-"Honestly. The test went slightly better than I exptected." - Tsukishima huffs, waving the papers around with one hand. -"It seems like your parents got my point across to you." - the class watches silently as he sits down, takes off his glasses and rubs his temples.

-"Then why are you so drained that early in the morning, proff? Hangover?" - Yamamoto asks and immediatly regrets it as he meets Kei's death glare.

-"There are of course some of you who haven't gotten past 40% mark. Like you, for example. And Haiba-kun, Leave these silly comments to yourself."

As the teacher hands out the tests for the students to see, Yaku nudges Lev with his elbow.

-"Lev, what did you do this time?"

The boy frowns in wonder.

-"Like I would remember."

Kei slams his test against the table.

Yaku slips into a giggling fit. Kenma, who sits behind the boys, titls his head to see over the shorter boy's shoulder.

'This dumbass wrote 'who the hell buys 529 watermelons' at the margin.'

His thoughts get interrupted as he receives his paper.

60%. A positive mark.

Tsukishima-sensei frowns at him, yet says nothing. This kind of treatment is the worst.

As the bell rings, he keeps stalling, packing very slowly. Only after every other pupil leaves the classroom, does he raise his voice.

-"Why do you care, professor?"

Kei turns around, Diplo's calcium supplements in his hands. He puts them aside and folds his arms.

-"I thought I made myself clear. Any prestigous junior high schools in Tokyo would gladly have you. Even Azabu or KAIS. As long as you actually study for finals, of course..." - he makes a clicking sound with his tongue and goes back to feeding the tortoise. With his back turned on Kenma, he adds. - "...But I guess that's not happening."

Tsukishima's inteligence does not narrow down to academics.

There is a stack of papers on the teacher's desk. Algebra riddles and various combinatory problems. Kenma eyes them warily.

A bait.

-"Have you prepared these for me?"

-"Not necessarily. It's not like you would solve them, Kozume-kun." - Tsukishima-sensei scoffs.

A challenge.

The boy shoves the papers into his shoulder bag, irritated.

-"I will bring them back by 7th period."

Yes, Tsukishima's inteligence does not narrow down to academics. He is sly and cunning.

He smirks as the doors are slammed close once again.

A small victory.

"I can't believe they actually ganged up against us back then." - Suga shakes his head in exasperation and smiles fondly towards his son.

Tobio is playing volleyball with Shouyou and Takeru. Well, they are tossing the ball to each other in a circle of three, if that's considered as playing. He can hear Tobio scolding Sho, as he's not doing a very good job.

-"Also...thanks."

Tooru answers him with a soft "Don't mind it."

They are sitting on a gentle hillside, observing the field from above.

-"Hey, Suga-chan. Tobio is...pretty eccentric for a 5 year old." - Oikawa's nosiness got the better of him again. He gets nervous about Koushi's reaction, but the other hums, deep in thought.

-"That's one way to put it. Tobio understands more than average kids. Minako demanded a private kindergarten with a 'genius-programme' for Tobio. I transferred him here, to a regular one, after we...you know. So yeah, he is observant and perceptive. Not very good at expressing emotions, though. - Kou bites his lip. -"I wonder if that's my fault."

-"Oh please, that's absurd." - Tooru runs a hand through his dark locks and eyes Suga with a mixture of fondness, annoyance and sass. -"You're affectionate, dependable and caring. Don't let anyone tell you that Tobio needs a mother figure."- He huffs.

-"Whoa, Oikawa-san. You sounded almost cool." - Suga giggles as his companion throws a fistful of grass at him.

-"Almost? ALMOST?! I'me always the coolest person wherever I go, thank you very much!"

-"Whatever you say, Oikawa-san."

26 year old Kuroo Tetsuro is a quitter.

He gave up on his economics studies pretty soon, overwhelmed by that wild student life. Too many lovers, too many parties the man doesn't remember anyway.

He changes jobs two times a month on average. Librarian, waiter, retail clerk, barista, Santa Claus in a mall, florist's assistant. Tetsuro covered it all and more.

Somehow, working still gives him that small fracture of independence and stability he craves

It's not like he needs the money. His father, the owner of Nekoma enterprise would probably let him take over it, had Tetsu finished college.

He cannot really muster up the courage and motivation to come back there. That also sets a bad example for Kenma, he is aware. Kozume-san mentions that a lot. Not to him directly, he wouldn't have the balls, as a stepfather. But he gives Tetsu's mother an earful.

