Chapter Text
The alarm jolts Daichi awake. He fumbles around for the phone and then for the nearest light switch. His head hurts and he’s already feeling jittery. His feet hit the cold floor and the events of yesterday fly through his head.
“Suga,” he breathes into the empty room. He stands up, picks up the nearest pants. He jumps on one leg as he struggles to put them on. His shirt flaps behind him, like a cape, as he runs out the room. Never before has he eaten breakfast that fast. He punches his hands through the arm holes in his jacket and opens his shoes.
“SOCKS!” He pivots on his heels and runs back into the bedroom. When he, finally, is fully clothed, he grabs the door handle. And, pauses. Takes a deep breath, runs his hand through the short hair. Opens the door and runs to work.
*
The first thing Suga sees when he opens his eyes is a steaming hot cup of tea with a note attached.
I called your work, you’re “sick”
Enjoy the tea!
Mum xx
Suga smiles before sitting up in the bed and picking up the tea.
“Thanks,” he yells.
Two seconds later his mum appears.
“Good morning, Koushi.” She sits down on the bed and gently moves Suga’s hair out of his face. “Wanna talk?”
Koushi scooches over, and his mother crawls under the duvet and puts her arm around him.
“Tell me about him?” She squeezes his shoulder.
“I don’t really know what to tell you.” Suga stares into his mug. “His name is Sawamura Daichi, and he’s a teacher like me, he plays volleyball and coaches kids. He’s a person you can rely on. He makes me coffee in the teacher’s lounge before I even show up.” Suga smiles, still staring into the tea.
“So what’s the problem? Is he ugly?” Suga’s mum laughs.
“No, not at all,” Suga sighs. “He has these really warm eyes, you just know he’s a nice person. His hair is pretty short, but I bet it’s soft. And, mum, you can tell he plays volleyball. Like, he looks like he’s good,” Suga chuckles. “I kind of want to see him play sometime.”
“I kind of want to meet him.” She smiles at Suga. “But what’s got you so upset then?”
Suga places the tea cup back on the nightstand. “Last night, when Noya hit him and we found out, all I could think is ‘what if he doesn’t want it to be me?’ ‘what if he doesn’t want any of this?’ and I got so overwhelmed and I just had to get out of there.” He takes a deep breath. “I know it’s silly. I’ve wanted to find him for so long and then I just run.”
“It’s not silly,” Suga’s mum pulls in for a side hug “it’s okay to be overwhelmed and take a break. What matters is what you do once you’ve taken that break. So, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.” Suga’s voice is small. “Can I just stay here today?”
“Of course.” Suga’s mum gets out of the bed again. “I made some breakfast so come downstairs when you’re ready.”
Suga nods.
*
“Sawamura-sensei.” A hand is waving in front of Daichi’s face. “Sawamura-sensei!” The hand is still there.
“What?” he says.
“Umm, class started a little while ago,” the student in front of him says.
“Oh, sorry,” Daichi blinks, “let’s go over the homework first.”
While the lesson continues, Daichi’s mind wanders.
Where is Suga? He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to miss work for no reason. Maybe he’s sick but how did he get sick so fast? Maybe it’s because of me. Because of me. Maybe he hates the idea of being soulmates? Maybe he just hates being soulmates with me.
Daichi freezes.
“Sensei? Are you okay? You look kind of pale.” One of the students in the front row speak up.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Daichi waves the concern away, “we’ll keep going.”
The lesson continues, albeit a bit sluggish. When the lesson ends, Daichi is the first to leave the room. He walks with brisk steps towards the administration.
“Harumi-san,” he says to the woman in the office. “I’m not feeling well, would it be too much trouble if I went home?”
“Oh, Daichi-san.” She nods in his direction. “Please do take some time to rest, we’ll see you back here when you’re feeling better.”
“Thank you, Harumi-san, I hope that will be soon.” Daichi bows before exiting the room again.
Once Daichi has passed through the gates to the outside, he pulls his phone out and dials a number.
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
“You have reached the voicemail of Sugawara Koushi, please leave your message after the tone.”
“Hey, Sugawara-san. It’s Daichi, umm, Sawamura. I just wanted to know if you are okay?” Daichi pauses for a second to take a breath. “And I wanted to talk to you… about… well, about yesterday. Please call me back soon.”
Daichi hangs up the phone and exhales.
He walks home, kicking a pebble all the way.
After drinking a cup of tea, he looks at the clock for the millionth time.
“An hour,” he mumbles to himself and once again finds his phone.
Daichi:
Hey Asahi,
Did you happen to get Suga’s friend’s number yesterday?
