Chapter Text
“And-and then,” Bokuto Koutarou hiccups, raising what the man thinks is water, but actually isn’t, in the air. Tetsurou is choking on air, his cheeks red. Tooru holds onto the black-haired man, face buried in his shoulder. Wakatoshi has to hold back laughter, slowly sipping on his beer. Next to him, Daichi is wheezing, arms wrapped around his midsection. “I fell! Into the coffee!”
“This is so stupid, so stupid,” Tetsurou chokes.
“I just want to eat!” Daichi exclaims. “Toshi, how could you?”
Wakatoshi simply continues to sip on his beer before setting it aside to continue eating his dinner.
Tonight was a game between the Schweiden Adlers and the Black Jackals. Coincidentally, it fell on the day that marks the five-year anniversary of all five of them meeting each other on their first day on campus at university. The Schweiden Adlers had won the game but that didn’t dampen Koutarou’s mood. The two have faced each other on opposite teams numerous times over the past few years but that has done nothing to weaken their bond as friends.
Tooru played in South America for two years. This was his first season playing volleyball back home in Japan, playing for the Sendai Frogs and helping them finally move from Division 2 to Division 1. Wakatoshi knows that Tooru likes his team even though he hates the uniforms.
“It is not my fault Koutarou trusted the drink I gave him,” he tells Daichi. His Sawamura Daichi. His boyfriend of almost three years now. The drink he had given Koutarou was actually a mix between water and vodka. He has no clue as to how Koutarou never realized that but it simply serves to make the situation more entertaining. The man laughs at his own confusing story before flopping onto Daichi. Grabbing his chopsticks, the man starts to eat his food by stabbing the pieces of meat on his plate while he babbles something to Daichi. Wakatoshi’s boyfriend smiles and nods before turning to Wakatoshi.
“I can’t eat like this,” he says with a too-wide smile on his face. There is both pain and humor in his eyes. “Toshi, please .”
A rumbling laugh escapes from Wakatoshi’s throat but he gets up and switches seats with Daichi. Seconds later, Koutarou is now leaning on him. He honestly has no idea what the man is babbling on about but takes comfort in it. Just sitting here with his friends...he’s happy.
The past five years have been amazing. He never expected to become closer to the others. Their schedules also conflict quite often, with three of them playing professional volleyball which requires quite a bit of traveling around the country. Around the world too, he suddenly remembers, since all of them plan on trying out for the national team. Kuroo is a businessman and holds a high position in the JVA, keeping his days busy. And then there’s Daichi, a police officer in Tokyo. It always makes Wakatoshi worry when his boyfriend doesn’t come home on time and doesn’t text or call him about it since it usually indicates a dangerous situation he’s been caught in. They’ve had arguments over Daichi’s job due to the dangers of it. But if it’s what he enjoys, if having Daichi on the force saves lives, then Wakatoshi is fine with sitting on the couch with dinner keeping warm on the stove as today turns into tomorrow.
A little over a year since they began dating that one turbulent day, Daichi had snuck up on him in the kitchen, wrapped his arms around him, and said, for the first time, “I love you.”
Wakatoshi is probably the happiest man on the planet. Even though many assume that he doesn’t feel much emotion due to his mostly neutral facial expression and his directness with conversations, Daichi has often teased him about how sweet and romantic he is.
“So, moving on,” Tooru leans forward, elegantly holding his hands together. “How are you two doing? I never get any details! Have you pushed your relationship forward to the birds and the bees stage?”
“Tooru!” Daichi scolds. “You don’t need to know these things-”
“Of course we do,” Tetsurou drawls, leaning back in his seat after setting his chopsticks down. He wiggles his eyebrows. “How ‘bout is Sa’amura? Have you really do-”
“We’ve decided to do it after we decide to make our relationship permanent,” Daichi says, mimicking Tetsurou’s pose. “Right now I’m just happy I’ve got a stable relationship unlike your, how many was it, four breakups?”
Tooru laughs. Tetsurou lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. Koutarou takes another sip of his “water” and giggles before snuggling closer against Wakatoshi.
“Low blow, low blow,” the businessman grins. There’s no anger or shock in his eyes, only amusement. “I might try my luck with men too since the women never seem to understand how good of a catch I am-”
“You’re a nerd,” Daichi cuts him off. “You can’t hide behind that rich man facade for long. In the end, you might as well dig up John Dalton from his grave and marry him.”
“Maybe I will. Imagine how fancy I’d be with a smartass Englishman of my own.”
“Alright, alright, that’s enough,” Tooru tutts. “Is it time to order dessert yet?”
“Water!” Koutarou cheers.
After a round of cheesecake, the five go their separate ways, which takes another hour. Wakatoshi wraps his arm around Daichi and the two walk down the street. It’ll be ten minutes till they get back to their home.
“That was fun,” Daichi says. Wakatoshi hums in agreement, taking a moment to appreciate how the streetlights make his boyfriend’s hair shine white in spots and gives his skin a golden glow. He slides his hand down until it touches Daichi’s, their pinkie fingers hooking together before the rest of their hands follow.
“I love you,” Wakatoshi says. Daichi doesn’t look up but he can see the shorter man’s warm, sweet smile.
“I love you too,” Daichi returns, leaning his head against Wakatoshi’s shoulder. He thinks about the apartment that used to be just his but is now both of theirs. It used to house only the necessary pieces of furniture, utensils, and few personal items. Now, he only has some of the original furniture. One of the cabinets is filled with a random assortment of mugs. Instead of three sets of chopsticks in the drawer, there are now over twenty, no two looking the same. There’s now a PC hooked up to the TV so instead of having to stare at his laptop to play games, he can stare at the TV and play.
The bed is also a king now.
Wakatoshi lived most of his life feeling lonely. He’s had friends, he has loving parents, but it used to always be there, the sense of loneliness. It would hit when he’d be sitting in his room, barely decorated and too quiet. Now, he can’t imagine ever having that quiet again. Daichi usually wakes up before him if they go to bed at the same time, cuddling close to him and muttering about how he doesn’t want to get up. His teammates also like to randomly visit when they’re bored. Hirugami and Romero often invite Daichi and him over for dinner. His dad has told him that he’s been considering moving back to Japan to help with the national team. His mother has moved to Tokyo. Even though she was wary of the fact that Wakatoshi likes a man and will most likely never have a wife, she’s completely enamored by Daichi.
“Have you ever thought of adoption?” Wakatoshi asks. He’s surprised when Daichi nods.
“I’ve always wanted a golden retriever.”
“...”
“Having a dog would make our relationship,” Daichi searches for the word, “Permanent.” In the distance, a train horn sounds. “If that is what you want-”
“I would like that,” Wakatoshi smiles. They don’t slow their pace. He can see their building now. “Children and dogs get along very well, from what I’ve heard.”
Daichi laughs and bumps his shoulder against Wakatoshi.
“How about we get that dog first, see how much that puts our relationship to the test.”
“My love,” Wakatoshi says. He forces Daichi to stop walking. Looking down at him, he takes in his love’s large brown eyes, combed back hair, and reddened cheeks. His left-hand rises, a finger hooking under Daichi’s chin to turn his head up. “I don’t think the dumbest of dogs could cause me to question our relationship. My love for you is endless.”
“You smooth talker,” Daichi grins, tipping forward to stand on his toes. “Where were these complex sentences five years ago?” His voice is reduced to something barely louder than a whisper.
“They were only for your ears to hear,” Wakatoshi breaths before bringing their lips together.
Two weeks later, they get a golden retriever puppy who goes to practice with Wakatoshi. They name him Mirai.