Chapter 4

Ushijima

Daichi was usually very deep sleeper. After dealing with his more restless teammates in high school at their training camps, he'd developed the skill to almost an art form. He could sleep through people stumbling around trying to get water, or use the bathroom. Heck, he'd even managed to sleep through Tanaka's thunderous snoring! So yes, Daichi was a deep sleeper.

Daichi also quite enjoyed sleeping. He never got enough sleep, being a full-time college student, volleyball player, and unpaid babysitter to his roommates rarely left him with enough time to sleep. When Daichi did manage to drag his exhausted body to bed, he slept like the dead and never woke before his alarm.

So, it came as a surprise to him when a he woke up before his alarm. Daichi blinked slowly, even though it was still semi dark when Daichi usually woke up it was never pitch black. Daichi frowned sleepily before checking his alarm clock.

The red glowing numbers showed it was only a little after three in the morning. Way too early for any sensible person to be awake. Daichi's frown deepened and he looked around his shared room, trying to determine what had awoken him.

Daichi and Ushijima kept their room reasonably tidy. Neither men were in the habit of leaving their stuff lying around, waiting for a mess to accumulate only to then waste time cleaning it up.

Their school bags were by each of their separate desk, nothing had fallen or been knocked down as far as Daichi could tell, and when he moved the curtain away from their singular window it didn't appear to be storming. Nor was there anyone outside the building making noise.

The only thing out of place in the room as far as Daichi could tell was the empty bed where Ushijima slept. The other boy did go on early morning runs quite often but as far as Daichi knew he had never gotten up this early. And usually the other boy was able at leaving the room silently without awakening Daichi.

Something had to have awakened Daichi, and it looked like his only clue was his absent roommate. Ushijima had gone to bed before Daichi. Daichi had seen his prone figure sound asleep on his bed. So where had the other boy gone?

There was nothing else for it. Daichi groaned, like the old man he sometimes felt he was, before sitting up and throwing his incredibly warm, incredibly soft blankets to the side. With any luck, Ushijima was just getting himself a late night (or early morning) snack, or maybe something to drink. Out of all Daichi roommates surely Ushijima wouldn't need anything from Daichi right?

Daichi stood up and made his way over to the door. No light was showing through the crack at the bottom so the hall light was still turned off. Daichi sent one last longing look at his bed, it wouldn't be hard to simply get back into bed and pretend this had never happened. After all it wasn't like Ushijima had specifically asked for Daichis help. Hell, the other boy probably hadn't meant to awaken Daichi to begin with.

Daichi shook his head back and forth and squared his shoulders. No, something had to have woken him up and even if Ushijima had done so unintentionally something must have distressed the other boy. It was the only real explanation Daichi could think of and until proven otherwise it was what Daichi was going with.

Daichi opened his door and stepped out into the hall. Immediately he could see a light was on in the kitchen. He blinked rapidly a few times, letting his eyes adjust to the light source. It was their overhead sink light, from Daichis own late night escapades he knew it would provide enough light to see but not enough to bother anyone else in the dorm.

Daichis eyes flickered from the sink to the table. Ushijima was sitting slouched over on to the table. His chin was pressed into his arms and he seemed to be contemplating knew something was wrong. Daichi hadn't seen Ushijima slouch before, heck, Daichi didn't think Ushijima could slouch until now. Usually his back was as straight as a telephone poll, his shoulders squared and eyes forward.

Ushijima was the type of person to always move forward and progress forward. Ushijimas body reflected that. Ushijimas stride was always strong and almost seemed unstoppable, on campus people unconsciously parted for him, pressing away from the unstoppable eagle.

He was like that with his decisions too. Ushijima, after considering all the options, would follow his choice with unwavering nerve. Never swerving from his chosen course unless a better option presented itself.

Pile that, on top of his willingness to help his teammates with almost anything they asked, (within reason), he had really endured himself to Daichi. His only real problem was people skills. Which were almost as bad as Kageyama's had been when the genius setter had first joined Karasuno.

Now that Daichi thought about it, those two really were rather similar. Both seemed geniuses at volleyball compared to average players like Daichi. Both had terrible people skills but both also held their teammates in high regard and wanted the best for them. Even if their ways of showing concern and encouragement often lacked warmth they were both good people.

