"Oya?"

"Oya oya,"

"Oya oya oya,"

"There is something I'd like to ask you. May I?" Kei ignored their strange words. It must be their language.

"Go for it~" Kuroo and Bokuto answered in a chime. Kei regarded them for a second, momentarily wondering about their synchronous actions. Then he got serious.

"Sorry for interrupting you practice, and, thank you," he bowed quickly. "So your teams are both moderately strong, right?"

"Moderately?!"

"Even if you could make it to Nationals, it would still be really difficult to win, right?"

"It's not like it's impossible!" Bokuto sneered.

"Don't get all bent out of shape. Calm down and let's just hear him out," Akaashi directed at the other two.

"I'm genuinely curious... what drives you all to work so hard? Why do you go to such lengths? Volleyball is just a club, so what benefit is there besides being able to write it on an application? 'I worked hard on my high school sports'? What's that going to help?"

"Just a club?" Bokuto's eyes narrowed. "I'm feeling really tempted to punch you in the face," Kei's eyes shot wide at Bokuto's serious words.

"Dude, maybe he's just a genius on paper. We can't expect everyone to be an energizer bunny like you," Kuroo direction to the owl, trying to defend Kei somewhat. "Not like you'd know anything about that,"

"What's that supposed to mean?! I got into Fukurōdani!"

"With my help! Did you even pass your last trig test?"

"That isn't the point!"

"That's exactly the point!"

"Should I say something?" Kei turned to Akaashi with question.

"...Nah. This is nothing unusual,"

"Say, mister Glasses!" Bokuto spoke loudly, catching all the attention.

"It's Tsukishima,"

"Fine then, Tsukibararara," Kei flinched at the butchering of his name. "Is volleyball fun to you?" Kei considered it for only a moment.

"No, not really," he shrugged his shoulders.

"You think maybe that's because you suck at it?"

Dude, low blow.

"I'm a third year and I've been to nationals every year so I'm definitely better than you at this!"

"I already know that," Kei didn't even sound offended.

"But it was only recently that I started to think volleyball was fun," Kei's brows rose at that. He explained about his past dilemma, how he had to adapt to straight shots since his crosses kept being shut down. "In the next competition, the same opponents who blocked me before couldn't even touch the straight I drove past them. I made complete fools out of them. With that one hit alone, I felt like my time has come,"

The owl stopped, his eyes fixing on Kei's form with absolute enjoyment.

"It's all a matter of whether 'that moment' comes for you or not. Who cares about the future? Crushing the guys in front of you is the best feeling in the world. Knowing that you've shown off everything you can do and won with your own strength; it can totally get you hooked," Kei was left speechless. "But that's just me, so don't take my word for it. So when you said that it's just a club: I can't see it. It doesn't make sense to me. Still," he rose his hand, pointing straight at the flabbergasted Kei. "If that moment ever does come for you, that's the moment you'll be hooked on volleyball,"

Kei could only stare at the three, thinking over everything the owl had just said.

A moment?

A moment where his efforts paid off.

A moment where his skills were put to the test and he won.

Still, how long would he have to wait? How much effort was required before he could be strong enough to experience that?

How far did he have to go?

"And now that you're here, let's play," Kuroo grabbed at Kei's arm, pulling him further into the third gym.

"Hey, hold on-,"

"You know," Akaashi spoke, all three stopping to regard him. He was looking Kei, a sort of realisation plastered on his face. "Try," Kei hummed questioningly. "Just... try and see where it gets you. Maybe, you'll be surprised," and he gave Kei a gentle look, an encouraging smile that could only have come straight from the heavens.

Kei's heart stopped.

Dammit.

So, he tried. He tried to read Bokuto's instantaneous adjustments with every spike; he tried to listen to Kuroo's blocking advice; he tried to predict how Akaashi's set would influence the spike.

