you make me feel like
i'm living a teenage dream
IN A CLASSROOM ON THE TOP FLOOR sat everyone's favourite group in Aoba Johsai. Oikawa and Iwaizumi sat side by side, tables pushed together, and Hanamaki and Matsukawa sat opposite them. They each had their lunches out, diving into the food they packed and chomping away like there was no tomorrow.
They filtered through conversations fairly easily, always having something to talk about on the tip of their tongues. Right now, they were talking about the newest edition of their team.
"Don't drag Ishioka-kun into your extra practice," Iwaizumi chided, the sternness in his voice softened by the affectionate familiarity that defined their relationship, and Oikawa gave a dramatic pout. He shot the setter a narrow-eyed look. "You're torturing the poor kid."
"He enjoyed it, though!"
"I already have you to deal with. I don't want you corrupting him with your shit."
"What did I do?!" Oikawa's melodramatic protest echoed through the classroom, his expressive hands thrown into the air in an exaggerated display of innocence. The play of sunlight highlighted the subtle beads of perspiration on his forehead, and his dark, expressive eyes widened in feigned shock.
Matsukawa snorted at his theatrics, and Hanamaki just smirked, leaning forward so he could get a better view of one of his boyfriends.
"What have you not done?" Hanamaki teased, but that only served to string out another gasp from Oikawa, whose mouth fell open.
"Makki, you wound me! I'm just a victim of my own irresistible charisma and charm."
"You mean arrogance," Matsukawa deadpanned, casting a sideways glance at Oikawa.
The setter gasped dramatically again, putting his hand over his heart. "Mattsun! Mean! You're supposed to treat me like a fragile flower." He sniffed, turning his back on the three of them and folding his arms as if he couldn't care less.
Iwaizumi rolled his eyes, unimpressed with his soulmate's antics. He had been exposed to them too much that he was now desensitized. "Yeah, right. More like a thorny cactus."
"Hajime's right," Hanamaki chuckled. "You're more prickly than charming."
The rustle of food wrappers and the occasional clink of chopsticks against containers accompanied Oikawa's huff of indignation. "You all underestimate my delicate genius." He shook his head. "One day, you'll realize the treasure you had in your midst and regret it!"
"I'm still waiting for that day," Matsukawa quipped, earning a round of laughter from his soulmates, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
Oikawa let out another whine before slumping over and resting his chin on his arms. He turned his head to the side and stared up at Iwaizumi, eyes wide with a pout. "Are you going to let them speak to me like that, Iwa-chan?"
"Considering that we're trying to build a team and not a theatre club, yes, I am."
Matsukawa leaned back in his seat, wearing a smirk. "But what's wrong with a little drama, Hajime? Keeps things interesting." Iwaizumi glared at him but said nothing. Matsukawa grinned wider at the sight, eyes drooping with languid amusement. "All I'm saying is Ishioka-kun looks like he enjoys a good show."
Iwaizumi lifted a brow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Matsukawa winked slyly and purred, "Whatever you want it to mean, baby."
Oikawa gagged, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"We are not traumatizing my adorable kouhai with your disgusting exhibition kinks, Mattsun."
"Hey, I never said that." Matsukawa raised his hands in the air, feigning mock innocence. "That's just what you two are assuming."
And always one to add more fuel to the fire, Hanamaki added, "Yeah, why would you think that, Tooru? Hajime?" His tone was lighthearted, but he didn't miss the way Iwaizumi tensed in front of them. Or the slight flush that spread across his cheeks. "You got the hots for Isihoka-kun or something?"
The two shared a mischievous glance as Oikawa spluttered, his face growing hot.
"We didn't say that!"
"Then why'd you assume such a thing? Cause it kinda looks like you were picturing it in that fucked-up head of yours." Hanamaki smirked, enjoying watching the blush spread further down Oikawa's neck. He loved teasing his soulmate, loved seeing him squirm under the attention he usually thrived off of.
"And in front of us, too," Matsukawa tsked. "Do we not please you enough? You're gonna leave us for someone younger and prettier?"
"We'd never do that!"
Hanamaki rose a brow. "But you admit he's prettier, right?"
"Is he more to your taste, Tooru? You seem like the type who likes to be worshipped." Matsukawa leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table. He placed a hand on his cheek thoughtfully, his voice dropping lower as he spoke, "Gives you a power trip, doesn't it?"
