32. we’ve been arguing for the last six years about everything and the only thing we can agree on right now is the fact that being snowed in the office together sucks - Kyoutani & Tsukishima
Wintry Prompts
Keistared at the drifting snow. It was peaceful now, as though theblizzard that had raged not half an hour earlier had never happened.The office was silent, empty except for himself and Kyoutani, who haddisappeared five minutes before. Kei sighed. There would be no goinghome tonight. The snow was drifted nearly to the second storywindows, and it would take time for them to dig him out.
Nearly-silentfootsteps sounded behind him, his only warning before a mug ofsomething hot plunked down next to his elbow.
“What’sthis?” Kei asked, staring at the mug.
“It’shot chocolate. What’s it look like?” Kyoutani grunted, sippingfrom his own mug. Kei stared at him. “What.”
“Isit poisoned?” he asked. Kyoutani snorted, not bothering to give himan answer. Kei shrugged mentally and picked the mug up. It was piledseveral inches high with whipped cream, exactly the way Kei liked it.He narrowed his eyes at Kyoutani, but took a sip.
Flavordanced on his tongue. Creamy chocolate and a touch of cinnamon. Hebit back a groan of pleasure, and Kyoutani snorted at him again.
“What?”he snapped.
“You’vegot a little-” Kyoutani tapped his nose. Kei went cross-eyed to seethe glob of whipped cream on the end of his nose. He felt himselfflushing as he wiped it off.
“Whyare you being so nice to me?” Kei muttered, setting his mug down.“It is poisoned, isn’t it?”
“No,”Kyoutani growled, then he took a deep breath and his tense shouldersrelaxed. “I wanted to call a truce,” he said. “We’re stuckhere together at least until morning. We may as well not rip eachother’s throats out.”
Keididn’tknow what to say to that. The fact of the matter was, he wanted to beripping each other’s throats out. Because the fighting, theconstant arguing and bickering and picking at each other distractedhim from the truth. And more importantly, it hid the truth fromKyoutani.
Butnow, Kei was tired. He was tired of fighting, he was tired of beingconstantly on-guard, he was tired of everything. He was physicallyexhausted. He picked up his mug and gave Kyoutani the smallest ofsmiles. Kyoutani grunted at him and took a sip of his own hotchocolate. Then he set it down and crossed his arms, looking Kei upand down. “What?”Kei asked.
“I’mwondering when you’re going to disagree with me,” Kyoutani said.
“I’mnot going to,” Kei told him. “For once, you’re right. We’rebetter off calling a truce.”
“Good,”Kyoutani said. “Because you’re too cute to constantly put down.”
“What?”Kei hissed, feeling the blush creep up the back of his neck.
“Youheard me,” Kyoutani said. Kei set his mug down and stepped closerto Kyoutani.
“I’mnot sure I did,” he said. “Maybe you need to be a little moreclear.”
Kyoutanisnorted and reached up to pat Kei on the cheek. “Maybenext time, sweetheart. When you aren’t delirious and we both have achoice about being together.”
“I’mfree next Thursday,” Kei whispered. “How about dinner.”
Kyoutanismiled at him, and Kei’sbreath caught in his throat. “Thursday sounds good,” Kyoutanisaid. “Now, I’m going to go break into the vending machine on thethird floor. See you around.”
Keiwatched Kyoutani go, thinking that this blizzard was the best thingthat could have happened today.
Me: Purple is a sad color, I think.My mom: Break the fuckers up!T rating for language and content warning for breakup-makeup.
Thelast of Kentarou’s bags were piled by the door. He made a lastsweep of the apartment, making sure he hadn’t forgotten anythingirreplaceable. He ignored Iwaizumi entirely, sure that if he so muchas looked at him it would be too much and he would stay.
Hecouldn’tstay. This was for Iwaizumi’s own good. He deserved to be withsomeone… sweet. Someone happy. Someone other than snarly,irrational, bitter Kentarou. Someone who made Iwaizumi happy.
Kentarouwasn’tthat person. So for both of their sakes, he was leaving.
Hepicked up his bags and stared at the door, sure that whether helooked back or he stepped forward, there was no going back fromeither. He heard a sniffle behind him and he just had to look.
