Work Text:
You felt that pang in your chest. It was fear. It wasn’t a fun feeling, but you had grown accustomed to it after feeling it for so long.
The camera had swung over to you and your friends who were watching the MSBY Jackals vs Schweiden Adlers. You gulped and smiled and waved as you heard the announcers overhead make their usual comments.
“Ah would you look there, the loyal girlfriend of setter Atsumu Miya, F/N L/N,” came the voice. The color in your cheeks was rising by the second. “And a few other spouses and partners of the other Jackals players, I wonder if L/N has become more integrated into their social groups.”
You didn’t need to be reminded that you were an outsider, a foreigner who wasn’t a fellow volleyball player, and their comments always just reminded you that you were different. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to be the only comment made at you.
As you tried to watch the game with your friends, cheering on Atsumu, Hinata, Bokuto, Kiyoomi, and the others, you heard the familiar comments that made those pangs in your chest come back.
“Wait, she’s his girlfriend? How? She’s so fat and ugly.”
“I heard she doesn’t know the first thing about volleyball either, maybe her family is rich or something.”
“I’ll give it a month max, I bet he just feels bad for her or maybe he just fucks his fans.”
“I would be a much better girlfriend for him, at least I am actually in shape.”
You sighed and bit your lip, determined not to cry this time. Not this time, be brave, you reminded yourself. No matter how much you wanted to scream at those other spectators that you had been with Atsumu for years and that you actually knew the rules of volleyball, you kept silent.
“Hang in there, you know they are all just jealous,” came the familiar voice of Kiyoko Tanaka, a friend of Hinata’s who was there with her husband, a former teammate of the fiery redhead.
“I know…” you mumbled with a small smile. She smiled back.
The former teammates of the Jackals players were the easiest to get along with and you were lucky that they embraced you as one of their own. Including Osamu, Atsumu’s twin brother. Grateful was an understatement but still…those comments always bothered you no matter how many times you heard them.
You glanced over at Kiyoko and the other women in your row and couldn’t help but admire their flat stomachs, and skinny waists, they were all lean and curvy in all of the right places. You on the other hand…well. You were muscular and worked out six days a week but all you had to show for that was some muscle, you never got skinny like you wanted. Your stretch marks, larger shoulders, fuller stomach, and thunder thighs were all there to stay.
Sighing, you tried your best to focus back on the match. This was a special one with so many of the high school rivals going up against each other in the pro-league. You smiled when Hinata made a fantastic set and cheered on as Kiyoomi pulled off another crazy spike. It was a fun game to watch and it was even more fun, being there with people who didn’t judge you for your appearance.
“Wow, Kageyama has got the moves!” you heard Tanaka shout, chatting with Daichi and Asahi.
“He’s always had the moves, he just has pro players to set to now,” came Suga’s voice, always the informational and analytical one.
“Wait, are you saying we aren’t as good as these guys?! I’m insulted!” Tanaka shouted with a laugh.
“Go down on the court and go play a couple of sets, I’m sure they will let you,” Daichi remarked sarcastically.
“Those boys don’t know what they are missing without having me on the team!” shouted Tanaka one last time before Kiyoko elbowed him.
“Shut up, we are here to cheer them on not to relive your fantasies,” she chided. The former third-years looked in surprise, Kiyoko was usually so reserved. She must’ve changed in the years since being married to Tanaka.
When you turned back to the game, it was Atsumu’s turn to serve. You smiled, clasping your hands together, doing a silent prayer that he landed a service ace.
The prayers weren’t needed as Atsumu landed four in a row. You were shouting his name, saying how proud you were of him when he turned around, pointed at you, and winked. All of the people around you gasped and you felt your cheeks get red again, this time from love not fear.
“Your boy definitely knows how to serve, I’ll give him that,” said Tsukishima who was sitting quietly a few people down from you on the other side.
“Yeah, ‘her boy’ definitely isn’t also one of the best setters in the game of volleyball, too,” you heard Tadashi say, smirking. “Someone is still a little bitter about that nationals game!”
“Shut up Tadashi,” Tsukki grumbled in response.
You couldn’t help but giggle at all of their banter. It was a nice distraction from your own thoughts as the game continued.
The Jackals won to everyone’s surprise except you. You knew that Hinata was going to be a huge spark of motivation for everyone this season and you were right.
After waving goodbye to many of your friends, you made your way down to the court. Only spouses, partners, and parents were allowed to come down to greet the players directly after the game. You were flanked by Bokuto’s new girlfriend, whose name you couldn’t remember and the wife of the Schweiden Adlers’s ace. The crowd was still going nuts as the MSBY players were patting each other on the back and high-fiving each other on their win.
“Hey! It’s Y/N!” said, or well shouted, Hinata. You smiled at the young man.
“What a great debut Shoyo! I’m sure you’ll become a regular starter soon!” you said, beaming with excitement for him. You gave him a high-five and a quick hug but then you felt a presence behind you.
“Now paws off Hinata, she’s all mine,” Atsumu said, acting fake serious. You smirked into Hinata’s jersey as you pulled away.
