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"Mattsun, walk any slower and the sun is going to set before we even get there!"
"Chill," Matsukawa calls back lazily. He doesn't even try to pick up the pace, continuing on with his stroll—already a generous word for the pace he's going at.
Oikawa huffs, turning back. He can see the beach coming into view already, just up ahead. The stinging, salty smell of the sea floods his nose, lightening his spirits, and he immediately forgets about his earlier annoyance.
"Oikawa, if you're going to go so fast, at least help us carry some of this!"
"Oh, but Iwa-chan, you've totally got it handled." He yelps when Iwaizumi shoves at him and physically forces a large parasol into his hands. "Rude."
Their trip, or as Oikawa likes to call it, their adventure, was planned barely a week ago. It was an impromptu idea on Hanamaki's end, who said that he wanted to spend their summer break doing something fun before their final year of college. After all, who knows when they'll get the time to do something like this again once they graduate?
Obviously, when it comes to trips and summers, the logical thought is to go to the beach! So they split up the work between the four of them—Matsukawa and Iwaizumi will take turns driving, Oikawa planned the itinerary, and Hanamaki booked the vacation rental. All in all, teamwork makes the dream work, and they're going to spend a full week filled with summer fun!
When they've arrived at the beach, they find a nice spot somewhere near the sea and quickly set things up. They actually didn't bring much, because Matsukawa's family car can't fit a lot of things in the trunk. Aside from their personal things, a large beach mat, a parasol, and a volleyball is pretty much it, but that's all they'll need.
"Okay!" Oikawa says, clapping his hands to gather his friends' attention. "Go change into your swimsuits. Last one that gets into the ocean pays for dinner today!"
He grabs his bag and makes a mad dash for the bathrooms, cackling when he hears his friends cursing after him.
The day passes by relatively quickly. Since they spent most of the morning driving here, they didn't have too much time to spend at the beach before the sun sets, but Oikawa isn't worried. They have the whole week to spend, after all.
Once the group has packed up their things and stuffed it all into the trunk once more, they make the drive down to their rental about a ten minute ride away. They get checked in, drag their suitcases into the room, fight over who gets to shower first…
By the time they're heading back downstairs for dinner, Oikawa's joints are all sore and he's already feeling tired. But he refuses to knock out just yet! He needs to rub it into Iwaizumi's face that he's paying for dinner today.
Thankfully, there's quite a few options for food nearby. There's a boardwalk with various stores and eateries right by their rental. It's already getting dark, but the path is well-lit by streetlights, and the many shops that are still operating are lively.
After a bit of debate, the four of them gather in a waterfront restaurant that specialises in Mediterranean cuisine. They grab a table with outdoor seating too, despite the air being a little warm and humid. For the vibes! Oikawa makes a mental note to take a photo of the sunset when it happens as well.
"What are you getting?" Hanamaki asks, leaning over Oikawa's shoulder curiously so he can look at the menu too.
"Whatever's most expensive," he jokes, earning himself a kick from under the table. "Ow!"
Matsukawa snorts, pointing out that the entire menu is expensive because Oikawa chose the most touristy place possible. As they chatter and throw jokes over the table, they don't realise that one of the servers has approached them.
"Hello, are you guys ready to order?"
"—my impeccable taste. Oh, yeah. I—" Oikawa's voice dies in his throat.
The first thing he thinks is, Holy shit, he's cute.
With round hazel eyes and silver hair that sparkles like moondust, this guy is the definition of an angel. His features are all a good mix of adorable and elegant, and is that a mole under his eye? His voice is attractive too—smooth and light, just like the ocean's cool kiss.
Oikawa's gaze drops to the white uniform he's wearing, but to his disappointment, there's no name tag. Should he ask? Would that be too forward?
He snaps out of it when he feels Hanamaki nudging his side and clearing his throat. Luckily, his friends have decided to save him the mortification of being caught swooning today, prattling off their orders and giving Oikawa enough time to recollect his thoughts.
When the server walks away, though, he's not so lucky. "Dude," Hanamaki says. "What the fuck was that?"
"I saw that one coming," Matsukawa chimes in, lips twisting into a smirk. "The moment he approached, I knew he was Oikawa's type."
"You looked like an idiot," Iwaizumi sighs.
