The Chemistry of Love.

The Space Between.

The days after their conversation at the café felt different for Tsukishima. The usual routine of school and practice was the same, but his thoughts were constantly drifting to Kuroo. Every time his phone buzzed with a message, a flicker of anticipation sparked inside him. It was unnerving.

It wasn't like he'd never been close to someone before—he had friends, teammates, and even Yamaguchi, who had always been by his side. But this thing with Kuroo? It was something entirely different.

He hadn't said anything to Yamaguchi about it, not yet. The idea of explaining his situation, the feelings he didn't fully understand, felt daunting. For now, Tsukishima kept it to himself, his mind occupied by thoughts of volleyball and Kuroo in equal measure.

One afternoon, during practice, Tsukishima found himself distracted again. He was running drills with Hinata and Kageyama, his focus slipping as he replayed Kuroo's words from their last meeting in his head.

"You don't have to figure it all out right now, but I'm not going anywhere, Tsukki. I'll wait."

He felt a spike of irritation as the ball slipped past his hands during a block, landing just behind him.

"You okay, Tsukishima?" Daichi's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Fine," Tsukishima muttered, shaking off his frustration as he reset for the next drill. He had to stop letting Kuroo get into his head during practice. He couldn't afford to be sloppy, not when his teammates relied on him.

But that was easier said than done.

After practice ended, Tsukishima lingered in the gym, as he often did when something was bothering him. He worked through his blocking drills, over and over, until his muscles burned with exertion. It was only when the gym lights started to flicker off that he finally packed up his things and headed home.

That night, Tsukishima's phone lit up with a message from Kuroo.

*Kuroo Tetsuro*: *Busy tonight?*

Tsukishima stared at the message for a moment, his fingers hovering over the screen before he typed a reply.

*Tsukishima Kei*: *No.*

The response came quickly.

*Kuroo Tetsuro*: *Meet me at the rooftop?*

Tsukishima's heart skipped a beat. He knew what Kuroo was asking—the same rooftop where they'd talked after the practice matches, the one that seemed to be their unspoken meeting place.

He hesitated for a moment, but then something inside him—curiosity, maybe, or something else—pushed him to agree.

*Tsukishima Kei*: *Fine. Be there in 20.*

---

When Tsukishima arrived at the rooftop, Kuroo was already there, leaning against the railing with his phone in hand. The glow from the city below cast a soft light on his face, making him look almost peaceful—something Tsukishima rarely associated with Kuroo.

"You actually came," Kuroo said without looking up from his phone, a small smile playing on his lips.

Tsukishima rolled his eyes as he approached. "You asked."

Kuroo finally glanced up, his eyes locking onto Tsukishima's with that same intensity that always seemed to unsettle him. "I wasn't sure you would."

Tsukishima didn't know how to respond to that, so he just shrugged, leaning his back against the railing next to Kuroo. The night air was cool against his skin, and the city lights below stretched out like a sea of stars.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but there was a weight to it—a tension that had been growing ever since their first meeting. It was as if they were both waiting for something to happen, something inevitable.

Kuroo broke the silence first.

"You've been on my mind a lot lately," he said, his voice low, almost contemplative.

Tsukishima stiffened, glancing at Kuroo out of the corner of his eye. "What are you talking about?"

Kuroo smiled, a small, soft curve of his lips. "You, Tsukki. I can't stop thinking about you."

Tsukishima's heart hammered in his chest, and he suddenly felt like the rooftop wasn't big enough for both of them. He looked away, staring out at the city instead. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because it's the truth," Kuroo said, his voice quiet but steady. "And because I think you feel it too."

Tsukishima clenched his hands into fists at his sides, trying to keep his emotions in check. He wasn't good at this—dealing with feelings, talking about them. But Kuroo was making it impossible to ignore what had been building between them.

"Why me?" Tsukishima asked, his voice barely audible over the sounds of the city below.

Kuroo turned to face him fully, his expression serious now. "Because I see you, Tsukki. I see the way you hold yourself back, the way you hide behind that wall of indifference. But I also see what's underneath."

Tsukishima's breath hitched in his throat. He wasn't used to being seen like this—so openly, so vulnerably. Kuroo's words cut through the armor he'd spent years building, leaving him exposed.

"I don't know if I can give you what you want," Tsukishima admitted, his voice tight with uncertainty.

Kuroo stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "I'm not asking for anything you're not ready to give," he said softly, his eyes searching Tsukishima's. "But I think... I think you want this too."

Tsukishima's mind raced, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and longing. He didn't know how to handle this—this pull between them, the way Kuroo made him feel like he was on the edge of something he didn't fully understand.

But when Kuroo reached out, gently brushing his fingers against Tsukishima's hand, Tsukishima didn't pull away. Instead, he let the touch linger, feeling the warmth of Kuroo's skin against his own.

It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

Kuroo stepped even closer, his hand sliding up to rest on Tsukishima's arm. His eyes were dark, filled with something Tsukishima couldn't quite name—but whatever it was, it made Tsukishima's heart race.

"Can I kiss you?" Kuroo's voice was barely a whisper, but it sent a shiver down Tsukishima's spine.

Tsukishima's throat tightened. He couldn't trust himself to speak, so he gave the smallest of nods.

Kuroo didn't hesitate. He closed the gap between them, his lips meeting Tsukishima's in a kiss that was slow, tentative at first, as if giving Tsukishima the chance to pull away if he wanted. But Tsukishima didn't pull away.

He leaned into it, feeling the weight of Kuroo's presence against him, the warmth of his body, the softness of his lips. It was overwhelming and all-consuming, but in the best possible way.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing heavily, their foreheads resting against each other.

"You okay?" Kuroo asked, his voice breathless but laced with concern.

Tsukishima swallowed hard, his mind still reeling from what had just happened. He didn't have the words to explain what he was feeling—confusion, fear, excitement, all rolled into one.

But one thing was clear.

"Yeah," Tsukishima whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm okay."

And for the first time in a long while, he actually meant it.

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