Live Journal Feed[Seriously, Bokuto?]
[It’s the middle of the night, Bokuto]
[IT’S ONLY 2AM. IT’S EARLY!]
[Akaashi, do something]
[DID YOU GET THE CHARMS, TSUKI?]
[Bokuto, that was Kuroo’s question]
[Ya think?]
[TOO SLOW]
[Bokuto…]
The constant buzzing of his phone woke him up, and disturbed those around him. Kei took his phone out of his pocket and opened the group chat. Grumpy, he sent a reply:
[Team Budget is taking the non-toll roads; we’ll be there around 7-8am]
[2am is when most normal people sleep]
[Mission Successful: I’ve procured the requested charms]
[Yes, that question should have been Kuroo’s]
He waited for the replies. It seemed everyone had something to add.
[I detect sarcasm]
[What do you expect? It’s 2am.Some of us were asleep]
[O ho! Not just sarcasm. He grumpy]
[Not helping, Kuroo]
[ACCURATE, THO]
[No one asked you, Bokuto]
[OUCH. TSUKI SO COLD.]
[Maybe we should let him go back to sleep?]
[Thank you, Akaashi]
Kei closed the group chat, and set his phone to silent. He was about to put it in sleep mode, when another message appeared. It was from Kuroo.
[I’m sorry.]
[It’s fine. I’m sorry, too]
[Nah. We’re the ones that woke you up.]
[I guess I should get used to it, though. Right?]
[That idea is not without merit]
[Smartass]
[You like it, though. Admit it]
[Yeah. Sure. Right.]
[... I feel the need for sarcasm fonts]
[I’ll get right on that.]
[Grumpy and sarcastic when woken up too soon. Duly noted]
[For what?]
[Future reference.
][Kuroo…]
[LOL! I know, I know. Sleep well. Ttyl]
[ttyl]
[ … ]
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” Takeda-sensei asked. He’d taken the first shift driving the bus, and was currently staring at him in the rear view mirror.
“Sorry,” Kei replied. He should have turned his phone off and gone back to sleep, but he didn’t want to. Not yet. Kuroo had sent another message.
[I miss you]
[I miss you too]
Well, now sleep might just be impossible, he thought, smirking. There was no doubt that Kuroo was serious in sentiment, but he also sent that last message on purpose. He probably can’t sleep, either, though. It had been two weeks since Tokyo, and even though they’d been texting back and forth constantly, it wasn’t the same as being together.
Reaching for the small bag he kept with him, he took out his headphones, hooked them up to his phone, and turned on the app that was nothing but white noise. He slid the eye mask he’d been wearing down over his eyes, curled up as much as he could, and forced himself to calm down. There was still another 5-6 hours to go, and sleep was essential.
[The Squad Reconvenes]
“Well, looks like you’ve been expected,” Tadashi remarked as soon as they left the bus. He gestured upwards, and Kei followed with his eyes.
There stood the squad, in various states of patience, with Akaashi being the only one to actually look calm. Kuroo looked like he was ready to leap over the railing, ignore the stairs, and tumble downhill to get to him. Bokuto was waving both arms in the air, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“TSUKI!! HURRY UP!!”
He took his phone out and opened the group chat.
[Tell me he slept at some point?]
He looked up and saw both Kuroo and Akaashi look at their phones and immediately start typing. Bokuto crowded Akaashi, looking over his shoulder and reading along.
[A few hours.]
[He’s more excited than either of you]
[That’s our Bokuto]
[I am the epitome of restraint]
Kei smirked and looked directly at Kuroo.
[Liar.]
[Rude. But fair.]
[Did there have to be so many stairs?]
[Bokuto says, and I quote, “Get your lazy ass up here already, Tsuki.”]
[Why did I hear that in deadpan?]
[Sentiment shared]
[Ditto]
[You guys are the outside of enough]
He made a little show of putting his phone away, and then noticed the stares he was getting from the whole team; coaches and managers included. Suga had gone full facepalm, and Tadashi was trying not to smile and failing miserably. Everyone else just looked super curious. Not ready to explain himself, and not that he really cared right now either, he merely bowed to Takeda-sensei and Coach Ukai.
“May I be excused?”
“Uhhh, yeah, sure,” Takeda-sensei replied.
“Warmups start in a half hour,” Coach Ukai added. “Don’t be late.”
“Thank you. I won’t,” Kei said, already moving toward the stairs. He reached into his bag for the little box holding the charms, and then handed his bag off to Tadashi as he passed by.
Once he reached the top of the stairs, he was immediately surrounded by two owls and a cat. It was almost like meeting family you haven’t seen in years, not just two weeks.
“Come on. We have breakfast ready.” Bokuto said, already turning to go inside.
“Food, again, Bokuto? Really?”
Kuroo leaned closer and said, “I have your necklace.”
“Okay, but I don’t have much time,” Kei interrupted them. “Coach told me not to be late.”
“Don’t worry,” Akaashi said. “We can’t be late, either. Let’s go.”
Kei was once again feeling like he was along for the ride, and he didn’t care. Before he left, he waved down at his team, who had not stopped watching since he’d left. The others stopped, smiled at each other, and then also waved.
“HEY KARASUNO! WE’RE STEALING ONE OF YOUR FLOCK!”
“Geez, Bokuto,” Kei said, embarrassed.
“DON’T WORRY, WE’LL GIVE HIM BACK!” Akaashi yelled, surprising them all.
Kuroo didn’t yell, but he did whisper in Kei's ear, “Maybe.”
Bokuto had already taken off, with Akaashi jogging behind. Kuroo took hold of his wrist and tugged him along, following behind at a somewhat slower pace. At some point, Kuroo’s hand had slipped down to hold his, tangling their fingers together. Kei smiled brilliantly, the familiar sensation coursing through him as strong as ever. But as he would have kept walking, he felt a tug and realized Kuroo had stopped. Turning to face him, he saw Kuroo staring at him. His eyes were wide open, and he looked mesmerized.
“What’s wrong?”
Instead of speaking, Kuroo just reached up and touched his face, running the pad of his thumb gently across his lips. Kei shivered, his eyes closing on their own. Damn if he didn’t want Kuroo to kiss him right now, but not here. He didn’t care who knew about them already, or who would find out, but even so, there were too many people around.
He felt Kuroo move closer, felt when he’d brought his face closer. “I love that smile,” he heard Kuroo whisper. “I love your laugh. I love it when you’re happy.”
Kei placed his free hand gently over Kuroo’s. “It’s your fault, you know.”
“Mine? How?”
“You make me want to smile, laugh, and be happy.”
“Tsuki…” Kuroo pulled back as if he’d finally realized where they were. “If we weren’t in the middle of a school hallway, I’d…” he didn’t finish that sentence. “Let’s go,” he growled, practically dragging Tsuki along. They made it through the school and to a little area outside in the back.
“What took you so lo--” Bokuto started to say, but Akaashi covered his mouth with his hand.
He’d seen the look on Kuroo’s face, and on Tsuki’s. While he secretly cheered them on, he knew when to exit stage left. He took a couple rice balls from the basket he’d brought, and grabbed Bokuto’s hand.
“We’re leaving,” he said in no uncertain terms. He nodded at his two friends, and took Bokuto away before he could protest.
Once their friends were gone, Kei suddenly found himself backed up against a tree, with Kuroo pressed against him. He hadn’t been rough, but not exactly gentle either. Right now, he didn’t really care. Not with the way Kuroo was staring into his eyes. He was going to say something, but Kuroo touched his lips, effectively silencing him
“Me first, okay?”
Kei simply nodded.
