On the tail of a lacklustre morning of classes Kei enters the Nekodani cafeteria which is a stark contrast, buzzing with life. Halfway through the Friday of his second week he no longer needs guidance from his freckle faced friend or the dyed blond gamer boy. After only a couple of rather embarrassing tardy appearances in classes Kei is finally familiar with the layout of the large school. Which alleviates some stress from his life.

Only on his way over to a familiar bright beacon of orange hair with a tray of food does Kei notice that the tittering and chattering around him is more energetic than usual. He's become an expert at tuning out teenage gossip, even without his headphones – which he's been forced to remove throughout the school day – so he keeps his eyes on his target and successfully ignores them.

When he arrives at what has become their regular table Tadashi waves at Kei with a gleeful smile but doesn't speak as to politely not interrupt the animated conversation Shouyou is having with Hitoka – or at her. Kei sits quietly next to the equally quiet Kenma who's tapping away at his 3DS but more half-heartedly than usual, he seems distracted. Lev, the other member of their lunch group, is listening to the short redhead boy in rapt fascination. It makes Kei want to roll his eyes.

Kei's not overly fond of Shouyou. He doesn't know him but he doesn't particularly want to know him either. He's loud and excitable; two traits Kei isn't fond of. However, the redhead is his teammate who he will likely end up playing important games with and Tadashi likes him so Kei tolerates him.

Hitoka on the other hand Kei finds incredibly easy to be friendly with even if she flinches at his presence sometimes. She seems to have one of those personalities that perfectly adapts to the social needs of whoever she's talking to. Whether or not she knows she's doing it is yet to be determined but either way – cunning social genius or accidental angel – he enjoys Hitoka's company.

Between leisurely bites of his sandwich Kei observes Tadashi's expression as he watches the exchange between Shouyou and Hitoka. His best friend is smiling but there is an almost imperceptible awkward strain at the corner of his mouth. A hint of insecurity. Uncertainty. An unanswered question lingering: Is she interested in Shouyou? Kei doesn't blame him, Shouyou and Hitoka get along effortlessly after only two weeks. It's also relatively difficult to discern if either of them are interested because of Hitoka's people pleasing and Shouyou's limitless enthusiasm.

His gold eyes are drawn to the shorter boy next to him who has his legs curled up against his chest, trying to make himself as small as possible. A desire Kei knows all too well, luckily for Kenma he doesn't have absurdly long legs and can succeed.

"What did you eat for lunch today?" Kei asks softly.

…Certainly not because Tetsurou asked him to.

"Sandwich," Kenma mumbles, sunshine yellow eyes flicker to him momentarily before moving back to the console in his hands. "I know he seems all commanding and Captain-like but you don't have to do what Kuro tells you to, even if he begs like the drama queen he is."

He snorts a laugh. "Outside of basketball I wouldn't do anything that idiot told me to even if he paid me."

It's a lie, but I'm good at those, Kei thinks even though his faith in his ability wavers briefly as Kenma glances at him again. He doesn't say anything though, his attention drawn away as Shouyou says his name.

"Kenma! What's the training camp like?"

Kei recognises a radiance of the grin spread across Shouyou's baby-face as he turns to the surprised quiet boy. It's a different light then when he was talking to Hitoka, brighter somehow.

"Um… It was okay, I suppose."

"Only okay?" Shouyou questions, his head tilting dubiously, like a bird. "It's gotta be better than okay! With Kou and Tetsu and just playing and training for basketball all week! That's like… Heaven. I'll be there this time, we'll have fun Kenma!"

The redhead is beaming, brighter than the sun. Kei is about to click his tongue with annoyance at the over enthusiastic display but stops himself when he notices the pink rising in Kenma's cheeks. He's unsure how it happened – likely a combination of the instant silent understanding between the two of them and everyone's protectiveness of the gamer boy rubbing off on Kei – but he has actually come to care for Kenma. Which, considering he can count on one hand the number of people he truly cares for in his life on one hand, is a big deal for Kei.

After a few seconds Kenma manages a small smile. "I'd like that."

"It's two months away," Kei drawls as Kenma is starting to look uncomfortable in the silence and nervous under the intense gaze of a happy Shouyou.

"C'mon Stingyshima, even you have to admit you're excited!"

He is, but not for reasons he'd ever share with… Anyone.

After the first quarter, during their week of fall break, Nekodani basketball team goes on a training camp. For the entire week they stay at a lodge and practice every day for the entire day. It sounds exhausting. But they train with some of the state's best teams, meaning multiple practise matches and opportunities to develop.

"The basketball will be okay. But spending every day with you overly enthusiastic idiots will be tiresome."

Shouyou sticks his tongue out but any unintelligent come back is interrupted by a chorus of laughter that draws their attention to a table nearby. One of its occupants saunters over, snickering so joyfully that he's stumbling. Like a drunkard.

"Hey, Tadashi!" The boy Kei immediately dislikes calls, standing at the end of their table and slapping a hand down on Tadashi's shoulder. "Did ya hear? You musta! I mean you must already know, right?"

Tadashi smiles awkwardly. "Know what?"

