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Sugawara Koushi sat peacefully on the wooden picnic bench. The sun was setting, casting orange hues across the open expanse of sky and bringing with it a cool evening breeze. The chill was welcomed, cooling the warmth from Suga’s face after such a warm summers day. Birds twittered around him, twirling and dancing across the picture-perfect sunset. On his lap, his son sat content mouthing at the soft biscuit Suga held for him. His little feet wiggled with enjoyment and Suga couldn’t help the smile bursting at his lips. Love poured out of him like the sunlight’s rays, cascading over the baby and out across the wide-open garden.
“Bend your knees slightly,” Daichi said softly not too far away. The young girl in front of him, no older than 8, did as instructed. Her gaze intense as she copied Daichi’s stance. “Now, your arms need to be out in front of you like this.”
The girl brought her arms out in front of her and smiled when Daichi’s hands moulded them into the right stance. She was focused, determined and mirrored the same positive attitude that Suga had seen in Daichi throughout their high school years. She looked over at Suga, large brown eyes almost shimmering in the evening light and beamed a toothy smile when she received an enthusiastic thumbs up. Suga could hardly contain his joy, the smile on his face a permanent feature as he gently bounced the baby on his lap.
Daichi stepped back and picked up the volleyball nestled in the grass. “Ready?”
“Yup!” The young girl cheered, eyeing the ball in Daichi’s hand. He took another step back before gently tossing the ball in her direction. She didn’t move, her mind trained on the ball. Suga almost held his breath in anticipation, watching the ball travel to her before it bounced on her forearms and back into the air above her head. It was the perfect receive.
“Good girl!” Daichi cheered, letting the ball fall into the grass in favour of taking the girl into his arms. She giggled as she was held high above his head before wrapping her arms around his neck and locked her legs around his waist, squeezing him tight.
“Nice receive baby!” Suga called from the bench, pulling his son up into his arms so he could walk over to the other. Daichi’s eyes watched them fondly, kissing his daughter’s cheek as he shuffled her around to hold her on his hip with one strong arm. The other reached forward for Suga. He wasted no time in joining the family hug, the feeling of Daichi’s arm settling around his waist familiar and comforting.
“I’m so proud of you!” Daichi smiled as Suga ruffled his daughter’s ashen hair. “I think we’ve got a volleyball prodigy on our hands.”
“Of course we do! Look at her parents,” Suga was bursting with pride. His little girl was going to make a fantastic volleyball player.
Daichi nuzzled Suga’s cheek with this nose.
“Dai…” Suga hummed, turning to face him with loving eyes, waiting patiently for their lips to meet. The kiss was right there, right in front of him when…
“Suga-san? Suga!”
Sugawara Koushi startled awake at the sound of a deep voice close by. He lifted his head out his arms, sleepily looking around at his surroundings. He was in the gym, the sound of trainers squeaking against the floor as his team practised. Asahi was knelt down in front of him, his hand tentatively resting atop Suga’s folded arms. His brown eyes looked over Suga, worry pooled within them. His long hair was tied up, strands starting to fall free from all the movement.
“Ugh,” Suga groaned, resting his forehead back onto his arms. He’d dozed off in the middle of training, how embarrassing. He was sat with his back against the wall, knees pulled in close and arms folded resting atop them. That’s where his forehead had rested whilst he’d fallen in the most beautiful of dreams.
“Are you alright?” Asahi asked, removing his hand so he could stand. He stretched out his back before offering a helping hand to Suga. The third-year setter took his hand, allowing Asahi to hall him to his feet. Suga rubbed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair, eyes peering around Asahi to see what the others were doing.
Directly in front of him, Daichi was teaching Hinata how to improve his receives. He wrinkled his nose as Hinata’s receive sent the ball flying sideways into the wall before he moved to stand beside the red head, modelling how to aim his arms. Suga could see his mouth moving and Hinata’s head nodding enthusiastically but couldn’t quite make out their words. Yamaguchi was on Hinata’s other side, listening intently to Daichi’s advice whilst also watching Nishinoya perform the perfect receive.
To Suga’s left, Kageyama was stood by the pile of water bottles, drinking his dry, and from the sweat on Asahi’s brow, Suga could only assume that his fellow setter and ace had been practising their form.
