╰─▸ ❝ karaoke dreams

"Bokuto-kun," Wakatoshi said, upon seeing Mika and Kōtarō after his game. "I didn't know that you were the one coming with Mika."

Mika cringed slightly.

The way he said it could either be taken well or very badly.

"Oh, well I'm here," Kōtarō laughed. "It's good to see you play in person again. Who knows the next time we'll have to go up against each other."

Wakatoshi laughed, nodding.

"Well, I'm glad both of you come," he said. "Mika's always been my biggest supporter, so having her, plus you, Bokuto-kun, cheering me on was very reassuring."

"Make sure you water Mika when you get back to Tokyo," Mika reminded him. "Unless you don't need to, then don't. But tell Mika that she's super cool."

Kōtarō looked between the two of them, not sure what was happening.

"I do that every day," Wakatoshi said as if he was stating the obvious. "I take the utmost care of my plants."

"Well, we should let you go," Mika smiled. "We still have to go eat and you have to do your volleyball things."

Wakatoshi extended his arms for a hug, causing Mika to snort softly, hugging him.

He then gave Kōtarō a fistbump.

"I'll see you soon," Mika said. "We'll get out of your way though, looks like you have some fans to talk to. Bye Wakatoshi!"

"Bye Mika. Bye Bokuto-kun," Wakatoshi said, waving them goodbye as some fangirls approached him.

Mika and Kōtarō walked out of the stadium Wakatoshi played in, making some small talk.

Mika had a night full of things for them to do, to make up for avoiding Kōtarō; starting with one of xir favorite places to eat.

It was a small ramen place, which wasn't fairly busy, but still had plenty of customers.

Mika enjoyed going there since it was more hidden, the foot traffic was light, so Mika could enjoy the light talking of people around the restaurant but still relax.

"You have to promise not to tell anyone about this place," Mika said as they approached the restaurant. "Because you, Bokuto Kōtarō, have a big name. I would rather not have all of your fangirls suddenly all show up."

"I won't tell a single soul," he replied, putting his pinky out. "I pinky promise."

Mika laughed, putting her pinky out.

They interlocked pinkies then pressed their thumbs together.

"I feel like this promise should be sealed with an actual kiss as well," Kōtarō mused.

Mika snorted in laughter, causing him to laugh too.

"I'm glad someone understands when I'm joking," he said, grinning. "Also your laugh is very cute."

"Oh- thanks," Mika said. "It's one of those things I used to be super insecure about, but I've come to love it, so thanks."

Mika was screaming internally.

She once again just stared talking and kept talking in hopes of making it less worse.

Xey didn't know what was happening, much less what xe were saying.

But thankfully for her, neither of them had to say anything more as they arrived at the restaurant.

"This is the place," Mika smiled.

"It smells good," Kōtarō said, looking like he was in heaven, despite the fact they hadn't gone in yet. "Ramen, right?"

Mika nodded, dragging him into the restaurant.

"Table for two," xey said. "Referable in the corner."

"Of course," the waitress said, smiling. "It's good to see you again, Mika-san."

"Keiko-chan?" Mika said, taking a double-take at the waitress. "I'm so sorry, I didn't even realize it was you."

"You're just fine, senpai," she said. "I've changed my appearance a lot since high school, don't worry about it."

Keiko Yamagata. She was Hayato Yamagata's younger sister, the person Mika would cheer with at games. But after Mika graduated, she hadn't seen much of Keiko.

"Are you going to Kindai now?" Mika asked as xey handed one of the two menus to Kōtarō.

"Yeah," Keiko grinned. "It's been pretty good so far."

"That's good," Mika smiled. "Tell Haya I said hi. Also, don't hesitate to come and talk to me on campus."

"Noted," Keiko said, then went to help someone else.

"Shiratorizawa?" Kōtarō asked.

"Yeah, her brother was the libero on the team," Mika smiled. "The two of us always stood together in the student section at games- along with one of our setter's little sisters."

"That sounds like fun," Kōtarō smiled.