Kuroo has always been nocturnal, so he really enjoys his new workplace.

Sugawara-san laughs at his jokes sporadically, probably used to that kind of silly humour with a little help from Bokuto. Also, he is free to observe other people's misery. Especially college students approaching their finals.

Yes, he decides. This is the first place he actually genuinely likes.

Tonight, he is covering two shifts, begged by Koutarou.

'The things we do for bromance...' - he fakes a sigh for personal amusement.

-"Ah, I thought you would be more lively at a coffee shop. No employee discount?"

He knows that voice. And more important, that face.

-"Oya, oya, oya. Isn't that Tsukisaurus-sensei? God bless Kenma's friends. These kids.." - he cackles.

Kei is not amused.

-"An expresso, please. - He grits his teeth. -"With a glass of water of course. In case you didnt know how to serve it."

-"Whoa, no need to get your panties in a twist. I knew that!" - The barista smirks. -"Anyway, Don't you have like...classes in ten hours? Grumpy teachers need sleep."

Kei considers not dignifying that with a response.

He pays for his coffee and picks a table relatively far away from everyone else, spreading Kenma's answers to analyze them.

So engrossed in them, he doesn't notice Kuroo situating the cup on a patch of wood unoccupied by papers. However, he snaps at the sensation of Tetsuro's breath on his neck and a strong hand o his shoulder.

-"Aah, isn't that Kenma's writing?"

-"Kuroo-san, personal space, if you will." - Tetsu takes a step back and scratches his neck.

-"So you made Kenma study, that's impressive."

Kei frowns at that.

-"I didn't make him do anything. I merely encouraged him. And I'd rather you didn't interfere."

-"Are you implying I demoralize Kenma?" - The black-haired man raises his eyebrows.

-"These are your words, not mine, Kuroo-san." - Kei's curious eyes keep boring into Tetsuro's own.

Their staring contest is interrupted by THE bell.

'Oh great, another prissy customer.'

Kuroo backs away towards the counter to serve, still feeling the other's stare on him.

-"What about that, Bokuto-san? I've been designing and sewing pretty much ever since you left yesterday."

Keiji presents himself before Koutarou, clad in leather pants bearing intricate designs, a very low cut t-shirt and a slim hooded jacket. The slick leathery hood partially covered his eyes, shadowing them.

The eyes...they seem tired, bloodshot and heavy, but there's fire inside them.

Kou's mouth goes dry.

-"Is it seductive enough? I need to know." -Keiji frowns and puts his hands on his hips.

-"Uhh, yes. It's great, Akaashi, I'm totally seduced." - he subconsciously gives a thumbs up.

The designer doesn't seem convinced so he opts on shedding the outfit and going back to work. As he pulls the t-shirt over his head, Kou quickly turns around. It doesn't escape Keiji's notice.

-"I'm sorry Bokuto-san, are you perhaps uncomfortable? I should have considered it."

-"E-ehh? - Bokuto opened his eyes, suddenly aware that he had squeezed them shut earlier. - "No, It's...fine! And what do you mean 'I should have considered it?'"

-"I've seen thousands of female and male models's bodies. That kind of demanding job puts all sentimentality aside." - he rakes a hand through his unruly hair and sighs. -"But you have just proven me right. It might have to show off more skin."

Bokuto chokes on his spit.

-"I'll make you another coffee."

-"Iwa-chan! You came!" - Tooru throws his arms around his best friend and lifts one leg up like a princess.

-"Crappykawa, you're, as ridiculous as it sounds, my advisor and..." - he shudders - "...supervisor. Kind of." - He deadpans, refusing to use the word 'doctor' or 'physician'. The thing is, Iwaizumi is afraid of hospitals but he would never admit it.

-"It's kinda your fucking job to invite me here."

Oikawa giggles.

-"Adorable as always. How is your back?"

Hajime makes a circling movement with his right arm and winces.

-"It hurts, but I haven't fallen or anything."

-"You might have pulled supraspinatus or infraspinatus muscle, connecting your back and arm. Have you spiked any balls recently? - he smirks only to be met with Iwaizumi's pissed expression.

-"I'm a wing SPIKER, you idiot."

They still bicker as Tooru gives him a massage and a handful of warm-up advice to avoid further injury.

