Secret Message - SemiShira

23

"Okay, let me grab my books,"

Semi's Pov

I settled onto the couch in Ushijima's house, exhaling heavily as I did so.

"What's bothering you?" Tendou asked, claiming a spot on the double couch.

"Nothing much, just tired," I replied, letting out a yawn in the process.

"Did you not get enough sleep?" Tendou inquired, his brows furrowing with concern.

"I was up studying with Shirabu until late last night," I explained, adjusting my posture to sit more comfortably.

"Would you like some coffee?" Ushijima offered as he entered the room.

I shook my head slightly. "No, I had some this morning."

Ushijima settled down next to Tendou, his arm wrapping around him in a casual gesture. "How's the fake dating going with Kenjirou?"

"It's alright, but I'm not sure if he's getting the message," I admitted with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" Tendou pressed for more details.

"Having Navi around hasn't really achieved much," I confessed, my tone tinged with frustration.

"I told you she was useless," Tendou chimed in, rolling his eyes in his typical dramatic fashion.

Navi is Tendou's cousin, and we knew each other back in middle school. However, she moved to South Korea before high school, and although we kept in touch, our interactions were minimal.

A week ago, I found out that Navi had returned to Japan and was enrolling in the same school as us. The four of us – me, my cousin Mori, Navi, and Tendou – decided to catch up over a meal. Unfortunately, Tendou bailed out last minute, remembering he had a date with Ushijima.

The get-together was rather awkward for me. Both Mori and Navi used to have crushes on each other during middle school, and it felt like I was third-wheeling the whole time.

Tendou proposed that I spend more time with Navi to gauge Shirabu's jealousy. But every time I'm around her, Shirabu seems to be nowhere in sight.

"Just yesterday, Shirabu saw Navi and me together, but I don't think it fazed him," I reported.

"He didn't react at all?" Ushijima's voice was marked by curiosity.

"There was another girl present, and he just dragged me away. But I'm guessing that was more due to our agreement than any jealousy," I explained.

"Do you really think that?" Ushijima prodded.

"I have this gut feeling that he might have been jealous, but he's probably trying to hide it," Tendou mused. "That's so him."

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. "But what should I do now?"

"Why don't you just tell him directly?" Tendou suggested. "I'm sure he'd say yes."

I shook my head, my doubts evident. "He won't. I don't think he likes me in that way."

"If he didn't have feelings for you, he wouldn't have agreed to the fake dating and spent so much time with you," Ushijima reasoned.

"We've been through this before. He only agreed because of Kai," I insisted.

"But he could have chosen anyone else, and he chose you," Tendou countered.

"That was only because he kissed me in front of Kai," I sighed.

"What will I do when this whole fake dating thing comes to an end?" I lamented.

"Eita, you and Shirabu have a complex dynamic. I'm not even sure what's happening between you two anymore," Tendou admitted.

"You should really talk to him about it," Ushijima suggested calmly.

"Thanks for the insightful advice," I replied with a touch of sarcasm.

"Fine, be a single Pringle forever then," Tendou retorted, rolling his eyes playfully.

"Even if Shirabu rejects me, I'm pretty sure I can still charm half the school," I boasted, a smirk forming on my lips.

Tendou scoffed. "You're just popular because of your guitar skills. Remember when Ushijima used to be so popular in high school?"

"He's still popular, isn't he?" I pointed out.

"Yeah, but not as much as he was back in high school," Tendou teased.

"Speaking of high school, I went to watch Keisha's match the other day and saw Coach there," I shared.

"How's the old guy doing?" Tendou asked with genuine interest.

"He still manages to scare the living daylights out of me," I admitted.

Ushijima shrugged nonchalantly. "He wasn't that intimidating."

"That's because you were his favourite," I stated matter-of-factly.

Tendou leaned back on the couch, a playful grin on his face. "You know, it's fascinating how much things have changed since high school."

"Definitely," I agreed, my mind briefly wandering back to those days.

Ushijima nodded in agreement. "But change is inevitable. We all grow and evolve."

"I just can't believe how quickly time flies," I mused. "It feels like just yesterday we were all starting our first year at Shiratorizawa."

Tendou chuckled. "And now we're here, dealing with fake dating drama and the difficulties of adult life."

"Who would've thought that fake dating would become such a source of confusion," Ushijima remarked with a hint of amusement.

"Well, you've got to admit it's pretty entertaining," Tendou quipped.

"Yeah, for you maybe," I said, letting out a tired chuckle. "But for me, it's more like a puzzle I can't seem to solve."

"Maybe you're overthinking it," Ushijima suggested calmly.

"Maybe," I agreed reluctantly. "But it's not easy when it comes to Shirabu."

Tendou raised an eyebrow. "You really do like him, don't you?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know. It's complicated."

"Love is often complicated," Ushijima said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "But if you're willing to take the risk, it can also be incredibly rewarding."

"I just wish I knew how he felt," I admitted, my gaze fixed on the floor.

"Communication is key," Tendou said, leaning forward. "Have you ever thought about just talking to him? Being honest about your feelings?"

"I guess I'm scared of the outcome," I confessed. "What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if it ruins our friendship?"

"Those are valid concerns," Ushijima said. "But if your feelings are genuine, it's worth the risk."

Tendou nodded in agreement. "Life is too short to live in uncertainty. If you don't try, you'll never know."

I leaned back on the couch, absorbing their advice. "You guys are right. Maybe it's time I gather the courage to have an honest conversation with him."

"That's the spirit!" Tendou grinned, giving me an encouraging pat on the shoulder

1065 Words