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Hinata is nervous.
It’s the first time he’ll be hanging out with Kageyama since he realized he has feelings deeper than friendship for him. He doesn’t know how to act. He’s seen him a few times since, but always in a group, with the rest of the volleyball team or just the first years. It’s the first time they’ll be alone , and his stomach is rumbling already.
He’s lost count of how many times he’s visited the bathroom since he woke up, and how many times he’s swept his room, even though it’s squeaky clean and they’ll be playing volleyball outside the entire afternoon, anyway.
Well, it’s not like they’ll actually be alone. Sure, his mother is out working, but Natsu is also at the house.
The bell rings and he jumps up so quickly that he stubs his toe with the desk. He curses but runs to the front door anyway. He opens it to reveal Kageyama standing outside, the same serious expression on his face as always.
He’s wearing a light t-shirt and his volleyball shorts, and Hinata understands why. He’s wearing the same outfit yet he’s still sweating, so he’s not surprised that Natsu has resorted to wearing her swimsuit in the house to keep cool. The temperatures are rising higher and higher every summer.
“Hey,” Hinata greets him. His voice fails him by trembling, but Kageyama doesn’t appear to notice anything off.
“Hello,” he says in return.
As Hinata predicted, they end up playing volleyball for a greater part of the afternoon. They lost count of how many times Kageyama tossed for him, and how many times Kageyama practiced his jump serve while Hinata attempted (and mostly failed) to receive them.
He’s grateful that Kageyama was too focused on the sport to notice that Hinata’s cheeks flushed a light pink whenever their fingers brushed.
By the time they’re done, they’re exhausted, and the sun hasn’t even set yet. The air is so hot and humid that Hinata feels like he’ll die if he doesn’t eat something cold, and the ice water isn’t enough to cool him down anymore.
That gives him an idea.
“Do you wanna go get ice cream?” he asks from where he’s seated on the ground, with an empty bottle in his hand.
“Yes,” Kageyama replies without hesitation. He’s lying down next to him, tired and too warm to function, but Hinata’s question revives him.
“I want ice cream too!” comes Natsu’s voice from inside the house.
“Alright, we’ll all go,” Hinata nods. “Can you write a note to Mom to let her know you are with us, just in case she comes home early?”
“Okay.” The little girl nods and disappears into the dining room. When she joins them at the front door, she’s also put on a pair of shorts and a shirt over her swimsuit.
They walk to the shop instead of biking as it’s pretty close to Hinata's house, and he’s grateful for that. It’s so hot to bike that he swears he would have died. Natsu holds both of their hands, walking in the middle of them while questioning Kageyama unceasingly. He answers all her questions, which brings a sense of endearment to Hinata.
“I want to play volleyball when I enter middle school,” she tells Kageyama.
“Oh, I see. Are you in any club now?” he asks.
“Yes, I’m in the swimming team,” she replies, “ but I like all sports.”
The conversation halts when they arrive at the ice cream shop and a familiar, cheerful voice reaches their ears.
“What do you want, Iwa-chan? It’s on me.”
“Really? You’re paying for my food? Not making me pay for yours? Do you have a fever?” comes a second familiar voice.
“You hurt me, Iwa-chan, I’ve paid for our meals lots of times! Besides, I thought you’d feel left out if I paid for the kids’ ice creams but not yours.”
Oikawa and Iwaizumi are inside the shop, but they aren’t alone. A young boy is attentively looking at the list of flavors by their side, and Iwaizumi is holding a younger girl in his arms.
“The great king!” Hinata says.
The others’ must hear him because they turn around.
“Ah, Tobio-chan and Chibi-chan, hello,” Oikawa greets them, then looks at Natsu. “And Chibi-chan’s sister, I assume?” He asks, pointing at her hair.
“Yes,” Hinata nods, at the same time that Natsu says: “I’m Hinata Natsu.”
“I didn’t know Iwaizumi-san had a sister,” Kageyama comments.
“I don’t,” Iwaizumi says.
Kageyama frowns, looking at the girl in his arms. The absurd thought that she might be Iwaizumi’s daughter crosses Hinata’s mind before leaving just as quickly. That's stupid.
“She’s Oikawa’s niece,” Iwaizumi explains.
That makes more sense, yes.
Oikawa sighs dramatically. “She always wants Iwaizumi to hold her instead of me,” he says. “She’s been like this since she was a baby.”
