Chapter Text
Rio 2016
At 19, Kageyama was used to being on his own. It has always been that way: A quiet room, an empty house, a lonely home. After his first Olympic match, he finally returned to the room he shared with Ushijima, craving silence.The noise of the crowd and the reporters with their nosy questions had completely drained him. He threw himself to the bed and sprawled his body all over it. As he did that he noticed the bed was a little small for him. He definitely had a growth spurt this summer. He sighed. “Solitude–finally” He said to himself. Tobio had always craved for solitude— until today. He started wondering why he felt so lonely. He knew the answer to that question but refused to admit it to himself. Deep down he knew that he was waiting for a certain ginger to reply to his texts. Kageyama enjoyed his solitude but sometimes, he longed for company.
He used to think solitude and loneliness were the same thing until Tsukkishima explained the difference to him for his English class. Solitude allows self-reflection, it's a healthy habit, while loneliness is a state of sadness because of the lack of company. Kageyama dreaded company unless it was Kazuyo’s. He never understood people's drive for big crowds, the necessity of talking nonsense and gathering with no purpose.
He once asked his grandpa about that. It was the Winter break when he turned 11. He had received several invitations to go out and play games with some of his classmates but he had declined all of them with the excuse of having to perfect his setting skills. All the kids looked at him like a freak and stopped inviting him to gatherings. He had asked his grandpa if he had done something wrong to which Kazuyo replied with “It’s okay to enjoy solitude, Tobio. but don´t forget to open up sometimes, only then you'll meet wonderful people to surround yourself with for the rest of your life.”
At that time, Tobio didn't understand what his Grandfather meant. He was the only person he ever wanted to be with. As a child he believed that the people you love stay by your side forever – until they don´t. Until they fade away like fog, leaving only cold emptiness behind.
It had been 5 years since Kazuyo died and it still hurt like the day he passed. The funny thing about grief is that, no matter how hard you try to forget it, it clings to you like a stubborn scar. Tobio´s grief was like a watercolor painting— Strokes of black and gray splattered across a canvas, no vibrant colors, only grief diluted in a sea of solitude.
Of course no one knew about this. People don't like to talk about grief. They just forget about it. Kageyama feared that overcoming his grief meant forgetting Kazuyo and he couldn´t let that happen because Kazuyo was his everything. A parent, a cheerleader, a mentor and just like that, he was taken away from him; Turning into a ghost in the back of his mind. Suddenly he didn't have anyone to talk to after a game, no one to push him towards his best, nobody to hug him tight when everyone turned their backs on him. No one who was proud of him. Just a memory. Can memories even be proud?
Tobio had felt like a lonely ghost— until that orange ball of sunshine burst into his life shouting “I'm here”. When Kageyama first met Hinata he thought he was just a loud and naive kid but as he got to know him he got charmed by the short ginger. Kageyama was immersed in his memories about Hinata when his phone vibrated. He immediately stood up and grabbed his phone from the nightstand hoping it was the awaited reply he was expecting. He took a deep breath and turned on his phone. He had several notifications from the JNT chat group and at the bottom of all those notifications there was the text he wanted to read so much. His lips curled into a smile, but a knot tightened in his stomach.
19:12
Dumbass🏐
Congratulations on your win
Don't think I will let you win that easily Yama Yama
19:09pm
You better hurry up then.
I'm getting way ahead of you already
19:14pm
Keep dreaming
I'm going to defeat you😝
19:14
Kageyama chuckled at Hinata's silliness. It's been a while since he smiled. Hinata always made sure to make him smile. Boy did he miss him. Of course I miss him . He thought. He´s my best friend… but it´s that all?
Dumbass🏐
Do you think we could meet?
19:15
Sorry, my schedule is completely packed.
19:18
Gotta go to work
19:18
TTYL!
19:19
Ok
19:20
He threw his phone to the bed and slipped down to the floor. He hugged his legs and curled himself in a ball. The butterflies that fluttered at Hinata's message quickly morphed into sharp needles, each one stabbing deeper into his heart. It wasn't the first time he had felt that sensation. The first time was when he found out Shoyou was moving to Brazil, the second when he said goodbye to him at the airport and now, he had lost count already. He felt anxious, excited, happy and sad. All at once. If a word could describe his current emotional state it would be hopelessness. He had figured out a while ago what was happening to him. The longing, the current thoughts and dreams about Hinata. It could only mean something. It was so obvious. He was in love with his best friend and he might never be able to tell him. Some tears started rolling down his face. He quickly cleaned them with his hands and kept his gaze fixed on the floor. He was exhausted—exhausted from feeling this way. It had hurt in high school, but now it was unbearable, the pain magnified by the cruel clarity of knowing just how deeply he loved Hinata, and how impossible it felt to ever confess. He had tried though. On their graduation day, the morning he moved to Tokio to play with the Schweiden Adlers. He had an entire year to confess before Hinata left for Brazil but everytime he was about to tell Hinata about his real feelings he just couldn´t, he suddenly forgot how to speak or act around him and ended up talking about volleyball. Suddenly he had 6 months to confess, then 2 months, then 1 week until there was no time left just distance. Hinata promised to come back stronger and in return Kageyama said he would wait for him— Of course he was going to wait for him, in less than 3 years he had become his everything, his someone better . Just like Kazuyo had promised him so many years ago. It was the right thing to do. Deep down, Kageyama was glad he hadn´t confessed before Hinata left. Even if his decision hurt like hell, he preferred to live that way rather than keeping Shoyou from achieving his dreams.