“What’swrong.” It was gruff and rude, just like everything Kentarou eversaid. He winced. Iwaizumi deserved to be handled with gentleness. Heturned to apologize in some way or another, only to startle at thesight of Iwaizumi so close behind him. There were tears streakingdown his face and a heartbroken twist to his lips. He reached out andtangled his fingers in the hem of Kentarou’s shirt.
“Stay,”he whispered. “Please.”
“Ican’t.” Iwaizumi nodded and let Kentarou go. He turned away andpadded down the hall. Kentarou heard their bedroom door shut -Iwaizumi’sbedroom door, not theirs anymore - and what was left of his heartthat was still intact shattered into a thousand pieces. He shoulderedhis bags a little higher and walked out the front door.
Drivingaway down the quiet suburban streets, Kentarou didn’tlet himself cry. There would be plenty of time for that when he gotwhere he was going.
-
Forweeks, Kentarou avoided anything that would remind him of Iwaizumi.He stopped going to his favorite places, because they had been theirfavorite places. He stopped seeing his friends, because they had beentheir friends. He quit the community volleyball team, because it hadbeen their volleyball team. He threw himself into work, because workwas the only thing left to him that wasn’ttouched by Iwaizumi.
Iwaizumibehaved exactly as Kentarou expected him to. He didn’tcall, he didn’t show up at Kentarou’s job, he didn’t make anyattempts to contact Kentarou. He respected the distance Kentarou hadput between them. A part of Kentarou wanted to know how he was doing,wanted to check in on him and make sure he was okay, or maybe makesure he was as miserable as Kentarou was.
Itwas a thought that ate at Kentarou. Himself being miserable he couldhandle. He deserved it, after all. But Iwaizumi deserved to be happy.He deserved all the happiness in the world. And Kentarou couldn’tgive that to him.
Hestared at the water-stained ceiling of his new apartment in the dark, wishing himself away. There wasn’tmuch to do without Iwaizumi in his life; even things like watching tvand eating takeout hurt without him. He was just debating going tosleep at six in the evening when his phone rang.
Ithad been ringing off the hook since he’dleft, friends and former teammates calling to tell him to get his acttogether or whatever. He let it ring.
Itrang itself out, then rang again. Kentarou glanced at it, charging onthe nightstand, and something in him shriveled with foreboding. Hepicked it up.
“’Lo?”
“Isthis Kyoutani Kentarou-san?” asked a woman’s voice on the otherend.
“Yes.”
“Thisis Hamada Echiko with Saitama Hospital. I’m calling in regards toIwaizumi Hajime, who has you listed as his emergency contact.”
Kentarouwas suddenly very, very awake. “Ishe okay?” he demanded.
“Iwaizumi-sanhas broken his leg in three places and needs someone to drive himhome and stay with him through the night,” Hamada said. “Can youcome and pick him up?”
Kentarouconsidered lying. He could say he was out of the country,unavailable, give her Oikawa’snumber, or anyone else’s. But Iwaizumi had kept him as hisemergency contact for a reason. Even if that reason was just that hehadn’t thought of it, or was too lazy. He still trusted Kentarouenough to take care of him if something happened.
“I’llbe there in twenty minutes,” he promised Hamada. She thanked himand hung up the phone.
Herushed through getting dressed. He barely made sure to grab hiswallet and phone before darting out the door and down the stairs.
SaitamaHospital was a thirty minute drive away, but Kentarou made it infifteen. He barged through the door into the waiting room, startlingthe nurses and waiting patients. He shrugged his shoulders up to hisears and tried not to glare as he made his way up to the front desk.
“IwaizumiHajime?” he asked the woman.
“Oh,are you Kyoutani-san?” she asked, her voice familiar. “I’mHamada Echiko. Come right this way.”
Hamadaled the way into the emergency room proper, passing down the hallwayat a fast clip. Kentarou had to half-trot to keep up with her, hisheart in a knot of worry. Finally, she stopped at a room where afamiliar figure was lying on a bed, a doped-out look on his face.
