Chapter 2.

Hope you enjoy and thank you to everyone for reading, favouriting, following and reviewing.

Chapter Two: The Second Year of Infatuation

Keishin sat in the back of the class, where he always did, right near the window. It was a sunny spring day and the beginning of the new year of schooling. The class of second years had maintained numbers with only a low drop out rate. It seemed all the students liked Harry-sensei and his teaching style.

He didn't like sitting up front, which would have given him a better vantage of Harry-sensei but it put him in amongst the other students who still all thought he was a bit rough and a yankee.

His chin was propped in his hand as he leant against the desk, his free hand taking notes as Harry wrote on the board at the front and was explaining grammar and the structure of formal essays.

Even at Karasuno, being part of the volleyball team didn't make him super popular either. They won some games but lost others and they had never made it past the regional Miyagi games at all in the three years he was at Karasuno. Powerhouse schools like Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai were way too strong and the small town Karasuno High just couldn't compete with them.

Everyone knew his Grandfather was the demon coach of volleyball, a hard arse who put them through gruelling training. He was a good player, working hard as the setter and had tried to be a good sempai to his kouhai and had helped them get ready to take over the team when he left.

He had enjoyed his years at Karasuno playing volleyball - even if romance wasn't on the cards.

Girls hadn't confessed and he'd not been bothered, and neither did any boys either. Keishin, knowing that he was bi since he was in middle school (and he'd been watching porn ever since - he had become well acquainted with his hand) just hadn't ever caught the eye of anyone.

He hadn't ever been too fussed with anyone either - no one had ever sparked any interest or even a twinge from him. He didn't even have a date in the three years of high school.

He had come to his first class on the first day of uni, wearing his big hoodie and his slouchy black track pants, his ears already pierced with golden studs and hoops. He had sat at the back of class, his hood up and chewing the end of his pen as he waited for class to start.

He didn't expect the long black suit pants hiding sculpted legs, a crisp white shirt and a red and gold striped tie to walk through the door. He didn't think he'd ever see hair that he want to touch so badly, the black wavy hair being styled back away from a handsome face and the brightest green eyes. He'd never seen that colour before, like the forests around his hometown, like the colour of the fresh leaves on Sakura trees in spring.

No one ever had caught his eye like Harry did.

And just like that, Keishin was obsessed.

He had fallen head over heels for a man he didn't even know, but he was determined to get close to his sensei.

So Keishin had spent time between his lessons, volleyball practice and study in the library trying to catch Harry around campus, even waiting by the entrance or the teacher's lounge.

As class ended Keishin put his notebook away and shouldered his gym bag. He had practice after this and then a game later in the evening.

He waited until the other students had piled out. While he waited he could see Harry eye him and shake his head with a sigh. Keishin's hand gripped his bag strap tighter, and grit his teeth. He knew he was annoying Harry but he just couldn't give up. Not yet.

"Ne Harri-sensei," Keishin asked as he came up to the front, making no attempt at hiding his roving eyes over today's chosen outfit of the fitted straight leg dark green suit and jacket and white button up shirt, with a black tie in a tight Windsor knot at his neck.

"Yes, Ukai-san?" Harry asked as he turned to his now second year student. "Did you have a question about today's lesson?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to come cheer for our volleyball team today? We have a game on this evening in the indoor court on campus against Todai Uni." Keishin asked. "I think it would mean a lot to the team. Even Eita is on the starting roster this year."

Wakana Eita was another classmate and student. So it wasn't like Keishin was asking Harry to just come watch him play… even if that was his ultimate goal.

"Oh yeah. You play on the team - what position again?" Harry asked as he began to pack away his side bag with his lesson materials.

"Setter."

"Hm. I think I should be able to come if it's on campus." Harry said before he could think twice. Seeing the delight on his students face he quickly added. "I'll even ask some of the other sensei's to come too."

"Sure thing. As long as you're there." Ukai said with a narrowed gaze, trying to see if Harry was just saying it to make him leave.

Harry just chuckled. "I'll be there with some more supporters. And I'm going for the entire team, Ukai-san. Please remember that."

Keishin grinned, shouldering his bag higher. "As long as you get to see how awesome I am, I don't mind why you're there. It starts at six. See you later Harri!"

Harry watched his student leave with a bounce in his step and he chucked again. Ukai didn't even give him a second to reprimand him for his informal language and calling him by his first name too without his teaching title. He was definitely cheeky, Harry would give him that.

