#h.lovely writes

[h-lovely]

HELLO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM A BITCH FOR MATSUHANA AND EFFLORESCENCE IS MY COMFORT FAN FIC THAT I HAVE READ TOO MANY TIMES AND YOU ARE AN AMAZING WIRTER AND YOU WRITE THEM SO WELL AND SINCE I SAW THEM IN EPISODE 15 I HAVE TO RE READ IT AGAIN HEHEHEHHE THANK YOU FOR WRITING IT

Wahh, thank you!! 😊 Matsuhana are just my comfort in general. Glad I can spread a little joy with them!

[h-lovely]

Chapters: 1/3 Fandom: Haikyuu!! Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Hanamaki Takahiro/Matsukawa Issei Characters: Hanamaki Takahiro, Matsukawa Issei Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, Witchcraft, Smoking, Slow Burn, Sexual Tension, Herbalism, Magic, all the spooky tropes, Consensual Sex, Riding, Leather and lace, consensual use of magic during sex, witchy banter Summary:

Ever since Matsukawa’s new neighbor moved in downstairs, things have been a little bit…strange.

[h-lovely]

Chapters: 4/4 Fandom: Haikyuu!! Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Hanamaki Takahiro/Matsukawa Issei, Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru Characters: Matsukawa Issei, Hanamaki Takahiro, Iwaizumi Hajime, Oikawa Tooru, Yahaba Shigeru, Kyoutani Kentarou Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Friends With Benefits, Growing Up, Slice of Life, Post-Canon, Volleyball, Friends to Lovers, Pining, Angst and Feels, Alternate Universe - College/University, Drinking, Relationship(s), Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Adulthood, Implied Sexual Content, Probably Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, gross married couple, Friendship, Sex and Alcohol, Anal Sex Summary:

Feet pad against the tatami mats until Hanamaki’s standing next to him and Matsukawa can smell the amber scented soap he’d used after their soak. Unconsciously, Matsukawa’s hand shifts to latch onto the soft fabric around Hanamaki’s calf, holding him there maybe, testing to make sure he’s not an illusion.

[h-lovely]

Chapters: ¼ Fandom: Haikyuu!! Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Hanamaki Takahiro/Matsukawa Issei, Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru Characters: Matsukawa Issei, Hanamaki Takahiro, Iwaizumi Hajime, Oikawa Tooru Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Friends With Benefits, Growing Up, Slice of Life, Post-Canon, Volleyball, Friends to Lovers, Pining, Angst and Feels Summary:

Matsukawa’s gaze lingers on Hanamaki. He’s talking about something, ranting on and Matsukawa isn’t sure about what at this point. He should be listening really, how rude of him. But spring has just sprung and the little pink petals dotting the sidewalk match so pleasantly with the strawberry shade of Hanamaki’s short-clipped hair.

(Or, a study on timing and how to get it right.)

[h-lovely]

Chapters: 3/4 Fandom: Haikyuu!! Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Hanamaki Takahiro/Matsukawa Issei, Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru Characters: Matsukawa Issei, Hanamaki Takahiro, Iwaizumi Hajime, Oikawa Tooru, Yahaba Shigeru, Kyoutani Kentarou Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Friends With Benefits, Growing Up, Slice of Life, Post-Canon, Volleyball, Friends to Lovers, Pining, Angst and Feels, Alternate Universe - College/University, Drinking, Relationship(s), Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Adulthood, Implied Sexual Content, Probably Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, gross married couple, Friendship Summary:

Hanamaki’s features glow in the soft lamplight of Matsukawa’s meager living room, lashes thick over hazy, grey eyes. Matsukawa’s not sure he’s ever noticed the color quite like this before—smoky and mirror-like, flecked with something like silver and longing.

[h-lovely]

Tagged by @worthlesspride (thanks for the tag!)

What is your total word count on AO3?

458,806

How often do you write?

Whenever I have inspiration/if I can or have time. I really like to write on the weekends, usually in the morning. If I get in the mode I can write after work, but only if the juices are really flowing.

Do you have a routine for writing?

It depends. Sometimes I really like to have music while writing and other times I can’t seem to focus with it. I tend to do my best writing/longest stints at my desk with something good to drink or snack on. I’ve got lots of books stacked there and little figures, straps, and collectibles and a comfy chair, so it’s a nice place to get in the zone. Also oftentimes reading fanfic before writing is part of my routine too!

What are your favorite kinks/tropes/pairing?

