Promise (Tsukiyama)

It's always been you

Tsukishima has discovered that being friends with an ex is weird. Especially if it's one that you desperately want back, but know you don't deserve. Namely, Yamaguchi Tadashi. He doesn't exactly know if he can actually call them "friends" or not, but at least they seem to be on better terms. However, it's still just as awkward as it was at Hinata's birthday bash. All he can think of when he looks into the enchanting brown eyes is how much he misses feeling his warmth and how much he wants to just lean forward and press his lips against his. It's killing him.

Yamaguchi has also become more consistent in texting him every couple of days, which is something that he never knew he missed so much. Tsukishima realizes that he never really took time to be grateful for all the times Yamaguchi would text him. Now, after not getting a single text from this beautiful man in almost 5 whole years, he has never been more thankful. Most times, the texts are short and sweet; just cordial, friendly things to say to someone.

To: Tsukishima Kei
From: Yamaguchi Tadashi
Subject:
How was work?

To: Yamaguchi Tadashi
From: Tsukishima Kei
Subject:
Good, thanks. We just got a new shipment of artifacts at the museum.

To: Tsukishima Kei
From: Yamaguchi Tadashi
Subject:
Awesome! What kind of artifacts are they?

But other times, the messages between them are different; mainly focused on their past and old memories from high school. Things like: Hinata throwing up on Tanaka's lap before their first game with Seijoh, Tsukishima blocking Ushijima in the Shiratorizawa match, and Yamaguchi landing his first jump float serve. As they talk more and more, everything is put back in perspective. He wants to wake up next to Yamaguchi and hold his hand while they're out shopping. He wants to shower him with affection and sweep him off his feet after a long day of work. He wants to be there for him. He's ready to.

He needs to tell him. He calls Yamaguchi, but no reply. He tries texting him a few times, then waits 20 minutes before trying again. No answer. What's happening? I thought we were on the right track. He shrugs and decides to wait another day. Maybe he's just busy.

Another day comes and goes; no replies, and no calls. Then the same happens the next day. He's beginning to worry now. What if something has happened to him? He tries to call Yamaguchi again before giving up. Instead, he dials a different number and holds the phone up to his ear as it rings.

Bringgg!

He hears his brother's voice pour out of the phone. "Kei? Wow! I'm surprised you actually want to talk to me twice in one month? I'm so flattered," he says jokingly, "What can I do for y- "

"Teru. I need your help."

Yamaguchi Pov:

Yamaguchi lies in bed, staring up at the ceiling. It's a rare day off for him since he works all the time, so it's supposed to be a day to unwind and relax. However, it's now 4 pm, and he's done nothing but lie around and dwell on his past; yes, the one concerning his ex-boyfriend Tsukishima Kei. After a long period of not speaking to each other, followed by a recent month of drama, they are finally in a better place as friends. But that's the thing; Yamaguchi doesn't want to be just friends again. He has a feeling that Tsukishima feels the same, so there shouldn't be any conflict in theory, but for his own reasons, he can not give in. After being dumped, his self-esteem was at an all-time low. He thought that maybe he himself was the reason why he had been dumped; that the whole thing with Tsukishima's teammates had been a lie and that he was just not good enough. After all, he was only 19. He was so confused, stressed, and needed someone there to support him. Unfortunately, he found out that he didn't have that with the one person he trusted the most. Yamaguchi wishes that the whole breakup had never happened between them; that they had stayed a couple and talked things out just like they had planned to. Just like Tsukishima promised him.