"Huh- shut up!"
"And don't think we haven't seen how attached you are to him, Hajime."
"I am not attached to him."
"You totally are, babe," Hanamaki said. "The idea of feeling like a protector gets you going, am I right?" Oikawa made a choking noise, staring at Hanamaki with a bewildered expression. "Plus, he's shorter than you— does that make you feel stronger? All muscles while he's built like a stick you could snap in two?"
Iwaizumi looked like he wanted to bury his face in his hands, but he resisted, instead choosing to scowl and say in a clipped voice, "I'm not going to bother responding to that." And oh, how easy it was to break their stoic-looking soulmate.
He was all hard and sharp edges on the outside, but with the right few words, Hanamaki and Matsukawa had him melting like butter, looking all shades of red and pink, flustered.
"So we're wrong?"
"Yes."
"Damn." They looked at each other, shaking their heads in disappointment. "And here I thought we had a good read on our soulmates."
"Seems we might be wrong," Matsukawa mused.
Hanamaki hummed, rubbing his chin contemplatively. "It must be something with our bond, then. Because I'm sure I can feel some sort of feelings develop for our lovely Ishioka-kun, and it sure as hell isn't coming from me."
Iwaizumi's scowl deepened, and he hid it by taking a sip of his water.
"You're imagining things."
"Am I? Cause Tooru looks like he's gonna pop a hard one right now."
They turned to see Oikawa looking away, hiding his red face in the palms of his hands, his shoulders hunched up around his ears.
"Shh, don't disturb him." Matsukawa leaned over, raising his hand to cover the side of his mouth as he whispered in a not-so-quiet voice, "He's going through his sexual awakening."
"I am not having a sexual awakening!" he screeched, loud enough for others to hear.
Oikawa's words hung in the air like an unexpected burst of confetti, drawing attention from curious onlookers at neighbouring desks. The classroom seemed to hush for a moment, the rhythmic sounds of chewing and chattering slowing down as students stole glances at the source of the sudden commotion. Oikawa's face turned various shades of red, a gradient of embarrassment that painted his cheeks.
He ducked his head, and the contrast between his flushed expression and his attempt to shield himself was borderline comedic. Matsukawa and Hanamaki, unrestrained by the concept of subtlety, erupted into laughter, their amusement echoing through the classroom.
The infectious sound rippled through the air, causing nearby students to exchange bemused glances and shrugs.
"You're so mean to me!" Oikawa whined, feeling very hot all of a sudden. "My soulmates are so mean!"
"Hey, you chose us, though."
Oikawa made a sour face. "Unfortunately."
"Uh-huh, sure."
"Say it like you mean it next time."
"Ugh, fine! I'm gonna go see Ishi-chan. He won't treat me like this!" He pushed his chair back and stomped off, nearly tripping over his feet in his hurry to leave the room. The sound of him scrambling out the door was a familiar sound during lunch; his soulmates always teased him until he had to leave to cool down.
"That's cause you know we're right!" Matsukawa called. "He totally simps for you."
"Can't blame him, though," Hanamaki added, his eyes trained onto the curve of Oikawa's ass, as little of it as there was. His hips swayed side to side, the fabric of his pants clinging to his thighs, accentuating his slim figure. "He's gorgeous."
"That's gay."
"I have socks on."
━━━━━━ ◦ ✤ ◦ ━━━━━━
Oikawa descended the staircase, the lively hum of conversation growing louder as he walked over to what he remembered to be Kaito's classroom. The door was already open, and Oikawa saw a crowd surrounding a few tables towards the back. His eyes quickly found Kaito, his vibrant energy filling the room.
Kaito was talking animatedly with a few other students, and they seemed equally entranced by him. Oikawa smiled at the sight; that boy really did bring people together, as if he were the sun and everyone else was a planet orbiting around him.
"Ah, Oikawa-senpai!"
The mere mention of Oikawa's name prompted Kaito to look up, and their eyes locked.
Oikawa's trademark smile spread across his face as he waved, eliciting excited reactions from the surrounding onlookers, particularly his fangirls.
"Yahoo, Ishi-chan!"
The greeting was accompanied by Kaito's infectious enthusiasm, drawing Oikawa into the lively ambience. As the brunet approached, Kaito couldn't help but express his curiosity.
"Oikawa-senpai? What're you doing here?"
The response came effortlessly, wrapped in Oikawa's charismatic charm. "Can't I come see my lovely kouhai without any reason?"
