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Tonight was a big night! All of the former Crows were meeting at the Tanaka household to watch their former teammates, Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama attend.Tobio, play their first Olympic game. This was the first time that the two had been reunited on the same team since their days at Karasuno. So it seemed fitting that the rest of the team do the same in spirit.
The match had long since ended, but everyone was still enjoying each other’s company . As they continued to drink with each other as it got later into the night.
“HEY GUYS! LET'S PLAY A GAME! I KNOW THE PERFECT ONE! YOU HAVE ALL PLAYED ‘Never Have I Ever’, RIGHT? CMON! IT’LL BE FUN!” Noya suggested loudly.
“That’s definitely the furthest thing from fun…” a grumble could be heard from Tsukishima in the corner.
But the majority ended up voting to play a harmless game of ‘Never Have I Ever’ and the punishment for each round was to take a shot or drink of whatever the person was drinking. Asahi was glad that he’d decided to cool it on the beers and drink some tea or hot water for the remainder of his time, especially now knowing that he’d probably be taking lots of drinks.
“ASAHI! ASAHI!” Noya called out to him. “IT'S YOUR TURN!”
Asahi swallowed hard knowing just how these sorts of games normally go. He already had the impression of the most innocent one back when he was on the team. How would they react if they knew…
Taking a deep breath to still his shaking hand, he let the words pass his lips. His eyes scanned the room as he did.
“Never have I ever kissed someone…”
Asahi feels all of the eyes in the room shift to his face, most clearly looking in disbelief or shock as this statement permeates the air. Yes, it was all true. He’d never actually kissed someone. Well that’s not completely true he told himself. Sure, he’d kissed his grandmother whenever he visited her as well as his mother each day before he’d left for school, but in the romantic column he still had a big zero.
“Wait…
Asahi, you really haven’t kissed someone?
…Like ever?” Tanaka was the first person to break the silence and finally ask.
Noya blinked, cocking his head in genuine curiosity. He chose, however, not to say anything; his eyes still wide, studying Asahi’s face.
“C’mon guys. It’s…uh…not really fair to stare or judge Asahi.” Yachi chimed in as Asahi had been doing his best to formulate a reply to Tanaka.
The stares from the room had made his brain unable to make the synapses connect to continue the signal to speak. Instead, his cheeks felt warm and his free hand in his hair. His finger raked through his hair realizing that he’d worn his hair down and there was no semblance of a bun in it to fiddle with. Upon that realization, he dropped his hand back to his side, fingers gently squeezed into a fist. He stared down at his feet, feeling his cheeks slightly warm as he finally opened his mouth and heard actual words come out of it.
“Yeah…
I haven’t actually kissed someone.
…romantically, I mean. My family members, yes, but it’s like a kiss on the cheek, and I can imagine being very different from like…what all of you would consider an actual…um…kiss…”
The room still was silent except for a small soft snicker followed by a muttered, “Ow…Tadashi…” from a tall blonde bespectacled young man still sitting in the corner with a green haired man roughly around the same age with freckled peppering his face like stars in a sky. Tadashi had evidently elbowed Tsukishima in the side for the snicker, as Kei could be seen rubbing his side while Tadashi whispered a “Respect your elders, Tsukki.”
“I’m…uh…sorry for killing the mood of the game. Hopefully, I didn’t just ruin the night…” Asahi added with a nervous chuckle. His hand sat on his side, opened and closed his fingers from the fist it had been. This was another tactic he’d picked up to deal with his anxiety especially when serving his third year. His eyes finally looking up and noticing all of the eyes still staring at him (well all but Tsukishima’s, who’s were just rolling as subtly as he could to hide his annoyance at this whole stupid game anyway).
Asahi started to turn to leave knowing he probably had to catch his train back to Tokyo in a few hours anyway. His fashion line wouldn’t sell itself. As he reached the door, he felt a hand on his shoulder. A familiar hand, one that had reassured him when he was on the verge of another panic attack. Turning to look over his shoulder, Asahi spotted the familiar dark eyes of his former captain and friend looking at him with slight concern in the way his forehead lines furrowed and his eyebrows raised.
“I’ll follow you out. It’s getting late. I’m on the night shift tomorrow.” Daichi said as the two picked up their coats and left the Tanaka house with a wave from Daichi and a polite bow from Asahi.