A scolding Oikawa is an annoying Oikawa, so Hajime quickly changes the topic.

-"What about this angel-dude, your object of stalking?"

Tooru shrieks.

"Stupid Iwa-chan! Don't dub him like that!" - he presses on Hajime's shoulder blade a little more forcefully. - "I will have you know that yesterday we have talked for a whole amount of seventy two minutes. PLUS!" - He holds one finger up in the air as to make a point. - "His son doesn't hate me, and he hates everyone. Okay, that might have been an exaggeration, but you get the idea." - He puffs his chest with pride.

Iwaizumi stands up and pulls his shirt on, exasperated.

-"I meant what about that thing you told me on the phone. That he's going through divorce and shit."

Tooru frowns.

-"Suga-chan mentioned that his wife had let some of her bigwig-friends take care of it. One meeting in court and it was over, even though divorces usually drag over months, heck, years. It helps that Suga agreed on every term."

-"He must really love this kid."

Tooru smiles.

-"Yes, yes he does."

His friend eyes him warily and murmurs:

-"It's all so fresh. Don't hurt them both with your selfish crush."

-"Tch, I know that, I know better than that."

It's afternoon. With Keiji's lifestyle, it feels like dawn, as he had only fell asleep around five in the morning.

-"Daddy? Who's that?" - Shouyou tilts his head slightly to the side, observing Keiji acutely.

Keiji extends his hand towards the boy, who shakes it gently.

-"My name is Akaashi Keiji. I'm your father's friend."

Shouyou blinds him with a megawatt smile motions him to get closer. As the designer crouches, he whispers in his ear.

-"You are very pretty, Akaashi-san. Very, very pretty."

He heard that phrase many times, really. He had been praised for his looks dozens and dozens of times, but never with such honesty and guilelessness.

-"I bet daddy thinks so too. But I'm mad he didn't tell me. If uncle Kuroo was coming with us, he would tell me."

Keiji can see Koutarou practically itching, straining to hear Shou whilst taking slow, innocent steps towards the two of them.

-"Guys? You know it's rude to whisper in company? That's not how I raised you, Shou."

-"Yeah, daddy. Could you go away for a while, then?"

Unexpectedly, Keiji found himself laughing so hard, he couldn't stop. His breath came in quick gasps between unstopable giggles. Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill over. Shou joins him, not really understanding what are they laughing about.

-"M-my ribs...are going...to crack..."

Bokuto considers questioning his son's logic for a while, but he is mesmerized by the sight before him.

He quickly fishes a small camera out of his pocket and takes a photo of the two on the grass, still cackling madly.

-"Ah, I guess I forgot Shou's binoculars in the car trunk, wait for me."

As soon as Koutarou walks away, Shou gets closer to his new companion once again.

-"Are you and daddy closer than he is with uncle Kuroo? Or uncle Suga?" - Akaashi blinked, perplexed as he didn't know any of these men. Now that he thinks about it, Bokuto mentioned them. Weren't this 'Suga' person his coworker?

-"You must be a good friend to daddy, okay? Promise?"

He couldn't help staring into these huge, bright eyes, full of hope, whilst the boy tried to sound menacing. There was something strange about the boy. Strange in a good way.

Bokuto mentioned that Shouyou was hyperactive. Apparently an acquaintance of his adviced him to take the boy to the forest as often as possible. The man opted on birdwatching. It required patience and silence, and the boy authentically enjoyed it, even though keeping his mouth shut was a tough challenge.
So the two of them packed into the car and wandered around this forest twice a week.

It sounds like therapy, but honestly, it's a great familly-bonding time. And Keiji feels like an intruder. He is grateful for such a great (and private!) animal-observing opportunity, but the uneasy feeling still lingers.

-"I promise." - The kid grins and hugs him.

-"Take care of my daddy. He is stupid sometimes."

-"Oi! I heard that, you little rascal! - Koutarou approaches them with Shou's binoculars this time tucked safely into the huge backpack he is carrying around.

Shouyou ducks behind Keiji and laughs.

The father wags his finger at his son, not very menacingly and looks at Akaashi.

-"Are you ready for an inspirational trip?"

Shou scratches his head.

-"Isn't this always a super-duper-calming trip?"

Bokuto flushes and clears his throat as Keiji raises his eyebrows at the name.

_"Whatever, just..go."