My birthday came and went, eighteen turning out to be slightly less glamorous than I'd fantasized. I spent it with my parents, along with Daichi, Asahi, and (y/n). She helped my mom cook dinner while the rest of us played video games; it all felt natural, like this happened every year. My parents loved (y/n), especially my mom, fawning all over her like a child every time she came over, which was often now.

I liked having her over; she helped me with homework, made dinner with my mom, quietly watched TV with my dad, and when we'd manage to slip off to my room we'd kiss until our lips were pink and swollen. It was like a dream come true and before long I couldn't remember what life was like before (y/n).

The weather had become nearly suffocating, the sun not taking a break for days on end. Even when it seemed like rain the clouds never broke open, usually making way for the sun again before long. Summer vacation was right around the corner and I couldn't wait to enjoy it with (y/n).

-

Everyone on the team seemed drained by the heat in the gym, sweat dripping from every forehead after only a couple of laps. Coach Ukai seemed just as exhausted, leaving Daichi to direct everyone. It was slow and painful to move around, everything feeling heavy. The rush of air when the gym door opened was much welcome, along with the girl opening it. (Y/n) quietly let herself in, waving to Ukai as she walked towards him. Her eyes scanned the court and stopped at me; she smiled but didn't try to get my attention, continuing to her uncle. I regained my focus but it was a struggle not to look at (y/n) as she talked with Ukai. It surprised me that the boys didn't surround her as soon as she walked in, but I chalked it up to everyone being lethargic from the heat.

As we finished up practice I snuck a glance her way and caught her crying, angrily wiping tears away from her eyes as Ukai seemingly talked her down. I whipped my head away, knowing she would be embarrassed if anyone else noticed. I made sure no one noticed her, insisting we all take the long way to the locker room.

By the time we all changed and returned to the gym, (y/n) had thankfully stopped crying but it was clear she wasn't in any sort of good mood. She leaned against the bleachers, quietly talking to Ukai as all of us gathered around.

"Hey, (y/n)! Were you here the whole time?" Hinata yelled, jumping up to her. She gave him a forced smile, only nodding in response. Everyone wanted to talk to her but they quickly realized she wasn't her usual self and quieted down, prompting Coach Ukai to address us.

"Alright guys," he began. "Summer vacation is about one month away, which means training camp is that much sooner. I want everyone to get their permissions slips signed now instead of the day before, understand? If your parents have any questions they can call Takeda- his number's on the bottom of the sheet." The gym was quiet save for the rustling of paper; Daichi nudged into me as he passed me the sheet, but his eyes stayed focused as if nothing happened.

"Everybody have one?" Coach Ukai asked. "Alright, get outta here. No morning practice tomorrow." Everybody shouted and hollered at the relieving news, running out of the gym into the summer air, leaving only me, Daichi, and Asahi, along with (y/n) and Ukai after a few moments. She looked up at him, defiance burning behind her stare.

"You're wrong," she said, her voice angry, a tone I'd never heard before. "You think you know what's best for me but you don't. Stop trying-"

"No, you stop, (y/n). You're not talking to me like this in front of my team. We can finish this-"

"Oh, screw your team," she spat, her eyebrows knitting together. "Screw you, too. I don't care if you tell my dad anymore- just, just fuck off. Stay away from me." She shoots him daggers before she turns on her heel and stomps out of the gym the wrong way. We all exchange wide-eyed glances, Coach Ukai groaning as he walked away, leaving us alone. I'm torn between giving her space and running after her- after a few moments of silence I decide it's best to go look for her.

"I'm gonna go find her," I said, jogging towards the door she left out of, knowing she was most likely wandering throughout the school completely lost. I waved goodbye to my friends, both of them waving back with sympathetic looks on their faces.

I called her and heard her phone ringing distantly, despite the fact that she didn't answer my call. I called again and ran after the sound, finally spotting her at the end of a long hallway.

"(Y/n)!" I called. She didn't even turn around, continuing to stalk forward with no clue of where she was going. "(Y/n)! (Y/n), wait up!"

She finally stopped but didn't turn to face me, her head tucked in as I finally caught up to her. She tried to turn her face away from me as I stood in front of her, but I clearly saw her lower lip trembling and the tears welling in her eyes. I felt guilty thinking she looked cute when she was about to cry.

"Hey," I said, my voice higher-pitched than I expected. "Hey, (y/n), i- it's just me." She finally looked me in the eyes and broke down; she flopped into my arms, quietly sobbing into my shoulder. It was awkward to hold her in the middle of the hallway even though it was empty and I desperately tried to come up with a reason to at least go sit in the car.

I held her a few moments longer, rubbing my hands up and down her back as she continued to cry. I finally peeled her off me, smiling even though I knew she wouldn't be returning it.

"Let's get out of here, okay?" I said, my voice still clearly frazzled but softer than before. "You can tell me everything in the car." She nodded and began to walk forward, stopping after a couple of steps. I chuckled, reaching for her hand and leading us toward the parking lot, not needing any words. Once we sat in the car she slumped against me, eventually just laying across my lap, her feet hanging out the open windows. I placed a timid hand on her forehead, tucking any loose strands of hair behind her ear while she closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she finally mumbled. "I didn't mean to make things awkward. He just really pissed me off and I was tired of pretending to agree with him."

I hummed in response, letting her explain at her own pace. The sun set, a soft golden hue spreading across the sky. The muted light filled the car, tear stains visible on her cheeks still. The silence lasted a little longer, until she finally sat up, resting her head against the steering wheel quietly.

"Can you come over tonight? Like, stay over. I'll bring you to school tomorrow." I blushed furiously at her request, turning away. I simply pulled out my phone in response, calling my mom with sweat-drenched, shaking hands.

