The library was supposed to be empty.

That was exactly why Tsukishima came here.

No noisy underclassmen. No volleyball. No unnecessary conversations.

Just silence.

He adjusted his glasses as he rounded one of the shelves, textbook tucked under his arm, only to stop abruptly.

Someone was already there.

You.

Of course it had to be you.

His academic rival.

The one person who constantly competed with him for the highest grades. The one who somehow always had an answer for everything. The one whose name was always right next to his on every exam ranking.

Annoying.

Insufferable.

And currently sitting on the floor between two bookshelves with your face buried in your arms.

...Crying.

Tsukishima blinked.

Once.

Twice.

For a moment, he genuinely wondered if he was hallucinating.

You weren't supposed to cry.

Not you.

You were the girl who rolled her eyes whenever he made a sarcastic comment. The girl who smirked whenever she scored one point higher than him on a test. The girl who always looked composed, no matter what.

Yet your shoulders trembled slightly, and the crumpled exam paper beside you explained enough.

A score lower than usual.

Most people would have celebrated it.

You clearly weren't most people.

Tsukishima should've left.

Actually, he wanted to leave.

This was awkward.

Embarrassing.

None of his business.

Yet somehow, his feet refused to move.

"...You're going to get tears on the books."

The words came out before he could stop them.

Smooth.

Very smooth.

Your head snapped up, eyes red and wide.

For the first time since he'd met you, you looked completely vulnerable.

And for some reason, Tsukishima hated seeing it.

He looked away almost immediately, pretending to study the shelf beside him.

"...It's one test."

His voice was quieter this time.

"You're acting like the world ended."

A pause.

Then another.

"...And before you start being dramatic, no, I'm not trying to make you feel better."

The lie sounded weak even to his own ears.

You and Tsukishima Kei had known each other for so long that neither of you remembered how it started.

Maybe it was because your mothers were friends.

Maybe it was because you lived a few houses apart.

Or maybe it was because, somehow, you'd always ended up beside each other.

Growing up together meant learning all of Tsukishima's habits.

The way he adjusted his glasses whenever he was annoyed.

The way he'd pretend not to care while secretly remembering every little detail.

The way he'd complain the entire time while helping you anyway.

It also meant learning that he was terrible at dealing with emotions.

Which was why finding him outside your classroom after school wasn't surprising.

Finding him waiting there for almost thirty minutes was.

"You're late."

His greeting was as warm as ever.

You stared at him.

"You've been waiting?"

"No."

A lie.

"You literally just said I'm late."

Tsukishima clicked his tongue.

"You're annoying."

There it was.

Normal.

Comforting, even.

But your smile quickly faded as you remembered the failed exam folded inside your bag.

The one your parents would be disappointed about.

The one you'd spent weeks studying for.

Apparently Tsukishima noticed.

Of course he did.

He always noticed.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Hm."

You hated that sound.

That knowing sound.

Before you could stop yourself, your eyes started burning again.

Great.

Perfect.

Exactly what you needed.

The last person you wanted seeing you cry was standing right in front of you.

Tsukishima's expression immediately shifted.

Not panic.

Not confusion.

Just that awkward stiffness he got whenever feelings entered a conversation.

You quickly looked away.

"I'm fine."

"You look terrible."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

A few seconds of silence passed.

Then another.

Then, without warning, something cold pressed against your hand.

You looked down.

A strawberry milk carton.

Your favorite.

You blinked.

"...When did you buy this?"

Tsukishima looked away.

"Earlier."

"Earlier as in..."

"Before school."

Your chest tightened.

Because that meant he'd bought it before knowing you'd have a bad day.

Before knowing you'd need cheering up.

Before any of this happened.

The realization made your eyes sting again.

Immediately, Tsukishima groaned.

"Seriously?"

You laughed through your tears.

And for the first time all day, things didn't feel quite so heavy.

"...Don't tell anyone you cried in front of me."

"Why?"

His ears turned slightly pink.

"Because it's embarrassing."

"For me or for you?"

Tsukishima gave you a look.

And somehow, after all these years, your heart still skipped a beat.

