#kyoken

At least he assumed it did. There were no remedial classes at Aoba Johsai, but there were classes for students who didn’t do as well as they should be, and that’s where both of them had ended up for their highschool careers. Kyotani was there because he didn’t care. He did what he needed to in order to pass and still be able to play volleyball but that was it. He saw no real reason to try, even after so many teachers had lectured him on all the potential they knew he had. (Y/N) on the other hand really was trying their best. Don’t ask him how he knows, because Kyotani sure as hell doesn’t know, but he had heard somewhere that (Y/N) had moved from America in middle school and that supposedly was why they did so poorly.

The teacher was passing back tests that day. Kyotani had gotten his back already, middle of the road score just as he had expected, and for some reason he kept his sharp brown eyes trained on the broad shoulders of the weight trainer as the teacher approached his desk. The test in the teachers hand was flipped upside down, hiding the score, but the way his shoulders slumped when the page was flipped over was telling enough of his grade. Kyotani almost felt bad for him. The only class Kyotani had never seen that slump in was math, surprisingly. Not that he wasn’t paying attention to him. Kyotani wasn’t all that surprised when he was held back when the class was released for lunch, it happened just about every time a test was handed back. But it was the first time anyone else lingered in the room with them. Leaning against one of the desks in the front row, with his bag heavy off one shoulder, once again Kyotani was watching (Y/N) out of the corner of his eyes. (Y/N) noticed him as they shuffled up to the front of the room, test in hand, and gave him a smile. Every time he saw that smile he got that same sick to his stomach feeling that Kyotani knew could only be hate. Because what else could it mean when your stomach does flips at the sight of someone acknowledging your existence. Even if it was so much different from the normal hate he felt when someone bumped into him or when Oikawa would open his stupid mouth. “Um, ma’am.” (Y/N)’s voice broke him from his thoughts, he stood in front of Kyotani, broad back blocking his view of their teacher. “I’m not sure why i got this grade?” He still stumbled over his Japanese, and Kyotani could almost see the embarrassment creeping up his neck. Kyotani didn’t bother listening to what the teacher was telling him, deciding after a moment to stand up and make his way out of the classroom to get out of his upcoming lecture. “-Kyotani, don’t think that because I’m helping someone else I’ve forgotten about you.” His teacher’s voice stopped him in his tracks, deepening his scowl as he spun on his heel. “I know you understand what we’ve been learning because I also grade your classwork, so I’m giving you two options. You can tutor (Y/N), or I can get you kicked out of the volleyball club.” “What.” The edges of his vision were going red, but his teacher paid him no mind, just pulling out a stack of papers from a drawer. (Y/N) on the other hand had lost the color in their face. “I don’t wanna- I mean he doesn’t-” They were sputtering out words, hands clenching tight around the test they held. “Do you need time to think about this Kyotani?” The teacher made no move to comfort the sputtering student in front of them, just keeping stern eyes on the blond boy. “You can do your study sessions right here at lunch, so that it won’t be interfering with your practice.” “Fine.” Kyotani stomped back to his seat in the back of the classroom, throwing his bag onto the ground next to him, glaring expectantly at the boy who still stood at the front of the class. (Y/N) scrambled to take one of the seats near him, wincing when they hit the corner of one of the desks on their way. “I’m sorry.” (Y/N) mumbled, still staring down at the now crumpled test in their hands. “What?” Kyotani thought he didn’t hear him right, after all why would he be apologizing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen when I went to ask for help today. I know- I know you don’t really like me.” His shoulders slumped even further into his body, somehow making the large boy look tiny. Kyotani could feel his ears start to heat up and he felt bad, he didn’t like seeing the normally happy guy so upset, and he really didn’t like knowing that it was partially his fault. “Whatever. Show me your test, let me see what you got wrong.” He held out a hand expectantly without looking at (Y/N), not wanting to risk any sort of eye contact. “Yeah, yeah right. Here you go.” The half crumpled test was placed in his hand and he brought it close to his face to read. “It’s not that bad of a grade y’know.” Kyotani growled after a few moments of looking over the test. “At least not bad enough for you to get that mopey about it.” “I know it’s not that bad, but I really did try this time.” He took the test back and settled it back into his lap. “I just don’t understand why I can’t get it right, y’know?” He did know, there were so many aspects of his life that he could never understand why he couldn’t get right. “Yeah whatever, show me your notes.” He actually looked at them this time, they had definitely calmed down, but they looked like a kicked puppy while they rummaged through their bag to find the binder for that class. They handed over the binder after sticking the test in the front pocket, staring down at their feet. The notes were rushed, a mix of japanese and english, whole sentences scribbled out despite being written in pencil. “The lectures move a little too fast and I forget words sometimes. I was never good at spelling to begin with anyways.” Kyotani hadn’t realized just how confused he had let his face become until the other boy offered the meek explanation. “I guess we should start with redoing your notes then. Make them actually coherent.” Damn it. Kyotani didn’t even mean for it to come out that mean this time. He gave the binder back without another word.

