Seasons of Love

Chapter Text

“Heyyyyy!!  Kenmaaa!!  We’re over here!!!”  Lev shouted, waving his arms side to side in the air and hopping up and down madly.

“ He act like he ’s hard to spot in a crowd … ” Kenma mutter , Taketora is laughing laugh beside him .  

“Well… around other tall volleyball players, he’s not so out of place.” 

The two captains is strode stride up to their team across the open courtyard in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium , wave slightly .   Kenma is did did a quick mental headcount as he dodge Lev ’s greet hug .   Two, four, six, eight…

“Hey, who are we missing?” Taketora barked.

“Shou and Wataru just texted they’re on their way,” Murata offered, holding his phone up in the air.  “They met up early in the morning for extra practice, and they’re finishing up.” 

“Hahaha… those two are so diligent even as first-years.  They’re making the upperclassmen look bad!” Inuoka laughed, scratching his head.

“Really?  I don’t feel bad at all though…” Lev added.

“You never feel bad about anything, you can’t talk!” Taketora snapped, punching Lev in the gut with the palm of his hand. 

“ Well , they is ’re ’re first year and they ’re try really hard to be regular .   I understand where they ’re come from … ” Shibayama is added add quietly , run a hand through his hair .   take over for Yaku as the team libero had been a somewhat daunting task for him at the start of the school year .   Even though he had been able to play in every game since April ( being the only libero available kind of help ) , he is felt feel he had n’t truly earn his place as a regular until their second term had roll around after summer .   Not to mention , Yaku had n’t just been an amazing libero for their team , he is been had also been a pillar of support , as well as the firm hand keep Lev in line .   Shibayama is trying was try his good to fulfill just one out of the three .  

“ That is ’s ’s all well and good , so long as they ’re not work themselves to death — “

“Or making us late to the first match!”

“Tokai’s not in the first round though…” Kenma muttered. 

“Hey now!” the captain wheeled around, poking his vice-captain in the forehead.  “Yes, we’re here to support our former captain, Kuroo Tetsurou!  But this is also an excellent educational opportunity for us!  We’ll get to see how college teams play, what strategies they use, what techniques they’ve perfected!  These are the guys that go on to be pros!”

“I didn’t think I’d ever hear you shouting about ‘educational opportunities’ with that face…”

“ Wanna keep run that mouth , Fukunagaaa ? ? ! ! ? ”

Yankee Taketora was back. 

“Oh, there’s Kamikawa and Sato!” Shibayama pointed.

The two first – years is sprinted sprint over to their team and , upon see they were the last one to arrive , bow low , pant hard .   They is screeched screech ,

“We’re sorry we’re late!!!”

“That’s a nice, low bow!” Taketora barked over them, crossing his arms and taking his place as reprimanding captain. 

“We’re sorry!  We’re so sorry!  When we realized we were going to be late, Wataru suggested we go by the convenience store and buy everyone drinks as an apology, so… please accept these!”  Sato wheezed, thrusting two bags into Taketora’s hands. 

“…welllllll we all make mistakes from time to time!” the Mohawk laughed, his rough exterior growing immediately soft as his face failed to hide an all-too-pleased smile. 

Kenma sighed and took the bags away from his captain, passing them around to the team after pulling out his favorite apple juice.  His captain was too easily bribed to dole out proper punishments.    

“And you say I’m easy on them . ”   Kenma is muttered mutter , pull out the ticket and pass them around to his team , the last one being Kamikawa and Sato .   He is gave give them a long , even look before he hand them their pass , wait until theywilted under his gaze before quietly say , “ Do n’t overdo it . ”  

“Y-yes vice-captain…” they murmured in reply, exchanging guilty looks between them, and Kenma felt sure the former Karasuno captain (Sawamura, was it?) must have dealt with something similar with Shouyou and Kageyama.  Honestly, the current Karasuno captain (whose name escaped him) was probably still dealing with it. 

Entering the gymnasium itself sent the first years into a frenzy—they had never been inside such a large stadium.  The upperclassmen meanwhile felt a nostalgic pride, having competed here a year prior during the last Spring High… they had been knocked out of the competition by their now-famed rivals at Karasuno, but that loss had been as strangely satisfying as it had been disappointing.  In just another month, they’d return to this stage and take their revenge against those crows, maybe even win the championship. 

The noise inside was deafening as they found their way to their seats.  The first semifinal match featuring Tsukuba University versus the Nippon Sport Science University was a few points into the first set, and Tsukuba had just scored an impressive no-touch service ace. 

“Wow, that was a powerful serve…” Murata gaped, eyes wide. 

If Kenma’s memory served, Tsukuba had won the 65^th intercollegiate championship the previous year and in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, proved a near unstoppable force when they won six consecutive championships between 1997 and 2002.  In 2003, Tokai had been the one to break their winning streak, stepping up to the championship for the first time in nearly a decade.  He only remembered these matches as well as he did because he and Kuroo had grown up on those games, watching videos of them in Kuroo’s room and trying out the moves they had seen while playing in the park.  Well, Kuroo had tried anyway.

“The semifinals are gonna be awesome, but I kind of wish we would’ve been able to see some of the earlier matches during the week…” Sato said, nudging Kamikawa’s arm next to him.  “I’ve heard Kansai schools play really crazy, ya know?!”

“I think your mom would kill you for skipping school, and captain Tora would kill you for missing practice.”  Kamikawa laughed.

“ What about skip practice ? ! ? ” Tora ’s voice is rang ring from three seat away .  

“N-nothing!”  The two shrank. 

“It’s what, B—no, A system this year, right?” Inuoka asked, sipping at his barley tea and leaning over into Kenma’s shoulder. 

“ Hm ?   B ?   A ?   What ? ” Lev is leaned lean over from the row behind them , squish his head between Kenma and Inuoka .  

“Damn it, Lev, personal space!” Inuoka grumbled. 

“The Intercollegiate Volleyball Federation runs two different tournament structures, A and B,” Kenma started to explain.  Lev and the first years grew instantly attentive, leaning in towards their setter—eyes wide like kittens with their sights set on a waggling toy.  Kenma shrank a little from all the gazes that were focused on him, but he soldiered on.  “It’s… It’s still pretty new, they only started doing it in 2013, but the A system is what you might expect—about 120 universities from all over Japan compete and the tournament goes for seven days.  In the B system—“

The crowd roared around them as Nittaidai (the affectionate nickname for the Nippon Sport Science University) brought the score to a tie with Tsukuba with consecutive blocks from Gen Masaki, a middle blocker wearing the #14 jersey. 

“ I think that middle blocker is short than me , ” Lev is whistled whistle .  

“Which means you have no excuse for slacking off!” Tora bristled.  Every comment Lev made was somehow a chance to remind him of the work he still had left to do.

“Sorry, sorry!  Anyway, B system?”  Lev’s blocking might still need work, but he was a master of dodging and changing the subject when he was being scolded. 

“The B system essentially cuts down the number of competing teams by half,” Inuoka joined in.  “Kansai holds a tournament for their top eight teams, Kanto does the same…”

“ You add another 48 top team from around the country , ” Kenma is supplemented supplement .

“Then you get a national tournament of 64 total teams going over six days.” Inuoka finished. 

“Eh?” Murata jumped in.  “So if your school is in the bottom half of the rankings…”

“Then you only get to play in the national tournament every other year,” Fukunaga shrugged, sipping at his tea. 

“Top four this year are Tsukuba, Nittaidai, Tokai, and Chuo,” Taketora listed, counting down fingers as he said their names.  “All Kanto schools, and you’re gonna see them pretty much every year.” 

“ Wow … you guys is know know a lot ! ” Lev is smiled smile , lean back into his seat .   “ Do you guys is do doanything besides volleyball ? ”  

A series is made of blow and punch made themselves know to the second year , and the half – Russian was soon hunch over in his seat , clutch the grow bump on his head .   He is learned never learn .

