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ahtsumu · 5 years ago

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目送 ; oikawa tooru

「alt. title: five times oikawa didn’t look back and the one time he did」

↳ pairing: oikawa tooru x f!reader

↳ synopsis: you spend a lifetime watching him go, sometimes with your stomach tied in knots, sometimes with tears in your eyes, but always with love.

↳ genre(s): angst, fluff, basically an emotional rollercoaster, non-linear storyline

↳ warning(s): profanity, depiction of a panic attack, suggestive themes

↳ length: 5.4k words

↳ a/n: hq fam how we doing after 402 ?? LOL anyway this is my birthday gift to oikawa tooru: my sun, moon, and stars, second to none, yadda yadda. the title is taken from a book with the same name, in case you were wondering. please pay attention to the roman numerals ahead of each section!! enjoy!

“This is the last call for Japan Airlines flight 717 to Buenos Aires, now boarding at gate number twelve. This is the last call…”

Goodbyes are hard when you know they’re forever. Or at least a while.

The clamour of Haneda airport dims to a faint buzz as the two of you continue standing with touching shoulders–– facing the jetliner instead of each other–– in futile hopes of delaying the inevitable.

Oikawa knows that you’re holding in your tears by the light tremors running through your body. Permitting himself to steal a look at your side profile, he notices the familiar tensing of your jaw and hard-set look in your red-rimmed eyes.

Tch. You said you wouldn’t cry.

Impulsively, he unzips his backpack and pulls out a familiar turquoise banner. It feels like just yesterday the team handed him the silk fabric with everyone’s farewell gifts wrapped inside.

Out-of-sequence memories of the Spring High qualifiers flash through your mind. The orange-haired Karasuno player’s spike ricochets off Oikawa’s forearms. The numbers on both sides of the scoreboard slowly inch up like they’re taking turns. Oikawa’s white knuckles against the metal basin. Red eyes. Heaving chest. Something soft against your skin. Rule the Court.

And just like the last time, he gently drapes it over your shoulders, brushing his fingers against your neck as he does so. God, how he wants to kiss you.

“But it’s yours,” you protest weakly, making no move to give it back.

“It won’t be for a while.” His voice cracks when he speaks. But it will be mine again when I come back for it.

He wants to kiss you. One last time.

He wants your mouth against his like absolution to a sinner because he knows that what he’s done to you, what he’s doing to you right now, is comparable to desecration. But he remembers the look on your face that night he broke the news to you. How your megawatt grin caved into a wince when the length of his contract with Club Athletico San Juan finally registered in your mind.

You swallow your feelings of betrayal. You knew what you were getting yourself into.

“Five years is an awfully long time to be apart,” you say after a while.

Oikawa bites his lip. He doesn’t have the heart to say that five was just the starting number. If he does well there, he’ll probably stay longer. He’ll probably do well there. “You don’t have to wait for me.”

Seconds drag into minutes. The cavity in his stomach festers as he waits for your response, but he has a feeling that he already knows your answer.

So instead, all he can do when your floodgates finally burst open is cup your face in his calloused palms and wipe away some of your tears before offering you his own watery smile.

Through your blurred vision, you watch as the boy in front of you steels his resolve and disappears from your life through the jet bridge, ignoring his heart as it begs for one last look over his shoulder.

Oikawa nods numbly when the old man sitting beside him asks if he’s leaving home for the first time. Home, he realises, isn’t anywhere with walls, isn’t an address, isn’t even a person. When someone says they want to go home, it’s not a space that they yearn for, but rather, a time.

He watches Japan grow smaller through the window and feels himself yearn for the time he still had your heart in his hands. It felt like he was holding the sun.

You wouldn’t consider July 21st to be a special day. Nothing special happened earlier that morning when you woke up without your usual alarm. Nothing special happened when your friends texted you four simple words–– come to Azukihana beach!–– during breakfast. But (and this will come to you much, much later) something special happened when said friends left you to guard their things as they dashed to the supermarket for more snacks.

For now, it’s just July 21st, and you’re lying with your back against a towel on the first day of summer break, soaking in the sun, peacefully flipping through a book.

“DON’T FUCKING DO IT, YOU COLOSSAL PIECE OF SHIT!” The familiar voice tears through the beach. Was that Iwaizumi? You set the book down and sit up to check.

And suddenly, the yellow and blue volleyball that had been leisurely rolling your way halts perfectly before your toes. Behind it jogs a shirtless brunet you’ve definitely seen around school.

Oikawa Tooru stops right behind the runaway volleyball and peers at you through half-lidded eyes. “Sorry about that,” he says, flashing you a charming smile.

After casually picking up the ball with one hand, he flexes his abdominal muscles as he straightens back up. Chestnut irises attempt to discreetly sweep over your features but you catch his gaze in the act, quirking an unamused brow. You also catch the intrigued twitch of his lips that follow.

You’re not stupid. Despite having never met him, you know a lot about the Grand King (as many call him). He’s the constant subject of Iwaizumi’s ire and you’ve heard a lifetime’s complaints about him at joint-family luncheons.

But here’s what’s important: you know that he tears himself apart to be the player his team needs him to be, that he sometimes makes Iwaizumi wish he’d passed the Shiratorizawa entrance exam, and that he fiddles with hearts like origami and sets fire to those beautiful fragile trinkets right after.

And in the interest of self-defence (but against what the devil on your shoulder begs), you choose to not place your most prized possession on the table.

A simple “no worries” passes through your lips. You return to your book. A page turns.

Oikawa Tooru is dismissed.

Though your gaze is trained on the page, you can feel his presence at your feet for a few seconds longer. You wonder what his next move is. Much to your surprise, instead of trying to strike up another conversation, he simply lets out an airy hum and strolls back to the sand court where he came from without a second glance.

Iwaizumi wonders why Oikawa is smiling so victoriously after watching the whole ordeal, but your tan family friend has, unlike the calculating Grand King, failed to notice one important detail:

your book is upside down.

And, as if in a trance, your eyes have followed Oikawa all the way back to his sandy kingdom.

Once the sun has set, Iwaizumi checks his phone and notices a text he’d missed in the afternoon. It’s from Y/N. Unease digs itself in his chest when he realises it can’t possibly be for anything except…

hey what was that about?

This can’t be good. Thumbs rapidly typing a response, he races to quash any interest you may have budding in Oikawa. You… you’re good. Nice. Smart enough for UTokyo. A bit naive, but he’s been around your overbearing parents long enough to see it’s not entirely your fault. And even though you run in different circles at school, he feels obligated to protect you from monsters that hide beneath pretty surfaces. He’s known you since the two of you were in diapers.

just trash being what it is

Iwaizumi watches the three grey dots on your side appear, disappear, reappear, and disappear again. And that’s when he realises that he cannot help you. The villain in this arc of your story has already sunken his teeth in your tender, unsullied flesh.

trash?

He sighs.

oikawa

It isn’t a surprise to Iwaizumi when summer break ends and Oikawa’s chestnut eyes start hunting for someone in the cafeteria during lunch. He doesn’t raise a brow when he hears that the second-year captain has been sneaking into Class 7, sometimes with flowers in his hands, and strolling out with a dazed look on his face. He slaps his teammates out of shock when Oikawa mentions his troubles with pursuing some girl–– but not before slapping himself first. Because the Oikawa he knows is not a chaser.

“Her name’s Y/N,” the brunet says, suddenly realising that he has never introduced any of his temporary interests to the team. But it’s been well over two months and he’s starting to think he’s been friend-zoned. Or worse. “I think she hates me.” He laughs melodically, then cocks his head in contemplation. “Is it weird that I kinda like that?”

Iwaizumi hides a satisfied smile behind a sip of water. Oikawa’s revelation has cleared the unease your name brought to his chest. Just a little. Perhaps he’d misread you. You have a bite of your own.

iii.

It’s routine for Oikawa to slink into Class 7 with a dazzling grin during morning break, but he’ll sometimes show up with flowers instead just to remind you that his affections, along with his modus operandi–– haven’t changed since he first started visiting you in September.

The girls in your homeroom have grown used to seeing the six-foot-tall volleyball captain hovering around your desk like a butterfly. Most treat him as part of the scenery nowadays. To them, Oikawa Tooru is no longer the mysterious, out-of-reach deity the rest of the school still paints him to be.

So when he strolls into class on a chilly January afternoon with your name a tune on his lips, they leave him be. Recently, the ladies of Seijoh have focused their attentions on some fellow on the swim team, anyway. Oikawa doesn’t feel as upset as he thinks he should about his shrinking fan club, but when his gaze finds yours already steady, expectant, utterly adoring on him, he understands why.

“For the lady,” he says like he does every time. A cluster of yellow flowers wrapped in brown kraft paper plop onto your desk. He pulls a chair up to your side, purposely ignoring, again, how two certain grooves in the wooden floor keep growing deeper with his visits.

You remember the first time he started bringing you flowers.

A posy of pink flowers sits awkwardly on your desk, untouched.

“I tell you I’d rather take your serve to my face than attend the bunkasai with you and your response is to give me weeds?” you reply with your chin in the palm of your hands, amusement blossoming over your features.

“Stop being a tease, Y/N-chan, they’re flowers,” he huffs, crossing his arms on your desk. “And I know you want to take them. The florist even said I have immaculate taste.”

“Really? Then what do these mean?”

Oikawa falters.

“Hmm?”

“Pink camellias,” he finally says, carefully enunciating the flower's name, “means that you’re a fucking tease. And that you should come to the bunkasai with me.” You snort and tell him to quit volleyball and join comedy club, feeling a strange warmth in your chest when he laughs.

The two of you fall into the same rhythm as always, talking a little bit about this and that, throwing in witty remarks where they belong, never passing up the chance to make fun of each other’s little idiosyncrasies. He’s enraptured by the way you string words together to describe the story behind your class’s bunkasai performance and all the gears in your brain whirr when he explains the strategy he’s using against the team Seijoh’s playing later that day.

When the bell rings, he reluctantly drags his chair back to the desk he stole it from. Just before he slinks back out the door, though, you tell him with a stern gaze that the Ushiwaka from Shiratorizawa he just spent the break shit-talking doesn’t hold a candle to Seijoh’s Grand King.

It’s like you had just stepped under a new light. Oikawa pauses in front of the doorway, trying to decipher what it is that’s different about you. And suddenly, the roses in his cheeks are in full bloom. Delighted and puzzled at his own realisation, he turns around without a second glance your way and strides back to Class 5. Oh, man, he muses as he passes through the emptying corridor. Oh, man. Iwa-chan is going to love this.

Your phone buzzes later that evening.

seijoh v. shiratorizawa 1-2, the text reads, quickly followed by, GAH.

Your lips twitch, though it doesn’t reach your eyes. Tapping your fingers against your phone screen for a response that’ll cheer him up, you suddenly remember a phrase Oikawa said earlier that day. It drew a laugh from you when it came out his contorted face. He was obviously still hung up over with the words of the opposing team’s ace. Hopefully, it makes him feel something else coming from you.

you should’ve come to shiratorizawa, you send, grinning.

His response is immediate.

l m f A O

what flowers would you like at your funeral?

And then you’re reminded of his petalled gift on your desk, now comfortably sitting in a glass vase at your bedside. Pink camellias, he said? Curious, you open your laptop and type in the name for its meaning.

Longing, you remember, watching your boyfriend chatter about something–– probably aliens–– animatedly. The yellow flowers on your desk, you realise, are ones you’ve never seen before.

“Oikawa, what’s the name of these?” you suddenly ask. He stops in the middle of his sentence (he was definitely talking about aliens, by the way), and grins smugly.

“Jonquils,” he says with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “spelt J-O-N-Q-U-I-L-S, means that your boyfriend’s going to colonise Mars one day. And if you’re lucky, you can be the first queen of Mars. How ‘bout that?”

It doesn’t mean what he says it does, by the way.

ii.

Splashes of pink and orange have already settled into the blue sky above when you step onto the rooftop of Seijoh’s humanities building. Despite the breeze that has swept through the air, the flame of curiosity in your stomach burns just enough for you to turn a cheek to the cold.

Come to the rooftop at 6 PM.

It’s 5:59. Impatient, you study the note in your hand again. Maybe you’ll be able to glean something from the laconic letter this time.

Much to your irritation, no one had seen the author of this note. They had expertly placed the unsigned card on your desk with a single rose and Hershey’s chocolate kiss on top during lunch. Elegantly scrawled, their seven words have had your brain running circles all day around their identity. Could it be…? No–– he seemed completely normal earlier today. Still, you can’t shake your suspicions. They borderline hope.

Who else…

You inhale the cool air deeply and lean back against the rooftop railing, eyes burning a hole into the metal entrance. The door swings open with a high-pitched groan. Your breath catches in your throat.

… if not him?

Time briefly stops when Oikawa Tooru steps through the entrance, still in his volleyball uniform, sweaty from practice, cheeks the same colour as the setting sun. There’s an unusually tentative look on his face, though it’s immediately wiped off and replaced with the realisation that this is real when he sees you slightly slack-jawed, blinking once, twice, three times before letting out a breath.

“You look surprised. Expecting someone else to confess today?” he asks, crossing his arms in front of his uniformed chest. Despite how his features are contorted by his poorly hidden jealousy, you can’t help but feel a flood of blood rush through your veins, lighting every inch of your skin on fire.

Because whether he knows it or not, Oikawa, the Grand King of the Court, prettiest boy in all of Miyagi, has skipped the table and placed his heart straight into your hands.

“Of course not,” you retort. “I just didn’t think you’d… well, do something like this.” And I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Iwaizumi’s words still find their way into your mind sometimes. I didn’t want origami made from my heartstrings.

Oikawa’s demeanour changes and his eyes dart away from your face. Shoving his hands into his windbreaker’s pockets, he admits, “I’ve honestly never done something like this before.” A faint blush spreads across his cheeks.

“Really? You’ve never stepped foot in the fourteenth shrine of Sendai?” you tease, referring to how Seijoh students have claimed this very rooftop as one of the God of Love’s many temples. You both know he holds the school record for the number of visits to this rooftop. At this rate, he could be one of its caretakers.

“That’s not what I meant,” he replies with a scowl, though the awkward tension between you two dissipates. And it feels like the two of you are back at your desk in Class 7, snickering uncontrollably while throwing playful jabs at each other. Sensing the change in atmosphere, Oikawa finally steps forward to join you by the railing.

Humming softly, he rests his elbows on the metal bar, props his head up with his hands, and sets his gaze on the lowering sun.

It’d be unfair to say that you didn’t at least try to enjoy the moment of peace with the boy beside you. But there’s a burning question on your mind that you can’t put off asking any longer.

“Why me?” you finally blurt out. “You could have any girl in this school. What made you choose me?”

The brunet whips his head around, disbelief written all over his face. “You think I chose to chase after the most annoying girl in all of Miyagi?” He laughs. “Ridiculous. I’d never willingly put myself through that unnecessary angst.”

You scoff and cross your arms.

