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tsukishima kei didn't always like sundays, yet he always finds himself looking forward to it.
there was a time when sundays meant nothing more than the dull end of the weekend — a day to tolerate before the rush of monday came crashing in. but now, it feels different. all thanks to her.
it was her idea. all of it.
it was the fourth sunday since they'd started dating during their third year of high school, and he had agreed to meet her after practice. he was tired, sweaty, and a little irritated — practice had been brutal, and the idea of spending his free time at some cafe at four-thirty in the afternoon wasn't exactly his style.
if it were up to him, he would just pick her up, go straight home, and start preparing dinner for them. but she had insisted.
"you'll like it, i promise," she said, practically dragging him down the sidewalk by the hand. "it's cozy, and they have the best strawberry shortcake in the city."
he shot her a doubtful glance, adjusting his glasses as they walked. "strawberry shortcake? really?"
she grinned, unbothered by his skepticism. "trust me. you need to have some joy in your life outside of volleyball."
"i have you, don't i?"
she giggled at his comment. and, god. that was all he needed to hear after a long day.
"well, outside of me and volleyball."
the cafe wasn't small, but it wasn't exactly big either. it was just right. beside it were a bookstore and a flower shop.
it didn't seem like much from the outside — just another unassuming corner of the city.
but when they stepped inside, he felt the warmth immediately. soft yellow lights, the sound of low chatter, and the unmistakable smell of something freshly baked.
she led him to a corner table by the window, sliding into her seat with ease. he sat down across from her, still unconvinced, but willing to humor her excitement.
"you're going to thank me later." she said with a smug smile, flipping open the menu as if she had memorized it already.
she placed their orders: one earl grey tea, one latte, and a slice of strawberry shortcake — shared, of course.
while waiting, they shared details of how their morning went. tsukishima even mentioned how practice went on longer than usual because the first-years locked hinata in the storage room, while he and his fellow third-years only laughed at the situation. this earned him a disbelieved laugh from the girl, as she remembered a funny, similar encounter she had at the library.
when the cake arrived, it looked just as ordinary as he had expected, but the first bite... he couldn't explain why, but it was good. really good. not to mention how great it tasted when paired with the tea.
she watched him take more bites, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "i told you."
"yeah, well," tsukishima muttered, trying to mask his approval with indifference. "it's decent."
she laughed, the sunset's glow hitting her face as she leans forward to take the last bite. "decent, huh? for someone so skeptical of the cafe, you sure ate a lot of their shortcake."
he shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "you're the one who insisted we come here."
"and you're the one who's coming back with me next sunday." she said it like it was a fact, not a suggestion.
he rolled his eyes as she pointed her fork at him with a mischievous smile.
"we'll see." he replies, taking another sip of his hot tea.
of course he came back. every sunday, without fail.
he had never been one to admit when he was wrong, but she knew. she always knew.
tsukishima kei didn't always like sundays. yet, despite everything, he always finds himself coming back to the cafe, chasing the warmth he could never quite hold onto.
