AH HOW DID I FORGET TO UPLOAD THIS LAST TIME?! I feel so bad! Okay, I hope that you guys have time because I'm going to upload two chapters today for this story. Enjoy!
Diclaimer: I don't own them
Chapter Seven- A First Brush at Love
"We're all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love." -Robert Fulghum
"I'm sorry, Kageyama, but I don't think I can make it tonight." The soft voice Yachi used when bowing her head to the setter showed her remorse, pretty pink fingernails nervously fidgeting on her lap. "One of my co-workers needed the night off for her sister's 21st birthday. I promised to take her shift at the coffee shop."
"And tomorrow night doesn't work for us because of practice," Yamaguchi added, his cowlick seeming to droop as he tapped his agenda. "The test is Tuesday morning. That doesn't leave us much time to look at."
"I'm really sorry!" Yachi's panicked expression when she lifted her head made Kageyama squirm in his seat, giving a quick shake of his head.
"It's fine."
"Really it's not your fault; our volleyball schedule is intense and takes up a lot of our time." The three students had their desks pressed together, their classwork finished and set to the side. Yamaguchi excelled in the course, and Yachi was quite good with making quick work of their assignment. Even if Kageyama struggled to keep up at times, having Yachi and Yamaguchi made it easier. If only the same could be said for putting Hinata's plan into action. Though he knew it wasn't the girl's fault, Kageyama felt a buzz of irritation at being unable to pick a time that worked for both of them. Between their school schedules, jobs, and volleyball, it didn't look feasible.
"Maybe I should just marry rich; then I wouldn't have to worry about school," Yachi groaned, Yamaguchi snickering as he leaned his head in his palm.
"You'd really fit the trophy wife persona, Yachi-san."
"That's mean, Yamaguchi!" The puffing of the woman's cheeks while she dropped her head onto her desk made her look far younger than she was. Despite his preference for men, Kageyama could appreciate her cute appearance. Her feminine bows and subtle makeup kept her look refreshing. Wide brown eyes gazed up at the freckled man with a scowl, her nose scrunched childishly. "You sound like Tsukishima"
"Nobody can be that salty," Kageyama quipped, his frown showing his lack of understanding when the two classmates started to laugh.
"We must not be that far off if we're all still single." Yamaguchi's comment made the setter roll his eyes.
"I'm happy just playing volleyball."
"But wouldn't you be even happier if you found the person of your dreams?" Yachi asked, her eyes drooping in a dream-like trance as continued. "I know I would. It'd be someone who's cool, calm, and collected. She'd have really pretty hair, dark and smooth. And she'd be super smart, but not a show off about it. She's probably too mature for that, you know? But not a pushover; I bet she'd be able to put anyone in their place with a few sharp words."
Too lost in her own dreamland, Yachi missed the shocked glance on Yamaguchi's face. Kageyama, who was always good at observing things, knew why the pinch server looked so stunned. Hinata had told the brunet about the good feeling he had hooking up Yachi and Kiyoko. The two had never met, interacted, or probably even known each other. But just like that, Yachi had described their team manager without so much as a hint. Kageyama knew why Hinata could make connections with a blink of an eye; he was the god of love after all. But for someone in the dark like Yamaguchi, it was magic.
"Yachi, would you like to come see one of our volleyball games?" And it might have been why Yamaguchi proposed the random offer to the blonde. Yachi only blinked once before her eyes shined with excitement, cheeks starting to flush as she nodded eagerly.
"I can come? I mean, I've always wanted to go! What, with working with Ennoshita and listening to you two talking about it-I'd really like to come! When is your next game?"
"We have one Saturday, if you're not working," Yamaguchi offered, Yachi's smile widening at the news.
"Normally I do, but remember how I said I switched shifts with my friend? She took my Saturday." Now Yamaguchi flashed a grin, the two seeming to bounce energy off of one another.
"It's fate then; you have to come cheer us on. And maybe you'll find that special girl you're looking for."
