Currently, you were at a café with your brother Jun. After your talk with Oikawa last night, you decided to take a step forward and at least make attempts to bridge the gap you created with your brother during the past couple years. You felt anxious but still motivated to finally face your problems head on. Sitting in your seat, you drum your fingers against the table as you waited for Jun to return from the washroom. You glance over at your empty plate that once held a delicious pastry, grimacing over the fact that one was definitely not enough.

A couple minutes later, Jun returns and takes a seat across from you, putting down another plate of dessert and sliding it towards you. "You seemed to have a hard time deciding which one to get so I got this one too." He gives you a warm smile. "I'm pretty sure you need more than one plate of dessert to be satisfied."

You blink at the new dessert placed in front of you and feel your nerves relax before shooting Jun an embarrassed smile. "Yeah, that part hasn't changed at all."

Jun takes a small sip of his coffee before he sets it down. "...That's good." He gives you a soft smile before he places his elbows on the table, his hands clasping together so his chin could rest on it. "So what has changed?"

You think about his question for a moment. Was he asking about what had happened between you two or was he simply asking how you have been during all these years? For now you settled for the second option since you still weren't comfortable enough to share as you did with Oikawa. All that time apart created an invisible awkwardness between you two so you decided to break the ice with something more light hearted.

"I definitely grew." You shoot him a serious look as his eyes squint at your form.

"You sure?" His head tilts from side to side, trying to evaluate and see if you did in fact get any taller.

You nod firmly. "Positive." You grin as you see Jun's face crack a smile and let a chuckle escape his lips. "So how have things been for you?"

Jun's face becomes more subdued as he looks at you with an expression you couldn't decipher. "Ah, nothing much to report about that actually." He shrugs dismissively. "Same stuff that you heard about during dinner last night."

The silence returns as you scramble to think of something to say. While you did so, you remembered the tickets you had stuffed inside your pocket before you left the house.

"Actually..." You fish inside your pocket and pull out a ticket for Jun nervously. "I entered in an exhibit here and it'll be this coming week." You glance away from him as soon as you placed the ticket on the table. "So if you wanted to come..."

You don't hear Jun respond and you turn back to look at his expression warily. Your nerves are blown away when he presents you with an approving smile. "Heh, it seems like you certainly did some growing." He picks up the ticket on the table gingerly. "I'll definitely come."

You beamed at his response, the rest of the uneasy feeling in your stomach fading away. "Thanks Jun."

Jun smiles gently at you before waving his ticket by his face. "No, thank you for letting me come to your first exhibition."

You smile at him with a grateful expression before you look down, your fingers starting to play with each other. "Actually, I wanted to invite the parents too but..." You trailed off.

Jun lets out a hum in thought. "We can talk to them about it when we get home." Jun gives you a wink.

You're stunned at what you hear. We. You and Jun.

For the longest time, you've been trudging on this path you've created on your own. To have Jun say something as little as that brought hope in your heart. He accepted what you loved. He accepted you.

As much as you loved having your friends support you in your efforts, something about having family do the same felt different to you.

Jun gives you a knowing look. "For now, let's head home."

You both stand up from your seats and give each other an awkward smile. Although your relationship was not fully mended just yet, you both knew that through time, it would be.

Jun speaks again, succeeding in pulling you out of your thoughts. "Don't think too hard about it. I'll be beside you when we talk to the parents."

You grin at him. "Thanks Jun."

~~

The walk back home made your stomach churn nervously. Now that you had said it there was no going back, not that you wanted to anyway. You truly did want to at least give your parents tickets to the exhibit. Of course you wanted them to come but you were too scared to actually be vocal with the whole taking art seriously thing. You were scared of letting them down; too scared to say anything about it without showing them a product you were proud of.

You shook your head at your thoughts.

It made you realize that you still had a long way to go. Your parents were not mind readers so if you never vocalized your concerns they couldn't know about it. However, though you didn't feel comfortable telling them everything all at once, you knew you would let it all out in the open eventually.

