✌🏼

KenHina: We have the opposites attract!!

IwaOi and TsukiYama: We have the childhood friends!!

DaiSuga: We have the mother-father relationship!!

BokuAka: ...We have Akaashi.

All my ships: ...

Day 2: Insecurities / “Was I ever enough?”

In a universe where Iwaizumi watches Oikawa reach his full potential with Ushijima by his side and knowing that if it was him, Tooru would have never gotten this far because Iwaizumi will never be as strong as Ushijima is, he will never be enough.

my second @haikyuusecretsanta gift for @daisukiwa ! I went with your single partents au idea and had so much fun!! You had such lovely prompt ideas but im such a sucker for parent aus :’D  i’ve written some HCs for this one too under the cut! I’ll probably draw more for this au since i’ve fallen in love~!! Merry Christmas!

Tsukishima: *seductively takes glasses off*

Tsukishima: and you’re also softy and stupid

Yamaguchi with cracking voice: yeah...

Tsukishima:

♡ - recommended

♡♡ - highly recommended

hinata/kageyama

sun above your shoulders by longleggedgit; (3k, completed)

♡  soft serve by tothemoon; (10k, completed)

don’t mind, one more by bepsi-chan; (3k, completed)

you can be king again by bisexualtrash; (1.5k, completed)

♡♡ ink and whiskey by quitana; (41k, completed)

wings by buu; (4.5k, completed)

♡ gold star, ash sky by bigspoonnoya; (147k, ongoing)

The Way I See It by staticrocket; (18.5k, completed)

Painting with Words and Painted Words by iwillstillopenthewindow; (5k, completed)

oh, we’re so disarming, darling by balconys; (3k, completed)

Don’t run on wet wood by boxofwonder; (6.5k, completed)

♡♡ Crowchildren by crypsis; (58.5k, completed)

♡ again by bigspoonnoya; (15k, completed)

♡ where the night goes by bigspoonnoya; (21k, completed)

5 Times Kageyama Made Hinata Carry Him, and the One Time Kageyama Carried Hinata by bowlerhatfringe; (4k, completed)

Thaw by peppermint_wind; (40k, completed)

Anonymous asked a question by kageyama_drama; (24.5k, ongoing)

♡♡ maps, from me to you by tothemoon; (9.5k, completed)

♡ over the pavement that we walked on by daisuga; (2k, completed)

♡ WINTERSTORY: OR HOW THE BOY KING FISHED THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY by perennials; (2k, completed)

interlude: a moment apart by vivahate; (4k, completed)

daichi/suga

♡♡ Four out of Six by sugamama_crowshi; (12.5k, completed)

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond by themorninglark; (5k, completed)

from across the room by kingkageyama; (6k, completed)

♡ winner in the whirlwind by tothemoon; (7k, completed)

snapshots by minijhi; (4k, completed)

♡ Oh, Here We Go (Feel it in My Soul) by spatialsoloist; (7k, completed)

♡♡  Curse 49 by princesskit; (75.5k, completed)

I Don’t Love You (I Always Will) by shingekinoboyfriends; (9k, completed)

good intentions paving company by toyotas; (2.5k, completed)

i do (cherish you) by gabstar; (3k, completed)

♡ cruel professor studying romances (or, our story in fragments of six) by toyotas; (14k, completed)

♡ cardboard castles by Aetherdrive; (18k, completed)

♡ butterfly in the subway by bigspoonnoya; (63k, completed)

4AM is not Sugawara Koushi’s favourite time by andraimon; (2k, completed)

The House Tells You To Close Your Eyes by cyrnkun; (4k, ongoing)

♡♡ You’d fit my lonely arms so perfectly by boxofwonder; (25k, completed)

♡♡ the blossoms, just in time by thewindraiser; (351k, completed)

asahi/nishinoya

For Too Long by spatialsoloist; (5.5k, completed)

♡ Vienna Waits For You by poulerslashes; (152k, completed)

silica sand by lilienpasse; (32k, completed)

come and take a walk on the wild side by Authoress; (4k, completed)

tsukishima/yamaguchi

Gutterflower by Aetherdrive; (2k, completed)

