[Oikawa smiles, almost sadly, without realising it. Because Yamaguchi's words make his heart skip a beat, except...]
Yama-chan. Don't go saying things that aren't true.
[He can't imagine that Yamaguchi isn't just trying to give him a compliment in return. That's one thing with doling out praises, he can keep his own thoughts straight by assuming that other people are being nice when they say something kind back. Because he's nothing like amazing. He's average at best and mean and irritating at worst. He's just lucky enough that some people stick around him even through that.]
the cutest most awkward triple dates in the history of volleyball
How come you think it's not, Oikawa-san!? [Still blushing, but now he looks upset and he's actually making eye contact. Because he isn't lying, and he doesn't understand why Oikawa of all people is either implying that Yamaguchi is, or worse, implying that Oikawa himself is anything less than amazing.
Yamaguchi may not like to admit it about a rival in volleyball, but Oikawa is unquestionably one of the coolest and most amazing people he's ever met. And that's only after having half a dessert with him. Yamaguchi does not have discerning taste.]
iwaizumi laughs every time yamaguchi says something nice about oikawa, it's adorable
I'm hardly amazing. [And he's feeling a little awkward pointing it out. It's obvious, and he would have thought Yamaguchi would have been able to see through his ridiculousness by now. He's not nice and he's not amazing either.
He dissects himself just as much as he does other people and as far as he's concerned he comes up lacking in every way. He works hard to change his flaws, but there are too may that he can't budge. Ironically, chronic self-depreciation is one of those and he can only mask it so much by pretending he's the best.
He probably shouldn't have said anything. If Yamaguchi's only still here because he's buying into Oikawa's act then he should have let him. Whether Yamaguchi likes Oikawa himself or not, Oikawa likes him and would miss him if he doesn't like Oikawa enough to stick around.]
these two have compatible self-esteem issues haha sob
[Oikawa busies himself with what remains of his bread. He's almost uncomfortable enough to say to hell with it and start dipping it in his milkshake but not quite.]
Yama-chan, please don't. [He can't articulate exactly what he wants Yamaguchi to stop doing but he definitely wants him to stop with something.]
[Oikawa doesn't exactly say "Shut up," but Yamaguchi hears it anyway. He snaps his mouth shut immediately, with a churning shame settling in the pit of his stomach, and ducks his head to avoid looking at Oikawa again.]
S-Sorry. Sorry. [Yamaguchi doesn't know what he's apologizing for, really, but he senses he's done something to upset the setter and he doesn't want to press his luck.]
[Yamaguchi fidgets, letting the silence stew for an uncomfortable moment longer before he blurts out,]
Was it something I said?? [He doesn't understand why Oikawa would suddenly go cold over being praised, even with his personality taken into account. It wasn't like Yamaguchi was lying to him!]
Not at all! I like the things you say. [Well that sure sounds like a lie. And it's the tipping point for tearing off a piece of his bread and wiping it around the foam at the top edge of his milkshake. Figures one piece like that can't hurt.]
I like you and I like talking to you, isn't that enough?
[He should have brushed Yamaguchi calling him amazing off with acceptance that he doesn't actually feel. Except, he really doesn't want Yamaguchi telling him things that aren't true like that. It makes him feel like more of a fraud than usual. He wants Yamaguchi to like him not some amazing guy he thinks Oikawa is. Of course, that's impossible, but he can't be rational about everything and cute boys are a very standard thing to not be rational about.]
[Now he's definitely sure he made a misstep somewhere. Yamaguchi's face falls and he resists the urge to shrink down in his seat. He'd make a note of what it was he said to avoid in the future, but the problem is that Oikawa isn't being clear on exactly what's bothering him. Or...he is, and Yamaguchi's just too dense to work it out.
That's another worrying thought. What if it's something obvious, and he's nonetheless just not getting it?]
[Yamaguchi all but recoils from those words as though he'd been slapped instead, his tense posture loosening to a slump as he lets his hands fall in his lap with his eyes resting firmly on the plate in front of him. It won't be enough, to stop Oikawa from already seeing the momentary flash of hurt and bewilderment on Yamaguchi's face before he looked away.]
Yes! R-Right, sorry!
Sorry... [Maybe it'll be better if he just. Shuts up. If Yamaguchi stops talking then there won't be anything he says to upset Oikawa at all, right?]
kid read this, is upset and has told me to "fix this", debating on whether to listen to her.
[He can't even be pleased that Yamaguchi didn't deny this is a date when he's looking like that.
