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The moment you meet your soulmate is supposed to be a magical thing. Sparks will fly, magnetism will drag you together, your eyes will meet and you’ll know this is the person you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with.
Sachirou’s always known that’s not quite how it works.
His parents have always laughed about how his mother had thought her soulmate with his father’s high school captain and best friend and had been vocally disappointed by it being him. He’d dated her libero in revenge. It wasn’t a smooth start.
Fukurou hasn’t met his soulmate. He’d pined after his best friend Shuugo for years, scratched at his soulmark until it bled in his frustration at not being his soulmate. They’ve finally got off their behinds and started dating even if they’re not soulmates, and it’s about damn time.
Shouko’s situation was easier. She met him on her first day of middle school and they’ve been disgustingly perfect ever since. Fukurou spent all of high school pretending to throw up every time he was forced to be around them and Sachirou isn’t sure he blames him. Two people don’t need their tongues down each other’s throats that much and the pet names are so over the top and tooth rotting it makes him nauseous.
Miya Atsumu’s situation has been splashed across volleyball gossip columns and blogs and everyone who’s a regular at national level in their age group knows about it. Atsumu’s soulmate is an older libero from Tokyo. They aren’t dating, last Sachirou heard at least, and have had problems fitting Atsumu’s close bond with Osamu into their soulmate bond, but are said to be very close. They’d been caught at last years Spring Tournament kissing on the steps and the poor guy from a no name school had ended up with a full page dedicated to digging up his history.
Kourai apparently confirmed his soulmate was who he thought it was at Youth Camp. Whatever happened with Kageyama Tobio, Kourai was so embarrassed he spent the entire afternoon after coming home buried in his covers and swearing he was never coming out again. Sachirou is mostly immune to second-hand embarrassment after this long being friends with Kourai and let him wallow for the afternoon before dragging him out of bed for volleyball practice the next morning.
The first time Sachirou meets Hinata Shouyou, they’re across the net from each other. He’s never told anyone at Kamomedai but Kourai about the name on his soulmark. If the others have seen it while he’s changing they don’t say anything. Although that might be because they’re busy dealing with Gao teasing Kourai about Kageyama.
If Hinata knows who Sachirou is, he doesn’t let it show either. He spends most of the time glaring and growling. So Sachirou meets him there, focusing on the game and winning. No matter what the situation and who’s on the other side of the net, victory is the focus. The next point. The next block. He doubts Hinata would want him to go easy on his because they’re soulmates anyway. He seems like a volleyball monster on the level of the Miyas and Kourai. All the more reason for Sachirou to question what they’re supposed to have as a connection, but he’ll play along for now.
He’ll show Hinata what a real middle blocker looks like.
“You ok?” Kourai mutters as they’re in time out. “You’re looking kind of flushed.”
“Am I?” he replies. He frowns and takes a drink, trying to focus on his body. “I do feel a little hazy. Tired and a bit warm.”
“Third Day Hell, man,” he says with a shrug. “You’ll be ok. You usually are.”
“Let’s keep an eye on it anyway,” Coach Murphy says firmly. Sachirou nods and takes another drink. “I don’t want you getting sick and needing to take a day off. I need you all the way through to the finals.”
“I’ll let you know if I feel worse,” Sachirou says with a nod. “I’m not the sort of idiot who thinks volleyball is worth my health.”
“He means you,” Gao says to Kourai.
Kourai whips around to glare at him. “Huh?!”
Hinata jumps like never before. He’s flying. And Sachirou can feel the overwhelming pride and joy bursting in his chest.
But Sachirou staggers and grabs one of the reserves as a wave of vertigo hits him.
Hinata’s on the floor. He’s struggling to get up.
“Hirugami-senpai?”
“Sachirou?” Kourai is in front of him, frowning and supporting his shoulders. He glances up. Karasuno has called a time out to get Hinata off the court. “You ok, buddy?”
“Just got dizzy for a moment,” he replies.
