#asahi x reader

[thequietkid-moonie]

⸺ Asahi Kobe

⚘ Yandere Asahi Kobe - Headcanons

✧˖°.☾ Main masterlist || Mixed masterlist ✧˖°.☾

[notfoundmichelle]

Sweetest Sunflower

Asahi x Reader

Summary: After a sweet, quiet romance grows between you and Asahi during volleyball practices, life starts taking things in a different direction. Despite the distance and changes, Asahi holds onto the warmth of your time together to find the strength to keep going on the court. WC: 977

Rating/Genre: Angst/Slice of Life

Warnings: Sickness and death

A/N: First angst ever, thanks to my friend. Idk how I did with this one.

The Karasuno gym smelled of sweat, dust, and a very particular kind of hopeful exhaustion. Asahi Azumane, the gentle giant of the volleyball team, was toweling off when he caught your eye. You were usually perched on the top bench, a notebook in your lap, supposedly studying, but more often watching him.

"You should really go home." he'd say, his voice a low, rumbling melody, even though his whole demeanor brightened when you stayed.

"And miss the post-practice slump?" you'd tease, swinging your legs. "It’s my favorite time. You all look so endearingly defeated."

He’d always blush, running a hand through his dramatically tied-up hair. That shaggy bun, the kind you secretly loved, often seemed to be holding back not just his hair, but the sheer, overwhelming goodness of his heart.

Your relationship was built on small, quiet moments. Walking home, sharing a single earbud while listening to something soft and folksy, sitting side-by-side on the roof of the school gazing at the clouds. He was the sun, not the fierce, blinding summer one, but the warm, steady light of late afternoon—reliable, comforting, and essential.

You loved his hands, large and capable, the same hands that spiked volleyballs with terrifying force and then, minutes later, would carefully untangle a knot in your scarf or hold a fragile, wilting flower you’d found on the side of the road.

"You worry too much," you told him one day, leaning your head against his broad shoulder as you sat by the river, the water a silver ribbon under the moonlight.

"I worry about you," he confessed, his breath soft against your hair. "You look tired sometimes, like you're carrying something heavy."

You just squeezed his hand, a radiant smile on your face. "I'm just sleepy, Asahi. No heavy burdens here, just you, my big, lovable lion."

It was a time of simple, unbroken happiness. The world was a canvas of bright, primary colors: the orange of the setting sun, the blue of his Karasuno jacket, the brilliant green of the springtime leaves. Every day felt like a gift, wrapped carelessly but perfectly.

The shift was subtle, a gradual fading, like an old photograph left in the sun. The casual tiredness he noticed became something deeper. The vibrant colors of your world began to mute.

One crisp autumn evening, Asahi was supposed to walk you home. He waited outside the gate, fiddling with the strap of his backpack, but you didn't appear. He found you in the nearly empty classroom, leaning your forehead against the cool window pane.

"Hey. Ready to go?"

You turned, and the usual bright spark in your eyes was dimmed, replaced by a quiet, deep exhaustion that went bone-deep. You offered him a weak smile, one that didn't quite reach your eyes.

"Asahi," you started, your voice softer than usual. "I... I'm going to have to take a break from practice visits. The doctors want me to take it easy."

He knelt beside your chair, his gentle brow furrowed with concern. "What is it? What did they say?"

You looked out the window again, at the golden light catching the falling leaves. You spoke clearly, deliberately, determined not to let your voice shake. "It's nothing sudden. It's just... something that was always there, I guess. And it’s decided to be a little persistent now."

You didn't use the clinical terms, the heavy, frightening words that had been whispered in doctor's offices. You simply looked at him, your eyes full of the same fierce, unshakeable love you always held.

"It doesn't change anything, okay? We still have now."

And you did. You had phone calls late into the night, your laugh a little more brittle, but still unmistakably yours. You had days where he'd bring movies and you'd watch them curled up on the couch, his large hand a constant, warm weight on your arm. He’d read to you, his deep voice soothing, making even the most boring school textbook sound like a thrilling adventure.

He cherished every moment, cataloging the feel of your hair, the sound of your sigh, the gentle pressure of your hand in his. He tried not to think of the future, focusing only on the light you still emanated.

The last time he saw you outside of the hospital room was a cold, bright winter day. You insisted on sitting on the small balcony, bundled up in layers, with his favorite scarf wrapped around your neck. The winter sun was weak, but still present.

You reached up, your fingers barely grazing the stubble on his cheek. "You're still my sunshine, Asahi."

"You are mine," he murmured, his voice thick with unshed tears.

You smiled, a genuine, luminous smile that momentarily brought back all the light and joy of the early days. "Don't stop spiking, okay? Don't let anything hold you back."

A few weeks later, the texts stopped. The phone calls went unanswered. When Asahi visited the hospital, the door to your room was closed, and a bouquet of wilting sunflowers sat on the window sill. A kind, hushed nurse took his hand.

It wasn't a sudden shock, but a long, slow ache, a quiet extinguishing of a precious flame.

Asahi stood outside the Karasuno gym one evening after practice, the cold air stinging his lungs. He was alone. He looked up at the setting sun, which was the same vibrant orange as always, but it felt hollow.

He remembered your words.

"Don't stop spiking."

He took a deep, shuddering breath and walked back into the gym, past the empty, silent bench where you used to sit. The light of your memory, the sweet, precious love you had shared, was now a quiet strength inside him. It didn't burn brightly, but it glowed steadily, a gentle, permanent warmth that would always remind him of the sweetest sunflower he had ever known.

