The Cat and the Crow

“Talk to me, Kei,” Tetsuro said after a long time of just staring at each other. “Say something, anything. Just talk to me.”

“It’s not just me he’s after, is it?”

“No. It’s me, too. But then, I have always been his favorite test subject.”

“Why did you let him?” Kei sounded more exasperated than angry, but it made Tetsuro wince anyway. “Why is he even doing this?”

“I didn’t always catch on to his tests, so I couldn’t stop him until after I did. Even so, by then, he was satisfied by whatever result he achieved,” he tried to explain. “As for the why of it, I don’t know. It’s like you said earlier, neither of you really know each other, so maybe that’s part of his reasoning. Maybe he really is jealous, and doing this to see how long before you become jealous and break up with me.”

Kei was quiet again, but it was a thoughtful silence. Tetsuro watched his beautiful face as he thought. Those golden brown eyes were slightly unfocused, almost clouded over, blocking everything out, and his eyebrows were slightly scrunched up. He could only imagine Kei had also stopped hearing anything, as well. He remembered that his mom had said something about Kei not being so expressive at one time in his life, but Tetsuro couldn’t imagine it. Just watching his face, he could almost tell what Kei was thinking. So, he knew Kei had worked out a possible answer when his expression cleared.

“I can almost see your answer,” he said with a grin. “Welcome back.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Kei replied with a smirk. “Do you think it could be that he hasn’t seen, or experienced, love like ours?”

Tetsuro blinked. “You mean love at first sight?” He hadn’t thought of it that way, and it might explain everything.

“Part of it, yeah. Also, just how we are around each other, and how we’ve worked through stuff together, even when we’re apart.” He focused sharply on Tetsuro. “You’ve been friends with him for years, and even had a relationship with him. But, did you ever love him like you love me?”

This time, Tetsuro was the one to withdraw inwardly to think. He sifted through emotions and memories, everything he’d experienced since meeting Kenma when he was eight years old. And through it all, he couldn’t remember ever loving Kenma like he loved Kei. It was different, platonic. Nothing deeper than the kind of love one has for a best friend.

“I can almost see your answer,” he heard Kei say, repeating his words from earlier.

“I think, somewhere along the years, I confused platonic love for something deeper.” He huffed. “To think it took me this long to see it.”

“Maybe he’s just realizing it, too,” Kei added quietly. “And he doesn’t like it.”

“Maybe,” Tetsuro agreed. “But this is all just speculation. I’m hoping Hinata can get something out of him.”

“Yeah, same,” Kei replied. “If anyone can do it, Hinata can.”

They fell into silence again, just staring at each other.

“Why didn’t we think of doing video chats before?”

“Easier just to call or text, I think. And we aren’t always alone when we call or text.”

“Maybe we can make this a habit?”

“I like that idea. But maybe not until after we get past this thing with Kenma.”

“Yeah. We need to make it as believable as possible. But, I will keep in touch, okay?”

“Okay. I miss you.”

“I miss you, too. So, so much.”

“I gotta go. Mom made sukiyaki, and Tadashi is coming over to study.”

“Tell everyone I said hi.”

“I will. Oh, I’m going to tell my mom and Akiteru about what’s going on. If they haven’t already seen any of this.”

“Good idea. They are on both our accounts. I’m surprised they haven’t said anything.”

“Right? I’ll talk to them.”

“Okay. I love you more…”

“... I love you most. Goodnight, Tetsu.”

“Goodnight, Kei.”

When Kei finally left the video chat, it severed the connection, and Tetsuro turned everything off. He hadn’t really paid much attention, but the sun was starting to set, and the sky was lit with fiery color. It was later than he’d thought, but that didn’t matter. Staying just a little while longer, he watched the sun set, and then he gathered up his stuff and headed home.

[All In]

For a little over a week, everyone waited to see what Kenma would do. Kei had nearly forgotten what he was supposed to do, until a new round of pictures dropped on Facebook and Instagram. In fact, he hadn’t known until the third day of the first years’ training camp at Shiratorizawa. Hinata had come running up to him during the lunch break, and showed him the posts. Kei thanked him, and then went to his bag for his phone to check his messages.

[I guess it’s game on, then]
[YEAH DAICHI, BUT I DIDN’T THINK HE WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IT AGAIN]
[Tsuki, the next move would be yours]
[THE BALL HAS BEEN SERVED]
[Bokuto, really?]
[The closer we get to Nationals, the more he’s going to reference volleyball]
[AKAASHI!!]
[Just go with it, guys]
[How should I do this? Overly dramatic, or coldly silent]
[You’re better at the coldly silent, tbh]
[Hinata!]
[What, Tadashi? It’s true!]
[I GOTTA AGREE WITH HINATA]
[Not helping, Bokuto]
[Why not both?]
[OOHH… BOTH IS GOOD!]
[What do you mean, Suga?]
[This round of pics wasn’t very big. He may be waiting for some reaction to post more. Start with one type of reaction, and finish with the other just before you block Kuroo]
[Maybe you could at least say something up front to acknowledge that you’ve seen them, Tsuki? He’s tagged you specifically]
[Good thinking, Yaku]
[Give it til this evening, after practice. Then go off.]
[THINK MAYBE ONE OF US SHOULD TAG TSUKI, TOO?]
[Hasn’t he already been tagged, tho?]
[YEAH, BUT MAKE IT LOOK LIKE WE WANT HIM TO SEE IT, TOO]
[Concerned friends coming to the rescue]
[YEAH, LIKE THAT]
[He didn’t tag Kuroo this time]
[Deliberate, most likely]
[I think so, too, Kai. He’s been kinda on edge lately]
[NO ONE REALLY REACTED THE FIRST TIME, THOUGH]
[Yeah, he hates being ignored when experimenting]
[So, I need to at least react to what he’s posted so far?]
[Sorry, Tsuki, but this might be the fastest way to resolve everything]
[We just can’t push too far, or he may feel cornered]
[Right, Akaashi. That’s not an avenue I wish to explore]
[Okay, lunch is about over, guys. Hinata and I have to get going]
[Alright. Do your best!]
[Thanks, Mom]
[I’ll tag you, Tsuki.]
[Thanks, Dad]
[LOL! I LOVE THAT!]
[We’ll talk to you later]
[Wait. You actually spell that out?]

Kei and Hinata laughed as they put away their phones. They were headed back to where the others were when Kei slowed down and stopped. Hinata had gone a few steps more before turning around and looking back.

“What’s wrong, Tsuki?”

“I don’t know how to even start. I was never good at acting.”

Hinata struck a thoughtful pose. “Hmmm… would it help if you had something to work with?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, some actors need an idea to work with, right? To get them in the right mindset. So, for you, think of it as someone stealing Kuroo away from you, and doing whatever they can to achieve that goal.”

“But I’m supposed to be so jealous that I break up with him, right?”

“Wouldn’t you be jealous if what that person was doing was actually working? Isn’t that what Kenma is trying to do?”

“But we don’t know…”

“No, we don’t. Not yet, anyway.” Hinata scrubbed a hand through his unruly red hair. “And you’re stalling. You’re the one that needs to react first before anyone does anything else. It’s like Bokuto said, the ball has been served. It’s up to you to receive it.”

Kei narrowed his eyes at the smallest middle blocker. “When did you become so insightful?”

“Volleyball may be what I’m thinking about, but it’s not always the only thing. Good luck!” And off he went to where the other ball boys were getting ready for afternoon practice.