"Why does it have to be me? What about you two?" The turn of attention surprised Kageyama, the sweet woman barely letting her gaze linger on the blushing brunet across from her desk. "Though I suppose this question should be directed to Kageyama, since you-"
"Y-Yachi!" Yamaguchi's shaky voice and flushed face was enough for the observant setter to understand that she held knowledge he didn't. Kageyama felt no desire to probe; everyone was entitled to keep some things to themselves. If Yamaguchi wanted him to know, he'd tell him. Then again, from what Hinata had said, the dark haired man could guess what the pinch server was hiding.
"So that just leaves you, Kageyama. What would your soulmate be like?" As if realizing her forward nature, Yachi gave a small smile and rushed to wave her hands in front of her. "Ah, if it makes you uncomfortable-"
"I've never thought about it before." Kageyama's blunt response wasn't a lie; the setter never put much stock in thinking about his perfect match. Until Hinata showed up in his life, he had just assumed soulmates were something people made up to make them feel better about their relationships. He honestly hadn't believed in them. But now, knowing the truth behind soulmates, the question wasn't so crazy.
Except for the fact that Hinata had never even hinted at who his soulmate was. For all the love talk that the spiker spewed out, the other half to Kageyama was never mentioned. Part of the responsibility rested on his shoulders; Kageyama didn't ask. Then again, with how much emphasis the god put on being acquainted with your other half, it was almost strange for it not to come up. Did that mean his soulmate string wasn't in danger? Was Hinata not allowed to tell him? Hinata never outright told the others who their soulmates were. Maybe it was some rule his dad had put on him. Maybe it just ruined the magic for Hinata. Either way, the god of love hadn't even so much as hinted at who Kageyama was supposed to end up with, or even what type of soulmate he had.
"Well want to give it a shot now?" Yachi's voice reached the setter's ears, though he was only partially listening. His focus was still lingering on his roommate and his lack of knowing anything about his soulmate. Knowing his idiotic teammate, Hinata probably completely overlooked it. The thought made Kageyama scoff.
"Nobody stupid." The words were spat out with pure annoyance, but Kageyama didn't notice as his eyes narrowed on the desk in front of him. "He can't be gullible either. Or noisy. Definitely not someone who constantly talks."
"That would be kind of hard for someone like you to handle," Yamaguchi said, seeming to agree with Kageyama's analysis. The dark haired man nodded once, a weird feeling swelling in his chest when his mind flashed back to his annoying roommate pressing into his chest the day before.
"They...should like volleyball." When he spoke this time, his voice lacked the anger from before. His glare had lost its deadly gleam, his frown resting into something more neutral. "And should know how to play. Be passionate about it. They shouldn't just quit when they don't get something right; they should keep working hard. Refuse to give up on their dreams, even if they mess up every now and then. And not be afraid to go up against people who are bigger or stronger than them."
"Does Kageyama have a crush on someone?" Yachi's innocent question stiffened the setter's spine, the coffee barista tilting her head curiously. "You said you'd never thought of what you'd want in your perfect partner, but you speak like you already have someone in mind."
"Of course not. Love is pointless," Kageyama replied, wondering why his face warmed despite his immediate denial. If Yachi or Yamaguchi noticed the look they didn't voice it, though a shared glance between his two quiet classmates was incriminating.
"It was just a thought." Yachi's smile was bright while she grabbed their papers from the desks and stood. She waved the pile at the two as she yanked her bag over her shoulder. "I've got to get going; my shift starts in a half hour and I forgot my uniform at home. I'll turn these in while you guys put the desks back, okay? Yamaguchi, text me the information about Saturday. I can't wait to see you guys play!"
"Bye, Yachi-san!" Yamaguchi waved to their classmate while Kageyama started reforming the lines of the desks, the teacher announcing the homework for the next week while most of the class started to shuffle out of the room. His neighbor fixed his own desk and grabbed his supplies, turning his attention to Kageyama once organized. "Are you done for the day?"
"No, I've got my clay sculpting class."
"The art building is on the way back to the apartment complex, right? Let's walk together."
