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Atsumu had always been on the childish side, he knows that. Hell, everyone knows that. Osamu had always been considered the more mature twin, and that was an assumption that both of them tended to play into.
Sure, they were both prone to throwing fits and fighting on the court, but off the court it had always seemed like it was more of an Atsumu trait. He was more known for indulging in childish habits like that, especially when he was upset.
Such as rewatching Howl’s Moving Castle over and over again.
Bad day or practice? Howl’s Moving Castle.
Lost a game because of a bad toss he made? Howl’s Moving Castle.
Wallowing in self pity over what was thought to be an unrequited crush? Lots and lots of Howl’s moving Castle.
It had been a habit he had started in elementary school, first with Osamu and then, after his twin had claimed to have seen it “10 too many times”, on his own. Something about it just screamed pure nostalgia, bringing back memories of Osamu and Hyogo and Inarizaki, and eventually, it brought an association to Kiyoomi.
When Kiyoomi had first joined the MSBY Black Jackals, Atsumu had almost immediately felt the resurgence of the small (maybe it was more than small, but Atsumu would never willingly admit it) infatuation that had formed while at the training camp their second year and solidified later that year at nationals.
Atsumu justified it to his brother by saying that he had just been fascinated with Kiyoomi’s spikes, definitely not his curls or beauty marks or anything like that.
(Osamu had of course seen right through his twin’s justification, but he never mentioned that.)
But when Kiyoomi signed to the Black Jackals, all those feelings had suddenly rushed back to bite Atsumu right in the ass.
He had seemed distant at first, but over time Kiyoomi began to open up to the team, especially the other three from the monster generation. To the team’s surprise (and Atsumu’s delight) was his apparent liking to the team’s official setter. In fact, Kiyoomi seemed to enjoy Atsumu’s company more than anyone else’s.
The two’s rooms were next door to each other’s at the Black Jackals facility and, on the night before every somewhat major event, the two visited each other before going to bed, sharing tea and a movie or two.
Of course, with Atsumu’s infatuation, more than once that movie had been Howl’s Moving Castle. Through these nighttime visits, the two men had gotten to know each other better, and Kiyoomi had learned about Atsumu’s obsession with the movie.
Before long, they began going out, and the “before big things” nighttime visits became a more regular thing, occurring almost every night.
Kiyoomi would admit, he never really thought twice about Ghibli movies. They were simply something that he had watched when he was younger and then promptly forgot about. He had caught on to Atsumu’s obsession with Howl’s Moving Castle the first time they had watched it together, the setter being able to quote it word for word.
He noticed that at every seemingly minor inconvenience, Atsumu turned on the film. Again, and again, and again.
It was when Atsumu began to make references to the film at every chance that Kiyoomi was struck with an idea.
The blonde constantly compared them to the main couple of the movie. Kiyoomi was cleaning his apartment? Suddenly he was just like Sophie, deep cleaning the castle at the beginning of the movie. Kiyoomi told Atsumu he thought he was pretty? Suddenly Atsumu is Howl, fully aware of his own beauty, but always ready and willing to jump at the chance of complimenting Sophie (Kiyoomi in this scenario) as well.
Naturally when they began going out, the references seemed to pick up.
Atsumu had decided, for whatever reason, that Kiyoomi was just like Sophie and he himself was Howl (“Hey! Even our hair matches!”). Kiyoomi went along with it, knowing his boyfriend knew the movie better than he ever would.
Atsumu had always gushed about Howl’s jewelry, saying it inspired some of his own street wear, mostly his many rings and impulsive decision to get his ears pierced over the off season that past year.
During one of their nearly-nightly visits, they share a dance in the kitchen and a pot of tea. As the night got late, they began to settle down and prepare for bed, rarely spending their nights in their own rooms at all these days. (The team had of course noticed, spare Hinata, bless his heart, but hadn’t said anything knowing both of their tendencies to get snappy when provoked.)
Kiyoomi had approached the bathroom where Atsumu was brushing his teeth, and called out the setter’s name.
Atsumu had turned around, eyebrows raised and toothbrush hanging out of his mouth and answered with a small, “Hm?”
“I, well I got you a little gift,” Kiyoomi said through a small smile.
Atsumu’s eyebrows perked up and he turned to spit out his toothpaste.
“Aw! You didn’ have to do that, Omi,” Atsumu smiled, wiping his mouth. “You coulda at least waited ‘til my birthday.”
“Yeah well-” Kiyoomi took a few small steps forward, Atsumu meeting him in the middle, the pair standing together in the bathroom, “I couldn’t wait that long.”
The two smiled at each other and fondness rose up in Kiyoomi’s chest. He slowly pulled a small box from the pocket in his pajama shorts, Atsumu eyeing it from the second it emerged from the taller man’s pocket.
Kiyoomi slowly handed the small box to Atsumu, who took it as if it were made of glass. As Atsumu opened it, his face lit up, recognizing the small silver ring with a sapphire stone sitting inside. He gently took it out of the box and slid it onto his finger.
“Oh Omi,” Atsumu sighed out, “I love it,” he smiled down at his hand and then back up to Kiyoomi, who was also beaming and holding his own box.
“What’s that?” Atsumu asked, gesturing at the box Kiyoomi was holding and still tenderly holding the hand that wore his new ring.
“Well, you got Howl’s ring,” Atsumu’s eyes went wide and his smile grew, “You always say I’m just like Sophie.”
Atsumu let out a small laugh, “Omi, you shouldn’ve.”
The two beamed at each other, taking in the sight of the other, thinking of what rings might one day replace these.
But for now, these rings were more than enough.
They not only signified their love for each other, but Kiyoomi’s ability to listen and understand what Atsumu enjoys and wants, which was something Atsumu had never had in a relationship before.
“Geez Omi, who knew yer such a sap.”
They chuckled softly and embraced, taking each other in.
“Well,” Kiyoomi smiled at Atsumu, “a heart's a heavy burden to bear alone.”