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"Okay, who was it?"
Sakusa growled at the team, who had ignored him, changing in the locker room.
Bokuto flashed him a weary grin, "What're you talkin' about?"
Sakusa groaned and shoved up a stuffed animal.
"Someone put this in my locker and I hate it."
Hinata gasped, his eyes shining as he took the animal from Sakusa's hands, "Oh my god, is this a ferret?"
He began to swing it by its neck at Bokuto as Meian massaged his temples.
"Don't throw that around, it's Kiyoomi's."
Sakusa fought back an eye roll, "No, it's most definitely not mine. I don't know who thought it'd be funny to leave that here, but it's not."
Inunaki slipped on his shirt as he peered at the animal.
"Looks like a rat." he teased.
Sakusa gagged as he backed away, "Shut up. Rats are disgusting."
Inunaki feigned a hurt expression, "All they do is eat cheese."
"Those are mice dipshit." Thomas shot back.
"It's a ferret!" Hinata cheered, still wringing it by the neck.
Sakusa worried for that poor stuffed rat's health. Hinata was holding it by the neck like it was a microphone. He was swinging it around like a lasso. He was aiming it at Bokuto like a bow and arrow. Godspeed you fucking turd.
"No, no." Bokuto frowned, "Ferrets are cute. That's a fucking weasel." He spoke, pointing a crooked finger at it.
Hinata froze. He made a confused expression. Hinata began spinning the weasel around as he looked at its body structure and face.
"A weasel, huh?" Hinata said curiously, stopping the animal abuse as he looked into the weasel's eyes.
"Hey, hey, hey, Omi-Omi-Omi-Omi." Bokuto wriggled his arms to Sakusa, who had stopped listening in to their conversation.
"What."
"What school did you go to?"
"High school? Omi-kun went to Itachiyama!" Sakusa flinched.
He felt the ungodly bastard wrap his arm around his shoulder.
Atsumu Miya was more like a fucking ferret than him.
"Itachiyama?" Thomas spoke, walking towards them. Sakusa wanted to cry as he was sucked back into the conversation. He just wanted to go home and sleep. And cry. And eat. And clean. God, he just wanted a break. A rest from this hellspawn of a team.
"Isn't your mascot like- a rat or something?"
"That's ironic. Omi-kun going to a school where one of the dirtiest creatures ever is their mascot." Atsumu grinned, ruffling Sakusa's hair. Sakusa shoved him to stop. He didn't like when Atsumu played with his hair. The cocky setter always liked to poke at him like he was a guinea pig. He disliked it. Not hated. Not necessarily.
Atsumu pulled on his ear.
Nevermind, he hated it.
"No, no. It's definitely a ferret."
"Are you stupid? It's a weasel. Like, a Japanese weasel." Inunaki reasoned. He turned back to Sakusa, "What was your mascot?"
Sakusa cringed, "Hell if I knew."
Sakusa never paid attention to any of those things. The only thing he got himself interested in was volleyball. Nothing more, nothing less.
Hinata snapped his fingers, still holding the ugly mammal in his arms, "It was a weasel. I remember."
"Lies, you can't remember jackshit."
"Yes I can! I can remember tons of things volleyball related!"
"And you act like that's a gift."
"Well? Was it, Omi-Omi?" Atsumu turned back to Sakusa, raising an eyebrow.
Sakusa, in turn, had been halfway out the door, shrugging as he walked away.
"Where d'ya think yer' goin'?!" Atsumu yelled.
Atsumu dragged Sakusa by the jacket back into the locker room.
"Stop it." Sakusa grumbled, but he quietly walked back in, "And yeah. It probably was a weasel."
Meian walked up, signaling to his locker, "So you don't know why you got a stuffed weasel?"
Sakusa shrugged in a bored manner, "No."
Hinata raised his hand, jumping up and down.
"What if- what if- what if it has like a bomb in it. And like- someone wants to blow Sakusa up- so they dress the bomb in a- in a weasel thing- animal- so they could secretly blow us all up. So then, we can't go to the game against the Adlers, and then- then- Oh my god, what if Tobio did it? What if Tobio's trying to blow us up because he knows we're gonna beat his ass? What if-"
"-yeah okay, no more talking from you." Inunaki covered Hinata's mouth, "Hey Sakusa. Wouldn't be hilarious if the animal used to be alive but was murdered in cold blood and skinned and turned into a stuffed animal?"
Sakusa leapt at least ten feet back, "Shut the fuck up."
