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Tsukishima felt crowded and on the verge of bursting open, being found out for his affections, his emotions, and anything else. It was normally something the team was really good at. His face remained sarcastic and bored, snide comments only adding to the mask as his chin rested on his arms folded over his knees. It was like talking to a bunch of children with a game like this going. He might excuse himself once the circle got to him. Or he could give a copout fake answer to avoid the truth.
"Hinata-"
Somehow this was worse.
"What about your crush?" Tanaka teased, taking a big swig from his water bottle. "You should totally describe them."
Way worse.
Tsukishima braced himself, not wanting to hear about whoever was occupying Hinata's mind when he knew - he knew it wouldn't be him.
"Oh!" He even sounded flustered, glancing around the group with all the nervousness of a baby deer. "Well... I-I guess it wouldn't really hurt anything."
The lingering gaze on His Royal Highness made Tsukishima's stomach curl. Only thing hurt would be my feelings, but who's counting , he thought bitterly. But please, yes, go on. Enlighten us all on your obvious crush on Kageyama - the king who gets everything.
"W-Well they're tall!"
"Everyone is tall to you, shrimp." He couldn't help the bite, a smirk on his face at the little indignant squawk from the little decoy.
"I mean tall tall!"
He didn't buy it, but let him move on to get this description done quicker.
"Tall and-and a really great volleyball player! He's really impressive!"
The descriptions of Kageyama were getting annoying already.
"He's pretty mean, but so cool and I think under all the crappy comments he's..." Hinata stops to blush. "Really awesome!
"Oh and he cares more than he lets on-" Tsukishima almost groaned, knowing the dam was now unleashed. He wanted to leave now and not having to listen to comments about blue eyes or dark hair- "I think my heart goes a little gwaah when he helps me out with stuff."
The king? Helpful? Must be volleyball things.
"And his hair!" Tanaka was eating up every second with the shittiest grin on his face and Tsukishima made a mental note to never do anything for that shitty grin again- "I like the way it's so short and kinda curly!"
What .
The comment made everyone's expression flip from smug confidence to a shocked surprise, including Tsukishima. He swallowed dryly, eyes now locked on Hinata rather than an imperfection in the gym floor or the label of his water bottle. His mouth felt dry once he heard that comment and he reached to sip some water from his bottle.
"I think... I hope he actually likes me and isn't just mean because he hates me. I think... I think he thought I was joking when I said his glasses looked nice at the last study session." Hinata was looking at him, bashful and red-faced and tracing shapes on the gym floor, from across the little circle they formed. Everyone's jaw had dropped, even Tadashi was looking between him and Hinata with a bug-eyed expression and Kageyama looked half-confused and half-shocked.
"I didn't." Tsukishima started to speak, deciding suddenly that it was safer to look at his shoelaces and water bottle than into Hinata's hopeful eyes. He felt his neck heat up with a blush that was spreading to his face. "I knew you meant it. And..."
Out with it, Kei. You know he likes you too.
"I don't... I don't hate you."
When he looked back, Hinata looked at him like he was in awe. When he glanced at everyone else subtly, he saw the shocked expressions turned up a couple notches. It made him scoff a little.
"Just get over here, you little idiot."
It was kind of funny watching Hinata scramble up to come sit by him on the opposite side that Tadashi was sitting. He looked like the least graceful thing in the room and yet it only made Tsukishima's chest squeeze with affection. Once Hinata sat next to him, thigh pressed to thigh, he leaned over to whisper in his ear. The secret would drive the team crazy, even if it was obvious what he was saying. They'd never hear him be this fond.
"I actually like you in the same way, Hinata. For whatever reason I think I should take you on a date."
The gasp from the little middle blocker and his wide eyes were a combination that did a number on his heart, but he suppressed the fond expression it made him almost want to make in favor of a small pout. He knew all eyes were on them. It made Hinata leaning in to whisper to him (with a little help from himself hunching over at his convenience).
"Can I kiss you first?"
It almost felt like gloating or showing off with all the gazes fixed on them.
Oh well. A special occasion can squeeze a little mischaracterization out of anybody. The kiss was worth it too. Noya let out a whistle and he could hear Tadashi's quiet Way to go, Tsukki! of encouragement compared to the angered calls from the king. He ignored both ends of the support spectrum, however, to rest his hand on Hinata's back and let their lips press together in a firm but sweet kiss. Chaste and... really nice. It hadn't sunk in completely yet, that Hinata Shoyo and all his sunny glory had a crush on him, Tsukishima Kei, and his complete opposite mannerisms. He liked him for even his pettiest, shittiest side and it was... it was a lot to think about. Kissing him about it was easier. Slipping his hand over Hinata's, feeling gravity naturally let their fingers slip between each other as they sat and listened to everyone else's crush talks was easier. Sparing him the energy to add a single heart emoji to the end of his contact name in his phone, watching Hinata add about 5 to his own was easier.