Chapter Text
That afternoon Asahi sat nice and calm by his desk, rummaging for his lunch box and having polite conversation with his classmates and over all relaxing a bit from his stressful day. Between Volleyball, School and University Prep there wasn’t much time to for himself anymore. But then again, he couldn’t bring himself to regret that decision. Kageyama, Hinata, Daichi, Suga and Noya had all helped him falling in love with the game yet again. He would not waste the opportunity to fight thru his final tournament with his friends. He was determent.
There was a telltale commotion outside. He wondered. And-
“Asahi-san!”
Of course. Noya burst thru the door and looked at him expectantly. All 5' 3 foot of concentrated energy and optimism. Just watching his big smile made Asahi feel both exhausted and excited. “Noya.”, he greeted. “What are you doing here?” The second years classrooms were quiet a distance away and usually the five second years of the Volleyball club spent their break together sitting in the yard. Having the Libero here for Asahi was quiet the diversion.
The older boy usually either visited Suga and Daichi in their class, ate with his friends in his class or cramped some extra minutes of learning in. Today, he was too tired to do the later if he was honest.
“What do you mean? I am here to have lunch with you!”
Another blinding grin. And then he sat on the edge of Asahi’s desk, with – nicely enough – the consideration not to squash the food on it. Given that the break wouldn’t get longer by arguing, Ashai picked up his chop sticks, and- And saw that Noya was eating instant food and sweets again. As of right now he was fidgeting with the wrap of a sandwich.
He put his own lunch aside again. Noya was chatting happily away but cocked his head when he felt Azumane’s gaze. “Is something wrong?”, he asked with a full mouth. Asahi sighed and handed him a tissue to wipe his face with. “You are eating junk food yet again.” And when his friend protested loudly, he added. “And you didn’t give me a straight answer? Are you avoiding Tanaka and the others?”
Suddenly the other went quiet and solemn, which rang several alarm bells overall. “It is kind of silly.” Yu wore a bashful smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. “But since they all paired up. I feel like every minute I spent with them is just me third wheeling on a double date… But constantly…”
Narita and Kinoshita had been a couple for quite some time. Asahi actually appreciated the fact that they were mostly subtle about it, as it didn’t constantly remind the rest of them how painfully single, they were. (There was prejudice too of course.) The new development was that Tanaka had a) questioned his sexuality b) figured out that he was bisexual and c) that he had a crush on Ennoshita and d) asked him out, in rapid succession after Shizume had come out to them as lesbian.
In contrast to the other boys, Tanaka didn’t believe in hiding and was starting fights with everyone who looked at him, his boyfriend or their friends silly. It was both adorable and exhausting.
“Not that I use you as alternative, but I know it’s far less chaotic with you.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t take it as an insult.”, Asahi had to smile at how quick Noya was to reassure him. It was almost cute. “It must be exhausting. Especially since you wanted a girlfriend for so long.”
Yu shrugged with a smile: “I had my mind set on Kiyoko for so long I didn’t even consider that I might like someone else. Just like Ryu hadn’t even notice that he might have feelings for- Well, that he didn’t even think about how his attraction works or that Kiyoko might just be a part of what he likes.”
“Maybe the classroom is not the best place to talk about it, Noya. But you have to know that I am proud of you and Tanaka for accepting Shizumi for who she is and given her the space she needed. Certainly, disappointing the two of you was a reason why she put off telling us for so long.”
“Me liking her never included her feeling obligated in any way and I am sure it’s the same for Ryu. I feel guilty that she might have felt like we, I won’t be her friend anymore when she removed herself as option… I do like her, and I will need some time to get over those feelings but that’s my journey. She owes me nothing.”
Asahi smiled a sad smile and raised his hand to pet Noya’s back. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make the conversation so heavy. You will work thru it. I do believe in you.” He focused back on his lunch, which contained rice and fresh vegetables. “To come back to my original concern, you should really look after what you eat…”
“What? Did your girlfriend make that bento for you, Ashai?”
The third year faced his friend’s giggles with a tired look.
“Oh, come on! That was funny! As if you wouldn’t tell us if you liked someone. Or well. You don’t really have the guts to asked someone out. You’d be all blush-y and bashful about it too-”
“Are you done?”
“So, did your sister make lunch for you? That’s cute.”
“If you have to know I made the food myself yesterday. Rika-nee did show me how to cook but I do it myself for years now.”
