Archive of Our Own

From the moment Hajime first saw that cream colored envelope, complete with a gaudy wax seal on the back that made it stand out amongst the pile of junk mail on his coffee table, his eyes immediately rolled in irritation.

Another wedding invitation? With everything that happened last year due to Covid-19, hundreds of thousands of weddings were either cancelled or postponed, leaving the calendar months of spring and summer of 2021 to be filled to the brim with wedding after wedding. And with Hajime’s age, a cool twenty-six, there’s a good fraction of his high school graduating class who are either engaged or already married. You can see where this is going;

He already received five invitations during the month of April alone, and another four the month before that. He only RSVP’d to two of those nine due to family requirements.

Well, none of the guys are in serious relationships and I haven’t heard anything from my mom lately about any more engaged aunts... What’s the point of even opening this one? It’s probably just another one of Stinkykawa’s fangirls from Seijoh, hoping I’ll bring him as a plus one.

Yep, two of those nine aforementioned wedding invitations had little post-scripts requesting he bring his famous, pro volleyball player best friend. He didn’t even respond to those two, whereas the rest of his declined invitations at least received a polite no thank you.

He picked up the envelope and looked at it closer, noting the entangled initials stamped into the dollop of red sealing wax. The letters didn’t ring any bells, and honestly he could barely make the curvaceous font out to tell what letters they even were.

He really wanted to drop it in the trash and forget about it, but the foreboding feeling in his chest only festered even more at the thought. He’s polite, first and foremost, as well as respectful. No one, save for those two selfish brides several invitations ago, deserved to be treated that way.

So he opened the envelope, and he was met with three separate pieces of colored paper. The colors ranged from a light pink sandy color, to a light coral- or was it a soft rose? To the darkest color there, of which can only be described as a deep and dusty blush. The paper was thicker, and the writing almost seemed as if the words were etched into the piece. Whomever this invitation belonged to was clearly wealthy, since it seemed so high quality and-

Wait.

His eyes quickly scanned over the lightest colored page, seeing in big golden letters;

Please join us for the wedding of

Y/N

&

Yoshiro

6 | 10 | 2021

Three PM

The Westin Sendai

Hajime’s heart plummeted, landing in the soles of his feet as he nearly choked on nothing.

That… that can’t be right. Y/N? She- she’s getting married?

Before jumping to even more conclusions and losing himself in his own panic, he moved to the next piece of paper, the one that’s a light coral or rosy color. This paper had the most writing on it, with big bold lettering of ~DETAILS~ at the top. Following that, there’s a list of need-to-know things; like dress code (black tie,) food menu options (two meat, two vegetarian, two fish,) general rules (no children allowed, apparently,) and of course- the fact that there was an open bar. There’s mentions of hotel room rates and directions to the venue, as well as details pertaining to entertainment like who the band was and their respective socials.

Even with all of the information laid out in front of him, it still didn’t click for him yet. There was no way that this was happening, it had to be some sick joke from Oikawa or Hanamaki- he definitely wouldn’t put it past Matsukawa either. It’s not until he went to grab his phone and dial up one of his friends to question them that his eyes fell upon the third paper, the darkest of the three, which was an “RSVP by this day” slip.

There was a polaroid photo hidden behind it, which he hadn’t noticed or seen in the envelope in the first place. Taking the film between his fingers, he picks it up to inspect it more with a knot in his throat. It’s a photo of you and your fiancée, standing outside underneath a cherry blossom tree that looked like it was due to bloom any minute. The photo had to have been taken in early April, only a month ago, and he can’t help but scrutinize.

Your fiancée, Yoshiro, looked like a stuck up schmuck who’s never seen a gym in his life. Ridiculously tall with gangly limbs, and a boring face that could get lost in a crowd far too easily; even if he were standing next to you, you’d likely lose him somehow. How the hell did this man manage to catch your attention? He wasn’t anything special and didn’t look to have any redeeming qualities, which only succeeded in making Hajime that much more frustrated. If the photo wasn’t laminated, it would have probably been wrinkled or bent already.

You, however, were the photo’s saving grace. You were captivating, flawlessly imperfect, and Hajime wished it were him standing behind you. You looked so soft, happy and smiling, and for a moment he was even jealous of the photographer for being able to see you that happy in person. Something he hasn’t seen in some time which was his own damn fault.

He hadn’t seen you properly in a couple of years, not since he first came back to Japan when everyone came together to welcome him home from America. Since then, he’d been so busy with networking, finding work, and then actually working. Not that he was disappointed with his job, of course not, he couldn’t see himself doing anything differently- except for the fact that you weren’t included somehow. 

Juggling a social life on top of his work was something new to him and he failed, hard. He didn’t have to worry too much about managing work and play when he was in America; either his American friends were in the same classes as him or they lived in the same dormitory, so he didn’t have to explicitly try.

