A/N: Hey all, this is now officially caught up to where I am on my AO3! Please review if you like this story!
By the time the summer training camp was upon them, Kenma was more than done with this entire thing. The need to finalize the bond overwhelmed him and he desperately wanted this camp to be over so they could finally complete the bond. Kuroo, knowing just how anxious Kenma was, had drug the omega to meet Karasuno when the team arrived for the camp. He had thought that seeing Shoyo again might help Kenma calm down.
"Hey, hey! Where's the Skytree?" Shoyo questioned as Kenma met him after the team had climbed off of the bus and Shoyo had jumped on him in a hello.
"Skytree?" Kenma responded, wondering exactly where in Tokyo Shoyo believed himself to be.
Shoyo suddenly yelled out, pointing to a transmission tower. "Is that the Tokyo Tower?!"
"Uh," Kenma stared, unsure of how to respond to the bright eyed boy beside him. "That's just a normal transmission tower."
He turned slightly when his entire body perked up at the sound of Kuroo's voice. "Are there no transmission towers in Miyagi?" The third year goaded. "Pretty sure I've heard that conversation before."
"The transmission towers in Tokyo all look like the Tokyo Tower to us country folk!" came the annoyed response. Kenma sighed and closed his eyes in annoyance. That was Kuroo, making friends wherever he went.
"So, we're going to be at a different school this time?" Shoyo asked as Kuroo led the group of Karasuno members pass them. As he did, Kuroo's hand brushed against Kenma's back and Kenma shivered in response.
"Apparently, the summer training camp is always at Shinzen," Kenma answered after glaring at Kuroo. He almost sighed as he saw Lev running down the stairs toward them. "It's nice and cool here…" he felt something on his arm and he instantly moved, slapping his hand down to kill whatever it was that had decided he was a good snack. "But lots of bugs around."
"Hinata!" Kenma turned his head and saw Lev running toward them full stop, waving his hand around widely. "Did you grow any taller?!"
"Lev, shut up," Kenma ordered, already annoyed with the loud first year and the response that was going to come from the question.
"That's a pretty rude thing to say," Hinata growled as Lev came to stop in front of them. "Like I could grow in two weeks!"
And there it was. Kenma moved, not wanting to get pulled into this conversation. He moved toward the school, knowing Kuroo was most likely waiting for him. He found he was right, Kuroo was standing with Akaashi and Bokuto in front of the gym. "We wanted to say hi before we started!" Bokuto yelled out, bounding forward and pulling Kenma against his chest. Kenma breathed in deeply, basking in the older alpha's scent. He relaxed instantly, pushing himself further into the alpha and snuggling against him.
"Okay," Kuroo said loudly, coming up and grabbing Kenma's shoulders to pull him back. Kenma growled –growled! – at the loss of contact. "Yeah, we might have left it a little too long," Kuroo grimaced, turning to look at Akaashi.
The beta nodded slightly and let out a deep breath, "I guess it was closer than we had thought. I think it would be best if we were careful this week."
"Huh?" Bokuto asked loudly, looking from one of them to the other in confusion.
"Sorry, Bo, but you and Akaashi should probably keep your distance," Kuroo said apologetically. Kenma frowned, trying to pull out of Kuroo's grip and move toward the alpha. Bokuto's entire body and seemed to droop at the words. "We don't want anything to happen while we're at camp – and if Kenma gets too stimulated and that pushes for the bond-"
"It would not be pleasant if his heat was triggered," Akaashi agreed, shooting an apologetic glance toward the omega. "We will just have to be careful while we are here. It isn't that much longer."
Kenma didn't have a chance to respond as Kuroo began to pull him away. His head was foggy. What were they saying? That they weren't going to be with him? That he needed to – wait, something about his heat? Yeah, his heat would make them stay. Right? They wouldn't leave…
"Woah," Kuroo gasped, coming to a stop in the hall and pulling Kenma toward him, pressing the younger boys face into his neck. Kenma breathed in deeply, his head clearing as the scent of his mate washed over him. He groaned into Kuroo's neck as his head began to clear. He felt his face burn. What had he just been thinking? "Better now?" Kuroo asked, his own head tilted down so his lips brushed against Kenma's mating mark.
