𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 ||𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚||

6. lightyears

"stop staring", hinata said as he watched atsumu through the mirror. the other was conveniently sitting on their bed behind him, looking at his lover dressing up. as hinata stood in front of the mirror without any top on, atsumu smirked at him - proud of his marks that he left on hinata's skin.

"how can i stop staring when you are so gorgeous?", atsumu asked, he stood up and walked closer to him, wrapping his arms around hinata's waist and pressing his chest against his back. hinata could feel atsumu's heart pounding in his chest. thump, thump, thump - it was hypnotizing. even after all this time of them being together, atsumu's heart rate would still go up whenever he looked at hinata, whenever the two would exchange touches and warm kisses.

hinata blushed slightly and smiled at him. "oh you... what's up with being so touchy these past few days? i mean, you always are, but these days especially", hinata turned around, still in atsumu's arms and cupped the taller male's face. "something bothering you? is it because oikawa came to visit?"

atsumu looked into hinata's eyes, the sparkle was there. he knew he can trust hinata, he knew they love each other and yet still... he couldn't help but worry. "yes, and also because of another thing", atsumu said quietly. hinata stood up on his tiptoes and placed a warm kiss on atsumu's lips, melting away the worries for a moment.

"well? tell me what's bothering you?" hinata moved the strands of hair out of atsumu's handsome face. "i wouldn't ask this, but you did go an extra mile to leave bite marks on me"

"uh... well, first, yes oikawa came to visit and he seemed to have a liking for you and i did not like that" atsumu pouted, hinata simply chuckled.

"he has a fiance you know? yes we did have a fling, but that was before we dated - i have no romantic feelings for him" hinata turned atsumu's face back to him and placed another kiss on his lips. "and what else?"

"we... we have a match with kageyama and his team today...", atsumu finally managed to say.

hinata had reassured him many times before that he had no feelings left for kageyama apart from admiration and thankfulness for making him love volleyball even more. after atsumu and hinata got together, he did tell him everything that went on between them but made sure to clarify that he had moved on. atsumu knew this, but he still felt alert and on edge - what if kageyama tries to steal hinata away?

"atsumu, i love you and only you. you are my precious sunflower, part of my heart and my soul and no one, i repeat no one, will ever be able to take me away from you" hinata said. "i waited for someone like you for so long, so please stop thinking i will throw you away at any given moment"

"i know, i know... i love you too, so much. i can't imagine a future without you" atsumu smiled at his boyfriend and pulled him closer, squeezed him tighter, and leaned in. their lips melted into each other as the sun peeked into the room. rays of sunshine made the moment even more magical as the two stood there, just kissing.

as the morning progressed the two of them made sure to have a nutritious breakfast and call their teammates, bokuto bragged about akaashi coming to cheer him on while sakusa complained about running out of a very specific type of hand sanitizer. it was... a good morning. atsumu had some time to reminisce about how hinata and he started dating,  what they did and how they came to love each other. 

he also had time to construct a speech just in case kageyama dares to make a move on his precious sun. during all this time he spent with hinata, every day was a sunny day. the two held each other close and couldn't bear being away from one another - so they ended up renting an apartment together. ever since then, they've been pretty much inseparable. atsumu, as the sunflower, grew to heights inconceivable just to get closer and closer to the sun, and hinata gave his all to make atsumu happy and warm - the two were a perfect pair.

they would fall asleep in each other's arms every night and wake up in the same way, they made no attempt to hide their relationship, especially not from the team or their parents. hinata's parents were quick to approve their relationship, atsumu's as well - osamu couldn't be happier for his brother knowing that he found someone who loves with with their entire heart. 

as the match neared closer, atsumu found himself more anxious than ever and only hinata's soothing touch made him breathe easier. it spanned from practise, to the line-up and through the actual match. hinata would sneak in a touch there and there to make sure his boyfriend was at the top of his game. and his touchers didn't go unnoticed... by kageyama.

kageyama who still hadn't let go.

he noticed how atsumu would look at hinata no matter where on the court he was, how their touches seemed more intimate than those between other team members... how the sparkle was back in hinata's eyes, but it didn't sparkle for him. and it hurt.

it hurt so much.

as bokuto scored the final point and the winning team rejoiced together, what hurt kageyama's heart was not the loss, but the fact that all this time he kept loving someone who no longer loved him back. but maybe, just maybe there was still a chance for them. maybe he should finally speak. mend to his mistakes. fix the situation.

so he chased the sun. he chased after him and reached out only to get his hand burnt.

"wait!" he yelled as he watched hinata's team walk slowly towards the bus. hinata turned around and stood in one place, letting kageyama catch up to him. atsumu wanted to stay too, but bokuto dragged him away saying that they should sort it out alone. all he could do was watch his sun from afar.

"what is it?", hinata asked, a slight smile played on his face.

"i... i want to tell you something" kageyama said, out of breath. out of the corner of his eye he spotted atsumu, glaring at him.

"well? i'm waiting. i kinda have to leave soon" hinata let out a nervous chuckle, he did want kageyama to speak out, even though he knew that all that he will be able to offer him is hurt and pain.

"i should have said this a long time ago, i should have been open and i should have been brave to make decisions and commitments... but i really do still like you, hinata. i've liked you for so long. i've liked you since we were in high school and--" kageyama was interrupted by hinata's sigh.

"yes, you should have told me earlier. did you know long i had feelings for you? i waited and waited, i took initiative but my feelings were never returned. kageyama... i've moved on. a long time ago. when we said our goodbyes and i boarded that plane i left all feelings i had with you. i will no longer settle for 'i like you', because now i have someone who says 'i love you' instead. i have someone who would travel lightyears just to see me.  kageyama, i'm sorry... please, let go" and with these words hinata turned away, giving kageyama one last warm smile and running off.

kageyama was left to stand there, defeated.

and as the cold wind blew against his face, the feelings he held for so long slowly, slowly started seeping out and away.

the love story that bloomed from sweetness

and turned to bitterness midway

now had a freshness to it

and a feeling

that all is going to be okay.

the end.