“I’m fine, embarrassed but I’m sure I’ll recover,” Suga smiled, patting Asahi’s broad shoulder. His friend merely raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
“You called me Daichi.”
“What?!” Suga’s eyes went wide. Asahi was no longer looking at him, instead his eyes were focused on their captain. Suga swore a pink hue dusted over the ace’s cheeks.
“Y’know, you should really talk to him. Dreaming isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
“Oh, yeah, because it’s that easy!” Suga groaned, stretching his arms up and turning to walk over to the water bottles. Asahi followed suit. “Not everyone is as straightforward and honest as Noya.”
“Hey, I didn’t say it would be easy. I got lucky. Yuu’s lack of a filter and his determination to get what he wants was really helpful to our case because I sure as hell wasn’t going to ask him,” Asahi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Suga could see the memory wash over his friend, a soft smile tugging at his lips. From the very first moment Noya had burst through the gymnasium doors like sunshine on legs, Suga had known they would end up together. Noya was the confidence that Asahi needed – the support beam to hold him steady when his own self doubt made him wobble.
“Surely Daichi talks to you about things like this, can’t you just tell me if he likes me?”
“That would be a breach of confidentiality.”
“C’mon, I’m just asking for a slither of information. I’m not asking for his deepest darkest secrets.”
“You can ask him yourself.”
“Asahi,” Suga whined, pouting at his friend.
“Don’t.” Asahi quickly turned his head away from Suga’s gaze. “Do not guilt trip me into this. You promised you’d never do this to me.” Asahi fiddled with his hands awkwardly, rubbing at his skin nervously and suddenly found it difficult to stay still.
Suga giggled, playfully punching his friend in the arm. “I would never.”
Asahi looked at him sceptically, an eyebrow raised. Suga chose to ignore the questionable look and pulled his water bottle from the pile.
He knew that Asahi was aware of Daichi’s true feelings. He had to be. The three of them were as close as could be. Asahi was the middle ground between them, the one who Daichi would pour his heart out to if he was ever overwhelmed. Suga was the same. Asahi knew most of Suga’s secrets and had been aware of his ever-growing crush on Daichi from the minute it reared its head in Suga’s mind. He knew that Asahi knew. He knew that Asahi knew he knew.
“Just talk to him. It’s Daichi, you two are best friends. Talk to him like you would any other time,” Asahi was calm, his smile reassuring as he patted Suga’s shoulder before jogging back over to a patient Kageyama who had moved away from the bottles and was was fiddling idly with his fingernails.
Suga watched him go, water bottle gripped in his hand. Instinctually, his eyes wondered across the gym, following the sound of Daichi’s voice. His smile lit up the large room, eyes crinkled at their corners and pride emanating from his chest as he gave Hinata a pat on the back. Hinata was practically bouncing in his spot, grinning from ear to ear from receiving such praise from their captain. Yamaguchi looked less comfortable when the same ‘well done’ slap to the back came for him, smiling hesitantly.
Maybe Asahi was right. Maybe it was time to do something. His feelings for Daichi were consuming, continuing to flourish with every simple thing he did. Daichi was kind, caring and irresistibly loveable. Suga felt safe with Daichi, was comfortable in his presence and generally enamoured with him.
“Hey! Sleepy Suga, come set for us!” A voice beckoned Suga from his thoughts.
Pale brown eyes darted to where Tanaka was stood expectantly, volleyball tucked under his left arm and his right arm waving furiously through the air to gain his attention. Ennoshita and Tsukishima were stood a few steps behind him, staring and waiting for him to move. Embarrassed by the new nickname, Suga threw his almost empty water bottle back down into the pile, tucked a wayward strand of silvery hair behind his ear and jogged over to them.
Perhaps some practise would give him time to pull his thoughts together and focus on something that wasn’t Daichi.
