"Hey, are you sure you want to be practicing here with me? Don't you have anything better to do on a Friday night?" Shimada shifts his weight from one foot to the other, observing another jump floater attempt. Yamaguchi winds up his arm and serves, hitting the volleyball too lightly.
"No," says Yamaguchi. He quickly fetches the ball. "I don't have any homework. And Tsukki is out having dinner with his family."
"Kei again?" Shimada clicks his tongue. "You know Tadashi, there's more to life than just school work and playing video games with your best friend. Don't you ever hang out with the others outside of practice or school?"
The light shining onto the Shimada Mart logo flickers, asking for a moment of attention. Yamaguchi glances up at the smiling, sliced pig. "Not really." He wants to know who came up with the disturbing image of the swine, but he keeps it to himself. "I feel like I'm busy juggling all these things -- homework, studying, practice before and after school. I don't think I have time to hang out with anyone outside of that stuff." He dribbles the ball a few times.
"With Kei being the exception, right?"
Yamaguchi serves, and it drops too far. Inconsistency frustrates him, but he knows that all he can do is keep trying. "Tsukki is different. We've hung out every weekend since we were little. Things just feel easier when he's around." He spins the ball in his hands and feels it in the heft of his palms. He wishes he were in Tsukishima's place -- going about life naturally talented without having to put in any extra work. Nothing against Shimada. A very small part of Yamaguchi wishes he could be relaxing instead of sweating the night away. The biggest part of him wants to be as skilled as Karasuno's three freshman starters. "Besides, I don't wanna get left behind when it comes to the team's skills. I have to get better to stand on equal ground with the other guys. What could be better on a Friday night?" Yamaguchi throws the ball into the air and winds up to serve.
"You could go on a date."
Yamaguchi nearly smacks the ball over the entire grocery store.
"Yo!" Shimada shouts. His hands instinctively jump to his head. "Watch it!"
"S-Sorry!" When he brings the ball back, Yamaguchi tries to focus all his attention onto the ball's dimples.
"Anyways, it's like I said," Shimada continues. "Instead of hanging out with me, it wouldn't hurt you to go on a date once in a while."
"Come on, Shimada-san. Me?" Yamaguchi feels his face grow warm. "Get a date? Please be reasonable." The ball is dribbled again.
"I'm being more than reasonable!" The Karasuno alumnus chuckles. "Have you even tried?"
Yamaguchi furrows his eyebrows, pretending to concentrate even harder on the next serve. It's not that he isn't interested in girls. He's just never considered dating to be something realistic. For Tsukishima, maybe. Tsukishima is tall, cool, smart, and collected. But Yamaguchi can't imagine someone actually being interested in an regular guy like himself. He winds up for the umpteenth time that evening and serves.
Miss. With the back of his hand, Yamaguchi wipes perspiration from his forehead. It's about the time of the evening where he begins to feel more and more like a golden retriever playing fetch with himself. He brings the ball back regardless.
He bites his lip, reluctant to answer Shimada. "Well..."
"You see?" Shimada shakes his head. "You'd never know unless you tried. Don't be so quick to make assumptions, Tadashi. You're naturally smart, you take your academics seriously, you're passionate about your sport, and you're not a bad looking guy! Oh, try tightening up your fingers some more."
"But I'm just an average guy! Girls want someone who stands out. They're just too... confusing." Yamaguchi pouts. He can't believe he has to explain this out loud. "They always hang out in groups, and it's like they're always talking about things I can't understand." He brings his fingers closer together as instructed, but misses again. After retrieving the ball, he hands it to Shimada and mutters, "Girls kinda scare me."
Shimada can't hold back the laughter that erupts from his belly. "I suppose that's a fair assessment, especially at your age!" He steps forward to take the ball from his student. Yamaguchi stands behind him, prepared to observe any techniques that he can attempt to copy himself.
"But you know what, Tadashi?" Shimada quickly pushes his glasses higher onto his nose before hitting a jump float serve effortlessly. "For an 'average guy,' all I see is someone who's trying really hard to be more than average. Whether it's girls or volleyball -- sometimes, you have to be open to scary things. Otherwise, you won't grow."
Yamaguchi catches the volleyball that Shimada tosses his way. Shimada takes a step back as Yamaguchi takes a deep breath. He winds up to serve again.
YOU ARE READING
On Your Own ( a Haikyuu fanfiction )
FanfictionYamaguchi has never needed anything more than Tsukishima's friendship. Yachi has never known a life without nervousness and fear. But during their first year at Karasuno High School, they quickly learn that things can't stay as they've always been...
