I would like to take this brief moment to present an idea: Semi and Tendou are childhood  best friends and they've somehow managed to stay in the same school everytime. The reason we never saw Semi in Tendou's flashbacks was because he wasn't interested in volleyball until sometime around his second year of middle school - he had always practised with Tendou though, so he had skill in it. Also, they totally switch between family names and first names-

TW: Talk of cancer in Incident Number Three, attempted bullying in Incident Number Five

Tendou Satori prided himself on being unreadable and random. It was what made him fun and a little annoying. His best qualities!

Semi was his best friend and not even he could get a read on his mood, most days; he usually had to rely on hidden codes they mixed in normal sentences and Tendou out-right telling him.

 However, there were certain... incidents, when nearly everyone could get a read on the blocker's mood - he hated and loved these moments. They were hated because people understood him far further than he liked, yet he loved them because of one particular person...

Certain Incident Number One: The First Year's Confession

At afternoon practise, when Tendou walked into the gym, the very first thing he did was pick up a volleyball and hurl it as hard as he could at the back of Ushijima Wakatoshi's head. It only narrowly missed, instead flying past his captain's shoulder. Nobody said a single word and everybody stared at the two.

Tendou cleared his throat and said, in his brightest, cheeriest voice ever. "Sorry, Wakatoshi-kun! I dropped it." Then, he walked away humming, kicked a bench hard, and found Semi.

Ushijima turned around, blinking in confusion. He tilted his head. "That is okay, Tendou. How was your day?"

"Fan-fucking-tastic," Tendou answered. "I had such a great day, I didn't see any bullshit and I'm absolutely fine. How was your day, oh great Wakatoshi-kun?"

"Dude!" Semi elbowed him hard in the ribs. "What the fuck?"

Ushijima, for his part, only seemed mildly perplexed. "My day was nice. There was nothing out of the ordinary, I think."

"Nothing out of the ordinary?!" Tendou screeched, clawing his hands together and sounding like he was dying slightly. "Are you serious?! What the fu-?!" He caught himself, took a deep breath, smiled, and said, "Well, I'm glad you had a good day, Wakatoshi-kun. How was your lunch break?"

"You were with me for my lunch break, Tendou. Why are you asking this?"

"Ah, just humour me!" Tendou said, with no humour in his voice.

"I enjoyed today's lunch. A first-year gave me a confession letter, but-"

"Well, good for you!" Tendou shouted, picking up another volleyball and throwing it at Ushijima.

"Ah," Reon said, after a very, very long moment of silence. "I get it, now."

"Don't get it!" Tendou huffed. "I'm going to my dormitory! And not to sulk!"

He stormed out of the gym, sliding the door shut behind him. He hesitated, kicked it and screamed, pulling at his hair, then walked into the locker room.

Tendou sat, with his back to a locker, hands clasped together in front of his face. He sat there for a good three minutes until Semi walked in.

"Thought I'd find you here," Semi said, in the tone that meant, 'you-are-going-to-tell-me-everything'. He walked over, sitting next to his best friend. "I'm guessing your upset about that confession?"

The middle blocker pulled his knees up under his chin, muttering, "Yes."

Semi leaned back. "Well, you shouldn't take it out on Ushiwaka. The guy's just going to think he's insulted you and then he'll mentally set some strange boundary. Like, I don't know, sniffing his hand before and after touching you."

Tendou gave Semi a glance. "That's oddly specific..."

"Second year, spring term; don't question it."

Tendou groaned, moving on from whatever trauma Semi must've suffered. "I wasn't obvious, was I?"

"Well, let's see... You tried to assault him twice with a volleyball, had a series of voice cracks and screamed a lot. And you kicked the bench and the door. So, yes, you were being obvious."

Tendou groaned again, uncurling his knees and slowly sliding down the bench until he was sitting on the floor with his head leaned back. "I hate it when I'm obvious."

"If it makes you feel any better, I think this is the first time you've managed not to be read by Ushiwaka. So you weren't completely obvious."

The middle blocker looked close to tears. "And now he's gonna start sniffing his hand around me..." He whined pitifully.

Semi shook his head. "No, he'll probably just expect you to throw volleyballs at him at the beginning of afternoon practise."

"Ugh, that's worse!"

The gym door opened, to reveal Yamagata. "Hey, Semi, coach wants you back in soon," He said. The libero looked at Tendou, on the floor. "You okay, rejected cranefly?"

"Ha, I'm fine! Just seen the Miracle Boy get a confession letter from some first year who is clearly only after him so she can run off to all her friends and say she's dating the volleyball captain, and Wakatoshi-kun is too stupid to see that there are far better people out there and that this little bitch doesn't deserve him and he really needs someone who doesn't see him as some big object and-" Tendou caught himself, took a deep breath, sat up properly and smiled. "I'm fine."

Reon appeared behind Yamagata. "Hey, coach is saying to hurry up. Why is Tendou smiling like Oikawa Tooru flew to Argentina and the plane crashed on the way there? It's creeping me out."

"That's specific," Frowned Yamagata.

"By god, you really are great at censoring sometimes, Reon," Sighed Semi. The setter ruffled Tendou's gelled hair. "Our dear Satori is being so obvious with his feelings that he's pretending he's in a good mood after his little display in the gym."

Tendou whacked Semi's calf aggressively, going as red as his hair. "Eita!"

"What?" Semi scowled at him. "Why'd ya hit me?"

Tendou scowled back.

Reon sighed. "Tendou, please. Ushijima did not accept the girl's confession. He rejected it about three seconds after you stormed off. Can you calm down?"

Yamagata rolled his eyes. "You are too obvious, here."

