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When Oikawa’s teammate, Andres, invited the team to a party on their last night in Brazil, he expected something a little… different. After all, it’s the only night on this trip when they get to loosen up after a hellish training week, so you can’t blame him for imagining something much wilder. A classic Rio nightlife scene with blaring music accompanied by inappropriate dancing, alcohol, and women . Somewhere north of Copacabana, not at some lame birthday party at Flamengo thrown by a close friend of Andres.
“Ay, Toto. Do you really expect them to let you inside a bar with that baby face of yours?” Oikawa could only pout while the rest of the team burst into laughter. While it's satisfying to know that his ‘complicated’ skincare routine is evidently effective, it’s also annoying that he has to show his ID every single time he asks for a drink. Yes, he’s young, but he doesn’t look that young! At least, that’s what Oikawa believes. To the rest of South America, he’s basically a toddler.
“It’s fine, I have a copy of my ID!”
“Do you? Check again.” Alas, his wallet was already gone when he reached for his pocket. Again.
“Why is it only me every time!” He slid his hand down his face before facing Andres with a tight-lipped smile. “Where’s this party again?”
“Oh, you’ll be surprised.”
Oikawa didn’t know what kind of house he was expecting, but a luxurious penthouse overlooking the Flamengo beach was definitely not the one he pictured. As soon as they walked in, the place was already bursting with life.
At the center of the living room, there was a vast dance floor with flashing colorful lights. The speakers were blasting funk carioca and people were shaking their bodies according to the beat. Beside it is a small open bar and a bartender mixing drinks for the guests. Further beyond that was a buffet full of a variety of worldwide dishes from Brazilian to French, Italian, and even Japanese.
Oikawa blew a low whistle at the sight. He may not be in a club or a bar somewhere north of Copacabana, but he still got the Rio nightlife he was expecting to have. Maybe even better, because at least here, he wouldn't have to show his ID to anyone. So, thank you, Andres’s rich friend.
“Alright! First order of business, find a girl to dance with, talk to, and—ow! What was that for?” Oikawa glared at Andres while massaging the spot on his head where he bonked him.
“Don’t worry about that, Toto! I have that all taken care of, just you wait. For now, just get some drinks and food, yeah?”
Oikawa raised an eyebrow. “Suspicious, but…” He hummed before placing his hands on Andres’s shoulder and flashing him a grin. “Since you were right about this party, maybe you’ll be right about one more thing, too. What’s the plan, wingman?”
With the way Andres smirked so audaciously, Oikawa suddenly felt that he would regret entrusting him with this. He forgot Andres was the team prankster, someone you couldn’t trust except for receiving the ball. He was about to take back what he said, but Andres was already off to greet someone on the other side of the room—probably the host. Oikawa supposes he should have gone with him, considering he had never met the host, yet here he was leeching off the drinks at the open bar of his birthday party.
Besides, he didn’t want to intrude on the two of them, seeing how close they were. Andres whispered something in the host’s ear while pointing to Oikawa, and then proceeded to shake the host’s hand. Okay, something weird was definitely going on, and Oikawa knew it would have something to do with their deal earlier. He was about to go over to their location to stop whatever prank Andres cooked up, but the host suddenly took off and got up on a makeshift stage. He then turned down the volume of the music and held a microphone close to his mouth.
“Excuse me, everybody. I’d like to thank everyone who came to my birthday party. Feel free to use our dance floor, the open bar, buffet, our pool and jacuzzi outside.” The crowd roared with cheers and applause, mixed with birthday greetings in a variety of languages for the host. Bravo, Brazilian hospitality.
“Thank you, thank you. Now, you know I am a bit of a romantic and cupid. Am I right, Marcia and Lucas?” He pointed to the space where a couple sat. The two of them raised their glasses as acknowledgment, then looped their arms to drink like newlyweds.
The host sighed lovingly. “Ah, love. They met at this same party two years ago, you know? Which is how a tradition was born! Every year on this day, aside from hosting a party, I also host a game of…. That’s right, Treasure Hunt!”
Another wave of whoos and yeahs flood the walls of this huge penthouse. Oikawa, however, just crossed his arms and sighed silently. If it weren’t for the free drinks and food, he would have already bolted out the door the moment he knew it was going to be that kind of party. A treasure hunt game is really… childish.
