Chapter Text
Kei Tsukishima is an average type of volleyball player. Average exam results, regular workouts; on top of that, he was a pretty decent blocker in matches as well.
So what made him stand out?
What made him get obscure stares whenever he went out to hang out with Yamaguchi—or when he was strolling around in the school halls? Was it his height? Was it the fact that he was able to block one of Ushiwaka’s gruesome spikes back at that game?
It’s just a game.
That’s what he always reminded himself. Every single player around him, every tiny move—it always made him remember that matches weren’t that much of a big deal, at least in that moment whenever he jumps to block a shot. In conclusion, perhaps his blocks or the points he got once in a while weren’t the deal.
“..Yeah! What do you think—uh, Tsukki?”
“You’ve kinda been staring at the wall for a while now. Aren’t you planning to get dressed?”
Yamaguchi’s words and the tiny nervous chuckle that came out of his mouth made Tsukishima come to his senses. How long has he been glancing on the wall with his uniform in his hands, top-naked?
Right, he was in the boys’ changing room with Daichi and Yamaguchi after their practice session. The others had already left, he didn’t know where, but he somehow had a feeling that they were all waiting for him to finish getting dressed.
“..Sorry.”
The moment that word escaped his mouth, albeit faintly, Yamaguchi’s eyes grazed Daichi’s. It was confusing, how Tsukishima didn’t even bat an eye on them after that and quickly put his after-practice shirt on before leaving the room.
“Something’s off with him.” It was almost like Daichi wasn’t even wasting a second to speak up.
“Off—who? Oh, Tsukki?”
“Apologies are.. not his type of thing, usually, you feel me?”
A wave of silence spread between them for a millisecond, as if they were both trying to address the unclarified issue. Daichi was the first one to break the quiet wall, simultaneously reaching for the doorknob to step outside. His voice was lower this time, not wanting to take the risk of Tsukishima hearing him from out of the room.
“Just make sure to keep an eye on him, Tadashi. I know you know him better than anyone else,”
was the reassurement he gave him with that soothing smile of his before joining the others. It wasn’t long before Yamaguchi followed up, catching up with the others as well.
Loud chatters were stuffing up his mind, especially Hinata’s voice, while the group was having a stroll outside together. The weather was definitely hot enough to be walking around with shirts on in the night sky, despite the light cooling air that hit their faces every once in a while.
They seemed to be having fun considering how they still kept up with their conversation—from the changing room to the convenience store’s street, Tsukishima thought. Just as he was wondering how a chitchat could possibly be this entertaining, he figured out the reason. Oh boy, he didn’t wanna imagine how much more hungry this pack of wolves could get.
“And off to our king Tobio, my man, use your wits to the fullest and give us your glorious suggestion for tonight’s dinner!”
Lord, Nishinoya was obnoxiously loud. Hell, why are you even interviewing people for this?
“How about rice with—”
Kageyama’s hand had already struck Hinata across the face before he could finish his words.
“Pork katsu curry.”
“You’ve been eating pork curry for the past three days!”
Hinata managed to get rid of the hand on his face before complaining against the suggestion. Tanaka jumped in, which didn’t go unnoticed by Sugawara who wasn’t gonna let this go so easily.
“We should just get melonpan, man, why are we sweating over this so much?”
“You literally consume melonpan for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No wonder why those neurons don’t work for English literature.”
“Sugawara—I’m not sure if you’re one to talk here. If you guys are really eager to get a full menu for yourselves, ask the coach to take us to a luxury restaurant after a match. Not that he would pay any mind to kids who can’t even get 2 points in a row and end up with a million deuces in a single match.”
“Daichi, dude, that was just practice—” Nishinoya tried to barge in, only to get cut off.
“Alright, to Sakanoshita Market! Let your coach treat you to fresh onigiris tonight, if he is nice enough, that is.” Daichi murmured the last part, his smug look still not leaving his face.
“Feeling up to it, Kei?”
That was the second sentence directed to him which made him return to reality today. Hinata—no, it was Yamaguchi who nudged him on the shoulder with a light smile. He was so used to the ginger’s bothersome gestures that he didn’t even expect Tadashi to be the one speaking up.
