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**Warning: College AU with some serious lemon...don't read if it's not for you! This is the same AU as the Asahi story "I'm Into You." The story also contains adult language and depictions of a mentally/emotionally abusive relationship. If you like the character Suguru Daishou, you're probably not going to like this story.**

Listen here first for the song that inspired the piece: [link]
(Honestly, something I'd never thought of as sexy til now)

Lo-Fang - "You're the One That I Want"

In the storeroom of the bar, The Flightless Crow, Daichi Sawamura was very occupied. He was pressed against the wall, feeling incredibly turned on, as soft lips sucked hard against his neck, his head falling back, mouth opening in a silent gasp. No one would have heard him anyway, with the noise of the crowd and the live band out in the main bar.

The boys at the Crow were always setting him up with the most gorgeous customers, as if it were some kind of medicine to cure their hopeless friend. There were plenty of women each night that had their eyes on the attractive bartender. Besides being exceptionally fit, Daichi had an approachable smile and could draw anyone to him. He made excellent tips, which is the main reason he still worked at his friend Asahi's bar, even though he was swamped with university classes in his effort to become a lawyer one day.

The girl Tanaka and Noya had set him up with that evening was sexy and flirty and certainly not shy...and an extremely good kisser. He tried not to moan as she worked her tongue eagerly over his. The only problem Daichi could find with her was the same one he encountered every time his co-workers attempted to get their pal laid.

Eyes pinched shut, images of (h/c) hair slipping through his fingers, (e/c) eyes watching him with that lusty expression other girls gave him, your skin at the end of his fingertips, and sweat beading between the two of you as your naked bodies writhed together would not. stop. coming. Every time. Even now.

Swallowing hard and growling at getting himself in this situation again, Daichi gripped the girl's shoulders and pushed her gently back.

"I'm sorry," he said.

There it was. That same confused look that he knew would next turn to concern before dropping off into annoyance and anger.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Don't like it?"

He shook his head rapidly, still trying to catch his breath. "It's not that. It's not you."

"Oh hell. You can't be serious with that line!"

Daichi shook his head again, still chasing images of you away. "You didn't do anything. You were...you were great. But I can't do this."

He was already quickly walking out of the storeroom while she asked, "Why the hell not?"

"I'm sorry. Really," he added, continuing to head straight for the office. It was always the same. He could never follow through.

"C'mon, man! Not again," Noya's voice came briefly, before it was swallowed by the noisy crowd.

He ignored Asahi's concerned gaze and Tanaka stopping and apologizing more to the poor girl. Stepping into the office, he closed and locked the door, before sitting on the sofa Asahi had for guests. He growled again, deeply irritated with himself, and placed his elbows on his knees, head in his hands.

Heels tapping nervously in place, shaking his whole person with anxiety, he cursed to no one, "Damn it!"

His eyes were still squeezed shut as he tried reasoning with himself. "You have to stop doing this. Get over it. She's not yours, asshole. She's not yours." Daichi couldn't help but sigh dejectedly, running both hands roughly through his close-cropped black strands.

"Augh!" he heaved out loudly, leaning back into the couch. "Fuck."

He heard a key twisting in the lock of the office door, followed by a familiar knock.

"Yeah, it's fine. I'm fine, Asahi," he called, door swinging open to let the Crow's owner inside.

The huge guy looked intimidating to pretty much anyone who saw the size of his muscles accompanied by his height, but to Daichi he looked like a timid, concerned mouse...a big mouse, sure, but it didn't change the fact that his shy-by-nature friend had a heart of glass. Right now, Daichi could see worry creased deep into Azumane's forehead. He stayed silent for a minute as he took a seat, gauging the situation to see if Daichi was too testy to talk.

Rubbing the back of his neck and letting out a short nervous laugh, Asahi asked, "Why do you keep letting them set you up, if this is the way it always turns out?"

"I don't know!" Daichi complained loudly, before adding more to himself, "I don't know. Their idea isn't horrible, is it? I mean, it's bound to work sometime, right? It's not good for me to have had these feelings for (F/n) for so long."

The leg was back to bouncing anxiously.

"Can't you just try telling her how you feel again? She's not dating that dickhead anymore, is she?"

His leg froze at the reminder that you had ever been dating "that dickhead." A scowl crossed his face as he looked up at Asahi. The expression must have been intimidating, because his boss looked slightly terrified.

Consciously relaxing his muscles, he sighed and answered, "No. No, she finally dumped him, but now isn't a good time. She's been seeing someone to talk about all the abuse he put her through. I don't want to feel like I'm taking advantage of her or to just be a rebound guy. You know she's more important to me than that."

"I know, but it's been a few months, right? How long are you going to leave her in the dark on this?"

"Leave her in the...? I'm just trying to protect her."

Asahi muttered something to himself, and when Daichi called for him to repeat himself, he started shaking like a leaf.

Voice timid, Asahi started, "You were at first."

He shrunk instantly at Daichi's harsh glare, but then he cleared his throat and sat up straighter. Speaking more clearly, he offered, "You're not going to like hearing this, but it's pretty obvious to everyone that you're only protecting yourself at this point."

Sawamura felt his fists clench and felt anger bubbling up at the accusation. He reminded himself that Asahi never confronted him on anything. It wasn't his style. So for him to be doing so...

"You're right," Daichi sighed. "You're right. I'm a coward. I don't even know how I got here. I've been telling myself all this time that I could make her happy if that asshole was just out of my way, but now that he is I--"

He sighed loudly again, "How do I even do this, Asahi? Where am I supposed to start? 'So, hey, (F/n). You know how I told you once that I had feelings for you? Well, it's more than that. I've spent the better part of the last two years wanting to murder your piece of shit boyfriend while being hopelessly in love with you. Wanna go out?'"

Azumane looked back at him like he was something pitiable. "I know you're joking, but some of that bluntness wouldn't be so off-the-mark, I think." Daichi rolled his eyes, and Asahi moved to sit beside him, clasping a hand firmly on his shoulder. "Look. Why don't you just go home tonight? It's not as crowded as usual. The three of us out there can handle it."

Considering for a moment, Sawamura responded with, "Yeah. Okay, I guess."

After wishing the other guys goodbye and gathering his things, Daichi started towards the apartment he shared with four other guys, mind replaying how he had gotten to know you, in the first place. The whole way home, he couldn't help but think that he'd already squandered his chances with you long ago.

= = = = =

The two of you had first met in a political sciences course, along with his roommates Koushi Sugawara, Tetsurou Kuroo, and Koutarou Bokuto. Another volleyball player from their youth was also in the class; Tooru Oikawa.

It took no time at all for him to become interested in you. You were friendly and personable and greeted him daily with a smile he couldn't ignore. Three or four classes into the semester, he began walking you to your next class, even though there was a shorter way he could have walked to his own next class, just to be able to talk with you longer.

The more the two of you chatted, the fonder of you he became. Your sense of humor meshed perfectly with his. The way certain things would get you excited, sending you tearing off on some enthusiastic rant made him feel warm inside, like your passion was his. He found you adorable in those moments, and in the moments when you were lost in thought with a quiet, dreamy look to your (e/c) eyes, he found you beyond beautiful.