♡ The Great Yamaguchi-Tsukishima Split (Capitalization Necessary) by WyYeuw; (2k, completed)

♡ Do you see what I see? by superpapershark; (1k, completed)

Flecked with Blue and Silver by LazuliTears; (4k, completed)

♡♡ Redefining Routine (series) by skell; (194k, ongoing)

♡ The Excruciatingly Beautiful Process of Falling In Love (As Told By Tsukishima Kei Over Ten Chaotic, Wonderful Years) by hanwritesstuff (13k, completed)

soulmate, dry your eyes by renaissance; (4k, completed)

over the setting horizon by crossbelladonna; (6k, completed)

fools of us all by MemeKonHQ; (2k, completed)

Protect Me (I’m Drowning) by dreamingunderthestars; (6.5k, completed)

♡♡ Blood by darkbluebox; (20k, completed)

your voice is my favourite colour by princessofmind; (34k, ongoing)

kenma/kuroo

♡♡ Burnt Fudge, Tequila Shots by Mehhh; (27k, completed)

A Couple O’ Cats by Crollalanza; (3k, completed)

♡♡ curiosity kills by newamsterdam; (41k, completed)

pretty girls make me nervous by ebenroot; (6k, completed)

the storm’s still raging, but we can take some shelter here by eternitysky; (6k, completed)

The Words I Can’t Say on orphan_account; (3k, completed)

♡♡ Water and Brimstone by Aetherdrive; (41.5k, completed)

♡ komorebi by sheelia; (17k, completed)

♡ Stay Close, Don’t Go by shions_heart; (3.5k, completed)

♡♡ saltwater room by hipster-yams; (60k, completed)

Sudden Shower by tsuruko; (3k, completed)

♡ We Remain by sniper_wolf; (18.5k, ongoing)

How Kuroo Found Kenma by SuggestiveScribe; (37.5k, completed)

♡ take care when you fall by perennials; (1.5k, completed)

oikawa/iwaizumi

like we’re made of starlight by izayas; (6.5k, completed)

♡ The PDA Jar by Poteto; (10k, completed)

Seventeen by lacepirate; (1.5k, completed)

♡♡ tongue tied  by izayas; (173k, completed)

If You Were Here by dboys; (2.5k, completed)

♡ ♡ the river runs by tothemoon (12k, completed)

Shiver by Yuu-chi; (16k, completed)

storm sanctuary by pyrality; (1k, completed)

the weight of water by wordstruck (6k, completed)

When You Wish Upon A Star by emerald1963; (32k, completed)

♡ bad coffee & lemon bars by abillionstars; (6k, completed)

♡♡ Press ‘1’ To Get A Call From Your Drunk Best Friend by parasolghost; (5.5k, completed)

♡♡ in defence of our overgrown garden by carafin; (2.5k, completed)

♡♡ little star travellers (series) by bendtowardsthesun; (24k, ongoing)

new phone who dis by meruemsthighs; (57k, completed)

The Price Of Life by All_My_Characters_Are_Dead; (40k, completed)

find what you love and let it kill you by Matsinko; (2k, completed)

♡♡ Build A Temple In Me by Authoress; (40k, completed)

cross my heart and hope to die by TripsH; (58k, completed)

Food for the Heart by SharkbaitSekki; (28k, completed)

It’s Tradition by MelissaWritesStuff; (4k, completed)

let me count the ways by whitemiists; (4k, completed)

♡♡ ad astra (series) by tothemoon; (207k, ongoing)

putting the contact lenses in by tenmillontrinkets; (4k, completed)

Valhalla by SuggestiveScribe; (17k, completed)

♡ dyspnea/arrhythmia by carafin; (11k, completed)

dear future you by bravely; (2k, completed)

♡  it’s lonely on jupiter by skyestial; (123k, completed)

not about to go looking by trashwriter; (2.5k, completed)

♡♡ the lifespan of asters by russianpotatofarm; (8k, completed)

In Defense of Reptiles (and Other Gross Things) by rikke; (9.5k, completed)

Leave Me Your Stardust by starlitcities; (14k, completed)

Equilibrium by laconicGhost; (3.5k, completed)

♡♡ bloom by newamsterdam; (27k, completed)

