Chapter Text
“And then,” said Tendou, eyes bright, “he told me I was banned for life. I didn’t even know it was possible to be banned from a bookstore. The look on his face was worth it, though. Priceless.”
A low chuckle rumbled from Ushijima’s throat. Tendou’s face lit up in a grin.
Ushijima stood in the doorway of Tendou’s cubicle. He’d descended to the seventh floor in order to relay a message to Iwaizumi that was probably of some importance, but at present he wasn’t so sure what that message had been.
Tendou had a way of distracting him. It may have been his stories or his smiles or his magnetic personality in general. Either way, Ushijima often found himself hovering in Tendou’s doorway. He hoped he wasn’t becoming an annoyance.
“So, Ushijima-san,” said Tendou, tilting his head back. He spun from side to side in his desk chair, shoulders swaying while his face remained fixed on Ushijima. “What are your plans for lunch today?”
“I always return home during my lunch hour,” said Ushijima. “It is more convenient so I do not have to spend extra money to eat at a restaurant every day.”
Tendou blinked up at him, his mouth twisting with humor that Ushijima didn’t understand. “That’s very frugal of you, Ushijima-san.”
“Thank you.”
“Excuse me!” The voice was loud in Ushijima’s ear, a shrill tone that he was all too familiar with. A hand seized his elbow and Oikawa popped his head inside the cubicle to smile at Tendou. “So sorry, Ten-chan, but I need to borrow Ushiwaka for a moment. Important business stuff. Carry on.”
Oikawa yanked on Ushijima’s arm, but he didn’t move. He looked from Oikawa to Tendou, who watched the display with raised brows.
“Come on, Ushiwaka,” hissed Oikawa. “I need to talk to you. Right now. In Iwaizumi’s office.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Yes, there’s a big problem. Come on.”
Ushijima murmured an apology to Tendou for his sudden departure, which was accepted with a grin and a wave. As soon as Ushijima moved, Oikawa released his arm and put a step of distance between them.
Oikawa led the way to Iwaizumi’s office and kicked the door closed. His politeness instantly drained away, replaced by abject shock. “Ushiwaka, please tell me you’re joking. I know you don’t joke, but please.”
Ushijima looked from him to Iwaizumi, who observed the pair of them from behind his desk.
“I don’t know what you-”
“Ten-chan!” said Oikawa. “You like Ten-chan.”
“Please stop calling him that,” said Ushijima. “It’s disrespectful.”
Oikawa threw his hands up. “Not the point, Ushiwaka! He made you laugh. I heard you laugh. You didn’t laugh at me until three months into our relationship and that was only because an old lady’s Chihuahua bit me!”
Ushijima’s face remained stoic as he said, “You screamed like a small child. It was amusing.”
Iwaizumi snorted, his humor earning a quick glare from Oikawa.
“A Chihuahua?” said Iwaizumi, smirking. “Really, Tooru?”
“It bit me!” said Oikawa, a little too loudly. “I don’t care how big a dog is. If it bites you then you’re going to scream, Iwa-chan.”
“I doubt that.”
“What business did you need to discuss?” said Ushijima.
Oikawa turned to him, exasperated. “This is the business!” he said. “Tendou is the business!”
Ushijima’s brow folded. “Did he do something wrong?”
“Did he- Oh my god, sometimes I forget how annoying you are.”
“What am I doing that is annoying?”
Oikawa pressed a hand against his forehead and closed his eyes, breathing out a heavy sigh. “Sit down, Ushiwaka.”
Ushijima wasn’t sure what Oikawa’s problem was, or what it had to do with Tendou. He hoped Tendou hadn’t messed up any of his paperwork. He didn’t want to have to reprimand him.
He sat in one of the chairs in front of Iwaizumi. Oikawa circled the desk and stood by Iwaizumi’s shoulder, his arms folded over his chest.
“I see that you have your serious face on,” said Iwaizumi, “but do you have to do this in my office? Unlike you, apparently, I have work to do.”
“This is more important, Iwa-chan.”
