In Three Months' Time (Haikyuu)

III: Thank You

Two weeks passed by in a flash, their routine remained that way. On weekdays, Atsumu would wake up and make them breakfast as he fills the silence with questions before they leave for work, no more goodbye kisses on the door, and no more I love yous spoken before they part.

When work ends, Atsumu comes home to an empty apartment, eats dinner alone, and goes to bed without seeing Kiyoomi. On weekends, Atsumu wakes up, prepares breakfast, tells Kiyoomi about his day, washes the dishes, says goodbye to Kiyoomi, then tries not to cry. The rest of the day is spent with him sitting on their couch, watching a shitty reality show as he eats his chips and drinks his soft drinks. He would then make dinner for two, keep Kiyoomi's portion before going to bed without seeing Kiyoomi.

The two weeks didn't bear fruit, no progress in their relationship was made, which frustrates Atsumu. So, he decides to change things up a bit.

That morning, he wakes up extra early to make two bento he'll bring to work. He keeps it in his car before Sakusa could wake up and see it. After that, he'll rush towards the kitchen to serve their food.

Sakusa comes out of their once shared room wearing his suit and ready to go to work. He sees Atsumu sitting at the dining table with their breakfast all set up, "good morning, Omi," Atsumu greets him with a smile.

Sakusa takes a seat in front of him, and Atsumu doesn't try to make conversation this time. Their breakfast was spent in silence, and when they were done, Atsumu sets the dishes aside and says goodbye to Kiyoomi.

Atsumu goes to work nervously that day, he enters the building, and instead of heading to his office, he goes straight to their boss' office to ask for adjustments to his working hours. Atsumu receives a scolding, but he endures it, it's for Kiyoomi, and he's willing to accept anything as long as it's for him.

Atsumu apologizes and gives his reason for asking for a change in working hours. After a few minutes of talking and negotiating, Atsumu is granted the change he asks for.

Atsumu bows and says his thanks before entering his office to start with work. He buries himself in work he's given, and when his alarm goes off, he looks at the clock and takes a deep breath before going out of his office to drive to Sakusa's.

What he's doing is a risk. This could either push Kiyoomi further away from him or improve their relationship. Atsumu was afraid of the uncertain consequences, but nothing will change if he doesn't take a risk, so he goes for it.

Atsumu enters Sakusa's company building and greets the receptionist. Everyone knows who he is. It isn't his first time walking into his husband's company, so they let him walk straight to Kiyoomi's office without any appointments planned.

Atsumu knocks on the door and gulps, "Hey," he greets when Kiyoomi opens the door for him.

"What are you doing here, Miya?" Miya. That hurts, but Atsumu pushes it aside and shows Sakusa the bento he made, "Have lunch with me?"

Sakusa furrows his brows and stares at the bento in Atsumu's hand before sighing and stepping aside, "your break starts at exactly twelve and ends at one. What are you doing here wasting time?"

Atsumu sets the bento on Sakusa's table carefully before sitting on the chair in front of Sakusa's desk, "I asked for modified working hours," he answers with a smile, "I want to spend more time with you, Omi,"

Sakusa rolls his eyes and shakes his head, probably thinking about how silly Atsumu's decision is, before sitting on his swivel chair, "you see me in the morning. Why would you want to see me more?"

"Because I don't know what would happen after three months. I'm making the most of what I have," Atsumu says honestly, making Sakusa's head snap towards him, "the times I spend with you in the next few days might be the last, you know?"

Sakusa remains silent. He averts his eyes from Miya and looks at his computer screen, "but I'll do my best to make it last. I don't want us to end after three months. So, even if you hate seeing me, you'll have to bear with it,"

"You're wasting your time, Miya. This ends after three months," Sakusa says with certainty and takes the bento Atsumu slides towards him.

The latter chuckles and takes his chopsticks before he starts eating, "we'll see," Atsumu says with faux confidence as he shoves his fatty tuna in his mouth.

Atsumu's random stories fill Sakusa's office, and when Atsumu's wristwatch starts to beep, he stands up, fixes their bento boxes, and says goodbye, "It was nice having lunch with you, Omi,"

Atsumu runs to his car, eyes glancing at his watch repeatedly as he calculates whether he could make it in time or not. He can't mess up his modified schedule the first time he asks for it, so he revved the engine and steps on the gas to chase time.

Atsumu arrives in his company building and runs to make a check-in. He leans against the wall as he catches his breath. It seems like time is his greatest enemy as of lately. He seems to always be chasing after it, and he's not even sure if he can bet it.

Atsumu enters his office with a smile on his face, satisfied that he arrived five minutes before his break ends. He starts his computer and proceeds to continue with his work with a smile.

At least Sakusa accepted his offer. That's one thing.

Atsumu looks at the clock and sees that it's his time to go, so he picks up his bag and coat then runs to his car. He plans to make ume shiso rice for Kiyoomi. He used to love those. He drives towards the department store to pick up some things he needed before driving home.

As Atsumu picks what he needed, he can't help but smile whenever he remembers eating it for the first time when he visited the Sakusa household. Atsumu remembers making it whenever they're celebrating something. While walking around and picking up the ingredients, he realizes that they haven't eaten it in the past two years, so he grins to himself, thinking that this might bring back some memories—ones where they were happy and in love.

After he was done picking up what he needed, he proceeds to the counter to pay before driving home.

Atsumu wears the apron Sakusa had gifted him during their first Christmas together and plays a song from his phone to fill the silence surrounding him and the kitchen. He hums to himself like he usually does, and when he's done, he takes a sticky note from his drawer and writes eleven heartfelt words of gratitude.

Thank you, Omi, for letting me eat lunch with you today.

Atsumu chuckles. This is so silly. No one says thanks to their husband for eating lunch with them. It's a husband or wife's right to do so. But as Atsumu continues to stare at the piece of paper on the kitchen counter, it feels less silly.

"Thank you," Atsumu whispers as he runs his thumb through the sticky note, "thank you," he repeats the second time.

Two words that are sincere but rarely spoken.

Atsumu had always been thankful for Kiyoomi. He was thankful for his love and is thankful that among the entire populace of Japan, Kiyoomi chose to love him.

"I should've said it to you more often," Atsumu whispers as he sticks the note on the container where he put Sakusa's Umi shiso rice.

Atsumu sighs and keeps the container under a mesh food cover for Sakusa to eat when he arrives.

Atsumu looks at the paper one last time and leaves the kitchen feeling happy and content, unlike before when he felt stupid and ridiculous for thanking his husband for something so trivial.

Sakusa arrives in their apartment earlier than usual. It was past nine when he pushes the key into the lock and opens their door. As soon as he steps into their living room, he is greeted by silence and the cold breeze coming from their AC. He shrugs off his coat and walks into their kitchen, his eyes darting towards the mesh food cover on their table. He lifts it up and sees one of his favorite umeboshi dishes accompanied by a small sticky note with fox prints.

He reads what's written on the note and stares at the meal with a small smile on his face, "you idiot," Sakusa whispers as he eats the meal prepared for him, and for once, after all those months of going home late and eating alone, he misses Atsumu's voice.