Roman Prince loves arriving home early. On those happy days the café he works at is empty, his boss lets him check out half an hour earlier, and he gets to come earlier home, he gets to surprise Virgil.
Usually, Virgil arrives home at 4:45, then Roman at 5:30, then Logan and Patton arrive together at 5:45, since they work at the same part of the city and Logan is the only one of the group to own a car. When Roman gets to arrive home at 5, however, he can sneak up behind Virgil, purely for the sake of watching Virgil laugh after the scare.
Which is exactly what Roman is going to do now.
He silently opens the apartment door, doing the least noise he can. Virgil is on the kitchen, humming Our Love Is God, from Heathers.
Roman can’t help but chuckle. He just finds it adorable that Virgil keeps getting Heathers songs stuck in his head after last summer.
———————————————————
Roman may work at a café, but that gig is purely for money. What Roman does for a profession is act. You can tell that from, well, every single dramatic part of him. Last summer, he got the chance to participate in a local production of Heathers, as JD, and had come to Virgil asking for help memorizing his lines. He could have asked Logan or Patton for help, but a)Virgil, as much as he liked to hide it, also had a dramatic touch, and b)Roman really liked hearing Virgil sing.
So they would sit in Roman’s room, Virgil would read Veronica’s lines, and Roman would read Jason Dean’s (they focused mainly on the scenes where there was Veronica-JD conversations, because Roman insisted it was the romantic part of his character that he needed to improve). When the time came to present the show, Virgil borrowed Roman his leather jacket for the costume. Sure, JD originally used a black coat, not a black jacket, but the costume department was short on money and the first show would be that night. So Roman came running to Virgil, hoping he would have something as dark and broody as the role required.
The opening night was a success. Logan, Patton, Virgil and Roman’s close friends and family all came to watch him. After the play, everyone he loved came to congratulate and compliment him. After the massive group of people went away, Virgil approached him. The first thing he did was grab the open front of the jacket, accidentally yanking Roman closer.
Roman actually thought for a second Virgil was going to kiss him. But when the stupid romantic part of his brain shut up, he realized Virgil was analyzing the state of the jacket.
“I was careful, Emo Nightmare” Virgil murmured something about the actress that played Veronica yanking it away during the sex scene, his hands never leaving the jacket. Not that Roman was complaining “The director was able to find a coat, by the way, so I won’t need it anymore. Thanks for borrowing it to me.”
Virgil finally lowered his hands, and said something about Roman already having thanked him 14 times. Roman didn’t hear, he was too busy missing the closeness of Virgil’s body.
——————————————————-
Roman silently approaches Virgil’s back, who is too busy doing the dishes to notice. He leans over and whispers on Virgil’s ear:
“Hey, tormenta”
Virgil nearly jumps out of his skin, turning around to face a smirking Roman, who is now putting his hands on the side of the sink, both very close to Virgil’s waist but never touching, so he can lean in and see Virgil’s eyes beneath his bangs.
Virgil laughs, and Roman’s heart, unexpectedly, skips a beat.
“Hey, príncipe” the Spanish nickname rolls off of Virgil’s tongue way better than Roman’s.
———————————————————
In September, after Heathers was over, and Roman was desperate to find anything to occupy his time, he watched In The Heights, and decided he wanted to learn Spanish.
Virgil, who had Argentinian parents, was fluent in Spanish, and needed the money, decided to teach Roman.
Everyday, for the entire month of September, when Roman’s work ended, they would sit at the café, Roman would ask for hybiscus tea and Virgil for coffee, and they would start their class.
Roman didn’t learn much. Just very romantic lines, basic stuff, and how to say storm in Spanish.
The plan was for Roman to be smug when saying it, but Virgil enjoyed the Spanish nickname, and decided to give Roman his own. Roman, however, goes weak in the knees every time he gets called príncipe.
Roman’s insistence on romantic lines was perhaps not a genius plan, because he still lies awake in the middle of the night thinking about Virgil calling him amor de mi vida.
———————————————————
“You got home early” Virgil says, still smiling.
“Complaining?” Roman asks, pouting, only to hear the answer.
“Never” That was expected, and exactly what Roman wanted to hear, but he still feels heat crawling up his face “That reminds me, Logan and Patton called, they’ll be spending the weekend at Patton’s parents, so it’s just me and you” Roman raises an eyebrow, hoping Virgil would suggest what they usually did when Logan and Patton were away “So... beer, Japanese food and a movie?”
———————————————————
It wasn’t unordinary for Roman and Virgil to get drunk together. Usually, after Roman played on a show, they’d go out to celebrate with Logan and Patton on a fairly nice restaurant. After they returned home, Logan and Patton went to bed, and they stayed in the living room, drinking cheap wine.
They hanged out at more times than just after shows. After a hard month. After a party. After the movies. When Logan and Patton were off.
Truth is, Roman liked getting drunk around Virgil. They would talk about everything and nothing. They would talk about stars and Virgil would speak as if he knew every secret of the universe. They would talk about finding love and Roman would speak as if he hadn’t already found it. They would talk about insecurities and songs and style and fears. Roman liked it.
———————————————————
“Oh my, Virgil, are you asking me on a date?” Roman fakes surprise, acting as though this wasn’t expected.
“Shut up, príncipe” Roman lives to see Virgil blushing, and is childishly happy to see the emo’s cheeks tainted a light shade of pink.
Virgil grabs Roman’s wrists (his hands, Roman realizes, are cold from washing the dishes) and takes Roman’s hands away from his sides, so he could move towards the kitchen counter.
“I’ll order it, clean up the rest of the dishes”
Roman thinks about arguing, but drops it, and starts cleaning the counter, which still has the plates and cups from that day’s breakfast.
Roman smiles fondly when he finds a purple stain beneath one of the mugs.
———————————————————
Despite being 25, Roman and Virgil were very childish.
One occasion that always proved this was the usual food fight they’d have during breakfast.
Roman would say something stupid, or Virgil would say something broody, and they’d get hit on the face with a fruit. The one who was hit would immediately retaliate, and soon half of the bowl of fruits would be gone, the table would be a mess, and they’d both be laughing like idiots.
This morning, Virgil was staring at his cup of coffee, like he usually did at the morning, and Roman was staring at Virgil, like he usually did. When Logan asked Virgil a question, and he replied with the prettiest morning voice ever, Roman couldn’t contain himself: he threw a blueberry straight at Virgil’s face.
“Stop being cute” Roman complained, getting immediately hit by another blueberry.
“Stop being insufferable” Virgil laughed.
This time, Patton was quicker, and quickly pulled the bowl of blueberries away from them, ending their little fight way sooner than Roman desired.
———————————————————
Virgil finishes ordering, and comes back to help Roman clean the dishes. When they’re finished, they start asking about each other’s day.
“A new guy started working today” Virgil mentions, after some time. Roman’s heart drops.
“Is he cute?” Roman asks, trying to not add poison to his voice. He really needs to work on his jealousy.
“Nah, not really my type” Virgil answers, and Roman starts breathing again.
“Ugh, is no one ever your type?” Roman groans. Virgil being into a guy was the opposite of fun for him, but he’s really curious to know what Virgil found attractive. If only so he could know what was wrong with himself.
“Dunno, Roman” Virgil shrugs “Maybe I’m just meant to be single. Like a cute guy would actually be into me” he huffs, seeming annoyed by this conversation they’d had a million times.
Roman can’t find any way to argue with that besides confessing his infatuation, and he’d rather not do that.
When the delivery finally arrives, the sun is already setting through the living room window.
———————————————————
Roman loved the way Virgil was satisfied with the most simple things. Like stars, or tea, or sunsets.
Roman was more of a sunrise type of guy. The energy that emanated from the beginning of the day always made him ecstatic. Virgil, in an eternal opposite to Roman, preferred sunsets.
The living room window has a nice view of the city, and the view always increased during sunset. Every building was painted with light shades of pink and orange and purple.
(Was it an essential point to Roman that sunsets were a combination of his and Virgil’s color palettes, the reds and oranges mixing with the purples? Yes)
Every time Virgil passed that window during sunset, he would stop to admire it, tranquility taking over his face. And, well, Roman would stop and admire him.
Soon, Roman started loving sunsets as well as sunrises.
———————————————————
While Virgil opens the door, Roman turns on the TV and takes the beers out of the freezer.
Virgil comes back with a plastic bag in his hands, and smiles when he sees the title that shows up.
As they both sit down at the sofa with a bowl of Yakisoba for each, and the movie starts playing, Roman turns toward Virgil, waiting for his reaction.
