Chapter Text
Tendou Satori had high hopes for his first day of high school. A new year, a new school, a new crowd, a fresh start. He was almost jittery with excitement.
He grinned as he stepped into the main hall, eyes wide as he took in the many students milling about as they waited for the bell. This place was huge. He wanted to explore it all, especially the gym. He'd already signed up for the volleyball club, and he couldn't wait to meet his teammates and start practicing. As he started walking towards the classroom, he noticed the glances he was getting from the other students. Some would look away when he turned to smile a greeting. Others just stared blankly, and the weight of their gaze quickly began to make Tendou uncomfortable.
Then he heard the whispering.
“Red eyes?”
“Creepy…”
“At least his eyes match his hair.”
“What a weird looking guy.”
“-like a monster.”
Tendou’s steps came to a halt at that last comment, staring down at the floor as memories from middle school flooded his mind.
“You can't join our team,” one boy said, hands on his hips as he sneered at Tendou. “You look like a monster.”
The hopeful smile that Tendou had been wearing dropped from his face at the cruel words. A monster? Him? He just wanted to play with the other kids! What was wrong with that?
“Yeah,” another boy chimed in, tucking the worn volleyball underneath his arm. “Your hair is weird and your eyes aren't… normal. Monsters can't join human teams.”
Tendou took a step back, blinking in confusion and hurt. He knew that having red eyes was different , but he had thought that it made him unique; that it was cool and made him special. His hair, though, he hadn't thought it was too weird. Lots of people had red hair. He wasn't a monster.
Right?
“O-okay,” he mumbled, trying to smile and brush off the boy's words, but he could feel tears behind his eyes, and his throat was tight. “I guess… I guess, uhm, I'll play another day.” He spun on his heel, his back ramrod straight as he made for the gym doors, trying valiantly to keep his composure when the muttered words of the first boy reached him.
“Don't bet on it, weirdo.”
Tendou froze, hand on the cool metal of the door, eyes wide and his chest tight.
Weirdo.
Monster.
Tendou’s fingers tightened on his backpack straps until his knuckles turned white. He forced himself to continue walking, eyes trained on the tiled floor as he tried to keep his breathing regular.
High school was supposed to be different. He'd been so ready to meet nice people, to make friends. He felt weighted down with the realization that it probably wasn't going to be any different than middle school.
He pushed the door to his first class open, avoiding looking at any other students in the room as he headed to a chair in the back. He took out his books, glancing at the clock above the blackboard, willing time to move faster.
The day had just barely begun and already he wished it was over.
•○●○•
Lunch time saw Tendou sitting alone. He had attempted to join several groups of students, wishing to be a part of their laughing and talking, but when he slowed by their tables they would give him a look, a silent but clear no, you can't sit with us. So he smiled as if it didn't bother him and walked on until he found an abandoned table. He set aside his lunch tray as he no longer had an appetite, and bent over to rifle through his bag for the manga he had brought. He immersed himself in the story, paying no attention to anyone around him, and in doing so, failed to notice someone taking a seat on the bench opposite him.
“Hello.”
Tendou jolted, heart in his throat as his head snapped up and his eyes caught those of a tall, dark-haired boy.
“I'm Ushijima Wakatoshi,” the boy greeted in a voice that seemed way too deep for a high schooler. He stuck out a hand, and Tendou slowly took it, giving it a gentle shake.
“Tendou Satori,” he replied, retracting his hand. Ushijima nodded before looking down and taking a bite of his meal.
Tendou wasn’t really sure what was happening, and he began to feel more and more awkward with each passing moment, though Ushijima didn't seem bothered by the silence.
“So…” Tendou wracked his brain for something to break the ice, but his thoughts tripped over each other when Ushijima looked up at him again, his brown eyes weirdly intense. “Uh, you a first year?”
“Yes.”
Apparently he wasn't much of a talker, so the conversation was up to Tendou. He found that he really didn't mind, though; he was just happy that this guy didn't seem bothered by his appearance. There was no judgment in Ushijima’s expression, instead his face was blank but open. Tendou felt like he could relax around this guy, and immediately opened up.
“I'm a first year too, so maybe we can help each other out sometime, or whatever. Hey! Are you gonna join any clubs?”
“Volleyball.”
“Really? Me too!” Tendou leaned over, propping his elbows on the table top and resting his chin on his palm. “What position are you hoping for?”
Ushijima’s eyes had widened a fraction in surprise before returning to normal, but he also leaned slightly closer, dark eyes sparking with interest. “Wing spiker,” he replied. Tendou whistled, impressed.
“I'm not sure what I'm going for, but I think blocking is really cool. It must feel awesome to just smack down an opponent's ball! So maybe I'll try for middle blocker, then.”
“That is a good position,” Ushijima said whilst nodding, and his approval of the choice was already making Tendou feel lighter, happiness swelling in his chest.
“Right? So I guess I'll see you at practice later!” Tendou enthused. He was nearly bouncing in his seat at the prospect of having his new friend as a teammate.
“Okay.”
Tendou smiled widely, standing up and holding out a fist, “We're going to be great friends, Wakatoshi, I know it!”
Ushijima gently bumped his fist against Tendou’s, the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips, and suddenly Tendou’s day had gotten so much brighter.