Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Shit," Tanaka Ryuunosuke mutters under his breath as he quickly turns off a burner on the stove where the water for his ramen noodles has started to boil over.

It's late on a warm Saturday in July, and Tanaka is cooking dinner for himself and his sister Saeko in her Sendai apartment. He'd arrived yesterday afternoon, and while the visit has been fun, he has to admit it's not where he really wants to be. He casts a forlorn glance at his cell phone, waiting for a text from his best friend Nishinoya Yuu, who should be getting home from work any minute now.

"Ryuuuuu, I'm hungryyyyyy," Saeko complains loudly from where she's sat in front of the television.

"Calm your tits," Tanaka retorts as he stirs the noodles around with his chopsticks.

"Never!" she shouts back, and he rolls his eyes.

His phone buzzes on the counter, and he quickly snatches it up.

Nishinoya Yuu:
ryuuuuuuu
i'm boreddddddd

Tanaka shakes his head and smiles, then eagerly texts back.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
miss me too much? (~_^)

Nishinoya Yuu:
ew never

He huffs out a laugh because he knows it's not true. Noya's notoriously clingy toward him even when they're sharing the same space, which they usually are. This weekend is an exception, a long overdue visit to Saeko, his first since she moved to Sendai over six months ago, and it's coincidentally the longest time they've spent apart in…shit, he doesn't know how long.

Needless to say, he's not handling the separation well, and he doesn't think Noya is either.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
play video games

Nishinoya Yuu:
no fun without u

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
that's sweet

Nishinoya Yuu:
oh i meant no fun without kicking ur ass

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
bitch

Nishinnoya Yuu:
┏(‘▀_▀’)ノ♬♪

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
lmao
watch a movie

Nishinoya Yuu:
already did

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
watch another

Nishinoya Yuu:
no (ง •̀_•́)ง

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
read a book

Nishinoya Yuu:
come on now

With an amused chuckle, Tanaka sets his phone down to lift the noodles out of the water, then sets them aside to strain and picks his phone up again.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
how was work??

Nishinoya Yuu:
dumb
we can pay the bills tho

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
lol that's good

Nishinoya Yuu:
yah
…
i do miss u

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
i know
i miss you too

Nishinoya Yuu:
when r u coming home tmr?

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
around 8 i think

Nishinoya Yuu:
so late (╯_╰)

"Ryuu!" Saeko calls again from the living room.

"Hold on," Tanaka says with a sigh. He glances down at his texts with Noya once more and feels his heart burn, then turns back to preparing his perfectly cooked ramen and wishes Noya was here to eat it with them.

/ / /

Noya huffs out a sigh when a new text from Ryuu doesn't immediately come through, and he dramatically flops down backwards on his bed, phone skittering away from him on the covers as it slips from his hand. He really is bored, and he really does miss Ryuu. Their apartment just feels empty and lifeless when Ryuu isn't around.

He stares at the ceiling and mentally curses out his boss yet again for not letting him have the weekend off so he too could visit Saeko and not have to work and not be away from Ryuu. But just as he starts to feel himself get really mad, his phone buzzes again. He hauls himself up into a sitting position and scoops up his phone, smiling at the photo of delicious-looking ramen that Ryuu sent him.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
all self made from scratch too

Noya feels another rush of longing sweep through him. He loves Ryuu's cooking, loves it. To this day he can't do much more than pop rice in a ricemaker, but Ryuu took it upon himself several years ago to learn how to cook. Saeko, like Noya, also couldn't be trusted in a kitchen, so after their parents passed it was up to Ryuu to handle. At first it had seemed like Ryuu would take after his sister, but after a few months of experimenting, Ryuu was whipping up dishes that Noya preferred to his own mother's food (not that he would ever tell her that).

His mouth waters looking at the scrumptious ramen on his phone screen. After taking another moment to yell at his boss in his head some more, he texts back. And then, because he can't help himself when it comes to Ryuu, he texts again.

/ / /

Nishinoya Yuu:
ohhh!!! ☉Ô☉
hubby material!

Tanaka blushes at the second text and feels a nervous thrum in his heart at the idea of being Noya's husband. To be honest, it's not the first time the thought's crossed his mind—about what it would be like if the two of them were together together—but he tries to never let himself linger on it.

Which is easier said than done lately, as it's been on his mind more than ever since they moved in together last fall. Everybody warned them that living together might not work out, that being best friends with someone was not the same as being compatible roommates, but their living situation is like a dream.

They're respectful of each other's space and needs, and even though they can both be a mess they put in a joint effort to keep things looking generally tidy. And Noya's always willing to be his number one taste tester when he wants to try out new recipes, which is pretty brave of him considering the minefield that Tanaka's experimentation can be.

Plus, they get to spend almost all their time together, somehow even more than they did in high school when they were over at each other's houses practically every day. Tanaka gets to see Noya's adorable, sleep-rumpled state in the mornings and make him breakfast. He's learned all of Noya's routines and preferences. They have movie nights and build pillow forts and sometimes fall asleep on each other on their couch because they stayed up all night just talking.

All in all, it's pretty close to how Tanaka would picture his perfect life. The one thing missing is the one thing Tanaka's pretty sure he can never have, which is Noya's heart. That's just not what they are to each other, no matter how much he's fantasized about it being that way, no matter how many times he's thought maybe, just maybe…

But no. He could never be so lucky.

Tanaka allows himself a wistful smile, then pushes away the sappy thoughts in favor of playing along with the joke.

/ / /

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
yes
i make home pretty

Nishinoya Yuu:
put that on the husband application!

Noya grins as he fires off the text and feels a familiar tug in his gut the way he always does when he and Tanaka flirt like this. It's a pretty frequent occurrence in their friendship, ranging from texts like these to cuddles on the couch to the occasional heated look that made Noya almost sure that they were on the precipice of something—but unfortunately it never goes any further than that, never stepping outside the bounds of plausible deniability and "oh we're just super close."

Noya's fine with it, of course. He adores Tanaka and treasures their relationship more than anything else in the world, and he wouldn't ever want to do anything to jeopardize that. But he also knows from personal experience lately that Tanaka would make a really good husband, and he can't help but feel a surge of jealousy toward whoever manages to put a ring on him someday.

His phone buzzes with a new text.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
"can make food and clean real good"

He laughs as he imagines a crude advertisement in the newspaper of Tanaka selling himself as marriageable material the same way people sell hand-me-downs or old furniture.

Nishinoya Yuu:
nice
10/10, you're hired

Of course, only after it's sent and he glances over the message again does he realize he's possibly taken the banter slightly too far. His heart drops into his stomach as his phone falls from his immobile fingers. The full weight of what he's said and also implied crashes over him like a tsunami wave.

What have I done? he thinks in a panic, pressing his hands together in front of him to stop them from shaking. He's treaded too close to the truth, made it too real. He let his most secret desire bleed out into the open, and now he doesn't know what to do to take it back into hiding.

Adrenaline floods through his veins, causing his brain to spin out as he tries to think of how to remedy the situation. He just needs to send a 'hahaha' or an 'lol' text. Something simple to pass it off, to laugh it away like they always have, but all the joints in his body seem to have locked up and he can't do anything to save himself. He's frozen, unblinking, unable to get even his ears to twitch.

Time stretches, and his phone remains silent. His only hope is that Tanaka takes it as a joke, but nothing comes through from that end. As the damning text sits there, he can practically feel it get bigger, heavier, and more real. Three dots appear on the screen for a moment, causing Noya's heart to kick into overdrive, and then they disappear. A second later the dots are back, and then Noya's phone buzzes with a new text.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
you serious?

Fuck.

Tanaka's text seems to have broken the immobility spell that had fallen over him, and with quivering hands he picks the phone up again. Noya stares at the text, asking the question to himself. Is he serious? Does he want to marry Tanaka? He had just been thinking about what a good husband Tanaka would make. And he really likes Tanaka—actually loves him if he's being honest with himself, which he's only allowed himself to be on rare occasions like his birthday.

But is this how he wants to go about confessing these feelings?

Noya begins typing, ready to back off and push it all away like he'd wanted to initially, but then he backspaces it all out. An itchy restlessness has settled underneath his skin, and he realizes he doesn't want to pretend nothing happened. He doesn't want to go back to pining and wishing for something he's convinced himself he can never have. He wants to be with Ryuu, and it seems like…well it seems like Ryuu might be open to the idea.

There's one thing Noya knows for sure in all of this, and it's that he'll hate himself forever if he doesn't at least try. So he swallows around the nervous lump in his throat and texts back.

/ / /

Nishinoya Yuu:
well
yeah kinda

If Tanaka thought his brain had short-circuited at the 'hired' text, that was nothing compared to the flatline he's experiencing right now. He'd assumed it was a joke, it had to be a joke, but his heartbeat had grown louder and louder in the face of Noya's silence and the lack of a 'just kidding' text until he couldn't stand it anymore and had to know what Noya meant.

And now…now Noya…was he really…proposing? Marriage?!

He texts back as eloquently as he can through the fog in his brain.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
holy shit

Nishinoya Yuu:
yah

Tanaka's mental gears are spinning, trying to figure out where they even go from here, if Tanaka should ask him on a date now or confess his feelings or—

"Ryuuuu!" Saeko calls. "Where's the food?"

Startled, Tanaka angrily yells back, "Saeko, shut up!"

