Link:
AO3
Rating: General Audiences
Category: M/M
Fandom: Haikyuu!!
Relationship: Oikawa Tooru/Sawamura Daichi
Language: English
Additional Tags: POV Outsider , Outsider's Perspective , During Canon , takes place around the ballboy arc and before the tokyo nationals arc , Canon Compliant , Secret Relationship , Friendship/Love , Plot What Plot , One Shot
Part 2 of a 2 part series — The Space Between the Stalwart Crow and the Prideful Vine
Posted at 2023-12-31 Words:4469 Chapters:1/1
Summary:
Sawamura Daichi and Oikawa Tooru was just having a nice time practicing volleyball in a gym somewhere in the quiet corners of Miyagi when they were suddenly interrupted.
or what if Daichi and Oikawa knew each other even before events in canon and you get a small glimpse of that?
_____
The cold freezing air nips at your face as you walk by your usual path home right after working part-time at a quaint food shop tucked away in a quiet corner of Sendai.
Winter break started a bit early for your school, Karasuno High School. And with the teachers thankfully leaving the students with not much homework, you figured that you can help out your parents by earning some money on the side. (It also doesn’t hurt to save up for a game you really want to buy that’s currently on sale at a store you frequent. There’s also the nagging voice in your head that sounds suspiciously like your mother pointedly telling you to stop being so lazy already. Something about gaining new experiences and wisdom from doing simple honest work.)
Along with the chill, daylight gradually becomes shorter and shorter as the days pass by, so the owner of the shop you work at, in their infinite kindness, lets you out a bit earlier than usual. You appreciate it, truly. Better to go home and warm up in the comfort of your family’s kotatsu before night falls and the surroundings grow darker and colder still.
You tug at your beanie and wrap your scarf closer to your face as you briskly walk past the neighborhood. Snow has already started falling. Great. It’s still early but you can already feel the cold slowly seeping past your clothes and burrowing deep in your bones. The streets are strikingly empty and the tiny public gymnasium you frequently pass by has its lights already open. It seems everyone has the same bright idea of avoiding this chilly weath—
Wait. The public gym you frequently pass by has its lights already open?
How unusual.
Who would practice at this hour? And in this kind of weather too? But maybe they’re finishing up and you’re just starting to overthink things. As you’re prone to do.
You’re itching to know, though, and your curiosity makes you walk faster toward the gym, like the Earth’s magnetic pull tugging all compass needles north.
Just a quick peek wouldn’t hurt, you tell yourself. The gym entrance is already right there—right by the sidewalk. And it’s not as if you’re doing anything too weird or illegal by simply looking or walking on public property.
Mind made up, you lengthen your stride and the sound of balls hitting wooden floor (or is it skin?) gets louder.
Well, it doesn’t sound like whoever’s playing inside is going to stop anytime soon, that’s for sure.
Finally, you reach the entrance. It’s left ajar, fluorescent light seeping through. You press against one of the ancient-looking doors and lean over to get a quick look on what kind of people practice right in the middle of winter.
The sight from the other side of the door makes your mouth open in surprise. Because you definitely know one of the players.
It’s Karasuno’s boys’ volleyball team captain.
Sawamura Daichi, you think his name is.
You can’t entirely remember him at the top of your head since sports has never been your scene. Studies and work (and video games) take up too much of your time so you only get news about your school’s sports events from your friends or from watching the local news. The last you’ve heard of Karasuno’s male volleyball team was that they qualified for nationals. It’s a pretty big deal here. The excitement of everyone was so great that even a part of yourself got a little invested. Winning against an elite school like Shiratorizawa is no joke. The slighted crows taking flight again and reaching new heights, locals say. It fills you with a weird sense of pride even though you’ve never played volleyball in your life, like an older sibling cheering for a distant cousin from afar. But you also feel the immense pressure they must be in. Representing the whole Miyagi Prefecture and aiming for the top against other powerhouse teams from all over the country is going to be an uphill battle.
