Chapter Text
Yamaguchi was supposed to buy eggs, and then go straight home. Which was exactly what he’d planned on doing.
And he had for the most part. Gone to buy the eggs, that is. Making sure he got just the right brand because his mother insisted on using those particular ones, declaring that her cakes only deserved the highest quality of ingredients.
Because her cakes were, as everyone knew, spectacular.
Apparently, it was how his parents had met. And had, by default, fallen in love.
“The best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
That’s what his mom always said.
Yamaguchi wondered if that worked with women too. Because if it did then he’d definitely need to learn how to cook better. What was easier, cooking or baking? He wasn’t really sure. From watching his mom, both looked really really hard.
He sighed. There was no point in cooking if he couldn’t even talk to the girl he liked.
Well…he could if he wanted. Tsukki had gotten her number for him. Had said the first years should all have each other’s contacts in case of anything. Had even held in his grimace while Kageyama punched his number into Tsukki’s phone, and Hinata typed it in with greasy fingers.
And with trembling hands Yamaguchi had typed his number into Yachi’s white phone that had a cute little bunny charm hanging from the top. Did she like bunnies, then?
Maybe he could bake her a cupcake? And add little bunny ears? His mom probably knew how to do something like that.
He blushed at the thought. If he told his mom there’d be no end to it. She’d probably already start planning their wedding.
My boy is such a catch!
That’s what his mom would say.
Which was beyond embarrassing. Because there were a lot of better people out there. People who didn’t get all nervous when talking, and who had real skill.
Yamaguchi was just positively average. Even his status was average.
Not that he hated it, exactly. And it’s not like he’d ever expected to present as an alpha or anything like that. But he’d always assumed he would’ve presented as an omega. He’d just always grown up with that mentality. Had accepted it. Was ready for it to happen. And then he’d have an alpha to take care of him. Male or Female, he didn’t particularly mind. So long as he loved them, and they loved him back.
But he wasn’t an omega.
He was a beta. So life just…went on as usual. Well, except where Tsukki was concerned. Talk about surprises.
Yamaguchi was positive Tsukki was going to be a beta. And if that didn’t happen, then his friend would have definitely presented as an alpha instead. Because Tsukki just had a way of making people move out of his way with a single glare. It was something Tadashi always admired, but knew he’d never achieve.
So, when Tsukki was presented as an omega…
It was…weird at best.
Not that their friendship changed in any way. Yamaguchi tried to be as supportive as possible. But the thing with Tsukki is that he never asks for help. And it takes a whole hell of a lot to figure out when to offer and how to offer in a way that wouldn’t piss the omega off. But by now he was used to it. And those beta patches worked wonders for Kei. And if Kei was happy then that was all that really mattered.
Which was why Yamaguchi supported Kuroo one hundred percent. Because although he hadn’t seen them interact all that much, they were interacting. Which was a pretty huge step as far as Tsukishima was concerned.
He wondered how today was going for them. Because for them to go on a date was one thing. For them to go to Mouse Land was another thing entirely. And for Tsukki to agree to something like that—no, to suggest it—
Tsukki liked Kuroo. That’s all there was to it. And really, Tsukki should consider himself lucky. Because it really wasn’t all that easy to find someone you like, let alone someone that likes you back. And then you know, getting the courage to go and talk to said person.
Life just wasn’t easy that way. Yamaguchi knew that. Was totally ok with that. It's just how things were, he guessed. It’s not like he was going to run into her on the way home or anything like that. So he’d just carefully carry these eggs, and make sure he made it in time to practice his serve some more before the sun went down.
Which totally would have happened.
Except he ran into Yachi on the way home.
Well, not literally, but she was at the park he passed by, and he tightened his hold on the eggs, wondering if he should maybe throw her a wave or something. But then he noticed she was in between two little kids, who seemed to be yelling at each other over something.
He shouldn’t go over there. She looked like she was dealing with something. He definitely, absolutely should not walk towards her. What would he even say? No, definitely not. He'd just end up making a mumbling mess of himself.
He went towards her.
Couldn't help it really. He just wanted to say hi. Because how often did things like this happen, really? He cleared his throat, hesitantly calling her name once he was close enough. But she was dealing with the two boys, so she didn’t hear him.
Be a man, Tadashi.
“U-Um! Yachi!?”
“—told you to share!”
Yamaguchi didn’t really remember much else after that, since he’d taken a toy truck to the face.
“Oh my god I’m so sorry! Oh my god! Yamaguchi!!!”