"I'm hungry!"

"Fuck, just—please, I'm—"

The phone buzzes again, twice in quick succession.

Nishinoya Yuu:
wait no
fuck this

It's amazing how such simple words are capable of ripping all his rising hopes apart in a half-second flat. His gut wrenches as he actually feels his throat tighten. He's not sure if he wants to cry or vomit or crawl in a hole and do both, but he can't do any of that right now because he has to laugh it off, has to deal with the disappointment and reburying the torch he's carried for Noya for years. He has to—

Nishinoya Yuu:
u deserve a real proposal

Relief rushes through Tanaka so hard he feels his knees go weak, so he squats on the floor just in case he actually passes out. He can't believe this is happening. He can't believe this is happening. But…is this happening? He pinches himself hard on the delicate skin at the inside of his elbow, but he doesn't wake up, and a wide grin begins to stretch across his face.

/ / /

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
you serious??!

Noya laughs giddily as he imagines Tanaka's face, all slack-jawed and beet red. He's probably sitting on the kitchen floor now too because his legs always give out when he gets too excited. Noya pictures him biting his lip, free hand over his face in the way he gets when he's really happy but too embarrassed to fully show it. Then he imagines a lifetime of making Tanaka that happy all the time, and he thinks there could be no higher honor.

He feels a familiar tug in his gut, the feeling he gets when determination and stubbornness harden into a knot that ties him irrevocably to his goal. It's the feeling he got when he decided to go to Karasuno, and it's the feeling he got when he knew Ryuu was going to be the best friend he'd ever have. It hasn't been wrong yet, and so he's going to trust it once more.

Nishinoya Yuu:
yeah!!!!!!!!!
i mean
unless ur gonna say no

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
no, no way!!!!
i mean yes!!
i mean
shit

Nishinoya Yuu:
lmaoooo

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
you want to marry me???!
ME?!?!!

Noya shakes his head a little bit, blown away as always at how little Tanaka values himself. He's told Noya privately, on more than one occasion, how he views himself as average. Solidly in the middle, not a standout but not a disappointment, and that he's happy with that. It's comfortable, he says. What Noya can't understand, though, is how anybody could see Tanaka Ryuunosuke as anything other than phenomenal.

The guy is the fiercest friend anybody could ever ask for, loyal to a fault. He's also some sort of social genius, able to coax introverts out of their shells and help everyone flourish. His smile is the best Noya's seen, and he's ten times the person Noya is. Noya couldn't imagine wanting to spend the rest of his life with anyone else.

So he answers honestly, with his whole heart, hands trembling slightly as he types out his reply.

Nishinoya Yuu:
yeah man
ur the only person id ever wanna marry

/ / /

Tanaka's heart is thudding in his chest. His and Noya's friendship has never really been contained by the boundaries of what people would call normal. He'd be stupid to not have noticed the unexplored something between them, the potential and possibility. There had always been a subtle undercurrent of "I'd fuck you if you asked" between them, not "I'd marry you if you asked."

Or so he'd thought.

His fingers shake as he texts back again, still overcome with disbelief.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
are we really doing this???!

Nishinoya Yuu:
fuck yeah we are!!!!!
but not until i propose to u for real

Tanaka's smile is so big he feels like his face might split in two from it. He can't believe Noya's going to propose to him, but…but he wants to propose to Noya too. It's not fair that Noya beat him to it when he didn't even realize this was a possibility.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
what if i do it first?

Nishinoya Yuu:
oh ur fuckin on
it's on sight ryuu
be ready (✧≖ ͜ʖ≖)

"Ryuu! What is taking so—why are you on the floor?" Saeko asks, appearing in the kitchen doorway with her head cocked to the side as she stares down at him.

Tanaka lowers a shaking hand away from his mouth, unable to tear his eyes away from the text thread. "Saeko, can…can you take me home? Now?"

"Sure? Is something wrong?" she asks, voice tinged with concern. He's not supposed to go home until late tomorrow on the train, and he almost never willingly gets in a car with her behind the wheel.

"No, no, I, uh…" He's smiling so widely it hurts, but he can't stop and he doesn't want to. "I think Noya and I are engaged."

There's a lengthy pause, and then Saeko emits an unholy screech that will probably get her landed with a formal complaint from her neighbors. She's beside him on the floor in an instant, plucking the phone from his hands and scanning over the text messages. Tanaka is frozen, hand curved like he's still holding on to the device.

"Oh my god," Saeko says, the first words in her string of exclamations that he's actually been able to process. "Oh my god! Is this happening? Is this fucking happening?!"

"Looks like it," Tanaka croaks, voice breaking with happiness beyond measure. He presses his hands over his face and feels his cheeks burning from the combination of embarrassment, joy, and shock.

"Holy shit! Yes! Yes! Fucking finally!" she screams, then wraps her arms around his neck.

"Sis, stooop," he grumbles sheepishly. The side of his face is pressed uncomfortably to her chest as she attempts to squeeze the life out of him until he finally manages to shove her off.

"What the hell are we still doing here?!" she exclaims once she no longer has him in a death grip. She scrambles to her feet and yanks on his arm like she's trying to rip it off. "We don't have any time to lose!"

"Yeah! Yes, yeah, I, uh—" He stands up and then looks at her desperately. "I need a ring."

/ / /

With a satisfied grin, Noya locks his phone and sets it down beside him on the bed. Now that's sorted out, all he has to do now is propose to Ryuu.

All he has to do is propose to Ryuu.

He blinks, and the full reality of what they're doing lands on his shoulders, knocking the breath out of him in one swoop. It should frighten him. He should feel intimidated, or full of doubts or insecurities. But instead, he just feels excited. Sure, he's a little scared shitless. He doesn't know anything about marriage or being a husband aside from what he's seen on television and witnessed from his parents. But even without knowing any of that, he knows Ryuu, and they know each other better than they know anyone else in the world, and that has to count for something.

And above all, he feels that pull in his gut that lets him know this is the right path for him, the right path for the both of them, even if it is somewhat ridiculous.

But Noya meant what he said to Ryuu, that he deserves a real proposal. If he's going to do this, he's going to do it right, and that means decorations and champagne and a ring and a whole lot of stuff that Noya can't do on his own. He's gonna need some help.

Eagerly, he scoops his phone up and quickly calls someone he knows will help and won't try too hard to talk him out of it.

The line rings three times before it's answered with a click, and then a voice rumbles, "Hello?"

"Asahi!" Noya sing-songs loudly into the receiver. "I need your help!"

"Nishinoya?" Asahi asks groggily.

"Yeah, dude! Were you asleep?"

"Yes," Asahi says, and he sounds pained like he knows Noya's going to make fun of him.

Noya follows through on that. "Dude, it's like nine-thirty!" he crows.

"And that is a perfectly respectable time to go to bed," Asahi defends.

"Yeah, sure, old man," Noya says with a snicker. "Anyway, I need your help. Ryuu and I are engaged!" He hadn't quite meant to just blurt it out like that, but he's too excited to ease into the topic, and anyway he's never been tactful in his life so why start now?

"You—what?!"

"Well, we're going to be after I propose again," Noya amends.

"Again?" Asahi splutters.

"Yeah, cause first it was over text, so that doesn't really count."

"Text?!"

"Yes, and I need your help to propose for real tonight."

"Tonight?!"

Noya rolls his eyes at Asahi's string of one-word repetitive responses. "Yes, tonight! Keep up, Asahi!"

"I-I'm trying," Asahi mumbles. "I feel like I'm still asleep. This has to be a dream."

"Nope! You are awake and this is one hundred percent, gloriously real!" Noya says cheerily.

"Well, then, I'm happy for you guys," Asahi says, and the warmth in his voice makes Noya smile. "It's been a long time coming."

"Yeah, I guess it has," Noya replies, flopping over backwards on his bed to stare at his ceiling. "I honestly can't believe this is happening, that he wants me. Me!"

"You," Asahi repeats with a chuckle. "I believe it. I can't believe it's happening like this, but then again this is just like you guys to jump headfirst into things."

"So does that mean you'll help me?!"

Asahi sighs wearily. "Yeah okay. Give me ten minutes to get dressed and I'll be right over."

"You're the best, Asahi!"

"Yeah, yeah," Asahi replies, but Noya can hear the amusement in his tone.

They hang up a moment later, and then Noya texts Tanaka with a grin on his face.

Nishinoya Yuu:
my proposals gonna blow ur proposal out of the water

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
tough talk for someone whose gonna lose

Nishinoya Yuu:
just wait and see babe
wait and see

/ / /

"Quit looking so sappy, you're gonna make me sick," Saeko complains from the driver's seat she speeds through the streets to get to her favorite pawn shop.

Tanaka laughs and slides his phone back into his pocket, then immediately grabs onto the door handle for security as Saeko whips the car around a tight corner at three times the speed it should've been taken at. He'd been so distracted by thoughts of Noya and love and marriage that he had momentarily forgotten to be terrified of Saeko's driving.

"You're sure this place is going to have a good ring?" he asks. "It's gotta be perfect."

"I told you I know this guy, he's gonna hook us up," she replies. "I know how important Yuu is to you, dude. I'm gonna help you out every way I can."

"Thanks, sis," he says with all his heart. He's not sure how he landed the best sister in the universe, but he sure is grateful. He just wishes she drove a little better.

