Work Text:
*clink*
And the food was finished. Both contestants dropped their plating utensils as the timer went off. Osamu looked at his plate satisfied, as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with a towel. It was not, by any means, a challenge for him. He only made these about twenty-plus times a day with increasing requests, so he had the right to boast internally. His weapon of choice was his famous XL fatty tuna onigiri, but this time with a special surprise in it for Shouyou-kun, so that there was no way the tangerine could deny that he was the winner. He got a tip from Bokuto, just before they left the gym. For two, small eel onigiri’s on the house, apparently Shouyou-kun usually went weak for this, so he was pretty confident.
In some ways he felt sorry for Shouyou-kun, there really was no topping this. More than that though, he was ninety percent in envy of his challenger. Now, make no mistake, he was no ‘Tsumu. Dear lord no, but there are times when he reaches his brother’s level of big-headedness, and he must say he has yet to taste something that could top his Chef’s Special. It’s just that good.
Osamu had to wonder when he became this skilled with the knife and spices because he will humbly admit it did not start this way. He remembered, clearly, the days he struggled to even form a triangular looking shaped lump of rice that ended up crumbling into pieces on the journey to his mouth. But he just could not remember the exact moment his cooking reached a level that only his food could put a genuine smile on his face. Oh god, he really does sound like ‘Tsumu, he must visit Sunarin or Kita-San to bring his ego back dow-
“Osamu-san?....Uh Osamu-San?”
Ah yes, his competition with Shouyou-kun. Poor Shouyou-kun, Osamu already knew what the outcome of this would be when he said yes to poor Shouyou-kun. In some ways, he believed this competition would be a fresh change in his daily life, even while knowing what the outcome of it would be-
“You’re running away aren’t you Osamu-san?”
Okay what.
Finally, Osamu turned to look at the fluffy-haired ginger who currently had one hand on his hips, and the other holding his plating spoon, dropped to the side mimicking a contrapposto pose. Hinata Shouyou, in all his splendor, with his subtle but very unsettling smirk, and his eyebrows slightly raised in expectation. His auburn eyes showing a cup full of challenge that Osamu had been shocked into knowing all those years ago, during their first match against each other. He remembered because his stomach growled at that look. However, also in his eyes there was a hint of amusement that was, foreign, but clearly suggested that Hinata-kun thought he fought a fair battle here today. He chuckled at the ridiculous thought.
Osamu, however, still did not, or rather could not, look away. Not when the evening sun hit Shouyou-kun at such a perfect angle that it truly contoured the masterpiece of his face. Not when the sunlight made his eyes glow and his ginger hair illude a live flame. Not when his loose white blouse hugged all the right places so that he can even see a little sun mole peek out under his collarbones, which Osamu will confess, he stared at a bit too long. Definitely, not when the aroma from his food, wait, the aroma from his food?
Osamu shook his head and looked back at his own creation. Huh, he doesn’t remember adding spicy curry. Why is he smelling it so strongly that it’s overpowering his own dish? Did he forget he dropped some spicy curry in there? No, he does not make those kinds of mistakes, and usually his mistakes would not make mouths water.
“Osamu-san, you’re not even looking at my plate.” Hinata stated resigned, bringing Osamu back to earth, which earned him a snicker that definitely came from someone’s asshole. He immediately turned to the culprit, that no one wanted or asked to be here.
“Shut yer trap ‘Tsumu, why are you even here?” Osamu told the idiot who had the audacity to look wronged.
“What the heck ‘Samu, you and Shou-kun literally begged me to be the judge.”
The lying bastard. It has always been this way he wanted to hope that at the age of 22 his stupid brother might try to become an adult but no. Clearly a miracle needed to be bestowed on them, thankfully today, one came today in the form of Hinata Shouyou.
“Atsumu-san, no disrespect- “
“No, Hinata-kun, he really needs alllll the disrespect we can muster.”
