AN: Yo Im still relearning the ropes of Tumblr and I don’t really understand when ppl ask me to tag them… I think ive done it right? Also the storyline went way more intense than I had planned… so now instead of a two parter…. its become a three-part smutshot… Also, I started a new job so couldn’t finish this chapter because im exhausted :$ I hope you enjoy this chapter, lemme know ur thought <3
There was pin drop silence in the bedroom, she waited for an answer but he couldn’t seem to reciprocate… The paper crumpled when her fingers curled harder, standing up
“… ‘Romancing your wife?’ I don’t understand… Is this why you did all of this today?” She asked, showing him the list. Ushijima grunted, it was embarrassing for him but he saw no point in hiding it.
“You’re my wife.” He said and she raised a brow,
“Yes… I’m aware… I was at the wedding.”
Rubbing the back of his head, he gripped the paper from her hand, folding it again. He had no idea how to explain himself
“It’s nothing… Forget it…”
Her brows softened and she reached for his arm, holding onto it
“Ushijima-san… You’re my husband, you should be able to talk to me about your feelings… It’s very important for our relationship, I want you to rely on me more… Rather than Tendou-san… He’s your best friend, I understand but… I’m your wife…” She muttered, letting go off him.
Turning away from him, she quietly untucked her side of the bed, while he watched… Sliding under the cover, she reached out to turn her lamp off before settling herself.
It felt like they went back to square one.
His feet gravitated towards her and she felt the weight of the mattress dip by her legs. She looked at him but he sat looking at his hands, looking pensive. She slowly sat up, just watching him ponder away… It felt like minutes passed slowly before his lips parted,
“… I haven’t been a good spouse to you.” He finally said, and she bit her bottom lip, chewing on it from his sudden revelation.
“Ushijima–”
“… I met Tendou today because I wanted to ask him why his marriage was so strong… I wanted to learn about what I was doing wrong… To make things work between us…”
She slid the duvet off her legs, scooting to sit next to him…
“Ah, so that’s why he made you write down his tips…”
Ushijima nodded,
“When we spoke, it made me realise just how much he dotes on his wife… I should have done the same when we met but I let my mother and grandmother pave the way for me. You didn’t deserve that. You deserve to be happy but my family took that happiness away from you… I did too… I knew you weren’t given a choice when it came to our wedding… From the venue… To your kimono… But because you never said anything, I thought it was okay…”
Y/n just nodded, glancing at their wedding photo again… It was a very calm and quiet wedding between their families… and yes, her in-laws took charge of everything…
“I don’t understand, all I wanted was to get along with you and you wanted the same but then… Why were you avoiding me all these months?” She asked him. He looked at her, giving her a very blatant answer
“Because I thought you were scared of me…” He answered truthfully, making her eyes widen
“Scared!? Why on earth would I marry you if I was scared of you? I’m not scared, I’ve never been scared of you…”
He saw her point but then he remembered the way she trembled on their first night together, knitting his brows
“…But you were shaking on the first night… You looked like you wanted to run away when I walked into our room…”
Y/n flushed, remembering how nervous she was, mainly because he was a professional athlete and the months before their marriage, all she did was fantasise about his body… However, the severe reality of sex and the fact she was wearing a very daring nightie had made her anxious of messing up.
Groaning, she covered her face in embarrassment
“Oh no… You misunderstood… I didn’t want to run away… I-I… Um…” She wasn’t sure how to word it while he watched her with such intensity… Looking shyly at her lap, she fiddled with her wedding ring, blushing
“I was just nervous that you wouldn’t find me attractive and because I’ve never done that before… I mean… It was nerve wracking wearing that nightie too…” She mumbled in embarrassment, puzzling him
“You’re extremely attractive.” He said ever so bluntly, taking her back, making her ears burn. She was at a loss of words,
“Oh– I-I… Thank you…”
Ushijima really thought her words over, shrugging
“I haven’t had sex either…”
She felt a bit of shock, she would think a pro-athlete like him would have bagged a few lays but after realising just how clueless he was on the romance front, she was no longer surprised by his revelation.
“So, we both are virgins?” She asked and he nodded, and she sighed in relief, falling back on their bed
“That makes me feel better actually… I was worried you felt nothing towards me”
Ushijima just lay down next to her and she reached for his hand, holding it softly
“…I wouldn’t have married you if I felt nothing… I’m not inhuman…” He mumbled and she smiled,
“I know… It’s the same for me…”
Turning to face him, they stared at each other. He wondered what the right step was, but Y/n reached out to fix his hair, pushing it away from his eyes.
“Things are a little backwards for us but how about we take it slow… Let’s go on more dates, learn about each other without any… tips. It was very sweet of you to try this hard for us but next time, just talk to me?” She suggested and he nodded,
“Where do you want to go next?” He asked her and she thought about it…
“We went where I wanted today, you get to decide where to go next. Let’s try something you enjoy” She answered, waiting for him to think of their next restaurant date…
“Okay.” He said and she sat up, excited
“Ooh! You thought of a date so quickly? Where are we going!?” She beamed in excitement.
~
Y/n felt like the breath was knocked out of her lungs, she kept panting, wiping the sweat from her brow
“…”
She had no words, really… It was the crack of dawn and Ushjima had suggested she join him on his morning jog… Ofcourse, she was enthusiastic but actually having to get up and get ready before the sun rose was a chore… Her eyes were so heavy with sleep and only when they began running, had she realised just how out of shape she was.
