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***
Oikawa sighed, taking in the rickety surroundings once more. A single stand heater stood in the corner, providing minimal warmth to any poor soul that stumbled inside but it was better than nothing he supposed. The shutters looked like they were a single use away from shattering and the door’s lock was rusted through but, well, it wasn’t as though this wasn’t the consequences of his actions.
He had dreamed, upon finishing high school, that he would graduate in Law, secure a volleyball sponsorship along the way, and use both to boost his fame and travel around the world. Argentina, ideally. He would have gone there and tried to weasel his way into the V-League.
But it very much hadn’t gone that way for him and, after four and a half years of leaning on his sister, juggling baby-sitting with online studying, he’d decided he had to get out because he couldn’t do it anymore. Couldn’t spend another day of, essentially, hiding from his parents, from the world, and pretending that everything would somehow fix itself and return to the way he’d once dreamed. A look to his right and something in him softened. Yes, he needed to start his own life so they could have a life.
“Oikawa?”
He looked up, beaming at the officer on the other side. “That’s me. Sorry if I’m early. My interview wrapped up earlier than expected.”
“No, no, we don’t mind.” The man flicked through a stack of manilla folders before making a noise at one. “Ah, here. We have a few forms to sign to confirm your change of address, finalise the rental agreement, and enrolment.”
Oikawa nodded, passing over his residence card and driver’s license, as well as a pair of birth certificates. The officer - Hideo, his name tag read - worked through them a tad slower than Oikawa would have but he supposed it suited this sleepy town. When he finished a form, Oikawa would read over it and give the final sign off.
“What job were you going for, if I may?”
“Hm, I don’t mind. A coaching job. Up at the high school.”
Hideo’s eyes flicked up. “Volleyball?”
“Mm.”
“That’s good to hear! Their old coach had to give it up; his ma got sick or something. But we had just started going to Nationals. Can you keep that up?”
Oikawa laughed. “I’d like to. I have experience with the team.”
“Oh? Have you played them?”
“A couple of times.” He threw his mind back. “Almost six years ago now. The same year they went to Nationals for the first time.”
He got a warm, genuine smile, something Oikawa wasn’t especially used to. “Then, you’ll do great.” Hideo handed over photocopies of the completed forms and a set of keys. “You’re located in the seventh ward. Just across from the community garden and down from the junior high.” He glanced around Oikawa, frowning at his single duffel. “Removalist on the way?”
“They should be at the property by two.”
Considering nothing in this godforsaken town seemed to open before eleven-thirty.
“Ah, then you’ve got time. It’s about a fifteen minute walk. I’ll have one of our Junior Officers walk you over.”
He held up a hand. “That’s not necessary.”
“Nonsense. They can give you a feel for the area.”
He was already slipping out the back as he said it and Oikawa sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. He threw a smile over his shoulder, got one in return, and had just turned back at the sound of footsteps before schooling his features. Ah. That he hadn’t counted on.
“Oikawa?”
“Yo, long time no see, Sawamura.”
***
Daichi had been more than willing to show their new resident to their property; after all, crime was slow in Karasuno but helping people? That he enjoyed. Seeing Oikawa at the front counter of the station though, less enjoyable. At the very least, Oikawa looked just as thrilled to see him, slapping on a smile that would only have fooled the blind. Still, he could make nice. It had been five years. He was sure a lot had changed since then and besides, it wasn’t as though he and Oikawa had ever had any personal vendetta against each other.
“Welcome to Karasuno,” he said. “Moving into the area?”
“Thought I could do with a change of pace,” was the reply, a set of keys being tossed his way. “The address is on there, I believe.”
It very much was and Daichi gave his superior officer a nod before holding the door open. Oikawa shouldered his bag, seemed to stiffen before deflating, reaching a hand out behind him. “Teisen, let’s go.”
Daichi had to very much slam his jaw shut to keep it from dropping as a little boy padded over to Oikawa’s side. He had a bag of his own, a bug catching net poking out the top, and those eyes very much gave away who his father was. The hair colour was darker but the soft waves were the same. He was also, if Daichi had to guess, almost five and that. Oh. They were only five years out of school themselves and-
“Sawamura, if you’re lost already, I will abandon all faith in you.”
It was said in a teasing, lilting tone but the look on Oikawa’s face was so, so dark. It dared him to ask, dared him to judge him, and Daichi would never. He also didn’t know Oikawa that well, not how he knew Kuroo or Bokuto, and so, “My apologies. Come, it’s not a long walk although there’s a bit of a hill?”
“We’ll manage,” Oikawa assured with a wave of his hand.
