#best email hosting for small business | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

neiptune · 9 months ago

Text

surreal, but nice

cw: 7k wc, female reader, strangers to lovers, osamu doesn't exactly know how to handle one of the most famous music artists in japan suddenly popping in onigiri miya, inspired by notting hill, my sappy entry for the romcom collab hosted by @bloompompom! thank you @yellow-sword-lily, this fic is also a little yours :)

Miya Osamu is a creature of habit.

He gets up fairly early, showers, never leaves the small apartment without fixing himself a nutritious breakfast, more or less knows and is therefore prepared to what to expect from each particular day.

Downstairs there’s his beloved shop, a dormant creature he gently stirs from sleep each morning. When he doesn’t have to head to the market to select and order the freshest products, Osamu starts the day by contacting all his suppliers and arranging the deliveries. He then checks the inventory, reviews reservations, welcomes the only other chef to discuss any special preparations or new experiments. It’s not unusual for him to check his emails, monitor the website and official social media of the shop, the one thing he actually hates doing because he knows damn well one negative comment will ruin his day, especially since there’s nothing he can do to rectify mistakes made days, sometimes weeks before.

He has a chef, one dishwasher, three servers, two food delivery drivers and that’s about it. Osamu Miya is the owner, manager, host, executive chef, server and cashier of onigiri Miya. He juggles management skills, culinary talent and business acumen just perfectly. He’s prepared and knows exactly what each day has in store for him.

Until you happen.

Osamu has been cooking for almost three hours by the time the shop officially opens at 11AM. It’s not unusual for new faces to come in from time to time, despite his clientele being more or less established, but it is rare to hear the little door chime ring so soon. Except if his dumb brother happens to be in town.

But you’re not his dumb brother. You’re a new and yet strangely familiar face, even hidden behind thick sunglasses and a beret that one could deem more appropriate to a parisian getaway rather than a Kansai one.

“Morning” you offer a little bow, hesitant by the door “you’re open, right?”

“Uh, sure” he smiles, still a little uncertain after a moment of astonishment “I don’t often have clients for breakfast. What can I get ya?”

“I’ve been told this is the best onigiri shop in town. I’ll let you decide”

You seem to consider your options for a moment, then decide to sit at the closest empty table. Osamu would usually provide more than a nod: he’d make conversation, ask questions. Forming bonds with whoever visits his shop and trusts his food is his favorite part of the day, as well as a great activity to engage in while his hands are busy putting the rice into molds.

“Close that mouth” is the only thing he utters under his breath, glancing at the server who set your table “yer catching flies”

“But it’s her!” Hiro squeaks as silently as humanly possible “I’m gonna ask for an autograph”

“You will do no such thing”

“We could hang it in the shop!”

“Go help in the kitchen, Minato called in sick today. I’ll handle this”

Hiro disappears behind closed doors but only after batting his freakishly long lashes to his boss, a heartbreaking disappointed look on his face.

Osamu takes a deep breath and squeezes the molds together, an action executed as gently as possible to keep the fluffy texture that makes his onigiri the best in town.

He knows you, of course he knows you. Not only your face was on any available surface for the entirety of the previous summer (posters, billboards, magazine covers to advertise your first ever concert in the Koshien stadium), he’s also pretty sure in high school Atsumu had perpetually ruined the walls of their shared room with some crappy adhesive squares used to hang your poster.

Osamu is not really a dedicated listener, he knows a couple of your most famous songs and that your success is damn near planetary. You have a house in Tokyo but spend most of the year in America, California if he recalls correctly, and you tour across Europe as well. Yet, it’s been easy to pick what to serve you. The gourmet options such as salmon roe or roast beef are off the table: they don’t make new clients feel special. What new clients need is a taste of authenticity, something that reminds them of home, and don’t you look just like the kind of person who could use some of that?

Osamu decides on pickled plum, tuna mayo and bonito flakes. One serving usually consists of three onigiri but he can’t resist adding an extra treat for you, a tenmusu onigiri. He’s recently perfected the recipe with an egg-free tempura batter that is still thick enough to absorb his special sauce.

He hopes it’s not creepy that he lingers by your table after he brings your meal: celebrity or not, you’re a new client. And Osamu can’t resist observing the wander taking over customers who are unfamiliar with his kitchen, as soon as they take the first bite. He hopes you are no exception.

“If this is an onigiri” you lock eyes with him and smile, glorious, radiant “what the hell have I been eating until now?”

“Probably not the best in town” he grins, proud, a slight blush already coating his cheeks. Damn it, he’s tempted to turn the baseball cap once more, let the brim shield his awkwardness. But that would be totally lame.

“Is it a family business?”

“No. It’s just… mine”

You hum, busy chewing on another bite. Then you swallow and ask another question, invite him to sit eventually, then apologize because he’s probably busy (he is) and has things to do (he does) but this is never going to happen again for Osamu, because he’s not Atsumu. And so he sits and makes conversation like a normal human being that definitely isn’t obsessively dwelling on how beautiful you are, how different your voice sounds when you’re not singing, how much he’d hate for a client to come in and pop that bubble. Which is exactly what happens and he doesn’t like it one bit how you interrupt your chuckle, lower your head, hunch your shoulders in an attempt to hide. He doesn’t like that he has to excuse himself, call Hiro back form the kitchen, make conversation with Suzuki-san, listen while he describes all his latest hospital visits in horrifying detail.

You look at him from time to time, the quiet shop owner suddenly turned chatty sparks your curiosity. He’s skilled with his hands and genuinely interested in what the person who must be an habitué has to say. He’s attractive, too. Especially as he tries to disguise the occasional glances directed your way or the disappointment that flashes in his eyes when you get up and start collecting your things.

“Can I get the check, please?” you approach the counter, pretend not to notice his hesitation. Osamu decides against indulging in the “it’s on the house” cliche, opts for treating you as any other client. With the exception of a small discount you won’t even notice.

“That was the best breakfast I had in a while” you collect the receipt and put in your pocket.

“You should come back, then. To have another” Osamu cringes internally as soon as the words leave his mouth and Suzuki-san’s chuckle makes him want to dig a hole to disappear into. But you smile, despite probably having heard the corny line a million other times, and tell him that you just might.

It would’ve been perfect: a beautiful ending to a glorious encounter. It could’ve been. If only you didn’t turn around so abruptly, a small shriek echoing across the shop as you came face to face with Mai, the sudden sound and panic causing her to jump and spill the fresh iced tea from the jug in her hand all over your painfully clean, crisp, starched, white button down.

You both freeze, your mouth open in a silent scream, an horrified look in Mai’s eyes that would’ve been comical on literally any other occasion. Osamu wishes he would’ve went with the “it’s on the house” cliche.

“Oh my god! Oh god! It’s you! I mean, I’m sorry!” Mai’s voice comes out an octave too high “my god, I’m so sorry!”

“Well, this is great” you frantically grab a handful of napkins from the counter and attempt to dab the mess on your shirt “I have a meeting in half an hour!”

“Please, take my uniform! I will pay for the dry cleaning!”

“Actually” Osamu chimes in as politely as possible, trying his best not to let his anxiety get the best of him “don’t take this the wrong way but, uh, I live upstairs. You can get cleaned up and…”

“You’re kidding, right?” your astonished look is almost glacial. It makes him falter just slightly.

“Or ya can leave with a giant orange stain on yer wet, probably uncomfortably cold shirt?”

“Miya-san!” Mai’s hiss and your shocked expression make him think that sarcasm probably wasn’t a good idea. Osamu sighs.

“Listen, I’m really sorry. These are the keys, you can go on your own, I promise the bathroom’s clean”

You eye him for a few seconds more, then decide against grabbing the keys from his hand.

“I’m gonna need a change of clothes”

Osamu blinks a couple times, dumbfounded. His clothes? You’re asking to wear… his clothes?

“Sure! Yeah, sure. Come on” now his voice sounds uncharacteristically squeaky and he clears his throat as you follow him up the stairs, Suzuki-san’s good grief still ringing in his ears.

Thank god he cleaned the entire apartment just the day before. As much as he likes to brag about being the tidy twin, deep down he knows he’s just as messy as Atsumu.

Osamu tries hard not to look at you, leaning against the doorframe with your arms crossed while he rummages in his drawers in search of something that could fit you. He shortly wonders if it’d be a good idea to offer a complementary bento box to make up for the disaster Mai caused.

“I’m genuinely sorry” he starts rambling because the silence is unbearable and some of Atsumu’s genes really do take over sometimes “the worst incident we ever had at the shop was my brother almost choking on his dinner. I had to perform the heimlich maneuver, it wasn’t pretty” god, where the hell are this clean, not embarrassing shirts?

“Guess this one will go down in history” your voice is less sharp now, which relieves him.

