Chapter Text
You were a kind girl to anyone who was kind to you. You were blessed with impeccable patience, and many people were friendly with you because of this. You were smart and worked hard to complete every task you set out to do to your best ability. You were pretty, and flaunted your gorgeous smile to anyone nearby. And, much to Tsukishima Kei’s distress, he had fallen victim to your sweet nature.
It had taken him a while to swallow his pride and admit to himself his feelings for someone as easygoing and charming as you were. Because he was such a prideful guy, he had never really taken an interest in trivial things like relationships. And because he had never taken an interest in anyone before you, this emotion that was new to him had him feeling a bit self-conscious. He had developed a rather annoying habit of showing his affection through teasing you, and invading your personal space. He often ripped of your ear buds out when you were about to turn on music, and when he found what you were listening to he would lean across your desk and take the device out of your hands saying things like “Honestly, what kind of shit is this.” Only to follow up saying “I’ll show you some good music, don’t worry.” It was his own roundabout way of telling you about himself. Despite his constant bothering, you grew rather fond of him. Sure, even YOU found him annoying, and a bit much at times, but he was often sweet, too. When you realized you had feelings for him, you took it in stride. In fact, your confession was rather blunt.
During lunch one day, you had decided to eat outside under the shade of a tree blossoming with a small red flower you didn’t know of. Tsukishima had been walking by to meet up with his close friend that was always hanging around nearby when he noticed you unpacking your lunch. You were sitting alone. Even considering the many people drawn to you, you always found happiness in being alone, he had noticed. The slight wind blowing made the strands of hair that had fallen from the bun on top of your head whip across your cheeks. You were a beautiful sight, and that sort of pissed him off. Making a quick decision between you and the leech referred to as Yamaguchi, he made a beeline for you. He quietly walked beside you and nudged your thigh with his foot, and smirked down at you. “Oi, [name]. Eating alone? How pathetic.” You had sighed and shoved his foot away, only for him to kneel down beside you.
“Tsukishima, you got my clothes dirty.” You scolded him, and proceeded to take out the rest of your lunch.
“Oh, what are you eating? Looks tasty, doesn’t it. Did your mom make it for you?” he tried to provoke you. Honestly, how childish he was.
“No, I made it myself. Would you like to have some?” you offered a utensil and gestured to the food in your lunch, trying to lighten the mood that this boy always seemed to bring down just a bit. He shrugged and picked out a piece of meat with his fingers. You smacked his hand away from your food as he reached and took a piece of fruit that you had packed in a separate container.
“Hey! At least use a utensil, your hands could be dirty! And that fruit is part of my dessert; don’t eat it before I even get to fix it up! Geez, you really know how to rile me up… why do I like someone so rude?” you had begun to mumble to yourself as you took out a napkin and placed it in his hand for him to wipe his fingers off with. You hadn’t noticed yet, but he was a flustered mess. Had he heard you right?
“O-Oi… what did you say?” he questioned you.
“I said that this was my dessert and to at least let me eat some of my lunch before I get that out. I will share some of it if you really want but- hey, what…“ you had turned to look up at him and sent him a questioning look as Tsukishima shot up to his feet and glared down at you.
“Not that! What you said before! Before the dessert thing…” his voice trailed off and he clenched his fist. “You know. A-About… liking me…” You blushed slightly and sent a smile up at him, which sent shivers down his spine.
“Oh, sorry, I guess that was a bit sudden, huh? Yea, sorry, I know you like to pick on me, and I do in fact find it quite irritating. But, I guess I got attached to you?” You shrugged, not seeming to really care that he was a hot mess. “Sorry, I guess it’s weird, right?” You turned your attention back to your lunch and started to pick at your meal.
“Th… then…” you turned your attention back to the sputtering disaster before you. He turned his head and crossed his arms over his chest, tapping his fingers on his arms. He cleared his throat and kicked the grass at his feet. He ran a nervous hand through his hair, looking anywhere but at you.
“Then… I’ll… I mean, I will… Do you want to go see a movie or something? O-on Friday maybe.” he sputtered out, scratching his cheek with his finger and looked at the ground. “My treat…”
You were a bit flustered yes, but moreover, you were quite shocked. Tsukishima was a light shade of red up to his ears and down the base of his neck. Never in your life would you have thought you would be lucky enough to see him in such a state.
“Pff…” You covered your mouth with your hand, muffling a snicker that had escaped you. “Tsukishima Kei, is someone as complacent and conceited as you asking someone like me out on something as insignificant as a date?” You were smirking behind your hand, you finally had the upper hand over him, and boy did it feel good. Sending a death glare your way, he (very childishly) stomped his foot.
He flushed harder, both at your use of his full name, and in embarrassed anger. “As if I would! Stupid, don’t be stupid!” He turned to stomp away from you and you took a strawberry from your fruits and aimed it at his head. You were laughing at him, how rude could you be? You were still snickering when he turned back around and looked at you through slit eyes. “Did you throw something at me?”
You feigned shock and placed your hand on your chest. “As if I, someone so kind and delightful, would ever throw anything at you.” His eye twitched and he picked up the strawberry that had fallen to the ground and went to chuck it back at you. Giggling, you dodged it, only succeeding in irking him further.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry I won’t throw any more of my food at you. And-“ you grinned up at him. “You better take me to a good movie.”
That was months ago. You and he were in a pretty good place in your relationship. You two hadn’t really shared any more intimacy besides, much to his chagrin, holding hands and the occasional cuddle when you fell asleep watching a movie. He didn’t physically show his affection and care openly for you often, no not nearly as often as you would have preferred, but you guys were comfortable with the pace your relationship was moving. Today, you found yourself getting ready to go out with Tsukishima. You assumed you were going to get some lunch and then head to a café to grab some coffee or tea and there the two of you would share some strawberry shortcake. His favorite. Twirling around in front of the mirror, you found yourself perfectly dressed for such a date.
Walking beside Tsukishima, you chattered endlessly about how cool he looked in his most recent game. “You’re so tall, could you play any position? Like what if you could jump as high as Hinata, and you did that quick with Kageyama, would you guys score more points? Or does it only work because it’s the two of them? Do they know each other prior to having come to this school and joining your team? They just seem really close. They were really cool in that last game too! I’d love to get to know them, they seem interesting.” You smiled as you passed by an older lady sitting on a bench feeding some birds, and heard Tsukishima sigh. “Ah, sorry I’m rambling again, huh?” You smiled up at him in apology.
He shrugged. “I don’t know, I guess it would work differently because I’m not shorty, and I don’t have a particular want to do the ‘freak quick’ with the King. I already deal with both of them enough as it is.” He gave a bored sideways glance. He was disinterested in this topic, he liked you, and it wasn’t that you talking so much irritated him so. It was the fond talk of people who weren’t him. He should solely have your attention, is what he selfishly found himself thinking.
You wrapped your hand around the crook of his elbow and he slowed his pace to match yours, and shoved his other hand into his pocket that held a small box you currently unaware of. “You cling too much.” He muttered, though you both knew he wasn’t too bothered by it. You squeezed his arm and hummed in response. You neared the café that you two were going to eat cake at. You were more than ready to sit down and have some nice quiet time with your boyfriend, with some tea and cakes.