Chapter Text
An entire year after.
Iwaizumi wakes up from a blissfully dreamless sleep. It had taken quite a while before the nightmares finally ebbed, dreams of golden chains and electrical surges and black mist and it always woke him up at night in cold sweat.
And now he was good, it’s all been fine and his sleep wakes him well-rested.
Nothing has really changed especially Oikawa’s waking hours, it’s always him waking up s early that when Iwaizumi wakes that morning, he’s patting empty space beside him, smiling amusedly, already he’s missing him albeit Iwaizumi knows he’s just fiddling inside the house.
He goes out of the room only after brushing his teeth, immediately finding Oikawa and as per usual, finding the lights on in the kitchen tells his presence there. Iwaizumi had asked him once why he was always finding Oikawa in the kitchen at whatever time of the day whenever they had no work and Oikawa only tells him it helps him think.
His memories never did resurface and Iwaizumi knows he’s been doing several selfish acts the past year but now he’s not selfish enough to force Oikawa to remember. To Iwaizumi, it no longer matters.
Iwaizumi finds Oikawa in the kitchen then and he’s about to call on him too when he notices, oddly, that Oikawa is standing beside the stove, already done cooking it seems and yet Oikawa is staring at his reflection very, very intently with an indomitable expression from the backside of a frying pan that’s hanging off a rack.
Iwaizumi glances at the table and sees the breakfast all set so he looks back towards Oikawa, hesitant.
“Hey, good morning,” Iwaizumi says.
It doesn’t seem that Oikawa heard him, regardless that he’s barely a few feet away so Iwaizumi tries again.
“Tooru…?”
“Iwa-chan,” Oikawa suddenly says in a hushed whisper, surprising Iwaizumi whose eyebrows go way up.
“Er, yes? Everything alright?”
Oikawa has had moments of staring into empty space following the events long past. Iwaizumi knows what it’s like and all Oikawa ever asked of him was to stay beside him in moments like those so Iwaizumi did, sharing the comfortable silence. They share a lot of things now, even sharing the same prominent vertical scar in their abdomen.
Right now though, Oikawa doesn’t seem to be in one of his moments since he looks so focused it’s almost funny.
“Iwa-chan,” Oikawa says again. He sounds as though he’s trying to find the right words to say something.
Meanwhile in the doorway, Iwaizumi is fidgeting.
“Tooru, what is it? What’s wrong?” he asks nervously.
Oikawa shakes his head no, nothing is wrong and starts talking again.
“Iwa-chan, do you…” he starts and he’s biting his lower lip in his reflection. “…do you remember in first grade when we had a play in school and I got the leading role and I got so rattled but then you told me you’d whisper to me my lines if I forgot them?”
Iwaizumi is taken aback by the sudden nostalgic recall but he does remember. They were six then and Oikawa had been crying to him in nervousness and in desperation to make him calm down, Iwaizumi had given that proposition.
Iwaizumi scoffs. “Of course I remember but how is that important now—”
“Do you also remember…?” Oikawa continues though, breathing hard. “In third grade I fell in the park pond and you helped me up but then you were still laughing at me because you’re mean even then Iwa-chan, and in sixth grade…”
Iwaizumi blinks at all this, confused and curious nevertheless but then he comes to with something that sends a shiver of realization down his spine.
How does he…?
“Ah—Tooru—?” Iwaizumi starts, taking a step towards Oikawa and reaching out a tentative hand.
“And then middle school happened,” Oikawa continues, saying it fast that Iwaizumi has to keep up. “And Iwa-chan went and started practicing with his sleeves rolled up and every time I had to see those arms of yours all I ever thought of was ‘since when did Iwa-chan get so hot I can’t believe this’—”
Iwaizumi can feel his face burn in a flurry.
“S-Shut up!” he splutters, approaching Oikawa in quick steps and making him turn to him gently. Oikawa looks down on him while Iwaizumi looks up confused and still definitely curious, his face still pink.