God, did he regret not trying to keep in touch with you. You were single back then, and it sounds awful to say but- at the time, he wasn’t exactly worried. About you straying far away, that is. He definitely didn’t expect time to fly so fast, but…

Years ago, back when you and Hajime were just the sweetest (and possibly the funniest) little kids in the neighborhood, you did the most bizarre thing.

Your little four year old self had just finished watching a movie where the main character ended up getting married, and in turn you looked up at your mother to ask the dreaded question; “Mommy, why do people get married?”

She told you that people get married when they love each other. Without giving your tiny little brain time to process what that meant, you instantly responded in kind with an “I’m gonna marry Hajime!”

Chalking it up to a case of Kids say the Darndest Things, she pandered to you, asking you all about when, why, and what your wedding would be like. Your little self made it up as you went, describing a ridiculously extravagant affair which painted the craziest picture of a wedding she’d ever heard of. I mean, really Y/N, you wanted dinosaurs as your wedding cake topper.

After you finished making your mother giggle enough for the next month, you got up and rushed to your home's front door, plopping your pajama-clad bottom on the floor so you could pull on your big squeaky rain boots. Your mother followed after you, giving you a knowing smirk as she leaned against the wall.

“And where are you going?”

“I have to go pruh-pose to Haji, or we’ll never get married!” - You didn’t bother with socks, just shucking your feet into the rubber shoes, when you noticed your mother’s wedding ring sparkle in the sunlight that came through the window. Before throwing yourself out the door, you looked at your mother with a determined (and scrunched up) face. - “Mommy, I don’t have a ring!"

Your mother paused at that declaration, surprised that you would even think of a ring. In the movie, the man gave the woman the ring, but then again… gender norms, am I right? She told you to wait right there before she went to her bedroom, coming back in less than a minute with a small ring she’d retrieved from her jewelry box. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple silver pinky ring that didn’t fit her anymore. But on your tiny hands at the time, it fit normally. So she handed it to you with a “be careful, don’t lose it,” and then you were rushing out of the house.

Hajime only lived two houses down and the sun was still up, so your mother didn’t worry, especially when she saw Hajime’s father’s car parked in the driveway. You would be fine, and depending on little Hajime’s reaction, you were going to either have an amazing time or have your first little heartbreak.

“Y/N, darling, I thought we talked about this- I know you hate the lotion, but it’s supposed to clear up your skin! You want to look good for all the pictures you’re gonna take during your honeymoon!”

The vile-smelling bottle of ointment was shoved into your reluctant hands once more by your soon-to-be monster-in-law. Ever since you and Yoshiro had revealed that you were going to honeymoon in Bora Bora, your personal choice despite numerous complaints from other family members, your fiancée’s mother had been forcing you to use a stupid all-in-one miracle lotion. It was supposed to erase stretch marks, skin discoloration, and freckles/blemishes; all of these things that you had on your torso area. You were overweight when you were younger, and to be honest you still held that nice amount of chub around your middle that you slowly grew to love over the years, but your soon-to-be family had always disapproved of your appearance.

“Yoshiro could do better, why didn’t he just make it work with his last girlfriend? She was so beautiful-”

Yeah, she was gorgeous and out of his league- but she only wanted him for his money. You weren’t going to lie to yourself and act like that wasn’t a pretty hefty bonus in being with him; you were going to be set for life with no financial worries because he came from old money, it’s not as if you were a saint. You were only human, after all.

But how were you supposed to tell your in-laws that their “amazing” son had a fetish for women like you, which was the whole reason he was drawn to you in the first place?

Yeah, that’s definitely something worthy of a wedding toast…

After numerous failed attempts at building somewhat meaningful relationships over the years, you were just about ready to give up when you met Yoshiro just over a year ago. Your meeting wasn’t exactly memorable, and the both of you chose to make up some elaborate lie when family asked how you’d met, but it wasn’t exactly romantic to say you’d met online. You might as well have put “We swiped right!” on the wedding invitations… Actually, that would have been pretty cute and quirky. But traditional families, right? Horrible.

“I’m sorry, I-”

“Don’t bother with the sorry, Y/N. Put an alarm on your phone or something so you remember to apply it. It’s not going to give you that full effect unless you religiously do it. The wedding is only a month away, which means your honeymoon is a month away!”

And the inevitable Facebook photo album that she wanted you to post for the family- to document your trip and exaggerate how amazing it was. It was only fair, since they were footing the bill and all.

“Right…”

As you hiked up your shirt to reluctantly apply the sour-smelling all organic paste to your abdomen, your mother in law started to prattle on once more;

“Anyways, the RSVP’s have finally arrived, all forty two of them. I had to make a few calls but it wasn’t an issue. Adding it all up, guests and plus ones who’ve said yes to attending, we have a whopping total of sixty three guests! I just wanted to let you know-”

Your neck cracked from the speed of which you turned your head to look at her, the nasty paste sticking to your fingers when you drop your shirt back down.