And so they did, Teisen (was that what Oikawa had called him?) a tad prone to straying and poking his nose in every nook and cranny but never for long and he always trotted right back, hand sliding dutifully into Oikawa’s. With the time they had, Daichi got the okay before helping Oikawa locate things such as the supermarket, the medical centre, the bus stops and how long it took to get where. He maintained an aloof aura throughout but he was taking in everything with that razor sharpness of his.
“So,” Daichi said as they turned onto the uneven, cracked road that led to Oikawa’s new house. “If I asked, would you tell me?”
Oikawa hummed, watching Teisen wobble precariously on a wall before managing to right himself. “No, I don’t think I would.”
“I thought as much. Can I ask where you’ll be working, at least?”
“No, I’m afraid you won’t like that either.”
Daichi frowned, watching his back for a second before stumbling. “No. You can’t be.”
“Can’t be what, Sawamura?”
“That is, the vice-principal told me, he was interviewing a replacement for Ukai. You’re not…”
Oikawa flashed him a peace sign and Daichi felt the life drain from his eyes. “The new Karasuno volleyball coach? It suits me, don’t you think?”
It didn’t, it very much did not, and Daichi went to say as much before his eyes landed on Teisen, who was currently trying to coax a stray cat into coming close enough to pat. Oikawa followed his gaze, floundering.
“Teisen, don’t do that! You don’t know what germs it has!”
“Daddy, you scared it off!”
“As I should have. It could have scratched you.”
“Meanie.”
“I’m okay with being a meanie if you means you don’t get sick.”
Teisen grumbled there but dropped it, instead kicking pebbles up the street.
“I know Karasuno practice times,” Daichi said, tone low. “He’ll be home alone.”
“Sawamura, you’re saying that like I don’t already know.” There was something heavy in Oikawa’s voice there; something he’d never heard before. Daichi decided he didn’t like it. “But it was the only job in the prefecture that covered rent and wasn’t over fifty hours a week. Although, thirty’s barely enough…”
That last part seemed to be more said to himself, Oikawa shaking it off. He then snatched the keys out of Daichi’s hands. “Well, looks like we’re here. Thank you for your service, Officer Sawamura!”
He whisked up Teisen before Daichi could get another word in, unlocking the modest two storey home and throwing a wave over his shoulder. It was a very clear dismissal and Daichi only just had the sense of mind to jog to the end of the lane before pulling his phone out.
“Suga, you won’t believe what just happened.”
***
“You know, with the town only being this size, I’d say you’ve been ignoring me.”
Oikawa looked up from the two packets of senbei he was currently debating between. He handed both off to Teisen, who, perhaps naturally, dumped the one with the most colourful packaging into their shopping cart.
“Mr. Refreshing. Hardly ignoring if I don’t know you live here.”
Suga came up short and Oikawa smiled a tad at that. Pulling a reaction out of someone had always been fun and that hadn’t changed since Teisen’s birth.
“Ah. I assumed Daichi had told you. We live together, you know?”
Oikawa did not know but nodded all the same. “But surely you’re not a police officer. That wouldn’t be like you at all.”
“No, I teach at the elementary school.”
Oikawa blinked, turning to Teisen and pointing at Suga. “You ever seen him before?”
Teisen squinted before straightening. “Ah, Mr. Sugawara from second year!”
“My, my, what a mouthful. Sugawara.”
He got rolled eyes for his trouble and then was bypassed as Suga crouched down to his son’s level. “And what’s your name? I haven’t seen you at school, sorry.”
“Oikawa Teisen! Kindergarten class!”
“Nice to meet you, Teisen. How are you finding Karasuno?”
“Good! There are never any cars so I can cross the road without looking!”
Oikawa spluttered. “You should definitely be looking! You promised me you and Haruto were being safe.”
“We are!” Teisen insisted.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it,” Suga said, bowing ever so slightly. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. But, if possible, could we exchange phone numbers? It seems a waste to have you so close and never interact. Especially since you’re at Karasuno now. Is Takeda remaining on?”
“He is. I think he almost fainted when he saw me.”
Suga laughed, that laugh swapping into a softer smile when Oikawa passed him his phone. He began keying in the digits. “Also, and I mean this in a completely non-creepy way, but you should check out the girl’s volleyball team. Hinata’s little sister just joined.”
Oikawa froze midway through taking the phone back. “And how similar to Chibi-chan is she?”
“Cookie cutter!”
He snatched his phone back. “Then absolutely not. Good day, Mr. Refreshing!”
“Bye Oikawa, bye Teisen!”
