HELLO HAIKYUU!

"like butter." you smiled and celebrated your small victory at flirting with a stranger. he was for sure pink from your actions. his eyes didn't leave your figure.

he adored the smile you had. the crinkles at the corners of your eyes as they closed shut when you laughed. the way your body language presented itself made him feel comfortable around you.

the night was approaching to an end and kuroo wished that this encountered wasn't simply a one time thing.

"usually, pick-up lines wouldn't be this effective but i think this calls for another night out don't you think?" he tried to casually state.

"hm, what if you're all talk no bite?" you challenged him. his lips curled up in amusement once more. you really fueled his fire in the best way possible and he enjoyed it.

" well, my motto is 'talk is cheap' so how 'bout i show you if you're free next week?" he handed his phone over to you with a new contact opened, hoping to get your number.

"ooo now look who's the smooth one this time," you said, dialing in your number and your name down.

"smooth like butter?"

"like butter."

taglist (form here) : @katsulovee @strawberries-and-peppermint @vetheena @yyvveess @chloikawa @berriemilki @shawtyybae @shoyotime @royalelusts @emcchi @starforecast

you loved iwaizumi hajime too much. it left you dizzy and giggly whenever he shot you a smile, or kissed your jaw. you were so in love, you didn't even realize when it all started going wrong. you had ignored everything and focused on him even when he had stopped focusing on you. you let the scent of a new perfume be disregarded and threw them in the laundry. you refused to acknowledge the late nights and messy hair. the buttons on his shirt were hardly ever buttoned in the correct order anymore. you just wished he started to hide it better, spare your heart a little. but iwaizumi hajime is harsh, he's cold though not to the people he cares for. and you used to be one of them. "i'm sorry, i found someone else." he let you keep the apartment, the apartment you spent a whole week breaking plates and letting them nick your feet.

you didn't realize kageyama tobio would stop finding happiness when he's with you. you didn't realize your movie nights would become chores for him. you didn't realize that your every move would be a bother to him. you didn't know. you swear you didn't. you were in love, was it so wrong to think that he would be too? and when you did, you could hear your heart shatter. it was loud and ugly. you trembled whenever he tried to come early because he was faking it just for you. because he didn't want to break your heart. he was hurting and you didn't even realize. the thought makes you break. but everyone has their limits and he had come to his. his lower lip quivered as he had pushed out the words, "i'm- i'm not, i can't do this. i'm sorry." you gave him a smile, contrasting the tears that rushed out.

tsukishima kei was your everything. and despite how much you loved him, how much you adored him, you still ended up screaming at each other every night. tears streamed down your face, and he was as cold as he was the first time you met him. you tried to remember the golden memories but his insults started to overpower them. started to outnumber them. you knew you had issues, you knew you were a little afraid, a little insecure which were usually the cause of your arguments. sometimes tsukishima would stop listening to you and left the room, leaving you to cry on the sofa alone. sometimes he'd hug you, and spoon-feed you some warm soup. but it seems that lately those days never come and the fights have just been getting louder and longer. and one day, he just gave up. you knew this day would come, and still his words became an everlasting memory. and not the good kind. "you're too difficult to love." tsukishima single handedly broke you.

Iwaizumi Hajime. The ace of Seijoh, the best friend of Oikawa, and one of the most talented players you had ever seen. He moved with purpose, always showering his friends in a type of care that was hidden beyond the layers of aggression he showed them. He knew just the right ways to get people to open up, and had a way of doing things that made him graceful...in a different sense. He was strong and assured in his opinions, and behind those lopsided grins he gave you when he walked into the classroom, you knew there was a lot more to discover.

He intrigued you.

More so than Oikawa.

A few minutes later, you saw the famous duo walking through the door, Oikawa’s whines of “Iwa-chan!” only combated by Iwaizumi shoving him forcefully into the classroom, taking seats away from his fangirls, and an apologetic smile directed towards the teachers for rough-housing.

“Y/N-chan!” Oikawa called out playfully, a giant grin on his face as he sat in the seat next to yours. “How are you?”

“What’s with the cheerfulness today?” You chucked, “Good practice or something?”

