Okay, a few things about this chapter.

I realize that it might be polarizing for some readers because only half of the characters are playing volleyball. I'm hoping the the focus is more on character interactions than on the actual game itself, because I think that is more important!

This chapter is soooooo wordy, and I'm sorry about that. I'll probably drop back in to edit this down in a few days.

Enjoy enjoyyyyyy

Chapter Eleven: The Match Made in Heaven

Suga~

"Kurrrrooooo, you forgot my licorice," Suga heard Kenma softly whine from behind him.

"Aw, shit...I guess I can go back and get some, but you're coming with me! And no video game!" The rooster Alpha replied with a feigned apology, before gingerly grabbing the small boy by the front of his red shirt and shuffling him towards the edge of their section.

"Stop! I'm on the last level, you're going to make me mess up!" Kenma complained under his breath as Kuroo stole his handheld machine away, holding up out of his mate's reach.

"You're on that thing all the time. I'm sure it's not gonna kill ya to join your loving Alpha on a stroll…." the rooster quipped back, his voice fading off as the pair rounded the corner of the stairwell.

Suga smiled to himself, admiring the sweet relationship. The pair had been together for over five years...would he and Daichi be like that, too? He was still unsure if he wanted to mate with the brunette man, he was too internally conflicted. Daichi was immensely caring, self-sacrificing, and logically in control of his instincts- everything Suga had dreamed for as a child. However, as he grew older, reality had set in and his romantic experiences with Alphas had made him...wary. Perhaps, unfairly so to Daichi.

"Whatcha thinking about, sugar momma?" Oikawa sang into his ear, startling him from his perplexing thoughts.

"Oh...nothing of importance!" He smiled back in a halfhearted attempt to hide his emotions, but he knew that his perceptive Omega friend had already seen through his facade.

"You're the worst at lying," Keiji chimed in, much to his surprise, from the seat in front of him.

"See! Even Keiji knows that you're hiding something!" Oikawa challenged, giving the boy a playful smack on the back.

"Gross!" Keiji drawled, reaching over his shoulder to brush off the back of his light navy shirt. "Oikawa, you got your buttery hands on my clothes. You're such an asshole."

"Don't change the subject, Keiji! Or Suga will get away!" Oikawa half-yelled into the air. "So, what's the problem? You're abnormally pensive, where is the Mr. refreshing we all know and love~~"

Yup, Suga thought to himself with indignation, he wasn't getting away with it.

"I was thinking about mating and...stuff," he said quietly, wanting the conversation to stay between the three of them.

"Oh," the chestnut Omega replied, lightly bumping him against the shoulder. "Have you had the talk with Daichi or something?"

"Sort of...I know he wants to. Mate, I mean. He's made it pretty clear, but I'm not sure if...I do. It's only been a few weeks! The whole thing is just ridiculous."

It was the absolute truth, Suga wasn't sure, and he was feeling increasingly pressured to make a decision that he didn't have any desire to make at all. However, he knew that owed Daichi something- at the very least, he owed the Alpha an explanation.

"I dunno, I'd take your time with it. He'll wait, he's a good guy," Keiji said quietly without turning around.

Suga nearly choked on his popcorn at the honest statement. A good guy? Keiji...saying something positive...about an Alpha? What on earth had gotten into him?

"Hey," the blue-eyed Omega continued, "not to change the subject, but what do you guys think about...uh...number four?"

No, please change the subject, Suga thought to himself with a smirk. He didn't want to discuss Daichi any longer. Leaning forward to eye down the court, he matched Oikawa's movements to locate the jersey number in question while Keiji remained in place, sipping loudly on his cranberry juice, awaiting a response.

"You mean, the one that looks like an owl?" Oikawa asked, leaning back in his seat with a knowing smirk.

"Yeah…" Keiji droned back, clearly feigning his disinterest.

"You mean, the one that helped you out on Monday? With those Alphas?"

"Yes."

"You mean, the one who you've smelled like, all week?

"Oikawa, shut up."

"I'm just saying~~"

"You and Bokuto have been spending a lot of time together lately. What's that about?" Suga chimed in, pushing the conversation further. He already knew the answer, but he wanted to make his nestmate divulge the information of his own accord.

