[cw: smut]
[they don't get interrupted]
In their last year of high school, Karasuno makes their return to nationals, lead by Yamaguchi and Kageyama, and Kei clings onto every moment they share together, every game, every block, every spike, because this will be the last time any of them will be playing together, after this it is just going to be studying for entrance exams, praying he does not fail said exams, praying he gets accepted to his choice of college, it really is tiring, honestly. But Kei does not allow these thoughts to irritate him too much while they are still in Tokyo, they still have games to play, to show just how good Karasuno is, that their appearance back in their first year was not just a fluke. They make it all the way to the semi-finals, facing off against Itachiyama, minus Sakusa who graduated last year, and well, they lost. Despite their star ace not being on the team, Itachiyama is still stronger, but does not mean Karasuno did not put up a fight, they played with all their might, fighting until the very bitter end.
It sucks, not making it to the finals, when it is so close, but Kei thinks it is not all bad, their kouhais are strong, he is sure Kageyama and Yamaguchi will entrust the team to them with no doubts, Karasuno will win nationals, not this year, but he is not going to give up faith in the team.
Much to everyone's surprise, him and Kageyama's relationship has gotten stronger over the years, yeah, they still have petty arguments, get on each other's nerves, but they never really left that honeymoon phase of their relationship. For every argument, there is a make-up kiss at the end, for every way-too-high set, there is a I'm only doing this because you have so much potential, and for every study date, even when Kei is being purposefully difficult, not giving Kageyama the answers, making him do his translations by himself, there's a I'm so proud of you kiss. (That always motivates the setter to do his work by himself and Kei is not afraid to exploit that knowledge).
The first time Kageyama had said his given name was when they were walking home, it had been a long evening of practice, then extra practice, then cleaning up the gym, and the middle blocker felt like his arms were about to fall off, how Kageyama still had the energy to walk was beyond him. It was ridiculous, the moon was high in the sky, the air was still biting cold, but Kei still felt warm as he walked beside Kageyama, fingers intertwined, enjoying the comfortable silence between them. And god, Kei swore his name sounded a million times more attractive when it rolled off the setter's tongue, how sweetly the word sounded wrapped around his voice, like it was meant for Kageyama alone to say it. Funniest part, the setter was not even aware he said the middle blocker's given name, truly a piece of work.
"Look, Kei! A cat!" Kageyama had called out, disturbing the quiet, and the middle blocker wanted to faint.
And that is how they ended up on a first name basis, at least Akiteru was not around to witness that, Kei would not have lived down that moment.
They have been spending more time together, due to lack of volleyball practice, but Kei wants to enjoy the last few months of uninterrupted time he has with the setter before he is off to train for the goddamn Olympics, the middle blocker still cannot wrap his mind around the fact that Kageyama is a soon-to-be Olympic player, it seems like just yesterday he learnt to give praise without sounding like he was swallowing glass.
Kageyama still comes around by Kei's home on evenings, even though he does not have any entrance exams to study for, the middle blocker asked him why and got a simple I'm here for moral support, Kei, talking like he is the one who sounds crazy for even asking. And it is not like the middle blocker is complaining too much, it is always easy to destress with Kageyama around, though it can be very distracting sometimes. Especially now, Kageyama has his head on Kei's shoulder, reading along with his History notes, Kei is sure the setter does not understand the work, but he is still reading, lips pulled down in his usual frown, eyes glazed over in concentration, and it is just so distracting. They have been in this position, on the floor, leaned up against his bed, for about thirty minutes, and Kei is fed up with reading, it is late, almost eight, and Kageyama has to leave before it gets even later. The end of the school year is nearing closer and closer each day, Kei's exams begin next week, and everything is happening all too fast, he just wants time to come to a lull for a bit, a simple breather from all this chaos.