“More than just good.” He shrugged, “There was a lot of progress made today in terms of our reception and our general ability to receive sets...not that my sets are bad of course. The first year actually tried today. I think that warrants some celebration.”

“Well I’m glad it went well.” You smiled, your eyes unwittingly trailing to Iwaizumi, who sat in the seat right next to Oikawa.

“Iwa-chan, aren’t you going to say hi to Y/N-chan? She’s literally looking at you.”

Your face heated in embarrassment as Iwaizumi turned around, a slight flush on his face as he waved, almost shyly. “Hi Y/L/N.”

“Hi Iwaizumi.” You waved back, feeling a sense of amusement at the way he turned away from you. “How are you this fine morning?”

“You say that as if somebody actually wants to put up with Shittykawa every day of the week,” he smirked, a small chuckle escaping at the indignant shout that escaped Oikawa not even a second later.

“No Iwa-chan, you're not understanding the fact that I am literally the best start to any morning. Isn’t that right ladies?” Turning in his chairs, Oikawa flashed a grin at his fangirls, a cocky type of expression forming on his face at the unified agreement that chorused amongst the girls.

You and Iwaizumi shared a look (one that hopefully meant something) before smacking Oikawa on the shoulder as the teacher began the role call.

It was a simple moment of course, but such moments were ones that you kept close to you in moments where you weren’t sure if there was anything left to cherish. It was the small smile from Iwaizumi and the promise of OIkawa’s teasing that fueled you in some of the times where you struggled to keep yourself composed.

As the school bell rang, signalling the beginning of classes, you allowed yourself a small moment of solace in the teacher’s lectures and the thought of someday being able to feel this way all the time.

Happy.

If only such a feeling could last.

Why did it manage to hurt, still?

You swore you had buried them, those memories hidden deep inside your heart where nobody could reach, and where nobody could ever find it and exploit it.

Why did a wound so old bleed like it was fresh?

Your room was dark, a simple night light in the corner being the only source of light. The fan’s white noise whirred above you, and even though it wasn’t completely silent, it was still enough to make you feel a crippling sense of loneliness.

You weren’t sure why you were in this position. You sat on top of your bed, drumming your fingers on the mattress as you recounted the events of the day, remembering all the laughter and elation that you had experienced prior, preserving it in the archive of your mind.

It seemed that somewhere along the line, those thoughts had turned sour.

Friendship was always a sensitive topic for your mind to tread. The very concept seemed desirable, camaraderie and the sheer level of trust being enough to ease most of your worries. There was always something appealing about having a support system, a gentle hand to hold, and the promise of being there even when things went wrong. It was fun moments, laughter, and times where reality was sweeter than vanilla buttercream itself.

In reality, it was really a devil dressed in angel’s clothes.

Friendships required trust to function, an assurance of being there, even when things became too much to handle. You used to enjoy handing out that trust, feeling the warmth and the benefits of opening up to people you cared about, but nowadays, the thought of trusting someone merely made your mind race.

When did trust become something so fragile?

You felt yourself exhale quite sharply as you finally laid down in bed.

You needed to relax. Overthinking a situation would only make it more difficult to handle.

And yet you did it anyway.

It seemed like last night’s occurrences weighed on your mind a bit more than you would have liked. It was a looming presence in the hustle bustle of your classroom, but you managed to hide it well enough.

Or so you thought.

Iwaizumi had slid in the seat next to you for once, and while you wanted to be excited about the novelty of this situation, you simply couldn’t...feel.

“Y/L/N, are you alright?” He asked, the concern etched into his (handsome) features. “You look kind of...distracted.”

“I’m alright,” you smiled cheerily, willing yourself to maintain your persona, “I guess I didn’t sleep enough.”

“You need to start taking care of yourself.” He sighed, “Neglecting yourself doesn’t do any good you know.”

“Yeah yeah,” you nodded, “It’s just a day in the life I guess. I mean, we are in our third year. The workload will probably have us up at night regardless.”

“I would hope not.” He frowned, “Time management---”

“Iwa-chan, are you giving everyone the time management talk?” Oikawa teased. Turning his gaze to you, he smiled joyfully. “Oh, morning Y/N-chan.”

