The reporter's flickers a little as she hesitates, then it returns even more brightly. “On behalf of our readers, let me extend our congratulations on once again being selected to represent Japan at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as captain and vice-captain!”
Forewarned this time that she is expecting a response to what is a statement, not a question, Ushijima nods calmly and engages what Hoshiumi once called his ‘press auto-pilot mode’. “Thank you, Saichi-san. I’m sure I speak for the entire team when I say that we are deeply grateful for the ongoing support of your readers.”
He pauses and Kageyama smoothly picks up his pass, adding, “We will work hard to be worthy of the faith the national selectors have placed in us, as well as that of your readers and the volleyball fans across Japan.”
Saichi-san beams at them and nods enthusiastically. Then she turns serious. “These will both be your third Games, after Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020. As official veterans, are you still just as exited to participate now as you were at your first Games, or has it become somewhat routine?”
Ushijima hopes that Kageyama is able to control his facial expression at the asinine question. To forestall any less-than-polished response, he gently returns her weak serve before Kageyama can draw breath. “I am sure that Kageyama agrees with me that representing our country on the world stage will never become routine. It will always be the highest honour possible for me to achieve in my career, and I am grateful that we will once again be given the chance to fight.”
Kageyama only nods, keeping his mouth shut.
Saichi-san’s smile brightens even more, if that was even possible. “Of course! We’re all looking forward to watching this exceptional crop of talent on our television screens once again. Ushijima-san, if I may direct a question to you: You’re currently living in Poland, playing for Orzel Warszawa. Has it been a difficult adjustment for you to travel back in Tokyo for two weeks to participate in this Olympic training camp, only to then fly back to Poland until the Games begin? I imagine it would be quite—”
Ushijima’s phone screen lights up with the receipt of a text message. He glances down out of reflex.
It’s from Tooru.
Tooru, who never messages or calls outside their designated check-in times.
Ushijima can feel his shoulders go tense. “Please excuse me a moment, Saichi-san. This may be important.” He picks up the phone and unlocks it, careful to angle it away from the reporter’s view. He only half-hears her startled laugh and assurance that it’s quite alright and to take his time, because all his focus is immediately locked in on the contents of the message.
Saturday, 22 June 2024
Oikawa Tooru, 10:36AM
toshi
Tooru only calls him that after he has called him a lot of other things first.
Only after Ushijima has carefully, lovingly stripped away the last of his many barriers and defences.
"Fuck Ushijima Wakatoshi: How Oikawa Tooru lost the Battle but won the War"
are now up on AO3 for your reading pleasure :)
[Please read the tags for nsfw tags and trigger warnings!]
I will be posting one chapter per day for the next 20 days, so remember to subscribe to get notified when I post!
Thank you to @satonthelotuspier for writing the original fic that spawned this entire endeavour, and for letting me continue on where they left off!!
A MASSIVE shout-out to my beta-readers @pokomumee and @ladylarynn -- THANK YOU, you are the best!! your feedback and cheering me on has been such a big help in getting this 110k word behemoth finished and over the line.
And go check out @ushioi-weeks for more works by other authors and artists participating in UshiOi Week 2025 :)
The last chapter of Part 1 from my fic "Fuck Ushijima Wakatoshi" is now live :)
{content warning: smut. spicy, spicy smut 🌶️ and a beautiful sunrise 💫🌅💫}
Here's a sneak preview:
Kageyama Tobio, 12:47PM
You need to get back to the hotel.
Ushijima Wakatoshi, 12:47PM
OK
Why?
Kageyama Tobio, 12:47PM
Emergency
Run fast
Frowning, Ushijima dumps the leftovers of his lunch in the nearest bin and sprints back in the direction of the hotel, dodging traffic and pedestrians to keep up his speed as best he can.
When he runs into the lobby, breathing hard and sweating from the heat outside, it’s empty. No team manager, no press conference, no media scrum, no fans waiting for photos. Only the reception staff and the concierge, ignoring him politely.
Maybe Kageyama is waiting for him in their room, to brief him first. He strides to the lift and summons it, suppressing the urge to fidget anxiously. On their floor, again no press, no management staff. All is quiet.
His anxiety spikes even higher. He unlocks the door to their room and pushes it open quickly. “Kageyama? Are you—”
Chapter 10 of my fic "F*ck Ushijima Wakatoshi" is now posted :)
{content warning: very, very kinky and spicy 🌶️🐶 please read warning labels... woof}
~Here's a sneak preview:~
The Group C preliminaries get underway at the South Paris Arena on the 27th July, and both Ushijima and Tooru have matches on the first day—Japan versus Germany, and Argentina versus the United States.
Both lose.
The German team is fierce and tenacious, fighting back against a two-set disadvantage to win the last three sets, earning Ushijima’s respect. The United States crush Argentina in three straight sets, as more-or-less expected. Their strength in the past few years is well-known and feared, a clear gold-medal contender this time around.
Ushijima doesn’t call or text Tooru to commiserate or comfort him. He knows it will not be welcome. Since exchanging a hug and a few words at the opening ceremony, they haven’t spoken at all.
Four days later, on the 31st July, Japan and Argentina square up against each other.
Tooru plays like a demon. His serves are lightning strikes, scoring six service aces alone. In volleys, he is everywhere, all at once. His on-field situational awareness is all-encompassing, and he directs his team’s attack with unrelenting precision and tenacity. He is their anchor and their lighthouse. His voice is a constant presence throughout the ninety-four minutes of the match, bolstering flagging spirits and firing up his teammates to a white hot heat.
And yet, it is not enough. Even as brilliant a player as Tooru cannot win a match alone. Though his sets are as accurate and perfectly-catered to his hitters as always, they struggle to break through Japan’s wall of defence. Ushijima personally blocks several kills that seem to break Argentina’s morale, and his serves and spikes pound their receivers into submission. Unforced errors and missed opportunities snowball into a defeat.
When the final whistle sounds, Tooru doesn’t even look in his direction. Ushijima doesn’t resent him for it. And, although he has kept his silent promise to Tooru, to always win, no matter what, a promise he has worked so hard for so long to keep, he cannot find any real pleasure in the victory. He has done his duty, nothing more, nothing less.
Chapter 4 of my fic "Fuck Ushijima Wakatoshi" is now posted :)
Here's a sneak preview:
“Your hot chocolate is getting cold,” Ushijima says after a minute.
“What makes you think I wanted hot chocolate?”
Ushijima doesn’t answer, focuses on the TV and waits.
After another minute, he hears the rustling of the quilt as Tooru drags it over with him and slots himself wordlessly into the space Ushijima has made for him on the couch. He reaches for the milk bread, tearing open the packet and picks at it delicately. “I still don’t forgive you,” he mumbles quietly.
The feeling of victory in Ushijima’s stomach is tinged with a quiet relief. “I know.”
They watch for a while, Ushijima struggling to follow the overly-dramatic story. There are too many unexplained details, plot holes and inconsistencies. He focuses on the warm, breathing body leaning on him instead.
“I thought this would be our last time together,” Tooru says quietly, only just loud enough to be heard over the TV. “You know... ‘One last hurrah’, before you ride off into the sunset to get married and play house.” He snorts to cover his constricted voice and leans forward again to grab the onigiri. “Or something unspeakably boring like that.”