After ten more minutes of death-defying driving, Saeko slides into a parking spot right outside a dingy-looking shop. It looks like an afterthought, built in the fairly narrow space between two larger storefronts, and Tanaka feels a beat of apprehension as he looks at the graffiti-covered shop window, but there's no time for hesitation.

Saeko confidently leads them into the store and immediately shouts, "Kenji!" into the dimly lit space.

"Hah?!" comes returning yell, followed by a guy with a tight crew cut and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. His right eyebrow is lined with hoop piercings and arched high up his forehead. The tank top he's wearing reveals thick muscled arms covered in tattoos and more than a couple scars.

Tanaka feels the hairs on the back of his neck begin to raise as the guy's gaze focuses on them, but then he exclaims, "Saeko!" happily upon recognizing who's in his store. His whole demeanor shifts instantly to that of a friendly dog. "Whaddaya doing here?"

"Kid brother's proposing to his boyfriend tonight," Saeko replies, jerking her thumb at Tanaka.

On instinct, he opens his mouth to correct that Noya's his best friend not his boyfriend, a mistake that people make frequently—apparently for good reason, he thinks amusedly—but then closes it since the actual situation is probably a bit too complicated to be explaining to a stranger.

"Ah, wanna see the rings, eh?" the guy—Kenji—says with a wink. "Got 'em right here."

He takes some keys and unlocks a cabinet, then slides out a couple trays of rings. Tanaka eagerly steps forward, all earlier wariness forgotten, and scans over the selection. Unsurprisingly, most of them are women's rings, and while Noya doesn't care for gender stereotypes Tanaka also doesn't think he'd care for a ring with delicate metalwork and tons of gemstones.

Tanaka pokes carefully around the trays, trying to sort them into piles as best as he can while Kenji and Saeko chat amiably next to him. All the determination and hope he'd been feeling earlier start to fade as he continues to search for a ring that's good enough for Noya. Even without knowing exactly what he's looking for, he knows that nothing he's seen so far is quite right.

Despair starts to settle in. He could propose without a ring. They are Japanese after all, and rings are more of a Western thing, but he wants to propose with a ring. And Noya will probably propose to him with a ring, and then he'll win because his proposal was better. But just as Tanaka starts mentally plotting to hide in Sendai indefinitely until he can find the right ring, he spots it.

He'd almost missed it because it was nearly entirely black, blending in with the dark fake-velvet lining of the tray. But there's a line of three small clear gems beveled across the width of the band that had sparkled and caught his eye. His heart pounds in his chest as he picks the ring up. It feels like a decent weight, materials look okay, and there aren't any scratches or damage that he can see. He has no clue if it's the right size, but he figures a jeweler can fix that. And best of all, he can imagine Noya wearing it.

"H-how much for this one?" Tanaka asks in a small voice. He'd meant to sound confident, to slap the ring down onto the counter and declare it to be the one, price be damned. But holding the ring in his hand, pinched delicately between his fingers, everything feels so so real, and his emotions are on the verge of overcoming him.

"Take it, kid," Kenji replies.

Tanaka looks up, startled. He doesn't have much experience with pawn shops, but he knows they don't give anything away for free. "What?!"

"I worked it out," Saeko says, reaching up to clap a hand on his shoulder.

"What? Sis, I—"

"We don't have time to stand here and haggle, we've gotta get to town," Saeko points out before Tanaka can protest much more.

Tanaka closes his hand around the ring and holds it to his chest. "I owe you."

She snorts. "Yeah you do. Don't expect a birthday present for like…five years. Now let's go!"

Right as Saeko leads the charge out of the pawn shop, Kenji calls for them to wait. He pull something out of a drawer and tosses a simple black ring box at Tanaka.

"Go get yer guy," Kenji says with a grin, cigarette still hanging on precariously at the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you," Tanaka says, catching the box with his free hand. "Thank you so much!"

They pile into the car, and Saeko revs the engine before peeling out down the street and navigating them toward the highway that'll take them to their hometown. Tanaka gently places the ring into padding of the box, with the gemstones facing out, and smiles—then he promptly almost drops the box as Saeko screeches around a corner. He catches it and shuts it quickly, then resists the urge to glare at her. She is his best option for getting to town as fast as possible, and she just got him this ring for who knows how much, so he needs to just be grateful.

"Woohoo, let's go!" she hoots as she guns it down the road. "Noya knows we're coming, right?"

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"Like…he's not gonna try to come to Sendai to propose to you?"

"Oh, shit," Tanaka mutters. He pictures a wild goose chase game of tag across the Miyagi prefecture and winces, then pulls his phone out.

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
leaving sendai, don't go anywhere ( ˘ ³˘)♥
im coming for you

Nishinoya Yuu:
that's hot (ᇴ‿ᇴ)

Tanaka snorts. "We're good," he tells Saeko, and she floors it.

But just as she's about to get onto the highway, a pair of flashing lights fills the rearview and a voice across a loudspeaker instructs them to pull over.

/ / /

"Shit!" Noya exclaims, chewing on his thumbnail as he stares down at his phone.

"What's wrong?" Asahi asks from where he's been tsk-ing over Noya's wardrobe for the past fifteen minutes. Apparently it's not fashionable to own twelve different color versions of the same 'gaudy' flame shirt. Noya firmly disagreed, and they argued about it for about ten minutes before Asahi wisely gave up that battle.

"Ryuu's on his way back," Noya replies.

Asahi looks over with a raised eyebrow. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"No! It's awful! I don't have enough time!" he declares.

"Well, it should take him at least an hour, and that—"

"Saeko is driving."

Asahi cringes. "Ah."

Noya flops backward with a groan. "I need to slow them down somehow. I need like a diversion, or—" Something sparks in his brain. "Hey, Daichi's still a cop in Sendai, right?"

/ / /

Sawamura Daichi's personal cell phone starts ringing right as he spots a small white van going way over the speed limit. He sighs and presses on the gas hard to get enough speed to catch up to the van. He glances at the caller ID on his phone and sees that it's Asahi, which is strange. Asahi's usually asleep by now.

He ignores it, though, and uses his loudspeaker to instruct the van to pull over. Luckily the van does so without issue, which he's grateful for. As fast as it was going, he'd almost been expecting a chase, but he's not going to complain about an easy traffic stop. At least, he hopes it continues to be easy.

"Hello," he says as he comes around the side of the car. "Can I please see your—"

"Dai-chan!" coos a familiar voice, and Daichi startles when he recognizes none other than Tanaka Saeko.

"T-Tanaka-san?!" he exclaims. "What are—" He sees someone in the passenger seat. "And Tan—uh, Ryuu! What—what are you guys doing here?"

"I live here now!" Saeko replies eagerly, leaning out the window. "It's so good to see you again!"

"It's not good to see you, Tanaka-san," Daichi says, feeling a little awkward. "Do, uh, do you know how fast you were going?"

"I do," she says primly, "but you see, it's an emergency."

"An emergency?"

"An emergency." Her voice is grave.

"What's wrong?" he asks cautiously, glancing in the vehicle at Tanaka who is grinning and doesn't look like they're in the middle of an emergency at all.

"We have to get home as soon as possible," Saeko continues.

"Is it Nishinoya?" Daichi asks with a sinking heart, noticing the guy's absence. He's not sure when the last time was that he'd seen Tanaka and Noya apart from each other. Then he remembers Asahi's missed call, and dread starts to pool in his stomach.

"We're getting married!" Tanaka blurts suddenly.

Daichi feels like he's taken a punch to the gut. "What?!"

"Well, almost," Tanaka says as Saeko tries and fails to hide a snicker. "We're getting engaged tonight. We actually already are, I think, but not for real. Not yet."

"Are…are you pranking me?" Daichi asks. "Is this just to get out of a ticket?"

"Not a prank," Tanaka says, then pulls a ring box out of his pocket and pops it open, leaning across Saeko for Daichi to see. Sure enough, a ring stares back at him. A real ring, complete with gemstones, and apparently meant for Noya's finger.

"Holy shit," Daichi breathes.

"That's what I said!" Tanaka replies, then sits back in his seat and puts the ring box back in his pocket for safekeeping. "So you see, we need to get home as soon as possible."

"Is there any way you can let us go?" Saeko asks, leaning heavily against the driver's side door and causing her cleavage to swell.

Daichi flushes but stares firmly at her face. "You know I can't do that."

"Aw, Dai-chan, don't spoil this little reunion," she whines.

"License and vehicle registration, please," he says, and holds his hand out.

Tanaka scowls at him from the passenger seat, but Tanaka's scary faces have never fazed Daichi so he ignores it easily. Saeko grumbles as she hands over the requested items, and then he goes back to his car to begin writing the citation. Once there, he notices his personal cell buzzing again, this time with Suga's name on the screen. He grabs it.

"Suga," he greets, pinning the cell between his shoulder and ear so he can grab his citation booklet. "You're not gonna believe—"

"Tanaka and Noya are getting engaged."

He almost drops the phone. "How'd you know?!"

"Asahi called me after you didn't pick up."

"How did he know?"

"Noya," they both say a second later as the obvious answer pops into Daichi's head.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Right, of course."

"Wait," Suga says, "how did you know?"

"I just pulled Tanaka and his sister over for speeding," Daichi replies dryly.

Suga erupts with laughter, cackling so loudly that Daichi has to pull the phone away from his ear until it begins to die down.

