To celebrate the very sweet and talented @haikyuulovercompany I have constructed this Tendo fluff for her (and your)
enjoyment. HAPPY BIRTHDAY darling! I hope your day is filled with love,
laughter and Haikyuu! Everyone send her some birthday love! 🙂

---

A resounding crash followed by cursing has Wakatoshi walking
into the shared kitchen of his dormitory where he discovers Tendo standing in
the middle of what looks like a bakery war zone.

“Satori-san, what are you doing?” asks the ace with a
deadpan face.

Raising his head, his pants sporting a splatter of what
looks to be cake mix, the guess monster groans out, “I was trying to bake
_____-chan a birthday cake and the bowl flew from my hand while I was mixing
and well,” he ends lifting his arms, rotating back and forth before
allowing them to fall back to his sides.

Leaning down, Wakatoshi picks up the errant bowl, some of
the viscous goo sticking to his fingers as he places it in the sink.
Absentmindedly, he sucks the pink sludge from his finger, a slight tremor
shooting through his body though his face remains neutral.

“Satori-san,” he says and Tendo looks up from where he’s knelt
to start wiping up the mess, “It’s probably a good thing you didn’t end up
baking this.”

“What do you mean?” the red head asks perplexed.

“Did you taste it?”

Shaking his head, Tendo swipes a clump off his pant leg, encasing
his finger between his lips. His eyes widened, a cough spluttering out as he
rushes to get a glass of water. After chugging it down he pants, “What the hell
was that?” Looking at the ingredients spread across the counter he reaches into
a clear bin containing a white substance and licks his fingers again, groaning
as he realizes his mistake.  

“I used salt instead of sugar!” the middle
blocker cries. “Why are none of these ingredients labeled?”

Patting him on the back, Wakatoshi grabs more paper towels
and begins wiping the counter down. Tendo returns to the task of cleaning the
floor before washing the dishes and putting them away, again with the ace’s
assistance.

“Thanks for your help,” Tendo sighs collapsing in a chair.

“You’re welcome, but why were you doing this? Can’t you just
buy her something?” he asks sitting as well.

“Of course not! I want her to know how special she is to me
and store-bought goodies aren’t the way to do that!”

Wakatoshi remains silent, unsure how to assist his friend.
He’s not a cook nor a baker. Finally, he says, “Just figure out something else
to get her.” He stands nodding once and then exits the room.

Tendo rolls his eyes. “Oh sure, cuz it’s the simple,” he
mutters to the empty room.

Sighing he places his head on his hand, leaning against the
table, eyes closing as he tries to think of what to make for you. He really
does want you to know how special you are, the one girl who’s liked him for
him, who didn’t run away from him in fear or start rumors or make snide
comments. But it’s not just those things he loves about you, oh no, there’s so
much more. There’s your smile that crinkles up your eyes until you can’t see, your
laugh that bubbles up like sparkling cider from your chest, your eyes that
shine like stars when you watch him play, your shouts of encouragement he
somehow always hears above the cacophony of noise in the gym.

His eyelids fly up; he knows what to do for your birthday.  

---

Walking through the halls, your arms laden with various gifts
from friends, you know your cheeks are going to hurt for hours from all the
smiling you’ve done. Everyone just made you feel so loved! But a twinge of
sadness hits your heart when you think about how Satori had to miss school
today. You were so looking forward to seeing his goofy grin, feel his arms
around you and get your birthday kiss but a stupid cold kept him locked in his
room.

As you near the door to exit the building Wakatoshi steps
out of a classroom, his eyes landing on you. You feel a slight tremor of
nervousness shoot through you; even though you’re his best friend’s girlfriend,
he still intimidates you. But, you reason, it’s probably because you’re never
sure what he’s thinking. Being with Tendo, you’ve grown used to hearing him
speak his mind and the loudness of his behavior so someone quiet tends to
unnerve you.

“_____-chan, would you like some help?” he offers eyeing the
load of goodies in your arms.

“Tha…thank you Ushijima-san,” you stammer allowing him to
lift your burdens.

“I told you, call me Wakatoshi,” he says and you smile.

You walk in silence towards your dormitory for a bit before you
ask, “Do you know if Satori-kun is feeling better? I wanted to visit him today
but he said not to because he didn’t want to get me sick.”

“He’s fine,” the ace answers simply.

“Oh,” you reply turning your head back to look ahead of you.

Reaching your door, you grab your keys from the pocket of
your purse and unlock it. As the door swings open, you gasp, hands flying to
your mouth. Before you stands Satori, clad in a black suit (with a tie no less)
holding a bouquet of your favorite flowers. Turning to look at Wakatoshi, you’re
shocked to see a very small smile on his face.

“Here,” he says handing you back your gifts, all of which would
have ended up on the floor thanks to your shock if he hadn’t been carrying
them. You realize now his reason for waiting for you and blush.

“Thank you, Wakatoshi-kun,” you say and he nods once.
Looking at his friend, he flashes a thumbs up before walking away. Entering
your room, you shut the door, dropping your presents on the bed. You rush to
Tendo, throwing your arms around his neck as he picks you up in a large hug.

