This came out really long but I hope you enjoy it! LOTS of fluff!
Takeda inhales a sharp breath. The moment he sees you his
memory finally kicks in to realize he’s committed one of the worst dating sins;
he forgot your anniversary. You don’t say a word, you don’t have to. The weight
of your stare from across the polished floors breeds tension in the room that
even the most oblivious of the volleyball idiots can sense.
“______,” begins Takeda.
“Don’t,” you say putting up your hand.
“Just…don’t.” Turning on your heel, you exit before the first of many
tears to be cried tonight falls. Takeda moves forward but stops in his tracks
when you shout over your shoulder, “And don’t follow me!”
There’s silence in your wake, none of those left behind sure
what to say to their dear sensei. They don’t know what happened but it’s clear
he made a mistake and a grave one at that. But he’s amazing; shouldn’t all his
good outweigh one bad move?
“My apologies,” Takeda says turning back around,
“um, let’s get back to work I suppose.” The team tries to regroup but
are distracted with concern for their advisor.
“Sensei, are you ok?” Hinata can’t help asking.
“Tch, it’s obvious he’s not,” sneers Tsukishima.
“Alright guys, take a lap to warm back up. Daichi, get
their heads back on straight,” Ukai orders.
“Hai!” responds the captain, ushering the team
outside.
Now alone with his friend, Ukai scratches the back of his
head and shifts his feet. “You, uh, wanna talk about it?”
Takeda smile is dull, a deep sigh pushing out the words of
his mistake.
“Welp, not surprised she’s upset but I mean, everyone’s
allowed one royal screw up, right?”
“I think this is heavier than that, Ukai-kun.”
The coach shrugs, thrusting his hands in his pockets. A beat
of silence passes then Takeda is speaking again. “I don’t mean to put her
on the back burner, I just get so focused with work and the team! She’s really
the most important person in my life. I… I want to ask her to marry me.”
Ukai’s jaw drops slightly; he’d no idea things had gotten
this serious between the two of you.
“You should sensei!” shouts Noya startling them
both. As the group surrounds them he adds, “We’ll help you!”
“Noya, you really shouldn’t-” begins Asahi.
“No, I think it’s a great idea. She really loves all
of you,” Takeda says smiling a bit wider. “And I’ll take all the help I
can get.”
The next morning you’re at home, eyes red rimmed and puffy.
You know Ittsetu would never do anything to hurt you intentionally, but it’s
hard not to feel a bit heartbroken to have been forgotten so easily. No, not
forgotten, more like overlooked but it stings all the same. A knock at your
door brings you out of your haze, hand rubbing your eyes in attempts to gain
clear vision again. When you open it, you’re surprised to see Yachi and Shimizu
on your porch.
“Good morning, _____-san,” Shimizu says politely while Yachi
just waves, her body quivering a bit but you can’t tell if it’s trepidation or
excitement; with this girl, it could be anything.
You offer a watery smile. “Good morning girls, is there
something I can help you with?” Then, your face bears concern as you ask
hurriedly, “Is something wrong? Did something happen to Takeda-sensei?”
“No, no,” Shimizu assures quickly shaking her head, “That’s
kind of why we’re here. We just wanted to make sure you were ok.”
“Oh, you two are very sweet,” you reply with a sigh. “I…I’m
sure he and I will work it out. You didn’t have to come all this way just for
that!”
“We…we were hoping maybe…maybe we could do that girls’ day
thing you mentioned!” Yachi says. “You know? To help cheer you up?”
“Oh, I don’t know…” you begin trailing off when you see her
expression drop. Perking yourself back up, you force a smile. These girls took
time out of their day off to try to help you feel better and you’re not going
to let their efforts be wasted. “You know what? You’re right! It’s the perfect
day for girl time!” Yachi lets out a yelp of encouragement while Shimizu smiles
softly. “Come in,” you continue drawing back from the threshold to allow them
entrance, “I just need to take a quick shower and get dressed, then we can go.
Did you have anything in mind?”
