Chapter Text
"Hey, hey! I've just thought of a nickname for you two!" You grin at the twins as they were about to head out to the gym because another sport has taken their interest once again. You were about to play with your girl friends too but your little 10 year old heart was so excited about your sudden breakthrough that you immediately ran next door to the Miya household.
They both groan in annoyance.
"Come on, [Y/n]. Can't this wait?" Atsumu whines.
"We have somewhere ta be, ya know," Osamu's equally miffed.
You ignore their protest because despite them complaining and being mean, bratty jerks, they still wait for you to speak anyway. You found out at an early age that they don't mean what they say most of the time. They say they don't care about you and then the next breath, fuss about you like you're their precious jewel.
You point at Atsumu, "'Tsumu!" and then at Osamu, "'Samu!"
They stare at you like you're stupid but you don't miss the way their eyes sparkle.
"What kinda stupid nickname is that?" Osamu starts, looking away to hide the smile he can't seem to stop.
"Think of a better one, ya scrub." Atsumu grins, feigning it as arrogance but you know full well that these two are idiotic enough to actually like what you've come up with.
Idiots flock together after all.
"Good luck on your practice! See ya, 'Tsumu and 'Samu!" You giggle as you wave at the both of them, turning on your heel to go back to your home. Atsumu and Osamu watch you leave and when they're certain you're out of earshot, they turn towards each other and let out excited cries.
"That's so cool! Right, right?!"
"I told ya, befriending [Y/n]'s a good decision! She's a genius!"
The twins find themselves gushing about the new nicknames even when they're already at volleyball practice, the additional fact that they found Ojiro Aran's name cool fueling it. They think it makes them sound like a foreigner. Aran immediately dubs the nicknames dumb and he wonders what kind of person you are to have the twins so excited about it.
***
"You guys said the nickname's stupid and even called me a scrub and yet you guys use it to refer to each other anyway!" You pout as you and the twins are in the middle of an argument and you're sure it started with something small (as most of your arguments start that way) but it once again spirals into a game of reminding each other about things one have done and using it against each other (as most of your arguments go).
The twins look like they've been slapped but, to your surprise, Osamu quickly attempts to recover- sputtering his words-
"W-well, we figured ya'd be so upset if we didn't use it so as the good friends we are, we decided to humor ya, [Y/n]." He said haughtily which fueled your anger more. Atsumu only watches as you turn red, fuming. He, for the first time in his 4th grade life, abruptly decides to shut up and stop participating in this petty squabble because he already knows where it's heading and he'd rather not be part of it. Luckily, Osamu doesn't seem to notice his brother's subtle betrayal because he was too busy trying to outwin you.
"I forbid ya to use it!" You exclaim, hands on a fist as you yell at Osamu, not quite believing that the more reasonable of the twins is actually defying you. You expected this from Atsumu but Osamu? Osamu's eyebrows furrows.
"Who gives ya permission to forbid that?!"
"I do! Don't use it, ya scrub!"
"Yer the scrubby one!!"
"The scrubby one's the one who copies my homework, idiot!!"
"I only did that once! Also, who's the one who taught ya how to tie yer shoelaces the other day?! Yer the idiot!!"
Atsumu rolls his eyes on that one though he does admit, that was pretty scrubby of you to not know [Y/n].
"Stupid Osamu! Stupid, stupid, stupid!!" You scowl at him before sticking your tongue out, feet already shifting so you can leave the twins alone in the park.
"I hate you!!" You run away, carrying both your anger and pride, refusing to swallow them down. Osamu only stares at your retreating figure, completely flabbergasted. It's only when you're out of sight did he realize that Atsumu left him to completely hang out to dry.
"You traitor. Why'd ya shut up, aren't ya supposed to be the most riled up here?!" Osamu points at Atsumu and the latter immediately scowls.
"M'not! Yer just a dummy!" Atsumu makes a show of brushing his shoulders to taunt Osamu that he, in fact, had gotten away scot-free from your wrath and would probably be more forgiving towards him than you will be towards Osamu.
