Chapter Text
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a worthy partner.*
One man born into unimaginable wealth and status, who reigned the aristocratic social circles, was told this bit of advice in his youth by his grandfather. However, he found out with time that worthy companions appeared far and few between.
Likewise, his lifelong friend was skeptical that such a person who was equal parts beautiful, intelligent, and headstrong, could exist within their society. For it seemed all rich men and women alike weaponized their assets and reputations to ensure no one of a truly independent and artless nature would thrive among them.
These two men only survived because their wealth, disproportionate even to most old family friends, seemed enough to compensate for their blatant disinterest in the formalities of balls, and their apathy towards their fawning audiences at such events.
Yet, everywhere they went, they sought this enigmatic figure who would give meaning to something as obscure—as inconceivable as a “worthy partner.”
Eventually, they would have their fated meetings in the unlikeliest of places: Karasuno Park.
In the rural areas of Miyagi, resided a family wealthy by means of the landed gentry. They were not aristocrats, surely, but they were an upper-class family made up of gentlemen, nonetheless. The two heads of the family, Ukai and Takeda. Five brothers, Yamaguchi, Hinata, Suga, Oikawa, Ennoshita.
They lived comfortably: could keep a cozy staff of cooks and house-keepers, cultivated a considerable plot of land, and raised livestock of their own.
Ukai, a gentleman, married Takeda, a man of no outstanding social rank or wealth. But the two had come across each other while Ukai had gone on a business trip. Upon seeing Takeda through the glass window of a seamstress’s shop, Ukai immediately set about courting the man. It was not a convenient marriage, as Ukai’s parents had expected, but they offered little protest after meeting Takeda. They were charmed by a sweet and naive disposition and felt him a good match for their son.
However, Ukai came to know that Takeda was more calculating than he appeared at first glance. Yet, it was a trait that Ukai accepted wholeheartedly, and even admired sometimes when it did not have him overwhelmed.
Now, Takeda lounged across a large, cushioned chair fanning himself from the summer heat. Contrary to the weather, in the hand not holding the fan, he held a small porcelain teacup. Ukai could only chuckle as he passed the entrance of the drawing-room, making his way toward his study.
Hearing the distant footsteps caused Takeda to jump up from his formerly lazy position, tailing his husband before he could immerse himself in that afternoon’s business.
“Ukai, darling,” said a suddenly animated Takeda. “Have you heard that Karasuno Park is let at last? My dear, you must try and guess which gentleman has taken up residence there!”
Ukai grumbled, saying that he did not want to, that he had an urgent matter in the form of a letter he had to draft.
“Okay, fine, I shall tell you! AND perhaps, once I list each of his admirable qualities, you will feel compelled to call upon him!” Takeda said, leaning his thigh insistently against Ukai’s shoulder, admittedly a weakness of Ukai’s that Takeda knew all too well. “He is a man of great wealth from further up north looking to find a quaint country settlement and decided upon Karasuno Park immediately after a given tour. He is said to have an income of ten thousand a year! His name is T-”
“Sir Kei Tsukishima. Yes, I am aware, love,” said Ukai without lifting his eyes from his book. “He comes with an old friend by the name of Sir Tobio Kageyama. I hear he, too, is rather wealthy. And before you go on, I do not plan to visit them upon their arrival just because you request it.”
“But Ukai! You do realize he must marry one of our boys? With a generous income, even just this marriage would set the family straight for the rest of our lives! With five boys, even your wealth proves a difficult, if not impossible, distribution.”
“Is that Tsukishima’s reasoning for settling here? To marry one of our sons?” Ukai questioned flatly.
Takeda huffed and lifted himself up to sit directly across from Ukai, as though he were one of his business partners discussing an important venture.
“He may have no intent on marrying. But, if you visit with our two eldest, surely Tsukishima will take interest in either Yamaguchi or Hinata. They have their prospects, first and foremost being the reputed beauties of the county—no thanks to your half of their genetics!” At this, he fixed a stray curl. “Second, they are not commoners. In my experience, that seems to satisfy even the wealthiest of men.”