The suggestion wasn't strange since Yamaguchi was known for being quite friendly with the members of the volleyball team. Despite this, Kageyama hesitated with his nod, his guard coming up when the two left the building. Normally the mousy brunette was quick to go on his way, rushing to meet with his roommate or finish a project he had due for another class. This was the first time that Yamaguchi seemed relaxed walking beside Kageyama, his brown eyes content with watching the snow dribbling from grey clouds above them. Kageyama's arms were tight around his books while he walked in silence, nearly jumping out of his skin when Yamaguchi finally spoke.
"Yachi's description really resembled Kikyo-san, right?"
"Somewhat, " Kageyama answered, unsure why the pinch server was bringing it up. Yamaguchi didn't look bothered by his ambivalent answer, pushing forward with his hidden agenda.
"It's funny, really. Just the other day in class Hinata had mentioned getting the two of them together. I found it a little weird because he barely knew either of them, and yet he was eerily spot on." When Kageyama didn't respond to the statement, Yamaguchi let out a puff of laughter into the crisp winter air. "Your roommate is really good at matching people up; he was the one who helped Tanaka and Ennoshita back together, too."
"He tends to meddle," Kageyama clarified, giving a weak shrug of his shoulders. "It's not something you should look too much into."
"If I'm not careful, he's going to try and do the same to me." The comment was too close for comfort, and the setter felt his stomach spike in anxiety.
"Why would you think that?"
"It just seems his pattern; he did question my dating life the first night we met," Yamaguchi pointed out, his previous observance of the snowfall lost to focus on his neighbor. "Sometimes I hear him talking with Suga-san about the relationships on the team. It seems he's quite interested in almost everyone's love life."
"Almost?" The phrasing of Yamaguchi's observance caught the taller boy's attention, watching his brunette teammate nod.
"Everyone but you, that is." The shift in the conversation was a double edged sword; though it kept Yamaguchi away from learning the truth about Hinata, it also put unwanted spotlight on himself. Wondering why he had agreed to walk with Yamaguchi, Kageyama tried to look around for the art building while answering.
"It's because I'm not interested in finding someone."
"Hmm. Maybe." Yamaguchi didn't sound convinced with Kageyama's clear cut explanation. Though he wanted to steer away from the conversation, his earlier thoughts on the subject started to surface again. Hinata didn't just meddle with his friend's relationships. At times between classes or on their way to practice, Hinata would stop to work his magic on a couple they came across. He was the god of love, and that job didn't stop because of his new assignments. Plus, it was obvious that Hinata loved helping others out. Giving some extra 'assistance' to a struggling couple came second nature for the short spiker. Kageyama knew that despite his clear objectives, he wouldn't turn a blind eye on other relationships.
Which brought up the silence on Kageyama's soulmate again.
"He's just an idiot," Kageyama finally spat out, hoping it would end the conversation. The silence between them only lasted a moment before Yamaguchi shyly glanced away from Kageyama.
"Or maybe he doesn't want to see you with someone else." The comment was so surprising that it paused Kageyama's feet, the setter's eyes baring his confusion clear enough for Yamaguchi to continue. "Kageyama...isn't it possible that Hinata has a crush on you?"
"No?" What he had meant to be a firm answer turned into it's own question, and Yamaguchi didn't hesitate to jump on the chance to answer.
"But he likes hanging out with you all the time! He looks for you at practice before anyone else, and is always bragging about how you're the best setter. You two bicker like an old married couple, and he's the only person you let hang all over you. All the evidence implies there's feelings there."
"You're looking into it too much," Kageyama denied, his eyes trying to glare through his embarrassment. Quick to resume the walk, his pace increased once seeing the art building's front entrance.
"Or maybe you're not looking into it enough."
"I have to go to class." And before his teammate could get another word in, the taller man rushed up the stairs and into the art building. He made sure to press to the wall next to the doorway as if Yamaguchi would barge in and demand a continuation of their conversation. It was a crazy thought, and after a minute without the intrusion, Kageyama slumped against the wall with a sigh. His hand pressed over his chest, wondering why the small burst of movement had caused his heartbeat to become so erratic. A few measly stairs shouldn't have made him feel so out of breath. But it had to be that.