@dearnoly

[notfoundmichelle]

Hairless Ace

Asahi x Reader

Summary: On a brutally hot and humid July day in the Karasuno gym, a miserable Asahi jokes about buzzing off his signature hair to beat the heat. WC: 661

Rating/Genre: Fluff

Warnings: None

A/N: First time ever posting something like this cause my friend said I should definitely do it.

The humidity in the air was so thick you could practically chew it. Inside the Karasuno gym, the heat had reached a level of disrespect that shouldn’t be legal.

Asahi was currently slumped against the cooling fans, his usual man-bun looking more like a damp bird's nest. His jersey was plastered to his back, and he was fanning himself with a stray clipboard, looking like he was one minor inconvenience away from evaporating entirely.

"I can't do it," Asahi groaned, his voice reaching that specific pitch of dramatic despair. "I think the heat is actually melting my brain."

You handed him a frozen water bottle, which he immediately pressed against his forehead with a whimper of relief. "It’s just July, Asahi. We still have August to get through."

Asahi let out a long, suffering sigh, eyes drifting toward the equipment room mirror. He reached up, tugging at the hair ties that held his signature locks in place. "That's it. I’ve decided. It’s too hot to have this much hair."

He looked at you, a mischievous (and very dehydrated) glint in his eye. "I think I'm just gonna buzz it all off. Graduation is coming up anyway. A fresh start. No more buns, no more headbands. Just... aerodynamic Asahi."

The silence that followed was deafening.

You didn't laugh. You didn't even blink. Your brain simply hit a physical "Emergency Stop" button. The water bottle in your hand hit the floor with a dull thud.

"You're going to what?" your voice was dangerously low.

Asahi blinked, his smile faltering. "Uh, buzz it? You know, like Tanaka? It would be so much cooler—"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT."

You stepped into his personal space, your finger hovering inches from his chest. The heat exhaustion was gone, replaced by pure, unadulterated adrenaline. "Asahi Azumane, if you so much as look at a pair of clippers, I will personally stage a coup. Do you have any idea what you’re saying? That hair is a national treasure. It is a landmark. It is the eighth wonder of the Miyagi Prefecture!"

"Wait, it was just a joke!" Asahi squeaked, backing away until his shoulders hit the wall. "I was kidding! Mostly!"

"'MOSTLY' IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" you yelled, attracting the attention of the entire team. Nishinoya and Tanaka stopped mid-drill to watch the carnage.

"You think you can just shave off those luscious locks because of a little humidity?" you continued, pacing back and forth like a high-court prosecutor. "People spend fortunes on products to get that volume! You have the mane of a lion, the silhouette of a literal samurai, and you want to look like a giant thumb?!"

"A giant thumb?!" Asahi looked genuinely hurt, clutching his hair protectively.

"Yes! A very tall, very anxious thumb!" You grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him slightly. "Do you realize the emotional toll that would take on me? On the fans? On the world? If that hair goes, the Ace energy goes. Is that what you want, Asahi? To be a hairless Ace?!"

Asahi’s face was now a vibrant shade of crimson that had nothing to do with the summer heat. He looked over your shoulder to see Suga doubling over with laughter and Daichi nodding solemnly in agreement with your points.

"Okay! Okay!" Asahi held up his hands in surrender. "The hair stays! I promise! No buzzing! I’ll just... I’ll buy more ice packs! Please stop looking at me like I’ve committed a crime!"

You took a deep breath, smoothing down your shirt and regaining your composure instantly. "Good. I'm glad we could have this rational discussion."

You picked up his water bottle and handed it back to him. "Now, go put some more cold water on your neck. You’re clearly delirious from the sun."

Asahi watched you walk away, still trembling slightly. He reached up, gingerly touching his ponytail.

"Note to self," he whispered to a snickering Nishinoya, "never, ever joke about the hair. My life depends on it."

@dearnoly

[showhay]

azumane asahi x f!reader | fluff

cw: suggestive content, read at your own risk.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi is THE gentle giant . even though he’s grown out his hair and carries himself with that effortless, refined designer confidence now, he still flushes a deep crimson down to his collarbones whenever you catch him staring at you from across the room.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi has the most incredible hands—large, calloused from years of volleyball, but now stained with fabric dye and exceptionally precise. those hands are never not on you. whether he’s absentmindedly tracing the line of your jaw while he reads a lookbook or hooking a thumb into your belt loop to pull you flush against him in the kitchen, he needs that physical tether to you.

;;​ boyfriend!asahi uses you as his muse in the most intimate ways. you’ll be lounging on the couch when he suddenly gets an idea, murmuring a soft “stay right there, honey,” before he’s kneeling between your legs with a measuring tape. the way his knuckles graze your skin as he measures your waist, his focused gaze dropping to your lips for a lingering second too long... it makes your heart do olympic-level gymnastics.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi is a sucker for the long distance pining, even if he’s only gone for a weekend. he’ll send you grainy selfies of his outfits, but the captions are always something like, “this silk reminded me of how your skin feels. i miss you so much it hurts.”