Tendou sat up. "So... Wakatoshi-kun is not dating some first year, who is clearly only after him so she can run off and tell all her friends that she's dating the volleyball captain?"

"No, idiot; that's just what Reon said," Semi growled, cuffing Tendou around the back of the head. "Now, are you gonna stop throwing a fit, you simp, or do you want to stay here and cry more?"

The middle blocker thought about it for a while but, before he could answer, Coach Washijou stormed in. "Now I see we've all decided to slack off!" He shouted. "Oohira, Yamagata, Semi! To the gym!" The three third years jumped to attention, practically sprinting from the locker room in a rush to get back to the gym first.

"Sorry, sir!" They all shouted behind them. Shirabu's laughter was easily audible at that.

Washijou glared after them, before turning to Tendou. "Are you going to continue sulking here or are you good enough to rejoin practise, now?"

Tendou glanced at the coach. "Ten more minutes?" He asked, hopefully.

"Five more minutes, then," Washijou nodded. "I'll send in Semi to pick you up."

The coach left and Tendou, despite his shitty mood, smiled. "Five minutes, nice. I was expecting one."

Certain Incident Number Two: The 'High-five of the God'

After two months or convincing Ushijima to stop describing his lunchbreak to Tendou, today's practise matches was going superbly well. You could tell it was, because Tendou never usually used the word, 'superb'. They were taking a timeout, called by the visiting college team, and Tendou finished swigging his water.

"Wakatoshi-kun," He said, with a lilt in his voice. "Nice kill! You totally looked like a wasp with a detachable stinger. It was awesome!"

Ushjima nodded. "Thank you."

Semi groaned. "That's a horrible image."

Shirabu sighed, looking very angry behind his very ridiculous hair cut. "Ushijima-san may be playing well but, Tendou, what the hell was that block? You let them spike right between your arms!"

Tendou went red. "It wasn't right between my arms."

"It was," Yamagata countered. "I was right behind you in order to receive it; it flew between your elbows."

"Yeah, I was meaning to ask about it," Reon said. "You looked like you were going for a kill block but you kinda, well... Made them a window."

Goshiki tilted his head. "Did you jump on the wrong leg, or something?" The poor first-year had been looking confused since Tendou's terrible block, probably since his loud upperclassman prided himself on 'killing' a spike.

"No," Tendou sighed. "I hadn't moved my arms fast enough to get them in the right position. Their number six went straight for it."

"It was a shitty block," Shirabu huffed. The second-year had, infuriatingly, gotten into the habit of scolding people when they didn't do their job right ever since he found out he was most likely to be nominated for next year's captain. "You've been blocking for years. You're not some shrimp first-year, like Goshiki, are you?"

"Hey!" Goshiki blushed.

Ushijima cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. They stared at him expectantly as he stared at Tendou expectantly.

Then, he raised his hand up, to about his shoulder height. "You will block them next time, Tendou."

Tendou blinked and copied his pose, confused. Ushijima moved out his hand and high-fived Tendou.

There was total silence as he drew his hand back. Then, Tendou made the wheeziest, quietest screaming noise of all time, turning beet-red. It sounded a lot like white noise. The noise was continuous for at least thirty seconds.

Semi frowned. "Satori, you're allowed to breathe."

"I was high-fived by a god..." Tendou whispered, tearing up.

"No, Tendou," Ushijima said. "I high-fived you."

"Exactly..."

Shirabu glared. "You're overreacting."

Kawanishi laughed. "C'mon, Tendou-san, everyone's looking at you weirdly." He lost his smile. "Seriously, the other team is staring at us. So is the referee. Please stop making that noise."

Tendou responded by increasing the scream's pitch.

"Tendou!" Washijou snapped from his position on the bench.

Tendou shut up but he was still wearing a goofy smile on his red face.

"You look like you're about to pass out," Commented Yamagata, trying to swallow back his smile.

"I could win the Olympics single-handedly, right now," Tendou said.

Semi and Shirabu both rolled their eyes, chorusing with, "Why can't we just win the match,  first?" This prompted them to glare at each other.

Ushijima blinked. "Are you feeling motivated, Tendou?"

"Give me another high-five and I'll think about it," Tendou demanded, suddenly snapping out of his stunned state, waving his hand in Ushijima's face. The ace gave him another high-five and Tendou spun on his heel. "I will burn down Aobo Josai, this is the best feeling ever!" 

Ushijima smiled, almost affectionately, and it made Tendou glow like the sun.

Quite needless to say, Tendou's blocks went from 'cruel' to 'tyrannical' and he made the college team's ace cry. As the teams cleared up the gym, he was approached by Shirabu, who was wearing his 'I-am-the-future-captain-of-this-shithole-so-I-am-unto-a-god' scowl. In other words, he approached Tendou, looking as bossy as usual.

Semi, who was with Tendou, groaned and Tendou just smiled brightly.

"Shira-Shira-Flicker-Lightbulb!" He greeted. "How is your grumpy-ness doing today?"

Shirabu glared. "I hate that nickname."

"It's hilarious. What have I done now?"

The second-year, somehow, managed to look more pissed off by narrowing his eyes. "After your questionable block, in timeout," He began. "Can you please not have a myocardial infarction in the middle of practice? I know you have a crush on Ushijima-san, but please control yourself."

Tendou stared, colour slowly rising to his face. "I have a what on who?"

"You have a crush on Ushijima-senpai. And please stop having myocardial infarctions. It's not good for your health."

"Bangsie, no one else here understands all your science-y terms," Semi complained.

Shirabu glared. "No one else here studies."