"You're the basketball team's manager! Of course y'know," he chuckles obnoxiously into the back of his hand, almost unable to control himself. "They're a bunch of homos."

And suddenly Kei is all too aware of the tittering and chattering he had tuned out earlier.

Everyone at the table stiffens. Shouyou, who had been almost bouncing with eagerness to hear what was so funny, is suddenly very still and uncharacteristically silent. Kenma's eyes nervously flicker back to the console in his hands as he curls tighter into his shell. Tadashi's eyes widen marginally before he manages to conceal his shock. Even Lev is suddenly interested in the food on his plate.

Everyone except for Kei stiffens, that is. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, he has a well-trained poker face from years of not giving a single shit. And secondly, these type of words no longer have any effect on him. He's heard them too many times from people who actually matter to be effected by some teenage idiot's juvenile ignorance. They're just words to him but that doesn't mean he finds them acceptable. Especially when they make his friends uncomfortable.

"Ye-Yeah, apparently-" the boy explains through his laughter. "Apparently one of the seniors c-caught two of 'em making out in one of the bathroom stalls. D-Dunno who it was but fuckin' gross! Gotta find out what bathroom and never go there again. Fuckin faggots."

Tadashi laughs along uncomfortably. Kei can see an angered twitch at his jaw but knows his best friend will never act on it.

Aside from his concern for Keiji and Koutarou – who he currently cannot do anything for – Kei doesn't really care, he mostly just wants the idiot to leave. It's not until he sees Kenma visibly flinch next to him at 'faggot' that a spark ignites a burning fire inside him. The idiotic boy scurries off to tell some more people before Kei has a chance to say anything though.

Their table is left in an awkward silence, the sounds of their peer's laughter ringing too loudly in their ears, the sound jarring.

"Shouyou, are you excited about the upcoming practise game?" Hitoka asks, Kei can hear the strain in her cheery voice but they're all grateful for the distraction as the redhead launches into an energetic spiel.

Meeting Tadashi's worried gaze across the table Kei recognises the sympathy in his dark brown eyes that he's all too accustomed to. If the students are acting this way now, before most of them know who it actually is – Nekodani's treasured Ace and point guard – he can only imagine the shit-storm to come. It's Friday so hopefully they will get over it by Monday.

Unlikely, Kei thinks sceptically.

Saturday morning sunshine beams unobstructed through Kei's window because he forgot to close the curtains last night. Twice now he's turned over in an unsuccessful attempts to escape the powerful rays of light. The window is too far from his bed to close the curtains without getting out of bed and getting out of bed means not being able to go back to sleep but he can't go back to sleep with the light anyway.

…It's a no win situation.

With a sleepy groan Kei throws the covers off himself and sits upright, rubbing his hands into his face. Hobbling on long legs Kei drags himself into the bathroom, undresses and forces himself under the stream of warm water. Although they didn't have training yesterday evening his muscles are still slightly stiff from a long week of intense practise drills. The shower helps, the heat soothing through his aching body.

Once out of the shower and dry Kei stands in front of the steamed up mirror and cards his slender fingers through his golden blond hair. It's getting long, the locks curling over most of his forehead now and down behind his ears. He can't really be bothered getting it cut yet. He'll do it when it starts falling into his eyes and being a nuisance for basketball.

It's the last day of summer and quite a warm one at that, so Kei dresses in grey sweat shorts and a black t-shirt before going to seek food. Akiteru's sitting on a bar stool at the counter when he enters the kitchen. The small kitchen table is flooded with Kei's homework that he accidentally stayed up too late doing.

"Hey, you're up early," Akiteru comments before raising a mug of coffee to his mouth.

"It's… nine thirty," Kei responds, glancing at the clock.

"Over summer break you rarely got up before eleven."

He shrugs. "I forgot to close my curtains and the sun is bright."

"Yup, we kinda need it to be bright otherwise we all die," Akiteru chuckles. "I left a plate of pancakes for you in the oven to keep warm and there are strawberries in the fridge. What are you up to today? Hanging out with Tadashi?"

Retrieving the plate from inside the oven, the punnet of strawberries from the fridge and the maple syrup from the cupboard Kei stands at the counter, across from Akiteru, and prepares his breakfast. Or, well, the rest of it as his brother has done most of the work with the pancakes.

Kei shakes his head as he cuts the strawberries in halves. "Tadashi has his cousin's birthday this afternoon so he can't. I was just going to finish my homework and read or watch some television."

"I'd offer to hang out with you but I have some work to do."

He shrugs pouring syrup over the strawberry covered pancakes. "I'm fine being by myself."

"That's what worries me," Akiteru mumbles into his mug.

"What?"

His brother sighs. "I want you to have more than one friend. You know I love Tadashi but he has other friends and that girl he likes. What if he finally gets the courage to ask her out and starts hanging out with her more; then who will you spend time with? Is there anyone on the team that you like? Not necessarily in that way but as a friend? What about the guy that drives you?"

"Yeah, he's—. There are a couple of alright guys. But it's only been two weeks. I had friends back at Karasuno, I'm not incapable of making friends."

