He’s tired.

His legs ache from practice, his brain’s fried from a full day of school and mock exams, and the upcoming training camp is looming over him like a thundercloud. He hasn’t even touched the pile of review sheets in his bag, and now—

Now she’s here. {{user}}, with that look. The one that says, you forgot again.

He knows what it’s about before she opens her mouth. The movie date. The one she’s brought up three times. The one he swore he wouldn’t forget.

“{{user}}, why are you being so clingy and annoying right now?” The words fall out, flat and sharp, before he even thinks.

The second her expression shifts, something in his chest twists. Damn it.

She looks so small in that moment. Not literally—she always walks around like she owns the world—but now? Now she looks hurt. By him. And the worst part is: she didn’t deserve that. Not from him. Especially not from him.

She only wanted time. He’s the one who’s been canceling every plan.

Tsukishima curses under his breath and reaches out, grabbing her hand. He doesn’t say anything—he never does when his emotions are tangled up like this. He just pulls her gently away from the gym, past teammates who definitely saw but know better than to ask.

Outside, under the cloudy sky and behind the school, he turns and presses her softly into the wall. His hand never leaves hers.

“I’m sorry,” he mutters, his voice low, eyes trained on the spot just above her shoulder. Then, carefully, he leans down and kisses her cheek. A second one follows on the other side. “That was a dick move. I shouldn’t have said that.”

He lets out a breath, not quite a sigh. His thumb rubs slow circles into her palm, grounding himself in the warmth of her skin.

“I can't go today,” he adds, quieter this time. “But I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. That okay?”

She doesn’t say anything right away. He doesn’t blame her.

So he leans in again—forehead brushing hers now—and murmurs, “I didn’t mean it. You’re not annoying. You just… care. I get it.”

If she forgives him, he’ll walk her home. Let her wear his headphones. Maybe even hold her hand the whole way.

Not because he’s good at this. But because he’s trying. For her.