Chapter Text
Oh, Saturday sun,
.
"WE'LL MISS YOU, SUGA-SENSEIII!!!" His class screamed.
Koushi laughed, standing at the front of his colorful classroom, leaning back slightly on his desk. "And I'll miss you guys too! Don't worry, you're all going to do amazing next year," He chuckled. "4th graders? I can't believe it!" He looked around his classroom, smiling wide. "But remember, no matter what happens-" Koushi started.
"FLY HIGH!" His class cheered in unison, echoing his popular phrase from the school year. The school bell rang milliseconds later, and Koushi grinned. "Alright, everyone! Have a great summer break, and don't forget to take all of your things home with you!" His words got progressively louder as his students ran out the door, some stopping to give him hugs or say goodbye, running off to enjoy their vacation with friends and family. Soon enough, the entire classroom had cleared out, and Suga stood alone amongst empty desks and chairs.
He sighed, his grin turning much softer. He loved them, he really did, but kids can take a lot out of you. Koushi came home tired every night, getting an okay paycheck but never being able to spend it due to utter exhaustion. If he thought about it, the last time he even had a real home-cooked meal was... well... when did he last visit his mother...
The point is, he was overworked. After the regular school year ended, Koushi would pick up teaching summer school, cram school, and even private tutoring to pay the bills. His whole energy dimmed dramatically just thinking about it.
He glanced at his desk and saw the white envelope lying neatly in the middle.
'But this summer...it'll be different.' Koushi thought to himself.
Even if he had read the invitation over and over again, just to make sure he had it right, he opened the envelope once more.
You are cordially invited
To the wedding of
Kuroo Tetsurou & Kozume Kenma
July 25th, at 3 PM
Hard Rock Hotel, Orlando, Florida
He was excited to see his friends again- After playing volleyball against them in high school, and once more with them in college, Sugawara had gotten to know Kenma and Kuroo pretty well. Not to mention, their old teams would probably be using this wedding as an excuse for a reunion. Suga had never taken a break long enough to see all of them, and he's pretty sure they haven't either. Koushi smiled to himself. He'd get to see Asahi, and Noya, Hinata, Kageyama, Tanaka, even Yaku and...
Koushi stopped for a moment, finally realizing just what that entailed, looking at the envelope with a resemblance of pure and utter shock.
"I get to see them again." He spoke to the empty classroom, the feeling of tears burning his eyes and rolling steadily down his cheeks. He could talk to them, see them every day if only for a week. Go on rides and stop them from accidentally killing themselves on rides or getting lost, and eating food with them again, and laughing and living, really, truly living. Koushi smiled even wider, tears rushing down his face as he hiccuped out;
"I get to see all of them again."
Suddenly, Koushi saw a face in his mind that he managed to remember every single day. He couldn't afford to think about that face right now, or that person, unless he was planning on having an emotional crisis less than two hours before his plane left. He rushed to wipe the tears away with his arm and shoved the invitation into his messenger bag pocket, smiling the entire time. He rolled out his navy blue suitcase from under his desk- Koushi had packed the night before, double-checking that he had everything ready for today's flight. Leaving the cat with his sitter, stopping his mail, turning off the electricity- it was time.
He strapped his bag over his shoulders, suitcase in tow, and strolled right out the classroom door.
'I have a flight to catch.'
.
I met someone,
.
The flights weren't too bad, even if he did have to take two. Tokyo to Los Angeles, and Los Angeles to Orlando. He was wiped, even if he had been making a similar trip since he was almost a year old. Koushi had grown up in California- specifically San Francisco- and his family would take a trip to Japan every summer. The added 4 hours to Florida on this flight, though... that could be seen as either a blessing or a curse. He got to sleep more, his flight landing at 8 AM as opposed to 3 AM. But that meant he had no idea know when his jet lag would kick in. Either way, Koushi made the trip all in one piece.
He stepped through the gate doors and into the bustling airport. Kids whining, couples sleeping in chairs, businessmen with cursing into their phones, and airplane attendants rushing to their next flight. Koushi stopped and took a breath, trying to calm down a little; It felt like his entire body was buzzing with anticipation for the days to come.