"No, I know you did, but that was before… I'm just worried that you're finding it hard to trust and get close to people because of-"

"I know why!" Kei snaps, sounding more annoyed that he means to. He takes a deep breath and looks up at his brother. "I'm fine Aki, I swear. It's only been two weeks."

Eyes the same sharp gold colour as his own regard him, searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, seemingly satisfied with his answer, his brother nods slowly and downs the remnants of his coffee.

"Besides," Kei says, swallowing a mouthful of syrup soaked pancake and strawberry. "At this rate Tadashi is never going to ask Hitoka out."

Akiteru chuckles. "Maybe you need to give him some help. A gentle push in the right direction."

"Her birthday is next week, I'm planning on a very forceful shove."

Levelling a 'be careful' look at him Akiteru clears his plate and mug and heads into his study – which is now in his bedroom after Kei took the actual study room as his bedroom. Munching down his breakfast Kei calculates how much homework he has left to do and realises, to his chagrin, that after his late night it's probably about less than an hour of work.

What am I going to do with the rest of my damn day? He ponders in annoyance.

Being bored leads to contemplation. Which, in his case, is over-contemplation. About basketball and his studies… and Tetsurou's fucking abs.

Shoving his empty plate into the dishwasher, with probably too much force, Kei pulls his earphones onto his head and focusses on his remaining homework. The heavy, bouncing beat, angst screamed, sung and rapped lyrics that he knows every single word of and tearing guitar riffs of his favourite band are distracting enough to overshadow the thoughts of Tetsurou but not enough to render him unable to complete his homework.

Kei's almost finished when he feels his phone vibrates in his pocket. Retrieving the device he actually isn't surprised to find a message from Kenma.

The gamer boy has been struggling with History and when Kei said something about finding the subject easy he asked for his phone number to ask for help with the homework when he needs it. Or rather Morisuke – grinning like a parent proud that his child has made a new friend – asked for it on his behalf. Through the week the boy has meekly asked Kei a question or two on their homework.

[10:33] Kenma
Hi Kei, I was wondering if you could help me with the essay questions. I don't really understand the topic. Sorry if you're busy. No rush.

Almost an exact replica of every other message. Far too formal with a humble greeting, a cautious ask for help, and a desire not to impede of Kei's clearly hectic social life. Kei reads the message a couple of times and deliberates the homework he already completed for the subject. It's a rather complex topic and he's not certain he can explain adequately over message.

[10:35] Me
I'm not doing anything today. Could I call to explain the homework? It's rather complicated.

[10:36] Kenma
Did you want to come over?

Kei frowns at his phone. For such a reserved person it's a rather extroverted suggestion, but then the message had taken him almost a whole minute to send. Or perhaps Kenma feels a similar sense of ease in Kei's presence as Kei does in his.

[10:36] Me
Sure, you just live around the corner on Miyagi street right?

[10:36] Kenma
Yes, 510 Miyagi street.

Packing away his books in his school backpack ready for Monday Kei pulls on his sneakers before making his way to Akiteru's room. His brother is sitting ramrod straight in his desk chair reading a densely worded and tedious looking document that's open on his desktop computer.

His brother is seven years older than him therefore Kei was in elementary school for most of his high schooling years. They had never studied together though Akiteru often helped him with his homework in middle school. In the few months he's been living with his brother Kei has learnt that Akiteru is an exceptionally hard worker and he cares about his job immensely even if it frustrates him sometimes.

"Hey, I'm going over to a friend's place to help him with some homework," Kei announces, ready to leave when his brother swivels in his chair and raises an inquisitive blond eyebrow at him.

"Who is this mythical 'friend' I'm only just hearing about."

Kei rolls his eyes. "Kenma, he's in a couple of my classes and on the basketball team. He's one of the ones that I drive with to school."

Akiteru smirks. "Is he cute?"

Making an annoyed noise in the back of his throat Kei turns on his heel and strides down the hallway.

"Do you need me to drive you?"

"No!" Kei calls from the front door before slamming it closed.

With their three classes together, lunch, basketball training and their time spent walking or driving to and from school together Kei has been spending more time with Kenma over the last two weeks than anyone else. Which, as someone he barely knows, is more of a relief than it should be. He feels a strong sense of ease around Kenma, like he doesn't have to worry about being judged and doesn't have to filter his thoughts as much. The only other person he feels so relaxed with is Tadashi – he even has to keep his guard up around his brother sometimes – and maybe even Keiji, though he's spent far less time with the latter.

It only takes Kei a couple of minutes to walk around to Kenma's house. He sees the 510 on the gate but his gaze strays to the houses either side of it, wondering which Tetsurou's is. Bristling internally at himself he's glad that Tetsurou's car isn't outside either so he can't know for sure.

Pushing thoughts of Tetsurou of his mind Kei knocks on Kenma's door and waits patiently while he hears shuffling inside. The door cracks open slowly and two yellow eyes glow from the darkness within, sending a shiver down his spine before the door opens far enough for the sun to light Kenma's boyish face.

"Hi," he says softly. "Come in."

