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The candlelight flickered, and Tsukishima had to strain his eyes to focus on his list. Glancing up at the shelves, he frowned, noting a few bottles missing that shouldn’t be. He turned his head slightly to call out to his best friend but before he could, Yamaguchi sighed mournfully. Tsukishima chuckled and shook his head.
“It’s just a little rain.”
At that moment, a rumble of thunder shook the entire building, causing a few bottles to rattle precariously on their shelf.
Yamaguchi snickered. “Careful, Tsukki. Remember what I said about the gods not liking your attitude.”
“Tch. Yet you’re the one with the attitude, sighing pathetically.”
“I can’t help it. It’s so boring when it rains. Why don’t we close up and go home?”
“First, we cannot close up because I am doing inventory and I’m wondering why there are a few draughts of Amarosia missing without them being accounted for.”
“O-Oh, I forgot about those. Saeko-san popped in late last night for them and said it was an emergency. She’s always been good on her word in the past, so I left a note on the shelf about it.”
“I don’t see one,” Tsukishima said, popping up on his toes to see the entire shelf. As he fell back on his heels, he took a glance around the floor and spotted the elusive slip of parchment that looked like it had been stepped on several times since floating down from its spot. He sighed and picked it up, brushing off the dirt before slipping it into his pocket. “Never mind, I found it. Why did she want them anyway? Not that she’s my type, but it’s difficult to imagine Saeko-san having trouble getting someone in the mood.”
“Please don’t make me explain it. She went too much into detail last night and my ears are still red from it.”
“Give me a vague run down. It’s your punishment for not telling me about the missing draughts before.”
Yamaguchi groaned. “Fine. She wasn’t having trouble, but she said she likes to make things extra spicy, especially when she has two of her lovers over at once.”
“... Two? Oh, hmm. Hopefully the third person was Udai-san since Nii-san has been moaning over both of them lately.” Tsukishima grimaced as he heard another mournful sigh behind him.
“He’s so lucky. By the way, what was the second thing?”
“Hmm?”
“When I asked if we could go home, you said first. Were there more reasons other than inventory?”
“Yes. Listen to it out there. You want to go out in that? You’d be just as bored at home. Thirdly—”
“Incredible, more reasons…”
“Thirdly, what would happen if someone came in here with a true emergency? Someone wounded and fetching a physician would take too long. Without our tonics, they’d die.”
“There’s no one left around here that would get into a situation like that,” Yamaguchi murmured, the weakness in his voice stabbing Tsukishima through the heart.
He swallowed hard and turned around to face him. There was no more mirth left in Yamaguchi’s expression as he slumped over the front counter of their shop, but Tsukishima didn’t expect there to be. Their small town was their whole world, but it was too small to contain two of their best friends. If he were honest, he’d admit that neither one of them felt just friendship for their two long-lost idiots, but there was no point. Why admit feelings for a person when they were probably never coming back?
“Of course there is,” he finally said, a smirk rising on his face. “Tanaka-san steps on his rake or smacks a hammer on his thumb at least once a week.”
While his eyes still remained despondent, Yamaguchi’s lips rose in a slight smile. “That’s true. Or Ennoshita-san might smack him with one himself.”
Tsukishima snorted. “And we’ll never get rid of Nishinoya-san. While he has the skills to be off battling a demon king as well, he’d rather admire the new shorter dresses the neighboring town has been parading around in. I’m fairly certain he’s about to erect an altar to worship Asahi-san for designing them.”
Yamaguchi laughed. “Yeah. I guess it wouldn’t be a good idea to close up early.”
The jesting had done its trick, and Yamaguchi picked up his rag and proceeded to clean the countertop despite it already being free from dust.
“Although…”
Yamaguchi paused and cocked his head at him. “What is it?”
Tsukishima’s smile softened. “It is very slow, so as long as one of us is here, I’m sure we’ll be fine. Why don’t you go for the evening, and I’ll finish up the inventory?”
