It was an odd situation, texting someone he had never met. He thought that he would at least have Tsukishima to help him, but it seemed that the blonde was nonresponsive for the time being.

It probably didn't help that Tsukishima and Kunimi had met right after Karasuno beat out Aobojosai.

"What's that face for?" Kuroo asked from where he was sprawled across Kenma's bed.

Kenma was on the floor, his phone in hand. "Karasuno is going to finals."

Kuroo sat up quickly, punching his fist into the air, "Yes! We can play them at Nationals!"

"If we make Nationals," Kenma said lowly, earning himself a glare.

"That doesn't explain the face," Kuroo pointed out.

Kenma sighed, "Tsukishima met our third markmate. We're texting…I don't know what to say."

Kuroo smiled, "Kenma, that's great! Not that you don't know what to say, but that you already found your third! How did Tsukki meet him?"

Kenma shot his best friend a glare at the blonde's nickname. "He hates it when you call him that. Apparently, Kunimi plays for Aobojosai."

The smile slid from Kuroo's face. "That must be…awkward."

Kenma just nodded. At least his team and Karasuno had a good relationship. From what he understood from Hinata, there was no love lost between Karasuno and Aobojosai.

"Kuro," Kenma said hesitantly, glancing at the clock by his bed. "If we caught the first train tomorrow, do you think we could get there in time for the game?"

Kuroo blinked at him in surprise before letting a wide smile overtake his face. "Maybe not the beginning, but we can definitely catch most of it! Let's do it! I'll call Bo and Akaashi, too! I bet they'd want to go!" He continued to talk as he pulled out his phone, messaging the two in question.

Kenma ignored him, instead turning his attention to his own phone.

To: Kunimi Akira

From: Kozume Kenma

Message: My friends and I are going to try to go to the game tomorrow. Are you going?

To: Kozume Kenma

From: Kunimi Akira

Message: …if you asked me yesterday, I would have said no. Now, I'm not so sure.

Message: It would be odd. I thought I would be playing tomorrow.

To Kunimi Akira

From: Kozume Kenma

Message: You don't have to go. I want to see Kei.

To: Kozume Kenma

From: Kunimi Akira

Message: I might. Let me think about it.

Kenma, Kuroo, Akaashi, and Bokuto made it halfway through the first match. "Fifteen to eight," Akaashi said with a grimace. The four moved as close as they could, leaving an open seat next to Kenma just in case. Kunimi had yet to answer Kenma that morning, so he wasn't sure if he would end up coming or not. Just in case, Kenma had is phone in hand as they took their seats, his eyes focused on the blonde currently standing in front of the net.

"Not looking good," Bokuto said, earning a glare from those around him. He shrugged, not bothered.

The four didn't speak as they watched Asahi serve. "Tsukki looks focused," Kuroo muttered from his spot between Bokuto and Kenma. He leaned forward in his chair, watching intently.

The four watched as Shiratorizawa's setter tossed and even Bokuto moved forward in his seat when he saw Ushijima run forward. Kenma felt his breath catch when Tsukishima moved, jumping forward in perfect time. "Yes!" Kuroo muttered, smirking as the ball flew forward.

Kenma winced as the ball slammed into Tsukishima's hand, pushing through the block. The blow pushed Tsukishima off balance and he landed hard on his feet. Even from where he was sitting, Kenma could feel his soulmates frustration. "Ahh! How could he not get that? He was blocking mine!" Bokuto whined.

"Ushijima beat you in the top five ranking," Kuroo said, ignoring the wailing his comment incited, as well as the glare he received from the boy Bokuto had collapsed against. "I think Tsukki hurt his hand."

Kenma frowned, watching as Tsukishima stood with Yamaguchi and one of his other teammates. They were wrapping Tsukishima's fingers. "Most likely jammed it," Kenma muttered worriedly.

"It happens," Kuroo told him reassuringly. Not that Kenma needed reassured.

"They can still win this!" Bokuto said loudly, "They just need to…"

He broke off as the players returned to the court and Ushijima moved into the serve position. "Shit," Kuroo muttered.

Kenma felt himself flinch back in his chair as the third year served. It was like a cannon. He was surprised that Karasuno's captain was able to receive it, even if it did fly out of bounds.

"Damn," Kuroo whistled, getting frantic nodding from the boy beside him.

