Behind the Chords - tsukkiyama

Behind the Chords

Tsukishima Kei never cared much for concerts. The noice, the crowd, the suffocating feeling of being surrounded by people who looked like they belonged there... not his scene. So when Yamaguchi Tadashi invited him to a rock show, Kei naturally said no. But Yamaguchi didn't push, just shrugged and said. "That's cool," before walking away. It was the nonchalance in Yamaguchi's response that bugged him. He expected him to insist like always, with that determined look in his eyes, but this time, nothing. Kei didn't know why, but that silence stuck with him.

So that's how he found himself standing in front of a grungy underground venue a week later, his purple hoodie pulled up, scanning the neon sine that read, "Graveyard Riot". The place was already packed, bass lines pulsing through the walls like a heartbeat. Kei muttered to himself, feeling like an outsider as he pushed through the crowd.

He was there for maybe twenty minutes, lurking near the back when the next band took the stage. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he sighed, deciding to stay just for a minute longer before making up some excuse to leave. That's when the first guitar riff rang out, cutting through the air like a sharp breath. The sound was clean, precise but raw, the kind of music that gets under your skin and stays there.

When he looked up, he froze.

There, standing in the middle of the stage, was Yamaguchi Tadashi. But not the Yamaguchi he knew. Not the boy with soft eyes and quiet steps. No - this Yamaguchi was something entirely different. His green hair was spiked, the bangs jagged like a storm had blown through them. He wore ripped jeans, combat boots, and a sleeveless band tee that clung to his lean frame, exposing tattoos that curled up his arms in intricate designs Kei couldn't make out from the distance.

Kei's breath caught in his throat as Yamaguchi leaned into the mic and started singing. His voice was rough, raspy, full of an emotion that Kei had never heard from him before. It was a far cry from he hesitant stammering Yamaguchi he thought he knew. This voice had confidence, had bite.

The blonde couldn't look away.

Song after song, Yamaguchi's presence on stage only grew. He was magnetic, hands gripping the mic like it was the only thing keeping him grounded, eyes closed as if the music consumed him. And Kei... Kei was overwhelmed. It was like seeing min for the first time.

But it was more than just shock of seeing the green haired boy in this light. It was the feeling stirring deep in Kei's chest - the slow burn of admiration, the heat of jealousy, and something that felt an awful lot like longing.

By the time Yamaguchi played his last song, the crowd was screaming, demanding an encore, but Kei could only hear the pounding of his own heart. He didn't know what to do with himself - what to think. How could he not know? How could Yamaguchi keep this side of himself hidden?

After the show, Kei stood in the corner, watching the other interact with the crowd, laughing and smiling in a way he rarely did at school. Kei stayed long enough to see him say goodbye to the fans before slipping out the back door, probably to pack up his gear. Without thinking, Kei followed.

He found the boy sitting on the edge of the stage, rolling up cable with calm efficiency. For a moment, Kei just stood there, watching him. The punk rocker from earlier was gone, replaced by the quiet, familiar boy he knew - except not quite. Kei saw him now. Really saw him.

"Tadashi."

Yamaguchi's head snapped up in surprise, his hands stilling mid-motion.
"Tsukki? You're here?"

Kei shoved his hands in his pockets, the awkward tension between them stretching.
"I... didn't know you played in a band."

Yamaguchi chuckled, though there was an edge of nervousness in it.
"Yeah, it's kind of my thing outside of school. Didn't think you'd be into this kind of music."

"I'm not."

The smaller boy raised an eyebrow.
"Then why'd you come?"

Kei looked away, feeling his face heat up.
"I don't know. I just... did."

There was a beat of silence. Then Yamaguchi smiled, soft and warm, the punk edge of him momentarily forgotten.
"I'm glad you came."

And just like that, Kei felt his defenses crumble. Something about how the other looked at him - like he was seeing Kei in a way no one else ever had - made the knot in his chest loosen, just a little.

"You're really good," the blonde said, and the words felt too small for how Yamaguchi's performance had made him feel.

Yamaguchi blinked, clearly surprised by the compliment. Then his smile widened, the one that made Kei's stomach flip in the worst and best way.
"Thanks. That... that means a lot."

For a moment, they just stood there, the sounds of the venue fading away, leaving only them and the lingering buzz of electricity in the air. And in that moment, something shifted between them - something Kei wasn't sure he was ready to face but couldn't ignore anymore.

Over the next few weeks, Tsukishima found himself showing up to more shows. He never said why, and Yamaguchi never asked. But it became a habit, a rhythm between them. Kei would watch from the back, arms crossed, face impressive, while inside he felt everything unravel. And Yamaguchi would always find him after, the two of them walking through the darkened streets, talking about anything and everything, but never acknowledging the tension that hung between them.

"You know, I think I've fallen in love with you."

The words left his mouth before he could stop them. Yamaguchi froze, his eyes wide, and for a split second, Kei regretted everything. But then Yamaguchi smiled, his cheeks tinged with pink, and whispered,
"Good. Because I've been waiting for you to figure that out."

Tsukishima snorted, rolling his eyes, but the smile pulling as his lips gave him away. And in the quiet that followed, under the neon lights of the city, with the scent of rain hanging in the air, they kissed for the first time - soft and hesitant, but real.

It wasn't perfect. There were still misunderstandings and unspoken fears between them. But for now, it was perfect, to them. They had time. The rest of their story was just beginning.

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Helluuu, let me know what u think and if I should continue on it in the future lmao.

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