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It has been two days since they started training camp.
[Name] had been helping Kiyoko around with making meals as her way of contributing to the team. The two have also made it a way of getting to know each other more, even going to the point of letting each other call the other by their first names.
Since Kiyoko wasn't staying in their venue for training camp, [Name] was alone for the morning. She had planned already to cook some meals for the boys. The girl also wanted to make some sweets, but sadly, she wasn't well equipped to do that yet.
While silently humming to herself, the girl heard the door open.
"[Surname]?"
[Name], without looking at the boy, greeted him.
"Good morning, Yamaguchi."
"Good morning, [Surname]."
The girl stopped beating the eggs for a moment and faced the freckled boy.
"You're up pretty early. Did someone kick you in your sleep?"
Tadashi laughed at the girl and shook his head.
"I just couldn't get back to sleep. Also, they'll wake up soon, I think."
"Mm."
[Name] lit up the stove and prepared to cook enough eggs for the whole team. Tadashi went to her side and watched as she poured the egg on the pan.
"Do you need any help?" Tadashi asked, offering his assistance.
"No, it's okay. You have a big day ahead. Today's the practice match with Nekoma, right?"
"But I'd feel bad if I just let you do the work. Besides, I'm not gonna play later."
The girl faced the freckled boy and glared at him a little. She took the clean wooden spatula that was on the counter and softly hit his head with it.
"Don't be that negative. You might now play against them today, but in another match with them, perhaps in an official one, you might. Who knows?"
Tadashi smiled at the girl as she continued to cook after scolding him.
"Alright Miss Manager. You really sure I can't do anything?"
"I'm sure you can," [Name] said, smiling as she flipped the egg on the pan. "But I won't let you. Having company is already good for me. If you don't want to go somewhere else for now, you can chat with me for a while."
Tadashi nodded, not really wanting to walk around yet.
"You know, we've really gotten closer during the times you ate lunch and walked home with us. But, I don't think I really know you that much."
"You want to know more about me?" the girl asked, confused with the sudden topic.
"Well, we're friends, right?"
The boy suddenly felt nervous that the girl might not actually consider him as a friend despite all the times they hang out.
"Of course we are, Yamaguchi!"
[Name] smiled at him then went back to cooking the other meals.
"I've never really been the type to have many friends. Honestly, I grew up with only Tsukki as my friend, I think. So, I don't really know how to make friends," Tadashi said. The boy then felt embarrassed that he said those things.
"Well then, why don't we start with calling each other by their names?"
"What do you mean?" Tadashi asked, confused.
"I'm saying that you can call me by [Name]."
Tadashi's eyes widened at what she said.
"You sure about that?"
"Well, yeah. If there's anyone here that I'm gonna be the closest with, it'd come down to you or the giraffe."
"I-If that's the case, then you can call me Tadashi!"
"Mm! I'll do that, Tadashi-kun!"
The two then talked about other things such as what they really liked and hated. As the two talked, Tadashi got curious about how the girl felt about someone in particular.
"[Name]-chan," he said, grabbing the girl's attention.
"What is it Tadashi-kun?"
"What do you think of Tsukki?"
[Name] lost composure for a second before quickly brushing it off with a laugh. The girl couldn't help but blush at the thought of the tall blond.
"What do I think of Tsukishima? Um." [Name] turned off the pan and finished setting up the meals that she cooked.
"First of all, I think he's really mean! He always loves to insult my height and he doesn't miss a chance to annoy me!"
Tadashi couldn't help but laugh at the pout that [Name] had on her face the moment she stopped talking. Her expression, however, changed and he noticed how it suddenly turned into a soft expression, with her lips turning into a small smile.
"But, there are times where he's really kind. He knows when to hold back his attitude and comfort someone. Although he really isn't the touchy type of comfort, you can feel that he cares. He's also really thoughtful. These parts of him aren't really that evident, but the moment you see past all that salt and sass, you really see a different version of him. One that'd make you curious to know more."
[Name] realized just how much of her emotions she let out. She immediately covered her face with her hands as she felt the blush creeping to her face.
"Do you-Ah no. Nevermind."
[Name] looked at Tadashi who was surprised by how pink her cheeks were. The boy then decided to continue his question, but with an assumption in mind.
"You like Tsukki, don't you?"
The girl placed her right hand on the counter, looking down, as her left hand brushed the top part of her hair. She leaned her head back before sighing and turning towards her companion.
"It's that obvious, huh?"
"O-Oh! Not really! I just kind of assumed because of how you described him. I'm sorry, [Name]-chan!"
Tadashi bowed towards the girl who was laughing to herself.
"You don't have to apologize. Let's just keep it a secret though, alright?" the girl said, placing her index finger in front of her lips.
"Okay."
[Name] arranged the meals on the tables, preparing to wake up the team in five minutes. Before she did though, she wanted to ask Tadashi one more thing.
"Tadashi-kun."
"Yeah?"
"Does Tsukishima like anyone?"
[Name] looked at the boy who was chuckling in a nervous fashion to himself while his hand was on his nape.
"So he does, huh? Never really pegged him as the type to like someone."
[Name] couldn't hide the sad tone that came with what she said. The girl slapped her own cheeks softly three times before returning the smile that was on her face just moments ago.
"We should start waking the others so you could all get warmed up as soon as possible."
The girl started to walk towards the door until Tadashi called to her attention.
"Don't worry about the girl he likes. She won't take him away from you," he said, wanting to assure her.
"Don't be silly. I don't care about that stuff. All I want is for him to be happy. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll wash up just a little bit. Can you start on calling the others to breakfast? That'd be a big help. Thank you."
[Name] didn't even wait for the boy to respond. As soon as she gave her orders, she bolted to the nearest comfort room and locked herself in. The girl clutched the sink as she stared at the mirror in front of her.
"I look like shit."
The girl laughed at her own reflection as her tears threatened to fall.
"What was I even expecting anyway? It's not as if he'd pick me. I should've trashed these feelings before it grew."
[Name] couldn't hold back her own tears anymore. As they fell to the sink, soft hiccups echoed in the room.
'Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.'
It was supposed to be a little crush only. Why did she let herself fall deeper than she should've? She reached the point where she started wanting to have him for herself. But, he liked someone.
And that wasn't her.
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