Kaito, not one to miss a chance for playful banter, wiggled his eyebrows teasingly. "Your favourite?" he probed, a grin on his lips.
"Sure! But don't let Kunimi-chan hear you; he gets awfully jealous."
Kaito nodded, raising his hand to mimic zipping his mouth. "My lips are sealed. I'll keep it a secret to my grave," he swore.
Oikawa couldn't help but beam at the comment, a giggle slipping past his lips. He felt a warmth pool in his chest when he caught sight of those deep brown irises, the shade of chestnuts glimmering and bright with mischief.
"Come with me to get a drink?"
"Yeah, sure thing."
As Kaito and Oikawa navigated the crowded hallway, the surrounding laughter and snippets of conversation became a cinematic backdrop. Oikawa watched Kaito, his attention never failing to linger, captivated by every little movement and quirk he had. He was so mesmerized that it took several moments for his brain to register that Kaito had said something.
"Huh?"
"How come you're not with the others?" Kaito repeated, his hands resting in the pockets of his pants. There was a lax smile on his face, an easy-going expression that made Oikawa want to reach out and squeeze his cheeks until they were red and he was satisfied. But the mention of his soulmates had him pouting, arms crossing over one another.
"They were bullying me," he spat.
"Le gasp! Oikawa-senpai, am I the second choice?"
That look Oikawa was receiving from Kaito had his face blowing up, steam escaping his ears as he exclaimed, "Huh? No! No, not at all!"
"My heart is breaking. I can hear it. Oh." Kaito purposefully stumbled, his playful act accompanied by dramatic gasps. He grasped his shirt, coughing. "I can feel it. I'm going to die."
Oikawa waved his arms around frantically. "Please don't die on me! I need you."
Kaito peeked up at him, eyelashes fluttering as he gazed at Oikawa's flushed face. "You need me?" His voice was smooth, silky, like honey. The way his lips formed their words sent shivers down Oikawa's spine. "Not the team?"
"Wait, huh? Did I say me?" Oikawa laughed nervously, tugging at the collar of his shirt. "Haha, I meant us. The team, of course."
"That's not what I heard," Kaito sang, standing to his full height (which was much shorter than Oikawa, mind you) and swinging his hands back and forth. "Sounds awfully like you need me." Kaito glanced at him. "I'm touched, truly."
"That's not what I meant!"
"So you don't need me?" His face fell, mock hurt evident in his expression. "Guess you wouldn't care if I left the team. Ah, how it hurts."
Kaito walked ahead, his hands clasped behind his back. From the corner of his eyes, he saw how his upperclassman stared blankly at him, his usual composed demeanour shattering, betrayed by the way his face was reddening. Kaito laughed then, light and infectious, and Oikawa's heart skipped a beat before thudding painfully against his ribcage.
"Wha- Ishi-chan! Wait up!" Oikawa scrambled to him. "I don't mean it like that! I swear!"
Kaito turned, locking eyes with him over his shoulder. "I know. I'm only teasing." His carefree aura returned as they stood in front of the vending machine on the ground floor. There was an array of options to choose from, ranging from soda to chips to juice boxes. There were even a few candy bars inside that looked delicious. "Now, whatdya want? I'll treat you."
"I have money," Oikawa replied, attempting to regain some semblance of composure, though a hint of embarrassment lingered.
Kaito nodded. "Alright then, get me some strawberry milk to heal my broken heart."
"Your heart isn't broken!" Oikawa whined, but he still fished out his wallet, pulling it open to take out the coins he had inside.
"And how would you know?" Kaito challenged, his eyes sparkling with mirth. He watched as Oikawa counted out the coins, putting them into the coin slot. "Can you see it?"
"I'm pretty sure I heard it crack."
Kaito swirled around, spotting Matsukawa, Hanamaki, and Iwaziumi walking up to them. Kaito brightened up and pointed behind him.
"See?"
"What're you doing here?!" Oikawa demanded, his fingers punching in the code for Kaito's strawberry milk. He glared at his soulmates, seeing the shit-eating grins on their faces.
"We came to make sure you didn't trouble Ishioka-kun." Hanamaki stepped forward and swung his arm around Kaito's shoulders, tugging him close to his body. He leaned down and whispered, "Blink twice if you need help."
"I'm not troubling him!"
