Work Text:
Much like Hinata's skills with volleyball, his relationship with Kageyama, too, was constantly evolving. They'd had a rough start in their relationship, what with Hinata being too dead set on Kageyama being a goalpost to reach to pay close attention to the person behind the cold demeanour. Once Hinata concluded that playing volleyball with Kageyama was better than not playing at all, they'd become teammates (“Well, he may not be nice but at least he sets well!”), and when Hinata had begun paying attention to what Kageyama was really thinking behind the deadpan expression and thoughtless remarks, they'd become friends (“Never mind, he is nice, just terrible at showing it”). And when Kageyama had begun paying more attention to his own behaviour, and with Hinata's help had started working on how to better express himself, they'd quickly gone from friends to best friends (“He may not be perfect but he's trying so hard and I want him to succeed!!”).
And while it would have been all fine and good for them to stay there, now that Kageyama actually WAS opening up to him a little, well... With each display of vulnerability, Hinata learned to understand Kageyama better and better, and the more he wanted to make Kageyama happy, the more Hinata realised that it made him happy being near Kageyama (“Also, Kageyama's kinda cute, not gonna lie.”) And when Hinata found out Kageyama felt the same way, well, there was really no reason not to go from best friends to boyfriends.
And since they'd already come this far, it wasn't really that surprising that a week into dating, Kageyama would come to think about how their relationship would evolve from here. And seeing as society provided very clear expectations for what should follow after a couple has dated for a while, all Kageyama had to do was bring up the idea to Hinata.
He did so one lovely Saturday afternoon, when he and Hinata were lounging underneath a tree in a nearby park after volleyball practice. They were leaning against the tree, with Hinata resting his head against Kageyama's shoulder in a rare moment of calm, and Kageyama thought the moment was so perfectly serene – his boyfriend's hand in his, Hinata's soft hair pressed against his cheek – that it really was as good a time as any to share his musings with Hinata.
- Hey, Hinata. There's something I came to think about now that we're dating, Kageyama said, and after getting a drowsy hum and Hinata's eyes on him, he continued: - We're both still aiming to become professional volleyball players in the Japanese national team, right?
- Yup!! Hinata said, in typical fashion going from zero to a hundred in a flash as he grinned with excitement as if he hadn't been just about to fall asleep a few seconds ago. - You may be my boyfriend now but I'm not going easy on you!
- Right, I feel the same, Kageyama nodded, squeezing Hinata's hand in a way that could have been both reassurance and a challenge, and Hinata grinned wider at that. - But being in a relationship is still something we have to consider once we become professionals.
- Huh? Hinata frowned confused. - I don't follow...
- Consider this. Regardless of our relationship status, we'll be teammates, Kageyama said. - Now, let's say something went sour in our relationship. We'd still have to play together daily. How do you figure that would work if we were exes?
Stunned at the mere suggestion, Hinata wanted to protest that there was no way he could ever let things sour between himself and Kageyama! But then, after a couple of seconds of thinking, he came to remember that he'd done exactly that in their first year, during the summer holidays before their two week training camp in Tokyo. Now granted, it hadn't been nice being told off by Kageyama when all Hinata had wanted was to learn how to spike better, but no matter how pissed he'd been at Kageyama, the silence treatment he'd given Kageyama had really not been worth it. All Hinata had really achieved with that was making himself and Kageyama miserable at the thought that their friendship was over (not to even speak of how awkward it had been for the rest of their team). Hinata shuddered as the memory of those awful times flooded his brain. It was certainly an experience he would rather never repeat again.
Now, for the sake of argument, let's suppose Hinata and Kageyama would have another falling out while playing as professionals in the same team...
- Th-there's no way that would work! Hinata cried. - If we're lovers and broke up, that would totally destroy the team balance!
The mere idea of it was enough to leave Hinata absolutely panicked, and he broke his hand free of Kageyama's and instead wrapped his arms around himself, in vain trying to soothe himself. Especially when Hinata suddenly had a thought that had his eyes widening in fear, and he turned to stare at Kageyama devastated.
- Wait, are you saying... Because the team comes first, we shouldn't risk it by being together?!
The leap in logic was so outrageous that all Kageyama could do was stare as tears began to well in Hinata's eyes. With a sob, Hinata grabbed Kageyama by the waist, and while Kageyama was still too shocked to really react, Hinata began wailing.
- NOOOO!! I know we take playing seriously, but I don't want to break up!! Hinata cried. - I love you too much, please don't leave me!!
- W-Wait, that's not what I'm getting at! Kageyama exclaimed flustered, putting his hands on Hinata's shoulders in what he hoped was a comforting enough gesture. - I love you too, I... Can you just hear me out?!
