Autumn Wind (Part One)
I'm pulling this chapter out of my ass so HERE WE GO
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There was no sound in the room other than the scribbling of Yamaguchi's pencil on paper. It had been about three minutes since Tsukishima wrote down the math problem for him to solve and the boy was still working on it. "Uhh...Okay," the shorter boy looked over the paper, confusion painting his face, "I think that's right?" Plucking the page out of his hands Tsuki looked it over for a good twenty seconds before sighing. "First of all, your handwriting is like chicken scratch. And second of all, no, it's wrong." A noise of aggravation erupted from Yamaguchi as he fell backward, losing balance and tumbling off Tsukishima's bed.
They had been studying for about an hour now and Yamaguchi couldn't seem to get the problems right on his own. Tsuki could just sit there and watch asking "What do you do next" or "And then what" and the boy would get every answer correct, but otherwise it was a shitshow.
"Well it's late, you should walk home before it gets too dark," the blond spoke, getting off his bed and stepping over his friend still on the floor. "Yeah, yeah o-okay." It was Thursday tomorrow and the two had to get up bright and early to walk to school on time. Packing up his things and slinging his bookbag over his shoulder, Yamaguchi began walking out of the other's room. "I-uh-I'll see you tomorrow." Humming a goodbye in response Tsuki slipped on his headphones and sat back down on his bed.
Yamaguchi got down the driveway of Tsukishima's house before he regretted not wearing a sweater to school that day. It was late summer, just heading into fall. The wind blew steadily and swept a cool breeze up his shirt, goosebumps perking on the arms and legs of his body. Turning back over his shoulder the boy contemplated going back inside and asking his friend if he could borrow a hoodie. Shaking his head he continued to walk home, arms hugged close to his body and a quick step to his pace.
See, the thing is, Tsukishima would have lent him a sweater, no doubt, but he would have nagged on the boy for not packing one in the first place. He didn't really care and wasn't angry, but it's the only way he knew how to respond in something other than silence. Yamaguchi knows in his head that the other means no harm when he yells at him or gives him the classic "Shut up Yamaguchi," but he can't help but think otherwise.
The next day it was the usual walk to school, Yamaguchi and Tsukishima meeting at the point where their paths to school intercepted. Tsuki, as always, had his headphones on, some tune playing in his ears while Yamaguchi just walked beside him, usually talking about anything and everything. But today, he was quiet. Grumbling the taller of the two took his headphones off and blatantly asked, "What is it?" "I- wait, what?" the other stammered, pulling his mind from his thoughts. "You're quite so something is obviously wrong."
"Oh...uh, yeah. I don't feel too great today." The blond only then realized the condition his friend was in. Hair a mess, more than usual, the look of a sleepless night etched on his face, his arms crossed across his chest and almost curling into himself. He was also sniffling and looked cold. "Did you stay up all night again," Tsukishima asked, his voice mostly monotoned? "No! No, I just couldn't sleep. It was cold on the way home and I didn't feel good once I got back. I forgot my sweater last night and I had already left your house so I just thought I mind as well walkabout. I woke up late this morning and was rushing out the door so I forgot my sweater again."
Rambling on the shorter boy was surprised when Tsukishima threw his bookbag in the other's arms, pulling his own hoodie over his head and taking his bookbag back, tossing his sweater in Yamaguchi's face. "W-wh-" "If you get sick before our game with Nekoma and bail I'm going to kill you. Just give it back when you come over this weekend." Slipping on Tsukishima's hoodie it hung loosely over his shoulders, the sleeves falling over the ends of his hand, and bottom hem stretching far past his hips. "Thank you Tsukki"
The rest of the day Yamaguchi spent overthinking why Tsukishima gave him his sweater while leaning his head on his hand. To anyone else, it looked like he was relaxing and paying attention, but the sleeve wrapped around his hand smelt like Kei and Yamaguchi didn't realize how much he enjoyed its constant presence till today. Sure he knew his friend more than anyone else and Tsuki didn't hang out with many other people, but he couldn't help but think he was only a burden to the taller boy. But really, think about it. He only comes over when they have volleyball or he is helping Yam's study, he doesn't start many conversations, they rarely text outside of the general conversation every few days, despite the boy constantly on his phone. Would Tsuki even notice if I wasn't there?
On the way home, Tsukishima's headphones in their usual place over his ears, and Yamaguchi following him close behind, he put his question to the test. About halfway to their parting point, where Tsukishima was left to walk the rest of the way home and Yamaguchi went down his street, the shorter of the two stopped. Standing there, in the middle of the side street they walked on, Yamaguchi watched his as best friend continue to walk as if nothing had changed.
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Words: 1000