Maybe it was the little parallels Daichi had unconsciously made between his former Kouhai and his current roommate, but Daichi had always felt slightly protective of the Ushijima. Which was ridiculous, Ushijima was as far as Daichi knew, fearless and a very intimidating person. It wasn't his tall frame that made him intimidating, he just had a very…unapproachable aura about him.

And the former Shiratorizawa Captain had sat through horror movies that had made Daichi feel sick, left Bokuto in tear, Kuroo with nightmares, and Oikawa sleepless without so much as flinching. Ushijima had also been the one to come to Oikawa's aid first that one time they'd gone dancing. Ushijima had sucker punch 6'4ft, bulldozer sized drunk guy who wouldn't take no for an answer.

Iwaizumi had nearly broken the front door when he'd found out. Only to turn and politely thank Ushijima for rescuing his boyfriend. Daichi didn't know who was more shocked, Ushijima or Oikawa. Oikawa of course had to grumble and complain about not being a maiden in need, but he had baked Ushijimas favorite cookies and snack for the next week so.

Daichi blinked and rubbed his eyes. None of that was relevant to his current predicament. Taking a stroll down memory lane wouldn't answer anything.

Daichi squared his shoulders and slowly walked into the kitchen. He carefully sat himself at the opposite end of the table from where Ushijima sat. Ushijima at this point had noticed his presence and had fixed his slightly bloodshot eyes on Daichi. Watching Daichi with a solemn, weary gaze.

Daichi waited a moment to see if Ushijima would say anything. He didn't. After a moment of silence Daichi hesitantly cleared his throat. "So…good morning I guess?" Daichi voice came out sounding like an old man's rasp. Daichi cleared his throat again before looking at Ushijima,"…What are doing up with late Ushijima?"

Ushijima stared Daichi down, he seemed torn between wanting to talk but he also seemed almost…embarrassed to say anything. Daichi sat a watched Ushijima struggle with himself before standing up.

"How about I make us some hot chocolate and then you can decide is you want to talk, okay?" It was the same line his Dad used to pull on him.

A long, long time ago before everything had happened. Back when Daichi had been young enough to want comfort but still wanted to be independent. Back before Daichi realized that no family was perfect and that even his parents couldn't be depended on for some things.

Ushijima considered Daichi's offer for a moment before he carefully nodded his head. Daichi smiled comfortingly at the taller male before setting to work. Before long two steaming mugs of Daichi Grandma's homemade hot coco sat in front of them. Daichi had his own special mix that he kept stocked and up.

And no matter how much Suga begged Daichi refused to give away the recipe. His Grandmother almost hadn't given the recipe to Daichi, he wasn't about to jeopardize his coco, even if it was for his best friend.

Daichi had taken the opportunity to change seats and now sat shoulder to shoulder with Ushijima. Both sipped their coco, Ushijima seeming more relaxed and comfortable with every passing moment.

When both men had finished, men had finished their drinks they continued to sit in silence. It was a nice silence, the type you only got with either family or close friends. When you didn't feel the need to fill the silence with talk or music or anything else.

Daichi blinked. Maybe that was it. Maybe Ushijima didn't need to talk at all. Maybe all he needed was just some silent comfort. Ushijima was a much more introverted type of person. Especially compared to the likes of Bokuto and Oikawa.

Ushijima wasn't the type to verbalize his feelings. That wasn't how he processed things. True keeping something to yourself for to long wouldn't help but Ushijima needed more time to think before talking. So that was what Daichi was going to offer.

"Ushijima," Daichi quietly started keeping his eyes focused on the table in front of him. "Don't feel like you have to tell me anything. If you're more comfortable just not talking about it that's fine too." Daichi glanced up at the other boy.

As soon as the words left his mouth Daichi knew he'd made the right choice. Ushijima seemed to lose any tension he'd had in him. His breath leaving in a quiet huff.

"…Thank you Sawamura." Ushijima quietly stated, his face looked peaceful. As if taking whatever unintentional pressure Daichi had put on away was the greatest thing Daichi could have done. And maybe it was.

"No problem man. You want some more coco?"

"Yes please."