Nodding a little stiffly Kei enters the darkness of Kenma's house, the boy flicks the light on as he closes the front door, blocking out any natural light.

"Sorry about the mess," Kenma mumbles as he leads Kei further in. "I usually clean the house on Sundays."

Kei's eyes float over the living room and kitchen they walk past, it's really nothing more than untidy, certainly not 'messy'. The house is small, like Akiteru's, designed for only a couple of people. Kei knows Kenma is an only child, simply by the way he and Tetsurou act like siblings that have gravitated towards each other due to only child circumstances. He wonders about Kenma's parents but through personal experience knows that asking isn't always more complicated than blurting out a question.

"My house is much the same," Kei says indifferently and notices Kenma's shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

They enter the gamer boy's bedroom and it's a little messier. Game cases for many different consoles are stacked on the floor in the corner and on his computer desk but the stacks are perfectly straight and in alphabetical order. The wardrobe is open and the clothes seem a little askew but they're hung separated into school uniform and coloured coded casual clothes. The bed is covered in school books and homework. Despite being a neat person Kei doesn't find the orderly mess uncomfortable.

Kenma crawls onto his double bed and into the centre of the sprawled book circle, like an apprentice magician. Kei glances about the room, standing awkwardly by the closed door waiting to be told what to do while he watches Kenma rearrange his books. He's not nervous because he's in a boy's room or anything, just general social anxiety.

Objectively speaking he's aware that Kenma is attractive – probably even more so when the last couple of inches if blond grow out – but Kei isn't attracted to him. The shorter boy has a round face, slender body, fair skin and a small button nose. Basically, the complete opposite of anyone Kei has found himself attracted to the past and – begrudgingly, vaguely – the present.

Seeming to have arranged his books in a satisfying order Kenma looks up at Kei with inquisitive yellow eyes, his toes wiggling in front of him.

"So… The first question is: How did small pox influence the colonization of the Americas?" Kenma starts uncertainly, eyes moving over the sheet in front of him to the textbook. "Did you—Have you done this one?"

"I did it all last," Kei answers simply.

His body starts to relax as his mind retraces the answers he gave to the questions and how he can help explain them. Anxiety overwhelmed by thoughts of his favourite subject Kei subconsciously ambles over to the bed and sits next to Kenma in the space he created. The gamer boy tenses a little at the action but Kei barely notices.

As he starts explaining and Kenma focuses on his words they both fall into an easy rhythm of discussion about colonisation and disease and effects on native culture.

Kei's not the most socially competent person so the fact that they're both so comfortable – sitting close to each other on Kenma's bed – is likely an indication of their friendship. An effortless friendship at that.

Burr. Burr.

A hollow rumbling noise breaks through whatever vague dream Tetsurou was having about playing basketball. It's nearby. His phone? It's vibrating. A call or a message…

Burr. Burr.

Definitely a call. Groaning with annoyance into the crevice of pillows his head is stuffed between Tetsurou slowly rolls onto his side. His arm falls onto the bed and he lethargically drags it over to his bedside table until his fingers find the vibrating device. Pulling it closer he barely cracks an eye open to see a picture of Koutarou's all too energetic face lighting up his screen.

With another groan he presses the answer button and he doesn't even have to put it on speaker phone to hear his best friend's far too loud voice.

"Bro! What the hell? I've been calling you for ages!"

"Why, bro?" Tetsurou whines at the phone sitting on the bed next to his sleep scrunched face. "It's… Ten thirty… On a Saturday."

"We have a crisis!" He yells which makes Tetsurou grimace, the sound grating at his ears.

He loves his best friend, even when other people find him annoying and loud, but Tetsurou is not a morning person and the fact that Koutarou has as much energy at six in the morning as he does all day, until he completely zonks out at ten at night, is annoying.

"What…?"

"Tets, they know, they all know!"

"The school…? I know, I was there remember."

Yesterday, through lunch period, the news started spreading about 'homos' on the basketball team. The disgusted way people were speaking about it still makes Tetsurou cringe. But at the time, even after school, no one knew who specifically had been caught making out in a bathroom. Of course Tetsurou knew as soon as the first hint of the not-so-false rumour started to spread when Koutarou's face went a deep shade of red and Keiji looked like he wanted to curl up in a ball and die. Quietly – somehow – his best friend had admitted that they'd been caught.

"Yeah but they didn't know it was me and Keij, now they do!" Koutarou's words are frantic and he's speaking twice as fast as he usually does. Which makes it miraculous Tetsurou can understand. "Check Facebook man! They all know. Keiji is freakingout!"

This wakes him up somewhat. 'Freak out' and 'Keiji' do not belong together in a sentence.

There is muffled complaint in the background of the call before Tetsurou asks, "What do you mean 'freaking out'?"

Koutarou doesn't answer right away, he hears movement and a door closing. Tetsurou realises that his best friend is currently at Keiji's house, in his room, and just left to speak more privately with him.

"Dude, I've never seen him like this," Koutarou's voice is conspiratorially low, the concern unmistakeable. "I really don't know what to do. He won't get out of bed and he won't talk to me. He's scared Tets. Keiji, Keiji is fuckin' scared! And it's scaring me."