Mere moments later, the dark and scary boy starts chanting:
“This is Halloween! This is Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!”
Nightmare Before Christmas is, and always will be, a compromise between Roman’s cheerfulness and dramatics and Virgil’s sinisterness and spookiness. Roman is Christmas, and Virgil is Halloween.
Roman got Virgil a Nightmare Before Christmas sweater last Christmas. Virgil doesn’t really wear it, but Roman doesn’t complain. He got to see Virgil wear it once, and he looked very pretty. Plus, it’s really hard to wash that thing.
———————————————————
Virgil hated doing laundry alone. Roman noticed how he never went by himself, always waited until Logan, Roman or Patton were going down to the local laundry and tagged along.
So whenever Roman went to do laundry, he checked to see if Virgil needed to go with him.
Logan insisted on calling those “laundry dates”, what was not a fair thing to do when Roman was known for blushing easily. Nevertheless, he persisted, and, almost every time Roman did laundry, Virgil joined him.
Roman thought it would be like that Friends episode with Ross and Rachel, but it wasn’t exactly nearly kissing over laundry carts.
First of, Virgil knew how to do laundry. He had life experience, unlike Rachel, so he didn’t get surprised with anything Roman did.
Second, they were never really alone. There was always someone else doing laundry.
Even so, Roman loved it. He loved Virgil’s company. He loved talking to Virgil. Sometimes, they would go to a nearby café while they waited. And, well, there might not be near-kisses and random outbursts of happiness, but Roman surprisingly enjoyed the casualness and simpleness of quiet but happy dates—even though he would never call them that out loud.
———————————————————
The food is surprisingly tasty. They should order more from this restaurant.
“Want my shrimps?” Virgil asks.
“Always”
It is universal knowledge, at least in this household, that Roman loves shrimps. Virgil doesn’t care about them. Whenever they’d ask something with shrimps, Roman ate his and most of Virgil’s.
Virgil extends his arm, holding a shrimp in his fork, planning to drop it at Roman’s bowl. The tall man, however, is faster, and bites it out of the fork.
“What are you, 12?” Virgil laughs, and Roman promises, as long as he’s alive, he’ll do anything to make Virgil smile.
“Yes, 12 out of 10”
Virgil scoffs, but his eyes soon widen as his gaze lower towards Roman’s chest.
“Oh crap!”
Roman’s impeccable white shirt has a stain from the Yakisoba sauce. And that kind of sauce could stain permanently.
Roman takes out his shirt and rushes towards the sink to try and wash out the stain.
When he’s satisfied with the state of the shirt, he comes back to the living room. He would be lying if he said he doesn’t feel a burst of pride as Virgil’s eyes darted over his bare chest.
Roman is muscular. That, no one else could deny. Only from going to the gym, though. Sports were not his area.
———————————————————
Once, after Roman nearly started a fight at a bar, and Virgil had to drag him back to the apartment, he insisted on teaching Roman how to fight.
“Do you even know how to fight?” Virgil had asked, worry and annoyance coating his voice.
Roman drunkily shook his head, ashamed. He didn’t really want Virgil to know he was not a perfect knight in shining armor. I mean, Virgil obviously knew, but having to say it was slightly humiliating.
Virgil sighed, and started moving the furniture on the living room, creating an empty circle. Roman stared at him in confusion until Virgil gestured for Roman to join him inside the circle. The shorter boy lifted his hands towards his face.
“If anyone swings at you, protect your face like this” Roman mimicked the movement. Virgil lightly hit him, making Roman raise his arms. Virgil seemed satisfied with that, so he lowered his hands.
Virgil thought Roman how to punch and where to hit. And, Roman thought, Virgil was really hot when he was intimidating.
“How did you even learn all of this anyway?” Roman wondered.
Virgil looked him over, his bangs falling over his eyes. Roman fought the urge to swipe them out of his face “Fight or flight, remember? Sometimes flight isn’t an option”
Roman nodded, too tired and drunk to process anything other than the fact that Virgil’s hair was touching his surprisingly long eyelashes.
“Lay down” Virgil ordered, and Roman immediately obeyed, with his stomach up. However, nothing could have prepared Roman for the fact that Virgil slid one of his legs around Roman and sat on the beginning of his stomach, setting his weight on his heels, so he would not crush Roman. Like that skinny boy could crush Roman.
“Wow, buy me dinner first” Roman teased, because Virgil was on top of him, and all his brain could think was how soft the corners of Virgil’s mouth seemed and how he wished there were less clothes involved.
Virgil set his hands next to Roman’s head and leaned forward, in an attempt to even out his weight. Now his hair brushed against Roman’s eyebrows and Roman would have smirked at Virgil’s blushing if he hadn’t know he was furiously blushing as well.
Virgil was wearing black lipstick, Roman remembers that detail very well. Black, matte lipstick, that still hadn’t faded, despite the drinks they’d had at the bar. All it would take was for Roman to lean up a couple of inches, and their mouths would meet, and he could happily ruin Virgil’s intact lipstick.
And wow did he want to kiss Virgil. His entire brain shut down and there was just a very loud and persistent voice yelling for Roman to kiss him, kiss him, kiss him! Roman wanted to kiss Virgil, he wanted to do nothing else until there was no space between their bodies and it would still not feel enough, he wanted to not think of anything but the fact that Virgil’s mouth was on his and that this felt right.
But then Virgil started talking again, and he had to focus at least a little bit.
“If someone gets on top of you on a fight, drive your knees into their backs as hard as you can” Roman nodded, almost decently following along “Try to do it with me”
After some struggle, Roman was able to get on top of Virgil. Now this, this was something he could deal with. A smirk managed it’s way around his face as he saw Virgil blush as well.
“Not so confident now, huh?” Roman teased, leaning forward in a way that some, very blind people, could describe as not romantic, but instead, intimidating.
Before he knew what had happened, Virgil had already pushed him off, and they were back to practicing punches standing up.
———————————————————
“You’re gonna catch a cold, Roman”
Roman groans “Do you always have to be so worried, I’ll just grab a blanket, okay?”
Virgil still seems suspicious about that plan (and Roman can’t have imagined the way Virgil gazed at his chest again), but either way he grabs a blanket from the basket near the sofa, it’s purple shade perfectly matching Virgil’s hair.
———————————————————
Roman had always been a dramatic, flamboyant, impulsive kind of guy. One day, after a burst of Why Not?, Roman decided he was going to dye his hair the shades of the rainbow. He bought every color at the drugstore, arrived home, and, after a bit of struggle, left the bathroom with every color in the rainbow on his hair.
Virgil loved it. Not all of the colors, but the ideia of painting his hair. When Roman offered to paint his hair with the leftover purple paint, Virgil was more than ecstatic.
They suited themselves at the tiny apartment bathroom, and the process begun.
(Virgil had to take his shirt out so it wouldn’t stain, and that definitely made it very hard for Roman to focus on the task at hand)
When the job was done, and Virgil looked at the mirror, he was quite anxious about the ideia. Roman, however, thought he looked stunning, and could not hold back his thoughts.
“You look... magnificent” Roman whispered. Virgil gave that shy smile of his, and all Roman could think was I love him.
That was back in March. Roman had to dye his hair brown for the role of JD, but Virgil continued painting his hair purple.
———————————————————
The movie goes on, and the night gets colder. At a certain point, Roman accidentally touches Virgil’s feet, and yelps at their coldness.
“And you complain about me? You’ll get a cold as well if you don’t get warm! Get under this blanket right now, Daniel Scowell!”
Virgil relutantly wiggles close to Roman, their arms nearly brushing, and the warmth of Virgil’s body is equally unsettling and calming.
———————————————————
Virgil smells like cinnamon. Roman knows this as he knows that 2+2=4 and that water is wet. It’s something ingrained in his brain, something that he doubts he will ever forget. Virgil smells like cinnamon is a fact, and although that’s Logan’s area, Roman has this one drilled into his mind.
———————————————————
Soon, too soon, the movie ends, and Roman has an epiphany.
“I just remembered! Patton made chocolate cake! Do you want some?” It’s barely nine-o-clock, their night can’t end here. Before he can see Virgil’s reaction, Roman is running towards the kitchen, eager to grab a plate. He hears movement behind his back, and when he turns, Virgil is sitting on top of the counter, legs criss-crossed.
“You could sit in a chair like a normal human being, you know” Roman hands Virgil a plate with cake and sits on the counter top as well, his legs dangling. Virgil pokes out a tongue and takes a bite out of the cake, his eyes closing with pleasure, and Roman can’t help but smile. Familiar warmth surges on his neck as Roman realizes he’s staring.