Asahi followed beside Daichi, his hands stuffed in his coat pockets. This was more to have a place to put them than that they were actually cold, as it was a mid-summertime night in Miyagi. Asahi now realized that he was hearing a pounding in his ears and only a few seconds later registered that it was his own heartbeat; not either of their footsteps as he’d first thought.
Asahi had always not known exactly how he felt when it came to Daichi. He knew, yes, they were friends and always would be, but was there something else? Did Asahi want something else between him and Daichi? Everyone, including himself, had thought that Daichi and Suga would always be the forever pair out of the Karasuno third years in his year. Yet, Suga hadn’t followed Daichi when he left tonight. Asahi shook his head trying not to let his thoughts wander.
“Asahi,” Daichi’s voice brought Asahi back to the present. “Was there a reason you haven’t kissed anyone? Like are you not really interested in physical affection? It’s valid if you are that way. I just don’t want you to feel like anyone in that room was judging you. They weren’t…well maybe Tsukishima, but he’s always been a bit of an ass.”
Daichi’s hand went into his own short dark hair, allowing his fingers to run through it once. This allowed a pause as he found the right words to touch the delicate subject. Something no one had asked Asahi about yet, his sexuality.
“Do you wanna hang out at my place…I mean until you have to catch your train? It’s probably better than startling your parents coming home at this hour.” Daichi let out a light chuckle. “We can drink some more, talk, or even let you sleep a little if you want.”
“That would be nice, Daichi.” Asahi replied, a light chuckle passing his lips. “I just have to swing by my parents’ place to pick up my belongings, if you don’t mind waiting.”
Daichi just nodded as the two stopped by Asahi’s childhood home briefly before continuing on to Daichi’s apartment. Asahi had been to Daichi’s apartment briefly during his previous visits, but usually at least accompanied by Suga if not others from the former team. It was a small one bedroom apartment that was modestly furnished, but it was enough for Daichi’s needs and that’s really what mattered.
“Make yourself at home,” Daichi added once the door was unlocked and swung open. Daichi headed for the kitchen while Asahi left his small travel bag at the door before crossing to the couch. “What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll take beer if you have one. Water if you don’t.” Asahi replied, looking over his shoulder at Daichi now opening the fridge and looking through it.
“Here,” Daichi said, holding out a bottle to Asahi before popping the cap off his own beer and then sat on the couch filling the open space beside Asahi.
“So, Asahi,” pausing to take a sip of beer before continuing, “are you comfortable answering the question I asked you when we left Tanaka’s? It’s okay if you aren’t. I understand.”
Asahi looked down at the beer bottle he’s got between his hands, resting on his lap. His fingers fidget around the bottle as he attempted to formulate an answer.
“I’m not quite sure…it’s not necessarily to do with a lack of interest. More maybe…uh…intimidated that whoever I end up kissing would hate it because I didn’t know the first thing about /how/ to do it…”
Asahi felt his cheeks flush pink, but tried to hide it by taking a rather large sip from the bottle, coughing slightly as he returned it to his lap. He quickly went for another sip to stop himself from nervous rambling.
“I could help....If it’s experience you are concerned with. You could practice kissing with me.”
Asahi immediately regretted that second sip of beer as he felt it choke in his throat, hearing Daichi’s words fill the air. He was unable to respond to Daichi’s offer, if Asahi had even heard it properly, as he was in the middle of trying not to aspirate on the beer current in his mouth. After a few moments, he successfully stopped coughing enough to sputter out what resembled words.
“Daichi? Wouldn’t Suga…would he be jealous? I can’t do that to him.You and Suga are an item, aren’t you?”
“Suga? What? He and I…he and I aren’t dating? I'm sorry if we gave you that impression. I had wondered why you had seemed a bit distant from us recently.”
“I wasn’t distant because I assumed you two were together. Graduating with an arts degree comes with added stress of making sure a portfolio of all of your work is completed. My school went further and had us create our own fashion line ready to market. I didn’t talk to anyone for the most part during that time. Kuroo checked in a few times, but got roped into modeling for me.” Asahi scratched at the back of his head as he let out another nervous chuckle. “Sorry I was babbling again…”
Daichi just brings his own beer bottle to his lips simply nodding that he was listening to Asahi. A smile spread across his lips attempting to comfort Asahi that the babbling was fine.
