Chapter Text
There was a chill to Tuesday morning, causing you to wear a sweatshirt to biology class. The sunrise was beautiful that morning casting pinks and yellows over campus. Students walked in silence, you one of the many.
Pushing through the classroom door you sit in the same seat as last class. The girls didn't show up this morning like usual which was odd, but nonetheless nice for you. Ushijimas timing was the same, him taking the open seat next to yours.
Class begins with the professor announcing a group project that would be due by the end of the month, three weeks from now. The guidelines are to be emailed to you by the end of the day and groups must be decided by the end of class. If there was someone who needed to be assigned group members to come see him at the end of class. Groups were required to be at least two people but no more than 4.
You think for a moment before turning to Ushijima.
He looks back at you, “I assume you would be willing to do this project with me?”
“That sounds good to me.”
The bruise today was better, the colors starting to turn a bit to show it’s trying to heal.
You slip into your desk in the chemistry classroom, returning to your seat from the week prior. You can tell Tsukishima is glancing your way as you settle in your seat, but turns away when you look in his direction.
Class begins with the professor applauding everyone’s lab work.
“So! Today we’ll work in pairs with our assigned lab partners to do some prep work for Thursday. Everyone come grab a packet and get to work!” She claps her hands together and the class begins to shuffle.
You bring your backpack over to sit in front of Tsukishima. Setting it down you turn towards him, placing your calculator, pen, and packet on the corner of his desk.
You’re sliding the cover off of your calculator when you hear him drop his phone against the desk.
His face is frozen in a state of shock, eyes wide and mouth ajar as he looks at you. His open hand hangs in the air unmoving.
You are confused for a second before you realize.
“Like my lovely bruise?” You tease him, putting your hand up to showcase the spreading brown and green colors.
He lowers his hand to the desk, his glasses sliding down his nose slightly. His eyes trace the curves of your face. Leaning forward he gently reaches out to lightly touch the bottom of your chin, turning your head to get a full view of your bruise.
Your eyes bounce between his hand and his face frantically as you don’t know what to do.
His warm fingers ignite your skin, your head swiveling slowly as the entire bruise comes into view. You avert your eyes away from his.
His eyebrows pinch together as he processes what he’s seeing.
The moment ends as quickly as it starts.
You nudge your face free of his grasp after internally screaming at the way you see him looking at you. An ounce of care coming from someone who showed you nothing but judgement was unfathomable.
“Anyways,” you start writing your name and the date on the top of the packet, attempting to end whatever that was.
Tsukishima sits there in silence, eyes lingering on you for a moment longer before following suit.
He didn’t say much for the remainder of the class. A few responses here and there to questions you ask him but otherwise you two work in silence.
Class ends and he leaves abruptly, before you even have the chance to collect your things.
…
Daichi: practice tonight at 7! Don’t be late!
Everyone acknowledges his text.
You pick out a pair of biker short length spandex, an old high school tank top and put your hair up in a ponytail. The summer sun had warmed the concrete through the day making the campus still quite warm for this late in the day. Your volleyball bag bounced on your back as you cheerfully trot to the gym.
The song in your ears made you nod your head back and forth as you approached the doors. You continue to vibe to the music as you scan in and walk to the courts.
Good vibes were the goal of today. A good practice, team building, learning to play with everyone.
Everyone.
Bokuto energetically waves at you and you wave back with both hands, one holding your phone.
You slide off one side of your headphones, “hey Bo!”
“It’s good to see you smiling today!” He sits on the floor in front of you, stretching.
You lean onto your knees to look at him as you sit on the bleachers.
“Trying to have the right mindset for today. This weekend is a big deal! Have to get a lot down today.”
“That’s true but I’m sure you’ll do great!” He hops up.
You join the huddle.
“Alright guys. Today's goal is to get in a rhythm together. As a team.” His eyes scan around the group. “Let’s all take our spots on one side and Yamaguchi will serve us the ball.”
Yamaguchi jogs over to serve and everyone takes their places.
“Let’s work on basic timing. We'll make our approaches in normal time. Got it?” Daichi calls from the back row.
You nod.
Yamaguchi serves it. The ball goes to Daichi, you run to your spot and back set it to Kuroo on the right. He hits it nicely to the other side.
Everyone joins to give a group high five, minus Tsukishima who has been avoiding all eye contact or conversation with you.
Yamaguchi serves it to you this time, you calling out that you’re not available, Kuroo covers it, setting you. You approach and hit it hard onto the other court.
“Nice set!” You high five Kuroo.
“Thanks!”
Next it goes to Bokuto, you quickly scan the guys to see who should get it. Your eyes lock with Tsukishimas, an unspoken agreement made in a moment, and you set him. The ball leaves your hands as he reaches the peak of his jump. His hand makes perfect contact with the ball, making quick contact with the court.
