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Hirugami Sachiro didn't see most colors in life. Middle school was a crash of a hurricane surging towards him at great pressure. At that time he carried the burden of all expectation and felt the world still, waiting for him to drop. He's constantly walking on a pedestal, his own presentation adding to the weight on his shoulders.
Volleyball became not a fun game like it is for most but rather one where he battle his demons and shed blood. An exaggeration, really, but that's how Hirugami feels everytime he touch the ball.
And today feels a little heavy, the skies seems to be with him as it starts to get dark and cloudy. His brother repeatedly told him about getting his hands straight and timing perfect, with his growing height he should've been able to block his opponent's spike earlier. Oh, his siblings would be disappointed to know what happened during practice today.
While walking down the street, haunted by thoughts in his head, he looked at his hand and the rough surface of the wall of the building he's just passing by. It's the back of a hardware store he always pass by when on the way home, just before he makes a left turn to their street and another turn to his house. If it bleeds enough then he can just patch it up, no one's home enough to notice anyway.
And so with that, he dragged his hands against the wall. The rough surface caused his knuckles to bleed. But the pain wasn't loud, pain was a numb punishment for his mistakes. It's a silent reassurance tolerance for his actions.
Surprise came crashing in a form of a white headed omega.
"OYYYY!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Sachiro almost tripped his feet when a weight appeared pulling on his back, removing his blooded hand from the rugged wall. He turned his back to meet the culprit, slightly leaning down to meet starry doe eyes.
Sachiro can feel himself slipping a bit into honesty he's never confronted himself. It was those eyes and that scent made the pain slipped out of mind and for a moment he thinks he could count all the stars in his eyes. His mouth is dry and ajar as he scrambles his brain to form a response.
The omega's pheromones reminded Sachiro of the ocean during a breezy night. It's fresh and smells like warm vanilla, unlike most omegas that would smell too sweet for his nose.
"ERGHHH?!!" Came a disrupted reaction from the omega, probably from seeing his red wounded hand.
And Sachiro thinks he knows this kid. He has seen those green eyes before, during practices it watches him like a hawk. Though he never really considered looking back before.
"I— I think... maybe— No, probably..." He stutters, trying to make the letters and words function in order in his head. The omega could only looked up to him with a big question mark on his face, resembling a confusion.
"I don't really like volleyball that much."
Hirugami Sachiro owned up to a truth he tried to deny. A truth he tried to revise. A truth he tried to bury with despise.
He feels as if he's digging his grave and just awaiting a push to his fall. He's been too blinded that hadn't notice his companion took out a handkerchief.
"Then... why not just quit?"
Sachiro took the handkerchief in his hand but paused when he heard his reply.
"It's not like it'll kill you... and it's not like that giant mass of muscle you built up will vanish just because you quit." And the omega made sense. He even added, "Maybe you just had your fill of volleyball for now, given how much you've been gobbling it all up."
And suddenly the clouds are clear and heavy became light.
He brushed the handkerchief against his hands, staining the fabric, and looked up at the sky. Even the handkerchief has his scent, Sachiro wouldn't mind burying his nose in.
He's been too blinded to notice there weren't any shackles at all. The cage was just his self expectation and the keys were in his own hands.
Volleyball is, first and foremost, a fun game to enjoy.
"We should go to my house to get that cleaned up, it looks gross!" The omega exclaimed, pulling his unwounded hand to the opposite direction of his house.
"I'm Hoshiumi, by the way— Don't worry, I know you, we're like on the same team except you're mister star player." He, Hoshiumi, rambled as he drag Hirugami to make a right turn with a moderately fast pace.
"Also, I'm not a sham or anything you think bad about." Hoshiumi reassured him with a smile. It made Hirugami crack a snicker and a smile.
"Shouldn't I be saying that? I'm the newly presented alpha here, I barely know how to control myself most times." Sachiro replied. "Eh? But you're fine now, aren't you? Plus dad's home too, I don't have anything to worry about."
Hoshiumi's bright smile reaches both ears and his round doe eyes crinkle curving a smile. Which would've been sufficient for Hirugami to get no thoughts up in his head if it weren't for the last thing Hoshiumi said.
"Plus dad's home..."
Sachiro couldn't help but to sweat profusely.
"Taidama!" Hoshiumi loudly greet from outside of their house as they're both taking off their shoes. Just loud enough to drown the slund of Hirugami swallowing his own saliva.
"Okaeri, Korai-kun." Came a reply from Hoshiumi's father.
