they’ve got it.
previous
synopsis: you promised you’d always be there to watch him play. but when someone else cheers for him the way you used to— louder, easier, like it belongs— you realize some things don’t need to be said to feel like a loss.
(w.c 1629)
you keep all this bubbling up emotions to yourself not wanting to burden others with your heavy heart. the past days become a blur and yuki and fubuki had noticed but they know better than to pry the information out of you- they know how that goes so they rather let you tell them what's been bothering you yourself.
you three walk through the hallways of your school and yuki is chatting to you while fubuki looks on the wall, "UPCOMING MATCHES" it reads. she looks over her shoulder at the two of you before stopping in front of it and you and yuki notice. you are the first one to speak up "whatcha looking for on the board?.." your eyes and yuki's eyes follow her gaze before she replies "you didn't tell me your races are in two days-" she points to the poster and lets out a silent huff "that's my fault- i actually forgot to tell you, are you guys coming to watch me?" they both roll their eyes at you in unison like that question was so obvious that it was somewhat stupid. "we always do and this time is going to be no different." yuki adds tenderly, "yeah and our cheering is going to be the loudest- just you wait and see." you chuckle softly, feeling a surge of belonging and appreciation in your friend group. as you laugh you see the other posters then one- bright orange.
you think to yourself that kei didn't even bother in mentioning that he had a match so earlier on like he always does and ask you to watch him, you swallow you strawberry milk slowly while trying to process this and the incident before this. what came to this? you had promised him to always come to his games, matches, whenever he needed you, you will be there. empty words and no actions kill hope, and you did not want to do that to him-ever.
time skip to day of the keis match.
the gym was louder than you had remembered it or maybe it wasn’t. maybe it was just you and your emotions telling this.
the overlapping of voices, shoes squeaked sharply against the shiny, polished floor, the echo of the ball striking hands cutting clean though the air.
you look around and your senses tell you this is familiar-too familiar-like something you would have gotten used to now.
you tightened your grip on the strap of your bag as you stepped inside. a voice cuts through your thoughts “-hey you can’t just stop in the doorway,” yuki flicked the back of your head slightly causing you to wince, as she slips past you with ease before ruffling your hair “you’re blocking traffic you silly.” before she lets out a small chuckle. you mutter a quick “‘m sorry.” fubuki followed behind her greeting you with a hug and you hugging her back.
“you came earlier than usual.” she noted.
you hummed in acknowledgement “practice was cut short today because of the volley match.” that wasn’t a lie- but certainly wasn’t the main reason.
“hm mhm.” yuki glances back at you before meeting your gaze with a smile grin. “or maybe you just came quickly before you didn’t want to miss his match?” she adds before wiggling her eyebrows. you rolled your eyes amused even by her boldness and annoyed by how much she teases you over this boy-kei.
“it’s just a match.” you simply reply. yuki looks at you deadpanned and says “you say that all the time, don’t you think that excuse is getting old?” she teases.
fubuki chimes in “and yet you drag us here every time.” her tone gentle not teasing unlike yuki, that troublemaker.
you give a grunt in acknowledgment before all of the three of you move up the bleachers, settling into seats that overlooked the court perfectly. not the very front, not the very back-somewhere in between. the same spot you always sat in. you don’t even think about it as much because this was like a second nature to you about how many times you chose to watch him- chose to sit here, and certainly don’t even think about how easy it is to spot him from this angle.
your gaze drifted taking in the court and the players warming up, jerseys moving in flashes of black and yellow and a split of white because of their numbers- before subconsciously shifted towards the side and then, you found him.
kei stood in his position near the net, tall as ever. one hand loosely holding a volleyball as someone beside him starts chatting to him, his expression seemed calm, slightly bored, like nothing was on his mind and if there was he wasn’t wearing it on his face. it was familiar-comfortably so. the way the sun hits his now-dirty blonde hair and his eyes gleaming like honey and amber.