Heh kinks are probably pretty obvious. As for tropes I’m a sucker for fake dating and AU’s of any kind. Also friends to lovers and will they/won’t they stuff. I’m sure it’s obvious, but my OTP’s are matsuhana, iwaoi, and daisuga…(but I am a definite multi-shipper and also like kurodai, oisuga, kuroken, bokuaka, kurotsukki, and tsukkiyama though I’ve never written much for any of those).

Do you have a favorite fic of yours?

Hands down my favorite is Efflorescence. It’s the one fic (at least out of my long-fics) that I can go back and read over and over again and still really love it.

Your fic with the most kudos?

We’ll Eat Cake (by a landslide :3)

Anything you don’t like about your writing?

Ehh I do tend to cringe at anything too fluffy, even if fluff is what I was going for. Idk, for some reason it bothers me to go back and reread anything super sweet or cheesy.

Now something you do like (about your writing)?

I’ve been told my dialogue is well done, which I’d like to agree with. A lot of the times I just write strings of dialogue and back-and-forths and then go back and add the in between stuff. Also I enjoy scene and atmosphere setting, I think I’ve really progressed in that area over the years.

Tagging: @risquetendencies, @janespendlove, @noblefloweroll, @trixiedragon(idk who’s already done it, so only if you guys want to!)

[h-lovely]

tagged by @skittidyne!

Rules: Post the last sentence you wrote and tag as many people as there are words in that sentence

Oikawa’s breath catches and the mask he’d been trying to weave unravels enough for Iwaizumi to feel in control once again.

ha, I don’t think I can tag that many people, but here’s some (only if you want to!):  @worthlesspride, @noblefloweroll, @trixiedragon, @konekat, @cylinanightshade, @ryekamasaki

[h-lovely]

HI I LOVE YOUR WRITING Just caught up with Mirror Flower, Water Moon and I *clenches fist* am dying b/c the angst and pining and jkda;da; j your writing is so beautiful I love all the emotion and natural dialogue/body language ;-; poor Makki A L S O SIMILAR CREATURES IS 1000000000/10 I will never get over how sharp Oikawa is or how well this dynamic works w/ Iwaoi jdkfdl; sorry for my rambling I just finally found your tumblr and I wanted you to know how much I appreciate/enjoy your writing! -W

Oh wow, thank you!! This is super sweet, I’m so glad you enjoy my writing! :3 I appreciate YOU! Thanks for making my day!

[h-lovely]

If you feel like, I'd love 3, 5, 6, 10 for Similar Creatures 💙

3. Which part of [Similar Creatures] was hard to write?

Let’s see…it’s not necessarily a certain part or scene that I would consider hard to write, but an overall atmosphere and theme of the story. It’s tough, I’ve learned, to write a believable fic that involves sex-workers as well as romance. Of course, it’s a work of fiction and an AU based around a very fictional movie/premise. But I’ve really found it difficult to do the story and characters justice. Do I want it to come off cheesy and over-romantic? Honestly, sometimes I do. As a writer you can’t please everyone, but I’m trying to make it as realistic as I can with the premise I’ve given myself. Hopefully I’m somewhat succeeding!

5. Did you make an outline for [Similar Creatures]? Did you stick to it?

At first, no. I didn’t have an outline exactly, but I knew what I wanted to have happen and what scenes from Pretty Woman to keep and what to add and play around with. I had a laundry list of ideas, but no outline for the first several chapters. Recently I’ve had to make a timeline for myself just so I can remember what day it is in each chapter and how many days have passed, but it’s still very basic with only a few major bullet points.

6. Which scenes did you cut, and which were added in [Similar Creatures]?

Obviously, if you’ve read the fic or watched the movie it was inspired by, you know which scenes are true to Pretty Woman and which are of my own creation. I knew from the get-go which scenes I absolutely wanted to emulate (ie: the business dinner and the bathtub scene) but mostly I’ve written a mash-up. Oikawa and Iwaizumi at the gym verses the ballroom, the rooftop garden party verses the polo match, things like that. Of course, I’ve also added some scenes in, like Iwaizumi’s interactions with Kyoutani and Hanamaki and Matsukawa. And, as if we could forget, The Bar.

10. What are some facts readers may not know about [Similar Creatures]?

There was a time, albeit briefly, where I thought about their role’s being reversed and having Oikawa hustling Iwaizumi. That quickly went out the window though, and boy am I glad I’ve written it the way I have. I think it just really works.