You haven’t personally attended any Karasuno matches but the more you stare at the boy with the short dark hair and solid build the more you’re sure he’s the captain. You see him sometimes when you pass by the school gym, always trying to one up the basketball club before they can get their hands on the gym during breaks. If he’s not busy with volleyball, he’s either goofing around with his friends or lending a helping hand to student council or the faculty with an easygoing smile on his face. One of your friends mentioned in passing that he’s a capable guy, that Sawamura-san. It could be their crush on him talking but you’re inclined to agree. He seems like he’s got a good head on his shoulders.
He may not be wearing the striking Karasuno jersey you usually see him wear during practice, but you’d recognize that steady look he has anywhere even under the faint light of this old decaying gym.
It’s the look of a man who greets defeat like an old friend. Has faced it straight in the eyes time and time again yet still finds it in him to proudly fold his hands across his chest and stand firm as he lets out a hearty laugh even after everything. Trust me, he seems to say with that gaze. I can make you fly.
It’s the look he gives whenever he digs out a nasty spike.
It’s the look he has right now, as he receives the wicked jump serve the other person in the court did.
You can’t tell who this other guy is since his back is turned to you, but based on his serve alone you figured he’s a bigshot in the highschool volleyball scene. His form was smooth from the way he throws the ball to the graceful way he chases and jumps after it. The hit was vicious and you can never get over how quick contact this sport can be.
The ball hits Daichi’s arm in a flash, and the resounding impact on skin makes you wince at how deafeningly powerful it sounded. You may not know much about sports but even you know that that move was definitely painful. You can feel your own arm sting in sympathy.
It’s amazing how Daichi even caught that.
He doesn’t even blink as he goes back to a ready position in one smooth motion. The other person retaliates and you watch the rally go on for quite some time. Daichi is almost flawless as he dives after the ball every time as the other guy is relentless in his attacks. Attack and defend. Spike and receive. The back and forth goes on. The sound of leather bounce, bounce, bouncing on skin, is hypnotic, washing over your senses like a reverberating drumbeat.
The play is a testament to both their skills.
But—just how these things usually tend to go—it’s over in an instant.
Daichi manages to do a quick spike on the edge of the court line and the other person didn’t get to catch it one time. The Karasuno captain’s mouth sharpens into a wicked grin, vicious and wild. His smile glints dangerously under the dim light, so different from the good-natured senpai at class. Gone is the tame disposition, the obliging gestures. Here, in court, faced with a tough opponent, Sawamura Daichi is a vicious yet calculating hunter enjoying the thrill of the chase. There’s a fire burning right underneath his brown gaze. It’s a side of you never expected the respected captain to have, brought about only in volleyball and when facing a strong opponent. A shiver runs down your spine.
You’ve stumbled into a monster’s den, it seems.
“One more time,” his opponent says in a determined manner. That’s when he turns his head to the side, giving Daichi a playful smirk and that’s when you eventually get a good look at the guy Daichi’s practicing with.
Your mind screeches to a sudden halt. It reboots itself as you stare harder at him. Because you definitely know this person.
You’ve seen that swooshed up chestnut hair and smug grin too many times being shared on your social media timeline.
Oikawa Tooru.
You’ve never met him in person but his reputation is almost comparable to a local celebrity with how often you hear lovestruck students, sometimes even teachers, talk highly about him. The star setter has got such a massive following online that even his reputation has reached your own feed—some of your friends always quick enough to catch and share gossip on the recent unlucky girl who’s gotten their heart broken by Aoba Johsai’s resident volleyball heartthrob.
Clips of his matches occasionally show up as you scroll through your curated timeline and they always garner thousands of views. You press play on them sometimes, just to see what’s the deal with the guy. Surely, people are exaggerating, right?
Wrong.
He’s good. Very good.
