I have made a decision.

Maybe a stupid one but I want to get to know my readers. So in other words "YOU", you at the other side of the screen. May it be PC screen or mobile or tablet, WHOEVER YOU ARE, I wanna get to know you.

Anyway, if you are feeling up to it, or just want to spam me with messages, don't hold back. Just message me :)

Yunrii: Oh yes, shipping it. Ushi being jealous? Who knows :3

Yurei-san: Hello, thank you for your lovely review. It did make my day :) I'm glad that Tamiko is being received so well. I don't like mary-sue's either so I wanted to avoid that. And thank you for the compliment. I'm just a hobby writer and English isn't exactly my mother tongue (although i speak it as such) nut that really boosts my ego :3. Thank YOU for being an AMAZING READER! Have a wonderful day as well.

curlystruggle: He is isn't he. And to the story; I will try my best xD

Dianne060807: From the manga I suspect the same thing. And Ushijima is just confused. :P

Aquafin: THANK YOU :) I am updating, here you go!

Redninjalass19: Thank you :P Your quiestion will be answered one day.

Anywho...enjoy!

Chapter 37 - A confession

After all the matches ended, Tamiko felt more than exhausted. She had rested her head on Ushijima's shoulder the whole time, trying not to lose to the exhaustion. Oikawa and Iwaizumi had taken their leave while Ushijima had guided her back to the hotel. He was at a loss. Since her glasses had been broken she seemed so disorientated, always frowning. The way back was spent in silence and when Tamiko finally sat on her bed and Ushijima closed the door, there were still no words spoken. But he noticed it. Something was bothering her and she needed some space. So he decided to go and take a shower. Tamiko used the opportunity to take out her phone and make a call.

"You sound exhausted, Tamiko." Izumi noted when she answered the call.

"A lot has happened today." Tamiko sighed as she laid down on the bed.

She now felt a little more at ease talking to her friend. Izumi was calm as always, even chewing gum and blowing bubbles that popped loudly.

"Yeah, I heard from Ushijima. Oikawa and Iwaizumi were there." she answered.

Tamiko suspiciously raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

"He called me for advice," she elaborated. "The boy is very new to this relationship so he is a little confused. Doesn't surprise me though. He is as blunt as a spoon."

"I see," Tamiko mumbled under her breath. "That was what he did."

"So anyway, how is your brother doing?" Izumi asked but then gasped. "No wait, tell me if you two did anything cute yet."

Tamiko half smiled at the grin she could hear in her friend's voice. There was nothing keeping Izumi from finding out everything and to make her smile.

"We cuddled a little," she mumbled. "Wasn't anything special."

A gasp was heard and then Izumi squealed at the other end. Tamiko had to hold her phone at a safe distance before her eardrums burst.

"I am shipping you to the ends of the world." she declared. "You don't know how adorable it is to imagine you two cuddle."

"Why," Tamiko asked. "Because Toshi is a big brute without emotions?"

"Exactly," Izumi blurted. "You two are together for nearly a month now. That's a record for him. He really likes you."

Tamiko blushed and clung onto her pillow. Hearing it was just too much for her heart. She knew it already but still, she had only just reached the crush-phase and she was already in the relationship she wanted.

"So, what else happened?" Izumi asked, popping another bubble.

"I managed to defuse the tension between Toshi and Oikawa." Tamiko shrugged.

"Seriously?"

"At least a little."

"It's something," Izumi agreed. "But there is more, right?"

Tamiko nodded to herself and told her friend everything. How she had bumped into Osamu, how the glasses broke. She didn't bother to tell her who the guy was, otherwise uncomfortable questions would spark and that was something she wanted to avoid.

"Have you told Ushi about your condition?" Izumi asked after having heard the story.

"No, I have never told him." she admitted.

"Well, you should. I know what you are like when you don't wear them and he is probably very confused right now."

"You know that I can't. Toshi is very direct when it come to his own opinion on things. I don't want to her negativity about from him." Tamiko explained. "I have heard it enough already."

"He can't be that traditional."

"I know he is."

"You can't keep it from him forever." Izumi explained and sighed. "Look, being in a relationship means that you guys can exchange secrets. I know you are fresh in it but I have the feeling that you two will be together for a very long time."

Tamiko stayed silent.

"We are in the 21st century, Tamiko. It is not a disability anymore."

"But what if he hates me because of that?"

"If he is that shallow then he doesn't deserve you. Just tell him."

Was this really the best? Telling Ushijima about her condition? In Japan the family bloodline holds strong emphasis, so a genetic abnormality is a cause of shame. Discrimination because of her condition was nothing new to her so she had kept it hidden. And Ushijima was very traditional. Although, he did have a disability as well, at least in his mother's eyes. He had told her about his mother's thoughts of his left handedness. Maybe he would actually understand.

"Okay, I'll tell him." she announced.

"That's my girl," Izumi giggled. "I'll talk to you later then."

