ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ kuroo tetsuro is a blanket hog, plain and simple.
➼ pairing! timeskip!kuroo tetsuro x gn!reader
➼ warnings! none, this is pure fluff
➼ word count! 1.1k
➼ author’s note! erhm, hello! found this half-written piece i wrote last summer and finished it up. enjoy :p
"Tetsu," You hum out softly, pointer finger jabbing into the meat of said man's arm for the umpteenth time. As expected, Kuroo doesn't so much as move a muscle. Huffing quietly, you lean back onto your calves, knees digging further into your side of the mattress that you share with the insufferable man who currently lies with his back towards you. Eyes moving past him to get a glance at the alarm clock on his bedside table, you realize that after having completed your night routine and spending a good ten minutes attempting to wake up your boyfriend, a new day has begun, and god, are you tired. So despite knowing it's most likely futile, you give one last call of your boyfriend's name. He remains asleep, or what you personally believe to be a pretense of sleep. And normally, you'd simply leave him to his own devices. But there was one issue.
He's hogging the entire comforter. And the room is freezing.
But you also know what he's doing. Kuroo has always been a provocative man, living for the thrill of riling up others - dishing out teasing remarks and displaying mischievous behavior. And you have a suspicious inkling that this is most likely your "payback" for not coming to bed earlier with him when he had asked you to, instead opting to tell him you'd join him later. He had insisted on you coming with him, but all you could do was offer him a chaste kiss on the cheek before bidding him a good night. And so he went, sulking all the way. However, you really couldn't be blamed. You had been sent home with a ridiculous amount of paperwork, and since it was your Friday, you had wanted to knock it all out tonight so that you didn't have to fret about it on your days off from work.
Still, in Kuroo's deluded mind, it was probably considered an unforgivable betrayal.
Thus, this was him "getting back" at you. But unfortunately for your boyfriend, you are anything but compliant. So instead of playing into his antics, you kick your legs out from under you, so that you're no longer sitting on your knees, before settling back into your spot of the bed, albeit a bit further from Tetsurou than normal. And instead of trying to tug the blanket out of his hold, you merely curl up into a ball, bringing your knees up to your chest and wrapping your arms around them in an exaggerated attempt at conserving your body heat.
Because you know your boyfriend. And you've been with him long enough to know that he can never keep up with his antics for too long, especially not at the expense of you. The sight of you, cold and curled up in the bed, would surely be one to tug on his heartstrings. The thought alone makes a smile curl onto your face, and it widens even more so when you feel just the slightest shift of movement coming from the other side of the bed.
You knew that little shit wasn't sleeping.
Still, you refuse to acknowledge him. Instead, you remain curled into yourself, deciding it's your turn to feign sleep. Eyes fluttering shut, you school your features into a passive one. Moments pass in silence, and in all honesty, as each one ticks by, you find that you could probably slip into true slumber at any second, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to you and settling deep into your bones. Blanket and Kuroo be damned.
Just before your body fully gives way to its fatigue, arms are suddenly slithering around your waist and gently pulling you back, until your back is pulled flush against Kuroo's chest. A wave of warmth rushes over you when you feel the plush material of the comforter you share with your boyfriend being draped over your body, along with the combined warmth of his body heat. As a result, your limbs slowly retract from your body, legs and arms straightening out as you practically melt into the warmth that's now engulfing you. You nearly miss the quiet huff of air that comes from behind you as your body grows more lax. But your ears pick up on it, and the smile that has been playing at your lips since you first felt Kuroo's touch on your skin grows tenfold.
He couldn't even last two minutes.
"You're so mean," Tetsurou's sleep-ridden voice vibrates against the shell of your ear, soft lips brushing against the skin there with each word being spoken. You won't admit it but the soft touches have you melting back against his chest.
"Says the one who was going to just leave me out in the cold."
A huff slips past Kuroo's lips, but still, his arms tighten around your waist.
"You deserved it," Came Kuroo's childish retort and you can practically hear the pout on his lips as he speaks.
An incredulous laugh slips past your lips, and you twist in his hold so that you can meet your boyfriend's gaze. He's pulled you so close to him that your nose nearly bumps against his when you resettle, and just like you predicted, his lips are turned down into a small pout.
"And why exactly do I deserve it, pray tell?"
"You wouldn't come to bed with me." His pout deepens, and you have to bite down on your lip to stop the laughter that is bubbling in your throat and threatens to slip past them.
"Aw, my poor baby." You coo instead, fingers reaching out to give his cheek a pinching little tug. He's quick to swat your hand away but he doesn't let you pull away, instead threading his fingers through yours and letting your conjoined hands fall against his chest. The action has your teasing tone slipping away, and a more sincere gaze replacing your prior mischievous one as you peer up at your boyfriend. It's not hard to notice the small bags he has forming under his eyes, faint hues of blue and purple beneath them acting as a testament to his own demanding workload and exhaustion. Frowning slightly, you reach out with your free hand to push some of the hair off his forehead, touch featherlight and gentle as you take him in, "Well, I'm here now."
"Yeah, well, it's too late." Kuroo huffs out, as if he's not currently entangling his legs with yours and tugging you even closer to his body, free hand guiding your head to rest in the crook of his neck.
"Oh, yeah." You roll your eyes in response, but there's a content smile playing at your lips as you feel the soft kiss he presses to your forehead, "Definitely too late."
pairing: tsukishima x gn!reader - cw: cursing genre: fluff
note: reader has hair at a length that tsukishima can play w/, but hair texture isn’t explicitly stated
also hi sorry for ghosting u all for so long but i’m alive and here’s an old fic :D
“aren’t you supposed to be a tsundere?”