Hoshiumi's father is an intimidating tall bulky man, jet black dark hair as oppose to Hoshiumi's white ones. He had a smile that reaches his eyes but it later on fell more into a sarcastic smile once his gaze was placed onto Sachiro.
"Oh, you've brought a friend." Hoshiumi's father feigned surprise. "YEAH! Hirugami and I are in the same volleyball team!" Hoshiumi loudly replied, with excitement as he utter those words.
The father only hummed, motioning for both boys to come in. "Make yourself at home."
"Thank you... and pardon for the intrusion."
—
Middle school became much easier when Hoshiumi Korai came into Hirugami Sachiro's life. Volleyball didn't feel like a rope he's balancing himself on for the first time in so long. Volleyball became fun when Hoshiumi came, he remembered the sport that was to enjoy. Sure, they were a few occasions where Sachiro would be polluted with harsh thoughts when he gets consecutively down, when a day goes bad, when a set is lose. But now, Hoshiumi Korai is there to pull Sachiro back up again and since then they've been inseparable.
Hirugami Sachiro is quite the popular guy at school. He's not that snob or oblivious to the omegas and beta girls in his class, the omegas from the class right next to his doesn't go unnoticed as they pass by just to see him. And he doesn't meant to brag or sound arrogant when actually, it's just a matter of fact. It's his third year of middle school now and since he presented during his second year he's had countless of omegas at his feet, during valentines he really can't deny the chocolates given at him by omegas and female betas his age.
Valentines roll around this year.
"Hirugami! Did you get any chocolate?! From whoo?!" His classmate, Daiichiri, shooked him as he entered the classroom. Sachiro set the chocolates and letters in his table as his fellow alpha classmates try to get a reaction out of him.
"Bet Hirugami's gonna give those chocolate to his omega in class 3!" Another one of his classmate joined in.
Sachiro let out a nervous chuckle. "Korai-kun's not my omega." It came out too aggressive from his mouth.
"Hah, keep telling yourself that! You're always with him and I saw during the joint practice when the volleyball team's using the basketball team's gym, he was giving you a bottle and towel!" Daichiri added fuel to the flame.
Sachiro thinks he's blushing so gave a defensive reply. "Korai-kun gave everyone a bottle and a towel."
"Look, Hirugami. You keep denying that then someone else is gonna ask Hoshiumi-kun out. I heard that the top student from class 7— the female alpha, Suzuke Marie, had her eyes on him since she transferred to this school." A classmate from his right, Yashikaro, joined in the conversation.
"And we're 'bout to enter high school! You'll never know." Daichiri agreed with Yashikaro's point.
Sachiro genuinely paused for a minute to realize that him and Korai-kun have already talked about high school. "I don't know, Korai-kun and I are going to the same high school."
"Man, fuck you."
"Hey, Korai. Do you want chocolate? I can't eat this much stuff, my teeth's hurting lately." Sachiro offered a handful of chocolate, despite giving out the chocolate earlier at practice there's still so much more.
Korai stared at him, face is a mix of confusion and horror. "Sachiro, those people gave it to you this VALENTINES! You should treasure them. Plus, I have my own stash." He smugly pulled out a bar of chocolate from his bag.
"Oh yeah, who's it from?" Sachiro couldn't help himself to ask. There's an itching feeling in him to know, though he knows there's nothing he can do.
The white haired omega started rambling. "Oh, you know the transferee from class 7? She gave me a whole box of chocolate coated strawberries but I shared it with my friends at lunch. Then, there was this guy from the basketball team that gave me panda-shaped chocolates, they were so cute! And my former classmate from first year gave me..."
Korai's words flew past the alpha's head. Sachiro could only think about the light behind Korai's eyes. Sachiro couldn't think of anything but his pheromones that isn't too sweet but it instead calm Sachiro's heart with his fresh scent that reminds him of a newly baked treat.
"And don't worry, I only accepted their gifts. I didn't say yes to any of them." Korai reassured him with such a blunt tone.
The omega's words made Sachiro stop in his tracks. Heat surging towards the alpha's cheeks that Korai wasn't able to see as he already parted ways with Sachiro. Sachiro just stood in the center of the intersection, where him and Korai go into separate ways on the way home and meet during the day to school, and he looks red as a tomato.
Sachiro came to a realization.
He likes Hoshiumi Korai.
He likes Hoshiumi as a friend, as a person, and as an omega. He likes all aspect of Hoshiumi. His loud blunt and sarcastic personality and determined mindset made the alpha's heart beat a fast pace. Hoshiumi's scent gave Sachiro peace and reassurance to his world. Hoshiumi's pheromones offers comfort to him and Sachiro feels cozy when inhaling the air with sweet creamy notes reminding him of the warm vanilla that is Hoshiumi's scent. Sachiro feels at ease with Hoshiumi, those eyes that carry the stars in them, Sachiro thinks he could stare at it and let it swallow him into its depths.
