2017

Akaashi graduated from his degree with distinctions – something even he thought had been impossible. His interning at a major manga company had turned into a full time editing job. It racked him up quite the pretty penny, but he still longed for the day he would be able to work in literature. Never mind his financial prospectus, Kuroo was fast becoming of greatness. The work he put in at the volleyball association was more than anyone had asked of him, and it was fast rewarding. Bokuto's money coming in from the Black Jackals was also no joke and neither the salary from the Sendai Frogs – although, most of Kei's finances went straight to paying of his student debt. Because of that, he felt bad that he couldn't offer as much as the rest for rent and groceries. Not that it was any problem – between the four of them, they were far ahead in the game.

Sakusa had graduated from the college volleyball scene with the title of MVP and got into the Black Jackals without even needing to try out. With him on the team, the on-and-off good streaks of the team turned into a near consistent path of victory. Of course, teams like the Adlers and Falcons still posed ever-growing threats but there was room for growth. Bokuto had mixed feelings about being on a team with him but give it a couple of weeks and he was already inviting Sakusa over for dinner.

Not that Sakusa would ever accept the invitation, of course. Bokuto lived with three other men – the germ infestation must be horrendous. That wasn't the reality, of course, since the other three wouldn't dare live in a filthy environment. Especially not Akaashi.

Kaede entered the pro league in his final year and got accepted into a division one big name team: the Tachibana Red Falcons. In the first half of the year, the jackals had gone up against the falcons and lost by the skin of their teeth. It could be argued that the team had been in a bit of a disarray, having Atsumu as the official setter for the first time and having a large variety of different weapons. Bokuto, Sakusa, Oliver... it was difficult to juggle. Of course, those were just all excuses. The matter of the fact was that at that point in time, the falcons were better.

Kei and Yamaguchi had gone to celebrate with Kaede afterwards, Yamaguchi having been acquainted with the ex-roommate for quite a while by then. Of course, Bokuto had been upset by the loss but he rather threw himself into practice than let himself get down. Also, he had to admit, he didn't expect Kaede to dig up so many of his spikes.

"I've been thinking of just getting some new equipment. And probably some new games,"

"And why do you need my help with that?" Kuroo spoke as he cleaned up in the kitchen, his phone on loudspeaker on the counter. It was in the middle of the year – July – and most of the unit had off since it was summer vacation and the volleyball scene took a bit of a break too. Because of that, Kuroo's work was also less.

"I need a man slave," Kenma responded ever so casually.

"Listen, you can literally just send out a post asking for someone to meet you at the mall and thousands will come running," Kuroo retorted.

"I would rather not abuse my following like that," Kenma said so matter-of-factly.

"But you're okay with abusing me?" Kuroo faked the hurt in his voice.

"Yes. Now get out here," Kuroo stopped, looking over to his phone as if it could convey his facial expression through the voice call.

"Huh?"

"I'm outside,"

"PFFT," Kuroo threw down the rag and picked up his phone. "Why?"

"I drove all the way here, and you know how much I hate driving. You can't turn me away now," Kuroo sighed at this words.

"But then I'll be leaving Kō here alone. Kei went out with Yamaguchi and his girlfriend to see some Viking movie, I don't know. Keiji was also out of the house pretty early today, but the magazine is currently on break, he's probably overworking himself. That man, needs to know how to take a break," Kuroo shook his head to himself.

"...Bokuto is an adult; he'll be fine. If he complains, tell him I'll buy him a blueberry cake or something,"

"Deal!" Bokuto's voice rung out, head popping into the kitchen. "Just have him back before midnight!"

"...deal. Now get out here, I want to leave," Kenma urged on.

"Just clench those ass cheeks together, okay? I'm coming, I'm coming," Kuroo quickly headed to get some things – including pants – before he met Kenma outside. From there on, Kuroo had truly been used and abused by Kenma by carrying the multitude of games and equipment he bought from all across the mall.

A few hours after they had left, Bokuto got a call. After doing some housework, he had settled into the couch to watch some dirty-pleasure sitcoms and there he remained for hours. Seeing that the caller was Atsumu of all people, he was instantly intrigued.

"Hey, Atsumu!"

"Are you dressed?" Bokuto was taken aback by the tone. Straight to the point.

"Uh, yeah?" he looked down at himself.

