Chapter Text
The sun glared onto my back as I lay across the dead grass. Looking to my right, I watched my teammates run up and down the hill. I could barely breathe from one lap. I closed my eyes while smelling the air. Why did I even want to do this? I haven’t had the passion to continue since I was in elementary.
Footsteps got closer to where I was leading to me peeking my eyes. My vision was filled with green and specs that reminded me of the stars.
Yamaguchi
He’s the reason why I want to continue. Not for me, but for him. When I look at him I can’t help but want to help him achieve his dreams. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that there’s a smile on his face while doing the sport that he loves.
“Tsuki, you seem more tired than usual, are you sure you’re ok?”
There it is. His constant worrying about my well-being. I sure got lucky with my boyfriend. I lift my hand up to ruffle his hair enjoying the way he leans towards it.
“I promise I’m fine, I'm just not used to doing this much exercise.”
I watch as he physically relaxes to my response.
I’ve never been one to have much endurance so having to do so many punishments during training camp was not something I had prepared for.
“OK, everyone is done for the day! Head to the showers to clean up, there will be gyms open for those who want to practice late.”
I stared at the coach as if he had grown another head. I don’t know anyone, besides the chaotic duo, who would want to willingly stay behind and practice more.
If they do then they are complete idiots.
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It turns out the idiot is me.
Out of pure coincidence I got dragged by the captains of Fukurodani and Nekoma. Surprisingly enough Fukurodani’s setter was also there.
I had heard many prayers about his beauty but I had yet to see him myself. They weren’t wrong about that but it feels to be normal for someone who is an omega.
I came in when they were starting to stretch.
I stayed on the wall of the gym watching them, especially Akaashi. Despite the noise coming from the other side of the gym his face remained emotionless, maybe even calm. The way he stretched was odd to me. He didn’t move like a volleyball player would. It was much more sophisticated and elegant.
While watching him go into the splits a shoulder wrapped around my shoulder as I got pulled to the side.
“Y’know it’s not nice to stare at someone else’s omega especially since he’s Bokuto’s. You wouldn’t want a problem with him now would you?”
Looking at Kuroo’s smirk I felt my face go into disgust.
“I have one of my own. Besides, it sounds like his problem if he gets jealous of any alpha that looks at what’s ‘his’.”
“Aww don’t worry Tsuki I don’t get jealous! If anything I feel proud when people stare just to remind me of how beautiful he is.”
Bokuto’s remark made me instantly look towards Akaashi. No person should be ok with the sentence especially if they understood its second meaning.
Surprisingly there was no disgust on his face, only a faint smile.
Odd, but it could be that he enjoys the praise and would rather not think deeper into it.
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The practice had been going smooth for a while until the two balls of energy decided to head to the bathroom together leaving me with the omega.
The two of us had our backs to the wall while drinking from our bottles.
“I want to thank you for deciding to join us.”
I watch as he looks down with a smile on his face. The presence is warm and inviting. Not the feeling I have with Yam’s but something that seems familiar to me.
“This may sound personal, but me and Bokuto have watched you play since your team arrived. There’s potential in you but you don’t seem to use it, is there a reason for this?”
The question leaves me surprised. The only person that has talked to me about this is Yam’s and even then I have no answer but this time it feels different.
“There is something that is holding me back. I pretend that it’s nothing but I can feel it. Do I know? I’m not sure but I know that it’s there.”
The silence afterwards is anything but awkward. Almost as if he understands where it is I’m coming from.
“Tsukishima I-”
He gets cut off by the loud sound of something breaking in the distance.
“Bokuto you idiot look what you did!”
Kuroo’s voice was not something I missed.
A low chuckle came from Akaashi as he got up heading towards the voices.
“You should head back to your team, they must be worried about you; I’ll handle the mess these two caused.”
He paused for a moment as if he was carefully thinking about what would come out of his mouth next.
“If you need someone to open up to besides your omega then I’ll be here.”
With that I watched him leave. The only thing that kept me from looking away was the way his feet subconsciously tried to go on their toes.
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The next day of training had barely started and I already got an injury.
Right after morning breakfast and training we went right back to playing against other teams. What I didn’t expect was while blocking against Nekoma’s ace I would end up bruising my fingers.
“Tsukishima, look at your fingers are all purple. ARE THEY GONNA FALL OFF?!”
Hinata was an idiot.
“Tsuki, you should go to the infirmary and get it bandaged before it gets worse.”
In times like these it seemed that Yamaguchi was the only one that actually had a brain.
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Waiting in the infirmary I heard the door slide open. Looking up from where I was seated I was faced with a sight I never knew I’d ever see.
Leaning against the door was Akaashi wearing his school uniform. Instead of pants though he was wearing a skirt. (If I remembered correctly some schools offered both male and female omegas the chance to wear a skirt.)
I watched with weary eyes as he started to approach me and took the seat right next to mine.
“Is your team done with the training camp?”
His eyes glanced into mine with the same warmth I had felt when we were at the gym together.
“No, we are attending an event and are required to wear our school attire. We will not be getting back until late tonight, therefore our coaches want us to leave early in the day.”
“Then why are you here with me instead of getting ready?”
His face lit up as if he also forgot the reason why he suddenly showed up.
