The Cat and the Crow

“I’m home, and I have your gift in my hands.”

Tetsuro was already sitting at his desk in his room, the gift Kei had given him still unopened. He took a quick selfie, holding up his promise ring.

“Okay. We’ll open our gifts together. Are you ready?”

“Yeah.”

“Do it.”

“Tetsu… I love it.” Kei’s voice was soft, happy. Tetsuro knew he’d love what he gave him.

“Put it on, take a pic and send it to me, okay?”

“Okay. What about your gift? What do you think?”

“A flashdrive? Did you download a new anime or something?” he asked, plugging it into his laptop and waiting for it to become accessible. Once that happened, he clicked on the only file that appeared, entitled ‘The Cat and the Crow.’ He clicked on that, and the visual playlist Kei made started playing.

It started with single photos of them, and with creative edits set to the music they both loved, pictures of them both, and even a few with the squad, flowed on screen perfectly in sync.

“My new favorite movie,” he finally responded, his voice carrying the same tones Kei’s had earlier. “I think you’ll need to be in charge of all our pictures from now on. This is really good. I love it! Thank you!”

His phone chimed with a notification, and he quickly checked it. Kei had taken his selfie; he was smiling tenderly, holding up his promise ring necklace. He’d attached the little half-heart charm so that it hung ‘inside’ the ring.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you, lately?” he asked, somewhat rhetorically, as he sent his picture to Kei. “I took that just after you called.”

“It’s almost like a mirror-image,” Kei said quietly. And then he yawned. “Sorry,” he said sleepily. “I slept most of the way on the train.”

Tetsuro chuckled. “We both need to get some sleep. School doesn’t start any later.” He heard Kei grumble, and he laughed out loud. “Good night, love. Sleep well.”

“I’ll try. Good night. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

They hung up and Tetsuro put his phone down. He wasn’t even remotely tired, so he played their video again. And again.

It wasn’t until halfway through the third (or maybe fifth) viewing that he realized Kenma was watching him. He’d come over while they were gone to see Kei off, and stayed after Akaashi and Bokuto left to go home. Tetsuro was glad for the company, even if all Kenma was doing was playing his games.

“Why are you still awake?” his best friend asked, coming in to look at the video. He didn’t wait for an answer. “That’s really good. I can’t see any jump cuts or flash frames. It’s all seamless.”

“It’d still be perfect, even if it was a hot mess,” Tetsuro said, his eyes never straying from the screen. “Did you finally beat your game?”

“Yeah, and yours, too. Tsukishima picked out a good one. Got stuck on a few levels. You’ll like it.”

When he didn’t get a reply, he looked at Kuro, who’d paused the video on one particular picture. It wasn’t a selfie, that much he could tell, so either it was taken by Bokuto or Akaashi. Probably the latter, but that was beside the point. It was at one of the practice camps, and obviously during some sort of break. Tsukishima was resting his head on Kuro’s shoulder, his eyes closed. Kuro had leaned against Tsukishima, and was half-awake, holding his water bottle. There wasn’t anything too special about the pic that he could tell, but clearly, it held some sort of significance for Kuro to have stopped on it in particular.

Curiosity sparked, and an idea started forming. “We have to get some sleep, Kuro. I’m going to crash.”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks, Kyanma.”

“Haven’t heard that name in a while,” he said as he left. “But, you’re welcome.”

[Via Social Media]

[Kuroo, have you seen Kenma’s Twitter?]
[Yeah. And his Facebook, and Insta]
[What’s going on?]
[Wish I knew, Akaashi. I’ve asked him, but he isn’t talking. He seems to be waiting for something, though.]
[... yeah, but for what?]

That was a damned good question.

Tetsuro was on his way home after practice. Kenma had gone on ahead, which made everyone on the team take notice, and now he was having trouble fielding questions.

Why is he posting pictures of the two of you like you’re a couple again?
Why is he talking about being roommates?
Why is he always over your house?

Truth was, he didn’t know Kenma’s motive, but he could at least guess that his best friend was trying to make Kei jealous. Maybe even drive them apart. But even he had to ask why this was happening, and Kenma really wasn’t talking. Nothing he could ask or say would get even a grunt in his direction.