“Kageyama said he might have a fever,” he says.
“Here,” Gao says, handing over a drink.
“You should sit down if you’re not feeling good,” Suwa says, herding them to the bench. “Do you want to take some time out? I’m sure we can spare you for part of the set.”
“This isn’t like you, Sachirou,” Coach Murphy sighs. “I know Hinata Shouyou’s giving you the run around but you seemed to be holding your own. You haven’t caught a bug or something, have you?”
“You’d have to ask him,” Sachirou mutters.
They frown at him and Sachirou sighs, hands clenched against his chest, struggling to block out the heartbreak and agony Hinata is going through. He glances over at his small, tear stained face and in that moment Sachirou knows why his soulmark is a crow struggling to get up and fly despite its broken wing. His connection with Hinata isn’t the strongest. He thinks it probably pales in comparison to Kourai and Kageyama’s. And since Atsumu’s business is everyone’s business, they all know his connection with his libero is abnormally strong. Day to day, Hinata had always been in the background, not quite forgettable, but only intrusive and bursting to be noticed in rare moments that usually Sachirou could match to something volleyball related - except that weird thing in the summer. But this is so much more than that. This is probably the most intensely he’s felt Hinata since their moment of connection.
“Sachirou?” Coach Murphy says sternly.
“You were going to have to tell them eventually,” Kourai says. The team frowns at them. “They’re soulmates. Sachirou and Hinata Shouyou. And, me and Kageyama.”
Coach Murphy sighs. “I wish you’d have said something. Well, not like it would have made any difference. I would still have played you both in this match and I doubt it would have changed things with Hinata. Would have been nice to know though.”
“Sorry about that,” Sachirou says quietly.
“Well, nothing to be done about it now,” he says. “Are you ok to play on?”
“I’m good,” he says. He turns, gazing at Hinata as he’s helped to his feet. He’s not going to keep playing. He’s not coming back if he leaves the court. He nods firmly. “He’s going to be ok. Eventually.”
“Hinata Shouyou!” Kourai yells after him. Hinata turns and Sachirou pulls himself to his feet to join him. “I’ll be waiting for you!”
Hinata bows and Sachirou sighs. It feels like his heart is being torn in two.
“Hinata Shouyou from the concrete.” Hinata’s eyes widen to ridiculous levels as if he really didn’t have a clue who Sachirou is and Karasuno is staring at him. “I know it doesn’t feel like it but, win or lose, you’re not going to die. So try not to get so worked up. You’ll burn out if you keep running headlong like this.”
“Look at you acting all cool like you weren’t the exact same,” Kourai snorts.
Sachirou turns away. “We’ll deal with that later. For now, we’re going to win.”
And they do.
If Sachirou is clinical and honest, Karasuno were swimming out of their depth. They were falling apart and struggling to hold themselves together and running on fumes by the end. A team that hadn’t been to Nationals in years and not in anything like their current form. They had no idea what to do or what Nationals truly required. They had no idea what Third Day Hell really had in store for them. And Kamomedai had no intention of messing around and underestimating them like Inarizaki.
Karasuno will be better prepared and be met by better prepared teams next year. They won’t just be the dark horses and surprise giant killers anymore.
Sachirou and Kourai manage to convince Coach Murphy to let them head out into Tokyo and find the inn where Karasuno is staying. Kourai has the details from Kageyama, although he doesn’t know if Kourai has bothered to tell him they’re coming to visit.
The inn is kind of run down and old fashioned. It sits in the shadow of a far nicer hotel that the Niiyama Girls coach is parked at. How nice of them to be so close. The Jaybird Inn is quiet when they enter. And then their captain appears on the stairs. He blinks at them and Kourai grins and throws his hands up.
“Hey, Karasuno!”
Sachirou smiles and waves sheepishly. “Hi. I appreciate we’re probably the last people you want to see right now, but we’re not here to cause trouble.”
