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Olympic athletes Hinata Shouyou and Kageyama Tobio have a secret. A mind-boggling, earth-shattering, life-changing secret. A the-JVA-can-NOT-find-out secret.
They started dating. After years of suppressing their feelings, years of pining and squabbling and denying furiously, years of leaving and missing and crying, years of will we or won't we, years of tension and giggles and emotions they didn't even know they could feel all concluding in that one single moment after their last match.
They finally, finally started dating.
They're overjoyed, unable-to-keep-their-hands-off-eachother, stupidly in love and they cannot wait to shout it from the rooftops.
They imagine their former teammates reacting to the news, they think of Tsukki shrugging and saying "what else is new”, they see Yamaguchi elbowing him and hugging them, Yachi trying her hardest to hold in her happy tears, Suga failing to, Daichi giving them a firm hug before babbling on and on about the good old days. They imagine Asahi and Ennoshita laughing and Nishinoya collecting the money from his and Tanaka's bet.
But as luck would have it, none of that is happening. Not anytime soon.
As luck would have it, they have to hide their love, again.
As luck would have it, right as they came down from the initial bliss of their new partnership, right as they were ready to share it with the world, the Japanese Volleyball Association introduced a new rule pertaining to the entire Japan National Team.
As luck would have it, that's a team they're both on now.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Japan Volleyball Association will no longer allow any of it's athletes, staff members and affiliates to get involved romantically with other JVA-members. Personnel with established relationships will of course be exempt from this new rule."
Unforeseen circumstances, they'd called it. Shouyou knew better. Just last month, news of Sakusa and Atsumu's split broke and management had started questioning their ability to keep working together.
They'd almost been fired. Which was absolute bullshit, Shouyouo thought. The two had been in an on-and-off relationship for years. It started during Sakusa's first season at MSBY, they'd split and gotten back together at least 4 times since and it had never, ever, affected their playing.
Why would it now?
But it had thrown the JVA for a loop nonetheless. A loop Shouyou is paying dearly for.
—————————
They sit through the press conference together, Tobio's royal blue eyes frantically searching for Shouyou's as the news breaks. The afternoon is torturous. It's hours of nervously glancing, statically responding, eagerly waiting for the spokesperson to say “I’m kidding. Ha, got you!”. The moment they get off-stage, they search for the nearest bathroom. Tobio’s hands are sweating as he grips Shouyou’s firmly.
"They can't keep us apart. They won't keep us apart. There's no way I'm letting you go," he pants.
Shouyou smiles, touches his soft hand to Kageyama's cheek in a way that speaks a thousand words. He plants an assuring kiss on his stress-chapped lips.
"They won't."
—————————
They do.
The first weeks are easy, fun even. Sneaking around like they never got to when they were teenagers. Quickly and discreetly brushing hands when there's people watching and stealing kisses when there aren't.
Except one night, there are.
Neither of them sees them lurking, neither of them notices when a click goes off right as their mouths slot together, right as Shouyou's hands travel to Tobio's neck while his slide to Shouyou's back. Neither of them notices, and then it's too late.
—————————
It's the first thing Shouyou sees when he wakes up and his gasp is loud enough to startle Tobio awake.
"What is it, dumbass?"
But Shouyou doesn't respond. He can't. His mind is going a mile a minute thinking through all the possible consequences of this fucking article with it's fucking picture of him and fucking Kageyama fucking kissing, and not just an innocent peck on the lips either, this is a fucking make-out session.
"Hinata?"
No response.
"Babe?"
No response.
"Baby, breathe"
No response.
Shouyou feels his heartbeat quicken and his breath shorten and his hands sweating and his head pounding and, and, and-
"Goddammit, Shouyou ."
Finally, he turns around, tears in his amber eyes dangerously close to spilling.
"It's over, Tobio."
This time it's Tobio feeling his shoulders tense and his heart race and his brain working overtime.
"What do you mean, it's over?"
He reaches for Shouyou, for anything. He searches for comfort and happiness and the reassurance they're okay.
But Shouyou doesn't give it to him. Instead, he jerks away, eyes wilder than Kageyama's ever seen.
"It's over, Tobio. It's over . We're over. They know”
Shit .
Kageyama scrambles for his phone, already buzzing with activity. He dodges a few apps and messages before finally landing on the gossip site. And there it is, smack in the middle of his screen.
Kageyama Tobio and Hinata Shouyou, a forbidden romance?
Suzanne Shepherd, Buzzfeed news
There’s pictures, god there’s pictures. Differently angled shots of his tongue mushed together with his boyfriend’s, plastered on the internet for all to see.
Kageyama wants to scream, he wants to yell that this is insanity, that the two of them can make it, that they can convince the committee to make an exception for them. He wants to plead and grovel and beg.