"What— I—" Oikawa's mouth opens and closes as he struggles to figure out what he should respond to first. "What do you mean, my type?!"
"It was just his general demeanour," Matsukawa replies with a shrug. "But I don't blame you—he's cute."
Hanamaki leans back on the seat, nodding. "Do you think he's our age?"
The rest of them resume their ribbing while Oikawa stews in his own thoughts, frowning to himself. His cheeks feel a little hot. It's weird. He doesn't usually fluster so easily, especially for someone he didn't even speak to. Maybe he's just tired?
When the server returns, it's with their drinks. He sets them on the table one by one, and Oikawa can't help himself—he blurts out the question before he can really think it through, "Do you work here every day?"
Great. Real smooth. Who even asks that kind of thing? He can already hear his friends snickering under their breaths—traitors, all of them.
The server's eyebrows fly up in surprise, but after a beat, he replies, "For the most part, yeah."
"Cool. Okay." In an attempt to save himself, he props his chin up on a hand and gives him his most award-winning smile. "Then I guess I'll be seeing you often."
The server just barks out a laugh, giving him a kind nod before turning away and walking back into the restaurant. Oikawa watches him go, confusion swirling in his head. Was that a positive reaction?
"What the hell, dude," Matsukawa chortles. "That sounded like a threat."
"I— It was not a threat!"
Oikawa doesn't actually plan on going back the next day, even if his mind does remain stuck on the pretty server for a while. He's the one who made their trip's itinerary, after all. It would be a crime for him to stray away from his incredibly well thought out plan just for one guy.
Still, the temptation does tug at his gut when they're on the boardwalk again that night, walking off dinner and looking at the different shops. He spots the same restaurant and his eyes automatically scan the interior, but he doesn't see that same server anywhere. He does notice a bar inside, though. He didn't realise that that was an option.
"I'm kind of craving dessert," Hanamaki pipes up, pointing at an ice-cream parlour a little away.
"Oh. I was just going to suggest we check out that store." Iwaizumi gestures to a large, athleisure store. It's three stories and looks to be way bigger than any of the other shops here.
Oikawa taps his chin. "We can just do what we want and meet back at the rental. All of our phones are charged, right?"
Hanamaki winces. "Mostly..?"
"I'll go with you," Matsukawa offers, resting a hand on Hanamaki's shoulder. "See you guys in a bit."
As the other two walk towards the parlour, Iwaizumi eyes Oikawa carefully. "...Just go to that restaurant already."
What the hell. "I didn't even say anything yet!"
"It was written all over your face. Go on. Don't embarrass yourself too much." With an eye roll, Iwaizumi waves and walks away too.
Wow. His friends are the least supportive people on the planet. Then again, Oikawa supposes he has been looking for an excuse…
Without further ado, he spins on his heel and makes his way back to the same restaurant, hope held in his chest.
A tall glass of tequila sunrise is slid across the bar towards Oikawa. He immediately takes his phone out for a picture, amused at the swirly straw that came along with the order. Afterwards, he sends the photo to his friends and takes a taste test.
It's refreshing and fruity, and Oikawa hums in delight. This bar is not bad. He might convince the others to come here again on another day just to try out more of the menu—
"Huh. It's you."
Oikawa looks to the side and nearly spits out his drink.
He completely forgot why he even came to the bar in the first place.
The pretty server from yesterday stands before him, wearing the same uniform and with a round tray held up to his chest. His hair is pinned up by a few star clips today, and Oikawa briefly thinks about how cute that is before he snaps out of it, remembering his purpose. Right. He needs to redeem himself.
"You remember me?" he asks with a quirk of his eyebrow. "I'm flattered."
"Only because you made a fool of yourself when I tried to take your orders," the server snickers back, completely blunt.
Oikawa's jaw drops, all of his charming swagger replaced with indignation. "It wasn't that bad! I was just a little taken aback!"
"I couldn't have stunlocked you that hard, could I?"
He scowls while the server continues giggling away. It's a very nice laugh. Airy and dreamy, like there's not a single worry in the world. Oikawa could listen to it for hours.
"You're alone this time, though," the server continues once he's gathered his bearings, giving Oikawa a knowing look that has his face flushing. "Your friends didn't want to come with you?"
"We split off earlier to explore on our own," Oikawa mutters. He grabs for the swirly straw, stirring his cocktail absentmindedly.