Kenma nodded, taking one last deep breath, and then backing away. He knew his face was red but Kuroo, for once, didn't tease him about it. "Let's go meet the team," Kuroo said gently, his hand twisting around Kenma's.
The first day of camp didn't go horribly. Kenma was exhausted by the end of it, almost as exhausted as he had been the first time they played Karasuno. The strain from the bond was weighing on him and his energy seemed to completely disappear. "Go get some sleep," Kuroo told him at the end of the night. "I'm going to train Lev. Bo and Akaashi are doing extra practice. You'll feel better in the morning."
Kenma didn't even bother to argue. He accepted the kiss quick Kuroo placed on his lips and moved toward Nekoma's sleeping area, not even bothering to greet the others in the room as he slid onto his futon and fell asleep.
"So, we practiced with the blond from Karasuno last night," Kuroo told him over breakfast the next morning. Bokuto and Akaashi were sitting across from them, close enough that Kenma was comforted by their presence, but far enough away that he wasn't completely overcome.
Kenma's head perked up, "Really?"
"Kuroo made him angry," Bokuto tattled, sending a smirk toward the other alpha.
"Oi!" Kuroo protested, "I didn't think he would be that touchy about shrimpy!"
"Shoyo?"
Akaashi sighed as Bokuto and Kuroo ignored Kenma to continue their argument. "It seems Tsukishima-san," ah, that was his name, "believes that he is not as good at volleyball as Hinata. Kuroo's comment seemed to upset him."
Kenma blinked at the words. Wait, the blond thought he was worse than Shoyo? He had thought the other middle blocker was intelligent.
"Whatever, I'll apologize," Kuroo muttered, throwing an arm around Kenma. "Hey, Kenma, think you'll want to come with us tonight? I doubt blondie will show up again."
"I'm not tossing for you," Kenma stated.
Kuroo snorted, "Yeah, didn't think you would. But you could come to the gym and play your game."
Kenma nodded once. He didn't want to spend more time practicing, but he wanted to spend time with the three of them. What amount he could, anyway. Which would be how he found himself in the corner of the gym that night as Bokuto worked on his spikes and Kuroo blocked him. Akaashi, who was tossing for Bokuto, kept shooting him betrayed glances. Kenma ignored them.
He was the one that agreed to have extra practice with Bokuto.
It was because of that that Kenma just happened to be there when the blond first year from Karasuno, Tsukishima, walked into the gym. He glanced up only because of the interest in Bokuto and Kuroo's voices as they called out a greeting. When he saw that Akaashi's head was also tilted in interest, he turned his attention toward the door.
"There is something I'd like to ask you. May I?" The first year asked, obviously not noticed Kenma sitting in the corner.
"Sure!" Bokuto and Kuroo chimed.
Tsukishima seemed to be surprised at the easy response. "Thank you very much," he bowed his head slightly. "Your schools are sometimes considered powerhouse schools, right?"
Kenma had to bite back a smile as he saw the happiness on Bokuto's face melt away at the words and the glare that overtook Kuroo's features. "Well, yeah."
"Even if you were able to make it to nationals," Tsukishma continued, "actually winning there would be difficult, right?"
Oh, this was getting entertaining. Bokuto and Kuroo both looked like they were going to jump the younger beta. "But not impossible!" Bokuto growled.
Akaashi turned his head slightly to look at the two alphas, "Now, now. Let's hear him out." Damn Akaashi. "This is just a what-if."
"I seriously can't figure out how everyone can be so determined," Tsukishima admitted, a frown crossing his features. Kenma could relate to the words. His main reason was because he knew how badly Kuroo wanted it. He slowly moved his DS toward the floor, keeping his attention locked on the four by the door. "Volleyball is just a club and maybe you'll get to write 'I worked really hard in my club in high school' on your resume, right?"
"Just a club?" Bokuto echoed, his voice losing its usual pleasant quality. "That almost sounds like someone's name."
