Chapter Text
Tsukishima considers himself a mature adult. He balances his university classes, a museum internship, and a career as a professional volleyball player all without letting his grades slip below a 4.0 average. He pays for his own apartment, textbooks, and a very expensive train pass without complaint. It is because of this that he thinks it’s fine to treat himself every now and then with a superfluous purchase, and he does.
No one knows because he tends to not talk about it lest he be ridiculed for his hobby, but once a week he combs through the Instagram pages for Dino Dudes, a collector’s line of stuffed dinosaurs that he loves and travels to wherever in Japan they’re released so that he can have a complete collection of the plushies. The dinosaurs are historically accurate as they can be despite the cute personalities and accessories that they come with. He has Steven the Stegosaurus, a cute green dinosaur with a bowtie around its long neck, Tyler the T-Rex, a chubby little thing with sunglasses on its eyes, and now he’s searching online for where he can find the newest release.
He’s been lucky enough to be in contact with resellers, but the scalping is getting annoying and there’s been word that a local toy store opening not too far from the Frog’s practice gym will carry niche toys like the ones he’s after. He bites his lip as he scrolls past yet another advertisement for the Night Sky toy shop and sighs as he grabs a hoodie, standing up from his spot on his futon, and opts to check it out himself.
He commutes to the store quickly, eyes glued to his phone as he checks the reviews for the store that unfortunately don’t provide him with much information. The store is fairly new, so the feedback is sparse and much to his chagrin what is available doesn’t mention Dino Dudes but does wax poetic about the staff. Apparently, the small business employs handsome young men that have driven customers to enthusiastically recommend the place if not for their product but to simply see the men behind the register. In another situation this wouldn’t bother Tsukishima as much, he is a gay man with eyes honestly had this been a café or a flower shop he’d probably enjoy that perk, but he’s an adult man who is coming to this shop to buy giant stuffed dinosaurs for himself. He didn't buy Dino Dudes secondhand purely because he couldn’t find them anywhere else, but because he wouldn’t have to face any questions or ridicule that he could be subject to should he walk into a storefront for them. Now though, he will have to face that possibility and in front of handsome guys that seem to be his age.
He’s mortified.
As he steps in front of the store he scoffs and shoves his phone in his pocket, his eyes trailing over the tiny shop’s glass windows with the name embossed on them in gold and decorated with stars and planets that seem to glitter in the light of the midday sun. It’s cute and he takes a deep breath before entering through the store’s heavy wooden door.
“Welcome to Night Sky toy shop, is there anything I can help you find?” a cheery voice greets him immediately and Tsukishima grits his teeth before looking up and locking eyes with the most beautiful man he’s ever seen. The man was shorter than him with a lithe frame that suited the fitted white shirt and wide navy slacks that seem to make up the uniform for the shop. His face was pale, making his sharp blue eyes stand out as they looked at Tsukishima with a vested interest, as if he really cared as to why the blonde man had ventured into the small shop. Begrudgingly, Tsukishima decides to ruin whatever chance he may or may not have had with the handsome man and proceeds to do what he came to do, “I was wondering if your store carries any of the uh- Dino Dude toys?”
The shorter man is silent for a moment before his eyes light up in recognition, “The stuffed dinosaurs with the accessories and personalities?” Tsukishima nods and the other man smiles, “We do, or we will- uh we don’t carry them at the moment but between you and me” he leans in closely as if he’s sharing a secret with Tsukishima, “we’ll be receiving a shipment of them later this week and we’ll be putting them out sometime this weekend. If you’d like you can leave your name and number with me, and I’ll make sure to contact you before we release them, so you know exactly when to come in.” Tsukishima can’t help the wide grin that overtakes his face, and he nods enthusiastically,
“I would appreciate it if that wouldn’t be too much trouble. I’m Tsukishima Kei um . . .”
“Akaashi Keiji, toy shop employee and Dino Dudes dealer to one Tsukishima Kei.” Akaashi winks and Tsukishima blushes, “So Tsukishima are you a fan of these dinosaurs yourself or just gift shopping?”
Tsukishima freezes at the question and can’t hide the grimace that grows on his face as he debates tanking his chances with Akaashi by being honest and admitting that the Dino Dudes line of toys has an unforgivable vice grip on his wallet or lying in the hopes that if a relationship between them happens he’ll never have to take Akaashi to his bedroom and reveal the shelf on his wall where he meticulously displays his collection. The split second of thought feels like it lasts a lifetime before he sighs and leans into Akaashi’s space like the other man did to him just a moment ago,
“Between you and me Akaashi-san I just . . . really think they’re cute. They’re also really soft so . . . that's cool.” He expects Akaashi to look awkward or uncomfortable but instead the shorter man just smiles at him before whispering back, “I like them too Tsukishima-san, don’t worry, it’ll be our little secret.” Both men erupt into a fit of giggles before another customer walks in and Tsukishima decides it’s time for him to go. He leaves his phone number for Akaashi to call when the stuffed animals come in and exits the shop feeling lighter than he has for a while.
After Tsukishima leaves the shop and the customer that entered after him takes their leave, Akaashi sits behind the register and sighs before his pain in the ass coworker comes out of the back and ruins his moment of peace, placing his head on Akaashi’s shoulder before launching into a barrage of questions.
“What’s got you sighing like a lovesick schoolgirl Keiji? Oh and is that a phone number I see on the counter? Now what did you get up to while I was doing inventory huh?” Akaashi huffs and flicks his partner on the forehead before responding.
“For your information Kuroo-san, I helped the cutest boy in the world just now and made him a regular! His name is Tsukishima and he’ll be back this weekend for the Dino Dudes drop.”
“The cutest boy in the world? Keiji, what about Bo and I? Meet one cute customer and you’re ready to throw away your boyfriends?”
Akaashi scoffs, “Neither of my boyfriends are soft spoken blonde boys that seemed scared to tell me they just really liked cute dinosaur plushies. He was adorable Tetsurou and because I am boyfriend of the year I made sure you and Bokuto will be scheduled to work the next time he comes in so you both can see what I’m talking about when I say Tsukishima Kei is the cutest boy on the planet. Okay?”
Kuroo rolls his eyes and kisses his enamored boyfriend firmly on the lips before going back to doing inventory. He’s excited to meet this Tsukishima Kei guy, he always has had a soft spot for cute things and if he knows Akaashi as well as he thinks he does? This Tsukishima guy is going to be absolutely precious.