“Morning,” you yawned in response. Oikawa laughed at this, suppressing a yawn of his own as he took a seat.

“Did you stay up late again?” He asked, “Try to get a bit more sleep, alright?”

“Hypocrite,” you giggled, sticking your tongue out at him, “I bet you stayed up late watching those volleyball clips again. Don’t even think about lying.”

“That’s different.” Oikawa protested, “Strategy is something that is best formed through obser---”

“Both of you are crazy,” Iwaizumi sighed, “Is it that hard for you to sleep on time?”

“Not everyone is an old man and goes to sleep at nine, Iwa-chan.”

“Shittykawa!”

You felt a burst of laughter escape your chest at the realization, the amusement only fueled by the angry blush on Iwaizumi’s face. “Iwaizumi...you sleep at nine?”

“Yes, and that’s a good time to sleep.” He defended, taking out a pencil. “Both of you must have some major problem or something.”

“No Iwa-chan, we just have normal brains and yours is that of a brute.” Oikawa quipped.

“Trashykawa, I swear, if you don’t shut your damn mouth---”

“Iwaizumi-kun, if you don’t mind, please refrain from insulting other students with such vulgar and improper terminology in my classroom during a lesson.” Their teacher chastised, a glare pointed in their direction, “I would also appreciate Y/L/N and Oikawa keeping their banter for when class is no longer in session.”

“Sorry sensei,” they chorused, feeling the shame of being caught weighing on their backs as they continued their classwork, the subtle feeling of laughter warming their chests.

*****************

“You almost got us in trouble back there Iwa-chan,” Oikawa laughed during lunchtime, bringing his lunch over while taking a seat next to Iwaizumi, gesturing for you to join them. “Also Y/N-chan, don’t be shy. Iwa-chan isn’t going to bite you if you join us. Or maybe...he will.”

“Oikawa!” You hissed, punching his arm, “How did you---”

“It doesn’t take a genius to see that there’s obviously something,” he smirked, “The real question is whether or not you’re going to do anything about it.”

“What are you two talking about?” Iwaizumi suddenly chimed in, his voice smooth. “And what was that about biting”

“Nothing!” You argued. “Oikawa is just kinky.”

Iwaizumi chuckled at this, the subtle lilting notes of his chuckle, refreshing in ways you weren’t sure you had quite registered. It was interesting to see him so open.

Perhaps you had grown on him a bit.

Oikawa however, didn’t seem to be very impressed with your comment.

“Y/N-chan, are you sure you want to go there?” Oikawa frowned, “Because I’m sure that there is someone who is more than interested to know about you ki---”

“Shittykawa!” Iwaizumi yelled, smacking him, “Get your mind out of the gutter. Seriously.”

“But Iwa-chan, you were literally saying the other---”

“We’ll pick this up later,” you grinned. “Say, I’m going to head to the vending machine. Want anything?”

“Coffee sounds nice.” Iwaizumi smirked. “I’ll buy it for us next time.”

“Sounds like a plan,” you shrugged, “Okay, I’ll be right back”

The walk towards the vending machine was scenic, if anything at all. In the fresh spring air, the sakura trees lining the courtyard provide a fresh sense of renewal in your system. It was picturesque in the most quaint way, and the walk was almost peaceful.

Strolling up to the machine, you were about to press the button when you met the eyes of someone you had tried so desperately to avoid.

Panic. It was the only thing that coursed through your entire body as you saw them, standing there as if they didn’t hurt you, as if they didn’t ruin something completely good, and looking at you as if you were merely a fond figment of their imagination.

What gave them that right to have such a strong hold over you?

“Hello,” they smiled, a gentle one that was formed of politeness and perhaps, an internal feeling to acknowledge you. “It’s been a while.”

“Yeah,” you responded, purchasing your drinks, focusing on anything, anything, except their presence at your side.

You didn’t want to see them. You couldn’t avoid them completely, but you wanted to try.

“How are your two boys,” they inquired, their tone as if they were interested. “I see you around all the time. It’s a cute friendship you have going.”

