Chapter Text
Daichi watched Michimiya with no small amount of longing. He’d been friends with her since childhood, had stood by her as she grew into someone brave and kind and smart. He had smiled and reassured her when she’d worried and fretted about her decision to make the oath.
The oath.
Maybe if he had simply stayed quiet-- but no. He couldn't have. That would have been selfish, cruel even. She had wanted to serve Artemis, and do so completely, wholeheartedly, and what could Daichi have done but support her?
Even though the oath meant he could never love her, really. She’d promised herself and her goddess chastity. Which meant no romance. No lingering touches. No family but the one she was born with.
Ah, but even then… Daichi could not help but love her, at least from afar. She was hardworking, dedicated… passionate. Everything she did spoke of the burning fire in her heart and her earnest desire to give everyone-- from the acolytes under her care to the goddess they all served-- the very best she could give.
“Sawamura!”
She’d spotted him. He must have lingered too long, as always. Still, he smiled. “Hello, Michimiya,” he greeted, waving a hand. “How are you?”
“Same as yesterday! Tired but happy!” Michimiya’s grin was proof of this-- wide and uninhibited, blinding as the moon so often linked to the deity she prayed to: Artemis, The Huntress and The Maiden. Her eyes, crinkling at the corners from the size of her smile, were shadowed underneath. She probably hadn't been sleeping, so worked up as she got. “It is her festival, after all.”
“That's good to hear. I hope you're taking care of yourself as well.” She probably wasn't. Daichi would have to check in on her later around suppertime, maybe cook a little extra… no. He didn’t have the money for that. He could stand to eat a little less tonight, then; he certainly wouldn't make the twins give up their food. They were growing kids, they needed all the nutrition they could get.
Michimiya flushed, giggling slightly. “Ah, maybe… not as much as I should be. I will, though!” she hastened to add, before Daichi even had time to furrow his brow. “The celebration ends tonight. I’ll rest then.”
Daichi sighed, but he offered a rueful smile. “You should. You’ve more than earned it. I’m sure your goddess would tell you the same, if she knew what you’ve done for her.”
Michimiya’s eyes went round as more color filled her cheeks. Her gaze darted away, latched onto something just behind Daichi-- but when Daichi turned to see just what was bothering her, he found nothing but what he already knew was there; it was the same river, the same slope on the opposite bank with the loose dirt you could never trust to support you if you climbed. (And they had, many times as young children-- it had left them with scrapes and bruises, with mud smudged on their clothes and tears in their eyes even as there was laughter and stubbornness in the set of their mouths.)
He frowned. “What is it, Michimiya?” he asked finally, as he turned back to face her.
“Oh!” She started, shaking her head rapidly (she’d always been a bad liar, Daichi thought fondly). “Nothing at all!” She smiled brightly-- and this, at least was an honest joy; Daichi wouldn't press her then. If it wasn't upsetting her, he would wait for her to choose to be honest with him.
“Ah, is that so,” he said. He nodded. “Well, I should go-- the twins will be waiting on me. Will you be at the temple again tonight?”
She bobbed her head in affirmation, and after he’d promised to drop by with some of today's dinner (and insisting that he would, despite her protests), he began the quick journey homeward.
The twins greeted him ecstatically-- as if he hadn't just left them for a short while with Ikejiri while he went to work at the construction site for a few hours, and instead left them for years. Daichi chuckled and ruffled their hair, hugged them close and swung them around until they giggled and begged him to stop lest they throw up.
He thanked Ikejiri for bringing them back after closing up his tavern, especially since the establishment was on the other side of town from the site of Daichi’s work-- it was simple work, and it paid well, but it was exhausting and physically demanding. If he had to go all that way to fetch the kids, and then return home, Daichi was sure his body would give out before he was even past his 25th winter.
“No problem,” Ikejiri said, as he always did. “The boys are great, and they help out a lot don't they?”
“We do, we do!”
“Daichi-nii!!! We do!”
“Yes! Ask Ikeijiri-nii, he says we’re very very good help!”
“He said next time he wants to have us help some more!”
Daichi doubted that, but Ikejiri was smiling at him honestly enough, and having to switch his attention back and forth between the girls was making him dizzy, not to mention the yells... So he laughed, and said, “All right, all right. I believe you girls.”
