XXXV.

Kei.

This is only a club.

But it was everything to my brother. And as a result, it made him tell pointless lies to me. But maybe deep down inside he believed them. That maybe he'll become a regular and the ace in the team if he strive harder. But was it worth it, Nii-chan? Was it all worth it in the end?

Kinomi didn't pursue me to change my mind. But somehow I was kind of influenced by what she said. She made me feel like it's okay to stay the way I am yet at the same time she makes me want to become a better person. My calling? I'm not sure whether it'll make a difference when the time comes.

"What else do we need besides pride?!"

I was surprised at Yamaguchi's outburst it was almost funny. Pride, huh? That's what's keeping them going forward? Probably. But it made me reconsider. So I excused myself and marched back to the third gymnasium.

"Oya? Oya oya?"

"Oya oya, oya?"

The two captains looked at me with those same teasing expressions while Akaashi-san and Kinomi wore their trademark poker faces. But the latter smiled in satisfaction right after, as if she knew what I came for.

"There's something I'd like to ask you. May I?"

"Sure!" The captains said in unison, their smiles still intact.

"Thank you very much." I bowed, their smiles wiping off at my next statement. "Both of your schools are sometimes considered powerhouse schools, right?"

"Well, yeah." Kuroo-san clicked his tongue in annoyance.

I ignored their irritation and kept going. "Even if you were able to make it to Nationals, actually winning there would be difficult, right?"

"But not impossible!" Bokuto-san retorted, annoyed as well.

"Now, now, let's hear him out. This is just a what if." Akaashi-san said in a calm tone.

"This is not even the main question yet." Kinomi added.

"I seriously can't figure out how everyone can be so determined. 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?"

Kinomi smirked, and I gawked at her. I don't know whether she's amused or impressed at my question, but I wanted to know why I'm the only one who thinks this way even when I'm sure they all experienced what my brother has gone through.

My attention was shifted to Bokuto-san when he spoke in an offended tone. "Just a club?" But I guess he wasn't that offended... "That sounds like someone's name."

"Ooh, like Mary Club?" Kuroo-san asked with wide eyes. "No wait, I guess it was 'just some club.'"

"Aw, man! So it doesn't sound like someone's name. Man, I was so close!"

"Damn it!"

"These two are too immature for your mature questions, Kei." Kinomi drawled. "It's not too late to back out."

"Am I supposed to retort?" I asked.

"Nah. There'll be no end to it." Akaashi-san said.

"Say, four-eyes," Bokuto-san called.

"It's Tsukishima." I corrected.

"Say, Tsukishima-kun... is volleyball fun?" He asked with an eager smile.

I blinked, thinking for a moment. Do I need to find it fun in order to understand them?

"No, not really..." I shrugged.

"Maybe that's because you suck." I frowned in disbelief. "I'm a third year and I've been to Nationals, and I'm way better than you. Like way better."

"You don't have to tell me that." And I don't think there's any connection.

However, I listened attentively to what Bokuto-san has to say. And it was also the same as what Kinomi said with regard to the calling or the 'moment' as what he referred to this time. I really don't get it but I felt this surge of feelings that I couldn't put a finger to. It was profound yet at the same time I was in awe. Kinomi smiled all the while about it while I was dragged by the captains to block some spikes for them in exchange for answering my question.

I started to take training a little bit seriously this time around, taking Kuroo-san's advises in mind. When it was our time against Fukurodani, Bokuto-san dominated the match which caused us to have a time-out. It made me want to test out if I had honed my blocking senses after training with the captains. Bokuto-san has been aggressive as usual, but when I jumped this time to block him, he changed his spike to a feint.

"Bokuto-san just ran away." Akaashi-san pointed out.

"I did not! I just got around it! And really well! I got around their block!"

"Bokuto-san! Lame!" I heard Kinomi from the other side tease him.

"Oh shut up, Mikazuki!"

I ignored them, then glanced at Hinata who was looking back at me with a determined look in his eyes. In the end, we were the team with the most penalties and we took them with dignity.

Kinomi and I sat in the shade, both leaning against the tree. I would only go out in the open whenever we sprint up the hill, but being here now and doing nothing, I can appreciate the relaxing wind slightly blowing every once in a while.

We just sat there together without a word, enjoying the silence, the ambiance and each other's presence. I looked at her from my peripheral vision, seeing her head leaned against the tree, eyes closed and rosy lips parted. It felt like the first time that I'm admiring her up close, and it reminded me of the reasons why I fell in love with her, yet at the same time I don't even know why I did.

"Tsukki..." She murmured, her lips curling upward. "Don't look at me too much, you creep."