“You should have seen his face! I thought his face was going to explode his smile was so big. He’s an excellent learner, still very much an excitable puppy but I’m sure he’ll calm down soon. I’ve never met anyone with as much stamina and motivation…” Daichi reported on his experience of training Hinata as they walked home. The rest of the team had already gone their separate ways, the evening air calm and quiet around Daichi, Asahi and Suga as the trio followed their usual path. It occurred to Suga that this would soon end as he stared at the concrete beneath his feet, hardly listening to the conversation happening beside him. Come graduation, he and his best friends would not longer need to travel this route together. This stone they had walked for 3 years would no longer be the familiar, comforting, walk home.
“Noya said that Yamaguchi wasn’t a bad student either. Timid but determined,” Asahi mused looking up at the clear starry sky. They had stayed at practise a little longer this evening, leaving the club room as the sun set beyond the horizon. Now the sky was dark, marred with the occasional cloud as the moon shone equally as bright as the sun.
Suddenly, Suga stopped walking, as if his feet had been shackled to the ground. It took the others a couple more steps before they realised that their trio had become a duo, turning to look at him with questionable glances.
“I…” Suga sucked in a big breath, refusing to meet Daichi’s concerned gaze. “Dai, can I speak with you?” He asked quietly.
“Uh… Sure,” Daichi replied, looking at Asahi as if he held the answers to Suga’s sudden mood change. Asahi lightly shrugged his shoulders, expertly avoiding Daichi’s eyes in favour of Suga. He could tell Asahi knew what was about to happen, the softest of smiles tugging the corners of his lips upwards – his way of telling Suga that he understood.
“It’s okay, I’ve got to… study…” Asahi fumbled, rubbing the back of neck nervously at the lie he clearly had made up on the spot. Suga rolled his eyes and waved as Asahi bid them farewell, dashing off in the direction of his home at a faster pace than was normal.
For a moment, the world was silent. Daichi stared at Asahi’s disappearing figure and Suga stared at the back of Daichi’s head begging to transfer his thoughts without the need for words. Words were hard around Daichi; clear thoughts were hard around Daichi.
“Everything alright?” Daichi asked, stepping to sit on the bench where Suga had slumped. He dropped his school bag on the floor beside him, mirroring how Suga had abandoned his before delicately sitting next to him. Of course, Daichi would treat him like a glass ornament about to shatter. He appreciated it none the less. Looking at the stars glistening about their heads, Suga let out a pent-up breath.
“I had a dream about you.”
It felt weird to say the words aloud, as if Suga was baring his very soul. He almost felt indecent, like Daichi would hear those words and see Suga in a way that would change their relationship forever. Would Daichi hate him for this? He was silent, still, and patient as he waited for Suga to continue. His eyes were cast to the floor, surveying the concrete at their feet. Suga’s fingers held the bench on either side of his thighs tightly, his knuckles pale from the grip.
“You were teaching a little girl how to receive in volleyball.”
“Okay…” Daichi smiled and Suga could feel those understanding, encouraging dark brown eyes on him. It made Suga want to break down in tears. “I’ve been teaching the first years a lot recently so-”
“Our little girl.” Suga stopped him, focusing hard on the stars above their head. They were so clear, so vibrant against the darkened sky. It was a beautiful evening. Perfect for admitting you were in love with your best friend and dreamt about raising a family together. “You were teaching our child how to receive.”
A blanket of silence enclosed them and Suga felt like the air had been sucked out of him. He could hardly breathe, Daichi’s silence like a deadly blow to the gut. Was this it? Was this how their friendship ended? Suga wanted Daichi to be in his life forever, he wasn’t sure if he’d survive the heartbreak if he left.
He dared a glace in his best friend’s direction, uncertain on whether he should get up and run away before Daichi could leave him first. Daichi’s shoulders were tense, his eyes trained on the floor at his feet. So focused in fact, that Suga had to check with his own eyes that something unusual wasn’t carved into the stone. Naturally, it was completely normal and the only thing that caught Suga’s eye was that Daichi’s shoelace was beginning to come undone.
“She… uh… She had your eyes… and your skill. She was a fabulous receiver and quick learner. You’d have been proud,” He laughed awkwardly, rubbing at the nape of his neck, as he tried to make light of the uncomfortable situation that he had put them in.
