𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 [𝐓. 𝐊𝐞𝐢]

𝐨𝟏𝟖. 𝐞𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚.

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     "What?"

     "Are you really that deaf? I said, are you ignoring me?" If he was irritated before, he seemed furious now. As time passed by and an answer from you wasn't received, Tsukishima grew annoyed. He sighed, taking his headphones off from his ears, strangely, no sound was coming out of them.

     "Tsukishima..."

     'Was he pretending to listen to music all this time?'

     "I'm sorry." His apology surprised you. He had nothing to apologize for. If anything, you were supposed to be the one saying that phrase. You mercilessly ignored him just because you couldn't sort out your goddamn feelings. It was too frustrating. Feelings infuriated you.

     "For what?" The supposed confident answer came out as a hush whisper.

     "I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable in the infirmary." Your heart felt tight.

     'No. No Tsukishima. You didn't make me feel uncomfortable. If anything, you made me feel the complete opposite.' He thought he made you uncomfortable, it almost made you laugh. To even think that he would believe something like that was comedic. God, if anything you wanted to close the distance between you two.

     "I shouldn't have said that without asking you what you thought. It's just- ugh. I sound like an idiot." His fists were out of his pockets and they were so tightly held that his knuckles appeared white. He clearly was having a hard time, and it made you want to hold them.

     'I want to tell you how I feel. What I've been thinking about these days. But I don't know if I can Tsukishima...I'm not the confident girl I was in Tokyo."

     "If you're going to continue ignoring me, that's fine. But what you told me in the infirmary, I won't forget it. I will actually try my best. I know I sound like an idiot, or a bastard ,or a sensitive ass-"

     Your arms wrapped around Tsukishima's torso, and you pulled him closer to your body. The right cheek of your face rubbed continuously on his jacket, which was your vivid attempt to try and shut him up. It definitely did. Not only did he stop talking, he seemed to have stop breathing too. His movements were sparse and it seemed like he had trouble in his mind to respond at your sudden action.

     But you didn't want him to say anything. It was just nice enough for him to be there.

     "W-What are you doing?"

     "Tsukishima-kun," you held him tighter, "I should be saying I'm sorry. Don't say those things about yourself. You're far from that. Stop lowering yourself down. I'm sorry for ignoring you. You know I'm not someone that can really tell people how I feel."

    "I c-can't breathe you idiot."

    "I could care less."

     Time passed between the both of you. But unlike before, it brought solace. Even though his arms weren't around you, his chest was strangely warm. It was nice to finally, and, voluntarily, hug someone. The feeling was almost exhilirating. Different from the hugs between you and Tetsurō.

     "I thought I was annoying, but you're on a whole other level mubō-chan." He began to quietly laugh to himself, as his arms began to lower to your waist as well. Looking up, his gaze meets yours and crimson cheeks were evident on the both of your faces. His hand slowly rose, caressing your cheekbone. "You're ugly."

     "The magazines say otherwise beanpole-kun."

     "I know."

▬▬ι══════════════ι▬▬

     "What's with the smile on your face Saito-san?" Fukuda asks you, pointing her chopsticks in your direction. Your chin was leaning on your hand as you noticed that all you were doing was pushing your food around. But the feeling in your chest was nice. Your cheekbones almost hurt from the constant want of smiling. "It's been on your face since you came home."

     "Sorry Fukuda-san. It's just...I don't know." Fukuda's attention never seemed to fall from you, and if anything, she seemed a bit more interested.

     "Well, tell me then. I'm all ears." Your eyes raised up to meet her's and an unfamiliar warmth replaced the constant need to smile.

     'She wants to listen to me?' The only people that listened to you was Chiho and Etsuko, but an adult? Nobody at home wanted to listen to you, well, Ai attempted to, but she always ended up going to sleep. Botan wanted to listen to you as well, but he was far too innocent to even understand, much less reply a worthy response. It was a first. It was gratifying.

     "Um...well, you see, Tsukishima-"

     "I knew it! I knew it! What, are you guys dating?" Her serious facade fell quickly at the sudden name of a boy familiar to her. But her assumption made you flush, yet again.

     "NO. No, no, well, um, NO. I don't know...we just hugged once? But I fed him? I don't know, it's too soon to even have a say."

     "Well do you like him?"

     "LIKE?!?" Fukuda jumped at the sudden rise in volume to your voice. As you were going to deny the claim, something seemed to be clogging your throat. "I don't know."

     "Hm, that's difficult. How do you feel about him?"

     'Feel about him? How do I feel about Tsukishima?'

     "I liked hugging him, I guess. I like his insults for some reason. I like him annoying me, when he puts his elbow on my head even though it hurts, when he steals my food, when he buys me matcha from the vending machine..." While you continued on about all the things you appreciated Tsukishima doing, Fukuda noticed the smile growing back on your face. She began to smile herself, you didn't know it, but that smile of yours was a bit intoxicating. Almost bringing euphoria to the others around you. Too bad you didn't do it a lot.

      However, throughout your speech, Fukuda came to two ultimate conclusions.

     'My, my, Y/N-chan...you like Kei-kun way more than you actually think you do. Young love is so beautiful to witness.'

AUTHORS NOTE!
Triple update! Just a reminder that you guys are beautiful（＾ν＾）