“Oh! Can- can I see the list?”

Your mother-in-law rolled her eyes, returning her gaze back down to her phone so that she could continue going through her emails.

“If you’re wondering about those boys you invited, the ones you-” She pointedly rolls her eyes and, if she weren’t holding her phone she’d likely have given you air quotes. “ -went to school with. I’m afraid only half of them are RSVP'd.”

Hajime, Tooru, Issei, and Takahiro. Your former high school classmates as well as close friends, were the only non-family invitations you’d sent out. Hearing that only two of them intended to attend your big day, a day you’d never thought would actually come, made your heart sting with disappointment. 

You figured that Tooru would have been a long shot, with him being on the other side of the world following his dreams and all, but dread filled you as you instantly assumed Hajime to be the second to decline.

Issei wouldn’t miss it for the world and was immensely happy for you; he assured you of that when he commented on your engagement reveal via instagram with a surprisingly long and dry humor-ridden congratulations. 

And Takahiro, well, he was a coin toss for sure. Being between jobs last you’d heard, you knew that it was unrealistic and selfish to assume he’d possibly risk asking for time off from a new job. Not to mention it’s not exactly cheap to go to a wedding- from the clothes, to the transportation, down to possibly even having to stay in a hotel if need be. It’s just so stressful, you know? Maybe it’s just him and Tooru, leaving it to be Issei and Hajime-

“Ah, there they are. I should really alphabetize the list when I get a chance... Matsukawa and Iwaizumi, right? Those are the two brute friends of yours?”

Hearing confirmation that it was Tooru and Takahiro who couldn’t make it, versus the possibility of Hajime being one of them, surprisingly made you feel immense relief. The thought of Hajime not attending was worst case scenario-

“They’re also listed as bringing one plus-one each.”

…

Scratch that. Somehow, and you hadn’t a clue why, but hearing that managed to make you feel… sour.

Your little legs could only move so fast as you hurried down the sidewalk and across the dry summer grass of the Iwaizumi’s front lawn, with an adult-sized pinkie ring clutched tight in your small fist. After knocking on the door excitedly, hardly able to contain your own giggles as you waited for someone to answer the door, you were greeted by the sight of Hajime’s father. He stood over you, tall and intimidating as ever, as he peered further out the door to look for your mother. When he didn’t see her, he looked back down at you with a gentle smile, as he stepped to the side to let you toddle inside of his home like so many times before.

“Y/N-chan, it’s nice to see you. I didn’t know you and Hajime had a playdate scheduled today…”

“Oh, we don’t!”

The older man chuckled, rolling his eyes at your antics. Between you and Tooru, he’s joked with Hajime’s mother about putting a NO VACANCY sign on the front door, with how often the two of you came around to steal his son away on your little adventures.

“Is that so?” - Rhetorically, he turned to face the stairs that led upstairs to let out a holler. - “Hajime! Y/N is here to see you!”

Not even bothering to wait for further invitation, you ducked behind the tall man and shot up the stairs, leaving him to roll his eyes and follow after you. It just so happened that he had to go upstairs is all, not that he wanted to eavesdrop. You politely knocked twice before pushing the Godzilla-sticker-covered door open, revealing an equally small Hajime (who was also still in his pajamas.)

He looked up at you in alarm, blinking away his confusion as he saw his dad walk behind you toward his own bedroom- indicating that no, you didn’t just walk into his house like the last time.

"Y/N? What’re you doin’ here? We played yesterday with Tooru!”

He scrambled up to his feet, leaving his Lego masterpiece on the floor. You bounced on the balls of your feet excitedly, hardly able to contain yourself.

“I gotta give you something!”

What you definitely didn’t notice was Hajime’s father coming back out from his room with a camera in his hands, ready to record whatever silliness you were up to while his wife wasn’t home.

“Did you get a new toy?”

"Nope!” - You stepped up to him and grabbed his hand, only confusing him further. - “I came over to tell you ‘bout how I’m gonna marry you when we’re grown ups!”

A deep and surprised gasp erupted behind you, showing off how his father reacted, whereas you beamed up at Hajime with your one-or-two missing toothed smile. Hajime, however, only gaped in awe.

“Whaaaat?”

You opened your opposite hand to show off the ring your mother had given you, managing to slip it on at least one of his pudgy little fingers- his index, oopsie.

“Yeah! You gotta get a suit, I get a pretty dress, and then we kiss and dance and live happy ever after!”

“B-but we’re kids, only grown ups get married!”

You brushed him off with a scoff;

“I’ll even let you put Godzilla or Legos on the cake!’

And that was the game changer for tiny little Hajime Iwaizumi, who then took your hand in his and shook it with enough enthusiasm to make your head bob.

“You got a deal!”

