"Come on, Shou-nee! Wake up, wake up!" Natsu clambered over to her brother, still lying face down (a fallen soldier, indeed), before grabbing his ankles. Shouyou cracked his eyes open wearily as his little sister tried to pull him by his ankles. Wasn't it Saturday? What was Natsu doing? "Stop," He mumbled, scrambling for his phone.
He squinted as the bright light came into focus. Nope, it was Friday. So close, right? Hinata closed his eyes, suddenly feeling sticky under the (rather thin) comforter. It was only June but Hinata nearly soaked his bed with how much he sweated last night. He scrambled out of bed, wiping the sweat dripping down his neck. He cringed at the smell. He had to get ready but he'll probably smell disgusting, considering he just leaked out his entire body weight in sweat. When was summer vacation again?
"Come on! Mom is making breakfast." Hinata stumbled, his vision blurring at how he suddenly got up ('Am I going blind?' A voice snickered in his head, 'No, idiot, it's the lack of oxygen in your brain." How did Tsukishima get a voice in his internal thoughts, again?) Hinata nodded, "Get out of my room!" He looked around at his room, disheveled (like usual), with his sheets on the floor and his clothes completely soaked. Great.
Jumping into the shower (for 2 minutes- he was still going to be late) he changed with the enthusiasm of someone on death row. He kept the lights off, 'Better to risk slipping and falling in the shower then getting a brain aneurysm because of how bright it is.' Hinata rubbed his face, he never had a headache this bad before. 'Does mom even have headache medicine?'
He picked up his phone ( now on low light) seeing that he got a text from 'Tobio-kun' (Hinata smiled weakly at that, even if his stomach is still twisted) "Good morning, asshole. Are you coming to school?"
Hinata stared at it. That's a strange question- Hinata always goes to school, no matter what. Could it be Kageyama actually cares ? Hinata typed away, "Yeah. Give me a second, I'll be there."
Hinata was going to ride his bike, but just going downstairs gave him some kind of motion sickness that left him keeling over for a second. He looked at the time- yeah, no time. He hopped on his bike anyway, gritting his teeth and bearing as he pedaled up the hills. 'This is harder than when Daichi makes us do wind sprints..' Hinata got down the mountain, letting out a sigh of relief that sounded more like a heave.
He looked up to Kageyama after getting off his bike, who seemed perfectly fine. Hinata guessed it was a cool day, the slight breeze in the early summer was cold to his overheated skin. He runs over to him. "Hey! Let's go!" Hinata smiled, wincing at the ache behind his throat.
Walking with Kageyama, he's really glad he bought his sweater. For being the summertime, it was so cold to Hinata. "Hey, Bakayama, is it strangely cold today or something?" He coughed, bending over as he rubbed his chest, trying to soothe the dull ache. Kageyama stepped away, "Cover your mouth!" Hinata glared up at him, " I need to cover my mouth? I bet you never do! You're disgusting," Kageyama rolled his eyes, a sour look crossing his face. "Of course I do. And anyway, no, it's not cold. It's perfectly fine, why?"
Hinata looked at Kageyama's attire- a white t-shirt with his khaki's. It's what most normal students wore during the summer, but.. "Nothing.." Hinata shook his head, looking away. "It's just cold, to me."
Hinata could feel Kageyama's gaze on him still. 'What is he trying to do? Read all my secrets by staring at me? It's like when he met Kenma all over again..' Kageyama stopped walking, Hinata looking back to stare at him. Kageyama took his bike from his hands, Hinata furrowing his eyebrows. He'd try to wrestle Kageyama back for it, but his body is currently giving that a big 'No.' "What do you want?" Hinata sniffled, rubbing his nose with the edge of his sleeve. His nose was like a faucet today. Urgh.
Kageyama stared at this scene. "I'll get it. It's fine." Kageyama walked ahead, and Hinata stared on at him. "Wait! What are you doing? I don't need help, Bakayama!" Hinata rushed to meet up with him, as Kageyama stared straight ahead, before turning to snap at him again. "Worry about clearing the snot off your face before running around, you look stupid." Hinata wiped his nose, finding nothing. 'What is Kageyama going on about anyways.. Ahh..' If Hinata looked hard enough, he would swear the boy's face was flushed. And this time, Hinata theorizes it wasn't just the June heat on that 'chilly' day.