“I think that when you like someone, it’s harder to explain why,” he quickly adds. “‘Cause it’s not supposed to make sense. I bet that the inability to explain your feelings is a prerequisite for true feelings, actually. It’s logical to say that you’d date Person A because they’re smart, or Person B because they’re hot, or Person C because they’re rich. But I’m pretty sure that that’s not… that’s not falling for someone. When you fall for someone… you just do. No logic required. You weren’t an option I ultimately settled on, Y/N. One day I just woke up and thought, if not you, then no one else.”

A beat passes. A flurry of words floods through your brain, only to evaporate when the devil on your shoulder decides that words aren’t quite adequate for what you want Oikawa to hear.

So instead, your feet take you one step closer into his space. Impulsively, your fingers find their way to his nape and your eyes flutter shut and suddenly–– suddenly, your parted lips brush against Oikawa’s. Instantly, he deepens the kiss, soft lips surging against yours like a pulse under pressure. You barely register his arms snaking around your waist, tighter and tighter until the space between your bodies is completely closed off.

Breathless, you finally detach your lips from his. Oikawa, who still has you encircled in his arms, pouts at the loss of contact, though he sulky façade only lasts a second before it gives way to a grin that stretches from ear to ear. He looks magnificent. Cheeks red, lips flushed, chest heaving, eyes wide with excitement. You want to kiss him again.

“One more.” It’s as if he read your mind. “To celebrate that last one.”

When Oikawa finally detaches himself from your lips, it’s to respond to the buzzing in his pocket. Noticing your raised brows, he explains that it’s an alarm for practice. The Spring High Prelims are just around the corner and he doesn’t plan on graduating without never having taken his team to Nationals.

“That’s my cue,” he states with a warm–– read: not apologetic–– smile. He doesn’t grab your hand or look imploringly into your eyes in hopes that you understand, never mind that you just shared your first kiss, never mind that you just became his girlfriend.

If Oikawa’s looking for any sign of your objection, he won’t find any. Instead, you step out of his space with an acquiescent nod. You knew what you were getting yourself into.

“Play well,” you say softly.

But before he heads for the creaky rooftop door, he presses one last kiss to your lips. And then he turns around, whistling as he goes, leaving you beaming behind his back with the light of a thousand suns.

iv.

When Matsukawa hands you the turquoise “Rule the Court” banner after the team lunch with a shit-eating grin on his face, the only resistance you offer is a resigned sigh.

“I’ve been dating Oikawa since we were second years,” you say flatly.

“Sorry, Y/N-san, but it’s the team’s hazing ritual,” he replies, not appearing sorry at all. “And you’re the only one who hasn’t done it.” He jerks his head at the blonde girl standing a little farther from the group with Hanamaki. “Emiko-san did it at the last game.”

“Plus, it’s the Spring High qualifier semifinals!” Kindaichi adds. “It’s an even bigger deal for you to do it now, especially since you had to miss our games on the first two days for school.” The team murmurs in agreement.

You shudder at the thought of your impending distress. Sit in the front row of the cheer squad and raise the banner with a scream every time your boyfriend serves? Fleeing from the Sendai City Gymnasium back home in an expensive taxi suddenly becomes very appealing.

Seeing the expectant and hopeful looks on the rest of the team’s faces, however, you begrudgingly place the banner in your backpack, signalling your acceptance of the horrible, cringe-worthy tradition.

“Where is Oikawa-san?” Kindaichi asks, rotating his turnip-shaped head around rapidly. “He was just at the team lunch. Iwaizumi-san’s missing too…”

Kunimi shrugs, pulling out his copy of the team schedule. He starts herding the team towards one of the courts. “Our game against Karasuno starts about an hour, so we should start warm-ups in around fifteen minutes.”

Worry creeps up your spine. For the past few days, all Oikawa has talked about is this match against his bratty kouhai’s team. And in the past two weeks leading up to today, you haven’t been able to even catch a glimpse of his face outside of break or lunch. To suddenly go missing before warm-ups doesn’t seem like Oikawa. You’re about to ask the team if he’s ever done this before, but your phone starts ringing a familiar tune and the question is set aside.

“Iwai––”

“Third-floor bathroom by the orange pillar. Come alone. Don’t tell anyone. Emergency.” Through his harsh and abrupt tone, you pick up traces of fear.

“What––”

“It’s Oikawa.” The call is cut before you can ask any more questions. Heart suddenly racing, you tell the team that your mother just called with questions about your new smart blender and excuse yourself to “explain what the manufacturers mean by salsify”. No one sees you bolt towards the nearest set of staircases with Oikawa the only thought on your mind.

There are very few things in this world that scare you. Stray hairs in the bathroom, the dark, essays longer than three pages… but the terror that short-circuits your brain when you find your boyfriend in the bathroom–– knuckles white around the sink, chest heaving violently, frenzied pupils surrounded by broken blood vessels–– trumps any fear you’ve faced before.

Iwaizumi stands helplessly beside him.

“Is he having a panic attack?” you question, still unable to move your feet. You’ve never seen Oikawa like this before. He’s the Grand King who hums while he walks, who spams your phone’s camera roll with peace-signs and funny faces, who winks and flirts and teases without regard. But watching the long-deified setter crumble like a measly human before you, you realise that Oikawa is also the guy who tore his meniscus from overexertion, who trades sleep to study his opponents play, who works his body to the bone just to stay a hairline above a certain Karasuno setter.

“A scout for the Schweiden Adlers said that Kageyama will soon surpass Oikawa in skill.” Iwaizumi explains how they had overheard the conversation lowly in your ear. “I got us into this bathroom just before he completely lost it. 5-4-3-2-1 isn’t working. And he won’t listen to a word I say.” What’s 5-4-3-2-1? Well, if it isn’t working then don’t focus on that right now.

Your eyes dart to Oikawa’s quivering body again. “I don’t know how to pull someone out of a panic attack.”

“The goal is to ground him. So use physical touch, make him feel something with texture, and get him to talk,” he responds instantly. Mechanically. Like he’s all-too-familiar with this set of instructions. A heaviness grows in the pit of your stomach when you realise what that means for Oikawa. And yet, from that very dread sprouts strength.

Slowly, you tread over to Oikawa and place a hand on his arm. His muscles tense under your touch but when you murmur over and over that it’s “Y/N, your girlfriend, the most annoying girl in Miyagi”, his fingers loosen ever-so-slightly from the metal basin. He lets you lead him to the bench by the door. He lets you drape the Seijoh banner over his shoulders like it’s armour and wrap your arms around his waist. He lets you press your cheek to his sweat-drenched back.

Get him to talk.

“Remember that quote you showed me from that interview of yours? What was it again?” you question softly.

No response.

“If you’re going to hit it, hit it until it breaks,” you say into his ear.

Through the mirror, you see his eyes widen with recognition. In the brief moment of lucidity that washes over Oikawa’s glistening face, you repeat the original question again, followed by his own quote.

Again and again.

And Oikawa finally says back.

“If you’re going to hit it, hit it until it breaks.” Focus re-enters his gaze. He blinks as if just waking from a spell.

“That’s right,” you say as firmly as possible. “So don’t you dare break first, Tooru.”

An unreadable blend of emotions scrawls itself over his features. While Oikawa washes his face with cold water, you remember rumination and resolve but can’t decipher the rest, giving up anyway when Iwaizumi pushes open the bathroom door. When the light washes over Oikawa, his face shows no signs of the episode he just had. It’s just like how the sky moves on after a storm, how the sun beams to say, “I’m here now. The rain has gone.”

But sometimes it still rains in spite of the sun.

A sunshower. It sounds so beautiful. But it’s wonderfully sad.

The three of you wordlessly make your way to the court where the rest of Seijoh is likely getting ready to warm up. What are you supposed to say after that? What can you say?

Once the smell of air salonpas and sweat finally greets your nose, Oikawa slips the Seijoh banner off his back and hands it over to you. Guessing that’s your cue to leave, you tell him to play well like you always do before starting to head for the upper deck. Softly, Oikawa asks you to wait.

“Stay for warm-ups,” he adds. “Please.”

From your spot behind the Seijoh divider, you carefully watch for any signs of another breakdown. To your relief, he goes the entire half-hour without a single crack in his disposition, exchanging laidback grins with the team, bantering with Iwaizumi. At one point he even has the audacity to taunt the Karasuno setter Tobio-chan, as Oikawa often says with a sneer.

Sunshowers, Y/N. Sunshowers.

Just before the referees call for the teams to line up at their ends of the court, Oikawa jogs over to you, eyes folding into thin crescents when he smiles.

He pulls the Seijoh banner out from your hands and gingerly cloaks it around your shoulders. Oikawa presses a quick kiss to your lips and murmurs, “Thank you.” Something in face tells you that it’s supposed to mean more than gratitude. Before you can read more into it, he turns back around and jogs to the line where his team awaits. Oikawa grins ferally.

Knowing that your luminous eyes are fixed to his back like his own set of wings, the monster crows on the other side suddenly look more like humans.

vi.

Oikawa isn’t surprised that his text is still unopened. At twenty-seven years old, he’s had his fair share of dead-ends when it comes to love. But he hadn’t expected radio silence from you of all people.

After closing all the tabs of Team Japan’s latest matches, he powers off his laptop and checks his phone again to reread what he wrote to your old number one last time. Still nothing. It’s highly probable you’ve changed phone numbers at least once in the last nine years, but the disappointment’s still there after he powers his phone off for the night. Tomorrow’s a big day and he’s not the same victim of self-destruction he had been in high school.

Or so he thinks, realising that texting the last person he loved the night before the 2021 Olympics volleyball finals might have been slightly irresponsible on his part. A thought arises in his head, though he quickly quashes it. Asking Iwaizumi to pass the message along would be a little overboard, wouldn’t it? Oikawa chuckles, imagining he response he’d get from his best friend (and Team Japan’s team trainer, that traitor).

“Go the fuck to sleep or I’ll put you to sleep, you dumbass simp,” he hears in Iwaizumi’s gruff voice.

He convinces himself that you’ll be there like you’ve always been. After all, he’s spent a lifetime with your pair of watchful eyes on his back. Satisfied, he drifts into a dreamless sleep.

The volume in the Ariake Arena is astronomical. Blood pounds against his ears as he sets the ball in the air, a monstrous grin carving into his face when his teammate José spikes the set straight down the net, drawing a wave of oohs and aahs from spectators on both sides.

Iwaizumi rolls his eyes at the flashy Team Argentina setter and finishes taping up Ushijima’s arm.

Oikawa turns haughtily towards the opposite team, gaze zeroing in on Team Japan’s raven-haired setter and the shrimpy ginger beside him. It’s been a while since he last saw them this close in person–– the chance encounter with Hinata in Brazil happened well over three years ago and he hadn’t had the time earlier in the tournament to say hello. Of course they’re the final boss in this arc, he muses, though the thought is void of vexation. Instead, begrudging pride blossoms in his chest. Truthfully, he had expected nothing less from his kouhai.

And he expects nothing less than finally tasting the ambrosia of victory against that monster–– no, an entire generation of monsters–– today. Monsters who happen to be the kids he grew up beside.

He wonders what you’d say at the sight of Japan’s greatest players all gathered on one court. On instinct, his eyes dive into the bleachers, searching for your face. Knowing he’s not likely to find you like this, he tsks, deciding to look for Iwaizumi instead. Maybe he knows where you are.

The referees signal for both teams to line up at their ends of the court. As he steps onto the white boundary line, he notices Iwaizumi’s gaze transfixed on someone in the upper deck on Team Argentina’s side. The neutral expression on his face morphs into shock, then recognition. And then he glances at Oikawa.

The latter’s brows furrow before everything clicks in place.

Who else…

All your memories together hit him at full force–– your face shimmering with tears in front of gate twelve in Haneda Airport, the feeling of your shallow breaths against his neck, the savvy lilt to your voice as you speak.

… if not her?

For the first time in his life, Oikawa Tooru looks behind his shoulder.

And there you are, leaning against the railing with the old Seijoh flag draped over your shoulders, a tender, splendid smile on your lips.

“Play well,” you mouth.

And Oikawa feels the sun rise back into his hands.

3K notes · View notes

alicemitch09writes · 3 years ago

Text

birthday date

pairing: oikawa tooru x fem!reader

summary: happiest birthday to one, oikawa tooru.

author’s notes: this is an old fic of mine that’s actually been on my ao3 for a while, so i thought why not transfer it to tumblr, too?

for reference, please do check this commercial that inspired me to write it :)

also available on ao3.

disclaimer: i own NOTHING but the plot.

“Hey, Hajime, can you do me a favor?”

…

When Iwaizumi told him that they were going out, he honestly thought that he was coming on to him. And how could he not? They went to the bake shop near Kindaichi’s for breakfast, and Iwaizumi actually treated him!

Afterwards, they went to the Sendai Astronomy Observatory, where Oikawa was going to work at months from now, having gone through strenuous some masters abroad.

And to top it all off, they went shopping! Iwaizumi almost never goes with him, even when they were in high school.

Despite the kindness he was showing, Oikawa knew that there was something up his sleeve, there had to be – Iwa-chan wouldn’t just up and be nice to him today, especially today of all dates!

Thus, his conclusion that Iwa-chan was coming on to him.

He even joked him about it all day.

It was almost like he was a kid again, a carefree kid with zero to little care in the world – no responsibilities, no bullshit, no nothing.

He could almost be happy about it.

He could almost be satisfied with how the day went, no matter how simple it was – a date with his childhood best friend.

He could almost be glad to live through another year.

Almost.

But when they went to beach, to a particular bench that overlooked the ocean, he felt his heart quicken, breath hitching.

To anyone, it may seem like an ordinary bench – a wooden bench that was years old, withered but strong – but it wasn’t.

No, this bench was special. It held a lot of memories – good and bad, especially with a certain someone. That bench was the reminder of how his life began.

And standing there, together with Hanamaki and Matsukawa, were his children – six-year-old, Ringou, and barely-ready-to-walk-three-year-old Katsuo. At the sight of their father, the two quickly ran to him.

“Daddy!” they both cried.

Getting to his knees, he took the kids in his arms, who gave their father kisses to his face. Even with his children around, his confusion grew, mind going blank.

Iwaizumi nodded at the two, allowing him to Oikawa to his confusion: there were balloons everywhere, a sloppily made ‘happy birthday’ sign standing beside the bench, and was that the stuffed Chewbacca stuffed toy she bought him?

He felt his heart rapidly beating against his chest, as if ready to burst out, hands beginning to shake.

He looked up to his best friend’s gaze, hardened and filled with sorrow. “Have a seat, Oikawa.”

Oikawa did as he was told, Ringou and Katsuo ran to their uncles, staring at the balloons in awe. He smoothed his fingers through the hard wood, surprised that it was still in one piece after all these years. And as felt on a particular side of the bench, he could see a carving of a love umbrella he had drawn so many years ago, his fingers brushing against one particular name.

‘(Surname) (Name)’

‘Together forever.’

At the sound of his name, Iwaizumi handed him his phone, telling him to hit play. Although still in confusion, he pressed his thumbs to the play button, feeling scared at what may pop up.