The helplessness in his best friend's voice wakes him up better than a bucket of water to the face and Tetsurou sits upright.

"I'll be there in ten, Kou," he says quickly and ends the call.

With concern for his friends setting his nerves on edge Tetsurou showers and dresses in record time, more awake than he usually is at this time on a Saturday morning. As he rushes down the stairs, wallet in his pocket and keys flipping around his finger, his mother asks about his rush.

"You're awake early, honey. Where are you off to?"

"Ah, friend crisis," Tetsurou answers, skirting around the truth as he grabs a banana and a bottle of water out of the friend. "I'll be back later."

Out the door and in his car it doesn't take him long to get to Keiji's, a five minute drive from his own house. He knocks at the door and isn't surprised when Koutarou answers it. Keiji's parents are rarely home – they work more than Tetsurou's do – most of the time he's by himself or sometimes his older sister is visiting. Koutarou, as he always does of people he cares about, inserted himself easily into Keiji's life, comfortable thinking of Keiji's house as his own even after only a few months being together.

His best friend's eyes, usually bright and wide with excitement, are darker and there is a pinched crease of worry between his silver eyebrows. His mouth is set in a tight line and his fist is clenched by his side. Tetsurou has never seen Koutarou so uneasy.

"Thank fuck bro, so glad you're here," Koutarou says, drawing Tetsurou into a tight hug. "I can't do this stuff, I'm not good at it," he confesses as he pulls back and allows Tetsurou entrance. "I don't know what to do. Did you see what people are saying?"

Tetsurou winces. He wants to check the extent of damage social media is reaping but at the same time he knows it's likely a very bad idea. One that will lead to… Broken things.

"Nah man, bad idea."

"That's what Keiji said, he won't let me look."

Despite the situation a smile curls Tetsurou's lips. "And you're just… Not looking?"

"He told me not to!"

Tetsurou chuckles and slaps his friend on the shoulder. "Dude, you are so whipped."

Koutarou isn't even offended – not that Tetsurou meant it offensively, just that generally people would be – he just beams back a proud smile. "Yeah I am!"

"So gone for each other, so adorable," he scruffs his hand through Koutarou's spiked up hair. "Okay, so Keiji's unresponsive? He told you not to check Facebook so he's at least a little responsive?"

"Yeah…" his best friend's face falls. "He's curled up and quiet, more so than usual. It's not good bro. I don't like it. I just… I don't like seeing him like this."

Tetsurou heaves a sigh and smiles ruefully, squeezing Koutarou's shoulder. "It'll be okay bro. Let's go talk to him, yeah?"

Following closely behind Koutarou leads him to Keiji's room that Tetsurou has been in many times before; the three of them were really close even before Koutarou and Keiji got together. It's dark inside, the light off and curtains closed. It reminds him of the perpetual cave-like state of Kenma's room. Clothes are scattered lazily on the floor and books dumped messily on his desk. It's all very unlike neat-freak Keiji.

"Hey Keij, Tets is here," Koutarou announces as they enter and sits on the edge of the bed next to a large lump under the covers that he gentle nudges after a few silent seconds. "C'mon babe, please talk."

"There is nothing to talk about," Keiji's monotonous voice is muffled under the cover and dismissive.

His best friend turns to him and shrugs dramatically and helplessly, begging Tetsurou for some kind of answer or help. Sighing deeply Tetsurou glances about the dim room and his eyes move to the offending curtains.

As he walks over to open them he can hear Koutarou quietly mumbling sweet words to his boyfriend. Tetsurou thinks it should make him uncomfortable that he's in the same room while they do this but he really isn't. Koutarou is the epitome of PDA so he's more than used to it; hell Tetsurou has been the main target of the friendly kind for the last three years. Mostly he just finds the comforting endearing.

Sometimes he finds himself smiling stupidly at them being all cute and couple-y. What can he say, he's a romantic. Not that he wants it, to be all couple-y with someone, basketball is too much of a priority, but… It's nice.

Tetsurou pulls open the curtain and hears Keiji groan behind him, a feeling he understands. When he walks back over to them Koutarou stands and pushes Tetsurou down in his place a little too firmly like Tetsurou was going to resist the action.

"Hey Keij," Tetsurou starts, resting a hand on what looks like his shoulder. He hopes. "This really isn't like you. I expect this from him—" he indicates to Koutarou who squawks a complaint, "—but not from you."

"You clearly have not seen what they are saying," Keiji responds, his voice breaking a little and it fucking hurts to hear from such a composed person.

"They're just arseholes Keij, they don't deserve your time. They aren't worth the anger, their opinions are literally meaningless."

"Is that what you tell yourself every morning?" his voice is bitter, almost biting.

Tetsurou sits back, his hand leaving Keiji's shoulder and his eyes wide because that actually hurt. He's well aware of the things people say about him, he's far from stupid, but he ignores it because he doesn't care what they think. He does, however, care what his friends think. Which Keiji clearly knows as he immediately sits up and takes Tetsurou's hand back between his own.

