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[azuhi]

Texts, Calls, TFLN, Prose, Action, Meme Overflow, Misc!

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manga spoilers post-timeskip

[connecter]

[ A month or so after telling Asahi all about Italy, Yu sends him another photo out of the blue. It’s of himself, his hair looking a little longer above his bright smile. In his hand are two tickets covered in French but with the very noticeable words “Paris Fashion Week” in English. ]

come to paris!

SCREAMS!

[azuhi]

[It's not like they haven't been in touch in the weeks between Yuu being in Italy and this text message; Asahi may have grown out of most of his teenage anxiety, but he still can't go more than a few days without hearing from Yuu without dread rising in the pit of his stomach. But Yuu has gotten very good at being cagey when he wants to be, with two whole continents between he and Asahi to keep him from blurting any secrets.

In other words, Asahi had no idea this was coming. In fact, he's not even sure he believes what his eyes are telling him right now.]

I

You

What?????????

;D

[connecter]

COME. TO. PARIS!!!! I got tickets for fashion week!! you can take time off for that, right? technically it’s still sorta like work for you. we can go see all the shows, and you can take notes and I’ll nap on your shoulder~

you genius you!!

[azuhi]

[He can feel in the pit of his stomach how desperately he wants nothing more than that; it's been years since Asahi last got to be in the same space as Yuu, got to hold him and smell him and feel his exhilarating presence. It's too easy to imagine himself sitting in a foldout chair off to the side of the runaway, frantically making notes and sketches while Noya's head is a solid weight against him. He wants it so bad, he's doing whatever the emotional equivalent is to salivating.

But Asahi hates to get his hopes up, so of course he starts to worry. Can I really afford the time off? Plane tickets? A hostel?

He can. He has to.]

Okay

Okay, I'll get there. What are the dates? Which passes did you get? Can you send me clearer photos?

[He has so much to plan!!]

[pyonpyon]

( continued from here! )

support me physically? are you flirting with me, Asachin? (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
and you wanted advice for some reason!

[azuhi]

Yeah... I'm trying to, anyways.

To flirt with you.

Is it working?

[pyonpyon]

i guess it depends
is that something you actually wanted to say?

Paris~ (late September)

[connecter]

[ Yu knows that he has absolutely no reason to be nervous. He's not the one traveling halfway across the world, and even if he was, that's something he has gotten used to over time. Showing up in an unfamiliar country with no experience with the language or culture has been one of the biggest thrills while trekking across the globe. It leads him up to new experiences that he never would have encountered if he played it safe and stuck to things that he knows; in a weird way, coming in blind opens his eyes more than any other strategy because he doesn't know what to look for in the first place.

Having Asahi come to meet him in a foreign country, however, is a little more nerve-racking but just as thrilling. He's been aching to see him practically since he left, and the waiting period between inviting him to Paris and having him actually arrive has been torture. Yu doesn't have regrets about leaving Japan, least of all in the prime of his youth when he has the energy to do what he's set out to accomplish. Yet leaving Asahi had been hard on both of them, even if neither held the other responsible for maintaining a long-distance relationship. The talk had been a difficult one, but Yu didn't expect Asahi to wait for him and wasn't held down by expectations either as he hopped borders. Still, as much as they had both promised that there were no strings attached, Yu couldn't ignore that red thread of fate between him and Asahi that was impossible to sever.

So maybe it feels like there's a lot riding on this visit. Not only does he want Asahi to have fun, to see what it is that had called Yu away from Japan and home and Asahi, he wants to know that there's still hope for them. It's been years, and he's starting to run out of places to visit, and maybe running out of the heart to do it alone. He can't ask Asahi to drop everything and join him, of course—Asahi is sweet and dependable and a homebody who loves the comforts of the familiar. Yu just hopes that he's familiar enough to make it easy for him to enjoy his time in Paris.

