𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐲 || 𝐭. 𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐚

⤷𝟝𝟡: 𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕦𝕡𝕠𝕟 𝕒 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖

once upon a time.

that's how all the fairy tales are started, right? they all with a single 'once upon a time'.

some version of it, one way or another.

and honestly? your life was probably the furthest away from a fairy tale.

but...what if?

what if?

just once, what if you got your own fairy tale?

what if it was that exact phrase that started your tale?

well.

once upon a time...

✰

"hey y/n!"

you opened your eyes, blinking in the sunlight. warm, and mellow.

"mm?"

"wake the fuck up!" your best friend called. "or else you'll be late!"

you rolled out of your bed. (by roll, it was a definite roll.)

god, university consumed you.

...not that you were going to complain about it.

because so what if you had a heavy school load? you also had everything else you could ever ask for.

to complain about your life, here? that would be a crime.

"i'm up," you said groggily. "see you at your practice after lectures."

"mhm," atsumu waved. "bye. suna and samu already left for morning practice."

practice, practice, practice. practice consumed about 90% of your friends' lives. (well, to be fair, they were student-athletes.)

you gave your best friend a wave goodbye before fully getting up. "bye tsumu. see ya."

"wait!" the miya twin called back. "are you coming for lunch today?"

you grinned cheekily. "nope."

your best friend rolled his eyes. "it's always you and your boyfriend, huh?"

you heard him whisper something along the lines of, 'i hate this betraying backstabbing unfair world,'—to which you ignored.

instead, your grin widened. "bye tsumu. say hi to toru for me at your practice."

reluctantly, atsumu waved a final goodbye before running out the door. and as you stood up, the view outside of your window consumed you.

tokyo was truly beautiful.

after all this time, it still amazes you every day that you go to the tokyo university. you wake up everyday feeling like you lived in a dream.

smiling to yourself, you grabbed your things before heading out to your lecture.

it was beautiful.

just like every other day.

✰

"y/n y/n."

"hi mr cuckoo."

"is that nickname ever going to go away?"

you smiled.

"nope."

kuroo sighed. "well, then. guess i'm always the cuckoo bird then."

"mm," you hummed. "are you excited for our chem lab today?"

"of course," the black-haired boy smiled. "but...i just wish i was adenine."

you chuckled, already knowing what's to follow.

"because then i could get paired with 'U'."

chem jokes will leave...never.

you nudged kuroo lightly on the arm. "8.5 out of 10."

"only 8.5?" he pouted. "that was one of my best ones!"

"too bad. try harder."

you laughed at kuroo's expression. "c'mon," you grinned. "we have a chem lab to finish now, remember?"

✰

life was filled with highlights.

and the daily lectures with kuroo was one of the many highlights of your day.

kuroo majored in chemistry (as expected), and since you majored in health sciences, chemistry was also a prerequisite course of yours.

as a result, you and kuroo found yourselves in many similar classes.

"bye kuroo," your lips drew into a smile. "see ya tomorrow."

"bye," he winked. "don't forget to come watch our volleyball game tonight."

you rolled your eyes. "well, obviously i'm coming. i'm the goddamn manager."

leaving behind an amused kuroo, you walked on towards the one place.

that one meeting place.

what is that one place, you may ask?

in another life, it might've been a convenience store. (you loved those. something about them just felt so warm.)

but in this one, it was the vending machines. that familiar sight was a second home, for you.

and as you clicked on the familiar buttons, a voice from behind got your attention.

"back again, y/n-san?"

even before you turned, you knew exactly who it was.

"yams!"

yamaguchi gave you a large smile. "heya. how are you toda—,"

yamaguchi didn't have the chance to finish his sentence.

"what did i say about calling him 'yams'?"

you smiled at the new voice. "tsuki!"

"and what did i say about calling me 'tsuki'?"

you rolled your eyes. "well shit, do you prefer 'tSukiShiMa kEi'?"

"no."

you punched the tall blonde lightly on the arm.

ever since you've arrived in tokyo, you've gotten a lot closer with the karasuno players—or rather, what used to be the karasuno players.

"aw come on," you hummed, clicking the buttons for two bottles of strawberry milk, "you know you love me."

"i don't, though," tsukishima arched his brow.

"you do know that they say denial is unhealthy, right?"

he ignored your comment. instead, tsukishima narrowed his eyes at your bottles strawberry milk. "i can't believe you still drink those. they're so fucking disgusting."

"i think strawberry milk is nice," yamaguchi chuckled.

"yams is right," you gave tsukishima a challenging look. "strawberry milk supremacy."

the blonde rolled his eyes. "there you and your boyfriend go again, starting your own cult."

you scrunched your nose. "and you're not invited."

"speaking of boyfriends," tsukishima sighed, "i have to repeat again that i still can't believe someone like him actually has a girlfriend. where the hell even is that annoying piece of shit?"

"behind you."

a lazy voice rang out over the conversation you were having. and all three of your eyes fell upon the new individual.

but, instead of the antagonist, it was our protagonist.

"you're the annoying piece of shit," kageyama scoffed at tsukishima. "which is also why you're a benchwarmer for half the game."

