Work Text:
Date: September 26th 2016
If there was anything in Tsukishima's life he quite honestly despised silently was tight and enclosed spaces. Sometimes he could manage fine with it, the calming mental exercises like studying player patterns and techniques of opponents, it was like solving a complicated puzzle, and quite honestly no other puzzle baffled him that Hinata Shoyou. The mere remembrance of that name is what allowed Tsukishima to calm himself as he shifted irritably in his aisle seat of his flight. He honestly couldn't believe that he, the meticulous, planning and structured Tsukishima Kei willy nilly on the fly booked a flight to Brazil of all places.
Tsukishima shifted once more, trying to get comfortable on this painfully long flight, his eyes closed as he mentally studied his extracts and course plan for his university studies but to be honest, his mind kept flickering from its focus on his education to his personal matter at hand. Kei always prided himself on thinking things through, but lately his mind had been a explosively loud cacophony of stressed out emotions that threated to overwhelm him and drown him like a tsunami. Tsukishima had always been a salty hard ass, people often told him explicitly because why be subtle about it.
Even with his stuck up, proud and easily irritable height, he had friends and people who liked him, but Tsukishima often wasn't the best at expressing himself on a emotional level without being rude or making a comment. Believe it or not, Kei was once a very different person and people often didn't believe his older brother Akiteru when he told them Kei knew how to smile genuinely and laughed and was so happy he was often compared to the literal embodiment of sunshine, but that all changed when Kei got hurt and shut himself down.
The first time that Tsukishima Kei had ever experienced heartbreak, it was the day he discovered that his brother had lied to him about being the ace of Karasuno High School. It was probably the first time in his life Kei had ever felt the nauseating pain of feeling the fragile threads holding his naïve young, innocent heart splitting apart into so many broken pieces he couldn't count them himself. The soul crushing betrayal made him change all his views on life, changed the nature of his being from the happy young child who wanted so much to play volleyball like his brother to the snarky, smartass people had become to him being.
When Tsukishima still went to Karasuno High School, he questioned his reasons why but in the end he still did that anyway, a part of him probably still wanted to aspire to be good player like his brother who he idolized at one point of his life. But as fate would have it, his life changed the day he met the embodiment of annoyance and irritation upon his menial existence, Hinata Shoyou. To the God's above, he absolutely despised that stupid human tangerine, there was just something about Hinata Shoyou that turned his meter to super pissed off. It also became a very fun game to see just how much he could piss of Hinata but Hinata just had this art of fighting back that took a long time for Tsukishima recognize that it wasn't Hinata fighting back, it was the tangerine trying to his friend.
It was a slow build, the way Tsukishima realized he used to believe that Hinata would always be better in some way even if the poor excuse of a player couldn't go at least three days without receiving a ball to the face in some way. It's not like Tsukishima could pull of the freak quick with Kageyama, and it's like he was that good at receiving either, but he always just saw that somehow Hinata would always be on a higher level than himself. But like Tsukishima said, he later on realized that Hinata didn't see it the way Tsukishima did, that Hinata Shoyou was a ball of fiery energy that kept trying and kept pushing people to try, and later on Tsukishima learned that he had honestly started trying because of Shoyou.
Tsukishima has no idea when he truly started to understand why Yamaguchi used to say that he and Hinata were complimentary parallels to each other, the sun and moon to each other. The concept was dumb, it was just their name meanings, and yet, the visual aid comparison was what slowly made him realize things. He used to always regard himself as lesser, and later learned that Hinata held him in higher regard, he just had very unique ways of showing it. Lord Tsukishima had no idea how much Hinata had influenced his life and pushed him to actually try properly, and then he blocked Ushijima Wakatoshi.
He had seen the highest of highs in the way they beat Date Tech, reviving the Karasuno name, and then he saw the lowest of lows when they lost to Seijoh, the heartbreak so evident and Tsukishima had remained proud and only chose to feel the slight aches of heartbreak after he got home. But then they beat Seijoh, and then he blocked Ushijima and had his moment and his life started to drastically change, well more so his opinions on his teammates and himself changed, especially his view of Hinata who saw what Tsukishima did as a challenge and actually ended up somewhat doing his own variation of a block on Ushijima, but it wasn't even Hinata's biggest moment.