“Oh, no. I will never tell anyone about this, ever. Mai and Suzuki-san will have to sign an nda. A proper, legally binding one”

The laugh you offer sounds weirdly intimate in the small space of his bedroom, it makes the tips of his ears hot. Finally, he’s able to dig out a decent, basic shirt you accept by thanking him softly. When you lock yourself in the bathroom, Osamu rushes to the kitchen to tidy up the mess he’s left behind after that morning’s breakfast. No time to concentrate on how you’re actually, genuinely in his home, cleaning yourself in the same bathroom he showered in, without a shirt on.

No one’s ever going to believe him. Hell, he may not believe it himself by the end of the day.

“Hey” he jumps at your voice, sudden and closer than expected. You look good in his basic shirt, it suits you somehow. Did you shove your own in one of the bags you left by the door?

“Hey” Osamu says back and cringes for the millionth time “are ya hungry?”

You smile when he shuts his eyes for a second, right after the silly question leaves his mouth.

“Not hungry”

“Right. Of course. Thirsty? I have really good tea, from Shizuoka. And orange juice” he pauses for a second, then adds “or water”

Your smile grows, almost melts into a giggle. “Not thirsty either”

“Okay” he clears his throat “how about dessert? I made some mitarashi dango just yesterday”

“I have a meeting to attend”

“Oh. Sure, yeah, that makes sense” he wants to bash his head against the wall “I’ll walk you out. To downstairs” thank fuck ‘Tsumu isn’t there, he’d never let him live this down. Jesus.

You precede him to the door, gather your bags, then softly thank him for the shirt.

“Nice meeting you, Osamu” he nearly explodes when you say his name, no honorifics whatsoever. How do you even know? He hasn’t carried a name tag on his shirt for years.

“It was nice to meet you too” there’s no time to dwell on dumb, pointless questions “surreal, but nice”

He thinks if your smile could conjure waves, he’d gladly give up all the oxygen in his lungs and drown in them. Has someone ever looked as beautiful while smiling at him? He doesn’t think so. He can’t think. Not when you’re leaning closer, not when your arms are suddenly wrapped around his neck, not when you’re pressing your lips to his. Holy shit. You’re pressing your lips to his. And he’s forgotten how to breathe, let alone kiss. Osamu just freezes, like a marble statue, like a teenager who’s never touched a woman before. Right as he’s about to swallow the shock and fucking move, you’re already pulling away, eyes not leaving his despite the slight self-consciousness swarming in those irises.

And then you disappear, just like the dream he believed you were, all that’s left is an empty spot by the door and his heart slamming against a pathetically ill-equipped ribcage.

La Suite is one of the most luxurious hotels in the prefecture and Osamu feels out of place with the 30 onigiri order he’s carrying past a french restaurant and a traditional japanese one, all soft carpeting, dim lights and wide windows. So different from his.

He timidly explains that he’s there to deliver an order to a certain Bennet-san, who for some reason insisted he’d be the one bringing it to her hotel. They look at him funny but let him through and give the coordinates: top floor, superior double room. A woman meets him the second he steps out of the elevator and sternly asks him to follow her, a silly part of him wonders if he’s about to get murdered in one of the top 25 hotels in Japan. But then she knocks on a door right before swinging it open and he doesn’t even get to explain that he’s not supposed to get inside, she can take the bloody bag and he’ll be on his merry way, but once again Osamu fails to determine what the day holds in store for him.

Once more, it’s you. A less preppy version, one that seems so small in such a gigantic room, the sea breeze blowing from the terrace gracefully lifting up the hem of a tennis skirt you immediately fight to keep down as you promptly get up from the couch.

“Hi” he says, so dumbfounded he barely notices the door closing behind him.

“Miya-san” you bow, keep your eyes down, no sign of a smile he could by now deem familiar “I’m sorry for the trouble, I know the hotel is pretty far from the restaurant and you must be busy. This will only take a second”

Osamu’s brows furrow, confusion evident in the way he cocks his head. You don’t catch it, because your eyes are glued to the floor. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I don’t know what came over me, I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me”

His eyes soften as part of the tension leaves his shoulders. Truth is, Osamu is glad you’re apologizing: despite how beautiful and dreamy you may be, life is not quite a movie and he doesn’t exactly appreciate being blindsided by a stranger. He doesn’t really understand what made you think kissing him would be a good idea (was his awkardness interpreted the wrong way? Did his stare linger on your smile a second too long?) but he’s certain you meant no harm. A shitty person certainly wouldn’t take time out of her day to leave an autograph on a napkin, especially right after half a jug of iced tea was spilled on her shirt just minutes before. To Hiro, with love.

After a moment, he clears his throat. “Can ya look at me?”

You meet his gaze hesitantly, mouth a thin line of harsh disapproval directed at yourself. For a second, you remind him of someone and he almost breaks into a smile.

“Thank you for apologizing. We’re good”

“Are you certain?”

“Yeah!” he chuckles “you didn’t have to place such a big order”

You blink twice, then start nervously fiddling with your fingers “ah, actually I didn’t do it to… well, those onigiris are just really good. I wanted to take some extra ones with me”

“You’re leaving?” he doesn’t mean to sound disappointed, especially not while you’re so intentionally keeping your distance.

“Kinda. My record label rented a house in the countryside, I’ll spend most of the summer locked in, trying to finish my new album. I couldn’t do it in America, I missed being home but didn’t want to endure Tokyo’s chaos so I ended up picking Hyogo. Sorry, you didn’t ask to know all that” you chuckle tensely “we leave tomorrow and I didn’t want to go without apologizing first. That’s all. You may go now”

Osamu hums. “I may go? As in I’m excused?” he laughs when your painfully stoic expression melts into sheer horror.

“No! Of course not, I didn’t mean it like that!”

“You take yourself too seriously” he grins “I’m just messin’ with ya”

“That’s not very nice of you”

“Would you compare it to kissing a stranger out of the blue?”

“Oh god” you hide your overheated face in your hands “you said we’re good!”

“And we are” Osamu steps closer to gently place the bags still in his hands on the marble topped pedestal coffee table. It’s just fun to tease you, one of the many irritating habits he shares with his brother.

His brother. Osamu looks up, a risky desire taking shape in his head and threatening to spill over the tip of his tongue.

“I’m really sorry, Miya-san” you repeat and he doesn’t love that you’re now calling him that “uh, this is your shirt. Cleaned and ironed. Thank you for…”

“Whatcha doing tonight?”

You freeze, paper bag still in hand. “Uhm, nothing interesting”

“No packing?”

“My manager does that for me”

He chuckles. “Right. Chances you’d want to spend your last night in the city at an even less interesting birthday party?”

Osamu waits patiently while you weigh your options, recognizes the confusion in your hesitant stare but doesn’t quite understand why there’s a weary vibration to your voce when you accept, the slight disappointment that flashes across your features.

It’s only fair, you think as he parts from the room with a smile and the command to secure those onigiris in a fridge. If showing you off to his friends like some valuable conquest is the way he wants to even the score, you’re in no position to deny him. You’re the one at fault and you’ve been given a chance to make up for it by wearing the facade you wear best.

Then why does it feel so disheartening, this time?

When Shinsuke opens the door, he’s more surprised by your presence than the carefully wrapped gift in your hands. Not that he doubted Osamu: why send a message to the group chat telling everyone that a) he was bringing someone and b) they should’ve absolutely not behaved any differently than usual if not better (in bold), if he wasn’t actually going to show up with a plus one?

Still, a small part of him did wonder if Atsumu’s and Rintaro’s relentless teasing finally got the best of him. Shinsuke doesn’t think that his friend works too much or that he should start “looking around” before “his hair starts greying again only this once naturally”. He remembers Osamu rolling his eyes at his brother when he implied that at this rate he’s gonna have to tie the knot with the restaurant, only to then space out for most of the evening as everyone else found new topics to migrate toward.

In short, Shinsuke wondered if Osamu was going to come up with a last minute excuse to justify the empty spot next to him at the table. But it seems that spot is going to be taken after all, by you nonetheless.

“Nice to meet you, Kita-san” you smile after Osamu introduces you by your name and nothing else, not a wink, not even a subtle hint or a reasonable explanation “happy birthday”

Shinsuke accepts the gift with a polite thank you and he’s almost made sure you could preserve a nice, normal memory of stepping foot into his house for the first time, of course failing to consider the Hinata factor.

“Thank god, Osamu, I’m so hungry- holy shit! Is her your gift? I only brought a cap that says farm hair don’t care!” there’s a strange but seemingly friendly redhead looking at you with eyes so wide you fear they might roll out of their sockets.

“Shoyo, any chance you checked the chat today?” Osamu smiles at him widely but Kita recognizes the tension at the corners.

“What? Of course not, I was busy picking a cute gift” Hinata smiles too but his excitement is genuine “hello, nice to meet you! Please come in, you can help us set the table!”

You chuckle and meet Osamu’s horrified eyes for a second, his posture relaxes as your gentle reassurance puts him at ease. I’ll be in the other room, then. Leave it to Hinata to make a gigantic deal out of a special guest only to treat her as one of his buddies ten seconds later. You seemed comfortable, though, as one always feels whenever Shoyo happens to be around.

