Chapter Text

Chapter 3: This city screams your name

One night, a few weeks later, as they’re having dinner together at Osamu’s restaurant, one of the waiters places a fancy bottle of champagne with a note from Osamu.

Guess who’s getting married first, it reads with a doodled smirking face. “Asshole,” Atsumu says, grinning proudly ear to ear. Though Atsumu already knows him fairly well, he still goes back home and stalks Osamu’s soon-to-be-husband, wildlife photographer Suna Rintarou on social media. They receive a formal invitation card 2 days later, hand delivered by Osamu Miya himself before he sprinted off to his restaurant, and Kiyoomi’s surprised to see one for himself too.

“He must really like you then,” Atsumu says as Kiyoomi stares at the card with his name on it. “I was plannin’ on bringing you as my +1 to introduce you to my parents but looks like now you have to come anyway.”

Kiyoomi looks at him in surprise. Did he mishear him? Meet Atsumu’s parents? “Huh?” is all he can manage as he slowly blinks at him, lips parted to say more but he can’t. Atsumu laughs, pinching his cheek because apparently Kiyoomi’s barely contained nervousness and fear is endearing.

“Omi-omi we’ve been dating for a little over a year now-” Atsumu starts, using the calming voice he always uses to calm Kiyoomi down.

“1 year, 1 month, 17 days,” Kiyoomi mutters, cutting him off and pouting. It isn’t fair that his boyfriend is using that voice because how could he ever say no to him? He was only a man with very low self-control, a fact Atsumu shamelessly exploited.

Atsumu chuckles, continuing, “It’s adorable you’ve been keeping count-” as if he hasn’t been, Kiyoomi thinks, still pouting. “-Don’t you think it’s time I formally introduce you to my parents then? Subject you to all the grilling and all that..” Atsumu places a soft kiss on Kiyoomi’s cheek and Kiyoomi crumbles. As if he’d had a choice anyway, he’d already decided to go with Atsumu the moment they got their invitations.

The next day is a Sunday so Atsumu invites Osamu and Suna over for dinner. The two arrive early, mostly because Osamu wants to take over the cooking part from Atsumu who is apparently “sure to burn down the kitchen”.

“Oi I’ve been living here for over a year! I can manage,” Atsumu argues back. Osamu says something that sounds like he’s not convinced and “I bet even Rin can cook better than you!” and Omi can hear a “Ask Omi then!” from the kitchen.

Kiyoomi and Suna, who are sitting on a couch and an armchair opposite to each other, make eye contact knowing they’re going to be grilled next. Sure enough, the twins storm out the kitchen together, hair messed up like they’d been fighting. Kiyoomi’s squirming uncomfortably in his seat. It was fun hearing them argue when he was kept out of the conversation. He’d usually listen to them with an amused look in his eyes, while Suna always had an amused smirk on, joining to leave a comment here and there to fuel the bickering even more. Now they both are sitting uncomfortably, though Suna is hiding it a lot better than Kiyoomi is.

“Omi-”
“Rin-” they start at the same and then glare at each other because of course they do.

“Atsumu would have burned the kitchen down had Sakusa not moved in,” Suna speaks up before the twins can corner them again. Kiyoomi gives him a grateful look before speaking up to correct him.

“I haven’t moved in though-,” he starts but wavers when the other 3 give him the most confused look. “I- I have my own place.”

“Your clothes are in the laundry basket,” Suna points out.

“You have your coffee mugs in the kitchen,” Osamu joins in.

To make matters worse, Atsumu adds in, “We go to work and come back home together.”

Kiyoomi gives him an exasperated look. You’re supposed to be on my side here! Atsumu only shrugs in response, barely hiding his amused grin. Omi wants to protest again but he knows it's futile. He’s having a hard time convincing himself that he hasn’t moved into his boyfriend’s place.

Suna chuckles and gets up to go explore more of the place, probably off to expose more of Kiyoomi’s secrets, burn the house down or whatever a chaotic troublemaker like him does. Osamu returns to the kitchen and Atsumu sits in Kiyoomi’s lap, taking him by surprise, and wraps his arms and legs around him, like a koala on a tree branch. He buries his face into Omi’s neck, Atsumu’s hair tickling him.

“Stop being a baby, Atsu,” he says softly, rubbing his hand comfortingly on Atsumu’s back. Atsumu only clutches him tighter so Omi sighs and softly whispers, “You know I love your cooking right?” He feels the blond nod a little so he continues, “Okay, I’ll make it official. I’ll move in with you Atsumu Miya.” Kiyoomi isn’t entirely sure which of the two had made Atsumu upset or if it had been both, but it seemed to work. Atsumu raises his head and kisses him softly, happily before getting up to run back to the kitchen.