Because Kageyama didn't want to think of what else would have made him feel so flustered.
"Why is sculpting so hard?" Hinata's loud complaint echoed through their apartment as the two entered, Kageyama rolling his eyes while closing the door behind him.
"Because they expect you to have some artistic ability, which you don't." The blunt reply made Hinata scowl, the spiker sending a disapproving look at Kageyama before he flopped onto the couch in the living room. The setter followed close behind, sitting on the cushion that Hinata's small frame didn't reach. The tips of Hinata's toes brushed the outside of his thigh, and the tall man ignored the weird sensation fizzling through his skin as he dropped his head onto the back of the couch.
"I blame the teacher. Isn't her job to teach me?"
"You can't teach talent."
"Says who?"
"You are an idiot." Hinata let out a squawk of defiance before he jabbed his heel into Kageyama's thigh, the setter wincing at the flash of pain before steering a fierce look at his roommate.
"Says the one who doesn't study," Hinata retorted. Before Kageyama could point out that he couldn't study talent, Hinata's eyes flashed with an idea before he pushed to sit up next to Kageyama. "I forgot to ask you what happened with Yachi today!"
"Nice going," Kageyama teased, smirking at the flush of embarrassment now covering Hinata's round face. "She wasn't free tonight, but we managed to convince her to come to the game Saturday."
"How does that solve anything?" Hinata asked, yanking his feet to sit cross-legged on the cushion. The fact that he could sit comfortably while facing Kageyama showed how small he truly was, though the setter kept the thought to himself.
"You'll have the chance to introduce Yachi to our team before the game, which includes the manager. The point is to get them to meet, right? It's easier this way."
"You actually thought this whole thing out. That's great!" Unsure if he should feel offended by Hinata's implication toward his intellectual ability, the spiker's mouth didn't give him time to think it over. "You're really the best partner ever!"
"This is all just so you'll get out of my apartment," Kageyama snapped out, frustrated at the memory of Yamaguchi's words now floating through his head. Even with the space offered by the couch, the two had migrated toward each other, Hinata's knees pressed to the outside of Kageyama's thigh. The touch didn't bother him like it should have. And even if the praise that Hinata poured on him was directly related to their "mission", Kageyama's chest puffed with pride at the compliment. It was reactions like this that made the setter snap at his spiker, though it didn't stop the guilt he felt when Hinata scowled up at him.
"You're still going on about that?"
"Obviously. You just invaded my space and forced some crazy task onto me without even asking what I thought of any of this."
"Well if I bother you so much, you could just say so, Bakayama!" Hinata's voice was loud, but it wasn't anger that was reflecting in his amber gaze. Hurt was evident, even as he insulted the setter and glared down into his own lap. Disliking the reaction, Kageyama hesitated before leaning over to drop his large hand onto the top of Hinata's head.
"It's not like I hate you or anything. Stop being dramatic." He waited until the familiar gaze was lifted back to his own before he sighed, hoping his lack of knowledge involving intimate conversation wouldn't show through. "You're a pretty good spiker, even if you get overzealous. You're someone I like working with. And hanging out with you isn't the worst thing I could do with my free time, I guess."
"It's the same for me, you know." Hinata's ease with expressing himself was obvious, the smaller man lacking any self-consciousness while he nodded. "You're mean most of the time and you get way too mad over little things, but you're super cool on the court. And you're the first person I met who didn't look down on me or treat me like a kid. I guess you humans call us friends? Yeah, you're my first real friend!"
"You too," Kageyama muttered quietly, Hinata's grin bright for only a moment before it dimmed with a look of contemplation.
"But it's not the same as Yamaguchi or Noya and Tanaka-senpai." Fidgeting fingers flexed in Hinata's lap, as if unsure of where to rest as he tried to explain himself. "It feels the same, but different too. In a good way? It's like a rush of good feelings, but also some weird ones that I don't get when I'm with them. Do you know what I mean?"
