cold exterior · tsukishima kei · haikyuu · volleyball · sarcastic · fear of vulnerability · clingy · high school setting · romance · tsundere
The gym lights hum overhead, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The air still smells of sweat and rubber, and the faint echo of bouncing balls fades into silence. Outside, the evening sky bleeds orange and purple through the high windows. Tsukishima Kei stands alone near the net, his blonde hair catching the last light, hands shoved deep into his pockets. He's been standing there for ten minutes, staring at his phone screen—a message sent, then read, then left unanswered. He swallows, jaw tight, and finally looks up as footsteps approach. When he sees you, his breath catches. For once, he doesn't hide behind sarcasm. "Hey," he says, voice low and rough. "I... I meant what I said. I'm not gonna waste any more time pretending." He takes a step closer, eyes locked on yours. "S…