"Oh that's great, that's fucking perfect!" Suga wheezes. "That's…that's exactly what Noya wanted! He wanted Asahi to ask you to arrest them or something to give Noya more time to prep before Tanaka gets back to town."

"Jesus," Daichi says, affronted at the very idea. "I would never—"

"And as funny as that little idea is, I think it'd be even funnier if you did the opposite and gave them a police escort and got them home faster."

Daichi rolls his eyes. "I like that you think I can keep up with Saeko enough to give her an escort."

"Fair enough," Suga says, and Daichi can hear his grin. "So you're not gonna do it?"

The answer comes to his tongue, a flat refusal, but it doesn't leave his lips. Instead, he feels something stir in his gut, an old familiar mischief always brought on strongest by being around his old volleyball team. But he's an officer of the law now, he has rules and statutes to uphold, he has to—

"This is such an abuse of power," Daichi grumbles as he feels his resolve crumble.

"So it suits your profession then."

Daichi cringes. "Suga…"

"All cops are bastards, Daichi," Suga says breezily. "All cops are bastards."

"Are you done?" he asks, having heard this a thousand times already.

"For now," Suga replies.

"Good, because I'm hanging up."

"So you can get in the car and escort the Tanakas to town?"

"So I can call my boss and tell her a personal emergency came up," Daichi replies.

Suga howls with laughter and approval, and Daichi pulls the phone away from his ear again. "Pick me up before you leave," Suga says when he's done cackling. "I wanna come with."

"I thought you were studying."

"Yeah, but there's no way I'm missing this."

/ / /

"Hey, Nishinoya?" Asahi says from the bedroom. "I think you should check your phone."

Noya grunts as he inspects himself in the bathroom mirror. Asahi really has worked some magic, managing to pull together an outfit that makes him look respectable but still himself.

He's wearing his least-ripped pair of jeans—because, to Asahi's consternation, he doesn't own any without holes—combined with his favorite pair of combat boots. On top he has an old school shirt that Asahi found crumpled in a corner of his closet and then spent twenty minutes carefully ironing, which was weird because Noya hadn't even known that he and Ryuu have an iron. The shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, the top couple buttons are undone to expose a simple silver necklace, and the front right side of the shirt is tucked into the waistband of his jeans. With his hair slicked up and a chain dangling from the side of his pants, Noya thinks he looks pretty good.

"Damn, Asahi!" Noya says, twisting in the mirror to admire himself. "That fashion college of yours is really paying off. Maybe I should have you dress me more often!"

"Maybe you should get spontaneously engaged more often," Asahi says in response as Noya wanders back into the bedroom, then cringes. "On second thought, no. Please don't do that."

"Nah, this is it for me," Noya says, simply and easily, as he plops down onto his bed.

Asahi's eyebrows raise in surprise for a moment before his face turns warm and approving. Noya thinks he too should be surprised at how effortlessly certain he is that this is the one and only time he'll get engaged in his life. Most people probably feel like this anyway when they're at this stage in their lives, but most people probably also date their partner for at least a while before taking this step and don't accidentally text a proposal to their best friend.

But over the course of the past—what, forty-five minutes? Has it really only been that long? Well, whatever the time, Noya's only grown more sure, more determined. This is what he wants, this is what Ryuu wants, and he has faith that it's all going to work out.

His phone buzzes beside him on the bed, and Noya remembers Asahi telling him to check it. It has been going off for a while now, but he'd just assumed it was Ryuu texting him. As he scans over the screen, though, he sees it's a group chat instead.

BEST KARASUNO ALUMNI

Sugawara Koushi:
hey so tanaka and noya are getting engaged tonight lol

Yamaguchi Tadashi:
What?!?

Narita Kazuhito:
Haha, very funny

Yachi Hitoka:
Omg omg omg!!! ♡(◕ᗜ◕✿)

Kinoshita Hisashi:
no way
suga is this another prank of yours?

Sugawara Koushi:
i'm offended!!!!!
how dare you not believe me?

Azumane Asahi:
It's real

Narita Kazuhito:
Asahi, what did he pay you to go along with this

Sugawara Koushi:
it's real!!!!
daichi's giving tanaka and saeko a police escort back from sendai

Noya curses when he reads the part about Daichi giving a police escort. He should've known better than to trust Suga to slow the Tanakas down.

Ennoshita Chikara:
Not a chance

Kinoshita Hisashi:
ok now i know you're lying

Sugawara Koushi:
rude, ungrateful
i'm writing you out of my will
┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐

Kinoshita Hisashi:
catch me crying myself to sleep tonight

Yamaguchi Tadashi:
So it's not real? ●︿●

Narita Kazuhito:
Don't be so gullible, Tadashi!!

Sugawara Koushi:
believe me, tadashi!!!!!!

Yamaguchi Tadashi:
I don't know what's happening!!!!

Yachi Hitoka:
?!?!!???!

Azumane Asahi:
Guys it's real

Tsukishima Kei:
Ignore them, Yamaguchi.

Narita Kazuhito:
Lol

Sugawara Koushi:
tsukkiiiiii, you believe me right?

Tsukishima Kei:
I don't know who any of you are.

[Tsukishima Kei has left the chat.]

Sugawara Koushi:
bastard

[Yamaguchi Tadashi has added Tsukishima Kei to the chat.]

Sugawara Koushi:
bahahahaaa (˃̣̣̥▽˂̣̣̥)

When Noya reaches the end of the text thread, he furiously types out his response.

Nishinoya Yuu:
suga!!! i wanted u to slow them down not speed them up!!!
you traitor!!!!!!!!
(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

Narita Kazuhito:
Wait for real?

Kinoshita Hisashi:
nah i still don't believe it
they could all be in on this

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
there's no slowing this van down
trust me, daichi's barely keeping up

When Ryuu's texts come through, Noya feels his heart squeeze with affection. Ryuu's on his way, he's really on his way, and the next time they see each other, they're going to be engaged. Officially engaged. Officially engaged to be married. He feels almost dizzy with excitement and disbelief.

Sugawara Koushi:
lol, daichi says he's offended

Nishinoya Yuu:
babe!!!!! (~￣³￣)~

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
hey babe~ (-ε- )
my proposal's gonna kick your proposal's ass

Nishinoya Yuu:
in your dreams maybe

Narita Kazuhito:
Oh god this is real?

Sugawara Koushi:
HA!!!! see i told y'all!!

Kinoshita Hisashi:
wtf?!!

Yamaguchi Tadashi:
Oh this is exciting!!!!（〜^∇^ )〜

Tsukishima Kei:
This is stupid.

Yachi Hitoka:
I'm so happy for them!!

Azumane Asahi:
I told you it's real

Hinata Shouyou:
whats real???????????????

Narita Kazuhito:
Read the thread, Hinata

Hinata Shouyou:
i HATE
reading the thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i wanna know what's happening now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(＞д＜)

Ennoshita Chikara:
Read the thread, Hinata

Kinoshita Hisashi:
and wait for it…

Hinata Shouyou:
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!
WHAT WHAT WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOR REAL??!?!!!?!?!??!!

Nishinoya Yuu:
for real!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hinata Shouyou:
aw guys why couldn't you have done this last month when I was still in Japan?!!?!

Sugawara Koushi:
this is what you get for flying halfway across the world

Hinata Shouyou:
o(TヘTo)

Nishinoya Yuu:
shou its okay ur here in spirit!! team noya!!!!
ヽ( ▼∀▼)ﾉ

Hinata Shouyou:
Team noya-Senpai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wait why are there Teams?????????

Ennoshita Chikara:
Are you guys seriously competing over impulse proposals

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:
yeah, why not??

Nishinoya Yuu:
yeah why not!!!!!!

[Many people are typing.]

/ / /

Tanaka's phone starts ringing in his hand right as he's about to type a new reply to the Karasuno group chat. A glance at the screen tells him it's Ennoshita, and he answers with a grin on his face.

"Enno!" he greets enthusiastically.

"Hi Chikara!" Saeko exclaims from beside him in the driver's seat.

"Tanaka," Ennoshita says tersely, "what the fuck are you two doing?"

"We're getting engaged," Tanaka replies in a pleasant tone.

"You're serious?"

"Yeah!"

"Fucking…" Ennoshita sighs and Tanaka can picture him pinching the bridge of his nose while debating his next response, something he did often in their third year when they were captain and vice-captain of the volleyball team. "Have you guys thought this through?"

"Not really, no."

"Of course not. And have you considered, I dunno, just dating instead of getting engaged?"

"Nope."

"Right." Ennoshita sounds more exasperated by the second. "But are you really ready for marriage, Tanaka?"

"I guess we'll find out!" Tanaka says cheerily.

"That's not…that's not how it's supposed to work," Ennoshita replies with mild alarm.

Tanaka smiles, softer now, and speaks seriously, "Enno—Chikara, I…I love him. I've loved him for years."

It's the first time he's ever said it out loud, and it makes his heart swell three times its normal size. He's honestly surprised his ribcage doesn't burst from the pressure of it burning inside him right now. He loves Noya, always has, and he's pretty sure he always will.

"I know, Ryuu," Ennoshita says, gentler than before. "I've watched you love each other all this time. Which is why I'm happy for you guys and I really do want this to work out, it's just…I don't want you rushing into things and possibly hurting each other down the line."

