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"I love you."
Out of all the things Atsumu is expecting to hear on their date, this is not one of them. He chokes on the boba he swallowed a second ago, not believing the words that effortlessly came out of Rintarou's mouth.
The middle blocker slaps his back, eventually pulling him into a comforting hug. He's thankful the park is deserted - the looks that people give when they embrace in public aren't exactly welcoming.
He meets Rintarou's eyes after wrapping an arm around his shoulder, only to be mesmerised by them. By him. He's an exquisite man, all smooth with sharp edges, who somehow is able to be an asshole and a gentleman in one go.
And he loves him.
Loves.
That realisation hits him like a volleyball spiked to his head.
"You love me," he says, his voice trembling. Why, he doesn't know.
Rintarou nods, tracing his cheekbone with his thumb. "I do."
He doesn't know what to say, doesn't know whether or not he feels the same way.
Rintarou must've seen the panic because he adds, "you don't have to say it back. I just wanted you to know."
"That ya love me?"
"No, Tsumu."
"Wha..."
Before he can finish his sentence, his former teammate kisses the tip of his nose, followed by the corner of his mouth. His eyes close just as a chaste kiss is pressed onto his lips.
He smiles after they break apart, a warm feeling blooming inside his chest.
"Atsumu," Rintarou says, running his fingers through his hair, "I wanted you to know that you are loved by me."
Hearing that, Atsumu cries.
He cries because it's too much.
Rintarou is too much.
He feels alive with Rintarou, feels wanted, feels needed, feels liked, feels, feels, feels.
He feels with Rintarou, feels because of Rintarou.
He feels as Rintarou pulls him closer till there's no space left between them.
He feels as he cries into Rintarou's shoulder, an avalanche of emotions already burying him deep under the snow.
He feels.
His cries turn into sobs but Rintarou stays there, rubbing soothing circles into his back.
They remain like that until he catches his breath, his body weakened after all the crying.
"I'm okay, Rin," he manages to say, his throat parched from the lack of water.
"You sure?"
He nods, letting go of Rintarou.
Rintarou wipes the last of his tears away before kissing his forehead.
"Let's go back home."
Atsumu opens his eyes, unable to stop the smile that spreads across his face. "I am home."
He watches as his partner's expression changes from confused to shocked.
"You are my home, Rintarou."