Archive of Our Own ^beta

If you ask Kentarou, this bus ride is bullshit and he can’t wait for it to be over.

Five hours cooped up in the same space with a chatterbox like Koganegawa are enough to test the most patient of men and Kentarou was never patient to begin with. His seat partner definitely had the right idea in bringing his headphones—they look expensive, white and in pristine condition and Kentarou is willing to bet that they have noise cancelling too—although he rarely sees Tsukishima without them anyways. Sitting next to him at least offers a bit of reprieve from the non-stop buzz of Kogane and the Frogs’ equally chatty libero, Nishimura. 

He’s aware he’s not the most exciting conversation partner—he doesn’t really see the point in anything that exceeds one word answers or affirmative grunts—and Tsukishima doesn’t seem to care for it much either. Not with the way he’s ignoring his surroundings in favour of his music and phone. He’s been tapping away at it for an hour now— Kentarou suspects he’s texting his boyfriend, and considering the slight pink tint to his cheeks he’s probably right. Disgusting, how smitten those two are with each other.

So the bus ride could be worse, he supposes. Plus it helps that he actually likes Tsukishima. He's practically the only guy on the team that calls him Kyoutani and not Mad Dog. “ I don’t care for nicknames” , he explained once Kentarou cornered him about it. “ Unless it’s to piss people off and I don’t really want to piss you off, no offence.” Kentarou won’t fault him for that. Everybody and their mother seems to call the guy ‘Tsukki’ so Kentarou repays the favor by sticking to his actual name.

Thing is, it’s not like he dislikes Kogane either. The opposite actually, the guy grows on you and it helps that he doesn’t have a malicious bone in his body either—in fact, he’s so far from malicious he probably doesn’t even know how to spell it. Plus, his sets are some of the best suited for Kentarou’s playstyle and he can appreciate that. Not that he ever would admit that out loud. He doesn’t need Oikawa of all people catching wind of the fact that he’s getting along with his teammates. However, non-stop talking is where he draws the line, except that is exactly what Kogane has been doing for the past five hours they’ve been stuck on this bus.

Kentarou distracts himself by doing some breathing exercises. The school counselor taught them to him as a method to manage his anger, but all they seem to do is just piss him off more.

Finally, finally , they come to a stop and Coach Saito gets up and waves them outside.

They assemble in a half circle by the side of the bus, everyone in their bright green Sendai Frogs track suits. Kentarou sticks to Tsukishima, and Kogane, no longer separated from them by their seating arrangement, joins them. He’s not quite sure how the three of them happened, the way they just somehow ended up sticking together—maybe it’s because they’re the youngest—but he doesn’t mind it as much as he thought he would at the beginning.

“Okay guys, here’s the deal. We have a couple of hours till our game starts. You’re free to do whatever, you’re grown men, take a nap, have some coffee, as long as you’re back here at five. This is our most important game of the season, we play this right, we move to the First Division.” Saito leaves a heavy pause, staring each of them in the eye for a couple of seconds.

Tsukishima snorts. “Yeah, yeah we get it, you only mentioned it at every team meeting,” he grumbles under his breath, barely audible, and Kentarou suppresses a snicker. He’s right. At this point, Kentarou feels like the importance of this game is all they talk about and he gets it. The Sendai Frogs are currently ranked second in the Division, with Yotsuya Motor Spirits in first, only two points ahead. But since Yotsuya Motor Spirits already had their final game of the season, that means it’s the Frogs’ chance to secure that top spot. 

They’re in Chiba, playing the Scorpions on their home turf. The Chiba Scorpions are comfortably resting in  the middle of the league so Kentarou isn’t too worried about the winning part, it’s more of a question of how they win. They need three points to secure that number one spot and advance into the First Division, which means winning either 3:0 or 3:1. It’s all terribly boring, if you ask him, them talking and theorising about it. Kentarou just wants to play.

With the way Tsukishima acts, you wouldn’t think he’d care that much either but Kentarou has seen him on the court. He thinks Tsukishima might actually care the most out of all of them, except maybe Kogane but that’s just because the guy is a never-ending well of enthusiasm.

“I expect you all to be in top shape. We'll talk strategy and warm up later. For those who are staying here,”–meaning the hostel they’re currently parked at and standing in front of—, “tonight and heading back with us tomorrow, you can pick up your room keys from me,” Saito finishes and waves them off with one last stern look.