Ukai Keishin didn't seem to want to let up at all, even after a whole year of being rebuffed.

He had come back to the new year with his black hair longer and swept back from his face with a headband and having grown a bit taller and broader.

While Harry didn't encourage him, and tried his best to be kind when declining his advances, he couldn't help but think it was still endearing. He had never had someone actively chase him after being turned down so many times, even with knowing his name back home, most people tended to give up.

He shook his head again with a smile. Okay so maybe his most stubborn student was a little bit cute.

Harry made sure to text a few of the teachers, including Sei about the game and that they should go cheer their volleyball team on.

It was just a teacher cheering on his students and their university team. It didn't mean anything more than that. At least, Harry hoped Ukai didn't think it meant anything more.

/

Harry and Sei became regulars when watching their volleyball team play their games.

Keishin had been delighted when Harry asked for a roster of their scheduled games and that he would be there (and Tendou-Sensei - but Keishin ignored the other man entirely).

Harry enjoyed volleyball, especially since he had gotten more involved with Sei and Satori when they played on the weekend when Satori was over.

Sei had played in High School - at a big school called Shiratorizawa but he hadn't been too keen on continuing it, enjoying it more as a hobby. Sei also loved to win. Harry saw the savage delight whenever he spiked it over Satori, never mind that the 10 year old barely reached Sei's chest high.

Harry was corralled into helping toss the ball and also to play with Satori against Sei in a 2 vs 1. It was pretty evenly matched with Satori being scarily good at guessing where Sei would spike and directing Harry to try and dig the ball, and Satori would be the spiker to Harry's soft sets.

Satori seemed to come out of his shell more and more, making Harry laugh with his dances and his pulled funny faces and songs. He would ruffle the kids' hair fondly and that only earned him wide toothed smiles.

It seemed that their practice also was helping Satori at school and on the court as well. He had told the two excitedly about meeting another volleyball monsta he met who transferred in. In Satori's eyes, this supposed new kid was even more of a crazy volleyball nut than he was and creeped the other kids out just as much as he did.

That was how Harry met Ushijima Wakatoshi. The most stoic kid one could ever meet.

Satori had dragged his new friend along to their Saturday volleyball session, the small net being set up in Sei's courtyard of his townhouse.

"Sei-Nii! Harri-Nii!" Called Satori as he came through the house, one hand carrying his sneakers and the other dragging along a dark haired boy.

"Rii-chan. You're early today." Harry said with a smile, still drinking his cup of coffee. He was the one up this time, Sei being upstairs still sleeping. The night before was filled with booze and food being consumed, although this time it was for one of the older professors' retirement party.

Instead, the two kids were startled when a guy walked in shirtless, showing off his abs and a pronounced V, his jeans hung low on his hips.

"Morning babe." The man said as he came and kissed the back of Harry's neck, not even noticing the two kids who stood watching with wide eyes from the other side of the kitchen counter.

"Taka. Clothes. Now." Harry said roughly, turning and pushing the man back towards the back kitchen door so he could go back upstairs.

"Clothes off again? Already?"

Harry smacked him over the head for that one, delighting in the yelp as he grabbed his face and jerked Taka's chin to the two kids who were still watching them.

"Oh. Eeto. Ohayo."

"Good one." Harry rolled his eyes. "Just scare the kids, why don't you. I told you they were coming today."

"I didn't think they'd be here this early! Sei's still asleep!" Taka said back, turning back to the kids. "Eh. Well, it's nice to meet you. I'll just go… freshen up."

The three watched the other man back out the kitchen again, hearing him jog down the corridor and bolt up the stairs.

"Stop making a racket in my house!" Came the call from upstairs at the loud stomping footsteps that echoed out.

"Sooooo…" Satori began, turning back to Harry who was leaning against the back counter, his mug still in hand.

"Yes Rii-chan?"

"You're pretty brave to cheat on Sei-Nii in his own house."

Harry rolled his eyes and sipped his coffee. "How many times do I have to tell you? Sei and I are just friends. Best friends really. Can you stop trying to play matchmaker? It's never going to happen."

"That's only because you've never told me if you guys have even tried it out or not. You can't tell me you wouldn't give it a go if you haven't tried. You were the one who told me to not give up until you try something for the first time, to see if you like it." Satori said, as he pulled them both forward to sit at the counter stools, accepting the glasses of juice that Harry quickly poured them both.