He offered Ikejiri a seat at their table, offered to cook him some dinner as well, but his friend declined. His wife was waiting, he said, and there were some leftovers from today's dishes that needed finishing. He waved, and then he was gone.
Daichi turned back to the twins. “So who wants to help with dinner?”
By the time the food was cooked and eaten (with a portion set aside for Michimiya, with the excuse to Daichi’s surprisingly observant twins-- they got it from him, apparently-- that he’d eaten a bit with his friends from the construction site before fetching them), it was late. Plenty enough time that Michimiya could easily have eaten already, but he didn't think that was the case. Sometimes she got so absorbed in doing these other things that she neglected herself and…
Well, there was a reason Daichi constantly checked on her.
He scooped the remaining portion of the stew into a clay bowl, and then after tucking the twins into bed and making them promise to sleep, he left for the temple.
He found her waiting outside, to his surprise. She hadn't seen him yet, where he was, still far enough away as not to draw her attention, so he slowed to a stop to drink in the sight of her. Backlit by the candles and torches of the temple, clad in her flowing chiton that draped against the dip of her waist and the flare of her hip in such a wonderful way, hugged her like a flower’s petals right before it bloomed… she had her head tilted back to the stars, a smile on her lips. She looked happy. Almost giddy, bouncing on the balls of her feet like she could skip or dance away at any moment.
Daichi would gladly have sat back and watched her all his life.
But he did come bearing food for her, and it was quickly cooling in the night air, so-- “Michimiya,” he called, raising one hand in a wave.
Michimiya whirled to face him, eyes wide, mouth a soft ‘o’ in shock. And then she grinned. “Daichi!” she shrieked, running at him, leaping--
The clay shattered against the pavement, his hands instinctively coming up to catch her around the waist. He could smell the the stew-- the precious little chicken meat he’d boiled into it, the stock he’d saved so carefully, where it pooled in a puddle at their feet. “Michimiya-- Yui-- what--”
And then her mouth was on his. Daichi froze, and then he melted, raising one hand to cup her cheek as he mimicked the movement of her lips--
Wait. They couldn't--
Daichi reeled back, and Michimiya’s eyes fluttered open slowly, a sweet and lovely view, like butterfly wings quietly stirring into flight against her cheeks. And then they flung wide, as round and startled as Daichi’s own. Her face turned ruddy, fingers flying up to cover it. “Oh! I’m so sorry, I--”
“Michimiya-- the oath-- your oath--” Daichi stammered, elated and amazed and yet so, so afraid. Why had she done that? What would she pay for it?
“Oh! No, no I should've told you first, I really should have, I just got so excited--” Michimiya cut herself off with a clap of her hands to her face, loud enough to echo. Daichi’s eyes grew wider, and he set her down, taking her wrists in his grip in case she would do it again. There were red imprints forming… how hard had she hit herself? “All right,” she said, much more composed. “All right. Daichi, she let me go!”
“I-- What?”
Michimiya’s smile was brilliant, beautiful. Daichi had never been more in love-- she was so radiant . “I asked Artemis to free me from my commitment, I-- Daichi I know I wasn't supposed to, and I really hope you feel the same as I, or this will be for naught but-- Daichi, I fell in love with you.”
She… she what?
And she thought… he didn't return the sentiment?
“It’s just… you’ve always been there for me, steady and capable and wonderful. You never forced me to do anything, but you never let me suffer longer than I had to. You're so good , Daichi, and how can I help but love such a good man?” She bit her lip, averting her gaze. “Say you feel the same… only if you do, of course. I couldn't-- you don't need to lie, for my sake.”
And Daichi couldn't find the words to tell her-- after so long of holding them in, he didn't know how to let them go. So instead, he pulled her close, and kissed her soundly on the mouth. I love you too, he said, in the movement of his lips, in the skating of her tongue across hers. Always have.
When they finally parted, chest heaving, lungs straining for air, mouths stretched in wide grins they couldn't contain, Daichi stroked Michimiya’s cheek, cupped it in his palm. “I never thought I could have you,” he told her, a secret carefully held out, his entire heart tied with a bow and presented for her to take. “But I’ve loved you for so long , Michimiya--”
“Yui,” she breathed, cutting in. “Yui, please.”