He realized more and more that he wanted to be the reason you got excited like that...the reason for your quiet daydreaming. He had just about worked up the nerve to confess, when one day you left more quickly after class one day, calling, "I'll see you on Wednesday, Daichi! My boyfriend promised we'd meet for lunch today!"

Two months. It had taken Daichi a full two months before he even became aware that you had a boyfriend, and it came like a kick in the gut. He should have known someone like you would already be seeing somebody. As far as he was concerned, you were perfect and of course, you deserved a man that appreciated you for all that you were. He couldn't help but feel slightly jealous, but if this was a guy that made you smile, then how could he really be angry.

So then, Daichi felt like he might actually be sick, when he realized who it was. It was a guy he'd had the displeasure to meet a few times at some of the parties his roommates had thrown. His name was Suguru Daishou. Apparently Kuroo knew him from way back, but Daichi wasn't sure why he even showed up to these parties. Not even Kuroo seemed to actually get along with the guy.

Daishou always had something negative or disgusting to say about his girlfriend that made the other men cringe, and now that Daichi knew it was you on the other side of those taunts, it made his blood boil with anger. How could you be with some snake like that? It was beyond his comprehension. You were so smart and wonderful, and yet you were with this man who constantly degraded you. Sawamura told himself that you must not know. Daishou must not speak that way in front of you.

He wanted desperately to tell you, but was afraid that wasn't his place.

As time went on, he realized with great frustration that Daishou did get away with saying things like that to you in public. He hadn't heard it himself, but some of your other friends had approached you about it.

One time after you had rushed off after class, Oikawa stopped Daichi to say, "I was at the library with her yesterday when her boyfriend showed up. He's outrageously disgusting. You should have heard the things he was saying, but when I told him to go to hell, she got mad at me...instead of the guy that called her all sorts of names publically. I defended her, but she was mad."

Daichi was understandably worried. This wasn't a good sign. Things just continued to seem worse, the more he learned. "What should I do about it? Nobody wants to see her with that guy, but every time someone brings that up, she shuts it down or shuts them out. You're good at this stuff. You've got to have some idea."

Tooru heaved a heavy sigh and shook his head. "I'm sorry. Something is very wrong there, Sawamura, but I don't know if there's a way for us to help without her taking those first steps."

He didn't want to hear that. Daichi fixed things. He was good at holding things together, building people up, being someone people relied on. To hear that he could do nothing but sit and watch this unfold felt like such a joke. He didn't want to believe that.

Turning up at his house late one evening, he found several people already there. Suga informed him they were throwing an impromptu poker night. Among the guests was Daichi's least favorite snake in the grass. He couldn't help but glare at Daishou, as the guy leered after several of the female guests, making lewd comments about their outfits.

"What's your problem, Sawamura?" he sneered, when he finally noticed Daichi's angry gaze.

"Don't you have a girlfriend?" he asked loudly. One of the girls that had been openly flirting with Suguru got an alarmed look on her face, excusing herself quickly.

"Was that really necessary?" Daishou asked, expression icy as he placed two new cards in his hand. "Like you had any place to say something like that, anyway."

The other guys at the table felt the uncomfortable shift in the room's mood.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"(F/n)'s been talking all about her 'new friend Daichi' for months now." Even though he knew it was something completely innocent, Daichi couldn't help feeling elated at that revelation, until Daishou continued. "I hate guys like you. You're happy to just throw another guy under the bus after a little harmless flirting, but for what? You think you're some white knight protecting her honor, when I'm sure that weak little bitch would cheat on me with you in a heartbeat."

"Suguru!" Kuroo and Bokuto both growled.

"That's not true!" Daichi shouted over them. "She's not that kind of person. She would never treat you with the disrespect you treat her. She deserves better than you!"

"So you do want to fuck her. I knew it! I told her if she kept talking to you, she'd be inviting you right into her panties whether she wanted you there or not, but she never listens to me! She's a fucking idiot!"

The room stilled except for the scrape of the folding chairs and the sounds of cards and plastic chips hitting the floor. Several men rose from their seats, but they were a hair too late. Daichi had already hauled Suguru out of his seat and slammed him to the wall behind him. He was seething, raising a fist at the smug expression of victory on the asshole's lips, before Kuroo's arm was jerking his fist away, and Suga was pleading, "Don't, Daichi! It's not worth it!"

He still reared back his fist, but now Suga was close enough to softly whisper, "You'll only hurt (F/n) like this."

Releasing the tension in his arm almost immediately at those words, he let it fall to his side. Suga sighed with relief, and Kuroo let go of him and gave him a firm pat on the back.

Still angered by the accusation that he would force himself on you, Sawamura's voice was a low and dangerous growl. "Get out of my house. If you somehow forget you're not welcome so long as I'm home, I won't hesitate to punch you in the damn teeth. Got that?"

Daishou huffed out a short laugh. In his own low voice, though more a slimy sort of hiss, he taunted, "Aw, don't be so serious, Sawamura. Go ahead and hit me. You know what's going to happen, don't you? When I go home and tell (F/n) how aggressive you were, you think she's gonna run to you? No. You play that big, tough knight all you want, but ask yourself what that's going to get you. Tonight it'll still be me that's fucking her."

He truly felt the bile that rose up into his throat, hardly noticing Bokuto grabbing the guy by his collar and tossing him out the front door.

"Disgusting! Kuroo how are you even friends with that shit?" he was complaining, as Suga and a few other guests fixed the disarray of the living room. Daichi didn't bother to stick around for the answer.

He walked silently to his room, closing the door behind him. He still wanted to hit something, so he unloaded several punches into his poor, unsuspecting pillows, before flinging himself face-first into the mattress and yelling a muffled shout into the cloth.

Rolling over, he stared blankly at the ceiling, until his phone began vibrating in his back pocket. He sighed, pulling it out and looking at the screen to see your image.

Incoming Call:
SAWAMURA'S
SWEETHEART

"Damn it, Oikawa!" he said aloud. The pretty-boy had a bad habit of thinking it was utterly hilarious to change the names of the contacts in Daichi's phone during class. Daichi wasn't even sure how he always managed to sneak the phone without him noticing, but it only made it more amusing to Tooru that it seemed to take quite awhile each time before Daichi noticed. He knew this was Oikawa's handiwork, because the infuriatingly perceptive man enjoyed teasing him mercilessly for the crush he knew Daichi held for you...until after the day in the library, that is.

Reminding himself to change it back to your name later, he took a deep, steadying breath and answered the call.

"Hello."

"Hey, Daichi! It's (F/n)," came your sweet voice. It was a welcome change from the harsh voices moments earlier.

"Yeah, I know. What can I do for you?" he asked, smiling wistfully.

"This is going to sound weird, but I don't have your roommate Kuroo's number and I was wondering," there was a brief pause, "have you seen Suguru tonight?"

You might as well have punched him in the stomach. He was apparently taking too long to respond, because you continued, "I know he goes there sometimes and he hasn't been answering his phone even though..."

