silver lining ? osamu miya

chapter twenty-three

Without wasting the time the two of you lock arm-in-arm again as you head out of the ballroom, finding your way back to the beach.

When you hit the beach again the sun had started its journey on setting, as you can see it just barely peaking over the water in the distant horizon. "Wow, it's so beautiful isn't it?" you question Osamu as you walk down the beach, your feet feeling every grain of sand beneath you.

Osamu's eyes don't waver from your face as he hums in agreement. "The most beautiful thing I've ever seen." he agrees, unbeknownst to you he wasn't referring to the setting sun.

As you near the shore you feel the nerves in  your stomach let loose. 'This is it. I'm going to tell him.' You tell yourself internally, as you let out a shaky breath. You abruptly stop just as the tide rolls in and hits your feet. You don't spare a glance at Osamu as you let out a deep breath and say, "I'm gonna start now, but I want you to wait until I'm finished before you say anything," you pause quickly glancing over to the confused man. "Got it?" you raise.

He nods in understanding as you turn your attention back to the beautifully painted horizon.

"We both know that when we came here, I was under the impression that I was in love with Atsumu," you wallow the sentence with a bitter expression on your face. For some reason now saying it out loud felt wrong. It left a salty sting on your tongue. "Somehow I've only just now realized that was never truly how I felt. Which I previously thought was impossible. Yet I know it couldn't just take me days to get over someone I was so-called 'in love with' for twenty years." You laugh at the idea.

Your next words linger on your mind for a second. Still, Osamu can tell you aren't done so he holds back his words. "So, imagine how I felt when I woke up in the middle of the night to hear you confessing to me," the secret finally spilling from you made the man freeze.

He couldn't move a muscle even if he wanted to. In that fleeting moment, you dare glance over at him again. Just to see how still he stood as he stared off into space. You let out another deep breath and shake your head to yourself. "You're probably thinking I'm going to say something you don't wanna hear right now, but I promise that's not it." You hadn't practiced this speech at all so you were still struggling to find the right words to say.

"I guess what I want to say is. I've been masking my feelings for you for so long using Atsumu as a cover because the feeling of losing him wouldn't hurt nearly as much as losing you. I mean I tried to put you in his shoes—what if you were the one getting married today? The thought made me sick to my stomach, which feels selfish you know?" you question, not expecting an answer.

Osamu sucks in a breath for what seemed like the first time the entire time you'd been talking. "Are..you done yet?" he asks quietly. You shake your head "No," you say "I have to tell you now that I feel the same way about you Osamu Miya," you finally turn your attention toward the man. "I couldn't imagine my life without you in it. You know me better than anyone else does. I love you more than I love puzzles, and you know I love puzzles. But never would I ever want you to feel like some second choice all because I'm an idiot." you finish as your vision grows blurry and your throat grows tight.

"Are you done now?" You nod at his question as he takes a small step closer to you.

You let your vision fall to the sand beneath you as Osamu brings his hands to your shoulders. "Y/n, look at me." His voice is soft and low as he rubs small circles into your exposed skin reassuringly. "So you heard my entire confession that night?" he raises as you nod your head to confirm. "That's why the other day you randomly said that I wasn't a coward and you were dense and why you said you couldn't imagine your life without me being in it either earlier?" he questions again and you nod once more.

"Y/n, do you remember your tenth birthday?" The sudden topic change catches you by surprise. Your brows knit closely together as you speak quietly. "Yeah, what about it?" you tilt your head in confusion. "About a month before, the three of us went to the mall with our parents and you pointed out a 3D castle-shaped puzzle, do you remember that?"

You smile at the memory and nod. "Of course, I remember, Atsu—"

"Nope," he interjects with a shake of his head before you can finish. "I got it," he admits, "I did double the chores around the house so Atsumu would give me his allowance so I could get the castle for you. He just slapped his name on it because he didn't get you anything." the brunette shakes his head. "I did so much stuff for you even while you were under the guise that you were in love with my brother, I still loved you and held out hope that you felt the same."

He pauses briefly and his eyes meet yours in a tender gaze. "Trust me, just because you feel different now I don't feel like a second option. If anything I've always been the only option,  you're just realizing now." he jokes with a dry chuckle. Which raises a laugh out of you. "Oh please," you roll your eyes playfully.

Your laughs mix together in a graceful hymn as Osamu's calloused hands slowly travel up to your face. There's an exchange of a knowing stare between the both of you. His was a question and yours was an answer. It was all Osamu needed before he dipped down and your lips met with his.

A slow and sweet kiss, the first you'd ever shared.

It was natural the way your lips moved in perfect tandem at that moment. You knew each other better than anyone else and this was proof. The moment set off fireworks in your stomach as Osamu gently bit on your lower lip. Suddenly what had felt like an eternity was over in mere seconds as he pulled away.

"What does this mean? Are we..." you trail off with uncertainty, searching his eyes for signs of regret. Or answer at the very least.

"I'll be anything you want me to be." His confidence was unwavering which brought the biggest smile to your face. "We can always talk about it later or when we get back home, we don't have to rush it." you laugh nervously.

Osamu scoffed as he leaned closer to your lips again. A quick glance down then back to your eyes. "I've waited twenty years, I don't think I can wait any longer."

Then another quick kiss that feels like forever but it's only mere seconds. Still, you want it to last forever. Not just the kiss, but you and Osamu.