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If you could ask Shirabu what his favourite season was, he would lie. He would say that it was autumn, when the leaves turned into a sunset colour. The autumn season was a cosy one, where he could spend his free weekends lying in bed and reading a book, with a cup of hot coffee at the bedside table. This was in comparison to his detested season, summer.
Shirabu hated summer.
He hated summer for the things that accompanied the brutal heat: the sweat trickling off his forehead, the heat beating down on his skin and causing his shirt to stick uncomfortably to his back, and the intense summer camps Shiratorizawa had to go to during summer break.
Shirabu hated it. He hated it all. The way his ice cream always melted in a minute after stepping out of the convenience store? It made him think that the convenience store gave him more inconvenience than actual convenience. Even at night, he kept having fever dreams due to his high body temperature. It was a strange and overwhelming experience. He hated those nights. Those nights had coined the term ‘The Apocalypse’.
Adding on to his worsening mood, his senpai, Tendou, had been pleading for him to come to a ‘Third Years Graduation party’. He had been incessantly asking Shirabu to attend. Reason being? ‘You won’t see us ever again!’
“Tendou-san. If I go, will you please shut up?”
“That’s the spirit, Shirabu-kun~! I’ll text you the details later!”
And just like that, Tendou was gone like the wind. Shirabu sighed as he drank from his water bottle. The heat was really getting to him, and he was feeling more irritable by the second.
‘Who conjured up the great idea to have volleyball summer camps?’ Shirabu thought, ‘I just want to go back to the cafeteria. At least that place has air conditioning…’
He made his way to the gymnasium, ignoring everyone that called his name or looked at him funny. He wished for this to be over soon. People often tell him to enjoy his summer break, but what summer break does he have?
Just as he entered the gymnasium, he saw a sight he didn't expect to see, but didn't mind seeing didn’t want to see.
Semi Eita. Semi fucking Eita wiping his face with his shirt. Semi’s abs were on full display for anyone looking.
It’s not like Shirabu hated him or anything, he just had a big fat massive crush on Semi. Semi wasn’t any boy, he was known for being a rebellious and mischievous ‘bad boy’ who would always find his way to get what he wanted.
And somehow, just somehow, Shirabu fell for him.
He could feel the heat rising up his body, and he frantically looked around for his best friend, Taichi. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found. Shirabu internally screamed, wondering why whenever something important or crucial happens, his best friend is not there. He contemplated leaving the gymnasium to avoid Semi’s small talk, but Semi had already noticed him.
“Hey, Shirabu. Good work on that set today.”
“Oh, thank you.”
There was an awkward silence between them, and both of them averted their gaze from one another.
“So how was your—”
“May I ask—”
Both Semi and Shirabu talked at the same time. Semi sported a laugh while Shirabu closed his eyes in embarrassment. Both of them did not expect the other to talk at the same time, and it was indeed a comedic sight.
A while later, members of the Shiratorizawa volleyball club came trickling in, getting ready for more training. Shirabu watched as Yamagata separated himself (unwillingly) from his boyfriend in order to stretch.
“Huh. A good best friend you are, Taichi. Abandoning me for your boyfriend I see.”
“At least I’m not pining over someone.”
Two middle fingers were raised in front of Taichi, as Shirabu used both hands to flip him off with a scowl on his face.
That evening, Shirabu received a text message from Tendou. It contained the location and what was to be expected. Since it was a party planned by Tendou, he knew that there would be alcohol. He contemplated going to the party, and eventually he went into his dorm to change into more comfortable clothing. The party would take place at Semi and Yamagata’s shared dorm, it wouldn’t be that bad, right…?
Wrong.
Devils roll the dice while angels roll their eyes. Shirabu knew he should’ve just rejected Tendou’s invitation to come to the party. Somehow, he went because Tendou told him something about ‘him being able to see semisemi drunk’. So obviously, Shirabu went. He wanted to see how the Semi Eita would get drunk.
As soon as Shirabu knocked on the door, he was pleasantly greeted by Semi, who let him and Taichi in. Yamagata tackled Taichi and pulled him into a hug, and Shirabu stood there awkwardly. He was not good in social situations, and in this small, cramped dorm, it looked as if the whole of the Shiratorizawa student population was there. The loud, blaring music, coupled with the amount of people squeezed in the small dorm made it hard for Shirabu to breathe.
“Hey, Shirabu. Want to go outside for a bit? You’re looking a little pale,” Semi inquired, waving a hand over Shirabu’s face.
“No, it’s alright.”
“No, we’re going out. I can tell you’re about to faint.” Semi insisted, grabbing gently onto Shirabu's wrist and pulling him out of the cramped dorm room.
Shirabu jumped slightly in surprise, but didn't draw back at the sudden warmth wrapping itself around his wrist. Semi? Holding his wrist? Shirabu kept convincing himself it wasn’t real, but it was. Shirabu would have thought that Semi’s hands were rough due to Shiratorizawa's strenuous training schedule, but to his surprise, Semi’s hands were soft. They were well taken care of: his palms lacked any callouses, his fingertips gentle and his touch soft.