Ushijima calmly jogged back to her, offering her his sports drink
“Do you want to stop?” He asked her
‘Yes.’ She thought but she shook her head, chugging his drink
“No, no! It’s just been a while since I did something this physical… I can keep going!” She insisted. After all the effort he had made, how could she deny him of something he enjoyed and wanted to share with her. Although they had run for a while and her legs felt like jelly, she handed his bottle back, beginning her jogging again
“C’mon Ushijima-san!” She panted, cursing inwardly from the burn in her calves. He was amused, looking at how slow she jogged but he quietly kept at her pace. Ushijima kept glancing at her activewear. She had sported a purple sports bra with high waisted tights, but he made her wear his high school jacket on top, claiming it was a chilly morning. Which was partly true but when they had started jogging, he had already gotten distracted by her breasts and couldn’t handle it…
But then again, he couldn’t handle how cute she looked with his jacket on…
His heart had skipped a beat…
He realised Y/n had finally stopped, leaning her back against a wall and she crossed her hands calling for a time-out
“I-I’m sorry but I don’t think my legs can go on…” She muttered in embarrassment but he pulled out his hand towel, dabbing her sweaty forehead
“Its okay, you did really well Y/n. But perhaps, jogging for a date was not the right choice” He said. Y/n grinned, shaking her head
“I don’t think I can do this everyday but I’d like to try running with you on the weekends? Its healthy for couples to share some hobbies!”
He nodded, before checking his watch
“Shall we go home now? I need to get ready for training” He muttered, making her eagerly nod
“Yes, I need to give you something before you leave! So lets go!” She chirped, pushing herself from the wall she was leaning on.
“Oh!” She gasped feeling her knees buckle but he held her hips
“You okay?”
She laughed, “Sorry, I guess my legs are not used to it… They feel like jelly”
Ushjima stared at her legs, he noticed them shake a little. Not thinking much of it, she gasped when he simply just lifted her into his arms, carrying her like a princess
“Ushijima-san!?” She squeaked making him hum
“Would you rather I call us a taxi? It’s still early so not sure if we will find one…” He muttered but Y/n quickly shook her head, despite being embarrassed, she was actually thrilled
“I hope I’m not heavy…” She mumbled
“Don’t worry, the more you run, you’ll get fitter and feel lighter” He said so nonchalantly that her eye twitched, leaning her head against his chest, pouting
“Remind me to teach you about social cues with women…” She muttered
“Okay” He said as he carried her back home
Their conversation was light but after yesterday, he interacted with her more. She was really enjoying the way things were going. She felt like she was on cloud nine, but she couldn’t get over his firm body pressing against hers… She began wondering when they would take things further… Even though they were married, it felt like they were in the first stages of dating.
When they reached the front door, he still held her in the arms, walking through their threshold. Her cheeks warmed, the home she had become used to, suddenly felt new. She felt like a newlywed bride from the way he gently walked through the entryway, setting her on the sofa…
“I won’t be able to eat breakfast with you but on my next day off, you can decide what we do and eat” He said and she laughed,
“Sounds good! You should go get ready now”
He simply nodded, walking to their bedroom and she got up, speedily walking to the kitchen.
He was ready within twenty minutes, fixing his clean gym wear before walking to the entryway, slipping his joggers on
“Y/n, I’m leaving now” He called
“Wait!” She squeaked, making him hum and lift a brow when she rushed towards him
“Here you go!” She chirped, handing him a neatly wrapped bento box. He looked at the feminine patterned cloth, feeling his cheeks heat up
“I made you lunch! Its packed with protein but I did add some rice… Oh… and tempura… But you shouldn’t train on an empty stomach. So, eat this when you’re on the train” She handed him a paper bag,
“It’s just a sandwich and fruit! I hope you enjoy it” She smiled… Ushjima’s chest warmed, feeling his heart spark again… He carefully put the food inside his sportsbag, looking at her sweet face. It felt almost natural but he reached towards her, his hand patting the top of his head. Y/n’s breath hitched when she realised he was smiling ever so warmly at her
“Thank you” He muttered and she rubbed the back of her neck, laughing
“Hope you have a great day today, Ushijima-san”
She opened the door, watching him step outside as she waved him off. He seemed to be lost in thought, taking a few steps forward but he stopped, making her furrow her brows when he walked back to her
“Ushijima-Mmfh~”
The breath was taken from her lungs once again this morning but this time, her legs felt like jelly only because he pressed his lips against hers. She wished it lasted longer but he pulled away, looking at her flustered reaction
“Stop calling me that… We don’t need formalities between us.” He simply said but she was still lost in a daze,
“O-Oh, okay…”
He smiled again, fixing her hair behind her ear
“Have a great day, Y/n” He muttered, now walking away while she stood there, still in shock…
“B-Bye Wakatoshi…” She whispered, feeling her tingling lips…
Shutting the door behind her, her hands cupped her cheeks, squealing
“Ohmygod… Okasan was right… A way to a man’s heart ishis stomach…”
Y/n had finally realised how she could strengthen the growing bond between them. Today was a completely different feeling for her. Unlike yesterday, where her day felt so dreary, she seemed to be chirpy doing their house chores. Now as she thought about her husband, she felt hope. She understood his feelings,
‘Wakatoshi <3’ She thought.
~
As weeks went by, Y/n and him had finally gotten into a groove, although they still hadn’t gotten intimate, mainly due to his hectic schedule, they had come up with a few traditions. One of which was now kissing each other goodbye before he left to train, when he returned home and before they’d retire for the night.
Each kiss was short and sweet, they both would still get shy over it but he’d make up for it every weekend by taking her out. Be it a simple evening stroll, an early morning jog or dates at different eateries. She eagerly awaited the weekends, merely because she got to spend time with him and the awkwardness had disappeared.
