Chapter Twelve

-❤- Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso -❤-


As the weeks passed, Suga and Daichi worked Kageyama and Hinata to the bone. Every day after class, they would undergo rigorous duet practice, on top of their other classwork and Hinata's insisted-on extra practice sessions in the mornings. Kageyama was so exhausted, he felt like he was sleepwalking between classes. Hinata fell asleep everywhere—even on the floor—and both of them were often reprimanded for drifting off.

It was approaching November, and the trees had begun to change, dusting the ground with their sunset-colored leaves. They couldn't give practicing a rest with the competition so soon, so they puttered onward with empty engines, napping any chance they got. It was easier with heating circulating through the school, making everything toasty warm.

Using his backpack as a pillow, Kageyama was lying underneath a table at breakfast after one early morning practice when Yachi approached him. Without opening his eyes, he could hear her kneel down and gently rap the tabletop with her knuckles. He wanted badly to ignore it and go back to sleep, but Yachi was too nice to be rude too, so he peeled his eyelids open and squinted up at her. "Yes?"

"Sorry to wake you." She sat cross-legged on the floor and smiled at him. "I just wanted to see what your plans were for the Winter Solstice Ball."

"The what?" Kageyama grumbled in confusion, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and trying not to yawn. He could already feel his consciousness trying to slip away again.

"The Winter Solstice Ball." Yachi retrieved a small navy blue flyer from her bag and handed it to him. "It's one of two of our school's annual formals. The orchestral majors play music with help from some of the other students, and there's lots of food." From the way her eyes sparkled, Kageyama could tell she loved the event. "Everyone dances, and at the end of the night, there's fireworks and a bonfire."

"Ah... I didn't even know about it," he mumbled, handing her back the paper. "It's December twenty-first?"

"Yeah. It's right before everyone leaves for break." She shoved the flyer back in the depths of her bag and beamed at him. "So, I was wondering if you would be willing to help out with the music. They've filled up every other guest slot save for violinist, and I thought maybe you'd be interested. You don't have to play the whole night: only a couple songs."

"I... I don't know." Kageyama rubbed the back of his neck, wincing as it cracked in protest. He was still a little too tired to think clearly. He envied Hinata, who had a free period that morning and was able to sleep in. "...What do I have to do, exactly?"

"You just have to show up at the start of the dance, play a song or two with the orchestra, and that's it!" Yachi exclaimed—loud enough to wake him up all the way. "Takeda-sensei asked me to look for someone to fill the spot, and I figured you wouldn't mind the extra practice. You always seem to be off in the music room."

Because Hinata makes me, Kageyama thought with a grimace, but didn't say aloud. "Sure... I guess that's fine with me."

"Excellent!" She stood up so fast, she almost gave him whiplash. "They'll have a violin ready for you! You're a lifesaver!" She grinned and waved at him before bounding off like a cheetah, settling cheerfully beside Shimizu at the end of the breakfast line.

She was almost as sunshiney as Hinata. Everyone was way too energetic at this school. It only made him feel even more exhausted.

With a weary groan, Kageyama collapsed onto his backpack and slung an arm over his eyes. A ball, huh? It's the day before my birthday, too... He rolled onto his side and frowned down at the linoleum floor tiles. A school dance... Does that mean we're supposed to bring dates?

His face grew unbearably hot as an image of Hinata's smiling face instantly flashed through his mind, and Kageyama smacked himself on both cheeks—perhaps a bit too hard. What are you thinking?! There's no way I can ask him! No way in Hell! He'd find out that I... that I... He covered his face in mortification. Nope. Never happening. No way. No way, no way, no way! No. Way.

But despite his brain's insistence, his heart still skipped a beat at the idea.


The rest of the day, Kageyama couldn't so much as look at Hinata without his face exploding red. The very thought of voicing his embarrassing feelings aloud made him want to throw up. He really wasn't sure why they were called nervous butterflies, because he felt more like a swarm of angry giant hornets was stinging at his insides.

Luckily, Hinata had somewhere to go during lunch, so Kageyama was left with a little time to compose himself. He rested his head against the cool tabletop and tried to calm down, but his head was spinning in circles. As much as he tried to deny it, he really, really, really wanted to ask Hinata to the ball.

But, of course, he couldn't. There was absolutely no way he could confess... The thought still made him nauseous. He'd never even had a good friend before: how was he supposed to deal with having a crush? It was achingly embarrassing even to think about.

"Kageyama?"

How did people deal with these horrible feelings? Love was supposed to be 'a great journey into the unknown' or 'the meaning of life' or whatever, but it was starting to feel more like an endless roller-coaster with way too many sudden drops and sharp turns.

"Kageyamaaa, are you listening?"

Dammit. Why did stupid Hinata have to make him fall for him, anyway? Being in love was utterly unbearable.

"Kageyama!"

Kageyama's head shot up with a gasp, and he found Nishinoya staring at him with an impatient frown. "Geez, you were really out of it. What, not sleeping well?" He collapsed in the seat across from him, resting his elbows on the table. "Where's Hinata?"

"Um, Hinata— Yes, um—" He cleared his throat, trying in vain to force the blush from his face and look impassive. "Uh, he's... off doing something else right now. Did you need something?" Smooth: Very smooth. His mom hadn't been kidding when she told him his acting was like a blind man playing darts. God, he wanted to kill himself.

Noya stared at him as if he were going crazy—which he very well might have been. "Okaaaay then... Well, I just wanted to see if you'd seen Sugawara around. I've got some papers for him from Takeda." He studied Kageyama's face suspiciously. "But... I've got a feeling you've got something you're keeping secret."

