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The boy in Daichi’s dreams was supposed to be real.
What they have in the dreams was supposed to be real.
That’s what he had been told.
It’s the place you and your soulmate can always connect, no matter where you are.
He had heard it since he was small, but Daichi wasn’t sure about that. At the very least, he always considered the stories about never meeting your soulmate in real life to be extremely realistic, if his experience was any way to judge it.
Still, he knew he loved the boy in his dreams. He loved their time together.
He only wished they could have their waking hours together, too.
He couldn’t remember exactly how old he was when they first met in their dreams. Some people said you meet your soulmate in your dreams shortly before you meet them in real life, but Daichi had been laughing with the boy in his dreams for as long as he could remember.
It wasn’t like they grew up together, exactly. But every night they would meet and have an adventure. Always a dream-like one, something fantastic or unbelievable. They never talked about what happened during the day, when they left their together-world.
Daichi had been sleeping well lately. It was probably all the volleyball and how hard they had been working since coach Ukai got on board, but he was so tired that occasionally he didn’t meet the boy in his dreams.
He always woke up disappointed when that happened, no matter how energized for the day he was. He was grateful to Ukai for getting them back on track and to Takeda-sensei for setting them up with practice matches, but he didn’t like that his nighttime adventures with the boy in his dreams had become less frequent.
The night before their first practice match with their supposed rivals, Nekoma, Daichi’s dream was more vivid than usual.
He and the boy he loved went on an adventure, and blessedly, it felt like it went on for hours. They hiked through a jungle, snapping foliage in each others’ faces and following the sound of fresh, running water.
“I bet it’s going to be great!” He called as the sound of rushing water got louder and he sprinted ahead.
“Wait for me!” Daichi called after him, laughing breathlessly.
Then the foliage opened up to the most spectacular waterfall Daichi had ever seen, waking or sleeping. The boy who visited him in his dreams had his hair still sticking up in places, but some of it was plastered to his face by the mist rolling off the churning waters.
“I love waterfalls,” the boy said, smiling wide as he watched the water pour from on high into the pool below. He turned to Daichi.
“It always makes me feel like something great is about to happen.”
“Like what?” Daichi asked, looking away from the waterfall to meet the boy’s golden eyes. There was a tenderness there, an infectious and soft sort of joy that Daichi knew as the sign of a bond between soulmates.
In that moment, it didn’t matter if they would never meet. This was enough for him.
“I don’t know,” the boy said, shrugging. “Just something wonderful.”
Suddenly Daichi could feel the pull of wakefulness calling him away from the scene. Something like sadness, but more like longing, flitted through him.
“I guess I’m going,” he said as the dream started to fade.
“I’ll see you soon, okay?” The boy said, waving as Daichi blinked himself into the real world.
“Soon?” Daichi said quietly, dabbing at his eyes as he rubbed the sleep from them. Daichi had never heard him say that before. It was always “see you next time” or “see you later.”
Never “soon.”
+++
When it happened, Daichi was so shocked he nearly fainted.
He had been giving practice everything he had. He was excited for the practice match with Nekoma, and most of the other things in his life had faded away. He was still getting his usual good grades, taking care of his siblings, thinking of the boy in his dreams, but even those things seemed peripheral to the hard work Coach Ukai had them doing.
When Nekoma’s team got off their bus, something caught the corner of Daichi’s eye. His heart almost stopped.
His head whipped around until they came to rest on a tall, lanky, and oh-so-familiar figure.
Daichi thought he might pass out.
The boy who lived in his dreams was surveying Karasuno and when his eyes met Daichi’s, Daichi thought he saw something flit through them. Curiosity, hope, or—hopefully—excitement.
Then the imperceptible moment was gone, and the tall boy had turned back to his team, directing them this way and that.
So he was the captain, too.
When they lined up and stood across from each other, Daichi begged him to act like they knew each other.
But Kuroo merely nodded at him politely, someone meeting a rival for the first time.
