Chapter 10: Friendship and love

Quite some time had passed after the unexpected reunion at the cafe. Sugawara had managed to calm down in the meantime and started to simply revel in in the sweet atmosphere. It was possibly the most romantic time Sugawara ever had, though it wasn't really Daichi's intention. The brunet wasn't even aware of that!

Later on, the two nursery school teachers were the first to leave the café to return to work. With a look at his watch, the ginger haired yelled, "Suga-San, we have to go! We have to hurry or else we will be late!" Without much hesitation, he rose from his seat and kissed his boyfriend on the lips before bolting out of the cafe. Kageyama blushed at his bold sneak-attack and earned a snicker from the rest of the group. Sugawara got up as well and went to hug Daichi to say goodbye. Since hugging was now kind of a part of their daily life, he actually didn't think about it anymore. Sure, it took him by surprise at the beginning, but he liked the contact. Especially because his housemate was so incredibly hot and well build! Not that he would ever confess that.

For just a moment, the brunet caught himself staring dreamily into Suga's hazel-brown eyes. He had the gentlest look on his face and lifted his hand absentmindedly to caress the ash-blond's cheek. The next moment, he leaned down, only to stop right before their lips could touch. While Sugawara was beet red, Daichi realized what he was about to do and he stepped back immediately. He covered his face with his hand in an effort to hide the blush and mumbled the most awkward goodbye mixed with some apologies. Suga then waved goodbye to the rest of the group and fled from the coffee shop, almost running into the door as he looked back one more time to glance at Daichi. As if that wasn't enough already, he also bumped into someone outside of the shop. It was Hinata, fortunately.

"Sugawara-San are you alright? What's wrong?" he asked while throwing his flushed friend a worried glance.

The ginger helped him to steady his stance and couldn't help but think that his colleague had changed after meeting his saviour. Everything about his behaviour seemed different to before! On the other hand, he didn't look so sad and lonely anymore. For the first time since befriending Sugawara he could see his eyes and his whole being shining brightly and a warm and happy aura surrounded him. Since the ash-blond refused to confess the truth, he waved it off with a little smile and started walking back to the kindergarten instead.

Oh my god! Did he just try to kiss me?! He was so close to me too! My heart is beating like crazy now… His head was completely up in the clouds as both men were on their way, so Suga didn't listen to Hinata's constant chatter at all. All of a sudden, a completely unexpected question pulled Sugawara out of his daydreaming.

"Now then, do you like that Sawamura guy? I mean like, love him?"

Hinata was so straightforward with his question that it threw the poor ash-blond of track. It's not like he wasn't fond of the cute and caring brunet and he enjoyed every minute they spent together. However, admitting that he was starting to fall more and more in love with this man seemed to be difficult for Suga. Did he deserve someone as gentle, caring and supportive as Daichi? Was he even worthy of such a man? His thoughts and feelings began to shake him up way too much and the ginger realized that he just made a terrible mistake.

Oh shit! I should have stayed quiet! Why does he look so heartbroken and conflicted now?!

Hinata asked himself as he watched his Senpai breaking into a panic. They reached the kindergarten in the meantime and were soon greeted by a lively bunch of children. Their presence was enough to interrupt Suga's train of disturbing thoughts and he immediately put on that all too familiar smile of his. The time went by in the blink of an eye and every now and then Sugawara wore an awfully pained expression, though he believed that it was unnoticed by those around him. His colleagues caught him occasionally and started to worry. Unfortunately, Hinata wasn't aware of his painful past and the lasting effects he had from that time.

At the end of the day, Sugawara watched as the last child got picked up by their parents. The couple hugged the little one together, emitting undeniable love for each other.

How nice... At least I can help these tiny creatures form wonderful memories of their childhood. They are all so happy... He bid them farewell with a kind smile and returned to the break room. Yaku, Oikawa and Hinata had already finished tidying up and cleaning the mess caused by the children and sat together chatting amongst themselves.

"Oi, Kou-Chan! Come sit down with us! It's been a while, so let's just talk about life and stuff!" Oikawa chirped happily while pulling out a chair for his friend to sit.

Said person shook his head and muttered, "I'd like to go home now, if it is okay with you. Today has been really tiring, seeing how long I had to take a break."
He did sound exhausted, but one look at his eyes proofed that something else must be bothering him a well. Sensing that, Yaku took the hint and followed him quietly to the lockers.

While Sugawara was changing back into his sweater, Yaku cornered him and asked, "Koushi. I can tell that something is wrong, and it started as soon as you returned from your break with Hinata. What's bothering you so much?"

