The Cat and the Crow

Karasuno was leaving today, and Kuroo was not exactly happy about it. In fact, he was thinking so hard about how to somehow meet up with Tsuki around practices, that he didn’t notice the object of his thoughts had snuck up beside him.

“What are you thinking about?” Tsuki asked. Kuroo nearly shot off his feet, he was so startled. Tuski was grinning mischievously, and that’s when the idea hit him.

“Come on,” he said lowly, taking hold of Tsuki's wrist and started walking.

“Hey, Kuroo…” he heard Tsuki say, but kept moving.

He quickly found Bokuto and Akaashi, and motioned with his head that they needed to follow. It was sudden, and he hadn't told anyone to create a diversion, but honestly, he really didn’t care at this point. They didn’t have much time left.

Once around the corner, and almost to the end of the building, he stopped and turned to face them. “Tsuki, do you have your phone?”

“Yeah, why?” he asked suspiciously as he brought out his phone.

“Perfect. May I?” he asked, holding out his hand. Tsuki handed it over, and then Kuroo handed it to Akaashi.

“Squad photo shoot,” he explained, and then shrugged with a sheepish grin when everyone just stared at him. “Tsuki's leaving soon, and we don’t have pictures of us together.”

“Translation: you just wanted more pics of you and Tsuki, or just Tsuki, so you brought us along as cover,” Akaashi said ironically.

“Not going to deny that,” Kuroo admitted. “But he should have photos of all of us together to take back with him to Miyagi. Right, Tsuki?”

“R-right,” Tsuki stuttered.

He looked so thoroughly confused, and Kuroo couldn’t help leaning in to steal a kiss. The sound of the camera going off ended it before he could go any further.

“No sharing that one,” he ordered.

“What? Why not?!” Bokuto asked. “If this is part of the squad photo shoot, then we should share all the photos,”

“Then we get one of you two kissing,” Kuroo bargained. “Fair is fair.”

“Deal,” Bokuto agreed. “I get to take the next one!” He said suddenly, taking the phone from Akaashi.

“Don’t you dare break my phone, Bokuto,” Tsuki warned, looking slightly panicked. “I don’t want to be stuck in all-caps.”

It was at that moment that Kuroo realized Tsuki hadn’t really said much of anything this whole time. “Hey, give us a minute, okay?” he asked, and took Tsuki just a little further away. “Are you okay with this?” he asked gently. “I know I sprung it on you at the last minute.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he assured. Kuroo felt relieved. “It all just happened so fast, so it took a little time to catch up.”

“Not good with surprises?”

“Not really. I don’t mind them, but…”

“A little warning helps,” Kuroo finished. Tsuki nodded. “Got it. I will try to give some sort of warning in the future. However,” he added with a smirk, “I must say you were looking rather adorable back there.”

“Kuroo?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

Kuroo burst out laughing, which made Tsuki smile and start laughing, too. It wasn’t until they heard the camera going off again that they realized Bokuto had snuck up on them and took a photo.

“We definitely get this one,” he told them. “I’ve never seen you look so happy Kuroo.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Akaashi agreed, coming up to stand next to Bokuto. “I mean, we’ve seen you almost as happy when playing volleyball. But this is different. You really do look happier now.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kuroo replied, looking rather embarrassed. Bokuto snapped another photo. “Share that pic, and I’ll make sure every last spike of yours is blocked during our next match.”

“Alright, bet,” Bokuto answered, his eyes lit with challenge.

“Are you really going to do that now?” Akaashi asked, taking the phone back from Bokuto and handing it over to Tsuki.

“Yeah, if we’re going to do this before I leave, we should get started,” Tsuki added.

That set everyone into motion. They took turns taking photos with Tsuki’s phone, and took as many silly photos as they did the ones they posed for. But, as they started running out of ideas, and probably also phone space, Kuroo wanted one last photo, and this one neither of them could take without help. Luckily, he caught sight of someone peeking around the corner.

“I got an idea for one last picture,” he said. “Be right back.” They all watched him as he ran to the end of the building, spoke to someone, and then walked back with Kenma in tow.

“Call me sentimental,” he started saying.

“Or maybe just mental,” Kenma added with a smirk. He took the phone from Kuroo, who had it last.

“Anyway,” Kuroo started over. “I wanted a group photo that didn’t look like a selfie. Kenma had the poor timing of showing his face around yonder corner, so I volunteered him. Meet our photographer.”

“Do I need to show you…?” Tsuki asked, but Kenma shook his head.

“No, I got it. You guys sort yourselves out, and let me know when to take the pic.”

“On it!” Kuroo and Bokuto replied, leaping into action, while Akaashi and Tsuki patiently waited for them to tell them where to go.

In the end, Kuroo stood partially behind Tsuki, his arms around him. One hand flashing a peace sign, and the other lightly gripping his shirt, right above his heart. Tsuki had entwined his fingers through the hand against his chest and he’d leaned his head against Kuroo’s, smiling gently. Akaashi had taken the spot next to Tsuki, one hand behind his back and the other flashing a peace sign. Bokuto was on the other side, his arms spread wide and in the direction of Kuroo and Tsuki, he’d even added a “TA DAAA!!” as Kenma took the picture.

He handed the phone back to Tsuki, and they all crowded around it to see how it came out.

“I want a copy,” Kenma said as he went back to the others, who were now conspicuously waiting for him. “I’m sure they do too,” he added with a smile.

“What do you think?” Kuroo whispered in Tsuki’s ear. “Shall we share this one with everyone else?”

Tsuki shrugged. “Sure. If Akaashi and Bokuto don’t mind?”

“Go for it,” Bokuto replied, both thumbs up.

“I’m fine with that,” Akaashi agreed as well.

“I’ll send it to you guys first, and then share it. But not right away.”

“Why not?” Kuroo asked.

Tsuki smiled at him, and then at the other two. “I want to keep this to myself for just a little while longer.”

Kuroo practically melted right then. But before he could do anything, he heard Kenma hollering.

“Tsuki! I think you need to get moving! Karasuno is starting to load up the bus!”

“Shit,” Kuroo muttered. “No. It’s too soon. I thought we had more time!”

“We used it all taking pictures, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Right, well, let’s go see them off,” Akaashi said, ushering the three of them back to the rest of the camp. “We can always text later.”

“After my nap,” Tsuki replied sardonically.

“Do you always sleep that much?” Bokuto asked, clearly being obnoxious.

“Do you even know how to sleep?” Tsuki shot back.

“I get sleep!” Bokuto defended. “Lots of sleep!”

“Yeah, when?”

“Randomly and at odd hours,” Akaashi answered for him when he couldn’t think of an answer.

They squabbled back and forth until it was time for Tsuki to leave. He boarded the bus, sat at the window closest to his friends, and waved as the bus slowly pulled away and out of sight.