{"id":611,"date":"2016-12-21T14:55:19","date_gmt":"2016-12-21T18:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/?p=611"},"modified":"2023-05-25T22:54:21","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T02:54:21","slug":"due-season-masterpost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/611\/","title":{"rendered":"Due Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter One<\/a> | Chapter Two<\/a> | Chapter Three<\/a> | Chapter Four<\/a> | Chapter Five<\/a> | Chapter Six<\/a><\/h4>\n

Chapter One<\/h3>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a date,\u201d Suga informs his mirror, for maybe the tenth time that morning. It\u2019s not a date, because meeting a friend for ice cream isn\u2019t a date, right? It\u2019s not a date when they\u2019ve hung out a bit before, when they text all the time, when they\u2019re friends<\/em> and that\u2019s all<\/em>. It\u2019s not a date if they both pay for themselves, and it\u2019s not a date even if Suga\u2019s spent at least an hour alternating between his wardrobe and his mirror, picking out the clothes that best send the signal: it\u2019s not a date<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Eventually, he settles on an outfit and pulls a sunhat low over his head to cast a shadow over his inevitable blush, leaving the house with a few minutes to spare before his bus arrives.<\/p>\n

The trip there is short, and before long Suga is at his destination, which he\u2019s been referring to as Closer To Oikawa Tooru\u2019s House Than Any Sane Human Ought To Venture. Anyway, it\u2019s not a date, so even if they were<\/em> to somehow end up at Oikawa\u2019s house, nothing would happen, because nothing happens on not-dates\u2014just two friends, hanging out and getting ice cream.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t take long to find the ice cream place that Oikawa suggested, and Oikawa\u2019s already waiting outside, looking like summer has come and personally blessed him with all the season\u2019s beauty. Suga is in way over his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Suga-chan!\u201d Oikawa calls. \u201cYou\u2019re early!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat makes you even earlier,\u201d Suga teases, regretting the way he flirts almost instantly. It\u2019s stupid, to let a futile crush get in the way of what would otherwise be a perfectly normal day out\u2014Suga resolves to try not to think about it, but that\u2019ll be easier decided than done.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, you\u2019re right,\u201d Oikawa says, \u201cI hadn\u2019t noticed!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga elbows him. \u201cCome on, don\u2019t joke with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa sighs. His sighs are always so over-the-top. It\u2019s one of the ridiculously many things Suga likes about him. \u201cAlright, Suga-chan,\u201d he says, \u201cbut it\u2019s not my problem if you can read me too well.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s one of the things Oikawa says a lot, that Suga can read him well. Suga would be lying if he refused to admit that he considers himself a good judge of people, but Oikawa is such a complex person, like a five-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle where half the edges will never fit together. Suga can\u2019t be sure whether Oikawa\u2019s being genuine when he says it, if Suga really has<\/em> solved the impossible puzzle, or whether he\u2019s just the sort of person who says serious things like they\u2019re nothing at all\u2014or both.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the worst part of all of this is that Suga brought it upon himself.<\/p>\n

Their friendship works because there\u2019s a lot they have in common: they\u2019re third years, they\u2019re setters, they both know what it\u2019s like to be cast aside for someone younger and more brilliant. Suga had thought they could relate, on some level.<\/p>\n

What he hadn\u2019t expected was Oikawa\u2019s good cheer and ebullience, and how his amiable smile was nothing like the glare he had on court. The moment they met, properly<\/em>, Oikawa had charmed Suga. It was a week later, lying in bed with the fan blowing on his feet, alternating between texting Oikawa and staring at the ceiling, that Suga realised he\u2019d started thinking of Oikawa as\u2014well, as someone he\u2019d want to date.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what Suga has to remind himself as they order ice cream\u2014vanilla for Oikawa and matcha for Suga\u2014that it\u2019s not<\/em> a date, because somehow, no matter how many times he tells himself, it\u2019s not getting through.<\/p>\n

It slips through his fingers in the way their elbows brush when Oikawa reaches across the counter, and in the way he takes Suga\u2019s order too, handing it to him with that<\/em> smile, in the way he gestures to a nearby park, and says, \u201cI\u2019d race you there, but I don\u2019t want either of us to drop our ice cream!\u201d<\/p>\n

They find a corner of the park that\u2019s relatively empty and sit cross-legged on the grass, side-by-side with their backs to the sun and their knees almost touching. Suga\u2019s distracted by how easy it would be just to shift a bit closer, to make it look like an accident.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t really seem like a summer person, Suga-chan,\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cIs that right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga is momentarily distracted by the way Oikawa punctuates his sentence by running his tongue around the edge of his ice cream cone. \u201cUh,\u201d he says, \u201cwell, I do burn easily, but I wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019m not<\/em> a summer person. I like the warm weather as much as anyone else!\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa presses his lips together and hums. \u201cI see, I see. Are you not not a winter person too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do like winter,\u201d Suga admits. \u201cI guess you could say I\u2019m suited to the whole year!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo sweet,\u201d Oikawa says.<\/p>\n

It takes Suga a second to realise that he\u2019s talking about his ice cream, and a second longer to notice that there\u2019s a smudge of vanilla across his top lip.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou, uh\u2014\u201d Suga begins.<\/p>\n

Oikawa meets his eyes, and Suga\u2019s grateful for his foresight to bring a hat, grateful for the shadows on his face, because he\u2019s certain<\/em> that he\u2019s pinker than the strawberry ice cream he decided against. Oikawa blinks at him, and Suga opens his mouth to respond but no words come out. He\u2019s worse than useless when he\u2019s around Oikawa.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026 ?\u201d Oikawa prompts.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, gestures do a better job of communicating than words. With his left hand still gripping his ice cream cone like his only lifeline, Suga brings his right hand around and leans over to wipe the ice cream off Oikawa\u2019s lip.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d Suga says, giving Oikawa his best apologetic smile, pulling his arm back after letting his finger linger for too long. \u201cYou had some ice cream there. I\u2019m never sure how to bring it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Oikawa says, waving a hand around, \u201cyou don\u2019t need to worry about that sort of thing with me! I won\u2019t think it\u2019s rude if you point it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Suga says, taking the \u201cnext time, don\u2019t touch my lip,\u201d as implicit. Next time, he just won\u2019t mention it, because what if he\u2019d left it and Oikawa had noticed, and licked it off with his tongue?<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway,\u201d Oikawa says, changing the subject with deftness that Suga can only aspire to, \u201chow\u2019s your practice been going lately?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d Suga says, \u201ceveryone was a bit downbeat after\u2014well, you know\u2014but we\u2019ve picked up a lot!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUs too,\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cBut it\u2019s nothing I\u2019ve never experienced before, and we\u2019ve still got Spring High.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re more of an optimist than me, then,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

Oikawa\u2019s expression shifts, and Suga feels almost lucky that this is probably a side of Oikawa that most people don\u2019t see. But then he feels bad for thinking that, because maybe Oikawa isn\u2019t such an optimist after all. Maybe he shouldn’t have brought it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m an optimist,\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cI think I\u2019m a realist. Telling myself that there\u2019s always next time\u2014that\u2019s not a hollow platitude. That\u2019s a promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga can\u2019t tear his eyes from Oikawa, whether out of awe or the same attraction as before. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2014\u201d he manages, \u201cthat\u2019s admirable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa switches gears so fast that Suga almost gets whiplash. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing!\u201d he says, waving his hands around. His eyes scrunch up and his mouth broadens into a grin, and it is almost certainly the most adorable thing Suga has ever seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t play it off as nothing!\u201d he says. \u201cOikawa, you\u2019re\u2014you\u2019re very talented, you know, and you shouldn\u2019t discount that so easily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning a bit, Oikawa shrugs and slumps his shoulders, going back to his ice cream. If Suga narrows his eyes and looks closer, pretends that he isn\u2019t just seeing what he wants to, he\u2019d almost say that Oikawa\u2019s blushing. It\u2019s a fanciful notion, but one that Suga files away as a thought to keep him company whenever he\u2019s feeling down.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re,\u201d Oikawa says, sounding a bit pained, \u201ctoo nice to me, sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you\u2019re not used to having nice friends?\u201d Suga jokes. \u201cI noticed your ace seems to yell at you a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa sits up straighter at that. \u201cThat\u2019s right!\u201d he says. \u201cIwa-chan is so<\/em> mean to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe it\u2019s because you add \u2018chan\u2019 to the end of his name,\u201d Suga suggests. \u201cWhy do<\/em> you do that, by the way?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you rather I just called you Sugawara-kun?\u201d Oikawa asks, a bit huffy. It\u2019s incredible how quickly he can change moods. \u201cMost people like<\/em> having cute nicknames, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga isn\u2019t entirely sure that\u2019s true, but he goes along with it anyway. \u201cWell, I don\u2019t mind it,\u201d he says. \u201cYou can keep calling me Suga-chan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa claps his hands together, only he\u2019s still holding the ice cream cone in one, and it threatens to tumble, so Suga reaches out and steadies it. First it was Oikawa\u2019s lip, now it\u2019s Oikawa\u2019s hand\u2014Suga wonders what else he\u2019ll end up touching today, where it\u2019ll end. Most likely it\u2019ll just be a sequence of accidental brushes, close enough to make his heart leap but not so close that they could be called intentional.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Oikawa says, and Suga\u2019s not sure if he\u2019s referring to the nickname or the ice cream. \u201cDo you want to give me a cute nickname too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for the offer, but I\u2019ll pass,\u201d Suga says. Anyway, only a certain type of person can get away with cute nicknames. Oikawa is lucky he\u2019s just the right amount of cute to pull it off.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Oikawa says, \u201chow about \u2018Oikawa-san,\u2019 then?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga laughs inelegantly. \u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d he says. \u201cIs that what most people call you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s what they should<\/em> call me,\u201d Oikawa says, winking.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s another difference between them, then\u2014Oikawa can be more forward, more bold and confident in himself without being self-centred. Suga questions his self-confidence almost hourly and second-guesses everything he says. Some days, he wishes he could be more like Oikawa. Other days, he thinks he might already be, and he\u2019s just not as good at accepting it. They\u2019re both reasonably outgoing, but everything Oikawa does feels so deliberate, making Suga feel transient and indecisive in comparison.<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa-san,\u201d Suga tries. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t like it. Somehow it makes you seem too important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you saying I\u2019m not important?\u201d Oikawa asks.<\/p>\n

He sounds<\/em> like he\u2019s joking, but Suga can\u2019t quite tell. Either way, Suga thinks carefully about his next response. One step too far and he could offend Oikawa, which is the last thing he wants to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think,\u201d he says, keeping a slow pace in his speech, \u201cyou\u2019re just a normal person, like me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa is quiet for a moment, as if he needs to think it over, to decide whether or not he really is normal. But Suga has reached a sort of balance\u2014getting that off his chest, he\u2019ll still have his daft crush on Oikawa, but maybe he doesn\u2019t need to see it as something so unattainable, so out of his reach. When it comes down to it, they\u2019re both just normal people, sitting in a park eating ice cream, and if that\u2019s all that happens for now, then Suga\u2019s at peace with that. He won\u2019t push it, and he\u2019ll stop fretting about whether or not he\u2019s on a date.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know,\u201d Oikawa says, softly breaking his silence, \u201cthat\u2019s probably the nicest thing anyone\u2019s ever said to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

All it takes is a second for Suga to look away, in the hope that Oikawa won\u2019t see the look on his face. He feels the press of Oikawa\u2019s head against the brim of his sunhat before he can think that it might be a bad idea to turn his head at the same time, to move his mouth down to his ice cream and to stick his tongue out at the very same time that Oikawa does. They collide messily and unceremoniously, and break apart almost immediately, although their faces remain close together\u2014Suga is too surprised to move.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d Oikawa says sheepishly, \u201cI wanted to see what it tasted like.\u201d<\/p>\n

After that, it\u2019s the easiest thing in the world when Oikawa adjusts the brim of Suga\u2019s hat so that it\u2019s not squashed up against his forehead but resting on top of his head, and then keeps his hand in the area, his fingers twining around Suga\u2019s neck and into his hairline. Suga ignores all his instincts, the ones that tell him this is too good to be true, and draws closer at the same time as Oikawa, matches his motions as they meet in the middle, this time more refined and purposeful. Oikawa tastes like vanilla, and Suga drops his half-finished ice cream, not even flinching as he sees it roll away in the corner of his vision.<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s instincts are still screaming at him, clamouring for him to stop, but he lets that noise drown itself out as Oikawa runs his fingers through Suga\u2019s hair, kisses him with the same confidence he has when he sets and serves, and Suga lets him take the lead because he\u2019s nervous<\/em>, terrified that this isn\u2019t real, or if it is, then there\u2019s a catch.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s so unreal that Suga loses himself, leaning forward a bit and bringing a hand to Oikawa\u2019s waist. Just then, though, Oikawa pulls back, and Suga flinches at his own stupidity.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d he says, \u201coh god, I don\u2019t know what came over me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa opens his mouth like he\u2019s about to say something, so Suga cuts him off quickly by scrambling to his feet. He doesn\u2019t want to hear it.<\/p>\n

By whatever force of will he has left, Suga manages to get out a \u201cI\u2019ll see you later, Oikawa,\u201d before bolting back towards the bus stop. He doesn\u2019t run, just walks briskly, but he\u2019s out of breath by the time he finally sits down on a bus and reorients himself.<\/p>\n

Oikawa didn\u2019t try to come after him or anything, for which Suga is unbelievably thankful, because he\u2019s not sure he could handle a conversation right now. He spends the bus ride clenching and unclenching his hands in to fists, telling himself that he didn\u2019t<\/em> just run away from a date, trying not to think about the way it felt to kiss Oikawa.<\/p>\n

What it felt like was all of his dreams coming true, unfortunately. It felt like the kind of thing that might happen between two people who were on a date, two people who\u2019d kissed before and honed it to an artform. It felt like something that\u2019d happened once and would never happen again.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an hour later, when Suga\u2019s finally home and just past the stage of burying his head in a pillow and pretending that it never happened, that he gets a text from Oikawa: I hope Suga-chan is feeling better! Next time, let\u2019s finish our ice creams!<\/em><\/p>\n

Suga grins at his phone, getting embarrassed like there might be some ghost in his room watching him make a fool of himself over a text message<\/em>, of all things, but he\u2019s so relieved he could cry. He doesn\u2019t reply, not right away, so it\u2019s not obvious that he leapt on the message\u2014but it makes everything just a bit better, and for now, that\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Come Monday, everything is back to normal. Suga and Oikawa are texting at their normal rate\u2014or a bit more often that normal, if Suga were to be honest\u2014and neither of them have mentioned what happened, but they\u2019re doing no worse for it. Suga\u2019s texting so intently before practice that he doesn\u2019t notice Daichi appearing beside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa again?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga jumps, flipping his phone closed faster than the speed of sound. \u201cWhy would you think that?\u201d he asks\u2014and, god, he\u2019s a terrible liar, because Daichi\u2019s face splits into a knowing grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuga, you don\u2019t text anyone else,\u201d Daichi says. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I think it\u2019s cute.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCute\u201d is not<\/em> the sort of word Suga wants to be associating with his friendship with Oikawa, least of all coming from someone like Daichi, who isn\u2019t cute at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho I text really shouldn\u2019t be any of your business,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need to get defensive,\u201d Daichi says. \u201cAnyway, you know it doesn\u2019t bother me, so\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean it,\u201d Daichi says,<\/p>\n

Suga supposes he should at least be thankful that neither Daichi nor Asahi \u00a0find anything weird about him and Oikawa hanging out, texting, even occasionally sending each other selfies\u2014but there\u2019s a worry at the back of his mind, the same voice that told him not to think of it as a date when he spent time with Oikawa, which warns him not to let it get too out of hand.<\/p>\n

He and Daichi meet Asahi in the clubroom and start changing into their uniforms, when Kageyama comes barrelling in, closely followed by Hinata and Yamaguchi.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014won\u2019t, I can\u2019t,\u201d Kageyama\u2019s saying, his voice quiet but full of something like anger.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like<\/em> it either,\u201d Yamaguchi says, \u201cbut don\u2019t you think it\u2019s a good opportunity?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Kageyama says. \u201cI think it\u2019s a bad idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sort of agree?\u201d Hinata says, sounding like he\u2019s trying very hard to stay neutral. \u201cBut\u2014aren\u2019t you even curious<\/em>, Kageyama?<\/p>\n

\u201cHold up,\u201d Daichi says, \u201cwhat\u2019re you three arguing about?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hinata whips around, his shoulders braced like he\u2019s about to receive. \u201cYou don\u2019t know yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course he doesn\u2019t,\u201d Yamaguchi says, \u201cum\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga hears people talking outside the clubroom door, and slips outside to see what\u2019s going on while Daichi deals with the first years. He finds Tsukishima talking to a very agitated Takeda-sensei, and they both stop when they see him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d Takeda-sensei says, \u201cI just broke the news to our first years. I was going to wait until everyone was in the gym, but I was, um, convinced otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a polite way to say that a teacher was overpowered by four excitable fifteen-year-olds, and Suga gives him a supportive smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh well,\u201d Takeda-sensei says, \u201cI might as well just tell you now. We\u2019ve organised to have a week-long training camp with Seijou in the Summer break, and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

As far as Suga\u2019s concerned, Takeda-sensei might as well have stopped talking, time might as well have stopped. A training camp, with Seijou, for a week, a whole week<\/em> in Oikawa\u2019s presence\u2014Suga can think of nothing worse<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Chapter Two<\/h3>\n

