Keiji’sfamily kept sending him disapproving glances, like they couldn’tbelieve he was even there. He didn’t know why. Of all hisrelatives, Keiji’s mother was always the one who supported him, wholoved him unconditionally. Unlike everyone else in the family. Itcould have had something to do with the way Kageyama held his handthrough the entire service, but Keiji wanted so badly to give themall the benefit of the doubt.

Hehadn’texpected so many people to come. Bokuto was there, of course, becausehe had loved Keiji’s mother like she was his own, and she had lovedhim just as much. Kuroo was with Bokuto for moral support, a silentfigure looming at the back of the crowd while Bokuto sobbed at hisside. But there were also Keiji’s aunts, the twins who had kickedKeiji’s mother out of their house when she’d gotten pregnant withhim, and their husbands and snobbish-looking children. And there washis grandmother.

Shewas a battle-hardened old woman with a sneer that could curdle theblood and a glint in her eye that begged to be disappointed. She hadtaken one look at Keiji in the best suit he could afford, and atKageyama beside him, and had turned her nose up and gone to stand onthe other side of the coffin. She stood there, glaring at them, theentire time.

Kageyama’shand tightened on Keiji’s, then let go. Keiji looked around to seethe priest watching him, and realized what he wanted. He bent andpicked up a handful of dirt, letting it fall onto her coffin. Bokutowent next, with Kuroo, and then Mika, Keiji’s mother’s onlyfriend from work. No one in the family dropped any handfuls or saidany words. One by one, they trickled away, in search of somethingbetter to do with their time. Bokuto and Kuroo left last, and then itwas only Keiji and Kageyama and the men shoveling dirt over hismother’s grave.

“I’msorry.” It was the first time Kageyama had spoken the entire time.Kageyama had set up the entire service, done all the legwork andtaken all the decisions out of Keiji’s hands, exactly how Keijineeded it to be done. And now he was offering the first sincerecondolences Keiji had gotten since she had passed.

Thetears which had been so absent during the service suddenly camefalling out. Keiji turned his head into Kageyama’sshoulder and wailed. Strong arms came up around Keiji’s back,holding him in place and stroking him in a soothing motion. Kageyamadidn’t say a word, didn’t move, just let Keiji cry himself out onhis shoulder. And when he was done and there were no more tears leftto cry, he didn’t do what Keiji expected. He didn’t ask to gohome or try to talk him through it, or any other placating gesture.He simply sat down at Keiji’s mother’s grave and let Keiji sitbeside him until it was dark and cold and the graveyard attendantasked them to leave. And then Kageyama helped Keiji to his feet, ledhim to their car, and drove him home.

Asthey lay together in bed that night, Keiji realized just how perfectthe day had been.

“Thankyou,” he whispered.

“Whatfor?” Kageyama asked, turning onto his side to face Keiji fully.

“Foreverything you’ve done,” Keiji said. “And for everything you’regoing to do. For sticking by me even when you didn’t have to.”

“Ofcourse I would stick by you,” Kageyama said, his brow furrowing.Keiji reached out and pressed his thumb in the wrinkle between hiseyebrows until it smoothed.

“Thankyou anyway,” Keiji said.

“Youshouldn’t have had to go through all that,” Kageyama said. “Youwere there for her when she got sick. You left school for her. Youdeserved someone to be there for you, too.”

“Ican’t believe she’s gone,” Keiji whispered. Kageyama opened hisarms and he shuffled forward until he could press his nose againstKageyama’s collar bone. Kageyama tucked his head over Keiji’s andsighed through his nose.

“She’snever really gone,” he said, and for some reason it didn’t feellike the empty placations of all the well-wishers and funeral homeattendants they had been dealing with for the past several weeks.

“Iknow,” Keiji said. “I see her every day in you.”

“Whatdo you mean?”

“Imean all the good parts in her are also the good parts in you,”Keiji said. “You’re loyal and determined and wicked smart. Younever give up, and you expect the best in people. You’re likestars, the two of you. When I was a kid, I never thought I’d meet aperson I could love as much as I loved her, because there was no waysomeone could shine as bright. And then I met you.” It was the mostwords Keiji had spoken in a row since they’d gotten the news. Hefelt strangely tired after saying them, and fell silent, justlistening to Kageyama’s breathing. Then he said, “I think we’remeant to be with certain people. I was meant to be her son, and I wasmeant to be your boyfriend. But now I’m no one’s son, and I don’tknow how to handle that.”

“Youtake it one day at a time,” Kageyama said. “You remember the goodparts of her, and you hold onto them. And you hold onto me.”

“Ican do that,” Keiji said.

“AndI’ll be here, holding onto you,” Kageyama told him. “As long asyou want me, as long as you need me, I’ll be here.”

“Iknow you will.”

“Good.”

Kageyama moves with more grace than Akaashi can comprehend. He effortlessly moves with the music with more control over his limbs than Akaashi can ever hope to have. Watching Kageyama dance, Akaashi understands how he became such a wonderful athlete.

Bokuto’s face lights up with awe, as Kageyama spins across the stage in a straight line.

“How the Hell does he do that without falling over?” Kuroo asks, “I would’ve fallen on my ass by now.”

Akaashi’s whole body flushes with pride. Hundreds of people get to watch this performance, but only Akaashi gets to see it in practice. On some small level, Akaashi helped with this.

He brought his boyfriend water, so he wouldn’t forget to keep hydrated. He ushered him into the kitchen with a promise of a healthy meal when Kageyama was low on energy. He massaged out the aches, and bandaged his feet after a long day of practice.

He helped make Kageyama’s dream a reality, and he stands and screams with everyone else as the theater erupts with applause. Kageyama bows, and, when he straightens, his eyes immediately look for Akaashi.