"I get that," Tanaka replies, "and I appreciate it. I really do. But this is what I want, and I'm going for it."

There's a significant pause on the other end of the line, and then Ennoshita sighs. "Well alright, then. What can I do to help?"

"W-what?" Tanaka asks, stunned.

"Team Tanaka, right?" Ennoshita asks with an audible grin, referencing the group chat from moments earlier. "What do you need to do to win this proposal?"

/ / /

"Okay, what do you need to do next?" Asahi asks, trying to get Noya on track after the distraction of the group chat. It's still going off, but Asahi's confiscated Noya's phone from him in an attempt to get him to focus.

"Uhhhh, I guess get a ring and a place," Noya says. "Oh, and Ryuu."

"Of course," Asahi replies with a shake of his head. "Do you know what kind of ring you want? Or where to get it?"

"Not really," Noya says, glancing at the clock and seeing it's approaching eleven o'clock. "I think most of the stores in town are closed by now too."

"Alright, then how about a place? Any locations in mind?"

"Karasuno," Noya replies immediately. "The gym. Where we first met." He hadn't thought of it previously, but as soon as Asahi asked it popped into his head as the obvious choice.

Asahi nods approvingly. "Sounds good. Do you know who has the keys?"

"The keys?" Noya asks, then remembers that none of his friends are students anymore and that none of them would have the keys. "Oh, shit."

"Well, maybe you could do it outside of the gym?" Asahi suggests.

"No, that's lame," Noya says. "Can you give me my phone back?"

"Nishinoya, I don't think the group chat—"

"Not the group chat, just lemme see!" Noya demands.

Asahi complies, and Noya opens up his contact list to find the name he'd been looking for. He presses the call button and bounces his knees while he waits, ignoring Asahi's questioning stare. It goes to voicemail, so he calls again. And again. And again. On the sixth call in a row, the phone finally clicks.

"What?" the person growls, and Noya grins at the familiar voice.

"Coach!" he exclaims, and Asahi claps a hand over his mouth to stifle a startled laugh. "I need the key to the gym!"

"Wha…Nishinoya?"

"Yeah, it's me!"

"Why the fuck are you calling me at eleven at night?" Ukai demands.

"I told you, I need the key to the gym!"

"And why do you need to use the gym? You're not even a student anymore."

"Well I'm proposing to Ryuu tonight and I want to do it there."

"Propo—Ry—Tanaka Ryuunosuke?!" Ukai exclaims loudly, then manages his volume and hisses, "You're proposing to Tanaka?"

"Yeah tonight!"

"Tonight?!" Ukai curses under his breath, and Noya hears rustling and assumes his former coach is getting out of bed. "I didn't even know you guys were dating."

"Oh we're not," he replies easily.

There's a heavy pause before Ukai says, "Please tell me you're joking."

"Man, you know, people keep reacting like that!" Noya says casually, laying back on his bed to stare up at his ceiling. "It's making me think this isn't a good idea."

"It isn't."

"Oh well, we're gonna do it anyway," Noya says gleefully. "So, can you unlock the gym for us?"

"Jesus, kid, no," Ukai replies with annoyance.

"But why not?" Noya pouts.

"Well, for one thing I don't even have the keys."

"What?!" Noya exclaims, startling Asahi into dropping the shirt he'd been trying to re-fold. "You're the coach!"

"I'm not official school faculty, remember? Specs holds the master keys, and Seiki and Ohara have the other sets."

"Ohhh," Noya says, fondly remembering Seiki Michio and Ohara Satoshi, who'd been first years in his third year and are the captain and vice now. "Well, you can get Takeda to let us in, right?"

"I'm not gonna—"

"Keishin?" asks a sleepy voice in the background of Ukai's call. "Why are you out of bed?"

The phrase is intimate and personal, and there's a clear emotional closeness in the tone, but the voice isn't feminine. It is familiar, however, and Noya's face stretches into a wicked grin as it clicks in his brain.

"Is that—" he starts gleefully.

"We'll be at the gym in ten," Ukai interrupts hurriedly, and then the call ends with an abrupt click.

"What did Coach have to say?" Asahi asks a little warily when Noya lowers the phone from his ear.

Noya opens his mouth to tell him when suddenly there's an incessant knocking at his apartment door. Panic seizes his heart. He's not ready. He's not even close to ready. All they've done is play dress up for the past hour, Noya doesn't have a plan or a ring, he barely has a solid location—

"Relax, it's not Tanaka," Asahi says, getting up to pat him on the shoulder.

"How do you know?!" Noya asks. His eyes dart around the bedroom as he tries to figure out a hiding place.

"Why would he knock?"

Oh. Right. Ryuu has a key, because this is their apartment.

Noya feels his tension go down instantly, but he's still a little on guard as he leaves the bedroom and approaches the front door. He knows Saeko is on Team Tanaka, so it could be her knocking and Ryuu could be waiting around the corner or something, ready to grab him.

When he opens the door, he does get grabbed, but not by Ryuu.

"Noya!" Kinoshita yells, wrapping his arms around Noya's waist as soon as the door is open wide enough for him to reach through. "What the fuck is going on, dude?!"

Noya laughs as Kinoshita throws him over his shoulder and marches into the apartment. From his upside-down position, he waves a greeting at Narita who follows them in and shuts the door behind them. "Hi Kazu!"

"Hey Noya," Narita says with a smile.

"Are you and Tanaka serious?!" Kinoshita asks, spinning in a circle with Noya still on his shoulders.

"Please be careful," Asahi says from the hallway.

"Oh hey Asahi," Kinoshita says, coming to a stop. "Should've known you'd be here."

"He did say it was real in the chat," Narita points out.

"Twice," Asahi says a little bitterly.

"Sorry, man, it's just pretty unbelievable," Kinoshita replies.

"Tell me about it," Asahi sighs.

Kinoshita puts Noya back down on the floor, and then he and Narita stare at him expectantly.

Noya smiles and starts bouncing on the balls of his feet from excitement. "It's real. It was an accident at first, but it's real and we're doing it and I—we—he's—man, I'm so fucking happy." His voice breaks at the end of his sentence, wavering from the sheet weight of all his joy, but he doesn't care at all.

"Oh my god," Narita says, shaking his head, but he's grinning all the same.

"Well congrats, dude!" Kinoshita says clapping him on the arm. "And you guys are really competing?"

"Yes, they are," Asahi replies with a tired smile.

"Then consider us part of Team Noya," Narita offers.

"Fuck yeah!" Noya punches a fist into the air. "What about Chikara? Isn't he in town on summer break?"

"Yeah, we called him but he said he's Team Tanaka," Narita says.

Noya shakes his head in disappointment. "Traitor."

They all laugh, and then Kinoshita asks, "What prep do you need to do?"

"Well, Ukai and Takeda are gonna open the Karasuno gym for me," Noya says, "so I just need a ring and someone to get Ryuu to the school."

"We can probably do that," Narita says.

"The two of us against Tanaka and his sister?" Kinoshita asks. "Unlikely. Saeko fights dirty."

"Maybe Asahi can—" Narita starts.

"No, I need Asahi to—"

Noya's cut off by the sound of a familiar, squealing engine. He runs to the living room window and peers out to see a small white van speeding down the street, followed by a Sendai police cruiser.

"Shit!" Noya exclaims. "It's them! I'm not ready!"

"Fuck, okay, we just need to get you out of the building, right?" Kinoshita asks. "We can distract them, and then you and Asahi can make a run for it."

"You're parked out front, right?" Narita asks Asahi, who nods.

"Alright." Kinoshita claps his hands together. "So here's what we're gonna do…"

/ / /

Tanaka's heart had kicked into overdrive the minute they entered town, and it continues to beat even faster the closer they get to his and Noya's apartment. His only goal in the apartment is to change into a nice outfit so he doesn't look like a complete scrub when proposing to the love of his life. But he also has to deal with the possibility that Noya might be there since it is their home.

Their home. Those words will mean something different after today. After today, this apartment will become the backdrop to a life they'll start to build together. And someday maybe they'll get a house and paint the walls whatever color they want and put a garden in the backyard and adopt five dogs. But really no matter where they go, they'll always be home as long as they're together.

Saeko whips the van into a service driveway on his and Noya's block and turns on her hazards to wait while Tanaka jumps out of the car. Daichi pulls up beside them in his cruiser, window rolled down on the passenger side.

"We're meeting you at the gym?" Suga asks.

"Yeah," Tanaka says, wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans, "Ennoshita should be there already. He said he'd get the keys from Seiki, the current captain."

"Sounds good," Suga says with a grin and a thumbs up.

"Hey Tanaka—" Daichi leans across the console so he can meet Tanaka's eyes, "—you're really sure about this?"

"Yeah," he answers confidently, having only grown more sure every time someone's asked him. "I really am."

"Quit trying to discourage him," Suga says, swatting at Daichi's shoulder. "Besides, this is the guy who proposed to Kiyoko two seconds after meeting her. Are we really surprised by this?"

Tanaka flushes with the memory. He really does have a knack for impulse proposals, doesn't he?

"I'm just saying—"

"Yeah, yeah." Suga waves a dismissive hand. "But don't act like you wouldn't say yes if Kuroo got down on one knee tonight."

"I—That's—well it—" Daichi splutters as his face turns bright red.

Suga cuts him off with a peal of delighted laughter, then looks at Tanaka. "We'll see you at the gym."

