t w e n t y • mending the cracks (I)

                                    

                                          
i forgot to mention this but i screwed up the timing when first years enter high school and third years graduate in japan ahshdkwks for the sake of story flow let's imagine it's correct ;^;


                          
Inarizaki High
5pm


                          
— a t s u m u —


                          
     "IS CHOYO COMING TO watch our practice today?" Osamu asked him.
                          
     "Yeah," came Atsumu's curt reply.
                          
     The twins quickly fell into a tense silence as they head towards the gym after lessons. Atsumu couldn't remember when was the last time he had a proper conversation with Osamu. He had nothing to say to him anyway. What was he supposed to say when they both almost clawed each other's face off over the same girl?
                          
     Atsumu had to resist the urge to hiss and snap at his brother even during practice. He was the captain. And Coach Kurosu was watching him like a hawk all the time, probably sensing that something was off between them.
                          
     Heck, the whole team knew. And they could tell that it wasn't one their typical spats at all. But Atsumu had no fucks left to give. He could care less about Osamu being all sulky and depressed. All he cared about now was Choyo, and the fact that she chose him over Osamu.
                          
     That thought sent tingles down his spine and left him with a giddy little smile everytime. Was this even real? Atsumu felt like he was in some paradise right now. Maybe the gods were kind afterall and finally pitied him. 
                          
     Choyo agreed to give him another chance, but he could tell she hasn't completely gotten over everything. She behaved a little awkwardly around him, and her gestures were a little stiff. Periodically, she would go quiet for a long time, as if having some sort of internal conflict with herself. She definitely was troubled with something, but everytime Atsumu started a conversation with her, she immediately put back on her usual gentle smile.
                          
     If Atsumu had to compare her with her twin brother, Shoyo was the dazzling bright summer sunshine while Choyo was the sun peaking shyly through the clouds on a warm and gentle spring day, making you feel fuzzy all over.
                          
     That was the conclusion Atsumu came to after a few weeks of hanging around Choyo. He didn't expect her to magically recover from all the trauma in an instant, and he was determined not to give up. He really, desperately wanted to prove to her that he truly  cared for her. She still hasn't given him an answer for his little confession, but he was determined to make her say yes.
                          
     He didn't pull any extravagant stunts to impress her. He knew Choyo hated those things and she would immediately think that he reverted back to his old flamboyant playboy ways. So he stuck to the simple things. It became a routine now, that when he didn't have any volleyball practice, he would wait outside Toragaoka's school gates for her walk home together. Sometimes he would be waiting with her favourite matcha latte in hand. He even crashed her team's training when she went to watch them. 
                          
     "Oh, Atsumu-san. You're here to watch again?" Chitoka raised her eyebrows when she saw him casually walking in with his hands stuffed in his pockets beside Choyo.
                          
     He visited so frequently he was on friendly terms with her teammates.
                          
     He also brought her out everytime there was a fair going on in the central park. Choyo called had him and dragged him to them most of the time, but he gladly tagged along anyway. 
                          
     "Atsumu, let's get those dangos." Choyo's eyes instantly lit up at the sight of the pink, green and white balls skewered on a stick at one of the stalls.