“Who is she?” Shinsuke doesn’t mean for his tone to be so conspiratorial but he keeps it low, just in case you might still hear them.

“A friend. Kinda. Ya wouldn’t believe me” Osamu takes his jacket off and hangs it by the door, then picks up the plethora of bags from the floor and makes his way into his friend’s kitchen.

“No, I mean… who is she? Why does Shoyo know her?” Shinsuke follows suit, intent on helping him distribute all the food he’s brought in the different plates he has prepared. Osamu shakes his initial surprise off with a chuckle.

“Only one of the most famous pop music artists in Japan”

Kita stills his movements for a second, then absorbs the new information with a simple nod. “Right. And you met her at the shop”

“How d’ya know?”

“Where else would you be meeting a pop music artist?”

“Don’t make it sound so obvious” Osamu pulls a face and Shinsuke’s eyes twinkle with mischief.

“Well, she’s here. With you. Is it like… a date?”

“No” the peremptory answer comes embarrassingly fast “it’s her last night in the city, she’s here because she didn’t have anything better planned”

“But you invited her”

“Yes”

“Because you like her”

“I don’t-” Osamu gestures vaguely with his hands “it’s not like that. ‘Tsumu used to have a poster of her face in our room, for fuck’s sake”

Kita hums. “So what you actually mean is it can’t be like that”

“I don’t see the difference”

“I do”

“Well-” a loud commotion Osamu has been trained for over two decades to instantly recognize as his brother’s voice, makes the words die in his throat. By the time him and Shinsuke return to the colorfully decorated living room (courtesy of an overly enthusiastic Hinata and one resigned Rintaro), Atsumu is already talking your ear off and seemingly invading your personal space multiple times as he follows you around the table you’re setting with Suna like a golden retriever on a sugar overload.

“Shoyo, you were supposed to keep her safe” Osamu glares at his brother and takes a mental note to scold Aran too, later. For snickering.

Hinata doesn’t get the chance to defend himself because of course Atsumu’s the only one who could outshine that intense excitement with his own.

“Samu! What the hell? If this is yer gift to Shin, what are ya plannin’ to get me exactly?”

“Can everyone stop assuming she’s here as a thing and not as a person?” it comes out harsher than intended and Osamu feels his face grow hot when all those present simply stare at him. When you stare at him.

Suna clears his throat.

“Cut him some slack, he came out of the bathroom and we could barely convince him she’s not a hallucination” you chuckle at that, which makes the ever stoic Rintaro look away with a faint blush blossoming on his pale cheeks.

“Wait” Atsumu looks at you, then at his brother and his brows become progressively furrowed “she’s here with you? As in, you invited her? And she said yes?”

Osamu wonders why he thought a simple admonishment in the group chat would be enough. He has half an idea of shoving an onigiri right into his brother’s loud mouth and not perform any maneuver whatsoever when the rice obstructs his airways.

“Actually, I wanted to come” you chime in so gently it takes a few moments for him to register the words “I’m leaving tomorrow and when Miya-san mentioned it was one of his friends’ birthday, I shamelessly asked if I could tag along. Hope I’m not a bother”

Kita is looking at you the same way Osamu is, puzzled. Hinata almost chokes on his coke and starts coughing profusely, so much that Aran has to lend him a napkin.

“A bother? No, of course not!” his nose might be on fire but by god, he physically cannot let you believe such nonsense for a second too long.

Atsumu’s mouth hangs wide open, brows still knit that make his expression overall hilarious “you make her call you Miya-san? Yikes, bro” he turns to you and makes a scene of slamming a hand on his chest “please, feel free to call me ‘Tsumu. I think we’re intimate enough by now”

“Given that we took five selfies and you made me sign my name on your abs, I also think we’re intimate enough” your grin seems genuine, which only startles Osamu more.

“Ya made her do what?” oh, there are probably not enough words in the japanese vocabulary for the way he’ll have to apologize at the end of the night.

“It’s fine, I didn’t mind” you shrug “but if I could ask everyone a small favor…”

“Sure, anything!” Atsumu’s interruption only makes your smile grow wider “I’d really like to celebrate Kita-san’s birthday like you’d normally do. Please don’t make a big deal out of me, it’s his night after all”

“She’s asking not to be treated like a circus act” Aran whispers to Hinata, who blinks his big brown eyes in quiet understanding.

“Done!” Atsumu’s fist hits his chest right where the heart is as he solemnly declares “you’re one of the boys now, consider yourself a pal”

“Thanks, ‘Tsumu” he tries to keep his composure but nearly implodes as you direct your attention to Shoyo “no, Hinata-san, this doesn’t mean we won’t be taking that picture I promised. Don’t worry” your wink is the prettiest, most wonderful thing he’s ever witnessed and thank fuck he’s done drinking that coke because his airways suddenly feel clogged.

Kita thinks this is already the most entertaining birthday he’s ever celebrated.

And celebrate his birthday you all do. Normally, as per your request. You sit between Rintaro and Osamu at dinner and masterfully divert the attention from yourself whenever the questions start piling up. The uno reverse technique works well: your curiosity feels flattering and everyone is happy to satisfy it. The questions you direct are extremely specific, your laugh echoes alongside everyone else’s and Osamu can’t help but think that, in some odd way, you fit in seamlessly.

Keeping his eyes off of you isn’t but a strenuous fight with himself, it’d be lovely if looking would be the only activity he’d be allowed to engage in. It’s not hard to guess why hordes of fans and admirers are so enamoured: you’re such a natural. Polite, poised, funny, charismatic. Making you laugh feels like a privilege, having your brows raise in interest makes the story one’s recounting instantly fascinating. And yet you’re not doing any of that on purpose, he can tell. The one thing you’re being intentionally careful about is avoiding his gaze and making sure your arm doesn’t accidentally brush against his.

Osamu wants to ask himself why but also refuses to indulge in childish fantasies. What, he thought you liked him? Part of him believed you’d accepted to come to some stranger’s birthday party purely to spend an evening with him. Bullshit. Everyone in the world knows who you are and he simply owns an onigiri shop in Hyogo, one you happened to visit by sheer chance. He’s the guy you are so embarrassed to be seen with, you had to come up with a lie to justify your presence at the very same table that seems to adore you.

But when he jokingly throws a grain of rice at Aran, you hide your chuckle behind your hand. If he speaks, you always turn to look. Osamu doesn’t remember a social gathering where he tried to come up with just as many things to say, desperately conjuring genes that always weigh heavier in Atsumu. Unfortunately, the one person he could always count on, his dear friend and trusty supplier, decides his birthday night is the perfect occasion to stab him in the back.

“I’m sorry, I just need to ask” Kita refills your glass with fresh wine from across the table before retracting to his seat once more “your encounter with Osamu, how did it happen exactly?”

“Yeah, was his onigiri so good you wanted to-”

“Do not finish that sentence, Shoyo” Aran clears his throat as Suna, next to you, has a hard time swallowing his stir fry noodles.

“She heard my shop was the best in town, which it is, came to try it. That’s the story” Osamu wishes he could disappear into his kitchen as he often does when things at the restaurant get uncomfortable.

“I don’t buy it” Shinsuke shrugs “is that really the whole story?”

Kita’s knowing stare really hasn’t changed since high school and it seems you’re affected by it just as much as every other human. His eyes bore right into yours, trained to detect hesitation or even the hint of a lie, giving you no escape. Goddamn it, he’s still the team captain, there’s no running from him.

“Well” you gently swirl the glass in your hand, suddenly very much focused on the crimson liquid swooshing inside “I also kissed him”

This time someone does actually choke and, of course, it’s Atsumu. Right as Rintaro utters an ever quiet holy shit, he explodes in a coughing fit and Aran promptly strikes between his shoulder blades with the heel of his hand, perhaps with more force than needed. Thankfully, Atsumu manages to swallow his bite and, despite the tears threatening to run down his cheeks in all their shimmering glory, still conjures the energy needed to point an intimidating finger at his brother “ya bastard!”

“That’s a joke, right?” Hinata’s eyes have once again grown three sizes.

Kita doesn’t ask, the answer is written all over Osamu’s crimson red face. He was right, no one would’ve believed him.

“No, I really did” you take a sip from your glass and now everyone is looking at you like you’re some kind of alien. Except for Atsumu, who’s still glaring daggers at his brother.

“So this is… a date for you two?” Suna’s just as shocked as everyone else but seems to be the only person currently able to string words together.

“Oh, no” you brush the question off with a gracious wave of the hand “I just did it to thank him”

This time the silence stretches for a moment too long. Atsumu seems on the verge of passing out.

“You kissed him to thank him?” Kita cocks his head.

“Yeah. I mean, he was very kind. Have you never kissed someone to thank them?”

“Uh… no. I don’t think so”

“Really?”

“Do you…” Aran hopes to the gods that the words don’t come out the wrong way “do that often?”