After that , Lev is watched watch the rest of the game mostly in silence , only add commentary for particularly cool spike or quick attack .   The first – year huddle together examine the player ’ play style and try to figure out the technique behind some of the combination that were play — Murata is attempting was attempt to record every serve on his phone .   Kamikawa is brought had bring a notebook and was scribble furiously into it with Sato , who call out player number excitedly whenever something impressive was done ( from either team ) .   Kenma is had , Taketora , and Fukunaga is had had a mild wager on which team would advance to the final , with Kenma and Fukunaga bet on Tsukuba , and Taketora on Nittaidai .   Inuoka is going and Shibayama were go through the program booklet , read up on all of the player ’ name and stat along with the extraneous information that was throw in ( like what their favorite food were ) .   They is went go a little star – strike when they find the Tokai page with Kuroo ’s picture , and Kenma made a mental note to text Kuroo about that later .

“ These look like celebrity profile … ”   Inuoka is laughed laugh .  

“ I guess they kind of are ? ”   Shibayama is shrugged shrug .

“It’s weird seeing Captain Kuroo and Bokuto in here though.” 

“They even ask them things like what they look for in a girlfriend!  Seriously?!” Shibayama groaned, turning away from the program they were sharing.

“ Plus favorite food and how they get into volleyball … definitely like some sort of idol magazine . ”  

Kenma listed off the items silently to himself as he listened in on their conversation.  Kuroo’s favorite food was grilled mackerel, he’s been obsessed with volleyball ever since he was a child, and what he looked for in a girlfriend was apparently someone quiet and reserved, with a preference for games over most people.  Someone who doesn’t mind playing volleyball with him from time to time, and, oh yeah, has a dick.  When he looked into the pamphlet to double-check his answers, he was pleased to find that Kuroo’s answer for the girlfriend question had been simply: Sorry, but I’ve already found the love of my life.   Very pleased .  

Eventually, Kenma and Fukunaga won the first wager as Tsukuba advanced to the Finals and Taketora dejectedly passed 1,000 yen notes to the other third years.  But of course there wouldn’t be any betting on the next set of matches, because they would all be unanimously rooting for Tokai’s victory against Chuo. 

When the Tokai team entered the court in their royal blue and white, the Nekoma team cheered wildly from the stands, calling out Kuroo’s name, his jersey number—Taketora was waving his red Nekoma jacket wildly above his head.  Their opposing team from Chuo University, clad in black and red (almost an inversion of the Nekoma team colors), took the court for warm-ups.  The black almost reminded Kenma of Karasuno, but the red accents to their uniforms instead of orange instead made him think instead that Kuroo was up against some alternate version of Nekoma. 

Kuroo never did wave back at them, there were too many people in the stands and simply too much noise for him to be able to hear the voices of his old team out of the crowd—in any case, he was focused on his team and focused on the game ahead. 

But Kenma is swelled swell with pride when they take their position on the court , and he see Kuroo ( and Bokuto ) in the start line – up for Tokai .   Most likely , he would n’t be keep on the court for every set , but start lineup mean he was absolutely hold his own in an elite university team , him and Bokuto both .   The former Fukurodani captain is was was in the back row to start , and Kenma pull out his phone to text Akaashi .

I see Bokuto in the starting line-up for Tokai. 

And I is see see Kuroo .

Are you is Are here with your team ?

Northwest corner of the bleachers—almost straight across from you guys.

Oh you saw us?

Your entire team kind of…
stands out. 

It is was was n’t a phrase Kenma like to hear , but when put in context with the rest of his team , Kenma was content to know they all blend together as such — even if the team as a whole was rather distinctive .   He pull on his long hair absentmindedly — he is deny could n’t deny he definitely stand out more now than when he was a second year .  

Does Bokuto is know know you guy are here ?

He is told tell us explicitly not to come because he ’d get nervous if he know we were watch .  

We came anyway, obviously. 

And the idiot is still looking up into the stands to see if we’re here.

So he was being coy?
He is told tell you guy not to come even though he really want you here .  

He’s really annoying that way…

At least you know what he really means.
Kuroo knows we’re here, but he hasn’t found us in the stands yet.
He’s really focused on the game.

As he is be should be .

Are you and Bokuto… doing ok now?

…

I is think think we ’re at the calm before the storm .  

But now’s not the best time to talk about it. 

We is talk can talk later .

“ Kenma , stop texte and pay attention to the game ! ” Taketora is shoved shove his shoulder from the row behind .  

Kenma might have argued that he could do both perfectly well, but it was about to be Kuroo’s serve, so he wordlessly slipped the phone into his coat pocket. 

Kuroo is threw throw the ball up , run up , jump , and slam it down on the other side of the net , close to the back line — service ace .  

“ YEEAHHH , KUROO ! ! ! ” his teammates is screamed around him scream .  

Even Kenma called out a barely audible, “Nice serve!” 

The second serve slammed straight into the libero’s receive, starting up an intense volley that ended with a point for Chuo after a successfully executed rebound-spike off of Tokai’s blockers.  Kenma’s teammates groaned around him, but continued calling out more encouraging cries.

“Next point!”

“ Take the ball back next serve ! ”

“Don’t mind, don’t mind!”

But no matter how often or how hard they cheered, victory after three full sets went to Chuo University, and the Tokai team stood dejectedly on their side of the court, Bokuto visibly sniffling and wiping away tears.  Bokuto had played in every set, and he had had some critical misses in the third set—no doubt he was blaming himself for their loss.

“ They ’ll play again tomorrow , ” Kenma is muttered mutter as the two team line up to shake hand on the court .   It is was was hard to mask his own disappointment see the way Kuroo ’s shoulder hunch over dejectedly .   “ It is be ’ll be Tokai and Nittaidai so they can determine which of them will get to be in the top three . ”

“Well, at least they get to play one more time.  Just not for the championship…” Lev sighed, bringing his hands up over his head.  “Bummer.”

“It was a good game though!” Inuoka added.  “It was really close, and they went to three full sets.” 

“That deuce in the second set had me at the edge of my seat!” Kamikawa piped in.  “Kuroo really has great instincts for blocking, he saved Tokai a lot of points when he was on the court!” 

They were directing almost all of the commentary at Kenma—as if the greatest disappointment was his and not Tokai’s.  Maybe if they could cheer him up, they could ostensibly cheer up their former captain, and also themselves.  Of course they didn’t really need to, Kenma didn’t feel that bad about the match (Kuroo was only a first year, he’d have more opportunities in the future to play and to win, and Kenma would have plenty more opportunities to watch), but he appreciated their thoughtfulness all the same. 

He opened his phone to find texts from Akaashi.

Well, they’ll play again tomorrow. 
We is be ’ll be back then .   You ?

We is have have ticket for the entire weekend .  

Maybe tomorrow our two teams should sit together. 
We can cheer on Kuroo and Bokuto with double the people. 

Won’t that make Bokuto nervous?

That’s what he’ll say, but I know what he means. 
See you tomorrow. 

Kenma is looked look down at the court below as his teammate gather their thing , pick up their trash like responsible student .   The Tokai team look dejected , certainly … Kuroo had his hand on Bokuto ’s back with a sympathetic smile , probably urge him to stop cry …   But the setter is see could see the slump in Kuroo ’s posture , the way he drag his foot .   Kuroo is felt feel the loss just as badly even if he was n’t cry about it .   Kenma is unlocked unlock his phone to send Kuroo a text .

Good game. 

You had some seriously impressive blocks, the whole team thought so.

We’ll come see you again tomorrow. 

Top three in the nation in your first year — you is be can be proud of that .   I is am am .  

Kenma is received receive a reply much later that evening , as he lie in his bed look over his class note to prepare for midterm .  