"Oh, like Mary Club?" Kuroo questioned and Kenma fought back the urge to face palm. Yeah, these were the two alpha's he chose for his circle. He wasn't sure he wanted to think too deeply into what that represented. "No, wait, I guess it was 'just some club'."
"Aw, man! So it doesn't sound like someone's name," he howled, "Man! I was so close!"
"Damn it!"
"Are you basically asking me to retort?" Tsukishima questioned, so quietly that Kenma had to strain to hear him.
"Nah, there'll be no end to it," Akaashi informed him.
"Say, four-eyes!" Bokuto yelled, suddenly remembering what had gotten them on this conversation in the first place.
"It's Tsukishima."
"Say, Tsukishima-kun," Bokuto started again, "is volleyball fun?"
The first year seemed to seriously consider the question for a moment before shrugging his shoulders, "No, not really…"
"Maybe that's because you suck."
Kenma couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped this time, not when Bokuto's blunt words caused Tsukishima to blanch and stand up straight in shock. Luckily, it seemed that no one heard him.
"I'm a third year and I've been to nationals," Bokuto continued, "and I'm better than you. Like, way better."
"You don't have to tell me that."
"But I only recently started thinking that volleyball was fun. Ever since my straight became usable in matches. Because my cross hits that I was really good at kept getting blocked, I got frustrated and practiced the hell out of straights," Bokuto scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. Akaashi was also wearing a scowl and Kenma had to wonder just how often the two had stayed after to work on Bokuto's straights. "And, at the next tournament, the same blockers couldn't touch it. I got right past them. Just that one shot made me feel like my time had finally come!" He declared triumphantly. "It all depends on if you have that moment or not. It doesn't really matter what happens in the future, or if you can win your next match. The joy you feel beating the guy in front of you and when you're able to pull out 120% of your potential, is everything." Tsukishima stared at the third year, eyes wide. Well, they had said that the first year had practiced with them the night before. He probably wasn't expecting something like that from Bokuto. "Well, at least that's how it is for me and it doesn't mean that applies to everyone. I don't really understand why you say it's 'just a club' but I don't think you're wrong. But once that moment arrives for you, that's the moment you'll be hooked on volleyball."
Kenma stared at the alpha fondly. He might not agree with him, at least not about volleyball, but he thought it was great how passionate the third year was.
"All right, I answered your question. Now help with blocking!" Bokuto said brightly, he and Kuroo somehow appearing on either side of the first year.
"All right, now. Come on, hurry it up!" Kuroo chuckled, he and Bokuto placing a hand on the blonde's back and pushing him toward the net. Kenma quickly picked up his DS, knowing that if either of them saw him interested in the conversation, they would try to recruit him as well.
Kenma let his eyes drift up every so often as the four practiced, feeling his omega purr in contentment whenever he looked at them. Kuroo took it upon himself to teach Tsukishima how to block properly, causing Bokuto to get annoyed when Kuroo made it a point to tell him to shut the "owl up".
The lessons seemed to work, because during a match the next day, Tsukishima used the technique Kuroo taught him. Kenma, from his position on the court next to the Karasuno/Fukurōdani game, watched in interest as Akaashi accused Bokuto of running away from the first year and Kuroo began to chuckle evilly. "Don't be mean, Kuro."
"He deserves it," Kuroo protested as he turned back to their own game.
Kenma was back in the same corner that night, DS in hand. Shoyo had managed to grab him earlier and begged him for some tosses. The "just one" had morphed into "one more" and Kenma had had to abandon the boy to get to the third gym. Tsukishima had shown up shortly after Kenma was greeted by the other three boys, and the tall blond hadn't even glanced at him. Kenma was certain that the beta didn't even know he was there and Kuroo, Bokuro, and Akaashi didn't seem to think they needed to inform him.
Kuroo had just congratulated Tsukishima on his block that day, much to the annoyance of Bokuto, and was getting ready to show him something else, when Bokuto spoke up. "Oh? Tsukki, did you bring a friend today?"