He startled when Daichi suddenly sat up, shoulders deflating as he leant back against the bench and cast his eyes to the sky, deep in thought. It was the same thoughtful look he displayed when thinking of strategies during a game, Suga had always found it intriguing. He always wondered what thoughts swarmed Daichi’s mind when this look adorned his facial features - were his train of thoughts just as jumbled and confused as Suga’s?
“Y’know that’s not possible, right?” He mumbled and Suga found himself in a conversation he had not expected. He’d spent months dreaming of the outcome from this admission. He’d planned for Daichi to run away, for him to tell Suga he was weird and laugh it off or for him to simply sever the ties of their friendship. Suga had seen it, felt it, all. At the very bottom of his list of outcomes was Daichi delving deeper into the logistics and realism of his dreams.
“I know that, I’m very aware of our biology, I didn’t say that my dreams were scientifically correct I-”
“We’d have to adopt.”
“Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking Dai, it’s- wait as second, what?”
Suga’s rant about Daichi’s conversational skills died in his throat when the words registered in his head.
Daichi wasn’t mad?
His head snapped around to face Daichi so fast that he almost fell off the bench, his whole body turning to see that Daichi was smiling at him with a look Suga had never seen before. It was soft, tender, and Suga could feel himself melt under such a gaze. Yes, Daichi could look at him like that for the rest of his life, Suga decided.
“I’d like a nice house too, one with a large garden where we can sit outside and hear the birds,” Daichi mused, his arm reaching up to rest on the back of the bench behind Suga. He very much doubted Daichi missed the way Suga shuddered as his thumb accidentally brushed his shoulder blade.
“Stop.”
“What?”
“Stop fucking with me,” Suga grumbled, turning away and folding his arms with a pout. Was he being childish? Yes? Did he care? Absolutely not. “I never took you for the cold-hearted type Daichi, yet here you are. I’m laying my heart out on the table and you’re sat there all smug, teasing-”
“Suga.”
“-and I’ve been building up the confidence to tell you for mon-”
“Suga.”
“Interrupt me one more time Daichi, I swear to-”
For the second time that evening, Suga’s words fizzled out before they reached his lips. His pale eyes were staring, wide-eyed, into what felt like Daichi’s very soul. He was so close, so much so that Suga had bumped their noses together as he had turned his head. Daichi’s cheeks were dusted pink, his eyes framed by the darkest, prettiest eyelashes Suga had ever seen.
It was then he realised Daichi’s hand was resting on his knee, his skin tingling beneath the fabric of his clothing at the touch. Slowly, hesitantly, Daichi’s other hand reached to Suga’s cheek. Suga remained still, statuesque, as trembling fingers glided over his skin. His fingers were cool against the heat radiating from Suga’s skin. It was the gentlest touch Suga had ever felt.
“Shut up,” Daichi whispered, breath ticking Suga’s nose. Their lips met in the middle, tentative and curious. Suga’s eyes fluttered shut, his hand gripping Daichi’s wrist so he would stay. It was everything Suga had dreamt of… it was Daichi. It was unguarded, vulnerable, Daichi. The thoughts swirling in his head were suddenly silent, like the storm had calmed and the waters were still. Everything in world melted away, fear and uncertainty replaced with the gentleness that was Daichi.
Their lips parted but they barely moved, Daichi’s forehead resting lightly against his own as they soaked up the moment. Staring into Daichi’s darkened eyes, Suga felt like he could read his mind. He’d never before seen such expressive eyes. And when that perfect smile beamed across Daichi’s lips, Suga couldn’t help the excited giggle that escaped him.
“Sorry,” Daichi laughed, “I interrupted you.”
“Do it again,” Suga breathed, hardly giving Daichi time to understand his words before he dived back in for another kiss. This time, he gripped the front of Daichi’s shirt with one hand and thread his fingers through Daichi’s hair with his other, twirling the dark strands around his fingers. His hair was soft, exactly how Suga had imagined it would be. The kiss was longer, deeper, and far less hesitant this time. It was full of want, need and the desperation to explore each other in ways they had never done before.
Breathless, Suga placed a firm hand on Daichi’s chest and pulled away, humming at the way Daichi tried to follow his lips.