Love was supposed to be a good thing. Or at least that's what Kazuyo used to say. Maybe Kazuyo was wrong. Love is really painful. Loving Hinata was easy—he was bright and cheerful, capable of lighting up a whole room with his presence. But why would Hinata ever reciprocate those feelings? He was selfish, obsessive, impatient and just a volleyball idiot. Even if there was a small chance Hinata felt the same—No. There was no way he felt the same. That dumbass, why did I have to fall for him.
The sound of steps got Kageyama out of his thoughts. “Hey, why are you sulking on the floor? Aren't you coming? We're having dinner.” Ushijima said as he entered the room. Kageyama scowled at him and quickly rubbed his eyes to clean the remaining tears in his face.
“Are you okay?” He asked as he grabbed his phone charger from the nightstand.
“Why wouldn't I be?”
“Distance is a bitch isn't it?”
“What?” Kageyama always had a hard time trying to understand Ushijima. The man barely talked and whenever he did he couldn't quite get what he meant.
“You miss Hinata, don’t you? Your partner.”
“Not my partner. Kageyama corrected him. “ At least not anymore.”
“I thought you were going to see him. I heard from Coach Washijo that he moved to Rio to train in beach volleyball. Why aren´t you out of here already? If this were me, and I was able to see Tendou only for 5 minutes I'd be long gone already.” It was no longer after Tobio was invited to play for the JNT that he found out Ushijima had been dating Satori, the guess monster for the past 3 months. He thought they were just friends but apparently there were hidden feelings between those two as well.
“I'm not sure he wants to see me” Kageyama confessed
“As if. I remember when you two followed me all the way to Shiratorizawa. You were attached to the hip. Have you texted him?”
Kageyama nodded. “He said he was busy and would text me later.” Ushijima scratched his eyebrow. “Well he must be really busy then. I'm sure he really wants to see you, don´t overthink it.” Kageyama wondered when Ushijima stopped being so dense and straightforward. Lately he was able to have actual conversations with him. It was probably Satori´s influence on him.
“Anyway, aren't you coming to dinner?” Ushijima asked once again. “Yeah, let me wash up and I´ll meet you outside.” Ushijima nodded and left the room.
Kageyama went to grab his phone as he noticed he had left it on the bed. As he turned it on again, it immediately took him to his chat with Hinata. He noticed there was a message he didn´t remember sending. I miss you. He read. Oh no. He had written that just before Ushijima entered the room and had sent it by accident. He felt his heart racing at the possibility of Hinata reading that message. His heart skipped a beat. Panic surged through him as he frantically searched for a way to delete the text, fingers trembling. He was glad to see the delete for everyone option. He sighed in relief and started looking for the clothes he was going to wear for dinner.
I miss you
Sent
You have deleted this message
“You're so quiet today, Kageyama. Is everything okay?” One of his teammates asked. They were all gathered on a table chatting eagerly about the day's match. Kageyama nodded, taking a sip of his glass of water. “Just tired from the game.” He replied, his voice flat.
“Ah, I see.” His teammate's concern lingered for a moment before the conversation shifted back to the others.
“I think I´m going to call it a day soon.” He didn´t mean to be rude but he wasn´t in the mood to chat. He never really was.He preferred his solitude, and right now, that solitude felt more comforting than the noisy celebration around him. The only person he could share it with was too busy, it seemed. Kageyama´s mind was buzzing with overwhelming thoughts. On one hand he couldn´t help but feel proud about his achievement. Playing in the Olympics had been his dream for as long as he could remember. But the happiness he’d expected was strangely absent. He came to realize that triumphs taste bitter when you have no one to share them with. He did appreciate all the congratulatory messages he had received throughout the day but it wasn´t the same as having someone to jump into their arms telling them how excited you are about your achievement. Someone who knew about his struggles and celebrated his victories. He had no one like that.
Miwa, his sister was the first one to congratulate him for his win telling him how proud she was of him. His former teammates from the Karasuno had texted him to congratulate him as well as Coach Ukai and Takeda sensei. Yamaguchi's message had been especially long, filled with emojis, gushing about how great Kageyama played. He even mentioned how he had to sit at the back of his college class to watch the match, trying not to scream whenever Japan scored a point. His parents had texted him later that afternoon. A simple “Congratulations, son.” Kageyama was used to this dynamic with his parents. treating him like an adult since he was young. They spoke on the phone once a month and texted on birthdays, holidays, and special occasions like today. Despite the simplicity, he appreciated that they took the time to acknowledge his achievement. Tsukishima was the last one to text him. A simple “You did well.” Kageyama had replied with a thank you, not expecting Tsukki to reply—until he did with a “Have you got a chance to meet him?” Kageyama's heart skipped a beat when he read it. Tsukishima had been the first to figure it out—that Kageyama was in love with Hinata.