Black faded from the screen, of an outstretched hand, before it revealed a familiar face. He gasped, choked at the sight of her.

A smile graced her face, contrasting the mood of her situation – dressed in a dull gray garb, her hair (or lack thereof) bundled in a wrap, deep bags under her eyes, sunken cheeks. Still, she was as beautiful as ever – as beautiful as the day he lost her.

“Hi Toru, happy birthday.” Her voice resounded, silencing everything out – the seagulls, the waves, his children’s laughter, and his breath hitching. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t be there with you. I don’t think I can make it.” His vision began to blur, hot tears streaming down his face as he brought Iwaizumi’s phone closer to his face, to see his wife better. “Toru, I’m sorry. I’ve asked Hajime-nii-chan to celebrate with you. Now that I’m…you know.” Behind him, the trio’s expressions grew grim. “I want you to be happy, Toru. Even if I’m not there anymore. And even though they bully you a lot, I know nii-chan, Makki-nii-chan and Matsun-nii-chan cares about you a lot. Always remember that I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.” She was openly crying now, but smiling still. He hated seeing her cry, but she managed to look effortlessly beautiful at the job, especially now. “I’ll always be with you, Toru. You, Ringou, and Katsuo.” At the mention of her name, Ringou, her mini-version with his hair but her beautiful (eye color) eyes, and Katsuo, Oikawa’s carbon copy also bearing his mother’s eyes, appeared holding out a makeshift cake made out of milk bread, a reminder of when they first celebrated his birthday together and she was low on a budget.

“Happy birthday, daddy!” the two cried, even though Katsuo barely spoke and said it in garbles.

He laughed through the tears, reaching out to his children, pressing a quick kiss to their foreheads as they watched the video together. “I love you all so much. Don’t forget me, okay?”

Just as he thought the video ended, their wedding footage popped up, specifically to their vows.

“Daddy, is that you?” asked Ringou. He replied with a nod.

“Wawa~” cried Katsuo, eyes brightened at the sight of his mother.

He couldn’t help but smile, wrapping his arms around his children.

Another video played, of Ringou’s first ballet recital, followed by Katsuo’s first steps, their Christmas at their grandparent’s (where Iwaizumi was still in denial that Oikawa was his brother-in-law). He could feel the three looking over his shoulder, smiling at each video that played.

The last video that played wasn’t a video, but a photo of their family, all sprawled in bed, sleeping and looking adorable. Hanamaki had taken it, (Name) had declared it her favorite. It was his, too.

When he was done, he handed Iwaizumi his phone, needing a moment to compose himself.

“Daddy, stop crying!” says Ringou, using her skirt to wipe her father’s tears away. Katsuo mimicked his sister, using his stubby hands. But instead of wiping them away, he just seems to smear them across his face.

He laughed, touched by the gesture, tightening his hold on the two.

“Is Daddy ugly when he cries, Ringou-chan?”

“No! Daddy’s the handsomest!” declared Ringou, making his heart swell. They laughed at the declaration, Katsuo laughing along even though he had no idea what was going on.

“Happy birthday, Oikawa.” The three greeted. Ringou raised his ‘birthday cake’ a wide grin on her face.

…

“After I’m gone, celebrate his birthday with him in my place.”

#alicemitch09 writes #oikawa tooru #hq fic #hq fanfic #reader insert #oikawa tooru x reader #fem!reader #oikawa tooru x fem!reader #seijoh #aoba johsai #hq reader #haikyuu #haikyuu!!#haikyuu fic

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laceymorganwrites · 5 years ago

Text

Don´t call me kid, don´t call me baby

THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THE MANGA

Word count: 4,043

Pairing: Atsumu x fem!reader

Summary: You are the neighbor of infamous Atsumu Miya and manager of the Sendai Frogs (Former manager of Karasuno). You don´t really like him (reader is a bit of a tsundere) until you get a chance to know him. Maybe you were wrong about him all along?

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of sex (nothing explicit), Atsumu overthinking and being insecure

Fun facts: Atsumu and you wanted to go to the park for your date, but it rained, so you just went to his place, cooked together and watched Naruto

Mini playlist: Illicit affairs - Taylor Swift

Bloody Valentine - Machine Gun Kelly

Friday I´m in love - The Cure

Rockstar - Call Me Karizma

Alphabet Boy - Melanie Martinez

Leave Me Alone - I Don´t Know How But They Found Me

Trying to squeeze your way through the masses at the airport always stressed you out, coming home was supposed to feel calm and relaxing, not like this.

You were only gone for a week, visiting friends and relatives abroad, but honestly you were excited to be back home.

It was stressful running errands and catching up on months upon months of information.

You only had this chance because the season just ended, but that only meant that the training would start again soon, now that you were home.

Volleyball and you were inseparable, ever since you could remember.

It all started with you watching it on TV and being fascinated, joining a club in middle school, then in high school, you even got the chance to be the manager of the Sendai Frogs, your current job.

Everything was going too well.

You only hoped that your apartment would still stand when you arrived there, maybe having the team look after it wasn´t the best decision. Maybe Tsukishima was able to smack some sense into the others.

“(Y/N)-senpai?!” Hinata called out to you, he thought he was only imagining things, but when you turned around to meet his eyes, he smiled brightly and ran to you.

He just came back from Brazil and you were equally surprised as him, sure all of you stayed in contact, but both of you and Nishinoya being abroad, the rest of the team being in college or working already complicated meeting up.

Yet it was nice that you texted each other, you even followed some of the careers of your former club as far as it was possible.

And Hinata made sure to text as often as possible, even announcing to you that upon his arrival he´d want to attend the tryouts of the Black Jackals.

“Hinata! You´re back already? Is it already the third?” you thought to yourself, to you it felt as if he just left, to you he was still the little bundle of joy that changed everything.

“You sure grew up a lot! You´re much taller than before… I can´t believe it´s been three years already!” you mustered him, noticing how mature he was now, still to you he´d always be the same he was in high school.

“Brazil was amazing! I learned a lot, beach volleyball is super hard! And you won´t believe who I met” he started as you two walked out of the airport together, you listened attentively as he told you all about his stay abroad, you had a smile on your face the whole time.

He has come so far.

“I can´t believe you ran into Oikawa at some random beach, what are the chances?” you giggled, picking up your luggage with him and leaving the airport.

You talked a bit more until you had to part ways.

“Good luck with the tryouts!” you called after him and he gave you a thumbs up before he grabbed a taxi.

You had the luck to be picked up by the team´s coach and discussed the next season and games in the car.

“Training starts tomorrow again, but you don´t need to do anything today. We don´t have any set games yet, so we´re just gonna commence normal training tomorrow and you can make some calls after and see who´s free for a game” he instructed and you nodded.

It was good being in the flow of things again, somehow being home and working was more relaxing than being with your family and friends.

When you arrived home, the coach helped you with your luggage which you were grateful for.

Luckily everything in your apartment was as you left it, probably thanks to Tsukishima.

After saying goodbye to the coach you were on your way to put the last piece of luggage into your apartment, though you wished you were already inside when the events unfolded before your eyes.

“You´re an asshole, Atsumu!” some girl yelled and you had to suppress a chuckle.

Being neighbors with Atsumu Miya wasn´t as annoying as you thought it would be, he was never at home.

And still he was just like the asshole you imagined him to be, just like the cocky prick he painted himself as.

But he was quite entertaining as a neighbor, you had to admit. Every now and then angry women would leave his apartment, yelling at him, accusing him of the most ridiculous things. And it always made you laugh.

“Come on, Sarah! It wasn´t that bad… give me some credit” he called after her, but she only huffed and turned around bashfully.

“My name´s Nicole!” she shrieked and stomped out of the door.

You eyed the two, leaning in your doorway.

Atsumu sighed, this wasn´t the first time this has happened. Not only was he bad in bed apparently, though he didn´t see the problem in cumming fast when she initially just wanted to blow him, but he was also the biggest asshole on the planet.

No wonder he couldn´t get anyone to stay.

“Ouch. Forgetting her name? That´s low, even for you, Miya” you commented with a bitter undertone.

At least he had the decency to look somewhat guilty.

“You think I don´t know that?” he mumbled, making you raise an eyebrow. Usually he´d make some shitty remark about how he had so many girls, he couldn´t possibly keep up with the names of them all.

“You know, it´s kinda her own fault for getting involved with you” you tried to comfort him, but obviously your words left more harm than intended.

You wanted to apologize, but before you could do that, Atsumu gave you a knowing smile.

He seemed off today, but it was none of your business, so you didn´t press it.

“How was your vacation by the way?” he tried to change the subject.

You scrunched your nose, he always tried to pry into your life like that, you didn´t know why but it irked you.

“I don´t see how that´s any of your concern, Miya” you coldly told him off.

“Would it kill ya to call me by my first name?” he softly asked, scowling a bit.

The thing was, Atsumu had the biggest crush on you ever since he quite literally ran into you on your daily morning run. And when you moved in next door, he was over the moon.

But his reputation preceded him and you didn´t want to have anything to do with him, he couldn´t even blame you.

Yet every time he saw you, his heart raced more than when he spiked a volleyball, he couldn´t help smiling and you made his heart leap out of his chest.

It was stupid, he knew nothing would ever come of it and yet he couldn´t give up, he didn´t want to. He wanted to live in his little fantasy world where you actually looked his way.

“We´re not that close, Miya” you shot back, not wanting to admit that intimacy of that kind scared you.

You weren´t stupid, you noticed the thickened atmosphere between the two of you, but acknowledging even the slightest possibility of you opening your heart to him meant defeat to you.

Besides, you didn´t have time for relationships.

His heart sunk at your words, at the undeniable truth that hurt him so much more than he was ready to admit.

“Can I at least help you with your luggage?” he offered, sounding almost desperate.

“Suit yourself….” you mumbled. Usually you´d decline, but you just didn´t have the energy today.

You had to deal with the bickering of the team tomorrow anyways, a little help wouldn´t hurt, would it?

Atsumu entered your apartment and asked you what he could do to help, you showed him around and together you unpacked your suitcases. He even stayed to clean your apartment with you.

When you showed your surprise that he somewhat knew what he was doing he told you about his teammate who always got up on his ass about being dirty and messy.

You laughed at the way he pouted, telling the story.

“Hey are ya hungry? I can cook something up for ya” he asked, his eyes wide and hopeful.

He beamed at you when you agreed, showing him around the kitchen.

“Didn´t know you could cook…” you mumbled, watching him prepare the food.

You couldn´t believe you just agreed to have Atsumu Miya cook for you. You´d so regret that in the morning, you were getting weak…

“Yeah, my brother´s got an onigiri shop an´ I help out sometimes” he said nonchalantly, grabbing two plates and serving the food.

“Hm… I didn´t know that. You don´t seem like the type to do that.” you thought out loud, starting to eat and smiling delightfully at the taste. “Like you said, we´re not that close… I don´t really have the best relationship with my brother, but he´s still family, ya know?” he stated, digging in as well.

“Anyway, how´s the food? Do ya like it?” he asked excitedly and grinned widely when you nodded.

He helped you clean up the dishes before you two said goodbye.

“Thanks for the help… Atsumu…” you said through clenched teeth, looking sideways.

He looked at you perplexed, but over the moon.

“You called me by my name!” he exclaimed, smiling at you softly.

“Don´t let it get to your head” you told him before he went back to his own apartment.

The next few days passed rather quickly, your team was as chaotic as ever, you called a few of your friends and Hinata texted you that he made it into the team and asked you if you wanted to celebrate with him on the weekend.

You were free so you agreed.

What you didn´t expect was that he also invited the team.

You rolled your eyes as you saw Atsumu and Hinata come up to you, one more joyful than the other. “Congrats on making the team, Shoyo” you smiled at him, trying to ignore Atsumu´s knowing smirk.

Hinata must´ve told him something.

“Thanks! I can´t believe Atsumu-senpai´s finally tossing to me!” he smiled widely, it was nice knowing that he was still as full of energy as ever.

“What can I say? I keep my promises” he smugly answered.

“(Y/N)!” Bokuto called out to you, running up to you and joining in on the conversation.

“Kou!” you matched his energy and gave him a big hug, to which Atsumu looked away jealous.

“Have you met everyone already?” he asked, but before you could say anything he looked over at Atsumu who had a pleading look on his face.

He hoped Bokuto wouldn´t embarrass him too much after everyone found out about his crush on you.

It wasn´t even his fault, he never thought they´d figure it out. He always kept talking about his neighbor, and now that Hinata was there who knew about your annoying neighbor, all of that secrecy was for naught.

It was quite funny from the outside perspective.

In their first training with the newbie he talked nonstop about you and his old team, about his stay in Brazil and his dreams, Bokuto asked about you as well and asked Hinata if you still had that douche of a neighbor.

Atsumu only listened in on their conversation once you were name dropped.

He was shocked when Hinata nodded and asked if he was really that bad.

Bokuto said nothing to that, only shrugging his shoulders and letting him know that his attitude wasn´t for everyone.

“I think you´re great, Atsumu-senpai!” Hinata then let him know.

“Yeah, don´t let it get to your head!” Bokuto patted his back.

And now he wanted nothing more than to escape this situation.

“Ah, (Y/N), are you free next Wednesday?” Bokuto asked and Atsumu´s eyes went wide, he couldn´t be thinking of that, could he?

“Yeah, it´s our day off, but I have to make some calls. Why´re you asking?” you answered, something about Hinata´s and Bokuto´s behavior seemed suspicious, but you couldn´t put your finger on it.

It really threw you off.

“Do you maybe wanna watch our training and help a bit?” he asked, so it was true. Atsumu´s most dreaded and most wished dream would come true if you said yes.

Wished because it was you and he wanted nothing more than to impress you. Dreaded because he needed extra training to get used to the noise in the stadium. Which meant his teammates would make as much noise as possible and Bokuto would very loudly imitate his fangirls.

He already embarrassed himself in front of you enough on a daily basis.

“Yeah sure, just text me the time and I´ll be there” you agreed, it wasn´t every day you got the opportunity to watch such a great team.

Hinata and Bokuto left you two to talk to some of their friends from high school. You already talked to everyone and didn´t feel like staying much longer.

Atsumu felt kind of out of place, he wasn´t that good at social interaction despite being known as such a bright personality.

He gave up on taking someone home tonight, he really wasn´t in the mood.

And without his brother, his old friends from high school or his teammates who already left or were busy with someone else, he just felt lost.

“Hey, you know what Kou meant with me helping in your training?” you asked, it didn´t leave your head ever since he mentioned it.

“Promise me you won´t laugh?” Atsumu sighed, meeting your eyes.

“It´s you we´re talking about, of course I´m gonna laugh” you replied, smirking at him.

“Fair enough” he stated, facing you.

“I can´t play when it´s loud, my serves and spikes are always off when I hear those squealing pigs…” he mumbled, crossing his arms and pouting, looking way cuter than he should.

You couldn´t help but chuckle a bit.

