Tomorrow [Tsukishima Kei x Reader]

41

Tsukishima Kei's POV

There's a lot of things that happened after that. Nationals, second year, nationals again, third year, our last nationals together, graduation, then college.

While we— the boys' team— head off to nationals, [Name] focused on getting better. And this time, she did.

After the operation, she was balancing both physical therapy and alternative means of medicine to strengthen her muscles and manage her stamina problems— which included her tendency to have short breaths.

When second-year started, she wasn't completely recovered yet, but she started attending classes again. She was still in the same class I was— something I was very happy with. Regarding clubs, she didn't go back to the girls' volleyball club yet but at that point, she already resigned as our manager.

The Interhigh Tournament happened around June. At that time, [Name] was finally back with her team. It was at that time where she smiled the brightest, especially inside the court. Despite the long break she took from volleyball, her skills didn't die down. Once she went back to training, her own skills came back as well. While she tried to hone her own abilities once more, we were there to remind her to take a break from time to time so she wouldn't go back to overworking herself.

It was during the Spring Interhigh that [Name] and her team stood out the most. Throughout their whole games, she was compared to the former Seijoh captain, Oikawa Tooru. But, it wasn't only her skills that paved their way to nationals. [Name] stayed to true to her words before and pushed her teammates as well while she trained.

That tournament, they got third place overall in the nationals.

I could still remember the wide smile on her face that day despite losing. She was crying, but her face was glowing with happiness. They might have not won first, but still, she was contented with it.

That year though, she decided to retire playing right after the games.

[Name] said that she didn't want to take any more chances with her own health and settled with being our manager again.

The third and second years welcomed her with open arms again and soon enough, the first years found themselves attached to her as well. Other than being a manager, she also helped us train. But the year was ending and the third years had to leave.

Soon, it was us who was the graduating batch. The year was eventful as well for us, but not as much for [Name] anymore. Still, she smiled.

Once we graduated, we all had different plans.

In the end, I got into a college of my choice while [Name] decided not to enter any university. Instead, she opened her own cafe and named it 'Bird's Paradise'. According to her, the name was influenced by the fact that she came from Karasuno and made the best memories there. She didn't fail to emphasize that most of those best memories were with me.

As for our status with each other, I wasn't the one who asked her out. It wasn't that I wasn't planning to, she just beat me to it. Like always, she didn't take too much time to decide on things and asked me on the spot once she knew we both liked each other. I wanted to tell her no because I wanted to be the one to ask her out but she told me she'd say no as well.

In the end, she was still the one who asked me out, and I, of course, said yes. I mean, why wouldn't I agree to be her boyfriend?

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I pushed the glass door and walked inside the cafe.

"Tsukishima-san! Good morning!" Hayato— one of her employees— said.

"Good morning. Where is she?" I asked while approaching the counter.

"Inside the kitchen."

"I see."

"Do you want me to call her?" Hayato asked.

"No, it's okay. I don't want to bother if she's busy. Just tell her I passed by already."

"Oh. Okay."

I was about to turn around until I heard the sound of doors suddenly being swung open.

"Was that Kei?!"

Both Hayato and I looked towards the kitchen door and saw the [h/c]-haired girl with a huge smile on her face.

"Kei!" [Name] exclaimed as she walked out of the kitchen. "Wait, I prepared some cookies for you."

"Idiot, why are you walking?" I asked.

"It's only for a short while, don't worry!"

I clicked my tongue as I grabbed the sealed paper bag she was handing me.

Sometime around last year, [Name]'s legs started to get weak again. Because of that, Nanami-san told her to start using a wheelchair most of the time. She was still advised to walk around but not to the point she would exhaust herself.

"Those are special cookies! I named them CooKei," [Name] said, grinning at me.

I chuckled at the name she came up with.

"You're cheesy as always," I said, flicking her forehead.

"Ouch!"

[Name] pouted at me as she covered her forehead. I grabbed her hands and set them aside as I placed a quick kiss on her forehead.

"I'm gonna leave now," I said, turning around.

"Stay safe!" [Name] said. "Don't forget to pass by later, okay?"

"Okay," I said as I pulled the glass door and walked out.

I knew just what she wanted me to be there for.

One of her goals at the moment was to make the best strawberry shortcake and I— being the strawberry shortcake enthusiast that I am— became her taste-tester, as requested by her. It made my heart flutter when she mentioned that she wanted to make the best version of that cake just because she knew I loved it.

While walking to my university, I put on my headphones hanging from my neck and played some songs. I had a smile on my face as I took a bite on one of the cookies she made for me.

I still wasn't the type to always wear a smile all the but whenever she ends up in my thoughts, a smile is bound to make its way on my face.

I guess that's just how much of an effect she had on me. And even if I could change that, I wouldn't.

Life was good right now. Things were fine and I hope they keep being like that.