“He’son pretty heavy medication,” Hamada explained. “He may be out ofit for the next twenty-four hours, so we require someone to sign thatthey will stay with him through the night.”
“I’llsign,” Kentarou said, his eyes on Iwaizumi. He looked like shit.His clothes were dirty and he hadn’t shaved in what appeared to beseveral weeks. Hamada thrust a clipboard at Kentarou and he lookedaway from Iwaizumi only long enough to sign where she pointed.
“He’sall yours,” Hamada said. “I’ll have someone come round with awheelchair for him in a few minutes.” With that she was gone,striding away like she had more important things to worry about thanthe end of Kentarou’s world. Kentarou stepped into the little roomwhere Iwaizumi was laid out and closed the curtain.
“Hajime,”Kentarou said, then silently cursed himself for it. Iwaizumi’s namefelt too sweet on his tongue. “Hey. Wake up.”
“Kentarou?”Iwaizumi slurred, his bleary eyes focusing on Kentarou for a moment.Then they screwed up with pain and he burst into tears.
“Hey,what’s wrong?” Kentarou asked, his hands fluttering overIwaizumi’s prone form. “Do you need more pain meds? I can callthe nurse or-”
Iwaizumishook his head, slapping his hands over his face. “Whyare you here?” he wailed.
“BecauseI’m your emergency contact,” Kentarou said. “They’re sendinga wheelchair, and I’m gonna take you home, okay?”
“Promise?”Iwaizumi asked. A nurse came around the corner with a wheelchair andKentarou nodded.
“Ipromise,” he said, stepping to one side to let the nurse do herjob.
“Don’tleave, okay?” Iwaizumi asked, one hand reaching out for Kentaroueven as the nurse wrestled him into the wheelchair.
“Iwon’t,” Kentarou said. “I’m here. I’m right here.”Iwaizumi nodded and let his hand drop, letting the nurses help himinto the wheelchair. Kentarou nodded at them and took the handles ofthe wheelchair, wheeling Iwaizumi out into the waiting room forcheckout.
Whenthey got back to the apartment Kentarou argued with the cantankerousold elevator until it allowed them out on the third floor. Threedoors to the left and Kentarou found himself standing in the placethat had been his home for five years.
Itwas a mess. Takeout cartons were stacked everywhere, dishes piledhigh in the sink, dirty laundry all over the floor. It was as thoughIwaizumi hadn’tbeen taking care of himself while Kentarou had been gone. But thatwas an insane thought; Iwaizumi was always the stronger of the two ofthem.
Kentarouhelped Iwaizumi into bed, pulling the covers up over his waist butnot his chest, exactly the way he liked it. Sure Iwaizumi wassleeping peacefully, he set about cleaning the apartment.
Itwas well past midnight by the time Kentarou finished and made up abed for himself on the couch. There was a picture of the two of themon the coffee table, smiling and holding on to each other after a winwith their college volleyball team. Kentarou found himself smiling atit when suddenly the door to the bedroom opened and Kentarou heardthe tell-tale sound of crutches on the carpet.
“You’resupposed to be in bed,” Kentarou said.
“It’slonely in there.” Iwaizumi’s voice was clear, free of the drughaze. He hobbled out into the living room and stood in the doorway,considering Kentarou while Kentarou considered him right back. “Youcleaned,” Iwaizumi remarked.
“Youlet this place go to shit,” Kentarou remarked right back. Iwaizumishrugged.
“Notmuch point in keeping it up when you’re not around to hate themess,” he said.
“No,”Kentarou said.
“No?”
“No.”
“No,what?”
“No,you don’t get to do that,” Kentarou snarled. “You don’t getto fall apart without me. You were supposed to move on, to be thestrong one, to be better without me, or, I don’t know, something-”Kentarou cut himself off with a grimace. He hated how Iwaizumi alwaysgot him to babble like this, without even doing anything.
“Newsflash,genius, it hasn’t exactly been easy without you,” Iwaizumi said.“The love of my life just walked out without a proper explanation,and you expect me to be okay with that? That’s not how real lifeworks, Kyoutani.”
