The Stars (Yamaguchi x Tsukishima / Yamaguchi x Kageyama) -Haikyu!!-

Chapter 3 - Soggy Fries -

The new cafe looked amazing. It's painted with vibrant yellow and white colors with lights hanging from the ceiling and walls. Only a few people are there, mostly adults and a few students working on their assignments. Tsukki would like it here. Yamaguchi thought to himself.

Yamaguchi ordered some soggy fries and a Strawbery parfait while Kageyema ordered a plain milkshake. Of course, he did.

When their food arrives the freckled boy suddenly remembered that not everyone is as fond as him of soggy fries. "I'm sorry." Yamaguchi looked down. "I'll order crispy ones."

As the freckled boy stood up Kagayema grabbed his hands. "It's fine, I like soggy fries too," Kageyama said grabbing a handly of fries with his other have, shoving them into his mouth. "You have great taste," The last words were barely audible because of the food that was in his mouth.

"Hey, you almost ate it all." The freckled boy sat down.

Kagayema swallowed the fries in his mouth before smirking. "I'm sorry." 

Yamaguchi pouted. "It's fine,"  His pout turned to a smile. "You seem hungry anyway and it's the least I could do."

The King's expressions are a bit scary and too intense sometimes but after spending some time with him alone, Yamaguchi realized he's not that bad. If it wasn't for Tsukishima they would have probably gotten along earlier too.

The freckled boy's last words rang inside Kageyama's head. Least I could do. He ponders on what he means. He probably just misheard it so he chose to ignore it. Yamaguchi leans his chin on his hand, staring at the parfait as he used his other hands to slowly stirs it with a heart-shaped spoon. His parfait was still untouched.

"Do you like strawberries?" Kageyama said rubbing the back of his head. Before Yamaguchi can answer a thought came to his mind. Do I like Strawberries?  A simple question but for some reason, Yamaguchi struggled to answer it. The words wouldn't come out. Why did he order the strawberry flavored dessert? Does he even like them? Strawberries are Tsukki's favorite. 

When they are in a cafe or a restaurant, he often gets what Tsukki orders. In fact, without Tsukki, he realized he doesn't like it. He slowly shook his head and without question, Kageyama offered to trade food with him. Yamaguchi was shocked, he never thought he saw the day the King would offer his milk to some lowly peasant like him.

"This is not bad," Kageyama said as he ate the parfait. "A little too sweet though." The freckled boy is happy that he's enjoying it but for him, he just realized that most of his likes and dislikes are because of Tsukki.

He realized why he began liking soggy fries so much in the first place. Tsukishima would often offer him leftover fries when they were kids. Yamaguchi doesn't even like Strawberry or sweet stuff that much but he ordered them anyway because he wants to be like Tsukki in order to not be lame.

Tsukishima played a big part in his life. They've been together for as long as he can remember and the fact that he can lose him to someone else horrified him. Just like that, tears suddenly dripped from the freckled boy's cheeks. When Kageyama noticed this, he dropped his spoon and looked around franticly.

Not knowing what to do, he tried texting Tsukishima, even though he doesn't want to talk to the "bean pole". It took a while before Tsukishima read his chat and of course, the tall guy mocked him at the first chance he got.

"God damn it! Meet me at the new Cafe! Yamaguchi needs help! Now!" - Kagayema.

"What!? Ugh. Fine. I'll be there." - Tsukishima.

As they wait for Tsukishima, Yamaguchi continued to cry. Kegayema sat next to him and tried to gently pat Yamaguchi's back in an effort to comfort him. He was whistling while his eyes looked around, trying to search for anything that can help him. His other hand was slowly patting the freckled boy's head.

Yamaguchi slightly lifts his head. He was confused and was shocked to see Kageyama's face. He couldn't tell if he was helping him or if he needed help himself because his face screams "I'm constipated."

"What are you doing?" The freckled boy asked.

"Being, normal."

The freckled boy suddenly chuckled. The King raised his eyebrow, wondering why he started laughing but his just relief that he stopped crying. "Did the milkshake taste that bad?" Kageyama said. "It's not expired, is it? Where's the manager!?"

Kageyama stood up searching around for the one in charge. Yamaguchi turned his head to him, he can tell he was serious. "No, it's not bad it's good." He smiled at him, reaching out for his hands to stop him from turning into a Karen. "Thank you, Kageyama."

He didn't know why but seeing Yamaguchi's smile that moment and hearing his soft voice calmed him down. The freckled boy realized he was still holding The King's hands. They both let go of each other's hands, turning away their faces from each other. 

Finally, Tsukki arrived still in his school uniform. He saw the tear marks on Yamaguchi's face. "Oi, what did you do King?" He glared at him.

Kageyama glared back at him. "Nothing." He said. "Why aren't you with him anyway?"

"It's none of your business, King."

"Tsukki, please be nice," Yamaguchi said. 

Tsukishima turned to him. "Shut up, Yamaguchi." He said, with a pitch of anger in his voice. Different from the monotone delivery he usually does. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you went home already?"

Before Yamaguchi can speak, Kageyama interrupted him. "We just wanted something to eat," He said still glaring at him. "What's wrong with that?"

Tsukishima wore a smug look on his face. "I'm pretty sure you forced him to treat you, huh?" He said grabbing the freckled boy's hand and pulling him to his side. "Is that why he cried? Because he can't take the sound of your stupid voice anymore?"

"Why you-" Before Kageyama can talk back,

"You're wrong!" Yamaguchi shouted breaking free from Tsukishima's grip. "I was the one who invited him here, okay? He didn't force me or anything." 

The people in the cafe were staring at them. Tsukishima clicked his tongue. "Whatever." He said before walking out.

"Tsukki, wait!" The freckled boy run after him. "Bye Kageyama," Yamaguchi waved goodbye leaving Tobio alone in the Cafe. He waved back at him before grabbing the unfinished milkshake. 

"Damn, this is good." He said to himself. 

Outside, Tsukishima walked at a fast pace leaving Yamaguchi behind. He couldn't see his friend's face but he can tell he was angry.

"Why were you really with the King?" Tsukki stopped in his tracks before turning to the freckled boy. He looked irritated more than usual.

"Well-"

"You know what, I don't care." He said before Yamaguchi can finish. He started to walk fast again. "Go hang out with other people for all I care.". His voice felt colder than usual.

Yamaguchi tried to catch up to him, begging him to wait up.  He noticed a familiar figure ahead of them, waiting and waving at them. Suddenly heard a familiar voice shout at them in their direction. It was Kuroo.

"How are you, Yamaguchi? You okay?" Kuroo asked. The freckled boy just nodded his head. "You really made Kei worried you know. He was basically panicking, it's pretty cu-"

"Shut up, Kuroo ". Kuroo went to Tsukishima, wrapping his arm around the tall blonde.

The two walked ahead while Yamaguchi walks behind them. Not so far that they'll notice but close enough to see them. The two were basically flirting along the way to Tsukishima's house and Yamaguchi was the unfortunate third wheel. Tsukishima's house was just a few minutes away but it felt like hours for the freckled boy.

How he wished he had headphones that night to block their noise from his head.

- TO BE CONTINUED -