› 𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲: light language, emotional angst, past breakup, unresolved feelings, miscommunication, mild alcohol mention hot tub/jacuzzi scene, & second-chance romance, hurt w comfort♡
› 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: three years later, a winter trip reunites you with someone you were never supposed to see again. between shared memories and quiet tension, you realize some feelings don’t disappear — they just wait.
› 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: this is my winter fic exchange written for @inkpetrichor. I hope you enjoy my love, I'm so so soooo, sorry for how late this is! thank you for baring with me <3! thank you so much @sodaneko for organizing this event, I really enjoyed writing this.
p.s. this is by far the longest one shot that i've written thus far, pls excuse anything I may have missed while editing<3!
There were a lot of ways this winter cabin trip could have turned out. It could have turned out to be a great opportunity to reconnect with a lot of your close friends from Karasuno that you haven’t spoken with in a couple of years. It would’ve been a great way to get out of town, as you rarely do that, due to your unfortunately hectic and chaotic school and work schedule that forced you to stay in your college town. And it would have been a great way to spend your winter vacation — sadly, it’s not like you had other plans.
When Yachi, one of the few people you still spoke with from Karasuno, reached out to you, extending an invitation, you couldn’t help but admit that you were hesitant. Why wouldn’t you be? After everything that’s happened, and the distance you had put between yourself and the volleyball team, it just felt like you no longer had the right to be around them, laugh, and be happy with them.
Finally, after what had felt like hours, Yachi and Kiyoko — who had joined the call unexpectedly — convinced you into coming. They said that it would be a fun way to enjoy part of winter break, and they swore up and down and even pinky promised that he wouldn’t be there.
You wouldn’t know how to act or even react to seeing him at the cabin. After all, it had been three years since the last time you had seen one another. It’s been three years since the messy shouting match the two of you had gotten into. Three years since the breakup. A cold shudder went down your spine, just thinking about it. You said a lot of things you regretted; it may not have been instantly, but over time, the guilt started eating you from the inside out — and he surely did say things that you hoped that he regretted. It was rare for him to raise his voice at his teammates, let alone at you. Before the breakup, there’s only been one other time he’d raised his voice at you — and you knew it came from a place of care, and he only wanted what was best for you. Deep down, you knew you couldn’t blame him; he was only looking out.
A small blanket being wrapped around your shoulder pulled you out of your thoughts — and when you glanced up to see who the mystery person was, it was none other than Sugawara. A small smile etched on your lips when he took a seat on top of the coffee table in front of you. He’d always been one of the guys to look out for you.
“Sugawara, what are you doing over here?” You furrowed your brows as you subconsciously snuggled into the warmth of the blanket. You’d assume that a winter cabin in the woods would have some sort of way of heating for its visitors.
“Kōshi,” he corrected gently. “We may not have spoken in a while, but we’re not strangers.”
“Well then, Kōshi, why are you joining me in my corner of agony?” The smile on your lips only grew more. Although it had been a little over a year since the two of you had spoken, it felt like nothing had ever changed.
“You looked like you were freezing and lonely as hell, holed up in the corner of ‘agony’,” Sugawara said, while adding airquotes around the word ‘agony’ — and just by the way the dimple on his cheek appeared, you could tell he was holding back a chuckle. “So I thought to join you — and to bring you some cocoa.” Sugawara gestured to the cup in his hand.
Before you were able to thank him for the gesture, the sound of heavy footsteps made you turn your head to the side to be welcomed by the presence of Tanaka, Hinata, and Nishinoya. The three of them looked as lively as they always did. You waved at them and patted down on the couch, gesturing for them to come sit.
Over the course of a few minutes and pointless banter on the boys figuring out where they wanted to sit, the seating arrangement of Tanaka and Sugawara sitting beside you, and Nishinoya and Hinata sitting across from you was settled on. Having the boys sit across from you and still mildly going back and forth allowed a small laugh to erupt from your lips. Truly, some things never change.
You placed the half-filled mug down on the coffee table now that Sugawara was no longer sitting atop it, and rubbed your hands together to create some sort of warmth.
“Are you cold?” Hinata asked while putting a temporary pause on his repartee with Noya. “One of the guys should’ve been on firewood duty to start heating up the fireplaces in the cabin.”
“It was supposed to be the baldy,” Sugawara said flatly, gesturing at Tanaka with his thumb.
“No, it wasn’t? I swore someone said Tadashi was getting it.” Tanaka responded with his arms folded across his chest.