Noya watched him for a moment. “That’s impressive.” But before he could say more the bell rang and he hoped of the desk quickly. “I see you at practice! Don’t be late.”
“I’m never late…”, Asahi mumbled as he frowned down at his half-eaten lunch, but Yu was already vanishing down the corridor, leaving him with much to think about.
__
Asahi felt stupid as he stood by the stove that evening. He had taken the time to prepare the double amount of food. It shouldn’t feel so awkward. Noya was his friend and Asahi had found an easy way to help him out by making sure he ate properly. (Something the Coach would appreciate too.)
So, why was he watching the spring vegetables stew and fussing if Yu might like it? Granted the only thing the other boy talked about when it came to food were his popsicles. (He enjoyed most food anyway) But Asahi wanted to make sure he ate better and to show him that home-made food was better.
A knock on the door made him jump. But when he turned it was his sister smiling at him. “Hey there, little brother. What are you up to? Usually, you don’t take so long to prepare your food.”
Asahi smiled. “Yeah, sorry. Do you need the kitchen? I am making some more food for my friend.”
“Someone in the volleyball club?”, Rika stepped closer watching Asahi pack two bentos carefully. “Nishinoya, our Libero.” She leaned against his frame and grinned up at him. His sister was tall for a Japanese woman, but he was still easily towering over her. “So, you two made up completely now, huh?”
Asahi colored immediately, somehow, he was now embarrassed that he had confided in her, after the fateful game against Dateko and the following conflict. Noya’s way of taking the blame for Asahi’s mistakes so aggressively and the pressure that had haunted him to the breaking point, the fear to disappoint his friends, to disappoint Noya who believed in him so dutifully… It had all been too much to bear.
Now that he was a part of the team again, the Libero and him had worked on their communication and what they expected of each other. Of course, the last win against the Iron Wall had strengthened the group dynamic and Asahi’s confidence even when they were eliminated eventually. Strengthened his trust in Nishinoya.
“Yeah, it’s been nice having him around again.” His gaze was glued to the pot as he brushed a lose strand out of his face. Rika-nee smiled at him but didn’t say anything about his bashfulness.
“I’m glad you are happy at school, Asahi.”
__
The next morning Asahi shuffled into morning practice with a nervous but giddy energy about him. But his own nervousness was quickly overshadowed by the general chaos that his teammates exuded. It was a comforting routine.
“Kiyoko-san, you are radiant as always!”, Noya cooed and Tanaka gave her a thumbs-up as well, while Ennoshita rolled his eyes at both of them. Their manager sighed and smiled fondly while she shook her head. Azumane had to smile too. Different circumstances, same people. It was bold of them to assume that things ever really changed.
He didn’t have much time to dwell on his warm affection for his friends as Couch Ukai and Tadaka-sensei called for them to gather. Asahi sat, watching Suga and Daichi talk strategy as they approached, Hinata, Noya and Tanaka jump and ramble loudly, while Ennoshita tried his best to quiet them down and make his fellow second-years hurry. He was sure that Tadashi and Tsukki were still gossiping, even when they sat on the gym floor and Kageyama helped Yacchan carry a new project to the team only to settle next to his best friend.
And just like that everything was so comfortably ordinary one again.
__
Just like he anticipated, Noya burst thru the door of his classroom after the first bell announced lunch break. For a short moment Asahi asked himself if it might be a bad thing that he accepted Yu’s company so readily even if it meant that he was spending less time with his friends in the second year.
The thought was wiped away as fast as it had come when Noya gave him a wide smile that made his eyes shine with genuine happiness. He sat on Asahi’s desk again, not losing time to rant about a teacher.
Asahi could do nothing more than listen to him, even if his complaining was very unrealistic. “You know what he did than, Asahi?”, he asked actually scandalized. Azumane shook his head, with an amused quirk on his lips. “Are you making fun of me?”, Noya asked, and Asahi darkened. “No, of course not!”, he spluttered, and his friend laughed at the set up.
When he pulled out a chocolate pastry to eat, Azumane stopped him, which earned him a questioning look. “Do you want some too? We can share? Like I made a second serving…”
Noya searched his face carefully, before lowering the sweets. Those sharp eye’s following every movement in as Asahi grew nervous again from the prolonged pause between them.
“Did… Did you make this for me?”
The third year nodded shortly, while his heart was easily hammering away in race speed. Why was he so afraid of rejection all of the sudden? Where did this come from?