Tooru bites the inside of his mouth and smiles. \u201cWe\u2019re doing what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi swivels around and narrows his eyes at him. \u201cI know you heard him,\u201d he bites out. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing.\u201d Tooru keeps the smile on his face. \u201cNothing\u2019s wrong.\u201d He lets out a dramatic sigh. \u201cIt\u2019s just, you know, it\u2019s Karasuno<\/em>. Our great rivals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy hardly much,\u201d says Irihata-sensei. Tooru clamps his mouth shut to prevent a second retort. \u201cThis could be great for you all. We didn\u2019t expect them to come as close as they did with the last game, so this will be beneficial for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru continues to keep his mouth shut. He doesn\u2019t need to say anything, really, when it\u2019s Kindaichi who protests, \u201cBut there\u2019s\u2014and we\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi turns to him too. Kindaichi steps back and stops talking.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo put it in perspective,\u201d Irihata continues, \u201cI\u2019ve already conferred with the Karasuno advisor, and we\u2019ve agreed on it, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing during summer break.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hanamaki audibly whispers to Matsukawa, \u201cThat\u2019s not putting it into perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway,\u201d Irihata starts, but Tooru steps forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think,\u201d he says, his voice ringing around the gym, \u201cit\u2019s an excellent idea. Keep our friends close and our enemies closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa<\/em>,\u201d Iwaizumi hisses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, Iwa-chan? I\u2019m just trying to lighten the mood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru flashes his smile at all of them, and tries to push away the vague feeling of his head spinning. Maybe a couple of months ago he would be more worried about this training camp being an easy path for Tobio-chan to catch up to him quickly\u2014but right now other things are on his mind. Other things like summer kisses and sweet ice cream. Or sweet kisses and summer ice cream. The shade of a wide-brimmed hat, the burn in his chest that\u2019s only barely been dampened, the lingering taste of vanilla and matcha on his tongue.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019ve done enough,\u201d says Iwaizumi, as the others are perking up, now throwing in ideas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can break down all their strategies,\u201d Yahaba\u2019s suggesting.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd see how Kageyama and that other one do their freak quick,\u201d grumbles Kindaichi.<\/p>\n

But all in all they\u2019re talking amongst each other and the scowl on Iwaizumi\u2019s face seems more out of habit than out of disapproval. Tooru smiles and blinks, pleased at all of them.<\/p>\n

If only he could talk the same sense into himself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He doesn\u2019t text Suga about it, not right away\u2014if he didn\u2019t know, it would be funny to surprise him. That\u2019s the least of Tooru\u2019s worries, seeing Suga surprised.<\/p>\n

But that would be unfair and Tooru highly doubts that he\u2019s the only one who\u2019s been running his tongue over his teeth too, wondering if they\u2019d made a mistake, if there was some meaning\u2014no. There isn\u2019t. It happened and now it\u2019s over and with the infrequency of how they see each other\u2014right now, at least\u2014it shouldn\u2019t be on his radar. And, if anyone wanted to know the truth, he\u2019s actually kind of sad that Suga had dropped his ice cream.<\/p>\n

It won\u2019t be a problem, anyway, with the way they\u2019ve still been texting since then. When Tooru finally decides to send, So did you hear the news? (\u00ac \u00ac )<\/em> Suga\u2019s response is, About the training camp? Yeah, I did<\/em>. He\u2019d responded within five minutes and even quicker when Tooru continues the conversation.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s nothing.<\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s nothing when Tooru arrives at the site with Iwaizumi, his duffle bag over his shoulder and chattering about final exams, and sees three silhouettes. It\u2019s nothing when he recognizes one of the silhouettes and he can barely taste the sweetened green tea at the tip of his tongue.<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa,\u201d Iwaizumi says warningly, just as the thought of going over to greet them crosses his mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cIwa-chan,\u201d Tooru says in the same tone. \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think I\u2019m going to pretend I haven\u2019t noticed you talking to a certain Karasuno third year recently\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said,\u201d Tooru says cheerfully, adjusting his bag over his shoulder. \u201cKeep your friends close and your enemies closer!\u201d<\/p>\n

But all he can think about as he walks over to them is how close he might get, how close he might be allowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Suga-chan,\u201d Tooru calls. And because he\u2019s polite, \u201cSawamura, Azumane.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh,\u201d says Azumane.<\/p>\n

Sawamura says, \u201cHi Oikawa,\u201d and steps away cautiously.<\/p>\n

Suga smiles, says, \u201cFancy seeing you here.\u201d He elbows his two friends before leading them in.<\/p>\n

Tooru doesn\u2019t jog to catch up with him. He doesn\u2019t. Suga doesn\u2019t have very long legs and it only takes a couple of strides.<\/p>\n

Suga continues, \u201cOur first years have already settled in.\u201d He turns to Tooru. \u201cHow about you guys?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve only just arrived,\u201d Tooru answers. \u201cThe others are coming from the school, but Iwa-chan here drives!\u201d<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi, from lingering with Azumane and Sawamura, snorts. \u201cThis dumbass forgot his mirror at home,\u201d he tells them.<\/p>\n

Suga and Daichi actually have the nerve to laugh. (At least Suga looks cute.) Azumane sounds as if he doesn\u2019t know if he\u2019s allowed to.<\/p>\n

Tooru pouts. \u201cDon\u2019t spread lies about me like that, Iwa-chan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen are you gonna tell me what was taking you so long?\u201d<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi has his arms folded. Even Suga looks curious, and that\u2019s<\/em> bothersome. Tooru huffs, because perhaps he\u2019d been a little on edge, his brain working a little too fast, and the little thoughts like he could work from home, he could practice from home, he could spend the time while everyone else was in training camp to rewatch matches and overanalyze plays, started sneaking in.<\/p>\n

But they are<\/em> a team, and Tooru does\u2014for the most part\u2014place that above self-servitude when it comes to volleyball. So he just says, \u201cI was looking for my favorite underwear,\u201d and Iwaizumi punches him on the shoulder. Sawamura laughs, Azumane blushes, and Suga slaps his hand over his own mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is<\/em> your favorite underwear?\u201d he asks after a moment.<\/p>\n

Tooru winks at him. \u201cDo you want to find out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in the world is that supposed to mean?\u201d Suga\u2019s one eye crinkles at the corner when he smiles, the eye that doesn\u2019t have the mole underneath.<\/p>\n

Tooru says, \u201cCome to our room.\u201d He ignores the glare he feels at his back.<\/p>\n

Suga raises an eyebrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I can show you it when I unpack!\u201d Tooru gestures to his bag. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if your friends and Iwa-chan here will want to see it if I just took it out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot like I have a choice,\u201d Iwaizumi says from behind them.<\/p>\n

Tooru ignores him again.<\/p>\n

Suga says, \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I want to see it either,\u201d and the others laugh, Tooru shoves him, but he laughs too.<\/p>\n

They split off and say goodbye and head to their separate sleeping rooms. Tooru thinks for a second that Iwaizumi will ask him about Suga again, but Iwaizumi just talks about their training regimen until the others come in. Tooru decides not to worry too much about it, and unpacks his things and sets up his bed with the others. In the back of his mind he thinks about Suga being just down the hall, in the same building, only so many meters away.<\/p>\n

Before he goes to bed he grabs his phone from under his pillow. The room is already dark and Iwaizumi hits him to go to sleep, but Tooru ignores him. He pulls the covers over his head and opens his most recent conversation, at the top of his inbox.<\/p>\n

Goodnight Suga-chan (^_<)\u301c\u2606<\/em><\/p>\n

Suga responds, with a, Goodnight Oikawa! <\/em>almost immediately. It doesn\u2019t make Tooru dream of him, but he wakes up thinking about what will come rather than what\u2019s happened before.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s the first the next morning, as expected. Iwaizumi lets out a deep snore as Tooru steps over him, and Tooru stifles a laugh.<\/p>\n

Sunlight pours through the hallway windows. Tooru pauses during his walk and takes a deep breath, staring outside. Training camps are his favorite way to spend the summer. They\u2019re easier than the days he spends going from school to home and the nights rewatching games and plays alone. Now he does them with his team, or on the other side of the net.<\/p>\n

The restroom is just down the corridor, and Tooru continues on to wash up. As he\u2019s brushing his teeth, he hears the footsteps before the door creaks open.<\/p>\n

Suga walks in, coming to a halt when he sees him.<\/p>\n

\u201cFancy seeing you here,\u201d Tooru says around his toothbrush.<\/p>\n

Suga dips his head, like he\u2019s trying to hide the smile that sprawls across his face. \u201cYou too,\u201d he says, grabbing for his own toothbrush. \u201cI should\u2019ve figured you were an early riser.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru makes a noise of affirmation. Suga watches him for a bit, before bringing out his own toothpaste and toothbrush. Tooru watches as he begins to brush his own teeth.<\/p>\n

Tooru finishes first, spitting into the sink and then gargling his water when he\u2019s done. After he dries his face, he slings his towel over his shoulder and turns around. He makes sure to take a few steps to give the illusion that he\u2019s leaving.<\/p>\n

Then he turns around and flicks towards Suga with his still-wet hands.<\/p>\n

Suga laughs and his toothbrush jostles to the side of his mouth. \u201cHey!\u201d he says, foam dribbling down his chin like a beard.<\/p>\n

Tooru giggles. \u201cYou look\u2014\u201d he starts, but Suga\u2019s dipped his fingers into his cup and is now flicking him with water.<\/p>\n

Tooru squeals. Suga laughs a little more as he gets water into Tooru\u2019s hair, barely managing with his toothbrush sticking out of the corner of his mouth. But he doesn\u2019t seem to care, toothpaste trickling down to his shirt. When he goes back to spit in the sink, Tooru takes the opportunity to turn his faucet on, runs his hands under the water, and sprays Suga again.<\/p>\n

The restroom door opens. Shorty walks in, rubbing his eyes, and stops at the sight of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuga-san?\u201d he says, and then jumps back a little when he sees Tooru. \u201cO-Oikawa-san?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHi shorty-chan,\u201d Tooru says the same time Suga says, \u201cHinata-kun!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru salutes Suga and heads off. Shorty\u2019s looking between them weirdly, but Tooru ignores him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee you at breakfast,\u201d he says to Suga.<\/p>\n

Breakfast is several minutes later, and Tooru does, indeed, see him then. He stands up immediately when he spots Suga walking in with his friends, and tries to wave him over.<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi says, \u201cYou knocked over Kindaichi\u2019s food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru glances down. Kindaichi is staring glumly at his spilt porridge.<\/p>\n

Tooru sits back down. \u201cSorry, Kindaichi,\u201d he says, and picks the bowl back up.<\/p>\n

Matsukawa sighs. \u201cI\u2019ll get the towel.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Suga doesn\u2019t notice him, anyway, still talking to his friends at the other side of the room. But Tooru peeks over at him, every once in a while.<\/p>\n

They split off for practices the same way they had last night to their rooms. While walking to their gym together, Iwaizumi says, \u201cKyoutani, let\u2019s work on your spikes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru claps his hands. Kyoutani\u2019s eyebrows crease at his own enthusiasm, but Tooru pretends he doesn\u2019t see. \u201cExcellent plan, Iwa-chan!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kyoutani\u2019s making this kind of glowering expression that goes away when Iwaizumi pats him on the back. \u201cC\u2019mon,\u201d Iwaizumi says. \u201cYou\u2019ve barely practiced with us all year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kyoutani grunts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, Mad dog-chan,\u201d Tooru says. \u201cYou\u2019re a talented spiker! I\u2019ll set plenty of balls to you today.\u201d Kyoutani isn\u2019t as talented to deserve Tooru\u2019s compliments right off the bat, but when taunting and observing and adjusting doesn\u2019t make him any more cooperative, he has to resort to different strategies.<\/p>\n

Still Kyoutani isn\u2019t impressed until Iwaizumi says, \u201cYou\u2019re important on the team.\u201d Kyoutani grunts again.<\/p>\n

They go to their gym and begin stretching, Tooru calling out encouragement and their weekly timetable as they do. He\u2019d created it only hours after they\u2019d been told about the training camp, to get his mind off of other things. He tries the same now, paying less attention to the sound of balls from the other gym, narrowing his focus onto his team and their practice this morning.<\/p>\n

A practice match with Karasuno is scheduled for the afternoon, so they dedicate their time to blocking, receiving, and working on the timing of the other spikers. It\u2019s a pity that they\u2019re practicing with Kyoutani and Karasuno, so that they won\u2019t have any new tricks up their sleeves when the match that counts comes. But it\u2019s only fair. Tooru is glad for (more than) once for Iwaizumi\u2014Kyoutani doesn\u2019t pass to Matsukawa or Hanamaki, even when they call out his name.<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi goes up to him and says, \u201cYou have other teammates, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kyoutani grunts. Next time when he needs to, he passes to Watari. So that\u2019s something.<\/p>\n

By the time noon rolls around, Tooru\u2019s a little more exasperated than he would like to be, but keeps up the image. \u201cGood work, everyone,\u201d he says, ignoring the way Matsukawa and Hanamaki are muttering to themselves and already heading off. \u201cWe\u2019ll surely crush Karasuno this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot if Kageyama and that other guy\u2019s freak quick can help it,\u201d Kindaichi mutters.<\/p>\n

Tooru shouts, \u201cKindaichi!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kindaichi almost falls over.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not the attitude we should have,\u201d Tooru scolds. \u201cEven if Tobio-chan and Shorty are, well, freaks, we\u2019ll find a way to surpass it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kindaichi mumbles something and starts heading off.<\/p>\n

Tooru picks up his own water bottle from the bench. At the same time, a voice from behind him says, \u201cYou think you\u2019ll crush us today?\u201d<\/p>\n

He turns around to see Suga walking over to him.<\/p>\n

Tooru doesn\u2019t analyze the tiny flip in his chest. \u201cSuga-chan,\u201d he says, gaze flickering from Suga\u2019s face, to the small spots of sweat on his arms, to his pace wavering when Tooru greets him.<\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t you be practicing?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

Suga chuckles. \u201cWell we\u2019ve decided to focus our energies on things we need to improve on as individuals,\u201d he says, and Tooru can see something in his eyes falter. \u201cSo I decided to see how you guys were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpying on us, are you?\u201d Tooru says, but he\u2019s smiling around his water bottle. He takes a swig and sighs.<\/p>\n

Suga says, \u201cPrecisely,\u201d and grins. \u201cBut, seeing as your practice is done, I decided to come down to say hi. So here I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo here you are,\u201d Tooru echoes.<\/p>\n

Then he remembers\u2014\u201cAh, oh right, breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga raises his eyebrows. \u201cBreakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, at breakfast,\u201d says Tooru. \u201cI was trying to get your attention to sit with us\u2014anyway. Do you want to sit with me at lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s weird, the way this feels more intimate than when he\u2019d asked Suga\u2019s favorite color, or when he\u2019d asked if he had any brothers or sisters. Suga lights up in a way Tooru\u2019s only seen a handful of times (when they\u2019re walking downtown and see dogs on the sidewalk, when Tooru waits outside of his school for them to walk home) and Tooru tries, once again, to not think too much about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Suga says, with a graceful smile. \u201cDid you expect me to say no?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not.\u201d Tooru bumps their shoulders together. \u201cBut it would only be polite to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga watches him. Tooru thinks nothing of it and drinks from his water bottle again. They go to the dining room, where other members of their own teams have started to sit around and congregate.<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi\u2019s sitting with a mix of people, but there\u2019s only one space left at his table. He doesn\u2019t beckon Tooru over but Tooru grabs a green bean and throws it at him as they pass by. Iwaizumi starts, and Tooru cackles away. They run off to a table occupied with a few Karasuno second years and Yahaba.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a menace,\u201d Suga comments as they sit down.<\/p>\n

Tooru says his thanks for the food, and then shoves a green bean into his own mouth. \u201cI am not,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m only making Iwa-chan\u2019s life a little more interesting! Without me and it\u2019d be boring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re like a child,\u201d Suga says. He picks up his own chopsticks. \u201cBut I suppose you do make everyone\u2019s lives interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo mission accomplished.\u201d Tooru flashes a peace sign at him before starting on his food.<\/p>\n

They talk about Suga\u2019s penchance of putting chili powder on everything, even his meat bun which Tooru yelps at until Suga laughs and says that\u2019s the first time he\u2019d done it, to mess with him. That guides their conversation into Suga asking about Tooru\u2019s birthday, right before their training camp, and Tooru tells him about how he\u2019d gone out for Korean barbecue with his family and Iwaizumi and Matsukawa and Hanamaki. When Suga says it sounded fun Tooru says, \u201cYou should\u2019ve come along!\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe he\u2019s half-joking, maybe he isn\u2019t at all. Tooru had texted him, letting him know at the time, and Suga wished him a happy birthday. They haven\u2019t known each other long enough for it to not be weird, but Tooru kind of likes the idea, Suga there to celebrate.<\/p>\n

But other things had happened before that, and\u2014Tooru shakes the thought away.<\/p>\n

They finish their food as the others begin to trickle out. While he\u2019s throwing his trash out he spies Kyoutani following Iwaizumi through the doorway. So he\u2019ll be at the practice match. Tooru only hopes, anyway.<\/p>\n

A thought occurs to him then. Suga comes back from the bins, and Tooru says to him, \u201cHey Suga-chan, are you free after our game?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d Suga says, putting his dish on the counter. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, from setter to setter,\u201d says Tooru. \u201cI think we have a few things we can learn from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s already trying to work with the impracticality of the situation\u2014it\u2019s a little hard to practice setting without a regular spiker. But Tooru\u2019s not useless at it, and he imagines Suga isn\u2019t either.<\/p>\n

He adds, \u201cAnd you said your team is working on individual growth, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore or less.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Suga\u2019s tone is wary.<\/p>\n

Tooru says, \u201cCheer up, Suga-chan! Unless you don\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I,\u201d says Suga, and then pauses. \u201cHm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga starts, \u201cOikawa,\u201d and Tooru turns to him.<\/p>\n