There’s an elegance to his form as he commands the flow of the game with his sets. Like everything comes naturally to him as breathing. He sets the ball with terrifying precision to his teammates. They go on the offensive over and over, completely trusting him to get the ball exactly where they need it to be and the match is over just like that. The other team didn’t even stand a chance. Seijoh is a constantly evolving organism and Oikawa Tooru is the brain. The crowd cheers and the shine in his eyes is unmistakable.
Before you know it, your fingers are begrudgingly liking the post.
The Great King of the Court, indeed.
A star in the night sky. Out-of-reach, untouchable. An ideal to strive for, some might say. A quick glance and he’s gone from your thoughts just as fast. Like a faint twinkle in the vast reaches of space.
Although, it does beg the question.
How does Daichi know the guy?
Not to downplay your upperclassman’s skill at volleyball at all, but Daichi is never one for flashy plays or the limelight. He’s not the type of person to actively seek out people that bask in all the attention.
Oikawa never mentions Daichi in his countless posts nor does Daichi give any indication to his teammates that he personally knows Seijoh’s star setter. There would’ve been a great ruckus around campus, otherwise. You know their teams have some sort of rivalry going on. Especially since Karasuno beat Seijoh at the national preliminaries. High school news and gossip circles would be all over it, great white sharks smelling blood in the water.
Imagine, Karasuno and Seijoh’s volleyball captains, friends? Even after their matches, after everything? They would be at each other’s throats. Oikawa, especially, who handles losses and worthy rivals like a diva?
But the scene before you begs to differ.
The team captains seem to be great friends from the way they’re acting.
They’re competitive, of course. Their tosses intense and spikes aggressive, trying to throw each other off. But there’s also a reverence to their plays, as if they couldn’t believe they’re getting a chance to have a one on one against one another like this.
Their smiles are sharp and deadly but also so freely given to each other.
So absorbed are they in one another’s presence in this tiny dusty old gym hidden in the countless corners of Miyagi.
A sanctuary for only them.
So that’s how Oikawa looks when his smiles aren’t forced, you think. It’s handsome enough. He basks under the attention, of course, but you’ve never seen his smile this mellow and sharp.
As for Daichi, you’ve never seen him this gleeful, brown eyes bright as it reflects the overhead lights. It’s almost blinding.
“Daicchi,” Oikawa says, the nickname rolling off his tongue like a favorite habit. There’s admiration in it, quiet affection beneath each syllable, as if he’d burst at the seams if he kept it to himself any longer. Daicchi. Intimacy rolled into one word. It strikes you to your core.
“If you wanna win at the nationals, you gotta be more aggressive than that.”
“Oh?” There’s a slight edge to Daichi’s voice but it’s playful enough, adding to your confusion at their relationship. “Don’t keep me waiting for your advice, oh Great King.”
Oikawa huffs at the moniker. “Jump serves, Dai-chan. Jump serves!”
Daichi’s eyes widen and he nods silently.
What? Did you hear that correctly? Oikawa Tooru offering to teach someone how he does his deadly serves? To an opponent who beat Seijoh no less?!
“C’mon, show me what you’ve got,” Oikawa says as he settles into a receive.
“You know I don’t do this often so don’t get your hopes up,” Daichi warns right as he throws the ball and breaks into a short run.
Daichi’s jump serve isn’t as captivating and flashy as Oikawa’s is, but it’s reliable and steady enough to pack quite a punch.
Oikawa was able to receive it anyway. Barely.
When Daichi jumps you are reminded that he too is a crow like the rest of his team capable of taking flight, and not just an unmoving pillar.
“It could use some work,” he says, but if the sparkle in his eyes was anything to go by, his thoughts about the serve run similar to yours.
That’s what Oikawa’s trying to show him, you reckon.
“I could say the same for your receives,” Daichi scoffs. “Remember to lean forward a bit more.”
“Hey! I know how to receive! I’m no beginner.”
Daichi chuckles, “I know.” You could almost swear he’s endeared.
