Chapter Fourteen

"What? Another timeout? You've got to be kidding me!" Semi said crestfallen.

He had finally swapped places with Shirabu for a chance at pinch serving in the second set but was already getting pulled from the game. Reon clapped him on the back. "No mind, no mind!"

The players broke apart at the net.

"I don't get it. You're usually the one on my case about blocking, but what the hell was that?"

Kawanishi sounded irritated, but Tendou was a thousand miles away, his mind at the bottom of the ocean. The lights from the college gymnasium left a harsh glare on the wooden floor beneath his feet. The spectators from high up in the bleachers broke out into rhythmic cheering. He could hear the Shiratorizawa marching band tuning their instruments to the cheerleaders' chant on the stairs.

"Hello? Earth to Tendou. Are you even listening to me?"

Tendou blinked. "What?"

"SATORRRRRI!" A voice roared from the sidelines, startling them both. They looked up just in time to see Coach Washijo stomp onto the court with a murderous look on his face. Fists swung dangerously at his sides, his eyes dead set on Tendou.

"Well, it was nice knowing you," said Kawanishi as he quickly backed away from the line of fire.

Tendou braced himself.

"Is this some kind of joke to you, boy?" Washijo snarled. "What the devil has gotten into you? You're acting like you've never played volleyball a single day in your life! Are you trying to embarrass us in front of the sharks, because you're doing an excellent job!"

Tendou flinched, dancing out of the way of his swinging fists.

Saito was quick to approach them, glancing nervously to the opposing team who was watching Washijo's tirade from the other side of the net, agape. The referee was standing with a whistle at her mouth, ready to call a foul.

"Let's try to remember this is a practice match," said Saito lightly, trying to pacify the older coach.

"I don't care if this is a backyard romp or the national stage," said Washijo, the blood rushing to his face, "That spike was right in front of you and you just stood there!"

Tendou burned with shame.

"I can't help it, Tanji. I'm operating at 10%. I keep missing the flow of the game!"

Washijo wasn't the only one furious. Tendou was crawling with anger and frustration. His mind was having a hard time reading the other players, and he knew the moment he started to overanalyze, the game was forfeit on his end. There was nothing he could do to remedy the situation.

"You picked a lousy time to fall apart," said Washijo.

"You could say that again," said Tendou, flexing his fingers.

They glared at each other.

"Alright, alright," said Saito. He was quick to position himself between the two, placing a hand on Tendou's shoulder. "It's not like we've never dealt with this before. Better for it to happen now than an official match, right?" He addressed this last part to Washijo directly.

The Demon Coach pulled away with arms crossed over his chest, grumbling.

"Why don't you take a minute to cool off?" Saito said to Tendou, gesturing to the bench. "Jin will fill in for you while you watch the game."

Tendou was filled with self-loathing. Volleyball was supposed to be the one thing that never let him down, but for some reason, he couldn't keep his head in the game. All the moving parts of his mind were no longer working in tandem, forcing him to doubt his decisions. He had called the spike, but at the last moment, hesitated.

Him. The Guess Monster. The freak that loved volleyball more than anything.

Saito patted him on the back.

"Don't worry," he said, "we're all allowed a bad day. You'll find your stride again."

Tendou wasn't so sure about that, but he relinquished his spot to Jin who was jumping in place to warm up. The others were receiving instruction from Washijo who was gesturing madly. As Tendou seated himself on the bench, he draped a towel over his head with a deep sigh.

What's happening to me?

Things hadn't been going right all day. In fact, Murphy's Law was in full effect. He woke up late for class that morning, sneezed milk out of his nose at lunch, and nearly strangled himself to death by closing the locker door on his tie. If that wasn't bad enough, he had woken up with a terrible mind fog. His attention kept tuning in and out. He couldn't concentrate on anything, not even when Ms. Oshiro taught them the coveted formula for making gunpowder. By the time they boarded the bus for their practice match across town, Tendou flopped into the seat next to Ushijima, exhausted.

Wakatoshi, I seem to have angered the gods. He said gravely. We might have to perform an exorcism when we get back. Do you still have those prayer beads I gave you?

