Haikyuu!! x Reader

Savior {Yamaguchi Tadashi} (Request)

Yamaguchi felt the familiar pounding of his heart as he watched you walk into the classroom and take a seat with your friends during lunch. You glanced over in his general direction to call out to another one of your friends, causing him to blush madly and look away, hiding his face in the sleeve of his jacket.

You were so beautiful. Your gorgeous (h/l) (h/c) locks of hair always shone in the sunlight, and the way you batted your long lashes and spoke in that sweet voice of yours made his heart soar. Unfortunately, you were way out of his league, and he knew it. He cursed the social class differences that separated you. You were sitting pretty on the top of the pyramid, while he was hanging somewhere in the middle—if he was lucky.

He let out a long sigh of dismay as he opened up his lunch and began eating in silence, only being amused by the music that was your voice. He listened to the changes in pitch of your voice, as well as your chorus of sweet laughter and cute giggles. He hadn't had the courage to approach you and ask you out, but he'd had a few short encounters with you when he'd been blessed with the opportunity to sit next to you in class.

Tsukishima wasn't of much moral support, since he did nothing but berate Yamaguchi for being a coward. Even though his friend was annoying, he felt like a soldier without any defense mechanisms whenever he was gone. On days like today, Tsukishima's absence made him feel vulnerable to bullies who wouldn't dare to approach him whenever the tall blonde was around.

Yamaguchi glanced nervously around the classroom, looking out for any of the guys that tended to pick on him. Luckily, they weren't lingering around, so he relaxed slightly and continued to eat, letting him lose himself in the smooth sound of your voice from afar. He wished he could just go up to you and sit with you, but he'd probably be shunned and laughed at.

Oh well. Things were the way they were.

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After school that day, Yamaguchi ran off to the gym to go and practice, but he paused halfway along the journey when he realized that he'd forgotten his notebook in his desk. Grumbling under his breath, he ran back into the school building and over to his classroom only to turn the corner and smack into something. Hard.

"Agh... What...?" he mumbled as he rubbed his head and looked up at what he'd run into.

A boy turned around to face him, an angry look on his face. His lips soon turned up into a smirk once he'd recognized Yamaguchi, and Yamaguchi quivered as he stepped backwards.

"What do you think you're doing running through the halls, punk?!" The boy grabbed Yamaguchi's shoulders and shoved him backwards into the wall, making Yamaguchi's back sting with pain.

"L-Leave me alone! I-I'm just trying to g-get to my classroom..." Yamaguchi stuttered, feeling nervous beads of sweat form under his olive brown hair. He cursed himself for not being more assertive and a bit taller.

"But school's out for the day! What kind of nerd wants to go back to class after the bell? Huh? Stupid teacher's pet!" the bully taunted and shoved Yamaguchi's books out of his hands, spilling them onto the floor loudly and drawing the attention of a few nearby students.

Yamaguchi cringed as they all watched, but didn't do anything to help him. That's just how it always was. Usually, Tsukishima came to his rescue, but now, he felt alone and helpless all over again. I hate myself. I hate myself. I hate myself... he chanted in his head, closing his eyes and willing the whole problem to stop.

As if answering his pleas, a voice called out. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?!"

Yamaguchi opened his eyes and felt his heart flutter wildly in his chest when he saw you standing a few feet away with your arms crossed in front of your chest.

"I... I... uh..." The bully suddenly started stammering, looking back and forth between you and Yamaguchi nervously. He quickly relinquished his grip on him and started to back away, muttering apologies to you as you walked closer.

"I won't allow this at all," you spoke sternly, giving the bully a shove and standing next to Yamaguchi to show that you were on his side. "You're such a jerk, (bully's name)! I always see you harassing people."

"But (f/n)! I—"

"Go away and don't let me see you bullying anyone ever again."

The bully took off, sprinting down the hallway until he was out of sight. Yamaguchi let out a sigh and bent down to pick up his books. Once he'd stood back up again, he sheepishly looked over at you to find that you were watching him with a small smile on your face.

"T-Thank y-you...!" Yamaguchi explained suddenly and bowed deeply as a blush covered his cheeks.

"No need to thank me. You're Yamaguchi, right?" you asked. He nodded and you handed a notebook to him that he instantly recognized as his own. "You left this in your desk."

His blush deepened, and he thanked you again as he took the book from you. There was a short silence as the two of you looked at each other, and he found that he was lost in your eyes.

"Where were you going? You rushed out of class so quickly..." you wondered, watching him with intrigue.

"Oh! I was g-going to volleyball practice..." Yamaguchi replied and rubbed the back of his neck.

"You play volleyball? That's so cool!" you bubbled excitedly.

"T-Thanks!" He quickly glanced over at a clock on the wall nearby, and his heart jumped. It was almost time for practice. "I'm sorry, (l/n), I really have to go to practice."

"Oh! I'm sorry for keeping you, Yamaguchi!" you cried and blushed slightly. He started to speak, but you quickly interrupted him with a sudden thought. "Yamaguchi... Your name is so long. Can I call you Yams?"

Your eyes were bright with hope, and he felt himself smile. "Y-Yeah...!" He was blushing like crazy, but it was futile to try to hide it at this point.

"Okay! Have fun at practice, Yams!" you said gleefully.

"Thank you, (l/n)!"

"Please, call me (f/n)!"

He turned and glanced over his shoulder just in time for him to see you wink at him.

What an angel! he thought with awe as his body filled with warmth. Maybe he didn't need Tsukishima here to protect him after all.

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Requested by @livesforthearts
I hope you liked it!
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