“I doubt that.”
“If you like Ten-chan,” said Oikawa, ignoring him in favor of addressing Ushijima, “why didn’t you agree to go have lunch with him?”
Ushijima’s brows rose slightly. “I do not know what you are talking about.”
“He was asking you to lunch!” said Oikawa. He slapped his hands on the surface of the desk and leaned forward. “He was flirting with you, Ushiwaka!”
Ushijima shook his head. “I think not.”
“You can’t actually - Okay. Iwa-chan, if I ask you what you’re doing for lunch, what do I really want to know?”
Iwaizumi clicked at something on his computer screen. “If I want to fuck in your office, probably.”
“Iwa-chan, you are not helping!”
“Yeah, well you’re not helping me finish these reports, either.”
Ushijima perked up. “If you need help with your reports-”
“This is a work-free zone!” said Oikawa. “No one is working until we finish this conversation.” He slapped Iwaizumi’s hand away from his computer mouse and received an elbow to the ribs in return. “Iwa-chan, mean! I’m trying to help Ushiwaka!”
“Help with what?” said Ushijima.
“Tendou likes you,” repeated Oikawa. “I know you like him, too. It’s obvious. You need to stop being so dense and ask him out!”
“Tendou perhaps likes me as an acquaintance, and as a coworker,” said Ushijima. “That is all.”
Oikawa gave him a look of sheer exasperation. “Fine. I’ll humor you. Why do you think that?”
“There isn’t a good reason for him to want to date me.”
“There are plenty of reasons he wants to date you!”
Ushijima frowned. “Why did you want to date me?”
Oikawa blinked, taken aback by the question. “Irrelevant.”
“No, wait. I think it’s a good question,” said Iwaizumi, tuning back into the conversation. “Why’d you want to date him, Oikawa? Maybe Tendou likes the same things about him.”
Oikawa scowled at him. Iwaizumi stared back with a hint of a smirk.
“I’m not answering that,” said Oikawa. “But Tendou probably likes him because he’s… I don’t know, confident, and nice in a stupid way, and kind of not awful-looking.”
Iwaizumi raised an eyebrow, and Oikawa’s face burned red. “Stop it, Iwa-chan. Even if you died in a horrible accident I still would never date Ushiwaka again.”
“Is this conversation necessary?” said Ushijima.
“Yes!” said Oikawa, whipping his head back toward him. “When was the last time you went on a date?”
Ushijima frowned as he tried to remember. “I’m not certain.”
“And you like Tendou, right?”
“His company is enjoyable.”
“Coming from you, that’s practically a confession,” said Oikawa. He stood up straight and pointed at the door. “March back out there and ask him out to lunch.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I am his supervisor,” said Ushijima. “It would be inappropriate.”
Oikawa looked as if he was entertaining the idea of leaping over the desk and strangling him. “You’re not his direct supervisor. Semi’s in charge of him, and Iwaizumi’s in charge of him, and you’re in charge of him. That’s three levels of separation, Ushiwaka.”
“I still don’t think-”
“And I’m in charge of you,” said Oikawa, “and I’m saying it’s fine.”
Ushijima’s face didn’t change. “Your father is still the CEO.”
“He doesn’t even have an office here anymore!”
“That makes my statement no less true.”
“Ushiwaka, come on! If anything ever happens with him that needs to be pushed up to a higher level then we can skip you and I’ll take care of it myself. It’ll be fine!”
Ushijima’s stern expression remained. “I still feel it is inappropriate to consort with my employees during work hours.”
Oikawa gaped at him. “I can’t do this. Iwa-chan, please.”
Iwaizumi sighed. He must have possessed extreme patience to still be dating Oikawa. Ushijima knew that from experience. There had been occasions on which he’d nearly lost his own temper while dealing with Oikawa’s antics.
“Ushijima-san,” said Iwaizumi. “Do you actually like Tendou or is Oikawa making this up?”
Oikawa looked like he was about to protest, but a sharp look from Iwaizumi kept him quiet.
