Chapter Text
Sugawara had been terribly anxious to move out of his old prefecture and out here into the glorified countryside just to go to university. However, ever since he had been in middle school and saw the Karasuno University volleyball team on TV, he was hooked. He made it his personal goal to succeed enough in high school to eventually have the chance to even just try out for their team. He spent so much time on himself and his setting ability throughout the years that when they gave him an acceptance letter coupled with a volleyball scholarship opportunity, he freaked out. He told anyone that would listen.
But it didn’t become real until he graduated high school, having to say goodbye to his underclassmen, with tears in his eyes and a promise to visit and keep in contact. Koushi packed his life away into a backpack, suitcase and a box or two. He, and his childhood best friend Asahi had made a pact to go to Karasuno together, they had always played volleyball together, it’d feel wrong to separate now. They met at the Sugawara household and set off for their futures, together. Suga could barely stay still for practically the whole drive to Miyagi, he chatted Asahi’s ear off he swore. Finally, all that work had finally paid off.
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Honestly, he and Asahi hadn’t been living here all too long, just long enough to get settled in an apartment close to campus, paying for the down payment with all the money they had saved up over the years. They were better off than most incoming college students, but Koushi still insisted that they move to Miyagi as soon as they graduated, to get settled as soon as possible. Not to mention, his tuition may be paid for, but he didn’t want to be constantly broke, he needed a job. It took him weeks on end of job hunting in the area to finally get just an interview. When he finally did, it was in the cutest little flower shop just a few minutes away from the campus and in turn, his apartment. Genuinely, Suga started to think his luck was running out, the flower shop hired him immediately after his interview was over.
Now, Suga had been working there for roughly a month or so, anxiously waiting for school to start, his schedule was already decided all that was left was volleyball try-outs. Well, a type of try-out. Being given a volleyball scholarship from Karasuno meant that he was an exception from most newcomers to the team, he didn’t have to go through the rigorous process of them trying to shift out all of those who don’t even know how to play the sport and such. Suga got to go straight to finding out if he’d be on the starting lineup, which is extremely rare for a freshman, unless you’re a prodigy or a genius. He was already on the team as far as he was concerned, thank God.
The anxiety of just trying out to be on the starting lineup still got to him though, it messed with his sleep schedule, he had more than a few tough nights. Which is why, on his lunch break, he decided it would be a great time to try out a nearby coffee shop just around the corner from the coffee shop. Suga just hoped the place would be good, it was the perfect distance away from everything to get a cup of coffee in the morning, even though he had never been the type to drink it before.
So, he walked inside, the sound of a charming bell welcoming him inside. The coffee shop was small, with a few tables scattered here and there. The coffee shop itself was decked out in black and orange colours, which made sense given the university was so close, it very well may be the designated coffee shop. Which only made Suga wonder how busy this café would be, come the school year. The crow plushies were a nice touch too, the place was charming. It seemed like a good study spot, which Suga made an instant mental note of, even despite the not-so-quiet atmosphere. Suga was sure he heard some of the workers laughing in the back, but that wasn’t a bad thing, especially with how empty the café seemed to be, apart from Sugawara of course.
Though, the atmosphere and the laughing workers suddenly stopped mattering when Koushi laid his eyes on him. Oh, he was terribly his type; tall, with dark hair and eyes, and terribly handsome. That was all not even considering the man’s strong build, he looked like he commanded authority and it made Suga swoon, though he did his best not to show it so obviously on his face. He was totally screwed if just the sight of the barista took him out, totally and completely screwed. Suddenly, he was questioning why he had never bothered to stop in sooner, honestly, he probably would have if this man had been waiting on the other side of the glass door, decorated with cute drawings of crows.
Koushi didn’t have much time to daydream as the barista looked up at him, “Hey! I’ll be right there,” he called out, very obviously cleaning up something from behind the counter. If he were in a hurry, maybe he would’ve made a comment about one of the other workers, but Koushi only wanted to be served by no one other than this stunning man in front of him.