In the time that Shirabu took to admire the other's hands, Semi had already walked them both outside of his dorm. Shirabu could feel Semi's gaze on him, and felt his cheeks getting warmer. It was as if… Semi was worrying about him? They sat in silence for a while, before Semi got up, dusting off his pants as he tapped Shirabu on the shoulder.
“Oi. Want to go to the convenience store?”
Shirabu weighed his options. “Sure, I don’t see why not. But you better not get us caught, my academic scholarship is on the line here.”
Semi laughed softly at the joke. His laughter reminded Shirabu of the things he loved; Shirabu loved the rustling of leaves when the wind blew gently against them; Shirabu loved the crashing of waves on the shoreline; Shirabu loved the comfort of eating whitebait with fluffy steamed rice; But most importantly, Shirabu loved Semi.
Semi led the way to the secret opening at the back of the dorms. They slowly but swiftly snuck past the security guard who was on duty for the night. Soon, they reached the barbed wires that surrounded the school's perimeter. Semi dug his fingers around the wall of wire, almost like he was searching for something. It was clear from his actions that this wasn't the first time he'd done this. After a few more minutes of digging, he pulled a rectangular section of wire cleanly away from the rest of the wall. The resulting hole was small enough to go unnoticed during inspections, but large enough for students to squeeze through and out. Shirabu was intrigued.
“Quick, we can get out through here.” He whispered in hushed tones to the watching Shirabu. What would have been a painful task for Shirabu became easy and safe thanks to Semi's help. Once Semi had made it through the hole, they took a backward glance at the dimly-lit school building behind them, grinning at each other. They simultaneously made a run for it to the convenience store, and ended up bursting into laughter when they reached the store. They entered the convenience store, gasping and laughing while clutching their sides.
They browsed through the shelves of items but still made a beeline for the foods. There were an assortment of items, ranging from simple potato chips to ready-made meals.
Eventually, Semi chose a 4 piece set of Tekka Maki sushi and Shirabu chose a small plate of rice with whitebait. They sat at the seating area of the convenience store, talking to each other in hushed voices. It was a rare sight to see — both setters were known for constantly bickering with each other, yet right now they were having a peaceful and quiet conversation. After finishing their food, they disposed of the containers in a nearby bin and began heading back to the dorms, making idle talk between them as they walked.
Shirabu thought Semi had been walking by his side, but he heard the boy call to him from behind.
“Wait.”
“What is it? It’s getting late, Semi-san. I’m not risking my scholarship just for another stupid thing you want to do on a whim.”
Semi grinned widely. “Shut up. Do you want a drink?”
“Huh?”
Shirabu looked back to where Semi had stopped. It was a vending machine. Semi had stopped at a vending machine to pick a drink to buy.
He looked at Shirabu expectantly, with his hands in the pockets of his ripped jeans, waiting for his answer. A few seconds pass and Shirabu looked at what the vending machine had to offer. The most appealing drink to him at that time was orange juice.
Shirabu heard Semi put in some coins, followed by the soft clang of a canned drink being dispensed. He glanced at what Semi had bought. A can of orange juice. How coincidental could it be? Just as Shirabu was about to reply, he noticed Semi’s outstretched hand, offering the can of orange juice to him.
“I noticed that your gaze was quite fixed on the orange juice, so…”
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
Shirabu could hear his heart thumping wildly in his ears.
Was this real? Did Semi really notice that he was too fixated on the orange juice? Shirabu muttered a small thanks before accepting the can. He heard Semi put more coins in to buy a can of ramune, and the tab opened loudly. He thought that the pang of the can hitting the bottom of the slot sounded very much like the crashing of the waves when they hit the shore, the coldness of the orange juice like the sea breeze blowing gently on his neck, and Semi’s smile like the bright summer sun.
Soon, they were back at the small opening where they had first escaped out of. They slowly snuck back in through the opening, and creeped back to their separate dorms.
When they reached the dorms, Shirabu thought that Semi would leave him and go back to his own dorm.
But he was wrong. Semi followed Shirabu back to his dorm room quietly, wanting to make sure that the latter didn't get caught for sneaking out with him, when he was the one who had dragged Shirabu out with him in the first place.
Shirabu was confused. “Why are you still here? Go back to your dorm, Semi-san.”
“I’m sorry for what i'm about to do next, Shirabu.”
It all happened very quickly. Too quickly for Shirabu to properly soak in the moment. Much too quickly for Shirabu to enjoy. Semi closes the distance between them, pressing his lips onto the other boy's.
Shirabu’s eyes widened. Was this real or was this a dream?
After that kiss, Semi looked down and muttered a small ‘sorry’, shooting him a sheepish yet happy grin as he ran off. Shirabu slammed the door shut and locked it, collapsing in his bed and screaming in his pillow before another pillow was rudely thrown at him by Kawanishi.
Shirabu hated summer, but this specific experience made him grow to love summer. Now, whenever someone mentions a new approaching summer season, he no longer thinks of blistering heat and the inconvenience of the convenience store. Instead, he thinks of silly laughter and friendly banter, the hum of a vending machine, and the gentle press of a warm mouth on his.