(Tsukishima x Reader) Reunited

You were staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stars you glued to the ceiling as a kid, not having the will to take them down since they watched over you every night; whenever you felt alone, afraid, and anxious - they lit up your room, almost reassuring you that you weren't alone. 

When you broke up with your middle school boyfriend, they accompanied you to sleep, along with the tears that you shed. When your moon disappeared from your sky, they stayed. 

Your phone began to incessantly ring and buzz from your nightstand, and you sat up, glancing over at your clock. 9:45 PM. 

INCOMING CALL: TSUKISHIMA AKITERU 

"..." You stared at your phone screen a few seconds more, before your hand moved on its own to answer the unexpected call. Never would you have thought you'd see that name appear on your phone ever again. 

"...Hello?" You answered, voice hoarse and raspy from the long day of practice. You cleared your throat and let out a deep breath as the bright male on the other side of the line greeted you. 

"Oh! You answered! Kei told me that you changed phones, so... It's been a while huh, (F/N)-ssi?" 

At the sound of the old term of endearment, your heart ached, but you smiled to yourself anyway. You could tell Akiteru was beaming through the phone. "Yeah, Aki-kun. Is there something you need?" 

"You... Why can't I call because I miss seeing you bother Kei? Sheesh." 

You laugh lightheartedly. "If you missed me so much, you could have called sooner, liar. Now, what do you really want?" 

"I can't believe you're the same little girl who used to run around half-naked in diapers... Now you're as mean as Kei!" He paused, possibly regretting comparing the two of you - polar opposites - and then continued, "But, you're right... I have an ulterior motive. I want you to come to the finals tomorrow morning. You don't have to talk to Kei, just come support him with me. Please?" 

"Now, why would I want to cheer on the team who beat my school?" You joked bitterly, sighing. "I have no business with Karasuno." 

"Please?!" Akiteru basically shouts, surprising you. "You know how he is - he's... Unmotivated! He has the power to succeed, to get what he wants - but he doesn't try to take that chance! He needs a stimulant... The one who always got his blood pumping was you. You were his motivation to do his best, you know? So that he'd look cool for you..."  

"I'm his ex-girlfriend. Why would I get his blood pumping?" 

"Because he still loves you -"

"~I'm hanging up~" You sang, tapping the red icon. You placed your phone back on the nightstand and flopped back onto your bed, staring back up at the glowing stars. You groaned loudly at the thought of Tsukishima, that smug asshole who you've always wanted to push off a cliff - the same asshole who taught you what it felt like to love and be loved, and what it felt like to be broken and bruised. 

It was still kind of strange to you, though. Tsukishima never took volleyball seriously in the first place, and it wouldn't have surprised you if he quit after graduating. Hearing that Karasuno had beat your school, Aoba Jousai, and was moving onto finals to face Shiratorizawa was a surprise, sure - but when you saw their main roster contained both Tsukishima and Yamaguchi, your childhood friends, you were taken aback. 

[10:05 pm] Akiteru╰(▔∀▔)╯
hey
rude??? u hung up!!!!
i know where you live

[10:05 pm] (f/n)-ssi (o˘◡˘o)
ill go.

[10:06 pm] Akiteru╰(▔∀▔)╯
rEALLY?!?!?! 
IS It FOR KEI> 
DO YOU STILL LIKE HIM!!!

[10:06 pm] (f/n)-ssi (o˘◡˘o)
i just want to see him play volleyball, aki-kun

[10:07 pm] Akiteru╰(▔∀▔)╯
u wont regret it <(￣︶￣)>

- 

Tsukishima paced the floor of his room, stepping over clothing he didn't have the energy to put into the laundry, because what the hell, they actually made it to finals. He didn't think they'd make it past prelims, but here they were - facing the team that Aoba Jousai had failed to beat. 

He stopped pacing when he heard footsteps stop outside his door, and since he and his brother were the only two in the house, he muttered a dull, "Go away." 

"I will, once I give you your good luck charm for the game!" 

