The Cat and the Crow

The next two days were spent doing whatever came to mind. There really wasn’t that much to do, but still, Kei took Kuroo to his favorite park, and they visited a few shops along the way to and from home. At one point, they took the bus to Karasuno, but saved a visit to the team for later. They also stopped in at Sakanoshita, and said hello to Coach Ukai, who was currently minding the shop.

“How is Coach Nekomata doing,” Coach asked Kuroo as Kei went to pick out lunch food.

“He’s doing well,” Kuroo replied. “Still looking forward to the showdown, too.” Kei peered around the corner, hearing the little note of challenge in Kuroo’s voice.

“Is he now?”

“He told me to tell you that he’s very much looking forward to winning. Again.”

“That wiley, old, son of a…” Coach stopped himself, but smirked instead. “Mind carrying back a message from me?”

“Not at all.”

“Don’t underestimate us. We aren’t the team we once were. We’re better.”

“Message received, sir,” Kuroo replied. “I’ll tell him when I get home.”

“Much appreciated.” Then, Coach seemed to relax, and he smiled. “Nice seeing you again, Kuroo.”

“Yeah, same, Coach Ukai.”

“How are you liking our little town?”

“I love it, actually,” Kuroo said, while looking at Kei. “I’m going to hate leaving tomorrow.”

Kei chose that moment to bring up the food and drinks he’d picked out, laying it all on the counter to be checked out. He brought out his wallet, but Coach shook his head and bagged everything up. Handing the whole thing over, he shook his head when Kei attempted to pay.

“My treat. You two get out of here. Enjoy the rest of your time together.”

“T-thanks, Coach,” Kei said quietly, taking the bag and bowing. He reached for Kuroo’s hand, and as they started to go, Coach gained their attention.

“Practice starts early on Tuesday, Tsukishima.”

“Yes, sir,” Kei replied, looking relieved. He left with Kuroo, heading for the bus stop. Neither of them spoke, but neither of them had anything to say.

[Trashcan Showdown]

“So what’s the showdown you were talking about with Coach?” Kei asked as soon as they settled at a picnic table at the park. He set the bag of food and drinks between them, and started handing Kuroo the things he’d picked out for him.

“No one’s told you?” Kuroo asked. Kei shook his head. “The trashcan showdown was supposed to be the game both our schools played at the Nationals. Coach Nekomata, and the older Coach Ukai, made a huge deal about it. But both schools lost before it could happen. This was 5 years ago, I think. When Coach Nekomata came out of retirement, and the younger Coach Ukai started at Karasuno, I thought maybe we could try again.”

“You do realize that that would mean we’d be facing off against each other, if we made it that far. Assuming we even make it to Nationals in the first place.”

“You sound like you don’t think you will.”

“It’s not that. Not exactly. If we’re extremely lucky to make it past the first two rounds, we’ll ultimately be facing Seijoh and Shiratorizawa. Both of them are huge powerhouse schools in Miyagi, and we’ve faced Seijoh before.”

“Why does it sound like it didn’t end well?”

“It didn't. At Interhighs, we lost in the 3rd set, 31-33.”

Kuroo thought for a few moments, then reached over to take Kei’s hand. “Sounds like you think that if they beat you once, they’ll beat you again. But you shouldn’t look at it that way. The way I see it, it took them that long to beat you, which says to me that your team won’t go down without a fight. And just from what I’ve seen, from our first practice match till now, Karasuno isn’t the same as it was, and it’s continuing to change.”

“I guess.”

“Look at it this way: Karasuno makes it to the Nationals and finally goes up against Nekoma. That’s your goal.”

Kei smirked. “Also winning.”

“Don’t get too far ahead of yourself. We’re going to win.”

“We’ll see.”

After they ate their lunch, and threw away their trash, they walked quietly together along one of the paths. They had a couple hours to kill before they needed to be home for dinner.

“What should we do now?” Kuroo asked. “We could walk around the mall for a little bit.”

“Sure,” Kei agreed. “We can buy food and stuff for tomorrow. Besides, if you want to buy anything before you leave, it might be better to do it today.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“I’d rather stay home tomorrow,” he said with a little shrug. “We can spend the last bit of time alone together.”

“What about Akiteru?”

“He’s going back to Sendai in the morning.”

“And your mom?”

“Spends most of the day visiting friends and relatives. She’ll be home before you leave, though.”

They walked a little while longer, and Kei was just about to ask if Kuroo wanted to go out and do something, instead. He hadn’t responded to his idea of just staying home, and now he was mentally scrambling for something to do that they hadn’t yet done. But just as he was about to suggest anything, he suddenly found himself being pulled along behind Kuroo, off the path, and into a small copse of trees.