"Aw, and you chose to come back here? Now I'm flattered."
Oh, he's bolder than Oikawa expected. Not that he minds at all. Perhaps this interaction won't be completely for naught after all.
"Who said I came here for you?" he shoots. "I don't even know your name."
Hah. He's the smoothest guy on the entire planet. That was so subtle, he's going to be riding this high for weeks.
To his pleasure, the server seems at a loss of words for a moment. His grip on the tray tightens as he laughs again, this time sounding a little more breathless than before. "It's Sugawara. My friends call me Suga."
"Okay, Suga-chan."
"Do I get a name in return?"
"Oikawa." He grins, mentally pumping a fist in the air. "Don't forget it."
"Why, I could never." Sugawara grins again before he's turning away, likely to get back to work. He disappears into the kitchen, and Oikawa doesn't see him come out again for the rest of the time he spends at the bar, but it doesn't matter. He's already achieved more than what he bargained for.
("You got his name, but not his number?"
"Ever heard about taking things slow, Iwa-chan?"
"I think you just forgot, honestly— oi! Don't bite me, what the fuck—?!")
The third day, as planned by Oikawa, is a spa day!
They're still within the vicinity of the beach, but in Oikawa's humble opinion, too much of one thing is never a good idea. If they spend all seven days playing in the ocean or getting sand between their toes, they'll get sick of it. And sunburnt. Plus, their swim attire isn't going to wash that fast.
Anyway, self-care is an equally important aspect of summer vacations, so Oikawa booked a spa day for all four of them with a package deal the website was offering. It's going to be a day entirely filled with relaxation, and if anyone dares to interrupt his peace, he'll smash their face in with a volleyball.
Luck must be on his side today, because the day passes by without any hiccups. By the time Oikawa is leaving the spa, he feels totally refreshed, with smooth glowy skin and perfectly-styled hair. He'll have to take a selfie later.
When Oikawa turns the corner to leave the place, still in the midst of speaking with Matsukawa, he crashes into someone, sending him stumbling back with a pause.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you,” the stranger says, and Oikawa tenses because he knows that honey sweet voice—
“Hey, isn’t that Oikawa’s favourite server?”
“Ooh, you’re right. Dude, you never told us his name.”
“Shut up!” Oikawa snaps at the two giggling hyenas behind him. Iwaizumi is the only one who looks like he’d rather be anywhere else. “I’ll meet you guys back at the rental.”
“I’m sure you will,” Matsukawa snickers, though he’s cut off when Iwaizumi grabs for his and Hanamaki’s arms, physically dragging them away.
Which… leaves just him and Sugawara, then.
“Sorry about them,” Oikawa mutters, trying to play it off. He’s not sure if he succeeds or not. Judging by the amused smile growing on Sugawara’s face, probably not.
“I didn’t know I was your favourite server,” he teases, and Oikawa’s cheeks darken immediately.
“You misheard. Nobody said that.”
“Sure.” Still grinning, Sugawara peers around Oikawa’s shoulder, continuing, “Is Shimizu inside? She asked me to bring her a drink a while ago.”
“The receptionist with the glasses?”
“Yeah! Our off days never align, so I come to the shop to bother her instead when I’m free.” Sugawara reaches into his bag, pulling out a bottle of chilled tea.
Huh. If he’s off today, then that means…
“Are you free for dinner?” Oikawa blurts. At Sugawara’s stunned silence, he clears his throat before doubling down. “I mean, since I won’t be able to see you at that restaurant. And I’m still pretty new to the area, so maybe you can introduce me to your favourite spot.”
Thankfully, Sugawara seems to reboot and respond pretty quickly after. “Sure,” he says, bouncing on the heels of his feet. “Give me your number, and I’ll text you the details later.”
Fuck yes. Just win after win for Oikawa today.
“I’ll see you later, Oikawa!” Sugawara calls before he disappears into the shop, and Oikawa holds his phone to his chest, his heart thumping fiercely in anticipation.
Sugawara’s favourite food spot, as it turns out, isn’t really a place meant for dinner, but rather a dessert store.
“They sell all-day brunches as well,” he says as he and Oikawa enter the store. The interiors are a bit worn down and the lighting is tinted yellow, but somehow, the place still feels rather jazzy and ambient. “And they’ve got loads of appetisers too. But I recommend their milkshake the most!”