“You’re gorgeous,” Daichi whispered, eyes surveying Suga’s face as if it were brand new. His eyes seemed to glisten under the moonlight as he focused on brushing a wayward strand of silvery-blond hair behind Suga’s ear causing him to shiver.
“And you are an asshole,” Suga replied, playfully punching Daichi in the shoulder. He rolled his eyes and pretended to be wounded by the blow but his gaze never left Suga’s.
“But an attractive asshole, right?”
Suga punched him again, this time with an eruption of laughter. They laughed together for a couple of minutes, Suga wiping joyous tears from his eyes before relaxing into the bench. With little hesitation, his head lolled to the side, finding it’s place snug on Daichi’s shoulder as if it were made to be there. Instinctually, Daichi’s arm wound around his shoulder, holding him close and allowing his head to rest atop Suga’s hair. They fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, designed to be together.
“You should had told me sooner,” Daichi said, toying with Suga’s fingers with his free hand. Hazel eyes watched their fingers intertwine, relishing in the tingles that came with Daichi’s touch.
“I was scared! I didn’t want to lose you…” Suga admitted, snuggling closer to Daichi. The feeling of Daichi’s lips brushing the top of his head made Suga feel warm and fuzzy, sighing in contentment. How long had he waited for this moment? For months he had worried, suffered sleepless nights and lived through nightmares where he tore their friendship apart. Yet Daichi was here, smiling and holding Suga close like he had belonged there his whole life. Perhaps Suga needn’t worry. Perhaps those fleeting glances, brief lingering touches and stuttered sentences should have reassured him that there was nothing to fear – that Daichi was equally as enamoured with Suga as Suga was with him.
“Surely it was obvious that I liked you too? Asahi said I wasn’t very good at hiding it… He has some very incriminating photos of me fawning over you.”
“Asahi knew?”
“Asahi has been telling me, daily, to ask you on a date for the last 6 months.”
“That bastard!”
“In fairness, I did make him promise not to tell you otherwise I would shave his head whilst he as sleeping. “
“There’s that mean streak again,” Suga laughed, sitting up to meet with Daichi’s eyes.
He was perfect in every way. He was more than Suga could ever have imagined in his dreams and here he was, openly confessing that he felt the same. It was the best night of Suga’s life. He wanted more of this, wanted more of Daichi.
“Where do we go from here?” Suga asked quietly, smiling softly as Daichi rubbed his arm in soothing circles.
“Well, I would really like you to be my boyfriend… but if you’re not comfortable with labels then we don’t ha-”
“Yes!” Suga cried out louder than was necessary. It made them both jump and Suga flushed crimson at how desperate he sounded. “Uh, I mean… yes Daichi, I would love to be your boyfriend.”
They shared another sweet kiss, Suga simply melting into Daichi’s hold. Suga’s life had peaked – he was certain that life could not get better than this. He felt like he had ascended, like he was sitting up within the clouds with the only person that mattered. Suga had always envisioned a life with Daichi in one way or another, whether they remained best friends or something more, Suga had wanted nothing more than to grow old with Daichi.
He knew not what the future held for them, where this journey would take them but he was ready. He was more than ready to embark on this adventure with Daichi at his side. Their story had started from the moment their eyes first met; this was merely the start of their newest chapter.
Suga gripped Daichi’s hand in his and pulled them both from the bench. Side by side, school bags draped across their shoulders, they took the first steps into their new adventure.
Asahi was sat at his desk, pen twirling in his hand and thoughts elsewhere, when his phone illuminated with 2 new notifications. The noise made him jump in the silence of his room, but they were messages he had been expecting. The fact they arrived within 2 minutes of each only cemented what Asahi had been praying for. With a smile and a swelling joy in his chest, Asahi read the messages.
To: Asahi
From: Daichi
I did it! Well, I mean he did it. We did it! God he’s so perfect. I feel like I can’t breathe. Is this how it is with Noya? How am I supposed to sleep? Is it too early to say I love him because Asahi I think I love him. Can I call you?
To: Asahi
From: Suga
I finally did it! I almost died doing it but I did it. I knew you knew you bastard! You owe me several pork bowls for prolonging my suffering!! He’s perfect Asahi. He’s… ugh. I think I’m in love with him, is that too fast? Can I call you?