“Ah! No worries, I came at an awkward time anyway,” Suga chuckled, walking closer to the counter, not truly realizing how far away he was from it until the hot barista broke him out of his daydream.
As he sat the counter, waiting for the man to finish, he wondered how it would go if he tried to just subtly flirt with the man. Just for a reaction! Nothing else! And, if it brought an adorable rush of colour to the other man’s face, Suga would be the last to complain.
The man in question turned towards the back, scolding his co-workers for slacking off and rolling his eyes as he turned to face Suga. Koushi drank all these actions in, a light blush complimenting his features, this man was an authoritative figure, without a doubt. But he looked at Koushi, his features now gentle and welcoming, “Sorry about that, some guys are slacking off in the back, what can you do,” he—Suga glanced at his nametag, Daichi, it was cute—chuckled, adjusting his apron. “, How can I help you today?”
Koushi stared at him with wide eyes, already thrown into a panic with such a simple action as a man adjusting his apron, God he was already too far gone. Pressing his panic into a soft smile, he looked up at Daichi. “No need to apologize, besides it’s normal to slack off when nobody’s here,” Suga defended the man’s co-workers, observing the menu above his head. “Well, it looks like you’re not on the menu, so I guess I’m completely lost on what to order,” he pouted flirtatiously, looking at Daichi once more. “How about you make me something you think I’d like and with it, I’ll take one of the sandwiches in the case,” he motioned towards the glass display case to his right, a proud grin on his face.
“Just because there are no customers doesn’t mean they get to slack off, plus they do this constantly when put on the schedule together,” Daichi sighed heavily, he really did seem like a tired dad, and Koushi found that it just added to his attraction. For a split moment, Sugawara was positive he saw even the fainted hint of a blush on Daichi’s face, but that didn’t necessarily confirm anything, a pity. The dark-haired man just rang up everything, handing the sandwich to Koushi when he handed him the money. “What’s your name—for the order—of course,” Daichi played his blush off, which made Suga smile harder, his face was going to be sore, he was sure of it.
“Suga, for the cup, but for you, I’m Sugawara Koushi, most people just call me Suga,” he smiled, opening the sandwich and eating it as he watched Daichi make his coffee. “What’re you making me Mr. Daichi,” he asked, with a tilt of his head. “You know, so I can order it when I come back,” Koushi teased, man he already enjoyed teasing the poor barista.
“Well, Suga,” Daichi teased, and Suga could hear as the other workers lowly wolf whistled, which brought a blush to his own face. “I’m making you an iced caramel latte, not to call you basic in any way, but I think it suits you. I did add a shot of espresso because it looks like you needed it. Not that you look tired it’s just-,” Daichi tripped over his words.
Suga cut him off with a chuckle. “It’s okay, I appreciate it,” he took the coffee cup from Daichi’s hands, trying not to focus too hard on the way their hands touched when they exchanged it. “It’ll definitely be necessary, I can’t sleep I’m way too excited to start school…well school and playing volleyball again,” Suga admitted, taking a sip of the cool drink, and honestly it was probably the best coffee he had ever tasted, whether that was because of his attraction to the barista or not was completely up in the air. Either way, he’d be coming back. “It’s really good!” the setter complimented, smiling up at Daichi.
“I’m glad…wait you play volleyball? I do too, I’m on a volleyball scholarship,” Daichi’s face lit up and Suga’s heartrate rose with it.
“I am too! That means I’ll see you at tryouts,” Suga smiled, setting down his drink briefly, for just long enough to scribble down his name and number on a spare napkin, sliding it towards Daichi. “You know…in case you want to practice, before try-outs. Thank you Daichi,” he picked up his drink and walked out of the café with all his might.
It wasn’t until he got back to the flower shop that he realized what he had just done. Oh my God he just gave his number out to the hot barista. The hot barista that plays volleyball! It was like a match made in heaven, and he could only wonder what position the man played. He also hoped that the man would text him, for all he knew Daichi probably got hit on all the time. Suga decided to leave that worry to his later self, for now, he was on cloud nine.