I solemnly swear to the witnesses of the court that I am not Lumi! and also I’d love to hear your thoughts on both Ushijima and Tendou if you’re down for a Shiratorizawa 2-for-1 combo
hello anon, since you have sworn to the court you are not lumi, i will give you my ushijima and tendou thoughts in this two for one exclusive shiratorizawa deal!!! people may remember that ushijima is my least-liked hq character BUT there is no length i will not go to for my beautiful audience... under the cut bc it's long lol!
i need to put it out there that. at the heart of the matter. ushijima is a loverboy. do NOT be fooled by the fact he's very blunt, straightforward, and has all the social tact of the proverbial elephant in the china shop. for ushijima, love is an active choice he chooses to make and not just a feeling, and as such, he approaches love with great care and awkward consideration. he's very devoted once he decides to love someone, because he falls in love so rarely and meticulously. ushijima isn't built for casual relationships, because he's very intentional about his choice to love someone else, and treating it like a whim would feel like a disservice to both you and himself.
however! there are some things you need to be aware of in a relationship with ushijima: namely, the fact he's very straitlaced and has terrible social skills (he's another very undersocialized child). his terrible social skills can basically be summed up like this: ushijima can convey his thoughts, but he's not great at communicating them. to elaborate, ushijima is able to articulate what he thinks, but he doesn't always do it in a way for other people to understand. sure, he'll tell you he "feels xyz" but that's the extent of what he'll say. there's no elaboration on how this fits into his current action or mindset. similarly, he'll nod and take what you say in stride and file it away with no follow-up. he'll pat himself on the back for a job well done communicating but he doesn't. build off of the knowledge he gains. he just states things and expects that to be enough to convey himself!!
also, i think ushijima struggles with processing his own emotions because he's just. not in-tune with his own desires sometimes, or doesn't give them enough attention. he's great at taking care of himself physically, but emotionally? oh boy. sure, he's had a very stable (and privileged) upbringing, but he's not used to being "wrong," or being challenged! this is mostly bc 1. he doesn't have a lot of friends, much less close friends, and 2. he's good at what he does so no one has ever pushed back against him. conflict, to some extent, is healthy in any relationship, and ushijima just hasn't experienced a lot of friction or tension in his life that's necessary to give him the skills and a broader perspective to navigate social situations. he's a bit insular, has a set worldview, and is steady to the point of being uncompromising.
on that note, i think he lowk struggles w conflict in a relationship precisely bc he's not used to it. he rarely gets upset and bc of the aforementioned communication/emotional issues, he is. not great at handling his partner when they're mad or having an off-day, especially if it's not something that can just be talked through. this is also a personal take, but even though ushijima is very taciturn and stoic, i personally believe he's a lot more gentle and agreeable than most people expect! i think he would value you, be content with letting you make all the decisions, and put you first no matter what. he wouldn't get into a rls if he didn't think he could give you the attention you need. he cherishes you deeply and handles your rls with the sort of meticulous, diligent care he gives to volleyball!!! sigh. loverboy...
tendou is a trickier case when it comes to love. on one hand, he's very irreverent and carefree, choosing to go at his own pace in life. he's weird and relishes in the reactions he gets out of others. on the other, i think he also has some lingering hang-ups about the way people view him and his rls with others as a result. part of his desire to lean into being strange is a response to his childhood bullying: if he's creepy, then he'll act creepy on purpose to take some control back from those interactions! he can't be hurt if he chooses to act this way, and there's no point in fitting in as a result. at the same time, he also just has no interest in people who are quick to judge him lol, bc he's comfortable doing his own thing. this means he's surprisingly more insecure/cautious when it comes to a romantic relationship.
i think tendou is weirdly avoidant and skittish and clingy in equal, confusing measure!!! he's a bit wary of the idea of "love" and someone who likes him for who he is, chalking it up as something that feels too good to be true, where he's always waiting for the other shoe to drop. the more serious the emotion, the more uncomfortable it makes him, bc it's no longer something he can brush off so easily. so he'll self-sabotage by acting a bit distant and keeping you an arm's length as a sort of balancing measure. mostly, if he likes you, then he likes you, and he'll be alllllll up in your business. he's clingy, draping himself all over you like he's a coat and you're a coat rack, seeking you out at all hours, and it's. almost invasive, how much it feels like he wants to integrate himself into your life and he asks questions with a purposeful lack of social tact.
sometimes it feels like he's trying to test you by showing you all the different sides to him to see if you'll stay regardless. he's both confident in who he is, and oddly insecure about opening himself up to the vulnerability that love demands. but tendou has a lot of good points, if you're someone who can put up with his attitude, and more than that, enjoy it. i think he's actually very kind to you, and likes to make you laugh, and he's attentive and socially aware in a way that ushijima isn't (tendou just doesn't care to live by those rules lol). he's paying a lot more attention to you than you might initially realize!!! maybe it's the guess monster + middle blocker instinct in him, but he likes to just observe you. and pick up on all your little habits and microexpressions, and tuck them away like they're treasures.
anyways. if you can somehow finagle your way past tendou's emotional barriers, i think you will find that he's devoted in his own way. he will always require some independence and space to be himself, and he's always going to be a bit unconventional in his relationship choices just like he is in every other aspect of his life, but if you look out for him, he'll look out for you. also important to note: he is VERY physically affectionate. goodbye to your personal space!