Chapter Text
Kiyoomi Sakusa keeps making the same dream. A dream where he’s dating a golden-haired man, ever so kind, funny and caring. Ever so hot and pretty, too.
The first time it happened, Kiyoomi paid it no mind. It was simply a pleasant dream. The fifth time, it was starting to be weird. He knew that brains couldn’t make new faces up. So, where had he seen that stupidly gorgeous face?
It became an obsession. With every new dream, he fell a bit more in love with the stranger.
That obsession came to a conclusion in the most unexpected way, a Monday at 9:14.
“Hello, my name’s Atsumu Miya, it’s my first day here. Pleased to meet ya!”
“No way, I will have to work with you?” Kiyoomi mumbled.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Nice to meet you too!”
Kiyoomi can’t believe it. The literal man of his dreams, here on the court with him. Suddenly, everything makes sense. They probably crossed paths during a volleyball tournament back in high school, maybe even competed against each other. Kiyoomi has never been good with faces, he isn’t surprised that his subconscious remembered Miya better than him.
He is now kind of wary. Why did he start dreaming of Miya barely a month before the latter joined the Black Jackals? Does it have a supernatural origin? Kiyoomi isn’t the type to be superstitious, although he keeps some small habits like not walking under a ladder, or avoiding opening an umbrella indoors. Habits he takes from his mother.
Is Miya a ghost, or some kind of spirit? Kiyoomi shakes his head, appalled at the silliness of his own questions. All there must be to it is some kind of freakish coincidence.
“Oi, Sakusa!”
Kiyoomi turns his head towards the source of the call.
“Yes?”
“I’ve called you three times now,” Meian says. “Break is over.”
Kiyoomi apologizes before getting up and joining his teammates. Fortunately, Miya’s presence doesn’t become too much of a distraction, and Kiyoomi plays at his regular level, spare for a few moments of absence. Nothing bad enough to get him scolded.
After practice, Miya tries to make friends with everyone. They’re changing and he’s happily chatting with his new teammates, a big grin on his face. Kiyoomi thinks that he looks a lot like the Miya from his dreams. Full of energy and love to give. He kinda wants to try and get to know him. What if they were soulmates? He brushes the idea away. He shouldn’t be getting close to someone with such afterthoughts. But what if…?
On his way out, he stops next to Miya.
“Good work today, Miya. Hope you’ll like it here.”
“Oh, thanks Sakusa!”
Kiyoomi feels warmth spread through him. Miya already knows his name!
“Well then, see you tomorrow.”
As he exits, he hears a loud “Ooooh Miya, Omi-omi likes you!!” Bokuto. Of course he’d have to act dramatic over this. Although if he was being honest, it would make his life easier in the future. Kiyoomi has a hard time being outward with his feelings, and having someone reading him out loud like some public sign is sometimes more helpful than he’d like to admit. So thanks for that, Bokuto.
The following night, Kiyoomi dreams of Miya again. This time, they are together outside of the gymnasium, kissing before practice. Miya is being his usual adorable self. Or at least, his usual adorable dream self. Maybe the real Miya would be a terrible partner, Kiyoomi thinks once he wakes up. Maybe the real Miya cheats on his partners, maybe he's awful at kissing. Kiyoomi doesn't really believe himself. The real Miya seems like a genuinely kind person. Although, Kiyoomi smiles, Miya being a bad kisser is a fun thought. He could be taught. Kiyoomi can feel his cheeks turning pink. Kissing Miya. This would be great. This would be more than great. But what if, Kiyoomi thinks, what if those dreams had some premonitory value? What if, what if when coming to practice early today, Miya is there? It is worth the shot.
That is how Kiyoomi ends up showing up half an hour early for practice. But no one is around, except some passersby. Even though he had little hope, he cannot help but be a bit disappointed. Of course his dream wouldn't be premonitory, what an idiot. Now he has thirty minutes to kill. At least he prepared himself, and brought a book. As he's taking it out of his bag, he hears:
"Sakusa?"
He darts his head up. Miya is staring at him, looking as surprised as Kiyoomi is.
"What are you doing here so early?" Miya asks.
"Oh, I had something to do before practice and ended up finishing earlier than I expected. What about you, Miya?"
"I uh..." he turns his head away. "I got so scared of being late I'm now super early."
An awkward silence grows between them. Kiyoomi actually doesn't mind silences, but he's so certain other people dislike them that he ends up feeling weird as well.
"Sakusa," Miya breaks the silence after a short while, "I wanna be friends with you."
"What?"
"I wanna be friends with you."
Kiyoomi got caught off-guard. He was expecting anything but that. Why would Miya wanna be friends with him, a guy with whom he barely talked to?