Oikawa's protests were met with the blunt responses of his soulmates.
"You trouble everyone you're with," Iwaizumi stated matter-of-factly.
"I do not!"
"You do," Matsukawa chimed in.
"I do not!"
"You totally do," Hanamaki affirmed with a smirk.
Oikawa stomped his foot on the floor, bending down to grab Kaito's drink with a scowl.
"My soulmates are so fucking rude!"
"Hey!" Hanamaki intervened, covering Kaito's ears. "There's a kid present!"
"I'm a year younger," Kaito drawled, the casual lilt in his voice contrasting with the mock seriousness of the moment. "And I have two older brothers. Believe me, I have heard every curse word in the dictionary."
"Still, we're your upperclassmen," Iwaizumi said, standing beside him, and wow. The soft expression on his face was so fucking obvious. "We can't influence you the wrong way."
Hanamaki pointed out, "Technically, it's just Tooru."
"Mhm," agreed Matsukawa. "Maybe we should keep away from him, yeah? He'll turn our poor, innocent kouhai into a monster."
"Go fuck yourselves!"
"Oi!" Iwaizumi barked, whacking him over the head.
Oikawa whined, arms darting to grip where the spiker had struck him. "Ow, Iwa-chan!" he exclaimed. "Hit them, not me!"
Matsukawa shook his head and laid his elbow on top of Kaito's head. "See what I mean?"
Kaito tilted his head back and laughed, the sunlight cascading through the dense foliage overhead, creating a dance of shadows and highlights on the ground. Matsukawa and Hanamaki exchanged glances, their smiles widening, and they, too, laughed, though theirs was more of a giddy chuckle than a full laugh.
In that moment, with laughter intertwining like the sunlight streaming through the branches, a sense of ease settled among the five teenagers.
A sense of ease and, perhaps, something more.
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The school day had ended, and it was now time for the students to join together for their after-school activities. For Aoba Johsai's favourite group that was volleyball practice. Oikawa looked around the locker room, noticing someone amiss. "Where's Ishi-chan?" he couldn't help but ask, attention falling onto Yahaba.
Iwaizumi furrowed his brows, glancing at the watch on his wrist. "Practice is gonna start."
"He'll be here soon," Yahaba informed, tugging his kneepads up his legs. He turned back toward the captain and vice-captain of the team. "He's meeting with our homeroom teacher."
Matsukawa perked up, moving over and joining the conversation. "Ooh, did he fail a test or something?"
Yahaba deadpanned, "He's class rep."
"Damn."
"Why'd you ask such a dumb question?" Hanamaki piped in from the other side of the room, tossing his shirt over his head. Neither he nor his soulmates minded showing skin, not when they had found each other and were more than happy to show that fact off. Their marks sat proudly on their body—the perfect combination, each one reflecting an earthy nature.
Matsukawa shrugged. "Dunno. He seems like a guy who'd be pulled behind after class."
"Not everyone is like you," Oikawa retorted, sticking his tongue out.
"Shut up," Matsukawa said, expressing his sentiments with a casual raise of his middle finger.
Kindaichi blinked, glancing between the two upperclassmen with wild, owlish eyes. "Wait, Matsukawa-senpai, you got held back? When?"
"Last month," Hanamaki disclosed with a smirk. "He fell asleep during a test."
Kunimi snorted from where he was perched on the bench. He had his knee pulled to his chest so he could reach over and tie his shoelaces, looping them together in a neat bow. "Sounds like a skill issue."
"You fall asleep all the time," Kindaichi reminded him, and Kunimi shrugged.
"Yeah, but I've never gotten caught."
"That's only cause our teachers are fed up with you."
A noncommittal noise escaped Kunimi as he leaned back, embodying an air of intelligence. His teachers' expectations were low from the beginning, a fact he exploited to escape putting in any unnecessary effort. The bar was set low, and he saw no reason to raise it.
Iwaizumi frowned disapprovingly from where he stood, hearing the interaction between his teammates. Their attitude wasn't good, and he was going to make them pay for it. Iwaizumi crossed his arms over his chest and barked, "Get your asses outside. We're doing ten laps."
"Ten?!" Hanamaki gaped.
His soulmate turned to him, a fake smile on his face. It sent shivers down everyone's spines.
"Want me to make it twenty?"
"No," he quickly acquiesced.