They eat in comfortable silence, every once in a while mentioning something that feels like nothing and everything, like the stars or Roman’s ideal roles.
Virgil takes a bite out of the cake, in the most adorable way Roman could ever imagine, and a smudge of chocolate remains on the side of his mouth. Before he can think about it, Roman’s touching that small place on Virgil’s face.
“You had something there” Roman whispers, but he’s already forgetting everything except the fact that Virgil is close and that he smells like cinnamon and that his cheek is so soft — and now Roman was cupping Virgil’s face, his thumb never leaning that soft spot on the corner of his mouth — and that Virgil had the most beautiful brown eyes and that the sea of freckles on his face looked like the night sky.
This is very very stupid and very very reckless and very very dangerous and very gryffindoor of Roman. Roman opens his mouth to say something — he doesn’t know what, but something — and Virgil leans back, away from Roman’s hand, and he can swear his heart stopped beating.
Of course. They are friends. And would always be. But no more than that. If Roman dreams of kisses under the moonlight that is his problem, and no one else’s, and he has to control his impulses, otherwise he would make Virgil uncomfortable.
Roman lowers his hand, trying for the life of him not to grimace, but it was a fruitless effort, since Virgil doesn’t lift his gaze from his plate for one second.
“So...” Virgil cleans his throat “How was your date?”
Roman plays with his slice of cake, randomly stabbing it, suddenly losing every apetite he had.
Roman tries to forget Virgil. He really does. He goes on dates, he flirts, he asks people out. But, every time he went out with someone, no matter how nice the food or the person was, all Roman could think was that this was not Virgil.
The last guy he went out with was nice, and sweet, and very cute, yes. (What was his name again? Ethan? Roman didn’t remember) But he was not Virgil. His lips didn’t quirk up when he heard a bad joke like Virgil’s did, his eyes didn’t glisten the way Virgil’s did.
He could work well with Roman, as did almost all of Roman’s previous dates. Sweet guys and bold girls and smart guys and girls with shining smiles who could make Roman happy. But Roman knows it is unfair of him to start a relationship when he’s so clearly enamored with someone else, only for the prospect of “you could make me forget him if I try hard enough”.
And, let’s be honest, Roman doesn’t actually want to forget Virgil. He has bursts of loneliness, and decides that maybe making out with strangers would fix it, but it never does, and all he ever thought during those dates was that these people were. Not. Virgil.
“Hmm?” Roman hums, not really playing attention “He was nice. We had crépes.”
“Will you see him again?” Virgil asks, also playing with his food.
Roman thinks of leather jackets and hybiscus tea and cheap wine and sunsets and laundry soap and black lipstick and purple hair dye and cinnamon and chocolate cake and answers:
“No, I don’t think I will”
They eat in silence, but now it’s awkward, the tension between them so thick you could cut it with a knife.
“Virgil, would you date me?” Roman shoots, before his brain can have any sort of self control “If we were not friends, I mean” he adds, hoping it would make his question less awkward “If you just saw me on the street, would you think that I’m datable?”
It’s a dumb question, and when Virgil inevitably answers no, Roman will be left crushed. However, despite what Roman is sure will happen, Virgil mumbles:
“Who wouldn’t?”
And oh, Roman can’t breathe now, and oh, maybe he’s dreaming, so he manages to stumble out:
“What?” His voice is hoarse and creaky like all air left his lung, what might be truth.
Virgil raises his gaze, and there is a defiance there that makes Roman’s heart skip a beat “I said ‘who wouldn’t?’ and I meant it, Roman. You go on thousands of dates and meet thousands of people” Virgil’s voice is loud, laced with hurt and desperation “but you never stick to them, why?”
“They never... feel right” Roman mumbles, surprised by the sudden outburst of energy emanating from the usually quieter man.
“Why not?” Virgil seems so desperate, Roman can see small tears forming on the corners of his eyes and suddenly he’s wanting all of this to end, for Virgil’s pain to end “They can’t be bad, all of them, for sure! They are handsome, all of them, because you are cute enough to only go out with pretty people, and are none of them nice, datable people? Are none of them able to hook you? Why?”
“I like someone else!” Roman just wanted all of this to be over with, it was about the 5th time Virgil has asked him this, but never with this much sadness, and Roman didn’t like arguing with Virgil.
Virgil looks taken aback, and something looks shattered within him, grief, or something similar, burning in his eyes, but he’s soon back to near-screaming “Who? Who could be so wonderful that you’re unable to love someone else? Who, pray tell, could be that fucking perfect, who could make you, the guy who is oh-so-goddamn-great with romance, blind to those around you?”
“You!” Roman yells, immediately realizing it, and he can’t feel his face, he can’t feel his lungs, his eyes are burning, somehow his heart is beating faster than anything and not beating at all, and his mind is spinning — not in the good, disorientating way Virgil’s smile does, but in the sickening way that panic does “I lo-“ he cuts himself “It’s you”
Virgil’s eyes are wide, the tears running through his face, but his gaze is focused on Roman’s face, like he just said that magic existed and Virgil is rethinking everything he ever knew.
Then Virgil is leaning in, his hand cupping Roman’s face. As Roman leans forward as well, and their mouths meet, all he can think is finally, finally, finally!
Virgil tastes like beer, and Yakisoba, and chocolate cake, and — there’s an unknown taste there, a Virgil taste. Lemon. It’s lemon chapstick.
On the back of his mind (because Roman can’t really think of anything right now except that Virgil is kissing him!), Roman adds that to the list of things that remind him of Virgil.
Summary: Age Gap AU. Kuroo is doing well in high school. His volleyball team is on track to Nationals and his grades aren't even slipping that much. Why his mom thinks he needs a tutor is beyond him.
A story about growing up, moving out, and falling in love. Also found here on AO3.
Fic commission for ali!
[Chapter 2]
Word count: 7,301
"We're going to the convenience store after this," Yaku says as he rummages around in his bag for his uniform. "You coming with us?"
"I can't," Kuroo replies, tackling his hair with more exasperation than usual. "Mom wants me home early today."
"Family stuff?" Yaku asks sympathetically.
"She got me a tutor to prepare for the university entrance exams."
"Not that you need it." Yaku rolls his eyes. "You're a nerd."
Kuroo shrugs. He isn't exactly top student material but his grades have always been on the high side. Sure, he hadn't scored as well as he hoped in the latest tests, but it was still a safe pass and he knows that he can redeem himself the next time. He studies hard, balancing volleyball with school, and his teachers have high hopes for him entering his university of choice. Why his mom thinks he needs a tutor is beyond him.
"Hey, maybe if you're number one in the level for the next tests, she'll call it off," Yaku suggests as he shakes out his crumpled uniform.
"Maybe. Or maybe she'll think that the tutor's helping and keep them." Kuroo knows where he got his particular brand of stubbornness from and it isn't from his dad.
"You could always start failing for a change."
"I need to keep up my grades to play in the Spring High, you know." Kuroo runs his hand through his bedraggled hair one last time and sighs, giving up on it entirely.
The clubroom is all but cleared out by the time Kuroo says goodbye to Yaku and Kai and leaves. The walk home is uneventful without Kenma, who had been dragged off by Yamamoto and Fukunaga in the name of team-bonding, and Kuroo reaches home in less than an hour. There isn't anyone at home as he lets himself in and he checks the board in the kitchen for a reminder his mom had written in.
His tutor is coming over at four in the afternoon, his name is Sawamura Daichi, and Kuroo is to be polite to him, even if Kuroo thinks he doesn't need tutoring. Kuroo rolls his eyes at the last reminder. He is always polite to strangers, even if they don't think he is for some unfathomable reason. His mom had raised him right, but she had also lamented that Kuroo resembled her a little too much, which would only make life difficult for him. Kuroo sees himself in her smirks and glinting eyes, but he likes those parts about her, just as he likes those parts about himself.
Fifteen minutes before four, the doorbell rings and Kuroo trudges downstairs dutifully, already showered and changed out of his school uniform. The low table in his room is set up and a tray of drinks sits on the kitchen counter. His mom would be proud.
Kuroo opens the door to a familiar smirking face, a formidable woman Kuroo only knows too well. She has her hand propped on her hip, her long black hair loose and wild around her shoulders, her eyes glinting in amusement at the unamused look on Kuroo's face.
"Surprise, Tetsu!" Kuroo's mom tosses her hair back as she pushes her way past Kuroo and into their house. "I managed to get a free pass to come home earlier so I could see this new tutor of yours. I've talked to him over the phone a couple of times but I've never actually seen him so I was curious."
"Mom," Kuroo groans, dragging out the word in exasperation. "I can handle this myself."