"Sounds good," Tanaka replies, and then his friends are driving off down the road. Tanaka squares his shoulders, pats his pants pocket to make sure the ring is still there, and then he heads into the building.

"Tanaka!" someone greets him the second he steps into the lobby.

"Kinoshita? Narita?" Tanaka asks at the sight of his friends. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you, duh!" Kinoshita says, throwing an arm over his shoulders and steering him toward the building's shabby elevator.

"We've been trying to figure out what the fuck you and Noya are doing," Narita says with eyebrows raised in amusement. "We thought Noya would be here, but nobody answered when we knocked.

Kinoshita presses the up button on the elevator. "We just got out of the elevator when you walked in."

"Noya's not here?" Tanaka asks, and he feels both relief and disappointment at the same time. He could've sworn he saw Asahi's car parked out front. "So, are you saying you're Team Tanaka?"

"Obviously," Kinoshita replies as the elevator doors open.

"But…" The wheels in Tanaka's mind turn slowly. "Then why didn't Ennoshita tell—"

Suddenly he's bodily shoved into the elevator, pinned against the far wall by his traitorous friends.

"Go, go, go!" Narita yells over his shoulder.

"Hey, why—" Tanaka hears the creaky stairwell door open, followed by two pairs of rushing footsteps. "Noya?!" he shouts, blood rushing through his veins.

"Ryuu!" Noya's voice calls, echoing through the apartment building's lobby.

"Noya, wait!" Tanaka yells, fighting against Narita and Kinoshita's grip with all his might. He doesn't even care about the proposal competition anymore. All he wants—all he needs is to see Noya. Right now. "Noya!"

"I love you, Ryuu!" Noya shouts back.

Tanaka's brain screeches to a halt as his heart launches straight into his throat, and suddenly it's like he exists in a vacuum of time and space. The world seems coated in molasses, moving slowly as his body goes slack with shock, and the only noise his brain registers is his own blood rushing through his ears.

It makes sense. Most people who decide to get married usually do love each other, but Tanaka and Noya aren't going about this like most people. But even though Noya's love for him should be glaringly obvious to Tanaka by now, to hear the thing he's always wanted to hear finally said out loud is more than a little shocking.

A second later his mind clicks on again and everything around him slams back into action. He resumes his struggle against Kinoshita and Narita, who are the only reason he'd stayed upright in his brief stupor, even as his eyes fill with tears and he fights to find his voice around the knot in his throat.

"Just thought you should know!" Noya's voice is farther away now, and he thinks he hears the lobby doors open. Desperation fills Tanaka, and he fights against his friends' grip. He has to see Noya, has to grab him, has to tell him—

"Noya!" he finally managed. "Noya, wait, I lo—"

He's cut off by the elevator doors sliding shut right as he breaks free of Kinoshita and Narita's hold. His palms slap uselessly against the metal, then he goes completely still. The only thing moving is his heart, thudding painfully in his chest. An uncomfortable silence fills the elevator car. Narita presses the button to open the doors, and they slide open with a ding, but it's too late. Noya's already gone.

"So," Kinoshita says awkwardly as Tanaka swivels his head around to glare at the two of them, "Team Tanaka?"

/ / /

"Where are we going?" Asahi asks breathlessly as he pulls away from the curb and drives down the street. After their successful escape through the lobby, there had been a heart-stopping moment when they thought Saeko might have spotted them and would intercept, but she was too busy staring at her phone as she presumably waited for Ryuu to come back down.

Noya doesn't respond, too busy staring out the window at his apartment building just so he can glimpse Ryuu in case he comes outside. His heart is pounding so hard he feels dizzy. He just told Ryuu he loves him. He told Ryuu he loves him. A grin cracks his face, and he wishes he could've seen Ryuu's expression.

"Noya?"

"Ah!" he exclaims, turning around once the building is out of sight. "My parents' house."

"What's there?" Asahi asks.

"Hopefully," Noya says, an idea beginning to form in his mind, "a ring."

/ / /

Kinoshita and Narita weren't sure what to expect when they rolled up to the Karasuno gym after Tanaka kicked them out of the apartment building, but it wasn't to see Daichi, Suga, Ennoshita, Ukai, Takeda, and all five of Karasuno's current third years all working together to decorate the gym for the spontaneous proposal.

"What's going on?" Kinoshita asks suspiciously, because there's a definite mix of Teams Tanaka and Noya here.

"Our favorite doofuses both picked the same spot to propose to each other at," Suga replies as he plucks the petals off of wildflowers and tosses them haphazardly on the ground.

"So we've joined forces," Ennoshita finishes.

"Sweet," Narita says, and goes to help his former kohai hang string lights from the upper level balcony.

/ / /

BEST KARASUNO ALUMNI (MINUS THE NEWLYWEDS)

Sugawara Koushi:
okay y'all, everything's going down at karasuno gym!!
get here if you can!!!!!

Yachi Hitoka:
Ahhh, I wish I could be there!!!!
Tell them congrats from me!!!!!!!!!

Hinata Shouyou:
stream it, stream it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yamaguchi Tadashi:
Tsukki and I should be there in fifteen!

Kinoshita Hisashi
damn tadashi, how'd you convince him to drive out for this?

Sugawara Koushi:
and how many speed limits have you broken

Sawamura Daichi:
Please don't answer that

Yamaguchi Tadashi:
(◕‿↼)

Sugawara Koushi:
Lol!!

Kageyama Tobio:
What's happening
?

Hinata Shouyou:
read the thread, kageyama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kageyama Tobio:
There is no thread
This is a new chat

Hinata Shouyou:
the other thread dummy!!!! (⩺_⩹)

Kageyama Tobio:
Fuck off
Dumbass

Hinata Shouyou:
(ง •̀_•́)ง

Sugawara Koushi:
now now, dont be mean to our little olympian
im sure hes had a long day of practice

Narita Kazuhito:
Yeah Kags, shouldn't you be sleeping?

Kageyama Tobio:
Everyone's texts woke me up
Are they really engaged
?

Sugawara Koushi:
almost!!

Shimizu Kiyoko:
Good for them

Hinata Shouyou:
KIYOKO-SAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sugawara Koushi:
LMAOOOOO

Kinoshita Hisashi:
they're gonna die when they read that

Ennoshita Chikara:
It's true tho

Yachi Hitoka:
Oh I'm just so so happy for them!! (◕ω◕✿)

Hinata Shouyou:
will someone please stream it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sugawara Koushi:
of course!! (・ω <)

/ / /

When Asahi pulls up outside of Noya's childhood home, Noya gets out and sends him off to the school to fetch Kinoshita and Narita so the three of them can find and kidnap Ryuu. It's an easy walk from his house to the school, and what's most important is finding Ryuu and getting him there.

He lets himself into his house with his spare key. It's dark and mostly quiet, which he'd expected, but as he switches his shoes for slippers he can hear that the television is on in the living room, which he'd also expected. When he walks into the room, he finds his grandfather asleep in an armchair and some late night talk show on at a low volume. Noya walks over to him slowly.

"Jii-chan," Noya whispers, lightly shaking his arm.

Nishinoya Mineo wakes up with a snort and a scowl, then smiles when his eyes focus on Noya's face. "Yuu," he greets with a grumbly voice. "What brings you here so late?"

"I have a favor to ask you."

"Oh?" Mineo shifts in his chair, and Noya folds his legs underneath him as he moves to sit on the floor, fists pressed tightly to the tops of his thighs. "Go on."

"I, uh…" Noya pauses and swallows nervously. "I was wondering if—if I could have your sun ring."

"And what on earth do you want that for?" Mineo asks, raising a bushy eyebrow.

"To propose to Ryuu with."

Mineo blinks, then starts laughing. "You're finally making a move, eh?"

Noya grins. "Yeah, guess so."

"Took you long enough."

"I know, I know," Noya says with a sigh. "Get in line, I've heard it enough tonight."

"And you'll hear it one more time," Mineo says sternly. "I've always told you it's better to face things head on. What's changed to make you do this now, and to go this far?"

"I…Well, honestly, it was an accident at first." Noya scratches the back of his head and gives a quick summary of the texting incident and endures another bout of his grandfather's laughter. "But I think…I think I've been so scared because I didn't want things to possibly change for the worse. I couldn't risk losing him, so I told myself what we had would be enough. I thought being his friend was all I'd ever get and that I could be satisfied with that."

Noya swallows, emotions rising up in his chest and making it harder to breathe around the swell of love he feels for Ryuu and the pulse of regret at the idea of ever letting Ryuu get away from him.

"I was a coward," he says decisively, "but I realized that someday someone would come along who wasn't a coward like me. That person would see Ryuu and recognize his greatness and scoop him up the way I was too scared to. And I couldn't stand the thought of that.

"I love him, Jii-chan, and I'm tired of being scared." Noya smiles as his eyes fill with tears. "He's the best person I know, and I never want to spend a day without him. And yeah, this is fast. I know that. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still a little scared. But I'm facing it head on, and I want to face it with Ryuu."

Mineo listened intently to the whole speech, and when Noya finishes he says nothing for a long moment. The silence is only broken by the hosts of the talk show still jabbering away on the television.

"And why do you need my sun ring?" he asks finally.

"You always taught me that the sun represents life and hope and prosperity, and I want to give all of that to Ryuu," Noya replies sincerely. "He's my sun. He's the light and love of my life. And…and I'd really like your blessing."