"He just left," Daichi interrupted, answer short and clipped. It took all of his willpower not to launch into a tirade where he would come across as a tattletale.

"Really? That's great!" you sounded relieved over the news. "Did he say anything about me, like did he seem pissed off at me or anything?"

"No," Daichi lied. He didn't really think Daishou had seemed pissed at you so much as at him, but he had, of course, mentioned you...many times...with such unwarranted venom in his tone. How was Daichi supposed to tell you that?

"That's good. That's really good," you said quietly, followed by another pause-- one long enough for Daichi to realize something.

"(F/n), are you crying?" he questioned, sitting up as his concern for you kicked into full gear.

"I just thought," you sniffed, "I thought maybe I'd done something wrong. He told me to meet him out for dinner at our favorite place, and I waited and waited and tried calling and I just..."

His heart truly ached as he pictured you sitting alone at the table, making excuses for the shithead who had never had any intention of showing up in the first place, until you left in tears.

"(F/n)?" he approached softly. "Does he do this kind of thing to you often?"

"Not really."

It wasn't a "Something like this has never happened before tonight." It wasn't even a solid "No." The rest of your statement made him want to scream.

"Only when I've done something really stupid or if I show up looking too ugly."

"You're not serious. There's no version of this where you could ever be ugly or stupid," he responded, trying to hide the exasperation.

"No version of what?" you wondered.

"Life!" he emphasized, as if it should have been clear as day. "You'd look beautiful in a worn out potato sack, (F/n). You realize that, don't you?"

You laughed and answered, "Aw. That's sweet of you! Thanks for trying to cheer me up, Daichi. You're always so nice to me."

"I wasn't saying that to be polite. You're smart and you're beautiful, and anyone who can't see that is an ass. Being friends with you means a lot to me, and hearing you feel so underappreciated pisses me off. I see you, okay? I see you and you're smart and you're beautiful." This was getting him nowhere, but he felt it had to be said, even if it did cause a long pause on the other end of the phone.

Finally you quietly replied, "Thanks. I needed something like that tonight. Sorry I was acting like such a sad-sack. I shouldn't have gotten all worked up over something like this."

Still, you were placing the blame on yourself instead of on Suguru. There really was nothing else to be added at this point and the two of you ended the conversation shortly after.

Sawamura walked outside into the cool night air to think about the evening. He noticed something that made his stomach churn, leaning against Kuroo's red car...Daishou had a girl from inside the poker night plastered to his face.

Walking over, fists clenched in his pockets he leaned against the car right next to the pair. The girl looked scandalized that he would have the audacity, while Daishou just wore that same smug-ass smirk.

"Can't you just go home to your girlfriend?" he asked, frustration and defeat apparent in his voice.

Suguru snorted. "Figured it out, huh? She needs me, and I obviously give her what she really wants because she's never going to leave me. You see how stupid she is now, right?"

"Don't call her stupid. She's going to see you for the piece of trash you are one day. I know she will," he stated confidently.

The girl that had been pressed into Suguru was trying half-heartedly to make an exit, but he wasn't allowing it. Instead he shot back, "Maybe she will, but if you think I'll let you be the one to pick up the pieces, you've got another thing coming, Sawamura."

The party girl seemed to get a thrill from his show of power, because she was back to leaning against him, distracting him with her tongue flicking in and out of his ear.

"I'm gonna tell her you want her and maybe she won't believe me, but every single thing you say or do against me is just going to look like petty jealousy afterwards, so good luck with that." He stopped talking for a moment to gasp shamelessly as the girl bit down at his neck, his hand slipping around to grope her ass. "Call her right now. Go ahead. Or hit me...I'd love to have a black eye to show her how aggressive you can get."

Knowing there was nothing he could do and still look like a good guy in your eyes was infuriating.

"She'll figure you out, and when she does, I'll still be here and I'll be more than happy to give you exactly what you're due," Daichi threatened, in that terrifying way he had. It was frightening enough that the party girl, stood up straight again, looking intimidated herself as Daichi walked off to his own car. He needed a night at The Flightless Crow, even if he wasn't working.

Daishou snarled and grabbed the girl by the arm. "Where do you think you're going? We're not finished here yet, right?" he said as he shoved her lightly against Kuroo's car again, thrusting his tongue down her throat, as she happily ignored the fight for the immediate pleasure in front of her.

Slamming his car door, Daichi sped off towards The Crow.

~ ~ ~ ~

Passing Chikara at the door, only barely stopping to chat, Daichi made his way straight to the bar counter. It was a Tuesday night, so it wasn't very crowded. Tanaka was the only guy behind the bar at the moment.

"Hey, you're not on tonight are you? Noya just left," Ryu said.

"No, I'm not on. Gimme a shot, Ryu," he said. As Tanaka turned to grab the Jack Daniels, Daichi's drink of choice, the frustrated customer added, "Screw that, Tanaka. Make it a double."

"That bad?" his friend asked.

"You have no idea," Daichi lamented, placing his forehead against the cool wood of the countertop.

Hearing the sound of glass clinking down, Daichi sat up and downed the shot before passing it back to Tanaka, signaling for more.

"If you're that down in the mouth, man, I've got the perfect solution," his co-worker supplied suggestively.

"No. No. Not that, Ryu. Not tonight," he groaned.

Tanaka and Noya had just recently started trying to shove girls at their friend, after Suga had talked to them at length about how hopeless he'd been over you. The two were certain this would be the fastest way to "cure" him of his unrequited feelings.

"Come on! At least say hi, Daichi. She's totally your type," he coaxed. "Right there at the table in the corner."

With a low grumble, Daichi glanced over his shoulder, and then back to his glass...but then quickly over his shoulder once more.

"Shit," he muttered. Catching Tanaka's puzzled expression, he said, "That's (F/n)."

"That's (F/n)?! Dude. You have my sincerest sympathies that you're not hitting that," he jested, shaking his head and giving you an appreciative once over.

"Shut up, Tanaka," he demanded, features darkening. "I don't want to hear you say that kind of shit about her again, got it?"

"Whoa, Daichi! Calm the hell down. I get it," Tanaka backpedaled. "You know I was only trying to lighten the mood I didn't mean anything by it. She's off limits. I get it."

"Sorry. I'm sorry. That-that wasn't about you. I'll explain another time. I know you were trying to help, man," he offered, reaching across the bar to place a hand on Ryu's shaved head.

He stood from his stool and walked over to stand across from your table. It took a moment before your eyes finally connected and yours widened with realization.

"Daichi?" you questioned, motioning for him to sit down. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here, remember?" he asked, sitting in the seat furthest from you. It was clear you'd been crying.

"Well, yeah, but not today right? I mean, you were just at home earlier, weren't you?"

"I was. Weren't you?" he returned.

You nodded with a smirk. It seemed your head was struggling to stay upright. "Suguru called. He said he's not coming home tonight because he's pissed at me." You were staring into your empty glass, and Daichi wondered just how many of those you had already had.

"Pissed at you?" Daichi asked incredulously, not able to conceal his distaste.