“huh? where’d you get that from, idiot?” tsukishima scoffs, setting his book on the nightstand by his bed before peering down at you.
you’re sprawled out on his bed, head laying on his lap as you continue scrolling through your phone with a knowing smile, “i don’t know, you just look like you’re supposed to be a tsundere. Like how you always hiding how you actually feel under all that snarky remarks,”
tsukishima lets out a faint snort as he listens to you speak, carefully brushing strands of hair from your face with feather-light touches. he coils the lock around his finger before untangling the strand, watching it fall and join the pool of hair splayed near your head. you smile softly, tossing your phone aside and stretching your arms up to cup his face. he obliges, resting his chin gently on the palms of your hand as you continue, “like you always call me idiot, but look at you right now, kei. you’re so fucking soft,”
hearing this, his ears heat up, face turning a brilliant rouge as he instantly retracts and retorts, “no i’m not,”
“yeah, you are,” you laugh, flopping your now empty hands onto your sides as he sighs and repositions your palms for him sit his chin back on them. he rolls his eyes as you let out another string of laughter, “kei, you’re so soft, you can’t tell me otherwise after what you just did,”
“i just didn’t want to see that stupid pout again,” he grumbles, shifting his face so that his cheek was resting against the smooth of your hand and facing away from you. tsukishima sighs, sensing the smug grin on your face without even needing to catch as he reluctantly pivots back to meet your gentle gaze with a halfhearted roll of his eyes before averting them, “but fine, maybe i am soft, or a tsundere, or whatever the fuck,”
“but does it really matter? i love you and you know that,” he whispers, clasping his fingers around your wrist and moving it away as he tips down to place a delicate kiss on your lips, successfully leaving you stunned.
The Haikyuu Characters Text you “I Can’t Sleep” | Pt.2
Pairing: Haikyuu boys x f!reader
Notes: Good morning everybody! It’s currently 8:50 AM for me, but good afternoon and evening to those of you in different timezones. I hope that you’re all ready for another chapter! I’ve been having serious issues sleeping again lately, so writing these chapters is pretty fun, even if it’s the other way around. Enjoy ❤️
In this chapter, the characters include: Osamu, Atsumu, Kita, Suna, Sakusa, Daishō, Numai, Kuguri, and Sakishima!
If you want to check out my masterlist for the texting series posts as I make them, you can follow {this link} to the page!
as the first week of June slowly passed by you figured the long stretches of spring days full of rain and cloudy skies had come to a close.
everyone had already quickly grown accustomed to the warm shift in the coming summer air, so much so that everyone seemed to develop the need to go outside.
even as annoying as the newly crowded sidewalks were, you couldn’t blame them. the chills running down your arm as the sun softly kissed your skin were different than in spring, it brought a comfort you’d been craving for some time now.
the comfort was fleeting though. you’d gotten too situated in the comfortable embrace of summer that the notion to check any changes in the weather before you left your apartment slipped to the back of your thoughts.
when the first drop landed on your arm, you paid no mind to it, barely able to feel the nuisance at all. it wasn’t until another touched your cheek that you turned your head up, a soft sigh escaping you on instinct at seeing the dark clouds smothering the sun.
“damn.” that was all you had time to say before the short warning of rainfall was over.
if you hadn’t been caught out in the downpour yourself seeing the way people clambered to find some sort of shelter would've been funny. it was almost still amusing, bringing just a touch of a smile to the corner of your lips.
a sharp coolness breaking over the sidewalk sped up your pace and chills found their way down your arms once more.
there was plenty of room for you to slip under one of the many restaurant patios you passed by to wait out the rain, but with another glance at the brewing clouds, you doubted it would end anytime soon.
you figured it would be much easier to make it to the café you’d originally had planned on going to. it was earlier than the time you’d be meeting your friend, but you didn’t really mind.
it only took you a few minutes to reach the cafe, and much to your surprise the rain hadn’t gotten you all that wet, it was the cold you were seeking solace from. you hadn’t dressed for anything cold.
thankfully you were greeted with warmth once you stepped through the doors, and almost immediately your shoulders relaxed at the comforting aroma drifting throughout the lobby.
“can i help you?”
you blinked a few times, eyes wide as you stared at the barista. in your haste to escape the rain you’d completely forgotten any sense of what you usually ordered.
“um..” your eyes scanned over the menus lined above the pastry case but it was as if you were trying to read a foreign language. the silence was nearly suffocating as you gave the barista an embarrassed smile.
“i recommend the brown sugar milk tea. it’s really good.” a voice sounded from behind you and for a moment you thought it was a gift from the gods to save you.
“oh-that actually sounds pretty good.” you tilted around to see who the voice belonged to and you nearly froze again. he was so pretty.
“i figured you’d want something warm, you’re shivering,” he stated matter of fact and it drew a small laugh from the back of your throat.
“ahh.. yeah i got caught in the rain.” your hand rubbed the back of your neck trying to tame the growing heat creeping up your neck and you turned back toward the barista. “i’ll get a brown sugar milk tea then.”
“make that two actually.” the boy stepped up next to you now and before you could say anything he pulled out his wallet. “my treat.”
“you don’t have to do that.” you shook your head at his offer despite a small smile tugging at your lips.
“it’s okay, i want to.” he smiled softly, head tilted to the side a bit as he looked at you and you swore you almost felt your knees go weak. “would you like to sit with me for a bit?”
“sure.” you nodded, following him to one of the tables. as you sat down you noted his clothes looked dry, it was weird, you swore he’d come in after you. “did you make it in before the rain hit?”
he shook his head, holding up an umbrella you didn’t remember seeing before as his answer. another quiet laugh pushed through your lips, what were the odds.
it only took a few moments for the barista to bring the drinks over. the smell of the tea wrapped around you before it was even set down, it almost felt like a warm hug.
“this looks so good... thank you for the drink-” you started before the words caught in the back of your throat, “i’m sorry, i didn’t catch your name.”
“it’s akaashi keiji.”
akaashi’s smile was even gentler than before but his voice held a twinge of amusement now.
“well, thank you for the drink, akaashi.” you smiled, taking a small sip of the tea. he was right, it was delicious and just what you needed to fight the lingering chill.
it was odd how something as simple as some rain or a warm drink could change your whole mood in just a few seconds. you didn’t really know why he offered to pay for you drink, but it wiped away any ill feelings the change in weather had brought upon.
“you’re welcome, y/n.” akaashi spoke after a moment, and you felt your heart jump in your chest slightly.
“i was just going to introduce myself, how did you know my name?” your eyes grew a bit wide as you racked your brain for any memory of meeting him before, but you knew you’d remember someone like him.
