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Osamu sat at his table, leisurely eating his breakfast. It was rare that he was able to devote the proper attention and care to the first meal of the day, despite its importance, since he was usually off to his restaurant first thing in the morning. Today, however, he had the rare day off since his staff had insisted he'd been running himself ragged lately. Despite his protests, he'd been nearly shoved out the door and sent home the night before with stern orders not to come in today.
Even stupid Atsumu had gotten involved, sending him a text last night telling him he'd better spend today at home. Atsumu. Who should have been the last one to tell him he was working too hard. Osamu had laughed upon recieving that text. His first thought was maybe Atsumu was trying to get a leg up on their bet by making Osamu skip work, but he probably meant well. Probably. Too often, Osamu was texting Atsumu for the first time in the late evening, it being the first chance all day that he had the opportunity to breathe.
The one text he hadn't minded had come in just after midnight. Rin's game had apparently run late, but he made the point of sending Osamu a quick message wishing him a good day off and a reminder that he loved him and missed him. The volleyball season was in full swing, and it would still be another few weeks before Osamu would be able to visit one of Rin's games since he tried to schedule his mobile Onigiri Miya stand to coincide with at least a couple of his games a season.
Osamu took a sip of coffee and rested his head on hand, eyes half closed. He trusted his staff to run the shop in his absence and knew everything would be fine, but, well, his twin wasn't the only one in the family with control issues.
He decided was going to enjoy the day off, however, even though he didn't agree that he was 'overworked' and 'needed a break or else.' Maybe he could still have a productive day and complete some of those outstanding chores that get pushed to the side when things get busy. Maybe. But first, breakfast.
He finished off his last bite and was just getting up to wash his plate when there was a knock on the door. He opened it to reveal an apparent delivery man with a hat pulled low, covering his face, yellow-blonde strands falling free, and a jacket zipped absurdly high. A parcel was unceremoniously shoved into his hands and the man turned and ran almost as quickly as he had arrived. Osamu squinted at the familiar form, thinking maybe he did need the day off, because he would swear that he had just hallucinated Atsumu acting as a delivery man.
He rubbed his tired eyes and returned inside his apartment. He examined the package as the door shut behind him with a slam, noting that there was no return address, though the handwriting did seem very familiar. He set it on the table while he cleaned up breakfast, wondering what his boyfriend was up to. Why would he send a package without a return address? That seemed unlike Rin, but then again, he liked to do unexpected things. Was it even officially sent? Maybe that had been Atsumu? He paused with a plate in one hand and a soapy sponge in the other. Would Rin have Atsumu deliver something? Why? He furrowed his brown in confusion as he finished cleaning the plate.
He dried his hands on a towel and looked for his phone to text either Rin or Atsumu for clarification, but then remembered he'd left it on the charger so he could focus on breakfast. He shrugged and decided he would call Rin after he knew what was in the package. He could get an explanation and thank him all at the same time.
He carefully cut the package open, finding a photo album sitting on a pile of silvery tissue paper. He gingerly opened the front cover and was greeted by the sight of a professional team photo from his first year at Inarizaki, the caption underneath in Rin's neatest handwriting reading: 'Our first photo together.'
"Okay everyone, smile for the camera!" the perky young photographer called, waving the new team to squeeze in closer together.
Osamu did not smile. There was no need to pretend to be happy and smiley and really, who cared? They just needed to take the picture and get it over with so they could get on with their practice.
Atsumu punched him in the shoulder. "Smile, dumbass. Yer gonna ruin it!" Osamu snarled at him and pushed him in return. They scuffled for a brief moment before the sound of a throat clearing and Aran's disappointed gaze behind Kita had them stopping.
Suna sauntered between the twins, separating them when they looked ready to start shoving again. Atsumu rolled his eyes and turned to face the photographer, who was clearly waiting with a thin smile. Neither Osamu nor Suna smiled.
The camera flashed.
Osamu did smile now as he thought back to the photo. They hadn't yet been friends with Rin, but it was the first time he'd willingly put himself near Osamu. It marked the shift that would lead to a friendship and then, eventually, a relationship.
He turned the page and saw a blurry selfie of the two of them captioned: 'Our first date'
Osamu and Sunarin were in their second year, preparing for Nationals. Their practice let out late and Atsumu had stayed behind with a couple of other teammates not willing to quit yet. Osamu had had no more energy for volleyball, however, and was ready to leave. He reached for the door and jumped when Sunarin's hand landed on his as they both tried to exit at the same time. They looked at each other, hands still resting together on the door, and Osamu found himself suddenly blurting, "Hey, wanna get some grub together?"
Rin pulled his hand back and smirked at Osamu, eyes shining with mischief. "You payin?"
Osamu laughed and Rin's smirk transformed into an actual smile. "Sure."
They found themselves outside of a konbini, sharing different snacks as they talked and laughed into the evening. Osamu had been nervous at first when Rin had agreed, but now he was feeling so at peace, he wasn't even sure why he'd been nervous. They eventually lulled into a comfortable silence and Osamu had just bitten into an onigiri, mentally analyzing it for improvements when Rin spoke.
