Chapter Three
-❤- Nocturne -❤-
The next day, Kageyama didn't see Hinata until his third class of the day, composition. For some reason, he felt unusually excited when he finally caught a glimpse of him, and when their eyes met, his heart nearly dropped out of his chest when Hinata smiled and gave him a tiny wave from where he was sitting in the top corner of the classroom, separated from the others, as per usual.
Kageyama shoved the sign language book he'd been reading deep into his bag and sat down two rows down from him, hiding his flush inside his composition binder. This was terrible. No good at all. If he was going to become a blubbering mess whenever Hinata was close, there was absolutely no way he was going to survive the entire year. Just no way.
And Hinata certainly wasn't making it any easier. When Kageyama inevitably glanced back at him, he nailed him in the shoulder with a poorly balled-up note and held a finger to his lips in a silent shush, holding back a smile. Kageyama whipped around and clutched at his head as he took a moment to calm himself down before carefully unfolding the message. You never told me your name.
He glanced at the boy once more before writing a hasty response and throwing it back while the instructor was looking away. It's Kageyama Tobio.
From the corner of his eye, he caught Hinata beaming as he scribbled back. How do you like the school so far? It can be pretty confusing to new students considering how big it is.
Kageyama's pencil hovered over the paper as he bit his lip anxiously. Okay, new plan; we're not ignoring him now. We're getting to know him. And this is the perfect opportunity! Ask him to show you around! Kageyama's brain moved his hand for him and tossed the note back over his shoulder before his rational half could chicken out. Yeah, it is confusing. Maybe you could show me around.
He buried his face in his hands and snuck a glance at Hinata, who was busy writing, with a silent whine of agony. He was acting so embarrassing... like a twelve-year-old with a crush. Which was ridiculous; utterly ridiculous. Kageyama didn't get crushes. Everyone was disgusting or annoying, which therefore annihilated all possible forms of romantic interest. Unless, apparently, they were redheaded, deaf, and miniature.
The paper zinged over his shoulder and struck Kageyama's left hand, which scooped it up despite his anxiety. Sure! I've been here for a while so I know my way around pretty well. I also heard you play the violin? That's amazing! I was only ever good at the piano, but we should try a duet sometime! I've never done one before and I really want to hear you play. We could meet in the music room after class!
"Gah..." Just the way he wrote gave Kageyama a good sense of his personality, all run-on sentences, exclamation marks, and raw enthusiasm. He found himself grimacing as the words shouted themselves out in his head and he tried to press the mute button. A duet? No way. I haven't done one since... He cringed and brushed away the painful memory, forcing himself to pick up his pencil and write back. Sure, I'll meet you in the music room, but I really can't do a duet. I left my violin back in my room.
Hinata frowned behind him but seemed to recover quickly, throwing him back the note within a few seconds. That's fine! We'll play together some other time. Anyway, the professor will take roll soon, so we should pay attention. He pointed at the front of the room for emphasis when Kageyama glanced back at him and he felt his chest seize again.
Adorable... I'm such a dead man.
After comp ended, Hinata pranced down the row enthusiastically to meet Kageyama by the door, beaming like a miniature sun. Kageyama glanced away and his mind flashed back to the signs he'd been studying. Facing his redheaded compatriot, he hesitantly raised his hand and tried out one of them. His fingers felt stiff and awkward compared to the ones he'd seen Hinata's deft fingers pull off, but he still wanted to attempt to breach their language barrier.
To his surprise, Hinata laughed and shook his head meaningfully, grabbing Kageyama's hand and fixing it, much to the detriment of his heart. Like this, the shorter boy mouthed carefully, moving his hand again in the proper way. You were saying something else. His brown eyes sparkled with laughter as he released Kageyama's hand and moved out of the classroom, leaving him to follow behind uselessly, trying not to faint.
Pull yourself together, Tobio. Game face, game face, game face.
They rounded the corner and Hinata sort of skipped to a stop, pulling a key from his pocket and inserting it into the lock. The door clicked and the two entered, Kageyama hesitating for a moment at the threshold before stepping inside. It was hard to explain, but he almost felt like he was intruding. The only one who ever used this room seemed to be Hinata, and by entering, he felt like a stranger trespassing on private grounds.
Hinata didn't seem to mind, however, and beckoned him farther in, setting his bag down and going to rummage around in a nearby cabinet. Kageyama set his own stuff down and glanced around the small room curiously. There wasn't much to it—just a piano, some music stands, and a few bookshelves—but there was a sort of happy feeling to it, like lots of laughter had filled the place.
With a crashing sound, Hinata stumbled out of the closet wielding a case that was nearly the side of his torso, placing it gently into Kageyama's hands with a wide smile. I forgot this was in here! He signed and mouthed the words at the same time, which was a little bit confusing, but also a little cute. Now we can play a duet together!
Before Kageyama could get a word in edgewise, Hinata pulled him over to the piano and sat down on the bench, pulling up the cover. This time, he pulled out a pad of paper and reverted to writing. Nocturne in C Sharp Minor. Do you know it?