Hajime was even more surprised to receive an invitation to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding; they were typically held for just immediate family and those who were in the wedding party or spouses, so what was so special for him to be invited?

“I’m tellin’ you, Iwa, she sees you as family! You guys grew up together, right? You, Oikawa, and her lived in the same neighborhood, yeah?”

And so Hajime found himself grabbing lunch with Issei to unload his woes, since Tooru wasn’t due back from Argentina until the beginning of June. And Issei wasn’t being the best therapist, he just tells you how he sees it; blunt and truthful honesty. So when he saw Hajime plop himself down at the bar, with a rich-textured card in his hands that requested his RSVP to the wedding rehearsal dinner, Issei couldn’t help but tell him just how pathetic he looked.

“Yeah, I just... I can’t help how I feel, you know? I messed up. And yeah, I have to deal with it, don’t remind me. I wouldn’t dream of ruining her day. If” - He hesitated, swallowing the doubt in his throat before clearing it. - “If she’s happy, I’m happy.”

Issei went to open his mouth to respond with a dry remark, likely to call Hajime out on his own bullshit, but was interrupted when their server came around to drop off their round of drinks. He tucked a stray curl behind his ear and sighed, deciding against it. Shaming Hajime for his feelings, that he should have acted on years ago, wouldn’t do anything except make him feel worse, and he was already miserable as is. 

“For what it’s worth?” - Hajime looked up from his glass to solemnly stare into Issei’s dark eyes, which shone with a mix of pity and understanding. - “I think she’d be happier with you, regardless.”

Hajime nodded slowly, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth before bringing his glass back up to take a generous sip. He’d have to brace himself for the inevitable despair he’ll feel when he watches her walk down the aisle. To promise herself to a man that isn’t him.

Weeks passed and suddenly the day before the wedding arrived, leaving everyone either too excited to stand still for more than three minutes or worried beyond belief. You were stressed out because of the expectations that Yoshiro’s family kept thrusting upon you, reminding you about correcting your posture and smiling whenever the photographer came around to snap some pictures. Or every time Yoshiro’s mother criticized your choice of dress, mid-length and off the shoulder which reached just below your knees, accentuating your curves in all of the right places. You didn’t want to hide your body with unnecessary layers or sleeves since you liked yourself plenty enough, and you knew you looked amazing regardless of Yoshiro’s mother’s ridiculous standards.

You’d opted out of a wedding rehearsal, it just felt too unnecessary- all you had to do was walk down the aisle. But Yoshiro’s mother demanded a rehearsal dinner, to mourn her son’s last night as a man who wasn’t married to you, evidently. And so you gave her just that; you rented out restaurant space near the Westin Sendai hotel where your ceremony was to take place the next day, and invited only a fraction of the extensive guest list. Your invitation list is as follows; immediate family, your wedding party and their respective spouses or plus ones, any guest who wasn’t from the immediate area, and finally… Issei and Hajime, your only personal invites. Their invitations extended to their plus ones as well, which tugged at the little knot in your throat persistently when you received an RSVP confirming that they would be accepting the offer to bring their dates.

Why now, as you entered the restaurant with your fiancée to celebrate the last day of your engagement, was your head filled with nothing but doubt and disappointment?

-

Hajime wasn’t ready to face you- to see you happy with a man that wasn’t him, laughing and bonding with a family that wasn’t his. He didn’t give a single damn about anyone else attending the dinner, except for you and your family; a family that he grew up with and already considered his own in more ways than one. How many days and nights did he spend at your home during your collective childhood? The amount of times he found himself dropped off at your doorstep, for late afternoon playtime and dinner while his parents worked at their demanding jobs (a doctor and nurse, surprisingly enough,) was countless. If it weren’t for Tooru and the boys’ own respective closeness, he might as well have been legally adopted into your family after a certain point.

“Oh, come now, Iwa-chan! Turn that frown upside down, it’s almost our little cutie’s special day!”

… He just had to get on the plane, didn’t he?

Hajime’s eye twitched as he turned around, slowly, to face his best friend of so many years. Tooru Oikawa. Pretty boy extraordinaire, Olympian-to-be, moron.

“I’m not frowning! And I thought we agreed to leave the dumb nicknames out of our mouths today, Shittykawa.”

With an angry looking pout settled on his lips, Hajime glared up at Tooru; the only thing he could claim over him today was his matter of dress, cause he damn well overdressed compared to the famous athlete. With a crisp black suit and tie, nearly identical to the other one he’d brought along to wear to the actual wedding itself (except that his other suit was lighter in color,) he definitely beat out Tooru and his light colored blazer and pants in the Who’s more fancy-dressed category. Although, seeing the telltale designer logo on Tooru’s belt, Hajime is definitely losing in regard to who’s outfit cost more.

“Guys, guys, relax. We don’t want Y/N’s uptight in-laws to throw us out before the actual wedding, do we?”