Sachiro may be selfish to keep this realization to himself for a few more years, months, and days.
—
High school is when Hirugami Sachiro's love— admiration for Hoshiumi Korai bloomed.
Sachiro is more than proud of Korai in High School. Both of them enrolled in Kamomedai High School, where they both take a bus right down the street after meeting in the intersection. Kamomedai is the right place for both of them, there's a coach that values skills and passion and dismiss any stereotypes about secondary genders, he believes no gender can limit great potential. A proof of that is a second year omega on the team that is also on the regular team.
The existence of Nozawa Izuru in the team gave a glimmer of hope in Korai's eyes. There's no doubt in Sachiro that this year, they would be standing next to each other on the court.
Tryouts for the first years came. All first years are grouped into three and will compete against each group to assess the first years. Lucky for Sachiro, he's paired with Korai and a two-meters tall alpha who seems to have a problem with Korai. Although it bothered him, Sachiro tried to be the bigger person to overlook such feelings.
"Hakuba Gao, Class 5." The two meters tall alpha with a buzz cut glared down at Korai. His own intruding scent, one that reminded him of the forest with its strong earthy smell, didn't smell quite right to Sachiro.
Of course, Korai didn't dare back down. That man never knew fear and was a proud man with his chin held up high. Sachiro noticed the sweetness in Korai's scent muting into airy fragrance.
"Hoshiumi Korai, Class 3." Korai responded to the challenging stare of Hakuba. If this was cartoons, for sure there would be smoke fuming out of both guys ears.
Sachiro tried to interject before the matter take a wrong turn. "Hirugami Sachiro, Class 5... also."
After a few small talks and introduction over, Korai was separated from them as they went on to their respective locker rooms to change for practice. "Do you and that omega know each other for long?" Hakuba started.
He hummed. "Korai-kun and I knew each other since middle school and we've been friends since."
"Just friends?"
"Yeah, what else?" Sachiro asked confused. He watched the other alpha grab a new scent patch from his duffel bag.
Hakuba slapped the scent patch into his nape, finally masking his strong woody scent that's making Sachiro's nose itch in annoyance. "You're protective of him back there when I challenged him."
"Hah, I'm not protective." Despite his voice sounding calm, Sachiro's sure he smells defensive. Bless whoever invented scent patches.
"Keep telling yourself that." Hakuba said as he walk out of the alpha's locker room.
Sachiro scoffed to himself. Yeah, what that does guy know? Hakuba only met them just now, no way Sachiro's gonna trust his judgement.
So the young alpha tried to ignore whatever the other was trying to insinuate. He shuffled his duffel bag back to his own locker and hurriedly put on a practice bib over his plain white shirt.
"So what position do guys play?" Hakuba asked, Sachiro watched him as he stretch his legs.
"Middle blocker." He gave a short reply as he started his own stretching.
"Wing spiker!" Korai exclaimed with pride.
Hakub gave a scoff. "Hah, how's your short ass gotta spike?!"
"Who are calling short, ha?!" Korai started to march towards the provoking alpha and Sachiro had to place himself in the middle and grab Korai's arms to stop him.
Korai tried to break free from Sachiro's grasp while yelling insult to the ever unbothered Hakuba. "Your head's just so up in the sky you're basically meeting with the gods! A walking purgatory!"
"A walking WHAT?!" Hakuba fought back, also aggressively marching towards Korai.
Sachiro extended an arm against Hakuba while using his body to shield the omega. It's instinct, honest. This newly known alpha dared to insult his chosen omega, Sachiro tried to control himself. He's good at self-control, so no matter how agitated he feels, he never show it. Sachiro become the bigger person in the group.
"We're a team here, we're not meant to fight." There's a bite in his tone he doesn't mean to direct at Hakuba.
In Sachiro's peripheral vision, he could spot the captain talking to the coach while making occasional glances at the three of them. "Just go do warm-up streches and we'll talk about strategies later."
With that, all of them slowly calmed down. It was pure silence as they warm up individually, only a few sounds of bones cracking from tension released can be heard. Sachiro's eyes followed their captain's movement as the captain and manager discuss about whatever's in the clipboard in their hands.
"Hakuba, are you good receiver?" He bluntly asked.
"What the fuck is that question?"
"An honest one...?"