“Aran” as much as Osamu wishes the earth could swallow him whole, he doesn’t want you to think his friends may be implying something they’re really not.

“I didn’t mean it like that!”

“It’s okay” you let our a nervous chuckle and because Osamu is sitting so close, he hears the shaky breath too “I know it was wrong. I tend to forget that’s not what normal people are used to. I apologized and now we’re good, right, Miya-san?” your eyes meet his and he feels his heart drop right into his stomach.

“Why are you used to that?” he asks instead of replying to your question and you just. Freeze.

“Yeah…” Hinata quietly chimes in “that doesn’t sound like something anyone should be used to”

For the first time, you don’t know how to respond. Osamu senses your panic, can read it in your eyes, but is too baffled to think of something smart or chivalrous to say.

“Holy shit, ya know what that means?” Atsumu slams both his hands on the table and both you and everyone else jump “it means she thinks I’m hot! In another life, I’d have a chance! Sorry, Shin, I know it’s yer birthday but I think this is the best night of my life!”

A quiet, astonished moment follows, then the table erupts in genuine laughter. You’re giggling so much you have to hold your stomach, Kita is shaking his head in resignation, Suna rolls his eyes with affection. Osamu settles for a smile as he relaxes against his chair once more. His brother may be loud and annoyingly inopportune, but his quiet support never once faltered throughout the years. One doesn’t need to be an old acquaintance to be taken under Miya Atsumu’s wing: if he senses as much as the hint of unease, his charismatic idiocy is summoned right away at the service of whoever may need it. Yet his loyalty remains unshakeable: Osamu knows that, in his stupid head, you’re already forbidden territory.

His mind is dizzy with confusion he doesn’t know how to properly address. As Kita blows out the candles on the cake he’s made, Osamu feels a wave of affection inundate his heart. He remembers that are nights like this that are worth being present, even if he has to get up at dawn or his sink is full of dirty dishes and he’s exhausted. Life only ever feels right when he’s with his friends or his family. It’s a routine he’s trained hard to get used to: work, work, work, carve out small moments to spend with those who come and go. It’s important for him to be there, when they come.

Osamu almost misses it, too focused on cleaning an extra plate or two in the kitchen, to make sure the birthday boy can get to relax once they leave. And then you call for him, a small crack in that poised facade of yours when his name almost slips out. You rush into the kitchen and urge him to hurry up, they’re already singing happy birthday to Kita-san. Come on, you’re missing it!

You probably wanted to go for his sleeve and found his hand instead, dragged him out of the room so quickly Osamu barely had the time to put the towel down. For some reason, once in the living room you don’t let go right away and neither does he. You only do so to clap with everyone else and even then it’s not entirely possible to establish who lets go first. Regardless, Osamu gives your hand a light squeeze and hopes you notice, despite there being no signs to indicate that.

You’re the first two people to excuse themselves: he refuses to let you go back to your hotel on your own, doesn’t give two shits that you have a driver or could well afford a cab because it’s a beautiful evening and Osamu is itching to have as little as ten minutes alone with you. He watches as you formally offer a hand to Suna and he grins as he shakes it, gently taking it in between his in a respectful attempt at suggesting that there’s no need to be so ceremonious.

You exchange quick hugs with everyone else, take the picture promised to Hinata, chuckle lightly when Atsumu timidly asks for a kiss on the cheek just because “it’s the american way of saying goodbye!” and of course you accomodate the request. Osamu is almost willing to bet you genuinely had fun but he also can’t seem to shake off the odd feeling suggesting you’ve somehow taken it upon yourself to just… appease everyone for the entire evening. Like some kind of duty. He doesn’t want you to think back to this evening like a task that had to be carried out.

“Oh my god, I cannot fucking believe it!” Atsumu’s shriek echoes loud and clear in the empty street as soon as Kita shuts the door and you meet Osamu’s exasperated glare.

“I’m genuinely not sure what I should start apologizing for” he runs a hand through his brown hair and his stress makes you smile as you fall into a comfortable walking pace.

“I should start by thanking you for inviting me. Can’t remember the last time I had such a normal night”

“My friends are many things but I don’t know if they really fall into the normal category”

You laugh at that. “I think they’re really nice. It was fun. I didn’t know there were two of you”

Osamu grimaces, lightly shaking his head “good call, he’s the thing I should start apologizing for”

“I liked Atsumu” of course you did, don’t they all? “you’re lucky to have such good friends and a brother. Is it true what they say about weird connections us twinless mortals wouldn’t get?”

He sighs. As much as Osamu hates stereotypes and all the disadvantages that come with not being able to be his own person, the curse of always being considered nothing but part of a set, he knows the bond with Atsumu is just as rare and irreplaceable as people make it out to be.

“Well, I can pretty much always read his mind. But it’s not a twin thing, s’just an Atsumu thing” he shrugs “most transparent, honest person on earth”

“You’re both very kind” your observation strikes him. It hits the nail on the head: he does his best but it’s unusual for someone to notice ‘Tsumu’s selflessness right away.

“Could say the same about ya” he’s eager to direct the topic to the thing he’s really interested in, the one person who refused every bit of attention directed her way throughout the night “that tea collection must’ve costed a fortune. Shinsuke loves tea, yer manager picked well”

You hum, gaze focused on your feet. “Actually, I picked it”

Another thing Osamu has in common with his brother, the ability to royally fuck up in such a short amount of time.

“Oh, I didn’t-”

“It’s okay, happens all the time”

“What happens?”

“People assuming things” you’re not mad, there’s just a sad vibration to your voice. If he could punch himself in the face, he would.

“I’m sorry”

“Don’t be” Osamu hates the smile you toss at him. He hates it so much he stops in the middle of the sidewalk and watches you turn around, confusion flashing in your disenchanted eyes.

“There’s a pretty cool park ‘round the corner. How about a detour? If you’re not too tired”

You hum in agreement, ask him to lead the way. Careful, Osamu, you’d like to say. This same polite regard is what got me in trouble the first time.

The park, which is more of a garden really, is a slice of eden in the jungle that any city inevitably ends up feeling like. Lowlands, an abundance of irregular but colorful flowerbeds that seem to glow in the dark, the warm air of the evening saturated with the sweet scent of lime trees, a gravel path you both follow all the way to a small, wooden playground. It’s only natural to gravitate toward the swings, relish in the comfort of the stillness the evening offers. It always feels like the earth rotates slower, pace decelerating to give you more time to enjoy the things it’s hard to appreciate during your hectic days.

Osamu approaches the swing like an old friend, takes hold of the chains with both hands. He lightly pushes off the ground with his feet while pulling back, giving you a perfect view of his perfect profile.

“I don’t want to assume” he says quietly “so is it okay if I ask?”

“Yeah” you rest your head on the chain you’re holding, still looking at him who won’t look at you.

“Why did you tell ‘Tsumu you asked me to come tonight?” the actual question dies in his throat. Were you that embarrassed of being there with me?

“You seemed pretty self-conscious. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable” and I guess that way, you got to seem cooler.

Osamu almost chokes on his own spit from how surprised he is by your answer. What the fuck.

“I wasn’t-” not for the reason you seem to believe “I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable!”

You smile, patiently waiting for the moment where he’ll finally turn to meet your gaze instead of persistently staring at his feet. “I don’t think I ever felt that comfortable in a room filled with men”

“That shouldn’t be an exceptional occurrence”

“Right. But it is”

He spends a few moments trying to come up with the right words, a handful of seconds spent with part of his brain wishing he could have a talk with all the men who made you feel unsafe. How many? Where, why? Are they the reason why Osamu wants to get so desperately close and yet keep a respectful distance, not to scare you off, not to be another name added to the list of creeps you surely hate?

“Why did you kiss me?” those are far from being the right, considerate words he was trying to summon, but they bubble up from his throat before he can stop them.

You hum, pensive “I don’t know. You’re pretty, you’re gentle, I thought t’was what you expected to happen. It’s what men usually expect in return”

“In return for what?” he fights the urge to keep his eyes down, confident that the darkness will conceal the redness of his cheeks. You think he’s pretty and the first thing his dumb brain is able to link the revelation to, is Atsumu. Shit, he was right, this means you do find him attractive as well.

“Anything, really” your chuckle is devoid of actual humor “I know this night was supposed to make up for it but I didn’t expect to have so much fun. Regardless, I hope we’re even now”

Osamu furrows his brows.

“Ya think that’s why I invited ya?”

“Why else?”

He almost laughs, incredulous. You hide that mistrust really well, Osamu has to give it you. It feels unfair that life has given someone who seemingly has everything, so many reasons to think you can only be seen as an empty shell, some trophy with the sole purpose of being flaunted.

“You said you were leaving. I didn’t like the idea of not seeing you again”

“Really?” your lips curl into a small smile “the weird girl who jumped you on your first meeting?”