It had all started during their second year of high school, just before the Interhigh tournament. Tsukishima had noticed Kageyama wasn’t playing like his usual self. That week, Kageyama couldn’t seem to get his sets at the right height or speed, which frustrated the spikers, especially the first years who were still getting used to playing with the team. This time, there wasn’t a backup like Sugawara waiting on the sidelines, just a distracted and grumpy Kageyama.
Initially, Tsukishima thought it was just the "King of the Court" getting used to setting for players who weren’t Hinata, Tanaka, or Asahi. But then, Kageyama started messing up even for Hinata. By Thursday, he was also failing his usually impeccable serves.
After Friday’s practice, Tsukishima decided—more like Yamaguchi told him—to talk to Kageyama. As practice ended, he noticed Hinata approaching Kageyama with a volleyball in hand. Before the ginger spiker could reach him, Tsukishima grabbed Kageyama by the collar and dragged him out of the gym, ignoring the setter’s complaints.
“Oi, Tsukki, what are you doing?” Hinata called after them, clearly annoyed.
“I need Kageyama’s advice on my blocks,” Tsukishima lied.
“You never ask for help with your blocks! I was here first, Tsukki!” Hinata protested, pouting slightly.
Ennoshita, noticing the commotion, decided to intervene. “Hinata, just for today, let Tsukki practice with Kageyama. How about practicing your receives instead? Nishinoya, could you help Hinata with that?”
“You got it,” Nishinoya said with a wink, grabbing a volleyball. “Are you teaching me the Rolling Thunder?” Hinata’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Of course I am. Now that you’re more skilled, I’m sure you can pull it off.”
With Hinata suitably distracted, Tsukishima didn’t waste any time dragging Kageyama out of the gym. “Why did you have to drag me out like that?” Kageyama grumbled. “I was supposed to set for Hinata”
“Just follow me,” Tsukishima ordered, leading him in silence to Sakanoshita Market.
When they arrived, Tsukishima instructed, “Stay here and don’t move,” before disappearing into the convenience store. Kageyama, too tired to argue, sat on the sidewalk, staring up at the darkening sky.
Five minutes later, Tsukishima emerged with two meat buns, a milk box, and a bottle of water. He handed one meat bun and the milk box to Kageyama. “Eat—and once you’re done, you’re going to tell me what the heck is going on with you.”
Kageyama scowled at him, unsure of what to say. He didn’t even know what was wrong. All he knew was that, for the first time, volleyball wasn’t the only thing on his mind. The thought of a certain short, orange-haired spiker was always there, distracting him.
Kageyama started eating the meat bun, finding a strange comfort in sharing a meal with a friend. Though he’d never admit it, aside from Hinata, Tsukishima was the closest thing he had to a friend. Despite almost killing each other when they first met, by their second year, they’d managed to settle their differences.
“I don’t seem to be able to concentrate like I used to,” Kageyama finally admitted, taking a sip from the milk box.
“Any idea why?” Tsukishima asked, his tone unusually gentle.
Kageyama sighed, shaking his head. He wished he knew.
“Does it, by any chance, have to do with Hinata?” Tsukishima’s question was met with wide eyes from Kageyama. Lately, just the sight or thought of Hinata made his heart race and his mind clouded.
“So, this is about Hinata,” Tsukishima smirked. “You have a crush on him, don’t you?”
“A crush?” Kageyama asked, confused. “What’s that?”
Tsukishima blinked in surprise. “You really don’t know what a crush is?”
Kageyama shook his head, taking another bite of his meat bun.
“A crush is when you like someone so much that you think about being by their side all the time. You want to share everything with them—your time, your dreams, your achievements, even your sorrows— wait, you probably don't know what sorrow means. Tsukishima paused, adjusting his glasses.
Kageyama stayed quiet, digesting both the food and the information. “So a crush is basically what Yamaguchi is to you,” he reflected.
Tsukishima nearly choked on his food, his cheeks heating up. “What are you talking about, you idiot?!”
Kageyama frowned. “I guess I got the concept wrong then. You and Yamaguchi seem close and tell each other everything. My apologies.”
Tsukishima gulped, realizing Kageyama wasn’t as dense as he thought. “Well, you’re not totally wrong,” he admitted, sighing as he looked up at the sky. He’d had a crush on Yamaguchi for a while now.
“I hate you. We were supposed to talk about you, and now we’re talking about my crush on Yamaguchi,” Tsukishima muttered, embarrassed.
“What’s the next step after realizing you have a crush?” Kageyama asked.
“You confess.”
“Are you going to confess, then?”
Tsukishima almost choked for the second time that night. “I don’t know.”
“Why not?” Kageyama pressed.
“Because it has to be special. You can’t just tell someone, ‘Hey, I have a crush on you,’ and leave. You have to ask them out, go on dates, and then maybe you become partners.”
“I thought Hinata was my partner already,” Kageyama said, confused.
“A romantic partner, you idiot,” Tsukishima replied, lightly smacking him on the head.
“How did you figure out I have a crush on Hinata when I didn’t even realize it myself?” Kageyama asked, rubbing the spot where Tsukishima hit him.
“You started spending most of our practices staring at him. Something in your expression softened. I don’t know. Yamaguchi noticed first, and I just came to confront you.”
