Chapter 1: Fateful encounter

What kind of weather is that?! Sawamura Daichi asked himself as he was walking along the streets of Tokyo. He was a young police officer and currently out on patrol. The brunet loved his job, even though it meant being outside not matter what the weather forecast said. He just wanted to help people in need. His years in high school, especially the time he spent as the captain of the volleyball club, had him realize that he wanted to support and protect the people in his future as well.

Since his shift began, 4 hours had passed with no major occurrences; he had helped some lost children, gave aid to some elders and he stopped an argument between neighbours. Overall, it was a rather nice and calm day.
So he decided to go for a little coffee break in a cute little shop he had discovered on one of his patrols. As soon as he got near the shop, the sound of something being crashed, followed by shouting could be heard. The dutiful police officer immediately quickened his pace. Through the window he could see two tall, scary looking men, one equipped with a gun, whereas the other was playing around with a big knife in his hands. Both were dressed in black sweat jackets with hoods covering their faces and they even wore masks to cover their mouths and noses. Those bastards threatened a young woman with her little child, while holding the customers of the café hostage. Daichi was friends with the short brunet lady and he knew that she owned the little shop, though he only recently learned about it due to his past visits. Her name was Michimiya Yui and they knew each other since high school. They even dated for a short time, however they broke up after a couple of weeks because both realized that they just weren't meant for each other. A soulmate thing of some sort. Honestly, finding your soulmate was nearly impossible nowadays, many people never find them for their whole lives, Yui though found hers in a totally unexpected way. From what he heard, both literally ran into each other at the mall and a little flower shaped mark had appeared on their hands, symbolizing their now linked souls. Daichi wasn't mad at her at all, rather than that he had been happy that she met her fated partner, so they broke up on friendly terms and stayed in contact. That's just the kind of person he had always been.

While contemplating his past with Yui, he kept on observing the scene in front of him. It didn't look too well, and he paused for a moment, since rushing into something unprepared and without thinking wasn't his principle. After considering his options he decided to call his colleague, Iwaizumi Hajime, for backup, since he was supposed to be stationed around the area today.

"Hajime, I need you at Yui's coffee shop! NOW! She and her customers are being threatened by two guys, one with a gun, the other has a knife."

"Okay, I'm a couple of streets away, so I'll be there in a few. Observe them and don't do anything stupid!"

The brunet agreed and waited patiently, until something unexpected happened. One of the customers secretly grabbed the broom that leaned against the wall, sneaked up onto the perpetrators and hit the guy with the gun, knocking the weapon away in the process. Following that, the ash-blond stranger was somehow able to dodge the others strike, but got kicked in the chest by the now unarmed man. It sent him flying into the counter and elicited terrified screams by the four other hostages.

"Oh shit! Someone tried to intervene! I must step in, like now! Hurry up guys!"

The police officer drew his own gun, burst into the coffee shop and yelled, "Put your hands up and lower your weapons. Step away from the counter and don't make another move or I'll shoot you!"

The taller one, without his weapon, surrendered, but not without sending his comrade a little sign. Upon seeing that, he pulled the already injured stranger closer, pushed the knife forcibly against his throat and warned Daichi, "YOU better put your weapon down or I will kill this cutie right on the spot! Move out of the way or I'll slice his throat open!"

The grey-haired guy winced slightly, his eyes widened in pure terror. It's kind of strange to see him that scared, seeing how he tried to disarm them before. Probably the adrenaline...

The police officer lowered his gun and pretended to give up. Out of sight for the culprits, Iwaizumi and another colleague had arrived and signalled him to do so.
Pushing their hostage brutally against some tables, they attempted to run away, however, thanks to Iwaizumi's and Daichi's flawless teamwork and strategy, both perpetrators were quickly arrested. Daichi's colleagues took them away, so he could take care of the scared witnesses and victims.

As soon as these bastards were gone, the brunet walked over to the fallen down man. He crouched down in front of him and asked worriedly, "Hey, how are you feeling? Did they hurt you badly? Here, let me help you up."

The ash-blond struggled to get back on his feet and confessed, "I'm pretty exhausted and my head is killing me... Sorry, if I caused you more trouble. I just had to safe poor little Yato here. I'm glad you stepped in."
Now he lifted his head again and showed his saviour a big, kind and cheerful smile.

Upon seeing that, Daichi froze in place, the time seemed to stop for him and his heart throbbed loudly in his chest. He stared and this beautiful man and lost himself completely in his big, hazel-brown eyes, while also noticing a little mole underneath his left eye. This stranger set a fire in the brunet's heart and for the first time ever, he felt truly at home. Was this what it felt like to meet your soulmate?

"-llo? HELLO? Are you okay, sir? Your face is red and you're spacing out." An angel like voice pulled the brunet out of his trance, leaving him quite flustered.
Oh god, did he notice me staring at him? This is so embarrassing! Why is even this man's voice resonating deep within me? Daichi thought to himself.

While supporting his body to lift him onto a nearby chair, he answered, "I'm alright. I didn't want to worry you, when you experienced something that terrifying."

Then, looking up at Yui, he asked, "Could you get something to cool him down, as well as some water? What exactly happened here?"

After giving the brave ash-blond the requested items, the woman with her brunet bob hairdo, light brown eyes and smiling lips answered, "I was just taking care of my customers like usual, preparing coffee and a piece of cake for the young man here as a sign for my appreciation for always watching out for my little Yato, when these men suddenly entered. Just so you know, he is a nursery school teacher at Yato's kindergarten, named Sugawara Koushi. They first bothered the guests with rude remarks and got physical eventually. Suddenly the shorter one pulled out his knife and threatened me to hand over all the money I have, otherwise he would hurt my son. Sugawara-San here managed to free him, pouring his coffee over the man's head and that's when the second one drew his gun and things got out of hand. You saw the rest of the story, Daichi."

He wrote down what she told him and got approval and some more information from the other four customers.

Once the police officer bent down to face the little Yato, said 5-year-old boy exclaimed, "Sugawara-Sensei saved me from the bad men! We often play at kindergarten and he is super nice! Is he okay, mister police officer?"

Before he could answer, a soft tuck on his jacket caught his attention. The moment he turned around, the ash-blond, most likely Sugawara, fell forward, straight into Daichi's chest, leaving everyone shocked. A slight panic erupted in the officer and for the first time in forever, he didn't know what to do. Not to mention that he held an unconscious person in his arms. Yui immediately called an ambulance, while Daichi sat down, holding onto the young man on his lap. Help arrived only a few minutes later, Sugawara was laid down onto a stretcher and got carried to the ambulance. However, he was holding onto Daichi's hand so tightly, that he was sort of forced to accompany him to the hospital. Not that he minded that, since he was genuinely worried about the stranger's wellbeing.
What am I even doing here? I don't even know this guy, yet I'm already completely attracted to him! Iwaizumi will kill me for sure...

With these thoughts flooding his head, he sat down next to the unconscious man, holding his hand all the time, until they had to part, once they arrived at their destination.