Daichi’s hands were clammy. He was glad they wouldn’t have to shake hands for a few more minutes when their match started.
This can’t be happening, he thought desperately as they broke from the line and went to line up again, this time in the volleyball gym.
Daichi wanted to be wrong. Just before the match began, he held his hand out to shake the other captain’s, and when they gripped each other tightly he wanted to think it was from excitement, anticipation, or understanding, and the other captain had a sideways grin, a dangerous smile that betrayed nothing about whether he recognized Daichi or not.
But Daichi recognized him. The truth was plain as day: this was the boy he met in his dreams every night. He would recognize that silly hair and those golden eyes anywhere.
Just before they let go of their greeting handshake, with its tight grip and all, Daichi searched Kuroo’s eyes for any hint of understanding or recognition, but it seemed on all accounts like there was none to be found.
Daichi managed to lose himself in the match, to focus on keeping Hinata and Kageyama in line. He forced his eyes away from the face he knew so well, the voice he had heard every night for years. He tried not to notice the way Kuroo sounded when he directed the team, how determined and certain he was.
Daichi tried to show the same kind of resolve.
It was clear Kuroo didn’t recognize him.
Daichi had heard of that happening before, too.
Sometimes those stories had happy endings. But mostly they didn’t.
In the end, when they won the match, Daichi wanted to feel excitement, the thrill of seeing his team evolve and beat Nekoma’s famed defense, and he did a good job pretending he felt those things. Deep inside him, dread was eating away at him. He tried unsuccessfully to catch Kuroo’s eye a few times.
He didn’t need more confirmation that Kuroo didn’t recognize him or didn’t care to show it if he did.
After their team meeting, he took a little walk to the water fountain, taking a long drink before splashing his face with water.
But when he was done wiping his eyes, he nearly jumped out of his skin as he took in the figure who had appeared next to the fountain.
“So… it was Sawamura, right?” Kuroo said, smiling his usual sideways smile as he leaned against the wall. The smile Daichi didn’t want to be so familiar with but was.
Daichi felt like he was going to throw up.
“That’s it,” he said, hoping he didn’t sound squeaky or, god forbid, wrecked. “That’s me,” he added stupidly.
“It’s Kuroo,” the other captain said. “Kuroo Tetsurou.”
Daichi bit back the absurd desire to repeat the name. He wanted to try it out, to see how it felt as he said it, but that was weird and creepy.
“Nice match,” Kuroo added, clapping Daichi on the back. “I hear they’ve been calling you guys names.”
Daichi laughed hollowly, trying to squash down the butterflies that had been released in his stomach at Kuroo’s easy touch. “Flightless birds.”
“Well, I see you guys trying to fly,” Kuroo said, smiling down at Daichi, still playful but less teasing. “Doing an okay job of it, too.”
“Who knew you could be nice?” Daichi said, bantering in spite of himself.
“I’m always nice,” Kuroo said, frowning a bit. He held out a little piece of paper. “See?”
“What’s this?” Daichi said, taking it.
“Captains gotta stay in touch,” Kuroo said, winking and moving from his place to amble back towards the locker room Nekoma was using. “See you around, Sa’amura.”
“See you,” Daichi said quietly to Kuroo’s retreating back, heart pounding in his chest as he wondered what the hell he was supposed to do.
It was all he could do to keep from texting Kuroo the moment he left Daich’s sight, as their bus pulled away and the Nekoma team waved out the windows.
The screen almost seemed safer. Like maybe he could ask.
Against his better judgment, he shot Kuroo a quick text with only his name, so Kuroo could save his contact information. But he wanted to say so much more.
Don’t you know we’ve met before?
That we meet every night? And have for years? Don’t you know?
But that night, when Daichi slept soundly, tired from the match, his night was dreamless.
When he woke, heavy with disappointment, a notification was blinking on his screen that almost made up for the lonely sleep.
[From: Unknown Number]
Yo, Sawamura
This is Kuroo
I bet you’re asleep
Just saying hi
Daichi smiled at the notification, noting the time stamp. Kuroo had sent it pretty late, when he should be in bed, especially on a school night.
