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Days are getting shorter around this time of the year. By dinnertime, the skies are often dusky already and when the meal is over, it’s definitely dark out. It’s not quite as cold just yet. The leaves are just starting to change color as the autumn breeze brings in the chill.
“It’s so nice out here!” Bokuto exclaims, leaning back into the camping chair.
“Yea,” you agree, relaxing into your own chair, propped up next to him. “I’m glad we took some time off for this.”
It’s a special moment for the two of you, being out in the open park away from the busy crowds. Bokuto’s enjoying the last bits of downtime before the V.League season is in full force again; first celebrating his birthday and then spending a romantic evening moon-gazing with you for the Mid-autumn Festival. It feels like the perfect beginning to the end of the year.
The year’s been so nerve-wracking and busy, with all the things happening in your life, his life, and the rest of the world. You remember watching Bokuto’s stellar Olympic performance from the living room, cheering with the rest of the old Fukurodani squad on livestream. And the surreal dinner afterwards when Bokuto came home. You fiddle with the band on your ring finger…so much, so much has happened.
The moon above seems larger than life, round and glowing. The two of you have a whole basket of snacks to nibble on while admiring the night sky. Each moment, it seems to grow even more mesmerizing. Bokuto swallows a bite of dango. “You know, that squiggly right there…looks like a tree,” he points out.
You follow his description and look for the branch-like designs on the left of the moon. “I heard that’s Wu Gang cutting down the osmanthus tree. Each time he cuts it down, it’ll grow back. So he’s still chopping.”
“That’s horrible!” Bokuto gawks at you in surprise and turns back to the moon. “That’s like…if ‘Tsumu tossed to me and I had to spike the ball, and I would miss each time, but repeat that forever and ever.”
You laugh and pick up a mooncake pastry from the picnic box. “Exactly, except my amazing Koutarou could never receive such a cruel divine punishment.”
Bokuto spots the cake in between your hands. “Which filling is that one?”
“Hm? Oh, lotus paste.”
“Did you bring the red bean one?”
You rummage through the box, looking for the cake stamped with red bean on top. “Here,” you say, handing one over to him.
Bokuto takes a quick bite, enjoying the sweet and smooth filling inside. But the sweetness is also quickly cut by the salted egg yolk in the middle, like a hidden moon tucked inside. “Wasn’t there also that moon lady?”
“Chang’e?”
“Yea, she flew to the moon right?”
The two of you stared long and hard at the celestial object that’s been the source of artistic expression for so many people over centuries. “That’s how the story goes,” you tell him. “Houyi’s student wanted to steal the elixir, and she had no choice but to swallow it herself. Then she floated, floated, floated away.”
“T-That’s so sad!” Bokuto can’t imagine how Houyi must have felt watching his beloved float far away. One doomed to die on Earth and the other locked away in the moon palace with no companionship but a jade rabbit.
“It’s just a story, Koutaou!” You chuckle and reach for Bokuto’s mooncake, replacing it with another one with colorful, translucent skin. “Here, try this one too. There’s a custard one in here as well for later.”
Bokuto studies the snow-skin mooncake and turns to see you heartily finishing his half of the red-bean mooncake. “Hey!”
You just grin at him, cheeks puffed out with sweet, delicious goodness.
Bokuto bites into the chilled mooncake, a different texture, a different taste. “What would you do if you were Chang’e?”
“You mean when the student came in?”
“Yea. Like, imagine I was away and Hinata came in demanding the elixir.”
You raise and eyebrow at his suggestion before a hearty laugh bubbles in your chest. “Hah! Hinata? Really?” You imagine the orange-haired athlete putting on an intimidating frown in front of you. It’s a hard image to paint in your head.
“I’m being serious!”
“Well…I’d just give it to him.”
“Oh. That’s it?”
“What do you mean, 'That’s it’? Did you expect me to fight him or something?!”
“But immortality!” Bokuto stresses the syllables to emphasize what’s at stake here.
“Means nothing if I can’t spend it without you,” you finish simply.
Bokuto’s eyes grow a smidge wider, the moonlight making his golden eyes shine even brighter. “You would? Because of me?” he asks in disbelief.
“Oh my god!” You laugh some more and reach a hand out to squeeze Bokuto’s shoulder. “Koutarou, you’re literally my fiancé. I can’t just leave you behind for some stupid magic potion or whatever. Hinata can just…go to the moon.”
“I’m your fiancé,” Bokuto states bluntly, feeling a warm feeling wash over him despite the late-night breeze. It’s such a fuzzy feeling that came with this change of title. It’s unexpected but still welcoming.
“Yes, you are Koutarou,” you assure him again. You spread your arms open. “And I love you this much.”
Bokuto beams, opening his arms out, just wider than yours. “I love you big much.” He reaches over to wrap his arms around you tightly. Too tight, the force pulls you from your seat and the added weight of both of you toppling the chair over, knocking the rattan basket over.
“Ah!”
The two of you fall back onto the grass, Bokuto cushioning you with his body. He still has his arms secured around you.
“You okay?” you ask, tapping his chest.
He laughs and you feel the vibrations passing into your body too. That’s how close he’s holding you. “If I were Houyi…even if you drank that potion, I would never let you go.”
“Huh?”
“I’d grab on to you tightly like this.” He squeezes your waist. “And the heavens can’t do anything about it.” Bokuto raises his head to plant a light kiss on your lips before relaxing back onto the grass. He grins at your flustered expression.
The night grows longer, the moon seems to shine brighter. You smile back and relax in Bokuto’s embrace, head leaning on his chest. His heartbeat sounds in your ears, his breath matching yours.
“Okay. Hold me forever then.”
“You bet I will.”