The morning after the picnic you woke up cuddled up against Ushi's massive body, the night had been long and you weren't even sure you would be able to stand. He was still sleeping peacefully, his usually pensive face relaxed and beautiful. You started trying to crawl out from under his heavy arm but he stirred as you were almost free.

"Not yet, stay" his voice deep from sleep, he wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you back against his body.

"I need to go to practice, I've missed so many days and Nationals is in just a few weeks" you laughed as you tried lifting his hand.

"I'll teach you some tricks to show them if you stay" he offered trying to entice you.

"How about you do that anyway and still let me go help them get ready?" you countered.

"But you still leave me with that option so no" he said as he tucked his face in against your neck.

"How about we shower together, I go to practice, and then you stay with me again tonight?" you offered.

"Hmmm...... fine, one condition though" he said, he moved his lips right next to your ear and let his hot breath caress your skin. "I want you" he whispered.

"Again? I don't even know if I can walk" you joked pulling away from him.

"Don't worry, I'll carry you" he got out of bed quickly coming around to your side and picked you up with ease.

"I wont be able to move at practice!" you protested.

"I'll take it easy I promise" he said pausing to look you in the eyes.

"Oh geez..... I cant say no to you, just don't drop me!" you teased.

"Never Honey" he smiled and quickly took you into the bathroom.

After the shower you did surprisingly feel more limber and less sore but he broke his promise about going easy. He drove you to the school and dropped you off at the gym before he went back home to get things to stay with you the next few days.

The gym was mostly full when you arrived with only a few stragglers having not arrived yet. Everyone happily greeted you and had a million questions as to where you had been. You noticed Ukai had stayed back but you could feel his eyes on you from time to time.

You were about to walk out the door when practice and cleanup had ended but he called your name bringing you back in and away from the gang. He took your hand and led you over to the small bench beside the court.

"I'm glad you came today" he said nervously scratching the back of his neck. "When you didn't come yesterday I was worried" he explained.

"I'm sorry I worried you that wasn't my intention. To be honest with you I spent most of the day with Ushijima. I..." you paused knowing you had to tell him but feeling broken inside about it. "I chose to get back in a relationship with him. Tanaka and Noya came by my house when we got back from our trip and they helped me work through my feelings." You explained.

"Well...... that sucks" he said with a halfhearted chuckle. "I get it though, first love and all. He is also a solid kid, hardworking, reliable, determined and taller than a freaking house." He joked trying to hide his feelings.

"I know it seems insane you don't have to lie, I went from having sex with you to being in a relationship with another guy two days later, its asinine. I wish I knew how to explain my stupid brain and feelings but I cant, I just chose to listen to my heart this time." You tried to explain. He was really quiet for a moment as if he was trying to think of what to say.

"Did I scare you away?" he asked finally showing his vulnerability. "I know I slipped and said I love you like an idiot" he said silently cursing himself.

"Keishin listen to me" you put your hands on each side of his face making him face you. "You didn't scare me away, its honestly breaking me inside to have to end this with you. I like you a lot and I think you are amazing, and I'm worried I'll regret this in the end. Thank you for saying you love me, it made me feel very special and I will never forget that moment even if you claim it was an accident. And as stupid as this is going to sound I hope we can still be in each others lives in some way because I've grown to really love your company." You said trying to reassure him.

"Then why not pick me instead? Or just don't make up your mind yet, give me time to win your love?" he said grabbing your hands and holding them in his. His hand gripped your left hand slightly tighter and then he looked down admiring the ring on your finger. "Oh...... I didn't realize" he said dropping your hand and quickly standing to his feet. "I'm sorry I asked, good luck and I'm glad you are doing what makes you happy, that is what I told you to do after all" he said shaking his head, he flashed you a fake smile and quickly made his way towards the door to the gym.

"Wait! Let me explain please!" you said jumping up to follow him.

"No need Princess, you made your decision clear" he said, he paused for a moment taking in your face one more time before disappearing outside not looking back.

