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“Thank you all for coming to this meeting,” Daichi says.
It’s the last day of the third training camp Karasuno has been invited to this season—this time hosted by Seijoh—and to be blunt, a few… disasters in the making have come to Daichi’s attention over the already-exhausting week. It’s Suga who convinces him to wrangle all the boys together in a room and make them face their problems.
“You know we wouldn’t be together if you hadn’t asked Coach Ukai for advice,” Suga had said. “So just talk to them.”
“You’re right,” Daichi had sighed. Plus, if he didn’t do anything about the long-range staring and explosive blushing he'd noticed this week, he might never forgive himself if a Karasuno first-year came crying to him later about unrequited feelings.
“I’m always right, Captain Sawamura,” Suga had said, mercilessly. “You’d be hopeless without me.”
“Ya wanna give the speech instead?”
“How inconsiderate of you. You know about my fear of public speaking.”
“You don’t have a fear of public speaking, Suga,” Daichi had sighed again.
But here he is now, addressing a roomful of yawning, droopy-eyed boys. Several of the players from Tokyo are here, including a good number from Nekoma and even the setter and ace from Fukurodani. The four Seijoh third years are as well, lounging in one corner and looking bored. And lastly, the entirety of Karasuno is present, although they’re all mostly asleep, which isn’t surprising, given that Daichi’s chosen their dorms for the meeting spot. Only Asahi sits up straight, freshly-showered, his attention fully on Daichi, his wet hair dripping a puddle on someone’s futon. All in all, Daichi’s surprised at the turnout, given that he only started spreading news of the late-night meeting this morning by word of mouth.
“Meeting? You said this was gonna be a party,” Yamamoto says.
Right. That had been Suga’s idea. People will be more likely to come if they think there’ll be a party. Daichi shoots him a pleading look now, but his vice-captain and useless boyfriend pointedly avoids his eyes.
“Yes. This is a party. Of sorts,” Daichi says. He’s glad he hasn’t showered yet, because his nerves are already making him sweat.
“Ooh, interesting,” Oikawa says. “Who knew Mr. Down-to-Earth would have a mysterious side to him?”
The Seijoh ace—Iwaizumi Hajime, Daichi thinks—wacks Oikawa in the back of the head. “Could you just quit it with your goading for one second?” Daichi hears him growl—but with a certain fondness? He resists the urge to shake his head. Those two will be a piece of work. Daichi can’t say he’s ready to start this meeting.
“Can we hurry up so I can go to sleep?” Kenma says.
“Sleep?” Kuroo says immediately. “You mean stay up until 5AM playing video games?”
“Okay, everyone, quiet down,” Daichi jumps in before Kenma can retaliate. He has the sense this will all erupt into chaos if he doesn’t step in soon. “I asked you all to come today because all of you are suffering from the same… problem.”
The room erupts into chaos anyway as the boys clamor for answers, waking the other Karasuno players up with their shouting. Daichi waves his arms and pleads for silence. No luck. He regrets every choice in his life leading up to this moment and again turns to Suga for assistance. Suga just gives him a double thumbs up.
“Everyone be quiet.”
The command isn’t shouted, but it rings loud and clear and strangely authoritative. For a moment, everyone turns to see who spoke, which makes them shut their mouths. Daichi, curious as well, cranes his neck.
It’s Akaashi Keiji, nestled in the middle of the group, and looking very uncomfortable in his current predicament. Daichi’s so surprised that he can’t properly give his thanks. He’s heard the setter from Fukurodani talk maybe once or twice, and it didn’t seem like he’d be capable of making his voice sound like that.
“Let’s listen to what Sawamura-san has to say,” Akaashi says. “The sooner he’s done the sooner we can all go to sleep.”
“That’s not quite… uh,” Daichi says. “But thank you, Akaashi.”
“No problem.”
Daichi takes a deep breath. “As I said, all of you have a problem. Of sorts. You all, uh, have a… secret you’re either afraid or too nervous to admit to someone. Or yourself. But either way, you should really just be honest about it.”
There’s a chorus of “huh’s” and “what’s” and “what’s his deal?” Daichi really wants to shrink in a corner and disappear. He can’t believe he’s doing this.