He didn't leave early. He didn't even realise it had gotten dark. He had lost time around them. When they called it a night, Bokuto and Kuroo taking the brooms to wipe at the court, Kei found Akaashi lingering around. He carried an amused but loving expression as he regarded the two idiots try to have a sword battle with the brooms, and Kei found himself moving up towards him.

"But somehow, against all these humanly bounded odds; I came face to face with two of the Gods," Kei whispered into the air. Akaashi looked up at him with questioning bewilderment. "You wrote that, right? I read some of your poetry,"

"...why?"

"I don't know why but..." Kei looked down at the pretty setter. "I'm glad I did. You are really talented with your arts," Akaashi wasn't good with compliments so he remained quiet, lips slightly parted as he peered up at blonde. Kei carried a contemplative look. "I'll unblock him sometime. Just don't tell him," he nodded towards Bokuto, Akaashi following the line of sight.

The two third-years were duelling with the brooms as if they were fencing, lunging forward and striking at each other.

"Turn your broom around! I don't want the bristles all up in my face!" Bokuto groaned in annoyance, lunging around to poke at Kuroo's abdomen.

"I'm just trying to wipe that smirk off of you face!" Kuroo defended himself, shoving the dirty side of the broom into Bokuto's head. Bokuto huffed in disgust as his vision was taken over by the bristles.

"Dude, don't hide behind a weapon!"

"Sure," Kuroo pulled away the broom, letting it fall to the floor. He quickly stepped up to Bokuto and snaked his hands around his waist. With one quick and strong motion, he pulled Bokuto into his own body and planted their lips forcefully together. Bokuto immediately let go of his own broom to grab at Kuroo's face, pushing their bodies impossibly closer.

Akaashi nearly choked at the sight, turning his head to look up at Kei. The blonde stood there with closed eyes, hand pinching at the bridge of his nose.

"I'm... Sorry about them," Akaashi whispered to him, embarrassed at the lack of decency from his boyfriends. Kei lifted up his hand and waved dismissively.

"It's fine. I-I'll just leave. Have a good night," he quickly bowed and rushed out of the gym, the sound of Bokuto's moan drifting behind him as he left.

Akaashi watched him leave for a moment before heading over to the two.

"Guys, what the hell?" he spoke, putting his hands against their chests to push them apart. The cat and the owl looked down at with question.

"Aww, I'm so sorry we didn't give you all the attention~" Kuroo purred, bringing his hands to roam up Akaashi's side. He let his fingers tuck in under his shirt, but Akaashi grabbed at the drifting hands, forcing them to lock eyes.

Akaashi looked irritated.

"Woah, what's wrong?" Bokuto questioned. Akaashi quickly shot his head back to the door before looking up at the two.

"Tsukishima was still here,"

"Aw shit, really?" Bokuto covered his mouth in shock.

"Thought he already left..."

"You need to be more aware of your surroundings," Akaashi shook his head.

"At least he already knew?" Bokuto added, throwing his hands up into the air.

Didn't make it any better.

Kei's heart was pounding, his mind reliving the scene he had just witnessed over and over again, the sound of Bokuto's moan added like a broken record. How Kuroo had been so rough with Bokuto, how Bokuto immediately reciprocated...

Kei covered his face with his hands, his back pressed up against the side of the gym as he hid in the shadows until he calmed down. His face was the shade of his favourite strawberry, his pulse spiking like a hummingbird.

He really didn't want to see that.

He really didn't...

Kei surprised everyone the next day when he performed a kill block against Bokuto, the owl completely running away from the mid-air battle using a feint. Akaashi immediately reprimanded the owl who tried to depend himself, saying he dodged. On the other court, Kuroo had been checking out their battle and smirked to himself in absolute bliss.

Yes. Yes. Make my beautiful Bo shut up. Silence him, put a muzzle on him. Make him fear you.

"Kuroo, focus," Kenma scolded, looking up at his friend with annoyance.

"I am focusing,"

"On all the wrong things,"

"On all the right things," Kenma groaned.