"I do not have a crush on Wakatoshi-kun!" Tendou gasped, interrupting whatever retort Semi was about to answer with. "If I have a crush on Wakatoshi-kun, then you have a crush on Semi-Semi!"

"Satori!" Hissed Semi, blushing as brightly as Shirabu, whose jaw actually dropped open.

Kawanishi, who had been in earshot, turned around. "So that's a yes to your crush on Ushijima?"

Shirabu hit Kawanishi.

Certain Incident Number Three: The Reading of The Unreadable

"Good morrow, my dearest peers!" Announced Tendou, at six in the morning, to kick of morning practise.

His greeting was met with the usual groans and yawns, which made him laugh brightly. Ushijima looked up with a frown. "Are you alright, Tendou?"

"Hmm? Of course, Wakatoshi-kun!" Tendou beamed. "I am here with my fellow friends, to play a most enjoyable sport and I got a lovely night's sleep!"

Ushijima still didn't stop frowning. "But... You said the wrong thing..."

"No, Ushiwaka," Reon said, rubbing his eyes. "He says 'morrow' every time. You're just too busy spiking to take any notice."

The ace shook his head, walking over to Tendou. "No, you usually say, 'my darlingest peers'. Not 'dearest'."

Semi spun around to stare at Tendou, wide-eyed. Tendou blinked. "Ah, so that's what I was forgetting! I knew something was up when I said that!"

Yamagata hummed drowsily. "Hmm... nice to see you switching it up. Is anyone willing to swap with me, right now? I've gotten tasked to teach some first-years how to receive and I don't have enough brains for this..."

"You do it every morning," Lectured Reon, sternly. "Get over yourself."

Ushijima was still looking at Tendou with concern. "Tendou, your choice of words seems to have stressed Semi out. Is everything okay?"

"It's fine," Semi tried to smooth over, sliding up to Tendou and wrapping an arm around his best friend's shoulder. "But, uh, S'tori, do you need the toilet? I need the toilet. Let's go to the bathroom, c'mon!" He ushered his best friend away, with Tendou willingly going with him.

However, Semi's excellent ruse was not enough to stop Ushijima. The ace took hold of Tendou's wrist, pulling him close.

"Tendou, I am worried. You seem upset."

Tendou smiled at him. "Do I? I think you're imagining things, Wakatoshi-kun. Did you not sleep well, or something?"

"Satori, I am very concerned. You seem sad and I want to know if you're okay."

Tendou's smile slipped slightly but he easily regained it by adjusting it to look like a lopsided grin. "Waka-Waka, you're delusional! I'm fine!"

"And if he wasn't, you're pushing it in front of everyone," Semi growled, defensively, taking Tendou's other wrist. "Chill out, he's fine. We just need to go for a second."

"Exactly! You can let go of my wrist, Wakatoshi-kun, nothing's wrong!"

Ushijima hesitated, letting go of Tendou's wrist eventually.

Tendou gave him the happiest smile he could manage to fit on his face. "Thanks. Now I'm glad you're worried 'bout me; makes me feel so special! But I need to go to the bathroom with Eita, so-"

Ushijima hugged him. Tendou's words rolled off his tongue soundlessly, dropping his smile in surprise. The silence was maintained when a few silent tears rolled down Tendou's cheeks.

Then he sniffed and started crying properly, pulling his wrist from Semi's grasp and hugging Ushijima back. Semi responded quickly by finding the club advisor and demanding him to let Tendou skip practise; he wouldn't ruin his best friend's hug - he had far too much sense for that.

"I'm sorry," Muttered Tendou. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"You do not need to be sorry for anything," Promised Ushijima, his deep voice soothing. "What's gone wrong?"

Tendou hesitated. "My grandpa's in... well, he's gotten cancer, so... I found out last night and-!" His voice caught and he broke off into sobs.

Ushijima began to half-pat half-stroke Tendou's back, letting the blocker cry into his neck. "You do not need to pretend if you're upset. We will all be here for you."

"I thought it would interrupt practise-"

"You are always allowed to interrupt practise, Satori," Promised Ushijima, "And I will always be here for you."

Despite himself, Tendou managed a laugh. "Careful, there, Wakatoshi-kun. It sounds like you might even like me!"

As serious as ever, Ushijima only tightened his grip on Tendou. "Of course I like you." He said honestly.

It was in the moment where everyone in the gym could see Tendou fall in love with his captain just a little bit more that day. Tendou hugged Ushijima back tightly, like he was a long-lost astronaut, clinging to whatever rock the universe sent his way for safety. They didn't move for the next seven minutes. Afterwards, Ushijima had to change his shirt. 

Certain Incident Number Four: Rainy Days

Tendou walked into a lampost for the fourth time that hour. He was not entirely handling his focus very well but that was understandable, since Ushijima Wakatoshi's shirt had gotten wet after he lent his umbrella to Goshiki and it was now clinging very nicely to his very nice figure.

Shirabu, who looked like a drowned, copper-coloured rat since he had a coat too small for him, shot Tendou an annoyed glare that was still just as fearsome but Tendou brightly ignored him, instead making a show of how he was fine to the growing-increasingly-more-concerned Ushijima.

"Tendou, do you have vision issues?" The captain asked. "That would be very bad for you and the future of the team. Do you need to see an optician?"

"His vision's fine, Ushijima-san," Promised Shirabu. "He's seeing you perfectly clear."

