Chapter Text
Tsukishima felt a lot of guilt. And usually, he didn’t feel guilt like this. He didn’t mind hitting Lev or Bokuto or Kuroo, because he knew they could take it. He didn’t think that Yamaguchi couldn’t take it… but still. For every one of Yamaguchi’s freckles that he counted (2,076), he felt a sliver of guilt. So that was a lot.
Yamaguchi was avoiding him. It was hard to tell earlier, but now Tsukishima was sure. The way Yamaguchi didn’t quite look at him when they talked in groups. The way Tsukishima couldn’t find him to talk alone and apologize. Today was Friday, after today, Tsukishima wouldn’t have the chance. They were going back to school Saturday morning and Tsukishima didn’t have Yamaguchi’s phone number. He really should’ve asked for it.
“Tsukkiiii! Since it’s the last day of camp, come over to me and Bokuto’s room!”
“Ew no.” Tsukishima sidestepped Kuroo as he barreled forward.
“Pweaseee. Tadashi-kun will be there.” Tsukishima froze for just a second. Then he moved to the furthest table, where Ennoshita sat with Tanaka and Noya. Tsukishima would take those knuckleheads over Kuroo for now.
What right did Kuroo have to use Yamaguchi’s first name? Even his teammates didn’t call Yamaguchi by his given name and if any of Tsukishima’s teammates used his given name, he’d slaughter them. Were they that close? Just because Yamaguchi went to play video games with Kenma?
Tsukishima ended up in that room anyway. Technically, they were all staying in a hotel-facility-thing, but this room looked like a messy bedroom. Kuroo and Bokuto really settled in. Weren’t they packing? (Tsukishima wouldn’t be surprised if the answer was no) He was surprised however, by the rest of everyone in the room.
“Welcome!” Kuroo said, flourishing his arms, “To our humble abode.” There were some sniggers from behind him and Bokuto picked up at the end. “We were waiting for ya!”
Tsukishima looked around the room. He picked a spot next to Ushijima and glared across at Kageyama. Kageyama just glared back, sitting next to Hinata, who seemed way too excited for this. “What are we doing?” Kageyama asked.
“Glad ya asked!” Bokuto grinned and pulled out a bottle. “Truth or Dare… orrrrrrr Spin the Bottle.” No one missed the very obvious glance at Akaashi.
It was put up to a vote. Tanaka and Noya were literally foaming at the chance to kiss Kiyoko, so the girls said they wouldn’t play. It was pretty even actually, a tie. People like Suga, Oikawa, and Bokuto voted for Spin the Bottle. Akaashi, Ennoshita, and Hinata voted for Truth or Dare, until it was nine against nine.
“Who didn’t vote?” Daichi asked.
“Tsukishima groaned and most of the room turned to him. “Truth or Dare… or whatever.”
“Awww I thought you were on our side…” Noya drooped. Kuroo narrowed his eyes and smiled. The game started and Tsukishima was really getting a headache. The dares were funny things, like “lick the person to your left’s foot”, or “do your best to imitate a Californian accent, in English” (were there any other languages the Californian accent could be applied to?). The truths were your usual “who do you like?” (“Kiyoko-san!”) and “what’s the stupidest thing you’ve done before?” Nishinoya got that one. Tsukishima did not need to know that Noya threw his lizard away after it shed because he thought it had died. Besides most things Nishinoya did were stupid.
“Tsukki!” Kuroo beamed as though he hadn’t just tasted Daichi’s sock. “Truth or Dare?” That was when Tsukishima realized that he was cornered. He’d stayed away from getting asked by being quiet and in the corner.
“Dare?” Tsukishima would rather not spill his most embarrassing moment of anything.
“Wonderful…” Kuroo played with his fingers and gave him a madman-like smile. “Kiss Tadashi then.”
Yamaguchi seemed equally, if not more shocked about it. He stared at Kuroo with big, betrayed eyes. Tsukishima moved across the room to be next to Yamaguchi.
“Does he usually call you that?” Tsukishima asked quietly, getting closer to Yamaguchi’s face.
“No,” Yamaguchi whispered.
“Can I then?” Tsukishima asked, before closing the space between them. He wasn’t sure what drove him to do it. It was just a stupid dare, it probably wouldn’t mean anything. Kuroo was just messing with his feelings.
Yamaguchi was a good kisser. It made Tsukishima wonder if he’d done it before, it was soft and sweet and nice. Eventually, good things had to end. They broke apart and Yamaguchi looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
The noise came back gradually, just a minute ago it felt like Tsukishima’s ears were filled with cotton. “Wooo Tsukishima’s a smooth talker!” Tanaka yelled. Kuroo was clapping like it was some celebration.
*****
That had just happened.
Yamaguchi was shocked. He was a million things all at once and nothing at all. He looked up at Tsukki in confusion. Then his head swiveled to look at Kuroo. Kuroo was smiling his greasy smile as he reminded, “Tsukki, ask someone.”
If it were Yamaguchi in the situation, he would’ve asked Tsukki if he was real. Well… of course he was real, but if his feelings were real, legitimate. If it were Yamaguchi, he would’ve never had the guts to do that.
“Hinata, swear like a sailor for a minute.”
Hinata started saying things that Yamaguchi had never heard come from Hinata’s mouth. Things like “shit” and “crap”. Then Tsukishima turned to Yamaguchi. He gave a half smile. Yamaguchi looked down, too awkwardly to meet his gaze.
“Sorry about Wednesday.”
“O-oh no! I’m fine, it’s ok.” Yamaguchi comforted quickly, still being quiet. “Was it real?”
Tsukishima looked confused for a second. “Of course it was real. I like you.” Oh. Oh Tsukki liked him. Why? “I want to dance with you again.”
“I’m a terrible dancer.”
“I think you dance swimmingly.”
That caused Yamaguchi to double over laughing. “Tha-that’s so cheesy Tsukki!”