“Squealing pigs? Seriously?” you raised an eyebrow, but couldn´t stop laughing as you imagined Atsumu glaring at them like he did in high school.

He was such an asshole back then, a good player, and just your type.

“What? They´re annoying….” he defended himself.

“Sure, but that still doesn´t explain how on earth I´m gonna help with that. Except I should cheer for you” you thought and scoffed when he met your eyes.

“In my defense it wasn´t my idea! And Bokuto does it too…. But it helps a lot actually… I just hope I´ll get my shit together until next game” he confessed.

“Oh trust me, I´ll give it my all” you giggled, you wouldn´t let an opportunity to make fun of him slip by so easily.

Atsumu and you talked for a bit longer, he told you a bit more about himself, and you, well, you gave in and did the same.

It was weird laughing with Atsumu, being by yourself at a party and still having more fun than everyone else.

And yet you didn´t want it to stop.

“Hey, you wanna grab a bite to eat?” he suggested with a hopeful glimmer in his eyes.

“Yeah, food sounds great right now” you gave him a smile which he reciprocated gladly.

You two said goodbye to everyone and Hinata and Bokuto both gave you knowing looks.

“So, where are we going?” you asked, for the first time actually interested in sparking a conversation with him.

“My brother´s place, it´s close and you said you wanted to go there sometime” he said, surprising you that he actually remembered.

The walk was nice, you talked a bit more and the cool night air was refreshing.

“If it ain´t my idiot brother, didn´t I tell you not to bring yer hoes to my shop? Don´t want my rep to be crushed...” Osamu scolded him and now you understood why Atsumu was always so reluctant to speak about him.

Apparently he didn´t lie when he said they parted ways on a bad note.

“She ain´t a hoe, ´Samu! Her name´s (Y/N) and she´s my neighbor. The one I told ya about” Atsumu explained and Osamu quickly apologized to you.

You simply shrugged it off though since it didn´t bother you that much.

“Ya must be some sort of angel with nerves of steel to be able to live next to such an idiot. If I was in your place, I woulda moved places a long time ago” Osamu remarked, getting your order ready.

“Oh you know, he´s not that bad” you admitted, slightly looking at Atsumu and catching him off guard.

“You really think so? Thanks, (Y/N)” he smiled and then sat down with you to eat.

Meanwhile he told you funny stories from his childhood while Osamu told you embarrassing things about Atsumu that made you laugh even harder.

Atsumu decided that the sound of your laugh was his new favorite.

He paid and you two walked home together.

You even hugged him goodbye as you had to part ways.

This night your touch and your words clouded and calmed Atsumu´s dreams and he woke up refreshed and in a good mood the next morning.

Wednesday came rather soon, now that you talked to him more and got to know him, time seemed to fly and you cursed yourself for being so prideful for all the wrong reasons, for your prejudices against him.

You entered the gym to Sakusa scolding Atsumu for fucking up his seventh serve, Hinata was praising and defending him and Bokuto was doing fuck knows what, yelling about how he wanted Atsumu´s children.

Atsumu was the first one to notice you, apologizing for the scene you just had to witness as he saw your appalled expression.

“Kou, what the actual fuck?!” you murmured as you greeted everyone.

“It´s part of the training! I´m one of his fangirls, they´re gonna be super loud and he has to get used to it” he explained, smiling widely.

You shook your head.

“So he has to get used to people wanting his children and calling him daddy? Alright… I´m not gonna do that” you decided.

“I think I´m just gonna watch a bit and cheer when I think it´s necessary” you said and sat down.

Everyone thought that Atsumu would be distracted by your presence, but the exact opposite was the case.

He was hyper focused, even though everybody was trying to distract him, he could shut that all out and focus on his play.

When he landed the first serve of the day, you were shocked to see how good he really was.

You couldn´t help yourself but cheer for him as well, though you didn´t yell out how much you wanted his children, rather you yelled how awesome he was, how you didn´t know that anybody could make a spike this hard and fast, how he was better than Kageyama.

The last one really pitched his ego and he dedicated his next serve to you, to which you rolled your eyes, but also blushed.

“Guys, honestly I think you´re gonna be fine on the game. Like, holy shit… all of you are so good! I´m so proud of you” you let them know after training was finished.

“Thanks, (Y/N)!” Hinata and Bokuto grinned.

“I´m still not good enough, you helped a lot, but it´s not enough...” Atsumu said, he was never happy with his performance, no matter what he always found something that didn´t go as he planned it.

“What do you mean not good enough? You´re easily the best setter in Japan right now” you stated as a matter of fact.

“Huh?” Atsumu questioned, thinking he had just imagined it, there was no way in hell you´d compliment him like that, cheer him up like that, and in such a way that leaves no room for objection.

“I mean it, Atsumu. You´re amazing. And if anyone tells you otherwise they´re either lying or just plain rude” you undermined your statement and he gave you a dreamy smile.

“You said my name again” he happily noticed.

“If that´s what it takes to make you know your own self worth then I´ll do it over and over again” you said, crossing your arms.

Hinata thought you looked like you did in high school. Like a mom, like someone who deeply cared, someone who could kick ass and someone who was one of the best managers he could´ve ever asked for.

Hell, Kiyoko, Yachi and you carried the team to the nationals, if it weren´t for you, Ukai and Takeada none of this would´ve been possible.

It was only now that he was an adult that he realized what all of that really meant and how grateful he was.

“I agree with (Y/N), Atsumu-senpai! You´re a great setter and you got even better, you train harder than anyone else and get better every day but it´s important that you take breaks” Hinata chimed in, he wasn´t part of the team for long, but has heard that Atsumu always overworked himself.

The team was scared that he´d hurt himself some day because of that.

“I can´t afford to take breaks, if I do I´ll fall behind. And if I fall behind I´ll get benched and if I get benched I´ll get kicked from the team and then all of this was for nothing” he rambled, looking distraught.

You let out a worried sigh and gently touched his arm, making him stop in his tracks and look at you.

“Do you really think they´re stupid enough to let such a great player go? And even more than that, do you think that anyone would let a great man like you go?” you softly spoke, touching his heart.

“Do you mean it?” he quietly asked, being in your presence calmed his mind down immediately.

“Of course I do. Look, when I first met you I thought you were the cockiest asshole to ever walk on earth. But you proved me wrong, because you´re so much more than you think. And I regret being so cold and distant to you, because honestly, I wish I´d got to know you sooner. But I´m stubborn and I didn´t. I can´t change the fact that it could´ve gone very differently, and neither can you. No matter how much you think about it, how you could´ve done things better, spiked this ball better, you can´t change it. All you can do is give it your all in the moment. And trust me, everything you do is more than enough, so don´t dwell on it. If you keep thinking like that, volleyball won´t be fun anymore. And that would just be sad” you opened up more than you intended to, but you thought it got the point across.

Atsumu said nothing for a while, still processing those words. Sure, he felt great hearing your praise, but what stuck to him was that you were actually glad to have met and know him.

And that was just the best feeling in the world to him.

“Will you come to our next game and cheer me on?” he asked hopefully, making you smile.

“Tell you what, I´ll even treat you to dinner afterwards. Sound like a good date to you?” you grinned.

“A date? You actually want to go on a date with me?” he had the goofiest, biggest smile on his face that made you feel all fuzzy and warm inside.

“A poor choice really” Sakusa commented.

“Hush! They´re having a moment!” Bokuto whined, he was very emotional and honestly relieved, Atsumu has been up their asses about dating you ever since you moved in next to him.

You groaned and dragged Atsumu outside with you, away from the others to have a little privacy.

“Maybe it wasn´t the best idea to ask you out in front of everyone…” you laughed it off and Atsumu joined in.

“I´m glad you did though. I wanted to ever since you moved in, but you know… didn´t think you´d be interested” he admitted.

“Me neither and yet here we are” you chuckled, not really knowing where to go from here.

You were pretty proud of yourself that you even managed to admit your feelings for him, give him a chance and then asked him out. It was totally worth it.

#haikyuu #haikyuu imagine #haikyuu drabble #haikyuu oneshot #haikyuu scenario #haikyuu atsumu #atsumu miya #atsumu x reader #atsumu scenario #atsumu imagine #atsumu drabble #atsumu oneshot #hq #hq imagine #hq oneshot #hq drabble #hq scenario

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chouhatsumimi · 5 years ago

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[Reposted from the KESENNUMA - BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE facebook page] “To us, March 11 is a day of great sadness. At the same time, it is a day to remember all the warmth, support, love, and encouragement you have given us in various ways. Thank you, world! Here’s how Kesennuma is doing nine years after the disaster. First, the bad news. Our biggest issue is the problem of population decline, which many cities share in Japan. The population of Kesennuma, which was about 75,000 before the earthquake, dropped to 62,000 by the end of January this year, a loss of about 13,000 residents. In the fishing industry, which is our key industry, the landing of fish has slowed from about 130,000 tons before the earthquake to 65,000 tons last year, and that has greatly affected the city’s economy. The number of tourists has also decreased, from 2.54 million visits before the disaster to 1.5 million last year. But here’s the good news: In the Land Readjustment Programs to elevate the land by 1.3 to 5.5 meters above sea level, Shishiori District completed this construction work in September of last year. This is the area where the large ship, No. 18 Shotokumaru, was swept inland by the tsunami. The ship was dismantled and removed in 2013, reflecting the residents’ vote against preservation. As for the three remaining Land Readjustment Programs in the areas MInami-Kesennuma, Sakanamachi/Minamimachi, and Matsuzaki-Katahama, the construction work and handing the land over to the owners will be finished by the end of March next year. All house-rebuilding for those who lost their homes to the tsunami will be completed by March 2021 as well. The city is determined to support the house-rebuilding to the very last person. The temporary housing that remains in two locations will then be disassembled and removed. The city will continue to support community building efforts and provide consultation and support services for those trying to adjust to new neighborhoods and ways of life. Our fish market has been renewed, and has operated under top-quality hygiene standards since last May. An innovative shipbuilding facility, created by the merger of four tsunami-stricken shipyards, was also completed last May. We remain the number one port for bonito catches for 23 years in a row—a piece of good news amid the worrisome record-low catches of saury and salmon. On our Oshima Island, the long-awaited Oshima Bridge opened last April to connect the island to the mainland, and a welcome terminal has just been completed on March 8 to serve as a new tourist information center and local specialty store. The adjacent restaurant-and-shop zone has been operating since last July. The access to the top of Mt. Kameyama is still under discussion. Before the disaster, a chair lift took visitors for a ride to the beautiful view from the top. This will not be easy to rebuild, due to funding and maintenance problems. In the meantime, occasional shuttle bus service takes passengers to the stunning panorama at the summit. We celebrated the reopening of Koizumi Beach last summer. Come and join us this July as we celebrate the opening of Oisehama Beach in Hashikami District! All four of these gorgeous beaches had been named among the 100 cleanest beaches in Japan, including Kodanohama Beach on Oshima Island, which reopened one year after the disaster, and Oya Beach, whose restoration is set for completion within the 2021 fiscal year. As for Oya Beach, a drivers' rest area called Michi-no-Eki, like others found throughout Japan, will be relocated in March 2021 on an ocean-view elevated Route 45, welcoming visitors with a local specialty store and eat-ins. The opening of the beach and the Michi-no-Eki will mean so much to us, and especially to the Oya residents who worked so hard in changing the original seawall plan to the present one to preserve the beautiful white-sand beach. The Memorial Park overlooking Kesennuma Bay will be completed this fall with a monument called Sail of Prayers, thanks to support given through crowd funding. For people to understand a tsunami and be prepared for any that may come, we opened a Memorial Museum last March, with a part of former Koyo High School preserved as it was right after the disaster. An impressive and extensive record of tsunamis is also found in our Rias Ark Museum. You have already seen on this Facebook page our entries about the opening of the Sanriku Expressway between Kesennuma Central and Kesennuma Port. The remaining Sanriku Expressway sections in Motoyoshi are planned for completion this December, bringing Sendai to a one-and-a-half-hour drive from us. The Karakuwa section including the Kesennuma Bay Bridge (its temporary name) will be completed by March 2021. The whole 360km between Sendai and Hachinohe in the northern part of Japan (Aomori) will be connected by the completion of the bridge. City Hall is scheduled to move from the inner bay area to the Tanakamae area where the city hospital used to stand. This was just announced in February; the timing has is yet to be determined. A BRT bus station may be built at the present city hall site, to allow easier access to the inner bay area where a new shopping zone opened last year near one already opened in 2017. Beer lovers, we now have a beer brewery in the area! We are participating in 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the Miyagi starting point for the torch relay in June. We are proud to be the host town for our friend, Indonesia. Well, that was pretty long to read, right? Although our struggle continues, we are happy that we have so much to report to you, and so fortunate to have people who care for us to read this all the way through. So let us repeat again loud and clear: THANK YOU, WORLD! This will be the last year of the city’s 10-year reconstruction plan. The city of Kesennuma will move forward so that we can proudly say, "Thanks to you all, we have become again the wonderful town you knew and loved ten years ago—and even better!!" Photo of the Kesennuma Bay bridge under construction by Masao Kumagai”

#Kesennuma #3.11 #fukkou #reconstruction #Tohoku #ALT

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silverfootstepswrites · 7 years ago

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Butterly [7]

summary How many calories does furious yelling burn?

"You little shit-stain! I call you- no answer. I go by your apartment and there's no one. I thought you were kidnapped!" A voice shouted into the phone.

"Whatever, I was trying to save phone battery so I had it on airplane mode," sighed Haku, rolling his eyes at Sakura. He sat on the armrest of the sofa. She was sprawled across the rest of it so there was nowhere else for him to sit anyway.

"You're lying! You just tweeted about how you like strawberry daifuku more than the kind with red bean," Kisame accused. Sakura shoved his thigh with her foot, mouthing the word ‘dumbass'. Haku kicked back without looking at her.

"Alright! So I was screening your calls. So what? They haven't even announced next year's placements yet. Give me a break!" Haku retorted. Sakura sighed. She could imagine Kisame turning purple in the face. She could hear him sputtering over phone. Felt some pity for the physician who had to measure his blood pressure every year.

"That's the attitude you give me after winning silver? You wouldn't shut up about getting gold and-" Kisame ranted. Haku shoved his finger in his ear, sticking his tongue out.

"Ahhh, this is exactly why I don't pick up your calls," he complained.

And as the volume escalated, Sakura slapped her hand down on the sofa. She sat up to snatch the phone out of Haku's hand.

"Calm down, Hoshigaki-san. He's with me. He came to ask me for help with his toe loop," Sakura intervened.

There was a long pause.

"...Haruno," growled Kisame.

She had expected him to hang up on her. Then, at least, she would get some peace and quiet. Instead, Kisame launched into a fresh tirade. It was a whole new level of rage that she had been on the receiving end of many times before.

"Why the hell would you let him stay with you? You know this is a crucial time! Didn't you watch any of his programs? He's got so many things to work on and you're letting him run around like a kid at Tokyo Disneyland!" Kisame spewed. Sakura nodded like he could see her.

