(a/n: this was a prompt submitted in my cc (twt/cc: kawakoushi) and the prompt was “you’re lucky you’re cute” aka super perfect for these bbs)
hitoka yachi is slowly warming up to the other first years. she thinks it's good progress! first was hinata, who approached her first for some review sessions. second was kageyama, who always asked her to throw the ball for him to set. third was yamaguchi, who always sat beside or cheered alongside her in the matches. and then there was tsukishima kei, who.. well, nothing.
come to think of it, all the other first years always interacted with her first, so it was a little bit easier than others. but tsukishima never really.. needed anything from her. the most they've interacted are the times when she'd hand him a towel or a water bottle, and he'd reply with a single 'thanks'.
yachi isn't really sure how to get close to him. he's actually really intimidating, the more she thinks about it. she relays this to yamaguchi in between practices.
"tsukki? oh he always just looks like that, don't worry!" yamaguchi reassures.
"i don't really know how to approach him," yachi fidgets, "and as the next manager, shouldn't i at least be on good terms with everyone?"
yamaguchi nods in thought. "hmm.. that's true. but.. how could you guys interact more?"
they sat in silence. study sessions were out of question. helping him with volleyball? not when tsukishima was the first person to leave..
"we have absolutely nothing in common!" yachi cries exasperatedly. yamaguchi sympathetically pats her back. (in his mind, he disagrees. both blond, smart, and introverted-- they were much similar than yachi believes.)
"i think the opportunity will come around! there's no rush, it's okay, yachi-san!"
that makes her feel better, and she lets the subject rest altogether, but the next few days were just.. weird. yamaguchi must have said something to tsukishima for sure, because the blond middle blocker is starting to approach her a little more frequently. (the better question might be: why is she so hyper-aware of all this?)
it started with the casual "yachi-san, could i have another towel, please?" escalating to indirect compliments like "you're lucky yachi-san is patient enough to teach you simpletons!" to even a joking "wow, yachi-san, you're finally a master at dodgeball at this point!".
but of course, she had to mess it up.
it was the shiratorizawa game, their deciding match to nationals. tsukishima hurts his hand and kiyoko makes her take him to the clinic.
the walk there was quiet. he didn't face her, but she knew he was frustrated. she could tell from the sighs, the "tch's", and the gritted teeth, that he was itching to get back to court.
"i'm tired of playing five sets anyway. it's good to finally take a break." he remarks offhandedly, probably to reassure her that he was fine.
he wasn't and she knows it. and this has to be one of those times when she should give him a piece of her mind.
"he won't return to a lost match. we won't allow that to happen." kiyoko's confident words, just before she let yachi take him, ring through her mind.
"tsukishima-san," her voice was steady for once. that makes him look at her. "you can make it back in time, so quit moping. it's only your pinky finger, right? i noticed when i saw it up close. when it stops bleeding, some bandages should be fine and you'll be good to go. unless you're feeling dizzy or anything else?"
tsukishima looks stunned. it was the most she's ever said to him, and in such a direct manner too. in the painfully long few seconds of silence, she has a mental breakdown. was that too blunt? he definitely hates her now, and it was definitely going to affect the team, and she will definitely need to quit the team, and--
he clears his throat, averting his eyes, but he seems to look calmer and more collected. did her words have an effect on him?
"i'm fine, it's really just the stinging of my hand." then sneaking a curious glance at her, "who knew there was this side to you, yachi-san? you should definitely show it more."
yachi kind of wants to let the ground swallow her whole (how could she make such bold statements!), but she also kind of wants to keep.. whatever this was.. going.
"only when you drop your angsty teenager act."
tsukishima softly laughs. wait, he's laughing! at something she said! a weird sense of fulfillment floods through her chest.
"why did that hurt more than ushiwaka's stupid spike?"
yachi smiles, really wide and giddy, even if she didn't want it to. "at least you seem aware of it."
tsukishima pouts at her. they reach the door to the clinic. he seems to mull over something before deciding. his eyes briefly meet hers, and she sees the tips of his ears redden.
"you're lucky you're cute." he says, and leaves no room for reply as he opens the door and steps in the clinic quickly.
yachi, wide-eyed and heart suddenly pounding very fast, could only follow closely behind with a face so red that the nurse asks her if she was feeling unwell too.