"I'm sorry," he says, red rimmed dark green eyes intense with sincerity. "I didn't mean…"

"I know," Tetsurou answers because they understand each other too well to have to explain things sometimes. He smiles warmly, wrapping his fingers around Keiji's hand reassuringly. "I'm not saying it's going to be easy but being miserable like this won't help anything. You're stronger than this and you know it. You're Keiji fucking Akaashi, you're homo as fuck and you don't give a single shit what any of those losers think."

Koutarou pumps his fists in the air. "Yeah, yeah, yeah!"

Keiji's gaze moves to his boyfriend and a small smile curls the corner of his mouth.

"Besides, our Ace is lost without you-"

"Yeah!"

"—It's pathetic really."

"Hey!" Koutarou whines which only stretches Keiji's smile further.

"And I kinda need him to win. Probably you too," Tetsurou adds with a shrug, smirking. "Unfortunately there isn't five of me. Then we'd definitely win."

Koutarou decides to be offended by this, shoving Tetsurou down onto the bed, pinning him down across Keiji's legs and growling at him to take back the 'pathetic' and the 'five of me' comments. Tetsurou is just chuckling in his ridiculously incensed face and Keiji is actually snickering, covering his mouth as if he can actually keep the laughter in.

"Bro, get off, you're fucking heavy!" Tetsurou complains exaggeratedly, pushing at his best friend's solidly built chest. Koutarou's not that much stronger than him but he currently has the advantage of down weight.

"Koutarou."

His mouth hangs open with the retort he was about to yell before his boyfriend reprimanded him in a nonchalant tone that somehow always works. Tetsurou smirks as Koutarou groans petulantly and rolls off him, now lying across Keiji's lap. When Koutarou notices this all hints of annoyance leave his face and his expression softens as he sits up.

"Are you feeling better Keiji?"

A fond smile lights Keiji's blotchy face. It's so incredibly difficult to see such a stoic person upset. Keiji's hair is a mess – though nowhere near Tetsurou's level of bad bedhead – and his face is puffy and ruddy from crying. Yet he still somehow manages to look ridiculously attractive. Tetsurou wants to know his secret but he feels like it will remain an eternal mystery.

"Yes," Keiji answers and then turns to Tetsurou. "Thank you."

He simply nods in response but of course Koutarou is insulted.

"What about me? I'm the one that called him!"

"Because you didn't know what to do," Keiji points out flatly, which makes Tetsurou wince because he can practically feel Koutarou starting to break down into a dejected mess. "But thank you for being here for me. For caring."

And just like that Koutarou melts because, in his own words, Keiji's compliments are 'worth all the insults in the world'. Melting leads to sickeningly sweet kissing. Tetsurou smiles at them because he's so exceedingly happy for his friends but then he notices Koutarou's tongue licking uninhibited into Keiji's mouth and suddenly Tetsurou is very aware that he's in a bedroom alone with them, sitting on the bed they're making out on.

"I'll see you guys later," he says, standing quickly.

"Oh, bro, sorry! Forgot you were here."

Tetsurou gasps theatrically. "Rude and uncalled for! Especially after the heroics I have accomplished here today."

Keiji raises a dark eyebrow, unimpressed as ever.

"You don't have to leave bro, we can hang!"

"Nah it's cool," he shrugs it off and then winks suggestively. "I'll leave you to it."

Koutarou grins far too brightly, giving him two thumbs up and Keiji huffs with exasperation. Shaking his head and chuckling Tetsurou lets himself out and makes his way back home.

It's not until Tetsurou's back in his room that he discovers just how frustrated he is by this whole situation. He made the mistake of checking Facebook, out of sheer habit really, and was repulsed by the very first post he saw. Of course he scrolled to the next and the next and it all went downhill from there. Never has he wanted to leave long ranting comments full of highly offensive words to people he barely knows before. On every post. From the highly disturbing 'I bet ice-king Keiji's face is a slutty mess as Koutarou's reaming him' to the underwhelming and unimaginative 'no wonder they love basketBALLS'.

Tetsurou is pacing in his room restlessly, tossing a basketball between his hands subconsciously as he worries about school on Monday. If it's like this now, what's it going to be like physically surrounded by the arseholes? Perhaps they're braver because it's online but if they're together at school isn't it more of a pack mentality thing and they'll be just as—

Fuck, I need to go do something, Tetsurou thinks, stopping abruptly in his tracks.

Without much thought he pulls on his black and red Nikes, takes his ball and jogs over to Kenma's house. Inside is as dim as ever and as a result of the heavy light blocking curtains much cooler than the heat outside. Closing the front door behind him he makes his way to Kenma's room, the door closed like always. He doesn't knock, he rarely does, but he probably should have.

"Oh? What's this?" Tetsurou disguises his surprise and discomfort with humour. "Study date Ken?"

Sitting in a mess of textbooks and notes next to Kenma is Kei, looking as awkward as Tetsurou feels. Kei's long pale legs are draped over the side of the bed and he's leaning close to Kenma, over the notebook Kenma's pen is resting on mid-word. The taller boy is tense, his gold eyes widened as if he's been caught doing something he isn't supposed to.