But Suga must\u2019ve decided against whatever he wanted to say, because a second later he just smiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Their game goes as expected, but Tooru doesn\u2019t tell his team that. It would get to their heads. \u201cGood work, everyone!\u201d he calls as he sees most of them beam at the 25:22 on the scoreboard, Kunimi complaining about his back hurting. \u201cYou\u2019re young and you played well, Kunimi-chan,\u201d he calls, and Kunimi flinches but looks pleased.<\/p>\n

The Karasuno members on the other side of the net are discussing amongst themselves. When they\u2019re done, Sawamura comes up to Tooru and says, \u201cGood game, Oikawa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou too, Sawamura.\u201d Tooru shakes his hand and winks. \u201cDon\u2019t put too much pressure on yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sawamura\u2019s thanks is emotionless. \u201cWe\u2019ve decided that for the games we lose,\u201d he says, \u201cwe should do flying falls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Your team is so willing?\u201d Tooru peeks out from behind him, where Suga has his face in his hands. Azumane is patting his back consolingly. Tobio seems like he\u2019s trying to teach Shorty what flying falls are, and Shorty seems to be failing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of them,\u201d Sawamura replies, when Tooru spots the libero jogging in place like he\u2019s getting ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d says Tooru. \u201cWe\u2019re happy to return the favor. But I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll need to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Sawamura says, and then walks back off.<\/p>\n

Tooru\u2019s team starts to file out for a shower, and Iwaizumi says, \u201cOikawa, coming?\u201d But Tooru\u2019s got his arms crossed, fixated on Suga, stretching like he\u2019s stalling while the rest of them seem ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, I\u2019ll be there in a bit,\u201d Tooru says, waving him off.<\/p>\n

He pretends he doesn\u2019t notice Iwaizumi glare at him from the corner of his eyes. \u201cOkay,\u201d Iwaizumi says in contrast, and then he leaves.<\/p>\n

They do flying falls around the gym. Tooru winces each time someone bumps their chin against the floor, but it\u2019s never\u2014well, Suga is hardly doing them, really. Suga\u2019s bending down and standing back up every once in a while, can hardly be called flying falls even when Sawamura pokes him. Tooru laughs into his palm.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo better, Suga-chan!\u201d he calls.<\/p>\n

Suga whips around to see him. The red that sneaks up on his face is impossible to miss, and Tooru laughs again. Suga tries maybe a little harder, but apparently even Tooru isn\u2019t enough to put him at his full game.<\/p>\n

When they\u2019re done, Tooru walks up to him. \u201cYour captain told us you guys were going to do flying falls,\u201d he teases.<\/p>\n

Suga mutters, \u201cWe did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat can hardly be said for you,\u201d says Tooru. \u201cMaybe when we practice together we\u2019ll do them too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh god.\u201d Suga looks up to the ceiling. \u201cPlease, no.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karasuno starts filing out. Azumane calls, \u201cSuga, do you have plans?\u201d He glances at Tooru, and immediately away when he realizes Tooru\u2019s noticed.<\/p>\n

Suga nods and sighs. \u201cYeah, yeah,\u201d he says, putting a hand to his forehead. \u201cI\u2019m going to do more\u2026 flying falls\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru laughs again. \u201cI was just joking,\u201d he says, as the gym gets emptier. \u201cUnless you really<\/em> want to do them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you know my answer to that.\u201d But Suga\u2019s expression is relieved, and Tooru stares at him a second longer than he would like to.<\/p>\n

They begin their practice with Tooru starting off with talking about the purposes of being a setter. Suga jumps in at all the right places, saying things about bringing out the best in the team and knowing the other players more than anyone. It\u2019s easy then to just start passing back and forth with each other despite not being on the same team; Suga\u2019s toss is naturally average paced with a medium size arc, but it slows well instead of being constant so it\u2019s not boring, per se. It\u2019s certainly skillful, and Tooru tells him so.<\/p>\n

Suga shrugs. \u201cWell experience will do that for you,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Tooru says, \u201cI\u2019m complimenting<\/em> you, Suga-chan. Take it in stride!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not allowed to compliment me,\u201d Suga says. Before Tooru can open his mouth, he adds, \u201cUntil we beat you, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d Tooru passes the ball to him. \u201cIs that the goal? Do you strive to defeat me, Suga-chan?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t strive not to,\u201d says Suga. \u201cThere\u2019s no fun in the game if there\u2019s not someone I want to defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru hates that his mind goes to Shiratorizawa and Ushiwaka at this. It\u2019s true, and he\u2019s already defeated Suga a number of times, and he\u2019s not even sure if he wants Suga as a rival, anyway. He wants Suga around, in this easygoing rhythm like their passing the ball back and forth. He likes both his mind and Suga here.<\/p>\n

Suga says, hitting the ball back to him, \u201cThis isn\u2019t our first time alone here, is it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI commend you for your observational skills,\u201d Tooru says with a grin. \u201cThere was, in fact, this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d says Suga, but sounds kind of distant. Perhaps he wants to talk about the last time they were alone before training camp. Perhaps he doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Tooru catches the ball after a bit and tucks it under his arm. \u201cLet\u2019s spike for each other,\u201d he says, and Suga brightens up with an, \u201cOkay!\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s kind of stiff at first, because recently Tooru\u2019s only attacked with Yahaba\u2019s sets, and the last time that happened was over a semester ago. Suga\u2019s a little easier, and they volley back and forth, alternating and giving each other tips. Suga goes in for a high five the first time his toss and Tooru\u2019s spike are perfectly in sync. Then they continue that, reddening their hands more.<\/p>\n

(One time Tooru\u2019s hand is so sore that he slaps Suga\u2019s ass instead. Suga squeaks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that for?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

Tooru grins. \u201cGood toss, Suga-chan,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Suga rolls his eyes. When Tooru turns around, something hard hits his own butt. He turns around to see Suga grinning mischievously.)<\/p>\n

Their conversations eventually fall away to smaller things like how they\u2019d gotten into volleyball, how their early practices went\u2014nothing like their time off the court, though that\u2019s not something Tooru forgets either. It should\u2019ve been evident enough, when he and Suga hadn\u2019t even asked if they were going to retire for the Spring High, and just assumed they wouldn\u2019t. But in this space, chatting about something they both love and are good at\u2014the world is so vast, here, right at Tooru\u2019s fingertips.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re both so lost in the motions that, when the gym door opens, Suga\u2019s toss is off and Tooru hardly jumps. They both turn their heads.<\/p>\n

In the doorway is the tall blond glasses kid from Suga\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Suga-san,\u201d he says. He looks at Tooru once, and then away again. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have a team meeting, and then practice a few rotations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d Maybe Suga\u2019s face falls, but that could be Tooru\u2019s imagination going again. \u201cAlright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re\u2026\u201d Glasses looks at Tooru again. \u201cPracticing with Oikawa-san?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am,\u201d Suga says, the same time Tooru finger guns at Glasses.<\/p>\n

\u201cSetting practice,\u201d he says to him. \u201cBut don\u2019t tell Tobio-chan!\u201d<\/p>\n

Glasses stares at him. \u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d he says, after a moment.<\/p>\n

Suga says, \u201cYou could find an Aoba Jousai member to practice blocking with, if you want, Tsukishima.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOoh,\u201d says Tooru, jumping in. \u201cYou could practice with Mattsun! He loves being bothered with things like that.\u201d He doesn\u2019t, but Matsukawa\u2019s been looking pretty bored at practices lately anyway.<\/p>\n

Glasses stares at him again.<\/p>\n

\u201c… I\u2019ll look into it,\u201d he says, before turning away.<\/p>\n

Suga smiles at Tooru. \u201cThanks,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ll see you at dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Tooru chirps. \u201cAnd eat together again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Suga agrees.<\/p>\n

He walks out, following Glasses. Tooru lets his gaze linger for a millisecond longer than he\u2019s conscious of, before starting out as well. He heads towards the room where he and the rest of his team sleep, where Iwaizumi is bound to be.<\/p>\n

As expected, Iwaizumi\u2019s taking a nap. Under most circumstances Tooru would bother him, but instead he rests against his pillow, props his feet up on Iwaizumi\u2019s back, and takes out his phone from his bag. He loads up the recent messages again. His fingers hover above the keyboard.<\/p>\n

But the thought of Suga coming back to his text makes him smile, even more so when he sends it.<\/p>\n

Have fun at practice~ Come find me when you\u2019re done so we can walk to dinner together \u2606 \uff5e(‘\u25bd^\u4eba)<\/em><\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tooru runs into Suga outside of the restroom the next morning, nearly colliding with him. He hears Suga\u2019s laugh before he actually sees his face, and Tooru jostles his shoulder more intentionally then.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady for another day of practice?\u201d he asks, and Suga rolls his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know,\u201d he says, making his way into the bathroom. \u201cIt\u2019s really not that efficient for us to be practicing setting together when we should be doing it with our spikers.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s gotten his toothbrush, and Tooru remembers yesterday, the giggles, the water at the tip of his hair like dewdrops, fighting back. Tooru blinks\u2014but only a second has passed, not long enough to be considered staring.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a complaint, Suga-chan?\u201d he asks. He looks into the mirror and fixes his hair.<\/p>\n

Suga shoots him a look. \u201cWell I wasn\u2019t quite sure if you prioritized spending time with me over the efficiency of our practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru watches his reflection in the mirror. A slow pink starts to creep up Suga\u2019s neck, but Tooru can\u2019t think much about it. It would be –<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re both efficient people,\u201d says Tooru. \u201cI think we should have more faith in each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation ends there, but only because Tooru bids him goodbye for a shower. He starts taking his shirt off, and from the corner of his eye watches Suga. The showers are in the next room over and Suga hasn\u2019t turned around, but Tooru can\u2019t see his face in the mirror. Tooru smirks and imagines Suga staring at him from the mirror, but lets himself end it there.<\/p>\n

When he comes back out, Suga\u2019s gone. But Tooru runs into him in the dining hall after he gets changed. Tooru sits backwards on the chair next to him, and watches him eat.<\/p>\n

After a couple seconds of silence, Suga says, \u201cThat\u2019s all you\u2019re going to have?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Tooru takes a bite from his pastry. \u201cIt\u2019s breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been told,\u201d Suga says, putting his fork down, \u201cthat you drink a glass of water once you wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you wake up?\u201d Tooru chuckles. \u201cWhat, so you put a glass of water before bed and put it beside you for the next morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Suga says; but when he turns to Tooru again, Tooru\u2019s grinning.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think you\u2019re cute,\u201d Tooru hears him mutter.<\/p>\n

Tooru leans in. \u201cHmm? What was that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was\u2014\u201d Suga shoots his head up, and clears his throat. His gaze meets Tooru\u2019s. Tooru realizes how close they\u2019re sitting, how close he\u2019s leaning in, how Suga\u2019s holds eye contact like he\u2019s trying not to look anywhere else.<\/p>\n

Tooru lets his gaze drop a millimeter, and Suga does too\u2014a little more than that, like he\u2019s staring at the space above Tooru\u2019s mouth. Tooru leans in for a second.<\/p>\n

He can feel Suga\u2019s breath on his face when he laughs. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a little,\u201d Suga says, pointing to the corner of his lips.<\/p>\n

Tooru pulls away and wipes it off. \u201cI do,\u201d he says, and goes back to his pastry.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re hopeless when it comes to eating, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru has no idea, actually\u2014maybe he is and Suga has been the only person who\u2019s been helpful enough to point it out. Maybe it only happens when he\u2019s around him.<\/p>\n

Tooru says, \u201cWe should go for a run after this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga picks up his spoon and starts on his porridge. \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood exercise.\u201d Tooru shoves the last of his pastry in his mouth, chews, and swallows. \u201cFresh air.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou propose a convincing argument.\u201d Suga smiles at him from his soup. He\u2019s got a little bit on his cheek, but it\u2019s cute like his mole so Tooru doesn\u2019t say anything. \u201cI\u2019m in.\u201d<\/p>\n

He finishes his breakfast and then goes to throw it away. Tooru follows, and says, \u201cWe setters have to stay in shape!\u201d He puffs up his chest proudly, and yelps when Suga elbows his side.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright then,\u201d Suga says. \u201cDo you think we should invite Kageyama and your\u2014what\u2019s his name\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru scoffs. \u201cTobio has other things to work on before he can reach our level,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd Yahaba seems like he\u2019s having fun with your other second year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m teasing,\u201d Suga says, and puts his plate away. He nudges Tooru again. \u201cC\u2019mon, let\u2019s go run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today is supposed to be warmer than yesterday, but the morning air is cool and the sun is fifteen degrees in the distance and settled like a patient fawn. They start off at the front of the site, only a little faster than walking, even though they don\u2019t talk about it. Suga has good game sense, good strategy. He evens out his pace and doesn\u2019t goad Tooru into running a little faster or slower. It takes a bit before Tooru realizes that he\u2019s a few paces ahead, so he slows and lingers.<\/p>\n

Suga huffs out a laugh between his teeth. \u201cThis is what I get for having shorter legs,\u201d he manages, between pants.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Suga-chan, you can\u2019t help it.\u201d Tooru\u2019s panting too, and the sweat on his forehead is bound to ruin his hair. For Suga it just slicks a few strands back, making him look ridiculous and kind of cute as the sun perks up a bit more.<\/p>\n

Suga ducks his head down and swings his arms, pumps his legs. \u201cYou can go on ahead of me,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then the road will be so lonely.\u201d Tooru pouts.<\/p>\n

Suga chuckles. \u201cYou really do like spending time with me, don\u2019t you?\u201d and he says it in such a tone that it\u2019s hard for Tooru to read. Probably because they\u2019re both still jogging.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell of course I do,\u201d Tooru says. He can<\/em> read between the lines, but it\u2019s more fun to play along. \u201cAll this time we\u2019ve been friends and I wouldn\u2019t expect you to think otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

The word friends<\/em> comes out a little more forceful than he expects. Tooru\u2019s eyebrows knit together, but he waits for Suga\u2019s response anyway.<\/p>\n

Suga shrugs, and then starts on ahead. \u201cRace you,\u201d he calls, and doesn\u2019t look back as they start.<\/p>\n

Tooru wins but not by much, at an awning that they\u2019ve both apparently silently agreed on. They\u2019re a little ways off and kind of far from the campsite, but Tooru has a good sense of direction. And so does Suga, apparently, when he says, \u201cWe should head there,\u201d and points towards where Tooru had been thinking. Tooru nods.<\/p>\n

They both duck down to catch their breath. The shade is cool, even though clouds have started to cover the sunlight. Tooru sighs and flaps the front of his collar, one hand on his waist. Suga has both hands on his knees, gasping.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood race,\u201d he says, sticking a hand out to Tooru.<\/p>\n

Tooru takes it and helps him up. Suga looks at him funnily. It occurs to Tooru a second later that maybe he\u2019d wanted to shake his hand, and rearranges their fingers.<\/p>\n

Suga snorts. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you<\/em> doing?\u201d says Tooru. He tangles their hands together so a couple of their fingers are threaded together. It feels kind of strange though. He lets go, their hands dropping.<\/p>\n

Tooru turns away, cheeks heating up despite the rest of his body cooling down. There\u2019s a chance that Suga hasn’t noticed.<\/p>\n

Suga lets out a little cough the same time they hear a roll of thunder. Tooru doesn\u2019t know which one to pay more attention to.<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa,\u201d Suga starts, and Tooru makes a decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru changes his mind.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Art by junebirds<\/p><\/div>\n

Chapter Three<\/h3>\n

\u201cOikawa,\u201d Suga says, before he can stop himself, before he can bring himself to regret it, \u201cI like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The thunder in the sky is nowhere near as loud as the thundering of Suga\u2019s heartbeat, pounding against his chest and making a bid for freedom. Well, now he\u2019s said it, so there\u2019s no turning back, but he wishes he hadn\u2019t\u2014there\u2019s this oppressive awkwardness settling on the air, and it\u2019s got nothing to do with the humidity and the few drops of rain that start to hit the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should head back before the rain gets too heavy,\u201d Oikawa says.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like he didn\u2019t hear Suga at all, and Suga takes a deep breath, telling himself it\u2019s fine<\/em>, reminding himself of the way Oikawa linked their hands just a few moments ago, and how Oikawa\u2019s been resolutely flirting with him since training camp started. He thinks that maybe he can take another chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s wait it out,\u201d Suga says, taking Oikawa\u2019s hand in his, winding their fingers together. He debates whether to say the next words on the tip of his tongue, but can\u2019t stop himself for long, adding, \u201cWe can take advantage of this, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa has a weird look on his face, unreadable, but he doesn\u2019t pull his hand away. Suga smiles at him, and, slowly, almost hesitantly, Oikawa smiles back.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a clap of thunder as Suga launches himself onto Oikawa, flings his arms around Oikawa\u2019s neck and kisses him full on the mouth. It takes a second for Oikawa to respond, resting his hands on Suga\u2019s hips and leaning down a bit. This is better than their last kiss, more certain with experience and less hesitant as they invade each other\u2019s personal space, tongues and lips becoming almost indistinguishable.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a relief, almost, to know that this sort of thing is okay with Oikawa, that he doesn\u2019t mind kissing, and that his reaction to Suga confessing isn\u2019t to run away, or worse, turn him down. The fact that Oikawa hasn\u2019t responded\u2014well, that\u2019s something Suga doesn\u2019t need to think about right now, when their lips are locked and their tongues tied.<\/p>\n

The rain gets heavier, and some of it sprays under the awning, tickling Suga\u2019s ankles\u2014the sound still isn\u2019t enough to drown out the fireworks Suga\u2019s hearing when Oikawa sweeps him off his feet, lifting him from the waist and swinging him so that they\u2019re further out of the rain. Suga laughs in a way he didn\u2019t know he could, loud and bright, overflowing with the excitement of something new, something unbelievably euphoric.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think anyone will notice we\u2019re missing?\u201d Suga asks as he lands back on his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre<\/em> we missing?\u201d Oikawa asks, raising his eyebrows. \u201cWe\u2019ve just gone for a morning jog, after all. It\u2019s only natural that, if we were caught in the rain, we\u2019d wait it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess,\u201d Suga says. \u201cStill\u2014don\u2019t you think it\u2019s a bit suspicious?\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa grins. \u201cAre you worried that people will talk?\u201d<\/p>\n

