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Oikawa Tooru, wedding planner extraordinaire, stood back and surveyed the room. Another beautiful set up ready to go. The couple had asked for simple elegance and Oikawa had delivered. He had seen the way Kita’s eyes had softly lit up when they went over wedding colors and decorations, and the way Osamu had wanted to do everything to make him perfectly happy.
Now the couple’s dreams were reflected in the copious arrangements of hardy flowers, the sturdy fabrics, and even the meal choices, sourced using local ingredients including rice from the groom’s own farm.
Another job well done, Oikawa thought to himself, right until his phone rang.
“Iwa-chan, what's up?” Oikawa was adjusting a corner of a tablecloth, but he stopped immediately when his assistant gave him the news: the cake had fallen through.
Not the news to get on the morning of a wedding, especially not the kind of wedding that Oikawa prided himself on. His clients could expect to show up to enjoy their weddings and not have a moment of worry.
“What do you mean they dropped the cake?” Oikawa frowned, already looking through his contacts list to figure out who he should call next and mentally pulling his hair out. “This isn't a holiday movie, people don't just drop cakes that took hours to make. Ok. Alright. I'll call you back.”
Now he needed a wedding cake in three hours. Not even remotely doable, but Oikawa had never let a client down yet and he didn't intend to now, even though a part of him just wanted to scream.
Unsurprisingly, his first two backup bakeries weren't able to help. He dialed up his third and was surprised when, instead of the very energetic “hey hey hey!” he was used to, he was answered with a much calmer (in comparison) voice. “Owlery Bakery, no actual owls used in the baking of our cakes. This is Hinata, how can I help you?”
“Ah, yes, I'm Oikawa Tooru, wedding planner with a bit of a crisis, is Bokuto there?”
“Oh he's out on a catering job this morning, but I can take a message,” Hinata replied cheerfully.
Oikawa frowned. Fuck. “Unfortunately a message won't help. I need a wedding cake in three hours.”
He didn't need to see Hinata's face to know the expression he was making; the brief silence on the line said it all.
“Yes,” Oikawa said. “I'm aware that it's an impossible request, but I make the impossible happen, so–”
“What style of cake?” Hinata's voice was suddenly very intense, to the point that a bit of a chill ran down Oikawa's spine.
“The couple is looking for simple but quietly elegant, with a touch of the unexpected.” Oikawa recited the specifications with ease. It was something he liked about the job, getting to know the couple and getting to know their preferences inside and out.
“Flavors?” Hinata asked next, as if he intended to make this cake.
“Strawberry and cream cheese and lemon and vanilla,” Oikawa replied, as if he was about to entrust this impossible mission to some kid who answered the phone. “But if Bokuto is out, then how do you plan to get me my cake?”
Oikawa had no clue what Hinata looked like, but he realized he could imagine his smile. It was woven into every word: “Because I'm Bokuto-san’s new apprentice, and my specialty is wedding cakes. I'd be a fool to turn down this chance.”
“You'll be a bigger fool if you mess this up.” Oikawa was taking a huge risk right now, but his other choice was to go to the store and buy three hundred cupcakes, so he took a leap of faith that Bokuto had hired exceptional talent. “I need it assembled on site by three.”
“You can count on me, Oikawa-san!”
And for some crazy reason, Oikawa decided he could.
*
“You did what?” Iwaizumi's voice was much louder than necessary over the phone.
Oikawa held the phone farther from his ear. “I did what I had to do.” He did not mention the way he'd decided based on Hinata's voice alone to entrust him with what was literally the showpiece of the dinner service; Iwaizumi was already voicing enough doubts with his plan.
“No one can make a wedding cake in three hours. Haven't you seen those ridiculous baking shows? Three hour wedding cakes are the kind of cakes that topple over when they bring them to the judging table. Sugar work snaps in half, chocolate slides off the cakes, the fondant doesn't stick–”
“Iwa-chan, I know.” Oikawa paced the decorated hall again, making sure every flower was exactly perfect. The couple would be here in less than ten minutes to start getting ready. “But I chose to believe that this is simply a stroke of chance and luck and it has to work out.” He hoped his slight panic and hysteria didn't make its way into his voice.
“Maybe you found the one baker who is as intense and weird as you,” Iwaizumi amended.