He's milling over all of these thoughts, a proverbial storm in his mind, as he waits for Asahi in Charles de Gaulle Airport. Bouncing on the balls of his feet both to burn off some nervous energy and keep an eye on the steady flow of arrivals, he finally spots Asahi and starts jumping in earnest while waving his arms to try and catch his eye. ]

Asahi! I'm over here! Asahi! [ Hopefully the Japanese will catch his attention if Yu can't quite reach a noticeable height for more than a milisecond. ]

[azuhi]

[Unlike Yuu, Asahi has plenty of reservations about travelling to a foreign country. It's overwhelming and anxiety-inducting to think of all the ways things could go wrong, with a language barrier between him and all of his surroundings. He's perfectly content to stay in Japan, and even then, it's not like there isn't plenty to see and do.

But then, there is Yuu. Always pushing Asahi to do better, inspiring him to be greater. To move to Tokyo and follow his interest in design. To fall in love, and to be with that person, even knowing it could only ever be temporary. Of course when Yuu calls and invites him to Paris, Asahi can't say no. Fortunately, he doesn't want to, either.

He packs his things with equal parts elation and dread. What will it be like, seeing Yuu again in person? Asahi isn't dating anyone, and as far as he knows neither is Yuu. There are still reasons why they shouldn't do anything about their feelings, but Asahi knows in his heart that he won't be able to resist.

The flight from Tokyo to Paris is long, and gives Asahi plenty of time to imagine what that moment of reunion will be like-- but nothing he imagines compares to the reality of hearing his name echo in the arrivals lobby, in a voice unaffected by phone static or bad internet connections. A voice that takes him back years, to a tiny gym in a tiny town in Miyagi.]

Yuu! [He calls back immediately, eyes scanning for the source of the voice until he finds him.] Yuu!

[Asahi doesn't quite run, because he's in a foreign airport and weighed down by his luggage and his legs are still sore from the flight, but he does rush regardless to Yuu's side. Perhaps uncharacteristically, Asahi immediately pulls Yuu into a tight hug, operating completely on instinct.]

It's so good to see you.

[connecter]

[ Asahi may not be able to run, but Yu definitely can. He launches himself with the confidence of someone who knows they'll be caught by strong arms, and Asahi doesn't disappoint. Yu's feet are dangling off of the ground as they hug, laughter bubbling up in his chest and spilling over. He can't believe Asahi is here, and despite the long flight, he looks— ]

You look good! [ Dropping to the floor once the hug is over, he smacks Asahi on the shoulder a few times. ] I'm so happy you came, we're gonna have fun!

[ Grabbing what he can of Asahi's luggage, he begins pulling it away from the arrival greeting area and to the nearest exit to the outside world of France. It's the only time he's been to the airport, actually, since he had come into the city by train, but he'd been sure to memorize how to get back to his apartment to help minimize any stress on Asahi. He may still have the same boisterous personality, but he's gotten more responsible about things other than volleyball since doing some growing up abroad. ]

Hey, was the flight okay? Did they feed you?

Following up that TFLN about Burritos and Pets

[1foxgiven]

Whenever Asahi wakes up the next morning - afternoon? - He's going to find an actual basket in front of his door. It holds aspirin, a couple bottles of water, granola bars... and a stuffed brown dog with floppy ears.

Along with a note.


Good Morning Azumane,

I hope you're not feeling too hungover after last night. The water and painkillers should help.

Please be sure to eat as well.

- Kita Shinsuke

omg

[azuhi]

It takes Asahi until the afternoon to find the basket, because that's when he heads outside to check his mailbox. He nearly trips over it because he doesn't think to look down, but fortunately none of the contents are disturbed by his clumsiness.

Asahi gapes at the basket, all its contents, and especially the note for a significant amount of time, completely caught up in his disbelief.

He gets pets the head of the puppy plushie as he tries to come up with a response, but Kita has really left him speechless. It takes him a good twenty minutes to figure out what to text.

I just found the gift you left me. Kita-san, this is really too much. But I appreciate it!!

Next time you should knock and come in, though!!

I mean. How could I not.

[1foxgiven]

I didn't want to wake you.

You were up very late.

[No protestations about the 'Too much.' As far as Kita's concerned? It's really not. Better to be sure Azumane had the necessary recovery items.]

