Work Text:
Honestly, Shouyou has no idea how he even got in to university. Much less how he ended up in the back of a large lecture hall listening to his monotone professor drone on about polynomials in his junior year of college. He’s not smart in the ways that matter in a classroom. Not to mention how the grades on his transcript aren’t really ones to write home about due to the difficulties he finds in keeping still or paying attention for long periods of time. (ADHD can be a real bitch sometimes.) So he can only assume his current predicament is some sort of divine retribution for some great unknown sin he’s committed. Because there is no way some deity hasn’t been pulling his strings like a marionette puppet.
It’s only a week into the semester when Shouyou begins weighing the option of dropping out of this class.
Everyone always told him the same thing: “the basics are the worst part. You’ll actually like it when you’re taking classes for your major!” Shouyou took this piece of advice to heart and promptly avoided all the worst basics until he couldn’t anymore. And now it’s coming back to bite him in the ass. Not only does he really hate math, but he’s also one of the oldest people in the class. That’s not even factoring in the fact that this particular course is the most boring thing he’s ever encountered, and his attention starts to wane just stepping into the lecture hall.
Every session Shouyou lets his eyes wander around the room, doodling idly in his sparse notes. Various other students are frantically taking down every crumb of information, while others don’t even bother hiding their yawns behind their sleeves or the phones they have blatantly on their desks.
The professor has a “strict” rule—strict only in name, nothing else—about phones so Shouyou chooses to keep his safely tucked away in his backpack until he compulsively has to check the time. Others do not take such precautions.
The objectively worst one is the person who sits diagonally to his right, a row ahead. Every class he’s already in his seat when Shouyou arrives—not that Shouyou has that much time to take a good look since he’s always running late. The exact second the professor begins to talk in equations, this guy pulls out his phone and remains glued to his screen basically the entire class, which is entirely too distracting.
Shouyou knows he should mind his own business. But it’s not his fault that this guy spends their whole lecture scrolling through the most adorable cat photos he’s ever seen. Nor is it his fault that his eyes are so drawn to the cute display that he leaves the hour and a half long class with only one line of notes. Nope. Has nothing to do with Shouyou and everything to do with stupid Instagram Guy.
And thus, Shouyou spends his Tuesdays and Thursdays in a stuffy lecture hall looking at pictures of model cats with the hum of mathematical terms in the background.
It’s a nice equilibrium he’s found. Good for his grades? Probably not. For his mental wellbeing? Absolutely. The purest form of serotonin is found on this stranger’s phone and he’ll be damned if he gives that up.
Then, just as quickly as it was discovered, his normalcy is thrown askew. Shouyou’s perspective is set awry the day he catches a glimpse of Cat Instagram Guy’s profile.
All the pictures dispersed through his feed are of a familiar cream-colored point ragdoll cat. In short, it’s a cat page Shouyou is familiar with. More specifically, a cat page that he’s followed religiously for years, ever since the fluff ball called Pancake was just a tiny kitten. Safe to say, it’s the profile of the cutest damn cat he’s ever seen in his life.
Shouyou drops his pencil in complete shock. What the hell are the chances of this? That he’d end up here, at this college, in this class, with the person who owns his favorite animal account on Instagram? Pancake has been the highlight of his day on many occasions, sometimes appearing right when he feels he needed it most. The aesthetic ones are nice and give plenty of reason for Shouyou to coo in response. But the pictures that are blurred and up-close, distorting Pancake’s features and elongating her nose, are the ones that have people clicking follow and Shouyou turning the post notifications on.
Pancake is, like…a celebrity. And the urge to give this cat the best scratches she’s had in her life is so incredibly overwhelming Shouyou thinks he could faint.
It was then that Shouyou’s brain began to fixate on one thing, and one thing only: I have to meet this guy’s cat…but how???
Little did he know that this single thought would snowball into a semester-long obsession with what he’s (cleverly) dubbed, “Operation: Meet Cute Cat.”
Mission Status: Obtained
The Plan: Walk up and befriend Pancake’s owner.
It’s as simple as that. Shouyou has never had trouble getting people to like him; all he really has to do is act like himself and boom! This situation shouldn’t be any different. He’d probably feel a little guilty afterwards for becoming friends with someone for the sole reason of getting into their lodgings and possibly stealing their beloved pet.
So in their fifth week of classes, Shouyou finally decides to make his move.
He slides into his seat casually, as he normally does, pointedly staring away from the Cat Instagram Guy as he trudges up the steps. Class passes with an added excitement that concentrates in his bouncing legs. This has to be the day. They have a unit test coming up in the next class and it’s the perfect opportunity to ask if Pancake’s owner wants to study.
As soon as the professor releases them for the day, Shouyou leaps from his seat in a cacophony of clattering stationary. He scrambles down the stairs with little grace and mutters apologies as he steps past the other students packing up. He waits with nonexistent patience, acutely aware of the minimal space between him and someone who’s supposed to be a stranger. He knows Pancake though so that should count for something on his end. Maybe.
From this close, Shouyou squints and catches a glimpse of the name neatly written in the corner of his blank notebook page. Kageyama, Shouyou reads.
The notebook slams shut and Shouyou jumps at the sudden movement, gaze snapping up to meet a very pronounced scowl—and very pretty blue eyes.
He’s face-to-face with the person who runs his favorite account on any social media platform and for some reason, the only thought he can muster is how unfairly beautiful this guy is. His dark hair falls haphazardly to frame his sharp features. Shouyou didn’t know that the slope of someone’s nose could be attractive but god damn is Kageyama proving him wrong.
Shouyou jerks back to reality, straightening his shoulders and putting on the best smile he can muster. “Hi! I’m Hinata Shouyou. Uh, I sit right behind you?”
Kageyama does not look impressed.
Shouyou rubs his sweating palms on his jeans, straining to keep his smile from falling even slightly. “Um. So, I’m very bad at taking notes and I had a few questions about—"
“The professor’s office hours are in the syllabus.”
Shouyou would have relished in the deep rumble of Kageyama’s voice if it didn’t sound so frigid around the edges. His smile does fall slightly. “Well, yeah but I have classes and work then so I wanted to know if you could help me?”
