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blucassiopeia · 11 months

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Thunder and Lightning

"A prelude spin-off for an upcoming fic"

warnings: afab!reader, long courtship, fluff, goal-driven individual, 9.2k LONG

A Kageyama Tobio x reader oneshot

a/n: inspired by this

“‘You ever think about us?” He asks me after a night out. We were sitting on my porch, waiting for his cab.

“Of course I do. I think a lot about how timing really is everything. We had the chemistry, we had the love. We had the whole universe; except for that one little detail; we weren’t ready for each other.”

We look at each other for the first time in years; and just like back then, there is so much love in our glance. And yet, somehow the timing is still not right. And it seems this is how it will always be for the two of us — just like thunder and lightning — our timing will always be a little off.” — CCZ

It was raining on a March afternoon and the end of the school year is nearing; and you're still here, listening to your english lit teacher reading a literature she likes the class to make an essay out. You can't help but sigh as you rest your chin in your hand, staring out to the rain as it pours outside the building.

The english lit will be the last class before homeroom and you can't wait to have the day dismissed to be in that place again, like yesterday, like the years before. Karasuno High just doesn't have that sport and the venue so you still have to travel 15 mins to Sendai, so...

You heard her giggle beside you and she poked your arm. "Let's go out during homeroom, Y/n. Our adviser's in a meeting with the others anyway."

You hummed and slouched on your chair, sighing more than usual. The day feels a little off for you, like a pending hurricane about to happen, if the rain outside isn't it.

"Just let him do his thing, Ran. Don't meddle."

"But, Keii~"

You heard a raspy chuckle at your back and you tried to ignore it. You don't even have the energy to butt in, wondering what's wrong with you. You feel your brows furrowing at the confusion.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the current class and you had closed your eyes in relief. You quickly got up and turned to your bestfriendーwell, you don't know if you are to her but she is to you. "Restroom."

She stared at you and nodded, smiling. She has a bunch of chocolates and plushies all over her desk and under, and you have too but not as much as hers. You smirked at the thought as you made your way to the floor's restroom. Ran's pretty famous in Karasuno, much more outside of school because of her achievements, skills and reputation. Her boyfriend's(?) nice, you met him once. And she's too dense for the others on her big circle of friends.

You shook your head then you wash your face in the sink, and as soon as you are through, you went back to your room to rest your seem-heavy body. Well, tried.

"Y/n! Can you be my girlfriend?"

That line shook the hell out of you, much like the thunder outside, but more thunderous when the boy, still bowing in front of you, small bouquet of flowers in hand, is in your room with all your classmates staring at the scene. You tried to open your mouth, to say something but no words were pulled from your tongue. Your eyes darted to the amber-eyed boy that's already grinning, eyes not on you, poking on Ran's shoulders that's grinding her teeth, seated on a chair behind the boy.

"Can I court you, you idiot! I told you!"

Your eyes returned to the dark-haired boy, ignoring Ran's comment and stammered a "DoーHa-Who are you? Do I know you?", still in shock. Yeah, there are chocolates and some other stuffs under your desk but no one dared to ask you out like this.

The golden haired boyーKeiーstiffled a laugh to which Ran slapped his shoulder so hard Kei got knocked to the side, to the boy beside him.

"No. Umー"

After he placed the bouquet on Ran's desk, which was behind him, he walked out to the door, head still low, to where an orange-haired boy was waiting for him, jaw dropped and wide-eyed. You recognized him instantly, how could you not? He's Hinata Shoyo of the volleyball team. Your wide-eyes turned to Ran who has her jaw already dropped at you, too. Laughs soon resounded through your classroom and you felt your cheeks burned as you saw him laugh too.

"God, it's bad to laugh but, seriously Y/n? Who are you? Do I know you?" And he laughed again, and your cheeks can't get any redder.

"Shut it, Tadashi!" Ran snapped at him and you feel your world swirled. "Oh my God, Y/n. You don't know Kageyama Tobio? Really now? Andーughh oh my goood!" She covered her face with her hands and exasperatedly ran it to her hair.

"Hey! What Tadashi huh? That's Guchi-guchi for you."

Huh? Kageyama Tobio? The star-setter of the prefecture? Ran'sーyou don't really know much about her friends and team except Shoyo, Kei and the other oneーfriend? Why would he be in your classroom and ask that question to you? You gripped the nearby chair as your world really swirled.

"ーKei. She knows him. She was just maybe shocked? I don't know."

"Somehow feel bad for Ou-sama butー"

His laughs with Kei's woke the rest of your senses. You were blinded by the light but it was immediately shadowed by three poking heads. You groaned as you felt your hot breaths, you can even feel your ears and eyes burning too. You blinked twice as your vision adjusted, tears forming in the corners of your eyes due to the burning feeling.

"A boy you didn't know surely had a fever effect on you, Y/n. I wish I had that effect on Yachi-san too."

"Wanna do it like Ou-sama?"

"No, no. I'll do it much better."

"Get out. Both of you."

Kei and Tadashi mumbled through their breaths, pouting and blaming each other as they got up and really went out of the clinic to go on with their topic.

"So noisy." Ran mumbled as she ghosted a hand on your forehead. Your lips curled up slightly at the gesture. "You're still hot. I used your phone earlier, texted your brother to get you. 39°C Y/n, can't believe you really went to school like this."

You smiled at her. "No fever this morning. Maybe because of the cold rain." And you were surprised your voice got hoarse. You swallowed hard and felt a pain in your throat, eyes squinting at the feeling.

Liar. You stayed up there all night until your legs hurt because you can't sleep. That's why you're burning up right now.

"Is she okay?"

You heard a new but familiar voice out of ajared door of the clinic. It's that same boy from before you fainted. You chewed your cheeks, remembering what'd happened.

"The girl that doesn't know you is already awake, Tobio."

"Don't tease Ou-sama like that. Should be hardーHey! Where are you going?"

Ran quickly got up on her seat and peeked at the door. You could see her glaring at Kei and Tadashi through the slight gap of the curtain from your bed. The duo behind the door went silent by it.

"Go ahead to the practice when homeroom's over. I'll wait for Y/n's brother." She went back to your side and sat at her chair while dialing in her phone. "You're still dizzy, Y/n?"

You shook your head and smiled.

"Tobio, can you please please gather Y/n's things and bring it here in the clinic?ーAh, no butsーYes, Tobio. Let the two idiots help you if you can't do it alone.ーYes. Bye."

She sighed and looked at you, her smile felt tired. "Don't know what to feel, really. But we'll talk after your fever's gone, okay?"

You nodded and suddenly felt drowsy all of a sudden through her silent hums and peaceful atmosphere, with the still calming rain outside. Can't practice today, huh. You're dumb, Y/n.

Embarassing.

You're embarassing, Kageyama Tobio!

If people hasn't seen a much grumpier Tobio, then they would see it now as he trots through the halls to your classroom, Class 2-4. Still irritated about Kei and Tadashi's teasing, and Ran's favor that includes your things. Wait, scratch the latter, it's not irritating if it includes you.

He noticed Shoyo came out of his room to peek on him, and he hated how his eyes linger on him. Tobio glared at him as he passes but Shoyo ignored it and followed him to your classroom anyway.

And Tobio ignored the wide eyes, snickers and murmurs when he entered your room, went straight to your desk and plop on your chair scanning your things before carefully organizing your things into your cute bag. It was not long when the two idiots Ran mentioned came back from the clinic, brows up in his figure, and seating back to their respective chairs just behind your desk and Ran's.

"She has gifts too, under."

"Help me." He growled at Tadashi who just grinned at him, still feeling the aftershock of the embarassment an hour ago, but it was not long too when Tadashi decided to help. Because there were really many small ones, compared to Ran's big packs of chocolates.

Tobio noticed Shoyo hovering, watching, keeping an eye at the chocolates and on Tobio, pale orange brows furrowed and lips upturning to a pout. "She rejected you."

The two idiots didn't really tried hard to suppress their laughs, much to his dismay, but he just ignored them and continued on picking up the chocolates. Until he found a box with a familiar name on it.

It was a box of chocolates from a boy in his class. His face soured at the sight of strawberry and cream colored chocolates under the transparent film and tossed the box to Kei's desk. "Snack." And the three guffawed, immediately dividing the chocolates inside to four.

Tobio kept inspecting your chocolates, tossing the ones from the senders that he knew to Kei's desk like the first one. And he stopped at one in a little pouch, read the tag and snapped his scalding eyes to Tadashi who immediately raised his hands in surrender.

"Obligatory! Got a same one for Ran and Yachi-san too! Look! The same rose colored pouch!" Tobio readily ignored him and tossed the pouch to Kei's desk while Shoyo rummaged in Ran's chocolates too.

"Hey! Put that back in her pile!"

The three went as noisy as they get while sorting your chocolates, leaving Kei in an immeasurable agony in the wake of his realization that he forgot his headphones. "I hate White Day."

Your classmates stared at the scene at the back of their classroom, enjoying the way Tobio didn't deny them the showcase of his possessiveness in terms of who must give you chocolates. And he thinks you might hate him after this but he pleads in his mind that you'll be patient with him for he doesn't know how to act when it comes to youーhis first romantic feeling. He shall maybe ask Ran for advice on how to act, which he already did and obviously failed but it's all on his incompetence, or an advice from his sister Miwa. He closed his eyes as he pictures her sister's grinning and teasing.

"What. Are you four. FUCKING. Doing?"

Tobio saw Ran entered the room and immediately was seething when she assessed the situation, saw the pile of chocolates in Kei's desk, and on a plastic bag dangling in the side of your desk, and on Shoyo who was already munching out of a box of chocolates in Kei's desk, Tadashi in mid-pick from it, too.

Tobio pouted as he turned his head away from her eyes and immediately gathered the rest of your chocolates and stuffed it all in the plastic bag he pulled from one of your classmate for your chocolates. And with the flowers he bought for you, he stood and left with your things in his arms.

When he reached the clinic's door, the little flowers he purposely picked wrapped in delicate rose gold wrapping paper shake and it was a while when he realized it was his hand that's shaking. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, creasing the paper more in his hold. Then he opened the door.

There are a few moments that left Tobio scared and running, or extensive fear that'll leave him dead, that'll make him wish he's dead. Being abandoned by his teammates, being left out, or Ran, Oikawa, or the both of them.. and Atsumu, too. But Ran's the scariest of the people out there, or maybe his sister when he'll leave his dirty dishes in the sink. Orー

This.

He thought you were still sleeping. He thought he was gonna just drop your things beside your sleeping figure, and maybe revel at your sleeping face a few seconds to engrave in his mind for the days to come, and then leave silently. He thought gravely wrong.

Your attention turned to him, cutting off the conversation you had with your brother at the sudden sound of the clinic's door opening. Tobio's knees was buckling when you met his dark blue eyes, and he somehow melted on the spot.

"Yes?"

And Tobio's eyes fell on a boy older than him, might already a college student ,he thought. Tobio was sensing a protective stance from the older boy as he glides in the room achingly slow and guard up like a prey carefully prancing to a predator's cave praying to go unnoticed and unscathed.

"My things!" In Tobio's peripherals, you attempted to jump out of bed but the boy beside you held you down in the bed. He fought the desire to look at your pale face and settled your things down carefully to an empty chair near your bed, his flowers on top of the pile.

He shuddered when he remembered what you'd said barely two hours ago, and he wanted to leave right now and he would. Tobio's bow was rushed and his feet was shuffling fast, covering the distance of your bed to the door when you suddenly called out a "Thank you, Kageyama!"

His shuffling momentum was hard to resist as he closed the door and took a few steps more before he registered what you just called him out for. He was left confused as he hastily made his way back to his own room, your words, your voice that he swears was like a siren calling onto him replaying in his mind like his GC ringtone. And he slowed down, relaxing his pace and a soft smile plastered in his face.