Arriving just in time to catch the end of Hajime’s irritation toward Tooru came Issei and Takahiro, the latter of which was the one to make the sarcastic remark about your fiancée’s family. Unsurprisingly, Issei wore an almost identical suit to Hajime, save for the fact that his button up was black while Hajime’s was white. Takahiro however went for a casual approach like Tooru, but definitely didn’t wear designer clothes. 

“Ha. Ha. So funny, Makki. As if she’d let them.”

Tooru’s face soured just a tad at the thought, having to ponder for a moment as to whether or not you actually would let them get tossed out. He knew you wouldn’t want them to, but with how overbearing the family came off via your text message history, he wasn’t exactly sure if you’d even have any say in the matter if it came down to it.

Hajime’s lip was curled in disgust at the thought, knowing that he’d make it a point to at least get in a few choice words with the husband-to-be before being uninvited. A loose threat here, a couple of passive aggressive remarks there, and most importantly- a promise to make his life a living hell if he hurt you.

“Come on, we should head inside and congratulate the bride before everyone else steals her attention, hm? And get good seats if they aren’t assigned.” - Issei being the cool guy he is, is relatively relaxed despite the disappointment that lingers in the air. Unlike the rest of the guys, he’s been to three separate weddings in the last month alone, so he has a pretty good idea as to what to expect when they go inside. - “And yes, Oikawa- they do do that a lot of the time.”

Peeved that Issei was still able to predict his complaints after all of these years, Tooru held his head up high and went to follow Issei inside of the restaurant with Takahiro and Hajime in tow; with Hajime at the back of the line up while he tried to psyche himself up to see you.

It’s not until the four well-dressed men walked up to the host’s podium, with Issei’s timbre voice letting the host know that they were there for the rehearsal dinner, that Hajime caught a glimpse of near-white on the other side of the nearly empty restaurant.

There you were, exchanging pleasantries with an older couple who’d arrived a few minutes before himself, with a telltale quiet demeanor that was absolutely foreign to him. Your discomfort became more evident when the host started to escort him and the guys over, especially when he heard the old woman’s bitter tone when she looked in his direction. With how overdressed she was, he could only assume that she was your mother-in-law-to-be; who else could be so disrespectful to the bride?

But when you looked over, accidentally making direct eye contact with him, he could see the relief in your eyes and in the way your shoulders relaxed;

“Hajime, you made it! Hi-” - You cut yourself off as you processed all four men standing in front of you; Hajime, Issei, Takahiro and that smug bastard Tooru, who was supposed to be in Argentina. You were royally pissed off and it radiated off of you in a silent rage. - “... Is that The Tooru Oikawa.”

In seconds, the atmosphere changed to something that was far too familiar for the five of you; like a high school memory had been plucked straight from one of their minds, even. Your hands on your waist, hip jutted to the side as you glared at the exuberant brunette. Issei couldn’t help but snicker and step to the side so that you could stomp up to Tooru and give him a judgemental glare. Tooru, however, put his hands up in mock surrender as he apprehensively smiled down at you.

“Y/N-chan, I can explain-”

You whacked him, slapping one of his raised hands (he squeaked pitifully,) before you gave him a frown that could only spell disaster and judgement.

“I thought you weren’t coming, you jerk!”

Followed immediately by you pulling the taller man into a bone crushing hug. You hadn’t seen him in person since your trip to South America during your first spring break at University, which was eight years ago now, and were almost as close to him as you were to Hajime- so you were rightfully emotional. Issei and Takahiro laughed, moving in to get their hugs, hellos, and congratulations out of the way once you were done blubbering all over Tooru’s blazer. Hajime waited patiently for his turn, chuckling as he watched Issei hold you so tight that you had to gasp for air and squirm away; but he couldn’t help but notice the disgusted look on your mother-in-law-to-be's face as you relaxed with the familiarity of your close friends. What was her problem, and why did it look as though she were more disapproving than the actual groom?

Oh yeah, Yoshiro was there. He stood off to the side, next to your parents (who looked at Hajime and the others with fondness,) staring holes into each of the Seijoh alum's heads as you were swept up into each of their embraces.

… Hajime would be lying if he didn’t feel a sick sense of joy when it was finally his turn; the way he hugged you nice and close, with your head tucked comfortably under his chin. You smelled wonderful- like home. And when he felt the tickle of your breath against his collarbone, followed by a sigh of content, he could only hope that you shared the same sentiment. 

The hug ended far too soon for Hajime’s taste; he wished he could hold onto you for just a little bit longer, but with one shared glance between Tooru and himself, he knew better. He was thankful though. Clearly, you didn’t feel your fiancée’s stare (or his mother’s) when you were in Hajime’s arms, seeing as you were completely relaxed. He saw and felt their disdain towards him loud and clear, he just didn’t give a damn. Turning his head to the side, so his cheek rested on your crown, he smiled sadly into your hair.