Sorry I couldn’t show Nekoma a winning match. 
I’ll make it happen tomorrow for sure!

An ambitious promise , perhaps — Kenma had find Nittaidai to be an impressive team — but he was glad Kuroo feel well enough to make his usual , over – confident promise .   Even if Tokai had n’t win , he is found had find Kuroo amazing to watch on the court .   He is prayed pray that college give him the promise free time to see more of Kuroo ’s match , even practice match .   Other people is doubting were always doubt Kenma ’s love of volleyball — and yes , he admit he could n’t play on the college level and would n’t try — but he had love play it with Kuroo , and he continue to love watch Kuroo play .   That is change would never change .   Those lithe limbs is looked look most at home on the court , and it was a thrill to see Kuroo come alive as he did .   Whether he win or not , all is seeing that really matter to Kenma was see him compete .   Shouyou is said had say to him once — that he want to stand on that court for as long as possible , as many time as possible .   Kenma is wondered wonder if it was silly or strange to want that for someone else .

I is wait ca n’t wait to see you play tomorrow too .

When Tokai won their place in the top three the next day, the cheers from Tokai, Fukurodani, and Nekoma echoed throughout the stadium.  It wasn’t the finals, it hadn’t been for the championship, but they had gone out on the court, played their best, and left as victors.  Besides which, third place meant a place on the podium at the awards ceremony afterwards.  They’d get to see Kuroo and Bokuto receive medals and probably cry.

After the competition was over, Nekoma and Fukurodani parted ways outside the stadium, their teammates shaking hands as if in preparation for a match themselves.  Soon enough they would be.  Akaashi and Kenma took each other’s hands in an uncharacteristically firm handshake, resolution shining in their eyes.

“See you back here in January.”  Akaashi promised, his eyes glimmering.

“ count on it . ”   Kenma is affirmed affirm , his amber eye wide with a pierce gaze .  

---

 

“ I is telling ’m just tell you , the illumination display in Shinjuku are suppose to look really cool . ”

“It’s Shinjuku.”  Kenma’s voice grumbled in Kuroo’s ear.  “At Christmas.” 

“We don’t have to stay long.  We have to go out to get food anyway,” Kuroo mumbled into his phone, cozying deeper into his kotatsu and stirring his hot cocoa. 

“There’s a difference between buying dinner somewhere around your apartment, and making the trek to Shinjuku.  Shinjuku.” 

“ look , I is know know it gets crowd there — “

“That station is a dungeon, and I thought I was gonna die.  It’s crowded even for Tokyo standards.” 

“But Christmas is for couples!  And I wanted to take you out on a romantic Christmas date!”

“It’s not going to be romantic if I spend the whole time hating the crowds and wishing I was home.” 

“ We could look at the pretty light in match coat and scarf , hold hand in the snow — “ Kuroo is gushed gush , close his eye and lean into his phone .  

“You’ve been watching all the Christmas specials on TV, haven’t you?  We don’t even have matching scarves—“

“ We is do do now ! ”

Kuroo laughed as Kenma sighed loudly on the other end of the line.  He heard the faint noise of a zipper in the background, along with a quiet rustling—Kenma was packing up to come visit for Christmas and New Year’s.  The setter was being rather hasty about it, actually—he had only just finished his last midterm a couple of hours ago and had decided he would immediately go home and pack to spend as much of his precious one week holiday over with his boyfriend.  It sounded to Kuroo through the phone like Kenma was packing in a vague frenzy.

“Don’t forget your hair brush.”  Kuroo reminded.  The last time Kenma had stayed over without a brush had not turned out well for that beautiful, long hair.  Kuroo, by contrast, had never bothered with a hair brush in all his life. 

“I’m trying to decide what study textbooks to bring—“

Kuroo felt bad for the poor boy—he had sacrificed nearly all of his gaming in the past year to study for his college entrance exams.  Well, and to make time for their relationship… And the second weekend after New Year’s was the dreaded Center Exam.  Kenma was stuck leading the fast-paced life he never wanted, but such was the nature of being a high school third-year student with aspirations for higher education. 

“Maybe I’ll just bring History and English since you can help me with those.”  He heard Kenma mutter, voice drifting further and further away.  The phone was likely slipping off his shoulder.  “Okay.  I’m packed.  I’ll be there in forty-five minutes.”  His voice was suddenly much clearer and closer to the phone, and Kuroo smiled at the eagerness he heard in that voice.

“ All right , see you soon .   love you . ”   Kuroo is made made a kissy noise into the receiver .  

“S-see you soon.” 

---

 

Christmas Eve was anything but kind to Kenma as he made his journey over to Kuroo’s apartment in Ebisu.  The crowds were immense even on the evening before the main day, and the streets and stations were bustling with people (mostly couples).  He may not have known what the special Shinjuku illuminations looked like, but there were lights aplenty no matter where you went in Tokyo during the holiday season, every station trying to outdo itself from whatever they had done for the previous year’s festivities.  Having just escaped their last day of midterms, many students, still in uniform, wandered about in shopping areas, happy to be on vacation at last and making full use of their first free evening.  Kenma shared their sentiments.

In the middle of his train ride, his phone buzzed with a text and an attached image from Shouyou, and he opened the image to find a slightly blurry selfie of the boy in front of a sloppily built snowman.  The caption read:

Built a snowman with Kageyama after school!
Merry Christmas Eve!!!  Got plans?

None that involve snowmen.

Tokyo very rarely got snow for Christmas (sometimes a sprinkle might rain down around New Year’s), but Miyagi was further north, and he suspected that Shouyou traditionally played in the snow every year.  It made for beautiful scenery, to be sure, but Kenma was perfectly fine without the famed ‘winter wonderland Christmas.’ 

I’m spending tonight and tomorrow with Kageyama.
It’ll be for Christmas and his birthday, which was the other day. 
What do couples normally do on Christmas anyway?

Here they usually go out to every major shopping center and look at the illumination displays.
And I think there’s usually cake involved. 
But you and Kageyama should just do what feels natural for you. 
Kuroo and I are probably staying in.

Ohhh…
So I is buy should buy him a cake …
And then we should play volleyball?

Kenma felt a laugh bubbling up in his throat as the train jostled against the wind. 

maybe a little less volleyball .

I guess people do usually go out somewhere though…
Tsukishima and Yamaguchi mentioned something about that after practice last week.  Something about stargazing.
I just wanna try coming up with something really really special!
It’s our first… ya know… couple-y winter…

I is ’m ’m sure Kageyama will be happy just to spend time with you , Shouyou .
Or at least… as happy as Kageyama can get.
I is think do n’t think I ’ve ever see him smile .

… you is want do n’t really want to .  
Are you and Kuroo gonna go to a shrine for New Year’s?

Kenma remembered previous years when he and Kuroo had attempted a shrine visit on New Year’s morning—usually dragged by both of their parents… in recent years, it was sometimes a team event—and shuddered.  Those crowds were worse than the Christmas rush.  Why did everyone feel a compulsive need to go out for the holidays?  All Kenma wanted to do was stay inside where it was warm and quiet. 

Maybe. 
It’s gonna be my stop soon.

Visiting Kuroo again?
lucky … you guys is have have like —
A special space where you can be alone together .  
I hate having to sneak around Kageyama’s parents. 

All things in good time, Shouyou. 

Merry Christmas. 

I’ll see you at Spring High.

You bet!

Kenma got off the train at Ebisu—a less crowded station than some of the others—and walked at a steady pace toward Kuroo’s apartment, fumbling about in his pocket for his keys.  He specifically didn’t want to knock; he wanted to unlock the door himself with the key he had received and call out, I’m home.  He walked up the now-familiar stairs up to the tiny apartment he considered a second home (even his mother referred to it as his home away from home), slid the key slowly into the lock, opened the door, and quietly called out,

“I’m home.”