“Go on Hinata, I’m sure your sister is waiting to see you,” you said with a gesture to the stands. He nodded and ran off, leaving you with Atsumu.
“Hi there,” you grinned at him, practically jumping into your boyfriend’s arms. He smelled like sweat and his cologne, and you knew for a fact that you were going to need a shower after hugging him but you didn’t care.
“You did such a great job out there today baby! Four service aces in a row!” you beamed at him as you pulled away but kept your hands cupping his face. Atsumu blushed slightly at your words.
But then.
More comments.
“Ugh there’s that ugly bitch with him.”
“I bet he can’t even pick her up, she’s too fat.”
“He doesn’t seem that into her, maybe he will break up with her soon.”
Your hands dropped from his face and now it was Atsumu’s turn to cup your face and your eyes to look at his.
“Just look at me. I’m here,” he said softly, making sure that only you could hear him. You smiled weakly and that’s when Atsumu pulled you into one of his bone-crushing hugs. You didn’t care that your upper body was now covered in sweat, you just buried yourself in his jersey and prayed he never let you go.
“I have to go to the team meeting quickly but I’ll be out in the lobby in fifteen, then I’m all yours,” he whispered, planting a kiss on the top of your head. You nodded into his jersey and waved him off as he ran into the locker rooms.
You made your way to the lobby through the crowds dispersing after the game. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw a few of Hinata’s former teammates talking to him while other players on both sides were talking to interviewers.
“I see you are letting those catty bitches get to you again.”
You spun around to find Osamu Miya, giving you a knowing look. He was all dressed up in his chef outfit. It made sense, he was here serving food from his restaurant. You missed seeing him earlier because you got here early with Atsumu to see his warm-ups.
“Oh shush Osamu,” you said quietly, looking down. Osamu was like a brother to you and he always had a good read on you ever since he met you all of those years ago back in high school when you were just a foreign exchange student.
“When are you going to get it through your head that my brother is a love-sick puppy dog for you and has been for years?” he joked, elbowing you gently. You smiled and shook your head, you knew he was right despite your insecurities.
“I know, I know-” you tried to say but Osamu cut you off.
“And besides, you know that you just have to say the word and all of those former Karasuno players would go deck those people for you. You basically got your own army,” he commented.
He wasn’t lying. After becoming friends with many of the former Karasuno players like Hinata, Daichi, and Suga you knew that they would go after anyone who hurt you and you would do the same for them. But it didn’t take the sting out of those words that strangers said to you.
“I thought I would adjust better when ‘tsumu went pro, I guess I just didn’t expect the comments every game,” you grumbled.
“Well you better get confident because look who is coming this way, trailed by his fangirls and a camera,” Osamu mumbled looking behind you.
You spun around once again to see Atsumu, still in his uniform, followed by interviewers, and behind them, some fangirls who were wearing replicas of his jersey being held back by security guards. You weren’t jealous of them, they were high school girls who just thought your boyfriend was hot, which he was. So, you tried your best to ignore the flashes as Atsumu came up and wrapped his arm around your waist.
“How punctual of you,” you giggled as he gave you a quick peck on the lips.
“I’m always punctual if I got you waiting for me, beautiful,” he grinned down at you.
“Mr. Miya! Please! Just one minute of your time!” asked a male interviewer. You gave Atsumu a nod so that he could go ahead and answer his questions. Most of them were just standard questions about his play style but then there was one at the end that surprised even you.
“So, is your girlfriend expecting? When can we expect a gender reveal for the little Miya?” the middle-aged interviewer asked, trying to be lighthearted.
Your heart dropped.
You weren’t pregnant. Both Osamu and Atsumu knew that. You could feel Osamu’s glare from behind you, he threw down his towel and was about to march right up to that interview when you grabbed his arm.
“‘Samu please don’t,” you mumbled, keeping your hand firmly on his wrist. “Let Atsumu handle this.” you pleaded.
“She’s not pregnant, I don’t know what you mean,” said Atsumu, giving the interviewer a thin veneer of a smile and confusion when you could tell that on the inside he was ready to murder this guy.
“O-Oh…I’m so sorry…I just-” the interviewer stumbled through his words.
“You just what? Why would you ask such a personal question like that?” asked Atsumu, still smiling. Even the camera lady who was filming the interview was starting to look uncomfortable.
“S-She’s just…um…on the heavier-” and that’s when you saw Atsumu was about to snap. You knew what you had to do even if it meant breaking your own personal rule of no interviews. You walked up next to your boyfriend, grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
“I’m not pregnant, can we please just go ‘tsumu?” you asked sweetly, looking up at him. He looked down at your expression and read it like a book. He knew that you were upset but that you would be even more upset if he lashed out. So after taking a deep breath Atsumu finally spoke again.
“She’s not expecting. We are perfectly happy and I would appreciate it if we left that part of the televised interview. Have a good night,” your boyfriend said as politely as he could.