"Haha, shut up, Shirabu, you little shit!" Tendou laughed cheerfully, glaring at the second-year murderously. It didn't have the desired effect because Shirabu just smirked and cuddled up to Semi. Since those two had gotten over their pining, Shirabu seemed to think being Semi's boyfriend made him invincible to any and all of Tendou's threats. Well, he was right, because Semi was shooting his best friend a glare, as if it was Tendou's fault Shirabu just decided to keep toeing the line of irritating and being an annoying little shit.

Ushijima frowned. "If your vision is fine, why do you keep walking into lamposts?"

"Just distracted, not paying attention, y'know?"

"Very distracted," Shirabu added.

Tendou smiled at him. "Shirabu, I will hit you-"

"Hey!" Semi interrupted, with a glare. "Tendou, stop it."

"Excuse me?!" Tendou cawed. "What happened to 'bros before hoes', Eita?"

Kawanishi choked. "Oh, god, did you just call Shirabu a 'hoe'?"

Shirabu flushed. "What the hell?!" Tendou laughed and Semi couldn't help but snicker. Shirabu spun around to glare at him, growing redder. "Eita!"

"It was funny, 'Jirou, you can't be mad at me!"

Shirabu huffed but didn't protest, which was his usual way of admitting defeat. Tendou grinned but it seemed like Ushijima wasn't done being a worried friend yet.

"What is distracting you, Tendou? You seem happy today but I cannot figure out why."

Tendou looked Ushijima up and down, as subtly as possible. What could possibly be making him so happy, apart from a very nice view of Ushijima's biceps and abdomen? "Guess I'm just excited for tomorrow," He answered seamlessly. "I have decided that I will attempt to break onto the school roof tomorrow and the adrenaline is kicking in, already!"

Reon frowned. "Please tell me you're joking."

"Not anymore," Tendou said.

Goshiki glanced at his upperclassmen, then said, in his most innocent voice ever, "Tendou-senpai, could I please have a moment to talk to you? Privately?"

Now, this was most definitely a trap. Goshiki sounding innocent usually meant he wanted something and everyone knew it. However, every third year, and sometimes Kawanishi, never managed to say 'no'. It was truly his most diabolical trick. And, like usual, Tendou agreed to it immediately.

Goshiki's happy smile afterwards already told him it was a bad idea. Tendou sagged and Yamagata patted him on the back. "It happens to the best of us. Now, off you go."

Tendou followed Goshiki, who lead him a little way back the way they came, standing under his umbrella expectantly. Tendou pulled the hood of his coat around his head more. "What do you need, Tsu-kun?"

"You need to stop being so obvious if you're going to stare at Ushijima-san," Goshiki said, getting straight to the point. "I've had to tell so many other first-years that you're not dating yet and, honestly, it's becoming pitiful."

Tendou stared at him. "Well, jeez, you really don't beat around the bush, do ya?"

"It's been happening for months, Tendou-san. Please, I am so tired of people asking me when you're going to get together. I don't even know why they're asking me. Just, please, spare me. Ask him out. Everyone knows you like him. Please."

"Are you... begging me? To ask out Wakatoshi?"

Goshiki nodded shamelessly. "Please, just do it."

Tendou blinked. "Wow, didn't expect you to admit it. I'm not going to ask him out, by the way, but it's good to know you're willing to beg me too."

The first-year frowned. "Why won't you ask him out?"

Tendou shrugged. "Well, our time at Shiratorizawa is over, soon! Besides, I'm planning to go to Paris. I feel the urge to explore outside of volleyball and Wakatoshi-kun would..." Tendou hesitated. "He'd stay in Japan, y'know? I don't think I'd be good for anyone if they had some long-distance relationship with me. Besides, different people expect different things. I don't even know if Wakatoshi-kun would date me, especially if he knew I wasn't planning to continue volleyball professionally."

"Why wouldn't he?" Goshiki pushed.

"Oh, y'know," Tendou tilted his head side to side, grimacing as he tried to find the words. "Volleyball is his world. If you're not doing volleyball, you're as good as dead to him, just in a nicer way. He won't cast you a second glance simply because you don't exist to him. I'm pretty sure his waking thought is about volleyball. It's, like, his equivalent of the earth!"

Goshiki looked at Tendou thoughtfully. There was near silence between them, besides the rain drumming on the fabric of Goshiki's umbrella and the regular breeze echoing in Tendou's coat.

"If volleyball is Ushijima Wakatoshi's world," Goshiki finally said, "Then I think you'd be his sun that everything orbits around in his universe."

Tendou turned bright red. "Eh?! What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Think about it. If you are going to keep denying it, then you're as dense as him."

With that, Goshiki turned on his heel, walking back towards the other volleyball players. Tendou stood still for a few more moments, thinking it over. Goshiki was wrong. In Ushijima's universe, everything was volleyball-related. Tendou was visiting it; his stay would be temporary. In Ushijima's universe, he had no space for some bother like Tendou. Of course, he wouldn't. He might be an important person to him now, but would he be next year?

It was a guess Tendou was too scared to make. So it could wait. There'd have to be others, he'd always remind himself. Surely there'd be another, even if they weren't as amazing as Ushijima. They'd have to wait, though, if there was anyone. 

Stars faded and new ones would glow brighter. The sun always set, at the end of the day, and then the moon would come. The world always turned. There was always a timer, on everything. Asteroids burnt up in atmospheres, so did meteorites, and nothing stayed how it was left. Ushijima was the world, sun, moon and stars of Tendou's universe. Tendou hoped he would never need to worry about the timer, ticking down to change.

And it seemed like everyone knew it.