Kageyama raises a dark thin brow. “Why should I?”
Okay, wow that was rude. Shouyou’s eyebrow twitches. He has to keep the friendliness up. If he doesn’t then he’ll lose this chance at meeting the cutest creature on the planet and he does not want that to happen.
“If you don’t want to that’s okay—” it’s not okay. It’s not. Please say yes and let me pet Pancake, I’m begging you “—but I haven’t done math in three years and could really use this favor. I could make it up to you if you wanted!”
“No.”
“Wh—Hey!” Sorry Pancake. Sorry Shouyou that would have to deal with the repercussions of his actions but Current Shouyou cannot hold his tongue any longer. “There’s no need to be this rude.”
Kageyama blinks, face bordered between annoyed and bewildered. “I’m not being rude. I’m telling you no.”
“In a very rude way,” Shouyou says, exasperated.
This isn’t going as planned at all. Shouyou needs to get out of there before he ruins his chances forever, but he can’t think of a proper way to exit this horrific conversation.
So Shouyou does the only logical thing. He spins on his heel and sprints out of the classroom as fast as he can possibly manage.
Well…The Plan might be more difficult to enact than he thought.
Mission Status: First attempt failure
Needless to say, after the most humiliating encounter of his life, Shouyou really needed to let loose somehow. He’s wound tighter than a coiled spring, the energy built up begging to be released. Luckily, his university allows students access to their very nice gym.
Shouyou knows they must’ve spent more money on this building than a majority of the classroom spaces, and he would be lying if he said the gym being so nice didn’t play a role in his decision to come here. The university is known more for its glowing sports program than it is for academics—which is something Shouyou is very grateful for. Especially on days like today, where nothing can go his way.
He stomps into the gym hours earlier than he normally traverses from his apartment. But, he grumbles to himself while shoving his head through his muscle tank top, today has been beyond shitty. And everyone knows what that means. Shitty days equal beating the shit out of whatever heavy bag he can reach, or, if those aren’t set up, working his muscles just below their limit.
Shouyou tugs at his shoelaces, pulling them way too tight around his foot but too eager to care. In his freshman year, he’d come here for the same reason (well, not the exact same, obviously; but releasing whatever energy builds within his bones by working out isn’t unfamiliar to him). He remembers being stretched taut with stress and bags pulling his cheeks beneath his eyes. As he was running on a treadmill, he’d caught sight of the gym’s advertisement for their kickboxing class. On a whim, Shouyou decided to attend—and he’s attended every single one since then.
The university gym doesn’t always have the heavy bags up for his use but sometimes he can sweet talk one of the workers—Suga, a silver-haired education student, in particular, always seems willing to “help” (read as: cause whatever mischief he can).
Shouyou frowns. He needs something a little more immediate at the moment. Once he’s calmer, he’ll call on his favorite worker.
Nodding at nothing, Shouyou marches out of the locker room, homing in on an empty upright bike and heading towards it. He slams his water bottle down next to it with too much force. Little droplets drip to the floor below it. Shouyou huffs and plops onto the seat.
He puts his feet into the stirrups and they almost immediately slip out the second Shouyou looks ahead of him. There’s someone mounting the treadmill right ahead of him, and he’d know the back of that head anywhere.
A new wave of frustration rushes through Shouyou’s body and his trembling fingers mash random buttons to start the mile counter on the bike.
The encounter with Kageyama from earlier just wasn’t enough for the universe. Apparently, the gods found pleasure in his suffering and embarrassment, which is why they’ve put Kageyama directly in his line of sight. But moving now would be like Kageyama and the snickering gods winning—and Shouyou will not lose to anyone so rude.
As the whirring from the machine fills his ears, he continues to eye Kageyama suspiciously. He didn’t seem to notice Shouyou at all so at least he won’t have to interact with him again so soon. Which means Shouyou can study him from afar and come up with new strategies to meet Pancake.
So, obviously the study strategy didn’t work at all. (Shouyou pedals faster as he pouts.) But, by the looks of how quickly Kageyama’s legging cladded legs are moving, he’s an avid runner. Maybe he could invite him on a run? No no no. That’ll only make Shouyou look like he knows too much and then Kageyama will say he’s creepy. Oh god, what if he thinks he’s creepy and blocks him from the Pancake account. Shouyou would sob for days.
Hm. Shouyou’s brow scrunches in concentration, moving through the elliptical motions on autopilot. He supposes he’ll have to get a more detailed read on Kageyama before he can really decide on how to approach him next.
Shouyou squints his eyes in scrutiny, gaze travelling up and down Kageyama’s perfect running form. He huffs. Kageyama certainly doesn’t look like a cat dad at all. Not that Shouyou has met a lot of cat dads, especially not ones that frequent gyms in compression shirts that are way too tight to be appropriate in public. Seriously, Shouyou can see the muscles of his back shift when he moves, how the hell is that allowed in here.
However, Shouyou can’t say he’s complaining.
As quickly as the thought appears, Shouyou chases it off, face burning. This is not the time. Nor will it ever be the time. He has to focus on how the hell he’s going to meet Pancake.
Shouyou almost breathes in relief when Kageyama slows his pace and eventually hops down from the treadmill. Unfortunately, Shouyou still finds that his eyes are glued to Kageyama’s retreating form, much as he tries to unstick himself. Kageyama happens to choose a weight machine that is well within Shouyou’s line of sight.
To be completely honest, Shouyou is surprised that Kageyama hasn’t burst into flames with the intensity of Shouyou’s hard stare, or at the very least someone calling Shouyou out for being kind of a creep. But he’s simply trying to configure a solution to his Pancake Dilemma.
But thinking of solutions is suddenly the last thing on his mind because holy shit the hem of Kageyama’s sleeve is straining against his bicep when he slowly lifts the weight from the machine. Shouyou is pretty sure his jaw drops in a cartoonish manner—only pretty sure because he isn’t really aware of his body anymore; he’s ascended to a different realm of existence that revolves around Kageyama’s biceps and Kageyama’s biceps only.
Shouyou mentally slaps himself, mentally and physically bringing himself to a jerking halt. Wait…this is the jerk that had embarrassed him to the point of having to come to the gym in the first place. Not to mention Pancake’s owner—oh god, Pancake!