Today was another awaited Friday night, she had set the dining table up, setting up all his favourite dishes, smiling because he’d be here any minute now.
Right on time, she heard the front door creak out, her smile creeping into a grin as she rushed towards the entrance.
“Welcome back” She chirped, hands behind her back. He set his stuff down and she stood on the tips of her toes, to peck his lips, making him flush
“I’m home” Ushijima muttered, averting his gaze. She smiled, looking at his red ears before grabbing his hand
“Today I attempted hayashi rice, although theres a lot of mushrooms… I used different varieties!”
Ushijima’s brows lifted, a small smile on his face
“Can we eat now?”
“Ofcourse, its all prepared! C’mon Waka”
Leading him to the table, she sat opposite him, resting her face in her hands watching him plate up. Her eyes widened, jaw opening as she watched him take a bite, eagerly awaiting for feedback. As he chewed, she perked watching his own eyes widen, letting out a hum
“It’s delicious” He said with a mouthful making her giggle, feeling bashful
“I’m so glad, your mother had mentioned this is your favourite food”
He nodded, already plating up seconds. He glanced at her empty plate, frowning. Reaching for it, he began piling up a very generous portion for her
“I cannot eat this much Waka!”
“Nonsense…” He muttered, holding his chopsticks to her lips
“Stop watching and eat.” He said making her flush, taking a bite. She really did admire her cooking, proud that those lessons she had taken paid off. He felt satisfied when she began eating, stuffing his mouth again.
“…Speaking of Okasan… Obachan and her have asked to see us tomorrow…”
Y/n set her chopsticks down, trying to mask her grimace, looking at him
“…Oh, is there a reason?” She asked and he shrugged,
“Not sure… We haven’t met them in a while, I guess…”
Y/n started eating again, a little annoyed that their day tomorrow would be spent with the in-laws…
“Great…” She muttered but he noticed the way her smile dropped,
“I told them we would come for a little while because we have plans after”
Y/n’s shoulders perked again, feeling relieved he wasn’t cancelling their date.
“Yay!” She blurted, quickly covering her mouth.
“Sorry…” She squeaked,
She was scared, looking at his reaction but he lifted a brow, a small smirk growing on his stoic face
“Don’t be.”
~
For some reason, she felt uncomfortable all day… As time came closer to meet her mother in law, something in her gut told her it was going to be a gruelling day… She had to make sure her outfit was modest, that her hair was presentable… She was so nervous, she even filed her nails until they looked symmetrical…
Ushijima was calm, just standing in front of his family home seeming unbothered.
“Y/n.” He cut, breaking her from her thoughts. She glanced at him, swallowing the lump in her throat and he held her hand
“It’s okay.” He said and she nodded,
“I’m fine Waka honey. Don’t worry”
Humming, he pressed the bell making her hold her breath. It took a few minutes before the house attendant let them enter. She set her shoes neatly in the foyer, following behind Ushijima was they walked down the hall. Of course, they first had to go the family shrine, paying respect to his deceased ancestors before heading to the tea room.
“Welcome” His mother muttered, while his grandmother just nodded, ushering to the other side of the table. They both mumbled greetings, sitting down.
Ofcourse there was a short silence, before his family asked them for updates on their lives. Y/n only muttered one or two sentences while Ushjima spoke. Another helper had walked into the room, setting tea in front of them.
Y/n locked eyes with his mother and without being told, she quietly began serving tea for everyone. Ushijima glanced at her emotionless state, the realisation of how afraid his wife was of his family.
“Y/n.” She cut through and the younger woman froze, looking at his mother
“Yes Okaasan.”
“Have you been keeping up with your duties?” She asked and Y/n’s eyes downcasted, nodding
“Yes…”
“Don’t look away when she’s talking to you.” Obaachan said and she flinched, looking at them again.
“I-I’m sorry…”
Ushijima frowned, he did not like the tone of his family’s voices. He didn’t not like the way they made her uncomfortable
“Why did you want to see us?” He asked, trying to divert the attention away from Y/n. Obaachan and Okaasan glanced at one another. The old lady set her tea cup down, her daughter following suit.
“Yes… It’s come to our attention that you’ve been married for half a year, yes?” Obaachan said and he nodded
“Yes, what of it?” He asked and Y/n was beginning to feel nauseous from anxiety. Her stomach was hurting and she wished she could just run away at this moment. Okaasan sipped her tea, her cup making a small clink when it touched the saucer
“It’s time for you both to plan a family.” She said so simply and Y/n’s heart race
“W-What?” She barely uttered looking at the stern faces in front of her
“Your cousin just had a baby. Luckily, he’s become a father to a daughter. You must conceive a child soon. If you two are first to have a son, you will receive the largest portion of the family shares.”
Y/n felt like her head was spinning. What were these two women saying to her? It disgusted her that they were pleased his cousin had a girl… because it put them at an advantage. She realised just how much pressure theyd put on her if she had a daughter… She could never let an innocent child go through this…
Certainly not her own baby.
Clearing her throat, she rubbed the back of her neck
“Mother in law… As wonderful as it is, to have a baby… I don’t think we are ready–”
“Hush!” She spat and Y/n immediately closed her mouth, trembling.
“This is for the sake of your future. You think you’re not ready, but you’ll be thanking us one day.”