Almost immediately, Yamaguchi poked his head into the room. “Hell no, in this weather? I thought Yachi said it’d be best if Shōyō and Ryū went and grabbed it since they don’t get as cold easily. And the knuckleheads are least likely to get sick out of the rest of us.”
The last comment caused a snort to erupt from everyone — everyone except Hinata and Tanaka.
“Told you,” Sugawara said, and to that, both Tanaka and Hinata flipped him off simultaneously, while hauling themselves up to go through the treacherous weather to collect the wood for everyone’s sanity and declining warmth.
Your eyes wandered over to Noya, who had been suspiciously quiet since the conversation shifted directions, and his focus shifted onto his phone.
“Hmm?” He responded back absentmindedly as he typed furiously on his device.
“What are you so locked in on your phone for?”
“Nothin’,” He responded blandly, finally glancing up. From the corner of your eye, you could see Sugawara giving him a look that said more than words ever could. For some reason, the look he gave Noya made your stomach drop. You had a bad feeling about it — but then again, the guys are always giving one another a look, it could have meant anything.
Between the silence with Noya, who was staring at his phone, and Sugawara giving him the oddest look, and the deafening silence in the air, you began to shift towards the edge of the couch. You sighed quietly when you heard the entrance door open. The guys must’ve been back — but it hadn’t been that long. It was a little odd.
“I’m gonna get a drink — preferably something stronger.” You murmured quickly as you unfolded your legs from underneath the blanket and gently tossed it to the side. Grabbing your hot cocoa mug and shoving your feet into the slippers, you exited the room.
As you made your way to the kitchen, you heard a familiar laugh. One that was too familiar, and one that you hoped to have never heard again.
There’s no way. Yachi and Kiyoko said that he wouldn’t be here.
As you stepped into the kitchen, the warmth from the living room faded almost immediately. The tile beneath your slippers felt colder than expected, sending a small shudder up your spine as you crossed the room. You focused on the sink ahead of you, the clink of ceramic against porcelain, the way the steam from your cocoa curled faintly into the air — anything but the sound of voices filtering in from the entryway.
You didn’t need to look to know who it was.
There was a weight to his presence that had always been unmistakable. A softness layered over something solid and steady — something that had once made you feel safe without even trying. Hearing his laugh now felt like pressing salt onto an open wound.
Your fingers tightened around the mug.
Someone said his name casually —probably Tadashi — like it hadn’t been years. Like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t once been the person who knew you better than anyone else in that room. You turned around just as he stepped fully inside.
Snow clung to his coat and hair, dark curls slightly damp from the storm outside. He looked older — broader in the shoulders, his posture more confident than you remembered — but his eyes were the same. Still kind. Still hesitant. Still searching, even as they landed on you.
For a moment, neither of you moved.
The world narrowed down to the space between you, thick and charged, buzzing with everything that had been left unsaid. You could feel it in your chest — the way your heart stuttered before settling into an uneven rhythm, the way your breath caught despite your best efforts to stay composed.
You saw it then — the way his expression faltered, how his shoulders stiffened just slightly, like he hadn’t been expecting this either. Like he’d been bracing himself for something else entirely.
I’m going to kill Yachi and Kiyoko.
You turned back to the sink, setting your mug down with more force than necessary. The sound echoed a little too loudly in the quiet kitchen, but no one commented on it. The cabin felt different now — smaller somehow, like the walls had shifted inward the moment he arrived.
Behind you, voices resumed, careful and forced.
“Asahi! You made it, man,” Noya said, too cheerfully.
“Yeah,” Asahi replied, his voice softer than you remembered. “I got caught up in the storm on my way up here.”
You kept your back to him as you rinsed out your mug, your movements slow and deliberate. You could feel his eyes on you — not in an invasive way, but hesitant, like he was debating whether or not he was allowed to look.
And you weren’t sure if you wanted him to stop.
Eventually, you heard footsteps retreating toward the living room. The tension followed him, stretching thin but never quite snapping. You took several deep breaths in the kitchen to calm yourself down. It had only been what, three years since the last time you’ve seen him. It’s not a big deal. It’s not like he grew taller, and somehow even more handsome and—
Enough. The two of you are broken up, that’s it. You don’t have the right to admire him in all his glory.