“What’s gotten into you?” Iwaizumi asks him earnestly.
Oikawa’s determined expression doesn’t falter though he does a small pout after being moved.
“Sh, I’m not done,” Oikawa says. “Do you remember when…?”
Iwaizumi tilts his head.
“You received your first confession when we were second years and…and I was there and you—” Oikawa swallows, eyebrows furrowed as though recalling something unpleasant. “You rejected her and I asked you why and you didn’t tell me. But then we had a fight about it and you eventually did and you told me about your curse and I remember thinking so desperately ‘I may be in love with Iwa-chan but I can’t do that either way’—”
What is this? What is this? How does he…? How did he…?
Iwaizumi tries shaking Oikawa once.
“Hey, Tooru, calm down, what’s going on?”
Oikawa holds a hand up to make him wait.
“D-Do you remember…?” Oikawa starts again and Iwaizumi shakes him one more time.
“Yeah! Yeah, I remember every single moment I was with you Tooru, what are you getting at—?”
Oikawa frowns at Iwaizumi, displeased at being interrupted.
“Shh, Iwa-chan I’m storytelling,”
Iwaizumi groans. “Fine, fine go on—”
“Okay so, do you remember when we were choosing close dorms together and you hated at least four of them and I kept telling you…I kept telling you…” Oikawa’s frown digs deeper as he tries grasping at the memory.
Iwaizumi laughs, soft, gentle, breaking and he cups the side of Oikawa’s determined face.
“You told me ‘it doesn’t matter where we live as long as I’m there, Iwa-chan’ and I threw a sock at your arrogant ass,” Iwaizumi mumbles, snorting.
Oikawa’s delighted laughter is faint but it’s there.
“Yes! Y-Yes! I remember that you did you—!” Oikawa breathes in multiple breathes and that has Iwaizumi worried again.
“Tooru—”
“Do you remember that…?” Oikawa says softly, looking straight into Iwaizumi’s eyes, frown slowly fading away into a brighter, calmer expression. “Do you because I…”
And suddenly, Iwaizumi knows and his eyes widens before Oikawa even utters it.
“Because I remember,” Oikawa says slowly, not believing himself either but he does, he really does and it’s all just a bunch of various memories flowing together and it’s exhilarating because it fits into his life so perfectly and he wonders how he even lived without all these missing pieces before.
Iwaizumi inhales sharply, shakily, taking hold of both sides of Oikawa’s face now, making him lean down closer to him.
“Y-You…?”
Oikawa nods giddily, laughter almost childlike again and it’s bright, and happy and it’s just so Oikawa.
“Yes,”
Bursts of happiness and warmth and laughter wins Iwaizumi over and then he’s hugging Oikawa tight, pulling him down to him as they’re both laughing in harmony now in excitement and it’s making everything woozy.
“B-But how? I don’t understand?” Iwaizumi asks Oikawa tentatively though in all honesty he can’t bring himself to care whatever happened. Oikawa’s here now and that’s what matters.
Oikawa seems to not get it either.
“I’ve been getting them for a while now, you know, when I stare off to space all of a sudden I was really just thinking it over…”
Iwaizumi kisses him. He kisses him sincerely, slow and full of promise. It’s an exchange of words as Oikawa kisses back, a conversation of I love you memories or none and I love you and I’m right here.
When they pull back, Iwaizumi’s hands threaded through Oikawa’s hair and Oikawa doing likewise, Iwaizumi smiles amusedly.
“Welcome back,” he says though he never really left.
“Iwa-chan, remember Takeru’s birthday is this Saturday and it’s important and remember he wants those glowing planets this time,”
“Tooru, you’ve been reminding me since Tuesday, relax.”
Oikawa pouts at Iwaizumi and he places his hands on his hips. They’re about to go to work now, Iwaizumi still locking the door up as he hears Oikawa’s insistent reminder. Finishing, Iwaizumi smiles lopsidedly at Oikawa and gratuitously flicks his forehead.
