One Heartbeat

We had several years together, and they were the happiest of my life.

It was easier to make it to your games while I was at University. I remember when your team made it all the way to the semi-finals at Nationals during your third year, and I had never been so proud in my life. Do you remember seeing Daichi, Suga, and nearly all of the others in the cheering section, Kei? I’m sure you heard us, I mean, how could anyone miss Saeko and her Taiko drums? We cheered the loudest, and when Karasuno was finally defeated, we smiled through our tears.

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

After your graduation, you enrolled at Miyagi University, and we had a year of college together. In so many ways, I wished we could have gone to the same schools while growing up, but we couldn’t. So, we made the best of our year of college; studying together, going to a few parties, hanging out with friends.

I went directly to work as soon as I graduated college. I worked with the sports division of the JVA, which required some travel, so once again, we were forced to be apart. That was the only part of my job that I hated, if I were honest about it. You helped me through those times, though. You made it a point to call or text every evening. Even if it was just a simple ‘I love you,’ or a ‘how are you doing?’ I responded as fast as I could, but you were patient when I couldn’t.

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

Some of those trips, you were able to come with me. We were reunited with old friends and classmates who were still playing pro-volleyball. I think your favorite trip was the one where we met up with Hinata and Oikawa in Brazil, though you would never admit it to them. And, even though it was a business trip for me, we managed to fit in some sightseeing, and enjoyed the food. I remember you bringing home a few cookbooks, hoping to try making some of the Brazilian dishes you loved the most.

When you weren’t able to come with me, I quickly discovered that my favorite part of any business trip was coming home. No plane, train, or car was ever fast enough. Even a thirty minute trip from Sendai to home was akin to a century. But when I walked through the door, you were waiting for me with arms open wide and the brightest smile on your face. I was home. You were my home, Kei, and I loved you so much.

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

For your graduation from college, I surprised you with a scrambled together reunion. Do you remember that? I called Akaashi, who also called Bokuto, and they came up first. Then, I found an old, but still good, number for your Coach Ukai, who was miraculously still in contact with much of your original team. Naturally, Daichi and Suga came, as well as Tanaka, his wife Kiyoko, and his sister Saeko. Yamaguchi was hot on their heels, and Yachi with him. Hinata and Kageyama sent their congratulations via video message, with a bonus congratulations from Oikawa, who photobombed Hinata’s message. Coach Ukai and Takeda-sensei were the last to arrive.

We weren’t supposed to, but we cheered for you as you made your way across the stage for your diploma. The expression on your face was priceless, once you realized who was cheering for you. Equal parts surprise, happiness, and irritation; somehow you managed it all. Good thing we were close enough to the stage, because when your eyes locked with mine, I knew you loved my surprise. And I had one more planned for you, but that would be for later, when we were alone.

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

During the dinner party at home, I took the opportunity to steal you away, grabbed your hand and went out to the back yard. Maybe it was poor planning on my part, thinking our friends wouldn’t notice, but looking back, I know I should have picked a more secluded area. Like our bedroom. But honestly, it didn’t really matter. They are the ones who took pictures of the moment I proposed to you; Akaashi even had the forethought to get it on video.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yeah. Everything’s fine. I mean, it will be. I hope.”

“Will be? You hope? Tetsu, what…”

I took the rings out of my pocket and then lowered myself to one knee. I gently took your left hand and slid one ring on the third finger. From behind me, I heard sniffles from several of our friends.

“Kei Tsukishima, my voice of reason, my best friend, love of my life, my home. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

“He looks frozen.”
“His face is all red. Clearly indicative of frostbite, Genius.”
“I thought he’d have answered by now, to be honest.”
“Has he said yes, yet?”
“Was that Hinata??”
“Yeah, I got him on FaceTime. Oikawa, too.”
“Will you guys be quiet?!”

I was sure they did that on purpose. Our friends were the best. Both of us started laughing, but the tears in your eyes spilled over. I tugged on your hand, and you lowered yourself to your knees. I knew your answer before you even said anything, but I wanted to hear it. I needed to hear it. You clearly had other ideas, because you reached up to caress my face, and trail your fingers through my hair. Then, you leaned in and kissed me.

“Is that a yes?”
“It certainly looks like one.”
“I don’t know. We need closure.”
“You guys are ruining the moment.”
“They haven’t said anything, yet.”
“Not that they can, at the moment.”
“Oh my god. Will you guys shut up?!”

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

I was so happy that all I could do was gather you up in my arms and hold you tight. Our friends, the peanut gallery, went wild. But none of that mattered. We were going to be together forever, as we always should have been. When we finally let go of each other, you took the other ring, and slipped it onto my finger. It was then that my own tears fell, and you kissed them away.

We spent the rest of the evening showing off our rings, answering all sorts of questions about how we met and everything, and then being congratulated by everyone who found out via social media.

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

When our friends left, we helped Mom and Ni-san clean up, and then as a bonus surprise for both of us, they left for Sendai. They’d be gone for the weekend. We took advantage of having the house to ourselves for a few days. We never left, choosing to stay inside most of the time. We celebrated our engagement by making plans for our wedding, discussing possible places to live, and just loving each other endlessly.

A month later, I was sent on another business trip. It was only supposed to be a few days, but it turned into a week. Still, like every other trip before, you called and texted every evening. We’d talk for as long as we could, if one of us didn’t fall asleep first.

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

It was strange, Kei. The closer the time came for me to leave, the more I was desperate to be home. It wasn’t like all the other trips before, either. This time, it felt like if I didn’t get home soon, I’d never see you again. I don’t know where the feeling came from, or why, but as soon as I was finished with my assignment, I hurried home.

The last thing I remember clearly was the cab ride from Sendai to Ogawara. We were almost out of the city, and I remember asking the driver to go a little faster. I checked the time on my phone, never seeing the vehicle that slammed into our car.