mar ౨ৎ

character introduction!

sugar rush masterlist!

IN WHICH l/n y/n and miya osamu become co-workers in public, but lovers in private

summary! l/n y/n, a 22 y/o health science major at hyogoU, decides to look for a part time job

cafe? too full, thrift store? no help wanted sign, tourist shop? too many trinkets

onigiri miya? why not?

miya osamu, 23 y/o graduate of hyogoU and owner of onigiri miya, hires her on the spot

what starts as an innocent and harmless relationship between colleagues soon blossoms into something more

<< chapter 14 - chapter 16 >> (coming soon)

the hallway buzzes with a low murmur of chatter and sneakers squeaking across polished floors

the air smells faintly like vending machine coffee and someone's spilled instant ramen

it's a shorter day, two lectures back to back yet my brain is a little soupier than i'd like by the time i step out of my final class

i sling my tote over my shoulder, tugging my phone out to check the time; plenty of time before work

"y/n!"

i turn just as misaki barrels towards me, weaving between a pair of second years like she's on a mission

her bangs are slightly mussed, and she's clutching a half eaten melon pan like it's her lifeline

"i brought you a drink!"

she pants, out of breath but grinning as she pulls a canned matcha latte from her tote

"also i got in a fight"

my eyes widen a bit, misaki was not someone to get physical

"what??" i say

"it was in seminar about sodium content in prepackaged meals"

"huh? are you hurt??"

my head tilts a bit, inspecting her body for any wounds

"oh, no"

i let out a sigh of relief

"he kept saying msg is unnatural, i had to restrain myself"

i laugh softly as we start walking, sitting on a bench right outside the building

misaki rambles on about her classes: comparative food systems and transnational food regulations and safety

it's one of the core reasons we got along so quickly, both majoring in something related to food

except hers focused on the more economic stuff, while i focused on the biological stuff

i nod along, sipping my drink and letting the breeze cool my cheeks

"what's his name again? hakato? haketa?"

"harada..." she says, voice barely above a whisper

she side eyes me, poking the straw into her drink a bit too aggressively

"what does HE know about msg???!!!" she exclaims

i laugh softly, sipping the last bit of my drink

my phone buzzes, a reminder of my shift

"ah, i should get going soon"

misaki hums, stuffing the rest of her melon pan in her mouth

"onigiri?"

"yeah," i nod

"osamu asked me to come in a bit earlier today"

she nods like it made perfect sense 

"tell him to pack me something, ok?"

"i'll line pay you"

"sure!" i nod

i stand up, brushing off my skirt

"see you tonight?"

she nods before waving me off, yelling goodbye

"GOOD LUCK!"

-

the walk to onigiri miya was familiar, down two streets, past the bakery with the seasonal melon pan display, then across the corner near the bookstore with the cat in the window

when i finally rounded the block, i spotted the wooden sign and the cherry blossom noren fluttering in the wind before i spotted him

osamu stood just inside the open entrance, leaning against the counter, apron already tied around his waist

he looked like he'd been there for a while, hair pushed back from his forehead, one hand resting in the pocket of his jeans

i stepped through the door, the familiar scent of grilled rice and soy sauce around me like a warm blanket

he looked up the moment he clocked the little bell ringing,

"hey"

his voice was low, but warm

"hi"

i echoed, dropping my bag behind the counter, tying my hair into a low bun

"busy day?"

he shakes his head, "slow so far"

"did ya eat?" he asks again

"not yet"

"made an extra salmon one earlier"

"didn't know if ya'd come hungry"

he continues

"oh, thank you, samu"

his heart jumped upon hearing that sweet nickname roll off your tongue

especially since you were the one saying it

i watched him reach for a neatly wrapped onigiri, handing it

our fingers brushed, but neither of us reacted to it

like it was normal

i took a bite, leaning my hip against the wall while chewing

"didn't realise how tired i was till i sat through lecture"

i mumbled

"which professor?"

"professor ikezawa"

his tongue clicks, like he knows exactly who i'm talking about

"he's practically a lullaby" he says

i chuckle

"had some guy here this mornin',"

"still wearin' pajama pants, looked like he sleepwalked here"

i laugh softly, imagining the scene unfold in front of me

i can't help but imagine samu's shocked/slighty confused expression

"you sure it wasn't tsumu?" i ask, glancing up at him

"nah, he wears stupid pajamas"

"this was somewhat normal... for so far pajamas in public go"

i laugh a bit more and i watch his mouth tug upwards

the soft chime of the front door rings, and i glance up from the prep counter just in time to see her step inside

she's tall, sharp-featured, wearing a pale green dress under a cropped denim jacket

her hair is styled like she knew she might run into someone today

she looks around briefly before letting her eyes land on him

her face lights up

"osamu?!"

he looks up, his brows lifting in surprise

"huh? rina?"

"oh. my. god!"

she laughs, already walking over

"it is you!"

"you haven't changed at! all!"

osamu blinks, then huffs out a short laugh

"y'think? feels like i've aged ten years since high school" he answers

i quickly put down my onigiri, dusting off my hands

i make eye contact with her

"ah, you must work here"

i nod, smiling

"yes, i'm l/n y/n"

"cute,"

"i'm kanzaki rina"

i nod, shaking her hand

"it's nice to meet you"

"hm, you too" she huffs

she turns her attention back on osamu, leaning an elbow on the counter

"i heard you opened up a shop,"

she begins

"but i didn't think it'd be right here though?"

"you always talked about wanting to cook, and look at you now; wearing an apron 'n everythin'!"

osamu smiles lightly, but doesn't add anthing

i can tell he's waiting for her to get to the point

"didn't know ya'd end up runnin' something sooooo cute,"

she adds, twirling a strand of hair

"with such cute workers"

she winks at me, but it feels fake

"you two HAVE! to be dating, i mean?!"

"she's so pretty, osamu!"

"you must be smitten!!!"

there's an awkward silence, and osamu and i slowly look at each other

"uh.."

"um"

"oh no!" rina exclaims,

"i totally!!! made it awkward! oops!!"

i chuckle lightly, grabbing my bag

"samu, i'll get dressed,"

"be right back"

"..alright" he softly says

and with that, i took my bag and went to the back

though, i still heard them talk, just not as clear

"she calls you samu, adorable!!! why did i never think of that?!"

i can hear him sigh deeply

"i'll have to come by more often!!!!"

"this place is so adorable, to die for!"

there's a brief pause between them

just long enough to feel awkward

"well,"

he finally says

"what'd ya wanna order? we got a few specials"

"surprise me!! i trust your taste!!!"

"right"

"i'll get that started"

i walk out, fixing my hair as i watch rina type away on her phone

i help osamu pack up the order as i hear him whisper something;

"she used to stalk tsumu 'nd i like crazy in high school"

my mouth forms into an o shape

"seems like she's not done with you yet"

he gently nudges me and i smile just a little

"'samuuuu!! you'll have to give me your number before i leave"

"lost the old one.." she trails off at the end of her sentence

his heart doesn't react the same when he hears the nickname come out of her mouth

instead, a look of disgust splays on his face

"we're on instagram"

"but you barely post!"

"..we're on instagram"

"ouch!!" she winces

she laughs, but it's the kind of laugh that's trying too hard to stay cute

"you haven't changed at all!! so mean!"

she teases

he hands her the bag across the counter, his face unreadable

"take care, rina"

she lingers a little longer before finally walking out, the bell above the door chiming behind her

without looking at me, osamu sighs

"man,"

he wipes down the counter

"some people really don't get when it's time ta move on"

i bite the inside of my cheek

"guess you're really unforgettable"

he shoots me a side glance, one brow raised and i can't help but laugh

<< chapter 13 - chapter 15 >>

everyone's finishing the last bits of dinner, tossing skewers into paper bags, sipping from lukewarm tea bottles

the beach has emptied out now, except for a few night walkers enjoying the last few rays of cool sunshine before the moon settles in the sky

shota's got rice on his cheek and misaki's trying to wipe it off with a napkin while he protests

aran's collecting trash, kaoru hands him one last bottle with an exaggerated salute

i hear a quiet sigh coming from rin's direction before he flops back on his towel and a yawn coming from the other side

and then another

"alright, time to head out before we all become part of the sand"

misaki is the first to speak up

there's a few nods and hums of agreement before everyone gets up, aran helping kaoru up as she groans,

"my spine's gonna need therapy after this.."

"don't you already go to therapy?" shinsuke asks

"not for beach spine"

there's a bit of laughter, and then the usual rustling

towels being shaken out, sandals located, phones unplugged from the speakers

shinsuke slings chiyo's tote over his shoulder and exchanges a look with his girlfriend, who nods

"we'll walk from here, it's just 10 minutes from our place"

chiyo says, shinsuke nods beside her

"are ya sure? i don't mi-"

atsumu nudges him with his elbow, trying to stop his brother from talking

"dude.. cockblock.."

osamu just shakes his head and looks over at shinsuke again

"it's okay, really, but thank you"

"get home safe"

shinsuke says

one by one we hug them and wave them goodbye as they walk off in the opposite direction of where we came from

once everything's packed up, the group splits up into the same groups we came in

"text us when you all get home, alright?" aran says, standing next to the car

"that is if we get home.."

atsumu slowly side eyes osamu

"ya can walk home" osamu sneers at him

we laugh again before hugging and saying goodbye, shota's group (shota, misaki, aran, kaoru) gets in the car

"dibs on not sittin' in the middle!"

"my knees'll explode"

rin's already opening the back door on the far side

"i'll take it, my legs feel dead already anyway"

"bless yer sweet soul" atsumu says, climbing into the car

i linger near the passenger side when osamu glances over

"front's yours"

i smile softly and nod

-

the drive starts quiet

finally no fuss on who gets the aux and who doesn't

the windows are cracked open, letting in the scent of salt and summer

the streetlight washes the car in soft orange every few seconds

atsumu starts telling a story from high school, his voice growing animated as he gestures with one hand and snacks with the other

i watch rin through the mirror, his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on my headrest

he occasionally responds with a dry remark, further pissing off atsumu more as he complains that rin isn't listening attentively

from the front seat, i glance sideways at osamu

he's got one hand on the wheel, the other resting carefully near the gear shift

his thumb taps gently to the beat of the song

"y'good?" i hear him ask beside me

i nod

"yeah, sleepy"

"and full"

he hums, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth

his eyes stay on the road, but his voice is warm when he replies

"sounds like the perfect kinda tired, right?"

i lean my head back against the seat before humming in agreement, letting the wind play with my hair

-

one by one, we drop them off

first rin, who gives a casual nod and a soft "thanks for the ride"

before disappearing into the low-lit steps of his apartment complex

atsumu's next, he slaps the side of the car twice like it's a horse he just finished riding

"alright, 'samu, don't kill her, yeah?"