Once he arrived home, he dumped his school bag by the door and went to the kitchen, completely ignoring Kenma, who was playing yet another game in the living room. Not in the mood to cook, he sliced up some fruit and veggies, something to drink, and took it all into his room.

Sitting down at his desk, he opened up his own social media accounts, and started attempting to untangle the drama. Within minutes, his phone buzzed with a text message. Looking at his phone, he smiled and relaxed when he saw it was from Kei.

[I love you. Miss you, too]
[I love you, too. Miss you more. Call me?]
[Give me a few minutes. I just got home.]
[Yeah, same]

He took the time to close all his accounts down, and ate some of his food, before the phone rang.

“Hey you,” he said softly. “How was your day?”

“Same as always. The first-years’ training camp starts next week.”

“You told me about that. Are you excited?”

“Not really. Maybe a little. But there are going to be guys there from all the teams we beat. Not sure how they’ll react.”

“Don’t worry about that. You’re all there to learn and improve. You’ll be okay.”

“I hope so.” There was a little pause, and then, “I’ve seen what Kenma’s posting.”

“I know. Hard to miss when he tags both of us.”

“Any idea why?”

“I can only guess, but he’s refusing to talk, so can’t confirm”

“I’m kinda confused though.”

“About what?”

“All of it, to be honest. I mean, I know you both grew up together, and are best friends...”

“Kei, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

“I know that… but…”

“Can I at least try to clear things up?”

“Yes, of course.”

As he was about to start talking, he heard a sound outside his door. It was that sound that triggered a memory, which in turn set off many others. If this is what he was thinking it was, then he was going to need backup.

“Kei, let me call you back,” he said in a low voice. He grabbed his back sack, threw in his tablet, battery and charge cord, and his wallet. “I’m going to tell you everything, okay?”

“What’s wrong, Tetsu? What’s going on?” Kei, his darling Kei, picked up on his urgency.

“Can’t talk here,” he said, even more quietly than before. And then, he raised his voice back up to normal. “I’m going to just run out for a bit.”

“Tetsu?”

“Talk to you later, okay? I love you!”

He hated doing it, but he hung up on Kei without waiting for a response. He needed to get out of the house before he called him back. Slinging the bag over his shoulder, he acted like everything was normal, walked to the door, took his keys off the hook, and grinned at Kenma.

“I’ll be back later,” he said as he left, not waiting for a reply.

Once clear from view of his house, he ran to the park and to his favorite spot. He pulled out his phone and started a group text. Kei, Bokuto, Akaashi, Yaku, Kai, Daichi, and Suga.

[Hey! Sorry to interrupt anything, but I need to talk to everyone here, plus a couple more. I don’t have their numbers]

He waited for the replies to come in. As expected, it was very nearly everyone at once. Kei texted privately.

[Tetsu, what’s wrong?]
[If this is what I’m thinking it is, then I need to tell everyone I just texted in the group]
[Can you be a little more vague??]
[I’m sorry, but this will be easier if I have everyone on the same page. Please bear with me a little longer]
[Okay, but…]
[I love you]
[I love you too]

He tapped the group chat.

[WHAT’S GOING ON?]
[If this has anything to do with Kenma, I swear…]
[Yaku, calm down]
[How can you even tell me that, Kai?]
[Will you calm down if I tell you?]
[AKAASHI!]
[Why is Bokuto yelling?]
[His touch keyboard is locked on all caps. I haven’t figured out how he did it, Daichi, and I haven’t figured out how to fix it, either]
[Offer still stands to try]
[I know, Tsuki, but we’re all used to it by now, right?]
[Right]
[Kuroo? Can you explain why we’re all here?]
[Yeah, Suga. Actually, would you all mind if we do a video chat?]
[I like that idea better]
[I don’t mind]
[not at all]
[DO IT]
[okay]
[okay]
[Also, I’d like to invite two more: Tadashi and Hinata]
[... now I’m really curious]
[Same, Suga. I’ll text their numbers, and let them know to expect a video call]
[Thanks, Daichi]

He quickly changed over to his tablet, hooked up the battery and charger, and waited. Moments later, he received the numbers needed, and then sent the link for a video chat. As expected, the squad showed up almost immediately, followed shortly by Yaku, Suga, Kai, and Daichi. It took a few minutes more for Tadashi and Hinata to join, but once they did, he was ready.