"Yeah, what have you been up to, you cheeky bastard," Oikawa sang out, leaning forward to sniff the air around Keiji's head. "Even now, you smell like him."

Keiji slowly craned his neck back, eyeing Oikawa with angry, ice coloured eyes. "Nothing," he stated before leaning forward to rest his arms against the railing in front of him. "He's just been annoying me all week."

Suga casually smacked Oikawa on the the bicep, and the two of them shared a knowing smirk- they were both ready and eager to interrogate their friend.

Oikawa~

Oikawa wanted to grab Keiji and shake the secrets out of him and he was keenly aware that the Omega was eyeing Bokuto's form on the court below, even if he was pretending not to.

"You don't sound annoyed about Bokuto~~" He finally chirped, glancing over to Suga, who raised an eyebrow in understanding- there was definitely more going on than Keiji was willing to share.

"Do you ever shut up?" The short haired Omega droned back without breaking his gaze from the figures, warming up below.

"I-" Oikawa started to respond, but was cut short by an elbow jab in his lower rib. He glanced over to the silver Omega at his side, lips pursed in pain, and with a mere moment of eye contact, he knew Suga's intentions. The matriarch wanted to keep the conversation on track, and Oikawa had nearly fallen for Keiji's provocation. It always was the snarky boy's first line of defense- avoidance.

Suga gave him a knowing look, then directed himself to Keiji, "so, what do you like about Bokuto?"

"I never said I-"

"Okay, but if you were to like something. What would it be?"

Keiji rose from his seat, turned his back on the court, and leaned against the railing behind him. Classic Keiji moves, Oikawa thought to himself with a smirk, doing everything in his power to showcase his disinterest.

"That's essentially the same question," the blue eyed Omega retorted back with a shrug and shoved his hands into the pockets of his black jeans.

"Oh, can't we all just pretend that everything is hypothetical, even though it's not~~" Oikawa challenged back, he always enjoyed the instances when he and Suga got to gang up on the emotionless Keiji. They would peel back his layers like an onion, even if it took all night.

As if sensing their resolve, Keiji granted them with a bit of information. "Fine. Fine! I dunno, he's just been pestering me...and then I sort of, forgot that he was a pest, for a while."

Not even close to enough! Oikawa pushed on for more, "you forgot he was a pest, or he isn't a pest?"

Keiji rolled his eyes and met his gaze, ready to enter a silent argument- albeit, with the sound of volleyball impacts ringing throughout the air around them. Non-verbal debates had always been a common occurrence between the two of them, and they normally saw Oikawa as the victor.

Keiji raised an eyebrow, his steel blue eyes saying something along the lines of, 'you're really going to make me do this? I'm not going to cave.' Oikawa stifled a laugh, which came out as an unattractive snort, and tilted his head knowingly to the side as if to say, 'oh, really? You know that I won't stop until I get the truth out of you.'

After a few more moments, in which Suga watched the exchange with great interest, Keiji averted his gaze, sighed heavily, and shook his dark head.

"I've stopped thinking about him as a pest. At first, his little charade of 'accidentally running into me' was annoying but, I don't know. Yesterday, we were walking home and I...sort of found that I was...accustomed to his presence."

"Ah, annoyance changed to love~~ How very Keiji of you," Oikawa proclaimed loudly into the air and Keiji flinched back at declaration- just the reaction he was looking for, he loved annoying the blue eyed Omega. Loooooved it.

"Oikawa, shut the fuck up. It's not love. You're insane," Keiji grumbled before turning his small, muscular form around to view the volleyball court once more- no doubt looking for Bokuto.

"Well, maybe it isn't love," Suga suggested, giving Oikawa a very painful, that's enough, jab in the kidney. "But, you're clearly feeling something?"

"I guess."

Oikawa watched as his silver friend hopped over the row of bleachers ahead of him and leaned forward against the railing beside Keiji. He knew that his role in the conversation was over, his specialty was pulling out the confession, not reconciling it with feelings.

That was all Suga.

Keiji~

Although Keiji was irritated that Oikawa had pushed him to confess things that he didn't even want to confess to himself, he was still grateful that his two friends had enough care for him to ask. He could feel Suga's calming presence radiating over him- his silver friend's scent was the most influential Omega fragrance that he had ever come across. While it was significantly lighter this time, Suga was keeping it reigned because of the Alpha packed venue, it was still incredibly effective. Keiji took a deep breath and allowed himself to relax into it.

