#((study buddies

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synopsis: after weeks of working together, studying with hinata starts feeling a little too comfortable. what should’ve been another ordinary afternoon in the library quickly turns awkward when kei unexpectedly shows up and witnesses more than he wanted to. meanwhile, the pressure of the upcoming race continues to weigh heavily on you—along with emotions no one is addressing out loud.

a week goes by and presentations were due in a few days. you look at hinata sitting across from you in the library talking about something that isn’t related to the project and you nod and listen attentively.

you hear the library door open and see a tall figure walking in-not that your attention was focused on it but the shadow was hard to ignore when the sun was shining creating this dark figure.

“yeah- honestly i think we’re going to ace this project” hinata laughs “get it because of ace- volleyball.” you look at him almost unimpressed but try to keep your laugh in “you’re being way to loud again, it’s like you want us to be kicked out.” you chuckle softly. he immediately straightens up and clears his throat “wait im so sorry,-“ he continues to talk “i heard you having a race against that other school..is that true?” your eyebrows furrow slightly, caught off guard. you nod “yeah..i’ve been practicing for it..they counting on me.” you mutter the last part a bit quiet.

you’ve been doubting yourself because this race means a lot- the opposing school has beaten your school a few times and you hate losing, even if it’s just small. you are really competitive by nature and naturally that makes you doubt yourself, your abilities. hinata had noticed that part being a tad bit quieter, he looks at you, his eyes more softer. he doesn’t comment on it though. “you know..i really do admire the way you train and have all those things and still managing to be team captain.” he comments. you look at him and chuckle softly even thought there’s no humour to it “well..i appreciate that a lot. thank you hinata-“ he quickly stops you “shoyo. my name is shoyo.. i mean we have been working for a good amount of time so cut the formality.”

your ears are slightly red, almost embarrassed. “ha- okay then..i’m sorry. shoyo it is. thank you..shoyo.” you say with a soft smile on your face. little did you know that someone is near by. kei had quickly found out where you guys had studied. the school library after practice. you’d always post something on your spam instagram account and since majority of your time you’ve been in the library for this project you’d post something in there. his slender fingers grip the pen his holding tighter.

he looks over at you, his head snapping to the back of your head at your table. he knows that laugh. that soft, quiet one that you do when you’re embarrassed or flustered. he doesn’t even know what his doing at the school library out of all places. he had said to you before that the schools library was for friends who just want to hang out and not for studying. he loves studying in his own room, either with headphones in playing his music or silence.

hinata speaks again “it’s quite warm..i’ll buy us drinks when it’s time to go since we can’t drink in the library.” you nod and start packing your stationary away in your bag “ah thank you..i’m actually thirsty.” you smile softly, slightly push your hair out of your face. the slight sweat letting your hair sticking to your face.

kei notices immediately because he knows your expressions too well. how you smiled. like it was easy. soft. almost automatic.

hinata looks around the library and sees kei. you call out “shoyo” while packing your bag noticing how quiet he had gotten. kei overhears how you call out hinata name that it sounds natural, no hesitation. his pencil pauses mid-sentence he was writing. because somehow hearing you say some elses first name so easily feels strangely personal.

you, hinata and even kei hear a crack. kei looks down at his hands. you and hinatas heads snap to the sound. “shit.” kei mutters to himself. he had accidentally squeezed his pen to hard until the ink stains his book, hand and even the table.

your eyes widen slightly- in your head why is he here? why?

you quickly compose yourself, you eyes make eye contact. you freeze. he looks away first- like his ashamed. hinata oblivious to the tension between you and kei blurts out “oh?..tsukishima?” he says.

awkward.

hinata quickly gets up and finds tissues to help kei clean up his mess of pen ink. you look down at your lap your heart slightly beating out of your chest. so many unanswered questions. you quickly get up and then put on your bag on your back.

you excuse yourself to hinata “sorry shoyo- my parents want me earlier home. thank you.” you say before he can’t even reply you start walking, “wait y/n-“ he says, kei looks at your figure, your hair that fell perfectly in place as you walk. the way you carried yourself was always something he admired, the way the sun hit your skin making it glow. you look over your shoulder and accidentally make eye contact with him and see hinata trying to help kei and you look away exiting the library. his thoughts and vision of you was quickly interrupted by hinatas voice. kei groaned to himself, he didn’t like hinata as much and the fact his hanging out with you and now helping him clean up- god time was so against kei.

he looks at hinata “tch- i can do this myself. i don’t need your help.” he says irritatedly. hinata presses his lips into a straight line but continues to give kei tissues to help him wipe up the ink. he knows how kei gets. nothing new.

after that whole ordeal hinata left too and it left kei to sit down and realise what he was doing. he felt pathetic. he technically stalked you, can’t even look you in the eye. he feels weird seeing you being close to someone he doesn’t necessarily like, hinata being so likeable and friendly- it was infuriating. something on board-line jealousy?..he quickly shakes that thought out of his head before throwing the discarded pen shards in the bin near the exit before heading home.

kei unlocks his phone absentmindedly while walking home.

your spam account is still open.

the newest story posted only ten minutes ago.

a blurry picture of scattered notes across the library table.

hinata’s sleeve barely visible in the corner.

the caption:

“going insane.”

kei stares at the screen longer than he should.

then exits the story immediately.

his jaw tightens.

pathetic.

Studying in bed

Midnight Mass screenshot #StudyBuddies ~2hrs

The Rookie 7x14 promo photos ⬆️ and 7x16 episode description ⬇️ ©️DGE Press / ABC.

Artemis: Saturday school...ugh.

Mr. Ratcliff: Welcome to the Practice Proficiency Class. Where you’ll strengthen your knowledge and improve your chances of getting an excellent score.

Mr. Ratcliff: Let’s open our books to page 36.

Mr. Ratcliff: Alright class. We did good today. 3 more weekends to go.

Cassandra: Ugh this shit is so complicated.

Johnny Z. : Ash calm down. You know he just does this to- Chris: It’s alright Ash, I’d be jealous too. Ash: That’s it... let me at him.

Artemis: Dad come on. I already had Saturday school. The least you can do is let me have fun.

Artemis: Right. Home by dinner. Got it.

Cassie: Why the long face? Freya: Uh...nothing..

Cassie: Yeah right. You’ve been sayin that a lot lately and you’re lying. But I’ll let it slide if you come clean.

Cassie: Wow... That’s some heavy stuff. The kinda thing you don’t have to hide from your friends. Freya: I know... It’s just hard... I’m sorry I was being distant.

Freya: She was so angry Cas. Looked at me like an abomination. Cassie: I’m sorry love. A mother’s love should be unconditional. I’m so sorry she made you feel that way.

Cassie: A lot actually Let’s head out. Artemis: Hey what’s up?

Welcome to Serenity

Ep. 2 Study Buddies