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i.
during kita’s first year in high school, he never felt an attraction towards anyone. sure, he found some people good-looking, but he's never felt butterflies in his stomach or hearts in his eyes. that was until the miya twins were recruited into inarizaki’s volleyball club.
he'd known that they were childhood friends with aran, his best friend, and they had very distinct personalities.
they looked like your average highschooler. tall, broad, handsome, and annoying. the brash one— atsumu, he found out— had made an image of himself already. he aspired to be the team's setter and bring them to nationals.
the other, always settled behind atsumu, was osamu. he was much quieter than him, but certainly not less cheeky. kita found himself drawn into osamu's seemingly calm demeanor.
when aran found his second year friend staring way too intensely at the newcomers, he decided to approach him.
“they just got here and you're already glaring a hole into ‘em?” he said with a grin.
“you've been friends with them for a while, right?” kita inquired.
“against my will, yes. why?” aran said with a joking tone.
“no reason. they're just.. interesting.” kita answered curtly.
their coach, norimune kurosu, huddled his players together to hear the first years’ introductions, which kita was mildly curious about. not that he would tell them.
“hey everyone. i’m miya atsumu and this is my twin osamu. i wanna play as a setter. i hope y'all can keep up with me!” atsumu spoke cockily in front of everyone, which set off whispers across the team.
“i'm osamu. i’ll try playing as a spiker. sorry about my twin, he was taught manners, everything just goes in one ear and out the other fer him.” osamu introduced himself curtly yet with a spice of humor that made everyone laugh.
now kita was very interested in osamu. the way he talks and bonds with the other first years. the way he steals aran’s water bottle because he forgot to refill his. the way he always lets his brother take the spotlight. but in kita’s eyes, the spotlight is always on osamu.
“what's up with kita?” akagi whispers, though not so quiet.
“he's been staring daggers into the twins. osamu in particular.” oomimi voices, also trying to whisper but fails.
“you like him, shin?” aran asks in a joking manner. kita has a serious answer.
“what if i do?” the others stared incredulously, “he's kind of cute.”
the small circle of four people erupted like a class that passed physics.
from then on, kita would try to get osamu to like him back with the help of his friends.
ii.
a week after the club’s new recruitments got settled, coach kurosu created a group chat to make scheduling meetings and practices much more efficient.
══════════════════════════════
Inarizaki Volleyball Team 🏐🦊❤️
Coach
>> Practice from 2–5.
Kita Shinsuke
Reacted 👍 to Coach’s message <
Aran my friend
>> I will be a bit late. I’m on class duty 🙏🏾
Coach
>> All good. Anyone else?
Miya Atsumu
>> can me, samu, suna, and gin buy some food
first? our detention extended til lunchtime lolol
Ginjima Hitoshi
>> sorry for The inconvenience 🙏🏻
Suna Rintarou
>> sorry coach
Miya Osamu
>> so sorry（´>人<｀）
Coach
>> Haha. I’ll let it go. You guys are just starting
off.
Miya Atsumu
>> THANK YOU COACH
Miya Osamu
>> thank you coach kurosu (*ˊᗜˋ*)
Coach
> Reacted 👌 to Miya Osamu’s message
══════════════════════════════
Aran Ojiro, Kita Shinsuke, Akagi Michinari, Ren Ōmimi
Michinari
>> why's osamu so lovely? LOL
Oomimi
>> I know right? never expected him to type like
that
Aran my friend
>> 🤣🤣
>> if it was Atsumu it wouldn't be surprising
Kita Shinsuke
Guys, what to do? <<
Osamu is very adorable. <<
Michinari
>> KITA LOL
>> ask him out
Oomimi
>> Does he talk like that with everybody?
>> DM him
Aran my friend
>> that's a very good idea
>> Go for it, Kita!
══════════════════════════════
Miya Osamu
Kita Shinsuke
Hello, Osamu. This is Kita. Please save my <<
number 🙏
Miya Osamu
>> hello, Kita-san! (っ'ヮ'c)
>> please take care of me (*´ᵕ`ㅅ)
Kita Shinsuke
Reacted ❤️ to Miya Osamu’s message <
══════════════════════════════
Aran Ojiro, Kita Shinsuke, Akagi Michinari, Ren Ōmimi
Kita Shinsuke
Photo <
[a screenshot of his chats with osamu]
Aran my friend
>> LOLOLOLOL 🤣🤣
Oomimi
>> With the heart as well? Hahaha
Michinari
>> shin. do you REALLY like him
Kita Shinsuke
Why not? <<
He's cute. <<
══════════════════════════════
iii.
a year has passed.
second years were now third years, every moment inching towards their graduation day. first years now second years, training even harder for the nationals yet to come.
kita’s hardcore crush for osamu has not disappeared. it in fact grew even bigger. still no move on him, but he'll get there.
coach kurosu got a call from the principal's office that the twins got in trouble again, so he went to fetch them.