Kenma gripped his left hand in his right as the third year served yet again. He watched as Nishinoya moved forward, receiving the ball and sending it up in the air. "It's up!" Bokuto yelled, jumping to his feet.

The four watched and cheered as Karasuno got a point for the first time since they arrived.

"I thought Kageyama was going to spike it for a moment," Kuroo said, smirking.

"So did the blocker," Akaashi chuckled.

The point was quickly taken back on the next serve.

They watched the back and forth war for points, not even slightly surprised with Shiratorizawa took the game point. Kenma kept his eyes fixated on Tsukishima, noticing the slight slump of his shoulders as he stood on the side. He frowned. It wasn't like Tsukishima to get worked up over volleyball…but things changed. Maybe this match would finally give him the push he needed.

"Kenma?" A voice questioned softly.

Kenma turned his head, staring up into the dark eyes of the boy he had got a picture of the night before. "Kunimi," Kenma replied, a small smile on his lips.

The other smiled back, just a softly as Kenma himself did. "I wasn't sure…" He trailed off. "Do you mind if we?" He gestured to the seat Kenma had left open. It was then that Kenma noticed the boy standing beside his third mate. He was tall, slightly taller than Kunimi, with dark spiky hair. Kenma nodded quickly, looking down toward Akaashi. The other boy stood, moving down one seat with Bokuto and Kuroo following suite. Kenma himself moved into the chair Kuroo had been sitting in as Kunimi sat beside him with his friend on the aisle.

"Kindaichi Yutaro," his friend said.

"Kozume Kenma," Kenma replied quickly, "just call me Kenma, please."

The other nodded as Kuroo, Bokuto, and Akaashi introduced themselves. "Looks like the first match didn't go well," Kunimi said softly.

Kenma nodded his head slowly. "I think Tsukishima is irritated."

Kunimi looked surprised. "I thought he was always irritated."

Kenma felt his lips twitch as Bokuto and Kuroo began to laugh loudly. "More so than usual."

"Ah."

They all fell silent as the players moved onto the court. "Yes!" Bokuto yelled as the Karasuno members all moved forward in a synchronized attack, receiving a point.

"Good start!" Kuroo agreed.

Tsukishima missed the next block and Kenma sat back in his chair. "He's getting very irritated."

Kuroo chuckled, "Good. Tsukki hates to lose. The more irritated he is, the more focused he gets."

Kunimi turned to them in interest. "Do you play Karasuno often?"

"Nekoma and Karasuno are rivals," Kuroo said dramatically. "We do practice matches together, and they came to our summer training camp."

"That's where we met Tsukki!" Bokuto put in, "Our team was the best at camp!"

"Too bad it wasn't an actual qualifying game," Kuroo muttered to the spiker.

"Kuroo-san," Akaashi warned. Kuroo just smiled brightly at the younger boy, receiving a deadpan stare in return.

"There goes Hinata!" Bokuto said loudly, previous comment forgotten.

All of the boys watched as Hinata jumped and spiked – only to be blocked by a boy almost twice his height. Kenma blinked in surprise. "What was that?"

Kunimi sighed behind him. "He's called the guess monster. The way he blocks is…"

"Irritating," his friend muttered.

Kenma noticed Kuro sitting forward instantly, his eyes fixated on the tall number 5 as he blocked yet another ball. "Ooh, now Kageyama is irritated," Akaashi commented, looking almost amused as yet another spike was blocked.

Kenma shifted his eyes to the side, studying his mate as the setter was mentioned. Everyone had heard what had happened during Kageyama's last year of junior high. And he knew his bondmate had been one of those on Kageyama's team. Said boy had narrowed his eyes as he watched the game and Kindaichi's hands had clenched into fists. Interesting.

"Oh!" Bokuto cheered loudly, Kuroo only a moment behind as Karasuno scored.

"Kageyama aimed that perfectly. Almost took his head off," Akaashi muttered as Karasuno scored yet again. Kenma nodded, sliding back in his chair. He certainly didn't want that aimed at him.

They all fell silent, transfixed on the match in front of them, as Shiratorizawa broke through with Ushijima's spike. "Ouch." Kuroo muttered, "oh, there's Tsukki!"

"He hates it when you call him that," Kenma muttered, his hands moving to clasp together as he saw Tsukishima run onto the court. He saw #5 say something, which caused Tsukishima's posture to stiffen, and Daichi lean forward to say something.

