Chapter Text
Again, for the fifth time that night, Tadashi got up from his bed with a long and much frustrated sigh. Instead of pacing around the room like the way he had done before, he headed towards the kitchen to get something cool to drink. He opened the refrigerator, looked around, and pulled out the carton of milk he hadn’t touched in days. He poured himself some in a glass with hopes it would finally get him to calm down a bit. It was already past midnight, but, like always, he was having trouble sleeping. He was nervous, squirming with anxiousness since the following morning would be the start of his new job as a kindergarten teacher.
While it was distressing to think about, Tadashi was very excited for it and he could hardly even wait. After all, he had worked and studied very hard for several years to earn his privilege to teach. It was a passion that had woken within him when he started coaching a small volleyball team in his local neighborhood for fun. That was when he realized that he enjoyed being with kids and he was naturally good with them.
Even though his parents were disappointed with his decision, Tadashi ended up changing his college study from Medicine to Education two years before his scheduled graduation. Originally, he had plans to go on to graduate school and pursue the dream of a successful doctor. His parents always kind of expected him to do so and Tadashi had never contradicted them before. Honestly, he didn’t think it was a bad idea either since it was pretty clear that he just wasn’t cut out for the professional world of volleyball.
Tadashi sat down in his desk, turning on the lamp and opening his laptop back up. It was true that his volleyball skills and his serves improved throughout his high school years. In fact, with the extra practice he would put in after school came with extraordinary benefits. He became a regular within his second year and soon after, he was playing everyday along with his friends. Then, when his third year came rolling along, he was proudly assigned as the captain of the Karasuno Volleyball Team. It was definitely one of the most happiest days of his life and he could still remember as everyone happily cheered him on.
His time as the captain only lasted for so long, though and before he knew it, his life as a high school student had come to an end. The season for them ended a lot quicker than they had all anticipated, but they all left the court without a single regret because in those three memorable years, they had given their all to each and every single game.
Tadashi smiled to himself as these warm memories came flooding back to his mind. He could still easily visualize Hinata’s crying face as they suffered the loss of their last game together. Kageyama was trying to act strong, but the tears forming around the corner of his eyes were clearly visible. He could remember the view of the crowd that had come to cheer them on. He could remember his hot sweat rolling down his cheeks along with tear drops of bitter defeat. They had done well, but of course, as third years, they simply wanted more.
Tadashi placed his glass of milk down and scrolled down his email inbox. There wasn’t anything new, but he always tended to check it out of habit in the most random times. However, secretly, he was kind of hoping to hear some news from Kei. Leaning back against the chair, Tadashi stretched his hands out in the air before he looked up at the white empty ceiling above him. He couldn’t help but wonder what Kei was probably doing in that moment if he wasn’t already sleeping. He wondered if everything was going well with him. He wondered when he would finally set his aside his pride to talk to him again. When would he find the courage to make up with his former best friend?
In the spur of the moment, he suddenly started up a new message with Kei’s email address on top. He ignored the subject title and immediately started up with a simple greeting. By that point, he wasn’t really sure what he was doing, but he hoped that things would work out this time. He hadn’t spoken to Kei in what seemed like forever and he still didn’t understand how they ended up in such a messy situation. Even so, if he considered it for just a brief second, Tadashi knew that the reason he and Kei grew apart was probably his fault.
Hello, Tsukki,
How have you been doing? It’s been a long time since we’ve last spoken to one another, but I hope things are working out for you. How is your job as a software developer going? While I don’t know much about programming or computer science, I heard that sort of field is very interesting and rewarding. I wish you the best in all your current and future projects.
Anyways, I’ll finally be starting tomorrow as a kindergarten teacher. I know it’s not much and I know it’s a job that is stereotyped toward women, but honestly, I don’t really mind. It’s something that I seriously enjoy and I know it’s a career that will make me happy. Of course, I’m incredibly nervous and I can’t even sleep right now. Still, the thought of my first class, smiling at the sight of me cheers me up. It’s going to be a new year filled with new experiences that will only come once. I can’t wait and I’m seriously looking forward to it.