They worked in near silence. Most of the work was just (Y/N) rewriting his notes onto a new piece of paper, Kyotani trying only to give hints when he stopped writing, stumped on a translation or a missing piece of information. They both had pulled out their lunches, eating while (Y/N) worked The bell rang sooner than they thought it would, startling both of them out of their concentration. “Um, thanks. For helping me. I mean I know you didn’t have a choice but I really do appreciate it.” (Y/N) packed up his things quickly, throwing Kyotani quick glances to his face as he did so. “Give me your phone.” His usual scowl was back on his face without meaning it, and his hand was right in front of his face. “In case you need help. While you’re doing homework I mean. You could call me or something as long as I’m not in practice.” (Y/N) gave him a quiet “oh yeah” and fished out their phone, opening a new contact before handing it to the blond boy. “You shouldn’t have to worry about me calling during your practice, I normally work out pretty late anyways.” “Fine, you should get to your seat.” With the phone back in (Y/N)’s hands, Kyotani slumped back into his chair, signaling the conversation as over.

The small group had finished their cardio workout, now they sat in a scattered group around the weight room stretching. (Y/N) had been doing this for three years, he knew the routine by heart and could do it without thinking. And it’s a good thing he could, because he was lost in thought about his new tutor. (Y/N) knew Kyotani’s reputation, he was aggressive and didn’t like to talk to anyone, but that didn’t explain why (Y/N) could feel his glare digging into the back of their head during every class. Their head was still very much occupied by thoughts of the blond volleyball play while the coach called out different core exercises for the club. Why is it that it seemed like every time (Y/N) made progress with him, Kyotani would say something mean out of nowhere. A hand glanced off the back of his head, one of his friends was motioning to where the coach was gathering all the club members for announcements. He nodded back, jumping to his feet and jogging over to the group to listen. “We have an event this weekend, so you all know the drill. Save your strength but still work hard, get plenty of rest every night.” The coach paused, letting the group of students give a collective “Yes Sir!”, before flipping through papers on his clipboard. “Next up, we’re sharing the weight room today. The boys volleyball team is on their way, treat them with respect and give them their space.” Right on cue, the boys volleyball team filed in through the open door, (Y/N)’s blond tutor at the end of the line, scowling. He quickly tore his eyes from the volleyball team, standing up and letting his friend jump into him and push him towards the station they used, laughing along the way.

(Y/N) laughed with his friend as he stood over him, ready to catch the bar if he maxed out earlier than expected, trying to ignore the prickling on the back of their neck. “That mean blond kid has been staring at you for a while. Kinda weird huh?” His friend sat up after putting the bar back, looking back with a teasing smile. “He’s the one I told you about, the one I spent lunch with today.” (Y/N) leaned against the bar, throwing quick glances towards Kyotani as they added weights to the bar. “Now c’mon switch with me.” “Wouldn’t think looking at him that he would be able to help anyone.” His friend laughed, moving off the bench. “He’s got shit form too.” “He’s really helpful, even if I think he hates me.” (Y/N) started to get defensive, picking up the bar with a blush. “Count for me please?” “Yeah, I know you lose count. What’re you going to?” “Three sets of 15, I’m going a little lighter than normal.” “Cool, start now.”

