Chapter Text
It started as a joke, albeit a smart one, but not one Tsukishima would ever have taken seriously. In fact, the one who vocalised the idea added to the hysteria of the whole ordeal: One Kōtarō Bokuto.
It had been during a get-together that the pair (Kuroo and Bokuto) had forced Tsukishima to join them in. An ambush in reality, he’d been on his way to the local library squinting up at the daunting trek that he was about to complete. A bag full of books he’d been meaning to return swinging from his left shoulder bumping methodically against his side. The air was fresh a warm sun coupled with a soft breeze ruffled against his hair, as he started pacing, music playing gently in his ears a song Yachi had recommended the other day.
He’d laughed at her, both of them pretending she was ignorant to the creasing in the corner of his eyes and the small tug pulling at his mouth forming a soft smile. But he’d asked for the song title and acted disgruntled as though this was the most laborious action he had to perform as he added it to his playlist. So as the wind sang its soft lullaby he began walking quickly, pulling his headphones completely over his ears, it was 10:00 am and the library didn’t open till 11:00 so he had time to wander and mill about enjoying himself as company.
Tsukishima made it about halfway up the hill before he heard them, a loud, ignorant squawk loud enough to disturb even the deepest of sleepers. Then he saw them, two waiving blobs racing towards him, arms flailing ecstatically. He noticed Bokuto first, his hair making the culprit obvious. After that, it was relatively easy to deduce who the latter of the pair was.
After a short while the three united, Kuroo and Bokuto halting both bending over and gasping to fuel their lungs quickly. As Kuroo muttered angry ramblings, about how Bokuto was trying to kill him and that running up two hills was totally needless.
“Hey Tsuki! How’ve you been? Me and Kuroo thought you’d like to be graced with our presence!”
Bokuto shouted seemingly forgetting both his lack of breath mere moments ago as well as the early hours of the day, especially on a Saturday. Kuroo wiped his forehead with the back of his hand slowly pacing backwards a warm expression painting his face as he looked over at Bokuto. Before turning around cocking an eyebrow up at Tsukishima,
“So where are we going?”
“We..?” Tsukishima asked his voice dripping with sarcasm as he attempted to convey his distaste about his walk having been disrupted.
“We, are going nowhere. I however, am going to the library to return some books.” Pushing up his glasses sighing as he already began to resign himself to this fate the twist of events becoming clear, whilst he wouldn’t call himself close with Bokuto and Kuroo (not like he was with Yams and growing to be with the other first years). He wouldn’t sit idly by to the claim that he didn’t know the two third years at all, in fact after their first meeting at the training camp a few months ago he had secretly grown quite fond of them, Akaashi (whilst not present in this kidnapping-esque hangout) included.
After the second then third match he’d had, Tsukishima had relented, giving over his phone number to Akaashi who, although most people wouldn’t expect it from his deceivingly calm demeanour was just as bad. He’d been added to a group chat of the three and had started convening with them on a semi-regular basis. Embarrassingly proud to mention it to Yamaguchi in passing in an attempt to prove that he had friends. Not something he particularly needed to prove but after one emotionally tumultuous battering from the other first years particularly Hinata who seemed to have a knack for making friends in the most bizarre occasions, Tsukishima had felt the need to prove himself.
Yamaguchi had later pulled him aside attempting to subtly comfort the other, as he giggled through a most likely fabricated story of how he had only four friends one being him. Tsukishima knew this wasn’t the truth because he had seen the other on numerous occasions speaking to some people in the other teams, and in his science class but he appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. But in all honesty Tsukishima hadn’t minded Hinata’s comments, using them only as fuel to mock and pick on the latter. Believing he needed to deflate the ego the ginger was beginning to grow, as he deemed himself ace of volleyball a phrase he’d picked up from his idol ‘the tiny giant’ as well as the ace of relations.