Hakuba open his mouth to answer only for Korai to cut him off. "Probably not, with all that ego talking."
"Korai, don't start." Sachiro threw a pointed look at the omega and whatever's Hakuba's reaction was ignored as Korai only rolled his eyes with a silent 'hmpf.'
Sachiro can already forsee the future and his hair is going to match the omega's too soon, feeling as a headache is already about to form.
He took mental notes of Hakuba's strength and weakness. He already knew everything about Korai. Throughout whole middle school, he knew Korai was practicing volleyball relentlessly and with great passion even though he wasn't pinch in the during official matches throughout his whole three years in middle school. But Sachiro knew about the weapons Korai spent sharpening while he was warming up the bench, Sachiro knew that Korai recently learned a jump serve just from watching a professional player's compilation of serves video on YouTube. Sachiro remembered asking his brother when he was home to help both him and Korai in their serves. The ever-hardworking Hoshiumi Korai never falters, Sachiro now wanted to see all those collected skills in action.
Of course, Korai and Sachiro also shared their own skills and weakness in the court with Hakuba, in getting to know the alpha. The team decided that Sachiro should serve first if they're serving. Korai and Hakuba, for the love god, cannot go on one conversation without making everything a competition.
Each team was given a chance to pick their group name. Sachiro had to close his eyes and embraced himself for the upcoming nth argument from Hakuba and Korai. But later on, they settled with the name "Triple H" suggested by Sachiro. It's a simple name for the three of them, basically just the initials of their last name being coincidentally the same in roman alphabet.
They ended up serving first against a team with two betas and an alpha whose names Sachiro couldn't recall. He twist the ball in his hand as he waits for the whistle of the third year playing referee. The whistle blew and Sachiro threw the ball in the air.
The match started and ended with a clear winner that day.
—
The last class Sachiro is in is going on for way too long. He's itching to change into his PE uniform and see Korai. At last, the teacher finally decided to call it an end then Sachiro sighed with relief.
"Oi, Hirugami. I heard Cap's announcing the first years that passed the tyrouts AND got a spot on the regular team." Sachiro can sense the excitement coming out of the other alpha's pheromones.
Sachiro only hummed, packing his books back to his bag and slipping the pen into the pocket of his shirt. "I don't think many of us are gonna get a spot though, there's so many people on the team."
"Of course, you're gonna get a spot, you're a Hirugami. Hello?" Hakuba only scoffed.
For the past few days, Hakuba kept tagging along with Sachiro and Korai despite bickering with the omega all day long. Sachiro found out that he doesn't mind the noise of their loud arguments everyday as long as it doesn't escalate into much serious and bigger issues. Sachiro always sides with Korai, even though he often scolds the omega for provoking Hakuba.
"Let's pass by Class 3 if Korai's still there before we go to gym." Sachiro stated as undo his neck tie and forcefully shoved it in his bag.
Sachiro tried to ignore the side glance Hakuba threw at him. He let Hakuba follow behind him as his feet drag him to Korai's classroom. He ignored the omegas trying to make small talks with him and his eyes searched for Korai. From the corridor, Sachiro could spot the white haired omega shoving a notebook and pen into his bag before zipping it up. Korai looked up and met Sachiro's eyes, the alpha made a small wave as Korai rushed out of the room.
On the way to the volleyball club's gym, Sachiro stared at the omega's side profile. Korai kept rambling on and about an omega olympic volleyball player from Russia that he's been following recently, most of Korai's words flew out of the alpha's ears but Korai's voice is clear to Sachiro. He could stare at those eyes glimmer, while he rattle about whatever, all day long.
If Hakuba saw and noticed anything, he didn't get a chance to say anything about it.
They finally reached the gym, Sachiro's alpha was actually aching when Korai had to be separated from him as they go into their respective locker rooms.
"You know, you're not subtle..." Hakuba started as he changed his white polo-shirt into a plain cotton black shirt.
Sachiro only hummed, feigning ignorance. "About what?"
"Hoshiumi." Came a blunt answer from the other alpha. "I heard someone from our class had his eyes on him but he thinks you guys are together so he don't make a move."
"That's not my priority right now." Sachiro chose avoidance. It's better.
Sachiro knew it himself how obvious he's been to everyone but the omega he's yearning for. Even his brother noticed.
Last night, Korai asked the alpha to teach him something about integral calculus and derivatives, Sachiro offered to do it at his place. His mom and brother was there, after the study session they were rewarded with volleyball passing practice with professional player Fukuro-nii.
Korai even shared dinner with the whole Hirugami family. Later that night, after successfully walking Korai home, Sachiro met his brother leaning against the doorway with a faint smile translating into approval.
