❝ oouch and i thought you had missed me. ❞ a fake shrug to add more drama, he truly enjoyed small scoldings from this guy, reminded him of his grandpa’s. ❝ i dunno, should i be worried about somethin’? ❞
“M-missed--” Daichi cleared his throat. “Not of me but definitely of the place. It’s dangerous sort- like straight out of a horror show or something.”
Recalling the events prior of people meeting their doppelgängers, Daichi could say such a thing with utmost confidence. “It’s more of a safety gesture. As long as you stay away from strangers, you should be fine. Unless you can’t control yourself.”
He knew sooner or later that he would need to attend school here. Not that it was a requirement, not, but he figured finishing off his final year of high school might be good. You know, in case he made it to the real world again. That way he wouldn’t forget anything.
He had hoped there’d be a volleyball club in the school, yet was pleasantly surprised to see fliers up for new members to join. Who was he supposed to talk to– oh! Oh he knew Sawamura Daichi. He’d played Karasuno many times before and always thought he was really pleasant, agreeable, easy to get along with. He was glad it was him starting up a club for much needed distractions.
Upon entering the gym, he peeked around, looking to catch sight of the other spiker in hopes to join up with him. Who knew, maybe they’d have some sort of ultimate team here.
“Hello, is anyone here? I’m here about the volleyball club.”
The students who appeared were mediocre at best. He watched and trained them, making sure they would at least have fun while doing so. That was the most he could hope for anyone who played volleyball. The Karasuno’s captain’s love for the sport was a fiery passion he hoped to share with everyone that joined him.
For now though, it was clean up time and the students had long since disappeared from the gym. Daichi alone cleaned up, remembering his time as a first and second year when it was their responsibility to do this. Hearing a voice call out, Daichi turned with a smile.
“Ah, here! This is where it i--ah!” Daichi exclaimed, wrapping the net up and smiling kindly. So, Seijou’s ace was here? A lot of people from his world were showing up lately. Good. Daichi was starting to get bored.
“I...Iwaizumi-san, right? I was alone for quite some time here but it’s good to see a familiar face. I ran into Oikawa-san recently, have you? It must be nice to see friends.”
Sugawara revels in the ice piercing his chest, enjoys struggling to breathe against the weight that Daichi’s words put on his conscience. That’s right, he muses to himself. What about the team? It’s always about the team with him.
And when it had stopped being so… he finds it difficult to remember that day, the blur of emotions vaguely coalescing into a murky slime that made his entire body uncomfortable just to think about.
There’s a certain refreshing light in seeing Daichi like this, despite how different the years have treated his ex-teammate. Sugawara supposes it’s because they’ve honed in on their individual skills so finely now. Though their dynamics now are stark contrasts to the way they were in high school, they’re still very much similar– he’s not at all surprised Daichi’s steadfast support has made him such a valuable militant soldier. And Sugawara? He’s still stuck on the sidelines; doubt doesn’t riddle his advice as much as it had back then, but a single day doesn’t pass by where he still doesn’t question his own credibility. Putting on such a big face only worked as long as he had someone supporting him, and under these pretenses, Asahi wasn’t exactly the best replacement for Daichi.
When the smoke finally clears, it’s obvious just where Sugawara’s allegiance still lies. He lowers his arms from his face, though his stance isn’t in reaction to Daichi, but to the now-fallen bodies beside him. His exhale is breathy, worn tired from exasperation, but not surprised.
“Well, neither am I…”
It’s at this moment he finally steels his determination. Fine, if Daichi won’t listen to him now! There’s a reason he’s still walking around on two feet, still as able bodied as before this dumb war had started. Most might mistake the ex-setter’s storming as him angrily approaching Daichi, but two deft hands only two seconds later show that he’s after the extra artillery strapped around the other’s torso instead. “And I’m not leaving you until you listen to me. Give me this– a measly handgun won’t keep me alive on the streets.”
Even if Daichi were to keep protesting, Sugawara takes the rifle from him. The weight is uncomfortable, but not unfamiliar in his hands, and a pointed glare directed to the other is all he gives before running down the street.
Just like that, the other is gone and Daichi is left without one rifle. Now it was easier on his feet but every weapon had its purpose. A seasoned soldier, Daichi would do fine without. His gaze trailed after the other, watching him disappear around the corner. No chance for distractions, no openings to die. He moved out in the opposite direction, fighting anyone who got in his way. It wouldn’t be long until the next checkpoint and once he was there...rest. At least, for a little while.