;; ​boyfriend!asahi has a very specific ‘after hours’ energy. when the sketches are put away and the hair tie finally comes out, he loses that professional composure. he likes to bury his face in the crook of your neck, while he let out a low, tired sigh that vibrates right through your chest. he’s heavy and warm, and he loves it when you guide his head down to your chest so he can listen to your heartbeat.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi gets surprisingly protective in a way that’s more ‘quiet intensity’ than ‘macho.’ if someone is being a bit too bold with you at a gallery opening, he doesn’t cause a scene; he just steps up behind you, wraps a heavy arm around your waist, and rests his chin on your shoulder. the sheer size of him is usually enough to make anyone backtrack, but it’s the way he nuzzles your temple right after that lets you know you're his entire world.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi loves ‘borrowing’ your accessories. you’ll find him at his desk wearing one of your dainty rings on his pinky or a hair clip you left behind pinned to his lapel. it’s his little way of keeping your essence near him while he works on his collections.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi is the ultimate cuddler, but it always ends up getting a little heated because he doesn’t realize his own strength. he’ll pin you down under the duvet, his weight grounding and domestic, murmuring praises into your skin until you’re a giggling, flustered mess. he’s a gentleman, sure, but the way he looks at you when you’re wearing nothing but one of his oversized button-downs? that’s a man who knows exactly what he wants.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi has a thing for textures, and he’s ruined you for any other man because of it. he’ll bring home the most expensive, delicate lace or sheer silk ‘samples,’ but they aren’t for a dress—they’re for you. he loves the way they look draped over your curves, but he loves it even more when he’s the one slowly peeling them back, his eyes dark and hungry as he mutters about how no fabric could ever compare to the softness of your thighs.

​;; boyfriend!asahi is surprisingly vocal when it’s just the two of you. that deep, rumbling voice that usually sounds so gentle is suddenly low and gravelly, whispering exactly what he wants to do to you into your ear. he likes to see you come apart for him, and he’ll hold your wrists above your head with just one of his massive hands, watching your reaction with a focused, heavy-lidded gaze that makes you feel like his most prized masterpiece.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi finds the most tension in the in-between moments. he’ll be zipping up a dress for you before a dinner date, but his fingers will linger at the small of your back. he’ll press his chest against your spine, his lips grazing the sensitive skin behind your ear as he whispers that he doesn’t want to go out anymore. the way his hands slide down to your hips, gripping them firm enough to leave a ghost of a mark, tells you he’s serious.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi loves desk work when you visit his studio late at night. he’ll clear away a pile of sketches with one swift motion, hoisting you up onto the mahogany surface so he can stand between your knees. his tie is usually undone by then, and he lets you tug on it to pull him closer, his hands sliding up your legs with a desperate, possessive heat that reminds you he’s still that powerful high school ace deep down.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi has a bit of a praise kink, but it’s mutual. he loves it when you tell him how good he feels, but he’s even better at giving it back. he’ll spend hours just exploring you, his large palms spanning your waist while he murmurs about how perfect you are, how much he loves the way you taste, and how he never wants to be anywhere else but inside you.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi gets a little reckless when he’s stressed. after a long day of runway prep, he doesn’t want a glass of wine; he wants you. he’ll meet you at the door, his hair a mess and his eyes burning, and he won’t even make it to the bedroom. he’ll have you pressed against the hallway wall, his large frame shielding you from the rest of the world as he takes exactly what he needs to feel human again.

;; ​boyfriend!asahi likes to take his time, worshiping your body from your toes to your throat, using that precision he learned in tailoring to find every single one of your ‘spots.’ by the time he actually gives in to your begging, you’re practically vibrating, and the look of pure, primal satisfaction on his face as he finally sinks into you is enough to make you see stars.

;; boyfriend!asahi treats your body like his private atelier, and his favorite ‘experimental’ project involves his silk measuring tape. he’ll have you sit perfectly still on his workbench—eyes fluttering shut as he wraps the cool, smooth ribbon tightly around your throat like a makeshift collar, then down across your chest to see how your breath hitches. his eyes get that sharp, artisan’s focus as he pulls the tape taut against your skin, murmuring about “perfect proportions” while he uses the edge of his metal ruler to trace the sensitive line of your inner thigh. the way he handles you—half like a delicate doll he’s afraid to break and half like a project he’s determined to master—leaves you shivering long before he finally drops the tools to use his mouth instead.

;; boyfriend!asahi has a particular obsession with the way you move in the clothes he creates, but his favorite ‘design’ is when he uses you as a living dress form for his most creative impulses. he’ll have you sit on the velvet stool in his private workshop, draped in nothing but a length of raw, heavy crimson silk, and he’ll spend the evening ‘pinning’ the fabric around you. his breathing gets hitched and heavy as he works, his knuckles dragging over the swell of your chest and the dip of your hip as he tucks the fabric tight. he’ll use his silk measuring tape to bind your wrists together just so he can ‘see the silhouette better,’ his eyes dark and dilated as he leans in to bite at your shoulder, whispering that you’re the only thing he’s ever touched that he truly wants to devour.

n: @eudaim0nia-a is right, there’s barely any suggestive asahi fics 🙏🏻 i need to feed my children

© showhay — don’t copy or translate without my permission. don’t feed my works to ai.

iloveu

[roguelilies]

Asahi Azumane Masterlist

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nothing yet..! Why not put in a request?

©roguelilies 2026 DO NOT STEAL!