And the rest of the classroomsーinfested with his sheepish admirersーhe passed didn't let that sight pass by, and bet that they knew what happened in your classroom, an incident that got them bitter with you and of how you responded to their King. Yet no one will dare touch you as the days went by, afraid of the consequences of their pathetic bullying.

But you did mind Tobio's actions because one, your newfound haters would stare at your every move, much when you're alone. You wanted to confront them but it might ignite something that shouldn't, so you let them.

Two, the note Tobio left with his irises are bugging you til you fall asleep, for nights.

swearing 'am not a stalker but seeing you gliding thru ice with confidence gives warmth in me to strive harder in mine too. irises for you, my confidence.

You scoffed firsthand, thinking What confidence? He even walked out on me.; thinking about how did he knew about your sport. You were sure you were secretive because you didn't want to announce to the world what you're doing, and letting others see you compete and then, failing in front of their eyes. You don't like that. But the second time you stared and really look at the irises, it somehow gave you the same thing Tobio thought you gave him. And his penmanship somehowーdon't judge Y/n.

Third was this. Tadashi courting Hitoka and immediately getting a yes from her. If it happened a month before receiving the irises, you might already be crying your heart out to sleep. Strange. It wasn't as painful as you imagined it would be. Your unrequited feelings for Tadashi of a year was somehow wavering without you noticing. And it gave you confidence to talk to him eye to eye now, brave that he won't see anything other than genuine happiness for him and his girlfriend.

And fourth, you didn't hear from Tobio since that day. Sure, you dwell on the same floor, on the same building, and on the same school but no news of him, even at the slightest sighting. And you were curious why. You're sure he's thinking he was rejected, because that was what Ran told you when she talked to you about that as soon as your fever's gone. Shoyo reportedly assumed you rejected Tobio, and the whole Karasuno population was thinking that was it.

But no. God no.

You were clearly misunderstood, but no crying on spilled milk right now. You'd let the others think what they want to think. What bothers you is what Tobio might think of you.

"You're strange. But don't worry, he's okay with everything you can give him, Y/n. And he didn't gave up on you. Spoken directly from his mouth. Though, he's really really busy right now."

Ran was talking in a moderate tone, ignoring the fact that Kei and Tadashi might be listening to them even if they had their own conversation on your backs. And she winked at you.

"You're interested with Tobio now huh?"

You scoffed and sat against your chair properly. "No." But Ran didn't buy that answer as the events after that Friday held evidence.

Hyacinths with a bit of white tulips graced your desk as you came up that Monday and it smelled so sweet, it calmed your weary bones from the kind of practice you had that weekend. Your classmates present at that minute were already teasing you with Tobio and you just had to shake your head in hopes that they will stop with the teasing.

forgive me. i don't want to hover around and pressure you, impose myself to you. love watching you from afar doing things you love. still uncertain about what you think of this, and i care about that, but i'm not gonna give up on you. that, i assure you, my hyacinth.

"Ah, Y/n-san." Ashen colored hair peeked from the door and you remembered him from one of the boys that lingered with Ran last school year. You don't know his name, but his trademark hair had made you remember who he is, well, who was he. You pursed your lips thinking you don't have a clue on what was his name.

The boy bowed to your classmates in excuse and made his way to you, carrying a messily gift-wrapped box. He handed it to you, grinning. "He said you'll need it so use it."

"Huh? Whー"

"Just take it, Y/n-san. Please." He nudged the box on you when you pushed it slightly back to him. "They'll be late. Ran-san's scary today."

"Okay." You trailed your fingers to the flowery designed wrapper as you placed it on your desk. "What's your name?"

"Yokiro-des!"

You nodded, "Yokiro-kun, tell Kageyama-kun that I appreciate this, but he need not do this.." You trailed in your last phrase, which saddened the boy's face.

"Y/n-san, Kageyama-san's really smiling lately, and out of nowhere. He's also more focused on volleyball, heard him and Ran-san talking about working him off to get picked on World Youth camp this year."

Why was the kid telling you all this? You were maybe too confused that it reflected on your face to which he chuckled as more of your classmates piled into the room, eyeing you both.

"What I am saying is that, he's more motivated now because of you, and we are liking that change. Though, Suga-san said not to pressure you.. but please Y/n-san.. let him do these things to you." And he bowed in front of you, shocking you. You immediately held his shoulders to stop him from bowing, and he did, smiling as he straightened up his back.

"Kageyama-san's a good man, Y/n-san."

Tobio sneezed and sneezed as he went on setting for Shoyo for the spike-receive drill Ran had made them practice, Tadashi and Kei on the other side receiving.

"Are we not done yet?" Shoyo whispered to Tobio as Ran ranted out to Tadashi and Kei again.

But Tobio's attention wasn't with him, nor on Ran, nor anyone in the court. It was on the other side of the building, on a girl talking to his kouhai who he asked to give the gift.

"And you! Tobio! Why are your fingers bloody? It's smudging on their arms and hands!" Shoyo just noticed his hands and irked out, getting his towel and wiped his blood-smudged hands.

Tobio sighed and looked at Ran, "Can we go now? I can't fail any subjects this summer."

Ran scowled at him and walked out from the court. He sighed again and went for his tumbler in the side of the court.

"Thank you, Ou-sama."

"Oy! Ran! Your shoes!"

"I HATE YOU!"

In normal days, Tobio might've let Ran drag on with her vents about her boyfriend but not now. He's gonna be late for Math and he can't always take Tadashi to tutor him for that, after he knew what was he to you accidentally. Ran somehow mentioned it, just the surface of it, never intentional to spill it to him, but it's all the same.

And he's trying so so hard not to hold that up on Tadashi, his friend obviously was oblivious of you having a crush on him, he almost thinks that the trio is as dense as they can be.

The whole month after that courting incident was intense for him. He rashly told Ran to give him doubles of what she can give to him, making his academics also a priority, too. And the weekends were with Miwa, learning how to knit, or with his Eita-san and his guitar, or secretly with you, watching your routines.

The latter was his calm through his stormy month, and it will be through the times to come. And the thought of you will always be with him, even during the time when he was really picked for World Youth. The Karasuno team was overjoyed of that feat, and you are, too, when Ran relayed to you the news. I mean, that's World Youth, whoa great feat, you thought.

"Tell him I'm proud of him, Ran. Okay?"

You heard a collective teasing hum at your backs and you smacked Tadashi's thigh that was just behind you. They were teasing more through the month after the hyacinths, their other volleyball kouhais are in it too whenever they have the chance, him in a distance watching with his blueberry eyes. And you wanted to let him know that you loved the rose colored earmuff and a dark blue scarf with your messily knitted name in white. use it whenever you skate, hoping this is not imposition. just want to keep you warm, cant get you fevers now. you have to continue practicing. i believe in you.

"Where's the World Youth now? Still in Poland?" Tadashi asked through the lunch one day after Tobio's camp started. You, fourー well six because Shoyo and Hitoka are here too in Tobio's absenceー were sharing tables to have lunch together.

"Tobio said it's Norway this year, and two weeks. Good thing he doesn't have failed subjects this year." Ran sighed in relief and quirked a brow on you, and winked making Hitoka chuckle in your side. "He did good Y/n."

You unconsciously nod and smiled as you ate and Shoyo snickered, earning your attention. In that swift moment, he immediately put down his phone and went on eating, and Kei noticed that.

"Do that again with me, Hinata."

"You only want to stimulate him, Kei."

"That's the point, Ran." Kei grinned and reached out for your hand across the table. "Exchange seats with her, Tadashi-kun. Can't slip this chance to torture his simpleton head." He murmured low that made you blush, much more when Tadashi snickered and abide to Kei's schemes, transferring your bento on Kei's side.

Your brows knitted when Kei wrapped his arm around your waist as soon as you took your seat, "Just for a picture Y/n. This will turn out good, I promise." He whispered in your ear, breathy and you glanced at Shoyo grinning, taking pictures of you and Kei.

"Don't want him to feel insecure." You mumbled back at him that froze him in his seat, stared at you in awe. The others with you can't make out what you said, but Kei did, he was so close how could he not hear you. Kei cleared his throat and took his hand away from you, leaned away in silent apology.

"Don't send that, Hinata."

"But I already sent it at the GC."

You pursed your lips as they synched movement, pulling out their phones. You wanted to lean on Kei to take a look but it's inappropriate for you after what you've said, but he sensed you wanted to know what's happening and did the unthinkable.

They guffawed amidst the incessant dings went on from their phones, and a soft ding from yours, and it went on. You pulled your phone while your eyes are on them watching you fish out your phone.

☆ VOLLEYBALL IDIOTS - MAIN ☆

OWL | Akinori

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! @Tobio Kageyama

CAT | Mori

That's fast unlike @Tobio Kageyama

DT | Mai

What the hell, Kei! That's foul!

JZJ | Yuuji

@Tobio Kageyama

FOX | Tsumu

Invite her to the Okinawa trip next week!

We'll have more fun without Tobio!

CRW | Koushi

@Kei Tsukishima! 😤

CRW | Ryuunosuke

WHAT THE HELL! THE BRO CODE @Kei Tsukishima!

OWL | Yukippe

LMAO! @Tobio Kageyama my condolences

ITC | Motoya

Oh ho ho ho @Tobio Kageyama

SJ | Hajime

Not good Kei but LMAO

@Tooru Oikawa @Tobio Kageyama

CAT | Tetsu

🤦‍♂️

FOX | Samu

Hey! Stop teasing them!

@Tobio Kageyama

FOX | Rintaro

LOL! @Tobio Kageyama say something! Stop with the seen!

*attaches 6 pictures*

Kei Tsukishima added you in the group chat

Kei Tsukishima changed your nickname to TOBIO'S Y/N

CRW | Tobio

Just woke up and this happens

Tobio Kageyama kicked Kei Tsukishima in the group chat

Shinsuke Kita added Kei Tsukishima in the group chat

Kei Tsukishima kicked Tobio Kageyama in the group chat

Keiji Akaashi added Tobio Kageyama in the group chat

OWL | Keiji

Stop it. You two. Have shame on Y/n-san. SMH.

CRW | Tobio

Good noon there in Japan, Y/n. Hope you're having a nice lunch. 🥰

I'm sorry for the commotion.

You can leave if you don't like it here. I'm sorry.

CAT | Lev

Why are you calm here but so angry in the other GC, Tobio?

CAT | Sou

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

CRW | Tadashi

LEV!

STZ | Eita

LOL! 😆

FOX | Rintaro

I swear I don't know him

TOBIO'S Y/N

It's okay @Tobio. I'll be staying if y'all dont mind. Feel free to kick me anytime. And good morning! Have your stretches and breakfast.

And that was Kei's idea. I'm sorry.

CRW | Ran

First interaction through phone 👀

CRW | Yuu

👀

SJ | Akira

👀

JZJ | Hana

👀

OWL | Kaori

👀

STZ | Taichi

@Morisuke Yaku, tea!

CAT | Mori

🍵

CRW | Tobio

Okay, then stay 🥰 I hope you wont mind them being noisy.

FOX | Aran

Contrasting from GC to GC, I see.

TOBIO'S Y/N

Be yourself guys. Please don't mind me.

Happy to meet you all. 😊

You heard Kei and Tadashi laughed at their phones, typing away but nothing from them came up to the GC. You quickly considered what was said that there's really another GC where Tobio went amok. You smiled and patted Kei's shoulder before continuing your lunch, and Shoyo captured that again, sending it to the GC where Tobio's cursing Kei out and about. The agony of Tobio being halfway across the world is unsurmountable, he wanna strangle Kei like hell.

