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Tsukishima Kei isn’t one to think much about birthdays, especially his own, but, just because he thinks that way, it doesn’t stop the people around him from making such a fuss about it. And that, apparently, includes a certain rooster haired captain of Nekoma Volleyball Club.
It is a pretty cold night in Tokyo and Tsukishima feels tired. Well, he did a lot of practising today; a few practice matches that were followed by individual training sessions which Kuroo and Bokuto had asked Tsukishima to join them again (and again). This time, however, Tsukishima didn’t waste the opportunity to train together with them and the others. Ukai-san has specifically told him that when it comes to blocking, Nekoma’s Kuroo is definitely a master, and in order to prepare himself for potentially facing Ushiwaka, Bokuto’s spike is arguably just as powerful.
The food provided at the camp is by no means not delicious, but Tsukishima would rather eat a cake or two instead, especially after such a tiring day like this. Tsukishima is about to finish his dinner when Kuroo approaches him, a smirk planted on his ridiculously pretty face. “Hey, Tsukki! Can I sit here?” Kuroo asks, chin gesturing to the empty seat beside Tsukishima.
Tsukishima looks around, there certainly are enough empty seats for Kuroo to sit, so, why here? Though, if Kuroo wants to annoy him, Tsukishima doesn’t really have any energy to retaliate because he’s that tired. So, he only gives Kuroo a small nod in reply.
Kuroo then proceeds to sit beside Tsukishima. “A little birdie told me that it was your birthday last Thursday, Tsukki.”
Tsukishima scrutinises his eyes and turns his head to Kuroo’s direction, ah, damn Hinata and his loud mouth. The Karasuno team has learnt about his birthday from Yamaguchi because the green haired boy has wished him a happy birthday the exact moment Tsukishima stepped his foot at the club room first thing in the morning that day, in front of everyone.
“Uh, yes, what about it, Kuroo-san?” Tsukishima wonders.
“Well— you see,” Kuroo rubs the back of his neck before grabbing a white plastic bag that Tsukishima didn’t notice Kuroo had brought along with him. Kuroo takes out a sliced strawberry shortcake from the plastic bag and puts it on the table in front of them, “Happy belated birthday, Tsukki! This is all I could manage to get from the convenience store nearby. I wish I could get you a better one from a fancy bakery or something, but I hope you don’t really mind,” says Kuroo, his usual smirk has been replaced by a sheepish grin.
Tsukishima is rendered speechless. He doesn’t know what to say. First of all, Kuroo gets him a cake for his birthday. His favourite kind, to top that. Secondly, Kuroo looks… nervous about it? Tsukishima closes his mouth that he didn’t realise was open due to the surprise and proceeds to blink at Kuroo for a few seconds. Kuroo blinks back at him, before tilting his head just a little bit. “Tsukki? You okay?” He asks Tsukishima.
“Ah, yes,” replies Tsukishima. He pushes his glasses up his nose before continuing, “thank you very much for the wish and the cake, Kuroo-san. I really appreciate it,” with a genuine smile plastered on his face.
Tsukishima could clearly see a small blush creeping up the older boy’s face and it makes him feel like his own face has started to heat up, too. “You’re welcome, Tsukki. I wish I could give you a cake on your birthday, I mean— exactly on Thursday, but I guess it’s not possible since I didn’t know about it then.”
Tsukishima only nods to that. There is another thing that he wants to know, though. “How did you know? About the strawberry shortcake, I mean.”
There is Kuroo with his sheepish grin again, “I may have asked your friend—Yamaguchi, is it?—about it. I hope you don’t mind.”
Tsukishima doesn’t know if he should be angry or thankful to Yamaguchi. A smile that’s forming on his lips tells him that it’s probably the latter, though. “I don’t think I do—in fact, I was just thinking about eating a cake or two after such a tiring day like this, so…”
Tsukishima doesn’t know how to continue.
“So… ?” Kuroo asks.
Tsukishima begins playing with his fingers. “Do you, perhaps, want to eat the cake together? I already had dinner and I don’t think I’d be able to finish this by myself.”
It’s Kuroo’s turn to be surprised. From the corner of his eyes, Tsukishima could see a wide grin appearing on the older boy’s face. “Sure, I would love to.”
Tsukishima begins to open the lid of the plastic container and cuts a portion of the cake for him to eat. He brings the fork to his mouth and eats it.
