Chapter Text
Daichi groaned as he turned the envelope over in his hands.
There was no doubt what it contained. Amongst the bills, junk mail, and credit card statements, there was no mistaking the special quality of this envelope.
“Better get it over with,” his roommate piped up from his place on their living room couch, where he sat, drinking a cup of coffee.
“Ugh,” Daichi groaned again. “You’re right.”
He tore the envelope open. Sure enough, it was a wedding invitation.
Azumane Asahi and Sugawara Koushi request the honor of your presence…
The dreaded RSVP note fell out with the invitation.
“How ya feel, Sawamura?” Kuroo got up from the couch and came into their open kitchen, where Daichi stood at their island, opening his mail.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t expected it. He knew they were engaged, after all. He had known the moment he’d heard that they were together, years ago now.
Daichi laughed hollowly.
“Great. Peachy. Just fine. My two best friends, one of whom I never told I was in love with, have set their wedding date. Asahi is going to cry if I don’t bring someone.”
“Why’s that?” Kuroo asked gently, going to the coffee pot and pulling out a mug. He poured some coffee and handed it to the distressed Daichi. “Here, you look like you need this.”
“Because he knows, you moron,” he thumped Kuroo lightly on the head with the invitation in his hand that wasn’t holding coffee. “He knows I was in love with Suga.”
“Oooh, I never knew that part of the story,” Kuroo said, seating himself on one of the stools that overlooked the kitchen and taking another sip of his coffee. “Go on, you obviously need to talk about it.”
“Aren’t you tired of hearing about it?”
“I never tire of listening to your misery, Sawamura,” Kuroo replied with a wink. Daichi thumped him lightly again with the invitation before setting it down and putting both hands on his mug of coffee.
“Such a good friend,” Daichi rolled his eyes.
“But seriously, it’s not healthy to keep it all inside,” Kuroo said with a bit more empathy. “You’re still in love with Suga?”
Daichi sighed as he thought about it.
“I don’t even know anymore,” he said. “Suga never loved me back, so I guess I just got used to holding onto these feelings. Whatever it is, love, infatuation, whatever.”
Kuroo nodded, not saying anything.
“When I heard he and Asahi had gotten together, I really wanted to be happy for them, you know? I wasn’t even mad at Asahi.”
“But Asahi knew your feelings for Suga?”
Daichi nodded. “But I went off to college on my own, they went together, I mean, it made sense. It’s not like I fault him for it.” He laughed sadly again. “I mean, who wouldn’t fall in love with Suga?”
“Never met the guy,” Kuroo said lightly. “But he sounds pretty great.”
“So Asahi calls, all panicked and teary, talking about betraying me and what a lousy friend he is.”
“I don’t know, sounds a little lousy, if you ask me.”
“It wasn’t lousy,” Daichi said firmly, and he meant it. “You can’t help who you love. He just had the good fortune to have Suga love him back.”
Kuroo didn’t look entirely convinced, but shrugged noncommittally.
“I told him it was fine. Because it is. And it’s been four years since then. I’ve had four whole years to get over it.”
“Yeah, but I mean, you were in love with Suga for a long time. Like, all of fucking high school? That’s a long time.”
“I guess,” Daichi shrugged. “But anyway, Asahi called me again after they got engaged, same old thing, worrying about betraying me and all that and of course I told him again it’s fine. Because it is. I want them to be happy. I want Suga to be happy, and Asahi makes him happy. He tells me that all the time.”
“But it still hurts?”
“I guess I don’t know if it does. But I do know that if I show up to the wedding alone, Asahi’s going to freak out. He’s tried, gently and without success, to get me to date for the longest time.”
“But you don’t feel ready?”
“It’s not that,” Daichi said indignantly. “I just haven’t met the right person yet.”
“Uh huh,” Kuroo said, not sounding convinced. Daichi shot him a glare, but it lacked any real bite.
“Well,” Kuroo said. “I could go with you.”
Daichi’s eyes widened.
“I mean,” Kuroo said quickly. “We live together. We could say it became something more, boom! Cover story! Then you don’t have to go alone, Asahi doesn’t feel bad, Suga’s happy for you, and everything’s fine!”
Daichi tapped his foot thoughtfully. It didn’t sound like such a bad idea, actually.
“Can you take the time off work? It’s a destination wedding.”