Shouyou grips the handlebars tightly. He’s dishonored Pancake by thirsting after her owner. Please forgive him, Pancake, but he must say that her owner is way too much of a jerk (a very extremely hot jerk) for his own good. Hopefully, he can give her enough pets in the future to make up for this defilement.
Shouyou stops the bicycle entirely, deciding it best that he move on to somewhere he can’t see Pancake’s owner do sinfully attractive things like brush his bangs back from his forehead.
Blessedly, in the one stroke of good fortune in his day, one of the heavy bags has already been set up and is not currently being used. He rushes over to his locker to grab his wrappings, limbs fumbling uselessly over one another in his haste.
Shouyou stretches his arms above his head and rolls his shoulders slowly to make sure his muscles are warm enough as he jogs to the hanging bag. Pleased with the loose warmth spreading through his body, Shouyou begins to wind the gauze around his hands. He flexes his fingers, makes sure that his wrists bend properly and decides it’s sufficient. Finally, Shouyou is able to single in on his target and lowers himself into his beginning stance.
Everything else seems to fade away for a little while and Shouyou is freed of his worries about Kageyama. He’ll probably end up forming a new plan later anyways.
Mission Status: Thirsting Planning
Shouyou walks into his next math class with absolutely no plan in mind and impulsiveness eating at his reservations.
A full night’s rest had done wonders for sating his embarrassment. He’ll hold on to the grudge for now, but he allows boldness to take the forefront as he slides into his math lecture— early. Even his professor lifts a bushy eyebrow at his sudden entrance.
Shouyou acts like he doesn’t notice, hopping up the steps to his seat as he lets his eyes lock on his target. Kageyama stares with a bored blankness down at his notebook. His cotton t-shirt is plain, as the rest of his personality presumably is but now Shouyou knows that he secretly works out and he is no longer fooled. Shouyou blatantly stares at him the entire way to his seat. Kageyama doesn’t look up once.
Okay, Shouyou thinks as he pulls out the notebook he knows will not get used. So what can I do to make him notice and befriend me without seeming like a creep?
Shouyou winces at the thought of trying to waltz up to Kageyama again—that would be much too embarrassing. Maybe he could drop his pencil off his desk and ask Kageyama to pick it up for him? But then what would happen after that? Striking up a conversation in the middle of class wouldn’t be courteous of the other students…so how?
He can practically feel the steam spilling from his ears, pushing his professor’s introduction to their lesson further and further away. So Shouyou does what he does best and acts impulsively.
Kageyama pulls out his phone, as normal. This time, however, Shouyou also whips his phone out, sending it to his desktop with a clash. Kageyama clicks on his Instagram and so does Shouyou. Shouyou’s eyes dart between his screen and Kageyama’s, fingers flying across his phone’s keyboard. Kageyama goes to Pancakes profile and idly clears out all the notifications, glancing through the DMs with all the boredom of a college student sitting in a monotonous class.
Seemingly satisfied, Kageyama’s thumb moves to swipe away. Luckily, Shouyou’s thumb moves faster, hitting send just in time for another notification to pop up on top of Pancake’s profile. Shouyou carefully watches Kageyama’s expression morph from its normal unfalteringly flat to slightly perplexed as he hovers over Shouyou’s icon.
Shouyou’s heart flutters once Kageyama clicks on his profile. Admittedly, it’s much sparser than he’d like. He only has some aesthetics and a couple gym pictures. Kageyama zooms in on his gym pictures and his eyes narrow like an old man struggling to with his eyesight then clicks back to his message.
Very cautiously, Kageyama tilts his head to gaze at Shouyou, tiny pieces of hair falling into his eyes. Shouyou allows his smile to take over and he frantically begins pointing at the phone set on his desk and then to Kageyama’s. Kageyama’s steel eyes travel between the phones as Shouyou indicated. His gaze dances around Shouyou for several seconds, face going blank and blinking stupidly.
Shouyou’s smile widens and he taps lightly on his phone.
The implication of what Shouyou has done settles between the two of them. It’s uncomfortable if Shouyou is being honest, but he’s too stubborn to let Kageyama see him squirm. But then, while finally making direct eye contact with Shouyou, Kageyama locks his phone and whirls to the front of the room.
Shouyou’s jaw drops as Kageyama shoves his phone in his bag and starts to write what Shouyou can only assume is notes.
How incredibly rude.
Shouyou slouches in his chair, pout prominent on his bottom lip. Why does Pancake’s owner have to suck? He hasn’t done anything to warrant such cold treatment and yet, here he is! Rejected for the second time in less than 24 hours.
Shouyou rereads his message, frantically searching for a possible reason for Kageyama to have brushed him off so abrasively.
shoyooo.hinata:
hi im the person behind u
Ah…that might’ve done it. Well he’s certainly not helping his own case.
Shouyou groans internally and sets his head on the desk with a dull thud. Kageyama is more difficult to crack open than he initially anticipated.
When class ends, Kageyama is out the door faster than a cannon, leaving Shouyou alone to mourn the loss of what he and Pancake could have been. He sluggishly exits as well and heads straight for his apartment.
Upon entering, Shouyou immediately flops onto his couch, drops his forlorn phone to the ground, and screams into the cushions. He’s usually so good with people, why does the one person he’d actually like to talk to so adamantly against it? Ug. So frustrating—both himself and Kageyama.
He picks up his discarded phone and turns so only half of his face is buried in the coarse green fabric. His notifications are dry (all of his friends are in class with their phones silently sitting in their pockets like the good students they are) with the exception of some Instagram notifications.
Shouyou tries not to scream again as he clicks onto the dreadful app. The notification, he discovers, is a DM. Curiously, Shouyou checks his messages and almost drops his phone at what he sees.
this_is_pancake
dont message my cat account
this_is_pancake
@Kageyama.t0bio
…wait what?
“WHAT?” Shouyou screeches. He is…confused to say the least but his excitement completely washes away any other emotion he had.
He wastes little time clicking on the account Kageyama had sent him. It’s private but Shouyou doesn’t hesitate to send a follow request. Shouyou chews on his thumbnail, anticipation turning in his stomach. Finally, he’s made some progress and he’d be a fool to not snatch this up immediately.