“B-But I don’t want to have a baby right now!” She sobbed. She had just started working on her marriage and things were going wonderfully. Ofcourse she would love to have a baby with him but not like this…
“Are you infertile? Do you have problems conceiving? This should have been mentioned in your profile” Obaachan said
This felt like torture, she felt like a mouse, trapped in a cage with a venomous snake…
“Obaachan. Stop it” Ushjima cut through
Gripping his arm, Y/n’s bottom lip quivered,
“Take me home” She whimpered
Her eyes were drowing in tears, she really just wanted to leave. Ushijima saw the tears in her eyes and he felt anger. He grabbed Y/n’s hand, pulling her up with him
“Sit down now” Okaasan said but he glared at her
“No.”
“Excuse me?” Obaachan muttered but he pushed Y/n behind him
“We will start a family when my wife wants to start a family. By insulting her, you have insulted me…”
His mother quickly got up,
“You’re taking this the wrong way, its just crocodile tears–”
He raised his hand, stopping her again
“You have never given my wife leverage to be comfortable. Y/n makes her own choices. You already controlled our wedding, don’t try to control our marriage. She is not your maid, she is not your servant. She is my wife and she deserves more respect than this godforsaken household.”
“How dare you” Obaachan;s voice raised but he held his ground
“You’ve hurt the woman I love… I won’t forgive you for this.” He said, gripping his weeping wife’s hand, walking towards the entrance. His mother was enraged, following behind them
“Wakatoshi, if you leave now, I will truly disown you” Her voice raised when they quickly slipped their shoes on. He pushed Y/n out of the front door before turning to his mother, seething
“Y/n will never step foot in this house again and nor will I. We are not your family. If we have a child, I’ll make sure you never see them” He said, not even bothering to see her reaction. His arm wrapped around Y/n’s shoulders, walking away from that treacherous household.
She was overwhelmed, shoulders still shaking as she sobbed. He was infuriated, years of bitterness against his own mother pooled out. He realised he was old enough to make it on his own. He didn’t need anything to do with her. She forced his own father away, she’d deprived him of that bond he had desperately seeked as a child. The moment they harassed his wife about having a baby, he could already see the future. They would have made her life miserable. She wouldn’t have even been able to mother their children if they bent to his family’s will…
Pulling her into a quieter lane, he rested his back against the wall, pushing her front into his while he patted her back
“I’m sorry you went through that… You won’t ever have to see them again.” He promised her, soothing her back. Y/n whimpered, sniffling, she knew her makeup was staining his shirt but she didn’t care
“I-I just… I can’t do it, Wakatoshi… I love you so much but I’m not ready for a baby” She cried, still spinning from the shock of earlier. Ushjima sighed,
“Y/n… We won’t start a family until you’re ready… I hope we only have daughters.” He said, pulling her away gently, wiping her stray tears. She sniffled again, dabbing her eyes, feeling embarrassed but she laughed softly
“…Well I’d like to have a son too… But not because I want your family’s money. Before we met, I had a pretty good job.” She reminded herself, making him amused
“I remember… If you miss working, then you should reapply. I won’t stop you…”
Her eyes widened,
“Really?”
He nodded,
“Yeah… If its something you’re passionate about, you should pursue it” He said and she laughed, now actually feeling like she was free. She was so glad his conscious was like his father’s… Her arms wrapped around him
“Thank you for giving me the choice Wakatoshi… But now that we have been disowned, maybe I will reapply…”
He chuckled, “With my profession, I don’t think you need to worry. I just want you to be free to do whatever you want”
Y/n gripped his hand, biting her lip
“I’m not sure if I actually want to work right now… Right now, I know what I want to do… I want to come and see you play volleyball. I want to be your support because you’re my support. I want to cheer my husband on…”
Looking into his eyes, he felt his heart flutter
“Wakatoshi…” She whispered, “I love you”
Ushjima finally felt the arrow strike through his heart, he pulled her close to him and she held her breath when his lips crashed against hers. This time it was rougher than before, her arms held his neck, giving herself into his lip.
“Waka–” She tried to mewl through kisses but he kept going. It was only until they needed to breath that he parted from her, cupping the side of her face
“Me too, Y/n…” He muttered.
She gripped his jacket, her heart was racing over the edge… With heated cheeks, they stared at each other and she chewed on her bottom lip before taking the plunge
“Wakatoshi… I want to be alone with you…” She whispered and he raised a brow,
“But we’re alone here?”
Her head rested against his chest and she laughed at his obliviousness… Embarrassed, she knew the only way she could make him understand was…
“I want to have sex with you.” She blurted. He froze and she was confused when he gave no reaction. She wasn’t sure what went through his mind, making her head tilt
“Hey?” Y/n muttered but it quickly cut into a squeal when her legs lifted off the ground, her body in his arms. Alarmed, she stared at his blushing face but he remained stoic as ever, marching quickly down the streets.
(AN: I was very reluctant to make an Ushijima smutshot because truthfully, his personality along with Akaashi’s are the hardest to write for me. So im not very happy with this storyline but it was playing in my head for a while. I just went with the flow but sorry in advance if the storyline is boring…)
Sounds of bird’s chirping filled the room, the bright sunlight started gleaming from the cracks of the blinds, falling onto her sleeping face. She grumbled, squinting her eyes, letting out a groan.
Her eyes opened and the first thing her blurry vision focused on was the photograph on her bedside table. She looked at the photo she had taken with her husband on their wedding day, three months ago. Her face held a small smile, whereas he remained stoic and expressionless. It always made her cringe because they both looked awkward. It was obvious in the photo there was no chemistry between them. However, people kept gushing about how they were a match made in heaven… Her parents kept insisting that he was just quiet, but he would open up to her soon.