“You’re weird” he concedes “and selfless. Intelligent. Maybe jokes are not your forte but, hey, ya get to look like that” your laugh compliments his really well and Osamu can’t help but think he’d like to sit in a park, in the middle of the night, and talk and laugh and be with you just once more.

You briefly wonder if the man sitting so close to you is aware of just how devastatingly charming he is. Part of you wishes he’d want to take you out on a proper date, let you meet his friends on different occasions, include a weird stranger in such a well balanced life. Part of you also knows you’d never want to ruin that for him. Not for someone like Osamu. People who are unfortunate enough to stumble across you are almost always harassed away, it’s a life you’re used to and can’t bring yourself to run from. It’s who you are and, most importantly, all you have. It’d be too dangerous for your heart to desire anything different.

But he’s looking at you as if you’re the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, land emerged from the sea millions of years ago for his eyes only to experience such a sight. No one’s ever looked at you with such wonder.

“I don’t want to assume” he holds your gaze locked to his, swing dangling lightly as he leans closer “so is it okay if I ask?”

“Yes” you utter a little too breathlessly.

“Can I kiss ya?”

You hum in affirmation and close your eyes, heart beating a little faster than what you’re used to as you sense his proximity. He smells nice, radiates warmth and his soft hair tickles a little when his lips gently press to your cheek.

Osamu smiles when he catches a glimpse of disappointment flashing over your features, the first of many clues he wants to learn how to interpret correctly. The cracks in a facade he’d make his personal mission to tear down.

“I know you have to go away tomorrow” he gently moves a strand of hair away from your forehead “but I wondered, if you didn’t, whether you might let me see ya a little. Or a lot, maybe”

You lean into his touch, calloused fingertips still barely grazing your skin.

“A lot sounds good”

#osamu x reader #osamu x you #osamu miya x reader #osamu miya x you #miya osamu x reader #haikyuu x reder #romcomcollab

525 notes · View notes

lostintransist · 3 months ago

Text

Tomorrows From Before | Part 2

CW: Mentions of sibilng in rehab, rude pranks, crying from frustration. LMK if something else should be noted.

AO3

“Lynx!”

The shout of your call sign caused you to spin. One of the civilian aides ran after you in her smart heels and slacks. You waited between the buildings, the neatly cared-for grass on either side of the concrete. You didn’t envy the women who worked on base and had to wear business casual clothes. You could get away with fatigues or workout clothes in and around the gym.

“Hi, can I help you?” The neutral tone was one you had perfected for dealing with superior officers and unwanted male attention.

The woman’s high ponytail swayed as she held up a finger and rested one hand on her hip to breathe.

“You walk really fast, did you know that?” She said between breaths.

“I can’t say I’ve noticed, sorry.” You offer a half smile.

“Ivy mentioned you would be interested in hosting a workout session for any of the ladies who would like to attend, is that right?” She straightened, heels pushing her head above yours in your boots.

“Yes, I like hosting classes when I am on base, I get bored of lifting weights and have noticed that even wives and admin staff enjoy a bit of workout from time to time,” you shift your weight to one foot and slide your thumbs into the edge of your pocket.

“I can make that happen. I schedule most of the training and things around here and can schedule a few tentative evenings for a workout. I’m Tana,” she offers her hand for a shake.

“Lynx but you know that,” you shake her hand with a smile, thumb returning to your pocket. “Schedules can be a bit wonky for me because of the task force, but I think a few tentative nights would probably work out best. Would emailing or texting work better?”

“Email for this,” Tana nodded affirmatively.

You rattle off your .gov email address and confirm the spelling when she turns her phone back to you. Parting with a smile and a wave you continue your trek to the conference room with the small table that served as the office for the 141. You had the worst seat, back to the door, because the guys hated you and you had joined last. The refrain in your brain when you sat to work at your laptop was ‘I could ask Price to work from his couch, he would let me.’ You didn’t though. It felt like losing ground to cede the empty chair to them.

The rattle of the fan blowing the damp air around the room muted the sounds of breathing but not the slow peck of fingers on keys. All of them did that, the hunt and peck, though Ghost was the worst. Man stared at his keys instead of his screen.

Letting the front legs drag against the floor you stepped around it to sit. Gaz sat back in his chair arms crossed as he stared at his screen. The report sat empty, cursor flashing as if reminding him it existed. Roach played minesweeper on his. Did computers even come with that installed anymore? Dropping into your chair gravity took a swing at you.

Without even time for a short shout, you wheeze out a breath as you lay on the floor. The back of the chair digs into your spine, metal bends carving away at your flesh. Soap and Ghost stand from the opposite side of the round table to stare down at you from on high as Gaz and Roach share a look before snickering.

Insult is added to injury when Price opens the door directly into your head. The laughter stops, confirming your suspicions.

“Whatcha doing on the floor Lynx?” His mustache twitches as he peers down at you.

“Guess my chair just gave up the ghost Cap. You need something?” You wince as you put more weight on your back, pulling your legs off to one side and roll to kneeling.

“Yes, let’s head to my office,” he holds the door open for you.

Standing you ignore the eight eyes on your back. Let them wonder.

Safely behind the shut door of Price’s office, dimly lit and covered in paperwork, he looks you over.

“It’s started hasn’t it?”

“The hazing? Yeah, I imagine this is the first blow,” you reply as you rub a hand over every sore spot you can reach.

With a sigh that would rattle the dead, John, for he is John behind closed doors, gestures for you to sit.

Glancing at the chair you wince.

“Think I’ll stand John. Thanks though.”

He shrugs as if saying ‘Your choice,’ and pulls out a stack of sticky notes from below one file centered on his desk.

“I got a call from your mother today.”

The chair looked much more inviting now.

Your mother was, in the nicest of terms, a narcissist. She play acted as the role model and the perfect mother, burdened with so many daughters spread across the globe. Most of your sisters talked to her still, you did not. The relationship had never recovered from her confirming that she loved you, she just didn’t like you. Not liking the way her love suffocated you under passive-aggressive comments about weight, or smartness, or lack of makeup, or any number of superfluous or petty things you had found peace with distance. If she was one of the reasons you took the job-based in England with the 141? Well, your mother never needed to know that. She must have gotten in quite a bind to dig out what base you might be on and convince someone to patch her through to your CO. And that said nothing of the time difference.

“Did she say what she was calling about?” You ask carefully.

Not that she wouldn’t break contact for any number of lesser reasons but the gravity by which John’s words fell worried you. Could it be your grandmother or any of your aunts or uncles? It couldn’t be anything with your sisters, most of them would text you the moment they heard something going down. You weren’t close, but the trauma bond of trying to escape the house alive kept you in contact. Well, that and discussing what batshit nonsense your mother got up to.

“She asked that you try and call your sister Sari.” John glanced down at his note, “She said and I quote, ‘She’s trying to leave and you’re the only one who can talk her down.’ Do you know what she means by that?”

His captain’s face is on when he looks back up at you, calculating. This is the face you see when he is thinking physics in form and function if not equations.

Working your jaw back and forth as you swallow down your nausea. Your sister Sari, the oldest of the six of you, turned to drugs to deal with the constant belittling, backbiting, invalidating, and general hatefulness that lived between breaths of your childhood home. Everyone else had cut her off. Your mother still talked to her but of the siblings only you spoke to her on a regular basis. The payments for her expensive in-person treatment to get clean came from your account. Sari couldn’t burn a bridge she couldn’t reach and with you always being scheduled on bases far from home she couldn’t steal, bribe, or threaten you for drug money. This was her fifth time at rehab, and the last you could pay for. The few dollars left in your account after each payment wouldn’t even get you a good beer out here.

“In the simplest terms, my sister is attempting to leave rehab and my mother thinks I can somehow fix it from several hundred miles and a few too many time zones,” you stare at him as you answer.

“Would you like to take some time to handle this matter?” John questions carefully.

The snort is involuntary.

“With what money?” You mumble under your breath.

Before John can pounce on that comment his desk phone rings.

He glances from it to you, face neutral as he lifts the receiver to his face.

“This is John.”

His eyes go distant as he focuses on the call in his ear.

“Patch her through.” He holds out the molded plastic over the desk, “It’s for you.”

Dread settles in the fluid between your cells. Taking the phone gingerly from him you stretch the twisted cord as far as it will reach.

“This is Lynx.”

“Hi, sis.”

Sari, with tears in her voice, reaches across an ocean to caress you with her needs.

“What’s up Sari? I’m working right now.”

“I’m so tired. I want to go home,” her voice breaks on the word home.

Rage should never be the first reaction to pain, especially to others. You also want to go home, somewhere that love lives, but you can’t. Neither can she.

Silence lingers on your end. If you open your mouth now all the vile, hateful, evil thoughts that have slid through your mind will come rocketing out. You’ve completely forgotten your captain is staring at you as he watches you fight back all the training from childhood about how to inflict emotional agony.

“I think I’m gonna leave sis.”

It’s too much.

