I didn't come to wave or take pictures - For Fragrant_Hitachiin

[saltinourstars]

Most paparazzi keep away from Kei. Hitachiin Legal loves a restraining order, and that’s enough for a semi-normal life.

But public games are public, and Kei spots at least three in the stands. Nondescript hair, clothes, faces. So plain they scream among the colorful crowd. One even has the nerve to smile, when he catches Kei’s glare.

Ugh.

Never mind.

Exhaling, he shuts them out. Settling into the tempo of his team. The rhythm and flow of defense, rising to a higher crescendo each time. It feels good. Kei's spent four years building with Todai, and they're contenders for Nationals. Maybe even favorites.

This is what matters.

Not the paparazzi with their gossip and grins.

Comments

[saltinourstars]

Because I didn't plan on going pro????

that's why it's weird

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Oh. But ur rlly good!
You like playing now don't you?

[saltinourstars]

Yeah


I need more information

What's it like?

As a job

[fragrant_hitachiin]

It's great! You get to play volleyball every single day!
Well except for when coach says its a mandatory rest day
Practices can be really tough tho bc you never have an excuse not to give it ur all
I know that's hard for you

[saltinourstars]

Wow was that SASS

Cute


Okay but the non-playing parts. Like the press in your face and asshole fans.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Careful or youll make your rich bf jealous

Oh that stuff is fine!
Mostly they just want you to sign stuff and talk to them after games
Which sucks sometimes when you lose and you wanna be alone I guess
But they're pretty respectful
And when they're not the team managers deal with it!

[saltinourstars]

Pfffft

Sure


Speaking of him

The paparazzi sucked in high school. Keep thinking about that.

Look at him, voluntarily bringing up emotional problems. Amazing. Kei would still rather gargle glass.

But Hinata was there. Making it slightly less awful to talk about.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Ohhhhh
I guess that would really suck if they came to games and hounded you
But they'd probably get bored of you pretty quickly right?
They can't stay interested forever if you're just playing

[saltinourstars]

Wow now I'm boring??

So fickle!

For all the snark, it's a good point. The paparazzi want drunken socialite limo orgies. Not a guy doing his job.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

You've alwaaaaays been boring!!
Especially watching you play
You're not flashy or interesting at all!!

[saltinourstars]

With that much punctuation? Doubt it.

Remind me

WHO still has a higher contact point than you?

Yes, Kei is petty enough to know those stats. Even now.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Because you're a dumb stupid giraffe!!

[saltinourstars]

Kei snorts. Realizes this is the calmest he's felt all day. It's nostalgic. Sniping back and forth to get a rise from Hinata.

Better than a Minus IQ Amoeba

[fragrant_hitachiin]

If you really think you're better than join a team!!
We'll settle this on the court

[saltinourstars]

Aren't you ever going to get new material?

Really. It's the same as high school, Hinata throwing down the gauntlet with no thought. There was Kageyama and Aoba Josai and Ushijima and Nekoma and...

Kei.

Huh.

That's quite a group to be in.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Volleyball is how we met so it makes sense to let that be the judge!!

Not really, but Hinata thinks so, anyways.

[saltinourstars]

I am not joining a team just for your weird vendetta

For the record

[fragrant_hitachiin]

But you ARE joining right???
You gotta!

[saltinourstars]

I don't GOTTA do anything you volleyball freak

BUT

I'm going to think about it




Thanks

[fragrant_hitachiin]

:)
Good luck
See you on the court >:)

[saltinourstars]

"Ugh, he's a pain," Kei mutters. Tossing aside the phone with no real venom.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Kaoru, who'd been watching all the faces Kei was making at his phone with ever growing amusement, snorts when it all comes to an end. "Tamaki's worse."

Then he gets up and stretches his arms. "Want some tea? I'm making."

[saltinourstars]

"They are both the Worst. Co-worst. They can fight over it."

Tea would be good. Something to stabilize the enthusiasm overdose. Kei makes an assenting noise, but doesn't follow. Folding arms across his knees to think.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Kaoru makes a disappointed noise. "Knowing them, they'd just be loud and get along about it."

He kisses Kei's head on his way out of the room, and then returns with two steaming cups of tea a few minutes later.

"Wanna share what's on your mind?"

[saltinourstars]

Or they would end up declaring each other the best and get even more insufferable.

"He challenged me."

It's ridiculous, right? How old are they?

Kei accepts his steaming mug, notes the warmth through the ceramic. Too hot for drinking. He settles for breathing in deep. Enjoying whatever absurdly fancy blend Kaoru's picked this time.