For this, Suga decides to play dumb. \u201cWell, what could they possibly have to talk about?\u201d he asks, his voice more sarcastic than he usually lets it get. \u201cAfter all, there\u2019s nothing strange in two friends going out for a run together, with no-one else around, in the morning, when it\u2019s quiet, and they could get up to all<\/em> sorts\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Oikawa says, suddenly serious. \u201cWe should get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga doesn\u2019t have any better reaction for that than furrowing his brows at Oikawa, and letting his arms slacken around Oikawa\u2019s neck. \u201cIn this rain?\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa grins, his eyes sparkling. \u201cI\u2019ll race you.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Oikawa releases Suga, Suga gets a head start, laughing as he runs out into the pouring rain. Within a second he\u2019s drenched, but he\u2019s high on happiness, giddy with the sensation that\u2019s still on his lips, no matter how much water runs down his face. Oikawa\u2019s still got those longer legs on him, though, so he catches up, outpacing Suga a few hundred metres before they make it back to the campsite.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa!\u201d Oikawa yelps, shaking his hair out like a wet dog. \u201cYou lose, Suga-chan!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a funny way to phrase it,\u201d Suga says, leaning against the nearest wall and wiping a hand across his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour hair is darker when it\u2019s wet,\u201d Oikawa observes.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t change the subject,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

Oikawa takes a few steps forward, until the only thing between him and the wall is Suga. \u201cWe should get back,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should,\u201d Suga agrees.<\/p>\n

They don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s second nature, the way their mouths fit together. They\u2019re both breathless from running, but somehow that makes it better. Suga stops caring that, technically, anyone could walk past and see them like this, and slides his hands beneath the wet fabric of Oikawa\u2019s shirt. Oikawa shivers, and Suga\u2019s never felt more powerful.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re dangerous, Suga-chan,\u201d Oikawa says quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Suga says, laughing.<\/p>\n

With great power comes great responsibility, and knowing that someone as strong and intimidating as Oikawa can come to pieces under Suga\u2019s fingers is the best sort of responsibility. Suga takes matters into his hands and runs his fingers around Oikawa\u2019s waist, pressing firmer as they kiss again. It\u2019s hard to think \u00a0that a few weeks ago, Suga had never kissed anyone<\/em>. Now, he lets himself become captivating and captivated, surrendering himself entirely to the moment, shutting out every other thought as extraneous to the kissing. What\u2019s important is the drops of water running down his face, the feel of Oikawa\u2019s arm against his from where it\u2019s rested against the wall, the way Oikawa tastes against Suga\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n

Too soon, though, it\u2019s over, with Oikawa pulling back a few paces, his eyes wide.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you hear that?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

Suga holds back a sigh. \u201cHear what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I heard footsteps,\u201d Oikawa says, his voice dropping to a whisper.<\/p>\n

For those few moments, they stand perfectly still, and Suga readjusts his ears to his surrounds\u2014there\u2019s nothing, though, but the heavy rain and the sound of their breathing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh well,\u201d Oikawa says, loud as usual, \u201cI suppose it was nothing. We should probably head back and dry off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess so,\u201d Suga says reluctantly. He doesn\u2019t have any concept of what time it is, so Oikawa\u2019s probably right, but he resents the situation nonetheless.<\/p>\n

Before Suga can say anything else, Oikawa\u2019s gone, and Suga lets out a sigh. Maybe they\u2019re not destined to kiss for any longer than a few minutes at a time. This time, though, it\u2019s not Suga running away but Oikawa\u2014and is he even running away, or is he genuinely scared someone will find them? Suga supposes it\u2019s a reasonable concern, but that doesn\u2019t stop him from moping all the way back to the room that Karasuno\u2019s been given to sleep in.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s greeted by Daichi and Asahi, already dressed and ready to go to practice. They\u2019re sitting at the end of Daichi\u2019s futon, and Suga makes sure to position himself ideally to drip water all over it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYikes,\u201d Daichi says, a different take on hello<\/em>, \u201cwhat happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga gives him his best frown. \u201cI went for a run with Oikawa,\u201d he says, \u201cbefore<\/em> it started raining.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better dry off quickly,\u201d Asahi says. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to catch a cold or anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks dad<\/em>,\u201d Suga teases, \u201cbut I\u2019ll pass. Don\u2019t you have bills to pay and children to feed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Asahi laughs nervously. \u201cDaichi\u2019s captain. If anything, he should be looking after the children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daichi\u2019s expression goes serious in an instant, and he leans forward to place a hand on Suga\u2019s shoulder. \u201cSon,\u201d he says, \u201cyou need to dry off before practice, otherwise you\u2019ll slip and fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he laughs, Suga\u2019s shoulders tremble and he shakes off Daichi\u2019s hand. \u201cWell, now that the captain<\/em> is telling me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEw,\u201d Daichi says, \u201cnow my hand\u2019s all wet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s your own fault,\u201d Suga says, getting to his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust don\u2019t be late,\u201d Daichi says.<\/p>\n

He tries to keep a straight face, but he\u2019s too silly and too easily amused when he\u2019s not around the underclassmen. That\u2019s<\/em> responsibility, Suga thinks, and it\u2019s real responsibility, not just Suga worrying about how he makes Oikawa feel and how Oikawa makes him<\/em> feel and whether or not it\u2019s something truly mutual.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d Suga says under his breath as he grabs his towel and a change of clothes and heads for the bathroom.<\/p>\n

The bathroom is empty, and the clock in the corridors on the way there tells Suga it\u2019s later than he thought. Everyone\u2019s probably already warming up, so Suga rushes a bit, giving his hair only the most cursory once-over with his towel. He nearly slips on the wet floor as he runs to the gym, but at least Coach Ukai doesn\u2019t yell at him when he stumbles in late, hair hanging in his eyes and shirt on inside-out\u2014that, Suga doesn\u2019t notice until Tanaka points it out, and he\u2019s not too shy to fix it in front of everyone.<\/p>\n

Still, time passes quickly as they do laps and then split into teams of six for a practice match. It\u2019s odds-and-ends, and Noya\u2019s on the other team, but Suga finds himself comfortably grouped with Asahi, Ennoshita, Tsukishima, Kinoshita, and Tanaka. They\u2019ve only got one middle blocker, but Asahi\u2019s tall enough to count, so he offers to go in a blocking position. It\u2019s good for Suga\u2014he knows he has a tendency to rely too much on the ace, so to shake that off he focuses on tossing to the others.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not an easy fight, with Kageyama and Hinata on the other team, kept together at Coach Ukai\u2019s insistence, but Tsukishima\u2019s blocking is getting better. When they\u2019re paused after the first set, Suga pulls him aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cTsukishima,\u201d he begins, \u201cyou\u2019re improving, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tsukishima looks away and adjusts his glasses. \u201cNot really,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Suga smiles to himself. \u201cDid you end up practicing with anyone from Seijou last night?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked with Matsukawa-san for an hour,\u201d Tsukishima admits sullenly. Suga thinks it\u2019s quite sweet how reluctant he is to admit to himself that he wants to improve.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re a much stronger team than us,\u201d Suga says. \u201cWell, you know that, but what I mean is\u2014you should keep going with Matsukawa. The work you\u2019re doing shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tsukishima nods, making his way back to the court as Coach Ukai calls them on for the second set. \u201cWe\u2019ll win back this set,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

It starts out much the same, with Kageyama\u2019s setting dominating the points, but Suga manages to get a few points from Tanaka\u2014and then, everything goes wrong.<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s in the back row, so he\u2019s barely paying attention when Hinata misses a toss, but everyone hears what happens next, how Hinata yells at Kageyama that his toss wasn\u2019t good enough, and how Kageyama reacts in confusion. The worst part is that it was obviously not one of Kageyama\u2019s best tosses, but now the two of them are bickering, and before Suga can act, Yamaguchi runs up from the back row.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two,\u201d Yamaguchi says, \u201cw-why don\u2019t you sort this out after the match, if you want to do some extra\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot until he apologises!\u201d Hinata interrupts. \u201cNot until he acknowledges that it was his fault!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could have hit that!\u201d Kageyama says stubbornly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we could talk about this later,\u201d Yamaguchi suggests. He really is a treasure, a once in a lifetime, Suga thinks. And it\u2019s fitting that a first year it intervening\u2014Suga would help out, but he knows it\u2019s not his place to get involved in this particular conflict.<\/p>\n

Coach Ukai storms onto the court. \u201cKageyama, Sugawara, swap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2014\u201d Kageyama begins.<\/p>\n

\u201cSwap<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga doesn\u2019t need to be told twice\u2014he switches to the other side of the court, and Yamaguchi and Hinata both give him relieved smiles. Tsukishima, on the other side, immediately welcomes Kageyama with a taunt\u2014but Tsukishima\u2019s taunting is something Kageyama is used to, and he responds as he always does. It must be that it\u2019s something he understands more than Hinata being angry with him.<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s new team wins the set, and after that, they go back to individual practice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

At lunch, it\u2019s still raining, although not as heavily as before. Suga finds himself sitting at a table for four with Ennoshita, who confesses he wished Suga had stayed on his team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose it\u2019s because I\u2019m more used to you setting,\u201d he says. \u201cWorking with Kageyama is still\u2026 interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder what it would be like,\u201d Suga muses, \u201cto hit one of his tosses?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ennoshita hums. \u201cAre you going to start spiking now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Suga says, laughing, remembering how sore his hand had been after spiking Oikawa\u2019s tosses. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t trust myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looks up, watching as the doors to the dining room open and Seijou trickles in, split off in groups and coming back together in the line for food.<\/p>\n

\u201cMade any friends?\u201d Suga asks Ennoshita.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple,\u201d Ennoshita says. \u201cThey\u2019re not all that scary, are they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Suga agrees, \u201cthey aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ennoshita waves down two of his new friends, Seijou\u2019s libero and reserve setter. But the libero\u2014Watari, Suga thinks\u2014is unceremoniously elbowed out of the way by Oikawa, who slides in next to Suga.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday,\u201d Oikawa announces, \u201cI am going to take your permission as implicit, Suga-chan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome to,\u201d Suga says with a grin\u2014and he doesn\u2019t miss the looks Ennoshita and Yahaba give each other as Yahaba sits down. Well, he knows his friendship with Oikawa isn’t exactly a secret, but they could do to be less surprised about it.<\/p>\n

The closeness is new, though. Or maybe it\u2019s not new, and Oikawa has always been this tactile, but now Suga notices it differently, or more acutely. Or maybe it\u2019s coincidental, and Oikawa doesn\u2019t really mean to press their knees together under the table and knock their elbows as he starts eating.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay!\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cWe\u2019ve got another match this afternoon, but the coaches are talking about splitting each of our teams in two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRegulars against reserves?\u201d Yahaba suggests. \u201cThat could be interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just want to play against our regulars,\u201d Ennoshita says. \u201cBut your<\/em> regulars would destroy our reserves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not it, anyway!\u201d Oikawa says, waving his hands about and propelling a bit of cabbage sideways off his chopsticks. He doesn\u2019t seem to notice. \u201cIt\u2019s probably going to be split by seniors and juniors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know all this?\u201d Suga asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaptain\u2019s rights,\u201d Oikawa says, winking. \u201cSawamura-kun probably knows too, and he\u2019s just not telling you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga glances over to the table Daichi\u2019s at. There\u2019s not much mingling between the teams apart from at Suga\u2019s table, and he zones out thinking about it while Ennoshita and Yahaba discuss how the second years are going to be split in between senior and junior.<\/p>\n

Oikawa nudges Suga. \u201cHey,\u201d he says, \u201cyou know what this means, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Suga says, \u201cwe\u2019ll be playing each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to,\u201d Oikawa says.<\/p>\n

At that, Suga raises an eyebrow. \u201cYou know I\u2019m not on the same level as you and Kageyama.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Oikawa says, and he doesn\u2019t elaborate.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s cryptic, and it\u2019s frustrating, and it only leaves Suga more on-edge until everyone starts filtering out of the dining room. Ennoshita\u2019s chatting with a whole group of Seijou second years now\u2014and who knew he could be such a social butterfly?\u2014but Oikawa is still sat resolutely beside Suga, finishing his lunch.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuga-chan,\u201d he says, quietly, deliberately, \u201clet\u2019s be a little late to practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga desperately wishes he could agree, but the responsible vice captain in him speaks up. \u201cI was late this morning,\u201d he says, \u201cwhich was your<\/em> fault\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou<\/em> were the one,\u201d Oikawa points out, \u201cwho wanted to go on\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKissing,\u201d Suga completes, when Oikawa stalls. \u201cYou can say it aloud, you know. No-one\u2019s going to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa looks over his shoulder. \u201cKissing,\u201d he tries.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere,\u201d Suga says. \u201cWas that so hard?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHarder to say it than actually do<\/em> it,\u201d Oikawa grumbles.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter practice,\u201d Suga promises, even though he\u2019s not entirely sure it\u2019s what Oikawa was angling for. \u201cWe can, uh, set for each other<\/em>.\u201d He adds air quotes for effect.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s just\u2014\u201d Oikawa begins, looking away. \u201cWe can\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of finishing either of his sentences, he stands up. \u201cI\u2019ll see you at practice!\u201d<\/p>\n

As Oikawa dashes to catch up with Matsukawa and Hanamaki, who\u2019re just leaving the dining room, Suga leans forward and rests his chin in his hands. He can\u2019t help the smile that makes its way onto his face, but it\u2019s a confused smile, more than anything else. Whatever\u2019s going on between him and Oikawa\u2014it\u2019s still baffling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we doing?\u201d Suga whispers to himself, watching the door close behind Oikawa\u2019s back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we doing when?\u201d Daichi asks, taking Oikawa\u2019s vacated seat. \u201cNow? We\u2019ve got a practice match or two against Seijou. After that? Individual practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Suga says absently, getting to his feet. And then, dragging himself back to reality again, \u201cWell, what are you waiting for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah,\u201d Daichi says. \u201cThere\u2019s no rush.\u201d<\/p>\n

No rush\u2014so Suga takes it slowly, and doesn\u2019t let himself burn out for Oikawa\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s decided that the liberos will go with the junior halves of the teams, and for the second time that day Suga has only one blocker, Narita, on his team. Seijou\u2019s senior team has all of their third years, and two second years, one of whom is a blocker\u2014still, the match is relentlessly long, pushing three sets. Seijou wins the third 25-23.<\/p>\n

The junior team match is more charged, full of energy and played with less deliberation than the seniors, but Seijou take it in straight sets. Suga knows it\u2019s because Kageyama\u2019s not at his peak after his fight with Hinata, but when Iwaizumi asks what\u2019s gotten into Kageyama\u2019s tosses, Suga doesn\u2019t say anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it, then,\u201d Daichi calls. \u201cFlying falls, everyone!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga groans. \u201cI think I hurt my shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNice try,\u201d Daichi says. \u201cReally. I appreciate the effort you put into that painfully unconvincing lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, Suga\u2019s shoulder does hurt a bit<\/em>, but it\u2019s not bad enough to stop him from pretending to do flying falls. It\u2019s not that he couldn\u2019t<\/em>, but that his body balks at the idea of throwing itself face first onto the hard floor, and Suga\u2019s preservation instinct wins out over his teamwork obligations.<\/p>\n

When the cruel and unusual punishment is finally over, Asahi and Daichi head straight to the showers, but Suga dawdles\u2014thankfully, he\u2019s read the air right, and Oikawa does too.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime for personal practice, Suga-chan?\u201d Oikawa suggests.<\/p>\n

Suga hums. \u201cDon\u2019t you want to relax a bit first?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to!\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cI heard you telling Sawamura-kun your shoulder\u2019s sore. Maybe I could\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa trails off, and Suga turns to see what distracted him. He\u2019s more than a little surprised to see Kageyama standing there, hands clenched in fists at his sides.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm,\u201d he begins.<\/p>\n

\u201cKageyama?\u201d Suga asks. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSugawara-san,\u201d he says, \u201cI\u2014I heard you had been practicing setting with Oikawa-san.\u201d<\/p>\n

He must be going through a lot, and Suga thinks it\u2019s awfully brave of him to come up to them like this. \u201cDid you hear from Tsukishima?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Kageyama says, nodding. \u201cI wanted to know\u2014I wanted to know if I could practice with you? With you both?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga gives him an encouraging smile. \u201cOf course you c\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t!\u201d Oikawa cuts in. \u201cOf course you can\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa,\u201d Suga begins, his tone warning, but he doesn\u2019t finish his thought. Because, of course, there is one very good reason why they wouldn\u2019t want Kageyama to practice with them\u2014the kissing<\/em>.<\/p>\n

But Kageyama\u2019s face falls, and Suga can\u2019t say no to him. \u201cKageyama, it doesn\u2019t bother me if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright,\u201d Kageyama says quickly, eyes darting away, \u201cI\u2019ll practice with someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

He dashes out of the gym, and Suga gives Oikawa a look<\/em>. \u201cThat was mean.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa\u2019s expression takes on a dark edge as his eyes follow Kageyama\u2019s retreat. \u201cI can\u2019t have Tobio-chan getting ahead of me,\u201d he says cheerfully, his tone completely incongruous with the way his whole body goes tense.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides,\u201d Oikawa adds, \u201cdon\u2019t you want us to have this time to ourselves, Suga-chan?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do,\u201d Suga admits, \u201cbut I also feel bad about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa looks like he\u2019s about to say something, but then thinks the better of it. Suga understands\u2014he doesn\u2019t know anything about Kageyama\u2019s time at middle school, and maybe Oikawa\u2019s not ready to share his side of the story either. Suga trusts that it\u2019ll happen in his own time\u2014if ever, if whatever\u2019s between them becomes something more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell!\u201d Suga says, attempting to break the mood, \u201cLet\u2019s get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot just yet,\u201d Oikawa says, the familiar sparkle back in his eyes. \u201cDidn’t you say you hurt your shoulder?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mostly said that to get out of flying falls, \u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