Thankfully, Suga chooses that moment to do his one good deed of the year.
“He means each of you is romantically interested in someone, but you’re all wimps and won’t do anything about it.”
“Thank you,” Daichi says.
“No problem, darling.” Suga throws up a peace sign. “So Daichi and I are here to offer you our expert advice on relationships and how to navigate them.”
There’s silence for a split second. Then, Noya cracks up, extra loudly. “You two? You were pining after each other for years before you finally confessed. How are you going to give us expert advice?”
Daichi crosses his arms. “If you’re going to be so quick to criticize, Noya, we can start with you.”
“Fine. Do your worst. Everyone knows I like Kiyoko-san anyway, but she’d never like me back.”
“So true,” says Yamamoto. Tanaka just makes a wailing noise.
“What does your expert opinion have to say about that, huh?” Noya says.
Daichi looks at Suga, who nods gravely.
It’s time.
“I don’t want to expose you in front of so many people,” Daichi starts, “but since you’ve agreed to this…”
“Wait, what?” Noya says. Redness creeps up to his cheeks from his neck.
“Suga and I have noticed how you look at a certain person. And how you’re always talking about them. We may be wrong, but based on our ‘expert’ observations—”
“No, no, no, no, wait!” Noya hisses, waving his hands desperately. “You can’t talk about that! Not when he’s here.”
Several people gasp. Daichi notices that Asahi sits up even straighter. There’s a wild, hopeful glint in his eyes.
“Noya?” Tanaka says, sounding betrayed. “You didn’t tell me you had a crush?”
“Oy, just spit it out, Karasuno libero,” Oikawa says, stretching out across no less than three futons. “So we can all go to sleep.”
Then, several people are pressuring Nishinoya at once. Hinata’s tugging on his arm, Tanaka’s ruffling his hair, and Nekoma’s libero, Yaku, is trying to speak to him. Whether Noya comprehends any of that, Daichi can’t be sure.
“Okay, okay!” Noya shouts, springing away from everyone who’s heckling him. “Fuck it.”
Daichi realizes he’s holding his breath. He watches Asahi, who actually looks like he’s shaking from head to toe. He can’t believe his and Suga’s plan is actually working.
Noya points—directly at Karasuno’s ace. “Azumane Asahi.”
Asahi jumps. “What?”
“Gah!” Noya throws his head in his hands. “I can’t believe I’m saying this—will you go out with me?”
“I…” Asahi blinks. “This whole time? You liked…me?”
“I didn’t wanna say anything because I didn’t think it’d work out,” Noya wails. “I mean, you’re graduating after this year.”
“It won’t work out if you don’t try,” Bokuto pipes up, to a chorus of “yeah’s” from the rest of the room.
“Noya,” Asahi says, looking down at his hands. “You know I don’t care about that. But we can…we can at least try. If you're up for it. Yeah?”
Noya stands there for a moment, looking stunned, then tackles Asahi in a hug. Daichi heaves a sigh of relief. Well, at least one pair got their problems sorted out. He’s tempted to call this night a success and dismiss everyone. But of course, Suga has other ideas.
“Alright, who's next?” he says, making room for Noya next to Asahi and picking his way across the room to stand next to Daichi. “Don’t be shy.”
Someone laughs. Daichi doesn’t see who, but he bets it’s Oikawa.
Then, Bokuto raises his hand. “I’ll go.”
Suga claps his hands. “Wonderful! Who is the object of your affections, Bokuto?”
“I…” Bokuto chews his lower lip, and Daichi sympathizes. He experienced so many moments like this before he actually confessed to Suga. He thought he’d worked up the courage, but every time he’d tried to say those words, I like you, to Suga’s face, his resolve had slipped away once more. Three little words. They don't seem hard to say. But they’re also everything.
But Bokuto presses on. “‘Kaashi,” he says, turning to his team’s setter, who’s sitting right beside him. “I’ve always said I like your sets, but it turns out I like you more.”
The confession is quiet and unostentatious and not like Bokuto. But, Daichi realizes, it’s exactly the way Akaashi would prefer.
