Itachiyama Institute was the school that responded to Inarizaki's' practise match request and Atsumu was absolutely petrified.

It wasn't like he was worried about the match. He was gonna be in top form, as usual. But it was more like he was worried about seeing his boyfriend. Since the little camp thing in Tokyo, he had managed to find serious boyfriend material in the germaphobe ace, Kiyoomi Sakusa, and had even scored a date with him. However, he hadn't told anyone on his team about it.

Honestly, he was hoping to keep it a secret. Atsumu didn't want to have to explain it all to his friends, that would be awkward, especially since it was a long-distance relationship with a rival teams' star player. It was the week before the match when these thoughts really started to build up.

Osamu was lying in his bunk and Atsumu was fidgeting in his constantly. It was starting to get annoying, so Osamu sent a kick up through the bars.

"Stop fidgeting, 'Tsumu," He huffed. "I'm texting Suna."

"Sorry."

"Sorry?" Osamu echoed with a  frown and kicked the bed again. "Since when did you apologise abut disturbing my texting time with Suna?"

Atsumu hesitated. "Oh, I wasn't really listening to you, I just apologised to shut you up."

Osamu knew he was lying but he didn't press it. He just shrugged and went back to texting. There was silence for a few minutes, then Atsumu climbed down his ladder and left the room, picking up his own phone on the way. Osamu watched after him curiously, but then heard his twin dialling someone and decided to leave him to it.

Outside, Atsumu waited for Sakusa to pick up, which didn't take too long.

"Hey, Atsu," His boyfriend said.

"Hi, Omi-Omi," Atsumu said, leaning against the bedroom wall. "You ready for the practise game?"

There was a small, contemplating hum on the other end. "Yep. I was just packing a few things now."

Atsumu nodded. "Nice."

"You seem like something's up, Atsu," Sakusa said, not wasting any time getting to the point. "It's the game, isn't it?"

"Kind of. I'm nervous about seeing you."

There was hesitation in Sakusa's' answer. "Do you... want to not see me?"

"Oh, no, I definitely want to see you again. But... it's more about the team than you. I don't think I want to tell them about us yet."

"Well, then, we won't tell them. I still haven't told anyone yet. Komori doesn't even know I'm dating anyone, let alone my team."

Atsumu smiled slightly. "Well, that does make me feel a little better. I just... I don't really want to have the whole awkward announcement thing."

"Then we won't have to. Whatever you're comfortable with, baby."

The setter smirked. "Aw, you do love me."

"Against all odds, apparently so."

"Okay, Omi-Omi. So, we don't let the teams find out next week. I can do that."

"Is that all you wanted, Atsu? Anything else?"

Atsumu nodded again. "Yep, all I needed to know. But, y'know, if you're so desperate for me to be beside you, then you could beg me to stay and keep my beloved company-"

Sakusa hung up.

Atsumu gasped, offended, knowing his boyfriend was just joking around when a text appeared on the screen.

OmiOmi<3: :P

BetterMiya: Omi Omiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

BetterMiya: Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

OmiOmi<3: I have got to pack atsu, and that takes a while

OmiOmi<3: and i wont get round to it if talking to you u-u

BetterMiya: Nooooooooo babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

BetterMiya: Call me backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

BetterMiya: Omiiiiiiiiiiii babeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyy

OmiOmi<3: :P

Atsumu huffed, pouting and walked back into his bedroom to see the window half open and Osamu helping Suna climb in. There was complete silence as Atsumu stared from Suna to his twin, Osamu looked between Suna and his brother and Suna just stared blankly at both twins.

"Hey, 'Tsumu," His brother said sheepishly.

"Hey, Miya," Suna said.

"Hi, Suna, hi, 'Samu," Atsumu greeted. "I've got one question. How did Suna climb into a second-floor window?"

.:*:.

Sakusa tucked his jacket tighter around his shoulders as he boarded the volleyball club bus. As usual, their manager had made sure he had a seat cleaned and reserved just for him. She always tried to make sure everyone was comfortable and Sakusa was hard to please. He carefully brushed away the nameplate and sat down, able to smell the cleaning chemicals, smiling a little under his mask.

Kimori took the window seat next to him as usual and smiled at his cousin.

Sakusa nodded awkwardly at him and felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen.

BetterMiya: Omiiiiiiiiiiiii

BetterMiya: I cant wait to beat youuuuuuuuuuuu

BetterMiya: Prepare for Inarizaki to winnnnnnnn

OmiOmi<3: You wish atsu

OmiOmi<3: Dont throw a strop when itachiyama stay superior

OmiOmi<3: But I'm on the bus rn so i cant text

BetterMiya: you'll get carsick oof

OmiOmi<3: yeah

OmiOmi<3: Be there soon atsu

BetterMiya: Luv yaaaaaaaaaaa

Komori peered over his shoulder, trying to look at the phone but Sakusa turned it off.

