Chapter Text
Tsuki and Yamaguchi had always been a unit.
What started off in elementary school with Yamaguchi tailing behind Tsuki wherever he went, had slowly morphed into a cohesive friendship that each found comfort in.
Separately, they had struggled making friends. Yamaguchi’s shyness came off as insecurity and weakness and Tsukishima's height and confidence made him seem cold and unapproachable.
In a way, they were made for each other.
In private they were able to let their guard down. Yamaguchi would listen intently while Tsuki excitedly showed him his favorite dinosaurs and pointed out the new constellations he had learned, and Tsuki had the privilege of seeing the funnier side of Yamaguchi others didn’t see as much. Someone quick witted and smart. No one else would ever see them giggling like school girls during late night sleepovers, unable to contain their laughter when Akiteru storms in telling them to go to bed.
These were moments that existed only between them. They were private, and they were cherished.
Their time at Kurasuno had changed them, and slowly their private personas they had only shown each other were beginning to peak out. Yamaguchi slowly gained more confidence and as proud as Tsukishima was for everyone to finally see Yamaguchi he always knew and loved come to light, he couldn’t escape the twinges of jealousy. A sinking feeling that Yamaguchi was no longer his Yamaguchi.
Freshman Year, 2016 - Room 408B
Tsuki's knuckles were white from his harsh grip on that bathroom sink. He stared blankly into the mirror, faint traces of tears still decorated his face and bloodshot eyes.
The harsh bannging on the bathroom door jolts him back to life.
“Tsuki!” Yamaguchi's voice sounded frustrated and frantic.
Tsuki made no move to open the door but now he could feel his heart beat in his ears, his blood rushing.
“Tsuki c’mon! Just- Just open the door! We have to talk about this!” He rattled the door knob, Yamaguchi's voice wavered and turned into a softer plea “ I can’t do this anymore Kei. ..Please.”
Tsuki didn’t move. “Fuck.” he thought. “How did it even come to this?”
Shiratorizawa Training Camp, 2013
With the graduation of their third years, Kurasuno was eager to make the best of their new talent while strengthening the foundations they had built the prior season. Eager to help the boys secure their position as a powerhouse, Takeda had been working tirelessly to get the team into Shiratorizawa’s invite only training camp for the Miyagi prefecture. With enough phone calls and one very long night of drinking, he had gotten Kurasuno a spot back in the coveted training camp.
When they arrived at the massive campus, those who hadn't visited Shiratorizawa were taken back by the sheer size of the campus. Most impressive was the fact that each team got their own hallway of two bedroom dorms to share. Tsuki was overwhelmed with relief when they got to choose who they were bunking with. Less excited to be sharing a wall with Hinata and Kagayama who he could hear arguing over who got top bunk.
“I should obviously get the top bunk! If you fall off the top you’d die idiot!“
“But if you sit up too fast your stupid height would make your head hit the celing!”
Yams and Tsuki came to the obvious decision to take turns sleeping on each bunk.
“It’s pretty cool right Tsuki?”, Yams asked while he was unpacking his clothes, “It’s like a sleepover when we were kids!”
“But you sleepover practically every other weekend at my house.”
Yams rolled his eyes,”Yeahh but this is different, more like camp!”
Tsuki deadpanned, “It is a camp Yamaguchi.”
Tsuki felt a pillow hit the side of his face, nearly knocking off his glasses. “Oh shit! Sorry Tsuki,” but it was hard to tell if it was a real apology through his stifled laughter. Tsuki simply threw the pillow back in Yamaguchi’s face, who was still laughing. “Just for that, I get top bunk tonight” now smiling back at Yamaguchi.
Kurusano was currently in a practice match against Johzenji High. The score was tied at 20-20 with Kurasuno winning the first game. Johzenji was just as high energy and reckless as the last time they’d faced Kurasuno and Tsuki was less than pleased to see their returning captain, Terushima, had somehow gotten more annoying.
Tsuki’s stamina had definitely grown in the past year but he felt like he was no match to this guy’s, who didn't even look phased by the heat of the summer gym.
Was he even sweating?? God, Tsuki really hated this guy. To top it all off he had one of those goofy smiles that reminded him of Kuroo or even worse, Tendou.