“Bye bye Mr. Sugawara!”
Their shopping lasted another hour, mainly because they argued over every item and, by the time they’d wrangled it home and put it away, Oikawa was exhausted. He slumped onto the couch as Teisen flew out the door, banging loudly on the house next door and squealing when his new best friend came out with an equally disgusting amount of energy.
The only reason he didn’t end up falling asleep there was his phone going off. Oikawa wrestled it from his pocket, squinting at the screen and absently thinking that he really did need to start wearing his glasses twenty-four-seven.
I hope I’m not overstepping but Daichi overheard you needing more hours and we have no sports at the elementary school.
If you want to meet, we can discuss adding volleyball to the curriculum with the principal as a PE substitute? An hour a class, seven classes a week. During school hours of course.
Oikawa hummed. Thirty seven hours. He looked around their meagre house. Well, he certainly wouldn’t turn down any additional income.
When and where?
***
On the three month anniversary of his move to Karasuno, Oikawa was invited to dinner with Daichi and Suga. Although, he supposed invited might have been the wrong word because Suga had made it very clear that he could, in no way, turn down the invitation and that if he did, they would simply turn up at his front door. Which, admittedly, was an advantage they had as Daichi knew his address. Oikawa wasn’t used to being on the back foot.
And so he’d graciously agreed and gotten an address sent his way. They lived on the other side of the stream that was touted as a river and there was a tad of a jealous ping in his chest when he arrived at the front door just gone six, Teisen at his side. It was nice. Nice, clean, considerably newer than his rental, and a good deal larger. It also was a stone’s throw away from a park and if that wasn’t a feature for anyone with children, Oikawa didn’t know what was.
He rang the bell and waited less than a minute before Daichi swung it open. His smile was cordial but swapped to something softer when Teisen handed over their gift basket.
“Oh, you really didn’t need to.”
“‘s polite,” Teisen mumbled before kicking off his shoes and racing in. Oikawa made to grab him but missed. From Suga’s laughter inside, he didn’t mind.
“My apologies.”
“Don’t mind.”
He said exactly the way Oikawa remembered and he snorted, Daichi flushing. “Look, old habits are hard to break.” He led them through to the living room, Suga already letting Teisen have at his school craft supplies. “Speaking of, semi-finals of Inter High? Impressive.”
Oikawa gave a shrug. “I really didn’t do much there. Three months isn’t long enough to drill in too many new skills.”
“Hmm, I guess not. We got lucky with Kageyama and Hinata.”
“They’re not the freak duo for nothing. There’s no one like that this year. But they’re as aggressive as you were. Need teamwork though,” Oikawa mused. “They throw things at the wall without a plan. There’s no follow up.”
“They don’t connect,” Daichi surmised. “Nekoma could-”
Oikawa held up a hand. “Sorry Sawamura, but I’m the coach, not you. I’m aware of what connections Karasuno does and doesn’t have.”
“Of course.”
“Besides, we’re not here to talk volleyball,” Suga cut in, shooting them a grin and a warning all in one. “Daichi and I thought we’d barbeque out the back. That suit you?”
Oikawa nodded, settling into the lounge with Suga, listening in on school drama from him and Teisen while Daichi prepared the final cuts of meat. Then they were ushered outside, Suga spreading out a picnic rug and Teisen watching Daichi with wide eyes, so, so delighted whenever he got to turn a piece of meat. He did it ever so carefully and was sure to never put his fingers anywhere near the grill.
“He’s very responsible,” Suga praised, Oikawa following his gaze and smiling.
“Well, I suppose one of us has to be.”
***
A single beer turned into several, a toss of a napkin turning into an impromptu volleyball game on the embankment across the road. Sunset turned into night and somehow heading home turned into Teisen tucked up into the bed in the spare room and Oikawa discovering that Daichi and Suga lived together in that they lived together, not the they were roommates kind. Or rather, they were roommates.
It also led to the three of them sprawled out in the living room, more beer bottles dotting the floor and Oikawa draped across the couch, feet in Suga’s lap, spilling his life story.
“We tried to hide it, you know? She was moving to Yokohama and I was moving to Tokyo. The plan was to give it - we never found out the gender - away at birth. Only Iwa-chan knew and a friend of hers. She called me when she went into labour and it just…went wrong. There were complications and the doctors couldn’t do anything.”
“Shit,” Daichi swore, reaching up and curling a hand around his wrist.
“They called our parents; we were so young, I think. Her parents didn’t take it well, how could they? Their daughter died giving birth to a baby they didn’t know she had. They blamed me and why shouldn’t they? I blamed myself too. My parents didn’t take it much better. My sister got walked out on and they couldn’t believe I’d do the same thing…They blocked my number then and there and told me never to call them again.”
