People come and go.
There are times when the world seems to have lost all its colors and the melody of life has turned into agonizing silence.
There are times when your knees feel weak every morning while getting out of bed, and the repetative tune...
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The two of you retreated to the desk you had previously been sitting on. Picking up your lunchbox again you sat on its surface, tucking your skirt underneath your thighs so the cold wouldn't reach them.
The short libero observed you for a while as you made yourself comfortable. He held his own box with the food you made close to his chest, like a treasure he needed to keep safe.
Is it really okay for me to be here? His eyes traced around the room. He still wasn't quite sure of how to act around you. Whether you were truly comfortable with him staying, or you were simply too polite to send him the hell away.
After a few hesitant seconds he finally sat down on the same desk as you. Close to you, yet still turned away. Only your backs were facing each other.
You noticed his absence at your side. Yet, felt a sudden source of warmth behind yourself. "Wait... What are you- why are you sitting like that?" you asked, trying to turn yourself to him, to see his face, but unsuccessfully.
His back was bent a bit. Spine poking out slightly under the fabric of his uniform. "Well, you said you don't like eating in front of people. So, I won't look! But I'm still here, close if you need me!!"
If you feel broken Promise I won't break your heart
You could not see him as he sat behind you, facing away. But you could still hear his voice. Which at first was so piercing it was almost unbearable, yet now it turned into something you, for some reason, wanted to hear more of.
Your heart pounded loudly in your chest as he spoke those words. And the consideration and carefulness he put in them made a pink tint decorate your cheeks. And genuine smile tenderly brush over your lips
"This is so delicious!" Nishinoya spoke up after stuffing his face with the food. Unsure, whether it was truly so good, or he just enjoyed it so much because it was you who prepared it for him, he kept eating more and more quickly. Every bite seemed to touch his soul as he kicked his feet, which dangled in air, in pleasure.
"Are you sure you don't want to try some?" he held out the box to you, taunting you to take at least a bite. As if you hadn't made it yourself and didn't know how it tastes.
You chuckled. "No, that's for you only, I have my own. But thank you for the praise."
You both enjoyed your meals in each other's presence, sitting on a desk near the window. You could see the area of your school, and even some further from it. Vibrant green leafs glistened in the sun and the heat rising from the road, its asphalt made the air look blurry.
"Are you coming to practice today?" Nishinoya asked with his mouth still full.
You shook your head, not realizing he couldn't really see it. "No, not today."
"Aww man, that's a shame! You still haven't seen my ultimate rolling thunder!!"
. . .
"Rolling what- " you turned around again, only to find the short libero doing the same. His eyes sparkled in excitement. You almost felt the tiny stars pricking and nuzzling into your skin.
"My rolling thunder! It's like, I go like this," he stood up, placing his bento box down by your side, preparing himself to show off his ultimate move. "Like this, watch; Whoosh and then bam!!"
Before you could realize what was going on, the boy was rolling around, wiping the dirty floor with himself. Chasing a non- existent ball, making weird and loud exclamations.
You followed his quick movements with your eyes widened in awe. How is all the food he just ate not falling back out of him?
When he finished his performance, his gaze shot up to you expectedly. His chest rose and fell with sharp inhales. Tiny droplets of sweat formed on his forehead.
You blinked. Then snorted and then covered your mouth while giggling uncontrollably.
"Y-yeah, okay-" you tried to speak through your laughter, "I'm looking forward to- seeing that during the match-"
He smiled widely, revealing his teeth. Then leaned against the desk, supporting his chin with his palms. Still kneeling on the floor, Nishinoya observed your light chuckles in admiration, before sitting back up.
"Why aren't you coming though?" he asked still trying to catch his breath.
"It would be way too much of social interaction for this week. I probably couldn't handle it by myself," you answered after calming down a bit. The words flew out before you could give them second thought.
He raised his eyebrows, but you weren't aware of that, since his back was facing yours again. "To handle by yourself? You can invite someone if you want to!! Don't you have friends to come with you?"
You chuckled as you took another bite of your food. "Actually, no."
Only then your companion realized how rude his question seemed to be. "...shit, wait that sounded bad I- "
"No, no, it's okay." You chuckled dryly. "I don't talk to people very often. It's... a little difficult to make friends," you tried to sound indifferent to the subject, not to play the victim. Not to awaken the pity in the spikey-haired boy. Last thing you'd want was to seem so pathetic in his eyes.
Why are we so complicated? Love's a word I've always hated I'm tired of waitin', I was never good at sports
He remained quiet for a while. Processing the information you just laid out.
"I can be your friend," the libero spoke after a while. Softly. He reduced the volume of his voice, knowing how you despised the noise. Hoping, he wasn't crossing the line. Because the last thing he'd want was to make you uncomfortable.
Or somehow invade your privacy.
Again.
Silence overtook the room after he placed his offer. It was one of the loudest silences he'd ever found himself surrounded by. The uncertainty, since he couldn't see your face and the expression you wore, was eating him up second after second.
He couldn't see you smile. He couldn't see your eyes almost disappearing behind the eyelids as you did so. But he could feel you gently lean your back against his. The light pressure of your body against his own was like a lullaby sung to a sleep deprived child. Comforting and soothing.
"I'd really like that."
Your voice washed all his worries away and filled his being with strange warmness from unidentifiable source. His heart pounded loudly in his chest. He just hoped you wouldn't hear it.