Apparently, that’s how marriage worked… Which she thought was a bullshit excuse. She felt like she wasn’t given a choice when it the proposal came from his mother. She found her mother-in-law intimidating and strict. The lady accompanied Y/n and him on their first date… Y/n felt like she was being assessed, from the way she served tea, dressed, spoke and arranged flowers… Even though she had graduated a few years ago, her mother-in-law had asked to see her school reports and grades… It baffled her really… Throughout the interrogation, Ushijima didn’t mutter a single word. It seemed like he didn’t care really if Y/n married him… He literally just went with the flow…
It wasn’t like her mother in law was rude to Y/n, she seemed pleased with her most of the time, but his family was intense. It felt like they would chastise her if she made a single mistake. She hated visiting her in laws, they were so particular about rules and their family values. They told her that she didn’t need to work because Ushijima’s profession was enough for them to live quite comfortably, so Y/n just spent most of her days at home.
Surprisingly she got a long with her father-in-law. Although he stayed out of the family matters, he spoke to her very kindly and she felt like he was quite grounded compared to his ex-wife. She wished he was still living in Japan. They met during the wedding and he was most happy about gaining a daughter in law, she remembered how he requested she be patient with his son…
Sighing, she slowly sat up, stretching her arms before she turned around, frowning. Of course, her bed was empty… He never woke her up when he would get ready, he was always quiet when he got up. He’d shower, eat his own breakfast, change for his morning jog before going to the auditorium. She had gotten used to it since she began living with him.
She remembered how nervous she was when she changed from her wedding kimono into the see-through negligee she had timidly prepared. She had entered their bedroom, waiting for him to finish showering but when he had come out…
He glanced at her shy form once before approaching her
Ushijima neared her and she felt too timid to look into his eyes. It was her first time and she wasn’t sure how to really go about it. Holding her breath when he reached towards her, she was anxious about his touch. However, he simply dropped the blanket over her shoulders, confusing her
“You look cold.”
He mumbled before he climbed onto his side of the bed, turning the lamp off
“Goodnight.”
She sat there for a minute, very confused about what just happened. She was at a loss and all she could say was,
“Oh… Okay, goodnight…”
It confused her, she thought he was merely tired from the wedding events, but he never approached her after that either. It had been three months, but they hadn’t had sex. She wondered if he was attracted to her or someone else… They were only given 2 months of actually getting to know each other before their parents decided to go ahead with their marriage. At first, she had found him incredibly attractive and smouldering but whenever they tried talking, he remained blunt and sometimes she felt like he was coming off as rude.
After she showered, she began cleaning the apartment. It was always so quiet in her home that she had to put the television on for noise.
Even though, she was grateful that Ushijima let her decorate it their apartment anyway she wanted. Nor did he ever stop her from doing anything. He never questioned her if she went out with her friends, he never made a remark about her clothes and somehow, she would get praised by him over her cooking, which surprised her. However, what she wished was that they actually spent time together. She wanted to know her husband, everything she learnt about him was through his family and profile. She thought living together they would bond but he was so aloof.
Y/n would try sitting next to him while he watched TV but the conversation would be short and concise.
She’d try putting scary movies on, as much as she hated them, hoping he would comfort her during the terrifying scenes but again…
Nothing.
The man never understood her social cues. He’d simply just change the channel and then ask her why she would put on a scary movie in the first place if she’s scared of then….
After she finished her chores, she lay on the rug in the lounge, just glumly staring at the ceiling. She felt very stupid about her young fantasies over marriage. She always expected it to be rainbows and butterflies, her prince charming riding on a white horse, carrying her off into the sunset. Y/n always had the firm belief of having sex when she got married, its why things didn’t work out with her ex-boyfriend because he couldn’t wait ‘that long’.
When she first saw Ushijima, she wasn’t going to lie. Her heart was fluttering, and the butterflies went wild in her stomach. He was so handsome that she thought she really did find her prince charming… She let it get to her head slightly when her parents were enthusiastic about his profession and reputation. However, when he first looked at her. His stoic expression didn’t change, he stared at her while his mother and grandmother spoke to her parents…
They were given alone time awkwardly, just walking in his family garden, but she was the one who asked him questions, the only question he inquired was if she liked food…
When she said she did and enjoyed cooking, he looked pleased…
As she lay there, pondering over her husband. All she could think about was how to get closer to him… He had an extremely busy schedule due to his tournaments so it wasn’t like he could spend time with her. Today was his day off but he had already left the house…
Sitting up, she sighed again, draping an arm over her eyes…
“Ushijima-san…” She mumbled, “I can’t seem to understand you…”
~
Ushijima watched Tendou as he mushed and gushed over his baby daughter, making her laugh and giggle while he swayed the baby in his hands, pretending she was an aeroplane. The scarlet haired man hummed when he noticed his friend’s stoic expression
“Hmm? What’s up Ushiwaka? You’re quieter than usual… Trouble in paradise?”
Ushijima grunted, watching as Tendou’s daughter began babbling to him, taking his attention away again as he kept pampering Anzu
“I don’t know how to talk to my wife.” He answered, making Tendou freeze, placing Anzu his lap, letting her babble away. He leaned back on the park bench, letting out a sigh for his stressed friend
“I mean, you really didn’t say much when your mother insisted on getting you married so fast… You literally just went ‘okay’ and next thing I knew… You were hitched’” He said and Ushijima shrugged,
“Okasan insisted Y/n was the perfect match… Even Otosan likes her. I trust my parent’s judgement… It’s just…. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with my wife…” He answered
Tendou’s eyes widened,
“Um… Waka… Have you guys…” He began implying but Ushijima didn’t seem to understand
“What?”
