A little late, but an update! And unrelated, today is my birthday! XD I took the day off for some self-love and used it to finish this chapter lmao I hope you guys enjoy some team comfort, you've waited so long for it! Haha Thank you for every comment and for sticking around this long, I appreciate you all!

"How're you holding up?"

Daichi observed Sugawara's pale face and gingerly gripped his uninjured wrist as he pulled it over his shoulder to keep the setter upright. They'd been tossed around Saeko's car like a salad and the result had Suga shaky and dazed. The heat coming from him, despite the chilling cold around them, concerned Daichi.

"Uh…" He cleared his throat and swallowed as if he were holding back the urge to be sick. Daichi wouldn't blame him, after that experience he felt queasy too. "I just want to sit on something that doesn't move. How did your sister even get her license?"

"Rumor has it the instructors were too afraid to get in the car with her for another test. I think they passed her so she wouldn't come back."

Daichi's expression was one of horror. "That's just a rumor though… Right?"

Tanaka shrugged. "Who knows? She beats the snot out of me every time I ask."

Shaking his head, Daichi blew out a breath through tight lips. "We're walking next time I don't care how far it is. Could you get the door, Tanaka?"

"Got it."

"There's a key beneath the planter, don't dump the flowers or my mom will kill me," Suga said, his steps slow as they climbed the few concrete stairs to the door.

The topic of Suga's parents irked Daichi, but he knew his friend would not speak poorly of them even if they deserved it. Voicing his ire on the situation typically made Suga uncomfortable so the captain kept his opinion to himself while in his presence. Although this was the case, it wasn't a secret to most that Daichi didn't care for them.

As Tanaka searched for the key, the steady breeze picked up and whisked a flurry of snowflakes around them. Sugawara, who had already been shivering, shuddered as the cold seeped through his warmups and chilled him to the core. Daichi chaffed his side with a reassuring hand as they waited but was relieved when Tanaka announced he found it and made quick work of unlocking the door.

"The light is on the right-hand side," Suga informed with chattering teeth, following Daichi's lead when he walked them forward.

As they stepped inside, white light flooded the room and illuminated the pristine and orderly furniture. Dachi had visited the Sugawara residence many times, but the lack of warmth always surprised him. Not unlike their hair, the décor was soft grays and accented with black and silver, the walls decorated with a few photos of colorless abstract art. It was very minimalistic with ebony-colored hardwood floors, and to Daichi, the home felt more like an office lobby than a place of leisure or comfort.

He preferred to be in Suga's bedroom when he was over, at least his space was more welcoming. His shelves overflowed with books, volleyball gear organized in cubed cubbies by the door, and music was always playing. When his parents were home, it was usually something soft and classical, but when it was just the guys, Daichi found Suga listened to a wide variety of pop or rock. He'd thought the habit strange, but when his father came home early and opened the door with distaste consuming his features, Daichi understood. Sugawara's smile turned terse and schooled as he spoke with his dad, his demeanor changing entirely. It was hard to watch as he wordlessly went to his music speaker and changed it to something mainly comprised of piano, it was as if the light had been sucked right of out him. Although he smiled the kind smile he always did, Daichi and Asahi could sense his regret and embarrassment.

Tearing his mind from the unpleasant memory, Daichi drew his shaking friend inside and used a foot to push the door shut behind them. When they were fully inside, they toed their shoes off and left them in a neat line.

"Why don't we go upstairs so you can change? Then you can lay down and get some rest."

Suga gave a weak shake of his head, the bags under his eyes prominent beneath the cold light in the living room. "I want to sit down, my head-" One of his eyes squeezed shut as the other narrowed. "Is spinning."

He had the desire to insist Suga try and make it to his room, but he didn't want to push too hard. The last thing he wanted was to clean puke from the polished wood stairs.

"Alright, but only for a little while and then you're going upstairs to bed. You felt really warm when we were walking in, I'm going to grab a cool rag to put on your head." Daichi said.

