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“This is ma boyfriend.” Astumu said so matter of factly as he held their interlocked hands up to the two across the table from them before setting their hands back down underneath the table. Tadashi wasn’t quite sure how his hand was currently being held by Atsumu’s, but the pinch server’s face was having trouble hiding the shock at the words that had just passed the bleach blonde’s lips.
The other two males, one light haired with glasses and the other broader shouldered with greyish brown hair, across the table exchanged glances and a shrug as Tadashi coughed slightly on the sip of hot tea he’d restrained from spitting out in surprise. Tadashi made a subtle attempt to shift his gaze to Atsumu sitting next to him, silently asking where such a statement came from. Tadashi hardly knew anything about Atsumu other than he was the setter of the Inarizaki High School team that they played during the Nationals playoffs in Tadashi’s first year. Tadashi also knew that Atsumu had gone on to play for the MSBY Black Jackals as a setter with Hinata. The final trivia Tadashi knew was that Atsumu had a twin brother who had been a member of the Inarizaki High School team, but unlike Atsumu, Osamu had not decided to continue with a volleyball career following graduation. Osamu, who happened to be sitting across the table from Tadashi with eyes narrowed slightly at his brother’s admission, was slowly dominating the onigiri market with all of his new flavor creations.
His thoughts grasped at how in the span of a few minutes everything had changed? One minute he had been invited by Atsumu under the guise of getting some coffee with some of his friends to, now, they were DATING?! Tadashi hoped that Atsumu would explain everything once this casual meet up was done. He had never pegged Atsumu for the lonely type or one who couldn’t get the woman or man that caught his eye. Tadashi just picked up his tea and continued to sip at it unsure of what he could add to the conversation.
“Samu, I’m not lyin’.” Atsumu brought Tadashi’s hand to his lips, pressing them to the top of Tadashi’s hand before returning it to the space between each of their thighs on the bench they sat on. Tadashi looked at the spoon in his tea and reached his free hand to stir it as his head felt like it was spinning as fast as liquid being stirred. The short green haired boy felt his cheeks warming at all the attention on him as Osamu’s eyes now turned to him.
“Oh! We actually had kept in touch ever since he had come with the Jackals to play the Frogs here in Sendai. He had originally wanted Tsukki to play tour guide while visiting Sendai at the time, but Tsukki’s practice schedule didn’t allow for it. I offered to show Atsumu around and we've been close ever since.” Tadashi chuckled trying to hide the nervousness or give away that his whole story was one big white lie.
He rested his head on Atsumu’s shoulder, gazing up at Atsumu’s golden eyes with a soft smile. Tadashi hoped that this was convincing enough for Osamu and his companion to believe whatever Atsumu wanted them to. Tadashi’s observant eyes took notice of the slight raise of Atsumu’s eyebrows and then reddening cheeks when Tadashi’s eyes had locked with the golden orbs.
Tadashi believed that there was some reason as to why Atsumu was lying to his own twin brother, so Tadashi wasn’t going to say differently until Atsumu had explained himself to Tadashi. Osamu uncrossed his arms from across his chest with a sigh and slight of his head.
“Just promise me that this isn’t ‘nother one of ya stupid pranks, Tsumu. I wouldn’t want anyone as kind as Tadashi ta get hurt.”
“He won’t.” was Atsumu’s reply before nodding a goodbye to Osamu as he saw his brother stand up from the table to begin to leave, holding a hand out to his companion, a blonde with black framed glasses. The companion turned to Tadashi with a nod before the blonde turned to look down at Osamu with a small smile, sliding his hand into Osamu’s. Tadashi had known Tsuuki long enough to know exactly what Tsukki was saying without uttering even a single syllable.
“Be careful…”
Tadashi knew that his lie wasn’t bought by his childhood friend by the way the blonde brows above the glasses wrinkled slightly.
The two still left at the table watched as the other pair left. A sigh passed from both of their lips when the cafe door closed, hands no longer interlocked with each other. Both sat in silence for a few minutes longer before Tadashi finally asked what was on his mind.
“Would you care to explain whatever that was?” Tadashi tried to ask as calmly as his nerves would allow. His hand ran through his short dark green hair, in an attempt to calm himself from the full blown panic attack he felt coming on by how tight his airway felt and how fast his heart was beating in his ears.
For the first time that night, Atsumu looked down at his feet sheepishly as if he was choosing his words carefully not to offend the one sitting beside him. When he opened his mouth, he exhaled while his fingers fidgeted with each other.
