Moonlight

Chapter 9

"They were calling us flightless, Akane-san! You know how it hurts our pride!", Tanaka yapped about with his emotions flowing out with every story he told.

"Asahi-san had been gossiped as being used in gangs, offering illegal substances down the street, and the like!", Sugawara laughed alongside Daichi as they recalled the moment for Akane. Poor Asahi could only blush and look away, muttering an 'It's just my look.'

"Akane-san! It was soo big!" Hinata opened his arms wide and looked up at Akane with glimmers in his eyes, "And it smelled like Salonpas!"

Akane had rested Tsukishima's headphones as she opted to initiate a conversation with the team. It took 15 minutes of silence before she asked a simple, "How was Inter-high?" which bloomed into the now chattering group.

"Asahi-san was like boom, and then whoosh!" Hinata continued on to his story, energetically reenacting the action. Akane could only chuckle at the small ball of energy.

"Speak Japanese, idiot." Tsukki muttered earning a laugh from Akane. Hinata only grunted at his tall classmate then proceeded to another flow of story.

Tsukishima glanced at Akane and smiled as he fixed his glasses. He was glad to see her opening up with others slowly. If only he could hold a conversation the way the others did. He looked at everyone who were brightly smiling at the different conversations they had (except for Kageyama who was silently listening to everyone, as usual).

Sugawara, noticing the internal turmoil of his kohai, smiled and said, "You know, Tsukishima. First step to a friendship is to have a conversation. Now I know you usually have banters with her when her tongue's sharp, but Akane is a person who needs communication. Talk with her if you're so rooted on your ground just looking at us exchanging stories around her. She doesn't know that you want to talk, make yourself known."

Tsukishima, hearing the advice and being already against it, just nodded. He continued to walk slowly with a hand in his pocket and the other holding his bag. 

Upon reaching the school gates, everyone dispersed to their own ways leaving the first-years on their own. Hinata dragged Kageyama while Yamaguchi followed. He had been feeling out the atmosphere between his two friends and opted to leave them some time alone. Albeit, short.

"If only Tsukki would just try..." He could only sigh. He remembered how, over the time Akane was absent, Tsukishima would keep on glancing at the door everytime it opened. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that he was waiting for her. 

As the flood of students started to grow by number, Akane thought it would be better to head inside too. So she lifted off the headphones, trying to return it back to her classmate. But Tsukishima shoved it down and glanced down at her. 

"Keep it on. It's yours for the day." He curtly said.

Akane's eyes widened and babbled, "W-where is Tsukishima? What have you d-done with him?? Y-you're not that salty boy I know! WHO ARE YOU?!"

"Tch."

Akane was left behind as Tsukishima brushed off her childishness. Deep inside, he was happy enough that she has the strength to joke around already.

"Hurry up, short-legs! I won't be waiting up for you." He called at his back. Immediately, Akane zoomed to him. She was holding Tsukishima's phone and browsing through the playlists he has.

"Hey, Tsukishima." She tugged his sleeve, "Are you totally fine with entrusting your phone to me?"

He looked down with his glasses and shrugged nonchalantly, "As if you'd get anything from there if you will try to scan through. There's nothing valuable there."