“Ileft because you deserve better,” Kentarou snapped. “Because youdeserve someone who-”
“Whowon’t leave!” Iwaizumi shouted. “I deserve someone who talksthings out with me, instead of leaving me thinking I had donesomething wrong, or-”
“I’msorry!” The words were out before Kentarou could stop them, andwith them came tears. He looked down, but he could still hearIwaizumi making his slow and painful way over to the couch. Heflopped down next to him and then flopped into Kentarou’s side.
“I’msorry too,” Iwaizumi whispered.
“Forwhat.” Kentarou grumbled through his tears.
“Formaking you think you had to go. For making you think I was anythingother than head-over-heels desperately in love with you. Foreverything.”
Kentaroulooked at Iwaizumi and Iwaizumi looked at Kentarou, and for a momentthe entire world hung in the balance. Then Iwaizumi looked down.
“Isthat my shirt?” he asked. Kentarou glanced down and flushed.
“Iguess it got mixed up in all my stuff,” he muttered.
“Itsuits you.” There was a playful seductiveness to Iwaizumi’svoice, and in it Kentarou heard everything he needed to hear.Everything was going to be all right. He just knew it.
"Whoever said that thing about 'it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all' or whatever has clearly never felt the crippling realization that you're in love with someone who will never, ever love you back." - Yahaba & Watari
This didn’t turn out the way I expected it, but there’s still unrequited love as requested? Just not what I expected? Idk read it.
Kentarouknew the reason Watari watched Yahaba with sighs and quiet eyes. Noneof the rest of the team knew, he didn’t think, and certainly notYahaba himself. But Kentarou had figured it out during their firstyear and now he was Watari’ only confidant. It hurt, knowing Watariwas hurting. It hurt more than Watari knew.
“Whoeversaid that thing about ‘it’s better to have loved and lost than tonever have loved at all’ or whatever has clearly never felt thecrippling realization that you’re in love with someone who willnever, ever love you back,” Watari said, leaning his chin on hisfist and sighing.
Kentaroulooked at him, thinking that was more true than Watari could everknow. “It’syour own fault, you know,” Kentarou said. “Falling in love with aso-called straight guy. Isn’t that rule number one?”
“Iknow it is,” Watari sighed. He was looking out the window and notat Kentarou, so Kentarou leaned over to see what he was looking at.There was Yahaba downstairs in the green underneath their classroom,talking with some girl. As Kentarou watched, Yahaba caught sight ofthem in the window and grinned, waving. Watari waved back, thenducked out of sight. Kentarou watched Yahaba a moment longer, lettinghim feel the full force of his judgment before leaning away. Kentarouknew what he was doing, even if Watari didn’t. It pissed him off,knowing his friends could have all the happiness in the world if theywould just fucking take it and leave him to wallow in his own miseryalone.
“Youshould tell him how you feel,” Kentarou said.
“Why?So I can get my heart completely broken?” Watari asked. “Notlikely.”
“Hedeserves to know,” Kentarou said. “He should know that he’shurting you, so he can fucking stop already. And who knows, maybe amiracle will happen.”
“Idoubt it,” Watari snorted.
“Younever know what will happen,” Kentarou said. “Go for it, and I’llbuy you ice cream today after practice.”
“Really?”Watari asked, sounding miserable and skeptical.
“Twoice creams,” Kentarou challenged.
Wataristood with a stubborn look in Kentarou’sdirection and stormed out of the room. Kentarou watched through thewindow as Watari dragged Yahaba away to start their happily everafter.
Asit should be, he reminded himself. He had no hold over Watari, noclaim to someone who didn’tlove him back. He had done his good deed for the day, and now it wastime to wallow in his own pain. He wouldn’t be seeing either ofthem for a while, he knew, not when they would be so wrapped up ineach other.
Hestood and gathered his things, walking out of the school with tearspricking in his eyes.
If you’re still taking prompts, #16 “Why haven’t you kissed me yet?” with bokukyou please?
Thingswere going great in Kentarou’slife, if by great you meant a complete and total disaster with nohope of redemption whatsoever. He had good grades - that he waskilling himself to get - a spot on his college volleyball team - thatwas giving him panic attacks late at night- and a man who might havebeen his boyfriend - if only he would cooperate for once in his life.Yes, Kentarou’s life was going just fine.