“I have here a list of pairs that would partake in the game. I formed these together based on requests, my instincts, and well, draw lots. You may not change your partner throughout the night. Just get to know each other, play the game, and most of all, have fun!
“Without further ado, I will now read out the names.”
Oh, Oikawa sees how it was. The thing Andres was whispering to the host earlier, the pointing and handshaking… it was for finding him a pair for this game, as he promised. It seemed that he had no reason to doubt his teammate, after all. Andres may seem like he doesn’t take things seriously sometimes, but they can actually rely on him when it counts.
Oikawa wondered what kind of girl his teammate would pair him with. He was sure that he would know Oikawa’s type after all those locker room talk, short and pretty, one who was full of life and had a gorgeous smile with an equally gorgeous body.
When he finally heard his partner’s name, the person who appeared before him definitely fit the criteria. Except…
“You’re... a guy.” Oikawa bluntly states to the short, orange-haired man before him. He was wearing a tank top and board shorts, as if he went here straight from the beach nearby. He had visible tan lines in his fairly muscular arms, which honestly, made Oikawa stare a little.
“Yep, and you’re pretty!” Oikawa raised his eyebrows at the statement. Aside from the bold compliment he just received from a stranger—not to mention a guy—he was more surprised at the language he spoke.
“You’re Japanese, too? Is that why they paired us?”
“Yeah, apparently. Plus that we’re both gay. Crazy coincidence, right? I think we’ll really hit it off—”
“Hold on, back up. I’m not...gay.”
“Oh... Bi?”
“Nope. Straight.”
The two of them stood before each other awkwardly. Oikawa rubbed his temples with the pads of his thumb and index finger. He knew he shouldn’t have trusted Andres with setting him up with someone. Even if he was the one who took him to this fancy party, he should have known there would be a catch somewhere.
“But… that’s what they said. And I was thrilled when I heard it because when I saw you walk in earlier, I immediately put in a request to be paired with you, as I’m sure others had, too. And you were totally my type, too…” The man before Oikawa was rambling. If Oikawa were being honest, he missed the sound of home after years of being surrounded by nothing but Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Maybe this wasn’t so bad, after all.
“I’m sorry, I think my friend pulled a prank on me.” The disappointed look on the other man’s face was clear, yet it also looks understanding. “How about this? We could still play the game even without, you know. Did they say what the prize will be?”
“Yeah, it’s the same as last year, though this is my first time participating. It’s an all-expense paid, two-day stay at Belmond’s Palace.”
Oikawa let out a gasp. “No way.”
“I know, right? I’ve always wondered what it would be like to stay at that fancy hotel!”
The Belmond Copacabana Palace is the number one hotel in Rio. Excellent service, immaculate cuisine, and luxurious accommodations. Oikawa has only ever dreamed of stepping inside it whenever his team goes to Brazil. Some of his friends who had been there said it was overrated, while some said they had the best weekend of their life during their stay there. The only way Oikawa’s ever gonna know is if he spends time there himself.
Oikawa clasped the shorter man’s hands with his own and held it up between them, bringing their faces closer to each other.
“Chibi-chan, we’re doing this.”
The other man looked at their joined hands then into Oikawa’s eyes. He raised his eyebrows and flashed a smirk. “Oho? I thought you were straight?”
Oikawa finally realized the position they were in and immediately let go of his hands.
“Not that! I meant the Treasure Hunt!” Oikawa tried to play it cool, but his face was already flushed red. The shorter man only laughed at his reaction.
“I was kidding, obviously! Your reaction was so cute. No wonder your friend pulled a prank on you.”
Oikawa could only roll his eyes. “Are we doing this or are you just gonna make fun of me all night?”
“Yeah, okay. But only because you’re cute and I want to tease you more throughout the night. And please, just call me Hinata. No one has called me Chibi-chan in years, and I do not miss being called that here.”
“Hmm… okay, Hina-chan. I’m Oikawa.” “I have two conditions if we’re gonna do this partnership.” He held up two fingers in front of Hinata.
Hinata only gave him an amused look, mostly because of the sudden nickname, but also because of his sudden proposition. Nevertheless, he prompted Oikawa to continue with a nod.
“First, if we win, we’ll stay out of each other’s way during our stay at Belmond. Let’s just enjoy our vacation separately, alright?”
Hinata thought for a moment, “Negotiable, but let’s talk about that after we win. And?”
“Secondly, this”—Oikawa pointed his finger back and forth between them—“will never happen. It may be hard, but you are not allowed to fall in love with me.”