“Ooooh, somewhere warm and dreamy?”
“Florida.”
“A vacation to Florida sounds mighty fine, Sawamura,” Kuroo winked. “I’m sure I can figure it out. If that’s what you want,” he added quickly.
Daichi felt a little relief wash through him. He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly feeling a little inexplicably warm.
“You sure you don’t mind? I mean, pretending to be my boyfriend and stuff?”
Kuroo gave him a sideways grin. “Sawamura, you might not know this about me, but I am the best significant other.”
“Is that so?” Daichi raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. “I wouldn’t have known from your vast dating experience.”
“Says the guy who hasn’t been on a date… like, ever.”
Daichi flushed. “I’ve been on dates!”
“You’ve been on a couple first dates.”
“And I had that awkward one night stand.”
Kuroo choked.
“Yeah, that was pretty bad.”
Daichi frowned. “Thanks for your unwavering support.”
“Hey, the good news is, I can’t be worse than any of those guys, right? I mean, we know each other really well, we live together and everything. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Daichi sighed.
“I mean, I guess no one would believe it if I brought a stranger. And I don’t want to bring someone I don’t know. And I really don’t want to go by myself,” he added sheepishly. “So why not? If you can take the time off.”
“I’ll check when I go in tonight,” Kuroo said.
Daichi smiled at him. “You really are secretly kind, aren’t you?”
“Secretly?!” Kuroo yelped. “I’m wounded!”
Daichi laughed, and he felt the dread in the pit of his stomach ease a little bit. Maybe it would be okay.
“I better get to work,” Daichi said, looking at his watch. “I’ll get you more details on the wedding as I hear them.”
“Sounds good,” Kuroo said, taking a sip from his coffee. “I’ll confirm that we’re on for it tonight and we can start planning. When is it?”
“Next month.”
Daichi went to his room and put on his work clothes. It would probably be another boring day at the office, but at least it paid the bills. As he slipped on his dress shoes and buttoned up his shirt, he thought over the situation at hand. For some reason, an apprehension he couldn’t quite place was eating into his stomach.
He was probably nervous about watching Asahi and Suga get married. It wasn’t that he hadn’t envisioned this situation in his head thousands of times - he certainly had. The reality of it was sinking in. Not that he ever pictured them breaking up - nor would he ever want to be the reason they did. It just felt like a chapter in his life was closing definitively. Maybe he should be grateful for it, an opportunity to really, truly move on.
For some reason, his thoughts drifted to his roommate. The idea of Kuroo acting like his boyfriend had seemed utterly natural to him, and he hadn’t questioned it for a second. This realization gave Daichi a squirmy feeling in his chest that he decided to completely ignore in favor of feeling gratitude. Kuroo was a good friend.
“I’ll see you later,” he said a few minutes later, waving to Kuroo, who was inspecting a bill, still sitting at the stool at the island of their kitchen.
“Later, Sawamura,” Kuroo said with a small wave.
“Listen,” Daichi said, feeling suddenly a little nervous. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Kuroo said with his usual sideways grin. “Let me get the time off work, then you can spoil me properly. Like a good boyfriend,” he added a wink.
Daichi felt the squirm again. And decided, again, to ignore it.
“Right,” he smiled back before heading out the door and closing it behind him.
+++
[11:42 Kenma]: This is going to be so depressing for me
[11:42 Kuroo]: Your concern for me is overwhelming, I’m in tears
[11:43 Kenma]: You’re insane. This is a terrible idea
[11:43 Kuroo]: YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT
[11:44 Kenma]: Stop yelling
[11:44 Kuroo]: We’re texting
[11:45 Kenma]: I hope you’re prepared for this
[11:45 Kenma]: I know you don’t want to hear this, but you should probably tell Sawamura how you feel
[11:46 Kuroo]: NOT AN OPTION
[11:46 Kenma]: Stop yelling
[11:47 Kuroo]: I’m doomed
Kuroo laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Daichi had left for work, leaving Kuroo alone to his self-destructive thoughts.
He really hadn’t meant to offer. It just slipped out.
Kuroo knew Daichi was probably still in love with Suga. He’d never met the man, but he must be some kind of perfect for Daichi to be in love with him after all these years. He did happen to think it was pretty lousy of Asahi to go on and date and marry Suga, knowing the way Daichi felt. Kuroo had met Asahi a few times when he’d come to visit Daichi, and he didn’t seem like a bad guy, but even so, it seemed like a pretty terrible way to treat someone you call a “best friend.”