The little girl doesn’t say anything but grabs at Iwaizumi’s shirt a little tighter.
“I wonder where she gets her clinginess from,” he mutters, but Oikawa pretends he doesn’t hear him.
“This is my nephew as well.” He puts his hand on the boy who’s looking at the flavors’ shoulder. “Oikawa Takeru.”
“How old are you?” Natsu asks him. She’s always been as extroverted as her older brother.
“Ten,” Takeru replies.
“I’m nine!” she says.
“Oikawa-san, do you live close by? I’ve never seen you around here,” Hinata asks.
“No, but my sister does. We went to pick up my niblings from her house, and they wanted ice cream, so here we are,” he explains. “You live close by, Chibi-chan?”
“I do, just a few blocks away. We were just playing volleyball at my house,” he replies.
“Training for the spring high, huh?” Oikawa says with a smile. “I wonder if we’ll face off again.”
Their conversation is interrupted by Iwaizumi’s voice. “What flavor do you want, Oikawa?” he asks.
While they were talking, he’d gone to talk with the seller. Takeru and Ayumi were both holding popsicles already.
“Whatever is fine, Iwa-chan. You’ve known me forever, you know what I like,” Oikawa replies and opens his mouth to tell Hinata something, but Iwaizumi speaks again.
“You say that but then complain about what I got you, Shittykawa.”
Oikawa rolls his eyes. “I won’t complain, just get me whatever.”
Iwaizumi sighs but does as asked.
Natsu lets go of her brother’s hand and approaches Takeru when she notices what he’s eating.
“You like that anime too!?” she asks, her eyes fixed on the anime character-shaped popsicle Takeru is licking.
The little boy’s eyes, which didn’t show much emotion until the moment, light up at the mention of the show he enjoys.
“Of course I do, it’s my favorite.”
“Mine too!” Natsu says, happily. “Brother, I want one of those popsicles too!” she tells Hinata.
“She’s as energetic as her older brother, I see,” Oikawa chuckles. Kageyama nods in agreement.
“Okay, I’ll get you one,” Hinata accepts. He walks to the counter to ask for it, then chooses an ice cream cone for himself. “What will you have, Kageyama?”
“Ah, right, um…” he walks next to Hinata and takes a moment to look at the chart with all the options before deciding on a two-flavors cup.
Once everyone’s got their orders, the teenagers sit down around a round table. Oikawa’s niece insists on sitting on Iwaizumi’s lap, of course, while Natsu and Takeru sit together on a bench near the door and continue talking about the anime.
“So how are you preparing for the spring high qualifiers?” asks Iwaizumi.
“We’ve gotten better, I think,” Hinata replies. “I heard Shiratorizawa beat you in the inter-high.”
Oikawa’s eyes darken at the mere mention of the other school, and the entire energy around him and Iwaizumi shifts.
Kageyama steps on Hinata’s foot under the table, making the boy shriek. “Idiot, why did you say that!?” he whispers, but the entire table can hear him.
“Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you or anything,” Hinata is quick to apologize.
“Don’t worry, it’s the truth,” Iwaizumi says with a shrug.
“Yes, they did,” Oikawa admits through gritted teeth. “But we’ll surely beat them next time, right Iwa-chan?”
“Of course,” Iwaizumi nods, agreeing.
There’s not an ounce of doubt in his words, and it makes Hinata’s competitiveness levels rise.
“We won’t lose either!” he declares.
“Oh?” Oikawa raises an eyebrow. “We’ll have to see about that.”
While they converse about volleyball, Hinata can’t help but notice Oikawa and Iwaizumi sharing their ice creams. From time to time, without saying a word, Iwaizumi offers Oikawa a spoon of chocolate or ramune soda, and Oikawa does the same for him with a spoon of grape or strawberry. It speaks of how close they are to each other, and Hinata can’t help but wonder if there’s something deeper than friendship between them.
He glances at Kageyama’s dessert, noticing the swirl of vanilla and milk in contrast to his own hibiscus and mint chocolate. He’s curious to know if Kageyama would let him have a taste if he asked.
He can’t bring himself to ask him.
He discards the idea and hides the faint blush creeping up his cheeks behind his cone.
At some point throughout the conversation, Natsu comes up to them, hand in hand with Takeru. “Oikawa-san,” she says.
