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It was the first time since Hajime and Tooru left Japan that the four of them were all together in one place.
After being seemingly inseparable for the three years of high school, it was unreal for them not to have seen each other regularly. And if they managed to find a date where all of them had time to spare, it was always through a screen and never for long because of the different time zones between California, Argentina and Japan.
Therefore, they were more than happy to finally have their friend group in one place, able to shove shoulders and laugh pointedly if someone stumbled instead of just sharing looks through the screen.
To celebrate their reunion, they went to a karaoke bar, the one they had visited quite often during their high school days.
The karaoke room they rented for the evening didn't look much different than all these years before. This made them feel as if only a few weeks had passed since the last time they visited instead of years.
What was different though, were the songs they could choose from. There was a much larger variety of them and also a lot more English songs than they remembered being there all those years back.
Since they were all older now and could more or less speak English (Hajime fluently, Tooru presentable and Issei and Takahiro rather bad but acceptable), Issei proposed a random round of English songs to sing.
Hajime didn't react much to the offer. It was not like the language would make much of a difference for him - his voice would be bad either way. Tooru nodded excitedly while Takahiro shrugged, saying he would just hum to the parts he didn't understand.
They chose an order beforehand by playing rock-paper-scissors. Issei would go first, then Hajime, followed by Takahiro and Tooru would be last.
The brunette groaned at having lost but stopped pouting when Takahiro pushed his elbow into his ribs. "Come on, we all know you like the dramatics of being the last to perform."
And of course he was right. But Tooru was not going to admit that, letting out a small huff instead before nodding towards Issei so he could get the game started.
Even though they selected a shuffle game, they narrowed it down to Pop songs because those were most likely ones they could be familiar with.
Issei grabbed the mic and pressed the play button, starting the game.
The first song was ‘The King’ by Conan Gray.
Issei managed it through rather good text wise though his voice was completely off 90 percent of the time.
Hajime couldn’t prevent himself from letting his gaze stray from the screen every once in a while, because some parts of the lyrics reminded him too much of Tooru. Of course he would never admit to the brunette that something with the title ‘The King’ made him think about him. It would only make his ego bigger than it already was.
Tooru noticed his friend watching him and smiled superiorly at first at the thought of being the one singing about being a king. But then the text began to sink into his brain and the words hit a little bit too close to home and he wished he could say words like the one in the song as confidently as Conan Gray.
At the end of the song, Issei just shrugged with a chuckle and handed the mic to Hajime, who was sitting next to him, closest to the screen.
Next started playing ‘Fools’ by Troye Sivan.
Hajime was quite familiar with the song and was able to focus more on the melody because he didn't have problems with the text. He even tried to focus solely on the melody and ignore the implications of the text. He had to actively keep himself from facing Tooru the whole time, singing the song only for him.
Especially the refrain mirrored too precisely how he had felt throughout his whole time during high school when he had watched Tooru date one girl after another. Even if he hadn’t understood his own feelings back then, in retrospect it was more than obvious how jealous he had been of all those girls and that he had been a fool for being in love with his best friend. His best friend who seemed obviously straight.
Tooru couldn’t keep his eyes from Hajime’s concentrated face the whole song. Something about his strained expression made the brunette uneasy. But he couldn’t quite grasp the feeling that made his chest tingle uncomfortably. He had the strong urge to hold Hajime’s hand, but since he couldn’t just walk around the table and do that, he gripped his own fingers in his lap instead.
Hajime’s advantage of knowing the text didn't change anything about his gruff voice, of course, making him miss more beats than he'd like but his score was still presentable.
With a slightly satisfied smile he tried to mask the feelings swirling around in his chest as he handed the mic to Takahiro across the table, who snapped it from his fingers impatiently as the upbeat melody of the next song was already starting.
It was ‘Paper rings’ by Taylor swift.
Hajime knew it quite well and sang along under his breath. As he looked around the room at his friends, he noticed that he wasn’t the only one. The others weren’t as familiar with the lyrics as he was, but none of them was immune to the happy tune. It was just impossible to stay still during a song like that.
More than once, Hajime found himself smiling at Tooru and was met with one of the brunette’s smiles as well – one of the real, pretty ones that weren’t as wide as his toothy fake ones but made his whole face light up beautifully. Whenever this smile was directed at Hajime, his own smile grew wider in happiness.