The living room felt much louder when you stepped back into it — not because anyone was yelling, but because the tension had shifted. Someone had turned on music low in the background, the crackle of the fireplace filling in the gaps when conversations stalled. You slipped back onto the couch, reclaiming your spot as if it anchored you. Sugawara shot you a glance at the corner of his eye — it was brief and knowing — but he didn’t say anything, he looked almost apologetic. Either way, you were grateful for not trying to strike up any conversation for the odd situation at hand now.
“So,” Tanaka clapped his hands together once, far too loudly. “Since we’re all here and freezing our asses off, we might as well play something. Right?”
Groans almost instantly rippled through the room, but no one actually protested against it.
“Why not, Never Have I Ever?” Hinata suggested, immediately leaning forward with a grin. “It’s easy, and everyone knows how to play.”
Everyone gave a nod in agreement and grabbed whatever drink was closest — mugs, cans, cups — and settled in. You curled your legs beneath you again, fingers wrapped around warm ceramic, letting yourself fade into the background. Something told you it was going to be a long night.
At first, the questions were harmless and small digs at people.
“Never have I ever fallen asleep during a team meeting,” Hinata said.
Almost everyone took a sip, laughter bubbling up around you. Sugawara laughed, pointing vaguely toward Daichi across the room, who raised his hands in surrender. The sound loosened something in your chest.
“Never have I ever skipped conditioning,” Tanaka added smugly.
More laughter and even more drinks followed after the statement. For a moment, it felt like before — like the years in between hadn’t carved something irreparable into all of you.
Then Nishinoya spoke again, tone deceptively casual. “Never have I ever dated someone because of volleyball.”
Sugawara drank without hesitation. Tanaka did too, grinning like it was a badge of honor. You didn’t move, and out of the corner of your eye, you saw Asahi hesitate — just for a second — before lifting his drink.
The room went quiet, and no one said anything, but the air changed all the same. You stared at the clear liquid that was sitting in your cup and only saw the reflection in it. Slowly, you had begun counting your breaths like it might steady the uneven rhythm in your chest.
Kiyoko cleared her throat softly. “Okay,” she said, merciful as ever. “New rule. Truth or drink.”
No one argued with that one.
The questions moved quickly after that — light things, easy outs. Hinata chose to drink instead of answering something embarrassing. Tanaka overshared. Laughter returned, thinner than before, but it still felt real.
Eventually, it was Asahi’s turn.
“Truth or drink?” Sugawara asked, voice gentler than it needed to be.
Asahi paused before answering, “…Truth.”
Nishinoya opened his mouth immediately. “Why’d you come up here so late?”
Even though the question wasn’t necessarily directed at you, it still made your stomach drop.
Asahi’s shoulders stiffened, and for just a moment, his eyes flicked towards you — not in an accusatory sense, and it wasn’t demanding either — just searching. “I already told you, I got caught up in the storm.” he said quietly and looked away quickly before he began to look suspicious.
For as long as you had known Asahi, you could tell when he was lying — right now wasn’t exactly one of those times, but he surely wasn’t telling the full truth.
No one pushed him any further. Yamaguchi had suggested that some people grab snacks. Eventually, the game fizzled out on its own, and conversation fractured into smaller groups. A few people started talking about the jacuzzi, and it began piquing some of the others' interests when towels and bathing suits were mentioned. You quickly excused yourself before anyone could ask you to join.
The kitchen was colder than you remembered, the tile biting through the soles of your slippers. You rinsed out your mug — yet again — slowly, focusing on the sound of running water.
“You don’t have to avoid me.” A familiar voice said as he crept up behind you. Asahi stood a few feet away, hands tucked awkwardly into the pockets of his sweater, posture careful — like he wasn’t sure how much space he was allowed to take.
“I wasn’t,” you said, though the words came out quieter than you intended, your eyes still trained on the mug in the sink, although it’s been long since cleaned.
He huffed a small breath, almost a laugh. “Then I guess I should stop pretending I wasn’t doing the same.”
You finally turned around to look at him. Up close and personal, the changes were impossible to ignore. You saw the changes at the door, but seeing them this close to him was far different. Broader shoulders, the confidence worn gently, and yet — his eyes were the same — kind and almost always uncertain.
“They told me you weren’t coming,” you said slowly.
His brows knit together. “They told me you weren’t coming either.”
The realization settled between you, heavy and undeniable.
They lied to both of you.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway, Tanaka and Noya calling out about the jacuzzi starting without any stragglers left behind.
“We should probably go,” Asahi said after a beat. “Before they assume the worst.”