Kiyoomi gets up and goes to find the book he had been reading when he runs into Suna who was inspecting the photos Atsumu had put up on the wall. Suna’s already been to the twins’ childhood home and met the Miya parents a few times already so he seemed like the perfect person Kiyoomi should be talking to. Slowly, Kiyoomi joins Suna and stands beside him to stare at the pictures, trying to figure out what had fascinated him so much.

Before Kiyoomi can figure out what to say, Suna saves the day (again) by speaking up first, “Coming to the wedding?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Going as Atsumu’s +1 or as our invitee?”

“Does it make a difference?” he asks instead, confused.

“Well judging by the photos, you’d have to meet them sooner or later. Might as well go as his boyfriend and get introduced.” Kiyoomi doesn’t respond, trying to think it over in his head. Suna continues, absentmindedly smiling, “They’ll treat you like their own child, make your favourite food and embarrass the twins in front of you, scolding them or sharing baby pictures.” Kiyoomi isn’t looking at the pictures anymore, staring at Suna in surprise a little. Though he hadn’t met him many times or for long, Atsumu did tell Kiyoomi about him. He remembers a stray fact about Suna being raised by his grandfather after both his parents were killed when he was quite young and suddenly everything clicks into place.

Kiyoomi looks at the photos, which is basically a wall of all the memories they’d collected together. There’s them at the beach, them on a picnic, Kiyoomi in the studio, their college graduation pictures, a blurry one of them dancing, one with a surprised Kiyoomi with cheap grocery store cake frosting all over him as a loosely spelt ‘Happy Birthday’ bled down his shirt. They’d spent a lot of time together, learning each other and how their world worked until the other had become their entire world. Kiyoomi finds himself smiling absentmindedly too.

Suna speaks again, nodding towards the photos once before turning around. “You make him happy. Ever since he started acting he hasn’t had much time or opportunity for that. So I’m sure they’ll like you.” And with that he leaves a dumbstruck Kiyoomi behind to go explore other parts of the house.

Soon enough, dinner is prepared and the twins made way more food than necessary. Apparently they’d gotten competitive about it. They’re sitting around a small table, every inch of it covered in food and chatter. Kiyoomi’s still a little reserved around them but he can feel himself growing comfortable with them and the atmosphere they create. He catches the looks Suna and Osamu share, followed by a smile when they catch the other looking at them and then watches Atsumu. Atsumu whose hair catches fire under candlelight and during sunsets. Atsumu whose eyes spark with joy and humour at the smallest things that excite him. Atsumu whose hand always reaches out for Kiyoomi’s on instinct, hands which fit into Kiyoomi’s perfectly. Atsumu who is unapologetic about the freckles on his cheek and his loud and infectious laugh. Atsumu who has a dimple on only one of his cheeks. His Atsumu.

Could he really have that? With Kiyoomi’s life burrowed in metres of fabric, trimmings and lace and Atsumu who always moves to a new place for the new project he was shooting? Could Kiyoomi who’s reserved, awkward, gets scared when people got close and pushed them away really have a happy life together with someone like Atsumu who was a ray of sunshine who made Kiyoomi feel happier than Kiyoomi could make him feel?

Kiyoomi’s thoughts are interrupted when he feels Atsumu place a tender but comforting hand on his knee, the ‘Are you okay?’ evident in his expression. Kiyoomi nods back, hoping to reassure Atsumu. He’s not sure if it worked but Atsumu gets distracted by Suna narrating how he embarrassed himself in highschool once and Kiyoomi’s attention turns back to the conversation as well, laughing along.

By the time they finally get up, it’s pretty late so the engaged couple decide to stay over. Atsumu posts a picture of the set up dining table he’d taken earlier and captions it ‘A double date <3’ The comments go wild, speculating about who Atsumu’s dating. Random A-list female models, actors and singers are listed, ‘Kiyoko Shimizu’ being the most recurring one and Atsumu finds it hilarious, laughing way too loud for 1:15 am. But Kiyoomi’s never used much of or paid attention to social media so he ignores it.

He tries to, at least. It bothers him that people think he’s dating all those women. He’s the reason why they’ve kept the relationship private in the first place. Atsumu lives a much more public life, having the courage to share and be raw and open with his fans. Kiyoomi is much more closed off, keeping his life as private as he could.

But he knows that as much as it bothers him, he’s not all prepared for the spotlight he’d be put under for being “Atsumu Miya’s boyfriend.” Kiyoomi is not ready for the jealous fans, unceasing paparazzi, invasive questions and being put under a microscope, his entire life dissected and analyzed. Atsumu understands that, so they’d kept it a secret. They enjoy their little, almost domestic space and Kiyoomi didn’t want to lose that.