"I..." he takes some time to think of the proper words, "I would like to, yes." And even though he isn't sure whether he wants to know the answer to that question, he adds: "But why?"
"Well, I just... got good vibes? I, I got good vibes from everyone on the team, don't misunderstand me!! But with you particularly."
Is Kiyoomi seeing things, or are Miya's cheeks turning redder and redder? What if... What if Kiyoomi tries being honest? He is bad at showing his feelings, but he's good at saying things as they are.
"To be fair, Miya, I wanna be something other than friends."
"Uh?" Miya's face is tomato red, there's no mistaking it.
"I know we barely know each other, but I would like to take you out on a date, if you'll have me."
"Yes!!" he darts. "Hm, I mean, I would very much like that, please."
"You're funny," Kiyoomi answers, and he can feel the tiniest of smiles growing on his face. Kiyoomi likes smiling. It just doesn't happen to him very often.
Practice goes by without any issues. Miya is still focused on being his best self for his first days at the Black Jackals, having a new boyfriend doesn't distract him. One thing Kiyoomi notices, though, happens when their eyes meet. Then, Miya gives Kiyoomi the prettiest of smiles, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. Kiyoomi doesn't smile back, but he is happy. Miya smiled at him, a smile brighter than he gave to any of their teammates.
"You don't smile much, do you?" Miya asks him later in the locker room.
"Not really," Kiyoomi shrugs. "It just doesn't come to me that often."
"That seems a bit sad, no?"
"Not really. Just because I'm not smiling, doesn't mean I'm not happy."
Kiyoomi is not smiling. But right now? Kiyoomi is happy.
"I see. I'll remember that for later," Miya answers with yet another grin.
"Hey hey hey, are you guys buddies now?" Bokuto jumps from behind them.
“Fu-” Kiyoomi swears, startled.
"I guess we are!" Miya replies, his happiness audible.
"Good good," Bokuto nods, looking way too serious. "Omi-omi needed a buddy."
"Hey, I'm right here. And you guys are my friends."
"No, you needed a real buddy, Omi-omi."
Bokuto's words of wisdom are as cryptic as ever. Kiyoomi likes the Black Jackals. Sure, they don't talk much, but he likes them. He doesn't know why Bokuto insists that they aren't real friends. Does the team dislike him? Probably not. Maybe they're just the equivalent of school friends? Someone nice to hang out with during break, but with whom you wouldn't hang out once the bell rang. Yeah, maybe that's what Bokuto meant. Kiyoomi isn't so sure. He has never been so good at figuring these things out.
By the time Kiyoomi gets out of his head, Bokuto has left the locker room.
"Say, Sakusa, where do you live?" Miya is looking at him, ready to go.
"Hum, about three stations from here. Why?"
"Wanna head home together?"
Oh god. This is really happening. Miya is asking to hang out with him.
"Yes."
Simple. Efficient. Easy to understand. Perfect answer.
"Does this count as our first date?" Miya asks as soon as they leave the building.
"I don't know, doesn't a date need to be somewhere a bit more fancy? We're just walking."
"Then we can change that! What if I offered you a coffee?"
"No."
"Oh," Miya is clearly disappointed. "I'm sor-"
"I'll be the one paying. I want to invite you."
"Sakusa!" Miya's signature smile is back on. "You scared me, I thought I went too fast."
Kiyoomi shakes his head.
"I don't mind fast."
"Sweet! I've often been told I need to slow down. Please tell me if I do things too quickly."
"I will." They stay silent for a few seconds. "Do you like sweets?"
"Yes! Why?"
"I know a place that makes great pastries. Wanna go?"
Fifteen minutes later, the two men arrive in front of a lovely-looking coffee shop. The walk went by smoothly, the conversation going on and on with only small breaks of peaceful silence.
"Welcome to my man cave," Kiyoomi says with a small smile.
"That must be the prettiest man cave I've ever seen! Love the lavender theme"
As they enter the shop, a tiny bell rings above the door.
"Hello, Mr Sakusa!" the waitress greets them. "I see you've brought us a new client!"
Kiyoomi nods as they are seated at a small table in the corner of the room.
"I like it here," Miya starts while looking through the menu, "it has good vibes."
"Miya, do you judge everything by vibes? Am I a coffee shop to you?"
Miya doesn't answer, only staring at Kiyoomi without a word.
"What is it? Do I have something on my face?"
"There," Miya finally whispers while pointing a finger towards Kiyoomi, "you just laughed a little!"
"I did?"
"Yes!! I made you laugh!!" He flexes his arms in pride, and Kiyoomi cannot help but smile again.
"It isn't such a big deal."
"It is to me, it's the first time!" He pauses for a second, before grinning. "First of many, I hope."
Kiyoomi can feel his cheeks turn pink.
"Yes, I hope so too."