Ushijima was busy tying something to his gym bag. Tendou saw a slip of red silk and frowned.

Wait a minute…is that–?

A good luck charm, said Ushijima matter-of-factly.

I see that. What are you doing with it?

It was a gift.

From whom?

Mrs. Matsushida. Which reminds me. Ushijima rummaged inside his gym bag, handing Tendou a small tin of anchovies. I was told to give you this.

Tendou took one hard look at the can, yanked the window down, and pitched it out of the bus.

Then, feeling an acute sense of betrayal on Satsuki's part, he got up to retrieve it from the parking lot.

If the team said he was cranky that afternoon, it was a gross understatement.

I don't get it. These guys aren't any better than those wolves, he thought sullenly as he watched the other players regroup on the court. Kawanishi was speaking to Jin as they took their places near the net.

His frown deepened. And since when am I getting lectured by Taichi? This is bad. Really bad.

Sitting on the coaches' bench was its own form of punishment – one he was already quite familiar with – but Tendou remained there for the rest of the game, stewing. It was surreal to watch the match from afar, to have so much distance from the action. There was a pervading sense of disconnect as if the whole thing was being televised through a screen. It left him feeling disoriented. Saito spoke to him occasionally, offering words of encouragement, but Washijo still had sparks coming out of his nostrils. The veteran coach refused to acknowledge Tendou even once, going so far as to turn himself away.

Tendou had never felt so shunned in his entire life. He began to shiver.

The game continued with the sharks coming ahead during the third set. Their side of the stands also bore spectators, but it was a smattering of college students dressed in their best leisurewear with matching looks of apathy. Occasionally, someone would glance up from their conversation to shout encouragement to their team, but it was clear that there was little interest in their high school competition. It stood in complete contrast to the powerful – though slightly out-of-tune – battle anthem from Shiratorizawa's marching band. Tendou gazed up into the stands, pinpointing the cheer squad in their matching tracksuits.

He sighed. A sickening dread began to fill his stomach.

Deep down, he knew that everything took a turn for the worst the moment he left the studio over a week ago. The feeling of rejection was still fresh, making his insides raw, and he wished for the thousandth time that he hadn't allowed himself to become so attached to Hanamura. If he thought it was terrifying that she could guess the Guess Monster, it was absolutely devastating to be shut out by Magpie Girl. From one misfit to another, it seemed cruel.

The voices inside his head were having a heyday:

This is precisely why you must always be in control!

Better to keep everyone at a distance. By letting them get too close, you risk pain.

Have you learned nothing from middle school? Kindness is the worst kind of weapon.

No one really wants to be your friend anyway.

You're a freak, remember?

Tendou blocked the inner voices as quickly as he could. The effort made him light-headed, but it was better to suppress them now than surrender to their dangerous downward spiral later. He had wasted too many years in that dark, oppressive place and vowed never to go back. Ever.

He was upset, yes, but not enough to warrant a category five meltdown. Right now, he was nothing more than a cat without its whiskers which meant he was forced to rely on other senses for the time being. Something was definitely wrong with Hanamura, but he couldn't figure out why she would shut him out all of a sudden. She was hiding something and determined not to accept any help. He could coerce and explanation from his teammates easily enough – all it required was a couple shots at their ego. But the fact that Hanamura was a girl, and a strange one at that, made the problem decidedly more difficult.

Why do you care so much? It's her problem, said a new voice inside his head, sounding callous. Which means it's none of your business.

It is my business, he argued with himself.

Alright, geez, replied the voice, defensive. But…why?

Tendou felt a jolt near his Adam's apple.

He didn't have a chance to dwell on the question. The referee blew her whistle, signaling the end of the game.

Both teams shook hands before parting to their sides of the court. Team Shiratorizawa looked tense, and for good reason. A dark, ominous cloud was hovering over the coaches' bench as Washijo sat with fingers clasped in front of his mouth. When he looked up, his gaze was glacial.

"When we get back, you're all kissing Victory Summit," he said in a hoarse voice, having spent his energy on scalding critique.

"But coach, they won," said Saito in their defense.

