HOLY SH*T!
My inbox literally exploded!
Thank you guys!
I did draw the confession on my tumblr so go and check it out ^^
Now to answer all of your reviews xD
LilweenGlatrass: I hope you are still alive :O But I am glad that the confession was in character. I was afraid it wasn't going to be. I hope I was fast enough to update, so please spare me xD
NickInWonderLand: Yes, that's why I asked xD Cliffhangers give good reactions :P but I will spare you , no more cliffhangers, maybe.
PandaHee: Yes, she is. Those boys are her friends (babies) she doesn't want to let them go. I'm glad that the confession was authentic!
GeekatHeart21: Well, then I feel honoured to receive a review from you :D My internship is in a kindergarten for my apprenteship to become a kindergarten teacher. So, the 3-6 year olds.
ShioriShuu: I checked out the song. I liked it xD
Berrybluexd: Yes, a cliffhanger xD I know, I'm mean
RiverOfTheWolf: Yes he did, after 26 chapters!
Tamani: Thank you~ And yeah, so can I xD
Yunrii: Yeah, and I drew it as well xD
Potatofries2719: Love the username xD made my day. And thank you~
Guest Evellyn: Aww that makes me so happy :D (I want to name my first daughter Evelyn xD) And yeah, thats ture but I thank you and everyone else for pushing this one to the top on this wesite! And yes, he is very interesting!
Guest Carlie: I know, I'm sorry xD
Guest: Your patience shall be rewarded.
Remember to check out my tumblr!
And thank you for making this the top Ushiwaka fic on this entire website!
Chapter 27 - An answer
Tendou smiled to himself after he inadvertently overheard that one little sentence. It made him feel giddy and fidgety. Since the first year in high school he had befriended Ushijima and now, it was like watching his own child step into the world for the first time. He was bursting with pride. Wakatoshi is becoming a man, he smiled to himself. There was a slight jump in his step as he made his way back to the living room. The boys were all busy with a card game when Tendou arrived.
"Alright boys, I have an announcement to make." Tendou said and the boys paused.
He waited until he had all of their attention. Then he cleared his throat.
"Wakatoshi-kun is asking out Tamiko-chan, right now." he told them.
There was a long silence and some huffs of disbelief. Wide eyes stared at Tendou's smiling face. They weren't buying it but when seconds turned to minutes, they started to believe, especially when Tendou's smile faded. Now they knew that he was serious.
"Seriously?" Soekawa asked.
Tendou nodded with a serious demeanor.
"Right now?" Semi asked.
"Yes, I overheard it." he said. "Whatever the result, we will not say a word, okay? No congratulating, no sympathy. We don't want to make it awkward."
"Why don't you want to congratulate them?" Ohira asked.
"Tamiko-chan's brain would probably explode." Tendou shrugged.
"You have a point." Semi half smiled.
Tendou joined them on the floor and looked at them as Yamagata gave out the next set of cards.
"I hope she says yes." Soekawa noted. "It would do Wakatoshi some good."
"Agreed." Semi layer out a card. "She did reject Oikawa when he asked her out."
"Ushijima-san is the complete opposite to Oikawa-san." Shirabu told them. "She will say yes. I am certain of it."
"Well, I think she would say no. She doesn't look like the dating type." Kawanishi said.
Silence followed as they thought about those words. Then a mischievous grin returned to Tendou's lips and he reached into his pocket to place a few pieces of cash on the table. His eyes met with Kawanishi's and the second year flinched.
"Wanna bet on it?" Tendou said.
The ticking of the clock pierced through the air in the kitchen. Tamiko looked up to Ushijima, after he had uttered his words, with wide eyes, her hands slowly dropping into the foamy water. What did he say? Was that really his way of confessing his feelings? That it had higher priority than volleyball? It was silly, but at the same time it made sense. If Ushijima liked someone more than volleyball, then it was serious. She could feel her heart race a little but Ushijima's reaction flicked a switch. He looked away sheepishly with a slight frown and his lips pressed to a tight line, his cheeks tinted red. This really was serious. All the disbelief in her heart just shattered.
Slowly Ushijima's mind shifted into regret. He felt really strange. So many unknown feelings were tugging at his heart. Despair, hope, angst, worry. It wasn't a new sensation but the situation was new. Never had he felt so uncomfortable, wanting just to disappear. But he was rooted to the spot. He wanted to know. He wanted to know what she would say. Did she even feel the same way? He wasn't sure. How was he suppose to know? This was totally new to him, unknown territory. At least he knew that she didn't hate him.
"Okay?" she slurred, not knowing what to say.
She could feel her cheeks burn and when he looked back at her, it made it even worse.
"And I want to ask if you would want to engage in a close relationship with me." he added, the tone as plain as always.
The fact that he managed to hold eye contact with her was impressive. The brunette blinked a few times, covered her mouth with her hand hiding her red cheeks, her face facing downward, but from under her lashes she gazed up to him. Then she couldn't suppress her smile anymore and giggled.