"I mean, I guess I'm feeling something," he stated in almost a whisper without breaking his gaze from the orange court below...from Bokuto.

What was he feeling? Admittedly, there were a few times when the desire to mate with the owl Alpha had crossed his mind. If anyone could relate to what he was feeling, he knew it was Suga. Both of them wanted independence, strived for it more than anything else, and, one more than one occasion, the pair had discussed their revulsion of mating. Yet, here they both stood, instinctively interested in Alphas that they hardly knew.

Keiji rolled his head back to glance up at the high ceiling of the athletic center, then raked his gaze over to Suga. When he was greeted with warm, chocolate eyes of understanding, he conceded. It was too late to try and retract everything he had already said- the only way to go now, was forward.

"What do you feel like when you're around Daichi?" He asked softly, knowing that Suga would answer honestly, unlike some other cheeky bastard...Oikawa.

Suga turned his body to face Keiji, gingerly leaning his side on the metal railing.

"Well, I feel refreshed," the silver boy answered with a sweet smile. "Like the incredible weight of being an Omega is just...lifted off of my shoulders."

"Like the weight of being an Omega is lifted…" Keiji repeated, trailing off into self-reflection.

"Yeah, I guess I feel...safe. I feel like the flock is safer with his help, too. He's...truly an incredible man. Someone who cares deeply for those he loves. It doesn't matter to him if they're an Alpha or Omega. He just...seems to see them all as...people."

A small smile flashed across Keiji's lips at the honest words. It felt like Suga was explaining it to himself as much as he was to Keiji. Perhaps, coming to his own, personal realization.

He glanced down at Bokuto's form once more- the Alpha was incredibly fit, there was no denying that, but it was his personality that had embedded into the recesses of Keiji's mind. Yes, Bokuto was incredibly weak against criticism, but it was a vulnerability that he has never really seen in an Alpha before. Moreover, he possessed a bizarre breed of charisma that made everyone, even those who didn't like him, want to cheer him on. It made people want to be his friend- a temperament that provoked a desire within Keiji that called out for the owl's friendship and, maybe, even something more.

Yachi~

"Yachi, look! They're finally starting!" Shoyo shouted much too close to her ear, causing her to flinch back from the loudness of his voice.

Although his energy overwhelming, being around him made her feel like she had been left out in the hot sun for hours on end, she loved his personal drive- it was unending. He was magnetic, exceptional at making friends, and excited about almost everything. Indeed, he was the first of the yellow house Omegas that Yachi had become friends with and it was because of him that she was able meet, and eventually join, such a wonderful and caring flock. For that, she would always be eternally grateful.

"Yachiiiiiiiii, we get the first serve! Look at Tobio! He looks so scary, like a saber-tooth tiger! I wouldn't want to play against him…" The ginger cried, his teeth chattering with genuine fear.

"Doesn't he always look like that?" Yachi questioned back, she didn't have much experience with the black haired Alpha, but she had learned very early on this his resting face was perpetually stern.

"Yeah man, I've never seen him smile. Not even smirk!" Nishinoya chimed in from behind her, placing his arms around the shoulders of Tanaka and Shoyo, seated in the row ahead of him.

"Yeah, he always looks like that. So angry and pensive~" Tanaka called to her over Shoyo's form, seated between them.

Yachi liked Tanaka. His natural scent was initially overwhelming for her, unlike the other Alphas, he always exuded it at full-force. However, over the past week, she had grown used to it- something that was incredibly easy once she had come to the realization that he was almost as big of a softy as Asahi.

"He's always so grumpy. Sometimes, I hate that Daichi made him my 'going out' partner..." Shoyo announced, crossing his small arms over his pale orange shirt in a pout.

"You've only been living with him for three weeks!" Tanaka chirped, poking the ginger playfully in the side. "I've know the guy since high school and I'm pretty sure that I've only seen him smile like….once."

"It would probably crack his face or something…" Yachi added quietly, accidentally verbalizing her thoughts.

The three boys next to her burst into a blubbering pile of laughter at her harsh, yet truthful statement.

