Chapter Text
Koushi sighed, his breath clouding at his lips, and he brought the coffee in one hand to his mouth while his other hand held the umbrella keeping the chilled rain at bay. Thick, grey clouds hung overhead, blocking out the pastel colors of sunset, kissing the tops of Tokyo skyscrapers and promising rain for the rest of the week. Koushi didn’t mind the rain. In fact, he found it rather captivating. Depending on its mood, it could embrace or push. Kiss gently or kiss like bullets.
But it wasn’t so captivating when he was walking from his last final exam in the middle of December and the cold was running over every piece of exposed skin it could get its greedy little fingers on. Scarves and coffee only did so much. But he tried to focus on the fact that classes were over for the next three weeks after thriving on coffee and energy drinks to crank out essays and regurgitate onto a multitude of exams. Not to mention he had his thesis due at the end of March. He was going to school for psychology with a concentration in behavior, and he hadn’t begun researching yet. He didn’t even know where to start. And it didn’t help that his professor was hounding him about it.
It had gotten to the point where he stopped sweetening his coffee and relied on the pure bitterness of its original form to keep him conscious.
He took another sip.
It was an acquired taste.
But now he could breathe in the crisp air without wanting to scream at the top of his lungs. For now.
Yeah, this was nice.
He walked up the stairs to his apartment, grateful to be under a roof, and shook the excess water from his umbrella before digging around in his bag for his keys. Sometimes he wished he lived on campus purely for the convenience, but then he remembered that he enjoyed the distance from the bustle of campus life. And because this was his parents’ idea. They insisted that they’d pay for everything while Koushi focused on school, his master’s and then eventually his doctorate, and when he tried to protest they wouldn’t budge.
Koushi moved one of his textbooks out of the way, certain that his keys were tucked under it, and his fingertips barely grazed their chilled ridges when he noticed. He froze, breath catching in his chest and burning.
A man.
A man was sprawled out in front of his apartment door, nothing but long slender limbs, a slim, softly angular face, and skin as washed out as the sky. The only color to him were the red, swollen, bruised soles of his feet and the splotches of dirt all over his hands and face. His clothes, which seemed to only be a gray pair of pants and shirt, were soaked through and tattered at the edges, riddled with mud and grass stains. Even his chestnut brown hair, damp as it was and curling softly at the ends, seemed dull. And once Koushi knelt down to get a better look at the man’s face, he noticed the shivers playing along his body.
Thunder rumbled across the sky, through Koushi’s core, and reminded him to breathe. This man at his feet was obviously lost, probably homeless, and probably sick. Cold. Hungry. Sick. And the storm was supposed to get worse as the day wore on.
Koushi couldn’t just leave him out here.
He put his umbrella down, reaching a tentative hand forward, and as soon as he placed it on the man’s shoulder it was like Koushi had electrocuted him. The man shot up, his eyes flitting around wildly, taking in everything before finally landing on Koushi. His gaze was hollow, sunken – dark purple crescents a clear indication of exhaustion, but his coffee eyes shimmered with something other than fear. They seemed to glow, almost in an inhuman sense, the liveliest thing Koushi had seen about the man so far, but he couldn’t ignore the pure terror on the man’s face, or the way his pupils dilated, swimming in chocolate, the way his chest heaved, the way he brought his knees to his chest and locked his arms around them and shrank into himself, away from Koushi’s touch.
An animal.
That’s what he reminded Koushi of.
A frightened animal.
And so Koushi held up his hands, scooting back but staying at eye-level with the brunet. He could practically hear Daichi scolding him from afar, saying that Koushi should’ve just called for help because this man was a stranger, but Koushi felt this person was a lot more afraid of him than the other way around.
Stay calm, he told himself.
“Hi,” Koushi said, immediately feeling dumb. “Uh… do you know where you are?”
The man just stared at him, body rigid, debating fight or flight, his eyes never leaving Koushi’s.
“This is my apartment,” Koushi continued. “I found you sleeping out here. Do you need help?”