Kentarou steps forward to join the queue that is forming to pick up the room keys, Kogane and Tsukishima with him. The former is practically bouncing on his feet with excitement. 

“What are we gonna do now?”, he asks. The line moves forward.

Tsukishima rolls his eyes. “You can do whatever you want. I’m going to take a nap.”

Kentarou grunts his me-too -grunt. 

Kogane pouts.

The queue moves forward again, putting them in front of Saito who glances at Kogane and Kentarou. “You two good with sharing again?”, he asks gruffly.

“Yessir,” Kogane confirms loudly. Tsukishima stays quiet. He’ll probably stay with his boyfriend since Tokyo is only an hour away, Kentarou realises and frowns, wondering when he started to know so much about his teammates’ private lives. 

Saito marks something on his clipboard before unceremoniously dropping a key into Kentarou’s waiting hand. “Room 116,” he explains and then turns to the next players in line.

Kentarou in turn passes the key on to Tsukishima before addressing Kogane, “Go get something to eat.”

Kogane grins and gives an enthusiastic nod. “Yessir.”

“And don’t get lost,” Tsukishima adds in his droning voice.

“ Yessir .”

🐸🐸🐸

Three sets in and the game is 2:1 in their favour and they’re about to play the fourth. Coach Saito gave them the usual spiel of “ Make this count guys, win this set and you get to play First Division next season.” and now Kentarou is slumped on the bench, alternating between drinking from his water bottle and pouring its contents over his head to cool himself down. He feels like a well-oiled machine that’s slowly starting to run hot. Maybe, if the game runs long enough he’ll explode. Kentarou doesn’t think that has to be a bad thing. Might be fun, even.

Next to him are Tsukishima and Kogane, both with their long legs stretched-out in front of them. Tsukishima is massaging his calves in order to avoid cramps but his eyes are still on their opponents, analysing. Kentarou has no idea what goes on inside that head of his but he trusts that whatever strategies he’s coming up with, will pay off.

Kogane, on the other hand, is still talking. It’s honestly somewhat impressive that he hasn’t run out of words or air yet. But this time Kentarou doesn’t mind his chatter as much. It’s actually kind of grounding. Maybe that’s why Kogane is doing it, Kentarou wouldn’t put it past him.

There’s a sharp intake of breath. 

“Tsukki,” Kogane gasps, pointing towards the audience. “Look, your boyfriend’s here.”

Tsukishima’s head snaps up so fast Kentarou lets out an amused snicker. He can tell the exact second Tsukishima finds that sleazy looking guy in the crowd—sure, the man looks good in a suit, even Kentarou can tell as much, but with that black rooster hair and shifty grin he appears more like a smarmy door-to-door salesman rather than a JVA official—because Tsukishima’s cheeks turn a familiar soft pink. Disgusting . 

Kentarou snickers again, earning him an angry glare from Tsukishima.

“Shut up,” he grumbles. “You can’t say anything. Your mother comes to every single one of your games.”

Kentarou just shrugs. Hell yeah, she does. His mom is super supportive, it’s fucking great.

“My mom is here, too,” Kogane pipes up and proceeds to wave towards the crowd, where instantly six hands shoot up to wave back. 

“Yeah, your mom, your grandma, your nephew and every other member of your family”, Kentarou grumbles, but both he and Tsukishima give brief nods to the Koganegawa family in greeting. They’re all exactly like Kogane himself. Kentarou knows this because he’s been invited to way too many of their family dinners and sixth birthday parties for Kogane’s millions and millions of nieces and nephews. He always attends, even if it’s just for an hour.

The sharp blow of a whistle cuts through the air. Time to get back on court. Let’s make this one count .

They move into their starting positions, up front at the net. Left to right, Kentarou, Tsukishima, Kogane. Behind them their Captain Morito who’s another middle blocker, and the other two outside hitters Yamashita and Fujiwara.

It’s the Scorpions turn to serve. 

Kentarou feels his skin buzzing with energy. Yeah, this is gonna be good.

The whistle blows, there’s a smack as palm and ball meet and then the ball flies across the court in a long arc.