"I don't need a good luck charm." 

"You will once you know what it is. I'll just leave it here, then." Akiteru placed something solid onto the floor outside of Tsukishima's room then walked away, humming. 

Tsukishima occupied himself with the task of putting together a playlist for the bus ride to the tournament tomorrow, and completely forgot about the 'good luck charm' his brother had left for him, until he almost stepped on it while heading to the bathroom. 

Before his foot could destroy whatever was in the small box, Tsukishima picked the object up and shook it around. Inside, something jingled, and then knocked against the cardboard wall of the box. He looked around to be sure this wasn't a prank his brother was pulling on him. Then again, his brother did get him sports glasses, so whatever was inside should be safe. (Besides, he was the evil brother in the family.) 

He lifted the lid off. Inside the box was a key chain that had originally came in a set; a crescent moon and an assortment of stars, of various sizes. In the box he held, was the assortment of stars - sterling silver, and brightly polished - all engraved with his and someone else's initials.

He sighed, knowing that his brother had stolen it out of his sacred box of memories that Tsukishima hid in the depths of his closet, which he occasionally took out to reminisce at 3 in the morning, when he couldn't sleep. 

He doesn't know where the other half is, ironically and figuratively speaking. Maybe you threw it away, sold it; but some part of him is hoping you kept it, like he did, in his box of memories. Seeing it again, cleaned and shiny, instead of dusty and dull, drove him to clip it onto his bag, instead of shoving it back into the box. 

It's not like you'd see it ever again, anyway. 

It's not a good luck charm.

He just misses you. 

- 

It wasn't a good luck charm. 

The good luck charm that Yui had given Daichi wasn't working either. He should've known that believing in a piece of paper and a collection of metal wouldn't bring about a miracle. They lost their first set, and Tsukishima was already tired. Ushiwaka was just too powerful, and Tsukishima doesn't have the confidence or willpower to jump a few inches higher to block his attacks. He's done. 

That is, until he and the team are distracted by a commotion going on in the stands, where Karasuno's supporters sat. Akiteru's there, in his foolish disguise that fails to mask his identity, and Saeko is chewing him out for not being openly proud of supporting his brother, like she is doing for Tanaka. Coach Ukai is about to go up in the stands himself to tell them to shut up, when the arguing siblings are interrupted by another presence approaching them. 

"I watched from the lobby on the TV," you muttered, slinging your bag further up your shoulder. "I didn't want to burst in during a set. I just got out of practice, too." A slight jingle on your bag caught Akiteru's attention, and a wide grin spreads across his face. 

"I knew you kept it! They're both reunited!" 

"Who're you?" Saeko asked, poking your cheek. "You're not a spy, are you?" 

"Oh..." You bowed respectfully and introduced yourself, "(L/N) (F/N), a first-year from Aoba Jousai. I'm childhood friends with Aki-kun." She grinned from ear to ear, and slapped you hard on the back. 

"Great! You're perfect motivation for Ryu and Yuu! A new girl to fire them up." She dragged you over to the railing and waved frantically down at the awestruck boys, in a daze from losing the first set. "Ryu! Yuu!!" The two boys tilted their heads up and waved, a bit down. "If you guys win, she agreed to go on a date with both of you!" She threw an arm around your shoulder and pinched your cheek, grinning. 

"I did not," you muttered loudly, wriggling out of her grasp. 

"SHE DID!" She yelled, drowning out your protests, "HER NAME IS (F/N)-CHAN! SHE'S FROM AOBA JOUSAI, A FIRST YEAR! CUTE, RIGHT?" 

"Just burn me alive, would you..." 

-

It's just a coincidence. There's no way. 

Tsukishima refused to believe the name that Saeko had shouted; the name that echoed off the walls in the gym and his brain, the name that made him feel so fuzzy and confused he wanted to throw up.

"Tsukki..." Yamaguchi murmured, nudging him slightly, "Did you invite her?" 

"I haven't spoken to her since."