“I heard about your injury and wanted to check on you. I also have something I would like to give you.”
Digging into his bag I watched as he pulled something out that barely fit in his palm. Holding it out I realized that it was an inhaler.
“As I said before I have been watching you since the start. That includes watching you struggle with your breathing during punishments. This might not fix your problem but it should sub due to it.”
I grab the small plastic and place it in my own hand. I never considered the fact that there was a temporary solution to my problem.
“I should be going now if I don’t want to upset my coach.”
I watched again at the odd way he leaves with his toes pointing outwards.
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“Yamaguchi, can you call my phone? I can't find it.”
Looking through my bag and jacket I try my hardest to feel the cool metal and stop for a moment to hopefully hear the sound of the ringtone I have specifically for him.
No luck
“Tsuki, you probably left it back at one of the gym’s while practicing. You should look before they lock them up.”
That’s right I had stayed for another late night practice. This time I brought Hinata with me. The three of them were too much together that I mainly focused on making sure that he actually got back to where we were staying.
Leaving the building I made my way towards the gym that I came from not too long ago. Luckily the lights were still on meaning that no had locked it up just yet.
Peeking in through the doors I felt my body still as it was hypnotized by the sight in front of it.
Music was playing throughout the gym with the only sound accompanying it was the soft nonexistent sound of shoes hitting the floor.
There in the middle of the gym was Akasshi in pointe shoes moving to the sound as if he was the only person in the world not caring if anyone else saw him.
I stood there watching, not wanting to bother him, still amazed at how he danced. It was almost like he was a natural at it. Talent and hardwork had nothing on him. It was as if he was the embodiment of the word ballet.
After a while of watching the music stopped and he gave a final bow to the nonexistent crowd in front of him. Just then he turned with a soft smile and our eyes finally met.
“I was wondering how long you were going to stand there.”
I felt my cheeks flush realizing that I wasn’t as covert as I thought I was.
“Come in and ask all the questions you need.”
He sits with a perfect posture while displaying my phone towards me. I sit next to him and pocket my phone with my mind racing to ask the perfect first question.
“How long have you been dancing for?”
“Since I was a child. When adults asked me what I wanted to be my dream job I told them I wanted to dance. Silly isn’t it, to want to do something that’s considered a hobby as a career.”
I wanted to tell him that it wasn’t silly to do something that’s a hobby for a career. He was good at it and that’s all that counts. No other person or event should ever lead him to believe that. It didn't matter what people thought. Those thoughts spiraled me back to the game. The game that changed my perspective. The events that make me sound like a hypocrite.
“Why do volleyball then? I’ve watched you too since the beginning and we both know that you have no plans on going professional.”
This time he thinks of his answer a little longer as if he didn’t know the full answer.
“My parents always told me that they support my decision but I could see on their faces that it was not the entire truth. While looking at the clubs making my final decision on the high school I would like to attend I saw Bokuto playing in the gym. At that moment I knew what I wanted to do for the time being. I had gotten an opportunity to dance at a prestigious school but I declined to play. Despite what others say I don’t regret the decision I made.”
Looking at him I wanted to shed his tears for him. The last sentence was the reason I couldn’t clear my head even after I finally went back to my team. He may say that he doesn’t regret the decision but I could tell from the way that he smiles that even he doesn’t understand the full extent of how much he loves performing. Not for the thrill of what might happen next, but for the desire to watch beauty unfold from the way he moves.
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Deja Vu hits me as I sit in the infirmary thinking of the moments that just occurred. I feel so useless next to my team. I promised myself that I would block multiple spikes yet I’m decaying in a silent room with nothing but my thoughts. Why would I make that promise to myself? There’s no reason for me to care about this club. I wouldn’t be pursuing volleyball after this.
A knock interrupted my thoughts as a familiar figure stood by the entrance. He looked as if he just came from a match with a jacket on his shoulders looking twice his size.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
The remark is harmless as there’s humor behind it. It’s enough to make me smile slightly.
“Shouldn’t you be with your own team playing a match or celebrating a win.”
The mood suddenly became somber as he looked down at his lap taking a seat next to mine. I recognized the signs: hooded eyes, biting his bottom lip, eyes looking glossy, breath hitching for a moment.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault Nekoma just had the upper hand. Though I am going to miss playing with the third years. They were like family to me.”
His shaky voice didn’t make things any better. If anything it made the mood worse as I thought about my own third years.
“Back in the training camp, when we officially got to know each other, you said you saw potential in me. Why did you tell me that?”
There was no reason for him to say that to me. We were strangers back then, even now I know little about him besides the fact that volleyball was most definitely not his first choice. He shouldn’t be-
“Because I want to see you thrive. There’s more to you than what you lead on and I want you to break out of that shell you cling onto.”
There’s that warmth again
—----------------------
Hearing the crowd cheer for us was not what I had expected to happen. Even with Yam’s hugging me tightly it still feels unreal.
Looking up into the crowd I see a familiar set of eyes. Ones with a soft gaze to it. My chest feels warm and a smile forms on my face.
After the game I worked up the courage to ask for his number. The warmth might be temporarily gone but I look forward to feeling it again when we meet each other again.