Haikyuu!! x Reader

Tanaka Ryuunosuke || Opposites Attract

Request from TiggertheConqueror -- I hope you enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was... weird when Tanaka and (f/n) had their first real interaction. They'd been neighbors for years, forever, probably, and had seen a lot of each other, but (f/n) went to a different middle school than him, and they had none of the same interests, and (f/n) preferred staying inside when it was warm enough to go outside.

It was only when they both started going to Karasuno that they became the most unlikely pair of friends in the entire prefecture.

They had to walk the same way, and on mornings when Tanaka didn't have practice they were walking at the same time. Tanaka was always far more awake than (f/n), and he sought out her company until they made it to the part of the walk when Nishinoya would join them.

(f/n) first found Tanaka's bouts of energy and conversation a little off putting - she didn't know how to handle somebody who was so awake and willing to scream about volleyball and how excited he was for high school at six in the morning. After a few days though she started to find it comforting. She didn't have to talk until her mind was awake, which took about half of the walk, and Tanaka willingly listened to her talk about everything she loved with a bright smile on his face.

It was an unlikely friendship - unlikely but beautiful.

Tanaka started asking (f/n) about her fandoms - after he had her explain all kinds of lingo about fandoms to him - and listened as she expressed her love for everything geeky, everything that Tanaka hadn't the mind to understand, and he loved listening to her talk.

(f/n) had started to take her own notes about the different facts of volleyball that Tanaka told her - three hits on each side, two different kinds of blocks, why Nishinoya's position as libero was special, every reason why Tanaka was going to be the ace his third year no matter what.

They both found themselves entranced in learning about things they never thought they could care about before, and they loved the look on the other's face when they could relay facts they'd remembered about every off topic conversation they had.

From then on they formed a routine; walk to school together on the mornings Tanaka didn't have practice, meet up for lunch together with Nishinoya, then (f/n) would go home, read some fanfiction, watch some anime, and then Tanaka would join her after his practice for help on his homework. After homework they'd sometimes just chill in silence, (f/n) reading or watching anime and Tanaka sending snapchats to Nishinoya and scrolling through facebook and twitter until he had to go home.

It was nice - some days Nishinoya would join for help on his own homework, and they'd all eat snacks in (f/n)'s room and share stories with each other. (f/n) appreciated the company, especially because Tanaka didn't pester her much once they'd gone off and started doing their own things - he let her read in peace, asked her for details when she would squeal or groan from her fan fiction or manga, and she'd happily listen when Tanaka would shove his phone in front of her's because she had to see this post on reddit.

The routine was theirs - odd but comforting, because they'd managed to carry it on to halfway through their second year, and (f/n) wasn't sure what she'd do without it.

*****

Tanaka noticed his romantic feelings for (f/n) after having a conversation with Nishinoya about his problem. It was then he realized that his crush on Kiyoko wasn't shit compared to what he was feeling for (f/n). Yeah, Kiyoko was beautiful - she was a goddess, arguably the most beautiful girl in school, but (f/n) was someone that Tanaka had bonded with.

(f/n) was a body, a person that he could rant with and about for days on end, never growing tired about talking to her or about her. Nishinoya helped him understand that he wanted to date (f/n) - he liked how things were now with her, but he wanted to hold her hand too and have a reason to hug her whenever the hell he wanted to because they were together.

"So, Saeko's actually helped me plan it all out," Tanaka said excitedly to Nishinoya before practice one day while they were walking to the gym. "I'm just gonna make it super casual after school today. Show up, give her some of her favorite candy, throw out some comp-"

Tanaka was cut off by the sound of books hitting the floor and a screech, and he barely locked eyes with Nishinoya before they were running down the hall and around the corner to find out what it was. The sight pissed Tanaka off - (f/n) was being picked on by the group of popular people that loved nothing more than making the 'nerds' of the school cry, and they had all of the belongings from (f/n)'s locker thrown on the ground.

"Hey, leave her be!" Tanaka yelled, stalking toward them angrily. "How many times do I have to chase you guys off before you listen?" he added. He stood in front of (f/n) once he made his way to them, building a sort of barrier with his body between her and the group.

The group didn't want to fuck with Tanaka and Nishinoya - the volleyball club was doing way better than any of the clubs they were in, and being rude to two of the star members wouldn't look good. So, they walked away while commenting about (f/n) and her stupid friends.

"Are you alright?" Tanaka asked, turning to see (f/n). He was close enough that (f/n) was pressed up against the lockers, but he didn't seem to care - or notice, for that matter. (f/n) nodded, a semi-forced smile on her face. Tanaka noted the fakeness and pinched her cheeks, pulling them up. "Smile brighter, don't listen to those assholes."

(f/n) did so just from the sensation of his hands on her cheeks, finding the gesture oddly reassuring. "You're pinching them too hard," she protested, pushing the boy away from her. Nishinoya ruffled her hair a bit before excusing himself.

"Ryuu, you help (f/n) clean up her things, then get to practice. I'll tell Daichi you'll be there soon."

Tanaka nodded and immediately started helping (f/n) clean up her things. "Hey, you don't have to help," she said, dropping to her knees to collect her notebooks.

"Of course I do, (f/n)!" Tanaka replied, his voice high in volume. "It's what I'm here for. Those asshats aren't going to fuck with you and then make you pick everything up alone."

(f/n) accepted the help with a small nod, and they were done in a matter of minutes. Tanaka let (f/n) organize the things in her locker how they belonged.

"You can go now," she said to him, placing her bag over her shoulder.

"No, I want to walk you to the front of-"

(f/n) smiled, "I'll be fine, Ryuu." She stepped onto her tippy toes and kissed him on his cheek, eliciting a blush from him immediately. "I'll see you when you get to my house."

She turned and walked away then, sending a small wave over her shoulder to Tanaka before turning a corner and walking down the stairs.

He only moved once he could convince himself that the kiss had actually happened, and then he was running down the hallway, cheering the entire way to the gym.