Hinata could only roll his eyes at Oikawa’s second condition. “That is the most cliche movie line anyone has ever said to me. Yes, I’m gay. Sure, you’re my type. But I know my limits, and I don’t fall in love with every man I meet.”
Hinata stepped closer to close the gap between them. “If anything, I”—He pointed his finger to himself—“should be the one saying that to you.” He then pressed his finger to Oikawa’s chest.
“I’m known to be… quite irresistible. So, don't you dare fall in love with me, partner.” Hinata winked, and Oikawa could only chuckle at his brazenness.
“I think we’ll get along just fine… partner.” He held out a hand for Hinata to shake, and the latter gladly took it.
Once everyone was settled with their partner, the host gathered them around the stage to hand out each of their first clues. They were expecting to be handed out a paper, but they should have known the host wouldn’t make it that easy. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be that much of a challenge. Instead, they were each given a pint of beer. Apparently, the first clue is at the bottom of each mug, so they would have to drink it empty to get started.
It’s a clever way to start the Treasure Hunt, Oikawa thought. It gets the participants tipsy, maybe even a little drunk, diminishing their ability to focus on the task at hand. Besides, if the host’s goal really was matchmaking, this would certainly give the pairs a nudge. More importantly, it immediately eliminates those who are lightweight, meaning less competition for Oikawa and Hinata.
Oikawa’s got nothing to worry about. He’s had a lot of practice during his four years in Argentina. He could easily chug a pint of beer in more or less twenty seconds. He’s more worried about Hinata with his small frame; he’s not so sure if he could handle all this at once.
He looked over at his partner with a concerned look, only to find Hinata also looking up at him, mirroring his expression. Oh, this little—
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Oikawa asks, even though he already knows the answer. Hinata was underestimating him, the way he was underestimating Hinata earlier.
“I’m just… worried. You can tag me in if you can’t finish that, okay? I’m pretty confident in my drinking skills.” Oikawa cackled at Hinata’s proposition. He wants to be mad at him for underestimating him, but he said it with such genuine concern, that he only found it adorable.
“I appreciate the offer, but you’ve got nothing to be worried about.” Oikawa leaves out the fact that he had the same concerns for him. “I bet I could even finish this faster than you.”
Hinata instantly lit up at the idea of a competition. “You're on, challenger!”
As everyone else finally got their own mugs, the host went back on stage for the countdown. He first clarified that this part was technically not a race; however, the faster the pair would chug it down, the sooner they could start hunting.
“ Três... dois... um... COMECE !” At the go signal, everybody started chugging their own beers. To Oikawa’s delight, he could hear choking sounds and mugs hitting the glass table, indicating losers who already gave up.
About eighteen seconds have passed, and he’s already down to the last gulp of his own beer. At the same time, he hears a long, refreshing sigh beside him. Damn it, did Hinata just beat him a second faster?
As he set down his own mug at the table, he looked over to where Hinata was standing beside him, already wiping his mouth.
“How the heck—”
“Did I finish a pint of beer in less than twenty seconds? The Buy-Me-Beer Brothers taught me a thing or two since I kept losing to them in the sport we play.”
Oikawa had no idea who he’s talking about, but he just learned an interesting fact about his partner. “What sport—”
“Oikawa-san, look! There really is something written at the bottom!!”
Right, Oikawa almost forgot that they were in the middle of a game. Hinata showed the bottom of his mug to Oikawa and urged him to look at his own mug. The darkness of the room was making it difficult for them to make out the writings, so they went outside to the much brighter balcony and pool area.
Once again, the host decided to make it much harder for everybody. Instead of finding words like they expected, they found a bunch of numbers. Great, it was already tough to think straight because of the alcohol they literally just chugged, now they have to solve a damn code?
“GAAAA!!” Oikawa was startled by his partner’s sudden shriek. When he looked to see what was wrong, Hinata was crouching and grabbing his own hair in frustration. “I’m sorry, Oikawa-san, I’m terrible at math!”
“Huh. I guess it’s my time to shine, then.” Oikawa says confidently and reassuringly, prompting Hinata to stand up and look up at him with hope in his eyes.
Oikawa gulped when he saw how bright Hinata’s eyes were looking at him because what he just said was a complete, utter lie. Unfortunately, he was also dreadfully terrible at math, but there was no backing out now. He had to solve this problem now or who knows what face Hinata would make when he finds out both of them were doomed. Plus, you know, their chances at Belmond.