The group trudged out of the locker rooms and began warming up, the sound of their footfalls echoing loudly through the empty gymnasium. They didn't speak; they knew better than to. Iwaizumi waited patiently until they finished their warmups before blowing a whistle and beginning their torture.
"Start!" he commanded.
The team began jogging, some grumbling under their breaths, but none complaining about it too much. It was clear that if they spoke, Iwaizumi would only double their laps.
The door opened swiftly, revealing Kaito already in his training gear.
Iwaizumi turned to look at him, a frown on his lips. "You're late."
"Sorry!" Kaito called, jogging to the locker room to ditch his stuff. He returned not a minute later, standing beside Oikawa and Iwaizumi.
"When'd you get changed?" Oikawa inquired, lifting a brow.
"It saves time if I change in the upstairs toilet before coming here," Kaito answered, raising his leg and gently pressing it against his back. He dropped it after a few seconds and switched legs, his movements graceful despite the hasty arrival. The faint echo of fabric against skin lingered as Kaito stretched, a routine he had undoubtedly perfected to maximize efficiency.
Oikawa hummed, "Fair enough."
Iwaizumi stared at him, appraising the way Kaito effortlessly stretched his arms, the muscles flexing as a testament to the physical prowess hidden underneath an unassuming facade. Although impressed, Iwaizumi needed to discipline his teammates as vice-captain.
"Extra laps for you, Ishioka," he declared.
Kaito nodded. "Hai!"
"Leave the poor kid alone!" Matsukawa hollered across the gymnasium, he and the others running laps around its perimeters.
Iwaizumi curved into a sweet smile dipped in poison. "You can join him."
"Hey!" Matsukawa's indignant outcry filled the air. "This is an abuse of power! Tooru! Do something about this!"
Oikawa, seemingly oblivious to the interaction, blinked blankly. "About what?"
Matsukawa's jaw fell.
"The both of you! I can't believe it."
Hanamaki clasped his shoulder as he ran beside him. "Good luck, soldier."
The rhythmic patter of sneakers against the floor gradually came to a halt as the group completed their laps. Everyone had finished within ten minutes, while Kaito and Matsukawa, with their extra punishment, finished within fifteen minutes. The crisp air carried the energy of a productive afternoon, and Coach Irihata, standing at the centre of the court, organized the volleyball players based on their academic year.
"We're working in year groups today. First years with first, second years with second, and third years together," he announced, his voice carrying authority and clarity.
"Ready?" Yahaba asked, glancing at Kaito with an encouraging nod.
Kaito beamed with determination, "Yup!"
As the group transitioned to the next phase of their training, the coach directed their attention to blocking techniques. On one side of the net, Yahaba stood with the volleyball cradled in his hands. He was setting it to his teammate, observing with keen eyes as Kaito slowly began to get better at refining his form. It was obvious that the boy's efforts were paying off, and he was steadily progressing in mastering the technique.
"Have you been practising?" Watari asked Kaito from where he was standing behind him.
"Yeah," another one of the second years added, voicing his admiration. "How are you this good already?"
Kaito, with a sheepish smile, replied, "I do some practice at home."
"I'm impressed," Coach Mizoguchi commended as he made his way around the groups. He flashed a proud smile. "Keep up the good work."
"Yes, sir!"
The steady thuds of volleyballs meeting the ground echoed through the gymnasium as the players diligently continued their practice. The atmosphere buzzed with a combination of determined focus and the subtle camaraderie that built among teammates striving for improvement.
Two hours swiftly passed, marked by the persistent sound of balls and the occasional words of encouragement from coaches. A whistle blew, signalling the end of their practice, and the moment that happened, Oikawa whipped his head over to Kaito's direction.
There was sweat racing down his cheeks, and his muscles were beginning to burn, but an overwhelming desire kept pushing him forward.
"Ishi-chan!" he called, wiping his brow. "Wanna practice some more?"
Kaito's eyes lit up. "You bet ya!"
With the rest of the team dispersing to pack up and head home, Oikawa and Kaito remained on the court, ready to delve into extra practice.
Their eyes met across the room, grins widening.
The air between them seemed charged with anticipation, the echoes of volleyballs hitting the ground forming a rhythmic backdrop to their shared enthusiasm. Little did they know, the unspoken understanding between them continued to grow, weaving their destinies together in ways yet to be unveiled. The gymnasium's echoes gradually faded away as they focused on refining their skills, each oblivious to the subtle forces that were at play.