The alluded teenager looks down at her, surprised. “Yes?”
“Can Takeru-chan come over to my house to play?” she asks.
Oikawa blinks, then looks at Hinata. “If your older brother doesn’t mind, I don’t see why not.”
For the first time since Hinata has known her, Oikawa’s niece speaks, but only to whisper in Iwaizumi’s ear.
“Mn, what is it Ayumi?” he asks, leaning down. He listens to her for a moment. “Ah, I see,” he says. “Oikawa, Ayumi-chan says that you promised Takeru and her that they could play in the pool after getting ice cream.”
“Ah, she’s right,” Takeru remembers. Natsu pouts.
Oikawa hums, and thinks for a moment. “Well, Natsu-chan could come over to my house to play instead,” he says. “You two too, if you want,” he offers to Hinata and Kageyama. “I can lend you some swimming trunks.”
“Can we, brother?” Natsu asks.
Hinata thinks about it for a moment. There’s still time until dinner, and they don’t need to be back home till then. And he won’t deny that the promise of a swimming pool waiting for them at Oikawa’s house is too good of an offer to let pass.
“Sure, why not?” he accepts. “Kageyama?”
Kageyama’s mouth is full, so he doesn’t speak. He nods, accepting as well.
“Is pretty far from here, so we’ll have to take the bus,” Oikawa informs them.
Once they finish their meal, they start walking toward the nearest bus stop. Ayumi still refuses to walk on her own, but Iwaizumi doesn't mind carrying her. Hinata, who remembers holding Natsu when she was younger, knows that no matter how fit he is, Iwaizumi’s arms and back must be aching by now. Meanwhile, Takeru walks close to Natsu, chattering away with enthusiasm.
“I’ve never seen him hold such a long conversation with someone he just met,” Oikawa whispers to Hinata, his tone playful. “He really seems to like her,” he adds with a grin, then dramatically gasps. “Could this be Takeru’s first crush?”
The question earns him a light slap on the nape from Iwaizumi, followed by a click of his tongue.
“Don’t be like that, he’s just a kid.”
“That hurts, Iwa-chan,” Oikawa complains, rubbing the spot.
“Good, serves you right.”
“But, Iwa-chan, didn’t you have your first crush around Takeru’s age?” Oikawa teases, mischief twinkling in his eyes.
Iwaizumi's steps falter and his grip on Ayumi tightens for a brief moment. A faint flush rises up his neck, threatening to reach his cheeks. He quickly shifts Ayumi in his arms, using the movement as an excuse to look away. His gaze drops to the pavement as he clears his throat, trying to mask his discomfort.
Without meeting Oikawa's eyes, he mutters, “Shut up,” and picks up his pace, eager to leave the conversation behind.
Oikawa chuckles and picks up his pace as well. “Iwa-chan, don’t leave me behind!”
At first glance, Oikawa’s teasing seems harmless, and Iwaizumi’s reaction is nothing unusual. But combined with what Hinata had observed earlier about their closeness, it only deepens his doubts about the nature of their relationship.
“Have you been to Oikawa-san’s house before?” Hinata asks Kageyama, curious.
“No, never,” he replies. “We weren’t that close when we were on the same team,” he adds in a lower voice tone.
“That’s because you pick fights with everyone,” Hinata says.
“No, I do not! I’ve never picked up a fight with him,” Kageyama argues.
“You didn’t deny the ‘everyone’ part.”
“Shut up!”
Their bickering comes to an end when they arrive at the bus stop, just in time to catch a bus heading their way. They ride it until the rural landscape begins to fade, giving way to wide, tree-lined streets and stately homes. The fields and open spaces are soon replaced by large, well-kept gardens, iron fences, and elegant houses with pristine façades.
They walk for a while after they get off the bus until they reach a two-floor house with a nameplate that reads “Oikawa” on the right gatepost. Oikawa opens it and allows the rest inside. When he unlocks the main door, an overly excited golden retriever comes running to greet them.
Oikawa lets it lick his hand and pets its head a few times before the dog moves on to the others. Ayumi asks to be let down and runs to hug the dog.
“Come on, let’s go to my room so we can change.”
They follow Oikawa upstairs, where three doors await. He leads them to the door on the right. Hinata notices a sign with Oikawa's first name on it, surrounded by color-pencil drawings taped around it. He guesses the art is most likely the work of his niblings.
