the cosmos taste like raspberries | haikyuu, 18+

V

"And that's all folks! Truly, Satori Tendou's story is not only one of hardwork and perseverance, but also a journey of self-love and endless discovery. It was a pleasure to have you, Mr. Tendou," you finish speaking, turning to the red head positioned directly to your right.

"Please, the pleasure was all mine," he says to you, then turns to wave and blow air kisses to the camera.

You get up from your seat and start putting your camera and tripod away. Once finished, Tendou pulls you in and wraps you between his arms for a hug. You bury your face deep into his chest and inhale his sweet, chocolatey scent.

"So," he whispers after a few moments of silence, "is this goodbye?" With your ear pressed against his chest, you hear his beat faster.

You pull away from him and stare into his eyes. "Well, it depends," you finally say.

"On?" he asks, raising his brow.

"I took your advice, you know, the one that you gave me on our second interview here at your home. I decided to go back to school," you answer.

Tendou immediately picks you up and spins you around. "That's amazing!" He sets you back down on the floor.

You continue on, "I spoke with one of my undergrad professors from university. They connected me with a chemistry professor here at Sorbonne University. I applied to do grad research under him."

"How cute!" he exclaims. "You'll have to send me pictures of you in your cute little lab coat and goggles."

Wait what? You think.

"Send pictures?" you ask once your surprise subsides. The strength of your voice is weakened by the growing weight you feel in your chest. "What do you mean?"

Tendou's shoulders sink and his face contorts to a pained expression. The corners of his mouth that are perpetually perked upwards are now downturned, forming a frown. And his eyes— those beautiful eyes that once looked like glistening gemstones— look dull. He leads you over to the couch, sitting the both of you down. He sighs, "I initially wasn't going to tell you this because I thought you were going to leave for Japan before I leave Paris, but..."

Your heart sinks to your stomach.

"I'm going to the States. As in, the United States. In two weeks to be exact."

Fuck, you think to yourself, I might just throw up about now.

Tendou continues, "A huge chocolate company there offered me a job as a consultant for their research and development team. They gave me creative freedom to curate my own line of chocolates! I'll be able to spread my sweetness to the rest of the world, not just Paris!"

As much as you wanted to cry right now, to kick and scream over how fate was a twisted and sick thing, you couldn't. Seeing the look on Tendou's face, the brightness in his eyes, the way the corners of his mouth rose to the sky, you knew that there was nothing more in the world that he wanted than this— than to spread his creations, his sweetness, his paradise to the rest of the world.

Finally, you sigh and embrace him, "I'm so proud of you, Satori." You rub your face into his shoulder. "You're gonna do big things."

He pulls back. "Hey," he whispers to you, cupping your face between his giant palms, "I'll only be gone for a year. When I come back to Paris, and I promise that I will, you'll still be here going to school. I won't be gone forever, okay?"

You place your hands on top of his and whisper back, "Okay."

The two of you proceeded to get ready for bed. That night, he clung onto you in his sleep and refused to let you go. It was quite nice.

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Two weeks quickly pass and Tendou leaves for America. The two of you share a passionate kiss at the airport terminal, reminiscent of those melodramatic, American romance films— very fitting given the situation at hand.

He holds his suitcase in one hand and envelops you with the other. "I'm gonna miss you," he says against the top of your head. You hear his voice crack just a little bit. "Promise to call me whenever you can."

You pull back to look up at him, arms still wrapped around his waist. "You're number one on my speed dial!" You say with a cheery expression, a futile attempt at hiding the dread you feel inside.

He gives you one last kiss on your forehead, before he turns around and walks away, the little swirl on the top of the back of his head disappearing into the sea of people.

Three months pass since Satori left and you finish adding the final subtitle to your documentary. You're enrolled as a grad student at Sorbonne University, pursuing a degree in chemistry with an emphasis on thermodynamics.

Initially, you and Satori uphold your promise to each other to stay in touch. But as time passes— as your classes start to increase in work, as research becomes more demanding, as his business meetings grow in frequency— the calls become more and more rare. At this point, you haven't spoken to Satori in a little over a month.

You think back to that night in Tendou's apartment, when he promised you of his return. Deep down you wanted to believe him. To believe that he would come back and everything would be the same. But your head was feeding you a different narrative.

This opportunity with the global chocolate company could easily be the springboard for Tendou's career. It could open a plethora of new doors for him— he could decide to settle in the States or move to another country altogether. Realistically, he doesn't need to come back to France. His shop is pretty much fully functioning without him; he can manage the store remotely, using Antoinette as his eyes every once in a while to ensure that everything is still running smoothly.

And even if he does come back, who's to say that everything will be the same as before he left? Who's to say that he won't leave again when a grander, more spectacular opportunity arises? Who's to say that he'll ever be content with what he's accomplished? Who's to say that he'll ever stop looking beyond the horizon, for more adventures to go on or more lives to touch?

And that's the thing with Tendou, you know that he'll never be satisfied. Someone like him— with a drive, a fire, a hunger, a passion like him— can never be satiated until he's touched the world. He won't stop until he's reached everyone through his chocolates. He'll forge on, hoping to make everyone's lives a little bit happier with his sweets. It's who he is, a kind, ever-caring soul with a fervent longing to change the world. At the end of the day, he desperately wants to fulfill this extraordinary goal of his.

Mental images flash through your head: of chocolate, of Tendou, and finally of a raspberry. A scene plays in a constant loop in your mind— that night in Tendou's apartment, when the two of you made Cosmic Delights. You remember the little joke that he made at the time, now fully comprehending its meaning.

Yes, Satori, you think to yourself. Perhaps you are the universe. Perhaps you are that star, millions of light-years away, shining light for us to admire here on Earth. But by the time it arrives, by the time our telescopes are finally able to register your light, you're already long gone. Your light is merely your surviving remnant, the only proof that a celestial body was once there. You are larger than life, constantly expanding, unphased by the meniality that occurs here on earth.

Maybe you are the universe. So tell me, Satori, was my assertion correct?

Does the cosmos taste like raspberries?

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Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I apologize if I broke your heart or made you cry. I'm considering writing a part 2 with a HAPPY, FLUFFY ending. Let me know if y'all want it. Feel free to reach out to me on Tiktok at majoringinmilfism to let me know what you thought of the fic! <3