“I dunno…I just felt like sayin’ it in tha moment.”
“Without warning me first? Especially considering the fact that it happened to be in front of two people who happen to know us the best in the world. What were you thinking? Or were you even thinking?” Tadashi sighed in exasperation pulling at his hair, knowing that the current explanation…or rather lack of one, was not helping Tadashi keep his anxiety at bay.
“I’m sorry, Yama-san. I guess I’ve been lonely. It doesn’t help that Samu flaunts his new relationship in his face everytime…” Atsumu looked up from his fingers, lips pouting.
“And you don’t think I feel similar seeing Tsukki with someone? However, I want him to be happy. I don’t want to one up him. Dammit, Atsumu!” Tadashi dropped his hand from his hair, shaking his head as another exasperated sigh passed his lips. “What are we supposed to do now?”
A few silent moments pass before Atsumu finds his voice.
“How about we do it…do what ya said…show me around Sendai. Make it at least look like we are dating. What do ya say, Yama-san?”
Atstumu’s golden eyes turned to meet Tadashi’s almost pleading like a puppy for a treat. Tadshi cursed under his breath knowing just how easily that tactic worked on him.
“Fine..” Tadashi sighed in slight annoyance. “I guess I could show you around. Not until this weekend though. I don’t have any free time before then. My work is very strict about how my free time is spent.” He pauses with a sigh. “Or rather I have very little free time, so I like to be able to manage it how I please.”
“That’s fine. I’m still in town this weekend. Though to make it more believable, could I stay with ya? It’s lonely at the hotel by maself.” He pouted again with the same big round begging eyes.
“Fine…” Tadashi sighed again. “Just don’t judge me for the mess that my apartment is. I’m pretty much only there to sleep before leaving for work again.”
“I promise, Yamaguchi-kun.”
“I guess if we are gonna do this, you should probably call me Tadashi or some cute nickname you end up deciding upon.” He shook his head and brushed his bangs out of his eyes. “Oh and I don’t have the funds to afford a car so we will either be taking the trains or buses home or you can pay for a cab the entire way with a stop at your hotel first.”
“Don’t worry ya pretty little head about nothin’. I got ya covered, boyfriend. I wanna go with a cab since I don’t trust the trains with ma stuff.”
It wasn’t far to the hotel from the cafe and then came the trek from one end of Sendai; the one with all the lights and tall sky scrapers to the outer edge of the city where the last stop for the trains and buses of Sendai ended service.The area where apartments were significantly more affordable, but Tadashi could still barely afford the place on his salary. Tadashi opened the door and gestured to the small apartment.
“It’s not much. Honestly it’s all I could afford. If you need the bathroom it’s behind this door.” Gesturing to a sliding door that swung away to reveal a bath tub as well as a toilet and shower head. “Feel free to help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I can’t vouch for it being well stocked though, so you may have better luck at the kobeni down the street.” He chuckled nervously before entering the living room. “I can either leave a futon for you or there is the couch. I’m not sure with your height the couch will be a comfortable option for the long term, as in staying for more than a few days. Even though we are fake dating, I absolutely will not be sharing my bed with you. I mean you are attractive and all but still I would like to maintain a semblance of boundaries when not in public. It gets tiring to hold up a facade all the time…well at least for me.”
Atsumu was simply looking around the place with awe; mouth slightly agape. “Wow, this place is homey. I like it.” He paused, still taking it in. Yeah it was small, but it had a certain charm that spoke to the pro volleyball player. “And a futon on the floor will be enough. I’m not picky.”
“Alright, I’ll grab it really quick.”
Tadashi stepped into his bedroom and was standing on his tiptoes to reach the futon in the closet when he felt a presence behind him. Atsumu stood behind him with his back pressing into Atsumu’s chest. Tadashi blushed as he felt their hands brush across each other and he turned to look at Atsumu, their noses nearly brushing against each other.
“Ya looked like ya were havin’ some trouble, so I thought I could help, ya out boyfriend.” Atsumu beamed down at Tadashi, tapping the bottom of the brownish green haired salary man’s chin with his index finger before pulling away and grabbing the futon bedding and taking it back out to the living room with a light chuckle as the pro volleyball player set up his bed for the night.
“Good night.” Tadashi squeaked out before shutting his bedroom door and grabbed his hair in his fingers, breathing in and out as he heard his heart beating in his ears and felt his cheeks warm.
Atsumu looked at the closed door, shaking his head before settling into his futon for the night.
