secret gem • haikyuu !!

16 ; Similarities

"You know when you asked my brother and Bokuto about why they keep playing volleyball." Tsukishima's head perks up a little, staring at Mai curiously.

'Where is she going with this...'

"Yeah. What about it." He said, shifting his gaze to her.

"I'm happy you asked them that." She said, wrapping her arms around her knees. "Because I always wanted to know why they keep pushing... Why I kept pushing."

"Wh-" Before Tsukishima could say anything else, he saw that she was having her legs to her chest. She was cuddling them for her dear life, trying to shake away that uncertain feeling. Her hair covered her side of her face but Tsukishima can recognise that she was hurting.

"Actually, just forget it, I don't even know why I brought it up in the first play, heh.." She brushes it off faster than he could even say anything; she turns to face Tsukishima with a teary smile. She releases her legs from her chest and was about to get up. Just as she did, a warm grasp appeared around her wrist, keeping her still.

"Wait- Mai..." Tsukishima said, she didn't face him, but he knows that her tears are flowing slowly down.

She doesn't need to face him, he knows that. She barely knows him, he knows that. She hasn't even told him what she's worried about, he knows but he understands what she was going to say anyways. He can't see another person hurt just because of volleyball. "You can tell me, I'll listen."

Because he knows that's all she needs. Someone to listen to. A small quiet whimper came out of her lips, as she turned revealing her sorrowful state. He knew she was hurting, a gut feeling if he could describe it. Everyone can never not hide their feelings, we show people want we want ourselves to be.

But some people are better at this than others.

"You probably don't want to talk about it, but when you're ready, I'll be there to listen." Tsukishima said, carefully walking to her fragile state. He felt like she was on the edge and at any moment, she would shatter. So he pulled her away from that edge and into his chest. Tsukishima, was also surprised he did that, but it's what she needed.

He gently wrapped his arms, as he felt her's slowly grapple around his waist. He felt her soft sobs into his white shirt. He cautiously pats her head, not really sure how to comfort her, but in his eyes, it seems like it's working.

They stayed like this for a few, long, seconds, until her cries weren't audible and she pulled away from his chest. "I'm sorry..." She said, unable to make eye contact with him.

"For what? Being strong?" He said, trying to make light of her emotions.

'How long has she felt this way? To the point where she has to hide her feelings from her brother.'

He quietly sighs and slightly rubs her back, seeing her reddened face and slight puffy eyes, "Let's get you some fresh air." She nods and the two walk towards the door they were at earlier. He kept to her pace, sitting down on the steps they were on before. He heard her deep inhale and exhale, trying to get rid of those emotions.

"Do you want water?" He asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"N-No.. It's fine." She choked the words out a little, he nods a little and scoots closer to her, trying to give her much comfort as she needs.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here." He repeated, staring up into the night sky. He felt a small press against his arm. Turning his head a bit, Mai was leaning against his shoulder, not having her upper body being tall enough to place her head on top of his shoulder. They stared up into the lonely sky, both wondering how this moment just felt... right.