"get outta my car"

atsumu laughs all the way up to the sidewalk, turning around to flash a peace sign before heading inside

and then it's just us again

osamu waits until atsumu is inside before starting to drive again

i don't say anything, but he still knows where to go

the city's quieter now

"had a good time today"

i glance at him as he speaks up, catch the curve of his smile in the glow of the console lights

"me too"

he looks over for a short second before turning his eyes to the road again

"glad you asked me"

he doesn't look over this time, but i see the way his knuckles flex just slightly

like he heard something in my voice that stuck

"was gonna keep askin' ya, y'know?"

"even if ya said no"

i smile more

we pull up in front of my place, where the street lights are still buzzing

i slowly unbuckle my belt before reaching for the door handle when osamu clears his throat

"hey,"

i pause and turn towards him

"text me when ya get in, alright?"

i nod

"i will"

we look at each other for a little longer, unsure if we should say goodbye now

i hesitate

and then lean over, just enough to press a quick kiss to his cheek

he freezes for half a second, then breaks in the softest grin

"careful,"

he murmurs

"i might get used to that"

i laugh, fingers lingering on the door handle

"what if i want you to?"

i say it softly, voice barely above a whisper

his breath hitches and for a second i could swear we were moving closer to each other

the song stops playing and a spotify ad interrupts

we back off, chuckling lightly as if we both weren't dangerously close to each other

"text me, please"

i smile softly and nod before opening the door, stepping out into the warm night air

i wave once before heading to the door

when i glance back, his headlights are still on and he's still watching

i wave again, and this time he waves back

i hear the car pull away once i shut the door behind me

tires whispering against the pavement, disappearing as the night swells around me

<< chapter 12 - chapter 14 >>

the sun's dropped lower now the air warm, but softer

like even the heat has started to get sleepy

we're stretched out across our towels, bodies lazily tangled, someone's foot on someone else's bag, 

chiyo's drawing little suns in the sand with a stick

misaki and kaoru go head-to-head in a ruthless card game

(we still don't know who packed a full deck)

(and how it hasn't blown away yet)

rin's half-asleep on his towel

shota's collecting shells and narrating it like a wildlife documentary

aran's in charge of applying sunscreen to everyone who forgot

(he takes the job very seriously)

and atsumu...

he's everywhere and nowhere at the same time

he disappears for minutes at a time and always returns empty handed

samu and i glance over at him when he calls out to us,

"let's go!" 

"get up, yer all lazy" 

he's spinning a volleyball on his finger, grinning like he just won a prize

there's some groans and some excited clapping before he speaks up again

"losers buy dessert!" he calls out again

there's a few more groans because of course he turned it into a competition

atsumu and aran create teams

eventually after some light bickering and complaints, the teams have been made

atsumu, shinsuke, chiyo, osamu and misaki on team #1

and shota, aran, kaoru, rin and i on team #2

the match starts rough first few serves either go into the net or into someone's face

but after a few plays, we hit a rhythm

kaoru's got sneaky speed suna blocks like he doesn't care, but never misses

aran's a wall at the net

on the other side, atsumu's loud but sharp

misaki's sets are terrifyingly good

chiyo's surprisingly aggressive for someone who just drew little suns in the sand five minutes ago

the game heats up fast someone's yelling, someone else is diving for saves

the ball's coming down right toward atsumu. a perfect set from chiyo, and he's already stepping into position, calling out like he's got this one in the bag

he swings

but right at he does, his hand clips the top of the net

it's just enough to throw the shot off

the ball thuds into the sand a few feet short, and he stares at it like it betrayed him

there's a beat of silence

"nice pass" rin is the first to speak up

atsumu turns around, squinting

"that was a spike.."

"was it?" osamu questions

"coulda fooled me" osamu grins as het jogs to pick up the ball

atsumu brushes off his hands and mutters something about "tournament nets being too low" 

"we're at a public beach??" misaki cuts in

"exactly,"

he starts, turning to his teammate

"unregulated conditions"

the game ends shortly after a clean point from suna ends it and our team takes the win

we collapse back onto the sand not even a second later

the heat of the sun kisses our skin as some water bottles pass around, someone fans misaki with a frisbee

the sun drips low, turning everything golden

"ha! we win"

i watch kaoru prop up her hands on her hips proudly, grinning from ear to ear

"you guys gotta fight it out who's gonna get dessert" she says

"don't you mean dinner..?" chiyo chimes in, her voice laced with confusion

kaoru throws her hands in the air

"doesn't matter!"

shinsuke nods,

"osamu, will you go?"

with a defeated sigh and no plan to reject, i watch osamu stand up and dust some sand off his shorts before putting on a shirt

"alright, alright," he starts

"but no way i'm goin' there all alone"

for a split second, i could've sworn he glanced at me

i hear atsumu snort behind me

"what? are ya scared?"

osamu rolls his eyes, figuring replying to him would be tiring

"why don't you go, y/n?"

i look up at shinsuke, surprised

"no way! we won!"

kaoru throws her arms in the air, forming an x in front of her face

"that's so unfair!!"

i laugh softly, waving kaoru off

"it's okay, i don't mind"

i get up as well, dusting myself off

kaoru shakes her head

"go fetch something before atsumu starts trying to roast shrimp on a stick" aran says, side eyeing atsumu

-

we walk side by side down the narrow path

that snakes behind the beach shops, our shadows stretched long and  wavering in the golden light

neither of us says much just the sound of flip-flops slapping the dirt

and a seagull somewhere overhead, screeching like it's got a grudge

osamu scratches his head before awkwardly clearing his throat

"feel like my shoulders are on fire,"

he says, voice flat but not annoyed

"shoulda let aran sunscreen me after all"

i chuckle

"you waved him off like he insulted your honor"

he grunts,

"yeah, well pride makes ya dumb sometimes"

a few steps pass, he tilts his head a little before glancing down at me 

"you sore from the game?"

"a little, but in a good way"

"good,"

"ya played well" he says, almost in disbelief

he looks away, staring at a seagull flying over our heads

"who woulda thought" he says again

i side eye him

"you were okay too.. i guess.."

his mouth quirks, but he doesn't say anything

another beat of silence passes

the air smells like grilled squid and ocean

somewhere, a kid's laughing

we turn the corner and the beach shop comes into view

a little stand with lanterns just starting to glow, soft cream machine humming next to a cooler of cold drinks and snack shelves

he steps ahead and to open the shop door for me

i mumble a thanks and we both step into the hum of air conditioning and the scent of karaage

we walk around the small store for a while

it's there, in the small bubble of stillness, that i finally ask it

"hey"

he looks over, already reaching for a bento tray

"hm?"

"earlier,"

i begin, fiddling with the strap of my bag loosely hanging from my shoulder

"in the water.."

"you said something,"

he waits and i continue

"you called me pretty"

he doesn't flinch or blush or backpedal

just nods once, like he expected this to come up

"i did"

i look at him

"you mean it?"

he sets the bento down, glances me for a heartbeat that feels way too long

"i don't say anything i don't mean"

his tone is simple, like it's silly of me to even question it in the first place

i want to open my mouth to speak, but he starts again

"you looked beautiful,"

he pauses, but doesn't hesitate

"radiant. you were glowing"

i watch his cheeks and ears color a bit red, yet his gaze stays on mine

"i like seeing you like that"

my breath hitches, just a little

he's not saying it like some grand confession, rather just a quiet truth

i smile, try to hide it by reaching for a can of peach soda

"you're not so bad to look at either" i tease

he laughs, shaking his head

"careful, i'll get cocky"

-

we walk out of the shop with two plastic bags

karaage, takoyaki, a few bento's, bottled tea for everyone, and a matcha soft cream we share

he lets me take the first bite

doesn't say anything when i take a second

the path back is even quieter

the light's dimmed into lavender and gold, like the sky's exhaling after a long day

the sound of the beach is back again, softer this time

waves licking the shore like a lullaby

we're just about to cross the final dune when he slows down before coming to a full stop

i turn to him

he's got one hand on the back of his neck, like it's bothering him

but when he speaks, his voice is steady;

"hey"

"yeah?"

he meets my eyes once again

"would it be weird if i asked ya out?"

the question hangs between us

a little clumsy, but very bold

i blink

"like.. on a real date"

he purses his lips together

"maybe somethin' with chairs?"

i laugh, not being able to help it

he raises a brow

"do the chairs come with food?" i ask

he huffs out a soft laugh

"i'll make sure they do"

i smile and nod

"ask away"

he grins, all teeth and a little relief

"y/n,"

he starts, mock-formal

"will ya go on a date with me?"

i try not to smile too wide

fail

"yes, i would love to"

he nods once, satisfied

"good,"

he turns on his heel before looking back at me over his shoulder

"let's go"

he holds out his hand for me to take and i quickly catch up to him, interlinking our fingers

"we gotta be quick,"

he starts

"'tsumu mighta ate the sand and blamed it on low blood sugar"

<< chapter 11 - chapter 13 >>

"if you don't hurry up, i'm leavin' without you!"

shota's (gochujang man) voice echoes through the room

"you ain't going anywhere without us, don't be dramatic!"

misaki yells back, toothbrush in her mouth

i snort, shuffling through mybeach bag again

sunscreen? check towel? check

phone charger, snacks,water, power bank? check

double check, triple check

misaki finally appears, hair tied up, sunglasses perched on her head

"alright, wish me luck. shota's already complaining about me taking too long but he spent ten minutes fixing his hair!"

she grins as she tugs on her sandals

i laugh and wave her off as they head to pick up aran and his girlfriend, kaoru

the apartment's quiet for a beat

i check my room one last time, just to be sure

i sling my beach bag over my shoulder

just as i'm about to head out, there's a knock

at the door, blonde hair and bright eyes greet me

"i'm so happy yer comin'!"