He likes Yamaguchi's chatter, it's funny and interesting and a lot like what Oikawa does to fill silences. And he doesn't like whatever the hell this is. But he can't think of what to say. He should have stuck to dating girls he doesn't like.
Oikawa gently pushes his milkshake across the halfway point of the table. ]
[Yamaguchi glances up, looking at the milkshake first in bemusement and then slowly over at Oikawa. He can't read the setter's expression at all, and now that he messed up once he's nervous to try. Is Oikawa asking him to drink that?]
...?
nooo, don't be. she makes me cry every time we exchange headcanons, this is good payback
[They did say they would share. Oikawa's just entirely convinced Yamaguchi doesn't want to any more, so his milkshake will sit there, closer to Yamaguchi than Oikawa while Oikawa is entirely fascinated by his bread. Which is excellent and delicious and he likes a lot and is absolutely a better thing to be looking at than the cute boy sitting opposite him who is probably one step away from going home.]
how did this schmoopy date thread even reach these levels of sad I DON'T KNOW
[He's more than a little afraid to open his mouth at this point, but after a few more stubborn minutes of silence Yamaguchi feels he's going to burst if he doesn't ASK the question that's been burning on his mind.]
[Things are going well! He hasn't opened his mouth to say something upsetting for a little while and his bread is almost entirely eate- he inhales a piece. Why does Yamaguchi have to catch him off guard by being blunt? A brief splutter to eject it from his lungs later, he manages an embarrassed smile.]
[Yamaguchi is horrified, nearly toppling his chair over in his haste to stand up so he can get to the other side of the table. He frantically tries to assess the setter's condition choking on his bread in an effort to help. Is Oikawa choking to death? Can he not breathe?? ...Okay, now he's breathing, but for how long!? Is he going to live...?]
Are you sure you're all right!? [PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T DIE ON HIM. The last thing Yamaguchi needs is to come under suspicion for accidentally murdering Seijou's setter while they're out on a–
oops, he said it again and of course Yamaguchi feels the adrenaline cooling in his system just in time for the blood to rush back to his face. which (naturally) starts the embarrassing transition from sheet-white to pink, again.]
Y-You, um, really don't need to call it that...! [at least you're not dead, sob]
[God damn it. He'd thought - hell. At this point he has no idea what he thought. That Yamaguchi was just shy, that once he got used to Oikawa giving him attention he'd want Oikawa to take him on another one and then...
But he keeps reading him wrong. Which is just another point against Oikawa getting attached to people. He likes Yamaguchi too much to make him happy, apparently.]
I want it to be a date, Yamaguchi. But if you really don't want it to be, I can stop.
[For a minute, Yamaguchi simply stares at him, blushing and wide-eyed with disbelief. Self-awareness returns and he quickly looks away again, expression giving way to one that's torn and painfully insecure. It's really difficult to find the words to speak, because Yamaguchi's not sure what he wants his answer to be. He's scared of any outcome that could come from this, and doesn't miss (in his anxious thoughts) how Oikawa called him by his full name again like he's being serious.
…Is Oikawa being serious? Is he really?
…Does Yamaguchi want him to be?]
Um…I'm… [focus. think of it like the nerves before a volleyball match. crap. no. anything but that. something nonthreatening! maybe if he pretends like he's explaining it second to someone like Ennoshita, or Shimada– ] …I'm not really certain yet, if I want guys in the same way as I do girls. And I don't know what kind of motivation a person like you could have, to want to go on a date with me, Oikawa-san…it's not something I'd probably be very good at, either…
But… If you really feel that way…then I…w-well…!! [MAYBE, SORT OF, KIND OF, THINKS HE WOULD POSSIBLY WANT THAT AS WELL]
Yamaguchi still thinks he might be joking? Oikawa talked to him over text for a week straight - constantly throwing in blatant flirting - invited him out for lunch, calling it a date the entire time, to a very pink cafe intended for couples, made Yamaguchi eat off his spoon and Yamaguchi still doubts that Oikawa could be serious about his intentions.
He probably brought that on himself, if he's honest.
Not seeing why Oikawa might be interested in him in the first place is harder to grasp. Oikawa gave him a list! It nearly killed Yamaguchi but that only goes to show he listened as Oikawa gave it.
But... That's a yes, right? Or one step away from it. Among Yamaguchi's stumbling to lower Oikawa's expectations and his self-depreciating comments, he's building up to a yes?
Apart from gambits to get Iwaizumi to admit he cares about Oikawa, he's never actually put himself in a position like this. And with Iwaizumi he already knew he cares. He can't says he likes the change, even serving on the court he's more relaxed than this.