“It’s fine, Asahi. Really. It’s been a while since we have talked like this. I don’t mind listening.” Daichi added when he noticed Asahi grew quiet. “So you never did answer if fear of lack of experience was the reason you hadn’t kissed anyone romantically? If I’m getting too personal in my questions, please tell me and you don’t have to answer.”
Asahi sat pondering the question as his finger tapped at the beer bottle neck absentmindedly.
“It’s not like I haven’t had opportunities or offers in the past to kiss someone in that way. I don’t know…I guess…maybe it was a lack of interest. Like perhaps something is wrong with me.”
Asahi pauses, starting to show creases of worried fluster in his forehead.
“Is it normal to not be interested in kissing or other things like that? It’s not like it makes my skin crawl or anything. Just I don’t know…”
Setting the beer bottle on the coffee table in front of the couch, Daichi realized that he needed to help Asahi ground himself before the poor man started to spiral. He reached his hands out to cup the sides of Asahi’s face gently.
“Asahi, just breathe…in…and out. In…and out…” Daichi encouraged the other man. “Nothing is wrong with you. You just might be asexual or perhaps so other label under that umbrella. Have you heard of that term before?”
Asahi closed his eyes as he felt the slightly roughened palms covered in calluses against his cheeks. He followed Daichi’s own breaths for guidance and after what seemed like more than a few minutes of breathing. Asahi’s eyelids flutter open, feeling his pulse dropping back down to normal. He only felt his heart minorly pounding in his ears mildly.
“I…no…I haven’t heard the term more than in passing maybe once.” Asahi attempted to shake his head but realized that Daichi had yet to drop his hands from the side of Asahi’s face.
Once Daichi could see that Asahi’s demeanor was calm, his hands returned to his lap, letting them rest as Daichi opened his mouth to speak.
“You see, one of my sisters, Mio, was the one who recently educated me on this as she identifies as asexual. There are many different labels under it, but essentially you not having kissed someone is not abnormal. It doesn’t mean that you won’t necessarily feel feelings of wanting to be intimate with someone. You may need to establish an emotional connection with that person first. Does this make any sense or am I making it confusing with my explanation?” Daichi asks as he reaches a hand up to scratch the back of his head, waiting for Asahi to absorb what he said.
Asahi’s eyes never leave Daichi’s face, just jumping around it as Daichi spoke. One thing Asahi knew about Daichi throughout all of these years is that whenever Daichi speaks, it is always from his heart with the utmost sincerity. Daichi was never one to lead someone astray with even one false word or even misread tone of his voice.
“Daichi, is there anything you don’t know?” Asahi chuckles to himself.
The longer haired man doesn’t know what it is about Daichi, but whenever Asahi had the other by his side, whatever worry he had in that moment seems to melt away and a fuzzy, almost warm feeling replaced it. This moment was definitely one of them. Asahi didn’t realize how long it had been since he’d felt this warm peace wash over him. Fashion design school was no joke, not to mention moving to Tokyo from Miyagi on top of it.
Daichi’s cheeks turned a little red at Asahi’s chuckled question, but if anyone asked, he was going to say that it was due to the beer. He’d leave out the part of how his heart skipped a beat before pounding a little bit harder in his ears seeing the tension from earlier leave Asahi’s body. Daichi wouldn’t admit it but each time he could visibly notice Asahi less tense, Daichi could feel that smile tugging at his lips. Something felt nice about having Asahi so comfortable around him.
“You know it might be nice talking to Mio sometime if you don’t mind asking her, Daichi. I mean, not this trip obviously, but perhaps the next time I make it out? A lot of what you said makes sense to me.” Asahi continued fiddling with his fingers on each hand by pressing each against the other.
Daichi had known Asahi long enough to know his tells when Asahi held back saying what he wanted to say. The way Asahi was pressing his fingers together happened to be one of them.
“Asahi, I have known you long enough to know that you want to say more but you are worried that I might judge or get offended by what you have to say. How long have you known me and when have I ever been either of those things to you?”