The fighting continued--to him, mere moments etched together but in reality, hours at least. The bodies fell, screams echoed around him, and Daichi reminded himself that this was how it was and how it would be until they conquered the city. It had gotten dark and was darker, proving to be a challenge for the ex-captain. He reached his checkpoint some time ago but to be exact, he couldn’t remember when. Fatigue was going to hit him soon and with little ammo and weapons, Daichi had to find a camp or perhaps a hidden base before continuing the fight.
So he did, running from corner to corner, using bullets when needed or frag grenades when possible. In the distance, an empty base. Not nearly as fortified but abandoned--probably by those who came before him. He shuffled in and when he deemed the coast was clear, he dropped most of his things except for his knife and pistol. Just enough to keep him safe as he rested against the hard flooring. It seemed like the days would be like this. Was his whole life destined for this chance event? He couldn’t believe it and yet, here he was.
Leaning back against the wall, Daichi shuts his eyes. He recalls silver hair and a soft laugh from so long ago. Somewhere, Suga was in the city and chased after him. He worried that others might’ve followed after. They had no business here--not especially his ex-vice captain.
“National...kiss day? It’s a bit of a stretch with how casual it is.” Daichi wasn’t about to press the subject further. There were better things he could be doing with his time.
Just before the crack of dawn, Daichi gathered up his belongings and took a very long journey from his apartment to district alpha. Others murmured, some smiled and all watched him as he carried balloons and various bags with him. Daichi didn’t mind them. He was a young man on a mission--a very important one.
He continued to make his way and when he spotted a familiar hut, he placed the balloons down, tying them to their weights and placing the flowers against the makeshift window sill. He had one final gift--a small cake with the words Happy Birthday Koushi! written on it. In between practice, studying, and missing their date, this was the least that Daichi could do for the other. There was even a small card, one that had “I know this won’t make up for standing you up on our first date. I’ll see you later. - Daichi” written inside of it.
Before the other could wake up--knowing that the other was probably sleeping in or just enjoying a few more moments of sleep before going to school--Daichi set them all down at his doorstep, sighing to himself softly before taking his leave back to the school.
Years of separation have yet to dwindle down the slow burning appreciation he has for his ex-captain– Daichi’s determination is nothing to scoff at. But under the pretense of this war, Sugawara’s been forced to reconsider his allegiances.
The decision to send the de facto leader of the ragtag team of volleyball-players-gone-guerrilla isn’t one he’s against, of course. Even after all this time, though all his friends may now despise him, Sugawara feels as if he’s still got some sort of unbreakable bond with Daichi. Though lately, it feels as if all he can do is doubt whether such a bond was genuine in the first place, when they were thrown together so hastily and out of necessity…
His objective isn’t to stop Daichi, or even stop a friend. Sugawara’s the one looking for Daichi in the city solely because he has the highest chance of stopping the civilian threat, and he needs to start acting like it.
So when, by chance, he turns his attention to a dark figure looming just down the street and his inner judicial monologue proves to be for naught, Sugawara’s highly disappointed in himself for getting frozen into fear like he is now. After so long of being deprived of the soldier’s touch, however, he can’t help but take in every sight of Daichi when he spots him. The way his shoulders heave for breath, his uniform soaked in what must be blood–
“Sawamura,” is his initial greeting to the long lost friend, a simple nod in acknowledgement. Then his eyes immediately dart to Daichi’s hand hovering over a grenade in his arsenal. He wouldn’t… right? “What are you doing?”
Between the two of them this was a dance or perhaps, a game. A game of cat and mouse where Daichi would run and Suga would chase. A game that was starting to wear the ex-captain’s patience thin. There was only so much danger that he could put himself in before it would be a matter of time that Suga would get caught up in all of it. He spent so much time training and doubling more on top of it so his ex-vice captain wouldn’t so much as be near anything as dangerous as Daichi did. Did that ever stop Suga? No, never. It was frustrating--even more so knowing that there was nothing Daichi could do to stop the other.
Once Suga had it in his mind to do, he would not rest until it was complete. Daichi recalls this and scoffs to himself. That only means this won’t be the first time Suga would be disappointed by something Daichi had done.
“Sugawara.” Daichi says flatly, shifting his weight from standing upright to one leg, arms returning to cross over his chest. “What does it look like? I’m trying not to get killed. In case it wasn’t obvious, we’re in the middle of a war zone. You should do your best to try not to get killed. Wouldn’t want to upset the team.”
His closing line covers an icy tone along with a sense of mocking. He had long forgotten how to filter himself, to hold himself back from saying hurtful things. That Daichi didn’t exist anymore. He would never return, if he played his cards right.