The man, well, he seemed to be about Koushi’s age, stayed quiet, as if the rain might answer for him. The only signs of life were the shallow rise and fall of his chest. Koushi considered repeating the question, wondering if the man understood. Did he even speak Japanese? If not, this was going to be so much more difficult. Koushi was solid in English, was picking up some words in French and Spanish. But did this guy know any of those languages? Silence pulsed between them for a few more moments, the man barely moving and Koushi barely breathing, until finally there was a nod.
The man nodded – slow, deliberate, unsure.
“You need help?” Koushi asked.
Another nod.
“Okay.” Koushi ran his fingers through his hair, trying to figure out his next move. “Uh, can you tell me your name?” And when the brunet averted his gaze, something twisted in Koushi’s chest – hard, aching – that made him dig his keys from his bag in finality. “How about this: you can come in and shower, get something to eat, and then we can get you the help you need. That sound good?”
The man nodded, standing once Koushi did and moving from the door. And Koushi couldn’t help but notice the very obvious height different between them as he unlocked the door nor could he miss the large distance the man kept from Koushi as they entered. Koushi toed off his shoes and went around picking up some clothes he had left lying around over the past few days.
His apartment wasn’t very large – just a two bedroom with crème painted walls and white trim. A friend from high school was supposed to room with him but he ended up attending a university in Hokkaido at the last second. Not that Koushi minded, he was happy for his friend, and he learned to enjoy the quiet and not expect a younger sibling to come barging in, or for his parents to ask for help with the other four. He never minded being the oldest of five children nor did he mind helping. But he’d be lying if he said he didn’t appreciate the quiet.
And now he appreciated the free bedroom.
The man looked around, his eyes scanning the photos adorning the walls and end table of Koushi’s family, friends, and high school volleyball team. He’d seen some of his underclassmen on campus, and as a graduate student he was happy to help them when they asked. He stood right in the middle of the living room, not venturing further even when it seemed like the photos, the succulent plants by the window, and the jikin goldfish swimming around in its tank had caught his interest, arms folded over his chest, still trying to seem as small as possible.
“I’m gonna grab some clothes for you,” Koushi said, feeling his chest tighten when he saw the other startle. He lowered his voice. “Sorry. I’ll be right back.” He didn’t wait for a reply and instead moved to his room, dropping the clothes in a hamper and his backpack near his desk before taking his phone out of his pocket and dropping a quick text to Daichi.
From: Suga and Spice
To: Dadchi
Don’t panic but I found some guy sleeping outside my apartment door and I may or may not have let him in so if I die just know I love you and I enjoyed our friendship. Please take care of our underclassmen for me. Make sure Hinata stays away from melons, he’s allergic. Also please remind Kageyama that milk his not a food group. Tell Asahi and Noya I send my love. Make sure Ennoshita looks after Tanaka you know how he can get. Oh and tell Tsukishima to lighten up before I throw a lamp at him if Kuroo doesn’t get to it first.
You can have my movies and coffee maker when I’m gone. Not like you need another Keurig you already have two.
He put his phone down on his nightstand after sending it and sifted through his dresser drawers. And, given that his unexpected houseguest was a solid two inches taller than him, Koushi wondered if any of his clothes would even fit. It should be fine, right? It was just temporary. Maybe there was something…
“Here we go!” Suga pulled out a shirt. It was a deep red color with long sleeves and was soft and worm from its multiple trips through the washing machine. It was also Daichi’s. He had left it here when he spent the night a few weeks ago. He found a pair of black sweatpants, a pair of boxers, and, hoping it would fit, headed back out to the living area.
And the man hadn’t moved an inch.
“Um,” Koushi started, voice soft so as not to scare him again. He made sure to smile when the brunet faced him. “The bathroom’s over here.”
The man stood there, unsure, and Koushi made no move to rush him, but then finally stepped over and took them when Koushi held them out. After showing how the shower worked and where the clean towels were, Koushi slipped out of the bathroom and smiled once the man nodded once at him.
And Koushi took that as a thank you.
He hoped Daichi didn’t mind him lending out his shirt.
Oh, speaking of Daichi…
Koushi moved back to his room just as his phone vibrated and lit up with text messages and three missed calls. He was about to hit the callback button when Daichi’s name and contact photo (which was a picture of him and Koushi using the Snapchat puppy filter) popped up on the screen. And Koushi slid right on the screen to answer.