It’s okay, this is fine. He’s great at solving problems and finding patterns. He wouldn’t be a setter if he wasn’t. Let’s see…
16, 9,19, 3, 9, 14, 1
2, 15, 12, 1
Huh. Once he focused and thought about it, it was actually simpler than he thought.
“Hina-chan, do you have a paper and something to write with?”
“No, why would I bring that to a party?” Hinata gasped, “Did you figure it out? Did you? Did you?” He says while bouncing and clenching his fist in excitement. Oikawa hoped he was right about this.
“Yep. Funny thing, it actually has nothing to do with math.”
“Really!? Then how!?” Hinata asked enthusiastically.
“I think each number just corresponds to a letter in the alphabet.”
“OH! So 16 is like... uhm…” Hinata was counting on his fingers while humming a song quietly.
Oikawa only chuckled at the sight, “It’s okay, we can both sing together.”
The two of them looked like a pair of kindergarteners, singing the alphabet song repeatedly, but they didn't care. They took a mental note of what letter corresponds to each number and eventually ended up with two words: piscina and bola.
“ Pool and ball !” Said both of them simultaneously. They gave each other a high five for solving a code while semi-drunk.
“You’re amazing, Oikawa-san!”
“Damn right, I am.” They turned their head slowly to the direction of the pool. “Who among us brought an extra pair of clothes?”
Hinata turned to Oikawa and cackled as if he just told him the silliest thing he’s ever heard. “What are you saying? We’re in Rio!” As he said that, Hinata was already pulling his tank top over his head and pulling down his board shorts, revealing a black sunga, the brilliant offspring between speedos and boxer briefs. The clothes that did little to hide his tanned, chiseled figure in the first place were now completely off and Oikawa choked on air. He was still processing everything when suddenly, Hinata jumped into the pool.
“Oikawa-san! What are you waiting for?”
Oikawa hesitated. Unlike Cariocas— or was it just Hinata?—he didn’t have a swimsuit ready at any time of day.
“I was thinking, since you’re already there…”
“Oooh, I get it! If you couldn’t swim, you should’ve just said so, Oikawa-san! It’s nothing to be ashamed of, I’ll just find the ball myself!” Hinata turned away and dived deeper into the water.
Even though he’s 90% sure Hinata was just taunting him, Oikawa’s pride just couldn’t let the people around think that he, a grown-ass 22-year-old man, couldn’t swim. Plus, he couldn’t let Hinata think that he’s the sort of person who would let someone else do everything! What if it comes back to bite him in the back when claiming their prize? There’s no way he’s gonna let that happen.
So, his perfect hair be damned, Oikawa followed suit by taking off his shirt and shorts and jumped into the pool. The sudden freezing cold water hitting his skin quickly sobered him up.
When his head emerged from the water, he could see Hinata was approaching him while laughing. “I didn’t think you’d actually do it!”
“I figured we could find the ball faster with two sets of eyes.”
“Oh, you mean this ball?” Hinata revealed a yellow ball with two long fabric tails in his grasp. “It was easy to spot, so I grabbed it while you were stripping.”
“So I got myself wet for nothing?”
“Well, not for nothing...” Hinata smirks satisfyingly as he eyed Oikawa from head to chest.
Oikawa only rolled his eyes, to which Hinata responded, “Oh, please . Don’t think I haven’t caught you staring, Oikawa-san.”
Oikawa huffs, “I was not .” (Although he most definitely has been.) “Does the ball contain a clue there somewhere?”
“Let’s see…” The two of them moved closer together to examine the ball in Hinata’s hand. Upon closer inspection, they found another writing in the tails of the ball. The words read:
In Brazil, this drink you must try
The guy behind the bar is your allie
After drying themselves with the guest towels and putting their clothes back on, they rushed to the open bar inside. Only after they sat they realized they didn’t actually have a plan.
“Why don’t we just ask the bartender? It said he was our ally,” Hinata suggested. Although Oikawa was skeptical because of the misspelled “ally”, he decided to just go for it.
“Uh, Mr. Bartender, are you our… ally ?” Oikawa emphasized the last word, hoping that the bartender would get it. The bartender took one glance in their direction and slid two glasses of Kiwi Caipirinha. Of course! It makes sense that Brazil’s national cocktail was the drink that the clue was referring to.