“Move.”
Daichi uncaps a smoke bomb, tossing it behind where Suga stood. It covered the other in thick, white smoke, not only covering the silver-haired boy but made it easier for Daichi to take out any enemies with his gun. He shoots soldiers behind Suga, just before they were about to get him, and when there was no more to deal with, Daichi put his guns away.
“You shouldn’t have come here. I’m not going to stop until my mission is complete.”
… Ah, it’s happening again. It takes all of Sugawara’s willpower to just stay on his feet and not pounce Daichi in a flurry of overenthusiastic kisses right then and there.
Sometimes, when he remembers how head over heels he is for someone like his captain, the need to shower him in his affection is flooring. But for now, he holds the other’s arm closer to his thumping heart, head coming to rest comfortably atop his shoulder.
“Well, you better not be! Don’t think your dashing good looks or your charming wit will save you if you disappoint, Sawamura Daichi, because you don’t have either of those!” It almost scares him how easily and effortlessly he can fall into Daichi’s pace like this.
“I-I don’t...?!” Daichi reacts and grumbles, scratching the back of his head as the continued to walk together. “Well, I know you’ll have to forgive me eventually for my lack of either. Otherwise, someone else will see my good looks and charming wit that you weren’t able to and I might just get swept away.”
Of course, Daichi says this as a means to joke. He hardly, if ever, cares about any good traits about himself that doesn’t revolve around being team captain or as a student (or even as a son, if he really wants to go there). Even if anyone else had noticed those things in him, (dashing looks...a charming wit...it’s funny to him, really), he wasn’t the one to agree with those ideas anyway.
“But let’s at least grab some dinner to eat before I go into study mode. C’mon, my treat! Not that you were going to offer anyway, huh?” Daichi chuckles and continues to lead Suga to wherever they could grab something to eat. Walking alongside him, being this close...Daichi wouldn’t have minded if this moment could’ve continued. He didn’t have to commit to school, or club duties, or anything. If it was just Suga he could do whatever.
At least, he wanted to believe. It wouldn’t make that gnawing feeling in his chest disappear though. He wouldn’t have allowed for it. Not right now. Not any time soon. For now, this was enough. He hoped it would be, anyway.
what a pleasant surprise was to find the captain of his favorite team! or at least that’s how it should be. always fascinated for the mature comments made by the other whenever they met, curious if it was just an act to seem superior to his team— which it was something so far away to be real, another reason to confirm that crows are truly interesting. ❝ hehe, what’s that? i always thought you were the adventurous type of guy. ❞ sarcasm, of course.
“Is that what you assume? I suppose I am but not that you’d know. For someone who seems to wake up on the wrong side of the bed everyday, you are surprisingly calm about being here.”
Without filters and societal norms to stop Daichi, he would certainly be relentless with the other.
Maybe for a split second, Sugawara considers the peck on Daichi’s cheek a bit too much for the occassion, but heck if he hasn’t been waiting for his captain to ask him out for a whole two years already. (And in case Daichi is still dense enough to not catch his drift, Sugawara drops his hand in favor of linking their arms together before continuing on with their walk.)
“Not the morning, you know how I am when I first wake up.” A nervous kind of chuckle here, because the imagery is all but nice. “Pick me up after you’re done with all your work– which I’m guessing isn’t until the afternoon? And surprise me. I want to be able to tease you over every little first date detail, okay!”
Ah, Suga in the morning. Right, he nearly forgot. He nods in agreement, if only because it would work better for them.
“Surprise you? I’m not sure about that. What if I took you to the supermarket--then I’d never hear the end of it from you.” Daichi remarks, eyes glancing briefly before moving effortlessly to link their arms together, a small and eased smile forming on his features.
“But I’ll think of something, I promise. I’ll try not to be too predictable at least.”
This city was everything you imagined it be--only because it was everything like the alternate city you arrived in. You had trained years for this moment, years to conquer this city for your own. You carried enough weapons and enough ammo to get you through until you had to arrive to an armory in whichever sector you were in. You were prepared. You had only this chance to make things right, to do what you could so that this war could end swiftly.
Bullets ricocheted off walls and armor as you ran from wall to wall, hoping to avoid being caught in the crossfire. The feeling was unlike anything you’ve ever known--a thrill that put your own life on the line just as everyone else who was caught in this mess. You didn’t enjoy it but you couldn’t say you hated it either. It just made you all the more aware, all the more appreciative of the life you have.
