tsukishima x yamaguchi | clouded kisses ☁️☆

4

yamaguchi tensed up at the sudden break of silence. without even processing the question he piped up with a "yes!". he replied, almost too excited to do something so seemingly mundane, but didn't bother to worry about it any longer than necessary.

"alright let's go then" kei said, grabbing another cookie and walking to the rack by the door to grab a pair of worn-out running shoes.

tadashi followed suit, slipping his feet into his shoes and the two left through the front doorway. it was nearly midnight when they'd left, walking out into the depths of the night. cold breezes passed by, covering both of the boys' arms in goosebumps. the two walk peacefully down the street, luminously lit by dim street lamps, passing the occasional car or getting spooked by a subtle rustling in the bushes every now and then.

they stopped at a small field, surrounded by large trees with an open grassy area in the center. no one sane was out this late at night, so there were no people to bother them. they both used to go to this park a lot as kids to practice volleyball and play games of tag with each other, but it seems they've just grown out of the habit. it seemed like a perfect time for the two to revisit old childhood memories and get lost in thoughtful conversation while they gaze at the stars above them. they sat in the grass next to each other, admiring the freckled night sky. they talk to each other about what's been on their minds recently. it's nice having someone you can open up to without any fear of judgment.

"yea... i just feel like everyone else on the team is so much better than me you know? i feel i don't contribute that much to games or tournaments..." he trails off while he sits hugging his knees tightly.

"yamaguchi, i think you do so much for the club even if you don't realize it," tsukishima replies, "you're so good at motivating people to do better, and the amount you've improved this season alone is incredible, and i'm so proud of you" he said with a soft smile.

tadashi's heart did somersaults. no one has ever said something so genuinely kind to him before. it took all his power to keep him from sobbing into his best friends arms.

he grinned back, his cheeks pink from smiling, "thank you tsukki, i really appreciate it" he said in a soft tone.

kei's heart squeezed 'could you possibly be anymore adorable?' he just wanted to hold onto him forever, so he always knew he was loved and appreciated, and he'd never dream of letting go.

they sit in silence for a moment, until yamaguchi shifts his gaze towards a large oak tree to the right of him.

"remember when we were in elementary, and i climbed that tree and fell out of it?" he said with a laugh.

"yes! and you broke your arm and had to wear a cast for like 3 months!" he said, now laughing too.

they continue to look back on the fond memories they had with each other at this spot.

"tsukki! remember when you got attacked by a goose by the pond" yamaguchi exclaimed, breathless from laughing too hard.

tsukishima's face went red instantly, "its not funny yamaguchi..." he said muffled with embarrassment.

tadashi continued to laugh, poking slight fun at his friends' complexion. 'you're so adorable when you're embarrassed tsukki...' he trails off into daydreams. he's never experienced a feeling more frustrating than unrequited love for his own best friend. but right now, he doesn't want to worry about that. its just him, kei, and the night sky above them.

both the boys were major astronomy nerds. if tsukishima wasn't so into dinosaurs, constellations would be his main focus. yamaguchi has always loved to stargaze late at night, whenever his mind feels cluttered with thoughts of nothingness. it has always helped him come back to earth and settle down his conscious. tsukishima was very aware of this, so whenever yamaguchi was growing anxious, he'd stop by his house, no matter how late, and lay in the grass with him, until he was able to calm down. but they haven't done that in a long time. they both got too busy with life and school. it felt so refreshing for them both to do something like this again, escaping the troubles of the world with each other and drifting in and out of exchanges of troublesome thoughts and conspiracies.