Kuroo Tetsurou's Instagram

• Reunited (ft. Bokuto)

//Timeskip, in which Bo (24) is on the MSBY Black Jackals volleyball team, and Kuroo (24) is an integral part of the JVA

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"Dude, I saw you on TV last night, and that cut shot during the second set was crazy." Kuroo said followed by a low whistle. There was a soft rustling of papers on his end of the line, followed by a soft 'thank you' to someone- his assistant, Bokuto assumed.

"Thanks! I've been practicing. Did you see the feint Hinata used during the first set? That brought back memories from the training camp." Bokuto laughed, and Kuroo chuckled along with him.

"You mean when your team got mad at you for teaching him a 'special move' that he then proceeded to use on you guys?" Kuroo asked wryly.

Bokuto rolled his eyes though his friend couldn't see. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for reminding me."

They chatted a bit longer- about Bokuto's team, their trainings, and how they all get along. And about Kuroo's work- his latest promotion, his new corner office, his new assistant. Life was good for both of them, and they enjoyed talking to each other about it.

After a fair amount of time chatting about their work lives, there was a lull in the conversation, and Bokuto sighed.

"Man, I wish you could see me play in person." Bokuto huffed. "It's been forever since we've seen each other," five and a half months, to be exact- though with fairly frequent calls and texts. They were still very very close, and just as obnoxious when together. "Miss you, man."

"I miss you too, Bo." Kuroo replied casually, though genuinely. No toxic masculinity to be found between them- the two would hug, say 'gay things', even cuddle a little sometimes whenever they watched a movie together. It was just what they did. "Every time I'm free though, you guys are conveniently out of the country, or doing PR stuff."

"I knooow." Bokuto groaned. "Sorry about that. It's just-"

"Dude, it's literally your job to play volleyball- the one thing you love more than life itself." Kuroo chuckled. "Don't feel bad about us not being able to hangout much because of it- it's both our schedules that are making it hard anyway."

"Yeah, I guess." Bokuto said softly. After a moment, he spoke once more, this time with a more serious note, "How's your knee?"

Ah. The main injury that put Kuroo out of his dream of becoming a professional athlete. It happened in his third year of high school- he was so thankful it happened during the last set of his team's winning game in the nationals. At least he retired from the sport with another win under his belt.

With a sigh, Kuroo rolled away from his desk and looked down at his left knee. He'd severely torn his ACL, and was warned if he went back to playing volleyball regularly, it would only make it worse and cause even more pain. He'd tried once, but never again.

And with that, his dream of going pro was shattered.

He wasn't stupid; he didn't try to play through the pain and deal with it. He tried to take breaks, to let it heal- but it never did. Not like it was supposed to, anyway. He still had trouble when he did a lot of walking or running around, but a knee brace generally fixed that enough that it wasn't painful.

"It's fine."

"And your shoulder?"

He'd also torn his left rotator cuff, and severely damaged the cartilage. That one hadn't put him out of the sport at first, but it was an injury he'd sustained a grand total of three times over the years, and he did not want to push his luck by continuing to play- even if he did get his knee back to normal. In the end, neither injury fully went back to normal.