Oikawa popped into your head. You had always took stride and got to the bottom of things before they got out of hand with him. Even if he hadn't told you everything, at least there was an understanding between the two of you. It reminded you that understanding went both ways. They took time and effort.

You think back to your parents. Had you really taken the time to make an effort with them or had you just assumed that it was just the way things would always be? You knew for a fact that it wouldn't though. People change, develop and improve—just at their own pace.

Your mind was clear when you went home with one thought in your head. If you wanted to them to understand you, you also had to work hard to understand them. Just like how Ami would stick by you when you were upset and not ask for any clarifications. Or how Tadashi would give you a gentle smile and continue to encourage you in your painting.

It also reminded you that understanding doesn't come instantly so you had to be patient. Jun had patiently waited for you to be comfortable to talk with him again and Oikawa waited for you to speak out about your troubles all on your own.

You smiled to yourself. Even if they weren't all there with you right now physically, they were a part of you.

You were never alone.

~~

Somehow, you've managed to sit everyone down in the living room, your parents sat on one couch while you and Jun sat on the one across. Your heart was thumping anxiously as you watched your parents stare down at the tickets you have placed on the table.

Your dad was the last to look up from the tickets, immediately looking you in the eye. "...When is it?"

You straighten your posture on the couch and tell him the date as you observed him nod while taking the tickets off the table. Silence filled the room as everyone just looked at him while he was contemplating. Finally, your dad looks to your mom. "You're free on Saturday right?" As soon as your mom confirms with a yes he grunts, slowly standing up from his seat.

Once he's fully up, he glances at you once more. You instinctively held your breath at his knowing look. He knew what you've been up to after school. His lack of words for that now known fact was incredibly nerve wrecking. Was he mad? Would he tell you to drop out of the exhibit? Your thoughts kept swirling deeper and deeper into itself until you heard him let out a sigh, like he seemed relieved in a way.

"We'll talk about this more after your art exhibition." With that, he walks off, leaving you in the room with your mother and brother.

You stare at his retreating back with confusion. Was that a yes?

The sound of movement from the couch across from you snapped your head back to face your mom who was also standing up from her seat. "Ah! It's time for me to start lunch!"

As she walks into the kitchen, you let out a breath you didn't realize you were holding. What catches you off guard was how your mom airily slipped in, "You know, I wouldn't mind an artist for a daughter either~" before she fully went into the kitchen.

You blinked in disbelief. You gave Jun a side glance as he lightly pats your back with a smile plastered on his face. "Hey, it seems they gave you a chance! Nice job!"

It reminded you that although they weren't the best at expressing themselves with their words, each and every action they showed you spoke for itself. They were giving you a chance; they wanted to see what you would be showing in the exhibit.

It seems that they've been waiting for you as well.

~~

After you dealt with your family business, you called up Oikawa on your phone. You weren't sure if he was free today but you really wanted to tell him what had just happened. To your surprise, phone rings only once before he answered the call.

"Rudolph~ I'm touched you called me on a weekend!" You could almost see him grinning through the phone. You ignore it.

"Hey, are you busy today?" You pull the phone back a little when you hear the phone drop on the ground loudly. "A-are you okay?! What just happened?"

The other line is just filled with shuffling and incoherent mutters before you heard Oikawa again.

"Ah~ What a surprise! A wasp got in so I dropped my phone!" You were about to ask about the wasp but he continued talking. "I am totally free~ Where do you want to meet?"

You scratched your head confusedly, slightly worried about the possibility of him still being in the room with the wasp. "Is the park by the café okay with you?" You check the time. "Is thirty minutes enough time?"

He hums in agreement. "I'll see you there in thirty!" He quickly ends the call and you pull back your phone, staring at it.

After a few seconds you get over it and shrug. You hope he got rid of that wasp.

~~

Once you arrived at the park you heard someone call your name. You turn around and see Oikawa sitting by the bench close by, waving you over.