“Do you want me to answer that honestly? You may not have been judgemental but you did have your gremlin phase…
I remember you trying to convince me back in second year that I was going to get expelled for my long hair. You nearly caused me to have a full on panic attack at school,” Asahi playfully punched Daichi’s arm.
Asahi paused, looking down at his hands. Urging them to stop moving with a sigh, he replied, resting his hands palm down in his thighs.
“Are you sure…” pausing and taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, “I mean about what you offered earlier. Being my kissing practice partner? Maybe teach me how to properly kiss someone? I just can’t stop thinking about that and how I think I’d like to try. I mean if you still want to…”
“I promise that if I dislike it, I’ll push you away—”
The smile tugging at Daichi’s lips spread wider as each of Asahi’s carefully thought out words rang in Daichi’s ears. To Daichi, when Asahi was honest and speaking his mind, this was when Daichi almost admitted how attractive he found Asahi. How much Asahi made his heart beat just a little bit faster when Asahi’s eyes looked up and ahead and not down at his feet. How much warmer Daichi’s cheeks felt and how the warmth spread to his whole face. Daichi didn’t want to know how red his face might look in those sorts of moments and usually chose to look away to hide the amount of affection he held for all of his friends. To him, one still stood out after all of these years.
Daichi, of course, didn’t realize until after Asahi had moved to Tokyo and he’d decided to stay behind in Miyagi. The distance definitely made his heart ache a little. The town felt just a little bit darker without his sun to light it up. He’d never said any of these thoughts to Asahi. Not during their weekly video calls, and not now. He wanted to…to tell Asahi everything…all of it, but now just wasn’t the right time.
Asahi had grown a lot in his time in Tokyo, Daichi often told himself, as each video call he’d notice something just a little bit different in his long time friend. At first, it was just changes in hairstyle; still choosing to keep it long, but perhaps leaving it in a fishtail braid over one shoulder. Or his dark circles under his eyes as he’d pulled another all nighter scared of failing his latest project for his major. The image that stuck with Daichi the most was when Asahi told him that he was opening his own studio in Tokyo; the smile that spread across Asahi’s lips was one of pure confidence. A sort of confidence that Daichi had rarely seen before during their time as a part of the volleyball club. Yet, the beaming, confident smile was still so much larger than the one when Asahi had made a perfect jump serve or a play that got them to the next game in nationals. That smile stuck with Daichi to this day.
“Daichi…” Asahi called out waving a hand in front of his face. “Did I say something wrong? You…um…went very silent and your face even turned red. What I asked made you uncomfortable…I knew it would! That's why I didn’t want to say it…”
“No. No, you didn’t say anything wrong. I just got lost in memories is all. I’m sorry. Drinking beers does that to me sometimes.” Daichi added with a chuckle as he brought his hand and took his finger away from Asahi’s lips.
“Was there something particular you were remembering, Daichi?” Asahi looked at his friend with brows furrowed in slight concern, reaching out to place his hand on top of Daichi’s. “It wasn’t a painful memory?”
“Oh no,” Daichi shook his head looking down at the hand now placed on his own. The contact was warming his hand a lot more than he’d been expecting it to. “No, it was definitely a pleasant one. Probably the reason I was lost in reminiscing in the memory for so long. I’m sorry if I missed anything you said, Asahi. I didn’t mean to.”
A soft smile spread across Asahi’s lips while his eyes tried to meet Daichi’s. Something about being around Daichi made him calm and relaxed.
When he had moved to Tokyo, there were many nights when Daichi without knowing had talked Asahi away from an impending panic attack. Even if there wasn’t any talking and it was just his words in text form flashing across the screen. The simplest encouragement from Daichi was all Asahi needed. It could be just a thumbs up emoji and it would be the same as seeing Daichi doing the same motion on his screen as if he was in front of Asahi, smiling that goofy grin that could get anyone to grin back at him.
Asahi also knew that when Kuroo started coming around more and inviting Asahi around with him and his other friends and Tokyo high school volleyball alumni, it was Daichi’s doing…and maybe a little of Suga’s too. Despite Kuroo nor Daichi ever admitting to it, Asahi knew that both were in touch with one another and a very worried Daichi had asked Kuroo to check in on his anxiety prone best friend because he couldn’t. Something about that realization continued to calm Daichi whenever the stress began to get to him.