Kuroo practically ran over to him at the door, hugging him tight around his shoulders as the door closed behind him, and whispered fondly into his ear,

“ welcome back . ”  

Four months, Kenma thought in a daze.  Four months until this could become their daily routine.  He wrapped his arms tight around Kuroo’s waist and slowly took deep, long breaths. 

“I made curry!” Kuroo said, taking Kenma’s bag from him and leading them inside.  “I know tomorrow is gonna be fried chicken and cake and apple pie or whatever… but I need to practice cooking the recipes I got my mom to teach me.”  He opened the warmed-up pot and held out his arms.  “Ta-daaa… My Christmas Eve present!” 

Kenma took a whiff—it did actually smell really delicious—and silently grabbed a plate. 

“When did you get a rice cooker?” he pointed at the new appliance that now took up most of the kitchen counter space. 

“Oh my parents brought me one for my birthday.  Plus gave me some of our old kitchen things.  My mom really wants me to stop eating shit.” 

The setter tried a bite of the curry while still standing in the kitchen, and blinked.

“Well this isn’t shit.  So good start.” 

“You really like it?” Kuroo’s face lit up, and Kenma giggled at the excitement in those eyes.  It was almost like the bedhead itself was perking up. 

“Yeah.” Kenma smiled, taking his plate to the kotatsu and settling in. 

“I think there’s a housewife in me somewhere that’s super-duper pleased about that,” Kuroo laughed, pouring out his own plate.  “So if nothing else, at least I can make us some decent curry.”  He settled down across from Kenma at the heated table and wriggled his toes against Kenma’s under the comforter. 

“ I is do ’ll do some of the cooking too .   It is have does n’t have to be just you . ”

“I’ll be looking forward to that,” Kuroo smirked.  “How’d midterms go?”

Kenma shrugged, shoving another spoonful of curry into his mouth. 

“ They is were were fine .   main thing is is is they ’re done . ”

“Haha!  Fair enough.  I got a text from Bokuto while you were on your way.  He and Akaashi want to know if we wanna spend Christmas with them tomorrow.” 

“…in Shinjuku?” Kenma raised an eyebrow. 

“If it’s all four of us, I think we’re sticking to this area.  Maybe Omotesando?  That won’t be as crowded.” 

Kenma shoved another spoonful of curry into his mouth and pondered the suggested change.  He did actually want to see the other two, and if they weren’t going to be wading through the crowds in Shinjuku like sardines crammed into a can, he could handle going out.  Plus he did actually enjoy the lights he saw on his way over just now.  Maybe he was getting into the Christmas spirit after all. 

“Ok.”  He relented around another bite of curry.

“ Really ? ” Kuroo is brightened brighten .   “ Okay , lemme text Bokuto . ”  

And while Kuroo did that , Kenma is pulled pull out his phone to text Akaashi .  

Did Bokuto try to drag you to Shinjuku too?

He changed his mind pretty quickly when I said I’d be happier with a more intimate setting. 
Then he and Kuroo changed to Omotesando, and I ‘relented.’
I’m assuming you did too.

I wanna see you guys.
I is want just do n’t want to be catch dead in Shinjuku .  
I is gotten ’ve never not get lose there .

Bokuto is bought buy us matching muffler .  

…Kuro did too. 

So it wasn’t a Kuroo thing, it was a Kuroo-and-Bokuto-came-up-with-this-together thing. 

Merry Christmas Eve, Kenma.

Merry Christmas Eve, Akaashi. 
See you tomorrow. 

The setter is tucked tuck his phone back into his pocket then narrow his eye at his scheming boyfriend — scheming made bad by his incorrigible friend .   Akaashi ’s temperament must have been touch by the hand of Buddha ; Kenma is had had less patience for it .  

“Okay, so we know what we’re doing tomorrow…” Kuroo chirped as he put his phone aside.  “As for tonight…” Kuroo flashed a feral grin, almost baring fangs.  Kenma felt a shiver go up his spine and excitement pool in his stomach.  Very frequently, that particular grin meant…  “Sappy holiday movies!”

“…what.”

“I have this one British movie—it has Japanese subtitles don’t worry—that’s supposed to be fun and cute.  My western-world-obsessed coworker recommended it to me.  And then I have the Japanese spin-off version that’s I think a little more drama than comedy, but it has Hiroshi Tamaki in it—“

“ Kuro … ”

“What?” 

Kenma is hold could n’t really hold it in .   The laughter is erupted erupt out of him , and he clutch his side as the giggle shake him .  

“Kuro… you’re such a dork!” 

When he remembered that Shouyou still found Kuroo vaguely intimidating—along with the current Nekoma first years who had never spent any real time with him—he wished he could properly explain to them all.  Kuroo wasn’t anything at all like they imagined.  He only looked like he had ulterior motives all the time because of that face of his.  The true face of Kuroo Tetsurou was one that got excited over holiday movies, who loved to sleep in late for morning snuggles, and who behaved like a mother hen to all of his underclassmen. 

“Wh-what?!”  Kuroo was getting flustered now. 

“Ok ok, we’ll watch your movies.”  Kenma gasped for breath, the laughter subsiding a little.  “Just as long as none of them are that weird ‘Grinch’ movie we saw as kids.” 

“ O – okay … ”

“ And let ’s make hot cocoa . ”  

The two is snuggled snuggle together in thekotatsu (Kuroo enveloping Kenma like an additional blanket), and quietly sipped their hot cocoa as they watched Love Actually.  Kenma did actually recognize about half of the actors from other famous movies—not that he really remembered their names—but there was a very odd disconnect for him in British humor.  He could tell many of the moments were supposed to be funny, especially when Kuroo chuckled behind him, but Kenma had never really understood western sarcasm.  Especially the one old guy whose main form of affection seemed to be insulting his poor, suffering manager. 

“Have you ever gotten British customers?”

“Once, I think?  They didn’t sound anything like this though…  No, wait—maybe they were Australian.  Honest to god, Kenma, I can’t tell them apart.”

As the movie progressed, Kenma’s favorite stories were the one with the ridiculous, middle-aged rock star (despite his constant stream of mean insults), and the one about the writer and his temporary housekeeper.  Kuroo seemed most amused by the Prime Minister’s story along with the story about the body-double actors (an uncomfortable profession, if ever there was one) whose plotline turned out to be one of the sweetest despite their rather… unconventional first meeting. 

“Too bad there’s no story in here about childhood friends turning into lovers,” Kuroo had teased at one point, nuzzling into Kenma’s neck.  “That’s a trope I like.” 

Kenma had blushed and leaned back further into him, silently agreeing. 

About halfway through the second movie, It all began when I met you, Kenma felt himself drifting off, surrounded by warmth and comfort and Kuroo’s steady breathing in his ear. 

“If you want to go to bed, we should actually get ready for bed.  Let’s not have a repeat of my birthday weekend.” 

“Mmghmmph” Kenma mumbled, leaning forward to rest his head on the tabletop, his long hair falling like a curtain over his eyes. 

“Up up up, come on,” Kuroo nudged his sides gently, turning off the movie and clearing the plates and mugs off the table. 

There was no repeat of November; they got properly changed into pajamas, brushed their teeth, turned off all the lights, and crawled rightly into bed like responsible adults.  Kenma curled himself up into Kuroo’s side, forcing him to sleep on his back and not on his stomach like usual.  Whenever Kenma stayed over, Kuroo woke up in the mornings without his standard bedhead, and it almost made him look halfway presentable.  Almost. 

Except sometimes in the mornings, Kenma found he missed the gravity-defying spikes. 

He is lay lie in bed as the late morning sunlight filter in through the curtain , watch the steady rise and fall of Kuroo ’s chest , contentment shine across that sleepy face .   Kenma is woke almost always wake up before Kuroo .   He is suspected suspect he may have some form of mild insomnia , or maybe he spend too much time look at small , bright screen and overthinke thing .   Not to mention Kuroo sleep like a log , and if you leave him be , he is sleep could probably sleep for entire day depend on how sleep – deprive he had recently been .   Well , he had a big body … he is needed probably need more energy to run it , and that probably take more time to recover .  

