Akaashi's 18th (and the events that followed...)

29. Drifting

Daichi sighed into his bento. Today was supposed to be a happy day, celebrating his and Suga's grades.

That morning, Suga had messaged him, saying he couldn't walk to school with Daichi. He hadn't taken much note of the message, replying cheerfully that they would just see each other when they arrived at school and sending it without another thought. They had only been back at college a few days, and they had put in a vast amount of effort into their start of year exams, both achieving an average score of 94 in their respective subjects, placing them among the top of their year group. Suga was probably tired from all the studying, and had slept in - hence not being able to walk to school.

It hadn't been until Daichi arrived at school that he had begun to grow suspicious. As their class crowded around the exam notices in the corridor, Daichi spotted Suga, heading towards him to see if either of them had been a top-scorer in any of their tests. Daichi had been so proud when he saw the 97 he had scored in his last exam for his Criminal Justice, and had pulled Suga in for a hug when he had seen Suga's score of 98 in his Japanese exam. But the man had just shrugged him off with a bland smile and walked off to his next class. Daichi had grunted in frustration and picked up his bag, forced to leave, unless he wanted to be late for his next class.

By the time Daichi had finished up his bento, Suga still hadn't arrived to sit with him. Kuso - he had an important question he needed to ask - one that Suga needed to hear. It would change their lives, and Daichi was hoping that he would be able to ask and receive a positive response. However, Suga didn't answer any of his texts later that day, pick up his calls, or answer the door.

Maybe I should back off a little, Daichi thought, staring up at the ceiling that night. Perhaps he's rethinking our relationship. What if I'm being too clingy? Maybe he knows what I want to ask him, and he's scared...

Daichi tossed and turned, fretting far too much to sleep at all, his heart pounding relentlessly in his chest, the pressure building behind his eardrums.

The next day, Daichi received another brief text from Suga, saying that he wouldn't be able to walk to school together. Head hung, he dragged his feet to school and walked to school alone again, more confused and isolated than ever. He hadn't seen Suga before school, nor during the free period he knew they both shared. At this point, the only explanation he had left was that Suga was cutting him off, but he pushed the thought out of his head and traipsed heavily to the his next lesson.

By the time lunch came around, he decided to be proactive. Enough was enough. If Suga wasn't happy with something he had done or said, or not done nor said, he had to find out there and then.

Daichi couldn't spot a single silver head in the canteen, so he took off to the next place he would probably find his boyfriend. Sure enough, when he peered past the middle row of shelves, he found Suga sitting by himself, in the desk area of the college library, surrounded by books - none of which he appeared to be reading.

"Suga?" The silver head glanced up, a glassy, faraway look in his eyes. Daichi pulled up a chair opposite him, staring eye to eye. 'Please Suga, you need to tell me what's wrong. I'm sorry if it's to do with me, but if it is then we have to sort it out together-"

Daichi cut off as his ears picked up a small sniff. "Suga?" His heart rate picked up. "Gomen - we can talk about this when you're ready"

He heard Suga suck in a breath. "Tadeo... passed yesterday."

Kuso - the Sugawara family dog. Daichi had been so wrapped up in his own insecurities he hadn't even considered any other reason why Suga could have suddenly become so upset.

"I- gomen, Suga." Daichi took his hands, bowing his head. "That must've been really hard." He looked up to see a pair of watery eyes, and a wan smile.