“is that your friend over there?” he nodded toward the direction of the door and sure enough your friend was standing in the same spot you had been in before, soaked to the bone from rain. “she yelled your name right when she walked in, waving at us.”
you weren’t sure how you missed it. maybe you’d been too enamored by akaashi’s simple but beautiful presence to notice anyone else. when your heart skipped once more in your chest as a bright yet soft laugh sounded from him you know that was the case.
“did you see how the rain stopped right when i got in?” your friend whined as she made her way to your table and you could only shake your head in answer. “ugh, will you come to the boutique next door with me so i can get something else to wear?”
“of course.” you could tell she was solely focused on how drenched she was as she didn’t even acknowledge akaashi when the two of you stood from the table.
“i need to be going too.” akaashi started, gathering his drink and coat before he smiled at you once more.
“thank you again for the tea, it’s really delicious.” you picked up your drink as well glancing toward your friend as she was already heading toward the door. “shoot i have to go after her, it was nice meeting you.”
you stood frozen for another moment, not able to move from your spot when akaashi smiled once more. there was something about him that you couldn’t shake off.
“here, i have i feeling you might be needing this.”
glancing at the umbrella in his hand you couldn’t help the laugh bursting from your chest at his offer.
“thank you.” you said for what seemed liked the thousandth time. taking the umbrella you tucked it safely at your side as you both headed out the now propped open door.
the coolness from the rain still lingered in the air, fighting the warmth from the sun as it broke through the lingering clouds.
the smell outside was so different than inside the cafe, it was still sweet, but lighter and earthy. it was soothing as the freshness mingled with the deep sugary aroma from the tea as the steam wrapped around you.
“i appreciate it, but what about you? will you be okay if it starts to rain again?” you asked looking up to the clouds with hesitation, you had no idea if it would clear up for the day or not.
“i’ll be alright, i work just down the block.”
akaashi’s eyes flicked to his phone for just a moment before he looked back to you.
“i have to go, it was really nice meeting you y/n.” his voice softened as he tilted his head to the side some with a grin, “hopefully i’ll see you around the cafe again.”
before you could say anything else he picked up a call, nodding his head at you as he turned in the opposite direction. leaving you with your heart beating just a bit faster than before.
as you headed toward your friend with a lingering smile you could barely hear her calling your name as a soft rumbling broke across the sky and you couldn’t help but grip the umbrella’s handle a little tighter.
note from em; this is the long-awaited and very long overdue second fic for my 200-follower event, it is not edited and i wrote it pretty fast, apologies if it’s messy. its also my first fic for akaashi, so more apologies if the characterization is bad.
@keilily thanks for requesting it! i had fun and it sparked some motivation i lacked for a while
chapters: one.~ two.~ three.~ four.~ five.~ six.~ seven.~ eight.~
pairing: kita shinsuke x f!reader
genre: angst, fluff
wc: 5k
warning: implied making out and other bedroom activities
He’s already seated at a table when you arrive at the cafe, rising to his feet to greet you.
“Kita-san”, you bow politely, unable to see his own smile falter at the reappearance of the honorific you’ve dropped a couple of months into your friendship. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Ya look good”, he offers. It’s true - you look far better than you did previously. A healthy glow on your face, hair trimmed into a neat bob. You seem to have broken your habit of incessantly checking your phone the moment you sit down, no shadow of irritation when it buzzes.
“Thank you”, you chirp, and with a practised smile you add - “So do you.” And before a few beats of silence can pass, you rifle through your bag, whipping out a plastic box, pushing it across the table to him. “A castella cake. For obaa-chan, I mean. She mentioned wanting to try it cos the shop just opened last month and if you don’t mind, maybe you could pass it to her?”
“Sure. Thank you”, he says, as he tucks it away to the side. Maybe he should have picked up a bouquet of flowers as he originally planned before deciding against it for fear of frightening you off. “You still keep in contact with obaa-chan?”
Your smile freezes in place.
“From time to time”, you reply, as you wave the waitress over. It’s a bit of a shock when you gently correct him as he tries to order coffee for you as he used to do. “Hojicha, please”, you say to the waitress instead. “I don’t really drink coffee anymore.”
(time passes. things change. it shouldn’t be a surprise to him.)
The waitress repeats the order, pots of tea - hojicha for you, sencha for him, along with a serving of the cafe’s speciality - delicate wagashi of assorted warabi mochi for sharing - leaving after you nod politely.
“So.” you begin. “What can I help you with? The guest house should be doing fine, from what I hear.”
“It is, thanks to you”, he answers, hoping to spark a more genuine response from you because really, you seem to be adhering to some sort of script. You’re treating him as a distant acquaintance as if your friendship with him has gone up into smoke. But you merely fold your hands with a mild - “that’s good”, before smiling and and nodding and asking him about the harvest, the weather, the townspeople, obaa-chan even though you’ve already let slip that you’ve probably talked to her recently, letting the conversation meander towards anything but yourself.
There’s an invisible barrier that he’s running into again, even after he’s managed to reach you after multiple calls trying to convince Kaiyo that he wants to make things right.
“Not quite sure how you’re going to do that, but if she comes back to me cryin’ about ya again... ”
“That won’t happen”, he interjects.
“Oh, really - funny how you’re saying that when she spent at least a month cryin’ over your useless ass- ”
He can hear spluttering over the phone. “Kaiyo, baby, darling, sweetheart - love of my life - OW don’t do that - woman, are ya insane?!” More scuffling over the phone before he hears a muffled “it’s real hot when you go after people but could ya please not insult my old capt’n - ”
“I’ll kick yer fuckin’ ass”, she hisses into the phone coldly.
“Baby, ya can go to jail for assault y’know, and who’d take care of Shino then? ‘Samu? He’ll kill us -”
“As if Shino isn’t your kid too!”
“Excuse me, I’d be in jail too for tryin’ to help ya cover it up.”
More sounds of scuffling ensues before the line finally goes dead. He’s not sure whether to be amused that Atsumu’s accent seems to be bleeding into hers, or concerned for his life.
He only realises you’re trying to get his attention when you cough delicately into your napkin. “Sorry”, he murmurs, but you shake your head, smile still firmly in place.
“So what did you want to speak with me about?”