The original working title was “I Feel It Coming” (now the title of the first chapter) but oh how I love to “title drop” in dialogue or exposition, so “Similar Creatures” was born.

Looking up all the yen conversions and doing the math while Oikawa and Iwaizumi were negotiating was a little tedious, but eye-opening.

Originally I was going to have Kageyama in Ushijima’s role, but who am I kidding the implied previous Ushioi stuff was too good to pass up. Also, then I could have that nice little Karasuno cameo. (Which btw, I imagine Oikawa and Suga are definitely friendly outside of work, but a good rivalry is hard to come by.)

10 Questions Every Fic Writer Secretly Wants to be Asked

[h-lovely]

Hi so I just read your Mirror Flower, Water Moon fic and it was perfection. I absolutely loved it and I can’t wait to read your other fics

This is from a while ago, but I’m publishing it anyways because it made me feel warm and fuzzy 🥰 thank you so much, anonymous friend

[h-lovely]

Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Haikyuu!! Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Hanamaki Takahiro/Matsukawa Issei Additional Tags: Fluff and Smut, Birthday Presents, Birthday Sex, Shibari, Bondage, Established Relationship, Anal Sex, Sex Toys, Nipple Piercings, Riding, Lingerie Series: Part 2 of Roses Summary:

“Best birthday present ever.”

[Entangle (v.) to twist together, to catch or hold.]

[h-lovely]

Tagged by the wonderful @worthlesspride

List all the things you’re currently working on in as much or little detail as you’d like, then tag some friends to see what they’re working on.

This can be writing, art, vids, gifsets!

Tagging: @crollalanzaa, @skittidyne, @trixiedragon, @queerbatnana

(If you don’t want to do this, feel free to ignore!)

1. Continuation of Entangle (aka matsuhana birthday smut extravaganza) -- Efflorescence universe

2. Kyouhaba side-story to Similar Creatures (aka Yahaba getting Oikawa’s money’s worth) --Pretty Woman/Prostitute AU and very NSFW

3. Matsukawa POV parallel story to Efflorescence (this will be a long time coming I think, it’s slow going, but I’m determined to get it out there) It’s looking like a one or two part “long story” that dips in and out of Efflorescence timeline 

4. Iwaoi Bounty Hunter AU (aka my neo-tokyo, world building, comfort-writing, pet project) So far it’s been a blast to write, don’t know when I’ll get to posting it, but it’s sure to be a wild ride with other such pairings as Daisuga, Matsuhana, and background Kyouhaba, Bokuaka & Kuroken (that’s right, it’s another ensemble fic!) 

Thanks for the tag! :3

[h-lovely]

Matsuhana Week, Day 1

music//relationship goals - @matsuhanasweek

“Shit, it’s Kato.” 

Hanamaki stiffens against the back of their booth after the bitter words have left his mouth, but next to him Matsukawa just smirks. “Ah, the cliché run-in with cheating asshole ex-boyfriend,” he hums thoughtfully once his eyes have landed on the root of Hanamaki’s discomfort. “Want me to punch him in the face for you?” 

Hanamaki actually ruminates on the offer for a few seconds. “No,” he finally decides with a sigh of great regret. Since when had acting like a rational adult been something in his wheelhouse? 

“Okay,” Matsukawa agrees. And then, “Want me to kiss you?”

Hanamaki doesn’t exactly sputter like his brain harasses him to, turning on Matsukawa with a thin, quirked brow instead. “Come again?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Matsukawa quips, slipping the off-color joke in with little more than a twitch of his lips. “Do you want me to kiss you so he sees?”

Hanamaki’s mind feels suddenly flooded, but not with rushing uncontainable water, no more like fucking molasses or something. “Um,” he says rather eloquently. He turns to catch another glance at Kato only to find the man laughing (that horrible, horrible fake laugh of his) at something his presumable date has just said. 

Poor guy, Hanamaki thinks. Maybe, if he was more inclined, he would go over there just to warn him away from such an inevitable and devastating mistake. But then, for an infinitesimal moment, Hanamaki catches Kato’s eye like the man is in fact watching him while pretending (definitely pretending) to woo his date. So, in a fit of irrational impulse, Hanamaki turns back to Matsukawa. 

“Okay,” he nods. “Do your worst.”

Sat in the booth as they are, knees knocking and side-by-side (that much better for people watching together) it isn’t too hard for Matsukawa to lean in and dignify the request with a soft mouth pressing against Hanamaki’s own. It’s not as though either of them are virgins when it comes to kissing (or other more advanced techniques) but the heat that invades Hanamaki’s insides, flushing outwards to spread a hue of pink over his cheeks—that’s definitely something new. 

