He was observing Hinata's gestures "when he understands something, he does a funny expression and his eyes look bigger". Kei realized, in just two days, that certainly that short boy wasn't brilliant, but he wasn't stupid either, with proper study he would get regular scores easily. The problem must be that Shouyou was so immersed in volleyball stuffs and because of that he didn't pay enough attention to his classes.
–X=39?
–Yeah, well done.
–I'm a genius!
–No, you're not –Kei showed, maybe for the very first time, a sincerely smile to him.
–Right –said Hinata smiling too, since he noted that the comment hadn't said with that offensive tone with the blond boy used to speak to him.
–I'm hungry, let's do a break –Tsukishima stood up and started to walk to the kitchen without listen his temporal pupil's answer.
–OK! Do you want me to help you with something?
–No, wait here, I'll back soon.
"Tsukishima is a good tutor. It's easier understand his explanations than the teacher's". The short boy was meditating about these discovered new sides from his teammate, waiting in silence for his return with the food. Suddenly, a picture frame on the desk caught his attention, without thinking enough he stood up and took it in his hands to observe the picture with more detail. In it appeared a little Tsukishima with a serious expression on his face and arms crossed, and a little smiling Tadashi hanging from Kei's neck with one arm and making the sign of victory with the other, they should have about 10 or 11 years old. "They must be good friends for a long time now, I guess if Tsukishima is able to keep such a friendship for so long then he shouldn't be such a bad guy as he looks. I wonder if we had met when we were kids, Kageyama and I would have become friends? Would we be close as long as them? Maybe we would be the best players from all over the prefecture! no! from the whole country!" the little boy's eyes gleamed with only imagine himself and his friend being a 10 years old children, training together in the park. –What an envy.
What are you envious of? –the glasses' boy had returned with the food a few seconds before and had found Hinata standing next to his desk holding his photograph, the small middle blocker was watching it with a big smile on his face.
–Ah! Tsukishima san! I was just looking your photo –his little student rushed to leave the picture frame where it was previously and returned in a single jump to his place on the carpet, with a flushed face and frightened as if he had been caught committing a crime.
–It's OK, it doesn't bother me –the blond meanwhile put the food on the coffee table where they were studying before and sat calmly in front of him –there are only rice balls and green tea, eat.
–Great! I like the rice balls! thanks for the meals! –Hinata took a rice ball and started to eat slowly, still nervous.
–You didn't respond to my question, what are you envious of?
The short stopped eating and, a little flushed, took his time before answering –I'm envious because you are friends since you were kids, I would have liked to have someone like that next to me.
"Someone like that? He's talking about me? Yamaguchi? Kageyama? A friend?" the blonde guy didn't understand the answer, and not knowing what to say about it, he chose the most reasonable response, a universal monosyllable –Ummm.
–I guess I can't do anything to change the past but luckily we already met each other, and we can be friends from now until we are elderly! –the orange haired boy smiled jovially as he took another rice ball, of course, he meant Tobio, but thought that was obvious.
"Friends forever? He and I? What the hell is he talking about?" Kei was confused, so he only managed to show a fake smile and eat in silence. The rest of the afternoon they were simply devoted to study, the blond didn't want to deal with more personal chats, so he avoided any Hinata's attempt of conversation.
–Then, see you tomorrow at morning practice, right? –Hinata said while they walked to the front of the house.
–Sure, be careful –Kei said with a smile.
–Thanks for... well… everything –Shouyou was about to leave when he remembered something –By the way, can I ask you something?
–What?
–Why you don't want others to know that you are helping me with studies?
–Oh. Well, I have my own reasons. But if you break this rule I will not help you anymore, is that clear?
–Mmmm, yeah, I don't get it yet, but it doesn't matter, thanks! see you tomorrow! –naive as usual he didn't ask any more about it and started his way home looking very happy.
Kei on the other hand looked somewhat annoying. "It's supposed that what I want to achieve is that Hinata become closer to me, so His Royal Majesty will burst of courage. Then, why do I feel like this? is this 'guilt'? No, of course not. He, considering me as a friend is a breakthrough, yes, my plan is progressing, calm Kei, stay calm" the blonde tried to calm the strange feeling that the conversation with Shouyou had left him.
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Kageyama was not exactly the happiest and smiling person in the world, but knowing that he would train and meet him on Monday morning provoked him a singular state of good humor. He arrived early to the point on the way where he meets Hinata regularly to go together to school and his heart fluttered when he saw him appear on his range of vision, even if his face didn't reflect it, he was very happy to see him. –You're late –Tobio knew it, this is not what you say to the person you like after two long days without seeing each other, he hated the school principal since he canceled Saturday's practice because they were going to give maintenance to the gym, it was an eternal weekend, but be honest and say "I missed you a lot" or "I was dying to see you" would bring a strange atmosphere between them.
–I can't believe you're angry so early Kageyama, that's not good for your health. Moreover, it's not too late, you came very early –Hinata wasn't surprised by the reception of his friend, indeed, he smiled to him, he had accustomed to his friend's weird personality, so he just kept walking with his friend aside this time.
–I'm not angry –he grimaced.