for a second you felt away ease but then you remember-
“there.” yuki blurts out following your line of sight. “number eleven,right?”
you nodded. fubuki leans forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees. “he’s gotten better.” “he’s always been good.”you replied automatically knowing you saw how he progressed through volleyball over the years you watched him.
yuki lets out a snort “you’re so biased.”
you don’t deny it- you don’t have too.
your gaze stayed on him,watching the way he moved.
it felt normal..like that incident in his room and day before didn’t occur. or at least close to it.
before-
someone stepped into your peripheral.
a small shift—barely anything—but enough to pull your attention.
a girl. standing a little too close. close enough to speak without raising her voice.
close enough to not feel like just another person in the crowd.
your eyes lingered for a second.
then another.recognition came quietly.
you’d seen her before.that day.
the one you hadn’t let yourself think about too much.
your grip on your bag tightened slightly.
“…you good?” yuki’s voice cut in, softer this time.
you blinked, tearing your gaze away. “yeah.”
“you sure?” she tilted her head, studying you.
“yeah,” you repeated, a little firmer. “i’m fine.”
fubuki didn’t say anything.
but you could feel her glance.
you looked back toward the court.
kei was still there.
of course he was. talking. listening.
existing in a space that didn’t feel as familiar anymore.
the whistle blew sharply, cutting through the noise.
players began moving into position.
the match was about to start.
“finally,” yuki stretched her arms slightly. “i was getting bored.”
“you were just talking the whole time,” you muttered letting a small huff of laughter. “exactly.”
fubuki let out a small breath beside you, eyes already on the court.
the game began.
the sound of the first serve echoed through the gym, followed by a burst of noise from the stands.
you leaned forward slightly. out of habit. out of instinct.
out of something you didn’t question.
your eyes followed the ball—quick passes, sharp movements, the rhythm of the game building steadily. you open your mouthe to call out to him-
and then,
her voice gets to him first
“tsukki!”
the voice rang out, clear and bright.
too familiar.
your body reacted before your mind did. you stilled. just for a second. your gaze shifted.
not to him.
but to her.
that same girl.
standing a few rows down.
leaning forward slightly, hands cupped around her mouth.
“nice receive!”
your fingers curled slightly against your bag.
you’d said that before.
same tone.
same timing.
same—
your thoughts cut off as movement on the court caught your attention again.
kei.
he adjusted his position, glancing briefly toward the stands.
not searching.
not really.
just a glance.
but it landed in the same direction. in her direction.
and then he looked away. like it was nothing.
like it meant nothing. your chest felt… tight.
not sharp.
not overwhelming.
just—
uncomfortable.
like something sitting where it shouldn’t be.
“hey, aren’t you gonna say something?” yuki nudged you lightly, eyes still on the game. “you’re always yelling during his matches.”
you opened your mouth.
paused.
for a second, you weren’t sure what you were going to say.
the words felt there.
familiar.
practiced.
but—
“they’ve got it,” you said instead, quieter than you intended. his friend group cheers him on and makes you feel like your cheer is just some other background noise.
yuki glanced at you briefly. “since when do you stay quiet?”
you shrugged, eyes fixed on the court.
“just watching.”
fubuki’s gaze shifted.
not to the game.
but to you.
you could feel it.
you didn’t look back.
another point was scored.
cheers rose again.
that same voice among them.
clear.
easy.
belonging.
your hands came together in a small clap.
once.
twice.
measured.
controlled.
not the way it used to be.
not the way it should’ve been.
your eyes stayed on the court.
on him.
but for the first time—
it felt like you were watching from somewhere further away.
like there was space now.
space that hadn’t been there before.
and no matter how much you told yourself it didn’t matter—
you noticed it.
every second of it.
when did i stop being the person who did that for you?..
a.n: it’s me again, i’m posting quite fast because i’m on break 😅, but i’ve made a playlist of what kei would probably listen to that’s in the first picture, and yes i too made the poster, it’s kinda ugly the more i stare at it😭.
playlist.