“Got it,” Fujiwara calls from behind him and Kentarou knee’s bend with anticipation as he gets ready to run, to jump. 

He’s on the left, so he won't be able to do his favourite spike—cutting close to the net—but maybe he can pull a line shot off. It’s only when he’s up in the air that he realises what Kogane is doing. Kentarou can practically feel the other’s excitement as he jumps high in the air, one arm raised, and dumps the ball to the Skorpions’ side with full force. It’s not difficult to read since Kogane doesn’t care much for feinting—neither does Kentarou but unlike Kogane he’s at least good at it—but the combination of his near two metre height and pure power is not something that can be combated that easily.

The first point of the set goes to the Frogs. 

Kogane lets out a loud whoop in celebration, high-fiving Fujiwara. Then he gets ready to serve.

The one thing about their formation for this set is that Kentarou and Tsukishima won’t be able to use their shield and spear anymore. It took them almost a year to get it on a working level, but with the way Tsukishima knows how to read their opponents and that precision Kentarou has been working on for years now, ever since his third year of high school, they damn near perfected it. He knows Coach Saito is hoping on training Kogane into another spear for them to weild, but for now he lacks precision. 

What Kogane doesn’t lack, however, is power. 

The Scorpion’s middle blocker, #14, nervously glances between Kogane and Tsukishima. 

Kentarou bares his teeth in an approximation of a grin. Yeah, you should be scared. These Frogs are poisonous.

A whistle blows.

“Out.” 

Kentarou doesn’t let his grin slip, despite his disappointment. ‘Lucky you,’ he mouths at #14 before the Scorpions rotate and his opponent moves away. 

The game progresses. 5:4 for the Scorpions. 9:8, 11:13, 21:20 for the Frogs. It’s a slow back and forth, but Kentarou knows they’re wearing the Scorpions down.

He never really appreciated playing the long game before—Kentarou is not a very patient man, he likes results and he likes them fast—but after a season with the Frogs, he might be coming around to it. Especially when they let him play the long game like that. 

For one, there are the serves: Kogane and Kentarous’s powerful jump serves and Tsukishima’s nasty float right between them. To be fair, none of them have scored a service ace since the first set, but Kentarou can see the way the Scorpions’ shoulders tighten and eyes narrow whenever one of three  moves to serve. The pressure is high.

The Scorpions are a highly offensive team, sporting an assortment of finicky attack strategies which is what secured them the third set, but the Frogs are closing in on them. At this point, they’ve got enough of a read on them that Morito and Tsukishima are getting one-touches on most spikes and when Tsukishima and Kogane move to the front they throw up an impressive wall, even if it’s just the two of them.

But Kentarou’s absolute favourite part is when he gets to spike. He won't get the height Kogane and Tsukishima can achieve together, incredibly frustrating as the spikes fly high over the Scorpion’s block but he has his own ways to break through. Brute force is great, so is blocking out, but when he’s on the right and Kogane sets him the ball nice and high and close to the net—those are his favourites. 

He moves further out to run up close to the net and then he jumps, arms and legs bending backwards as he charges up and then—

He snaps, arms and legs surging forward as he hammers down, spiking past the triple block in front of him, alongside the net. The libero tries to save it but the ball is just a split second too fast as it smacks into the floor.

Kentarou lands with a soft thud, returning back to the ground.

“Nice kill,” Tsukishima compliments and they fistbump in celebration as Kogane lets out another excited whoop.

“Watch out, this Dog can  bite !” Kogane yells.

Kentarou can see Tsukishima roll his eyes, but he himself simply opts for baring his teeth again at the other side of the court. Intimidation is another game he plays well.

There’s something to be said for finesse, for swiftness and precision but nothing thrills him like battering down full force like a war hammer.

Heavy shield and hammer, it’s the fourth set and together with the team, Kentarou feels like a fucking tank.

This , he thinks, is why I love volleyball.

The score is 24:21. Match ball for the Frogs.

The Scorpions call for a break.

“You’re doing great, guys,” Coach Saito tells them once they’ve all assembled. “They’re trying to throw us off our game but I know you can finish this.”

Tsukishima clears his throat, “Coach?”

Saito motions for him to continue.

Tsukishima throws one quick glance over to the other side of the court where the Scorpions are huddled, then he leans in and explains his plan.