Hinata may still be burning at an impossible heat (he can feel his shirt stick to his body- he's 15 minutes into his first class, and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat) but at least he can actually smell stuff now. He lays his head on his desk, vision blurring as he feels his energy drain from the humid weather. At least the desk feels cool in comparison to his boiling face. Hinata bemoans the summer, there's no air conditioner, and unlike outside there's no breeze to chill down his body. He closes his eyes, his pulsing headache ebbing as his vision fills with darkness, a reprieve from the constant light and sounds bombarding his vision.
He gets scolded by his professor, again, and stays afterwards to discuss respecting elders by paying attention. He tries to pay attention while wiping the sweat off his face.
Hinata's relaxing (as much as one can while also shivering and sweating) outside when he spots Kageyama coming out of the building. He waved to him, they usually don't sit here, but relaxing under a tree is better than their usual spot in the sun- it's burning and Hinata is pretty sure he'll throw up if he gets any hotter. If Hinata squints harder enough he'd see Kageyama's confused face, before he redirects his path towards him.
Kageyama sets his stuff down, before handing a milk box to Hinata. Hinata stares at it, complexed. He can already imagine Kageyama's blank face turning sour when he says so "What? Have you never seen a milk carton before? Take it." Hinata cautiously takes it from him, as if Kageyama was a wild animal that could bite at any moment. It felt heavy in his palm, and wet from the perspiration coming off. Hinata felt thirsty at the sight, reminding him of the sore throat he had.
Kageyama took out his bento, tilapia and rice. Boring, like usual. He stared at Hinata, who was still looking at the carton in his hand. "Well, drink it, you're just letting it get warm." He said, taking a drink from his own box of milk. Hinata nodded, taking a large drink. "Why did you get this for me?" He turned to Kageyama, but looking at Kageyama's unimpressed face he backtracked, "I mean! I like it and all, don't take it like that, but.. I don't know.." He trailed off at the end, feeling silly when he didn't get an answer back.
Kageyama looked down, quickly finding something interesting in his lunch. "I don't know." He looked away from Hinata, but Hinata could imagine the scowl adorning his face, such as when he tried to answer a question (and got it wrong), or when the vending machine ran out of juice in the mornings. "You're sick, because your immune system is wimpy," Kageyama seemed to be deaf and ignored Hinata's cry at that, "just like how your so short, because you lack nutrients. The team doesn't need you getting any more sick on us so close to regionals. So stop acting like your fine and get better before I make you regret being so stupid."
Hinata stared on at Kageyama. There was a lot of mixed messages and confusing signals from that one sentence alone, but Hinata, using his handy-dandy 'Kageyama translator' (translates up to 10 regional dialects! From morning grumpiness to when he's begrudgingly pleased!) could probably guess that what Kageyama was saying was… Overall nice, overall sweet.
Against the non-existent doctor's orders (and Kageyama's) he launches himself into Kageyama's side, wrapping his arms around him in a clumsy hug. He overshoots his shot though and they tumble into the grass and down the hill below, with Hinata landing on top of Kageyama. Kageyama sits up, pushing Hinata off of him, with Hinata landing gently beside him. "Stop that!" Kageyama looked at Hinata like he was the insane one, and like he also wasn't acting so strange lately. Hinata looked at Kageyama's worried face, before he couldn't help smiling. And breaking out into laughter that turned into a coughing fit. He wiped tears from his eyes, a hoarse laugh shuddering in his chest. He looks up in between tears at Kageyama, sitting back in the grass, looking as relaxed and grumpy as usual. Though, the Kageyama Translator detects a smile tugging at the edges of the boy's lips, and Kageyama's eyes seem particularly warm. Hinata smiles so hard he can feel his face hurt.
In the end, they are both running to get to their next class, and they are both approximately five minutes late. Hinata's pretty sure he still has grass in his hair and grass stains on his khakis. He shuffles to his desk as the entire class stares at him, and he tastes milk on his tongue still.