Kageyama was remembering that particular conversation as he lay awake in bed unable to sleep. His mind raced, thoughts swirling endlessly while his body stubbornly refused to produce the necessary melatonin to help him drift off. He wished understanding his feelings was as easy as playing volleyball. Sometimes he wished he was practical like Tsukishima who only took him a week after admitting his crush on Yamaguchi out loud, to ask him out. For Kageyama it had been 3 years and he still couldn't confess properly.
He turned to his side and noticed that the nightstand clock read 3:25. He could hear Ushijima's loud snores. He grabbed his phone and saw he had one notification. A message from Hinata from an hour ago. Why is that dumbass still awake?!
Dumbass 🏐 1h
Hey Kageyama. I'm really sorry for not seeing you today. I took another shift and…
Reply Mark as read. Mute
Kageyama got curious at Hinata's message and couldn't help but read the redhead's text despite it being 3 in the morning. He opened his messages and clicked on Hinata's chat.
3:28
Dumbass 🏐
Hey Kageyama. I'm really sorry for not seeing you today. I took another shift and I finished pretty late. Money 's been tight. I figured I could work extra shifts on the weekends to fix my financial problems. Did I mention I lost my wallet? Someone must have stolen it. Anyway, I must be doing my calculations wrong. You know I was never good at math😂
I probably should ask Tsukki for help.
Anyway, the reason for this long text is to tell you I'm really bummed I couldn't see you. I even counted the days before you came to Río. So I hope you didn't overthink this and thought I forgot about you. How could I? You're my partner and my favorite person.
2:06am
Btw, I miss you too
You didn't delete that message that fast😜
2:07am
Kageyama’s cheeks heated as he read Hinata's reply, his heart skipping a beat. He placed his phone against his chest, trying to steady the rush of emotions. Stupid Tobio. Why did I send that message? What if he figures out how I feel? He can't know. Not ever. Tobio took a deep breath and replied to Hinata's message.
Dumbass 🏐
Just come back soon
3:30am
What are you doing awake sillyama?!
3:32am
Can’t sleep
3:33am
Ushijima snores really loudly
3:34am
😂
3:34am
Sounds like a terrible roommate for a light sleeper like you
3:35am
Yup
3:35am
Aren't you going to bed?
3:36am
I was about to
3:37am
I was watching your game.
3:37am
The recording at least
3:37am
You recorded it?
3:38am
Of course
3:38am
Gotta study my competition
3:39am
And?
3:40am
You did great 👍
3:41am
Thanks :)
3:41am
Did you just use a smiley face?!😆
3:42am
Look at you, you're finally learning how to use your phone 3:42am
Shut up dumbass.
3:43am
Go to sleep
3:43am
Speak for yourself
3:44am
You're the Olympian
3:44am
Night!!! 🌙🌙🌙
3:45am
Night
3:46am
Don't lose your wallet again
3:47am
I won't 😁
3:48am
Was it wrong to want to hug Hinata at that moment? Not knowing what else to do, Kageyama grabbed one of the pillows next to him and held him against his chest pretending it was the ginger whose touch he craved so much.
…
The next morning, on the other side of the city, Hinata lay in bed, trying to ignore the throbbing in his head and the sting in his eyes from sleep deprivation. He had managed only about six hours of sleep. After finishing his text to Kageyama, he couldn’t seem to shut his mind off, embarrassed by the long paragraph he’d written to excuse himself for not meeting up. Thoughts of Kageyama always got between him and sleep.
But today, he was glad to have a day off. It had been a while since he’d had a free weekend, and he relished the idea of not having to wake up early. Between work and training, he was grateful to be in Rio, learning as much as he could. His coach had praised his improvement that week—he no longer felt wobbly playing on the sand, and thanks to Pedro, his Portuguese was getting better too. However, sometimes he feared he had confused bravery with foolishness. Had his decision to move to a completely different continent been reckless?
Loneliness was another challenge. The life of a foreigner was never easy. The unfamiliar pace of life, the language barrier—it all made things harder. Although he was starting to put sentences together in Portuguese, the grammar and structure still confused him, and his Japanese accent didn’t help. Pedro had suggested he speak English until his Portuguese improved, but Hinata had to sheepishly admit that his English wasn’t great either.
One day, during a call with Yamaguchi, Tsukishima overheard the story of how Hinata had embarrassed himself in two languages. It was so mortifying that Tsukki ended up offering to tutor him in English every Sunday over FaceTime. “I’m going to make sure your English is perfect,” Tsukki had declared, and since that day, he’d kept his promise—though not without some teasing at Hinata’s expense.
Hinata truly appreciated Tsukki’s help, even if he suspected it was more Yamaguchi’s influence than Tsukki’s own will that motivated the tutoring sessions. As always, Yamaguchi had his back.
Despite the challenges, there were positive aspects of living in Brazil. The people were warm and welcoming, especially the Latinos who embodied the sun’s energy, always making sure to include Hinata in everything, despite the language barrier. He also appreciated the kind woman who owned the place he was staying at. She always made sure he and Pedro were well-fed, leaving fruit in the kitchen or preparing delicious meals for them.
“Don’t forget to eat, boys,” she would say in broken English. She was a genuinely kind woman. When Hinata asked her to teach him how to cook, she was delighted and dedicated herself to teaching him the best of Brazilian cuisine. Thanks to her lessons, Hinata could finally cook curry for himself whenever he felt homesick.