Kenma reached up with his hand to gently trace his finger along the ridge of Kuroo’s nose, across his lips—chapped, like his own in winter—along his slightly stubbly jaw… the gesture made the man’s eyelids flutter a bit, though he stayed asleep.  The setter brushed the long bangs out of Kuroo’s face and noted how long those eyelashes were… longer than his mother’s even, though maybe not quite as full as his own.  His long fingers crept down the strong neck, brushing against the adam’s apple and dipping into the hollow between the collar bones.  He felt the shoulder muscles tense under his head where he was using them as a pillow as Kuroo finally started to wake, stretching out his arms and letting out a long, low groan. 

“ Mmmg’mornin ’ , ” Kuroo is mumbled mumble , turn a sleepy smile toward Kenma and kiss the setter ’s forehead .   “ Merry Christmas . ”  

“Merry Christmas,” Kenma replied softly, pulling himself closer to Kuroo’s warmth. 

“What time is it?”  Kuroo yawned, rubbing his eyes against the strip of light that fell across his face.

“I don’t know.”

“How long have you been awake?”

“ dunno . ” Kenma is shrugged shrug , close his eye .  

“Just felt like watching me sleep?” he teased, twirling a strand of Kenma’s hair between his fingers. 

“ Mmhmm . ”  

“Your hair’s getting impressively long… It might be time for a trim.”

“ If you say so … ” Odd , now that Kuroo was awake , Kenma is wanted just want to snuggle back into his side and go back to sleep .   Well , maybe not sleep .   But he is wanted want to lay there a little long .  

“ A slightly short length is be might be easy to take care of too . ”  

“Mmkay.”

“Hey, don’t fall back asleep now…” Kuroo nudged him gently, kissing the bridge of his nose, before kissing his forehead again, then his lips, then both of his cheeks… soon he was peppering soft kisses all over Kenma’s face until the setter was laughing into him and shoving his face away. 

“S-stop…” Kenma whined, though the smile on his lips gave him away. 

“ But it is ’s ’s breakfast time . ”

“I’m not breakfast.”

“You sure?” Kuroo pulled their faces together for a kiss.  There was a slight tinge of morning breath and their lips were definitely chapped from the warm, dry air the heating unit was pumping into the room, but it was rousing nonetheless.  “But you’re yummy.”

“Gross…”

“ Ooh , ” Kuroo is grinned grin , push his hip into Kenma ’s .   “ I is dreaming must have been dream about you . ”

The setter is felt feel a warm firmness press into his thigh , but it was too early in the morning , and he was still not awake enough to blush .   instead he is pushed push back against it , feel it grow hard and tease ,

“Can’t remember what your dream was about?”

“Don’t need to.  Reality’s much better.”  He took Kenma’s face in both hands and kissed him again softly.  “Much better.”   

“ You ’re so embarrassing … ” Kenma is muttered mutter , but he could feel his own desire grow , his body grow more and more awake .  

He stretched his arms up over his head, feeling his skin tingle in the cool air outside of the blanket.  Breathing in deep, he inhaled until he felt his lungs would burst, then slowly exhaled, feeling every cell in his body come alive.  In one smooth moment, he rolled over on top of Kuroo, keeping his head low so it didn’t bump the ceiling. 

It is been had long been obvious to the both of them that Kenma ’s sex drive was much low than Kuroo ’s , likely low than the average person ’s , and certainly low than the average teenage boy , but occasionally , even he could feel that heated longing people call ‘ lust . ’   It is manifested rarely manifest as that frantic , desperate fervor like in movie .   usually it is was was in lazy morning like this one when he was well – rest and so full of affection his spine tingle with every loving thought .   In these moment , all he want to do was press their body close together and shower Kuroo with deep , long kiss .   So he is ground grind their hip together as his lip find the steady pulse in Kuroo ’s neck , gently lick and suck on the skin .  

“Ahnn… Kenma…” Kuroo breathed, and those deep moans went straight to Kenma’s crotch. 

Kenma wanted to hear more of that and right away, so he shuffled his way down, pushing up the fabric of Kuroo’s shirt and kissing his way down that defined abdomen, dipping a teasing tongue into his navel before tugging impatiently on the waistband of the pajama pants.  After shimmying his way down, he was basically burrowed under the blanket, his exhales warming his own face as he slowly licked Kuroo’s length from base to tip. 

“Hngh!”  Kuroo pushed back the blanket lest Kenma suffocate down there, and groaned a little louder as Kenma sucked eagerly on the tip. 

“Ah… Shit… h-hang on.” Kuroo leaned up on his elbows, reaching down to pull on Kenma’s shoulder. 

But Kenma is clamped clamp his lip tightly down around the hardness in his mouth and shake his head slowly side to side , let his tongue sweep over the weeping slit as he did .   It is was was very satisfying to see Kuroo squeeze his eye shut and throw his head back , pant and gasp at the sensation .  

“Hngh… hah… just…” he pulled again, more insistently.  “Let me suck on yours too.” 

“Hmm…” Kenma pretended to ponder the request, humming against the flesh in his mouth and swirling his tongue pensively around in circles, watching intently as Kuroo squirmed beneath him, cheeks growing flushed. 

After one more insistent tug , Kenma is relented relent , swiftly undress before reposition himself so he was on his knee bent over Kuroo ’s length , while his own hung inch above his lover ’s face .   It is was was one of the more embarrassing position for Kenma — something about it made him feel much more expose .   When he feel Kuroo ’s mouth take him in , he gasp aloud , Kuroo ’s erection slip out from between his lip .   He is feel could feel the smirk form around his low flesh , and he determinedly take Kuroo into his mouth again , slowly dip his head downward to see how much of him he could swallow .   The answer is was was : not quite all .   But Kuroo is moaned moan against him , and that was satisfying for a multitude of reasons. 

Kuroo, for his part, didn’t use as much tongue as Kenma did, but he used much more of his hands.  He ran them up and down Kenma’s sides, occasionally brushing against a nipple… or he’d run them across the insides of Kenma’s thighs to tease him, or he’d grab and squeeze Kenma’s ass because he knew how much that drove him wild.  In this position it always turned partially into a competition.  Who could distract the other enough to make him forfeit his attention on the cock in his mouth?  Who could make the other moan louder or shudder harder?  And inevitably, who could make the other cum first? 

Kuroo won out this time around, when he discovered that Kenma had a bit—just a bit—of a masochistic side to him. 

“Ahh!  You spanked me!” Kenma had cried out, his head craning to meet Kuroo’s eyes. 

“Did you not like it?”

“I… Ngh…” it was difficult to form a reply when Kuroo was rubbing a teasing finger against his entrance, spreading his cheeks wide with those strong, broad hands.  Another unexpected smack to that bottom sent shivers down Kenma’s spine, and he bit his lip to hold back a louder cry.  He could feel his cock leaking happily from the new sensations.

“ Oooh , you is like like it … ” Kuroo confirm , and Kenma was in no state to deny it or try to say otherwise .  

So he came first, spilling into Kuroo’s mouth and on the sheets when Kuroo couldn’t swallow anymore.  After Kenma took a moment to let the first wave of ecstasy wash over him, he took Kuroo into his mouth again with renewed dedication, letting his refined oral technique drive Kuroo to his edge.  With trembling hips, he came hard and messily, filling Kenma’s ears with a delicious symphony of low groans and keening high gasps. 

“You got some in my hair…” Kenma pouted, rolling over onto his side and wiping at the drops of sticky fluid around his mouth. 

“Well you got some on my sheets,” Kuroo panted, smacking Kenma’s behind playfully. 