“Happy birthday, lover,” he says in your ear making you
sigh.

“You little brat,” you retort, smacking his arm gently, “It’s
not nice to lie to your girlfriend, especially on her birthday!”

He chuckles as he sets you down, caressing your cheek with
his hand. “I wanted to surprise you and the only way to do it was to get everything
ready while you were in class. Besides, I think you’ll forgive me when you see
your gift.”

“What, you’re not my gift? I rather like the wrapping,” you
say blushing at his dapper appearance.

He grins widely, standing aside to reveal a pretty dress
picked especially for you. “I’ll admit, I needed help picking it out, so you
can thank Kayami-san for that.” It’s your favorite color, knee length and cut
modestly but is fancy enough to match his suit.

“I’ll wait outside,” he says opening the door. “I’d say take
your time but we do have a reservation so if you can be ready in twenty minutes
that would be great. I tried to get it later but this was the best they could
do.”

“It’s fine!” you say quickly, hurrying to pick up the
garment. “I’ll be ready in fifteen!”

He shakes his head at your cute eagerness and shuts the door.
True to your word, fifteen minutes later you step out, hair and makeup done to
perfection. Tendo stares openly, his mouth slightly agape.

“You look amazing,” he breathes, hands settling on your
waist.

“Thank you,” you whisper blushing.

Grabbing your hand, he leads you outside to the gates of the
school where a car is waiting. Inside you see his mother grinning and waving
from the driver side and you return the wave with a bright smile. Opening the
door for you, Tendo helps you get seated then sits down himself.  

The ride to the restaurant is filled with you telling Satori
about your day and all the lovely gifts and thoughtful messages people gave
you. Eventually you arrive to the new fusion restaurant that just opened about
a month ago that you and Satori kept saying you wanted to go to.

His mom says she’ll be back in a couple hours before waving
the two of you off.

As you enter, Satori goes to the hostess podium and gives
his name. She smiles at him then you, indicating you to follow her. Walking to
the back, you’re surprised to find a private table set up with candles, more
flowers and soft music playing; it’s all so romantic and sweet. Satori pulls
out your chair, helping you get seated before taking his own.

Reaching across the table, he grabs your hand, trailing his
thumb over the back of it and staring in your eyes. Clearing his throat, he
retracts his hand, grabbing a small wrapped box from his inside jacket pocket
and hands it to you.

“Happy birthday,” he says grinning.

You smile back, tugging the paper off and opening the box; inside
is a piece of folded paper.

Unfurling it, you see Tendo’s spikey but somehow legible
writing scrawled across the white square. Pulling it near your face, you read:

Lover,

I tried to bake a cake
for you

It really seemed not
hard to do

But salt and sugar
look the same

Needless to say, it turned
out lame

I’m not a sculptor,
painter or such

My sense of colors
really sucks

So to make you art would
be too hard

But I just couldn’t
buy a generic card

And thus far if you
couldn’t tell

I don’t write poetry
very well

But it was the only
thing that I could do

To explain how much I
really love you

I love your eyes and the
sparkle they hold

Your cheering always
makes me bold

Your kind-hearted, selfless
spirit

I can’t believe you’d
let me near it

I love the way you laugh
and smile

You make my heart beat
at a hundred miles

You really don’t know
how much you mean to me

But I hope over time
you will see

So thank you for your
grace and love

I treasure all of you,
my precious dove

 

As you look up, a stray tear slides down your cheek, but you’re
smiling softly as Satori watches you. Standing up, you come to him and kiss his
lips gently.

“This is the best present I received all day, thank you
Satori-kun,” you say and he smiles.

Retaking your seat, you giggle out, “Did you really mix up salt
and sugar?”

He blushes, nodding his head and you laugh a bit harder but
he loves your laughter, even if you’re laughing at him and eventually he laughs
too, thinking really it was quite funny. Before long, you’re ordering a sampler
platter to share, chatting away about this and that and just generally enjoying
one another’s company.

“By the way, what made you decide to go to dinner all
dressed up? You didn’t have to do all this you know?” you ask before taking a
bite of dessert.

“I wanted to spoil you a bit. You do a lot for me and take
so little in return. Plus,” he adds taking out another box, “That wasn’t your
only present.”

You take the box, unwrapping it carefully. Popping it open,
your breath catches, eyes widening as you look at its contents. Nestled in
bright pink tissue paper is a silver locket, but instead of a heart it’s round,
the pattern of a volleyball etched into its surface.

“I had to go to Tokyo to get that, hence my absence from
school today,” he confesses. He pauses before saying, “Open it.”

Gently you unclasp the latch and open the locket, gasping
when your eyes fall upon a picture of you and Satori from your first date a
year ago. Inscribed on the other side are the words: “A monster and his lover.”

Satori stands, moving behind you and taking the necklace
from your hands to clasp it around your neck. Leaning down, he kisses your
cheek, whispering, “I love you.”

You turn your head, lips capturing his before you breathe
back, “I love you too, my lovely monster.”