Chapter Text
The first and last days of school are always the hardest. On the first day, kids are still half-asleep at their desks, in no mood to work. On the last day, tears are shed and teachers are forced to say goodbye to the graduating class.
In Suga’s case, tears will be shed, but they’ll be tears of joy. Suga was lucky enough to teach an all-sophomore class, meaning that he’ll see them in the hallways. Suga wonders if the last day of school is always going to be this bittersweet.
On one hand, Suga is incredibly proud of his students for putting so much effort into the school year. It certainly wasn’t easy. Even through all the tears, papercuts, and arguments, Suga is proud to have seen them grow and change throughout the year.
Suga sniffs, hiding his used tissue box in a drawer. His students file into the classroom, perhaps for the last time.
Suga sighs heavily. “I’m gonna miss this,” He says, looking at the sea of students sitting in front of him. Suga’s eyes widen—he just came up with a great idea.
Suga clasps his hands together. “Let’s all go around the room and share our favorite memory from this year.” He says. “And I wanna know about your summer plans.”
Taking another look around the room, Suga spots a girl with her hand raised. Suga calls on her, and she pulls out a leather-bound notebook from her bag. She opens it, and Suga moves closer to get a full look at the pages. Various dried flowers and plants are taped to the pages, each labeled with the plant’s scientific name.
“Wow.” Suga says, in awe.
The girl smiles widely. “I got an internship at the arboretum.” She says. “I’ll be working there all summer.”
“That’s incredible!” Suga exclaims, taking a second look at the girl’s journal. “I’m really proud of you.”
A few other students provide Suga with details about their summer jobs, driving lessons, and family vacations. Suga wonders if Daichi would agree to getting away for a week or two—they deserve it, after all.
Suga receives a few gifts, each of which he cherishes with all of his heart. One student gives him a mug emblazoned with the words Best Teacher Ever! along with new pens and various gift cards. Suga’s heart is so full that he might just explode on the spot.
“We’ll visit you.” Ryan promises. Ravi appears next to him, and he hums in agreement.
Suga nods. “I’ll be looking forward to it.” He raises his voice to reach the rest of the class. “Remember everyone,” he begins, “if you need anything, you have my email, okay?”
Perhaps the last day of school isn’t as bad as Suga thought.
-
Suga has officially cleaned out his classroom for the summer. He had little to take home, given that he’ll be returning next year.
When he finishes packing his things into a box, Suga heads outside and waves goodbye to the kids boarding the busses.
Suga is really going to miss this. He’ll be back in the fall, but everything will be different. Maybe that’s the beauty of summer. His students may come and go like the changing of seasons, but Suga plans to stay here for as long as he can.
When fall arrives, Suga will get to watch another group of students grow, and the cycle will continue repeating itself. Suga sighs. The prospect of teaching a new gaggle of students and getting to know them, their dreams and goals, and their stories, ignites a fire in Suga’s heart.
Suga closes his computer and stuffs it into his bag. He watches as the sun sends warm rays from its spot in the distance before disappearing behind the clouds. Suga grabs his box and heads out of the door.
By now, the school is nearly empty. Suga walks through the halls, taking his time to peer into the now-barren classrooms. There’s something strange about exploring an empty place that is usually bustling with life.
Suga gets creeped out after a few minutes, and he descends the stairs, where he meets Daichi by his car.
“Ready to go?” Daichi asks. Suga looks over the backseats, one of which is occupied by a box of Daichi’s things.
Suga nods. He watches as the school disappears into the evening fog. Suga can barely believe that a LinkedIn message led to this. Despite having limited experience with teenagers, Suga and his students will attest to the fact that Suga’s first year as an AP psychology teacher was a success.
-
The first day of summer is Suga’s first real day off. Suga has forgotten how it feels to truly relax, without a thousand other items waiting for him menacingly on his checklist.
Suga wakes up late, and he makes breakfast when he would normally eat lunch. It will take at least a week for Suga to stop waking up early. He’s been doing it for a year, and anything else feels wrong.
It feels strange not to be working. He doesn’t start his summer job until next week, which gives him extra time to screw around.
Suga finds Daichi in the living room, watching reruns of an old TV show. Suga sets two steaming cups of coffee down on the table, and he settles in right by Daichi’s side.
The four protagonists of the show find themselves in various predicaments throughout the episode. One boy forgets to buy gas, and the four end up stranded in a ghost town at the mercy of gangsters.
The episode ends with the boys finally getting gas and driving off into the sunset. Suga wonders if his life will look like theirs one day, as Daichi drives them down the coast in a bright red convertible.
It’s a nice dream, and Suga plans to make it happen someday.
-
The rest of the day is uneventful. Daichi goes to the gym to prepare for his new job, and Suga settles down with a new book. He’s been meaning to read more, but the demanding nature of his own expectations got in the way.
Suga makes one last list before taking a break. Suga can’t possibly stay still the entire summer, because he’ll go insane. He makes an epic plan that covers all three months of summer vacation, packed with projects he would like to accomplish. Whether he will succeed remains to be seen.
When Daichi comes back from the gym, Suga helps him prepare dinner. There isn’t much to discuss at the table, and Suga appreciates the comfortable silence filling the space between them.
-
Graduation is the end goal of students all around the world. Suga still remembers the day he graduated, how he threw his cap into the air and ended his high school career on a positive note.
Suga shifts slightly in his seat. Daichi is right next to him, waving to the various students shouting in their direction. Suga can’t imagine how Daichi is feeling right now, given that most of his students are graduating and he may never see them again.
If they wanted to, they would. It’s a phrase Suga heard growing up, and he’s never strayed from that piece of advice. Maybe a few of Daichi’s students will send him letters or put him on a Christmas card mailing list, but for the rest of them, today is the last time they’ll see Daichi.