Kiyoomi’s eyes are shut since he’s trying to fall asleep, but he’s too unsettled and his thoughts won’t let him. He feels the bed dip a little beside him as Atsumu lies down, wrapping a leg and arm around him and scooting closer. “My Kiyo-Kiyo,” he whispers as he softly kisses Kiyoomi’s forehead. He must have been unintentionally creasing them in worry but Atsumu’s soft touch relaxes him. Atsumu plays with his curls, calling him progressively worse nicknames like “My honey bun”, “My munchkin” and “My little sugar plum fairy” which confuses Kiyoomi.. “My small spoon” earns Atsumu a scoff and a light smack to the arm. He feigns hurt but continues until Kiyoomi is slowly lulled to sleep. He manages to whisper a ‘thank you,’ before falling asleep- or at least he thinks he did. He’s not too sure really.

With work planned out and assigned to the rest of the costuming team and the shooting schedule moved here and there a little, the two plan their trip to Atsumu’s hometown, packing and bickering over what to pack and not pack.

They set out on their road trip a few days later, singing along to the radio and absolutely ruining some songs as they follow the roads that led them to Atsumu’s home. Atsumu has a surprisingly large number of Taylor Swift songs in his playlist, a fact Kiyoomi had first learned many months ago. Thought he’d been a casual fan before, Atsumu had turned him into a hardcore Swiftie. The only difference between them was that Atsumu remained bright and unapologetic about it but it took a little questioning before Kiyoomi also revealed his Swiftie side. He puts the playlist on shuffle and the first song that blasted through the speakers was WANEGBT. They roll down the windows, letting the cool wind hit them in the face. Atsumu’s driving but he still manages to reach a hand out and interlace his fingers with Omi’s and they drive along together, hand in hand as they sing (aka yell) a break up song together and completely out of tune into the night.

They switch between driving and sitting in the passenger’s seat a couple of times during the trip, stopping to eat food or just stretch their legs. Atsumu gets some beautiful sunrise and sunset pictures and adds them to a separate story he’d created just for this road trip.

“Omi look where Kiyoko’s filming!” Atsumu says as he shows him his phone screen. There’s a picture of Kiyoko posing against the backdrop of rolling country hills. He remembered the director had said something about filming in a more remote location for some scenes and also to take some promotional pictures. Because of Atsumu’s absence, she’d taken a relatively small team with her and Kiyoomi smirks thinking about how flustered she must be right then.

Enjoying some alone time with your ‘goddess and idol?’,

he texts her, referring to the time she’d drunkenly confessed her love for the actress to Kiyoomi.

This is purely professional!!,

the response from the director comes back almost instantly.

“The silkiest black hair and the most gorgeous laugh.”

PURELY!! PROFESSIONAL!!!

Mhmm you’re not even going to bother denying you said all that?

Go enjoy with your BOYFRIEND. Ha ha you think I didn’t figure you two out hUH?!?ᕙ(`▿´)ᕗ

A bunch of tongue sticking out emojis follow and Kiyoomi chooses to ignore her.

It’s late evening by the time they see the first sign of Atsumu’s home city. It’s not very big, a countryside town at best when compared to the grandiose they’d left behind. But still, it represented and fit Atsumu better than the gauche weddings, camera flashes and expensive clothing they’d taken a break from. At least the Asumu Kiyoomi knows. The one buried deep beneath the ever confident hands in pockets and ‘don’t you wish you had me’ grin. The one who likes cuddling and sleeping in, the one who prepares their lover’s favourite dishes as a love language, the one whose hair catches fire during sunsets, the one who kisses Omi’s moles but is slightly embarrassed about his own on his back. The one who wants the comfort and nostalgia of home and large family gatherings. The one who is much less of a “sexy player” and more of a “cuddly, playful dork”.

The city is filled with old fashioned but revamped houses, playful kids circling around laughing parents, wild plants that have been left to grow free and decorate sidewalks and the distant sunset beyond the hills. It gave him the same feeling Atsumu did and Kiyoomi couldn’t help but wonder how a city could scream Atsumu so much. (The posters plastered everywhere about the famous actor who’d grown up here didn’t help much). They drive around slowly, Atsumu showing him around a little and pointing out the different places he’d visited, played in or gotten lost in as a kid.

They arrive late into the night and Atsumu jumps out of the car excitedly, and runs to his home even faster because of how cold it is. Omi chuckles at his frantic and desperate attempt to stay warm and grabs both of their backpacks from the back. Atsumu barely carried anything since he has clothes here and also has Osamu’s closet to raid. Omi picks up his bag with all essentials he’ll need for the night, figuring he can take his main bag out tomorrow.

He locks the car door and turns around to see Atsumu with a sheepish grin and he can already tell Atsumu is getting scolded for leaving Omi to carry all the bags. Omi chuckles to himself but apparently loud enough for Atsumu to still turn to look at him and smile. His warm brown eyes look like coming home and it’s enough for Kiyoomi to get lost in the comfort they bring.