Chapter Text
Atsumu’s POV
A lot of people find their true love right away—sometimes early in life, sometimes in the most random moments. Others keep searching, maybe because it’s not the right time, or maybe it’s just not the right place. But eventually, love comes. Usually when you least expect it, when you’re not even looking, and it knocks the wind out of you.
That’s exactly how it went for Atsumu. Love hit him like lightning.
It was the start of their second year, and Atsumu and Osamu were on their way to school. The sun was up, the air was crisp, and students filed into the campus all around them.
“By the way, I’ve got plans after volleyball practice. You can head home without me,” Osamu said casually.
Not a surprise. Ever since his brother started dating Suna Rintarou—one of their teammates—Atsumu had been making his way home solo. Apparently, post-practice dates were mandatory.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. You don’t have to tell me,” Atsumu rolled his eyes. He liked to act annoyed, but honestly? He was happy for his brother. Osamu had found his person. His love of a lifetime.
Unfortunately for Atsumu, he was pretty sure he was never gonna get that.
Not because nobody liked him—plenty of people admired him (despite what Osamu always said about his “charming” personality). He’d turned down confessions more times than he could count. It was just… he hadn’t found anyone who felt worth it. And between volleyball, training, and tournaments, he didn’t exactly have a lot of free time for love anyway.
They were halfway down the hall when Atsumu waved his brother off. “Go ahead, I still gotta shove my training suit in my locker.”
“You better not be late, Tsumu,” Osamu called back.
Atsumu had barely snapped his locker shut when the school bell rang.
“Shit—I’m gonna be late!”
He dashed down the hallway, cutting a corner too fast—
and slammed straight into someone. Books scattered everywhere.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” The stranger dropped to their knees, scrambling to gather their things.
Normally, Atsumu would’ve barked something snappy and kept running, but for whatever reason, his mood held steady. He crouched down to help.
“It’s alright, I wasn’t looking either,” he muttered, stacking a few books in his arms.
And then it happened. The stranger laughed. Just a simple, nervous chuckle. But it was soft. Angelic, even. And it made Atsumu look up.
The world slowed.
Bright orange hair. A smile warmer than the sun itself. Eyes that melted straight through him, thawing something in his chest he didn’t even know was frozen.
Atsumu stared, completely floored.
Holy shit. He’s beautiful.
“Uh—here’s your books,” Atsumu stammered, shoving the stack forward.
“Thanks!” the boy beamed, brushing Atsumu’s fingers as he grabbed them.
The touch jolted through him like static, his skin buzzing with leftover sparks. Atsumu ducked his head, heat climbing up his face. God, I’m actually blushing.
They both straightened at the same time—only to realize their ID lanyards had tangled together.
“Sorry!” they said in unison, breaking into laughter.
Atsumu untangled his badge first, then offered a hand. The boy blinked up at him, surprised, before slipping his smaller hand into Atsumu’s.
And just like that, the spark was back.
Warm, soft fingers against his calloused ones—like puzzle pieces clicking into place. Atsumu’s heart flipped in his chest. He couldn’t stop the stupid grin tugging at his lips.
This guy is gonna be the death of me.
Before he could say anything else, the boy’s eyes widened. “Oh shoot, I’m running late!” He pulled his hand back, bowing quickly. “Thank you again—I’m so sorry!”
And then he was gone, sprinting down the hall.
Atsumu stood there, frozen, watching until the boy vanished. Then reality hit. Crap, I’m late too.
By some miracle, their teacher hadn’t arrived yet when he slipped into his seat beside Osamu—who immediately smacked him.
“OW! What was that for?!” Atsumu yelped, rubbing the back of his head.
“Where have you been?! You’re lucky the teacher’s late.”
“Well, I’m here now! No need to hit me!”
They glared at each other until their teacher finally walked in. Atsumu tried to focus on the lecture, but his thoughts kept drifting back.
I forgot to ask his name.
He glanced at his hand again, remembering the warmth. A smile tugged at his lips.
“Why are you smiling at your hand? You look stupid,” Osamu muttered.
“Shut up and focus on class,” Atsumu hissed back.
Still, he couldn’t stop wondering. What class is he in? What year? Will I ever see him again?
Probably not. Life wasn’t a romance novel. The boy could already be taken, or worse, not interested in him at all.
And yet, Atsumu couldn’t shake the feeling that something had just shifted in his world.
Shouyo’s POV
Shouyo had just transferred to Inarizaki for high school, and his first day was… not terrible. He almost got lost, almost got late—and oh yeah, he’d bumped into someone.
The memory made his cheeks heat. That someone had blonde hair, amber eyes, and a smile so breathtaking that Shouyo swore his heart skipped a beat. Not to mention the way their hands had fit together—warm, steady, like it was meant to be.
It was ridiculous. It felt like something straight out of a romance novel.
“Shouyo, are you okay? You’ve been staring at your food and smiling,” Aiko, his new friend, asked with a raised brow. Her long black hair framed her sharp, catlike eyes.
“Oh! Yes! Sorry, I just… had something on my mind,” Shouyo stammered, embarrassed.
Thank God he’d already found friends on his first day. Aiko and Mako had been quick to pull him into their circle, and he was grateful—moving schools was scary enough without eating alone. Still, he missed his friends back home.
“So, how are you liking it here?” Mako asked between bites of his lunch. His soft brown hair was swept to the side, easygoing like his tone.
“Hyogo’s beautiful,” Shouyo admitted honestly. “I think Inarizaki will grow on me.”
Their conversation was interrupted when the cafeteria exploded into squeals and whispers. Students whipped out their phones, snapping pictures like some celebrity had just walked in.
“What’s going on?” Shouyo blinked. “Does Inarizaki have an actual celebrity?”
“That’s just the Miya twins,” Mako said with a shrug. “Volleyball stars.”
“Just the Miya twins? JUST?!” Aiko nearly shrieked, snapping her own picture. “They’re legends!”
Shouyo tilted his head, confused. He liked volleyball, sure, but he didn’t follow players or know the hype. “Who… are the Miya twins?”
Aiko shoved her phone at him.
And Shouyo froze.
It was him.
The boy from the hallway. The one who made his chest feel like it was going to burst.
“That’s Miya Atsumu,” Aiko said, eyes sparkling. “Setter. Best in the nation. His brother, Osamu, plays opposite—kind of a jack-of-all-trades. Together, they’re monsters on the court. They’ve been dragging Inarizaki to nationals since middle school.”
Mako added, “Atsumu’s serves are insane. People say he’s one of the best players in Japan right now.”
Shouyo’s heart pounded. So the boy he’d been daydreaming about all morning wasn’t just anyone. He was someone. Someone admired. Someone unreachable.
Still, Shouyo couldn’t stop himself from looking. His gaze found Atsumu across the cafeteria, laughing with his brother. In the middle of all the noise and chaos, the world seemed to blur until it was just him. Just Atsumu.
“He’s so handsome…” Shouyo whispered before catching himself.
“We’re gonna be late for class—let’s go, Shouyo!” Aiko tugged him out of his daze.
He followed his friends out of the cafeteria, not realizing that across the room, a certain blonde setter’s eyes had followed him just as intently.