VII.

Mikazuki blinked in surprise when she saw him present at the cafe. After what she had given to him earlier, she's now confused on what attitude she should blend. She saw the white box of strawberry shortcake she baked exclusively for him, his fingers secured on the red ribbon. She don't know why but she didn't like the idea of her getting on his line of sight.

Reina welcomed and assisted him to his seat then spared a glance at Mikazuki as if gauging her reaction, who rewarded her a blank gaze then returned to her business which is to wipe the tables assigned to her.

A few moments later, Reina approached her with a tray of au lait, chinaware, flatware and a knife. She reached out the tray to the younger female but she just gawked at it with an arched brow.

"Go and serve this to that blonde boy," She ordered which made Mikazuki frown in dismay.

"Why is it always me who serves that guy?" She asked. They sure are sadists.

Reina shrugged, a smile spread its way to her youthful face. "Well, he kinda asked me to. He wants to talk to you as well."

Her breath hitched at the statement. What did Tsukishima wanted to discuss with her?

Nodding with a sigh, she grabbed the tray and marched to his table. And she saw him, headphones on and staring at the scenery of the night sky.

She stopped by just in front of him just to gain his attention. As she had settled the things he had ordered, she couldn't help but glance at the box on his table. And he watched her the whole time as she did so.

Why did he also ordered two plates and forks? And what is he using a knife for? Is he waiting for someone in particular? That would be the first time.

She shrugged the thought off her body. She didn't care about his business.

She baked that cake for a reason. And that is to retaliate for whatever she had done to him. She wouldn't risk getting fired so might as well get her attitude in check.

"You wanted to talk to me, sir?" She asked softly and she could swear the cringing of her insides at the tone. Tsukishima might have felt the same way for he grimaced at the female standing in front of him.

"Will you stop that behavior? It gives me the creeps." Tsukishima complained with a scowl which made the waitress' expression turn murderous but he seemed to care less. He gestured towards the chair across from him. "Sit." He deadpanned.

"I'm not a dog." She murmured to herself with an eye roll but nonetheless, she obeyed.

Tsukishima stared at her like she had dirt on her face. She did the same but she eventually lost because she was the one who first averted the gaze.

He's the creepy one in here. She thought.

"Will you explain to me why..." He trailed off then pointed the box with his honey brown eyes. "you gave this to me?" He arched an eyebrow in question.

"Today is National Jerk's Day so I baked your favorite."

Instead of taking offense, Tsukishima leaned on his seat with crossed arms, lips twitched up into an amused smirk much to Mikazuki's confusion.

"So you knew that strawberry shortcake is my favorite?" He asked with a mischievous tone.

Mikazuki felt like slapping herself.

"Shit," She cursed under her breath as she looked away, feeling her blood left her body and focused on to one area - her face.

"Who would have thought that you had the hots for me?" Tsukishima chuckled then proceeded to unbox the strawberry shortcake.

"I'm going back to work." She muttered then motioned to stand up but Tsukishima arrested her actions with his firm statement.

"Hey, you're going to help me finish this."

She stopped short as those words reached her ears and she stared at him with unbelievable eyes. "What? Why me?"

"Considering that you caused me the trouble of bringing this all the way to my house, I'd rather eat it here and now." He explained as he stared at her with an impassive facade.

Mikazuki frowned. "That didn't answer my question."

"It might be poisoned--"

"Seriously?"

"and you're going to have the first taste in assurance." He smirked as he detached the dessert from the container. It contained the same strawberry shortcake she baked for him, the same way before. "My teammates even teased me about it, didn't you know how embarrassing that was? It took my all not to throw up."

"Baking that cake for you was already embarrassing enough so why not go all the way? And wow! I'm absolutely ashamed for you, Tsukishima! So ashamed!"

"Whatever."

"You will treat him with hospitality and respect, just like how most waitresses do to their beloved customers." Tora's statement suddenly flashed in her mind.

"Whatever." She mimicked his voice. "Is this even part of my job?" She asked herself which made the male roll his eyes.

"Yeah, and right now your job is to help me eat this cake."

With a scowl, she snatched the knife on the table and took a big slice of the cake. Occupying her seat once again, she used the fork to take a bite of the dessert.

I have to admit, this tastes really good.

Tsukishima took a sip of his au lait and watched her as she ate and that didn't take to long enough for her to notice.

"What are you looking at?" She asked as she took a bite of a strawberry.

He handed her a napkin. "Wipe your mouth, it has icing on it."

"Shut up." She took the napkin and proceeded to wipe the excess icing on her mouth. And she just noticed that he wasn't taking a piece for himself. "Hey, why am I the only one eating?" She asked with a frown.

"Later."

"There would be nothing left later." She said as she took another forkful of the cake.

"Didn't you know that gluttony is a sin?"

Mikazuki popped a vein then as fast as the lightning, she poked his face with icing and that took him by utter surprise and irritation.

"How childish." He murmured as he wiped his cheek with a napkin, seeing his glasses also stained with icing added oil to the fire.

"See? It tastes good, right?" She smirked in delight at the male's irritated face. To annoy him even more, she took a forkful of the cake and hovered it to his mouth. "Have a taste for yourself."

She knew that he wouldn't even dare touch the fork she used, eat the food on it even. And he knew what ran through her mind. And to get back to her, he took a bite of the cake on her fork, much to her shock.

His previous action caught her off guard, her breath hitched at the new sensation slowly coming in her system, that all seemed too familiar to her. She held her chest as if something blocked access of oxygen, she tried to control the pattern of her breaths, her eyes started to get glassy as she did so. With her free hand covering her mouth, she dropped the fork and stood up from her seat, taking Tsukishima by surprise and confusion. But what surprised him even more was when he saw a single crystallized bead roll down her cheek.

"I'm sorry..." She muttered through her hand then turned on her heels and ran away to the locker room, leaving the blonde middle blocker with mixed emotions.

Aoi watched the whole scene with a blank expression, a facade she shows only when she witnesses her friend experience breakdowns.

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I noticed that there are only very few of MikaShima scenes so I devoted a whole chapter for it... only for it to end her getting a panic attack. :3 It's your fault, Tsukki ;.;

I quite get the hang of third person's pov so I might as well continue it! Do you guys love Tsukki? I do too LOL so I apologize if he's OOC :'3 and I also apologize if there are grammatical/typographical errors, I didn't proofread this :3

Thank you for reading! 💕