Tetsurou wonders if perhaps he was wrong about Kenma liking Shouyou until he notices the absolute lack of concern on Kenma's face. He's certain that if it were the energetic redhead sitting next to Kenma instead of Kei, his best friend would be a flustered and mortified about now. Tetsurou relaxes as he realises that he's not actually interrupting anything awkwardly.

"Is Keiji okay?" Kenma questions, completely ignoring Tetsurou's comment and turning back to his writing.

He shrugs, giving a rueful smile. "For now… Hey Tsukki! What are you doing here?"

Kei seems to have relaxed but sits up straight. "Helping with homework. What happened to Keiji?"

"The school found out who the 'basketball homos' were," with the basketball under his arm Tetsurou bends his fingers into quotation marks. "Facebook has blown up about it of course. Bunch of judgemental pricks."

The blond gives a knowing nod as if he's experienced similar juvenile bullying that Tetsurou is curious about. He doesn't ask though, it's likely something he doesn't wish to discuss with two people he met two weeks ago.

"I need to get my mind off it before I drive over to someone's house and deck them. Come play with me," Tetsurou almost begs, holding the ball in front of him and wiggling it. "Please Ken."

"I have homework."

He groans. "You're the worst. Why didn't you do it last night?"

"Because I'm not some uptight study weirdo like you," Kenma deadpans.

"You finished your homework on a Friday night?" Kei questions, eyebrow cocked and incredulous. "You don't seem the studious type."

Tetsurou gasps in mock horror. "I'll have you know I am very smart!"

He snorts a laugh and a smirk curls his lips. "I'll just have to take your word for it."

"Kuro has a 3.9 GPA," Kenma says like it's the most boring piece of information he's ever given.

Tetsurou notices Kei's eyes widening in surprise and beams a smug grin at him. He's never really been one for bragging about his grades, basketball certainly but not his grades. And yet seeing Kei's reaction gives him an odd sense of satisfaction; must be because he already knows how intelligent Kei is with a GPA only marginally lower.

"Tsukki? Do you have homework?"

"I finished my homework last night."

A grin spreads across Tetsurou's face. "I knew there was a reason I liked you. Let's go."

"Why?"

"What do you mean 'why'? To have fun, duh! Also to distract me from the whole decking-a-bunch-of-idiotic-high-schoolers thing."

Kei shrugs. "That would be rather amusing though."

Heaving a sigh Tetsurou glances down at the basketball and twists it between his hands. He forgot how stubborn Kei is. Unlike Kenma, who simply prefers the company of pixels on a screen, Kei acts as if the whole concept of doing things perturbs him. Which Tetsurou can tell isn't genuine, that there is some part of Kei that actually wants to do things, to have fun, to play. It's simply hidden under his cool exterior.

"It would be good for you Tsukki, you need the practise."

Tetsurou glances back in time to see Kei's lip twitch and holds back the triumphant smirk that's threatening to overwhelm his expression. You have him on the line Tetsu, play it cool and reel him in.

He shrugs nonchalantly and continues. "We've been doing a lot of team drills in training. I could teach you some one-on-one defensive skills since that's your weakest area."

Jaw clenched in annoyance Kei stands and glances down at Kenma. "Will you be okay doing the rest?"

Kenma hums an affirmative response, his pen moving across the page confidently. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Kei strides across the room and Tetsurou grins at him as he passes. Sweet victory. The smile never leaves his face as he follows Kei out of the house and calls a farewell to Kenma.

The blond seems to know where the nearby public basketball court is so Tetsurou falls into step behind him without a word. Kei's shoulders are tense, a result of Tetsurou's critical words or perhaps simply a result of his social anxiety. He recognised it early in the way Kei speaks softly, just loud enough for people to hear, the way he chews on his lips and the way he laces his fingers tightly together. Having grown up with Kenma he's sensitive to these things and endeavours not to push the blond too far.

"Hey," Tetsurou starts, catching up to walk beside Kei. "Thank you for helping with Ken's homework by the way. He's smart but he gets a little distracted in class sometimes and misses things. Mori said you've been texting him with help through the week too."

Kei shrugs. "I'm not doing it for you."

"Right, obviously. We grew up together, he's kind like my little brother. So thank you anyway."

He nods slowly and they fall into silence again. Tetsurou's always been a social person and he likes to think he's good at reading people but he feels so uncertain when it comes to Kei. He's different from most people, he's mature for his age and guarded.

Despite the time they spend together at training and travelling to school together Tetsurou still isn't sure how to act around Kei sometimes. It feels like there is an awkwardness between them he doesn't quite understand. It feels like Kei avoids him sometimes but he's noticed at training that he's a very quiet person and keeps to himself, so it's probably not just Tetsurou he's distant with. It doesn't faze him but considering the time they'll likely be spending together through the year he'd like them to be at least friendly with each other, comfortable.

"You don't have a problem with them do you? Keiji and Kou… Being together?"

Kei frowns, side-eyeing him. "Of course not. Why?"

Tetsurou grunts. "Minor amount of faith in humanity restored."

