frenemies (with benefits)

[20]

wc: 1.5k

wow we r actually at chapter 20.. there was only like twelve chapters when this started

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"you doin good tanaka?"

"everything is just great! you do not have to worry about me!" tanaka reassures, spiking the ball out of bounds for the fifth time in a row. 

nailed it.

he's been on edge since he came to volleyball practice today, and everyone can tell.

 his accuracy was off, accidentally aiming at the trash bin, the clock, and even kiyoko.

it was all too strange seeing as tanaka's never been stuck in a rut for as long as he had now. he was always picking himself back up like it was nothing.

"sorry!" he yells from the other side of the volleyball net, trying to rush over to apologize to yachi and kiyoko for almost hitting them for the nth time, but he's stopped by daichi.

"maybe, you should cool off tanaka,"

"what?"

daichi winces as he watches the look on tanaka's face drop even more like a kicked puppy. it absolutely sends a pang through his heart; he don't want to be the one to do this to him, but with the way tanaka's been so unfocused lately, he has no other choice.

"listen, i don't know what's going on with you, but it's obviously got you down. go take a breather, okay?"

tanaka holds his breathe as he takes a look around at everyone's faces, and they all seem to speak the same thing.

and so he leaves without protest, practice continuing on without him. alone, he goes to the water fountain to splash his face with some water, trying to clear his head for just a moment.

daichi was right, he reasoned, some time to think was all he needed.

but before he can even stand back up from his hunched over position, he senses a presence hovering over his side.

"dude," tanaka flinches when he notices suga standing over him with a towel, too far gone to even realize him, "what's up with you today?"

there really wasn't any use trying to deny his accusation at this point. not when everyone and their mom wanted him out of practice today.

"i fucked up," is all tanaka mutters, "bad,"

"yeah?"

"theres this.. boy.." tanaka mutters into the towel pressed against his face.

"oh?"

he considers for a moment just backing out now. shaking his head 'never mind' and just leaving to figure it out right by himself again,

"he's really cool," tanaka pushes through, "but i totally embarrassed myself,"

suga crosses his arm as he listens to tanaka talk of pulling you into the janitor's closet and his stupid little joke, pressing a hand to his mouth to contain his laughter.

"i think you're overreacting, it was a little funny,"

"you weren't there," tanaka groans, but before he can wallow in the hallway, suga is grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him along,

"come on then,"

"where are we going?" tanaka simply lets himself be pulled along

"to find you someone who can help!"