"ya all ready?" he beams, smile brighter than the sunlight peeking through the curtains

"hi atsumu!"

he grins and pulls me into a hug

"let's go, samu's waitin'!"

i lock the door behind me and follow him downstairs, the early sunlight glinting off car windows

leaning against the car, rin and osamu stand side by side

they wave at me

inside, through the slightly tinted window, i spot shinsuke and his girlfriend, chiyo

i wave back. osamu's wave is slower

shy, kind of, but his eyes don't quite look away

i toss my bag in the trunk

"let's go! i made a bet with aran we'd get there first!"

atsumu said, halfway already climbing into the backseat so i only caught 50% of what he said

rin and i exchange a glance

he deadpans before opening his mouth,

"dibs on the front. i get carsick if i sit behind dumbasses"

then he slides into the passenger seat, cool as ever

i blink a few times before cramming myself into the what is supposed to be a 3 seater, but now accommodates four

"we're barely even drivin' ten minutes, ya drama queen" atsumu says, buckling up

i smile and greet shinsuke and chiyo

osamu's eyes meet mine through the mirror

he smiles softly

"ready?"

nodding, i smile back,

"ready!"

the car hums to life, and the ride begins

fifteen minutes of back-and-forth bickering over the aux cord

rin wants lo-fi beats. atsumu demands summer bangers

osamu, ever the peacemaker, just turns on the radio

silence, finally

-

when we pull into the beach lot, the other car's already there

"HA! beat that!"

kaoru stands proudly, arms perched on her hips

we all climb out of the car, atsumu drops his bag instantly before making a beeline towards the beach before yelling out:

"I'LL BE THE FIRST TO THE BEACH!!"

seconds later, aran, kaoru, shota, and suna bolt after him

osamu looks at the bags piled at our feet, deadpanning

"ain't this a bit much?"

i laugh, watching them disappear into the sand

misaki and i glance at the pile of bags they left behind

eight painfully long minutes later, under the weight of towels, umbrellas, bags, and sweat, we finally find a spot

osamu helps unfold the umbrella

i drop to my towel like a rock

"mind gettin' my back?"

atsumu sits down at the end of my towel, shirtless and holding a bottle of sunscreen

he looks at me over his shoulder, and i can tell he has a proud look in his eyes even though he's wearing sunglasses

"get someone else to do it, lazy. can't ya see we're tired from carryin' all yer bags?!"

osamu snatches the bottle from his hands before tossing it to aran, who's patting kaoru's back as she's hunched over, wheezing

"..i won"

she barely gasps out the words

-

once we're all settled in, the chaos resumes

aran, kaoru, atsumu, and chiyo start building an elaborate sandcastle

rin and shinsuke get roped into judging, misaki and shota mwander along the tide collecting seashells

i stay in the shade of the umbrella

osamu joins me, flopping down beside me with a quiet groan

he rests his arms over his knees

"finally some peace"

i laugh softly,

"we haven't even been here an hour"

he lets out a quiet chuckle, and i watch the muscles in his back shift gently with the sound

"feels like it's been four" he says

we sit like that for a while, half-listening to the chatter, the waves, the music playing low through chiyo's bluetooth speaker

he leans back on his hands, i squint my eyes at tree mleaves moving in the distance

"yer starin'"

i blink, caught

"huh? i'm not"

he doesn't turn, just tips his head slightly

"yer smilin', too"

i shrug, looking out at the water

"guess i am"

there's a moment of silence as the breeze tugs at his hair

"don't stop,"

he starts, avoiding my gaze

"suits ya"

i glance at him, his ears a little pink

i don't say anything, just smile a little wider

-

we wade into the water, the sun reflecting off the ocean in scattered gold

someone shouts about a game, suna probably

and within seconds, the chaos begins

shota points at aran, and they both share a smirk

it doesn't take long before shota is up on aran's shoulders, they start yelling some nonsense about them winning

chiyo starts pulling shinsuke toward the deeper water

"don't drop me, shin or i'll never forgive you!!"

shinsuke rolls his shoulders before lifting chiyo on his shoulders with ease

"you're tall enough! c'mon!" atsumu shouts

"i am not built for this, miya!" kaoru exclaims

atsumu starts splashing kaoru and i can see a wave of panic and fear take over her face

to everyone's surprise she manages to keep atsumu up on her shoulders

misaki climbs onto rin's shoulders with zero hesitation

he sighs, but doesn't protest, arms steady at her knees

then it's just osamu and i, standing in waist-deep water

unsure of what to do next

"do ya.. uhh.. wanna play too?"

i glance up at him, nerves fluttering in my stomach

"i mean, do you want to?"

his lips part, like he's about to respond

"ya takin' too long! get yer act together!" atsumu calls ou, we glance over at him

poor kaoru, having to hold up that boy

before i can even process it, osamu's hands are around my thighs and suddenly, i'm up

i laugh, grabbing ontohis hair for balance

"yer movin' too much!"

"stand still then!"

the others are already in formation, it starts fast

atsumu goes flying within seconds, kaoru shouting about how it's all his fault

"i TOLD ya i wasn't built for this!!"

they both swim back toward shore, defeated

osamu walks us over to shinsuke and chiyo

chiyo's expression sharpens immediately, eyes locked on mine

"you're done for! don't think i'll go easy on ya!" she says, a determined look in her eyes

she lunges and for a second, i almost let her win

almost

if it wasn't for osamu's grip tightening around my thighs, she would've won

i gasp a little, caught off guard

his fingers are warm, and it makes my heart stutter

i refocus as chiyo launches herself, i lean away at just the right moment

she goes down, laughing as she resurfaces and splashes us

we watch her and shinsuke swim back, joining the others on the shore

misaki and rin follow soon after

just shota and aran now

i glance down at osamu's head

"last team, 'samu!"

i pat his cheek as in an attempt to hype him up

shota charges like a storm

our shoulders clash, it's wild, messy, and saltwater splashes everywhere. but shota's got reach and before i know it, i'm sliding sideways

i fall with a splash, laughter bubbling up as i swim to the surface

"you win!"

i watch shota and aran do a celebratory fist bump

"duh??"

shots says as he flops off aran's shoulders sending another wave crashing osamu and i's way

they both swim toward shore, leaving behind a trail of ripples

leaving osamu and i alone

again

the water feels still now, quiet

like the ocean's holding its breath for us

osamu treads a little closer

he's not looking at me yet, his eyes tracking the horizon instead, mouth pressed in a thoughtful line

i shift slightly in the water, adjusting the strap of my swimsuit

he finally looks at me,

"ya okay?"

i nod, hair clinging to my face

"yeah. you?"

"yeah. just... catchin' my breath"

a small chuckle escapes his lips and he rolls his shoulders back

the sunlight reflects in his eyes, softening the dark brown

he glances down at the water between us, then back up

his gaze lingers this time

"ya look really pretty, y/n,"

"you're glowing"

his voice is soft, like he's talking to himself

my head tilts a bit to the side, as if i'm not believing the words coming out of his mouth right now

he studies my expression before continuing

"i mean it"

my heart stumbles. the words don't land all at once

they come in waves, slow and warm

i blink. his voice, so calm and sure, throws me off more than the words themselves

i look away instinctively, the sun suddenly too bright

"not just now,"

he keeps going, even when i can't quite meet his eyes

"when we're workin' together,"

"when ya tie yer apron and yer hummin' under yer breath,"

"when ya greet customers with that voice ya don't even know gets softer when yer tired"

i glance back at him, he's already looking at me

the warmth that started in my neck is now in my chest, blooming outward

he moves a little closer, not too close

just enough that our knees brush under the water

"..beautiful"

the silence stretches, but this time it feels full

heavy with all the things i want to say back

his hand lifts, slowly

fingers brushing against my cheek like he's afraid i'll vanish

and i don't move

he lets his hand trail down my arm until our fingers meet underwater

he takes my hand, tentative, waiting to see if i'll pull away

and i don't

instead, i hold it tighter

we bask in the silence, not exchanging any words yet we're saying so much

water up to our waists, hand in hand, hearts loud in the quiet

he shifts a bit closer, his eyes studying my face

moving from my eyes, to my nose down to my lips

"ARE YOU TWO GONNA CUT THE WATERMELON OR?!"

we both jolt, startled

atsumu's voice cracks the moment like a stone through glass

atsumu's standing on the sand, hands on his hips, squinting at us like we're doing something illegal

"IT'S BEEN LIKE TEN MINUTES!!"

"THE KNIFE'S RIGHT HERE"

his voice is louder now, his frustration over us being late to cut the watermelon obvious

i blink, looking down

i realise i'm still holding his hand

he hasn't let go either

he clears his throat, low and awkward

his cheeks are pink, eyes flicking anywhere but me

i nod quickly, heat rushing to my face

"right! the watermelon!" i try to recollect myself

"..oh, yeah" he says,

"we probably should get back, right?"

i nod

we don't say anything as we wade back to shore, but our fingers stay tangled just a little longer than they need to

atsumu's already ranting about "proper snack-time protocol" but i barely hear him

because even with all the noise, the only thing loud to me is the flutter in my chest

and the quiet press of his hand in mine

<< chapter 10 - chapter 12 >>

life's been... full

it's been a month since the semester started and since i started working at onigiri miya

between back-to-back lectures on nutritional biochemistry, three-hour anatomy labs, and trying not to fall asleep on my notes during late-night study sessions, i barely have time to breathe

but somehow, all of it feels like it's building toward something good

then theres my part-time job at onigiri miya, which has become the anchor in my chaotic schedule

it's a quiet kind of joy, one that settles into your bones

the kind that comes from doing work that matters, whether it's folding rice intoonigiri with the right balance of seasoning or understanding how the food we eat affects the body from the inside out

misaki's been glowing lately. ever since she officially started dating gochujang guy, who apparently has a real name, she's been different in the best way possible

when i walk into the apartment, i either find her humming over a pan of garlic-sizzling veggies

or curled up on the couch with her phone, smiling at her screen like it holds the secrets of the universe

-

the scent of soy, ginger, and something slightly charred wafts through the apartment by the time i finally shrug off my bag and kick off my shoes

"smells like someone's trying to impress!"

i call out, voice echoing off the hallway as i pad into the kitchen

gochujang man, or shota (as misaki now insists i call him by his given name), is standing at the stove

apron tied over his hoodie, brow furrowed in concentration as he stirs something bubbling in a wok

"you're late"

he says without looking up, the corner of his mouth twitching

"i had to pretend i understood enzymes in digestion for a full hour,"

i continue,

"forgive me if i needed a moment to mourn my brain cells"

"fair" he says

i watch him toss in chopped scallions like a final flourish

"but i expect an apology in the form of dishwashing later"

"as long as it doesnt involve me touching your weird metal sponge again, i accept"

"it's not weird, it's effective" he sneers

i snort and hop onto one of the stools at the kitchen island

misaki appears a moment later, hair damp from a quick shower, wearing one of his oversized shirts

"you two bicker like siblings"

amused, she slides a bowl of rice in front of me

"no, we bicker like two people who've been forced to share a kitchen more than twice a week"

i poke at the rice

"big difference!" i say

-

i moved back to the living room after washing the dishes

(with a soft sponge)

i grab a blanket laid out on the couch and tuck it around my own legs before settling in

the glow from the tv flickered across shota's face as misaki's head gently dropped onto his chest, her breathing slowing into a soft, even rhythm

shota's fingers traced small circles on her arm, careful not to wake her

i reach for my phone, disregarding the romantic comedy i've seen dozen of times before playing on tv

osamu🍙 still alive after today?

i smiled softly, already hearing his voice in my head

me barely

me but misaki and gochujang man made me dinner 😋

osamu🍙 shota??

me oh

me yeah i meant shota

me sorry lol

me misaki wont let me call him gochujang man anymore 😔

osamu🍙 ohhhh

osamu🍙 they still in the honeymoon phase huh

osamu🍙 hope they stay like that though

osamu🍙 he treats her right?