He heard a whistle blow and looked over to see Yamaguchi holding up his number. Tsuki's body goes slack with relief that not only does he not have to serve, but also with the knowledge that there's no way they would lose the set now.
Not with Yamaguchi's serve.
Even after Nationals, Yamaguchi continuously worked on his jump float, honing it to a fine skill that Tsuki had the utmost confidence in. Not only that, but he had been relentlessly training on blocks, receives, and even spikes. He was becoming a reliable, well rounded player.
Ukai had even been discussing adding Yamaguchi to the starting line up.
Tsuki lazily jogged over to where Yamaguchi was standing on the side of the court, took the number from his hand and gave Yamaguchi a small smirk , adding, “If you fuck this up you owe me meat buns for a week.” Yamaguchi smiled back and gave a small pat on Tsuki's back and laughed as he passed him.
Tsuki watched as Yamaguchi started to line up his serve. He took a second to reminisce on how nervous Yamaguchi was the first time he was called out to the court to serve. Shaking with anxiety, walking like a newborn deer.
But now, he took each step with confidence, every stride that was once filled with nervous dread, had been replaced with excitement and the knowledge that when he gets called into a game, it’s to change the tide in a way only he can.
A power he’d earned and worked for.
Tsuki also takes note of how much physically Yamaguchi had grown. He was growing into his own body, a manifestation of just how hard he had worked.
Returning players to Johzenji may have seen Yamaguchi's jump float if they were watching Nationals, but never went up against it. Chances were the new first years didn't even know what was about to happen. Especially Terushima who was now, much to Tsukis delight, positioned in the back row- squatting down as if he was preparing to actually receive the serve Yamaguchi was about to toss. He smiled to himself, “heh, dumbass.”
......................
Johzenji High’s team came back through the gym doors after their penalty run for having lost to Kurasuno. Even Terushima had finally broken a sweat. Tsuki felt content with this until he saw the third year heading towards him and Yamaguch .
“Hey, Kurasuno. You’ve got one helleva pinch server there !” He gestured to Yamaguchi, who although more confident in his abilities still can’t escape the nervous he feels when praised, especially by an opponent.
“Ohhh uh! Thank you! Your blocks were really something, you were given Tsuki here a tough time.” He nudged Tsuki who seemed totally uninterested in the whole conversation.
“Shut up, Yamaguchi.” He says, but with no real bite to it. He just really does want him to stop talking so maybe the oaf would leave them alone. He had no such luck.
“You weren’t too bad yourself there specs!”
He winced at the nickname.
“Say, how bout you and your pinch server buddy come practice with a few of my friends tonight? I’d really love to see that jump float again, it was seriously wicked!”
”Oh Sure!” “I’ll pass” Yamaguchi and Tsuki both spoke at the same time.
Yamaguchi looked to Tsuki like he was going to try and convince him otherwise but before he could say anything, Tsuki said, “You should go though. If you want . I’m beat though, the heats killing me. Don’t back out on my account.”
It wasn’t said with much conviction but Tsuki was willing to say anything for the conversation just to be over.
................
Free Practice- Gym 2
Yamaguchi joined Terushima that night for some extra practice. Along with him were two other Johzenji players and two players from Shiratorizawa, including Goshki, who was eager to learn to receive Yamaguchi’s jump float since he had missed it during their game last season.
“Ya know Yamaguchi,” Terushima threw up a ball for Yamaguchi to spike,“I don’t remember seeing that serve of yours when we played at preliminaries last year”
Yams sent a spike over the net. Before he could respond, Terushima gave Yamaguchi a pat on the back with a little too much energy.
“Oh way better dude! Your spike is really coming along! Your stance for your jump is a little off though- you gotta keep your posture when you bend- oh here lemme just show you.”
Terushima walks up beside Yamaguchi, who looks visibly nervous by the proximity. “C’mon relax freckles, I don’t bite” He winks casually .
That does nothing to really ease Yamaguchi but he tries to relax.
“Okay now squat down like you’re about to jump up for a spike.” He follows Terushima’s instructions. Terushima gently puts one hand on Yamaguchi’s chest and one on his lower back, slowly pushing against him, making him straighten up slightly .
Yamaguchi is praying to whatever god there might be that Terushima can’t feel how hard his heart is beating against his chest.