"Barely! I expect more than a few last-minute miracles. That was more painful to watch than a bunch of kindergarteners eating glue sticks."

With that, he turned to speak with the rival coaches, leaving their captain in charge.

"Right, you heard the man," he said with a sigh, "Let's pack up."

There was a chorus of groans.

Tendou broke from the group to gather their volley cart. The towel still draped his head, obscuring him from view. He couldn't bring himself to face the spectators, or anyone else for that matter, and busied himself collecting their gear. It wasn't long before the others approached him.

"Well that sucked," said Semi.

"The whole thing felt odd," agreed Reon as he rotated his shoulders.

Shirabu was on the floor, stretching his legs with a scowl. "Like herding a bunch of cats if you ask me."

Kawanishi joined them, pulling the bag of orange slices out of the cooler and handing it to Yunohama. The first year took a few and passed them on to the others. "Normally our games have a rhythm," said Kawanishi, displaying a rare amount of frustration, "like…I dunno, there's usually a shift halfway through the game where the momentum changes. Usually in our favor."

"Ah, the red herring," said Reon, nodding.

"The what?" said Kawanishi and Shirabu together.

"The red herring," repeated Semi, recognizing that this was a teachable moment for the first years. He scrutinized his younger rival closely. "Everyone assumes the most dangerous player on our team is Ushijima, so we prove their assumptions correct from the onset. We give them a reason to fear him."

The first years glanced to Ushijima who was benignly eating a banana.

"The other team becomes so fixated on our ace, they don't even realize they're being set up," continued Reon.

"Which is where he comes in," Semi gestured in Tendou's direction, making him tense. "The Guess Monster is the only other player on the court who can change the game's momentum at will. The fact that they never see him coming is what makes him the most dangerous player on our team."

"Hence, the red herring act," concluded Reon.

Everyone looked to Tendou who was trying very hard not to drop his armful of volleyballs.

There was a moment of consideration.

"So that's why Washijo's furious," said Shirabu, "you never followed up on the act."

Tendou rounded on the team, indignant.

"Oh, so I'm the bad guy now?"

"You've always been the bad guy," said Semi, dull.

Tendou dumped the volleyballs into their travel bin with a terrible look on his face. "Well, if we're so eager to lay blame, fine. Blame it on me then! Just leave me outside for the buzzards to finish off when you're all done having a go!"

"Sheesh. What's got you so down in the dumps?" Shirabu said accusingly.

"Leave it," said Ushijima, coming to Tendou's defense. He offered him a water bottle as a peace offering. Tendou took it with a mild look of remorse. He hadn't expected Ushijima to take his side.

"Sorry, Wakatoshi," he said, yanking the towel from his head. "You ended up doing all the work. I'll do better next time."

Ushijima offered him a simple nod in response.

"Tendou–"

"Oh now what?"

Jin appeared taken aback by his sharp tone.

"Someone wants to see you," he said, jabbing a thumb toward the lobby.

They all looked up, surprised to find a lone cheerleader still holding her pom-poms. Yamagata squinted his eyes, peering at her closely before his entire face went slack-jawed. "Hold on – that's not just someone. That's Isami Sasakura!" He spun around, peering at Tendou as if he had just sprouted horns and a forked tongue. Running his eyes up and down, he asked, "What does the class belle want with you?"

Tendou opened his mouth, took a breath, and, after a moment of consideration, closed it again, and shrugged. His patience was already wearing thin. The last thing he wanted to do was explain himself to a bunch of wide-eyed teammates. Turning from Yamagata's inquisitive gaze, he handed his water bottle to Ushijima.

"Here, hold this. I'll be right back."

. . . . . . . .

"Tendou."

"Isami."

They stood in the secluded space directly across from the trophy display cases. Tendou took a moment to admire the lobby, impressed by the giant flag of a great white shark hanging from the rafters. Someone had painted it on silk. He thought of Hanamura and immediately regretted it. That peculiar jolt tickled his throat again, and he quickly turned away from the flag. When he drew his attention back to Isami once more, he found her staring at his shoes, her face a dangerous shade of eggplant.

Tendou dropped his gaze too. "What? Is there something on my feet?"

