Chapter Text
The day Semi Eita confesses his feelings for Shiratorizawa’s own redheaded guess monster is the day that all hell will break loose. Semi doesn’t want that, and even though he may not be the brightest in terms of school smarts, he has enough common sense to figure out that the easiest way to solve his problem is to pretend that there is no problem. In fact, there wasn’t a problem at all until nationals, when Tendou holds Semi’s hand for a little longer than he needs to when Semi’s taking his spot on the court (Tendou never has been the best at serving anyways). Semi figures it boils down to nothing more than a silent passage of luck from one teammate to another, but the feeling of Tendou’s warm- albeit sweaty- hand on his own is not lost upon him. It’s not Semi’s nerves that get the best of him; he got over being scared of messing up a long time ago. But his stomach is still fluttering from the prolonged contact with Tendou and he blames not being able to focus properly on that. Semi serves the ball nonetheless, since he knows the court is no place for personal affairs and this is the finals for God’s sake, and it goes straight to Karasuno’s ace. A volley begins, Goshiki claims the point after a fierce smackdown, and he hears everyone in the Shiratorizawa section cheering the first year on.
Semi only really cares about the actions of one particular middle blocker. His heart soars when he sees Tendou standing on the sidelines, screaming and wildly gesticulating about like a five- year- old who just convinced his parents to buy him ice cream. That’s one thing that Semi loves about Shiratorizawa: everyone on the team is ridiculously supportive of every member. They all feel like a family- except Shirabu, screw Shirabu- and Semi is extremely glad that he gets to be a part of something so great. It’s a love for volleyball and his team- and, okay, a little crush on Tendou- that keeps Semi going every day. He only wishes he was strong enough to confront his feelings like he knows Tendou would- which, now, it seems like he’s going to. Notorious for falling for people fast, he appears to have a crush on none other than Ushijima Wakatoshi.
To put things bluntly, this really pisses Semi off. He’s seen the signs. Tendou is even more talkative and persistent than usual with Ushijima, probably trying to get him to open up or show some emotion for once. Semi silently curses to himself and wishes that he had closed himself off from Tendou like Ushijima does so that the idiot would have reason to talk to him. Semi and Tendou had kicked off a natural friendship from the first day they met, and although that shouldn’t be thought of as unfortunate, Semi almost regrets it. Perhaps this is the consequence of having been friends since they were first years- it is very possible that Tendou is growing bored of Semi. Tendou is a constantly changing person and maybe he needs something different than the same old Semi every single day. Ushijima is a mystery, and likely quite a fun one at that, and Semi knows Tendou’s going to have quite an interesting time solving the puzzle that is Shiratorizawa’s beloved ace.
One day, Semi can’t help but overhear a conversation between the two at lunch break. He’s sitting at a table with Reon and Hayato who are having their own conversation while Semi zones out and stares blankly at the wall behind Reon’s head.
“Ushijima! You just got out of English study, right? How was it? Are you good? Can you speak it fluently yet? I can! I love English! It’s my favorite class and the teacher is really great, isn’t he? Man, it’s the only thing I look forward to besides volleyball practice with you every day!”
The subtle flirt does not go unseen by Semi. He clenches his fist and tries to ignore the pounding in his chest and the whispers of hurt and betrayal running through his head. Tendou gets nothing but a “it’s pretty good” in response from Ushijima, but he is undeterred as he presses on.
“Yeah, no, I really love it. You should learn it more so we can have whole conversations! But for now I’ll continue to take pleasure in talking about all of you behind your back. For example.” Tendou clears his through dramatically. “I know you’re hearing all of this, Eita- kun. You’re a shit- eating eavesdropper.”
Semi’s eyes widen as he hears his name, the only thing he recognizes from the English phrase. He hears Hayato laugh.
“He just called you a shit- eating eavesdropper, Semi- san.”
Semi turns around to see a wild glint in Tendou’s eye.
“I’ll smack a volleyball into your face at practice today and then I’ll see you eat shit, Satori.”
“Thanks for the warning, Semisemi! I’ll be on the lookout.” Tendou winks and turns back to Ushijima who has a slightly more intrigued look on his face now that volleyball has been mentioned. Semi can feel the happiness practically radiating off of Tendou now that he has Ushijima’s attention and with a sigh he tries to ignore the one- sided conversation continuing behind him.
Semi’s actually pretty sure Tendou is convinced that he likes Hayato. There’s particular reason since there isn’t any, but that confident bastard doesn’t need reason behind his “logic.” Semi laughs to himself at the irony behind Tendou being unable to read basic feelings and making a fool out of himself every single day. It’s endearing though, Semi admits, as most things about Tendou are.
He’s saying something about French fries to Ushijima now and a pang of jealousy smacks Semi across the face once more. I’d talk to you about French fries or English or anything else for that matter as long as you’re talking to me and not some stupid big ace dude person who doesn’t even care because he’s not interested in you and I hope you realize this banter is pointless and also I really hope that you know your food is looking absolutely fantastic right now and it’s a shame you’re not eating it because I’m about to take DAMN IT Tendou don’t you smack my hand away from your food I want your food I’ll smack YOU oh God I didn’t mean to smack you that hard and okay now you’re throwing your food at me that is FANTASTIC thank you oh yes Hayato please get into this food fight too we’re gonna kick their asses except maybe not because I forgot how powerful mister super big ace dude is and there is absolutely no way that can be Washijou he NEVER comes in here to get food oh my GOD it is him guys please stop
Semi, Tendou, Ushijima, and Hayato are in deep shit. Reon isn’t in deep shit because he is an innocent bystander. Good old Reon. Semi would actually be in a fairly lighthearted mood right now except Washijou is pissed. Actually, he’s beyond pissed. Semi knows this because the four of them are not being yelled at and instead are victims of the Death Stare. Seriously, it’s terrifying. Semi is not scared of much besides the dark and cockroaches, but this, this takes the cake.