Oikawa takes Suga by the wrist and leads him towards the outdoor entrance to the gym. \u201cWhat\u2019s that? I didn\u2019t catch what you said.\u201d<\/p>\n

The way he\u2019s always so dramatic is one of the many things on Suga\u2019s list of things he likes about Oikawa. He lets Oikawa lead him to the door, but when Oikawa flings it open, it\u2019s still raining outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not going for another run in the rain, are we?\u201d Suga asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit on the bottom step,\u201d Oikawa instructs, ignoring the question as he closes the door behind him.<\/p>\n

The step is, on the whole, dry thanks to an awning over the edge of the gym, so Suga decides just to go with it and sits down, even though the light rain splashes them both a bit. He can hear Oikawa sitting down behind him, on one of the upper steps, and jumps with surprise when Oikawa\u2019s legs settle on either side of his, followed by Oikawa\u2019s hands on his shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this about?\u201d Suga asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cA massage,\u201d Oikawa says, \u201cfor your sore shoulder. I want you to be in top form when we practice together, Suga-chan!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga lets out an involuntary breath as Oikawa\u2019s fingers begin to work at his shoulders. He allows his body to slacken, and gradually begins to relax in a way he hasn\u2019t since training camp started. The humid air makes him almost sleepy, and the clouds obscuring the daylight do nothing to help.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could get used to this,\u201d he mumbles.<\/p>\n

There are, in fact, a lot of things Suga could get used to. He could get used to being this intimate with Oikawa\u2014with someone he likes<\/em>, someone who knows<\/em> he likes him. Suga had spoken on an impulse that morning, confessing to Oikawa, but it\u2019s an impulse he wants to protect, an instinct he wants to nurture until it\u2019s more than just the subtle flutter of his heart whenever they\u2019re together.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get too comfy,\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cWe\u2019re going back to practice after this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Suga says, even though he doesn\u2019t want to. \u201cTomorrow, will you consider working with Kageyama?\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa doesn’t respond, and, releasing Suga\u2019s shoulders, drops himself forward so that his chin is resting on top of Suga\u2019s head. He dangles a hand forward, and Suga wastes no time in linking their fingers.<\/p>\n

I like you<\/em>, Suga wants to say again, I<\/em> want to get comfortable with you, want to make this routine<\/em>. He doesn\u2019t, though. He leans back and rests his head against Oikawa\u2019s chest. For a moment, there\u2019s the horrifying thought that this will only last for this one week, and that after training camp is over they\u2019ll go back to how they were before, meeting up every now and then and texting in between. The feeling passes, though, as Oikawa\u2019s other arm comes to rest around Suga\u2019s waist.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really should practice,\u201d Oikawa says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should,\u201d Suga agrees, sinking even further backwards.<\/p>\n

They don\u2019t, yet. Not for a while. Suga wonders if, like him, Oikawa is also scared that there\u2019s a time limit on their\u2014whatever it is.<\/p>\n

Chapter Four<\/h3>\n

Dinner is only shy of being a torturous affair, with the way Suga keeps stealing glances at Tooru even though they\u2019re talking with the second years, like Suga thinks that this is cute, that he<\/em> is cute, or something. He is, really, and Tooru has to alternate between exchanging the look back or pretending he doesn\u2019t notice, because the look in Suga\u2019s eyes reminds him of the look this morning, underneath the awning and predating the rain, something curious and hopeful and excited all balled up into one.<\/p>\n

Tooru clears his throat at the end of dinner. As Yahaba and that sleepy looking kid get up to throw their leftovers out, he straightens his jersey and very astutely does not think about the warmth of Suga\u2019s shoulders beneath his palm, of course. \u201cI\u2019m beat,\u201d he says, though it\u2019s mostly a flicker of exhaustion that runs through his body.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou better sleep well then,\u201d Suga says, smiling at him. \u201cYou want to have all your energy for tomorrow, won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Suga-chan, thinking about my health?\u201d Tooru winks at him. \u201cYes, I\u2019ll be sure to sleep well, if only for your sake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga rolls his eyes, but the smile\u2019s still sunny on his face. Yahaba grumbles something about embarrassing upperclassmen that his second year friends agree with, and Tooru says, \u201cYou better respect your upperclassmen, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, of course Oikawa-san,\u201d Yahaba says in a mocking tone. But it\u2019s hard to take him seriously, or really care, when Suga snickers into his palm like that.<\/p>\n

They get up when everyone else starts filing out. Suga says, \u201cYou are sleeping alright, though?\u201d like he\u2019s worried Tooru will injure himself and not be well enough to practice tomorrow. Or, the\u2014kissing. Worried about the kissing, maybe.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I am, Suga-chan,\u201d Tooru says brightly, resting a hand on his shoulder. \u201cYou know me\u2014always a morning guy!”<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Suga says, and gives a trying little laugh. \u201cI just want everyone at their peak condition, since\u2026”<\/p>\n

He trails off. Tooru pauses in the hallway and gives him a frown, but Suga shakes his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nothing,\u201d he murmurs, and when Tooru continues training his gaze on him, Suga lifts his head up and gives him another small smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nothing,\u201d he repeats, his eyes somewhere else entirely from his mouth.<\/p>\n

Tooru clicks his tongue. \u201cYou\u2019re not very good at being convincing right now, Suga-chan,\u201d he scolds. \u201cAnd here I thought you were a master of deception, tricking me into a handful of things.”<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? No,\u201d Suga says, and then his eyes have that faraway look again. \u201cIt\u2019s just\u2014in-team stuff,\u201d he mutters.<\/p>\n

Tooru thinks about how shabby Tobio\u2019s tosses had been earlier today, and his asking himself and Suga to join their setting practice. If Tooru thinks enough about it, that would make probably the most sense; but he doesn\u2019t particularly want to think too much about Tobio and his internal crises and whatever other magical character development he\u2019s going to bother himself into undergoing. It\u2019s none of Tooru\u2019s business.<\/p>\n

And, anyway, the more important thing is, \u201cYou better not trick anyone else into wanting to kiss you so much,\u201d and the heat that creeps up his neck is halted when Suga\u2019s face immediately goes pink and that look in his eyes disappears.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru snorts. They\u2019ve reached the fork in the hallway that splits them off, and he pauses against the corner while the rest of them walk past.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can say it aloud, you know,\u201d Tooru mimics, from lunch. Sugars expression flickers into confusion before, half a second later, into one of clarity. “No-one\u2019s going to hear.”<\/p>\n

Suga laughs and hits him on the shoulder. \u201cPeople totally could\u2019ve heard,\u201d he says in a low voice, though it doesn\u2019t waver the smirk on Tooru\u2019s face. \u201cDon\u2019t mock me.”<\/p>\n

Tooru hums. \u201cYou said it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga leans in. The hallway\u2019s mostly cleared out, so even if this is much riskier than just talking<\/em> about kissing\u2014well, Tooru doesn\u2019t have a problem with it. Suga\u2019s lips are even softer than he\u2019s ever cared to imagine, because when he thinks about it when it isn\u2019t happening, it\u2019s impossible to replicate. To replicate the way Suga makes a happy little sound against Tooru\u2019s mouth, leaning forward and tilting when Tooru has to debate whether he wants to give it all or tease it out of Suga, one by one. Suga\u2019s hands run down Tooru\u2019s arms like they belong<\/em> there, slender and smooth and Tooru wraps his hand around the dip of Suga\u2019s waist.<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s the one who pulls away all too soon, and Tooru\u2019s head feels stupidly light. He blinks and smiles at Suga, who\u2019s already mirroring the expression.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d Tooru says, even though he\u2019s pretty sure he already knows the answer, and just wants to hear Suga say it.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s right. Suga says, \u201cA goodnight kiss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even so, Tooru\u2019s chest tightens at these words, something burning and unspoken that he drives his mind opposite from. Kissing<\/em>. He just needs to think about kissing.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight then, Suga-chan,\u201d he says, and starts away, leaving Suga around the corner.<\/p>\n

But he glances back once and sees Suga watching him go.<\/p>\n

When he gets to the Seijou room, the others have started shuffling in and out to wash up. As he comes in, Iwaizumi\u2019s staring at him with narrowed eyes, but doesn\u2019t say anything. Tooru goes over to him and jostles their shoulders together, and Iwaizumi lets out a single grunt.<\/p>\n

Tooru chuckles. \u201cChin up, Iwa-chan! If you keep making that expression, you\u2019ll get wrinkles at a young age.”<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa,\u201d Iwaizumi says, his voice strangely serious rather than some sort of physical retaliation Tooru had expected. \u201cDon\u2019t get yourself hurt. Or other people hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru continues smiling at him, though his eyes are really trying to. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi sighs. \u201cJust, earlier in the school year, when you got dump\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

But he\u2019s cut off when Kindaichi and Kunimi come in, talking loudly about a subject that is much<\/em> more interesting than whatever Iwaizumi\u2019s blathering on about. \u201cIt was so weird,\u201d Kindaichi\u2019s saying to Kunimi, who to most people would look uninterested, unless you knew him as well as Tooru or Kindaichi or a good portion of their team does. \u201cDo you think he\u2019s back to being a king?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ordinarily Tooru would tell them not to gossip, and then scold them all to going to sleep, and then Yahaba would throw his toothpaste at the side of Tooru\u2019s head or something and say that not all of them are done washing up. But that would leave another open space for Iwaizumi to lecture him about nonsense, so Tooru listens with rapt attention instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Kunimi says. Strangely, there\u2019s a small knit between his eyebrows, like he\u2019s actually worried<\/em> about his old classmate. Tooru wants to laugh.<\/p>\n

Kindaichi frowns, too. \u201cAnd he didn\u2019t talk to that short guy during our game!\u201d he continues, because apparently Kunimi saying he doesn\u2019t know his further encouragement. \u201cOh, what if\u2014what if they\u2019re fighting? What if he finally realized what a king<\/em> Kageyama is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat nickname isn\u2019t cute,\u201d Tooru finally cuts in. Kindaichi jerks his head around, looking almost guilty at being caught talking about Tobio, even though while the others are tied up in their conversations about sleeping rearrangements, Tooru knows that Iwaizumi\u2019s paying just as much attention to their discussion as he is.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd,\u201d Tooru adds, even though he told himself not to think about Tobio earlier, \u201cthat\u2019s impossible. Well, it\u2019s certainly possible, but Tobio-chan doesn\u2019t take three steps back for every two steps forward. Maybe just one step back.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also doesn\u2019t mention that if Tobio’s behavior has worsened, Suga would undoubtedly mention it to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d says Kindaichi.<\/p>\n

Tooru asks, \u201cWhy are you so interested, Kindaichi-kun?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kindaichi\u2019s cheeks flush and Kunimi seems to start away to escape. But Tooru adds, \u201cAnd you, Kunimi-chan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re.\u201d Kindaichi glances to Kunimi, probably for help.<\/p>\n

Kunimi lets out a low breath. \u201cWe\u2019re not interested,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Tooru smiles, and they continue to their sleeping mats in silence.<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi mutters something to him about scaring the first years, but Matsukawa stands up and stretches and says, \u201cYeah, those Karasuno first years sure are an interesting bunch.\u201d He folds his arms behind his head and twists from side to side. \u201cTheir tall middle blocker is good, even if he needs some work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know you had room for apprenticeship,\u201d Hanamaki snorts. He rolls himself up in his duvet to look at Matsukawa, who just throws his pillow in Hanamaki\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Tooru claps Matsukawa on the back with bravado. \u201cYou\u2019re all grown up now, teaching the little ones,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Matsukawa rolls his eyes, and Iwaizumi says, from fluffing up his pillow, \u201cYou sound like some sort of proud father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, thanks, Oikawa-dad,\u201d Matsukawa cuts in, smirking.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m like your proud big brother,\u201d protests Tooru, and the room erupts into snickers.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d says Hanamaki, who\u2019s leaning on his side with his head perched in his arm. Matsukawa tries to tip him over by the elbow. \u201cNo.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

It becomes easy to fall into a routine with Suga, who sits across from him at breakfast the next morning, smiles with something in his eyes that has a promise for later<\/em>, and their knees bump into each other.<\/p>\n

Tooru doesn\u2019t wait for later<\/em>, though. As they start off from the dining room, elbows nudging up every once in a while close enough for comfort, he leans over next to Suga\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing to give me a good morning kiss, today?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga squawks and Tooru pulls back, grinning. Suga rolls his eyes but he\u2019s smiling, too. For a second Tooru thinks Suga might actually do it, right there.<\/p>\n

But Suga says, \u201cMaybe in a bit,\u201d and shifts to move away like someone managing a getaway escape.<\/p>\n

Tooru tugs after him, laughing a little. \u201cBut by then it won\u2019t be morning anymore,\u201d he points out, sidling along Suga\u2019s side. \u201cIt\u2019ll be more of a good midday. Good noon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga giggles. \u201cYou\u2019re ridiculous,\u201d he says, delighted, and it does something inside Tooru\u2019s chest. He decides not to look too much into it, or the way Suga is beaming up at him, eyes bright. Tooru bumps shoulders with him and says, \u201cDon\u2019t tease me,\u201d and before Suga can even open up his mouth for a witty retort, he steals a kiss at Suga\u2019s chin, mouth obstructed by the side of his face so it looks like he\u2019s merely whispering, before dancing away to join the rest of his team.<\/p>\n

He resists the urge to glance back, because he\u2019s sure that the expression on Suga\u2019s face is even better than the one he\u2019s conjured up in his mind.<\/p>\n

It follows after him like a ghost when he goes to his team\u2019s practice, watching the ball with his eyes, keeping his mind in the familiar place of knowing every member of his team and adjusting his body to fit to each of their spiking needs. But sneaking in the back is Suga, too happy to see him, loud declarations of I like you<\/em> and\u2014too good to be true? Tooru\u2019s noticed the details in the past, his own smile caught in his throat at a new text, the backs of their hands too far away to touch\u2014before\u2014<\/em>the small pink of Suga\u2019s tongue wondering around his ice cream that Tooru wants to get a taste.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s now, and Tooru\u2019s quite excellent at multitasking and keeping his head in multiple clouds, but then Yahaba\u2019s calling, \u201cOikawa, there\u2019s a Karasuno here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru turns around\u2014of course, Suga had shown up at the previous practice, Tooru should\u2019ve looked for him today, too. What humiliation it is to be around the person you\u2019re thinking too much about. Tooru gnaws on his lip.<\/p>\n

But when he turns to the bleachers, no one\u2019s there. And then standing at the entrance of the gym is Tobio, looking ridiculous on his own.<\/p>\n

Tooru raises his eyebrows and tosses the ball to Iwaizumi, who catches it with a huff. \u201cBe right back,\u201d Tooru says cheerfully to the rest of them, before jogging to the doorway.<\/p>\n

Tobio is fidgeting. Tooru doesn\u2019t know how he even survives on the court; Tobio\u2019s too easy to read.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he says as soon as he\u2019s within earshot, and turns on his heel to head back.<\/p>\n

But Tobio positively springs from where he\u2019s standing to block Tooru\u2019s path, and Tooru almost falls over with a \u201cGweh!\u201d He picks himself up and brushes off invisible dust, glaring. \u201cYou have a speed to rival Shorty\u2019s,\u201d he mocks.<\/p>\n

Apparently that\u2019s the right thing to say\u2014or, Tooru supposes, the wrong thing, from Tobio\u2019s end, because he flinches. \u201cSuga-san said that you\u2019d practice with me today,\u201d he says, like he can\u2019t believe it either.<\/p>\n

Tooru scoffs, because Suga is not worth his pride. Probably. \u201cWell then go tell your Suga<\/em>–san<\/em>,\u201d he says, \u201cthat Oikawa-san will not practice with you today. And really, that he shouldn\u2019t underestimate me so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

He begins to stalk off again, but Tobio says, \u201cPlease.\u201d And when Tooru swivels around again, Tobio is gnawing at his bottom lip, looking entirely out of place.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you and Suga-san dating?\u201d he blurts.<\/p>\n

Shock flits over his face like he can\u2019t believe what he said. Tooru would laugh if he wasn\u2019t in the same state, trying to simultaneously wrap his mind around Tobio\u2019s words while also coming up with a response soon enough so he doesn\u2019t look suspicious. Dating<\/em> is such a\u2014such a word<\/em>, and Tooru thinks to his kiss from this morning, all their kisses yesterday, and finds that even when he does think about it, even for the briefest of seconds, he doesn\u2019t know how to explain it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know you knew what that was,\u201d Tooru says, too late, and it falls flat, anyway. Tobio blinks at him expectantly and Tooru says, \u201cWhy do you need to practice with him or me, anyway? Don\u2019t you have a full team of spikers at your disposal?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I.\u201d Tobio glances to the ground.<\/p>\n

Tooru taps his foot.<\/p>\n

\u201cHinata said that he wants to hit the ball on his own,\u201d Tobio says to him. \u201cBefore, when we\u2019d do the quicks, he was hitting without looking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru whistles lowly. \u201cIt\u2019d be impressive if he could,\u201d he says, because credit goes to where credit is due, and Shorty is like, a freak. \u201cTry it out.”<\/p>\n

