Work Text:
Instance one: exam lunch
“Kageyama!” Hinata yelled as he ran across the hall. His attempt to get the blue boys attention proved successful when he was met with a “kind” hit across the head.
There were only a few weeks before winter break. These few weeks were the insufferable exam weeks. Something both boys had been dreading since Tsukkishima convinced them to study.
“Hinata, what do you want? I'm studying for our Japanese exam..” Kageyama said.
Hinata pulled away Kageyama's study binder.
“What was that for?”
“It's lunch! Go eat something!” Hinata had a point, but when he was doing his scan of Kageyama's stuff, there was no food to be seen.
“Didn't pack any. I don't have any money on me on either. I'll be fine though-”
“No you won't! You need to eat,” The redhead began rummaging through his bag.
“What's there to eat?” Kageyama said as Hinata slammed his bento in front of him.
The box had a cutesy sun pattern on it. In Kageyama's opinion, it fit him very well. Looked like something Natsu probably was supposed to use.
“I'm not hungry. Just took the maths exam. I think I flunked it dude, like badly,” Hinata looked over to the side, he was very clearly starving.
Kageyama bumped his shoulders into the smaller boy, he did the same back. They created a flow of hitting each other until Kageyama eyed the food in front of him again.
“Here, I have my own chopsticks on me. We can split, you also need to eat dumbass,” there was no sting in his words. It was just the way Tobio showed his affection. Not affection.
“Thanks… idiot.”
That's how they ended up eating lunch together for the first time. Something that became routine for them shortly after. The sheer domino effect about to occur was too much for either of them to dare think of.
Instance two, secret santa
Daichi passed around a hat filled with the team members' names. According to Sugawara, it was a tradition that Karasuno’s volleyball team carried every year.
Hinata wasn't the best gift giver known to man. He never understood what others enjoyed, so normally he'd just get something he liked. Thank goodness they had each team member place a small list on the doorframe.
Hinata's list was simple. He wanted a new volleyball and some candy. Nothing more than that.
When the hat got to him he closed his eyes and looked away as he grabbed from the notes on the very bottom. He dramatically grabbed the note high above his head before going down to read whose name was on it.
'Kageyama’
Hinata looked down disappointed. Not because he got Kageyama necessarily, but because Kageyama had the exact same mind as him. All his list said was a volleyball and cash.
On top of that, he and Kageyama have been walking to a nearby gym daily during the break. It was nearly impossible to find a moment they could spend apart.
That day after the weekly break meeting, he and Kageyama met at the school gates together. No words were spoken as they walked.
Hinata tried to lose Kageyama as he walked to the nearby sports store, but as he sped up, so did the taller one. This charade went on as they both walked into the store.
He finally lost Kageyama as he ran into the fishing isle and hid behind some displays. He thought of stalking to see where Kageyama went, but he had been out of the store as quickly as he got in.
Hinata ran to the volleyball area of the store. He quickly grabbed the first volleyball he saw, it had a blue and yellow pattern. Pretty basic but high quality.
The rest of the week went by normally. They still practiced daily, but they never brought up the club meeting. Though today was Christmas eve, the Secret Santa exchange day.
Hinata's poorly wrapped volleyball sat near Kageyama's well wrapped box. Most everyone else had nicely wrapped gifts too.
After they got some formalities, greetings, and food out of the way they were ready for the exchange.
“We aren't trying to waste practice time, so just grab your gift and hand it to whoever you got. We have about 30 minutes left for this,” Coach Ukai announced.
Hinata and Kageyama nearly knocked heads trying to grab their presents. They both took a step back with their gifts in hand. Both of them simontaniously shoved the gifts out towards the other with a confused expression.
“Uhh.. merry Christmas? I got your name.”
“I got yours. This seems a bit dumb now.”
They sat down on the floor together as they traded gifts. Hinata immediately tore all of the wrapping to shreds, Kageyama pulled it off in one clean tear. Inside they both had the exact same volleyball. Kageyamas was topped with a 10 dollar bill and Hinatas was topped with two bags of skittles. They looked up at each other then back down at their gifts.