And you were really invited to the week-long Okinawa summer trip happening that weekend, but you had to decline. First, you're busy with the practice and the national competition you're preparing for is four months away, you have to focus. And second, it's kinda off thinking that Tobio is out of the country and doing everything he can to improve himself and you are just gonna go with his friends and laze out from practice. If he's working hard, you'll have to work hard too.

You shook your head at the thought as you untie your boots and blades and change to your slip-ons, keeping the skating footwear in your reserved locker in Sendai Ice Rink. It's already 7:33pm and you're hungry as hell, should go home directly, but the skies had plans.

"Y/n, someone asked me to give these to you." The friendly guard handed you a bouquet of red carnations, a box of pizza and is this chicken?, and an umbrella. Your eyes widened at the sight of it. You knew who was it from, you don't have to ask. He came home already.

"Where's he?"

As you were running, you're aware that the skies are having lightning shows and distant thunders are audible. It might rain soon. But you held the umbrella on one hand, the foods on your other, bouquet tucked into the plastic, bag with your tumbler, polaroid and towels not so heavy on your back.

missed your voice. missed how you seem to dance in my eyes. missed how your eyes glitter everytime i sneak a glance on you. missed you. so much. sorry for being away without saying a proper bye. wont do it again. hope red carnations can express enough the longing I have to see you.

For the past two weeks, you were left wondering about how you feel about Tobio after Kei said to sort out your feelings and work around it. You were left wondering how will you react if ever he's in front of you, standing, staring back at you even if he's got nothing to say; wondering how will you feel when he spills his heart for you just a little, face to face, again. How would you feel right now. How these months changed your perception of him, how he evolved in your eyes.

You have to see him, right now.

Heavy drops of rain came while you're halfway to the bus stop, huffing, catching your breaths, you opened the umbrella and went on running, wishing for Tobio to still be there. He still has to be there.

And you're thankful that the gods had answered your prayers, because in a distance, you can see Tobio's standing figure under the bus stop's shed, enjoying the rain in his fingertips, luggage just beside him. And he looked captivating. You stopped running and walked slowly as cars from the exit of the parking lot of the ice rink went by. Your eyes are still training on Tobio, basking his pouting side-profile to which you scoffed.

And he may have heard you scoffing through the sound of the rain and thunder because he had turned his head to you in surprise, as cars still pass by in front of you, his blueberry eyes still as deep and inquisitive. You can feel the hairs on the back of your neck rising at the seem-familiar but unknown feeling you can't deny you have been feeling when he's around you like this. This is some sort of a confirmation is it? You smiled at the thought as you watched the cars pass and to him.

He has many instances to which you make his heart skip a beat, and this was his worst one. He can feel that his heart did skip a beat, his throat constricting, eyes maybe watering, breathing heavy and raspy, hands all clammy and sweaty on the handle of his luggage, and wobbly legs. He can feel it to his bone, that he missed you. And you're standing just a few meters away from him, cars passing between the two of you, his umbrella in your hand, the food he ordered and the bouquet on the other. Your hair's all messed up and your breaths ragged, he thought maybe you ran all the way here to catch up to him and it made his heart swell a bit more.

He huffed as he composed himself, Eita, Tooru and Hajime's words kept ringing in his ears: Breathe in and breathe out. Don't scare her away, Tobio. Be clear and straightforward on your intentions, no sugarcoating. But don't give up even if things go wrong, it'll be alright.

Tobio watches you as you glanced up to the cars and back to him, a small smile plastered on your face, to which he feels all giddy. He's too whipped for you.

As soon as the cars were gone, you made your way to Tobio's space and shot a playful quirk on your brows that left him stunned.

"Okaeri, Kageyama."

You saw him steady his breath and huffed, smiling, which surprised you. "Tadaima, Y/n."

You smiled back as you walk past him to the bench of the bus stop. "Let's eat these together." You sat and tap the space beside you and Tobio made his way there and sat, all nervous.

"It's for you. I-I can't eatー"

"C'monー" You placed the pizza and chicken between the two of you, the flowers and your bag atop his luggage. "ーI'm hungry but I can't finish these all."

He squeaked an "Okay." to which you laughed lightly, biting your lip to control the laughter when you saw his face contorted in realization that his voice failed him.

"Don't be so nervous. Won't bite." You winked at him as you got a piece of pizza and offered it to him. "Eat." Pouting, he bowed his head and took the pizza slice you offered.

"Can't believe you went straight here from the airport." You took your own slice and ate, eyeing his luggage. "What time did you arrive?"

Swallowing his bite, he turned to you, "Arrived at Haneda by 3:30pm, then here by 5:45? Bought these at the station."

You offered another slice to him, eyes drifting to the flowers as he took the slice. "You should've went straight home and waited for Monday to see me." Lightning flashed through the skies as you spoke. "You should've went for a proper dinner with your family as you've been away for two weeー"

"I wanna see you immediately after I arrived here in Miyagi, Y/n, before I get to see everyone else."

You felt your heart hammering through the thunder and you can't help but smile. You put your hand down your thighs, with the slice in your hand, quivering breaths eliciting maybe from the soft winds, you wished it was from the winds.

"You know, Kageyamaー" You instinctly rubbed your knees with your free hand, head low as your voice. "You make me feel giddy."

You heard his soft hum at the end of the thunder, "You make me feel giddy, too."

The heavy rain failed to hide the soft tension between you and Kageyama. You stared at the highway where the cars and buses pass by through the growing minute of unspoken silence and soft breathy chuckles, the slice of pizza in your hand ignored for a while.

"I'm sorry Y/n." He said after the chuckles between the both of you curbed. "Am I going too fast? Am I pressuring you in some way?"

You smiled and hummed, shaking your head on his question, still can't manage an eye contact with him knowing it'll take your feelings a little bit higher and deeper.

"Not at all." You cleared your throat to spill the thoughts that have been messing with you through these months. "I should be the one to apologize. I spoke without thinking, might've offended you."

This time, Tobio was the one who shook his head and wide eyed, staring at you still head low and with a soft smile. "Y-you made me realize something, Y/n. That we should know each other more before getting to that stage. We still have our own individual goals to accomplish and I want us both to reach them beforeー"

Anxiousness was building up in his chest and the next words might've been a little louder, disturbing the peaceful sound of the heavy rain and thunder.

"If you really wanna be with me, Y/n. T-that's if you really wanna be with me." But it went breathy through the end, his voice wavering in embarassment and nervousness.

You were too stunned to speak for a few minutes, eating the slice to ease your nerves. And the anticipation for the worst gets the better of Tobio, his thighs were popping and you might've noticed it because you kicked his shoe gently and smiled at him, staring at his blueberry orbs under the light of the bus stop shed.

"I was really anxious of what you might've thought about what I blurted out of shock, of what you might've thought about me. And that, I might wanna pin more memories of you in my corkboard.. Kageyama Tobio."

You averted your eyes as you felt your heart throbbing on your throat, swallowing a large lump as you go. His blueberry eyes held storms, and you fought the feeling of being swallowed because you might like it there, too fast, too soon.

"And I like the thought of us reaching our own goals first, coz I might wanna date a world-class setter someday."

You heard him suck his breath harshfully and choke on the pizza he's eating. You fumbled fast on the side of your bag for your tumbler and handed it to him, to which he took immediately and drank from. You laughed when his choking calmed, wide eyes staring at you, lips opening and closing in attempts to speak out.

"Calm down, will you?" You spoke through your laughs, finishing the slice of pizza and taking a piece of chicken.

"I also wanna date a world-class figure skater someday, too!"

Your laughs went louder, Tobio can't get enough of the image you're showcasing in front of him right now. It's like a small rainbow amidst the brewing storm. He can't thank the people enough who were responsible of pushing him to confess to you. Without them, he might never got a chance to be here, witnessing the spectacle of your laughs that sounded more thunderous than thunder itself, shaking his whole being.

"Can we take a picture?" You asked while taking out your polaroid from the bag, setting the flowers on Tobio's lap who nodded sheepishly.

You took two pictures out from your polaroid and a ton out of your phone and his. Some of those were wacky, some just him eating, or you eating, or both of you eating. One with you holding the bouquet, one of him laughing because you told a joke before you hit the shutter and one of him trying his best to pry your fingers from your phone to which it resulted to a picture with your faces squished together for the whole frame,his face all scrunched up and you laughing.

"I'm saving this last one. This is exclusive." You took notice of his pouting face to which you laughed again. "I'm uploading one pic and I'll be tagging you cutie, is that okay?"

He nodded, pouting while eating his piece of chicken. "Just be ready to be bombarded with comments." He offered you a chicken piece. "Continue eating, the bus will come by in a few minutes."

You took a bite on the chicken he's holding out next to your mouth while your attention and hands are still on your phone and posting the picture. Welcome back, future world-class setter. Then you tucked your phone back in your bag and took the chicken from him and ate.

You continued casual talks with Tobio as you both ate and wait for the bus. Getting to know him from his perspective was actually better than how Ran and the others view of him. From his family, to how he started volleyball, up to how he begged for Ran to drag him to where he is right now, the star-setter of Miyagi next to that Oikawa Tooru that he had mentioned.

He was raw, and part of you wanted to be a part of that rawness.

And Tobio could feel the crows in his stomach whenever he asks you questions and you answer either with a giggle or a smile. He swears he tries to pay attention to your answers, and he did, but with the auditory memory of it being mixed with your giggles and smiles. He wanted to embed them all in his mind.

"Thank you, Y/n. For giving me a chance." Tobio blurted out as he takes the umbrella from your hand, kissing that hand tenderly and respectfully as the bus finally comes into view. He rubbed the back of your hand with his thumb, creating gentle circular strokes as to which you both stared at as the bus came to a halt.

You squeezed his hand and tugged lightly to make him follow you into the bus, glad your stop and his are just on one way, but that just means you have barely 15 minutes until you both will be dragged back to your priorities, your goals.

The bus was half empty when you both piled in. You sat by the window, hand still intertwined with his as he sat beside you. You both felt the drain from your athletic bodies as you leaned on his shoulder and his head on yours, the gentle hum of the running bus along the rain, the hushed murmurs of the passengers and Tobio's breaths giving you peace.

"Thank you for having the courage to ask me out, Kageyama. Now, I'm assuring you that I won't entertain anyone but you. I wanna make this work, because I'm starting to like you." You mumbled through your breaths, confident enough that he heard every single word you said, and he did because he chuckled and his next words will leave you fumbling and giddy all over again.

"Then stop calling me Kageyama, Y/n. You have to get used on Tobio or anything other than my last name because you'll be bearing that in the future, too."

You sucked your breath and froze, and he did too, maybe surprised at what he had said, both of you resembling deers in the headlights. You swallowed hard as you felt your face burn, entangling your hand that he held just to cover your face and leaned back on the seat, with a sound between a groan and a whimper.

"IーI'm sorry. Got ahead of myself. I'm sorry Y/n."

You peeked at him and he had his eyes shut close and he was mumbling incoherent phrases you can't understand, maybe cursing himself for what he had just said.

"I'm really curious as to why Shoyo said you're not good with your words, Tobio." You brushed the back of your hand with his to get his attention. "Don't worry." You cooed at him, smiling when he caught your gaze. "If things go well, we'll get there. Let's do task focus first, hm?"

"Can you promise that it'll be me when you reach the top, Y/n?" His voice was low as his head hung, laced with shame, pursing his lips, like he don't wanna utter those words. "I'm really pushing my luck, am I?"

"I can't promise.." You trailed and smiled at him, "But can I try my best and show you?"

His eyes were wide-eyed, and you grinned at the sight of it. Who else won't be surprised? Just four-five months ago, it was Tadashi, but now.. you have started falling for this man in front of you, and hard. The bus stop has witnessed the evolution of your feelings, and it's all thanks to Kei, and to anyone that brought Tobio to you.