Inside, the room is pretty spacious. Oikawa’s bed is next to the window on the opposite side of the door, and there are two different types of volleyballs on the floor at its feet. His desk, covered by school supplies, textbooks, and his computer, is also close to a window that faces the east side of the house. On the west side, a big wardrobe stands next to a door that must lead to an ensuite bathroom. Except for the desk, the room is pretty tidy.
Oikawa goes straight to the wardrobe and kneels, rummaging through the drawers until he finds two pairs of extra swimming trunks. He pulls out a plain blue pair and another bright pink one with little blue palm trees, slightly smaller than the first.
“This one was my brother’s,” he explains, handing the pink pair to Hinata. “It’s a bit tight on me, but it should fit you. You can change here or in the bathroom,” he adds, and points to the door next to the wardrobe.
“Thank you.” Hinata grabs the trunks and examines them. At plain sight, it appears that they’ll fit him nicely.
He moves to the opposite side of the room to change. Kageyama is already undressing nearby, and Hinata instinctively keeps a respectful distance. They've changed together countless times in the club room, so he can’t quite understand why it feels awkward now.
The realization that he has feelings for Kageyama makes him hyper-aware of every movement, and every glance, and he can’t shake the worry that Kageyama might somehow notice the shift in his behavior. So he keeps his gaze fixed on his own clothes, trying to push the awkwardness aside and act like everything is normal.
The difference in energy between the opposite sides of the room is palpable. Hinata can almost physically feel the tension in the air between Kageyama and him, while laughter and eager chatter exude an aura of comfort and tranquility from Iwaizumi and Oikawa’s side. Oikawa laughs at something Iwaizumi says, and Iwaizumi, with a relaxed smile, playfully nudges him in response. He leans against the dresser while Oikawa ties the string of his trunks, his eyes following the movement of his hands as they chat.
Hinata watches them from across the room, his envy bubbling beneath the surface. He sees how carefree Oikawa and Iwaizumi behave with one another, and it only highlights how out of place he feels next to Kageyama.
He hates it. Since they began playing together, he’s gotten used to being in perfect synchronicity with him most of the time, like pieces of a puzzle destined to fit together. He abhors that he doesn’t know how to act around him anymore. He’ll have to get used to his feelings and calm down, because if he doesn’t, Kageyama is going to notice sooner than later.
Once they’re done changing, they head back downstairs and step into the backyard. The pool is larger than Hinata had anticipated. The water is clear and it sparkles under the sunlight, inviting him in. There are two lounge chairs close by, where Oikawa leaves the pile of towels he grabbed for them, then walks barefoot towards the concrete steps.
“Well, don’t be shy, get in,” he calls back to the others.
Takeru takes Natsu’s hand and leads her to the shallower side of the pool. Water splashes around them, making Natsu giggle with delight.
Hinata follows their example and steps into the pool behind Oikawa. The water is divine. It’s cool enough to be invigorating, yet comfortably warm from the scorching hot sun shining directly above it. Each step deeper into the pool is met with a pleasing sense of relief. He takes a deep breath and submerges fully to wet his hair.
He only notices that both Iwaizumi and Kageyama have gotten inside the pool too when he emerges from underwater.
They spend the rest of the afternoon inside. Natsu demands they play tag, then makes her older brother play a shark to chase Takeru and her around the pool. Ayumi doesn’t join their games and mostly remains seated on the steps, then goes to hang out with the family dog in the shade.
After a while, Oikawa remembers that he got gifted an inflatable volleyball net, so he goes fetch it from the garage. Takeru and Natsu quickly escape the pool to continue playing on land as soon as the teenagers begin to play an intense match of two versus two.
There’s no clear winner, but by the time the game ends, the sun is setting and everyone is exhausted. After drying off as much as he can, Hinata excuses himself to use the bathroom. He chooses the one on the ground floor to avoid dripping water throughout the house from his still-damp swimming trunks.
When he comes back out, he spots Oikawa and Iwaizumi in the kitchen, retrieving drinks from the fridge. He approached them, intending to lend a hand, but the gesture fades when he sees Iwaizumi lean in and kiss Oikawa. It’s just a short peck, but it startles him nonetheless.
Hinata quickly clasps his hands over his mouth to stifle a gasp and retreats behind the corridor wall, hoping he won’t be noticed. His heart beats quickly on his chest as the realization that he was right about them hits him. He can’t help but feel envious of it.