The way his hand inched towards his cheek told Suga they’d said it in a much more physical way.
“It was my sister that took me in though.” Oikawa snorted. “For some reason, she was the most understanding.”
“Iwaizumi didn’t help?” Daichi asked because he and Oikawa had been near inseparable and he couldn’t imagine a world in which Iwaizumi wouldn’t have helped him.
Oikawa found the contents of his bottle very interesting. “I never told him. He already had plans to move to America by then. I couldn’t take that from him.”
Suga reached out, interlacing their fingers. “Does he know now?” The silence was answer enough. “Tooru. You should tell him.”
He pulled his hand away, swiping at his eyes and shit, when had he started crying? Daichi scrambled for a tissue, Oikawa taking it with a wet thanks. “What would I even tell him? That I’ve been lying to him for over four years?”
“He’ll be hurt but he’d understand.”
“I don’t think I want him to,” Oikawa admitted.
Daichi’s gaze turned severe. “You can’t punish yourself for this forever Oikawa. You made a mistake but you’re doing everything you can to fix it. You didn’t walk away when it mattered.”
“Sawamura, I killed someone.”
“No, you got someone pregnant. Which, also, is a two person act. You couldn’t do anymore than you did.”
Oikawa didn’t answer, Suga sighing and tapping at his phone so the screen lit up. “Come on, spill session’s over. It’s getting late and you-” he kicked Daichi with a socked foot, “-have work tomorrow. Tooru, we’ll grab you some clothes to borrow.”
Oikawa jerked up. “Oh, no, I’ll head home. It’s a short walk and-”
“Tooru, it’s one in the morning. We would both prefer it if you walked home with Teisen when it was light.”
Daichi nodded a firm agreement and Oikawa reluctantly gave in. He waved them off at the guest bedroom door, Suga picking up the last bottles and stacking them for recycling as Daichi double checked the front door lock. He smiled softly when strong arms slid around his waist. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.”
“I wasn’t kidding, we should sleep.”
“Hmm, alright. But tomorrow, can we talk?”
A phrase like that usually filled Suga with dread but never when Daichi said it. And, if Daichi wanted to talk about the same thing he was considering talking about, that was even better.
“Of course. You know where to find me.”
Lips pressed against his cheek. “I love you.”
“I know.”
***
A week was a long time. A long time to be away from home and a long time to expect his sister to watch Teisen. She hadn’t minded the few days over Golden Week but a week during summer holidays probably wasn’t going to go over well. Especially since Takeru had his own camps and so wouldn’t be home either. He was, realistically, going to have to hire a nanny or turn down Karasuno’s training camp. Which, really, was unprofessional and most likely went against his job description.
“You seem worried about this camp Mr. Oikawa,” Takeda said as they locked up and made for the road leading from high school.
“I’ve told you, Oikawa is fine. And I’m not worried.”
“Hmm, really?”
Oikawa waved his concerns off but was still strong armed into entering the shop on the corner. It was a small conbini, family owned rather than one of the giants like 7/11 or Family Mart, but the owner turned out to be someone he very much recognised. They may have been mid conversation with Suga but that halted when he caught sight of Oikawa.
“No. I refuse to believe it.”
Oikawa sniffed, turning away haughtily even as Suga stammered out an apology and, oh. He rolled his eyes, strolling down to the freezers and clapping his hand down firmly on the head below him, earning a startled shout.
“One dessert a day, didn’t I say?”
Teisen looked up with wide-eyes. “D-Daddy.”
“Then,” he continued, plucking the frozen juice bar from his son’s hands and giving it a once over before handing it back. “No ice cream after dinner tonight.”
He got a long, loud whine in response but no arguments. He suspected that was because Teisen suddenly realised he’d been caught and, if his furtive looks to Ukai were any indication, the shopkeeper would have a lot of dirt on him and cost him more than one single dessert.
“Sorry,” he grumbled, making for the counter with his friend.
“Be home by sundown!” Oikawa called and the boys nodded before taking off down the lane.
Grabbing a drink of his own from the fridges, he wasn’t unaware of the looks he was getting. He was used to them though and so was dutifully able to tune them out. He did, however, make his irritation known through slamming a handful of coins down and cracking open the can’s tab when service came a bit too slow because of it.
“Well, are we going to gawk all day?”
