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Kei Tsukishima’s birthday started the way he dreaded most.
He cracked his eyes open, sunlight bleeding in through his curtains, only to find his phone buzzing non-stop on the nightstand. He groaned, grabbed it, and instantly regretted it.
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In the WE LOVE BALLS 🥵💦 GC
Bokuto: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TSUKKI!!!!!!!!!
Kuroo: Congrats on surviving another year of being a stick in the mud 🦀
Yaku: Wtf is that meant to mean?
Kuroo: 🍪
Daichi: Right..
Daichi: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TSUKISHIMA!
Suga: HOPE U HAVE AN AMAZING DAY X
Oikawa: Hope u do ok at nationals 😑
Iwaizumi: WISH HIM A PROPER BIRTHDAY U FUCKASS
Oikawa: OMG ALRIGHT
Oikawa: Happy Birthday!
Iwaizumi: From the whole Aoba Johsai Team!
Kunimi: We didn't consent this.
Iwaizumi: Do u wish to run more laps cause that is completely possible if u dont shut your emo bitchass mouth up
Akaashi: Happy Birthday from everyone in Tokyo as well :))
Lev: HELL YEAH
Lev: HOPE WE PLAY AGAINST EACH OTHER SOON (◕ᴗ◕✿)
Tendo: ITS MR VANILLAS BIRTHDAY OMGGGGGG
Tendo: HAPPY BIRTHDAY U WEIRD ASS FREAK
Ushijima: I dont like you're blocks but I hope u have a good day
Semi: Jfc
Semi: Happy Birthday Tsukishima -From the Shiratorizawa volleyball team
Yaku: I miss being young
Kuroo: Mf u still mentally a zygote
Yaku: YEAH WELL U HAVE THE BRAIN OF A FERTILISED EGG
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The chat was flooded with more emojis, stickers, and gifs after that—some he didn’t even want to interpret. His screen was so clogged with notifications he almost wanted to throw it out the window.
“...You’ve all lost your minds,” he muttered, tossing the phone onto his pillow. “Annoying.”
Morning practice wasn’t much better. The second he walked into the gym, all eyes turned to him.
“Happy birthday, Tsukishima-kun!” Daichi and Sugawara greeted warmly again, this time in real life and with more hand gestures.
The managers chimed in, bowing politely, and even Ukai gave a gruff, “Have a good one, kid.”
Tsukki adjusted his glasses and nodded stiffly. “Thanks.” If there was going to be anyone he respected, it would be his coaches and managers for all the hard work they put in.
Then came Hinata. Sprinting across the court, all limbs and energy, yelling, “TSUKKI!! HAPPY BIRTHDAAAYYY!!” before launching himself for a hug.
It ended with Hinata sailing across the gym like a poorly thrown volleyball.
“Don’t touch me,” Tsukki deadpanned, brushing off his jacket sleeve.
“MEAN!” Hinata wailed from the floor.
The day dragged on with random classmates and teachers stopping him in the hallway. “Happy birthday, Tsukishima-kun!” “Oh, you’re a September baby, how nice!” He forced polite nods, but inside, he wanted to sink into the ground.
By the time afternoon practice ended, he thought he was free. Until Ukai wheeled in a cake.
“Surprise!” Yachi beamed, holding out plastic forks.
“You guys…” Tsukki sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as his teammates started singing off-key. He tolerated it—barely. Eventually, he cut the cake, muttering about “wasting practice time” while everyone cheered anyway.
Walking home later, the chill evening air cooled his flushed cheeks. Yamaguchi walked at his side, humming happily. He hadn’t made a big fuss during the day, just quietly stuck close to Tsukki like always. That alone made it easier to endure everything else.
God, he’s amazing, Tsukki thought, stealing a sideways glance. Everyone else is loud and exhausting, but he just… gets me. He knows when I need space, when I need someone near, when to talk, when to shut up. He’s smarter than he gives himself credit for, stronger than he thinks, and somehow still manages to look at me like I’m worth his time. Out of everyone in this world, he’s the one person I’d never trade for anything.
He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, scowling at the pavement to cover the warmth rising in his chest. Pathetic. I’m pathetic. But… he really is amazing
“You know…” Yamaguchi began softly, fiddling with his bag strap. “I’m glad you were born, Tsukki.”
Tsukishima’s throat tightened. He looked away quickly, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Don’t say cheesy stuff like that.”
Yamaguchi only smiled. Then, without warning, he leaned up and kissed Tsukki’s cheek—quick, fleeting, enough to set Tsukki’s entire face on fire.
Before he could react, Yamaguchi was already jogging ahead, laughing nervously. “See you tomorrow, birthday boy!”
Tsukki froze on the sidewalk, his bag sliding slightly down his shoulder as if even gravity had paused with him. His fingers brushed the spot on his cheek where Yamaguchi’s lips had been, and suddenly the whole world seemed to still.
The sound of cars in the distance dulled. The breeze that had been tugging at his hair felt like it vanished. Even the crunch of Yamaguchi’s sneakers against the pavement faded out until there was nothing but the furious pounding of his own heartbeat.
It was like being caught in a snapshot—everything suspended in that impossible, fleeting second.
He swallowed hard, trying to force air back into his lungs, but it came shaky, uneven. “Tch… idiot,” he muttered to himself, though the word lacked its usual bite.
The corner of his mouth twitched upward against his will, a small, hidden smile slipping free.
“…Maybe birthdays aren’t all bad,” he muttered under his breath,the world slowly resuming its motion around him, lips twitching into the smallest of smiles.