Oikawa would let the half-insult slide. “Good. I'll need you on site in thirty. Don't be late.”
“I wouldn't dream of it, boss,” Iwaizumi replied.
*
Twenty-nine minutes later, Iwaizumi strolled into a situation that could only be called chaotic.
“This is so not an Oikawa Tooru wedding,” he noted, looking around. “What is going on?”
“Oh, you know. Everything.” Oikawa's smile was very tight as he glanced over at the bridal party getting ready in one of the little anterooms. “Just keeping the grooms entertained so they don't ask questions about the cake that could still be a disaster but isn't allowed to be.”
“I'll take care of them and make sure the sound is set up,” Iwaizumi replied, ever the best assistant Oikawa could ask for.
“Perfect. Thank you.” Oikawa blew out a breath. “I'm going to call the bakery for an update.”
*
“Hinata speaking!”
Oikawa shouldn't have called. He was taking away precious seconds from Hinata's decoration time.
But he had to know. “Given the nature of the whole situation, I just needed to make sure the cake was, um, going well.”
“Of course it is!” Hinata sounded so positive and so certain, like he wasn’t casually attempting the impossible. And yet, it still lifted a weight off of Oikawa's shoulders. “I'm working on decorating right now. Do you want pictures?”
Oikawa wanted a cake on his table right now, but pictures would have to do.
A minute later, his phone was buzzing with a new message.
Oikawa's mouth dropped down to the floor when he saw the beautiful cake coming together. The layers were baked and assembled and a thin crumb coat already applied. There were arrays of colored fondant and beautiful flowers waiting on the counter nearby.
For the first time since Iwaizumi had called him earlier, Oikawa took a full, complete, relaxed breath.
Looks amazing! You’re amazing! Oikawa texted back. Let me know if you need me to come by to help transport or anything.
Hinata texted back a moment later. A second pair of hands would be really helpful! If it’s not a bother!
Oikawa took one more look around the venue. Iwaizumi was here; he could take care of on-site issues. He had a cake to go help with.
*
The cake was even more beautiful in person. By the time Oikawa got to the bakery, Hinata had already applied the fondant and was smoothing the sides.
But Oikawa forgot about the cake and the timeline and really everything else about everything when he properly laid eyes on Hinata. The apprentice baker was a shot of sunshine wrapped up in a thick, beautiful body. His orange hair was tied back in a tiny ponytail and he had a colorful cloth wrapped around his head. A slight sheen of sweat on his forehead spoke to the herculean task he was completing.
Oikawa got lost for more than a moment in Hinata’s golden brown eyes.
“Oikawa-san!” Hinata greeted him with a smile and a wave, breaking the spell. There was a smear of white frosting across his left cheek. It was the cutest thing Oikawa had ever seen. He almost forgot how to speak.
“Hinata, I cannot thank you enough.“ Oikawa gestured to the cake. ”Just direct me however I can help.”
“Thank you so much!” Hinata's genuine gratitude had Oikawa mentally on his knees. Any baker could have been stressed, cranky, or almost understandably rude in a time sensitive situation like this, but Hinata approached the task with joy and excitement, like he was honored to have the chance to prove himself.
Which made sense because Hinata was an apprentice, Oikawa thought as he fetched supplies for Hinata from the walk-in fridge. But at the same time, Hinata’s calm professionalism gave the impression that Hinata has been doing this for years.
Oh, and Hinata was even more cute from behind, but Oikawa was going to keep that little observation to himself.
“So did you always know you wanted to go into cake decorating?” Oikawa asked as he set down the items on the counter, curious about Hinata’s background.
“Kind of!” Hinata considered the cake for a moment, rotating it to get a better view. “When I was in middle school, I saw a baking competition and, well, all of it was really cool, but the baker who made an entire beautiful tiered cake was just the coolest!”
Oikawa smiled at the thought of a younger Hinata staring in awe at a cake much like the one he was making now.
Hinata rolled and cut fondant for the first layer with comfort and skill. “How about you, Oikawa-san? Being a wedding planner is a pretty big job! Did you know you wanted to do it when you were younger, too?”
Oikawa nodded, smiling despite the time constraints. He was here now, wasn't he? And Hinata was working as fast as he could. Answering his question was the least he could do.