"Mm," you nodded again. "Because I called you to look for him. He said he didn't know if he could be with someone that acted like a crazy stalker, and that if I wanted--" your voice trailed off. "Well... he was pissed that I called you."

You had placed your head facedown in the nest made by your crossed arms, so you missed completely the rage that flashed across Daichi's face. "(F/n)," he said, "I think you should go home."

"Why?"

"You're drunk and upset. Someone might try to take advantage of you,"

"No, they wouldn't. You wouldn't let them." The way you were staring at him burned, and he wasn't sure if the fire was because you saw right through him or because he knew his longing for you was hopeless.

"No. I wouldn't, but I still think it's a good idea for you to go home and sleep this off. You've had a bad night," he reminded. "Come on. You're not far from here. Let me walk you."

You conceded and the two of you walked along in silence, stopping when you got to the metal stairs of your apartment building. Sitting down, you patted the spot next to you, and Daichi followed. "You know, I'm not that drunk," you mentioned.

"I know," he said, "but you're still having a hell of a shitty day. I think you'll feel better at home."

You smiled and leaned into him, "You're a good friend, Daichi."

There was a long pause before you added, "Suguru said something ridiculous, you know?"

"He says a lot of ridiculous things," Daichi shot back.

"Fair...but this one was really out there. He said that you have feelings for me and that's the reason you don't like him." You laughed at the thought, but stopped when you looked up to see the solemn expression he was wearing. "Daichi."

He turned his head. Fuck that jerk. It wasn't supposed to go this way. You weren't supposed to find out like this. He wanted to be the one to tell you.

You stood and moved to sit on his other side in order to face him again. "Daichi. It is ridiculous, right? We're just good friends."

He breathed out heavily and responded, "I'm sorry."

"I see. So that's why you're always so hard on Suguru?" you questioned.

"What?! No. I don't like him because I think he's an asshole! I thought that about him before I even knew the two of you dated," he clarified. "I'm sorry, because I got you in more trouble with him, and I know you're not going to do anything about it. I'm sorry because it isn't fair for me to tell you I have feelings for you when you're seriously dating someone else, and I know that."

You stared blankly at the sky for awhile before sighing and saying, "That's funny."

Daichi had no idea what you could be referencing, at this point, until you continued, "Sugu was right about me this whole time. I'm a shitty person."

"Wha-"

"Just now, I actually thought how nice things might have been if I had only met you first. How is that the response I have? I mean, what kind of woman thinks that when she has a boyfriend that's willing to put up with her shit?"

"(F/n)! That's not fair. 'Puts up with your shit?' That's a boyfriend's damn job! You put up with way more from him! What about the way he talks to you? The way he insults you in front of others? The way he makes you feel worthless?"

"So you think I should just break up with him, then?"

Daichi's mind told him to drop it now. This wasn't the time for this conversation. You were both too raw after the evening's events. He needed the time to approach this gracefully...but he didn't stop.

"Why don't you? I know you probably don't want to hear this, but he's an awful person. You shouldn't have to put up with that."

"I know, but that's kind of my fault. I mean, that's just Suguru's personality. He gets his feelings hurt easily. It could be a lot worse. It's not like he beats me or anything."

"(F/n)! That's not something you should have to compare it to! "Doesn't beat me" isn't the measure for a decent boyfriend! That doesn't mean you have to deal with the abuse he's putting you through!"

"Stop it, Daichi. Don't call it abuse," you ordered, features growing irritated. "He's just a jerk sometimes, but I know he means well. He really loves me. You don't see how he is with me when he's doing well."

His heart was breaking for you, watching you justify that disgusting behavior of your boyfriend's, while beating yourself up over something that had been completely innocent and completely set up. "He literally just left you at dinner tonight...alone, because he felt like coming to pick a fight with me. He left you!"

"That's not why he left. He left because I hurt his feelings. I really have been talking about you a lot. I'm always doing stuff like that. You don't know, Daichi, but I really can be such a bitch sometimes."

"Are you kidding me, right now? That's him talking! I've heard him say crap like that about you. I heard him say shit like that tonight! I don't understand you on this, (F/n). Just tell him to fuck off. You're so much better than he treats you. Why are you letting him do this?"

You rolled your eyes and shook your head, indicating clearly that you still thought Daichi had no idea what he was actually talking about. "Because he's always right! I mean, look at us right now! Why are we even fighting? You're jealous because he's dating me and you feel like you're a better man for the job, right? Just like he said!"

"A fucking dog is a better man for the job than Daishou!" he shouted angrily.

With that statement, he'd gone too far. He could see it all over your face. All he wanted to do this evening was to be there for you to talk to if you wanted. He had only meant to lend a listening ear, and now you were shouting at each other...exactly as that damned snake had wanted.

He realized much too late that it didn't matter if it was exactly what you needed to hear. You weren't ready to hear it and you didn't want to hear it. You were angry at Daichi now and couldn't understand why he was trying to undo your relationship. In your opinion, he was your friend, so he should be supportive of what you wanted, especially when it came to your partner. Suguru took good care of you, for the most part, and if Daichi wasn't willing to admit that, then maybe the two of you weren't really friends in the first place.

You told him to back the hell off, and he did. He left you there, knowing when Daishou decided to show back up after screwing around with whatever girl he was with, that Daichi was responsible now for shoving you straight into his arms. He could picture that smug "I told you so" expression. He could see Daishou curled around you, comforting you, whispering how you should always just listen to him...making you believe that it was only jealousy that caused Daichi say those things...echoing over and over again how stupid you were for not trusting your "loving" boyfriend in the first place.

His threat from earlier in the evening had indeed come true, and Daichi was completely at a loss on what to do about it now.

The next few months were hell on Sawamura. You began avoiding him in class and afterwards, only speaking in short, clipped answers when you had to. That was bad enough, but eventually you started speaking that way with everyone. Your smile had all but vanished. You didn't get a dreamy look when you were lost in thought. It was more a look of anxiety and fear, constantly checking your phone and walking with your head down.

Daichi was angry with himself for falling face first into Daishou's trap, because you feeling betrayed by your friend provided the exact catalyst Daishou needed to isolate you more and more from any help you might receive-- making you more and more dependent on him.

Daichi tried to approach your other friends with his concerns. They were worried, too, but looked as defeated as he felt, all having basically the same things to offer.

"We know. We've talked to her about. She knows what we think, but she's not going to do anything about it. She's somehow got to come to the same conclusion on her own. Nothing we say or do makes any difference. He really has her convinced that he's top dog and no one else could ever love her or put up with her and if they did, they would be a loser compared to him. All we can do is be here when she needs us."

That wasn't what he wanted to hear. He knew it was the only option, but waiting and watching you go through this pain was eating him alive. He wanted to tell you that it wasn't because he was jealous. That didn't have anything to do with it. As far as he was concerned, he could live never talking to you again if it would make you agree to break free of Daishou. However, he knew nothing he could say would convince you of that. Daishou's coils were wound much too tightly by now, and without you being in any physical danger, all he could do was wait.