Looking up, he made eye contact with his older brother, who had a small grin beneath his face mask. He couldn't bring himself to glare at him again, not when his legs felt like jelly and his heart racing. He felt like melting. 

Tsukishima played the next set with a set of eyes boring holes into the back of his head. The set after that, he feels ashamed. The last set, he feels rejuvenated, surprised, and joyous. 

He felt like a kid, thinking: look at me, only at me, look at how I'm working so hard. When he felt you watching him, he made an extra effort to jump, the extra effort to block the hard attacks. He wanted to impress you, as embarrassing as it was to admit. He wanted you to know that he wasn't the same as he was in middle school anymore, and that he had in some way changed. 

He already knows about your accomplishments, thanks to Yamaguchi's incessant stalking of your social media accounts. You're a regular first-year as well, taking on one of the most important roles - setter, and you're also on the student council board. You've been asked out twice by Oikawa, and both times you made him cry, the poor guy. Your favorite foods are the same, and your sleeping schedule has gotten worse. He wonders if you knew as much about him, as he knew about you. 

- 

[6:22 pm] Akiteru╰(▔∀▔)╯
kei_sulking.jpg
lol he's sad bc u didn't even talk to him after he tried so hard during the game
kekekeke

[6:23 pm] (f/n)-ssi (o˘◡˘o)
why are you like this 
aren't you the older brother

[6:23 pm] Akiteru╰(▔∀▔)╯
not my fault he's so ~vulnerable~ 

[6:24 pm] (f/n)-ssi (o˘◡˘o)
im starting to think he inherited the brains u didnt get the first time
pile_of_work.jpg
duty calls 
ttyl aki

Tsukishima can't comprehend what nonsense his brother was up to, giggling and writhing around like a middle school girl texting her crush. He sighed loudly from the living room's kotatsu, and dropped his face to rest on the surface of the table. 

"Oh yeah, almost forgot," Akiteru huffed, pushing himself up into a standing position. "A congratulations gift." Akiteru walked towards the kitchen, and returned with two boxes; one labeled with a bakery's logo, and the other, a handwritten note of congratulations. Tsukishima turned away from his brother. 

"I don't need gifts, you know. There's no need to waste money on me." 

"Oh, I know, I learned the hard way." Akiteru set the boxes down in front of Tsukishima's head, and situated himself on the other side of the kotatsu. "But it's not from me." 

"Then who is it from?" 

"Just open them, Kei!" Akiteru held his phone towards Tsukishima, grinning. "I want to send her a live reaction." Tsukishima scoffed and sat up, rubbing his cheek. 

"I'll open them in my room, thanks," Tsukishima muttered, taking the two boxes from the table and up the stairs, into his room. He flopped down in his office chair and slid the boxes onto his desk. He went for the bakery box, since it was probably perishable - and in it contained a slice of delectable strawberry shortcake, topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. 

"Of course she would." 

He took some time to eat the slice of cake, and halfway through the slice he decided to put it back in the fridge, his reason being that he didn't want to get fat - when really, he wanted to savor the cake, because you had remembered that it was his favorite cake, and you went out of your way to buy him one, when he hasn't spoken to you in over a year. 

The second box, a smaller one, was kept together by a silver bow, that Tsukishima unraveled in a slight tug. The tag on it read, 'Congratulations' in familiar, neat cursive, written in black ink. Inside that box, lay a wooden keychain in the shape of a dinosaur, along with a small piece of paper, folded multiple times. 

'I'm sorry. 
I can't say this to you directly, but congratulations.
I hope you go far in life, Tsukishima Kei.
-(L/N) (F/N)' 

He didn't know how to feel. You were too sweet for your own good, towards an asshole like him. Normally, you would get them a card, along with a gift card to the sporting goods store, or nothing at all, especially for an ex. 

"Hey! Kei! This is a gift from me!" Akiteru called through the door, sliding a piece of paper titled: 'Aoba Jousai Girls' Volleyball Season', containing various dates and locations. One, highlighted in bright yellow with exclamation marks surrounding it, stood out the most. 