–I know it –laughed Shouyou.
It was a beautiful morning, the sun hadn't shown yet, but Kageyama felt that everything was shining around them, the perfect way to start the week.
–Tsukishima san! Yamaguchi! good Morning! –without notice Hinata ran to catch his teammates whom were walking a couple of meters ahead.
Both boys stopped when they listened the voice of Hinata –Good morning –Kei smirked at him.
The perfect world filled with rainbows and flowers that had formed around Kageyama and Hinata had become a world of darkness when the he ran to the only team member he hated, and to top it off he called him "Tsukishima SAN" now, since when Hinata talks to him with so much respect?" Tobio hadn't another option than run to catch him and greet them too. But suddenly something left him speechless, Tsukishima was smiling at Shouyou! It wasn't one of those forced reluctantly greetings he always gave them! no! he had said "good morning" to Hinata with a smile on his face! "what the hell?!".
"Tsukishima SAN?" Yamaguchi was also surprised by the suffix he used to call to his friend. –Good morning Hinata. Good morning Kageyama –Tadashi addressed them with a smile, showing his education, but without much encouragement to do so.
–Kageyama? He is talking to you –Hinata elbowed his friend because he was static and didn't respond to the greeting, now he did seem upset.
–Oh don't worry about that Hinata! it's perfectly normal for a King to not greet commoners –the highest boy said ironically, yes, Kei was really enjoying Kageyama's reaction.
–He is not ... well, never mind, we better hurry up –the small middle blocker wanted to defend his friend, tell Tsukishima to not call him "King", but he didn't want to fight with who was his tutor, somehow he felt that Kei owed him respect, like any other teacher.
The four boys walked to school, Tadashi unconsciously hurried to walk in the middle of Tsukishima and Hinata and tried to start a conversation to break the tense atmosphere that apparently his greeting to Kegeyama had caused –And ... what did you do on weekend Hinata?
–Eh? Ah, well… nothing in particular –he laughed nervously.
But the answer perturbed Kageyama even more than he was –You said you had something to do and that's why we didn't... train – the setter looked seriously to his little companion.
–Train? But you said you wanted to stu...
–It doesn't matter! What had you been doing all the weekend?! –Tobio interrupted him before he released a truth that he didn't want to admit in front of his nemesis.
The orange haired boy rushed to think an excuse and giggled, almost shouting, very fast, without pausing and shaking hands in the air, said the first thing that came to his mind –My sister! I promised my little sister to spend the weekend with her because we don't play recently and I don't pay enough attention to her and so...!
Hinata's weird reaction had amused the tallest boy and he couldn't help but giggle. That surprised the others, but he said nothing, nobody said anything, the four got into his thoughts after that. They reached the dressing room, changed his clothes, went to the gym, they greeted their senpais, and the only one who seemed genuinely glad that morning was, unexpectedly, Tsukishima.
All team members formed a circle, as they usually did and began their warm–up exercises –What is going on with them? Asahi asked in a whisper to Ennoshita while stretching his arms sideways and saw the guys in front of him with concern.
I don't know –Ennoshita's foot turning in circles following the captain's instructions –They had a fight again, perhaps.
"This wouldn't happen if Tsukishima had let me tell the truth to Kageyama, I feel guilty for hide things to him, he also needs more study and I'm leaving him aside! I'm the worst friend in the world" Hinata was turning his head in circles, glanced at Kageyama and felt a stab in the heart.
"What is wrong with everyone? Why Hinata is acting so weird? Why this guy suddenly looks so happy to see my Hinata?" Kageyama did the same while suspecting of a conspiracy against him, suspicion that was not far from reality.
"Tsukki, what's happening to you? Why so smiley? I know it, his smile should make me happy, I'm his best friend after all, to have more friends is a good thing, to get along better with other members of the team is a good thing, if he is happy I should be happy for him, right? Then, why do I feel this anxiety in my chest? A man wanting to mourn because his best friend has another friend... how pathetic I am ..." sitting on the floor with legs stretched in front of him, Tadashi tried to touch his feet with his hands, as he stabbed himself with hurtful words and dark thoughts.
Meanwhile Tsukishima was smiling and thinking "Oh God! What a fun! I wish I had recorded their faces on video! His Royal Majesty almost spilled the bile fluid right there by a simple morning greeting! How ridiculous! and Hinata making his brain work hard to invent an excuse, what a couple of fools! They really are made for each other" But then he saw his childhood friend and, for a second, a bit of confusion was reflected in his eyes "what happens to Yamaguchi now?".
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That strange atmosphere between the first year's quartet continued all week, although Kei and Shouyou didn't speak during practice, each time they met they greeted politely and said things like "see you later" or "good job in today's practice"* –the blond guy, sometimes, proffered hand to the short one to help him to get up after a fall, and the orange haired boy offered him a drink a couple of times. Yamaguchi seemed somewhat depressed, but tried to talk with the same jovial tone as always to his friend, and Kei didn't seem to have changed their attitude towards him. Tobio, meanwhile, simply looked irritated, but continued spending as much time as possible with Hinata, and he had not changed his attitude toward him neither. Arrival Saturday afternoon, taking leave after an internal practice match, Tsukishima motioned to Hinata, with hands outstretched in front, something that only he understood "tomorrow at 10", and the little middle blocker also replied with an "OK" signal before leaving with Kageyama.