Moreover, Suga had to be positively blind to not see the possibilities in front of him. If someone like Sawamura Daichi was in love with him, well, Kuroo would be sure never to pass that up.
Kuroo and Daichi had been college roommates who went on to continue living together during their first year after graduation, when they both got their first jobs. Kuroo had a hard time finding work with his major, so he was currently working as a bartender at a place near to their apartment. Daichi had, of course, moved on with his career. He had a sensible head on his shoulders, after all, and had chosen to major in marketing. As boring as Daichi said his major was, it did afford him several job opportunities after university.
While Daichi surely could have afforded an apartment on his own, he and Kuroo had decided to stick together, which Kuroo was grateful for, and not only because it helped with the rent payment.
No, Kuroo Tetsurou had a secret that he kept from his roommate, a reason he had desperately wanted to keep their apartment after graduation.
Kuroo Tetsurou was hopelessly in love with Sawamura Daichi.
He wasn’t sure when the change had occurred, but it was probably sometime in their experience rooming together in college.
You’re a total cliche, he thought bitterly to himself. And not the good kind. Going and falling in love with your roommate, how original.
He’d known about this business with Suga for a long time. The first time he’d heard of it was when he got Daichi drunk at a house party before dragging him home apologetically, when Daichi had started miserably begging Kuroo to take his phone away from him. He was worried he would call Suga and tell him about his feelings and ruin their friendship forever.
Maybe it was that night, when he had watched Daichi be so hopeless and sad, that Kuroo had first fallen. It was stupid, he knew, but it was the first time he considered what it would take to make Sawamura Daichi happy.
At first, it was just a passing curiosity. Or at least, that’s what Kuroo told himself. But the longer he thought about it, the more he wanted to see a happy, content smile on Daichi’s face, the more he started to notice the little things he appreciated about him. So he resolved that he would do his best to make Daichi happy, even if he could never do it the way someone special, someone who Daichi really loved could.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” He had asked Daichi earlier that day.
He groaned as another message from Kenma, undoubtedly bemoaning Kuroo’s stupidity, pinged.
The worst that could happen?
Kuroo could get his heart smashed into a thousand pieces, that’s what could happen. He could slip up and let Daichi know how he really felt and ruin every good thing they had. What was he thinking?
There was nothing he could do about it now.
Liar, said a defiant voice in his head. You could back out. You could tell him you can’t take the time off work.
It was true. He certainly could say that, come up with some excuse why it wouldn’t work. Daichi could handle it on his own. He could take someone else, or he could go by himself. He was strong and capable.
Kuroo would have liked to say it was care for his roommate that made him ignore the defiant voice inside his head, that he truly was kind and caring and wanted to help Daichi out. But the truth was, Kuroo wanted this. He wanted the opportunity so fucking bad. Even if it wasn’t real, the thought of being able to hold Daichi’s hand, to casually loop an arm around his waist, to be introduced as his boyfriend. Kuroo thought he might spontaneously combust at the thought. He was probably being selfish, but there was no way he could back out now. The chance was too good. Maybe he’d be able to get his chance, enjoy it while it lasted, and put his feelings to rest once and for all.
Yeah right, said the defiant voice.
By the time evening rolled around, Kuroo had decided he needed to do something with his hands to distract himself. He didn’t need to get to the bar until 6, and Daichi would be home around 5. That gave him enough time to make something they could both eat, and it would mean he could see Daichi once that evening.
You’re pathetic, the voice said.
“Shut up,” he snapped out loud as he stirred the stir-fry on the stove in front of him.
“But I haven’t said anything,” Daichi’s amused voice floated through the doorway. Kuroo stiffened. “Talking to yourself again?” Daichi asked when Kuroo didn’t say anything.
“Uh,” was all Kuroo could manage.
“Oh, you made dinner.”
“Of course I did,” Kuroo said, sighing. “I thought you could use a little pick-me-up, after, you know, the invitation and all.”
Daichi looked at him gratefully, his big, honest eyes showing nothing but affection, and Kuroo thought his heart might actually jump right out of his throat, where it had decided it now lived every time Daichi looked at him.