The feeling isn't like with Tadashi, it's calm even when the surrounding elements were on rageーthe eye of the storm, a serene feeling. And you can't deny that you have the feeling that with Tobio, it's where you belong, all along. So you wanna do everything to make this right.

Now the challenge to the top is before you.

"I'll wait for you, even if it takes forever Y/n."

You smirked. "Why? Are you already on top, huh? You just represented Japan to the world, that doesn't mean you're at the top already."

"HEY!" His voice went louder, clearly offended and you just giggled at his scrunched up face that faltered at the sight of your laughing eyes. The passengers of the bus glanced up at both of you, embarassment momentarily creeped up your skins. Tobio immediately composed himself and huffed, turning away his face from you, chin up.

"The coach of Italy's Ali Roma was there in the World Camp and he said he'll recruit me and wait for me to take the offer. Poland's ZAKSA too." It was his turn to smirk at you, who has your jaw already dropped at what you just heard.

"Shut.. up.." You're still in the trance of shock. Italy and Poland are world-renowned in the world of volleyball, along with Argentina and Brazil, and Tobio was just invited to two of those countries. "Oh my God, Tobio."

He huffed and took your hand, "I planned to inform you after your national championships in November to reduce the pressure butー" His smile was soft now, blueberry irises staring at you. "I want you to be included in every decision I will make, even if it's still not appropriate in the state of our relationship now."

"I don't know what to feel. You're pressuring me but you're too sweet." Your voice was breathy as you leaned back to your seat, hand clasped hard at his. "But I won't give in on the pressure. Task focus."

He kissed your hand again and gave it a squeeze, somehow sending you your needed support. "You can do it, I know you can. I'll be right here, your number 1 supporter."

And you held onto what he said, onto all of his words as you pin your pictures with him in your corkboard along with the pictures of the bouquets he has given you.

Tobio was slumped on the hardwood floor of Fukurodani's volleyball court, eyes glued on his smartphone, with the rest of the teams on practice games on the courts. He came excusedーactually beggedーfor the games that late November afternoon as he watched you in his phone live from Niigata, on a national championship participated by the whole country. He asked to be with you in your competition but you vehemently declined, reminding him of both your goals.

He doesn't know much how the competition works but he knows your basic moves and some of the names of those twirls and loops. What he was waiting for was if you could do that quad-axle you've been practicing for the last 4 months. Well, he doesn't mind if you could do it or not, you're still the best for him without that move but you specifically told him it was important because that move equivalents to a large point. He whined first, reminding when you almost got yourself injured, but he somehow put his faith on you that you can do it, in a condition that you won't be injured, ever.

He saw you gliding into the rink, and his nerves all went perked up. He breathed out, puffing his cheeks to which Ran saw from the bench and took a picture of him, sending it to the GC, where the others were also watching online after Tobio told them you're competing. Atsumu even teased you that you should've invited them, the college ones, to watch live in Niigata, Tetsurou placing bets on that quad-axle and Eita whining why didn't you use any of his songs for your performance, or even in your free skate one.

And you were thankful for them, as you started gliding with the fast-paced music through the ice, wishing all your routines will go well, and reminding yourself that this will be a one step closer to Tobio.

And Tobio prayed to the gods as he watched, practically wishing for everything to go well with you not falling and uninjured, and maybe a bonus: winning. And he did shouted victorious when that anticipated quad-axle was perfectly executed along the end of your performance, pulling the whole gym's attention to him, initially getting a heavy hand on his shoulders from Ran from the scare but he didn't care. Your hardwork for that stunt was paid off as later that early evening, you were announced as the national champion of the event.

In his high spirits, he played the last set of the practice game for the day, and of the training camp, and Karasuno dumped Inarizaki by 16:25.

And that Wednesday after the extended holiday, your win was celebrated by the whole school, not curious at all as to how they knew because Tobio posted your polaroid photo with him that night after winning, took a photo with the future world-class figure skater before anyone else does. And it melted your heart, now a bit more as you saw him waiting for you with the whole volleyball team in the hallway to your classroom, a bouquet of red dahlias in hand.

told you you can do it. congratulations on your first hurdle, on to the next one. will be with you every step of the way with full faith and confidence. you can overcome everything, i believe in you.

And the week after that, you received a text from the Figure Skating National Team, inviting you to join them as soon as you graduate high school. To your excitement, you bolted to Tobio's room, ignoring the calls of your english teacher as you storm through the halls, bounding and phone in hand.

Tobio was wide eyed when he saw you, immediately approaching you with concern, running his fingers to fix your hair and before he could blabber his concerns, you shove your phone into his face, making him more wide eyed and he hugged you maybe too tight you felt your bones nearly crush beneath his arms, teases from his classmates and maybe from those peeking to the hallway for the commotion were evident.

"Y/n! So proud of you! The National Team! It's the National Team!"

You smirked with pride seething through your skin as you pulled away, "Got there first. Hurry up, slow poke."

"Are you challenging me?"

"Kageyama, we're still in the middle of the class."

"C'mon, miss. It's rare to see Kageyama-kun like that!"

"Excuse me, Kimoto-kun?"

"Yep!" You snickered at him and bowed to his chemistry teacher. "We'll talk later." And you swiftly stood on your toes to place a kiss on his cheeks, much to his bewilderment, made his face burn like hell, and you were oblivious as you hop back to your classroom typing a reply to the National Team.

Tobio seethed through his teeth, in annoyance to the challenge and flusteredness and giddiness for your actions. He can't wait to be your boyfriend so he can kiss you properly. So he took the challenge a little more seriously.

You're rubbing your palms together as your team are voicing their words of encouragement for you, your eyes on him. He's just as nervous as you, with a few of the Olympic team on his back with their own words of encouragement.

Tobio mouthed a "Hug?" through the noise around both of you and you obliged, making a beeline to him and crushed yourself into his open arms. You immediately felt calm with his arms wrapped around you and you chuckled at your own realization as he kissed your head.

"Hey! Tobio! Her hair! Don't mess with it!"

"Ran. Let them. She's nervous."

"But plushie!"

You peeked at Ran and her husband with their twins and 3-month-old baby, but Tobio covered your eyes, "Don't peek on them. You'll get ideas too far off from our plans, and I might like it." You laughed because he read you too well, washing your nervousness and tension.

"I must winー"

He shook his head and kissed your forehead, brushing his fingers on either of your cheeks as you both heard your name getting called out to get ready.

"Go bring them your thunderstorm, and take your last step towards me. I'll be waiting."

Tobio never cared of you winning. Him knowing you're doing your best to make a name for the world to revel is enough for him, and he'll not dare say that in front of you, for he values the challenge you both made for yourselves four years ago in that bus home.

He saw you taking grand wins and heartbreak losses throughout these years and he's proud of you with all that he is, that you didn't gave up, determined to reach that goal. It makes him feel giddy, heart swelling more and more, thinking that he is one of your motivation, because he's waiting for you to reach the top where he already is.

You're already at the center of the Grand Prix Final event, gliding through the ice, after 3 qualifiers to which you aced and were seeded from the world championship last 9 months in Pyongyang, Korea and Milan, Italy. This is the perfect time to have grand slams within a year, and you'll be satisfied as your name would surely be resounded through the world like thunder.

While performing the song you picked and dedicated for Tobio, you can't help but to shed brushes of tears, remembering everything that has got you to this stage, what you did to get to him, all the pictures from your corkboard through the 4 years playing on your mind like a powerpoint. And Tobio stood there in awe as he watched you perfecting everything you have practiced for this day, cheers from his noisy olympic teammatesーwell, it's mainly Atsumu and Koraiーbehind him. And he can't help but sniff and wipe his tears rolling to his cheeks, making Ran's twins laugh at him.

And if you get the chance to glance up at him during the length of the performance, you smile and wink at him through your tears, the event umpires taking notice of that little action, soon taking notice of the Japan's Men's Volleyball National Team in the ISU Grand Prix Finals, too. And taking notice of the blueberry eyed man on which the focus was on you alone, ignoring the teases from his friends.

That moment will trend more than your 3 grand slam wins that year, as you finally kissed Tobio on his lips to which he pulled you more in for a deeper, much awaited kiss of four years, saying yes to being his girlfriend.

"Huh? I thought you're already in a relationship?" Korai blabbered as he inspected your trophy, Ran's 3-year old curious little girl on his lap inspecting the trophy too.

"He even bought a ring not long ago, Y/n."

Your eyes widen on a red-faced Tobio who was now battering Shoyo, with Toshi in between. You groaned as you covered your face of which you felt reddening too, and you feel your entire being getting giddy deep to your bones as your team went teasing as soon as they heard of it.

God, Tobio really knows how to fluster you even after all these years. You're convinced that he's the lightning of his own storm, and you're glad you were strucked with that lightning, meeting his expected effect, a thunder so loud it'd be heard across the world.

And you love him, and this time if he'll ask you that progressingly bold question, you know you'll not double take on saying yes this time.

Reblogs and interactions are appreciated. Theories will be entertained. Cassie 2023.

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theogony · 5 months

Text

the case study into sakusa kiyoomi's facial structure

written for the haikyuu big bang 2023 (@hqbb) ! Been wanting to write Sakuatsu for forever now and finally gave me the impetus to start writing :3 check out the beautiful companion art by twilightdays on twitter here!

Atsumu grins, foxlike and sharp, before turning to Osamu.

“If I manage to get a smile out of Sakusa Kiyoomi within 3 months, you’ll agree I’m the funnier twin and give me an entire 2 weeks’ free supply of your onigiri.”

There are very few things Atsumu likes to almost surely bet on - examples being volleyball, Bokuto’s ability to break the sound barrier when calling Akaashi, and Osamu’s ability to be an annoying, stuck-up ass.

Osamu hums, before holding out his hand with mock solemnity.

“A week and you’ve got yourself a deal.”

The newest addition to the list? Sakusa Kiyoomi’s unflinching jawline.

–no one's convinced that Sakusa Kiyoomi can smile, least of all Atsumu (which is a downright shame considering the fact his face could be chiselled out of pure marble) - but by god if Atsumu is a quitter; especially when his drunken pride and Osamu's onigiris are on the line.

Alternatively, the 5 times in which Atsumu tries to make Sakusa smile, and the one time he does (ft. errant volleyballs, bad cooking, drunken decisions, and one nosy Olympic team)

read the rest on AO3! (formatted better there) / read below the cut!

It’s close to 1 in the morning when his phone buzzes, and Atsumu is nowhere near sober enough to comprehend the texts appearing on his screen.

He squints, blearily, trying to decipher through giant blobs of colour who exactly the notification is from, almost regretting the drinking contest he went up (and won!) against Aran. Next to him, Suna isn’t doing much better, for once phone left unguarded on the tabletop where he’s slumped. Aran and Kita are off in some corner, doing god knows what, and the only one remotely sober is Osamu, their designated driver, still picking at the leftover onigiri. There’s a particular glint in his eye that Atsumu knows means that he’s busy doing some particular chef analysis with the ingredients and god knows what else, so he resigns himself to swiping at the messages.

Omi-Omi: Remember we’re both practising our sets tomorrow

Do not be late.

Atsumu rereads the message twice, before throwing his phone (as gently as he can while drunk) with a loud groan.

“Fuck Sakusa Kiyoomi. Honestly”

Osamu turns his head around at the loud proclamation, before wordlessly joining Atsumu on the table next to him, retrieving Atsumu’s phone along the way. Instead of handing it to Atsumu like a sane person, he whacks his shoulder with it - ignoring his cry of pain - prompting Atsumu to monologue on “Stupid, Stupid Sakusa Kiyoomi and his stupid, stupid rules and stupid, stupid face.”

Osamu seems content to let him continue rambling, but with an unexpected amount of effort, Suna props himself up on the table, fully facing Atsumu.