Kei switched out with Nishinoya, knowing eyes were trained on his back as he walked off – curios looks from both the crows and his owls. He stopped, his own eyes shooting towards the ginger's. Hianta stopped, knowing exactly what that look meant.

It was a declaration of war.

On the third night of the training camp, Kuroo and Bokuto apologised about their PDA but Kei brushed off the topic quickly. He didn't need the reminder. That was the first night Kei began to practice his spikes as well, Akaashi as his setter. Without thinking really, he abruptly admitted how much he preferred Akaashi's careful and precise sets over Kageyama's regular demanding ones. His tosses were just as dependant as Sugawara's, maybe even more.

On the fourth night, Hinata forced himself into their practice after Kenma abandoned their practice. Kuroo mentioned how impressive it was that he could get Kenma to practice independently in the first place. Hinata wanted to mention how Kuroo and the others had the exact same superpower, having gotten Kei to practice independently with them. A 3-on-3 match was held: Akaashi, Bokuto and Hinata vs Kuroo, Lev and Kei. Owls vs Cats.

The entire play on the cats' side boiled down to Kuroo yelling at Lev and Kei to fix up their blocking in various ways. On the owls' side, Akaashi and Bokuto were taking the small crow under their wing. The game never concluded properly as they had to rush to catch dinner before it ended.

Kei drifted to Yamaguchi at dinner, but the animal kingdom followed him. The cat slit in beside him and the owls took up places in front of him. Bokuto had gotten on the topic of having a costume day – everyone dressing up or cosplaying while they were playing volleyball. Akaashi humoured his crazy idea and that was why they were now talking out the logistics of it.

Yamaguchi was surprised to see Kei not mention their arrival but in fact, how he seemed to not be bothered by them at all.

"Oh, this is my friend, Yamaguchi," his breath stopped as he heard Kei introduce him, and soon he was bombarded with the reciprocated introductions as well.

"What's your position, Yama-Yama?" Bokuto questioned, stuffing food into his mouth.

"Uhm... I'm a pinch server,"

"Really? That's so freaking cool! Literally all eyes are on you then! That's a star's position," Bokuto sounded so excited, leaning forward to even steal some of Kei's food out of his plate. He didn't seem to mind.

"Uhm... you should maybe slow down there, mister Bokuto. You're going to choke," Yamaguchi said with worry.

"No he won't," Kei chocked on his own food at Kuroo's words. Yamaguchi didn't get it, and it confused him even more when both Kei and Akaashi covered their faces in embarrassment.

"You got that right," Bokuto confirmed, making it even worse. "Yama-Yama, what would you dress up as to costume day?"

"Uhm... an astronaut?" he answered unsurely.

"Astronaut! Yes! That would be so cool! What you about you, Tsukki dude?" Kei hummed as he considered the idea.

"I want to be a dinosaur," Hinata had headed past the table but stopped when he heard Kei's words. He immediately peaked up and moved closer.

"A dinosaur! Why? Because they're all big and cool and scary?" he said with a huge smile.

"Because they're all dead," Hinata's smile fell.

"Can relate," Kenma who had been with Hinata, commented.

"Kenma, no~"

"I would be a ballerina," Bokuto spoke, determined with his answer.

"You would look hot in a tutu," Kuroo admitted.

"I know right?"

"Ooh, ooh! Can I be a King?" Hinata slid into the benches, dragging Kenma with him to sit at the table.

"Sure! What about you Kenma?"

"A sea urchin,"

"...well, right then. Tetsurō?"

"A Pharaoh,"

"Love it. Sexy. Keiji?"

"I don't know," Akaashi shrugged his shoulders.

"How about an angel?" Kuroo suggested, leaning forward onto his elbows with a smirk. Akaashi was about to speak but Kei spoke first.

"I agree with that," Akaashi blushed. Yamaguchi stared at his friend with a sense of wonder. Kei was changing. Or rather, he was finally moving his wings out from in front of his eyes. Soon, he'll finally put those wings to good use.

