Letters (Tsukishima Kei X Yamaguchi Tadashi)

Chapter 6: Confession and trouble

Another letter had appeared in Yamaguchi's shoe cabinet, the third letter he ever found in that small space. As Yamaguchi slowly opens it, he is greeted by neat tiny handwriting. He softly reads the note to himself.

"To Yamaguchi Tadashi-sama,
You seem happier lately. Do you remember me? 😊I hope you do. I finally found the courage. 😄Will you meet me at the garden🌹 during lunch? 🍱I will be waiting for you. 🙌
💕Lots of love,
Kajima Yuki"

Yamaguchi almost drops the pink, scented paper. Confession? His heart may not have been hers, however even the toughest boy would have turned beet red with that bold confession letter. Upon quickly folding the letter and placing it in his pocket, Yamaguchi brisk walks to his classroom, covering his crimson face with an arm in embarassment.

The moment Yamaguchi had stepped into the classroom, Tsukishima knew that the girl had called Yamguchi out for a confession. A small part of Tsukishima's heart twinges. He wonders why. Maybe he is just annoyed. Well, he has to be. Why for would he feel an uncomfortable feeling brewing inside him? His prediction about the confession is affirmed when Yamaguchi tells him that he has to eat lunch alone. "Ok." Tsukishima gives a subtle response and goes back to his reading. At least that is what Yamaguchi thinks Tsukishima just did. Yamaguchi finds himself a tad bit disappointed. He does not know that in actual fact, Tsukishima is trying very hard to ignore the nagging feeling inside of him.

When lunch came, Yamaguchi had already disappeared when Tsukishima looked up from his literature textbook. Tsukishima wanders into the bustling halls by himself, utterly bored and terribly cranky. He looks from the hallway window into the garden. Familiar green hair. Hair that he could recognise from anywhere. Tsukishima runs down. He reaches the garden of lush green, panting. He hides behind tendrils drooping from the pergoda, a distance away from the pair but still close enough to eavesdrop into their conversation. Tsukishima could see the faint outline of the girl and the boy behind the thick vines.

"Yamaguchi-sama..." the girl starts off, shyly bowing her head. "I...I-I like you. Will you go out with me?" The girl bursts out. Yamaguchi is taken aback. He moves to shake his head but pauses.

Tsukishima stares as his friend. Is the answer not obvious? Yamaguchi should say no. He already has volleyball, practice with Shimada and him. The first letter was cute he admits but that should not be the reason to agree to something as serious as a relationship. Tsukishima feels something chip off in his heart. He walks away feeling even worse than before.

Yamaguchi lowers his head and proceeds to bow deeply to the petite girl. "I'm sorry but I cannot go out with you. I...I already have someone I like." The girl is flustered. "Hahahaha. Never mind, I knew it would not work out anyways." She says wiping away the falling tears. Yamaguchi offers her a tissue. "But we can be friends right?" She stares at Yamaguchi with bright eyes. Yamaguchi looks at her and gently ruffles her hair. "Yeah, Kajima-san." "C-C-Call me Yuki." "Haihai. Yuki-san. Wanna eat lunch together?" Yuki nods. They settle down on the bench and eat, talking about schoolwork, their lives and everything under the Sun. In their happiness, they never did notice a frowning Tsukishima staring out of the hallway window three levels up.