“How was it? I hope it isn’t so bad,” Kuroo asks with a tint of nervousness in his voice.
“It’s actually pretty good, Kuroo-san. You should try it yourself,” says Tsukishima, handing the fork to Kuroo so the older boy can try it.
Kuroo takes the fork and tries the cake. He gives Tsukishima an approval nod. “You’re right, Tsukki. It’s much better than I expected.”
They continue eating the cake together and before they know it, the cake has already vanished. Kuroo has managed to slip a small conversation here and there, and for a good 10 minutes, Tsukishima has forgotten how tired he has been all day. Was it the cake? Or, was it the company? Spending time with Kuroo was… nice. He doesn’t want to say it out loud, but he would love to spend more of his time with Kuroo like this. Not just practising, but… like this. But, he doesn’t know what ‘like this’ is supposed to mean. Then, Tsukishima remembers something.
“Kuroo-san? You said earlier that you wanted to get me a better cake from a fancy bakery, and, well, I happen to know a place to get a really good strawberry shortcake, not what one would call fancy, but it’s my family's favourite. It’s in Sendai, though. So, if you ever plan on visiting Sendai, we can go there together.”
Kuroo looks at Tsukishima in disbelief. “Tsukki? Did you just ask me out on a date?”
What the hell? Did he? Crap, he obviously did. Tsukishima gulps and proceeds to say, “Apologies for saying such nonsense all of a sudden, Kuroo-san. I didn’t know why I said that. It’s totally okay if you don’t want to.”
Kuroo lets out a snicker. “You’re really cute, you know? And, I should be the one to ask you out on a date, Tsukki! Not the other way around!”
Did Kuroo just call him cute? Him? Tsukishima wonders. He doesn’t want to know how red his face is right now. But the idea of going on a date with Kuroo doesn’t sound so bad. Tsukishima’s reverie is put to a stop when Kuroo continues.
“Tokyo’s qualifier will be held somewhere in mid November and the Spring Nationals will only start in January, so I think I could make a visit to Sendai in late November or early December?” says Kuroo, eyebrows wiggling.
“Sounds good to me,” Tsukishima replies, “is that okay with you, though? With the commute and all. I don’t want to impose.”
Kuroo grins. “It’s not like I could go to Sendai a lot, which is a shame, because I would actually love to. Besides… we might not have another time to see each other again before Nationals. So, I think, I could make time. ”
Tsukishima’s eyes widened ever so slightly. “Thank you very much, Kuroo-san. You’re actually… very nice.”
“Is it a date, then?” Kuroo asks.
Tsukishima nods, “Yes. You can text me when you already decide on the date. I mean, the exact date of your visit.”
“Ohoho? Is today my lucky day? Not only did I get to eat a cake with you, but you also asked me out on a date AND wanted to give me your number.”
Tsukishima scoffs at that and rolls his eyes. He pulls out his phone and gives it to Kuroo. Kuroo takes the phone and puts his number on Tsukishima’s phone. The younger boy then calls Kuroo’s number so Kuroo could save it later.
“Is it okay if I text you even before I decide on the date of our date, Tsukki?” Kuroo asks.
Tsukishima decides to tease Kuroo a bit. “You’re not guaranteed to get a reply, though,” Of course it’s a lie.
“How mean!” says Kuroo while dramatically putting his hand to his heart. “Well, it was nice spending time with you tonight, Tsukki. I would love to spend some more time with you, honestly, but I’m afraid your captain might just kick me if I keep you any longer here. I’ll walk you to where your team is.”
“You don’t have to, Kuroo-san. I have a feeling that Sawamura-san might actually kick you,” Tsukishima lets out a small laugh.
“You’re right. I’ll text you later, then. See you, Tsukki!” says Kuroo as he stands up. He waves his hand to Tsukishima before disappearing into the hallway. Tsukishima tidies up his table and throws away the trash before leaving the cafetaria to join his team.
The day after the practice match, Tsukishima is doing his homework in his bedroom when he receives a text.
From: Kuroo Tetsuro
Hey, Tsukki! It’s Kuroo.
Is November 24 good? My birthday is on the 17, so we could celebrate it together, since we kinda celebrated yours together too last time :P
Tsukishima finds himself smiling before typing out his reply. He thinks, maybe, he might actually enjoy birthdays more from now on, be it his own, or Kuroo’s.