Also, Yamaguchi regarded Kei with an examining look, not gay my ass.

At the end of the meal, just before everyone headed off to their own team's rooms, Kei regarded Bokuto with a contemplative look. The owl tilted his head in question. Kei pulled out his phone and was busy for a minute before shutting it off again.

"Hm?" Bokuto hummed in question.

"I unblocked you," he said simply and walked off. He could hear the owl holler in loud celebration behind, the sound bringing a small smile onto his face. Next to him, Yamaguchi noticed the slight tug of his lips and couldn't help smiling at the sight.

"Tsukki-,"

"Don't say it," but despite Kei's words, there was still a light-hearted tone to his words.

On the fifth night, Bokuto taught Hinata how to use a feint and he scored his first block out against three tall players. Kei had gotten quite frustrated but Kuroo encouraged him onwards. They ended training early enough to make dinner, and then the baths were open and then bed time. Since it was the last night everyone spent together, no one really went to bed early and many of the teams stayed up talking. Kei wanted to sleep, but some Nekoma teammates had moved in apparently. Hinata was all over Kenma, Nishinoya was enjoying time with Yaku and Kuroo was having interesting an interesting conversation with Daichi and Sugawara.

Annoyed at the loudness of the room, Kei left. Kuroo stared at his back as he left, the action not going unnoticed by his conversation mates. Daichi smirked.

"So... what's going on between Tsukishima and you guys?" Sugawara frowned at Daichi's words. Kuroo groaned at being called out.

"Don't even start with me, Mister Swamp,"

"Your name means iron cheerfulness!"

"Still better than fucking swamp village," Sugawara just stayed quiet. He wasn't going to win at the game of 'what does the nomenclature of my name mean'. Definitely not...

Kei stepped outside into the cool night, a nice contrast to the insane heat during the day. It was quiet, and that was exactly what he needed. Yamaguchi had somehow been roped in on a board game with some of the Shinzen players, and Kei was definitely not going to join that. He pulled his headphones on and began with his stroll, his hands deep in his pockets. All of the gyms were locked up, the matches of the day seeming like such a distant thing now. The building lights and the moon illuminated his gentle path, the sky acting like the court of the heavens. They were looking down at him with millions of sparkling eyes.

He was actively trying to focus on the lyrics of his shuffled songs, trying to keep his mind distracted. He knew he wanted to figure himself out, but at the same time, he didn't know if he even had the strength to do so. He had been intrigued, shall we say. They had captured his mind. They were all he could think about.

Bokuto.

Kuroo.

He felt a hand on his arm, and he turned around to see-

Akaashi.

"I saw you from the windows. Our team's also pretty loud," Kei heard his muffled voice through his music, his lips slightly parted at the sudden appearance of the person he actively tried not to think about. Before he could move to take of his headphones, Akaashi's hands moved upward to his face, his eyes asking for confirmation. Kei nodded. He slipped the headphones off Kei's ears and brought them to his own. He put it on, listening to Kei's song. He couldn't even remember what song had been playing.

Guess he hadn't been paying attention, after all.

Akaashi listened to the song for a few seconds before he began bopping his head to the time of the melody, his head gracefully moving like the ocean.

"And I know you were worthy; And I know this gonna work, yeah; I could only let you in; But I'm freezing,"

Akaashi closed his eyes, his lips parting as he began to sing. Although Kei couldn't hear the underlying melody, he didn't need a song to accompany. Akaashi's voice was perfect enough.

"I'm not running away; I'm not running away; I will feel the pain and stay;

I'm not running again; I'm not running again; Even though I'm scared, baby,"

Akaashi opened his tired eyes, those lazy butterfly lashed nearly catching Kei off guard. Akaashi had begun walking down the pathway, Kei following closely. After all, the headphones were connected through a wire to Kei's phone in his pocket. He needed to stay close.

