I like writing late, late at night/ early morning. But I tend to mess up typing Tsukishima as Tuski shima (yes with the space in between) constantly which actually worries me a lot… It actually took me up to 3 times to type out his name right just previously…
Just a note, I edited bits from previous chapters (3,4,5) just to make events flow a bit better and less cringy in my opinion.
Sorry for the confusion!
Without further ado….
Chapter 6: Progression
The human tank she stood behind today was really efficient at plowing into the train much to Yuzuki's delight. Being just a little more rude than usual (not really) she secured her usual spot beside the train doors. Successfully infiltrated into the train she sent her victory and position to Yamaguchi after rubbing her swollen tired eyes. A little after arriving at the next station Yamaguchi found a spot a little ways away from her, sending her careful glances between the spaces of people. First part of the plan was secured.
"Can you see me well from where you are?" Yamaguchi texted, his fingers quivered with nerves.
Looking up from her phone Yuzuki gave him a thumbs up.
"Don't forget to tell the four eyes salt shaker which cart you're on" She reminded adding a smiley emo-con while her expression was blank.
Yuzuki felt even more squeamish just watching Yamaguchi's hands shaking at a Richter's scale of 9 while he typed. At least he didn't drop his phone… She muttered messaging her wrist from the infectious nervousness.
As the train moved towards the second part of their plan the anticipation grew. The two jumped in sync as the next stop was announced.
Unintentionally mimicking Yamaguchi, her heart was up in her throat too as the train lurched to a stop and a new crowd started to flood the train.
Like caffeine intoxicated hawk Yamaguchi leered at every person's face that walked through the door for the main target.
Yuzuki was the first to realize that the tall blondy should've been easy to spot even from down where she was amongst everyone shoulders. Her eyes quickly shifted to Yamaguchi whose expression went into slight panic as he picked up his phone.
Feeling the buzz of her phone she was ready to comfort or calm Yamaguchi or rage about the target.
"Tsukki is already at school…. He walked today." She looked back at Yamaguchi, genuinely dumbfounded. Knowing that he owed her an explanation he quickly sent another text.
"Unless there's an early morning practice or I'm running late we usually don't take the train since Tsukki doesn't like crowds. Also…Tsukki is actually a 20 minute walk away from the school… " Yamaguchi gave her a meek and apologetic smile. Sorry Yuzuki….! He held up a hand.
Something inside Yuzuki rotted after reading that. And from the rot a weird relief was released. She sighed. She was saved from chest burns seeing the two.
XXX
Seeing a teacher coming down the hallway, he pushed the white headphones off to hang around his neck. But instead of being confronted by a teacher Tsukishima's gold eyes followed a cautious classmate who shuffled up to him.
"Hey um… do you know where Yamaguchi is?"
"No." Tsukishima answered in a monotone looking down. The classmate shriveled a little more.
"W-well if you do see him can you ask him if he could take my cleaning duties again? I have practice today." He muttered and promptly left while still under Tsukishima's scrutiny.
Again huh… Tsukishima uttered continuing his way while catching the "quiet" complaints and comparison of his and Yamaguchi's atmosphere gossiped by the classmate. Guess someone is going to be late to their practice Tsukishima predicted.
Going past the shoe lockers, bright red caught his eyes and his light brow furrowed. Expecting it, he saw Yuzuki at the lockers switching her shoes but while she was chattering happily with Yamaguchi beside her. That was unexpected.
Tsukishima looked down to the edge of his frames remembering that Yamaguchi said he had taken the train this morning. They probably met up on the way here and chatted loudly as they went. He looked at the pair again. She was smiling an awful lot around Yamaguchi. It was a wonder how they only had that one sports med class together.
Blinking away, Tsukishima left feeling his eyes get sore from the red and purple in her hair.
Unbeknownst to the two, they continued to sketch out a battle plan after their failure this morning.
"So first is the café we went to last time, then the mall, then an arcade, and then finally Torono park!" Yamaguchi beamed.
"Sounds pretty solid, um when do you plan to ask Tsukishima to go the café now?" Yuzuki asked.
"I don't know really… didn't have much of a plan B… I guess I'll try to asking him sometime later in the day or during practice. I just hope I don't mess up and end up sounding suspicious…" Yamaguchi sulked.
"There's plenty of chances to ask him before Saturday hits since the week just began." She stated.
"True, maybe if I drag my feet in the morning a little more we'll be able ask him on the train as we originally planned. Then I won't be as nervous when I ask him since you'll be there as moral support. But then again Tsukki sometimes just goes off so that's not a guarantee either…" He muttered clearly from past experience. Yuzuki could feel the probable repeated failure too from him.
"Eventually I'll have to stop third wheeling you two anyways. So try your best to ask him yourself." She encouraged as they left the locker area.
"But you'll be at the café this weekend for sure right?!" Yamaguchi panicked slightly.
"Um.. I will this time since cafes are pretty to hide in so I could go undercover easily."
"That's good" Yamaguchi sighed.
"What's good guys?" Shiori blurted popping her head out around the end of the lockers.
The pair stumbled back in unison and grabbed onto each other for the sake of their hearts. Shiori smiled in satisfaction.
"Hate to separate you two but mind if I take Keina back?" Shiori grinned wrapping her arm around her significantly shorter friend.