His thoughts wandered to scenarios matching the ones Taylor Swift was singing about. How would it feel to put a ring on Tooru’s finger – paper or gold didn’t matter in the slightest – and just hold him close, knowing that he was his? He’d probably never know but he pushed reality to the back of his mind for the duration of the song.
Takahiro laughed into the mic more than he sang, lifting the mood even further as the friends laughed at the expanse of the pink haired man.
Still giggling when the song ended, Takahiro held the mic to the side for Tooru to take, who didn't lose time to prepare himself and watch the screen where the lyrics would appear.
As soon as the song started playing, Hajime stiffened in his seat. He knew that song all too well. He had to listen to it at least twice a day for 2 weeks in his first year of college when his roommate had been pining for a friend but didn't do anything about it.
Though the worst part about it all had been that it made Hajime realise his own feelings for a very good friend of his.
His gaze wandered to said friend who was currently gripping the mic with his eyebrows drawn together in concentration.
The few seconds of pure melody were soon replaced by Tooru's clear voice singing the first lines.
You and me, we're different as people
Always at one when it's needed
I just can't remember anything without you
During the last two words Tooru's voice wavered a little bit, but his eyes never left the screen as he focused on the next words.
Hajime didn't let himself look away from Tooru, determined to catch even the smallest of his reactions.
You've got blue skies in your head
This time I'll make sure on my end
I don't find anything I don't like about you
Hajime's eyes traced Tooru's form carefully, taking in the way his hand curled around the mic casually while his other gripped his thigh a little tighter than necessary during a casual karaoke hangout with friends.
Even though Hajime wasn't looking at the screen showing the lyrics, his focus solely on Tooru, he immediately knew the moment when the text of the refrain appeared for all of them to read.
Tooru's breath hitched slightly.
Oh no, I think I'm in love with you
Tooru's eyes left the screen for the fraction of a second to glance to the side. Hajime wasn't sure if the look was directed at him, but the mere possibility made his heart beat a little quicker in his chest.
Oh no, I think I'm in love with you
If Hajime hadn't been sure before, now he was absolutely certain that his best friend was flustered. The smallest tint of pink covered Tooru's cheeks and it might have looked like it could be from the neon lights surrounding them, but Hajime knew Tooru's face too well to not see the difference.
The colour on Tooru's soft skin didn't fade when the next verse started.
Home is, home is where I'll be
When you're standing beside me
I've never been so sure about it
Can you tell?
This time, Hajime was sure that the quick glance was directed at him before Tooru's eyes focused on the screen again.
Given the eyebrows being raised on both Issei's and Takahiro's faces, they had noticed too.
This is all that I wanted
I'll never take your love for granted
You make all this so easy
On my heart
Even though Tooru wasn't looking at him, Hajime saw the sad glint sneaking into his eyes.
Oh no, I think I'm in love with you
Oh no, I think I'm in love with you
The sadness turned into an expression that could only be described as pained when Tooru's eyes left the screen for the melodic pause.
Hajime's brows furrowed. He didn't like to see that kind of look on Tooru's face. Whatever was the cause for this, Hajime would gladly punch it, or them if it was a person.
Tooru moved his head to face Hajime completely, a smile forming on his lips like a mechanism to shut away the truth hiding underneath. But Hajime knew that it was his fake smile. He had known since middle school how to separate the fake smiles from the real ones. A few years of distance hadn't changed that. Especially after seeing the real one during the previous song, it pained Hajime even more that Tooru felt the need to hide his feelings now.
It made Hajime's scowl deepen further.
Tooru looked away from Hajime, trying to be casual while scanning the room but Hajime saw the slightly suppressed movement in his shoulders and chest that indicated a deep breath the brunette took to calm his nerves before he looked back at the screen when the next lines appeared.
Then you gave me more than I came for
I was aching, in time my pain cured
Now I've fallen, talking for once
And this is how I feel
Tooru's face turned into a mask, devoid of any emotion. Hajime was short of walking around the table to take his best friend into his arms even though he didn't even know why the other was so sad that he felt the need to ban every expression from his handsome features.