Sachiro knew what it meant, of course. Heat was rising to his face and if it weren't for the darkness of the night he would've been an obvious walking tomato.
With those thoughts in his head, Sachiro changed into his light blue volleyball shorts and walked out of the alpha's locker room completely ignoring whatever's Hakuba going on about.
He easily spotted the omega from afar. Korai seems to be earnestly listening whatever the second year Nozawa is talking about. It's that glimmer of hope shimmering in the omega's eyes that had Sachiro in a chokehold.
Sachiro found himself walking through and blending with his fellow first years, bumping into Korai in the process with the three of them, including Hakuba, settled sitting in front of Coach Murphy and the captain.
"You think we could get a spot?" Came a low whisper from Hakuba.
"I hope so, Sachiro's already obvious though." Korai whispered with hopeful eyes.
Sachiro only hummed. "Don't doubt yourself too much, guys." He forcefully turned his head away from staring at Korai too much.
The coach took the clipboard from the captain and began turning pages until he cleared his throat and demanded everyone's attention.
"First of all, I would like to congratulate all the first years since you all passed the trials and there is..." Coach Murphy started and then paused to look at the clipboard. "I am pleased to announce that 2 first years manage to land a spot in the regular team. Don't worry, I've looked into first years that I can pinch in during games so there's always a chance."
"Congrats, Hirugami and Hakuba."
Sachiro felt the all the first years stares at him as his eyes pierced through the omega beside him. He grew deaf to the faint congratulations and claps coming from other first years from his back and and his upperclassmen. The only time he really paid attention is when Korai nudged him and whispered.
"I'm gonna get a spot this year or the next, don't worry."
And with such confidence radiating out of the omega, who was Sachiro to doubt him?
—
Sachiro was right to trust him.
First year summer interhigh came and Korai was being subbed in frequently as a pinch server for a third year. The omega's high, fast, and powerful spike serve often left the opponents in dust. It's not perfect yet, it lacks the control and bit of technique but it's there. A bit of polishing and the serve will be perfect.
Korai also showed a good defense and offense. Once, his serve got received in a rally during the finals, the spiker of the opposite team directed the spike at him. Sachiro saw how the omega didn't falter. Korai strengthen his arms and settled in the perfect position for the ball to land in his forearm. The ball went up and fell right at their setter's palm in which the ball was tossed high for Hakuba. Hakuba's spike was received and the ball came back from their side, this time the second year setter, Suwa, managed to get under the ball and pass it to Korai's direction. Sachiro watched the hands of the omega grip the ball into a set, high and off the net, going to his direction.
In that rally, Sachiro scored the final point of the set.
They're going to nationals.
Before that though, Coach Murphy delivered good news.
All the players, regulars and benchwarmers, gathered in the heart of the gym. Coach Murphy was visibly beaming, he had three envelopes in his hands that Sachiro guess it's part of the agenda.
"First and foremost, congratulations. We're once again stepping in Nationals. The envelopes here in my hands..." Coach Murphy raised the envelopes for everyone to see. "Are invitations for three of our first years to attend the Itachiyama training camp."
Sachiro could hear the faint whispers, gentle gasps, and subtle guesses being thrown around. He already had a rough guess on who the three first years are.
In the meantime, Sachiro glanced at the white-haired omega beside him. While Korai may not look like it, the alpha knew how Korai's heart is pounding and expecting. Sachiro wrapped his arms around the omega in comfort, the alpha could see in his peripheral vision how Korai looked up at him for a second before leaning his head on his shoulders.
It's those subtle moments between them that Sachiro treasures, it doesn't matter who sees them, what matters is Korai. Sachiro didn't care about the side eye that Hakuba gave him as long as it meant lending a hand to the omega.
"Hirugami, Hakuba, and... Hoshiumi. You are invited to the Tokyo First year Training Camp hosted by Itachiyama Academy for two weeks."
Sachiro loosen his hold on the omega and watch his how his doe eyes get even wider in surprise. A faint blush rushing through his cheeks and even with scent patches, Sachiro can smell the omega's delight in his pheromones smelling like a sweet treat.
Korai's only words were, "Eh-Ehh... Me?"
Behind them is their senpai, Nozawa Izuru, who Sachiro knew the omega formed a bond with overtime. "Of course you'd get invited." Nozawa shuffled Korai's hair with a fond look.
"And its scheduled after the All-Youth Japan Under-19 training camp Hirugami's invited at." Coach Murphy mentioned casually and urged everyone to continue training.
