Winter was approaching, and fast. It was getting colder and colder every day, and soon the morning walks to school ended up with the two boys having to rub their hands together after they reached the building. Yamaguchi was really suffering, shivering every day, and needing to stop by Tsukishima's house on the way home to warm up before he could continue on his way. One day while this was happening, the blonde asked an...odd question to his friend.

"What would you do if you fell in love with your best friend?"

"Huh?"

"I- I want to know what you would do if you fell in love with your best friend. I need to know for...personal purposes."

"I don't know. Who have you fallen in love with?"

"Ku-Kuroo-san."

Yamaguchi looked a little sad, for some reason.

"Okay, this might be hard. Why do you like him?"

"UH- He's really tall and strong, h- handsome and pretty smart."

The green-haired boy sighed. "Okay then, tell him."

"I- HUH?!"

"Tsukki, tell him. If he doesn't feel the same, at least then you'll be able to get over him faster. And, i-if he does return the feelings, then...well...you know. Anyway, I- I need to go before I'm late."

"For what?"

"My brother is coming home today, remember?"

"Oh yeah! Tell him I said hi."

"I will."

Yamaguchi left with an expressionless face, leaving Tsukishima with an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. Did he mess up by telling someone?

What if he's homophobic?

What if he tells everyone?

What if everyone hates me for it?

What if I'm an outcast again?

What if I tell him the truth?

What if I tell him how I've been admiring him from afar?

What if he doesn't like me back?

I have a feeling I messed up. I have a feeling I messed up big time.

Tadashi opened the door to his house with a dejected sigh. The wind chilled him to the bones while he closed the door, and he shivered as he took off his shoes and set down his school bag. He grabbed a tissue- the cold always made his nose runny, and this Tsukki thing wasn't helping- and made his way upstairs. It had gotten a little harder to breathe once he flopped down on his bed and it finally sunk in.

Tsukki likes Kuroo-san. 

I have no chance.

He's everything I'm not.

Tears somehow managed to leak their way out of his eyes and down his still-pink cheeks. 

"Ku-Kuroo-san."

"Kuroo-san."

"Kuroo-san."

"Kuroo-san."

"Kuroo-san."

The words echoed through his brain as if they were bouncing across metal walls locked firmly with an airtight seal. The warm tears that were now flowing freely stung his cheeks as they cascaded their way down and fell onto his mattress. This was it. His heart was shattered.

Then, just as suddenly as the sorrow started, it stopped. For a brief moment, there was peace.

Then, Tadashi felt a rush of rage course through his veins.