Hinata jumps up at the last schoolbell for the day, gathering his stuff quickly. He's still hot and dazed, but with his sinuses clear and face feeling less punched-in, he feels leaps and bounds better than he did in the morning. He gets over to practice, crossing over to Kageyama as he spots the boy in the hallway. Waving an arm over his head so the setter could see him in the crowd of students, he gets over to him quickly enough. He starts to run once he gets outside to practice. Kageyama chases after him- a gut reaction, an instinct to race Hinata whenever he runs. Hinata closes his eyes, the wind is luckily cool, and though his muscles ache he feels.. Fine. He can hear Kageyama's footsteps behind him and he pushes his arms harder to keep the gap between them.
Kageyama picks up after him after a while- with the head start, Hinata would usually have a strong lead but he still feels a bit unsteady from being sick, even if the weather cheers him up as he runs across the campus. Kageyama is steady next to him, not out of breath as he starts in on Hinata "Dumbass! You're still sick! Slow down!" Hinata gets to the gym, running through the doors before turning to smile cheekily. "50 to what, 47? You can't try to trick me into slowing down, Kageyama~" Kageyama scowled, walking into the gym before they turned to go into the clubroom.
They set their stuff down, and Hinata ruffles through, trying to find his practice clothes. He yanks off his shirt, before trying to find his practice clothes.
Kageyama's right next to him, at his usual spot at the lockers. A few people have filtered in, mostly the third years as they are closer to the gym. He can hear Suga murmur something to Daichi, maybe something about school or volleyball. He can feel Kageyama looking at him. Hinata feels like he was 'deja-vu' or something. Hinata's 90% sure he said that right.
It should be normal. Turn to Kageyama, like they're friends. Maybe make a snappy comment, or race him to get dressed first so they could practice their quicks before everyone is finished getting dressed. They're always eager to do that, right? Hinata feels like a stranger trying to play himself. He remembers the almost-kiss fiasco at the fireworks. When would 'next time' happen, again? He touches his lips, lost in thought, his practice shirt hanging discarded in his other hand. He certainly doesn't feel normal. Any embarrassment he would of had from the past few days when remembering that moment- getting interrupted, Kageyama's face as he turned away, was completely erased by a burning in his muscles, a want for something more.
Hinata pulls his shirt on. He can see out of the corner of his eye that Kageyama is changing too. They don't get any extra practice time done before practice. Hinata doesn't know if he cares or not, and he avoids Kageyama's gaze, feeling inexplicably dirty. It sends a shiver down his spine.
Practice was like usual- they playe (Hinata and Kageyama on different teams, of course. It was no use to play together when their choice of attack would be predictable) with Hinata's team losing, and for punishment they did hill sprints outside as the winning teams played against each other.
Hinata took a drink from his water bottle. He was still rather hot, and was as sluggish as when he got no sleep. Nishinoya and Ennoshita, the other members of his team, also were waiting for the next match they'd play in. Nishinoya chattered excitedly, Hinata barely listening as he retold the confession he got.
Hinata nodded along, "Really? That's so cool, Noya-senpai!" Nishinoya preened with pride, like a peacock spreading their feathers. "Mh-mph! She even gave me a letter and everything! Her handwriting is so cute~ Aaah, I bet you're lucky to have such a cool senpai to look up too, right Shouyou?"
Letter? Hinata thought back to the letter on his dresser, unopened and waiting impatiently, that he got from Kageyama. He still hadn't opened it from when he got it a couple nights ago. No wonder Kageyama's been acting weird. Maybe he's impatient for Hinata to open it? Well, he hasn't said anything..
Hinata looked up at his name, to Nishinoya's glimmering eyes. He smiled, putting his water bottle up. "Of course, Noya-senpai! Did you say yes?"
Nishinoya laughed at this, slinging an arm over his 'kouhai', like he was about to bestow a great piece of wisdom. "Of course not! How could I, when I must maintain my loyalty to Kiyoko-san?"
Hinata looked across the gym. There was Kiyoko, talking warmly to Yachi, as the younger manager stuttered on. Though she was in hearing distance, she seemed completely unfazed at anything Nishinoya just loudly exclaimed. Hinata smiled as he felt Nishinoya's expectant eyes on him. "Of course. You couldn't do that.."
Nishinoya clapped him on the back, Hinata coughed, doubling over. He may be over dramatic, or just sickly, but he's pretty sure that Nishinoya's handprint is gonna be on his back as a lovely bruise. Is that how his high-fives and the like felt? Hinata feels pity for whoever he showed comradery to. He straightened, rubbing his back as Nishinoya continued on, "Now you get it, my kouhai! Once you find the perfect lady you'll understand the position I am in!"