Ukai flustered and passed over his change, too much but Oikawa didn’t point that out, while Takeda’s lips pursed. “Of course. Summer camp must be difficult for you. Not to mention coaching in general. Oikawa, you should have said. I could have-”
“No,” Ukai cut in, only to round on Suga, who froze. “You babysit. Take the kid for a week. And mind him after school! You’re free!”
“I’m sure Suga is already busy,” Oikawa objected, earning a double take form Suga at the use of his name. “My sister’s in Sendai and she can never say no to me.”
“No, he’s right. I am free,” Suga said, brow pinching. “I have to stay back a little after school each day but I can certainly mind Teisen in the afternoons. It’d be an exchange, you know, for you helping my juniors get to Nationals.”
Oikawa frowned, deeply, Suga pushing him out the door before they could start an argument then and there in the store. Not that it ever truly turned into one, more Oikawa trying to push his side and Suga just ignoring him. And, somehow, by the time they reached the corner they split at, Oikawa was pressing his spare key into Suga’s hands and getting a warm smile in return. He hated that smile.
Although, deep down, he really, really didn’t.
***
“Oh, here again?”
Suga snorted. “Apparently ever since Tooru showed off his serves, there’ve been a pair of second years that won’t leave him alone.”
Daichi smiled at that, hanging his bag up by the door. Oikawa remained blissfully unaware, stretched across the couch, head resting on Suga’s chest while the other read. His eyes were closed, his breaths deep and even.
“And Teisen?”
“Told he has to be home by five. But if it’s before four, he’s to come here.”
A look at his watch showed it to be just gone three. Volleyball practice let out at one on Saturdays and, from the dvds and notebooks messily dumped on the coffee table, Daichi imagined Oikawa had come straight over afterwards. He picked one up, eyebrows shooting up at the detailed analysis within. Each players’ stats, strengths, weaknesses, favoured shots, areas they needed to work on, who played best with who, which six worked best for offence, defence, height, power.
“How did we ever beat them?”
“Tactics aren’t everything,” Suga said gently, closing his book and swapping to running his fingers through soft, brown strands instead. “And they don’t account for miracle plays.”
Daichi snorted, perching on the back of the couch. “Gods know Hinata pulled off enough of those.”
“Excuse me, who was it that received with their foot?”
“Shut up!”
Suga laughed and Daichi joined in, even as he felt his cheeks heat up. They sobered as Oikawa stirred, only daring to resume conversation when he didn’t wake.
“Did you know, he’s invited us to Teisen’s shichi-go-san? The invitation’s on the fridge.”
“Suga, that’s for family only.”
“Yeah, and I think we’re all he has. His sister’s attending, I think, but that’s all. His nephew too, maybe.”
Daichi’s lips pursed, reaching down and letting his knuckles brush over Oikawa’s cheek. “One day, we’ll need to discuss this.”
“We will.”
“Hm, for now, I have a phone call to make.”
Suga turned, confused at the segue, but Daichi was already gone. After all, he had a number to find and no way of knowing how to find it. He then groaned. Not unless he called Kuroo and asked for a favour, something Kuroo just loved to cash in. Still, he thought, throwing a look back towards the living room, it would be worth it.
***
“You’re sure this is the colour you want?”
“Yes. You asked me a hundred times already!”
Oikawa coughed and hastily looked away, thankful for Daichi’s hand on his shoulder. “Even if it wasn’t, you wouldn’t have time to change it now. The ceremony starts in forty minutes.”
That was very much true but still. As much as Oikawa liked seeing Teisen in Seijoh green, he didn’t want anyone to think he’d pushed the colour on his son. The black helped, making it different enough from his old volleyball uniform that it wouldn’t be too suspicious but still.
“You’re stressing and you shouldn’t be.”
Oikawa turned on his heel, mindful of his hakama’s length. “This is one of the most important ceremonies of my son’s life! I have a right to be stressed.”
Daichi held up his hands. “Alright, alright.” His phone then went off and their attention went there. “Suga’s just arrived. Why don’t you show him the way? Take a walk to clear your head.”
“He’s your boyfriend,” Oikawa grumbled but did as asked, giving a jaunty little wave to Teisen. He waved back before pulling at Daichi’s haori sleeve and gesturing behind him in a way he probably thought was discrete. No doubt he was trying to weasel something out of the nearby vending machine. The stairs up to the shrine were numerous and Oikawa deigned to only go down half of them, fiddling with his phone as he waited. His sister was ten minutes away and he assured her that yes, she would be able to find a park easily and yes, he had a photographer on site. Footsteps had him looking up, smile already in place for Suga, when everything stopped, his heart along with it.
“You really are a piece of shit, you know that, Shittykawa?”