"And I won't freeze you out; Like I have been; I won't freeze you out; I'm gonna let you in;

And I won't freeze you out; Like I have been; I won't freeze you out; My heart is melting,"

At the end of the chorus, Akaashi pushed the headphones down around his neck. Kei still kept himself close, even though he felt nervous at the proximity. Couldn't Akaashi take it off his neck? Or should Kei hand his phone over? Wasn't it uncomfortable for Akaashi too?

Kei wasn't Bokuto or Kuroo.

"I see you always have your headphones on when you can. Is music important to you?" Akaashi looked up at Kei, those gunmetal-blue eyes taking hold of something inside of Kei, not wanting to let go.

"Music is... my escape," he admitted, trying to look anywhere but Akaashi's eyes. "It's also a way I see the world, I guess," he shrugged his shoulders.

"Synaesthesia?"

"Just a metaphor. I don't know if I'd actually want to be able to see music," Akaashi hummed with interest at that.

"Why not?"

"I think it would be too overwhelming. The world is already overwhelming as it is; I don't need even more stimulation," Kei nodded, more to himself as he thought about it. "The world is loud but sometimes, it's too quiet,"

"I understand what you're saying," Kei looked down at him with interested awe. "I actually come from a rich family. We live in this huge manor, and although we have all these things and we own so much, it's all empty. It doesn't have meaning. That's why I live my life outside, with Kōtarō and Tetsurō. My live was really dull before I met them, but I guess you can say I had been hit with a shooting star. I realised that the most important thing was to know what you want, and what steps you need to make now to get there.

Oh, let's sit here," Akaashi stopped, taking a seat on the steps leading up to one of the gyms. The cable connecting the two forced Kei down, the two sitting close.

"How... how long have you guys been together?" Kei found himself asking.

"They've been together for more than two years now. I've been with them for more than a year," Akaashi confirmed.

"Is it... difficult?" he received a look of question. "Being three?"

"I thought it would be but I guess with the right people, it's meant to work out," he stayed still for a moment. "I was really insecure about it at first. You read that poem of mine. I felt like they were tugging at my heart," he placed his hand over his heart and breathed deeply. "Have you ever felt like that? Like you love someone so much, that you don't care if they hurt you or not?"

"Yeah," he whispered under his breath, not even needing to think about it. "My brother,"

"... oh,"

"He's the reason I have such a complicated relationship with volleyball,"

"But you're still playing? Is that also because of him?" Kei considered this and finally, he could admit aloud.

"Yeah. I wanted to know why. Why he did everything he did,"

"And? Do you feel like you understand him better now?"

"...Somewhat," Kei looked over to the majestic owl, Akaashi leaning back on his elbows of the steps. "But not entirely, so I guess... I'll just keep trying," Akaashi smiled at this. There was a moment of comfortable silence, the two just staring at each other. Akaashi was the first the break the contact, pulling the headphones slightly up so he could hear what was playing.

"I love your music,"

"Thank you," Kei smirked. "Mister Angel," Akaashi rolled his eyes.

"At least you haven't given me a stereotypical teenage girl name yet,"

"That's what you think," Akaashi's jaw fell.

"Please don't,"

"I was thinking Bridget,"

"...now why did you have to go and do that?" Kei snickered. "I could've gone my whole life not knowing that,"

"But be honest, would it have been an interesting life?"

"... fuck off," for the next half hour, the two fell into a comfortable conversation. They spoke a bit about Akaashi's poetry before they turned to books in general. Turns out, Akaashi had read Kei's favourite book before but the opposite wasn't true.

Now, Kei knew what would be next on his reading list.