It was then that Tsukishima slowly started to see more to Hinata, the conviction and drive of the little monster volleyball obsessed freak. He started to see the genuine nature of the short middle blocker who held pride when his teammates had successful moment, including Tsukishima. To say Tsukishima was shocked was an understatement so he used his typical nature to rile the tangerine up who ended up doing what Tsukishima told him to do. That didn't stop the stupid orange haired idiot from standing out like a turkey in the middle of a field of chickens.
Sometimes Tsukishima questioned on the fluctuating level of how dumb Hinata could be, the answer exceeded his expectations but it seemed that in some way Tsukishima found it painfully endearing, the way the human tangerine refused to stop chasing his dreams, how his success was namely because of his own personal persistence and drive to prove not only to the team but to himself that his height wasn't something to be deemed as handicap but one of his greatest strengths. Hinata thrived on proving people wrong, and it was something Tsukishima saw with his own two eyes many times, and if he thought he had seen Hinata be truly obsessed with volleyball, Tsukishima was witness and one of the only ones who truly recognized the moments that lead to Hinata well and truly being hooked on Volleyball.
And of course it was shortly after the idiot pushed himself so hard that he collapse at nationals that Tsukishima realized that Shoyou like Kei had suffered from his own demons and feelings of inadequacy, and in his own way. Nationals had changed a lot for Tsukishima, instead of seeing Hinata Shoyou as that annoyance, he saw the vulnerable, scared young boy who just wanted to keep on soaring. Tsukishima had his own share in the pain, the painful cramp revealed he actually had a painful strain.
As Tsukishima placed his headphones over his ears with an almost rehearsed ease, the padding settling comfortably on his ears as the melody of the music filtered through from his phone, his eyes drawn to the little t-rex charm key that hung from his phone case that even though it was a worn down and losing color in some places, it was a gift that meant the world to him even if he didn't often say it... which was part of the reason he was on this flight. Tsukishima leaned his chin against the palm of his hand, looking off into the existence and getting lost in all his familiar memories of the first day that Tsukishima's life changed.
Even though they lost at Nationals, Tsukishima just wanted to watch Kamomedei's games to prepare for their next nationals against them. Tsukishima wasn't done in regards to Nationals, he was going to keep on playing, he was going to keep trying to soar. It's how he found himself being walked by Yamaguchi whilst on crutches to keep off his knee to where Hinata was staying, recovering from his fever. Tsukishima found the tangerine sitting on the balcony staring up at the night sky with his mask on, hugging his knees to his chest.
Instead of intruding, Yamaguchi quietly slipped away, giving Kei his chance to talk with Shoyou just because he didn't want to be nosy and needed to keep an eye out for trouble, i.e Tanaka and Nishinoya. "Oi, Shrimp, why aren't you in bed? You wouldn't want to get sicker would you?" Tsukishima said gruffly from behind Shoyou, said shrimp nearly jumping out his skin and falling on his face when Kei announced his presence. "Jesus you're jumpy Shrimp. Just chill, Tanaka-san and Nishinoya-san are being heavily guarded by Ennoshita-san and Dai-san." Kei said as he carefully placed his crutches as he moved forward toward Shoyou albeit awkwardly.
"You're the last person I expected to come here, although I won't deny I don't mind the company even if temporary. It's boring and hard not to keep moving, thought some cool air might calm my brain down." Shoyou said as Kei moved to sit in the chair next to Shoyou, laying his crutches down as he carefully lifted his leg and rested it on Hinata's knee so his own leg was slightly propped up. Kei almost burst out laughing at the annoyed crease on Hinata's forehead, and Kei didn't need to see Shoyou's mouth to see that prominent scowl as those brown eyes held this look of frustration and confusion in them, "You know just cause I'm short I'm not your personal foot rest." Shoyou commented, and Kei smiled slightly to himself at the way Shoyou's eye twitched but Shoyou made no move to take off Tsukishima's injured leg.