So, with that being said, I really hope we can meet sometime soon. I understand that your schedule is pretty busy. I mean, that was one of the reasons why we grew apart so suddenly. I know were both at fault at this and I’m sorry I blamed it all on you back then. I was wrong for that. Even if we can’t get back together, I still want to keep our friendship that has already lasted for so many years. If you can someday, please let me know when you’ll be around town. I really want to clear up this misunderstanding that has been bothering me for so long.
I miss you lots.
Regards, Yamaguchi.
Tadashi looked at the email he had so carefully typed from the bottom of his heart. He rubbed his eyes, trying to prevent the sadness he had stored up from surfacing again. He really did miss him so much. They had been friends since children and everything slowly started to change between them as they progressed into high school. Although he never expected it, he began to see Kei in a different way. He found himself wanting to be with him more. He would become irritated whenever he directed his attention to someone else. He wanted to be more than just friends and he wanted Kei to consider him special. It didn’t take him long to realize. He wasn’t dense to his own feelings. It became clear that he had fallen in love with his best friend.
He kept this secret to himself for as long as he could remember. He had always been afraid of rejection and he doubted Kei felt that way toward him. After all, he was the type of guy that wasn’t interested in those sorts of things to begin with. He was always distant and even when he received one love confession after another from all sorts of girls, he would deny them all. Tadashi, on the other hand, was never quite popular, but luckily he didn’t mind since he was fine just having Kei’s company. Naturally, as time went by, he became unsatisfied with the minimum.
They managed to get into the same college even though they both had entirely different classes. As a result, they started to see each other less often which was devastating for Tadashi. He found himself spending less time with friend and it terrified him.
After a few years or so went by, he finally got the courage to confess his feelings for him. Kei wasn’t entirely surprised by his statement, but his usual calm expression did falter a bit with a small blush coming to view. However, his response was rather surprising and even to that day, Tadashi could still remember the overwhelming joy he had felt. Kei had accepted his confession and while he said that he didn’t make any promises, he didn’t think that them being together was a bad idea. That’s when Tadashi's love life with his best friend began and he couldn’t deny that the following years were definitely filled with great happiness.
Of course, nothing lasts forever and Tadashi knew this better than anyone. Kei ended up transferring to a different college just as he changed his studies to Education. There were courses he needed to complete his degree that were simply not offered by their school. He didn’t have much of a choice but to move to different campus to finish.
Tadashi tried to be supportive since they were determined to maintain a long distance relationship. He thought it would work since they had made plans to call each other everyday or at least try to whenever they could. They promised to message and text one another. They promised to visit during the weekends if it was possible or meet up during the holidays. They both promised each other so many things, but nothing ever goes as planned. This was something that Tadashi learned the hard way.
With another long sigh, Tadashi read the email he had written on the screen one more time. He moved the cursor toward the send button, but, with a heavy heart, he saved it up as a draft instead. Tadashi just couldn’t get himself to do it. He opened up his email draft folder and scrolled down to look through all forty saved messages he had failed to send to Kei. It was dreadful to realize that he was just such a coward and worse still, he still harbored feelings for his once best friend.
Tadashi shut down his laptop before he walked to his small bedroom. He plopped himself over the bed, rolling his bed sheets over his suddenly exhausted body. He wrapped himself up with the blankets and closed his eyes to the sound of the ticking clock. Taking deep breaths, Tadashi managed to calm himself down as he thought about the new life that laid before him. Even though he wasn’t sure what to expect, he wanted to make the most out of it.
His hands were trembling like crazy and if he was nervous last night, then he definitely felt like running to the bathroom in that moment. His legs felt like they were about to collapse and even though his smile was present at all times, Tadashi could feel his bottom lip quivering with uneasiness. He had prepared and he had waited so long for that day. He had spent the last two weeks pacing around his room, reciting a proper greeting to say when introducing himself to his new class. While he wasn’t alone and he knew the experienced teachers nearby had offered to help him whenever he needed it, Tadashi grew anxious enough to make him nauseous.
The parents formally greeted him, giving him a respect that he didn’t think he yet deserved. Even so, as a devoted educator he hoped to be, he assured them their children would receive the best instruction. Each time, he would let them guide their kids inside the classroom, making them feel welcome. In return, they were all oddly nice to him especially considering that a majority of them knew that he was new and still kind of inexperienced. The children seemed excited to be there which warmed up his very soul. However, there were some that seemed to have trouble separating from their mothers. Still, it wasn’t anything too bad and after a few soothing words, they understood that they would be fine.