His mouth twitches into what might be a sincere or hopeful smile but the emotion is foreign enough that he's sure it looks like his previous choking has taken a bigger toll.]
I really do feel this way, so...?
[He realises, awkwardly, Yamaguchi feeling the same is irrelevant to his desire to spend time with him. Even if Yamaguchi did say he didn't want it to be a date, that he really is one hundred percent straight, Oikawa would still flirt and try and take him out on not-dates, perfectly happy with the idea that Yamaguchi will never fall for him.]
There's no way he would. Iwaizumi would have to follow them with it.
Yama-chan. Don't go saying things that aren't true.
[He can't imagine that Yamaguchi isn't just trying to give him a compliment in return. That's one thing with doling out praises, he can keep his own thoughts straight by assuming that other people are being nice when they say something kind back. Because he's nothing like amazing. He's average at best and mean and irritating at worst. He's just lucky enough that some people stick around him even through that.]
the cutest most awkward triple dates in the history of volleyball
How come you think it's not, Oikawa-san!? [Still blushing, but now he looks upset and he's actually making eye contact. Because he isn't lying, and he doesn't understand why Oikawa of all people is either implying that Yamaguchi is, or worse, implying that Oikawa himself is anything less than amazing.
Yamaguchi may not like to admit it about a rival in volleyball, but Oikawa is unquestionably one of the coolest and most amazing people he's ever met. And that's only after having half a dessert with him.
Yamaguchi does not have discerning taste.]iwaizumi laughs every time yamaguchi says something nice about oikawa, it's adorable
He dissects himself just as much as he does other people and as far as he's concerned he comes up lacking in every way. He works hard to change his flaws, but there are too may that he can't budge. Ironically, chronic self-depreciation is one of those and he can only mask it so much by pretending he's the best.
He probably shouldn't have said anything. If Yamaguchi's only still here because he's buying into Oikawa's act then he should have let him. Whether Yamaguchi likes Oikawa himself or not, Oikawa likes him and would miss him if he doesn't like Oikawa enough to stick around.]
these two have compatible self-esteem issues haha sob
And he's. Maybe. Kind of...attractive? Ohhhh boy he may really be in over his head here, crap, crap crap crap.]
they do, poor darlings.
Yama-chan, please don't. [He can't articulate exactly what he wants Yamaguchi to stop doing but he definitely wants him to stop with something.]
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S-Sorry. Sorry. [Yamaguchi doesn't know what he's apologizing for, really, but he senses he's done something to upset the setter and he doesn't want to press his luck.]
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He pushes his milkshake away, there's still a third or so left but the whole "sharing" idea hasn't exactly worked out.]
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Was it something I said?? [He doesn't understand why Oikawa would suddenly go cold over being praised, even with his personality taken into account. It wasn't like Yamaguchi was lying to him!]
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[He should have brushed Yamaguchi calling him amazing off with acceptance that he doesn't actually feel. Except, he really doesn't want Yamaguchi telling him things that aren't true like that. It makes him feel like more of a fraud than usual. He wants Yamaguchi to like him not some amazing guy he thinks Oikawa is. Of course, that's impossible, but he can't be rational about everything and cute boys are a very standard thing to not be rational about.]
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[Now he's definitely sure he made a misstep somewhere. Yamaguchi's face falls and he resists the urge to shrink down in his seat. He'd make a note of what it was he said to avoid in the future, but the problem is that Oikawa isn't being clear on exactly what's bothering him. Or...he is, and Yamaguchi's just too dense to work it out.
That's another worrying thought. What if it's something obvious, and he's nonetheless just not getting it?]
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Yamaguchi, please drop it. It really doesn't matter. Can't we just have a nice date?
[He knows he's to blame, of course he does, but he's never actually cared enough to try and get things back on track before so he doesn't know how.]
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Yes! R-Right, sorry!
Sorry... [Maybe it'll be better if he just. Shuts up. If Yamaguchi stops talking then there won't be anything he says to upset Oikawa at all, right?]
kid read this, is upset and has told me to "fix this", debating on whether to listen to her.
He likes Yamaguchi's chatter, it's funny and interesting and a lot like what Oikawa does to fill silences. And he doesn't like whatever the hell this is. But he can't think of what to say. He should have stuck to dating girls he doesn't like.
Oikawa gently pushes his milkshake across the halfway point of the table. ]
;A; OH NO now i am filled with guilt
...?
nooo, don't be. she makes me cry every time we exchange headcanons, this is good payback
how did this schmoopy date thread even reach these levels of sad I DON'T KNOW
Is...that...for me?