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Shouldn’t you have been asleep?
Daichi’s heart skipped when Kuroo replied immediately.
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Maybe
Who needs sleep though
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
I sure do
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
That doesn’t surprise me
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
What’s that supposed to mean?
It wasn’t lost on Daichi how easy the teasing came, how natural the bantering felt. How much it mirrored and mimicked the teasing smile Kuroo shot at him in their dreams.
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
You just seem like a level-headed guy, that’s all
Level-headed? Daichi couldn’t think of something further from the truth, not as far as Kuroo was concerned.
But still, there wasn’t a hint of recognition, even in the teasing. Kuroo must not have known.
Daichi tried to ignore the devastation that ate at his stomach every time he thought about it. He decided the best thing he could do was try not to think about it.
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Glad I have you fooled
Maybe it didn’t matter if Kuroo didn’t know. Maybe they could be friends who teased and bantered and that could be enough for Daichi. He figured he would settle for that if he had to, and try to be grateful for it. Just like the dreams had been enough for Daichi, maybe this could be enough too.
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Ha. I don’t think I’m fooled
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
You never know
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Who knew the captain of the crows was so cheeky
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
I’m full of surprises
Daichi pulled himself out of bed, even though all he wanted to do was send bantering texts to Kuroo. He managed to go through the motions of getting ready for the day, and before he knew it, he was at school.
They sent little messages throughout the day, and to Daichi it was both thrilling and devastating.
It was just two captains getting to know each other. Rivals becoming friendly. There was still nothing in it to make it seem like Kuroo knew that he and Daichi had history.
+++
When Takeda-sensei announced they would be going to Tokyo, Daichi scolded himself for his first thought being about Kuroo.
As they walked back to the club room after their meeting, Daichi willed his accelerated heartbeat to slow down. He nearly jumped as Suga poked him in the side, hard.
“You’re acting weird,” Suga said, shuffling up so they were walking next to each other.
“Ow,” Daichi rubbed the spot Suga had poked as they climbed the stairs to the club room. “Was that really necessary? And I am not acting weird.”
“You sort of are,” a quiet voice mumbled from behind him.
“Not you too,” Daichi frowned as he glanced back at Asahi, who shrugged noncommittally.
Luckily, his friends seem to sense that he wanted it left alone, so they didn’t push further. As they packed up and headed home, Daichi forced himself to wait to check his phone until both Asahi and Suga had broken off to head to their respective homes.
When it pulled his phone out, there was a notification that made him smile, unbidden.
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Nekomata told us you’re joining us for camp this year
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Sounds like it
I guess we’ll be seeing you soon
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Can’t wait
You know
To get our revenge
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Can’t wait to see me, you mean?
Daichi couldn’t help it. He didn’t mean to flirt. It just sort of happened, and far too frequently.
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
I mean
That too
Daichi wanted to think this meant something. But how could it? If Kuroo didn’t know they were soulmates, what good was the teasing and the investment?
[To: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Guess you’ll have to survive somehow
[From: Kuroo Tetsurou]
Oh, I will
Don’t you worry
+++
On the bus, Daichi was a nervous wreck. He kept fidgeting with his bag, and it wasn’t lost on him that Suga kept shooting him questioning glances. Daichi ignored him.
When they arrived, a mixture of dread and elation had settled at the bottom of Daichi’s stomach. He squared his shoulders as he stood up and gave directions to the team for after they got off the bus. He turned to walk towards the door and tried to steady himself.
Daichi held his breath as he got off the bus. Sure enough, he was greeted with the familiar messy mop of hair and sideways smirk.
“Couldn’t stay away?” He tried for a mischievous look, but was pretty sure he just sounded breathless.
“Nope,” Kuroo said, grinning. “Let me show you around.”
Daichi told the rest of the team that he would catch up with them, and Hinata started chatting easily with the Nekoma setter he had apparently connected with, Kenma. Kenma offered to show the rest of Karasuno to their room, so Daichi and Kuroo were left alone.