Needless to say, they come home completely covered in dirt because they totally didn't lunge at each other the moment the chance was presented.
***
Atsumu invites you to have lunch with them at school the next day and even though you hesitated at first, remembering that Osamu infuriated you so much and that Atsumu irritated you to some extent, he manages to convince you.
Still, you stubbornly stick by Atsumu's side, pointedly ignoring Osamu. However, Osamu's more taken by eating so it didn't do you much, him having always loved food, until he suddenly looks at Atsumu.
"You made Aya-chan cry earlier."
Atsumu didn't even flinch.
"So?"
You furrow your eyebrows, pouting at Atsumu. He made another girl cry again? Wait, wait, is it only Atsumu this time? At reflex, you look towards Osamu too, pouting, and he frowns.
"I'd never make a girl cry," he says, somewhat defensive and you had to stop yourself from reminding him about the times he made Yuko-chan cry and how many times he made you so upset that your tears wouldn't stop bursting. You only huff. You're still giving him the cold-shoulder, don't fall for it [Y/n].
"I'm nicer than 'Tsumu. Makes ya wonder why'd ya pick him."
Osamu mutters to himself while glancing at you before he shifts his attention back to his meal. You pout. It's a fact that Osamu's always been the kinder one but he still can get pretty freaking mean. Nastier than Atsumu even.
"The hell ya babbling about?" Atsumu says, irritated, reflexively moving a bit closer to you as if to say you're with him.
"It means yer a scrub," Osamu scoffs.
"Uh? At least [Y/n] doesn't hate me!!"
Both you and Osamu wince.
You continue eating in silence, watching your two identical bestfriends argue with each other until the end of lunch time.
Before you head back to your own class, you knock your shoulder with Atsumu's, catching him off-guard as you pout.
"You should probably be nicer to the girls who approach you, y'know," you mutter. Atsumu's a little stunned but he's quick to let his arrogance take over.
"Who cares about them? I have ya as a girl best friend already." He grins triumphantly and you scowl, turning to look at Osamu, who's patiently watching you two. You frown, pride equally too much as theirs but you swallow it just this once.
"I-"
"Sorry." You're thrown off-guard as Osamu apologizes, bowing towards you despite looking a bit strained. Atsumu covers his mouth to suppress his laugh but you don't pay him attention because you're bowing towards Osamu as well.
"Me too."
"Ya don't hate me anymore?"
"Naw. Never did."
"What's with this cheesy bullcrap?" Atsumu teases you both, gagging and you swat at him for being so crude. He laughs as he dodges and you would've chased after him if not for Osamu beating you to it, whacking his brother on the back of the head.
"Ow! The hell, 'Samu!"
"It's because yer bein' stupid, 'Tsumu."
You laugh at their antics before bidding them farewell, the three of you heading back to your respective classrooms. It's a bit sad that you're in a different class than the twins. You guys used to practically be inseparable but of course as all of you grew up, things eventually change. You began to have more girl friends that you spend time with and they began busying themselves with volleyball. Still, you guys still walk to school together, have lunch together and sometimes (because Atsumu and Osamu have practice and you can't be bothered to wait for them) walk home together. And somehow, even with these changes, you're confident that your friendship with them will never change.
Which is why even when you guys reach junior high, the twins still find themselves knocking at your door, whining about how slow you are and that all of you are gonna be late.
You curse as you were just tidying your hair up but you rush anyways because they're never gonna shut up about it. You grab one piece of bread for breakfast (you missed it again because you woke up late), call out to your family and head out the door, greeting the Miya twins with a glare as you munch on the bread.
Osamu raises an eyebrow.
"Ya woke up late again?"
You ignore him, pushing the both of them to move already since apparently they were in such a freaking hurry. Atsumu grins at you haughtily.
"Bet ya that she's just doin' it for show. Or maybe she's on a diet. What? A boy teased you or somethin'?"
You glare at Atsumu, resisting the urge to speak with your mouth full so you chew quickly, gulping it the next second.
"So early and yer already blabberin' stupid things. How scrubby."