Bokuto rolled his eyes, "Well, was there a note, Omi?"
Sakusa frowned.
"A- note?"
Thomas groaned, "Yes. A note that stated why you may have a stuffed animal inside your locker."
"Well, I guess I didn't check."
"Well that's your answer."
Atsumu chimed in, "Yeah~, Omi-kun. Check the locker."
He shoved Sakusa forward, making Sakusa bite back an insult.
He begrudgingly opened the locker, the team intently watching behind him.
When he opened it, a slip of paper fell out.
Thomas whispered, "I told you so." as Meian slapped him on his back.
"Shut up."
Sakusa hesitantly picked the paper from the ground, reading what had been written. He furrowed his eyebrows at the message.
"Well-?" Atsumu droned, leaning by Sakusa's neck. The team stood close to him, trying to read the message.
Sakusa ignored him, throwing the slip of paper in the recycling nonchalantly and walking away.
"STOP LEAVING WHEN WE'RE TALKIN' TO YA'!"
Sakusa rolled his eyes as he turned back to his teammates, signaling to the recycling.
"I'm not picking that up. You guys can read it or whatever. I really don't care. I'll see you all tomorrow."
Hinata waved the weasel in Sakusa's face.
"What about Sakura Kiweasel?"
Sakusa cringed.
"The fuck did you just call me?"
"That's the weasel's name!"
"Well, you can keep Sakusa Kiweasel." Sakusa stated, venom in his voice, "God knows I already have too much shit at home."
He walked away, signing off with a curt nod.
After he had walked out, Bokuto ran to the recycling bin, triumphantly holding the small slip of paper.
He read it slowly aloud to the team.
"'You are like a weasel. Sneaky, treacherous, and feral.'"
“YOU ARE A WEASEL!” Bokuto exclaimed the next day after staring at Sakusa the whole practice.
”Keep staring and Akaashi’ll get jealous.” Inunaki sneered.
”Shut up. It’s alright, Bokuto-san.” Akaashi shot Bokuto a loving look before shooting Inunaki a deadly one.
Sakusa was so close to leaving in the middle of practice. Turns out, they had read the note. And they saw it as an opportunity to absolutely demolish his already weak ego.
”Stop it or I’m spiking this right in your fucking face.”
Akaashi narrowed his eyes, “Mm. Bokuto-san, I would stop for now.”
Bokuto’s expression lightened, “Alright!”
Thomas, who was stretching beside him raised an eyebrow, “The question still stands though.”
Sakusa groaned, “What question.”
”Who wrote it and why.”
Hinata frowned, “That’s two questions.”
”THEY’RE CORRELATED SHUT UP.”
Sakusa sunk. Right. He had no idea who hated him so much they wanted to put feral animals in his locker. Not to mention insult his personality while they were at it.
Sakusa only shrugged.
”I really couldn’t care less.”
Bokuto rushed up to him, eyes wide, “What? Really? Not even the teensy bit curious? What if it’s a confession? A looove confession?! I remember when Akaashi confessed under th-“
”OKAY- HOW DO You know it’s a love confession? Seemed like an insult to me.” Akaashi broke through, a bead of sweat starting to roll down. Sakusa sneered. Akaashi didn’t even play on their team. Or volleyball. Why was he here again?
Wait-
Sakusa whipped around to Bokuto.
”You told him?!”
Bokuto gaped, “Of course I would. We’re kinda married y’know.”
”Yeah well we’re not.”
”Well he might be able to help you. He’s smart.”
”No, I’d rather not.” Akaashi whispered quietly, stepping away.
Sakusa groaned, rubbing his forehead with his forearm.
That's when the piss-haired hell spawn appeared.
”What’s happening here~ Oh, hey Keiji.”
”Good evening, Atsumu-san.”
Bokuto jumped up and down, “We think S’kusa’s note is the beginning of a love confession.”
Hinata sprinted towards them, even though he was on the complete other side of the court.
”UWAH- YOU THINK SO?”
”Kotarou- no. Nobody thinks that.” Akaashi grumbled.
”Well I do.” Bokuto grinned.
Atsumu seemed to cringe as he heard that statement.
”Y-Ya’ think it’s a love confession? But they literally insulted Omi- why’d ya’ say that?”
Hinata frowned, “Well Tobio calls me dumbass all the time and he still loves me.”
”Does he, Shoyou?”
”YES HE DOES.”
“Well, what’dya think Omi?” Atsumu turned to Sakusa.