The small twitch that brought Hajime to the edge of his seat didn't go unnoticed by Tooru. Brown eyes found dark green ones as the last lines left Tooru's pink lips hesitantly.
Oh no, I think I'm in love with you
It was almost just a breath coming out of Tooru's mouth, the sadness slowly making its way back into those brown orbs.
Oh no, I think I'm in love with you
It seemed as if Tooru was trying to reassure Hajime, but the hidden pain wasn't buried deep enough to be missed by Hajime's knowing eyes.
Oh no, I think I'm in love with you
It only made Hajime's blood boil further because he couldn't stand to see the one he loved in this state of emotional pain.
Oh no, I think I'm in love with you
Tooru averted his eyes in favour of looking down at his lap, his ears flushed pink. He still didn’t look up when he started to sing the last few lines.
I think I'm in love with you
Even from this perspective, with Tooru looking down, Hajime could see how his brows were drawn together as if he were fighting a battle with himself in his head.
I think I'm in love with you
Suddenly, Tooru’s head jerked upwards, and his eyes shone with determination, not meeting anyone’s gaze though.
I think I'm in love with you
Slowly, those brown eyes searched for the dark green opposite him, making Hajime’s breath hitch when their gazes finally met.
I think I'm in love with you
The determination in Tooru’s eyes turned to the softest look Hajime had ever seen on the brunette’s face. It seemed as if the light brown of Tooru’s eyes was melting in a pool of feelings. It made Hajime’s features soften as well and he just wanted to cup Tooru’s face in his hands to burn that pretty look into his memory forever.
I think I'm in love with you
The last words weren’t whispered anymore. Tooru’s voice was as clear as it could be. Any doubt that had been left vanished from his features.
The last few seconds of melody faded away, leaving silence in the room behind. It didn’t last long though because the next song started playing right after, startling both Tooru and Hajime out of their interlocked stares.
Takahiro cleared his throat. “Can we take a quick break? I wanna get some drinks. Issei, can you come help me carry them?”
Instead of an answer, Issei just paused the game, stood up from the couch and made his way towards the door of their secluded room, Takahiro in tow.
Oikawa opened his mouth to argue that they could just order something with their phones but didn't even get the chance to say two words before the other men were already in the hallway.
The soft click of the door closing behind them sounded through the silent room.
“Iwa-chan”
“Tooru”
They both spoke at the same time, making them chuckle lightly, easing the slight tension between them a little bit.
Tooru was the first to continue speaking. “So… nice song, huh? The last one, I mean…”
“Yeah, brings back memories.”
That was not the kind of answer Tooru had expected at all, his face perking up with interest.
“Oh really? You already knew the song?”
Hajime huffed out a dry laugh.
“Oh yeah I know it too well.” He looked at Tooru and was met with curiously blinking eyes, urging him to explain.
“You know my roommate from my first year in California, right?”
Tooru nodded in acknowledgement but didn’t say anything, waiting for Hajime to continue.
“Well, he was head over heels for that one friend of his but was too scared to do anything about it. He listened to that song so much during that time, there’s no way I could forget the melody or the lyrics.”
“Ah, that makes sense.” Tooru even looked disappointed, his eyes dropping to his lap again where his long fingers fiddled with each other nervously.
Hajime took a breath, as if he were about to say more, making Tooru cock his head to the side in confusion.
When Hajime closed his mouth without a word leaving it, Tooru let out an impatient “What?”
“Nothing, nothing.” Hajime waved him off.
“No, no, no. That was not nothing, Iwa-chan. Tell me.” Tooru’s tone was demanding but there was a mixture of fear and the slightest bit of hope hidden beneath it.
One hand found its way to Hajime’s neck as he tried to mask his embarrassment with a shaky laugh.
“Ok, yeah… My roommate isn’t the only reason I could never forget about that song… It’s… It made me realise my own feelings, too. There’s this person… ever since then… I can’t see them like before. And it scares the hell out of me because I have no idea if they feel the same…”
The hand around Hajime’s neck slid through his hair to come down across his face as he groaned before his eyes found their way back to the man sitting across from him.
Brown, calculating eyes were watching him.
“Are you sure about that?”
“About what?”
“That you have no idea if they feel the same.” Tooru stated matter of factly.