They ended their night when a member of Fukurōdani came looking for Akaashi, concern written on his face.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt, but Bokuto managed to get hold of some tape and now they're trying to stick Karasuno's libero to the ceiling,"

"...not again," Kei looked towards Akaashi with surprise. "I'll be right there!" the teammate ran off. Kei and Akaashi began to walk back to the residencies, which was right around the corner. "Give me your phone?" Kei didn't hesitate to give his unlocked phone over. Akaashi was busy on it for a moment before handing it, and his headphones, back over. "I put my number in so just text me so I can have yours. I'm going to go deal if that significant other of mine, so have a good night," he quickly bowed.

"Uh... yeah, I'll definitely text you. Good luck with Bokuto. Oh, and if he actually managed to stick Nishinoya to the ceiling, you guys can just keep him," Akaashi snickered amusedly before the two separated, Kei heading back to Karasuno's room.

"Tsukki, where were you?" Yamaguchi asked when he came back, half of the room empty as they were all in the Fukurōdani room. He could practically hear Daichi's scolding all the way from here.

"I was talking to Akaashi,"

"...really?"

"Don't give me that look,"

"What look? You look happy, though,"

"Shut up,"

Then it was the final day, their very last match paired up with Fukurōdani. That was the first time the freak duo pulled off their new quick. Kenma had seen the quick and had been left speechless, Kuroo regarding his friend closely. Kenma wouldn't do good on the same side of the net as Hinata, the ginger just having too much energy for him to deal with. But them on opposite sides? They were a glorious type of rivalry. The synchronous attacks, the libero set and the block outs... it was all coming together. Finally. They were giving Fukurōdani a run for their money.

"Akaashi..."

Oh no. Here it came.

"Don't pass to me anymore today!" the declaration had Kei confused on the other side of the net, but it didn't faze Akaashi at all.

"Understood. Take the time to calm down," and Karasuno seemed to be the winning team while Bokuto was down, until two last cards were brought out from the owls. Akaashi's setter dump, and Bokuto's comeback shot.

At 3 wins, 62 losses, all of Karasuno's sets were now over.

"So, Bokuto gets into the slumps as well," Kei spoke with Akaashi later at the farewell barbeque.

"Yeah, well, there's no telling what will make him self-destruct on the court but he never gets depressed over having a strong opponent, so that's never really an issue. When the rest of the team seems disheartened, he's genuinely the one still in high spirits," Akaashi responded.

"And off the court?"

"...that's an entire different story,"

"...I see," Kuroo and Bokuto pulled the two along during the rest of the socialising, Kei seemingly blending into the group as if he had always belonged with them. Kenma regarded this from afar, thinking how Kuroo wasn't going to shut up about this new development when they got home.

But.

Akaashi was the deciding factor in this situation, having been the one to declare how he was afraid that they would get ruined if someone else joined.

Kenma took a picture of the four, Akaashi sitting close to Kei's side as the other two idiots decided to sprawl themselves all over their laps. Kei was already pushing Bokuto out of his lap when Kenma caught the picture, but you could clearly see the amusement Kei try to hide.

"Hey Kenma? What are you doing?" Hinata questioned, leaning over to see the picture.

"I'm gathering evidence,"

"Evidence?"

"Yeah. Those four are going to be so challenging,"

"I don't get what you're saying?" Kenma looked over, Hinata sitting so close that he always jumped away. Kenma nervously twiddled his fingers and nodded towards the four.

"Don't they look good?" Hinata regarded them and considered it for a second.

"Uhm... I guess?"

"No, I mean... together,"

"In what way together?"

"What way do you think?" Hinata furrowed his brows in great confusion. "Bokuto, Kuroo and Akaashi are already in a relationship – oh, maybe don't mention that to anyone. Your glasses guy... it's just a feeling, but look at how natural he looks with them. I think..." Kenma didn't know if he should say it aloud. He did, after all, just accidentally run his mouth.

But it was Hinata.

He wasn't himself around Hinata.

"Does... can Tsukishima even like someone?" Hinata whispered in confusion.

"That's the part you're wondering about?"