He peeks out to check if they’ve left the kitchen and only steps out when he’s sure they’re gone.
“Do you want a drink, Chibi-chan?” Oikawa offers him a bottle of soda when he returns to the backyard.
“Ah, thank you, Oikawa-san,” Hinata replies, accepting the drink and hoping his discomfort isn’t visible on his face.
“I can’t believe it’s still so ridiculously hot at this hour,” Iwaizumi complains.
“Honestly,” Oikawa agrees. “I’d invite everyone to stay the night so we could keep using the pool, but tonight’s family movie night,” he adds.
Hinata feels as if Oikawa’s words are pointedly directed at him and Kageyama. Something tells him that if he were to stay around, he would find out that Iwaizumi is invited to the Oikawas’ movie night too.
“Oh, no, that’s perfectly fine, Oikawa-san,” Hinata quickly replies. “My mom is expecting Natsu and me for dinner anyway.”
Kageyama agrees. “I have to get home soon too.”
“In that case, you guys should hurry to catch the next bus. It should be arriving soon,” Oikawa suggests.
As Hinata and Kageyama prepare to leave, Hinata and Iwaizumi are briefly left alone in Oikawa’s room. This is Hinata’s chance to ask for advice. He knows Iwaizumi is the only person who might understand without making light of his situation.
His mouth feels dry, and his hands tremble slightly as he puts on his shirt. He knows he has to seize this moment or he’ll regret it.
“I-Iwaizumi-san,” he begins, his voice quivering.
“Mn?” Iwaizumi hums, not turning around.
“Can… Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, what is it?”
Hinata licks his lips, then says: “I know this might be a weird question, and you don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to, but…” he pauses for a moment to gain courage before finishing his sentence. “Oikawa and you are dating, aren’t you?”
Iwaizumi freezes, his hands stopping mid-motion as he turns to look at Hinata. Their eyes lock for a moment before Iwaizumi sighs and scratches his nape, an indication of mild discomfort.
“Are we that obvious?” he asks, his tone betraying a mix of amusement and resignation.
Hinata sighs in relief, glad that the older boy didn’t get defensive or angry.
“Not that much,” Hinata replies, “I saw you kiss in the kitchen,” he confesses.
“Ah,” Iwaizumi says. “I see. Well, yes, we are dating. Been dating for a few years now. Was that all?”
Hinata’s anxiety spikes. “No, um…Shit, I don’t know how to say this,” Hinata curses. He shifts nervously, trying to find the right words.
He must take too long because Iwaizumi speaks before he can continue. “Do you have a crush on Kageyama?” he asks.
Hinata’s heart skips a beat as he processes Iwaizumi’s question. His face burns with a deep blush, and he suddenly feels like all the air has been sucked out of the room. The awareness that Iwaizumi has pieced together his unspoken thoughts makes him feel exposed and vulnerable. His hands tremble slightly, and he looks down, unable to meet Iwaizumi’s gaze.
“Am I that obvious?” It's Hinata's turn to ask that question now.
Iwaizumi chuckles softly. “Not really. It’s the only reason I can think of that you mentioned my relationship with Oikawa, and why you’re struggling to find your words,” he explains. “You want my advice, right?”
Hinata nods, relieved yet still anxious. “You’re right,” he admits. “But, how did you manage to confess? Like, weren’t you nervous about fucking up your friendship? Putting the team at risk? How did you know you weren’t going to be rejected?” is the stream of questions that follow.
“Of course I was nervous. ‘Terrified’, I think is a more appropriate word for it,” he says. “We’ve known each other forever, quite literally—we met when Oikawa was just a few days old. So, obviously, I was scared shitless when I realized that what I felt for him was different to friendship,” he explains. “So I never confessed.”
Hinata’s eyes widen. “What do you mean? Did Oikawa-san confess first?”
Iwaizumi shakes his head with a sigh. “No, he didn’t confess either.”
“How…?”
“One day I was feeling particularly jealous about the amount of girls that surrounded him at all times. We were bickering as usual on the way home, and I don’t remember what happened, but it escalated into a full-blown argument, with shouting and everything. I was so angry with him, though I’m not even sure why. We kept at it even after we got to his room. By then, I just wanted him to shut the fuck up.” Iwaizumi laughs, reminiscing. “So I kissed him.”