The ash-blond tried to avoid the question at all cost, Yaku, however wouldn't accept that at all. After a few moments, Sugawara finally broke down and let all his emotions burst out. It startled his best friend for a second, but he listened to every pained word that came out between his loud sobs.

"I just don't know what to do! I care so much about Daichi, yet I'm not nearly good enough for him – I'm just useless and weak! He already has so much on his plate and I burden him with my stupid problems! What if he gets sick of me and turns his back to me?! I don't want to lose him! I'm so fucking scared, Morisuke!"

He hadn't realized that his other colleagues rushed into the room once they heard his screams. Yaku knelt down next to him and held onto him while rubbing circles onto his back. It wasn't easy to calm him down and he mumbled more complains and fears in a nearly inaudible voice for a few more minutes. Oikawa and Hinata sat down beside them and hugged the depressed male until his sobbing stopped. The ginger felt especially guilty because he was the one who asked him about Sawamura in the first place. When Tooru got up to get some hot chocolate for them – since that was one of the things that always helped Suga – Hinata bowed down to Sugawara and jumped onto him afterwards.

"Sugawara-San, I'm so, so sorry! If I had known how much it would trouble you, I would never have asked you about Sawamura-San!"

The ash-blond patted his head softly and confessed, "Please, don't feel bad about it. You didn't know about it until now, so you're not to blame. I'm haunted by my own past and sometimes these painful memories get mixed up with the present time."

Yaku added onto the explanation, "Koushi had a very rough childhood, you know. It still affects him today – as you've seen just now."

With that, he reached for Suga's bag and got up to grab a glass of water while his exhausted friend rummaged through his back until he found what he was looking for – a small box of his anti-depressants. Hinata caught a glimpse of it and finally understood the gravity of the situation. Instantly he began to wonder how he could help his precious Senpai to get over his troublesome past.

His soulmate might be the only one who can save him from his pain. I hope it's that police officer, since they clearly have feelings for each other. Hinata thought to himself.

The four men walked back into the break room, where they sipped on sweet hot chocolate and snacked onto some sweets. Together with the company of his dear friends, Sugawara calmed down completely, and they began talking about his greatest worries at the moment – successfully dissolving all of them in the process. In the end, they began talking about their soulmates and how much they had done for them in their lives together.

"I wonder if I ever meet my soulmate… They must be very patient and caring, if they are able to handle me with all of my anxiety and depression… Who would want to be with someone like that?" Sugawara mumbled under his breath.

It didn't go unheard though, and Oikawa remarked with one of his rare genuine smiles, "Oh, you don't need to worry about that! Haven't you noticed it yet?"

The ash-blond tilted his head and before he could question anything, Tooru got up, pushed his friend in front of the huge mirror (which they had since said brunet cared immensely about his good looks) and pulled up his sweater, which resulted in an embarrassed squeal coming from Sugawara. Right before the shy male wanted to complain, he stopped as he got a look on his chest. He had always admired the pure white lily which was positioned where his heart was because he loved the beautiful flower – a symbol of purity and hope. Now, however, said lily wasn't the only thing decorating his chest because a beautiful black orchid was now tangled around his soul-mark. Saying that he was surprised was a huge understatement. Suga couldn't believe his own eyes, even touching the slightly warm mark couldn't make him believe what was happening to him. His friends stayed in the background, feeling extremely happy for their fragile friend.

Tears were streaming down his cheeks by the time he realized that even somebody like him had found his fated partner. He wouldn't have to be alone anymore! There was only one thing that was to discover though. Who was his soulmate?

"I'm sure that it hasn't changed that long ago... Who did I grow closer to recently? It... It couldn't possibly be him, could it?" Sugawara spoke more to himself than anyone else around him.

His employer whispered softly into his ear, "Whose image pops into your head when you look at that black orchid? Who does it resemble and remember you of? I'm certain you already know the truth, Kou-Chan." The ash-blond thought immediately of Sawamura, which caused him to blush slightly. Although he couldn't be completely sure about his assumption, a part of him believed it wholeheartedly. Maybe he should just talk to his friend and housemate about it in the evening or in the following days. Was being soulmates the reason that Daichi sometimes showed these loving gestures around me? It explains the attraction I felt when I first saw his warm, shining eyes... God, I am so smitten with that strong, gentle and supporting brunet!

It's about time for some DaiSuga!

I actually had thought about letting Suga getting overrun by a car (nearly) for being to worried about his feelings when Hinata and him were returning. Abandoned that rather quickly - it would have been too much.

I'm honestly not sure if the soul-mark thing makes sense (for people to have their own half, which only gets completed/added when they meet their fated partner)...