Work Text:
Sleepy.
Shirabu Kenjirou was so sleepy that he could barely think.
Eyebags weighing heavily below his eyes, he shakily brought the glass to his lips for another sip of ice water. The cold liquid slid down his throat, making him alert for a solid second, before it passed, leaving him even more exhausted than before.
It was the evening after Shiratorizawa had won a particularly intense match, resulting with Coach Washijou treating the team to a hearty meal at their favourite restaurant.
Goshiki, as usual, was buzzing with excitement (somehow managing to make Shirabu's throbbing head hurt even more) whilst Yamagata spoke about his crazy save with pride glinting in his eyes. Even Taichi's lips were quirked up into a small but genuine smile.
Shirabu knew that he too should be celebrating. He truly was grateful to his strict, rarely approving coach and his rowdy bunch of teammates.
But honestly, Shirabu would've preferred to have been cozily wrapped inside a cocoon of fluffy blankets, sleeping peacefully at the dorms.
Irritatedly, the setter sent a half-hearted glare to the lemon slice bobbing up and down in his glass, seriously considering biting into its flesh just to jolt himself awake enough to become a decently functioning human being again. God, Shirabu knew that he shouldn't have stayed up last night to study for his Literature exam that morning. (Seriously, who the hell allowed assessments to take place on the same days as matches???)
Screw it.
Shirabu took another violent sip of water in the same minute, heart pumping way too loudly to be considered normal.
His head spun as he set the glass down with a little more aggression than necessary.
Opposite him, Semi raised an eyebrow in concern offense.
The pinch server opened his mouth.
Shirabu was too tired to deal with another lecture.
'I know, Semi-san. I need to show more respect to my upperclassmen,' he mumbled, stifling a yawn after the last word.
'Actually, I was going to say that you should take a rest. You look like you're about to pass out.'
Huh. So, Semi could catch on.
Semi bristled. 'What's that supposed to mean?'
'Oh, I said that out loud?' Shirabu mused, blinking slowly. Suddenly, the setter swayed in his seat, straightening his back at the last second so that his head wouldn't bash against the pile of plates before him.
Semi frowned. 'Now I know that you're really exhausted.'
'Exhausted of having to deal with your crap everyday.'
Shamelessly, Shirabu took another swig of lemon water, making a face at its sourness. Good. The acidity was finally starting to seep out of the lemon.
'Haha. I'm serious. Ignore your pride for once and just tell the coaches that you're worn out.'
Shirabu hummed absentmindedly. 'Coach Saito would insist that everyone else leaves too. And the rest of the team is having so much fun.'
The copper haired boy gestured vaguely to the other end of the table, where Tendo was egging Goshiki on to try some of Coach Washijou's beer whilst the adults were busy paying. On the other side, Reon was trying to convince Yamagata-san that arm wrestling Ushijima wasn't a good idea, and Taichi, being Taichi, was recording it all.
Semi grimaced. 'A little too much fun, if you ask me.'
Ignoring him, Shirabu frowned down at his now empty cup. 'Pass the water jug, will you?'
Semi crossed his arms.
'Not until you stop being a stubborn little shit.'
Dissatisfied, Shirabu sighed heavily and slumped onto the table, resting his face onto his folded arms. 'You're such a mean senpai.'
With the surrounding sounds now muffled by his sleeves, Shirabu started to relax. The setter had just started to nod off when-
'C'mon Shirabu, we're leaving.'
There were soft pats against his head, and Shirabu groaned, leaning even further into his arms.
'Don't be like that.'
Shirabu didn't hear the fondness in Semi's voice.
'I'm fine here, thank you,' he huffed, his mind already drifting to another dream.
'Wouldn't you rather sleep in your warm, comfy bed?' Semi appealed, nudging Shirabu's shoulder gently with his own.
Shirabu hadn't realised that Semi had sidled up to him. Granted, he also hadn't noticed that Goshiki was now frantically trying to sweep broken glass shards from the wooden floorboards whilst Tendo begged Ushijima to distract their oblivious coaches.
At the mention of his bed, Shirabu reluctantly lifted his heavy head from the mahogany table. Weakly, he shot a glare in Semi's general direction.
'I hate you.'
An amused smile. 'Sure you do.'
Grumbling, Shirabu tried to rub the grogginess from his eyes. Leaning sideways, the setter reached under the table to retrieve his gym bag, only for his fingers to grasp at nothing. He frowned. Oh well.
Shirabu could deal with that problem another day. Preferably after more than three hours of sleep.
Behind him, Semi hefted the bags across his shoulders, a little unused to the added weight. He'd manage.
Miraculously, Goshiki and Tendo had managed to clean up the hectic mess - with the help of worried staff - before the coaches returned to make the usual announcements acknowledging their hard work, and how, after playing so competitively, they deserved a good night's rest to allow their muscles to heal and recover.
Shirabu would've been fervently nodding if he'd heard, but his mind was drowning out all other thoughts, occupied only with the simple phrase "I'm tired" repeating in his head like a broken record.
Another yawn.
Someone patted his back supportively and guided him outside of the diner. Shirabu dragged his feet as he walked.
'Watch your step.'
'I'm not drunk, Semi-san.'
A chuckle. 'Oh, I know. You'd be a menace if you were.'
Too fatigued to retort, Shirabu clumsily clambered into the coach, falling onto a seat at random with a sigh of relief.
Smiling softly, Semi followed beside him, pushing their bags below their seats.
Soon after, the engine started, and the radio began playing quiet indie songs, overcome easily by the chaotic chatter of the Shiratorizawa team as they argued about which set was the most tiring.
'All of them were hell,' Shirabu muttered to no one in particular, mildly surprised to hear a snort from his side.
'I'm impressed that you even managed to stand upright for the whole game. Although I did have to sub you out during the end of our third set.'
Shirabu hummed, head bobbing towards the window as the coach drove over a speed bump.
'Even sleep deprived, I'm a better setter than you.'
Another speed bump.
This time, Shirabu's head fell against Semi's shoulder.
The pinch server tensed, before relaxing.
'We've got to do something about that bratty personality of yours,' Semi teased, tentatively stroking his kouhai's silky brown hair.
Shirabu nuzzled his head deeper into the crook of Semi's neck, no longer caring about the consequences of his actions anymore.
'You love my personality.'
It was meant to come out sarcastically but, well, Shirabu was sleepy. It wasn't his fault if his quiet voice sounded genuine.
A pause. The fuzzy radio played, and the loud bickering continued.
Only the noises had started to dim, and Shirabu was slowly slipping into a blissful slumber at last.
'Yeah. Yeah, I do,' Semi breathed out, a faint blush dusting across his cheeks.
But the setter didn't hear him, for he was tired, and Semi's shoulder was cozy.
Shirabu was sleeping soundly by the time the coach rolled to a stop before the gates of Shiratorizawa Academy.