It scared Kageyama how quickly he understood Hinata's horrible explanation. Part of that may have been because he didn't know how to put it into words, either. His teammates were his friends. Sometimes lack of confidence made him doubt that, though a reassuring smack on his back by Daichi or a compliment from Asahi washed that fear away. Yet here, while staring down at the innocent and expectant gaze of Hinata, the younger man knew there was a shift of difference between them. The nerves of losing his friendship with Hinata wasn't there because he knew the truth; Hinata was a god who was only there for a month. If the man disliked him, it wasn't going to change his life for long. He had no reason to care about what Hinata thought of him.
But he did. He cared. Enough for his lungs to struggle to breath and his stomach to cramp in a way that was dreadful and exhilarating. His body was refusing to function properly, and it took him three tries to finally get his brain and mouth to focus on changing the topic completely.
"How do you plan to fix Asahi and Noya?" The look of confusion on Hinata's face proved the change was lacking any finesse, but the setter didn't care. "We can't really do anything with Yachi and Kiyoko-san until Saturday, which is two days away. While we wait, we should move onto the next couple. You told me that you wanted to work with Noya and Asahi next, so let's think of your plan of infiltrating them."
"Can't we do that later?" It was the first time since the orange haired spiker showed up on his doorstep that he actively avoided talking about love. The hesitancy in his gaze proved that sometime was off about the god, and Kageyama wasn't going to let the strange behavior go by quietly.
"Let's do it now. The last thing we need is your thick head going into another couple without a plan." Kageyama waited for a loud retort about the insult, and warning bells went off in his head when he didn't get a response. Now his attention was focused on the man next to him, Hinata's downcast stare hinting that something was amiss. "What's up with you?"
"I...don't normally get involved with people with red strings. It's more Oikawa's department," Hinata admitted weakly, the name making Kageyama's nose scrunch is distaste.
"But they're supposed to be pink, right?"
"They were, but because of my disappearance, they never fully got there."
"Which means?" Kageyama asked, watching Hinata let out a huff of annoyance.
"That Oikawa technically has just as much pull on them as I do." Obviously frustrated at himself, Hinata smacked his palm into his temple. "Red strings are heavily influenced by their sexual bond, and they're the most unpredictable of the four pairs. It's also the only bond that involves another god. Oikawa doesn't like to let their sexual attraction become true love, either, so he tends to sabotage them before I can really do anything romantic for them. He always wins, no matter what I try."
"But Noya and Asahi are different." The firm tone in Kageyama's voice was surprising, but the setter refused to back down in his resolve. "They want to be together, or else their bond wouldn't have wanted to shift to pink, right?"
"It is really rare for red to shift to pink," Hinata admitted, biting the side of his mouth to hide his smile when Kageyama leaned closer to him.
"So stop comparing them to everyone else. Maybe Oikawa has sabotaged you ninety nine times, but there's still one more chance to stand up to him. And now you've got me by your side. You're not alone this time."
"Right." Hinata's nod was sharp as he clenched his hands in his lap, the doused fire in his eyes roaring back to life. "We won't lose to him!"
"We won't." Hinata felt his smile spread across his lips at Kageyama's words, his body leaping into action. Before the setter could prepare himself Hinata pushed forwards, jumping onto the unsuspecting man with a cheer.
"We're going to kick his ass!"
"Hinata!" Kageyama barked out, the laughing god ignoring him while tossing his arms into the air. The extra weight pressed into his lap and chest made Kageyama fall against the back of the couch. The setter's intense glare was quickly lost when Hinata's arms dropped around his neck and yanked him into a familiar hug, still laughing next to his ear. Having Hinata taller than him felt strange, his face smushed into the side of the spiker's neck. But excluding the positioning, the warmth of the embrace felt the same. His arms weren't strangling Kageyama, but gave enough pressure to remind the setter that they were holding him. It was just as embarrassing as the first time, the taller man's arms motionless against his sides. But despite the wave of awkwardness, Kageyama couldn't force himself to hate the feeling of being hugged.
"Get off me," Kageyama protested, though didn't move to push the smaller man away. It was obvious that Hinata had no intention of listening as he settled into Kageyama's lap, only pulling back enough to catch the setter's stare with his own.
