The Moon's Redamancy In Fall [Tsukishima x Yamaguchi]

four.

Yamaguchi

I was walking by the side walk almost reaching Coach Ukai-san's small store, Sakanoshita about to meet Yachi-san. It definitely is cold today. I wonder if Tsukki's early. We don't usually go to school together but there are times we would bump into each other and would decide to walk together. But that would just happen maybe thrice a week if I'm lucky.

When I finally turned to the corner, I saw Yachi-san sitting by an empty bench just outside the store with her both hands covering her mouth before rubbing her hands together to create friction to warm herself. As I strode towards her, my presence finally caught her attention.

"Yamaguchi-kun! Ohayo!" Yachi-san's face lit up as she finally met my eyes, greeted me with a warm, wide smile, waving her hands towards my direction as she stood from her seat.

I smiled back at her, "Goodmorning to you, too, Yachi-san!" I greeted, waving back.

"Thank you for helping me today, I hope I'm no bothersome," She snickered, tucking her loose hair behind her ear while looking down.

I let out a soft chuckle, "No, it's fine!
Apparently, I actually would want to thank you for reminding me that we have a project," I scratched the back of my head apologetically.

I was so caught up by the game . . . and Tsukki yesterday I completely forgotten about school.

"That's okay," Yachi-san shrugged with a smile, "Do you want to get hot choco before we start our day?" She kindly offered, facing towards Sakanoshita.

I politely accepted her offer with a nod and entered the small store with Yachi-san as we were both greeted with the aroma of breakfast and a hint of lit cigarette. Ukai-san sat behind the counter with a magazine in front of him, not taking notice of our presence.

"Ohayo Gozaimasu, Ukai-san!" I greeted as I reached for two empty paper cups in a dispenser.

Ukai-san peeked in a furtive manner behind the magazine he was reading, "Ah, goodmorning, Yachi! Yamaguchi! You're early today, huh?" He said, placing a stick of cigarette between his lips and his other held the magazine he was reading.

"Yup! Yachi-san and I will be working with a project," I explained, while pouring the hot chocolate drink in the two cups from the dispenser machine.

After getting us our drinks, we exchanged our goodbyes with Ukai-san and started to walk towards our school's main gate. Yachi-san walked beside me as we started to discuss about our project.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea," I smiled, nodding at her. Yachi-san's eyes glints in enthusiasm while I agree with her brilliant ideas.

"Hold this for me!" She jumped in excitement, handing her cup of chocolate to me, the hotness of the drink burned my skin a little making me wince quietly by the sudden stinging sensation, "Ouch . . ." I muttered to myself, while Yachi-san hastily grabbed a small notepad in her bag.

I think she heard me wince, but I was hoping she wouldn't mind me because we were running pretty late.

Yachi-san's cheeks and ears turns into bright red in embarrassment, "Yamaguchi-kun! Are you okay? I'm very sorry!" She cried out as she bow her head apologetically to my direction.

I snickered nervously, "Yachi-san, I'm fine," I said, trying to ease her slight panic, giving her a crooked smile.

Her eyes glistens, "I just got too excited and I needed to take notes whatever ideas we could come up to because I tend to forget things!" She held her forehead in frustration, while frowing with her eyes closed.

I let out a surpressed chuckle, "It's okay!"

Ring!

Ring!

"Ugh! No, we're late!" Yachi-san buried her face on both of her hands, "I didn't even listed all the ideas you said!" She whined, almost like a baby. I sighed. But in my head.

"It's okay, Yachi-san, I'll meet you by break time," I uttered, handing her cup back.

Yachi-san gave me sad smile, we stood by the main entrance of the school and I almost forgot that we were already running late.

Before I even realized that my peripheral vision saw Tsukki's figure sauntering towards us, Yachi-san fixed her gaze on Tsukki, "Tsukishima-kun, ohayo!" Yachi-san's lips quirked upwards in a joyous smile.

Tsukki's expression didn't change, his expression seem to be a lot more tedious, "Morning," His voice was monotone. Very monotone, enough to quickly shift the very enthusiastic mood into a very calm yet uneasy vibe.

"You do notice you're running late, right?" Tsukki scoffed but he tried to sound less mean, which I appreciate.

He hoisted a green notebook from his handbag. My notebook. "Here," He handed me the notebook, "Next time, don't forget your things. You're too young to be forgetting things," Tsukki didn't say another word and started to lurch towards the staircase.

Yachi-san and I watched him in confusion. I wasn't sure if it was a rude remark, either way, at least he could talk now.

I held my notebook close to my chest, it really looked neat and the crumpled edges was gone, "Oh, right. Thank you, Tsukki!" I chattered, "I'll catch up with you later, Yachi-san!" I dismissed myself, waving at her and she did the same, grinning.

"Tsukki, wait up!" I panted, catching up with him but he tends to walk a bit faster than me, "I thought you came early," I said, but my voice came out a croak. Tsukki didn't look like he was in the mood to talk. I mean, he always do but today, something was different.

Tsukki didn't respond. His pale complexion complimented the redness of his nose and cheeks because of the cold weather. His blonde hair was flat on his head, a bit messy because of the wind. He looks so perfect. Our walk on the way to our classroom fell silent.

As we entered our classroom, thank god, we weren't late. Our classmates were shuffling on their seats preparing for our morning classes. Tsukki sat down to his seat, as I took mine. Tsukki's seat is beside the window by the second column, my seat was behind the room, near the wall.

My green notebook that I left from him looked good as new. There was no crumpled and folded edges. I started to turn each pages of the notebook, it even left a trace of his scent.

I started to take notice of my familiar hand writtings and scribbles on the pages. I closed the notebook and decided to check behind it. Why do I feel like I'm expecting something? What am I even looking for?

From the last pages of my notebook, there, lies a familiar handwritting. It wasn't mine though, I know because I never write anything behind any of the pages of my notebooks.

It was Tsukki's.

"Want to come over by dinner?"