"Of course you can," Kuroo's mom nods in approval as she spots the tray of drinks on the kitchen counter, "but this isn't about you, Tetsu. As I told you, I've talked to Sawamura-san on the phone a couple of times and he sounds handsome. I just wanted to see what he looks like."
"Doesn't he have Facebook or something?" Kuroo asks.
"Apparently not. The friend who recommended him to me said he isn't much of a social media user."
Kuroo raises an eyebrow. "How old is this guy anyway?"
The doorbell rings again.
Kuroo's mom sweeps past Kuroo in a way that is becoming increasingly familiar as she makes a beeline for the door. By the time Kuroo orientates himself in the direction of the front door, his mom has it open and she is smiling at whoever is on the other side of the door.
"Kuroo-san?" a male voice inquires politely and Kuroo's first thought is that his mom is right—Sawamura does sound handsome. His voice is warm and friendly, carrying a confidence that makes Kuroo straighten his shoulders, determined to make a good first impression.
Kuroo's mom steps aside and Kuroo gets his first look at Sawamura Daichi, unwanted tutor and possessor of a handsome voice. He is shorter than expected, standing a couple of centimetres shorter than his mom and a full handspan shorter than Kuroo, but he is broad and steady in a way that makes him seem bigger. His hair is cropped short, favouring practicality over fashion, and his eyes are a warm brown as they settle on Kuroo. He is handsome, Kuroo would say, but in not in a flashy way. Certainly, not the kind of handsome that would justify his mom's early return home.
"You must be Tetsurou-kun," Sawamura says with a smile as he steps into the Kuroo home.
Kuroo raises a hand in greeting. "Hey. That's me."
Kuroo narrowly avoids the elbow to the ribs his mom sends his way as she ushers Sawamura through the living room and points the way up to Kuroo's room on the second floor. She shoves the tray of drinks into Kuroo's hands with a pointed look and Kuroo shoots her a look of wide-eyed innocence.
On the way up to his room, Kuroo tries gauging Sawamura's age. Old enough that he doesn't live on social media the way Kuroo and his peers do, but young enough that it doesn't show too obviously on him. Sawamura dresses for comfort, a shirt with a cardigan thrown over and jeans, which doesn't help Kuroo when anyone from twenty to sixty years old dresses like that these days. What Kuroo does know is that Sawamura is definitely older than him, but Kuroo can't quite put a finger on how old he is exactly.
Kuroo pushes the door open with his shoulder and Sawamura helps him with it so that Kuroo can safely enter his room while balancing the tray. Kuroo sets it down on the floor beside the table as Sawamura looks around Kuroo's room briefly.
"So," Sawamura says as he takes a seat across the table from Kuroo, "your mother may have already told you this but I'm Sawamura Daichi and I'm here to help you with Economics, History, and Literature. I hear that you're pretty good with Math and Science."
Kuroo resists the urge to shrug. "I'm alright."
"Can you show me your test papers from your previous tests?" Sawamura asks.
Kuroo retrieves the folder he had put together for this purpose, watching as Sawamura flips through them one by one, inspecting the contents of each page. Kuroo isn't nervous. He knows his grades aren't abysmal, but does he feels slightly defensive about the recent dip in his grades. Spring High is right around the corner and that means a rise in the number of practices per week, the number of hours they put into practice, and a significant dip in grades across the team. He had been hoping it wouldn't show too much but his mom had noticed and so here was someone he just met five minutes ago, scrutinising every inch of Kuroo's papers and analysing the mistakes he made in them.
Kuroo could be at the convenience store with Yaku and Kai right now, but if he wants to get into the university of his choice, he knows that his current grades won't make the cut. He stifles a sigh.
Sawamura glances up at him, a corner of his lips quirking upwards. "It's not that bad," he says, exchanging Kuroo's Economics paper for his History paper. "I've seen much worse. Most high school students would weep in joy to get grades like yours."
"But I'm planning to get into Todai," Kuroo says, his fingers drumming restlessly against his knee.
Sawamura hums wordlessly as he flips through Kuroo's Literature paper. "I think you can do it. And if you think you can't, that's what I'm here for."
He isn't exactly boasting, Kuroo doesn't think so. Sawamura says it casually and confidently enough that Kuroo finds himself believing him.
Kuroo blinks. "Do you work as a motivational speaker when you aren't tutoring high school students?"
That gets a proper laugh out of Sawamura, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he says, "I used to do something like that. Motivational speeches have become something of a habit to me after that." Sawamura puts Kuroo's papers down on the table between them, laying them side-by-side and smoothing out the pages. "Now, let's talk about what we can work on to get you into Todai."
---
"So how did your tutoring session go?" Yaku asks as he chomps into a yakisoba bun.
Kuroo waves his hands vaguely, the rest of him draped over the railings by the road outside the convenience store as he slurps coffee milk through a straw.
"Did you get any learning done in that time? Gonna top the level and show your mom that you won't need a tutor anymore?" Yaku prods, munching on noodles and bread.
"It was just one session," Kuroo tells him. "We barely covered anything but the reasons why I sucked in the recent tests."
"What does your tutor look like anyway? Male or female? Young or old?"
Kuroo wrinkles his brow in contemplation, conjuring up Sawamura's image in his mind. Even in his mind's eye, Sawamura radiates warmth and assurance. He had been unfazed by any of Kuroo's questions, school-related or not, answering the relevant ones with enviable ease and deflecting the non-relevant ones professionally. He had also drawn up a study plan for Kuroo that Kuroo had to admit was better than his current one and left his number in case Kuroo had any burning (school-related) questions to ask him. Kuroo had gone into yesterday's tutoring session grudgingly, but he finds that he actually likes Sawamura's methods. It is a confusing time for Kuroo and a day after a tutoring session with Sawamura, he finds that playing the rebellious youth doesn't really suit him. Maybe Yaku was right all along—he is a nerd.
"He's a guy," Kuroo answers, gesturing vaguely in the air with his hands. "He's shorter than me but older than me. He said that he graduated from Todai and that's probably why my mom snapped him up."
Yaku raises an eyebrow. "He graduated from Todai but he's tutoring high school students?"
"Maybe he wants to be a teacher," Kuroo says, feeling strangely defensive of Sawamura. "He's pretty good at motivational speeches."
"You could take a leaf out of his book," Yaku tells Kuroo through a mouthful of yakisoba bun.
"Are you saying that you don't like my motivational speeches?" Kuroo demands, mock-affronted.
"I like them well enough but you could do with fewer words that come straight from our chemistry textbook. Heck, some of them aren't even in there."
"Good. You need the revision anyway."
---
Sawamura sets homework for Kuroo, which makes him want to groan in pain because it isn't as if school doesn't give them enough to do every day. It isn't a lot per se but it is still work and Kuroo can't call himself a high school student if he doesn't grumble about it. Kuroo rushes home after practice on Thursday to get Sawamura's homework done before that day's tutoring session and he manages to finish it just before the doorbell rings.
Kuroo's mom isn't home and Kuroo half-expects to see her smirking face as he opens the front door warily, but it is just Sawamura.
"Ready for another evening of studying?" Sawamura asks as he toes off his shoes at the entryway. Kuroo stifles a groan and he swears he sees Sawamura grin at him. "Thought so. How has your day been anyway, before it was ruined by my presence?"
Kuroo shrugs. "You know, the usual. School, then extracurricular activities."
"You're in the volleyball club, aren't you?" Sawamura asks as they move to Kuroo's room.
"Yeah," Kuroo says, surprised. "Did my mom tell you?"
"Well, there's a volleyball in your room and your track pants has 'Nekoma Volleyball Club' written on it," Sawamura replies, nodding towards the said items in Kuroo's room.
"That's some prime inferencing skills you have there," Kuroo remarks wryly.
"All the better to teach you with, my young student," Sawamura retorts as they sit down at the table. "Now show me what you've done for the week."
As Kuroo produces the practice papers Sawamura had assigned to him, Sawamura rummages around in his bag and places a plastic bag with a familiar logo stamped on it on the table. Sawamura pushes it across the table and the steaming hot aroma of fried food wafts invitingly towards Kuroo.
"Eat this if you get hungry during today's session," Sawamura nudges the mouth of the plastic bag in Kuroo's direction. "I bet you just charged home on an empty stomach to get my homework done on time, didn't you?"
Kuroo doesn't blush—he is too dignified for that—but he does reach into the bag and possibly swoons a bit as his fingers close around a hot packet containing a fat croquette. "Sawamura-san, you are a god to your students."
