022

Pretty, manicured nails grip tightly onto the fabric of your dress - out of nervousness, most likely or fear, perhaps? Maybe it was both. Either way, every mile closer to your destination had you incredibly shaken.

"You okay?" Atsumu asks from the drivers seat, placing a hand overtop of yours as he chuckles lightly. "My drivin' can't be that bad."

"No, it's not that - I'm fine. Just a little nervous, I guess." You avert your eyes to glance out the window, buildings whirring past in a blur as you realize you're just moments away from arriving to the place you've been avoiding for as long as you were able.

"Hey, it'll be okay. I got your back." He smiles, his grip on your hand tightening in reassurance.

You offer a minuscule smile, appreciative of his efforts, but to be frank - Atsumu truly had no idea who he was actually dealing with. Your parents were ruthless in their efforts to prove that they were better than the rest of the human population.

As far as they were concerned, this was their world - everyone else was just living in it.

In what seemed to be the blink of an eye, you arrived down the long, secluded street that lead to your family's estate. A deep breath in, you quickly soaked up every bit of nervousness and exhaled - trying your best to make sure they wouldn't see you sweat.

Pulling up to the gate, you poke your head out of the window and press the button on the call box. A masculine voice answers, one that you recognize easily as Mr. Yoshida - your family's caretaker, who's practically been the only 'real' father figure you've ever had.

"Hello, Yoshida. It's y/n."

"Y/n, dear, it's been so long! I'll ring you in."

With that, the gate opens, the winding stone path leading the two of you up the driveway that was littered with luxury cars - most you recognized as belonging to your family, some you'd never seen before, which could only mean there were other guests here as well.

"Holy shit - I know you said yer family was well off, but I didn't think you meant like this." Atsumu gawks at the scene before him, a beautifully large traditional looking home, decorated expensively perfect with pristine  gardening surrounding it's outward appearance.

You turn to face him, your eyes pleading as you carefully choose your next words.

"Atsumu, my family... they're not good people. They'll judge you, make snide remarks... just - you don't have to go in if you don't want to. I'm sorry I even dragged you out here, I shouldn't have asked yo- "

"Hey," he interrupts, "you really think I care what anyone says about me? I mean, look at me - I'm fuckin' sexy. I know I'm the shit." He grins, strokes his chin as he bites his lip in satire.

He makes you laugh, genuinely, as your nerves start to dissipate in the presence of Atsumu's Miya. You were glad he agreed to come along, it was so clear to you now that you had a great friend among you.

"Thank you, really. I wouldn't have been able to do this alone." You sigh, glancing out the window at your awaited destination.

You feel his fingers grip your jaw, beckoning your focus back on him as he leans over the center console. He's merely inches away from your face, as he looks deeply into your pretty eyes.

"You're a fuckin' amazing person - I know it, 'Samu knows it, the kids know it... hell, even Rin knows it. If your folks can't see that, then that's their problem, not yours."

You can feel your face heat up, his words said with such sincerity, more than you've ever seen from him thus far - but it feels good to hear him praise you in such a way, and it's exactly the confidence boost you needed in this instance.

"You're right, thank you. I think I'm ready to go in now."

He swiftly gets out of his seat, promptly making his way over to the passenger side to open the door for you.

"Lead the way, gorgeous."

"Right this way, sweetheart." Mr. Yoshida led you through the foyer and down the hallway that was littered with family portraits, prestigious pottery and other pointless knickknacks meant only to flaunt their wealth.

You gripped onto Atsumu's hand just before reaching the end of the hall, just outside the doors to entertainment room where your family would typically host their guests and other important arrangements.

"You ready?" He asks, sensing your nervous energy by touch alone.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

You march forward, grasping the handle tightly and opening the heavy, wooden door. Immediately, all eyes in the room float towards your direction - you spot your mother chatting with some woman, with your sister complacently by her side. Your father was also speaking with two people that you didn't immediately recognize, an older gentleman and another young man.

Your father is the first to acknowledge you, he smiles before muttering something to his guest, pointing his finger in your direction that was held down by the glass of expensively aged scotch in his hand. As he made his way over towards you and Atsumu in heavy strides, your stomach sank in uncomfortable anticipation.