Hinata wonders if it is possible to disappear into the floor. Oh well, a new match for them is starting anyway. He wipes the sweat off his neck, and wills his stomach-ache to go away.
It was Friday! So Daichi had stated at the end of practice that the team, if they were available, could stop at Ukai's to get meat buns, cause he opened shop for them (with little protest, surprisingly).
Hinata put the last of the volleyballs away, before dragging them to the storage room they have, filled to the brim with various exercise equipment. He put it away before locking the closet. He leaned against it with a sigh. Done.
Walking down to the store, Yachi was at his side. "I'm surprised I was able to come! But I guess it's to be expected, my mom said she didn't care as long as I got back by 9…" She smiled awkwardly. Hinata felt a wince of sympathy. He knows about how overbearing Yachi's mother was on her studies, but he nods instead. "That's good! You usually never get to come with us!"
They walked in silence. Hinata looked at the lamp posts, lighting their way down the streets. It was almost deserted, after sundown when the night was almost dark. Yachi touched his shoulder after a while, he snapped out of thought turning to her.
Her face was red, Hinata felt confused. "How are Kageyama and you doing?" Hinata did a double take. Huh? How did she know about him and..?
"You know Kageyama, well.." She looked around to see if anyone on the team they were walking with was close by, "is he smart enough to think by himself to, you know, write a letter back?" Hinata stayed silent. So he actually reached out and got help from someone else? Just to show appreciation towards Hinata's confession? Yachi must of took his silence as judgement, because she nervously backtracked, "I mean! Not dumb, hahaha, you both have the same grades, so it's not nice of me to say that, but he's just not the fastestcrowinthenest, if yaknowwhatimean hahaha-"
Hinata snapped out of it as he saw the girl's plight. "Yachi! Yachi!" She stopped her rambling, looking back at him from her too young mid-life crisis, "It's fine.. I'm just surprised that he actually got help, and.. That he wrote the letter." Yachi smiled, eyes gleaming when she said, "Was the letter sweet or something? I didn't read it when he finished it. He just left and didn't say anything."
Hinata shrugged, "I don't know. I haven't read it yet." "What?!" Hinata jumped back, Yachi placing a hand over her mouth, equal parts shocked at her outburst and that Hinata hadn't opened the letter? Hinata could feel eyes from other members now, and Hinata could see Kageyama looking at him curiously from where he was walking ahead of them.
Yachi cleared her throat, before asking (quietly, now) "Why haven't you opened it?" Hinata shrugged, finding his feet quite interesting. How does he explain it? "It's not like I haven't thought about it. I do," He glanced at Kageyama, walking studiously ahead. He was talking to no one. Hinata can feel Yachi's gaze on him, searching for his reaction. He turns back to her, "I think about.. It, all the time. I'm just scared to."
Yachi nodded at that, face much softer as she thought on it. Hinata looked away. He felt so silly, he confessed to someone but he can't even read their response, which was, if Yachi's face said anything, positive ? How wimpy is he? "I don't know Hinata. I guess I can understand why you'd be nervous," Hinata looked up at Yachi, her eyes suddenly determined in the hard lighting. "But I am absolutely sure that… He, means what he said."
Hinata looked on at the manager. In this lighting, she looked different, not the same as the girl from class 4 that he accidentally bumped into a couple months ago. Hinata feels something some might call pride warm his chest. "I think so too, Yachi. After all, I did kinda initiate it. So I don't know why I'm so nervous.." He rubbed the back of his neck, warmth flooding his face as Yachi's jaw dropped to the floor.
"Kageyama didn't mention that!" She whispered, "Good job, Hinata!"
Hinata stared up at the store. Ukai's Convenience Store. He shuffled in at the rest of the team.
He bought two bags, looking forlornly at the rest of the yen he was given for this week and next week's lunch. It's okay, it'll be worth it in the end, he reassured himself. Lunches from home and no drinks from the vending machine. I can do it to pay Kageyama back!
Hinata walked home, Kageyama in tow. Yachi and the other first years having already left (Tsukishima and Yamaguchi not saying a word, Yamaguchi giving a polite wave before they branched off) Hinata stopped him, grabbing a hold of his hand. Kageyama looked down, unsurprised. "Yeah?"
