Pairing: Tsukishima Kei x Reader
Summary: Tsukishima didn't notice until it was too late and you moved on.
A/n: What is with y'all and requesting Tsukki angst?
You never think you're going to fall in love. It just hits you randomly and suddenly you're reaching for hope that they like you back.
It's been years since you fell in love with Tsukishima Kei. Walking home with him and cracking jokes, supporting him at volleyball games and scolding him when he gets hurt.
And you thought it was mutual. It had to be mutual. Your friend wouldn't intimidate other guys so that they wouldn't ask you out or approach you. Your friend wouldn't hang his arm over your shoulders as you walk home, glancing at you through the corner of his eye, pulling you closer when a bicyclist passes on your side.
"Do you think that that girl from class 4 is cute?"
Your mind blanks, the pencil scribbling down math answers halting to an abrupt stop.
When you glance up, Tsukishima's blushing and Yamaguchi is snickering into his hand.
"Why? Develop a crush?" Your voice dosent sound like your own, the tone teasing and the proper response to that type of question.
"Well, I mean. She confessed and told Tsukki to give her his answer tomorrow." Yamaguchi's tone is light, but you can see the quick glance to your face as Tsukishima groans and tells him to shut up.
"Are you going to say yes?" Your heart beats so loudly you're scared they can hear it, the three of you huddled around your living room table, homework and notes sprawled around the area.
"Well, I mean, she's cute." His cheeks flush red and you smile, albeit tensely.
"I say you should go for it." Yamaguchi's eyes widen as he looks over at you, nervous chuckle bubbling out of his throat as he agrees.
The conversation ends there, Tsukishima deciding to change the topic by suddenly exclaiming that Yamaguchi did one of the problem sets wrong.
And time feels like its sped up, your mind wandering off to everything but the math, ranging from fantasies where you confessed right then and there, to how pretty Tsukishima looked, even under the lamplight.
Before you know it, they're leaving, Yamaguchi sending a crooked smile as Tsukishima just waves slightly, the two of them heading home.
It finally feels like you can breathe once you close the door, a wave of exhaustion rolling over you.
And it's not even like you purposefully ignored his texts later when he got home, it's just... overwhelming. The feeling of guilt that you cant be happy for him mixing with the feeling of regret that you didn't confess sooner.
Because, how could you confess now?
The next thing you know, she's everywhere. Hanging off of Tsukishima's shoulder, smiling up at him as he smiles back fondly. Hanging off of Tsukishima's shoulder as the, now four, of you walk to your house to do homework. And again, hanging off of his shoulder as you walk into school, the petite girl sending you a glare, a warning to not get too close.
Really, it's not like you purposefully pulled away. It's just your schedules didnt match up... your parent said that they couldn't come over... you were busy... you.
It's lonely when you're by yourself.
Watching as the three of them laugh as they leave school to head to the convenience store.
It's like you've been replaced. The dynamic stayed the same, just, Tsukishima could kiss her.
And it's embarrassing when you realize that Hinata and Kageyama start to hang out with you because they see you walking past the gym alone, no longer going in to support them during their practice.
"I don't think I like her." Hinata's sucking on a popsicle stick while hanging off the front of his bicycle, Kageyama rolling his eyes at the smaller boy.
"You just don't like her because she dosent bring you snacks during practice."
Hinata just sticks his tongue out at Kageyama before turning to you again.
"We have a practice match with Nekoma next week, you should come see us play."
After spending time with Hinata, you realize it's really hard to say no to him, and even when you explain what happened and why you can't go, he's still insisting.
"Kageyama and I will protect you." You laugh as Hinata flexes his biceps, hitting Kageyama on the arm so that the dark haired boy follows and does the same.
And before you know it, you're sitting in the Nekoma High School bleachers, elbows on your knees and hands supporting your head.
You snort as you realize that Hinata really was like a basketball, bouncing from one side of the court to the other. Tsukishima's words replaying in your mid, leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
"You know, most people don't scowl when they watch volleyball."
You blink twice before realizing that they took a water break, Nekomas captain coming to sit next to you, a smirk on his face as he takes a sip of water.
"Kuroo Tetsuro." He's handsome, in a way that Tsukishima isn't, and it's refreshing how he gives you all his attention and expresses his interest in you.
Kuroo smiles down at you, brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
He wipes his forehead with his shirt and turns to you dramatically.
"You're from Karasuno aren't you." And when you nod, he continues, very dramatically.
"I'm fraternizing with the enemy, luckily they're cute."
When you laugh he turns pink, thinking his joke fell flat.
"That was so bad." He groans and tucks his face in his hands, laughing in embarrassment.
You talk with him for the rest of the break and all the breaks going forward, laughing at his jokes and even flirting to match his energy.
He captures all your attention, and you don't even notice the two boys staring at you from across the gym.
"He's close." Tsukishima's has sets, and he dosent even know why. You were free to talk to whoever you want. It's not like you belonged to him, he had someone else anyways.
"Just leave them be, it's not like they're doing anything bad."
Yamaguchi had kept in contact, he texted you from time to time and knew you needed this to finally get over Tsukishima.
"Yeah but he's so close." Yamaguchi's head whips to Tsukishima, eyes widening in disbelief.
Tsukishima scoffs and shakes his head.
"Did you get hit in the head during the practice game? I have a girlfriend." Even when saying that, he can't help that his eyes wander to where you sat with Kuroo, phone held out so that Kuroo could put his number in it, laughing as Kuroo makes a comment.
Tsukishima dosent get a chance to talk to you for the rest of the day, you leave before they do, taking the bus home instead of going with them.
But it's fun to text Kuroo, see him react to what you say and state that he's actually interested in you.
And maybe you like him, and why not give it a try?
The next day at school, all you hear is whispers as you pass, something about Tsukishima and his girlfriend breaking up. Not that it mattered to you.
Until he sat next to you at lunch, Hinata nudging Kageyama so that they could give you and Tsukishima a chance to talk.
Your mouth hangs open at the declaration as Tsukishima's ears turn pinker by the second.
When you don't say anything, he clears his throat and trys again;
"Go out with me... please?"
Your mouth does dry, and suddenly it feels like you can't sit still.
Tsukishima's heart drops when you avert your eyes.
This wasn't supposed to happen. No, Yamaguchi said you liked him. He was supposed to confess and then you'd date. This is what you wanted, this is what he wanted.
Tsukishima dosent want to hear Kuroo's name come out of your mouth, he can't hear Kuroo's name come out of your mouth.
"You've moved on?" Your heart clenches as you hear his voice break, shoulders dropping and jaw tensing.
"Yeah." You feel guilty for some reason, and Tsukishima sighs deeply.
"Sorry for not noticing sooner." At your confused look he just takes a deep breath and continues.
"I didn't notice how I felt until you moved on."
There's no room for you to day anything else as he gets up, swallowing hard and walking away.
And almost as if it was planned, Kuroo's name flashes across your screen, complete with the heart that used to be by Tsukishima's name.
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