"This was a date, right?"
Osamu choked on his rice and Rin panicked, smacking his back. Once he could breathe again, Osamu regarded Rin. He was serious, not a single hint that he may have been joking, or, thankfully, annoyed or any other negative emotion apparent in his body language.
Osamu forced himself to meet Rin's gaze, despite the nervousness threatening to take over. "I like ya, Rin," he admitted, and Rin nodded as if Osamu had said something as simple as the sky was blue. "If ya were okay with this being a date…I'd be very happy calling it a date."
Rin smiled and pulled out his phone, much to Osamu's confusion. "We should get a picture. Our first date together!" He pulled Osamu close and snapped the picture.
Osamu chuckled at the picture. It had been dark, and the light of the konbini had put them in weird shadows. He'd had rice on his cheek from coughing while choking and Rin had been blushing. Objectively speaking, they looked terrible, but it was a fond memory.
He turned the page and stared in disbelief at the picture he'd thought had been long since been deleted: 'Our First Kiss ❤︎'
Osamu and Sunarin had been dating for a couple of months, and still hadn't kissed. They'd gotten close a couple of times, but one or the other would inevitably laugh, get nervous, and pull away.
They knew they'd get there, eventually, and were in no rush.
Their third year had started, so they were spending their rare free time in the library. Sunarin had already declared he wasn't going to college, instead knowing that he'd be scouted for a professional volleyball team right outside of high school. Osamu likewise had no doubt in his mind that he'd be successful.
And Osamu knew what he wanted to do, too and already told his parents and Atsumu, but he hadn't yet told Sunarin. He was worried Sunarin was also expecting they could continue to play together, and after Atsumu's reaction, he was a little concerned about Sunarin's.
In the end, they were both going through the motions of studying for entrance exams that neither of them were actually going to take.
Osamu realized he had been staring at the page in front of him for at least ten minutes and taken nothing in. He shut the book with a sigh, raising his arms in a stretch.
"You okay?" Sunarin asked in concern, quickly jumping at the chance to stop studying, a well.
"Yeah," Osamu replied, but he couldn't quite bring himself to meet Sunarin's gaze.
Sunarin frowned and reached out, placing his hands on Osamu's cheeks and squeezing them, forcing him to meet his eye. "You've been distracted lately, and I don't think it's the entrance exams. What's going on, Osamu?"
Osamu stared at him, trying to find the words.
Sunarin dropped his hands, but kept that fox-like gaze trained on him.
Osamu sighed. "I'm quittin' volleyball."
Sunarin continued staring, as if he was waiting for him to say more. When nothing else was forthcoming, Sunarin shrugged. "Duh. I knew that."
Osamu was dumbfounded. "What?"
"You play because you like hanging out with me, and Aran, and, for some reason, Atsumu. You're not passionate about it. I would have been more surprised if you had decided you were going to keep playing." Sunarin paused, finger tapping his chin. "I would have liked to have seen Atsumu's reaction. I bet he was mad. So, tell me, what are you going to do?"
And, so, Osamu told him, shared his vision, laid himself bare to his boyfriend in the middle of their school's library.
When he finished, Sunarin held his hands again and leaned close. "I think you're going to do amazing," he said as he finally kissed Osamu.
The picture showed Osamu's wide eye expression while Rin's eyes were closed tight, their hands clearly clenched in their nervousness. The kiss hadn't lasted long. Not only was it their first one, full of nerves, Atsumu had also chosen to walk into the library at that very moment, snapping the picture and then telling them to stop being gross and get a room already.
Osamu knew he'd made Atsumu delete it, but somehow it had found its way to Rin…and he couldn't help but be thankful it had.
He continued flipping through the book, losing himself in their journey together. There were more pictures from high school volleyball, both their triumphs and losses, and their graduation. Pictures from when Rin was accepted to the EJP Raijin and, later, the National Volleyball Team. Pictures from Osamu's his first job, his restaurant's first day, the first onigiri he sold. Other pictures showed more domestic moments like their first apartment together. Or when they adopted their cat. Even small moments like the first time Osamu wore Rin's official jersey or the first time Rin had attempted to make a fancy dinner.
By the time Osamu was coming to the end of the photo album, he was bursting with love for his boyfriend and the desire to call him, though at this time of day, he was probably at practice. Still, it wasn't going to stop Osamu from trying, if only to let Rin know how much he loved his gift.
Then he turned to the last page and froze.
This picture was different from the others.
There was no one visible in the picture. In fact, Osamu didn't know when or where the picture had been taken.
In the picture was a beautiful wooden box sitting open and, nestled inside surrounded by blue velvet, was a gold band that shone in the light. The caption was written in Rin's handwriting, a little shakier than all of the others: "We may not need things like memories, but I have always enjoyed my memories with you and I want to create future memories with you. Will you marry me?"
Osamu felt tears beginning to well up as he heard the front door open behind him.