“Thanks, Kuroo,” Daichi said before grabbing a bowl and filling his plate.
“It’s nothing,” Kuroo said quickly.
Daichi elbowed him and the contact made Kuroo shiver.
“It’s not nothing. It’s… I… I really needed this. Thanks.”
“I got ice cream, too,” Kuroo said quietly. He had run out to the store and picked up Daichi’s favorite.
“You did not.”
“Sadly, I won’t be here to enjoy it with you,” Kuroo said, filling his own plate and starting on it immediately.
“Ah, closing tonight?” Daichi said, looking genuinely disappointed. Kuroo’s heart did another backflip.
“Unfortunately. It’ll probably be a long one. I think the university has a three day weekend.”
It was Thursday. And it was a three-day weekend, he was sure of it. It was going to be a long night.
They sat at the island on the bar stools, eating their dinner.
“How was work?”
“Boring,” Daichi sighed. “But fine. You gonna be okay with all those college students?”
“College students love me,” Kuroo said through a bite of stir-fry. “Hope they’re feeling generous on account of the weekend.”
“I hope so too,” Daichi said, smiling softly at him.
Kuroo thought of the possibility of being able to kiss that smile for the first time, and nearly fell off his stool. It’s not that he’d never thought of kissing Daichi before, but now, with the new possibility that it could actually happen (in the context of a fake relationship, the voice reminded him), the urge was almost overwhelming. To deal with it, he stuck a large piece of meat in his mouth and promptly choked on it.
“Whoa there,” Daichi clapped him on the back. Kuroo thought his head might explode.
This is going well, the voice in his head supplied unhelpfully.
“Sorry,” Kuroo wheezed, getting up from the stool and putting his dishes in the sink. “Guess I was eating too fast.” He looked at his watch. “Shit, I gotta run.”
“Okay,” Daichi said. “Thanks for dinner. Have a good shift.”
“Have a good night,” Kuroo said, grabbing his coat and not looking behind him. He didn’t think he could handle another grateful smile from Daichi without completely losing it.
The bar was just a few blocks from their apartment, something Kuroo was very grateful for.
“Bokuto,” Kuroo said miserably as he walked through the door, waving at one of the servers.
“Bro,” Bokuto’s eyes grew wide. He could clearly tell just by looking at Kuroo that something was off. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m the world’s biggest moron,” Kuroo whined as he walked through the bar and to the register to clock in.
“Listen, I wish we had time to chat about it, but it’s been crazy tonight,” Bokuto said apologetically, gesturing to the full bar around them.
“Yeah, I can see that,” Kuroo said. “Don’t worry, I’ll pull it together.”
“Kuroo-san,” Akaashi, the manager, materialized from the kitchen. “Glad you’re here.”
“Yeah, so am I.”
“Are you alright?” Akaashi asked gently, despite the loud, chaotic din of the bar around them. College students were clearly already celebrating the long weekend ahead of them. Kuroo sighed. He supposed it took a perceptive person to be a boss, but he sometimes found Akaashi’s insight into Kuroo’s problems a little annoying.
“Just… making a fool of myself, as usual,” Kuroo said lightly. “Which reminds me,” he added. “I need to ask you about taking some time off.”
Just then the door opened, and fifteen college students walked through the door.
Akaashi blanched.
“We can certainly talk about it, but perhaps after things slow down a little bit.”
“It’s a three-day weekend, I don’t know if things are going to slow down,” Kuroo pointed out.
“Sorry, Kuroo-san,” Akaashi said apologetically. “Looks like you’ll be handling the bar alone tonight.”
Kuroo shrugged. “I could use a distraction.”
Akaashi looked at him, as if thinking of something to say, but eventually gave him a small smile and turned to grab some menus.
“I’ll get them seated. Bokuto, make yourself useful and start getting ready to take drink orders.”
“Yessir,” Bokuto saluted Akaashi and smiled at Kuroo. Bokuto loved busy nights.
Kuroo didn’t mind them so much, especially when he had so much on his mind. He ducked into the back to put his coat away, took a deep breath, and emerged with his usual sideways smile. If he was going to be going on vacation with Daichi and act like his boyfriend, he needed to start making up some wages so he could treat him like a proper boyfriend. With this small (and very stupid, the defiant voice said) motivation in mind, he faced his customers and steeled himself for the busy night ahead.
“So, what can I get you?”