“I mean, I did?”, Asahi hated how he struggled with the words pulling out of his mouth. Why was he so concerned with Noya’s opinion? That boy was eating fast food all the time…
“Asahi! That’s so cool!”, the younger boy was actually jumping to Shoyo-hights. “I didn’t ask you to do this. I mean, you didn’t have to just because I asked about your lunch yesterday. It looks very tasty. Thank you!”
And just like that the weird moment passed and Yu was digging into the food, mumbling barely intelligible words of approval, between bites and his effort to continue his story. Asahi on the other hand actually remembered to eat as well, content with the idea that Noya liked his cocking.
When the bell rang again it took both of them by surprise and Yu looked down at his half-eaten lunch. “Can I take this and eat the rest after practice? I will wash the box at home too! Pinky promise!”
“Of course, just make sure to actually get it back to me tomorrow.”. the older boy smiled.
Nishinoya was half out of the room already. “Yes, sir! I will see you tomorrow for lunch. It’s a date. And Asahi? You a very talented cook, Asahi. Your future wife can count herself lucky.”
__
That evening he came home sore from practice but happy as a clam. Noya had made good on his promise and finished his meal after practice, confirming again that the food was delicious. And the compliment alone kept him warm and content for his trip home.
He was so wrapped around his comfortable exhaustion and the plans for tomorrow’s lunch, that he hadn’t even notice his sister leaning against the corridor wall, grinning to herself. “Hey there. I take your friend liked your cooking?”
“What makes you think that?”
Rika didn’t answer immediately but followed him into the kitchen, after he had washed his hands. When he was sorting the ingredients the had at home, she finally spoke up: “You were just so nervous yesterday, I could not imagine you being this lively if Nishinoya-kun would have rejected your offer.”
“Am I that predictable?”
“You are to me.”, she smiled.
His sister looked like she wanted to say, more, in the way she was smiling at him all knowing and soft. Asahi ignored that for now, in favor of preparing some of the mushrooms he intended to grill. Rika stood there and watched him. “Do you mind cooking a bit more rice?” We still have leftover sauce I want to finish later when I study.”
“Sure thing.”
He took another cutting board to hand so he could prepare the meat in peace., after he set the timer of the rice cooker. While he was doing a bunch of tasks, they stood in silence. “Rika-nee?” She ‘hmm’-ed, occupied with her phone.
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“What about?”
“Nee-san…”
“I am afraid you have to figure this one out on your own.”
Asahi wanted to say more, but he was interrupted by the peeping timer, which indicated that the rice was cooked. Rika took her share, kissed her little brother thanks on the cheek and hurried to her room.
“Success for your studying!”, he called after her a bit annoyed (not that he would ever actively address that) “Please, don’t stay up so late! Mom will nag again!”
After that he made quick work of his meal-prep and hurried to get his own homework finished. Not before sending a message to Yu.
Ace: I hope you like mushrooms （＾ｖ＾）
__
The rest of the week flew by while Asahi settled into this new routine of both spending his break with Noya as well as cook for him on top of school, volleyball practice and cramming.
It would have worried him under different circumstances how quick the change became normal to him. How much so, hit him, when he overheard Noya and Tanaka at Friday morning practice.
“Hey, Noya! Why don’t you come with us at lunchbreak? We haven’t seen you in a while. Are you okay?”
“Hmm?”, Yu had been occupied with straightening the net over the court with Yamaguchi. “Uhh, today is bad. I already promised Asahi to come by today. He cocked for me, and we weren’t finished discussing that new anime I made him watch.”
Tanaka watched him for a moment, while Noya was avoiding him in favor of tying a knot. Asahi’s heart sank into his stomach as he observed the awkward exchange from his vantage point by the wall. He felt foolish for not considering the other second years feelings more, before he wanted and got so attached to Yu’s extra presence in his life.
“You’ve been with Asahi the whole last two weeks, haven’t you?”
“Yeah, it was nice actually.”, Noya blinked. “I don’t want to say that I don’t enjoy hanging out with you guys. I just feel like the fifth wheel on a car. You guys are nicely matched up and I am lonely. Asahi never”
Unfortunately, Azumane was way too invested in what Noya had to say about him. A fact that he only noticed when the younger boy was cut of when coach Ukai called them to gather. Was it possible to feel so guilty and warm at the same time?
__
“You were right, Asahi!”, Noya somehow managed to shout while chewing. “The mushrooms are a good idea!”