“Alright,” Terushimas voice sounds a bit softer now, like he only wants Yamaguchi to hear the advice he’s bestowing, “Now try to keep your back like this and when you bend-,” he moves his hands a bit too slowly for Yamaguchi’s comfort down to his hip,”bend from the hip.”
To drive the point home, he grabs Yamaguchi’s hip with one hand, putting slight pressure. This has proven far too much for the poor second year, and he steps away from the contact as smoothly as he can with a slight nervous laugh, “O-oh okay got it! I’ll try that next time.” Terushima looked completely unfazed by the whole interaction and if he noticed Yamaguchi’s blush, he didn’t comment on it. Terushima flashed a smile and gave a thumbs up, “Great! Now, tell me, why didn’t I see that serve in our match? I would’ve definitely remembered.”
Yamaguchi rubbed the back of his neck, still trying to cool himself down from whatever just happened, “Oh well, uh it wasn’t quite ready yet when we played you guys in the preliminaries. But I did a bunch of extra training between then and Nationals.”
Goshiki walks towards the two from the other side of the net, “Consider yourself lucky. He totally humiliated me with that jump float at qualifiers!”
Terushimas eyes lit up and he gently hit Yamaguchi on the shoulder, “Look at you freckles! Taking down the ace of Shiratorizawa! Better train harder Goshiki, you’re gonna bring shame to the legacy ole Ushiwaka left you.” It was obvious that Terushima was only playing around but it still struck a chord with the younger Ace.
Goshiki turned to Yams,
“Yamaguchi! Let me practice my revives again with your serve!”
Yamaguchi agreed and they all went back and forth trying to receive Yamaguchi’s jump float. Yamaguchi was honestly a little overwhelmed with all the positive attention he’d been getting from the other teams, but he had to admit it felt amazing. People were starting to see him as a legitimate threat and it was honestly really validating. He also was happy to be making friends with the other schools, he knew that it would come in handy in future games with putting his nerves at rest after working with them so much.
Tsuki and Yamaguhi were sitting in the cafeteria for lunch on their second day of camp. Tsuki had been asleep by the time Yamaguchi came back from free practice, so now he had to listen to him practically gush about the Johzenji captain, ruining what little appetite he had.
“Ya, know he kinda reminds me of Hinata.”
Tsuki rolled his eyes “Is that supposed to make me like him more? Opposite effect Yams.” Tsuki moved his rice around, making no moves to eat it.
Yamaguchi chucked, “I just mean he’s like, really nice. Super positive and motivated.”
“Great, literally the polar opposite of me,” Tsuki thought. He started to get a headache.
“And he’s like soooo cool ! Have you seen his tongue piercing!?”
Yamguchi prattled on about showing Terushima how to do a jump float and how in return he helped him with his spiking technique.
Tsuki was zoning out, really not interested in hearing how his best friend was all chummy with the spiker that made Tsuki want to rip his hair out earlier that day.
But wait? Why was it bothering him so much?
It was just a practice game, it wasn’t even that big of a deal? Sure he had gotten more competitive about volleyball after the Shiratorizawa game, but not so much that he’d have a vendetta with a random spiker during a training camp.
And why did it bother him specifically that Yamaguchi seemed to like him so much?
He definitely had a headache.
He zoned back into watch Yamaguchi was saying just to catch him say, “-and then Teru did this cool thing where-”
“Teru?” Cutting him off and raising his eyebrows.
“Already giving him nicknames huh?” His voice was thick with annoyance.
The comment caught both Yamaguchi and seemingly Tsuki off guard. Why had he said that? Why did it bother him so much that Yamaguchi had referred to someone he had just met that day so.. casually.
Whatever malice was there, Yamaguchi either didn’t catch it or chose to ignore it because he laughed it off, nudging Tsuki gently.
“Oh c’mon, Bokuto-san and Kuroo-san were calling you ‘Tsuki’ from the moment they met you last year. You had your little training camp group, I finally got one too! It’s pretty exciting.” He beamed and Tsuki felt horrible. Because he was right. Yamaguchi wouldn’t have acted like this at all last year if Tsuki had actually been even somewhat excited that he was making friends (if you could call them that) and practicing with people from other schools. Granted, Tsuki wasn’t all that excited in fairness, but he did make a point.