“We have a few ideas,” Shimizu says kindly as she takes a
seat on your couch.
“Ok then, you girls figure out the details and I’ll be back
in a jiffy.”
Fifteen minutes later, you’re dressed in one of your favorite
dresses, hair up and light makeup in anticipation of the heat of the day.
“Ohhhh, you look so pretty!” exclaims Yachi covering her
mouth.
“Thank you, Yachi-san,” you reply picking up your purse. The
next minute the three of you are outside headed to the train station. “So,
where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” the girls say together making you laugh.
The train ride is pleasant, filled with gossip about the
boys and you and Shimizu gently prodding Yachi to make a confession to Hinata.
It’s plainly obvious the two of them like each other and even though they’re so
young, you can’t help but be swept up in the memory of high school love. The
thought brings your own man to your
mind and you consider what to do about your current situation. You love Ittsetu
with all your heart and were of the mindset that he felt the same way, but now
you’re not so sure.
The train arrives to your stop and the three of you exit.
You get a few feet ahead of the girls before you realize they’re no longer
right behind you. Turning around, they’re standing next to one of the platform
pillars, smiles on their faces. Walking up to them, you ask, “What’s the hold
up?”
“We owe you an apology,” Shimizu says handing you an
envelope. “This was never about spending time with us, but we hope you’ll
forgive us the small deception.”
Confused, you open the envelope and find a note inside:
My dearest, ______, by
now you should be standing if not exactly at least near to the place you were
the first time I ever laid eyes on you. Your beauty took away my breath but
when you looked at me I couldn’t meet your eyes. It would take me months to finally
work up the nerve to even speak to you. But I’m so glad that I did. You are so
much more than just a pretty face, but yours is the only one I want to look at.
–
Ever your
captive, Ittsetu
When you look up, there are already tears brimming in your
eyes as you search for your beloved. “He’s not here, but this is your next
stop,” Yachi says handing you another ticket. The girls wave as you get back on
the train.
The next stop is one you know well since it leads to the
first place Ittsetu took you on a date. As you round the corner of the little
side street, you’re surprised to find Narita and Kinoshita seated at one of the
outside tables of the bistro.
“Good morning boys,” you say kindly, “you’re out early.”
“Good morning, _____-san,” they say together, both of their
voices a little shaky.
There’s a beat of silence before Narita is reaching under
the table and pulling out a bouquet of the same flowers Ittsetu gave you on
your first date while Kinoshita hands you another envelope and offers you his
seat to read it. You sit down, setting the flowers upon the table so you can
properly hold the paper.
Darling ______, the
stop was probably enough to give away where you’d end up next. This place will
always be ours, much as I hope you’ll always be mine. Whenever I catch wind of
these flowers, I’m reminded of you but their scent pales in comparison to the
natural sweetness that is your essence. When I breathe you in, you give me
life.
–
Intoxicated
by you, Ittsetu
Your smile is bigger now, letter clutched to your chest.
Silently, Narita hands you another ticket for which you thank him before
heading back to the station.
Again, the train whisks you away and again you smile widely
as it pulls to a stop. Exiting, you know right where to go, the park a quick five minute walk away. Looking at the top of the hill, you see four figures in
the distance but you don’t have to get close to know who they are.
Hinata is bouncing on the balls of his feet while Kageyama
and Tsukishima argue about you don’t know what. Yamaguchi has a sweet blush on
his cheeks as he hands you a box. Opening it, you find a tube of lipstick which
surprises you until you read the accompanying letter.
My star, you’re now at
the spot we shared our first kiss. I think the only other time I have been that
nervous was when I got my first kiss ever in junior high. But kissing you was
one of the most significant things to happen in my life, even if I did get
teased relentlessly by my fellow coaches and advisors for having a smear of
your lipstick on me. This will forever be my favorite color because it always
reminds me of that first kiss.
–
Willingly
marked, Ittsetu
“Here you go, ______-san!” Hinata exclaims loudly, shoving a
ticket into your hand.
