The Cat and the Crow

Kei watched intently as Hinata tried to get answers from Kenma. It was going so slow, but once Hinata had started, no one said anything. At least, not on Kenma’s page. The phone, however, blew up… as was expected. Their friends were keeping up a running commentary, but Tetsuro and he had stayed silent. There really hadn’t been anything to say.

{{Shoyo? Have you been watching?}}
{{Honestly, no. Not until this post. Volleyball practice}}
{{Makes sense}}
{{You didn’t answer my question}}
{{Didn’t think I needed to when it’s obvious what I’m doing}}
{{Posting poorly photoshopped pictures of you and Kuroo kissing and practically making out?}}

“Hinata, stay calm,” Kei whispered encouragement. He picked up his phone again.

[SICK BURN, HINATA!]
[He needs to calm down.]
[He’ll be fine]
[We hope]

“We definitely hope,” Kei muttered as he kept watching.

{{They aren’t photoshopped}}
{{Yes, they are, Kenma. Let me ask another question: Why?}}
{{Why what?}}
{{Why are you doing this to Kuroo and Tsukishima?}}
{{Doing what?}}
{{Kenma, stop, please. I’m not stupid}}
{{I never said you were}}
{{Then stop toying with me. I thought we were friends}}

Kei’s vision started to blur. Besides Tetsuro, Hinata had one of the biggest stakes in this entire farce of a game, and they both stood to lose something important to them: a friend. As for himself, he still couldn’t think that he was more than someone to use to get to Tetsuro. No matter how much his boyfriend tried to deny it, he was the original target. Kei picked up his phone and started to text Tetsuro, when both the group chat and Kenma replied.

[Poor Hinata]
[He’s going to need us all after this]
[You know he’ll seek out Kageyama first, though, right?]
[Yeah. Always has been that way, hasn’t it?]
[For both of them]
[Kuroo, once this is over, we’ll have to explain what happened to Kageyama. Are you okay with that?]
[Yes, of course, Daichi. Please forgive me for bringing Hinata into this mess]
[...]
[Nothing to forgive. I said I would help.]
[I’m sorry, Chibi-chan]
[Stop apologizing, Kuroo]
[But…]
[Hey Tetsu?]
[Yeah?]
[Shut up.]

As the group sent laughing emojis and Lols, Kei turned back to his laptop.

{{We are friends, Shoyo}}
{{No, I don’t think so. You aren’t acting like the Kenma I know}}
{{What do you mean?}}
{{Well, for one thing, you’d have answered me by now.}}
{{Have I not?}}
{{No, you have not. Second, you had no problems with Kuroo’s and Tsukishima’s relationship, at first. Zero. None. In fact, you helped out them when they asked you. Like, that time you took pictures for them at summer camp. Now, I see this post today, and you won’t tell me why you’d even do such a thing.}}
{{Shoyo, I...}}
{{It’s Hinata.}}


[OH SHIT!!]
[He revoked use of his first name]
[ARE YOU SURE I CAN’T DO MURDER ON KENMA?]
[Yes, we’re sure, Bokuto]
[HOW ABOUT SEVERE MAIMING?]
[None of that, either]
[KILLJOY]
[Besides, I think Hinata finally got through to him]
[It certainly looks that way]

{{I don’t know what happened, but it’s like a switch flipped, and you became this person I don’t even know, and don’t want to know. I have friends that argue, and even fight with each other. But none of them would even think twice about doing what you’re doing to Kuroo and Tsukishima.}}
{{Can I text you privately… Hinata?}}
{{Are you going to answer my question?}}
{{Yeah.}}
{{Fine.}}

[NOW… WE WAIT]
[Intermission]
[Half-time]
[Seventh Inning Stretch]
[LMAO! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! WE SHOULD ALL HANG OUT IN TOKYO]
[That’s… not a bad idea, actually]
[Yeah, sometimes he has moments like that]
[AKAASHI!!]

Kei pushed his laptop aside, and stood up from his desk. There was no telling how long it would take for Hinata to send the screenshots, and he needed to do… something. Picking up his phone, he went out of his room and to the kitchen for something to drink, and maybe a snack. That’s where he found his mom, and Akiteru, sitting at the table. Both were on their laptops, and both looked up at him when he walked through the door.

“You’ve been keeping up with it?” he asked quietly, sitting beside his mom and resting his head on her shoulder.

“Yeah,” she said, kissing his head. “How are you holding up?”

“About as well as can be expected, I guess. I’m more worried about Tetsu, to be honest.”

