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The gym smells faintly of floor polish and warm sunlight when Daichi arrives. The peaceful kind of morning that makes him think, maybe today won’t be so terrible.
And then Noya whispers, ‘’… should we congratulate them? Or is that weird?’’
Daichi stops so fast his shoe squeaks. ‘’Congratulate who?’’ he asks, bracing himself for impact.
Noya looks helplessly over at Suga, who stands leaning against the wall with the expression of a man who absolutely knows what’s happening and is choosing chaos.
Suga says lightly, ‘’Oh, you know. Us.’’
Us.
Daichi nearly drops his bag.
‘’U-US?!’’ It comes out like he’s being strangled by invisible hands.
Hinata gasps dramatically. ‘’So you ARE dating!’’
Daichi chokes. ‘’We’re not dating!’’ Suga nods immediately, completely calm. ‘’Not dating.’’ Pause. Then Suga adds, far too casually, ‘’But everyone thinks we are.’’
Daichi’s sanity leaves the building on the spot. ‘’Why would anyone think that?!’’
Noya raises his hand, ‘’You walked home together.’’
Tanaka raises both his hands. ‘’In the rain! Under ONE umbrella! Intimately!’’
‘’We weren’t intimate!’’ Daichi yells, mortified. ‘’Your shoulders were touching!’’ Tanaka argues.
Kiyoko tucks her hair behind her ear. ‘’You smile at each other a lot. It’s very soft.’’
Daichi whips around, ‘’I am not soft!’’
Suga walks over and pats his arm, eyes sparkling. ‘’You’re incredibly soft, Daichi.’’
Daichi glitches. Entirely. He becomes a frozen loading screen.
Kageyama, dry as sandpaper, without looking up from tying his shoes, adds, ‘’They’re definitely dating.’’
—
By the end of fourth period, the rumor transcended the volleyball team. It’s made its way to:
- The second year hallway
- The student council
- The lunch line
- Very possibly the cafeteria lady
Walking through school feels like walking through a field of whispering grass. Daichi hides behind the vending machine, not proudly, but desperately. Suga finds him instantly.
‘’Captain,’’ Suga says gently, ‘’You’re crouching behind the vending machine.’’
‘’I needed a minute.’’
‘’You’ve been here twelve minutes.’’
Daichi lets out a strangled groan. Suga sits beside him, shoulders brushing. ‘’What exactly are you afraid of?’’
Daichi mutters into his hands, ‘’People think we’re… together.’’
Suga hums. ‘’Wouldn’t be the worst thing.’’
Daichi almost drops dead on the spot. ‘’Suga!’’
Suga laughs, a warm sound that wraps around Daichi’s ribs like a hug. ‘’I’m kidding,’’ he says.
Then softer, ‘’Mostly.’’
Daichi makes a noise that isn’t human.
—
By afternoon practice, Daichi is determined to act normal. It lasts eight minutes.
Two first-year managers whisper from the bleachers: ‘’I mean, Suga-san is really handsome. He could probably do better than Sawamura-san’’
Daichi stops dead. He’s not sure if he’s offended or heartbroken. Before he decides, Suga materializes beside him, aura radiating a gentle fury.
‘’Excuse me,’’ Suga says politely, too politely. ‘’Better than who?’’
The girls squeak. Suga continues smiling pleasantly, which somehow makes him more terrifying. ‘’I’m sorry, who did you say I could do better than?’’
‘’We- we didn’t mean-! We were just… just talking-’’ One of them stammers.
‘’Mhmm.’’ Suga taps a volleyball against his palm. ‘’Try talking quieter.’’
The girls scatter. Daichi stares at him. ‘’Suga… why did you do that?’’
Suga turns to him, expression softening instantly. ‘’They insulted you.’’
‘’Yeah, they insulted me, by saying you could do better.’’
Suga steps closer. ‘’Which implies I would want someone else.’’
The words hit Daichi like a dropped dumbbell. ‘’And I wouldn’t,’’ Suga finishes quietly.
Daichi nearly faints.
‘’You okay?’’ Suga asks.
‘’No,’’ Daichi says honestly.
—
The team finishes drills, but Hinata and Noya stay behind to gather the balls. Daichi and Suga start folding the practice nets together. Daichi’s hand brushes Suga’s. Both freeze.
For a moment, the air feels thick. Orange sunset spills across Suga’s hair, lighting up the silver strands. Daichi swallows. Suga looks up at him, eyelashes soft in the dying light.
‘’You’ve been weird today,’’ Suga mutters.
‘’I’m normal,’’ Daichi lies.
Suga’s lips curve. ‘’You’re sweating.’’
‘’I always sweat! I’m an athlete!’’
Suga steps closer, hand resting briefly on Daichi’s arm. ‘’You’re cute when you’re flustered’’
Daichi nearly combusts. ‘’I– Cut– Who… No!’’
Suga laughs and walks away, leaving Daichi absolutely destroyed.
—
They leave the gym together, the sky dusky and purple. Suga swings his bag casually; Daichi tries to act natural and fails. Two girls from class walk by.
One whispers loudly, ‘’They’re walking home together again!’’
Daichi groans, ‘’I can’t escape this.’’
Suga smiles softly. ‘’Why do you want to escape it?’’
Daichi stops walking. Suga stops too. The world goes strangely quiet. Just the distant cicadas and the dim hum of streetlights turning on.
Daichi breaths out. ‘’I’m scared people are seeing something… that isn’t there,’’ he admits.
Suga takes a tiny step closer. ‘’And is it not there?’’
Daichi’s heartbeat becomes a runaway train. ‘’I… don’t know,’’ he says. ‘’Is it?’’
Suga smiles, and for once it isn’t teasing. It’s tender, vulnerable, real.
‘’Daichi,’’ he says softly, ‘’it’s there. It’s been there for a long time.’’
Daichi’s breath stutters. ‘’And I kept hoping you’d see it,’’ Suga continues.
‘’But you’re very, very dense.’’
Daichi sputters. ‘’Hey!’’
Suga laughs, stepping even closer. Their arms brush. ‘’But I like you,’’ Suga says simply. ‘’A lot.’’
Daichi’s face goes up in flames. ‘’I… I like you too.’’
Suga beams, bright and warm and relieved.
‘’Good,’’ he says. ‘’Then I can do this.’’
He rises onto his toes and kisses Daichi. It’s soft. Warm. A little shy, a little trembling, perfectly them. Daichi melts instantly. When they part, Suga leans his forehead against Daichi’s.
‘’Still panicking?’’ Suga murmurs.
‘’Less,’’ Daichi whispers. ‘’But yes.’’
Suga threads their fingers together, squeezing gently. ‘’Perfect. I like you flustered.’’
‘’Suga!’’
Suga laughs and tugs him forward. ‘’Come on. We should head home before someone starts new rumours.’’
Daichi blushes. ‘’Like what?’’
Suga grins wickedly. ‘’Like that we’re already engaged.’’
Daichi trips over air. Suga snorts, squeezes his hand tighter, and keeps walking with him into the warm evening. Rumours or not, they’re together.
Finally.