Washijou keeps looking at all of them (except Reon, Reon is pardoned and is sitting in the corner, awkwardly scrolling through something on his phone) and it’s like he has nothing to say, which would make sense, because why in the world would four of his well- disciplined volleyball team members be doing something as childish as throwing food at each other. Okay, three. Washijou would expect behavior like this from Tendou.
Well, there go all my chances at ever being a starter on the team again, thinks Semi forlornly. He’s so engrossed in a plan to somehow get Shirabu into a food fight- that doesn’t involve himself, obviously, he’s been in enough trouble- that he doesn’t notice Washijou finally clear his throat and reel off their punishment. Probably serves. I don’t mind that.
“What the hell do you mean it’s not serves?” whines Semi. He’s walking with Tendou back to their dorm building after having departed from Washijou’s office. It’s a nice day outside and Semi’s looking up at the puffy white clouds in the otherwise clear blue sky and trying to figure out their shapes.
“What do you mean ‘what the hell do I mean?’ I mean we don’t have to do serves as a punishment. I literally just said that, Semisemi,” Tendou exclaimed.
“It’s always serves though!” retorted Semi. “And stop calling me that.” He secretly loves the nickname, but Tendou can’t ever know that. It’s reverse psychology. “Baseball bat,” he says, pointing at one particularly long and skinny cloud.
“Yeah, well, you have no room to complain. You started it, Semisemi.” Tendou grins. “Plus, I actually kind of like running. It’s freeing, you know? Like, I can feel all the wind blowing on my face when I go fast enough and I can think about whatever I want! Also, that’s clearly a snake.”
“You cannot think about whatever you want. Don’t you go forgetting about the time you literally ran into a bench because you were so deep in thought about whether the universe has edges or not. Baseball bat,” he adds at a second thought.
“Eita- kun, I can think about whatever I want, whenever I want and there is no bench or simple- minded running buddy who can stop me.” Tendou points towards the heavens at a large cloud. “Dragon.”
“That’s a pretty badass dragon,” admits Semi. “Wait, did you call me simple- minded?! I am not!”
“Are too.” Tendou laughs as they approach the dorm building. “And this is where we part ways, my dearest Semisemi. Will you be able to survive without me?”
“Satori, I’m seeing you in 30 minutes for our punishment.”
“30 minutes is a long time to be apart. I’m really not sure you’ll make it.”
Semi rolls his eyes. “I’ll make it. The real question is if I’ll be mentally prepared to see you again so soon.”
Tendou puts a hand to his heart and grimaces dramatically. “Such harsh words, Eita- kun… such harsh words. You don’t talk to Hayato like that, do you?” he whines.
“Hayato’s not an ass.”
“Language!”
Semi squints up at Tendou. “Says you,” he retorts. “Anyways, we do really have to go, I gotta change and get my shit together before we have to run for 10 miles of sweat, abstract thoughts about the universe, and undeniably sore legs for the next few days. I’ll see you, Satori.” There’s an edge to his words, but Semi doesn’t really mean it all that harshly.
“See ya, Semisemi~!”
Semi climbs up the flight of stairs inside the lobby and walks down the hall to his shared room with Hayato. His roommate isn’t there, maybe either getting food elsewhere in replacement of his lunch or already at the gym warming up for their run. Semi tosses on shorts and a plain t-shirt, grabs a water bottle from his mini fridge, and replaces his phone with a small music player and some headphones. I guess at least this run will prepare me for walking across my soon- to be- college campus? At least I know I’ll be able to outrun any scary college people who try anything on me.
These pathetic reassurances don’t do much to help Semi get in the right mindset for a workout, but it does set him thinking on college and his options. He’s deeply enthralled in these thoughts of the future for most of the run, and he pays no attention to Tendou’s taunts and challenges since he’s not really in the mood for a race right now (especially since he knows Tendou would beat him easily). Even so, he doesn’t think anything could make him miss the sight of Tendou running straight into a fire hydrant- likely lost as deep in thought as Semi himself was- and tripping head over heels into the street, directly into the path of a bicyclist who can’t seem to stop herself in time. Luckily, there’s plenty of people in the street who see the accident and someone ends up calling an ambulance. To Semi’s disappointment, he can’t ride in the ambulance as he’s done in the past when Tendou’s been reckless, so he takes his own car over to the hospital. He’ll be okay, Semi reasons. I don’t even want to count how many times he’s been to the hospital in all the years I’ve known him and he’s always been okay.
Semi’s sitting in the waiting room for a while, leafing through his various college acceptance letters mindlessly. Naturally, college is the last thing on his mind right now. Semi passes time by reading the magazines on the table beside him, listening to every single song he has on his music player, and chatting with Tendou’s parents.
It must have been hours before he finally sees the familiar face of his idiot teammate again when his head pops out sideways from the doorway. He gives his visitor a sheepish grin, then steps all the way out so Semi can see the damage. Which, he has to admit, really isn’t all that bad at first glance. Tendou’s right wrist is wrapped up in a bright red cast and he has small bandages all over his scraped legs, but other than that, no damage is visible. He learns later from a nurse that Tendou also has a concussion from hitting his head on the pavement in the initial fall. He can’t participate in sports involving the use of his wrist until the cast is off and he’s going to stay in the hospital for a few days just to make sure that everything’s going to be okay with his head.
After saying goodbye to Tendou and his parents with a promise to come over for dinner one more time, Semi gets in his car and drives back home. He throws all the college letters on his bed and picks up the one that lands on his pillow.
Guess I’m going to Kyoto.