“He –”
“What the fuck do you mean ‘don’t panic’?” Daichi’s voice roared through the receiver, making Koushi hold the phone away from his ear. “You can’t tell me that and then say that you have some random guy at your place! It doesn’t work that way!”
“Hi, Daichi,” Koushi said.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. He’s in the shower right now.”
“Who is he?”
“Don’t know. He hasn’t said a word. I don’t think he’s gonna do anything, Daichi.”
Daichi huffed. “That doesn’t mean he’s not capable.”
“I wasn’t just gonna leave him outside to freeze.”
“You’re too nice, Suga.”
“I have a reputation to live up to.”
“Shut up, I’m on my way.”
Koushi walked around the living room now, phone tucked between his ear and shoulder as he picked up empty coffee cups, Monster and Redbull cans, and instant ramen cups. “Daichi, don’t be ridiculous, you live halfway across Tokyo. If something were to happen, Inoue-san would make it here faster than you. And she’s 85.”
“Just because she’s 85 doesn’t mean she can’t have some pep in her step. You’ve seen my grandmother move and she’s in her 90s. But that’s why I’m leaving now. So I can help.”
“Daichi, I’ll be fine.”
“No, Suga, I’m not letting you stay in your house alone with some random stranger. Don’t act like you’re not excited to see me.”
Koushi tossed the trash in the bin. “I’m absolutely thrilled, you know I always enjoy your company.”
“Your sarcasm is riveting. Anyway, I’m heading to the train station. I’ll be there in about 20 to 30 minutes. Don’t do anything rash.”
“Says you.”
“Goodbye, Suga.”
Koushi laughed, pocketing his phone. While he didn’t want Daichi to come all this way since he lived on campus, it was comforting to know one of his best friends was rushing across town to help out. He and Daichi had been friends since first grade when they both tag-teamed and dumped sand down a boy’s pants because he was picking on one of their classmates. Yeah, they got in trouble too but it was the start of something beautiful.
Koushi went back to the living room, jumping a bit when he rounded the corner and found his unexpected guest standing there wearing the clothes Koushi offered, his still damp fringe curling and sticking to his forehead as some of the soft tufts stuck out. The shirt was a little big on him, especially around the shoulders where Daichi’s broad shoulders and back could easily fill it in, and the sweatpants rode a little high above his ankles, but that was to be expected since Koushi was so much shorter than him. His old clothes were bundled in his arms, the towel draping around his shoulders. He fidgeted, eyes trained on the ground and only giving Koushi periodic glances. He was handsome.
And giving his best smile and moving slowly, Koushi held out his hands. “I can take those for you.”
He waited patiently, keeping his smile as the man inched forward and placed the clothes in Koushi’s hands. The brunet’s fingertips brushed the back of Koushi’s hands, callouses ghosting over softer skin, and he took a huge step away as soon as he gave up his clothes. They were plain, a darker grey than the sky. And now that Koushi saw the smaller tears and frayed edges of the shirt, he wondered if it’d be worth it.
“Do you want me to wash them?” Koushi asked.
The brunet seemed to think about it before shaking his head.
“Got it,” Koushi said. “I was gonna start making dinner. Are you hungry?”
Another nod was followed by a loud growl from an empty stomach. The man flushed, the first natural color on his face, and shuffled on his feet while fisting his hands in his shirt, and Koushi couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s okay, no need to be shy.” Koushi beckoned him over. “Follow me, you can sit here at the table.”
He tossed the ruined clothes in the trash and started looking through his cabinets, wondering what he could make. Should he make a huge dinner? Definitely enough for three now that Daichi was on his way. But it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t have what he needed. He looked at the window, at the droplets streaming down the glass in tiny waves. Yeah, he wasn’t driving out in that. Maybe he could make something small for now just to tie them over. Sandwiches? Soup? And in the midst of his rummaging Koushi’s eyes trailed back to the brunet at the table. Quiet. Just watching.
He should probably ask what the guy likes.
“Is there anything specific you want?” Koushi asked, his tone treading lightly. It was getting easier to talk to him.