Matsukawa starts with chaste, closed-mouth kisses, nothing strange there, nothing to really dislodge or upheave their friendship; these kisses are just for show, just for Kato’s stupid eyes to see. But then, on instinct Hanamaki reaches forward, that new and bewitching heat boiling over, until he’s tugging against Matsukawa’s neck, bringing the man forward and demanding something more. 

Obligingly, Matsukawa opens his mouth to run a careful tongue against Hanamaki’s lower lip, asking, and Hanamaki opens to him responding in kind. Dipping a tongue against Matsukawa’s own he pushes forward, tasting sharp teeth and a gasp from the other’s throat that neither had been quite expecting. It’s exhilarating and when Matsukawa closes the space between them, the space hidden by the table, and creeps a hand up Hanamaki’s thigh he suddenly can’t breathe. 

Why the hell hadn’t they ever done this before? 

Matsukawa’s sucks on his lips, ensuring that they will be swollen and kiss-red, all the better to spite his asshole ex hopefully ogling them from across the way, Hanamaki assumes. The hand on his thigh tightens and Matsukawa threads his other fingers through the soft hair at the back of Hanamaki’s head with the pretense to pull, but instead his touch his gentle, appreciative. 

Hanamaki can’t begin to guess how many seconds, minutes, hours have gone by, but when Matsukawa finally pulls back he looks up to find the man’s dark eyes watching him carefully for a response.

“Damn,” Hanamaki breathes out, unapologetic. “Hashtag relationship goals.”

It takes a second to register, but then Matsukawa’s thick brows quirk in disbelief. “Did you really just say the word ‘hashtag’ while I’m trying to kiss you?”

“Trying?” Hanamaki blinks, still dazed. “You just did—shit, Issei, do you know how good you are at that?”

Matsukawa gives him an all too smug look in return, but the way his full lips curve up doesn’t exactly have Hanamaki wanting to smack him. Actually, more like he wants to lean in and—

“Okay, Kato’s not looking anymore,” Matsukawa says with a glance over his shoulder. “You’re in the clear.”

All of a sudden, Hanamaki’s throat feels dry. “Am I?”

“Yeah,” Matsukawa nods, giving him a pointed look. “Wanna let go now, Takahiro?”

Hanamaki hadn’t even realized he was still holding onto Matsukawa’s neck, keeping him close. Of course, Matsukawa hasn’t removed that teasing palm from his thigh either. 

Hanamaki looks at his friend with earnest determination. “No, I really don’t, Issei.”

“What?” Matsukawa blinks down at him and Hanamaki watches for the exact moment that things click into place behind those hooded eyes. “Oh,” Matsukawa says dumbly before moving quickly to pull Hanamaki even closer. “Oh,” he purrs then, letting the sound vibrate across the other’s lips. 

Hanamaki kisses him back eagerly, that intoxicating heat from earlier returning full-force, before he pulls back with a smirk of his own. “You’re my knight in shining armor.”

Matsukawa’s frown does nothing to hide the affection in his gaze. “Shut up, Takahiro.”

Hanamaki complies, if only because it gives him an opportunity to steal another kiss.

[h-lovely]

Matsuhana Week, Day 7

on video//surprises - @matsuhanasweek

“I miss you.”

Matsukawa frowns against the urge to laugh. “You saw me this morning,” he reminds the man staring at him through the rectangular screen of his phone pointedly. 

Hanamaki only blinks, unphased. “What time is it there?”

Again Matsukawa must reign himself in. “We’re in the same time-zone.”

Fitting him with an entirely endearing head tilt Hanamaki grimaces. “How many more hours?”

“Hiro, you act like we’ve never been apart before.” Matsukawa watches Hanamki’s lips pull down into an actual pout and he sighs, doing some quick math in his head. “I don’t know, like thirty-seven hours.”

“That’s a lot.”

“Like half of that is sleeping.” Matsukawa frowns for real this time, squinting at the laggy video-picture of his phone. “What’s the big deal, Hiro?”

“Can’t I just miss you for no reason?” His voice sounds tinny through the small speakers, but Matsukawa can tell that it’s genuine. 

“Yes,” he confirms with a nod. “I miss you too, you know.”

Hanamaki’s lips perk up into a wide, familiar grin. “I know, how could you not? I’m very missable.”