Whichis how he found himself sobbing on the floor of his dormitory atseven in the morning one bright day, clutching at his hair androcking back and forth. He had timed his meltdown perfectly; therewas no one around to see him like this. Or so he thought. There wasthe sound of a key in the lock and the doorknob turning and all atonce Kentarou was face to face with his roommate, the would-be loveof his life. He stared at Bokuto, figuring this might as well happen,and did not look away from Bokuto’ssurprise.
“Kyoutani,”Bokuto said, ever the observant one of the two. “Are you okay?”
Kentaroujust glared at him a little longer, before another sob racked hisbody and he curled himself into a tighter ball.
“Sorry,”Bokuto said, dropping his bag and closing the door. “Obviously,you’re not okay. What’s the matter?” He asked it so simply,sitting on the floor next to Kentarou, that it made him feel like allhis problems were at once trivial and to be taken seriously. Kentarouran through a mental catalog of all the things that had led him hereand settled on the one with the most immediate solution.
“Whyhaven’t you kissed me yet?” he demanded. He peeked through thecorner of his eye at Bokuto, enough to see his startled expressionmelt into a smile. A large hand settled between Kentarou’s shoulderblades, rubbing in soothing circles.
“BecauseI’m savoring you,” he replied. “Because I want to enjoy everyminute of being with you, without any pressure or rushing. But if I’mgoing too slow for you, I can pick up the pace. I just didn’t wantto back you into a corner before you were ready.”
“I’vebeen ready,” Kentarou sniffed, wiping his face on his shirt sleeve.
“CanI kiss you now, then?” Bokuto asked. Kentarou snorted.
“No.I’m a mess.”
“That’sokay,” Bokuto said. “I’m kind of fond of messes. That’s whyI’m such a big one myself.” Kentarou smiled at that, andconsidered letting Bokuto kiss him. But then more tears leaked downhis cheeks and he thought better of it.
“Tellyou what,” he said. “You help me figure out what I’m doing withmy life and why it’s all worth it, and then maybe I’ll let youkiss me after.”
“Soundslike a deal,” Bokuto said, grinning that floodlight grin of his. Heclimbed to his feet and held a hand out for Kentarou.
It was the last night before three of the four third years were set to leave for Tokyo and college and everything that lay beyond the doors of their high school. Tooru found it all bittersweet, so to save him from his moping, the team decided the best way to lift his spirits was a walk down memory lane.
They made it two stops before disaster struck. A new record.
It was at the park by Hanamaki’s house, the one where all nine of them had come together into a cohesive whole. It was where Tooru had had his first kiss with Kyoutani, and Kunimi had first confessed to Iwaizumi. It was a park loaded with memories, and it made Tooru want to cry.
“I don’t want to give this up,” he whispered.
“You won’t have to, Oikawa-san,” said Watari, something akin to sass in his voice. Tooru glared at him. “We’ll all still be in a relationship, it’ll just be long- Matsukawa-san, no!” But it was too late. Matsukawa had already managed to wedge himself into the baby swing. He lifted his long legs off the ground, and the entire thing promptly collapsed. Matsukawa was left in a pile of dust and metal bars, looking confused, but pleased with himself.
“Geez, Mattsun, can you go anywhere without breaking things?” Hanamaki asked, helping Yahaba lift Matsukawa to his feet. The baby swing remained stuck around his waist. “Oh my god,” Hanamaki said.
“All right, you grab the other side and we’ll both pull,” Yahaba grumbled. Kunimi pulled out a camera phone while Hanamaki and Yahaba tried in vain to get the swing off of Matsukawa.
“Looks like you need more… lubrication,” Hanamaki said, waggling his eyebrows. Kindaichi made a distressed noise in the back of his throat and went to see if he could help. Tooru was left alone, standing on the edge of the park and watching his family, the loves of his young life, scrambling around a children’s playground at three in the morning.
Kyoutani came to stand next to him and crossed his arms, shaking his head at the goings-on. “He did it on purpose,” he said.
“Of course he did,” Tooru replied. “He’s trying to cheer me up.”