“First of all, don’t look so worried. Staying home tomorrow is a great idea, and I’m onboard and everything…”

“But?”

Kuroo shook his head. “No buts. Not really. More like, we’ll be by ourselves, and I’ll have to behave more than ever.”

“What do you mean?” Kei asked, not quite understanding, though he had an idea what Kuroo meant.

Instead of saying anything, Kuroo slowly backed him up against a tree. He reached up and, with slightly shaky fingers, caressed the line of his face, the shell of his ear, and traced down along his neck. Kei could barely describe how it felt, but it was more than anything that happened when Kuroo touched him. Almost overwhelming, but not enough to tell him to stop.

“Think you have an idea, now, Tsuki?” Kuroo asked, his voice so low it was almost a growl.

“Maybe,” he whispered back. Kuroo’s eyes flashed. He knew he was playing with fire, but was just curious enough to continue.

Again, Kuroo said nothing. His hands slowly slid down Kei’s sides until they stopped at his waist. He gently pulled, and now there was nothing between them but the clothes they wore. Kuroo’s fingers had lifted the hem of his shirt, and Kei felt them brush against his skin. His heart was racing, and then Kuroo leaned in so that his lips teased Kei’s ear. A shiver ran up his spine.

“I’d not only have to be on my best behavior, but also make sure I don’t lose control,” he heard Kuroo say. “Being alone with you will be one huge test of patience and willpower.” His mouth trailed further down until he stopped at the neckline of his shirt. There, he finally connected. Kei gasped, his eyes slammed shut, and he brought his hands up to Kuroo’s shoulders, grabbing hold of his shirt. “Perhaps, this would be a test for both of us,” he heard Kuroo mumble, just before he felt a little prick of pain, gentled by the heat of Kuroo’s mouth.

Eventually, he stopped, and looked into Kei’s eyes. “Still want to stay home tomorrow?”

Kei couldn’t speak just yet, so he nodded instead.

“Are you sure? I don’t think I could pass my self-imposed test, even if I wanted to.”

Kei’s hand let go of his shirt and caressed upward, over Kuroo’s neck and tangled his fingers in that messy, dark hair he loved. He grinned and bit his lip when he felt the shudder it caused.

“Kuroo?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

And then Kei kissed him.

[Family Blessings]

Later that evening, after Kei had finished his shower, he went to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. He didn’t notice his mom and brother sitting at the table until Akiteru spoke up.

“I like him,” he said softly. “He’s a good guy, and he really makes you happy.”

Kei was stunned. He already knew Kuroo got along well with his family, but until now, he didn’t know for sure how they felt. Still, he looked at his mom to see what she was going to say.

“I’ve never seen a couple so much in love as the two of you are,” she said quietly. “And it’s been so long since I’ve seen my baby boy open up like you have since meeting him. If there was anyone in this world that was ever meant for you, it’s Kuroo. I’m so glad you found each other.”

Still, Kei said nothing. He couldn’t. What he wanted to do was go straight to Kuroo and tell him, but he was stuck on the spot. A moment passed, and then another.

Akiteru smiled and rose from the table. “Did you think we wouldn’t approve, Kei?”

“I think you would have said something by now, if you didn’t,” Kei replied carefully.

“You’re right about that,” Akiteru said.

Kei’s mom rose from the table and stood in front of him. “If it’s our blessing you need to hear, then you have it. We love you, Kei. And Kuroo, too.”

It was like being freed from whatever held him in place. Kei moved to hug his mom tight, and Akiteru joined in. After a little while, she patted him on the back and let go, and they both moved away.

“Go tell him,” she smiled and winked. “Although, something tells me he already knows.”

“Wait… what?” Kei went to the door and looked down the hall, seeing Kuroo’s back as he headed to his room. Without another word, he left and followed.

“Kuroo,” he called out, and waited as his love turned around. Kei smiled shyly, seeing Kuroo’s face was charmingly flushed, and his eyes a bit wild. He closed the distance between them. “You heard?”

Kuroo nodded. “I heard…” After a few moments, a playful smile appeared. And then, he started chuckling.

“And what do you think about it?”

“Oh, I don’t think anything about it,” Kuroo said, his eyes burning, making Kei’s breathing hitch. “I know I love you. Completely,” he kissed one corner of Kei’s mouth. “Madly,” he kissed the other corner. “Deeply,” he whispered, and kissed him full on the mouth, the kiss growing hotter the more it progressed.

From the kitchen, Akiteru peered around the corner and looked back at their mom. He pulled out his phone, silenced all sound, turned off the flash on the camera, and gestured for her to hand over her phone, as well. He took a picture of the couple on both phones, and handed hers back.

“Let’s put this one in the family album,” he whispered with a wink.

She looked fondly at the picture he took and agreed with a tearful, happy smile.