Sawamura snorts quietly. "You're the most enthusiastic student I've ever had, Tetsurou-kun, but save that for after I get you into Todai."
"What can I say? High school students have low standards for what constitutes as a religion," Kuroo says as he blows on the croquette.
"Believe it or not, university students too," Sawamura says as he starts marking Kuroo's work. "I remember being hungry all the time throughout high school and university."
Kuroo bites into the croquette delicately, trying not to burn his mouth on it, and he glances up at Sawamura as he remembers a question he had from last week. "How old are you anyway, Sawamura-san?"
"How old do I look?" Sawamura asks without looking up from Kuroo's papers.
Kuroo considers Sawamura carefully. There isn't any grey in his hair or any obvious lines in his face, but there are faint crinkles around his eyes when he smiles and an air of maturity about him. His arms and legs are toned, but not in the same way that Kuroo's and his teammates' are from running around all day during practice. His mom had said that Sawamura was a Todai graduate so that would put him at somewhere older than twenty-three. Kuroo frowns. But twenty-three isn't that much older than Kuroo's own seventeen years and Sawamura seems so much older than him.
"Thirty?" Kuroo hazards a guess.
Sawamura's face is impassive but Kuroo swears he sees a muscle jump in Sawamura's jaw. "I'm not telling you."
"What? But I made a guess," Kuroo most definitely does not whine, but he comes close to it.
"I didn't say I would tell you if you were right or wrong," Sawamura points out. "I'm only being paid to tell you if you're answering these questions" —he flicks his pen at the papers he is marking— "correctly."
Kuroo is grudgingly impressed by Sawamura's line of argumentation, even though it is incredibly petty of Sawamura. "I'm going to ask my mom."
"Go ahead," Sawamura says graciously as he pulls out a familiar sheaf of paper from his bag and slides it across the table without batting an eye. "But do that on your own time. For now, I want you to answer these questions."
---
"I have no idea how old he is," Kuroo's mom says over dinner. "You know, I don't think I actually asked."
"Wouldn't that be one of the first things you'd ask a potential tutor for your son?" Kuroo asks, aghast.
"It's not like he's an axe murderer or anything." His mom shrugs. "I knew that he was a Todai graduate and he seems like a nice and polite man."
"If I end up chopped in half with an axe, it's all on you, mom," Kuroo grouses.
"Once you're off to university, you're gonna have to figure out who's an axe murderer and who isn't by yourself, kiddo." His mom waves a spoon at him. "I won't be there to vet everyone who enters your life all the time."
"I know, I know." Kuroo waves his spoon in return before digging into his food. He isn't that hungry after all the croquettes he ate but food is food and as lean as he is, Kuroo's stomach is a bottomless pit.
He and his mom have talked about Kuroo going to university before and his mom had said it would be best for Kuroo to get an apartment off-campus that was close to school. But this also means that Kuroo will have to move out of the Kuroo home, leaving his mom all alone in a house that was too big for two, let alone one. For most of his life, it has just been his mom and him and thinking about moving out makes Kuroo's stomach squirm.
"Not hungry?" his mom asks as Kuroo pokes at his food, lost in thought. "Or is that your way of telling me my food's not great?"
Kuroo shakes his head and starts shovelling rice into his mouth.
---
Kuroo gets a Thursday off from Sawamura's tutoring sessions when it so happens that the last qualifying match for Nationals falls on that very day and Kuroo has a match to be had against Nohebi and that snake, Daishou. He wishes they could have won their match against Fukurodani and avoided facing off against Nohebi because Nohebi plays dirty and Kuroo hates risking any of his teammates getting injured during their match.
They play warily, they play well, and they win, but be it out of bad luck or the sheer pressure Nohebi exerts on them, Yaku comes out of it with a sprained ankle and Kuroo rips a nail on a failed receive. It is still bleeding after the match and Kuroo winces as he peels back the bandages and resolves to leave it for home. They are packing up and ready to move out when Kuroo glances around the venue one last time. Sometime during the match, Kuroo swears that he had seen Daishou's ex-girlfriend, Mika, and he scans the stands for her, wondering if this means that Daishou still has hope with patching things up with her.
Instead of Mika, Kuroo finds a familiar face, one he hadn't expected to see in the sports hall, and he startles as Sawamura waves at him. Sawamura looks relaxed, his elbows resting on the railings at the front of the stands. He is in neutral territory, neither on Nekoma's nor Nohebi's side of the stands, and Kuroo feels somewhat reassured by that as he waves back at him.
"Someone you know?" Kai asks as he comes up beside Kuroo with Yaku leaning on his shoulder.
"Yeah. I hadn't expected to see him here though," Kuroo says, slinging his arm around Yaku's shoulders and taking some of his weight off Kai.
"Who is he?" Yaku asks, peering in Sawamura's direction.
"The tutor that my mom hired."
"That's him? What is he doing here?" Yaku asks. Then his face splits into a grin as he remembers, "Oh wait, don't you have a session today? What are you still doing here when you should be off getting some learning done?"
Kuroo nudges Yaku. "I'm off today. In case you haven't noticed, we have an important match today."
"Lucky for you." Yaku nudges right back, sticking a sharp elbow into Kuroo's side mercilessly. "Having to study on your birthday would suck."
"And playing in a qualifying match for Nationals on my birthday doesn't suck?" Kuroo asks, raising an eyebrow at Yaku.
"No way. It's the best thing that could happen on your birthday." Yaku grins.
Kuroo grins right back.
"You should say hello to him," Kai remarks from Yaku's other side, bringing their attention back to Sawamura. "He might be here to see you."
"Why would he be?" Kuroo asks, surprised.
"Perhaps he's a dedicated tutor who takes interest in his student's activities beyond their studies," Kai suggests mildly.
That... sort of sounds like Sawamura, but even for him, coming all the way down to cheer on a student he only sees for two hours per week seems extreme.
They vacate the court for the next team to start their warmups and Kuroo leaves Yaku with Kai and the rest of the team as he climbs up to the stands where he saw Sawamura. Sawamura is still there, watching the ongoing match attentively. His posture is relaxed, but a line of tension runs from his neck down to his spine. From this angle, there is a light in Sawamura's eyes that Kuroo hasn't seen before as he tracks the back and forth between the two teams still playing on the court.
Sawamura doesn't even notice Kuroo when he stops beside him and Kuroo flounders, unsure if he should interrupt Sawamura when he looks this engrossed in the match. Then Sawamura turns his head, distracted by the lanky figure in white and red hovering near him, and a smile spreads across his face.
"Hey," Sawamura says, gesturing for Kuroo to join him and Kuroo takes a step forward, copying Sawamura's pose and leaning his elbows on the railings. "Good match you played there."
"Everyone's been training really hard for this," Kuroo tells him, suddenly feeling self-conscious knowing that Sawamura had been watching his match.
"I can tell. Your team's like a well-oiled machine when it comes to team plays," Sawamura says, going back to watching the match below them. "I'm envious."
"Do you play volleyball?" Kuroo asks.
"I used to, in high school just like you," Sawamura replies, a wistful look entering his eyes. "Then I continued in university until things got too hectic and I dropped it entirely."
"Do you miss it?"
Sawamura smiles a bit, but there is something sad about it as Kuroo looks at him, framed by the clash of action and noise on the courts below and the glaring lights on the ceiling above him. He doesn't look as out of place in the sports hall as Kuroo had first thought; it was just that Kuroo had grown so used to seeing Sawamura in his room, bent over his table and marking Kuroo's papers with a red pen, that it had seemed odd for Kuroo to see him anywhere else.
"A little," Sawamura admits. "You should know how great it feels to stand on court and feel like you could do anything with your teammates around you."
"I do." Kuroo knows what Sawamura means and part of him aches whenever he thinks about how this is his last year with Nekoma. "What position did you play?"
"I was a wing spiker. You're a middle blocker, aren't you?" A corner of Sawamura's mouth quirks up as he grins at Kuroo. "And the captain too."
Kuroo doesn't blush—he never blushes—but his face is overheated from exertion and he thinks he should have spent more time cooling down instead of coming straight to find Sawamura. "It was the will of the people. I won through popular vote."
"I think they made a good choice," Sawamura says approvingly. "I was watching your match."
Kuroo remembers what Kai had said about Sawamura being here to watch him and he swallows, suddenly nervous as he blurts out, "Did you come here to watch my match?"