“H-Hi Yachi—”
“Oh my god are you ok! I didn’t— they’re just—Haru, Reiji! A-Apolgize!”
One of the little boys looked up at Yachi, before saying “But you were the one that hit him.”
Yachi paled, before turning bright red, and then facing Yamaguchi once again, who by now had his hand over his face.
“Ahh, it’s fine, don’t worry about it,” he told her, waving the other hand, “It’s a bad time,” he chuckled nervously, “Are those your brothers?”
“Cousins!” She said quickly, “I’m supposed to be taking care of them, but I think for the most part— ah wait your face! Please let me see. You’re not dizzy are you?”
Yamaguchi smiled weakly, before lowering his hand to allow her to see, cringing when she saw her gasp. “Ha…is it that bad?”
“You can’t go home like that! Ahh is there anyone who can take you?”
“I can walk—”
“Oh my gosh you can still see out of it right? Ice! We definitely need ice. Oh I know! Tsukishima-kun will know what to do!”
“He’s not really—”
She’d already pulled out her phone, shushing her cousins and telling them to play nice while she dealt with the situation.
“Sorry,” she said, the phone still ringing, “It’s the first time I’m taking care of them all on my own and—Tsukishima-kun!!”
Yamaguchi swallowed thickly, feeling horribly uneasy. He didn’t think he was bleeding or anything like that. But at the same time everything did feel sort of slow. Maybe he should have sat down...
“It’s Yamaguchi, he’s— well I didn’t know what to do! And I don’t— There’s a lot—- Ahh sorry sorry it just looks so bad!”
For some reason, it really bothered him that Yachi was talking to Tsukki so casually on the phone. Well, not that this was casual, exactly. But Tsukki was on a date of his own. So this was just bad time all around, no matter how you looked at it. With as much politeness as he could muster, he pried the phone away from Yachi.
“Ah, Tsukki, sorry to bother you.”
“What happened.” Always such a cold tone with him. As if he were trying to figure everything out. So Yamaguchi did the only thing he could: laugh nervously. “Nothing! Everything’s fine.”
“It’s not true,” Yachi said quickly, in a bit of a panic “His eye is completely—”
Yamaguchi chuckled again, trying to do his absolute best to diffuse the situation that shouldn’t have even been a situation to begin with. “It’s nothing to worry about. I sort of got punched but—”
“You got punched?” Tsukki said, “By who?”
Ah. That was definitely a poor choice of words. “I’ll explain later!” he rambled, “Please enjoy your date!” He then quickly hung up, turning to Yachi and giving her a lopsided smile before rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. Very awkwardly.
“Sorry about all that.” He stuttered.
“No! I should be the one apologizing—”
“It’s fine, really—”
“Let me make it up to you!”
Yamaguchi was about to tell her not to worry about it, but then he got to thinking. Because would it be so bad if he let her make it up to him? What would they do, exactly? That wouldn’t be such a bad thing, right? He could get to know her a little better that way. And she him. And then maybe…
Maybe…
“OK!”
Crap, did he just shout?
He probably did, considering how surprised she looked, and how red he felt. “I-I’ll take you up on it!” He corrected, “I mean. Y-You’re good with English so…I was wondering…if maybe…mymommakesgoodcakes! So if you ever wanted…tostudyatmyhouseorsomething…”
What the hell was he doing?
Yachi smiled shyly, giving him a hesitant nod. “Y-Yeah. T-That’s fine. Um, I have to go, the boys eat an early dinner…um…please put ice on your eye! When you get home! Are you sure you're ok on your own?”
Yamaguchi nodded, saying he was fine, and that he'd definitely put some ice to it, before the two parted ways.
His heart had never beat so fast.
He couldn’t calm down, his hands sweating even though the moment had already passed. If taking a truck to the face was what it took for him to get closer to Yachi then that was something he didn’t really mind. It hurt, sure, but the way his heart kept expanding and making his chest all tight and fluttery was well worth it.
And she was just so sweetly concerned over him. Of course, he knew that she would've been like that no matter who got hurt. That’s just the way she was. But that was what he liked the most about her. How genuinely kind she was. It was sort of hard to find these days. And even though he knew she was perfectly nice to everyone, and had anyone else been in his shoes, those events probably would have played out in the exact same way...there was a small part of Yamaguchi that hoped—really really hoped— she was stuttering as much as she was because it was him and not because of the wound itself.
But that was sort of a bad thing to think about.
Because when he did, he absolutely could not stop smiling.