𝚁𝙰𝙱𝙱𝙸𝚃 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃.

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

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

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

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

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

❛    it's   been   a   while,    atsumu-kun!    i   was   thinking   you'd   forgot   about   your   favorite   fan.    ❜    hitoka   teases   in   a   playful   manner,    despite   their   last   meeting   being   almost   a   disaster…    (    god,    forbid   she   ever   walked   up   to   someone   she   recognized   again.    she's   nothing   but   an   ant   to   some   of   these   people!    )    however,    once   she   got   his   memory   jogging   on   who   she   was…    (   ouch,    by   the   way!  )    it   was   always   a   pleasant   phone   call   here   and   there,    &    the   texts   they   would   exchange   was   always   cordial. 

hitoka   never   considered   herself   anything   special   by   any   means,    but   atsumu   always   had   spared   time   for   her   here    &    there.    she   was   just   thankful   to   be   able   to   get   away   from   it   all   for   once,    &    just   be…    normal,    for   a   few   hours.    no   stressful   deadlines,    no   awful   clients   telling   her   that   her   designs   were   better   the   first   time…    she's   simply   here,    with   atsumu,    like   it   was   a   normal   everyday   thing.    ( a   girl   can   dream…    right?   )    

however,    when   he   keeps   shoving   food   her   way,    she   almost   reverts   to   her   high   school   self————————    timid,    embarrassed.    he   was   so   casual   with   her,    it   was   hard   to   adjust   to.    but   she   knew   better    :    she   knew   that   she'd   also   have   to   catch   him   off   guard   so   he   doesn't   tease   her   like   last   time,    all   those   years   ago.    &    so,    while   he's   taking   a   bite   from   her   hand,    she'd   almost   felt   like   she   won   a   small   victory.    something   so…    intimate?    wouldn't   have   been   a   thing   for   her   in   the   past.    (    thanks   to   a   certain   someone,    she's   gotten   used   to   more   casual   skinship.    )

walking  down  the  familiar  path,  the  familiar  bumble  of  the  street,  she  pauses  before  hearing  rather  quick  paced  steps———  &  they're  coming  closer  to  her?!  it  wasn't  long  until  she  was  swept  up  into  a  bone-crushing  hug,  having  it  knock  the  wind  out  of  her.  ❝  b-bokkun———   ...  it's  good  to  see  you  too!  ❞  she  said,  in  half-laughter  &  relief.  wiggling  her  arms  out,  she  places  her  arms  on  his  shoulders,  trying  to  get  a  real  good  look  at  him.  something  like  this  was  extremely  common  with  him.  at  first,  she  would  have  been  a  mess  of  words  &  nonsense,  but  the  longer  they've  been  friends,  the  more  she's  had  time  to  adapt  to  his  greeting!  (  but  what  about  the  people  around  them?  )