Chapter Text
Year ????
Atsumu wakes up with the worst headache.
He furiously rubs his eyes with his fist cursing loudly when his head pulsed in pain. His attempts to support his body with his other hand, slowly lifting himself upwards, but he stops once his head hits something hard.
'What the fuck did Bokkun give me last night, I swear to-'
Atsumu blinks his eyes open and scans the room.
This was...not his apartment, surely.
Staring back at him were posters of volleyball players decorating the room. His eyes scanned the space next to them where two large studying desks sat at the corner of the room. One of the tables was neat and tidy with books stacked alphabetically, pencils sharpened, and a small stack of papers at the center. The other desk was the opposite. It was as if a tornado had come by and messed everything up. Atsumu's nose wrinkle at the mess, it reminded him of his twin brother's bad habit of leaving everything unkempt.
It was that moment he realized that he was most definitely not in Osaka, but instead, there he was, lying on the top bunk in his and Osamu's shared room back in Hyogo. The very same room they shared from childhood up until high school because their mother couldn't afford to renovate the house to make room for them after they grew up.
Did someone bring him all the way back to Hyogo? Just how wasted was he last night? Wait, did he even get to drink anything? The setter could hardly remember anything after...
Frantically, Atsumu searches for his phone in his pockets, exhaling a sigh of relief when he feels it in his pockets. He checks for any notifications or emails, he finds two messages from Osamu, and they were both from yesterday, it seems. So maybe Osamu did go to Osaka somehow and did take him back to Hyogo.
Atsumu narrows his eyes once more.
The date...wasn't yesterday December 5? Akaashi's birthday party? Wasn't Bokuto planning to propose to him that day? Did it go well? Atsumu wonders as he skeptically reads the double digit date displayed on his phone over and over again.
Osamu must have messed with his phone in his sleep.
Despite that, Atsumu still finds the entire situation really weird. The last thing he remembered before blacking out was his argument with Sakusa in the changing room. Bokuto had told Atsumu to hurry and run back to their training facility to retrieve his engagement ring ( ‘of all things he could leave behind’ Atsumu curses) while Bokuto distracted his boyfriend. Arriving there, Atsumu remembers yelling at Sakusa who was a) still not accepting his teammate's invitation to the party and b) holding Bokuto's engagement ring in his hands. Atsumu assumed the worst and it had led to an intense yelling match, then Atsumu remembered taking the ring Sakusa had dropped, ignoring the spiker yelling for him, took off...and then…Atsumu woke up here.
The setter scratches out the possibility that he drank himself to the point of Osamu picking him up and driving him all the way back to Hyogo. Or perhaps things got physical and Atsumu damn well knew that Sakusa had a mean right hook that could send Atsumu losing his consciousness..but no, Sakusa would never resort to violence, thus another possibility scratched out.
Well...maybe that can wait. Right now, Atsumu needs to make sure his captain won't kill him for showing up late to practice. Again.
He went through his contacts to send Meian a message that he'd be a little late this time. He waits for the message to get through only for his chat bubble to turn red.
Message Not Sent.
What.
Did Meian have him blocked…?
Atsumu quickly searches for Inunaki's contact, but alas, he receives the same results.
Now Atsumu was starting to worry. A lot.
He scrolls back up his contact list to try and message Bokuto.
He relaxed a little when his message was read in an instant and he could see Bokuto slowly typing a reply.
'BOKKUN: uhhhh sorry to hear that you'll be late(?)! ...but whooo is this?😳' was his reply.
ATSUMU: you're kidding me
ATSUMU: this isn't funny bokkun
BOKKUN: ????is this a prank D: or was i pranking you
BOKKUN: !!!!!WAIT
BOKKUN: akaashi once told me people like yOU would probably trick me into sending you money for my non-existent family member!!!!
BOKKUN: nice try!!!
BOKKUN has blocked your number.