i smile, my cheeks becoming a little warm

over the course of a month, misaki has been onigiri miya's #1 visitor

(if you don't count the elderly lady coming in every sunday)

my heart flutters, relieved misaki and osamu got along almost immediately

i tap out a response when my screen dims

me he does!!

me he cooks, he listens, he even bought her a plant lol

me named it kevin

osamu🍙 a plant?

osamu🍙 yea ok maybe he is dangerous

a small laugh bubbled up, and i imagined him smirking at the phone, the kind of teasing grin i'd grown used to

osamu🍙 ya got any plans this weekend?

my thumb hovered for a moment before i answered

me not really

me why what's up

after a short pause, his message popped up again

osamu🍙 was thinkin of hittin the beach

osamu🍙 figured you might wanna come too

i blinked at the screen, reading it twice just to be sure i wasn't imagining things

me: just us?

no answer came right away

then, after a beat:

osamu🍙 uh well tsumu's comin too

oh

osamu🍙 and i texted a couple other people ya can bring misaki n gochujang man too if you want

he followed up quickly, as if worried he'd sounded too pushy

osamu🍙 but like

osamu🍙 only if you're free

osamu🍙 no pressure or nothin

me sounds fun :)

me ill ask them but im down

osamu🍙 alright

osamu🍙 we'll sort out the time later, bring sunscreen

osamu🍙 dont wanna be haulin ur sunburned ass home

me: awww so thoughtful

me look at you

me practically husband material

-

the sharp clack of game pieces hitting the coffee table mixed with the low hum of conversation around the room

my apartment smelled faintly of takoyaki and some weird citrus-scented candle suna lit earlier, claiming it helped with "ambience"

dunno what kind of ambience he meant, but it wasn't awful

i leaned back on the couch, a half-eaten onigiri in one hand, chopsticks still balanced across the bowl on the table

suna sat across from me, lazily scrolling through something on his phone while aran and atsumu argued over house rules for the board game spread between us

shinsuke, in typical kita fashion, sat quietly with his cards neatly stacked in front of him, expression unreadable

probably memorizing all our tells

"you're full of shit, atsumu,"

aran said, pointing at him with a chip in hand, eating it before continuing again

"you can't just stack resources like that!"

"it's not in the rules,"

atsumu shot back with a grin,

"which means it's legal until proven otherwise"

rin snorted without looking up

"that's the same argument he used in high school when when he tried to barter cafeteria pudding for math test answers"

atsumu smirked

"worked, didn't it?"

my eyes drifted toward the kitchen, where a half-dozen empty drink cans lined the counter

somehow, we'd gone through all the good snacks in under two hours

"samu,"

aran nudged me with his elbow before continuing

"you spaced out"

"did not,"

i grunted, sitting up and stretching my arms above my head

"just thinkin'"

"about?"

rin asked, lazily flipping a card over

"...nothin'"

i said, a little too fast

i knew i was done for when i saw rin look up with a smirk

"ohhh,"

he drawled, eyes narrowing in that annoying way he does when he knows

"you're thinking about her, aren't you?"

i stiffened

"who?"

"you know who"

truth is, none of them knew who it was

they just pretended to in the hope that i would one day reveal who she is

atsumu raises an eyebrow

"wait. samu's got a thing?"

shinsuke, without missing a beat, glanced over

"you mean the one he's always smilin' at his phone for?"

"i do not" i defend myself, but it doesn't convince them

especially not rin

"he does,"

i watch rin grin as he leans forward

"texts her all the time, real quiet about it though"

"like he thinks we won't notice"

"shut up,"

i muttered, grabbing a card and slapping it onto the board

"play the damn game"

"you asked that new hire of yours to come to the beach, right?" aran asks

atsumu's eyes lit up immediately

the idiot's grin spread so wide you'd think someone had promised him a world record in something

"y/n?"

his voice practically squeaked, a little too eager

i nodded, eyes flicking to the message on my phone

a brief smile started tugging at the corner of my lips as i read the last part of the message from y/n

y/n🍓 practically husband material

i didn't want to read that out loud, hell, i didn't even want to admit the flutter in my chest

my heart skipped, not gonna lie

but i played it off, tossing my phone down on the table without saying anything

"yeah"

i muttered, trying to keep my tone neutral

but i couldn't stop the small smile that kept tugging at my lips

"she'll be there"

character introduction ✮

<< chapter 9 - chapter 11 >>

the last customer leaves with a quiet "thanks," and the bell above the door sings its final note for the day

"ya mind flippin' the sign?"

i shake my head, walking over to the entrance and flipping the little wooden sign to closed

osamu's already behind the counter, grabbing a couple wrapped onigiri from the tray near the back

leftovers from earlier prep that didn't sell

"these're still fresh. figured we could eat before cleanin' up"

"only if i get one of the spicy ones"

i say and he huffs

"ya drive a hard bargain"

he grabs two and gestures toward one of the booths

we both slide into the seat, setting the onigiri between us. the shop feels warmer now, quieter

more ours

i unwrap one and take a bite, humming in approval

"good? i think they taste better after hours"

he says, and i nod in agreement

we eat slowly, leaning back in the booth seats like we've been on our feet for a week

i break the silence between us,

"one time a guy tried to pay me with a gift card to a bookstore. for sushi"

"yer jokin'"

"i wish"

"i had a lady once ask if the rice was 'gluten-free.. it's rice??'"

i laugh softly,

"did you tell her that?"

"nah. i just blinked real slow 'til she walked out"

we both crack up again, the kind of laughter that comes easy after a long shift

somewhere in the back, a clock ticks quietly, and the night hums gently outside

as we both finish up our onigiri, we look at each other just a second longer

not saying anything, not that we had to

i smile at him,

"thank you for the onigiri, this was a nice dinner,"

i continue

"though, i might still be a little hungry.."

i mumbled the last part under my breath, looking away

i hear him chuckle lowly across from me

"i liked it too,"

he glanced at me, then quickly looked away, pretending to wipe his hands clean a little too thoroughly

"ain't bad company either" he finishes his sentence

i smiled into my napkin, heat rising to my face

after we finish, we clean up side by side. sweeping, wiping down the counters, stacking trays

he stands next to me at the prep station, brushing past me now and then in the tight space each time, he mumbles a soft "'scuse me"

his voice low, like it's just for me

but what i notice even more: each time he moves behind me, he places a hand gently on my waist, just for a second, just enough to guide himself around.

not firm, not hesitant

casual. familiar

but i feel it. every. single. time.

and the worst part? he doesn't even seem to realize what he's doing

i glance at him. he's already focused again, running a broom against the wooden floor

i clear my throat, trying to focus

pretend i don't look forward to the next time he passes by

-

after a while, we step outside. the air's cooler now and the street's mostly quiet

i stretch a little, adjusting my bag on my shoulder

"i'll see you. get some rest, okay?"

i wave at him and smile sweetly before turning around and walking away

until i glance at the bike rack and remember i came here walking

"y/n?"

i stop, turning back to face him

"did i forget something?"

he shakes his head, stepping closer toward the sidewalk

"nah. just... ya don't gotta walk home"

i blink, tilting my head to the side

"c'mon. i'll drive ya"

"you sure? i can walk, really, it's not that far"

"i'm sure"

he looks at me steadily before continuing,

"ain't gonna let ya walk alone this late"

my chest tugs, warm and gentle. i nod slowly

"...okay. thanks"

he gives a small smile and tilts his head toward the lot beside the shop

"let's go then, c'mon"

i follow after him quietly, heart beating just a little lighter than before

the car smells faintly of fresh linen and pinecone air freshener

he unlocks the doors with a soft beep and i slide into the seat, setting my bag by my feet

"ya cold?" he asks

"nope, i'm good"

he nods, starting the engine

the dashboard lights up, soft blue against the dimness. some mellow music hums through the speakers

low and instrumental, almost like lo-fi

he pulls out of the lot, the streetlights casting golden stripes through the windshield

it's quiet for a moment. the kind of quiet that feels comfortable

"thanks for driving me, really"

"don't mention it. couldn't let ya walk home alone like that"

i smile, leaning my head against the window for a second

osamu glances at me from the corner of his eye, fingers tapping the wheel lightly with the beat

"you always close up alone like that?"

"yeah, not too bad though, just gets quiet"

there's a short pause before he talks again

"kinda nice havin' someone there tonight, not gonna lie"

i glance over at him. the streetlight flickers over his jawline, softening the usual stern edges

"i liked it too. made the time go faster" i say

i see him smile, just a little, but it's a smile

"and the jokes were decent"

he continues

"mine or yours?"

i ask, crossing my arms over each other

"mine, obviously"

he says

"bold of you to assume"

i bite back

he chuckles, a low, warm sound that lingers in the small space between us

a few more turns and we're in my neighborhood

he slows down as we near my street

"this one?" he asks

"yeah, just past the tree with the weird bend"

he finds the spot easily and pulls to the curb. the engine hums in place

i unbuckle my seatbelt slowly, but i don't reach for the door. not yet

the silence between us isn't awkward. it's soft, like the rnb track playing in the background

the kind that sinks into your skin and slows your thoughts down

i glance over at him

the way the moonlight hits his face, the slope of his nose, the way his lashes fall, that calm, unreadable look he always has

it makes him feel.. different

not new, but seen

unbeknownst, a small smile tugs at my lips. not because he did something. just because he's there

he notices,

"what's that smile for?"

he chuckles, low and warm, like he already kinda knows

i glance away quickly, hands shaking as if i'm denying it. as if i've been caught red-handed

"nothing! it's really nothing!"

he hums, turning a little more in his seat

"mm. sure it ain't,"

"ya always smile like that when it's nothin'?"

i roll my eyes, still smiling

"you're annoying"

he tilts his head, leaning his arm against the wheel

"yeah? ya sure i ain't jus' charmin'?"

i huff a laugh and look out the window

"am i talking to osamu or atsumu?"

i watch him smile and shake his head in the corner of my eye

"nah. if it were 'tsumu, he'd already be askin' if ya wanted to get married"

i snort, pressing my knuckle against my lips to hide the grin threatening to break out

the silence creeps in again, the car still hums beneath us

neither of us really moving to open the door

i trace a finger along the edge of my bag, heart thudding in that slow, sleepy rhythm it only beats when things feel right

"...ya should get inside. it's late"

i nod slowly, hand already on the handle, but i pause again

"thanks, 'samu. for tonight"

the nickname rolls off my tongue faster than i could think, yet we both say nothing of it

"anytime"

his voice is low, softer than before. almost like he means more than what he says, but he doesn't know how to say the rest yet

<< chapter 8 - chapter 10 >>

i wave goodbye to misaki as she stirs a pot on the stove

"good luck!"

i smile at her, thanking her before heading out. it's warm, so i decide to walk

15 minutes isn't bad and the breeze feels nice. i adjust my bag on my shoulder as i reach onigiri miya

inside, a few customers are scattered at booths, and i spot a guy with bleached, blonde hair leaning casually at the counter, talking with osamu

osamu looks up the second i walk in. our eyes meet and i smile, waving at him

"ya made it"

i hear osamu say, his expression neutral, but still friendly

the bleached blond guy turns to glance at me too, grinning like he's just been handed dessert

he looks back at osamu with a knowing look, then shifts his body to face me

i watch him lean his elbows on the counter in a pose that feels... practiced

i walk over, offering a polite smile. before i can speak, he cuts in, voice cocky, grin even cockier

"name's miya atsumu, and who might ya be, pretty girl?"

i blink, a little caught off guard, but extend my hand anyway. his grip is warm

and a little too confident

"i'm l/n y/n, nice to meet you!"

