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

ten.

Yamaguchi

"Tadashi! Oh my! It's been so long!" Tsukki's mom swung her arms, wrapping it around my neck as she pulled me into a tight hug.

I bent over to her height in order for me to hug her back, "It sure is," I casted a glance over Tsukki from her behind, grimacing towards his mom and I, making me chuckle by the sour face Tsukki was making.

Mrs. Tsukishima's eyes glistened as she pulled away from our hug, "Oh, you've grown so tall! Soon enough, you'll be taller than Kei!" She let out a hearty laugh.

Tsukki rolled his eyes, "Cliché" He mumbled in a brusque manner, striding towards the kitchen.

We both ignored Tsukki's snarky remark, apparantly, it seemed like his mom and I are tired of his crap.

Recalling the bouquet of flowers I've been holding, I perched the bunch of colorful forward, "Oh, I bought you these Higanbana and Chrysanthemums. It's not much but-"

"I love them!" Mrs. Tsukishima trilled in excitement, scooping the bunch in her short arms, "Tadashi, you've always been such a sweet boy!" She chortled in delight.

My lips stretched out a smile, "It's nothing!"

I already have taken off my shoes as Mrs. Tsukishima coaxed me to come in. Their house had a few renovations and it almost felt like I was home. Flashbacks of my memories with Tsukki when we were kids suddenly started appearing around the house.

. . .

Tsukki appeared by the door as a sobbing, little Yamaguchi stood outside by the doormat. The little lad's breathing was rapid and shallow, his body trembling in uncontrollable fear.

"Yamaguchi? What's wrong?" The blonde boy's eyebrows connects into a deep furrow, "Are you okay?"

Yamaguchi didn't speak, but the tears continued to flow from his eyes down to his cheeks, cascading endlessly. The little children on their bikes just outside Tsukki's door, started bantering towards Yamaguchi, throwing at him with small rocks.

"Oh, come on, Tadashi! We're just playing around! You always cry a lot, you crybaby!" The little boy on his blue bike barked, as he continued throwing rocks at him.

The other kids started a ruckus as they all chanted, "Crybaby," sending their group of friends in a laughing convulsion. Tsukki's eyes trailed at the broken bike that Yamaguchi owns, laying by the sidewalk looking irreparably damaged. He immediately figure it was done by the bullies.

He glowered towards the group of kids, pulling Yamaguchi away from their sight so he could protect him with all his might from getting hit by the rocks.

"Hey!" Tsukki snarled, reeling back with his arms around the vulnerable, crying boy, "Get lost!" He yelled.

The ignorant kids refused to listen as they all even laughed at Tsukki's face, "And what are you going to do about it? Four eyes!"

The blonde child's face turns red in plethora of rage as he took off his glasses before throwing it on the ground. He managed to maneuver towards the hose, laying by the grass and pointing it at the children on their bicycles, Tsukki did not hesitate to turn the faucet on, as the hose conveyed a strong pressure of cold water, spraying and splattering all over them, leaving their clothes wet and damp.

The bullies shrieked in shock by the sudden impact of the strong pressure of the cold water coming from the hose, "Hey! What the hell!" They all hissed, making them drop the small rocks from their hands.

Tsukki did not turn off the hose right away until they all scrambled to their bicycle, retreating away from Tsukki's lawn.

"Freaks!" A fat boy on his bike fumed pausing from treadling his bike to yell once more, his clothes and hair soaked from water.

Tsukki gripped the faucet and turned it on, spraying the hose once again. The fat boy shrilled in fear and scurried away.

"That's right! Get lost!" He repeated himself.

Yamaguchi was sitting by the doormat as he was incling backwards by the doorframe for support, his face obvious in exhaustion. Tsukki marched towards Yamaguchi with his hands on his waist, showing pride and conceit.

"Did you see that, Yamaguchi? I kicked their asses off!" Tsukki shrilled, proudly before picking up his glasses from the ground, wearing it unevenly.

Yamaguchi let out a sly chuckle, his voice sounded strained from crying, "You're not suppose to say that word, Tsukki,"

Tsukki raised an eyebrow and smirked, "What? Ass?" His smirk quickly changed into a grin, "I'm just cooler than you," He boasted, shrugging his shoulders.

Yamaguchi snickered in mockery, "Yeah, right."

The blonde rolled his eyes before offering Yamaguchi a hand, "Come on, my mom's cooking karaage,"

The glowing appreciation on Yamaguchi's face shone brighter than the noonday sun, "Really? That's awesome!" He squealed in excitement.

Yamaguchi stood up to his feet, almost stumbling, but Tsukki reacted right away, supporting his helpless frame. Yamaguchi's utterance turns to grim. In an instant, the gloominess, wretched expression painted his freckles on his cheeks. Tsukki couldn't help but to feel worried over Yamaguchi, so he tried his best to initiate a conversation.

"Did you see that fat boy's face? He was shitless scared!" Tsukki's smirk replaced his frown, and then the room resounded with his distinctive laugh akin to the heavy bellowing of a donkey before it reaches full bray.

Yamaguchi's eyes crinkled at the corners, he didn't respond but held his sides as though he had a stomachache. Tsukki studied his face. The subtle upward quirk of his mouth told Yamaguchi that Tsukki was smothering a laugh.

The two little boys entered the house helplessly laughing, as Tsukki nudged his elbow at Yamaguchi making him pause.

"Yeah?" Yamaguchi asked, his face traced in confusion.

Tsukki paused and looked down to his feet, "I-I. . ." He hesitated, Yamaguchi observed him as Tsukki fiddled with his fingers, his face masked with vulnerability.

Tsukki hastily pulled Yamaguchi into a tight hug, "I'm glad you're okay," His voice rasped. Yamaguchi's heart skipped a beat, unable to compose his response.

The two vulnerable kids stayed like that by the hallway, their embrace felt like it was the only thing that has ever mattered at that time and at that moment.

"Don't go off wondering without me, again, okay?" Tsukki's voice didn't sound sarcastic at all. His voice filled with obvious concern.

Tsukki didn't want to let go of Yamaguchi. Too scared to even let him slip away, as if every time Tsukki's not around, something bad will happen to him and he wouldn't be able to protect him.

Yamaguchi felt too tired to even reply. He didn't want to speak about anything. It felt like Tsukki's comforting words were the only contentment that he needed. It was the only thing that kept Yamaguchi from feeling scared. Yamaguchi choked his words as he let his tears subside, the tears that has been forming for the past few seconds in Tsukki's warmth.

Yamaguchi hoped it lasted forever.