He takes a sip of his tea before looking you straight in the eye. “I wanted to apologise to you for my behaviour that night. It was inexcusable. I shouldn’t have left you to wake up alone.”
“Apology accepted”, you say, almost too easily. “You don’t have to worry about it.”
“But it wasn’t right. I didn’t mean to hurt ya -”
“ - it’s fine”, you wave a hand. “It’s probably my fault for misreading the situation so it’s okay, I’ve moved on. Water under the bridge, y’know? You don’t have to feel bad.”
“No, but I do”, he insists, frowning.
“It’s fine, Kita-san. Please don’t feel bad about it.”
Perhaps he should lay out a litany of his sins that he’s seeking your forgiveness for, make it clear that your absolution isn’t the only thing he’s looking for.
“Please”, he begs. “Let me apologise.”
You shuffle your fork across your plate, lips pursed to insist that he allow you to skate past his shortfalls, but he begs again - “please”, and you nod as if to say - “go on then”.
He takes a breath.
“It’s not fine. I lied when I said that night was a mistake because it wasn’t. I liked ya too much - I still do, so if you’d give me another chance --”
Your mouth opens and closes inelegantly as you gape at him.
“It wasn’t a mistake?” you echo faintly. “But you said it was - ”
“No, it wasn’t”, he replies, catching your hand in his, finding hope in the fact that you haven’t pulled away.
“But you said it was a mistake”, you blink, repeating your words in a daze as you stare at the sight of your hand in his. “You said so. I don’t get it - I don’t -”
“It really, really wasn’t”, he replies, tenderness in every cadence of his smooth voice that leaves you spellbound, until you remember your heartbreak, the days of insecurity, of wondering what flaws he must have seen in you, the nights spent crying into Kaiyo’s lap wailing about how you’ll be forever alone, the breakdown in the combini below your apartment because you’re tired and lonely and convinced that no one will ever want you.
You rip your hand away.
“I don’t understand”, you lean back in your chair, subconsciously trying to put as much space as you can from him, heart pounding, the familiar feeling of drowning starting to wash over you again. “You said this”, you gesture wildly between you and him, “was a mistake. You said we were nothing more than just friends - not that it seemed the case because you didn’t even bother or texting me, whatever - the point is you said we were just friends and I’ve accepted that, I’ve moved on from that. And now you’re coming back to tell me that what you said was a mistake isn’t a mistake?!”
“I hurt you”, he states quietly, mouth taut. “I apologise for that.”
His apology doesn’t register, not when you’re reliving the feeling of drowning in a sea of loneliness, nary a life raft in sight.
“You made me feel so small. You made me feel as if I wasn’t enough.” A pause, a breath, you’re thrown back to your old, tired, lonely self. “Maybe it’s my fault for letting anyone get me to such a state. I was such a wreck - there’d be days I’d hide in the toilet and cry ‘cos I felt so useless and alone, as if it weren’t enough that I was so overwhelmed at my job that I’d forget to do my laundry so I’d have to do the walk of shame and buy disposable underwear from the combini oh my god I was such a fucking wreck -”
A fork clatters onto a plate. The ladies in the next table stare at you incredulously.
You suddenly remember that you’re in a public space, and you almost recoil into your chair, eyes down so you don’t notice Kita glaring at your neighbours until they turn away sheepishly. You manage to hold your composure as the waitress pops over to refill your pots of tea, allowing snippets of the conversations from the neighbouring tables wash over you until you can say - “it’s fine”, a tremble, a crack in your voice. “It’s fine”, you repeat, almost as if you’re trying to convince yourself.
A few beats of silence pass. You muster a smile.
“It turned out to be a good thing in the end. It taught me not to rely on anyone else to be happy, because happiness should be something you achieve for yourself. And I did.. I quit my job that I hated, found new hobbies and made new friends. Life is good. I’m happy. I... really am.”
An inhale, an even longer exhale. Your smile is a little less shaky.
“I should thank you for teaching me that.”
“That’s...good.” He looks down at his hands, fiddles with the mochi on his plate, all appetite gone. “I’m glad yer happy.”
“I am”, you say firmly.
His feet tap against the linoleum of the floor. The cafe suddenly seems too hot, too stifling, even in the dead of winter. He gulps a breath.
“And if I were to ask ya to give me a chance to see if I could make ya even happier still, would I be too late?”
“Why would you ask that if you turned me down in the first place?” Your words fracture, tea sloshing dangerously against the sides of the cup as you grip its handle too tightly to stop yourself from throwing it into his face. “I spent too long wondering why - what about me that made you treat me like that - I don’t know, was it my scar, my face, was I crap in bed or something --”
“No”, he cuts in, eyes desperate. “It was never you.”
“Then why?” you ask, verging too close on the edge of hysterics. “Why did you have to lie to me and make me feel like absolute shit?”
Your question rings in his ears. He takes a step forward to leap off the cliff.
“Because I was scared”, he replies, heart in throat. “I’ll admit it isn’t a good excuse but I was afraid of usin’ ya to fill a void in my life. It’s lonely, livin’ and workin’ on a farm out in the countryside where ya don’t really get to see many people most days. And even though I wanted you, the truth is I wasn’t sure what I could offer ya was enough to make it worthwhile for ya to give up everything ya know.”
“That was it?” you demand, veins thrumming with a mix of confusion and anger. “Why didn’t you just say so? Wouldn’t it have been my decision to make - or at least, I should’ve been consulted when you decided to throw my feelings for you back in my face.”
“I know that now.” He murmurs, hands cold despite clutching the hot cup of tea. “It’s not an excuse but I’ve never been used to talkin’ about how I feel or talkin’ about the problems I have with anyone else, even if they ask. It’s not somethin’ I’m used to when it’s just better to try to fix the problem myself.”
He’s eighteen and suddenly responsible for hectares and hectares of his family’s land. Two years’ of making mistakes and falling into the red before figuring out how to harness the soil, sunlight and water to allow his crops to flourish, lessons he’s had to learn all on his own. There’s no one to turn to, obaa-chan was never involved in the farming side of things, all burdens are his alone.
It’s not a good excuse, but some lessons are too internalised to unravel on his own.