“ Kanpai!” Oikawa and Hinata clinked their glasses together and drank slowly until the last drop. The two of them exchanged looks once they settled their empty glasses down on the counter.
“Don’t you think there’s something…”
“... missing? Yeah.”
The two of them called out to the bartender to inquire, but he only gave them another set of drinks. Unlike the green kiwi caipirinha earlier, this one was a yellow caipirinha de abacaxi with pineapple as the star ingredient.
Hesitantly, they picked up the glasses, clinked it together, and drank from it. They only got a sip when they suddenly put their drinks down, face grimacing to the taste of their drinks. Hinata ushered Oikawa to come closer so they could have a whispered conversation.
“Oikawa-san… do you also think that the bartender…”
“... sucks at his job? Yep, there’s not even a lime in this Caipirinha, and that’s, like, the most important ingredient!”
“Right? Even though there are literally limes behind him…” At that, they froze and slowly turned to face each other. When their eyes met, their mouths gradually grew into a grin as they both came to the same conclusion.
“ The limes !” As soon as they said that, the bartender himself appeared before them and forcefully put down two original Caipirinha—the complete deal this time with cachaça, ice, sugar, and limes.
“Drink this if you want the clue,” he said unamused. Oikawa and Hinata only exchanged looks and shrugged.
“ Saúde !”
“ Salud !”
It was the best drink they had all night. After they drank the last drop, the bartender handed out a lime with something written to it. Before the two stumbly walked away, they bowed in front of him to thank him and apologize for saying he sucked at his job earlier.
They laughed as soon as they turned their backs. “Should we have said that?”
“Probably not. Too drunk to care.” Oikawa rested his chin on Hinata’s shoulder to take a closer look at the lime. “Can you still read?”
“Uh…” Oikawa pretended not to notice Hinata’s sharp inhale, “Simon says.”
“Sweet!” Oikawa finally lifted his head from Hinata’s shoulders. “I’m great at this game! Who’s our Simon?”
“Simon?”
“You know, the one who gives the commands?”
“I’m familiar with the game. I meant Simon, the celebrant? You know, the host of the party you’re currently in? Wait, why are you even here?”
“Friend of a friend. You?”
“We pair sometimes. He’s an excellent player. But nevermind that, let’s go find him already!"
Simon, like all his clues, was not easy to find. Considering he’s the host, it makes sense that he wouldn’t stay in one place. Maybe he mingles too much, or maybe he just eludes players of the game as soon as he sees them, but Oikawa and Hinata somehow managed to “just miss him” every single time. Or maybe they’re just too drunk to function at this point. After about twenty minutes of going around in circles, asking a bunch of people, and almost giving up, Oikawa finally spotted a man who looked like the host.
“Hina-chan… is that him beside the DJ?” Hinata hurried over to where Oikawa was pointing. Oikawa took that as a yes and immediately followed suit.
“Simon!” Hinata and two other voices called out.
Oikawa and Hinata turned their heads to the source of the other voices and found another pair who was sizing them up with their eyes. Oikawa held his chin up and mirrored their expressions, not wanting to back down.
“Ah… it seems that you are the first and last pairs who made it this far.” Simon walked over to the four of them and shook each of their hands. Once again, he got up from the makeshift stage and called everybody’s attention to introduce them as the Treasure Hunt’s finalists.
“Whoever wins this Simon Says will be the ones who will get the treasure. The rules are simple—only do the command when I say the magic words ‘Simon says’, otherwise you’re out. Well, then… shall we begin?” The crowd cheered and parted like Moses’s waves on the dance floor to give room for the finalists.
The first few commands were simple and easy, albeit a little silly, and they must do all of them with their partners. It’s all the typical Simon Says commands: act like a monkey, move in slow motion, play the air guitar. All of which should have been embarrassing for Oikawa; but honestly, he was so busy having fun with Hinata to even think about how ridiculous they must look in front of all these strangers, not to mention his teammates who will definitely tease him about this later.
But then Simon decided to get a little more creative.
“Simon says… dance the Samba de Gafieira .” Oikawa saw Hinata froze as soon as he heard the command. He looked over and Hinata was wearing a lopsided smile. Fortunately for the two of them, Oikawa’s teammates had insisted on making him take ballroom dancing lessons last year— “A rite of passage if you want to become a true Argentine,” they had joked.
He pressed his hand on Hinata’s back and mouthed ‘ I got you’ with a reassuring smile.
