Chapter Text
Tsukishima can't recall when, but he started hearing this guy's voice whenever he's in the uni.
'He's really pale... and pretty. That neck of his looks really sexy too.' Hearing this annoying voice became a norm for him. Although, not knowing where this is coming from, or what the other person looks like, Tsukishima Kei can't help but think that these are the thoughts of a pervert.
He cringed every time he thought of that.
Since he entered college, he only has Yamaguchi and Hinata as friends. Yes, he considers Hinata a friend, an annoying one. They don't get to hang out all the time since they are taking different courses, so most of the time, Tsukishima is alone. He doesn't want to befriend anyone and he doesn't feel the need to talk to anyone either.
Hearing other people's thoughts are more than enough for him to know that only a few people are genuine.
Whether he likes it or not, he can hear another person's thoughts. Though he called it 'hearing their voice', technically, people are only speaking in their minds. He can't remember exactly when it started, but just when he was around 10 years old, he found out the hard way what his so-called friends really thought of him.
Yamaguchi became his friend as he knows that the guy truly cares for him, while Hinata... he considers him a friend because his thoughts are the same as what's coming out from his mouth. He is a genuine person, though he won't tell the shrimp about it.
'Shit, he is alone and I can't pass on this once in a lifetime chance.' The pervert started again.
At first, Tsukishima wasn't sure who this guy was thinking of, but one time, the guy mentioned 'black glasses being sexy', and when he looked around him, he's the only one who wore black eyeglasses that time. Of course, he tried to check everyone's faces to determine whose thoughts were those, but he failed. After that, he kept hearing the voice of the guy who calls him 'tall and sexy Megane-kun'.
That means the guy is always close. He hears him almost every day. Is he a stalker?
Not one to care (as long as no harm is done), Tsukishima rearranged his headphones on his ears and turned up the volume of his iPod. It doesn't completely drown the voices, but it helps him focus on the music instead of the voices.
He still has his last class at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and it's only 20 minutes past 1 o'clock. He thought he will have a peaceful time in the library science section, but he was wrong. He normally goes to the social studies section since there are fewer students there, but since he's been hearing that pervert's voice at that section, he decided to study and pass his time at the science section, another 'almost empty' part of the library.
However, that perverted guy came to pester him again. 'Wait, I can just text Yaku to say I will be late. I may not have the same chance again.'
'Don't make that Yaku person wait.' Tsukishima thought, feeling a little bad for the other person. That made him scratch his head, a bit irritated that he was carried away again by another person's voice.
Turning the page of the book in front of him, not really understanding anything, he just started to hum the song playing on his iPod. That's when a shadow loomed over him and the book he's trying to read.
'Just ignore him. Ignore him.' Tsukishima doesn't want to talk to anyone, especially not to this guy. He turned another page, not even a glance at the person standing beside him.
'But damn, what am I going to say anyway?' Tsukishima heard, then after a few seconds, he felt the presence moving away.
He breathed a sigh of relief. 'Great, I don't have to-'
Just then, someone took the seat in front of him, which prompted him to lift his eyes from his book. In a normal situation, the blonde will definitely not look at any person who takes the seat in front or even beside him, but since he was distracted, his reflexes moved before he can think. It's too late for him to look away and he found himself staring at a tall guy, who is also staring back at him.
A guy with crazy-looking hair and, he refused to admit it, but yeah, a handsome face, although it somewhat looks confused.
'Fuck.'
Wait. Did he just cursed in his head or was it the other guy who did that?
Groaning at his own carelessness, Tsukishima slipped his headphones until his nape and composed himself before he asked. "Uhm... do you need anything?"
The other guy frowned at him and gave him a smirk. He placed his elbows on top of the table, chin resting on one of his palms, and continued to stare and smirk at him, blatantly.
'I was surprised he looked up, but well, he seems interested too...'
He seldom hears it, but from time to time, Tsukishima can also hear the sound of emotions overflowing in a person's thoughts. If that even makes sense at all, because right now, he can hear soft giggling in his mind, which he knows is definitely not his nor anyone other than the guy in front of him. He sits alone at this table and the other students are another table away from him. Too far for him to hear their voice.
Attempting to know what the other guy wants, though he probably already knows what it is, the blonde asked again. "I'm pretty sure you need something, but I won't know until you say it. Also, I'm trying to study here." He snapped that last part a bit.
"Ah~ sorry about that. I also want to study for a bit and was about to take the seat beside you, but I've taken this seat instead since I like the view here."
