[UshiTen: Just another rainy day in Paris]

Part 13

***

The upcoming days were an odd clash between boredom and excitement. Tendō did thorough research this time, about the exact difference in time zones, and the full schedules of absolutely all volleyball matches throughout the Olympics' program.

It was his turn to text back, and he was inexplicably nervous when he typed, almost 24 hours later:

== What did you have for lunch today? Tell me, Wakatoshi-kun? ==

The time seemed right, probably, and little did he know that now Ushijima kept his phone close to his person at all times, but the reply came right back, just a minute later:

== I think it was some strange potato mix. Some salad – with cabbage! Can you imagine? ==

Satori had laughed heartily at that; in France, he had seen all sorts of weird dishes, so he was immune to almost anything.

But he bit his lips and typed, all flushed and shy:

== I hope it was delicious! It's so boring to just be cooking for myself here. I miss our fights over coffee! ==

== Coffee is not good for your health, Satori-kun. It's a scientifically proven fact. ==

This time he licked his lips and typed really fast:

== I miss your voice, when you say that to me. You say it every time. I miss you, Wakatoshi-kun. ==

He didn't know why, but the reply came almost an hour later.

== Ditto. ==

Satori could not say whether he expected another "I love you." or maybe not. He wasn't sure he deserved the ones he had already received either.

But he discovered that the familiar anticipation, and excitement, to se again, to meet again someone he loved, were now rekindled. True, his heart was not beating so fast, and the butterflies in his stomach were long dead... But... it was still a nice feeling, deep inside.

His days now were centered around the matches, texting Wakatoshi-kun and praising his play, and for the rest of the day – daydreaming about his friend's return home. There were just a couple of days left!

The weirdest thing for him, though, was that he felt bold enough to tell Wakatoshi-kun so. In a way, it sounded almost like flirting!

For a while, he felt guilty. Was he misleading Ushijima this way? Then he reasoned with himself that this was exactly the way he was feeling – he was just being honest about it. His guilty conscious didn't let him sleep, assuring him that he was actually being cruel, and selfish. He was giving Wakatoshi-kun hope about something that was not going to happen.

Satori was watching the semi-finals, with a moderate degree of excitement, not so much for the result, but the possibility that Wakatoshi-kun might be coming home two days earlier, if Japan lost.

He could not explain why, but his fingers moved on their own, and he paused the streaming, at a frame showing Wakatoshi, preparing to serve. He looked closely. He looked at everything.

He knew everything, alright. Down to the small droplets of sweat, streaking down Wakatoshi-kun's temple. He knew the color of his eyes, the smell of his skin, the sound of his voice... he knew the taste of his kiss too.

- I don't know what makes me happy. – he murmured now, staring at the screen without blinking. - I only know you bring me peace. I feel safe with you.

His finger slipped, the video went on, the serve was murderous, like always. Satori smirked, pleased to watching this killing machine in action yet again. It was pure pleasure, every time.