Yaobikuni by PlumTea; (7k, completed)

♡♡ to be first, to be best by kittebasu; (26k, completed)

♡ 10 ways iwaizumi hajme has said i love you by daisugass; (16k, completed)

♡ Take Me To Church by dboys; (43k, completed)

♡♡ summer, a thousand years later by vellaude; (image based fic, completed)

it’s tradition. by hicsvntdracones (5.5k, completed)

late summer, early autumn by astersandstuff (12k, completed)

antithesis by sundowns; (10k, completed)

♡ All That Gold by minijhi; (6k, completed)

♡ the histography of a heart by perennials; (793, completed)

♡♡ pride falls by newamsterdam (95k, completed)

*can you tell i love iwaoi?

bokuto/akaashi

♡♡ pieces (series) by therabbitwhisperer; (37.5k, completed)

i’ll return home one day by awkwardedgeworth; (7k, completed)

bang! now we’re even by Authoress; (12k, completed)

♡ Crisis Converted by Aetherdrive; (60k, completed)

♡♡ Quiet by silvercistern; (41k, completed)

“Pizza is the most romantic food, after all” by phantomdieb; (11k, completed)

gravity holds us down (series) by awkwardedgeworth; (9k, completed)

♡ love in the time of wifi by dalyeau; (4k, completed)

♡ neo black by ephemeralsky; (17k, completed)

i put my hand out, unfolded, into the sunlight by carafin (3.5k, completed)

tea-stained polaroids by dalyeau; (6k, completed)

Pretend by Your_Friendly_Neighborhood_Pigeon; (6k, completed)

the jacket you never returned by daisuga; (5k, completed)

arrogant boy, love yourself so no one has to  by earlgrey_milktea; (7k, completed)

♡♡ h(a)unting by claws and keptein; (16k, completed)

The Fears are Paper Owls by yaboykeji; (10k, completed)

♡♡ the right path by norio; (14k, completed)

♡ ♡ 35mm by tothemoon; (21k, completed)

Growing Pains by aerococonut; (8k, completed)

♡ where will you stand (when all the lights go out) by therabbitwhisperer; (8k, completed)

come sundown, say you’ll remember my name by earlgrey_milktea (3.5k, completed)

♡ how to become a birder by norio (13k, completed)

right in the head by Mysecretfanmoments; (52k, completed)

♡♡ Character Development by silvercistern; (76k, completed)

yaku/lev

cold water, warm embrace by singingdevil; (513, completed)

it’s easier for you to let me go by burritosong; (6k, completed)

Yaku and the Beanstalk by Mysecretfanmoments; (4k, completed)

matsukawa/hanamaki

♡ call me maybe by totooru; (34k, completed)

♡ Things We Left On The Cutting Room Floor by tookumade; (6k, completed)

Only Need The Light When It’s Burning Low by tookumade; (9.5k, completed)

skating on thin ice by iwaoidk; (3k, completed)

♡ Parallel Lines by orphan_account; (16k, completed)

plus one on orphan_account; (6k, completed)

Love Doesn’t Come with an Instruction Manual by plumtrees; (3k, completed)

♡♡ boiled frogs by idontknowwhatthisiseven; (91k, completed)

♡ nebulas by tothemoon; (11k, completed)

♡ ♡ rated m on orphan_account; (10.5k, completed)

Matsukawa Issei Contemplates Existence by perennials; (2k, completed)

kiyoko/yachi

sick of losing soulmates by esmaewrites; (7.5k, completed)

spirited away by merryfortune; (6k, completed)

sweet sunshine lives by sunny_umbrella; (1k, completed)

kuroo/tsukishima

♡ pings by barfs; (28.5k, completed)

♡ heretic by Batman (12k, completed)

♡♡ jaywalkers (series) by Batman; (127k, completed)

♡♡ xiv by ronan; (7k, completed)

♡ Leviticus 20:13 by Melissawritesstuff; (100k, ongoing)

The Hunt by WithLoweredVoices; (101k, completed)

maybe we were meant to be by artenon; (10k, completed)

miscellaneous

♡♡ distantly, you hear him by InkWitch - kenma/hinata; (4k, completed)