Being the new student at Karasuno was already exhausting.

Everyone wanted to know where you came from.

Everyone wanted to show you around.

Everyone except one person.

Tsukishima Kei.

You'd noticed him immediately.

Tall.

Blond.

Glasses.

Permanent expression of disappointment.

The first time you tried introducing yourself, he'd looked up from his book, nodded once, and gone back to reading.

Not exactly welcoming.

So naturally, when your teacher announced the seating chart, fate decided to make him your desk partner.

Lucky you.

The moment class ended, you turned toward him.

"Hey."

"Hm."

"Do you hate me?"

That got his attention.

Golden eyes lifted from his notebook.

"...We've spoken twice."

"Exactly. And both times you've looked like you're being held hostage."

A pause.

Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth twitched.

Not a smile.

Close enough.

"You talk a lot."

"And you're rude."

"Hm."

"Hm isn't an answer."

"It is if I don't care enough."

You gasped dramatically.

For the first time all day, Tsukishima actually looked amused.

And somehow, that felt like a victory.

Volleyball practice came to a sudden stop when Coach Ukai walked into the gym.

Not unusual.

What was unusual was the girl standing beside him.

"Listen up for a second."

The team gathered around, curious.

You stood awkwardly next to your uncle, adjusting the strap of your bag as several pairs of eyes landed on you.

Coach Ukai sighed dramatically.

"This is my niece."

Instantly, the team exploded.

"YOU HAVE A NIECE?!"

"Since when?!"

"Coach, she's pretty!"

"Shut up, Tanaka."

You laughed nervously while the team continued their chaos.

Across the gym, Tsukishima barely looked up from where he was stretching.

At first.

Then he heard your laugh.

His eyes lifted.

And suddenly everything seemed to slow down.

You were smiling at something Nishinoya had said.

Bright.

Effortless.

The kind of smile that made people want to smile back.

Tsukishima stared for a second too long.

Then another.

"...Tsukki?"

Yamaguchi's voice snapped him back to reality.

"What?"

"You've been staring."

"I haven't."

"You definitely have."

Tsukishima immediately looked away.

Unfortunately, not before Yamaguchi caught the faint pink tint creeping across his ears.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Meanwhile, Coach Ukai continued talking.

"She's going to be helping around the gym occasionally, so don't scare her off."

"No promises," Tanaka said.

"Especially you."

You laughed again.

There it was.

That laugh.

Tsukishima hated how quickly he'd noticed it.

Hated how he'd already memorized it.

And he especially hated the fact that when your eyes wandered across the team and briefly met his—

His stomach actually flipped.

Ridiculous.

Absolutely ridiculous.

He didn't even know your name.

Yet somehow, when you smiled politely at him, Tsukishima forgot every sarcastic comment he'd ever known.

"...What's her name?" he asked suddenly.

Yamaguchi nearly choked.

Tsukishima never asked about anyone.

Ever.

"What?"

"The coach's niece."

Yamaguchi stared.

Then grinned.

A dangerous grin.

"Oh."

Immediately, Tsukishima regretted opening his mouth.

Because Yamaguchi knew.

And once Yamaguchi knew, it was only a matter of time before everyone else knew too.

Across the gym, completely unaware of the crisis unfolding in Tsukishima's head, you smiled and waved at the team.

Tsukishima looked away so fast it almost hurt.

He was doomed.

Tsukishima hated shopping.

The crowds.

The noise.

The way people seemed incapable of walking in a straight line.

If he had a choice, he'd be anywhere else.

Unfortunately, his headphones had broken, and after three days of listening to Hinata yell during practice, he was desperate enough to visit the mall.

He was halfway through comparing two nearly identical pairs of headphones when he heard laughter nearby.

Not loud.

Not obnoxious.

Just enough to catch his attention.

Against his better judgment, he glanced up.

And immediately wished he hadn't.

Because now he couldn't look away.

A girl stood a few stores down, struggling to reach something on a high shelf.

She stretched onto her tiptoes.

Failed.

Tried again.

Failed harder.

Then dramatically glared at the shelf as if it had personally offended her.

Tsukishima blinked.

Once.

Twice.

