Chapter Text
Streaks of purple mixed in with the vast wash of orange lit up the sky in its ambient light. Just a glance was never enough, every resident would find their steps slowing down to soak in the sight. Sunrise or sunset in Miyagi were spectacular, but sunrises especially as if starting the day with the entire world coming to a standstill for just a moment. The chains of a bike cutting through the silence with gentle rickets as the first signs of the sun’s rays peaked across the horizon. Like dipping your toes in the water, the rays slowly stretched further. The dark sky illuminated various colors as the hues deepened with the rise.
The bike’s wheels slowed down to come to a stop, black boots making their way to the ground, balancing the cycle on one leg. A young police officer looks out to watch the sun rise across the ocean. Birds cutting through the fiery oranges of the sky, a soft splash of the starting waves meeting the sand, and the officer releases a breath held tight in his lungs. With its release the soft sounds of the waking city of Sendai begin to surround his senses.
Now we can start the day.
With a firm push off the ground and the officer is back biking through the route to meet with the others at the station. Reaching the station, he hears a voice call out to him while locking up his bike by the racks.
“Always so early Sawamura-kun! They say the early bird catches the worm but you’re going for a much larger catch” He turns to see an older gentleman walk up to him, crisp uniform reading Security across the front pocket.
“Ito-san, are you wrapping up your rounds for the morning?” Greeting the older gentleman with a bow, the two walk to the Wakabayashi Police Station’s front doors together. Catching up on the older security guard’s night shift details, the young officer parts ways with a wave before entering the building. With only a few others starting their days, the station hummed quietly not yet filled with its usual footsteps and murmurs of officers. Footsteps echoing down a hallway, the officer opens a door to a training room. Greeted by two other young men sitting at a desk and another man standing at the front of the room. Saluting the officer at the front, he walks over to check in.
“Sawamura Daichi, please take your seat. I believe we’re only waiting for one more person and then we can start our session.”
After taking a seat with the other two, the other officer in training enters, completing the group.
“Officers, welcome to your last formal training session before you are officially welcomed into your respective Miyagi Prefecture police divisions. This will be a course to go over administrative details and fundamentals of your first days next week.”
What felt like a blink of an eye, Sawamura Daichi found himself back outside of the building. The only indication of passed time being the sun’s location finding itself further along in the sky. Bright blue painted above the man’s head with clouds scattered here and there. Bowing goodbye to the group, he heads towards his bike. With a quick check to his watch, he’s got an hour to make the train. After being let out earlier than expected, Sawamura buzzes with excitement to enjoy a nice day for once. On his bike whipping through the roads to the station, trained muscles, mind and body, allowing him to effortlessly weave through the town. Messages coming into his phone, confirming plans to meet at a bar in the heart of Sendai.
Pushing open the doors, some hours later, his eyes scan the softly lit interior of the bar. Except for the soft glow of tealights at the center of the tables, the ambiance of the bar is calm and soft to ease folks into the evening. Seeing a head of familiar grey hair, he makes his way through the bar and eases into the booth across from the other man.
“You got started without me!” He’s reaching over to playfully punch the shoulder of the other man, chuckling lightly already pouring a glass of beer to pass.
“I was here earlier than expected, but I know you can catch up. There will be a lot of that considering how tonight’s going to go” The grey haired man hums while lifting his glass for a cheers, receiving a skeptical look in return and a cautious cheers.
“Why…would there be a lot of “catching up” tonight Suga? You clearly know something you aren’t sharing with me and you know how much I love that” quirked eyebrow appearing over the rim of his glass as he stares down his best friend. Daichi and Koushi had known each other for the majority of their childhood, both having stayed in Miyagi post graduation. Sugawara had joined him in Sendai for a small trip during school breaks, granted time away from his teaching position. Grateful for his friend to have stayed within their hometown, which commonly is the norm but amidst their group, surprisingly ended up being outside the norm. A smile playing on his lips as he recollects the rag tag group of boys from his high school days.
Brought out of his memories by a glimpse of a face appearing at the bar entrance, shaping out of the memories in his brain. Like Athena out of Zeus, springing forward tangibly, yet playing with the fringes of his mind like a glimpse of water in the hot desert. Because seeing this person, here in a bar in Sendai, would be as mysterious as stumbling upon water in the vast stretches of sand.