Ushijima considered the question. He was fond of Tendou’s company. Tendou seemed to be a good person. He was polite and amicable and vibrant, and always had an entertaining story or two.
Ushijima couldn’t say that he disliked Tendou.
“I suppose I might,” Ushijima admitted.
Oikawa rolled his eyes, but Iwaizumi just nodded, still serious. “Maybe you should ask him to do something on a weekend, so there would be no affiliation with work. What kinds of things does Tendou like?”
Ushijima considered that question even more thoroughly. He’d picked up bits and pieces of information from Tendou over the past few months. He hadn’t gathered enough to feel that he had a complete grasp on Tendou as a person, but there were some things that he knew for sure.
“He likes movies,” Ushijima finally said. More accurately Tendou enjoyed anime, but Ushijima figured movies were basically the same thing.
“Okay,” said Iwaizumi. “If you really think you’d like to go out with him then maybe you could invite him to a movie.”
Ushijima studied him for a moment, thinking. Then he said, “Do you think he will want to go?”
“Of course he will!” said Oikawa. “Haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve said?”
“Unfortunately I heard everything,” said Ushijima. “You’re quite difficult to ignore.”
“Was that supposed to be an insult?” snapped Oikawa. “Iwa-chan, he-”
“I’m sure he’ll want to go,” said Iwaizumi, completely ignoring Oikawa. “He seems fond of you, too, Ushijima-san. But even if he doesn’t, I don’t think it would make anything awkward. Tendou’s different, but he’s a nice guy. He’s not going to feel weird about it.”
Ushijima nodded. That seemed to be a fair assumption about Tendou’s personality. Iwaizumi should know, after all. They worked together every day.
Ushijima didn’t always believe Oikawa’s opinions of other people, but he trusted Iwaizumi.
“Okay,” he said after a pause. “Thank you for the advice, Iwaizumi.”
He suddenly stood, disregarding Oikawa’s indignant cry of, “What? I’m the one who dragged you in here, Ushiwaka! You should be thanking me!”
Ushijima was well-experienced in the art of ignoring Oikawa. He left the office, followed by distant and offended complaints, and walked directly back to Tendou’s cubicle.
“Tendou?” said Ushijima, pausing in the doorway. His shoulders were so wide that they nearly brushed both edges of the cubicle door.
Tendou made a dramatic turn in his desk chair. His grin was impish. “Yes, Ushijima-san?”
“Would you like to see a movie this weekend?”
That wiped the grin off of Tendou’s face. He went blank, large eyes blinking up at Ushijima. “Er… just you and me?”
“Yes,” said Ushijima. He realized that his invitation may not have been clear enough, so he added, “As a date.”
Someone in the neighboring cubicle made a choking sound. Both of them ignored it.
Tendou blinked again, slowly. Then a smile crept back onto his face. “Why of course, Ushijima-san. I thought you’d never ask.”
“We will establish details later this week,” said Ushijima. “I must return to my office.”
“Okay then,” said Tendou brightly. “See ya later, Ushijima-san!”
He waved, and Ushijima nodded in response. He took a step backward, out of the cubicle, and saw Oikawa in the edge of his vision. He didn’t have to look to know that Oikawa was eyeing him with intense disapproval.
Once again, Ushijima ignored him. Oikawa would likely have something to criticize about the way Ushijima had gone about the conversation, but it had achieved the desired outcome all the same.
As he walked toward the elevator, he glanced into Tendou’s neighboring cubicle and caught a glimpse of Goshiki. He was red-faced and his hand was pressed over his mouth, as if he was holding in a shout.
Ushijima wondered if he was alright, but thought it was probably best not to ask.
On Saturday night, Ushijima followed an excited Tendou through the theater.
Tendou’s quick, jerky movements left a trail of popcorn in their wake, and Ushijima delicately tried not to step on any of the discarded pieces.
“This is going to be great!” said Tendou. He plopped down in the middle of the back row and immediately kicked his feet onto the seat in front of him. Luckily it was vacant. “Shirabu saw this movie last weekend. He said it was awesome.”