"what's a girl like ya doin' in a place like this, huh? go on, order whatever ya want, s'on me!"

i laugh softly, unsure how to let him down easy. before i can say anything, osamu jumps in, his voice just a little dry

"she works here, idiot"

atsumu freezes for half a second, then forces a nervous laugh, trying to brush it off like it never happened

"hah?! yer kiddin' me!"

atsumu lets out a breathy laugh

he looks down at me again, scanning me quickly. then he sees my bag. without thinking, he grabs the strap and tugs, pulling me a bit closer

"wait a sec! yer the one with the cute bag!!"

he laughs, but it's a softer kind of laugh this time, more amused than smug

"yer a clumsy one, ain't ya??"

osamu just shakes his head behind the counter, clearly regretting all his life choices

"i swear, i shoulda denied ya entry.."

i gently pull my bag back from atsumu's hand, trying not to laugh at how proud he looks just for recognizing it

osamu rolls his eyes and grabs a towel, wiping down the counter as he mutters something under his breath

"shoulda known ya'd show up the second i finally hire someone decent"

"hire??! she really works here? like, for real??!?"

osamu and i share a side eye, atsumu continues

"yer not kiddin', samu?!"

i nod, adjusting my bag again and stepping a bit closer to osamu's side of the counter. atsumu blinks, like the gears in his head are finally turning

"yer tellin' me yer gonna be here... like... often?"

"depends how often osamu puts me on the schedule!"

he turns to me again and straightens up,

"it's real nice ta meet ya, yer doin' a great job already!"

i give him a little smile, clearly amused. osamu raises a brow before speaking up,

"ya sound like yer practicin' for a customer survey"

"oi! i have good customer service!"

"ya nearly tried ta flirt with my new staff before she clocked in.."

"that ain't customer service, that's harassment!"

osamu's words are like daggers to atsumu

atsumu gasps like he's been mortally wounded,

"it's called bein' charming!"

he defends himself

(or at least, tries to)

i laugh, sliding my bag off and placing it behind the counter

osamu hands me my apron with a sigh, like he already knows it's gonna be a long shift

"just don't let this one distract ya too much"

"no promises!"

i say, teasingly

atsumu smirks like he's just won something, and osamu groans

"don't worry, 'samu. i'll stick around and supervise!"

"like hell ya will. go buy somethin' or get out"

"fine fine, i'll take a tuna mayo and... ya got those spicy salmon ones today?"

"they're right there on the board. use yer eyes for once.."

i start helping with the order, slipping into the rhythm of the shop as atsumu leans on the counter again, still watching me like i'm the main show and the onigiri's just the opener

i hand atsumu his onigiri in a paper bag, and he gives me a dramatic wink before backing out of the store like he's on stage

"see ya later, pretty girl! and 'samu, don't work her too hard, yeah?"

"git!"

the door finally closes. the shop feels a little quieter now, more grounded

osamu exhales, tossing the towel over his shoulder as he leans both hands against the counter

"sorry 'bout him, he's a handful on a good day"

"it's fine, kinda funny actually"

he gives me a sideways glance the corner of his mouth tugging up just a little

"funny's one way ta put it, embarrassin's another"

i let out a soft laugh and move behind the counter, tying my apron. he watches for a second, then looks away like he caught himself staring too long

"real quiet today, huh?"

he speaks up,

"yeah. kinda weird. you'd think it'd be busier this time"

i reply, shrugging

he nods once, setting down a tray. i watch him lean against the counter with a light sigh 

i join him, standing beside him in that lull of calm that only comes when a place is waiting to be filled again

"not that i'm complainin'. gives me a chance ta breathe"

"or nap, if no one shows up soon"

i say, he chuckles low under his breath, nudging my elbow gently

"ya plannin' on nappin' at work already?"

he clicks his tongue, as if to scold me

"maybe. depends if you bring me a pillow"

i look up at him and he chuckles, looking away

"hah. cheeky" he says

i smile, picking up a cloth to wipe down the prep station even though it's already clean. he watches for a second before grabbing a matching towel, moving to the other side of the counter like he's mirroring me

"ya always this tidy or just tryin' ta impress yer boss?"

"what if i said both?"

he pauses for a beat, caught a little off guard. i can see the way the corner of his mouth lifts, trying not to smile too wide

"then i'd say yer doin' a real good job of it"

i feel my cheeks warm, so i turn away slightly and pretend to be very invested in organizing the chopsticks

he clears his throat and puts down his towel, making his way to the pickled radish, restocking it

he speaks up again,

"yer from around here, right?"

"mm, not too far. why?"

i reply, glancing over at him

"just wonderin'. yer kinda familiar, but not in the 'i seen ya before' way. more like... ya fit here"

i glance over at him again, heart skipping a little. he's not even looking at me when he says it, like he's just being honest

"that's really sweet actually"

"well, don't let it get to yer head"

i laugh and flick a stray grain of rice off the counter, watching him pretend not to grin again

the silence returns, but it's not awkward. just calm, comfortable

he sets down the container he was holding and leans back against the counter, arms crossed loosely

"been thinkin' of addin' a new onigiri flavor"

he says again, staring at an empty table

"oh? what's the idea?"

"not sure yet. somethin' different, though. maybe somethin' warm n' sweet... kinda like dessert?"

"dessert onigiri?"

i tilt my head to the side

"yeah. like... i dunno. red bean or somethin'"

"that sounds cute"

"ya think?"

he looks at me for a second before looking away

"yeah, i'd eat it"

he raises a brow, eyes flicking to me like he's trying to read more into that answer

i just smile and walk to a table, wiping a cloth over it

but i can feel the air shift, just a little

"if i make it, ya gotta be the first one ta try it. promise?"

"promise"

he nods slowly, almost like he's locking that moment in his head

we fall into a quiet rhythm after that. refilling napkins, restacking trays, exchanging small glances when our hands brush near the same items

the shop stays slow. no one comes in for a good stretch of time. i catch osamu humming softly under his breath as he wipes the glass display, the tune soft and oddly soothing

"that a song you like?"

"mm. nah. just somethin' stuck in my head. i hum when i'm bored"

"cute"

he stops humming, hand frozen

"...ya just call me cute?"

"i meant the humming!"

"uh huh"

he smiles again, wider this time. it lingers longer than the others

outside, the sun begins dipping lower. golden light spills through the window, soft and slow like honey

osamu glances out at it and speaks, quieter than before

"kinda glad today's slow"

"yeah, me too"

he doesn't say anything else. neither do i but when our eyes meet again, there's a softness there

something unspoken

<< chapter 7 - chapter 9 >>

i tiptoe around the room like a ghost, careful not to wake misaki

she's off today, bundled under her duvet like a human burrito. the only sound is the low hum of the fridge and the quiet clink of my spoon tapping against the bowl

i'm in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, still half in dreamland myself. my cereal's going soggy

there's this weird stillness to monday mornings. like the world hasn't quite booted up yet

and i'm just here... buffering

i take another bite, eyes glazed, staring out the window

i wonder if osamu's already up

i blink, slowly coming back to earth

then shake my head, barely even realizing i'm doing it. why am i thinking about osamu?

ding!

i jump, almost dropping my spoon into the sink. the sound cuts through the quiet like a bell in a church

my phone's lit up on the counter next to me, screen glowing soft blue

i reach for my phone

unknown number good luck with classes today

i blink. then smile. slow, involuntary

i tap the notification and type back

me thanks, good luck with the lunch rush today!

me don't burn the rice

unknown number has been saved as osamu🍙

i lock my phone and set it down, heart a little lighter than before

maybe it is too early to be thinking about him. but if he started it, maybe it's okay

i slip out of the kitchen, the floor cool under my socks, and start getting ready for class. monday feels just a bit softer now

-

by 9:42am, i was already wondering how i was supposed to survive a full day of this. health behavior & promotion crawled along, my notes slowly filling up with half-legible bullet points and doodles in the margins. somewhere in the middle of a group discussion, i checked my phone under the table

saki🪼 send help i just cleaned out the fridge and found something that expired last summer....

me i'm gonna assume that was urs and not mine

she sent back a sticker of a crying bunny, i took it as a confession

later, in statistics, the lecture room was cold and the fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead

i wrapped myself tighter in my hoodie, trying to stay focused

the class passed in a blur of formulas, missed answers, and mental bargaining

around 4:30pm, i packed up and checked my phone

me heading home soon!! want me to grab anything?

saki🪼 get us smtn sweet like, pastries or fruit

saki🪼 or the blood of my enemies idk

me who r ur enemies??

a few minutes pass as i see misaki's chat bubble disappear and then  reappear again

saki🪼 the girl who borrowed my favorite hoodie sophomore year and never gave it back

saki🪼 the barista who always spells my name 'mizuki' even though i corrected them five times??

saki🪼 and that one guy in stats who always says 'actually' before mansplaining

me pastries it is

i tucked my phone away and walked out into the early evening chill, my steps slow, my mind already drifting toward the familiar comfort of home

the air felt cooler now, brushed with the kind of early spring breeze that nipped at my cheeks but didn't sting. i walked past the usual corner café, doubling back when the display caught my eye: rows of cream puffs and melon pan stacked like treasure

i picked out a cream puff and a little fruit tart with glossy strawberries

the guy behind the counter packed them carefully into a paper bag, and i thanked him with a tired smile

by the time i made it back to our apartment complex, the sky was a soft, pale gold. my legs ached. not unbearably, but enough to make me think longingly of the couch

the door creaked open with the usual click of my key

"i'm home!"

from further in the living room, i heard a faint voice reply:

"hey! how were classes?"

i slipped off my shoes and slipped into my indoor slippers instead

"pfft, slow. boring. tiresome,"

i cotninued, walking into the living room

"i brought pastries!"

i hold up the paper bag like a peace offering, she perked up immediately

"bless you, angel of life"

i set them on the coffee table, dropping my bag by the wall

"let me change first. i feel like i've been in these clothes for a century"

she nods and doesn't waste a second unboxing the pastries

after a quick change into a big shirt and soft cotton shorts, i returned to find her midway through the tart

mouth full, she spoke up,

"i'th good, you should try th' puff tarth!"

i sit beside her and switch to our favourite show before picking up the cream puff, taking a bite

our conversation drifted in and out. class gossip, upcoming deadlines, misaki's new obsession with a guy she saw at the supermarket

once

"he's tall and get this. he bought gochujang! he's husband material, i don't make the rules"

she falls back on the couch, clutching her heart

"you've seen him once, misaki!"