♪─☆彡─♪

"This does not sound like fun," Kōtarō replied bluntly.

"Oh come on," Mika said with a teasing smile. "It's going to be so much fun."

The two of them were standing outside of a karaoke place, Mika trying to get Kōtarō to go in.

"You said you weren't good at singing, but I don't believe it," Mika said. "Plus, I've heard Satori sing, I don't think anyone can sing anymore off-pitch than he does."

Kōtarō glanced between the karaoke place and Mika a few times before caving.

"Fine, fine," he replied. "I'm just warning you now."

Mika marveled as Kōtarō sang. His voice was calming and surprisingly good. His voice fit the song he was singing "Something About You" by Eyedress.

"Who convinced you that you're bad at singing?" Mika asked, xir eyes wide as he finished singing. "'I'm just warning you now,' nothing. That was amazing."

Kōtarō's face turned red as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I serenaded someone in high school, they told me I wasn't that good," he confessed. "Thinking about it now, they were probably just really embarrassed."

"They must have been," Mika said. "You could be a full-blown idol, Kōtarō, I can see it."

"Yeah, but the problem I have with being an idol is that I wouldn't be able to see you," he said, turning the tables, Mika now the one blushing. "They have strict rules. It would be hard for me to not see you."

Mika nodded, quickly picking a song to sing.

"All I Want For Christmas" by Mariah Carey was the first song on the list, which meant it was the song Mika picked.

"A little Mariah Carey in February I see," Kōtarō teased as the song started. "You're getting into the Christmas spirit early."

"Shut up," Mika said, Mika said, covering her smile with her hands.

When xey finished singing, Kōtarō gave xem a standing ovation.

"This is so embarrassing," Mika said, covering her face again.

"It's just me," Kōtarō teased. "Do I make you that nervous, Oyama?"

Mika moved her hands just enough so xey could glare at him.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," Kōtarō laughed. "Sit down, I'll let you embarrass me some more."

♪─☆彡─♪

Over the next week, Kōtarō and Mika spent a lot more time together when they could.

It wasn't intentional, they just enjoyed each other's company. However, it was tough as they had to stay out of the public's eye so no one would write more rumors about the two of them.

Their playlist had grown as well, the two of them contributing every time they heard a song they liked.

Mika enjoyed being around Kōtarō more, as xey felt like xe was free when the two of them talked.

But on the other hand, something was always hiding xem back: it was always the same reason. Eita.

Wakatoshi said she should just tell Kōtarō, Satori saying the same thing. But, even Satori didn't know the whole story, as Mika never really got around to explaining everything.

Mika knew xey should've already told Kōtarō, but every time she felt like it was the right moment, thoughts of him looking at her in disgust because of what xey did would appear in her mind. Xey couldn't do it.

"Hey, are you doing okay?" Kōtarō asked as they were studying in the library one time. "You've been a lot quieter today."

"I'm just more concentrated I guess," Mika lied, shrugging. "The math final is going to be the end of my college career, I swear."

"Oh same," Kōtarō said, playing along with what she said. "It's going to be the death of me."

Mika laughed but looked down. The uneasiness she had beforehand had increased. Xey knew if xey just told him, he wouldn't do it again, but she just couldn't find it in herself to do it.

But Kōtarō noticed she was uncomfortable almost immediately; he chose not to say anything about it though. He knew if he did, Mika would most likely shrug him off.

"Erm, Mika," he ended up saying after a few minutes.

"Yeah," xey replied, looking up.

"Can you help me with this problem?" he asked.

Mika nodded, going over to stand next to him, so she could see what he was doing.

"Oh, these?" xey asked, laughing a bit. "Yeah, these aren't too bad."

Kōtarō frowned at her small laugh.

"I know, I know," he said. "I just can't remember how to do that one part."

He pointed to where he got stuck.

Mika smiled, writing a few things down on the equation.

Xey turned to explain it to Kōtarō. When xey turned, the latter's face was right there, about two inches away from hers.

The two of them became very flustered.