♡ Connected by Tsucchi - tanaka/ennoshita; (170k, completed)

♡♡ Mannequin Men by surveycorpsjean - bokuto/akaashi/kuroo/tsukishima; (76k, completed)

Phantom Limb by Marks - akiteru tsukishima/udai tenma (5k, completed)

♡ JOIE DE VIVRE (series) and horatio (series) by perennials - atsumu/hinata; (8k, 22k, both ongoing)

the yeah yeah yeah song by drifloon - bokuto/kuroo (4k, completed)

gen/multiship fics

♡♡ but for me, there is a storm by Authoress; (276k, completed)

Saviour by dgalerab; (67k, completed)

♡♡ bell, book, and candle by skittidyne; (763k, completed)

Ask a Stupid Question by darkmagicalgirl; (2k, completed)

♡♡ Come Morning Light by SharkbaitSekki; (354k, completed)

♡♡ meet me halfway home (series) by awkwardedgeworth; (246k, completed)

♡ Sendai Magnitude 10.0 by RussianSunflower3; (79k, completed)

i love tsukki but. him and yamaguchi? they’re not very compatible, are they? i think the only reason they’re friends is because yamaguchi doesn’t have anyone else.

1. “Their relationship is toxic, Tsukishima isn’t affectionate enough”.

Sadly, I cannot find the original post, but the screenie above should suffice. The image on the right takes place as Yamaguchi is being subbed in as a relief server. He’s nervous. Incredibly so. His team is counting on him in an official match, and he is not yet confident in his serve, despite all of his work on it. And Tsukishima, knowing this, grips his hand briefly before taking the paddle. When it is full well within his power to grab it at another angle, and when we even have reason to believe Tsukishima is touch averse—not just because of his general personality. When Karasuno huddled up once, for instance, we see him looking… disgruntled, that Daichi’s hand was on his shoulder.

And Yamaguchi is aware of his discomfort, even, looking at him with concern.

Meaning Yamaguchi is also very aware what this gesture means. That Tsukishima made the conscious decision, in a moment of stress for Yamaguchi, to reassure him.

(For further proof that Tsukishima doesn’t like touch, also consult all of the times there are also numerous other examples with Bokuto, Kuroo, and Noya touching him and his being similarly Less Than Pleased about it.)

Immediately after touching his hand like this, Tsukishima says “you’re too tense”, and reminds him that unlike last time, the rival team does not have the lead—if he fumbles, it won’t be as if the entire match is lost.  The reassurance takes, and Yamaguchi, smiling, thanks Tsukishima.  Because Yamaguchi knows how Tsukishima works. They’ve been friends for years, and he doesn’t expect Tsukishima to give some bright, optimistic cheerleader speech. Tsukishima saying, “we aren’t counting on you” isn’t him being mean, it’s him saying if it’s okay to fail. 

This is how he shows he cares. If he didn’t actually give a shit, about Yamaguchi or the game, he would’ve said nothing. He would’ve ignored Yamaguchi. He doesn’t, and he never has.

Later, against Seijoh, when the others praise Yamaguchi for his successful serve, Tsukishima says they shouldn’t be surprised. Tanaka, not being as in tune with Tsukishima, takes this as Tsukishima being cold and unsupportive. Tsukishima simply reiterates—Yamaguchi has been practicing his serves for months. That he would be able to pull them off is not surprising.  Yamaguchi takes this as praise. And it is. Tsukishima is verbally acknowledging that Yamaguchi’s hard work has paid off. This also serves as him conceding that Yamaguchi was right about what he told Tsukishima at the training camp in Tokyo. His effort was not wasted.  Finally, and this will be touched upon in #2 as well, this is affection and trust is not new.  Need you be reminded, Yamaguchi witnessed the moment Tsukishima’s idolization of his brother came crashing down on him… because Tsukishima invited him. He, of his own volition, went up to Yamaguchi and said it was his brother’s last tournament in high school, and invited Yamaguchi to watch it with him. Allow me to go deeper: Tsukishima went to Yamaguchi and said, “my personal hero and the brother I look up to and hold dearly is going to be playing his last tournament in his high school career, and even though he told me not to come to his matches, I really don’t want to let my last chance to see my idol play, and am going anyways. This is important to me and holds emotional significance. Would you join me?”