I snorted. "You're the creepy one because you knew I was staring." I retorted.

She opened her eyes, shifting them over to me. She slowly blinked at me, like a relaxed cat. "You did well today. Congrats."

I glanced at her, then back at my water bottle, a small smile forming. "Thanks."

"How does it feel?"

I shrugged. "Sort of... normal."

"Really?" Kinomi tilted her head to have a closer look at my face, which made me slightly back away. She smiled. "But you're starting to take this more seriously though. That's some slow yet sure character development, Kei."

If that is true, then I guess I'm not the only one.

"Mikazuki-san!" The managers from Fukurodani called her.

"Yes?" She looked up at them from the distance.

"Can you give us a hand with the rice balls and lettuce?"

"Okay!" She agreed, then turned her gaze back at me. "I should probably go help them. The feast will begin shortly."

"Okay." I just said. She stood up, stretched, then jogged away toward the managers. With a sigh, I also stood up and marched my way back at the place where the barbecue is held.

Every meal, Kinomi made sure that I ate more than I could take because she kind of knew that I wouldn't come back to ask for seconds. After having enough, I sat down on the steps, watching everyone. Yamaguchi was standing beside me still eating.

Kinomi was aloof and she preferred to be alone before. But seeing her interacting and smiling with the managers is a sight to see. I smiled. You say that I had the character development, but it's amusing that you're unaware that you are as well.

"Tsukishima!" Sawamura-san called, making me shift my attention to him. He was reaching out a plate of food to me, making me wince. "You need to eat more!"

"Uh... I can't eat that much..."

"Come on, eat some veggies, too." Kuroo-san appeared with a plate of vegetables now. "You, too, Kenma, damn it!"

"Eat some rice!" Sawamura-san encouraged.

"You mean meat! Eat some meat, Tsukki! Or you won't grow anymore!" Bokuto-san approached as well with a plate of meat. What the heck is up with them?

"Oh leave him alone, you guys." Kinomi suddenly appeared, a smile decorating her features.

I would have appreciated it if she didn't also have a plate of rice balls on her hands. She reached out the said plate to me. I gawked at her before looking down at the rice balls, seeing it with weird shapes and designs.

"Uh... what is this?" I asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"That's you." She told me with a mocking grin. "Isn't it obvious? It had those same glasses and that annoying smirk."

"Woah, it does look like him!" Bokuto-san said with an impressed tone.

"How sweet of you." Kuroo-san grinned. "Well, since you're making some rice balls, will you make some for Kenma while you're at it?"

"Sure." Kinomi agreed.

"I'm not hungry yet..." Kozume-san whined.

"Yes, you are." Kuroo-san and Kinomi said in unison.

"You still haven't eaten anything, Kenma-kun. I'm going to bring some food for you." She said before chancing a look at me. "Finish that." She walked out, our gazes trailing behind her.

“Mikazuki! Make some rice balls that look like me, too!” Bokuto-san called out, trailing behind her.

“Make some yourself, Bokuto-san.”

“Teach me!”

I don't really have the appetite anymore but I wouldn't want these to go to waste. I took a bite of the rice ball, Kuroo-san's stare at me lingering.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing." He said. "I was just thinking who among you the first one to confess their feelings for each other."

I choked on my rice ball. Yamaguchi tensed as he gave me his paper cup of water. "W-what?"

"And I think I have an idea who." He chuckled, making warmth climb up to my cheeks. He looked over at her, and I followed his gaze, seeing her busying herself making more rice balls with Bokuto-san. "You know, she held so much grudge against her mother. She was so unforgiving, resentful and aloof. Somehow, I understood where she came from. I'm just glad that phase is over now."

"That explains her stiff attitude before." Sawamura-san commented.

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why do you talk as if you know her so well?"

"She didn't tell you?" Kuroo-san asked with a confused expression, making my frown deepen. "That girl." He sighed, shaking his head. "It may be hard to believe but I'm her brother now."

"Eh?" Yamaguchi was even more surprised than I was. "You two are related? But... why are your last names...?"

"Stepsiblings." I clarified. Kuroo-san nodded in agreement.

"Well," He shrugged, smirking. "Not that it's important but at least you know now."

The month of August is the peak of summer. It is also the month where we will participate in the High School Spring Tournament and the month of the fireworks festival in Miyagi.

On normal days, I would just stay in my room and let the days pass. But Kinomi promised that she will come here to celebrate her aunt's birthday and visit my mom. It was almost evening when she arrived, and as expected my mother attacked her with a bone cracking hug.