But then he sees Hinata's eyes, the exhaustion seeping from his small body.
And he wants to cry.
—————————
The next week goes by slower than either of them can bear. They're harassed by reporters, overwhelmed with notifications from fans and adversaries alike, pulled into meeting after meeting after meeting where strangers debate the state of their relationship. The calls don’t end. Calls from friends and family, people who want to be happy for them but can’t, not when their love has blown up in their faces. Calls from teammates and managers and other staff, asking them if the pictures are real, if they’re actually dating, if it’s a publicity stunt or just a drunken venture.
Those calls are probably the ones that anger Kageyama the most. How dare they question the authenticity of what he and Shouyou have? How dare they poke and prod shamelessly, how dare they. It's exhausting.
They're tired. They're broken. They're fired.
At least they will be if they don't break off whatever they have going on. And Tobio doesn't want to, he doesn't, but something in Shouyou's eyes convinces him that it's for the best. He won't be the reason Hinata's dreams fall apart before they even begin. And so, with a barely beating heart, he breaks Hinata’s.
—————————
Weeks go by. Weeks that Kageyama spends doing what he always does, but nothing feels right. The colors are dull and the sounds are dazed and the emotions are numb. He doesn't feel the thrill of setting a perfect ball, only the pain when his eyes find the small spiker that hits it.
Meanwhile Hinata feels fidgety, he doesn't know what to do with the energy he'd usually spend doing god knows what with Kageyama. He's restless, yet doesn't feel up to actually spend his extra energy. He wants to lay down and cry and maybe just stay down there for a while.
Then, something weird happens.
After the initial storm of twitter notifications settles down, it picks up again. Only this time, far more than last, it's an unwavering stream of support pouring in. It's trending hashtags, it's posts calling out the JVA for breaking them up, it’s thousands and thousands and thousands of retweets of the same two pictures.
One extremely zoomed in, extremely unmissable. Fiery locks on even more fiery red cheeks, raw from crying. The other is sharper, like the jaw clenching in unmistakable pain, blue eyes seeing red.
sunny #loveislove @MSBY_UNHINGED • 4 hours ago
how can you look at these pics and still support the JVA management?
#JusticeForKagehina #letthemlove #loveislove
[image] [image]
31.4k Retweets 91.4k Likes 8.2k Replies
#21 can rail me @jackalsenthusiast • 2 hours ago
my heart is fucking breaking sun, seriously who came up with that fucked-up rule in
the first place?
462 Retweets 3.2k Likes 142 Repliessunny #loveislove @MSBY_UNHINGED • 4 hours ago
That’s what I wanna know!! don’t be scared, I just want to talk🤺🤺
3.2k Retweets 18.3k Likes 1.3k Replies
Kageyama stares and scrolls and then stares some more, way more. There’s thousands and thousands of tweets just like these, all pleading for justice for Kagehina, which he assumes is him and Hinata? He’s honestly not sure but he’ll take the love regardless.
There seems to be no end to them, an ever-lasting tsunami of support. It warms his heart in a way, even if it means seeing pictures of himself crying. Or worse, seeing pictures of Hinata crying. Oh god. Hinata. Crying. Hinata was crying because of him .
He has to call him. Should he call him? Does he even want him to call him? What if he hates him now? Can he change attitudes that quickly? Wait, it’s Hinata , he can do anything quickly. God, shit, fuck.
Kageyama is still standing there, phone in hand, unable to form any coherent thought, when it suddenly pings. He’s never been that tech savvy but even he understands this message.
You have one (1) new notification!
Sunshine boi @ninjashouyou • 2 minutes ago
Hi guys. These last few weeks have been ROUGH and I wasn’t going to speak on it but
please know that I see you, all of you, and I appreciate you.
#letthemlove #loveislove
[image ID: Hinata wrapped up in a blanket on his couch holding up a peace sign, eyes
puffy and cheeks red]
3.4k Retweets 14.2 Likes 7.8k Replies
Kageyama’s heart breaks, again. He catches his finger lingering over the picture a little longer than would be deemed acceptable, but hell he’s hurting and alone. He stares at it for a few seconds longer, weighing the pros and cons of interacting with the tweet.
Fuck it, he already pissed the management off. Can’t really go much worse than that, can it? And so, he hits retweet before typing his very own message.
—————————
sunny #loveislove @MSBY_UNHINGED • 51 minutes ago
DID Y’ALL SEE KAGEYAMA’S TWEETS?
124 Retweets 3.2k Likes 768 Replies
adlers adlers adlers @kagsleftslipper • 51 minutes ago
SHAWTY HOW WOULD WE MISS THAT???