"And another thing. Do you know how much trouble you caused me, Haruno? Are you even a little sorry?" he continued.

"Ah. Yeah. About that. My bad, Hoshigaki-san," she managed to say.

"You could have at least let me know ahead of time, you know. Not at the press conference."

"Sorry.“

"Do you know how many more wrinkles I got just trying to put out fires? You're lucky I was there to do damage control," he went on.

"Yeah. Sorry again."

Kisame sighed. She could imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose between his two fingers. She had picked up that habit from him.

"....But are you doing okay, kid?" he then asked. Because no matter how gruff he sounded, Kisame always cared. That was what made him such a good coach.

"I'm doing alright," Sakura answered, half-shrugging.

“You eating okay?" he interrogated her.

"Yep," Sakura said.

He sighed. The noise crackling through the speaker

"Let me know next time you're up in Sendai. Let's have a drink, Haruno," he suggested. And then he added, "And make sure Shimizu gets back here in one piece. And don’t feed him any junk food.”

Sakura eyed Haku, who was just about to stick a potato chip in his mouth. She smacked it out of his hand.

“I got you, Coach,” she promised.

Kisame ended the call. Sakura dropped the phone back in Haku’s waiting hand. He wiped the screen clean on his thigh before he went back to using it.

“You know, don’t let the old man fool you. He misses you. He compares everyone to you. ‘Haruno could land this’ and ‘You think Haruno became four-time World Champion with that attitude?’” Haku imitated in a gravelly voice. He puffed his chest out, glaring. He glanced at her, studying her expression. When she finally smiled, he returned the expression.

But then his eyes popped wide open.

“Oh. Before I forget! Gotta catch you up on that good gossip!” Haku gasped. He shoved her legs aside, sliding onto the sofa. But before she could complain about being cramped, he lifted her feet into his lap. She grabbed a throw pillow, hugging it against her stomach as she waited.

Haku’s tongue stuck out as he scrolled through his Instagram feed.

“Okay. So, you know Harper and Gold?” he asked. He tilted his phone to show her the photo on his screen. Two blond skaters stood in the middle of the rink, arms thrown around each other.

“Yeah. The ice dancers, right? From America?” Sakura recalled. Haku shot her a look.

“Broke up.”

Sakura sighed, shrugging. “Sucks.”

“Got back together again last month,” he added.

Her eyebrows rose. “Oh, good.”

“Broke up again two weeks ago,” Haku concluded.

She sighed again. “Suuuucks.”

“Have you talked to Karin-chan lately?” Haku went on. Sakura shook her head. He scrolled on to another picture. The tall Russian skater was well-known for her well-curated social media profiles. She always showed off the things she ate and the fun places she went. She was also well-known for being friends with lots of other skaters. Her feed was always overflowing with selfies with other athletes.

Haku’s thumb stopped on an older group photo.

It was from Skate America a few years ago. Sakura eyed her ponytail in the photo and gave a little sigh. She missed having long hair.

In the bottom right was Haku, who had taken the photo with his selfie stick. Clustered around him were several of their friends. Wedged in the middle was Karin, both her arms linked around Sakura’s neck. And to Karin’s left was another skater. His tongue stuck out, arms raised above his head.

Sakura wasn’t really close to Hozuki Suigetsu. He was an ice dancer from somewhere around Hokkaido, maybe? She had gotten to know his older brother Mangetsu pretty well during their first Japanese nationals. They had made their senior debut the same year and had stuck together during the awkward photo-ops and banquets at the end of the events.

Haku pointed at Suigetsu’s face. And then Karin’s.

“Oh, yeah. Totally doing it,” Sakura replied, voice flat. She had suspected it for quite some time now.

“Right? No one else will believe me,” groaned Haku.

“Also- oh my god I can’t believe you weren’t there at the Worlds. You’ll never guess what Chock was wearing to the party,” he sighed. Cheek in her hand, Sakura settled in to listen. She watched Haku roll his eyes and throw his hands in the air. Pitching his voice to better imitate the people.

“And did you know? HE moved. They’re not skating in Sendai anymore,” Haku suddenly told her.

Sakura cracked an eye open. “Who? Lord Voldemort?”

Haku slapped his hands down on her calves. Not hard enough for it to hurt.

“No! HIM. Kaguya Kimimaro,” Haku snapped. “Apparently he wanted to expose his student to different kinds of skating. So I hear he moved her home rink to St. Petersburg.”

“Oh,” Sakura said, nodding. But the lack of enthusiasm in her voice was obvious. Haku narrowed his eyes.

“Maybe we could ask Karin-chan to run him over with a snowmobile or something,” he muttered.

Sakura pinched his cheek. He swatted her hand away.

"You know, I could tell when he moved. The clouds parted and the children sang. That's when I knew that a great evil had departed Sendai," Haku said. Sakura smacked his arm. Throwing her legs aside, he slid off the sofa to sit on the floor instead.

"Oh, don't exaggerate, Haku. It was mostly good before it got bad," Sakura sighed. She watched him glaring down at his phone. Craning over Haku's shoulder, she found him stalking an Instagram page. He paused on one of the photos.

It was taken almost five years ago. They were dressed in matching dark blue jackets with the Japanese flag over the right side of their chests. Her hair was pulled back in a long ponytail. Her tongue stuck out at the camera. And Kimimaro's arm was over her shoulder, pulling her close to his side. This was at the Japanese nationals, right after they had announced the rankings for the men's singles.

"That creep. He kept his photo up so he wouldn't lose all those likes," grumbled Haku. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Or, it's commemorating him being picked for the Olympic team. Which is kind of a big deal," she suggested.

"Sure," Haku replied in a tone that implied that he thought the opposite.

"Or maybe he didn't delete it because my makeup looks so good in it. Hold on, let me see," Sakura went on. She leaned over Haku to grab at his phone. He pulled it out of reach.

"Go use your own phone. Get off me!" he retorted, slapping her hands away.

"I thought you missed me, Haku-kun! Come on! Give me a hug!"

"Gross. Forget it, you weirdo! I'm going back. Get off of me!"

After a fair bit of wrestling, they slumped together on the sofa. Haku huffed, pulling his hood over his head. He stared up at the clock on the wall.

“Is there anything fun to do in this town?” he asked her.

Sakura counted off on her fingers. “Let’s see. You can go to the beach, go to the ice rink, or get drunk.”

“No night clubs or malls or anything?” Haku pressed.

“Nope.”

“...Ugh.”

His head fell back against the sofa. He stared up at the ceiling.

“You wanna get drunk?’ he asked her.

“Yeah. Why not,” replied Sakura, getting to her feet to go get changed.

They headed out to Genma’s bar. They ran into Kakashi walking his pug. It sniffed at Sakura and Haku’s feet as they stopped to chat. When Sakura mentioned that she was headed to the bar, Kakashi looked a little disgusted.

“Yeah, my old man’s body can’t handle that again this week. Have fun without me,” he replied, making an escape before she could drag him along.

Sakura ducked under the flap into Genma’s place. Shizune was sitting at the bar, an apron wrapped around her waist. After teaching home ec during the day, she came here to help her husband out at his bar. She stood up, ushering Sakura and Haku toward two empty stools.

“Two light beers. And some kushiyaki please, Genma-san!” Sakura called out.

“Yeah, yeah,” he sighed, already pouring a beer for her.

"Fuuuuck. That made me so mad," Haku groaned, thumping his fist against the bar. Sakura laughed, patting him on the back.

"Your step sequence was really nice, though. And you got silver, didn't you? That’s still really good!" she tried to console him. But Haku shook his head.

"If I landed that last quad, I would have gotten gold. But I messed up and it became a double. I should just kill myself," he lamented. Sakura patted his back harder, nodding.

"Sure. Just do it now. Samurai-style. Seppuku it up," she mocked

"You're supposed to cheer me up!" Haku shot back

"Why? I can let you die and steal your medals," Sakura replied, “I’ll melt them down and make them into a golden toilet seat.” They burst into laughter at the very thought.

“Two more light beers, please, Genma-san!” Sakura ordered between giggles.

Several beers later, drunk Haku came out to play. And drunk Haku was very sweet. And also very clingy.

"Senpaiiiiii why did you leave? Now I've got no motivation to even try," he slurred, shaking her shoulder.

"Haku, I skated ladies. We didn't even compete against each other," Sakura pointed out. Squinting down into her empty glass.

"Doesn't matter. It was our thing! We always got gold together. #sendaisenshu! It was trending on Twitter last year!" Haku insisted.

It was true that they had won the last two World Championships together. And they always posted pictures with their medals during the Grand Prix or the Japanese Nationals with that ridiculous hashtag he had made up. Ever since his senior debut, Haku had always promised to overtake her medal record. And from the way he rubbed his face against her shirt, she worried that he might actually burst into tears. She ruffled his hair.

"Okay, I’ll un-retire. I'll put a wig on you. You can skate under ladies too and we’ll compete," she suggested. Haku threw his arms around her middle.

"I'll do it if you let me borrow that gold dress you wore during your Junior days," he muttered. Sakura threw her head back and laughed. Open palm smacking the bar.

Haku grumbled, "I'm serious" as he shook her a little harder.

Later that evening, bellies filled to bursting with beer and bar food, Sakura and Haku wandered out of Genma’s place, red-faced and supremely cheerful. He stood at the flap, eyeing their teetering path down the road. Shizune ducked under his arm to watch them too.

“Do you think they’ll be okay?” she wondered. Genma shrugged.

“They paid already. So who cares- ow!” he complained as his wife slapped him in the stomach with her towel.

“Every day is PONNN!” Haku crowed.

“Every time is PONNNNN!” Sakura added. They burst into giggles, unable to finish their off-key rendition of the song.

They stumbled down the street together, Sakura’s arm thrown around Haku’s waist. His arm hung over her shoulder.

“Woah,” he chortled as he tripped over a rock. He nearly fell off the road, into a ditch. But Sakura grabbed the back of his jacket to pull him upright. They dissolved into more peals of laughter. And then she pressed her pointer finger to her lips, shushing him. He copied her, eyes unfocused.

“There are people sleeping,” she scolded him, trying to stifle her own giggles.

“My legs are all tingly. I want to sit here,” Haku sighed. And as his weight sagged against her, Sakura’s eyes popped open. Haku was so thin, but she forgot how much heavier he was than her. She slapped her palm against his back a few times.

“Haku! Oi, Haku! Come on,” she hissed.

“Haruno-sensei?”

Sakura peeked around Haku’s arm. She found Itachi standing there in jeans and a t-shirt. He carried a plastic bag from the nearby convenience store.

“Uh, hi, Uchiha-sensei,” Sakura replied. And then she raised her hand to wave.

“Are you busy right now?” she then asked. Itachi shook his head.

They managed to pull Haku’s arms over their shoulders. Each supporting part of his weight, they half-walked, half-dragged him down the road.

"Sorry. If I skated pairs, maybe I'd be strong enough to carry him on my own," she giggled. She peered past Haku's lolling head. Itachi shifted Haku's arm over his shoulder. Smiled a little.

“You looked like you were having a fun night,” observed Itachi. They passed under a streetlight. It buzzed and flickered a little. Casting long shadows out in front of them as they moved.

Sakura felt her cheeks warm as it occurred to her that this was the second time he had seen her this drunk in the space of about three days.

“Uh. Well, never really had this much free time before. Maybe, I should scale it back a bit,” she muttered.

“I mean... only if you want to. You’re not hurting anyone,” answered Itachi.

She glanced at him in time to see him look up at the sky. She copied him, craning her neck.

This far from the big cities, the sky was actually black. And it glittered with countless points of light. It reminded her of her fanciest skating outfits. Little crystals sewed into the fabric that sparkled when she moved.

“This is your hometown, right? Why don’t you do whatever you want to do?” Itachi added.

She met his eyes. And the only word she could think of to describe his gaze was kind. She couldn’t help but smile back.

“Hm... yeah. Maybe you’re right,” she mused in return.

When they arrived at Sakura’s house, they dumped Haku on the sofa in the living room. She pried his shoes off, rolling him onto his side. And then she stood back, hands on her hips. His limbs dangled off the edges of the sofa. It didn’t look particularly comfortable.

“Should we get him water or something?” wondered Itachi. They watched as Haku’s mouth opened wide and he began to snore a little. Snickering, Sakura pulled her phone out to take a few pictures.

“He’ll be fine,” Sakura assured him. And then she added, “Thank you, by the way.”

Itachi dipped his head. “Of course.”

Haku woke the following morning. And it was a testament to his youth that he threw up, and then looked completely fine. Sakura watched him slurp down his breakfast smoothie, glancing down at her wristwatch

“I've gotta get to work. I'll meet you at the rink after school?"

Haku nodded. Sakura, who was still faintly queasy, grimaced when he let out a sonorous belch.

Sakura found Itachi up on the roof again. All the cherry blossoms had fallen, leaving bare, dark branches. Which were still beautiful in a way. Itachi sat with his back to the wall, sketchbook in his lap. A pencil tucked behind his ear and another moving in his hand, scratching against the paper. Kakashi sat beside him, raising his box of banana milk to her in a salute.

“How’re we doing, Haruno-kun?” asked Kakashi, eyes crinkling. Itachi glanced up at her. Stifled a chuckle when he saw her wearing sunglasses.

“Please turn off your mouth siren,” she groaned.

Itachi watched her face for a moment. And then he patted the empty spot beside him. He had spread out a blanket on the ground, almost like they were holding a picnic on the roof.

Tucked into that quiet corner, Sakura drew her knees up to her chest. She leaned her head back against the wall, listening to the wind rattling through the branches. The scratch of Itachi’s pencil. Kakashi slurping up the last few drops of his milk.

#writing #itasaku #butterfly

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impracticaldemon · 8 years ago

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Kazachi Week 2017 Day 2 ~ Prompt: Reunion I Will Find You, Part I of II

by Impracticaldemon | Read on ffnet (will also be posted on AO3) @hakuoukishippingweek

AU, but Kazama Route implied: What if Kazama and Chizuru arrived at Ezo together before Hijikata died (as in Hakuouki Movie 2, see movie clip HERE)?

The trip to Ezo on the ship had been surprisingly free of acrimony, Chizuru thought. The edges had already begun to soften during the frustrating wait for transportation in Sendai, but living under the same roof had generated its own prickles of anxiety and irritation. It had seemed as though every time she had let her guard down a little, Kazama-san had been all too quick to comment that she was behaving more like his bride-to-be. Aboard ship, Kazama-san had been unusually silent, and Chizuru had seen an occasional thoughtful frown that she couldn’t place, except to know that it wasn’t directed at her.

Naturally, he had reminded her that whatever they found, it wouldn’t be good news for the Shinsengumi. The odds were stacked so far against the former Bakufu army that it was no longer remotely possible for them to win; the best they could hope for was something short of a complete slaughter, and that was unlikely. Hijikata-san was now effectively leading that doomed army, although technically under the command of Otori Keisuke-san.