[xreaderaddiction]

Azumane Asahi X Confident/Bold!Reader Drabble

Bold!Reader whose had the biggest crush on Asahi for the longest time

Bold!Reader who is on the verge of going insane since Asahi still hasn't noticed the fact that they have a crush on him

Bold!Reader whose tried putting notes in his locker with their initials at the bottom, shamelessly flirting, and just straight up giving him random gifts

Bold!Reader whose lowkey about to give up since their starting to get convinced that he just doesn't like them

Asahi who has a FATass crush on you

Asahi who literally BEGS Sugawara and Daichi to give him ANY tips on how to impress you

Asahi who when finally tries any of the tips absolutely fumbles and just scurries away

Asahi who lies awake at night cringing himself out when his mind drifts back to the tremendous amount of times hes failed to impress you

Asahi who hears bold!Reader go on and on about their type WHICH IS HIM BTW but hes so blinded that he can't tell that they just perfectly described him

Asahi who gets a newfound boost of courage trying to one up whoever they were talking about earlier and starts devising a plan

The enemies closer than you think but wtv-

Asahi who secretly watches like 2 romcoms and 3 K dramas and reads 2 romance mangas trying to think of the perfect way to confess to you

Bold!Reader who finally throws away most self restraint and start going on and on and ON about how Asahi would make such a good boyfriend finally hoping he'd catch the hint

Asahi who is somehow convinced that bold!Reader is just trying to be a nice person and sees it only for that and nothing else

Bold!Reader whose ready to make a giant flag that says "ASAHI IM IN LOVE WITH YOU" because it seems like whatever they do just isn't getting to his head

Bold!Reader who starts to getting touchy not in the weird way just subtle like fingers touching when passing something to one another for a longer time period to be considered normal you know things like that

Asahi who replays in his head everytime their leg sits against his when sitting by him or how your arms brush when walking side-by-side

Asahi who giggles like a kid who was just handed those giant rainbow swirly lollipops anytime he thinks of an interaction with them

Asahi who finally comes up with a good plan on how hes going to impress you and possibly confess

Asahi who decides since theres an ice rink not too far by that he'll invite bold!Reader to that

Asahi who assumes that bold!Reader doesn't know how to ice skate so he comes to the conclusion that he'll learn how and when they go together they'll be super impressed and latch onto him

Asahi who binge watching who ice skate like a pro hoping that'll get him far

Asahi who somehow builds the courage to ask you to go with him to the skating rink

Bold!Reader whose so happy to hear the invitation and automatically says yes

Bold!Reader whose excited to go to the skating rink because they can impress him with how well they skate

Bold!Reader who used to do figure skating but quit due to falling out of interest for it luckily they still has the talent!

Bold!Reader and Asahi who are both equally excited to impress the other with how well they skate

One of them is a FRAUD

Asahi who quickly learns that only watching videos and not actually being on the ice gets him nowhere as his face suffers a cold stinging feeling as he face plants on the ice

Bold!Reader who has to stifle a laugh as they help Asahi up from the ice and rush him off the ice

Bold!Reader who quickly makes sure that hes okay before asking would going somewhere else be better

Asahi who quickly says no- too embarrassed to back out now and decides to head back out on the ice

Bold!Reader who pulls Asahi to them, grabbing his hand and skating with him while pressing their other hand to his lower back to keep him stabilized

Asahi whose taken aback with how well they can skate and quickly gets more embarrassed as he processes the change of events

Bold!Reader whose tired of waiting and just flat out says "Asahi I've been in love with you for two years and I'm tired of your oblivious ass not realizing that"

Asahi who can't help but stand there trying to stop his legs from giving out on him as he takes in what bold!Reader just said to him

Asahi who before getting the chance to say anything feels the warm press of bold!Reader's lips on his before the warmth is gone as they pull away

Bold!Reader who admits that they knew that he liked them back because Sugawara snitched and told him

Asahi whose mind is battling between the emotions betrayal and absolutely happiness when he hears them

Asahi and bold!Reader who walk into the school together the following Monday hand in hand while both of your guy's friends stare at what they had concluded as impossible

(A/N: late Valentines day gift ig lol ANYWAY- I love Asahi sm he needs more love and appreciation)

[dira333]

Us on a coffee date (prophetic) - Asahi Azumane

for @screamin-abt-haikyuu

It starts out like it so often does. Asahi's in need of a caffeine fix (and a study partner), and you happen to serve both, since you happen to work part-time in the coffee shop down the road.

He prefers the way you make his coffee over anyone else, blushes at the latte art you leave for him to find - it's always something heart-shaped - and loves the little doodles he finds in the margins of your notes.

In the end, no one really knows who took the first step and who drew the last line on the drawing that sealed their fate. But in front of them sits a different version of themselves, drawn with crude lines and cheap ink, him and you, on a coffee date.

"Prophetic," you add below, and he can't help but smile. "Are you free after this?"

[ineedhaikyu]

Chapter Six

Summary: Hell Day is here, but Asahi swore he found heaven.

Word Count: 4.8K

Warnings: Spoilers from the manga series. FLUFF! Obvious slowwww burnnnnn. I don’t own anything. Haikyu belongs to Furudate Haruichi!

A/N: I don’t want to even discuss the sudden hiatus. But let it be clear that Haikyu has and will always have a special place in my heart. It’s my happy place.

It never gets easier walking through the doors of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. If Asahi was being honest, there was more tension in the air now than there was on Day One. It was already nerve-wracking just being here with other powerhouse schools who have more experience competing in Nationals.

Now, Asahi can confidently say that Day Three of Nationals was unlike anything he’s been through. Normally, his anxiety would surely be at its max. His palms would be sweating like crazy, his stomach would be churning his breakfast like a hurricane, and his mind would no doubt be imagining every worst case scenario.

But his hands felt fine, cold from the January air, but fine. His stomach didn’t need any medicine as he didn’t feel any danger of losing his breakfast. And for once since Nationals has started, his mind isn’t wrapped with the strangling vines of anxiety that controlled every nerve in his body.

In fact, he’s looking forward to playing on the orange court once more. Asahi knew the match with Nekoma was a goal the moment they entered Nationals. The famous battle of the garbage dump between crows and cats is going to happen today. A real match between the two teams where one victor will be able to advance.