“I see,” the captain says quietly. He frowns and tilts his head. “How can we help you? Hinata’s resting, I’m afraid. He’s really not up for visitors.”
Kourai scrunches up his face. “That’s annoying. Well, nevermind. I’m actually here for Kageyama!”
“I’m mostly here to keep an eye on him,” Sachirou says and the captain nods sympathetically.
“Oh, Hoshiumi-san,” Kageyama says, appearing behind his captain. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re not competitors anymore,” Kourai says, taking the steps a few at a time to bring them eye to eye.
Kageyama blinks at him in confusion and Kourai scowls. Sachirou is now certain Kageyama and Kourai deserve each other. Volleyball brained idiots off in their own worlds. Kourai’s frustration at something that is clearly obvious to him and not to anyone else - although Sachirou has learnt enough about him over the years to have a good guess - bubbles over and he shoves Kageyama against the wall right there on the steps. Their mouths press together, much to the shock of Karasuno’s captain. Sachirou just sighs.
Kageyama blinks at him again as they break apart. For such a monster on the court he’s almost adorably lost off the court.
“Umm, Hoshiumi-san-”
“Kourai,” he corrects.
“Umm, Kourai-san…?” Kageyama tries again. “Why… umm...?”
Kourai shoots Sachirou a look for help but he just shrugs. This isn’t his issue. He has his own problems. He can feel a faint pull in his chest, instinct urging him up the stairs and towards Hinata. He’s here. Sachirou doesn’t know where but he’s here and every part of Sachirou wants to find him.
“You’re going to drive me insane,” Kourai says.
“You’re the one who keeps kissing me,” Kageyama argues.
“Do you not like kissing me?” he says
Kageyama goes red and glances away. “I… I didn’t say that. I’m just not sure why.”
“Really?!” he cries. “Sachirou, back me up here.”
“Oh no, you’re on your own on this one,” Sachirou replies. “You’re doing fine.”
“What’s going on?” the captain says quietly.
He joins Sachirou as Kourai drags Kageyama into another kiss, deep and fierce and of course Kourai manages to make a kiss look like a competition. These two are going to be one of the most chaotic couples he’s ever seen.
“They’re soulmates,” Sachirou says.
“We are?!” Kageyama jerks back and Kourai growls. He turns to Kourai. “We’re soulmates?”
“Yes!” Kourai cries.
Now Sachirou understands why Kourai spent an afternoon hiding under the covers complaining about the embarrassment of meeting Kageyama for the first time. No wonder. Kourai might be a volleyball idiot, as Tendou put it, but he’s probably the most socially aware volleyball idiot Sachirou has met. The Miyas simply don’t care for social etiquette unless the media or someone they respect is involved. Ushijima is blunt to the point of comedy. Sakusa is generally hostile and unfriendly. Bokuto is Bokuto. Hinata had put volleyball ahead of his health and Kageyama just seems to not register social cues at all.
With the chaos of Kageyama and Kourai finally figuring out what’s going on. A lot of Karasuno has been summoned. There’s a little hostility and wariness when they first see them, particularly from their second year left and libero. They’re surprisingly protective, although perhaps Sachirou understands given how naïve Kageyama seems off the court. And, well, Sachirou probably wouldn’t want a visit from the team that just beat them if he was them. They at least settle when they find out they’re soulmates.
Kourai is swept away by Karasuno’s third year setter and the rest of the team, or at least most of it, demanding to know all about Kageyama’s new soulmate. New as if this hasn’t been a thing for a few years now. Kourai has always been his soulmate. He doesn’t know when Kageyama got his mark but Kourai's is almost two years old.