“Yeah, I guess it is.” Taking the coffees from the open slot, you turned your back from the machine, your hand curling into a fist in an attempt to maintain the little composure you had left. “I’ll see you around.”

The walk back to your spot was nowhere as peaceful, the slight quivering in your hands as the only physical testament to the sheet horror of facing somebody who you didn’t even want to name. They didn’t care enough to break the friendship off properly, so why did you have to acknowledge them at all?

Obligation. You had to pretend to smile around them, like they actually brought you some sort of solace, even though they brought you quite the opposite.

Iwaizumi saw your hands. “Y/L/N, are you okay?”

You wanted to tell him. You wanted to tell him everything. It was just that…telling him would only lead to distance.

You weren’t willing to risk that.

You took your seat next to him, begging your fingers to stop trembling as you handed him his drink. “I’m alright.”

“You’re not.” Oikawa said suddenly, returning from wherever he had gone off to. “Your hands. They’re shaking. What happened?”

“Nothing,” you smiled, “I just hit my hand on the vending machine slot when I went to go get the coffees.”

“Your hands don’t look banged up.” Iwaizumi sighed. “Wait. Y/L/N, come on a walk with me.”

You hid your hands at your sides as you followed him through the pathway of the courtyard, walking around the school to a more secluded location.

He looked worried. Every stride he took looked a bit larger after a look back at your face, and when you finally stopped walking, you were in the middle of the grassy fields behind your school. The longer blades of grass swayed gently in the breeze, and Iwaizumi led them to the center of the field. As soon as they sat down, the sunshine streamed down upon them, providing a comforting type of warmth that felt almost like a hug,

Underneath the shifting light of the sun, Iwaizumi was the definition of handsome himself, from the way the angles of his face were subtly highlighted by the sun’s golden glow, to the way his gentle, yet assuring smile sat upon his features at the sight of you.

Who gave him the right to look that good at the time?

“You’re not going to admit to anything in front of Oikawa,” he said, adjusting his position, “So I thought this would help.”

“I’ll be okay,” you assured him, although the almost anxious beating of your heart suggested otherwise.

Would you?

“Yeah, you might be okay in the future, but that means you’re not fine right now.” He reasoned. “Besides,” he added, meeting your eyes, “I care about how you feel right now. So if there’s something I can do to help, I will.”

At his gentle tone of voice, you shakily removed your hands from their spot at your sides, appreciating the feel of the sunshine on them. “I ran into someone today.” You began, “And seeing them did more harm than good.”

“You think you can explain a bit more?” He suggested, moving a bit closer. “I won’t pressure you, but just take a deep breath. It’s okay.”

“I...shouldn’t have been so affected by it, but I am. That’s pathetic,” you laughed sarcastically. “I guess that’s what a bad experience does, right?”

“Don’t try to invalidate your feelings.” Iwaizumi insisted. “Look, I’m not sure who you ran into, but it’s alright to still be trapped in your head at the sight of someone. It doesn’t make you any less of a person.” He stopped his speech, training his olive green eyes to finally meet your own, “You will never be any less of a person to me.”

Breathe.

In the darkness of your room, you were surrounded by nothing to offset the steady gain of thoughts that continued to multiply in your head, every little memory you didn’t want to see coming to the forefront of your mind.

It scared you.

Your breaths came out in shallow exhales as you begged yourself for composure, for a warm hug, or just anything to get your mind off the steady panic that accompanied those thoughts.

You weren’t going to break down.

You had made it this far without feeling much, and yet there you were, the rhythmic rise and fall of our chest doing nothing to soothe your nerves. You would ask for help, but the guilt that came with shoving your problems onto others was enough to keep you from pressing the call button on the contact who’s voice you wanted, no, needed to hear most.

You pressed it anyways.

One in the morning was no normal time to call. The pale moonlight drifted in through the sheer curtains of your window, yet the darkness was still overwhelming in a sense, contributing to a sense of….something. There wasn’t really a word.

Three rings later, Iwaizumi picked up the call.

“Y/N,” he rasped, “Is something wrong?”