"I know, but you do make a comfy one. Seriously cannot handle being in that room without someone asking if I need anything, I just want some space so I figured the best place to come feel shitty was here." Tsukishima commented as he pulled out a bottle of water in his hoodie pocket and took a sip whilst his eyes glanced and observed Shoyou who was sitting there, legs crossed and perfectly still, his warm hot chocolate eyes looked down at his lap, Kei could see the anguish in Shoyou's features.
"Well I think no one feels as shitty as I do right now. I know I can be stupid but I can't believe I neglected myself. I was just so caught up in the game, in the fire and the feeling of not being looked down on cause I was shorter, but because I was soaring above the block." Shoyou said as Kei saw the subtle movement beneath Hinata's mask that indicated that he was chewing rather hard on his own bottom lip.
Tsukishima wanted to be typical Tsukishima and say something snarky but instead he kept quiet for a moment before he let out a sigh and said, "I know how you feel." Shoyou turned his head to look at Tsukishima and he could see the confusion written in Shoyou's orbs. When the fuck in his mind did Kei start calling Hinata by his first name, "Yeah I know, shocker, I have feelings and emotions and this fucking sucks and I hate that we lost and that I got fucking hurt but I wanted to keep playing too." Tsukishima said softly as he played with his hands in his lap to occupy his twitching fingers, "To be honest, you're probably the one who really understands what I feel even though I can't put it into words and your vocabulary is limited to comic book and manga sound effects." Tsukishima said as Shoyou let out a quiet chuckle.
"Never did I see the day we'd talk normally, I guess today was a both a curse and a blessing." Shoyou said as he shifted so his body was facing Tsukishima directly, biting his bottom lip in contemplation before he let out a shaky breath, "Tsukishima," The way Hinata stuttered out his name was shocking, he'd never once heard it and it made something inside him twist, "You can tease and insult me tomorrow, but can I just, I need to- I feel like-" Shoyou was moving his hands in a muted, animated way, trying to visually express what he wanted because he just couldn't find the right words. Tsukishima could see the tears lining Shoyou's eyes, the glossy irises filled with anguished pain, a pain that Tsukishima was far too familiar with. Shoyou was asking, pleading for a single reprieve from their true nature to allow Shoyou to be vulnerable just this once around Kei. Tsukishima had no idea when he learned to speak shrimp but all he did was give a single nod.
Shoyou let out a trembling breath and leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Kei's uninjured knee and Kei could both feel and see the shaking of Shoyou's frame, sometimes the tremors quiet and barely there, and other times they were so violent Tsukishima wondered if they might start a tremor across Japan. The wet quiet sounds that Kei heard, reminded him of his own pain, his own anguish and before he processed what he was doing, he was leaning forward and rested a hand on Shoyou's back, the other threading his fingers through Shoyou's orange hair, the most intimate form of contact that Kei had ever given the human tangerine. Kei could feel his own eyes betraying him as they were wet and he had silent tears rolling down his face as he and Shoyou shared that quiet and intimate moment, mourning the loss at Nationals, mourning their own respective downfalls, their own vulnerabilities and insecurities showing as they stayed in that intimate position.
That night was probably the night Tsukishima became closer with Shoyou that he had ever intended.
After that night, something had definitely changed between Tsukishima and Hinata, they weren't really Tsukishima and Hinata anymore, they were closer, like they were actually friends and to be honest, it had only taken a month for Tsukishima to realize he actually liked the shrimp in a less than platonic way, it wasn't just plane old admiration for the quick recovering Hinata had gone through, how drastically he had changed and become somehow more determined but controlled, like he seriously had matured and no lie, Tsukishima found that attractive on the shrimp.