Daichi was always there for him, and Asahi hoped always would be. Even sitting beside Daichi in the apartment that Asahi had started to become familiar with, visiting at least once or twice between seeing his family and old teammates whenever he returned to Miyagi. Something about the modest furniture and clearly bachelor apartment gave the impression of a homey feel to Asahi. It was a safe space. A place where Asahi never felt his heart begin to race or his respirations increase as was common with his anxiety.
Asahi’s thumb grazed over each of Daichi’s knuckles. Much rougher that Asahi’s softer hands, Daichi’s hands were those of someone who toiled over physical work whether from years of volleyball through his childhood or his odd jobs he’d worked since graduation. Asahi didn’t mind the rough callused gnarls as his thumb traced over them.
Asahi's eyes turned up from Daichi’s hand to meet Daichi’s eyes. The smile on Asahi’s lip tugged itself to continue to spread to mirror dimpled smile he spotted on Daichi’s lips. Though he felt his own heart start to beat on his ears, it wasn’t overwhelming like when he had one of his panic attacks during an exam back in high school. The beating, though a bit faster, was more like how he’d felt when he’d seen his first clothing design come to life during school. Seeing how his design had jumped off the page and now was on a physical person. He’d felt his face wet with tears.
Asahi’s mouth struggled to fill the silence with something other than the beating of his own heart, but what could he say that hadn’t been said? He wasn’t quite sure…a lot of thoughts were coming to his mind. And yet each one getting tossed out as soon as he had thought them. The biggest one being Is it normal to be okay with wanting to practice kissing with your best friend?
Asahi had waited this long to kiss someone so why was he having the sudden interest now? Was it because of the looks he’d gotten at the party? He did feel a bit ashamed for not having kissed someone romantically being now in his mid twenties, but he knew that his teammates were more shocked than judging him for it. (Well he could never really tell when it came to Tsukishima…)
Daichi could tell by the silence that Asahi had started to get lost in his own head again as Daichi had seen happen so often in their high school years. Daichi placed his own hand on top of Asahi’s that had been resting on top of his. Daichi turned his hand on the bottom to rest palm up, now holding Asahi’s hand between his two hands.
“Asahi…” Daichi said softly while giving Asahi’s hand a squeeze with a soft even tone to his voice. “You’re getting lost in your head again. Come back…please.”
Asahi blinked at both the tactile and verbal feedback from Daichi. Still not quite sure how to communicate what he wanted. If Daichi would think he was strange for voicing such a request. Instead his hands slipped away from Daichi’s and occupied themselves by braiding his long hair. Once done, it rested in a nice tail over his left shoulder.
“Dai…” Asahi grabbed Daichi’s hands in his own and started making a conscious effort to not let his eyes look away from Daichi as he continued. “You have always made me feel so safe and comfortable. I would very much…like to learn…or at least try to…what I’m trying to say is…gah…why is this so hard?” He paused as he shook his head. A long pause follows as Asahi struggles for the right words.
“I want you to teach me how to kiss someone!” Asahi finally spit out louder than intended. As the words left his mouth, Asahi felt his cheeks warm and heartbeat quicken. He couldn’t bring his eyes to look at Daichi in the moments after the words were spoken. Instead, he studied a run in the fabric of Daichi’s shirt wondering if he should tell the man about it or not…
Daichi, on the other hand, felt his cheeks tiring from smiling so much at just how adorable Asahi was. The poor guy just gets in his head and flustered over the simplest of things. This could include a test grade, a volleyball game, or even if the outfit coordinated well. Each was a piece of Asahi that made the man someone unique and special to Daichi.
“Asahi, I’d be glad to.” One of Daichi’s hands cupped the side of Asahi’s face, gently turning Asahi so he was looking at Daichi’s eyes full of sincerity. “If at any time you feel uncomfortable, I want you to push me away or say stop. Okay?”
Asahi nodded as his eyes followed Daichi’s darker eyes scanning over his own features. “Of course, Daichi.”
Daichi nodded, not fully realizing that his thumb was lightly stroking Asahi’s cheek. Asahi closed his eyes briefly, pressing his cheek against the worn and callused pad of Daichi’s thumb. Asahi took in a deep inhale relaxing into the touch. His eyelids fluttered closed, with Daichi’s voice being the only thing to bring him back.