A soft smile appears on his lips. “It was such a stupid move, and I remember regretting it immediately when I realized what I’d done. But then he kissed me back and…well, the rest is history.” He pauses before continuing. “Obviously, we talked about what the kiss meant and our feelings some time afterward, but my point is that we didn’t start our relationship with a confession.”
“I understand,” Hinata nods.
“But I don’t recommend it,” Iwaizumi hurries to add. “It worked for us, but it could’ve gone terribly wrong. He might have pushed me away, or hit me, or whatever, and our relationship would be forever ruined. He could have not been into me, and that would’ve been okay if I had just confessed my feelings. He could’ve rejected me, and maybe we could’ve remained friends, but if after I kissed him out of nowhere, he didn’t respond, I doubt I would’ve been able to look him in the eye ever again.”
Hinata processes his words, slowly starting to understand what he means.
“I have no idea how Kageyama-kun would react if you confessed to him. He’s never expressed interest in anyone, that I remember, while we were in middle school together, so I have no idea if he’s attracted to men or women,” Iwaizumi continues. “But you don’t have to confess, either. Or at least, not so soon. You only recently realized your feelings, right?”
Hinata nods.
“I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I’d advise you to be patient,” he says. “Take your time to process how you feel, to get comfortable with your feelings first. Did you even know you liked men before Kageyama?”
“No,” Hinata admits.
“So take your time. Even before I kissed Oikawa—which, again, I wouldn’t recommend doing—I spent more than a year knowing that what I felt for him wasn’t friendship. You and Kageyama have known each other for a short time, and you’ll get to know him better as time passes, both as a player and as a person. That’ll also help with deciding whether you should confess or not, or when to do it. Listen to your heart.”
Listen to your heart.
Those words echo in Hinata's ears and stay with him as he rides the bus back home with Kageyama and Natsu. They’re seated on the back of the bus, which is pretty empty at this hour. Natsu has fallen asleep against his shoulder, and Hinata dares not move, afraid to wake her. Kageyama gazes quietly out the window, watching as the sun sets and the lights of passing houses flicker on one by one.
They get off at the familiar bus stop near the ice cream shop. Their homes aren’t far from each other, but once they reach the shop, they’ll have to part ways. Natsu skips a few steps ahead of them, humming a tune.
The evening is peaceful, and though it’s still warm, it’s no longer suffocating like it was earlier. The cicadas buzz loudly, their high-pitched hum threading through the stillness. The silence between the teens isn’t tense, but it drives Hinata crazy. He wants to tell Kageyama everything, to spill the mess of thoughts swirling in his mind for him to see. But he knows he has to be patient. Listen to his heart , like Iwaizumi said.
Hinata licks his lips. His mouth opens and closes a few times before he finally finds his voice. “Did you know that Iwaizumi-san and Oikawa-san are dating?” he asks.
“Yes,” Kageyama replies, sounding unbothered. “They’ve been together since their last year of middle school, I think.”
Hinata hums. His throat feels dry, but if he doesn’t continue the conversation, he’ll lose the nerve to bring it up again.
“Have you ever dated someone?”
“Not yet.” A pause, then, “you?”
“No, me neither.”
“I wonder what it's like to date someone on the same team,” Hinata says. “Wouldn’t it be a bit awkward? Or maybe it could cause problems with the rest of the team…or, or, what if they break up and affect the team!?” he rambles.
“I don’t think Oikawa-san and Iwaizumi-san have ever had a big fight,” Kageyama says. “They bicker a lot, but it’s never serious,” he adds. “And none of my old teammates seemed to think it was awkward. I don’t know how the rest of the Seijoh team feels about them now, though.”
Hinata lets a second pass before asking, “Have you ever had a crush on someone?”
Kageyama looks at him with furrowed brows. “What’s with all the questions?” he asks. He’s starting to lose his patience.
“I’m just curious, that’s all!” Hinata explains, maybe a bit too fast.
For a moment, he thinks he screwed it up and Kageyama won’t reply.
“I’ve never really thought about it,” he answers, and Hinata looks at him in surprise. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh.”
Hinata doesn’t know whether he should feel relieved or sad about it. On one hand, Kageyaam doesn’t have feelings for him, but on the other, he doesn’t have feelings for anyone else either.
“You?” he asks Hinata.
