clear skies and warm pies

how would one describe this alien feeling?

*Tanaka POV*

Today’s practice wore me out. My back ached and I could feel a bruise forming on my thigh from 'rolling thunder'ing wrong. The cold shower did feel refreshing tho.

I sneaked a glance at y/n chan. She walked timidly beside me. Silence was comfortable. Moreover I wasn’t sure of how to break it. We usually went out with other people so I felt slightly awkward. I didn’t know much about her .

'Kawaii desu' I thought as she picked an imaginary dusty bunny. Was it a nervous tick? Was I making her nervous?

It didn’t matter because we got to the ice cream parlor and we could always just talk over ice cream.

“Hai", I exclaimed “this isn’t very famous but they have pretty unique stuff"

“I’ve never been here before", she said lost in thought.

“Daijoub daijoub let’s go inside" I said and walked in.

The lighting was soft and it was mostly empty. It was a small shop with rustic and traditional décor. Cosy almost. Nii chan used to bring me in when I’d had a particularly bad day or when I wont stop annoying her.

I greeted the old lady at front as she asked after Saeko and my practice. I then introduced y/n to the lady and they started talking about the flowers out front.
As their conversation died down, I asked for some chocolate and blueberry scoops and since y/n wasn’t sure what’d she like she asked for the same.

“ano Obaachan could you do cat ears on the cone?” I asked a little embarrassed remembering how y/n liked animals and they did really cute faces on food here.

I could feel my ears heat up as y/n eyes sparkled with excitement over the cute neko ears and eyes molded out of icecream and drawn over with syrup. I handed her the cones and saw her panic to get to her wallet but I tsked in response

“Leave it to your Senpai" I exclaimed.

She blushed a deep scarlet and for a second I wondered what it would feel like to see her this flustered under other circumstances.

I cleared my throat hoping to clear my head of weird thoughts too and quickly paid the bill.

Stepping out, the breeze was light. Tho cold enough to make ice cream feel forbidden.

I cleared my throat again as I sneaked a glance at y/n trying to clean her fingers, now stained with ice cream.

"Thanks for tossing me the ball" I mumbled.

She smiled at me "thanks for the ice cream Senpai"

I beamed at 'senpai'

"I'll take you out for ice cream everyday if you call me senpai" I boasted

"Hai!" She exclaimed a little too fast.

Her place wasn't too far and soon we reached it. I was happy since it was getting windy and I wanted to catch up on some volleyball match tapes too.

I was trying to remember which tape I was supposed to watch when y/n took a step towards me and exclaimed
"Senpai, here!" she thrust something towards me and I guess we were a little too close since she managed to punch me in the gut. Well its wasnt anything like being punched by a punk but I let out a surprised grunt.

"I'm sorry oh mygod imsosorrySenpai" she began chanting

To put her at ease I  laughed it off saying I was quite alright just surprised.

As I began to inspect what she'd thrust towards me, she asked me to do it when I was alone. I agreed and thanked her wholeheartedly, even more intrigued now.

She hurried inside and saying goodnight and I turned to go home.

I opened my palm to see a bag charm with a tasteful volleyball and my Jersey number imprinted on it.

I stood staring at it a while and for once could not understand how to form words.