"YACHI!" Tanaka cried out, leaning over Shoyo's shaking form and wiping a tear from his eye. "What a chirp! What a gal!"

"WHAT A BURN!" Nishinoya declared into the air, vigorously patting Tanaka on the back in agreement.

Yachi blushed a dark crimson, "oh-oh god. Please don't tell him I said that. I didn't mean to say it out loud!" She pleaded, the thought had taken a mind of its own and escaped out of her lips!

"Don't worry, kid. We'll tell everybody, but him," Tanaka replied with a hearty snicker and a wink.

"So...what's...who's playing what out there. On the court?" Yachi stuttered out, still flustered from her previous remark, desiring nothing more than to change the subject. "Um, w-what position is...uh...Daichi playing?"

"Why is Daichi the libero? I didn't peg him as a defensive specialist," Nishinoya answered her question while posing his own to Tanaka.

The bald Alpha leaned back against his seat and crossed his muscular arms over his chest. "Yeah, our libero graduated this year and Daichi's always been good at receives, so Coach Ukai moved him to fill the position."

"If the University allowed Omegas on the team, I can guarantee that I would be a better libero than he could ever be!" Nishinoya proclaimed, half pouting in his seat.

Yachi watched Daichi make a great receive, at least by her standards, from a serve that looked like it would break her arms off. She visibly shuddered, were there ambulances on call? A doctor? The volleyball was flying across the court at such an immense speed that she was certain someone was going to get knocked out.

"Well, that last dig wasn't too bad. I guess…" Nishinoya begrudgingly added, perking up in his seat to watch the game more intently.

When Tanaka shot to his feet to yell down at the court, "NICE KILL, BOKUTO," Yachi nearly jumped out of her seat and crumbled to the floor from the startling volume.

"Hey,Tanaka. What position does Bokuto play?" Shoyo asked without taking his shining eyes off the court.

Tanaka sat back down, reached under his chair, and pulled out his bucket of popcorn. Popping a few kernels into his mouth he replied, "left wing spiker. He's our main point scorer...when he's not being a drama queen."

"Yeah, he's definitely got the build of an ace," Nishinoya chimed in agreement, nodding his head.

"Hajime and I play right wing spiker. Asahi and Tsukishima are our middle blockers, and Kuroo too, when he's not out of rotation. They're the tallest on our team, so they do most of the blocking for us."

As if to convey Tanaka's description, Yachi watched as Asahi jumped up to block against an opposing spiker, killing the attack for a point. She visibly shuddered again and ignored her urge to shout 'call a medic!'

"Nice kill. Nice kill." Tanaka said to himself and nodded, shoving another handful of popcorn into his face. "Tobio is our setter," he continued, mumbling through his full mouth, "I haaaate to say it but, he's a talented kid. A fucking prodigy of a setter. He's one of the reasons we've been doing so well this year."

Yachi could feel Shoyo literally vibrating in the seat next to her, admiration seeping off of him in droves. "Shoyo, your smell…" She whispered, hyper aware of the fact that his fragrance could attract unwanted Alphas.

"Oh, right!" The ginger Omega responded softy, reigning in his scent. "Sorry, Yachi. Good catch."

"Wow...look at that serve. It looks like it is floating…" Yamaguchi whispered, startling her from behind. She had forgotten that the freckled boy was even there! He had been so quiet the entire time, although, she knew that it was his way. Observe and reflect was his bread and butter.

"Yeah, that's a float serve," Tanaka called over his shoulder. "I could show you how to do it tonight in the yard, if you want."

"Really?" Yamaguchi exclaimed, eyes glistening with interest.

"For sure, man! It's really hard, though. Takes a lot of practise."

Yachi knew that Yamaguchi didn't care about any of that, he would practice until his hands bled if it meant perfection. She intently listened on as Tanaka perked up from Yamaguchi's interest, exploding into monologue about the about the different the types of serves and the rules of volleyball. Once she was satisfied with his description of the team, she tuned his chatter out and watched on with renewed interest. As the second set began, a new player stepped onto the court, one that she didn't recognize by either scent nor looks.

"Who's that blonde guy?" She softly asked Tanaka, who was obscenely yelling over the railing at the court below.