"Kinomi-chaaan~!" Mom sang, rubbing her face against Kinomi in a motherly manner. I just smiled as she got flustered at the treatment. "How long has it been? Two months?"

"I think so, Kina-san." She smiled sheepishly before handing her a box of cake. My eyes glued to it, making me anticipate the flavor.

Strawberry shortcake?

"Tiramisu," Kinomi confirmed. Oh well, not bad. "The café ran out of strawberries."

"Aw, thank you for this, Kinomi-chan! Kei loves everything sweet. Maybe that's why he loves you so much!" She beamed, making my eyes widen.

"Mom!" I scolded, blood climbing up to my cheeks. Here she goes again! She's so embarrassing!

"Ahaha..." Kinomi let out an awkward laugh, her cheeks flushed, too.

"Ah, youth..." Mom sighed dreamily, pulling Kinomi inside the house and on to the living room couch. Mom gave me the box of tiramisu. "Put this in the fridge for a while, dear." She said without sparing me a glance, I'm starting to think that she loves Kinomi more than me. "So how are you holding up, Kinomi-chan?"

I took the box with me to the kitchen and took a peek inside. It looked so appetizing... one bite won't hurt...

"Kei, we'll eat the cake later!" Mom called out from the living room, as if she sensed what I was about to do. I just shook my head then put the cake in the refrigerator for the time being.

Dad and Nii-chan arrived not long after. And we shared a meal with Kinomi, who was obviously genuinely happy to be here and actively interacting with my family.

"I'm glad that you're easing up with your family, Kinomi-chan." Nii-chan said with his warm smile.

"They're very kind to me, so I figured..."

"I assume that you're eating healthier now?" Dad asked, being the usual health conscious nurse he is.

"Of course, Akito-san!"

"Liar." I coughed.

"I'm not!"

"You didn't even eat that much during the training camp. You just kept on shoving food down my throat every chance you get."

"Well, you needed to eat more than me because you're an athlete. Even though you don't look like one." She sneered. I glared at her.

"Is that how you two show affection for each other?" Dad asked with a chuckle, making the both of us stop and continue eating.

"My, my, how unique these two are." Mom laughed.

"You guys always fight but can't live without each other." Nii-chan commented, laughing along with Mom and Dad.

Ugh. Why do I have a family like this?

"Are you going to enjoy the fireworks festival together?" Mom asked. Kinomi looked at me as if I had the answer. I shrugged as an answer. Mom winced. "What the heck is up with you two? You should both go! Kinomi-chan! I'll lend you my yukata!"

"E-eh?"

"I think we're about the same size!"

After dinner, Mom pushed me back to my room to change my clothes while she's busy with Kinomi. I changed into a casual attire then went downstairs to wait for them to finish.

"Nii-chan, are you going to the festival, too?" I asked my brother just as I saw him sitting on the living room couch.

"Nah. I'm staying over. Mom and Dad are also going to the fireworks festival so I'll just guard the house with my life." Nii-chan replied, smiling at me.

"Okay." I took a seat beside him and watched the show on the television to kill time.

About ten minutes later, I heard footsteps walking down the stairs and out came Mom and Kinomi in their yukata. I kept my eyes on Kinomi, whose beauty was enhanced by light makeup; hair tied up, framing her delicate face even more; and muddy brown eyes that I couldn't catch. I tilted my head to the side, my lips curling upward.

"Woah, you two look so beautiful!" Nii-chan complimented.

"I know right?" Mom laughed, spinning around so that we could have a full view of her yukata. Meanwhile, Kinomi just stood there like an idiot.

"What do you think, Kei?" Nii-chan asked me.

"Looks fine." I shrugged.

Kinomi looked at me with a rather bashful gaze, and I realized right then how she always takes note of my opinions on her. Huh... what a self-conscious baby...

Mom told us to go on ahead to the festival because she had to wait for Dad to finish his calls from the hospital. I slipped on my jacket and let her out first before I followed. The evening is in full bloom, with the half moon following and watching over us. Even though it's the peak of the summer, evenings were still cold in the countryside.

"Why are you quiet?" I started.

"I don't have anything to say." She couldn't look at me, but a pout was evident in her expression.

"That's a first. Is little Berry being shy around me?"

She eased up at the tease, she snapped her head at me and looked at me with a rather irritated expression. "Why should I? I know I look more than fine because you couldn't take your eyes off me!"

I was surprised but I kept my cool. "That's some confidence you have there."

"Of course! Kina-san worked hard to make me look beautiful."

"Do you want me to compliment you?" I smirked, which made her tough exterior morph to a surprised one.