And it’s weird, seeing these two that are so fundamentally different in their specialties, teaching and attempting to try something new.
But they’re both captains, regardless, and you stand there mesmerized by their glow.
Daichi dutifully showing how he does a receive and Oikawa being so uncharacteristically patient as he demonstrates his jump serve once again.
What a pair they make.
The crow sweeping across the vineyard as they race to see who can reach the sun first.
All throughout their practice you notice Oikawa being so free with his touches on Daichi. A pinch on the cheek there, a brush of a finger here, and Daichi lets all of it happen. The gleam in his eyes glowing brighter every time Daichi indulges with a gentle push here and a lingering caress there.
Oh.
Ohhh.
All at once, it clicks.
You think you know why Oikawa never accepted any of those confessions. Why he hasn’t entertained any of the countless confessions he receives these days.
He has the same expression as his admirers when he looks at Daichi.
Your mouth opens in disbelief at the realization. You’re pretty sure that—
Oikawa Tooru is head over heels in love with Sawamura Daichi.
You can already hear all the hearts breaking if this kind of gossip ever spreads out.
This is what Oikawa looks like when he’s in love.
You’re not gonna lie, it’s a good look on him.
His smiles are so wide and his laughs so unabashedly loud when he talks to Daichi, the vigor in his step never fading almost like he’s skipping on the damn moon whenever he goes near Karasuno’s captain. He’s like a flighty planet excitedly orbiting a star.
It makes him look so young. Carefree.
And he is. All of you are. High school students that haven’t yet reached the peak of your prime.
He’s being so obvious with his crush that you’re surprised Daichi hasn’t even noticed. At least you think so. Not once does he blink twice when Oikawa tries to slide the occasional flirtatious remark here and there, as if he’s already used to them by now.
Oikawa has got his work cut out for him. Daichi seems like a tough nut to crack. A dense one, too, if you’re going by his straightforward nature. (A fellow Kasaruno captain would like to agree.)
Goodluck, Oikawa-san! You got your work cut out for you. Oh, how the turntables…
You’re so absorbed in your thoughts and the scene in front of you that you almost didn’t notice that daylight is quickly fading. You realize that you still have tons of work to be done at home, so as quietly as you came you try to turn around to hightail it out of there.
But it seems luck isn’t on your side tonight.
In your haste so as not to get caught snooping around, you weren’t careful enough to avoid hitting the broom propped up nearby the door. You try to catch it before it falls, but alas gravity was too quick for your clumsy hands and you can do nothing but wince as the loud clatter of wood on wood echoes across the barebones gym.
Dammit.
“Did you hear that?”
“It’s probably just a stray cat or something—” Daichi’s voice is suddenly right behind you. How’d he get there so fast??
You slowly turn your head back around and find yourself staring at none other than your dependable senpai, Sawamura Daichi, looking very confused. “...or not.”
You sigh. It’s all you can do as your pulse spikes up in your chest, eating you up inside.
Time to face the music. (As if they’re supervillains and not just high school students, like you.)
“What do you mean, Daic— Oh.” Oikawa gives you a stink eye so quick you almost missed it, before smiling, perfect crescent moons adorning his face.
Having seen him act so genuinely around Daichi, you can tell that the smile is fake.
“I’m flattered that you followed me all this way to confess,” Oikawa says, voice light and airy, so devoid of the glee it carried mere seconds ago that it’s giving you whiplash. “But can we do this some other time?”
I want to spend time with the object of my affections, is left unsaid.
…Wow.
Wow! Okay. What kind of self-absorbed jerk does he think he is?
You don’t know whether to feel irritated that he straight up assumes you’re here for “the Oikawa Tooru’s” attention or sad that his privacy has probably been invaded enough times by his fans that he’s not wrong to accuse you of being the same.
Affronted either way you try to defend yourself. “I beg your pardon, I did not—”
“Wait,” Daichi says, as he takes a good look at you now that he can see your face illuminated by the gym lights. “I think I’ve seen you before. You’re a Karasuno student, right?”
