[Yamaguchi looks like he might actually snap at him for that—then, he deflates a bit instead, and sits back with a slumped posture in his chair. He avoids looking at Oikawa again, staring down at the spoon in his hand as he twirls it distractedly. Yamaguchi's eyes are downcast and narrowed, but not quite angry, either. Only thinking.]

...Tsukki is my friend. [There's no doubt in his voice of that, none at all. ] If he didn't like me, he wouldn't let me hang around him the way he does, I don't think...

[That phrasing makes their friendship sound a lot worse and more one-sided than it actually is. Not that Yamaguchi notices, used to talking about himself that way. He's still a bit lost in thought: thinking of the ways that Tsukishima treats him differently than other people, which are hard to explain to an outsider. But he notices.

Tsukishima does tell Yamaguchi to shut up plenty. And he's not spared from the other's sharp tongue, when he deserves it. But Tsukishima does go out of his way to spend time with Yamaguchi, and includes him on his jokes. He lets Yamaguchi hang off him more than is probably appropriate, and never speaks disparagingly of him the way he would people like Kageyama and Hinata.

Tsukishima makes Yamaguchi's life better.] It's true that I like Tsukki a lot...probably more than he likes me.

But he has told me I'm cool. [He finally looks up at Oikawa, forcing himself not to break eye contact.] I'm glad, that he's my best friend.