"actually," tsukishima arched a brow, "i'm the benchwarmer because i actually spend my time on useful things, like, oh, studying. ever heard of that? volleyball isn't everything."

"i didn't ask your opinion," kageyama huffed. "but if you'll excuse us..." he trailed off, walking towards you, "we'll be going."

he smiled mockingly before lacing his hand in yours.

you stuck your tongue out at tsukishima. "eat shit, tsuki. my boyfriend is cooler than you."

you heard kageyama chuckle lightly from next to you.

he leaned down towards you. "shall we leave?" the dark hair setter whispered in your ear.

"we shall," you stated. "bye yams, bye tsuki. say hi to shoyo for me."

waving goodbye to yamaguchi and tsukishima, you let yourself get lost with the boy you loved.

because honestly, who wouldn't?

✰

kageyama lightly brushed his lips over yours.

you pouted as he pulled away, causing him to laugh again.

"eager, are we?" he looked amused.

"oh, shut up," you rolled your eyes. "just kiss me."

he gave you a warm smile. one of those smiles he only ever shared with you.

"your wish is my command," he gazed into your eyes before leaning in.

you can't even explain how easy it was to lose an afternoon with just kageyama. where, nothing else mattered but him.

you sighed in happiness as you pulled away.

what would life be without kageyama?

"here's your strawberry milk," you handed him the drink that had become routine for the pair of you.

"thanks," he smiled. "i missed you."

at that, you let out a laugh. "you saw me two hours ago."

"that's way too long," your boyfriend pouted.

"hey!" you nudged him playfully. "last time i checked, i'm supposed to be the clingy one in the relationship!"

"what can i say?" kageyama kissed your forehead. "love changes people."

your heart melted.

"kags?"

"mm?"

"today was a surprisingly good day."

kageyama raised a brow. "i thought every day is a good day because i'm in your every day."

you let out a breathy laugh. "true." you yawned again. "but somehow, i'm still tired."

"only because you pulled an all-nighter last night," kageyama gazed at you.

"which is your fault!" you pouted. "you were the one that suggested it."

"and you were the one that agreed."

you opened your mouth to argue, but kageyama broke you off with a kiss.

your eyes closed instinctively as you felt his lips over yours.

yes, that's right. instinctively.

because it's also become a routine. as simple, and as beautiful, as every other day.

being with kageyama is a routine.

kageyama gave you one last loving look before pulling away.

"sleep," he smiled. "you should get some rest."

"here?" you blinked, looking at the small secluded area of a cafe.

"why not?" kageyama hummed, sitting closer to you. "i'll lend you my million-dollar-shoulder."

rolling your eyes, you said nothing as you leaned against him. "yeah okay, million dollar."

kageyama smiled, bringing another soft kiss across your lips.

"sweet dreams, my love."

✰

"this is where she's been?"

"shut up, you'll wake her."

"no i will not 'shut up'. you stole my best friend for three hours!"

"i'm allowed to do that."

"says who?"

"miya, she's my girlfriend."

"did you just call me 'miya'? why are you hanging around oikawa?"

"oikawa-kun is nice. he respects me wanting to spend time with my girlfriend...unlike some people."

"you did not just choose oikawa over me—,"

"i didn't."

you stirred slowly at the voices around you.

"mm," you sighed.

both boys looked towards you.

"good morning," kageyama smiled at the same time your best friend threw you a pretend-hurt look.

"i cannot believe you ditched me for your boyfriend," atsumu pouted. "and also, it's not morning," he stuck his tongue out at kageyama.

you blinked, not fully intaking the conversation around you. "what time is it?"

"time for you to get your ass up," atsumu let out a wide smile, as if giving up the fake facade of being offended. "our game is in an hour."

you choked at his words. "an hour?" you looked towards kageyama. "i was asleep for the past three hours?"

kageyama gave you his heart eyes. "you looked so pretty asleep. i couldn't bring myself to wake you."

you were about to open your mouth, but atsumu beat you to it.

"i can't be here," your best friend stated dramatically, throwing his hands up. "i feel too single. why do i still live in this unfair world—,"

you laughed.

"c'mon," you stretched as you stood up. "we have a volleyball game to get to."

both boys grinned.

"sure as hell do."

✰

"let's go tokyo!"

you tried your hardest not to move even a single muscle.

technically you weren't supposed to cheer too loudly...y'know being the manager and all. but it was hard to resist, when everyone you loved was on the court.

tokyo was playing kyoto this year.

and now that you thought about it, you've never even been to kyoto before.

of course, you were accepted to kyoto university...but when it came down to choices, it didn't take more than a split second before you decided on tokyo. after all, all of your friends—and boyfriend—were going there, too.

this, however, meant that you weren't at the same school as kita. or aran.

you gazed at the opponent team, seeing the old inarizaki manager and ace among the players.

your heart ached.

it's been ages since you've seen them, hasn't it? those inarizaki days...those were the days.

as your eyes ran over the tokyo team again, you paused as you saw a boy with a copper-coloured bowl cut.

and for some reason, even though you had no idea who he even was, he felt familiar. a part of you felt like you'd be good friends with this boy.

just, in some other story. in some other life.

your eyes also fell upon one of the kyoto managers. something about her caught your eyes, as well.

you weren't sure what it was. but...

she looks like a bitch, you thought to yourself, before you caught kita's eyes.

at that, your lips widened into a grin as you waved at your old team captain.

kita smiled back. as did aran.

god, i miss them.