But Sachirou isn’t swept up in the chaos. The team takes Kourai into a sitting room and Sachirou watches them go. There’s still that nagging ache in his chest that tells him to chase after Hinata. And, well, if everyone is in the sitting room…
Sachirou’s not usually one for breaking the rules but before he can really think about too much, he walks slowly up the stairs and onto the landing. His connection to Hinata isn’t as strong as some. He’s not drawn by some irresistible magnetism. But, he knows. Like following the quiet chiming of bells rather than a blaring siren. He runs his hand slowly along the panelled walls. He remembers all too well scraping his hand across the wall and leaving a trail of blood in his wake. He still has the faint scarring across his hands. He’s grateful for Kourai more than he can ever say. All he can do is hope to pass on the lessons he learnt and perhaps cheer Hinata up a little.
The right door calls out to Sachirou instinctively and he slides it open. Inside is dark and Hinata’s shape is so small, wrapped in blankets and scarves and a mask in the middle of the empty room. Hinata stirs a little and Sachirou closes the door behind himself. This classic old ryokan style inn is very different to their western style hotel, but it’s homely. Perhaps if Sachirou was sick he’d want to be here too. He takes a mask from his pocket and slips it on before going any further into the room. He tells himself he didn’t come here to see Hinata, he was simply escorting Kourai, but he came prepared.
Hinata’s eyes crack open as Sachirou approaches and finds him without even a moment's hesitation. Like he knows he’s here. And Hinata looks so small. His face is pale and his cheeks flushed and his hair still clings to him a little from dampness. Sachirou sits beside him and his eyes are a little unfocused and red rimmed but never leave him, even as he makes a shaky attempt to sit up that Sachirou has to help him with.
They gaze at each other for a long moment before Hinata’s shoulders loosen and relax.
“I’m Hinata Shouyou, from the concrete. Ushijima-san said infertile soil wouldn’t bear plentiful fruit. If Seijoh is infertile soil, Karasuno is concrete. I had to prove to him, fruit that grows in the harshest conditions are the toughest. I told Ushijima-san I was going to beat the Grand King. Beat him. Go to Nationals. Win it all. But…”
He sniffles and lowers his head and it breaks Sachirou’s heart. A broken crow, doubting his ability to fly. He’d always wondered about his soulmark. He hates how much sense it makes now.
“But, in the end he was right,” he sobs, curling up. “I really was useless. I couldn’t do anything. It took me too long to figure out how to pass properly, to jump properly, to hit properly. I wasted so much time on all these stupid things, dreaming of being Karasuno’s ace, like the Little Giant- like Udai-san, but I was so useless. I couldn’t even make you jump with me, that's my entire job as a decoy. I-I…” He hiccups and sobs. “I was so stupid to think I could just conquer Nationals just because I was trying and learning. Not giving up, trying your hardest, it’s not enough - I should have learnt that lesson by now. Kageyama was right.”
Sachirou sighs. He’s not wrong. Working hard and trying your best isn’t enough. Good intentions and a good work ethic don’t guarantee things will go your way. Everyone at Nationals is giving it their all and working their hardest. Sometimes, things just don’t go your way. And Ushijima isn’t wrong either; good, high achieving volleyball programs attract the best students in the area, the best coaches and have more funds allocated, producing naturally better results. There’s a reason a lot of schools are regulars at the national level and new comers are rare.
But-
“I’m Hirugami Sachirou, from fertile soil,” he says softly. Hinata lifts his head to gaze at him once more. “But, just because fertile soil produces fruit doesn’t mean that fruit isn’t rotten.”
“Rotten?” Hinata whispers. His gaze drops to Sachirou’s hands and he suddenly wants to cover them. “Your hands always hurt. Until recently, your hands always hurt and you were so sad and angry.”
He picks Sachirou’s hand up, turning it over in his shaking, clammy palms. The warmth isn’t just because of Hinata’s fever. It’s electric and soothing and if the way Hinata’s eyes widen is anything to go by, he feels it too. He runs his thumb slowly over the scars on Sachirou’s knuckles, brow pinched in sympathy and confusion.
“What happened?” he says, voice hoarse and tight still.
Sachirou isn’t sure how to explain it, that complicated, illogical thought process he’d got lost in. He wonders if Hinata would understand even if he could explain it properly.