To say Tsukishima would admit it out loud though, that wasn't going to happen, well he never thought it would until the Shrimp rocked up to him on Valentines day with the dorkiest and most ridiculous confession card that actually was one of the sweetest thing Kei had ever received and the only sweet thing he liked was strawberry shortcake. To this day Kei carried that confession letter in a secret slot in his wallet that thank the lord Shoyou never found because the shrimp would be so adorably obnoxious if he ever found out that Kei kept that piece of worn paper to remind himself that someone actually liked him.
Very few people would understand what was written on the paper but to be honest Kei had memories it.
Dear Kei
I know you'll make me pay for calling you by your first name, scarily intimate I know but well, I need to do this before I regret doing this.
As dumb as this is, school is one of the few things I know you're good at, so as a request, solve this.
I promise it's not anything from homework to solve. Just solve it you tall beanpole.
9x - 7i > 3(3x - 7u)
Knowing you, you could solve this without even needing to write a thing cause you're so smart, one of the many things I admire about you.
Kei still remembers leaning the paper against the Shrimps shoulder and quickly scribbling the solution down without much thought and when he saw the result, he could see how red the tips of the Shrimp's ears and the back of his neck was as Tsukishima stared at the a i<3u that he scribbled down as the end result. The memory made Kei smile fondly, a foreign expression on his usual unenthused mask as he thought back on his time with Shoyou. To think that somehow, Tsukishima Kei had gone from being so irritated by the excitable, uncompressible puppy like Hinata Shoyou to being so head over heels for him that they had been in a committed relationship for three years...
Before Tsukishima royally screwed up and lost Shoyou all because Kei couldn't control his insecurities and jealously, things he had thought he had gotten over. Kei was shocked and confused why a few months ago when Shoyou posted that picture of him and Oikawa in Brazil all over social media, it made Tsukishima all kinds of uncomfortable. If there was one thing, it was that Kei had always felt secure and comfortable in his relationship with Shoyou, even when Kageyama would demand all of Shoyou's attention at practice, Kei always felt comfortable and safe in his relationship with Shoyou.
As dumb as the shrimp was, he always knew how to reassure Kei with a firm certainty that Kei's heart was safe in the arms of the shrimp, heck it quite honestly didn't even take long for Kei to really stop calling him shrimp but rather Sho or Shoyou. The way Shoyou had blushed the first time Kei did it was so adorably satisfying. Quite honestly Shoyou pushed Kei out of his comfort zone. Kei was never serious on intimate contact, even high fives with his teammates, but by his third year he was high fiving even the king and initiating simple contact like subtle warm brushes of their hands that made it feel like he was touching the sun with how warm and light he felt. Often he'd steal a kiss or few after relentlessly teasing Shoyou and pissing off the king with the couply bullshit.
After feeling all that safety, Tsukishima had to learn to let Shoyou travel to the other side of the world on a blind chase to achieve his dreams. Tsukishima understood, the good thing about his relationship with Shoyou is they were both equally open with one another, their communication was one of their best features of their relationship. Albeit they were unique in the way they spoke, they had a connected wavelength of understanding between them, probably most of their fighting was done in their first year together, when Tsukishima was still learning to trust Shoyou, but never once had they ever not spoken like this, not since just before Shoyou's birthday.
After Tsukishima and Hinata had fought so terribly, Tsukishima had shut himself in, acted like the last few years with Shoyou didn't exist and everything in him was suffocating and self destructive. His resolve honestly broke when he received a package from Brazil, delivered on his door step by a ruthless and honest Kageyama who was blunt and painfully firm and didn't take Tsukishima' s attitude.
"What the fuck are you doing here? " Tsukishima said in a stoic, his tone dead and his expression was dull and filled with unbridled annoyance as he stared at the face of Kageyama Tobio, teammates at Karasuno and newly minted national Olympic team setter.
Like Tsukishima, Kageyama looked like he'd rather go and get plucked at a chicken farm judging by the expression sketched oj his pale skin. "I wouldn't be here if you weren't such a fucking idiot." Kageyama said as he shouldered his way into Tsukishima's apartment, not caring that he wasn't invited in, "Seriously Tsukishima, I thought you weren't stupid, but seriously, breaking up with him and ghosting him just before his birthday. I knew you used to be cruel but even that's far worse than a volleyball to the nuts." Kageyama said as he turned swiftly, with purpose as he stared coldly at Tsukishima.