“Ow, Iwa-chan, you swine! What was that for?!” Oikawa demands, hands over his forehead.
“Because you’re overly excited, let’s go.” Iwaizumi says lightheartedly as they start towards the hallway, Oikawa latching on Iwaizumi’s arm, griping about several things Iwaizumi is too tired to react to in the morning.
They’re turning towards the elevator when they see Yaku standing by the door of the first suite, leaning on the doorway and nagging at Lev who’s most probably still dressing up inside.
“Lev, if you don’t hurry up I’m leaving you,” Yaku adds to his particularly lengthy rant.
“YAKU-SAN, JUST A MOMENT I’M LOOKING FOR MY SOCK,” Lev shouts back from somewhere inside the apartment.
Both of them live in that suite now; Yaku having bought it after the big incident. Humanity suited them quite well, save for a few inconveniences (“Things don’t come at me with a snap of a snap of a finger anymore,” Lev had told Iwaizumi sadly) nevertheless the pair seems to very happy together.
Yaku waves at Iwaizumi and Oikawa cheerily, ignoring Lev’s pleading in the background that Oikawa has to giggle at the amusing way their relationship seems to work. They seem contented the way it is though so Oikawa’s never been to pry.
Arriving in the lobby, Iwaizumi and Oikawa nods to Kuroo and Kenma at the front desk; Kuroo waving at them back enthusiastically and Kenma in the quiet way he always is.
Surprisingly, both of them fares even better now, being reapers still. Kuroo’s apparently a manager at present, Kenma being his assistant and as Kuroo had bragged, Ukkai—the heir and current owner of the Ace—had been quite taken with their hard work. (“Charmed him, I’m sure,” Kuroo told them over Kenma who was shaking his head.)
“Hey, hey, Iwaizumi!” Kuroo calls now, beckoning Iwaizumi and Oikawa to him and they comply.
“What is it?” Iwaizumi asks him, raising his eyebrows and fixing his eyes on the gleaming name plates Kuroo and Kenma are wearing. Kuroo’s proudly displaying his, probably with the fact that Hotel Maintenance Manager is under the very bold KUROO TETSUROU. Really, Iwaizumi still can’t believe he actually has a pretty decent first name.
“He made a new friend,” Kenma answers, resigned. Unlike Kuroo, Kenma seems as though he’d rather hide his nameplate in his pocket to prevent people calling out to him.
Kuroo bounces up and down excitedly.
“Yeah!” Kuroo exclaims.
“That’s nice, Kuroo,” Oikawa tells him encouragingly.
“Yeah,” Kuroo says again, eyes twinkling. “I met him at that coffee shop nearby! I see him when I go there and I just talked to him recently! You know, what do you call it…er…” He taps his fingers on the desk in thought and Iwaizumi suddenly has a very ominous feeling.
“Café Fukuro?” Oikawa puts and that has Kuroo nodding.
“That! That, yeah, we got along really well seriously; we’re long lost bros…”
Kenma rolls his eyes. Iwaizumi clears his throat, ready to accept fate.
“Say, Kuroo, he doesn’t, perhaps have wildly gelled hair does he?” Iwaizumi mumbles and all of them turn to him, Oikawa looking a little surprised.
“White and grey streaks? Permanent outdoor voice? Er, flirts with the cashier?” Iwaizumi continues, gesturing with his hands.
Kuroo laughs heartily. “Yeah, yeah! That’s him, that’s him! You know him too huh, that’s really great and actually he…” Kuroo rambles on.
Oh great, Iwaizumi finds himself thinking. Ah well he seems happy at least.
Oikawa chuckles.
“Shall we go?” Iwaizumi tells Oikawa who nods, still smiling.
The last thing they see before leaving is Kuroo’s exuberant goodbyes and Kenma’s reserved but quiet smile.
Iwaizumi drives Oikawa to work, never getting over the fact of being overprotective and also wanting to give use to the car they bought together a few months ago since Iwaizumi doesn’t really need it for work.
The café is still in the midst of opening when they arrive.