“……….All disrespect Atsumu-san, but if I remember correctly, you followed us here…like a stalker… you hid behind light poles and bushes when we were walking here, then after 5-10 minutes of looking through the side window, you walked in announcing that you were hungry, then did a doubletake and pretended to just notice my presence, then you proceeded to- “
“Okay, okay! I get it!” Atsumu waved his hands to stop the verbal onslaught, “it’s just… okay well. yer kind of MY teammate- “Osamu groaned, “-and ‘Samu steals everythin’ from me Shou-kun, ‘m not lyin,’ since we were kids! So, in order to protect ya, I needed to see that this wasn’t just another one of his plots to steal somethin’ from me for his personal satisfaction, and that you were actually being taken cared of!” Atsumu, finished, actually looking proud of himself.
Osamu raised his eyebrows. That’s exactly, the kind of thing Atsumu would NOT do so ha! Shouyou-kun is no idiot-
“ AW , thanks Atsumu-san! You really are the best!”
Osamu sighed, then turned back to Shouyou-kun, or Mr. Sunshine, whatever they call him these days, while trying to casually forget the existence of his twin for at least one more hour. Which proved to be rather easy as he finally let his eyes rest on the other’s labored dish.
Oh?
His heart swelled a bit.
“Hinata-kun, that’s- “
“Furikake Gohan! With curry!” He literally beamed, and Osamu found that he did not even want to look away this time, or talk, breathing, what was breathing? “And yours, Osamu-san? What’s in the onigiri?” he asked in curiosity while coming closer for a better look, like a bird hopping closer to pick at your food. Osamu found it all endearing. This is dangerous, Osamu thought as his heart did a little ba-dum ba-dum at the redhead’s antics. “Ahhh, I’m not good with the names of gourmet herbs and spices but whatever you have in there is overpowering my own dish!” Hinata laughed sheepishly scratching the back of his head, finally bringing the onigiri chef back to reality.
“It’s fatty tuna in there, with a Chef’s special blend of herbs and spices that Kita-san grows just for Onigiri Miya since he’s a rice farmer, plus a surprise for you, wait, what?” Shouyou-kun’s smellin’ his dish?
Perplexed, Osamu asked, “Are yah not smellin’ the goodness in yer own food Hinata-kun?”
“Huh? Not really, whatever fancy stuff you put in there is overpowering the scent of my own dish! I guess you really can’t beat a professional at their own job huh” He smiled sighing giving Osamu this- this look, dare Osamu say, of admiration mixed with, longing? He hasn’t been up to date with his k-dramas, but he knows that look.
Which must be just a stupid thought, because there’s no way Hinata Shouyou; a protagonist worthy, main character, star of the show, type of guy, would ever be interested in a guy who owns an onigiri shop. Not in this lifetime at least. However, does this mean Shouyou-kun valued the aroma of his dish just as much? Did his mouth salivate as well from the shear force of the scent alone? This was good, he had a fighting chance then. N-not that he was worried.
“Alright Hinata-kun, let’s begin the evaluation then, shall we?” Osamu piped, regaining a newfound confidence in his food he did not know was so fragile until Mr. Flying Sunshine showed up.
“YOSH!” Hinata carried plated food as Osamu carried some utensils and two chilly waters. Water, because they both agree beforehand that any other drink would mess with their taste buds and the competition must be carried out fair and square!
“So, um guys? I get it, I really do but, I’m kinda hungry as well sooo, you guys have more, right?”
Oh yeah, the pest, it’s still here, Osamu sighed and turned around after setting up by the corner table closest to the window.
“I figured yer ass would say that-“ .. “...so, there’s another one behind the bar..”
“I figured you’d say that Atsumu-san-“ .. “...so, I made extra, it’s at the bar still..”
Osamu and Shouyou said, starting at the same time, pausing at the same time, and basically saying the same thing. Making them blush at the same time too and for what reason, the narrator also wants to know.
“…………………………………’kay that was..weird but, WOAH?! TWO FULL MEALS?! I tolddd Omi-kun I was loved!”
Shouyou and Osamu: ???
“He firmly believes otherwise and is seeking a professional for help apparently” Atsumu solemnly elaborated.
Shouyou and Osamu: ??????!????!????
Osamu turned back around, “Hinata-kun, just ignore the pest, there’s not much we can do the get rid of em’ these days, but don’t worry they’re harmless,” he said smiling at Shouyou and leading him with a gesture to the evaluation grounds, ie. the corner table.
“Aren’t they persistent Osamu-san, I took a while getting used to them at the dorm.” Hinata replied.