"Then come outside," Atsumu hung up. Completely confused, Bokuto waddled over to the front door of the apartment and pulled it open to reveal his setter. Atsumu's brows were furrowed, a crease on his forehead. Bokuto, too stunned by Atsumu's expression, remained quiet as the fox peered him up and down.

"...that won't do," he pushed past Bokuto to enter the apartment. "Where is your clothes?"

"Huh?"

"You clothes, man, your clothes. I'm not letting you wear shorts and a golfer T-shirt. You look like you're some dad going through his fifth midlife crisis this year and lives in a golfing estate," Atsumu waved his hand in Bokuto's general direction. "Dresser, wardrobe, whatever. Where is it?" dazedly, Bokuto took him over to the main bedroom where his clothes was. The room was a bit cramped since they made sure to have a bed big enough for all of them. Bokuto's clothes ended up in the bedroom, while the other three had dressers in their respective study rooms in the same hallway. It just worked out better that way, space wise.

"...that is a big bed," Atsumu shook his head in wonder.

"Thanks man!" Atsumu began pulling at Bokuto's clothes and Bokuto, too interested in the situation, didn't ask him a single thing. He eventually pulled out a delicate looking pair of jeans and a tight-fitting white shirt.

"Wear this. It's nothing fancy but a million times better than what you wore," he waved his hand. "And plain sneakers. I like it. Going for that vanilla look," Bokuto got dressed and once Atsumu was satisfied, he smirked.

"Great, let's go," he pulled Bokuto out.

"Go where?!" Bokuto finally asked.

"On a trip," Atsumu answered, unhelpfully. "Get in the car," he pointed his thumb at his vehicle.

"But wha-,"

"Just get in the fucking car," Atsumu grinned. "Lock the door first though," Bokuto followed Atsumu in disbelief and soon, he was sitting in the front seat of a car that was heading who-knows-where. Was he being kidnapped? Was he being dragged to some cult initiation or whatever?

"Atsumu, I'm so confused," he admitted. "Like I'm glad to be spending time with you, but there's better way to ask someone out you know," Atsumu just rolled his eyes.

"Look, you trust me, right?" Bokuto nodded. "Then trust me," that really didn't help.

"But where are we going man?" Bokuto gave him a pout.

"Bokuto, just shut up,"

At the same time, in a car somewhere else on Japan's roads:

"Oi, Kenma, this isn't the way to either one of our places. Are we heading to another shop now?"

"Kuroo, shut up,"

At the same time, in a car somewhere else on Japan's roads:

"Yamaguchi, I think you need to buy your girlfriend here a GPS for her birthday. I don't think she knows where she's going,"

"Tsukki, would you kindly shut up~,"

Three cars, all coming from different places, all had the same destination. The Atsumu-Bokuto team was the first to roll into the parking lot and Atsumu held him hostage. Bokuto was incredibly impatient and Atsumu telling him to just wait didn't make it better. The Kenma-Kuroo team was second to arrive and as soon as Bokuto saw Kuroo sitting in the passenger seat of another car, he wanted to escape. Atsumu locked the car and kept him in, Bokuto voicing his confusion quite loudly to him. Kuroo questioned Kenma about it but he only told him to wait, pulling out his gamepad to pass the time. The Yamaguchi-girlfriend-Tsukishima team came last and with their arrival, Bokuto and Kuroo were let out of their confinements.

The three had never been more confused.

"Oi! Why are we here? Where even are we? Where's Keiji?" Bokuto pointed his finger between the three parties of kidnappers.

"I'm out of here. Let me know what happens," Kenma started his car and rolled out of the parking lot, not giving any contribution to the situation. Kuroo just threw his arms in the air at his actions.

"Listen you three," Atsumu brought attention to himself. He pointed his finger at an opening between the bushes surrounding the parking lot, a cement staircase behind the opening. "Climb those stairs,"

"Why?!"

"Just do it!" Atsumu started his car and headed out as well, Bokuto nearly chasing after the vehicle for answers. The three turned to Yamaguchi and his pretty partner, hoping they would be able to give more clarity.

"Good luck you guys!" the two of them chanted together, forming their hands into hearts before they too, drove off. This left the three of them completely stranded in the middle of a parking lot in the middle of somewhere.

"Did they bring us here to be sacrificial lambs or something? Are we going to get at the top of those stairs and then thrown into a pot to be cooked?" Kuroo said with a sneer, throwing his head around the parking lot for any more clues. Besides them, no one else was in the vicinity.