“That doesn’t work if you start making decisions on behalf of someone else.” You huff a mirthless laugh. “Like I said, I was lonely too. So, so lonely, and I thought I was using you to stay afloat. And that’s the irony, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it have been so much better if we weren’t idiots and actually talked instead of trying to hide our feelings and problems from each other as if we were children stuck in high school.”
A smile, unbidden, spreads on his face. You haven’t walked out on him yet. He takes a chance.
“We could start bein’ honest with each other now. If you don’t think it’s too late.”
The old you would’ve just said yes to him out of desperation, out of infatuation, but the new you knows so much better now. You’re unafraid to take chances, to get out there and grasp what you want, and you know that you only want him if he’s ready to commit, ready to want you for you.
“And if I said it isn’t?” you challenge. “What would you say?”
“That I like you.” he states immediately, voice clear. ”I think I have ever since you confronted me about my poor attitude towards you on your first visit to the farm. That I couldn’t stop myself from liking you no matter how hard I tried, because you’re just so easy to become fond of. You’re so sweet and caring and good to everyone around you, especially obaa-chan - she wouldn’t talk to me for a whole week when you left -”
“She complained about that”, you interrupt and he laughs lightly, the amber in his eyes sparking gold.
“You’re smart. You’ve got a career you’ve worked hard at -”
“Quit my job, found a new one that pays less but I actually get to sleep in my bed these days, it’s been great - ”
“You’re funny and optimistic -”
“You mean clumsy and unrealistic -”
“I like all these things about ya”, he concludes, shaking his head gently at your self-deprecating interjections. “And I think I could love ya properly like you deserve, if you gave me the chance.”
A pause. A slow sip of tea.
“You know what I see?”
You’re unable to stop your lips from curling upwards.
“What?”
“An idiot”, you say and his heart free falls to his feet until he catches sight of the glimmer of affection dawning in your eyes. “An idiot, with a heart so large I’m surprised it still fits in your chest cos you’re so fucking stupid and good and I just can’t, I can’t - ”
He has to stop himself from reaching over to steal your hand in his. It turns out obaa-chan was right after all.
“So…is that a yes?”
Sunlight spills onto your table, hope blooming in the barren earth of his heart as you reach over to him.
“You’ve got a lot of work to do. But I suppose it’s a yes”, you raise a hand, though that hardly stops his heart exploding with hope, his stomach feeling as if he had fireworks for breakfast, sparks pinwheeling madly in his chest.
“Only if you’ll promise to trust me enough to talk about your worries, your concerns.” You drop your gaze to your joined hands, biting your lips bashfully. “I just want you to be honest with me. Share your life with me. It isn’t not much to ask for, is it - for you to talk to me? I mean, I do rather like the sound of your voice.”
“What if you get sick of it?”
Your smile widens. It reminds him of the sun swallowing the night.
“I don’t see how that’s possible”, you say, as his heart pounds against his ribcage, louder than a wave crashing onto the shore. “I’ve always liked you very much, after all.”
“So I guess I’ll be seeing you around?” you say, standing on the pavement after being chased out from the cafe at closing time.
“If that’s alright with ya”, he replies, certainty in his voice though his fingers turn clammy, numb with nerves as you step impossibly closer to him.
“That’s very alright with me”, you say primly, lashes sweeping demurely down.
He doesn’t know what possessed him when he says - “And if I offer to walk ya home, is that alright with ya too?”
The grey fog of winter is unable to obscure the gleam of playfulness in your eyes as you tug at his hand, leading him to your place. He truly only intended to make sure you get home safe because it’s dark in the winter months, and maybe steal a few more minutes with you, but you clearly have very different thoughts on the matter, huffing impatiently when he stops by a florist to buy a bouquet of flowers for you - “it’s our first date, it’s only right”, he insists, asking him shyly if he’d like to come inside when he walks you to your door.
“Is that what you want?”
“I mean, I’m the one offering”, you answer, turning your head to hide the lines of uncertainty in your face. “You don’t have to, if you don’t want to.” You laugh, trying to swallow the fizzle of hope in your chest. “I don’t expect anything -”
“Let’s not rush things, okay?”
“Sure. O-okay”, you say, rifling through your bag, searching for your keys. “Of course. I totally understand.”
The door opens. You barely turn to him before you slip inside. “Goodnight, Kita-san”, you say, shutting the door with a firm click.
He makes it to the lift before turning back, ringing your doorbell - once, twice, heart stuttering in his chest when you open your door, confused.
“I didn’t want to come in cos I was afraid it’s too early.” he confesses. “I’m afraid of movin’ too fast with ya.”
“That’s fine”, you reply with a tentative smile. “You don’t have to justify yourself -”
“I know. But I also wanted to be honest with ya”, he pauses, cheeks reddening. “Talk to ya since ya said you like the sound of my voice.”
“I do indeed.” To his relief, you shoot him an amused smile. “Carry on then, good sir.”
“Plus”, he breathes, stepping forward to cup your cheek. “I realised I already wasted six months that I could’ve spent with ya. That’s a bit silly of me, don’t ya think?”
“A little”, you tease. “So what’re you gonna do about it?”
What he does do is to lean down to press his lips hungrily against yours, twining his arms around your waist, tangling his fingers into your hair. You kick the door close as he follows you, hands hot on your hips, heat rising in the apples of your cheeks and oh -
You willingly lose yourself to him, toss yourself off a cliff into a sea of flowers in bloom.
Kaiyo would’ve slapped the back of your head for your impulsiveness because allowing the man that broke your heart back into both your bed and heart right after he pops back into your life probably ranks just below taking your husband back after he walked out on you and your kid. You don’t regret it though - you’ve learned the hard way that life's too short for you to play games instead of just grasping at what you want with both hands, and you’ve learnt to be brave, to take a chance and leap off cliffs. Still, there’s a certain sense of deja vu to waking up to find the futon beside you neatly folded up, no sight of its former occupant at all. Certain might be understating things. It’s a full blown punch in the gut, a slap to the face, a kick to your chest -
“If I knew ya didn’t even have rice in yer kitchen, I’d have brought my own.”
Your long forgotten rice cooker beeps its hello as you stick your head out of your bedroom to peer into your long neglected kitchen. The lone pan you own sizzles on your stove, the smell of fried fish in the air. Perfectly rolled tamogoyaki sits on the counter, miso soup ladled into bowls.
