The Chemistry of Love.

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Tsukishima Kei wasn't used to being pursued. He preferred to stay on the sidelines, observing the chaos around him rather than being a part of it. Volleyball was different. It was the one place where he allowed himself to be fully involved, where his height and sharp intellect could shine without drawing too much attention to his personal life. He liked it that way.

Or he did—until Kuroo Tetsuro started showing up.

Kuroo had always been an enigma to Tsukishima. The Nekoma captain was as strategic as he was infuriating, with a tendency to get under people's skin, and Kei found himself both annoyed by and begrudgingly impressed with Kuroo's skill on the court. He had a natural charisma that seemed to draw people in effortlessly, something that Tsukishima both envied and dismissed as frivolous.

It was during one of the training camps that everything started to change.

"You're pretty good, you know that?" Kuroo had said casually after a particularly intense practice match, his signature grin plastered on his face. He leaned against the wall of the gym, barely winded despite the long hours they'd been playing.

Tsukishima only raised an eyebrow. He was used to praise from his teammates, but from Kuroo, it felt different—almost like a challenge.

"You don't need to tell me what I already know," Tsukishima replied coolly, adjusting his glasses.

Kuroo laughed, a deep, rich sound that echoed in the empty gym. "Cocky, aren't you? I like that."

Tsukishima frowned. "You say that like you have a reason to care."

"Maybe I do," Kuroo shot back with a wink.

Tsukishima wasn't sure what Kuroo was playing at, but he decided to ignore it. There was no way he'd let himself get distracted by whatever mind games the Nekoma captain was trying to play. But Kuroo was persistent. He'd appear during water breaks, always with some teasing comment or piece of unsolicited advice that Tsukishima didn't want but couldn't entirely dismiss.

Over time, Tsukishima found himself looking forward to those moments. He hated admitting it, even to himself, but there was something about Kuroo's easy confidence that was... almost comforting. Kuroo wasn't afraid to push him, to call him out on his arrogance, but he did it in a way that felt more like encouragement than criticism. It was new. And a little unsettling.

The turning point came one evening after practice had ended and most of the players had gone back to their rooms. Tsukishima had stayed behind, wanting to work on his blocking a little more. He was focused on the ball in front of him when he heard the gym door creak open.

"Still here, huh?" Kuroo's voice rang out.

Tsukishima sighed, turning to face him. "What do you want, Kuroo?"

Kuroo grinned, sauntering over to him. "Can't a guy admire some dedication?"

Tsukishima scowled. "You're annoying."

"And yet you're still here, talking to me," Kuroo countered smoothly.

Tsukishima didn't have a comeback for that. Instead, he turned back to the ball, intent on ignoring Kuroo's presence. But Kuroo wasn't one to be ignored.

"You're still holding back, you know," Kuroo said, his tone surprisingly serious.

Tsukishima paused. "What are you talking about?"

Kuroo stepped closer, his gaze intense. "I've been watching you, Tsukishima. You're good, no doubt about that. But you're not giving everything you've got. Why is that?"

Tsukishima's grip on the ball tightened. "It's none of your business."

"Maybe not," Kuroo agreed. "But you're still going to tell me."

Tsukishima glanced at him, startled by the quiet confidence in Kuroo's voice. He didn't know why, but something about Kuroo's persistence made him want to answer, to explain the fears and insecurities he kept buried beneath his cold exterior.

But that was too dangerous. Letting Kuroo in, even a little, would mean giving up control, and Tsukishima wasn't ready for that.

Instead, he turned away. "I don't need your advice."

Kuroo didn't back down. He stepped even closer, so close that Tsukishima could feel the warmth radiating from him. "I think you do," Kuroo murmured, his voice low and soft. "And I think you know that."

The air between them was suddenly charged, and Tsukishima felt his heart race in a way it never had before. Kuroo was too close, too intense, and Tsukishima wasn't sure how to handle it.

"What's your problem?" Tsukishima asked, his voice sounding more uncertain than he intended.

Kuroo's expression softened, the usual teasing gleam in his eyes replaced by something Tsukishima couldn't quite identify. "My problem?" Kuroo echoed. "My problem is that I can't stop thinking about you."

Tsukishima's breath caught in his throat. He'd been expecting another taunt, another playful jab, but this... this was different. "What are you talking about?" he managed to ask, though his voice was barely a whisper.

Kuroo smiled, but it was softer, almost tender. "You're not the easiest person to get to know, Tsukishima. But for some reason, I want to. And I think... I think you want that too."

Tsukishima felt a lump form in his throat. He wanted to deny it, to push Kuroo away like he had so many others, but he couldn't. Not this time.

"Why?" he asked, hating how vulnerable he sounded.

Kuroo reached out, gently cupping Tsukishima's cheek. The touch was light, almost hesitant, as if Kuroo was giving him a chance to pull away. But Tsukishima didn't move.

"Because you're worth it," Kuroo said simply.

For a moment, they just stood there, the silence between them filled with unspoken emotions. Tsukishima searched Kuroo's eyes, looking for any sign of insincerity, but all he saw was honesty.

It terrified him.

But at the same time, it made something inside him soften, something he hadn't even realized was so tightly wound. Maybe Kuroo was right. Maybe he was holding back, not just in volleyball, but in life. And maybe... just maybe, letting Kuroo in wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Taking a deep breath, Tsukishima nodded, the smallest of smiles tugging at his lips. "Fine. But don't expect me to go easy on you."

Kuroo's grin returned, wide and bright. "Wouldn't dream of it."

And as Kuroo leaned in, closing the distance between them, Tsukishima finally let himself believe that maybe, just maybe, this was exactly what he needed.

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byee