Tsukishima instead of saying anything just went to his kitchen and grabbed his Kahlua and milk and poured a glass.
"Seriously, nothing to say?" Kageyama scoffed as he set his bag on the counter, ruffling through it, "You're denser than he was. I told him one day you'd break his heart and he'd regret giving that stupid letter to you, and I wasn't wrong." Tsukishima had the decency to flinch and freeze, staring emptily at the counter as he held his glass. "But I admit I was also wrong in that he was happiest with you you salty asshole."
"What's your fucking point king?" Tsukishima scoffed as he drank his drink, glaring at Kageyama who was not phased by Tsukishima's coldness.
"How dare you fucking prove me right you asshole. I wanted to be wrong three years ago, not three years later." Kageyama growled as he stepped forward and grabbed the lapels of Tsukishima's coat and shook him, "He did nothing but love you, he did nothing but fucking make himself miserable trying to make you happy and you fucking let him go because suddenly you're an insecure, jealous donkey with a stick up your ass. He told me everything you said, and I'm sorry but fuck you for assuming that Hinata Shoyou of all people, the dumbest, kindest, honest and most loyal person in the world would fucking cheat on an undeserving, heartless, selfish, insecure dumbass who has no idea how lucky he is to have-"
Tsukishima had enough, his body was vibrating with anger, sadness, regret and irritation. It was the same dumb lecture he had gotten every single day and he was fucking tired of it. It's the same thing he told himself every single day, that someone that was such an asshole like himself didn't deserve someone like Shoyou and that the only reason Kei didn't do something about it sooner was because he didn't feel like he deserved the right. He was at his break point and shoved Kageyema off him and grabbed Tobio's hoodie and growled out, "I fucking know King! Just shut up! I fucking know already! I've always known I don't fucking deserve him so fucking me stop telling me I don't when I already tell myself that every single fucking day!"
Kageyama was shell shocked, he knew Tsukishima had a tendency to have his moments but this wasn't a salty, angry asshole, this was an insecure and hurting beanpole, judging by the way Tsukishima's hands were shaking as he gripped Tobio's shirt but refused to looked at Tobio. "Beanpole, what the fuck is going on with you? i've never heard you say fuck so many times in a single sentence, and you never lose your chill. What is going on in that head of yours?" Tobio said in a calmer tone even though he was still livid with Tsukishima for hurting his idiotic best friend.
Kei let out a huff and let go of Tobio's shirt and slumped against the wall behind him as he hit his fist against the wall, angry, frustrated and all kinds of emotions he only ever found himself feeling in volleyball games. "I know I'm an asshole and a coward, but since our first year anniversary where I stupidly forgot and Shoyou went out of his way to get me such a special gift and organize such a nice date, I've always felt this way, like he's too good for me and I know everyone but him agrees. I never realized I felt so insecure about my standing in this relationship, not until that stupid photo of him with Oikawa and I just got so stupidly jealous and insecure and before I knew it I was breaking up with him all because I was stupidly insecure and dumb and acted irrationally when he told me he and Oikawa were going out for drinks because I wasn't there." Kei said in a huff as he reached up and wiped his slightly wet eyes.
Tobio tilted his head at Tsukishima, "But you were planning a trip there to see him. You had the tickets and everything?"
"Yeah well the stupid insecurities hit me because I thought oh he doesn't think I'd do something so spontaneous like fly down to Brazil to be with him on his birthday." Kei said as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I really must have been a shitty boyfriend if he didn't think I was going to come down. He said it himself, 'Kei you'd never do anything like get on a plan and come see me out of nowhere. It's not your style.' And to be honest it hurt and I just ended up being so stupid and I deserve to live with this regret." Tsukishima said as he looked at Tobio who had his weird thinking face on which made Tsukishima roll his eyes and scoff, "Oh please don't act like you're thinking so hard, everyone gets this way, even you have. Half the time you were convinced Yamaguchi had feelings for me even though I was with Shoyou."