"oi."

you turned to see kageyama standing behind you, a slightly amused look in his gaze.

"aren't you supposed to be cheering for me?" he raised his brow.

you chuckled.

before you could reply, a chorus of voices shouted from behind kageyama.

"we love you kageyama!"

"please, date me!"

"you're so fucking hot!"

"kageyama! please rail me—,"

of course, kageyama's fangirls followed him everywhere.

you rolled your eyes as you heard them.

can't these girls stfu? like honestly, take a fucking hint.

kageyama turned to face them.

you couldn't see his look, but you knew that it was as cold as his voice.

and you could hear the ice in his voice...not that he would ever direct his cold voice towards you.

"fuck off," kageyama glared.

"but kageyama! we love yo—," one of the fangirls cried out.

instead of replying, kageyama turned back to you.

in one swift motion, he pulled you towards him by the waist, catching your lips on his.

you blinked in surprise as his tongue grazed your lip, seeking entrance to your mouth.

you fell into the kiss, letting kageyama attack you.

kageyama smiled against your lips as he felt you reciprocating. but, just when you were about to lean in even more, kageyama broke away.

"tonight, 'kay?" he whispered in your ear.

kageyama turned back to his fangirls, lacing his hand in between yours.

he held up your joined hands.

"taken," he smiled coldly to the group of girls. "now get fucking lost."

you blushed. it would take a million years before you're used to the fact that you're dating kageyama.

"hey kageyama!" suna called out in a bored voice from across the court. "we're starting soon."

"yeah!" oikawa added. "stop making the rest of the world feel so single!"

kageyama gave them a small nod before he turned to you.

he took off his jacket, wrapping it around your shoulders.

"don't get cold," he looked into your eyes. "you have your midterms next week, so you better not get sick."

you nodded. "mmkay."

kageyama looked like he was about to walk back to his team before he gave you one last look of endearment.

"i wanna hear you cheer," he pouted. "okay?"

"you know i'm not allowed—,"

"i don't care. cheer for me?"

your lips involuntarily drew up into a smile.

"always."

✰

once upon a time, you were the happiest in the universe.

because, in this universe, who wouldn't be?

when you were the girl cuddled with kageyama in a dark dorm, letting the city lights seep through the window, what else mattered?

kageyama held you like there was no tomorrow. "we won."

you gave him a look full of all the pride in the world. "yes, you did."

"i won," he whispered.

you gazed at your boyfriend. "you? kags i thought we're done with the whole king of the cour—,"

"that's not what i meant," he laughed. "i meant that i won you."

"me?"

"you. i love you."

your heart jumped a beat. "i love you too."

those three words—those words that were once so hard to speak, now flowed with truth.

they flowed as easily as breathing.

he leaned his head on your shoulder. "what if we weren't together?"

immediately, you whipped your head around. "are you breaking up with me right now?"

kageyama laughed, holding you even tighter. "of course not. i would never. but just...theoretically. what if we never ended up together?"

those words stabbed at your heart.

"we're always going to be together," you buried your face in his chest.

he wrapped his arms around you. "for eternity."

but his question now left something unanswered inside of you.

to the point where you had to ask it again.

"what if?" you questioned.

"what if what?"

"what if we weren't together?" you paused. "in some other story—in some other life...what if we somehow don't end up together?"

kageyama kissed you on the cheek.

"you said it yourself," he whispered. "that's impossible."

he paused too, as if deep in thought. "but... if that was the case in some other world..." he lifted your face so your gaze met his. "even if we aren't together, we will find each other. we will always end up together. no matter what."

"because we're meant to be."

you cuddled yourself closer to kageyama.

he's right. of course he is.

no matter what, you'd find him. you'd always find him.

then why was there still a stabbing pain in your chest? like a panic that was threatening to escape?

all of a sudden, kageyama suddenly loosened his grasp by a fraction.

"i'm so, so sorry."

with confused eyes, you looked back up to him. "kags?"

he looked at you with the saddest eyes. "i'm sorry."

you blinked. "for what?"

he pulled you in, suffocating you within his arms.

it was a suffocation that you welcomed. but this time, it felt so desperate. kageyama was holding you, as if you'd disappear if he didn't.

"i'm sorry," he whispered in your ear. "but it's time to go."

you tried to look at him again but he kept you in your spot, his arms still wrapped around you.

"kags wha—,"

"i love you," he choked out. "i love you and i always will. and remember that no matter what, we find each other."

panic was now fully filling your chest.

why did everything feel so broken, right then?

"tobio kageyama—,"

he smiled, letting you meet his gaze.

there were tears in his eyes.

"i love you," he said with all the emotion in his body.

and before you could react, he placed one final kiss on your forehead.

"wake up, my love."

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .

author's note~

okay, ow.