#1 Sawamura Daichi

(beginning of his 2nd year at Karasuno)

Daichi waved his final goodbye to Asahi and Suga before turning the corner. He felt his smile drop and his previously straight shoulders slouch. Daichi hated evenings. Having to go home and wait for a new day to come. It was always the longest part of his day.

Most teenagers his age would already be home, studying for exams and thinking about what colleges they wanted to go to. Their father would be pulling up in his car from a day at work, their mother would also be home, food hot and ready and a smile that could make any bad day better.

This was not the case for Sawamura Daichi. He shook his head and tried to stop being so self centered. There were plenty of other kids who were in a much worst place then him, Hell, he'd dealt with worse things then just going home. But that didn't stop the feelings of dread, acceptance, and above all pity that filled him when he finally got to his apartment.

He didn't bother looking for his key, the apartment (not home, it hadn't felt like that in a very long time) was never locked unless he locked it himself. The apartment was nice enough, everything at least was clean at the very least, and while most of the objects were worn from constant use nothing was in bad shape. The only thing that set it apart from any apartment were the bottles.

Bottles and cans of almost every kind of alcohol known to man were placed almost strategically around the room so that no matter where a person stood there would always something within arm reach. The apartment reeked of alcohol and cleaning product. Daichi had tried to mask the smell with candles before, but that had ended badly to say the least.

Daichi sighed, and after taking off his shoes, slowly made his to the living area. And just like he knew she would, his mother lay on couch, several cans of some for of alcohol strewn on the floor beneath her, the TV was on playing a game show Daichi had never cared for.

Daichi's mother was a tiny women, bone thin, and with wispy black hair that floated around her face. His mother was still in her work cloths, her heels were thrown half-haphazardly across the room, and even over all the different smell of alcohol Daichi could still make out her vanilla scented perfume. It made him nausea's.

The whole scene before him made him want to throw up. It made him want to find and dispose of every ounce of alcohol in the house, and beg and plead for his mother to quit, to come back to him. But Daichi knew he couldn't. The therapist said everyone dealt with grief in their own way. His mother had chosen to confide in a bottle instead of her own son.

Daichi blinked and rubbed at his eyes for a minute before carefully bending down and picking up the empty beer cans. He calmly walked across the room and threw them away in a trash bag, that he'd attached to a closet handle, before making his way into the kitchen.

Once inside the kitchen Daichi rolled up his sleeves and set about making some diner. Daichi frowned as he took in the empty state of the cupboard and refrigerator, he'd have to go shopping soon. In the end some he settled for Ramen and edamame, along with a few pieces of ham.

As the smell of cooking food filled the apartment he heard his mother stumble into the kitchen, cursing lightly under her breath as she ran into the corner of the kitchen table.

"Daichi? What are you making?" Her voice was raspy from disuse, he swore he could smell the beer on her breath even from across the kitchen. He could only thank whatever God was out there that his mother hadn't taken up smoking along with her drinking.

"Just some Ramen tonight ma, are you feeling up to eating?" He asked, making sure to keep his voice soft as to not irritate her very probable headache.

"Ramen...sounds very good right now Daichi, I'd love some." That sentence was more then he could have wished for in the past year.

"Okay Ma, it'll be done in just a minute. How was work?"

"Oh do I have a story for you."

And just like that she went off about one of her customers, quietly ranting and raving about rude they could be. Daichi made sure to pay close attention, as he served up their dinner. They kept quiet conversation going throughout their meal. She asked him about volleyball and about how Suga was doing, and when Daichi stood to take their empty dishes to the sink he was a little less shocked when she stood up also and began help wash and dry.

"I have a lot of home work I need to get done with before bed, I'm probably going to be in my room the rest of the night," Daichi stated once the dishes had been put away, "Don't stay up to late you have work tomorrow."

"I know Daichi, don't worry about me," his mother stated sounding slightly cross. She picked up a bottle of wine this time and was slowly drinking it.

Daichi sighed but knew better then to argue, he didn't feel like getting into another shouting match with his mother about her 'hobby' as she'd eloquently labeled it. Daichi didn't want to lose another parent, but most of the time it felt like he was taking care of her instead of the other way around.

"I'll see you tomorrow Daichi," she finally stated before walking into the living room but stopped at the edge of table. "Daichi, I know you miss your father very much, and I know I'm not a very good mother, but please know that I love you Daichi. More then anything."

"I know Ma." What else could he say. He couldn't tell her that he hated to come home at night because she'd be in the exact state he'd left her I the night before. How could he possibly tell her that ever since last year those words were getting harder and harder to believe. How could tell her that on the anniversary of it all, after she'd drink herself into a stupor, she'd wailed, cried, and clung to him like an eel, begging him not to leave her too. No he could never tell her.

"I know you love me Mom, and I know you're trying hard to quit, and I know the reason your trying is because of me. And I'm so proud of you for starting up therapy again and I'm so proud that you've kept your job throughout it all. Your trying Ma, and that's what good mothers do. I love you too."

Those words he could say. Those words he could tell to her face and not feel an uncomfortable twinge in his chest. Because they were true. Because his mother was trying, because she did love him, even if sometimes she loved the alcohol more. But so was his relationship with his now functioning alcoholic mother.

(One year later)

Daichi waved his final good bye so Asahi and Suga before turning the corner. He felt his wide grin drop to a more subtle sincere smile. Today was the three month anniversary. Three months since the last drink his mom had had. Two month anniversary of her promotion at work. And the one month anniversary of their move to a different apartment. They hadn't moved far from their old apartment, close enough that he could still walk to school with Suga and Asahi but far enough away that He and his mother didn't feel like they were being crushed by their memories.

A lot had changed with in past year, his mom had mange to almost kick her addiction, and he'd actually opened up to Suga and Asahi about what had been happening in his home life. He'd been hesitant at first, he knew for a fact Suga's home life was no picnic and Asahi was still dealing with things from his childhood, but they'd stuck with him and done all they could to help. Giving him a shoulder to lean on and an ear to rant to had been a godsend. He hadn't shared with anyone else on his team, the 3rd years would be leaving and the thought of telling their soon to be 2nd years left a bad taste in his mouth. They didn't need to know, because with out evening trying his team had already helped him cope. They'd given him a sanctuary and he would be forever grateful to them for it.

Daichi took the last few steps to his apartment two at a time and slowly breathed in. He stepped inside and quietly called out, "I'm home." He began taking off his shoes and a slim figure walked in from the kitchen. His mother was still slim, he hair still wispy, but she looked better. Her expression wasn't exactly happy but she looked...content, peaceful, like she'd gotten rid of some heavy burden and she could rest. "Daichi," she said and a small smile crept onto her face, "welcome home." Daichi smiled back, he knew his family was still broken, but he also it could be fixed.