There's a nice unique glow radiating out of the omega. Sachiro could see how Korai's smile could reach his eyes and stretch to his ears. There's a calm and relief that settles in Sachiro watching his omega glow— No, Korai's not even his yet.
"Calm down pipsqueak, I know this is your first time." Gao teased but Sachiro knew he's just as happy.
"You can't ruin my mood, Gao!" Korai declared, already celebrating.
That night, Sachiro went home with Korai as usual. They took the bus home and chatted along the way. The omega's voice, enthusiastically rambling about the training camp and how excited he's been since the announcement, was full of excitement and the usually downturned smile was now permanently has its corners turned upwards.
Sachiro's proud of Hoshiumi Korai.
He's blushing while he skips. Even though Sachiro could see how Korai's slowly getting eaten by exhaustion, there's still a natural glow in the omega that Sachiro seems to always be captivated.
But Korai's slowling his pace and the alpha have to place his hands on Korai's lower back.
Once Sachiro got a good look on the omega, he could spot the sweat dripping down Korai's face and speaking of Korai's face, it's red. The warm vanilla turning into a sweet cozy scent like a fresh baked treat fermented the air and invaded Sachiro's nose. The chains on Sachiro's self-control are fighting hard to keep the young alpha still.
The realization sunk in, Korai is going to heat.
The omega in Sachiro's arms is burning up, he's hot and his pheromones everywhere. Thank god, they're in a pretty remote place that there's not much people around. Without any hesitation, Sachiro took off his school blazer and wrapped it around the omega before he scooped Korai into his arms while visibly holding his breath.
Sachiro was running on auto-pilot as his feet dragged himself to the direction of Korai's house.
"Sachi... Alpha..." Small whispers from Korai that made Sachiro blush.
But he can't lose control now, a few more steps in front of Korai's house. So he tighten his hold on the omga and replied, "Yeah, we're near, baby"
Baby?! Where the fuck did that came from?! Whatever. Sachiro reached the gates and screams if anyone's home. He sees a figure of a woman with the same white hair as the man in his arms. "Asa-san! Asa-san!"
Sachiro had to be strong when Korai's gripping his school shirt tight and rubbing his wrist near the scent gland of the alpha. There's sweet whispers of Korai calling out the alpha while nuzzling his face into Sachiro's jacket. Thankfully, the woman rushes into the door with the same look of panic as she saw her son red and in heat.
Korai's feet was brought to the ground as Sachiro loosen his hold on him. The omega doesn't seem to agree as his hands balled up into a fist while gripping the hem of Sachiro's shirt. Korai has his face pressed against the alpha's chest and head leaning on his left shoulder when Asa, Hoshiumi's mother, opened the gates.
With no words and the only noise was the omega's whining, Sachiro gentle passed Korai to his mother, he held the fisted hand and redirected it to hold Asa's hands. Only a curt nod was exchanged between the two alphas and the gate was closed at Sachiro's face.
Sachiro came home with a boner, missing blazer, and covered in warm vanilla sweets scent.
—
They never talked about it.
Even after Sachiro came home from the All-Youth Japan U-19 Training Camp and they finished the Itachiyama Tokyo First Year training Camp, they never talked about it.
Sachiro's uniform was never returned and neither of them brought up the incident. Both Sachiro and Korai acted like it never happened. Korai never brought it up and Sachiro assumed it was nothing. After all, that time it wasn't Korai speaking, it was his omega in heat begging for anyone to hold him and Sachiro just happened to be there. Sachiro was never one to assume so like Korai, he brushed the matter off.
He had more important matters to pour attention to than dwelling on the past.
Spring Interhigh came in a flash after their team placed in the Top 8 during the Nationals Interhigh.
Before the Spring Qualifers even began, the coach gathered all players to announce something important during practice.
"So, I plan to change to line up this time, that means the regular will be playing with a first year to sync up before the qualifers began."
Everyone perked up with the Coach's words. "For now, I'm just going to see if this player can sync up with the regular team during practice matches. Which speaking of, you guys should get ready Inarizaki is on their way. Do your warm-ups now!"
As much as this was a good news for the first years, Sachiro could see how the third years on the regular team tensed up from the Coach's words but the whole team moved on to do their warm ups and prepare the arrival of a rival team.
They did some passing, digging drills, and serves before finishing it up with tosses and spikes. Sachiro gulped down a bottle of energy drink before turning his head to the opening of the door.
"Get in line!" Coach Murphy said and the team mobilized themselves to the command.
Once the whole team formed a straight line facing the other team.