"Does it still feel weird?"
"Getting mauled by a pint size grizzly bear?"
"No, idiot. I'm asking is it still hard for you to accept that someone would want to hug you." Hinata's voice was questioning, genuinely curious of Kageyama's current feelings. Never being the best to express himself, the setter scowled, doing his best to not seem affected by the intimate touch.
"It's...complicated," he finally settled on, unsure of how else to explain it.
"How?" Hinata didn't seem quite as satisfied with Kageyama's word, pressing the conversation forward despite Kageyama squirming beneath him.
"You wouldn't understand," the setter claimed, hoping to squash the topic with his dismissive tone. Instead, Hinata tightened his hug, pulling them closer with a shake of his head.
"Try me."
"It's...it's not like I've never tried to be close to people before." The unpleasant feeling that was creeping into his body was immediate, his spine hunching while his shoulders struggled to keep from slumping in dismay. He steeled his face automatically, forcing the encroaching feelings away. "There was a kid in high school that had told me he was gay. We were both on the same volleyball team. He started to hang around me a lot and buy me my milk cartons at lunch. I didn't really get it, but my teammates kept making comments about him liking me or something. And then there was a party...it's not that I actually even felt much for this kid. His spikes were terrible and he could barely block. His receives were comparable to yours which isn't saying much-"
"What happened at the party?" Hinata asked, eyes focused on watching how Kageyama's gaze shifted to his left to stare at the wall.
"Nothing." The long drag of silence between them promised Kageyama's words weren't honest, so Hinata waited as patiently as he could for his roommate to amend his statement. "Stupid teenage stuff. He told me he liked me and asked to kiss me. Everyone else used to brag about kissing. I should have-We kissed...we kissed a few times, and then he went and told the rest of the team that he 'won'. From the pieces of information I could obtain, it was some bet as to how long it would take to get 'Robotyama' to act human. And I guess a kiss proved that I wasn't some emotionless android."
He wanted to pretend the memory didn't affect him. After losing the expectation of love and affection from his flesh and blood, the same should have applied to the boys on his team. If parents who were linked to him by genetics couldn't like him, why would a set of strangers? Letting his guard down had been a mistake, especially in the tentative years of high school. Lack of social interaction and positive engagement left him awkward in everything unrelated to volleyball. Even being invited to the party, when he hadn't been asked to go to any of the others, should have been a warning. Yet when the people he had considered comrades had finally extended the olive branch, the young setter had been desperate to grasp onto it.
Working with Daichi and the others had shown him that not all extensions of friendship were fake. Being asked to hang out with Noya didn't have ulterior motives, which was something that took time for Kageyama to wrap his mind around. Tanaka may have gotten a laugh from his horrible singing, but it was never malicious. As the years went on, Kageyama managed to shake most of his poor memories from childhood into the back of his mind. But even now, with the trust he had for his team, he shied away from any physical showing of affection. He did not want to be led back down the rabbit hole that had burned him before.
Yet the warmth that Hinata wrapped him in didn't feel like the blaze of betrayal from years past.
"Why do humans like to hurt each other?" This time, Hinata's words were muffled into the shoulder of Kageyama's shirt, the taller man sighing.
"It's not a big deal. It was years ago."
"It doesn't matter; that guy is a jerk!" The frustration in the spiker's voice was clear, surprising Kageyama. "If I knew who he was, I'd make sure he got a taste of his own medicine. Like a really bad first date, or early balding! That'd show him the-"
"Why do you care?" The words were out before Kageyama could stop them. It had been a fleeting thought, one he tended to create when people showed him the faintest form of affection. Hinata had no reason to care. Kageyama continued to repeat that to himself even as the god hugged him closer, letting his warmth sink in.
"Because you're important to me!"
"To your mission you mean," Kageyama amended, disliking the strange tension building in his chest. Orange hair was quick to shake against his neck in denial.
"It's not about that at all. You're important to me. I really...I mean it. Even if I fail this mission, you're still gonna be important, too. So don't just toss my words away like some garbage, okay?" The weird edge to Hinata's voice at the end of his sentence made Kageyama flush, his head tilting up to stare at the ceiling while his hand quickly pressed against the back of Hinata's head.
