Work Text:
Hinata Shoyo loves volleyball. That much was obvious. He wakes up to play, keeps healthy to play, and he works hard to play. The moment he saw the little giant go to heights he could never imagine he could reach, he fell in love with the game. He never imagined for his height to reach so tall, and so he worked hard. Harder than anyone. He trained till dawn and woke up before sunrise. He loves it.
So when the college entrance exam came, he knew to work hard as well. He often seeked out Tsukishima to help him study, which surprisingly, he agreed. You could say they became best friends, though Hinata would never say that out loud, he enjoys their time together. He often found himself looking forward to studying knowing that a certain tall blonde would be there to throw sarcastic comments at him. Kageyama would call him stupid for falling for Tsukishima but Hinata doesn't mind this time.
So when Hinata got into the same university as Tsukishima and saw him smile at him for the first time, Hinata couldn't help but fall deeper.
It wasn't his fault. He just couldn't help it.
Their first months at the university were hectic. With Hinata taking Modern Languages and Tsukishima taking Archeology, their time is limited to study sessions only. Shoyo badly wants to call it a study date but he knows Tsukishima would avoid him if he heard it.
It was now in February, their second semester. To others, it's a time of love and dates. However, to Hinata and Tsukishima, it's the time of sleepless nights to prepare for their midterm examinations.
Hinata did remember that Valentine's Day is soon. He even thought of confessing.
-_-
flashback to a night call with Kageyama.
“Are you sure that's a good idea?” Kageyama asked as he ate his lunch.
“No. But anonymous confessions are a thing,” Hinata said hopefully.
“You're an idiot.”
“Hey! Your best friend is in a crisis here,” Hinata whined.
“My idiot best friend is blind and can't confess properly.”
“But think about our building friendship, Tobio! I can't even believe that I can call Tsukishima my friend, you know,” Hinata said as rolled in his bed.
“Yeah, I know.”
“Hey!”
“Kidding aside. Just go for it. If he stopped being your friend you have a bunch anyway,” Kageyama shrugged, “I'll get to my next class now. Talk soon.”
“Bye bye, Tobi.”
-_-
Their conversation got forgotten as Hinata was slumped with a bunch of activities, projects, and quizzes. On top of that he was studying for his midterms.
Making or getting chocolate got to the last of his priorities until the very day of valentines itself.
*-*
Shoyo was having a very hectic day. He's cramming an assignment he forgot he got and is now in the library once again.
He was so engrossed in cramming his assignment that he didn't immediately notice someone coming close to him.
“Excuse me, Hinata-san?”
Surprised, Hinata looked up to find one of his classmates standing nervously holding a box, eyes not meeting him.
“Yamada-san? Do you need anything?” Hinata asked, still confused about why his classmate is approaching him.
“Ah sorry for disturbing you. I just want to give you this,” Yamada hands him the box.
Upon closer inspection he saw it was a chocolate box. And Hinata being an oblivious sunshine that he is asked, “What is this for?”
Seeing Hinata being clueless, Yamada laughs softly. He figured that it was such a Hinata thing to do that he just finds it endearing.
“I like you, Hinata-san. And Happy Valentine's Day,” Yamada said and bows to leave a gaping Hinata behind.
“Got yourself an admirer?” Hinata snapped his eyes towards Tsukishima as he sat down next to him. He can feel the coldness in his voice which makes Hinata more confused.
“I didn't even realize,” Hinata thought out loud.
“You are very likeable,” Tsukishima said in a cold tone, “Everyone can like you.”
“Yeah, right,” sarcasm evident in Hinata’s voice.
“Just ask you little admirer about it,” Tsukishima said, mocking evident in his voice.
The more he remembers the interaction the more irritated Tsukishima feels. Hinata doesn't see his effects on others but Tsukishima can. He experienced it every time they got stopped by someone Hinata knew. And it irked Tsukishima every time. He badly wants to march towards Hinata the moment he sees the possible confession, but he stops himself, wanting to see how it plays out.
“Whatever. Are you going to respond to that guy?” Tsukishima asked, irritation obvious in his voice.