"Hmmm…" Mineo muses, stroking his chin with his knobby hand as he thinks. "A very impassioned argument."

Noya waits in the lengthy following silence as his grandfather considers until he can't stand it anymore. He bends over suddenly, touching his forehead to the floor and flattening his palms out on either side of his head. "Please, Ojii-sama!"

"Shit, Yuu, don't you get formal with me," Mineo says with a chortle. "Of course you can have my sun ring. I'm happy for you kids. And I've always liked that Tanaka boy. You've chosen well."

Noya sits up instantly. "Really?!"

"Yes, really," Mineo says. "You know where it is. Be quiet, though, or you'll wake your parents."

"Right," Noya replies, rising to his feet. He plants a kiss right on the top of Mineo's bald head, then sneaks easily through the house to his grandfather's room. Once there, he goes to the box on the side table and opens it. In there are all of his grandfather's most treasured trinkets: notes from his late wife, a picture of Noya and his sisters, an old good luck charm, and the sun ring.

Noya lifts the ring out of the box, and for a moment it feels much heavier than it actually is, and he realizes he's holding his future in the palm of his hand. It's a simple brushed silver ring, not too thick or wide, with an image of a partial sun etched into the bottom edge of the band so it looks like it's rising. Noya slips it into the zippered pocket of his wallet, then closes the box back up.

"Found it?" Mineo asks when Noya returns.

"Found it," Noya confirms, patting the back pocket of his jeans. "Thank you, Jii-chan."

"And you're proposing tonight?"

Noya grins. "Sure am."

Mineo claps his hands together and laughs. "Now that's facing life head on. Go get 'im, Yuu."

They shake hands, and then Noya promises to come over for breakfast in the morning and to share the good news with the rest of the family before he heads back out the front door.

It's late now, past eleven, and the sidewalk is lit only by the streetlamps overhead. He's glad that he had Asahi go on ahead, because with all the chaos of the past couple hours he knew he needed a little bit of time to himself to compose his thoughts before meeting up with Ryuu.

And speaking of Ryuu…

Nishinoya Yuu:
got the ring!!!!!!
do u think u can find ryuu and bring him to the gym??

Azumane Asahi:
Already on it

Noya grins and pockets his cell phone, then turns the corner toward school. As soon as he does, though, a Sendai City police car pulls around the corner, and a voice over the loudspeaker tells him to stop where he is. He complies on instinct, heart pounding as he ponders what he could've done wrong, and realizes just a second later that this isn't Sendai and this police officer isn't on duty. His realization comes a moment too late, though, as the officer is out of his car and throwing Noya over his shoulder before Noya can even think to make a run for it.

"D-Daichi!" Noya squeals, writhing fruitlessly in his former captain's firm grip. "Put me down!"

"No can do," Daichi replies pleasantly as he walks toward the cruiser. "I'm on Team Tanaka."

"This is kidnapping! Abduction! Misconduct!" Noya yells.

Daichi ignores his protests and throws him unceremoniously into the backseat of the car, where Suga had been holding the door open. Now Suga jovially slams the door shut, effectively trapping Noya in the back of the police car.

"How'd you even know where I was?" Noya demands angrily.

"How do you think?" Suga counters.

Noya's jaw drops. "No—Asahi?! That traitor. He's dead to me."

"He's never been able to keep secrets from us," Daichi points out, tossing a wicked grin over his shoulder at Noya as he slides back into the driver's seat. "Now, let's get you to your engagement."

/ / /

Tanaka takes one last look over himself in the bathroom mirror, appreciating the outfit and hoping Noya will too. It's a simple getup, comprised of dark slacks, a nice print button up, and the watch Saeko had given him as a high school graduation gift two years ago. Still, simple as it is, he's freshly shaven and clean and looks pretty put together. He looks like someone Noya will say yes to.

He's already said yes, technically. Actually, he was the first to ask, but Tanaka wants to put an effort in regardless.

After patting his pants pocket to feel for the ring box, he grabs his keys and wallet and heads downstairs to meet Saeko where she's been sitting in the service driveway for the past twenty minutes. When he opens the passenger door, though, he finds the seat occupied.

"Asahi?" he says in confusion, blinking up at his friend.

"Hey, Tanaka," Asahi replies almost nervously, and then Tanaka abruptly remembers that Asahi's on Team Noya.

"Wait—" he starts and begins to take a panicked step back, but suddenly something is thrown over his head from behind, obscuring his sight. Then he's grabbed around the middle and lifted into the air as someone ties his hands back with what feels like sweatshirt sleeves.

"The fuck—no, guys, come on! I have to win this!" he shouts, struggling in vain as he's shoved into the backseat of his sister's van. His sister. Where the hell is Saeko?

"Child and window locks are on," says the familiar voice of his sister as the doors to the van close all around him, "so we are a go!"

"Saeko!" Tanaka howls. "What the fuck! Backstabber!"

"Sorry, Ryuu, but it's more fun this way!" she declares before revving the engine and peeling away from the apartment.

/ / /

Tanaka's still struggling and shouting his protests a while later when they arrive at the location Noya's planning to propose to him at. Asahi and Saeko still have him blindfolded, and they drag him as gracefully as they can to wherever they're taking him while he continues to fight against them.

He's not really as angry as he's acting, of course, and he's mostly doing this to cover up how fucking nervous he is. Sure, he'd wanted to win this little competition of theirs, but he knows he's a winner regardless because he's walking away from this with Noya as his fiancé.

But with every step they force him to take, he's that much closer to his future, to the rest of his and Noya's life—together. And he can't help but be a little apprehensive about that even if it's everything he wants.

"Guys, come on, I can't—you gotta let me go!" Tanaka begs.

"You'll thank me for this someday," Saeko tells him, and he hears some doors open and they force him across a threshold into whatever building they're at.

"Please, just—"

"Daichi! Untie me!"

Tanaka abruptly stops fighting, causing Asahi to almost trip over him in his sudden stillness. "N-Noya?" he calls.

"Ryuu?" Noya yells back. "Ryuu, is that you? I can't—Suga! Let me go!"

"Why should I?" Suga asks unhappily. "You fucking bit me."

"Oh get over it," Tanaka hears Noya groan.

Asahi presses gently on Tanaka's shoulders, and he stumbles forward, willingly guided now. His sneakers squeak slightly on the floor, and it's a familiar sound but…it can't be, can it?

"Noya?" he calls again.

"Ryuu!"

"What's happening?" asks a tinny voice, almost like it's coming through a speaker. "I can't understand them!"

"Oh my god, someone mute him," mutters a voice that sounds like Tsukishima.

"On it!" another person—Yamaguchi?—squeaks. But Tanaka can't spare even a moment to ponder who all has gathered to watch his engagement because he's only focused on one person.

"Noya?!" Tanaka shouts, the same desperation from before in the apartment lobby filling his chest.

"Shit!" Noya exclaims, way closer than before. "Ryuu, not so loud! I'm right here!"

"Where? I can't—"

"And three, two, one!" Suga says, and then the blindfold is gone from Tanaka's face.

He blinks a little uncertainly, taking a moment to realize where he is. They're standing in the center of the Karasuno gym, but only half of the overhead lights are on. The other light in the space comes from string lights draped all around the second level balcony, which are accompanied by artfully hung orange and black streamers. A glance at his feet reveals flower petals that had probably been arranged in a nice circle before he'd stumbled blindly through them.

And right in front of him…is Noya.

When Noya's blindfold was taken off, the first thing he noticed was the small crowd of friends and former teammates at the side of the building, a clear mix of both Team Tanaka and Team Noya. Yamaguchi is holding a phone in their direction, and Noya has the distinct impression that they're being livestreamed.

But the most important thing in the room is Ryuu.

He looks…unfairly good, dressed simply in slacks and a button-up, but it's the button-up with the floral print that brings out the hint of blue in his steely eyes, and it's Ryuu, who just always looks unfairly good. And it's Ryuu—here, now, staring at Noya like he's seeing the stars for the first time while Noya feels like he's just discovered a whole new galaxy in Ryuu's gaze.

"Hey," Noya whispers, feeling suddenly quiet.

"Hey," Ryuu says back with a shy smile.

Noya's not sure how he'd thought this would go, but he would've expected it to be loud. That's how things usually go between the two of them, after all, and that's how he generally prefers it. But now that they're here, Noya finds he doesn't want to shout. Well, maybe he wants to shout a little, but only cause he's nervous. But a bigger part of him wants to treat this—them—carefully, softly, gently, even if it goes against everything in his nature to do so.

See, Noya's never really been the nurturing type. Not once has he ever successfully kept a plant or even a goldfish alive. When he needs to erase something, he always ends up ripping the paper in his undue vigor. Things around him have a tendency to break or bruise, and he's never really minded. But he's also never cared about something or someone as much as he does for Ryuu. He doesn't want to risk breaking it before it even really begins, and so he's willing to put in the effort to be purposeful and vigilant.

Wars are fought on battle cries and pounding fists, but lives are built on steady hearts and kept promises.

His heart is anything but steady at the moment, though, stuttering away in his chest as he stares up at the love of his life, their future together getting closer and closer with each passing moment.

"Did you—" Ryuu starts.

"—pick the gym?" he finishes, then grins. "Yeah, of course, it's—"

"—where we first met."