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**Warning: College AU with some serious lemon...don't read if it's not for you! This is the same AU as the Asahi story "I'm Into You." The story also contains adult language and depictions of a mentally/emotionally abusive relationship. If you like the character Suguru Daishou, you're probably not going to like this story.**

Listen here first for the song that inspired the piece: [link]
(Honestly, something I'd never thought of as sexy til now)

Lo-Fang - "You're the One That I Want"

In the storeroom of the bar, The Flightless Crow, Daichi Sawamura was very occupied. He was pressed against the wall, feeling incredibly turned on, as soft lips sucked hard against his neck, his head falling back, mouth opening in a silent gasp. No one would have heard him anyway, with the noise of the crowd and the live band out in the main bar.

The boys at the Crow were always setting him up with the most gorgeous customers, as if it were some kind of medicine to cure their hopeless friend. There were plenty of women each night that had their eyes on the attractive bartender. Besides being exceptionally fit, Daichi had an approachable smile and could draw anyone to him. He made excellent tips, which is the main reason he still worked at his friend Asahi's bar, even though he was swamped with university classes in his effort to become a lawyer one day.

The girl Tanaka and Noya had set him up with that evening was sexy and flirty and certainly not shy...and an extremely good kisser. He tried not to moan as she worked her tongue eagerly over his. The only problem Daichi could find with her was the same one he encountered every time his co-workers attempted to get their pal laid.

Eyes pinched shut, images of (h/c) hair slipping through his fingers, (e/c) eyes watching him with that lusty expression other girls gave him, your skin at the end of his fingertips, and sweat beading between the two of you as your naked bodies writhed together would not. stop. coming. Every time. Even now.

Swallowing hard and growling at getting himself in this situation again, Daichi gripped the girl's shoulders and pushed her gently back.

"I'm sorry," he said.

There it was. That same confused look that he knew would next turn to concern before dropping off into annoyance and anger.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Don't like it?"

He shook his head rapidly, still trying to catch his breath. "It's not that. It's not you."

"Oh hell. You can't be serious with that line!"

Daichi shook his head again, still chasing images of you away. "You didn't do anything. You were...you were great. But I can't do this."

He was already quickly walking out of the storeroom while she asked, "Why the hell not?"

"I'm sorry. Really," he added, continuing to head straight for the office. It was always the same. He could never follow through.

"C'mon, man! Not again," Noya's voice came briefly, before it was swallowed by the noisy crowd.

He ignored Asahi's concerned gaze and Tanaka stopping and apologizing more to the poor girl. Stepping into the office, he closed and locked the door, before sitting on the sofa Asahi had for guests. He growled again, deeply irritated with himself, and placed his elbows on his knees, head in his hands.

Heels tapping nervously in place, shaking his whole person with anxiety, he cursed to no one, "Damn it!"

His eyes were still squeezed shut as he tried reasoning with himself. "You have to stop doing this. Get over it. She's not yours, asshole. She's not yours." Daichi couldn't help but sigh dejectedly, running both hands roughly through his close-cropped black strands.

"Augh!" he heaved out loudly, leaning back into the couch. "Fuck."

He heard a key twisting in the lock of the office door, followed by a familiar knock.

"Yeah, it's fine. I'm fine, Asahi," he called, door swinging open to let the Crow's owner inside.

The huge guy looked intimidating to pretty much anyone who saw the size of his muscles accompanied by his height, but to Daichi he looked like a timid, concerned mouse...a big mouse, sure, but it didn't change the fact that his shy-by-nature friend had a heart of glass. Right now, Daichi could see worry creased deep into Azumane's forehead. He stayed silent for a minute as he took a seat, gauging the situation to see if Daichi was too testy to talk.

Rubbing the back of his neck and letting out a short nervous laugh, Asahi asked, "Why do you keep letting them set you up, if this is the way it always turns out?"

"I don't know!" Daichi complained loudly, before adding more to himself, "I don't know. Their idea isn't horrible, is it? I mean, it's bound to work sometime, right? It's not good for me to have had these feelings for (F/n) for so long."

The leg was back to bouncing anxiously.

"Can't you just try telling her how you feel again? She's not dating that dickhead anymore, is she?"

His leg froze at the reminder that you had ever been dating "that dickhead." A scowl crossed his face as he looked up at Asahi. The expression must have been intimidating, because his boss looked slightly terrified.

Consciously relaxing his muscles, he sighed and answered, "No. No, she finally dumped him, but now isn't a good time. She's been seeing someone to talk about all the abuse he put her through. I don't want to feel like I'm taking advantage of her or to just be a rebound guy. You know she's more important to me than that."

"I know, but it's been a few months, right? How long are you going to leave her in the dark on this?"

"Leave her in the...? I'm just trying to protect her."

Asahi muttered something to himself, and when Daichi called for him to repeat himself, he started shaking like a leaf.

Voice timid, Asahi started, "You were at first."

He shrunk instantly at Daichi's harsh glare, but then he cleared his throat and sat up straighter. Speaking more clearly, he offered, "You're not going to like hearing this, but it's pretty obvious to everyone that you're only protecting yourself at this point."

Sawamura felt his fists clench and felt anger bubbling up at the accusation. He reminded himself that Asahi never confronted him on anything. It wasn't his style. So for him to be doing so...

"You're right," Daichi sighed. "You're right. I'm a coward. I don't even know how I got here. I've been telling myself all this time that I could make her happy if that asshole was just out of my way, but now that he is I--"

He sighed loudly again, "How do I even do this, Asahi? Where am I supposed to start? 'So, hey, (F/n). You know how I told you once that I had feelings for you? Well, it's more than that. I've spent the better part of the last two years wanting to murder your piece of shit boyfriend while being hopelessly in love with you. Wanna go out?'"

Azumane looked back at him like he was something pitiable. "I know you're joking, but some of that bluntness wouldn't be so off-the-mark, I think." Daichi rolled his eyes, and Asahi moved to sit beside him, clasping a hand firmly on his shoulder. "Look. Why don't you just go home tonight? It's not as crowded as usual. The three of us out there can handle it."

Considering for a moment, Sawamura responded with, "Yeah. Okay, I guess."

After wishing the other guys goodbye and gathering his things, Daichi started towards the apartment he shared with four other guys, mind replaying how he had gotten to know you, in the first place. The whole way home, he couldn't help but think that he'd already squandered his chances with you long ago.

= = = = =

The two of you had first met in a political sciences course, along with his roommates Koushi Sugawara, Tetsurou Kuroo, and Koutarou Bokuto. Another volleyball player from their youth was also in the class; Tooru Oikawa.

It took no time at all for him to become interested in you. You were friendly and personable and greeted him daily with a smile he couldn't ignore. Three or four classes into the semester, he began walking you to your next class, even though there was a shorter way he could have walked to his own next class, just to be able to talk with you longer.

The more the two of you chatted, the fonder of you he became. Your sense of humor meshed perfectly with his. The way certain things would get you excited, sending you tearing off on some enthusiastic rant made him feel warm inside, like your passion was his. He found you adorable in those moments, and in the moments when you were lost in thought with a quiet, dreamy look to your (e/c) eyes, he found you beyond beautiful.