Kageyama nearly choked. "Wh— What?" He laughed nervously. "Me? Hiding something? What are you talking about?" He prayed his tone wasn't as guilty as it sounded.

"I can tell you are." Noya poked him between the eyes with a wry smile. "Come on; spill it!"

"Gah..." Kageyama grimaced. "Okay, fine." He locked his fingers together and leaned forward so no one else would hear him, casting a furtive glance around the table. "If you had, say... someone that you maybe sort of... well, liked, and you wanted to ask them to... something, then what would you do?" He coughed nervously. "I'm, uh, asking for a friend..."

"Uh-huh... sure thing," Noya hummed disbelievingly. "My answer is: I would just ask them. If you have just twelve seconds of bravery, you can do pretty much anything. That's all you need." He sat back with a shrug. "But, hey, I mean, maybe your 'friend' thinks differently.

"Anyway, I gotta go." He stood up and shot him a wink as he walked away. "I would say to just tell him to go for it. Good luck!"

Kageyama sagged, banging his head against the table in the process. 'Just go for it'? Easy for him to say...


The music room door was closed when he reached it, and Kageyama paused outside, clenching his fists and trying to control his erratic breathing. Twelve seconds of courage, twelve seconds of courage, he kept repeating, trying to quell the shaking in his legs. Just twelve seconds, and this will all be over.

Before he could run away, he pushed the door open, trying to keep from fainting. He could manage for twelve seconds, right? Just twelve seconds...

As he spotted Hinata's slight frame behind the piano, Kageyama shoved down his humiliation and opened his mouth to deliver whatever stupid speech he managed to think up on the spot. But he paused when he heard the familiar, muted sounds of crying, noticing how Hinata's shoulders shook with silent sobs.

His trembling fingers played a few notes, but were unable to finish and fell limp against the keys.

"Hi— Hinata?" Kageyama crossed over to him, sitting at the end of the bench carefully.

Hinata took a shaky breath, removing his hands from the piano to wipe at his eyes. As he dried them, Kageyama finished a few notes for him, waiting until he would meet his eyes. What's wrong? His jaw clenched. Was it those guys again? I swear I'll—

Before he could finish the threat, Hinata grabbed his hands and lowered them gently. No... He closed his eyes, and more tears slipped down his cheeks as he gripped Kageyama's wrists tightly. I'm alright. I just miss my family... Sometimes, when it's bad, I just... need to cry. I'll be fine in a bit.

After a long moment of silence between them, Kageyama raised a hand to brush the tears from his face. Hang on, okay? I'll be right back.

When Hinata nodded, he got up and combed the music room with his eyes until he spotted what he needed. Pushing sheet music off of it, he opened the black case to reveal the practice violin within. It was glossy smooth and perfect, and he pulled it out with determination.

'Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.' His mom was always saying that. Kageyama had never really understood it before, but now, he figured that it meant sometimes, the best words weren't words at all. With music, he could tell Hinata everything he wanted to say, and more.

'Music in itself is healing.' He could finally remember the whole quote. 'Music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by.'

Whoever said that couldn't have been more right.


Kageyama played for him Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and although Hinata didn't play along, he imagined his distinct piano notes resonating in the back of his head. Even though it wasn't a true duet, the music still filled him with the familiar warmth that came from playing alongside him.

Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso—a song written for a friend; and now, played for one.

By the time he'd finished, Hinata's expression had turned radiant once again, his smile filling the room with light—the sun appearing from behind the clouds. He clapped gently as Kageyama returned the instrument to its case, feeling a lightness in his chest that left his fingertips tingling.

'If you have just twelve seconds of bravery, you can do pretty much anything.' Noya's words replayed in his mind. 'That's all you need.'

Alright... With a deep breath, Kageyama turned to face Hinata, digging his fingernails into his palms. He sat down beside him again, wiping the sweat off his clammy palms. Twelve seconds... Only twelve seconds... Here we go. It was then or never.

Hinata... I have something I want to say. His fingers were trembling from how nervous he was, but Kageyama pushed on anyway. I don't know if you know already, but there's this thing coming up... A dance. He could feel a cold sweat beading down his neck. I was wondering if you maybe... wanted to go... with... me...

He let out the breath he'd been holding, feeling as if his heart was about to explode right through his chest. It hammered against his ribs so hard, it almost psychically hurt. But his twelve seconds of stupidity had been finished: he couldn't take the words back, and now, it was Hinata's turn to speak.

The fear of what he would say was almost too much to bear. Kageyama wanted to close his eyes—avoid seeing his answer as long as possible—but at the same time, he couldn't close his eyes. He hadn't even confessed, and yet... he needed to know the answer.

What would Hinata say? He half expected him to run away: to slap him, or look at him with fury.

But when he finally met Hinata's gaze, his eyes were shining brighter than a million stars. There wasn't anger, but immense joy. His breath caught at the sight of it. Kageyama had never seen him look this happy before, and it was utterly dazzling. He was the sun and the stars and the whole damn galaxy all at once—and when he took his hand, his entire world fractured.

I'd love to go with you. His shy smile set millions of sparks alive in Kageyama's chest. I... was beginning to think you'd never ask.

He was unable to do anything but squeeze his hand, but Kageyama's tongue burned with the words he knew he could never breathe aloud. I'm so in love with you, it hurts.


A/N: Hahaha this is utter agony, isn't it? Sorry, not sorry.

As you all probably guessed, I'm now back from my trip! (Spoiler alert: Netflix in the UK is wayyyy better.)

Anywayyy, the piece featured in this chapter would be Saint-Saëns' lovely Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. There are many beautiful versions of it, but of course, this would be the good 'ol piano/violin version, so go give it a listen.