Kenma followed the alpha's gaze at the words and saw Shoyo staring at the four, half-way hidden behind the doorframe. He seemed shocked that someone had noticed him.
"What happened to your partner?" Tsukishima questioned.
"Kageyama's practicing on his own again," Shoyo explained. "I was trying to get Kenma to throw me tosses," Kenma blanched at his name and tried to make himself smaller in the corner, "but he ran away after the fifth one."
"It's amazing that you got Kenma to even give you five during practice," Kuroo chimed in, his eyes sliding over to the omega in question. Kenma lifted his head and sent a glare toward his mate. He had just gotten away. He wasn't getting pulled back in.
"So," Shoyo continued brightly, "Please let me practice with you!"
The second part of the sentence was echoed and Kenma lifted his head once more to see not only Shoyo standing in the doorway, but Lev as well. He fought back a groan. Maybe he just should have gone to the room tonight.
"Lev, I thought you were practicing receives with Yaku," Kuroo cut in as Shoyo and Lev began to speak to one another.
Lev jumped and Kenma mentally sighed at the look of panic on the others face. Great. Now Yaku was going to be angry. "He said I was doing well today, so he let me go."
Yeah, that didn't sound like Yaku at all.
"Really? You sure you didn't run away?" Kuroo questioned, his eyes narrowing. Kenma rolled his own eyes. Kuroo was well aware that Lev had run.
"No, of course not!"
"Well, whatever," Kuroo muttered with a smirk. "Then we have the right number of people so let's play some three on three."
"Yay!" Shoyo and Lev shouted.
A few moments later, Akaashi was standing with an annoyed glare on his face. "Ah, isn't this just a bit unbalanced?" Kenma stared at the teams. Bokuto, Akaashi, and Shoyo, the three shortest players, had somehow ended up against the three tallest.
Yeah, that was Kuroo for you.
"It's fine!" Kuroo soothed, "Let's do things we can't do during the day!"
Oh no. Just what was he planning now?
Akaashi seemed to be on the same wavelength as he visibly wilted. His teammates on the other hand seemed to love the idea.
Kenma really didn't envy him.
Kuroo turned the game into another lesson for the two first years and Kenma almost wished Shoyo had been on his team. The small middle blocker definitely needed the practice. The game continued on, and the three first years had yet to notice Kenma, when they were informed that the cafeteria was about to close. Shoyo almost looked as if he was going to cry, but Kuroo quickly informed him that they would play again tomorrow.
"Oi, Kenma! Let's go!" Kuroo called. Shoyo turned around sharply and the rest of the group faltered for a moment.
"Oh! Kenma! You were here!" Shoyo said happily, running up and waving his arms around. "Did you see? Why didn't you play? When did you get here? You could have-"
"Kenma! You need to toss for me next time!" Lev yelled, "We didn't have a setter!"
"Okay, okay, back away," Kuroo cut in, wrapping his arm around Kenma's waist and moving toward the door, where Bokuto and Akaashi were waiting. "Kenma just needed some rest."
"Did you see us, Kenma?" Bokuto questioned.
"I did," Kenma commented, allowing himself to be moved toward the cafeteria.
As the week continued, Kenma fell into a routine. Kuroo woke him up, they went to breakfast, played matches, went to the third gym (where Kenma found another place to curl up), went to eat dinner, spent some time with only Kuroo, Bokuto, and Akaashi, and went to bed. He had to admit that he was enjoying himself, he even enjoyed watching the three on three matches, but he was ready for the week to be over. He was tired of not being able to cuddle up to Akaashi and Bokuto, he was tired of playing every day, and he was tired of the weird feeling he had in his chest whenever he saw Kuroo, Bokuto, and Akaashi around Tsukishima.
Finally, it was the last day and the coaches surprised them with a barbeque. Kenma was thoroughly done with people at that point and he moved instantly to sit on the steps, away from where everyone was converged. He pulled out his DS, relishing the time he had to himself. Kuroo and Bokuto were hovering around the food, and the last he looked, Akaashi was speaking to Tsukishima. As soon as the meat was done cooking, Kuroo abandoned his place and moved to grab him, pulling him toward the tables. Kenma sighed but followed along, ending up beside Tsukishima.