Tobio sputters. \u201cHe\u2019s not\u2014I don\u2019t\u2014!\u201d He exhales loudly. \u201cHe can\u2019t just move on his own<\/em>, he\u2019s not that good!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you told him where and when to move, didn\u2019t you?\u201d Tooru smirks and thinks to the first years\u2019 conversation last night. \u201cLike a king, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been right, it\u2019s not cute at all. Tobio blinks again, and Tooru sighs, resigned. If Suga had told Tobio that he would help in some way\u2026 Tooru supposes this is the least he could do.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen,\u201d he says, because this is the one time Suga sort of almost comes before his pride. Almost. \u201cOnce\u2014and after\u2014Shorty hits the ball with everything he\u2019s got, he\u2019s going to want to keep doing it. So your thinking that the first thing you say is what should go is pretty stupid, not to mention cowardly. You\u2019re a setter, but even your precious Suga-san<\/em> understands this,\u201d and he lifts up a finger, pretending he\u2019s not delighted by the way Suga\u2019s name rolls off his tongue. \u201cThe little guy is the one who takes initiative in his attacks,\u201d he says to Tobio, who is staring at him wide-eyed. \u201cNot you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He walks away, not turning back to see if Tobio is waiting for more, or has left, too. At least Tobio doesn\u2019t call after him.<\/p>\n

His teammates descend upon him as he returns. \u201cWhat the hell was that?\u201d demands Kindaichi, because he has no ounce of subtlety.<\/p>\n

Tooru rolls his eyes and stretches. \u201cTobio\u2019s more useless than I thought,\u201d he tells them cheerfully, and then, \u201cOw!\u201d when Iwaizumi thumps him on the back.<\/p>\n

But as they return to practice, Tooru thinks about scolding Suga about this, and the idea of talking to Suga makes everything even better than Tobio\u2019s uselessness. Tooru is looking a little too forward to it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course it\u2019s not that easy, because now with Tooru\u2019s advice<\/em> Tobio thinks that he can sit with him and Suga and the second years at lunch, so he does. Suga looks all too pleased with himself and Tooru sends him a look over the table that says, we will talk about this later<\/em>, and Suga smirks into his soup. And then their individual practices today aren\u2019t individual practices anymore, but multiple full game sets. Tooru seriously considers sending a text to Suga telling him to meet him in the men\u2019s restrooms\u2014and he does\u2014but that only leads to Suga uncharacteristically giving him a bold kiss against the cool metal of the stall, and Tooru half-forgets what he wanted to talk to Suga about, and half doesn\u2019t and decides he can wait until later, because Suga\u2019s tongue is in his mouth and he\u2019s careening against Tooru\u2019s body, while Tooru runs his hand down Suga\u2019s back and around his waist.<\/p>\n

So. Tooru thinks simplicity is vastly overrated and that night just sends a text to Suga of, (\u00ac \u00ac )<\/em> We are talking tomorrow<\/em>, curled up in his blankets.<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s reply comes less than a minute later. I\u2019m looking forward to it.<\/em><\/p>\n

But the next morning just has<\/em> to be complicated, because Suga comes into breakfast looking bleary-eyed and keeps nodding into his porridge so Tooru kind of doubts that they can have a proper conversation like that. Then there\u2019s morning practice and lunch, surrounded by too many people and hardly rejuvenating Suga by the slightest, that Tooru is honestly considering skipping whatever else they have scheduled for the afternoon to pour water on Suga\u2019s face so they can talk<\/em>.<\/p>\n

This leads his mind into a place of Wet Suga and Wet Suga alone, and he realizes a little belatedly that they do, at least, have individual practices today.<\/p>\n

So Suga begins to join him into the gym, but Tooru has a change of heart. \u201cLet\u2019s go out for a run,\u201d he says, because that for sure is bound to wake Suga up.<\/p>\n

Suga stops for a second to blink, but he says, \u201cSure.\u201d He changes directions and starts toward the exit. Tooru affectionately cuffs Suga\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot enough sleep last night?\u201d he asks, as they head out.<\/p>\n

Suga lets out a little chuckle. \u201cNo, not really,\u201d he admits.<\/p>\n

They stretch on the pavement, and Tooru watches the way Suga\u2019s pale thighs flex under the afternoon sun. It\u2019s clear and blue out today, not at all like the first day, a bright landscape of greens and blues and yellows.<\/p>\n

Suga must be thinking the same thing, because he says, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look like it\u2019ll rain today,\u201d and Tooru chuckles.<\/p>\n

They jog at an easy pace, the only thing in Tooru\u2019s ears the sounds of their breathing. In the distance he\u2019s pretty sure he sees some of his and Suga\u2019s teammates running as well, but he doesn\u2019t suggest that they join them and Suga doesn\u2019t either. Suga has his head bowed, sweat beading off his forehead; but at least he\u2019s looking a little more awake than before. Tooru nudges him to get him to look up, and gets a blinding smile in return.<\/p>\n

Falling half a step behind is worth it.<\/p>\n

Eventually they make their way to a grassy hill they hadn\u2019t gotten to before. There are wildflowers everywhere, and as they stop to rest, panting, Suga says, \u201cLet\u2019s go up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Tooru wheezes, hands on his thighs. \u201cWe just\u2014ran\u2014two kilometers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne and a half,\u201d Suga says with a smile, and starts up the hill.<\/p>\n

Tooru follows him, half-crawling, half-walking. Suga perches himself up and starts picking at the flowers. Tooru watches with interest as he settles next to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look shaken awake now,\u201d he says, a little too close in Suga\u2019s space.<\/p>\n

Suga doesn\u2019t seem to mind. He\u2019s threading the flowers together, white and golden and pink, into a sloppy string. \u201cI was just thinking too much last night,\u201d he says casually.<\/p>\n

Tooru nods, because he understands that. \u201cThinking about what?\u201d he asks, perching a chin up in his hand.<\/p>\n

Suga glances at him, then finishes crowning the flowers together. \u201cWhat did you want to talk about?\u201d he asks, instead.<\/p>\n

Tooru has a feeling that the lack of eye contact is deliberate. \u201cWhy did you tell Tobio that I\u2019d practice with him yesterday?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

Suga stops, and then he\u2019s laughing. He\u2019s laughing so much that the flowers nearly tumble out of his lap, and Tooru goes to catches them before Suga\u2019s hard work is ruined. And, because he can, Tooru places the flowers on his head.<\/p>\n

Suga glances at it appreciatively, before going, \u201cOh god, I thought\u2014okay, yeah.\u201d He\u2019s still giggling. Tooru is definitely missing something.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d he says, beginning to pick flowers of his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Suga says airily. Tooru would press, but Suga\u2019s looking the most awake he\u2019s been all day, so Tooru decides to let it slide this once. \u201cI just thought that if I told him that you would and he went up to you with it, you\u2019d just go with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t give in that easily,\u201d Tooru says, tying his flowers together. Suga just grins and adjusts the flowers in Tooru\u2019s hair, straightening them out a little.<\/p>\n

And before he\u2019s thinking, Tooru adds, \u201cTobio said something interesting to me yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d Suga asks. His eyes are bright, defenceless. Tooru suddenly wants to kiss him, wants to forget about are you and Suga-san dating<\/em>, wants to finish this stupid ring of flowers and put it on Suga\u2019s head and take as many mental pictures as he can.<\/p>\n

So he says, \u201cTobio said that he doesn\u2019t think your Shorty is talented,\u201d and Suga is rolling his eyes and saying, \u201cClassic Tobio<\/em>,\u201d in what Tooru is pretty sure is a poor imitation of his own voice. He finishes the flowers and plops them on Suga\u2019s head and then, laughing, slings an arm across Suga\u2019s waist to draw him into a deep kiss.<\/p>\n

Suga kisses back, eagerly, tasting a little bit of sleep and today\u2019s lunch. Tooru\u2019s crouched over his body, hands on either side of Suga\u2019s waist, and Suga falls back on the grass, tugging Tooru up to him. His arms are around Tooru\u2019s neck and Tooru licks into him, wet heat far beyond their mouths and pooling somewhere low near Tooru\u2019s stomach, possibly lower. Tooru nips at him eagerly, and Suga returns the favor, and their hips bump and Tooru lets out a deep noise into Suga\u2019s mouth. Suga is smiling, and when Tooru finally pulls away, hovering and breathless, Suga\u2019s arms dangle loosely from his neck, and he is beaming up at him, half his face shrouded, the other in the sun.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour flower crown fell off,\u201d Suga notes. He uses one hand to pick it back up from the side, and places it back on Tooru\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

Tooru laughs and kisses and kisses, until both their flower crowns are forgotten and underneath them, crushed and colorful.<\/p>\n

Chapter Five<\/h3>\n

Suga tries to count to get himself to sleep. He tries staring at the ceiling, imagining each number painted above him as he counts it, but it doesn\u2019t work. He tries thinking about the stories his mum would tell him, half-remembered relics of his childhood that helped him drift out of consciousness every night. It doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something to be said for being kept up late with excitement, but theoretically Suga shouldn\u2019t\u00a0still<\/em>\u00a0be riding high on that excitement. It was just the afternoon, but it might as well have been a few minutes ago for how\u00a0real<\/em>\u00a0it still feels. Suga shuts his eyes and sees Oikawa\u2019s face just centimetres away from his, and then closer. The sheets beneath his back become the blades of grass on the hill, his pillow a discarded flower crown.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s beyond caring, now, about\u00a0what<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0why<\/em>\u2014what to call their relationship, why it\u2019s even happening in the first place\u2014and instead focusing on\u00a0when<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0how<\/em>\u00a0and that, soon, he\u2019ll be asleep and awake again and facing another day of being around Oikawa. It\u2019s still new and exciting, but now there\u2019s a familiar feeling, too, like Suga\u2019s getting used to having Oikawa around. That could be worrying, so Suga\u2019s trying not to let it worry him.<\/p>\n

But he still can\u2019t sleep.<\/p>\n

He feels a little queasy, actually, like if he tries to move too much his head will start to spin\u2014so, he keeps his eyes trained on the ceiling, hoping the dizziness will pass.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a long time before he falls asleep properly. Usually, he\u2019s not a light sleeper, but as the hours wear on, marked by the gentle ticking of a clock on the far wall of their sleeping quarters, he remains aware and alert, convinced that he\u2019s awake even though he probably isn\u2019t. When he\u2019s awoken the next morning, he\u2019s not sure if he even slept at all.<\/p>\n

Typically, it\u2019s Noya who wakes him, not with his usual shout but with a gentle shake of the shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuga-san? Hey, Suga-san, are you awake?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga groans, turning onto his side and trying in vain to bury his head entirely in his pillow. \u201cMaybe,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t look so good,\u201d Noya says. \u201cWe let you sleep in for a bit, but everyone\u2019s already had breakfast, so\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

With a start, Suga sits upright. It\u2019s a bad choice\u2014his head spins, and he shuts his eyes tight as he presses his palms down onto his futon for purchase. \u201cI\u2019m late,\u201d he says. The consequences only register in his periphery, but he knows it\u2019s not a good thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay to be late if you\u2019re sick,\u201d comes another voice\u2014Tanaka, probably, but Suga\u2019s not going to risk opening his eyes to find out. \u201cWe\u2019ll tell the coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n

That won\u2019t do at all, though. \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Suga mumbles, rubbing his eyes. He opens them laboriously, like each eyelid is weighed down with sleep. \u201cI\u2019m always like this in the mornings. Sorry. I just couldn\u2019t get to sleep last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHappens to the best of us,\u201d someone else says. It worries Suga, just a bit, that he can\u2019t pick the voice. For the first time, he hears a ringing in his ears, like someone\u2019s stuffed them with cotton and the sound is just bouncing around behind it.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust tell the coaches I\u2019ll be late to practice,\u201d he says, shaking off his sheets and gradually attempting to stand up. When he\u2019s on his feet, though, the throbbing in his head returns\u2014had it even gone away?\u2014and he stumbles backwards, collapsing into someone\u2019s arms. They lower him onto the futon; it feels like there are a few pairs of hands settling him and someone feeling his forehead for a temperature, but he can\u2019t be sure, because his vision is starting to go blurry and he feels his grip on reality distorting, like he\u2019s looking out from the inside of a fishbowl.<\/p>\n

After that, he can\u2019t focus on what\u2019s going on around him. Maybe Coach Ukai comes into the room and gives him a few stern but encouraging words, and Suga replies with half-sentences, and maybe Daichi claps him on the shoulder, in typical Daichi fashion, and tells him he\u2019ll be back on his feet in no time. But the worst part about this fever isn\u2019t the the way it stops Suga from functioning as a normal human being. All the things he\u2019d usually be doing, the conversations he\u2019d be having, are impossible. His brain feels like a fogged-up windscreen\u2014and the wipers aren\u2019t working.<\/p>\n

At some point he must have fallen asleep, because the next thing he remembers is another hand on his shoulder, and a whisper in his ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Suga-chan\u2026 ?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga barely has the presence of mind to realise that it\u2019s Oikawa, but somehow he knows it instinctively. \u201cWhat\u2019re you doing here?\u201d he mumbles. His voice sounds slurred, foreign to his own ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood question,\u201d Oikawa says. He\u2019s almost grumpy. \u201cI\u2019m skipping practice to be with you, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa,\u201d Suga chides, scrabbling to sit up but losing his energy before his shoulders can make it off his futon. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know\u00a0that<\/em>,\u201d Oikawa says lightly. He clears his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo why are you here?\u201d Suga presses.<\/p>\n

Oikawa doesn\u2019t answer. Somewhere at the back of his muddled mind, Suga realises that Oikawa is probably not sure himself why he\u2019s here. He is not a skipping practice sort of person. If Oikawa is anything, he\u2019s hard-working, dedicated to what he does, and knows he needs to be that way to get anywhere. It was one of the things that first set him apart in Suga\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

But here he is, putting that all aside. For\u00a0Suga<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Oikawa says, brushing his hands together like that\u2019s that, \u201csomeone<\/em>\u00a0needs to look after you! Have you eaten anything today?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Suga admits. \u201cWhat time is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost twelve,\u201d Oikawa says. He purses his lips into a hum, and adds, \u201cYou should have a shower, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can barely stand,\u201d Suga says. \u201cI\u2019ve been sleeping all morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see, I see,\u201d Oikawa says, leaning forward to press the back of his hand to Suga\u2019s forehead \u201cI think you might have the flu.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo kidding,\u201d Suga mumbles. He shakes off Oikawa\u2019s hand and rolls over so that he\u2019s facing away from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can bring you breakfast.\u201d Oikawa\u2019s voice is softer now, more gentle. \u201cIt\u2019s no good to go without eating. I\u2019m surprised none of your teammates thought to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga cut him off, saying, \u201cCan you blame them? We\u2019re all excited about this; to get the opportunity to train with your team is a once-in-a-lifetime. We\u2026 you shouldn\u2019t blame them for putting volleyball first. Like you should be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s exhausted after speaking so much, and rolls around onto his back again.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d Oikawa says, very quietly. He brightens up quickly, though. \u201cI\u2019ll be back in a second. I\u2019ll bring water too; you sound hoarse!\u201d<\/p>\n

His sing-song voice fades as he leaves the room, and Suga\u2019s left lying there on his own. The midday sun filters through the blinds which are blown a bit by the open window, leaving shadowy patterns scattered and dancing across the floor. It\u2019s strangely beautiful to Suga\u2019s sleep-heavy eyes. He wonders if it won\u2019t be beautiful when he gets better.<\/p>\n

Oikawa comes back and sets down a glass of water next to Suga. He also has a tray of food, which he puts aside. \u201cFor when you\u2019re ready,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Suga appreciates the pace. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need to thank me,\u201d Oikawa says, back to his old flippant self. \u201cAnyway, I thought I\u2019d better keep you company, distract you a little\u2014Mattsun says your first year with the glasses has really been improving his blocking. Your whole team, really. Has. Worked hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sounds pained just saying it, and Suga coughs into a laugh. \u201cAnd here I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re doing the best you can,\u201d Oikawa says, \u201cgiven that you have the flu.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do,\u201d Suga says, \u201cfeel like I\u2019ve improved too, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so too,\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cYou\u2014you said I was\u00a0admirable<\/em>, you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I remember,\u201d Suga says. He doesn\u2019t think he\u2019ll ever forget that mortifying not-a-date so long as he\u2019s living and breathing. It\u2019s strange that now he wouldn\u2019t even blink at the thought of kissing Oikawa. How\u00a0normal<\/em>\u00a0that is. And wasn\u2019t that what he\u2019d yearned for all along? For this to become normal?<\/p>\n

Oikawa is very quiet when he says, \u201cYou are too. Admirable, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

It takes a moment for the words to sink in properly. Suga really doesn\u2019t feel admirable, lying on a scratchy old futon with the heavy summer hair hanging above him and his own head so fuzzy with fever that he\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa! You shouldn\u2019t be here!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you breaking up with me already?\u201d Oikawa says, laughing nervously. \u201cI mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga is not, not, not, going to think about the implications of \u201cbreaking up,\u201d the fact that there needs to be something established, something set in place before you can unsettle it. \u201cNo, it\u2019s just, I\u2019m probably contagious,\u201d Suga says, forcing himself to sit up and meet Oikawa\u2019s eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t want you to get sick too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa\u2019s expression softens. \u201cI would get the flu for you,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s probably the nicest thing anyone\u2019s ever said to me,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

He lets his head droop so that Oikawa can\u2019t see his smile, just in case that\u2019s contagious too. Now that he\u2019s sitting, Oikawa scoots a little closer and brushes their shoulders together, fits his hand on top of Suga\u2019s. Suga doesn\u2019t have the energy to move his fingers between Oikawa\u2019s\u2014as though he\u00a0knows<\/em>, Oikawa does all the work for him. And without Suga\u2019s notice, Oikawa leans his head down too and touches his forehead to Suga\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

The door swings open benignly but Oikawa jerks back like he\u2019s been slapped.<\/p>\n