"The one in the back row? That's Yuji. He's fucking hilarious, never takes practice seriously which drives Daichi nuts!"

It was abundantly clear to Yachi that the bald Alpha liked it when their team captain was annoyed. He probably likes Yuji because he gets in trouble with Daichi as much as he does, she thought to herself and a small smile skittered across her pale face.

"He's got a pretty heavy spike too, for someone so lean. But, his specialty is keeping the ball up. It doesn't matter what body part he uses to do it either. It's pretty impressive. That's why he's out there this set…" Tanaka paused, leaning over the railing to yell down at the court once more. "BECAUSE WE LOST THE FIRST SET!"

Yachi giggled at the Tanaka's frustration, shocking herself in the process. She was...actually comfortable enough to laugh at an irritated Alpha. She let out a silent giggle, then raked her eyes back over the court, landing on Yuji's athletic form once more. She was intrigued with him, and she wasn't sure why- something about the blonde Alpha's scent was...nice. Unlike the other boy's on the court, she could pick out his fragrance in an instant, it didn't blend in like the others. She continued to watch him with growing interest, through the second set and into the third. Tanaka had explained to her that they needed to take this set to win the game and as the points drew closer to twenty five, Yachi found herself biting her nails in anticipation. Two points away, one point away, deuce. DEUCE?

"It means that neither team can win until they score two points ahead," Tanaka said through gnashed teeth, as if he had heard her private thoughts. The tone of his voice had lost all signs of humor, it was almost threatening. Yachi didn't mind, she could tell that it wasn't directed at her, but instead at the closeness of the game.

However, the atmosphere around the court did frighten her. She hated the new, heavy smell of the air. It was somber, and laced with an aggressive intensity that was truly stifling. As she moved her hand to cover her nose, a single scent fluttered into her nostrils, catching her by surprise- the blonde Alpha, Yuji. Much like the other boy's on the court, he smelled determined, but his fragrance still retained a light sort of humor that she found immensely appealing. It was as if he didn't feel the pressure of the game at all. In an instant, it kicked her emotions into overdrive. Suddenly, she needed their team to triumph over Date Tech. Moving her small hands to her lap, she sent out a silent prayer, hoping for a win.

Yuji~

Yuji knew he needed to get to the ball. Set point. If he got this up, they would have a chance to attack and win. Too far to get with his arms...how could he keep it off the floor? The volleyball was falling so rapidly, Yuji began to think that he would never make it in time when a scent struck him. Roses. As he inhaled it in, he drowned into its calm, yet resolved nature, and the world around him slowed. He noticed that the ball was mere moments from dropping onto the court. Careening his body forward, he drove out his foot to make impact and the ball collided, flying high into the air. It was beautifully received by Tobio and smashed into the opposing court by Bokuto who let out a loud 'HEY, HEY, HEY,' in victory.

Yuji stood stunned for a moment, paralyzed by the unfamiliar, comforting fragrance. As his Alpha teammates gathered around him, cheering over their win, he followed the disappearing scent with his nose- high up in the bleachers, a small, blonde girl sat, timidly smiling down at him.

Yachi~

"WE WON! WE BEAT DATE TECH YEAAAAH!" Tanaka shouted into the air, punching it with a closed fist.

This time, Yachi didn't flinch away, she was as exhilarated as the cheering crowd around her.

"I can't believe he hit it with his foot!" Nishinoya cried, jumping onto Tanaka's back while whooping out shouts of victory.

"One step closer to the University Playoffs!" Kuroo called out, vaulting over two rows of bleachers to embrace a cheering Oikawa and irritated Keiji. Even Kenma, perched on the rooster's back, was smiling. "We're having a party tonight, I've decided. I need some celebratory shenanigans!" The rooster continued in a joyous tone, pointing a finger in Suga's direction.

"YES~~" Oikawa yelled, throwing his hands up in the air, nearly smacking Keiji across the face.

"We certainly could use something to celebrate!" Suga chimed in with a toothy grin.

"Party, party, party~~ Party, party, party~~" Shoyo, Tanaka, and Nishinoya chanted, dancing in unison.

Even the normally quietly anxious Yamaguchi, looked excited for the night's events and Yachi found that she too, was looking forward to it.