There’s a god in your kitchen. He’s wearing an apron, and looks good enough to eat.
“I thought you left”, you blurt out in your panic instead of a more conventional good morning, or how are you. Then you duck back into your bedroom in embarrassment, sliding down to the floor with your back to the wall. You hear the click of your stove turning off, footsteps padding over to you.
“I wouldn’t leave ya, as long as you’ll have me.”
There’s no upward lilt to his words, just a flat certainty.
You sneak a peek at him through your fingers. Gods, he’s squatting beside you, his hair falling into his eyes. There should be some cosmic law banning him from looking this good after a late night and what must have been an early morning considering he just fulfilled every woman’s dream of a home cooked breakfast after a night rolling in the sheets -
“Unless you regret last night. I completely understand if you do.”
“No!’ you half shout.
“Then is everything alright?” He probes, concerned. “Did I do anything wrong? Don’t be afraid to tell me about it, I want you to feel comfortable - ”
“It’s not you, it’s me” you interrupt, cringing at the cliched phrase. It only serves to make his brows furrow deeper.
“Just talk to me about what’s bothering you. I’ve wasted so much time when I should’ve just talked it through with you -”
“Nothing’s wrong”, you yell. “You just make my brain short-circuit okay? I have to convince it that you’re not some alcohol induced hallucination, or I’ve hit my head too hard and I’ve started seeing things because it doesn’t believe that you might want me.”
You can tell he’s about to examine your head for its soundness when your words finally hit him and he sits back on his haunches, a glint in his eyes.
“I’d be more than happy to provide more convincin’.”
There’s a smirk on his face that tells you that it’s a very good thing it’s a Sunday morning, because regardless of how much effort he put into cooking breakfast for you, he’s going to let it become cold in favour of kissing you until your brain regroups and reconnects its neurons again.
“So.”
Kaiyo glances at you, even as she tries to keep Shino from overturning the plate of onigiri in front of her. The little girl giggles, stabbing a finger right through the rice ball before running towards Atsumu, the skewered onigiri held aloft in her hand. You’re unable to keep your expression straight.
“So”, you parrot, even as your best friend’s face twists in frustration.
“Spare me”, she begs. “I’ve had enough of this bullshit from ‘Tsumu and now Shino seems to be a feral beast - ”
“Language, baby!!” Atsumu calls from his place at the counter. Kaiyo rolls her eyes.
“So yes”, you answer, taking mercy on your best friend, especially when her patience seems to be held together by a single, fraying thread. “Kita and I are seeing each other.”
Seeing each other might be understating things a little. Texts fly back and forth when you’re unable to see each other during the weekdays. He drives up to stay over with you on the weekends, and you reciprocate, taking the train down at least once a month to visit him on the farm. You have zero complaints about him. In fact, you think he’s almost too good to be true.
He’s an old fashioned romantic, greeting you with a bouquet of flowers (usually wildflowers that he gathers in the fields, after you tell him to stop wasting money on store bought bouquets) and the lightest kiss to your forehead, and insists on walking you home after every date (as if he isn’t going to end up staying over anyway). He tries his best to share his worries with you - and on your part you try your best to encourage him by picking up on his tells - the slight crease in his brow when he’s worried about something, the briefest hesitation he has when there’s something on his mind.
“Talk to me”, you remind him gently, winding his fingers with yours.
“Because ya like the sound of my voice?”
“Because I like you”, you’d always say, no matter how cheesy it sounds.
And so he does. He talks to you about his fears about obaa-chan passing away and leaving him alone on the farm, about the sheer loneliness of living almost alone on the farm. He worries incessantly about him not being a good enough partner to you simply because he lives so far away from you and can’t give you the attention he thinks you deserve.
“Obaa-chan’s right y’know?” you tell him one night, combing through his hair, his head in your lap.
“About what?”
“A good man with a good heart is worth quite a lot”, you press a kiss to his forehead, warmth blooming as he gazes at you with undisguised adoration.
“It is?”
You nod solemnly, chuckling as he tugs you close, bending down to his lips to whisper -
“To me it’s worth the world and more.”
If you end up talking late into the night every once in a while, stumbling into the office with shadows beneath your eyes, you consider that a sacrifice that you’re happy to make, if it means that he’s open and ready to share himself with you.
So for now, things are going fairly well.
You’ve even gotten him to pick up some of your new interests, reminding him playfully that he’s not even thirty - he can afford to have fun and not be a serious adult every once in a while. It helps that Atsumu and Osamu tag along sometimes, and Hinata and Bokuto are happy to adopt the serious ex-Inarizaki captain in their exploits. But oftentimes their meetups turn into volleyball pickup games, and while it’s fun to watch your boyfriend sweat and strain in his bid to keep up with his monster peers and juniors who’ve gone pro, your favourite part of those games is when all the men stop their game to teach little Shino how to play volleyball.
“Ya receive like this”, Shinsuke bends forward, angling his shoulders to the net, fists clasped together as he demonstrates the stance to a starry eyed Shino.
“Like this?” Shino copies his stance almost perfectly, Atsumu grinning behind his phone, recording every second of the cute moment between his baby girl and former captain.
“Exactly”, Shinsuke hums in approval, patting the little girl on her back. “Yer a natural, just like your dad.”
Atsumu looks like he’s about to cry.
Kaiyo shoots you a look of pure judgment as you practically melt in your seat watching your amazing, wonderful, lovely - look, superlatives are clearly insufficient to describe him - boyfriend. He’d make such a good dad, warm and patient and so, so good with kids that you can see him around the farm with a huddle of kids and ducklings trailing behind him.
Your best friend clears her throat at your inattention. “He’s really not giving me any reason for me to kill him.” she drawls, eyes twinkling. “Sad.”
“Now you understand how I felt when you took Atsumu back”, you point out archly as she throws her head back, laughing.
“Very, very true”, she giggles, as her idiot almost ex-husband tumbles towards her, finely tuned sixth sense kicking in to know when he should make an appearance to either prostrate himself on the floor or flop into her lap, Osamu teaching Shino to point and laugh at the antics of her ridiculous daddy.