It would be a lie if you said you weren’t comforted by his voice on the other end, an anchor from the thoughts that threatened to usurp you from rationality by the second.

“I am...thinking too much.” You attempted, mentally chastising yourself for the odd phrasing. Iwaizumi’s breaths were deep and practiced on the other end of the line, and subconsciously, you find yourself matching it.

“What about?” He asked.

“Everything.” You started, “I think trust is the hardest thing to establish nowadays.”

“I would say acceptance also falls into that category,” he sighed, “And by that, I mean acceptance of yourself. Just understanding why you are the way you are is tough too.”

“Hajime?” you tried hesitantly, the syllables of his first name rolling off your tongue perfectly, “You do realize you are quite extraordinary, right?”

“You think so?” Even though it was late, his voice still managed to hold a tone of surprise to it.

“Of course.” You admitted, “I actually...I….um….I….”

“I like you.” He said, the conviction present in your voice. “And that’s why I’m going to always be here for you, friend or more, because I want you to be okay.”

Did you hear that correctly? You had dreamed of hearing those words from the handsome ace’s mouth from the minute you had struck up a friendship of sorts with him, but you had never expected to hear it under these circumstances.

“I like you too,” you whispered, “But I’m sorry for calling.”

“Never be sorry for asking for help,” he insisted, “Especially if it’s me. I care. What’s wrong Y/N?”

“I’ve had a pretty turbulent past,” you chuckled, “And some of it involved the person I bumped into at the vending machine today. They betrayed me in the most twisted sense. They broke off a friendship improperly. I understand drifting happens, but it just took a toll on me. I cared about them. I just think that…they never cared about me. I can’t help but feel some sort of dread if I see anyone from my old friend group. They kind of messed me up.”

“That’s a completely valid way to feel, especially in that type of situation.” Iwaizumi began, “It doesn’t mean you’re pathetic. It just means you have a heart, and that’s okay.”

“I don’t know why these feelings and memories are bothering me all of a sudden, Hajime.” You confessed, “It’s driving me crazy. I can’t sleep, because if I do, all I’m going to see is flashbacks of them.”

“That bad, huh.” Iwaizumi mumbled. “It’s not your fault that they broke your trust Y/N. You’re not responsible for the things they chose to do to you. You’re still such a good person after all of that. That means a lot more than you think”

“It was my fault that I trusted them,” you choked out, feeling a tear slip down your face, “And now I’m crying. Isn’t that great?”

“Bottling things up doesn’t help,” Iwaizumi said, “Oikawa did it and pushed himself too far. It’s okay to allow yourself to feel. You can let it out.”

“I don’t want to though.” You argued, “That just means I let them win right? I let the thoughts get the best of me. I think I’m a bit weak here.”

“You’re not weak at all.” Iwaizumi assured you, “You are one of the strongest people I know. Letting it out doesn’t mean you lost. It just means you’re letting go.”

Letting go? You had wanted to do that for a long time now, forgetting all about the past and simply moving forward, but the past was always the ankle ball and chain that clung to you as you tried to climb, always dragging you deeper into the whirlpool of your thoughts.

“Let it go, Y/N.”

For the first time in what seemed like months, you finally broke down.

Iwaizumi and you sat in a meadow of wildflowers, the various assortment of them brushing your feet as you sat in the center amongst the gentle spring breeze. He had suggested coming there as a chance to have some time to themselves, and you found a blooming feeling of affection in your chest at the thought.

Iwaizumi plucked a purple wildflower from the ground and gently tucked it behind your ear, a lopsided grin on his face at the heat that he knew rose straight to your cheeks at the action. It was pretty silent for the most part, but sitting alone with him, there were a million ways that you conveyed all your sentiments without the need for words.

“How are you feeling today?” He asked, smiling even wider when you leaned onto his shoulder.

“A bit better actually,” you giggled, “This place is pretty calming.”

“That’s why I picked it.” He shrugged, “Something about meadows puts you at ease, don’t you think?”

“I think something about you puts me at ease,” you teased, poking his cheek when it flushed red. “You’re so cute you know.”

“Shut up.” He grumbled, even though the smallest of smiles twitched at the corner of his lips.