“Well, shall we?” Kuroo gestured towards the Shinzu campus.
Daichi swallowed, hoping it wasn’t obvious how nervous he was, and nodded.
They chatted easily as Kuroo gave him a tour, eventually ending up back with his team in the room that was theirs to settle down in.
As he left Kuroo to join the rest of his team in setting their stuff down in the room, Suga came up to him, hands on his hips, a curious expression on his face.
“Is that why you’ve been acting weird?” Suga asked with a raised eyebrow, gesturing in the direction of the door.
“Is what why?” Daichi asked evasively, kneeling and fumbling with his duffle bag. When he glanced up, Suga looked unimpressed.
“I’ve never seen you drool over someone before.”
Daichi flushed.
“I’m not drooling,” he snapped, turning back to his bag, aware that his ears were turning red.
Suga softened, sitting on the floor so he and Daichi were eye-level. “What about your—”
“It’s him,” Daichi said before Suga could even finish the question. “Kuroo’s my soulmate.”
Suga looked at Daichi incredulously.
“You’re sure?”
“He has a pretty unmistakable appearance,” Daichi said. “And I’ve been dreaming about him for literal years. But I don’t think he knows,” Daichi added quickly.
“He has to,” Suga said, blinking.
“You know it can happen,” Daichi said, frowning. “It’s uncommon, but the lack of recognition is possible. Guess I’m just one of the lucky ones.”
“Are you sure he doesn’t know?” Suga asked softly.
“It doesn’t seem like he does to me,” Daichi said, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
“I don’t know, Daichi,” Suga said, smiling a little. “He doesn’t seem like he can hold himself back.”
Daichi’s frown deepened.
“But suit yourself,” Suga said with a shrug. “Come on, practice starts soon. Maybe we’ll be paired with your boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Uh huh,” Suga said lightly, turning around to head towards the door.
Daichi groaned before standing up to follow his best friend.
As they walked into the gym and lined up for their first meeting, Daichi felt his heart flutter, his chest tighten, and his stomach knot itself up when he caught sight of Kuroo—the boy in his dreams. He could hardly believe it. He wanted to be grateful, and he also wanted to scream in misery. It was a very confusing mix of sensations.
As camp started, Daichi became painfully aware how far his team had to go. It was especially obvious when they played Nekoma, and Daichi knew it was at least in part because he was faltering as their leader. It was agonizing and embarrassing, especially when Kuroo smirked down at him during their flying fall penalties.
“Good form, Sa’amura,” Kuroo remarked more than once, winking. Daichi was glad his face was red from practice, because the teasing lilt to Kuroo’s tone was far too much for him to handle.
Daichi rolled his eyes before taking another dive to the floor.
Daichi tried not to think about Suga’s earlier words as somehow, he and Kuroo ended up spending every evening after training finished together. Kuroo showed Daichi his favorite spots to hang out after hours. The wrestling mats in the storage room, the hidden snacks in the kitchen that Daichi was sure were off-limits, and a few other spots.
They talked about everything and nothing, and Daichi let himself pretend it meant something.
“See you in the morning, Sa’amura,” Kuroo said each night as they parted ways for their separate rooms.
“Not your boyfriend, huh?” Suga whispered as Daichi crawled under the blankets on his futon for the third night in a row. “Definitely your soulmate, though.”
“Shut up,” Daichi snapped in an equally quiet tone, turning away from Suga as he settled down.
Each night of camp, Daichi’s sleep was dreamless.
The last night Kuroo took Daichi to the top of the hill he was too familiar with after all the penalties.
“I haven’t done this hill enough times by now?” Daichi asked, bumping Kuroo’s elbow as they walked up the hill.
“At least I’m not making you run,” Kuroo said, smirking as he bumped Daichi back.
They laid on the grass at the top of the hill.
“I only get to come here a few times a year,” Kuroo said, sounding a bit wistful. “So I try to make sure I get to see the stars from the top of this hill at least once.”