And nerves.
His stomach gurgled loudly.
Also, hunger.
Koushi made mental note to get food as soon as possible, and made his way over to baggage claim, checking his phone when he arrived.
2 New Messages
kenma (⓿_⓿)
hey, just landed. me and some of the others will come back to pick u up from the airport soon.
Sent 6:05
kenma (⓿_⓿)
we're in the lobby
Sent 7:56
Koushi chuckled quietly before tapping out a response.
sugasuga
At baggage claim now! Be there soon~
Sent 8:06
sugasuga
Lol, how do I find you guys?
Sent 8:07
He hadn't even put his phone away before Kenma responded.
kenma (⓿_⓿)
shouyou brought a big ass sign for u. cant miss it.
Sent 8:07
Koushi laughed outright at Kenma's message. Of course Hinata would do that- God, he missed his kouhais. He hadn't seen them in forever; He had seen one of Kageyama and Hinata's pro games since moving to Japan, but that had been it. Koushi had been given a second chance to see them now, and there was no way he was missing this. Soon enough he spotted his navy blue suitcase circling on the conveyor belt, it's little volleyball keychain clinking on the side. Jogging over to it, Koushi wondered who else had come to greet him at the airport. Obviously most of the guests would be at the resort already, getting checked in, etc. But Kenma had said some of the others. Who else would be here?
A familiar face flashed in his mind, and Koushi quickly fought to extinguished it.
'No, no. He wouldn't. It's fine. There's no point in getting your hopes up anyway.'
Koushi knew that if he ever saw him again, he'd be hit with embarrassment rolling over him like a shockwave five years too late.
Shaking his shoulders and focusing on the positives, Koushi snatched his suitcase up and started his trek to the lobby.
sugasuga
On my way now! Just got my suitcase :p
Sent 8:11
God, he was excited. His hands shook a little around the handle of his case, and his heart was beating a little too fast. 'I can't wait to see them.' His smile growing as he the escalator down to the main lobby- A kiss and ride situation, where friends and family could greet passengers coming off of planes. His hand tightened around the escalator railing as he saw a small sea of people waiting for passengers and sending them off. A woman in army uniform running to her sister, a family greeting their grandparents, a small boy clutching tightly to his mother's hand as he waved goodbye to his friends. Two men much older than Koushi, running to each other and proceeding to hug and kiss like it was the end of the world.
What seemed like a million signs were scattered throughout this sea of tears and joy. From simple sheets of paper with only a last name to garish neon posterboards, it looked like Hobby Lobby had thrown up in here. Koushi's personal favorite was a big "WELCOME BACk" sign, but whoever made it had drawn all letters too big to fit in the 'K' at the end. Sadly, the bottom half of the poster was entirely obscured by the crowd since the person holding it was so short-Koushi let out a quiet laugh at that.
Then the sign shot up two feet into the air. Koushi's eyes widened in surprise.
'What the hell-'
But the sign kept growing higher and higher until he could see the hands holding it at the very bottom.
WELCOME BACk
SUGAWARA!!!!
Painted in what looked like an odd mix of sharpie and glitter glue on a bright orange piece of posterboard, was his sign.
"Oh my god." Koushi exhaled.
Hinata sat on top of Kageyama's shoulders, waving the sign madly in the air. The crowd surrounding them moved and suddenly all he could hear was,
"SUGAAAWAARAAA-SAAAAANNN"
Let the record show that Sugawara Koushi proceeded to sprint down the elevator two steps at a time, muttering "Pardon me" and "Excuse me" to everyone he passed until his feet hit the tile floor and he saw them.
His family.
They cheered. Nishinoya dove towards him, Hinata clambered off of Kageyama's shoulders ("OW, Watch it dumbass!" ), Tanaka was very close to taking his shirt off, and Kenma looked like he wanted to throw up and/or leave. Suga grinned. This was more alive than he'd felt in years.
"It's been years Suga-san! Don't you miss us?!" Nishinoya yelped as he hugged Koushi. "YES, yes I missed all of you-" He said, laughing and hugging them all. He spotted Asahi and ran to him. "ASAHI!" Suga yelped, practically jumping his best friend. "SUGA!" He yelped in return. Suga even brought Kageyama in for a short hug. ("It's nice to see you again Suga-san!" Kageyama had said, bowing. Suga had just laughed and hugged him upright ).