"Hey, honey," she greeted me. "Everything okay?"

"Hi mom," I said, my voice loud because I was nervous. "C-could I s-stay over (y/n)'s tonight? She said she'd bring me to school in the morning and I have an extra set of clothes here at school..."

An overwhelming quiet settled on the phone line, my heart pounding the only sound I could hear. After what seemed like ages, she finally let out a half-laugh half-sigh; (Y/n) stared at me with a gaze almost as terrified as my own.

"I was waiting for this," my mom finally sighed. "You're eighteen years old, Koushi. As much as I wish you were, you're not a baby anymore. Just... don't do anything stupid, okay? I'm not ready to be a Nana yet."

"Mom!" I yelled over her laughing. My face was so hot that I wondered if you could possibly get a sunburn from the inside out. She finally calmed down, sighing for the millionth time.

"Thank you, mom." I finally said, genuine. She giggled and we quickly said goodbye; I ended the call and turned to (y/n) who was smiling at me, looking relieved.

"I really didn't think she'd say yes," she admitted. "I just really don't wanna be without you right now."

I leaned across the console and kissed her on the lips; it was a warm and soft kiss, both of us practically sighing with relief into each other. I pulled away, running a hand through my hair before getting out of the car.

"I'm just gonna get some extra clothes from my locker, okay?" I said through the open window, jogging into the school to the locker room. My mind raced even faster than my legs, every thought saturated with (y/n); going to her house, waking up next to her, and all the in betweens I couldn't wait for.

-

Even once we got to (y/n)'s apartment I still felt anxiety in the pit of my chest, stinging as I dropped my backpack on the floor of her bedroom. We settled in the living room, blasting the air conditioner and lounging on the couch. I had been desperate to be so indefinitely alone with her and now that the moment was in front of me, my entire body was ceased with fear. We sat on opposite ends of the couch, at least a full yard between us as we remained in silence save for the air conditioner. I kept sneaking glances at her but she was engulfed in her phone, not seeming to notice me. I wondered if she was distracting herself because she was as nervous as I was.

"Sorry," she huffed, tossing her phone on the carpet. "I don't wanna talk about what happened with Keishin. I just wanna be with you." She scooted across the couch, wrapping her arms around my middle and resting her head on my chest. I held her around the waist, trying to calm myself down so she wouldn't notice my heart pounding. Unfortunately the concerned expression on her face as she pressed her ear against my chest said I'd been caught.

"Are you nervous? Your heart sounds like you just ran a marathon," she said, looking up at me with worried eyes. "What's wrong?"

I felt my face turning red hot for the seemingly millionth time since I'd met (y/n) and it surprised me that I hadn't gotten used to it at this point. I closed my eyes, clearing my head as much as I possibly could before I spoke.

"Yeah," I finally breathed. "I just- I'm nervous to be alone with you like this. I don't know why, I- I just... I don't know. I get nervous around you a lot."

She looked hurt, pouting her lips and pulling away from me a bit.

"I'm your girlfriend. Why don't you wanna be alone with me, Koushi?"

"Oh my god, that's not it!" I exclaimed, my voice unconsciously getting louder as I became even more anxious. "It's the exact opposite! I really want to be alone with you and I'm just scared to mess it up!"

We both stared at each other, faces blushing as we stayed silent. A smile quirked on her lips though, loud, awkward laughter pouring out seconds later. I smiled back, mildly confused.

"Sorry," she sighed. "I didn't mean to get all defensive like that. I'm nervous too and I just... I just wanna be perfect around you and I know I'm not because I end up crying like, every other time we hang out..."

"You're perfect to me," I said, cutting off her laughter. She stared at me with wide eyes but I didn't really care for once, bravely reaching out for her hand and twining our fingers together. "I don't care if you cry, or get mad and yell, or anything. I know we just started dating but I really like you, (y/n)." I stopped myself there, afraid to let anything else slip out. She squeezed my hand in hers, continuing to lean forward, pressing her lips against mine.

I knew we both had things to do besides this but neither of us showed any signs of stopping- it was the opposite. She climbed over me, straddling my lap and pressing herself against me before kissing me again, both of us needy and desperate for the other's touch. I ran one hand through her hair, the other finding it's way to the hemline of her shirt, touching the bare skin beneath. Her lips moved away from mine, trailing down my jawline and neck; her kisses were light and airy, barely touching my hot skin. She pulled back and looked at me, hesitation in her eyes.

"I'm scared." she said, her voice barely audible.

"Me too." I replied, every nerve on my body screaming as I decided to take off my shirt first, the now-cool air sending a chill down my bare spine. (Y/n) looked me up and down and I found myself doing the same to her. Her legs mostly bare in a pair of shorts, and the way I could see her chest slightly fall up and down with her breath drove me crazy and my hands were clumsily pulling off her shirt before I knew what was happening. She pushed me down on the couch, still straddling me as she leaned down to continue where she'd left off. I could hardly breathe as I felt her open mouth trailing down my collarbones to my chest, her teeth gently scraping against my skin.

"(Y/n)," I panted, noticing small red hickeys on my skin as I glanced down. She pulled away and god, she looked so sexy in that moment, like I'd never seen her before; pushing her hair away from her face, bare skin exposed just for me, lips flushed and eyes burning. A million different words threatened to tumble from my lips, but I decided to not ruin the moment by going off on a tangent. I awkwardly shifted placed with her so I now hovered over her; she was vulnerable beneath me, every inch of her mine.

"Koushi..."

"(Y/n)- senpai..." My lips quirked up before I could even finish talking, breaking into laughter while she gave me an annoyed face. I leaned down, smiling so big into the kiss that our teeth accidentally knocked against each other- I didn't care though, continuing to move my lips against hers until they were numb.