34 Retweets 721 Likes 131 Repliessunny #loveislove @MSBY_UNHINGED • 50 minutes ago
I’m in PAIN
212 Retweets 1.5k Likes 843 Replies#20 PROTECTION SQUAD @dadlers • 50 minutes ago
My man’s going through it oh god
108 Retweets 672 Likes 64 Replies
—————————
It doesn’t take long for his phone to start ringing again. First his own manager, which he ignores, then his sister, which he also ignores, and then Hitoka and Tadashi and Kei of all people. He finally picks up.
“Kageyama Tobio you absolute asshole .”
“Good morning to you too?” He hears a scoff on the other side of the line, one he honestly isn’t sure he deserves. What did he even do ?
“Playing dumb might work on my fiancé and his best friend, but it’s not going to work on me. What the fuck did you mean with that last tweet. Spill.”
“Listen Kei, I honestly don’t know what you want me to say. I mean it’s pretty self-explanatory,” he says as he flicks through his twitter notifications before landing on his own string of tweets. Yup, pretty straight-forward, pretty hard to misinterpret.
(gay) King of the Court @KageyemaTobio20 • 1 hour ago
I know he’s not going to speak on this further so I guess I will. Ask me anything you want, I’m tired of the rumors.
27.5k Retweets 84.6k Likes 37.2k Replies
ADLERS TAKE THE LEAD @vleague_updates • 1 hour ago
Are you actually gay?
18.1k Retweets 2.1k Likes 1.8k Replies(gay) King of the Court @KageyemaTobio20 • 1 hour ago
Yes.
22.3k Retweets 76.1 Likes 9.7k Replies#20 PROTECTION SQUAD @dadlers • 1 hour ago
What the hell happened?
14.2k Retweets 46.3 Likes 5.2k Replies(gay) King of the Court @KageyemaTobio20 • 1 hour ago
Me and Hinata have known each other since high school, I’ve liked him for
years (ask Tsukishima, we were insufferable). He left to train in Brazil right
after graduation and when he came back the feelings were still there. We
held it off for months but that last MSBY-Adlers match
18.2k Retweets 73.9 Likes 9.1k Replies
(gay) King of the Court @KageyemaTobio20 • 1 hour agowas it. We finally got together. We hadn’t told anyone yet. Then
the JVA announced that new rule and we dated in secret. Well,
we all saw how that turned out.
13.6k Retweets 65.2 Likes 3.4k Repliessunny #loveislove @MSBY_UNHINGED • 1 hour ago
Are you okay? Sending you all the love, king <3
2 Retweets 5.9k Likes 41 Replies(gay) King of the Court @KageyemaTobio20 • 1 hour ago
I’m honestly not sure, there’s a lot happening right now. I wish I could just
date who I wanted without it being a problem. I’m determined to do
something about it though. Thank you for asking and thanks for spreading
those pictures (even if I did cry a little seeing Hinata’s)
Kageyama thought he’d answered quite truthfully. His eyes find his next tweet. Also pretty clear.
(gay) King of the Court @KageyemaTobio20 • 54 minutes ago
I miss you. @ninjashouyou
#letthemlove #loveislove
[video ID: close-up of a wide grinning Hinata who says something unintelligible
before the camera turns towards Kageyama, smiling contently as Hinata clings
to his neck]
34.5k Retweets 129.4k Likes 64.1k Replies
Sunshine boi @ninjashouyou • 52 minutes ago
Fuck
3.4k Retweets 83.4k Likes 17.8k Replies
Finally he scrolls to the last of his twitter rampage.
(gay) King of the Court @KageyemaTobio20 • 48 minutes ago
I answered your questions, time for the JVA to answer mine.
#letthemlove #loveislove
13.5k Retweets 78.2k Likes 19.3k Replies
Okay, maybe that one had been a little vague.
“Kageyama?” he hears from his speakers, “what did that last tweet mean?”
He swallows. He's not actually sure what he wants to do either. Just that he wants to do something .
“I’m calling Shou- Hinata, I'm calling Hinata. I’m gonna find out what he wants. And then I’m gonna slam it into the federation’s face.”
Kageyama doesn't hear anything for a moment, but he can practically see Tsukishima grinning when he finally replies.
“Go get them.”
—————————
It doesn’t take long for them to make up. After all, Hinata never wanted to break up in the first place. But still, he’s very, very , happy to be standing here right before the office doors of the one person he needs to talk to. He’s even happier that he isn’t here alone, that instead his hand is fitted right inside his boyfriend’s. Who, by the way, kicked absolute ass on the internet yesterday.
Four grueling hours later, they’re standing in nearly the same spot, hands still slotted together, mouths now too. And Hinata feels even happier.
“You did it,” he sighs as his amber eyes lock onto royal blue.
“ We did.”
He smiles at that, uncontrollably smiles, utterly and completely in-love smiles. He smiles at the ridiculousness of the situation, at the nerves leaving his body, at the relieved look on Tobio’s face. God , Tobio’s face.