Had he somehow, between the court and the lobby, managed to plod through a wet pile of dog poop? Her expression was so queasy, it was quite possible.

Isami tensed, quickly shaking her head.

"T-those look like new s-shoes," she said in a small voice, clutching her pom-poms.

Tendou rubbed the back of his neck, confused.

"Er…almost. They were a Christmas present from my folks."

Why was she suddenly so interested in his shoes?

In fact, Isami was acting strange. Though it was drafty inside the gym, he couldn't help but notice that she wore her tracksuit zipped up all the way to her chin. Twin fishtail braids rested against her shoulders, and even though she was dressed appropriately for a practice match, there were patches of silver glitter on her cheeks. All these things combined made her look rather warrior-like. Her face glimmered and shined as she watched the marching band head outside where the buses were parked.

Tendou picked at the tape around his fingers.

"So…you wanted to see me about something?" He pressed.

His team was still loitering outside by the glass doors, but any moment now, Washijo and Saito would show up, and everyone would be ushered back to school. He didn't fancy getting left behind. Washijo made it clear that, for today at least, he had disowned Tendou completely.

Isami went rigid.

"The reason I…what I wanted to tell you…um," she swallowed deeply, gathering herself. Tendou felt anxious and wondered what could be causing her so much distress that she was struggling for words. He had the uncontrollable urge to pat her on the back in encouragement but was afraid she would faint.

A tremulous silence stretched out between them, buffered only by the light-hearted chatter coming from the marching band as they filed outside with their instruments. But then Isami closed her eyes, doing the thing Mr. Harada did whenever he stepped into character. She ran a hand down the length of her face, and when she opened her eyes again, she was someone completely different.

"SATORI TENDOU!" She shouted in her cheerleading voice. It was the voice of a sergeant: deep, smooth, and completely domineering.

Tendou jumped to attention. "Y-Yes!"

Isami placed hands on her hips, making the pom-poms crinkle jubilantly.

"I LIKE YOU! I THINK YOU'RE REALLY COOL!"

"Wha–really?"

"I WANT TO ASK YOU OUT! PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!"

Tendou was speechless. So much so, they stood there gawking at each other for a solid minute. She was peering at him so intensely, it was as if she had just challenged him to a fight. For his very first confession, it was surprisingly hostile.

Tendou glanced to his teammates for help, thinking one of them had been confessed to by a girl and lived to tell the tale. But to his dismay, he found Yamagata being restrained by Semi and Reon. The libero was fighting them with a vengeance, his mouth working furiously. The others were admiring the large concrete planters outside, ignoring the eight pairs of nostril streaks still left on the glass doors. Yunohama was pointing to a patch of pink flowers, delighted.

Tendou broke into a cold sweat.

"Erm…Thank you, Isami. That – that was amazing," he complimented her, genuinely impressed with how far she had come in just a few months. It was eerie how similar she sounded like Kazane, the only other student at Shiratorizawa who could orate with the fervor of a world-class general.

"I'm deeply flattered," he continued, "Anyone would be so lucky to have your regard. I…it's just that…," he paused, the strange bobbing happening inside his throat again. It felt as if he had swallowed an air bubble and it refused to pop. Only this time, it was accompanied by a flash of Fire King jade, fingers coated in charcoal, and an infuriatingly bright smile. Hanamura's face came to him unbidden, and it hit him with the force of a brick to the stomach. It was his turn to struggle. "I…I have…I have feelings for someone else!"

He scrunched his face as if he had just swallowed lemon juice. He was surprised by the words dribbling out of his mouth and could do nothing but share in Isami's state of complete shock as they peered at each other, bewildered.

"Oh," said Isami at last, relaxing her stance, "okay."

Tendou winced.

"Are you alright?" He asked cautiously, worried that he had upset her.

But Isami was staring at her pom-poms in wonder. There was a sparkle in her eye that rivaled the glitter on her cheeks, and her mouth spread into a small grin. When she met his gaze once more, the eggplant hue of her face had vanished, replaced by an incandescent glow. She was no longer dripping with fear but…amazement.

"I did it," she said in disbelief, "I confronted my fear."