"so!?"

"have you two talked?"

i ask, wiggling my eyebrows

"yes! okay, so listen. i was in line, but it was a super long line, like i thought i'd be stuck there for at least half an hour.."

"and then i realise he's IN FRONT of me??! so naturally i try to act cool, but my legs hurt and my basket's gettin' heavy"

i nod, listening with my full attention

"and then he looks over his shoulder, looks down at my basket and makes a full 360?? like i swear he just turned his whole body towards me!?"

"and then he goes, "excuse me? is that all you're buying?" his voice is so smooth and clear, i could listen to it for hooours"

i watch her wave her hands in the air, emphasizing her story 

"so i nod and go "yes, it is" and then i peek over at his basket and i say "is that all you're buying?" i swear i could've sunk into the ground in that moment"

"anyway! he let me take his place in  line and he moved behind me.  he literally stood BEHIND ME"

"he smelled so good, y/n. his appearance actually matched the fragrance"

we laugh and i start teasing her for her little crush on gochujang man

around halfway through the episode, my phone buzzed on the table 

i glanced over and saw the name light up the screen

osamu🍙

my fingers hovered for a second before i picked it up

osamu🍙 hope your classes didn't kill you

osamu🍙 one of the regulars tried to order a tuna onigiri without rice today..

osamu🍙 still not sure if he was joking or not

i smile at my phone, my fingers quick to reply

me that's just.. tuna?

me soulless onigiri

me u should name it tuna ghost lol

osamu🍙 lol

osamu🍙 gonna put that on the specials board tomorrow

me if you ever serve that to me i'm quitting. just so you know

osamu🍙 got it

osamu🍙 no tuna ghost for you

osamu🍙 classes tmrw?

me yuuuuup full day

me but i'm free thursday afternoon, friday evening and saturday whole day anddd sunday morning

osamu 🍙 every week?

me yuuuup if it changes ill lyk

osamu🍙 maybe you can stop by the shop thursday? or help me prep if you're bored

me are u offering me extra work on my day off

osamu🍙 nah. offering tea and rice if ya show up

me tempting

osamu🍙 take your time just lmk seen just now

i stared at the screen for a second, then locked my phone with a quiet click, still smiling to myself

it was nothing

didn't mean anything

but maybe i'd swing by on thursday anyway

just to hang out

<< chapter 6 - chapter 8 >>

the air outside onigiri miya was cooler now, carrying that soft stillness only sunday evenings seemed to know. osamu and i stood in front of the shop, the shutters pulled down behind us, the key clicking finality into place

we glanced at each other. just for a second. he rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting away,

"uh, ya mind givin' me yer number? just so i can reach ya about shifts n' all"

my cheeks flushed a bit, but i nodded, already pulling my phone from my jacket pocket

"sure. that makes sense"

he fumbled with his own phone, and we exchanged numbers. i shot him a quick message:

me this is y/n :) seen just now

he looked down, a small huff of a laugh escaping him

"thanks"

"no problem"

after a small pause, he glanced around, then back at me

"ya live nearby?"

"about ten minutes on bike"

his brows lifted slightly,

"bike? yer commutin' like that?"

i shrugged with a laugh

"it's good exercise?"

he clicked his tongue and shook his head,

"nah, i ain't lettin' ya ride back alone"

"what? no, seriously, it's fine"

i wave my hands in front of me

"'s not polite, and i insist. as yer boss"

"you really pulling the boss card on me right now?"

he just smirked, and we both walked to where my bike was parked. i slipped my bag into the front basket, adjusting the strap

"actually,"

he said after a second, eyeing the bike

"ya tired? i could bike and ya could sit on the back"

"what? no, i possibly couldn't ask you to-"

"yer legs've been goin' since openin', c'mon"

i gave him a long look but eventually caved

"fine. just don't crash"

"wouldn't dream of it"

i climbed onto the back wheel guard carefully, one hand resting on my lap, the other slightly gripping osamu's jacket

osamu settled onto the saddle and started pedaling, calm and steady. the streets were mostly empty now, quiet and bathed in orange streetlight

"ya got classes tomorrow?"

he asked, glancing over his shoulder slightly

"yeah. full day"

"rough. which ones?"

"health behavior & promotion in the morning, then a lab for clinical methods after lunch. and statistics in the afternoon"

he let out a low whistle

"sounds like hell"

"trust me, it is"

i laughed, watching the buildings shift past us

soon enough, the familiar outline of my apartment complex came into view, sitting just at the edge of campus. he slowed down, coasting to a stop just near the bike racks

i hopped off and smoothed down my jacket

"thanks for bringing me home"

he waved a hand, brushing it off

"nah, no biggie. i live close by, too"

"really?"

"mm. so if our schedules match, i can pick ya up. bring ya back after work, too"

he adds,

"by car, of course"

i blinked, then smiled softly. there was no point in arguing. honestly, i didn't really want to

"okay, thank you, osamu"

"and for the onigiri's, i can't wait to eat them"

he gave a small nod

"get some rest"

he says and i look up at him, smiling sweetly

"you too"

it was silent for a moment between us. eventually, he spoke up

"goodnight, y/n"

"goodnight, osamu"

i watched him walk off down the dim street, hands tucked into his jacket pockets, the light from the convenience store casting a long shadow beside him

then i turned, locked my bike, and stepped into the elevator

i replay the events of the day in my head. it's quiet, but the soft hum of the elevator as it rises matches the quiet buzz in my mind. i close my eyes just for a second and before i know it, the elevator dings, and i step out into the hallway

walking up to our door, i unlock it with my key, the familiar sound of the lock clicking into place. when i push the door open, i'm greeted by misaki's voice from the living room

"welcome back! how'd the official first day go?!"

i smile and wave at her, taking off my jacket

"it went well, actually. steady customers, got into a good rhythm with everything"

misaki eyes me with a raised eyebrow as i hang up my jacket. she points at my onigiri miya shirt with a teasing grin

"well, look who's repping the brand already"

i laugh, rolling my eyes and walking towards her

"don't start. i've only been there one day"

misaki just grins, clearly not letting me off the hook so easily,

"uh-huh. and what about osamu? did he walk you home afterwards?"

i roll my eyes playfully,

"no, no. he didn't walk me home. but he did make sure i didn't ride back alone"

misaki's grin widens, and she leans forward, giving me a knowing look

"uh-huh, so he insisted?"

"you're really gonna tease me about this?"

i raise an eyebrow, trying to act serious, but i can't help but smile

"it's not like that, okay?"

i continue and misaki snorts,

"sure. it's never like that. until it is"

i toss a pillow at her, but she dodges with practiced ease, grinning like she's already won

"you're impossible"

"mmhm,"

she leans back into the couch cushions

"but i'm also right"

<< chapter 5 - chapter 7 >>

the bell over the door jingles as the first customer steps inside. a man in his late thirties, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, still smelling faintly of sunscreen

"oh, nice. open already?"

he asks, walking up to the counter

osamu nods

"yeah. what can i get ya?"

i watch him work: calm, steady hands, almost effortless. i turn to greet the next customer, a teenage girl with headphones slung around her neck

i smile brightly at her,

"hi! welcome to onigiri miya. what would you like today?"

the girl smiles back at me and i swear i can feel his eyes burning into the back of my head

"um, can i get one with plum and one with tuna mayo?"

she asks shyly, clutching some cash in her hands

"of course!"

i ring it up and look back at osamu, who's standing in the kitchen

"plum and tuna mayo?"

he nods,

"on it"

we fall into a rhythm. me on the register, greeting, passing along orders. osamu behind the counter, folding seaweed like origami, packing boxes neatly

customers keep coming, a steady flow of locals and tourists alike

a mom with her toddler. two university students from hyogou, who recognize me vaguely from a lecture hall. a delivery guy who grins at osamu and says he'll be back for more tomorrow

after a small wave of customers, the shop quiets down once more

i lean my elbows on the counter and exhale,

"i feel like my brain's buffering"

"ya didn't crash though. good sign"

he says, stretching his arms over his head

i can't help but look at the way his muscles move

"thanks. means a lot coming from the rice master"

he huffs a laugh and reaches into the mini-fridge under the counter, pulling out a cold bottle of barley tea. he offers it wordlessly

of course, i accept it. how could i not?

"lifesaver"

i unscrews the cap and take a long sip. osamu leans against the wall beside her, arms crossed

"do ya ever get tired of makin' onigiri?"

he pauses,

"nah. it's simple. quiet. good rice don't lie"

"that's... oddly poetic"

osamu side-eyes me and i have to bite back a laugh

"don't go quotin' me"

"too late. gonna write it down, frame it above my bed"

we fall into a short, easy silence, the hum of the fridge andthe faint chatter outside filling the space

i look at him. at how the sunlight hits the slope of his cheekbone, the way his expression always seems unreadable until they suddenly don't

-

the sun's dipping low, casting honey-gold across the storefront. the shop's almost empty, except for one man sitting alone with a book and half-eaten order

"we're good for one more rush. maybe two"

he says, closing the rice cooker lid

i turn to him,

"is it always like this? waves of quiet, then chaos?"

"more or less. sunday's usually calmer. unless tourists get curious"

he passes me a wrapped onigiri. it's warm, perfectly shaped, seaweed still crisp

"try this one. new seasoning in the rice"

i blink a few times, unsure of what to do

"ya work here now, don't ya? eat up"

i accept it, fingers brushing his again. we don't say anything about the tiny jolt that follows. instead, i takes a bite, eyes lighting up

"oh wow. that's.. stupid good"

he smirks slightly,

"real professional review, that"

"i stand by it"

i chew slowly, gaze drifting toward the window where the sky's starting to tint orange-pink

i take the last bite of my onigiri and sigh contentedly

"i could live off of those forever"

osamu and i both redirect our gaze to the door, when we see a teenage boy and his group of friends running inside, breathless

"do y'all still got miso salmon??"

osamu straightens up and nods,

"yer in luck"

-

the bell above the door chimes one last time as the final customer waves goodbye

osamu locks the door as i wipe the counter,

"that's it"

he says and i nod,

"we survived, pretty good for my first day, right?"

he chuckles and nods before speaking up,

"how are yer feet holdin' up?"