“Thanks for having me, Y/N.”

Who would have thought that the boys would have brought each other as their plus ones?

… Definitely not you, that’s for sure. You didn’t expect such a weight to disappear from your shoulders after realizing the fact, but it was a welcome feeling nonetheless. You just didn’t want to have to deal with any catty dates, right? Or any girls who would try to ruin the dinner by being jealous of how close you were to Hajime or Issei- that’s all it could be! You weren’t jealous, that was improbable and preposterous.

However, there was still a sliver of doubt lingering at the forefront of your mind, one that made you just a little bit irritable throughout the first half of dinner. You weren’t imagining things, right? Tooru and Hajime kept eyeing each other, just like the old days from when you were kids and they tried to hide secrets from you; you eventually caught onto their tells through sheer observation alone. For Tooru, he blinked too much, tapped his feet, and got more quiet than usual. And Hajime would scratch or pinch himself- the backs of his hands and ears, insides of his wrists, his stomach, and the tops of his thighs. He used to muss up his hair and rub at his scalp, but thankfully grew out of the habit-

Wait, why were you thinking so much about Hajime anyways?

You’re shaken from your little paranoid stupor by Yoshiro covering your hand with his;

“Apparently my father is going to be making a toast tonight. My brother too.” - Okay? Why did he feel the need to tell you this and lean so close to whisper to you about toasts? It’s the dinner before your wedding, of course people are going to be sentimental. - “... Are any of those friends of yours going to try and say anything?”

You had to blink a couple of times to try and process the venom behind Yoshiro’s tone. Why did he refer to the guys like that? Out of the eighteen guests that were here at this rehearsal dinner, the only people you had there for you were the guys and your parents. Hell, your mother was your maid of honor and your two bridesmaids were his cousins that you got along with well enough to fill your wedding party.

“I… I’m not sure? Not that I’m aware of, why do you ask?”

You don’t miss the tiny huff that Yoshiro reacted with.

“I just don’t want them to say anything weird, you know? Nobody here knows them-”

Putting your metaphorical foot down, you slid your hand out from under his in dismay. How could he invalidate them like that?

“My family knows them, Yoshiro. I grew up with Tooru and Hajime- I told you about them before! And you’ve met Issei and Hiro, don’t act like you suddenly forgot the times we used to go to the bars with them-”

“Well I’m talking about the majority here, honey. I mean, Shizuka looks like she’s only another glass of wine away from making a mockery of herself for that man Oikawa-”

An argument. During your rehearsal dinner? Why? Why would he try to ruin the night like this, with a brand of insecurity that you couldn’t understand? You shook your head and took a deep breath, ready to at least try to reassure him as quietly and quickly as possible so that he’d just stop talking.

But you’re interrupted by the soft clang of a utensil against a glass, making you turn your attention over to find Tooru standing from his seat slowly;

“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting anything, but I’m pretty sure it’s just about that time of the night where we start making toasts to the happy couple, right?”

The table was quiet, tension still lingering between Yoshiro and yourself. This was good, you tried to tell yourself. Tooru was charismatic and charming, at least enough to hopefully settle Yoshiro and his mother’s worries, so you couldn’t have asked for a better chance to prove that your friends had a right to be here. 

Looking around the table, Tooru found no visible objections- not that he would have cared, he would have continued on anyways. But goodness, Iwa looks so embarrassed. Don’t worry, friend- I won’t ruin anything for you. Tooru cleared his throat and chuckled;

“Y/N.” - Eighteen sets of eyes settled on you, causing your cheeks to light up as Tooru addressed you directly. - “First of all, thank you for letting me tag along as Iwa’s plus one. Greatly appreciated, and the menu options are to die for- my nutritionist thanks you for the pescatarian options.

As Hajime groaned into his hand, while Tooru chuckled shamelessly at his best friend’s misery, you sighed. Maybe you were wrong and Yoshiro was right about one of the guys making a speech, even though the delivery of his joke would have usually had you in stitches.

“I’m just joking around, I’m sorry. This is a serious occasion, I’ll be good, I promise. Good thing it’s a rehearsal, right? Haha. Anyways,” he cleared his throat and put on that dazzling smile of his that could make just about anyone forgive him for any stupid transgressions. Like the silliness he’d just shared. “My name is Tooru Oikawa. I’m a friend of the bride, one of her oldest and dearest, and I just wanted to take a minute or so of your time to thoroughly congratulate her and Yoshiro on their wedding.”

If looks could kill, the overly kind stare that Tooru pointed in Yoshiro’s direction would have disintegrated him on the spot. You knew Tooru well enough to know when he’s trying to kill someone with kindness, and that was definitely an attack on your husband-to-be. Looking at Issei, Takahiro, and Hajime… they had similar looks on their own faces, recognizing their best friend’s M.O.