“Are you sure? I mean, you said it yourself, where can I go in this weather?”
“You could go to the tavern. It’s always livelier when it’s raining.”
“What about you?”
Tsukishima cringed. “You think I’d enjoy that? Please, I’d get a lot more work done without you complaining and sighing every few minutes.”
Yamaguchi beamed back at him as he began shuffling back toward the door. “Well, if you insist!”
“Get out of here.”
“Thanks, Tsukki!”
Snatching his cloak off the hook, Yamaguchi had barely thrown it on when he rushed out the door. Tsukishima winced from the clamor the bell made as Yamaguchi slammed the door behind him. As calm silence permeated their small shop once again, Tsukishima snickered and turned back to his work.
He didn’t mind working alone and it made him feel better that Yamaguchi was heading off to the tavern. Socializing with the friends they had left always rejuvenated him, taking his mind off the ones they no longer had. For Tsukishima, it didn’t do much good. As much as he complained about his friends, he did treasure them. But sometimes he preferred to be alone with his memories and foolish hopes for the future.
It was late when he finally finished the inventory and besides a few bottles of their more erotic potions, everything was accounted for. Unfortunately, he could still hear the storm raging outside. The thought of getting soaked to the bones just to go home wasn’t appealing, but luckily, they had a small loft in the shop that they used for naps. Dusting off the old futon they had up there was better than getting wet.
He placed his inventory sheet back in his accounting book and slid it into a cupboard. He was about to count their money for the day when he realized he’d forgotten to flip the sign on the door to closed. Sighing, he trekked across the shop, his nose already scrunching since he knew that just by opening the door, he was probably going to get splattered by wind-swept rain.
Positioning himself behind the door, he rolled up the sleeve to his robe as high as it would go and tucked it on his shoulder. He grabbed the handle with his other hand and cracked the door open, slipping his hand out into the horrific weather to flip the sign. Large drops like ice pellets smacked his exposed skin and as his fingers fumbled with the wet sign plate, he froze when he heard a voice above the wind.
“Oh… Tsukishima?”
With his face pressed against the rough wood of the door, Tsukishima’s lips parted in surprise. Was it just his imagination? Or perhaps it was one of the other villagers and he mistook their voice for his. There was only one way to be certain.
He stepped back and wrenched the door open. The figure in front of him was nearly unrecognizable, wearing strange armor underneath a strange tunic. The hood was low, covering whatever hair that would be an obvious clue to who was underneath it, but Tsukishima knew. His stomach was knotting into coils because he knew Hinata, no matter how much he’d grown.
“Um, I see you were closing up,” he mumbled as he peeked at him from under his hood. Even in the darkness, his eyes radiated warmth like glowing embers. “I can come back in the morn—”
Hinata shrieked as Tsukishima reached out into the storm, grabbed his shoulder, and dragged him inside. He flung Hinata into the shop and slammed the door shut against the storm. As soon as it closed, however, Tsukishima huffed out a sigh and opened it again to turn the sign to closed.
When he finally turned back to Hinata, he could finally get a better look at him as he removed his soaked and filthy cloak. His bright hair was damp but still stuck out everywhere and dirt was smudged on his face, but that wasn’t anything new. Hinata almost always had dirt smudged on him somewhere.
“Sorry about it being so late,” Hinata mumbled, glancing around the shop. For once, he was being shy and awkward… It was strange. But of course, he was being awkward, because Tsukishima, like a complete idiot, was just standing there gaping at him because he wasn’t entirely certain that he wasn’t dreaming. Glancing down at the lake-sized puddle forming beneath Hinata’s boots, however, wasn’t a dream, so Tsukishima cleared his throat.
“It’s fine.”
“Good.”
Tsukishima stared at him, and Hinata pursed his lips as he looked everywhere else. The silence of the shop was no longer calm. Tsukishima was practically screaming in his own head to say something, but there was so much he wanted to say but knew that his pride would never allow it. He could tease Hinata as usual, but it didn’t feel right either. He missed the stupid bundle of energy so much while he was gone and now that he was in front of him, he had no idea what to do.
