Say You Love Me [1]

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Chapter 1
The Two of Us

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Even before they were born, it had long been decided that they were meant to be together.

Due to an inviolable promise their parents had made, Tsukishima Kei was set to marry Kamasaki Juri even before they had met and laid eyes on each other.

He thought it was ridiculous at first. Some hilarious, overrated plot twist for dramatic soap operas.

But that was ten years ago.

He got over it now.

***

Tsukishima Kei impatiently knocked on the door in front of him, panting heavily. If the girl hadn't locked it, he would've opened it himself and came in without needing her permission---as he did so many times before.

"Open up, Juri," he called out when his knocks got no response. He was growing more and more impatient every passing second. He was in a hurry to get to her that he didn't even have the time to change his uniform or fix his messy blonde hair at the very least.

"Alright, alright. I'm coming," a voice finally answered.

"Hurry."

The minute the door was unlocked, he immediately pushed himself in then grabbed her right hand, promptly checking her fingers one by one. The frown on his forehead only deepened when he saw that her middle finger was all red and swollen.

Before he could even open his mouth to say anything, however, she beat him to it and was already giving him a thorough explanation as to what happened. "I'm okay. I just hurt my finger a little during practice earlier, but the doctor said I'll be fine. All I need to do is give this hand a rest."

"That means no volleyball or drawing for a while," he strictly said, letting go of her hand.

"Sadly, yes."

He heaved a deep sigh, finally allowing himself to calm down. She seemed perfectly okay to him. Well, Juri was never vulnerable in the first place. She may look fragile, but she was actually tougher than she looked.

Actually, maybe he was the stupid one for worrying so much.

Then as if a bucketful of ice-cold water was poured on him, Tsukishima Kei stared at her with wide eyes upon finally realizing something he failed to earlier. "Why are you dressed like that?"

Her grip on the unsuspecting towel wrapped around her body tightened as she stalked towards her closet, opening it then pulling out a pair of pajamas. Apparently, she had just gotten out of the shower. "I was taking a shower when you harassed my door. You didn't tell me you were coming so I wasn't exactly prepared."

He didn't reply to that and merely watched her move around, nonchalantly picking up the pieces of sketch pads that were littered on the floor, not even caring to change into her pajamas first.

Tsukishima gulped thickly.

How many times did this happen before? He'd lost count. Exactly how many times had he felt this way before? He'd lost count.

Finally reaching his limit, he stomped his way closer then grabbed the pieces of paper she had gathered, successfully hiding the blush that painted his cheeks by immediately looking away and keeping himself busy. He could feel her stare, but he ignored it and carried on with the task.

"You don't really have to, Kei. I got this."

He begrudgingly crumpled a piece of paper until it was molded round like a ball, then spun around to throw it to her face. "Just shut up and put some clothes on, you idiot."

She released a small squeak, sending him one of her nastiest glare. "You're so mean."

"I know."

With a huff, Kamasaki Juri angrily strode towards the bathroom, slamming the door close behind her. She was clearly pissed. Tsukishima released the breath he was holding as soon as she was gone then sat on the bed to examine the papers on his hands. They were unfinished drawings of the characters from the anime series that they both loved.

They were good, but clearly still weren't enough for her.

Juri had always loved drawing. She even told him that someday she would become a manga artist and that she would make him proud. He earnestly looked forward to it as a child. But as they grew up--as she grew up--her priorities changed. The hand that she held very dear once long ago was now used recklessly for playing volleyball. Even so, there was nothing he could do. He had no right to interfere with the decisions she would make.

Not yet, that is.

"I don't know why I can't do it anymore," her soft, sad voice suddenly came from behind him, startling him a little bit because he hadn't noticed that she was already out of the bathroom. "I used to love my drawings, you know. But now every last one of them isn't good enough. I can't really explain... It just feels like they lack something."

"I see," he simply said, setting the drawings aside then pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "They look fine to me."

She mustered up a soft smile. "Really? Thank you."

Tsukishima nearly gasped when she literally jumped onto the bed then wrapped her arms around him from behind, burying her face against his back. Her grip was strong, yet warm and gentle. "What's wrong with you all of a sudden?"

"Nothing, really. I'm just tired."

He hummed. "You should take a rest. I'll go home now."

"But you just got here," she pouted, unwrapping her arms around him then moving to his side so their gazes could meet. She pondered for a minute. He looked pretty much stressed out himself. "Let's eat some ice cream, Kei."

"I haven't had my dinner yet, you know."

She inhaled sharply, eyes growing wide. "Huh?! You mean, you headed straight to me right after volleyball practice when you heard I was injured?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "Sort of."

Unexpectedly, her lips curled up into a sweet smile. Tsukishima Kei may be mean and cold, but in his own way, she knew he genuinely cared for her. "Is there something you want to eat? I'll cook for you."

He furrowed his brows. "Is your hand going to be okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry."

Juri swung her feet down the bed then stood up, grabbing his hand and childishly pulling him up with that adorable smile on her lips. Her pair of beautiful blue eyes showed affection as she gazed at him fondly. "Let's go, Kei. Hurry. I know you're hungry."

"I can stand up on my own," he whined, refusing to give in to her childishness.

"Just shut up and take my hand."

Ever since they were little, the idea of marrying each other was already ingrained in their minds. And for that very reason, they grew up in a much smaller world compared to others. A world that revolved around a certain promise they knew almost nothing of.

Kei was for Juri; Juri was for Kei.

No other girl mattered. No other boy mattered. Nothing else outside their world simply mattered. They had no relationship but, yes, they were committed to each other.

"Okay," Tsukishima said, finally letting her pull him up. He couldn't really resist her---it had always been like that. "As always, you act like a little child."

"Do you hate it?"

He gave her a small smile. "Not really."

Tsukishima Kei thought marrying Kamasaki Juri was ridiculous at first. Some hilarious, overrated plot twist for soap operas.

But that was ten years ago.

He got over it now.

Because their parents were right all along, she was the only girl for him...

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A/N: HOW WAS THAT FOR THE FIRST CHAPTER?

Let's take it slow, guys. Kageyama will come ruin their "world" eventually ;)

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