"I thought for sure I'd beat you here," you tease as you reach him. Oikawa grins and stands up from the bench.

"You have such little faith in me!" He dramatically stretches one of his arms out, his other hand placed on his chest, feigning hurt. He winks at you and rests his previously raised arm on top of your shoulder while you guys start walking around the park. "So, what's up?"

"My family is coming to the exhibit!" You look up at him with a big grin. "Oh and I almost forgot!" You stuff your hand in your pocket and pull out a ticket for Oikawa. "As promised~"

Your eyes catch his and you shoot him your brightest smile. You felt elated over the news and just being able to share it with Oikawa. Your smile falters a little when you see Oikawa give you a strange look, a slight tinge of pink resting on his cheeks. It's gone as soon as you blink again, now seeing Oikawa's trademark broad smile as he takes the ticket off your hands. "Can't wait~"

His arm slips off your shoulders and grips both his hands on them instead as he fully faces you. "This calls for a celebration! Lets go to the bakery close by and grab some cake!"

You stare at him for a moment. There were so much feelings swirling within you right now: relief, joy, thankfulness, and something else you couldn't identify. You didn't know how to put it all into words. Oikawa looked expectantly for a response as you were contemplating.

Blinking once, you nod at what you have decided. Raising your arms slightly, you gently wrap your arms around Oikawa's torso, feeling him go stiff in surprise. You hoped that he could sense all those feelings you couldn't put into words right now.

However, Oikawa's body never relaxed in your hug so you let go of him promptly, stepping back nervously. Once you look up at him, you notice tears in the corner of his eyes. "Are you crying?!" You make a move to step towards him but he puts his hand up to stop you from going any closer, his other hand using the heels of his palm to wipe away the evidence.

"No! I just feel a little emotional..." He looks away and blinks his eyes a couple times before turning back to you. "That was the first time you initiated a hug!" His eyes drill into yours with a determined expression. "One more time!"

Once he raises his arms awaiting another hug, you shrink back, starting to feel embarrassed. "What? No! One is enough!"

Oikawa pouts when you start slowly backing away from him. "Hmph. I'll just have to do more things to make you hug me again." He puts arms down, making you stop walking back. His gaze locks onto something behind you. "Hey, isn't that your brother?" He points in the direction he was referring to.

"What? Where?" You turn to look at where his pointed finger was leading to, your back turning towards him. Oikawa grins and slips his arms around your waist, resting his head on your shoulder. "Ah—hey Oikawa!"

He hums at you happily, ignoring the contrasting unhappy tone in your voice. "Well, if you won't hug me, then I will~"

You huff at his persistence and just let him hug you. Surprisingly, you actually didn't mind it as much as you thought. You probably wouldn't let him know that you've gotten used it though. Glancing at Oikawa from the corner of your eye, you agree with your thoughts. You could just tell that he'd abuse that information if you ever let him know.

"...If you don't let me go we'll never make it to the bakery..."

~~

Your eyes darted back and forth from one pastry to another as Oikawa glanced at you from the side, the corners of his mouth twitching up into an amused smile. Sighing, you look up at Oikawa. "Hey, what do you want from here?" You point at the display of various pastries. He steps towards the display case to take a closer look before pointing at one of the cakes you were eyeing.

"I'll take this one," he hums as he smiles at you teasingly. "Which means you'll take...that one?" He points to the other cake you were eying. You let out a sheepish smile and nod at his spot on guess.

After both of you had decided, you look into your bag to find your wallet but once you looked back up, Oikawa was already at the counter, paying for the two pastries. As he finishes paying, he holds the plates and walks up to you with a grin. "So, where are we sitting?"

You open your mouth to protest but he starts walking towards a table, to which you followed, grumbling a bit. Once you guys sat down, you try to speak again but he holds up his hand to halt your words.

"It's a celebration so you're letting me have this one~" He winks as he slides your pastry towards you. "Besides, celebrating with me is priceless, isn't it?"