"Let's play a good game!" Both team chimed in and bowed to each other in respect.
Sachiro lifted his head to spot their captain handshaking the other captain and their Coach Murphy speaking with Inarizaki's Coach with familiarity. He turned his attention to the omega beside him that's being bothered by the apparently "blond" player of Inarizaki.
"Why did you dye your hair?" It slipped pass from Sachiro's mouth before he can even form a greeting.
It also ignited a violent reaction from the blonde alpha. "What happened ta 'hello?' 'How'r ya?'"
"What happened to your hair?" Korai joined in laughing at the abomination of Miya Atsumu's hair.
"It's BLONDE, Korai-kun! Ya wouldn't know 'nyway, ya spike up yer hair ta be taller even'f it'll be ugly 'nyway!" Atsumu clapped back, giving back the same energy.
"At least, mine's stylable! Your's a PISS color!"
"It's BLONDE! BLONDE like Kenma!"
"Kenma's blonde a good typa blonde, yers is the color of ma piss." Even Atsumu's twin, Miya Osamu, joined in roasting his twin's hair.
Sachiro just watched the chaos unfold, both Korai and Osamu trying to introduce toner to Atsumu while also simultaneously bullying the blonde for having shit hair.
"You guys should buy the guy some toner, do girls at your school still like him?" Sachiro mumbled to the omega beside him that's holding his phone up to capture the bickering that turned into another Miya twins fight.
"Unfortunately. We've been tellin' 'im ta buy a toner but i guess when someone from school told 'im that his hair looked good, it feed his ego real good em tellin' ya." Suna Rintarou answered with a blank face while also trying to capture every angle of the fight. Hakuba and Korai can be seen cheering in the back.
"Oi, what're ya doin'? Start strechin'."
Both Sachiro and Suna tensed up from the coldness of the boy. Hakuba and Korai diverted their gazes and clumped themselves with their seniors while the twins untangled themselves from the fight.
"Yes, sir!"
Why the fuck did Sachiro also said that?! And who the fuck was that guy?!
When the guy, in an inarizaki jacket and pants with hair white like Korai but it's styled down and have black tips instead of fully white, walked away only then Sachiro let go of the breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Is he your captain?" Sachiro mumbled.
"Not yet, though I think Coach will make him captain next year."
"Just go do your warm-ups." Sachiro started waving bye and walking to his team.
"Mhm. We're crushin' ya!"
Sachiro didn't look back but instead has his eyes fixed on the back of the white-haired omega. It's all cinematic and Hakuba would even call it cringe the way Sachiro looks at Korai like he's the brightest star on a special night. But the way Korai shines in Sachiro's eyes is honest, his laughter was a natural sound that fluttered his heart.
Sachiro knew since the beginning, he was doomed to fall for one like Hoshiumi Korai.
He just didn't notice he would fall this hard.
"Oi, Hirugami! Hurry up!" Hakuba shouted to bring him back to reality
Sachiro tried to avert his gaze, trying to focus on whatever's the Coach saying. What brought his attention back was the last thing that Coach Murphy said.
"... out for this game. Hoshiumi, you will replace Monamira for this game."
The alpha's eyes widen in surprise the same time Korai's did. Sachiro immediately found himself staring at Korai with a sense of satisfaction and delight that one would feel for a friend. However, the strange surprise look on the face of the third year whose spot just got stolen didn't looked quite right to Sachiro and kept his guards up.
But that didn't matter when he faced the omega to congratulate him. Nozawa-san already grabbed the omega to give him a tight hug and so does Suwa-san and Hakuba joined in with a bit of teasing. But there was no time left for celebratories as the match was about to began.
Sachiro had his eyes trail behind the omega's back as the team settled in position before it shifted to stare at their opponents intense ones.
It was a time wherein Korai proved his worth on the court.
First year Spring Interhigh was the first time Sachiro and Korai stood on the court together.
Time was a fleeting moment in between and no one noticed how everything has passed in a blink, two years later, Sachiro Hirugami is standing and playing on the court with all-rounder volleyball star, Korai Hoshiumi, as captain of Kamomedai High.
Itachiyama has been known to fight tooth and nail. They're weasels with fangs and claws lingering and awaiting. Sakusa Kiyoomi and Komori Motoya from the other side of the net seems just as hunger for the trophy.
Because finally, with Sachiro leading the team, Kamomedai High is competing with Itachiyama Academy for the finals, who will bring the trophy home?