Suga's response was mumbled, but he made it to the couch where Daichi released him. "Aye aye, Captain."

With a sigh that sang tired relief, he sunk onto the charcoal couch and allowed his eyes to flutter shut. As Daichi left to search the kitchen for a rag, Suga focused on controlling the spinning in his head. Just as he felt he was making progress his peace was shattered by the cushion drastically dipping beside him. Startled, he opened his eyes to find Tanaka leafing through his medical papers, scrutinizing the diagnosis, and propping his feet on the glass-topped table.

"Holy crap, thirteen stitches? Who took more damage, you or that asshole?"

Blinking unamused, Suga grabbed Tanaka's earlobe and pulled.

"I don't know, get your feet off the table."

"Ow, ow, OW! Okay, okay!"

Suga dropped his hand back to his lap when Tanaka moved his feet to the floor and was about to lecture him further when a mighty yawn erupted. Tears beaded in the corners of his eyes, and his remaining energy left on the exhale. Sinking back into the couch, he raised a hand to rub over his face and let his head rest against the cushion behind him. His skin was hot to the touch, but he was still freezing, how was that possible?

"You, okay? You don't look so good." Tanaka said beside him, rubbing his ear but watching Suga with lowered brows.

"Yeah, I'm really tired."

"Couldn't sleep or something?"

He gave a minute nod of his head. "I stared at the ceiling for hours and couldn't turn my brain off… I don't think I slept at all."

Tanaka crossed his arms. "That's rough. I was beat after playing both matches yesterday, I slept like a baby!"

Unnoticed by Tanaka, Suga's lips pressed into a line and his jaw clenched. Allowing his eyes to close, he went quiet and stewed. He couldn't help the envy he felt, and he hated it. He wasn't usually the kind of guy to dwell on something like this, much less to feel aggravated by someone else's success. Why couldn't he just be happy for him? For the team, for winning?

"Was something on your mind last night?"

Suddenly Suga's hair was scraped back from his forehead and something cold laid against it. He took in a breath, blinking bleary eyes, and looked up into Daichi's face above. He was staring at him as if expecting something—Oh right, he'd asked a question.

"Uh- What? What is this?" He asked, reaching up to pull the damp thing from his head. His brain was still a foggy, slow working, mess.

Coming around the couch and taking a seat on the other side of him, Daichi set a bowl of water on the table, then took the rag from him and replaced it on his forehead.

"It's a cold compress to help with your fever, leave it on."

"Oh… Thanks." Suga said, allowing Daichi to push him against the couch again, and settling his aching head on the cushion. He stared blankly up at the ceiling, his gaze unfocused and his breathing shallow. The coolness felt soothing on his forehead, but what really comforted him was the presence of his friends on either side. It was hard to keep his eyes open when this was the first peace, he'd felt in what seemed like ages, even if he did ache all over and felt disgusting. He really ought to bathe, but his bones had turned to liquid.

Daichi could see Suga was down for the count, it was only a matter of minutes before sleep claimed him. He knew this, and yet he still had to repeat his question while he had the chance.

"Did you hear me when I came in? I was wondering if something was on your mind last night… Something you might want to talk about?" He kept his voice low, not wanting to upset Suga, but letting him know he was there for him.

Suga's eyes always held warmth and excitement, so it pained Daichi to watch as his friend shifted his gaze to him lacking his usual awareness and vibrancy. It wasn't easy to ignore the inky purple bruising that stood out against his fair skin, but what really drew attention was the change in his personality. Where he was always so open, he now seemed reserved, almost guarded.

"Oh… Uh... It was nothing, really."

He pressed on, leveling Suga with some of his captain's authority. "It must have been something to keep you awake the entire night." His voice softened. "We can't help if we don't know what it is."

For a moment, Daichi saw his resolve flicker. There was sadness in his tired face, that, and something else… Embarrassment? Guilt? He wasn't sure, but he could tell Suga wanted to talk about it as he began to worry his split lip. He was on the edge and needed one more little push. "Come on, Suga… Talk to us."