"Sorry," she said quickly.

"No- it's fine," Kōtarō said quickly, his face a bright red color. "But could you explain what you wrote?"

"Right," Mika said, tensing up slightly (not enough for Kōtarō to notice) as "Problems" by Mother Mother started playing.

The thoughts of everything xey had been avoiding were coming back, the emptiness making its comeback. Thankfully though, Kōtarō had a lot of questions, keeping Mika distracted from those thoughts.

"I got it!" Kōtarō exclaimed, causing Mika to smile. "Thank you so much, Mika. I honestly have no idea what I would do without you."

Mika felt warm inside. Being able to help someone learn something always made her feel happy.

Another bright beam of light in her life.

As xe sat down at xir computer, she was almost certain Kōtarō was glowing with happiness. She quickly covered xir smile with her hands, as not to let him see.

♪─☆彡─♪

Mika tapped her pencil on her desk while studying in xir dorm. Xe was listening to "Mikasa" while studying.

"The Walker" by Fitz and the Tantrums started playing through Mika's Airpods.

Mika tried to stop it, but the void of emptiness hit her faster.

"This song always reminds me of you."

Eita loved Fitz and the Tantrums.

He especially loved "Out of My League," always singing it to Mika. He would always say halfway through that he wasn't sure how he got so lucky to date someone as amazing as Mika, saying she was leagues above him. Mika would always laugh in response, saying that he was the one out of her league.

She smiled softly at the memories of the two of them; quickly finding xirself looking at pictures, rather than doing xir homework.

Xey then stumbled across a video of the two of them singing "The Walker" which broke Mika's heart a little.

She then glanced at the messages between her and Kōtarō, wishing- hoping- that the two of them could be as close as xe was with Eita, but without xem feeling guilty.

"Let's Go Outside" by Far Caspian, started playing right after, hitting Mika's already tender spot even more.

Xe was starting to think that Kōtarō and Eita must've talked at least one or two times about music, as their music tastes were becoming increasingly similar.

Mika
heyy this is a weird question

Kōtarō
oh what is it?

Mika
uh- well did you ever talk to semi eita??
he was one of the setters at shiratorizawa

Mika knew they weren't close, as Kōtarō had never mentioned knowing Eita.

Kōtarō
we talked once or twice
though i wish we could've gotten closer than pretty much strangers
i did hear he passed a while ago- i'm sorry for your loss, he seemed like a great person

Mika held back tears; she knew she missed Eita, but it was more than xe realized.

Mika
thanks for telling me :)
i was just asking since you guys have similar music tastes

Mika quickly turned xir phone off, grabbing her eye mask to try and stop the puffiness around xir eyes.

♪─☆彡─♪

Kōtarō checked to see what song Mika was listening to on Spotify as the two of them were sitting in a cafe studying; Kōtarō wanted to switch things up, so he chose a small cafe.

"I / Me / Myself" by Will Wood.

Kōtarō leaned on his chin, his hand covering the smile on his face.

He thought Mika had the cutest smile on her face as she listened.

It was enough to intrigue the latter, getting him to click on the song.

He listened to the song, even after the song Mika was listening to changed, he didn't mind.

Kōtarō glanced over at Mika who was looking between her laptop and him, he figured it was because she was looking at what he was listening to.

"You have a good taste in music, this is a good song," he smiled.

Mika just smiled, looking back down at her laptop screen.

Kōtarō grinned, putting the song onto their playlist.

He loved spending time with Mika, she just made him unbelievably happy. Although, he still wanted to know why she got quiet and looked uncomfortable at times; yet as he valued her privacy more than his wants, he still hadn't asked.

"You're not learning her life story, just a little more about her."

Kōtarō glanced at Mika, then at his laptop, which had messages open. He clicked on his and Ushijima's conversations, opening it up.

He glanced at Mika again, then typed up a message to Ushijima.

bee's corner !!

pov: idk what time it is but i'm grinning at my phone bc kōika is literally so cute like who let them to be that cute??