Not one to take any hints, Tsukishima answered. "Oh, I'm so sorry if I'm blocking the view. Maybe I should move away from here then." Tsukishima started gathering his things.
"No! I'm just kidding, okay? Stay right there, please?" The crazy-haired guy plead. 'Fuck, that did not work. You are such a smart-ass, Tetsurou.' Tsukishima frowned but he stopped taking his things. He refused to look at the other guy though.
"Excuse me then." Once again, he started reading the same lines from the book in front of him. Silence reigned between them, although Tsukishima can still hear how this Tetsurou guy scolds himself for looking and sounding like a creep. The blonde can't help but smirk at that. 'At least he knows.' He thought.
The silence continues, but he can feel the other guy's eyes boring into him. That's fine. Only if Tsukishima can't hear what this guy thinks while staring at him. After some time, it became really uncomfortable. Tsukishima is not used to hearing other people shower him with compliments and at this moment, he's hearing a lot.
"Uhm... It doesn't help me study if you're going to keep staring." He started, still not looking at the other guy. "If you have something to say, its best not to waste your time staring. That's all."
To his surprise, he heard a chortle broke out from the other guy. He looked up from his book and gaped. Tsukishima heard someone shushed, probably the librarian, and even though he's not the one who's laughing scandalously, he knew he's blushing from embarrassment.
The black-haired guy probably noticed the blonde's embarrassment and finally stopped laughing. "You're cute." He said in a breathy voice, still catching his breath
Irritated, Tsukishima glared at the other guy. "Well, thanks, I guess? Do you mind?" He gestured the book in front of him, wanting the peace he had earlier back before this guy appeared.
"Sorry, really. You can continue studying, I'll just keep observing from here, quietly."
"Observe what?"
"You?"
"Why?"
There's silence again, this time, Tsukishima can't hear the voice of the other guy and it feels like he became deaf for a moment. He reached for his headphones and checked if he can hear the song playing from his iPod and its there. Just why can't he hear this guy's voice all of a sudden-
"Actually, I really like you, Tsukishima Kei."
Tsukishima just stared at the other guy with a blank face. Although he already heard this guy shower him with compliments about his looks, is that really a good starting ground to like someone?
'Please say something... please say something, anything...'
A realization came to him and Tsukishima started gathering his things. "Since you know my name, I think you already heard what kind of person I am. Thanks for your interest, but don't worry, you'll lose it in a few days. I should be going now."
He stood and walked away from the other guy, whose voice he can't hear again.
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"Tsukishima Kei? That guy is as cold as he looks. He also wears this face like he knows what you're thinking and he can't trust you? I don't how he became friends with Yamaguchi and Hinata from the Business department, but yeah, he can't be bothered with anyone else."
Kuroo looks at Yamamoto pointedly. "How can you say that when you don't know him personally?"
"His coldness bites. You better ask Kenma."
That's the answer he got from his kouhai when he asked if he knows Tsukishima. Yamamoto is a straightforward man and he gets along with everyone almost instantly. Well, not everyone, it seems.
Kuroo was left alone at the library the other day when Tsukishima Kei walked out on him. He was not surprised at all, but he also did not expect the way he responded. It was like the guy himself knew how other people see him and have also accepted the possibility that no one will be interested to get to know him.
Frankly, Kuroo wasn't interested at first, but how could he resist a normally straight-faced person who suddenly looks so cute playing with several cats at the park on a winter day?
Kuroo woke up early that day and decided to take the longest route going to the uni, so he passed by the park. He normally went to the park for his morning exercise and knew there were stray cats there. Maybe it's the cleaner who takes care of the cats that's why they just stay there, so sometimes, he'd go there and play with them just a bit. He was surprised to find Tsukishima Kei, sitting on one of the benches near the planted trees. He had some snacks with him and what looked like a twig which he used to play with the cats.
He knew the guy from Kenma, who hangs out with Hinata, who happens to be friends with Yamaguchi and Tsukishima. Sometimes, when he comes to pick up Kenma so they could go home together, Tsukishima is there. He doesn't look up from a book he's reading or from his cellphone. He won't even bother to say 'Hi', but he's there.
For him, the guy isn't cold. He just doesn't want to bother himself with anyone. So that playing-with-cats display really got him. That personality gap is just so cute.