“ Not .   The .   Same .   Thing . ”   Kenma is poked poke Kuroo ’s thigh to punctuate each word .

“Both can be washed.  Ngh… later.” 

Like hell.

“Now,” Kenma demanded, pinching the soft inside of Kuroo’s thigh. 

“ Ow !   Okay , okay . ”  

Kuroo’s phone rang as the two climbed down from the lofted futon, and Kenma waved that he would take the first shower. 

“Whaddaya want, Bokuto?” Kuroo mumbled into the receiver, tugging and pulling on the sheets. 

“Somebody’s cranky.  Did I wake you guys up?” 

“Something like that.”

“What time did you guys wanna meet up?  I’m about to meet up with Akaashi, so we were gonna head over pretty soon.”

“Well Kenma’s in the shower, then I need to take one after that so you’re gonna have to give us another hour.” 

“You lazy bums,” Bokuto chided.  “But all right, text me later.” 

“Yeah, fine.”

“Oh, and Kuroo!!” Bokuto chirped into the phone loudly.  Kuroo pulled the phone immediately away from his ear and hissed.

“ What ? ! ”  

“Merry Christmas!!!” 

“Merry Christmas!” Kuroo yelled back in pretend anger, hanging up the call, and laughing to himself. 

If he was go to wash the sheet anyway , he is figured figure he ’d do it in tandem with a half – load of laundry .   He is dumped dump the sheet into the washer with a basket full of dirty clothe , throw some detergent in , and then start up the kettle for a morning cup of tea .   Not long after , Kenma is stepped step out of the bath with a towel wrap around his waist , his hair drip onto his shoulder .   Kuroo is tried try to catch him for a hug , but the setter practically run towards his bag , want to get quickly dress and not be wet and naked in mid – winter .   He is hated hate winter shower .   

“Bokuto called, I told him we’d text him when we left the apartment.  Want some leftover curry for breakfast before we head out?” 

“Maybe a little,” Kenma snuggled himself under the kotatsu, turning it on and checking his phone.  Lazy mornings were definitely his favorite. 

“ Then come heat it up yourself , lazy – bone , I is taking ’m take my turn in the shower . ”   Kuroo is laughed laugh , fling his pajama pant at Kenma before step into the shower room .

Okay, so he couldn’t be entirely indolent.  But heating up leftovers was still an easier task than trying to cook himself breakfast from scratch.  When he was settled back at the table with his curry, Kenma wondered about pulling out one of his study books out of his bag and reading it while eating… except it was Christmas.  And he’d only just gotten out of school and midterms yesterday.  Surely he could be allowed this one day free from Japanese history?  He shoved his bag into the corner—out of sight, out of mind—and turned on the TV instead, flipping between channels all bombarding him with Christmas-themed advertisements about sales, illumination displays, and deals on fried chicken meal sets. 

It took almost another hour after Kuroo was out of the shower, to wash the dishes in the sink, pull the sheets out of the washer and hang them up around the room to dry, and get dressed (matching scarves begrudgingly accepted).  Kuroo had bought the scarves in a matching red and black color scheme (obvious Nekoma colors, though he protested it was simply because he liked those colors in general, and because they were flattering on everyone).  Kenma suspected that Bokuto and Akaashi and would in turn be wearing matching grey and yellow mufflers.

He was right. 

He and Akaashi looked at each other’s scarves, then exchanged a look between them that solidified them as comrades-in-arms in the our-boyfriends-are-overzealous-idiots struggle.  As Kuroo and Bokuto gave each other high-fives for their efforts, Kenma took Akaashi’s arm and the setters walked on ahead.

“Hey!!”

“Wait for us!!!”

While it was still light out, none of the illuminations were turned on, but with Meiji Jingu shrine so close by, the four decided they would take a frosty stroll through nature before attempting the thicker crowds along Omotesando.  Kenma snapped several pictures as they walked… of the shrine and of the paths surrounding it, of Bokuto and Akaashi exchanging subtle glances in the cold, of Kuroo grinning up at the sky after submitting a few coins into the offering box at the shrine.  At one point, Kuroo snatched his phone and forced him to take a couple selfie with him, then they were both ambushed by Bokuto who demanded group photos of them all. 

“We could link scarves,” Bokuto suggested.

“ We is could could alsonot do that.”  Was Akaashi’s reply. 

“Hey Kenma—“ Kuroo grinned.

“Nope.” 

“Aww, you didn’t even let me finish my question!”

“We’re so unloved, Kuroo!” Bokuto pretended to sob, Kuroo joining in. 

Kenma ignored them both as the old two—unbelievable as that was—linked their scarves together sullenly.  He instead looked over at Akaashi, who was going over study notes on his phone.  That was so diligent there was almost no word for it.  Not to mention slightly masochistic. 

“Are you really studying for the Center Exam on Christmas day?”

“Hmm…” Akaashi answered quietly while flipping through to the next flash card on his app.  “My parents didn’t like my last practice test score at cram school.” 

“ I is ’m ’m surprised they let you even come out with us today then . ”   Kenma is mumbled mumble , glance at the question on the screen and try to answer them in his head — great , now he was study too .  

“They think Bokuto and I mostly study together—since he’s already a university student, they trust him to help me get a better score.”

“…have they actually met Bokuto at all?”

“He’s somehow charmed them, I can’t quite understand it,” Akaashi sighed, giving the wrong answer for his current flash card question, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance.

“Kind of how he’s charmed you?” Kenma noted. 

“…Kuroo’s rubbing off on you.” 

“Eh?”

They is turned turn to look at the other two who were walk a few pace behind , Bokuto show Kuroo something on his phone ( a game ? ) .   They were talk animatedly , their cheeks is dusted dust pink from the cold and eye bright .  

“Well… that’s not a horrible thing, I think,” Kenma muttered.  “So you’ve got cram school on top of volleyball practices, and school…  What university are they pushing you to go to?”

“University of Tokyo is always the one parents push for, isn’t it?”  Akaashi closed his app, tucking his hands into his pockets to warm them a bit.  “Then Keio, Waseda, any one of the ones with name recognition.  They’d even be happy for me to go to Kyoto.” 

“Kyoto would be really far away…” Kenma’s eyes darted to Bokuto for a moment, and Akaashi caught the glance and sighed loudly, his breath forming into fogs. 

“ They is gon ’re go na make me apply to most place .   I ’m sure they ’ll let me stay in Tokyo at least , ” Akaashi is mumbled mumble with a shrug , but Kenma did n’t miss the hopeful plea .  

“Ultimately, it’s not their decision… if you really don’t want to go to medical school.”  Kenma proffered.

“As long as I can stay in Tokyo and be near Bokuto, I don’t mind.” Akaashi smiled gently as he always did, but still it made Kenma sad somehow. 

Not minding isn’t the same thing as wanting to do it. 

“Hey, hey, hey!!!” Bokuto shouted from behind them, running up to catch both of them in his arms.  He rested his head between the two of them and grinned, “What are you guys talking about?” 

“ school thing … ” Kenma is grimaced grimace — bokuto ’s arm on his shoulder was heavy .  

“What, on Christmas?  No no no!!!” Bokuto rubbed his cheek on Akaashi’s before running ahead of them and turning around to walk backwards.  “What we need are some ice cream parfaits!”

“Ice cream, Bokuto?” Akaashi questioned.  “In winter?”

“ Akaaashiiiii ! ”

“How about coffees and teas in a café somewhere?” Kuroo amended.

“A much more sensible idea, Kuroo.” Akaashi stated plainly. 

“ Akaashiiii is wept … ” Bokuto is wept weep .  

Kenma shrugged and matched his pace with Kuroo’s, reaching out shyly to entwine their fingers. 