“Babyyyy. Sweetheart. Love of my lifeeeee”, he whines. “Don’t leave meeee.”
“Never”, she says, patting his head. “Now get up, everyone’s staring at you, you big lug.”
It’s not quite the truth because all your friends are very accustomed to Atsumu’s antics by now, but it does convince Atsumu to peel away from his wife with a pout.
“I’m happy for you the same way you’re happy for me”, Kaiyo says, hair ruffled but amused.
“Begrudging acceptance for the mate you’ve been stupid enough to choose paired with a threat to hurt him if he takes another step wrong?”
She shouts a laugh even as Atsumu wails - “I heard that!”
Later, much later that night, when your eyelids are drooping and you’re halfway to dreamland, Kita leans over to you, pressing his nose into your rumpled hair, brushing a gentle thumb against the raised skin of your scar. “Ready for bed, sleepy head?” he asks, collecting you up in his arms as you sleepily nod. He tucks you beneath warm blankets, about to slip away to his side of the bed when you catch his hand.
“I’m glad Kaiyo won’t kill you”, you murmur, on the threshold of slumber.
Kita chuckles indulgently. “I won’t give her a chance to. I’m not gonna hurt ya again, sweetheart.”
“I know”, you reply almost crossly. “I wouldn’t let her anyway. I love you too much for that.” Then you roll over and promptly fall asleep, deaf to the spluttering and choking that calm, implacable Kita Shinsuke goes through by your bedside for a good minute after. At least until the next morning, when you crack your eyes open, groaning at being woken up far too early from sunlight streaming into your room and you catch sight of your lovely, handsome boyfriend staring at you.
You immediately cup a hand over your mouth and check for bad breath. Nope, you’re good. Then you check your pillowcase for embarrassing drool stains and find a-plenty, but surely that’s normal, everyone drools in their sleep -
“What on earth are ya doin’?” Kita asks, perplexed.
“Why are you staring at me?”, you reply with a question of your own. “It’s making me nervous! Did I do something wrong? Should I have changed the sheets before you stayed over or kept extra rice in my pantry or -”
He interrupts you by reaching over to brush the hair tenderly away from your face.
“You didn’t give me the chance to say I love you back to you last night, that’s what’s wrong”, he murmurs before he kisses you despite your protestations about bad breath.
You decide to ignore your concerns about dental hygiene and shamelessly kiss him back.
m.list~ taglist.~
a/n: so...i don’t know if this is the result y’all wanted (i didn’t make kita grovel much...) but i hope y’all still like it! let me know what you think, and love y’all always for taking the time to read my fic. ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO!
genre: angst to fluff, established (married) relationship
wc: 674
HQHANGOUT x HQCAFÉ COLLAB!!
thank you @kohi-zeri @sugawaaras for beta-ing <3
❥︎ mild manga spoilers, one (1) mention of soup (does this count a warning)
Sometimes being with a world renowned professional volleyball player can get quite lonely.
Kageyama Tobio often had a packed schedule. Even though there were many home games, there were just as many — if not, more — away games. And when they were home games, they would take place in the next region. Aside from games, the practice schedule was also quite rigorous.
Practices began in the morning as early as dawn, and practices ran in the night as late as midnight. Days off would often be spent resting, the majority of the day being in bed or bathing in a hot epsom salt bath. Sometimes, those days off are spent at the physiotherapist, making sure that his body was at 100%.
During the peaks of the sport season, only a few meals were shared together during the weekends, very few words being spoken at the moment of the supper. There were maybe a few questions asked, replies simply being a few hums or one-worded responses.
There were times that promises were made for a shared meal, though they would end up with a cold bowl of soup on the table. Other times, the time spent at the table was so short that before you could even take a seat, he was already scurrying towards the door.
Important dates were also forgotten, even if they were circled with a bright red marker and displayed on the fridge door, which could be easily seen from anywhere in the apartment. Texts went from paragraphs to single messages, and video calls went from hours to minutes.
Sometimes being with a world renowned professional volleyball player can get quite lonely.
But other times it can be quite fulfilling.
The feeling of standing by the door right before an important game, smoothing out the wrinkles on his shirt with a determined smile on both of your faces. Standing in the stadium, hand in hand with him, giving it a little squeeze when you noticed that his breathing had halted.
Giving him a reassuring look and a small peck on his cheek, the electrifying sensation spread through his body. The moment in the locker room, he took a long look at his wallpaper, a picture of you and him displayed on his lock screen.
You stood in the stands, sporting his spare jersey. Though it has been washed many times, you could still smell the freshness of it as if it were just made, with a lingering scent of his cologne he sprayed purposefully for you. Your face was painted with the colours of the Japan flag, the initials “K.T.” and the number 09 written with black eyeliner on the apples of your cheekbones.
The feeling upon seeing his figure walk onto the court of the stadium, cheers drowning the loud beating of your hearts. Gripping onto the railings so hard that your knuckles turned white. A small bead of cold sweat dripped from both of your foreheads.
The moment of the loud whistle rang through your ears, every player taking their respective place on the court. The smell of leather enhanced as the bright ball was placed in his hands, the feeling of every small dent on it also being amplified.
Taking a deep breath, the loud cheers were suddenly silenced, only one distinct voice was audible to his ears. His right hand went straight towards the base of his neck, grasping onto the silver band that was dangled around his neck. He brought the cold metal up to his lips, giving it a small kiss before smiling confidently towards the opposite side of the court, eyes glimmering as adrenaline rushed through his veins.
Sometimes being with a world renowned professional volleyball player can get quite lonely, but the recurring rush you get being by his side time after time, would never amount to anything else.
Being able to kiss his lips and call him yours, even when it felt like the world was against the two of you, it was truly an experience that was one of a kind.
Suna Rintarou, your boyfriend for two years, he's the one that you've always love. The only reason for you to always try your best to be the perfect girlfriend. Sadly, he doesn't seem to notice your effort at all, and it makes you wonder, has he ever truly loved you?
He was nice to you, more than any other people have ever done. That's why when Suna ask you out, you don't want to let him go. You tell yourself that you will be whatever he wants, so he will not choose someone else than you. Still, it looks like that idea doesn't work. You've tried so many times, and now you're tired.