For once, since Nationals have started, he’s excited to play in a match. He wants to show off the hard work he has put in for the last couple of months through his skills on the court. Everyone worked hard to get to this point. There was no way he was going to disappoint his team by letting his nerves get in the way.

So here he was in the same gymnasium he was in yesterday where his team will battle against Nekoma in a few minutes. His heart was racing so hard, beating like crazy against his chest. It was a similar feeling from last night when he was with (Y/N), the Inarizaki manager. Minus the part where there were several hundred screaming fans in the stands, announcers commentating through the microphones, or thundersticks creating the usual loud, crackling noises that made the gym sound like a storm cloud.

But Asahi didn’t care about that. He had to focus on calming down his nerves before the match started. Usually, he would be recalling the scariest moments of his life right now. But he wasn’t thinking about the time Date Tech’s iron wall shut him down or anything of the sort. Instead, all his brain could think about was the moment he talked to (Y/N) for the first time. It was definitely a scary moment. But not a bad scary moment. More like a once-in-a-lifetime moment where she became a person he could trust.

It was so difficult to explain how he felt towards the Inarizaki manager. He would get so nervous around her but it didn’t take long for those initial nerves to go away. He didn’t know how (Y/N) did it, how she was able to take away his nerves so easily. Like last night, he was a wreck. He kept second-guessing himself on how he should talk and act around her. But the moment he saw her walking with her team, laughing along with them, his mind went blank. All he could think about was how happy she looked, how her eyes looked so lively, how her carefree smile (in his opinion) was the prettiest smile he has ever seen.

With the image of (Y/N)’s smile still in his mind, Asahi exhaled one last time before he opened his eyes. He brought out his hand, palm out. He stared at his hand, already imagining how many times he’ll be feeling the ball before spiking it. Then the image shifted. His large hand holding her hand, fingers intertwined-

Asahi shook his head, already feeling flustered at the very thought of holding hands with his crush. He couldn’t let his imagination run crazy on impossible goals. No matter how much he wished it to be real.

“Yo, Asahi!”

He flinched when he heard Daichi’s commanding voice calling him out. It was like the guy knew the perfect moments to scare the living daylights out of him.

“Y-Yeah.”

Daichi placed his hands on his hips. With a mischievous smirk and a determined glint in his eyes, Asahi could tell his friend was ready to get on the court to prove Karasuno’s worth. He was the very image of a confident player. Asahi wished he could borrow some of that confidence that Daichi seemed to be brimming with.

“How are you feeling?” His captain asked.

He furrowed his brow, not expecting his friend to even ask such a question, especially at a time like this.

“Uhh no offence, Diachi, but when do you care how I feel?” Asahi questioned as he took a sip of water, feeling relief as the water quenched his thirst.

Daichi looked taken aback but it was only a second later that he started laughing. “Well, you caught me there.” He chuckled to himself a bit more before he crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I had to make sure your head was in the game and not-”

A fist slammed its way into Daichi’s ribs, effectively cutting off the captain’s next words. Asahi wasn’t even surprised to see Suga coming up from behind the hunched over captain.

“Now, now, Daichi. Don’t make our dear ace more nervous than he already is. He does a good job doing that all by himself.” Suga commented with a knowing smirk on his lips. However, the smirk vanished when the vice captain noticed the lack of rituals the ace usually does before a big match. “Huh… You actually look dependable right now, Asahi.”

“Ha ha, Suga, that’s hilarious.” Asahi deadpans but still managed to smile at his friends. “And to answer your question Daichi, I feel fine. My head is in the game-”

“Is that (Y/N)?” Suga asked, his eyes squinting at the crowd

“Where?!” Asahi whipped around, his eyes desperately looking around for the Inarizaki manager.

“So much for your head being focused on the game.” Daichi commented from behind as Suga snickered at the ace’s reaction.

“At least, we know how to motivate him if things go downhill.” Suga murmured to the captain who hummed in agreement.

“Still,” Daichi began, his eyes looking at the hundreds of fans in the stands. “It’s too bad (Y/N) can’t be here. She’s a good luck charm.”

“You mean, Asahi’s good luck charm.”

The two looked back at their friend of many years when they noticed his slumped shoulders. It almost made Suga regret playing the prank on the ace. Almost.

“And Achilles heel.” Suga added when Asahi turned around to face them. The disappointment on his face was not hard to miss.

“You sure you saw (Y/N), Suga? I didn’t see her anywhere.” Asahi complained with a pout.

“Oops, my bad. I guess it was someone else.” Suga explained, rather smug. “Hard to tell from here, you know?”

Asahi narrowed his eyes at his friend. He couldn’t tell if Suga was being genuine in his apology. Maybe it was just a mistake. Though, Asahi couldn’t imagine how anyone could mistake (Y/N) with anyone else. He certainly wouldn’t.

“Very funny, Suga.” He said flatly

“Oh, come on, Asahi! It was funny!” Suga defended. “The way you perked up when I mentioned her name. You're down bad for her.”

“So what if I am?” Asahi retorted, the tips of his ears turning a faint shade of red. “Is it so bad to want to see her again?”

Before Suga could answer, Daichi intervened.“We’re not saying anything like that, Asahi. We know that you like her-”

“And that she likes you.” Suga interrupted.

“But we need you to focus on what's actually in front of us. I know you want (Y/N) to be here. I wish (Y/N) was here too because I think we all know you play harder when she’s watching. Still, we worked hard to get here. I’m sure if (Y/N) was here right now she would say the same thing.”

“Yeah, she would.” Asahi agreed before he remembered one important fact. “But she would say it nicer.”