“Hey Hajime?”

“Hmm?”

Linking your pinky with his, you leaned deeper into the warmth of his body, the subtle rise and fall of his chest calming you even further. “I think I can finally let go.”

©mysterystarz all rights reserved, please do not plagiarize, translate, or modify my fics in any way even if credited

tagging (send an ask or fill out the form to be added): @kousukii @iwasunshine @kawaii-angelanne @haikyuutothetop @koushisbutterfly @catchmewiddershins @perqabeth @sunarinluvr @elektrosonix @shoyotime @milktyama @ebiharachan @kitacharm @angelecho @maipxilia @fxckingshame @yesuraloser @astroqphillic @tejxswini @uxavity @bokuatsubro

from then on, daichi had strived to built a rapport with you

whether it was greeting you whenever he saw you in the school hallways, to gathering the courage to walk you home

you were friends, but daichi had always longed for something more

despite daichi being tight-lipped about his feelings for you, suga and asahi had obviously caught on about their best friend's predicament

and utilised the opportunity to tease him whenever they had the chance

"so, captain," suga exclaimed, sneaking a glance at daichi, who was drinking from his bottle

"when are you going to confess?"

the statement made daichi cough profusely, sputtering water all over the gym floor

asahi laughs boisterously at the slip-up, patting daichi on the back to ease the discomfort

"we haven't even discussed this in depth and you're this nervous? congratulations, daichi. you're down bad."

daichi rolls his eyes at his bestfriends' antics, taking a moment to breathe

"we're just friends. and i'm pretty sure that i'm the only one who wants to, you know, have it progress to something else."

suga and asahi exchange glances, exasperated by daichi's easy surrender

"how do you know that?" suga prods, "i'm pretty sure your feelings are returned."

"i mean what am i supposed to say?" daichi sighs, placing his bottle back on the bench

"i don't think i can ever put it into words. they're amazing, kind, beautiful, talented—"

"so..."

your voice cuts through daichi's list, and he freezes in his tracks upon seeing you in the gym doorway

"correct me if i'm wrong, daichi," you smile, grin stretching from ear-to-ear

"but you think i'm amazing, kind, beautiful, and talented?"

daichi coughs, settling his rapidly beating heart before formulating a reply

"uh. hello. yes. i mean, no. what am i saying? yes. i do think you are those qualities."

your laugh rings through the air, similar to one that graced daichi's ears on the first day you met

"does this mean that you have feelings for me?"

all plans to confess to you fly out the window as he gulps out the truth:

"yeah. yeah, i like you more than a friend."

you inch closer to the karasuno captain, and he braces himself for the stinging rejection

yet he is welcomed with a gentle peck on the cheek, your eyes glancing up to his shaky brown ones

"don't worry, daichi. i like you too. more than a friend."

daichi returns the affection by kissing you on the forehead, while pointedly ignoring suga and asahi's raucous hollers in the background

pet names

as daichi loves to envelop you in hugs, you're fond of calling him "teddy bear"

he rolls his eyes at the endearment, protesting about how cringy it is every time you refer to him by it

deep down, he adores it though

daichi calls you by the archaic "sweetheart"

which furthers the running joke between you, suga and asahi that your boyfriend is secretly from the 60s

nevertheless, the nickname never fails to make your heart flutter

the little things

daichi always drops by your class with a gift in hand

you've received various treats over the course of your relationship: stationery packs, savoury onigiris, even a handmade bento

he always delights in your ecstatic expressions whenever you open the wrapping

and the gentle feel of your lips on his as a thank you

whenever you have the time, you always make sure to drop by and support daichi at his games

on days when he feels the burden of being a captain, all it takes is one look at you cheering from the stands to reinvigorate him

When the two of you return home from that event, the same question comes up as he wakes up in the middle of the night. He’s panting and drenched all over. He realizes he just woke up from a nightmare.

You stir beside him and sleepily, you curl to his side. His pulse slowly returns to a steady rhythm and he squeezes your hands. Laying back down, he shifts closer to you, finding warmth and comfort in your presence.