"Like a cult? I thought about that too!" Bokuto said excitedly.

"Yamaguchi, Kenma and Atsumu...those are three people I don't want to be plotting against me," Kei admitted.

"Hey, let's go!" Bokuto grabbed their hands and began to pull them towards the stairs. Reluctantly, there was only one path for them to follow so they had no choice but to go on this journey. They stayed quiet as they climbed the steep stairs that went up the side of the hill, their minds clouded over with curiosity. As they begun to near the top, streaks of pink began to flicker across their vision.

"Sakura?" sure enough, as they reached the top of the hill, a massive cherry blossom tree came into view. The luscious green land that stretched around it was littered with the pink fallings of the petals, giving the tree a luxurious crown. The sunlight reflected off each petal, glowing faintly with a heavenly atmosphere. Even more heavenly was the angel standing at the base of the tree: dressed in silky all-white, hands wrapped behind his back, his hair sleeked back with grace as he stared at the three approaching with a loving graze.

"Keiji? What is... what is all this?" Kuroo asked with amusement, the three of them heading over to their lover. Akaashi's lip got caught between his teeth, slightly rocking on his feet as his eyes shot down to his feet for an instant. He was just a bit nervous. He waited for them to be right in front of him before he looked up, confidence swirling in his eyes and a reddish tint dusting on his cheeks.

"So... I asked the others to bring you here because I wanted to tell you: I love you all," the three got silly happy smiled on their faces as he said that. "And you're all idiots," they huffed amusedly.

"But we know that, don't we?" Kuroo shrugged with a smile. "And did you really have us kidnapped to tell us that?"

"Ah, well...probably not," Akaashi pretended to consider it. "But listen... I cannot even begin to put into words the amount of love I have for you guys, and I'm the person who writes all the words! I tried writing it in a poem but it wasn't enough, it will never be enough. I would have to throw you with a dictionary full of words that all mean the same thing to start explaining it. Happy, ecstatic, euphoric, exultant, jubilant-,"

"You're starting to loose me," Bokuto's mind began to grow jumbled with the words.

"And it's still not even close, but I think one of the greatest things about us is that we all feel the same, so it's not necessary to put into words really. We know what we feel because we're all feeling everything for each other. We've always really been showing our love and our utter devotion for each other through actions and that's why I decided to do all this. I need you guys not only to know but to feel and experience my everything that I give over to you and no one but you," the three would be lying if they said they weren't experiencing absolute exhilaration from the liquid euphoria dripping from his lips. Their minds were clouded over with glee, their gaze completely focused on their graceful angel before them. "Which is why..." Akaashi trailed off, shifting his body's position until he lowered himself onto one knee.

Instantly, Bokuto yelped for joy and held onto the nearest person – which was Kei – and the other two had wide eyes as blissful surprise overtook them.

Akaashi brought his hand from behind his back, revealing a small box covered with red velvet. He cracked it open to reveal four identical golden rings, each of them in their own row on the cushion. Kei's hand flew to cover his mouth, tears began to well up and the other two weren't far behind.

"We've been together – all four of us – for more than four years now. I've never loved anyone more and I never will. You guys are my forever guys and I've never wanted anything more. So, would you like to get married as a unit with me?" Bokuto unlatched himself off Kei and threw himself onto Akaashi, eyes balling. Akaashi was left crashing onto the ground and he quickly found the other two holding onto him as well.

"Of course!" Bokuto pushed himself to kiss Akaashi briefly, the salt from his happy tears mixing in.

"I would want nothing more," Kei didn't even try to keep his emotions under control as he gently kissed Akaashi, hand cupping his cheek lovingly. He pulled away and moved to kiss Bokuto as Kuroo smothered Akaashi's face with fairy kisses.

"Yes, yes, yes-," he said between each kiss, Akaashi giggling at the sweet feelings. Kuroo sat upward and pulled Bokuto and Kei closer to him, kissing them each before the three of them helped pull Akaashi up into a sitting position. They each had the absolute biggest smile they could muster as Akaashi held up the ring box. They each took one ring into their hands and slid it onto the finger of another.

"This is so beautiful, I can't," Bokuto fell into Akaashi's lap, holding up his hand to appreciate the ring. It was solid gold and was woven like vines, wrapping around majestically.

"I'm glad you like it," Akaashi spoke, dragging his fingers through the owl's hair.