“You’re kind of obsessed with Sakusa, aren’t you?”

Atsumu sputters.

His new fixation is one born of superiority. Not in volleyball - it doesn’t take a genius to notice Sakusa Kiyoomi’s sharp instincts and sheer skill - but in charm. Like, let alone having suaveness - hell, Sakusa’s Kiyoomi’s face is probably stuck in a perpetual line of disgruntle and disappointment - which occasionally curves up at a specific angle between 5 and 8 degrees when he looks down upon you, mocking.

And if Atsumu perhaps thinks it’s a shame, considering his face, he isn’t drunk enough to admit that - even to himself.

“Komori San did tell me Sakusa’s an emotional guy though”, Kita hums vaguely enough, having seemingly emerged from the deepest corners of the bar to provide sage wisdom on the perpetual disposition of Kiyoomi. Suna vigorously nods, before attempting to trawl his endless gallery for an almost certainly photoshopped image of Sakusa smiling.

“Omi cannot smile. It’s like. Statistically impossible.”

Even imagining it sends a flush throughout his body. In horror. Of course.

“You know what I think?” Osamu finally drawls, resting his chin upon his palm with a grin, and Atsumu suddenly feels a flicker of fear. “Tsum-Tsum here”, he helpfully adds, pinching his cheeks with a saccharine grin, “simply isn’t funny enough for Sakusa Kiyoomi.”

How. Dare. He.

Atsumu’s face blooms scarlet. As if he could never be enough for that stuck-up prick. Sakusa Kiyoomi should feel lucky that he even spends time with him! A man who doesn’t know how to handle social interaction and function without the help of a 5-metre radius from everyone should feel honoured Atsumu even takes pity to keep trying!

"How dare ya say I'm not funny enough for Sakusa Kiyoomi!"

Osamu takes one look at the petulant expression on his face and starts laughing even harder, and Atsumu suddenly decides that no, perhaps it isn't too late to repent for the fact he never ate him in his mother's womb.

Before another full brawl can break out between the two of them, Aran holds his hands up in a placating gesture.

“We could always settle it using a wager.”

Atsumu grins, foxlike and sharp, before turning to Osamu.

“If I manage to get a smile out of Sakusa Kiyoomi within 3 months, you’ll agree I’m the funnier twin and give me an entire 2 weeks’ free supply of your onigiri.”

Osamu hums, before holding out his hand with mock solemnity.

“A week and you’ve got yourself a deal.”

The newest addition to the list? Sakusa Kiyoomi’s unflinching jawline.

There are 10 minutes left into the first game of the season in Tokyo, in a gym with over 3000 fans when Atsumu Miya lines up one of the last serves of the game. Though the distant cheering of the crowd is inspiring to some of the players - he knows Bokuto thrives off it, hell, in any other situation he would too - but this close to a victory - close enough he can nearly sink his teeth in - he can’t afford any slip-ups - any uncontrolled variables. The weight of the ball rests heavy and fits perfectly in the groove of his palm - but he doesn’t let the familiarity of the scene fool him into forgetting that playing against the Adlers is different from when it’s just practice matches.

And though it may frustrate him, well. If there’s one thing life has taught him through a myriad of scraped elbows and bruised dreams, it’s how to channel that spark of anger.

Atsumu smiles, fox-like and vicious as he hits a perfect serve toss - one slightly low, but still powerful enough to reach a fellow teammate, the resounding thwack memory at his point - comfortable enough to elicit a familiar welling up of nostalgia and competition. His eyes dart across the court, analysing the trajectory of the ball as it sails cleanly across the set (perfect path, his inner voice internally trills) - until the ball is smacked back against an impenetrable block of players, and he lands back on his feet, back in high-school again and staring at the faces of the triumphant team in front of him.

Damn it. This isn’t working.

The frustration he’s feeling is clear in the eyes of his other teammates - he can see it reflected across Ninja Shoyou’s face - can see it in the way Adriah’s grin strains a little at the edges - the way Oliver’s hands tighten imperceptibly.

But it’s nothing compared to the analytical grin Sakusa sports - eyes narrowed and face scowling, as though trying to figure out the key to cracking the game open.

And then his gaze shifts - and there’s a flicker of something colder underneath, gone after an instant, and it hits Atsumu like a bolt of lightning.

It makes him grin - makes him want to try something impulsive.

“Omi-kun”, he continues, deliberately pitching his voice low so that the others can’t hear. “Trust me, yeah?”

In his peripheral vision, he sees Sakusa give Atsumu a long look, before dropping his hands to his sides.

It’s all the cue he needs for him to recklessly set the ball high up into the air. His body moves into a long-remembered dance, fluid and fast as he steps into motion, habit honed into instinct at this point. One step, two, three—he loses count and jumps, calloused hand slamming into the sweat-sticky leather of the volleyball. The ball sails upwards - a dazzling comet to the rest of the court and a thinly veiled demand.

Well? Hit it.

There’s no doubt that Sakusa Kiyoomi is a brilliant player - there have been enough interviews - reports and articles on his “potential” and “style”.

But it’s one thing to read about it - and one thing to see his eyes twitch as he analyses the path of the ball in a way that is so perfectly like him - see his body flex as he responds to the arc of the ball, sending it perfectly across the court - the sharp zing through the air lost to the quick frenzy of players rearranging themselves to the unpredictable spin that he’s known for. Hirugami goes up too, but it’s a split second too late - and the thud of the ball as it hits the court is lost to the applause.

Though he can feel the confused exclamations from Hinata and feel more than hear Bokuto loudly screeching in his ear, Atsumu doesn’t pause to think before carefully bumping a jersey-clad shoulder against Sakusa’s briefly.

“Omi-kun”, he lightly drawls - giddy on adrenaline and excitement, inhibitions lowered now that one of his reckless decisions has already paid off. “No celebration?”

Sakusa sharply cuts his gaze away as he makes a soft noise under his breath - though not fast enough to completely hide the smirk he’s sporting - nor hide the familiar spark in his eyes.

“Your set was too far left.”

Fingers twitching, almost hesitant to reach out, Sakusa walks off to address the Adlers.

Demanding bastard, he thinks, but he’s still wearing a foxy grin as he trots behind him, maintaining a careful distance as they go.

He tries not to think about the half-hidden smirk on his face - and the near brush of their fingertips. He dimly wonders if it’d feel like electricity - like the same thrum of lightning whenever he sets a volleyball into motion - like fingers fluttering an instant before locking together for impact.

The sun has barely risen by the time the rest of the Jackals are up on their bus.

This, however, has done nothing except possibly increase the amount of vigour in Bokuto's voice as he sings another slurring edition of the latest hit on the radio. Even though Atsumu's 90% sure this counts in some way as a violation of the Geneva Conventions with the way it pierces through his skull, he's frankly not awake enough to comprehend much. He could bother Hinata into doing something, but unfortunately, said Hinata is currently miming a conductor with such zeal that Atsumu perhaps wonders if there's any lost love between Shoyou and music.

Meian ends up coming to their rescue, turning around and glaring at them with such wither and vitriol that it could rival Omi. Bokuto eventually shuffles back into his seat near Shoyou, as the bus quiets back down to a volume reminiscent of a traffic jam in the suburbs.

However, as an unceasing panic starts to set in suddenly, Atsumu wryly ponders that perhaps Bokuto’s one-man band was the only thing loud enough to drown out the large thumping of his heart as he sits next to Sakusa Kiyoomi.

At rest, like this, the sharp angles of his face smoothen out, light playing over his features with a soft, golden glow - an unintentional side effect from his constant attempts to find a comfortable sleeping position (though judging from the angle chosen, Atsumu can almost foresee the inevitable funk Kiyoomi’s going to be in due to an excess of kinks in his neck.)

The bus rolls over a peaceful bump, and as though the universe is agreeing with Atsumu’s astute deduction, shifts Kiyoomi slightly, bobbing his still immaculate curls. Atsumu hums, turning the other way before freezing as he feels the bus jolt again - this time sending an irritated Omi straight into the space between the seat-

-And Atsumu’s shoulder.

This close to him, Atsumu can feel the steady rhythm of Sakusa's breath - probably intensely regulated from all the yoga he does, because of course he does yoga - and can see the delicate curve of each of his eyelids, hooded and alluring. His moles are close enough for Atsumu to trace - and he has the irrational thought to try to connect them - like glittering stars in a night sky.

As a particularly harsh sun ray strikes the window, Kiyoomi tsks, shying away like a vampire, Atsumu muses, before his heart rate kicks up another notch, and he stills, unmoving - because Sakusa Kiyoomi is now unconsciously nuzzling himself into the crook of Atsumu’s neck.

His skin is impossibly soft, and his mouth twitches - curving imperceptibly - a facsimile of a smile. Studying him like this, unguarded and awash in the rosy sunlight, Atsumu can't help but feel faint at the sight of a completely unguarded Sakusa Kiyoomi - at the sight of him so peaceful.

So……..soft.

So….human.

He’s snapped back into reality by Bokuto's deep lungful of air, indicating another round of the song, and Adrian practically diving across the aisle to tackle him down. Despite his best attempts at stifling his surprise, he shifts imperceptibly - but even that much is enough to send Sakusa skittering back like a cat, eyes blown wide.

The two of them spend the rest of the bus ride in silence, content to let Hinata's chatter fill the space in between - and if Atsumu still steals glances at Sakusa back, it's only to see if Sakusa is planning to turn around and smile.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

The bar is vaguely familiar to Atsumu the same way everything’s vaguely familiar when you’re seeing swirls in mid-air, and internally he thanks himself for not breaking out into a brawl with Osamu the last time he was here. The next thing he thinks to himself is about the stupid bet and the stupid, stupid man who’s been taking up nearly all of his waking hours with every waking syllable that comes out of his stupid mouth. For analysis.

Or something.

Atsumu would have made more of an effort to remember, but it’s not often that Meian gives them free rein to get as drunk as they like - a victory treat to celebrate another match won against the Adlers before they’re forced up at ungodly hours of the morning for their regular drills.

(After an entire day of recovery, of course, from the inevitable hangover everyone would be nursing. Meian may be harsh, but he’s not an absolute monster.)

His head is spinning, and he feels lighter than a feather, and Atsumu knows without a certainty he is not drunk - rather, almost certainly hammered. Not that it matters, because he still makes his way to the bar to get more drinks because why the fuck not, since he’s already past the point to care.

It’s only when he’s halfway across the room, and he’s close enough to recognise Hinata and Kageyama furiously making out in the corner, that it dawns on him that the bar is the other way, and he sharply veers away from the sight. Before he can make it any further, he finds himself collapsing into the nearest barstool and leaning close to the nearest person he can see-

“What. Are. You. Doing.”

Atsumu distinctly recalls his previous prayer and then also dimly remembers the fact that the universe, in general, is a fucking joke.

Oh, he faintly thinks, as he turns around to get a front-row view of Sakusa’s steely glare. Karma is a bitch.

But hell, does intoxication suit Sakusa Kiyoomi - a slight sway in his hips as he turns to face him, moving to some melody that only he can hear, one that he’d very, very much like the lyrics for. His usually sharp gaze is a little unfocused as it wanders over the room, his over-bright, red-rimmed eyes making him look tired and ready for bed. Or getting into bed with someone, he thinks, ignoring the unfamiliar twang of indignation and anger, only if Sakusa Kiyoomi was the guy to get into one-night stands.

Atsumu gives himself a little shake, telling himself not to stare. Of course, he’s a pretty drunk.

He stares anyway.