“what have the twins done this time? suna, do you know anything about this?” aran asked with an exasperated sigh.
ginjima murmured. “let's just say, we kind of helped them.” he gestured towards himself and suna.
“troublemakers, all four of you.” akagi ruffled ginjima’s hair affectionately.
“sorry, team. had to escort these two rascals.” the booming voice of their coach from the gym doors was heard. people gasped and choked and commented loudly. aran beside him had guffawed. akagi’s jaw fell slack. naturally, kita wanted to know what all the ruckus was about.
there stood miya atsumu and miya osamu, coach kurosu’s hand on their shoulders. atsumu supported a sly smirk, while osamu had a tiny smile, just as proud. most notably, their hair colors had changed.
the former’s hair was dyed a mustard yellow colour and in desperate need of toner, while the latter’s was dyed gray with a purplish hue.
kita could've sworn he was drooling. osamu has never looked more beautiful.
“shin, a fly’s gonna enter your mouth.” aran said lightly, which reminded kita to jam his lips shut before embarrassing himself even further.
he didn't (couldn't) hear what anyone else said about the twins’ new hairdo. the afternoon light shone beautifully through the windows and cast a soft glow over osamu. kita could see the shadow of osamu's surprisingly long eyelashes resting on his cheeks. kita could see osamu's fluffy gray locks done by presumably suna.
he was truly a sight to behold.
“shin? what do you think of osamu’s new hair?” akagi asked, breaking kita out of his trance.
“i think it's wonderful on him and he looks very good. cute, even.”
iv.
it isn't unknown that osamu loves food. what most of them didn't know was that osamu is a great cook. he spoke through food. miso soup on cold, rainy days. karaage and fatty tuna after a fight with atsumu that lasted for too long. katsu curry to tell people he loves them.
kita always sensed that osamu was slowly losing passion for volleyball. he never looked energetic when playing. suna’s eyes are droopy at practice, but he plays like he means it. osamu plays because atsumu is playing. or that's what it looks like. kita doesn't know.
he did know that osamu brings bento for him and atsumu. it always looks good. sometimes it's rice, eggs, veggies, and bacon. sometimes it's instant noodles with a side of beef. sometimes it's juicy onigiri with rich filling.
the last dish looked the most appealing for kita. it always made his mouth water.
before a volleyball camp, he, coach kurosu, and coach tarō— the new assistant coach, had a meeting for logistics, kita having been promoted to team captain.
“we need food for the kids as well. should we ask the canteen lady?” coach tarō ideated.
“surely there's a cheaper alternative. canteen food is quite pricey, especially for feeding 15 growing boys.” coach kurosu voiced, his lower lip jutting out as he's thinking.
“i have an idea. maybe we could get osamu to make lunches for us. he likes making them, i’m sure he wouldn't mind.” kita suggested.
so coach kurosu asked him after practice if he could make lunch boxes for everyone, which osamu happily agreed to do.
he made everyone's lunchboxes different, from the information he had on everyone's food preferences. kita’s bento consisted of a well made tofu hamburger, steamed edamame with sesame oil, and heart-shaped veggies.
he also gave everyone two onigiris each, all made with the same love and care. each box had a handwritten note stuck on the lid.
kita’s said: ‘I hope you like your lunch, captain! Any feedback appreciated ^__^’
gosh, osamu was just so cute.
v.
after their loss against karasuno during the spring high national tournament, everyone was devastated.
the second years were disappointed in themselves for being unable to make the third years’ last match a win.
for kita, this volleyball club was the best thing in his life, especially osamu, so even on the verge of breaking down and with misty eyes, he was happy.
he found himself alone with said special boy in the gym, him cleaning the volleyballs until they were squeaky clean as a distraction for his sake, the other sound asleep on the bench using his backpack as a pillow.
or, kita thought he was asleep.
“i’m sorry.” his companion mumbled.
“for what? it wasn't your fault.” kita uttered back.
“i couldn't give you guys a win for your last game. maybe if i didn't slack off.” osamu slurred, one side of his face pressed deeper into the uncomfortable backpack. kita could hear his pout even with his back turned on him.
“don't say that. it was no one's fault. besides, i’m proud of you guys. proud of you. that was a last game i’m happy with.” his reply was met with quiet from the other boy.
“okay then, if you say so.” osamu muttered after a long second of silence. “what are you gonna do after this?” he asked.
kita gave a thoughtful hum. “i want to go to university. i also want to go back to the countryside to work in my family’s rice paddy.”
“man, you always have everything planned out perfectly. i’m jealous.” osamu commented.
“don't be like that. i’m sure you know what you want to do in the future, osamu. you're smart. if you need any help, you can always come to me.” kita informed, always looking forward to helping his juniors (and perhaps going on a date).
“i guess, yeah. also, i do need your advice on something.” osamu said shyly. kita nodded, ready to hear him out.
“i’m not gonna play too, y’know.” osamu continued.
“yeah, i knew. you don't look as enthusiastic as your twin when it comes to volleyball.” kita noted. osamu chuckled. music to his ears.
