The Chemistry of Love.

Close Encounters

Tsukishima Kei didn't normally put much thought into his appearance. He wasn't one to care about the latest fashion trends, nor did he spend time fussing over his hair in the mornings. But as he stood in front of the mirror, tugging at the collar of his shirt, he found himself unusually self-conscious.

He had no idea why he was suddenly so concerned. It wasn't like this was a date. He and Kuroo were just meeting to talk—nothing more, nothing less. And yet, the fact that he'd spent the last ten minutes deciding on which shirt to wear betrayed that notion.

With a frustrated sigh, Tsukishima grabbed his bag and headed out the door. It was still early, and he didn't want to overthink this any more than he already had. The walk to the station was a blur, his mind racing with questions and doubts. Why had Kuroo asked to meet him? What did he want to talk about that couldn't be said over the phone?

By the time he reached the café near Sendai Station, Tsukishima's nerves were frayed. He spotted Kuroo almost immediately; the tall Nekoma captain was hard to miss, even in a crowded place. Kuroo was sitting at a table near the window, sipping on what looked like a black coffee, his eyes scanning the street outside.

As soon as Tsukishima walked in, Kuroo looked up and flashed him that infuriatingly charming grin. "Tsukki! Right on time."

Tsukishima rolled his eyes as he approached the table. "Don't call me that," he muttered, sliding into the seat opposite Kuroo.

Kuroo chuckled, seemingly unfazed by Tsukishima's cold demeanor. "So, did you spend the entire night thinking about what I said?"

Tsukishima narrowed his eyes. "What makes you think I did?"

"Oh, just a hunch," Kuroo replied, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. "You wouldn't be here if you weren't curious."

Tsukishima didn't bother denying it. Instead, he folded his arms across his chest and fixed Kuroo with a steady gaze. "You said I was holding back. Explain."

Kuroo's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that." He set his coffee down and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Alright, I'll be honest with you. When I watched you play during the training camp, I noticed something. You're incredibly talented—one of the best blockers I've ever seen. But there's something... restrained about the way you play. Like you're afraid to really push yourself."

Tsukishima frowned, his mind racing to process Kuroo's words. "I'm not afraid," he replied, though even to his own ears, it sounded like a weak defense.

"Maybe not consciously," Kuroo conceded. "But there's something holding you back. Maybe it's fear of failure, or maybe it's something else. But it's there."

Tsukishima's jaw clenched. He didn't like where this conversation was going. "What's your point, Kuroo?"

"My point is," Kuroo said, his voice softer now, "that I see a lot of potential in you, Tsukishima. But you're never going to reach it if you keep playing it safe."

Tsukishima didn't know how to respond to that. On one hand, he wanted to argue, to tell Kuroo that he didn't know what he was talking about. But on the other hand, a part of him—the part that had been nagging at him for weeks—knew that Kuroo was right.

"I'm not like Hinata," Tsukishima said after a long pause. "I'm not someone who just throws himself into things without thinking."

Kuroo tilted his head, studying Tsukishima with an intensity that made him squirm. "And what's wrong with that?"

Tsukishima blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean?"

Kuroo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I'm not saying you should be like Hinata. Everyone has their own way of doing things. But you can't let your caution turn into fear. You've got to find a balance, Tsukki."

Tsukishima bristled at the nickname, but he couldn't deny the truth in Kuroo's words. He'd always prided himself on being level-headed, on thinking things through before acting. But maybe, just maybe, that had become a crutch—a way to avoid taking risks.

"And what about you?" Tsukishima asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. "What makes you so sure you know what you're talking about?"

Kuroo chuckled, though there was a hint of self-deprecation in his smile. "Trust me, I've made my fair share of mistakes. But I've also learned that sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith. Even if it scares you."

The conversation took a turn then, shifting from volleyball to more personal topics. Tsukishima found himself surprised by how easily Kuroo spoke about his own struggles—his fears of not being a good enough captain, his doubts about his future after high school. It was strange to hear Kuroo, someone Tsukishima had always seen as confident and self-assured, talk about his insecurities.

But it also made Kuroo seem more... human. More relatable.

"So, what do you want to do after high school?" Kuroo asked, breaking Tsukishima out of his thoughts.

Tsukishima shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "I don't know. I guess I'll go to college, maybe study something in science."

Kuroo nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. You've always struck me as the type who'd excel in academics."

Tsukishima didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or not. "What about you?"

Kuroo leaned back in his chair, a wistful look in his eyes. "I'm not sure yet. Volleyball has been my life for so long... but I know it can't last forever."

The sincerity in Kuroo's voice caught Tsukishima off guard. He realized then that he'd never really thought about what Kuroo might want outside of volleyball. It was easy to forget that, beneath the cocky exterior, Kuroo was just a teenager like him—someone with dreams, fears, and uncertainties.

As the conversation continued, Tsukishima felt the tension between them begin to ease. There was still that underlying current of something more—something unspoken that neither of them seemed ready to address—but for now, it was enough to simply talk.

By the time they left the café, Tsukishima found himself feeling strangely content. Kuroo had a way of making him feel seen, of pushing him to think beyond the walls he'd built around himself. It was both unsettling and... comforting.

"Thanks for meeting up with me," Kuroo said as they walked towards the station. "I'm glad we got to talk."

Tsukishima nodded, his hands shoved into his pockets to hide his nervousness. "Yeah. Me too."

They stood in silence for a moment, the sounds of the bustling city around them. Tsukishima wasn't sure what to say next, but before he could figure it out, Kuroo spoke again.

"Hey, Tsukki?" Kuroo's voice was quieter now, almost hesitant.

Tsukishima looked up, meeting Kuroo's gaze. "What?"

Kuroo smiled—a softer, more genuine smile than Tsukishima was used to seeing. "Don't be a stranger, okay? I meant what I said before. I want to get to know you better."

Tsukishima's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond. But then, something in Kuroo's eyes made him relax. He wasn't being teased or played with—Kuroo was serious.

"Yeah," Tsukishima finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Okay."

As they parted ways, Tsukishima couldn't help but feel like something had shifted between them—something subtle, but significant. He wasn't sure what it meant yet, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a spark of anticipation for what might come next.

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A/N: honestly there are all just old chapters i wrote awhile ago and decided to upload them all without even reading what its about because im too lazy. goodbye my lovelies.