They find a booth seat at the corner of the store. It’s cramped enough that their knees brush under the table, and Oikawa tries not to hyperfocus on the feeling, but then Sugawara leans over the table to point at something on the menu and all coherent thought flies out of his head.
He already knew that Sugawara is pretty, but wow. It’s not just his face, but his entire demeanour. He carries himself with a quiet confidence, and he’s always wearing a kind smile, but Oikawa has a feeling that if he pushes, Sugawara wouldn’t be afraid to push back.
How curious.
Eventually, they order a few appetisers and two milkshakes to share. Nothing else really happens for the rest of the night, for they only spend their time chatting, but Oikawa gets to know a lot more about Sugawara—they’re the same age, and Sugawara attends university in a different city. He works as a server every winter and summer break, and when he does, he stays with his aunt, who lives around the area.
And—
“You play volleyball?” Oikawa asks when the little fact slips from Sugawara’s tongue. “My friends and I brought one on our trip. If you want, you should join us for an afternoon.”
He doesn’t mean to be so forward. Hell, he didn’t even ask the others if they’d be okay with such a thing. Clearly, Sugawara is hesitating too.
“I haven’t played in years,” he says with a shrug, “I don’t know if I’m even decent at it anymore.”
“It’s just for fun!” No backing down now. “What, are you scared that I’ll absolutely crush you in a match?”
Somehow, that’s the right thing to say. A competitive fire ignites in Sugawara’s eyes, and Oikawa grins back, his heart thumping fiercely at the sight. “Of course not. I’m free the day after tomorrow.”
“Then it’s settled!”
Oikawa’s friends are happy to have Sugawara join them for the day. In fact, they’re a little too happy about it.
They’ve already set up the net and drawn out a makeshift court, with the rest of their things piled in one corner. Oikawa is still in the midst of lathing sunscreen over his arms when Hanamaki’s sudden shout makes him jump.
“There he is!”
Whipping his head around, his eyes follow where Hanamaki is pointing, and indeed, he spots the person in question.
Sugawara is dressed in a simple white shirt and some swim trunks. When he comes closer, Oikawa can see little palm trees printed all over his trunks. He’d normally think that such a pattern is tacky, but Sugawara somehow pulls it off.
His friends are quick to introduce themselves, crowding around Sugawara the moment he arrives. They’re all taller than him, and Oikawa frowns when it starts to look like they’re caging in on him instead. He stalks over, nudging a space for himself between them and taking Sugawara’s wrist.
“We put our things over there!” he proclaims, raising his voice as he pulls Sugawara away.
The rest of them gather by the nets, warming up. When Oikawa picks up the volleyball, Sugawara starts, “I can referee—”
“What?” he squawks. “No way! I invited you so I could see you play!”
He realises how weird that sounds only after it leaves his mouth. Thankfully, Sugawara doesn’t seem to mind, even hiding a smile behind his hand as he turns to the court.
“You can join me,” Matsukawa says as he waves Sugawara over. Oikawa watches with his eyes narrowed, something hot boiling in his gut, but he doesn’t bother saying anything. It’s fine. Being on opposing teams means he gets to show off just how good he is to Sugawara, anyway.
He joins Iwaizumi on the other side of the net, who takes one look at him and mutters, “Fix your face.”
“I’m not making any face.”
“Whatever. Don’t go too hard on them.”
“What, you think we can’t take it?” Matsukawa jeers, cupping his hands around his smirk. Sugawara hides a laugh behind a cough.
Oikawa’s eye twitches. Forget showing off. This means war.
“Here.”
Oikawa looks up, squinting when the sun gets into his eye, though it’s quickly shaded by Sugawara stepping closer, shielding him. He holds a can of iced cola out, and Oikawa takes it gratefully, pressing it to his neck.
“You play really well!” Sugawara compliments, joining him on the mat. “It’s been so long since I’ve done something so intense.”
As Oikawa cracks the can open, little sizzles filling the air, he says, “You’re good too.”
“Don’t flatter me. I feel like my skin is going to melt off.” He sighs, leaning back on his palms as his eyes drift to the sea. “Hey, have you guys gone swimming here yet?”