“Well, I guess I've always liked the idea of a dream wedding, even when I was little.” He handed Hinata a small rolling pin. “The problem was, I couldn't pick just one dream wedding, right? There's beach weddings and fairy tale weddings and intimate, tiny weddings and giant, loud parties and just so many ways to celebrate love.” Oikawa remembered the summer in middle school he'd planned weddings for every one of his friends. “I guess I just realized that there was a specific job that would let me plan one dream wedding after another and I never looked back.”
“Ohhh!” Hinata nodded like Oikawa's decision was the most natural choice in the world. “And isn't it so super amazing? When you put it all together and get to watch their faces light up when they see their dreams coming true?”
“I should have known you would get it.” Oikawa looked again at the cake. It was a testament to love and happiness, all wrapped up in soft, sweet marshmallow fondant.
“Well, at least I'm trying to get it,” Hinata amended, smoothing the fondant across the final tier. “I still have so much to learn!”
Oikawa knew there was always more to learn, but Hinata seemed to have a very solid grasp on his skills already. “I look forward to seeing your career take off, because I plan on requesting you for my upcoming events too.”
Hinata gave Oikawa a smile as bright as the lemon frosting he was carefully piping on top of the cake. “That means a lot to me! Thank you, Oikawa-san!”
But seriously. If Hinata could do this in three hours, what could he do with a proper time frame? Oikawa shook his head with a smile.
“For a bit there today,” Oikawa admitted, helping Hinata bring some of the tools to the sink, “I think I had lost sight of my dream. Thanks for helping me see it again.”
Hinata paused, his voice light. “I'd say any time, but I don't know if I could handle the stress of doing this in three hours again!”
Oikawa thought he saw a red tinge spreading across Hinata's face. The sudden urge to brighten that color with a kiss took hold in Oikawa's chest and he laughed at the ridiculousness of it all.
“Do you have a dream wedding cake, Hinata?” He asked instead.
“A cake like a sunrise over the ocean.” Hinata's answer was so sure and confident that Oikawa could picture it with ease. “I don't have the faintest clue what the rest of the wedding would be like, though.”
Oikawa couldn't help himself. “Well, look me up when you're ready. I'll help.”
This time, Hinata smiled directly at him. “I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather call.”
Was Hinata flirting? Oikawa had a smirk ready, but before he could make any sort of flirtatious comeback, Hinata was already talking again.
“The cake is ready to go, and I'll finish the assembly on site!”
Flirting would have to wait. There was a cake to transport.
*
Oikawa had never handled anything in his life more carefully than that cake. He followed Hinata's lead as they loaded the tiers and final supplies into the car, and though he drove with the knowledge that the wedding started in twenty minutes, he was alert to each and every danger on the road with a precision that would have made his driving teacher proud.
“I'm serious, you know,” Oikawa said as he avoided traffic with a smooth lane change. “You better plan on your cake sample flavors for when I start sending clients your way.”
Oikawa didn't have to glance at Hinata to see his cute little blush, but he did it anyhow and was rewarded with the sweetest little smile too. He also noticed Hinata’s leg bouncing up and down. “You doing ok?”
“Yes! Just, um, now that I have time to sit and think about what I just did…I’m so nervous!” Hinata laughed, but it was cautious and stilted. “This is for a real live wedding! What if Bokuto-san is upset that I did it without asking him first? What if the couple hates the cake?”
Oikawa couldn’t help himself; he slid his hand from the wheel to Hinata’s knee, a calming, grounding touch. “The cake is amazing. I know they’ll love it. And I doubt Bokuto will be upset, but even if he was, I’d talk to him.”
Hinata stilled underneath his hand. “Thank you.” If he sounded a little breathless, Oikawa could pretend it was from the cake situation. He didn’t move his hand for the rest of the drive.
*
“Make way, make way!” Oikawa kept his voice light and fun as he shooed people out of the way. Thankfully only the bridal party was there so far, but the other guests would be arriving any minute now. “Here comes the cake!” If he could keep it calm, no one would know anything better. This was all according to plan. No stress.
Hinata swallowed nervously behind him, but smiled just the same as he walked behind Oikawa, his head held high and his hands steady.
