Chapter Text
“Hey, Wakatoshi-kun...”
Ushijima glanced up to see Tendou walking over and stop beside him. Ushijima could tell by his stance that he was somewhat nervous-- his hands were behind him as he rolled back and forth on his heels, his face slightly flushed and his eyes bright with an excited hope.
“Ya wanna come to my place for studyin’ after practice?”
Ushijima wasn’t sure why his friend was nervous. It wasn’t as if they’d never been to each other’s houses before. And yet, Tendou looked like he was waiting for an answer with baited breath, so Ushijima shrugged. “Okay,” he said simply, spinning the volleyball he’d picked up. Tendou grinned widely.
In his peripheral, Ushijima watched Semi come up behind Tendou and mutter something with a smirk, jabbing the redhead in the ribs with his elbow. Ushijima wasn’t sure what was said, but Tendou’s reaction, the way the light blush on his cheeks darkened and spread to his ears as he hissed something back, was interesting.
----
Tendou was completely unfocused on his homework. Ushijima was pretty sure he hadn’t seen the redhead take down a single note in the past thirty minutes. Though him being distracted wasn’t anything new, usually Tendou was more vocal about whatever was on his mind. Now, though, he sat quietly, his eyes flicking back and forth over the text in front of him, but it didn't look like he was actually absorbing any of the information.
It was weird. It wasn’t the Tendou that Ushijima was used to.
“You look stressed,” he said, finally breaking the silence. Tendou started, looking up from his textbook with wide eyes.
“Do I?” He asked, and the small laugh he gave sounded forced. He didn't bother to elaborate as Ushijima was expecting him to. Ushijima stared at him for a moment, knowing something really was up at this point, but unable to take a guess as to what it was. He looked back down at his own schoolwork; Tendou would tell him in his own time, probably. He wasn’t one to bottle things up for long, if at all.
Ushijima studied for a while longer before standing, striding towards the kitchen for refreshments. When he came back, Tendou still hadn't moved except to close his eyes, his expression unusually blank.
“Here,” Ushijima said, placing a glass of juice in front of the redhead. He watched as Tendou’s eyes popped back open and as he blinked, startled.
“Oh, Wakatoshi-kun, that's very kind of you!” Tendou chirped with a tiny laugh, reaching for the glass and taking a long sip.
“I just thought you'd be thirsty,” Ushijima replied.
“You thought right!”
Ushijima took his seat again, bending over his textbook. He took notes, however, he was more focused on Tendou’s obvious fidgeting than on the schoolwork.
“Say, Wakatoshi-kun…” Tendou began slowly, settling his elbows on the table and twiddling his fingers together. Ushijima hummed, letting the redhead know he was listening. “How about… I give you a nickname?”
Ushijima looked up and directly at Tendou now. The redhead averted his eyes and his fidgeting increased.
“Sure, whatever,” Ushijima replied calmly, his features giving away nothing. He watched Tendou freeze up and then relax, a cheerful grin coming to his face.
“Alright then,” Tendou began, closing his eyes and lacing his fingers beneath his chin, humming thoughtfully. Ushijima let a tiny smile tug at his lips, feeling his own face heat up slightly at Tendou’s excitement.
“What if I call you… Wakkun!” Tendou suggested with a grin.
Ushijima studied the redhead for a moment, rolling the name around in his mind a bit. Wakkun. He liked it, and Tendou’s enthusiasm about the name was hard to resist. Ushijima grinned and replied with, “Sure, it's fine.”
Tendou’s stiff posture relaxed, and Ushijima couldn't help but smile at his friend's obvious relief.
His smiled remained for the rest of the afternoon.