Tsukishima Kei does not believe in soulmates.
He's of the firm belief in choosing his own faith, because his logic dictates that there is no possible way he'd fall in love with the same person, over and over again, out of some cosmic obligation. So, naturally, Tsukishima Kei doesn't believe in soulmates, and he's not willing to change his mind anytime soon.
But, when he sits to eat lunch with a certain Kageyama Tobio (plus his other friends, and yes, that includes Hinata), the setter wordlessly slides across a small carton of strawberry milk over to him with a small smile, Kei is reminded of how much Kageyama thinks of him. When Kageyama gently takes his hand and tapes it up before practice, he handles them with such delicacy, and Kei can't stop the butterflies in his stomach when Kageyama runs his thumb over his freshly taped fingers. When Kageyama laughs at all his lame jokes or when Kageyama accidentally makes Kei miss class because the setter wants to spend just a few more minutes alone on the roof. Maybe, maybe Kei has some second thoughts about soulmates swirling around in his brain.
When Kageyama makes him lunch, brushing it off with an oh I just had extra ingredients, Kei knows its a lie because he has gone grocery shopping with the other boy and he knows very well how meticulous Kageyama is with food, but Kei doesn't say anything. When Kageyama interlaces their pinkie fingers as they walk home after practice, or when Kei kisses Kageyama goodnight at his front door, or when either of them refuses to hang up when the other falls asleep during a late-night phone call. Something stirs in Kei, maybe Kageyama Tobio really is the one.
When they're studying together, and they're both trying to steal kisses while the other does work, or how Kageyama flushes so prettily whenever Kei praises him. When Kageyama's eyes sparkle as he tells Kei about his grades, "I wouldn't have made it without you", he'd always say. When Kageyama confines in Kei his doubts and worries, about them after graduation, and about the distance, Kei reassures him that they'll be okay, and they'll always be okay. But Kei is stubborn, goddammit, he will not budge on his views.
When Kei flies to Brazil to meet his king after the victory at the Olympics, or when Kei makes sure that he attends almost all of Kageyama's volleyball games when he went pro, and he doesn't hide his joy when he spots Kageyama in the crowd for his games. When Kei wakes up to Kageyama in his bed, sleeping peacefully, or when Kageyama is making breakfast and Kei hugs him from behind. When Yamaguchi and Yachi tell them how embarrassing it is to be in public with them because they're so grossly in love. Soulmates just aren't Kei's thing.
Even then, Kei knows deep down that he'll choose Kageyama, over and over again, in every lifetime, whether it was written in the stars or not.
Tsukishima Kei does not believe in soulmates, but he has a sneaking suspicion that Kageyama Tobio might be his.
fin.