Chizuru felt a knot form in her stomach as she climbed into the small boat that would carry them - along with a contingent of soldiers - to the beaches of Ezo. She was resolved to see her journey through, to be there for Hijikata-san and whatever remained of the Shinsengumi. It was something that she had to do. And yet, she had known for some time now that while she still loved Hijikata-san, the nature of the love had changed, at first so subtly that she hadn’t noticed, and then too obviously to ignore.

Naturally, she had felt guilty about the way that her heart had not been as constant as she had imagined. She hadn’t expected that her profound devotion - which had easily outlasted her first, starry-eyed admiration - would change from that of a lover to something else, just as deep but more like kinship or comradeship. Guilt was not a useful emotion, however. (That had reminded her of Saitō-san, at first bringing a smile and then hot tears: the grief that she felt for all of the fallen captains, and for Kondou-san, was still very raw. She worked hard to ignore it except when she knew that she could weep in private.)

“We’re here.” Kazama’s soft rumble interrupted Chizuru’s jumbled thoughts.

She watched him alight gracefully from the dingy, weather-beaten rowboat.and felt the same tiny catch at her heart that she had once felt when admiring a different man’s strong, easy movements. Kazama-san extended his hand to help her down to the wet sand, his ruby-coloured eyes and all of his attention fixed on her, effortlessly ignoring the running, shouting men all around them. And that was it, right there: she had his undivided attention at moments like this, something that she had never had with the overworked and dedicated Vice Commander.

Hijikata-san had given his heart and soul to his dream. It gave him his fire, his brilliance, his phenomenal charisma. Chizuru had thought that she would be perfectly content to come second to that dream, until such time as it was fulfilled, or over forever; she had truly never found fault with her role, as long as she could stay near Hijikata-san. Kazama-san, with his manifest arrogance and total disregard for the needs and desires of others - especially, but not only humans! - had frightened her and also made her angry.

But somehow, Hijikata-san had left Chizuru behind, and whether it was by mischance or for her own good, it had been against her wishes. Kazama-san had been the one to rescue her from danger, and the one to bring her many, many miles here to Ezo - and that after having given up his plan to make Chizuru his wife against her will. He was still infuriating and condescending at times, but he seemed to see her as a person now, rather than as no more than a female demon of the appropriate lineage. And as careless of her well-being as he might seem, his actions spoke loudly to the contrary.

They faced each other silently on the beach after Chizuru was safely off the boat, Kazama-san’s face as difficult to read as always. Within a minute or two, the soldiers who had been with them had gone - off to some rendez-vous point, presumably. Chizuru had the impression - but it could be imagination - that Kazama was far more unsure of himself than usual. When he spoke, though, it was only to say what she had expected to hear:

“Hijikata-san may already be dead. Even if he is not, he is a fury. If he does not die in the coming conflict - which seems unlikely, but” - Kazama’s lips twitched into an unusual, dry smile - “is less improbable than for any other human I’ve known - then I will have to kill him. I will not allow any furies to survive this war. They are an abomination that cannot be allowed to continue to exist.”

“I understand, Kazama-san. Nevertheless, I must go. Thank you for bringing me here. Arigatou gozaimasu deshita.”

Chizuru bowed deeply, ignoring the ache in her heart that protested against leaving this man. When she lifted her head, still firmly set on her chosen path, she thought she saw something like pain cross Kazama-san’s unusually pensive face. Once again, she sensed uncertainty, instead of the usual teasing mockery. Then the strange, deep red eyes flicked away from her to look further inland, toward the sounds of battle, and she was left to wonder if she had mistaken the expression.

Kazama-san had once been an enemy, but he had cared for her scrupulously for months now, and taken her to visit her family’s home, and stayed with her - comforted her, in fact - in the face of her foster father’s betrayal. It had been impossible not to feel drawn to the one person who had been there for her during some of her darkest days, and who knew who she was without any need to explain Koudou-san, or the Shisengumi, or the Oni. Of course, she wouldn’t have felt this way if he hadn’t given her that glimpse of unexpected empathy and eventually even a grudging, unspoken, but increasing respect.

Chizuru hesitated, then turned abruptly to leave. The canon-fire in the distance made the matter urgent - she was determined to find Hijikata-san and help him and the others in any way she could. She was a member of the Shinsengumi, at least in her own mind and heart. And an Oni, a deep voice behind her seemed to say, although that was just her imagination.

One step, two, her balance shifting to the balls of her feet as she started to run - and then strong, elegant hands caught her upper arms and she was pulled back into a tight embrace, Kazama-san’s arms wrapping themselves about her so that she was held fast to his chest. She could smell the faint dampness of his fine wool coat, and feel his warm breath against her hair from behind her. Chizuru made no effort to struggle, or resist.

“You don’t have to go.” The deep, now-familiar voice, was urgent in her ear. “Please... don’t go.”

Unthinkable that Kazama-san would speak such words, and Chizuru’s heart contracted tightly in her chest. She felt the start of tears in her eyes and blinked them away. She had to find Hijikata-san before it was too late.

“Chizuru...” Kazama spoke again, still holding her in a grip that would be frightening except that the emotion in his voice was as plain as it was shocking to hear. “I don’t want you to die.”

When Chizuru still said nothing, forcing herself to remain still and silent with near-desperate determination, Kazama-san’s arms slowly unlocked from around her, and she felt his hands slide slowly away. She couldn’t see his expression but she was certain that he felt... hurt. Not anger, or contempt, or even frustration, but wounded. He had laid himself open, had asked - begged even - and she had still chosen to go, away from him, back to the Shinsengumi Vice Commander who had abandoned her.

Chizuru walked away several paces, unable to speak while standing so close to him. Then she stopped and turned and bowed again. She needed to go, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave without giving something back to the proud Oni behind her.

“Kazama-san...” She had to clear her throat before she could continue. “I am going to find Hijikata-san, and do everything in my power to help him. I owe him that and more, I care about him deeply - as I have cared about each one of the Shinsengumi who cared for me and are now d-dead.” She still couldn’t manage that word without great effort. “If I can save just one of them...” Another pause and swallow. Kazama-san’s eyes had narrowed now, not in irritation, but in concentration. “I will try my best to stay alive, Kazama-san. And if I am alive at the end of this, then I will come find you.”

An expression of extreme surprise crossed the blond Oni’s face.

“You - will come find me?” he repeated. “Even though you are rushing into battle to try to save a doomed man - a fury - that I have said that I will kill?” Kazama’s steeply slanted eyebrows had risen high under his long bangs, but now they lowered again, forming a vee that rendered his expression not unlike many that Chizuru had seen on Hijikata-san’s face.

“I will come to find you,” Chizuru repeated. She could feel herself blushing, and tried to keep her voice steady. “Or you will find me. In either case” - she drew a quick breath - “I won’t leave you again, if that is what you want.”

“But - you aren’t asking me to spare Hijikata’s life?” demanded Kazama incredulously.

“I don’t want you to kill him, and I will try to stop you from killing him, but that is... that is not the point. I am not trying to bargain with you, Kazama-san.”

Kazama-san’s sharp, handsome features were now quite unreadable. Chizuru felt her heart sink; had she made a complete fool of herself? The instinct to leave - in order to find Hijikata-san and in order to flee the man in front of her - caused her to turn sharply once again.

“Chotto matte kudasai! Chizuru!”

Chizuru heard the command - the request - to wait, but she didn’t stop. She kept running, letting her feelings guide her, hoping to find somebody who could direct her to Hijikata-san. Kazama-san could have caught up to her easily, but this time he didn’t pull her back. He did call after her again, however:

“If it’s not a bargain, then it’s a promise, Chizuru! Remember that!”

And an Oni always keeps her promises. Chizuru knew what he was telling her. If she survived the battle, then whether or not she could save Hijikata-san, she would return to Kazama-san for good. Of course, Kazama-san’s plan to kill the purple-eyed warrior posed something of a problem. But first, Chizuru had to save him from his fellow humans.

[END OF PART I]

A/Note: Thank you for reading! Notes, likes and reblogs are all appreciated - since this is an unusual story for me, comments are especially appreciated (by way of notes, pms, reviews on ffnet/ao3, tags...!)

Tags (with apologies to those who are only on this list for the text memes!):

@shell-senji @fury-ous @queen-mizera @kazama-hime @hakusaitosan @very-x-vice @sabinasanfanfic @walk-tall-my-fr1ends @hakuokifirst @annahakuouki @eliz1369 @canadiangaap @vav-airis @moon-faced-pear-shaped @lady-yomi @thesweateristoobig @doodlethewhiteraven @nalufever @nollatooru @chocoiice @silkysilk

#hakuouki #hakuoki #kazachi #kazachi week 2017 #hakuoukishippingweek #fanfiction #impracticaldemon

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eeraygun · 8 years ago

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MY TOP 158 SONIC RELEASES OF 2016

000 Autechre - elseq 1-5 001 ADR - Throat 002 Kevin Gates - Islah 003 Perfume - Cosmic Explorer 004 Kanye West - The Life of Pablo 005 Animal Collective - Painting With 006 Young Thug - JEFFERY 007 Lorenzo Senni - Persona 008 M.E.S.H. - Damaged Merc 009 Rihanna - Anti 010 Zuli - Bionic Ahmed EP 011 Ling - Attachment EP 012 D.R.A.M. - "Broccoli" 013 Lone - Levitate 014 Yves Tumor - Serpent Music 015 Desiigner - "Timmy Turner Freestyle (XXL Freshman a Capella Version)" 016 Gonora Sounds - "street performance, zimbabwe" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XWjW5EHZdE 017 Demdike Stare - Wonderland 018 Sam Kidel - Disruptive Muzak 019 Sote - Hardcore Sounds from Tehran 020 Bored Young Adults - Shy Dancers On Bungalowdorf Beach 021 Second Woman - Second Woman 022 Bjarki - Lefhanded Fuqs 023 Amnesia Scanner - AS EP 024 Voiski - I'll Be Your Maple Pecan Tonight 025 Paul Jebanasam - Continuum 026 Randomer & Cadans - Pyramid/Anchor 027 Alicia Keys - "In Common" 028 Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom EP 029 Maja S.K. Ratkje - Crepuscular Hour 030 Sendai - Ground and Figure 031 Various Artists - Doing It In Lagos - Boogie, Pop & Disco 032 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree 033 Jeremih - Late Nights: Europe 034 Helm & Decimus - We Will Meet At Other Human Parties 035 Lanark Artefax - Glasz 036 Arca - Entrañas 037 Struction - Gefüge 038 Babyfather - 'BBF' Hosted By DJ Escrow 039 Various Artists - Music of the Bahnar People From the Central Highlands of Vietnam 040 Dae Dae - "Wat U Mean" 041 Marcelline & TRNSGNDRVHS - The Feminine Wrath 042 Yen Towers - Bidders Must Justify Their Price 043 Leather Towel - IV 044 Bwana - Opening the Gate 045 Abra - Princess 046 Shapednoise - Deafening Chaos Serenity EP 047 Sky H1 - Motion 048 Radiohead - "True Love Waits" 049 $$$TAG$$$ - Crowd Surfing 050 Graham Lambkin - Community 051 VATS - Green Glass Room 052 John T. Gast - Invocations II (The Obelisk of TJ) 053 Lil Uzi Vert - Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World 054 Equiknoxx - Bird Sound Power 055 Carly Rae Jepsen - EMOTION Side B 056 Peder Mannerfelt - Controlling Body 057 Carl Stone - Electronic Music from the Seventies and Eighties 058 Dawn Richard - Redemption 059 Young M.A - OOOUUU 060 Basic Rhythm - Raw Trax 061 Fis - From Patterns to Details 062 Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight 063 Keith Fullerton Whitman - OTO Redactions 064 Con-Dom - How Welcome is Death to I Who Have Nothing More To Do But Die 065 Anna Zaradny - go go theurgy 066 Frank Ocean - "Nikes" 067 N-Prolenta - A Love Story 4... 068 Grischa Lichtenberger & Jesse Osborne-Lanthier - CSLM 069 Beyoncé - "Formation" 070 CSA & Lucindo - Compact Cassette 1 071 Sampha - "Timmy's Prayer" 072 Anohni - Hopelessness 073 Ash Koosha - I AKA I 074 Zayn - BeFoUr 075 I Hate Models - Warehouse Memories 076 Jenny Hval - Blood Bitch 077 Lexachast - lexachast.com 078 Polzer - "Static Rectifier" 079 Gaika - SPAGHETTO 080 Kamaiyah - A Good Night in the Ghetto 081 Rain Text - 1 082 Mark Ernestus & Ndagga Rhythm Force - Yermande 083 PYUR - Epoch Sinus 084 Leonce - Shadows EP 085 EASYFUN - Easy This Easy That 086 People Skills - Gunshots at Crestridge 087 Valerio Tricoli - Clonic Earth 088 Lee Gamble - Chain Kinematics 089 Joey Purp - "Girls @ (feat. Chance the Rapper)" 090 Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani (2016) - FRKWYS Vol. 13: Sunergy 091 Trim - 1-800 Dinosaur Presents: Trim 092 Kiddy Smile - "Let A B!tch Know" 093 Special Request - "Reset It (Head High Dirt Mix)" 094 Shirley Collins - Lodestar 095 Massimo Toniutti - antidocument-groundwork 096 Riton - Rinse & Repeat 097 Andy Stott - Too Many Voices 098 UMFANG - Riffs EP 099 Selector Dub Narcotic - "Hotter Than Hott" 100 Gate - Saturday Night Fever 101 A001 - Nyctophobia 102 serpentwithfeet - Blisters 103 Michael E - Teenage Hammer 104 Various Artists - Mambos Levis D'Outro Mundo 105 Jean Schwarz - Erda / Suite N 106 Chino Amobi - Airport Music for Black Folk 107 Giacinto Scelsi, Chris Watson, Joe Browning - Scelsi EP [SN Variations, 2016] 108 M.I.A. - AIM 109 Danny L Harle - "Super Natural" 110 Young Greatness - "Moolah" 111 DJ S - Neva Done This Before 112 KABLAM - Furiosa 113 Mistress - DREADFILE 114 Francesco Cavaliere - Gancio Cielo 2: Il Gruppo Respingi Comete 115 Virginia - Fierce For The Night 116 XDCVR - Cold Slab 117 Charles Barabé & Roadside Picnic - National House Milk 118 Blood Orange - Freetown Sound 119 Daniel Menche - Raw Cello Sessions 120 Pris - Love, Labour, Loss 121 Yo Gotti - "Down In The DM" 122 SHXCXCHCXSH - SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs 123 LSDXOXO - FUCK MARRY KILL 124 No Intention - Rabelais 125 Kobang, Tate - Oh My 126 Kilner - Walk Type 127 Avalon Emerson - "The Frontier" 128 Rashad Becker - Traditional Music of Notional Species Vol. II 129 The Caretaker - Everywhere at the end of time 130 Jock Club - Untitled Album 131 KWC 92 - Iran 132 Brassfoot - Realms 133 Gilmer Galibard - A Baker's Shit Ton EP 134 Eli Keszler - Last Signs Of Speed 135 Tom White - Automated Evangelism 136 A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service 137 LOFT - Turbulent Dynamics 138 Roly Porter - Third Law 139 Stanislav Tolkachev - "Don't Be Surprised" 140 Dave - Wanna Know Remix 141 Zeitkratzer - Reinhold Friedl: Kore (Live) 142 Mark Pritchard - Under The Sun 143 Lee Bannon - Reflections 2012-2016 144 Lil Yachty - Lil Boat 145 Fox - Musik EP 146 NHK yx Koyxen - Doom Steppy Reverb 147 Pita - Get In 148 German Army - Te Ano 149 D. Glare - 68 Samples At 68 BPM For Phased Heads 150 Ascion - Joy Dexon Club 151 Yaleesa Hall - Woodall 152 Blawan - Communicat 1022 153 Huerco S. - For Those Of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have) 154 Tom Hang - The New World 155 Paranoid London - Give Me The 156 Marcel Fengler - Kyu 157 Marco Zenker - "First Feeling"

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jobsearchtips02 · 5 years ago

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Here’s what you can expect the next time you remain at a hotel

Organisation Expert spoke to leading travel CEOs from business like Hilton, Club Med, and Aman Resorts about how the coronavirus will alter the experience of staying in a hotel.