Kageyama began to giggle as he leaned into the other boy. Their hands brushed as they slid forward.
“Dork, is this why you had me follow you into the athletics store?” All Hinata could do was nod.
They didn't even notice Tsukkishima taking endless pictures of the moment, their hands lightly intertwined. Something that would probably be blackmail next week never felt better for the crow duo. It shouldn't have felt like that.
Instance three, cold hands
Hinata was the kind to always be warmer than the sun itself. It was a fairly useful trait on days where it was cold and dry. Kageyama on the other hand was just a normal person. Quickly gets cold and the kind to go pink when he does.
After practice, Hinata and Kageyama were walking home together as they regularly did. It was New Years Eve, a night where they were out extra late. It had to have been around 11 p.m. by then. The miniature party they had held with the rest of the team went well, minus Nishinoya’s possibly sprained finger. It had been a good night for them.
That was true except, Kageyama was freezing beyond belief. He would possibly catch hypothermia if he were to stay out the whole way home. As his nose and hands turned pink he shivered. The thin coat he had brought along and the lack of gloves stood no chance to the freezing temperatures and the snow around them.
Hinata on the other hand brought possibly the puffiest of coats ever seen. There were seemingly endless pockets on the jacket, Kageyama was tempted to just shove his hand in one of them. He inched his hand closer to Hinata, their arms nearly brushing.
That was until Hinata grabbed Kageyama's hand and kept it in his. The fleece glove felt strange to Kageyama. It wasn't what he was aiming for, sure, but the personal hand warmer that is Shouyou Hinata would suffice for his walk home.
And it did, they said goodbye and suddenly Kageyama's hands got far colder, though his face only got warmer as he laid in bed and thought about the night that just happened.
Instance four, Valentine's day.
Kageyama possibly hated Valentine's day more than anything. It's not out of dissatisfaction for not receiving anything, okay maybe it is a little bit, but it was mostly because he always saw the people around him complaining endlessly. For the next week all of his classmates would just be non stop rambling about “Oh! I didn't get anything, wah wah wah,” and it is considerably the most annoying week of his year.
He sat down at his desk, whispers have already filled the room about who has and who has not received a gift from the girl of their dreams. He checked the inside of his desk, just for the hell of it, and there sat a little note.
It seemed like it was a literal flashcard but the back of it was scribbled with a red pencil or something. It looked very sloppily made, it may as well just be any anonymous note, not a confession. At least that's what Kageyama hoped for himself.
The inside writing was equally as sloppy. It barely even looked like it was Japanese from afar. He shoved the small note into his pocket and proceeded to walk to Yachi’s class. Afterall, she must be an expert at translating bad writing because of all the time she spends tutoring Hinata and Kageyama.
He asked one of Yachi’s classmates to call her. The classmate winked at Kageyama and wished him luck, Kageyama had already forgotten the day. Yachi would understand though, probably.
The small girl with the yellow hair walked out of the classroom, looked at Kageyama, and laughed.
“Oh God, I was so worried when I heard I was called. Thank goodness it’s just you… What do you need, Kageyama?” She said with a look of relief. She didn't seem to want a confession in any way.
“Can you read this?” Kageyama said, passing the note into Yachi's hands, “Before you assume anything- I found it in my desk. I can't read whatever this person wrote.”
Yachi squinted at the small writing for a minute as she deciphered whatever it was supposed to say.
“Please go to the second gym… Um… I don't think I should be saying this…” Yachi shoved the card back into Kageyama’s hands with a twinge of embarrassment on her face.
Kageyama accepted his fate. All he could do now was guess or wait outside of the gym all day. He could ask one of his other teammates, but he would rather die than tell Tsukkishima he got a confession letter. Or at least something that seemed like it. Along with that, Hinata likely couldn't even read this, even if his handwriting was just as bad as this persons.
Wait… it was just as bad as this person's. It probably is a lapse in judgment, but it did kinda look like how Hinata wrote. What would Kageyama even say to him if it was him?