Hinata pulled out the meat buns. They were still hot, luckily. "Here! Have these." Kageyama grabbed the bag, a frown pulling on his lips (His confused frown, the Kageyama Translator clarifies with a 'ding!' in Hinata's head) "Meat buns?... For what?"
Hinata looked up at him. "For the drink you gave me at practice a while ago. I haven't been able to make it up till now!" Kageyama stared at him, as if trying to search his memory for when that happened. "Huh. Well, it's fine. You don't have to do that for me."
Hinata frowned, frustrated. "You give me stuff all the time! You just gave me milk today, let me do things for you too!" Kageyama looked away, nodding. He turned back to Hinata, "Alright. Thanks then, 'Shou-kun' " Ah right, the nicknames. 'Shou-kun' looked away, remembering the childish nickname that Kageyama discovered at their fireworks date.
"It's no problem, Tobio-kun!" Hinata smiled, "Ya know, I actually have your name in my phone as 'Tobio-kun', cute, right?" Kageyama gawked at him. "Huh? Well," Kageyama ruffled hair (Hinata guesses it was supposed to be a noogie like he used to give him, but those slowly have turned into hair ruffles by now) "Then I guess I'll have to call you Shou-kun now, right?" Kageyama smirked, as if expecting Hinata's horrified reaction.
Hinata laughed, a smile spreading across his face. "Alright, sounds good Tobio-kun."
Hinata doesn't mind his 'Tobio-kun' calling him Shou-kun, even if it entails a life of embarrassment.
Hinata climbed into bed. He rubbed his face, a yawn overtaking him. He hoped he got better soon. Right now he still felt, well, a bit terrible. He felt slightly better throughout the day, but whatever flu he got must have hit him hard. He shifted, thinking of Shinzen training camp. It's in a few weeks, but Hinata knows he has to get better before it starts. He looks at the clock sitting on his dresser. Then looks at a sliver of white. Right.
Hinata slips out of bed, footsteps soft in the still of the night, and grasps the envelope. He runs his fingers over the edges, creasing the sides with his fingernail. It feels like this moment could slip through his hands if he wasn't careful. Like he could black out and wake up tomorrow, letter gone and opportunity passed.
Hinata turns on his lamp, the light faint to not alert his parents if they're still up, and he sits down at his desk. With bated breath, he starts to read.
"Dear Hinata Shou Hinata,
Hinata looked at the confused scribble of striked lines. He imagined Kageyama, hunched over a too-small desk (Don't ask Hinata why) worrying over the technicalities of the name of the person who confessed to him. He shook his head, feeling quite lucky for some reason.
I read your letter. I don't know what to say, so I'm writing this. I guess when I met you, you were annoying. And still are. But you know, it's alright now. Just don't take that as an invitation to keep being obnoxious. We may still be rivals (and that's never going to change, which is good) but I am less annoyed happier now.
Hinata can feel the laughter bubble down in his chest, replaced with a warm stillness. It was quite different from being confessed to- in the silence alone in his bedroom. It made it feel touchingly intimate.
And even if we are rivals, we are also teammates. Which I guess you can say, we are partners. Cause we're teammates, but we're also a step from teammates. Which I guess can sound like we're ignoring the rest of the team, but…
It's never like this with the rest of the team, that it is with us. On the court, and outside of it.
I may of not have had that many friends, at all, (which I can already hear you saying that it's because i'm so grumpy, "Bakayama", but shut up for a second, alright.)
but this feels different than friendship. Like a partner, but forever. Or as long as possible,
But I wouldn't mind it being forever, as long as we get to the top in the end.
Kageyama Tobio.)
To think that Kageyama- Tobio, wrote this, and now it's in his hands, for him. The fast-paced conversation of 'I love you's' that comes from being face-to-face wasn't there, and Hinata could feel the intent behind Tobio's words deepen, "(and that's never going to change, which is good)"
In the darkness of night, Hinata looks down at the letter he was given. He rubs his eyes, a sudden wave of sleepiness upon him. He yawns, it must be getting late, isn't it? His fingers come back wet, and he smiles through the tightness of his throat.
"I want to be like this forever, too, Tobio."