The Devil Who Can Stop Time: Haikyuu x Reader

Ch 5: I Speak with my Volleyball

The next few days passed in a blur for you. You worked with spiking alongside Kageyama every morning, taught Hinata how to better receive each afternoon, always leaving at 7:30PM on the dot to go home. One noticeable difference these past few days, though, was the fact that you had not spoken to Tsukishima once -- not even to tolerate him as a means to get along with Tadashi. Instead, you had spent your lunches sitting alone at your desk, making casual conversations with the girls in your class who had continued to approach you. Even when the two of you were forced to work together by the teacher, you would simply complete your half of the assignment in silence before turning back around in your seat. And it was starting to get on Tsukki's nerves.

"E-excuse me, (L/N)?" A soft voice drew your attention to one of your classmates fidgeting nervously in front of your desk. She was blushing, barely even able to meet your eye.

"Kayema-chan, right?" You smiled up at her, hoping to put her a little bit more at ease.

"O-oh, you can just call me Haruhi," she shook her head wildly, her blush growing deeper. "I-I was wondering if I could s-sit with you? I-it looked like you didn't have anyone to sit with, so I... Not that I didn't think you could find anyone to sit with-"

"I'd love to sit with you, Haru-chan," you interrupted her nervous rambling, sending her a kind smile. "I really don't have anyone to sit with, so it'd be really great if you could join me!"

Tsukishima immediately tensed upon hearing those words. Don't have anyone to sit with? You used to sit with him and Tadashi, so why were you suddenly acting like you didn't even know them? He'd teased you plenty of times before, so why were you getting so mad this time? He wasn't even really making fun of you this time, he was making fun of that damn King! So why?!

"(L/N)!" He called out, his eyes dark as he stared at his desk.

You glanced over with a frown. "Sorry, Haru-chan, could you give me a moment?" You asked the girl. She nodded immediately, as if saying no would be a great offense. You turned to face Tsukishima. In an instant, the warmth in your eyes had completely disappeared, replaced with a cold indifference instead. "Yes?" Your voice sent a chill down his spine. Had you always been this scary? He had really only ever seen you as nothing more than a harmless little mouse. Suddenly, he started to feel a bit worried about the match on Saturday.

"Would you quit sulking like a little kid?" He hissed. "Are you really so childish that you won't even talk to me?"

"Is that all?" There was that cold voice again. Why was it so intimidating? You didn't even stand at his shoulders! So why did he feel like he should be afraid right now? "I already told you before. I'll be saying everything I need to on the volleyball court. Sorry if that's not convenient for you, but I guess you'll just have to wait until Saturday for an answer."

You turned back around, not even giving the poor boy a chance to respond. "Sorry about that, Haru-chan," you grinned at the girl, your soft warmth returned as though it never left. It was strange. You felt almost like the sun, that smile of yours giving off a radiance that just drew people to you. Tsukki hadn't even realized that he'd managed to grow accustomed to that warmth in such a short span of time, but right now, he suddenly felt like he was trapped in a cave. He didn't like being isolated from your sunny nature. And even more than that, he hated that he didn't like it. Since when was he such a softie?

You were true to your word. You continued that way all the way up until Saturday finally came.

---

"Morning!" You called to Suga as you joined him by his side to watch the two practicing their receives back and forth. "You know, Hinata seems to have improved a lot, thanks to you. Thank you for helping him so much, by the way," you bowed your head a bit to the upperclassman.