Shouyou chatted happily about a volleyball game he had seen on the internet last night but his friend didn't seem to be paying attention –Hey! are you listening to me?
–What? –Of course he wasn't paying attention to what his little friend had been saying, how could after seeing the blatant signals that he and his nemesis had shown each other?
–What are you thinking Kageyama? Ah! I know it! You are upset because Suga san's team won us 1 set, right? –Hinata reminisced the events happened that morning during the match –Is not that bad! We won! Besides, he is also an excellent setter, but we had Daichi senpai and Tsukishima san on our side.
Tobio couldn't hold back the feelings that had accumulated over the week and expressed them all together in the only way he knew, screaming – Why?! WHY YOU HAD TO NAME HIM?!
There, in the middle of the street, in the quiet of a residential area with the low clarity that left perceive the sunset, his shout gave an almost mortal scare to the poor little boy who didn't know what had happened. –What's Wrong with you?! Bakayama! Do you want to provoke me a heart attack?! Why did you shout to me?! I haven't done anything to you! –Shouyou complained about it as soon as he caught his breath.
"It's true, he hasn't done anything to me, he can go out and be friends with whoever and do whatever he wants without giving me any explanation because ... he's nothing of mine" Kageyama felt like a completely cretin after yelling him but neither was able to apologize because, for some reason he couldn't explain, he still felt that there was a "cosmic conspiracy" against him –I'm going home –without looking at his teammate or give any explanation he began to walk quickly towards home.
–Kageyama ... –Hinata whispered and remained motionless, on the middle of the already dark street, confused and worried.
––––––––––
Tadashi didn't want to ask what those signals meant, but couldn't contain the urge to talk about what was bothering him –Tsukki?
–Um? –he released it as any reply. The blond was walking slowly in front of him. Though it didn't seem so, he always enjoys that time of day when both of them return to their respective homes, his friend behind him talking about some trivial issue and he listening without commenting much. It's relaxing.
–Lately, you're getting along better with Hinata, right? –the boy asked timidly.
–Something like that –Tsukishima smiled, remembering the macabre motives behind his "approach" to him –why?
–Eh? Well, it struck me as odd, I thought you didn't like him.
"I didn't like him? Well, is not that I hate him either, certainly his effusiveness is sometimes irritating, but I don't hate him. Although, his "passion" doesn't bothers me as much as before recently, it even amuses me a little, does that mean that I like him now? No, that's way too much" at that time Tsukishima realized that the opinion he had about Hinata had changed a little, the short middle blocker had moved to a neutral state, like the rest of his teammates, with the exceptions, of course, of Yamaguchi and Kageyama. And after a moment of reflection, he revealed to his friend his latest discovery –he doesn't displease me.
–But... well... no, it's nothing... forget it –Tadashi didn't know what to say, that response didn't reveal much about the sudden kindness they showed each other, but he knew that his friend doesn't like to be questioned, he doesn't like to talk about his thoughts or feelings and, above all, he hates to give explains.
Tsukishima also didn't like to ask him about their thoughts or feelings, Yamaguchi was the kind of guy who would open his heart once he feels ready to do it, and Kei would be there to listen him when that happen. That's why it was rare for both of them when the blond asked him –Are you OK?
–Eh? why?
–It's just curiousity, you've been more quiet –The blond knew his friend was depressed about something but he wouldn't tell him because he knew that it would depress him even more.
–Really? I hadn't noticed it –he smiled –perhaps it's because nothing interesting has happened recently... But now that you mention it, have you heard that 'Nico Touches the Walls' will release a new single? The preorder began last night and ... –as Kei thought, Yamaguchi didn't want him to see him depressed, so he made an effort, and with a fake smile on his face, began one of those monologues that he uses to let out as they reach the point where their paths break up, being there they parted with a simple "see you".
Tsukishima continued his way home listening to music, enjoying the way home and thinking about the next step of his plan.
Step 3: Be friends with Hinata.
*"good job in today's practice" may sound a bit odd to say in daily life, but it's the way my mind could translate 「 お疲れ様でした」 (Otsukaresamadeshita) which is a widely used phrase in Japan to recognize the efforts made by fellows of the school, work or in this case a club.
A/N: Hello again! First of all, some phrases (as the one above) can be a little strange or too formal for a teenager, but that's because in Japan are everyday phrases that are learned from childhood, and basically I imagine the story with dialogues in Japanese and then I write it in English and Spanish.
I hope you liked this chapter, I know I said I would update on Friday and I'm so sorry, I felt sick and I uploaded the Spanish version only, in compensation this chapter was longer and has a little more Tsukiyama. For a moment I felt Tsukishima was too mean, but reading again the manga I realized that I wasn't wrong, he does enjoy a lot to bully Kageyama and the feelings of Hinata doens't care to him. So don't expect much sentimental attitudes from our evil blond. I'll try to update soon, so, until next time!