Invisible String

Author's Note:

tw://
-light mentions of blood
- issues regarding body image
- sensory overload

they aren't described in great detail, but i would like you guys to know beforehand. thank you.

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Osaka, September 2018

"Omi!" Atsumu's loud voice cut through the morning silence of their now shared house, startling Kiyoomi who was currently measuring scoops of food to put into their dog's bowl.

"Yes, dear?" Kiyoomi looks down at Barbeque, her honey-brown eyes wide in excitement for her breakfast. He smiles at the sight of her wagging tail and her small hair clips that he insists on putting in her long hair every day. "Don't worry Barbie, your food is coming soon."

Atsumu walks into the kitchen, hands on his hips. "Omi! You know that isn't her name! It's Barbeque!"

Kiyoomi places the food bowl down on the floor, his response delayed by the chuckle that leaves his mouth at the sight of Barbeque quite literally inhaling her breakfast. "Atsumu, that isn't a proper name for such a proper lady. It's a shame she went around for so long with her sole name being Barbeque ." He shudders at the thought.

Atsumu cocks his eyebrow, glancing between Barbeque acting like a starved man even though he knows that they feed her quite enough, and Kiyoomi, who's staring at him with that look . The look that means "Oh my God you are quite possibly the dumbest person alive" (affectionate). "She isn't very ladylike Omi. Also, it was her sole name for like a week before you met her. It's not my fault I got lonely here when you were in Tokyo for college."

"Yes, but it is your fault that you got a dog and named her Barbeque . Besides, she already responds to Barbie and Barbara, might as well use them." Kiyoomi was right, and Atsumu knew. The second that he introduced his boyfriend to his dog, they became attached to each other. At this point, Barbeque was more Kiyoomi's than Atsumu's .

Barbeque was done with her breakfast and quickly made her way over to Atsumu, who happily bent down for pets and hugs. She barked happily as she barreled into the blonde, successfully knocking him to the floor. "Good morning Girlie. Excited are we? Well that's great because your Papa is going to take you on a run, isn't that right Omi?"

He glances over to Kiyoomi, a smug smile on his face. They both knew that Barbeque was a hassle to walk. Overly energetic, even a professional volleyball player couldn't keep her reeled in. So of course, they went together. It was always their system. "Atsu, you're joking."

"Sadly not love. You know my partnership with Calvin Klein?"

Yes, Kiyoomi knew very well about his boyfriend's partnership. The setter could never shut up about it. "Yes? What about that has to do with walking Lady Barbara?"

Atsumu sits up, still scratching behind their dog's ears. "My first shoot with them is today? I thought you knew this dear."

Kiyoomi knew that it was on the 19th and today was definitely not the 19th. It was the 18th, he was certain about it. Pulling out his phone, he looks at the date, and yup. It's the 19th. Shit. "How about we just walk her tomorrow?"

"Omi you know better than anyone that she needs her walks every day or else she's going to tear this place into shreds!"

The last time they didn't walk Barbeque, they entered their house to see all of their pillows mangled, their feathers scattered around the hardwood floor. Just the memory sends chills up Kiyoomi's spine. "Fine. I'll do it."