"D-Don't say stuff like that. And don't look up."
"Eh? Why not?"
"Just don't, idiot." There was a lack of disdain in his voice, which annoyed Kageyama almost as much as the heated cheeks and smile now twitching at the edges of his lips.
But neither compared to the weird heartbeat pounding warmly in his chest.
Working with Daichi had made Suga aware of a few of his 'tells' that were unique to him. When he was overthinking something, his brows drew close on his forehead, reminding the fertility god of an old man playing chess. Right before he laughed, his nose would twitch. After yelling at Tanaka and Noya over something ridiculous, the captain glanced to him as if needed some sort of affirmation his scolding was justified. The way his eyes softened when speaking to one of the children at his daycare was a radical difference than the sharp gaze that was now critically looking at their playbook.
Daichi has many facets to him, and Suga hated how quick he was to memorize each one.
"We need to make sure that we focus on attack against this team; their coach was known for being a powerhouse blocker when he played in college." His voice was firm and unwavering in its analysis, dark eyes finally looking up to the setter with a stern connotation. "This is your first real game, so I'd understand if you're nervous."
"Oh no, I'm fine. I mean, it's not like I have to worry about playing much with Kageyama on the team." At the mention of the younger setter, both men glanced to the court where he was currently practicing.
"Kageyama will need breaks, and I don't want you to think we undervalue you on this team-"
"Daichi, it's fine. Really, I don't mind sitting back and cheering you on," Suga answered automatically, a smile rising to his lips as he shrugged. "But if I go in, I'll be sure to give it my all. I wouldn't want to disappoint you, captain."
"Hearing you say that feels weird," Daichi replied, rubbing the side of his neck while Suga snickered. Seeming to want to move the attention away from himself, Daichi turned the topic back to Kageyama. "I'm surprised Hinata isn't out there bugging Kageyama to practice."
"That is a little strange," Suga agreed, not expecting to see Kageyama tossing for Asahi and Tanaka. A quick survey of the gym showed no trace of the short spiker, and Suga frowned in slight concern. "He came in with Kageyama, so I know he's here-"
"Excuse us," Yamaguchi's voice grabbed their attention, the mousy pinch server bowing in sync with a pretty blonde beside him. "I'm sorry to interrupt so close to the game, but have either of you seen Hinata? He wanted to introduce Yachi to our teammates, but we can't find him."
"We were just wondering the same thing," Suga answered, waving to catch the other setter's attention before beckoning him to the small group. "We should ask Kageyama; he tends to keep a good eye on him."
"He looks busy. Maybe I should just wait until later," the girl Yamaguchi had around the wrist suggested, the freckled man shaking his head.
"We can't play without Hinata, so we need to find him."
"Find who?" Kageyama entered the conversation with a scowl, a volleyball being passed between his nimble fingers.
"Have you seen Hinata?" Daichi asked, the taller man showing a look of confusion before he shook his head.
"I thought he was just taking forever in the bathroom."
"So nobody's seen Hinata?" The captain's question left the group silent. It was a concerning thought until a snort cut through the tense air, all eyes falling on Tsukishima.
"If you're looking for the flying shrimp, he's outside sitting against the wall. He looked ready to puke, so I kept my distance."
"You didn't see if he was okay?" Kageyama snapped, the blonde blocker raising his eyebrow over his sport goggles.
"Last time I checked, he wasn't my loyal servant. You go check on him." Closing the conversation with a roll of his eyes, Tsukishima walked toward the rest of the team now huddled by the bench. Daichi gave a quiet sigh before he turned to the two younger teammates, nodding toward the exit of the gym.
"Go check on our spiker and see what's the matter with him. If he can't play, we'll have to make substitutions." Kageyama wanted to go after Tsukishima to continue their conversation. But for now, Hinata was the primary goal. He was walking toward the exit before the end of Daichi's request, hearing Yachi and Yamaguchi trailing after him. Getting out of the crowded gym was tough, though once through the doors it was easy to spot Hinata's orange crown of hair. His face was buried into his knees, which were pulled close to his chest. The position made Hinata look so...small. His bursting personality normally cloaked his small stature. But in the moment, seeing his roommate brought down to size made Kageyama restless.