Atsumu knew all his life, a day would come when his traitor brother would influence one of his friends, it was inevitable really, but did it have to be his dearest one? Now, he was sure it was mutual when Shou-kun had become his best friend over the yea— month— weeks that he had been his spiker, teammate, and brother, he was sure. Yet, he did not expect that their bond would be so fragile that his self-proclaimed evil half would be able to just sweep in and-
While Atsumu was having his internal monologue and crisis, they both finally sat down and said their thanks, ready to dig in and well, commence the main part of the competition. Neither made the first move though.
“Y-you go first Hinata-kun.” Osamu, the chicken, gestured.
“Huh? Shouldn’t we do it together, Osamu-san?” He asked feigning innocence and Osamu malfunctioned, because that was uncalled for!
“Hinata-kun!?” He was caught off-guard as did not know the gremlin shrimp had it in him! ‘Tsumu is definitely chanting the word scrub right now somewhere in the background.
“Hahaha, sorry, sorry, I couldn’t help it Osamu-san! I’d do anything to see your normally straight face blush a little.”
“Ya little- “
“THREE, TWO, ONE, EAT!” Shouyou yelled pumping his fists and going in for his first bite of onigiri.
Osamu huffed but he did not need to be told twice as he adjusted his chopsticks, took a hearty serving of everything in Hinata’s dish combined, blew it a little, and then plopped it in his mouth.
Well, shit.
The first bite was magical. White noise cancelled out in the background, it was only Osamu, and this simple, everyday dish. Furikake Gohan, something you’d make after a tiring day at work, or on a rushed morning. Shouyou’s Furikake Gohan, did not fit the role it was destined to play. At first, of course, the spicy curry spread over Osamu’s tongue like butter, he expected it, especially with the way it was smelling before. What Osamu did not expect was the shockwave of flavors hidden under a now noticeably light blanket of curry. The herbs, the stock, the tiny scallion bits, the leeks, the-what is this? What’s making the flavors dance? Whatever, Osamu was not able to care anymore, he was already a melted heap on the table making love with the food he has yet to chew properly.
On the other hand, Shouyou’s eyes widened as his reality came to a halt. All that was left was him and his onigiri. Onigiri, fatty tuna onigiri, the go to secondary filling for a school Friday bento box. Yet, Osamu’s fatty tuna onigiri, makes his heart rate gradually accelerate. Only the best memories of his lunchtimes, from childhood to adulthood, were at the forefront of his mind. The laughter came with the chives. The playful rousing came with the sunny side up egg, that happened to be a delightful surprise. The made-up games came with the herbs, each one declaring a new rule. And the love letters, well that came with the fatty tuna, it was shy at first under all the flavors, but then after professing its love, it was there, the only thing left, living happily ever after in his mouth. Shouyou finally glanced at Osamu, who was recuperating and slowly glanced up at him as well.
They both shared a silent look and understood what needed to be done next.
“Atsumu-san, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Shouyou left no room for arguments.
Osamu stood up from the table immediately, and made a beeline for the backroom to get some finer table cloths and two wine glasses, then went in search of the champagne he saves for special occasions. Oh, and he can’t forget the candle. Hinata, still on Atsumu dismissal duty, looked through Spotify because there must be a soft evening, romantic playlist somewhere, ah there it is.
“Shou-kun??” Atsumu choked at the sudden change of atmosphere, “I ain’t done with my food? And ya both barely started eating- “
“Atsumu-san, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Atsumu got up. Found the takeout box stash under the bar counter. Packed up his two meals. Walked to the front door. Held his hand up in farewell refusing to glance back. And after an unnecessary dramatic pause, he left. Osamu is already planning his future with this man, the power to make Atsumu give him peace.
Once settled by the makeshift candlelight dinner with fine champagne, and soft music from Shouyou’s phone speaker to complement, they both looked at each other and chuckled. One smiled softly amused by the turn of events, the other lightly coughing to make an excuse for the pink that’s surely covering his cheeks and ears.
“Well then Hinata-kun, tell me about yourself” Osamu breathed with an attempt at slight flirtation.
“Call me Shouyou, Osamu-san, after all, this is a date.” Hinata declared, head tilted to the left and propped up with his left hand at the chin, with this—soft look dancing in his eyes.
Osamu and his k-drama deprived heart are not going to survive the night.