The Moon's Redamancy In Fall [Tsukishima x Yamaguchi]

twenty-two.

Tsukishima

"Kei! Get the door for me, please!" My mom called out from the kitchen, she was already making dinner and it wasn't even past five.

I didn't exactly know why I was so annoyed and irritated by everything, I didn't even notice that I had been scribbling on my notebook for about two hours now, I growled, "Akiteru-san! Get the damn door,"

Akiteru rolled his eyes as he laid down on the sofa, "Why won't you get it?" He taunted, emphasizing the word you in an annoying manner as he quirked an eyebrow at me, "Aren't you excited that Tadashi-kun's coming over?" He lets out a low chuckle.

"Tch. Shut up," I grumbled, darting my eyes away from him and deciding to scroll through my phone even though I had already scrolled through it by the past two minutes.

Akiteru snickered, "You're too obvious," He huffed, standing up to his feet from the cushion, I gave him a puzzled, perplexed look.

What the hell is he even saying?

What? Too obvious? Of what?

"You're jealous of that new manager of your club, are you?"

What?

My nose scrunched up in anger, my brows almost connecting in the middle from how deep my furrow was, I barked, "What?"

Akiteru trotted towards the hallway, laughing like a fucking donkey, my blood boiled from how annoying he was, "What the fuck are you talking about?" I exclaimed, bolting up from my seat, not bothering if my mom could've heard it.

"Kei! Your words!" My mom's voice was in a hushed tone as she peeked from the entrance of the kitchen.

How annoying.

I rolled my eyes before crossing my arm in front of me, "Tch," I replied with as much dignity as I could muster.
God. They're so annoying.

I couldn't be more thankful that Akihiro's not here. He's probably out in a pub getting his greasy ass drunk. I would probably even pray that he wouldn't come back. After all, he's nothing but just a burden while mom works her shit off, even on weekends.

Of course, up until now, I still couldn't accept the fact that he's around this household. We never even talk a single word. If he tries to speak to me, I'll just ignore or walk pass him.

He's not even worth my time. Akiteru and Akihiro had been catching up lately which makes me annoyed because Akiteru is just tolerating his bullshit.

He was a drunkard, plain and simple. His breakfast was whiskey with a rum chaser. He was slurring his words by lunchtime and passed out by the afternoon. What little food he ate was in the form of chips and cold wieners from a jar. But I couldn't care less. It's my mom's fault for keeping him in.

After a while, Yamaguchi came from the hallway with his wide, dorky ass smile- Oh, he's wearing the scarf I gave- I mean, my mom gave him.

The scarf had been such a simple gift and at the time that's all it was, a scarf. It probably cost just a few
yens. It wasn't anything fancy, just a rectangle of red checkered yarn.

Even the knit was too perfect to be hand-made, it had been churned out of a machine with a thousand just like it, yet, Yamaguchi wore it like it's the only scarf that's ever made just for him. He owned it.

His hair was flat against his head, his cheeks flaming with red and to his nose, as his freckles danced within. It must be really cold outside.

"Hey, Tsukki," Yamaguchi smiled, as he held on the strap of his bag, tightly.

I blinked, "Your bento box is in the kitchen, you should take it and leave immediately," I mumbled, averting my eyes away from him and striding to the kitchen.

Yamaguchi didn't move and stood there, "Oh, okay," I heard him, almost like a whisper.

I paused and spoke again, "I-I mean . . . You should go home immediately because it's already late," I soothe the conversation. I didn't want to sound too mean.

As expected from Yamaguchi, he had this happy, high pitched voice, "Okay, Tsukki!" He chirped, happily obliging as he followed me from behind.

The kitchen was filled with whatever dishes my mom was cooking. As Yamaguchi and I entered, my mom immediately fixed her gaze on us, giving her attention towards us, her eyes gleamed by the sight of Yamaguchi.

"Oh, Tadashi you're here!" She sighed in relief, patting her hands dry on the apron she wore in front of her.

My mom strode at the middle of the room to reach for the bento box that's neatly prepared on top of the table, "Thank you for coming all the way!" She gave him a smile and handed over the bento box.

"It's no problem, Kaori-san, thank you for this!" Yamaguchi had this broad grin on his face, it's like it's always there.

He's not afraid of showing his emotions as he do it so carefree. The greatest thing about him is that his emotional warmth, isn't a flaw, it's a floor. It's the bedrock of who he was, of the person who he was born to be.

Yamaguchi is soft and vulnerable, wearing his heart beneath his sleeves, and for me, it takes strength to do that.

When anxiety and fear grab me by the tongue and dry my mouth, I don't panic anymore. I've been there before, I know the feeling, and knowing it makes it less scary.

That night . . .

That night I cried like a baby on Yamaguchi's shoulder, my guts couldn't even take it as I recalled a few blurry memories of it. I was crying, helplessly, in front of him, yet he did not say a word about it because I know he's scared for me to remember all of it.

I didn't want to remember it, too. It was good that I was drunk because I didn't remember some of it, but the feeling of it stayed. All I knew was that my chest felt heavy, and I never felt that way in so long. It was so heavy, to the point that I had difficulty in breathing.

But it felt good afterwards.

It felt like I had been transcended from a lifetime suffering. I tried not to succumb, but the time felt right of breaking down. After all, that night was definitely hectic. I still could not mentally grasp it. It kind of felt embarrassing.

"I gotta get home, Kaori-san. It's already getting dark," Yamaguchi bowed his head, as he hold onto the bento box wrapped in a baby-blue cloth.

I wonder where those printed cloth are, I kind of liked it. Especially the Totoro one. I shouldn't have gave it to Hinata and Kageyama.

My mom placed the salmon down the counter, "Well, then, why won't you let Kei walk you for a few blocks?" She gave Yamaguchi a genuine smile, but switching her face into a stern, forced smile as she peered over me.

"No," I quickly implied.

She placed her hand on her hip and squinted her eyes at me and then back to Yamaguchi, "He's walking you," My mom insisted as she nod her head towards Yamaguchi.

I sighed, "Mom," I whined, in an aggravated tone. I would walk him but it's too cold outside.

"Put your jacket on and walk him. Do not argue with me, Kei," She warned, walking towards Yamaguchi.

Of course. She read me.

My mom's eyes widens as she noticed the scarf wrapped twice around Yamaguchi's neck, "Oh! You wore the scarf Kei gave you! You know, Kei was the one who wanted to buy you-" And then of course, the babbling starts.

Nope. Not gonna happen.

I cut my mom off in an instant, "All right, that's enough. Let's go Yamaguchi," I groaned, storming my way out of hell.

I heard Yamaguchi giggle, "Okay, Tsukki! I'll see you again, Mrs. Tsukishima! Thank you for the bento box!"

As soon as I put on my jacket, we immediately left the house. I have underestimated the cold tonight, not like me at all, and I can’t run with this load to warm. I’m marching but the night air is wicking my heat away faster than my body can replace it.