Chapter Text
He’s not sure what wakes him up: the on off of the sparsely placed streetlamps turning into a solid light against his eyelids, the hum of the engine dropping to the steady rumble of idleness, or the door sliding open.
“Is something wrong?” He’s asking the question out of an instinct he had never expected having, words tumbling from his mouth rough and slurred before he can even blink his eyes open.
“Oh not a thing. Just want a few minutes of fresh air and a quick walk to stretch my legs.” Takeda laughs softly and pats his head as he stands and steps off the bus.
Keishin gives the team on the bus behind him a quick glance, double checking that everyone is fast asleep except Yamaguchi who gives him a sleepy half smile before leaning his head against the window and closing his eyes, before stepping off himself.
The cool night air is a sharp change from the stuffy bus and it seeks out what tiredness was left in him and snuffs it out before he even finishes stretching. Takeda is a few feet away, rocking on his heels and humming some tune as he peers up at the starry sky. Keishin watches him for a couple minutes as the moonlight reflects off his glasses and he wonders if the kids know just how damn lucky they are to have this man as a faculty advisor. This man has pushed his way through hell for the team for no other reason than because he wanted to give them opportunities.
A tiny part of him is jealous of the kids and wonders if he would have been someone a little different by now if he had had a teacher like Takeda in his life back then.
“Hey,” he calls out softly, “how far out are we?”
The humming stops and Takeda glances over to him. “Just a few more hours and we’ll be home safe and sound.” His words are punctuated with a yawn that surprises him if the look on his face is anything to go by.
“Let’s switch it up.”
“Oh that’s alright I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure you would be. But I haven’t driven yet for this round and I’m wide awake now.” Takeda opens his mouth but Keishin shakes his head and gives him a look he knows he usually uses on the team. “No. Just let me drive for awhile.”
Takeda smiles at him with a fondness he’s finally getting used to seeing directed his way before turning his eyes skyward again. They stand in companionable silence just staring up at the stars until a sleepy voice draws their attention back to the bus.
“Everything okay?” Sugawara peers out at them as he rubs his eyes.
“Just taking a minute and swapping drivers. Go back to sleep.” The teen nods sleepily and stumbles back to his seat. “After you.” Keishin gestures to the bus and Takeda lets out a soft laugh. He mumbles something as Keishin settles into the driver’s seat and he twists to look over his shoulder at the teacher. “What was that?”
“I said the kids are lucky to have a coach like you.” The sleepy mumble barely reaches his ears and he watches with amusement as Takeda drifts off to sleep before he even puts the bus into drive.
Some days he wasn’t sure which meant more: the fact that the kids trusted him or that a man like Takeda trusted him.