𑣲⋆ snapshots w/sugawara ! ˖°📷༘
a/n: hi! it's the author. since school started, my uploading schedule will be quite slow because I have to focus on semester two. however, I plan to publish occassionally, but don't quote me on that. this is one of the longer fics as well bc I lowk felt self-indulgent and this is also a love letter to my dear mutuals, so please enjoy. thank you for all the support for the fics I've published so far—it gives me the motivation to write these for you guys. 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯
note: not proof-read, you've been warned. (hopefully, it still makes sense)
⋆˚࿔ tags: oneshot, fluff/comfort, tooth-rotting fluff, tons of sunset/moonlight imagery, teasing, acts of service/quality time, movie date (off-script), love confessions, use of pet names (love), mentions of other karasuno characters (particularly, daichi), light humour/crack, photobooths, slight yearning (from sugawara)
✦ ݁˖ word count: 3.3k words
dedicated to @maiological & @anyadanielleee
the once sunny skies faded into a red-orange hue outside, its light streaming down the glass windows. finishing off the last period of your class, you waved goodbye to your teacher, heading out to a hallway buzzing with excitement. seemed like everyone was ecstatic of staying home, going out with friends, or simply being out of a structured hell hole from morning to late afternoon.
you, on the other hand, felt envious because unlike the majority, were going to spend a mundane two days in between home and work.
a never-ending weekend cycle.
your friends were part of the majority because they were staying home, cuddling up in a warm, fuzzy blanket either mindlessly scrolling on social media or binging a cozy show over the tedious process of getting ready and draining your social battery for hours.
clasping your books in your hand, you waited behind a group of girls packing their supplies away, chattering occasionally. once the crowd had cleared, you settled your books aside and opened your locker, inputting a four-digit code before the traditional dial lock clicked. just when you began placing your books on the ground, a small, cream-white paper fell on your lap.
your eyebrows furrowed in curiosity, before you scowled. you didn't know if the messenger who sent this was someone playing a prank on you, your friend placing their trash in your locker (again), or... perhaps.. a confession?
the orange glow from the sunset hue outside streamed down the cool-glass windows of the second floor building, lining the edges of the folded paper. you slipped the paper in your skirt pocket, zipping it securely before packing your bag.
you glanced around, seeing your fellow peers standing together and chatting. just when you finished zipping up your bag, you felt a small nudge and a faint whisper of a "hello" behind your back. it was one of your friends, holding a phone in one hand.
"hey," she called out. "ready to go home?"
"no, not today," you shook your head. "I might head to the library to finish off some homework then head to work directly.."
she frowned in disappointment, then nodded her head. "sure, just text me when you're in the library. stay safe then."
she smiled and leaned in for a hug, then waved a friendly goodbye and headed off.
you waved back, then rested your hands on your skirt, feeling the paper in between your pocket. you opened your pocket, and pulled it out. it increased in creases, but no rips lined the surface at all.
you unfolded the contents, and it only read:
meet me by the school entrance.
I'll be waiting :)
"uhh," you mumbled. I mean, who would leave such a cryptic yet oddly polite message? well, it couldn't hurt to go to the school entrance where others would be. right?
sliding your bag on your back, you made your way down the stairs. the now-quiet hum of the second floor hallway sang a calming melody in your ears where your footsteps echoed down the concrete stairwell.
you were surprised with how calm you were being, walking to the school entrances, without knowing who, what, and why you got the letter. still, the weight of the seemingly-tiny paper buried itself on your chest, an odd hopeful feeling suddenly rising.
"you're overthinking this," you groaned, grabbing your wired headphones and plugging them to your phone. you opened your music app and switched off your after school playlist and continued striding down the steps.
when you reached the school entrance, the once crowded space was entirely deserted. only the brilliant, fiery orange hue of the sunset poured through the wide glass doors, stretching long, sharp shadows across the floors.
pushing the heavy door open, you stood between the school entrance and the school gates. you decided to scroll on your phone for a few minutes, waiting for the person to come. if it was a prank, then you only wasted a few minutes of your time, not all of it—
just as you clicked the skip button of your music app, you felt a presence behind you, grabbing your headphones softly and placing them around your neck. you gasped softly, looking back to be greeted with a faint, cheeky smile. his eyes crinkled shut, a single mole lining the bottom of his left eye.