Sawamura's eyes widen in surprise and Kuroo knows that he got it wrong even before Sawamura opens his mouth. "I come here to watch the volleyball matches from time to time, especially since it's the Spring High now," Sawamura says, somewhat apologetically, which makes Kuroo want to hide behind one of the seats in the stands and possibly never come out again. "But I knew that your match was today and that it was a qualifying match so I definitely wanted to see that. Speaking of which," Sawamura changes the subject before Kuroo can spontaneously self-destruct, "how are your fingers? I thought I saw blood when you were wrapping them up."
"Oh, they'll be fine," Kuroo says, wiggling his mummified fingers at Sawamura. "It's just a torn nail."
"You better get that cleaned up as soon as possible."
Kuroo nods, jerking his thumb towards the exit. "Actually, I think I should get back to my team before they send out a rescue team for me."
Sawamura chuckles. "You better get going then. And don't forget that next Thursday's session is on as usual."
Kuroo groans, probably more dramatically than needed, and Sawamura goes back to watching the ongoing match as Kuroo turns tail and flees, still mortified that he had even thought that Sawamura might be here for him.
---
Nationals come and go in a blink of an eye and in spring, Kuroo finds himself buried in mock tests and study guides. Volleyball practices and matches have become a thing of the not-so-distant past and Kuroo spends more time indoors studying than running around in school gyms. That door is closed and Kuroo has to work fervently to wrench open another door for himself in the upcoming entrance exams.
Sawamura comes in three times a week now, bringing with him more papers to do, more study plans to adhere to, and more snacks for Kuroo to munch on while he studies. Now that the Nationals are over and the responsibilities of the Nekoma Volleyball Team have been handed over to the second years, everything in his life has narrowed down to the sole goal of getting into Tokyo University. And, frankly, it is just about driving Kuroo crazy.
The thing is, Nationals had just ended for Nekoma a week ago and Kuroo is still smarting from their loss to the Miyagi powerhouse, Shiratorizawa. It was a respectable loss and Nekoma had made it much further than anyone had expected so Kuroo, Yaku, and Kai could step down with pride. But a loss is still a loss and it grates on Kuroo like salt in a raw wound. They could have gone so much further, stayed for so much longer, perhaps even won it all. Kuroo wants to believe they could have and that he would never have to leave Nekoma.
He doesn't want to be studying for entrance exams or be cooped up at home all day, reading until his eyes blur and writing until his hands are smudged with ink. He wants to be doing something.
"Okay, stop," Sawamura calls out and Kuroo shoves his mock test paper away, having barely answered any of the questions. It is disappointing for him and he looks at his lap so that he doesn't see the disapproval on Sawamura's face.
Sawamura sighs, plucking the paper out from under Kuroo's hands. Silence fills the room, muffling the sounds filtering through Kuroo's open window and expanding outwards from the both of them at the table until Kuroo breaks first.
He looks up, his shoulders tense and his jaw clenched, and Sawamura looks back at him from across the table, one hand propped under his chin and his other hand resting on the table. Sawamura doesn't say anything but he raises an eyebrow and Kuroo takes personal offence to that.
"What?" Kuroo snaps, hunching in on himself. Sitting face-to-face like this, Kuroo is still taller than Sawamura but he has never felt it when Sawamura has always seemed so much bigger than Kuroo. He hates Sawamura's unflappable calm and bottomless pool of knowledge and the way he feeds Kuroo right answers and snacks in equal parts until he wants to burst.
His mom has always said that Kuroo was a patient child with a slow temper, but looking at Sawamura's impassive face now, Kuroo thinks she had been wrong. Kuroo feels prickly now, full of spines pushing out of his skin and pointing outwards, daring the nearest person to just try to touch him.
"You know, I'm surprised it took this long for you to snap," Sawamura remarks lightly.
Kuroo glares at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I've been tutoring you for almost half a year now and you're the most infuriatingly good-natured, studious, and ambitious student I've ever had," Sawamura says. "I was expecting you to shut me out of your house by December, honestly."
"I'm not any of that," Kuroo replies heatedly.
"I've been pushing you too hard," Sawamura sighs. "You never showed signs of flagging while managing your academics and volleyball career so I got ambitious with you."
"I messed up my 'volleyball career' so I'm not surprised the other one is going the same way," Kuroo says bitterly.
"You did not mess up your volleyball career."
"Tell that to Ushiwaka," Kuroo bites out. "Tell that to my team."
"Ushijima Wakatoshi is a perfectly fine young man who doesn't deserve your vitriol," Sawamura says mildly. "And your team loves you. When I watch your matches, all I see is a team of players who look up to and respect their captain."
"Well, they're wrong," Kuroo says forcefully and he feels his gut twist in guilt. "They picked the wrong captain."
"Okay, fine." Sawamura nods. "They were wrong. They picked the wrong captain. The popular vote failed them. Kuroo Tetsurou should not have been Nekoma's captain. What else?"
"You were wrong about me too."
"About what?"
"I'm not good-natured or studious or ambitious or anything. I just want to—" Kuroo runs out of breath on that sentence and he finds that he doesn't know how to complete it. He wants to go to a good university, he wants to make his mom proud, he wants to do Sawamura's tutoring justice, but what does he want?
When Kuroo looks up at Sawamura, he doesn't see the answer there and Sawamura gazes back at him, his eyes steady and kind. "When was the last time you took a break from your studies, Tetsurou-kun? Went outside for a while?"
"I'm not wilting from the lack of sunlight or something." Kuroo scowls.
Sawamura shrugs. "You might be. You're looking a little limp around the edges." He gestures towards his hair.
As Kuroo checks his hair with his hands, outraged, Sawamura starts packing up. There is still an hour left on the clock and Sawamura puts the papers back into their folders and the folders into his bag. Kuroo drops his hands from his hair, feeling a pang of disappointment in his chest. "Are you leaving?"
"Yup." Sawamura nods, zipping up his bag. "And so are you."
"What?" Kuroo asks blankly.
"We're going for a walk to stretch those legs." Sawamura stands and his gaze drifts to Kuroo's hair again. "Maybe even get some sunlight for that house plant of yours."
"Ha ha," Kuroo mutters but Sawamura is already out of the door, without turning back to see if Kuroo is following behind.
Kuroo stays right where he is, determined to be stubborn. But after five minutes pass without Sawamura reappearing at his door, Kuroo shifts his legs restlessly, uncrossing one after another. He is pretty sure that Sawamura leaving in the middle of a tutoring session would be considered as skipping out on work. He should just tell his mom that Sawamura did that and be free of a tutor like he wanted from the start.
But somehow, Kuroo finds himself shoving his phone in his pocket and leaving his room, descending the stairs to find Sawamura looking up at him from the front door.
"Don't forget your keys," Sawamura reminds him as he holds the door open for Kuroo.
---
"Now what?" Kuroo asks, unimpressed as Sawamura leads him meandering through the neighbourhood. It isn't anything he hasn't seen before since he lives here, just houses and then the shopping district further down.
Sawamura shrugs. "I don't know. I'm going home. What about you?"
Kuroo scowls at him, turning on his heel to stalk back home, but Sawamura catches him by the arm before he can leave.
"I was kidding," Sawamura says, tugging gently at Kuroo's arm until Kuroo starts walking again. A meditative silence falls between them as they walk on until Sawamura breaks it with, "Do you really think you played badly against Shiratorizawa at the Nationals?"
Kuroo shoves his hands in his pockets. "We lost against them."
"That's the outcome," Sawamura says. "What I was asking is if your team was in any way slacking off or just plain bad at their plays during the course of the match?"
"No, not them," Kuroo says defensively, thinking of his team.
"Then was it you?" Sawamura asks mildly. "Did you single-handedly bring about Nekoma's downfall with your terrible captaincy?"
Kuroo grits his teeth. He wants to say yes, remembering the phantom touch of all the balls he failed to save on court. But a kinder voice whispers in his head that no, he didn't. He had played just as hard as everyone else on the team, gave it his all until the last ball had fallen on court. It hadn't been his team's fault or his fault. It had simply been a good match fought between two teams that had needed a winner and loser by the end of it all.
Sawamura is still eyeing him expectantly, waiting for an answer, and Kuroo deflates, all the hot air blowing right out of him. Maybe his mom had been right about him after all. Slow to anger and quick to fade. This still doesn't mean that he is going to give Sawamura the satisfaction of an answer so Kuroo just trudges along, bringing back the silence between Sawamura and him.
But Sawamura doesn't seem to mind as he keeps pace with Kuroo, a strangely comforting presence beside him as he walks through the neighbourhood. They reach a park and Sawamura ambles into it, leaving Kuroo no choice but to follow him in. A food truck is parked near the entrance, plastered with posters of brightly coloured crepes, and Sawamura walks right up to it, looking at Kuroo over his shoulder as he asks, "Which flavour do you want?"