“We went on the first day. I haven’t been in since then, though.”
“Wanna go?”
Oikawa pauses, glancing at where the rest of their friends are—Matsukawa and Hanamaki are busy burying Iwaizumi’s body in the sand, so it seems like they’ll be occupied for a while. “Now?”
“Yeah, why not? It’ll be refreshing.”
He makes a good point. Oikawa nods, reaching for the hem of his singlet and tugging it over his head. He didn’t bring his swimtrunks, but he can afford getting these shorts wet for one afternoon.
Tossing the shirt vaguely in the direction of his bag, he stands up and turns around to offer his hand out to Sugawara, only to realise that he’s decidedly… not looking at him. Or rather, he is, but his eyes are trained on Oikawa’s body and not at all on his face.
“Suga-chan?”
Sugawara’s eyes snap back up. “Sorry, what did you say?”
A smirk and a pleased blush grows on Oikawa’s face. He shakes his head, holding his hand out again, and this time, Sugawara takes it. Their palms slide together, fit like two perfect puzzle pieces, and Oikawa gradually tugs them towards the shore.
At the first splash of water against his ankles, Oikawa shivers and drops Sugawara’s hand. They wade further in until the water rests around their hips, soaking into their shorts. Oikawa glances back to speak, only to—
“What the hell!”
Sugawara grins, not a crumb of regret in his eyes, while Oikawa coughs and attempts to recover from the face full of sea water he just got.
“You looked like you needed to cool off,” Sugawara says.
The moment Oikawa locks his eyes on him, he’s sprinting away with a loud laugh.
“Get back here, Suga-chan!” he yells, racing after him.
They chase and splash each other for what feels like hours, until they’re drenched to the bone with their hair dripping, breathless from laughter. Oikawa’s heart pounds from the exertion, but still, he can’t find it in himself to stop—he’ll do anything to continue seeing Sugawara smile like that, unbridled and full of joy, his skin glowing under the summer sun.
His t-shirt is ruined too, sticking to his skin and a bit translucent at certain angles. Oikawa stares unabashedly, wondering what he’d have to say to convince Sugawara to take it off.
There’s no denying it anymore. He is completely, from head to toe, utterly smitten with Sugawara.
“What are you looking at?” Sugawara asks when he notices that Oikawa has quietened down, basking in his feelings.
He steps closer, running a hand through his soaked hair and pushing it to the side. Oikawa gets the urge to reach out and just— touch him, but he curls his fingers into his palms to hold himself back.
“Are you free tomorrow?” he asks in lieu of answering Sugawara’s question.
Sugawara shakes his head apologetically. “I’m working.”
This might be the last day they get to spend together, then. He’s leaving the day after, which means that if he doesn’t say anything now, he might not get the chance to—
As if reading his mind, Sugawara blurts out, “Do you want to come over to mine later?”
Oikawa blinks back, a rush of excitement filling his veins. “Don’t you stay with your aunt?”
“She’s attending a concert in another city today. It’ll be just me at home for the evening.”
Well, if the opportunity presents itself… “Sure.”
Sugawara’s aunt’s home is a cosy studio apartment about a half hour bus ride from the beach. From the moment Sugawara opens the door, Oikawa can see traces of him lingering in every corner of the place—in picture frames, the clothes on the couch, the spare futon folded up by the side of the bed…
“There’s not much in the fridge, unfortunately. Do you mind if we order takeout?”
Oikawa nods. Sugawara disappears into the bathroom to change into a fresh set of clothes, though his hair is still a little wet when he exits.
“You know,” Oikawa says as he falls onto the couch, “you’ve known me for, like, three days. Shouldn’t you be more careful about inviting me home?”
Sugawara raises an eyebrow. “Why, are you secretly evil?”
“Maybe. I might be the greatest villain of all time.”
He receives an angelic laugh in response. “Consider me intimidated! Please don’t hurt me, o great villain, I have friends and family.”
Oikawa plays along, “I might let you go… at a price.”
“Oh?”
Sugawara steps closer, getting one knee on the couch. Oikawa leans back against the headrest, his heart rate picking up speed as he tries to place some distance between them, if only to catch his breath.
“What would I have to do?” Sugawara asks. His tone remains light and playful. One of Oikawa’s hands seeks out the armrest to grip onto.