“My hands… were bad…” Sachirou explains slowly. Hinata tilts his head. “I worked hard, constantly. I worked to the bone. To exhaustion. When I wasn’t practicing, I was studying technique, strategy, theory, going over games and finding my mistakes.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” he says.
“I thought so,” he replies. “I worked so hard. I thought, if you failed, if you were lacking, if you made mistakes, it was because you cut a corner somewhere, having a bad day is just an excuse for lacking something, physically or mentally. If you gave it your all, you should always be on form.”
Hinata lowers his head again. Sachirou knows he’s thinking of his own failure. What he was lacking. How he could have tried harder or done something better. How much harder he’d have to train. And he’s not wrong.
But he’s not right either.
“So, if I trained as hard as I could, studied as much as I could, perfected my technique and knew what I was doing, why did I still miss blocks? Why did I still fail at spikes? Why did I flub my serves? Why wasn’t I good enough?”
“Because no one can be perfect every second of every day,” Hinata says. “No one can score them all or block them all.”
“Why?” Sachirou says. “If I had my perfect technique and worked hard and didn’t skip, why didn’t I get them all?” Hinata tilts his head and Sachirou lifts his hand to gaze at the scarring. “Because my hands were bad. That must have been it.”
Hinata’s hands close around his again, squeezing gently. “I’m glad you and your hands are friends now.”
“You can thank Kourai for that,” Sachirou says. “He reminded me I was taking it all a bit too seriously. No wonder I didn’t love it anymore.”
“You don’t love volleyball?” Hinata says.
“I do now. But, at the time I felt like just the idea of going to practice filled me with dread. I was so tired. I was trying my hardest but couldn’t seem to get anywhere, and that just left me so frustrated with myself and with the game.”
“That sounds awful,” he whispers, tears in his eyes again. “I can’t imagine hating volleyball.”
“But, then Kourai reminded me, no one’s going to die if we lose,” Sachirou says, “and if I hate it so much, I can always quit.”
“I don’t get it,” Hinata says. “You’re so good, why would you want to quit?”
Sachirou grins, although Hinata might not be able to see it. “I don’t. No right now. But, it feels like a burden has been lifted knowing that I can just quit at any time. No one’s forcing me to do it. There’s nothing stopping me quitting if I get overwhelmed and think I can’t keep going. Whenever I start thinking it’s too much for me, Kourai reminds me I can just quit, and I think ‘yeah, I can’ and that makes it all easier.”
“I still don’t get it,” he says.
“If you force yourself to do something and feel like there’s no other choice, like school, it can be hard to find motivation to do it for yourself.”
“Oh, I get that,” Hinata says, nodding quickly. “I used to hate receiving, I just wanted to spike and attack, but I knew we had to practice receiving too. I hated it though. I hated it but I couldn’t get out of it. It’s a lot more fun when I started to realise how important it was and started to want to do it. I used to dread rotating to the back row, but then I figured out my back attack and then I learnt to receive and read the court I wanted to be there and I started to enjoy it.”
“Exactly like that. When I felt like I was forcing myself to play, it was exhausting. I began to hate it, but when I realised it was my choice and I could quit any time, it became a lot easier.”
Hinata nods enthusiastically. Maybe a little enthusiastically for someone who’s sick. Sachirou still doesn’t know why Hinata is the one the universe has decided is his perfect match. He’s learnt from watching Fukurou that the universe isn’t always right. Still, being here alone and peaceful with Hinata is surprisingly satisfying. There’s a contentment that he’s not sure he’s ever felt before.
Still, Hinata’s recovering.
“You should rest, Hinata-kun,” Sachirou says. “You’re still not looking well.”
It’s probably a sign that Sachirou’s right and Hinata’s fever is still going strong that he chooses to lay his head in Sachirou’s lap and closes his eyes. But, it’s weirdly not awkward at all. It's comfortable and warm.