“I-Iwa-chan…”
A hand came up and he braced himself for the hit that was sure to follow but instead he was hauled in, stumbling a tad at the force. He then sobbed. Iwaizumi sighed, pressing their foreheads together. “Oi, don’t start crying. You’ve had your hair and makeup shit done, right?”
That was very true and Oikawa reluctantly stepped back, dabbing at his eyes. Iwaizumi’s frown was as prevalent as ever but there was something softer in his face, something sad.
“I…” Oikawa turned to Suga. “I take it this was your doing.”
“Daichi’s, actually,” he informed, laying a hand on his arm. “We’ll be up at the shrine. Don’t be late,” he tacked on teasingly.
Oikawa watched him go before swapping to look at the ground because he didn’t dare look at Iwaizumi. Not after so long. Not after so many lies. That earnt him another deep, heavy sigh and then Iwaizumi reached out, taking his hand. Oikawa jerked up, eyes widening at the tears his best friend was blinking away.
“You should have told me. Dammit, I asked, and you said everything was fine!”
“Iwa-chan had dreams. You deserved to keep them.”
“Who’s saying I would have given them up?” he scoffed. “But…Shit, I wasn’t there for you! Tooru-”
He froze there.
“-hearing this, from Sawamura of all people, was the worst part. Who knows? From Seijoh, who knows?”
“No one,” he croaked.
Iwaizumi punched him. “You ass! We all would have helped you! Shit.” He then shook his head. “You know what, I was mad at you the whole plane ride here. Later, when we’re alone, I’m gonna be disappointed in you but right now, we have a ceremony to attend and if there is anything that’s supposed to be done by the second parent, I am doing it, do you understand?”
“You’d really…”
“Understand?”
“I understand!”
“Good, now let’s go.” He spun, snatching up Oikawa’s wrist and veritably dragging him up the stairs. “What’s his name again? Tensei?”
“Teisen,” Oikawa corrected meekly before shaking the glumness away, chirping brightly, “You can’t miss him Iwa-chan. He’s in Seijoh colours!”
Iwaizumi choked and Oikawa laughed. Maybe, just maybe, he should have told Iwaizumi all those years ago.
***
They hadn’t sat and had that conversation with Oikawa, though Daichi was fairly sure he knew it was coming. After all, the amount of times he’d teasingly pressed a kiss to Suga’s cheek when saying goodnight or let his fingers delicately wrap around Daichi’s wrist when they passed each other throughout the day was just too coincidental. It was frightening, in a way, that Oikawa might like them the way they liked him, but it was exhilarating too. Once upon a time, Daichi would never have looked at him twice; not in a romantic way. But then he’d matured, swapped his blatant flirting for a more genuine charm. His little digs were more teasing than scornful and something about him had just…softened.
Although, none of that mattered when the station door was suddenly flung open. One of its hinges creaked dangerously and Daichi dove around the counter to stop the door from falling completely. He was already preparing to scold the culprit when he saw Oikawa. He was panting, eyes wide and wild, and his face was so, so pale.
“Tooru?”
“He’s gone,” Oikawa gasped. “Practice ended early so I thought I’d surprise him at home but he wasn’t there. He’s not there, he’s not with Suga, he’s not with Haruto. Daichi, he’s-”
“Teisen?”
Oikawa nodded furiously. Daichi swore, bellowing over his shoulder,
“Chief! Oikawa Teisen’s missing!”
The man shuffled in a tad faster than usual. He looked between the two of them before clapping his hands together. “Sawamura, go, begin the search. East to west. Oikawa, last known whereabouts?”
Daichi took off, sprinting for the eastern edge of town. He fumbled for his phone as he did so, placing the call and hating every second it wasn’t answered. A click and then,
“Hi! I just got home and-”
“Is Teisen with you?”
A pause. “Daichi?”
“Teisen. Tooru can’t find him. He came to the station out of his mind.”
Daichi heard Suga throw his bag down and race back to the entryway. “I’ll check all his usual haunts. I’ll call Ukai as well, see if he’s up that way.”
“Thank you!”
He reached the clinic on the edge of town, racing into reception and asking if any young boys had been brought in. They hadn’t been and the nurses promised to call the station if that changed. From there, it was checking each and every street, tension ratcheting up with each lane that came up empty. He bumped into Oikawa just passed Takinoue Appliances, hating the way he bit back a sob upon seeing Daichi empty handed. He furiously consulted his watch.
“School let out three hours ago. That’s…Daichi, if someone took him…”
“We’ll find him,” Daichi assured. “He has to be somewhere. Let’s recheck the school.”