“Leave then Sari. You’ve never cared enough about anyone to get clean. I won’t pay for another shot at this. Leave now and the next time you get clean will be because you’re in prison or you’re dead. Either way, it won’t be on my dime anymore.” Even poison dripping off your tongue couldn’t feel this vile.

Sari stutters on the other end of the line. You cut her off, “I am nearly dying on a weekly basis to keep you from dying because everyone else gave up on you, even Mom and Dad. If you leave I won’t be stuck in hell for you. Tell the front desk to call me if you walk, I want to see if I can get a refund.” You slam the phone down into the cradle. God bless bureaucrats who refused to update from hard-lined phones.

You stand, feet apart and lungs sucking in air as if you had just escaped an altercation with an enemy.

“Care to tell me what that was about?” Price asked carefully.

“No,” you bite out.

“No?” His brow lifts with the upturn of his question.

“No, sir.”

“That is not what I was asking for. Sit down.”

You sit, hands braced against the armrests as if you could rip them off and use them to fend off his questions.

“Lynx, I need to know if something in your civilian life can compromise you. Now, tell me about your sister and how you ended up paying for her treatment.”

The silence stretched to the point of snapping.

When you open your mouth all that escapes is a sob of frustration.

TFB Masterlist | Masterlist

#cod #fanfiction #cod x reader #ghost x reader #simon riley x reader #soap x reader #soap mactavish #john soap mactavish #soap cod #kyle gaz garrick #gary roach sanderson #captain john price #ghoap x reader #ghoap x you

89 notes · View notes

objectheadzine · 2 years ago

Text

WELCOME TO THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OBJECT HEAD ZINE!

In celebration, the 2024's edition will be a Grab Bag - draw whatever object head you like (so long as it fits the guidelines, see below). In Lieu of a theme, all submissions MUST HAVE ASHLEY (the megaphone mascot) in the piece! Feel free to make him as large or as small as you want in the composition. He can be hanging out with your characters or he can be on a flyer, just so long he's somewhere in the picture! Reference of all his outfits can be found here. But don't feel like you're restricted to his previous outfits. Feel free to dress him up in anything you'd like. Content is also free for whatever! You want to date the lil man? Go for it! You want to tease or go on the attack? Also fine! Ignore him and let him live his life? Sure thing.

ALL submissions will be accepted as long as they fit guidelines and each person has a limit of up to 3 submissions. Submit your pieces to the zine email objectheadzine(@)hotmail(.)com along with the email/website/name you’d like to be credited as. (Feel free to omit emails if that is more comfortable). When you’ve finished your piece(s), you are allowed to post them to your blogs as long as you link back to the zine blog! This will be a DIGITAL ZINE ONLY and will be available free upon completion (donation optional).

The guidelines are as follow:

Illustration-quality works in either digital or traditional mediums. Both colour and b/w acceptable; background required. *BG can be as simple as a pattern or colour block! Avoid utilizing a camera to submit your images, please use a scanner.

The default size will be 6″x9″, 300 dpi (1800px x 2700px) but feel free to go larger or smaller, so long as it follows those proportions. Please work in a vertical format.

For consistency’s sake, keep faces to a minimum (You can have eye(s) or you can have mouth(s) but don’t have both in a humanoid arrangement.)

Ashley, the megaphone head mascot, must be included in your piece. He can be small in the picture or a large factor but he must be included. When submitting, if he is not obvious, please point him out to me. References are found here.

Please go for original characters (or fanart of your friend’s characters) and not so much established object heads (e.g. the popcorn and soda heads from No More).

If you want to include humans, that’s fine as well but keep the ratio of people to object heads 1:1.

Content should be at most PG-13: Romance is fine but after-hours business should not be implied, Blood is fine but no gore. In the end, use your common sense.

Feel free to draw a comic or just an illustration! A comic counts as one submission.

Some facts about Ashley that could help with your piece: He's 5'2", he's of Chinese nationality, he's a TV show host, he's a bubbly, happy-go-lucky kind of guy and he has a Samyoed dog named Cotton!

Note that if a submission does not meet the above guidelines, I will either reject your submission or suggest improvements that would help your piece fulfill them. Please email me at objectheadzine(@)hotmail(.)com if you have any further questions and I’ll do my best to reply promptly. If you do not receive a message from me within a few days, please send it again. Final pieces submitted should be either in PNG or a one layer PSD file format.

Want to share your piece as you're working on them? Come on over to the Object Head Zine discord!

THE DUE DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS NOVEMBER 9TH.

#object head #object heads #object head zine #objecthead #objectheads #objectheadzine

782 notes · View notes

arushi091 · 3 months ago

Text

Best Hosting Provider in Delhi

When it comes to choosing a hosting provider for your website or business, there are many factors to consider. You want a provider that is reliable, fast, and offers excellent customer support. For businesses and individuals based in Delhi, India, selecting a local hosting provider can offer additional benefits like better site performance and localized support.

In this blog, we will explore some of the best hosting providers in Delhi and what makes them stand out in the competitive hosting market.

1. Hostagle – Affordable and Reliable Hosting

Hostagle is quickly becoming one of the top names in the Indian hosting space, especially for small and medium businesses looking for affordable yet reliable hosting. Based in India, Hostagle offers a range of services including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and WordPress hosting, all backed by robust customer support.

Key Features of Hostagle:

Affordable Pricing: One of the key selling points of Hostagle is its affordability. It offers some of the most competitive prices in the market without compromising on quality.

High Performance: Hostagle uses SSD (Solid State Drive) storage for fast data retrieval, ensuring that websites load quickly.

Free Website Migration: Hostagle offers free migration services, making it easy for businesses to switch from their existing host.

24/7 Customer Support: Their customer support team is available around the clock, which is a significant advantage if you run an e-commerce site or have clients in different time zones.

Uptime Guarantee: Hostagle guarantees 99.9% uptime, which means your website will be online and accessible most of the time, providing peace of mind for business owners.

Why Choose Hostagle in Delhi?

Hostagle is ideal for those looking for a cost-effective solution with reliable customer service. Its local presence ensures that their team is well-versed in the needs of Indian businesses. Additionally, Hostagle’s servers are optimized for Indian internet speeds, which means faster load times for users in Delhi and other parts of India.

2. HostGator India

HostGator is a well-known global hosting provider that also has a dedicated infrastructure in India. While HostGator is a global player, its Indian servers ensure fast loading speeds for local users, making it an excellent choice for websites targeting Indian audiences.

Key Features of HostGator India:

Flexible Plans: HostGator India offers a variety of plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers.

Excellent Support: HostGator's 24/7 support is highly rated, with a wide range of support options including live chat, phone, and email support.

Free Website Builder: They offer an easy-to-use website builder for beginners, which helps you get your site up and running quickly.

Money-Back Guarantee: HostGator offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to try their services risk-free.

Scalability: HostGator’s hosting plans are highly scalable, meaning you can upgrade as your website grows without much hassle.

Why Choose HostGator India?

If you’re looking for a hosting provider with a well-established reputation, excellent support, and a range of flexible hosting plans, HostGator India is a strong choice. Their servers in India provide good local performance, and their global presence ensures that they have the infrastructure to support businesses targeting international audiences.

3. Bluehost India

Bluehost is another global hosting giant with a strong presence in India. Known for its reliable WordPress hosting services, Bluehost is often recommended by WordPress itself for users looking to host their WordPress websites.

Key Features of Bluehost India:

Optimized for WordPress: Bluehost is one of the best hosting providers for WordPress sites, offering one-click installs, automatic updates, and excellent performance.

Free Domain for the First Year: When you sign up for a hosting plan, Bluehost gives you a free domain name for the first year.

Enhanced Security: Bluehost provides free SSL certificates and regular malware scans, ensuring your website stays secure.

24/7 Customer Support: Their support team is always available through chat, email, or phone to help you with any issues.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try their services risk-free.

Why Choose Bluehost India?

Bluehost is ideal for businesses that use WordPress or plan to build their site with WordPress. Its easy setup, high performance, and excellent customer service make it a great choice for users in Delhi and beyond.

4. A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is known for its speed-focused hosting solutions. While not as widely recognized as some of the bigger names, it offers some of the fastest hosting services, thanks to its use of Turbo Servers.

Key Features of A2 Hosting:

Turbo Speed: A2 Hosting's Turbo Servers are designed to deliver faster load times, which can significantly improve the user experience on your site.

Free CDN: A2 Hosting includes a free Content Delivery Network (CDN) in its plans, which can further speed up your website for users around the world.

Developer-Friendly: If you’re a developer, A2 Hosting offers a range of tools like SSH access, staging environments, and other developer-friendly features.

High Uptime: A2 Hosting offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, ensuring that your website stays up and running.

Why Choose A2 Hosting?

If speed is a top priority for your website, A2 Hosting should be on your radar. Their Turbo Servers deliver exceptional performance, and their global data centers ensure that websites load quickly, no matter where your visitors are located.