"I've just never seen him interested, not as obvious as Tanaka or Nishinoya so I guess..." Hinata looked to Kenma. "Tsukishima will do what makes him happy," and that was that. No further curiosities in his mind or anything he wanted the gossip about.

Love was love, and he could see that.

"Do you like anyone, Shōyō?"

Why.

Why did Kenma ask?

Why couldn't he keep himself quiet?

"I..." he looked over, genuine uncertainty written all over his face. "I don't know," and in earshot, away from their view, the dark-haired setter of Karasuno clenched his fist in frustration.

He didn't know either.

"This isn't going to be a goodbye," Kei spoke before Akaashi, Bokuto or Kuroo could even get a word in. "Goodbyes feel really forced to me,"

"Then what do you want, Barba?" Kuroo chuckled. "A blood contract stating 'we'll see each other again?' Should I fetch you some parchment and a quill?"

"Akaashi has my number," he looked towards Akaashi when he spoke. "Do with that what you want," but they knew what he was implying.

"OOHH video calls!!" Bokuto threw his arms up into the air with excitement, his frosted tips sticking up like antennas.

"Uhh, we'll see about that," Kei shrugged his shoulders. "But..."

"Hm?" Kuroo tilted his head in question. Kei looked at the three, a newfound determination burning in his eyes.

"Nationals. That seems the most likely place we'll meet again,"

Nationals.

Kei was actually already considering it.

"Nationals!! Yeah, baby! We'll all be there!" Bokuto cheered in excitement, running off in a small circle for a moment before he returned.

"But that's only in six months, and only if we all qualify," everyone looked to Akaashi at his factual words. "That's too long," Kei looked at him with question. Did he mean...

"We might have practice matches again," Kuroo mentioned, but that only accounted for Nekoma.

"If it's by train, it would be a two hour trip," Akaashi accounted for their long distance.

"Long weekends! Let's do long weekends! Kei, you come to Tokyo and then you can stay with me," Bokuto spoke up, pointing his thumb at his chest. "My family will love you!"

"That's a generous offer, but we'll have to just wait and see," Kei nodded, not wanting any empty promises. The year could get very busy for all of them.

He could feel himself get excited at the mere idea of a get-together though, one outside of volleyball.

"Tsukki, this was really fun. This was our last training camp and you made it so much more worthwhile. Thank you," Bokuto got serious for a moment, giving Kei an earnest and gentle smile. Kuroo was at his side, nodding in agreement.

Right.

They were third years.

"Don't talk like it's the end," Bokuto chuckled at Kei's words, stepping forward and completely catching the blonde off guard by wrapping his arms around his waist. He pulled the skinny man into a hug, Kei tensing up at the unexpected contact. Bokuto quickly pulled away and shot him a blinding smile.

Ah.

Kei didn't hate that smile anymore.

"Don't think you're getting away without a proper goodbye," Kuroo spoke deviously, also catching Kei in a hug. He was expecting it this time, slightly pushing into the action before Kuroo, too, pulled away, leaving him feel void.

Kei's body was filled with tingles, the skin contact still lingering and not... unwelcome. In fact, it felt... nice.

Akaashi pushed himself into Kei's chest, the shorter male fitting snugly between Kei's arms for their brief interaction.

Kei smiled.

"Literally can't even wait, Tsukki!"

"It's going to be amazing,"

"We're going to be texting a lot, so don't you ever think of blocking me again!"

And then they headed off, the three receding backs burning into Kei's mind. The two owls and the cat were now forced to leave the crow's side.

Kei looked down at his arms, the arms that had just held Akaashi and smiled. He felt good. He felt happy.

"Oh, one more thing," Kei looked up to see Akaashi back in front of him, his hands gently taking hold of his face. Kei was too shocked to do anything and let himself be pulled down, Akaashi bringing their faced together.

What was he doing what was he doing what was he –

Their noses connected, Akaashi rubbing theirs together in a sweet and innocent eskimo kiss.

"Until next time, Firefly,"