“I don't think he expects one?”
“Just reject him.” Tsukishima said quickly.
“I don't know how,” Shoyo whined.
“Tsk. Are you done with your assignment?" Tsukishima asked. Wanting to change the topic before his irritation worsened.
“Oh! I just need to finish the conclusion then I'm done,” Hinata said, looking at his assignment then at Tsukishima, “Why are you here early?”
“Got dismissed early. Finish up and let's go,” Tsukishima said as he lay his head on his arms.
“Go where?” Hinata asked as he continued to finish his assignment. His eyes occasionally look at Tsukishima who he finds staring at him as he writes. He forces himself not to blush.
“You'll see,” Hinata could see a small smirk on his face and he found himself smiling at the blonde man beside him.
*-*
Hinata finds himself at a chocolate store. And he is so confused as to why. All he can think about is what on earth is happening?
“Tsuki-”
“Pick some chocolates that you like and throw the one you receive,” Tsukishima ordered him, “it was a cheap chocolate anyway.”
Tsukishima eyed the box in Hinata's hands with disdain as if it personally offended him that Hinata received that kind of chocolate. Hinata does not know what to do with that information.
“That's rude, Tsuki,” Hinata pouts.
“What? You prefer that little guy's chocolates over what I'm offering you?” Tsukishima looked offended and irritated at the same time.
Hinata does not understand why the chocolate is a big deal and why Tsukishima is giving him chocolates. He wants to hope but he stops himself. He can't ask in fear of mistaking the intentions either. So Hinata does what he always does, think of everything as a friendly interaction.
“Are we picking some chocolates for Yamaguchi as well?” Hinata asked as he looked around the shop. Missing the obvious irritation in Tsukishima’s face.
Tsukishima can't believe what Hinata said.
Is he this oblivious? Tsukishima thought.
Tsukishima couldn't help but groan in frustration. All of those study dates that they went through. Tsukishima asking him out to study in cafes, all of those actions didn't came across at all. Hinata never once thought that they were on a date.
“Hinata,” Tsukishima took a deep breath, “Are you for real right now?”
“What?” Hinata looked at him clueless. Hinata saw the obvious frustration in Tsukishima's face and he doesn't know what he did wrong.
“I'm giving you Valentine's chocolates,” Tsukishima stated.
“Yeah? And?” Hinata blinked at him.
“Valentine's confession chocolates,” Tsukishima added.
“You didn't give me one though?” Hinata tilted his head to the side. His brain is not catching up at what is happening at all.
Frustrated, Tsukishima took 3 chocolates that he knew Hinata liked. He silently went to the cashier and paid for the chocolate. He then dragged Hinata to a nearby park where he knew people wouldn't show up.
“Here,” Tsukishima handed the chocolates to Hinata, his tone still frustrated.
“I don't know how your brain didn't notice that I was asking you out but here I am making it very very obvious,” Tsukishima stated.
“Those study sessions are study dates,” Tsukishima said slowly, waiting for Hinata to react.
Hinata, now finally accepting what's happening, went bright red.
“But I thought you- you just took pity on me?” Hinata said, body moving in frantic movements.
“Why would I ask you first to study with me and not the other way around?” Tsukishima rolled his eyes at him.
“B-but you once said I'm annoying,” Hinata said, tears forming in his eyes.
“Yea. It's annoying how you keep dragging others in your orbit and I can't seem to have alone time with you,” Tsukishima said as if that is obvious.
“Don't cry, you idiot,” Tsukishima said as he pulled Hinata into a hug. Making sure to also wipe his tears.
“I won't waste my time with you if I don't like you,” Tsukishima reassured him. “Tobio even noticed and gave me the shovel talk.”
“What?!” Hinata looked up in shock.
“Yeah. The king was trying to intimidate me,” Tsukishima smirked, “As if he's intimidating.”
Hinata laughed then blush bright red as he realized that he's still in Tsukishima's arms. Tsukishima only holds him tighter.
Tsukishima posted a pic of them together that day with a caption of “captured the sun.”