Hinata glanced at his phone and realized it was already 9:00 AM. He quickly got out of bed, remembering that he had agreed to play video games with Kenma. He was probably already waiting. As he walked towards his desk, his toe collided with the edge of the bed. “Shit,” he muttered. He turned on his computer and called Kenma. The dialing sound was soon replaced by a dark screen and an active microphone. “Kenma?” Hinata greeted, but there was no immediate response.
Instead, he heard a deep, familiar voice. “Why are you staring at me, kitty?” It was Kuroo.
“I’m not,” Kenma replied shyly.
“You’re staring, Kenma,” Kuroo teased. “Your eyes are pretty.”
“Are they? Do you want to see them up close? Maybe a kiss?” Kuroo’s tone was tender, and Hinata could practically feel the warmth between them.
Hinata knew how deeply Kenma was in love with Kuroo, but sometimes the couple could be a bit much—just like Akaashi and Bokuto. He cleared his throat loudly. “I’m still here, by the way.”
The call disconnected immediately. Two minutes later, Kenma called again, this time with his camera on. “Sorry, Shoyou. I didn’t realize you were there,” Kenma apologized, though Kuroo’s hyena-like laughter could still be heard in the background.
“Stop laughing, Kuroo,” Kenma grumbled.
“It’s just that—your face was so hilarious. You were so embarrassed, kitty,” Kuroo cackled.
“For the record, what did you hear?” Kenma asked, his gaze shifting away.
Hinata didn’t waste the opportunity to tease them. Doing his best to mimic Kuroo’s voice, he said, “Oh, Kenma, tell me how pretty my eyes are.”
“Yes, Kuroo, your eyes are pretty. I love you,” he added with exaggerated sweetness.
Kenma’s cheeks flushed pink, and Kuroo’s laughter escalated into wheezing and almost choking. “Just go away, Tetsu. I told you I was going to play with Hinata,” Kenma insisted.
“Fine, I’ll leave. But tell me how pretty my eyes are first,” Kuroo demanded with a grin. His messy hair appeared on screen as he leaned in to kiss Kenma’s temple. Kenma rubbed the spot in mock annoyance.
“I’m ordering ice cream. Do you want some, kitty?” Kuroo asked.
“Yeah,” Kenma replied.
“Strawberry?”
“Yes. Make sure it has enough sprinkles,” Kenma specified.
“What did we say about cutting down on sugar?” Kuroo teased, eyeing him.
“You started it! Now get me my ice cream and go away,” Kenma shot back, feigning irritation.
Hinata laughed at his friends’ dynamic. He longed for a relationship like theirs. It seemed like all his friends had found love except for him. He was just the crazy one who moved to another continent to chase his passion. Watching Kuroo and Kenma’s easy affection made him wish he could have that kind of domesticity with Kageyama.
Every time he went grocery shopping and walked through the dairy aisle, he couldn’t help but think of Kageyama. Did he still like those vending machine milk boxes? Hinata wanted to cook for him. Originally, he’d learned to make curry to remind himself of home, but deep down, he knew he’d perfected every variation because it was Kageyama’s favorite food. He wanted to hold his hand and kiss him. Lately, he’d even dreamed of it—who was he kidding? Kageyama probably didn’t see him that way, and he was only deluding himself.
Lost in thought, Hinata barely noticed the game he was playing with Kenma. As usual, the pro gamer easily defeated him, but Hinata didn’t mind. His thoughts were still tangled in his recent conversation with Kageyama.
“Kenma—” Hinata began hesitantly.
Kenma paused, his attention shifting from the screen to Hinata. “What is it, Shou?”
“What’s it like to date your best friend?” Hinata asked, his voice quieter.
“Is this about Kageyama?” Kenma asked, adjusting his headphones.
Hinata’s cheeks flushed as he gulped. “How did you know?”
Kenma paused the game, focusing fully on Hinata. “It’s pretty obvious. You’ve been in love with him since high school. You almost didn’t go to Brazil because you wanted to stay close to him.”
“I know,” Hinata sighed, recalling the mini-meltdown he’d had at Kenma’s place two weeks before leaving for Brazil.
The door to Kenma’s office creaked open, and Kuroo walked in, holding a cup of strawberry ice cream. “The ice cream’s here, kitty,” he announced, setting the cup on the desk before kissing Kenma’s cheek.
“Why the long face, Chibi-chan?” Kuroo asked, noticing Hinata’s nostalgic expression.
“It’s because of Kageyama,” Kenma explained, taking a spoonful of ice cream.
“Still pining for him, Chibi-chan? Tsukki mentioned you were planning to confess when he came to Rio for the Olympics. Have you seen him yet?”
“I’m not sure if I should confess during the Olympics. I might distract him, and I don’t want that,” Hinata said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I think you should go for it, nonetheless,” Kuroo suggested. “Text him.”
“Don’t give him ideas, Tetsu,” Kenma said flatly. “And stop eating my ice cream. Where’s yours?”
“I’m saving it for my K-drama.” Kuroo grinned. “It’s already 10 PM—you’re going to miss it,” Kenma reminded him, gently pushing his boyfriend’s chest.
“Oh my god, that’s right! Good to see you, Chibi-chan.” Kuroo smooched Kenma’s face with kisses and left the office, closing the door behind him.