“It’s hard to say much of anything about the bride without giving an honorable mention to my best friend, Hajime Iwaizumi. He should probably be the one making the speech, since they were closer, but I’m easier on the eyes.” Due to the fact that Tooru was seated next to Hajime, he had no issue reaching down to lightly pat his muscular shoulder. There’s a noticeable few giggles around the table at Tooru’s lighthearted jabs, whereas Hajime elected to hide his unamused face in his hands. 

“The three of us grew up together, funny enough. Three houses in a row; with Y/N’s, mine, and then Hajime’s in that order. I’d like to think I was either the glue that kept us together, or the third wheel since they were friends first. But we were thick as thieves, all the way up until we graduated high school and adulthood took us our separate ways. It took me halfway across the world to South America so that I could follow my own dreams, and the same goes for Hajime who went abroad to further his own education.”

Yoshiro’s hands flexed underneath the table, over his lap and in your plain sight. He was this angry? Over some childhood memories and talking about… you? For once, throughout this entire engagement, something was about you- finally. And he couldn’t just grin and bear it?

“I think it’s safe to assume you guys know where I’m going with this, but I’m happy to see that Y/N isn’t alone here.” Tooru’s eyes narrowed playfully as he pointed to Yoshiro in a joking manner, “You better keep our Y/N happy, buddy! I’ve got no problem with getting her a one-way-ticket to Argentina, you hear?”

That’s when Hajime nudged Tooru’s side, whispering something that sounded like something along the lines of “quit it.” Getting the picture, Tooru chuckled once more before picking up his glass from the table to finish his toast;

“Anyways, I should probably say something cute and congratulate them once more before getting out of your hair, right?” He’s given a pointed glare by Yoshiro’s mother, along with a nod from Yoshiro himself. “Right. Since this is a wedding and all, I’ve got one cute little story to share. You see, I distinctly remember a home video that was circulated amongst our parents when we were cute and small. Y’know, that age when kids just come out and say the weirdest stuff? But it’s super cute so you can’t help but smile when you see it, even if you don’t like kids.”

Your heart leapt into your throat in tandem with Hajime’s, the both of you knowing exactly what home video Tooru was referencing; the video of you proposing to Hajime, taken by his father. Over the years it became a little family joke, but it hadn’t been brought up since you’d graduated high school! So why was he bringing it up now!?

Your parents, also knowing what Tooru was talking about, looked surprisingly passive- at least, considering the fact that Tooru was talking about you claiming you were going to marry Hajime.

Fortunately for you and the already struggling reputation that you have with Yoshiro’s family, they… ate the story up exactly as Tooru intended for them to. They enjoyed it and giggled amongst themselves, all while you and Hajime apprehensively smiled in return. Even Yoshiro got a grip and relaxed.

“All in all, I’ve gotta say, I’m actually a little disappointed Y/N.” Tooru raised his glass with a wink, holding his audience on the edge of their seats as they waited for him to deliver some kind of punchline; “I have a feeling that your wedding cake isn’t going to have the Legos or Godzilla topper that you promised.”

With that, he sipped at the contents of his glass as everyone laughed and toasted. They all assumed that he was just making a baseless reference to that video, which they were right about; save for the subtle double meaning that only you, Hajime, and possibly your parents understood;

… I promised to marry Hajime. And I didn’t.

Your eyes immediately started to burn, a telltale sign that you were possibly about to cry, which led you to politely excuse yourself with the fakest smile you could muster. A heart wrenching revelation that you struggled to swallow and process was clear; the feelings that you thought you’d squashed for Hajime all those years ago didn’t fade. If anything, they just laid dormant, waiting for the perfect opportunity to rip your heart out again.

Yep, you used to be head over heels in love with your best friend, Hajime Iwaizumi. Back then, the only thing keeping you from confessing those feelings was the constant doubt. Not to mention the fear you had of ruining the connection the two of you had. And to top it all off, you didn’t understand your feelings until it was too late. What once was just a strong familiar bond, one that you firmly believed could withstand the effects of distance and time, suddenly evolved into what you could only describe as the most incessant kind of hopefulness that came with non-platonic love.

And you hated it.

We were kids- just a couple of stupid kids who had silly dreams that were easily influenced by the media we consumed. I watched a dumb movie and had the bright idea of telling Hajime we were gonna get married- kids do that, they say stupid stuff they don’t mean all the time!

Unbeknownst to you, Hajime had a similar type of epiphany after Tooru’s speech. Although, while yours was filled with bittersweet misery and anxiety, his was filled with unwavering determination- something he never lacked in life before, and he didn’t plan to suddenly lose his nerve now.

