Hinata really should know better than this. He should really know, it should've been a given, that he couldn't just fall in love with one of his seniors. But here he was, holding a light purple piece of paper tightly in his hand as he stood outside of Kuroo Tetsurou's dorm room.
His hand holding the paper was shaking. He knew exactly what was on that paper. He'd read it over and over again, folded and refolded it until it was worn and dog-eared. It was, of course, a confession. Hinata knew how much of a cliché that was, but then again, so was the possibility of Kuroo liking him back.
The ginger swallowed thickly and raised his other hand to knock on the door. His hand shook and trembled and he started to pull it back, rethink, walk away and try again another day, when the door opened.
Sharp eyes were upon him and Hinata almost ran away, face heating up and blood roaring. His heart hammered against his chest and he swore he couldn't feel his toes anymore because all of the blood was in his face.
"Oh, hey Hinata. What's that?"
Kuroo gestured at the paper and Hinata stumbled over his words. "Oh! Uh, w-well it's sup- it's supposed to be for you but- I uh-"
The taller boy reached forward and Hinata was too busy trying to keep his cool from being so close to stop him from snatching the letter out of his hands.
"Oh, sh- wait, I-"
But Kuroo was already reading it. Hinata wanted to curl up, run away, fade out, something, anything to get away. But he wouldn't stop now. He couldn't. So he settled for staring at his shoes determinedly. The left shoe's bow was pretty loose. Maybe he should tie it again.
"I. Uh, well. You know, Shou-um. Hinata-"
Hinata refused to look up. He wanted to cry. Kuroo was going to reject him, leave him, he probably wouldn't even want to be friends anymore. Especially since Hinata put little hearts over the i's instead of dots. What college freshman boy put hearts over the i's? Really, he should've thought this through more.
"Shouyou."
Large but slender hands were suddenly at his face, cupping his cheeks, lifting him up to stare directly into Kuroo's dark feline eyes. Hinata squeaked, about to jump away, when he realized that the taller boy didn't look grossed out or angry or anything. There was a light blush dusting his cheeks, and he looked…happy. From this close up, Hinata could make out faint freckles. And Kuroo's lips looked so soft. He wondered, briefly, what it would be like to kiss him, before he shut his eyes tightly in an attempt to block out the thought.
And suddenly he didn't have to wonder anymore.