“What are you offering?” he shoots back.
They come to a standstill, staring at each other with a budding tension in the air. Even though they’re both probably on the same wavelength, Oikawa refuses to be the one to voice this desire out first—that just means he loses the imaginary competition in his head, and he hates to lose.
“Ah, wait!” Sugawara straightens up and backs off, reaching for where he left his phone. “Let’s order food early so we can beat the dinner rush. What do you want?”
Oikawa stares, baffled. Is he— Was he just messing with him?
Swallowing back the urge to complain, he shakes those thoughts out of his head. Sugawara is right. They should order some food.
“Just saying, I would never do that.”
Oikawa rolls his eyes. “That’s the third time you’ve mentioned that.”
“The guy keeps making the dumbest decisions! It’s not my fault!” Sugawara points at the screen, where they’re watching a random drama on his aunt’s Netflix account. “He doesn’t want to confess his feelings even though they’re clearly requited, and then he mopes because the girl chose to prioritise herself and study abroad?!”
Oikawa smothers a laugh behind his hand. He didn’t know Sugawara could get so heated over a show.
“Maybe he’s scared of rejection,” he replies with a shrug.
Sugawara frowns, his legs kicking. He’s had them in Oikawa’s lap for a while now, so his feet knock into Oikawa’s chest, and he wheezes at the unexpected attack. “But he knows she likes him. They’re just dancing around each other for the sake of the plot.”
“I guess so. But there’d be no show without the plot.”
“Okay, genius.” This time, it’s Sugawara’s turn to roll his eyes, though he’s smiling all the same. Oikawa wants to catalogue that image into his brain forever—it’s a very pretty smile.
“…What would you do, then?”
“Confess before it’s too late, obviously.” Sugawara isn’t even watching the show anymore. He’s looking right into Oikawa’s eyes, and Oikawa feels a shudder creep up his spine the longer he’s pinned by that watchful gaze. “I mean, if she was going to move anyway, then they could have gone long-distance. That’s a better alternative than never making a move in the first place.”
Oikawa hums. He understands Sugawara’s point, and agrees that initiation is all that’s really needed to solve this show’s conflict, but deep down, he has a feeling that he would have done the same. There are many things that Oikawa is willing to reach for and sink his fingers into, and romantic love shouldn’t be an exception, but—
He rests his hands over Sugawara’s ankles, holding them lightly. Even that small piece of contact is enough to make Oikawa twitch, an uneasy feeling settling over his heart.
Perhaps he’s more afraid than he’d let himself believe.
After he and his friends head home, when they’ve packed their bags and said goodbye, where would he and Sugawara stand?
The end of the episode arrives quicker than Oikawa expected, though he was dazed out for the remainder of him. He glances at the TV remote sitting on the coffee table, reluctant to grab it and continue watching. As if sharing his sentiment, Sugawara shifts, planting his feet on the floor before standing up and stretching his arms over his head.
“Do you want to head back to the beach?” he asks.
Oikawa glances out the window. The sun had set long ago, and the sky had dimmed into a dark navy blue. Then again, he’d have to leave either way—he didn’t bring anything over to stay the night, and he can’t crash over in this apartment, as much as he wants to. Sugawara’s aunt will return eventually.
“Sure,” he agrees. “Why not?”
They make the bus ride back to the beach mostly in silence. Oikawa is not sure if Sugawara is just tired or deeply lost in thought, but he’s quieter than before, keeping to himself. When they’ve arrived at the beach again, Sugawara leads the way, until they’re walking alongside the shoreline, with the calming tides barely brushing against the soles of their sandals.
“The beach gets really empty at night,” Sugawara says, glancing up at the night sky. Above them, a few twinkling stars hang and wink back at them. “But the sights are best when it’s late, in my opinion. It’s cooling too!”
Oikawa nods, unsure of what else to say. His gaze is fixated on the enchanting shine of Sugawara’s silver hair and the way his features seem to have softened under the moonlight, as if he was made of the same cosmic dust himself.
“Oikawa.” Suddenly, Sugawara spins on his heel, turning his back to the vast ocean as he looks up at Oikawa, clasping his hands behind him. “Do you like me?”
Oikawa stuns, a feeling he can’t name lodging itself into his throat and preventing him from saying anything else.