“Yeah,” you replied, though neither of you moved right away.
Although you both agreed to get a move on, neither of you had moved. The quiet tension between you stretched thin, and it was only broken by the low hum of the fireplace and the faint music that played in the background. Your hands wrapped around yourself instinctively, trying to anchor yourself to something solid in the room that suddenly felt both too big and too small at the same time.
“So, what’s the real reason you’re here, Asahi. Last I checked, you weren’t the biggest fan of having to travel in the snow,” you murmured, voice softer than you intended — since it looked like the two of you weren’t moving anytime soon, you thought to make the most of it. Even though everyone in your body was screaming at you to leave, and never look back, to have a serious conversation with some of your closest friends, setting you up, just anything to get you far away from him. Everything was telling you to, but you just couldn’t.
His lips pressed into a thin line, as if he were carefully choosing what he could say without opening old wounds. “I mean,” he started slowly, “I didn’t think that I would see you here — but I also couldn’t just show up.”
You began to feel the familiar tightness in your chest, the ache that seemed to have never fully gone away. “And that it?” you asked softly, attempting to keep your tone even, although every nerve in your body wanted to reach for him and pull him in closer, and to demand more from him.
Why did he want to break up so suddenly in your third year?
Why did he start pulling away?
Why did he stop loving you?
Asahi swallowed, his eyes flickering to yours like he was searching for permission to speak the word he had kept buried. “No,” he admitted quietly. “I wanted to see you — I wanted to believe that it was a setup and that you’d somehow actually be here, and that’s great, but—”
“But what, Asahi? It doesn’t make sense,” you knit your brows together and skeptically crossed your arms over your chest. The situation was exactly what you said it was — it just didn’t make any sense. The last time the two of you spoke, it ended in a shouting match, and him walking away, so why would he be hoping you’d show up?
Asahi’s gaze lingered on you, hesitant — like he was looking for something he wasn’t sure you’d give him. Understanding, maybe? Or maybe permission. His eyes knit together slightly, his eyes softening as they searched your face — as if he were bracing himself for disappointment before it happened.
In almost an instant, that softened expression on his face disappeared as he stepped back while shoving his hands back into his pockets. “You’re right, I shouldn’t have said anything. J-just pretend this conversation never happened.”
For a second, you just stared at him — the way he had stepped back, like he was afraid of whatever reaction you would have given him. It was the same way he had looked that night three years ago — right before he walked away.
“Asahi—” you started, instinctively stepping forward to close the distance, but he only flinched in response.
His jaw clenched, and his eyes squeezed shut for half a second before he opened them again. When he looked at you this time, there was something raw there, regret.
“I can’t,” he said quietly, shaking his head. “I really can’t do this right now, sweetheart.” His eyes widened immediately as if he’d just said something unforgivable, and he took another step back, creating space you hadn’t asked for. He swallowed hard, shaking his head again, more to himself than to you.
The last thing he spoke to you before rushing out of the kitchen was hardly comprehensive: ‘I’m sorry’.
You pressed your lips together, forcing a steady breath as voices from the hallway grew louder — laughter, towels, and the promise of warm water and distractions. You stayed where you were for a moment longer, allowing the ache to settle in your chest. Sweetheart, huh? It’s been a while since you’ve heard it — and somehow it still sounded like something you weren’t allowed to reach for anymore. Yet, after all these years, it still made your heart flutter. And for the first time since he’d walked away three years ago, the thought crept in — quiet and stubborn, and impossible to ignore — that maybe the truth hadn’t been as simple as he’d made it seem.
You had a plan — a really good one. Catch up with everyone, and remind yourself why you felt at home with the guys. Reminisce on all of the good times, and bring them up to speed on everything that happened in university as communication was severed amongst some of the group. Then — somewhere in between, he shared drinks and memories — find Asahi. Ask him what the hell was that in the kitchen, and finally ask the preying question: why did he walk away from you twice, and why’d he stop trying?
Instead, you found yourself sitting in a jacuzzi, you hadn’t planned on entering – squeezed between Yamaguchi and Hinata, who had caught you sneaking down the hallway and decided your escape attempt was unacceptable.
You sighed as steam curled into the cold night air, and as the team continued a game of truth or dare, you had arrived too late to refuse. The only consolation was that Asahi sat across from you, close enough to feel and yet still entirely out of reach.