"Of me?" Tendou wilted, thinking the universe was truly out to smite him.

Isami quickly shook her head.

"No, of taking a chance! Chasing after what I want," she said. "If you want to achieve great things, you have to be bold. I didn't want to let fear get in the way of pursuing what I wanted." She broke into a delighted laugh. "I didn't even puke!"

Tendou tilted his head in confusion at that last part.

"Er…that's admirable of you, Isami."

"Thank you," she said, smiling. Then, as she eyed him more thoughtfully, she added, "I meant what I said, you know. I think you're really cool, and…I hope this person you mentioned feels the same way as I do."

Tendou froze and, to his horror, felt his face grow excruciatingly hot. He could no longer feel solid ground beneath his feet and wondered if he had died from shock and his ghost was now hovering outside his body. He could do nothing but stand there with his arms at his sides, awkward.

"Sasakura! Come on, it's time to go," called out a fellow cheerleader.

Isami waved a pom-pom in the air. "Coming Makoto!"

Peering back at Tendou with a deep blush, she added, "Listen, I don't think I want to see your face for a while, Tendou. No offense, but I'll need some time."

She offered him an apologetic grin to which he responded with a slow nod.

"None taken," he said with incredible effort.

As he watched her jog to catch up with the rest of the cheer squad, Tendou was left with the staggering realization that his current incompetence at volleyball – and life in general – was the result of dangerous unchecked feelings. The kind of feelings that could penetrate years of emotional armor, years of meticulous vigilance, reducing the Guess Monster into that of a silly, romantic sop. They had snuck up on him without warning, and as he stared at his reflection in the trophy case, one truth surfaced with startling clarity.

He had a debilitating crush on Magpie Girl.

. . . . . . . . .

Tendou burst into Ushijima's dorm room later that evening, hands massaging his temples in a gesture of complete confoundment. He had come straight from the showers, his hair still wet and heavy in his face. His towel draped his shoulders and he only just realized he had put on his clothes inside out. The tag of his shirt was tickling his chin.

"Wakatoshi, we're friends, right?" He asked, fixing his shirt.

Ushijima had his eyes glued to his history textbook, uttering a simple, "Ah."

Tendou continued to pace in the room, wearing a hole in the carpet. His slippers made little flap-flap noises like an anxious metronome.

"You and I, we've seen things, we've endured things. That makes us close, correct?"

Ushijima laid down his pencil, casting a slight frown in his direction.

"What are you getting at, Tendou?"

"I'm freaking out! I'm about to lose it, Wakatoshi! I need you to talk me off the ledge right now. Please!"

Ushijima glanced around his room, checking to make sure the window was latched even though he was housed on the ground floor.

"Figuratively," Tendou amended, flopping onto the lower bunk bed in defeat.

Ushijima swiveled around in his chair, leaning an elbow against the desk. His history homework was pushed aside, momentarily forgotten.

"Is this about Washijo?"

"No."

"Volleyball?"

"Nuh-uh."

The ace grappled for a moment, trying to figure out what would cause him so much angst. "Crimson Warrior?" He pandered, confused.

"A girl, Wakatoshi. This is about a girl," Tendou deadpanned into the mattress.

Ushijima stood up immediately, his expression grave. "What did you do?"

"Not me, her! I…I have feelings for her, and I need you to talk me out of them!" Tendou said in a rush of air, burying his face into the pillow. From this vantage, he couldn't see Ushijima's reaction, but it was just as well. It has been ingrained in them early on by Coach Washijo that distractions were not tolerated during the height of tournament season, and no one followed that Golden Rule more faithfully than Wakatoshi Ushijima. The ace stood in silence before lowering himself on the edge of the bed. Tendou felt his weight shift against him.

Here it comes, thought Tendou, preparing himself.

"I don't understand. Are these feelings a bad thing? Do you not like her?" Ushijima asked.

"No, I do. That's the problem!" Tendou fired back.

Ushijima lifted his gaze to the ceiling, his mind quietly at work. "I still don't understand."

"Eh?"

"If you like this girl, then your feelings are natural. There's nothing wrong."

Tendou sat up, his back as straight as a washboard. He bonked his head against the top bunk, howling with pain.