Sakusa had already left the conversation, beginning to spike a ball.
”YOU GOTTA STOP LEAVIN’ WHEN WE’RE TALKING TO YA’.”
Sakusa shot a look at Atsumu, “Do I think what?”
Thomas sighed, “Dude wasn’t listening.”
”Do ya’ think the person who sent you the note is yer secret admirer?”
Sakusa lifted an eyebrow, “Dunno. Maybe.”
Atsumu shivered, “Would you accept their confession if they did confess to you?”
Sakusa only looked back to spike the ball, shrugging, “Dunno. Maybe.”
Suddenly, they heard clapping from the other side of the net.
”Stop harassing Kiyoomi.” Meian instructed, “go get water and you’re all running a shit-ton of laps when we get back.”
The team groaned, but quietly obeyed. Sakusa made his way to the bench when-
Fuck.
He left his water bottle in his locker. How did he even do that?
”OMI-OMI~” Atsumu screeched from the court.
Sakusa was changing into his jersey when he heard Atsumu yell out his name.
”What.” He grumbled, loud enough so he could hear him from outside.
”Uhm- Meian-san said he wanted to see you. And it’s urgent.” Atsumu continued, sprinting into the room.
”Why.”
”I don’t know. He just said he did. Now shoo.”
”Wait, my water-“
”I’LL TAKE CARE OF IT SHOO.”
Meian hadn’t asked to see him.
He nodded to Hinata.
”Tell Meian-san I’m getting my water in my locker.”
”Why me.” Hinata groaned. Apparently Hinata hated the responsibility of reminding others. Sakusa rolled his eyes.
”Because you’re great at remembering things.”
”-volleyball related. And he’s gonna be piss- fine walk away then.”
Sakusa waved away as he strolled into the locker room.
”Where’s Omi-kun going?” Atsumu whispered to Hinata.
”He’s going.. he’s going.. SHIT WHERE’S HE GOING AGAIN?!”
”Locker room.” Akaashi stated from the bleachers.
”Yes. There.”
”He is?!“
”Huh?” Hinata leaned in, narrowing his eyes.
”NOTHING.”
”What’s up with you? You’re very jumpy.” Inunaki joined in, grinning slyly.
”I’m not. Just- tired is all.”
”Tired? From what.”
“Well, you see, it’s-“
”OKAY. WHO WAS IT.”
The boys whipped around to see Sakusa with his water bottle.
And a cactus.
"Why do you have a cactus in your hand."
"I don't know."
"What the fuck do you mean you don't know?"
"It was in my locker. I don't know."
"Okay." Meian sighed, rubbing his temples, "Who was it? Come forward now."
Sakusa grumbled nonsense, carrying the cactus in his hand.
Sakusa glared at it like it was a human he hated. Like absolutely hated. He looked at it like he looked at a public restroom.
"Is there a note?" Bokuto spoke up excitedly.
"Who cares. I don't want this."
"I SEE A NOTE!" Hinata exclaimed, leaning down under the cactus pot.
Sakusa groaned, not wanting to look.
"Read it." Inunaki grinned.
"No."
"Read it."
"I'm not going to read it."
"Why not?"
"It's gonna be a dig on me. I know it."
"That's why it's so fun!"
"It's not."
"Fine then!" Inunaki snatched the cactus, looking at the bottom of it. He ripped off a slip of paper, the team huddling in to read it.
Inunaki read the note aloud.
"'You're like a cactus. You're prickly and no one likes to touch you. But you're the best part of the dry ecosystem you live in.'"
The team went quiet. Suddenly, Hinata spoke up.
”Wow, meteorologist much?”
”SHOYOU-“
"I TOLD YOU. IT IS A LOVE NOTE. THEY JUST COMPLIMENTED YOU."
Thomas pretended a microphone was in his hands as he shoved it into Sakusa's face.
"Kiyoomi. Any words?"
Sakusa was baffled.
"Shut up." He whispered.
HInata cheered, taking the cactus.
"Oh well, I'll take Sakusa Prickl-oomi then."
He was about to bring it near him as Sakusa snatched it back. The whole team raised their eyebrows.
"No. I want it."
And so the objects kept on coming. Every single day, the anonymous person would leave an odd object in Sakusa's locker with a note giving him a simile comparative to the object. The more days that went on, the more anticipated Sakusa got with each note. By the second week, Sakusa had learned to appreciate the objects given to him, even if it took up almost half of his apartment.