And so the call ended. Tamiko closed her phone and stared at the ceiling.

When the door to the bathroom opened her eyes shot to her fresh showered boyfriend. It wasn't the first time that she saw him come out of the shower. She had see most of the boys in that state but those time it felt different. Mainly because he wasn't some guy anymore but her boyfriend. Her face grew bright red when she realised that she had to share a shower with him. The thought that he had been completely naked under the water a few minutes ago didn't dampen the effect. While she stared at the floor to avoid eye contact Ushijima walked over to his bed, sat down and began to dry his hair. Tamiko allowed herself to glimpse at him and then stood.

"Here, let me," she mumbled as she stood before him.

His olive eyes looked up to her and he removed his hands from the towel over his head. Without a warning Tamiko began to roughly scrub his hair dry, turning his hair due into a mess of bed hair. It made her giggle. He looked so silly. Even he began to chuckle and smiled at her. Tamiko was so by his smile mesmerized that she was more than convinced. She had to tell him.

"Wakatoshi, I have a confession to make," she started.

And she stopped for a moment. He was gazing up at her in such a curious way that her heart nearly ripped itself out of her ribcage. One thing was for sure; he had a very adorable side. While she combed his hair with her fingers she took a deep breath.

"I can see perfectly fine without my glasses." she told him.

Ushijima gazed into her eyes and confusion was now present in his eyes as he faintly squinted.

"Then why do you wear them?"

"I…," she started and sighed. "I am colourblind."

Silence followed. Ushijima blinked a few times, mainly in disbelief.

"I can't see the colours red and green. The glasses and contacts I wear allow me to see those colours a little." she explained.

Still, no words came from him.

"I'm sorry," she apologized and bowed to him. "I should have told you. It's just that I have been discriminated so many times because of it, which is also why I haven't told you yet. Even Shiratorizawa Academy doesn't accept applications if the student is colourblind, so I faked it."

To that, Ushijima's soft expression grew stern. Tamiko felt a cold chill going down her back and a stinging pain in her chest. Her hands retracted and formed an invisible wall between him and her. Now, she was afraid. Their first night together shouldn't be ruined by something like that. She searched for the right words in her mind.

"It is seen as a disability and I just didn't want to be blocked off. It may be difficult to live a life without being able to see colours but in some fields, we have an advantage. And some Universities enroll blind students, but not the colourblind." she explained as she tried to justify her life's decision. "I have a right to pursue my dreams just like anyone else and not being able to see colours will not stop me."

Heavy breaths pained her as she stared down at Ushijima. He hadn't moved a muscle since she had started and was now in deep thought.

"To deceive the school to be accepted is not correct," he started and Tamiko held her breath. "You should tell the teachers when we get back to the Academy. It shouldn't be kept secret."

A lump began to grow in her throat. Was he being serious? Did he even realise what consequences it would have for her? If this would be put through the Academy would probably refuse to let her graduate. She would have to do High School all over again. Universities she wished to go to would deny her. A dream job? Impossible. Many horrible images of her future began to haunt her when she felt a warm hand taking hers.

"If they deny your graduation then I stand against it," he suddenly declared. "As for your disability, it doesn't matter to me. I like you the way you are and I don't want you any different."

Tamiko's whole world turned white. Her sight turned blurry. Tears began to flow down her cheeks. Then the brightest smile that Ushijima had ever seen her do grew over face. She stood before him, smiling and sobbing. Ushijima was staring, both confused and disturbed. It was also a weird expression he was now wearing which made Tamiko laugh. Her arms flung around him, throwing him backwards onto the bed and she hugged him as tightly as she could. There was a brief time of calculation in Ushijima's head but then he also wrapped his arms around her. It took a while for a sobs to die down while she lay on top of him. After a while she pulled back from him and smiled into his face. Her eyes were red, her face tearstained but she looked so happy.

"Thank you, Toshi," she whispered. "I guess I always wanted to hear that."

Now even he smiled a little. He was glad that he did and said the right things. Then she leaned forward and lightly pressed her pursed lips against his forehead. His eyes grew wide from that gesture, a gesture similar to his mother's only that he hadn't received it since he attended elementary. It felt so warm, so nostalgic and yet different. This wasn't linked with motherly love. Ushijima was still lying on his back, staring at the ceiling, processing the events while Tamiko was back on her feet and drying her face. The piercing buzz of a phone call disturbed the tranquil atmosphere. Tamiko reached for her phone while Ushijima watched her. She answered the call, a call from her mother. Ushijima frowned. The last few minutes had been a rollercoaster of emotions and he was familiar with the emotional state she was left in when her mother called. This was the last thing he wanted to happen to her at this moment. He tried as hard as he could, finding any sings in her voice, body language or expression, any sign of discomfort. When her eyes grew wide he expected the worst, but it was quite the opposite?

"You are coming home?" she exclaimed.

WELL DONE TO ALL THAT GUESSED RIGHT ;)

You deserve a cookie!