A sudden splash of water hits your shoulder, and you flinch, letting out a startled squeak. Hinata and Noya burst into laughter, waving their hands to apologize between giggles. You swatted at the water, half-heartedly, feeling your cheeks heat up – but the warmth of the jacuzzi and the ridiculous energy of the group slowly pulled you out of your spiraling thought.
“Hey, careful!” you muttered, shaking your shoulder as water droplets slid down your neck.
Sugawara leaned on the edge of the jacuzzi, next to Tanaka, the steam curling amongst the group. “So,” he said, voice gentle enough to cut through the chaos of laughter and splashes. “Truth or dare?”
“We’re still playing?” you asked plainly, not really in the mood to play.
“We never stopped sunshine, but with your head in the clouds, I don’t think you noticed. So truth or dare?” Sugawara joked.
Rolling your eyes, you gave him a response.” Truth.”
“Is the trip going as you expected it to?”
You blinked at him, allowing the question to hang in the air. “Honestly,” you started. “Not exactly — I thought that I would have been awkward, and maybe even alone during the trip because I haven’t spoken to a bunch of you guys in years, but things almost feel like how they used to.” you said with a soft smile dancing on your lips.
Sugawara’s smile widened, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Almost like old times, huh? That’s exactly what we were hoping for.” He let the words hang as he leaned back slightly, watching the ripples in the water.
Your gaze flicked across the jacuzzi, Asahi still there — but instead of engaging with the others, his head hung low, and his hands fidgeted together. That’s only something he did when he was anxious — and guilty, maybe.
Hinata, oblivious to your thoughts, splashed water at you again, laughing. “Don’t zone out on us again!” he shouted, grinning. “It’s your turn, go ahead and ask anyone truth or dare.”
The bright idea came to you like a spark — maybe not the best plan you’d ever had, but it was the only way you could corner Asahi. It wasn’t exactly the most private setting, but you knew your friends well enough; they’d clear out once they realized where the conversation was headed.
The game had dwindled down to a small group: you, Asahi, Noya, Hinata, and Sugawara. Your eyes flickered around the jacuzzi, analyzing everyone, before you started. All the laughter had softened, and the chaos faded into a quiet warmth. Your eyes eventually landed on Asahi, and your heart jumped when you realized his eyes had already been on you – it sent a specific type of ache, a thrill to coil tightly in your chest.
You swallowed, while allowing your fingers to trail along the edge of the jacuzzi as you asked, “Asahi, truth or dare?”
He hesitated, glancing at the remaining group before locking his eyes with you. “Truth,” he said quietly, and measured as though he was bracing himself for what was coming — and it seemed like he was always doing that nowadays.
The words came tumbling out before you had the chance to second-guess yourself, on whether or not this was the best idea. “Why did you really want to break up?”
The moment stretched, a strange, uncomfortable quiet began settling over everyone. You felt your pulse thrumming in your ears, yet the sound of Hinata coughing awkwardly shifted your attention.
“Right.. So maybe we shouldn’t be here,” he muttered, while Tanaka mumbled something along the lines of ‘asking someone else’, but the words barely registered as your attention was shifted back, and solely on Asahi.
Asahi’s jaw tightened, his gaze flicking at the group, then back to you. “No, it’s fine,” he murmured softly. “I’ll switch to dare.”
You scoffed, and a small smirk tugged at your lips despite the attention. “I dare you to tell me the truth about why you wanted to break up.”
Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Yachi and Kiyoko exchanging a look, subtly ushering the other out of the jacuzzi — towels in hand, and softly dealing with any protest — leaving just the two of you behind. The water swirled around, and the quiet between you felt thick and heavy.
Asahi’s hand twitched near his hands, and his eyes never left yours. The sparks between you were impossible to ignore, the unresolved tension pressing in from every side, the air almost too warm despite the chill outside.
With every passing second, the silence only grew heavier, and you couldn’t help but fidget and move around uncomfortably in the tub. He hadn’t answered yet, whether it be because he didn’t know how to, or because he just didn’t want to. Your lips parted in preparation to repeat the question, just in case he hadn’t heard it, but you didn't get the chance to.
“I overheard you talking once,” Asahi admitted finally, his voice breaking. “I was scared that I wasn’t good enough for you, because in our third year, it just seemed like you had so much going for you — you had so many opportunities, and chances to do so many amazing things, I- I just didn’t want to hold you back.”
You stared at him blankly for a moment, and another one passed until you finally spoke. “Asahi, what are you talking about? You overheard me talking to who about what?”