“…Fucked?”
There was a silence between the men, his brows furrowing and Tendou noticed the pink growing on his friend’s stoic face
“Dude… You’ve been married for three months… Are you serious?”
Ushijima grunted again, trying to distract himself, he lifted the six-month-old from Tendou’s lap, setting Anzu in his own.
“We didn’t consummate our marriage on the first night… She seemed scared of me, so I haven’t touched her since then. Nor has she indicated that she wants us to get intimate in that way…”
Tendou was flummoxed,
“Why don’t you try making an effort and get to know her?” He asked and Ushijima shrugged again,
“I learnt everything about her during the marriage interview. What more can I do?”
“…I’m not surprised why your other relationships never lasted…” Tendou sighed, rubbing his temple
“Do you like her?”
“Yes.”
“No… I mean do you have romantic feelings for her?”
His brows furrowed in confusion,
“She’s my wife… Ofcourse I do… Otherwise I wouldn’t have married her…”
Tendou scratched his temple, “When was the last time you took her out on a date? My cutie and I make sure to go out at least twice a week.”
Ushijima thought over Tendou’s questions, “Before we got married.”
“… Dude… You’re going to be a divorcee in no time… Ushiwaka, if you want to know how to get close to your wife then listen up bud…” Tendou draped an arm over his friend’s shoulder, both of them peering at the happy go lucky baby as she babbled before Tendou began advising his clueless friend.
~
Y/n sighed, she had just finished shopping for groceries, carrying the heavy bags up the stairs. Her arms were aching but she carried on, climbing one step after another, ever so slowly…
“Need help?”
Y/n squeaked, almost slipping but his hands wrapped themselves on her hips, holding her still. It was embarrassing because Ushijima remained calm while her body leaned against his front.
“Ushijima-san? I-I’m sorry!” She squeaked, bowing and he was puzzled,
He just hummed when he noticed the heavy bags on her arms,
“Here, give me those” He muttered, reaching for them. She was confused, her brows furrowing
“Oh no… Let me carry them! They’re heavy”
He raised a brow, “A husband shouldn’t make his wife carry heavy things”
Y/n blushed when he kept his grip firmly on the plastic bags, calmly climbing the stairs with her following behind him. It was the first time Ushijima acknowledged her as his wife and she didn’t feel like a random roommate. They made it into the apartment where he began unpacking the groceries
“Oh Ushijima-san, wait! I need to wash the vegetables and start on dinner! I was thinking of making beef stew”
She quickly washed her hands, draping her apron over her clothes, rushing to take out the chopping board and strainer while he stood there,
“No need…” He muttered and she froze, “You don’t want to eat beef stew? I-I can make something else! Oh… But I only bought the ingredients for stew!” She rambled making him raise his brows
“No… I meant there’s no need for you to cook. We’re going out for dinner.”
“Huh?”
She stared at him, utterly confused. Did he just suggest going out for dinner? Clearing her throat, she laughed it off
“Oh? Are we meeting Okasan tonight? She never mentioned–”
“No. Only we’re going out for dinner.”
“Just you and me?” She asked again, pointing between them, really trying to grasp the situation and he nodded,
“Do you not want to–”
“No!” She blurted, trying calm her excitement, “N-No, I am really looking forward to it!”
He gave her a small smile, making her blush, fiddling with the end of her apron, now not knowing what to say until he broke the silence again.
“There’s still some time before dinner, let’s get ready then.”
He noticed the large smile stretched on her face, untying her apron and putting everything back into place before she excitedly rushed to their bedroom. He began walking towards his own closet, taking out a nice outfit before looking at her. She was confused, holding two outfits up, really thinking over her choice…
“That one…” He answered, making her look at him. He pointed to the dress and she looked at it. It was a little fancy but nothing over the top, however she was more surprised by how involved he was trying to be.
“Okay…” She blushed, putting the other outfit back in her closet. Setting her clothes neatly on the bed…
He let her get ready in peace, and she really did her best making an effort with her makeup and hair. She was excited to go out on a date with her husband, even if it was just a simple dinner. It wasn’t like him to take the initiative, but she felt ever so happy while getting ready. Applying the finishing touches, she felt nice dressing up for someone else.
Standing up, she searched for her heels slipping them on her feet before she heard him clear his throat, glancing at him, she smiled shyly
“Sorry for taking so long”
Ushijima simply shook his head, “No need to apologise…” He gave her form a once over, his eyes slowly scanning her body before looking at her face.
“You look beautiful.”
Y/n’s eyed widened and her cheeks and ears began burning up. Did he just compliment her? She actually wanted to pinch herself to check if she was dreaming.
He was confused, walking towards her, placing his hand to her forehead, making her breath hitch
“Are you feeling unwell? Your body feels like it is burning up… Perhaps we should cancel–”
“Oh, no! It’s just a little stuffy in this room! We don’t need to cancel!” Y/n squeaked, the last thing she wanted was to cancel this rare opportunity with him. He looked reluctant but he nodded, looking at her chest.
She was embarrassed again,
“This dress was the right choice. It’ll look nice with this” He muttered, going towards his drawers.
“What will?” She asked, watching him take a box out, handing it to her.
“Ushijima-san, what is this–” Her words were cut loose when she lifted the lid, looking at the necklace inside. It was simply beautiful, leaving her wordless.
“Can I really accept this?” She asked in astonishment and he nodded,
“Of course, its for you.”