You nod, astonished that he recognizes you. Perceptive, that one. You’re pretty sure you’ve never really talked to him even if you probably do pass by each other at school. You don’t even have any classes together seeing as he’s a year above you.
Guess Daichi’s just the type that casually notices people around him.
Oikawa quirks an eyebrow at that. “Oh? You didn’t tell me you have admirers of your own, Daicchi,” he pouts.
“That’s because I do not!” Daichi splutters and you get to watch his cheeks turn a light shade of pink. It’s cute. You almost say it out loud but you’re pretty sure Oikawa would actually straight up end you if you do so you keep that to yourself.
You bow before Oikawa can respond. Best to set things straight so there won’t be anymore misunderstandings. “I deeply apologize for the intrusion! I passed by this gym on the way home and I just got curious why the lights were open at this hour.”
“Hey now, no need to apologize.” Daichi pats your shoulder and gently nudges you back up with his hand, grip firm and steady. “Oikawa’s just messing around, isn’t that right?” he says as he elbows the Seijoh setter at his sides. There’s a light warning in his tone.
“Ouch! So mean! I can’t seem to catch a break around you or with—” A sneaky kick to his shins. Daichi smiles at Oikawa and it sets you on edge. “Okay, I get it! It was a joke. A joke!”
“I didn’t know Sawamura-senpai is friends with Oikawa-san,” you blurt out, like an idiot. What you really wanted to ask was, How does no one know of your guys’ relationship? but that’s way too random and impolite so you decidedly keep your mouth shut and bite your tongue before you cause any more damage. Daichi raises his eyebrows but his expression is unreadable.
Oikawa gives you a hard look. “Because that’s not anyone’s business but ours.”
Geez, possessive much?
Daichi takes pity on you and shrugs. “It’s not supposed to be a secret or anything. But it never really gets brought up.” That’s what he says but the tone of his voice sounded way too delicate for your liking and you honestly don’t think Daichi would appreciate it if you go off yapping about his relationships. He takes a look at the rapidly darkening sky. “It’s getting pretty late. Would you be able to go home by yourself or would you want us to accompany you?”
Dependable! What a dependable senpai!
At this point, Oikawa is glaring daggers at you and you take it as your cue to leave. You don’t wanna get in between whatever they’ve got going on. Oikawa especially does not want you around for some reason . (It’s not as if you’re gonna steal Daichi away from him.)
You bow again, a quick one this time. “Oh no, it’s alright, senpai . I can get by on my own but I really do need to get going. My parents might get worried. Thank you for your time.” At Daichi you say, “Good luck at nationals, senpai. The whole Karasuno will cheer you and your team on!” And to Oikawa, “Truly, I am sorry for the intrusion! And good luck to you, too, Oikawa-san. On your volleyball journey and on your chance at love.” You give him a meaningful look. He blanches.
You dash away, quick to make your escape but you couldn’t help but notice such a mortified expression on his face. Oikawa Tooru blushing like a love-struck fool. Priceless.
Once you’re gone and probably out of earshot, Daichi heartily laughs at your comment. The sound of it reverberates throughout the gym, deep and warm, and it has never failed to send Oikawa’s stomach into knotted flips. “Well, that’s new! I honestly thought they’re another one of your admirers.”
Oikawa pouts and inches closer to Daichi to warm himself against the chilly night. “Daicchiiiiii,” he whines, “Was it really that obvious?”
Daichi’s eyes crinkle. “You can be quite the open book, Tooru.”
Only to you.
Oikawa aggressively ruffles Daichi’s hair. “Shut up, you sap!! This is so embarrassing! Back to practicing your jump serves.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Daichi says before laughing heartily again as the last rays of the dwindling sunlight wash Oikawa’s beet-red cheeks in a hazy glow.