Daichi rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless, glad to see some fight back in Asahi. Even if it was just a little.

“Come on, ace. Let’s go win this match.”

As the trio of third-years made their way to the rest of the team, they noticed how loud Nekoma’s cheering section suddenly became, so much so that they could hear each individual's cheers.

“HEY, YAMAMOTO!” A Nekoma alumni shouted from the crowd. “GIVE IT YOUR BEST, DUDE!”

Asahi’s eyes traveled towards Nekoma’s starting players, where their ace accepted the fan’s encouragement with ease. From the corner of his eyes, Asahi saw how Tanaka was glaring daggers at Yamamoto.

“Stupid lucky locals!” Tanaka growled with envy in his eyes.

“Well, they are from here. It’s no wonder they’ve got a big cheering section.” Asahi told his jealous junior.

“Yeah, I know, but it still doesn’t make me feel better!” Tanaka complained. “And it’s not fair how they have girls personally cheering them on. I want that too!”

“You have your sister.” Asahi pointed out.

“She doesn’t count! I want a girl that’s not related to me to cheer me on! You know? To yell out my name every time I make a super cool point! Or when I do make an awesome point, I look for her in the crowd and dedicate that point to her!” Tanaka then sighed with slumped shoulders. “Man, that would be great.”

Asahi didn’t miss the way Tanaka's eyes glanced at Kiyoko, who was busy making sure everything was in order. It was routine for her to set the towels and water bottles on the bench but Asahi reckoned that Tanaka is thinking how she’s a goddess that crafted the night sky with each beautiful star. To be fair, it wasn’t that long ago when he shared his friend’s line of thinking about their manager, but after meeting (Y/N) and getting to know her, Asahi can argue she’s as much of a goddess as Kiyoko.

But his junior did have a good point about one thing: it would be nice to have a girl cheering for him.

Asahi patted his junior’s shoulder. “Be grateful for the fans we do have. Give them something worth cheering for.”

Tanaka raised his head and Asahi was relieved to see the motivational fire burn brightly in his eyes. The shadow ace made a fist, “You’re right, Asahi! We gotta do our part! We can’t let our fans down!”

He watched how Tanaka puffed out his chest before running off and greeted their own fans with invigorating passion to which their cheering section returned tenfold. Relieved to see his junior back to his energetic self, Asahi took the chance to look over his shoulder.

From the sidelines, he can easily spot Bokuto and Akaashi in their Fukurōdani Academy jackets. The Fukurōdani setter waved his hand in greeting while the ace next to him made sure to wave his arms in excitement.

“YO! ASAHI!” Bokuto hollered. “BE KARASUNO’S CANNON AND WIN!”

Asahi smiled and gave the ace a thumbs-up, hoping it was enough to show some amount of confidence. Because between every team that was in the training camp, everyone knew that Karasuno had not been able to win a set against Nekoma. Asahi remembered with a grimace how much diving and running drills they had to do with each losing set. The burning ache of his arms and legs were constant each day.

His eyes then traveled where Yachi innocently stood next to the scoreboard. No. Wait. It looked like she was talking to someone from behind the scoreboard. It had to be someone she knows because he knew how shy the first-year manager was to new people. So who was she talking to?

Just as he took a step to the side to get a better angle at the mystery person, he felt a hand grab his arm and turn him completely around.

“Hey, Asahi!” He didn’t have to look who was talking, he could tell by voice that it was Nishinoya. “You ready?! Battle of the Garbage Dump is finally here!”

“Yeah… It’s been a long time coming, huh?”

Asahi furrowed his brow at how the libero seemed distracted as he kept taking quick glances behind his back, the same direction Yachi was in. “Uhh, Nishinoya? You okay?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. You have nothing to worry about. I got your back, remember?” Nishinoya laughed loudly, though Asahi can tell it was by force.

“Uhh, thanks? Are you really okay? You’re acting weird, Nishinoya.”

“Don’t worry about me, Asahi. I’m fine. Just have to make sure you’re good. We can’t have you all depressed right before the match.”

“Ha-ha. I’m focused. I talked to (Y/N) this morning-”

“Wait, you did? What did she say?”

Asahi gave his friend the short version of the phone call he had with (Y/N) this morning. He made sure to mention the part where she actually compiled notes for their match against Nekoma.

“She did that?”

This time, Asahi had the libero’s undivided attention. Huh… Should it bother him that Nishinoya is finally paying attention to what he was saying only because he mentioned (Y/N)? Does he… like her too?

For some reason the thought of his close friend and (Y/N) possibly liking each other didn’t sit right with him. He swallowed hard before pushing away the mental picture to the back of his mind, hoping it won’t come back any time soon.

He continued, “Yeah… She wanted me to tell you to be considerate of the spiker’s running approach when you make a receive. And to watch out for setter dumps.”

Nishinoya grinned brightly before laughing. “You really know how to pick’em, Asahi!”

“What- Don’t say it like that. (Y/N) is a person.”

“Of course, I know that. I just meant, don’t let your chance slip away. Because from what I can tell these past few days, (Y/N) is the best thing that has ever happened to you.”

Asahi smiled at his friend though he couldn’t help but ask, “How can you tell?”

“Because even when she’s not here, she’s on your mind. And ever since you met her, you’ve been different- confident even. Which by the way is what I’ve been telling you for years and I think it suits you great. Don’t you agree, (Y/N)-san?”

Asahi felt his neck snap at how fast he turned to look over his shoulder. His eyes met her familiar warm ones, a beautiful shade of (E/C) that he’s grown to admire. Her smile, so naturally kind, made his heart thrash all around his chest. He felt his stomach flip flop this way and that but it didn’t stop him from smiling back.