“Iwa-chan, you should come in for a moment,” Oikawa says, grinning.
Iwaizumi chuckles, unbuckling his seatbelt.
“Yeah, sure, I want coffee anyway.”
They’re not quite prepared to see a small crowd at the counter when they get in though.
“Heh, what’s happening?” Oikawa grouses, not moving.
The small crowd—Kunimi, Kindaichi, Kyoutani, Yahaba and the three other part timers—hears Oikawa and they seem to be giggling at something before they turn to look at him and with sheepish looks, disperses back to their own work.
Iwaizumi’s eyes follow them curiously until Oikawa gasps.
“Wooow! Those are lovely, Makki!”
When Iwaizumi looks back again, Oikawa’s already running to Hanamaki, who’s at the counter and apparently the cause of the crowd and Iwaizumi can immediately see why because he’s staring hard at the bouquet of red carnations he’s holding with a slightly trembling hand.
He’s also a bit pink on the face and Iwaizumi bites back laughter as he walks close to Oikawa who is gushing compliments.
Iwaizumi raises an eyebrow at Hanamaki and that only makes his face pinker.
“Sh-Shut up, Iwaizumi, don’t even go there,” Hanamaki stammers.
Iwaizumi laughs. “I didn’t even say anything?”
“Who’s it from? Who’s it from?” Oikawa insists asking and Iwaizumi swears he can hear snickers coming from the other staff.
Hanamaki looks at Oikawa in horror.
“I-I don’t need to tell y-you—”
“Eh does Mattsun know? Hey Makki, does Mattsun—”
If it’s even possible, Hanamaki’s face turns a shade similar to the flowers he’s holding and Iwaizumi can’t hold back a short bark of laughter.
“Sh-Shut up, Oikawa!” Hanamaki hisses and he glares at Iwaizumi too. “You too, Iwaizumi, you dirty little—”
The kitchen doors open and Hanamaki freezes. There’s snickering again and this time, Iwaizumi’s among them.
Oikawa seems oblivious to what’s happening still because brightly he goes, “Oh hey, Mattsun! Did you see Makki’s flowers? My, my someone got to you first~” Oikawa points at the red carnations with a mischievous smile and Hanamaki makes a swipe at his hand snappily but Oikawa just giggles.
Matsukawa walks up towards them then, hands in his pockets and an amused smile on his face. Iwaizumi grins as Matsukawa stops beside Hanamaki who seems to shrink and then abruptly proceeds to hide his furiously blushing face on the carnations.
Matsukawa’s smile turns into an impish grin and adapts an ‘I-don’t-know-anything-I-swear’ tone of voice.
“Oh, yes, yes I heard his shriek all the way to the kitchen,” Matsukawa says, laughing and Hanamaki visibly kicks his shin, only making him laugh harder.
Kunimi appears then, as he always does when the possibility arrives of someone needing a good dose of embarrassment.
“Ah, red carnations,” Kunimi says aloud, clearly meaning to tease.
Hanamaki seems to know what the little devil is going to say next because he makes squeaking noises into the flowers while Matsukawa hums approvingly, listening in a mock-participative manner at Kunimi’s words.
“So I was reading the hanakotoba that one time,” Kunimi continues, eyes twinkling. “At carnations,”
“Kunimi!” Kindaichi hisses a few seats away.
“Go on,” Matsukawa and Iwaizumi says, both grinning and Oikawa laughs.
“Red ones in particular they mean,” Kunimi clears his throat dramatically. “‘My heart longs for you.’”
There are positively hoots of laughter coming from the other employees now and Yahaba politely makes an escape to the pantry while Kyoutani flees outside to arrange the signboard there.
Oikawa on the other hand is absolutely delighted, slapping the countertop while laughing and Iwaizumi tries coaxing him out of it though he can’t stop his own laughter as well.