"Kenma! Congratulations!" He said, finding his way to the groom, a buzzing Nishinoya still latched to his arm. He shook Kenma's hand, knowing he wasn't one for physical affection, and a rare smile fell upon Kenma's lips.
"It's good to see you Koushi- Thanks."
Koushi beamed. He was here, he made it. Even if the whole team hadn't come, barely a third of the wedding party, he was happy that some of them had come at all. Once he had them, he wasn't sure he'd be able to let go again.
"Daichi look! Suga's back!" Koushi heard Hinata's voice distantly behind him, and then his words settled in.
'Dai-'
'Daichi?'
Koushi turned around slowly; as if he was being animated by some sort of higher being, telling him to 'Turn the fuck around Koushi, and see what you've been missing for the last five years.'
Sawamura Daichi looked almost exactly as Koushi remembered him.
A little taller. More filled out, the barest trace of stubble on his jawline. His hair was cropped short, and his skin tan. His lips looked soft, and he wore a fitted white shirt and navy board shorts. Daichi's energy still flowed with leadership and a steady sense that Koushi legitimately hadn't felt in years. His eyebrows were raised, his mouth parted in shock even though Koushi had the distant knowledge Daichi knew he was coming. His eyes were filled with... something. Happiness? Shock?
Love?
And suddenly it was all gone, and Daichi's eyes crinkled at the edges. His mouth set in a grin and he looked softer somehow.
"Hey, Suga."
'Holy shit.'
"It's been a while."
And suddenly Daichi was grabbing his outstretched hand which, when had he done that, and pulled Koushi into a hug. Koushi felt a smile on his lips, and he wasn't sure why. Shouldn't he embarrassed, after all that's happened?
A voice that sounded like Daichi's entered his brain. Gruff yet clear, a little low, and full of confidence;
'But don't you remember what came before?'
Koushi's eyes widened in shock. Nearly two decades of friendship couldn't be undermined completely with five years of ignorance. It just couldn't.
So Koushi laughed into his shoulder, a bright warm feeling filling him. "It's good to see you, Dai."
'Could it?'
And they let go. Hinata carefully wrapped up his poster and they set off for the rental, questions firing off about how Japan was or if Suga had seen the resort online, etc. Koushi was still in shock though- he hadn't thought Daichi would be saying anything to him. Which was confusing. And weird. And awful and Koushi had lived like that for five years.
And suddenly, Koushi thought he was the silliest person on earth. As Daichi laughed and joked with his friends, the embarrassment fog cleared enough for Koushi to remember who Daichi really was. Caring and polite, a leader in every sense; Daichi wouldn't be so petty to flat out ignore him forever. They had been friends forever, and Daichi was the kindest person Koushi had ever met.
That had been why he fell in love in the first place, hadn't it? Among other reasons, of course.
But Koushi was excited, tired, and blissfully happy. So, he pushed those thoughts to the side and answered every question with a smile.
.
Out on the west coast,
.
A cool breeze wooshed through the automatic doors of Cabana Bay as the seven of them walked in, collectively aah-ing at the cool change in temperature.
Kenma had told him on the ride there that all of the guests would be staying in the sort of 'sister' resort to the Hard Rock Hotel. The rooms were cheaper, and it had a much brighter atmosphere than the Hard Rock- That would be for the wedding day. All of the guests would be rooming together, two to a standard room, and Kenma and Kuroo had already picked out who would be with who.
"It was a lot easier to do it that way," Kenma said. "If we didn't there'd be more drama to deal with." Koushi hadn't asked what that meant, but he was thankful that Kuroo and Kenma were even paying for his room in the first place. Flights weren't cheap, and since this was the end of the school year, Suga didn't have a ton of money to spare (although he had a bit saved up for this trip itself. It's not every day you get to do something like this).