The brunet shook his head.
“Sandwiches okay?”
A nod.
Perfect.
Koushi first filled a kettle with water and set it to boil on the stove for tea since his coffee was probably cold by now and then went about making sandwiches – ham and turkey, he didn’t want to take the risk with peanut butter – and set it in front of the brunet at the table. He stared at it, obviously curious if the way he sniffed at it was any indication. But surprisingly enough, he didn’t make a go for it like Koushi thought he would. He waited – head low, eyes on the table, hands twisted together in his lap.
He stole a glance towards Koushi before looking down at the food again.
Like…
Like he was asking for permission.
“You can go ahead and eat,” Koushi said, his words tumbling out of him at an almost breakneck speed. “You don’t have to wait. Go ahead.”
And none of that food stood a chance. He scarfed it down, eating the four sandwiches stacked on the plate. Koushi had half a mind to tell him to slow down so he wouldn’t get a stomachache but this was the most energetic he’d seen the brunet in their short time together. It even brought a little smile to his face.
“So,” Koushi started once the man let out a content sigh. “Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself? What’s your name? I’m Sugawara Koushi, but you can just call me Suga. Everyone else does.”
The brunet was quiet, and now that his hair was drying it curled more and stuck out in odd, soft waves. The tea kettle whistled high and loud on the stovetop, shattering the silence and making Oikawa flinch in his seat, and Koushi tended to it while he waited for an answer. What tea flavor did he want today? Jasmine? Oolong? Hmm, maybe –
“Suga.”
Koushi almost dropped the hot kettle, whipping around to face the other. The brunet still wasn’t looking at him and was instead staring at the table as if the wooden grain patterns were the most interesting thing in the world. He scraped his fingernail across the uneven surface, a thoughtful look on his face.
“Suga,” he said again, his mouth curving around Koushi’s name like it was a new language being spoken for the first time. He looked up now, his ethereal eyes shimmering, swallowing the red of his shirt, the warm glow of the lights, the grey leaking in from the thunderous sky – mixing, swirling, becoming otherworldly.
Koushi left the kettle on the counter and went back to the table. The brunet’s voice was quiet, hoarse, but given that this was the first word he’d spoken it sounded deafening. And it made Koushi grin.
“Yeah.” Koushi nodded. “What’s your name?”
“Oikawa,” he said. “Oikawa Tooru.”
Koushi’s cheeks stretched wider if that was even possible. “Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Oikawa-san.”
Oikawa nodded. “N-Nice to meet you, too.”
“Are you thirsty, Oikawa-san? I’m making tea. Do you want some?” Koushi headed back to the kettle, happy that they were gaining some ground. He needed to make it before it cooled. “What flavor do you like?” He needed to ease his way into these questions. The last thing he wanted was for this to feel like an interrogation. He started pilfering through the cabinets again, but when he didn’t receive an answer he turned back to Oikawa. And he had the most confused look on his face. “Is something wrong, Oikawa-san?”
Oikawa stayed quiet, shoulders hunched. “Um…”
“Do you not want any? It’s fine if you don’t. I just figured I’d offer since it’s cold outside.”
“What’s tea?”
Koushi would be lying if he said he wasn’t taken aback. Oikawa didn’t know what tea was? Koushi tried to think of instances where this might be possible, possible background scenarios and Oikawa had to have been living a very sheltered life. Or under a rock. Crap, the guy was sleeping outside his apartment door for crying out loud so he had to be homeless. What if he did live under a rock?
Good job for being an insensitive ass, Koushi.
He didn’t know how long he’d been standing there blinking in what could only be incredulity and cleared his throat. How could he explain this? “Um, well, tea is…”
What was tea?
In its complexity, tea was warm, calm, inviting after a cold or stressful day. It settled nerves, made others feel welcome. It was friendship, laughter sweetening the taste, joy easing the hot sips. An evening by the fire. It was home – mother, father, brothers, and sisters.
In its simplicity, it was water with leaves in it.
Water flavored by leaves.
Leaf water.
He was making leaf water.