Drawing Class Drop-In

[azuhi]

It is, as far as Asahi is aware, a perfectly ordinary Tuesday. He wakes up slowly, gets breakfast and his coffee, showers, and then packs his drawing class supplies in his schoolbag and heads to his afternoon class.

Even then, things are normal. He gets to class early enough to pick his favorite spot near the model stand and set up his supplies. His easel, oversized drawing pad, pencils, charcoal, kneaded erasers -- everything finds a place, and he's ready before the instructor even bustles in.

And then the door opens again, and Asahi glances up-- and his throat goes dry. Kita is there, coming into his classroom. Why? How? How did he know where he'd be?

But before Asahi can go over to see him, Kita goes right to the teacher. Huh?

RIP Asahi's Brain

[1foxgiven]

The flier appeared at Kita's gym. Requesting athletes for Figure Drawing models. Two weeks ago? He would have passed right by.

Two weeks ago he hadn't heard Asahi talk about art. Seen the way the man's face changed. Softened into something - different. A look that's still floating around in Kita's head.

So, of all things?

He calls to offer his name. Probably nothing will come of it. But... Maybe it will. And he can understand this world a little bit better.

That would be nice.

Then came a frantic message. Apologizing for the late notice, but another model had cancelled - Could Kita possibly make it? So, here he is. With some equipment and dressed in comfortable clothes, as requested. The professor is all smiles and thanks. Explaining the process.

Kita listens attentively.

[azuhi]

It baffles Asahi that Kita continues to be in the room. He talks to the instructor, and she gestures to things as they chat; the model stand, the closet, the space heaters...

It clicks like a brick to Asahi's head. He's the model! Suddenly Asahi's throat is way too dry. How is he going to endure the next three hours of staring at Kita's body, trying to draw him without actually thinking about him???

He has to figure it out quickly, because once the instructor's done talking to Kita she dives right into the class session, leading them in warm up drawings so Kita has time to stretch and get comfortable. At the very least, to Asahi's relief, he isn't going to be a fully nude model.

for 1foxgiven - tfln continuation

[azuhi]

from here


Where?

[1foxgiven]

Tea?

Please say yes I am trying very hard not to offer six other options!

[He is staying focused.]

[azuhi]

Yes, okay! The shop we always go to, right? I can be there in ten minutes.

for settingup

[azuhi]

For Asahi, it still hasn't fully sunk in that his high school volleyball career is over. The whole of Karasuno's team is in various states of distress, from worry over Hinata to disappointment and frustration at their loss to Kamomedai. But it's the third years taking this loss the hardest, as they no longer have games to look forward to, no more seasons of volleyball left.

He can't stand to stay too close to his teammates when the pain feels so raw, so Asahi goes off in search of a vending machine to get a drink. He isn't expecting to be approached by anyone, so he's not paying much attention to his surroundings.

[settingup]

The pain of losing as a third year must hit differently in a way that Atsumu can't fully appreciate yet. He has some dim awareness that their own loss to Karasuno must have hit Aran and Kita harder than it hit him, though Aran has no plans of letting his volleyball career end after high school, and Kita took the loss with the same kind of frustrating and strangely touching grace that he takes so many things.

That dim awareness of just how much deeper it has to cut for those who won't have a chance at it again next year sadly doesn't go hand in hand with the common sense needed to show a little tact and respect for others though. He's too busy own complicated feelings of disappointment over the crows' loss, so it's probably going to quickly become a real shame for Asahi that this jackass happened to stumble across him on his own journey for a drink after watching the match.

"Hey, you're the ace, ain'tcha?"

His expression fixes itself into something neutral for the time being, but there's some barely disguised agitation simmering just under the surface.

[azuhi]

Because Asahi is so lost in his own thoughts, he doesn't notice someone come up behind him, and doesn't realize he's the one being spoken to right away. But when the words do click, he startles and turns only to get flustered when he looks right at Miya Atsumu.

"M-Me? Uh, yes! I mean, Karasuno's ace? Yes."

ew captcha hah

[shugoshin]

tfln

Then... your plans are now me.

[azuhi]

Oh. Ah. What are we going to do?

[shugoshin]

Well... everything that's comes to mind is pretty dirty. Is that okay?