Opening on Saturdays really wasn't so bad, the money was good but the colds morning made things hard. Especially when the bed was so warm and the outside was so cold. Thankfully the heater at the cafe booted up very quickly and usually within the hour the dining room and kitchen was nice and warm. Unpacking a selection of pastries delivered that morning, Yamaguchi let his mind wonder as the music played from the radio docked over the surround speakers.

Maybe he should have gone out with Nishinoya the night before. He'd eaten, showered and locked himself in his room, faking sleep the moment he heard the knock on the door, signalling Tanaka and the others arrival. He ignored the polite knock on the door, fanning sleep until Nishinoya gave up and left. It was childish but he simply couldn't bring himself to care, couldn't bring himself to care about anything. Sleep was always easier. Until the next morning when he felt guilty about not hanging out with his friends and for no good reason other then he was feeling tired and lazy. It was a weak excuse, but one he used often all the same.

Flipping the sign open over as he stocked up the front end fridge with milk, he relaxed in the quiet peace and awaited his first customer. Fiddling with his phone, the snap and catch of the door handle forced his head up. But only for a second it would seem as bright, golden eyes caught his and he felt an incoming panic attack emerging. The customer was easily distinguishable as the blonde arriving at the store late last night and was now in store once again. Except Yamaguchi wasn't leaving now and would have to deal with this handsome stranger by himself and try not to make a huge fool of himself.

"Hi," he managed to croak out. "What can I get you?" Tipping his nose up with a raise brow, the blonde stared down at him with the disdain some would reserve for cockroaches.

"Espresso," he said shortly. Shedding his coat and using the in store hangers to clock it, those keen eyes bore into Yamaguchi's a second time. "No sugar or milk, black and hot." Watching him take a seat on the side of the cafe by the window, Yamaguchi could only blink. Standing stunned and looking stupid was one of his speciality and right now he was owning it. "And some time this century would be nice."

Jumping into action at the blonde's borderline rude words, Yamaguchi worked through the order with quick, sure efficiency. Delivering his order as his customer open up an expensive, slim laptop, the dark haired man put down the tiny cup and saucer before his shaking hands could drop it. He usually wasn't this nervous around customers, even with such attractive patrons but this man shook him. Shook him to his very core and he wasn't entirely sure why. Maybe it was because he was the polar opposite to Yamaguchi, everything he wanted to be and in many ways everything he wanted.

"Thanks." Short, curt and with no real thanks about his words, the smaller man bowed slightly before retreating around the bench and hiding his face behind the coffee machine.

Glancing over the bench at the man on the other side of the room, he was tempted to turn the music up just to break the awkward atmosphere. But as another customer entered with a sigh and a chilly breeze, Yamaguchi pushed the idea from his mind, focusing on his job and ignoring the blonde loitering in the corner.

As the day dragged on Yamaguchi's anxiety about the silent customer in the corner grew. Even once Suga arrived and they spilt the shift work, his eyes kept dancing back to the window, just to sneak a peek at the blonde.

"Did you have a good night last night?" Bumping him lightly with his hip, Suga grinned at his barista. Elbow deep in soapy water, Yamaguchi rolled his eyes. He'd been annoyed by his employer's interfering the night before, but now he just couldn't care less.

"I did, spent it at home sleeping." His face falling, pout trembling on his bottom lip, Suga looked incredibly unsatisfied.

"Didn't want to go out with Nishinoya?" Scrubbing at a particularly stubborn smear of grease Yamaguchi shook his head.

"Not this time. Put someone else on to cover the weekend shifts and I just might." Maybe there had been too much aggression in his tone. He was very thankful to Suga for all the kindness he'd given him over the years. But that didn't mean the older man had the right to stick his nose in his personal life at every given opportunity.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. We have interviews lined up starting Monday. You'll get your weekends back in no time. And then I want to hear about all your crazy escapades with Nishinoya." With a final pat on the back, his boss leaving him feeling cheerful and with no bad blood between Yamaguchi pulled the plug before moving off to clean up an empty set of tables. And of course the table of the mysterious blonde by the window. He'd been there at least three hours and while it wasn't an uncommon occurrence, it was usually groups or couples taking up the most time and space in the cafe. Not a single man, tapping away at his laptop and pounding through expensive Italian coffee but Yamaguchi certainly one to judge, not in the least.

Kei Tsukishima was lonely. He was also petty, sarcastic and had a nasty attitude that bordered on cruel. But he also loved his brother, the shorter blonde holding a special place in his ice heart he refused to offer any one else. Which usually didn't matter, until Akiteru requested something stupid like this.