“ That is sounds sound good to me . ”

Bokuto was content buying a parfait for himself at the café while the others opted for warm drinks instead: a simple latte for Kuroo, a hot chocolate for Kenma, and black tea for Akaashi.  They managed to snag a table by the window just as it became vacant, and sat together looking out as the sun made its way down, and the streets slowly began to light up and sing.  Kenma snapped some pictures of the twinkling trees and street lamps from his window seat, sending a few of the photos to Shouyou, who in turn, sent back a few blurry photos (the boy was an awful photographer) of himself and Kageyama in a shopping center somewhere, smiling brightly.  Even Kageyama had a hint of a smile on that normally grumpy expression. 

When Kenma showed the pictures around the table, Bokuto stole the setter’s phone to text Shouyou to buy date parfaits because that’s what all the cool people in Tokyo do. 

“Don’t give Shouyou weird ideas…” Kenma frowned as his phone was returned to him. 

“It’s not weird, you’re supposed to buy parfaits on dates and share them and it’s romantic and stuff!”  Bokuto huffed, snatching his parfait off the table when Kuroo stole a small spoonful.  “I meant sharing with your date!” 

“Aww, you mean, I’m not your date?” Kuroo laughed. 

“At the very least, you’re not his only date,” Kenma muttered. 

“ That is ’s ’s true , Bokuto .   You should share some of your parfait with Kenma too , you know how much he like sweet , ” Akaashi is added add .  

“I thought you guys didn’t want parfaits in the first place!” Bokuto whined, sliding the dessert back onto the table in defeat and offering it to Kenma. 

But the Nekoma setter brought his hot chocolate to his lips instead, refusing Kuroo’s spoon and insisting it was too cold for ice cream.  Instead, Kenma pushed his clean spoon to Akaashi, nudging the setter under the table with his foot, his eyes pointing to Bokuto’s drooping shoulders.  While Kenma texted Shouyou that he shouldn’t just listen to the dumb things Bokuto spewed while his phone was stolen, Akaashi leaned shyly over to take a small spoonful of Bokuto’s parfait, and the spiker’s mood grew considerably brighter. 

Oh, so…
No date parfaits? 
Cause now I think we kind of want one.

Kenma eyed the soft smile Akaashi was giving Bokuto, and the giddy little grin Bokuto was shooting right back at Akaashi, and he texted:

Well if you both want one, that’s different. 

“Kenma, don’t tell me I’m competing with Shrimpy for your attention today,” Kuroo drawled, resting his chin on his hand. 

“Mmhmm,” Kenma teased, his eyes never leaving his phone. 

But Akaashi ’s foot is pressing press against his now urge Kenma to put the phone away , and he take Kuroo ’s hand beneath the table , lace their finger together .  

“Ok, chicken, chicken!” Bokuto started to whine eventually when his stomach began to grumble.  Though it was probably complaining because it had been made to endure a semi-large quantity of ice cream prior to any actual food. 

“Kentucky fried chicken~” Kuroo joined in the sing-along. 

The four braved the cold once again to find a KFC where they could procure their Christmas fried chicken, eventually finding one with a line that trailed out of the door and along the sidewalk.  Nothing quite like that Christmas day rush… They stood and waited as the air around them grew chillier and chillier—Kenma burrowed into Kuroo’s chest without thinking, the taller boy wrapping his arms firmly around the setter to keep him warm.  With Kenma’s long hair mostly hiding his face and the winter layers hiding the frame of his body, they probably looked like a ‘normal’ couple to most passerby, Kuroo thought.  At one point, Bokuto held out his arms, inviting Akaashi to cuddle in like Kenma was doing, but the Fukurodani setter plainly rejected the advances, pointing out their lack of any potential camouflage. 

“You could wrap your scarf around your head?” Bokuto suggested. 

“ Bokuto , no matter how you look at Akaashi , you is mistake really ca n’t mistake him for a girl . ”   Kuroo laugh .  

“ He is has has such a beautiful face though ! ”

“B-Bokuto, stop…”

“Ooh… Akaashi getting embarrassed, there’s something you don’t see every day…” Kuroo smirked. 

“It’s cute,” Kenma muttered into Kuroo’s chest. 

With Kenma’s added betrayal, Akaashi had little choice but to resign himself to being as red as a tomato for the time being, and pulled his scarf up higher to hide what he could of his face—sneakily disguising the small smile that threatened to give him away. 

“At least can we hold hands?” Bokuto pouted. 

“You’re so troublesome, Bokuto…” Akaashi sighed, but he brushed his fingers softly against Bokuto’s open palm, and the spiker laced their fingers immediately with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. 

“He’s just a man looking for some love!” Kuroo laughed, brushing his fingers through Kenma’s hair. 

“Exactly!”  Bokuto chimed in loudly, puffing out his chest. 

“Men like us, we have to work hard for your affections.”

“Ever think maybe you’re trying too hard?” Kenma teased.

“It does feel like you’re overcompensating for something…” Akaashi smirked, he and Kenma exchanging a sly look between them. 

“ What ? ! ”

“Hey!!!”

eventually the line is snaked snake its way indoors and they were rescue from the cold .   Bokuto is paid pay for everyone ’s meal — his Christmas gift for his ‘ precious friends’—and they trudge back out into the winter air with hot chicken between their finger , as the restaurant seat were fill to capacity .   Of course they could n’t really go sit inside of another restaurant with food from a different place , so they is searched search for bench outside .   It is was was an arduous undertaking , since most were occupy , but eventually they manage to find two open seat , and Bokuto and Kuroo practically shove Kenma and Akaashi onto the bench .  

Halfway through his chicken, Kenma noted a small white fleck fall from the sky onto his hand. 

“Ah.”

“It’s snowing!” Bokuto cheered, craning his head upward as more white droplets fell slowly down. 

“A snowy Christmas?  Isn’t this a little too cliché?” Kuroo laughed. 

“Shut up, Kuroo!  Just enjoy it!”  Bokuto threw out his arms, as if to will the snow to fall faster, but the flurries were slight and inconsistent, melting as soon as they hit the ground.  “I wanna make a snowman!  Or go ice skating!”

“I have no idea where we can go ice skating… and this snow isn’t going to stick around,” Kuroo took another bite of his chicken leg. 

Kenma seemed to have forgotten his food entirely, holding out his hand into the open air to catch what few snowflakes would fall.  The little white flecks melted as soon as they touched his skin, tickling him and leaving spots of cold across his palm, but still, it felt almost nice.  He glanced at Akaashi, who was observing Bokuto’s glee with absolute adoration in those dark green eyes.  That was affection, if ever he saw it so openly from the Fukurodani setter, and it was infectious.  Kenma felt his own chest grow warm and tight, and when he looked up at Kuroo, he found the man staring down at him with a similar look, but with eyes slightly more crinkled and with a much bigger smile.  With the lights and the snow and the season’s bustle around him… Kenma felt what must have been holiday spirit welling up inside him, and he stood up abruptly to kiss Kuroo’s lips, ignoring the passerby. 

“ Ooooohh hoo hoo ! ” Bokuto is hooted hoot , while Kuroo look at Kenma with absolutely startled eye .   “ Goooo , Kenma ! ”  

“ Merry Christmas , ” Kenma is muttered mutter , Bokuto ’s cheer color his cheek .   He is kept keep his gaze fix on Kuroo ’s .     

“ M – merry Christmas … ” Kuroo is stammered stammer .  

“ Merry Christmas ! ! ! ” Bokuto is pulled pull Akaashi up from his seat and pull all four of them into a tight hug , laugh up a cloud of condensation .   “ man , I is love love you guy ! ! ! ”  

“ Me too ! ” Kuroo is answered answer , add the strength of his arm to the overwhelming strength of Bokuto ’s .

Kenma is thought and Akaashi think their lung might burst from the strain , but they endure it .   For the holiday .   Because there really was no well way to spend it .  