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The weekend had come faster than Tadashi previously knew it would arrive. He woke up stretching with a yawn. His nose picked up the scent of something nice coming from beyond his door. Following the scent, he opened his door yawning slightly as he scratched the back of his head, eyes still slightly closed. A few more moments, the scent caused his eyes to open more until they widened, registering what he was seeing. Atsumu was whistling to himself as he was cooking in the kitchen.
Who knew that he could cook… Tadashi thought to himself, feeling his lips tighten into a slight smile admiring the taller bleach blonde man in his kitchen.
Atsumu, sensing eyes on him, turned around, flashing a small smile.
“Cute pajamas. I like frogs too.”
Tadashi blushed at the comment, unsure of how to respond, so he changed the topic. Now he was a bit more aware that the shirt part of his pajamas was a bit small so it fit like a crop top and the shorts were definitely shorter than he would have worn with company around.
“S-so what are you cooking?”
“Oh just some breakfast. It’s the least I could do for such a good host over the past few days.”
Atsumu winked at Tadashi before turning off the burner and started plating up some fried eggs on top of a bow of rice.
“It’s not much, but it’s somethin’ I used to make for Samu when we were left alone at home and he seemed ta liked it.” He chuckled softly as he brought the modest meal to the small table with four chairs set up around it just before the living room and set it down in front of two chairs that happened to be side by side.
“I hope ya like it. If it helps, it was made with love.”
Tadashi paused as he’d just been in the middle of holding his chopsticks when he’d heard the last bit of what Atsumu said. One chopstick fell to the table with a small clatter as his cheeks flushed red.
“Th-thanks…” He sputtered out, grabbing his chopsticks and eating partly to hide his face a bit behind the bites he shoveled into his mouth and partly to try to give his heartbeat time to calm down. Once he finished the entire bowl, he sighed and leaned back in the dining room chair watching Atsumu eat.
“You know we are in the house. We don’t have to fake it here.”
Atsumu looked up and said nothing. He finished the last of the breakfast he’d made before leaning back in his own chair with a slight smirk.
“I know but it’s a bit fun to see ya all flustered.” He added with a light chuckle, standing and starting to grab the bowls and take them back to the kitchen. “Who knows…” the blonde comments from the kitchen as he starts to wash the bowls. “Maybe ma dashin’ good looks an’ charm may win you over.” He added without turning around.
“Sooooo, what did you want me to show you in town? That’s the reason that you stayed here isn’t it?”
“I dunno…maybe a zoo, or museum, or aquarium? I’m not too picky. We just gotta look like it’s a date.” Astumu smirked, returning to the table to sit next to Tadashi who was swallowing hard.
“The aquarium isn’t too far on the train and it’s indoors out of the summer heat.” Tadashi decided as he was dreading having to spend his day off in the blistering summer heat. “If you need the shower before we leave, help yourself. The towels are in the closet off to the side of the bathroom.”
“Right.” Atstumu nodded and crossed to the closet. His head turned to look at Tadashi, “Are ya sure ya don’t wanna join me? It saves water.” Adding a wink to his smirk.
“N-no!” Tadashi squeaked out. “I couldn’t!” His face was a deep red, starting to wonder if Atsumu was enjoying flustering him a little too much. If the blonde keeps it up, Tadashi isn’t sure if he’ll have a normal blood pressure at his next check up.
“Alright. Suit ya’self.” Atsumu said with a slight wave as he closed the bathroom door behind him.
Tadashi retreated into his own room to calm down his rapidly beating heart and find his breath again.
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It was about an hour later that they stood in front of the aquarium only to see a sign saying Closed for maintenance. Will reopen soon. Sorry for the inconvenience.
“So what shall we do?” Tadashi asked, more distracted by the big hand holding his.
“Ya’re the host. I’m happy with whateva.”
“Right…” Tadashi’s brain was having trouble firing with the slightly taller man standing beside him in a tank top and shorts, giving Tadashi quite a nice view of all of Atsumu’s arm and leg muscles. “I guess we could just walk around the neighborhood. There’s a park not too far away. That is if that doesn’t sound too boring to you. I don’t leave my place much on my days off if I’m being honest.” His free hand rubbing the back of his head with a nervous chuckle.
“I just wanna spend the day together like real boyfriends would. Walkin’ around town is just fine with me.” Atsumu replied, giving Tadashi’s hand a squeeze. “Lead tha way.”