Five minutes later, Kuroo finds himself sitting on a park bench beside Sawamura with a crepe in hand. Spring is in full bloom and the trees are bursting with life, vivid colours painting the park around them in a pretty picture. Anger feels like a misplaced emotion in this setting and Kuroo nibbles at the edge of his crepe, frustrated and uncertain about how he is supposed to feel at all now.
"I was a captain like you in high school," Sawamura says casually, as if they had been having a pleasant conversation all along and he was just continuing it. "I said I was envious of your team because my team was full of complete hooligans."
Kuroo side-eyes Sawamura, trying to think of him as a hooligan in high school.
"Not in the way you think," Sawamura says, noticing Kuroo's doubtful look. "We weren't gangsters and delinquents but we were mismatched and a rough fit for each other. Our ace had the face of a thug but he had the most fragile glass heart ever and our vice-captain looked like an angel but was really the devil in disguise." Sawamura shakes his head, a rueful smile on his face. "And don't even get me started on our first year weirdoes."
"Were you guys any good?" Kuroo asks, trying to think of the colourful characters Sawamura described coming together as a team. It could happen, Kuroo decides, thinking of his own team. They had their fair share of weirdoes too and they still managed to make things work.
"We got to the Nationals," Sawamura says, munching on his crepe. "And I was appropriately bitter because the possibility of winning it all had been so close before it got shut down right in front of us."
"That must have sucked," Kuroo says sarcastically.
Sawamura nods. "So much. And the worst part is that I still had for study for the entrance exams right afterwards."
"Sounds like a living nightmare."
"And my goal was Todai and you know how hard it is to get into Todai."
"Absolutely."
"But in the end, I got in. I had to kick my ass into gear, my friends had to kick my ass into gear, and it was the worst thing I had ever experienced," Sawamura says. "But I got in, and here I am now, tutoring ambitious young volleyball captains who go around with bedhead and treating them to crepes in the middle of their tutoring sessions."
"Is this the part where you say 'And you can do it too, Tetsurou-kun'?"
"Nah, I was just telling you my story," Sawamura says, finishing his crepe cleanly. "What are you going to do, Tetsurou-kun?"
Kuroo stares, blinking slowly as he realises that this is the second time Sawamura has pulled this on him in a day. "I'd call you an asshole but my mom told me to be polite to you."
"Thank goodness you didn't call me that then," Sawamura says wryly. "I'd have to tell her."
The urge to laugh bubbles up in Kuroo's chest, sudden and intense. He is acutely aware that his crepe is dripping melted ice cream all over his hand and he applies his tongue to his hand hurriedly. When he stares at the mushy, melted mess folded into his crepe, the corners of his lips tug upwards and he starts guffawing quietly into his crepe before he realises that he can't stop. Kuroo leans over, trying to stem the flow of ugly laughter that pours out of his throat and the sudden tears that drip onto the ground under him like the start of a rainstorm.
His crepe is all but ruined but it feels good to be laughing and crying out loud, his stomach curled in tight on itself until he takes a deep breath and realises that the knots in his chest have loosened. Sawamura isn't looking at him but he is still there with Kuroo on the bench, a silent, reassuring presence as he pats his back soothingly.
"Which high school were you from?" Kuroo asks once he can speak again, all the ugly noises in his throat dissolving into hiccups as he wipes his eyes on his sleeves.
"I'm not telling you now," Sawamura says. As Kuroo turns to look at Sawamura accusingly, Sawamura continues, "But how about this? When you get into Todai, I'll tell you which high school I went to. I think you would have heard of us."
"What, were you from Shiratorizawa?" Kuroo croaks, exasperated. "Should I give you a running start when you tell me that Ushiwaka is your junior?'
"There's only one way to find out." Sawamura laughs, a bright sound in the fading evening, warm in a way that makes Kuroo's face tingle with heat. He hadn't felt like this before leaving the house or in the entire week after Nekoma's loss. But somehow, with Sawamura here by his side, Kuroo feels like everything might turn out to be okay after all.
---
Me (12.15pm): I GOT INTO TODAI
Me (12.17pm): <( ˘ ︶ ˘ )>
Me (12.17pm): So spill it, Sawamura. Which high school were you from?
Me (12.18pm): *Sawamura-san
Me (10.00pm): Sawamura-san?
Me (1.23am): Sawamura-san???
---
Two days after Kuroo receives his acceptance letter from Tokyo University, the doorbell rings.
His mom isn't home so Kuroo makes his way down the stairs, yawning as he goes to answer the door. He had been catnapping, making up for all the sleep he lost over the past few months. It feels good to finally get a period of extended rest after all that intensive studying and he feels it in his head, in his bones, in his back, how much he needed to do nothing but sleep.
Sawamura still hasn't answered any of his text messages and Kuroo tries not to feel too hopeful as he opens the door. As expected, it isn't Sawamura, just a deliveryman with a package for Kuroo and Kuroo takes the package from him glumly. It isn't only after Kuroo has shut the door that he remembers that he hadn't been expecting anything.
Kuroo eyes the package suspiciously. It is a nondescript thing, a standard flat, rectangular cardboard box. It doesn't rattle when he shakes it but it has a decent weight to it when he holds it in his hands. Curiosity gets the better of him and Kuroo takes a penknife to it carefully.
A book sits inside, with a sleek black cover and a ribbon bookmark down the middle. It is a planner and Kuroo flips through the empty pages, confused as to why it would have been sent to him. A familiar handwriting catches his eye on the first page and he flips back to it hurriedly. The name "Sawamura" jumps out at him and Kuroo's shoulders relax as he reads the words written on the page:
"Congratulations on getting into Todai, Tetsurou-kun!
Not to exaggerate but I knew you could do it. You're good-natured, studious, and ambitious (don't fight me on this—I'm your senior), and you've worked so hard over the past year, I would be surprised if you didn't get into Todai. Keep it up and you'll get far not only in your academics, but in life.
This planner is a little congratulations-for-getting-into-the-university-of-your-dreams present from me and I hope you use it well in your coming school year. Life is going to get hectic for you very soon so you're going to need some help mapping out your future.
P.S: To answer your question, I was from Karasuno High School."
There is a drawing of a crow in the bottom corner of the page, accompanied by a scribble that reads, "Crows rule the trash heap", and Kuroo realises what that means. He has heard stories from his seniors, from Naoi-sensei, from Nekomata-sensei, about a rivalry between Nekoma and a school in Miyagi by the name of Karasuno. The cats and the crows, they had been called, and their rivalry had been affectionately called "The Battle of the Trash Heap". They had fallen out of contact by the time Kuroo entered Nekoma but he had always been intrigued by the idea that his school had a rival once and a whole history between them built around a promise that they would meet at the top.
Kuroo thinks about Sawamura's team as he had described them, the colourful characters that had come together and made it all the way to the Nationals, just as Kuroo had done with his team. For certain, Sawamura had known about the past between Nekoma and Karasuno. If they had been the same age, Kuroo's team would have faced off against the very same team of hooligans that Sawamura described. Kuroo would have faced off against Sawamura. Things might have been different.
Kuroo might have been able to tell Sawamura what he really thought of him.
"Asshole," Kuroo mutters under his breath, now that neither his mom nor Sawamura are here to hear him. He traces his finger over the black ink crow Sawamura had drawn in his planner, rereads the message Sawamura had written for him, and grins.
Can I request headcanons of Akira's s.o. at first being untrusting of him because of his records but later on warms up to him? Thank you! I really love your writing
*Thank you <3
Day 1:
We had a new kid today.
He sat in the chair to the left of mine. There was nothing outwardly scary about him at first, really: black hair, tall, wide-rimmed glasses, kind of on the lanky side; introduced himself to the classby saying ‘nice to meet you’ in a cute and demure way. Everything you’dexpect from a normal transfer student.
Suppose I shouldn’t have judged a book by its cover though,because there had been rumours floating about him left and right.
Even before I first saw his face today, people had told me that he was in the middle of probation after a short sentence in prison, and thathe was infamous in his old school for being kind of a troublemaker. I knew for afact he had a criminal record, because Mr Kamoshida told everyone in his P.E classto watch out for him, (‘girls especially,’ he said, looking at a few of us inturn, ‘should do everything to avoid being alone with him,’) so I was kind of inclinedto believe the rest.
Missed the first two lessons on the first day, too. Kawakamitold us he was ill, but I thought that was bullshit.
Day 3:
He still hadn’t received any of his own books by today.