"You're lonely" the older man had deducted the Thursday night before hand. "You never go anywhere, you never do things. When was the last time you got a date?" Immediate denial rose in Tsukishima s throat, coupled with a sour come back but it fell short as his older sibling prodded his side. "See? You can't even remember. Do me a favour okay?"

He should have said no. No straight out and be done with the whole affair, but he was feeling sorry for his brother. His all too recent status as single no doubt impacting his request. "Bring a date to Christmas dinner. Someone nice and sweet. And not just for Christmas," he warned. "Try to open to them, just once."

It had sounded stupid then and it had sounded stupid now, and yet here he was. Camped out in a tiny little cafe on the other side of the river, watching the rain begin to fall and downing coffees to keep somewhat awake. He'd come straight from a gig and with nothing more to show for it then bad breath and a banged elbow. Changing in the club green room toilet stall was a borderline impossible task for someone of his height.

Straightening his jacket, he scanned the room for a potential 'date'. His brother's request had not been a once off event. Since his final year of high school his parents had been badgering him for years to bring a nice, quiet girl home for their approval and doting. His plan would now put an end to that and all he needed was a nice, quiet boy.

For a Saturday morning the little shop was remarkably quiet. He'd scouted it out the night before, reading up online reviews in an effort to make his search easier.

A quiet, cosy little establishment, close to the river. Welcoming all, Sugar has a delightful atmosphere and well perfected coffee.

It had also fallen under the listing of Gay Bars in his area.

Not that Tsukishima would ever call it that. He'd played at a variety of different clubs, gay or otherwise and there was no distinguishing feature here that screamed of its hopefully homosexual clientele.

Watching the nervous waiter clear his table for a third time, the blonde was amazed he didn't slip in a puddle of his own sweat. He looked a right mess and probably shouldn't have been working in the retail industry to begin with.

"Can I get you anything else sir?" His voice was just above a whisper, surely to be considerate, but with the music above him blaring and the chatter in the room steadily increasing it was hard to hear.

"Pardon?" Tsukishima barked out sharply, more then a little pleased to see the smaller man jump.

"Something else?" His server tried again, watching him closely with eager eyes. "To drink?"

Checking the time with a small nod, Tsukishima rattled off his usual order and smiled charmingly at the server, watching him near trip over himself as he fled back to the counter. Chucking to himself as he donned his headphones and went back to his current mix, the blonde's eyes again took in the room expectantly.

He hadn't expected finding a date would be this hard. And on the same note how could he lure someone in? Hey want to spend Christmas with my family and I, oh nice random person I just met. It sounded wrong, but wasn't that how all dating started? Engaging with someone on a personal level without really even knowing them. He was surprised the murder rate wasn't higher.

He knew he was attractive, the amount of female and male admirers he'd gathered over the years was proof of that, so why was finding a date so hard now? Probably because it was so close to Christmas. People would be looking to spend time with family, not to hook up. All but groaning in frustration he thought over his options yet again. If worse came to worse he could probably pay someone. Akiteru hadn't said it was against the rules, but then again a real connection was probably the last thing a hooker had in mind. He could always ask Kuroo, but the humiliation of asking his manager for a date was too painful to think about.

A soft tapping on his knuckles made him jump, then frown as he realised the wait staff had returned.

"No sugar?" Pulling off his headphones and having the other man repeat himself, Tsukishima nodded.

"No thank you," he said curtly, watching the darked hair man bow and go to leave.

It was strange how opportunities presented themselves at the oddest moments. But seeing the chance and taking it the blonde caught the waiter's arm quickly. "When is your break?" Tsukishima knew he hadn't grabbed too hard, but as the nervous man rounded with a jerk and jump he almost apologised.

Wide eyed and sweating the other man glanced at his wrist awkwardly for a watch but not finding one. Unable to hide the snigger, Tsukishima offered him the time with little hesitation.

"In about half an hour," the shorter man managed to choke out. "Why?" He looked on the verge of fainting and it made the urge to tease all the more intense.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to get a coffee." Tsukishima almost laughed, the irony of being in a coffee house and asking such a question seemed to be far too much humour for his sleep deprived state. Glancing to the counter then back to him, his suffering waiter appeared not only flustered but suspicious, maybe he thought the whole thing was a joke. Which in hindsight it was, but that didn't mean he had to be so blunt about it. "Or don't whatever," the blonde added shortly, going to put his headphones back on. "I was only being polite."

"No, no" the barista took the bait. "It's fine, I'd love to have a coffee." Grinning as he settled back in his corner, headphones tight over his ears, Tsukishima waved him off with a tap on his watch. Half an hour and waiting.