The waves have simmered down too, and a lone breeze comes by, rustling Sugawara’s hair. It’s like the entire world has fallen into tranquility, and it’d be peaceful if it wasn’t for the fact that Oikawa’s heart is jackrabbiting in his chest, feeling like he’s about to explode from emotion.
At his lack of response, Sugawara frowns, taking a step back. A rush of panic surges through Oikawa’s veins as he reaches out, as if guided by an external force, to grab onto Sugawara’s shirt and keep him close.
“I do,” he chokes out, his breath shuddering around his confession. “But we can’t— I’m leaving soon, and we don’t even attend the same university. How can we—”
“Be together?” Sugawara guesses. “We don’t have to be, if you don’t want to. We can just have our fun now and leave this behind our lives as a one-off summer experience.”
That's true, but the thought of letting go of Sugawara when he's barely even had the chance to have him yet sickens Oikawa to the core so much that he feels nauseous.
"I don't like that," he mumbles. He brings Sugawara's hand to his chest, resting it over his pounding heart, and wonders if Sugawara can feel the weight of desire that is currently crushing him whole. "Don't be cruel, Suga-chan. I want you."
Sugawara's gaze softens. His free hand reaches up, cupping Oikawa's cheek and tilting it down while he goes up on his tiptoes. "I'm glad," he whispers, his breath featherlight against Oikawa's lips. "I want you, too."
Oikawa lets his eyes flutter close as they finally seal the gap with a searing kiss.
The phone screen expands, revealing a blurry figure for a moment, before the camera focuses and brings Sugawara's face into frame. "Hello?"
"Hi, Suga-chan," Oikawa greets, a smile already growing on his face.
"Whoa! Did you move into your dorm already? Let me see!"
He chuckles, lifting his phone and flipping the camera. His dorm room for his final year of university isn't much to fawn over, but it's his first time staying in a single unit instead of sharing with a roommate. Though he's already brought in all his things, he hasn't unpacked yet, so everything is still looking pretty empty.
"It looks decent," Sugawara hums once Oikawa is done giving a tour. "I haven't moved into mine yet. And I don't know who my roommate is! Do you think they'll be nice?"
Oikawa tries not to scowl at the idea of Sugawara sharing a room with someone that isn't him, but he must not do a very good job at hiding his emotions, because he hears Sugawara snort and mutter something about jealousy that he chooses to ignore. "They better be. It's you, after all."
"Aww, you flatter me." With a tinkering giggle, the angle of Sugawara's phone shifts. He flops back on his bed, holding the phone above his face instead, and Oikawa imagines he was there, hovering over him. "Will you be in this weekend? If I have time, I think I can come visit."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. If I board an early train, I think I can reach by midday."
Oikawa bursts into a grin. "I'll bring you out for lunch, then. It's a date!"
Sugawara laughs again, nodding in agreement.
Long-distance turned out to be easier than Oikawa expected it to be. Maybe it's just because Sugawara is so sweet and communicative, somehow always sensing when Oikawa is unhappy and combating it with a simple text. Sometimes, it's pictures of the stray cats he sees near his neighbourhood, or little things that remind him of Oikawa, or just selfies and updates on what he's doing. Oikawa won't say it, but he keeps all of Sugawara's selfies saved in a special folder on his phone.
When the nights feel particularly lonely, Sugawara is just one call away, too. Although Oikawa does wish they could be together physically more, they make up for it with extra cuddles whenever they are able to meet up. All in all, he couldn't have asked for a better boyfriend.
"Okay, hold on, let me unpack," Oikawa sighs, setting his phone down on the desk. He keeps the speaker volume up so he can continue speaking to Sugawara—at least unpacking won't feel like such a chore when he has such dear company.
They continue chatting for the rest of the afternoon. By the time Oikawa has finished setting up his room—sheets tucked in, floors cleaned, clothes in the drawers—his stomach is rumbling and begging for food. At the same time, he receives a text from his group chat with his other friends, asking to gather for dinner.
That's his cue to go, then. He voices it out to Sugawara, who pretends to pout for a few seconds before he's blowing a kiss at the camera.
"I'll see you this weekend. Don't forget, okay?" Sugawara says, wagging his fingers.
Oikawa laughs, pretending to catch the kiss and holding it to his heart. "I could never."