"B-but volleyball and the no distraction rule," he rambled, holding his head that was now swelling with a giant goose egg. "Tanji made it perfectly clear we need to have our priorities sorted– or else. I figured you of all people would knock some sense into me," he said, his voice sounding incredulous.

"Why?" Ushijima asked, frowning. "Akiko and I have been dating. She understands my commitments."

His words echoed, amplified by the meticulous neatness of his room. They bounced from every corner and crevice, creating a sonar wave that shocked Tendou all the way down to his toes. He regarded Ushijima as if he had just sprouted two heads.

"Ha-ha-what?" He gasped loudly, causing Ushijima to wince. "What did you just say?"

Ushijima rubbed the back of his neck, agitated.

"We take Argus for walks on the weekends. She helped me find your birthday present. I bought her a frozen yogurt. Is that not dating?"

"No, that's…that's dating. That's definitely what you two are doing."

Several light bulbs went on simultaneously in Tendou's head: Asano insisting they stay for the picnic, Ushijima tossing the frisbee like a rocket, Akiko discussing his birthday in the studio, Ushijima urging Tendou to invite Hanamura, the strange conversation with Asano over Argus's confectionary preferences…had this all taken place right underneath his nose. Had he been that oblivious?

Tendou had been right all along. Ushijima was way more cunning than they all gave him credit for, other motivations at work deep below the surface of his impenetrable exterior. But what alarmed Tendou the most was the fact that he had no idea Ushijima harbored feelings for their class representative.

Tendou paused for a moment, thinking. "But do you like her? Akiko?"

He needed to make sure his friend understood the gravity of dating someone. His blasé admittance suggested a harmless kinship with a girl who happened to have an impeccably cute dog. Perhaps Ushijima didn't really understand what he was getting himself into as far as romance went. Maybe he was just getting together with Akiko for platonic walks in the park.

But then Ushijima did something that no one in the history of Shiratorizawa had ever borne witness to – his face softened, and his eyes warmed into something tender. He leaned heavily on his knees, his ears a notable shade of crimson. When he looked back at Tendou, he uttered a single syllable that conveyed a complete thesis of meaning.

"Ah."

It left Tendou flabbergasted. He flipped onto his back, bracing himself against his elbows.

"But, Wakatoshi, aren't you afraid it will be too much? You remember how bad it was last year. We barely slept during tournament season."

Ushijima thought on that for a moment before shaking his head.

"I admire Akiko. She's a positive influence and a nice person. I don't think she's a distraction. I want to do more and be more," he said, staring up at the ceiling. It was the most he had ever spoken on behalf of another individual. Tendou could see he was slightly unnerved by it as well. Ushijima clasped and unclasped his hands together, stern. "At least, that's how I feel whenever I'm around her."

Tendou eyed him thoughtfully.

Through the lens of volleyball, he immediately understood. That insatiable impulse to do better, be better. To be in the presence of a skilled opponent and experience that wonderful-yet-terrifying feeling that heightened the meaning of any hard-won game. Tendou thought of his friendship with Hanamura. There was a startling similarity in the way he felt compelled to be bigger and brighter, to capture her attention, make her see him. Actually see him.

For that intoxicating to-and-fro duel to follow him off the court...Tendou was new to all of this. It never crossed his mind that a rival could present themselves outside of volleyball. That someone like Hanamura could catch him unawares, forcing him to rise to the occasion.

Was this what it felt like to be attracted to someone? Fear and agony, but also excitement and anticipation all bound up inside a giant bubble of fleeting hope?

Tendou gripped his chest, distraught.

How did anyone survive this madness?

"Do me a favor. Don't broadcast this to anyone just yet," said Ushijima, breaking him of his fatalistic train of thought. "Akiko and I are taking things slow. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."

Tendou shifted to the edge of the bed, smiling as he clapped his friend on the shoulder.

"No worries, Ushiwaka. Your secret's safe with me."

"Thanks."

They shared a fraternal look that was quickly interrupted by the sounds of the top bunk creaking.