“Since when does Kuroo watch K-dramas?” Hinata asked.
Kenma shrugged. “I think since he started college. Without volleyball practice in the afternoon, he has a lot of free time—it’s annoying. His clingy self is always here.” He rolled his eyes and took another spoonful of ice cream.
“Still, it must be nice to live together, right?” Hinata asked, a hint of longing in his voice.
Kenma’s lips curled into a small smile. “Yeah, it is.”
Hinata really craved that kind of relationship. Ever since he’d realized his feelings for Kageyama so many years ago, he found himself wanting more than just a volleyball partnership. He wanted a relationship. He wanted to make Kageyama laugh—because not just anyone could make him laugh.
With that thought in mind, Hinata decided to text Kageyama. If Kageyama was willing to meet up, Hinata would confess and finally put an end to his aching heart.
Kageyama🏐💙
I'm free today
10:30am
Meet up?
10:30am
I've got to train
10:31am
Big game tomorrow
10:32am
Right…
10:33am
Good luck then😊
10:34am
Thanks
10:35 am
“Shouyou, are you still there?” Kenma’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “You stopped playing a while ago.”
“It’s nothing—let’s keep playing,” Hinata responded, forcing a smile to hide his disappointment.
Kenma didn’t press further and restarted the game. Suddenly, an orange ball of fluff jumped onto Kenma’s lap.
“Yuzu is getting so big,” Hinata commented, watching the tabby cat curl up contentedly.
“Yeah, can’t believe she’s already six months old,” Kenma replied, scratching the white patch on Yuzu’s chest. “I guess she got bored of watching TV with Kuroo and decided to keep us company instead.”
“She’s really cute,” Hinata said, grateful for the distraction.
“I know, right?” Kenma smiled as Yuzu purred softly.
Yuzu’s appearance managed to pull Hinata out of his thoughts about the failed confession. He wasn’t ready to give up hope—not yet. More opportunities would come.
….
Japan, 2017
9 months until Hinata returns to Japan. More than a year since he left. Twenty-one long months of hearing two idiots rant about how much they love each other at ungodly hours. That was Tsukishima Kei’s life.
It was 14:20 when Tsukishima arrived at the apartment he shared with Yamaguchi. They had moved in together about six months ago, and their routine had become comfortably predictable. As he opened the door, Tsukishima noticed Yamaguchi’s shoes neatly placed in the genkan. Yamaguchi usually came home first after his morning classes to start cooking lunch. Around 2 p.m., Tsukishima would join him for a quick meal before heading back for his last college class, then to his part-time job at the museum. He typically returned home around 9 p.m. to find Yamaguchi doing homework at the kitchen table, with a hot dinner waiting to be reheated.
Today, Tsukishima smiled as the familiar scent of curry filled the air. Yamaguchi had mentioned that morning he planned to make curry for lunch. Tsukishima walked toward the kitchen, ready to hug his boyfriend, only to hear a perky voice coming from a phone. He hoped it was just a salesman and not the annoying shrimp they called a friend.
Tadashi was at the stove, finishing the curry, with his phone on speaker lying on the kitchen table.Tsukki caught sight of the phone on the table, Hinata’s contact photo glaring back at him. Of course, it was the orange idiot— definitely annoying his boyfriend again. Ignoring the phone, Tsukishima wrapped his arms around Yamaguchi’s waist and kissed the back of his neck.
“Tsukki,” Yamaguchi giggled, his cheeks flushing. Tsukishima loved to tease him like that. Yamaguchi slipped out of his embrace and placed a finger in front of his lips, nodding toward the phone.
“Just ignore him, baby,” Tsukishima said, leaning in to plant a quick peck on Yamaguchi’s lips.
“Not right now, Tsukki,” Yamaguchi said, holding up a plate between their faces. “Come on, go set the table. The curry is ready.”
“Aren’t you going to hang up?” Tsukishima asked.
Yamaguchi sighed. “I muted myself. Just let him rant—he’s drunk and alone at a wedding.”
Tsukishima rolled his eyes and unmuted the phone. “Hey, how drunk are you?” he asked.
“Tsukishima, hi. I was just talking to Yamaguchi,” Hinata replied, his voice slightly slurred.
“How did you get so drunk to begin with?”
Hinata sniffled. “I—I don’t know. Heitor’s father just kept passing me shots, and I couldn’t say no. Not when he’s been so good to me.” His voice wobbled.
“Hinata, are you crying?” Tsukishima asked, hearing the sound of Hinata blowing his nose.
“I don’t know. Am I? I just feel so lonely. I’m going to die alone because I can’t tell Kageyama how I feel. It’s so pathetic. I was at that wedding, and I wanted to be the one getting married.”
Tsukishima resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “You’re too young to get married, stupid” He muttered, more to himself than to the phone.Tsukki glanced at Yamaguchi, who was shaking his head with a fond smile. “Just let him rant,”Tadashi mouthed, placing the pot of curry on the table.
“Kageyama would look really pretty in a suit. A blue suit would match his eyes. He’s got really pretty eyes—I can’t believe I haven’t seen those eyes in two years.”
Tsukishima facepalmed and muted the phone again. “What the hell?!”
“I told you to let him rant,” Yamaguchi said, offering a soft smile. “Come on, eat. The food will get cold.”