Oikawa nodded to the right. “The kitchen is this way.”
“Ok. The tiers can go on the table. I don’t need anything in the fridge right now.”
Oikawa told himself that he was only hovering to lend a hand and not because he simply wanted to stay near Hinata. Just like before, Hinata worked with a graceful efficiency suggesting either years of practice or natural talent or a decent combination of both.
“Hmm.”
“Iwa-chan! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Oikawa already had his hands on his hips, but caught the rest of his words when he saw both grooms not far behind Iwaizumi. This was the moment of truth.
“I’m just saying I understand why you trusted him with the cake.” Iwaizumi sounded innocent, but his raised eyebrows said more than Oikawa could address right that moment.
“Oh, look at that cake.” The silver haired groom, Kita, spoke softly, but his eyes sparkled as he took in the three tiers of elegant cake. “It’s quite beautiful.”
“Thank you!” Hinata looked relieved and delighted, like he could both deflate and fly away at the same time.
“Looks delicious.” That was the taller groom, Osamu. “Everything has come together nicely. No complaints. Thank you for that.”
Oikawa dipped his head in a short bow. “Of course. It’s the Oikawa wedding experience promise. Now you two go make yourself scarce, because your guests are arriving!”
Iwaizumi shook his head at Oikawa but said nothing as he followed the grooms, making sure they had everything they needed, down to a bottle of champagne and two glasses so they could share a pre-ceremony celebratory drink. Oikawa figured he probably deserved a raise.
“I think I do want to experience an Oikawa wedding experience someday,” Hinata said quietly. “This is nice.”
“Isn’t it?” Oikawa was only bragging a little. He really did pride himself on delivering a quality experience. “Like I said, just give me a call when you’re ready.”
Hinata’s cheeks were redder than ever and he was even quieter when he spoke again, but Oikawa was just able to hear him: “Can I call you to get a coffee together sometime?”
“Yes.” Oikawa’s response was firm and quick. “I’d love that.”
Epilogue
“So when you tell me your dream cake is like a sunrise over the ocean, that says to me that your ideal wedding is at the beach, don't you think?”
Hinata leaned forward across the table, his hand in his chin as he grinned at Oikawa. The small, charming cafe they were in was one of their favorite places to meet up during their busy days. Oikawa had lost track of how many times they'd been there in the past year.
“Picture it,” Oikawa continued. “Everyone wearing casual, comfortable clothes, enjoying the lovely weather. The waves in the background.”
“We could have games, like beach volleyball!” Hinata grinned.
“We absolutely could. And imagine the cute favors, beach balls and floaties, everyone can have a swim if they'd like–”
“And seagulls trying to eat my cake!” Hinata laughed.
Oikawa waved the problem away. “That's why we'd have a tent!”
“Ah, of course!” Hinata laughed again. “Oikawa-san, you think of everything.”
Oikawa pretended to be wounded, holding his hand over his heart. “Oh, Shouyou, don't you remember? We're engaged now, so I'm pretty sure that means you can call me Tooru, even in public.”
Hinata's blush was as beautiful as ever. “Tooru,” he amended. “You think of everything.”
Oikawa grinned. He didn't think he'd ever tire of hearing his name from Hinata's mouth. “It's my job.”
“So, a beach wedding,” Hinata said, contemplating. “I think you're onto something. But, you still haven't told me what your dream wedding is. I don't want this to be just about me.”
Sweet, sweet Shouyou. This was one of the many reasons why Oikawa had gotten on one knee and asked Hinata to marry him.
“That's true,” Oikawa said. “Well, my dream wedding is your smiling face and my name on your lips. It's sharing our first piece of cake together and dancing to our favorite song in front of our friends. It's surprising them with our best dance moves and it's you, standing next to me.”
Hinata took Oikawa's hand in his, listening intently.
“My dream wedding is hearing ‘you may kiss the groom' and knowing our next kiss will be the first kiss of our marriage and the precursor to thousands more.” Oikawa knew he was being sappy, but the more he spoke, the more he realized it was true. He squeezed Hinata's hand tight, hoping he could transfer even a fraction of the love dancing on his skin. “Turns out I could never picture my ideal wedding, because in the end, it was always you.”