But once Hinata has his mind set on something, it's not that easy to snap him out of it, as Kageyama knew all too well by now, and so Hinata continued sobbing and clutching Kageyama like easing his grip was the same as losing him forever. Suppressing the urge to sigh, Kageyama instead hugged Hinata tightly, and after many, MANY back rubs and forehead kisses Hinata calmed down enough to buy it when Kageyama assured him that no, he didn't want to break up, and yes, he did still in fact love Hinata. With Hinata placated (although Hinata was still holding Kageyama by the waist, just in case), Kageyama continued:
- I'm just saying, we have a very strong incentive to never break up! Personal reasons aside, it's also best for the team if we're always together!
- Right, that makes sense... So if we're gonna be dating, we'd have to do all we can to always stay together, like therapy if necessary... Hinata said, mulling it over for a bit, and suddenly, he looked a lot more optimistic. - Ok, we can do that! Hinata exclaimed, positioning himself so that he could comfortably plop his head against Kageyama's chest, and looking up at him with a grin. - We were already able to work out so much after Takeda-sensei forced us to make up after our fight, so imagine how set for life we'd be with the help of a professional couple therapist!!
- Exactly!! Kageyama nodded eagerly, even managing a slight smile. Now that Hinata had followed along this far, it was time for them to get to the point. - So, because we are both going to be professional players, and we cannot break up, I'm suggesting we might as well fully commit and get married.
He looked quite proud of himself when saying that, but all Hinata could do was stare. It took a minute or two for his brain to really compute what Kageyama had just said, but when he realised that Kageyama was being 100% serious, Hinata's face turned red.
- EEEEHHH?! M-M-MARRIED?! Hinata was so shocked he even let go of Kageyama, instead kneeling on the grass utterly thunderstruck. - Isn't it way too soon to talk about marriage?!
Undeterred, Kageyama continued smiling, tapping his finger against his forehead.
- Think about it! If we're lucky, we have a good 15-20 years of a professional volleyball career ahead of us. That's about as long as an average marriage, and we've already vowed to stay together. So why not just get married and take advantage of the tax benefits?
Then, Kageyama's expression turned a little more serious as he continued:
- Plus, hospital visitation rights in case one of us gets injured, which is a high risk in volleyball. I mean, you wouldn't want to get denied from seeing me if I got hurt, right?
Hinata scrunched his face like he always did when thinking real hard about something. Kageyama had heard people say it was a bad idea to rush into marriage, and no doubt Hinata had heard similar things, but Kageyama was very confident that his arguments would be well received. His patience was rewarded when Hinata let out an agreeing hum, and his face smoothed to understanding.
- Hmm, that is a good point... And since we'll be living together anyway, it might be easier getting an apartment as a married couple, Hinata pondered for a bit longer, before smiling brightly. - Okay, let's do it! When are we getting married?
Now it was Kageyama's turn to stare baffled. Even if this was the outcome he'd hoped they'd reach with this conversation, he had expected at least a bit more resistance before he'd get Hinata to agree. This wasn't the first time the thought “Oh my god I'm in love with an idiot” crossed Kageyama's mind, but like always, he mentally conceded that he wasn't exactly one to talk. Especially when with a sheepish scratch of his neck, Kageyama had to admit:
- Ah... I didn't think that far...
- Personally, I think we should do it as soon as possible! Hinata exclaimed, smiling brightly like he hadn't been flustered by the idea mere minutes ago.
- Now who's taking things too fast?!
- But it makes sense, right? If we're getting married anyway, we might as well have those benefits as soon as possible, right? Hinata said, before cocking his head to the side and looking a little tired. - Plus, once we're famous, any wedding would be a huge media circus, and I don't have the energy to deal with that...
It was a point that Kageyama hadn't really considered, but now that Hinata brought it up, he found himself agreeing. If the local ray of sunshine Hinata was dreading a huge social event, the same went a hundred times more for someone as introverted as Kageyama.
- True... It might be worth getting married when we're still nobodies, Kageyama said. - Not to mention, it would make it cheaper too when we're free to just invite those closest to us, instead of a bunch of celebrities for appearances sake...
- Right?! Hinata exclaimed excitedly. Then, he crawled to sit next to Kageyama again, and threw his arms around Kageyama's neck. - And if we're already married, it's less likely some gold digger will try to take you away from me!
The way Hinata looked at him adoringly had Kageyama's cheeks flushing pink, and out of instinct, he averted his gaze, lest Hinata blind him like the sun.
- I-I think you're much more likely to get targetted... Kageyama mumbled.
