Thread by @matchumu, I can't stop thinking about the local high school boy's volleyball team [...]

I can't stop thinking about the local high school boy's volleyball team hanging out at onigiri miya after practice and osamu accidentally becoming a mentor to them all. +

imagine a small hoard of teenage boys looking for a place to grab a bite to eat after a long practice. they suddenly stumble upon a small onigiri shop a couple blocks away from their school and decide, why not? +

"my nee-chan really likes this place" one of the boys say. "though I think it's more cus she thinks the owner is hot"

curiosity peaked, the boys enter the store, ready to encounter some suave, 30 something y/o man (cus that's what all the girls are into these days right?) +

instead they're greeted by a man no older than his mid 20s, barely a couple years older than them. mildly surprised but too hungry to care, they order their food and huddle in the back of the store to discuss some strategy while the man cleans up +

it's nearly closing time, so they're the only ones left in the store. so it's only inevitable that osamu catches a bit of their conversation.

"you guys talkin about volleyball?" that gets the boys' attention for sure.

"uh yeah. how'd you know, mister?" +

osamu chuckles

"you could say I used to play in my day. still do, sometimes." excited, the boys beg osamu to join them in their discussions of strategy, and, well, who's osamu to refuse an offer like that? +

it becomes a ritual of sorts. after every practice the boys would gather at the same table at the back of the store, and once he was done cleaning up, osamu would join them. he helped them develop new strategies, new techniques, and taught the importance of rest & nutrition+

the boys beg osamu to play with them, pester him with questions about his so-called "volleyball days", but he remains tight lipped.

"they ain't nothin too interesting" he always chuckles "you boys would get bored in no time" +

it goes on for weeks until one day, osamu is greeted by their coach instead.

"You're miya osamu aren't you?" he says "never thought I'd get the honor of havin one of the miya twins to personally coach my boys"

osamu chuckles

"they're good kids coach, it's my pleasure" +

the coach smiles. "they are, aren't they?" he agrees. "yknow, I was thinking about showing them some old tapes from nationals. purely for strategy, of course"

osamu grins. "of course. any particular match in mind?"

"I was thinking inarizaki v karasuno, spring high 2014" +

and so when the boys get to practice the next day, they're surprised to see the tv set up instead of their nets.

"why this match in particular?" they ask

"this match features lots of current pro players. we get to see how they played when they were your age" +

curiosity peaked, the boys can't wait to see the high school showdown. miya atsumu, suna rintarou, ojiro aran, kageyama tobio and hinata shoyo? what a match-up of the ages

so imagine their surprise when they see not one but TWO familiar faces when the miya twins burst on screen+

their jaws drop to the floor. so THIS was what osamu-san meant by volleyball days? NATIONALS? not to mention- his twin brother was MIYA ATSUMU? they watched in awe as the twins pulled off their quick, a shared synchronity that felt almost unacheivable by mere mortals. +

that day, they nearly storm onigiri miya, racing to see who could badger their favorite chef for answers, and perhaps, some autographs. osamu can't help but laugh at their combined betrayal and awe. he answers questions about his high school days, his teammates, his brother +

"how bout this" osamu finally says. "get to nationals, and I'll prepare a special surprise for you all"
fire sufficiently lit, the boys agree. so they train, train the hardest they have in their entire life. they discuss strategies with osamu, practice new techniques, eat well.+

and when their team makes it all the way to finals, all the way to the top, and defeat the reigning champions 3-2, osamu is right there cheering for them in the stands. he prepares a celebration for them in his store, and makes extras of all the boys' favorite onigiri flavors +

after a well deserved weekend off, osamu texts them all to come to the store (they have a gc) to receive their prize. fatigue forgotten, the boys rush to the store. they freeze at the door as they are greeted with none other than miya atsumu, suna rintarou, and ojiro aran +

osamu grins when he sees them
"come on in boys, come meet my friends"
doing their best to swallow their awe, the boys edge into the store. it takes them a while to get past their nervousness, but once they do, they rush at the opportunity to talk to real v league athletes. +

the spikers flock to aran like baby ducklings, and the middle blockers stare at suna like he hung the stars in the sky. the setters hang off of atsumu's every word. Osamu nearly laughs when he sees one of them taking notes +

in turn, the boys observe the way osamu talks to legends as though he were one of them. they think back to the extra onigiri osamu always had ready for them, the extra hours he spent past closing time to help them with game plans, the way he cheered them on at every game +

and they think, perhaps he's just as much of a legend as any of the others. +

although, as they watch him throw his third misshapen onigiri at atsumu-san while he screeched and ducks they can't help but think he's much more...animated with his brother around.

"Don't worry" suna-san says. "they're always like this" and- is he recording this right now? +

aran sighs. "you boys have only seen osamu by himself so I'm sure this is new to ya. but at their core, this is the true miya twins experience." he turns back to the twins and shouts: "If you two don't cut it out I'm calling shinsuke!"

the boys watch in wonder as both men freeze in their tracks, osamu from where he was perched on his counter and atsumu from the chair he was trying to (unsuccessfully) hide behind, looking like the fear of God had been struck into them. +

sensing their confusion, suna leans over and says: "our old high school captain. the only person the twins fear more than their mother."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP RIN YOU WERE TERRIFIED OF 'IM TOO" the twins shout in terrifying synchronity. suna ignores them, flipping them off instead +

once again, the boys can do nothing but stare as they watch the adults interact. are these really the same pro athletes they see on TV every week? is that really their same mentor, usually so calm and put together? but as they watch osamu laugh along with his friends and brother+

eyes bright and shoulders relaxed, they can't help but think, maybe they like this version of osamu-san as well. +

food fight ended, osamu finally stops to shout at atsumu once more "stop embarrassing me in front of my boys, ya fucking disgrace!"

atsumu squawks "I'M the disgrace-?!" before he pauses, finally processing osamu's words. His offended glare transforms into a smug grin, +

and osamu instantly feels on edge.

"your boys, huh" atsumu grins. "why didn'tcha tell me I've got nephews now!"

osamu's eyes widen as he realizes his slip of the tongue, too late to take it back now. he looks over to the boys, eyes sparkling in awe and adoration, and he thinks+

"yeah," he agrees out loud, grin warm and genuine. "my boys."

(the end ( ´▽｀))

this was kind of a branch off idea from this thread that I've had stewing in my brain for a while now, so I hope you guys like it :) https://twitter.com/matchumu/status/1348087168984637440?s=21