"they're gonna be mad at me tomorrow"

i gather used trays, while osamu stacks leftover supplies back into their places. the warmth of the shop lingers like steam

he glances my way,

"ya did good, for a rookie"

"coming from you, that's high praise"

he doesn't reply, just gives a short nod. his version of agreement

the sound of the last chair being tucked in echoes softly. i lean back against the counter, stretching my arms up over my head with a quiet groan

i reach for my phone and see a notification banner of my messages app float in the middle of my screen. i click on the notification, opening up to the chat between misaki and i

saki🪼 y/nnnnn what should we have for dinner!??! sent at 16:29

saki🪼 hows ur first day with hot onigiri chef mr. miya osamu 😏😏 sent at 17:42

saki🪼 i'm home now btw it's so weird not having u home at this time??? employment era sent at 18:11

saki🪼 did he say anything cute blink twice if u need rescue sent at 19:01

saki🪼 im having cereal for dinner sent 7 minutes ago

i laugh softly, imagining her texts in her voice

me SORRY i've been busy 😭 almost done closing up rn!!! sent just now

i reach for the damp cloth to help wipe down the front counter. osamu's at the back, closing out the register and counting coins with quiet focus

i turn to him once i'm done,

"need help with anything else?"

"nah, nearly done. ya sure ya ain't too tired?"

"i'm good. powered by rice and sheer optimism"

he huffs out a quiet laugh, shaking his head,

"that's dangerous fuel"

when he finishes, he walks back to me and ducks under the counter. he pulls out a small takeout box. rectangular, neatly packed, secured with a thin red band. he hesitates for a beat, looking at it in his hands

then, he holds it out to me,

"here"

i blink a few times and look down at the box, my head tilting a bit to the side

"what's this?"

i look back up at him, but he avoids my gaze

"some onigiri were still over. figured ya could take 'em"

i take the box, surprised by the warmth of it

"thank you, osamu. that's really kind of you"

"don't worry about it. eat it while it's still warm"

what he doesn't tell her, what he wouldn't dream of saying, is that those onigiri weren't just "leftovers"

he made them quietly, while she served the last customers, he chose the seasoned rice she liked so much, he pressed the rice with a little extra care, he wrapped each one like a quiet thought

not for the customers

for her

<< chapter 4 - chapter 6 >>

the sun's already peeking through the curtains, casting soft gold across the floor. the apartment smells faintly like roasted coffee and laundry detergent

i stand in front of my mirror in my room, tying my hair back loosely

black jeans, black shirt

simple gold earrings. light makeup, natural but fresh

i smooth down my shirt once more before walking out into the living room

"morning! you look cute"

misaki calls from the couch, curled up in a blanket, laptop balanced on her knees, notes and print-outs in english and japanese scattered all over the coffee table

i smile at her before walking into the kitchen, grabbing a slice of toast

"thank you. what are you doing?"

misaki sighs dramatically, as if she's been waiting for this question

"i am in battle. international studies is trying to end me,"

she leans her head back on the couch before continuing and i watch her, taking bites of my toast

"if i fail this midterm, i'll become a full time food courier"

we share a laugh as i lean against the counter

"you'd be the cutest one out there"

misaki stretches, the blanket sliding off her shoulders

"i've got a seminar at eleven tomorrow, cross-cultural relations"

i raise a brow at her and dust off my hands, walking out of the kitchen. she sighs deeply,

"an hour of pretending i understand what's going on"

"just nod and write fast"

"is that your tactic?"

she asks, smiling as she glances over at me

"you better come back with spicy onigiri gossip too!"

i salute at her,

"i'll report on every grain of rice!"

walking back into my bathroom, i brush my teeth and do the last checks

i walk back into the living room and slide on my shoes before putting on my jacket

"okay, i'm off"

misaki puts down her laptop and turns towards me,

"you got this! changing lives one rice ball at a time!"

i smile and wave at her one last time before stepping out and closing the door behind me. i walk over to the elevator and press the button, waiting for one to open its doors

i unlock my bike once i make it outside, tugging my jacket tighter against the light spring breeze. the city feels slow and golden in the morning, the sea nearby stirring the air with salt and sunlight

the ride is short, peaceful. i park by the storefront and lock up my bike, smoothing my shirt before walking to the door of onigiri miya

i push it open gently, the bell above the door chimes

"mornin'!"

i call him by his last name and give him a bright smile

"mornin',"

"ya can call me osamu.."

he starts, but he isn't looking at me. my eyes widen a bit, but then i slowly nod

"ya know? since we'll be working together?"

osamu glances up from where he's wiping down the display case, his gaze flickering from my face down to my shoes and back up again

"oh, right! in that case, please call me y/n"

i swear i could see his cheeks colour a bit red. he clears his throat and nods once

"right. yes. i suppose that's fair,"

"got a shirt for ya"

he sets down the cloth and motions with his chin for me to follow

and i do

my shoes squeak just slightly on the polished floor as i trails behind him, through a short hallway and around the side of the kitchen we stop at a small nook, barely a room, with a desk, an old but functioning computer, and a chair pushed slightly askew

on top of the desk is a neatly folded black shirt, "onigiri miya" printed across the chest in simple white lettering

"that one's yers"

osamu nods it and i pick it up, smiling

"perfect, thank you"

i glance around, shirt in hand, clearly searching for a door or curtain. osamu catches on immediately, and his eyes widen slightly

"ah, right. uh, change in here if ya want, i'll be up front"

his ears flush a light shade of red

"just.. meet me at the cashier after, yeah?"

i nod and he turns and heads back, mumbling something under his breath that sounds vaguely like "this ain't nothin', c'mon now" as he disappears into the shop

i slip off my jacket, folding it neatly on the chair. i peel off my top and pull on the work shirt in its place. the cotton's soft, smells freshly washed

osamu's adjusting the register when i walks back in, tugging the hem of the shirt once into place

my eyes immediately land on something by the counter

"ah, my bag!"

i pick it up, exhaling

"i'm so sorry for leaving it yesterday. totally forgot in all the excitement"

"s'okay. ain't the worst thing someone's ever left here"

i let out a sigh of relief before looking up at osamu, puzzled

"really?"

he deadpans

"someone forgot their shoes once"

"how do you leave without your shoes??"

"exactly"

there's the faintest tug at the corner of his mouth, something like a smile trying not to be obvious

osamu then gestures to the back

"ya can leave yer bag in the office. keeps it outta the way"

"roger that"

i turn on my heel and walk back to the little office space, placing my bag down gently on the desk this time, right next to the chair

i sigh once more, preparing myself for what's to come, before walking back to osamu

"ready when you are!"

osamu looks at her for a second, taking in how the shirt fits. like it was always meant to be hers

he gives a single, approving nod

"let's start with learnin' the rice cooker"

osamu walks over to the rice cooker, i follow him

"alright. first thing: ya gotta rinse the rice real gentle. don't scrub it like yer washin' dishes"

"got it. gentle. like... like i'm apologizing to it"

he falls silent for a beat,

"..sure"

he watches me as i carefully tip the rice into the strainer. i move to the sink, filling a bowl with water, and gently swirling the grains

"like this?"

"mhm. two more rinses after that one, mthen we let it soak a bit"

i hum, clearly focused, and maybe a little too focused. water sloshes onto the counter

"oops.."

i can hear him sighing softly beside me

"yer fine. counter's waterproof"

he wipes the mess as i continue rinsing

a little while later, the door is locked but the shop lights are on. osamu is showing me how to wrap onigiri in the signature triangular shape with just the right amount of pressure,

"don't squish it. ya want it firm, but not mashed. kinda like holdin' a baby bird"

what?

"i've never held a bird?"

"..then pretend ya have?" he says, as if i'm stupid for even saying it

he places one down perfectly, the seaweed folded with a practiced hand

i try it, but it starts wobbling

"alright, now, don't fall apart on me"

i press too hard, rice squishes out the side

"okay he's dead. the bird's dead"

"c'mere"

he steps closer, reaching for my hands to guide them. i'm still holding the rice, and when his fingers brush over mine, it's subtle. but warm

we pause for just a second

"oh"

osamu clears his throat

"yer pressin' too much here. loosen up yer grip a bit"

he keeps his tone steady, but his ears are definitely red. i nod, trying again, this time with his help

the onigiri holds

"look! it's not... completely destroyed!"

"miracle"

i heard him mutter and then nudge him with my elbow, and he rolls his eyes with the smallest hint of amusement

after many tries at wrapping onigiri, i finally feel like i've got the hang of it

osamu flips the sign to OPEN, and the quiet of the morning fades into the hum of the seaside street. people begin to wander closer

i clap my hands together, smiling brightly

"alright. let's do this!"

"don't forget to breathe"

"only if you don't forget to smile"

he doesn't answer. just gives a little shake of his head before turning to face the first customer walking in

<< chapter 3 - chapter 5 >>

the door clicks open just as i was slicing vegetables in the kitchen

"i'm home!"

i smile upon hearing misaki's familiar voice

"welcome home!"

we exchange soft smiles across the hallway. misaki kicks off her sneakers with a sigh, brushing windblown strands of hair from her face

"i'll help ya in a second! hold on"

misaki disappears down the hall into her room, dropping her delivery bag onto the floor and trading her jeans and t-shirt for a soft oversized hoodie and sweats

she pulls her hair into a loose ponytail, then returns, padding into the kitchen with socked feet

"mm, smells so good. what are ya makin'?"

"spicy sesame udon stir-fry"

"i'll help you with the sauce!"

she eases next to me, and we work in silence for a few minutes, shoulders brushing, music playing quietly in the background. i feel misaki tapping my shoulder and i turn around

"taste test"

i take a small bite and nod, holding up my thumb in approval

"very good, no notes"

i watch misaki grin as she finishes the last touches. opening up our cabinets, i grab our plates and start setting the table

i wash my hands quickly before sitting on a cushion at the table, misaki places the pots on the pot placemats on the table

she sits down across from me, untying her apron

"soo.. tell me, how was it? the job hunt?"

"oh, get this. i just walked in, right? and kinda just.. asked for a job"

"..did it work??"

"somehow, yeah. the owner, osamu, he interviewed me on the spot since it was quiet"

she holds up a hand in the air upon hearing osamu's name

"wait wait wait. osamu? like, miya osamu right?"

"yeah! tall, quiet, greyish hair, arms crossed the whole time.."