Suga can’t imagine a life without Daichi—that’s just because he’s in love.
Takeda approaches the podium, and Suga can tell that he’s been crying. Suga reminds himself to comfort him after the ceremony.
“Good afternoon, everyone.” Takeda begins. Suga wonders if he gets this emotional at the end of every school year.
He clears his throat. “Twisters, you’ve come so far. I’ve watched you all grow from middle schoolers to powerful young adults.”
“The future is never certain.” Takeda says. “But for the past four years, you’ve made your own future—you worked hard and laid the groundwork for a successful career.”
“You’ve accomplished so much,” Takeda continues. “Each and every single one of you.” He takes a deep breath. “Here’s to the future.”
Takeda leaves the stage, looking more composed than when he started. Suga smiles warmly at him. Takeda is replaced by the vice principal, a scruffy man who Suga doesn’t know very well.
The vice principal goes over the long list of graduates, and when he finishes speaking, the valedictorian quickly replaces him. She talks for a few minutes about what she learned from her time at Cherry Creek High. Suga doesn’t know her, but he immediately admires her energy and enthusiasm.
When speeches conclude, Takeda steps back up to the podium. “As a principal, I’ve seen thousands of students come and go, but you have been a truly exceptional class.” Takeda swallows thickly. “And I’ve never been prouder to be your principal.”
The second Takeda finishes speaking, every student throws their cap into the air. They create a beautiful sea of blue before hitting the ground.
Suga and Daichi are immediately whisked away for family photos. Suga’s face cramps up from smiling too hard, and his posture isn’t good, either.
After pictures have been taken, Kuroo tosses a football over to Daichi. “We’re having a barbecue.” He says. “Come join us!”
Suga has never agreed to anything faster in his life—besides accepting Daichi’s confession, of course.
-
Daichi winks at Suga as he passes a football to Kuroo. “This is for you, honey!”
Suga turns bright red—he honestly doesn’t know if he’s embarrassed or not. Suga makes himself a veggie burger and a side salad, and he watches Daichi play football with the more athletically inclined teachers.
Daichi eventually comes back to take a swig of beer and give Suga a kiss. Suga grimaces when Daichi’s sweaty face touches his own. Daichi wraps an arm around Suga’s waist. “If we were dating in high school, I definitely would have played football for you.”
Suga grins. “If we were dating in high school, I definitely would have been your cheerleader.” He thinks back to the homecoming game, how happy Daichi looked when Suga cheered him on from the bleachers.
Oikawa is suntanning by the pool, but Iwaizumi is clearly planning to spray him with a hose. When he finally does, Suga bursts into laughter that doesn’t stop until he cries.
Yamaguchi does a backflip on Kuroo and Kenma’s large trampoline. He practically pulls Kei in with him, and Suga watches as Kei’s lips curl into a smile.
Suga feels the bright summer sun beating down on his skin, warming his face and neck. Daichi passes the ball to Hinata, who nearly tumbles over while trying to catch it. Suga looks around at the field with fondness in his eyes.
Suga takes one look at his boyfriend and his best friends, and Suga knows he’s home.
-
Summer has now officially begun.
Suga’s first day on the job goes smoothly, given that he took a break for nine months. Suga has no trouble setting up his old office and taking a seat at his trusty desk. Suga loves teaching, but being a children’s therapist is rewarding in a different way.
The idea of being able to help someone, to follow them as they find themself and reach their goals, is Suga’s ultimate dream.
As he writes notes with his free hand, Suga stares at the child in front of him.
“Suga?” The girl asks, pointing to the picture of Daichi on Suga’s Home Screen. “Is he your forever person?”
Forever person. That’s a term Suga hasn’t heard before. Suga smiles down at the screen, eyes landing on a photo from Daichi’s awards ceremony. Daichi is holding his trophy, and Suga is kissing him on the cheek.
“Yeah.” Suga replies. “He is.”
-
Suga walks out of the building with his bag slung over his shoulder. It’s five o’clock in the evening, but the changing seasons have ensured that the sun sets at nine.
Suga nearly bumps into Daichi, just like the first time they met. Daichi hands Suga a bouquet of assorted flowers and plants. Suga presses a long kiss to Daichi’s lips. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” Suga asks as they pull apart.
“Just wanted to whisk you away,” Daichi replies, to which Suga playfully rolls his eyes. “There’s a new coffee shop near here.” Daichi says. “You wanna go?”
If there’s anything Suga loves more than helping people, it’s coffee. Suga nods so fast that he gets whiplash. Daichi just laughs and starts driving.
The coffee shop in question is beautifully decorated, but the original structure of the building has been preserved. Daichi leads Suga inside, and when he scans the room for an open table, he spots his colleagues. They wave him over, and Suga hurries over like an eager dog.
“Thank you.” Suga whispers, pressing a kiss to Daichi’s cheek.
It feels like months since he’s seen his friends, even though only a week has passed.
Suga’s heart is so full of love that it’s bursting at the seams. He’s really here, with his colleagues that he’s privileged to call his friends. He’s part of something much bigger than himself.
Daichi intertwines their fingers under the table, and Suga gives him a soft smile.
Suga has always dreamt big, but for all the fantasies and ten-year plans, Suga has never been happier with what he has. Two jobs he loves, a group of best friends, and the best boyfriend Suga could ask for—Suga has it made.
Suga wouldn’t be opposed to seeing his friends for coffee every day, as if they never left the halls of Cherry Creek High and their lives go on, just as usual.
For now, Suga basks in the warm summer sun and the love of his friends, as their soft-spoken words fill in the gaps in the pavement.