Iwaizumi always had his own ghosts haunting him at night and in his dreams. He’s used to waking up cold and alone with no one to hold. The thought has him tightening his grip around you, only relaxing when he hears your voice,

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Having that assurance, he drifts back to a peaceful slumber.

When he wakes up the following morning, he frowns when he sees your empty side of the bed. He pulls himself up and searches for you. He stops in his tracks when he hears you humming inside the bathroom.

Quietly, he leans by the door and listens with his eyes closed. He must have been still half-asleep because he almost falls down to the floor when you were trying to exit.

You catch him flustered in your arms. Laughing, you help him to his feet, “What’s this? Why are you here?”

Iwaizumi sidesteps around you to enter the room. “I was waiting for you to finish.” You join him back inside and you both reach for your respective toothbrush. He puts the paste over yours before his and together, you get ready for the day.

It’s like this every morning, the two of you having developed a comfortable routine. You catch Iwaizumi looking at you in the mirror and you playfully bump your hips against his. He lightly pinches your cheeks and you mutter something incoherent. Your eyebrows furrow (albeit cutely) in frustration and it makes Iwaizumi chuckle.

The two of you finish and get out of the bathroom together. You go down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while Iwaizumi stays in your room to pack his stuff. He notices your work laptop and bag sitting at your desk and he takes it upon himself to ready your things.

When he emerges from the room, he sees you’ve already set up the table with plates full of his favorite meal. He places your things on the counter and goes to your side as you’re waiting for the coffee to refill.

He places a chaste kiss on your cheeks, “I got your things ready.” He puts his hands on your low back as he reaches for his mug from the cupboard.

Your face feels like it’s burning and you snatch the glass from him, “I’ll prepare your coffee. Eat the food already while it’s still hot.”

Iwaizumi smirks, knowing what just set you off and he goes to his place on the table without a word. Minutes later, you join him and give him his cup of coffee. He takes a sip and the caffeine begins to fully wake him to his senses.

Breakfast is consumed in silence, the white noise only coming from the busy street outside your apartment. The sunlight is peeking through your blinds and you watch through the window as the sky comes alive and bright.

It’s then that Iwaizumi finally realizes the answer to his lingering question. It’s then that he sees that what he’s looking for has been in front of him all along.

Iwaizumi is the one tasked with cleaning the dishes that day. As he washes the dirty plates, you wait for him to finish in the living room.

“Are you all set?” He asks once he emerges from the kitchen. Nodding, you take your bag and hand him his duffel.

While waiting for the elevator that will bring you to the parking lot, Iwaizumi inquires, “Will you be working late again?” He knows how busy your department has been, especially with the new project and he can’t help but worry.

You release a long sigh and lace your fingers with his, “Yeah.” He feels you grasp tightly on to him. “I’m sorry if I can’t go home early and prepare dinner. Just go eat with the team and I’ll be fine in the office.”

He hums and the elevator arrives on to your floor. You enter the empty lift and Iwaizumi presses the button to the garage. He finds you resting your back on the wall and joins you.

He slightly tilts his head to the side and his eyes flitter over to you. Iwaizumi was never one to think seriously about the future but admiring you now, he can’t imagine waking up tomorrow, or the day after, or the months and years in the future, without you by his side.

The elevator comes to a stop on your designated floor and at the same time that the doors open, Iwaizumi blurts out those three words.

“I love you.”

It makes you grin like a child who’s been given the toy they’d always wanted. You look at him with a big smile, “That’s the first time you said that.”

The door closes but the elevator doesn’t move.

“That’s not true.”

You chuckle and turn your body to face him, “I mean, it’s the first time you said it first.” You close the gap between you and he absentmindedly fiddles with your fingers. “I love you too. But what brought this on?”

He looks at you fondly, “I don’t want you thinking that this is just a one-sided relationship. I love you completely and I want you, in any way I can have you for the rest of my life.”

“Careful with your words, mister. We’re still in the elevator and we have to go to work.”

The two of you laugh in the enclosed space and shortly after, Iwaizumi holds your chin and presses his lips on yours. At the sudden touch, Iwaizumi feels a surge of new life blooming within him and he feels renewed. He wonders if you feel it too, in the way his mouth moves fervently over yours, communicating his passionate feelings.