_____
It’s lunch time in Karasuno High and you just finished the bento your mother made for you earlier than usual. Most of your friends have group projects they have to cram so they stayed behind in class to work on them, leaving you alone as you head to the cafeteria. To kill some time, you decide to treat yourself with a drink at the vending machine around your campus.
While you debate with your lonesome on what drink to buy—their strawberry milk tastes the best but do you really want to spend all your spare change on one drink??— you can’t help but overhear the voices in the school gymnasium nearby.
“Woah, that was a sick serve!”
Karasuno’s volleyball team. What a loud bunch they are. Sawamura-senpai really is a pretty capable guy, you think, dealing with a rowdy team like them.
“I didn’t know you do jump serves, Daichi-san!”
Your mouth twitches up in gleeful surprise. Ohoho? I guess senpai and Oikawa-san’s practice paid off.
“Since we’re going to compete at nationals, I figured we should have new tricks up our sleeves,” you hear Daichi say. “I hope Coach Ukai wouldn’t mind.”
“Hmm, I’m not going to complain,” replies a gruff voice. The coach, you reckon. “Try to hone it as much as possible, but don’t forget, you’re one of Karasuno’s defense. Relying and honing your strengths is the way to go when we face off against new and powerful opponents in nationals, Sawamura.”
“Yes, coach!”
You’re standing near the gym entrance now, desire to buy a drink forgotten. It’s just like that time, some days ago, you quiet right outside and Daichi practicing inside.
But instead of Oikawa with him, it’s the rest of the Karasuno volleyball team.
They really do remind you of crows. Fierce crafty little things determined to survive. Their hungry look sends shivers down your spine and you’re glad you’re not the ones facing off against them.
Daichi does a jump serve one more time at the coach’s behest and it was beautiful. He took Oikawa’s comment to heart because it seems to pack a bit more punch than yesterday.
Their libero was still able to receive it, though, but the shine in his eyes was unmistakable.
“Amazing, Daichi-san! One more!”
Coach Ukai closes his eyes in deep thought and mumbles to himself. “Huh. For some reason, your technique and form reminds me of someone...”
Daichi’s eyes shifted at Ukai-san’s statement and he meets your own gaze across the gym. It was only for a brief moment but his eyes widened seeing you and he grew even more nervous, as if you were going to expose his secret rendezvous with Oikawa.
You give him a tiny wave and a wink as you raise a finger to your lips. Don’t worry, you want to say. Your secret’s safe with me.
Really, you just came here to sneak a peek again. You’re not one to tattle.
“Let’s just say I don’t wanna lose to someone,” whispers Daichi to Coach Ukai. You were only able to hear it because of how near they were standing at the entrance.
The older man gives him a confused look. “Well, don’t overdo it. We have our own ace to rely on for killer serves. You’re not alone on the court.”
Daichi grins and it’s like the first rays of dawn piercing through low-drifting clouds. Slow and at ease, early light on a calm winter day. “Yes, coach!”
You give him a thumbs up as a last gesture when the school bell rings to notify classes are about to start soon. Goodluck, Sawamura-senpai.
He turns to face his team and the number “1” imprinted in his Karasuno jersey on top of his broad back, steady and strong, tells you that these crows are going to conquer the world.
(Maybe this time you’ll finally make time to watch Nationals.)
_____
Additional Tags: Oikawa Tooru is a Little Shit, but hes in love so cut him some slack, Oblivious Sawamura Daichi, Or Is he?
Notes:
im not into haikyuu as much as before but you better believe that i still love oidai with all my heart. can you believe that the last oidai ive written was in 2020? i dont think ive improved in terms of writing lol sorry about that. but i just had to get this concept off my mind. an outsiders view of oidai. this is basically me gushing about these two characters lol. i didnt really plan for this have some common connection with the previous oidai fic ive written but them being friends before or during canon has now been stuck to me and i think its cute. we need more of their rivalry!
happy new year! may 2024 be kind to us all