Tadashi | tsukkiyama

2

chapter 2
—
❛don't ask me
I was always like this❜
—

THE fact that Yamaguchi had figured out he was the main deciding factor of everything Tsukishima did just proved how smart he was. They were bantering over whether Tsukishima could go back on his word to go to the group activity after practice or not. Technically he hadn't told anyone else that he planned to go, but once his classes were over and he had a mountain pile of work to do, the blond didn't want to spend his night around loud guys.

"Please Tsukki." Yamaguchi jutted out his bottom lip and gave Tsukishima puppy eyes, ones that he knew weakened the blond's defense. Whenever he really wanted to do something, all he had to do was give those eyes and Tsukishima would cave and do whatever his green-haired friend wanted to do. And he used it to his advantage in the moment now.

Tsukishima's eyes dip down to look at his friend's lips and he sighs, knowing he couldn't say no to Yama. He sighed defeated, "fine. But I'm not gonna be happy."

Yamaguchi smiled and reached forward to latch onto his muscular arm. He thanked Tsukishima and it took everything in the blond to not lean down and connect their lips. Even if they were the only ones in the bathroom, he told himself that Yamaguchi didn't like him like that.

Slipping out of the pinch server's hands, Tsukishima washed his hands and dried them off before leaving his friend alone in the bathroom. He breathed in heavily only to let it out soon after, curling his hands into fists inside his pants pockets. He walked to his class and sat in the chair, preparing himself to be around the whole volleyball team for more time than he would have liked, but this was his fault in the first place. He could have said no to Yama, but both knew that wouldn't happen so easily.

It wasn't even a half hour into being around the guys outside from practice and Tsukishima wanted to go home. He was tired and crabby from practice and Hinata's constant blabbering was getting on his nerves. It didn't help that Tanaka would enable the chattering either.

When it was too much Tsukishima snapped, "do you ever shut the fuck up, Hinata? Or do you not understand that either?"

Like every other time, the redhead brushed off the insult and answered cheerfully. He was ignored by the blond because he slid on his headphones and played music. He didn't care if the other team members didn't like him, he didn't want to be there in the first place. He'd been dragged into this annoying outing even with his consent, but Tsukishima was not in the mood.

Once they got to the ramen bar Suga rallied everyone into a small circle and asked what everyone wanted. Yamaguchi told him what they both wanted and pulled his annoyed friend away from the group. They sat at a large circular table, Tsukishima turning down his volume so he'd hear what Yamaguchi had to say.

"What's wrong Tsukki?"

He blatantly stated, "I don't want to be here, and everyone is being annoying."

Yamaguchi knew he didn't mean him, or otherwise he wouldn't be speaking to him, but it didn't lessen the hurt that bloomed in his chest.

The green-haired boy said lowly, a little afraid to speak his mind about how his friend acted towards their team member, "you didn't have to say that to Hinata though, he was just being himself."

Tsukishima scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah—he's annoying and too loud. I don't know how Kageyama can stand him."

Some of the other guys sat down around them and their conversation was cut shorter than Yamaguchi would have liked. He wanted to get Tsukki to speak his mind and get it off his chest, but he knew he wouldn't say anything now with the guys around. So, he zipped his lips and looked to the others, smiling shortly at them.

As the food came out Tsukishima placed his headphones around his neck, but his music was still playing at a low level. He kept most of his comments to himself, and the ones that did come out came with Yamaguchi knocking his knee against his, silently telling him to cool down. So, he stuffed ramen noodles in his mouth to keep himself from insulting everyone.

The conversation around him was light and hearty, laughs going through each team member. Tsukishima's social battery ran out halfway through, so he resulted to going on his phone to block everyone out, keeping his knee pressed into Yama's so he had some type of tether grounding him.

"Bye guys!" Yamaguchi called out to them, then running up next to the blond who kept walking. He tightened his grip on his school bag to stay cool, but it was no good when Yamaguchi asked tenderly, "are you okay Tsukki?"

"No. I didn't want to go in the first place, but I went because you dragged me there. They're all idiots, especially Hinata and Kageyama, and I can't stand them. I don't know why I let you drag me with when I could have easily been doing schoolwork or something."

He frowned, tighten his other hand into a tight fist. His nails dig into his palm, but he ignored the slight pain. Tsukishima kept his head faced forward while walking so he could stay cold, and not melt under Yamaguchi's caring stare. He didn't deserve Yamaguchi, yet the smart idiot wouldn't leave him no matter what was said. They both knew that anything mean said to Yamaguchi from Tsukishima wasn't in any means true, it was just his frustrations being taken out.

As they came up on Tsukishima's house Yamaguchi lightly touched the blond's hip to grab his attention. But, the blond stepped away and whispered, "don't Yamaguchi." Then, he disappeared into his house without a parting.

The green-haired second year stood outside, not knowing what to do. He didn't know if he should follow Tsukishima and knock on their door so he could comfort the blond, or if he should let Tsukishima cool down and talk to him tomorrow. Yamaguchi chose the latter and walked away with a small frown. He sent a quick text to Tsukishima either way.

Yama: hey look, sorry for bringing you out when you didn't want to

Tsukki: no it's not ur fault

author's note: here's to another salty boy and his little angel friend 😊.