Daichi swallowed. “Thanks for letting me see them with you.”
“Of course,” Kuroo replied, sighing.
They laid there in silence. Daichi was painfully aware of their close proximity. Their elbows weren’t brushing but could if he moved just slightly. He felt like he was barely breathing.
“I’m sorry,” Kuroo said quietly.
“You’re sorry?” Daichi glanced at him, confused and a little nervous about whatever Kuroo’s tone, uncertain as it was, meant.
“I knew,” Kuroo said, avoiding Daichi’s eyes, still smiling halfway as he looked at the sky. “This whole time.”
“You knew?” Daichi yelped. “Knew what?” He asked weakly despite knowing the answer.
“Come on now,” Kuroo finally looked at Daichi softly, turning his head. “I mean that we’re soulmates.”
Daichi tried to reply, but a wordless, strangled protest was all that came out of his mouth.
“It was… cruel,” Kuroo’s smile disappeared as he watched Daichi short-circuit, guilt etched into his features. “Of me. To pretend I didn’t.”
“Why?” Daichi whispered, equal parts shock and fear bouncing around his insides like a ping-pong ball.
“I don’t remember our dreams,” Kuroo said, and if Daichi wasn’t mistaken, his eyes were a little glassy. Daichi’s heart tripped over the way Kuroo said our. “I want to remember them so badly. But I don’t. And I thought, maybe that meant… maybe you didn’t want me to remember. Maybe you didn’t want… me.”
Daichi gaped at him.
Silence hung between them for a moment, thick as fog.
Then something clicked in Daichi’s brain and he started to feel dizzy.
Before he could think of anything else to do, he started laughing.
“Sawamura?” Kuroo said, blinking rapidly. Daichi knew he should control himself and shouldn't laugh when Kuroo was on the verge of tears.
But it was no use.
“You like me!” Daichi wheezed between breaths.
“You’re my soulmate,” Kuroo said, eyes widening, looking positively flummoxed. “I don’t just like you. I—”
“You love me!” Daichi interrupted him, and he couldn’t help but hop up and launch himself into the air, punching it. “You love me!”
“Uh,” Kuroo said, blinking in shock from his place on the ground. “Yeah, I do. I love you.”
Daichi looked at him for a moment, blinking back before nearly squishing Kuroo as he collapsed on the ground in front of him, leaning down to kiss him. Kuroo made a squeak of surprise before leaning into it. It was a little hungrier than Daichi meant for it to be, like a dam had broken. He didn’t care.
“I don’t remember the dreams,” Kuroo said as they pulled back, breathless and rosy-cheeked. “But I remember you. Every time. When I wake up, I know you. When I saw you, that first day at the match, I was terrified. I was so scared that you wouldn’t want me. That you didn’t want me. But now that I know that you… l-love me…”
Daichi nodded encouragingly.
“I do,” he said. “So much,” he added quietly.
“Do you… do you want to tell me about our dreams?” Kuroo said, flushing deeply. Daichi thought nothing had ever been more sweet.
Daichi laughed again, giddy, wrapping his arms around Kuroo and hugging him, squashing him into the ground until they were both laughing, long and loud and wheezy.
“Of course I do,” Daichi said, pulling back from the hug and nestling himself on top of Kuroo’s chest. Kuroo gingerly placed his hands on Daichi’s back, as if he was afraid he wasn’t allowed to.
Daichi had heard it said that once you met your soulmate, it was possible for the dreams to stop.
“Do you think we’ll get to see each other still?” He propped himself up on his elbows on Kuroo’s chest. “In dreams, I mean.”
“I mean,” Kuroo said, frowning a little bit. “It doesn’t exactly matter to me.”
”I guess not,” Daichi said, a little sheepish. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Kuroo said. “I’m just jealous you have all these memories of us together,” he flushed a little.
“That’s really sweet,” Daichi said softly, pressing a kiss to Kuroo’s lips. “We’ll just have to make real ones.”
“It’s late,” Kuroo said sheepishly.