your heart skipped a beat. it was sugawara.
your eyes widened in surprise, glancing up and down. the wind blew his pale grey hair off his face, but he seemed unfazed, a soft smile remaining on his lips.
he wasn't wearing his usual black volleyball jersey. instead, he was still in his school uniform, his blazer unbuttoned over a white shirt. he was looking toward the direction of the gymnasium anxiously, his fingers nervously drumming against the strap of his bag.
your eyebrows furrowed, looking at the gymnasium and back at sugawara, and pieced the entire thing together. you remained quiet, however, intending for sugawara to take the lead first.
sugawara snapped his head around, his eyes meeting yours. suddenly, it felt like your presence melt the anxious tension in his shoulders.
"you actually came," he said, his voice a gentle, breathy murmur in the quiet afternoon air. his hands grabbed yours, fingers lacing in and wrapping themselves around you. his gaze never wandered away, eyes remaining towards you, learning your every reaction.
your heart thundered, pink flushes lining your cheeks.
"thank goodness, I was scared you'd slipped out through the side gates," he exclaimed.
"aren't you supposed to be at the gym?" you said, finding your voice. you gestured vaguely toward the distant athletic fields. "practice started ten minutes ago..?"
you let the question hang on the air before you heard a faint chuckle, a soft and breathless sound that vibrated right through his fingers into your hands. you gulped.
"yeah, daichi's probably going to beat my ass," sugawara admitted, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand. he looked toward the gym one last time before his gaze locked back onto you, his hazel eyes completely serious now.
"I'm going to get absolutely buried in extra receiving drills tomorrow," he groaned. "he might actually kill me."
"then, why are you here?" you whispered, heart hammering against your ribs. the warmth of his hands was the only thing keeping you grounded. "you knew the consequences—"
"because I couldn't focus," he said simply. he stepped a little closer, completely eclipsing the orange light of the sunset, casting you in his shadow. the playful, cheeky smile once on his lips, faded into an earnestness that made your breath hitch.
"I was sitting in the clubroom about to change into my uniform, but all I could think of was you walking out of these gates for the weekend," he confessed, warm shades flushing on his face. "I knew if I didn't tell you today, I'd spend the whole weekend losing my mind."
he squeezed your hands gently, thumb smoothing over the back of your knuckles.
"I've liked you for a while," he murmured. another genuine, soft flush creeped up his neck. "not just as a classmate, not just as a friend, but something more. I want to be the first person you text when you're bored at home. I want to be the reason you look forward to the weekends. I want to be the reason you smile."
your lips parted, eyes widening. you exhaled a gaspy breath. you didn't know what to say. but, it seemed like sugawara had more to say, because his lips began to form another soft smile, urging you to listen and you obliged.
"so..." he whispered, "if you'll have me, I want to take you out." his eyes remained fixated on you, following your every reaction.
before you could even process the confession and respond, a booming yet familiar voice echoed from the distance.
"SUGAWARA! I KNOW YOU DIDN'T JUST SNEAK OUT OF THE LOCKER ROOM! GET YOUR ASS RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW."
sugawara froze, eyes widening in pure yet comedic terror. daichi was at the gym doors, squinting across the courtyard, making his way towards you two.
with a sudden gasp of laughter, breaking the awkwardness in the air, sugawara didn't wait for your answer. instead, he tightened his grip on your hand and gave a sharp tug. "we have to run! right now!"
in that moment, you saw sugawara's eyes crinkle, sparkling through the sunset hue that began to fade into an evening glow. a large, playful grin painted on his lips, and your heart thundered in your chest.
as you guys ran out the entrance, his hands never loosened, keeping you close to him. heavy, but it didn't hurt. instead, it was gentle, like the fuzzy blanket you had left home. sugawara's eyes kept glancing between you, asking you if you were okay without even opening his mouth to ask. every time you replied with a nod, sugawara's smile grew wider, its brightness rivaling the stars that loomed above you both.
under the street lights after you both were sure that daichi was no longer behind, you had solidified your answer.
and here you were, at the train station, clasping your phone in your hand, browsing through your school emails and sorting them into folders.
you starred the emails of your upcoming assignments and assessments, mumbling to yourself that you'll sort them once you got home, because right now, you couldn't be bothered.
tonight, you were going out with sugawara, and you've been waiting for this. three weeks prior, he had asked you out and you had said yes.
the moment you had said yes, you recalled how sugawara's eyes sparkled in joy, smiling brighter than the streetlights, the stars above, and the moonlight that reflected on your skin. his hands once intertwined with yours, parted for sugawara to press a soft kiss on your knuckles, before wrapping it together again.