“How’s he doing?”

“I think he’s been trying to hold it together, to be strong. But, this isn’t just a friend of his; Kenma and he grew up together. They are… were… best friends, and even boyfriends. I think, no matter the outcome, he’s going to be wrecked. And I can’t be there for him.”

“Who says you can’t?” Akiteru asked pointedly.

“Ni-san?” Kei lifted his head and looked at his brother.

Akiteru shrugged. “Family emergency. If we leave now, we can be there by midnight or so.”

Kei thought about it, and then nodded. “I’ll go pack. I need to call a few people, too.” Just as he was leaving the kitchen, he turned to look at his brother. “Where do you plan on staying? You’re going to be driving for a long time, and you’ve already had a long day of work.”

“Nevermind that. Getting you to Kuroo is more important. Get moving, lil bro. We’ll take care of things on this end.”

“Okay. Thank you,” he said, leaving the room. His mom had already picked up her phone, and was making calls.

Pulling out his phone, he quickly tapped Tadashi’s number. Once he heard his best friend pick up, he started talking.

“Hey, Tadashi? I don’t have too much time, so I’ll be quick.”

“Okay, but Tsuki…”

“I’m going to Tokyo. We’re leaving as soon as I’m packed. I need you to let Daichi and Suga know. And Hinata.”

“Tsuki…”

“I need to call Akaashi and Tetsu…”

“TSUKI! WILL YOU BE QUIET?!”

Kei blinked. Tadashi rarely raised his voice, so this got his attention. “What is it?”

“Hinata sent a couple screenshots. I think you need to read them.”

“Good or bad?” He asked as he sat down on his bed, packing momentarily forgotten.

“I’ll let you decide that. No one has really said anything, either.”

He didn’t know what to say, but he was saved by a notification that buzzed the phone. “I gotta go. Could you let Daichi and Suga know?”

“I will. Talk to you later?”

“Yeah. I’ll call when I get there.”

“Be safe, Tsuki.”

“I will. Thanks.”

He hung up and tapped on the message from Tetsuro.

[I have no idea how to even handle this]
[I haven’t seen anything, yet, Tetsu. What happened?]
[You were pretty much right about Kenma’s motive]
[Pretty much?]
[There’s a plot twist. You need to read it.]
[Are you okay, though?]
[Not really.]
[I’ll be there]
[WHAT?!]
[Akiteru is driving. We should arrive by midnight, 1am]
[OMG! Are you serious?!]
[Yep. But… is it too soon? Kenma is practically next door]
[Even if it were, I’d figure out a way to sneak you in]
[We shouldn’t even have to do that]
[I know. See you when you get here]
[I love you]
[I love you too]

He put his phone down and quickly packed his bag for the weekend. Putting his laptop in its case, Kei grabbed his jacket and raced back out to the kitchen. Akiteru had his keys in hand, but was staring at the screen of their mom’s laptop. Curious, he went over and joined them, reading what was on the screen. Tetsu had sent them the screenshots.

1/2
{{You’re right, Hinata. At first, I had no problem at all with Kuro’s and Tsukishima’s relationship. It was obvious they cared for each other quite a bit, and they looked happy. To be honest, I’d never seen Kuro that happy, nor that much in love. It had never been that way between us, even when we were dating. I hated knowing that. Hated that it took so long to figure it out. Hated that it was Tsukishima, and not me, that Kuro loved so much.}}

2/2
{{It didn’t seem any different than your average long-distance relationship. But then, Kuro went to Miyagi the first time. Then again for Tsukishima’s birthday, and brought him back here… and to Kyoto. Again, he left to watch your game against Shiratorizawa. He was jumping all those hurdles just to be with Tsukishima. It seemed all one-sided, too. Until Tsukishima came here for Kuro’s birthday. Despite the distance, they’d grown even closer. Even using each other’s given names. And I hated that, too.}}

At some point, Akiteru had reached over and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. His mom had reached back to take his hand. Kei hadn’t felt any of it. What he had felt was the jealousy that fairly sparked off those two screenshots. And he also understood why everyone was worried.

“We need to go, kid,” Akiteru spoke into the silence. “He knows you’re coming, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright. Let’s get moving.”

His mom stood and handed Akiteru a pouch that jingled. “Use the toll roads; it’ll be faster,” she said. “Be careful.” She looked at Kei and smiled gently. “Give Tetsuro a hug from me, okay?”

“Thanks, mom,” Kei whispered. He gave her a kiss and a hug, and ran out of the house, right behind his big brother.