After a while of walking, made so much longer than necessary by the others bickering they finally arrived at their destination. He left Kuroo and Bokuto squabbling over which one of them could win more matches if they lacked one arm. Bokuto was convinced that due to his biceps being bigger he’d be able to make up for it with the remaining arm, sighting the fact he was rated so highly as an ace in the recent release of the junior volleyball magazines. Kuroo however, recalled various papers and scientific fact about gravity and force. Declaring that he would be the one to succeed if they were to ever lose an arm.
The automatic doors shut closed with a satisfactory swishing sound, shutting out the ongoing battle of limbs. Alarming the receptionist of Tsukishima’s presence, she looked up startled before her eyes bloomed with joy as she recognised the figure before her. The pause as she began to speak allowed Tsukishima to unzip the bag and start pulling out the borrowed books, sighting that of British classic ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Ikigai’ and ‘The Tale of Genji’ amongst others.
To what do I owe the pleasure?” Margret asked, she was a strange woman with a strong collection of cardigans accumulated of many different colours, patterns and textures. Today she had chosen a dull purple knitted oversized cardigan, she had moved from Britain several years ago along with her son Jason who’d been engaged at the time to Aiko. After the relationship had fallen through Jason had moved back to London, but Margret had claimed to have fallen in love with the place so she stayed behind backing up her argument with the statement that as a bereaved woman, the only thing she wanted to do was volunteer at the local library and sell her knitted goods on Etsy.
They had a tranquil conversation about the newest books brought in and how school had been going, after several years of Kei regularly attending the library to pick up school revision books and novels that allowed him to visit worlds of enlightenment and destruction always ending in happiness. Tsukishima had a secret pet peeve of tales ending badly, he couldn’t bear it to the extent that even children's books were too serious for him to read without being plagued with sweats and night terrors. The librarian and Kei had formed a strong bond.
Tsukishima walked out rubbing his forefinger and his thumb against the bridge of his nose already feeling the headache brewing, but before the tall boy could even conceive a plan of escape a sturdy arm was flung over his shoulder securing him in place. Trapping him with no chance to slip away without being noticed.
“So where are we headed? I heard there was a new cafe opening up that Kenma checked out with Hinata last time he visited..”
Kuroo paused a moment tapping his chin feigning deep thought, Tsukishima worried for a moment that such profound thinking might cause the rooster's head to implode not used to active recall. But before he could utter the beginnings of a joke Kuroo had already begun to ramble on about the name. And in all honesty, he had been meaning to check it out, albeit with Yamaguchi or maybe Ennoshita but it didn’t harm to go now that the offer was there.
“Arata cafe… I think it was called. No maybe Lavender cafe. Wait no that’s the one in Tokyo you know the one with the stray cat that they recently adopted?”
Kuroo then spent the next five minutes delving into the intricate details of the new cat, cherry which had been adopted by a cafe and record shop. A place that sounded rather intriguing to visit resulting in Tsukishima pocketing that gem for next time he was in Tokyo.
There was then a pause in conversation as Bokuto tripped over a heightened floor panelling, escaping a smack to the face briefly due to Kuroo seeing it coming, arms outstretched like a mother displaying her child, in preparation to stabilise the falling idiot. Using this Tsukishima pulled out his phone and searched the cafe up to see the address, with it only being a few streets away he dragged the others along with him anticipating the excellent service as heard about from peers who’d already been.
The wait was only three minutes, an old couple eating raspberry-filled pastries had just left their table allowing them to be seated there. As the elderly couple passed they smiled over at the group and wished them well stating that it was a delectable experience. The cafe was rather cramped white stools holding pastel cushions huddled around a table, with quaint table cloths designed with intricate flowers and rabbits scattered all over.
They were handed a menu and given time to order, Kuroo and Bokuto decided to share a mango parfait and two strawberry lemonades. Whilst Tsukishima browsed the drinks menu scanning the options finally deciding on a matcha trifle tea, whilst waiting for the orders to arrive they got to talking. Simplistic memories and ideologies about past matches and the latest happenings at school, flowing easily lifting the atmosphere.