Tobio let out a huff, "I know I won't live that down, it was dumb but I honestly think you're stupid for giving him up. Do you honestly think he will be happier without you in his life when the happiest he ever was, was when he was with you." Kageyama said as he reached in his bag and pulled out a brown covered package with a card and offered it to Tsukishima, "You should have trusted his feelings for you more, or he wouldn't have still asked me to give this to you after telling me how much he regrets coming to Brazil because he's lost you and thinks it's all his fault since you essentially blamed him for your insecurities you asshole." Kageyama said as he shoved the package against Tsukishima's chest who reluctantly took it and held it in his hands. "He didn't just lose the love of his life, he lost one of his best friends too."
Kei looked down and felt the guilt creeping up on him a little more, the turmoil in his own soul was rather painful as he looked at the package that had a small card with Shoyou's messy scrawl, 'Happy birthday my moon. Love from you sunshine.'
"I can't believe you two had such disgustingly, annoyingly adorable nicknames for each other, especially you calling him sunshine." Tobio said as he pulled a disgusted expression on his features that Tsukishima laughed cause it looked like Kageyama was constipated rather than disgusted. "He is waiting for you Tsukishima, stupid hopeful embodiment of the sun. He's waiting for you to come back to him, don't make him wait forever you asshole. He deserves better than that, and you know that." Kageyama said as he pulled out an envelop and handed it to Tsukishima, "This is from the team, Coach Ukai, Takeda-sensei, your brother, mother, Yamaguchi and myself. It's non-refundable and we already made sure that your schedule was clear. So for the love of all things Volleyball, if you aren't at the airport that day, Yamaguchi and I will pack you in a suitcase and send you to Brazil."
Tsukishima looked at the envelop and gnawed on his bottom lip, "Are you certain he still wants me. I don't want to go there only to have him properly reject me this time." Tsukishima said as Kageyama swatted him upside the head, "Oi fucking King, don't fucking do that or so help me I will throw you off my balcony."
Kageyama smirked, "Much better. Stop being an insecure and depressed asshole. It's too fucking weird. Go get your sunshine before I throw up." Tobio said seriously as Tsukishima smirked and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You're one to talk about my nickname for Shoyou when you still flush brighter than a baboon's butt every time Tadashi calls you Tobi-bear." Kageyama spluttered and yelled as Tsukishima for the first time in the last few months laughed...
As Kei walked up the flight of stairs of Shoyou's apartment building, he couldn't help but glance at the the hand woven rope bracelet around his wrist decorated with a simple but not so simple charm of a sun that functioned as as locket. When Kei opened it and saw the picture Yachi had taken of the two of them sitting on a park bench with their heads leaning against each other, and then on the back of the pendant was beautifully done script that said, "Without the moon and stars, there would be no sun."
The bracelet almost had him crying on the spot when he looked at the bracelet and he was already organizing everything to go and now he was here walking through the wonderful pleasant night, taking in the wonderful air of the Brazilian night and found many reasons why Shoyou couldn't stop talking about the country. He'd received so many good luck and get em' messages from his family and team members, and even received a pat on the back from Shoyou's coach who'd been kind enough to pick Kei up from the airport and give him the directions he needed.
Kei almost hesitated knocking on the door but did it anyway. He had to, he needed to because he was tired of running away from his own happiness. he was tired of feeling empty and insecure about himself, Shoyou never ever let him feel that way ever in his life and Kei was going to start trusting Shoyou more because Shoyou chose Kei, and that was something he would trust in, he just hoped he could earn Shoyou's trust again.
The lock of the door clicked and slowly began to open and Kei composed himself as Shoyou came into Kei's view in person for the first time in months. the familiar scent of citrus and sunshine filled Kei's nose and left him pleasantly warm and happy at the scent of home, comfort and familiarity he had been missing for so long. He couldn't help but look into Shoyou's wide and surprised honey brown eyes that swirled with churning emotions as Kei took in everything Shoyou, from his now short cut orange tresses of hair and the haircut suited him. Shoyou certainly wasn't as small as he was before he left for Brazil, his waist was sinfully slime and lithe but his body was more toned and firmer, having packed on a little more muscle that Kei could see through the shirt that was baggy and hanging off his shoulder, it ironically was a shirt Kei had given Shoyou to take to Brazil with him and it certainly looked well worn.