Oikawa shifted in his seat, bringing Koushi’s attention back to the question at hand. “It’s kind of hard to explain,” Koushi said. Not really, it’s just embarrassing to explain we drink leaf water at our leisure. “But tea is kind of like water, but it’s hot and there’s different flavors you can choose from.” He picked a box from the shelf. “Tell you what – I’ll pick a flavor and if you don’t like it, I’ll make you something else.”
Oikawa nodded, looking more intrigued now that his question was answered.
Koushi smiled, preparing their drinks with practiced fluidity and was about to serve them when Oikawa suddenly perked up from his study of the table and looked at the door. “Oikawa-san? Is something wrong?”
Oikawa didn’t say anything, just stared at the door and rose to his feet, quietly sniffing the air. Koushi moved closer to Oikawa to see what the deal was but faced an empty living room. He looked to Oikawa, who didn’t flinch and instead kept staring at the door – or whatever caught his interest – and looked back into the other room. What could it possibly–?
There was a knock, almost making Koushi jump out of his skin and making Oikawa hurry to the back of the apartment even though Koushi called out to him. He thought about going to look for him until there was another knock that distracted him for the moment.
“Suga!” Daichi immediately put his hands on Koushi’s shoulders when the door opened. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Koushi said, smiling. “I told you I was. As much I appreciate your unconditional concern for me, you didn’t have to come all this way.”
Daichi adjusted the strap of his backpack. Wait, backpack? “I wanted to see for myself.” He walked inside when Suga moved out of the doorway, slipping off his shoes and looking around. And Koushi knew he saw the extra plate and askew chair. “He’s still here?”
Koushi nodded. “Yeah. But he went running as soon as you knocked.”
“I don’t know whether to be offended or not. Didn’t you tell him I was coming?”
“I would have but I was a lot more concerned with feeding him, sorry.” Koushi sighed, feeling bad that Oikawa got spooked due to his absentmindedness. “I’m gonna go grab him. Do you mind waiting here? He’s, uh, kind of shy.”
Daichi shrugged off his backpack and jacket. “Sure thing.”
Koushi ambled down the hall. “Oikawa-san?” he peeked into the guest room, opening the closet, looking under the bed, even drawing back the curtains and finding nothing. “Oikawa-san?” He went to the bathroom next and opened the cabinets under the sink. Where could he have gone? There was only so many places that could fit a person his size. Sure, Oikawa was lean, but there were obvious signs of considerable weight loss.
He moved the shower curtain back, sighing when he saw it was empty. His room was next. Koushi pulled up the covers to look under the bed when he heard it.
“Suga…”
Turning towards his bedroom closet, Koushi eased open the doors and found Oikawa sitting on the floor, knees drawn to his chest, his clothes hanging above him concealing most of his head, and he looked up at Koushi with those wide chocolate eyes of his. Koushi kneeled down, his expression soft. “Hey.” He smiled. “I’m sorry if you got scared. I forgot to tell you that my friend was coming over.”
“Friend…”
“Yes.” Koushi sat down to be at eye-level. “I’m really close to him so he’s more like my best friend. His name is Sawamura Daichi, and he’s a really nice guy. He just came by to check on me. Did you want to meet him?”
Oikawa seemed to think this offer over, his eyes falling off to the side and wringing his hands together, before finally nodding. Koushi grinned, standing and holding out his hand. Oikawa stared at it, once again contemplating his choices, and reached out his hand and placed it in Koushi’s, his lightly calloused, slender fingers embracing his palm, and Koushi helped him up.
But once Oikawa was on his feet, Koushi froze. And thinking back on it, he was extremely embarrassed. As involuntary as it was, he should’ve taken it in stride. Brushed it off. Not look at Oikawa like he’d just grown a second head. Or, well…
Two – no, those weren’t cat ears, they were too rounded at the tips – sat atop Oikawa’s head, peeking from his wavy tufts of hair, his human ears seeming to have disappeared in the locks altogether, and the way they were shaped reminded Koushi of a German Sheppard. They were the same chestnut color as Oikawa’s hair, twitching towards the sounds of Tokyo traffic, and then Koushi noticed the long, fluffy tail swaying gently behind him, also brown in color.