"Eh, I— I really can't play a duet," Kageyama insisted nervously, trying to hand him back the violin case. "It's just... not my thing."
Hinata frowned at him, but just as before, he couldn't seem to stay upset for more than a few seconds and grinned. I'll play for you then, he mouthed, gesturing between them. He gently took the case out of Kageyama's hands and set it on the floor out of the way before tugging him down by the wrist. Realizing what he wanted, Kageyama took a seat next to him on the bench and Hinata's eyes turned up at the corners as he set his fingers against the keys with a more somber smile.
As he began playing, Kageyama recognized the song—Nocturne, as he'd suggested, but a piano-only version. The song was perfect; the key work exquisite and notes lilting. Just like with every other piece Kageyama had heard him play, Hinata changed the tone entirely, though now the element had changed from sadness to excitement, and he played the piece with enthusiasm and an upbeat tempo change. It was astounding how he could take a song and twist it to fit his emotions—almost like he himself was a composer.
It was so happy, Kageyama couldn't help but want to play along, and although they'd only just met, Hinata's smiling face as he played the song told Kageyama all he really needed to know about him.
Later that night, after dinner and a shower, Kageyama sat cross-legged on his bed and played his violin. He wanted to try Nocturne after hearing Hinata play it so beautifully, and as expected, it sounded perfect, although he couldn't change the tone like the other boy had done, which proved equal parts frustrating and mystifying. Despite having become acquainted with him, Hinata Shōyō remained a mystery.
Kageyama wasn't entirely sure if that mystery was really in need of solving. As long as he could keep listening to that soft sound, maybe he would be alright with letting the riddle roam free. Really, the way he played was just... astounding. Kageyama wanted to record it and listen to it for hours and hours on end, though if he told Hinata that, he'd probably call him crazy.
His bow finished the last note of Nocturne and Kageyama's arm stilled as he let the instrument drop to his lap, staring out the window with a sigh. The night was cloudless and the moon hung in full brilliance in the sky, illuminating the school grounds in a coating of silver. Kageyama could see several constellations and traced them with his eyes, running a finger along his violin absentmindedly.
Maybe he should try a duet. Even if it hadn't gone well the last time, or any of the times before, Hinata wasn't like everyone else. He seemed different; reliable. If Kageyama could just get past a few of his barriers, he was sure they'd make an excellent team. Maybe Hinata could finally heal the whole that so many others had widened and cure him of his inability to perform an accompaniment. If he could, it would take his musical career to new heights.
But still... Kageyama grimaced and his hand tightened on the bow, almost protectively. I can't know that for sure. What if I try and it's like all the other times?
He placed his violin back in the case gently and closed it with a soft, regretful exhalation. He really wanted to open up, but no matter how hard he tried to persuade himself, it always ended in him backing out like a coward. He just couldn't push himself past those dreadful feelings of failure and regret; of everyone's voices echoing negatively in his head, telling him that he'd never become anything.
His violin was the only one that was always there for him. Of course, Kageyama knew it was unhealthy to shove everyone away, but the memories kept him tied down while the music persuaded him to stay there. But maybe he had it easy. Hinata was deaf, but he could somehow still play the piano with so much beauty and meaningfulness. He'd really have to ask him about that sometime...
Nevertheless, he needed to get a grip, because it was nearing ten o'clock, and he still had homework to get done, not to mention polishing his violin and making his bed. Still, his mind refused to stop lingering on thoughts of Hinata and his proposal for a duet. He'd seemed so earnest—Kageyama had never seen anyone so earnest before, actually—and he hadn't even been mad when Kageyama refused: He'd just offered to play for him instead of with him.
What kind of person was like that? No one he'd ever met before, that was for sure. But dammit, it was endearing. So stupidly, grossly, irritatingly endearing. It was like God had taken a bit of every good quality and mixed it into one tiny, redheaded package—which was incapable of speaking, but still idiotically perfect in Kageyama's eyes.
Honestly, he kept telling himself to stop hanging around him and to cut himself off before he got too attached, but every time he saw Hinata, his mind did a 180 and he stuck to him like a magnet. That dumbass pianist idiot had some kind of creepy witchy pull on him that made him act completely stupid whenever Kageyama was within ten feet of him, and by God, he knew if he didn't cure this quickly, he'd definitely fall head over heels for Hinata Shōyō in no time at all.
And that was forbidden. Absolutely, totally out of the question. Even if he was short and endearing and adorable and played the piano like damn Mozart's reincarnation, he was off limits. Off. Limits. Kageyama just needed to keep a check on himself to make sure he didn't get himself into trouble.
But that seemed to be very hard to do, especially considering their note from class was still folded up in his pocket.
A/N: Yay, two chapters in one day ;-; I've done the impossible. I just started listening to a classical music playlist and got super inspired and started spitting out words like a lottery machine...
Anyway, the song performed in this chapters (there are sort of 2) would be Chopin's Nocturne, either the piano version (Op. 9 No. 2) or the piano/cello duet version minus the piano (Nocturne in C Sharp Minor). Once again, feel free to leave corrections in the review section, follow/fav the story if you're enjoying the content, and I'll see you all next time ;)