Karasuno vs. Aoba Jousai.

-

As the referee called for team captains to shake hands, Tsukishima slid into the stands of the gym quietly, masking himself with his hood and a face mask. He settled for a seat closest to the edge, so that he didn't have to crane his neck to watch the game below unfold. The person beside him nudged him, chuckling with laughter. 

"Who looks stupid now?" Akiteru grinned, holding his stomach in pain from laughing so hard. Tsukishima scoffed at his brother, rolling his eyes. 

"I'm just taking precautions. I felt a bit sick lately." 

"Huh... Is it 'lovesick'?" 

"Shut up, please." 

The game commenced, the ball in the possession of Karasuno. The ball was served, then was received easily by Aoba Jousai's libero, sending the ball soaring perfectly above your head. 

As the Karasuno front-line players prepared to block your left wing spiker, you did the unexpected - you used your left hand in a full swing, spiking the ball through the empty right-side court. 

"Uwah, she really is something else... A left-handed kill from the setter. No wonder she's a regular." Akiteru whistled, impressed, and Tsukishima sat back quietly, tapping his foot. 

We really are complete opposites. 

It was only the first set, the first point out of 25 - yet you were already radiating with confidence, as if you had already won. That was the kind of mindset Tsukishima hated. He hated uselessly hotblooded people; people who stood their ground even in the most dire situations. 

What is the point of trying so hard in the beginning? It's energy wasted. 

The ball was served, in the possession of Aoba Jousai, and you rotated to the right wing. Karasuno's back-line hitter received the ball, making it a chance ball, and was quickly returned over the net from a strong toss by Karasuno's setter. The ball soared to your back-line, who sent it back over the net, and was spiked down by a Karasuno player. 

Using your foot, you slid out, letting the ball bounce off of your heel and back up into the air, where your front-line returned the spike, hitting empty court. 

"She's so well-rounded, it's actually frightening. Maybe she should have accepted that offer to Niiyama..." Akiteru sighed. Karasuno's coach called for a timeout, and both teams returned to their respective benches to re-hydrate themselves. 

"What offer to Niiyama?" 

"Oh, right... You weren't supposed to know...? Oops." Akiteru rubbed the back of his neck and grinned sheepishly. "I never said anything, okay?" 

"Nii-chan." 

"Ugh, you didn't hear it from me, okay?" Akiteru leaned forward in his seat, intertwining his fingers together. "She was offered to go to both Aoba Jousai and Niiyama Joshi. Obviously, anyone sane would choose to go to Niiyama, but she chose to go to Aoba Jousai." 

"Is she an idiot?" 

"Are you? She passed up the opportunity because she wanted to have time outside of volleyball to -... You know, I've already said too much. Ask her yourself."

"Nii-"

"Sh, they're starting again."

-

Aoba Jousai's momentum never slowed, not even when Karasuno finally managed to score several kills in a row. By the end of the second set, Karasuno knew they were done for, and accepted a graceful defeat.

You were on your way out towards the bus when you were grabbed by the wrist and dragged into an empty hallway, by the one and only Tsukishima Kei, who you haven't seen this close up in an entire year.

"Here. Con... Congratulations." He let go of your wrist, realizing how tight his grip on it was, and used his hand to open up your fist to place a small box into your hand.

"Yeah... Thank you, Tsukishima-kun." He visibly winced at the use of his family name, uncomfortable with the way it left your lips so unnaturally, not as lovely sounding as 'Kei'. You lifted the lid off of the box nervously, knowing that he was watching you closely, and inside, was a small keychain the shape of a volleyball, with his jersey number, #11 engraved into it.

"Akiteru told me you passed up Niiyama to go to Aoba Jousai." 

"That big-mouthed -..." You groaned, diverting your eyes from Tsukishima's form, focusing on a pebble on the floor. "What did he say?" 