"Wonder what he said," Kuroo said, chuckling. "Hopefully it pissed Tsukki off enough that he will retaliate."

Bokuto shuddered, "Tsukki is scary."

Kenma felt a small smirk cross his face as he sat forward in his chair. Kuroo was right. If #5 said something to irritate Tsukishima, the probability that he would retaliate was high. "Yes!" Kuroo yelled, jumping from his chair as Tsukishima shut out #5 spike. "I taught him that!"

"He timed that perfectly," Kindaichi agreed, also on his feet.

Kenma shook his head, "It would have worked on Shoyo. Not on Tsukishima."

Kunimi didn't respond, instead turning to look at Kenma for a moment. Kenma shifted his gaze away, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the other boy analyzing him. Finally, Kunimi nodded and faced front once again and Kenma felt himself let out breath he didn't know he had been holding.

"He needs to get the timing down to block even a portion of Ushijima's spikes," Kuroo said as the third year plowed right through the block. "Even when he does, he won't be able to stop them. Not completely."

Kenma shuddered at the thought of that ball slamming into Tsukishima. He had no doubt his bondmate would be black and blue by the end of the day.

"There's that synchronized attack," Kindaichi scowled. Bokuto hooted loudly at the irritation on the others face.

"I think Tsukishima is irritating Shiratorizawa," Kunimi muttered, "his blocks are too close for comfort."

"He tends to do that," Kenma said back softly, the other boy barely able to hear him. "He finds it fun."

The game continued and the six boys watched in silence, Bokuto and Kuroo cheering when Karasuno scored. Kenma scowled when Tsukishima's hit was blocked but watched as his bondmate called the timing for Ushijima's spike. It was obvious what they had planned, force Ushijima to hit the ball in the place they wanted, straight to the libero. Kenma found himself on his feet when Tsukishima scored only a moment later.

"Tsukki's getting into it," Bokuto hollered over the cheers.

"Took him long enough!" Kuroo responded just as loudly.

Bokuto and Kuroo continued to talk, Akaashi chiming in every so often. Kindaichi was muttering something under his breath, probably to Kunimi, but the other never responded. Kenma kept his eyes fixated on the blonde on the court. Bokuto was right. Tsukishima was more involved than Kenma had ever seen him. He was completely absorbed in the game.

"Damn! He almost got it!" Kuroo shouted as Shiratorizawa 's setter did a dump shot.

Yes, he did. And he was obviously not happy about missing it. Kenma frowned at the thought and then tilted his head slightly when he saw Tsukishima purposely move into Shoyou's path as he moved onto the court. The two spoke for only a moment before taking their positions.

"They really should have known that was coming," Akaashi stated as Kageyama scored with a dump shot.

"No way Kags would have let that go," Kuroo agreed.

"Kags?" Kindaichi muttered as Kunimi turned to look at Kuroo with wide eyes. Kenma choked back a laugh at the looks on their faces. No need to tell them that this was the first time Kuroo had ever referred to Kageyama as such.

"This is killing me," Kuroo muttered, sliding down into his chair as the two schools fought for match point.

Kenma had to agree. Just when he thought Karasuno might win the match, Shiratorizawa scored. It was very irritating.

Kenma stood the moment he noticed. Shiratorizawa's setter was feeling the pressure, that was obvious, and he set the ball too low. Low enough that Ushijima wouldn't be able to spike properly, low enough that Tsukishima would have instantly noticed what was going to happen. Akaashi was on his feet only a moment later, leaning forward with his eyes fixated on the ball.

Ushijima hit it. And Tsukishima blocked it.

The stands were silent as the ball slammed down on Shiratorizawa's side. Then the cheering started. Kenma felt the smile cross his face.

"Did he – he…" Kuroo trailed off, staring at the blonde with wide eyes. "He was waiting for that, wasn't he?"

Kenma nodded once, sharply, and felt those around him take a step back. "Scary," Bokuto muttered, receiving frantic nods from Kindaichi and Kuroo. Kenma rolled his eyes.

"Kuro, you do the same thing when you're planning. They don't call you the scheming captain for nothing."

"Tsukishima is ruthless," Kuroo protested.

"That's the second match," Akaashi said with a frown. "They're tied."

"Tsukishima just started playing," Kenma said quietly, making all five boys turn their attention to him. "It's all just starting."