Takeda crossed his legs, seemingly satisfied with his reply. Ukai smirked, thinking that if he were, in fact, to die someday, the family estate might be left in good hands, after all—crafty hands, albeit, but, good hands.
“Takeda, how am I to know that Tsukishima would not set his sights on marrying you?” Ukai said, mocking a fearful look in his eyes.
Takeda laughed, “In any case, my dear, I am bound to you. If not by marriage, I suppose by some means of love.”
“I am glad.” Ukai’s smile softened.
“But Ukai, please write to him. At least introduce our family, and express our consent to his knowing any of our sons.”
“Surely, I’ll put in a good word for Hinata, if I do so,” sighed Ukai in reluctant agreement, finally feeling forced to close his book.
“No, you mustn't give anyone any preference,” Takeda replied sternly. “I know you take comfort in Hinata’s wit and almost-combative energy. But surely if you do offer him such praises, you must also mention Yamaguchi’s beauty and charm, Oikawa’s couth and flamboyance, Suga’s kindness and humor, or Ennoshita’s sense of logic and understanding. You mustn't neglect them like you neglect me and my nerves.”
“My dear, I may perhaps recommend your nerves before anything else. I know them well, for they have kept me constantly busy since the day we married,” Ukai chuckled, standing up and walking toward Takeda. He knelt on one knee, to meet Takeda at eye level, which took Takeda so much by surprise, his cheeks flushed with a sudden meekness.
Ukai continued, “Before you reply, I said I will not visit Sir Tsukishima or do anything of that sort just because you request it. I will do so only because I have already written to him. Though in my experience, this isn’t a guarantee of anything. Many men like these will come and go, and our boys will have their take with whichever they like best. After all, isn’t that our story? Or is the ending not a desirable one, in your experience?”
Takeda tilted his head down, uncrossing his legs to look at his feet. He spoke at a whispered, almost inaudible volume. “You know well I am happy and that I love you. But, dear Ukai, you have never known what it means to worry over your future. It was written out for you. By all means, I am thankful you love me enough to continue sharing that future with until death do us part. But even now, I must carry that worry for our boys.”
With a hmph, Ukai pulled Takeda into his arms and said, “And I will not have you carry that burden alone. I will visit the man, and present the boys to him when such an opportunity arises.”
Ukai released Takeda, excusing himself for a ride out to town for a meeting. As he left, Takeda stood up, dramatically unveiling his fan and closing his eyes - relishing in the relief that the prospect of one of their sons marrying a man like Sir Tsukishima provided.
Just as he turned to exit his husband’s study himself, Ukai popped his head back through the door frame, causing a startled Takeda to jump back a bit.
“My dear, didn’t you say you would list all of Tsukishima’s desirable traits?”
Takeda scrunched up his face in confusion. “What?”
“You only listed his wealth.”
“Oh!” Takeda seemed revived. “Well, if he’s rich, he’s bound to be a lot of other great things, too!”
Ukai raised an eyebrow. “I assume then the same can be said of his friend, Kageyama?” questioned Ukai, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“Exactly,” said Takeda, before planting a small kiss on his husband’s cheek before dancing away.
In moments like these, Ukai can only appreciate having found his forever-partner amid the social pressure to marry someone of the same status.
Sometimes, worthy did not always mean that both parties had enough money, enough status, or enough intelligence. Worthy, as it was silently defined between Ukai and Takeda, meant balance. It meant they complemented each other so much that in times of need they were each other’s safety net. It meant at other times, they drew the best out of each other. And most of the time, it meant that they could smile and laugh together in private, without the falsehood of maintaining a public image behind it, either.
At least, that’s what the two eldest boys, who were listening from outside, underneath the open window of their father’s study, understood love to be.
Kei Tsukishima and Tobio Kageyama, were the names now faintly echoing in the minds of Yamaguchi and Hinata, filling them with a bubbling curiosity.