Rising beyond Shadows (Shirabu x reader)

The team's support

3rd person pov

An invitation to go to the ramen shop caught you a bit off guard, but you managed a smile, feeling Hana's elbow nudging you playfully. The whole team had gotten close over the past few weeks, and the ease with which you'd all settled into a rhythm together felt natural, comfortable—yet somehow tonight, with Shirabu's quiet gaze resting on you, it all felt different.

As the group walked toward the ramen shop, Tendō was already weaving his usual magic, keeping everyone entertained with his quirks and funny remarks. Hana walked beside him, laughing and adding her own commentary, which Tendō enthusiastically encouraged. Goshiki, still a little shy around Hana, chimed in with his own thoughts, and you caught her smiling at him, giving him her full attention. She'd managed to charm them all, and you couldn't help but feel grateful for how she'd brought a sense of brightness to your time with the team.

You found yourself walking a few steps behind them with Shirabu, who, true to form, remained his usual composed self. You stole a glance at him, noticing the slight furrow of his brows as he listened to the conversation around him. Before you could stop yourself, you found yourself asking, "Do you ever get tired of all the noise?"

He looked at you, slightly taken aback by the question, before a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Sometimes. But... it's good for the team. Besides, Tendō and the others bring a kind of energy that keeps us going." His gaze softened, and he added, "And I think it's nice, having you and Hana around, too."

You felt your cheeks warm at his unexpected admission. "I didn't think you'd notice much," you said, trying to sound casual.

He shrugged, his eyes holding yours with an intensity that was both challenging and comforting. "I notice more than you think."

The weight of his words hung between you as the two of you walked in silence, the noise of the team fading into the background. Your heart was pounding, every glance at him more meaningful, more loaded, as you realized just how aware he was of everything around him—including you.

The ramen shop was crowded and warm, bustling with late-night energy. The team settled into a large table, laughter and conversation flowing easily as bowls of steaming ramen were placed in front of you. Hana and Tendō were locked in a playful debate over which topping was best, their voices rising with mock intensity. Ushijima sat across from them, watching the interaction with a serene, approving expression, his usual stoicism softened by the companionship of the team.

As you glanced across the table, you noticed Shirabu glancing at you, an almost hesitant look in his eyes. Caught, he looked away quickly, feigning interest in his ramen. Emboldened by Hana's earlier words, you leaned in slightly and nudged his arm. "So," you said quietly, feeling a thrill of excitement in your chest. "How often do you notice things?"

He seemed momentarily startled, his chopsticks pausing mid-air before he turned to face you fully. His voice was steady, but his eyes held a warmth you hadn't seen before. "More than I let on," he said, his tone low and meaningful.

You felt your pulse quicken, heart leaping at the hidden depth in his response. Just as you were about to say something in return, Hana caught your eye across the table, a smirk spreading on her face as she subtly tilted her head toward Shirabu. Her silent encouragement filled you with an unexpected surge of confidence. Maybe Hana was right. Maybe Shirabu's reserved nature didn't mean he was unfeeling—maybe it just meant he was cautious, thoughtful, even careful about who he let in.

The conversation ebbed and flowed around you, laughter rising and falling as everyone settled into their own side chats. At one point, Hana leaned across the table, raising her voice playfully, "So, who wants to place bets on the next captain after Ushijima?" Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she took in the reactions around her.

Shirabu raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "Pretty confident assumption," he noted, giving her a wry smile. "You think it'll be one of us?"

"Of course! Goshiki's convinced it'll be him," Hana teased, earning a proud but embarrassed laugh from Goshiki.

"Hey, it's not impossible!" he defended, cheeks tinged red, while Tendō burst into laughter beside him.

As everyone burst into predictions and playful debate, you felt Shirabu's gaze return to you. He leaned closer, his voice just above a whisper. "Bet she didn't tell you she was going to stir up trouble with that question," he said, his tone lightly teasing.

"Oh, she's full of surprises," you replied, grinning. "But that's part of the charm."

He nodded, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "Guess that's something we have in common." The simple comment sent your heart racing, the implication lingering in the space between you.

As the night wore on, you found yourself laughing and joining in more freely, noticing each subtle exchange with Shirabu, each lingering glance that went unspoken but held so much. Hana was right: sometimes all you needed was a little nudge—and maybe tonight, you'd just taken the first step forward.

                                                                                                                                                                                              

Heyyy!!! I'm here again! I wrote this like yesterday so I just made a few adjustments and updated it here! Hope you all enjoyed the book so far and I think I fulfilled my promise about the longer chapter here! There's more coming! Stay tuned!🩵💖—Jen