The breath you were holding escapes your mouth as you land. You nod, happy with that outcome. Turning to see what everyone else thought, you notice that they are all grinning at each other except Tsukishima who stands, eyes looking off towards Yamaguchi.
You look at him confused.
“Anything? Are you going to say anything or just stand there?” You raise your eyebrows, waiting for a response.
“Hello?” You say, taking a step towards him. Reaching out, you yank on his shirt sleeve.
He moves his gaze to yours, an unreadable look on his face.
“What do you want? A high five? A medal? Jeez. Just play the game.” He shakes his head, scowling at you, before turning his head back forward.
You roll your eyes, “I just want a decent ass teammate. Fuck.”
“Serves up!” Yamaguchi calls out.
He serves to Diachi, you run to cover it, pushing it hard to get across to Bokuto who is wildly jumping to hit it. It gets to him just in time.
He screams out in excitement, “yes! That's what I’m talking about!”
“Okay, now let's work on some defensive drills.” Daichi walks up to the net, instructing Kuroo and Bokuto to line up to hit. He tells you, Ushijima and Tsukishima to line up for blocking.
You sigh, trying to remind yourself about working as a team.
Lining up from left to right is Tsukishima, you, and Ushijima standing at the net, waiting for one of the two on the other side to hit it.
You turn around to look at Diachi, “I don’t see how this line-up makes sense. I'm going to create a massive hole in the block.” You motion at the height difference.
Daichi nods, “okay, then you pick a side to be on.”
You turn back around, looking at both men standing in front of you. The decision was easy. Walking to stand next to Ushijima you wait again.
Yamaguchi tosses the ball to Bokuto, you lean down listening to Ushijima count out the block timing.
Everyone jumps at once, Bokuto hitting your fingertips with the ball, it falling shortly behind you.
“This isn’t going to work.” Tsukishima turns to Daichi, displeased.
“Why not?” Diachi looks at him inquisitively.
“Every time she's part of a block she's going to be the target.”
Daichi shrugs, “probably.”
“And so I think she shouldn't do it.” He puts his hands on his hips.
You shrug, not disagreeing but also not really caring.
Diachi raises an eyebrow. “So instead of using her to be the target and therefore be able to cover her block gap, you'd rather just have her not do it? And possibly be out a setter if she covers?”
Tsukishima stands there, thinking.
“Or is it something else you're worried about?”
A blush comes over Tsukishima's ears. “I don't know what you're getting at.”
Your eyes go to Daichi, also confused at what he's getting at.
“Are you worried about her getting hurt again?” The corners of Daichis lips curl into a small smile.
Your eyes go wide before you pinch your eyebrows together and look from Daichi to Tsukishima. You hold back a chuckle.
Tsukishima's face drops, the blush on his ears spreads to his cheeks. He adjusts his glasses, glancing off.
You're starting to look around the court, noticing that nobody is saying anything but they are all looking at you and Tsukishima. You start to laugh, just a little at first but then more into a true belly laugh.
Tears well up in your eyes, “that's hilarious. Daichi, what a joke!”
Other than the sound of you laughing, the gym is silent.
Tsukishima is starting to get agitated, balling his hands into fists and clenching his jaw.
You're calming down a bit, trying to slow your breathing.
Tsukishima turns to you.
“What’s so funny?” He mumbles.
You look at him, a smug smile on your face, “to think you actually care about anyone other than yourself.”
“Is that so hard to believe?” He takes a few steps in your direction.
Bokuto and Kuroo are both eyeing you waiting to see if you need them. Guard dogs lying in wait.
“I have yet to see you give a single shit about anyone but yourself. So why would I think that you, of all people, could care? Let alone about me?” You shake your head. “I mean you did this to my face and couldn't even apologize to me.” Flashing him a smile before a scowl covers your face.
He's three steps away from you. Bokuto and Kuroo have now gone under the net and stand off to your side. Ushijima, Daichi and Yamaguchi stand on the other side of you.
Tears begin to pool in his eyes, threatening to fall with each blink.
Your face softens, “are you… crying?”
“No.” He says through his teeth.
“What is it then?” You say gently.
“I just-” a tear falls from his eyes, “I’m not good at apologizing okay? You have no idea how bad I felt when I saw you in class Tuesday. I feel horrible about leaving that bruise. I’m sorry.” He takes his glasses off and uses his shirt to wipe his eyes.
This was unexpected.
“I’m fine. My face, while it might not look fine, is. So please don’t worry about that. Let’s talk after practice okay?”
You look around to the rest of the boys.
“Shall we continue?” You scratch your head and shrug.
“Let’s get some serving in! Split up!” Daichi claps.