[closed for lempereur] A Rush of Adrenaline

[azuhi]

Since Yusuke had expressed an interest in seeing him play, and because he'd been kind enough to share his studio with him, Asahi extends an invitation for Yusuke to attend their next official volleyball game. He's nervous about having someone he knows in the stands, but Asahi also knows that once he's on the court, it'll be a lot easier to forget his surroundings and focus on the match. He can't let his teammates down, after all, and he especially can't disappoint his date.

His date. God, Asahi never imagined he'd be bringing a boy to his games, that someone would want to be there for him, cheering him on. Meeting Yusuke feels like a dream come true, or even a miracle.

Fortunately, the match goes well. Asahi is able to lose his nerves, and keep his head in the game even when things aren't going in Karasuno's favor. And when they are, he's at his peak performance, warmed up from the game and getting better, his spikes getting stronger, faster, and harder to block.

When his team wins, a few people crowd around him to celebrate, thumping his back (and, in Nishinoya's case, happily leaping onto his shoulders), but Asahi still takes a moment to turn to the stands. He makes eye contact with Yusuke and beams triumphantly, without a hint of his usual shyness.

The team heads down to the locker room to get clean and change out of their sweaty clothes. Asahi plans on meeting Yusuke once he's done, and hopefully he has enough time for them to go on another date.

Comments

[azuhi]

I thought so, but it's always nice to hear you say that. [Asahi jokes, pleased that Tanaka and Nishinoya's antics haven't alienated Yusuke. And now he knows something new about him; namely, where he goes to school. He can almost imagine Yusuke in their uniform, which is very western styled and chic. Though Yusuke probably looks good in anything...

He reaches for Yusuke hand, and threads their fingers together.]

Do you like ramen? That's my favorite, so we could go there.

[lempereur]

I love ramen. That sounds wonderful

[ Yusuke accepts his hand, leaning affectionately against Asahi's arm. His knit sweater is far from the school uniform he'd usually be wearing, but it's soft and billowy, wafting the intentional scent of incense and jasmine flowers, and the unintentional one of oil paints.

Honestly, he misses the uniforms at Kosei, his school in Tokyo. Clean and classic, navy blue on black. It looked better on him. ]

I'll tell my friends about you too, then. It's only fair.

[ It's easy to omit things, when he's so far from home and keeping in touch through a group chat. Speaking of...he uses his free hand to take his phone out of his pocket and unlocks it. ]

We should take a picture.

[azuhi]

Good! [Asahi says, grinning. He feels really good about this date. Fresh off the high of a volleyball win, and now with Yusuke leaning against his arm? It couldn't be a better day if he planned it.]

You don't have to tell your friends, if you don't want to. Not that I mind... I just. Don't feel like you have to, I guess?

[Although it would make him happy. It'd make things feel a bit more... real. Like Yusuke wants to stay with him.

Though wanting to take a picture together does have a similar effect on Asahi.]

A-ah, okay. [He agrees, smiling shyly for the camera.]

[lempereur]

I want to.

[ Yusuke turns to Asahi and runs his hand quickly through his date's hair, fixing a bit that's sticking up. There's a temptation to just grab onto it and pull him in for another kiss, but he manages to resist. Just barely.

Looking into the camera, he adjusts himself as well, fixing his collar, his hair. He fusses over it more than he needs to, but when they're both smiling and the shutter clicks, they look cute together. Happy, slightly flushed and standing cheek to cheek. ]

What do you think?

[azuhi]

[Asahi gasps softly, a little surprised by the fingers in his hair, but they feel so nice. And when he looks again at the phone screen, he can see his hair lying flatter, more nicely.]

Ah, thank you. [Asahi murmurs, as Yusuke fusses with his own clothes. And then he takes the picture, and it looks so... cute. Asahi grins.]

I like it. Can you send it to me?