“HAHAHA MAKKI SOMEONE’S IN LOVE WITH YOU,”
“T-Tooru, shut up—”
“I absolutely believe so,” Matsukawa says in artificial seriousness. “Maybe Takahiro’s just too oblivious,” He leans in quite deliberately towards Hanamaki at the last bit.
Hanamaki makes more squeaking, though now annoyed noises into the flowers and beside him, Matsukawa looks very satisfied. Hanamaki peeks out from the carnations and sees Matsukawa’s smug expression and quickly, he jabs at his side, making Matsukawa jump.
“Ughh,” Hanamaki gripes, making a move to jab Matsukawa again and multiple times succeeding, Matsukawa dodges them all with an ever pleased smile.
“Get back to work you asshole!” Hanamaki demands, smacking Matsukawa with the bouquet, or at least tries to as he dodges them again clearly not taking him seriously (not with his blushing face really), and fleeing for the kitchen as he laughs.
Hanamaki turns to the rest of his employees and demands the same, sending them all running back to their jobs. Lastly, he turns a glare to Iwaizumi and Oikawa who’re now sporting identical innocent smiles though Oikawa only looks as though he’s going to laugh again.
Hanamaki zeroes in on Oikawa.
“Get to work or I swear to god I’ll kick you out,” he threatens weakly and that only makes Oikawa grin.
Oikawa turns to go and pauses back, looking back to Iwaizumi.
“Ah, Iwa-chan didn’t you want coffee?”
Iwaizumi shakes his head, smiling. “Nevermind, I’m quite awake now really—”
Hanamaki glares at him and Iwaizumi shuts his mouth, smiling. Oikawa skips back quickly to Iwaizumi’s side and plants a kiss on his cheek.
“See you later then, Iwa-chan!”
Iwaizumi hums in reply and waits until Oikawa’s retreating figure disappears into their lockers before turning back to Hanamaki and clears his throat.
“So,” Iwaizumi starts jokingly and Hanamaki narrows his eyes at him. “Matsukawa huh? Well I’ll be—”
“Iwaizumi, you’re my friend but another word about it and you’ll be eating flowers for breakfast,”
Iwaizumi laughs. “Oh? But Matsukawa’s hard work—”
Hanamaki starts raising the bouquet in his hand and that’s the cue for Iwaizumi to start backing towards the door. Nevertheless, he still laughs.
“I’m joking, Hanamaki. Appreciate it though; I’m sure he means it,”
“Shut up, Iwaizumi,” Hanamaki says softly, his face turning a shade of pink again.
“Don’t fire Tooru for me!” Iwaizumi says lastly, grinning before getting out of Blue Leaf.
When Iwaizumi goes to work, he finds Yaku and Lev talking in the lounge. They see Iwaizumi first, Lev waving both his long arms animatedly until Iwaizumi sees them. Iwaizumi smiles and walks over.
“Did you just get here?” Iwaizumi asks in surprise.
Yaku looks at him with a small smile and then turns to Lev and says flatly.
“He wasn’t just missing his sock. Nope, he was also missing his tie and his gloves can you believe his nonsense, Iwaizumi? I don’t know—”
“Yaku-san, I didn’t mean it…”
Iwaizumi laughs warmly. He’s pretty glad Yaku and Lev still works at Karasu Inc., Yaku still at HR and Lev now a supervisor of some sort (Iwaizumi can’t believe it either). Iwaizumi doesn’t really know how the hell they explained the whole car fiasco to Daichi either though he got bits and pieces of something about a gang breaking into the car park and was in a chase, that then explained the three other cars that were caught in a crash.
Iwaizumi still chuckles at the explanation, really.
“Going up, now, Iwaizumi?” Yaku asks him.
Iwaizumi grins. “Yeah, see you around.”
Lev goes back to waving at Iwaizumi goodbye animatedly. Yaku’s smile is gentle and he nods at Iwaizumi once before he finally leaves.
Going up his floor, Iwaizumi is greeted by the various co-workers he’s long considered warm to him. Tanaka and Nishinoya are vivacious as ever despite the morning rush of paperwork. Ennoshita, closely behind them, waves at Iwaizumi too as he’s on his way to his office.