Ushijima sat beside Tendou more slowly, careful not to spill his drink. “I look forward to it, then.”
“Do you like scary movies?” said Tendou, his eyes glinting with mischief in the low light.
“I don’t mind them.”
Tendou’s grin was unaffected. “You don’t get excited about much, do you, Ushijima-san?”
If Ushijima said no, he feared Tendou would think he was boring. If he said yes, it would be a lie.
“You don’t need to be so formal,” he said instead, “when we aren’t at work.”
Tendou’s grin stretched further. “Alright then, Wakatoshi. Want some popcorn?”
He half-shoved the tub into Ushijima’s lap. Ushijima politely plucked a piece off of the pile and crunched it between his teeth.
When he’d said such formality wasn’t necessary, he hadn’t expected Tendou to call him by his given name instead.
Still, he found it didn’t really bother him.
The movie wasn’t part of Ushijima’s favored genre. He preferred films that were heavy with suspense and riddled with plot twists, films that caught the viewer’s attention and made them think.
This movie was just a bloodbath littered with jump scares, and while it didn’t bother Ushijima, he wasn’t really a fan, either.
But he’d allowed Tendou to choose, and he wasn’t going to complain.
Although, he couldn’t quite figure out why Tendou had been so eager to watch this movie when he’d already been aware of the horror factor. Every time something unexpected popped up on the screen Tendou would flinch so hard that a spray of popcorn skittered across his lap and onto the floor. At one point, when a stranger lurched out of the bushes, Tendou had given a quick little yelp before he’d slapped his hand over his mouth.
Ushijima thought it was amusing. Halfway through the film he decided it was more entertaining to watch Tendou’s reactions rather than the screen.
It took Tendou a while to notice. He was too absorbed in the horror unfolding on screen, his huge eyes reflecting the artificial blurs of motion. He glanced sideways at Ushijima, looked back at the screen, and then turned his head when he belatedly realized he was being watched.
“What?” he whispered. “Is there something on my face?”
“No,” said Ushijima. “You’re just interesting.”
Tendou seemed taken aback. Ushijima didn’t know why. Tendou was one of the most interesting people he’d met; surely he was aware.
“Oh. Uh, okay then,” said Tendou. He looked at Ushijima for a moment longer before tearing his gaze back to the screen.
It was difficult to tell in the dark theater, but it almost looked as if Tendou was blushing.
Ushijima wanted to touch Tendou’s face to see if it was warm, but knew that it wasn’t socially acceptable.
At the brutal, blooding ending of the movie, Tendou dropped his entire popcorn bucket into the floor. He’d already made such a mess that it wasn’t much difference.
As they left the theater, Tendou with a spring in his step that was only a short cry away from actual skipping, Ushijima said, “I am sorry you didn’t enjoy the movie.”
Tendou’s steps faltered. He looked at Ushijima, puzzled. “What do you mean? It was awesome!”
“Oh. You seemed bothered by it. Frightened.”
Tendou rolled his eyes, but his grin made the gesture more amusing than sarcastic. “That’s the point, Waka! It’s fun because it’s scary. It’s like an adrenaline rush, you know?”
Ushijima did not know.
He also did not know why Tendou had decided to butcher his name.
He did, however, have a suspicion as to why he didn’t correct him.
“Would you like to have dinner or do you need to get home?” said Ushijima. “It is getting late.”
“Dinner would be great! It’s never too late for dinner.”
That made Ushijima relax a little, and it wasn’t until then that he realized he’d been tense. Tendou had shown no reservations about going out with him. In fact, he’d seemed quite pleased about it. But Ushijima was still concerned that Tendou was agreeing only because Ushijima was his boss.
He’d offered him an out, though, and Tendou hadn’t been inclined to take it. Ushijima supposed that must mean Tendou really did want to continue spending time with him.
He would have to buy Iwaizumi a nice fruit basket for his advice.
