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It was supposed to be a normal Saturday practice, but Tendou had other plans.
The moment Ushijima walked into the gym, Tendou was there, grinning like a fox, a paper party hat lopsided on his head.
“Happy birthday, Ushiwaka-chan~! You’re mine for the day,” he declared, stepping in front of the court door like a human barricade.
Ushijima blinked. “We have practice.”
“Not today we don’t,” Tendou said, already tugging him toward the exit by the sleeve. “You and me, prefecture-wide adventure. I even planned a route. C’mon, it’s not every day your best friend slash maybe boyfriend—”
Ushijima gave him a look.
Tendou smirked. “—slash totally boyfriend—takes you out on your birthday.”
---
The first stop was Matsushima Bay. The winter air nipped at their cheeks, carrying with it the faint briny scent of the sea. The sky was a pale blue stretched thin over the horizon, streaked with wisps of cloud. They stood at the small dock, the water glinting under the low afternoon sun, and Tendou bounced on his heels like an overexcited tour guide.
“This way, Ushiwaka-chan!” he said, gesturing grandly toward the moored sightseeing boat. “I’ve decided you need culture, sea breeze, and the risk of accidental seagull attacks all in one go.”
Ushijima didn’t reply, but he followed. The boat rocked gently as they stepped aboard, the low thrum of its engine mixing with the sound of waves lapping against the hull. Ushijima gravitated to the railing without a word, his eyes on the horizon. Tendou joined him, elbows resting beside his, already leaning out like he was scanning for buried treasure.
When the boat pulled away from the dock, clusters of pine-covered islands began to pass by — jagged rocks rising from the water like half-forgotten sculptures. Tendou’s eyes lit up immediately.
“That one,” he said, pointing toward a lumpy outcrop to their right, “is shaped like a croissant. Which means it’s basically your soulmate in geological form.”
Ushijima turned his head, studying it with quiet seriousness. “It’s not symmetrical.”
Tendou snorted. “Neither am I. Your point?”
The wind tugged at their jackets, and a seagull swooped overhead, its cry sharp against the rhythm of the waves. Ushijima kept his gaze on the islands, taking in the green pines clinging stubbornly to the crags, the white spray where water smashed against stone. Tendou, on the other hand, began narrating the passing scenery like he was hosting a late-night cable special no one asked for.
“And here we have the mysterious ‘Potato Island,’ named after… well, it’s shaped like a potato , obviously . Next, on the left, we see ‘Lumpy Uncle Takeshi,’ the least popular island, but still family.”
Ushijima’s lips twitched — the smallest sign of amusement — and Tendou caught it, grinning triumphantly.
“See? You’re having fun. Admit it.”
Ushijima didn’t answer right away. The sunlight caught in his hair, and for a moment, the only sounds were the engine and the water. Finally, he said, “It’s… nice.”
And for Tendou, that was as good as a confession.
---
Next was Zuihōden Mausoleum. Tendou darted from one intricate carving to another, half-reading plaques, half making things up. Ushijima listened, correcting him every so often . They stopped at the gift shop where Tendou bought two matching keychains — a tiny volleyball with a cartoon Date Masamune helmet — and shoved one into Ushijima’s pocket without a word.
---
By the time they reached the little hilltop park overlooking Sendai, the afternoon light had mellowed into a soft gold, brushing the rooftops and distant hills with warmth. The city stretched out beneath them, busy and quiet all at once. They found a bench that caught just enough sun to fight off the evening chill but was also shady enough to defend them against the summer rays.
Tendou plopped down first, dramatically sighing like he’d just run a marathon, then tore the taiyaki in half. Steam curled up in the cool air as he handed the red bean–filled half to Ushijima.
Ushijima accepted it with his usual calm, biting into it without ceremony. The quiet between them was comfortable — until Tendou smirked.
"You know,” Tendou said, leaning back with his hands behind his head, “I was gonna take you to the new cat café in town, but you’d probably scare the cats.”
“I don’t scare animals.”
“You’ve never met these cats,” Tendou replied gravely.
"And?"
"Well, you remember when the first-years joined the team?”
Ushijima looked over, chewing slowly. “…Yes.”
“You scared them half to death,” Tendou said lightly, grinning. “Especially Goshiki. Poor guy looked like he was standing in front of an executioner every time you talked to him, so I figured the cats wouldn't take kindly to you either.” He was focusing on the view ahead of them instead of his boyfriend.
For once, Ushijima didn’t reply immediately. His brow furrowed slightly, his eyes flicking down to the remaining half of his taiyaki. “…I scared them?” His voice was low, almost careful, like he was turning the words over in his head.
Tendou’s smirk faltered. “Yeah, I mean—well—not on purpose . You were just… you know… Ushiwaka.”
Ushijima stayed quiet for a beat longer, his expression caught between confusion and something else. “…I like Goshiki,” he said finally, in the same tone someone might use to state a fact. “I think he could be an amazing player one day.”
“I know you do,” Tendou said quickly, leaning forward a little, now realising how he might have fucked up. “And, hey, you don’t scare them anymore. Seriously. Now they just think you’re this big, calm wall of volleyball wisdom. Even Goshiki’s stopped stuttering every time you look at him.”
Ushijima blinked at him. “…He used to stutter?”
Tendou grinned again, though softer this time. “Oh, constantly. But now? He basically worships the court you walk on. You’ve gone from terrifying executioner to gentle sensei.”
Ushijima seemed to consider that, then nodded once, a faint bit of tension easing from his shoulders. “…Good.”
And Tendou, watching him, had to bite back a smile at how earnestly he meant it.
---
The last stop was a small café Tendou had bookmarked for weeks — rustic wood interior, warm lighting, the smell of cinnamon and coffee in the air. Ushijima ordered a matcha latte; Tendou went for the sweetest cake on the menu. They sat near the window, people-watching and making up backstories for strangers walking past.
It was cozy — the kind of warm that seeps into your bones. Ushijima wasn’t one for birthdays, but this… felt right.
Until Tendou checked his phone.
“Oh crap.”
Ushijima looked up. “What?”
“Washijō. Practice was moved to this afternoon.”
“How much time do we have?”
Tendou grinned sheepishly. “…Negative ten minutes.”
---
The bus ride back was chaos — Tendou leaning forward in his seat, muttering plans to sneak into the gym unnoticed, Ushijima just calmly sipping the rest of his matcha latte like this was inevitable.
By the time they burst into the gym, Washijō was mid-yell at Semi for missing a dig. The coach spotted them instantly.
“Where have you two been?!”
Tendou plastered on his most innocent smile. “Team bonding. For Ushiwaka’s birthday.”
Washijō opened his mouth to explode — but then muttered something about “as long as you’re ready for Nationals” and turned away.
Tendou looked at Ushijima. “See? Perfect day.”
Ushijima met his gaze for a moment, then nodded. “…Yes. Perfect.”