"Hinata?" Yachi's nervous call of his name lifted the spiker's head, the queasy look on his face showing something was off. Kageyama stomped toward him, irritation evident in his tone.
"What the hell are you doing out here? The game is about to start."
"I feel sick…"
"You were fine this morning," Yamaguchi reasoned, the spiker looking at his knees in guilt.
"That's before I saw all those people," Hinata groaned, burying his head back into his knees. "If I mess up in practice, Kageyama will just yell at me. But if I messed up in there in front of all of them..ugh, I'm going to puke."
"Oh, I know what this is." Yachi's enlightened voice was followed by the smaller woman moving to crouch in front of Hinata, her eyes showing sympathy. "Hinata, I think you've just got some stage fright."
"What's that?" Hinata's voice was muffled, but Yachi only smiled and placed her hand onto his knee.
"It's when you get really nervous performing in front of a bunch of people. Lots of people get it, so it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I've been in lots of plays on stage, and no matter what the part I still get a little scared. It's a little different than volleyball, but I think it's the same premise."
"What do you do about it? You know, to stop your stomach from going 'blah' all over the place?" Hinata asked, peeking his eyes out to look at the theatre student. In response Yachi held out her hand, flattening her fingers in line with her palm.
"Give me your hand and I'll show you a trick." Now curious from the request, the spiker moved his arm to place his hand into the woman's. Letting out a slow breath, Yachi placed her finger on his palm, turning her gaze back up to him. "This is something my mom did for me the first time I ever performed and it made all my nerves vanish. The first thing you need to do is imagine someone you trust, who is really important to you and you know will stay by your side no matter how you play. Can you think of someone?"
"Uh…" Like a magnet the spiker's eyes flickered over to the setter who was silently standing next to Yamaguchi. Kageyama blinked once at the look, but Hinata didn't let his stare linger before turning it back to Yachi. "I have someone."
"Great, now close your eyes."
"R-Right!"The god did as told, feeling a few small circles being traced in his palm in rhythm to the Yachi's rhyme.
"Bippity boppity boo, I believe in you!" A final tap in the middle of the imaginary circles finished off the tune, and Hinata slowly opened his eyes to look at the kind smile of Yachi. "The charm will help you remember that there's always someone by your side, so you're never really alone. There's that one person who believes you can beat anything. So remember that, and all your nerves will go away."
"How do you feel, Hinata?" At Yamaguchi's question, the spiker curled his fingers into his palm before he blinked, his look of surprise quick to morph into excitement.
"I feel great!" The renewed spiker jumped to his feet, his eyes practically sparkling at the burst of energy. Stretching his arms over his head, Hinata shifted his weight a few times before sending a thumbs up to Yachi. "Your spell worked great. Thanks!"
"Your welcome," she replied, pushing back to her feet the same time a long horn sounded in the gym.
"That's the warning the game's going to start," Kageyama explained, and Yachi was the first one to respond with a squeak.
"Oh no, my seat! I hope it's not taken; I'll see you guys later. Good luck!" The theatre student rushed back to the doors of the gym, the three men following behind her. Hinata was practically skipping with his steps, his grin wide when approaching the door.
"Man, Yachi really is amazing. I feel like I could fight a bear or something!"
"Ah, not to bring you down, but you got so wrapped up in your nerves that you never got to introduce Yachi to Kiyoko-san." Yamaguchi's words instantly burst Hinata's bubble, the spiker stopping short of the entrance with his mouth dropping open.
"No way!" Hinata's loud yell echoed through the cold air, making a set of birds scramble off the branches on a nearby tree. Kageyama smacked himself while Yamaguchi laughed, the setter mumbling 'idiot' to himself.
He couldn't figure out how the god of love could be so clueless.
Ah so here is the end of the chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it! I won't take up much time, since another chapter is coming right around the corner! Enjoy.