Dinner was nice. Tendou was animated, as usual, and Ushijima didn’t even have to pretend he was having a good time. That was for the best, because Ushijima had never been good at pretending.
Their conversation wore on even after they’d eaten, and Ushijima didn’t notice how long they’d been sitting in the restaurant until he glanced up at the elaborate clock on the far wall and saw that the time was creeping close to midnight.
“Oh,” he said. “It’s late.”
Tendou looked over his shoulder, following Ushijima’s gaze. Then he did a double-take. “Really? Already?”
“I apologize for keeping you out at this hour,” said Ushijima. “I did not realize.”
“C’mon, Waka,” said Tendou. “You say that like you’re holding me against my will. If I’d wanted to leave I would’ve left. Don’t worry your pretty little head about that.”
Ushijima had grown accustomed to the truncated form of his name over the past few hours. He thought he was starting to like it.
“I suppose we should go,” he said. “How far away do you live?”
“It’s about a half-hour bus ride from here,” said Tendou. “There’s a stop a couple of streets over.”
Ushijima frowned. He didn’t like the thought of Tendou having to ride the bus alone at midnight. It didn’t seem safe, and even if it was, he didn’t like the idea of Tendou having to be by himself because Ushijima hadn’t properly monitored the time.
“My apartment is only a short walk away,” he said. “You are welcome to stay for the night, if you’d like.”
Tendou’s eyes went even wider than usual.
Ushijima belatedly realized the implication of his invitation. “Only so you don’t have to travel at this hour. I do not expect anything from you.”
Tendou blinked a few times, feigning innocence. His mouth curled slightly at the corner, and it looked as if he was suppressing a grin. “What do you mean, Waka?” he said airily.
Ushijima couldn’t determine if he was teasing or not. “By inviting you to my apartment, I am not insinuating that I expect sexual contact. I realize that it in some social situations such an invitation could be mistakenly interpreted.”
Tendou threw his head back and laughed. Ushijima saw almost every single one of his teeth. They were a little crooked, some of them edging over one another in an uneven row. It was somehow endearing.
Tendou may have been laughing at Ushijima’s expense, but he doubted it. Tendou was strange, but he didn’t seem cruel.
“Alright, Waka,” said Tendou, when his laughter had been exhausted. His eyes were narrow from the strength of his smile. “I’ll come to your place for a platonic sleepover. It sounds fun.”
Ushijima didn’t know what exactly was fun about it, but supposed Tendou could probably have fun doing almost anything.
The walk to Ushijima’s apartment was pleasant. The weather was no longer frigidly cold, and the slight breeze ruffling through Ushijima’s hair was soothing. Tendou carried the bulk of the conversation, but Ushijima didn’t mind. He wasn’t much of a conversationalist himself. He was satisfied just to listen.
It was only when Ushijima unlocked his apartment and stepped inside that Tendou stopped talking.
He looked around the small space with wide eyes, idly kicking off his shoes and toeing them into line with Ushijima’s.
“Your apartment is a lot like mine, Waka,” said Tendou with a wistful smile. “I figured you’d be all set up in a penthouse somewhere.”
“Living that way is a waste,” said Ushijima, briefly recalling Oikawa’s excessive living quarters. He’d never been completely comfortable there, even after he and Oikawa had dated for a while. “I am perfectly satisfied here.”
“Ah, right,” said Tendou. “You’re frugal. I remember now.”
Ushijima didn’t comment on that. He did give Tendou a quick tour of the apartment, which wasn’t all that necessary considering there were only four rooms.
“Make yourself at home,” said Ushijima. “I will be on the couch if you need anything.”
“Huh? Nah, you don’t have to-”
“I insist,” said Ushijima. “You are my guest and I want you to be comfortable.”
Tendou’s head tilted to the side as he considered him. “You’re a real gentleman, aren’t you, Waka? Like, you’re not even trying. You just are.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
Tendou’s grin widened. “Okay then, Wa-ka-to-shi,” he sang. “I’ll just go curl up in your bed, then. Alllll alone. Don’t worry about me catching a chill or anything.”