Matsukawa raises a brow, adjusting a bit and making it so that Hanamaki can see his finger hovering over the ‘end call’ button. “Okay, you seem fine now, I’m going to bed.”

On the other end Matsukawa can hear Hanamaki shuffling, like he’s trying to reach for Matsukawa through the phone. “No, no wait! Don’t hang up. It’s not the same as in person, but I still like talking.”

“I wish the connection was better,” Matsukawa agrees, squinting again at the shadows splaying over Hanamaki’s grainy features. “And where are you even? It’s so dark I can hardly see your face.”

For once during their call Hanamaki looks a bit guilty. “Um—well I’m at Oikawa and Iwaizumi’s place.”

Matsukawa smiles, humming. “Ah, now I get it,” he says rather smugly, now able to recognize the shadowy shapes of their friend’s bedroom behind Hanamaki.

“No you don’t, there’s nothing to get.” Hanamaki gets that pouty face again and Matsukawa knows this time he’s not doing it on purpose, but rather it’s a natural expression. It’s one that makes him wish he could lean in and kiss it off Hanamaki’s lips.

Instead his smile just morphs into a knowing smirk. “You’re with the lovebirds and you’re jealous and that’s why you’re missing me so much.”

“Hey, I resent that! I’d miss you either way, Issei,” Hanamaki gripes, though Matsukawa can see the sharp edge of his teeth when he grins wide and plastic. “You know, because I love you. Or has the distance between us already made you forget—“

“Okay, okay, I believe you!” Matsukawa chuckles raising his free hand in surrender for Hanamaki to see through the screen. “But, you are pretty cute when you’re jealous.”

Hanamaki deflates a little at that. “They’re cuddling, Issei. Right in front of me, kissing and everything. It’s disgusting.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I was there to make fun of them with you.” Matsukawa gives him a stare of the truest solidarity. 

“Yeah and out-cute them.” Hanamaki grimaces, looking a bit woebegone and Matsukawa can’t get over how adorable it is even with all the poor lighting. “I need my partner in crime and over-exaggerated PDA.” 

“Thirty-seven hours,” Matsukawa says simply.

Hanamaki nods. “Thirty-seven hours. Call again tomorrow night?”

“Of course—or you can take me out there and we can still try to out-cute them, even over video chat.”

“Issei.” Hanamaki’s grin widens exponentially, still fuzzy through the poor connection. “This is why I love you,” he says.

“Love you too,” Matsukawa replies before thrusting his arm in the air, a grand gesture even on small scale video. “Now take us to the living room! We’ve got work to do.” 

“Three hundred and some odd miles ain’t got nothin’ on us,” Hanamaki snorts, shaking the phone with his laughter.

[h-lovely]

Matsuhana Week, Day 2

competition//petty - @matsuhanasweek

The volleyball slams onto the court, sending the wrinkled water bottle flying through the air until it skids to a stop with a hollow echo.

“You got lucky,” Matsukawa calls; the jab had been resting on his tongue the entire serve, considering he knew what the outcome would be.

Hanamaki gapes at him from across the court. “Luck? It’s called skill, Issei.”

Matsukawa quirks a brow. “If it’s skill then do it again.”

With a grumble Hanamaki stalks to retrieve the ball, though they both know that the teasing is all a part of the game. They wouldn’t have made the wager in the first place if their competiveness and teasing was anything more than good natured. 

Iwaizumi pokes a head in through the gym door. “Are you two finished yet?” 

Matsukawa’s eyes shift across the court, the net, the gym; it’s almost like old times if he doesn’t think too hard on it. “You know a couple of years ago this would have been you, Grand King,” he says, finding Oikawa’s wide, shining eyes behind Iwaizumi’s shoulder. 

Oikawa immediately grimaces, gagging. “Don’t start that again,” he grumbles. “Besides, Iwa-chan won’t let me anyways.”

“You really want in on that bet?” Iwaizumi snorts. “Laundry for a month? Would be pretty tough considering we live all the way across town.”  

“Hey!” Hanamaki shouts, ready at the serving line once again. “Can we get back to focusing on the real competition here?” 

They’ve been there for a couple of hours now, if the pinkish light filtering through the windows is anything to go by, and Hanamaki’s done nothing other than taunt Matsukawa the entire time until he finally agreed to fulfilling at least one bet between them. Of course, no one on their former Seijou team had been weak in serving, but it had always been more of Oikawa’s or even Iwaizumi’s thing back then. But Hanamaki had posed the challenge and Matsukawa, still after all these years, always did have a hard time saying no to him. 

