Chapter Text
‘So can I tell him he can move in?’ Yamaguchi asked over the phone.
Tsukishima sighed, fed up with Yamaguchi’s schemes. ‘You tell me, Tadashi. You call me up in the middle of the night saying you found a roommate for me and yet you refuse to give me any details on him. What the hell am I supposed to think?’
The blonde could hear his soon-to-be-ex-best-friend’s scoffs over the phone. ‘First off, do you not trust me, Tsukki? Would I ever pair you with someone terrible?’
‘You know I have a sensitive-’
‘Nose,’ Yamaguchi interrupted him painfully, ‘Yeah, yeah, your stupid alpha nose always gets all irritated by the faintest of smells. I know. It’s not like I would ever pair you with someone who smells bad! Why would I recommend a bad roommate to you if I knew you’d just give me hell about it later, forever complaining and nagging me about it until I would have to eventually find you another roommate? Think Tsukki, why would I do that to myself?? And secondly, who are you kidding? It’s only 11 pm and I know you sleep at 1 am. Don’t even try to lie to me.’
When the hell did Yamaguchi grow a spine? Seriously, while Tsukishima secretly loved his beta best friend’s sassy nature, he always hated it when it was turned on him.
‘Ugh. Fine.’ Tsukishima tsked. ‘Do I at least get his name?’
‘Nope,’ Yamaguchi said brightly, putting more emphasis on the ‘p’ sound. ‘That’s gonna ruin it. Trust me Tsukki, it’ll be fine. I’ll send your new roommate a week before uni starts and you can thank me later.’
Now it was Tsukishima’s turn to scoff. Ha! As if he’d be thanking his best friend for this! He shrugged and muttered a muffled, ‘Whatever,’ before hanging up the phone.
A few days later, Tsukishima had already moved into the little apartment he found just a few blocks away from the university. It was his first year fresh out of a year-long internship at the Sendai Museum. While he didn’t like the idea of starting college a year later than most of his peers, he ultimately decided that the work experience would trump his potential education. He could always go back to school. A prestigious spot in the coveted internship program of the museum though? It was like catching lightning in a bottle.
So here he was now, in his dream school, taking up his dream course and ready to take on the next level of his education. He took a look around the apartment. He had splurged a little and chose an apartment over a dormitory so he wouldn’t have to deal with noisy frat boys, ridiculous interruptions, and strict rules. At least this way, he’d have some privacy.
Just then a knock at the door interrupted his musings.
Tsukishima quickly shook his head and stood up. ‘Coming!’
He was going to kill Yamaguchi if he sent over some stinky meathead jock as a prank. He hurriedly walked over to the door, yanked the knob, and came face to face with…
Oh. This wasn’t the meathead jock he had in mind…
‘King???’
‘Hey, Tsukki.’
‘Don’t call me that.’
‘Same here. Now, are you gonna let me in?’
Tsukishima frowned. There must have been some mistake. The King??? Here? In university??? What was the world coming to???
‘What- what are you doing here???’
It was Kageyama’s turn to frown. ‘I’m your new roommate. I thought Yamaguchi already told you. He was the one who…’ Kageyama quickly fished out his phone and started typing on it.
Tsukishima sighed before opening his door. ‘No, he didn’t. I mean, he did, but not that it was you and that wasn’t what I meant. I meant what are you doing here? As in in university? Aren’t you a pro player or something?’
Kageyama put his phone away and looked at Tsukishima impatiently. ‘I’ll tell you, but I’d ideally like to do that while I’m unpacking and setting up if you don’t mind.’
Tsukishima opened his door wide and leaned back against it, crossing his arms. ‘Wow. Big word there, King. Careful, your brain might explode from overuse.’
‘Ugh, shut up.’ Kageyama shouldered his way past Tsukishima, carrying two boxes in his arms. He quickly surveyed the small apartment, taking note of the doors inside.
Tsuksishima spoke up. ‘Mine’s on the right. You can take the left one. The bathroom’s down the hall.’
Kageyama nodded and immediately made his way over to his room to start unpacking.
‘So?’ Tsukishima asked, arms still crossed as he followed Kageyama to the room.
‘So what?’ Kageyama asked, not paying him any mind as he set down the boxes.
Tsukishima rolled his eyes and had to hold himself back from hitting the dumbass. ‘So… volleyball…? Why aren’t you doing it?’
‘Oh.’ Kageyama started rummaging around in the boxes. ‘I am. I’m on the uni team for the duration of the school year. Then during summer break, I can go back to training with the national team. Takeda-sensei and Coach Hibarida both recommended I continue with my studies while I still can.’
‘What do you mean while you still can? I would’ve thought you fried your last brain cell back in high school when-’
‘While I’m not yet a starting setter on the national team, dumbass!’ Kageyama glared at him while simultaneously organizing his clothes. ‘And what kind of host are you anyway? You didn’t even help me get my other stuff outside.’
Tsukishima scoffed. ‘I’m not your host, King. I’m your roommate. Roommates don’t do that. Go get your stuff yourself.’ And the blonde turned heel to head back to his room, not before hearing Kageyama’s muttered curse words aimed at him.
***
He didn’t want to admit it. He would rather spend a whole week with Hinata than admit that Yamaguchi was right. But as always, his green-haired, freckle-faced best friend was right.
Tsukishima would have to admit that Kagyeama was a pretty great decent roommate. Kageyama was organized, exceptionally so, more so than Tsukishima himself and that was saying something. He had minimal things. His stuff consisted of a small suitcase filled with clothes, a large suitcase filled with volleyball gear, and a few grocery bags. He didn’t have any knickknacks, picture frames, or heaven forbid, books.