“I can turn up the heat if you’re cold.”
A giggle burst from Tendou’s lips, high and bright. “Don’t worry about it. Goodnight, Waka.”
“Goodnight, Tendou.”
Even when Tendou disappeared into the bedroom, Ushijima still heard his hushed laughter. He wondered what was funny. Ushijima figured he’d done something strange without realizing it.
Oikawa had always liked to point out the strange things he did, when they were dating. At first he’d thought Oikawa was trying to be helpful.
Later he decided that he really wasn’t.
He was relieved that Tendou didn’t seem bothered by whatever Ushijima had done. He was laughing, but Ushijima didn’t feel as if Tendou was laughing at him.
Still pondering, Ushijima dropped onto the couch and stared up at the ceiling. He was almost too tall to lie like that, but Tendou was the same height. He would never think of asking Tendou to sleep there.
Oikawa had slept on that couch a few times, when he’d been angry at Ushijima but too tired to go back home. He’d seemed to get angry at Ushijima quite a bit, for reasons that were difficult to understand.
Ushijima decided not to think about it. It didn’t matter anymore. Any lingering feelings he’d had for Oikawa had passed.
He closed his eyes and was asleep in minutes.
Ushijima was nearly finished making breakfast when Tendou emerged from the bedroom, his socks sliding silently across the floor. He was dressed in the same clothes he’d worn last night, which was unsurprising. The surprising thing was that they were completely unwrinkled, which meant he hadn’t slept in them.
Ushijima found himself thinking too much about exactly how little Tendou had worn while wrapped up in his sheets.
“Good morning,” said Ushijima. He made himself look back at the cooktop on the counter. “How did you sleep?”
“Like a baby bird,” said Tendou. His normally bright voice was a little bogged down by residual weariness, but he still sounded content. “What’re you making there?”
“Oyakodon. I hope that’s alright. If not I can prepare something else.”
“I think I can force it down, Waka.”
Tendou perched on one of the stools at the end of the kitchen counter, swinging his feet as Ushijima cooked. He didn’t seem very inclined to conversation. Ushijima assumed it must have been because of the early hour.
Ushijima finished up the food and slid a bowl in front of Tendou. He leaned against the counter and balanced his own bowl in the palm of his hand as he ate. Tendou mumbled something through a mouthful of food. Ushijima wasn’t quite sure what he’d said, but it had the tone of a compliment.
Tendou offered to clean up, but Ushijima didn’t even entertain the idea. He washed their bowls and Tendou remained on the stool, his feet swinging back and forth, head tilted and eyes on Ushijima.
Tendou’s hair had fallen down throughout the night. It curled at the back of his neck and around his ears, the color stark against pale skin. A strand kept falling in his eyes and he was constantly tossing his head to clear his vision.
Ushijima would have reached out to push the hair away from Tendou’s face, but he was wrist-deep in sinkwater.
It was unfortunate. He wondered what Tendou’s hair felt like. It looked much softer like this.
Ushijima’s phone rang from his pocket, which was a well-timed distraction. He dried off his hands and fished it out.
When he saw who was calling, he almost ignored it.
With a suppressed sigh, he answered the call and said, “Hello, Oikawa.”
He felt Tendou’s attention sharpen.
“Ushiwaka!” said Oikawa’s shrill voice. “I told you to call me after your date and tell me everything! For all I knew he could’ve kidnapped you!”
“Can we have this conversation later?” said Ushijima. “I’m a little busy.”
“Tell Oikawa-san hi!” chirped Tendou.
“Tendou says hi,” relayed Ushijima.
There was a heavy pause on the other end. Then Oikawa burst into speech so loud that Ushijima held the phone away.
“You took him home? What the fuck, Ushiwaka? You wouldn’t sleep with me for two months! Tell me everything! I need details!”
“I’m sorry, Oikawa. I need to go.”
“No! I need to know now! Just go in the other room and – ouch, Iwa-chan, stop! I’m just-”
The call abruptly ended.
