Chapter Text
“Atsumu dear, remember what I told you yesterday?” The Miya mother spoke with a queit voice
“Yes mom. Why do you ask?” Little Atsumu answered with a desperate tone in his voice
“Nothing. Just remember daddy does this because he love us. Let’s listen to the rain okay?”
They sit by the window. With Atsumu’s mother, Asami, threading her fingers through the brown hair. Atsumu’s father was always violent. Doesn’t matter if he’s sober or drunk, he takes his anger out on his son and wife. Atsumu had Always been a victim to his harsh words, brutal beatings, and his favoritism towards his twin brother. Whenever the other twin wasn’t around or asleep that’s when the older male struck.
At only 10 years old Atsumu had learned to block out the harshest words in the book. The stinging that leave’s his body after being hit with a beer bottle.
His mother was no better. The poor younger lady had harsh scars covering her stomach and below. Her eyes were filled with nothing but sorrow and loneliness but, the look she gave her two sons were always filled with love.
The reason rain was so important to Atsumu is because on rainy days his father would be stuck in traffic. Osamu would be home unable to play with friends. His mother would cuddle both twins closely but Atsumu a little closer. Rain always symbolized hope and freedom for Atsumu. Though he always knew he couldn’t be free.
At eleven years old he started volleyball to pass the free time at home. He met this kid. His name was Aran, he was one of Atsumu’s first friends, that wasn’t Osamu’s also, the twin felt special. He felt happy.
Happiness doesn’t always last long.
“Oh Aran? Yeah I met him last week why?” Osamu said bluntly
“Oh haha, I just saw him at volleyball try outs and you two seemed to already know each other.” Atsumu’s voice faded out at the end.
Friend.
When Atsumu was in middle school he was put in the advanced classes. His goal was always to be different from his brother. They have the same friends, same hair, same body, same eyes, same everything.
Atsumu was sick of it.
He just wanted to be different from his brother.
So when he became the popular twin that everyone loves he was happy.
When he became the twin everyone invited to their houses he was happy.
When he was the twin that the kids whispered rude remarks in his ears to, he was unhappy.
When he was the twin that were told vulgar secrets because “no one would believe him,” he was unhappy.
When his father saw he was getting older and “could take more pain,” he grew numb.
When he told Osamu his struggles and all he got back was “Everyone hates you ‘Tsumu.” He gave up.
In high school he kept his fake personality. He kept everything the same. The same good grades, the same popular guy status, his volleyball career.
The only thing that changed was his father.
Now that he’s older the pain he was enduring only got worse. The words only got harsher. He was sure he heard every word in the book.
One night Atsumu felt so helpless so hopeless that he couldn’t do anything. He couldn’t breathe and only could repeat one word.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
His mind was a blank mess while tears fell endlessly from his tired honey eyes. He couldn’t control himself his life was spinning in circles. Though his breakdown seemed so loud in his ears, it was as quiet as a mouse.
No one could hear his pleas for help. No one could grab his hand and tell him he was okay. No one could control him. Atsumu Miya was uncontrollable and no one could stop it. Not even his worn out mother. Not even his brother. Not even his friends.
Friends. That’s not the right word.
Just like always no one could save him.
No one could...right?
Atsumu stopped for a second. The sound of rain echoed through the lonely room. He got up feeling weak and pathetic. The setter didn’t bother getting a jacket.
Atsumu stepped out in the rain feeling a wash of relief flood his senses. He walked to what felt like hours. Those hours Atsumu had time to think. To think about what rain symbolized. Hope.
Miya Atsumu is his name. He’s a 15 year old first year in the Inarizaki volleyball club. He’s in class 2, the advance class, and the most popular guy at school. Not to mention his poorly dyed hair by his mom. He had just broke down in his bedroom floor and is currently walking in the rain bound to get sick.
Atsumu sits down on the park bench and let’s the refreshingly cool rain come down on him. He doesn’t have his phone with him, it’s just him and his mind watching the sun rise and feeling the rain get lighter.
He doesn’t know how long he’s been there, but it’s long enough to for a stranger to hand him an umbrella, though not just any stranger, Sakusa Kiyoomi.
”Why hello Omi, visiting yer grandpa again?” Atsumu says in a horse voice. Sakusa’s chuckle fills the quiet air.
“No you imbecile, we have a practice match. Remember?” Sakusa says reassuringly,
”Oh we do. I’m sorry I must have been in the rain to long,”
”You’re not one to forget these things Miya.”
”Mm true, wanna watch the sunrise with me?”
”Only for a couple minutes.”
Sakusa and Atsumu met during they’re elementary years. Sakusa was visiting his grandfather for the summer and ran into the honey eyed child. He didn’t know he grew a liking to Atsumu until summer ended and he had to go home.
Every summer they would meet up. Sakusa had brought Atsumu a hope just like the rain did. Once he found out that he had a practice match with him that hope had happened once again. Atsumu was finally happy. Finally safe.
“Wanna talk now?” Sakusa spoke up filling the silence
”Just the usual. I saw the rain and became hopeful. Why are you out?”
Atsumu replied laying his head on the taller’s shoulder. Sakusa laid his head on Atsumu’s.
“I wanted to go for a run. Needed to find some use of my energy, specially because my team is gonna kick yours assess.”
Atsumu chuckled.
“Not when they have an awesome setter like me. Yer to cocky omi.”
”mm your rubbing off on me. Next thing you know I’ll have your horrendous accent.” Sakusa shivered at the thought.
Silence lingered the air again.
The two men had stayed in touch when Sakusa got his first phone. They stayed in touch all year long. It wasn’t until they met again in the summer that Atsumu spoke on his home situation. Sakusa had finally saw what those hooded eyes were truly hiding. He had finally realized why Atsumu spent most his days outside.
The day Atsumu broke his silence he quietly broke down. Although Sakusa isn’t one for physical touch he grabbed the twin by his head and forced him to look his way. He spoke kind words to the older. They silently hugged in the rain.
Rain for Sakusa meant nothing. He hadn’t thought of it being anything special. It meant icky weather, worms, and a terrible smell that filled the whole bus. Until the day his childhood friend broke down on his shoulder in the rain he was opened to a new world. A new world of touch and love.
At that moment of Atsumu’s breakdown, middle school Kiyoomi learned his hidden love for Atsumu. He learned how he naturally felt the need to protect him from anything or anyone.
Sakusa loves Astumu.
But love doesn’t always last forever in his story.