They smile at each other, and any lingering doubts or worries Noya may have had still are suddenly gone. Ryuu reaches forward slightly, and Noya takes his hand. They're both shaking, he notices, but their grip on each other is strong and firm.

Romantic string music starts playing from somewhere, and he and Ryuu both crack grins at how utterly ridiculous this whole endeavor is. But really, Noya wouldn't have it any other way.

"Who—who goes first?" Ryuu asks quietly.

"I dunno," Noya says. "We both got here at the same time."

Ryuu thinks for a moment. "Janken?" he suggests.

"Fuck yeah."

They release their hands, then raise their fists in preparation.

"Oh my god," Tsukishima mutters loud enough for them to hear.

"Best of three?" Noya asks.

"Best of five," Ryuu says, puffing out his chest like he would when wearing his volleyball jersey.

Noya rolls his eyes. "Best of five."

After a brief but spirited battle, Tanaka finds himself the winner. His pride of victory is quickly diminished, though, with the realization that now he really does have to go first. He can suddenly feel the weight of all their friends watching from behind him, and he's glad they're not in his eyesight or he really might chicken out and he can't let himself chicken out. He's been chickening out for years, cowering from the immense volume of his feelings for Noya in favor of hiding in normalcy and friendship. But that's all behind him now, and Noya's right in front of him.

"Noya—Yuu," he starts, and reaches out to take Noya's hand again. Noya complies, this time grabbing both of his hands. He tries not to think about how sweaty his palms are and just hangs on for dear life, then he takes a deep breath and looks Noya right in the eye. "I love you," he says firmly.

Noya sucks a shuddery gasp through his teeth, hazel eyes widening slightly, then purses his lips in an effort to control his smile.

"You ran away before I could say it earlier," Tanaka continues teasingly, squeezing Noya's fingers in his, "but I do. I love you. I have for years. You're my favorite person in the whole world, and I don't want to waste any more time not openly loving you. I want to spend every day by your side. I know what we're doing is kind of crazy…"

He hears a couple snorts and chuckles from their friends behind them, and he and Noya grin at each other.

"Okay, it's totally crazy," Tanaka amends. "But I don't even care! I love doing crazy and reckless things with you. I want to do crazy and reckless things with you for the rest of my life. I trust you, and I love you, and I promise I'll make you happy. I'll do whatever it takes. This is a risk, I know, but…there's nobody I'd rather take this jump with than you."

"Ryuu…" Noya whispers, eyes wet and shiny with unshed tears.

Tanaka swallows the lump in his throat and mumbles, "Um, you…you can go now. If you want."

Noya swallows and nods, and his mind races as he tries to figure out exactly where to start. He'd intended for his walk to the school to be used to plan out this exact speech, but instead he'd spent that time being abducted by his friends. So he's just going to have to wing it. But really, winging it is what Noya's always done best.

"I love you too, Ryuu," he starts, because he figures that's most important. "I'm sorry it's taken me so long to say it. But, you see, this…" He takes a steadying breath. "This scares me more than anything I've ever done. But it's only because you matter so damn much to me. I was so scared of messing this up, of messing us up, but I realized that I could've messed us up anyway by not doing anything about it, you know?"

Ryuu nods vigorously, biting his lip in the way he always does before he's about to cry.

"So I'm really glad I sent that stupid text, because it was the push we both needed to finally do something and go for it. Cause you're worth every risk in the world, Ryuu. I'd do anything for you," he says desperately. "I mean it! I want to be there for you. Reliable. Dependable. And I know I'm not always good at being that, so you might have to be patient with me, but I swear I'll get there, Ryuu! I-I'd travel the world for you, or rob a bank, or—or—or I might even kill someone if you really—"

Daichi clears his throat behind them, and Ryuu laughs, squeezing Noya's hands. "I get it," he whispers. "Me too, for you."

"Good," Noya says, almost sagging with relief. "Good. So…so Ryuu—Ryuunosuke—"

Noya releases his hands, reaching for his back pocket, and Tanaka suddenly realizes what's about to happen. He shoves his hand into his pants and fumbles around for the ring box. They both go to one knee on the polished gym floor, and Tanaka cracks the box open right as Noya fishes a ring out of his wallet.

"Will you marry me?" they both ask at the same time, breathless with love and anticipation, and then they immediately burst into nervous laughter as tears roll down their cheeks.

"Yes," Tanaka cries first, pressing the back of his shaking hand to his mouth in an attempt to hide his embarrassingly big smile.

Noya lets out a tremulous sigh of relief and drops his wallet to the floor, then reaches carefully for Tanaka's hand. He slides the band over Tanaka's left ring finger, and Tanaka recognizes the ring as Noya's grandfather's. His heart feels like it might burst from happiness, but he has one more thing to do before that happens.

"A-and you?" he croaks.

"Fucking—of course, dude," Noya whimpers.

Tanaka huffs out a laugh, then lifts the ring from the box with trembling fingers. Noya's shaking even worse than he is as he works the black ring onto Noya's finger. They're definitely going to have to get it sized down, but even so it still looks perfect.

"Shit," Noya gasps, amazed by how wonderful it is, and then they're reaching for each other.

Tanaka crushes Noya to his chest, burying his face against Noya's neck and sobbing openly. Noya is pressed into Tanaka's shoulder, and he wraps his arms tightly around Tanaka's torso. They fit together as perfectly as they always have, but no longer does Tanaka have to tell himself to temper his feelings and guard his heart. Now he can have everything he's ever wanted, and it's almost more than he can bear.

Someone switches the music to something poppy and triumphant, and then Saeko shouts, "Kiss him already!"

Their shoulders continue to shake, but now with laughter. They pull away from each other, hastily wipe their cheeks and noses, and stare happily at each other's tear-stained faces.

"I love you," Tanaka says softly.

"I love you too, Ryuu," Noya says softly, and Tanaka doesn't think he'll ever get tired of hearing that.

Ryuu slides one hand up from Noya's shoulders to cup his damp cheek, the other pressing lightly at the small of his back. They shuffle a little on their knees until their chests are touching, and Noya curls the fingers of both hands into the collar of Tanaka's shirt. He tilts his head up, their noses nudging together gently, and then—because he's done hesitating when it comes to Ryuu—Noya kisses him.

Later, Noya won't be able to tell anyone what exactly their first brush of lips was like, because he was too overcome by the fireworks exploding in his heart. But as they break apart and come together again, Noya observes that Ryuu's mouth is exactly as perfect as he'd always imagined it to be. It's warm and gentle as it moves against his, and he surges forward to lock his hands around Ryuu's neck in search of more of that perfection.

Ryuu makes a tiny surprised noise, and Noya drinks it all in as he slots their lips together again and again. Whistles and cat calls and loud applause echo throughout the gym, reminding Noya that they're not alone even though a moment ago he'd been certain that he and Ryuu were the only two people left in the whole world.

Tanaka whines as Noya pulls away just after teasing his lips apart with the tip of his tongue, surely a preview of what's to come when they're not being watched by sixteen other people. Still, Tanaka can't help but feel bereft at the lack of Noya's small soft mouth on his, and he can almost feel the ghost of it whispering kisses across his lips.

But their friends are here, and someone on the balcony has unfurled an old "Congratulations" banner, and the music has been turned up loud, so he figures more kisses can wait.

Invigorated by the celebratory energy around them, Tanaka gets quickly to his feet and then scoops Noya up into his arms with practiced ease. Noya loops his arms around Tanaka's neck and presses his forehead to Tanaka's temple, whooping as Tanaka spins them in an exuberant circle. And even though Noya's off the ground right now, Tanaka feels like he's the one walking on air.

They may have gone from friends to fiancés in a matter of hours, and they may have done everything backwards, but Tanaka's pretty sure their timing couldn't have been better.

He sets Noya down, and then they walk hand-in-hand to their friends, who immediately envelope them in hugs and congratulations. Ukai reveals two large coolers of snacks and drinks that get distributed among the ragtag group. Yamaguchi's phone is passed around, connecting them with their far-flung friends who couldn't be there in person but offer their best wishes anyway. Volleyballs get broken out of the storage room, and they bounce the balls around jovially as they trade stories and laughter until Takeda decides it's late and they've abused their gym privileges enough.

Tanaka and Noya are kicked out of the gym first, having been banned from helping clean up their own engagement party, and Asahi gives them a ride home. To Asahi's misfortune, they spend the ten-minute car ride making out in the backseat.

Now it's almost four in the morning and the two of them are laying together in Tanaka's bed, which they'd decided on after another janken battle and a heated make out against the back of their front door. Noya is draped over Tanaka's chest, Tanaka's arm tucked tightly around him, as they appreciate the moment and just exist together. They should be exhausted, and in a way they are, but they're also too excited and happy to sleep just yet, unwilling to close their eyes on what's been a perfect evening.

"So when should we have the wedding?" Noya asks, lifting his hand from where it rested to admire the ring on his finger.

"Hmm," Tanaka muses. He runs his fingers soothingly up and down Noya's back. "How about next week?"

"Eh, I dunno Ryuu," Noya says and wrinkles his nose. He shuffles upright and props himself up on an elbow to look at him properly. "Don't you think that's moving a little fast?"

Tanaka snorts. "You're right. We don't want to rush into anything."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want that," Noya says, then snickers and leans forward to kiss his fiancé.