“First thing about a successful kiss is sensing and setting the mood. I believe that you will be good at both of these things so I’ll skip over that for now if you are okay with that, Asahi.”
Asahi opened his eyes and nodded to show he was listening while not wanting to interrupt Daichi’s words.
“When you sense that the mood is there and you also want to kiss the person, you can turn your body to face the other and slowly lean in closer until your lips are almost touching. As you get closer, one or both of you may need to tilt your head slightly so you don’t bump noses or accidentally bump teeth. Like this…” Daichi leans in closer demonstrating how to turn his head slightly. “The other person can choose to close the space or the person initiating can be the one to close the space.”
Asahi blinks as he now is face to face with Daichi. Asahi swears that their noses were almost making contact with one another, but perhaps his eyes were deceiving him. In the silence that followed after Daichi’s words, Asahi felt his head turn to the side almost out of instinct as in order to try and avoid their noses from colliding. Asahi nodded, leaning in closer as if followed Daichi’s instructions. Asahi could feel Daichi’s breath as it caught in the former captain’s throat at Asahi’s sudden action.
’How is Asahi so good at this? Is that my heartbeat im hearing in my ears? Are my cheeks feelling warm? Oh my good what is wrong with me?’
Daichi thought to himself having his own internal conversation with himself in his head as he tried to calm himself down from the impending feelings of being flustered by his best friend being so close to him.
‘Get it together, Daichi! Your best friend asked you to help him, and that’s just what you are going to do! What are you doing getting a bit shy over kissing practice with your best friend? You’ve done as much when the other captains played spin the bottle at one of the training camps in Tokyo during your third year. Kissing Asahi will be no different…
…right?’
Asahi raised an eyebrow at Daichi’s uncharacteristic silence.
“Daichi, is everything okay?” Asahi asked pulling back a little wondering if his leaning in had caused Daichi to feel uncomfortable. That was was the last thing Asahi ever wanted; his best friend to feel uncomfortable around him. Asahi was the one who had suggested the kissing practice, right? His memories of the night were growing a bit hazy due to the beers and alcohol he’d consumed throughout the watch party as well as then with Daichi after the party.
“No…
I mean yes, everything is alright. You did nothing wrong.”
Daichi replied secretly cursing in his head at his error. Daichi had known Asahi for long enough now to know that Asahi was one to think of everyone else before himself. If Asahi had the impression that someone else was uncomfortable especially because of something he suggested, Asahi would shy away from the suggestion even if it was something Asahi truly wanted to try.
Daichi shook his head taking Asahi’s hands in each of his.
“Asahi, look at me. You do not make me uncomfortable in the slightest. Please don’t be bothered. You are surprisingly good at this for not having any experience on the subject. It just caught me off guard. I want to continue, if you do.”
Asahi felt his cheeks warm at Daichi’s words. Words of praise and affirmation always had that affect on the longer haired former ace. His heart beat was loud in his ears as his breath caught in his throat. He nodded in reply to Daichi as his head still was struggling to find words.
Daichi’s smile spread across his face at that, giving Asahi’s hands a reassuring squeeze. Daichi leaned in again, feeling his heartbeat had calmed some. Yet, he still heard it echoing in his ears. Daichi rested his hands in Asahi’s on space between each of their legs on the couch. As he continued to lean in closer to Asahi, their hands gently rested on Daichi’s own thigh.
Daichi tilted his head while the space continued to close between them anticipating that Asahi would remain fairly stationary.
“If you want, you can close your eyes, Asahi. That is all personal preference.”
Daichi added, knowing that Asahi could probably feel Daichi’s breath against the former ace’s lips as he spoke with how close the two to one another. Daichi’s own eyes remained open and caught Asahi’s eyes fluttering shut as Asahi remained frozen there waiting for Daichi to finishing closing the space. Daichi’s heart skipped a beat at just how beautiful Asahi looked in that moment. Asahi’s lips were parted ever so slightly while his eyes are hidden behind his lids with long lashes.
Daichi swallowed if only to take a breathe and exhale it. In one more moment longer, Daichi closed the space. Daichi’s slightly rougher lips were met with Asahi’s softer lips with a chaste kiss held a few moments before Daichi pulled away.