Atsumu resists the urge to throw his phone against the wall. And here he thought he and Bokuto got over their awkward one-sided relationship after what happened last night. He wonders if he did something wrong to offend Bokuto or even Akaashi, judging from the fact that Akaashi was the one to tell him to block his number. The possibility of Atsumu thwarting Bokuto's plans last night, along with ruining Akaashi's night, was quite high. He wasn't the most careful drinker around his friends after all.
Wait...did he even make it back to the restaurant?
He notes to himself to try and remember exactly what happened last night after he tells someone on his team that he may be a little late.
Atsumu shakes his head, attention back to his phone, ignoring the irritation he felt when he was still greeted by Bokuto's chat window.
Well, at least he still had several other people he could contact.
Suddenly, the door slams open.
A poker faced his twin walks into the room with his ears plugged, probably blasting one of his ridiculous emo music, and his bag slung over his shoulder. In typical Osamu fashion, he was dressed in a plain black shirt, a familiar dark red jacket tied to his waist, and shorts, however…
“Samu? Did you dye yer hair again?” Atsumu narrows his eyes at the mop of grey hair on his brother's head. He expected his brother telling him to not make a big deal out of it or ignore him. What he didn’t expect was Osamu’s eyes widening, nearly dropping his bag as the ‘slightly’ younger twin finally meets his eyes. Taking out an earphone, Osamu points a shaky finger at his brother.
“The hell are ya’ doin' here!?”
Atsumu felt offended.
“The hell do you mean what I’m doin’ here? Wait no, you're right, the hell am I doin' here ? What possessed you to drag my ass all the way to Hyogo from Osaka? Did Bokkun make you do this?”
Osamu’s eyes widened even more comically, Atsumu would have laughed if it weren’t for his brother's expression showing a mix of worry and genuine confusion.
“W-what are ya' talkin about, Tsumu?” Osamu blurts out in a low voice, his stance becoming rather defensive. Atsumu watches his brother slowly back away, hand slowly nearing the doorknob once more, probably thinking Atsumu was a stranger who broke in or something...or perhaps he really shouldn’t be here.
Atsumu groans and gets down from the top bunk, he scans Osamu's appearance...who was way shorter than he last saw him.
“Hey Samu, didja shrink or somethin’?” Atsumu scans his brother skeptically. “And I am Tsumu, ya can’t mix me up of all people with anyone else cuz we have the same freakin' face.” Atsumu scans his brother once more, “so when did you get yer hair dyed again?”
Osamu was at loss for words.
“Tsumu you’re…” Osamu scans his brother, head to toe,”...grown.”
Atsumu’s smile falters, beginning to catch on why his brother didn’t seem so excited to be here.
“Uh yeah...we both are supposed to be...didn’t think I’d grown that taller than ya’ though,” Atsumu mutters softly, scratching his neck. “So...what didja mean I’m not supposed to be here?”
Osamu remained silent.
“Ya’ look like you’ve seen a ghost-”
“Yer supposed to be in the All-Japan Youth Camp right now.”
Atsumu froze.
Atsumu wasn’t the smartest student in class, while never actually failing any of his subjects, he never stood out academically and neither did Osamu. On court, Atsumu may or may not be classified as one of the ‘geniuses’. He wasn't dumb, while he might act dumb out of impulse, he wasn't dense or that gullible. Osamu, on the other hand, while not that smart, was quick to read social situations and was slightly more reasonable than Atsumu was as much as he hated to admit that. At the moment, Osamu seems to have caught up to what may be happening while Atsumu was still trying to process everything and…
“Samu.”
“Y-yeah?”
Osamu's appearance, the suspicious date on his phone, the Inarizaki jacket that Osamu should have outgrown a few years ago tied to his waist, the dyed grey hair, the fact that he firmly believes Atsumu should be at All-Japan Youth Camp...
“What...what year is it now…?”
Osamu’ tilts his head.
“2012…?”
Holy shit.
Atsumu’s legs wobbled and Osamu was quick to catch him before he fell, letting out a small grunt due to Atsumu being heavier and taller now.
“So did ya’ hit yer head and got sent home or…?” Osamu asks slowly.
“Samu.”
“Y-yeah?”
“I’m 24.”
Osamu drops his brother.