She lifted the necklace out of the box before she handed it to him, timidly
“Will you put it on me?” She asked and he froze, his cheeks heated up when she stood in front of him, lifting her hair, showing her the nape of her delicate neck. He tried to control his fingers from shaking, fiddling with the tiny clasp at the back. Grunting he finally managed to open it, locking it in place.
“It’s beautiful! Thank you!” She grinned and he looked away, nodding.
“Shall we go?” Y/n asked, lifting her purse and he grunted, leading her out of their apartment.
There was a slight distance between them as they walked down the roads. She glanced at him while he calmly looked ahead. Her fingers felt the necklace resting above her cleavage, wondering what had gotten to him all of a sudden.
“How was your day? I didn’t hear you this morning…” She began
Ushijima glanced at her, shrugging
“You’re a deep sleeper.” He answered, making her laugh sheepishly
“I’ll try getting up earlier”
He shook his head, “You don’t have to, it’s good to get rest. You stay up late compared to me…”
“Right…”
The silence arose again, but it seemed like he walked slower so that she could keep up to him. She looked at his arm, contemplating whether she should hold his hand…
‘But what if he gets creeped out? We’ve never even kissed except on our wedding…’ She bitterly thought, clenching her fingers into a fist. She didn’t notice him come closer to her side and it was only when a bunch of rowdy passers by walked past them that his hand slid around her back, holding her hip. He pulled her close, startling her. Her heart was racing, just from the feel of his large hand, holding onto her.
“They should really be careful…” He mumbled before letting her flushed form go. She felt a little disappointed but he only surprised her further when he gripped her hand.
“Ushijima-san?” She looked at him, noticing his ears were burning red, despite his calm face
“It’s getting crowded, I don’t want you to get lost” He reasoned and she nodded, just intertwining her fingers with his. He could feel how dainty her hand was, encompassed by his. It made him feel like she was truly fragile… She focused on the shops that they walked by, trying to concentrate on anything but the situation she was in right now
“…I met Tendou today… My childhood friend…” He answered, bringing her attention back and she smiled,
“The chocolatier that has an adorable daughter? He’s quite quirky but I like him! His wife’s really sweet as well. I think she’s absolutely adorable, quite shy compared to Tendou-san”
Ushijima nodded, “She didn’t come today, but he brought Anzu to the park. We caught up on our lives.”
“You both became best friends in high school, right?”
He nodded, “We played volleyball together… Tendou was quite talented but I’m glad he’s enjoying what he does now.”
“How did his wife and him meet? Were they an arranged marriage as well?” She asked and he shook his head,
“No. They were neighbours. He helped her write her book and she helped him with his chocolate”
Her eyes widened, “Oh… That’s pretty cute…”
Her voice trailed off and she went a bit glum, a sliver of her wished she had a truly romantic story to tell people of how she met her husband… But it was quite boring…
She hummed when she noticed the restaurant they were approaching
“Oh, this is…”
“You mentioned it the day we met… You said you always wanted to try this place, right?” He asked her. She squeezed his hand unintentionally form the excitement, beaming at the fancy place in front of her. She heard that they had phenomenal food, her mouth always watered when she saw their Instagram posts. Leading her inside, it was surreal. In her excitement, she clung onto his arm while looking around.
“Reservation?” A waitress asked and he nodded,
“Ushijima.”
She checked the roster before smiling,
“Right this way sir.”
Y/n was flabbergasted, when they were lead to a secluded table in a very lovely corner of the restaurant,
“Oh gosh! I’ve been dreaming of coming here but they’re always booked! How did you manage to get a reservation!?” She asked and he shrugged,
“Tendou knows the owner… So he got a table for us” Ushijima answered truthfully, watching her giddy expression. He pulled her chair for her, letting her seat herself before taking his own seat.
“You remembered I wanted to come here?” She asked, registering what he had said earlier. Ushijima glanced at her face, nodding
“Yes. You were quite enthusiastic about trying the steak here…”
Y/n hummed, “You paid attention to what I said…”
His brows furrowed, “Ofcourse I did. I always listen to what you’re saying…”
He picked the menu up, quietly scanning the dishes but Y/n couldn’t help but pry… This really felt like a dream
“I don’t understand… Why all of a sudden did you want to go out?”
He set the menu down, eyes burrowing into hers, making her shy again
“Ushijima san…?”
“Because you’ve been taking care of our home every single day… You deserve a night of rest. I appreciate returning to a clean and welcoming home every day with fresh meals you’ve prepared… You’re my wife and you should be spoiled by me.”
She was sitting in her seat, astonished by his revelation. She felt the joy build up inside her, it felt so good to be truly appreciated by her reserved husband. A smile etched on her face, making his cheeks warm but it went undetected because of the dim candlelight sitting in the middle of their table.
“Thank you… I’ve tried really hard because I want to get along with you… It feels wonderful to be acknowledged by you…”
A waiter interrupted them, taking them away from this rare moment to take their orders, which they both had forgotten. A few awkward minutes were spent skimming through the menu before they finally chose what they wanted… He thanked the couple, leaving them alone once again but they had no idea what to say…
She stared at him, contemplating whether to carry on her earlier conversation, letting her mouth move before she could stop.
“…Actually… I also am grateful to you.”
“…You are?”