Certain Incident Number Five: Valentine's Day

"Eita," Whispered Tendou, sliding open his best friend's dormitory door, quickly prompting Semi to shove Shirabu, who he certainly hadn't been kissing, away from him. "Can you hide me?" Semi frowned at him and Shirabu scowled, obviously annoyed that Tendou would dare interrupt him cuddling Semi on Valentine's Day. Tendou resolutely ignored the smaller of the setters, staring at Semi expectantly. "Please?"

"Why do I have to hide you?" Semi asked, sounding willing but curious.

Tendou looked over his shoulder. "Well... There's this group of second-years and they're kind of... they're being weird around me and I think they're at my locker right now."

Semi blinked. "Is this the, 'I think they're trying to give me a confession letter and I don't want to worry about White Day' weird or the 'I think they're stalking me in order to get me to be the sacrifice in their cult' weird?"

"What the fuck was the last one?" Shirabu frowned.

"Definitely the last one. Just slightly less drastic." Tendou slid the door shut behind him and then sat right between the couple on the bed, half on top of both of their laps while not exactly sitting on either of them at the same time.

Shirabu scowled and moved back. Tendou instantly took the place he had been sitting in, grinning briefly.

Semi, for his part, seemed oblivious to his boyfriend's annoyance. "Well, if you had to describe their weirdness, how would you?"

Tendou hesitated. "I don't know. Just... really, really bad vibes. Like, the vibes you get when you see that thug-trope in anime who's about to, like, beat up the protagonists."

Semi bristled. "You think they want to try beat you up?"

"I don't know," Tendou whined, a small hint of worry in his voice. "I think they're certainly not trying to get my help to join the volleyball club!"

Shirabu sighed, pulling out his phone. "Which second-years are they, Tendou-san?" He asked, seeming to have given up on alone time with his boyfriend.

"There's, uh, I think his name's Takami? And then one of the girls is Yoshida, or something... There's five of them, by the way."

The small setter groaned. "Yep, I know them. They probably are trying to beat you up. They like trying to outcast 'odd' students, on days where people are supposed to be happy; tried to do it to me in my first year. They'll give up by tomorrow if they can't catch you alone but, yeah, good look."

"Aw, Shir-ubs is warning me! He wants me alive! Look, Semi-semi, I told you he'd love to have me as the best man when you kids settle down!"

Semi choked on his own spit and Shirabu went bright red. "Oi, do you want us to hide you or not?!"

"Yes, I do," Tendou smiled evilly. "I wouldn't be interrupting anything between you two, right? Eita, you must tell me, friend-to-friend, if I'd be interrupting any 'plans' you had which would require the utmost privac- ow!"

Semi had interrupted him by whacking him with a pillow. Shirabu, red all over, took this as an excuse to leave for his own dorm. Semi took Shirabu leaving as an opportunity to hit a cackling Tendou even more.

Eventually, the fighting stopped and Tendou spent a good few hours keeping himself safe from the group of second-years with Semi, teasing him and being teased in their usual back-and-forth. Eventually, Shirabu returned.

"Tendou-senpai," He said, forcing the honorific out with a rehearsed manner. "Please may you return to your own dormitory so I can spend Valentine's Day with Eita-san? Kawanishi is starting to think we've broken up and his texts are getting annoying."

Tendou grinned at him. "If you want to spend time with Semi-Semi, don't make up an excuse for it!" He joked, but stood up, smoothing down his uniform. "But it's fine, I know when I'm unwanted!"

"Don't be dramatic," Snorted Semi, aiming a light kick at Tendou's back.

"Thanks, Tendou," Shirabu said, bowing a little in acknowledgement. "I won't make a sarcastic remark about your face for the next hour, in return."

Tendou gasped. "Well, damn, that is a nice deal! I'm going to head to Wakatoshi-kun's dorm and see if he's free," He started to walk out. "Okay, you two! Enjoy your sappy, sappy mouthfucking! And remember, the walls are thin~!" He added, in a singsong voice.

"Oh, piss off, Satori!" Shouted Semi, after him, as Tendou slid the door shut with a giggle.

The middle blocker walked down the dorm corridors, humming to himself. He would regularly break into songs, although at a moderately respectful volume, on his way back to his dormitory.

It was nice, he had to admit, to have his thoughts to himself. It gave him time to reflect, remember and consider. Thinking about all that reflecting, remembering bullshit, there was a reason he had been hanging out with Semi that day, despite it being a day meant for couples and romance. Certainly not a day to hang out with your taken best friend, who had no interest in you and the feeling was definitely mutual. Why had he been there again?

He turned the corner and saw why. Ah, how fantastic.

A group of five second years... Tamaki, Yoshida, the other two and one who really looked like a 'Tadashi'.

"Tendou," Tamaki said, smiling. "We've been looking for you."

Tendou shrugged. "Good to know. You found me now. Buh-bye."

He went to walk past but one of the other boys grabbed his elbow, trying to pull him back. Tendou was heavy, however, and he almost dragged the boy with him if he hadn't shaken him off.

"C'mon, you can't really not be curious about why we were looking for ya," Yoshida urged. According to Kawanishi, she deserved the 'bitch-of-the-year' award and not the kind of 'bitch-of-the-year' award that was a compliment. "We've been looking for our favourite upperclassman all day!"

They all looked at him, expecting a reaction. But this was Tendou. So he just shrugged. "Okay. Noi-ce."

Yoshida seemed stunned at his reaction but Tamaki adjusted. "C'mon, Tendou! Let's stop beating around the bush. You know why we're here. Shirabu told us where you'd be, y'know. And it looks like he was right."

Now that surprised Tendou, even if he didn't show it. He tilted his head, finding his heart suddenly beating a whole lot harder in his chest. "Shirabu told you?" He echoed. "How nice of him to help you five out."