The couple started eating, enjoying their meal in relative peace until Hinata started talking again. They thought he had finally gone to sleep after seven minutes of silence.
“I want to marry Kageyama,” Hinata suddenly announced.
Tsukishima nearly choked on his food. He quickly grabbed a napkin to clean his mouth and unmuted the phone. “Shouldn’t you ask him out first?” he asked with a snarky tone.
“Tsukki!” Yamaguchi scolded.
“What?” Tsukishima mumbled.
“DON’T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?!” Hinata replied, exasperated.
“I don’t know, I’m just checking—you tend to be stupid,” Tsukishima smirked.
“Give me my phone back!” Yamaguchi extended his hand, but Tsukishima ignored him, standing up and turning off the speaker, placing the phone to his ear. “You need to tell him soon. I promise it won’t be the end of the world.”
Yamaguchi stood up as well, still chewing his food. “Give me my phone back,” he repeated.
Tsukishima raised a finger. “You can’t keep living like that, Hinata.”
Yamaguchi extended his hand again. Their banter was interrupted by the ringing of Tsukishima’s own phone.
“Go answer your own phone and let me deal with Hinata,” Yamaguchi said.
Tsukishima sighed in defeat and went to check his phone. The contact read: Volleyball Idiot 1 . When Tsukishima woke up that morning, he hadn’t expected his lunchtime would be wasted dealing with his two dense best friends.
“What do you want?” he grunted.
On the other side, a dull voice greeted him. “Tsukishima, is that you?”
Tsukishima stared at his phone, confused before replying, “Do you even know who you’re calling?”
“I don’t know what I’m doing. My brain feels funny,” Kageyama replied.
Tsukishima’s worry spiked at that comment. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. We went to lunch for Hoshiumi’s birthday, and they started ordering beers. The rest is history. I’m just arriving home, but I can’t find my keys. So, I’m outside my apartment right now.”
Tsukishima laughed at the situation. The two people who exasperated him the most were drunk and calling him at the same time. What were the odds?
“Is that why you decided to call me?”
“I don’t know why I called. I guess I needed someone to talk to.”
“Why don’t you call Hinata then?” Tsukishima suggested.
“Are you insane? I don’t trust myself right now. What if I tell him about my feelings? He mustn’t know I’m drunk. He always calls me a lightweight.”
Tsukishima chuckled. “I finally got Hinata to calm down. He isn’t crying anymore, but he keeps saying he wants to marry Kageyama.”
Yamaguchi appeared with his phone on speaker again—Hinata’s ranting heard in the background. “Who is it?” Yamaguchi asked.
Tsukishima muted his phone and showed his boyfriend the caller. “He’s drunk too and needs to rant.”
Yamaguchi snorted. “I have an idea so we can enjoy our meal.”
In the end, the couple decided to mute both of their phones on the kitchen table, letting the two idiots drunkenly confess their love for each other without knowing it.
“After this, I better be more than their best man. I deserve a medal—or at least free tickets to the Olympics."
…
Japan 2018
After two long years—and exasperating a dozen friends in the process, especially Tsukishima—Hinata was finally back in Japan.
Hinata and Kageyama hadn’t had the chance to meet up since Kageyama had been training with the Schweiden Adlers in Tokyo, while Hinata started his tryouts for the MSBY Black Jackals—thanks to Bokuto’s insistence. A couple of months later, the long-awaited reunion of the “freak duo” finally happened, and it took place where it all began: on a volleyball court.
When Hinata’s team won, Kageyama didn’t even have time to process the defeat. All that mattered was that the owner of those orange locks that drove him crazy was finally standing in front of him—not in a picture, but in person. Just Hinata, his partner, right there.
“You’re here.” Kageyama smiled.
“I am. I made a promise, didn’t I?” Hinata grinned.
Kazuyo’s words echoed in Kageyama’s mind: If you keep playing volleyball and become good enough, someone better will come and find you. The promise was standing right in front of him. Kageyama couldn’t waste any more time.
18:00pm
Dumbass 🏐
I need to see you before I leave
17:54pm
You're leaving already?
18:01pm
Yup
18:03pm
Got practice tomorrow morning
18:03pm
Where are you?
18:04pm
I'm on my way to the station
18:04pm
Meet me there?
18:05pm
Ok
18:05pm
Kageyama felt his heart sink after sending that text. It was now or never. He had to confess today, or he’d always regret it—just like he regretted not telling Shouyou about his feelings on their graduation day. Shouyou was finally back; the two-year wait was over. He has to know. Tobio thought. Even if he rejects me, at least he’ll know I tried.
He rushed out of the locker rooms without excusing himself and grabbed a taxi to the train station. When he arrived, his eyes scanned the area, searching for the ginger locks that drove him crazy. His heart skipped a beat when he spotted a redheaded man in a black tracksuit sitting on a bench. He’s here. Tobio took a deep breath before approaching him, doing his best to keep his nerves in check.
“Hey!” Tobio greeted awkwardly, his voice betraying his anxiety. A part of him just wanted to hug Shouyou and stay in his embrace forever.
“You came,” Hinata smiled.
“I’ll always come if you ask, dumbass.”
“Sit with me, Yama-Yama.”