God, he was a shit friend wasn’t he?
Before Tsuki could respond, Yamaguchi was waving over the guy with the weird bangs from Shiratorizawa. Gomishi? He knew he’d met him at the Miyagi first year training camp but really didn’t remember names too well.
“Goshki!” Ah there it is.
“Another new friend of yours ? Why doesn't he get a nickname but the ‘oh so cool’ Teruishima does?”
Why can’t he just keep his mouth shut?
Yamaguchi just rolled his eyes again, something he had been doing alot more, Tsuki had noticed.
“Oh hey Yamaguchi, you care if I sit with you guys? Most of my team has spread out to other tables.” Goshki seemed almost nervous that they would say no, even though Yamaguchi had clearly waved him over for just that.
Tsuki realized it was probably his presence that threw him off. Whoops. Yamaguchi just smiled and said of course he could.
Goshki sat across from Yamaguchi, and looked at both of them, “So uh, how have you guys liked the dorms and facilities? It must be a lot different from what you have at Kurasuno right?”
In his most faux kind voice,Tsuki said “Oh cause we’re poor right? Thank you for allowing us lowly peasants on your campus. Deepest gratitudes.”
Goshki started to stammer, thinking he had actually offended Tsuki but Yamaguchi let out a small laugh and reassured him,
“Don’t worry he’s just like that,” he kicked Tsuki under the table , “But you’re not wrong! This place is seriously huge! I had some trouble finding my way back to the dorm last night, probably because I was so tired. I was going to call Tsuki to remind me of the dorm number but I knew he’d be asleep, Terushima was nice enough to walk me back though!”
Tsuki felt his heart drop to his stomach. “You still could’ve called me…” he mumbled. He said that, but he knew he would’ve given Yamaguchi a hard time if he woke him, but he wouldn’t have been upset. Was he that unreliable?
Sensing some tension, Goshki spoke up, “The same thing happened to me actually my frist night here! I got completely turned around and lost my key and tried sleeping in the gym because I was too nervous to call my roommate! Usijima-senpai and Tendou-senpai found me when they came really early the next morning. It was sooo humiliating ! ”
Tsuki’s laughter started quiet but bubbled up too quickly. He couldn’t help it, “Sorry for laughing but..Yama-” he kept laughing,
“Yamaguchi that sounds exactly like something you would’ve done as a first year- I” he kept laughing and the other two joined in
. Over the next few minutes Tsukishima determined he definitely didn’t mind Goshiki.
He was happy to see Yamaguchi making friends that seemed so similar to himself. His headache had seemed to fade away and Tsuki actually felt content with the conversation and felt like maybe he was overreacting about being a ‘shit friend’. He obviously was getting along fine with Goshiki and is actually happy to see Yamaguchi branch out.
Until, “Oh Hey! Teru!” .
The headache was back.
Instead of walking over to where they were sitting, Terushima waved Yamaguchi over to where he was, Yamaguchi turned to his friends, “I’ll be right back I’m gonna go say hi to Teru!” He was beaming and Tsuki felt terrible.
Yamaguchi left Goshki and Tsukishima in a somewhat awkward silence before he cleared his throat , getting Goshikis attention,
“Uh, hey Goshiki. Could you um, walk Yamaguchi back to his dorm tonight if he gets confused…I mean, you actually go here so I you’d know the halls better...” he said it without looking up,moving the vegetables around on his plate, staring at them like they were the most interesting thing in the world.
It felt weird to feel so protective out of nowhere of Yamaguchi, but he’d much rather Goshiki be walking him back than the idiot with the tongue piercing.
Goshiki looked over to where Yamaguchi and Terushima were chatting and noticed the casual touches Terushima was placing on Yamaguchi.
A hand on the shoulder, a ruffle of the hair.
Goshiki may be a little dense but he's not an idiot. It was very clear to him that Tsuki was jealous of whatever was happening between the two.
“Ya know, Tsukishima, you’re welcome to join us tonight…” Trying to extend an olive branch, “.. but if you don’t want to- sure. I’ll make sure he finds his room okay.”
He smiled at the blonde and Tsuki looked up briefly with a small, “Thanks’”