As they stepped on the dance floor, Oikawa clasped his right hand with Hinata’s left and held him in a close embrace. He could feel Hinata’s nervousness at the way his heart was beating loudly against his chest.
“You ready? Just follow my lead,” he whispered in Hinata’s ear.
The music started, and they began with a basic quadrado , with Oikawa guiding and instructing Hinata every step of the way. Two steps on the spot, one step back, two steps on the spot, one step forward. Once they got the basics down, they tried to move on to more advanced steps. Oikawa introduced the saida lateral. He shifted his right leg diagonally backwards then diagonally forward, while Hinata was doing the opposite with his left leg.
More than once, Hinata stepped on Oikawa’s foot, but the latter never complained and only laughed it off while comforting the former with encouraging words. Halfway through the song, their dancing could already pass as decent .
“Maravilhoso! Now switch partners with the other pair!” Hinata looked up at Oikawa with panic in his eyes, begging him not to give him off.
Oikawa chuckled. “Don’t worry, he didn’t say the magic words, right?” The look of relief on Hinata’s face triggered a soft feeling inside Oikawa, but he soon snapped out of it as he heard Simon’s voice.
“Simon says…. carry your partner!” Before Oikawa could even register the command, Hinata already jumped on him, wrapping his legs around Oikawa’s waist and his arms around his neck. Oikawa had to support Hinata’s weight by grabbing his thighs.
“You’re really heavy for a Chibi-chan,” Oikawa playfully commented.
Hinata dramatically gasped and pouted, scrunching his nose in admittance, murmuring “It’s muscles.”
Oikawa felt his mouth gradually smiling and his heart getting lighter at the adorable reaction.
“Simon says… stare into each other’s eyes for a full minute.”
“Well, that’s easy,” Oikawa claimed. He extended his neck to look directly at the eyes of the man he’s carrying. “Is this how it always feels like for you when you look at people?”
“Ha, ha, very funny,” Hinata rolled his eyes and smiled teasingly, “Think you could hold my really heavy self for a minute longer, old man?”
Their friendly banter continued on with a few more quips and laughs, but it eventually quieted down as they stared longer into each other’s eyes.
Two eyes the color of earth, warm and welcoming yet intense and intoxicating.
“Ten seconds left,” the host announced, but neither of them had paid it any mind. Among the boisterous chanting of the crowd, the clinking of glasses, and the rhythm of the music, all they could hear in their little bubble was the sound of their own beating hearts gradually getting faster and louder by the second.
Três...
Dois...
Um.
A full minute has passed and neither of them have averted their eyes from each other.
“ Now, kiss! ” They heard Simon say into the microphone.
Both of them knew that was the next command.
They also knew that following a command without the magic words would mean their instant loss.
Their gazes flickered down to each other’s lips, slightly parted and slowly curving upwards.
When their eyes met once again, neither of them needed to say anything.
Belmond Palace be damned.
As they embraced their loss, they themselves tightly embraced one another as they welcomed each other’s lips.
Their kiss tasted of their night together, metallic from the beer they chugged, sweet and grassy from the caipirinha they drank.
When their lips finally parted, they could now clearly hear the crowd cheer as the host declared the winners of the Treasure Hunt. Only then did Oikawa realize what they just did, and panic settled inside him.
I’m not gay, he had said to Hinata earlier when they met.
This will never happen, he said when they shook on their partnership.
Well, shit.
“Oikawa-san…” Hinata’s eyebrows drew together and he bit his lower lip. Oikawa could tell that he was worried. They did just do something neither of them were expecting. He was about to say something to ease his worries, even though he had a lot of chaos going on inside his own head, when Hinata spoke again, “I really, really have to go to the bathroom.... Can you put me down?”
That... was not what Oikawa was expecting to hear. Hinata didn’t look like he was pretending, nor was he just saying it to run away. In hindsight, this was a long-overdue trip to the bathroom, considering all the liquid they drank that night. It just couldn’t have come at a worse time.
For the first time on that night, they were separated. As he watched Hinata bolt in the direction of the bathroom, he felt a hand grip his shoulder.
“There you are!” He turned around and saw the face of the one who started it all -
“Andres?”
“Bad news. Coach moved our flight early in the morning. We have to go now.” It’s currently 4 am, and Andres informed him that their new flight was at 7 am.