"You really need to work on your colloquialism." she smiled and he avoided her gaze again.
She sighed happily and dried off her hands, before she walked up to him.
"It wouldn't be easy. I have never been in a relationship before and before you say anything, yours don't count." she declared and gave him a sceptical look. "But I'm willing to give it a try." she smiled sheepishly with a blush.
"So, that's a yes?" he asked to make sure.
She nodded and smiled at him. The tension in his body immediately disappeared as his shoulders dropped, his jaw muscles loosened and his fists opened. His face grew soft and he gazed down at her rosy smile. Silence followed. After a minute, it grew awkward. Tamiko looked away and shyly rubbed her arm.
"I need to finish with the dishes." she mumbled.
"Do you need help?" he asked.
"No, I'm done soon. You can go back." she smiled.
He nodded and left the kitchen. After the door clicked she dropped into a crouch and covered her face with her hands. Ushijima asked me out, echoed through her mind. He asked me out, he asked me out. Me. Her thought-train then hit a wall. I said yes. She wanted to scream, rip her hair out, be swallowed up by the ground. At least her mind was confronting a blue screen but her heart was jumping somersaults. She was afraid but at the same time so happy. Her legs gave way and she slipped down to the ground, drowning in a storm of thoughts.
Ushijima was facing the same turmoil. He walked back into the living room and he was met by stares. They had continued their game and his book was still unmoved. He moved the book to the side, sat down and rested his head in his hands, his elbows supporting the heavy weight of jumbled thoughts on his knees. In the silence the boys all looked at him. The red tips of his ears betrayed him.
"What did she say?" Tendou asked.
"Did she say yes?" Yamagata asked.
Ushijima nodded not uncovering his face and in total silence the team high fived each other. What the ace didn't see was how some even passed money around. They also gave solid claps on Ushijima's shoulder and they continued their game. It took some time until Ushijima relaxed and continued to read his book. The fact that the others didn't say anything made it easier for him. A lot easier. Soon he falt safe to uncover his face and took a deep breath to calm his still racing heart.
"Movie time!" Tendou chimed and revealed his big movie collection that he had brought with him.
They picked the ones out that got a lot of attention and praise when they were named and then decided on the first one. Semi emptied the cupboard stuffed with blankets and Ohira dealt out the snacks. Since Tendou's movie collection wasn't fixed on genre, they match many different ones. Action, comedy, even an old children's movie triggering very nostalgic feelings. Then Tamiko came into the living room. The boys all smiled at her but didn't say a word. She pressed her lip to a tight line and blushed a little when she saw the seat that was obviously kept free for her; next to Ushijima. He had returned his attention to his book and was so drawn into it that he didn't notice how she sat down next to him. At least that's what she believed. In reality he was frozen stiff when she sat down next to him. Semi threw a blanket over them and mischievously grinned at Tamiko, who pouted.
"You guys are going to love this movie." Tendou announced.
"Yeah, yeah." Kawanishi sighed.
Semi turned off the lights and all grew silent as the movie began. They are doing this on purpose, she grumbled. A dark room and sharing a blanket with her new boyfriend. Boyfriend. That word made her blush uncontrollably so she was glad that it was dark. As the movie played she tried her hardest to pay attention to it but sitting next to her boyfriend of 10 minutes just made it very difficult. She didn't know why she was now so aware of his warmth next to her, they weren't touching but she was now somehow hyper aware of his presence. As if she had suddenly gained a superpower of sensing everything around her. She became extra careful not to touch him, but at the same time she wanted to feel. She began to analyze the odds. Could she lean against him? Maybe. Would he notice? Probably. Would he mind? Not sure. Knowing him, he wouldn't mind at all but in this situation? Thinking of this drained her and she grew very tired. So tired that her mind drifted into sleep while the movie was still going. Many images played back through her mind. The walk, the dinner, the confession. What an exhausting day.
Tendou peeked over his shoulder when he noticed that Tamiko had fallen asleep. A smile played on his lips, especially when he saw Ushijima look at her when her heavy head tilted and rested on his shoulder. In the dark, Tendou couldn't see Ushijima's blush, but he saw him cover his mouth and looking away. The movie soon came to an end but they all weren't satisfied. They decided to watch another one.
"Wakatoshi-kun," Tendou said before they started the movie. "Why don't you carry Tamiko-chan upstairs?"
The ace thought for a moment before nodding. He carefully picked her up like a koala and then quietly walked up the stairs. Tamiko sighed into his ear, making his heart race again as he placed her on the bed. Gently, not to wake her, he ran his fingers along her cheek and covered her up with the blanket. Then he sat there for a moment, watching her. He carefully took off her glasses and took her hairclip out, placing on the nightstand. She lightly stirred in her sleep and he gave her one more pad on the head before smiling to himself and leaving her in her dreamworld.