She blinked. "No. I don't need compliments to know that I look fine."

I shook my head, then adjusted my glasses. "Oh well~"

"You didn't even wear a yukata..." She huffed, crossing her arms against her chest.

"You didn't bring strawberry shortcake." I retorted.

"Hey! Tiramisu is my second specialty. And it's delicious, too."

"I know." I chuckled.

Kinomi bit her bottom lip as she looked down at something. She does that when she was too shy to say or do something.

She was like an open book to me. Very transparent and apparent even if she tries hard to hide her true feelings. Maybe that's also one of her traits that pulled me to her.

"Can I hold your hand now?" She asked me, which made me smile.

"I don't know. Can you?"

Without another word, she took my hand in hers and intertwined our fingers, making me snicker. She mumbled 'asshole' under her breath.

As usual, the park is crowded and full of life. There were a lot of food stalls lined up, people who enjoy to be in each other's company, and the long awaited fireworks display later on which is the highlight of the festival.

Kinomi wanted to eat and try everything as much as possible, to which I just silently followed and obliged. Even though the park is fully packed, we were still fortunate enough to find a good spot to wait for the fireworks. We just laid a blanket on the grass and took a seat on it, which Kinomi had a little difficulty in doing so considering that she's wearing a tight yukata.

"I missed the takoyaki here," Kinomi said as she took a bite of her third takoyaki, sauce smearing her lips.

"Eat slowly. We're not competing here." I told her as I handed her a napkin.

"Sorry," She murmured, wiping her lips. She took a bite of the yakisoba this time. She noticed me staring at her. "Aren't you even going to eat?"

I smirked. "I don't think these are enough for you."

"You're going to help me finish these because we bought a lot of food." She frowned at me.

"Yeah, yeah," I just said, taking a piece of takoyaki for myself.

"Snack on this for the time being." She handed me a strawberry crepe. "You strawberry shortcake obsessed salt."

I scoffed in response. A few moments later, our attention was caught by something that exploded from the sky. The fireworks display started with whistle sounds. Small fireworks appeared first and then they gradually got bigger. Not only the normal, circular fireworks exploded in the sky, it also came in different shapes and sizes such as heart shape and even a smiley shape. A lot of people shouted in awe as they were moved by the stunning fireworks.

As cliché as it sounds, I flitted a gaze back at Kinomi and saw her with a wide smile as her starry eyes admired the scene unravel in front of us, making me smile, too. I always thought that scenes like these were cliché, but experiencing it firsthand feels a hundred times different than watching or reading about it.

"Tsukishima..." She looked back at me with a smile. "You're supposed to look at the fireworks, you creep."

I snorted, then turned my eyes back at the fireworks, waiting until it was over. We lingered a little bit long after it was over. Then we walked back to my house. Mom and Dad's shoes aren't present so it's obvious that they're not home yet. Nii-chan is not in the living room so he might have already gone to bed. I looked at the wall clock and it signed 8:30 pm. Kinomi is on her phone, probably texting Tora-san asking her to pick her up. She looked up and heaved out a sigh.

"She's going to pick me up in an hour. She still have some errands." She informed me, plopping beside me on the couch.

"Oh..."

"Buses and trains are crowded because of the festival... so I'd have to wait. Can I use the bathroom?"

"Go ahead."

She stood up and walked away, my eyes following her. I went upstairs to my parents' room to borrow some fresh, breathable clothes from Mom's closet. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. I went back and saw her by the door frame of the bathroom, looking troubled. Her hair was already down.

"What's wrong?" I asked her, but she only bit her bottom lip as a childish pout displayed her lips.

"I can't untie the obi..." She mumbled. "Maybe I'll just—"

"Good grief." I cut her off with a sigh, then handed her the clothes. "Turn around. I'll do it." I deadpanned as I gestured for her to turn around.

"B-but—"

I ignored her, put my hands on her shoulders and twirled her around. I put her hair aside, my fingers set on the perfectly tied ribbon on her waist and began loosening the long fabric that held her yukata together. For some reason, her ears were red and she was subtly shaking. I can't help but let out a smirk then shake my head in amusement.

"What's so funny?" She craned her neck to give me a sideway glare, but she only showed me how red her face was.

"You're so cute." I teased, as I successfully remove her obi. She held her yukata together with her hands, turning around because she was surprised at my remark.

"What?!"

I ruffled her hair, my smirk getting wider. "Loosen up, will you?" I chuckled, then left her alone so that she can do her business in the bathroom. I went back to my room and changed my clothes, lying down on the bed with a sigh. I stared up at the ceiling for a moment before I heard a knock on my door.