“Fuck- Ow! What the hell-?”
“Yer fuckin’ with me. Who are you!? Did Tsumu drag ya’ into this!?” Osamu’s tone sounded angry all of the sudden, “or...what did you do to Tsumu?” his voice drops an octave in the last interrogation.
Or perhaps Osamu wasn’t as smart as Atsumu thought he was.
Atsumu clenches his jaw and attempts to get up again. “Samu. Listen to me first would you?” Atsumu grabs his brother’s shoulders and shoves him to the bottom bunk to sit down, Osamu attempts to struggle but 24-year old Atsumu was obviously much stronger than he is now.
“Let go of me-!”
“You brat stay still and listen!”
Osamu stops struggling and sighs. He gives his ‘brother’ an unreadable look, but Atsumu could tell that Osamu was trying his hardest not to scream for their mom downstairs. “Okay. Fine.”
"Explain."
Year ???? (2)
In an apartment somewhere in Osaka, a young 17 year old Miya Atsumu was struggling to open his eyes. Once he successfully does, he finds himself in an empty, large, and unfamiliar bedroom. With a heavy groan, he slides off from the bed to the floor, taking the thick blanket with him. Looking around, Atsumu slowly realizes that this...might not be the All-Japan Youth Camp dorm room. In fact, he doesn't recognize this room at all.
Did someone kidnap him last night? Atsumu would remember if he went to a place like this. He searches the room, hoping to recognize anything or if someone else was in the room with him, only to find nothing. He spent the night walking around with a certain Sakusa Kiyoomi. Maybe they both got tired and went somewhere else to rest.
Atsumu shakes his head. He would remember if he and Sakusa went to a place like this. The last time he saw him, Atsumu had been reduced to a blushing mess when he-
Atsumu hits his head.
“Shut up, shut up, shut up,” Atsumu chants as he sluggishly gets up from the floor and leaves the room. He notices that he was still dressed in his dark shirt and red shorts from last night’s practice. Atsumu tries remembering what happened after he kissed his crush's cheek - Atsumu pinches himself upon remembering that again -, before running away because the boy stared back to him with an equally red face, and Atsumu remembers bolting out of embarrassment, ignoring the taller teen yelling his name and...what did happen after that? Did they go back to their room after the quick run to the mini market? Had Atsumu showered yet? Did the coaches ever find out they sneaked out? Hundreds of questions were running within Atsumu’s head yet he couldn’t remember what exactly happened last night.
Alright, back to reality.
First of all, Atsumu needs to know where he was. Everything around looks unfamiliar and he wasn't sure he's in Tokyo anymore, he thinks as he looks out the window with a city view. Maybe he can check his maps app-
He curses when he remembers leaving his phone back in the dorm room.
Alright, alright; Plan B, maybe there’s a phone Atsumu could use in this apartment-
Conveniently, he hears the phone ring. Without wasting a second, Atsumu rushes towards the living room to pick the phone up. Before he could say anything, he was greeted by the other person on the line yelling at him.
“Miya! Where the hell have you been? None of us could reach your phone and you didn’t show up in Akaashi-san’s celebration either! In case you forgot, we have early practice today and-”
Atsumu pulls the phone away from his aching ear, hating the way the person’s voice sounded way too loud to his liking. Grumbling he tries to muster a reply. He assumes the 'Miya' he was referring to was him, it was probably one of the coaches from camp whose name Atsumu couldn't remember yet everything he said just now made zero sense to him.
“Uhm…”
Yet he couldn’t say anything else.
“Anything to say, Miya?”
“...Er...w-who might this be?”
“...”
“H-hello?”
“You-” Atsumu hears a sigh on the other line, “just get here now and you can explain everything, alright? I'm not in a mood for one of your jokes.”
“Uh sure...where is there, exactly?”
“...”
“H’llo…?”
The other line abruptly closes.
Atsumu stares at the phone blankly before another call rings.
“Hello?”
“Tsumu.”
Atsumu thought for a moment.
“Samu…?”