This is only examples from the anime. If you’ve read the manga—and if you had, this post would not have been made given how much further Tsukishima takes his appreciation of Yamaguchi’s diligence—you’d see more of Tsukishima both reassuring Yamaguchi (including a humorous failed attempt eliciting a small rant) and of him acknowledging Yamaguchi’s diligence. 2. “They’re not compatible, and only friends because Yamaguchi has no one else.” Yamaguchi has everyone else. Literally. He’s far more outgoing and nice than Tsukishima, and has been shown to be good friends with Hinata, and have positive relationships with all his senpai. He even goes to a shrine with Hinata at new years, without Tsukishima. He has friends, he has options. He chooses Tsukishima.  When Yamaguchi was just a grade schooler, Tsukishima ‘saved’ him. Not just in that he drove off those bullies. Yamaguchi looked at Tsukishima, this cool, confident kid his age, and decided he wanted to be stronger. He wanted to be that confident. Tsukishima inspired him. So he sought out to join a sport. And there, just inside a gym where the school’s volleyball team was playing, he meets Tsukishima again, purely by coincidence.(He says he checked out others before volleyball, but the players seemed big and scary. Tsukishima furrows his brows in concern at this, and blushes* when Yamaguchi says his brother sounds cool.) (*THAT’S ANOTHER THING ON THE “TOXIC” POINT. “Shut up, Yamaguchi” was not born out of jerkass-ness, but rather that Tsukishima was once upon a time much more easily flustered. When Yamaguchi complimented him way back then, he probably told him to shut up because he was embarrassed by the praise. It stuck. Now, I suppose that’s just conjecture, but point out to me a single time that Yamaguchi isn’t smiling when he says “Sorry, Tsukki!”. If you can find even one, compare it with the number of times he is—because he’s not sorry, he enjoys praising Tsukishima, and he never takes it to heart. This is simply their dynamic.)

Yamaguchi admired Tsukishima. (He, eventually, would come to grow past this admiration and ‘walk ahead of him’. Their friendship would only be stronger for this.) And Tsukishima? He welcomed the company. As I said before, Tsukishima actively sought him out to invite him to things.  The idea that Yamaguchi is the one that doesn’t have anyone else is kind of laughable, sorry. Yamaguchi actively takes opportunities to be helpful and kind to others. Tsukishima, though? If Yamaguchi hadn’t approached him first, he probably wouldn’t have any friends at all. He intimidated the other kids his age and has always been hard to get along with. (He has other friends now, of course; Tanaka is a great example, despite the difference in their personalities—they both love ragging on the other teams and intimidating them.)

This is why they are VERY compatible: Tsukishima does not take initiative up until after Yamaguchi yells at him, but Yamaguchi is always taking initiative. Yamaguchi decided he wanted to be confident, wanted to be stronger. He decided to approach Tsukishima. …And he decided to tell Tsukki off for having his head up his ass and being so afraid of being hurt that he never let himself care about anything because he already decided it’d bite him in the ass. And Tsukishima? He listens.  See, that’s another thing this take is short-sighted on: Tsukishima is still growing. In a large part BECAUSE of Yamaguchi. He’s healing from his brother’s lie and he’s letting himself care, letting himself try.

…and that’s why, I feel, Tsukishima will only grow more affectionate with time. More open and honest. He’s unclenching his sphincter and letting his head slip loose. 

In summary:

1. Affection takes different forms, and just because Tsukishima doesn’t sit at the bottom of a tower and sing ballads about Yamaguchi’s beauty (though I can agree that Yamaguchi certainly deserves them) does not mean he doesn’t care. He has other ways to show that than the ones you consider conventional.

2. Their relationship is not perfect at first, but no relationship is, and most importantly, they have both displayed that they can and will take the steps necessary to improve their relationship, themselves, and each other.

3. To the same end, Tsukishima will change over time and has begun to put in the same amount of effort as Yamaguchi always has. This may or may not mean being more open with affection—if not, that’s fine. Yamaguchi has shown that he very much values the affection Tsukishima already shows.