"girl.. he's miya atsumu's twin,"

she starts

"i didn't know he owned that onigiri spot"

"seriously? their surname is literally in the name: 'onigiri miya'!"

i watched misaki grin and grab her chopsticks, as i took a bite of my food

"yeah, but.. you know? whatever!"

she waves her hand in the air, as if she was shaking off the topic

"ya heard the commotion outside earlier?"

i nod, tilting my head a bit to the side as she continued

"yeah, that was cause atsumu was spotted like... two blocks from here"

"you're kidding! no way. he must've been visiting osamu"

"yup. people were freaking out. i nearly dropped someone's sushi order"

"well. that explains the noise. i thought someone was being chased"

"he probably was, knowing him"

"honestly, his brother's the opposite. osamu's super calm. kinda unreadable though"

misaki clicks her tongue before nodding

"mysterious. i like that for you"

"stop it, he's going to be my boss now"

i bite back as a smile, trying to ignore misaki's teasing. doesn't help when she's grinning like that

"i'm just sayin'!"

halfway through dinner, the plates slowly started clearing, the room warm with good food and quiet laughter

"sooo... any other thoughts on osamu?"

whilst chewing my food, i take a moment to think about what to say

"hmm... he's.. kinda hard to read. but not in a cold way? more like... he's always watching people. observing"

"probably tryin' to figure out if you can be trusted with rice"

"hey, i am! i am trustworthy with rice"

i hold up my chopsticks in defense

"mm-hm. you better be, or i'm draggin' your ass back to the job market"

we clink our chopsticks together in mock cheers. i stretch my arms above my head with a small yawn, glancing toward the clock

"thanks for helping with dinner, saki"

"always. plus, this was way better than any sad bento i could've grabbed on shift"

we clear the table together, the steady rhythm of dishes being rinsed filling the kitchen. i move to grab my phone from the counter and freeze

"...wait"

misaki looks at me over her shoulder, her hands still rubbing a sponge against a plate

"hm?"

"my bag"

"did you leave it in your room?"

i make a beeline towards my bedroom,

"nope, no no no, no no no"

i reappear in the hallway with panic just barely creeping into my voice

"i left it. at onigiri miya, i left it in the booth!"

"oh no... the one with the little flowers on it?"

"yes. the one with my student ID, my notes, my snacks, everything"

"ya want me to come with?"

i shake my head, looking out the window. the sun had already set

"no, it's late. i gotta be there tomorrow anyway"

"osamu's gonna be like, 'this girl... already forgettin' stuff on day one'"

misaki laughs, i deadpan

"ha, ha"

-

the shop is quiet now, except for the soft hum of the fridge and the low rattle of the shutter halfway down

osamu stands behind the counter, sleeves rolled up, counting bills and tapping them into neat stacks

her bag sits to the side, where she left it only a few hours ago - pale canvas, embroidered with flowers in soft thread

it fits her, somehow

he glances at it once while punching the register shut

he reaches for the bag, planning to move it behind the counter before he forgets

but as he lifts it, the zipper shifts slightly

a small card slips out and flutters to the floor with a soft tap

he exhales, crouches, picks it up

student ID

he turns it over

her photo stares back at him, taken in the clean lighting of a campus booth her smile is small, polite, but there. the kind of smile you wear when you're trying to look composed but end up looking... warm? instead

it suits her.=

his thumb brushes the edge of the card without thinking.=

doesn't say anything. wouldn't, even if someone was there, but there's a flicker in his chest. the kind that settles in quietly and doesn't ask permission

she's.. yeah

he places the ID back carefully, sliding it into a side pocket of her bag

the bag goes behind the counter. out of sight, but not out of mind

then, just like always, he turns off the lights. one by one as the shop settles into its nighttime hum

the kind of silence that lets things sit for a while

even thoughts he didn't say out loud

<< chapter 2 - chapter 4 >>

i stood up, smoothing out my shirt

"thanks again for giving me a shot. i'll be here early tomorrow. promise"

"mm. ya better be"

he said it flat, but the corner of his mouth curved just enough to betray something softer

"i'll see you then, rice master"

"...what a nickname"

"you'll grow into it!"

i beam at him, eyes glinting

"i hope not..."

i smile and give him a small, two-finger salute as i walk out of onigiri miya, letting the warm coastal air spill in through the noren

osamu stood still for a moment. towel in hand, but unmoving

"that happened fast..."

aisles lined with soft yellow light. faint hum of an old speaker playing mellow j-pop. i grabbed a basket after entering our local supermarkt, humming under my breath as i paced through the familiar layout

"okay... tofu, miso paste, spring onions, chili oil... maybe gyoza if they're not criminally priced"

my phone buzzed. a message from misaki:

saki🪼 get the thick udon noodles if they got em and that spicy sesame stuff u like i'll make rice if ur cooking 💪

me r u stalking me howd u know i was here

saki🪼 ur life360 said u were at the supermarket 😋

me ohhh right oops ok! will do cya later saki🪼 liked your message

i fill my basket with the essentials before shopping for the stuff misaki requested

thankfully i had come just before everyone else got off work, else i'd have to queue in line for an unnecessary long time

as i waved the cashier goodbye, i stepped outside. the sky was washed in pale orange and lavender. many voices spilled from the beach path nearby, unclear

i didn't pay it much attention. my focus was on balancing the grocery bag in my bike basket and unlocking the chain

i wheeled my bike out from the rack and swung one leg over

i grabbed my phone and put in my earbuds, playing a song from a shared playlist of misaki and i

pushing my phone back into my pocket, i make my way back home

-

osamu moved from booth to booth, wiping down tables and straightening chairs. when he reached the booth y/n had been sitting in, he paused

her glass was still there. the condensation had faded, leaving a faint ring on the surface. he picked it up, then noticed something tucked between the cushion and the wall

a small, canvas bag. cream-colored with soft embroidered flowers along the edge. slightly wrinkled. unmistakably hers

he picked it up slowly. ran a thumb over the stitching

"clumsy"

the door swung open with a loud ding as the bell above it rang. a figure strolled in without so much as a knock, his boisterous voice filling the empty space almost instantly

"yo! this place still open or ya shuttin' me out already?"

osamu didn't look up at first, just let out a sigh

"we're closed. read the sign, dumbass"

atsumu strode in anyway, hands in his jacket pockets, grin too wide for this time at night

"ahhh, c'mon, ya never stop working, do ya? let me grab something before ya kick me outta here!"

atsumu's eyes scanned the counter, then quickly darted to osamu's arms, the small canvas bag in his hands

his eyes flickered for a moment, his lips quirking up as he leaned over and grabbed the bag, inspecting it with a mischievous gleam in his eye

"what's this? this yours, 'samu? some kinda keepsake?"

osamu's gaze narrowed slightly. he didn't immediately respond, just watching his twin brother's curiosity grow

atsumu flipped the bag over in his hands, inspecting the delicate embroidery. his expression softened slightly as he noticed the flowers stitched into the fabric

"...wait, this is real nice. where'd ya get this?"

osamu, caught off guard, scratched the back of his neck

"it's not mine, dumbass. one of the customers left it. i'm just holding onto it 'til they come back for it"

atsumu, however, didn't seem to be listening to osamu's words. he continued to study the bag with a mix of curiosity and amusement, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips

"really, huh? the bag's got flowers on it..? pretty cute, samu. ya sure this isn't yers?"

osamu shot his brother a look

"shut up, and put it down. it's not mine. just leave it be"

atsumu chuckled and tossed the bag back down onto the counter, leaning against it casually

"whatever, man. who was the customer, though? a cute girl?"

"yer really somethin' else. it's not important"

atsumu smirked at his brother's dismissal, clearly amused by the situation, but didn't press further. instead, he slapped osamu's back hard enough to make him stumble a bit

"whatever, whatever. i'll let ya get back to work. i'm off to get a snack somewhere else"

with that, he slipped out of onigiri miya, the door chiming as it closed behind him, leaving osamu standing there with a perplexed frown on his face

osamu stared at the small bag for a moment longer, his mind drifting back to her

<< chapter 1 - chapter 3 >>

"hi!! sorry if i'm interrupting or anything, are you open? wait, no, obviously you are. i was wondering if you're hiring?"

the man looked up from the counter, brow raised. he wiped his hands on a towel, gaze flicking from my face to my shoes and back again

"ya wanna work here?"

he asks, a brow raising "mhm! i'm a health science major at hyogou, third year. got weekends off and, uh.. turns out studying doesn't pay rent, sooo.."

"i figured part-time job could be my solution"

he blinked, arms crossed before nodding his head towards me "ya ever worked food before?"

i nod, "technically, i helped run the smoothie stand during hyogou's wellness week. not exactly food, but i did learn how to use the blender without making it explode!!"

his face falls a bit and he uncrosses his arms before he continued speaking "and ya just... wandered in?"

"yeah.. was i supposed to e-mail you or..?"

i say, tilting my head to the side ever so slightly

a long pause. a bit too long, if i'm being honest

he glanced around the shop. still quiet. no new footsteps, no lunch rush

"...'kay. take a seat"

"really??"

"ain't promisin' nothin'. just gonna ask a few things"

i nod enthusiastically before taking a seat at a booth

he walked over, cloth slung over his shoulder

"ya want sumn' ta drink?"

"oh! um, sure. anything cold! surprise me. i trust you"

he gave me a look like that's a dangerous sentence, but nodded and returned a few minutes later with a glass of barley tea, beads of condensation trickling down the sides

he sat across from me. arms still crossed, expression unreadable but not unfriendly

"i'm l/n y/n, by the way"

i give him a soft smile, extending my hand over the table. he studies my hand for a second before shaking it, his grip firm

"miya osamu"

my lips form into an 'o' shape before letting go of his hand, resting my hands on my lap

where had i heard that name before?

"so. tell me somethin',

he starts and i nod "ya say yer a health science student. why here?"

"because i like places with heart. and onigiri's healthy, right? rice, fish, seaweed: all good stuff. plus... i like feeding people. even strangers. it feels nice"

"mm"

he watched me closely. didn't write anything down. just took me in. posture, voice, the way my fingers fidgeted with the straw wrapper

"describe yerself in three words"

"oh man. uhhh... cheerful. curious. and reliable?"

"hm"

just "hm"?? what is that even supposed to mean?

"what, too basic?"

i ask, taking a few sips from the cold tea

"nah. jus' thinkin', yer a bit like my brother"

"your brother?" "twin. name's atsumu. volleyball guy"

he waves his hand, like he's some normal guy

"ohhh. that atsumu. right, right. loud one?"

that's where i heard the name before. i studied his face, subtly seeing the similarities between both brothers

i remember they both attended hyogou, just one year above me

"loud's putt'n it nicely"

i laughed, a small smile tugged at his mouth

"ya from hyogou, ya said?"

"yep. third year. you graduated already, right?"

"last year. nutrition major"

"hey, that's kinda perfect. the rice master himself"

"don't go flatterin' me jus' 'cause yer broke"

my eyes shot wide, taken aback by him calling me broke(?!)

i open my mouth to retort, but he swiftly cuts me off

"start tomorrow. i'll show ya how we prep rice and fold wraps"

he leaned back in the booth. finally, finally uncrossing his arms

"...wait, really??"

"unless ya change yer mind"

"no way!! thank you- i won't let you down, promise"

"mm. we'll see"

i beamed. he tried not to smile back

tried