Kawakami had been telling me tolet him use mine so far, but honestly I was starting to get kind of annoyed with it. Notnecessarily because I thought he’d try anything in class, but because I kept thinking that the less contact I had with him, the better. Don’t really want to be involved with people like him; it’s best to stay out of their business.
Day 4:
Today, he caught me staring at him. To be frank, I just didn’t feel safe when he was out of my line of sight, so I’d actually been staring at him a whole lot. It was probably inevitable that he would catch me eventually.
Immediately, I looked down and didn’t look at him for the rest of the lesson. Honestly sprinted out of that class when it was done and didn’t lookback, cause I was convinced he wasgonna confront me about it. You can probably imagine I nearly shat myselfwhen he ran out after me and tapped me on the shoulder. Totally thought thatwas the end; like amen, you did good in this life, thanks for coming everyone.But he just looked at me in a kind of awkward way with his hand in his pocketand gave me my book back after telling me I left it behind.
My heart was still hammering in my throat, so I apologisedand just grabbed it off him before running off again. Kind of felt like anidiot though. He was just being nice.
Day 7:
Positive I heard cat noises coming from beneath his desktoday. I looked at the guy that sat behind him to make sure I wasn’t imagining things, but he just shrugged.
Day 10:
I knew it! He totally had a cat in his desk!
I saw it jump into his bag as he was leaving the lesson, and then its tail popped out for a second. I imagine no-one has snitched on it yet because they’re afraid of him.
Day 11:
Me and a friend met in the library for a study session. A couple minutes in, the transfer student came. Literally as soon as he appeared, the room erupted into gossip; every single conversation turned to him. My friendtried to get us to leave cause she was scared, but I just went back to studying and told her she was being stupid. I think I kind of started to feel bad for him.
Realistically, I know he probablydid something in his old school to get a criminal record, but it’s hardly fair to leave him out of a second chance, especially with how ridiculous some of these rumours are getting. I mean, kill streak? Really? In what world would a serial killer be allowed to attend school like a regular student?
Day 20:
He hasn’t answered a single question in class incorrectly so far. I haven’t seen him in the library for a while, though.
I wonder where he studies.
Day 23:
Today marked the first rain I’d seen for three weeks. Rudely started out of nowhere in class, while I was totally unprepared; no umbrella or anything. After school, I popped down to the diner for a coffee, cause I didn’t feel like walking home in therain, and I saw the transfer kid studying in the corner alone.
Kind of wanted to say hi, but his criminal record scared me off. Besides, I didn’t really want to ignore Kamoshida’s advice. The kid seemed fine in school, but he might have acted differently had there been no teachers to keep an eye on him. Instead, I just got some coffee and left as soon as the rain let up.
Day 24:
My classmates kept talking about him right in front of his face. I’m positive he heard, but he just kept his head down.
I haven’t even seen him touch a single personsince he came here.
Day 28:
The past few days, the history teacher has made it a point to keep asking the transfer student increasingly ridiculous questions until he gets onewrong. Today, I saw this really dumb, smug look on his face after he finally pressed a wrong answer out of him. Had the balls to tell him to study more, too.
I got so annoyed with him that I turned to the student and said there were other people in the class as well. The teacher musthave been eavesdropping though, cause I got told to stand outside and had tosee the principal after school. The transfer kid looked kind of surprised.
Kind of got the vibe he wasn’t used to having people stand up for him.
Day 29:
Got caught in the rain today. Really wouldn’t mind normally,but I had a Yakisoba pan in my bag and I didn’t want it to get soggy. I waitedunder the school roof for like half an hour doing absolutely nothing at all,until transfer kid walked out with an umbrella. I must have been eyeing it alittle funny (to be honest, I was just angry I hadn’t packed mine again sincethe last time it rained) cause he turned to me and offered his.
I was kind of shell-shocked, so I just said no. He asked me if I was sure, and when I said I was, he just smiled and told me not to get sick before leaving.
By God, his smile was cute.
Day 31:
I got sick. He was right; I should have taken that umbrella.
Day 32:
Everyone avoided me today cause I kept sneezing in class. I think they’re all bitch-ass losers afraid of a cold, but whatever.
Day 33:
My parents called in sick for me so I could study in the diner instead. It was a super dreary day, and I knew for a fact I was gonna get caught out in the middle of the rain again, but I just kind of accepted it this time. I was already ill so I didn’t really care.
Roughly after school time, the place filled up with other students. I was safe for a little while, cause no one wanted to sit next to the girl that kept sniffling. At least until the transfer kid came in. There weren’t any spare spaces apart from the ones opposite me, and I kind of felt bad cause I knew for a fact I’d taken his spot. When he looked over in my direction, it seemed like he was gonna decide to just leave and give up on studying in the cafe, but when I smiled and waved at him he changed his mind and sat down.
Looked a little surprised, but I think he was glad. Seemed like he didn’t want to sit next to me in case I found him scary or something.
We had a short conversation about schoolwork, and I got a coughing fit somewhere in the middle. To his credit, he didn’t look disgusted or anything, (even asked if I was alright,) but I still felt a bit embarrassed, so I asked him if he had any reservations sitting next to the sick girl. He just laughed and asked if I had any reservations sitting next to the delinquent. I think we shared a bit of a moment.
Found out his name, too.
Day 34:
Today the history teacher was being even more of an ass to Akira. Getting sent out again would have been kind of a pain, so I just googled the answers and whispered them to him until the teacher got bored and picked on someone else. He looked really grateful for it.
Day 36:
The diner was full today when I tried to go. Looking up ‘study cafes’ brought me to this cute little one in Yongen-Jaya called ‘Leblanc.’ The owner seemed kind of crabby, but it was quiet and I managed to get a lot of work done, so I think I’ll be coming back.
Day 39:
I was the only person in Leblanc for almost the entire day. It was so peaceful, I think I dozed off, cause I solved a couple of maths equations and next thing I knew it was almost seven in the evening. The owner looked kind of embarrassed, too, like felt bad about not having the heart to wake me up.
I was getting ready to pack up when the bell rang and someone else walked in. Thought it was kind of weird that a customer would be coming in at that time, cause I was pretty sure the cafe was supposed to be closing in like ten minutes. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be Akira, still in his school uniform, iconic black and white cat in his bag and everything.
In a weird way, it was kind of nice to see him. I hadn’t talked to him since the start of the week, and it was kind of a shame after that little moment we shared in the diner. He seemed happy to see me too, cause he smiled when I waved at him. The cute grin disappeared when owner of the cafe approached him and whispered something in his ear, though.
Akira replied in a really hushed tone, but I could still lip-read something along the lines of: ‘wrong idea’, and ‘just a friend,’ before the owner gave him a sly smile and announced he was closing up shop early. He asked me if I wanted to stay for a bit longer, and I didn’t really, but I felt rude leaving when he was offering. I ended up saying I would prefer to study for a bit longer if it was alright, and he said that it was no problem, and that Akira would lock the door when I was ready to leave.
I knew he could tell that I looked unsure, so I think the next thing he said was to reassure me. “Akira over here lives in the attic and helps me out sometimes,” he said, hanging the keys to him. “He’s more reliable than he seems though, so don’t worry.”
Nice guy, really. Shame he was kind of grumpy to his other customers.
Akira seemed kind of awkward when we were left alone. It made me feel like maybe it was because I was half-invading his home without proper acquaintance; this was kind of his door-way, after all, and I was staying way past my welcome. When I thought about it later, I was positive the owner only let me stay because he thought I was waiting for Akira the whole time.
It was up to me to break the silence then, and although I thought about asking him to show me round the attic, I decided against it. It was his room, after all, and asking to see a guy’s room so late in the evening would have sent all kinds of messages. So I asked him about his life in school instead, and ended up feeling super bad. Literally never seen a smile that was so shattered. He just rubbed the back of his head and said “yeah, it’s been rough.”
Got so annoyed at everyone. In that moment, I didn’t give single crap about what he’d done in his past. I just wanted to tell everyone in school to lay off and give him a break.
Maybe it was kind of stepping out of line a little, but I told him that if anyone was ever giving him shit, he should come to me and I would stand up for him.
Over time, he opened up a little about his criminal record. He told me the full story of the apparent ‘assault’, and it honestly just made me furious. I was angry at everyone who was talking about him behind his back, angry at everyone who was blowing the rumours up, angry at Mr Kamoshida for making things seem more dire than they were. Angry at myself, too, for believing in that bullshit. I told him I was gonna go out of my way to correct people if I ever heard them talk, and he just shrugged and told me he was used to it and that I shouldn’t worry or I could be dragged down with him.
Right, as if I was just gonna take that. Next person who talks shit gets a lecture from yours truly.