Both teams are hungry to make the final shot, anticipating the fall of the last ball. Fifth set with 25-26 leaning in Kamomedai's favor. Sakusa smashed the ball and gave it a nasty spin towards Korai's side of the court and of course the omega doesn't let it fall as his arms took the force and managed to get the ball high, perfectly passed to their setter. A high toss was on the way, Itachiyama's blockers started marking Gao since he was making and approach but the ball curved to Korai and it bumped Komori's arms. Fortunately for Kamomedai, the ball was going out of bounds.
Once the ball hit the grounds, the referee made one final whistle signaling the end of the game.
And in that glowing light, stadium full of crowd, Korai drenched in sweat but somehow he looked so ethereal in Sachiro's eyes. Korai was zoning out, looking at his hands in total disbelief.
Sachiro snapped out of it when Gao crashed into hug with him and dragged Korai into the hug.
—
"Hey, Korai." Sachiro called the omega.
Hoshiumi Korai looked ever so fearless as the moon's light bounced against his radiant skin. The balcony's fresh air hummed a lullaby for both of them.
"You did great earlier. I mean— that receieve from Sakusa's serve is nasty!" He started the conversation. Korai only replied with a scoff and a gentle laughter.
"Please, your block to Sakusa's nasty ass spike that was tough shit! I always wanted to put a stop to his ridiculous spin spike!" Korai replied cheerfully.
In Sachiro's eyes, the omega is radiant as always. The afterglow of their win looks incredibly good on him. Everyone's on a good mood after winning the nationals.
"Thanks for taking the nationals home, captain." Korai patted his back as he move to rest his hands on the railings of the balcony. He said those words with utter gentleness that made the alpha's heart melt as heat rise to his cheeks.
Sachiro tried to play it cool, "I think it was mostly the team's balanced harmony and overall skills. Specially yours..." Sachiro looked into the eyes that always had stars in them. "And Gao-san, and our kouhais..." He added.
The omega only let out a laugh.
Under the moonlight, in the bliss of their victory. Sachiro felt it was only time.
"I think I should say it now." He mumbled to himself.
Korai seems to caught on that. "Say what?"
"Since we're in our third year, we're graduating. I'm going to Tokyo University for college and I'm finally quitting volleyball for good." Sachiro started his speech.
"Good for you then, have you submitted your application?" There's genuine happiness in Korai's eyes it makes the alpha fall a little deeper. Remembering their first interaction about how Sachiro felt towards volleyball.
Sachiro nodded. "Since we met, you've brought back most colors to my life. I've never had eyes for other omegas before and I never really bothered myself with them, but with you I find it so natural to entangle myself with you— well, because it's you. You made me realize things about myself, you helped me to remember.
"Korai, you saved me."
From staring at Korai's natural doe eyes, the alpha turn his head to the moon and decided to stare at its beauty while continuing his monologue. He swear he heard the omega's soft gasp at the last sentence he said.
"And you saw me as me. With my times with you, I got to know you. For years since we graduated middle school, my alpha yearn for you. I knew I liked you longer than that but I realized it during our third year in middle school— I was a coward for not saying anything. I don't want to ruin anything."
"But now, we're graduating, going into our separated ways. I can tell you now that...
"I like you. I love you all the years that I've known you, Hoshiumi Korai."
Fuck. There it is, he said it. Whatever's the outcome is none of Sachiro's business. Sachiro uttered those words as he stared back at Korai's widen eyes that he can't read what's in it anymore. The alpha braced himself for rejection or anything. He lowered his head as the breezy air blending with Korai's natural scent danced around them.
Sachiro is scared of Korai's silence, he closed his eyes for rejection. However, what greeted him was a soft press against his lips.
The alpha find it so natural for him to wrap his calloused hands in the omega's thin waist as their lips continue to press against each other. Sachiro find it so easy to slip his tongue in the omega's mouth and grab his thin waist to the air. Their own tongues fighting for each other, Korai silently squirming in Sachiro's hold, the alpha finally put him down in the railings of the balcony as their lips finally let go of each other.
"Sachiro, I swear to god if you push me here." Korai threatened him to which his only response is Sachiro's chuckle.
"I'd never, dear."
Sachiro had a secured grip around the slim waist, the alpha rested his head on the flat stomach of the omega. "So, does that mean you like me too?" His voice sound like a whisper.
"Of course, dumbass." The omega teased, running his fingers through Sachiro's soft brown locks.
The alpha picked him up again, Korai let out a loud squirm with masked laughter in them. They spun around until Sachiro put him down. The alpha's smile reaching both ears.
"You're mine. My omega." Sachiro claimed while grabbing the omega's cheeks and pressing their lips for quick kiss.
"I've always been, Sachiro."
—