“Sometimes… I let myself hope.” Hajime sighed and forced himself not to look away from Tooru’s face.
“Is now one of those times?” Tooru leaned himself forward on the table.
“Maybe…” Hajime curved his lips into a small smile when he leaned forward as well so they were only a few centimetres apart.
Tooru’s look snapped to Hajime’s lips for one second before he focused on the blue flecks in his eyes again.
“Maybe you should stop hoping and just do something about it, then.” Tooru said teasingly, though his eyes gleamed with soft hopefulness.
“That would be one possibility, yeah…” Hajime’s smile spread into a slightly teasing grin.
The connection between their interlocked gazes broke apart as Tooru rolled his eyes to the ceiling, letting out an annoyed tsk, though he couldn’t quite hide his amused smile.
The smile was stolen from his lips when Hajime gently cupped his cheek and closed the small distance between them to press their lips together softly. It was the sweetest kiss either of them had ever experienced.
Both men smiled widely, but neither of them moved away, resulting in more teeth involved in their kiss than anything else. Not that they cared. They were too happy to let anything ruin this moment for them.
After a few seconds, Tooru pushed forward across the table to deepen the kiss, successfully erasing the smile from Hajime’s mouth to replace it with a lustful groan.
In the main room of the karaoke bar, Issei and Takahiro were leaning against the counter, each with a drink in hand.
“I didn’t think it would work that fast.” Issei chuckled into his glass.
“Me neither.” Takahiro agreed. “And we were wondering if the eight songs we prepared would be enough…”
Issei nodded with slightly raised eyebrows “Yeah… idiots… do you think we should go back already or give them a little more time?” he added with a glance to his watch.
Takahiro angled his head to get a good look at the clockface of Issei’s watch as well.
“It’s been fifteen minutes. Let’s grab another round of drinks and then head back.”
“Sounds like a plan. We should also thank Suga again for letting his connections play so we could change up the playlist.”
They both nodded in agreement when Issei raised a hand to signal a waiter that they wanted to order something.
When they got back to the rented room, they burst the door open without hesitation.
“See Issei, I told you they’d be making out by now.” Without another comment, Takahiro held out his hand, palm facing upwards.
Grumbling, Issei fished out his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and placed 1000 Yen in Takahiro’s waiting hand.
Tooru let out an offended gasp, even though everyone present knew it was fake because it didn’t surprise any of them that the couple would make a bet about literally anything, including how fast their best friends would go from confessing their feelings to sticking their tongues down each other’s throats.
Without losing another word about the newfound couple, Issei slumped down in his old seat while Takahiro sat down next to him since Hajime had moved around the table to sit closer to his now boyfriend.
With a quick glance around the room, Issei held up his hand that was hovering over the control panel to resume the game when he saw nodding heads in agreement.
The song from before started playing again – this time long enough to recognize which song it was: ‘Still into you’ by Paramore
Issei immediately placed the mic in front of his mouth and sang enthusiastically, sending playful looks to Takahiro throughout the song whenever he could afford to let his eyes leave the screen.
During the refrain, his gaze went soft, and he couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips even while he was singing. Takahiro’s face mirrored the content smile even if he tried to mask it with a smirk. His hand found its way to Issei’s thigh, stroking his thumb across the fabric of his Jeans lovingly.
When the song finished, Issei sang the last words right into Takahiro’s mouth before the other closed the distance between them to claim the singing lips with his own.
Hajime had to scramble across the table to take the mic from Issei’s hand which immediately went up to cup Takahiro’s cheek as soon as it wasn't holding the mic any longer.
With a roll of his eyes, Hajime turned his focus to the screen to read the first lines of the next song that was coming up: ‘Sweater weather’ by The Neighbourhood.
It didn’t take long for Hajime’s hand, which wasn’t holding the mic, to sneak its way into the holes of Tooru’s sweater sleeves. The brunette reciprocated the gesture and pulled Hajime’s sleeve above his own hand as well, so they were holding on to each other’s wrists while their hands were completely covered by their sweaters.
Because of their increased proximity, Tooru rested his chin on Hajime’s shoulder throughout the song and places feather light kisses along his boyfriend’s throat and ear every once in a while.