Only a minute later, his request is granted. Shouyou scrolls with rapt through Kageyama’s personal account. There are hardly any posts at all, which, from what Shouyou has been able to gather from Kageyama, is predictable. He has a few photos of Pancake and a small succulent plant but other than that, nothing of interest.
Shouyou tries to quell his disappointment by the lack of posts including Kageyama’s face.
Then another DM pops up.
Kageyama.t0bio
so my creep’s name is hinata.
Shouyou huffs and starts typing furiously to respond back.
shoyooo.hinata
ok first off, i’m not a creep and secondly, u are the one who gave my ur private account and accepted my request so. who’s the creep now????
Kageyama.t0bio
still you. you messaged my cat account. weirdo
Shouyou sits up, blowing his bangs from his face as he reclines back between the back cushions. He taps his phone and tries to think of a good way to respond.
shoyooo.hinata
becuase it was the only account i thought you had??
Kageyama.t0bio
Because you were looking at my phone during class
Damnit. Shouyou’s face burns with shame and sheepishness.
shoyooo.hinata
well YOU look at cute cats all day long. such a bad student, kageyama-kun
Kageyama.t0bio
And that makes it ok for you to creep on someone else’s phone?
shoyooo.hinata
ASKDLFASDLKF Y. O U are sO RUDE
Kageyama.t0bio
haha
shoyooo.hinata
…..ur teasing me
Kageyama.t0bio
i’m perfectly serious
Shouyou chuckles out loud, sinking comfortably back into his couch. The tension between his shoulders slowly starts to ease as their conversation briefly continues along these lines. Teasing and arguments seem to be their main forms of communicating with one another but both of them continue to message one another, so Shouyou assumes Kageyama is enjoying it as well.
But, of course, Kageyama says he has practice and he has to leave. Shouyou chuckles and prepares to go to the gym himself, locking his phone.
When he looks at it again a while later, nothing but sweat and aches after his workout, he grins. All according to plan.
Kageyama.t0bio has followed you back.
this_is_pancake has followed you back.
Mission Status: Talking?
The next day is a Wednesday; one the most boring days of the week unfortunately, which does nothing to prevent his mind from fixating on the fact that his phone is burning a hole in his pocket. He shuffles through his routine of class and works with nervous trepidation and a burning compulsion to check his notifications.
Shouyou knows that he shouldn’t really expect a message the day after a solitary DM conversation. He’s hardly interacted with the guy so it’s presumptuous to not even consider the fact that Kageyama might have seen their conversation as one off. Still, that doesn’t stop the nervousness from coiling around his brain and plaguing his every move with needlessly anxious musings.
Once he finally, has time to himself, he’s ready to chunk his phone from his window into the nearest river. The battery in it is drained from his constant checking and it’s so stupid how eager he is to talk to Kageyama again. He doesn’t even know if Kageyama is willing to be friends with someone he’s called a creep…god, why is Shouyou like this?
Shouyou stares at the rice cooker, willing it to turn itself on and make his early dinner for him. Then at least he’d have a full belly and a ghost problem, rather than a grumbly stomach and a boy dilemma. Unfortunately, the spirits are not currently willing to comply with his demands of dinner and he’s forced to actually cook.
He sets a timer as an extra reminder and his eyes catch on the current time briefly before clicking his phone shut.
6:48. Great. That’s a good casual time to be texting a…acquaintance? Soon-to-be-friend? Shouyou’s nose scrunches as he considers. “Pancake’s owner” is the most fitting title for Kageyama, he eventually concedes. Now his problem is starting a conversation.
Shouyou bites his lip and leans against the counter for unneeded support, cool granite kissing the skin above his waistband as he taps his phone. Why is this so difficult?
Thankfully, even with all this strange energy building inside him, Shouyou manages to scrounge deep enough to find the last vestiges of his courage and draft a text to Kageyama. It’s a simple hello but hopefully that would be enough to at least get him to respond. Hopefully.
shoyooo.hinata
hellooooo
Okay, maybe he added too many ‘o’s but it’s the most genuine greeting he can type in his current state. Mustn’t have been too bad because Kageyama responds instantly.
Shouyou’s heart patters pleasantly as he opens the message.
Kageyama.t0bio
oh. hi.
“’Oh’?” Shouyou repeats out loud.
shoyooo.hinata
u dont sound very excited to text me :(((
Kageyama.t0bio
that’s just how i sound.
shoyooo.hinata
lol true true
It occurs way too belatedly to Shouyou that he has no idea where he wants this conversation to go. If he’s lucky (which he knows he isn’t), it will steer in the vague direction of ‘please come over right away, my cat Pancake is in desperate need of Shouyou cuddles!’ In which case, he’d be happy to oblige such a request. But Shouyou has a feeling he’ll have to talk to Kageyama a little more before at long last holding Pancake in his arms. Would talking in person expedite the process? Perhaps a meal together would suffice.
His phone pings again.
Kageyama.t0bio
so why are you messaging me this time?
at least it isn’t on pancake’s account i guess.
shoyooo.hinata
oh! yea sorry about that i didnt know ur personal
Kageyama.t0bio
I know
shoyooo.hinata
aNYWAYS! i was just wondering if you had a lunch break during the day.
Kageyama.t0bio
Yeah. at noon. why?
Shouyou sucks a breath between his teeth. It’s now or never, he supposes. It would help a little more if he could gauge Kageyama’s tone. He should be much easier to read in person—though Shouyou still has to spend some quality time with Kageyama’s face to learn the intricacies of his voice and expressions.
shoyooo.hinata
noon is mine too!
maybe we could eat together?!?
That exclamation point is not supposed to go there. Ug, now I seem way over eager, don’t I?
Kageyama.t0bio
Ok
Well Kageyama could have responded worse.
shoyooo.hinata
!!! awesome!! sooo meet you at the student center at noon???
Kageyama.t0bio
Yeah
Shouyou whoops in victory and allows himself a small dance around his kitchen before settling into his next response.
shoyooo.hinata
yaaaay!!!!
Kageyama.t0bio
You use a lot of punction
shoyooo.hinata
??? what?