"Didn't expect that one, did you, Guess Monster?"

"Not entirely. He hates helping people."

He realised he was looking for a way out after he said that. Turning around and walking away would leave him vulnerable but if he headed back the way he came, the only place he could stop off at was Semi's, which currently housed the apparently traitorous Shirabu. Tendou knew these five were telling the truth, too. Shirabu has snitched on him.

Tamaki stepped forwards, reaching into his pocket. "Well, Tendou, what'cha going to do about it? Who do you think people would listen to? Normal people like us or an ugly, fucking fre-" Tamaki was knocked out cold on the ground before he could finish his sentence.

Ushijima stood above the unconscious second-year. "It seems I had a bit more faith in his abilities than he deserved," Was all he commented. In his eyes was a burning rage.

The other four second-years started backing up, surprised and definitely scared.

Ushijima Wakatoshi looked at them, with the full force of his fury and hate. "Care to explain what you were saying to my best friend or would you like to run, like the cowards you are?"

All four ran, leaving Tamaki on the ground. Ushijima left him on the ground too, turning to Tendou worriedly. "Tendou? Are you alright? Shirabu texted me, saying that people would be trying to bully you outside my dormitory. Satori, you are not injured, are you?"

Tendou blinked at him, trying to fathom enough words to admit that he was thankful or that he was fine or that he really fucking hated Shirabu for setting up a rescue without his consent or even notifying him, first. Instead, he just blurted, "Hi!"

"Hello, Tendou. You seem in shock. Would you like to stay inside my dormitory for a bit?"

"Yes!" Tendou said, a bit too loudly. "I would like to. Would you like to?"

Ushijima blinked. "I did offer, so it is fine. Here, let's go inside."

Tendou followed after him, with an embarrassed whimper. Seeing Ushijima knock a kid out with a single punch was definitely making his heart do a lot of flying receives in his chest. Like, a lot. He was feeling breathless, delighted, stunned and ecstatic. He might've been a little bit scared, too.

Ushijima sat him down on his bed, sitting next to him. "They did not hurt you, did they? Shirabu told me that they were trouble."

"No, I-I'm fine," Answered Tendou. "I... I'm a little surprised you reacted so badly, Wakatoshi-kun."

The ace's forehead creased in worry. "Was it the wrong course of action? I was emotional and no entirely thinking straight-"

"No, no, Wakatoshi-kun! It was very good what you did and I am disturbingly proud of you, right now! I guess I mean that..." Tendou hesitated. "If anyone would've settled it aggressively, I'd have thought it would be Eita, not you."

Ushijima narrowed his eyes, very, very slightly. "Would you rather Semi had come to your aid over me?"

"What? Definitely not! He'd get expelled over it!" Tendou tried to correct himself. He tried a calming smile. "I'm glad you saved me, Wakatoshi-kun. It's good to know that I can trust you."

"Of course you can trust me," Ushijima said, like it was insane for Tendou to even question it. "You are my friend."

Tendou smiled wider. "I know, Wakatoshi-kun! You're my friend, too." There was a moment of silence, as they looked into each other's eyes. Tendou panicked, breaking it soon after. "Well, if that were happening to you, I wouldn't be able to pay you back exactly!" He said awkwardly. "I'd probably, uh, flap my arms and scream at them aggressively. Y'know?"

Ushijima laughed and Tendou was pretty sure he whimpered again. "I do know, Tendou. You did it in our first year."

"Eh? I did?"

"Did you forget? There was a third-year trying to upset me because I was left-handed. I was paying him no attention but you were very upset. After screaming at him, I have a very fond memory of you biting his shoulder. It was funny. It is why I became your friend and it is one of the many reasons why I like you."

"That's why we're friends?" Tendou gasped. "I thought we just naturally clicked when I stepped on your foot!"

Ushijima tilted his head. "No. When you did that, I thought you didn't like me."

"Well, that's not how I saw it."

Then Ushijima Wakatoshi laughed. It wasn't the giggle Goshiki had, it wasn't the polite snort of Reon or the impolite snort of Yamagata. It wasn't the cackle of Kawanishi, the snicker of Shirabu or Semi's chuckle. It was honest, controlled, deep and real. Tendou had just made Ushijima laugh at something he said. And it was the best feeling ever.

"Tendou? You are staring."

"Eh?!" Tendou went bright red, attempting to jump off the bed but only managing in hitting his head on the upper bunk. "Was I?! Didn't mean to, zoned out, stopped existing mentally in the universe and- damn it!" He slid off the bed with a groan, letting himself land face first.

Ushijima blinked at him. "Are you alright, Tendou?"

"I think I need to go back to my dorm... The power of sleep has been evading me... I have lost myself."

The ace nodded. "It is good to sleep, Tendou. You can't maintain a high-performance standard in volleyball without sleep."

The words were meant caringly, but it reminded Tendou of his place in the world of Wakatoshi. He was in it if he played volleyball. And he would be getting a one-way ticket out of there soon enough.

Tendou stood up, dusting himself off. "Well, that's very true, Wakatoshi-kun! I shall return to my humble shithole now!" With a bright smile, he spun on his heel, beginning to frogmarch his way to the door, humming.

"Are you alright?" A hand caught his wrist. "You seemed quite abruptly upset."

Internally, Tendou was screaming, 'Since when the fuck did you notice?!' very loudly. Externally, he made a confused face. "Did I? Well, I'll tell ya one thing, Wakatoshi-kun, you've got a really active imagination, for sure!"

He tried to slide his wrist away but Ushijima held firm. "No, Tendou. I am sure you are upset, now. Did I say something wrong?"