Reading the confused look in Oikawa’s eyes, Koushi only muttered, “Your ears.” He didn’t even notice Oikawa’s hand was still in his, warm – warmer than any human he’s ever met – and sturdy, strong, as lithe as it was. “Um, your ears.”
It took a minute, but once realization hit, Oikawa’s hands immediately flew to his head, covering his new set of ears (Koushi also took note of the brunet’s longer, sharpened nails), and his tail laid flat against his legs, the brown fur frayed. His eyes, widened in fear, fell to the ground, and he inched away from Koushi and back towards the closet.
Koushi pulled himself together. “No, no, no – it’s okay! It’s okay. You don’t have to hide it.”
Oikawa glanced at him, unsure.
“I promise, it’s okay. You’re safe here. You don’t have to hide it.” Koushi kept his voice low, soft. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”
Oikawa moved his hands, slowly but surely, until his ears were shown, but they stayed back and flat against his head, his tail twitching behind him anxiously.
“You’re a shifter,” Koushi said.
Oikawa nodded, quiet. “Wolf.”
Koushi has met a cat shifter before. A fox, a bear, even a panther – that last one was the wildest animal form he’d seen to date. But never a wolf. This was a first. And, given some of the stigma that shapeshifters still faced today even in their modern society, Koushi understood why Oikawa was so reluctant.
“Ah, I see,” Koushi said once he realized Oikawa was waiting for a reaction. “Well, that doesn’t change a thing. You’re still welcome to stay here as long as you need to.”
“I can… stay?”
“Of course.”
“You don’t… you don’t think I’m scary?”
“Not at all,” Koushi said. “Why would I think that?”
“Humans are… supposed to be scared of shifters.”
Koushi gnawed on the inside of his cheek. “Well, sometimes people are afraid of what they don’t understand. But I can promise you that not everyone is like that. I’m not like that. Daichi’s not like that. I wouldn’t do that to you, Oikawa-san.”
The relief was completely palpable in Oikawa’s eyes, tears forming, tension rolling off his shoulders, and Koushi was caught completely off-guard when he was wrapped in Oikawa’s arms and brought to his chest. “Thank you,” Oikawa said, his words catching. “Thank you so much.”
Koushi smiled, settling his hands on Oikawa’s back and patting gently. “There’s no need to thank me. I won’t tell anyone, not even my friend if you don’t want me to.”
Oikawa pulled back, gnawing on his bottom lip, a sharpened canine showing, and then he shook his head. Koushi understood. Oikawa didn’t know either of them that well, and finding out that Oikawa was a shifter in the first place was purely by accident. He wanted to keep this on the down low for now. And Koushi would respect that.
“He’s a good guy, I promise. His bark is a lot worse than his bite,” Koushi said.
Oikawa tilted his head. “Is he a shifter, too?”
Koushi couldn’t help but chuckle. “No, no, he’s human. I just meant that he sounds and looks tough but he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Oikawa still looked a little puzzled but he nodded and then shook his head quickly, his wolf ears disappearing and replaced with his human ones as his tail completely vanished. He glanced up at Koushi, and Koushi tacked on a smile as he beckoned him to follow him back out to the living room where Daichi was looking at the photo of their high school volleyball team, clad in orange and black, grinning wildly with tears in their eyes, tackling each other after a big win at the national tournament. It was one of Koushi’s favorite pictures. It filled him with nostalgia of simpler times, of training camps during hot, sticky summers as locusts buzzed in their ears and stirred the air, of shoe soles squeaking on shining, wooden floors, of the rhythmic thump of the volleyball hitting the other side of the other side of the court. And he could see that Daichi hear it, too.
“Daichi,” Koushi said.
His friend set the picture down, turning around, and stopped. Oikawa didn’t make initial eye contact, hands behind his back, but he offered a small smile after a few terse moments.
“Daichi, this is Oikawa Tooru. Oikawa-san, Sawamura Daichi.”
Daichi donned a welcoming grin. “It’s nice to meet you.” He held out his hand.
Oikawa looked at Daichi’s hand then at Koushi. And if Daichi was wondering why Oikawa didn’t pick up on that social cue, he didn’t voice it.