“Don’t.. do that.”
The request made him somewhat confused, Tadashi tilted his head reflexively before he got enlightened.
“Kei? I thought calling you something different would lighten up the mood, sorry!”
He let out that signature little anxious chuckle of his, the smile on his face fading away not so long after. Although he had noticed Tsukishima’s steps getting sloppier, especially these past days; he decided to keep quiet about it and match his pace whenever these small limps occurred.
It was almost like the elevated sounds of the team blended into the air as they slowly fell behind the group while walking. Tadashi decided it was time for him to speak.
“Does it.. make you uncomfortable?”
The blond frowned lightly before replying, thinking about how obvious his answer is.
“You’ve been calling me ‘Tsukki’ since elementary school, Tadashi. I’m pretty sure it isn’t so strange that I got weirded out when you suddenly switched it out—”
“I meant, like, when we go out to eat with the team.”
This was surely what Daichi meant by keeping an eye on him, right?
Hopefully it was, because the silence that had been awfully increased right after the correction made him rather stressed. Was it a mistake to ask him this? Was this why Tsukishima started talking to him less day by day—
“It doesn’t.”
“Unless you know me better than I do. Bet you’re artsy when it comes to discussing me with others.”
He spoke with pure confidence, as they then stepped foot into the convenience store—even though they were late, considering the fact that the others had already picked out their food and some even started eating.
“That wasn’t what I meant, Tsukki!”
Coach Ukai seemed to be arranging some of the packaged food in the fridge before he glanced over to them.
While he was at it, he tossed two onigiris right at Tsukishima. Thank god Hinata’s ball boy degree in the training camp had taught him how to catch stuff when thrown at his face.
“Get yourselves filled up, you two. But be quick, I ain’t planning on extending my work hours just for you careless unpunctual teens.”
He scoffed with a grin to himself before going back to arranging shelves. Tsukishima passed one of the onigiris to Tadashi before removing the plastic wrapper off his own. Staring down at the rice ball for a moment, he then took a small bite of it.
“Do you not wanna sit down? I think Hinata saved that seat next to him for me—”
“You go on. I’ll see you later.”
It was as if he was actually fond of making rapid maneuvers. God, he could at least be a little nice and tell the others good night!
“Are you not gonna—”
“Tell them I said good night.”
He said while stepping out the market with his onigiri in his hand which was lowered now, giving the impression that he was done with his food. It was silent between them once again before Tadashi called out to him.
“Tsukki.”
He turned his head back, a light hum escaping his lips.
“Make sure to take another bite, okay? Good—good night.”
He shot him a light smile before quickly rushing to the table Hinata’s sitting at. Tsukishima’s eyes remained on them for a tiny while before he stepped out of the store fully. He started walking towards the direction of his house, the rice ball swinging back and forth in his hand.
Stars were shining in the dark summer sky as he counted his steps. He wondered what those stars had accomplished to be recognized by the people around them. Were they actually that special, or what is just that they were born with a feature which made them stand out?
He then repeated Tadashi’s words in his mind, with only his own thoughts wandering around his head and no one else disturbing him. This was the silence Tsukishima had earned in return for a full day of chatterboxes around him.
“Make sure to take another bite, okay?”
Raising his hand up that was holding the onigiri again, he glanced at the bitten part. The rice was kinda bland, and store-bought onigiris surely couldn’t outdo the freshly made ones in festival stands. It had been a long time since he last went to a festival, though. Perhaps he should ask Tadashi sometime.
At least the coach gave him a crab flavoured one instead of salmon. He doesn’t recall ever telling him his preference about rice balls, but who even would pay mind to that, he thought.
The seaweed around it, though, looked strangely appetizing for a market onigiri.
Is it hunger, or does he just want to keep himself busy with something?
“Make sure to take another bite, okay?”
He took another bite.
After all, one extra bite wouldn’t hurt anyone. Maybe two, which would turn to a three right after. It’s not like Kei Tsukishima was doing this just because one of the people he’s closest to told him to do so. He had his own will.
Kei Tsukishima has his own will. And right now, that will was being used to the fullest only to savour the flavour of a convenience store onigiri.
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