Unable to keep eye contact, his stare drifted down, his voice hardly above a whisper. "I—I'm… Irr—"

"Lunch has arrived!"

The front door flew open and drowned out what Suga said, revealing a beaming Nishinoya clutching a couple of paper bags, and a frantic Asahi behind him.

"Nishi, you can't just barge into someone's house, it's rude!"

"Huh? What's the big deal, it's just Suga's place." Noya said, a brow jutting up for only a moment before he turned back around and raised the bags in the air. "I got meat buns!"

Shutting the door behind them, Asahi shook his head exasperated. "I'm the one who paid for them…"

"Yeah, but it was my idea. How're you feeling Suga?"

"Wait for a second. What were you saying, Suga? I couldn't hear."

The window of opportunity slammed shut before Daichi's eyes. He watched as the other teen swallowed and then shook his head.

"Uh- Nothing." Turning his attention from the captain, he addressed the newcomers. "Hey, make sure you take your shoes off."

Daichi could have strangled the two of them, he had half an inclination to do just that. Instead, he settled for glaring daggers at Asahi, narrowing his eyes and turning his bone-chilling stare on the ace. Shivering, he looked back and forth as he took a step away.

"Why are you looking at me like that, it's scary!"

"I don't remember telling you to bring, Noya."

"I—I didn't invite him! He showed up at my house and told me we were getting meat buns!"

"Yeah, Tanaka texted me. He said Big Sis was driving you guys back from the hospital, so I ran to Asahi's, and then we ran all the way to Sakanoshita's. Coach gave us a free bun, he said to give it to Suga and tell him to feel better."

"You ran the whole way?" Suga asked, grunting softly, and slipping the rag from his head to sit up. He shivered as icy winter air drifted across the room from the door opening, and Daichi sighed his disapproval. Crossing his arms over his chest the captain settled back against the couch and resisted the urge to throttle someone.

"Yes." Asahi answered, his shoulders drooping and his expression lacking amusement. His hair was falling from its usual bun and his scarf was hanging out of the pocket of his long brown jacket. He clearly wasn't dressed to go on a jog.

"Don't be such a wuss," Noya said, punching him in the bicep and carelessly kicking off his brightly colored shoes. "It was good endurance training."

Wincing at the punch, Asahi slipped his shoes off with more care, then stooped to gather Noya's and lined them up like the others. "Aren't we supposed to be resting? We had two matches yesterday, don't you think that's enough?"

Going to the low table in front of the couch, Noya sank to his knees on the stiff cushion and set the bags down. The paper crackled as he reached inside, and he gave Asahi an admonishing shake of his head while he fished around for a meat bun.

"It's that attitude that left you flabby and out of shape at the beginning of the season, toughen up!"

Choking on a retort, Asahi hung his head as he came to take a seat beside him on the floor. "You don't hold back, do you?"

Tanaka's mouth dropped open. "Damn dude, that's harsh!"

Unphased by his tactlessness, Noya procured a hot bun and leaned across the table to offer it to his injured upperclassman. "Suga! Here's a meat bun, eat up!"

Suga cringed at the volume of his voice and stared at the offering for a second. It looked as though he were contemplating if he wanted it, which prompted Daichi to tilt his head forward and look at him from the corner of his eye. "Would you like a repeat of last night?"

The huff that left Suga was heavy with indignance, but as Daichi raised a challenging brow, he gave a reluctant roll of his eyes and reached for the pastry. "Thanks." He muttered.

"No problem, man. Honestly, I still feel pretty crappy for Kageyama running you over…" He reached into the bag to grab another bun which he handed to Daichi; his eyes unfocused as he thought back on the match. "If I'd received that ball better, it never would have gone your direction."

Since Suga had been emitted to the hospital, he'd been preoccupied and meek, but as Noya apologized, his eyes cleared. Resting his hands in his lap as he held his meat bun, Suga fixed his gaze on the libero.