Oikawa went to protest before weakly nodding. The school, unfortunately, was a deadend and Hideo had already confirmed with the teachers that Teisen had left on time with the bell. It was a Tuesday so Suga had had staff meeting, meaning Teisen should have gone straight home or to Haruto’s. Haruto hadn’t seen him either, had invited him to go to Sakanoshita but had been turned down.
“He should be here,” Oikawa whispered as he frantically tore his house apart for the third time. “He was coming here; he should be here!”
Daichi took a step forwards then, going to pull him back and just make him sit, when his phone rang. Oikawa snapped around so fast Daichi was surprised he didn’t get whiplash. “Sawamura.”
“Daichi.” Suga sounded breathless. “I’ve got him.”
“Tooru.”
“Where?”
***
It had been luck, really. Suga had been running in and out of stores when he’d accidentally bumped into an elderly woman. He’d hastily straightened her and apologised, explaining himself all in one breath and she’d then pulled him up because she’d seen a little boy just after school had let out. At the bus stop, the one by the post office.
Suga took off down the road. The bus stop, of course, was empty and he ran an eye over the routes like he didn’t know them off by heart. Most did loops around Karasuno, the outer stations then connecting onto other towns. This stop though…It could be used to get to Sendai and shit, didn’t Oikawa’s sister live there? Had Teisen, for some reason, gone there?
He hadn’t had time to ask Daichi for her number when the bus pulled up again. And there, hopping out the front door with a little plastic bag in his arms,
“Teisen!”
The boy’s head snapped up, freezing when he saw Suga. He clearly knew he’d done something wrong but damned if Suga cared right then, yanking him into his arms and calling Daichi without a second thought.
Oikawa’s house was six minutes from the bus stop. He and Daichi made it in two.
“Teisen! Are you okay?” The boy was ripped from his arms, Oikawa burying him in his instead, hands shaking and tears thick. “Where were you? Where did you go? I was so worried! Everyone was looking for you!”
“But Daddy was at practice!”
“I was but then you weren’t…Teisen, where did you go?”
The five-year-old squirmed under the attention, especially so when Daichi hung up with Hideo and also turned to him. His bottom lip wobbled, thrusting the bag in his hands into Oikawa’s. Oikawa frowned, going to opening it before staggering at the label.
“Teisen, this is in Sendai. Tell me you didn’t go all that way!”
“It’s at the station; I knew I wouldn’t get lost! I know the way; I’m a big boy!”
“Teisen,” Suga said gently because Oikawa looked like he just couldn’t, Daichi’s hand on his back the only thing keeping him upright. “We understand that you can do it; but it’s really dangerous to go on your own, especially without telling anyone. If something happened, we wouldn’t be able to keep you safe because we wouldn’t be able to find you. Please ask next time; we’ll take you.”
“But it was a surprise.” He said it so innocently too, like he couldn’t comprehend why his father was crying, why everyone was so worried.
“Well, Daichi and I can always help with those, okay? In future?”
Teisen reluctantly nodded, slipping his arms around Oikawa’s neck and hugging him tightly. “I’m sorry Daddy. I’m really, really sorry.”
“Don’t do that again,” Oikawa choked out. “Please, never again. I can’t lose you.”
Teisen’s tiny fists tightened in his dad’s jacket. “I won’t. I promise.”
Daichi sent him a relieved smile and Suga returned it. He gave the Oikawas a minute before leaning in obnoxiously close. “I have to know though, what was the surprise?”
The surprise was, in fact, a set of light up alien whiteboard markers because apparently Oikawa’s had started to dry out and he’d mentioned needing new ones for the Miyagi Qualifiers. Oikawa forced out a laugh and Daichi looked like he’d had an entire lemon shoved in his mouth. Almost three hours worth of worry for a 698円 set of markers.
Suga was wondering if there was an appropriate way to thank someone for their assistance in such specific circumstances when Oikawa pushed himself to his feet, curled a hand into Daichi’s vest, and yanked him into a kiss. Well, that was certainly one way to do it.
And when the treatment was repeated on him, Suga definitely didn’t complain.
Oikawa’s face, when he walked away, waving at them over his shoulder, was a little too smug for their liking. Daichi clearly thought so too, if his scowl was anything to go by.
“If I hadn’t seen his panic for myself, I would say he damn orchestrated that.”
Suga threw his head back and laughed.
***
“So we’re not going to talk about this?”
“What’s there to talk about?”
“What’s there to talk about, he says, while moving into our house. Without asking,” Suga mocked.