You giggle, patting his head in thanks, before giving a wave
to the rest of the boys and taking your leave. Upon the train, you sigh softly;
Ittsetu may have made one of the biggest errors ever, but he’s definitely making
up for it now.
Another stop, another memory, this time in the form of the
place where you first told each other “I love you.” Now expecting to see
familiar faces, you grin widely at the sight of your two favorite misfits; Nishinoya
and Tanaka. The left winger spiker and libero rush over to you, eager to get
their gift and letter into your hands.
“Open it!” Tanaka says excitedly while Noya nods
enthusiastically.
Chuckling, you do as bidden, revealing a beautiful sterling
silver locket but instead of heart shaped, it’s fashioned to look like a book.
Opening it reveals a picture of you and Ittsetu at a faculty Christmas party,
both you dressed to the nines.
Every day a new
chapter of our lives is written and I cannot express the joy I have in my
heart that our stories are now intermingled. You enrich my life with color and
substance but ground me to the things that are most important. I never want to
part from you.
“This is your last stop,” Noya says giving you another
ticket. You kiss both their heads bringing furious blushes to their cheeks.
Exiting the train at your final destination brings you face
to face with the third years, each of them smiling warmly as you approach.
“Good evening, ______-san,” Sawamura says.
“Hello boys,” you reply. “I have to admit, I’m stumped on
this one, must be a new thing Takeda-sensei has in mind.”
“Always so perceptive,” Sugawara comments with a grin.
“Co…could you come with us, please?” Azumane asks quietly.
You nod, beginning to walk forward but Suga puts up his
hand. “Ah, ah, you have to put this on first,” he says handing you a blindfold.
You frown and pout playfully but tie it around your head obediently. The three
boys usher you slowly and carefully to wherever it is Ittsetu wants them to
take you.
“Ok, _____-san, here’s a seat for you,” Sawamura says
helping you to sit down. “Just wait here,” he adds then steps away.
It isn’t long before you feel movement near you and you just
know it’s Ittsetu.
“Ittsetu, can I remove this now?” you ask fingering the
blindfold.
“Yes,” he answers, voice a little rough with emotion.
Pulling away the fabric, you blink to gain your vision back
then gasp as you take in the sight of a huge oak tree lit from base to almost
its top with fairy lights. You’re seated at a table for two but Ittsetsu is
kneeling on one knee…oh god…
“______,” he begins taking your hand, “today you went on a
journey of our firsts. And now, I hope to make one more first,” he opens a
small box, ring gleaming inside, “and a last. I want you and only you by my
side until I leave this world. Will you…will you marry me?”
“Oh Ittsetsu, of course I will!” you cry, flinging yourself
into his arms. He holds you tightly, face buried in the crook of your neck
which he peppers with kisses.
“I’m so sorry for hurting you. I promise, I won’t ever do
anything so stupid again,” he breathes against your ear.
“It’s ok, I forgive you,” you reply hastily, pulling back
before moving forward again to plant a long kiss on his lips.
“I’ll take that as a sign she said yes.” Ukai’s voice snaps
your attention to the base of the tree where all the team begin to emerge with
tables, chairs and food; all the makings of an engagement celebration.
“Wait, where’s Ennoshita? He’s the only one I didn’t see
today,” you ask looking around.
“I’m here,” he says stepping out from his hiding spot. “I’ve
been following you the whole day documenting your trip. I’ll have the video put
together by the end of next week. Only,” he looks at Takeda, “Sensei, could I
have your permission to use it for my art school submission when I graduate
high school? I have a feeling it will be my best work yet.”
“Of course,” he answers quickly then looks at you, “Only,
that is, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind as long as we’re the first to see it,” you
reply and the second-year nods.
“Alright, then, let’s get on with the celebrating!” Ukai
calls.
“Whoohoo! I’ve got the sake!” Saeko cries making herself
known as she sets up drinks and food.
The rest of the evening is spent surrounded by the team
who’ve in the past year become like a makeshift family to you and Ittetsu and
as you watch them all interact with one another, you just know these bonds,
like the one you will make with your fiancé, will go on forever.
