genre: fluff with a splash of angst
warnings: none
word count: 1990
I knew there would be a speech waiting for me inside, "how dare I stay outside after dark," but in the moment I really did not care. The night air was warm; the grass beneath me comfortable. And besides, I had an ongoing bet – the first one to leave lost and I could not lose to Tobio.
The punishment would have to wait.
"Y/N?"
"Hmm?" I asked, rolling my head to look at the boy sprawled out on the ground next to me. How many times over our summers together did we end up in this exact same position? Two naïve kids exhausted from the day's activities, collapsed in one of our backyards? A thousand times.
He folded his arms underneath the back of his head, a soft frown etching itself onto his face. "I know you're moving away, and we won't be at the same school," He muttered, blue eyes darting away from my face, "but you won't forget me, right?"
The only topic we had not talked about over the last few months, instead living each summer day like it was our last. Even so a moving date was finally set-in stone, circled in red on the calendar in my room. If we did not talk about it, I could pretend my whole world was not tiptoeing along the edge of a cliff, likely to plunge into the see with the wind. These nights were coming to an end, and tonight might be the last. I could not tell him how terrified I was to start over without him or explain this was my worst nightmare come to life, but how could he possibly think I would forget him?
"Of course not, silly. I've known you my whole life, how could I?" It was true, Kageyama Tobio was a constant in every memory I could recall. Neither of us could remember our first interaction, but what did it really matter? He was just there – and that is how it should have been forever.
He did not respond for a while, comfortable silence drifting in the air between us. Clouds fled on the breeze, stars beginning to peak out from behind the darkness of space. The blinking lights of an airplane emerged above us, and when it disappeared over the distant horizon he asked, "You promise?"
Was he joking? Peering at him in surprise, my humor fading at the expression on his face – far too serious for an eleven-ear-old. He glared up at the full moon, the faint light of the house flickering across his dark hair. Rolling onto my side, I poked a finger into his ribs, giggling at his familiar scowl, "I promise, Kageyama Tobio."
He swatted my arm away with an annoyed look, but his shoulders visibly eased. Smiling, I laid back on the gross, tracing constellations to fill the time. I did not have enough candy left to lose the bet two nights in a row.
"How much do you promise?"
I groaned, rolling my eyes, "Tobio, that doesn't even make sense—"
He cut me off with an elbow to the side, "Y/N," he mocked my tone.
I yelped in pain, shoving him as far as my arms could reach. He remained steadfast however, burning a hole into the side of my face with his impatient stare. Deciding to humor him, I placed a finger on my chin contemplatively. "As much as... from here to Pluto."
"Pluto?" He questioned incredulously, face turning to the sky, "I can't even see it."
"That's the whole point, Tobio."
////
I was more intimidated for the first week of high school than I wanted to admit, but I could not say that to Tadashi or Kei. My two friends seemed to fit right into their classes and club, although to be honest with myself I did not remember a time I saw Tsukishima Kei not at ease.
"Keiii-chan," I complained, "how am I supposed to pass math without you."
The blond giant rolled his eyes, snatching his notes out of my hand. I pouted in protest, glaring down at my own notes. "Figure it out. We have volleyball practice," He said frankly, zipping his backpack close. I looked to Tadashi for confirmation. He bobbed his head in agreement.
"Hmph," I frowned. "Fine. I'll wait for you I don't want to walk home alone."
Kei shrugged in response, strolling off in the direction of the volleyball gym. I glared at the back of his head; I hope a volleyball hits you right in the nuts.
"See you soon, Y/N!" Tadashi waved goodbye, chasing after the third party in our friendship. I waved back despondently, turning back towards my homework with a sigh.
Almost two hours of work later, I glanced at the time on my phone. Practice should be over any minute. I frowned, staring at the distant lights of the gym. How long was I supposed to wait for them? Perking up at the sound of footsteps, I walked around the corner. Finally.
"You took so long—" I cut myself off, quickly realizing it was not Kei or Tadashi. I grimaced, focusing on anywhere but their face, "Sorry, I thought you were someone else." They made an unintelligible sound in the back of their throat, leveling my mortification up from a three to a ten.
"Sorry again," I began backtracking, forcing myself to look at them directly. My gaze clashed with blue eyes, familiar blue eyes, wide with shock and recognition. My body froze, out of all people... "Tobio?" I wondered out loud, scanning the boy in front of me. He certainly had grown taller and less gangly, his hair was cut differently, and his face had lost of its childish look, but it was him – I could find those eyes in a crowded room.
"Y/N," He said hesitantly, "It's... it's been a while."
"About four years," I trailed off, crossing my arms. Out of all high schools...