“Yui then,” he said, flushing slightly at the intimacy of it, at how right it felt on his tongue. “This feels so unreal. Tell me this isn't a dream.”
“Well,” she started, laughing a little. “I don't think you’d be cruel enough to dream my slippers getting soaked in stew.”
Daichi paused, only then remembering the food he’d brought her for dinner. “Oh. Mi-- Yui, I'm so sorry, that was your dinner, and--”
She giggled, waving it off. “No, no it’s all right! I shouldn't have run at you without warning, really, and anyhow, I did manage to eat a bit at the temple earlier. The girls wanted to send me off, you know.”
“Ah. Of course. Still--”
“It’s all right, Daichi. Truly.”
She flushed then, smile softening at the edges. “Do you… do you think we could kiss again?”
And Daichi… what could he say but yes?
/////
Daichi let Suga lead him through the throngs of people, wondering just where they were going.
Daichi had decided not to pursue further studies after all, and after letting Yaku know, they discussed what sort of work he could get to help carry his weight in the house.
While all three of the men who actually owned the place said putting them up for a while was no trouble, Daichi knew well enough that three extra mouths could cause a big strain, and he didn't want to take advantage of their kindness for too long.
Earlier this morning, Suga had gotten a text from a friend who apparently needed help-- and Suga had jumped at the chance to recommend Daichi. So that was where they were heading to now, but Suga had neglected to explain just what kind of job he’d be doing, so he had no clue what to expect.
The streets here weren't too crowded at this time of day-- for Tokyo, anyway (or so Daichi had been told). That meant that the crowd felt less like a horde of demons you had to battle your way through and more like a regular throng of people, really. They came to a little shopping center filled with mostly restaurants and cafés alongside a few boutiques and even a little market.
Ah. A service job maybe? Daichi could do that… probably. Hopefully there wouldn't be too much new-fangled technology to handle.
They came to stop under a black awning with the words, ‘Branwen’s Bistro’ printed on it in looping, elegant script. Daichi took in the storefront-- there were three outdoor tables, all under the wide canopy. They each held a little glass garden lantern with a candle in it (unlit, in the daytime) and a plain white ashtray with the silhouette of a bird in flight printed on the bottom. There were tiny lights strung up across the awning, and Daichi was sure they made a pretty sight in the evening, all lit up like trails of stars.
There was a solid wooden door, painted a deep black to match the canopy, with a sign pegged on it that read, ‘open’. On either side of it, there were two huge glass windows, composed of several little rectangles of glass. Inside, Daichi was able to glimpse small, cushioned benches just on the other side of the glass, and a few wooden tables inside, all a rich shade of brown and varnished to shine.
“What are you standing around for Daichi?” Suga asked, nudging him with his elbow. “Go on in!”
Daichi took in a deep breath, then let it out slow-- with it, he exhaled his apprehension, his nerves. His next inhale would bring calm, focus. He could do this.
“Right,” he said, pushing the door open. Above him, a bell tinkled softly, announcing his arrival.
This was swiftly followed by Suga’s own announcement. “Asaaaaahiiiiii! We’re here!”
“SUGA-SANNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!” Before Daichi could even think to be shocked at the immediate (and much louder) holler that answered Suga’s, someone (something?) zipped out of the kitchen, leapt over the bar, and tackled Suga in a hug.
Daichi blinked. The man was short, surprisingly, at least half a foot shorter than Daichi himself. His hair was spiked up wildly-- all but a single pale lock of hair that hung in the center of his forehead.
“Nishinoya!” Suga cheered, apparently unconcerned about the impact he’d taken. How he hadn't been knocked over, Daichi didn't know, but he assumed it had been expected…? Probably…?
Then again, that Nishinoya must have been fairly light…
But then… that had also looked like it had a lot of force to it.
As if he could sense that Daichi was thinking about him, Nishinoya whirled to face him, eyes wide and… intense was the only word Daichi could think of to describe it.
He stared at Daichi for a long, long moment. It certainly put him on edge-- what was the other man thinking? What had Suga told him?