“Oh, um.” Hinata clears his throat and looks down. “Yeah, I’ve had a crush on a boy before,” he lies. There’s less of a chance he’ll ask who the boy is if he refers to it in the past tense, he thinks.
Kageyama gives a brief nod of acknowledgment but stays silent.
The air between them grows tense, and Hinata feels a wave of relief when the ice cream shop appears ahead.
“Well, um, I guess this is where we say goodbye,” Hinata says. He can’t look Kageyama in the eye. “See you tomorrow at practice?”
“Of course,” Kageyama replies.
“Good night, Kageyama-kun!” Natsu waves at him with a big smile on her face.
“Good night,” he says, offering a small nod.
“Bye-bye.” Hinata waves as well.
As he walks with Natsu, Hinata glances back at Kageyama’s retreating figure. A small smile tugs at his lips. He knows he has to give it time, to be patient. Iwaizumi-san is right—it's not worth risking their friendship so soon, especially when they’re just starting to find their rhythm on and off the court. Kageyama might never return his feelings, and Hinata knows he’ll have to accept that.
But one day, he’ll confess. He just needs to wait for the right moment, like Iwaizumi said.
The right moment comes months later, when he least expects it, as he feels as if the world is crumbling down around him.
His heart beats madly in his chest as he hears that his temperature measured 39.1°C. He protests that he can still move around, keep going, but Takeda-sensei insists that he needs to take care of his health. He knows his professor is right, but that doesn’t stop the tears from falling down his cheeks in a never-ending stream. He apologizes to his teammates, cursing at himself for falling ill with such awful timing.
But it’s Kageyama’s words, amidst the flood of comforting words from his friends, that stick with him. Because of course it’s Kageyama’s words.
As he is about to leave, Kageyama reminds him of when they first met and Hinata stated that he would be the one to stay on the court longer. Now, Kageyama claims that he is the one on the court longer and asserts it as a win.
It should make him angry, maybe, that he picked this time to say that. But it doesn’t. He understands what Kageyama meant. It reminds him of their bond, and how badly he wants to stay in the court with him. He doesn’t care which side of the net they stand on, same or opposite sides, he wants to remain in the court with him until the end of time.
It’s not just about the game. It’s about their connection, and how much Hinata wants to be with him. Always. Forever.
With his heart fluttering and fresh tears mingling with a genuine, faint smile, Hinata leaves, holding onto the warmth of Kageyama’s words.
After the match ends and the hospital staff confirm that the fever is not due to a more serious illness but a result of stress and overexertion, Hinata is sent back to the inn to rest. His body is exhausted, but his mind is restless.
He can’t stop replaying the match in his head, wondering how things might have been different if he hadn’t fallen ill, but he knows there’s nothing he can do about it now. Takeda, Ukai, Daichi, and Sugawara make sure to tell him is not his fault. Hinata appreciates their words.
Still, there’s another thing that refuses to leave his mind.
A soft knock on the door jolts Hinata from his daydreaming.
“Yes?” he calls out, thinking maybe Ukai forgot to tell him something when he came to bring him his food.
“Can I come in?” Kageyama asks from the other side.
Just who he was thinking about. His heart skips a beat.
“Y-yes, come in.” He tries (and fails) to keep his voice steady.
The door opens, and Kageyama steps inside. Hinata offers a weak smile from his spot on the bed, acutely aware of how disheveled he must look. Kageyama’s worried expression deepens as he approaches and sits down on the floor beside him.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, not meeting Hinata’s eyes as he takes a seat. His voice carries genuine concern.
“Very cold, mostly,” Hinata replies, “and my whole body hurts, but I’ll be okay.”
Hinata notices a faint pink hue spreading across Kageyama’s cheeks. He sees him struggling to find the right words and waits patiently to hear what he has to say.
“I…” Kageyama starts, then swallows and takes a deep breath. “I wanted you to stay on the court with me until the end of the match.”
Hinata hugs his knees closer to his chest. “Me too,” he says softly.
Kageyama nods, his blush lingering. It might be a small gesture, but to Hinata, it brings a flicker of hope.
He might be going crazy because of the fever, but Hinata swears that he can hear his pulse loud and clear, echoing in his ears. His heart is speaking, telling him this might be the moment he’s been waiting for.
He listens to it.
“Kageyama-kun,” he says before he can chicken out.