"Ah uh sure sorry! I'll talk to you later Yuzuki-san." Yamaguchi said timidly and waved before he left. She waved back with an apologetic expression.
"Sooooo what were you guys chatting so happily about. I heard something about going to a cafe~" Shiori smirked placing pressure on the arm around Yuzuki
"Nothing really I was just helping Yamaguchi plan a date with someone." She replied normally.
"Huh?! But I thought—" Shiori whipped her head back to see if Yamaguchi was in hearing distance and back to Yuzuki who gave her a judging "it's none of your business" face.
Shiori sighed suppressing her gossip urges and continued walking to their classroom in silence with hands behind her head. Homeroom was starting soon.
"Stress is bad for the body you know…" Shiori advised snapping Yuzuki from her train of thought.
"Hm? What? Um yeah that's true… Say do you wanna go to downtown once more before exams start? There's a bakery I want to try!" Yuzuki smiled. It was a potential place for Yamaguchi and Tsukishima to go to for a date.
Shiori patted her red-purple blend of hair.
"Sure… if you want." Shiori sighed at her shorter friend who had taken her advice in the unintended direction.
XXX
Tsukishima slide open the broadcasting room door. Looking at the room of little less than 400 square foot its purple red haired inhabitant was seated leisurely in the computer chair fast asleep beside the sound control panel.
Quite the dedication she has. He muttered peering over from behind the worn chair to note the headphone brand she was wearing. He grabbed a song list sheet sitting beside Yuzuki's hand which was still on the volume nob. Beside it a small screen displayed the song she fell asleep to.
Living Dolls…? Tsukishima's expression twisted assuming it to be something of the loud metal genre. He stared at her softened and relaxed expression. Must be quite the thick head to be able to fall asleep listening to this.
Standing straight again he glanced at the crooked black clock hanging on the left side wall. Only 10 minutes until afternoon classes began.
I wonder if those headphones are as sound proof as the advertisement boasted them to be. A smirk surfaced on Tsukishima's face.
Slipping the recommended songs list into his pocket Tsukishima glided out and closed the door as quietly as he could.
It was a small payback for the strawberry shortcake he couldn't taste because of her last weekend.
Later, much to his amusement, while sitting through another class the sound of panicked footsteps echoed down the hallway. Glancing out the windows of the class a mess of red purple hair was half-running and half-walking awkwardly to her afternoon classes. Triumphant and frankly quite happy that she's miserable a proud smirk appeared on Tsukishima's face while watching her. But before she passed, he caught sight of her scrunched up face that highlighted thin knotted brows with annoyed eyes and pouting lips that completed the upset look.
Feeling an unnecessary irritation rise up Tsukishima turned away stoically from the windows. It's just one class, why get so worked up for it. He criticized. Tsukishima frowned deeply in annoyance at the structures of oxytocin and serotonin being drawn on the chalk board.
XXX
Yuzuki made another deep sigh standing outside in the hallway. Clenching and unclenching her fists she hoped it would send some blood to the numbing arms she had to hold up as punishment for the period. The world obviously didn't like her since listening to her favorite playlist on loop got her into this mess. Seeing the figure that was sauntering down the hallway only further convinced her of the opinion. Pursing her lips, she could somewhat guess what was coming which made her heart tighten uncomfortably.
"Oh my, missing class to work on upper body strength." Tsukishima greeted her.
"Shut up, she's been watching too many Korean dramas and thought up this great idea… She's too old for dramas…." Yuzuki spat.
Tsukishima peered inside the classroom to see the familiar teacher. "Literature class hey." He smirked.
"Shut up."
"Isn't that reading assignment due today?" He continued faking a muse.
She took the liberty to show him her middle finger while still holding up her arms.
"Oh my with that kind of language you won't pass the class."
"Go away!" Yuzuki hissed. "I need this mark…." She muttered aside.
Tsukishima's eyes narrowed. There it was again that expression that was a cross between an irritated teen and pouting child. Up close he could see the creases in her red brows and bottom lip that jutted out into a childish pout.
Her pastel green eyes suddenly shot at him again.
"What are you doing here anyways, Mr. College prep-class. Watching me like this won't torment me further you know."
"Just running a quick errand." He replied nonchalantly. "It's hard not to notice something so red in the hallways you know, I thought I might need to do a detour to talk to one of the forgetful archery club members to take back one of their red bullseye targets."
Obviously getting what he going for she attempted to kick him. But after missing he flicked her painfully on the forehead and pointed to the classroom windows. Tsukishima watched in pleasure as her pout turned into a slight curl of the lips to growl at him. He walked away with a proud smile knowing she couldn't do anything behind him and strangely satisfied in making her expression change.
The song Yuzuki was listening to is "Living Dolls" from One Ok Rock. Great song and do recommend a listen. And no it's not metal hahaha although I did have the same first impression when I saw the song title.
If guys have any questions or comments regarding the confusion with the changes in the chapters please do tell. I'm really sorry for dropping sudden changes to the whole fic but hopefully they would make it altogether a lot smoother and have a lot more traction.
And of course to my followers from chapters before I definitely owe you all an apology for this delayed update. Not saying sorry would definitely be ill-mannered. Life happens and literally whips you in the face and you get amnesia pretty much sums it up nicely.
Anyways, thank you so much for reading and do leave a comment behind! They're always so nice to read and muse about.
~Vince.