Day 13
The match the next day was tough for their team. They lost the first set by a fairly large margin. The second and third sets both went to deuce. They won the second set 27-25, but lost the third 26-24 and hence lost the match. The players were exhausted and disappointed.
After thanking the other team for the game, the players hit the showers. The mood was subdued and not much was said. Atsumu decided to stick close to Kiyoomi in the hopes that they could sit together on the bus. He was pleased to see an open row with two seats together as they made their way down the aisle. He let Kiyoomi enter first to have the seat near the window and he plopped down next to him in the aisle seat.
The sun was setting and the trip back home would take a few hours. Soon it was dark on the bus, with only the strips of lights along the ceiling and floor providing low lighting. The noise level was muted and several of the players were closing their eyes or sleeping rather than talking and joking.
Kiyoomi was staring out the window, his chin resting on one closed fist and the other lying limply in his lap. He was surprised and pleased when he felt Atsumu's hand slide over to his own. They held hands in the dark for the rest of the trip, satisfied with the physical reminder of each other's proximity.
When they arrived back on campus it was late in the evening and the players were all bone-tired. They shuffled off the bus, many still groggy and yawning as they trudged back to their dorms. Atsumu and Kiyoomi somehow silently agreed to go together to Kiyoomi's room and they walked together without speaking. Atsumu let out an occasional yawn.
When they arrived at Sakusa's room, they dropped their bags and kicked off their shoes. Kiyoomi said, "I feel gross. I want to shower."
Atsumu just nodded and flopped down onto Omi's bed. Kiyoomi went to his adjoining bathroom (another perk of a single dorm room) and started running the water before stripping and stepping into the hot stream of water. He stood there several minutes without moving, eyes closed, both hands pressed against the wall, just letting the spray wash over his body.
[MA content removed. To read the story in its entirety, head over to AO3, same username, Drd12114]
They quickly washed and stepped out of the shower to dry off. Atsumu reached for the underwear and shorts he had worn here while Kiyoomi got clean garments from his drawers. Then, again with an unspoken agreement, they both collapsed into Omi's bed. Exhausted and content, they slept quickly and deeply wrapped in each other's arms.