[UshiTen: Just another rainy day in Paris]

Part 9

***


Life kept on being boring for a while, and neither really spoke about it. They didn't talk about Tendō staying, or leaving, either. Wakatoshi never complained, and he didn't seem to need an explanation why Satori was staying. His bed was more comfortable now, and it was also warm and not lonely at night. Every night.

Wakatoshi was happy. He couldn't wish for anything more. And this was why it was with a heavy heart that he said one hot evening, in June:

- I will be gone for 17 days. Or less. We set out for Europe next Saturday.

Tendō looked at him strangely. He didn't really know what those words meant; they could easily mean several things.

- 17? This is oddly specific! – he mumbled now, not too happy to get this news.

- Hmmm. It could be less, if we lose early on.

The red-head blinked now. It was often, it seemed, that he forgot about Wakatoshi's day job. But, naturally, in the life of a profi player there was a lot more happening than just practice.

Still, he sulked. He didn't want to admit it, but he was going to miss Wakatoshi! 17 days were far too many! What was he supposed to do here?! All alone???

Yet, Ushijima read into his pout differently. He took a deep breath before saying the hardest words:

- I will understand, if you are not here when I return. I am not keeping you... here. I never have.

Now Satori gaped.

- Are you telling me to leave?! – he bristled up now, jumping to his feet, ready for a new fight.

It was Wakatoshi's turn to gape now.

- What??? No! I just thought... It is a painless way to leave. If you feel like. You can keep the keys. If you want to.

Satori was so upset by those words that he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind his back, and getting onto the terrace to smoke. He hadn't remembered to smoke lately, he had almost kicked the habit, but... tonight he needed this!

What the fuck did it mean?!

Did silly Wakatoshi think that he was keeping him against his will??? In a place that was peaceful, where he was always provided for?

And Ushijima's heart was bleeding. He really hurt, whenever Tendō was so unhappy about whatever. In the next days, he slowly packed his bag with personal belongings to take away on the trip, and the flat got even more empty than usual, somehow. He was almost certain that, once he got back, he would be stepping into an even emptier home, coffee-free, and sugar-free, and cigarette-smoke-free too.

And then, too quickly, it was Friday night, and after dinner, still quite upset by the lonely prospect of the days to come, Tendō curled on the couch with his phone, now googling what the hell was more important than him!

- The fucking Volleyball World Championship... - he mumbled under his nose, ashamed of himself and the fit he had thrown. – How dare they organize this shit this summer and not some other summer?! Assholes...

That night, he curled into Ushijima's side, just like always, but he lay very still for the longest time.

- I am going to miss you. – he finally confessed, not sure at all whether Wakatoshi heard him, or whether he was maybe already asleep.

For a very long time there was a deafening silence, but Satori was waiting, now having placed his head over the broad chest, too sure that his Captain wasn't sleeping: his heartbeat was singing a pain-ridden song tonight. Even without words, he knew. He knew for sure that Wakatoshi was going to miss him even more.