"That you wanted to have time outside of volleyball to do something? Are you an idiot? Volleyball's your entire world, (F/N), and Niiyama could have lifted you up so much higher than a regular high school. What is more important than your entire future?" 

"You. You are." 

His heart could've stopped right there. It should've. But it didn't, and here Tsukishima Kei was, alive more than ever, heart beating a hundred miles per second, his brain in overdrive. 

"You're... Really stupid." 

"Thanks." 

"I mean like, really stupid." 

"Yeah, I know."

"I broke your heart. You should have moved on and forgotten about us. You could have been at the top." 

You sank onto the floor, tired of standing. The bus had already left, and you weren't in the mood to chase it down. "Standing at the top alone would mean nothing to me, Kei. I wanted to stand by your side, but you pushed me away." 

Tsukishima plopped himself down on the floor beside you, heaving a deep sigh. The familiar scent of your perfume soothed him for the first time in an entire year, and he gave up, breaking down his own walls. He rested his head against your shoulder, tired. 

"Do I really deserve you again? You know I can't give you the affection you deserve." 

"Kei. I think we're in the same boat here, seeing that we keep giving each other keychains instead of outright expressing our sentiments?" 

"Oh shit. Guess we'll need bigger key rings." 

"Or?" 

"Or??"

You groaned and pushed Tsukishima off of your shoulder with a shove, rolling your eyes. "I like you, Tsukishima Kei. I never stopped, really..."

"I... Uh... I like you too - still - a lot - fuck, why did I even think that I'd be able to get rid of you so easily? I should've just clung onto you until we hit rock bottom." 

"We already did!" You grinned, patting the concrete floor the two of you were sitting on. "Nowhere else to go but up, now." 

"Ew. Fucking lame." 

"You're lame." 

The two of you broke out into a fit of laughter, leaning on each other for support; relishing the other's company after being deprived of each other for so long. Tsukishima grinned and rest his forehead against yours, staring into your eyes. 

"Don't you dare break eye contact. I'll kiss you if you do." 

"You couldn't even look me in the eye earlier, why should I believe -" You felt his smirk against your lips as he pulled you close, one hand behind your head and the other on the small of your back. His lips tasted of the strawberry lip balm he never ran out of, apparently, and were warm and welcoming as they moved against yours. 

Home. It felt like home. 

"OKAY, ENOUGH! YOU'RE BOTH STILL MINORS!" A voice called out, stepping out from behind a pillar a few feet away. Akiteru, as smug as ever, held up his cellphone, a photo of the two of you kissing on the screen. "Blackmail." 

"Do it," Tsukishima shrugged, taking your hand in his, enveloping it in newfound warmth. "It'll scare the pests away." 

"What pests?" 

"Every single male that breathes your air." 

"... Oh." 

-

Group Chat: wInNERS

Akiteru has joined the chat. 

hinata: hi!!!!!!!!!!!
kageyama: How was the game?
akiteru: we lost but its ok because kei has won today 
daichi: ?????????????? 
yamaguchi: wat
tanaka: !!!!!!!!!! 
nishinoya: WHAT DID HE DO NOW

Akiteru uploaded: reunited_finally.jpg 

hinata: mY EYES
kageyama: ...that is not even relevant 
daichi: im goingto kill him 
sugawara: -SHOOK-
yamaguchi: wOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
tanaka: u shit 
nishinoya: I KNEW IT, THIEF!!!!!!!!!!!

Tsukishima has joined the chat. (F/N) has joined the chat. 

(f/n): omg wtf 
tsukishima: we look cute it's fine
(f/n): shut up maybe???? 
tsukishima: nah 

(f/n) uploaded: tsukishimas_dinosaur_collection.jpg 

tsukishima: do u want to die 
(f/n): yea 
tsukishima: ...

kageyama: HAHAHAHAHA
hinata: omg tsukishima is that a barney 
(f/n): it says his name too it's so cute 
tsukishima: open the god damn door 
(f/n): tell my parents (iwaizumi & oikawa) i love them