That’s when the conversation shifted gently turning from lighthearted jovial small talk, into a more honest conversation. Kuroo relented talking about how he would remain single for the foreseeable future bound to be lonely forever. Despite his rampant crush on his best friend, he’d never be able to confess too worried about ruining the friendship.
“I know you should just fake date Tsuki! I would volunteer but I’m already with my prince Akaashi.”
The tone he had adopted was so nonchalant that Tsukishima had almost missed the absurd statement altogether. Kuroo spluttering on his drink pounding on his chest screeching a “What!?” The outrage was the only thing that made him realise what had just been said.
“Come on I was just joking, but it’s not a bad idea just pretend to date for a bit get them jealous. If they act weird you can fake break up and get with your true loves, if they don’t care you’ll be left with a whole woe is me mindset but at least you’ll have some funny memories to tell the grandkids.”
Kuroo looked as though he was contemplating it for a moment before he caught eyes with Tsukishima who shook his head and glared at him appalled he’d buy into this. Leading the other to laugh sheepishly as he copied the head motion. After a while the conversation was soon forgotten as Bokuto got distracted, recalling how a girl had tried to copy him in English but couldn’t read his writing so had accidentally failed every question.
“Who’d think copying you was the right way to go about passing?” Kuroo spoke aloud flushing as he realised he’d said it.
“Hey, hey! Not cool bro just because I’m not Mr Smarty Pants like you two doesn’t mean I’m not intelligent.”
“No, no Kuroo’s right I think you’d be one of the last people I’d turn to if I ever needed school advice.” Tsukishima relented agreeing with the black haired boy, partly cause he agreed with him but mostly because he wanted to annoy Bokuto.
“Hmph, well whatever Akaashi says I’m smart and he’s the only person whose opinion I care about, well him and my mummy and they both say so. So there.” At the two ganging up on him, Bokuto simply turned away sticking his nose up in the air before gently patting them both on the back.
“Man! I’m stuffed that parfait was so filling” Bokuto announced to no one in particular patting his stomach. As he exited the cafe.
“You should have joined us, towards the end I felt myself practically one mouthful away from bursting…” Kuroo added agreeing with the sentiment, not one for sweets, he had felt the burden of going out with Bokuto once more, the man seemingly had a way of convincing Kuroo to partake in whatever scheme proposed.
“And yet you still ate it all.” Tsukishima chuckled.
The walk home was relatively peaceful as Tsukishima meandered past the local park that hid itself behind a shroud of bushes on his walk home. The sun had now begun to set, time had escaped the three as they found the hours slipping away blurring together as Tsukishima ticked off a mental checklist of bits and bobs he’d been meaning to accomplish. Initially, he’d planned to do them tomorrow with Yamaguchi but remembered the other was busy. Something about his cousins coming over, Fumiko (Yamaguchi’s youngest cousin) had come over due to her parents going away for their anniversary. The thought had made Tsuki smile, he’d always favoured Fumiko over all other members of the green-haired boy's family. Their united interest in Yams himself and dinosaurs allowed an immediate alliance and connection to form over the many years of friendship.
So bearing this in mind Tsukishima had dragged the other two along with him, thinking it was the least they could do after bothering him this morning. Although he didn’t tell them (he hadn’t needed to Kuroo and Bokuto could tell) he’d had a lovely time, refreshing topics and stories had filled his senses. Though he couldn’t shake the words Bokuto had said earlier, about the fake dating. Such a silly idea wasn’t it, something as dramatic as that would never work. Right..?
Besides although Kuroo’s initial enthusiasm Tsukshima was almost positive that he wasn’t being serious and rather feeding into Bokuto’s delusional state. Both of them were fiends about provoking and supporting the other no matter how odd an idea or sentiment seemed to be.