“Is it working?”
“I’ll let you know.” Tooru looked at Kyoutani and Kyoutani looked back at Tooru, and the world seemed to slow. Tooru licked his lips and tore his eyes away. “Tomorrow I’m leaving,” he said. “And so are Makki and Mattsun. And Iwa-chan is going to Hokkaido next week. Everything is about to change.”
“It only changes if you let it,” Kyoutani said. “Pick your battles. Isn’t that what Iwaizumi-san is always telling you?”
“I think he’s always telling you that,” Tooru sniffed.
“Whatever. It fits. If this is a battle that’s worth wining, then pick it. If not, then we’ll find a way to move on without you.” Tooru stared at Kyoutani.
“What are you saying, I’m replaceable?” he squawked.
“No,” Kyoutani growled. “I’m saying that none of the others are going to let themselves get left behind. Iwaizumi-san has already set up virtual study sessions for next year, and Matsukawa-san and Hanamaki-san are already planning their first visit back here during golden week. You’ll only be replaced if you let yourself be replaceable.”
With that, Kyoutani stalked off toward Matsukawa. He strolled right up to him, looked him in the eye, and with one rough motion tugged the swing - and Matsukawa’s pants - down around his ankles. Matsukawa thanked him and stepped out of both the swing and his pants, standing as confident as could be in nothing but a t shirt and his boxers. Tooru shook his head, something like laughter bubbling up in the middle of his chest. He let it out, only to find that it was tears instead.
“Oikawa-san, what’s wrong?” Kindaichi screeched.
“I love you all so much,” Tooru sobbed. Iwaizumi strolled over to him and Tooru braced himself for a smack upside the head. What he got instead was a gentle pull into Iwaizumi’s shoulder and strong arms wrapping around his waist.
“We love you too,” Iwaizumi whispered into his hair. “More than you will ever know.”
“I don’t want to leave,” Tooru wailed.
“Oh, sweetheart,” said Hanamaki, leaving Matsukawa and coming to join in Iwaizumi’s hug. “You have to. It’s your golden opportunity to shine. You would be wasted here.”
“But what about them?” Tooru sobbed. “I don’t want to leave them.”
“It’s only for a little while,” Iwaizumi said. “And someday, you’ll come back. And someday after that, we’ll all be together again, one big happy family.”
“Big happy family,” Tooru repeated. The words carried with them the dream he hadn’t allowed himself to hope for, that one day it really could be the nine of them against the world, holed up together in one big house with a yard and a dog. “Iwa-chan, do you really think-”
“Of course he does,” Hanamaki said, resting his forehead on the back of Tooru’s neck. “We all do, stupid.”
Tooru peeled himself away from them to look at his team, his family. Iwaizumi, his best friend for as long as he could remember. Matsukawa, who always knew how to make Tooru laugh. Hanamaki, surprisingly quick-witted and sharp-tongued. Yahaba, who tried so hard to be worth something when he was already worth the world. Surly Kyoutani who just needed a push to be understood. Clever Watari and his soothing calm that held the team together. Earnest Kindaichi and sleeping Kunimi, who had the world at their fingertips and still chose Tooru. They all chose him, time and time again, and Tooru could never be more grateful for that than he was in that moment, standing in the park in the middle of the night with his teammates.
“Come on,” Iwaizumi said, clapping Tooru on the shoulder. “Let’s go get some sleep. We’ll be there in the morning to see you off.”
“Okay,” Tooru said, taking one last look at his lovers, his future.
“You’re always so grumpy. It’s kind of cute.” - university au Kyoutani & Kageyama
Tobioslumped into his seat with a barely-concealed groan. This was hislast lecture of the week, and he couldn’t wait to get out of hereand maybe get some sleep for once in his miserable life. He couldprobably afford half an hour or so before he had to start on hispaper for his economics class. This time there was no concealing hisgroan.
“Here.”Tobio peeled his eyes open to find his favorite person in the worldholding out a cup of coffee. He accepted it with what might havepassed for a smile, his eyelids fluttering shut again as he inhaledthe scent of dark roast with cream and sugar. Just the way Tobioliked it.
