Chapter Text
If he had a choice, Kageyama wouldn't go back to Miyagi at all. There were too many....things left unresolved when he left. And personally, he'd rather they stayed that way. But of course the universe decided that it was time for Kageyama to go and sort out all the shit he left behind and that's why he was listening to the National Men's Volleyball Team publicist ramble on about some crappy "Where They Started" magazine shoot which needed all the members of the team to go back to where they started.
Kageyama wasn't listening, preferring to tune out everyone else in the room and stare at the clouds drifting through the sky. How nice it must be to be a cloud, just drifting away to where ever the wind blew. It's been three years since he left home. Kageyama wasn't sure how much has changed or stayed the same. It was an odd thought.
"Kageyama-san, you will be meeting with- Kageyama? Are you even listening?", a shrill voice pierced Kageyama's internal conflict.
"Huh? Uhm, yeah, sure. What were you saying?", the raven haired man replied, causing the publicist to face palm.
"I said, that the day you land in Miyagi, you'll meet with Hiro Shindo. He'll be overseeing your photo shoots and interviews."
Kageyama scratched the nape of his neck, irritated. "I don't even understand why we're doing this. It's completely unnecessary and it saps the funds used for training."
The publicist just shook his head and sighed. Kageyama smirked at this weak willed man. Even though he'd mostly mellowed out, he can still be an annoying, bullheaded asshole when he wanted to.
"As I said, Kageyama-san. The National Men's Volleyball Team has been winning many SEA games. The Japanese people are interested to know more about you. That's why you fly to Miyagi in three days for your respective photo shoot." Kageyama's eyes shot out of his head as he saw the publicist slide a plane ticket toward him.
"What the hell? You can't just put me on a plane three days after telling me! You should have told me earlier!", Kageyama protested. This was starting to get out of hand too early.
"Well, the arrangements have been made and the ticket has been bought. So all I can say now is have a safe flight, Kageyama-san!", the publicist said with fake cheer that really made Kageyama's eye twitch. He sighed, accepting the fact that there was absolutely nothing he could do.
He went home to pack. Three days later, he was on a plane back to Miyagi.
Oh, joy.
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Kageyama landed at the airport at 2:30. His appointment with Shindo-san was at around 3:15 , so he took a taxi to the cafe they were supposed to meet at. When Kageyama got to the cafe, at a table was a man dressed in a too tight suit waiting at a booth by the window, flipping through his files. He walked up to the man, taking his suitcase with him.
"Shindo-san?", Kageyama inquired.
"Ah! There you are!" The man stood and offered a small bow, which Kageyama returned. "Please sit! You must be hungry after your flight. We're actually supposed to be joined by another young man. He'll be the one mostly overseeing your photo shoots and working with you personally. I'm just the editor."
Kageyama sat down and pulled the menu open, burrying his face in it. He didn't want anyone he knew recognizing him on his first few hours back. Besides, it's not like they'd welcome him anyway. Shindo-san was typing away at his phone, probably contacting the other guy that was supposed to be here. Kageyama rolled his eyes. He really didn't want to put more than he had to. He hoped to just receive a folder and read over the paperwork on his own. But of course that's not what happened.
The bell chimed, signaling a new customer entering, and Kageyama frowned and buried his head deeper into the menu, reading but not actually reading the food selections. There were too many people in this cafe.
"Shindo-san! Sorry I'm late!"
Kageyama's breath hitched. That voice. He knew that voice. It can't be him. It couldn't be him. Please let it not be him. But Kageyama knew better. Even though his head tried to trick him into thinking of course not, his heart knew. Sure, the voice was a little deeper than three years ago, but it's definitely him. Kageyama took a deep breath and slowly lifted his face from the menu.
Kageyama regretted coming home immediately. The moment he lifted his eyes, a wave of memories crashed back down upon him, a tidal wave of emotions that he had thought he'd looked up tight. But he was wrong. Oh, so wrong. The man who had just entered had blindingly bright orange hair, still sticking out in all the places that it used to be. His smile, still as bright as ever. His presence was so intense, it demanded attention. And after three years, Kageyama couldn't help but give it to him.
"Ah, Hinata-kun! Come, come! Kageyama-san, this is the man I've been talking about. He's one of our companies best rising stars. An up-and-coming professional photographer. He'll be working with you from now on." Kageyama's eyes hovered somewhere above the orange mop of hair (subconsciously, he realized that the man was still shorter than him) but he forced them to meet the other's eyes.
Once his deep blue eyes met the warm hazel ones before him, everything came crashing down on him. Every word shared, promise made, fights had. Every touch, every kiss, every hug. Everything. Everything that he had spent the past three years trying to get rid of, trying to lock up, it all came back. Spilling onto the floor, staining the walls. He knew that it showed. In his hands, in his face, in his eyes. It was all there, spilling. And he was so sure that the other man could see.
But the hazel eyes were different that the rest of him. Yes, everything was the same, the same as it had been those three years ago, even more. But the eyes were different. Kageyama searched for a sign, a flash of emotion that strayed what he was feeling. Kageyama looked and looked for any sign of recognition, or sadness, even anger. But there was nothing there. For while the face wore the brightest smiles, the eyes held the darkest look.
Cold and unfeeling.
The orange haired man stretched out his hand towards Kageyama, and the next words that came out of his mouth would brand themselves ingots Kageyama's brain forever.
"Hello. I'm Hinata Shoyou. Nice to meet you, Kageyama-san."