The middle blocker found himself fumbling before the honesty in Ushijima's eyes. He knew. Of course he knew. He was always able to read him, whether Tendou wished him to or not. "I just... don't want to leave you, yet," He said, hoping a half-truth would settle the issue as he glanced at the door.

"Then do not leave," Ushijima replied, like it was so simple to stay in Japan and stay playing a middle blocker and stay with him.

Tendou looked back into Ushijima's face. "If it were that simple, I think I would," He answered. Then, he left Ushijima's dormitory without even bidding goodnight. 

It was silly of him to think there'd be anything more to Ushijima than volleyball, he chided himself. A sun is just a star and one missing star went unnoticed by most. That was Ushijima's world and that was Tendou's place.

Certain Incident Number Six: A Normal Day At Practise With A Twist

"One touch!" Tendou shouted, feeling the ball sliding through his taped fingers.

"Mine!" Yamagata shouted, shooting Goshiki a small glare. The two had collided last time and it looked like Yamagata would not let that happen again.

Goshiki stepped back, lying in wait, and the ball went up in the air. Shirabu ran under it, jumping up to make a set. Halfway through his motion, he attempted an aggressive setter dump but it was stuffed almost immediately by Semi, who had been playing setter on the opposing side of the net.

Kawanishi dived for it but missed, and the match went to Team B.

"Aw, phooey," Moaned Tendou. "I was doing so well..."

"Well, I guess that's true," Agreed Yamagata, pointing. "Your blocks were all better than ever, Tendou."

Semi nodded, ducking under the net. "Only thing that let you get the first and fourth set, let's be honest." Shirabu hit his boyfriend's arm, with a glare, obviously annoyed that Tendou had been praised before him. The middle blocker had no idea why the small setter got so offended about these things - he assumed it was because Shirabu was whiney.

Letting the conversation tune out, Tendou let his eyes slowly wander over to the constant MVP of every match, who was remaining on the Team B side of the net. Ushijima didn't duck under the net to join the growing group of third years and he wasn't even really looking in their direction. Following his gaze, Tendou saw it leading to Goshiki, who was sitting on the floor of the court, whining to Kawanishi about Shirabu barely sending him any sets.

Tendou frowned, looking back at Ushijima. Why Goshiki? Goshiki had been on his game, yes, but surely Tendou had been playing even better? Right? Maybe he needed to make a comment about the botched receive... that was a very Ushijima thing to do.

But this jealousy was definitely not good for his rational thinking that wasn't even very good in the first place. So Tendou walked over to Goshiki, right in front of Ushijima, and knelt opposite the first-year.

"Shiki-bowl!" He said, happily. "Good game! You played well!"

Goshiki swelled up with pride. "Thank you, Tendou-san! You played really well, too!"

"Eh, did I really?" Tendou hummed, glancing over at Ushijima. He was still watching, but he couldn't tell who was catching the ace's stare. He turned his attention back to Goshiki. "I guess I was becoming the best one on this side of the net, huh? I was excellent."

"Stop bragging," Scoffed Kawanishi, kicking his upperclassman gently in the heel. "No matter how good you were, we lost anyway."

Tendou pouted up at him. "What a negative attitude, Kawa-chi-kun!"

Goshiki stood up, stretching out his shoulders. "Well, it was fun, despite the outcome. Although, I did botch that receive and I'm pretty sure that point I scored off Oohira-san was a fluke. I should probably practise those kinds of moves, though, they'd be-"

"Aw, Goshiki, don't stress out so much!" Tendou complimented brightly. "I think the best course of action for you right now, though, would be to talk to Yamagata. You did kind of dive into him..."

Goshiki flushed. "I did, you're right. I'll go apologise now-"

"Not now," Ushijima's deep voice announced. The three teammates jumped, turning around to look at their captain. "Goshiki. I must speak with you."

Goshiki blinked, sparing a brief glance at Tendou, who was still crouched on the floor. "Of course, Ushijima-san."

Tendou stood up. "Whatcha going to talk about?"

"You will find out soon, Tendou," Ushijima replied.

Tendou looked at Goshiki. "Tsu-Tsu? What's happening?"

Goshiki hesitated, stumbling a little for words. "Well, y'know... You'll find out, eventually."

"How secretive," Frowned Kawanishi. "You're keeping a secret from your upperclassmen, Goshiki-kun?"

The first-year knotted his hands behind his back. "I'm not the one keeping secrets," He muttered, very quietly.

Tendou gasped. "Wakatoshi-kun? You are hiding something? From the team? From me?" He fell dramatically against Kawanishi. "Hold me, Kawa-chi-kun! I feel weak from this betrayal!"

"Get off, you're heavy!"

Ushijima ignored the scene. "Tendou. I am sorry for keeping something from you. But this is something I must discuss with Goshiki. You will find out soon."

Tendou blinked, taken aback by the sternness in Ushijima's voice. "Okay," He said, losing the silly tone of voice.

The pair of aces walked off and Tendou frowned.

"Uh... Are you alright, Tendou?" Kawanishi tried to ask.

"No," Huffed Tendou. He turned and approached Semi, picking up his volume once again. "Eita! Congratulations on your win!" He slung an arm around Semi's shoulder. "Still surprised you actually managed to get a setter dump on me, back in set two, Semi-Semi. I was even paying such good attention!"

Semi grinned. "No, you weren't. You were staring at your 'Wakatoshi-kun'."

Tendou widened his eyes without losing his smile, in an incredibly creepy manner. "Haha, shut up, you let Bangsie-boo get so many setter dumps on you, too, y'know!"