“You know, Hirugami-san,” Hinata whispers, “when I got you to cheat over my way so Tanaka could score… that was the best…” Sachirou hums and cautiously reaches down to stroke his slightly damp hair. “Better than any other blocker cheating my way. Better than even when I get Aone-san to jump with me.”
“Aone?” Sachirou says.
“Date Tech’s Iron Wall,” he says. Sachirou hums. “They’ve got the best blockers in the prefecture. Coach says they’re national level. Like you guys but without Hoshiumi-san. Aone-san is like the opposite of you. He looks really scary and doesn’t talk much but he’s actually really soft and gets sad when people don’t sit around him even if he gives up his seat.”
Sachirou laughs softly. “And you think I look soft and friendly but I’m actually scary and want to be left alone?”
“I dunno about that, but you’re definitely fluffy looking. And the first time I saw you, you were telling Hoshiumi-san to make sure you didn’t get in trouble too.” Sachirou nods along. That maybe wasn’t the best first impression. “And then after the match you picked him up by the collar and made him apologise to that report lady.”
“He deserved that.”
“See, totally different to Aone-san. Him and their new captain and Kogane, their giant baby setter, they’re the core of their blocking.”
“A giant setter, hmm?”
“Kogane’s still kind of easy to lure, but he’s picking up fast. He’ll be scary next year. Maybe it felt so good to get you to notice me because we’re soulmates. Suga-san kept saying the way I was so determined to get your attention seemed like love.”
“I noticed you from the start,” Sachirou says softly. Hinata tilts his head to gaze up at him. “But, given you didn’t seem to know who I was. Besides, the match was more important, wasn’t it? Or did you want me to let you win?”
Hinata pulls an adorable face. Sachirou knows. No one wants to win a rigged game. No one wants to be let win - well, most people - but losing is a bitter taste. Sometimes, the thought that you could just move onto the next round makes it a little tempting.
“Mmm, Hinata-kun,” Sachirou says, rather than letting Hinata’s fever-addled mind try to grapple with that. “I did wonder during the match, Karasuno didn’t have any problems with Gao. Most schools get a bit intimidated by two meters of volleyball idiot who can just hit from above their blocks.”
“That’s thanks to Hyakuzawa. Two meters is really huge and they can hit really high sets from above the block, which is like, stupid cool. Hyakuzawa’s improving really quickly too. He’s going to be really strong next year. I hope his team can keep up.”
Ah, so Karasuno has experience with giant beginners.
“Hyakuzawa seems nicer than Hakuba too. He walked into me and didn’t even notice. Hyakuzawa is just big and soft, like Aone-san but more anxious.”
Sachirou chuckles. “Gao is a good guy really. He just doesn’t have enough self-awareness.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he mutters.
Well, Sachirou can’t exactly blame him for it. Gao doesn’t always make the best impression. Especially for shorter players. He doesn’t have much of a filter. But, he’s not a bad guy. He just needs to learn to think before he speaks.
“So, if you don’t love volleyball enough to do it all the time, does that mean you’re going to quit after high school?” Hinata says, closing his eyes again.
“Maybe not outright quit,” Sachirou replies, “but I don’t think I could love it if I made it my career. I’ll probably keep playing casually.”
“Then you’ll have to teach me lots about being a cool middle blocker before then,” he says. Sachirou chuckles. “So, do you know what you are going to do?”
“I think…” He frowns and tilts his head. He hasn’t really talked about it with anyone but his advisor at school. Not even Kourai or his family. “I’m going to be a vet.”
“A vet?” Hinata says, opening his eyes again. Sachirou nods. “That explains it.”
“Explains what?” Sachirou says.
“Our soulmark,” he says. “You’re a seagull looking after an injured bird.”
“It’s a crow, Hinata-kun,” he replies. “You’re the injured crow.”
“Oh.” He wrinkles his nose under his mask. “Well, it still explains why I saw you playing volleyball with your dog. That was your dog, right?”