Kei had a hard time keeping his eyes off of Shoyou's thighs that were definitely thicker and toned, the muscles on Shoyou's frame weren't enormous and predominant but present and well balanced for Shoyou's frame, heck Kei swore Shoyou was a little taller now and Kei was trying to keep his racing heart in check as Shoyou didn't even hide that he was doing a once over Kei more than once. "K-Kei?" Shoyou stuttered out, his voice soft and in disbelief as Kei gnawed his bottom lip and set his hand luggage on the floor.
"Hi Sho." Kei said softly, resisting the urge to tease Shoyou for stuttering considering his own heart was stuttering and his voice was heavy and choked up with emotion. "Hope I'm not interrupting." Kei said as Shoyou met his gaze, equal longing in both of their eyes, "You wouldn't happen to be able to host a hopeful dumbass who want's his sunshine back since the moon and stars can't function very well without the sun." Kei said slightly awkwardly, he was not the romantic type in any way, that was all Shoyou but he was trying and it seemed to work when Shoyou's eyes willed with tears and he had a wobbly smile on his face.
"You asshole, making me wait so long." Shoyou said with a wet sob and a sniffle as Kei walked forward and hesitantly wrapped his arms around Shoyou who didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Kei's waist and burry his face into Kei's chest and cry as Kei rested a hand against the back of Shoyou's head and cradle it tenderly as he fought off his own heavy emotions. All the anguish inside him was quelled by the warmth of Shoyou's radiating body heat and warmth, the wonderful feeling of finally being able to hold his sunshine again rendered him a silently crying mess. "Jerky-shima, i fucking hate you." Shoyou said wetly into Kei's chest aand kei let out a laugh at the lack of malice in Shoyou's voice.
"I am sorry Sunshine. I hate myself too for taking so long too." Tsukishima said as Shoyou tilted his head back, his face red and wet from crying and Kei couldn't resist pulling his handkerchief out his pocket and drying Shoyou's eyes and cleaning his face a little as the orange haired boy chuckled, "I'm sorry for being an idiot Shoyou. I hope you can forgive me."
"Always Kei." Shoyou said with a warm smile as he leaned up after grabbing the back of Kei's head and pulling him down for a kiss that satisfied Kei more than any dreams he had. "Get in here." Shoyou said with a giddy giggle as Kei smiled and grabbed his bags and entered the apartment, kicking the door closed behind him before he scooped Shoyou in his arms and just hugged him and enjoyed the embrace as much as Shoyou enjoyed it...
it was the best two week celebration for Kei's birthday he had ever had, and even as he road on the plane back to Japan his eye's couldn't help but glance at his left hand where the gold and black band was situated comfortably on his hand, the memory of dropping down on one knee and asking Shoyou to spend the rest of his life with him, and the impromptu ceremony they had on the beach with Shoyou's coach and Oikawa Tooru as witnesses as well as Kenma-san and Kuroo-san and video witnesses as they got married was a memory that was permanently etched on his face.
He couldn't help but smile at the reactions the old Karasuno members had when Shoyou sent everyone their wedding picture, hands raised with their wedding rings on display, beautiful flower crowns resting on their heads, both dressed in clean black long dress pants and button down white shirts, Shoyou had to buy his after Kei's spontaneous proposal, but nothing could stop the smile on his face when he remembered one thing.
He was the author of his own story, his own life and his future and as much as he wished to erase the heartache of losing Shoyou for a few months, he grew to understand his own self better from it, and only learned to be more secure and trusting of Shoyou's feelings for him.
It also helped that the day when Shoyou debuts in the division one league, his name will be Hinata-Tsukishima Shoyou, and the same would be mutual for Tsukishima.