“Oh,” Akaashi falters for a moment. He looks like his mind’s racing a thousand kilometers a minute. “I had a feeling, Bokuto-san. I know my sets are mediocre at best.”
“Stop kidding around ‘Kaashi. Your sets are amazing,” Bokuto says.
“Your feelings are reciprocated,” Akaashi says. “Um, all of them.” Daichi doesn't miss the glance, filled with adoration, that he gives Bokuto. It makes him think of when he and Suga first started dating and everything was soft and shy.
“Touching,” Oikawa coughs.
Daichi turns to glare at him, hopefully giving Akaashi and Bokuto a moment alone. “Why don't you go next, Oikawa?”
Oikawa waves a hand. “No need. There’s no way the person I like likes me back.”
“To be fair,” Asahi says, “I thought that, too.”
“Speak for yourself,” Oikawa snaps.
“I…was?” Asahi says.
“Okay, okay. Anyone else?” Daichi says, hoping that no one will speak up.
But of course, his hopes are dashed again.
“Might as well,” Iwaizumi says, standing up. (Daichi wonders why he feels the need to get all the way to his feet, but he doesn’t stop him.)
Iwaizumi glares at Oikawa, who either doesn’t realize his teammate is looking at him with enough intensity to set fire to a small piece of paper or is ignoring him.
“Trashykawa,” Iwaizumi says. “I’ve had feelings for you since we were kids.”
Oikawa still doesn’t look at him, but his mouth opens in a small, “Oh.”
“Even though you fucking suck,” Iwaizumi adds.
“Iwaizumi,” Oikawa says, far too loud for a moment like this.
Daichi senses immediately that several things are about to go wrong. Shit, shit, shit, he tries to silently communicate to Suga through panicked eyes. Suga shrugs, as if to say, Train’s off the rails. We can’t stop it now. Daichi feels his left eye twitch, a suppression of his urge to shake Suga by the shoulders and yell, “Do something!” Suga puts a hand on his shoulder. It’s okay. Daichi brushes his hand off. For the record, I’m blaming you if someone gets hurt.
“I thought we were friends,” Oikawa continues.
Iwaizumi’s fists clench and unclench. “Yeah. Thought you might say that.”
Then, he leaves the room, stepping on several people’s hands on his way out. No one dares complain.
“What the fuck?” Hanamaki says, breaking the silence. “If it’s not him, who do you like, then?”
Oikawa glares sourly at Hanamaki—and the other remaining Seijoh player, Matsukawa, who’s also looking at him in confusion. “I said, they wouldn’t like me back, anyway. So there’s no point in telling you.”
“Is it someone in this room?” someone calls out.
Oikawa crosses his arms.
“Is it?” Hanamaki presses.
“Fine. Yes. It is,” Oikawa says.
“You might as well say who it is,” Matsukawa says. “So you can experience rejection just like Iwaizumi did. You know, to make it fair.”
“How is that fair?” Oikawa whines.
Daichi moves to break up what looks like is escalating into a fight, but Suga puts a hand on his arm. They can handle it. Daichi isn’t sure Suga is right, this time, but he listens anyway. Mostly because he doesn’t want to be caught up in Oikawa’s hissy fit.
“It’s like karma or something,” Hanamaki says.
“How is it karma if you’re forcing me to do it?” Oikawa says. “Besides, you two haven’t confessed yet.”
“Oh,” says Hanamaki.
“We were going to tell you,” Matsukawa says.
“We’ve been dating for three months.”
“What the fuck,” Oikawa says.
“I thought we were going to tell him we'd been dating for three weeks,” Matsukawa says.
“We said that three months ago,” Hanamaki says.
“Oh, right. So we’ve actually been dating for six months.”
“What the fuck,” Oikawa says.
“Perhaps we should move on,” Daichi squeaks.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Suga says. “You can hand over the spotlight to someone else now, Oikawa.”
“Wait. Fine. I’ll do it.” Oikawa looks like someone just served him garbage and is forcing him to eat it. “The person I like is Tobio-chan.”
Kageyama, who’s been fighting with Hinata over a spot on a futon this whole time, doesn’t notice.