Ushijima was going to send Iwaizumi two fruit baskets.
Tendou’s feet had stopped swinging. They were hooked around the edges of the stool, his undivided attention on Ushijima. “I heard someone say you and Oikawa used to date,” he said, the question catching Ushijima by surprise.
“We did, yes.”
“Isn’t it awkward for you?” said Tendou. “Having to work with him?”
That was a less invasive question than Ushijima had expected. “Not really.”
“Is it weird seeing him with Iwaizumi?”
That question was even easier. “No. I am pleased that they are together. They seem to make each other happy.”
Tendou made a humming sound. “Most people would be kind of bitter about it. I guess you’re not most people, though.”
“I have no reason for bitterness. Things did not work between us, but I still care about Oikawa. I am glad he found someone to make him happy, since we could not do that for each another.”
He expected further questioning. Tendou seemed that he may be the kind of person who liked to pry.
But the subject was dropped, and Ushijima was a little relieved.
“Thanks for breakfast, Waka.”
“Anytime.”
“You know,” said Tendou, “you can call me by my given name, if you want. You don’t have to, though.”
Ushijima thought the name in his head – Satori – but couldn’t bring himself to say it. It felt too personal, even though Tendou had expressed no reservations when coining a nickname for him.
“I should probably get going, though,” said Tendou. “Thanks for letting me stay over.”
“It was no problem. Would you like me to walk you to the bus stop?”
Tendou’s grin was magnificent. “I think I can find it. You can walk me to the door, though.”
It was only a few steps away, but Ushijima gladly escorted him. They hovered in the entryway while Tendou slipped into his shoes, one hand pressed against the wall for balance.
“I had a good time with you, Waka,” said Tendou.
“As did I. Perhaps we could do it again sometime.”
Tendou grinned. “You mean the sleepover and the homecooked breakfast or the actual date?”
“Either, I suppose. Whatever you’d like.”
Tendou laughed, lightly.
Ushijima knew he was blunt and somewhat awkward. Oikawa had called him dense more times than Ushijima would care to recall, and perhaps he had been right.
Tendou didn’t seem bothered by those things, though, and it made Ushijima smile.
His feelings for Oikawa had always been muddled by uncertainty and a touch of irritation. He didn’t know Tendou very well yet, but it already seemed different. Tendou was like a windchime on a bright summer day; clear and soothing and unmistakable.
Ushijima thought he could get used to it.
“I would like to go out again,” said Tendou, “and maybe even have a sleepover again. But for now, could I have a kiss?”
Ushijima felt a little warm. He glanced down at Tendou’s lips quickly, briefly. “You can have whatever you’d like.”
Tendou’s grin was devious. “Well I’d like much more than a kiss, but I’ll settle for now.”
Ushijima tried not to think too hard about the implication. If he did, he feared he may overheat.
He stepped closer to Tendou and realized he’d never kissed someone who was the same height. Oikawa had been close, but Ushijima had still been taller. He feared it would be awkward, but he didn’t have much time to worry about it.
Tendou was the one who leaned forward and pressed their mouths together.
Ushijima had never been much of a believer in romance, but even he couldn’t deny the warm, pleasant buzz beneath his skin as Tendou’s lips slid against his, smooth and brief and chaste.
Tendou pulled away and Ushijima barely stopped himself from leaning forward for more.
Tendou grinned as if he could read his mind.
“Bye, Waka,” said Tendou. His eyes were bright. “I’ll see you soon.”
With a wave of his fingers he was gone, and Ushijima stared after him for much too long.
He managed to drag himself away and plodded into his bedroom. He flopped down on his bed and just laid there, considering the prickle of heat in his chest that got warmer each time he thought of Tendou.
It wasn’t unpleasant.
His phone rang again. Oikawa must have slipped away from Iwaizumi.
Ushijima ignored it and rolled to the side, burying his face in his pillow.
It smelled like Tendou.
He had a feeling that whatever was happening between himself and Tendou was going to get out of hand quickly.
He couldn’t say he wasn’t looking forward to it.