It was all he could think about during class that day. What would he do? He values his time with Hinata (totally only in the context of the court) very highly, if he were to say no, would they lose that? He glanced at the note again. It isn't even necessarily from Hinata anyways. He’s too stressed over a note he already knows he'd reject.
Afterall, he had to focus on volleyball. Dating a girl would get in the way. If it were Hinata though, he could still play… Kageyama shook that thought out of his mind. He wouldn't say yes no matter who it was.
Lunch rolled around and Hinata was still sitting there in his normal spot calling Kageyama over how he does every day. He didn't seem nervous at all, Kageyama on the other hand totally was. His palms were sweaty as he held onto the small notecard.
“Kageyama! You don't look right, your hair is sticking to your forehead. Are you okay? Did you play volleyball without me?” Hinata asked jokingly, was he really that sweaty looking?
“No, I didn't dumbass. Did you uh, get anything for Valentines this year? Everyone's being so sappy about it.”
“Nope, I never do. I’d probably say no anyways! You know, unless they like volleyball as much as me. We have to focus on our game! Why? Did you get something?”
Kageyama thought for a minute about whether to mention it or not. Pros include: maybe Hinata knows who it is, maybe Hinata can read whatever is written, maybe it isn't from Hinata but Hinata would object or something. That wasn't a pro. Cons include: it being Hinata. The con outweighs the pros, so he's just not gonna go. Or say anything about it either.
“No, I don't really care too much though. I'm not really interested in dating either, I have more important things to worry about.”
“Like what? School? As if!” Hinata joked as he punched Kageyama's arm.
“I mean there's you- Like volleyball and other stuff too I guess,” Kageyama didn't look into Hinata's eyes. Hinata immediately scooted just a little closer. Closing the gaps between their shoulders, or I guess Kageyama's arm and Hinata's shoulder, in an instant.
After practice Tsukkishima came up to Kageyama with a grin on his face, “So, if Mr. King got confessed to, you’d just leave her hanging?”
“That was you?!”
Luckily for Kageyama there was no girl. Only a cruel prank from his teammate. Part of him was still questioning the day though. What if it was Hinata?
Instance five, fires
By now March is beginning. Even though spring is around the corner, snow is still on the ground. Snow is also the reason Hinata is currently huddled up by Kageyama’s home fireplace.
He had originally just came over to “study”. Clearly “studying” to them means watching a few movies, playing volleyball, and eating food. Neither of them really even needed their backpacks.
Around 5 or so, a weather alert was announced. A blizzard was likely to come, so Shouyou stayed longer. A blizzard still has yet to come, but chances are, because it's already 8 pm, he's just going to stay longer.
This is normal. Or- this would be normal if Kageyama wasn’t still thinking about Valentine's day. Something about Hinata in Kageyama’s sweatshirt in his living room as Kageyama cooks him dinner feels much more domestic than it has the other 4 times.
Kageyama now notices the small things about Hinata. The way his face is clear, but his back is covered in acne. The way he already has smile lines. The way he tends to sit criss cross when given an option… the small things like that.
And there are some larger things he notices. Example: he's noticed the way that he wants to touch Hinata’s lips really badly. Not kiss them or anything, just touch them. Or how Hinata has been weirdly more physical with Kageyama.
That's when he felt two arms grab around his neck, pulling him down a little bit. The pasta he was stirring would have to wait.
“Hey ‘yama,” Hinata said as he began to wrap his arms around one of Kageyama's, “What's for dinner?”
Kageyama had to fight the urge to look Hinata in the eyes. It was a tough battle, but Kageyama won with pasta on his side. Though he could only imagine the expression Hinata was making.
“I'm just gonna make butter noodles, why?”
“Can I help please?”
Kageyama pointed to the living room, “Yeah, could you go back and just sit or something? You're crowding the kitchen and I need room.”
Hinata frowned as he trekked back to his little spot by the fire. Kageyama pulled the noodles out of the boiling water and proceeded to mix in the butter and pepper. He easily could've made something a little more impressive, but Hinata never liked complex meals.