How can he not, when every single thing about him is just the right side of dishevelled – his cheeks flushed and his hair mussed in that lovely end-of-the-night sort of way that makes him want to pull him closer and run his fingers through it. The still perfect curls that now curl loosely around Sakusa’s neck, so at odds with his put-together appearance on the court, beg to be pulled around his fingers, Atsumu not letting go until he’s rumpled and breathless, and the only thing that is on the both of their minds are each other. He wanders vaguely forward, thinking of doing just that, and his gaze suddenly sharpens and snaps to him.

“Miya?” he says sharply, as though glimpsing Atsumu for the first time, and well. Atsumu doesn't cower, but he does take a step back. Slowly, his dark eyes shift up and down his body (checking you out a delicious voice whispers in Atsumu’s brain) and all of a sudden, his prickly shield slips, and he visibly slackens.

"I've found you." He says, in what he thinks is a whisper.

It is not - yet the breathy lilt of his voice makes it sound like an invitation.

Atsumu is certain this is a ploy to somehow send him to an early grave - because there's no other explanation for why Sakusa Kiyoomi is currently saying what he's saying- and because there's no other explanation for the way his heart painfully stutters a beat when he hears those exact words.

You're drunk, his brain ridiculous supplies back.

"I'm very much not drunk, thank you very much. I'm completely undrunk." Kiyoomi glares back as he puffs up like an adorable cat, and Atsumu faintly thinks he's never been more glad that Sakusa is the definition of a liquor snob - only drinking the finest (and strongest) wines.

"Right."

The frown between Kiyoomi's brow deepens, and oh, he's fucking grinning now, the urge to laugh bubbling up in his chest as Omi continues scowling like the contrarian he is.

"I'm serious! I can walk perfectly straight. "

The fond feeling in his chest only grows as he watches Sakusa attempt to walk away - before swaying and falling back into Atsumu's arm, content to nuzzle into his chest. Something pleasantly possessive aches along his bones at the thought that he is the only one who gets to see him like this – only him and not Hinata or Bokuto, who gets to see him sleepy and soft at the end of the day, whispering secrets and leaning close - eyes and words crystal clear and bright despite the low hum and mundanity that comes with sitting in a cheap dive bar.

“Stop that. Don’t smile at me. I know what you’re doing.”

“And what am I doing?”

“You’re trying to… seduce me.”

Atsumu blinks.

Did he mishear that? Freudian slip? Can you Freudian slip with your hearing when you're drunk? Even so, he can’t help but frown a little. In all the years Atsumu has known Sakusa Kiyoomi, and further in all the years he’s heard from Suna and Komori - this evening’s behaviour is extremely atypical for him - he’s almost never seen Kiyoomi this drunk, let alone expect him to go search for him in such a state.

Which is ridiculous. Because Sakusa Kiyoomi is aloof. Mysterious. Not someone like Atsumu, who feels too much and wants too much, half ready to carve his heart out of his chest if Kiyoomi would direct a smile at him.

Atsumu blinks again.

“Does that happen a lot?” he asks, in what he hopes is a tone that doesn’t scream Hey, Maybe in another world where I was a bit drunker, and you were just a random stranger, and we had no emotional baggage I’d be kissing you senseless, but here we are, and I’m totally not jealous, but also I may be a bit jealous, but it’s chill and totally fine.

His life is a train wreck.

Sakusa seems to ponder the question, before lolling his head onto Atsumu’s shoulder with frightening ease.

“Perhaps. About 5 times in this room, though none of them were good enough to be partners. There’s a difference between partners and partners, of course.”

“Really?” He says, only slightly shocked at the fact that Kiyoomi’s been propositioned 5 times today alone. But damn, if that doesn’t hurt Astumu’s ego. He’s not even locked eyes with anyone or checked out someone today (present company excluded, of course). “What sort of-”

Sakusa ploughs on as though he hasn’t heard him, even as his voice slowly becomes barely discernible under the cottony feeling in Atsumu’s mouth as his eyes roved over Kiyoomi’s curls and the chaotic din of the bar around them.

“The next song, dance with me.”

Atsumu stopped short. “What?”

"Dance with me," he repeated, clumsily pushing himself off from Atsumu's hand that he forgot was lightly coiled around his extremely nice to-hold bicep. "The next song, whatever it is."

"If you wanted to get rid of me, you could have just said-"

"No!" Kiyoomi puts his hands on his shoulders, and for a second Atsumu fears that he might lose his balance - an absurd image that almost makes him laugh. "The song. The next. Let's dance," Sakusa mumbles, eyes glistening and breathing heavy, but gaze determined. It's silly, really, but there's something adorable in the way he gazes at Atsumu with the seriousness of a marriage proposal, and laughter bubbles up in his chest. It's foreign – this urge to tip his head back and let himself laugh in front of Sakusa Kiyoomi - but he just lets it out, conflicted by how easy it is - how familiar all of it feels.

But God, it feels wonderful, this addictive cocktail of amusement and care that Atsumu wouldn’t have any other way.

“Alright”, Atsumu finally says fondly, as he feels the beat of the next song start up, and he gently brings Kiyoomi to the edge of the dance floor. “Let’s dance.”

The song that plays in the background is quiet and smooth, a woman crooning out to her lover, accompanied only by a guitar. Even then, Sakusa moves limply, eyes focused downwards as Atsumu lets him lead through a decently complicated half-step that seems to fit this song exactly despite their stiffness. As the song slowly began swelling towards the inevitable climax, Atsumu let his eyes rove over Sakusa Kiyoomi’s body - in the dip of his shoulders, in the half crook of his grin, in the glimmer yet distracted allure of his eyes as he looked towards their feet, which had stopped moving a long time back.

“Something interesting down there?”

Kiyoomi looks back up, eyes unfocused and dazed, and Atsumu suddenly realises he’s close enough to smell the faint, barely perceptible smell of alcohol on his breath.

Close enough to see the chapped corners of his mouth.

Close enough to kiss, he startlingly thinks as he sees Kiyoomi move forward.

Before Atsumu can think too hard about it, he nestles his head into the crook between his shoulder and neck and slips his hands down from his hips to his waist, his quiet crooning more of a vibration into his neck than an actual audible sound.

“Atsumu?” Kiyoomi finally murmurs, the name almost an inarticulate sound in his alcoholic muttering.

"Mh?"

“You know the thing about partners?”

Atsumu nods, half distracted, distantly remembering the drunken ramblings.

"You're going to tell me which one I am?" He half-jokingly asks, almost expecting the answer to be something flippant.

Kiyoomi rolls his eyes, before indulging him anyway, leaning close to his ear, his next few words barely above a whisper.

"You're the best kind."

He says it so carelessly - like it isn’t the most remarkable thing in the world. Like it’s just a fact of life, known and accepted and unchanging. The sky is blue, the earth is round, and he makes him ridiculously happy just because he's the "best" kind. Atsumu presses his lips together, embarrassed by the sudden rush of emotion in his chest.

"I-"

Whatever he's about to say next is drowned out by the large clinking of glass in the background, and all of a sudden the moment breaks - the both of them simultaneously moving apart. Kiyoomi still smirks at Atsumu, as though he knows precisely what he's doing to him.

Even when intoxicated, he still looks at him with a challenge in his eyes - still looks at him with a look that tells him that damned fool still wants to win.

Atsumu’s not sure that he'd be entirely averse to losing at this point.

But for God's sake, not tonight. Not when Atsumu still hasn't managed to crack a full smile on Sakusa's face.

"Drinks!" It's not quite the smooth recovery he hoped for, but Sakusa doesn't say a word, only tilting his head to the side as Atsumu makes his escape.

As he perches himself onto a rickety barstool, the song shifts into something more upbeat- but the moment he shared with Sakusa Kiyoomi out of all people still replays in his mind - the slight tickle of his breath as it ghosted over his ears, the firm but gentle grip of his palm on Atsumu’s hips. A strange combination of feeling like he can’t quite catch his breath and somehow like he also just took the deepest, cleanest, fullest breath of his life comes over him, and he furrows his brows at the surprising pleasantness of it all.

He suddenly wishes Sakusa was here, not that he’d be much help in the current situation. He’s probably trying to fantasise in peace about how victoriously he’d be able to crow his immunity to any hangovers and headaches over the rest of them (over Atsumu only, he reflects in hindsight). Sakusa’s a bit ridiculous like that. His drunken brain supplies ridiculously beautiful, and Atsumu suddenly remembers why exactly he’s drinking again.

To forget about stupid Sakusa Kiyoomi and his stupid theoretical smile and-

-and the bartender suddenly slams 3 shots on the countertop in front of him, moving forward to the next counter. Atsumu says a quick prayer for good health and good times before downing it all in one go, and he turns around to get up and chase the bartender back - only to bump into the man at the barstool over.

"Sorry!"

The other man grins at him, shirt half unruffled, and platinum dyed sticking out messily in a charming, roguish way.

"I'm sure a handsome stranger like you can make it up to me by buying a round for the both of us."

Sure, Atsumu may have been half joking when getting offended when Sakusa Kiyoomi had been propositioned 5 times, if only for the fact that deep - very deep down, he knows that number is slightly improbable even for someone as great as him. But at the same time, that doesn’t necessarily mean Atsumu has never been flirted with - hell, it doesn’t mean Atsumu Miya is blind enough to miss the hungry way the stranger's eyes skim over his body.

Had it been any other night, Atsumu would have probably made this a night to remember for the both of them - a night spent with a quick drink and an even quicker tussle in slick and sweat at some rundown hotel. But for some reason today, an extremely familiar man with black hair and a smile for some reason he’s sure would light up the entire room creeps into his mind.

The clink of glass on the countertop breaks his reverie, and he dimly realises he’s been staring at the man with a dopey grin - a fact which the man seems to revel in, preening under the dim lights as he leans closer - far too close for someone with innocent intentions.

“Hope you don’t mind. I ordered one for us to share. It’d be awfully presumptuous of me if I didn’t bother to greet the most sinful man I’ve met tonight.”

Even though the sensible voice in his head currently blares about 3 different warning bells, Atsumu doesn’t move away - paralysed by the knowing look in his grin so exactly familiar to the one Kiyoomi was just wearing-

“Miya?”

The sensible voice in his head goes very quiet.

Atsumu turns around on the barstool, ignoring the hesitant voice asking whether he's already spoken for.

"Ah, Omi-kun, wait-"

Sakusa opens his mouth, but then shuts it, eyes flicking between the two of them.

"I'll leave you to your date. My apologies for interrupting."

Without even a second thought, Atsumu scrambles up, following Sakusa into the freezing air.

"Omi, it's just a stranger-"

Sakusa turns around, moonlight silhouetting him like a vengeful angel as he glares at Atsumu, apparent indifference to Atsumu's matters forgotten.

"Do not call me that. And don't take me for an idiot. "

For a brief second, Atsumu considers reaching out to Kiyoomi and his hand twitches - a move that doesn't seem to go unnoticed, given the brief flash of…sadness? that flits across his features.

In the end, none of them moves - and Sakusa finally turns, inky curls glistening in the moonlight as he walks away, leaving Atsumu to sober alone in front of the bar.

And it’s just…… it’s so damned unfair- the way Kiyoomi looks so breathlessly stunning even leaving like this - and Atsumu suddenly feels a stabbing ache go through him at how badly he wants to run back and say sorry for something not even entirely his fault.

The best kind of partner, huh?

How could he say such things when Atsumu hasn't even seen him smile even once?

When Atsumu first looks into his mini fridge after promptly dragging himself through another tortuous evening drill session with Meian, Atsumu swears he can hear his brother shout in his head at the dismal state of it. Normally, Atsumu would simply order something - rather than run all the way to experiment with ingredients from a completely new store - but he supposes that it's about time that he figures out how exactly Osamu just throws things in a pot and somehow produces the next culinary masterpiece.