"Suna," with his hands in his pockets, he turns his back to look at you. "what is it?" you're fiddling with your fingers, feeling afraid to ask him. "it's dark outside, I think it will rain. Can you drive me home?" he sighs and walks away, "I can't, have practice."
You watch his back and mutter silently, "ah, ok." You expected this answer, but still, it stings. It’s only a simple request, at least he could be less harsh with his words. You used to think that Suna will do anything for you, but he proves you wrong. He was kind and very considering at first, and you fell for that. It's your fault for trusting him.
The sky is getting darker, you didn't bring an umbrella with you, and your house is pretty far from the school. You have no other options but to walk since Suna can't drive you home. Better be hurry before it starts to rains. You put on your jacket, change your shoes and went home.
Luck was never on your side when you need it. Suddenly the rain is pouring hard and forcing you to find a shelter. You quickly ran to the nearest store and went inside to wait. Feeling hungry, you went to the ramen section, pick a random one and pay for it.
Well, I might as well enjoy the rain with hot ramen. You open the ramen and pour hot water inside. You sat in front of the window, staring at the rain outside while waiting for your ramen to cook. The mood is quite calming, besides your slightly wet clothes and socks, you can use this moment to relax, trying to distract yourself from school works and other responsibilities.
You doze off for a moment before you catch a glimpse of a familiar figure standing across the store you're sitting. Is that Suna? You squint your eyes due to the distance. It seems like he's waiting for someone. You check your phone just in case he called or message you, but you find nothing. You look up and saw a girl in a different uniform approaching him and kiss him.
Stunned, you take a picture of them before they went away. Not even bother to take a look, you put your phone away. You're not that surprised since you know sooner or later, Suna will get tired of you. He stops hanging out with you, doesn't show affection as much as he was and often ignores you.
So he is cheating on me, but for how long? Does she worth it? I guess she is. She is prettier than me, so it's not a wonder if he chose her over me.
Your eyes stings, perhaps you forget to blink your eyes while thinking about them, or maybe it's the ache in your heart. Two years of you trying your best for him was never enough. Hold it (y/n).You're not a kid. How fucking embarrassing it will be to cry in a public place. You continue to stare at your ramen. The hot steam from the ramen hits your eyes, making it even more watery.
"creep." you hear someone whose standing beside you speak. You blink away your tears and turn your head only to meets a boy with blue eyes and dyed grey hair. He's holding a pudding and a bunch of onigiris. "Osamu." You greet him, and he took a seat beside you.
How can you not recognise this boy, the famous spiker in Inarizaki. "Why would you take a picture of them? I know you like Suna, but you should put your feelings away and stop being a stalker, you know." with a straight face, he looks at where Suna and the girl were standing before.
You glare at him and say, "stalker? who's stalking that fuckface." He chuckled at the nickname you gave him. "I thought you like Suna since you've been clinging to him every day.'' ah, so he didn't tell his friend about me. "Nah, I hate him." He looks at you and your ramen, then gives you his onigiri. You accept it with a small thanks.
"Are you sure? hate is a strong word." You drink your tea to calm yourself before you continue. "You're right. I didn't hate him. I fucking despise him." He laughs audibly, didn't even try to restrain himself. "What did he even do? Cheat on you?" he shakes his head and open the onigiri.
Feeling annoyed, you act surprised and say, "How could you know?!" He stops laughing and looks at you with a shocked expression. "Oh shit, it's true? Sorry, I don't know. I thought you were stalking him and feeling sad 'cause he has a date with him."
You continue eating, wishing he would just shut his mouth, but he turns to you and says. "Ah! Is that why you take pictures of them?" you scoffed at him. "No shit, sherlock. I thought you were supposed to be the smart siblings." He finished his onigiri and opened the pudding, giving you the extra spoon which you takes instantly.
"Don't cry over him. There are people worth more than that scum bag." You didn't know talking with Osamu would be this fun, and it feels like you're talking with an old friend. Feeling slightly relieved, you continue with your food. Both of you continue to talk while waiting for the rain to stops.
The rain has stopped, and you feel sleepy. You have finished your food and decided to went home. "Thank you. For calling me a creep and accompanying me talking shit about him." He put on a small smile and says, "Don't mention it. Where's your house anyway? Is it near?"
You told him your address. "Mine's two blocks away from your house. Mind if I walk you home?" You smile and walks home together. Your mood wasn't as bad as before, thanks to Osamu.
On the very next day, you went to Suna's classroom to talk with him. "Can we talk?" he lifted his head and groans. "What do you want?" You showed him the picture you took yesterday. "How's your volleyball practise yesterday?" He rises from his seat and says, "It's not what you think (y/n). The Practice got cancelled, and she forced me to accompany her."
"Oh yeah? Well, it surely doesn't seem like you're forced to when you let her kissed you." You look up at him, holding yourself not to slap his face. What a fuckface. "Ok, I'm sorry. Can we stop talking about this? It's just a friendly kiss, don't worry too much." He tries to avoid your eyes, not wanting to feel guilty over yesterday's incident.
"You tell me to brush it off? How the fuck can I do that? You're straight up ditching me and didn't even bother to ask if I went home safely, yet you're hanging out with another girl?" you can tell that he's frustrated, and you're causing a scene, but you don't give a damn about that.
"Fuck, you're so annoying! Do you think I want to be with you all the time? I should have called this off a long time ago." he stops for a moment to realise what he just said. "So you want to break up? That's ok. You suck anyway. Loving you is tiresome, Suna." You exit his classroom, not minding the stares you get from the other students.
You continue your day just fine. Your friends tried to cheer you up and ask you to hang out after school, but you decline their offer. You are not in the mood for hanging out with them today. All you need is food and a fluffy blanket while watching some movies in your bedroom.
As the bell rang, you soon collecting your things and went outside, only to find Osamu waiting near your classroom's door, playing with his phone. "Hey, what are you doing here?" He looks at you with his usual straight face and says, "I was waiting for you. I thought you'll be walking home alone from now on. Since our house is close, let's walk together."
-end-
notes: I'm bad at deciding the genre or description 😔 Hope you enjoy the story!!