He delivered the pasta over to the boy mindlessly watching sports on the TV. He sat down with his bowl on the floor right next to him.
“Kageyama, did you know they don’t call Football that in America?” Hinata dug his fork in his meal and shoved it in his face, “This is really good Kags, thank you for making this.”
“Yeah, um, no problem. Can you pass me a blanket?”
Rather than doing so how a normal person would, Hinata threw his small blanket over Kageyama's legs. It now barely covered either one, but Hinata cuddled up closer for warmth. Kageyama was now certainly warm to say the least.
The sound of the fire popping, overlayed with the sounds of sports announcers yelling, and with the slight feel of Hinata's arms on his, it was all too overwhelming for Kageyama. He got up without a word.
Something that should’ve been comforting, something as domestic as that, only had him questioning. Kageyama normally has such confidence in his actions and feelings, but for the first time Kageyama was questioning that.
He wanted to lock himself in his room to hide out, but he left the door unlocked for the chance Hinata wasn’t upset. Also partially so he feels less alone. Tears began to well in his eyes, he finally didn't know what to do.
He heard his door creak open a little, there stood the small boy with a worried expression on his face.
“Are you okay? Dude, did something happen? Can I touch you? How can I help?” Hinata said, rushing his words.
Kageyama just nodded his head, “Stay with me for a little.”
It maybe took Kageyama somewhere between 15-30 minutes to finally regain himself. The entire time was spent hand in hand with Hinata, who was shockingly good at handling this sort of issue.
Kageyama knew by the time they were back downstairs, he wanted Hinata by his side.
+1
“So, what do I do about this Sugawara-senpai?”
Kageyama was sitting in this small cafe with his past upperclassman, but still close friend, Sugawara. To be fair this was partially because Suga was the only gay person he knew, but he was also always good for advice.
“I’m just shocked you found out. I imagined you two would be doing that whole rivalry thing for forever. Why don’t you give him something on white day? I’m sure that’ll work out fine. Besides, it is coming up soon.”
The thought made Kageyama happy. Being able to see Hinata standing around with his white day gift and saying yes to whatever stupid confession Kageyama wrote was a happy thought. Even if he always hated White day's counterpart. And even if this isn’t how white day works.
“But what do I give him? I need him to know it’s me, but like I don’t want anything cheesy or like gay or something.”
“Kageyama, you’re gay now.”
“Right, I forgot about that part… Still, what do I do?”
“Look I don’t know Hinata that well, but…”
And that is why Kageyama is currently standing behind the gym with a volleyball and chocolates. Hinata had already asked him to meet there, so he figured he would get the “confession” shit out of the way.
As Kageyama waits he walks miniature laps in the dirt. You could practically see the path of nervousness forming. The moment he saw the redhead jump around the corner he hid the gifts behind him.
Hinata slowed his pace as he approached Kageyama, he too was hiding something.
“So, why did you need me here?” Hinata's face began to turn a slight pinkish color.
“Well, uh, Kageyama. I’m like gay now,” Kageyamas eyes widened, “And, um, I got these for you because I…”
Hinata revealed the gifts. It was a volleyball… with cash on top. Poor mind’s think alike.
With no hesitation Kageyama pulled his gift from behind his back. Once again it was the same volleyball as Hinatas, but the chocolates were new (he failed to make them at home dozens of times before he caved and bought them from the store).
“Who the hell gives money during a confession?”
Hinata dropped everything he had in his hands and ran full speed into Kageyama. Unlike the movies where they would twirl and kiss, Hinata managed to knock Kageyama to the ground. The sweat from their bodies due to nervousness became apparent as they hugged in the sandy dirt.
“Did you happen to talk to Sugawara-senpai about this, Shouyo?”
“Yeah, why? How did you guess?”
Kageyama really owed Sugawara the greatest “Thank you” he’s ever said in his life. Now that the crow duo were together, they were truly unstoppable, and at the same time now made everyone else's problem.