From then on, he found himself staring at Tsukishima Kei. Hell, he would even look for him on his vacant time, though it's hard since they are on different departments. One time, he had a chance to passed by Tsukishima eating by himself in the cafeteria and Kuroo found his pale nape the sexiest thing he ever saw. His glasses and straight-face also remind him of his Science teacher back in senior high school. His sexy Science teacher.
He'd see him walking in the campus with his tall stature, headphones present, and looking like he doesn't care, even when some girls look his way, because why not? He just looks so aloof and cool at the same time.
Then that library incident happened. When Tsukishima looked up at him and asked if needed something, he thought he was interested in Kuroo too. That made him happy and it fired up his confidence. He had not planned to talk to Megane-kun that time, he just wanted to spend a little time staring at him, but well, good things happened, oh, and bad things too.
Kuro groaned in frustration. Having a crush on someone... he's no longer a kid for fuck's sake. Still, he had to admit that he really, really like Tsukishima Kei.
Enter Kenma, his friend who will also become his Hero.
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That thing that happened in the library still bothers Tsukishima, just a tiny little bit. For a moment, he can't hear that guy's voice even though he was just in front of him. That never happened before.
Tsukishima thought it might be because the guy was staring at him directly but not talking. That rarely happens. Of course, if you're staring at each other, you're most likely in a conversation, right?
This curse opened a new puzzle it seems. He sighed.
"Tsukki?"
He forgot that he's with Yamaguchi in the cafeteria.
"Yeah?" He answered without looking up from his food.
"Is everything okay?" 'You seemed to be in a deep thought. You also keep on sighing.' The latter part was Yamaguchi's voice and he sounded worried. He's always worried when it comes to his friend.
"You're overthinking. How's your presentation?" Tsukishima changed the subject. He can feel Yamaguchi staring at him.
'There you go again, changing the subject. I'm not overthinking. Just tell me what it is and I might be able to help.'
Yamaguchi sighed. "All good. Shouyo's helping a bit since I helped him with his. It's almost done."
"Well, that's a surprise."
His freckled friend laughed, completely forgetting his worries. "If we give him time, he actually knows what to do."
They continue eating in silence after that. Sometimes, he hears Yamaguchi's voice as he plans what to do next after eating lunch. From time to time, he'd comment about the blandness of the food, their noisy guy on the next table.
Just normal, random thoughts and that's really comforting. Maybe that moment was just a one-time thing and it won't happen again.
He'll also make sure not to run in to that guy again.
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"No."
"Just why?!"
"Even though we're in the same class, we barely talk to each other, you know."
"You hang out with him."
"Shouyo and Tadashi hang out with him, I just happened to be there."
"Oh please, use your logic on your games, not on me."
"Kuroo, just talk to him directly. Stop being a creepy stalker, okay?"
Kuroo frowned at his friend. "I did that though."
That made Kenma look up from his game and gaze at him suspiciously. "You did something and now you need my help to clean up the mess?"
"I don't care how you call it, but please help me get his number from Hinata, or at least ask him to ask Tsukishima to talk to me, even just for a bit." He pleads.
Kuroo went over to Kenma's house after dinner and found him, as usual, in his room, focused on one of his games. He knows he has to fix this soon. A direct approach wouldn't do since he messed up on that plan already. Kuroo thought that if he sends a text message as an apology, then asks him to meet again, it might work.
"Ah... you think sending him a text message will resolve anything? I'm not close to Tsukishima, but I at least know that texting him won't work. You know that he can just block you, right?"
Kuroo groaned with that realization.
"Please, just talk to him directly again and don't mess up this time. I will not ask Shouyo for Tsukishima's number."
He huffs and bolts up from Kenma's bed. "Just when I need a friend, he turned his back to me."
"Stop being dramatic, Kuroo."
He was about to head out of the room, stomping his feet like a kid when Kenma called him.
"I just remembered that Shouyo said Tsukishima usually hangs out alone in the park. Apparently, he does that after his second period when both Tadashi and Shouyo are not available. It's actually the park or the library, but my best bet would be the park."
Kuroo stares at his feet for a moment. The idea just sinking in. Of course, the park! He remembered exactly what time and day he saw Tsukishima Kei there.
Out of happiness, he walks towards Kenma and ruffled his blonde hair with both his hands. "You're really a genius!"
Kenma grunted, not pleased with the way his hair was treated. "You just think with your hair, not your brain. Now, leave me alone and don't come crying to me if you mess up again."
"My hair has nothing to do with this!" Although offended, he walked out of Kenma's room and house with light steps.
Kenma is still the Hero, whether he likes it or not.
-End of CH 1-