“Where’s Yamaguchi?” Hinata asked, finally meeting Tsukishima’s eyes.
“It was so slow, I sent him home to get him out of my hair. I believe he went to the tavern.”
Hinata huffed out a laugh. “Good, that’s where Kageyama headed.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
“I’ve been stuck with Kageyama for months. Why would I want to stick with him?”
With Hinata’s nose scrunched adorably with disgust, Tsukishima relaxed and snickered. “Well, everyone else would be there as well. Do you not want to see them?”
Hinata’s face fell as a blush rose on his cheeks. “I do! But… not right away. I guess I wanmphed tosheeyoufirst,” he mumbled, and Tsukishima’s eyebrows shot up.
“What was that?”
“I wanted to see you first!”
“Oh… Oh, are you saying you missed me? Out of everyone from Karasuno village, your heart longed to see me first?” Tsukishima jeered as he sauntered closer. He snickered as Hinata’s cheeks puffed out.
“Yeah, so? You’re happy to see me too, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“See? So why don’t you— Oh, you are?”
Tsukishima’s sneer slid away as hope emanated from Hinata’s large eyes. He couldn’t just blurt out how elated he was that Hinata was home, even for a short while. He couldn’t reveal all the daydreams he’d had about the future when the war would be over and maybe he could coax Hinata to move in with him. Hinata was standing in the middle of his shop, soaked to the bone, and didn’t have a single clue about the depths of Tsukishima’s affection for him.
“Yeah, I’m happy you’re here, but I’m not happy that you brought all the rain you could inside with you. Look at that,” he said, motioning toward the water spreading at his feet. Tsukishima chuckled as Hinata yelped and looked around frantically.
“Um, I’ll clean it up!”
“Don’t bother. Are you going home tonight?”
“Not if I can help it. You know my family lives way up in the mountains.”
“Good. I was going to stay here tonight because of the storm, so there should be room for us both. Take off your clothes and I’ll get you some spare.”
Hinata’s body puffed up with excitement as he beamed back at him. “Thank you!”
Once Tsukishima had brushed past him, he smiled to himself. Hinata didn’t tell him how long he was staying in town. It was possible that he was leaving in the morning to meet up with the troops. As frustrating as that was, Tsukishima was grateful that for at least one night, he had Hinata all to himself.
After Hinata had stripped down to almost nothing, Tsukishima quickly tossed him a blanket to cover himself and scooped up his sopping garments. If there had been dirt on them, the rain seemed to have washed most of it away, so Tsukishima hung up a cord in front of the fire and draped the clothes over it after he’d given them a good squeeze over an extra bucket.
He spared Hinata a mere glance before motioning for him to follow. Had he looked any longer, his heart would have burst from seeing him all wrapped up in his blanket like a soggy kitten. Luckily, he heard Hinata shuffling after him as he wandered into the back room and pulled down the ladder to the loft. Grabbing one of the lanterns, he led the way up and set the lantern on a nearby crate as he glanced around the room.
“Sorry, it’s a little dusty.”
“No, this is great!” Hinata said as he managed to shuffle up the ladder with the blanket still wrapped around him. He bounded around the small space, peeking at the sparse shelves that held a few old potions that had long expired and some of Tsukishima’s personal belongings. “This is way nicer than what I’m used to.”
“What are you used to?”
Hinata sighed as he flopped down on the futon. He coughed as a cloud of dust puffed up from it and glared at Tsukishima when he snickered.
“I’m used to sleeping on the ground and since we’re usually camping in the forest, there are rocks and roots poking under my sleep sack. There are a few holes in it now.”
“You haven’t slept in a bed this whole time?”
“Occasionally we’re lucky enough to get a cot and if we’re traveling in smaller parties, we sometimes spend the night in an inn.” He smiled serenely as he stared off into space. “That’s the best, and the food is really good, too.”