"You know what, you're right." He said, his voice even. There was no anger or malice, just a simple statement, and Noya stared back at him just the same. "But there's nothing you can do about that now. What are you going to do to make sure it doesn't happen in the future?"

Asahi's brows pinched together, and he looked between the two anxiously. "Uh, Suga, aren't you being kinda rough on him? It was an accident—"

Daichi raised a hand to stop him, and the discussion continued. There was an echoing silence that lasted an eerie ten seconds, and then Noya's expression hardened.

"I'll do a hundred receives at practice tomorrow. For every ball I miss, I'll do a lap around the gym."

"W-What?! That's crazy, you'll be exhausted!" Asahi yelled, eyes bulging.

A fierce grin broke out onto his face, and he turned it on the ace. "Not if I receive most of them." Turning back to Suga, he nodded his head, the guilt shed from his conscious.

He smiled back softly, and Daichi noticed this smile was more genuine than the ones he'd seen the previous evening and all morning.

"Sounds like a fitting punishment, let me know how many laps you do." He chuckled. "Didn't you need to practice your serves, Asahi? You can help him."

Angered, Asahi balled his fists and snapped at Suga. "Why is it I'm always the one dragged into things? My life was so peaceful for that month I wasn't in the club, what was I thinking?..."

"By peaceful do you mean pathetic and dull?" Daichi said, his stare apathetic as he took a big bite and chewed.

Asahi decided not to answer, slouching to pout.

"Don't cry, we'll be done before you know it! Here."

Snatching the meat bun from Noya, he scowled. "I'm not crying… Thank you."

As the group of guys devoured the contents of both bags, aside from Suga who was struggling to make it through his first, Daichi occasionally observed his friend slowly slipping into the quiet reserve he'd shown lately. He chuckled and smiled here and there as Tanaka and Noya balled up the empty bags and threw them at each other, but otherwise, let everyone else do the talking.

When the conversation turned to the topic of a new scary movie coming out, one that Ennoshita was trying to gather guys to go see, Suga's head began to bob. He was holding his half-eaten bun in his lap, and as he started to slip forward off the couch, Daichi caught his shoulders to pull him back. Asleep, Suga sagged against his friend and practically sank into his lap.

"Did he pass out?" Tanaka asked, alarmed and unsure if he should get up and do something.

Looking Suga over, Daichi made sure he was still breathing, then shook his head. "He fell asleep."

Shifting gently, he allowed Suga to lay across his lap so they would both be more comfortable. With his friend using him as a pillow, Daichi could once again feel the heat he gave off, his damp bangs clinging to his temples and forehead.

"He was up all night, I guess it's more surprising he didn't fall asleep sooner. Can someone grab his meat bun?"

"I've got it, you think he's gonna finish it?" He whispered, slipping the rest of the bun out of Suga's hand and picking up the rag that lay on his lap. "What's this for?"

"You should probably save it in case he wakes up and wants it. He's got a fever, so I got a cold compress to try and lower it. Can you rinse it in the bowl of water on the table and hand it here? Tanaka, push his legs up onto the couch."

Although he was disappointed to forego eating the rest of the bun, Nishinoya obediently set it on a napkin and did as Daichi asked, Tanaka giving up his seat to let Suga stretch out. After dipping the cloth in the cold water, Noya rang it out thoroughly and offered it to the captain.

"Thanks," Daichi said, then brushed Suga's fair hair back with a soft touch. He laid it across his forehead like he had earlier and worried he would wake up when his brows scrunched up. His face pinched for a few seconds, but then it smoothed out and he gave a quiet sigh.

"Now what?" Tanaka asked, moving to the floor, and taking the remaining cushion.

Gnawing at his lip, Daichi looked at the other three, then down to Suga as he slept. He wanted to stick around until one of his family members got home, but he wasn't sure when that would be. Humming, he lifted his head and eyed the screen hanging on the wall above them.

"Anyone up for a movie?"