“What’s up?” Kageyama asked nervously.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you, but things have been hectic since I got back. I finally realized we shouldn’t waste any more time.”
“What do you mean?” Tobio asked, his heart pounding.
“Tobio, I like you. Like, a lot. My heart goes pow pow and thump thump every time I talk to you or see you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.” Hinata’s cheeks heated up. “It’s been a while now. I think I realized I liked you in our second year of high school. Please say something.”
“So… you like me?” Tobio lowered his head.
“You seem disappointed,” Hinata said, his voice faltering. “I guess I just made a fool of myself and you don’t feel the same way. It’s okay, though. Forget I said that. I’d rather stay friends than lose you. We don’t have to get together, you know?”
“I don’t want that.” Kageyama snapped, his mind racing. That dumbass. he thought. Why wouldn’t I want to be with him? He is… well, he’s HIM.
“Oh.” The smile on Hinata’s face faded, replaced by a frown. Did I just ruin our friendship? His expression showed desperation and hopelessness. One more word from Tobio, and Hinata’s heart might shatter.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I…” Kageyama rubbed his face with his hand.
“I just confessed. I thought you liked me, but your reaction is freaking me out.” Hinata stood up.
“I’m not freaking out. You’re freaking out!” he scowled standing up as well.
“You’re more freaked out than I am!” Hinata gestured.
“No, you’re freaking out!”
“Kageyama, this isn’t a competition. What is going on?” Hinata snapped.
“I love you,” Kageyama mumbled.
“What?” Hinata raised an eyebrow.
“I already told you. Don’t make me say it again. It’s embarrassing.” Kageyama lowered his head.
“I didn’t hear you, Sillyama.”
Kageyama took a deep breath and mumbled again. “I love you.”
“Tobio, stop talking to yourself. I can’t understand what you’re trying to say because I can’t hear a thing.”
“Hinata boke, are you deaf?! I said I’m in love with you, dumbass. And you don’t make this any easier.”
“You love me?” Hinata asked, his eyes widening.
Kageyama nodded. “Why wouldn’t I? I’ve been in love with you for the past three years. But I thought you didn’t feel the same way. Actually… you don’t feel the same way.”
“Kageyama, I just literally poured my heart out to you!”
“You said you like me, and I said I love you. That’s different.”
“I mean, usually when someone confesses, they start with ‘I like you’ so the other person doesn’t freak out. Love is a strong word.”
“See? You don’t feel the same way. You like me, but I love you.” Tobio pouted. “I love you so much and I need you. Not only as my partner on the court, but as my romantic partner, I guess? I don’t know when or how it happened, but everything just seems right when you’re with me. It’s driving me crazy and—why are you laughing, dumbass?!”
Hinata hid his smile. “I’m not laughing; I’m just happy. This is going better than I thought.”
“What?” Kageyama knitted his brows.
“Geez, you look so cute when you’re confused. Why did I have to fall for someone so dense?”
“Dense? Who are you calling dense, dumbass?”
“Tobio…”
“What?” he scowled.
“Can I kiss you now?” Hinata asked.
“What are you—” Before Tobio could finish his sentence, Hinata stood on his toes, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and pulled him into a kiss. It was definitely awkward, especially for Tobio, whose only experience with skinship involved grazing his teammates’ hands during volleyball. When Hinata broke the kiss, he looked up at Kageyama with big, honey-brown eyes.
“What was that for? Did you just kiss me? Does this mean we’re dating?!” Kageyama’s face was so red he looked like a strawberry. He could feel his heart pounding out of his chest.
“Oh my god, you really are a volleyball idiot,” Hinata said with a chuckle. Kageyama stared at him, even more confused. “But I love you that way,” Hinata added with a tender smile.
“Kiss me again,” Kageyama said.
“What?” Hinata chuckled.
“Please, before you leave. I don’t know when I’m going to see you again and…”
Shouyou didn’t let him finish. He cupped Kageyama’s face, gently pulling him down for another kiss. This time, Tobio closed his eyes, ready for their lips to meet. It was a simple, tender kiss, but it felt right. He marveled at how much warmth and love could be conveyed in something so simple.
From the moment they started playing together, Tobio knew he wanted to play volleyball with Shouyou for the rest of his life. The day they perfected the quick attack, he not only found someone who could keep up with him, but a partner who trusted him completely—literally.
Today, he discovered he also wanted to kiss and love Shouyou for years to come. Is this what it feels like to find someone better? If so, it was the most wonderful feeling. Shouyou was the sun that had warmed him and ended his cold, lonely days.
“I’ll call you when I get home,” Hinata said, smiling as he adjusted his backpack.
“Shouyou, wait. Are we dating now?” Kageyama asked, still processing everything.
Hinata chuckled. “Yes, we are, Sillyama. You’re stuck with me now.”
As Shouyou’s train left, Kageyama pulled out his phone and opened Hinata’s chat. He pressed the edit button and changed the contact name to Dumbass Boyfriend 🏐❤️. After seeing the final result, he let out a contented sigh.
Epilogue
18:33pm
Dumbass boyfriend🏐❤️
Text me when you get home
18:34pm
Will do ( ˘ ³˘)♥
18:35pm
How do you send that face?
18:36pm
Tobio, you really need to learn
how to use your phone
18:36pm