The next object the Jackals almost missed because it was so plain.
But shit, did Sakusa notice.
"What do we have today?!" Hinata asked excitedly, slamming open Sakusa's locker.
Sakusa shrugged sheepishly, "I don't know."
"Ooh! I wanna see!" Bokuto shoved Hinata out of the way to crowd the lockers.
The two bombarded Sakusa's locker frantically.
After a few seconds, both boys deflated.
"What?" Sakusa asked.
"There's nothing in there." Hinata pouted.
Sakusa froze. Nothing in there? The admirer must've given up. Good. That's good. He didn't care.
Not at all.
Inunaki rolled his eyes, "Good. It's not funny anymore. It used to be exciting but now it's gotten old."
Atsumu frowned, "Well maybe it's not s'posed to be funny. Maybe the person was serious."
Inunaki grinned, "You would know."
Sakusa furrowed his eyebrows, locking eyes with Atsumu. Atsumu's cocky expression had disappeared into an embarrassed one. He quickly looked away, gathering his things, his face getting red. Sakusa felt his face. It was warm. I guess it was pretty hot in here.
"I-I have no idea what yer' talking about." Atsumu stammered, shutting his locker and running out onto the court.
Sakusa shot Inunaki a look, "What's wrong with Miya?"
"Oh, nothing."
Sakusa scowled as he went through his locker once more. He put away from clothes, neatly folding them and placing them on the shelf. When he took out his shoes, he paused looking at the ground.
A pencil?
Nah, that was probably already in there. He just forgot that he left it maybe?
Wait.
Wrong.
Sakusa never left anything misplaced.
He looked around to see if his teammates were still there.
None.
He slowly picked up the pencil and examined it carefully.
Under where the pencil was lay a long slip of paper. Ah.
Here was the next object.
He took the note into his hands, reading it carefully.
"'You're like this pencil. Sharp, really, really, really useful, and filled with so much potential at second glance.'"
Kiyoomi's face formed into a shade of red as he looked around to see if he could find any hints of who left the pencil.
This was..
Nice.
It felt nice. To know that somebody liked him. Or appreciated him. Or thought he was useful. He needed that. Whoever that person was, who sent him these notes-
Maybe he would accept their confession.
He carefully attempted to put the slip of paper back in the locker when he dropped it.
Damn it.
He leaned down to pick it up when he realized what had been on the back side.
He picked it up quickly, bringing it closely to his face.
He knew it.
Oh my god.
Atsumu was just practicing his setting with Hinata. The usual.
He was fine.
Completely fine.
Completely totally fine.
Deep breath, 'Tsumu.
You're good.
He doesn't know.
He's as dense as the rock you gave him two days ago.
He'll never kn-
"Miya."
Atsumu stopped mid-set, the ball hitting the top of his head as he whipped around to see Sakusa.
"Omi-kun, hey. What's up?" He grinned nervously, glancing at Hinata for help. Instead, Hinata got out his phone and began calling his boyfriend.
Fuck you Tobio.
"I need to talk to you." Sakusa stated nonchalantly, holding a pencil in his-
Shit that was the pencil from today's gift.
"W-Well, I'm right here. You can talk to me. Now. Right here."
Sakusa looked down, fidgeting with his fingers.
"I mean-- in private."
Atsumu's heart fucking stopped doing whatever the hell it was supposed to be doing.
Shit.
"Ooh~ Trouble in paradise?" Thomas butted in, leaning his head towards the two. Inunaki dragged him away, "Shut up."
"Why? Did I do something-?" Atsumu stammered, looking away.
"Maybe."
"What's that s'posed to mean?!"
"I need to talk to you."
Atsumu sighed. There's no way to avoid it now.
"I guess. Should we go outside or-"
"Locker room is fine."
ATSUMU DID NOT WANT HIS HEART BROKEN IN THE LOCKER ROOM.
"It's really nice outsi-"
"Okay, we can go outside then."
PEOPLE MAY HEAR ATSUMU GETTING HIS HEART BROKEN OUTSIDE AND HE WOULD DIE.
"I-I MEAN- I mean- Locker room is coolio."
"What?"
"What?"
Sakusa frowned, "Are you alright?"
"'M great. Epic. Amazing. Let's talk now."
Sakusa raised an eyebrow. Atsumu pretended not to see the twinkle in his eyes, as if he was smiling.
"Okay.."
The two made their way into the locker room, Kiyoomi shutting the door.