"thank you for making me the happiest man on earth, time and space itself," he had professed, pressing a kiss on your temple. "I'll be the best for you, for me, and for us both."
"stop saying sappy things, suga," you rolled your eyes.
"am I wrong?" he winked. "anything for my love."
you flushed at the thought of sugawara. you glanced at the train platform and the time of the next ride, pulling up your phone to check for notifications. your phone shook the moment you opened, eyes widening as you were taken aback.
your right hand swipped down, checking the pings and it was your now-boyfriend, sugawara. you chuckled, clicking on his notification and opening your messages.
sugawara: hey, I'm on my way. let's meet outside the cinemas, ok?
you giggled, fingers typing a response, before pausing because a second bubble popped up.
sugawara: don't worry, I brought you snacks and a drink ;)
you frowned, not because you disliked the princess treatment, but because ever since you two started dating, sugawara's been compromising himself and prioritising you over everything (with the exception of his academics and volleyball).
you wanted to reply, mentally making a note but closed your phone to enter the train that had now arrived, its platform doors opening and a chime from the station, reminding everyone waiting to enter.
taking a seat near the glass window, you pulled out your phone once more, and typed a response to sugawara, who had been left on read for five minutes.
sugawara, just because we started dating doesn't give you the REASON to neglect yourself. please tell me you got yourself something 😭 don't make me feel bad...
you placed your phone down your lap, plugging your headphones in, and began looking out the window. your eyes glanced at the buildings outside, the cars on the road, and people on crosswalks. the soft, sunny glow shined bright on the skies, its rays stretching across the landscape.
your phone chimed, signalling a response from sugawara.
sugawara: hmm, yes, ofc I did. but you got more than I did ;) I bought some super spicy mapo tofu and some bottled strawberry lemonade that I found 🤔 do you wanna know what you got? :p
before you could reply, your phone closed, showing the faint smile that crept on your face after sugawara's response. flushed, you reopened your phone and began typing a reply to sugawara, afraid you'd leave him on delivered for long.
OOO YUMM 😋 going to switch my phone off to save my battery. will text when I drop off at the station, ok?
you contemplated whether or not to tease sugawara, but you chose the latter. after all, it should go two-way.
not even a minute had passed till' another notification echoed.
sugawara: that's a tough one :( but yes, of course. see you later, my love. 🫶
you smiled at the message and the sentiment behind it. you switched off your phone and resumed looking out the window, admiring the city lights and the buildings in different sizes and designs that stretched across for miles.
the train chimed and called for all passengers that you had arrived at the station, dropping you off at platform one.
you rubbed your eyes, before unplugging your headphones, tucking them away on your shoulder bag, and pulled out your phone to text sugawara that you had arrived.
hey love, I'm already here. where are you?
you stepped out of the platform doors and walked to the entrance, swiping your transport card and heading out. just as you stepped out the station's entrance, you were greeted by sugawara, holding a bouquet of flowers and your favourite snacks. he smiled and waved, even if his hands were busy.
"sugawara!" you squealed, running to hug him.
"hey," he replied, grinning. "I missed you."
"you see me everyday except weekends," you replied, rolling your eyes. "but, yes, so do I."
"I feel honoured," he joked, but stopped when he felt a jab of a punch on his shoulder. "ow! that hurts."
"sorry," you breathed. "I thought we were meeting outside the cinemas! I didn't expect to see you here."
"well, I couldn't wait," sugawara expressed, smiling. "let's go."
he handed you the bouquet, and grabbed your free hand, intertwining it with his, and the two of you began making your way to the cinemas.
just as the movie finished, you and sugawara joined the crowd in exiting out of the cinema booth. there were numerous chatter, and others held half-empty popcorn boxes and drink tumblrs.
"so, how was the movie?" sugawara asked, eyebrows furrowed. "I wasn't sure what to pick, so I hope it wasn't too bad."