For some reason, it was the funniest thing he'd seen all week.

Then, as if sensing she was being watched, you turned.

Your eyes met his.

Caught.

Red-handed.

For a horrifying second, neither of you looked away.

Then you smiled.

A simple, polite smile.

The kind people gave strangers.

The kind that shouldn't have affected him at all.

Yet somehow Tsukishima's brain completely stopped working.

You looked away first, returning to your battle against the shelf.

Meanwhile, Tsukishima remained frozen.

"...What is wrong with me?"

He muttered the words under his breath.

Because he didn't know your name.

Didn't know anything about you.

And yet when another customer walked over and easily grabbed the item for you, he felt irrationally disappointed.

You thanked the stranger with a grin.

Then disappeared into the crowd.

Gone.

Just like that.

Tsukishima stared at the spot where you'd been standing.

For several seconds.

Then adjusted his glasses.

"...Ridiculous."

Five minutes later, he realized he had accidentally followed the direction you'd walked.

And somehow, that was even more ridiculous.

The streetlights buzzed faintly overhead.

It was late—too late for most people to still be out alone.

Tsukishima Kei had only gone to the convenience store for something quick.

He regretted it immediately.

Not because of the cold.

Not because of the empty streets.

But because of the sound of uneven footsteps behind him.

He didn’t turn around at first.

Just adjusted his glasses slightly, walking at the same pace.

The footsteps didn’t stop.

They matched.

Closer now.

Ahead, a girl walked alone, headphones in, unaware of anything else.

Tsukishima’s eyes flicked between her and the shadow trailing behind her.

A man.

Too close.

Too focused.

Tsukishima clicked his tongue.

“...Seriously.”

He stepped forward.

Just slightly.

Enough to fall into pace beside the girl without startling her.

Then he stopped.

Right in front of the man.

The stranger nearly bumped into him.

“Move,” the man snapped.

Tsukishima didn’t.

Instead, he looked him up and down with a calm, almost bored expression.

“You’re following her.”

It wasn’t a question.

The man laughed once, nervous and defensive.

“She’s just walking home.”

“Alone,” Tsukishima replied flatly. “At this time. With you behind her for three blocks.”

Silence.

The girl finally noticed something was wrong and pulled out one earbud, confused.

Tsukishima didn’t look at her.

Not yet.

His attention stayed on the man.

“You can walk away now,” he said. “Or I can make this annoying for you.”

The man hesitated.

Tsukishima took a step forward.

Just one.

The man backed off instantly, muttering something under his breath before turning and disappearing down the street.

Only then did Tsukishima exhale slightly.

“...Hmph.”

He turned to leave—

“Wait.”

Your voice.

Soft. Slightly shaky.

He paused.

You were looking at him now, really looking at him, like you were trying to process what just happened.

“…You didn’t have to do that.”

Tsukishima adjusted his glasses.

“I know.”

A beat.

Then, because staying in conversations like this was inconvenient:

“Try not to walk alone that late again.”

“I wasn’t trying to—”

“You were.”

Silence again.

You hesitated.

“…Thank you.”

Tsukishima looked away almost immediately.

“Don’t mention it.”

And then he left.

Like it meant nothing.

Like his heart wasn’t still slightly louder than normal.

The next day, he regretted going to the store again.

Obviously.

Because there you were.

Standing in the aisle.

Holding a drink.

Looking completely normal.

Completely fine.

Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t stepped in front of a stranger in the middle of the night without thinking.

You noticed him at the same time.

“…Hey.”

Tsukishima froze for half a second.

Then regained control of his face.

“Hm.”

You tilted your head slightly.

“You’re the guy from last night.”

“I know.”

A pause.

“…So you do remember me.”

Tsukishima clicked his tongue.

“I didn’t forget.”

That was a lie.

He definitely hadn’t stopped thinking about it since it happened.

You smiled faintly.

“Thanks again. For… you know.”

“I told you not to mention it.”

“But I am mentioning it.”

“…Annoying.”

You laughed.

And Tsukishima hated how easy it was to recognize that sound already.

Even more than that—

He hated how he didn’t want you to stop.