Aniki and Saltyshima (Tsukishima Kei x Reader)

Part 4: A Happy Lunch Ruins My Day

"My liege," I hear Tsukishima say with Yamaguchi at his side. That's when I walk up with my crutches. 

"Morning everybody!" I say excitedly and I know immediately that Kageyama had that dream again. The one where everyone betrayed him and I felt the guilt well up inside me. I should've been there! I was a part of the team too! I think only to be pulled out of my thoughts by Tsukishima's voice.

"Oi, come on nerd! The games about to start!" He called looking over his shoulder, I just smiled at him sweetly.

"Yeah, I'm coming, don't worry! It's not like you could play without me!" I call back with a bright smile. We entered the gym and while everyone warmed up I heard Tsukishima calling out the other team. I couldn't help but wonder what happened to the boy who was kind to me.

----------Flashback----------

Lunch rolled around and I pulled out my bento box. Inside is the lunch Oikawa made me and I let out a groan. "Is something wrong Natalie?" I hear Yamaguchi's voice call as he drags Tsukishima over with him.

"I really don't have time for this- Wait is that even edible!?" Tsukishima asks as he sees the lunch in my hand. I smile up at him and shake my head no.

"No, my brother has never been a good cook, but, since I'm injured and didn't get home until late last night he made me lunch! I guess it's the thought that counts though!" I say with an even brighter smile as I imagine my brother cooking. In all honesty, he probably asked Nīsan for help but he was on his way to pick me up from the hospital. Tsukishima let out a sigh before throwing me the bento box I made for him.

"You made it, you eat it," He says before walking away with the lunch Tōru made me. Yamaguchi looked between us shocked before following the middle blocker. 

----------Flashback Ends----------

The game started promptly afterward and Tanka got too excited. He starts screaming and whipping his shirt in the air causing everyone on the sidelines to yell at him to put it back on. Hinata jumped for the spike and Tsukishima effortlessly blocked it. I heard him insulting Hinata's height and I couldn't take it anymore. Or so I thought but instead of popping my top, I just adopted a persona like his.

I tsked him and crossed my arms from the bench. "You sure talk a lot for a beanpole," I say and that was when Kageyama was put back into the right headspace. "I wonder how much money I could get if I sold you to the circus. A salty, talking beanpole with glasses isn't something you see every day. I already know what they would call your act, Saltyshima!" I say and then I back off giving him an irritating smirk. 

Eventually, Tsukishima started explaining the meaning behind Kageyama's nickname and nobody realized that I was getting more upset than Kageyama was. "Shut up Tsukishima!" I yelled with tears in my eyes and just like that I ran out of the gym, Suga chasing after me. 

"Nat-chan!" I heard Suga call with my crutches in his hand. I ran until the pain in my ankle got to me. I collapsed and started to cry uncontrollably. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asked and my tears stopped at the sound of his voice. I must not cry in front of him, otherwise, he will never believe my tears are real. I think recalling how my mom would always tell me to cut it out with the crocodile tears. 

I took deep breaths and started singing the song I had made up in my head. 
Don't show your pain
Lock it away
Just shut the door
And cry no more

Just like when I lived in America, I felt my sadness grow but my tears stopped and I could pull back on my facade. "Sorry, Suga, it's just that I went to middle school with Tobio. I was his best friend and I was a spiker on the team. I wasn't at the game when the others abandoned him, I wasn't there for him when he needed my support the most. If I had just been there to spike that ball down, he would be at Shiratorizawa right now. I ruined his entire volleyball career all because of a stupid cold," I say angry at myself only to feel Suga hug me as my new mom does.