“I think he’s already great.”

Just hearing her voice again in the form of a compliment made him feel like he could do anything. His own voice seemed to be lost until he felt Nishinoya patted his back and brought him back to reality- a reality where his crush is right next to him.

“It’s nice to see you again, (Y/N)-san.” Nishinoya greeted her with a wide smile. “You look great!” The libero turned in his direction and asked, “I thought you said her team left this morning?”

Asahi took a chance to look at (Y/N) and once again he felt all the warm emotions just flood every single cell in his body. She didn’t have to do anything remotely amazing and yet she took his breath away every single time.

“I- Well- That’s what I thought.” He turned to look at his crush, worry in his eyes. “Did something happen? Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine! I promise!” (Y/N) responded and Asahi could tell by the excitement in her eyes that she was telling the truth. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

“A surprise?”

She smiled. “Turns out the principal called Coach Kurosu this morning and he gave us permission to extend our stay here in Tokyo! Said we deserved it for the exciting match yesterday but I’m pretty sure he wanted us third-years to enjoy the tournament one last time. He’s the sentimental sort.”

Asahi couldn’t help but smile like a fool as hope filled his heart. “So you’re here to watch? Really?”

(Y/N) nodded in excitement. “For at least one more day, but yeah! I was going to watch your match on my phone, but when I heard the news I just knew I had to surprise you in person!” There was a moment of realization in her eyes as she became self-conscious. Her arms crossed over her chest, as if readying herself from some kind of blow. “Is… Is that okay?”

He can tell just by looking into her eyes that (Y/N) looked nervous. Was she afraid of his answer? Huh… The girl he admired, who he thought had confidence to spare, looked the same way he would be if the roles were reversed.

“Yeah! More than okay!” For the first time today, his palms started to sweat. He discretely wiped his hands against his shorts and he can tell Nishinoya was trying hard not to laugh. “I’m happy you’re here.”

(Y/N) relaxed her tense shoulders and smiled once more. She took a quick glance at the roaring crowd. “Me, too. Though, it looks like I’m not the only one excited to see this match.” She turned to Nishinoya. “I hope to see those great saves like the ones in the ‘I’m Awesome’ videos.”

“Ha! Just watch me, (Y/N)-san! You haven’t seen anything yet! Wait till you see my Rolling Thunder! In fact,” The libero held out his fist towards her. “I’ll dedicate my first Rolling Thunder to you, our newest fan!”

Asahi wanted to laugh at how (Y/N) shot him a confused look and mouthed, “Rolling Thunder?”

“You’ll see it soon enough.” He told her, not wanting to spoil his friend’s moment.

“Oh well,” She looked back at Nishinoya, her own fist connecting with his. “Thanks. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”

“You won’t be disappointed! But don’t worry, I’ll let Asahi here have some room to impress you.” He nudged the wing spiker with his elbow, a huge grin on his face paired with mischievous eyes. “Right, ace?”

When her eyes met his, Asahi could feel his mind become a scrambled mess. Luckily, he found his voice in time and replied confidently, “It’s a promise.”

~

(Y/N) felt her heart racing like never before. She hoped the guys didn’t notice how flushed she was because she could certainly feel how warm her face felt. But perhaps she didn’t mind if it was with Asahi. Hopefully, he would like the small gift she had for him. Her katsumori, her own victory charm that was given to her back when she was a first-year, felt heavy in her jacket pocket. The words she practiced repeatedly in her head on the way here seemed to just disappear on the tip of her tongue. In all honesty, she’s been lucky to form complete sentences this whole time.

Meeting Asahi’s kind, warm, brown like melted chocolate eyes, (Y/N) found her voice again (just barely). Her hand made its way inside her jacket, her fingers nervously tracing around the worn fabric of her katsumori. “Wow, I’m a lucky girl.”

“It’s the least we could do.” Asahi assured her. “You went through the trouble to come to our match when you didn’t have to. We’re the lucky ones.”

(Y/N) could feel herself grinning like a fool but she didn’t care because all that mattered was that Asahi appreciated her efforts. Just seeing his cute smile was enough to find the confidence she needed. She could only hope it wasn’t too much.

“Speaking of luck,” Her fingers wrapped around the charm, slowly bringing it out of her pocket. “I wanted-”

“Excuse me, Miss?”

Her hand stilled inside her pocket as she turned around to face the unknown voice. It was the referee, the very same referee from yesterday’s match. He looked quite annoyed, as if he has better things to do than confronting her. And (Y/N) knew exactly why he was here.

“Yes?” She asked innocently, hoping the innocent act would help her in this situationship.

However, the referee kept his stare indifferent. “I don’t see your badge on you and according to your jacket you're from Inarizaki High, the very same school who lost their place in the tournament yesterday. Do you have any official business on this court?”

“Well, um…” Her throat seemed to constrict so much so that her words were stuck. She could feel the stares from Nishinoya and Asahi on her back. The back of her neck began to heat up in embarrassment. “I just wanted to visit-”

“Because if you don’t have official business,” The referee interrupted her. “Then I must ask you to step off the court-”

Her shoulder was enveloped in warmth, a familiar one, that was able to calm her heart into a normal rhythm.

“She’s my friend-”

“Girlfriend!” Nishinoya interrupted as he stepped in front of her, acting like a human shield against the referee. “He meant girlfriend.”

(Y/N) might have just met the libero the other day but she couldn’t help trusting him. Perhaps, that was something liberos had in common- whatever the situation, you can count on them to have your back.