Hoteliers anticipate that tourists will choose smaller, less thick hotels and outside features.

Breakfast buffets could end up being a thing of the past, and room service might come in the kind of a bag dropped outside your door.

As of May 20, seven out of 10 hotel rooms in the US were sitting empty and thousands of hotels are totally closed, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

Many significant hotel brands, consisting of Marriott– the world’s most significant hotel business– Finest Western, Hilton, and Hyatt Hotels, have actually promised to abide by the AHLA’s brand-new Safe Stay guidelines for whatever from contactless check-in to brand-new cleaning standards and protocols.

Here’s what you can anticipate the next time you remain at a hotel or resort.

One significant change tourists may see in hotels in the future is a change in design.

” I think that people are going to move towards smaller sized homes, or maybe move to residential or commercial properties that have larger open areas and are not as high-volume,” Mark Durliat, CEO and cofounder of Grace Bay Resorts in Turks and Caicos, recently told Organisation Insider’s Madeline Stone.

The humble motel may even pick up.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, which has actually embraced the AHLA’s Safe Stay procedures and owns brand names like Super 8 and Days Inn, is already seeing increasing need for its properties with exterior passages— also called motels– per The New York City Times.

With their absence of interior hallways and shared public spaces, motels might make social distancing easier.

Trong Nguyen/ Shutterstock.com.

Dave DeCecco, Wyndham’s vice president of international interactions, informed Company Insider that motel owners are finding a number of benefits to the conventional motel design.

For one, motels don’t have interior corridors or big social areas, limiting visitors’ exposure to other people and lowering the threat of infection. On top of that, the truth that visitors can park straight outside their space even more limits their direct exposure to complete strangers.

Hotels that didn’t already have contactless check-in are now providing it by means of smart device app to cut down on person-to-person interaction.

At Hilton, for example, guests can sign in utilizing its Digital Secret system, which opens any door a visitor would generally access with a key card. That includes guest rooms, elevators, side doors, and physical fitness.

A hotel staff member has her temperature inspected at a hotel in Sendai, Japan, on May 21,2020

Kyodo News via Getty Images.

Many brand names, consisting of Club Medication and Loews Hotels, have actually said they will evaluate visitors’ temperatures when they get to the hotel.

Contactless check-in isn’t the ony way your next hotel experience might include less people. The next time you remain in a hotel, the rooms on either side of yours may be empty.

Some cities, counties, and hotel brands have actually revealed they will run at no greater than 50%tenancy for the foreseeable future.

At some of its resorts that are resuming, high-end resort brand name Aman Resorts will “avoid a secret,” or just make every other space readily available for reservation, COO Roland Fasel told Business Insider.

California’s San Luis Obispo County is restricting hotel and short-term accommodations tenancy rates to no greater than 50% — and only for vital travel– in an order by the county health officer that went into impact May 17 and will be reevaluated every 2 weeks.

And Pensacola Beach in Florida limited its hotels to half-capacity back in March, keeping them open throughout the pandemic.

The Four Seasons will put “Lead With Care” packages in each visitor room that consist of masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitization wipes.

Finest Western, which has more than 5,000 hotels worldwide, stated it will remove “unnecessary items” like ornamental pillows from visitor rooms as part of its boosted sanitization procedures.

A staff member decontaminates a space at a hotel in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on April 7,2020

Pedro Vilela/Getty Images.

Another major modification tourists can expect to see is the frequency of housekeeping. The standard that guests have actually pertained to anticipate in hotels is day-to-day housekeeping unless they request their room be avoided. That’s an expectation that’s about to invert.

For those hotels following the AHLA’s Stay Safe standards, house cleaning will no longer get in a guest’s space during their stay unless specifically asked for. Rooms will continue to be cleaned up completely after check-out.

Travelers who regular high-end hotels may be accustomed to room service delivered straight into their room by a dapper server pushing a white tablecloth-clad cart.

But in the time of coronavirus, the AHLA advises that standard room service be changed with a no-contact delivery technique.

Gregg Fracassa, basic supervisor at Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, just recently told Organisation Insider that in-room dining service will come “in the form of a market bag left at the door.”

Aman Resorts said it has actually seen increased demand for in-room dining throughout the pandemic. Personnel is still providing meals into rooms– while wearing full PPE.

” All in-room dining is served with food and drinks covered, and staff wear PPE [personal protective equipment] upon delivery,” Fasel said. “If guests feel comfortable with us dropping the food off in their space we do so, nevertheless we can likewise put it on a table in the entryway.”

The beloved english breakfast buffet may be a distant memory. Conventional buffet service ought to be limited and prepackaged foods and “grab and go” products need to be the preferred technique of food delivery, per the AHLA.

Ksenija Toyechkina/Shutterstock.

Finest Western has actually said that some of its breakfast rooms could be closed to prevent unnecessary guest churchgoers, and a few of its hotels might change to a pre-plated breakfast to decrease visitor contact.

That brings us to amenities: Hotels like to tout their facilities, from swimming pools and saunas to gyms and dining establishments.

The great news for amenity-seekers is that AHLA standards allow for fitness centers, swimming pool locations, and meeting spaces to stay open– as long as they are set up for social distancing and sanitized numerous times per day.

However, some facilities will take on a various appearance.

At Aman Resorts, which is understood for its wellness offerings, all medical spa therapists will use masks, along with gloves if the visitor demands them, Fasel informed Company Insider. Therapists will alter their PPE between each treatment and treatment rooms will have a minimum 30- minute turnover time to ensure proper cleansing and sanitization.

Amanyara, one of Aman’s upscale beach resorts in Turks and Caicos.

Picture courtesy of Amanyara.

Aman recommends that guests wear masks throughout treatments.

These changes might likewise be accompanied by a growing demand for outside amenities.

” When social distancing restrictions are lifted, we foresee our guests desiring to be outdoors, rather than confined inside,” David Bowd, CEO of Salt Hotels and operator of The Asbury and Asbury Ocean Club in Asbury Park, New Jersey, just recently told Business Expert.

A pool at the Asbury Ocean Club in New Jersey.

Asbury Ocean Club/Facebook.

Aman Resorts will expand its nature experiences, such as offering a brand-new foraging trek combined with a cooking area garden trip and outside cooking class at its Amankila resort in Bali, Fasel said.

Per the AHLA’s Stay Safe standards, hotels will provide staff members COVID-19 safety and protocol training and need that workers regularly clean their hands and use proper PPE based on CDC recommendations.

Common areas like lobbies, health club devices, swimming pool seating, and dining surfaces, as well as other high-touch surface areas like elevator buttons and door manages, are to be decontaminated numerous times per day.

Hotels are ramping up their cleansing and sanitization treatments.

Hilton.

Marriott is presenting new cleaning technologies, like electrostatic sprayers that utilize hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitize surfaces, with the assistance of its brand-new Global Cleanliness Council that was created to develop improved health and safety standards for Marriott’s 7,300 residential or commercial properties, Company Insider’s Melissa Wiley reported.

Per the AHLA guidelines, hotels will recommend guests to practice social distancing and remain at least six feet far from individuals not traveling with them. Hotels will make certain locations for proper distancing and, where possible, encourage one-way sidewalks. Sometimes, lobby furniture and other seating locations, such as pool chairs and cabanas, will be spaced far enough apart to promote social distancing.

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andythomas684-blog · 5 years ago

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World's best hiking trails to hike

From a multiday trek tracing the routes of a Japanese poet, to a classic clamber in the Argentinian Lake District, here are 23 of the best hiking trails in the world.

Walking boots and waterproof coats at the ready.

1. Pennine Way, United Kingdom

Pennine Way -- the first official long distance trail to be established in England.

Stretching 268 miles from the Derbyshire Peak District to the Scottish Borders, the Pennine Way is the United Kingdom's most famous long distance path.

One for outdoor fanatics, camping enthusiasts and anyone who can handle the vagaries of great British weather.

2. Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Spain

The Camino de Santiago route was highly traveled during the Middle Ages.

Rather than following a single path, the Camino, also known as the Way of St. James, is actually a series of different pilgrimage routes, all ending at the shrine of the apostle St. James in the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela.

The most popular modern route follows a line across northern Spain from the French Pyrenees.

While some choose to stay at monasteries along the way, plenty of operators offer hotel stays and luggage transfers.

Pura Aventura has an 11-day trip that passes through Galicia, staying in boutique inns, with bags sent ahead each day. what to wear on a hike and still look cute https://www.hikingbay.com/what-to-wear-on-a-hike-and-still-look-cute

5 best trips for solo travelers

3. Appalachian Trail, United States The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine.

Extending for 2,200 miles, the Appalachian Trail is billed as the longest hiking-only footpath in the world.

It runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, passing through some of the most remote country in the United States. That means it's an undertaking, either for those with endless vacation allowance, or walkers looking to do a small chunk of a classic route. Well-marked paths and campsites mean it can be tackled alone. But those keen on comfort can use companies like Go Shenandoah, which offers pre-booked lodge accommodation and packed lunches in the spectacular Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, home to some of the best scenery on the trail.

4. The Basho Wayfarer, Japan

This trail follows the route taken by haiku poet Matsuo Basho 1689. Japan boasts numerous ancient trails, connecting temples and cities. This self-guided trip follows a route taken by the poet Matsuo Basho over 300 years ago.

The six-day trek starts in Sendai and works its way through the northern Tohoku region, passing through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hiraizumi and along the ancient Dewa Kaido path, with its beech and cherry forests, before heading into the mountains of Natagiri-toge and finishing at the temple of Yamadera. lattcure outfitters sleeping bag https://www.hikingbay.com/finding-the-best-lightweight-sleeping-bag-for-hiking

Tour operator Walk Japan offers accommodation in traditional ryokan, with access to onsen baths to soothe aching bones after a long day's hiking.

5. Refugio Frey and Cerro Catedral, Argentina The one-day Refugio Frey hike is one of the most scenic in Bariloche.

The area around Bariloche in Argentina's Lake District is home to several stunning walks.

But for those with limited time, it's hard to beat the one-day trek to Refugio Frey and Cerro Catedral.

A bus to Villa Catedral drops at the start of a wide, well-marked path, which winds its way into the Andes, passing through woods before emerging above the tree line into a world of spectacular, soaring peaks. Intrepid visitors can stay at Refugio Frey, either in the hut or camping in its grounds.

6. Mount Toubkal, Morocco

A hike to North Africa's highest peak is a challenging, but rewarding task.

North Africa's highest peak at 4,167 meters (13,671 feet), a hike to the top of Mount Toubkal isn't for the faint-hearted.

The path upwards rises from the village of Imlil, passing over a dry river bed before rising sharply through the shrine at Sidi Chamharouch and on towards a large mountain hut.

After overnighting here, hikers strap on crampons and set off up the snowfield to the summit, where the Atlas Mountains open out and the views are relentless. best winter hikes in washington https://www.hikingbay.com/10-best-winter-hikes-in-washington

A local guide and muleteers for carrying luggage are a must, with tour operator Much Better Adventures able to arrange both, along with transfers to and from Marrakech.

7. Great Wall of China, Jinshanling section Walking the Great Wall at the tourist hotspot of Badaling can be a stressful experience, with crowds and hawkers making it almost unbearable.

Jinshanling, situated 87 miles northeast of Beijing, offers the perfect chance to explore a steep, winding and relatively unscathed section of this true Chinese icon.

The route through to the wall at Simatai is closed, but the back and forth trip along this section makes for a strenuous workout, with truly amazing views. Hotels in Beijing can arrange tours and transfers.

8. Dragon's Back, Hong Kong

The Dragon's Back trail is among the best hikes in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong may be known for its towering skyscrapers and narrow streets, but the mainland and islands are dotted with myriad hiking trails, the most famous of which is the Dragon's Back.

Easily reached by bus from downtown Hong Kong, the path begins in a shady tree tunnel on the Shek O Road, before scaling Shek O Peak, with vistas over white sandy beaches, lush hills and tropical islands. The route ends at the beach at Big Wave Bay, its warm waters perfect for a post-hike dip.

9. The Dingle Way, Ireland

Ireland's Dingle Way trail can be completed in around eight days.

Stretching 111 miles, The Dingle Way is a circular path that offers the best way to get under the skin of wild County Kerry in Ireland's south west.

Ireland Ways arranges accommodation along the route, which can be tackled over as many as ten days.

10. Tergo La Trek, Bhutan

Bhutan's remoteness only adds to the mystique of its walking trails.

This guided trek from Bhutanese tour operator Blue Poppy rises from 3,500 meters to 4,135 meters, passing through peaceful forest paths and up wild mountain tracks, with views of Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world.

Yak herders' camps and distant villages add to the sense of being in another world.

11. Tahoe Rim Trail, United States

The Tahoe Rim Trail spans two US states, California and Nevada. A 165-mile loop around the Tahoe Rim Basin, this iconic trail was established in 1981 and is regarded as one of the finest hikes in the United States.

Passing through six counties and four national forests, in land that straddles California and Nevada, the Tahoe Rim Trail is the best way to explore the Sierra Nevada and Carson ranges.

Intrepid travelers can pack a tent and get back to nature on an 11-day jaunt, best undertaken between July and September.

12. Armenia and the Silk Road

Armenia's beautiful natural landscapes are best explored on foot.

Easily overlooked, Armenia has some of the best walking trails in Europe.

The 11-day Armenia and the Silk Road trip takes in some of its finest routes, connecting the UNESCO protected monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat, passing over limestone peaks and through verdant forests, with the opportunity to hike in the wild Geghama Mountains and climb to the top of Aragats, the country's tallest mountain. keto hiking food https://www.hikingbay.com/tips-to-choose-keto-hiking-food-for-a-multi-day-hike

13. Lechweg Trail, Austria and Germany

The Lechweg Trail follows the Lechweg river from Lechall in Fussen.