“i used to. but now i can't find that part of me. and… i don't know how to tell ‘tsumu. he's gonna be mad at me. i ‘on think i can take that.” he ranted to his friend.
now, kita turned to him. he saw osamu sitting on the bench, looking down on him. his eyes were still red from crying, cheeks stained with tear tracks. he was wearing his change of clothes, a blue sweater, making him look infinitely softer. but, kita focused on the task at hand.
“osamu, atsumu is your twin. maybe he'll get angry, but that's because he loves you and cares about you. you guys have never been apart, so knowing his brother isn't going to be with him, that's bound to make anyone sad. but it'll all be better in the end. trust me.” he comforted, giving osamu a charming smile as osamu's eyes glimmered, until he smiled as well.
“thank you, kita-san. you always make me feel better.” he responded.
“you're very welcome, osamu,” kita said warmly and then inquired, “may i ask what you're going to do after high school?”
“i want to own a restaurant. i want to cook for people. i like knowing my food makes people happy.” osamu answered.
“it fits you very well.” miya osamu was going be the death of kita shinsuke.
after their lengthy talk, osamu bid him a farewell, leaving kita alone to dwell on their conversation. the more kita thought about it, the more osamu swindled him, taking over every corner of his brain.
miya osamu was the cutest and kita needed to ask him out as soon as possible.
+1.
it was nearing graduation for the third years.
they stopped attending practice as they needed to focus on exams and the ceremony.
while osamu was having lunch with his twin, ginjima, and suna, they decided to note something important.
“are ya goin’ ta miss kita-san, ‘samu?” atsumu started.
“i’ll miss all of ‘em equally. probably aran-kun the most, though.” osamu answered curtly, slurping down his ramen.
“wait. so ya aren't datin’ kita-san?” ginjima questioned, making atsumu and suna laugh, and osamu choke on his noodles.
“what makes you think that?!” he sputtered, chugging down water.
“he's not wrong. you guys are… weird around each other. gives off dating vibes.” suna thought, a hand on his chin.
“no we're not. he definitely doesn't like me that way.” osamu said, only to be stared down by his three friends. “what?”
“osamu, are ya serious? kita-san looks at ya like ya hung the moon! it's pretty obvious.” atsumu blurted, waving his hands wildly.
“do ya like him, ‘samu?” suna tilted his head, curious.
“i mean.. if he asked me out, i’d say yes.” osamu answered the dreaded question.
“good grief.”
“i knew it!”
“i saw the hearts in his bento that one time!”
a chorus of exclamations burst out while osamu just continued eating while kind of daydreaming about kita asking him out.
—
a day before the third years' graduation, with the help and motivation of his friends, kita decided to meet up with osamu.
they met at the park after school, when the sun started to set upon hyogo and the sky turned into a beautiful orange.
kita approached where osamu was sitting next to the vending machine. he looked pretty like this.
“hello, osamu.” kita waved.
“hey, kita-san. why did you want to see me?” osamu’s hands fidgeted, feet shifting from one to the other.
kita reached into his tote bag and pulled out a bento box. inside was filled to the brim with osamu's favorite foods: ume-braised chicken, egg sandwiches, heart-shaped veggies, and onigiri—although not as good as osamu's.
“i really like you. ever since you walked into the gym, you've caught my eye. please go out with me.” osamu's eyes widened.
it was rare for a senior to confess to a junior, much more the one confessing is kita shinsuke. osamu took the bento box and really took in what was happening.
kita-san likes him, wants to go out with him, and makes him a bento.
it's charming, it's attractive, it's… cute.
“kita-san, i..” osamu started.
“it's okay if you don't like me back, please just take it into consideration.” kita said, looking at osamu's bluish gray eyes.
“no, i–”
“i tried my best with the bento. i hope you like it, even if you don't like me back.” kita intercepted again.
osamu shook his head. “i like you too!”
kita fell silent. osamu took it as his cue to continue.
“i always saw you as an attractive and reliable captain. you were always kind and patient with us. i never said anything because i was scared you wouldn't like me back. i… i would love to go out with you.” he finished, cheeks red and not because of the heat.
kita smiled softly at him. “so, are you my boyfriend?”
“i’m whatever you want me to be.”
“and the crowd cheered!” someone— aran, shouted from the bushes. turns out, half the volleyball club was hiding nearby, watching everything unfold.
“congrats ‘samu and kita-san!” the second years applauded with a banner of both their faces.
“after years of pining, aye? happy for you two.” ōmimi acknowledged, akagi nodding alongside him.
“it's not very nice to spy on people, isn't it?” kita sneered, veins popping out. they grimaced.
“oh no.” suna muttered.
“three laps around the school now.” everyone groaned. kita laughed, leaning his head towards osamu’s shoulder. osamu tilted his head, feeling kita’s hair brushing against his neck and ear.
everything turned out exactly how it was supposed to go.
end.