5. SiteGround

SiteGround is a globally recognized hosting provider that also has a presence in India. Known for its excellent customer support and high uptime, SiteGround is a solid choice for businesses in Delhi looking for reliable hosting.

Key Features of SiteGround:

Excellent Customer Support: SiteGround is known for its superior customer support, with a team that’s quick to resolve issues.

Free Daily Backups: SiteGround offers free daily backups, so you never have to worry about losing your website’s data.

Optimized Performance: SiteGround’s hosting is optimized for speed, ensuring that websites load quickly even during traffic spikes.

WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting: If you’re running a WordPress or WooCommerce site, SiteGround offers specialized hosting plans designed to enhance performance.

Why Choose SiteGround?

For businesses that need top-tier customer support and fast, reliable hosting, SiteGround is a great option. Its support, performance optimization, and strong reputation make it a favorite among Indian businesses.

Conclusion

Choosing the right hosting provider is crucial for the success of your website. Whether you’re running a small personal blog or a growing business in Delhi, there are several hosting providers to consider. Hostagle offers a great balance of affordability and reliability, especially for Indian businesses. Other international providers like HostGator India, Bluehost India, and A2 Hosting also offer excellent options with tailored solutions for Indian users.

Ultimately, your decision will depend on your specific needs—whether that’s price, performance, customer support, or scalability. Whichever provider you choose, make sure they align with your website goals and offer the services that best suit your business needs.

#digital marketing #web hosting #hosting platform #hosting provider in delhi

3 notes · View notes

dxbcircleout · 1 month ago

Text

Affordable Web Hosting Services in UAE: Reliable Solutions for Every Need

The Affordable Web Hosting Services market in the UAE caters to individuals, startups, and businesses seeking cost-effective yet reliable solutions for establishing their online presence. With the increasing importance of a strong digital footprint, choosing the right web hosting provider is crucial for ensuring website performance, security, and scalability.

Affordable web hosting services in the UAE offer a variety of plans designed to suit diverse needs. Whether you’re launching a personal blog, setting up an e-commerce platform, or managing a corporate website, these services provide the necessary resources without breaking the budget. Features like ample storage, bandwidth, and advanced tools are often included, ensuring clients get the best value for their investment.

One of the key benefits of affordable web hosting in the UAE is access to local servers and data centers. These facilities ensure faster website loading times and improved reliability, especially for users within the region. This not only enhances user experience but also boosts search engine rankings, which is vital for online visibility and business success.

Security is another critical aspect of web hosting services. Affordable providers in the UAE prioritize website safety by offering SSL certificates, firewalls, regular backups, and protection against cyber threats. These measures ensure that your data remains secure, giving you peace of mind as you focus on growing your online presence.

Most affordable web hosting services in the UAE come with user-friendly control panels and 24/7 customer support. This makes it easy for users, regardless of their technical expertise, to manage their websites efficiently. Hosting providers also offer seamless scalability options, allowing clients to upgrade their plans as their website traffic and business requirements grow.

Value-added features such as free domain registration, email hosting, and website-building tools further enhance the appeal of affordable hosting packages. These tools simplify the process of creating a professional-looking website and help businesses save on additional expenses.

Affordability doesn’t mean compromising on quality. Many hosting providers in the UAE ensure their services are aligned with global standards, offering 99.9% uptime guarantees and robust performance. This reliability ensures that websites remain accessible to visitors at all times, which is critical for building trust and credibility.

For small businesses and entrepreneurs, affordable web hosting services provide an excellent starting point for establishing an online presence. By offering budget-friendly options without sacrificing essential features, these services enable clients to focus their resources on other aspects of their business growth.

As the demand for online services continues to grow, the UAE’s hosting market remains competitive, with providers striving to deliver better features at lower costs. This benefits customers by giving them access to a wide range of options tailored to their specific needs and budgets.

By choosing affordable web hosting services in the UAE, you can ensure that your website operates smoothly, looks professional, and meets the expectations of your audience—all without exceeding your budget. Whether you’re a beginner or an established business, these services are an ideal choice for building and maintaining a strong online presence.

#Affordable Web Hosting Ser #Web Hosting Services in UAE

2 notes · View notes

muskanbarii · 2 months ago

Text

Web Hosting: Choosing The Best One for Your Business Needs

Hosting is crucial for businesses operating online. Therefore, choosing the right web hosting is one of the most critical decisions for your website’s success. Depending upon the nature and size of your business, hosting will impact your website’s performance, security, and scalability.

As there are numerous hosting providers in UK, choosing one that serves your purpose is definitely a difficult task to do. However, choosing a cheap UK web hosting that’s appropriate for your website becomes easier with a few simple tips:

Analyse your website requirements

Assess your website’s needs by understanding the type of website you are building, traffic you are expecting, and advanced features (database, email hosting, and custom application), as well as your budget.

For a personal blog, resource requirements are minimal. However, big online stores have a more robust hosting requirements, considering the expectations like traffic, security, and loading time.

What would be the most suitable hosting type?

There are different types of hosting, like shared hosting (offering limited resources, it’s suitable for small websites),VPS or virtual private server hosting (a little expensive, it is suitable for growing businesses with moderate traffic), dedicated hosting (suitable for high-traffic websites), and cloud hosting (suitable for websites with variable or high-traffic).

Expected features

While choosing hosting providers, consider features like performance and uptime, scalability, security, customer support, and ease of use. All these features are crucial to determine the worth of your investment. A hosting that can’t accommodate your growing business needs doesn’t offer you any value.

Get recommendations and read reviews

It would be a great idea to get recommendations from your business networks who are already using great hosting services. Recommendations from industry experts and peers in your network can provide a valuable insight. You can also use online searches to come across some reputable hosting providers. To determine their credibility, check their online reviews and customer feedback.

Compare packages

Budget is an important factor for any business. Therefore, you can think of comparing prices and packages. Apart from that, also find out what features are included in the price, and if there are any hidden charges. Comparison allows you to settle with the best yet cheap UK web hosting for your business website.

Web hosting is a crucial service to let your business function online, so you need to practice caution to come across a reputable service provider and choose the best package.Take your time, do your research, and choose a host that sets your website up for long-term success.

#Cheap UK Web Hosting

2 notes · View notes

juealhossain · 3 months ago

Text

UltraSuite Review: Unlimited Hosting, Email & Funnels platform in 2025

UltraSuite is a lifetime-access platform that offers unlimited website hosting, email sending, and funnel creation for a one-time fee. It provides high-speed servers, SSL security, and 24/7 support, saving users from monthly costs while supporting business growth.

You're not alone if you're tired of paying monthly fees for website hosting, email, and funnels. Many people wish for a simple solution that offers everything without constant bills. This guide will show you how to get unlimited hosting, email, and funnels for a one-time price. It's easy to set up, saves you money, and allows you to grow your online presence without limits. Let's dive in.

What Is Unlimited Hosting, Email, and Funnels?

Imagine having as many websites, email accounts, and sales funnels as you want without paying each month. That’s the power of unlimited hosting, email, and funnels.

Most companies charge monthly or yearly fees for hosting your website, sending emails, and building sales funnels. However, with a solution like UltraSuite (a popular option on the market), you can pay once and use it forever. You get:

Unlimited website hosting: Host any websites, domains, and pages.

Unlimited email sending: Send emails without limits or extra charges.

Unlimited funnels: Build as many funnels as you need to sell products or engage visitors.

Get Access Now

How Does UltraSuite Work?

These services use powerful, high-speed servers, usually with Intel® Xeon® CPUs, allowing fast performance and secure hosting. The best part? There are no monthly charges! You pay once and get full access for life.

Why It’s a Game-Changer

With traditional hosting and email services, you’re often limited to a certain number of websites, pages, and emails. Unlimited hosting, email, and funnels let you:

Save money: No monthly or yearly fees.

Expand freely: Add more websites, email campaigns, or funnels anytime.

Key Benefits of UltraSuite

Choosing unlimited hosting, email, and funnels brings many benefits, especially for small business owners, freelancers, or anyone looking to cut costs. Here are the main advantages:

Cost Savings

You know how expensive it can get if you’re using platforms like GoDaddy, HostGator, or ClickFunnels. Monthly payments add up, especially as your business grows. With a lifetime option, you could save thousands of dollars each year.

Reliability and Speed

Good platforms for unlimited hosting, email, and funnels, such as UltraSuite, provide reliable servers with fast speeds. They often guarantee 99.999% uptime, which means your website will be available almost all the time. This is critical if you’re running an online business or eCommerce site where downtime can cost you sales.

Full Control

With unlimited hosting and email, you have control over your resources. There are no limitations on the number of websites, pages, or emails you can manage. Any hidden fees or usage caps do not restrict you, so you can scale your business as needed.

Easy Setup and Use

Many unlimited hosting solutions are built to be user-friendly, with simple control panels that even beginners can navigate. You don’t need to be a tech expert to set things up. Features like one-click WordPress installation make it easy to launch websites fast, while built-in email tools simplify your communication.