Iwaizumi nearly bumps into Yamaguchi who’s running off somewhere and Yamaguchi smiles at him confidently, nodding at him in greeting as he goes.
“Ah, good morning, Iwaizumi!”
Iwaizumi turns and sees Sugawara’s bright smile and smiles back. Sugawara’s pulling around Daichi with him by the hand, Daichi following unconsciously as he’s busy with a phone call. Iwaizumi has a fleeting thought then of the new companies that Daichi are handling now and remembers The Shiratori. With Ushijima gone, the whole thought of it ever existing in the first place vanished with him.
“Morning, Suga!” Iwaizumi greets as bright as he can though never as bright as Sugawara can be.
Getting into his office, Iwaizumi sees the paperwork already stacked on his table and he takes a deep breath before finally diving into it. Halfway through it though his mind wanders for a second and absentmindedly, he reaches for his drawer and toys a small velvet box, twirling it around with his fingers, careful not to drop it what with the special thing inside.
Iwaizumi has had this for two weeks now, mulling over to find the right moment and then when the right moment comes actually chickens out before he can utter the words.
He’s just nervous, it’s just the nerves but he’ll do it for sure.
Later in the afternoon, Iwaizumi visits Blue Leaf Café and before stepping in, looks up at the daintily painted blue sign of the café. He remembers for a curious moment the time he came here all nervous, palms sweaty it all seemed ages ago. He remembers feeling stupid too, for being nervous when all he wanted to see was Oikawa.
He goes in the café, taking a seat at his usual spot by the door and as though the reminiscing memories wants to stay, he remembers too why he picked this spot back then. He was all jittery and nauseous, thinking he should just sit by the door just in case something happens or an embarrassing stutter slips through him and he should bolt—
“Hello, welcome to Blue Leaf Café, what can I help you with today?”
Iwaizumi jumps, startled and when he looks up, he sees Oikawa with a mischievous smile lighting his face.
Iwaizumi relaxes this time.
This time…he remembers me.
“Did I startle you, Iwa-chan?” Oikawa says teasingly, winking even and Iwaizumi smirks. “You were staring off somewhere, see.”
Iwaizumi rolls his eyes, though playful.
“Sit with me for a moment,” He tells Oikawa and pats the other side of the table.
“‘Spending time with Oikawa-sama’ is not on the menu, Iwa-chan,”
“Tooru,”
Oikawa laughs and pulls the chair.
“Okay, okay! Relax,” Oikawa hums and sits across him, setting the tray he’s holding down to put his chin on both his palms, staring at Iwaizumi with a fond expression on his face.
Iwaizumi returns the fond stare, chuckling softly. His gaze breaks away from Oikawa for a second when he sees a bright spot of red at the counter and he sees Hanamaki’s red carnations from this morning in a pink vase. It’s very outstanding among the hues of blue.
Oikawa follows his gaze and grins when he sees where Iwaizumi is looking.
“Oh! Makki kept it!” Oikawa says proudly. “I guess him and Matsun are a thing now,”
Iwaizumi raises an eyebrow. “Oh so you did know huh?”
Oikawa laughs. “Of course, Iwa-chan! I’m not too oblivious,”
Oh yes you are.
“So!” Oikawa says brightly. “Everything okay? Dinner out still on tonight?”
Iwaizumi is willing his entire power to stop himself from blushing even in the slightest. Sure he might look bashful at least but that’s not too embarrassing.
“O-Of course. I have something to tell you later anyway,”
“Ah! I knew it, Iwa-chan you forgot about Takeru’s birthday after all!”
Iwaizumi rolls his eyes yet again.
“That’s not it, Shittykawa.”
Oikawa gasps. “You’re so mean Iwa-chan. I love you though.”
Iwaizumi laughs then. He loves him too. So much and they’re okay.
Everything’s okay and Iwaizumi knows then, trusts himself to know that it’s staying that way, from this day and over.