Kogane absolutely loves it, Kentarou less so but it’s a good plan—a little bit risky but it’ll work, he thinks.

Another whistle blows and they’re back on court.

It’s Tsukishima’s serve, another nasty floater wiggling his way through the air but the Scorpions manage to catch it, but just barely, accidentally sending it back over the net.

“Chance ball”, Morito calls.

They pull the same move again, set to the right close to the net and Kentarou cuts down with his spike. This time the libero manages to save the ball and the Scorpions secure the point with a quick. Kentarou grits his teeth.

In the back, Tsukishima leaves the court so Nishimura can come in. Kentarou wonders briefly if being off the playing field at such a pivotal moment of the game is frustrating to Tsukishima, but the moves have already been made. At this point, they’re playing chess and Tsukishima gets to watch from the outside as his play unfolds.

24:22, serve for the Scorpions.

Another jump floater, this time on the Scorpions side, but Nishimura catches it without any problem.

Kogane sends another high ball, Kentarou runs up and they try the same thing again. Kentarou hammers down with all his might, but a referee calls the point for the Scorpions. 

“Out.”

24:23. 

Kentarou clenches his fists in frustration, exhales heavy, jaw tight.

Another floater, but once again Nishimura secures it. Kogane gets ready to set and once again Kentarou runs up alongside the net. He jumps.

The ball is coming to me , he thinks, body twisting backwards, charging up the spike. It’s coming to me.

The Scorpions’ block rises up with him.

Kentarou slams his arm down.

Empty air. Nothing connects with his palm. He’s falling back to the ground, the block with him and Kentarou throws them his wolfish grin, watches in satisfaction as their eyes widen once they realise they’ve fallen into their trap.

Coming from the left, Morito reaches the peak of his jump and hits the ball down hard, straight over the block on the ground in front of him into the wide open space behind them. It hits the floor with a deafening smack.

Keep the shield and hammer battering down hard enough, they won’t pay attention to the knife slipping in through the cracks unless it’s already too late.

The whistle blows. 

25:23. 

There’s one second of absolute silence. Then the gym erupts into screaming.

The Frogs won. 3:1. The Frogs are number one in the Second Division. The Frogs are moving up in the big league next season.

It’s all a blur after that. Somehow Kentarou ends in a group hug with Tsukishima and Kogane—or rather Kogane has both his arms slung around their necks and is pressing them into his sweaty sides and it’s a true sign of their friendship that neither Kentarou nor Tsukishima push him off.

When he glances up to the stands, his mother has been successfully integrated into her own Koganegawa-family-group-hug but when she spots him looking her way, she throws him a proud thumbs up, smiling despite her tear-streaked face.

“Congrats,” a voice calls out from behind one of the barriers, close to the sidelines.

“Thank you, Kuroo-san,” Kogane returns with his usual excitement and finally releases Kentarou and Tsukishima from his bone crushing hug, presumably so Tsukishima can walk over to greet his boyfriend.

Kentarou grunts his thanks -grunt and watches as Kuroo pulls Tsukishima into celebratory kiss and, surprisingly, notoriously private and closed-off Tsukishima allows it. Blergh, is this what true love is? Kentarou thinks before turning away.

He looks at Kogane, jerks his head in a let's go motion, but just as they’re about to grab their bags and head out, a reporter catches them.

“Congratulations on the match, guys,” she calls out as they walk over, Kogane excited where Kentarou is apprehensive. “I won’t keep you for long, just one quick question." She turns towards Kentarou. "Koganegawa-san called your signature spike a ‘ bite ’. Why is that?”

Kentarou shrugs, happy for Kogane to take the question.

“ Oh , it’s just so cool, isn’t it?”, he starts, waving his arms enthusiastically in the air. “You know when he pulls his arm and legs back and then throws them forward to spike and if you imagine his arms and legs to be the jaws with teeth it’s almost like a dog biting down—”

Kentarou zones out as he glances back to the side where Tsukishima is still standing with Kuroo, no longer kissing but talking as they hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes in a display of affection that somehow feels far more intimate than what they were doing before. 

He quickly averts his eyes, looking back at Kogane who’s still talking to the reporter, bending himself in half as he tries to explain Kentarou’s spike form.

Yeah, this team is not so bad, he figures. First Division won’t know what hit them.