"no, no, I thought it was pretty good," you mused. "but, honestly, I'm just happy to be here with you, suga."
sugawara flushed, looking away. he was at a loss of words.
"honestly, I never thought I'd be able to go out or even experience this with how busy I am. I thought my life would be a rigorous loop of school, work, chores, repeat. but, when you asked me out, it felt like you opened my eyes to a world I never thought I'd be in."
sugawara merely looked at you, lips parted. he didn't know what to say, but he smiled and grabbed both your hands and clasped it with his. you felt a burning warmth coming from sugawara's fingers and into yours.
"I'm so happy you're enjoying yourself," sugawara exclaimed, eyes never leaving yours. "I'll always be here for you every step of the way. I'll make sure that you'll have a reason to smile everyday."
"suga," you murmured. "thank you. truly."
"always, love," he pressed a kiss to your temple before pulling away. he glanced over to the photobooth at the corner. "follow me, let's make memories tonight."
he laced your hands together once more, and walked you to the outside of the photobooth. sugawara pulled the curtains open, and guided you inside.
"ready?" he grinned. "sorry, I don't think this photobooth has the cool accessories others do. feels like the budget decreased here."
"suga, your jokes never end," you shook your head. "you can be the accessory."
sugawara laughed and you knew it was the sound that you wanted to hear for the rest of your life. if you could hear that caress your ears every morning, afternoon, evening, and night, you would never complain ever again. ever.
"okay, it seems like you just click here to start," he said, fingers hovering on the screen. "get ready, pretty. you have to look pretty for the both of us."
"suga, we know damn well you're joking," you rolled your eyes.
"am I?" he smiled. "seems like I'm just telling the truth."
before you could even retort, a loud, artificial beep echoed through the cramped booth. a flashing numbers countdown appeared on the glowing screen.
"hey, wait! it's starting—" you panicked, scrambling to look at the lens.
for the first flash, you both panicked. you managed a wide-eyed, surprised smile while sugawara threw his peace signs up, his shoulder pressing heavily against yours in the tight space. the sudden burst of light blinded you for a split second, leaving a white blur in your vision.
"okay, okay, next one," suga laughed, his arm sliding naturally behind your back to rest on the seat, effectively trapping you against his side. "let's do a cute one."
you puffed your cheeks out, making a silly face at the camera. you expected him to do the same, but when the flash went off, you felt a soft pressure on your cheek. your eyes widened. sugawara hadn't looked at the camera at all, but rather, he had turned his head to plant a squishy kiss right on your cheek, his eyes crinkling shut with absolute fondness.
"suga!" you gasped, your face instantly burning hotter than the screen in front of you. "you're cheating!"
"I'm just capturing the view," he teased, his low chuckle vibrating against your shoulder. the timer didn't care about your flustered state, already ticking down for the third shot.
"quick, look at the camera!" you squealed, grabbing his blazer lapels to pull him closer so he'd actually look forward.
this time, you both leaned your heads together, your hair mingling as you both flashed matching, with genuine smiles on your faces. his hand left the back of the seat, his fingers instead reaching up to gently pinch your cheek, a habit he definitely does with his fellow karasuno teammates, especially the first years, shoyo and tobio, but it felt entirely different when it was done to you.
the final countdown started almost immediately, the booth giving you no time to breathe.
in a split-second instinct, sugawara moved. his hand slipped from your cheek down to your chin, gently tilting your face toward his just as the camera flashed for the final time. the bright light captured the exact millisecond his lips pressed softly against yours—a sweet, lingering kiss that completely stopped time inside the little curtained box.
the machine beeped cheerfully, signaling the end of the session, but neither of you moved. the quiet hum of the photo printer outside was the only sound breaking the sudden silence between you both.
sugawara pulled back just an inch, his hazel eyes dark and swirling with a quiet, breathless intensity that made your stomach flip. a soft, genuine flush crept all the way up to his ears.
"now," he murmured, his thumb brushing over your bottom lip, his cheeky attitude completely melting into pure warmth. "I think that one's definitely going in my wallet.
"mine too," you chuckled, pink blush lining your cheeks.
after all, this was just one of the many candid snapsnots you and sugawara will share.
©️ divider cr anitalenia, pixopix, saradikagraphics on tumblr
©️ art cr sabakanzume on X
please don't translate, repost, or feed my writing to ai!