Kageyama.t0bio
Like that
shoyooo.hinata
punctuation???
Kageyama.t0bio
....yeah thats what i meant
Shouyou’s laugh reverberates off the tile in his kitchen—loud and long enough for his neighbor to slap the wall to get him to shut up. He merely quiets his giggles and starts to type.
Before he can hit send, Shouyou is startled by the sudden crash of sound from his phone speakers. He scrambles to keep himself from sending his phone on a one-way trip to the unforgiving tile and retrieve his dinner.
He gathers his bowl and fork to eat his food in the living area. Immediately upon finding his spot on the couch, he shoots Kageyama another text.
shoyooo.hinata
punction isnt even a word how did you do that??
Kageyama.t0bio
IDK?? someone turned off my autocorrect and i dont knw how to turn it back on...
but your typing is worse
waaaaaay worse
shoyooo.hinata
ASDFGHJKL; HEY
ur so dumb
Shouyou acts offended to Kageyama. He counts it as a blessing that Kageyama will never know that he’s actually smiling as he texts him back.
Mission Status: First date meeting
Shouyou’s knee is jerking with restrained nerves as he sits in front of the student center. The autumn breeze blows strands of orange curls flying into his face. He pushes it back, running his palm over the overgrown hairs of his undercut. Ug, he should really fix that.
He fidgets and checks the time over and over like it’s going to change drastically between the seconds. Honestly, Shouyou shouldn’t be near as nervous as he is but he can’t really help it. If he screws up this meeting, there’s no way he’d ever get to cat-meeting level but there’s also the underlying itch that so genuinely wants Kageyama to be his friend.
Their texting banter makes him incredibly happy. Despite the occurrence only happening twice, he doesn’t want to lose it, hence the added nerves while he waits for Kageyama.
Soon enough, he catches sight of Kageyama in the distance, wearing his typical sweatpants and t-shirt with a light jacket over it. It shouldn’t look as good as it does.
Shouyou grins to keep his thoughts from showing too apparent on his face. “Hey!”
Kageyama’s head snaps to him, giving a slight nod in response as Shouyou jogs over. “Hi.”
“Hungry?”
Kageyama nods again, lips twitching like they don’t know which direction to go. “Starving.”
Shouyou continues to grin as they walk into the student center side by side. Shouyou can only imagine how strange they must look paired together. Kageyama’s tall imposing figure dressed appropriately for the weather and for a typical college student striding with a strange amount of grace for such a height. Then there’s Shouyou’s relatively short frame clad in a t-shirt, shorts and sneakers bounding in like a pin in a pinball machine beside him.
Shouyou chuckles.
“What?” Kageyama asks, eyebrow raising.
“Nothing,” Shouyou lies coolly. Kageyama scoffs at the blatant fib but otherwise does not warrant a proper response.
They choose their food quickly. Shouyou opts for salad and a brownie, Kageyama, a chicken sandwich with a granola bar on the side.
Together they sit at the table nearest to a window and silently unwrap their meals.
“So, Kageyama,” Shouyou starts casually. “I don’t really know much about you. Tell me?”
Kageyama lifts a shoulder in a lame imitation of a shrug. “Not much to tell. I’m not that interesting.”
Shouyou scrunches his nose in distaste. He knows for a fact, even from their sparse conversations, that Kageyama is anything but uninteresting. “I highly doubt that, but I guess I can start with myself instead. That might help you a little. Sound good?”
“Sure.”
“I’m a junior cultural anthropology major. I like learning about everybody’s version of normal and I also had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do after high school so here I am. I like cat pictures and kickboxing. And my best friend’s name is Yachi.” Shouyou stabs his salad with a flimsy plastic fork. “You don’t have to tell me anything crazy. I’m not going to pry.”
Kageyama straightens, chewing thoughtfully. “Clearly you know I have a cat account and I like little succulent plants. The one in my profile picture is named Chip. Um, I’m a junior, studying sports medicine as a backup plan. I like to play baseball but I’m not sure I’ll go pro.”
“Why don’t you think you’ll go pro?”
A flash of pain crosses Kageyama’s face and Shouyou instantly wishes he could eat his own words out of existence. He said he wouldn’t pry and yet here he is, immediately doing the opposite.
Kageyama stares out the window and sighs. “Medial epicondylitis. The tendons in my arm and wrist get inflamed. I pushed myself too far too many times and now I’m paying the price for it. Said that if it flares up again, I’ll be out for the season, which isn’t exactly a good look.”
“Oh,” Shouyou breathes, salad all but forgotten. “Man, I’m so sorry.”
Kageyama shrugs again.
Shouyou really regrets asking now. He wants nothing more to wipe away the melancholic pull to his lips. “You’ll play a great season.”
“How do you know?” Kageyama sounds so tired.
“Because I just do, it’s a talent of mine,” Shouyou bobs his head in solidarity with himself. “I believe in you Kageyama. And I’ll be at all your home games to make sure you know it.”
Kageyama’s head shoots up in surprise. “You…but—why?” His face is switching between confused, surprised, and something oddly fond in rapid succession. Shouyou’s heart should not be pounding. “Why are you trying so hard?”
Shouyou isn’t quite sure what to make of that question but presses on anyway. “I don’t really know. I kinda get the feeling that we’re similar, in a weird way. Plus, you have wonderful taste in cats—so if nothing else I believe in that.”
A laugh bubbles from Kageyama’s mouth before he has the chance to cover it. Shouyou grins. That’s much better.
“I would say the same to you but all I know is that you creep on my cat account.”
“Oi!”
The rest of their lunch conversation passes in a similar fashion to their text messages. Bantering, picking fights, and teasing as if they’ve known each other for years. It’s so comfortable that Shouyou himself forgets that this is their first time actually hanging out.
They walk to their math lecture across campus, discussing things of little consequence like who invented the paper clip (and why???) and slipping easily into talking about their sisters. Who knew that older and younger sisters could be the same and yet so different?
The only reason they stop is because the lecture hall is insanely quiet, and the professor does a double take upon them entering together. (Clearly, this poor professor has witnessed Shouyou’s poor attempts at making a friend—whoops.)
And soon enough, Shouyou’s Thursday becomes exactly like every other Thursday he’s lived this semester.
