you hadn’t known kei for long—just since the start of your first year at karasuno. your older brother, daichi, had suggested you get to know the team, especially with the new faces this year. kei, with his sharp eyes and quiet confidence, had caught your attention right away. he wasn’t one for many words, but when he spoke, it was always direct. it felt like he was sizing you up without even trying, but it wasn’t uncomfortable—just kei.

you both found yourselves sharing lunch on the rooftop bench most days, a spot that was usually empty. it was quiet, a peaceful break from the chaos of the cafeteria. the routine quickly became familiar, comforting even. sometimes tadashi would join you both, making light conversation, but when he didn’t, it was just you and kei. you’d bicker over random things—usually something kei observed or a small comment you’d throw back at him. some days, the silence between you was more than enough, just the two of you eating lunch while the breeze played with your hair.

it wasn’t anything extraordinary, but those moments of quiet on the rooftop felt like a small escape from the rush of the day. kei would lean back, looking like he couldn’t care less about what was happening around him, but there was always a certain ease to the time spent together. no expectations, no pressure—just a few moments of calm before the day went on again.

one afternoon, as you finished your lunch, kei nudged your shoulder with his. “you know,” he started, voice low, “you’ve got a pretty terrible taste in music, but... it’s kind of growing on me.” he smirked, the teasing tone familiar. “maybe you could play something less awful next time.”