Midway through swiping through Japanese recipes, Atsumu sees an ad for a surprisingly appetising-looking sauce and impulsively decides that perhaps it’s time to try something new - and so he scours the internet for easy-to-make dishes and quickly swipes to a recipe for some soup he’s never seen before.

Pho, the cheerful grandma says as she shows off her little stove top that looks nothing like Osamu’s meticulously arranged shelves - a fact that despite everything sends a small thrill through him. Osamu’s always been the showier one with food - cooked for precision, cooked to experiment and discover.

Atsumu’s simply happy cooking for a sense of comfort - one this recipe seems to promise in spades.

As he navigates the slightly off-beaten crossings, Atsumu muses about the strangeness of the situation - even he can admit Osamu is the real culinary twin - and the only other place he's ever tried to cook for himself is at their childhood home in Miyagi, a surprise downpour always chilling the tatami floor - which always made the food seem even more fresh, even more warm. Though in a way, it's not that much of a surprise - on the court, alongside Hinata's sunny disposition, Bokuto's cheer, and even Sakusa's frown he's found himself a new home amongst the rest of them - maybe not one that is perfect, but one that is inexplicably perfect for him.

After stepping into the chilly wonderland of supermarket air conditioning with the sound of a tinkling bell, Atsumu finds that all things considered, grocery shopping isn't too bad. Though it takes him a few unnecessary turns around all the aisles to locate all the produce he came here to buy (and a few other extra sweets because really, who knew they had such a varied selection of mochi?) Atsumu can triumphantly tick almost everything off his list - except a packet of glass noodles, which he thinks is right in the aisle in front of him.

And there he sees it - a holy beacon nestled in between two other irrelevant packets of other pasta brands. He's lucky he came when he did - it seems to be the last one in the entire store, and it seems to beckon to Atsumu only till it’s cruelly snatched out of the aisle, to be rescued and imminently kidnapped and held for an indefinite ransom in some random thief's basket.

Luckily, Atsumu has been training for the past few years for this - being a jackal and more importantly, a twin of Miya Osamu meant always fighting for the best food, and so Atsumu reaches out to grab the other edge of the packet with enough dominance that he’s certain is bound to scare the other person away. He doesn’t bother tugging on the packet more than once - he sagely recalls that if done one too many times, your hidden desperation will reveal, which can become a tool that your enemy can use against you.

“Miya?”

Atsumu feels a faint sense of déjà vu as he hurriedly drops the edge of the packet, jaw slackening in surprise.

While being Osamu's twin may have prepared him for a lot of things, it unfortunately did not prepare him to combat people who could stun Atsumu with a single glance.

Then again, nothing really could prepare him for the immense self-rationalisation and gymnastics he'd have to go through against Sakusa Kiyoomi every single time.

Even dressed down and bathed in the most harsh of fluorescent lights, Sakusa still manages to maintain flawless posture and form. More importantly, Atsumu realises upon looking down into his shopping cart, that he's somehow managed to stack everything up in neat little rows and ensure it doesn't spill outside his basket. Atsumu is sure that if Osamu was here, he would weep at the forgotten opportunity to make Omi a top aisle organiser and perpetual employee of the month, and instinctively, he shies his basket away.

"Pho?"

"You’ve made it before?"

Sakusa furrows his brows harder, as though regretting the inevitable headache that appears whenever he's in Atsumu's vicinity.

"If you're making Pho, why are you buying sugar? And so little garlic…."

Scandalised, Atsumu snatches his basket back. Even if Sakusa hypothetically was right in the sense that he hadn't bothered to properly look at the exact quantities of ingredients, he did at least bother to call Osamu to let him know about his culinary foray! Or at least leave him a voice note after he didn’t pick up, most likely still busy with his restaurant!

As though he can hear his inner monologue, Sakusa arches a single eyebrow at him, and Atsumu slumps over defeated.

Fuck his stupid face.

As though deciding that a socially acceptable amount of time has passed, the irritation on his face grows, and he picks up the basket, heading to the counter.

“Omi-kun, don’t you know I need the glass noodles? ”

To his credit, Sakusa stops, though his eyebrow twitches.

“There are plenty of other recipes out there which are more traditional.”

“Yes, but the recipe calls for it as well, so it needs to be a staple of mine, y'know! And besides-” Atsumu scrambles, eyes catching on the nearby bottles of Soju and Sake cheerfully advertised, lining the aisles directly opposite to them.

“If you want, you could come over and help me cook! We’d make a drinking thing out of it- have some food and wine-” And oh, Atsumu is rambling, so he sends himself a mental note to shut up and give Sakusa his most winning smile.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem as impressed as he hoped. And yet, it still sets Atsumu’s heart thrumming.

“It’s 10 pm, Miya.”

Atsumu blinks, tossing his head back - if only to hide the darkening blush on his cheeks at the typical connotations that come with inviting someone to their house this late at night.

“How badly do you want this?” Sakusa asks, eyeing the half-hefted bag of groceries, and Fuck, Atsumu thinks.

That’s certainly something to think about later. Not now, in the middle of two aisles in their local grocery store. Definitely not now, under the inscrutable gaze of Sakusa Kiyoomi.

“..... Fine. Under one condition.”

Atsumu’s already prepared to say yes, but he can’t help but try pushing a bit further.

“I don’t know, depends on the deal….”

Sakusa holds his gaze impassively, though his eyebrow twitches again in what Atsumu realises is covert exasperation.

“Just give me the rest of it. When you're done. ”

Atsumu would be lying if he said he'd know what to do with it anyway - and with jubilance, he picks up Sakusa's basket alongside his and begins marching down towards the checkout.

“Miya, wait-”

Instinctively, Atsumu switches both the baskets to one hand, the song and dance familiar from his childhood trips with Osamu, fingers gently stretching to hold the ones behind-

-Oh.

Atsumu never thought of his hands as pretty - covered in calloused, fingers bruised asymmetrically - immensely useful but mechanical joints with seamless cogs. Holding Sakusa’s fingers, however, feels like holding paper lanterns - like cradling a gentle craft Atsumu can break in a minute.

It feels like holding perfection - and Atsumu never wants to let go.

Belatedly, Atsumu realises that it's Sakusa Kiyoomi - Sakusa touch-averse-no-sweaty-hands-will-bleach-his-eyes-out-after-this Kiyoomi whom he's holding hands with, and he nearly drops his neatly fitted palm - already running through millions of excuses to quell the dull ache that he’s sure will remain imprinted - a phantom feeling he’ll continue chasing for the rest of his life.

But then he feels the curling of fingers - soft, but firm - cold ivory contrasting with the warmth of the flush that he can feel prickling just under the marble skin. Atsumu’s gut twists with a hunger he can’t name - a feeling of fullness, yet desperate yearning.

“... Just hurry and buy the groceries, Miya.”

And if none of them says another word about the matching blushes on both of their cheeks, then. Well. That's neither here nor there.

“You can take those onions, and make X's in the bottom with a knife, and drop them into that pan.”

"In with the soup?"

"No. Shoot." He kneels and retrieves a pot from one of the lower cupboards. "In here. They need to boil for a minute, and then you take them out."

Atsumu does as Sakusa says, filling the pan with water and turning on the flame. He finds a knife and scores the onions, and under his watchful eye carefully measures the fish sauce and cuts the lime wedges, before throwing them into the broth. He searches in a cupboard for a stainless-steel spice caddy and throws in a star anise and a pinch of salt, before letting the contents come to a simmer. On his other side, Sakusa prods the pieces of meat with a wooden spoon, and Atsumu is free to let his eyes wander over Sakusa’s frame and marvel at how comfortable he looks cooking like this, humming a song under his breath, fitting into the small kitchen space so seamlessly - as a familiar piece slotted into place.

“I’d rather you not burn my kitchen down at midnight. Don't want the neighbours to think that this is what I do with all the men I invite over.” Atsumu finally says, arms lazily inching a breadth away from Kiyoomi’s. It’s easier to cover vulnerability with banter they’re both familiar with, and his body involuntarily relaxes as he sees familiar irritation flash across his face, breaking whatever trance he is in.

“Fuck you, Miya. Or would you rather I leave?”

Atsumu doesn’t bother answering - doesn’t bother calling out the bluff behind his words. It’s easier than breaking this illusion than admitting that Atsumu could have ordered out and not made a makeshift space in his life that Kiyoomi could have fit into, a small bubble of quiet amongst the loud. Easier than confronting the fact that Sakusa could have said no from the start - could have hidden closed himself from Atsumu and never shown him this side of him - from the highlighter-coloured jersey to the small reading glasses currently perched on his nose - could have hidden the way he relaxes around Atsumu in a way no one else seems to see.

“I think I need to add more liquid," Sakusa finally decides, pouring water from a tea kettle into the pan, suddenly causing the glasses he’d forgotten to take off to steam.

"I can't see."

Sakusa unconsciously steps away so that he stands a bit closer to Atsumu - the rest of the apartment is silent apart from the sounds of the stove, the kind of quietness that comes only when it’s nearly midnight and everyone else with their sanity intact is sleeping. Even as he holds up his hands, messy from cooking, coated with flour and thin grease and prepares to remove the glasses, Atsumu reaches over him carefully - fingers pressed to his bare arms, cool despite the warmth of the kitchen, a whisper of Let me ghosting over his lips as he pulls him closer to pull off the fog stained glasses before his breath catches in his throat, and he’s faced with eyes wide and open and brilliant and bright and startling, staring straight at him - and instinctively he knows, from the storm raging in his chest and the drum of his fingertips on pale skin that something’s changed.

The sharp whistle of a pressure cooker breaks the silence between them and startled by the sharp noise, Sakusa looks away wildly, leaving the glasses askew before rushing to fix the fish sauce and ensuring the entire pot noodles haven’t been charred.

Even as moonlight slants over the both of them, reminding Atsumu of the entire absurdity of the situation - it’s 1 am, and here he is making pho with Sakusa Kiyoomi out of all people - he can feel the palpable tension between the two of them simmer into something calm. Inexplicably, Sakusa starts humming again, a half smile curving his lips and starts doling out the steaming hot bowls of soup. It’s not perfect - the meat’s charred in some places, the noodles too stiff - but Atsumu savours the soup like a starving man, the broth filling him up with warmth. The light above them flickers, and perhaps because it’s midnight - perhaps because Sakusa’s trying to be soft, in his own way - he begins to talk - begins telling him a story about Motoya trying to impress Suna by trying to learn how to bake. The shadows on his face soften the harsh features - and for a change, Atsumu sits and listens - occasionally interjecting with short anecdotes. In one moment - when the shadows on his face shift with apparent disbelief, Atsumu thinks he sees the tiniest trace of a smile, open and honest, playing on the edges of Sakusa's lips - but then he slips off into drowsiness - the tartness of tangerines haunting his dreams, juxtaposed with the gentle sweetness that is simply, inexplicably Kiyoomi.

Atsumu’s not sure when this started - when hanging out with Sakusa Kiyoomi became part of his daily routine - when sliding next to Sakusa Kiyoomi became an inevitable fact of life, regardless of whether he’d be loudly shouting with Hinata, or pummelling Bokuto over some silly bet. A lot of it is probably from his dogged persistence - but it’s still surprising how they’ve gone in a blink of an eye from mere teammates to good friends.

And yet, he thinks, frowning at the back of the setter who’s currently doing his best to try to disinfect every single surface of the gym equipment he’s currently meant to be helping to carry for Meian (decidedly ignoring the fact that he’s also very comfortably perched on the floor under the guise of an extended water break with Hinata), he’s never seen that damn smile even once.

And sure, Atsumu has always been a too-curious-for-his-own-good kind of guy - but this particular bet echoes in his mind for some reason he can’t name. Maybe because it involves someone else for a change. Maybe because that person is Sakusa Kiyoomi, out of all people - the one person Atsumu can never accurately predict, the one person who clashes with Atsumu like gasoline and oil but complements him like fire and kindling.