\u201cSawamura!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga turns his head as much as he can bear to see Daichi standing still like a statue, his eyes blown wide open.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, hey, Daichi,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually I was just leaving,\u201d Daichi says impossibly quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a coincidence,\u201d Oikawa says, \u201cso was I.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa, you don\u2019t have to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Unlinking their hands, Oikawa gets to his feet. Suga would be hurt, but he knows Oikawa well enough now, knows that the flush on his face means he\u2019s embarrassed, not in one of his weird Oikawa moods. It\u2019s not cruel. It\u2019s\u00a0adorable<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cSick people need to be left alone to rest,\u201d Oikawa says through clenched teeth.<\/p>\n

Daichi nods. \u201cI need to grab something from my bag, then I\u2019ll leave you in peace, Suga.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee you at the practice match, Sawamura!\u201d Oikawa sings on his way out. He sounds much recovered, but Suga can\u2019t see his face anymore, so he can\u2019t tell.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey.\u201d Daichi is a big liar. He doesn\u2019t need to get anything from his bag. He sits down next to Suga, legs crossed purposefully. \u201cI came to check up on you. How\u2019re you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLess dizzy,\u201d Suga says, \u201cbut not fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Daichi says. He frowns. \u201cUm, you and Oikawa\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga could laugh, but he\u2019s exhausted his one laugh for the day and now his throat feels like sandpaper. \u201cYeah,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll leave you to rest,\u201d Daichi says. \u201cI hope you know what you\u2019re doing with someone like him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCorrection,\u201d Suga says, \u201cI hope he knows what he\u2019s doing with someone like\u00a0me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa\u00a0had<\/em>\u00a0called Suga \u201cdangerous,\u201d after all. And that\u2019s a lot of power to have, but Suga sees now that it was also an acknowledgement\u2014for so long, Oikawa was someone Suga had looked up to from a distance. He was\u00a0the<\/em>\u00a0Oikawa Tooru, the best setter in the prefecture, one of the best all-rounders too, and Suga was just a pinprick of light trying to make it past his shadow. Now, there\u2019s nothing like that between them. They\u2019re friends. They\u2019re maybe something more. And Oikawa knows that Suga can command just as much respect as he can. Together, they\u2019re volatile, but so much more than they\u2019d be if they were apart.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I take that back,\u201d Daichi says, \u201cyou\u2019ll be fine. Don\u2019t be too mean to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d Suga says. \u201cMuch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daichi leaves him with a grin. \u201cI\u2019ll check in on you again around dinner time. You\u2019d better eat that food Oikawa brought for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

But once Daichi\u2019s gone, the tiredness hits Suga again. It\u2019s all too much excitement for one morning. The food can wait. He lies back down on the futon, and falls asleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

The day passes fitfully, but by the evening Suga is feeling a little better. He gets up and brushes his teeth, then sits up on his futon with a book while the others are out doing a post-dinner run in the dreadful heat. When they come back, Suga is set upon by a solicitous pack of crows, dropping their good wishes like a bird\u2019s offerings. Kageyama even sits with him for a while, and tells him about how he\u2019s been working on putting Oikawa\u2019s advice into action. Yamaguchi joins them too\u2014Suga notices he\u2019s avoiding Tsukishima, and wonders what\u00a0that\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0about.<\/p>\n

It seems like this camp has been a time of change for all of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look better,\u201d Daichi says, once the first years have peeled off. \u201cLess like a corpse. Asahi was scared out of his mind when he saw you this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was not!\u201d Asahi protests. \u201cI was just worried\u2026 you did look unwell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0am<\/em>\u00a0unwell,\u201d Suga says. \u201cBut thank you. I wouldn\u2019t expect any less of my sick self than being a little bit terrifying to a wuss like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asahi has the good grace to laugh at himself, rubbing the back of his neck. \u201cYeah, I guess I overreacted a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot as much as Oikawa,\u201d Daichi says. He and Asahi share an amused look.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Suga asks. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe nearly served a ball into Noya\u2019s face in our match this afternoon,\u201d Daichi says. \u201cNoya\u2019s fine, don\u2019t worry\u2014but he was freaking out, Suga. His play was all over the place. His teammates kept joking that he was coming down with a fever. I heard them going at it from across the net. Seems like he can be as easy to rile as our first years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201d Asahi says, \u201cit shows a good side of him too. That he really cares about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d Daichi says. \u201cI hadn\u2019t thought about it like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga can\u2019t hold back his laughter. \u201cSo long as Noya\u2019s face is okay,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

From the other side of the room Noya shouts, \u201cThanks Suga-san! My face is better than ever!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah it is!\u201d Tanaka says, and they high-five.<\/p>\n

\u201cPipe down, you two!\u201d Daichi calls back to them. \u201cWe all need to get some rest before our final match tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rest of the conversation around the room dies down too. Suga yawns, stretching his arms out above his head. \u201cGood thing I\u2019m not a starter,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not exempt,\u201d Daichi says. \u201cIf you\u2019re feeling alright tomorrow morning, you\u2019d better be there cheering us on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will be,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

After all, it\u2019ll be the last day of training camp. The last day of him and Oikawa staying so close together. And this day was a colossal waste of time, with Suga stuck in bed. If tomorrow\u2019s his last chance to see Oikawa for a while\u2014well, he won\u2019t think of it like that, or he\u2019ll try not to, and end up thinking of it like that anyway. He\u2019s going to make the most of it, either way.<\/p>\n

He sleeps soundly, and wakes as he normally does the next morning\u2014that is to say, heavy-headed and messy-haired, but with some more clarity than yesterday. He even manages to drag himself to breakfast, and sits down with Oikawa.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou,\u201d Oikawa says, but he doesn\u2019t finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe,\u201d Suga says. He coughs. \u201cWhat have I missed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, nothing too exciting,\u201d Oikawa says mildly. \u201cI suppose you\u2019ve missed me, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose I have,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

They share a smile that really is just for the two of them. Suga feels like everyone in the dining room could look at them in that moment and, like Daichi yesterday, see exactly what\u2019s going on between them. He also feels spectacularly unbothered by that.<\/p>\n

He brings a box of tissues with him to the match and sits on the gym\u2019s bleachers blowing his nose and watching the ball fly back and forth. If Oikawa was out of form yesterday as Daichi and Asahi had alleged, he\u2019s not showing it today, playing at his best.<\/p>\n

Karasuno\u2014they\u2019re reforming, like a caterpillar in the chrysalis before it can spread its wings as a butterfly. Kageyama fumbles his tosses to Hinata. Hinata and Asahi jump for the same spike and collide. Noya misses a receive on Oikawa\u2019s killer serve, and Tanaka and Daichi crash into each other trying to cover it. When Yamaguchi is brought on as a pinch server, Tsukishima is there to block the returning spike. He miss-times his block, but he smiles, actually\u00a0smiles<\/em>\u00a0at Yamaguchi afterwards, and Suga thinks he understands. Everyone\u2019s been clashing, not just Kageyama and Hinata. Everyone\u2019s been breaking apart a little, but they\u2019re stronger for it.<\/p>\n

They will be.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Seijou\u2019s game, of course, but it\u2019s also their game to win. The three sets, the tiebreakers each time, make it clear that the win didn\u2019t come easy. For the first time, Suga is glad that he caught the flu. At least he doesn\u2019t have to do flying falls. Nor do Seijou, and nor do they have a manager, so it falls to Oikawa to debrief the first years, or he takes it on himself. Either way, Suga is so busy staring at the set of Oikawa\u2019s shoulders as he talks with his hands on his hips that he doesn\u2019t notice the other three Seijou third years come up and join him.<\/p>\n

They haven\u2019t really talked before, but the spiker called Hanamaki launches straight into conversation. \u201cSo you\u2019re the infamous Suga-chan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHardly infamous,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, but you nearly brought on the apocalypse yesterday,\u201d Matsukawa says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right!\u201d Hanamaki says. \u201cWe thought the world was legitimately ending. Oikawa skipped practice. Do you know the last time that happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, first year?\u201d Suga guesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWrong,\u201d Matsukawa says. \u201cIt\u2019s never.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s never happened,\u201d Hanamaki says. \u201cI have seen Oikawa set a perfect ball in the middle of a sneeze. His eyes were full of tears, so I have no idea how he did it. And there was snot running down his face.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was pretty disgusting, actually,\u201d Matsukawa says.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Hanamaki says. \u201cMaybe he should skip practice more often.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat aside,\u201d Iwaizumi chimes in, \u201chow are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter,\u201d Suga says. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he really bring you food?\u201d Matsukawa asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd water?\u201d Hanamaki asks.<\/p>\n

Suga can\u2019t help but feel a little proud of himself. He\u2019s\u00a0infamous<\/em>, now. Karasuno\u2019s first years might be the ones who\u2019re bringing the team its new reputation, but Suga is the only reason Oikawa Tooru\u2014the<\/em>\u00a0Oikawa Tooru\u2014has ever skipped practice. \u201cYeah,\u201d he says. \u201cEverything you\u2019ve heard? It\u2019s all true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Sawamura really walked in on\u2014\u201d Iwaizumi cuts himself off. \u201cNever mind. I\u2019ve decided I don\u2019t want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hanamaki pounces on Iwaizumi\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWhat! I didn\u2019t hear about this!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither,\u201d Matsukawa says, raising an eyebrow. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you fill us in, Sugawara?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine,\u201d Suga says, \u201cI think I\u2019ll pass.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s saved from further questions by Oikawa joining them. \u201cWhat\u2019s all this?\u201d he asks. \u201cAre you bothering Suga-chan while he\u2019s sick? How uncouth of you all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUs barbarians will leave you two alone, if you want,\u201d Hanamaki says, waggling his eyebrows so outrageously that Suga gets second-hand embarrassment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Oikawa says sweetly, \u201csomeone<\/em>\u00a0has to put the net away while Karasuno are throwing themselves to the floor, and I think the captain deserves a break, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi claps him on the shoulder. \u201cI agree. You can treat us to ramen tonight to make up for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter start saving!\u201d Matsukawa says, as he jumps off the bleachers and the others follow.<\/p>\n

Oikawa sighs, waits until they\u2019re gone, then sits down beside Suga.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou played well today,\u201d Suga says, because it looks like Oikawa is happy just to sit there stewing. \u201cI mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many people tell me I\u2019m at the top of my game,\u201d Oikawa says, looking straight ahead of him. \u201cIt\u2019s reassuring to hear that you can see me improving. I\u2019m not\u2014I\u2019m not as good as everyone says I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga elbows him. \u201cHey. Don\u2019t get down now. It\u2019s the last day of training camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oikawa perks up, straightening his back out. \u201cThat\u2019s true! The coaches are putting together a barbeque as we speak. Are you well enough to eat with us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d Suga says. \u201cUm, thanks, by the way. For yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t mention it,\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cI\u2019m serious, Suga-chan, don\u2019t mention it ever again. I am never going to live this down. I don\u2019t know what came over me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it really so bad that you did one kind thing for another person?\u201d Suga asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have an\u00a0image<\/em>\u00a0to maintain,\u201d Oikawa says, huffing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Suga says, \u201cI just can\u2019t take you seriously. I mean it, though\u2014it\u2019s not the end of the world. This. Us.\u201d<\/p>\n

If anything, it\u2019s a beginning, but Suga keeps that to himself. They have a long way to go, and Suga can\u2019t predict the future, doesn\u2019t know where it\u2019ll take them. But it\u2019s there.<\/p>\n

Oikawa bumps his shoulder against Suga\u2019s. \u201cWill you still practice with me, once this camp is over?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga recognises the question for what it really is. \u201cI\u2019d love to,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Oikawa says. \u201cThere\u2019s more we can learn. We can make each other better.\u201d<\/p>\n

In, perhaps, more ways than one.<\/p>\n

The quiet moment passes as quickly as it takes Suga to realise it\u2019s even started. Oikawa springs to his feet and back to life. \u201cNow, Suga-chan. I believe we have a barbeque to attend!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Suga gets his own seat on the bus, because he\u2019s contagious, and it wouldn\u2019t do for any of the others to catch the flu from him when they\u2019ve all worked so hard this last week. But being alone has its benefits\u2014he takes out his phone, and there\u2019s already a text from Oikawa.<\/p>\n

Thank you for the fun week, Suga-chan! Will I be seeing you again soon? ( >3< )\/<\/em><\/p>\n

Underneath the noise of an accomplished team, Suga\u2019s heartbeat speeds up silently against his chest. He types out a reply\u2014I hope so!<\/em>\u2014and before he has time to regret it, he taps the heart emoji, and hits send.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Art by Paltita<\/p><\/div>\n

Chapter Six<\/h3>\n

By the time Tooru gets back home, he feels lonely already, with not having his team around him\u2014with not having Karasuno around him. With not having Suga anywhere near him, several rooms away, as easy as padding down a hallway and sliding a door open and sitting down on the bed as Suga rests from his inane cold. Tooru wonders how he got it, although it\u2019s likely\u2014well, some combination of the rain a few days ago and then the giggly, fumbly moment on the hill the day after. Tooru smiles at the memory, even though it\u2019s what had probably put Suga out of commission for two days.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy enough unpacking the few things he\u2019d brought to training camp, falling back into the pattern of homework and school attendance on top of volleyball. It could be that easy to trick himself that the entirety of summer break\u2014training camp\u2014Suga\u2014hadn\u2019t happened, except Kunimi is actively trying to be a better decoy, Kyoutani is\u00a0there\u00a0<\/em>, and far too frequently between classes Tooru smiles down at his phone because Suga\u2019s sent him something like\u00a0You almost made me spit out my lunch\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0That is a very admirable grade\u00a0<\/em>(\u2312_\u2312;) \u2764\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0Skill only trumps practicality with experienced physical intuition\u00a0<\/em>. And Tooru doesn\u2019t want to pretend, anyway, because he looks forward to getting a perfect score on his exams and practices in the morning and the evening and little chimes of his phone during class, making him smile half-heartedly at his teacher and say, \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

He doesn\u2019t even think of it as a long-distance relationship because he and Suga play against each other in preliminaries; and, really, they could\u2019ve known each other since middle school age or even before. It\u2019s strange to think of his world around Suga only having begun recently when they\u2019ve been near-orbiting each other for years, finally falling into\u00a0this\u00a0<\/em>that feels far too natural than it should be. A part of Tooru resents it, that amidst the small crowd of this small town there\u2019s been a creature such as Suga waiting for him. But his heart (the other part of him) has been gradually thumping quicker at the mere thought of Suga, becoming this constant bloom of warmth that spreads to Tooru\u2019s fingers and toes.<\/p>\n

And maybe that\u2019s extreme, because then when a week passes since summer break has ended and Tooru is comfortably back in school, his chest still contains so much for Suga, like Suga\u00a0owns\u00a0<\/em>that part of Tooru. What he has with Suga is extreme, in all honesty, because Tooru has never missed any practice of volleyball\u2014middle school, high school, training camp, extra post-graduation meets, vacations and holidays, in sickness or in health, till death and whatnot\u2014until Suga. Tooru half-hates how absolutely pathetic he\u2019d been, but then he remembers how Suga had looked. Which had also been pathetic and slightly admonishing, but gentle and lovable. Very lovable.<\/p>\n

Tooru does his best to lose himself in his schoolwork to distract himself from being so overwhelmed. Yet the beginnings and endings of his day revolve around sending goodnight texts in the evenings, and remembering the ghost of Suga\u2019s lips on his in the mornings.<\/p>\n

The more complicated thing is that it\u2019s not like they\u2019ve really\u2026\u00a0talked\u00a0<\/em>about it. The kissing thing that had started and persisted (into slightly more-than-kissing things) during training camp. The togetherness that feels entirely too exclusive for them to have not talked about it. The looks Sawamura had given them and\u2014Hanamaki and Matsukawa talking to Suga\u2014and what Tobio-chan had said\u2014and, really, everyone\u2019s judgment, which Tooru doesn\u2019t care\u00a0that\u00a0<\/em>much about. If Iwaizumi hadn\u2019t given him that fake-talk during training camp Tooru might actually ask him what he thinks, except now thinking about asking Iwaizumi for advice sounds like the most embarrassing thing ever.<\/p>\n

But Tooru is certain that they\u2019re. Something. Together? He wonders absently if Suga\u2019s been kissing other people behind his back, though he kind of doubts it. Suga doesn\u2019t have that kind of forwardness. But who knows? No, he wouldn\u2019t. And Tooru\u2019s not kissing anyone else. Or doing other things that aren\u2019t kissing, like handholding and making flower crowns, for someone else. He wants to say that it\u2019s complicated, but it\u2019s not that complicated: sometimes he sends Suga texts with heart emojis in them and sometimes Suga sends them back.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not that complicated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

So a week passes and Tooru feels entirely too occupied with thinking and\u00a0feeling\u00a0<\/em>about Suga, it\u2019s a miracle his grades haven\u2019t dropped. In fact, he\u2019s pretty sure they\u2019ve gotten better with how much Tooru\u2019s been trying to actively pretend he isn\u2019t thinking about Suga, even though studying hasn\u2019t helped at all.<\/p>\n

Volleyball can\u2019t even help; while Tooru isn\u2019t any slower, volleyball (obviously) makes him think of Suga even more. He would wonder what Suga\u2019s doing at every moment of the day, but they text each other enough and Suga has a pretty normal schedule so Tooru can guess what he\u2019s doing if Suga isn\u2019t already telling him.<\/p>\n

Tooru thinks about going over to Karasuno to visit; he thinks about Suga coming over to visit\u00a0him\u00a0<\/em>. One day after school, after everyone has left and Iwaizumi has given him one of his scowls, Tooru stays even later, spiking and serving the ball against the wall of the gym. He feels so\u00a0full\u00a0<\/em>with how much Suga has ahold of him, ahold of his\u00a0heart\u00a0<\/em>, and Tooru hits the ball even harder. He wants to see Suga but he\u2019s too cowardly, admittedly; he wants to tell Suga what he thinks of him. He wants to go over to Karasuno and kiss Suga in front of everyone, finally take a leap across that safe distance of texting and heart emojis to something\u00a0more\u00a0<\/em>\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru doesn\u2019t fumble with the ball; he never fumbles. He catches the ball and swivels around. Suga is standing at the entrance of the Aoba Jousai gym.<\/p>\n

