"Kei?" the girl called out with a unsure tone. She has just came back for summer break after being away from home for so long and hasn't been in contact with anyone other than her family. The vaguely familiar figure cast a tall silhouette just a few meter from where she stood, the sun has set and the sky has turned into fierce orange, the sound of flapping crows a little distant.
The figure paused, hands still on the entrance door knob and look back a little startled, there are a limited amount of people who calls him on first name basis (who he allows to be exact) his parent, brother and...
"geh, Airi" he let out a visible discomfort and back away but before he could do so...
"Kei channnnnnn ~O" the girl dash forward with open arms. Not able to escape in time he instead brace himself for impact.
Airi clash into Tsukishima embracing him tightly. Both fell to the ground, Tsukishima barely supporting both their weight with his left arm.
"ow" he moaned, It then took him a few seconds to grasp the situation. Tsukishima place his free right hand on Airi's head and start pushing her away
"get off you idiot, you're heavy" still struggling in pushing the sticky Airi away from him, she release her grasp but didn't move away. Airi stared into Tsukishima eyes both still in the same position, her shoulder length hair which was kept tucked behind her ears brush down her cheeks casting shadows on Tsukishima's face while the sunset reflect on her behind.
"w-what? =;;" he eyed her suspiciously
Airi slap both her hands on Tsukishima's cheek, squeeze them until his lips pout out like an octopus and smiled broadly
"you haven't changed at all Kei chan O"
"na-" Tsukishima slap Airi's hands off "whats with that, and I told you to get off"
"yes sire" this time she obey obediently, stood up,pat down her skirt twice then she bend down . Tsukishima look up at Airi then at at her out stretched hands reluctantly before sighing and accepting the help.
"did you just came back?" due to the height differences Airi changed her eye level and look up at the now standing Tsukishima. Since nursery school he was always taller than the other students even through growth spurt there were never a time she was able to surpass or stand equal to his abnormally high height.
"...yeah" he replied flatly
"but isn't it summer break right now?" Airi tilt her head
"..." no answer
"???" Airi: pressuring with more silence
"...club" Tsukishima gave in as she would probably barge in his house later and ask his mother anyways so telling her now wont make any difference.
"Kei chan you joined a club!? thats surprising! what club is it why haven't you told me?"
"its nothing" he sighed again and avoid her curious eye
"ehhh~~why I want to know!! please Kei channn"
"by the way...how much longer are you going to hold my hand" Tsukishima shift his glass and look at the helping hand from before still firmly holding onto his.
"oh you realised?" Airi laughs and let go willingly. Tsukishima wiggle and twist his released hands then insert them back in his pocket
"Then..." he gave an awkward parting word and walk back to his house entrance, the gate creek opened and close his back disappeared into the house just when the dark orange sky turned into deep bluish night.