"Who were you texting?" He asked.

"A germ," Sakusa replied.

Komori made a face but respected his cousins' privacy. The coach ride went on in silence.

.:*:.

Atsumu's' set was off and the whole team noticed.

Itachiyama hadn't even arrived yet but they were only minutes away and his set was off. Aran still hit it solidly but the mood in the room had changed. Miya Atsumu was never off his game. It was something he just didn't do.  The setter tried to play it off casually, acting as if nothing had happened but Suna, Osamu and Ginjima all glanced at each other.

"Not good," Suna said lowly.

"We're dead," Ginjima agreed.

"I am never gonna let 'Tsumu forget this if we lose," Decided Osamu.

Before Kita could approach Atsumu to ask if he was okay, the gym doors opened ominously and the opponents stood before them. The captains went to shake hands and Atsumu accidentally made eye contact with Sakusa. Quickly, they both looked away, faces going red. Luckily, for Sakusa, his mask hid his cheeks, but Atsumu didn't have that fortune. His face burned up and he felt someone nudging his side.

"Hey," Osamu said. "Don't worry about being off your game, we've still got some warm-up time to get you in the groove."

"Pfft!" Atsumu wafted his hand around lightly. "I'm not off my game, why would I be off my game?"

Osamu raised an eyebrow. "I'm not as stupid as you, 'Tsumu."

Atsumu frowned. "Oi, I'm not stupid."

"You are if you think any of us are gonna buy your act."

The blonde panicked instantly - had Osmau already put the pieces together? Was that glance enough to ruin him? Did he have to explain everything? How was he going to break the news to his twin, let alone breaking it to him in front of his team and Sakusa's' team? If he had to do that, Sakusa might get uncomfortable and then he wouldn't be able to enjoy playing volleyball today!

"A-Aren't you?" He stalled nervously.

"Yeah," Osamu shrugged. "You're off your game and you don't want to admit it, because you're a prideful little pig!"

Atsumu nearly laughed in relief. He put his hands on his hips and looked away from Osamu in feigned embarrassment. "Y-Yeah, okay, so I'm... not feeling it today. So what?"

"I can get Kita to tell the coach to sub you out if you're gonna fail," Poked Osamu, trying to provoke Atsumu out of his 'flunk'. "Y'know, there's that first-year setter who's been practising pretty hard, he probably won't through of the match-"

"Shut up, I'm doing fine!" Atsumu huffed, stepping on his twins' foot. "Don't you even think about subbing me out!"

Suna wandered over, hunching over with his hands in his pockets. "Huh? Is Atsumu getting subbed out?"

"Yeah, baby 'Tsumu can't play today!" Teased Osamu, pulling a face.

Kita seemed to appear out of nowhere. "If you are not feeling up to play, Miya, you should probably step out. It is just a practise match, there is no need to get bent out of shape."

"No,  no, Kita-san, I don't need to be subbed out-!"

"Hey, Atsumu, that toss you did for me just now was pretty low," Aran called, arriving at the small huddle that was forming. "Are you feeling okay? We can put you out if you're not up for it."

Ginjima sauntered in with a grin. "Uh oh, is our great setter unable to play today? Well, that's too bad, I'm sure sitting out will do you no harm, right, 'Tsumu? You know, if you're feeling ill you can go home-!"

"Oi, Gin, I told ya, I ain't getting subbed out, I'm fine!" Atsumu yelled, getting Gin in a headlock and rubbing aggressively at his head. "Don't you even think about it!"

Watching the scene, Komori nudged his cousin carefully. "Hear that? It sounds like one of the Miyas is off his game." Sakusa nodded, taking off his mask before he started his warmups and Komori frowned. Maybe he was just imagining it, but Sakusa had glanced over to the Inarizaki line-up and he had smiled upon looking at their setter. Maybe it was nothing. Komori kept quiet about it. It had to be nothing.

As the game began, it looked like Atsumu had worked out of his 'funk' surprisingly quickly, despite being prone to a few slip-ups whenever he glanced at the other teams' spikers. Osamu wasn't surprised - Itachiyama's' ace was in the top three - but he was worried. Atsumu wasn't one to freak out over some crazy-good ace. Usually, that just hyped him up more. But just glancing at the spikers and Osamu could see his twin sweat a little more and fidget nervously.

Even when Kita did eventually get him subbed out, around the third practice match, he still seemed fidgety and awkward. Osamu started to get frustrated.