“But—” Oikawa looked back in the direction he last saw Hinata, but he was already being dragged by his teammate towards the exit.
Oikawa spent most of the ride back to their hotel replaying the events of that night, particularly about a certain orange-haired guy he still couldn’t believe he made out with. Maybe it was all the alcohol, but maybe he just really wanted to kiss him. To be fair, Hinata was incredibly gorgeous, and it’s time to admit that he was definitely his type. But it’s not just in looks. Hinata was courageous, confident, fun, and captivating.
He was, indeed, quite irresistible .
Still, it didn’t make sense. He’s always been attracted to women... at least that’s what he believed his whole life. Besides, he’s had tons of girlfriends before!
Although… Now that he thinks about it, none of them really lasted… because none of them really felt right .
Now that he thinks about it, he had always been staring a little too long at Iwa-chan in the locker rooms. He once got smacked because of it.
But it’s not just Iwa-chan… and it wasn't just until high school…
Oikawa gulped as a series of suspicious incidents throughout his life flashed his mind.
Panic settled as a rather obvious realization dawned on him.
Oh god, has he actually been… gay this whole time? Maybe bi?
He decided he’ll figure it out later. For now, “Stop the car!”
The driver hit the brakes, and Andres hit his head on the back of the front seat, “What the shit, Toto?”
“Sorry, I’ll be back in time for the flight!” Oikawa hurriedly opened the door of their car and got out.
“Where the hell are you going?” Andres shouted from the car window.
“I don’t know! A treasure hunt!”
They were already halfway back to their hotel, but Oikawa was already running back in the direction of the party they just left.
When he finally arrived at the penthouse thirty minutes later, the party was already over. There were only a few people left, most of them passed out and lying in various places. The music has died down, and only hushed conversations can be heard.
He looked around the room and found no sight of a certain short, orange-haired guy. He searched around the house frantically, looked in all of three bathrooms, behind the bar counter, the pool and jacuzzi, but to no avail.
Oikawa stood there on the balcony, looking absolutely crestfallen. He wanted to at least see Hinata for one last time before he goes back to Argentina because he didn’t get to properly say goodbye to him earlier. He crouched and pulled his hair at the mere thought of how Hinata must have been confused—or worse, hurt—when he came out of the bathroom only to find his partner already gone.
Oikawa slapped himself and inhaled deeply. It’s 5:05 am, he only has only a limited window to search for the possible love of his life. Even so, there’s no way he'll give up easily without even trying. He’s Oikawa Tooru, dammit. A minor setback like this is nothing.
Once he resolved himself to search for Hinata, it occurred to him how little he knew about the guy. Heck, he doesn’t even know his first name. How was he supposed to find him now?
Thus began: Oikawa’s new Treasure Hunt.
He figured Hinata must have left clues throughout their night together, he only needed to dig it up from his memory.
Here’s what he knows about Hinata, his mysterious partner who snatched his heart: He’s gay. He’s Japanese, but his Portuguese is already somewhat refined. He can adequately hold his liquor. He’s short, yet has a firm build. He has blazing orange hair that matches his bewitching hazel eyes. He has tan lines in his arms, waist, thighs, and neck (of course, he only knows this because he had been staring at him back at the pool). He has a charming laugh and a dazzling smile. He's terrible at math, and even more so in dancing, but he’s also a quick learner.
Finally, he’s one damn amazing kisser.
Oikawa cursed himself. He only listed the things that made him fall for Hinata, which could have been sweet under normal circumstances, but right now, it’s useless. He needed facts that could lead him to his whereabouts, not a Shakespeare poem. He needed to dig deeper.
Once again, he replayed the events of the night starting from the beer chugging contest. He remembered Hinata said something about how he won. Something about some brothers teaching him a thing or two because he kept losing to them in a sport—that’s it! Identifying which sport he plays could lead him to somewhere… or nowhere, but it’s worth a shot.
Okay, now to the second event: the pool. Shamefully, other than his tanned, built body, Oikawa really couldn’t remember anything else about Hinata. But perhaps that could also serve as a clue, such defined tan lines would suggest that he spent a lot of time under the sun, right? Ergo, he plays an outdoor sport. Feeling smart about himself, Oikawa patted himself on the back for coming up with a definitely plausible theory.