[lempereur]

[ He gives Asahi an mmhmm and sends him the picture. Then he opens up another chat, sends it there, and promptly turns off his phone completely. Blows up the group chat and disappears. Chaotic, but he doesn't want his phone going off all night when he has Asahi in front of him to focus on. ]

There you are. I think we make an attractive pair, don't you?

[azuhi]

[Asahi checks the message on his phone, and smiles at the image. He's a little pink when Yusuke comments on them being attractive together.]

I think so too. [He agrees, shy but pleased.] You're really attractive on your own, too.

[lempereur]

You think so?

[ Yusuke's not stupid. He knows that he has a pretty face, but the rest of him is so skinny and delicate-looking. Like a sickly Victorian child. Not muscular or curvy. He isn't self-conscious over his appearance so much as he is far more interested in others'. His body suits him just fine, but isn't anything spectacular, he thinks.]

You're the stunning one. I can't keep my eyes off you...it was nice to see another side of you, today.

[azuhi]

[The compliments only serve to make Asahi blush even harder.] I-I'm glad you think so. Ah, and I do really think so. You're really handsome.

[He reaches again for Yusuke's hand.] Did you really enjoy the match?

[lempereur]

I did.

[ He walks with a spring in his step, still his graceful, elegant self, but lighter. Happier.]

I confess, I did not understand the rules beyond 'don't let the ball hit the ground' until halfway through. But I could feel your passion from the stands. Watching you was truly eye-opening.

[ His free hand gesticulates widely as they turn a corner. Don't ever doubt his enthusiasm! ]

A first-year girl explained some things. Yachi-san.

[azuhi]

[Yusuke's good mood does not escape Asahi notice, and he feels similarly light and happy as he leads the other boy down the street, hand in hand.]

That's the most important part of the game. I guess my job is to hit the ball hard enough that the other team can't keep it up no matter how hard they try. And you met Yacchan? That's nice. She's our first-year manager, she's been a big help to the team with promotion and fundraising.

[lempereur]

An important job. You looked good doing it.

[ Yusuke is just now realizing how much bigger Asahi's hands are, compared to his. He needs to get his hormones in check before he makes a fool of himself. Luckily. the ramen place is finally in view. ]

She seems sweet. She was surprised that I was there to see you. Or...embarrassed to be told so freely, maybe.

[azuhi]

[Asahi can't help the sheepish, pleased smile that comes with Yusuke complimenting him so directly. He can't imagine ever getting used to that.]

She is sweet. And shy. She kind of reminds me of me, actually. I definitely would have been embarrassed if I knew my senpai was dating someone.

[It feels so good, saying that out loud. Dating. Asahi squeezes Yusuke's hand a little tighter. He points out the shop, just up the street from them.]

That's the place. They have the richest broth, I really like it here.

[lempereur]

[ Yusuke doesn't think he'll ever get tired of seeing him smile like that, either. ]

Dating...so it's official now. I'm glad.

[ He wouldn't. other fielding the interrogation from his own friends if he weren't serious about it. They can be much more intimidating than Asahi's were. By now, Futuba has probably found out his name and gone through all his social media with a fine-toothed comb. Maybe even hacked into it to make sure he's not flirting with anyone else. ]

I've never had anyone to call my boyfriend, before. [ A beat, as the pauses illness front of the door. ] You should know, that was my first kiss, back there.

[azuhi]

O-Only if it's okay with you! [Asahi says quickly, although. Well. He'd sort of assumed as much. They wanted to keep seeing each other. Yusuke sat through one of his games, enjoyed it even, and then kissed him in front of all his teammates. Asahi doesn't want to lose this relationship at all, not yet. But he also doesn't want to rush it.

Though, truth be told, Yusuke doesn't seem upset. So...]

Y-You can call me your boyfriend, now. If you want to. I'd be really happy if you did.

[But that last bit gives Asahi pause.]

Really? Your first kiss?

oh my god the phone tag typos T_T

[lempereur]

I would like that. I really like you, Asahi-san. I want to keep doing this...going out with you and meeting your friends.