Nishinoya looked over his shoulder and winked at her and Asahi. She didn’t have to read his mind to follow in step with his go-with-the-flow plan. Luckily, this wasn’t the first time she had to be in a role for a grand performance. The Miya twins gave her enough practice for that.

With that in mind, (Y/N) steeled her nerves and put on her best apologetic smile. Her hand went up to her shoulder where her palm sat on top of Asahi’s hand. She could feel his eyes on her but she didn’t dare look into those warm, caring eyes. Hopefully, Asahi will understand and go along with the plan but deep down she knew she could trust him.

With Asahi’s hand in hers, (Y/N) stepped forward and bowed down in respect. “I’m so sorry, sir, for causing trouble.” She stood back up and held Asahi’s hand firmly. “I was on my way to grab a seat when I realized I forgot to give my boyfriend his good luck charm.”

The referee raised a brow in suspicion, his eyes darting between her and her ‘boyfriend’. He has seen the two together before the past couple of days but he always thought the two were friends. On the other hand, they reminded him of the time when he first met his wife in this very gym over ten years ago. The memory will forever be treasured in his heart even after a decade later. Now, the rules don’t matter as much anymore… Perhaps he had a soft spot for young love. It didn’t help that the man bun guy was looking at her like she was an angel of some kind.

The adult internally sighed, weighing his options on either side. However, just as he was about to reason with the young couple, the tall #3 player stepped forward, his hand still linked with the girl’s.

“Five minutes, sir. Please. We- I-I need five minutes with her.”

This time the referee let out a loud sigh as he could feel the sentimental side of himself win over the logical side.

“Alright. But only for five minutes. That’s it. The moment I blow this whistle your girlfriend needs to be off the court. Understood? Both of you?”

(Y/N) was at a loss for words by the referee’s sudden generosity. It wasn’t until she felt Asahi shift beside her that she found her voice again.

“You okay?” He asked, concern laced in his voice. His hand not showing any signs of letting go despite the fact that the referee was long gone.

“Of course she’s okay!” Nishinoya laughed. “The plan worked great! The ref didn’t suspect a thing. You did a great job playing along, (Y/N)-san!”

She smiled at the compliment. “It’s easy when you have enough practice. Trust me, this was child’s play compared to what the Miya twins do on a weekly basis. But thanks, both of you, for covering for me.” Her eyes met Asahi’s. “Seems like you’re always saving me one way or another.”

Asahi let out a nervous laugh before finally releasing her hand as he rubbed his neck. “I think it was just the right time and right place.”

“Then I suppose meeting you is almost like fate. Maybe getting defeated by your team could be a blessing in disguise. But don’t tell my team that. They’re still sore from yesterday.”

“Physically or emotionally?” Nishnoya asked.

“Both.” She replied. “But you didn’t hear it from me. What about you guys? How are you guys holding up?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle!” Nishinoya declared. “But I think I should leave you guys alone, I have to practice some receives with Tanaka. Make sure to cheer for me, (Y/N)-san!”

The two third-years looked at the libero with identical expressions of disbelief but decided not to comment on it. With the new found sense of privacy, (Y/N) nervously looked up at her crush.

“So, um, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable about me calling you my boyfriend. I know that ref and he takes his job seriously, like unbelievably serious, and I didn’t want you to get on his bad side before your match. Trust me on that.”

Asahi took a quick glance over his shoulder and sure enough the ref was staring in their direction. Almost as if he was expecting something…

“I’ll take your word for it. He’s still staring at us. Well, more like glaring at me.”

“And I’m sure he’s counting the seconds before he blows that whistle. So I shouldn’t waste anymore time,” She took out her katsumori and offered it to him. “Here, this is for you. Take it.”

Asahi looked at her with those eyes, asking if she was sure. He was about to protest but she spoke first.

“I’m sure, Asahi. Please take it.” She took hold of his hand and gently placed the charm on his open palm. “It would mean a lot to me.”

The uncertainty in his eyes faded away and the smile that she’s been hoping to see became a wish come true.

“Thank you, (Y/N). I promise to keep it safe.” He carefully closed her katsumori in a fist and held it over his chest.

It made her heart melt inside her rib cage. All the butterflies in her stomach that were frolicking about were now flapping their little wings into a cyclone. She thanked her lucky stars that she had a light breakfast.

“Well,” She took a step forward, casually brushing her shoulder with his. “I should go and find a good seat before they’re all gone.”

“Oh, um, no, yeah.” Asahi agreed. “Of course. So, I’ll… See you later… Hopefully? After the match?”

(Y/N) internally cooed at how earnest Asahi was being. How is it possible for him to be this cute yet attractive at the same time? Does he even know?

“I’ll be here, waiting to congratulate your team for a great match.”

Asahi let out a nervous chuckle. “And if we lose?”

“It’s still going to be a great match. I just know it.”

Before he could say another word, the shrill sound of the whistle filled the air. It was time to go. (Y/N) sighed as she dreaded this moment to leave the court. All the while, Asahi wished he had more time with her. In fact, he wished time stopped all together, capturing the moment-

“Asahi!”

“Huh?” The ace blinked when he heard his name. He looked back at (Y/N) where he was met with her worried gaze.

“I said I have to go now, like for real this time. So um… Yeah… Good luck.”

“Yeah, ok, yeah. I got your katsumori. You’re here. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m all set.”

(Y/N) smiled bashfully at his words. “See you later.”

She raised her fist towards him and to her surprise Asahi didn’t hesitate to connect his fist with hers.

“You can do this, ace.”

“Thank you for everything.”

And he meant every word.