Kageyama was also clean. He never made a mess around the apartment, always cleaned up after himself – whether that was in the kitchen or bathroom – and had a cleaning schedule that was incorporated into his routine.
He was quiet most times unless Tsukishima riled him up, and then the King gave as good as he got. He also didn’t bring around people to the apartment, which was initially one of Tsukishima’s worries.
He also didn’t stink. He actually smelled… well, pretty neutral. Like a hint of a fresh breeze passing through a lush forest. It was so faint, it barely registered and Tsukishima was more than happy about that fact. At least he wouldn’t have any strong scents in the way and messing up his hormones or his mood.
Lastly, Tsukishima doesn’t know how, but Kageyama makes the absolute best coffee in the world. Sure, he made it out of cheap grocery ingredients, but you’d never be able to tell. He still remembers the very first morning he woke up after Kageyama moved in…
Tsukishima had set his alarm and quickly turned it off before heading to the bathroom. On the way there, he was stopped in his tracks by a heavenly aroma. He quickly retraced his steps and entered the kitchen to find Kageyama dressed in his workout clothes and having just finished his run, fiddling with what looked to be a vintage-looking coffee maker.
‘What is that?’ Tsukishima said, halfway through a yawn.
‘Good morning to you too,’ Kageyama grunted. Tsukishima continued to stare until Kageyama sighed. ‘It was my grandpa’s coffee maker. He taught me how to make coffee using this.’
‘Didn’t take you to be a coffee person,’ Tsukishima said as he observed Kageyama pour in a hefty splash of milk.
‘I typically don’t unless it’s something I make.’
‘Wow. Of course, the King will only have coffee if it is made by his own hands.’
Kageyama glared at him before throwing him his signature challenging smirk. ‘You would too if you tasted how good it was.’
‘That’s a bold claim, but what more did I honestly expect from royalty?’
Kageyama handed him a cup. ‘Shut up and drink, Tsukki.’
Rolling his eyes, Tsukishima took a sip. His eyes widened. Holy motherfucking shit. What in the sweet coffee gods did Kageyama put in this magic brew and why was it so good?
‘Didn’t your mother ever teach you that it’s rude to leave your mouth open like that?’ Kageyama teased, all triumphant looks and bright, flashing eyes.
‘Holy shit. What the hell did you put in this, King?’
‘Can’t say. My grandfather would kill me if I did.’ Kageyama threw him another grin. ‘Want another cup?’
Tsukishima couldn’t do anything else but nod.
All in all, Tsukishima had to admit that he got a pretty sweet deal with Kageyama as his roommate, though he would rather die than admit it. Compared to the horror stories his classmates regaled him with, Kageyema looked positively angelic.
A few days later, Tsukishima came home to Kageyama in the kitchen. That was another development. Kageyama cooking. Like meals. Not the cheap-ass, convenience store meals that were typical of broke college students, but whole, nutritious meals any mother would be proud of. And the best part? He always cooked for two.
‘Sit down, dinner is almost ready.’ Kageyama said, motioning to the two sets of cutlery laid out on the table.
‘Yes honey,’ Tsukishima mocked.
Kageyama rolled his eyes as he turned back to whatever he was stirring on the stove.
‘Be nice or you get nothing.’
Tsukishima raised his hands in mock surrender, ‘You’re killing me here. How could the King be this cruel?’
Kageyama shook his head as he set their bowls down on the table. Much later, after the two boys had eaten their fill, Tsukishima stood up to get the dishes. It was only fair. Kageyama cooked and Tsukishima cleaned.
‘Are you going to the tryouts tomorrow?’ Kageyama asked, his eyes focused on the serving dish in front of him.
Tsukishima shrugged as he brought the dishes to the sink. ‘Haven’t made up my mind yet.’
Kageyama looked up at that. ‘Why not?’
Tsukishima opened the faucet and started running the dishes under hot water. ‘Eh, not really sure if I can handle practice with my course load and all.’
Kageyama looked at him, bewildered. ‘Why not?’
Tsukishima could hear a scrape of the chair against the floor as Kageyama stood up. ‘I dunno,’ Tsukishima hummed, keeping his tone intentionally light. ‘I don’t know if it’s still what I want.’
‘But you won’t know if you don’t try out though,’ Kageyama said, walking towards him. ‘That’s what they’re for. For you to get a feel of the team, the dynamic, how we all work together, and all that.’
The setter paused before staring at Tsukishima. ‘And that’s really all there is to it?’ He asked, now fully facing the blonde. Tsukishima shrugged and Kageyama sighed before taking a step closer.
‘If it’s not what you want, then fine. I won’t push the issue, but I just find that hard to believe. The Tsukki in high school would have at least gone to the tryouts to do some research. But…’ Tsukishima couldn’t look away from the intense fire in his blue eyes, ‘If it’s because you’re just worried or scared that you won’t measure up to a new team with new talent, then that’s a load of BS. You’re good Tsukishima. And I want you on my team.’
Tsukishima blinked, totally not expecting the barrage of words from the setter. Wow. He doesn’t think he’s ever heard Kageyama say this many words. And nice ones at that. To him! A mere peasant!
The blonde cleared his throat, ‘Those are some mighty passionate words there, King.’
Kageyama rolled his eyes again and started to walk away. ‘Just think about it.’
Once Kageyama had closed his bedroom door, Tsukishima whispered, ‘I will.’