He realized more and more that he wanted to be the reason you got excited like that...the reason for your quiet daydreaming. He had just about worked up the nerve to confess, when one day you left more quickly after class one day, calling, "I'll see you on Wednesday, Daichi! My boyfriend promised we'd meet for lunch today!"

Two months. It had taken Daichi a full two months before he even became aware that you had a boyfriend, and it came like a kick in the gut. He should have known someone like you would already be seeing somebody. As far as he was concerned, you were perfect and of course, you deserved a man that appreciated you for all that you were. He couldn't help but feel slightly jealous, but if this was a guy that made you smile, then how could he really be angry.

So then, Daichi felt like he might actually be sick, when he realized who it was. It was a guy he'd had the displeasure to meet a few times at some of the parties his roommates had thrown. His name was Suguru Daishou. Apparently Kuroo knew him from way back, but Daichi wasn't sure why he even showed up to these parties. Not even Kuroo seemed to actually get along with the guy.

Daishou always had something negative or disgusting to say about his girlfriend that made the other men cringe, and now that Daichi knew it was you on the other side of those taunts, it made his blood boil with anger. How could you be with some snake like that? It was beyond his comprehension. You were so smart and wonderful, and yet you were with this man who constantly degraded you. Sawamura told himself that you must not know. Daishou must not speak that way in front of you.

He wanted desperately to tell you, but was afraid that wasn't his place.

As time went on, he realized with great frustration that Daishou did get away with saying things like that to you in public. He hadn't heard it himself, but some of your other friends had approached you about it.

One time after you had rushed off after class, Oikawa stopped Daichi to say, "I was at the library with her yesterday when her boyfriend showed up. He's outrageously disgusting. You should have heard the things he was saying, but when I told him to go to hell, she got mad at me...instead of the guy that called her all sorts of names publically. I defended her, but she was mad."

Daichi was understandably worried. This wasn't a good sign. Things just continued to seem worse, the more he learned. "What should I do about it? Nobody wants to see her with that guy, but every time someone brings that up, she shuts it down or shuts them out. You're good at this stuff. You've got to have some idea."

Tooru heaved a heavy sigh and shook his head. "I'm sorry. Something is very wrong there, Sawamura, but I don't know if there's a way for us to help without her taking those first steps."

He didn't want to hear that. Daichi fixed things. He was good at holding things together, building people up, being someone people relied on. To hear that he could do nothing but sit and watch this unfold felt like such a joke. He didn't want to believe that.

Turning up at his house late one evening, he found several people already there. Suga informed him they were throwing an impromptu poker night. Among the guests was Daichi's least favorite snake in the grass. He couldn't help but glare at Daishou, as the guy leered after several of the female guests, making lewd comments about their outfits.

"What's your problem, Sawamura?" he sneered, when he finally noticed Daichi's angry gaze.

"Don't you have a girlfriend?" he asked loudly. One of the girls that had been openly flirting with Suguru got an alarmed look on her face, excusing herself quickly.

"Was that really necessary?" Daishou asked, expression icy as he placed two new cards in his hand. "Like you had any place to say something like that, anyway."

The other guys at the table felt the uncomfortable shift in the room's mood.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"(F/n)'s been talking all about her 'new friend Daichi' for months now." Even though he knew it was something completely innocent, Daichi couldn't help feeling elated at that revelation, until Daishou continued. "I hate guys like you. You're happy to just throw another guy under the bus after a little harmless flirting, but for what? You think you're some white knight protecting her honor, when I'm sure that weak little bitch would cheat on me with you in a heartbeat."

"Suguru!" Kuroo and Bokuto both growled.

"That's not true!" Daichi shouted over them. "She's not that kind of person. She would never treat you with the disrespect you treat her. She deserves better than you!"

"So you do want to fuck her. I knew it! I told her if she kept talking to you, she'd be inviting you right into her panties whether she wanted you there or not, but she never listens to me! She's a fucking idiot!"

The room stilled except for the scrape of the folding chairs and the sounds of cards and plastic chips hitting the floor. Several men rose from their seats, but they were a hair too late. Daichi had already hauled Suguru out of his seat and slammed him to the wall behind him. He was seething, raising a fist at the smug expression of victory on the asshole's lips, before Kuroo's arm was jerking his fist away, and Suga was pleading, "Don't, Daichi! It's not worth it!"

He still reared back his fist, but now Suga was close enough to softly whisper, "You'll only hurt (F/n) like this."

Releasing the tension in his arm almost immediately at those words, he let it fall to his side. Suga sighed with relief, and Kuroo let go of him and gave him a firm pat on the back.

Still angered by the accusation that he would force himself on you, Sawamura's voice was a low and dangerous growl. "Get out of my house. If you somehow forget you're not welcome so long as I'm home, I won't hesitate to punch you in the damn teeth. Got that?"

Daishou huffed out a short laugh. In his own low voice, though more a slimy sort of hiss, he taunted, "Aw, don't be so serious, Sawamura. Go ahead and hit me. You know what's going to happen, don't you? When I go home and tell (F/n) how aggressive you were, you think she's gonna run to you? No. You play that big, tough knight all you want, but ask yourself what that's going to get you. Tonight it'll still be me that's fucking her."

He truly felt the bile that rose up into his throat, hardly noticing Bokuto grabbing the guy by his collar and tossing him out the front door.

"Disgusting! Kuroo how are you even friends with that shit?" he was complaining, as Suga and a few other guests fixed the disarray of the living room. Daichi didn't bother to stick around for the answer.

He walked silently to his room, closing the door behind him. He still wanted to hit something, so he unloaded several punches into his poor, unsuspecting pillows, before flinging himself face-first into the mattress and yelling a muffled shout into the cloth.

Rolling over, he stared blankly at the ceiling, until his phone began vibrating in his back pocket. He sighed, pulling it out and looking at the screen to see your image.

Incoming Call:
SAWAMURA'S
SWEETHEART

"Damn it, Oikawa!" he said aloud. The pretty-boy had a bad habit of thinking it was utterly hilarious to change the names of the contacts in Daichi's phone during class. Daichi wasn't even sure how he always managed to sneak the phone without him noticing, but it only made it more amusing to Tooru that it seemed to take quite awhile each time before Daichi noticed. He knew this was Oikawa's handiwork, because the infuriatingly perceptive man enjoyed teasing him mercilessly for the crush he knew Daichi held for you...until after the day in the library, that is.

Reminding himself to change it back to your name later, he took a deep, steadying breath and answered the call.

"Hello."

"Hey, Daichi! It's (F/n)," came your sweet voice. It was a welcome change from the harsh voices moments earlier.

"Yeah, I know. What can I do for you?" he asked, smiling wistfully.

"This is going to sound weird, but I don't have your roommate Kuroo's number and I was wondering," there was a brief pause, "have you seen Suguru tonight?"

You might as well have punched him in the stomach. He was apparently taking too long to respond, because you continued, "I know he goes there sometimes and he hasn't been answering his phone even though..."