When the fourth game was over, with an outstanding losing streak, Osamu confronted his twin.

"Oi," He grunted and Atsumu stopped staring at Itachiyama's' ace to look at his brother. "Why are you so spooked?"

"E-Eh? Spooked?"

Osamu narrowed his eyes. "You heard me. You're on edge right now because of their ace and I wanna know why."

Atsumu didn't make eye contact, staring resolutely at the wall to Osamu's' left. "I'm not on edge, I don't know what you mean. I'm just grumpy because Kita-san got me subbed out when I was doing fine!"

The younger twin's glare deepened. "You were starting to slip up and you know it. Why are you still so worked up, you were taken out of the game to calm down so calm down, dipshit!"

"I am calm!" Snapped Atsumu, raising his voice. The argument quickly got the attention of both teams but neither twin seemed to notice. "You're just making a fuss of nothing, 'Samu!"

"I most certainly am not, 'Tsumu!" Osamu fired back with a dangerous growl. "You're trying to pretend nothing's up with you but you've been acting weird for ages!"

Atsumu glared. "I have not!"

"Have too!"

"Have not!"

"Have-" Osamu pulled back his fist and punched Atsumu hard on the shoulder. "-Too! You've been odd for ages and you keep trying to pretend you haven't been when you know we've both noticed it!"

Atsumu glared at him, clutching his shoulder. "That hurt, you pig!"

Osamu grabbed him by the collar and shook him violently. "Then stop panicking! You're nervous about something and I don't know why and it's bloody annoying!" With that, he threw Atsumu onto the ground.

There was a moment of silence, everyone too surprised to move. This wasn't like their usual fights. This didn't even seem to be about the games anymore. Both twins seemed to be arguing about something they didn't say out loud. 

Atsumu stared up at his furious twin, eyes wide in surprise. It had been a very long time since Osamu felt like Atsumu didn't trust him anymore. The last time he remembered it happening was at the very beginning of middle school, in the first week, when Atsumu had been secretly practising and avoiding his twin in order to get better. He hadn't noticed then and he hadn't noticed now. Had he really been so worked up about Sakusa that he almost forgot his own twin?

Osamu glared down at him. "Come on, then!" He shouted. "Fight back, you dirty pig, get off the floor and stop being a coward!"

The silence seemed to drag on as Atsumu slowly began to pick himself up off the floor. He looked at his brother and clenched his fists. "Fine then," He said quietly. "Let's go."

Before anyone else could get to them, they lunged at each other and Atsumu tackled Osamu to the ground first, pinning him to the ground and shaking him violently. Osamu, however, didn't stay down for long and kicked his brother firmly in the chase, throwing him off. Once free, he practically leapt onto Atsumu keeping him to the ground as they both punched and kicked. That was when Aran pried him off and Kita whisked Atsumu off the floor.

"Osamu and Atsumu," Kita said, even raising his voice. "I am disappointed in the both of you! Another team is present, please, keep your fighting until you are alone!"

"You both need to clear your heads!" Aran decided. "Atsumu, you wait outside the gym! Osamu, go into the locker room! When you two aren't gonna tear each others' heads off, you can come back in! And, Suna, you're not allowed to sneak and visit Osamu, it's gonna be a punishment, not a make-out-with-boyfriend time."

Suna made a face but didn't argue back. Kita pushed Atsumu outside while Aran forced Osamu into the changing rooms. The older twin stumbled on the pavement, the warm, bright sun temporarily blinding him, the light far brighter than the cool gym. Kita glared at him.

"Stay," He commanded, like Atsumu was a dog, before heading into the dark gym so he could apologise profusely to the Itachiyama captain.

Atsumu stood there, stunned, until he began to scowl and marched out of sight. He sat down on the ground with a loud huff and heard the coach issuing Osamu's' position to another second-year he didn't really talk to. The sounds of another match started up again and Atsumu sighed.

That wasn't fun at all.

After half an hour, or so, the practice match ended and he still stayed sat outside, fuming quietly.

Meanwhile, inside, Sakusa was a little worried. Okay, a little was an understatement. He was nearly petrified with anxiety. What if Atsumu tried to run off while he stopped? What if his twin had actually hurt him? What if he was crying? Ever since Atsumu was swapped out for another setter, he had made sure to put extreme pressure on his boyfriends' substitute, trying to secretly provoke the team to switch Atsumu back in but it didn't happen. Now there was no chance for Atsumu to go back in the game and all Sakusa really wanted to do was talk to him.

So, once the game was over, he picked up his water bottle and frowned at it.

"What's the problem?" Komori asked brightly.

"I'm out of water," Sakusa lied smoothly, adding a sigh to his words.