“Doesn’t sound worth it to me,” Tsukishima sniffed as he knelt beside a large chest. He opened it and rummaged around until he found one of his smaller robes and tossed it over his shoulder to Hinata. “You could die out there between all the fighting or being exposed to the elements, and you don’t even get to sleep in a good bed.”
“It’s worth it to me,” Hinata answered in a quiet voice. Quiet, but firm.
Tsukishima shut the lid of the chest and stared at the wall as Hinata changed behind him. If only Hinata were just a regular soldier, he probably could have convinced him to let it go and stay home. But there was nothing normal about Hinata and he knew that Knight Captain Iwaizumi was already relying on him a great deal. Hinata may regard himself as a regular soldier, but Tsukishima had a feeling he was near the top ranks.
When he was done changing, Hinata huffed. “This is yours, isn’t it? It’s too long.”
Tsukishima turned around and snickered. “It’s not too long; you’re too short. Have you not grown at all since you’ve been away?”
“Shut up! I’ve grown… just not taller,” he mumbled as he rolled the sleeves up so his hands wouldn’t be covered.
Tsukishima swallowed as his eyes trailed down the front of the rope that was gaping open, showing just how much Hinata had grown. There was definitely a lot more muscle packed in his smaller body than there used to be, but there were more scars as well. Tsukishima frowned as he strode forward and pulled the material back a little more.
“You know the point is not to let anyone stab you, right?”
Though he meant it as a jab, his voice was uncharacteristically weak, and Hinata chuckled gently in response instead of his usual indignation.
“They’re just nicks. Whoever gave them to me didn’t live long enough to get any more hits on me.”
Tsukishima shivered. Picturing Hinata running around, leaping up into the air and brandishing his sword, that was easy to do. Imagining him taking someone else’s life was still hard for Tsukishima to swallow. Although there were exceptions, those who took another life in that way often died themselves in the same manner.
He startled when Hinata grasped his hands, not even realizing that he’d been staring at Hinata’s exposed skin. Hinata seemed more worried about him, however, as he gazed up at him.
“I’ll be okay.”
Tsukishima glowered down at him. “You don’t know that.”
Hinata’s wry smile looked far too mature and cynical for his face. “Maybe not. But I’m hopeful.”
They gazed at each other, Hinata holding his hands and nothing but the rain pelting the roof could be heard. Tsukishima’s breath shuddered, and he wished he could speak all the arguments he had rolling around in his head but every time he thought about saying it out loud, he could easily hear Hinata’s overly positive yet defiant response. It was nothing they hadn’t already said, and now Hinata was older, more experienced, and battle-worn. He wasn’t going to get him back until the war was over. That was, if they were lucky.
At that moment, it seemed like they had all the time in the world, but Tsukishima was struck with a stroke of inspiration that had him pulling away from Hinata and rushing toward the ladder. Without saying a word, he swept down it and rushed through the dark shop, knowing the layout of it by heart. He knelt beside his old safe and pulled an ancient key out from under his robe that was tied on a cord around his neck.
The safe hadn’t been opened in years, not since he was a child. The contents of it were various items of such high worth that they were priceless. They weren’t things to be sold but to be given to someone treasured. Tsukishima held his breath as he slipped the key in and opened it.
It was too dark to see, so he reached in and felt around. His fingers slipped over dusty bottles, but he dropped his hand to the bottom of the safe until his fingers brushed against a smaller object. Tsukishima grasped it gently and pulled it out, allowing the object to balance on his hand as its chain dangled beneath it
There was hardly any light permeating the room, but the longer Tsukishima gazed down at it, the object itself began to glimmer. The encasing was gold wrought into an ornate heart so the contents inside could barely be seen. While the gold wasn’t warm, heat began to radiate from within as the rosy light brightened.
When left in the safe, he knew that it remained cold and dark. The potion was reacting to him, giving him a clear sign that he was making the right decision. That didn’t matter much to him. He was going to make that decision whether the potion and his ancestors who crafted it wanted him to or not.