I know! It's oikawa's fault. :)
We did say we'd share, Yama-chan.
coos at oikawa forever i can't be upset
[Yamaguchi is horrified, nearly toppling his chair over in his haste to stand up so he can get to the other side of the table. He frantically tries to assess the setter's condition choking on his bread in an effort to help. Is Oikawa choking to death? Can he not breathe?? ...Okay, now he's breathing, but for how long!? Is he going to live...?]
Oikawa-san, do you need anything! Water...?!
he is quite lucky he's cute
He thumps his chest, attempts a smile, mostly succeeds.]
I'm fine, Yama-chan. I wouldn't die on you and ruin our date more.
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oops, he said it again and of course Yamaguchi feels the adrenaline cooling in his system just in time for the blood to rush back to his face. which (naturally) starts the embarrassing transition from sheet-white to pink, again.]
Y-You, um, really don't need to call it that...! [at least you're not dead, sob]
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But he keeps reading him wrong. Which is just another point against Oikawa getting attached to people. He likes Yamaguchi too much to make him happy, apparently.]
I want it to be a date, Yamaguchi. But if you really don't want it to be, I can stop.
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[For a minute, Yamaguchi simply stares at him, blushing and wide-eyed with disbelief. Self-awareness returns and he quickly looks away again, expression giving way to one that's torn and painfully insecure. It's really difficult to find the words to speak, because Yamaguchi's not sure what he wants his answer to be. He's scared of any outcome that could come from this, and doesn't miss (in his anxious thoughts) how Oikawa called him by his full name again like he's being serious.
…Is Oikawa being serious? Is he really?
…Does Yamaguchi want him to be?]
Um…I'm… [focus. think of it like the nerves before a volleyball match. crap. no. anything but that. something nonthreatening! maybe if he pretends like he's explaining it second to someone like Ennoshita, or Shimada– ] …I'm not really certain yet, if I want guys in the same way as I do girls. And I don't know what kind of motivation a person like you could have, to want to go on a date with me, Oikawa-san…it's not something I'd probably be very good at, either…
But… If you really feel that way…then I…w-well…!! [MAYBE, SORT OF, KIND OF, THINKS HE WOULD POSSIBLY WANT THAT AS WELL]
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Yamaguchi still thinks he might be joking? Oikawa talked to him over text for a week straight - constantly throwing in blatant flirting - invited him out for lunch, calling it a date the entire time, to a very pink cafe intended for couples, made Yamaguchi eat off his spoon and Yamaguchi still doubts that Oikawa could be serious about his intentions.
He probably brought that on himself, if he's honest.
Not seeing why Oikawa might be interested in him in the first place is harder to grasp. Oikawa gave him a list! It nearly killed Yamaguchi but that only goes to show he listened as Oikawa gave it.
But... That's a yes, right? Or one step away from it. Among Yamaguchi's stumbling to lower Oikawa's expectations and his self-depreciating comments, he's building up to a yes?
Apart from gambits to get Iwaizumi to admit he cares about Oikawa, he's never actually put himself in a position like this. And with Iwaizumi he already knew he cares. He can't says he likes the change, even serving on the court he's more relaxed than this.
His mouth twitches into what might be a sincere or hopeful smile but the emotion is foreign enough that he's sure it looks like his previous choking has taken a bigger toll.]
I really do feel this way, so...?
[He realises, awkwardly, Yamaguchi feeling the same is irrelevant to his desire to spend time with him. Even if Yamaguchi did say he didn't want it to be a date, that he really is one hundred percent straight, Oikawa would still flirt and try and take him out on not-dates, perfectly happy with the idea that Yamaguchi will never fall for him.]
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may or may not have spent an hour rereading this whole thread today b/c adorables
I'm so pleased. I love these dorks and they're so cute with each other
I SWEAR I BLINKED AND THEN THIS CRACK PAIRING WAS MY NEW FAVORITE THING
I thought it was a cute little rarepair before but now I care SO MUCH
STUPIDLY CARING SO MUCH ABOUT THESE STUPID INSECURE LOSERS AND THEIR STUPID CUTENESS
the best kind of losers
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what I want to see is tsukishima's face when yamaguchi tells him he's dating oikawa
i…i may need to beg helena for this at some point. ALSO I WANT TO KNOW THE SAME FOR IWA-CHAN
iwa makes the sign of the cross and moves overseas to become a nun.
no iwa THINK OF ALL THE CHILDREN YOU'RE LEAVING BEHIND
HE IS, he's thinking of one giant child by the name of Oikawa Tooru. And him being... couple-y
be strong iwaizumi be strong for mother
no one can be that strong.
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