Oikawa shot him a lop-sided smile. “It’s called efficiency, Suga-chan. I get free babysitting and you get free housework. Plus, we both save on rent. Everyone wins.”
“I definitely think we’re getting the lesser deal,” Daichi grumbled but the way he was already unpacking Oikawa’s crockery and stacking it amongst their own said otherwise. “And you don’t have to do all the chores. We share.”
He was waved off. “I told you, minding Teisen more than makes up for it.”
“It’s not really minding though, is it?” Suga asked, catching Oikawa’s interest. “Not if you’re as in this as we are. Because then, it just becomes parenting.”
Oikawa’s face went meticulously blank. He then looked around their house, lingering on the cubby by the door with Teisen’s name on it, where he neatly placed his shoes every afternoon. On the framed photos from his shichi-go-san in the stairwell. On the door to the guest bedroom, which had long since had a wall painted sky blue, had had glow in the dark stars stuck to the ceiling, and had a car mat taking up most of the floor. His breath caught and Daichi was over there in a second, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
“Is that what you want?” he asked gently.
Oikawa’s hands fisted in the hem of his shirt. “I don’t deserve it.”
“But is it what you want?”
There was a beat and then Oikawa gave a single, decisive nod. The first tears followed after, Daichi pressing a kiss to his temple while Suga bundled them in from the front.
“Really,” Suga said, once Oikawa was mostly done, making feeble swipes at his eyes. “We just wanted Teisen. You were an afterthought.”
“Suga!”
Daichi may have scolded him but Oikawa laughed, reaching out and dragging Suga in, a hand fisted in his hair - though it was mostly for sure and Suga could barely feel it, really. “You little brat.”
Suga blinked at him innocently. “I’m sure I could make it up to you.”
Oikawa’s smile swapped to something more devilish. “I’m sure you could. But!” he said abruptly, pushing him back and laughing at his affronted face. “I have more boxes on the way and there’s no fun to be had until everything’s packed away! Also, Teisen and I are going bug hunting at two so there - nyeh!”
With that, he waltzed out and Suga growled, phone already in hand. “What’s the bet I can make Takeda take Teisen out of town for some reason or another?”
Daichi’s hand curled over his. “Tooru sees him rarely enough as is. And besides, you’re about to have Tooru every day. He won’t be able to say no forever.”
“No, he won’t.”
***
The seats weren’t high, meaning Teisen could barely see the court unless he was in one of their laps. He had chosen Daichi’s because Suga was more prone to reacting to what was happening down below, often unsteadying the poor boy. Daichi was the safer bet, he’d found, and so was content to sit there as the warm ups began for the final match of the Qualifying rounds: Karasuno VS Aoba Johsai.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the old crows.”
They turned, unsurprised to see a couple of past Seijoh players standing in the aisle. Hanamaki and Matsukawa Daichi knew; the others he was less sure of. “Seijoh.”
They nodded back, perhaps about to taunt, when Teisen’s attention left the court and turned to them. Daichi watched as several of them stiffened, froze, and yes, he hadn’t been any better himself the first time. Teisen gave them a derisive once over and if that didn’t confirm everything they hadn’t asked, nothing would.
“Shit,” Hanamaki said. “That’s why…Fuck.”
“Oi, language.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Matsukawa said, elbowing his teammate and eyeing the court where Oikawa was giving Karasuno their final pep talk. “You find him or he find you?”
“More like he thought we’d all moved on and so he’d just disappear.”
“Idiot.” He flicked a look down. “Looks like we’re taking him out after so make some overnight plans.”
“We’ve got it covered,” Suga assured. “Now go. This is the Karasuno cheering section.”
“Alright, keep it together. Not like you’re gonna win anyway.”
Suga whirled around but Seijoh had already meandered off, though there was a lot of muttering and glances thrown back at them. Teisen flashed them a peace sign at one such look and they all blanched, scurrying off. A look down at the court showed Oikawa had very much seen and whatever trepidation he’d felt at running into his old friends had instantly been replaced with pride. He gave his son an identical peace sign and grin, Daichi laughing even as Suga scrambled to capture the moment on his phone.
Oikawa’s attention was then snatched away as the announcer called the game to order and Daichi settled in, arms wrapping around Teisen’s waist. “Ready to see your dad win?”
“Yeah!”
“Good, then let’s cheer him on.”
Teisen nodded, most of the game going over his head but following Suga blindly whenever he started cheering or griping. He mimicked his expressions perfectly, Daichi’s heart melting. And, after one point, when he caught Oikawa’s eye, he saw the exact feeling mirrored there.
It felt as though, finally, they were a family. And Daichi had never been happier.
***