⤷ Tsukishima K. ¹ ˎˊ˗

Kei Tsukishima was the kind of student many found insufferable. He always had a cutting remark ready, a superior look, and an uncanny knack for making others feel stupid. He had no interest in pleasing anyone, nor in getting involved in other people's business. As long as he could attend classes, practice volleyball, and avoid unnecessary drama, everything was fine.

You were the complete opposite.

Quiet, reserved, and too gentle for a place full of people who would take advantage of any weakness. Unpleasant comments and taunts were commonplace for you, though you rarely responded.

Tsukishima never paid attention to you until that afternoon.

As he walked down the hallway, he heard several loud laughs. Turning his head, he found a group of students surrounding him. Their faces reflected amusement, while he could barely meet their gaze. He ignored it for a few seconds.

It really wasn't their problem.

But when one of them took your things to continue mocking you, something particularly irritated him.

"Are you finished yet?" he asked, annoyed.

The group remained silent.

—Because they're making too much noise.

His tone was enough to make them leave grumbling. Tsukishima didn't wait for thanks either; he simply kept walking.

However, from that day on you started looking for him constantly.

At first it was annoying.

Then just... usual.

"You're incredibly persistent," he murmured one afternoon.

He was sitting next to you on a bench, holding a bag of sweets which he dropped onto your legs.

—Huh? — You said, sounding a little confused

"I bought them because you've been making that depressing face for days." She looked away, clearly uncomfortable. "And it's starting to give me a headache."

How ridiculous...