She nodded, unfolding her napkin, setting it neatly on her lap to distract herself because she was sure she’d melt from embarrassment if she looked into his face, mumbling
“You have been working really hard to provide a comfortable lifestyle for us and… You haven’t been an overbearing husband once, you let me have my space and make my own choices… I think I’m lucky…”
He was taken aback, staring at her features. Maybe he hadn’t seen it before but Ushijima suddenly realised just how beautiful the women sitting across him was. She noticed him staring, shyly tucking a stray piece of her hair, behind her ear. It made his eyes widen,
It was the second time, he felt a familiar spark in his heart… He hadn’t felt like that since the day he had seen her…
He remembered walking into his family tea room where she was sitting next to her parents, adorned in a floral kimono. He remembered when they made eye contact and she immediately lowered her gaze, she seemed very shy, fiddling with a stray lock of her hair, pushing it behind her ear… The timid smile she had on her lips had done something to his heart…
“Your orders” A voice distracted them and she beamed when she saw the steak she had been craving. He was quite impressed by his own order, making his mouth water when he smelt the delish aroma wafted from his plate. They both looked at each other once again, smiling
“Itadakimasu” They said at the same time, before taking their first bites. She moaned in delight, holding the side of her face happily as she tasted heaven. He felt amused looking at her reaction. Her eyes open, realising he was watching her but she simply cut another piece, holding the fork in front of his lips
“Try some! It’s delicious!”
Ushijima swallowed, the blush on his face growing. He had never been fed by another person but he parted his lips for her, letting her feed him. She watched his brows lift, humming
“Its really good…” He muttered and she grinned, “Right!? It tastes even better than I imagined! How’s your food?”
He looked at the seafood on his plate and then at her. He tried to copy what she just did, shovelling the fish on his fork, bringing it to her lips
“Try it and tell me”
Y/n felt the butterflies in her stomach begin fluttering, she leaned forward her lips wrapping on the fork, taking a bite.
“Oh my… It’s delicious!”
Ushijima smiled, resuming his meal
“It is”
Their evening went pleasantly and Y/n felt more comfortable with him. She slipped her hand into his, gripping it and he didn’t pull away, just lacing his fingers with her before walking towards their home
“I really enjoyed myself, Ushijima-san! Thank you for taking me there” She chirped. He looked around before humming,
“The food was really good… We should go again”
Y/n laughed, “I’d love that!”
Again that spark ignited in his heart, he squeezed her hand
“Is there anything else you’d like to do?” He asked and Y/n stopped walking, she had many things she wanted to do with him but it couldn’t be fit into one night. She really thought it over,
“Y/n?” He asked and she broke from her thoughts,
“Um… I guess I’d like to take a picture”
He was confused, giving her a weird look, “You want me to buy you a camera?” He asked and she shook her head,
“No… I meant I would like to take a photo of us… It’s our first date as a married couple and I’d like to cherish this memory… The only other photos we have together are from the wedding…”
“Okay, sure”
She fiddled with her purse, now feeling silly when she pulled her phone out. He stood next to her, watching her struggle to open the camera app, cursing when the front facing camera revealed an unflattering angle on her. Flustered, she angled the camera, but she realised his head was out of the frame
“Um… Could you bend closer?” She asked and he listened to her. She smiled awkwardly, clicking the photo and they both peered into the screen. She sweatdropped looking at the weird composition. He looked very unbothered and her lips looked crooked…
“Nevermind…” She mumbled but he gripped her phone
“This angle is better”
He held it above her face, his other hand going around her shoulders, pulling her close. She tried to calm her pounding heart, smiling with him as he clicked the photo. This time she looked at the screen, she burst into a fit of giggles looking at his strange forced smile…
(AN: Y'all im thinking about that one photo of Ushijima…)
“Why are you laughing?” He asked but she shook her head, still giggling
“Nothing… I like this one”
He frowned, “I’m not good in front of cameras… I’ve been told my smile is…. Unsettling…” He rubbed the back of his neck and she pouted,
“That’s not true… I think you look very sweet…”
He looked at the photo once again before grabbing her phone, pulling her close again. She was shy and didn’t register him clicking the camera again before humming at the screen
“I like this one” He said and she looked at the screen. It was her flustered face looking at his but he didn’t seem stoic here, in fact his expression seemed soft…
“Oh… I really like this…”
Ushjima held her hand again,
“Come on, we should get home”
She couldn’t see the blush he sported, his broad back facing her but she felt the warmth growing in her chest, feeling utter fondness for her husband.
~
Once they reached home, both of them quietly began preparing for bed. She was drying her hair when he lay his jacket on the bed with his belt
“The bath’s still warm… I set some towels for you as well” She said and he nodded,
“Thank you…”
He walked towards their bathroom, shutting the door behind himself and Y/n set her towel aside, looking at his clothes
“I should probably hang these in the closet” She muttered to herself, grabbing his jacket and draping it over her forearm. She made her way to his closet, opening the door but she cursed when his jacket slid off her arm. Quickly grabbing a hanger, she bent down to pick the jacket up, hanging it neatly in the closet. She didn’t realise a folded paper had dropped until she closed the closet.
“What’s this…” She muttered, unfolding it. She was met with bold words, confusing her, reading the words scribbled on…
“…’Tendou’s Tips on Romancing Your Wife…?” She read, perplexed as she went over the ‘tips’…
1. Do small things for her.
2. Spend time with her. (Tendou takes his wife on dates, twice a week)
3. Ask her to dress in something you like.
4. Hold her hand in public.
5. Recognize her efforts.
6. Tell her she is beautiful.
Sitting on the edge of their bed, she kept reading the notes over and over again… She didn’t hear the bathroom door opening as he stood there, trying his own hair. She noticed how focused her face was, furrowing his brows
“Y/n, are you alright?”
She was still puzzled, looking at him…
“What’s this…?” She asked him, lifting the paper to show him the contents. Ushijima’s brows widened, feeling like a deer in headlights …