[ He likes it out here, he wasn't kidding when he said he enjoyed the change of pace from the city. It's lonely, though. Loneliness is something he's used to, but the Phantom Thieves took that away for a little while. Now, he's starting on his own at a new school hundreds of miles away from the first friends he'd ever had. It's an adjustment that having someone special is easing. ]

Yes. [ Why does he seem surprised? Is it that unusual? ] I didn't have any time for dating, back home. The art program at Kosei is rigorous.

[ True, even if it's not the real reason. ]

[azuhi]

[How is Yusuke this direct? This wonderful and honest and earnest? Asahi is blushing to the tips of his ears, but can't stop the huge grin spread across his face.]

I really like you, too. [He murmurs, crooked grin and all.] A-And maybe this is selfish, but... I'm excited to be more of your firsts.

[lempereur]

[ More firsts? Yusuke's mind takes that somewhere more suggestive than intended. He has to look away for a moment so he can keep his cool, instead of wonder what it would feel like to have Asahi's hands all over him...

Luckily, there's a door in front of them. The ritual of stepping inside and being seated pulls them from that line of conversation, and Yusuke can hide his blush behind a menu. ]

What do you suggest?

[azuhi]

[Asahi is only aware of the innuendo after it comes out of his mouth, but he doesn't know how to take it back without making things even more awkward - and, well, it's not that he doesn't want that stuff with Yusuke, eventually. He just doesn't feel ready yet. He wants to know him better, first.

They get to the restaurant, and the comforting, familiar smell of pork and soy sauce beckons Asahi in, calms him down. His stomach growls audibly, to Asahi's embarrassment, but he did just finish an intense match. They get seated, and Asahi pulls open his menu, but only as a formality, really.]

Tonkotsu is my favorite. [He replies readily, pointing at it on the menu.] But everything here is good. Suga says the spicy ones are really spicy, though, so be careful.

[lempereur]

[ Yusuke is an artist. A romantic. As attracted as he is to Asahi, he's not ready for anything more than fantasies. (Well...he wouldn't reject more kissing.) He doesn't want to waste his first time on someone he's not sure about. Really sure. He wants to be with someone he can be completely honest with...he wants to be in love.

He thinks they could get there. ]

Which one was Suga?

[ Forgive him, he was too laser-focused on Asahi to get everyone's names. ]

[azuhi]

[Though not an artist yet himself, Asahi feels the same.

He chuckles softly when Yusuke asks for clarification.]

I guess I didn't get to introduce you. Ah, Sugawara is the one with the grey hair and the mole here. [He points next to his eye.] He's a third year too, and one of my best friends.

[lempereur]

The one you exchanged a glance with after we kissed...I shouldn't be jealous, should I?

[ He's kidding, but it might be hard to tell, with his face buried in the menu. Everything sounds delicious...and it's been days since he's had a real meal, instead of snacking here and there. ]

You must be starving, after all that exertion. How about an appetizer?

[azuhi]

[Asahi's brow furrows a little.] Did I do that? I didn't- You definitely shouldn't be jealous. I just expected him to tease me about it, that's probably why..

But you definitely shouldn't be jealous.

[He hasn't figured out that Yusuke's kidding. But the topic changes so... maybe it's okay?]

Uh, sure. You can pick, I'm fine with just about anything.

[lempereur]

I'm joking. But if they have any sense, they'd all be infatuated with you already.

[ That tends to be the way it goes, with guys Yusuke is into. Yusuke sets the menu down on the table and smiles, resting his chin on his hands. ]

Agedashi tofu, then.

[azuhi]

[Asahi chuckles a bit nervously.]

Well, to tell you the truth, I did used to have a little crush on Suga at the beginning of first-year. But he and I are better off as friends. Besides, I'm fairly certain he has feelings for Daichi, our team captain.

[He looks away for a moment, feeling sheepish and shy.]

What I felt for him is nothing like this, though. So. You don't have to worry.

Oh, and um, tofu is good!