"Tsukki... are you there?" Kinomi asked.

"Yeah..." I just said, sitting up. "Come in."

It took a few moments before she opened the door to my room, peeking her head inside before reluctantly going in and closing the door behind her. I watched her as she scanned her new surroundings, walking around until her eyes are satisfied.

"Nice room." She complimented.

"Thanks."

"Oh," She looked up and pointed at the dinosaur figures on the shelf above my desk, looking back at me. "You like dinosaurs?" She asked with wide eyes as if she had the greatest discovery.

"Well, yeah. They look cool." I shrugged nonchalantly, but her smile only widened, making me frown at her because I know she's thinking about something stupid.

"That's cute. A strawberry shortcake dino-loving salt."

"Idiot." I rolled my eyes.

"You don't see those kinds of species nowadays." She shrugged, then her gaze wandered on my desk again. "Ne... I've always wondered..."

"What?"

"What kind of music do you listen to?"

At her question, my eyes landed on my white headphones that were on my bedside table. She was still admiring something on my bookshelf when I called her attention.

"Come here." I patted the empty space next to me.

She did as she was told and took a seat beside me on the bed. I reached out for the white headphones and put it on her ears, plugged my phone on it and picked a random classical music.

I watched as her eyes softened at the melody erupting from the headphones, giving her an idea of the world in my perspective. She was quiet as she savored the music, and it made me wonder what she's thinking because she has that expression as if she's deep in thought.

"Do you want to eat some cake?" I asked her, and she only nodded her head, her focus was still on the music. She's sure taking this seriously, huh.

I lent her my phone, then stood up to get out of the room to the kitchen to prepare our dessert. I took two slices of the tiramisu for each of us and two glasses of milk. I put it on the tray and went back to my room to see her already lying on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I set the tray on the small table in front of her, then took a seat on the bed beside her.

"Kinomi," I called out.

"Yes?"

I slowly crawled on top of her, looking at her with narrowed eyes as her eyes dilated and mouth parted in surprise. She swallowed at our close proximity as her face reddened again.

"You do know that you're lying flat on a guy's bed... in the middle of the night... and alone with the said guy?" I mumbled against her face.

She recovered from shock and instead smirked back at me. "I'm alone with a guy? Where?"

I smirked back at her. "Are you basically asking me to kiss you, Kinomi?"

I was the one who asked that but I'm the one who wants to kiss her right now. But if she doesn't want to, I'll let her push me away. She stared at me with a glint of anticipation as she licked her lips then pursed it in a thin line, making my eyes follow the motion. And there I got my answer.

She closed her eyes as I lowered my head down, and my mouth found hers again. I kissed her softly, and she kissed me back without inhibitions. She encircled her arms around my neck, pulling me closer to her hold and deepening the kiss. It wasn't my first time kissing her but everything we do always feels like the first time. I would feel like I would fall in love anew... over and over again.

Her heart was badly bruised yet it was still beating. Even though she had managed to get through the tragedies that life has to offer, I was still lucky she chose to open her heart to me. Kinomi is a strong girl, and even with that fact in mind, I still couldn't help but feel the need to protect her when she's tired of being strong. She is the kind of fragile, sad yet hard and sweet.

I pulled away, the both of us slightly panting. I stared back at her blushing red face as she stared back at me. I wanted to memorize every detail, every part of her until she becomes a part of me. That way, even if we're always apart, I can always have her with me.

"I love you, Kei..." She whispered, making my eyes wide and heart skip a beat. I blinked, looking back at her, still in a daze. It's the first time... she told me...

"Kinomi-chan, are you here—KYAHH!!!" Then the door opened, making our heads snap at the intruder. It was Mom and Tora-san looking at us with wide eyes and jaws on the floor. Before we could react, Mom immediately covered Tora-san's eyes and pulled her out of the room, slamming the door shut. "I'm sorry for disturbing!" Her voice echoed outside.

I got off her, sitting beside her and heaving out a heavy sigh. I held my warm face, trying to compose myself. Kinomi calmly sat up, fixing her wrinkled clothes and messy hair.

"Why do people always walk in on us?" She muttered in an embarrassed tone.

Beats me.

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Please tell me if I ever make Tsukki OOC (or any of the characters) because I've been rewatching the anime, reading his character profile in the wikia and reading the manga over and over again so that I'll get his personality on point lmao. And also, if the pacing of the story is slow or fast :3

I've already published the prologue and first chapter of my Kuroo fanfiction, so you can check that out in my profile ^^

Welp, thank you for reading as alwayssss! -- Lyn