“Yes, so sorry to have broken your service-ace grade concentration,” Matsukawa drawls, but there’s affection there too.

Hanamaki grins, all teeth. “Shove it, Issei.” 

“How many in a row does he need to win?” Iwaizumi and Oikawa make their way over to watch with Matsukawa, having already changed back into street clothes with the promise of dinner as soon as Hanamaki’s apparent need to win is satiated.

“Four—that’s as many as I could pull off in a row,“ Matsukawa answers. “So actually five I guess to beat a tie.”

Oikawa knocks into him with his elbow. “Only four? Mattsun’s gotten soft in his old age.” 

“If I’m old, you’re older,” Matsukawa answers without missing a beat, eyes still lingering on Hanamaki’s form as the toss goes up, smooth and high. Beside him Iwaizumi chuckles appreciatively and Oikawa deflates in a pout.  

The ball slams down again, like Matsukawa knew it would, and Hanamaki whoops as Oikawa yells out a few over exaggerated praises and cheers. It’s nice to spend time with old friends, messing around on the court, in their old stomping grounds and reminiscing. But what he enjoys most is seeing Hanamaki’s smile, wider and more genuine than he’s seen in a long while and Matsukawa decides that they definitely need to do this more often. 

Two more serves hit home, echoing through the gym, and Matsukawa takes the time to watch the planes of Hanamaki’s back through his damp shirt, the way he twists and rolls his shoulder and it’s so reminiscent of their youth—but Matsukawa wouldn’t go back in time, not for a second, because these are the moments he likes the best; here and now, together, with no pressure, no hiding, no secrets. 

“You ready, Issei?” Hanamaki calls over his shoulder, fitting him with a serious scowl that he can barely hold in place over his amusement.

The toss goes up and the sound of Hanamaki’s palm against leather snaps through the gym, but Matsukawa’s already cheering before the ball can even hit the water bottle. 

He’s ready, he’s always been—after all, he’d already won the only competition he ever really cared about anyways.  

[h-lovely]

Matsuhana Week, Day 5

food//science - @matsuhanasweek

“What are you doing tonight?” Matsukawa asks, staring the contents of their refrigerator. “Wanna go out and get ramen and gyoza?”

“Or,” Hanamaki counters with that look in his eye that tells Matsukawa exactly what’s coming next. “We can stay in and I’ll cook.” 

Matsukawa turns to him, pretending to mull the idea over. “Do you even know what’s in Tantanmen?” 

Hanamaki pouts. “Always so little faith.”

“Just because you google something doesn’t mean you know how to make it.”

Hanamaki gasps, too loud. “Rude!”

Matsukawa hides his urge to laugh with an unimpressed look. “Okay there, Oikawa.”

Hanamaki grimaces through a flush. The likeness to their friend’s actions had really been uncanny. “Issei—”

“You can cook, Hiro,” Matsukawa hums and Hanamaki brightens instantly before he adds, “But I’m not promising that I’ll eat it.”

Instead of deflating though, Hanamaki just pushes past him into the kitchen; the argument isn’t much of an argument after all, considering they have it nearly every single weekend. 

Even though Matsukawa likes to poke fun, Hanamaki is in fact a fairly decent cook. Matsukawa enjoys bringing up the time when their kitchen almost burst into flames and Hanamaki enjoys reenacting the story and then blaming it all on Iwaizumi (which is mostly the truth of it anyways). Matsukawa likes to watch Hanamaki chop vegetables too fast and Hanamaki likes to chatter while doing so, which of course always prompts Matsukawa’s hasty reminders to pay attention and those affectionate looks Hanamaki tosses out when he thinks his boyfriend’s not looking anymore. 

But Matsukawa is always looking, really how can he not? A watched pot never boils, but Hanamaki’s always seems to anyways and Matsukawa loves to see the look on the man’s face when the kitchen starts to humidify with that warm, spicy fragrance that means dinner’s almost ready. 

It’s not exactly a ritual, but Matsukawa looks forward to it every week just the same. 

“Up to expectations?” Hanamaki sniffs as he sets a full, steaming bowl in front of him, the scent of sesame and chile oil wafting between them. 

Matsukawa nods before bothering to taste it, watching Hanamaki stab at the noodles with his chopsticks. “Perfect,” he says and Hanamaki grins.