“Where didja go last night? Yer team’s been pesterin’ me all morning and I don’t even know what happened to ya’. Care to explain?”
“ My team…?” Atsumu mutters, eyebrows furrowing, “Samu, we’re on the same team!”
Osamu was quiet.
“Tsumu, don’t be stupid.”
“Hah!?” Atsumu yells to the phone, “Whaddya mean by that? Yer the one being dumb, Samu-”
“Tsumu, stop yelling and tell me where'd ya' go last night.”
Atsumu immediately shuts his mouth, although still feeling both frustrated and irritated at the same time. Did it matter where he was last night if he doesn't know where he is right now? He thinks back of what he needs to know now because honestly, Atsumu was sure something odd happened last night.
“Well I can do you better! Where the hell am I?”
“What.”
“Where am I?”
“Huh?”
“Where. Am. I?”
“Well where the hell do ya’ think you are?” Osamu banters. Atsumu grips the phone tighter. Who the hell pissed in everyone’s cereals this morning? Every person Atsumu came in contact with offered him no help at all so far. Atsumu's grip on the phone grew tight.
“Well it sure as hell don’t look like All-Japan Camp dorms!” Atsumu stomps the floor.
“Very funny,” Osamu drawls.
“‘M serious!”
“Tsumu, I really think you should head to practice now,” Osamu waves off Atsumu’s retorts, “it’s already 9. Didn’t ya’ say Meian-san was the devil reincarnate if ya’ show up late?”
Atsumu was starting to grow impatient. Osamu has to be pranking him, there’s just no way his brother would make up imaginary people and situations.
“Listen, I dunno who the hell this Meian-san yer talking about but-”
“Wait, Tsumu.”
“What!? Can’t ya let me finish fer once!?”
“...Did ya’ have an accident with yer head last night? Maybe it’s jumblin’ yer memories up.” Osamu sounded...concerned. “I really thought you were pullin’ my leg or sumthin but I’m starting to doubt that’s the case.”
“Huh?”
“Hang tight, Tsumu, Suna and I are heading to yer place. Ya know ya should be really grateful I spared sum time to visit Osaka to congratulate Keiji-san and visit you. I just arrived in town but I’ll be there in an hour” grumbles Osamu before closing the line.
Atsumu stood frozen on the spot.
Osaka…?
Year 2012
"This might sound crazy but I don't think I'm in the right time," Atsumu groans, realizing how ridiculous it sounds coming out of his mouth.
"Meaning…?"
"Samu, look at me," Atsumu gestures his entire body, "Yer still in yer young 17 year old body and I'm an adult here Samu. I'm taller than you. Much as I hate to admit, you've always been the taller one between the both of us. Don't you get it!?"
Osamu was quiet for a moment.
"I guess not only yer taller but yer also...older lookin'" Osamu surmises, "This can't be real."
"What's not real about me being here? I somehow got thrown back to the past in my current body. It's as real as it gets," Atsumu's hand went to rub his forehead. He feels a migraine coming upon realizing the situation he's in.
Osamu crosses his arms. "Fine. Let's say yer from the future and you somehow got thrown back to the past," he gives his brother a pointed look, "I'm no nerd but am pretty sure science has not progressed as far as time travel." Of course his brother chooses to be difficult. This made Atsumu realize how big of a brat Osamu actually was. Well, less than young Atsumu, but Atsumu would never admit that. "So how did you even manage to travel back in time?"
"Magic, Samu!" Atsumu yells as if it's the most obvious answer.
"Ya' really didn't mature at all did ya'," Osamu deadpans.
Atsumu sighs.
"Look, I was just takin' a night walk before suddenly passing out and wakin' up here, how else do ya' explain this? Magic, Samu," Atsumu's gestures himself once more, "'n if that's the case, I need ta' hurry and get back, I have practice today and I'm supposed to be gettin' ready for a big event soon and-"
Now Osamu looked interested.
"Yer...still playin'?"
Atsumu smiles genuinely for the first time that day.
"Yeah, am a se-
Osamu shook his head, interrupting Atsumu, "Wait, does you tellin' me about what happens gonna change the course of the future?"