Asahi raised his hand, pushing some of the damp hair clinging to his forehead back, when he spoke. “I don’t recall who it was specifically, but it was some girl in your class — she was congratulating you on some sort of study abroad opportunity, and you would have been gone for a year, since the work you would have been doing was on-site.” he paused. “And as long as I’ve known you, it’s been your dream to travel and to see the world, and you aren’t the type to let anything hold you back either.”
The words slowly settled in your mind as he continued.
“I was scared,” he says, his eyes shifting over to yours, they were wide and honest. “I was scared that I wasn’t enough, and that I couldn’t keep up with everything that you were doing. You were – are,” he corrected himself. “So, incredibly amazing, and you inspired me to do so many things, and always pushed me forward to my goals and things I wanted to do in high school. No matter if it was with volleyball or academics.” He paused briefly.
Your eyes softened as you saw he was telling the truth — from how airy he was talking, and the way you could tell his hands were trembling, even through the water. You couldn’t help it, but let out a soft, “Asahi, you should’ve told me. We could have made it work; we would have made it work.”
He exhaled shakily, “I thought I was protecting you. I didn’t know that leaving would hurt this much. I already made up in my mind that stepping back would have made things much easier on your part — so you wouldn’t have to worry about us, you wouldn't have to worry about me.”
The ache in your chest blossomed into something entirely different, a mix of longing and relief. You finally moved from your stationed position in the jacuzzi to move closer to Asahi. The breakup was never about him losing feelings, or about him no longer loving you — no, it was because he loved you entirely too much. It was done with chivalrous intentions; he wanted you to do what was best for you, without having him in mind, and although it was honorable, it simply was not what you wanted.
Asahi’s eyes only grew wider when you approached him, but he didn’t flinch this time when you leaned closer to him, brushing a missed strand of hair from his forehead.
“Not once have you ever failed me, Asahi — and you were never holding me back. You kept me grounded, and you kept me sane,” you said softly. “You were the one who always reminded me to take breaks when I was up at ungodly hours. You were the one who brought me lunches when I forgot mine at home, considering how late I woke up. Hell, you were the first person to even comfort me anytime I did badly on an exam I studied my ass off for — Asahi, you grounded me in so many ways, and I’m so grateful for that.”
Asahi swallowed hard as he let your words wash over him. He reached a hand forward, hovering just above the water, before letting it rest lightly against your arm. “I didn’t realize you felt that way,” he murmured, voice almost breaking underneath the weight of it all. “I thought — I thought that I was sparing you, and giving you space to do everything you wanted without me slowing you down.”
You shook your head, a soft laugh escaping you despite the tight knot in your chest. “Asahi, love, you weren’t slowing me down. You were my anchor. I never felt held back once — if anything, I wanted you there with me for all of it. I missed you so much, even when I didn’t know it fully.”
His eyes searched yours, and the small tremor in his hands made you flinch ever so slightly. “I was scared,” he admitted again, much quieter this time. “I was so scared that I wasn’t good enough for you or everything you were doing, and you just deserved it all—”
“Asahi, you were, and are good enough. Not only just for me, but for yourself too,” you interjected, while leaning closer into him. Allowing the heat of the water and the nearness of him fill the space between, you allowed your hands to shift to either side of Asahi’s face, slightly gesturing him to look up at you. “All you ever did was love me, and I needed you to know that. I still do.”
His breath hitched, and his hands moved almost instinctively, covering yours. “You really mean that?”
You didn't answer with words; instead, you leaned in, pressing your lips against his. The kiss started soft and tentative as though both of you were testing whether this was real — if it was finally safe to close the distance you’d left open for so long. His fingers tightened over yours, and a shiver ran up your spine as he responded, brushing his lips against yours with careful, unsteady reverence.
The water sloshed gently around you both, steam curling over the surface like a veil as the world narrowed down to just the two of you. You deepened the kiss, brushing your thumbs over his cheeks, letting him feel your heart hammering against his own. Every worry, every misunderstanding, every moment of fear melted away in that simple, perfect contact.
When you finally pulled back slightly, foreheads resting together, your breaths mingling in the humid air, you whispered against his lips, “Does that better answer your question?”
Asahi’s eyes softened, a small, shaky smile tugging at his lips. “Yes, it does, Sweetheart,” he murmured, voice rough and low, “so much better.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, you both allowed yourselves to simply stay there, in the warmth, in the quiet, in each other’s arms.
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