“You like Kageyama Tobio?” Hanamaki says.
“What?” Kageyama says.
“Please someone kill me,” Oikawa says.
“Gladly,” Kuroo says.
“Who likes me?” Kageyama says.
“Oikawa?” Hinata says, sounding surprised.
“You idiot, what about Oikawa?”
“Oh my God,” Oikawa says, pinching his nose.
“Oikawa likes you?” Hinata says, still sounding like he can’t get over it. Daichi doesn’t blame him. He can’t quite believe it, either.
“Are you asking me?” Kageyama says. “No, he doesn’t.”
“No, you idiot—”
“I take it back now,” Oikawa says, grabbing some covers and throwing them over his head.
Kageyama stares at the lump that used to be Oikawa. “I thought you hated me.”
“I think it’d be easier if I went back to that, to tell you the truth,” comes Oikawa’s muffled reply.
“Okay,” Kageyama agrees, and turns back to elbow Hinata.
From their corner, Tsukishima and Yamaguchi snicker at that. Kenma has pulled out his video game, thumbs flying across the console, oblivious to everything going on around him, while the rest of Team Nekoma are conversing in their own little circle. Noya and Asahi have disappeared (Daichi has no idea when that happened), and Bokuto’s massaging Akaashi’s hands while Akaashi watches what’s happening with little interest.
“Is that all you’re going to say?” Oikawa yelps suddenly, leaping out of his nest of blankets. Hanamaki and Matsukawa have the good sense to hold him back.
“No,” Kageyama says. “I can confess, too.”
“That won’t be necessary—” Daichi tries to say. He really thinks they should be done for the night.
But Suga interrupts him. “Let them get it all out of their systems.”
Daichi vehemently disagrees. He knows who Kageyama has feelings for, and he knows there’s a good chance that person might reciprocate them. But once that information came out, it would leave Oikawa in an even shittier mood. And Daichi doesn't think he could handle moody Oikawa 2.0.
He’s too late. Kageyama turns to Hinata and says, “Hey, idiot. I like you.”
Hinata’s jaw drops. “You—what?”
“I have feelings for you, stupid.”
“I didn’t think you could have feelings!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I… I don’t know. You never show anything like that, ya know?”
Kageyama looks wounded for a split second, then glowers to cover it up. “Then who do you like?”
“Who… who said I liked anyone, huh?”
“Sawamura-san said we all like someone.”
Daichi curses whatever stroke of luck caused Kageyama to remember that detail about this meeting.
“I mean,” Hinata stammers. “I guess… I like Kenma, I guess.”
“Sorry, Shoyo,” Kenma says without looking up from his video game. “I like someone else.”
Hinata covers his eyes. Thankfully, he looks more embarrassed than upset.
“Who do you like?” Kageyama demands Kenma.
“Kuroo,” Kenma says. “I thought that was obvious.”
It was obvious, Daichi thinks. So obvious. He hopes this is the junction where the train wreck will finally stop.
He’s wrong.
“Wait, really?” Kuroo says. He whistles. “Was not expecting that.”
Daichi can’t help himself anymore. “Are you serious?” he says. He starts tearing at his own hair, and Suga makes no move to stop him.
“Yeah,” Kuroo says. “I have the hots for your middle blocker over there. I thought you knew.”
Across the room, Tsukishima turns pale. “Excuse me?”
“Hey, Tsukki,” Kuroo says, and blows him a kiss.
“You’re joking. This is a joke,” Tsukishima says, and looks like he’s about to throw up. He tugs Yamaguchi’s sleeve with desperation. “Please, Yamaguchi. Tell me you like me back.”
Everyone’s watching now, the whole room holding its breath. Suga’s hand has somehow worked its way into Daichi’s, and Daichi is holding onto it for dear life.
“Ah…” Yamaguchi smiles awkwardly. “I have a boyfriend.”
What.
Daichi falls to his knees. Suga tries to pull him up, but Daichi has no strength left to stand. Nor does he want to.
“What?” Hinata says.
“What?” Kageyama says.
“WHAT,” Tsukishima screeches, his voice cracking.
“Since when?” Tanaka says.
