Chapter Text
Pulling the keys out of the lock as I closed the door, I ran down the staircase and towards the train station.
I can't believe I'm late on a day like this. Ha ... guess I'll just have to run like a maniac then.
I sprinted most of the way there and made it just in time for Tokyo train. I assumed the station closest to the Metropolitan Gymnasium would be overcrowded, so I got off one station before that and decided to walk the rest of the way. The amount of people was overwhelming, but after half a year at college, I managed to deal with the big city crowd rather well, though I still averted my eyes to the ground when walking around most of the time. That's why I wouldn't even notice any of the people walking around the station that day if it weren't for one unmistakable voice:
"No, this should have been it, look ..."
I turned my head to see a group of tall guys around one of the line maps, and standing between them, the silver-haired setter seemed almost tiny in comparison.
"Hey, Sugawara?"
He turned around and smiled in relief when he saw me approaching them.
"Hey! I can't believe we ran into you, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
I nodded, pointing at the map they were looking at just a moment ago. "Did you get lost?"
One of the other guys slapped him on the back jokingly and laughed: "Yeah, pretty much. Suga screwed up. Do you know where the Metropolitan Gym is?"
"I can take you there if you want."
"Really???!!" All of them yelled in unison.
"Yeah," I chuckled, "I'm actually going there myself."
We walked outside together, Sugawara and I talking in front of the rest.
"So I take it that's your new team? Are you a regular?"
"Not really ... that's our main setter over there." He said, pointing to the guy who talked to me earlier. "But that other guy over there and I are also setters, so we switch around a lot - that's our tactic!"
"Good, good, I'll let Daichi know." I said, laughing at how open he was with their strategy.
However, mentioning Daichi sent a shiver down his spine.
"Sugawara?"
"Oh, I'm fine, sorry ... it's just ... this is the first time I'll be playing against Daichi. It feels ... weird."
"I can imagine. But he was really glad when he heard your team also made the qualifiers! He really misses all of you guys."
"Come on, he shouldn't! He has you, isn't that all he needs?"
"Some days, it really feels like that ... like we don't need anything but each other."
"I thought so. How's it like, living with him? I was really surprised when he told me you two were going to move in together."
"Well ... it's perfect. We don't see each other much during the day because of his practices, but we always have dinner together, and falling asleep next to him makes me feel like the next morning, I could get up and conquer the whole world if I had to. We've had more than enough problems, yeah, but we solved them together - and I couldn't be happier."
"I see ... he really changed you."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well ... look at yourself! You approached a group of scary looking guys and you're talking to me now as if it were nothing. A year ago, you were nothing like this."
... Did I really change that much? I can't see it, but I guess it must be true if Sugawara says so ... all I've noticed is that I'm less and less afraid of this world with every day that goes by, and I'm happier ... a lot happier. But it's not like I did this myself ... I wouldn't get anywhere without Daichi by my side.
We got to the Metropolitan Gym after a short walk and said our goodbyes: the guys went to find their changing room and I rushed to find my seat to watch the game. It wasn't long until the teams took the court and I watched with awe as the first set began.
Yeah ... it definitely seems weird to see you two on opposite sides of the net. Having three setters rotate in and out is frightening ... but I still believe that there's no situation Daichi can't adapt to. He's not the absolute best spiker, he's not the absolute best blocker, he's not the absolute best receiver ... but he is the absolute best player to rely on. And even his new team knows that, I'm sure.
After three extremely close-call sets, Daichi's team won. The people slowly cleared out of the building as I waited for him at the main entrance - it didn't take long before I saw him, walking with confidence alongside two of his teammates, probably discussing the game. However, he stopped in his tracks when he saw me, and the other two guys gave him a surprised look:
"Sawamura, what- oh, that's your girl over there, right?"
"Yeah."
"Have fun then! See ya next week!"
They both ran off somewhere and Daichi and I were suddenly all alone in the hallway. Still, he didn't say anything.
"Daichi?" I said, walking up to hug him.
He slowly slid his arms around me and held me close, leaning his head down on my shoulder: "Did you ... did you come to see the game?"
"I did. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was coming but ... I wanted to surprise you."
"Mission accomplished." He whispered, burying his face in my neck and gently kissing my skin.
Aah ... you've kissed me like this a million times already ... but I'm still not used to this overwhelming love I feel for you.
"Are you happy to see me?"
"Crazy happy. I was just thinking how much I wanted you to see this game, but I ..."
"You didn't want to invite me because there's too many people here." I finished his sentence for him, pressing my lips against his before he had the chance to go on. The kiss lasted for a short while before he pulled away:
"Too many people ... that's exactly why I'm surprised you came! Are you okay? Like, are you really okay?"
"Hmm, I wouldn't know. What's that line again?"
"What line?" He asked, looking at me in confusion.
With a mischievous smile, I leaned close to him and whispered in his ear: "Yeah, I'm okay. A tank could've ran me over today and I think I'd still be okay after kissing you. But ... if you're so worried, you can let me do that once again - I think you said something like that once."
"Heh ... you're unbelievable. So? I'm waiting!"
I kissed him again, this time without any intention to leave his lips anytime soon. I felt the irregular beating of his heart as he returned my kiss and the warmth of his hands, cupping my cheeks and slowly bringing my face even closer to his.
"I love you, Daichi .... I love you so much." I caught my breath as our lips parted after what seemed like an eternity.
"I know you do, and I love you too ... more than you could ever imagine!"
"Oh trust me, I imagine just enough. So, we're going home?"
He nodded, taking my hand as we walked back to the station together.
Looking down at my hand in his, I couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you."
"What for?" He asked, looking at the side of my face.
"I talked to Sugawara today, before the match. He said I really changed a lot and it surprised him ... and he's right. But you're the one who brought it out of me. When I'm with you, I feel like I'm shining."
He pulled me closer, putting an arm around my waist: "Of course you shine ... you're my diamond after all. But it doesn't surprise me, you know? Because I saw it in you all along."