With the tables turned, Semi flushed. "Hey, it was to lead him into a false sense of security!"

"It wasn't, was it?" Tendou pressed, with a grin. 

Semi glared. "Shut up."

"Understood."

Reon laughed at them, as did Yamagata. Shirabu just rolled his eyes, crossing his arms at their antics as if he actually thought he was above their childishness.

Tendou snickered and the conversation continued, with a mix of teasing, compliments and words of advice, shared across all players, whether they were on the bench or line-up. A couple of minutes had passed before Ushijima and Goshiki turned up again.

"Ah, here he is!" Yamagata said, upon spying the first year. "Remember, you gotta call for the ball, okay? It's dangerous to- huh?"

Goshiki started making grand gestures towards Ushijima, as if trying to highlight his presence.

"Are you having a spasm, or something?" Asked Shirabu, disdainfully. "We can all see Ushijima, Goshiki."

"I have something to say," Ushijima announced. There was a pause, and then he added, "To Tendou."

Everyone looked to the redhead and Tendou only tilted his head. "Eh? Why?"

"Because I have something to say to you."

"Is everyone else supposed to here, or...?"

"They may listen if they want to."

Tendou blinked and suddenly found himself being elbowed forwards by Semi and Yamagata. He tripped over his long limbs a little but regained whatever dignity he could muster. "What is it, Wakatoshi-kun?" He asked, looking Ushijima all over for a hint. "I'm guessing it's an awkward question?"

"That does quite depend on your answer."

"Ooh,"  Cooed Tendou, noticing how this conversation was beginning to hold a lot of attention across the gym. "How cryptic! What's the question, Wakatoshi-kun? I promise to answer honestly!"

Ushijima stared at him evenly, with a look that let Tendou know that whatever he was going to say was something he meant. "Satori. I am interested in taking you out on a date, in order to court you and ask you to join a romantic relationship with me, over a platonic one. Do you return this interest?"

"Finally," Someone, most likely Shirabu, muttered. Semi gave Tendou another nudge forwards, as if shoving him towards a six-foot-plus wall of muscle would encourage him to agree any sooner.

"Is, uh, this what you were talking to Gosh'ki about?" Tendou blinked at Ushijima, surprised at how he was finding himself stalling.

Ushijima nodded in response, wordlessly.

Tendou hesitated. "Oh, okay."

Goshiki's eyes widened behind Ushijima and the first-year mouthed, "What are you doing?!" to him, quite aggressively.

The middle blocker pretended not to see. "I see, then. Wakatoshi-kun, I have something to tell you too and may listen if they want to, too."

"If you are to reject me, Tendou, I would prefer for them not to be here," Ushijima warned, sounding as calm as always.

"I am not rejecting you, Wakatoshi-kun. I have an announcement." Tendou cleared his throat. "I'm not planning to stay in Japan, after we graduate. I want to go to Europe. Paris, maybe. I don't want to play volleyball, either. This season will be the last for me. I wanna make chocolate."

"Satori?" Semi asked from behind him, sounding more confused than hurt, but there was a slight lilt of betrayal in his voice. Maybe because Tendou hadn't told him yet. He probably should've done that...

Semi was not the only one confused. Ushijima frowned at the middle blocker, as if processing it. "You will not continue volleyball?" He echoed.

Tendou nodded in response, wordlessly. He could already see what was happening in Ushijima's universe.

The little him, the one that acted as Ushijima's defence and his blocker on whatever volleyball planet the ace inhabited, was being asked to leave. He hadn't paid his rent. He'd outstayed his welcome, with that confession. Goshiki had once told him that he was the sun of Ushijima's universe. Well, if that were true, now it was about to become nighttime. The sun had set.

When Ushijima bowed his head, looking at the floor, Tendou wanted to take his words all back. If he could grab them from where they seemed to hang in the air, snatch them from everyone's memory, he would. And then he'd say 'yes'. And then he could spend at least a month being his sun until the truth came out and it was time for him to go. But it was too late now.

"I understand," Ushijima said, his deep voice breaking the silence.

"Do you?"

"Yes. You no longer want to play volleyball after you leave Shiratorizawa. I understand. Thank you for telling me."

Tendou nodded. "You're welcome. I had to tell everyone eventually, huh?" Ushijima nodded, too, and Tendou gave an awkward smile. "Well... sorry for being such a downer. I guess that didn't really do much good to the mood!" If it had become night in Ushijima's universe, then Tendou's had imploded in on itself, except for a single lump of rock, which was probably all that was left in Tendou's heart from the destruction he had caused upon himself. He turned around to leave, maybe to lean on Semi and cry, but a voice stopped him.

"Tendou, you never replied to my question."

The middle blocker froze, too surprised about being called back to turn around. "Eh?"

"You gave your announcement instead. You did not answer me."

Very slowly, Tendou turned around. "You still want to?"

Ushijima frowned. "Why would I not want to?"

And the sun came back again, along with the stars and the moon, and the lump of rock had, once again, grown into the spectacular planet it had been before. Tendou didn't know if he had shrunk before but, now, he had definitely grown, swelling with pride.

There was a smile on his face, probably looking as happy and dumb as he felt, and he was pretty sure he was shaking a little.

"The distance does not bother me, Tendou," Ushijima said. "I am sure we will be able to visit each other. And technology has grown in reliability. We can call. If you would like to."

"I really would," Tendou replied, finding his happy and dumb smile growing even happier and, somehow, even dumber. "I really, really would."

Maybe Goshiki was right about me being the sun, Tendou thought to himself briefly, when Ushijima hugged him tightly in the middle of the gym. But, then again, he could be wrong...

I could be something more.