The predictably prosaic nagging of his lecture whirrs directly into one ear and right out the other. Shuffling of papers and the vague scratch of lead across paper barely register either. They’re probably discussing a complex topic (Shouyou really should start paying attention…soon), but Shouyou’s gaze is fixed firmly in the direction of Kageyama’s screen.
It’s tilted—almost imperceptibly so—towards him. Shouyou bites down the grin fighting its way onto his lips and takes in the sight Kageyama has bestowed before him.
Slowly, Kageyama’s thumb scrolls through the normal feed of cat after cat. Every so often there’s a meme, which Kageyama reads with care as his trim nails scrape the side of his phone case. The movement steals Shouyou’s attention to the way the tendons move under Kageyama’s pale skin. Sometimes if he positioned his phone differently, Shouyou could catch a glimpse of the muscles working in his forearm. In all honesty, it’s the most beautiful hand Shouyou has ever seen—as weird as that may sound.
Oh god, does he have a hand kink? Why am I still thinking about Pancake’s owner’s hands?
Sorry Pancake...
Shouyou shakes his head in an attempt to refocus on the adorable cats Kageyama is providing him. The sight is no less adorable, but it has suddenly lost some of its charm. Particularly when tempted by Kageyama rolling his jacket sleeves up. Distracting.
So distracting that Shouyou doesn’t notice class has ended until Kageyama is already standing up. Shouyou startles into action, shoving his sparse belongings into his backpack and rushing to his next class.
How embarrassing. At least he had lunch with Kageyama beforehand so he wouldn’t have to endure a mortifying hour with the person he’s simultaneously conspiring against and thirsting over.
Mission Status: Sorry Pancake
shoyooo.hinata sent a photo
this is my apartment
whats yours like?
any,,,,idk…PETS???
Kageyama.t0bio
no
shoyooo.hinata
>:[[[[
Kageyama.t0bio sent a photo
here. this is my couch
shoyooo.hinata
PANCAAAAAAKE ;~;
Kageyama.t0bio
yeah that’s what i figured you wanted
shoyooo.hinata
i feel like you may be accusing me of something ‘yama
Kageyama.t0bio
It’s not an accusation if it’s true
you can just ask for pictures of her you know
i know if you ever use them to start a fake pancake account i can easily kick your ass
shoyooo.hinata
>:oo i would never dishonor pancake like that
and NO????? YOU COULDN'T??? what part of "i like kickboxing" did you not understand???
Kageyama.t0bio
fame and fortune could tempt anyone
shoyooo.hinata
??? theres fortune in a cat account??
Kageyama.t0bio
yes
having a better cat than everyone else and them knowing it
shoyooo.hinata
…ur scary and cute at the same time, u know that?
Kageyama.t0bio
……
no i didn’t
shoyooo.hinata
well you do now
Mission Status: ASDFHJHJH
“Are you stalking me or something?”
Shouyou yelps, jerking his head around to the deep voice by his ear. Kageyama is standing rather close—his face tilted down towards Shouyou’s, just barely a few inches apart. How the hell did Shouyou not notice?
He and Kageyama had gotten in the habit of texting almost daily and getting lunch together once a week for the past few weeks so his presence should be familiar enough for Shouyou to notice. Apparently not though.
“Wh—!” Shouyou chokes on his own spit. He slams his gym locker shut and moves to the bench, much too focused on retying his already tied shoelaces. “No. Can’t a person come to the gym without being antagonized by some giant.”
Shouyou is always in the gym at this time. It’s Kageyama who should be accused of stalking, really. But Shouyou won’t tease him too much this time (for Pancake’s sake, obviously).
Kageyama’s head quirks to the side like a confused pet. Pieces of his bangs fall delicately across his dark eyebrow and Shouyou suddenly feels the need to slam his head in his own locker. “Giant? I’m 188 centimeters.”
Shouyou’s locker tempts him even more. God, he’s stupid and has an adorable cat and god damnit his arms look good in a compression shirt. Shouyou is going to die before today is over, he just knows it.
“You’re a giant. A tall, stupid giant. Giant-yama.”
Kageyama huffs quietly. “What does that make you then?”
Shouyou sticks his tongue out at him and hops up. “Faster than you. Because I’m lighter on my feet.”
“Hm,” Kageyama’s eyes drop to Shouyou’s feet then back up to his face. “I doubt you’re much lighter than me.”
Shouyou flushes in every place Kageyama’s gaze lingered, hot enough to dissolve into the floorboards if he was made of something weaker.
“How about we find out just how light I am?”
Kageyama blinks, tiny pigments of pink blooming on his cheeks. “What?”
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Shouyou is wrong. He’s weak. He’s very, very weak.
“Race me,” Shouyou rushes to explain. “On the treadmill, let’s race.”
Kageyama’s eyes take on a glint, one side of his mouth creeping up as his shoulders straighten. “I’ll win.”
And oh shit that’s the hottest thing Shouyou has ever seen in his life. It builds in his chest like a forge, stoking the fires of his own competitiveness and melting his very lifeblood until all that is left is determination and eagerness.
“We’ll see about that,” he grounds out through his forming grin. “I promise you won’t be disappointed either way.”
They rush over to the line of treadmills and after some warmup stretches, they are ready to go. And go they sure did.
Shouyou can’t even pinpoint the exact moment they began—there had been no words, only eye contact and the pounding of their shoes against the running deck. He doesn’t know the rules of the race they’re running but he’ll be damned if he doesn’t smile through every step.
Time flies with the rushing winds of Shouyou’s laughter and all too soon, they come to a halt.
They exchange their numbers during the cool down period. Kageyama won by 0.01 kilometers. Shouyou can’t even bring himself to be angry.
“What else do you normally do here?” Shouyou uses the bottom of his shirt to soak the sweat forming on his skin.
Kageyama turns his head in the opposite direction and clears his throat. “Nothing.”
Shouyou groans and rolls his eyes. “Oh, come on.”
Kageyama stalks in the opposite direction of Shouyou without another word, leaving Shouyou on his own to pout.
“Fine. Since you normally do—” Shouyou mocks Kageyama’s deep voice the best he can on his next word “—'nothing’ why don’t you come help me a bit today? I think there are some focus mitts around here somewhere.”