Sachirou nods. Although he wouldn’t call what he and Momo do playing volleyball really. It's a soft ball that he bumps and she gets under and knocks back into the air. Back when he was young and volleyball was just for fun. They don't really do it much now anymore. He doesn't go home to her much now he's in Kamomedai's dorms.
“You remember that?” Sachirou says quietly.
“Sorta,” Hinata says. “I wrote it down afterwards, so I could remember it. I wanted all the clues I could get to finding who you were.” He laughs sheepishly. “It didn’t really help in the end though, I guess. Do you remember what you saw?”
“I was here,” he says, tilting his head. “I was watching my big sister play. And then I was suddenly watching Karasuno play.” Hinata’s eyes widen. “Well, watching them lose to Inarizaki, actually.”
“Inarizaki? That was them?”
“You didn’t know?
“I didn’t pay much attention to the other team. I was watching the Little Giant. So we got our revenge and beat Nekoma? That’s so cool. We're totally the best team Karasuno’s ever had.” Sachirou smiles and nods. “Ah, but that totally makes sense though. That was the second round. I was looking after a sick boar that day.”
“Boar?” Sachirou repeats.
Hinata nods quickly. “We found a sick boar outside our house, so we called a vet and went with it because I wanted to make sure it was ok. They had the second round on. It was so cool. Boars are really scary and grumpy, but the vet just took care of him so gently. Like Suga-san with Kageyama.” He reaches up a trembling hand to lay against Sachirou’s cheek. Sachirou takes his hand gently and leans into his palm. “I think it’s amazing that you want to look after helpless grumpy animals.”
“Mmm, and I think it would be amazing if you looked after yourself a little better.”
“I will,” Hinata grumbles, turning into his lap and closing his eyes again. “I’ll do better next time. I’ll stay on the court the longest. I’ll make you jump with me.”
“I look forward to it.”
Sachirou’s not sure how long he remains with Hinata, talking quietly and trying to keep the conversation from getting too excited. They exchange contacts and when the door to the room opens again and Karasuno’s advisor is there, Sachirou is showing Hinata clips of Fukurou blocking for the national team and helping him understand why Fukurou is such an amazing blocker.
“Takeda-sensei,” Hinata says quietly.
“I think that’s probably my cue, Hinata-kun,” Sachirou says.
He stands slowly and dusts himself off but Hinata catches his jacket. “Hirugami-san-”
“Hinata-kun,” Takeda says with a gentle firmness only teachers can manage. “Hirugami-kun and Hoshiumi-kun need to rest for their match tomorrow. And, you need to rest too.”
Sachirou picks up his large, long blue and white coat and wraps it gently around Hinata’s shoulders. “Rest well, Hinata-kun, so you can make it to the finals and see us win it all.”
“I promised Bokuto-san I’d be cheering for him,” Hinata says as Sachirou heads to the door.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“I’ll be back to check on you soon, Hinata-kun,” Takeda says and shuts the door behind Sachirou.
He escorts Sachirou down the stairs to where Kourai is waiting. He grins at the sight of him and Sachirou ignores the rest of Karasuno frowning. Kourai waves goodbye as they head out into the cold night of Tokyo and Sachirou waits for the comments he knows are coming.
“Where’s your coat?”
“Where do you think?”
Kourai hums. “How is he?”
“He’ll be ok,” Sachirou replies. “He’s recovering.”
“Good,” Kourai says with a nod. “And you?”
Sachirou allows himself to grin. “I had to take after Shouko-nee-san in some way eventually.”
“Yes!” he cheers and Sachirou sighs, accepting the high five. He’s not sure it’s a high five worthy thing, but he’s not in the mod to argue over something that small. “Hinata Shouyou’s going to be my best friend in law.”
“That’s not a thing,” Sachirou replies.
“It’s a thing.”
“It’s not.”
“Is too. But, more importantly, you seem really happy. And that makes Hinata Shouyou a worthy soulmate for you. I wouldn’t accept anything less for you even if he is my rival. Your happiness is even more important than winning, you know?”