"Do ya' needa shut the door? I-It's kinda hot-"
"Yes."
"Okay then."
Sakusa took a deep breath and sat down.
Atsumu watched as he patted the spot on the bench beside him. Atsumu took it slowly, "So.. what is it?"
"I know it's you."
Atsumu choked on the air, coughing into his elbow. Sakusa flinched.
"You know what's me?"
"Don't act stupid, Miya. You know what I'm talking about."
"I don't like when ya' call me that."
"Okay. Atsumu, you know what I'm talking about."
Atsumu had a mental aneurysm at the use of his full name.
"Enlighten me." He croaked.
"The annoying notes and gifts. I know it's you."
Atsumu scowled.
"They're not annoying."
"So you admit it is you."
Atsumu's jaw dropped.
Shit.
"Uhm- I mean to say, I was tryin' to-"
"Why?" Sakusa asked quietly, fidgeting with the pencil in his hands.
"Why..?"
"Why would you do all this for me? It's weird." Sakusa mumbled, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.
Uhh- well.
I'm kind of in love with you, and I don't know how to express those feelings so I verbally insult you when I secretly wanna fuck you so bad and want to tell you I love you. But I'm terrible at talking to you because you're so blunt and I'm afraid that you're gonna leave the team and stop being my sort-of-friend if I confess and I'm scared how you might react because you never seemed the least bit fruity to me until-
"Just 'cause."
Sakusa sighed, looking out at his locker.
A silence overtook them as Atsumu wanted to jump off the fucking Skytree.
Suddenly, Sakusa spoke.
"Is it like Bokuto said?" He said quietly, still staring at his locker.
Atsumu frowned.
"What'dya mean?"
"Are these- or are what you- are they confession notes?"
Atsumu sucked in a breath, looking at everything but Sakusa.
Were they confession notes?
"Uhm, I- I g- I guess they were ."
Fuck, he was about to get slapped. Or killed. Or stabbed. Or sprayed with Lysol.
Sakusa's head snapped to Atsumu. Atsumu looked at him for the first time. Sakusa's eyes were wide as he stared into Atsumu's. Atsumu wanted to silently snap his own neck.
All of a sudden, Sakusa took off his mask, handing it to Atsumu.
"Omi what the hell-"
..
"I guess- I guess you're like this mask. You make me feel safe and nice and I don't think I could live without you. Or whatever."
I-
Atsumu's jaw dropped as he hesitantly took the mask from Sakusa's hands. When he accidentally took him, Sakusa didn't flinch. He kept his eyes on Atsumu nervously.
Atsumu finally whispered.
"Can I kiss you?"
Sakusa let out a breath before replying.
"Yeah."
Atsumu held Sakusa's cheek and slowly pulled him in for a kiss. Their lips connected softly as Atsumu smiled with it. He could've sworn Sakusa was smiling too. They locked together perfectly, as Atsumu held Sakusa in a careful position. The kiss only lasted for a few seconds, Sakusa quickly pulling away, his face incredibly red, snatched his mask, and smacked it back on.
Atsumu whined, "Omi-kun~"
"Stop-"
"I didn't-"
"Stop it 'Tsumu."
"Did ya' just call me-"
"NO."
"Okay Kiyoomi , how'd ya' know it was me?" Atsumu grinned, pulling Sakusa in for a hug. Sakusa didn't pull away, nesting his chin on Atsumu's shoulders.
"You wrote the note on the back of your receipt to Onigiri Miya's."
Fuck.
"That doesn't explain-"
"The name was written as 'The Fugly Ripoff Miya'."
"Yeah that makes sense."
He pulled Sakusa in closer, and Sakusa didn't resist.
The two stayed there until the end of practice.
Until the team broke down the door, flinging condoms at them.
"IF I SEE SOMETHING WHITE ON MY LOCKER DOOR I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD-"
"SHUT YER' TRAP INUNAKI."
Atsumu was tired.
He was so fucking sleepy.
'Samu and his boyfriend made him third-wheel a horror movie and Atsumu could not fall asleep after.
This wasn't good.
He was ready to collapse as he opened his locker.
When he did, a yellow, black, and white volleyball rolled out.
He frowned as he lifted it up, noticing scrawly words written on it.
"Huh?" He said aloud, looking around. Who put this here?
He quietly read what had been scribbled on the ball.
"'You're just like volleyball. Without you, my life is pointless'."
He read the signature at the bottom.
Love,
Your (not so secret) admirer,
Omi-kun