"You look like you want to run away," the blond said, speaking to the omega for the first time.
Kenma blinked up at him, "Kuro will get distracted soon and I can leave. If I ignore him, he won't leave me alone."
The blonde's lips quirked in a smile and, sure enough, the moment Kuroo became distracted, Kenma moved back to his position on the stairs. The blonde first year and his friend followed behind, taking the other side of the staircase and facing away from Kenma.
Apparently, they weren't the most social either.
He jumped when someone loudly called for Tsukishima, telling him to eat more. The blond denied the food but then someone else cut in and told him to eat. That voice Kenma knew. Kuroo. And if Kuroo had noticed the blond didn't have any food…
"You too, Kenma, damn it!" He yelled and Kenma hunched in on himself, leaning away from the alpha and shaking his head frantically.
Bokuto chose that moment to join them, urging Tsukishima to eat as well. Kenma dropped onto the ground while they were distracted, making sure he was hidden behind the bricks. He wasn't sure why Bokuto and Kuroo were so focused on feeding Tsukishima, but he wasn't going to stop them.
Especially if it meant they weren't forcing food down his throat.
Soon enough, Bokuto and Kuroo had managed to pull Tsukishima away and Kenma was once again left on his own. He moved quickly, knowing that Kuroo would come looking for him again and he didn't want to be too easy to find. He moved up onto the hill and continued with his game, being joined about twenty minutes later by Shoyo, who brought him some watermelon. Lev followed shortly thereafter and Kenma had to glare the Nekoma first year into submission as he once again began to laugh about Shoyo's height.
Shoyo began to fidget shortly after Lev moved back toward the food and Kenma stared at him curiously. He could easily see that the boy had something to say, but he wasn't sure what it could be. If it was about volleyball, Shoyo would have already said it. "Uh, can I ask you something?" he finally asked loudly.
Kenma winced at the volume but nodded his head. Shoyo took a deep breath, his eyes darting around the field, before he finally blurted, "How did you know – I mean, about Kuroo?"
"What?"
"I mean, I know that omega's are able to feel…but, uh, did Kuroo…" Hinata wailed into his hands. "I don't know how to say this!"
Kenma frowned at the other boy. "Shoyo, are you wanting to court an omega?"
Shoyo looked up, eyes wide with wonder. "How did you do that?!"
"Who?"
"Well, you see, there is – I mean, I don't think I'm the only one… she seems to…"
"Are we talking about the first year manager?" Kenma finally sighed, tired of the brief and unhelpful words. And there was that look again. "I'm not really the person to ask," Kenma admitted slowly. "I know that there were omega's that asked for Kuroo's attention before I presented but he turned them down. Some alpha's asked me to consider…but, well, they didn't…fit."
"So there isn't any way to know? Not until I ask?" Shoyo questioned, dejected. He looked down at the field and Kenma followed his gaze to the blond haired manager. "I think – I think Kageyama also…and maybe Yamaguchi…"
"Yamaguchi?"
"Tsukishima's friend," Shoyo explained, a frown crossing his face.
Kenma shrugged as he recalled the brown haired, freckled first year. "All I can say is to try asking. If she doesn't feel anything, she'll tell you."
Shoyo wailed and Kenma's hands came up to cover his ears. The alpha could really be loud.
"Time to clean up," a soothing voice said from behind him. Kenma tilted his head up, looking into a pair of warm eyes. "The sooner we clean up, the sooner we head out." A soft hand ran through his hair and Kenma leaned into the touch he had been craving as he continued to stare up. "Come on," Akaashi said once more, moving to help Kenma get on his feet.
The clean-up went quickly and Kenma stood next to Kuroo and Bokuto as Karasuno loaded onto their bus. "Are we ready?" Kuroo questioned, glancing between the two. Akaashi appeared behind them, all four of their bags thrown over his shoulders.
They were ready.