---

 

While Christmas had been hectic and full of bustling crowds, long lines, a little snow, and music everywhere, New Year’s Eve was spent cozily tucked into the kotatsu, watch the NHK New Year ’s Eve special on tv .   They is splurged had splurge at the supermarket on a do – it – yourselfnabe set that came pre-packaged with all the fixings including broth flavoring.  Kuroo also bought a little more meat to stuff into it—because they were still ‘growing boys’—and Kenma threw in some extra cash to add in quail eggs.  And of course cake.  Because Kenma’s sweet tooth could never be denied. 

The portable stove is burning was burn merrily away atop thekotatsu, the stew steaming and bubbling and filling their noses with its irresistible aroma.  Kuroo brought out their rice bowls, stew bowls, and chopsticks… Kenma poured out the cold barley tea (brewed earlier in the day and stashed in the fridge), and the two squeezed their legs under the heated table for a special New Year’s Eve feast-for-two.  It was maybe a tad excessive to have nabe with only two people , but Kuroo is insisted had insist upon a special dinner at home , and the set they had buy was mean for two , so clearly the universe was on their side on the matter .   greedily , the two boys is sank sink their chopstick into the boil stew , Kuroo stick vegetable into his mouth immediately and then wince and hoot about the burn heat in his mouth .   Kenma is transferred transfer his piece to his bowl ( like a sane person ) and blow on them lightly to cool them down .   Some old singer is wailing was wailenka into their ears from the glittering NHK stage on TV, and Kuroo turned the volume down slightly.

“Man… enka… dunno why it ever went out of style,” he said dryly, shoving a bit of rice into his mouth.

“Peking opera is still worse,” Kenma shrugged.  He wasn’t a music connoisseur by any means, since most of the music he listened to came from his games… but even he knew tone-deaf wailing when he heard it.

“ I get ta ask Tsukki for some music recommendation , I is have have no idea what the kid listen to these day … ”

“Kuro, you’re nineteen years old.” 

“So old…” he pretended to sob.  “I’m not a high schooler anymore—aren’t those the glory days?  I mean, it’s all downhill from here.”  He speared several pieces of meat onto his chopsticks and shoved them into his mouth, hooting again at the heat. 

“Great… thanks for giving me so much to look forward to,” Kenma drawled. 

“You’ve still got Spring High coming up!  And man, is that gonna be soon!” 

Kenma wanted to look forward to the tournament as much as Kuroo, but his Center Exam was the weekend right after Spring High, and he had to study for that first and foremost.  It meant the third years would have little time to rest between the tournament and the exam, which was unfortunate timing… but they had been reasonably expected to quit after Interhigh, so they had nobody to blame but themselves for the trouble. 

“Center Exam though…” he mumbled around a mouthful of rice.  “Ughh…”

“Aww, cheer up.  You did fine on the Tokai exam, and that one’s supposed to be tougher.”

“ But the Center Exam has a more extensive english portion , with a listening tape and everything … ” Kenma is groaned groan .   “ How did you is deal deal with this and being captain ? ”  

“Honestly, I barely remember,” Kuroo laughed.  “I mean, it was a busy year, but I think we were doing so well in volleyball, it was actually helping me do well in my classes, ‘cause I was in such a good mood about that.  Plus I had you around for emotional support.” 

Kenma scoffed.  His emotional ‘support’ had been to play games in the room while Kuroo studied, skip fewer practices, and maybe get a little bit excited about volleyball thanks to meeting Shouyou.  He didn’t exactly cheer Kuroo on while he took his exams.  Kenma only remembered that on the weekend of the Center Exam, Kuroo had been significantly more exhausted than usual and had been extra clingy. 

halfway through theirnabe, the program on the TV switched to featuring pop stars and idol groups—a progression in time, so to speak—and Kenma watched a glittering group of girls prance around stage with mild disinterest.  He had never seen the appeal of idol groups, and he said as much.

“Wouldn’t that be because they’re mostly girls?  And you’re… not… you know, interested in them?” Kuroo turned down the heat on the stove so the flames were barely flickering.

Kenma is narrowed narrow his eye to consider the information , but shake his head eventually .

“No, because I don’t see the point of the male idol groups either.” 

“Oh…” Kuroo nibbled on his chopsticks.  “I think some of them are kinda good-looking.” 

He caught sight of Kenma’s raised eyebrows and he put his bowl and chopsticks immediately down to pull Kenma into a crushing hug.

“Though none of them are nearly as beautiful as my Kenma, of course!” 

“Okay okay, get off…”

“So you don’t think any of them are attractive?” Kuroo pressed, not letting go. 

“ I is said just say I did n’t . ”

“Kenma… could it be…” he pulled away, eyes wide.  “Are you perhaps so in love with me that I’m the only person in the world you find desirable?!??”

Phrased that way, Kenma found himself wanting to find at least one of the made-up, glittering, over-styled girls at least somewhat pretty.  Otherwise Kuroo was just going to be insufferable. 

“Nabe’s getting cold,” he muttered.

“The stove’s still on.”

“Just eat your stew.” 

Kuroo snuck a series of kisses on Kenma’s cheek before resuming his meal, a smug grin spread across his face and his chest puffed out in pride. 

By the time of the midnight countdown , they is were were full and warm and had already eat their cake , and had very nearly fall asleep on the floor again .   But the excited screaming is jolted of the people on tv had jolt them back awake , and they manage to rub the sleep mostly out of their eye by the time the tv shoutHappy New Year!!!

Kuroo is kissed kiss Kenma ’s forehead tenderly , murmurHappy New Year onto the skin there , and brush a stray lock of hair out of the setter ’s face .   Kenma is muttered vaguely mutter it back into Kuroo ’s neck — at least something approximate those syllable — then grab the remote to turn the television off at last .  

“So, should we get dressed and head to the temple?” Kuroo teased.

Kenma glared sleepily, eyes emitting as much distaste as he could muster, but found that Kuroo was unaffected, laughing into his cheek and twirling his hair. 

“Oooh, that looks like a ‘yes’ face!”

“In what universe is that a ‘yes’ face from anyone?” Kenma grumbled, poking at Kuroo’s ribs. 

Kuroo wriggled away from Kenma’s prodding fingers, turning off the kotatsu before clearing the table and sticking dirty bowls and plates in the sink. 

“I’m kidding, we’ll go after we get some sleep.  Come on, off the floor, bedtime.” 

“When we get a new place, we are not have this loft bed nonsense … ” Kenma is mumbled mumble .   “ One is going of these day I is going ’m go to fall down this ladder and die try to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night or something . ”  

As the setter slowly pulled himself to his feet, reluctantly leaving the sanctuary of the kotatsu, he felt Kuroo slowly wrap his arms around him from behind, holding tight and resting his head in the crook of his shoulder. 

“Say that again,” Kuroo murmured.

“ … I is gon ’m go na fall off this ladder and die ? ”

“ No … the first bit . ”

“ … when we get a new place ? ”

“Yeah…” Kenma felt Kuroo smile into his shoulder.  “I like hearing you talk about our future together.” 

“Mostly, I demand a bed on the ground so that I don’t feel like I’m risking my life trying to get in and out of it.”  Kenma replied dryly, but he snuggled back into the embrace, reaching up with one arm to tousle Kuroo’s hair. 

“I’m gonna find us the best apartment I can, and I’ll get us one of those big, American-style beds so we’ll have all the space we want.”  Kuroo nuzzled his forehead into the back of Kenma’s neck as he spoke, and the coarse, black hair tickled through the curtain of his smooth, longer hair. 

“You’re setting the bar pretty high… what if you can’t find us an apartment with a room big enough?”

“I’ll make it happen.  Believe in me.” 

“I always do,” Kenma turned his head toward Kuroo’s, meeting his eyes and silently requesting a kiss. 

Soon, they promised themselves silently.  Soon, they would make for themselves the life they wanted and would never be kept apart again.