He’s breathless when he parts from you, “Don’t let me go.”

KENMA KOZUME— sitting on his lap happens almost every time he starts gaming. he just wants you to be close to him because he knows that he can play for hours and leave you feeling lonely, so he pats his lap for you to sit and waits for you to get comfortable before mumbling into your shoulder asking if you’re gonna be okay like this. of course you nod, being content with being in your boyfriends lap while he’s doing something he enjoys meanwhile he’s trying to stop the heat from rising on his cheeks.

AKAASHI KEIJI— waking you up really early so you can watch the sunrise together. you’re usually not that much of a morning person but it’s all worth it once keiji buys you your favourite drink & snacks from a convenience store so you aren’t hungry while he drives with his hand attached to your thigh. you two set up camp at a beautiful and secluded area, patiently waiting for the tiniest bit of sun to peek through the sky before he turns you to face him, placing a soft kiss on your lips that says everything that he can’t at the moment.

MIYA ATSUMU— atsumu is a thrill seeker and it’s no secret. which is why him dragging you on the highest roller coaster in the entire amusement park while knowing you were afraid of heights didn’t surprise you. the nervousness in your stomach never left as the ride began, atsumu also beginning to regret his idea, but, he still manages to kiss you in front of the ride’s camera. it’s a short and sweet kiss that was soon interrupted by atsumu’s scream.

MATSUKAWA ISSEI— sneaking you out of your house to pull a random all nighter at the restaurant of your choice. a random burst of energy causes you two to blast music out of his car and dance under the flickering street lights. everything about this moment makes you feel so alive. his eyes catches yours for a moment before leaning in to kiss you. makes some sarcastic comment before pulling away and you end up sharing more kisses.

Your voice shatters his frenzied reverie, gentle hands caressing his damp ones. Every inch of him is yelling, screaming for him to get back in the game, yet he couldn't shy away from your touch. He wasn't ever able to. It was one weaved of nectarine, ever-so-compelling.

"Kei, you need to get to the infirmary."

"No," he breathes. Sharp pain jolts up his fingers as he pushes up his glasses—damn. He had forgotten about the broken bones.

"What happened to volleyball being just a sport?" Tsukishima reddens at the teasing lilt in your voice, brushing away the notion with a shake of his head. His pressed lips alters into a frown.

"You don't have to lie to me, Kei," you whisper, glancing down at your interlocked hands. "It's okay to admit that volleyball means more than just a club activity to you."

"I don't want to end up like Akiteru."

The admission is soft, at threat of losing to the crowd's raucous cheers. Tsukishima could only focus on the fall and rise of his chest—you were now aware of his secret. Despite the disconnect, the confession continues, words spilling out of his lips without stop.

"He's worked so hard for volleyball. So hard. But all the sport's ever done is let him down. And it's like... It's like I'm not learning from his mistakes. Joining in the Karasuno team was just—"

"Hey." Tsukishima glances up to see your eyes, tender and filled with love. Your hand reaches up to cup Tsukishima's cheeks, thumb running over his blushing skin ever-so-gently. "If you hadn't joined the team, I wouldn't have gotten to know you."

The thought brings a smile to Tsukishima's face. The middle-blocker sighs, voice laden with pretend exasperation. "Always so full of yourself. I would've been fine without you."

You laugh, and Tsukishima's smile widens. "Oh please," you exclaim, exaggerating the intention with a wink. "You know you love me."

You both spend a moment in comfortable silence, relishing in each other's presence. The effervescence dissipates with Takeda-sensei's harried footsteps, along with frantic calls of both your names. He arrives to a few feet away from you, taking a moment to catch his breath.

"Tsukishima! Are you alright?"

"I broke a bone, sensei. Multiple, perhaps. I'll head over to the infirmary, and I hope I'll be able to join the game again afterwards."

Takeda nods, turning his attention to you. "Take good care of him." You glance at your boyfriend, suppressing the laugh that threatens to escape you upon notice of the faint red flooding into his features.

"Always, sensei."