Kei had never been so bothered. Ever. He liked you so much, it ached. He hated how calm and indifferent he was when around you, when deep down all he wanted was to be affectionate. Gentle, soft, and all yours. But he couldn't. Not yet, at least. Not when you were so painfully oblivious to how he felt.

His teammates were starting to bug him about it. Every little side glance from them, every muttered joke, every little urge to get him to talk to you grated on him. He wanted to snap at them, to tell them to shut up. And then snap at himself for being a coward.

He likes you so much and yet he's still doing nothing about it. Well not "nothing." He's making slight advances like purposefully lagging behind and walking slower when you're behind him so that he'd magically fall in step next to you. Maybe sit in a row closer to yours in class.

He'd confess eventually. He just didn't know when. Not when so many people around. School is such a congested place for goodness sakes, and right after classes he has volleyball. Who knows what clubs you have after school? You two didn't take the same route home either. Kei was having a hard time finding the right chance to do it.

New Year's was coming soon, and something clicked when he saw the little scribble written on his calendar. Maybe it was the sentimentality of the season or how everyone seemed more open when the fireworks burst in the air. Whatever it was that was getting him to do this, he decided: he'll confess on New Year's.

Coach Ukai and Takeda-sensei, the gracious adults that they are, had arranged for the team to go to a festival nearby in the city, and naturally, that was all the team could talk about at practice. He didn't think much of it, just his ear occasionally picking up on what they wanted to do and what food they wanted to eat.

Until he overheard you talking to Kiyoko saying that you were going to wear a kimono. The single detail rewired his entire mind. He's not sure why it hit him so hard. Because it was something new? Because he knew you'd look good? Or maybe because the idea of you being that beautiful and still not his made him spiral?

Soon enough, the night of the festival came and Kei was a mess. It's not like anyone could tell, of course. He's Kei Tsukishima. He'd never be a nervous wreck around anyone. But he is, for you.

Everyone met up at a settled spot and he finally saw you. Really saw you in that kimono you were talking about at practice. His heart pounded so hard the fireworks show wouldn't be able to compare. Still, all he managed was a casual "Hey" and a slight nod of his head.

He wanted to call you all that cheesy, sappy stuff. Gorgeous, pretty, breathtaking. But the truth isn't sappy, is it? Just stuck in his throat, swallowed by all the nerves and the fear of messing everything up in the back of his mind.

The fireworks show rolled around, and he saw his chance. He whisked you away from the group very discreetly. He purposefully insisted on wandering around with you so that you'd naturally disperse from the group and be with just him.

His goal was for his confession to be somewhere quiet and away from all the noise and teasing. And also the possibility of chickening out. The spot he led you to wasn’t anything extravagant. Just a small bridge over water, not too far from the festival but close enough to get a view of the show.

"Here it is," he said, stepping onto the bridge first. He glanced back at you, only to avert his eyes just as quickly when he caught another view of you in your kimono. His ears flushed redder than earlier. It was just you two now.

You looked beyond beautiful it really did make him ache. For a second, standing under the stars with you, he silently thanked his eyes for allowing him to see you like this. And then half cursed them for not being brave enough to stare a little longer without exploding from sheer embarassment.