Asahi:
Yeah, I did.
Why?
Daichi:
Could you please give it to me?
Asahi:
+81 22-37 456282
Why?
Daichi:
Suga was sick today and he isn’t answering his phone
Asahi:
Oh, well then good luck!
Daichi:
Thanks!
Another hour passes slowly. Daichi’s attention switching from his phone to the clock and back again, over and over again.
“Ugh,” Daichi flops back into the sofa cushions with a sigh.
He lifts the phone from the table and begins dialling the phone number Asahi sent.
“Hi! Noya speaking!” a cheery voice greets him from the other end of the line.
“Hi, um, Nishinoya-san, it’s Daichi from, uh, yesterday?” Daichi paces back and forth in front of his sofa.
“Oh, Daichi-san, how are you doing?” Noya says.
“I actually wanted to talk about Suga,” Daichi says slowly.
“Oh?” a small chuckle follows.
“He was sick today for work and he hasn’t answered his phone all day,” Daichi answers.
“So you want to know where he might be?” Daichi can practically hear the raised eyebrows.
“Yeah, is it weird? I just want to talk about yesterday.” Daichi’s voice gets smaller and smaller towards the end.
“No,” Noya laughs, “if he’s sick or feeling down, he might have gone home to his mum”
“Oh,” Daichi says.
“Don’t worry, she lives nearby,” Noya says. “I’ll text you the address.”
“Really?” Daichi perks up “Thank you so much!”
“I’m not one to stand in the way of love,” Noya chuckles. “Bye!” He ends the call.
A few seconds later, a message ticks in on Daichi’s phone. He flies out the door, forgetting his coat. It’s first when he is in the tram, that he stops.
“Oh no,” he whispers. One other passenger looks up. Daichi shakes his head. Luckily, he only has a few stops before he is out in the fresh air again.
As he walks, his steps get slower and slower. When he finally reaches what he hopes is the right house, he stops completely. He takes a few deep breaths and knocks on the front door.
A few seconds pass and just before Daichi turns around, the door opens.
“Hello,” the woman says. “How can I help you?” She tilts her head.
“I was hoping Koushi Sugawara might be here?” Daichi answers.
“OH!” All suspicion disappears from her face. “Are you Daichi Sawamura?”
“Yes, how did you know?” Daichi asks.
“You look like a Daichi Sawamura,” she winks at him, “Koushi is upstairs, why don’t you join him?”
Daichi bows and takes his shoes off. “Thank you very much, Sugawara-san.”
Daichi walks slowly up the stairs and once again knocks on the door.
“Mum?” Suga asks from the other side of it.
“Um, no.” Daichi opens the door, just a little bit. “It’s me, uhm, Daichi.” He steps into the room.
“Daichi,” Suga exhales his name, “what are you doing here? How did you even know to come here?” Suga gets up from the bed.
“Nishinoya told me where I could find you.” Daichi takes one step forward. “And I wanted to see if you are okay.”
“I’m fine,” Suga says curtly, avoiding Daichi’s gaze.
“Did I do something wrong?” Daichi asks carefully.
“What?” Suga says, his eyes snapping up to meet Daichi’s.
“Did I do something to upset you? You left so suddenly last night. I thought I might have done something.” Daichi rubs the back of his neck.
“No, you didn’t do anything.” Suga takes a small step towards Daichi.
“Then why did you leave?” Daichi looks straight into Suga’s eyes. “I was so happy to find out that I have a soulmate, and even more that it is you, but then you left.” Daichi takes a deep breath before he continues, “and I thought maybe you didn’t want it to be me.” By the end of it, Daichi’s focus has shifted from Suga to the floor.
“Oh, Daichi.” Suga takes yet another step towards the other man. “Of course, I wanted it to be you,” Suga reaches one hand out, touching Daichi’s arm, “I didn’t want it to be anyone else.” He takes Daichi’s hand.
“Why did you leave then?” Daichi lets their fingers intertwine.
“I was scared, you didn’t want me,” Suga whispers.
“How could I not?” Daichi smiles.
“Daichi,” Suga says. “Won’t you please kiss me?” Suga looks slightly up at Daichi.
“How could I not?” Daichi says again and eliminates the remaining space between them. Daichi sneaks an arm around Suga’s waist and pulls him against him before finally pressing his lips against Suga’s.
When their lips part, Daichi pulls Suga in for a hug.
“I think we’re gonna be just fine,” Daichi says softly.
“Yeah.” Suga sinks into the warmth of Daichi’s chest and allows himself to close his eyes and enjoy the feeling of being loved wholly.