“Jeez, he’s still staring, what's his issue?” They both sat on the bench taking a water break. “I told you, he hates me. Especially now that he has to spend his lunches teaching me or the teacher said she’d get him kicked off the team.” (Y/N) took another swig from their water bottle. “Well that’s not your fault.” “I mean if I were smarter.” “Oh shut up.” He playfully shoved (Y/N). “And I saw that blush. You think he’s cute.” “Whatever I think of him doesn’t matter because he very visibly doesn’t like me. I told him I knew he didn’t like me and he just said, ‘whatever’.” “Well he seems kind of stupid from what I’ve heard, like emotionally, y’know. So did you see his face? Maybe he just didn’t know what to say.” “No, I didn’t see his face, I was too busy looking down in shame about having to hand over my failed test to a guy I like.” “So you admit it!” (Y/N)’s eyes had widened in realization, dropping his head into his hands, face burning in embarrassment. “Don’t be so loud about it.” Before his friend could continue to make fun of him their coach clapped his hands loudly and called for his students attention. “Clean up your stations everyone, it’s just about time to leave.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” (Y/N) said as they split up at the gates of the school. “Well not till after school, right lover boy! Gotta spend lunch with your handsome new tutor!” (Y/N)’s friend was cackling, pushing on his shoulder. “Not so loud, I don’t need the entire school to hear you. And again, it’s not like he likes me back.” (Y/N) adjusted his bag to avoid letting his friend see his flushed face. Unbeknownst to the two boys, the other half of the teasing was stopped, shocked right inside the gate of the school, just out of sight. Lover boy? Handsome new tutor? Was Kyotani really that stupid that he had completely mistook the butterflies in his stomach and the near constant blush that had taken residency in his ears and cheeks for hatred? “I mean he was staring at you the whole time we were working out, that doesn’t really seem like hatred.” The other voice laughed again. Was Kyotani really that obvious that both of them could tell? Had his friends been able to tell? Kyotani turned the corner quickly, watching (Y/N)’s friend turn down a street with a wave. “Hey!” Kyotani watched him jump at his shout, whirling around to stare in fear at the glowering volleyball player. “Wh-what’s up, Kyotani. Did you need something.” (Y/N) avoided eye contact, staring right above his head. What if Kyotani had heard his friend? What if Kyotani was going to force him to go tell the teacher that he didn’t want his help anymore? He started to shake a little, his mind spiraling out of control in every worst case scenario he could think of. “Is it true.” Kyotani started walking towards him, stopping short a few feet from him. “Is what true?” (Y/N) stumbled back, hands clenching into the front of his shirt, wringing the fabric. “Don’t play stupid! I know you aren’t dumb! And you and your friend also aren’t quiet.” (Y/N)’s eyes started getting glassy and he quickly moved his gaze to the shrinking space on the concrete between them. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The quiver in his voice made Kyotani stop in his tracks. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. “Look. I’m not- I’m not good at this. I just, I don’t know if what I think I’m feeling is right or not.” He was glaring directly at his face, willing him to meet his eyes. “What does that mean?” (Y/N) still refused to meet his eyes, still tugging on his shirt eyes now focusing on a crack in the wall next to them. “It means I did think I hated you. Because every time you smiled at me my stomach would twist up. Whenever you would laugh my face heated up. You make my heart race in a way I’ve never felt before and I didn’t know what it meant.” Kyotani got a little loud in the end, and he hated seeing (Y/N) flinch at his volume. “Do you know what it means now?” Kyotani almost didn’t hear what they mumbled. “I think so.” “Then what does it mean.” (Y/N) finally made eye contact with Kyotani, jaw set and eyebrows furrowed. “That I don’t hate you, I like you. A lot. And I don’t understand it very much, but I’d like to figure it out if you want to help me, I’d like that.” Now Kyotani was avoiding eye contact. “I think I’d like that.” (Y/N) took a few hesitant steps forward, standing toe to toe with the flustered blond. “If you’re free on saturday you could come to my event. And I’m free on sunday, but I might be a little tired.” Kyotani met their eyes again, looking shocked. He flushed darker when he processed how close (Y/N) was to him but nodded. “Yeah well, you have my phone number. I have to go home. Bye.” He turned away quickly, speed walking away towards his own home, leaving (Y/N) behind laughing. “Bye! I’ll text you later!” They waved to his retreating form, smiling wider when he threw up a quick wave. When he turned a corner, they spun on their heels and kept going on their way home with a giddy smile.