Kageyama stops and sighs. He nods his head slowly and walks over to the matted floor, much to Shouyou’s thrill.
Shouyou bounds over to the desk. Suga glances at him briefly, a bright smile tugging at the corners of his eyes. “Hey! What’s happening with you today? You want the heavy bag?”
“Ah, not today, Suga-san. Can I have the focus mitts please?”
Suga stops staring at his boyfriend, Daichi, at the lift machine just long enough to take out the mitts as requested. (Shouyou once teased him and said the only reason he works here is so he can watch Daichi work out. Suga very brazenly informed him that was exactly why he worked here. He was very serious and Shouyou doesn’t doubt its truth one bit.)
“I think the trainer just walked in if you want me to—”
“Sh!” Shouyou hastily grabs the mitts like Suga might take them back. “No thanks. I don’t need him today.”
Suga perks up, fully resting his playful eyes on Shouyou. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” Shouyou looks to Kageyama. “I’ll be fine today.”
“Alright then.” Suga sets his chin back in his hands and returns to his previous task of not doing his job.
Shouyou thanks him before turning tail and jogging to Kageyama, tossing the focus mitts high in the air. “Okay so put these on.”
Kageyama catches the focus mitts with ease, adjusting the straps to put them on. “What do you want me to do?”
Stand there and look pretty. “I don’t really do any matches, so you don’t really have to worry about moving around or trying to help me with combos. I mostly just burn off some energy and want a little extra push back from you today,” Shouyou explains coolly, spending way too much time watching the gloves slip easily onto Kageyama’s large hands. “Can you do that for me?”
Okay, that wasn’t meant to slip out so flirty but Kageyama’s blush is too cute for him to regret it. He clears his throat, “I can.”
Shouyou lets his voice stay at the same low level as his previous statement, skin prickling with the desire to run the palms of his hands across Kageyama’s shoulders.
“Here, I’ll show you how to stand.” Shouyou reaches out. His fingertips skim the cool fabric on the back of Kageyama’s hand. Their eyes scorch as they collide. “May I?”
Kageyama nods.
Shouyou sets to work gently adjusting Kageyama’s stance, foot tapping against his ankles and white-hot fingers against a firm bicep. Kageyama watches his every move through his dark lashes, muscles pliable under Shouyou’s corrective touch. Shouyou fights not to make eye contact with him—if he does, he’ll definitely do something that will banish any hope of cat privileges.
God, he continues to defile Pancake’s honor, but can he really help it when he’s gay and her owner is hot? No, of course not. Pancake would understand. Surely.
Mission Status: …oh no
Kageyama makes a stark and breathtaking addition to Shouyou’s normal. Shouyou is no stranger to loud and bright colors being thrown into the mundanity of life but Kageyama introduces a new shade altogether. Someone who is predictably crass yet surprisingly shy and heartfelt; a pieced together mosaic of broken glass that shines just a little brighter than all the others.
Damn, he’s getting poetic but anyone who’s looked into Kageyama’s steel eyes or received one of his humorously dry texts will know that he has a right to be.
The common vernacular was not made for describing one Kageyama Tobio.
(Unless you’re going to use “cute” or “hot”—both very valid terms of expression.)
However, though Shouyou is flying through midterms on the high of Kageyama’s light laughter, he has still yet to reach his previous goal. He has yet to meet the famous Pancake and it…bothers him.
Not in a whiney way that a child demands their toy but in a way that creates a slight sting in his heart. Kageyama refuses to let him come over, no matter how many opportunities Shouyou lays out before him.
Shouyou only feels slightly manipulative—and only sometimes. He doesn’t know why it bothers him so much, but it does. It bothers him greatly that Kageyama possibly thinks they aren’t close enough to hang at his apartment. Is it just Shouyou who considers them to be that close? Ag, he doesn’t know anymore.
Given the chance, he’d pounce on it (heh). But otherwise, he’ll pull back slightly on his advances on behalf of Pancake. Only because he can’t stomach the possibility that Kageyama might start to get tired of him, and that beautiful hue will be erased from his life entirely.
Mission Status: Am I falling?
Kageyama.t0bio sent a photo
Kageyama.t0bio sent a photo
which one should i post today?
shoyooo.hinata
!!!
ohmygod
this is,,,,
this is the highest honor anyone has ever given me
pls give me a moment to soak this in
Kageyama.t0bio
no
choose. i have to post soon
shoyooo.hinata
so bossy
bossy-yama
the second one!! i think she looks rather dapper in a bow tie ; ;
Kageyama.t0bio
ok thank you
shoyooo.hinata
no need to thank me! cat pictures always make me smile :)))
Kageyama.t0bio sent a photo
Kageyama.t0bio sent a photo
Kageyama.t0bio sent a photo
Mission Status: I think I might be falling
Shouyou hides a snicker behind his hand. Much too loud for the tinny squeak of a marker against the whiteboard to wash out. Another (actually good) student down his row glares at him harshly. Shouyou flushes and belatedly clears his throat.
shoyooo.hinata
that one doesnt count
Kageyama.t0bio
that excuse doesn’t work any more
you clearly laughed
shoyooo.hinata
did not! that was totally different from my real laugh
Kageyama.t0bio
you’re right
your real laugh is way more obnoxious
shoyooo.hinata
KASDLFA;
oKAY THEN IT’S MY TURN
Kageyama.t0bio
i already won though. i made you laugh in class
shoyooo.hinata sent a photo
Kageyama chokes quietly, stifling a chuckle behind the back of his palm. Shouyou grins smugly. Doesn’t really matter if Kageyama made Shouyou laugh fist if Shouyou was able to make Kageyama laugh at all.
Kageyama turns his head towards Shouyou. Briefly, the small smile is still plastered onto his face as they lock eyes—the blue in Kageyama’s is so bright they practically sparkle and Shouyou had only sent a stupid cat meme. Shouyou’s stomach flips and he bites down his returning smile by worrying his bottom lip. As soon as he realizes Shouyou heard his laughter, he scowls and twists back properly in his seat. But it’s far too late. Shouyou saw that blessed angel smile and he knows there’s no going back.
