Take Me Home (Tendou x Reader)

Chapter 41

It didn't take long to find the obviously unused corner in your father's closet and you pulled out some pants and a shirt. You tried to leave everything the same way you had found it and hoped no one would notice.

You opened the bathroom door just enough for you to put your arm holding the clothes inside and waited for Tendou to take them from you. It didn't take long before you felt the weight of the clothes leave your hand and you closed the door again.

Before you left you called out to him. "When you're done, take your wet clothes and come to my room okay? We'll talk there."

"... Okay." He responded, his voice barely audible through the closed door.

You hurried downstairs to the kitchen and put on a kettle before opening the fridge and realizing you had never returned to the konbini to buy food.

You rummaged through the cabinets and were happy to find a stray bag of chips. After grabbing two mugs and some tea, you took the kettle and went back upstairs.

As you reached the top of the stairs, you almost bumped into Tendou as he was on his way to your room.

Without saying a word he took the mugs from your hands, making it easier for you to carry the rest. He opened the door for you as well and put the mugs on the side table after you had done the same with the rest.

You made the both of you a cup of tea and sat down on the side of your bed. You patted the spot beside you, indicating Tendou to sit down as well.

As it remained quiet still, you decided to try and get the conversation going yourself. "If you feel comfortable telling me, I would like to listen to what happened."

He kept his gaze locked on his hands in his lap and you put your own hand on to of them in what you hoped was a reassuring gesture.

"I told them I'm not going to college." He started and you listened attentively. "They got angry, telling me how ungrateful I was, that they worked their asses off to be able to send me to Shiratorizawa. My dad said he didn't need a drop-out around and told me that I could go and pack my stuff and leave if I didn't plan on going to college. So I did."

You supposed that was only the gist of what had transpired but didn't press any further on the subject. Instead, you had something else that you were wondering about.

"Tendou, I'm merely asking out of curiosity, I'm not judging you or trying to change your mind or anything. Why don't you want to go to college?" You asked him, hoping he trusted you enough to open up.

You immediately saw his eyes waver and realization dawned on you that you may have discovered the real problem. You squeezed his hand gently and were about to tell him to forget about it when he turned to look at you.

There was a great deal of turmoil in his eyes and the way he looked at you made your heart ache.

"Shiratorizawa was a fluke." He stated and you could only wait for him to explain further, because his words didn't make a lot of sense in your mind.

"When I go to college, or when I get a job... Wherever I go from here on out it's going to be the same. There won't be a volleyball club or karaoke nights or... you. It was all too good to be true, it was just a taste of something that wasn't meant for me. From here on out my life is going to go back to what it's supposed to be. Just like in junior high or elementary school." You noticed his voice started breaking and you couldn't let him continue.

You lifted both your hands to rest on his cheeks. "Tendou, listen to me. You are wrong. Those days are behind you. If you want to go back to how it was back in elementary school, you're going to have to fight for it, cause everything is different now. You have so many friends, guys who know who you really are and adore you for it. Sure everyone might be going their own ways, but they're all just a phone call away.