"When did you-, how did you-," Kuroo was flabbergasted as he took one of Akaashi's hands into his own. Akaashi chuckled at his dazed look.

"I've been planning for some time, and saving up for the rings," he admitted with a shy grin. "But it's nothing compared to what you've been doing, Tetsu. That's why I thought this was also such a perfect time," Akaashi looked up at Kuroo with a suggestive look.

"Hm? What have you been doing?" Kei was latched onto Akaashi's side and he brought his hand over Bokuto to take hold of Kuroo's free hand. Bokuto looked up with expectance at the cat as well. Kuroo gave a nervous chuckle.

"Ah, you found out about that?" he shook his head. "Well, you guys know I've been making quite a bit with my job right?" they nodded. "And because Kō here lets me handle all of his finances as well and gave me permission to do with all the extra as I pleased, I've kinda been saving up quite a lot these past few years. Enough to buy a house," Bokuto sat up instantly, his jaw slack.

"A house? We're going to buy a house? We're moving out of the apartment?!" the absolute joy of this day will forever be incomparable.

"We can make house..." Kei mumbled to himself, regarding the ring on his finger. "We can move in as a family. As husbands," a new wave of emotion rippled through them and they clung to each other in one huge hug. Their tears mixed together, no one able to tell who was who in their entanglement.

"This is the best day of my life," Bokuto spoke softly between them. "We're getting married," he whispered, as if he didn't really belief this was reality yet.

"Congratulations guys," the four heard a familiar voice, sitting back to peer at the newcomer. It was Kenma, a vlogging camera in his hands as he captured the moment.

"Kenma? You're still here?" Kuroo voiced his surprise.

"Yeah. I didn't want to climb all those stairs so I drove to the upper parking lot," he threw his thumb over his shoulder. "There was no way this moment wasn't going on video," he said with a cheesy grin.

"Did you know about this?" Kei turned to Akaashi who just shook his head in return.

"Hey, do you think can I make a video about you guys? 'My best friend gets married to three guys: not clickbait!'. It'll make thousands. You can have all the revenue from it and, call it a wedding present, but it can help with furnishing your new place? How does that sound? I'll even throw in a free trampoline while I'm at it," Kenma grinned, already thinking of all the possibilities.

"It would be pretty cool if we could fully deck out the place right from the start..." Akaashi wondered to himself. "We'll talk about it. Thanks, Kenma," he politely excused himself and left the four to their devices with the promise to send them the video later.

"And the big financial decisions have already started," Kei fell back onto his back with a sigh. "...we're getting married. Guys, this isn't real," the other three fell along with him.

"I did the proposing and I'm still in disbelief about it," Akaashi shook his head. "Also, I brought a picnic,"

"What?!" Bokuto sat up immediately. "There's food? Why didn't you say that earlier? Let's dig in!"

They decided to hold off posting about it or letting the news spread too far before they informed their families. Since Miyagi was the closest, the first family they approached was the Tsukishima household. Already calling Akiteru and telling him to come home was suspicious enough so come the day the four stood in front of the Tsukishima's with cheeky grins, Akiteru's face fell into despair.

"Oh my god. You're pregnant, aren't you?" after that, it had been quite uplifting when they revealed the engagement and the celebrations went deep into the night. Kuroo's father had welcomed the news with a soft smile and open arms although, when he turned away, he couldn't hide his silent tears of happiness. The Akaashi household took the news at face value with acceptance but his father had been quite the tearjerker. The Bokuto family was the craziest of the bunch, but that was to be expected. They had been loud and full of festivity. The Bokuto family was large as it is and now, four families would come together to make one.

Besides Kenma, Atsumu and Yamaguchi knew of the news from day one. They had been Akaashi's little helpers, of course. The four decided to announce it publically by simply posting a picture of their four hands together on each of their social media pages – the rings clearly in sight. The support from their friends was incredible and the excitement was booming. There had been a bit of an uproar with Bokuto since he was a sport celebrity and if it had only been speculated before, it certainly wasn't now. Bokuto was gay and polyamorous – period. Soon the media outlets held articles about the four and their dug up pasts, talking about their high school careers especially and how they came to know each other. Soon, everybody on the volleyball scene knew about the engagement and, taking advantage of their hot minute of fame, Kenma posted a video – with permission, of course. Kei had been wavering about Kenma's video but after the media anyway swarmed them because of Bokuto, he figured they might as well profit from it all.