"They won't let it go," Kei responds after a moment of silence. He doesn't seem like he's going to continue until Tetsurou glances at him in question. "The kids at school. They'll probably try to make Keiji and Koutarou miserable. Makes them feel better about themselves."

As he says this Tetsurou isn't certain where Kei's sense of understanding of this topic lies; with the bully or the victim. Perhaps both. He's experienced the bite of Kei's words before but never felt there was anything malicious behind the intent. That's possibly why he's so guarded and why he carefully considers every word before he speaks. Too conscientious of saying the wrong thing; of hurting people.

"Of the two of them I expected Kou to be struggling but for some reason Keiji's letting it get to him. I just hope he can get through Monday," Tetsurou confesses with a sigh. "Because I think you're right, I don't think they'll let it go."

They enter the courts and find no one there; the day too hot for casual games. Tetsurou doesn't waste time, he focusses his efforts on basketball and it washes over his mind like a relieving shower after an exhausting day. The greatest distraction. Kei listens, quiet and patient, as Tetsurou explains defensive positioning and movement in great detail. He can practically see the blond's mind absorbing the information and it leaves Tetsurou smiling to himself.

The more time he spends training with Kei the more excited Tetsurou is about playing with him. They play one-on-one for a couple of hours and Kei improves swiftly, never complaining though he seems more exhausted than Tetsurou.

"One more," Tetsurou says, panting heavily with sweat plastering his black bangs to his head.

He bounces the ball leisurely as he takes it back to half court and as he turns, lowering himself into an attaching stance, he watches Kei's gold eyes flicker over his form. Tetsurou knows what he sees, what he's watching for, because he does the same. The only difference in their game sense is the way they react. While Tetsurou is instinctive, moving through sheer reflex, Kei is calculating, deciding in an instant what the best action.

Dribbling faster Tetsurou approaches, swaying back and forth, weight shifting in an attempt to disguise his attack pattern. The determined expression on Kei's face as he observes the movement makes Tetsurou smile. Pushing off his left swiftly Tetsurou dives past Kei, brushing past his arm. Kei stays with him but his movement is lethargic and he isn't quick enough to stop Tetsurou from shooting a rather lazy layup.

When Tetsurou turns around with a triumphant grin he sees Kei bent over with his hands on his knees. His chest is heaving as he sucks in deep breaths, his black t-shirt is sticking to him and his blond hair is darker with sweat.

"You all right Tsukki?" Tetsurou asks, a little concerned. But Kei straightens and his breathing steadies.

He nods. "Yeah. It's really hot."

"That's an understatement. Probably be the last hot day for a while," Tetsurou chuckles as he collects the ball and props it under his arm. "C'mon, wouldn't want you to get heat stroke."

Kei lets out an exasperated huff but follows quietly after Tetsurou. He slows his pace though so he can keep an eye on Kei because he seems like the type that wouldn't say anything if they were suffering any kind of ailment. Tetsurou notices the redness of his pale arms and instantly feels guilty.

"Shit dude, you got sunburnt," he winces and his fingers automatically move to Kei's arm. He stiffens in Tetsurou's grip but doesn't pull away. "Sorry about that, not something I have much experience with."

Running his long fingers over the redness Kei shrugs. "It'll be fine, not like it's the first time I've been sunburnt. Also nice subtle bragging about your tan skin."

"Nothing subtle about it," Tetsurou says, winking at him before letting his arm go. "Nah, I prefer pale skin. It's softer. Mine feels all leathery like old man skin."

"Stop fishing for compliments, you already give yourself more than enough. Your head's already a mess we don't need it exploding as well."

"Wha-? Are you calling me arrogant Tsukki? I'm wounded!"

The corner of Kei's mouth is quirked with amusement as he glances at Tetsurou. "I call them like a see them."

"Also leave my hair out of this! It is an innocent third party and it does not deserve this treatment."

"Innocent is not the way I would describe it," Kei grimaces, scrutinising Tetsurou's perpetual bedhead. "More like a dark sweaty nest in which resides the spawn of Satan."

"Oh yeah, well yours is… It's…" He fumbles with his words trying to find an insult for Kei's neat, softly curled blond hair. "Ugh, fine, there is nothing wrong with your hair and mine is a disaster, I'm well aware thank you very much."

Tetsurou aggressively pushes his fingers through his thick black hair but it slumps back in its usual disarray immediately. Kei starts laughing, a choked quiet noise like he's trying to contain it and Tetsurou's eyes widen as he realises he's never heard the blond laugh before. It's a pleasant sound, especially when Tetsurou starts laughing with him and he stops trying to hold it back.

As their laughter dies down Tetsurou notices how much more relaxed Kei is, his fingers loose instead of curled up and his mouth soft instead of in its usual harsh line. Perhaps this is a glimpse of Kei's unguarded self, jovial and content. It's nice to see.

"Hey," Tetsurou calls after Kei as he starts down his street and turns back to face him. "Thank you, for playing with me, for being a distraction. I really needed it."

Kei nods, his gold eyes metallic in the bright afternoon light. "Anytime."