Tadashi’s gaze fell from Atsumu’s face with a small smile on his face as he gently tugged at Atsumu’s hand, guiding the two down the street. It was only a few blocks before they reached the park. Park was a loose word to describe the patch of greenery that had a set of swings on it, however, Tadashi had often walked here after work on particularly long days and just sat on the swing before heading back to his lonely apartment.
“Just like my place, it’s not much, but I do come here a lot. Something about this place calms me after a long and stressful day at work.” Tadashi releases his hand from Atsumu and sits in one of the swings with his feet gently pushing himself back and forth on the ground.
It wasn’t long before Tadashi felt a push on his back and the swing was rising in the air. Luckily his hands were holding onto the chains so he didn’t fall off. He felt another push on his back as the swing descended to the previous starting point.
“Waaa! What are you doing?” Tadashi asked, slightly scared to look over his head back at Atsumu, knowing the blonde was the one pushing him on the swing.
“Just helpin’ ya out. C’mon ya need to just enjoy the moment a bit more.” Atsumu's voice came from behind him.
Tadashi closed his eyes like he’d often done when he’d come by himself and allowed himself to get lost in just the feeling of flying…or as close as he would get to it. A smile spread across his face the longer the swing flew through the ear. A chuckle even escaped his lips as he felt his stress melt away and he was one with the sky.
He did not know how long Atsumu pushed him before he felt a tug on the chain supports. Tadashi tipped his head up wondering why the swing stopped and Atsumu’s face was right there. One of the pro setter’s long fingers rested under Tadashi’s chin, tipping it up a bit more. Atstumu continued to lean down until their noses touched, their breaths could be felt on each other’s lips.
“Atsumu, wh-” was all Tadashi could get out before Atsumu closed the space and Tadashi felt the setter’s lips on his own. Tadashi’s instinct was to push the blonde away, but the soft contact melted away Tadashi’s anxiety and one of his hands left the chain support and gripped at the collar of Atsumu’s tank top as Tadashi’s tongue slid across Atsumu’s lips to signal that deepening the kiss was okay. Tadashi felt Atsumu grin before parting his lips so their tongues could dance with each other a few times before pulling away.
“Ya taste sweeter than I thought ya would.” Atsumu commented with a soft chuckle, holding his hand out to Tadashi.
Tadashi nodded with a slight pink tint to his cheeks as he took Atsumu’s hand. Tadashi wasn’t sure why he’d been okay with that kiss. Was he lonely? Touch starved? Atsumu was a good kisser is one observation Tadashi would make as they continued to walk the early afternoon streets of Sendai not really caring about the destination, simply just chatting and laughing with each other holding hands.
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Atsumu eventually had to return to his volleyball team and leave Tadashi’s apartment a few days following their day spent in town in Sendai. They still talked every night on the phone when Atsumu wasn’t at a game. Tadashi made an effort on the night’s that he wasn’t working overtime to try and watch the games at a local sports bar down the road from the apartment. He got looks for not supporting the local team, the Frogs, but he didn’t care. His fake boyfriend was the setter for the Jackals and everyone else could piss off.
One particular night when they were chatting, Atsumu brought up that the Jackal’s were coming to play the Frogs and that he could get Tadashi a ticket to the match. Tadashi was still nervous about whether their fake dating relationship was believable in public. Was he playing his part well? Atsumu could pull it off so well and easily. He nodded on the video call as he was still lost in thought realizing that Osamu would also probably be there to support Kei.
“Oh and Yama-kun. I need ya to meet me before the game that day. I know that it’s a work day for ya, but I wanna give ya somethin’ for the game.”
“I can figure out some excuse why I need to leave early.”
“Good. See ya, soon, Yama-kun.”
Now less than twenty four hours later, Tadashi stood out in front of the stadium where they had agreed to meet, tugging at the bottom of his tie, regretting that he hadn’t had the time to change before meeting up.
“Yama-kun!” a familiar voice called out waving as the blonde jogged over to Tadashi. He pulled the salary man into a big hug before releasing Tadashi. “I’m glad that ya could come. I got yer ticket. Yer in a premium box fer family and friends. Samu will probably be there too and can keep ya company.” He beamed at Tadashi, handing the salary man the ticket before reaching in his duffle bag for another item. Atsumu pulled out his home jersey all folded with the number 13 up. “It would mean a lot if ya wore it today. It’s sorta a good luck charm fer me to have someone wear my other jersey.”
Tadashi took the jersey with wide eyes at first. He knew what this meant as Kei had often given his opposite jersey to him or Osamu when at the games he’d attended in the past. He slipped it on over his button up shirt and tie.