That can’t be who…
“Asahi is in town to surprise you, and brought a couple old friends to celebrate your official police-hood!” Suga is jumping up out of his seat meeting the group in the middle to hug everyone and usher them in. Once again time seemed to slow down to a standstill, as Sawamura stood up brushing aside the booth curtain, eyes never leaving those of a taller gentleman standing behind his two childhood friends. Hazel eyes staring right back at the young man, pulling his mind into limbo unaware of his balance between memories of a once was and a moment of time right now. His vision blurring out everyone around except for the taller man, dressed in a crisp suit, slender legs closing the distance between the two bodies. A breath caught in Sawamura’s lungs slowly releasing with the realization that if he had reached out his hand dipping it would be into cold waters washing away the mirage and quenching his thirst.
“Congrats officer, wanted to be sure I was here in person to celebrate” a gruff voice swirling through Sawamura’s ears as he looks up at the man saluting him with a smirk on his face. A signature smirk that rocked Sawamura back more than a decade into his past and a pang in his heart that hadn’t left him in all the years passed. Words caught in his throat before catching the giggling of his friends, Suga and Asahi, behind the taller man. Whispers of teases that he already knew without hearing a single word, the sounds of the bar coming back into Sawamura’s senses.
“Kuroo Tetsurou, haven’t seen you in a few years. The JVA finally let you out of their ironclad grip Mr. Kuroo?” Returning his salute, both men stared at one another for a moment longer before breaking out in laughter. Only a quick hug is shared before Sawamura is swept up in saying hello to the others joining the group. Bodies squeezing into the booth, filling up the space with chatter bouncing off the walls. Sawamura finds himself shoulder to shoulder with the former Nekoma Captain and their setter, Kozume Kenma.
“I’m honored to have been penned into your schedule Kozume-kun. I don’t believe I’m the reason for the trip, but I’m happy to see you.” Sawamura turns to look at the younger man to his right who’s fully leaned back into the booth taking in his surroundings.
“Don’t start with me. There is no schedule, please don’t tease. Of course I’d join, I literally said I would in our group chat. It’s not my fault you guys never take me seriously.” The brunette mumbles, reaching for a glass of beer that Sugawara has poured out for everyone. “Plus I need to be here as an excuse for someone to properly meet” he whispers playfully, leaning into Sawamura’s side, causing him to fall into Kuroo’s side.
A hand comes up around Sawamura’s waist to center him with a gentle question of concern before moving away. Sawamura nods quickly to reassure the man to his left, while reaching over to pinch Kenma’s thigh eliciting a short yelp.
Watchful eyes across the table observe the interaction, relishing in the mellow environment building in the corner of the bar. The ease of conversation flowing into the night as the group catches up on lost months of stories and escapades. In the middle of it all, Sugawara found himself texting some others carefully under the table, away from the eyes of the main topics at the table.
Kenma: How much longer should we stay here interrupting the star crossed lovers?
Suga: Don’t say star crossed, we are literally making the entire galaxy align to not have them be pining forever.
Asahi: I just want to go to sleep. Also if we dip now, it’s early enough that they’ll have time to chat.
Kenma: Can’t believe the gentle giant is making the most sense right now. What happened to our master strategist?
Asahi: Kenma-kun I’m still your senior, please don’t tease me…
Suga: DIPPING NOW
“Hey Dai, we want to keep the rally going but I promised to take Asahi and Kenma to a dessert shop around the corner. We’ll head out a little early and then I’ll text ya later as I’m heading back to the hotel.” Without a gap in the sentence, the grey haired man is ushering both mentioned guys out of the booth with a sweet smile on his face.
This son of a….
“Excuse me??!! Why don’t we get to enjoy these desserts with you all?” Kuroo is retorting but at that moment a fresh pitcher of beer is placed on the table by the bartender before sweeping up empty glasses and walking away. Both Kuroo and Daichi are staring at the pitcher and then up at their three friends, already dressed and ready to leave.
“Because you still have that to finish. Can’t let good beer go to waste. See you guys later” Sugawara is walking away arm in arm with the other two before throwing out “maybe” and then out the door they go.
Sawamura, now acutely aware of the lack of distance between himself and the other man, slowly gets up to move to the other side of the booth. A warm hand covers his own, setting off butterflies in his stomach that he’s much too old to be feeling. Turning to meet hazel eyes once again staring right into him, causing a breath to fill his lungs completely. Caught there, every particle of air frozen in the moment.
“Don’t move Daichi, stay here” the words pierced through the air, traveling into the man’s ears, registering in his brain. Breathing out the trapped breath, setting in motion all his paused senses. With a nod, he takes a seat; wading through the cool waters of the lake in the center of the desert.