“You shake it,” Koushi explained. “Like this.” He demonstrated by shaking Daichi’s hand and smiled at the shifter. “See? It’s easy. Give it a shot.”
Daichi stood there, hand still extended and still smiling. Oikawa reached out, clasping his hand with Daichi’s and moving his arm hesitantly. And Oikawa’s smile widened inch by inch once he met Daichi’s gaze. Koushi’s heart nearly gave out in relief. This was off to a solid start.
“By the way – Daichi, you came at the perfect time. I just finished making some oolong tea. You up for it?” Koushi asked.
“Sounds great.” Daichi trailed after his friend to the kitchen. “Want some, Oikawa?”
Oikawa perked to attention at the mention of the still foreign drink. “Sure.” He sat at the table, across from Daichi so Koushi could sit in between them at the head of the arrangement and stared into the deep, amber liquid once it was in front of him. He sniffed it.
Koushi smiled. “Go on, try it. It’s good. But be careful, it’s a little hot.” He raised the cup to his lips, not missing the way Oikawa’s eyes followed his every move.
Oikawa picked up the mug, holding it carefully in his hands, and brought it to his lips, barely tipping it back to get a small taste. He winced at the heat but he seemed to have gotten enough of a taste because his eyes glistened, popped with the very amber color the tea was, much like what happened before with the shirt’s red hue. His eyes seemed to do that, swallow any color that got too close, too intense. It was… enchanting. Beautiful.
“Were you gonna stay the night, Daichi?” Koushi asked, looking at his friend over the rim of the cup.
Daichi chuckled. “Already trying to kick me out, Suga?”
“No, I just need to figure out dinner.” Koushi said, his eyes glinting with mischief. “But seriously, I didn’t mean you to cause you any problems.”
“Shut up, Suga, you’re never a problem. And you actually caught me at the right time. I just got home from working with my group and I rushed back over here.”
Koushi sighed. “I appreciate it, but I told you I’d be fine, Daichi. You’re going out of town tomorrow, aren't you? Don’t you still have to pack? And knowing you, that's a big no.”
“I wasn’t gonna leave you alone, Suga. Besides, I was planning on popping by before I left anyway. I know you're a sucker for heartfelt goodbyes.”
“Pfft, yeah right.” Koushi turned to the man on his left. “Oikawa-san, did you wanna join us?”
“Y-Yes,” Oikawa said.
Daichi leaned back in the chair. “How does yakisoba sound?”
“Great!” Koushi grinned. It was cold outside, and they had just finished finals and lived through enough stress to last them the next 20 years. Koushi pushed the thought of his thesis to the back of his mind for now. Yeah. Yakisoba was good. And luckily enough he already had everything they would need. Not to mention his dad had a great recipe for it. He pulled out a small, thick, leather-bound book from the drawer near the oven. It was filled to the brim with recipes given to him by his father, who was the cook in the family, since his mother could only solidly operate the microwave and maybe the toaster oven on a good day.
“Um,” Oikawa said, “what’s yakisoba?”
Koushi grinned, leafing through the laminated pages. “It’s a great dish that you’ve gotta try. I really think you’ll like it.”
Oikawa nodded, relaxing a bit more as he continued to drink his tea.
“But, Oikawa-san, if you don’t mind my asking,” Koushi said, noting the way Oikawa was staring into the grain of the dining table again. He found the page he was looking for and left it there, going back to the table and leaning over the back of the chair. “You told me earlier that you were lost. Do you mind telling me where you’re from? Maybe we can help you get back there.”
Oikawa shuffled in his seat, his face twisted, uncomfortable, his eyes falling to the floor. “I can’t remember.”
“That’s okay,” Koushi said. “Is there anyone you want us to call? Friends? Relatives?” Calling the police did cross his mind, and it was probably what he should do, but he didn’t know how well that’d sit with Oikawa who was just starting to open up. It might cause him to shut down again, They could handle this on their own, right?
Oikawa was quiet for a moment, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. Then he finally said, “Iwa-chan.”
“Iwa-chan?” Daichi repeated.
“Iwa-chan,” Oikawa muttered. Then louder, said, “Iwaizumi. Iwaizumi Hajime.”