And then he grinned, and Daichi felt himself relax a little. “You’re the new guy, right? Sawamura-san?” His smile was bright and warm. Friendly. “I'm Nishinoya Yuu! I’ll be one of your bosses!” A pause. “If Asahi likes you, that is.”
“Ah.” Daichi dipped his head in a slight bow. “It’s nice to meet you. You can call me Daichi, if you’d like.”
“Nice to meet’cha too, Daichi-san!”
Suga smiled then, waving a hand in dismissal. “Oh, Asahi should be fine . Daichi's a real sweetheart.” He rested his hands on his hips. “Speaking of our gentle giant, where is he?”
“In the back! Some of our ingredients just arrived, so he’s sorting them out.” Nishinoya hopped over the counter again (wow, he really liked jumping, huh?) And stuck his head in through the kitchen door. “Asa! Get out here!”
There was a muffled response, and then a soft thump of something being set down. A moment later, Nishinoya came back over to where Suga and Daichi were standing, another man in tow.
He was tall, probably around six feet, with broad shoulders and a thick build. His hair was long, pulled back in a bun behind his head and a rich shade of brown. His jaw was sharp, with a little bit of scruff on the chin.
He was, quite frankly, very intimidating.
And then he said, “Ah, uh, hello there, Sawamura-san, I presume?” His voice was surprisingly soft, almost hesitant. His smile was equally gentle.
One of those cases then… that the outside belied the spirit inside. Daichi could understand that. He bowed again. “You must be Azumane Asahi? Suga’s talked a bit about you. It's nice to meet you.”
“Yes… I'm Asahi… though I don't quite trust Suga to have told you entirely good things about me-- ouch! Suga!” The last was because Suga, apparently offended by the insinuation (although, in this case Daichi found himself sympathizing with Azumane-- Suga had a pretty wide mischievous streak, after all), had whacked him soundly in the stomach.
Nishinoya laughed. “Aw, Suga-san isn't that bad! And you're strong Asa, that shouldn't have hurt!”
“Suga’s stronger than he looks!” Azumane protested, feebly. He sighed when Suga and Nishinoya only laughed louder. “Well, anyway, Sawamura-san--”
“Oh! Uh, Daichi is just fine.”
Azumane smiled again, kind and sweet. “Daichi, then. Shall we discuss the work?”
At Daichi’s nod, Azumane began explaining how the restaurant typically ran-- Azumane stayed in the back to cook and fix drinks, while Nishinoya handled orders and service. They took turns on cleanup duty at the end of the work day, and took lunch breaks around three. There were no other workers.
“It used to be alright, that way,” Azumane said, raising his hands to undo and redo his bun. It seemed to Daichi that this was more an action to give his hands something to do rather than something necessary, but he refrained from commenting on it. “Noya works hard and moves fast, and our customers have always been patient with us. I do my best to come out and help as well, when things are busy.”
“But lately!” Nishinoya piped in, “Lately we’ve been getting a bigger crowd! I think we're finally making a name for ourselves!”
Suga added, “Noya’s a reliable guy, with amazing reflexes and stamina, but even he’s starting to get swamped. That's what you're here for, Daichi!” He thumped the starboy on the shoulder, grinning.
“I see… I should warn you though, I'm not very accustomed to modern technology, so I think I could only be of use with the manual labor. I don't do well with numbers and the like either.”
Azumane shook his head. “Oh no, that's fine. We like our stuff old fashioned-- the most high tech thing we have is the cash register, and… Noya handles that.”
Nishinoya hopped up onto a nearby table, prompting Azumane to frown and fuss until he dropped back off. “Anyway,” he said, “It’s basic addition and subtraction mostly. You can probably handle that!”
Well, that was true, basic arithmetic was still in doable territory, but… Daichi hoped they’d be patient if he did make mistakes.
“So it's settled then!” Suga clapped Daichi’s shoulder, and Daichi winced at the force of it-- he understood why Azumane had complained, to say the least. “You can start out tomorrow and if things go well you can keep working here!”
Azumane raised an eyebrow. “You’d think you owned this bar, Suga.”
“You were gonna say that anyway! Weren't you?”
