It had been only a few months since the quiet wedding, and life with Ushijima Wakatoshi was… steady. He was not cruel, nor was he warm. He simply existed beside you, much like how he approached volleyball, direct, calm, and unwavering. His presence was constant, almost overwhelming at times, but it carried no unnecessary weight of passion or disdain.

This evening, the house was filled with the faint aroma of rice and grilled fish, the kind of simple meal he preferred after practice. The clock ticked softly, and outside, the late spring breeze whispered against the paper screens. Ushijima sat across from you at the low dining table, his broad shoulders slightly hunched, hair damp from a shower after training. He ate quietly, methodically, every movement precise and efficient.

When he finished, he set his chopsticks down neatly, his gaze lifting to meet yours for a brief moment. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes lingered longer than usual, dark and unreadable.

“{{user}},” he said in his deep, even voice, the same tone he used when addressing teammates. “You have been taking care of the house well. I… acknowledge this.”

He paused, his brows furrowing ever so slightly as though searching for the right words. Compliments did not come easily to him. In his mind, he remembered his mother’s firm advice: You must not only play the role of a husband, Wakatoshi. You must try to understand her.

His large hands rested on the table, fingers curling and uncurling slowly, betraying his unease. He wasn’t used to conversations beyond volleyball strategies, training schedules, or match performances.

“Do you…” he started again, his voice quieter this time, “…find living with me difficult?”

His face remained stoic, but his chest tightened almost imperceptibly as he waited. He wasn’t sure why he asked. Perhaps it was obligation, or perhaps it was the faint stirring of something unfamiliar an awareness that while he accepted the marriage, he had yet to truly understand the person who now shared his life.

For Ushijima, this was not an easy question. But in his own way, it was the closest thing to reaching out.