Shooting down other soldiers from this world, you steadily make your way into the main part of the sector, stepping over bodies and ignoring the smell of blood in the air. This mission would’ve been well, would’ve ended fine, if not for a familiar head of white appearing a few feet away from you. What the hell was he doing here?
Suga.
Maybe if you caused a distraction on his end, he would try to escape it and get away from you. You knew he had been trying to stop you for an awfully long time but...why did he have to follow you here? How troublesome.
(i’d apologize but you asked me to write this...BONUS: ALT!DAICHI)
Most other times it ended up like this, he wouldn’t have thought too much about it. It was almost habitual that these two would get tangled up this way or rather, how Suga would find himself on him like this. Daichi didn’t mind--he never seemed to focus too much anyway, he just wanted to distract him, toy with him a little bit if Daichi could--and besides, when the other was the one initiating it, how could he not enjoy it?
“Su...mmh- Suga...oi, S-Suga.”
Daichi murmured between breaths, smirking to himself at the other’s brash kisses. They were in a storage closet (of all places) and it certainly wasn’t going to bode well for the other if they were caught. Daichi wouldn’t have cared but he knew his alternate vice captain would never live it down and it’d be especially weirder if his alternate self were to stumble upon this. Still, the surroundings didn’t seem to stop the other and in fact, encouraged Suga to deepen their kiss shortly after hearing Daichi speak.
Daichi indulged him, kiss after kiss, returning each other and running his hands along the other’s body, knowing just where to touch and just where to kiss to get the other to emit such sweet noises. Still, they should’ve stopped their secret meetings a long time ago. This meeting, happening this way, should’ve never happened.
In a near instant, Daichi had Suga pinned up against the wall, smiling coolly before dipping into him for another kiss, this time deepening it, satiating Suga’s hunger. He could’ve sworn he felt the other moan softly and murmur his name which only made Daichi more confident in his actions. Daichi pulled away, knowing Suga held back to chase after his lips and grinned a bit.
“If you want to continue this, you know where to meet me later. I’m sure your team is looking for you Koushi.”
The ex-captain pulls away, smiling coyly before turning towards the door and promptly exiting. He couldn’t put his hand on it but this other Suga was more fun and reminded you of all that it could’ve been. You hated to end on bittersweet feelings but you knew the other would come around.
It was supposed to be just a casual thing--without any formalities, without any attachments. Even so, Daichi did his best to make the girl feel more than comfortable since she had slowly become a close friend. A close friend who didn’t mind these sort of intimate things. Yes, this was totally going to work in his favor.
Even now, with both of their clothes left on the floor, Daichi couldn’t help but worry he was overstepping some imaginary boundary he placed. Maybe she was uncomfortable with it now? What if he was doing this all wrong? With his mind lost in thought, her soft hand guided him back, encouraging him to continue. He murmured an apology and smiled before leaning back down, his body straddled between her legs, and leaned in to press a firm kiss against her hip. She smiled, encouraging him to continue until she gasped gently, hands threaded in his hair as his lips travelled lower.
Like this, he thought, was a lot easier to handle than he thought it was.
Most weekends were busy for both of them. Daichi had weekend community practices to oversee and participate in while Iwaizumi went to the gym or focused on his studies. The two hardly ever had time together and so moments like this, when they were both bustling around in Daichi’s kitchen, were both welcomed and rare.
“Ah, before you go,” Daichi speaks up, catching the attention of the other. Their friendship blossomed quickly and rather unexpectedly considering their circumstances. He makes his way over to the Seijou ace and leans in to give him a quick peck on the cheek. “That’s for good luck on beating your mile record in the gym. See you later.”
And so they both move on, keeping to their tight schedules. Still, Daichi couldn’t help but grin to himself a bit. He was sure the other smiled when he kissed him and for some reason, that reaction will surely stick with him the whole day until they meet up again later.
Saying that this was chaos would only be putting it lightly. With a rifle in arm and legs running as far as they could carry, Daichi found himself farther and farther from where he started off, hoping to maybe find the other version of himself so that he could get rid of him. Instead, his quick dodges and paced strides lead him to a girl with red hair. A girl he was familiar with.
“Kou-san.”
He walks up to her and offers her a tired smile and protection, certain to shield her if there were any immediate explosions before them.
“You aren’t safe here. Not that it’s safe anywhere but...come, let’s find you a safe shelter instead of out here in the open.”
like this post for event threads! i’m going to temporarily postpone regular threads until the event is over... i’ll be capping at 3! info about alt!daichi can be found here