Both of their eyes fluttered open as they both looked across at each other. The two sat merely in this silence that settled post kiss, lasting probably longer than normally would occur after a kiss. Daichi decided that it was probably up to him to say something.
“So…um…Asahi, that’s the basic kiss. Do you think you’ve got a good grasp of it?”
Daichi rubbed the back of his own neck with a hand he freed from Asahi’s.
“I-
I think I do, Daichi.”
Asahi finally replied softly.
“Can we try again? I think another practice would be beneficial.”
Asahi asked looking down at his hand resting in the space now between them. His free hand twirled a stray strand of hair that had been too short to make it into the braid around his index finger.
Daichi smiled nodding as he leaned in again pressing his lips to Asahi’s.
This pattern continued with the only change being Asahi starting to press his lips against Daichi’s lips as the repetitions increased.
Just as their lips finally parted from each other’s for what could perhaps be the tenth time (not that either had been counting), the dawn sunlight was filtering in through Daichi’s window of his living room. The both looked at each other a bit stunned and surprised. Asahi checked his watch noting down that he did have to catch the first morning train back to Tokyo and the ticket on his phone. He had two hours before his departure; yet he should probably head to the station soon. He turned to Daichi with a slight smile and cheeks still pink as he twirled a bit of the end on his hair hanging past his shoulder.
“Thank you, Daichi…for everything. I cannot thank you enough. “
“Yeah…uh…you’re welcome, Asahi.” Daichi rubbed at the back of his head with a hand. “Can I take you to the station?”
“It’s only a short walk, Daichi.”
“I know, but I still want to walk you, if that’s alright, Asahi.”
“Of course.” Asahi stood up from the couch, and went to the door sliding on his shoes, donning his coat. He was reaching for his suitcase when Daichi’s hand brushed over his.
“Let me get that for you.” Daichi replied, meeting Asahi’s eyes with his own.
“Uh…yeah, that’s fine, Daichi.” Asahi nodded trying to keep his cheek from getting any warmer than they already were.
The two walked the few city blocks to the train station in relative silence. The two both processing what had just happened over the duration of the whole night. Daichi was extremely in his head. Just how long had he been feeling romantic attraction for Asahi and just never acknowledged it? Had it taken finally kissing Asahi to realize that Asahi was who Daichi wanted?
Just as they reached the train platform and Asahi was about to step onto the train, Daichi reached out and gently grabbed Asahi’s wrist in his hand.
“Wait, Asahi…” Daichi paused wondering just why he was asking to for Asahi to stop. The way he felt his heart beating in his chest he knew why.
“Please come back and visit more often. Or perhaps I’ll come to you, because I want to continue to practice kissing with you. Asahi…I-
I like you. Not just as a friend, but romantically. I…uh… you utterly fluster me, Asahi. Please will you consider being mine? I mean like dating…I don’t mind the distance.” Daichi ran a hand through his dark hair to stop himself from rambling on more.
Asahi for his part had turned to face Daichi when he was asked to wait by Daichi. Asahi’s eyes widened as Daichi continued to speak. The former ace wasn’t sure just how to respond to this sudden confession. He’d never been confessed to. Well not really never, as he thought about it. There was that time Noya asked him on Asahi graduation day, but Asahi had turned him down. Was he wanting to do the same to Daichi?
Asahi still felt the tingling on his lips as from their earlier kisses. The whole time while Daichi confessed, Asahi felt his heart race and the breath catch in his throat. He didn’t remember either of those feelings happening when Noya had confessed to him.
Asahi stepped forward closing the space between them. His hand reached to hold one side of Daichi’s face while the other rested on the back of Daichi’s neck. Asahi rested his forehead against Daichi’s before he turned his head and pressed his lips lightly against Daichi’s lips. He held the kiss for a few moments before pulling away.
“Our promise sealed with a kiss. I’m happy when you said you wanted to call me yours.
I’ll hold you to your word, Daichi Sawamura. It’s your turn to come to my place for the next lesson.” He chuckled waving to Daichi as he turn and stepped onto the train. Daichi was left speechless and frozen in place watching as the train pulled away from the station.