Placing his hands on his waist, Tadashi looked around the room proudly, unable to believe that he finally had a class of his own. He had made sure to decorate the place a week before to his liking and he had arranged it well enough to create a happy, welcoming environment.
Turning back around and stepping out the door a bit, Tadashi suddenly saw a man that was taller than him approaching his doorway while holding the hand of a small girl. He looked rather dashing especially since the suit he was wearing made him look important and high in the social status. Tadashi quickly adjusted a smile before he greeted them. Then, he suddenly realized who that man was. His jaw almost dropped when he realized that Oikawa Tooru, Aobajousai's former captain, was standing right in front of him.
He couldn’t believe it and he blinked a few times in awe as he awkwardly stared at him. Oikawa was too busy looking around to notice, but when he finally caught sight of him, he lifted an eyebrow curiously. He looked at the number posted by the door before he checked the paper he had in his hand. After making sure he had the correct classroom, the former setter turned to look back at him. Tadashi didn’t think he would be remembered, but of course, he was wrong much to his confusion.
"Oh, I know you!" He told him with a smile, but that didn’t make Tadashi feel any better. He looked down at the girl with him and surprisingly, he could see the resemblance. It was clear that that the little girl with him was his daughter. With her hair arranged in two nicely done pigtails, it was stunningly brown like her father’s along with her big brown eyes. Even so, distinctively, she was quiet and she seemed awfully shy. A few passing kids would wave hello at her and she would wave back to them sheepishly, never leaving Oikawa’s side.
“You were Karasuno’s pinch server at that time, right? Number 12?” He asked him and Tadashi could only nod, hoping he would let go of the topic. Sadly, he didn’t. “Ahh, I remember! That was seriously some killer serve and you even scored a few points off us, huh? That was...really a memorable match. Anyways, so what are you doing here?”
Tadashi didn’t know why he was talking to him with such familiarity, but he tried not think much of it. Still, it was incredible to see that Oikawa hadn’t changed much since when he last saw him in high school. He was the same person as ever. It took Oikawa several seconds to realize that he wasn’t there dropping off his own kids. The teacher apron must of given him away and the past setter’s expression fell when he caught on that he was there as an instructor and not a parent. “So you gave up volleyball as well?”
Speechless, he tried to respond but nothing came out. Instead, he kneeled down in front of the little girl, who was tightly gripping onto Oikawa’s pants. As he approached her, she quickly cowered behind her father’s legs, trying to hide. “Hello, there. I’m your teacher, Yamaguchi Tadashi. What’s your name?”
She didn’t answer his question even though he spoke in softest voice he could possibly muster. He was about to try again when Oikawa responded for her. “This is my daughter, Aiko-chan. She’s very happy to be here even though she’s a bit shy to say so. It takes her some time to open up to people I suppose.”
He patted her head, giving her a smile and with a bit more confidence, she stepped forward. Tadashi stood up and watched as she introduced herself as well. He didn’t want to admit it, especially since she was Oikawa’s daughter, but she was awfully adorable. It almost made him wonder who the mother could possibly be. Startling him, Oikawa suddenly extended his hand out toward him for handshake as a sly smile appeared across his face. Unsure of what to do, Tadashi nervously took it and hoped Oikawa didn’t notice his sweaty hand.
“It’s a pleasure meeting you again, Yama-sensei. I’ll leave Aiko-chan in your care.” He said, but there was a humorous tone in his voice that Tadashi simply couldn’t understand. When he finally let go, he pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to him. “If you ever need anything or if Aiko-chan ever gives you any trouble, feel free to contact me.”
Tadashi almost fell back when he looked at Oikawa’s business card. It truly explained his formal appearance, but it was amazing to think that he was some sort of CEO to a company.
“Lets make this year a pleasant one.”
He never thought, not in a million years, that he would encounter Oikawa Tooru again and with his daughter no less. It was the least thing he expected and at the moment, he didn’t if that was something he should dread or not.