You scoff. "I'm pretty sure you mean celebrating with me is priceless, right?" You retort teasingly before having a bite out of your pastry.

Oikawa chuckles, cutting a piece of his cake and popping it into his mouth. "Great minds think alike~"

You roll your eyes at him before you remember something. "Ah, I still have to let Ami know what happened today!" Pulling out your phone, you sent a quick text to Ami, asking if she wanted to celebrate with you and Oikawa at the bakery.

Your phone buzzes right away and you glance back at it.

You ignore the last half of the message and respond with plans to meet tomorrow. As you finish, you look back up, your eyes catching Oikawa's cake with interest.

Oikawa notices your intense gaze on his cake and chuckles. "I could give this to you but..."

"—No thanks." You don't let him finish as you see his expression drop to a pout.

"You didn't even know what I was going to say!"

"Uh, I'm pretty sure I do."

"I just wanted to have a bite of yours!" He says quickly, feeling proud of himself for being able to finish what he wanted to say.

You blinked. "Oh, I guess I was—"

"If you feed it to me~"

"—Right after all."

For a few moments you just give him a deadpanned look contrasting his broad smile, clearly expecting you to feed him. Looking back at his cake you let out a deep sigh before glancing back at yours and cutting out a piece. After you balance the piece on the fork, your eyes snap up to Oikawa's excited ones. You could practically feel him bouncing in his seat as he opens his mouth a little.

"Ahh—mmph! You shove the piece in his mouth as it closes shut in surprise, the fork sticking out of his mouth. He lets out a muffle of protest as you slide his cake over to you, smiling happily at the new pastry.

As you take a bite out of your honestly earned cake, you let out a hum of delight. Oikawa pulls out the fork in his mouth, still chewing on the piece you gave him. "I guess you haven't had someone feed you in a while~"

"Well being fed like that was a first..." he grumbles.

Rolling your eyes at his sulking form, you grab a bite from your own pastry. "I'm guessing that you've been fed more gently then?" This was a first for Oikawa to even imply his past relationships and you were genuinely curious to see what else he had to say.

"I guess so..." he trails off. His face takes on his broad smile when he continues speaking. "But I'd take being fed by you any day!"

You quirk your brow at his blatant flirt thrown your way. "You might have a better chance using that line on someone else Spotty."

He lets out a huff. "I'm not focused on that right now." He glances out the window.

You bit the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from teasing him further. The tone of his voice was a good indicator to know that he was upset. "Right, volleyball is priority." You say instead, making him turn back to you. "I guess we're the same that way."

"How so?" Oikawa questions, his elbows finding its way on the table and resting on it.

"Kind of like how art is my priority." You beam at him while you cut another piece of cake, popping it in your mouth.

Oikawa hums at your response. "Just so you know, volleyball isn't my only priority anymore," he says slowly.

You let out a noise to question what his other priorities were since your mouth was still full. His eyes locks onto yours, making you unable to pull away for reasons unknown to you. You chew your piece for a few more seconds and swallow it, everything seemingly piecing together. You smile softly. "Yeah, making sure you guys are okay is also my priority..."

Oikawa's eyes look hopeful as you continue speaking. "You, Ami, Tadashi... You guys are such precious friends to me." You look down, a little embarrassed that you had said something so cheesy out loud. Your head snaps back up when you feel a hard flick on your forehead. "Ah! What was that for?"

You're met with Oikawa's pouting expression, his eyes now avoiding yours. Apparently, you hadn't said what he wanted to hear. Your hands slap itself on your forehead to protect it from future attacks. "Are we not friends now or something?"

His hand runs through his hair as he sighs loudly, his head turning away from you and muttering something you didn't hear clearly. Something about patience... "Hah~ You figure it out! I don't want to say it!"

You pout. "That's hardly fair!"

"Well neither are you!" He sticks his tongue out at you childishly as you pursed your lips at his actions. You let out an internal sigh.

Looks like you'd have to wait for Oikawa as well.