Heartstrings (Ushijima x Reader)

Chapter twenty-three (Epilogue)

"Someone else?" she questioned, feigning innocence. "Who could that be, Toshi?"

"You, of course," he replied, his tone sincere. "No one compares to you, ___. And even if Brazil is full of beautiful women, my eyes are set only on you."

A warm smile spread across her face, melting away the hint of jealousy. "Smooth talker," she teased, enjoying the affectionate banter.

"I speak only the truth," Ushijima said with a hint of seriousness, his voice carrying a warmth that transcended the distance between them.

***

When it turned 6am, the alarm clock started to ring loudly.

The call with Ushijima lasted much more than they both intended, she had barely slept and now she needed to be awake again.

Determined, she reached it and immediately threw it away, making it hit broken to the door on the other side of the room. As the device collided it shattered in pieces.

Despite the prior damage she caused, her tiredness prevailed, allowing her to catch a bit more sleep. However, it didn't last long because in no time, her door was kicked open.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BIG BABY." Toruu shouted excitedly, carrying in his hands a big breakfast, candles on its top. His eyes fell upon the remnants of the shattered alarm clock, scattered in pieces near the door. "Whoa what happened to the clock?"

She groaned and pressed the blankets on top of her head, trying to escape Toruu's boundless energy "I don't know, he couldn't handle the celebration I guess." She rubbed her eyes, blinking sleep away.

Toruu chuckled, setting the breakfast on her desk. "Well, I'll consider it a birthday sacrifice. Now, make a wish!"

She stifled a yawn, momentarily forgetting it was her birthday. Toruu gestured toward the candles, and she obliged, closing her eyes and making a silent wish.

"What did you wish for?" He asked curiously, "Well, not like you have a lot to ask for. You already have the best gift ever—my existence."

"A lifetime supply of patience for dealing with a brother like you." She chucked as her traveled to the broken device on the floor. "And a new clock."

"Well, you are very lucky," Oikawa's grin widened for a moment, his eyes glowing with excitement. "Close your eyes, hurry up. I can't wait to give you your present!" Toruu exclaimed with a wide grin.

She playfully looked at him suspiciously, before closing her eyes with a smirk. "You've got me a new spare clock?" She joked.

"Mhh, not better than that for sure." Toruu chuckled mischievously. "Open your eyes!"

"Happy birthday, ___!"

As she opened her eyes, a small box was presented in front of her. She took it, her curiosity piqued. Unwrapping it quickly, she found a sleek, modern smartphone.

"Ta-da! A birthday gift from your beloved brother. No more living in the Stone Age with that old phone of yours," Toruu teased.

"TORUU." She gawked in disbelieve, her eyes widening in surprise and joy. "YOU DID NOT."

"I did!"

She stared at the smartphone in her hands, laughing as she processed the unexpected upgrade. "I don't even know how to use this properly!"

"Don't worry, I'll teach you. It's not rocket science," Toruu assured her, grinning. "Now, you can finally take decent photos and keep up with the modern world."

She couldn't help but laugh at his playful remarks. "Thank you, Toruu! This is amazing!"

***

"So, tell me, how was your day?" Ushijima asked at the other end of the line.

It was late. The night covering the empty streets as she walked through them. Content and too awake to sleep, she decided to go for a walk, use all the energy the wonderful day had given her while she spoke to Wakatoshi through her new phone.

"It was fantastic," She smiled as she looked at her steps one by one, not rushing anywhere really. "I woke up like two hours after we hang up, and I wanted to sleep so I broke my clock."

"That poor clock." He chuckled.

"Then Toruu brought breakfast and gave me this new phone." She spoke excitedly. "It's so cool, I can play games other than that snake."

"Oh, really? What else?" he asked curiously.

"Then I got to school early because had supposedly a meeting with the club, but it was just a mini surprise party." She giggled. "I was the on the front cover on the newspaper! The headline said 'The day our lives were blessed with her existence, happy birthday ___!"

"So, you are quite popular, huh?" He smirked.

"Well, of course I'm an Oikawa and my boyfriend is a celebrity, duh." She said teasingly. "Then I got a lot of gifts from my friends, and even from people I didn't knew, can you believe it?"

"Maybe you are the celebrity after all." He grinned, "And did you have a party?"

"Toruu invited like a lot of friends, our house was completely full. But before it could even begin, we ditched it, tomorrow I have school. I got all exited for the almost party, now I'm walking for a while."

"You sound like a responsible person." He said jokingly. "It was a good day, I suppose."

"It was very nice, although it would have been perfect if you had been here."

"I'll make it up to you," He responded warmly. "I promise."

"It's okay Toshi," She softly smiled. "Just don't flirt with any Brazilian woman, it was my birthday wish, you know?"

He laughed, "You spent your birthday wish in that?

"My birthday, my wish" She decreed.

"Alright, no flirting with Brazilian women, then. I promise," Ushijima replied, his deep voice carrying a sense of assurance. "But ___, if you tell someone your wish then it won't come true."

"You better not either way Ushijima Wakatoshi!" She laughed openly. "But don't worry, that was not my wish."

"Mhhh," He hummed nodding. "Now I want to know what you truly wished for."

"You are curious?" She giggled, tenderness in her voice. "I think I can tell you, its not like it is going to come true anyways."

"Why not?" He inquired.

"Because I wished for you," She admitted, a light blush painting her cheeks. "That you had magically appeared."

Ushijima fell silent for a moment. And in the quiet seconds that followed, a mixture of embarrassment and anxiety settled in. Her face turned into a tomato.

Long seconds passed, and Ushijima's deep voice resonated through the line. "___?"

"Yes?"

"Aren't you cold with that skirt?"

"It's a little chi..." She stopped.

As if something had clicked in her mind, she froze, her heart skipping a beat. Her eyes widened as they looked around. Yet, the empty street stretched before her, illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights.

"Where?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and excitement.

"Turn around."

She spun around, and there he was, standing at the end of the street, a gentle smile on his face. It felt like a dream, and yet, it was undeniably real. Without a second thought, she ran towards him. As she collided with him, Ushijima's strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her off the ground, and he spun her around in a joyous circle.

"Happy birthday, Oikawa ___," 

He repeated, his deep voice carrying a warmth that melted away the chill of the night. She couldn't help but smile, her heart brimming with happiness.

° The end °