Also, Kenma's video really dragged their four-way relationship into a good light.

He talked about some of the hilariously ridiculous moments he'd seen from the four and shared his vlog from the proposal day he secretly took. There were hilarious moments where he'd send Kuroo off to the same shop over–and-over to get him unnecessary items one-by-one. This was to buy time before he took Kuroo over to the proposal site. Kuroo called him out on his bullshit after the upload, having thought Kenma had just been an airhead that day.

The views on the video had been insane and the revenue from that gave them the freedom to be free with their choices of house and furniture. Six months later, they stood on the porch of their new house.

It wasn't just satisfactory, it was more than enough. It was a double story house with three bedrooms and an attached bathroom for each. Kuroo loved his new kitchen and the three that needed it, each had their own private study room. The master bedroom had two walk-in closets that was more than enough to share between them. This time, they decided to go for the biggest bed they could find and now they even had space between them.

They had two guest rooms and none of them had voiced it when they did house searching, but they had been looking for a house they could stay and remain in. Because of that, they needed room for growth.

They did some work on the backyard themselves, removing some of the grass to replace with beach sand and placed a net over. Since there were four of them, beach volleyball would be a good activity. Bokuto wanted an indoor volleyball court, but they had to be realistic. Instead, they compromised by getting a place close to a gym that had a bookable court.

Getting the house and moving had taken a lot of effort and because of that, they settled on a wedding date for July 2018. By then, they would be long-since settled into their house and have breathing room to plan the wedding. Also, Hinata would be back by then and it was a date Yaku and Lev could be in Japan. It was perfect.

"We're literally inviting like all of our old teammates. Should we just have a match at the reception or something?" they were all seated on the carpet in their new living room, papers sprawled around them as they prepared the official invitations to send out.

"Oooh that would be so fun! We should get married on the court!" Bokuto screeched in excitement.

"We already have a venue," Kei reminded him.

"I know but still!"

"You think this is going to be the first time Kageyama and Hinata see each other again?" Kei wondered with interest.

"Oooh you think it's going to be awkward?" Bokuto looked over to him with wide eyes.

"Why would it be? Didn't they make up?"

"Yeah, but I think Atsumu and Hinata have a thing for each other," Bokuto shrugged.

"Drama, drama, drama. Our son has been doing interesting things with himself," Akaashi commented, referring to Hianta.

"Still not my son," Kei said under this breath.

"Hear he's got this awesome beach partner now and they call him 'Ninja Shōyō'. That's so cool, I want such a name!" Bokuto groaned, falling over until his head was in Kuroo's lap. Kuroo brought up his hand to play with the owl's hair.

"To think he would go full-on pro in beach volleyball. He's a monster," Kei frowned.

"Yeah, Kenma's been making a lot of money off him," Kuroo commented.

"...you know, Kenma really needs to get laid," Kuroo just gave Bokuto a look. "He's super enjoying playing games and being a business man for a living but has he ever been in relationship? Or do you think he's aro ace?" Kuroo hummed at Bokuto's words with consideration.

"Nah, you remember how he was with Hinata. Kenma likes people but only very specific people and he doesn't go out searching for them. He kinda has this mind-set that if it's meant to happen, then someone will fall out of the heavens smack-bam in front of him," Kuroo shrugged.

"Is he gay?" Kei found himself asking.

"...you know, Kenma's been questioning his entire life and he'll be questioning till the day he dies. Probably," he shrugged. "Kenma isn't lonely in the slightest so he doesn't worry. Also, I don't know if I've told you guys but Hinata will be moving in with him,"

"Whoa, really?" Kuroo nodded in confirmation.

"After he comes back, yeah," he smirked. "I'm glad their friendship is so strong,"

"Told you it was everlasting," Kei gave him a look of I-told-you-so.

"Yeah. I'm so happy with how things are turning out,"

And so, the four began to settle into their new home. Their home, consisting of each other's sweet words and warm embraces. Their home, consisting of ever-growing love and walls that could protect them. Their home, consisting of supporting friends and family. Their home, consisting of the four boyfriends – sorry, fiancés.

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I've read Japan's laws concerning LGBTQI+ marriages (non-existent, basically) and their stance on polyamory (considered a criminal act) and I acknowledge the council has made a decision but considering its a stupid-ass decision, I've elected to ignore it.

I want my characters to have their happy ending without having to move across the globe to a more accepting country, so screw it.

Just three chapters left now~