“Is he staring at Kiyoomi-kun again?”

Before Atsumu can think of an accurate response, Shoyo loudly cuts in, shushing Bokuto with what is meant to be a discreet whisper.

It’s obvious why he’s his favourite Kouhai, really, Atsumu proudly thinks as he lets his eyes wander back towards Sakusa’s expansive back. Always ready to defend his superiors-

“We’re not meant to tell him we know!”

Atsumu blinks once, brain grinding to a halt as he considers the words.

“Know what?”

Bokuto and Atsumu make sudden eye contact, and Atsumu feels a sudden urge to take a deep breath and count to ten.

See, the thing about the rest of the MSBY jackals is that the one thing - if it can be called a thing - that brings them together is their pestlike nature. Sure, some of them are upfront about it - like Sakusa, who would gladly invoice you an itemised list of everything you’ve done wrong the past month - while some of them are less intentional about it - like Adriah accidentally revealing he’s been watching Atsumu figure out whether it was a push or pull door for months on an end.

Individually, however, both Bokuto and Hinata are probably the best at it - simply because the two of them are so genuine about it. You think they’re doing good and being honest until Bokuto’s loudly weeping on your shoulder about how beautiful Akaashi is at 3 am after offering to buy you a round, or Hinata’s grinding alongside you into the air - subsequently making a fool of yourselves on Instagram.

And then you end up forgiving them, in the end, simply because they’re both fucking sweethearts about everything.

Which is precisely why Atsumu’s already made a mistake by ignoring the biggest red flag of this entire conversation - the fact that the two of them are in complete agreement over something.

“It’s just...your vibe.”

“Our….vibe?”

Hinata pauses, momentarily deep in thought. “Like… the tension between the both of you where you’re always staring at him, and he doesn’t look back until you’re not looking at him. And you also know everything about him like his favourite snacks and colours and flowers, even the things Bokuto and I never notice! And the fact that you always spend time around him outside practices, and you’re always able to predict his bams and counter with your kachows! It’s like me and Kageyama before-”

Before Hinata can go into even more sappy and excruciating detail about his own love life and make Atsumu feel pathetic about the lack of his own, his mind glazes over to absorb Hinata’s spiral.

Tension? Sure, he has regular tension with Sakusa Kiyoomi. It’s inevitable when you’re dealing with someone exactly like Sakusa Kiyoomi, who walks around 24/7 with an insane amount of rules and a stick up his ass. If there is any tension in the first place, it’s only from the frankly ridiculous amount of little grievances that Sakusa has about everything Atsumu does in general. Not that Atsumu really minds changing his habits, even if a good 50% are external factors, if only because adapting to seeing and living alongside a more comfortable Sakusa Kiyoomi is something he secretly doesn’t mind.

The one thing that’d help dissolve some of that tension, however, is probably the fact that Kiyoomi has still never smiled in his direction. But now that he does think about it though, the two of them are probably his best bet on trying to figure out whether Sakusa’s capable of smiling - given Motoya’s probably in both Suna and Osamu’s pocket when it comes to the terms of the bet.

“It's for science.”

“For science?”

“For personal reasons.”

“Mhm.”

“I’m performing a socially backed-up study.”

“Wow.”

“It's Osamu’s fault.” He’s losing credibility.

“Tsum-Tsum, just because you like Sakusa–”

“Shut up.”

It’s because he really, really doesn’t. Sure, it’s been quite some time since he’s made out with someone or looked for another outlet to blow off some steam. And sure, he and Sakusa have been getting along together - and they do spend enough time off the court for their relationship to be misconstrued. And even if Atsumu is irrationally overly invested in making Sakusa smile for reasons he can’t explain, it’s not like there’s any concrete proof of it.

It’s mere conjecture. Plausible Deniability.

-Or it’s plausible deniability until a stray curl falls across Sakusa’s face, and Atsumu lets his gaze travel across the moles littering his face - mapping the haphazard constellations he makes until he meets Sakusa’s gaze head-on from across the room, a sharp pang in his chest pulling him in like a siren’s song.

Omi-kun would look really good with a smile, Atsumu first thinks. I wouldn’t mind seeing it every day, is the next thought and oh, he suddenly understands Bokuto and Hinata’s casual sappy comments about their own lives and their partners, because he’s pretty sure he’s fallen head over heels for the most insufferable person he knows - fallen for the snark in his voice whenever he insults him and the quiet care at which he makes space for him - fallen for the constant push and pull between them and the stupidest quirks like the way he secretly loves reading maudlin poetry and the way he competes over everything.

Oh fuck, he faintly thinks.

Atsumu’s not sure what he wants to do right now. Scream? Cry? Kiss Sakusa Kiyoomi until he’s out of breath? Seek therapy?

Bokuto sympathetically pats his shoulder with the wisdom of a centuries-old wizard as Atsumu crumples into his hands.

“Don’t worry! You can just go up to him and kiss him! It worked out with me and Akaashi!”

He should have swapped to the Schweiden Adlers when he had the chance.

+1.

Here’s the thing about Sakusa Kiyoomi. Even though their relationship can be tenuous even on good days, and on some other days he’s a complete prick - well, the one thing that he doesn’t let it interfere with is his damn sense of professionalism.

It’s unsettling, the way he’s able to push everything aside and pretend to notice the way Atsumu’s been ignoring him for days on an end, terrified by the sudden realisation that he wants to kiss Sakusa fucking Kiyoomi. Sometimes, when Atsumu feels particularly self-flagellating, and he notices him looking his way but not saying a word, he lets himself think that it wouldn’t matter in the first place - that Sakusa has never cared.

It’s suffocating, the sudden realization that you like someone, he thinks. Like inviting a beast willing to swallow him up whole. Atsumu knows himself - he knows he won't be able to disguise it for long, that he'll burst eventually, the words he'd fought to keep buried rushing from his lips the moment Kiyoomi looks at him.

But for now, he’ll contend himself by pushing himself further. Even though his t-shirt is soaked it sticks uncomfortably to his back, he meets Kiyoomi’s challenge with gritted teeth and satisfaction searing through his veins, agreeing to stay back even as the rest of the team files out of the gymnasium.

The set starts easy. Even though Sakusa sometimes goes easy on the others, he never goes easy on him. Watching him give it his all, hair barely unruffled, even as his eyes narrow on the tosses Atsumu sends at him, makes the satisfaction in his ribs flare and grow.

By the time they stop, both of them are breathing hard, and Atsumu briefly squeezes his eyes shut as he sees Sakusa step forward.

“You don’t have to try so hard.”

Atsumu stills, nearly flinching at the inexplicable hurt that comes with finally having Kiyoomi’s concern - the intense want that comes with being this close. Like this, less than one foot away from each other, there’s a small part of him that wants to simply give in to the voice in his mind to pin Sakusa Kiyoomi to a wall and kiss him till he forgets his name.

But he doesn’t know how to ask for that. Can’t ask for that.

“I do.” Doesn’t he fucking get it?

Kiyoomi’s gaze turns quizzical, even as he takes another step forward, so close to Atsumu he can feel his breath on his skin - can see the slight crinkle between his brow, can see the golden light framing him already like a memory.

“Why?”

It’s warm and inviting, the way his voice echoes in the empty room, the air still between them except for the rush of blood in his ears and the thundering of his heartbeat.

“Because I’m in horribly into you, you idiot.”

He looks at his lips for a split second before it hits him - an insane cocktail of adrenaline and embarrassing bravery that grabs him by the neck until he’s digging his fingers into his scalp, and he pulls Sakusa Kiyoomi till their lips finally, finally touch.

Kissing Sakusa is like kissing the sun - like tasting the softest and sweetest thing Atsumu’s ever known, and he chases after it - colliding into his body and slotting his easily into his own as if they’d been carved together from the very start. Atsumu kisses him harder, burying his hands into his hair, and Kiyoomi loops a hand around him before dragging his tongue over his bottom lip. Atsumu whines, pliant in his hands, ready for him to take and take, a silly grin parting his lips against his will as his brain goes blissfully quiet - happy to stay like this, framed against a window underneath the sloping sun - just like this, for the rest of his life, having found everything he wants to know.

And then it hits him like a truck.

Oh. Oh fuck.

He doesn't even have time to come up with an excuse by the time Sakusa steps back, lips red and puffy with a giant smile on his face.

Atsumu feels his face burning as he reaches out, ever so gently to brush a thumb over his lips, the touch lingering even as he caresses the corner of his mouth agonisingly slow, as though memorising the features of Atsumu’s face.

He’s dizzy, and the world doesn’t seem to make much sense right now, the thoughts in his brain blurring from coherent thoughts to simple exclamation marks.

But then Sakusa Kiyoomi begins to laugh, wild and free, and Atsumu knows he’s a complete goner.

His eyes are bright and inviting, sparkling with genuine mirth that spills from his face, lighting the skin up in a way Atsumu never knew he could fall in love with - brightens his face up in a way Atsumu now knows he won’t be able to live without. Even as Sakusa’s hands wander freely across his face, Atsumu feels his face heat up - suddenly shy even as he parts his lips in a silent request. Kiss me, he thinks, half pleadingly, as Sakusa’s fingers stray dangerously close to his lips, moving with a deliberateness and earnestness Atsumu has never felt before, kiss me until I can’t breathe - until the only thing that I can think of is you.

“You know”, he finally hums, tucking his head into the crook of his neck, tangling his hands behind his back and pulling him tight. “I was wondering how long it’d take you.”

Atsumu gasps, his entire body going beet red even as Kiyoomi nuzzles him close to his ear, cool breath hot against the sensitive skin on his neck.

“You—this is not how I wanted to tell ya! I wasn’t even sure if I was ever gonna tell ya, you absolute ass!”

“I thought you liked me”, Kiyoomi hums, light and free in a way that Atsumu hasn’t heard before.

Atsumu freezes, voice catching even as he looks at the ground. “You’re welcome to ignore that.”

“What if I don’t want to?” asks Sakusa, half smile still on his face, even as Atsumu scrambles back out of his embrace, face aflame, only half convinced this entire sequence isn’t just an extended hallucination from the universe.

“Ya serious?”

But then Sakusa laughs again, sound too real and vivid to ever compare to any of his fantasies, sweat dripping down his skin and eyes earnest and bright, and he reaches forward to grip his wrists gently, pulling him back into a hug again, light slanting through the glass and painting them aglow - eyes closed and hearts peaceful, perfectly in bliss.

Kiyoomi doesn’t answer him - instead, he lifts his head and kisses him, enough times that he loses count until his brain is dazed - until he’s a little but a mess under his palms and Atsumu finds he couldn’t care less.

“If I had known it would lead to this”, Atsumu finally says, biting his bottom lip as his chin rests on top of Kiyoomi’s head, “I would have embarrassed myself in front of the team a lot sooner.”

“You embarrass yourself enough anyway.” he finally hums, no real heat behind the comment. Atsumu still isn’t sure if he deserves that smile or those words and Kiyoomi’s whole heart - and he knows when the others get back they’re going to tease him mercilessly, but right now Sakusa Kiyoomi is looking at him with all the warmth of the world in his eyes and Atsumu finally knows what he looks like when he cares. When he cares about him. It's—it's so lovely that it makes his chest ache.

Maybe, Atsumu finally concedes, some drunken bets with Osamu aren’t that bad after all.

#haikyuu #hq #sakusa kiyoomi #haikyuu sakusa #sakuatsu #atsumu #osamu #atsumu miya #osamu miya #sakusa x atsumu #skts #haikyuu fic #hqbb2023 #fan fiction #i lied i still have no clue how to tag fic. god bless.#also a lot of this fic was written like. past 24 hours. me if i never procrastinated

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