“Yes?” Kageyama responds, granting him his full attention.
“I’ve…there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time,” he begins. He can’t look at Kageyama, so he stares at the bed sheets instead. “I don’t just want to stand on the court with you forever—on the same or different teams, it doesn’t matter—, I…” He sighs and thinks of the best way to explain how he feels. “I just want to be with you. Not just as teammates or rivals, I…god, this is hard.”
He puts his head in his hands and rubs his forehead, then takes a second to breathe and calm the turmoil of emotions. He looks into the other’s eyes, which are fixed on him.
“I like you, Kageyama,” he confesses. “I like you a lot.”
Kageyama’s eyes widen and his mouth parts. He blinks a few times as if trying to process the weight of Hinata’s words. His body tenses, and he shifts slightly on the floor, his usual composure faltering. He stares at Hinata for a moment, looking for any signs this might be a bad joke, or maybe an effect of the fever making him delirious. The silence stretches between them, charged with the tension of unspoken thoughts. His cheeks flush a deeper shade of pink, and he clenches his hands into fists on his lap. His usual stern expression softens, replaced by a look of uncertainty mingled with something else.
Hinata, feeling a surge of nervousness, hurries to ease the tension. “You don’t have to say anything!” he says, his voice trembling slightly. “It’s okay, I just needed to tell you how I feel.” He lowers his gaze, adding softly, “Nothing has to change.”
Kageyama’s expression softens at that, and a mess of incoherent noises escapes his mouth. He stumbles over his words for so long that Hinata can’t help but chuckle, only making Kageyama’s embarrassment worse. The blush on Kageyama’s cheeks deepens, spreading to his neck and ears.
“Don’t laugh at me!” Kageyama exclaims, grabbing the collar of Hinata’s shirt in a flustered attempt to regain control.
“Sorry, sorry,” Hinata replies, still giggling as he puts up his hands in a placating gesture.
Kageyama’s blush doesn’t fade, and he avoids looking directly at Hinata. He crosses his arms over his chest, trying to compose himself. After a moment, he manages to form a coherent sentence, his voice gruff but sincere.
“I like you too, idiot.”
Hinata’s laughter fades as he meets the genuine emotion in Kageyama’s eyes. It feels as though all the air has left his lungs. He gasps, a sense of dizziness overtaking him, and his throat goes dry, making it hard to breathe.
Just to be sure, he raises a shaky hand to pinch his arm. Ouch. He’s definitely not dreaming.
He turns his eyes towards Kageyama, whose lips twitch into a slight smile, clearly amused by his reaction. A strange mix of excitement and apprehension bubbles up inside Hinata.
“You do?” he asks.
“Yes, idiot,” Kageyama replies.
“Stop calling me an idiot,” Hinata responds, his voice filled with a mix of exasperation and warmth.
He pulls him closer by the neck and kisses him. It startles Kageyama at first, but he quickly melts into it, wrapping his arms around Hinata and pulling him even closer. The sweetness of the kiss and Kageyama’s warmth make Hinata feel overwhelmed with emotion, and he finds himself on the verge of tears.
Happy tears this time.
Kageyama pulls away first, resting his forehead against Hinata’s. Their faces are so close that his warm breath brushes against Hinata’s cheek. They wear matching smiles on their faces.
“Don’t cry, idiot,” Kageyama says, but his tone is gentle. He wipes Hinata’s cheeks with a soft touch.
“I told you to stop calling me that,” Hinata pouts.
“The last time I called you an idiot, you kissed me, so…” Kageyama trails off, a playful glint in his eyes.
Hinata chuckles, rolling his eyes, but he leans in for another soft, chaste kiss. “Idiot.”
“Who’s calling who an idiot now, huh?” Kageyama raises an eyebrow, amusement evident in his voice.
They spend the rest of the afternoon together in the room. Hinata doesn’t remember much of what happens afterward, but he’s aware of Kageyama’s comforting presence at the side of his bed.
At some point, they fall asleep. The last conscious thought he has is that he should text Iwaizumi-san to let him know how the confession went, and that he listened to him and only kissed Kageyama after they confessed.
Hinata wakes up the next morning to the sound of Daichi’s voice echoing through the room, filled with irritation as he scolds Kageyama.
“How am I going to explain to Coach Ukai and Takeda-sensei that you also got a fever now, you idiot!”