Features of UltraSuite

If you’re considering an unlimited hosting solution, here are some essential features to look for. These will help ensure your chosen platform is reliable and secure and offer the tools you need to grow your online presence.

High-Speed Hosting and Unlimited Storage

A good unlimited hosting provider offers high-speed servers that keep your websites loading quickly. Platforms with SSD servers (Solid State Drives) generally perform faster than older HDD technology.

Unlimited storage means you can host all your website files, images, and videos without worrying about hitting a limit. This is a huge benefit for content creators, eCommerce sites, and bloggers because it lets you grow without extra costs.

Built-in Security and SSL Certificates

Security is essential when running a website, especially when handling sensitive information like customer data. Look for platforms that include SSL certificates for all your domains at no extra cost. SSL encryption helps protect data and builds trust with visitors, which is especially important for online stores and business websites.

Some platforms offer built-in malware protection to protect your website from hackers. Regular backups are also a good feature, protecting your data even if something goes wrong.

Easy-to-Use Control Panel

A user-friendly control panel is key for managing your website, email, and funnel settings. Most unlimited hosting platforms provide an easy control panel (like cPanel) where you can:

Set up new websites or domains

Create personalized email accounts

Install apps like WordPress with just one click

A simple control panel makes it easy for beginners to navigate the platform and manage their resources without needing tech skills.

Unlimited Email Sending with Automation

Unlimited email is another valuable feature of these platforms. With traditional email marketing tools, there’s usually a cap on the number of emails you can send, or you pay more as your list grows. Unlimited email solutions let you send emails without worrying about limits.

Some platforms offer basic email automation, like setting up auto-responders or email campaigns. This is great for keeping in touch with your audience, promoting your services, or updating customers on your latest products.

Funnel Builders for Sales and Marketing

An effective funnel builder lets you create sales funnels—the steps a customer takes from visiting your site to purchasing. Many unlimited hosting solutions include funnel builders that allow you to:

Design landing pages and product pages

Set up checkout pages for payments

Track customer interactions and conversions

An unlimited funnel builder is beneficial for marketers, as it allows you to set up as many funnels as you need to drive traffic, capture leads, and increase sales. This feature can save you money, as you won’t need separate funnel software like ClickFunnels.

24/7 Customer Support

Good customer support is essential, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. Many unlimited hosting platforms provide 24/7 technical support to help you with any issues. Whether you need help migrating a website, setting up your email, or troubleshooting a funnel, responsive support can save you time and frustration.

How to Set Up

Step 1: Choose a Reliable Platform

The first step is to select a platform that offers reliable, unlimited hosting, email, and funnel options. Look for a platform with positive reviews, a good track record, and the essential features discussed earlier. UltraSuite is an example that provides a one-time payment option, saving you from ongoing costs.

Step 2: Sign Up and Set Up Your Account

Once you’ve chosen a platform, sign up to create an account. You may need to provide basic details, such as your name, email, and payment information. After signing up, you can access your control panel to start setting up your services.

Step 3: Add Your Domain and Set Up Hosting

With most unlimited hosting platforms, you can add your existing domain or purchase a new one. Here’s how to set it up:

Add your domain: Go to the domain settings in the control panel, then add or connect your domain.

Select your hosting type: Some platforms let you choose between different hosting setups, such as WordPress or cloud hosting. Pick the option that suits your needs.

One-click installation: Most platforms offer one-click installation for users who want to set up WordPress or other applications. This lets you set up your website without technical steps.

Step 4: Set Up Email Accounts

Go to the email section: Find the email setup section in your control panel.

Create new accounts: Enter the username and password you want to create.

Set up email forwarding or auto-responders if needed.

Step 5: Build Funnels to Drive Sales

Choose a template: Select a funnel template, such as one for lead capture or product sales.

Customize the pages: Add your content, images, and branding to each funnel page.

Connect to payment options: If your funnel includes a sales page, set up payment options to accept online payments.

Launch and track performance: Publish your funnel and monitor its performance through analytics in your control panel.

With these steps, you can set up as many funnels as needed to support your marketing efforts, drive sales, or capture leads.

Step 6: Optimize and Maintain Your Services

Once everything is set up, it’s important to optimize your hosting, email, and funnels. Here are some quick tips:

Optimize for speed: Use tools to check your website speed and adjust as needed.

Update your content: Keep your funnels and website content fresh to maintain customer interest.

Monitor uptime: Regularly check that your websites and emails are running smoothly.

With regular maintenance, you’ll ensure that your unlimited hosting, email, and funnels continue to deliver great results for your business.

Key Takeaways:

UltraSuite: Provides unlimited hosting, email, and funnels with a one-time fee, along with daily backups and SSL certificates included. No additional software or add-ons are required, making it a straightforward, cost-effective choice.

GoDaddy & HostGator: These platforms require monthly payments, and most features like SSL and backups are add-ons. There are limits on the number of websites and storage, and no funnel options are included.

ClickFunnels: Primarily a funnel-building tool with some limited hosting options. It’s costly but may suit users focused solely on funnels. However, additional software is required for full hosting and email services.

AWeber: Great for email marketing but lacks hosting and funnel options, so you’d need additional platforms to handle these functions.

Why Should You Join UltraSuite?

Choosing an unlimited hosting, email, and funnel platform provides several key benefits:

Cost Savings: A one-time payment eliminates ongoing monthly fees, which can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

Flexibility to Grow: You can create multiple websites, email accounts, and funnels without worrying about hitting usage limits or facing additional fees as your business expands.

Peace of Mind: Knowing your hosting, email, and funnels are all managed on a secure platform lets you focus on growing your business instead of worrying about recurring bills or restrictions.

10 free Bonus

Free Membership: Join our Facebook Group for help!

Live Training: Learn secrets to make a lot of money!

Exile Profit: Make $33 for every picture you upload!

Kingpin: Get lots of visitors with our easy tools!

VERVE: Find a way to earn $500 an hour using LinkedIn!

NFT Finder: Find and sell cool NFTs quickly!

Thumbnail Creator: Make eye-catching pictures with just 3 clicks!

AI Lead Gen: Email marketing for life with ChatGPT!

AI CB Profits: Get free traffic and earn with ClickBank!

GoogAi: Get quick answers and help from Google’s AI!

Who is Ultra Suite for?

Internet Marketers: Save money for your business with good hosting.

Efficiency Seekers: Save time and money with great hosting.

Privacy Advocates: Keep your data and website safe and secure.

Competitive Players: Make fast websites to stay ahead of others.

Cost-Conscious Owners: Spend less and earn more while keeping quality.

Traffic Generators: Host many websites for high earnings without extra fees.

Diverse Entrepreneurs: Perfect for all kinds of needs with lifetime hosting.

Security-Minded: Stay safe from hackers and viruses.

Reputation Builders: Good speed and uptime help your website's reputation.

FAQ

Will I get support for UltraSuite?

Yes, It provides 24/7 support to ensure you get the best results. A dedicated team is always available to help solve any issues and guide you.

Are there any monthly fees?

UltraSuite offers a one-time payment option, giving you lifetime access to all features. This exclusive offer is available before we switch to a monthly subscription model, so act fast to secure your deal!

Is there any money-back guarantee?

Yes, UltraSuite comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're unsatisfied, let us know, and we'll refund you—no risk when you act now.

Do you update your product and improve it?

Absolutely! UltraSuite is continuously updated with new features and improvements to ensure you have the best experience and stay ahead of the competition. We're committed to keeping UltraSuite at the cutting edge of performance.

Is UltraSuite unlimited?

Yes, UltraSuite providers offer unlimited hosting, allowing you to create as many websites, domains, and pages as needed.

Can I use unlimited email sending for marketing?

Yes, unlimited email platforms typically allow you to send marketing emails without extra fees. However, if you're sending a high volume of emails, it's essential to use a platform with good email deliverability to avoid your emails being marked as spam.

Do I need technical skills to set up unlimited hosting and funnels?

No, most unlimited hosting platforms are designed to be user-friendly, with easy control panels and one-click setups. Thanks to features like one-click WordPress installation and simple email setup, even beginners can manage these services without technical skills.

What are the benefits of unlimited funnels?

Unlimited funnels allow you to create as many sales processes as you need. It is useful for marketing, lead generation, and product sales.

My Recommendation

Choose an unlimited platform like UltraSuite for a budget-friendly and flexible solution. UltraSuite offers essential features like high-speed hosting, unlimited email, and built-in funnel tools, all accessible with a one-time payment.

This recommendation is especially suitable for:

Business owners who want to reduce expenses

Freelancers who manage multiple clients or projects

Content creators who need unlimited storage and speed

With unlimited hosting, email, and funnels, you get the tools you need to grow your online presence without the financial strain of monthly fees. Visit Here For More Information

#UltraSuite #UltraSuite review #web hosting #hosting #email mrting tools #passive income

2 notes · View notes