“Excuse me-” When Hajime stood from his seat and went to step away, he was stopped momentarily by Tooru’s inquisitive eye. Not even giving the know-it-all a chance to patronize him, he straightened his tie and nodded, silently assuring Tooru via their almost telepathic connection that he knew what he was doing. Tooru pursed his lips and put his hands up, gesturing that he was backing off. It’s not until Hajime made his way around the table, heading in the direction of which you went, that he concluded that his job was done.

You’re only halfway through gathering your thoughts, they truly were all over the place, when there was a knock on the bathroom door. With a hearty sniffle and a quick blow of your nose into the wad of tissue that was in your hand, you called out;

“Occupied!”

Oh god, do I sound like as much of a mess as I feel?

“Y/N? Are- are you alright?”

… Not Hajime of all people, are you kidding me?

While your heart sped up at the underlying thoughts about Hajime caring enough about you to check in on you, there was also an irrational fear of the unknown that settled in your stomach. What were you supposed to say!? That you were fine? Or should you lie and claim that the food made you ill?

“Y/N… I really need to talk to you. Please.”

Oh, but when he sounds like that, you couldn’t help the way you instantly got to your feet. Internally chastising yourself for a moment longer, you tried to mentally prepare yourself for some unknown worst possible scenario. All for naught, as every single reminder as to why there was no possibility of Hajime reciprocating your feelings started to eat you alive. A flurry of small, irrational things- all culminating to one final nail in the proverbial coffin;

I’ve known him for most of our lives- if there was ever any possibility of him having any kind of feelings for me, he would have said something a long time ago.

You unlocked the door and peaked out, seeing Hajime standing tall with a stubborn glint in his eye. He had his mind set on something and you were worried about what that might be.

The two of you were oddly silent, which made you wonder just how badly he wanted to talk to you, as he led you to the nearby door that led to the restaurant’s outdoor seating area. There were stacked tables and chairs around, but the windows looking into the restaurant itself had curtains drawn so that there was no way to see inside. Or, rather, nobody to see you outside with Hajime. 

“... Hajime?” If you didn’t know better, you could have sworn that he shook when you addressed him directly. “You, uh… you said you needed to talk to me.”

Another long pause, with only the subtle whistle of the late evening summer breeze filtering through the silence. Even your wild thoughts and crazy irrational fears were muffled as you stared at Hajime’s still figure in front of you. Even now, when you felt the most hopeless (hopelessly in love?) he still, without a doubt, is able to keep you steady.

“I messed up, Y/N.”

You both swallow in unison, the tension so thick between the both of you that you nearly choke once more. One of his hands reached over to his other hand, his fingers going to pinch and roll the skin of the back of his hand repeatedly. He was nervous? Hiding something from you?

“I didn’t stay in touch with you when I came back from America. For some selfish and stupid reason, I thought I had time to get reacquainted with Japan; find a job in my field, get settled enough so that I could do everything I wanted and more- I just- I thought I had more time!”

He went from only showing you the confliction he felt, to suddenly expressing himself so blatantly, that you were caught off guard to the point of only being able to blink.

“I thought I had more time, and then suddenly I’m getting your wedding invitation in the mail!”

The foreboding feeling in your stomach wormed its way up to your chest, squeezing your sensitive heart so tightly that it threatened to break for an umpteenth time. When an unwarranted tear rolled down your cheek, his stern and ever so determined gaze settled on your eyes once more, leaving you shocked at the intensity behind those dark eyes. 

“I thought I had enough time to finally tell you that I loved you-”

Any other words that he said went unheard as you choked on the onslaught of tears that started to gather in the corners of your eyes. He paused in his confession, stepping closer to you; invading your precious personal space that he’d always- always- have unconditional permission to occupy. His strong calloused hands reached up, caressing your burning cheeks as he wiped the tears away. When you managed to make eye contact with him once more, he continued on- keeping you close in case you tried to run off again.

“I can’t help it. I know that it’s my own fault, but it really hurts .” - His thumbs brushed over the apples of your cheeks, his lips turning into a broken smile as he admired you in a way that couldn’t possibly be misconstrued. There was love in his eyes, a type of love you’d never thought you would see in them. - “I can’t just stand by and watch you marry someone else- not when you promised you’d marry me.”

Suddenly, one of his hands dropped from your cheek to reach down and fish around in an inside pocket of his blazer, pulling out a small ring of silver that looked as though it had seen far too much.

That stupid, silly, pinkie ring your mother gave you all those years ago was held between his fingers, looking even smaller than you remembered. The cheap ring was bent a little awkwardly, showing some wear and tear by the way it shined dully in the moonlight.

“You… you kept it?”

It was downright embarrassing how your voice cracked just then, making you out to look like a desperate fool. But you couldn’t help it, not when you felt so vulnerable that you could break down again at any second.

Hajime gave you a shaky grin, overcome with his own fair share of emotions as he nodded, the small chuckle escaping him coming out choked.

“What kind of man would I be if I lost my engagement ring?”