Closing the safe and locking it, Tsukishima grasped the potion locket tenderly and swept back through the shop to the ladder. As he reached the top, he saw Hinata resting on the futon with his knees pulled up and his chin resting on top of them. He perked up as he saw him and scrambled back up to his feet.
“Did I make you angry?” he asked, rushing toward him.
Tsukishima sighed and shook his head. “I’m not angry. I don’t like it when you go away and put your life in danger, but I know that it’s no use arguing with you about it. I went downstairs to get this.”
Hinata’s breath hitched as Tsukishima held out his hand, revealing the locket. “That’s pretty. Is that real gold?”
“Yes, but that’s not why it’s worth so much. Compared to what’s inside, the gold may as well be dirt.”
“What’s in it?”
Tsukishima’s heart was pounding as he watched the light from inside the heart reflect in Hinata’s large, curious eyes. “It’s a potion. I’m giving it to you, but you have to promise me something first.”
Hinata blinked and glanced up at him. “What?”
“This potion is a family heirloom, worth more than anything money can buy. I don’t have time to explain it. Besides, I’m sure you won’t pay attention anyway.”
“I’m listening!”
They both frowned at each other for a moment and then, at the same time, they both cracked a smile.
“Good, because I won’t repeat myself,” Tsukishima continued, holding up the locket. “This is only to be used if you know you’re about to die. Technically, it’s a healing potion, but one of the purest ones ever made. It doesn’t matter how badly you’re injured or sick, it will take care of it within seconds. It won’t taste good, and it’ll hurt like hell, but it will save you.”
“That’s amazing! And you’re giving it to me?”
“Yes, after you promise me that you will only use it if you’re dying and, more importantly, that you’re the only one that will take it. Under no circumstances are you to give it to anyone else. I don’t care who it is, this potion is for you.”
That caused Hinata to falter. “That seems incredibly selfish.”
“It’s not your selfishness… it’s mine. I don’t want you to tell another soul about the potion unless you’re dying and need help taking it. Now, do you swear you’ll abide by my conditions? Or do I need to lock this back in the safe downstairs?”
Hinata gazed back down at the locket and pursed his lips. “What about Kageyama?”
Tsukishima huffed out a laugh. “Don’t worry. Before you two leave town, both Yamaguchi and I will have every health potion in our stores packed in your bags. You probably won’t need to use this at all. But, just in case… I just want to make sure you come back.”
A soft smile played on Hinata’s lips as he lifted his gaze, meeting Tsukishima’s eyes. “I promise, I’ll only use it on myself, and only if I’m about to die.”
Tsukishima released a long breath and picked the chain up with his other hand. He pulled it over Hinata’s hand but didn’t release the locket until it was resting against his chest. When he finally let it go, the light poured from the ornate encasing like a flash and then disappeared completely, leaving only the slightest red glow from inside like the embers in a dying fire.
Hinata murmured in amazement but then took the folds of his robe to cover it. Once he did, he beamed up at Tsukishima.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of your heart.”
There was no doubt that Hinata meant it, both ways that Tsukishima could have taken it. His face warmed uncomfortably, especially when Hinata snickered at his sudden flustered state. Without giving him a chance to shrug off the promise, Hinata took his hand and pulled him over to the futon.
“Come on, I’m beat.”
“Mm, me too.”
The futon was snug, especially for two young men, but neither of them minded as they shuffled close together. Tsukishima pulled the worn blanket up over them and as his head rested on his side of the pillow, his breath caught at seeing Hinata’s face so closely. His eyes were already drooping shut with sleepiness, however, and Tsukishima relaxed as he watched sleep overtake his old friend.
It wasn’t a night for spoken confessions, but Tsukishima felt like he had communicated everything he needed to already. No matter what happened, Hinata knew how he felt by his gift and the promises he forced him to swear by. All he could hope for was that one day the war would be over and Hinata would come home, hopefully with Tsukishima’s heart still intact.