"He just left," Daichi interrupted, answer short and clipped. It took all of his willpower not to launch into a tirade where he would come across as a tattletale.

"Really? That's great!" you sounded relieved over the news. "Did he say anything about me, like did he seem pissed off at me or anything?"

"No," Daichi lied. He didn't really think Daishou had seemed pissed at you so much as at him, but he had, of course, mentioned you...many times...with such unwarranted venom in his tone. How was Daichi supposed to tell you that?

"That's good. That's really good," you said quietly, followed by another pause-- one long enough for Daichi to realize something.

"(F/n), are you crying?" he questioned, sitting up as his concern for you kicked into full gear.

"I just thought," you sniffed, "I thought maybe I'd done something wrong. He told me to meet him out for dinner at our favorite place, and I waited and waited and tried calling and I just..."

His heart truly ached as he pictured you sitting alone at the table, making excuses for the shithead who had never had any intention of showing up in the first place, until you left in tears.

"(F/n)?" he approached softly. "Does he do this kind of thing to you often?"

"Not really."

It wasn't a "Something like this has never happened before tonight." It wasn't even a solid "No." The rest of your statement made him want to scream.

"Only when I've done something really stupid or if I show up looking too ugly."

"You're not serious. There's no version of this where you could ever be ugly or stupid," he responded, trying to hide the exasperation.

"No version of what?" you wondered.

"Life!" he emphasized, as if it should have been clear as day. "You'd look beautiful in a worn out potato sack, (F/n). You realize that, don't you?"

You laughed and answered, "Aw. That's sweet of you! Thanks for trying to cheer me up, Daichi. You're always so nice to me."

"I wasn't saying that to be polite. You're smart and you're beautiful, and anyone who can't see that is an ass. Being friends with you means a lot to me, and hearing you feel so underappreciated pisses me off. I see you, okay? I see you and you're smart and you're beautiful." This was getting him nowhere, but he felt it had to be said, even if it did cause a long pause on the other end of the phone.

Finally you quietly replied, "Thanks. I needed something like that tonight. Sorry I was acting like such a sad-sack. I shouldn't have gotten all worked up over something like this."

Still, you were placing the blame on yourself instead of on Suguru. There really was nothing else to be added at this point and the two of you ended the conversation shortly after.

Sawamura walked outside into the cool night air to think about the evening. He noticed something that made his stomach churn, leaning against Kuroo's red car...Daishou had a girl from inside the poker night plastered to his face.

Walking over, fists clenched in his pockets he leaned against the car right next to the pair. The girl looked scandalized that he would have the audacity, while Daishou just wore that same smug-ass smirk.

"Can't you just go home to your girlfriend?" he asked, frustration and defeat apparent in his voice.

Suguru snorted. "Figured it out, huh? She needs me, and I obviously give her what she really wants because she's never going to leave me. You see how stupid she is now, right?"

"Don't call her stupid. She's going to see you for the piece of trash you are one day. I know she will," he stated confidently.

The girl that had been pressed into Suguru was trying half-heartedly to make an exit, but he wasn't allowing it. Instead he shot back, "Maybe she will, but if you think I'll let you be the one to pick up the pieces, you've got another thing coming, Sawamura."

The party girl seemed to get a thrill from his show of power, because she was back to leaning against him, distracting him with her tongue flicking in and out of his ear.

"I'm gonna tell her you want her and maybe she won't believe me, but every single thing you say or do against me is just going to look like petty jealousy afterwards, so good luck with that." He stopped talking for a moment to gasp shamelessly as the girl bit down at his neck, his hand slipping around to grope her ass. "Call her right now. Go ahead. Or hit me...I'd love to have a black eye to show her how aggressive you can get."

Knowing there was nothing he could do and still look like a good guy in your eyes was infuriating.

"She'll figure you out, and when she does, I'll still be here and I'll be more than happy to give you exactly what you're due," Daichi threatened, in that terrifying way he had. It was frightening enough that the party girl, stood up straight again, looking intimidated herself as Daichi walked off to his own car. He needed a night at The Flightless Crow, even if he wasn't working.

Daishou snarled and grabbed the girl by the arm. "Where do you think you're going? We're not finished here yet, right?" he said as he shoved her lightly against Kuroo's car again, thrusting his tongue down her throat, as she happily ignored the fight for the immediate pleasure in front of her.

Slamming his car door, Daichi sped off towards The Crow.

~ ~ ~ ~

Passing Chikara at the door, only barely stopping to chat, Daichi made his way straight to the bar counter. It was a Tuesday night, so it wasn't very crowded. Tanaka was the only guy behind the bar at the moment.

"Hey, you're not on tonight are you? Noya just left," Ryu said.

"No, I'm not on. Gimme a shot, Ryu," he said. As Tanaka turned to grab the Jack Daniels, Daichi's drink of choice, the frustrated customer added, "Screw that, Tanaka. Make it a double."

"That bad?" his friend asked.

"You have no idea," Daichi lamented, placing his forehead against the cool wood of the countertop.

Hearing the sound of glass clinking down, Daichi sat up and downed the shot before passing it back to Tanaka, signaling for more.

"If you're that down in the mouth, man, I've got the perfect solution," his co-worker supplied suggestively.

"No. No. Not that, Ryu. Not tonight," he groaned.

Tanaka and Noya had just recently started trying to shove girls at their friend, after Suga had talked to them at length about how hopeless he'd been over you. The two were certain this would be the fastest way to "cure" him of his unrequited feelings.

"Come on! At least say hi, Daichi. She's totally your type," he coaxed. "Right there at the table in the corner."

With a low grumble, Daichi glanced over his shoulder, and then back to his glass...but then quickly over his shoulder once more.

"Shit," he muttered. Catching Tanaka's puzzled expression, he said, "That's (F/n)."

"That's (F/n)?! Dude. You have my sincerest sympathies that you're not hitting that," he jested, shaking his head and giving you an appreciative once over.

"Shut up, Tanaka," he demanded, features darkening. "I don't want to hear you say that kind of shit about her again, got it?"

"Whoa, Daichi! Calm the hell down. I get it," Tanaka backpedaled. "You know I was only trying to lighten the mood I didn't mean anything by it. She's off limits. I get it."

"Sorry. I'm sorry. That-that wasn't about you. I'll explain another time. I know you were trying to help, man," he offered, reaching across the bar to place a hand on Ryu's shaved head.

He stood from his stool and walked over to stand across from your table. It took a moment before your eyes finally connected and yours widened with realization.

"Daichi?" you questioned, motioning for him to sit down. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here, remember?" he asked, sitting in the seat furthest from you. It was clear you'd been crying.

"Well, yeah, but not today right? I mean, you were just at home earlier, weren't you?"

"I was. Weren't you?" he returned.

You nodded with a smirk. It seemed your head was struggling to stay upright. "Suguru called. He said he's not coming home tonight because he's pissed at me." You were staring into your empty glass, and Daichi wondered just how many of those you had already had.

"Pissed at you?" Daichi asked incredulously, not able to conceal his distaste.