After the group entered, the group split up and Kenma walked over to the check-in desk to get Koushi's key. Asahi led Koushi over to a map near the desk, explaining a little more of what was going on. They'd all be staying in the Continental building ("the resort itself is split into four big buildings," Asahi said ) overlooking a huge pool area, and a winding lazy river.
"You can see Volcano Bay from me and Noya's room," Asahi said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I have a feeling he's going to try to get as close to that thing as possible." That thing being a gigantic volcano, shooting out a misty fog every 15 minutes and shining different LED colors at the mouth. Koushi had no doubt in his mind that his short friend would try to jump right into the damn thing.
"Kuroo told us that we'd start exploring everything tomorrow since everyone's so jet-lagged, but we're free to take a trip to City Walk whenever." Asahi continued. "Not too many plans for today, just going around and seeing everyone. Even dinner plans are pretty relaxed. They have some restaurants in the building and some people are grouping together, but other than that," Asahi paused. "we can do whatever."
Suga smiled at him. "And I'm sure the first thing Noya wants to do is go to the pool, and then the-Shit, arcade?-and then the gift shop, and-" "And I," Asahi said painfully. "Just want to sleep" But Koushi could see it in his friend's eyes. Even though Nishinoya could be a lot to handle sometimes, Asahi was pretty much always willing to go along with him. Nishinoya's adventurous spirit brought Asahi's spirit out of its shell, and Asahi's calmed Nishinoya down when he needed to. There was nothing more yin and yang, except maybe-
"Oya? Suga, is that you?"
Koushi turned to his left to see a tall man jogging up to him, sunglasses perched in his rooster-like head of hair. He smiled brightly. "Congratulations Kuroo!" Kuroo grinned. "It's good to see you Suga- I'm glad you could make it." Kuroo said, hugging him. "It's good to see you too, Kuroo. So, what's going on? Need any help?" Koushi asked. He knew weddings were stressful, he had seen too many Say Yes to the Dress reruns not to. Weddings were hard, especially if you were a groom or bride. Kuroo cackled. "Always ready to lend a hand, eh? Seriously though, we're doing good. Everyone's here now, and nothing will start officially until tomorrow." Kuroo said. Yes, the peanut butter to Kenma's jelly, Kuroo Tetsurou. Ever sly, ever the dork, and boy did he love Kenma. Koushi could see it even now- Kuroo kept glancing behind Koushi to Kenma at the check-in desk and was fidgeting like all he wanted to do was run up and put an arm around Kenma.
"I should go check and see if Bo's settled in though; He's planning something special for Akaashi and wanted my help." He grinned, and Kuroo had never looked more like the sly cat Koushi knew him to be. Koushi chuckled and waved him off. "I should go check on Yuu too. Gotta make sure he hasn't jumped in the pool already." Suga waved his friend away, shooing him to find his boyfriend. Suga breathed in the cool air, exhaling a relaxed sigh.
'It's good to be back'
"Koushi, here's your room key." Kenma seemed to appear from out of nowhere next to him, startling Koushi just a little. "Room 501. You can cut through the pools to get there." Kenma finished. His eyes flickered around too, searching for something. Koushi smiled. "Thank you so much for this Kenma, you have no idea," Koushi leaned down conspiratorially to Kenma's height. "Kuroo went that way." Kenma smiled- A tiny smile, but a smile nonetheless- and walked away.
He was halfway through the pools before he realized he forgot to ask who his roommate was.
'Yaku, maybe? We get along really well. Maybe Kageyama or Hinata, just to keep them from killing each other?'
It wasn't until he hopped out of the elevator that Suga thought of another possibility.
'They wouldn't have put me with him- Kenma knows what happened.'
But what if Daichi had told Kuroo and he wanted them to make up? Could Daichi have wanted to be paired up with him at all? Seriously, his behavior at the airport had not been what Koushi had expected at all.
'Maybe he wants to be friends again?' Koushi questioned as he walked towards his room, mind buzzing with questions and anticipation.
'Would he do that?'
Koushi slid his key in, hearing a satisfying click.
'What if he wants to be,'
Koushi turned the door handle.
'Something more?...'
Koushi opened the door, and sitting on the bed was a half-naked Oikawa Tooru.
.
.
.
I gotta get back, I can't let this go