the cosmos taste like raspberries | haikyuu, 18+

II

You arrive at Tendou's apartment complex at 7 PM the next day, a luxurious five-story building located in the heart of the Vendôme Saint Honoré neighborhood. Both the interior and exterior of the complex resemble architecture from the Renaissance era, most likely purposeful design choices to transport locals and residents to a distant era.

You make your way up to the top floor where Tendou resides. The four golden walls of the elevator highlight its ceiling, a recreation of the ceiling at the Sistine Chapel. Stepping out of the elevator, you find yourself in a long corridor adorned with paintings of the French countryside. Once you reach the front of his residence, you knock on his dark oak doors before your interviewee opens them.

"Bienvenue!" Tendou says, stepping forward to give you a double cheek kiss. You stand there frozen still, a cute pink hue quickly tinting your cheeks. Whoa, You think to yourself, I know it's a common greeting in French culture, but that was still a shock. You notice a lingering scent of chocolate on his clothes and body. He spends so much time in his shop that he perpetually smells like the sweets he makes, You can't help but assume.

He gestures for you to enter. "This is my humble abode! Come in, make yourself at home!" You let yourself in and marvel at his magnificent living space. The interior of the apartment was a stark contrast from the rest of the complex. Inside, his walls were decorated with various memorabilia— bookcases filled with manga, walls lined with anime prints and posters, with a framed volleyball jersey at the center of it all. His apartment is the penthouse suite, which has a gorgeous balcony that overlooks the neighborhood square. It truly is a maximalist's daydream.

"Humble my ass! Mr. Tendou, this apartment is amazing," you reply back. You set up your camera and tripod across from his couch and take a seat.

"Oh, it really is no big deal!" Tendou makes his way into his kitchen but continues talking to you through the wall divider. "You came just in time! I just finished cutting up fruit for us to eat while we chat."

Tendou walks back into his living room with a bowl of mixed berries, gently placing it onto his coffee table. He then takes a seat across from you on his recliner, forming a perfect isosceles triangle between you, him, and your camera and tripod.

You lean over and grab one of the ruby berries from the bowl. "Did you know that the cosmos tastes like raspberries?" You ask, curiously examining the fruit between your index and pointer finger.

Tendou chuckles. "Is that so?" He asks as he pops one of the berries into his mouth.

"Sounds bizarre but it's true!" You reply. "In 2009, astronomers in Spain discovered a dust cloud that contained ethyl formate, the molecule that gives raspberries their flavor."

The corners of his mouth slowly rose, forming a gigantic grin. "I never took you to be such a chem nerd."

Playfully hitting his shoulder, you respond. "Oh, shut it. I actually studied chemistry in college, in addition to journalism. I've always had a natural affinity for the subject, you know?"

Tendou's smile slowly subsides, and he stares at you with an intense gaze, as if he were studying you like you're an outside hitter on an opposing team or a new frosting method he wanted to try. Immediately, it felt like you were the one being interviewed, not the other way around. "What made you stop? You know, why are you strictly doing journalism now?"

You sigh, "Well, sometimes in life you have to choose. You can have a dream, a passion, but one day it needs to be abandoned to make room for another. You get me?"

He sits back in his chair, places his hands behind his head, and nods. "So, it's your first love," He then leans forward, coming within inches from your face and whispers, "You know, volleyball was my first love?"