“Oh and one more thing fer good luck.” Atsumu leaned in and gave Tadashi a peck on the lips before pulling away. “I’ll see ya after the game.” Waving as he disappeared into the stadium.
Tadashi walked around to the front door awaiting them to open and find his way to his seat. Tadashi looked around the box unsure of what to do in such a space.
“He mentioned that you might be here.” came a voice from behind him.
Tadashi turned around and almost nearly bumped into Osamu.
“Yeah, he got me a ticket. I’ve just never got such a nice spot like this before when I came to watch Tsukki before.”
“Yeah, it’s nice to help keep our privacy and such. I see he gave you his jersey.” Osamu pointed to the top that Tadashi was wearing.
“Yeah, he did.”
“So Kei and I were talking since the time in the coffee shop, because we were worried. Are you okay? I know how impulsive my brother can be. I don’t want you to get hurt. Well Kei also doesn’t want you to either.”
“No, we are both fine. I mean it’s long distance for the most part, but it’s nice when he comes to town. My job sadly doesn't allow me much time to go to him. We talk almost nightly via video or voice call.”
“Hmmm…” was all Osamu said as they sat down and the match began.
Tadashi can’t say how much of the game he paid attention to or even who won. He was sitting there the whole time wondering if Osamu was suspicious of them not being a real relationship from something that was said by him. A tap on his shoulder awakened him from his thoughts.
“Let’s go, it's time to go meet up with them. I think Sumu said somethin’ about wanting all of us to get dinner after the match.” Osamu said quietly and led the way to the post game greeting area that was hidden from the press.
Atsumu was laughing, clapping Kei on the back as the other two approached. Atsumu beamed when he turned and saw Tadashi.
“Yama-kun, wha’d ya think? I was great right? I’d have had a lot more good sets an’ service aces had it not been for Tsukki. He still is the block master of the league.” Clapping Kei on the back again before crossing over to Tadashi, wrapping an arm around the salary man.
Kei raised an eyebrow noticing Tadashi wearing Atsumu’s jersey in a slight non verbal questioning, but turned to his own boyfriend as he approached, allowing Osamu to place a kiss on his cheek.
“Man, I’m starvin’! Let’s go get all you can eat BBQ.” His arm fell from Tadashi’s shoulder and his hand slid into Tadash’s interlocking fingers with squeeze, causing Tadashi’ face to flush a light pink.
“There’s a place a few blocks down.” Osamu comments and takes Kei’s hand in the same manner with a look to his boyfriend to see if he was agreeable to the food choice. Kei nodded and the four headed out.
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Returning to the apartment full of both meat and beer, Tadashi held up Atsumu who had much more than him. Once in the bedroom, he fell to the bed with Atsum beside him. Tadashi was sober enough to know it was going to be one of those nights that they were going to sleep in the clothes that they’d worn all day. He tried to make Atsumu comfortable in the bed before Tadashi climbed in and joined him, snuggling into the setter’s chest.
Sunlight filtered into the window, causing Tadashi to blink out of his slightly hungover state. He blinked a few more times before he realized that he was staring at Atsumu's chest. He could still make out the muscles despite the jersey covering them. Tadashi used a hand to trace along Atsumu’s chest before he felt the blonde stir.
“Mornin’...” The blonde mumbled with a sleepy smile, letting a yawn escape his lips.
Tadashi leaned up to press his lips to Atsumu’s and pulled away before Tadashi even realized what he’d subconsciously done. Blushing deeply once he realized, though his hand was still on Atsumu’s chest.
“Well, I’m definitely awake now wit’ that.” He smiled, wrapping his arms around Tadashi, giving him a big squeeze. When he let go, the blonde cleared his throat. “Ya look good in ma jersey.” His nose brushed against Tadashi’s before continuing. “Ya know, the more time I've spent with ya, the more I don’t want this ta be fake.”
Tadashi blushed hiding his face in Atsumu’s chest hoping that the blonde didn’t hear how loudly his heart was beating.
“I wanna have ya as mine fer real, Yama-kun. I mean if yer’ll let me…”
Tadashi looked up at Atsumu clearly seeing all of the sincerity in each word within Atsumu’s eyes.
“Yes, you can, Atsumu. I agreed to this arrangement because I was scared to be lonely, but this place was always much more lively with you in it.”
“Good, I’m glad Yama-kun.” Atstumu leaned in and placed a kiss on Tadashi’s lips as he pulled Tadashi in for another tight hug.