"I mean this in the most respectful way possible," Atsumu whispered, wide eyed as he took in your father's handsome appearance, "your old man's a dilf."

You scrunch your face up in disgust, trying your best not to smack the living daylights out of him in-front of everyone in the room - unfortunately you don't have time to properly respond, as your father is now barely a foot away.

"Y/n," he glanced at the shiny Rolex on his wrist, "you're late."

You look up at the clock displayed in the wall, brows furrowed when you read the time.

7:02

Two minutes.

You were late, by TWO MINUTES.

It wasn't even worth arguing about, you simply rolled your eyes and 'apologized' as best as you could possibly muster. He doesn't take more than a second to notice Atsumu standing proudly next to you, to which he simply makes a face of disappointment before turning his attention back to you.

"I see you've brought a guest after all, though I was hoping it would've been that pretty little Shimizu girl."

He was taunting you, doing whatever he could to get under your skin already and you've just barely even arrived.

"Actually, it's Tanaka now - she's happily married." You spit, shoving his pungent attitude right back at him.

"Hm, perhaps you'll have that in common soon, then." He trails off, turning his back on you and motioning for the two of you to follow him.

Your mother had said something similar to you, but when your father said it... he made it seem much less hypothetical and much more demanding - as if it wasn't something you should doubt or rebuke, as if it was something you should accept.

"Okay, definitely see what you mean. Your dad's an ass- but he's still hot though." 'Tsumu whispers as he follows closely behind you.

"Can you stop saying that?!" You shout in a hushed whisper, gripping his hand harshly and practically dragging him to where your father was leading.

He rejoins his guests, holding out his hand for you to take in attempt to show you off as though you were prized cattle - which you obviously refuse, simply taking your place next to him with an unintentional scowl. He scoffs under his breath, displeased with your disobedience.

Yet, he continues.

"This is my daughter, y/n." He announces to the gentlemen before you, their eyes scanning your figure and soaking you in - causing you to feel uncomfortably exposed, despite the beautiful dress clinging to your body.

"Y/n, this is Mr. Sano - he's the head of Sano LLP, one of the biggest law firms in Japan."

The man gives you a smile and a bow, to which you return the favor, although this unpleasant churning in your stomach grew more intensely by the second - something fishy was going on here, your gut undoubtedly telling you so.

"It's nice to meet you, dear. We've heard many wonderful things about you." The man remarks, making eyes at the younger man next to him, who you could only assume was his son.

Wonderful things? Many wonderful things?

This was getting more strange than you had even imagined - you were utterly confused at this point, because there's no way that your father would have said anything good about you to anyone... unless -

"Sano, Daisuke." The young man says abruptly, a wicked smile on his face as his eyes lingered a bit too long on your chest. "You're very beautiful, Ms. l/n."

You look back at Atsumu for help, though somehow managed to make his way over to hors d'oeuvres table undetected, where he was busy stuffing his face full of food and cocktails.

You huffed - so much for your knight in shining armor.

"Thank you." You say meekly, eyes shifting around the place, looking for an out. Luckily, you spot your sister off by herself, delicately nursing her martini. "Excuse me, I'd like to catch up with my sister." You muster a 'polite' demeanor to the best of your ability, and make your way off in her direction as quickly as possible.

"S/n." You call to her attention softly, to which she responds by simply taking another sip of her drink. "It's nice to see you again... I've missed you."

Her eyes bore into you, soulless and vacant - radiating pure malice... directed at, you?

"Yeah? So that's why you've cal- oh, wait. That's right, you haven't." Her tone mixes with her alcohol, as she spits pure venom at her intended target.

Her words poison your heart just as they were meant to, the guilt you've felt for leaving your sister behind resurfacing all too quickly.

"I wanted to - there were so many times I wanted to check up on you... I just... I didn't - "

"You - it's always about you, even after you left - it's still about you." Her voice raises an octave, she approaches more closely - close enough for you to smell the vodka on her breath from the many drinks she's sipped on thus far.

"S/n, you have to understand that- "

You're interrupted by the abrupt, echoing sound of the door opening, as a devilish smirk forms on your sister's pretty glossed lips.

"Looks like my date has finally arrived."