He cleared his throat, feeling embarrassed, especially when Hinata giggled at him fondly. Kageyama was still getting used to the idea of Hinata showing his affection so openly. But as Kageyama's brain was on yet another tangent about how lucky he was, a thought suddenly hit him, and Kageyama's good mood was pushed aside by creeping anxiety. Hinata saw this, and frowned concerned.
- Is everything okay? He asked.
- Yeah... There's just one problem, Kageyama said, suddenly a lot more downcast. - The earliest we can get married is the day I turn 20. But by then, we would already have graduated high school, and if all goes according to plan, would have been scouted into an official team. So either way, we would already be in the public eye.
- Oh, Hinata blinked, likely only now first realising this himself. - That's... true...
- So in the end, I guess it doesn't matter when we marry... Kageyama said, feeling rather disappointed in himself and being unable to look Hinata in the eye. - Sorry, I should have thought about this more thoroughly...
But before he could fall too deep into self-loathing, Hinata's hands grabbed his cheeks, and pulled Kageyama to look at him. Kageyama was surprised to see Hinata's eyes gleaming with determination.
- Hold on! There's still a way! Hinata said, his touch on Kageyama's face turning more tender as he stroked his thumb across Kageyama's cheek. - Parental permission! We can still get married when we're 18 just before we graduate if we just get permission from our parents!
With how excited Hinata looked, Kageyama didn't have the heart to tell him what he thought the odds of that plan working out were. Even if Hinata's parents were on board – and with how short a time Hinata and Kageyama had been dating so far, he highly doubted they would be – Kageyama's own parents absolutely would not be. The plan felt doomed from the outset... But then again, as Kageyama came to think a bit later, when Hinata was back to hugging him and nuzzling his neck, so were most ideas that came from Hinata. And yet, time and time again, Hinata had been able to push through the obstacles in his way to get what he wanted.
So who knew. Now that Hinata was all hyped up to marry Kageyama, maybe his insane, odds-defying lucky streak would come through for them yet again.
* * *
A year and a half later, the morning of the 21st of December...
A teacher's job is never easy, underpaid and underappreciated, and nothing exemplified this more than having a student fall asleep in class. As such, when the teacher in the third years' maths class heard snoring coming from the back of the class, they stopped mid-sentence and whipped their head to locate the source of it. Eyes squinting at the desk of Shoyo Hinata, where Hinata was slumped over his desk, even drooling a little, the teacher wasted no time calling him out.
- Hinata! The teacher watched as Hinata snapped awake and scrambled to regain a straight posture. - Are you sleeping in class!?
- I-I'm sorry, Sensei! Hinata cried out, face red from embarrassment. - It's just, last night was my wedding night, and I stayed up a bit late...
Realising what he'd just let slip out, Hinata's jaw dropped, his eyes wide in horror while the rest of the class just stared. The teacher opened and closed their mouth several times in quick succession, before in the end clearing their throat, already half turned to the blackboard like they couldn't get out of this conversation fast enough.
- Uhh... Umm.. W-Well, no matter what, you should be mindful of bedtimes when you have school the next day... The teacher mumbled. - Anyway...
- I'm sorry!! Hinata exclaimed again, hands on his desk as he bowed his head down. - I can't help the fact that my husband is so sexy!!
The teacher stopped dead in their tracks as the rest of the class continued to stare at Hinata very intensely. Suddenly, the ring in his left ring finger made a whole lot more sense. And the red on Hinata's face turned a shade deeper as he slowly realised that not only had he accidentally come out in front of his class (well, with how affectionate he and Tobio were with each other, it's not like it had been a secret), he'd also revealed things about his wedding night that may have been better left between himself and his now-husband.
Meanwhile, in an adjacent classroom, another teacher's ears perked as they heard snoring from the back row. Irritated, they looked over to the source of it, and recognising the sleeping student, sighed loudly before calling out:
- Kageyama! Wake up this instant!
But to their immense surprise, Kageyama didn't as much as stir, and the snoring continued at a steady pace. The teacher tried calling out his name again, and again, each time more confused than the last as Kageyama didn't react at all.
It was then that the teacher came to glance at the roll call printed on their table, and they blinked as they realised one of the names had changed.
- Tobio Hinata?
Instantly, Tobio Hinata snapped awake, straightening his posture, and rubbing his eyes groggily.
- Hm? Did you need something, Sensei?
The teacher stared back stupefied before shaking their head and trying to get back on track.
- Kagey--- I-I mean, Hinata? You shouldn't sleep in class...
All they got in response was a smug smirk.
- You'd be tired too if you'd have to please your husband all night on your wedding night.
With a jaded look, the teacher sighed, and ignoring him and resuming the lesson. They did NOT get paid enough to dignify that with a response.