“Well yeah, but…”
Azumane and Suga began to bicker, and Daichi considered whether or not he ought to rein in the latter-- when Nishinoya caught his eye and jerked his head towards the kitchen, looking far more serious than he had been most of the conversation.
Daichi felt like a deer caught in a hunter's snare, all of a sudden.
He swallowed and nodded, and he followed the shorter man into the kitchen without a word. Neither of the other two noticed them go.
“Is something the matter, Nishinoya-san?”
“Just Noya,” Nishinoya said, with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I don't really like honorifics most of the time. Anyway, I think you're older than me.”
He doesn't know how right he is , Daichi thought wryly.
“Ah.” Daichi doubted this was what he’d been called aside for, but he nodded and said, “Noya, then. What is it?”
Nishinoya reached up into a cupboard and pulled out two glasses, filling them from the tap. He offered one to Daichi, who accepted it and took a few polite sips as Nishinoya went on. “Well, I think you could tell, but Asahi has a heart of glass; for all that he looks like a thug to most people, he’s the opposite really.”
Daichi nodded. Azumane had seemed very kind and almost fragile, yes.
“It doesn't get to him as much as it did back in high school, but he's very easily… cowed is the right word isn't it?”
Again, Daichi nodded.
“Yeah, okay, so he can be cut down really easily, and-- I guess I just wanted to say that you’d better not take advantage of it to bully him or-- I don't know, anything like that.” Nishinoya took a long drink from his glass, then set it down, half-empty in the sink. The clink of it against the metal felt like a period. The look on Nishinoya’s face brooked no contradiction, eyes and mouth serious instead of full of laughter the way they had been just a while ago.
Even if Daichi had harbored thoughts about doing that-- which he hadn't-- this confrontation alone would have dissuaded him. He had no doubts that Nishinoya would do anything to protect Azumane, even if that meant something as gruesome as killing Daichi in a back alley and leaving him to rot.
Still, Daichi said, “I would never. He seems like a good man.” He injected as much steel as he could into the statement.
Nishinoya eyed him for a long moment. Daichi held his gaze.
“Good.” The tension in the room evaporated just like that, escaped the instant that single syllable fell from Nishinoya’s now smiling lips. “I mean, you can pick on him a bit when you're closer with him. He doesn't mind it from friends and people he knows don't mean it. I’d ask you to wait, though.”
“Ah, that won't be a problem at all,” Daichi replied.
He finished his water and placed it in the sink as well, and then they headed for the door. Just as Nishinoya gripped the knob, he stopped. “Also! I don't know how much Suga told you, but Asahi and I are a couple. I know it bothers some people, so if that's a problem…” His eyes bored into him, and somehow, Daichi was certain that, for all the chocolate-y warmth of them, he would drown in the cold abyss of his gaze if he stared too long.
Daichi shook his head before Nishinoya could even finish speaking. “It isn't. I had plenty of friends who were of that preference. Some of whom suffered for it. I have no issue with it, and I’m glad you're comfortable enough to be together in the open.”
Nishinoya blinked. “Well,” he said finally. “Not all the way in the open. But that's good to know. Let's go then.”
/////
When they emerged, Suga and Azumane were sitting quietly, waiting.
Daichi sort of felt like he’d been caught by his parents after doing something he shouldn't have-- which was odd, considering Daichi hadn't known his parents for long to begin with.
“What were you two up to?” Suga asked, raising his eyebrows. “We looked up and suddenly you were both gone.”
“Ah…”
“Daichi-san needed a drink! Didn't you hear him ask me for one?” Nishinoya answered easily, beaming as he clapped Daichi on the shoulder.
Daichi smiled. “Yes, exactly,” he said, glad that Nishinoya had saved him from answering. He had never been good at lying.
Suga looked disbelieving, if the glint in his eyes was any indicator, but he shrugged.
Azumane, meanwhile, only smiled back. “Ah, okay. That's no problem. Sorry to make you do it, Noya.”
“It’s no problem, Asa!”
Azumane stood, and Suga followed, both tucking their chairs back under the table. They started towards the door, and Nishinoya leapt after them. Daichi assumed that meant it was time for him to leave, so he joined them.