Azumane nodded. “I am glad you like it.”
Noya gave him a thumbs up to emphasize his statement again, then they both ate in relative silence for a bit. Asahi smiled to himself and then after he swallowed. “Do you have any wishes for next week? I plan on shopping for the week tomorrow.”
“How about I come with you?”, Noya suggested smiling. “I ate your food for the whole week. We can make a day out of it!”
Asahi couldn’t help but light up too. “Sure. We could discus what to get and what to cook and make a shopping list, before meeting tomorrow. How about we meet around noon?”
Noya hummed in contemplating. “How about we meet in the late morning and then we can eat together when we are already out?”
“That sounds great. I would like that.”, Asahi could not keep the warmth out of his voice, that slowly crept up from the depts of his belly. The possibility to spend even more time with his friend made him happy.
“Okay, it’s set than.”, Noya exclaimed, passing Asahi back the bento box he, as he was finished eating. “I brainstorm what we could eat, and we can talk about it after evening practice.” He hoped back off where he had sat on Asahi’s desk. “See you in a bit.”
“You should pay attention during classes, Noya!”, Asahi called as his friend was already walking towards the door. “Yea, sure.”, was the absent answer he got, which left him sitting there, sighing. It was usually futile to talk Noya out of things when he already set his mind to it.
He brought his attention back to his desk and bag to prepare for the next lesion, when he noticed that Yu had left his student ID behind. They had compared the pictures on the card a few moments ago and now he was debating weather he should pocket it and give it back during Volleyball or now in the last minutes of the break.
In the end he rose. It was better to do that sooner than later.
He had no need to run, even with the time limit since his legs were long enough, but the walk to the second-year classrooms wasn’t that far. When he arrived at Tanaka and Noya’s classroom, he wanted to pop in real quick and-
“Are you sure you don’t want to come and hang out tomorrow?”, Tanaka’s voice was loud enough on it’s own that it carried over the general chatter of the students. “Chikara asked specifically because he feels like we are excluding you a bit.”
“Please. That is not the reason! I swear!”, Noya’s voice was warm and a bit embarrassed. “Sure, sometimes I feel like I accompany you guys on double dates now, but that’s not it. You know, how I started to hang out with Asahi during the break?”
“Ah, duh.”, Asahi could perfectly imagine Tanaka’s facial expression. “You haven’t been with us the whole week and you convinced Azumane to cock delicious-smelling food for you.”
Noya laughed at that. “Yeah, I am sorry about that and as for the food: He worried about my diet. I don’t have Ennoshita to nag me, you know?”
Tanaka chuckled too. “I at least hope you help him pay.”
“Yea, that’s why I can’t tomorrow. I promised to help shopping for next week. It’s the least I can do. Asahi-san is such a good friend.”
“Yeah, he is. Mostly he is soft and worried like always.”
The bell made the volleyball-ace jump, and he quickly made his way back to his own class. His head filled with a maelstrom of feelings and thoughts.
__
“So.”, Noya fell next to Asahi when they were instructed to stretch after practice to cool down. “I have some dishes I want to run by you to make sure I didn’t pick out anything too elaborate.”
Azumane hadn’t really thought about their engagement that much during training, trying to distract himself. Noya had been on the other team during the practice match anyway. (Ukai had broken up the duos of the team to make sure no one got too comfortable in a certain routine.)
“You don’t have to come with me, if you don’t want to.”, Asahi said quickly, avoiding Noya’s face. “I heard that you plan on standing up the others for this and really that is not necessary.”
If Asahi looked, he would have seen how fiercely Yu’s face knitted up in confusion.
“You heard that?”
“Yeah.”, the ace fished out the ID from his bag. “I wanted to return that earlier and-”
“You should have minded your own business.”, the libero said earnestly.
“What?”
“You shouldn’t have eavesdropped, stupid. Chikara, Ryu, Hisashi and Kazuhito meet for hangouts, or well, maybe double dates literally every other week. They had no problem that I didn’t have time. They were worried that I was uncomfortable, and I took your advice and we talked about it. You don’t have to jump to conclusions like that.”
Asahi blushed furiously. He felt the heat up to his ears, warm and embarrassed. “Sorry.”, he stammered out. “I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“Yes. You shouldn’t have.”, Noya confirmed and then switched the gear seamlessly, leaving Asahi no time to be further embarrassed. “And now for the shopping list…”