Heartstrings (Ushijima x Reader)

Chapter nineteen

"Is it looking nice?" Ushijima asked, attempting to lift his head from the floor after getting stuck in the sand.

"Beautiful, you are basically a renaissance masterpiece." She giggled.

It's been a few weeks since they were a couple and it seemed they couldn't be any happier, finally with no one stopping them, they let their hearts dictate what they truly wanted.

They saw each other after class almost every day. She would go and watch his practices, where most of Ushijima's mates would stare in absolute disbelief some of the time.

Or he would go and accompany her when she wrote the news or helped her moving around the heavy papers.

He even helped her with babysitting Takeru, and so on.

It has been a while since she had felt so...complete.

It was a Sunday, a day after all his matches.

They were in the middle of the seasonal tournament, where all the schools of the prefecture played against each other; and as it being summer, she promised to take him on a refreshing date if he won all his matches, letting him play the final the following day.

So, there they were, entirely covering Wakatoshi in sand on Shoubuta beach. She was making a complete body sculpture, a mermaid's tail with a tiny waist and very round boobs. "Amazing, you are looking almost as good as me."

Wakatoshi couldn't help but chuckle, atypical from his serious attitude. "I never imagined I'd be turned into a work of art," he said, his eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and genuine affection.

She grinned, placing the finishing touches on the sandy sculpture. "Well, you're not just anyone. You're my  masterpiece," she replied while giving him a little peck on his lips as he was trapped. 

He smirked, "Can I move now?" He had been forced by her to be in that same position for 30 minutes, no wonder why his legs were now numb.

Before he could ruin her artwork, she took her phone out of her bag and pointed the camera at him. "Give me one second...There you go, you are free."

But before she could even mourn her destroyed piece, she felt two arms lift her entire body, as light as a feather, and carry her directly into the water.

"WAIT WAIT! WAKATOSH..." The sudden plunge into the cool ocean caught her by surprise, and she couldn't help but let out a playful yelp. Ushijima's laughter mixed with the sound of the waves as he held her in his arms. "Toshii! What was that for?!" she laughed, feeling the water swirl around them.

"Just returning the favor for the boobs," he replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Now we're even."

Before she could react, he scooped up a handful of seawater and splashed it in her direction. She squealed, the unexpected coldness making her shiver.

"Oh, it's on now," she declared. She retaliated with her own splash, and soon they were engaged in a playful water fight.

Laughter echoed on the beach as they exchanged teasing but tough splashes, their playful laughs blending seamlessly with the sound of the waves.

After the playful swim, the sun started to hide leaving behind a delightful orange trail. They were already leaving as the beach was about to close, but after neglecting to leave the feeling they were taking the longues route to the exit, walking hand by hand enjoying the silent walk.

She looked at him, staring at her view, her, and hers only. Wondering for a sole minute how him could have looked at her. It just made her smile even more.

"You know Wakatoshi," she said softly, interrupting the silence. "This was all a plan to see you shirtless."

He chuckled at the unexpected comment. "Is that so?" he replied, a small smile playing on his lips.

She nodded. "Absolutely. Sand sculptures and water fights are just my clever tactics."

He chuckled, squeezing her hand affectionately. "Well, your plan worked. But you could have just asked."

Her cheeks tinted with a light blush as she laughed openly. "Where's the fun in that?!" She bumped his shoulder playfully.

Ushijima looked at her, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, I hope my shirtless appearance met your expectations."

She chuckled, giving him a gentle nudge. "More than met, exceeded. Ten out of ten."

They continued walking, the sunlight casting a warm glow on the sand beneath their feet. The beach held a serene beauty that matched their quiet joy.

But even if the day seemed perfect, she couldn't shake off a growing realization. She stole a glance at him, his profile softened by the evening glow.

"Wakatoshi," she began tentatively, "aren't you thinking about the final tomorrow?"

"I am aware. It's an important match." He responded, a faint smile on his lips.

She couldn't help but feel a hint of frustration. "Shouldn't we be preparing or something?"

"We'll be fine. " He squeezed her hand reassuringly gazing softly at eyes. "I am confident that everything will go as planned."

He was truly on another league. The only thing she could really feel was an unbelievable admiration for him and his trust in his abilities. Truly a role model, her boyfriend after all.

"I think I am much more nervous than you," She admitted with a shy smile.

"I can understand," Ushijima responded, aware that his match was going to be against Oikawa Toruu. "Your brother is an important part of your life, and I respect that."

She sighed a heavy breath, her heart and mind in conflict. "It's just very hard..."

He stopped walking, turning to face her entirely. With a gentle touch, he pressed his hands against her cheeks, his gaze sincere and reassuring.

"____, regardless of the outcome, it won't change how I feel about you or your brother," he said, his voice steady and comforting. "Our relationship is separate from the game, and I want you to enjoy the match without any worry."

As if they struck on her mind, the words created a sense of calm within her. The weight that had lingered in her chest began to lift, replaced by sudden appreciation for his support.

"Thank you, Wakatoshi," she whispered, her eyes meeting his. "I really needed to hear that."

***

Can you believe we only have five chapters to go? Me neither.

I hope to finish it before I go back to uni, but it's been hard because I start like a hundred other ideas to write and in the end I never continue them and leave them there....

If I finish it, it will be the first story I've finished in my whole life :0, i hope the original author doesn't sue me by then lol. 

WELL... COMMENT, VOTE AND SHARE! It will keep me motivated :D

Thank you for reading once again!