Azumane pulled the door open and held it, and urged the others out lest the cold seep inside to the café proper. “It was nice to meet you, Daichi,” he said, with a soft grin. “I'll talk to Noya about the schedule and text Suga to let you know-- though I hope you can get a phone of your own soon. It’ll be a little difficult later on if you don't.”
Daichi nodded. Suga had mentioned something of the sort, and he did believe…
Right on cue, Suga replied, “We’re going to try and get him one today!” He hugged Nishinoya tight enough to make the other grunt (although he seemed to be hugging Suga back just as tight). “Just let us know, okay?”
“It was good to meet you, Azumane-san,” Daichi said.
“A-- Asahi is okay,” Azumane hurried to correct him. “I’d feel weird if I called you by your first name and you didn't do the same for me.”
Daichi smiled. “Right. Of course. Thank you Asahi-san.”
Azumane blinked, and looked ready to protest the honorific, but in the end, he sighed.”That's okay for now, I guess.”
Suga waved again, and then without further ado, he linked his arm with Daichi’s and started leading him onward.
/////
They ran a few more errands after that. Suga bought Daichi a sim card for an old phone he had at home-- it wasn't as basic as Daichi wanted, but Daichi would rather figure it out than force Suga to spend money he didn't really have.
They bought a few more groceries-- things like toilet paper and ingredients for cooking that they were running low on. Some other cleaning supplies too.
Daichi insisted on carrying most of the bags, and though it took a bit of a squabble, Suga gave in with a laugh and a sigh, choosing instead to tease Daichi a little-- cooing at him for being ‘so strong and manly, he’d swoon’ and the like. Daichi just shook his head.
He still didn't know why Suga flirted with him so much, or how much of it was serious. He supposed it was a small mercy that Suga never pressed him to return the affections, nor to give any response other than what he readily offered.
“Ooh! Daichi, the cakes at this place are sooo good!” Suga said, dragging on Daichi’s arm so he was forced to slow to a stop. A disgruntled pedestrian behind them grumbled-- “Sorry--” Suga called out, dipping his head in a quick bow-- and then he went on, “We should get a cake to take home and share!”
Before Daichi could so much as answer, Suga dragged him inside, the tinkle of a bell above them announcing their entry. A cheerful voice greeted them from the counter, promising to be with them in a second. Daichi drifted over to the glass display to look-- the cakes were small, but artfully decorated-- some with the likings of flowers and leaves, others in abstract patterns, or with sliced fruits. He saw some drizzled in sweet honey and syrup, with words written in elegant, looping script. They certainly looked tasty.
Suga sidled up to Daichi, giving the case a cursory glance before turning to the starboy. “Which one should we get?”
Daichi shrugged. “I don't know.”
“Well, which one do you think you’d like to try?”
Daichi hummed, mulling over his options. He wasn't particularly fond of chocolate… coffee, he wasn't yet accustomed to the taste. “Matcha seems good.” By that, Daichi meant familiar enough that it wasn't likely it would go to waste, but also new enough an experience that he could enjoy it. A win-win scenario.
Suga smiled brightly, eyes crinkling at the edges. “That sounds perfect. I'll get us a few slices of that, then. Want anything else?” He gestured to the display case. “The stuff here is pretty reasonably priced, and anyway I have enough savings that this really isn't a problem,” he went on, as if he could apparently read Daichi’s anxieties in the air like they were printed there in fresh, vivid ink. “We can afford a few luxuries like this, and anyway, we deserve it.”
Daichi scanned the display case again, particularly the portion that held smaller pastries and breads. “That looks good,” he said, pointing at what the sign declared an apple tart.
“Ooh, that is good.” Suga nodded. “I’ve had it before. We can get a bunch of different tarts-- any other ones you wanna try?” He paused. “I think I’ll get us a matcha one too. You’ll like that one.”
Daichi considered the other options. “Maybe the cheese tart? Or the egg tart?” he suggested.
“Yeah, okay.” Suga got into the line proper to order and pay, patting Daichi’s shoulder in what Daichi assumed was a silent signal to stay put. He didn't mind; it was nice just looking at the cakes and the craftsmanship of them, and he like seeing how the traditional treats he knew were incorporated into the modern day desserts-- or, occasionally, completely missing from them.