Tooru is so surprised that he\u2019s pretty sure his vision goes fuzzy around the edges, but he\u2019s been eating and sleeping well so it\u2019s probably just because of his stupid, stupid feelings for Suga. \u201cHi,\u201d he says, running a little too fast to meet Suga in the middle. He\u2019s sweaty and breathless and his heart is beating loud. \u201cSuga-chan,\u201d Tooru says.<\/p>\n

Suga smiles at him. \u201cOikawa,\u201d he says, tilting his head up because Tooru is getting closer and closer. \u201cWould you be my boyfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2014\u201d Tooru tries not to stumble over his words. When was he ever this awkward? When has Suga ever been this smooth? \u201cI thought I already was,\u201d he says to Suga.<\/p>\n

Suga takes both of his hands and, brightly, says, \u201cOf course.\u201d He closes his eyes and draws Tooru in, kissing him and kissing him, the texture familiar but the taste sort of distant\u2014<\/p>\n

\u2014Tooru\u2019s eyes shoot open to the darkness in his bedroom. The sheets are twisted around his body and through the window, the bright light of the moon shines through. \u201cWhat,\u201d he murmurs to himself, rubbing at his eyes. He touches his lips.<\/p>\n

He does remember what Suga felt like. Vaguely, what he tasted like. Tooru turns on his side and thinks about the word\u00a0boyfriend\u00a0<\/em>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s obvious, right? Maybe they should say something. Maybe\u00a0he\u00a0<\/em>should say something.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s obvious.<\/p>\n

He takes his phone off the nightstand and goes to his chat logs with Suga, where the last text had been Suga\u2019s\u00a0Yes, yes, I do miss your goodnight kisses\u00a0<\/em>. They\u2019ve been admittedly been texting more of these\u2014\u00a0very obvious\u00a0<\/em>things, but without anything like \u201clove\u201d or \u201cmy bed is big\u201d (Tooru had been tempted to say such a thing, more than once) or, well, \u201cboyfriend.\u201d It\u2019s been a week, both too soon and too late to say \u201cI miss you,\u201d so their conversations have settled on a casual nicety that has been slightly more than casual and slightly more than a nicety.<\/p>\n

That should be evidential enough. Tooru closes his phone shut and tells himself not to think too much about it. They are\u2014whatever they were during training camp, which had sufficed, so it\u2019ll do now, too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Except then the next day is Saturday and Tooru is coming back from his morning jog when his phone chimes with a text.<\/p>\n

I think we should talk?<\/em><\/p>\n

Tooru gets simultaneously anxious, and, frankly, frightened, that Suga might have weird clairvoyant abilities he might\u2019ve not told Tooru about. Tooru is tempted to put off the text until after he showers.<\/p>\n

He answers right away.<\/p>\n

Sure! o( \u275b\u1d17\u275b )o What about?<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe not over text? Are you free today?<\/em>
\nAnd nothing major, just something that\u2019s been on my mind.<\/em>
\nNothing to worry about.<\/em>
\n<\/em>(\u30b7. .)\u30b7<\/p>\n

Tooru can see through the texts right away: Suga\u2019s lying. Well, it\u2019s not so much as seeing through him as it is that Suga\u2019s sent four texts in a row and he usually doesn\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n

I am free! And you are not doing a very good job of not making me worry, Suga-chan.<\/em><\/p>\n

Really, don\u2019t worry about it!!!! I would just rather talk in person.<\/em>
\n<\/em>Also, I miss you.<\/em><\/p>\n

But, unfortunately (depending on the angle one chooses to see it), Suga is incredibly good at diverting Tooru\u2019s attention to something that make his heart thump thicker than usual, so Tooru leaves the pestering alone.<\/p>\n

( \u02d8\u2323\u02d8)\u2661 I miss you too!! Where\/when would you like to meet?<\/em><\/p>\n

They decide at sometime in the afternoon after lunch, at the same ice cream place as the one they\u2019d gone to before training camp. Tooru hums to himself and tries not to get too anxious. He tries not to get too excited.<\/p>\n

And then it\u2019s the afternoon all too soon and he\u2019s leaving his house, saying goodbye to his parents and walking into town. And then he\u2019s at the ice cream store and Suga is already there, in shorts and a thin sweater rolled up to his sleeves, with a small smile at the corner of his lips. There\u2019s no hat this time, probably because it\u2019s relatively cloudy enough not to burn Suga\u2019s fair skin, and Tooru simultaneously loves and misses it.<\/p>\n

He sidles up to Suga. \u201cFancy seeing you here,\u201d he says, and Suga throws his head back and laughs. Tooru is entirely too pleased with himself, and they make their way into the ice cream shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a while, huh?\u201d says Suga.<\/p>\n

Tooru smirks. \u201cIt\u2019s been a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d says Suga, and gestures around them. \u201cIt\u2019s been two weeks since we were\u00a0here\u00a0<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh yes, of course,\u201d says Tooru. \u201cI do admire your talent of keeping track of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, shut up,\u201d says Suga, nudging his hip against Tooru\u2019s.<\/p>\n

They queue up for their ice creams, and Tooru can\u2019t seem to stop himself from smiling. It really,\u00a0really\u00a0<\/em>hasn\u2019t been that long since he\u2019s last seen Suga, but it\u2019s\u00a0Suga\u00a0<\/em>, so it has been. He\u2019s catalogued so many of his tiny details\u2014Suga gets matcha ice cream, bites his bottom lip when he\u2019s indecisive, steals quick glances at him when he thinks Tooru isn\u2019t looking\u2014but Tooru could never fully memorize how it feels to have Suga this bodily close, the pale glow of the ice cream shop lighting up his face, an eyelash on his cheek that he doesn\u2019t notice. Tooru reaches over and brushes it off absently before he realizes what he\u2019s doing, but when Suga glances over and gives him a funny look, all he says is, \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you always get matcha?\u201d Tooru asks, when they\u2019re done ordering. \u201cOr will you ever spice it up?\u201d He\u2019s gotten lemon today, and Suga rolls his eyes at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what I like,\u201d he says as if that justifies his choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you only like one flavor?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u00a0No\u00a0<\/em>,\u201d Suga says defensively. \u201cI do like other flavors. Matcha\u2019s just my favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you pick your favorite every time,\u201d Tooru teases.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I can. There\u2019s nothing wrong with having one favorite, you know.\u201d Suga accepts his ice cream from the employee, who\u2019s scooped it into a cone. \u201cI like enjoying myself even if it\u2019s boring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say it was boring, I just said you weren\u2019t spicing things up,\u201d says Tooru, getting his own ice cream. He thanks the worker and licks a bit that\u2019s dripping down.<\/p>\n

Suga huffs. \u201cI spice things up\u00a0all the time\u00a0<\/em>,\u201d he says, but Tooru\u2019s just grinning at him. \u201cWatch this.\u201d He leans in and licks Tooru\u2019s ice cream, though he quickly pulls back and scrunches his nose. \u201cOh yeah, lemon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, lemon,\u201d Tooru says. \u201cHow spicy of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga rolls his eyes but brandishes his ice cream in Tooru\u2019s face. \u201cI suppose this time you\u2019ll want a bit of my ice cream. Again.\u201d He sort of falters on the last word and Tooru is sure he is\u2014like Tooru is\u2014remembering the last time Tooru had tried Suga\u2019s ice cream, but Tooru does his best to wave off the faint embarrassment and says, \u201cThank you for the offer, but I had enough last time.\u201d<\/p>\n

They make their way out of the ice cream shop and back to the park that they\u2019d been to before and Tooru tries,\u00a0hopes\u00a0<\/em>that this doesn\u2019t turn into a repeat of last time. With a weird, awkward but sweet kiss and an absence that had been welcome but all too soon. Well, he wouldn\u2019t be against a kiss of any particular kind, but\u2014<\/p>\n

This time they find a bench, and Tooru plops down, bending his legs and barely managing to swing them like a little kid. Suga raises his eyebrows at him but then joins him, swinging his legs too.<\/p>\n

He sits close enough that their elbows brush and their pinkies and fourth fingers are overlapping each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d Tooru says, after a moment. \u201cWhat did you want to talk about?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga hums, licking his ice cream and pointedly not looking at Tooru.<\/p>\n

Then he says, \u201cWe\u2019ve been texting a lot lately.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Tooru says. Maybe a bit too quickly. His brain immediately goes into overdrive and he tries to remember if\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>the one been texting Suga too much. \u201cIs that a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! No, it\u2019s not\u2014\u201d Suga hurriedly waves the hand that had been touching Tooru\u2019s (because the other one is holding his matcha ice cream) and then puts it back down, this time a few centimeters away. Tooru tries not to mourn the loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a problem at all, Oikawa, I\u00a0like\u00a0<\/em>texting you,\u201d says Suga, his words coming out very fast. \u201cA lot. But um. We\u2019ve also kissed. A lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru raises an eyebrow. \u201cWe\u2019ve done more than kiss,\u201d he reminds him.<\/p>\n

Suga blushes, his gaze fixing fast back to his knees. \u201cWe\u2019ve done more than kiss,\u201d he agrees. \u201cAnd you said you would get the flu for me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

At\u00a0this\u00a0<\/em>memory Tooru is quite certain he turns the same shade of Tokyo red. \u201cIs this helping you drive your point home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yes,\u201d says Suga, though his tone is light as he watches\u00a0Tooru\u2019s blush. \u201cI just\u2014we need to talk about this\u2014are we dating?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru\u2019s heart beats rapidly against his chest, but he tries to come off as cool and collected as possible. \u201cI sure hope so,\u201d he hears himself say, somewhere distant.<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s face passes into relief and brings Tooru back with him, on this park bench, with his lemon ice cream,\u00a0here\u00a0<\/em>. \u201cOh, good,\u201d says Suga. \u201cI mean, I hoped so too. I just figured that I should ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you asked,\u201d Tooru says. His voice still sounds distant, but it\u2019s all he can do to not fling his ice cream cone away and kiss Suga right into the park bench, lay him horizontal and do naughty things to him right in the middle of a public park. \u201cOtherwise\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0<\/em>afraid I\u2019d be stringing you along and you wouldn\u2019t have even noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga snorts. \u201cYou couldn\u2019t do that to me.\u201d He licks at his ice cream, getting a little bit of matcha on his upper lip. \u201cI like to think I know you pretty well,\u201d he says to Tooru.<\/p>\n

Tooru tries not to stare at Suga\u2019s mouth. \u201cOr maybe you don\u2019t know me very well at all,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Suga chuckles. \u201cI like to think I know the person I\u2019m dating,\u201d he says, and Tooru is\u00a0this\u00a0<\/em>close to kissing him senseless, or\u2014Tooru doesn\u2019t know what the other option is but he\u2019s sure it\u2019s publicly indecent.<\/p>\n

And Suga twists his mouth in thought at his own words. \u201cDating<\/em>,\u201d \u00a0he says, trying it out on his tongue. He smiles to himself. \u201cThat\u2019s us, isn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/p>\n

When he turns to\u00a0Tooru, Tooru tries to pretend he hadn\u2019t been staring. He swallows thickly. \u201cYes, that\u2019s us,\u201d he says. \u201cDating. Boyfriends. Boyfriends who are dating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga bumps against him. \u201cBoyfriends who are dating,\u201d he repeats.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoyfriends who are dating,\u201d Tooru says again, his insides a mess of something twisting, and something settling, like his shoulder against Suga\u2019s, his right hand passing the ice cream cone to his left so he can grasp at Suga\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know,\u201d Suga says. \u201cSome of my teammates have been asking \u2018how we are.\u2019\u201d He uses air quotes with his ice cream-holding hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally,\u201d Tooru says dryly. \u201cAnd what have you told your little crows?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat we\u2019re talking regularly and happy. Thank you very much,\u201d Suga adds. \u201cI guess we weren\u2019t that discreet during training camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really weren\u2019t,\u201d says Tooru, but he grins about it. \u201cHow are they, anyway? Especially Tobio-chan and Shorty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga pulls his hand back, but only to point at Tooru. \u201cOh! You do care!\u201d he accuses.<\/p>\n

Tooru rolls his eyes and fastens his fingers between Suga\u2019s once more. \u201cWell, are you going to answer?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga squeezes Tooru\u2019s fingers with his, in a nice way like he\u2019s trying it out for the first time, seeing if he likes it. \u201cThey\u2019re fine. Everyone\u2019s fine,\u201d he says. He sounds like he can\u2019t believe it. \u201cIt\u2019s so\u2014it\u2019s\u00a0incredible\u00a0<\/em>to watch the exact process of everyone changing to be better as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d says Tooru.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d Suga beams up at him. \u201cWe\u2019re really looking forward to playing you in the Spring Highs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, of course,\u201d Tooru says airily.<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s expression turns mischievous. \u201cAnd winning,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Tooru flicks a piece of hair out of his eyes. \u201cWe\u2019ll see about that,\u201d he says, though he\u00a0does\u00a0<\/em>anticipate it\u2014not just the team, but the competition, the other side of the net. He\u2019s seen how they were in training, and he knows that the dial will only be higher when it comes to a real game.<\/p>\n

He says, while he and Suga are holding hands and eating their slightly melted ice cream and not looking at each other because this is not new but it\u2019s still\u00a0new\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 \u201cI thought about visiting Karasuno over the past week just to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga blinks at him. \u201cAnd you didn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d Tooru says, but Suga’s expression has turned shy now, entirely adorable enough to veer Tooru off from pointing out that it wasn\u2019t like Suga had gone out of his way to meet with Tooru in person either. Until now. \u201cSome of my teammates commented on us too,\u201d he says instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d says Suga, with interest. \u201cWhat did they say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething about how we spent so much time together during training camp that seeing me alone was like seeing me without a volleyball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga laughs so loudly that he actually pulls Tooru forward a bit with the weight of it. \u201cThat\u2019s genuinely flattering,\u201d he says, wiping a tear from his eye. \u201cWell. Does that mean that they approve of me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs if I need their approval.\u201d Tooru huffs. \u201cIwa-chan told me he was ready to pack me up in a box and ship me off to Karasuno yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe really should\u2019ve,\u201d Suga says seriously. \u201cI\u2019d love to open up a box and find you inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow sadistic of you,\u201d Tooru says.<\/p>\n

Suga laughs again, more to himself. It might be Tooru\u2019s imagination but Suga looks like he can\u2019t stop smiling either.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we should set up a system,\u201d Tooru says after a beat. \u201cWhere we can see each other in person, since as much as I enjoy texting you, I enjoy this more.\u201d The moment the words leave his mouth he can\u2019t quite believe he just said them, but then Suga smiles so hard at him it might actually hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s an excellent idea,\u201d Suga says. \u201cAlthough we have volleyball practice every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue,\u201d says Tooru.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd volleyball comes first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u00a0<\/em>,\u201d says Tooru, and Suga stares at him disbelievingly. \u201cSeriously, Suga-chan, do you really think my life revolves around volleyball?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHanamaki told me that you once set a perfect ball in the middle of a sneeze,\u201d Suga says pointedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe exaggerates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI highly doubt it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201d Tooru says, \u201cat this point, you should know that you come before my sneezes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Suga concedes, \u201cat this point, I have to tell you that I\u2019m really just fishing for compliments.\u201d He\u2019s grinning though and Tooru doesn\u2019t regret it at all. \u201cBut. Yes. Weekends then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWeekends then,\u201d Tooru agrees, waving his half-finished ice cream cone around. \u201cWe can go out on nice days like these.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s smile turns sly. \u201cOr stay in on nice days like these.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother excellent option,\u201d Tooru says, feeling warm and hoping that he\u2019s not being obvious about it through his palm pressing against Suga\u2019s. By the looks of it, he is. \u201cBut we haven\u2019t seen a movie yet together, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga hums, munching on his cone.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr gotten dinner,\u201d Tooru adds. \u201cThere are a lot of weekends left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year?\u201d says Suga, licking his lips. Most of the matcha is gone, both around his mouth and in his cone, but Tooru still wants an excuse to kiss him again anyway. \u201cOr in general?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru smiles. \u201cLet\u2019s just say this season,\u201d he says, after finishing his ice cream, \u201cand see about the next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga looks satisfied with this. \u201cAlright.\u201d<\/p>\n

And then he\u2019s done too and they\u2019re wiping their hands on their napkins and then Tooru says, \u201cI\u2019m going to kiss you now.\u201d The clouds are busy enough to block the sun today, but Suga is positively radiant when he turns to Tooru, waiting for a response, and leans in first.<\/p>\n

There is no single moment that Tooru loves more than the next, between fake training camp practices and real training camp practices and jogs in the rain and moments forgotten by sneezes. But there is cold sugar on Suga\u2019s lips that goes to Tooru\u2019s tongue and Tooru\u2019s smile that gets swallowed up by Suga\u2019s own, that it\u2019s enough for them to know that last week and the next season\u2014and the seasons after that\u2014will be no less splendid than today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The documentation of a relationship that’s more than a brief encounter, longer than a week in summer, and closer than any distance that words can’t cross.<\/p>\n

A collaboration with renaissance<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[51,430,420,419],"fandom":[479],"rating":[675],"ship":[574],"relationship":[606],"minorfandomships":[],"class_list":["post-611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-default","tag-canon-divergent","tag-collab","tag-fandom-week","tag-oisuga-week","fandom-haikyuu","rating-teen","ship-oisuga","relationship-slash"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fandom?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"rating","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rating?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"ship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ship?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"relationship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/relationship?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"minorfandomships","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/minorfandomships?post=611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}