“Whyare you so perfect?” he asked. Kyoutani huffed out a laugh anddropped into the seat beside Tobio.
“I’mjust being a good neighbor,” Kyoutani said. “Have you gotten anysleep this week?”
“Abit,” Tobio admitted. “Not enough.”
“Youneed to stop stretching yourself so thin,” Kyoutani scolded.“You’re going to crash and burn someday, and I don’t want tosee that happen.”
Tobiomumbled something under his breath as the professor arrived to startclass. He sipped his coffee and tried not to fall asleep. Kyoutanihelped. His notes were always better than Tobio’sand he was always willing to share. Not to mention the number ofpinches and prods he employed to keep Tobio awake and alert. Hewatched out for Tobio in a way no one ever had before. Tobio frownedto himself, staring at the board without really seeing it.
“He’sexplaining the way aerodynamics affects falling speed,” Kyoutaniwhispered.
“Iknow,” Tobio snapped, even though he didn’t. Kyoutani just noddedtoward the board and went back to taking notes. Tobio tried to catchup, but his notes were too hopeless and too far behind the lecture.He turned his attention to another, more pressing matter, one thathad been wearing on his mind for several days now. “Why are you sonice to me?” Tobio hissed.
“You’realways so grumpy,” Kyoutani said without looking at Tobio. “It’skind of cute.”
“Youhelp me because I’m cute?” Tobio didn’t understand.
“Yep,”Kyoutani said. “Now pay attention.” Tobio turned back to theboard, trying to make sense of what the professor was saying. Hesupposed he didn’t really have to understand. Some things in lifewere just inexplicable.
post breakup au: i’ve seen you hanging around my apartment and i thought it was because you missed me, turns out you’ve been using my wifi you asshole with Kyoutani & Watari
Roomingwith Yahaba had seemed like a decent idea at the time. They weregoing to the same university, and splitting the cost of a two-bedroomapartment was cheaper than the cost of on-campus housing. It onlybecame a problem after Kentarou broke up with Yahaba’s best friendand then had to keep seeing him hang around the apartment.
“Whatare you even doing here?” Kentarou asked when he let himself in oneday to find Watari on his couch. “Yahaba’s spending the nightwith Sawamura. He’s not going to be home tonight.”
“Iknow,” Watari said without looking up from his laptop.
Kentaroufound himself staring at the side of Watari’sface, at the familiar planes and ridges of him. He found himselfhoping, beyond hope, that maybe Watari was there because he missedKentarou. That maybe Watari thought all this was a stupid mistake theway Kentarou did. That Watari spent nights lying awake and missinghim, like Kentarou did. That maybe, just maybe-
“Yourwifi is faster than mine,” Watari said. All of Kentarou’s hopesdied before his eyes.
“Youasshole,” he growled. “Get out of my apartment.”
“Makeme,” Watari said, still not looking up at Kentarou.
“I’mgoing to have Yahaba take back your key,” Kentarou growled andstalked into his room, slamming the door behind him. He threw himselfon the bed with a groan, slapping his hands over his face. His eyeswere stinging, but he refused to let himself cry. There was a softknock and the door opened slowly.
“Hey,”Watari said, crossing to sit on the bed next to Kentarou. “I waskidding about the wifi. I just needed to finish that email before Icame in and talked to you.”
“Whatdo you even want to talk about?” Kentarou huffed. Watari was silentfor a moment.
“Imiss you,” he said at last. “I’ve been talking to Shigeru, andhe seems to think you miss me too. I wanted to know if that wastrue.”
“’Courseit’s true,” Kentarou said, letting his hands fall to his sides.He stared up at the ceiling and ignored Watari in the corner of hisvision. “So what?”
“So,I’m sorry,” Watari said. “I shouldn’t have said the things Idid, and I certainly shouldn’t have broken up with you. I made amistake and I needed to know if you could ever forgive me for it. Ifyou could ever take me back.”
Kentaroudidn’t answer in words. He just took Watari’s hand and lethimself cry at last. It was more communication than he had everattempted before, and more than enough for Watari to understand. Hesqueezed Kentarou’s hand, and everything was okay again.