Moving on: the caipirinha incident. Remembering the taste of Caipirinhas only made Oikawa remember the taste of Hinata’s mouth, but it also made him recall a conversation that could be fruitful to his hunt. Right after they read the words Simon says on the lime, Hinata mentioned how he knew Simon: “We pair sometimes. He’s an excellent player.” At the time, it made little sense to Oikawa, but now it all added up.
Hinata played an outdoor sport that required a team of two players.
Hinata, who showed up to a party in tank tops and board shorts, as if he came straight from the beach. It should have been obvious right then and there: Hinata plays either footvolley or beach volleyball, the two most famous sports in Brazil that fit the criteria. Oikawa figured Hinata would only leave Japan and go to the other side of the world to learn from the best, much like he did.
Either way, he’s fairly certain about the location of the Treasure. In fact, he could see it clearly from his view on the balcony, along with the horizon slowly gaining colors, indicating his time is almost up.
Thankfully, it was only a five-minute run from the penthouse to the Flamengo beach, but the beach was a vast area. Oikawa braced himself for a rigorous yet swift search. That is until he heard a phrase he hasn’t heard in all four years he’s been playing volleyball in South America.
“Nice kill!”
He turned to the source of the phrase, and there he was. Blazing orange hair that could counter the sun, his smile just as bright. Oikawa took a moment to take in the view before he strolled over to where Hinata was playing.
He cleared his throat when he’s finally within earshot. Hinata turned around with a surprised look on his face, which quickly turned into an unreadable expression.
“Well... “ Hinata crossed his arms, “If it isn’t Mr. This-Is-Never-Gonna-Happen.” He turned his back to Oikawa and assumed a ready stance for his opponent on the court. “Don’t worry, you already made that very clear when you suddenly left without a word right after we... accidentally kissed.” His voice broke on the last word and Oikawa felt his heart drop.
Hinata focused his attention back to the game, and it looked like Oikawa wouldn’t be able to talk to him at this rate. So instead of bothering him, Oikawa tapped on his partner’s shoulders and begged him to switch with him using Spanish and exaggerated gestures. Fortunately, he got the hint and stepped off the court.
Hinata took a sideways glance at him, “You play beach?”
“I play indoor volleyball professionally. How hard can it be?” Oikawa immediately regretted saying that when he missed his first serve. And when he, a professional setter, flopped his first set, especially when he fell face-first in the sand when he tried to receive. On the flip side, it earned a bellow of laughter from Hinata, so it was all worth it.
Oikawa cleaned off the sand from his clothes and faced Hinata. “Are you willing to hear me out now?”
Hinata wiped the tears from his eyes and waited for his laughter to settle down before replying, “Okay.”
They stepped off the court and walked alongside the shore; the waves brushing against their feet periodically.
“I think I like you,” Oikawa blurted. Hinata stopped in his tracks and looked at him wide-eyed.
“Wh-what? But I thought you’re—”
“Straight? Until recently, I thought so, too. But looking back, I realized that has never been the case… I was just afraid of admitting it. Not anymore, though.”
“Then why did you leave without a word?”
“My teammate dragged me away because we have to leave in about”—Oikawa glanced at his phone—“an hour and a half. I went back to find you, but you were already gone.”
“Yeah, well… after you abandoned me, I needed to cheer myself up by the only thing I know how—playing beach volleyball. Speaking of, how in the world did you know I was gonna be here?”
Oikawa smirked, “Hello? Did you already forget that I was your genius partner in Treasure Hunt?”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry we lost that, by the way.”
“Nah, it was every bit my fault as yours. Besides, I got something worth much more than a stay at Belmond.” Oikawa glanced at Hinata’s lips. Underneath the bright sunlight, Oikawa could now clearly see the flush in Hinata’s face, and how it looked oh so pretty on him.
“Look, Hinata…” Oikawa stepped closer and placed a hand on Hinata’s cheeks. “I have no right to say this, but I really like you. I want to get to know you better.” He paused and took a deep breath, “What do you say? Shall we make this "—he pointed his finger back and forth between them—"happen, after all?"
Hinata smiled. “Told you I was irresistible.”
Oikawa mirrored his expression and placed his other hand on Hinata’s cheeks, fully cupping his face. “Damn right, you are.”
The two of them stayed like that for a moment, eyes fixed on each other, soft smiles on their faces.
Just as the moment they gave up the Treasure Hunt, they didn’t need to say any words.
Against the Rio sunrise, with warm sea breeze blowing on their faces and gentle waves splashing on their feet, their lips met once again.