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“I don’t think Kenma would care if they lose or not.”
Kageyama could only look at Hinata with slight confusion as he hums to express it. Why would he suddenly mention something like that in the midst of silence? It felt like a blurt, but it felt like he thought it through.
It was simply small talk. That’s what this is.
“But, I’m still going to beat him anyway!” Hinata bursts with energy, exclaiming enthusiastically as he always does. Kageyama, as usual, never wavers and smirks. He makes a sound, agreeing to Hinata. Just like they always do.
It’s always them—whether a teammate or a rival, it’s always them. The famous Karasuno freshmen duo. It will always be them. No matter what.
It circles through Kageyama’s mind. The previous statement is a fact, in many ways you look at it. They had unknowingly formed something great and unique ever since they stepped inside Karasuno High’s gymnasium. Even if they would eventually split, they’d still be known as that duo who would dominate and improve every match. The freaky duo that would match each other scarily perfectly.
All that thought irritated him. It gives his face a furrow from the eyebrows. It’s something he would get irritated with especially. It’s especially weird.
It was never about volleyball to begin with.
He knows. He has accepted it for some time.
A few minutes pass by, and they think that their other teammates seem to still be doing their thing. It has been quiet in the rooms—not the awkward kind though. It’s the kind they’re used to. It’s normal. No one has to talk. If they do, it would never overboard the other. Everything flows so well. In court and off court, their dynamic seems to still work well.
The whole Karasuno crew has caught on to the two’s weird standards of ‘normalcy’ when it comes to these things. Anyway, it was still normal. Nothing else would happen. It seems to be normal to everyone.
Despite that, their rivalry shines through. And even then, that part still has not stopped after they won their last match.
Kageyama is fully aware of what he’s putting himself into. He’s not scared, nor is he confident. He’s new, but he feels what he’s supposed to feel. It’s not like he’s dumb when it comes to love.
He has even accepted the fact that he likes boys so quickly. To be fair, he never thought of himself as someone who would be interested in girls. However, he feels confident that the only reason why he accepted it so quickly is because it’s Hinata. No matter what fate puts them through, Hinata was Kageyama’s spiker first, and the other way around.
They belonged to each other first.
Kageyama flinches. He suddenly felt a shiver. He controls, but not for any longer.
“You know,” Kageyama blurts out.
He didn’t mean to, he swears. But the ball is in the air, someone ought to catch it eventually and throw it back.
Hinata hums confused, looks at Kageyama looking straight at his path, and tilts his head. There’s no way of telling what the setter will say next. It sure has Hinata nervous for some reason. He lets it slide.
“I think I’m liking you.” Kageyama says straightforwardly, expression unwavering despite his nervousness.
He won’t get it until I say something obvious anyway. He’s still stupid.
He didn’t want to admit it, but he likes him despite it.
Or maybe he likes him for it. Who knows. It’s still new.
Hinata lets out a loud and confused “Huh?” expression, expectedly not getting the hint. His expression suddenly changes, but Kageyama knows that Hinata takes it in the wrong way.
“You should! I mean, we’ve been working together for a while and we still have more to go! You should be-”
“Not that.” Kageyama firmly interrupts.
The ball is received.
“I think I’m liking you.” Kageyama says again. And to his expectations, Hinata gets it. Kageyama knew and waited for that.
The ball is passed.
“Or maybe I already like you. Who knows.” Kageyama adds, keeping his composure.
The ball is passed again, remaining stable.
Just when Hinata is about to react, Kageyama stops him.
“Scratch that.”
The ball is dumped to the ground.
Hinata remains attentive, waiting for the setter’s next words. However, he stays confused.
“I think I’m just about in love with you. For some time, maybe.”
The ball is saved and soars to the air.
Kageyama rubs his hands on the towel and goes outside to put it in a bin. Secretly, it was an attempt to escape. He knows it will work. He wonders what happens tomorrow. But, it won’t be good since they-
“It looks like I win.” Hinata says. Hearing this, Kageyama stops in his tracks. He listens, but refuses to turn back yet.
The ball is received.
“I’ve already fallen deeper long ago, Kageyama.” Hinata confesses. Kageyama turns back then, looking at Hinata’s sincere expression. He’s serious. It lightens the weight, although he had nothing to worry about in the first place.
The ball is set.
Slowly, Kageyama seems to get closer and closer, until the distance is unclear. Hinata is brave enough to stay still, even if it wrecks his heart in many ways. He leans in. He goes for it slowly. And soon enough, it has been done.
Their lips touch.
The ball is spiked, and the whistle blows.
Kageyama slowly backs away. He closely looks at the latter’s expression. Watches over every minute to make sure he didn’t do anything wrong.
Then, “I win.”
“HUH?” Hinata responds.
They quarrel and bicker as usual. Their teammates come back soon after too. No one notices. Not one bit. It’s all normal. It’s just them.
Except their new normal will be different from what it once was. And although they've got a long way to go, they have already reached the first step.
The duo will just have to continue setting and spiking for each other ‘til the end, literally and figuratively.
They face each other one more time before sleeping, smirks becoming genuine smiles. They know what they’re into. The real winner has not been decided and they know it. They won’t stop. They’re proud of it.
It will never be just about the game this time around.