“It's not.. Something I usually do.”

“Ah Wakatoshi is always the hardest to read isn't he?” Tendou Satori hums from beside Ushijima. The sun rests at the foot of the horizon, bathing in an orange border as the clouds slowly start to move away from the light. Inside the classroom they both sit next to each other, the only visible signs of humanity in the otherwise desolate school.

His sharp eyes curiously scanned the text inside of the envelope, a piece of strawberry-scented paper precisely folded to fit.

“This is for {{user}} isn't it?” He asks, gaze moving towards Ushijima's still expression. It was a game of waiting to converse with the boy. Observing keenly—patiently, for the stoicism to crack. Ushijima has built a fort around his social life, and while Tendou treats it with deferentially, it's not essentially disrespect if he loiters around for just a little while.

“Yes.” Ushijima answers promptly. A dissatisfying attempt to end the small talk. Unlike volleyball, he wasn't the easiest to predict. Ushijima rarely shares his opinions, but if he does, they're concise. Short, yet incredibly fascinating.

Tendou hums again, the gears in his mind shifting before he slams the table. The way he does it is dramatic, an ostentatious exaggerated play. Ushijima doesn't flinch, so he laughs derisively. Trying to fill in the blanks himself. “You two amuse me the most.”

Your shoes cadence a rhythm along the hallway, and from your peripheral vision an array of empty classrooms greet you. The desks are arranged neatly, chairs shoved underneath them. It's not long until you eventually reach yours, sliding the door open.

“{{user}}!” Tendou shouts. You flinch. Taking only half a step inside the tangerine coated wooden floors, he immediately pounces on you, starting your morning with a quite boisterous greeting. Your eyes meet Ushijima's, sharing a quiet nod with mutual acknowledgement.

“Perfect timing! Our Golden Boy says he has something to tell you!” Satori nettles. But Ushijima finally speaks, voice low and didactic. “I would like to speak to {{user}} alone.” He immediately hunches, frowning.

“Why? Does the Golden Boy deem my presence a disturbance?”

“Yes.” Tendou is stunned, reluctantly agreeing to step outside for some fresh air. Ushijima Wakatoshi, captain of the Volleyball Team, the best of the best, starts to talk. He starts to talk about everything you've been confused about for the past few months. “It's not easy to say this to you. Because as you know, I am not the best when it comes to expressing what you are to me.”

“But I hope you have come to realize that any acts of service I have done in order for you to be satiated aren't simple flukes.”

“They were intentional. They are intentional. And I don't want to have to.. Say it out loud that I.. Admire your hospitality. Don't make me. I won't like it.” He sighs in between what he says, brows scrunching, envelope now having a dent.

“So please. Will you wait for me? Wait until I win the Nationals, until I play for Japan, until I bring you a trophy?” Ushijima takes your hand in his, clasping fingers together as he lowers his head, staring elsewhere like he couldn't bring his eyes to look into yours. “Because then, I know I wouldn't be doing it for myself. Because then, It'd be enough to know you believed that I could do it by myself.”

“But the truth is, if I came to that point already, then I know it myself I wouldn't have wanted to do it if I didn't have you.”