“You’re right,” Daichi said, reluctantly pulling himself off Kuroo and standing up. He extended a hand to Kuroo and helped him up.
“Come on,” Daichi said, interlacing their fingers. “Let’s head back to our rooms.”
“I’ll miss you though,” Kuroo said with a pout.
Daichi chuckled, his chest lighting up.
“That’s nice,” he said.
They had arrived at the place where their paths converge.
“G’night,” Kuroo said, shifting on his feet a little.
Daichi looked at him for a moment before tugging on Kuroo’s shirt and bringing their lips together.
“Night,” he said when he pulled back. “See you… soon.”
“Okay,” Kuroo said, blinking owlishly. “Soon.”
That night, Daichi was relieved to have a dream. To meet Kuroo again. They were sharing a little apartment in the city, probably Tokyo. Something in Daichi’s heart squeezed uncomfortably at the knowledge that Kuroo wouldn’t remember this when they woke, but because of that, Daichi tried to memorize every detail, so he would be ready to recount it to Kuroo later.
+++
Daichi woke with a buzzing sort of contentment. He hopped out of bed, muscles aching but nothing else in his body reflecting any sort of tiredness, no matter how hard they had worked that week.
“You’re peppy,” Suga said, yawning and looking at Daichi accusingly.
“He remembers,” Daichi said, trying and failing to whisper.
“He what?” Suga’s sleepy eyes widened just a little.
“I’ll tell you about it later,” Daichi said, sure he was smiling like an idiot.
He turned to the rest of the team, some of whom were still under their covers, and barked at them to get up, but his usual commanding tone was a bit less sincere than usual.
“I’ll get them, Daichi,” Suga said with a small smile. “You have someone to see, don’t you?”
Daichi sighed and smiled gratefully.
“Thanks.”
He tried to take measured steps towards the door, but as soon as it closed behind him, he broke into what might have been mistaken for a run as he went towards the breakfast hall. There, right in front of the door, was the person he so deeply longed to see.
“Hi,” Daichi said by way of a greeting.
Kuroo stiffened a little before looking at Daichi, his shoulders relaxing a little when their eyes met.
“Hey,” Kuroo said, blinking quickly.
“Good morning,” Daichi said, looking at him curiously. He tilted his head to the side. “What is it?”
Kuroo flushed and the blinking accelerated.
“Is something wrong?” Daichi asked with concern, worried because Kuroo looked like he was about to cry.
“No,” Kuroo shook his head, although tears did well up in his eyes. “Nothing’s wrong. I… I… I remembered.”
“You what?” Daichi’s eyes widened.
“A little apartment, right?” Kuroo said, almost whispering. “We were waking up together. And you made—“
“I made us coffee,” Daichi finished for him, nodding.
“Maybe it’s not a dream,” Kuroo said as they linked hands, walking towards the dining room.
“What?”
“Maybe it’s a premonition,” he said before turning a deep shade of crimson.
Daichi blinked at him before laughing long and loud.
“More laughing at me?” Kuroo said with a pout.
“I bet it is a premonition,” Daichi said, grinning at him and squeezing his hand. “At least, I sure hope it is.”
“Kuro,” Kenma’s voice broke their mutual reverie. “Stop blubbering in front of the dining hall door.”
Kuroo looked like he’d been electrocuted as he glanced down in horror at his best friend.
“Kenma, rude,” he said, dabbing at his eyes.
“No, what’s rude is standing in the way of my breakfast,” Kenma said, rolling his eyes. Kuroo shuffled out of the way and Kenma turned to Daichi.
“Sorry about him,” he said, nodding a little.
“What?” Daichi asked dumbly.
“I told him to tell you ages ago,” Kenma said. “Glad he finally got it together.”
“I’m right here!” Kuroo squeaked.
Daichi looked away from Kenma to his soulmate, the boy in his dreams, Kuroo, and smiled widely.
“Me too, Kenma,” he walked over to Kuroo and interlaced their fingers. “Me too.”