It was odd, how familiar and yet strange Japan was to him now. One would think that it would be unrecognizable, and in many ways it was-- but there were plenty of places where Daichi could almost taste the world he’d left behind so long ago, structures and tastes and scents that echoed so perfectly those he had known.
Suga finished at the counter and nudged Daichi in the side with his elbow. Daichi straightened up. “Ready to go, Daichi?”
“Sure.”
/////
“Lev, put me down !” Yaku screeched, hands flailing for some sort of grip to balance himself from where their resident giant had, for whatever reason, assumed Yaku’s complaint about high cupboards was equivalent to a request to be carried.
“Should I… should I say something?” Daichi mumbled to Suga, who was currently staring and doing nothing but barely fighting back a laugh.
“It’s fine,” Suga said.
… It was not fine, Daichi decided. Yaku was only growing more agitated by the minute, and Lev refused to set him down-- claiming a variety of reasons like ‘Yaku-san, you're moving too much, you’ll get hurt if I let go,’ and, ‘If you won't let me get the plates I can just help you!’
“Lev!” Daichi barked finally. Both Yaku and Lev froze, startled. Daichi registered, faintly, that they had never witnessed him raise his voice before. He ignored Suga’s complaint about being no fun-- they absolutely had enough chaos in this house without letting this devolve any further. “Put him down, please.”
“But Daichi-san--”
Daichi smiled-- the one he had always used on the twins when he was upset and trying not to show it. It was scary, he knew; vaguely threatening, even. “ Now , Lev.”
Lev pouted, but he did obey, so that was good at least. “Sorry.”
Yaku sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if to stave off a headache. “It’s fine. Go grab me the stepladder instead? Please.”
Daichi’s grin softened as Lev perked right up at that, immediately bounding off to do as he was told. “For all that you complain about him, you know exactly how to handle him, don't you?”
“Not very hard to, when he’s such a simpleton,” grumbled Yaku. After a moment’s pause, he went on, “He’s not a bad kid. He wants to help, but… why did he have to carry me to do it?”
Daichi chuckled. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
Lev returned, then, setting down the stepladder for Yaku to use and standing to the side like a puppy waiting for its next command-- it was adorable, admittedly.
“You’re pretty good at giving orders and stuff, huh?” Suga said, coming up behind Daichi. “Maybe--”
“Don't finish that line, please,” came Kenma’s complaint, muffled by what turned out to be Kuroo’s back.
Daichi raised a brow.
“He got tired on the walk home,” Kuroo explained, rolling his eyes. “Can I put you down now , you overgrown child?”
“Fine.”
Kuroo set Kenma back on his feet, and plopped right down on the sofa, face smushed into the cushion. “I'm exhausted. Goodnight.”
Kuroo made a noise of frustration and went to coax Kenma into a shower, at least, or just have dinner first , damn it, Kenma--
And Daichi… Daichi had never known anyone even remotely like these men, not until two weeks ago-- but he somehow saw glimpses of Yui’s smile in Lev’s earnest grin, almost broader than his face was wide; he saw Ikejiri’s gentle caring in Kuroo’s quiet acquiescence to Kenma’s demands…
He laughed quietly.
“What’s so funny?” Suga asked.
“Ah, nothing. I was just thinking… it may be too early for me to say so, but you all… we all feel a bit like a family already,” Daichi murmured back.
“Ah.” Suga seemed to turn that over in his head for a bit. “I suppose we do, don't we,” he mused, leaning on Daichi’s shoulder. Daichi briefly entertained thoughts of shrugging him off, but aside from knowing that Suga would only do it again, he also… didn’t really mind. If anything, it was almost pleasant.
Suga’s nose wrinkled. “I almost feel like a parent.”
Daichi sputtered out another laugh.
“I do! Don't you?”
Daichi sighed. “Somewhat, yes.”
Suga opened his mouth as if to speak, and then shut it again. Finally, he admitted, “I was about to say I’m not ready to be a parent, but I don't think I mind looking after these losers.”
Daichi barked out a laugh. Truth be told… he didn't mind much either.