"Mm," you nodded again. "Because I called you to look for him. He said he didn't know if he could be with someone that acted like a crazy stalker, and that if I wanted--" your voice trailed off. "Well... he was pissed that I called you."

You had placed your head facedown in the nest made by your crossed arms, so you missed completely the rage that flashed across Daichi's face. "(F/n)," he said, "I think you should go home."

"Why?"

"You're drunk and upset. Someone might try to take advantage of you,"

"No, they wouldn't. You wouldn't let them." The way you were staring at him burned, and he wasn't sure if the fire was because you saw right through him or because he knew his longing for you was hopeless.

"No. I wouldn't, but I still think it's a good idea for you to go home and sleep this off. You've had a bad night," he reminded. "Come on. You're not far from here. Let me walk you."

You conceded and the two of you walked along in silence, stopping when you got to the metal stairs of your apartment building. Sitting down, you patted the spot next to you, and Daichi followed. "You know, I'm not that drunk," you mentioned.

"I know," he said, "but you're still having a hell of a shitty day. I think you'll feel better at home."

You smiled and leaned into him, "You're a good friend, Daichi."

There was a long pause before you added, "Suguru said something ridiculous, you know?"

"He says a lot of ridiculous things," Daichi shot back.

"Fair...but this one was really out there. He said that you have feelings for me and that's the reason you don't like him." You laughed at the thought, but stopped when you looked up to see the solemn expression he was wearing. "Daichi."

He turned his head. Fuck that jerk. It wasn't supposed to go this way. You weren't supposed to find out like this. He wanted to be the one to tell you.

You stood and moved to sit on his other side in order to face him again. "Daichi. It is ridiculous, right? We're just good friends."

He breathed out heavily and responded, "I'm sorry."

"I see. So that's why you're always so hard on Suguru?" you questioned.

"What?! No. I don't like him because I think he's an asshole! I thought that about him before I even knew the two of you dated," he clarified. "I'm sorry, because I got you in more trouble with him, and I know you're not going to do anything about it. I'm sorry because it isn't fair for me to tell you I have feelings for you when you're seriously dating someone else, and I know that."

You stared blankly at the sky for awhile before sighing and saying, "That's funny."

Daichi had no idea what you could be referencing, at this point, until you continued, "Sugu was right about me this whole time. I'm a shitty person."

"Wha-"

"Just now, I actually thought how nice things might have been if I had only met you first. How is that the response I have? I mean, what kind of woman thinks that when she has a boyfriend that's willing to put up with her shit?"

"(F/n)! That's not fair. 'Puts up with your shit?' That's a boyfriend's damn job! You put up with way more from him! What about the way he talks to you? The way he insults you in front of others? The way he makes you feel worthless?"

"So you think I should just break up with him, then?"

Daichi's mind told him to drop it now. This wasn't the time for this conversation. You were both too raw after the evening's events. He needed the time to approach this gracefully...but he didn't stop.

"Why don't you? I know you probably don't want to hear this, but he's an awful person. You shouldn't have to put up with that."

"I know, but that's kind of my fault. I mean, that's just Suguru's personality. He gets his feelings hurt easily. It could be a lot worse. It's not like he beats me or anything."

"(F/n)! That's not something you should have to compare it to! "Doesn't beat me" isn't the measure for a decent boyfriend! That doesn't mean you have to deal with the abuse he's putting you through!"

"Stop it, Daichi. Don't call it abuse," you ordered, features growing irritated. "He's just a jerk sometimes, but I know he means well. He really loves me. You don't see how he is with me when he's doing well."

His heart was breaking for you, watching you justify that disgusting behavior of your boyfriend's, while beating yourself up over something that had been completely innocent and completely set up. "He literally just left you at dinner tonight...alone, because he felt like coming to pick a fight with me. He left you!"

"That's not why he left. He left because I hurt his feelings. I really have been talking about you a lot. I'm always doing stuff like that. You don't know, Daichi, but I really can be such a bitch sometimes."

"Are you kidding me, right now? That's him talking! I've heard him say crap like that about you. I heard him say shit like that tonight! I don't understand you on this, (F/n). Just tell him to fuck off. You're so much better than he treats you. Why are you letting him do this?"

You rolled your eyes and shook your head, indicating clearly that you still thought Daichi had no idea what he was actually talking about. "Because he's always right! I mean, look at us right now! Why are we even fighting? You're jealous because he's dating me and you feel like you're a better man for the job, right? Just like he said!"

"A fucking dog is a better man for the job than Daishou!" he shouted angrily.

With that statement, he'd gone too far. He could see it all over your face. All he wanted to do this evening was to be there for you to talk to if you wanted. He had only meant to lend a listening ear, and now you were shouting at each other...exactly as that damned snake had wanted.

He realized much too late that it didn't matter if it was exactly what you needed to hear. You weren't ready to hear it and you didn't want to hear it. You were angry at Daichi now and couldn't understand why he was trying to undo your relationship. In your opinion, he was your friend, so he should be supportive of what you wanted, especially when it came to your partner. Suguru took good care of you, for the most part, and if Daichi wasn't willing to admit that, then maybe the two of you weren't really friends in the first place.

You told him to back the hell off, and he did. He left you there, knowing when Daishou decided to show back up after screwing around with whatever girl he was with, that Daichi was responsible now for shoving you straight into his arms. He could picture that smug "I told you so" expression. He could see Daishou curled around you, comforting you, whispering how you should always just listen to him...making you believe that it was only jealousy that caused Daichi say those things...echoing over and over again how stupid you were for not trusting your "loving" boyfriend in the first place.

His threat from earlier in the evening had indeed come true, and Daichi was completely at a loss on what to do about it now.

The next few months were hell on Sawamura. You began avoiding him in class and afterwards, only speaking in short, clipped answers when you had to. That was bad enough, but eventually you started speaking that way with everyone. Your smile had all but vanished. You didn't get a dreamy look when you were lost in thought. It was more a look of anxiety and fear, constantly checking your phone and walking with your head down.

Daichi was angry with himself for falling face first into Daishou's trap, because you feeling betrayed by your friend provided the exact catalyst Daishou needed to isolate you more and more from any help you might receive-- making you more and more dependent on him.

Daichi tried to approach your other friends with his concerns. They were worried, too, but looked as defeated as he felt, all having basically the same things to offer.

"We know. We've talked to her about. She knows what we think, but she's not going to do anything about it. She's somehow got to come to the same conclusion on her own. Nothing we say or do makes any difference. He really has her convinced that he's top dog and no one else could ever love her or put up with her and if they did, they would be a loser compared to him. All we can do is be here when she needs us."

That wasn't what he wanted to hear. He knew it was the only option, but waiting and watching you go through this pain was eating him alive. He wanted to tell you that it wasn't because he was jealous. That didn't have anything to do with it. As far as he was concerned, he could live never talking to you again if it would make you agree to break free of Daishou. However, he knew nothing he could say would convince you of that. Daishou's coils were wound much too tightly by now, and without you being in any physical danger, all he could do was wait.