"Erm…do you mind? I'm trying to sleep here," said Ushijima's roommate tentatively. His head poked out from the top bunk, his eyes bleary with exhaustion. It was the wrong thing to do. Both Tendou and Ushijima stood, their faces on par with the brown-headed boy who was now quaking fearfully under his blanket.

"Wakatoshi, shall we 'spirit' him away?" Tendou asked in a deeply unsettling voice.

The Great Ace stared down his roommate, his expression stony.

"That depends," he said.

The boy grew increasingly pale.

"I-I didn't hear anything, I swear!" He squeaked, yanking the sheets up to his chin. "Guys, you know me! I've been rooming with Ushijima all year. I'm on the robotics team. I do technical writing for fun. The general idea of people terrifies me! When have I ever blabbed?"

Tendou reached out and patted him lightly on the cheek.

"We know, Kazuki. We just like giving you a hard time," he said, grinning.

Kazuki looked veritably put out.

"I'm filing for a room transfer," he grumbled, flopping in bed so that his back faced the two athletes. "Or legally changing my name – whichever gets me away from the two of you!"

The word 'you' dripped with all the insult and dismissal he could muster, but his voice cracked thinly at the last moment. Tendou shared an amused look with Ushijima who slowly shook his head. They left Kazuki in peace as Ushijima saw Tendou to the door.

"Thanks, Wakatoshi," said Tendou out in the hallway. "You calmed some of my fears tonight."

"Are you going to tell her?" Ushijima asked. "Hanamura."

Tendou peered at the ace, shocked. "How did you – ?"

"We're friends," said Ushijima almost disparagingly. "I know who you like."

Tendou stared at his enigmatic teammate, suddenly moved by the level of trust and encouragement he was offering. It made him feel less alone and less anxious. He didn't have to have all the answers or the confidence-bordering-on-arrogance act around Ushijima. Something told him the ace could see through all that anyways. It was amazing how far they had come since their first meeting. Since their very first practice when Tendou accidentally tripped Ushijima, felling him face-first into the volley cart.

"I suppose I'll have to tell her," said Tendou, smirking. Then, as he thought about it more, his smirk morphed into a frown. "That is, if I can catch her first."

Ushijima retracted into the room, his hand lingering on the door handle.

"Ah. But you have a knack for that sort of thing," he said confidently, "don't you?"

He closed the door, leaving Tendou to stare at his own shadow. The outline of his silhouette stretched across the hall, his hair spiked into horns, his fingers dangling like claws at his side. The Guess Monster was superimposed on the gray carpet, right there for him to see.

Tendou mused at his likeness.

Looks like you and I are on the clock, pal.

He imagined the shadow grinning back gleefully.

Tendou wanted things too just like any other person. He wanted to win Nationals. He wanted to visit the Galapagos Islands. He wanted all of his favorite mangaka to release chapters well-ahead of schedule. He wanted Satsuki's undivided attention, to climb Mount Funagata, to chase that elusive feeling of euphoria in everything he did. He wanted a great many things in life, but he had never wanted someone as badly as he wanted Suzume Hanamura.

I only hope she feels the same way, he thought as he began to scheme.

A/N: Alright, now we're talking. Tendou is finally on board. *rubs hands together* :D

"I love you" - Woodkid

CeeDee, Diane, QT3.14, I hope you don't mind the shout-outs, but you all are the absolute best! You make this ten times more fun - seriously. Thank you! KunaiKurenai, your review made me crack up! Being an artist definitely requires some disclaimers, huh? The lengths to which we go for our craft. CeeDee, I'm excited to hear that you are a painter as well! The plight of the artist block is very real - I've been told the best way to cure it is to throw your attention into something else entirely for a while. Music has always helped break me out of my writing funk. Food too...Tashima is very much the Salieri to Hanamura's Mozart, but hopefully, they can reconcile their differences. Hopefully.

The Shiratorizawa gang made such a splash when I watched the anime for the first time, I couldn't get over the bromance between Tendou and Ushijima. So pure, so strange, so brilliant - it was immensely satisfying to craft this scene where they talk about girls and the perils of dating. And then to have Ushijima's roommate right there with them. XD

Thank you so much for reading!

lavendermoonmilk