Chapter Text
"I'm telling you, man. They're the best in town. Can't get much better for that price" Tanaka pointed back at Asahi as he walked towards the entrance. He opened the door and smiled wide. "Suga!"
"Hey!" the other greeted, eyes closed and arms wrapped tightly around his friend. "Sorry I'm late. I brought you this!"
He handed Tanaka a sake bottle.
"Fancy stuff. Thanks!" he grinned at it. "And don't worry, Kiyoko didn't let us eat anything before you arrived" he pouted at his wife, who rolled her eyes and gently embraced the new guest.
"Sometimes it feels like I live with a child" she sighed, but couldn't help a shy smirk when Tanaka kissed her cheek. "Come on in, Suga."
Sawamura stood up to greet his friend, the large smile on his face slowly fading away as he watched Azumane nearly lift Sugawara off the ground with one of his bear hugs. He was different. It hadn't been that long since they last saw each other, maybe a bit over a month at most, and yet he somehow seemed to have lost weight. His skin, too, while always pale, now seemed ashen. Azumane let go of him and he turned to Sawamura, eyes sunken and surrounded by red and purple, and yet still glowing that characteristic enthusiasm.
"Anything wrong?" Sugawara raised an eyebrow almost teasingly, but still took half a step back.
Sawamura shook his head and rebuilt his smile, then brought him close.
"It's been a while, huh?" his voice sounded muffled against the shorter man's shoulder.
"Yeah..." he was barely audible. "I've misse..."
"Oi, let's eat before it gets cold!" Tanaka called for his friends. "Asahi brought... a pumpkin? What's this again, dude?"
"It's a Brazilian dish, it's called 'camarão na moranga', it's shrimp and..."
"Say that again" Tanaka grinned.
"Ca-ma-rão-na-mo-ran-g..." he stopped. "You're mocking me!"
"Nah, nah..." he tried to hold back on his laughter. "It's just that I feel like you've offended every Portuguese speaker ever."
As Azumane tried to explain it had been his coworker who taught him the name and recipe, Kiyoko, Sugawara and Sawamura exchanged looks and chuckled just behind them. The latter shook his head, nostalgia warming his heart.
"Speaking of Brazil" Sugawara began as he sat down. Always the diplomat. "Are you guys going to Hinata's party?"
"I have to see if I'm free from work..." Azumane rubbed his temples.
"The guy's been across the globe for months, c'mon, you have to come!" Tanaka jokingly slapped the taller's arm.
They thanked for the food and began to dig into the variety of steaming dishes all across the dining table. Kiyoko was an amazing cook and had prepared most of them with her fiancé, who was clueless when it came to cooking but still wanted to help in any way he could. Sawamura and Asahi had also brought complementary servings, and on top of that there was Sugawara's sake —which, by the way, was the only thing he seemed to be actually interested in.
"Suga, you good? Kiyoko did this spicy thing just for you" Tanaka pointed towards the spicy tofu. "If I have to eat those leftovers you're paying for my heartburn medicine, 'kay?"
"Sorry, Kiyoko, I'm sure it's great" Sugawara chuckled lightly. "I'm just not that hungry."
"Try some of Asahi's shrimp camarananao thing."
"Ca-ma-rão" the other corrected.
"Yeah, that. It's actually pretty good."
"Thanks, I'm sure it is, I'm just really really not f... Oh, shit." Sugawara covered his nose. "I'm so sorry, I'll be right back."
He got up, moving his other hand to contain the blood already dripping down his fingers, and rushed into the bathroom. Sawamura followed him with his eyes, then exchanged looks with Azumane, whose face was petrified with concern. Tanaka's chin had dropped slightly and Kiyoko swallowed dry as she squeezed her fiancé's shoulder.
"Must be the weather" she muttered. "You also get bloody noses when it gets too hot."
"Y-yeah..." Tanaka stared back at his plate. He resumed speaking, his voice nearly dying out by the end. "But Suga generally isn't looking all that great, don't you guys think?"
"I'll be right back" Sawamura stood up and turned around on the tiny hallway leading to the bathroom. He knocked on the door softly and opened it just enough to be heard. "Suga?"
"O-oh, hey, Daichi!" he said in a forced cheerful tone, head leaning backwards as he pressed a bloody piece of toilet paper against his nostril. "I'm fine, I'll be right back..."
"You're doing it wrong" he sighed. "C'mon, let me help you out."
He pulled another piece of paper and guided his friend towards the sink, proceeding to move the other's wrist away from his face. With the lack of pressure, a few red droplets fell on the porcelain. Sawamura was quick to press the clean toilet paper against his nose and used his other hand to keep Sugawara's face in place, tilted slightly downward.
"This way, the blood doesn't go down your throat" he explained. "Four younger siblings, this is the kind of stuff you have to know..."
Sugawara chuckled, his cheek moving gently against Sawamura's palm.
"Did you hurt your nose or something? It's taking a while to stop" he murmured after lifting his hand for a few seconds, which allowed a stronger crimson stream to splash on the sink and down Sugawara's cupid's bow.
"Nah, maybe it's just allergies or something. My new detergent makes me sneeze" he looked ahead, staring at his own reflection in the mirror. "Daichi, I can hold it now, thanks."
"It's better if I keep the pressure constant. Just a few seconds left" he watched the other closely. "This doesn't hurt, right?"
"No, no" Sugawara shook his head by habit, barely able to move it with Sawamura's grip. "It's fine."
"This should be enough" he removed some of the pressure, sighing in relief when nothing came out of the other's nostril. "Yeah, you're good."
The silver-haired man's nose was a mess, but at least the bleeding had stopped. He carefully washed the blood away from his face and fingers while Sawamura threw the red-stained piece of paper away. The taller then washed his hands as well.
"Thanks, Daichi" he looked at him and smiled. "I can be so stupid sometimes, fuck..."
There was a hint of sadness in his tone. Sawamura took a step closer and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't say that. Most people don't know how to handle nosebleeds properly... Took me a few toddlers kicking volleyballs against each other to figure it out."
Sugawara laughed, laughed like he always did, with his eyes closed and cheeks popping out like those of a child. Sawamura's chest warmed up.
"You know you can tell me if there's something wrong, right?"
"Wha..." Sugawara smiled with arched brows, turning to face him. "Where did that come from?"
"Suga, you look kinda tired. And you weren't eating, and now your nose and..." he pressed his lips, taking a few seconds to ponder his next words. "I'm just a bit worried."
Sugawara's expression softened. He looked down at his wet hands and began to dry them up.
"I think it's just work, you know..." he sighed and remained silent for a few seconds. "It's been a while since I last saw you guys. I missed that."
Sawamura's breath halted under the next smile Sugawara gave him. His eyes were glowing and tear-rimmed, so exhausted and so empty and yet so sincere and sweet. He was ready for a sob, legs tensed up and prepared to step forward when it came, but it never did. Sugawara just looked down again and shook his head, chuckling lightly.
"Suga, are you ok?" Kiyoko knocked on the door. "We have cotton if you want."
"I'm fine!" he cleared his throat. "Thanks a lot, Daichi. Let's go back?"
"Y-yeah, let's go back..."