Starting in the Bavarian town of Fussen, this nine-day route follows the Lechweg river to its source in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg.

Passing the royal castles of a King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Germany as well as crystal clear lakes, the trail heads through the Tiroler Lech National Park, a protected area with lush meadows, turquoise water and ibex at every turn.

Although the trail is self-guided, Walks Worldwide can arrange accommodation and meals, meaning visitors only need worry about putting on their boots and backpacks each morning.

14. Indus Valley, Himalaya, India

While a Himalayan trek is always going to be magical, this remote three-day jaunt in the Indus Valley takes some beating.

The hike, which is an extension of luxury operator Shakti Himalaya's seven-day itinerary to the region, leaves the village of Moncarmo and heads to Matho Phu and Shang Phu.

Phu translates as summer pastures, meaning this lush ground makes for pleasant walking while staring at the surrounding peaks and glaciers.

The trip includes stops at local tea houses, with dome tents pitched each evening for a comfortable night's sleep. 15. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts many of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Sanctuary Retreats Gorilla Forest Camp

Wildlife walks don't come more fascinating than a trip into Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you can get up close and personal with the area's mountain gorilla population.

As part of a wider itinerary, Yellow Zebra Safaris offers walks in which visitors are taken on hikes across the forest to meet habituated gorillas used to the presence of humans.

Groups are typically limited to eight people.

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entergamingxp · 5 years ago

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Persona 5 Scramble Introduces Sidequests, Cooking, and Hacking Battles

January 11, 2020 4:06 PM EST

Persona 5 Scramble introduces Okinawa and new game systems, including a Joker’s Kitchen cooking system, the Request system, and hacking battles.

Atlus and Koei Tecmo released a brand new Morgana Travel Guide video for Persona 5 Scramble the Phantom Strikers, this time introducing Okinawa and many new game systems. The official site was updated with new screenshots as well.

During this part of the story, the Phantom Thieves will be staying at a resort in an Okinawa island named Fukojima, which as far as I know, is a fictional island. This is where the beach-themed events of Persona 5 Scramble will happen.

Overall Fukojima is a nice island with a lot of tourist shops. Fukojima’s inhabitants seem nice at first, but it seems like they’re hiding some kind of a big secret.

As the Phantom Thieves investigate, they’ll reach the Okinawa Jail, which is an abandoned laboratory. This Jail is horror movie levels of creepy, and there are Shadows lurking in the shadows to ambush the Phantom Thieves. Players can break certain elements like fragilized glass using the teleportation-like Phantom Move, and make use of the Jail’s gimmicks like hook rails to move around and attack the enemies by surprise.

Moreover, we learned that when exploring the Okinawa Jail, players can end up having their progression blocked by locked doors. Using her skills as Navi, Futaba will need to hack these doors open, triggering a Hacking Battle. These are escort missions where you need to protect Futaba from incoming Shadows until she’s done with the hacking.

Next up, we’ve got more details on the Joker’s Kitchen, allowing players to cook HP recovery items, SP recovery items, and temporary stats boost items. You’ll need to buy ingredients first in places like supermarkets. You’ll also need to get new recipes through events or by buying them at various shops.

Lastly, among its game systems, Persona 5 Scramble includes Requests: sidequests given to Joker by various characters, the other Phantom Thieves included. You’ll unlock more of these as you progress through the story. Clearing these Requests will net you nice rewards. Moreover, Lavenza will also ask you to show her specific personas with a specific skill, following the Velvet Room quests patterns from other Persona games.

The new Morgana Travel Guide video is included below. Atlus also announced the fifth and last Morgana Travel Guide video will be released in late January, and will introduce Osaka. Atlus also announced the Persona 5 Scramble anime opening sequence will be revealed on January 12. Of course, we’ll cover both of these on DualShockers.

Action RPG Persona 5 Scramble The Phantom Strikers launches in Japan on February 20, on PS4 and Switch. The game wasn’t announced in the west yet but will obviously come over. You can read more P5S details thanks to our past coverage. We’ve got the first trailer which revealed P5S is a sequel to the original Persona 5 and not to Persona 5 Royal, some commercials, comments from the staff, more staff comments through Famitsu, details on the difficulty levels, some gameplay and all the new artworks for the game, and the second trailer, which reveals some kind of Shadow Joker and hints that new character Zenkichi becomes a playable persona user.

The previous Morgana Travel Guide videos each introduced other locations the Phantom Thieves will visit during their road trip around Japan along with new gameplay, game systems details, characters details, and story details: Shibuya and profiles for Sophia, Zenkichi and Alice, Sendai and an explanation of the Jails and the Band System, Sapporo and an explanation of the Velvet Room,

We also have character-focused trailers: Joker, Sophia/Sophie, Ryuji, Morgana, Anne, Yusuke, Makoto, and Haru

youtube

January 11, 2020 4:06 PM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/01/persona-5-scramble-introduces-sidequests-cooking-and-hacking-battles/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=persona-5-scramble-introduces-sidequests-cooking-and-hacking-battles

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ekiik · 7 years ago

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Arahama About 6.5 years ago, Japan was rocked by 9.0 magnitude earthquake that followed by tsunami. Today, we went to Arahama City, one of the city damaged by devastation tsunami. Arahama is located in eastern part of Sendai, close to the offshore. To get there, we take the subway to Arau Station from Sendai Station and then ride the bus to the Arahama Beach. There, the locals welcome us warmly. Most of them are one of the victims of those disaster. We have silent-prayer together in front of the memorial monument. We help the locals to clean the beach afterwards. Lunch time, they prepared special dishes for us, mochi! We try to smash the mochi dough as well. They also serve pizza that you can made by yourself, nice! The following tour, we go to Arahama Elementary School. This is one of the best place to study more about the tsunami happened in 2011. This is one of the building suffered from the tsunami and the locals just keep the building to remind us about this disaster. At the time tsunami swalllowed inland, a lot of people evacuate in this building. Fortunately, this building was not coallapse. That was a terrible disaster. While looking out over the whole building, we able to compare the view before and after damages. The interesting happen on that tsunami is the gymnasium clock. Yes! the clock are literally stop at 3.11 that was the day of the tsunami happened. I don't know. My be, a person set the clock and made it so dramatic. Haha. But, actually it was fun trip. Many thing I learnt from this trip. No matter where you are, you have a chance to be struck by a natural disaster. This disaster should remind us that education is important. Be aware, obtaining accurate information, and don't undersestimate anything. The beautiful calm sea might be turn into giant horrible disaster. As a student, we have important role to keep our society and environmental safe. When the disaster coming we have to be prepared and try to minimize the damage as mucha s possible. #bigjapanearthquake #tsunami #school #arahama #beach #japan (at 荒浜小学校)

#arahama #beach #bigjapanearthquake #tsunami #school #japan

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andythomas684-blog · 5 years ago

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Which hiking trails you should choose?

From a multiday trek tracing the routes of a Japanese poet, to a classic clamber in the Argentinian Lake District, here are 23 of the best hiking trails in the world.

Walking boots and waterproof coats at the ready.

1. Pennine Way, United Kingdom

Pennine Way -- the first official long distance trail to be established in England.

Stretching 268 miles from the Derbyshire Peak District to the Scottish Borders, the Pennine Way is the United Kingdom's most famous long distance path.

The entire walk takes around three weeks, passing over wild moorland east of Manchester and through the picture postcard Yorkshire Dales, before crossing the ancient border of Hadrian's Wall and on toward Scotland. No-Mess Easy-To-Prepare Sandwiches for Hiking https://www.hikingbay.com/no-mess-easy-to-prepare-sandwiches-for-hiking

One for outdoor fanatics, camping enthusiasts and anyone who can handle the vagaries of great British weather.

2. Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Spain The Camino de Santiago route was highly traveled during the Middle Ages.

Inn Travel

The most popular modern route follows a line across northern Spain from the French Pyrenees.

While some choose to stay at monasteries along the way, plenty of operators offer hotel stays and luggage transfers. Pura Aventura has an 11-day trip that passes through Galicia, staying in boutique inns, with bags sent ahead each day. 10 Best Winter Hikes In Washington https://www.hikingbay.com/10-best-winter-hikes-in-washington

3. Appalachian Trail, United States

The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine.

Extending for 2,200 miles, the Appalachian Trail is billed as the longest hiking-only footpath in the world.

4. The Basho Wayfarer, Japan

Japan boasts numerous ancient trails, connecting temples and cities. This self-guided trip follows a route taken by the poet Matsuo Basho over 300 years ago.

Tour operator Walk Japan offers accommodation in traditional ryokan, with access to onsen baths to soothe aching bones after a long day's hiking.

5. Refugio Frey and Cerro Catedral, Argentina

The one-day Refugio Frey hike is one of the most scenic in Bariloche. The area around Bariloche in Argentina's Lake District is home to several stunning walks.

But for those with limited time, it's hard to beat the one-day trek to Refugio Frey and Cerro Catedral. What To Wear On A Hike And Still Look Cute? https://www.hikingbay.com/what-to-wear-on-a-hike-and-still-look-cute

6. Mount Toubkal, Morocco

A hike to North Africa's highest peak is a challenging, but rewarding task.

North Africa's highest peak at 4,167 meters (13,671 feet), a hike to the top of Mount Toubkal isn't for the faint-hearted.

The path upwards rises from the village of Imlil, passing over a dry river bed before rising sharply through the shrine at Sidi Chamharouch and on towards a large mountain hut.

After overnighting here, hikers strap on crampons and set off up the snowfield to the summit, where the Atlas Mountains open out and the views are relentless. Ultralight Backpacking Cooking Gear https://www.hikingbay.com/ultralight-backpacking-cooking-gear

A local guide and muleteers for carrying luggage are a must, with tour operator Much Better Adventures able to arrange both, along with transfers to and from Marrakech.

7. Great Wall of China, Jinshanling section Walking the Great Wall at the tourist hotspot of Badaling can be a stressful experience, with crowds and hawkers making it almost unbearable.

Jinshanling, situated 87 miles northeast of Beijing, offers the perfect chance to explore a steep, winding and relatively unscathed section of this true Chinese icon.

The Dragon's Back trail is among the best hikes in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong may be known for its towering skyscrapers and narrow streets, but the mainland and islands are dotted with myriad hiking trails, the most famous of which is the Dragon's Back.

9. The Dingle Way, Ireland

Stretching 111 miles, The Dingle Way is a circular path that offers the best way to get under the skin of wild County Kerry in Ireland's south west.

Starting in the town of Tralee, the clockwise path follows narrow roads, known as boreens, taking in the wide sweep of sand at Inch Strand, passing along the clifftops outside Dingle town and heading around the edge of Mount Brandon, the highest peak on the Dingle Peninsula. Ireland Ways arranges accommodation along the route, which can be tackled over as many as ten days. No-Mess Easy-To-Prepare Sandwiches for Hiking https://www.hikingbay.com/no-mess-easy-to-prepare-sandwiches-for-hiking

10. Tergo La Trek, Bhutan

Bhutan's remoteness only adds to the mystique of its walking trails.

The relative inaccessibility of Bhutan and need for tourist passes means its trails are unspoiled and ripe for exploration. Tergo-La Trek, in the Haa Valley, is one of the country's lesser known routes. This guided trek from Bhutanese tour operator Blue Poppy rises from 3,500 meters to 4,135 meters, passing through peaceful forest paths and up wild mountain tracks, with views of Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world.

Yak herders' camps and distant villages add to the sense of being in another world.

11. Tahoe Rim Trail, United States

The Tahoe Rim Trail spans two US states, California and Nevada.

A 165-mile loop around the Tahoe Rim Basin, this iconic trail was established in 1981 and is regarded as one of the finest hikes in the United States.

Passing through six counties and four national forests, in land that straddles California and Nevada, the Tahoe Rim Trail is the best way to explore the Sierra Nevada and Carson ranges.

Intrepid travelers can pack a tent and get back to nature on an 11-day jaunt, best undertaken between July and September.

12. Armenia and the Silk Road

Armenia's beautiful natural landscapes are best explored on foot.

Easily overlooked, Armenia has some of the best walking trails in Europe. The 11-day Armenia and the Silk Road trip takes in some of its finest routes, connecting the UNESCO protected monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat, passing over limestone peaks and through verdant forests, with the opportunity to hike in the wild Geghama Mountains and climb to the top of Aragats, the country's tallest mountain.

13. Lechweg Trail, Austria and Germany

The Lechweg Trail follows the Lechweg river from Lechall in Fussen. Walks Worldwide Starting in the Bavarian town of Fussen, this nine-day route follows the Lechweg river to its source in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. Passing the royal castles of a King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Germany as well as crystal clear lakes, the trail heads through the Tiroler Lech National Park, a protected area with lush meadows, turquoise water and ibex at every turn. Although the trail is self-guided, Walks Worldwide can arrange accommodation and meals, meaning visitors only need worry about putting on their boots and backpacks each morning.

14. Indus Valley, Himalaya, India

Indus Valley -- one of the most famous treks in Ladakh.

While a Himalayan trek is always going to be magical, this remote three-day jaunt in the Indus Valley takes some beating.

The hike, which is an extension of luxury operator Shakti Himalaya's seven-day itinerary to the region, leaves the village of Moncarmo and heads to Matho Phu and Shang Phu.

Phu translates as summer pastures, meaning this lush ground makes for pleasant walking while staring at the surrounding peaks and glaciers. The trip includes stops at local tea houses, with dome tents pitched each evening for a comfortable night's sleep.

15. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts many of the world's remaining mountain gorillas.

Sanctuary Retreats Gorilla Forest Camp

Wildlife walks don't come more fascinating than a trip into Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you can get up close and personal with the area's mountain gorilla population. As part of a wider itinerary, Yellow Zebra Safaris offers walks in which visitors are taken on hikes across the forest to meet habituated gorillas used to the presence of humans.

Groups are typically limited to eight people.

16. West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island

The West Coast Trail was originally named the Dominion Lifesaving Trail.

Canada's wilderness and sheer scale mean it's blessed with some truly astounding hiking trails.

The classic West Coast Trail covers 47 miles around southern Vancouver Island, with stunning ocean scenery at Bonilla Point and accessible sea caves at Owen Point.

The hike involves scaling ladders, wading through rivers and battling along muddy tracks, but with the bonus of being able to camp out in spectacular open country.

Although self-guided, walkers need to reserve a place on the trail at the start of the year, with spaces severely limited.

17. Percorsi Occitani, Maira Valley, Italy

Percorsi Occitani is positioned in one of the most unspoiled areas of northern Italy. A network of ancient pathways through the Cottian Alps, a walk in the Percorsi Occitani is like stepping back in time. Many locals still speak the Occitan language, while the remoteness of the Maira Valley makes it one of the most unspoiled corners of northern Italy.

Linking hamlets and villages, this nine-day self-guided route scales some of the area's more challenging hills, dipping into green valleys, with stays at traditional mountain refuges. Luggage transfers and traditional Occitan meals can be arranged by Inn Travel.

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