The club manager seemed to hear his 'problem' and she looked up. "Do you want me to fill it up for you?"

Sakusa's' expression was one perfectly mixed somewhere between shock and disgust. It wasn't an act. The mere idea of somebody elses' hands near somewhere he regularly needed to drink from was repulsive and made him feel a little sick. Quickly, the manager retracted her offer. "On second thoughts, I'll let you handle that, Sakusa-san."

The germaphobe nodded, put on his mask routinely, then said, "If you start to play again and I'm still not back, just sub someone else in for a bit. I want to wash my hands a bit."

The manager nodded and Komori gave him a bright thumbs-up. Sakusa left the gym through the outside door and sneakily glanced away. He spotted Atsumu sitting there with a sulky pout and he quietly slunk over, putting down his water bottle and mask. The ace nudged the setter slightly.

"You okay, Atsu?" He asked. "That looked like a pretty big argument."

"It's not like we don't fight," Atsumu sighed. "It's been a long time since we've fought over something like that, though."

Sakusa tilted his head. "Volleyball?"

Atsumu shook his head. "Nah. 'Samu has been under the impression that I don't trust him anymore because I've been acting funny about seeing you again."

"Oh."

There was a prolonged silence.

Sakusa glanced at Atsumu and then gently brushed the back of their hands' together. He still wasn't too big on actively holding hands but the gesture was enough. Atsumu looked up at him and smirked cockily.

"Why, Omi-san, at least cover me in cleaning fluids before making such a bold move!" He gasped teasingly.

The ace snorted and prodded Atsumu in the ribs. "All the cleaning fluids in the world couldn't stop you being so filthy!" He answered. "Besides, don't think I didn't notice how distracted you were during the match! You couldn't keep your eyes off me, Miya!"

Atsumu went bright red and lightly pushed Sakusa off him, trying to avoid too many prolonged touches. "Well, it's not my fault that my boyfriend is super sexy! Honestly, I think it's a bit unfair, he needs to stop being so hot, he's, like, the sexiest thing alive!"

"Oh, am I sexy, Atsu?" Sakusa teased, letting his voice drop. "You really think I'm that good-looking? Actually, I think if you looked at my boyfriend for a few seconds, you'd be so jealous!"

"No, my boyfriend's far better," Atsumu argued. "Way better than your boyfriend!"

Sakusa shook his head. "You'd break up with me for my boyfriend but he would just get back with his ex, he's got a bit of a thing for me."

Atsumu burst out laughing. "Okay, that was a good one, I'll give you that. He probably would. Not that I'd ever break up with you."

"Yeah," Sakusa agreed. "Even though your boyfriend is so much better than mine, I guess I can stick around you a little longer."

"Oh-ho, you think you're better than me?"

"Try to prove me wrong, babe."

Atsumu glared at him with a pout, then slowly smiled. "I'm better at kissing than you!"

Sakusa shrugged. "Fair..." He put his hands on Atsumu's' waist and tugged him in closer. "Good thing I've gotten myself an amazing teacher. Honestly, you'd just be jealous if you knew how good my teacher wa-"

They kissed each other, Atsumu shutting Sakusa up mid-word. Very briefly, Sakusa pulled back in surprise, but didn't let a moment pass before leaning in again, one hand going to cup Atsumu's' neck as the setter held the ace's' face lightly with his fingertips, trying not to overstep his boundaries.

Sakusa lifted one hand away and pressed Atsumu's' hand down on his face.

"You're allowed to hold me, you know," He said. "I mean, it's kinda weird if we're making out and you're not, y'know?"

"If you say so," Atsumu decided and leaned in for another kiss when someone cleared their throat.

Both second years jumped and spun around to see their two teams standing there, lead by Kita, Osamu and Komori.

Kita crossed his arms. "Just because Aran specified that Suna and Osamu weren't allowed to make out, it did not excuse you from the same rules."

Atsumu went bright red and hid his face in Sakusa's' shoulder. "Fuck," He groaned.

"No, wait, Atsu, don't make me do the talking!" Hissed Sakusa, trying to shake Atsumu off him.

"Omi-Omi, I'm embarrassed. Let me try to quietly die in peace."

Komori squealed pathetically. "He lets you call him 'Omi-Omi'?! That is so cute!"

"Wait!" Osamu gasped. "Wait, woah, you're actually dating someone?! Wait, when did that happen?"

"Dammit it, Miya, help me explain, I'm not doing this alone!"

Atsumu shook his head. "I got a better idea. We make a break for it."

Before anyone else could move, Atsumu was already dragging Sakusa along, sprinting far away from the gym, Sakusa stumbling swiftly behind him with the two teams shouting fruitlessly after them.