Yamaguchi opens his mouth and closes it again.
“It’s okay, you can tell us,” Kuroo says. “This is a safe space.”
“I’m not sure it is anymore,” Yaku says.
“We met online through a game,” Yamaguchi says. “Turns out we had a lot in common. He likes to cook, too, and he plays volleyball. He goes to a school called Inarizaki. He says they’re good.”
“Does he have a twin brother?” Bokuto says.
“Yeah, I think he mentioned that.”
“Holy shit, I know them,” Bokuto says. “Miya Osamu, right? Or Atsumu. I can never tell them apart. But their school is a powerhouse! They go to nationals all the time as the Hyogo representative. And they were starters last year, as first years.”
“Yeah, it's Osamu,” Yamaguchi says, but he sounds downright depressed.
Some people congratulate him and pat him on the back, but the mood’s ruined when Tsukishima stands abruptly.
“I will not be back, Sawamura-san,” he announces. “Do not come looking for me.”
“That’s alright,” Daichi chokes out.
With that, Tsukishima storms out of the room, muttering something about Akiteru owing him his entire inheritance.
Daichi surveys the wreckage he’s caused. Oikawa’s started another argument with Hanamaki and Matsukawa, Hinata and Kageyama are dutifully ignoring each other, Yamaguchi’s on the verge of tears, babbling something like, “I had no idea he liked me,” as Bokuto and Akaashi offer him moral support with head pats and a ready packet of tissues. Only Nekoma’s largely unfazed.
“Meeting adjourned?” Kuroo asks.
Daichi just nods wearily and clambers to his feet. His bones ache. He thinks he gained thirty years in one night.
“No need to smirk like that,” Suga says. “This was exactly how we planned it.”
“Oh, I’m sure,” Kuroo says, going over to Kenma and offering his hand. “Come on. Up, Kenma. Time for sleep, finally.”
“Ugh,” Kenma says, but complies. Kuroo laces their fingers together in a way that’s strangely—
Romantic. Huh?
“Hey, wait a minute,” Daichi says. “You and Kozume… You were joking about liking Tsukishima?”
Kuroo smirks. “I was giving Four-Eyes the motivation he needed.” He glances over at Yamaguchi. “Guess we were all too late. I’m sure they’ll work it out, though.”
Yaku stops by Daichi as the rest of Team Nekoma slips out. “Uh, actually. I wanted to say thanks, Sawamura.”
Daichi scrubs his face with one hand. “What for?”
“Because you called this meeting, Lev and I were able to talk some things out. So, that was helpful.”
“Yaku,” Daichi says. “You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.”
Yaku grins. “Have a good night.”
“You too.”
The room feels awfully empty with Nekoma gone. Daichi sits down, back against the wall. Suga joins him, silently, and allows Daichi to lean his head against his shoulder. Daichi supposes the whole thing wasn’t as bad as it seemed. The Karasuno first-years are still young, he thinks. They’ll work things out amongst themselves. He’s mostly relieved that Noya and Asahi can stop dancing around each other now; they’re the ones whose silent pining Daichi had to deal with the most. However…
Oikawa springs to his feet at that exact moment. Hanamaki and Matsukawa cheer.
“I have to tell Iwa-chan that I’m in love with him,” Oikawa says, and sprints away.
“He’s a fucking idiot,” Matsukawa says.
Daichi sighs with relief.
"See?" Suga says, tapping on Daichi's wrist. "Not too bad. I told you this was a great idea."
Daichi takes Suga's hand in his. There. Right where it's supposed to be, the weight and feel of it just right. "Koushi, you're brilliant, but I am never listening to you again."
Suga laughs for a moment, but then he looks past Daichi and his eyes widen.
"Oh shit," he says. "We should check on Yamaguchi."
Daichi groans. "We should check on Yamaguchi."
He stands with great effort and thinks, We should probably check on Kageyama and Hinata, too. And Tsukishima, even though he told us not to. He wonders if he's ever going to be able to sleep tonight—the first-years probably won't—but then, he feels Suga's warm presence at his side and thinks that this whole love thing isn't so bad once you start figuring it out. Not bad at all.