Takahiro would have complained about their sugary sweet couple interactions if he weren’t too occupied with the teasing light touches of his own boyfriend that were travelling across his whole body, making him shiver whenever fingers brushed over an especially sensitive spot.
The wandering hands were interrupted by the end of the song when Tooru cleared his throat as Hajime held the mic towards Takahiro.
He took it with slightly blushed cheeks but didn’t take his other hand off Issei’s thigh where it rested suspiciously close to his crotch.
His song was ‘Sofia’ by Clairo.
The pink haired man struggled quite a bit with the text once again but managed rather well during the refrain. Some lines, his brain even managed to understand fast enough to send suggestive looks to Issei. Tooru fake gagged in the background whenever this happened, which only encouraged the couple to include as many sexual hints as possible.
Takahiro didn’t even wait for the song to fully finish before he threw the mic across the table where it landed on Tooru’s lap who was up for the next song. The brunette blatantly chose to ignore the tongue fight happening not even two meters away from him when his fingers curled around the mic and his focus shifted towards the screen even though the song started with quite a few instrumental beats.
When they all recognized the song, all of Tooru’s friends started laughing wholeheartedly. Issei and Takahiro broke apart in favour of making fun of their former captain while Hajime had to support his head with his hand that was propped up on the arm rest beside him.
The song was just too fitting for the brunette volleyball player: ‘Talk too much’ by COIN
Every time the line about shutting him up by putting lips on his, Hajime puckered his mouth and closed in on Tooru’s face, forcing him to shove his boyfriend away from him so he could properly sing into the mic.
Tooru was not about to give up his score – not even for a kiss from his Hajime. He’d just have to claim all of them at once as soon as the song was over.
Which he immediately did by dropping the mic to the floor after the last word of the lyrics left his lips.
Hajime laughed into the kiss attack but complied happily by putting his arms around his boyfriend’s shoulders to draw him in even further.
The following year, when Issei was visiting Tooru in Argentina, the tall man was scrolling through social media on Tooru’s laptop while the volleyball player was in the shower after he came home from practice.
Just as his finger stopped scrolling to let his eyes focus on a post by volleyball monthly – they were introducing a new player on the Japan national team – a message notification popped up in the corner of the screen. No text. Just a voice message from Hajime.
Issei was already shifting his gaze back to the volleyball monthly post when another message came in. This time with a Spotify link attached. A Taylor Swift Song? Issei managed to read the title ‘I forgot that you existed’ just before the notification disappeared.
He shook his head, not wanting to think about whatever his friends were sending each other, and started to read the volleyball post for the third time.
But he was, once again, distracted by a notification window appearing in the corner of the screen. Hajime was writing in caps lock? That was rare. The preview of the message showed part of a sentence.
“WAIT NO THAT’S THE WRO…”
Even before the window could disappear, a new one popped up, covering the first. Another Spotify link to yet another Taylor Swift song. Issei was barely able to read the title ‘I think he knows’ before a new message followed, not in caps lock this time.
“That’s the right one :)”
Issei scrunched up his brows in confusion but decided not to dwell on it any further. When it seemed like the string of messages was over, he finally read the post he was curious about.
Three sentences in, the door to the bathroom opened and Tooru’s voice rang through the apartment.
“Mattsun, what do you think about Curry for dinner?” the brunette asked while walking up next to his friend with a towel wrapped around his hips.
The taller wasn’t even fazed by the naked skin exposed right in front of his face in the form of a toned stomach and built pecs.
“Sounds good. Hey uhm. Hajime sent you a voice message. And a song. Or rather two songs.”
At those words, Tooru’s whole demeaner shifted. His shoulders straightened slightly as he perked up and his features gained an excited fondness that Issei had never seen on his face.
“Oh really? Scoot over, I wanna see.”
Tooru didn’t even wait for Issei to move to the side before he claimed his place on the edge of the desk chair, almost making both of them tumble to the floor.
They managed to stay upright, though and Tooru opened the messenger app, clicking on the play-button of the voice message immediately.
Issei’s protest of “I really don’t wanna know what weird stuff you send to each other via voice message” was drowned out by Hajime’s surprisingly loud voice. His singing voice that sounded deeper than normally, making the words seem way more suggestive than the mere text already did.
