#villagerbee

“ —how long's it been since we last saw each other anyway? three years? four years? somethin'-years-too-many, more like! heh... ” it feels like an eternity ago, but atsumu can remember it still: the karasuno girl from the court sidelines, the one that was all antsy energy and bright eyes, having crossed paths with him now as two grown ups. their lives had only gotten busier in all the years since, and the offer he had made that day to take her out to eat had been left dormant all this time, unfulfilled. and what a shame that was, huh? but lookit here! the grace of an athlete being in an off-season and a graphic designer with a shred of free time… the stars have aligned themselves for a chance reunion, years in the making.

and what better way to celebrate the tying of loose ends than with good food?

…and when it comes to good food, it's obvious where he's gotta take her to. “ ooh, ya gotta try this one next! freshest tuna-mayo you'll ever taste, no kiddin'. ” each and every one he offers up to yachi seems to be 'the one she just has to try next'. meanwhile, osamu just stands there working, a small-smiled sentinel lining up the counter with freshly made rice balls. (he's certainly not complaining about the praise, and atsumu's deeefinitely not complaining about the entire bill being comped. it's a win-win for everyone! hurray!)

then the next one gets offered up, and this time, it's not his doing. atsumu's grin drops a bit when he sees he's the one being offered to this time, blinking at the rice ball held up by yachi's slender fingers. “ …well, ain't that nice? five star service, yacchan, don't mind if i do. aaaah! ” with that warm and easy reply out the way [and the refortification of his grin — 'cause he toootally didn't just get taken aback by the gesture], he leans in and takes that offered bite from her. quick and simple.

the flavors hit his senses all at once, and they do so really, really well! his eyes shut from an instinct bred from pure, simple delight. “ mmmmmh! shooo gooooood! ” (yes, he's speaking with his mouth full here. but 'samu's rice balls are just too good to remember things like manners!) “ ain't it good, yacchan?! y'tried this one yet? feels like… like the flavors are dancin' on my tongue, makin' it all tingly… or somethin'! almost makes ya wish he'd pick up cookin' alot sooner, don't it? hahahaaa… …haa…! ” oh... that feeling on his tongue, it's—

SOMEHOW,  the fact that kiyoko didn’t quite expect this surprises her. hitoka-chan is always thoughtful & well-prepared ... but if kiyoko would have thought to anticipate anything from her, it would have been at school or after practice. 

in the morning, she rises from bed, unfolds her glasses to slip them over her eyes, & opens her phone. [ ah. ] hitoka-chan’s message glows in a soft blue light, casting reflections in her glasses. kiyoko traces the characters one by one with a gentle gaze, feeling the corners of her lips tug upwards in a smile when she realizes that hitoka-chan has mis-written ‘ happy birthday ’ backwards. it seems very much like her. 

but the thoughtfulness is still there, & kiyoko re-reads the short message a few more times before typing her reply. it’s almost a fault of her own that she didn’t expect hitoka-chan to send her a morning birthday text, because she’s always considerate of things like this. feeling a space in her chest begin to warm, she pauses over the send button ... & types out an emoji ( uncharacteristic of her ) of her own before pressing it :

「 ありがとう、仁化ちゃん。( ⁎ᵕᴗᵕ⁎ ) 」

[ ... let’s both do our best today, too. ]

YAMAGUCHI  gulps  thickly,  feeling  his  nerves  work  their  way  into  his  fingers  bit  by  bit.  it  feels  like  STATIC  coursing  through  him,  making  him  jumpy,  &  if  he  were  on  the  court  about  to  toss  a  pinch  serve  these  feelings  might  have  felt  more  acceptable  ( though  not  any  more  enjoyable  for  him ).  this  is  different.  IT’S  JUST  TALKING  TO  A  GIRL,  he  tries  to  remind  himself,  but  somehow  her  subtleness  still  pierces  him  through  the  chest. 「 可愛い ... 」

‘ hitoka-chan, do you like any idol groups ? ’

█ ▓ ▒ ░ 【 ♛ 】჻ K I N G

        ❝ Did you put on sunscreen? ❞

                                The worry he feels doesn’t feel as ABNORMAL anymore  --  attaining such FAMILIARITY so QUICKLY is abnormal in itself that started off at a RUN than a walk so comfortably.  The day is SUNNY and humid as is usual of the weather in summer,  and he can only HOPE she doesn’t get sunburn.

… i - if not, marrying you would be fine … // SMOOTH