He did not respond, his eyes studying me critically. The look sparked my embarrassment, my face flushing as the silence stretched on even longer. Reality hit low – bursting the nostalgic bubble I had constructed around my childhood.
"Hey, Y/N!" Tadashi called, approaching from behind. I whirled around quickly, desperate to hide the redness of my skin and my glossy eyes from my childhood best friend. Kei and Tadashi glanced from me to Tobio, the air crackling with tension. Kei's brown eyes narrowed, flaring with anger. Before he could start anything, I reached out for his arm, my touch stopping him in place. He glanced down at my hand but let me turn him around; it was only then I realized how badly I was shaking. Reality dealt a second blow without mercy – this was the situation I should have expected. Not the reunion I had played out a thousand times in my imagination, but still the only one I was going to get.
Tadashi fell into place on the other side of me, his familiar presence clearing the air enough for me to think clearly. I just want to go home; I could not do this now. I raised my chin, determined roaring through my blood. I forced my feet to move, willing my voice to carry steadily.
"Goodbye, Tobio."
The silence still ached though.
////
There was no way I was going to be able to get through another school day without something to help. But what to get... considering the choices in front of me, I debated the prices of my favorite drinks.
"Y/N."
Damn it.
Last night, after the encounter Kei and Tadashi successfully distracted me until I walked in my front door. And before I could spend a minute wallowing, Tadashi stayed on facetime until we both fell asleep.
For a few hours I forgot about the boy I promised never to forget.
"Hello, Tobio." Why was he talking to me now? He didn't want to speak to me last night.
Punching a number into the keypad, I shifted apprehensively on my feet. Was he just going to stand there silently again? I grabbed my drink from the slot, an escape route forming in my mind. I sure could use another distraction, Tadashi. I slid the drink into a side pocket, slipping quickly down a hallway.
"Y/N, wait."
My body betrayed me, hesitating for a split-second, but it was enough time for him to catch up. He reached out for my arm, his fingers hovering over my skin momentarily before his hand dropped back to his side.
"I just have one question," He muttered, tucking his hands into his pockets. Straightforward as usual. I tilted my head in curiosity, gesturing for him to continue.
"Why didn't you say goodbye?"
At first, I was not sure if I heard him accurately. "Say goodbye?" I repeated slowly, staring at him dubiously. His words left a bitter taste in my mouth. He thought I left without trying to say goodbye?
"I tried to." I shook my head, "I even went to your house, but no one was home. You really believed I left without saying goodbye?"
He balked, "No- I, I just... I never knew you—I thought you never wanted to talk to me again," He admitted quietly.
"You thought the same thing," He stated slowly, staring blankly at me. I laughed at the ridiculous situation, witnessing every expression across the scale cross his face as the realization hit him.
"I suppose I know now why you never reached out," I chuckled.
He shook his head, a small smile growing on his lips, "I guess I do too."
Before I could second-guess the moment, I dove at him, wrapping my arms around his middle. His first reaction was to freeze, his arms hanging stiffly in the air. Then his large hands swept over my arms, pulling me in closer. Resting my cheek against his chest I exhaled slowly, relaxing into his warmth. "I'm sorry we never got to say goodbye," I murmured.
"Is that what this is?" He asked, the tone of indifference betrayed by the rapid beat of his heart next to my ear.
I smiled against the fabric of his sweatshirt, "It's also hello."
////
Tokyo Nationals here come Karasuno.
My heart was beating so rapidly throughout the last match, I wondered if a heart attack was imminent. But as the black and orange jerseys left the court, a medal in their grasp and a trip to the nationals on the horizon, I could not help but grin like a fool.
Trusting Yachi to lead me to our friends, I follow the blonde out of the stands and through the crowded hallways. After a few minutes I wonder if my confidence is misplaced, but then a shock of orange hair caught my attention. Hinata spots us soon after, waving like a madman over number nine's shoulder. Tobio pivoted, calmly searching the crowd for the object of Hinata's attention. Yachi grabbed my hand, dragging me across the stream of people. We emerged on the other side next to the first-year duo. Hinata immediately pulled her aside, talking so rapidly my brain briefly registered a foreign language. Tobio shook his head in exasperation, his dark hair swaying gently, drawing my gaze back to him.
"I'm proud of you," I said, stepping closer in order to be heard over the crowd pressing at my back, our eyes never breaking contact. Outside of a few texts, we had barely spoken since the hug, both of us busy with school and club activities. I missed him – in an all-consuming way I hadn't for years.
"You promise?" He asked, a little smile highlighting the flecks in his eyes.
"I promise." Leaning in, I tugged him into a hug. Unlike the previous time he relaxed instantly, sinking into the embrace wholeheartedly. Resting my head against him, I could hear the huff of laughter build up in his chest.
"How much do you promise?"