"That's because I'm straight, you little gaki." Sei groused as he finally came through the living room. "Harry's hot, but not enough to turn me gay."

"You're a little bent. That's what Kaa-chan says. Besides, Harri-Nii is the one cheating on you with that other naked dude!"

"Is this really appropriate talk when there's literally a kid we don't know here?" Harry reminded the two red heads.

Sei poured himself a mug of coffee, already dressed in his shorts and a white nike top for the day. He leant against the counter next to Harry, raising a brow.

"You're cheating on me? How rude."

"What happened to you're straight and there's nothing between us?" Harry reminded him.

Sei grinned and nudged him with his hip, turning back to the boys. "So who's the new kid?"

"This is Ushijima Wakatoshi. He's my new friend I was telling you about. He's a monsta like me!" Satori said as he pat his friend on the shoulder.

"Nice to meet you." Wakatoshi finally said, his face rather devoid of any emotions despite what was probably a weird encounter. Or maybe he was just used to Satori by now.

"It's nice to meet you too. I'm sorry you had to witness all that. Please don't tell on us to your parents. We're not that weird. I promise." Sei said, ignoring the slap from Harry against his stomach. It was only light and was chiding anyway.

"Tendou has told me about you both. I just didn't know that you would be gay. And living together. Although I don't know why it is important that my mother be told this information." Wakatoshi continued in that monotone voice making Harry shake his head with a smile and Sei snort.

"Partners for life, huh?" Sei joked to Harry who only rolled his eyes again.

"Not on my watch, thank you." Taka said as he came back in, wearing fresh clothes and having brushed his bed hair into some semblance of order. "That's my boyfriend you're talking about as your 'life partner'."

Kunimi Taka was the Japanese history professor at the university, being three years older than Harry and Sei. He had long straight black hair that swept across his forehead and behind his ears. He had dark brown eyes that seemed almost black, his face handsome - with high cheekbones and a chiselled jawline that were softened by his almond shaped eyes.

Satori frowned in distaste, shoving his thumb in the air towards the newcomer as he asked Sei. "Who's this guy?"

"This is Kunimi, we work with him at the uni. And, like you just heard, is Harry's new thing."

"Thing? You wish you were a thing." Taka said with a grin, stealing Harry's near empty mug to finish. "Sorry about that before, kiddos. Shouldn't have been so oblivious to you guys being there, I just got caught up with Harri and it being early in the morning and all."

"I can understand it. Harri-san is very handsome. It is no shock that you would be enamoured like that to forget your surroundings." Wakatoshi said, shocking the group and making Satori laugh uproariously.

"See? I told you guys that Wakatoshi was a hoot!" Satori said around his laughter.

"I like this kid already," Harry said with a grin, moving around the counter to ruffle both kid's hair. "Now that our fateful morning encounters are over, who's ready to play volleyball?"

/

Harry had never thought he'd see the day when Sei had his arse handed to him in a 2 vs 2 when they played against Satori and Wakatoshi. But it happened almost every weekend now. Satori with his amazing analytical skills to read the game and where they'd play, and despite his small size, Wakatoshi had a mean left swing that had a spin on it that neither Harry nor Sei could get used to.

Harry put up with all the ribbing from Sei prior to their loosing streak due to his poor volleyball skills (Harry would have loved to have shown them all up in a game of Quidditch but alas, they were all muggles), but he happily returned the favour of teasing about Sei being beaten by two eleven year olds.

Harry became quite fond of Wakatoshi and had even gotten permission to call the boy 'Toshi-Kun', which had Harry grinning at the pink tinge that had covered the young boy's cheeks at the nickname.

He had continued dating Taka, even bringing him along to the volleyball matches they would watch for their team. Harry didn't mean to purposefully do it to be cruel, but he'd seen the anger on Ukai's face when Taka had thrown an arm around his shoulders and kissed his cheek as they stood at the balcony railing above the court.

He felt even worse when Ukai as the setter was obviously distracted by him and Taka and had fumbled some of his sets and tosses, which ultimately cost them the game.

Harry felt his heart twinge in regret as he watched Ukai storm off the court, a towel over his head as he left the stadium, the door banging loudly in his wake.

Harry didn't go to another game after that.