kei has never been so bothered. he likes you so much it aches. how he's so nonchalant around you when he wants to be all loving and affectionate towards you. but he can't, because you're not his. not yet, at least. the fact that you were so dense didn't help him either.

his teammates were bugging him about it too. he wanted to snap at all of them. and then snap at himself for being a coward by not confessing to you. he was going to do it eventually. he just didn't know when. so when new year's came around, it sort of just clicked. he was going to confess to you then.

coach ukai and takeda-sensei had organized the team to go to a festival in the city, and naturally, that’s all the team could talk about. kei couldn't help but overhear the conversation you and kiyoko were having during one of the practices. you were going to wear a kimono.

the night of the festival came around, and goodness, kei was a mess. seeing you in your kimono, his heart pounded in his chest, only for him to simply greet you with a “hey”, when he so badly wanted to call you pretty, beautiful, all that sappy stuff.

when the time for fireworks came around, he hand whisked you away from the rest of the group. that he “knew a spot” that had the better view of the fireworks, when he really just wanted to be alone with you and confess to you in peace. the “spot” he knew was just somewhere he thought was pretty, a bridge over a little river away form the bustling festival.

“here it is.” he says, stepping onto the bridge first, glancing back at you, only to turn away almost immediately when he caught sight of you in your kimono once again. he silently thanked his eyes for allowing him to see such a beautiful sight, then half cursed his eyes for not being able to look at you longer because he was embarrassed.