Flanked by both of the Miya twins as you exited the arena you breathed a heavy sigh of relief. You saw a few confused faces look at you as you were basically clinging onto Atsumu’s arm. Finally, you were able to find an isolated spot on the side of the building.
“I’m going to fucking kill that bastard-” Atsumu started to seeth but his brother hit him on the head. “What was that for?! You wanted to kill him, too!” he shouted at Osamu.
“Calm down before you do anything stupid,” Osamu ordered. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t do anything dumb, I would rather punch a guy than you. I have to finish packing up, stay here until I get back,” came another order.
“We’ll be here,” you replied, nodding at him. Osamu nodded back at you and went back into the arena to get his stuff.
“How the fuck could he ask that?! I’m so mad!” Atsumu whisper-shouted.
“I-It’s okay-” you tried to reassure him.
“No! It’s not! You deserve respect, you get shit all of the time because of me!” your boyfriend continued to say, unloading. “I can tell by your expression in the stands that you’re hearing these comments every game, why do you even come?”
“Because I want to support you,” you said, softly. “I would be a pretty shit girlfriend if I never came to your games,” you continued.
Atsumu sighed and grabbed your hands.
“I don’t know how I got so lucky with you,” he whispered as his eyes found yours. You blushed slightly.
“I’m the one who got so lucky, you gotta know that,” you giggled.
“Now, that’s the smile of the woman I love,” Atsumu smiled back at you, leaning down to give you a short but passionate kiss. You knew that your loving boyfriend could have a hard time with words so he often showed you how felt instead. When you pulled away, you tried again to explain that the situation was okay.
“I appreciate you caring about me but-”
“But what? You are just going to make a self-deprecating joke about your weight? No baby come on,” the blond-haired setter interjected as you felt his brown eyes bore into yours.
“I love you just as is, you’re who I want by my side, never forget that,” he continued, his words growing more passionate by the second. You were surprised, Atsumu wasn’t the best at this but you knew he was trying to explain his feelings to get you to understand him.
“I love you too,” you replied, softly.
“I hate the comments they make at you and the comments you make about yourself, I just want everyone and you to see the beauty in front of me.”
Your heart started to flutter like the first time he asked you out.
“I know you know deep down just how sexy and smart and awesome you are. I don’t want you to feel bad for your negative thoughts though, I just, I don’t know, I just want you to be extra confident to silence the haters!” he exclaimed.
You couldn’t help but laugh at the last comment.
“Stop laughing at my beautiful speech!”
You stopped laughing and just shook your head.
“Sorry, I just couldn’t help but laugh thinking I have haters,” you reassured him. “But seriously, thank you ‘tsumu,” you said, looking up at him again.
“Stand proud, beautiful, let them all be jealous that they don’t get to kiss you like I do!” he said, grabbing you by your waist and pulling you in close to him. “Speaking of…” he finished, leaning down to capture your lips in a searing kiss. You jumped at the intensity of it and wrapped your arms around the blond’s neck, grateful.
“Jesus I left for five minutes and already you two are making out, I guess everything is fine then?” asked Osamu, who was disgusted at the sight in front of him.
“Sorry!” you squeaked, pulling away from Atsumu.
“Don’t be sorry, we got a shower and plenty of fun ahead of us tonight,” Atsumu whispered in your ear before grabbing your ass.
“I’m going to vomit if you don’t stop!” shouted Osamu.
“Okay, okay! Fine! Let’s go grab some grub at your place then,” Atsumu conceded, grabbing your hand as the three of you walked towards the parking lot.
“Only she eats free, disgusting sweaty pro-players pay for their own food,” Osamu commented.
“Oh here we go,” you giggled as the two brothers began to bicker.
Atsumu was true to his word though. After eating, with Osamu finally giving his brother a discount at his restaurant, the two of you spent the rest of the evening cuddling, fucking, and just enjoying each other’s company. After you showered, of course.
“How do you have so much energy after playing a long-ass match?” you asked, out of breath lying next to your naked boyfriend.
“It’s easy when I have such a sexy girlfriend,” he mumbled into your neck, giving you a few more hickies. “I’m always ready to go for you,” he continued.
“Well now I can say that I’m the one who is tired, let’s go watch something,” you giggled, pushing him off of you playfully as you grabbed a pair of underwear and one of Atsumu’s oversized t-shirts to wear. You sauntered over to the couch and grabbed the remote before Atsumu could.
“Ha! Now we get to watch what I want!” you cheered triumphantly.
“It’s all your fault, you distracted me with that sexy booty of yours,” Atsumu laughed, smacking your ass before you both tumbled onto the couch.
“Thank you for earlier by the way,” you mumbled, flicking through the shows on Netflix.
“Anytime sweetheart, I’ll always be here for you,” Atsumu replied softly, giving you a quick kiss on the cheek as you settled into his chest to watch another shitty rom-com anime.
It wasn’t easy being a pro-player’s girlfriend and often those comments could ruin your day but you wouldn’t let them ruin moments like this. You sighed in contentment, grateful to whatever deity that was up there that you had met and fallen in love with Atsumu Miya, the man who loved all of you, no matter what.