Love Letters ~a tsukkiyama fanfic~

4-Apologies

Yamaguchi hadn't got much sleep that night, constantly thinking over what had happened. He didn't want Tsukishima to quit volleyball, and he definitely didn't want to lose him as a friend.

What if Tsukki doesn't want to be friends with me anymore?
What if him saying he wants to quit volleyball was his way of saying he's done with me?
He's never told me to shut up before, does this mean he hates me now?

His thoughts continued in a similar direction for a few minutes, and he pushed his face into the pillow in a desperate attempt to block them out. He ended up falling asleep for a few minutes, only to be interrupted.

"Tadashi! Tsukishima's here to walk to school with you!"

His mum shouted up the stairs, but Yamaguchi's only response was to mumble and curl himself into the blankets. He could hear distant talking, and then footsteps up the stairs. The bed sunk slightly as someone sat down, and a hand pulled at the blankets.

"Hey..Yamaguchi...?"

He opened his eyes slightly, and Tsukishima stared back at him. As he went to sit up, he suddenly thought of the previous day,

"Tsukki, your not gonna quit volleyball, right?" He asked worriedly, pushing the blankets off of himself as he did. Tsukishima shook his head,

"No. I might as well stay."

Without thinking, Yamaguchi threw himself at Tsukishima, knocking him off of the bed. They landed on the floor, Yamaguchi half in tears and Tsukishima trying not to laugh. Once they'd got up, Yamaguchi quickly got changed, and left for school.

"Ah, Tsukki, what happened that made you want to quit?"

"Um..my brother."

"Akiteru? Did he say something to you?"

"More what he didn't say...he lied about being the ace."

Yamaguchi's eyes widened,

"Was he on the sidelines or something?"

"No..he wasn't even a starter..he was just cheering for the team."

His voice was flat, and he didn't make eye contact with Yamaguchi while he spoke.

"That's horrible Tsukki.."

They lapsed into silence after that, not much more could be said. When they arrived at school, a girl stopped Yamaguchi and asked to speak with him. He hadn't met the girl before, but he agreed, because she seemed nice. She dragged him away from Tsukishima, and handed him an envelope. It was pink, and sealed with a heart sticker, and had Tsukishima's name written on it. He tilted his head,

"I'm..Yamaguchi Tadashi...not Tsukki..sorry.."

He spoke softly and attempted to return the envelope to her, but she only laughed and pushed the envelope away.

"I know that silly, but your with him all the time, so would you give it to him for me? I really like him!" She asked with what she probably thought was a sweet smile on her face. Yamaguchi looked at the envelope again, and realised. It was a love letter. A confession. He looked back up at the girl, still confused,

"If it's for Tsukki, and you like him, why don't you give it to him yourself? Isn't it easier that way?"

Her smile faltered and she laughed, but it sounded forced.

"Haha, don't be silly, I can't do that! I'd be far too embarrassed."

"But, he'd probably appreciate it more if you gave it him yourself..it'd be more sincere, you know?"

He tried to smile at her as he spoke, showing that he wasn't making fun of her, however, her smile had dropped,

"What, your saying he wouldn't like it?"

Her voice grew higher and she was almost shouting, causing people around them to stare.

"Um-n-no, I'm just saying he'd probably prefer to receive the letter from the person who wrote it.."

She grabbed him by the collar of his t-shirt and pushed him against the locker,

"What would you know about it? All you do is follow him around like a sheepdog, and its not as if any girl would ever like you!"

At this point, everyone around was looking at the scene that unfolded before them, wanting to see what would happen. He couldn't hit her, he'd always been told not to hit girls. But she was holding him against the locker, shouting at him, surely he was the victim here?

At least that was what he thought. Everyone around was shouting at him too, calling him mean for not doing what she said, some even telling her to punch him. He desperately tried to escape from her grip, but in that process he accidentally crumpled the envelope she'd given to him. He was suddenly dropped to the floor, and he saw her stare at the crumpled envelope in his hand,

"I-I'm so sorry, it was an-"

Before he could finish speaking, she slapped him, and ran off crying. With blood dripping down his face, a crumpled love letter in one hand, and a large group of people that had seen him get slapped, surely people were on his side here?

He had never been so wrong.