The Cat and the Crow

It was decided that Kei would stay in Tokyo while he recuperated. They’d be close to a hospital, in case of relapse, and the doctor who took care of him was there. The squad unilaterally decided that staying in Tokyo would be best because Kei would have round the clock care… but mostly because they couldn’t stand the thought of him leaving. They had officially closed ranks around their youngest member, and they weren’t going to let him go. Not yet, anyway.

With the help of his teammates, Takeda-sensei, and mom, Kei was able to use the time to catch, and keep, up on what he’d missed in school. His teachers sent emails with classwork and homework. Tadashi, and a few other classmates, sent notes to add to his own. Once he caught up, teachers sent videos of their classes.

Tetsu, Keiji, and Koutaro made sure he didn’t push himself, even in regards to schooling. They made sure he rested, ate, and exercised enough to rebuild what he’d lost from being on strict bedrest in the hospital. As his strength returned, and his health was pretty much back to normal, they helped him with his volleyball training. Coach Ukai would come down to work with him, and sometimes a few teammates would join him.

Takeda-sensei even managed to get the school to allow a field trip for the whole team, including the outgoing third years. Of course, it also helped to have the backing of Coach Nekomata, requesting the team’s presence for a winter “training camp” between Nekoma and Karasuno. No one had to know that it was just an excuse for everyone to see each other again.

Overall, Kei had ended up staying in Tokyo until after Tetsu’s graduation in March, and because he wouldn’t make it back in time to see Daichi, Suga, Asahi, and Kiyoko graduate as he’d originally planned, Tadashi videoed the ceremony and sent it via email. In return, the squad sent back a congratulations video, complete with photos of the third years’ at the training camps they’d attended.

But because it was nearing time for the new school year to begin, Kei had decided to go home. He had to finish his high school career at Karasuno. He couldn’t leave his team, and under no circumstances would he even think of playing for another school. Even if it was Nekoma. Staying forever in Tokyo was not an option. At least, it wasn’t right now. However, living in Tokyo helped him make a few solid decisions that he would need later on.

“Are you ready to go?” Tetsu asked him, slinging Kei’s backpack over his shoulder and holding out his jacket for Kei to slip into.

“I hate leaving you, you know that,” Kei told him. “But we talked about this last night.”

“We did. I just… I was hoping maybe you’d change your mind.”

“I know. But, if the situation was reversed, would you have left Nekoma?”

“You asked me this last night.”

“Yeah, and you still haven’t answered me.” Kei looked him dead in the eye. “You’re stalling.”

Tetsu sighed and scrubbed a hand through his unruly dark hair. “No, I wouldn’t leave Nekoma. I couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else.”

“Same goes for me.”

“I guess we should head for the station. We’ll be late for your train if we stand here much longer.”

“I guess so.”

Neither of them moved. Keiji and Koutaro had already left for the station, knowing they’d want to be alone, even for just a small amount of time. Some of that time was spent packing the stuff Kei was taking back with him, and putting away the stuff he was leaving behind. With the Spring Interhigh coming up, Kei would be coming back in just over a month for an actual practice camp.

The backpack hit the floor, breaking the silence that had fallen between them, and they were wrapped up in each other’s arms, foreheads pressed together.

“I’m too used to you being here, too used to falling asleep and waking up beside you,” Tetsu said quietly. “Too used to your cooking,” he chuckled a bit before losing that endearing grin of his. “Being alone is going to suck so much worse, now.”

“Maybe Keiji and Koutaro could move in with you? Or vice versa?”

“The idea is not without merit, but… they aren’t you.”

Kei bit his lip, a tiny smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “You’re the worst, Tetsu.”

“How so?”

“You’re saying everything I need to hear to make me want to stay, knowing that I don’t want to leave, and also that I have to go.”

A tear escaped his eye, and Tetsu quickly kissed it away. He reached up and gently laid his hand along the side of Kei’s face, his long fingers tickling the hair at the nape of his neck. A shiver coursed through him and he inhaled sharply.

“What more can I say… or do… that will convince you to change your mind?”

“As if I hadn’t already changed it a million times before now.”

Tetsu was about to say something, but both their phones chimed with a notification. And then another a minute later, when neither of them had responded. Kei was the first to get his phone and tap on the notification.

[Friendly reminder that Kei’s train leaves at 1pm]
[45 MINUTES TO GET HERE]
[Thanks, guys]
[We’ll be on our way shortly]
[YOU SAID THAT AN HOUR AGO]
[We don’t want to say goodbye, either, but…]
[I’m trying to get him to stay]
[HOW’S THAT WORKIN OUT FOR YA?]
[Guys, we all know why he’s going home]
[40 MINUTES]
[If I didn’t know any better…]
[Stop, Tetsu. You do know better]
[THE FACT THAT YOU’RE PROBABLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM AND TEXTING THAT… XD]
[See you shortly]
[You mean it this time?]
[Of course not, but we’re leaving anyway]
[See you in a few]

Before Kei could move away, Tetsu held him tighter and kissed him with everything he was feeling at that moment. Love, desire, desperation; he held nothing back, not that he could anymore. And Kei returned it all in equal measure. Another notification chimed, and they eased apart, catching their breath.

[30 MINUTES, GUYS]
[You’re pushing it. You know it takes at least ten minutes to get here]
[Fine]
[On our way]
[I QUESTION THIS STATEMENT]
[Agreed]
[[Kei sent a photo]]
[We really are on our way]
[I’LL BELIEVE IT MORE IF YOU MAKE IT HERE IN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES]
[Geez, Kou]
[You know how much he hates goodbyes]
[Right]
[[Tetsu sent a photo]]
[We’re on the bus]
[FINALLY]
[See you when you get here]

Once they reached the station, they ran hand in hand to the gate where Kei’s train would be arriving. They easily found Keiji and Koutaro, and immediately stood close together. As they waited, Koutaro brought out his charm necklace; something the rest of them hadn’t thought about in months. He let it dangle from his fingers, and then Keiji also brought his necklace out, copying Koutaro. It took a few minutes before Kei noticed a new charm had been added: the little mascot guy that they’d seen everywhere around the venue during Nationals. He reached out to lift Keiji’s necklace enough to look at the little charm, and as he did so, Tetsu had also brought out his necklace, and Kei’s, both of which had the charm attached.

“We haven’t worn these lately,” Kou said seriously. “And really, there are almost too many charms on them to be worn. I was thinking maybe we should just keep them with us, and only bring them out when we’re all together.”

“Makes sense,” Tetsu replied. “Seems like we do that anyway, when we add a new charm.”

“And now that you two have graduated, it might be more difficult to get together,” Keiji added.

“Not that it was easy in the first place,” Kei said wryly.

“True.”

Kei took his necklace from Tetsu, and bent down to pick up his backpack that his fiance had put down. That’s when he noticed another backpack and a small suitcase. Both were Tetsu’s, but he didn’t remember him packing anything. He straightened up and was about to say something, but the train’s whistle sounded. It was time to go.

“You ready?” Tetsu asked as he picked up his stuff, and started walking backwards toward the train.