Atsumu blinks. "Huh?"
Osamu groans. "Of all people to first experience time travel and fate chooses you. Are ya' stupid, Tsumu? The butterfly effect? Ring a bell?"
"Oh," Atsumu thought for a moment, "well it depends, maybe this is a different timeline? And lil' Tsumu is still back at youth camp?" Osamu shrugs, perhaps that was possible-
All of the sudden, a familiar voice interrupts them.
"Osamu, please come down here! I need to talk to you about something."
Atsumu panics.
"Fuck Samu what am I gonna do? Ma' can't see me like this!" Atsumu stresses, fingers reaching to pull his hair. Osamu looks equally panicked.
"Uh, just stay here," Osamu gets up and walks to the door, "if ya' hear ma' goin' upstairs, hurry hide in the closet or sumthin'. Just don 't go anywhere and stay put." With that, Osamu hurries outside, slamming the door shut, leaving Atsumu alone.
But Atsumu being Atsumu, slowly gets up and goes for the door, turning the knob to open the door a little to eavesdrop.
"Osamu, I need you to be honest with me." His mother sounded serious. Atsumu recognizes this tone very well.
Atsumu started sweating as if he had played a full 5-set game against a difficult opponent.
"Y-yes?" Osamu sounded as nervous as Atsumu was probably feeling right now.
"Have you been speakin' with Atsumu lately?"
"I...message him sometimes."
"O-Osamu, I received a call from the All-Japan Youth Camp."
The twins, while in different places at the moment, both stiffen.
"Th-they told me Atsumu had r-ran away. He's...he's gone."
Year ????
"What the fuck."
Were Suna Rintarou's first words upon entering Atsumu's apartment. Osamu, who stood behind him, looks equally shocked.
Even Atsumu looked surprised as well.
Suna was first to recover.
"Atsumu, why do you..."
Suna didn't even know where to begin. He scans the shorter man from head to toe.
"Woah! You guys look older!" Atsumu gapes.
Well that's one way to put it.
"And you look…" Osamu starts, "...young."
Atsumu tilts his head, his eyes now on his twin brother's who stood in the back.
"Hey aren't we supposed to be the same age, Samu? Yer startin' to look twice my age there. Is Kita-san givin' you a hard time?" Osamu and Suna share a look, "anyways, why are we in Osaka? You do know I'm in the middle of the All-Japan camp right now-"
"What."
"Whaddya mean 'what'?"
Suna and Osamu enter Atsumu's apartment with no further explanation, dragging the youngest male further inside.
"O-oi, what are ya' doin'?"
They sat Atsumu on the couch while the duo stood far away from him, whisper-arguing about something Atsumu couldn't hear.
“...he’s probably pranking you again…”
“...but that doesn’t explain his…”
“...you do know what you’re implying here…”
“...it sounds crazy but…”
After a while, they stopped talking and Osamu sighs in defeat and takes his cap off, then he finally walks towards Atsumu with the oddest expression Atsumu has seen on him.
Atsumu raises a brow. "Woah! Ya’ really did dye yer hair dark again! Ya know I've only been away for a few-"
"Atumu, listen."
Atsumu shuts up.
"Yer...yer not where ya think you are."
"What do you mean."
"This is…" Osamu trails off.
"This is 2019, Atsumu," Suna cuts in, standing next to Osamu, eyes narrowed, "I- We think you're not our Atsumu."
Atsumu remained silent.
"Is there any other way to explain your physical appearance?" Suna tries again, "as much as I have a hard time believing this, we think you somehow...shrunk back to yer young self or...time traveled from the past…"
"To our future," Osamu finishes. "And somehow, our Tsumu disappeared from our timeline, assumin' that he ain't around here."
Atsumu fails to find a reply to that. Osamu reaches for his phone, showing Atsumu the date displayed there and the current news and everything else.
He was no longer an Inarizaki student.
And neither were Osamu and Suna.
He no longer lived in Hyogo.
He was supposed to be...24.
Atsumu promptly faints upon hearing his current occupation.