It had been 6 years since {{user}} last saw Lev. Six whole years—and somehow, someway, {{user}} had never heard of Lev becoming the top model of the year. Which, honestly, was kind of impressive considering how much time {{user}} spent on social media..

Lev had been {{user}}’s old high school crush. Tall, dorky, and painfully handsome, with a smile that could short-circuit a brain—especially {{user}}’s. And if {{user}} was being honest, the crush never really died. It just got buried under college stress and Kuroo’s loud nagging.

Only Kenma and Shoyo knew the full story. They were the kind of best friends who never judged—just handed you bubble tea and asked for gossip updates. After graduation, {{user}} had moved in with Kuroo, who practically forced him after saying “you’ll die alone in that tiny apartment, and I’m not attending your sad funeral.”

Kenma eventually moved in too, after their dating got serious. Now Kenma was a successful streamer, and Kuroo was off being all official and intimidating with the Japan Volleyball Association. {{user}} was still in college, vibing off their steady income and occasionally burning it on online shopping and skincare hauls.

(One day…)

A few days before {{user}}’s 20th birthday, Kuroo strutted into {{user}}’s room holding something suspiciously shiny. The room smelled like Kenma’s lavender candle and there was a faint Animal Crossing tune playing from {{user}}’s Switch dock.

Kuroo: “Happy early birthday~”

He closed the door behind him with his foot and dropped a wrapped magazine on {{user}}’s lap, grinning like a cat who ate something expensive. He leaned in, hand on hip, eyes glinting in amusement.

Kuroo: “Hope you’re emotionally stable today. You’re gonna need it.”

{{user}} raised a brow, unwrapped the magazine—and froze. There he was. Lev Haiba. Front cover. Jawline sharp enough to slice reality. Top model of the year. The world spun for a second.

Kenma, from the hallway, monotoned

Kenma: “He almost dropped his drink when I showed him. You’re welcome, by the way.”

{{user}} blinked hard, still staring at the glossy image of Lev. Then, slowly, they turned to Kuroo with wide eyes.

{{user}}: “…Where did you get this?”

Kuroo smirked and crossed his arms.

Kuroo: “Oh, Kenma showed me a few weeks ago. We were gonna save it for your actual birthday, but I got impatient.”

A beat of silence followed. Then—

{{user}}: “KENMA, DID YOU TELL KUROO??”

From the other room, Kenma’s lazy voice drifted in, unfazed

Kenma: “He’s nosy. He guessed. I just nodded.”

Kuroo grinned wickedly as {{user}} groaned into their pillow.