Saving Shoyo ✔︎

08//Giraffes//

A/n
Oh my sprinkles I am a terrible author-
Enjoy!
-Mor

Ushijima POV

We were just finishing up a match against Nekoma-we lost, again-when the coaches gave the announcement. Apparently, all the teams were released from training for the remainder of the day. It was only noon, so they gave us free reign to do whatever we wanted-probably not the smartest decision on the coaches' part

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit excited, I've never really been to Tokyo, and this would be our first chance to explore the whole week.

About an hour later, I stood in front of a large framed map of the Tokyo subway, vaguely looking for a place to go. I'd split with Tendou a while back, unintentionally, but he had run off for Hot Topic so fast I'd gotten left behind.

"RRUEERGH."

Huh? I look down, only to see a rather short kid with a dark hoodie pulled over his face straining to reach the maps available in a bin bolted to the side of the post. I watched him for a bit longer before stepping in.

"Here," the map I held out to the kid poked him in the nose by accident, causing him to jerk back.

My eyes widened to see the tangerine locks shake free as Hinata's delicate face became visible, the hood sliding off.

"Ushijima-san! U-uh, thanks," Hinata mumbled, taking the map from my hand as I shook off my surprise. "Where are you headed?"

I glanced back at the map, trying to come up with an answer. "Not sure. This is my first time in Tokyo."

"Mine too, I'm a bit lost haha," I looked down to see Hinata giving me a close–eyed smile. For some reason, I can't stop wanting to be around the little spiker.

"Let's go somewhere."

"Huh?" I'm already walking before Hinata can get a look at the blush growing on my face.

Either he follows or he doesn't.

Light footsteps a moment later were answer enough.

Hinata POV

I can't believe I didn't notice it was Ushijima! I feel like such an idiot. I feel like I forced him to hang out with me by being so useless getting lost-

"We're here." I look up, interrupted from my thoughts by Ushijima's deep voice. My eyes trail past him, to where I could see a cobbled walkway stretching into a......zoo?

"No way!" I can't help my excitement. "I've never been to a real zoo!" I immediately race to the closest enclosure to stare into the leafy habitat. 

I can feel Ushijima's quiet amusement at my antics as he follows at my back. I dash from one exhibit to another, overwhelmed by the white tigers and harpy eagles and rhinoceroses. The quiet ace seemed to like the lemurs best though- I'd had to wave a hand in front of his face he'd been staring so long.

That wasn't nearly as bad as him having to grab onto my hood to keep from falling into the gorilla habitat though.

After a while of walking among the crowds, me embarrassing myself and Ushijima just going with it, the ace and I sat in a quieter area of the enormous zoo. The misters were off here, but it wasn't hot with the large-leafed tree in the center of it all providing decent shade. 

"Thanks."

"For what?" What did he mean 'for what?'? For everything, that's what.

"For...being there for me. For not telling anyone. For taking me here. You didn't have to do any of those things." I look down, away from his piercing gaze, that too-handsome face. Ushijima must have a lot of people pining after him.