He smiles more. At the dimples in his cheeks and the slight flush across his nose, he smiles at the milky white of his skin and the sharpness of his jaw. He smiles at those damned eyes, blue like the ocean, vast and deep and reassuring in a sense. Those eyes will alway be there, no matter the tide.
They give interview after interview after interview, but this time they don’t mind. Shouyou couldn’t care less when he has to correct twelve people a day when they address him and his partner as gay icons– he’s bi, thank you very much. Tobio isn’t bothered when strangers hassle him, or when they ask to take picture after picture after picture. They don’t even complain that coming out as a couple to their friends goes nothing like they had imagined.
They don’t mind. They have each other.
—————————
Five months later, Olympic Games, Tokyo.
And now, the line-up you’ve all been waiting for, a team filled with monsters, the Japan Men’s National Volleyball Team!
Shouyou feels his heart racing. This is it, this is what he’s been working towards for all those years. He sees the camera’s zooming in on the corner they’re supposed to come out of, one by one, sprinting on the court before ripping of their team jackets to show their number to the world.
With number one, the southpaw cannon. Opposite Hitter, Ushijima Wakatoshi!
They see Ushijima go first, bowing before sprinting to his spot in the line-up.
With number four, the crowd favorite super spiker. Outside Hitter, Bokuto Koutarou!
They laugh softly as Bokuto riles up the audience, beating at his chest as he dances towards his place.
With number five, the little giant. Outside hitter, Hoshiumi Kourai!
They cheer for Hoshiumi as he jumps twice, way higher than should be possible, before jogging away.
With number seven, the tallest one in Japan’s line-up. Middle blocker, Hakuba Gao!
They watch him raise his hands while running to his old friend.
This would usually be when Kageyama and Hinata are announced, being numbers nine and ten, but before the match they had convinced coach Hibarida to let them go last. They can’t help but glance at each other mischievously.
With number 11, every blockers nightmare. Setter, Miya Atsumu!
They whoop as Atsumu struts out of the corridor, applause roaring as he coolly jogs out.
With number 13, an absolute power hitter. Outside Hitter, Ojiro Aran!
They “ooh” and “aah” as Aran raises his fist.
With number fifteen, you never know what he’ll do. Outside Hitter, Sakusa Kiyoomi!
They chuckle as Sakusa quickly makes his way to the court, unbothered by the cheers.
With number seventeen, quick as lightning. Libero, Yaku Morisuke!
They scream at Yaku as he turns around to yell a cheer to them.
With number nineteen, dependable as always. Libero, Komori Motoya!
They watch as Komori does a quick little prayer to the volleyball gods before he runs off to his cousin.
With number twenty-two, our very own Goliath. Middle blocker, Hyakuzawa Yudai!
They take a deep breath as he strides away.
Finally, finally , it’s their turn. The camera’s are closer now, way closer than Shouyou thought they’d be. He swallows hard, eyes searching for the one person he can always count on. He hears the shouts from the audience, the trill of the announcer's bass, he feels his own heartbeat, the air around him– lips.
Familiar and soft, only pecking him for just a moment before moving away. Shouyou watches in disbelief as Tobio winks, he fucking winks at the five million camera’s in their faces. The announcer stays silent for a second before clearing his throat.
With number nine, the King of the court. Setter, Kageyama Tobio!
He walks out, more confident than he thought he’d be. But instead of walking all the way to his pre-assigned spot, he turns to face the corridor he just exited and comes to a stand still, right in the middle of the court.
He feels his teammates eyes on the back of his head, hears them mentally applauding and jostling him, he hears cheering and whistling from the spectators and god if only they knew what would come next, who would come next.
He fixes his head on the announcer’s booth, gesturing to go on, without missing a beat the man keeps going.
And finally, with number ten, Japan’s own ninja. Opposite Hitter, Hinata Shouyou.
Shouyou takes a deep breath, in and out again, before finally stepping into the light. The roaring of the crowd makes him lift his fist before he remembers what he has to do first. He quickly makes his way to Tobio, still standing in the middle of the court, still smiling at him as if he’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. Tobio, who takes his hand and kisses it for all to see. Tobio who, in perfect tandem with Hinata himself, rips off his jacket to reveal a red jersey just a little different than his usual.
What do we have here? Ladies and gentlemen are you seeing what I am?
The announcer yells, the crowd yells louder. Shouyou can only grin. Because he knows that there, right there on the back of his jersey, sits one word in big bold letters. Tobio raises their joined hands and laughs, because there’s another on his.
#9
Hinata T.
#10
Kageyama S.
Olympic athletes Hinata Tobio and Kageyama Shouyou had a secret. A mind-boggling, earth-shattering, life-changing secret. A the-JVA-can-NOT-find-out secret.
And now the entire world knows.