The walk home was miserable, your whole body hurt and now your heart was broken and it was just too much. You made it home and in the front door and then collapsed onto the floor sobbing. You weren't sure how long you laid there crying but the sound of a truck pulling up pulled you together slightly. Using your sleeve you tried to dry the tears from your face and stand to your feet. Ushijima was too fast though and opened the door to find you still on the ground, eyes red and puffy from crying.

"Honey! What's wrong?" he asked dropping everything and pulling you into his lap. The tears instantly started falling again and the sobs racked your chest. Through the crying you tried to explain what had happened and he listened patiently, rubbing your back as you spoke. "That must have been very hard" he said as he tried to soothe you.

"Im sorry for acting like this, I know that's not fair to you" you said trying to get yourself together and roughly drying the tears from your cheeks. He got your arm in his hand and pushed it down into your lap and then used his hand to gently wipe away the tears.

"It doesn't make me feel great to see you cry about another man in this way, but I understand. I just got lucky that you chose me and I am beyond happy about that, so if listening to you and being here for you is what you need I will do it. My love doesn't have conditions or limitations, I just want to be what you need." He rested his forehead against yours as he spoke.

"Thank you love" you said catching your breath and beginning to calm down. He held you for awhile like that until you eventually fell asleep in his arms.

The next few months were great after that, each day falling more and more in love with each other. Things did get harder though once he started playing professional ball, his team was stationed in Tokyo which was several hours away. He was also practicing for hours a day but you were also in school so you were busy finishing up things as well. He would come stay with you on weekends and he even had a small apartment there and you would stay with him. The distance did put a strain on everything but he did stay true to his promise on always putting you first. His first text in the morning was always to you, telling you to have a wonderful day and how much he missed you. Your evenings were spent on facetime together as you both cooked or watched tv, he would also watch when you streamed so he could message you how pretty you looked to make you blush on camera.

The other thing that was probably the most stressful, more than school, work, even relationship issues, was planning the wedding. Ushijima tried to help but he was a simple man when it came to decorations or color schemes so most of it fell to you. Kiyoko had actually been more help than anyone and had helped organize meetings with the wedding planner and caterer. The stress was really starting to get to you though the closer it got and your grades began to slip. Ushi noticed that you were snapping at him about small things one weekend and decided it was time to make a change.

"Come sit with me" he said grabbing your hand, trying to pull you away from the kitchen counter where you had all the plans for the wedding spread out.

"I cant right now, I have to get these things figured out this weekend if I want them done in time" you groaned.

"Its not an option, come on" he said a hint of anger in his voice. He picked you up from the stool and carried you to the bedroom. He sat you down and then crawled in himself.

"Look I know I've been snippy, I just feel like I'm running out of time" you said dropping your head back onto the pillow.

"Then lets not have the wedding" he offered. You sprang up and looked down at him panicked.

"You don't want to marry me now? I'm so sorry I didn't know I was being so terrible, I'll be better" you said tears slipping down your cheeks as the irrational fear took over due to exhaustion.

"That's not what I meant Honey!" he wrapped his arms around you and pulled you down onto his chest. "I meant lets just not have a wedding, lets elope. I want to be married to you more than anything and this wedding is stressing you out and you look so tired. I know I haven't been helpful and I'm so sorry, I just don't know what to do. Lets just forget the whole thing and when you graduate lets just run away for a few weeks and elope" he said explaining himself.

"What about all the money we have spent?" you asked knowing most of the deposits had already been made, the dresses and tux's ordered.

"Its just money, we will make more. Id rather see you smile again" his hand stroked your hair as he spoke in a calming voice.

"Are you sure? You wont regret it later, not having your family there and all? I just know you are a more traditional guy" you questioned.

"I'm positive, I'd rather it just be me and you. So what do you say?" he asked. You took a moment to think about it, deciding if not having a big wedding really mattered to you.

"I'm in, lets do it" you said turning your face up towards his. He gave you a big smile and then planted his lips against yours. "Thank you" you said under your breath as the stress of the wedding suddenly lifted from your shoulders.

"Anything for you Honey" he kissed the top of your head and you both drifted off into a peaceful afternoon nap.