“I think he knows his hand around a cold glass
make me wanna know that body like it’s mine”
When Issei looked away from the screen in hope of making the sound of the sultry voice from one of his best friends disappear, he immediately regretted his decision as his gaze fell on his other friend instead. The one sitting closely beside him with deeply hooded eyes and teeth sinking into his bottom lip.
“Ay dios mío, Iwa-chan.” The brunette said to no one in particular before he continued to read the messages following the recorded voice.
Issei sensed that a typical ‘Tooru fanboying over his boyfriend’-session was about to start if he didn’t act fast.
“Uhm… so… mind telling me why Hajime’s sending you random songs?”
“What do you mean ‘why’?” Tooru detached his eyes from the screen to look at the friend by his side in honest confusion.
Instead of answering, Issei just raised a brow and cocked his head slightly forward to the side in a ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about’-manner.
“You know…” Tooru started slowly, giving Issei time to remember whatever he was supposed to obviously know but clearly didn’t.
“We got together during that karaoke night last year?” It was a statement that both of them knew was true, but Tooru made it sound like a question as if he feared Issei might have lost his memory.
“Yeah, I know. I was there when you sucked each other’s faces off, remember?”
“Yes, exactly!” Tooru said excitedly as if this would answer everything, jumping up from the cramped desk chair.
“I still have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”
The excitement left Tooru’s face the slightest bit, but he quickly recovered.
“Well… it seemed like fate that those songs played during that first random round of English pop songs. They were just so fitting and finally gave us the last push to get together. So… ever since then we send each other snippets of lyrics that remind us of the other and share the song. I even started making a playlist because they kinda form a small story of what we went through until we got together but at some point it just got too much so I haven’t updated it in a while.”
When those words finally sank in, Issei had to suppress the large grin that wanted to split his face with a snort.
“Fate? You do know that Hiro and I prepared the songs for that karaoke round because we were tired of watching the two of you dance around each other for years, right?”
At the baffled look that greeted him, he didn’t even try to suppress his laugh anymore.
“Oh my god, you didn’t know. How could you not know? It was so obvious! That’s the only reason why we didn’t tell you. We thought you knew that couldn’t have been a coincidence. But yeah of course you had to think it was fate.”
He let out another snort.
Tooru pouted and mumbled something under his breath that Issei barely caught over the laughter that left his lungs.
“Doesn’t change anything about the fact that we’re made for each other.”
“Dear lord, you’re such a sap. Can you please put on some clothes now so we can go get dinner?”
“Fine, fine…” Tooru grumbled and shuffled into his room where he immediately pulled out his phone to call his boyfriend.
Bonus: some snippets of their chat history
Tooru:
Cada dos minutos trato de olvidar
Todos los momentos que pasamos
Cada dos minutos una eternidad
Cada dos minutos sin tocar tus manos
‘Cada dos minutos’ – Despistaos
Miss you, Iwa-chan <3
_____
Hajime:
Cause I'm too easy, too easy for you
Writin' all these cheesy love songs
But you don't know that they're about you
Can't you tell?
All my tweets have been about you
You fool, I really like you
‘Easy’ – City Girl, ry
Remember the first few months I’ve been in California and was rather active on twt and you thought I was crushing on someone really hard? Well you were right.. Shittykawa..
Love you
Tooru:
Aaaaw Iwa-chan love u2 <3 !
We were both stupid…
but now you’ve got me until we’re old and grey (still sexy tho) bc i’m not gonna let you go <3
Hajime:
i know <3
_____
Tooru:
Please don't let this love die young
Please don't let this love die young
If I'm gonna lose someone
Don't let it be you
‘Love Die Young’ – Eric Nam
I know this is one is pretty sad but it really made me realize how glad I am that we’re together and that I really never wanna lose you Iwa-chan. I love you so much
Hajime:
that really is a sad one
but don’t worry
you’re way too important for me to lo lose you
I love you too
so so much
_____
Hajime: (not exactly singing but rather gently breathing the words into the microphone of his phone)
Se que mi lugar
Es junto a ti
Eres todo lo que pedía
Lo que no conocía
Y que en ti descubrí
‘Sólo para Ti’ – Camila
not sure if I understand everything in this song but the general vibe describes my feelings for you pretty good
Tooru:
Iwa-chan
Hajime
this
you
sólo te quiero a ti