Osamu laughs at this and you grin triumphantly at yourself as Atsumu scoffs. The three of you begin to chatter mindlessly on your way to school as is the routine between you guys. You don't know if you're lucky or not but somehow in your first and second year (current year you're in) of junior high, you guys managed to be in the same class, causing the twins to always flank you so you didn't really have many opportunities to create deep friendships with other people. Sure, you hang out with other people occasionally especially during the end of classes since the twins or either one of them rarely walk you home but you don't feel the particular closeness you have with the twins with other people. And your only girl bestfriend actually moved away just before junior high. (You guys still text so it's okay but still-)
"Hey, [Y/n], we have a practice match today, wanna watch?"
You blink at Osamu.
"Yeah, watch me be great and mighty [Y/n]!" Atsumu chimes in, puffing his chest out proudly. You roll your eyes before looking back at Osamu, giving him a sweet smile.
"Sure, I'll come watch you and only you, 'Samu!"
"Hey!" Atsumu growls in annoyance, messing up your hair, making you groan in irritation.
"Hey!! I just fixed it!" You crash into Atsumu since you can't mess his hair up as revenge because you can barely reach the top of his head anymore (darn it, these boys and their growth spurts), making Atsumu stumble a little bit and you laugh at him for stumbling because you were such a meek little girl, how weak of him-
Osamu's glad for the distraction because he doesn't know what he'll do if you (or worse, Atsumu) notice the faint blush that appeared on the tip of his ears when you uttered those words and smiled so angelically. His gaze lingers on you before he finally exhales through his nose and reprimands you and Atsumu for being so energetic in the morning. You and Atsumu retaliated by crashing into him, making him stumble too and before you knew it, you guys are arguing and are practically steaming in silence as you three make your way to the classroom.
(Though you guys were all buddy-buddy again during lunch.)
Then noon came and you're quite honestly shocked because a number of people are also heading to the gym to watch the volleyball team's practice match. You didn't know it was such a big of a deal. Sure, you went to official matches of the twins since they won't shut up about it if you didn't but this is actually the first time you're sitting in on one of their practice matches.
It's only when you're inside of the gym, standing on the upper balcony did you find out why there's quite a number of people- mostly girls-
"Atsumu-kun! Osamu-kun! Do your best!"
You wince as the girls squeal. It's not like you haven't witnessed this before (as you said, you've been in their official matches-) but isn't this a bit much for only a practice match? You see the other team glancing curiously at the upper balcony, a little bit taken-aback and probably thinking the same as you and even though it's not your fault in whatever way or form, you bow to them apologetically.
Atsumu does his usual 'silence!' gesture whenever he goes to serve and you tease him about it countless times but you can't deny that it is kinda cool.
(Atsumu insisted it was and you think you got hypnotized into believing it.)
Watching the twins is always a treat and you actually are a bit intrigued with volleyball because even just watching it is exhilarating. And both of them never shut up about it so you pretty much have a wide understanding of the sport. You made a mistake of showing interest in playing it once and the twins relentlessly drilled on you the basics of handling a ball and you made a mental note to yourself that if you ever find the motivation to try again, you wouldn't go to both of them.
(Osamu massaged your arms after that one time though. It was pretty sweet of him.)
As the ball hits the opponent's side with a 'bam!', having been set by Atsumu and being spiked by Osamu, the twins are quick to look your way and raise both arms, the two of them giving you a peace sign with that stupid grins on their faces. You couldn't help but stupidly grin back, pride swelling in your chest and with hands shaking, you give them a peace sign back. They laugh before energetically going back to the match. You snort, looking at them fondly. They do that during official matches too, though sometimes Atsumu winks or Osamu gestures a fist bump, always for you. So it's not new that a bunch of girls are glaring at you, not new at all.
In fact, even in elementary school, you were always being given backhanded compliments because the twins had oddly taken a liking to you. And you guess you deserve it, you don't really know why they like you either. It's not like you're their only neighbor. And you don't particularly remember how you guys first met either.
Though none of that really matters, right? What matters is that they're your friends now. Your precious boys.
You really hope that they'll stay with you forever.
One of them plans to.