To the rhythm of his erratic heart and warmth beating on his cheekbones, Shouyou finally comes to a startling realization: he’s officially fucked.
Mission Status: SHIT
shoyooo.hinata
yacchaaaan
h.i.t.o.k.a._.yachi
Oh no
shoyooo.hinata
WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN
h.i.t.o.k.a._.yachi
Well you’ve hardly looked up from your phone for the past few weeks and now you’re texting me that soooo
You must be in pretty deep with Pancake’s owner
By the way, please tell me his actual name so I don’t have to keep calling your crush “Pancake’s owner”
It’s really weird
shoyooo.hinata
yachi….it’s worse than you think it is
i think i would genuinely give up on seeing his cat if seeing pancake meant i couldn’t see him anymore
bUT THAT’S ONLY IF
I F
the circumstances were like that
but
still. i think i’d choose him over pancake
h.i.t.o.k.a._.yachi
0-o
Oh wow. This is more serious than I thought
shoyooo.hinata
AKSDLF;ADK IKNOW
h.i.t.o.k.a._.yachi
Good luck when you confess to him
shoyooo.hinata
u think i should???
h.i.t.o.k.a._.yachi
You said he’s gay, right?
shoyooo.hinata
yes. he told me a few weeks ago. in hind sight it was really random hehe guess he trusts me
h.i.t.o.k.a._.yachi
And he’s seen you while you’re working out at the gym? Like, while you’re kickboxing?
shoyooo.hinata
yeah?????
h.i.t.o.k.a._.yachi
Then yes definitely.
shoyooo.hinata
?????? okay then??? O_O
Mission Status: New addition to mission! Hey google, how to confess to Pancake’s Owner?
Suddenly, without warning, there is an opening in Kageyama’s defenses. They’re walking to class, their final one before finals and Shouyou is lamenting.
“Kageyama, I didn’t take a single page of notes the entire semester! It’s a miracle I even passed the tests!”
“Professor did say that the final exam would be made from past test questions though.”
Shouyou whines again. “I know but I didn’t exactly do great on them either, you know. Speaking of, how are you passing? You don’t even try to pay attention.”
Kageyama rolls his eyes. “You gave up on paying attention a long while ago, that’s not my fault. Plus, the examples and PowerPoints are all online.”
“WHAT?”
“Not so loud,” Kageyama hisses, making a grab for Shouyou’s hair. Shouyou dodges easily but grumbles all the same. “All the lessons are online, so I always look over them.”
Shouyou leaps into Kageyama’s path, much to his fellow student’s chagrin. He walks backward with a pout to his lip. “Please help me. Can I come over and study?”
“I already told you no,” Kageyama mutters.
“But that was at the beginning of the semester!”
“And we’re both still just as bad at math.” Kageyama buries his face into his green scarf. The tip of his nose is nipped with red frigidness and his thick scarf is the last defense against the chill.
Shouyou chuckles despite himself, falling back into step beside Kageyama. He does his best to mask his disappointment. “If you don’t want me to come over, you can just say so.”
He doesn’t do a very good job because Kageyama is sent scrambling for words.
The red tinge to his face worsens and he sputters like an old car. “What? No! That’s not what I meant. I’m—I mean, I just…”
Shouyou bites his chapped lip. Damn Kageyama is so cute. “I’m not upset. I’m just messing with y—”
“Come over this weekend.”
Shouyou stops in his tracks. “Huh?”
“You said you wanted to so,” Kageyama huffs. His breath fans over his face and ruffles his split bangs. “I can help you find the materials or whatever.”
Courage surges through Shouyou’s veins, and in one bold stroke he tenderly reaches out and puts the inky black pieces of hair in their proper place. “Only if you’re okay with it.”
“Yeah,” Kageyama croaks. “I’m…yeah, that’s good with me.”
“Okay.” Shouyou smiles at him and Kageyama gives a wobbly smile back.
Saturday cannot arrive soon enough.
And it doesn’t. The next day is relatively normal, filled with cat pictures, teasing messages, and typical excitement that comes hand in hand with Fridays. But then there is also the impending weekend that looms over him and Shouyou is nervous.
He wakes up in the early hours of Saturday, desperately reaching for his phone to make sure he hadn’t slept through his study date with Kageyama and Pancake (could it be considered a date? Shouyou isn’t really sure but it is one in his heart). Those extra hours are all spent deciding what to wear.
What’s the proper attire for meeting a cat celebrity and also going over to your crush’s apartment for the first time? A button up is definitely too much. Kageyama normally just wears sweatpants anyways so he’ll more than likely look really casual. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.
He opts for some joggers and a soft t-shirt, in the end. If cuddles are on the table, he wants to be ready for it. He guesses Pancake might appreciate it too.
Shouyou can’t really bring himself to eat much—his stomach rolls around restlessly, reminding him of his afternoon plans. Today it’s just him, Kageyama, and Pancake. That’s plenty to get any person nervous—pretty guy, pretty cat, in his apartment, all alone…oh god.
Kageyama’s apartment is only a 10-minute walk away but Shouyou still leaves a little early to make sure that he finds the right place. Thank goodness Kageyama lives on the bottom floor so he won’t have to stress about his jelly legs making it up the stairs too.
He strides through the cool air, wind lapping at his oversized jacket and entwining with his jingling key chain. All he can really ground himself in is his desire for this visit to go well—with both Kageyama and Pancake, of course.
The apartment building finally comes into sight and Shouyou’s nerves kick into hyperdrive. He studies all the windows lining the side of the building, most of the blinds completely shut because of the cold weather. But, as he’s walking, he comes across one that is wide open. His curiosity gets the better of him and he peaks inside as he’s walking by on the sidewalk, only for him to see a familiar head of dark hair standing out against the cream walls.
Shouyou stops so suddenly he almost tips over. His nosiness rears its disgusting little head and urges him closer. He can’t go all the way up to the window because of a line of shrubbery but he gets close enough to peer inside.
There, sitting on his couch is Kageyama, dressed in his usual casual wear. He’s smiling softly down at his lap where there lay three cats. One of them is the easily recognizable Pancake but the other two—one a brown tabby cat and the other a chocolate point Himalayan—are ones he’s never seen before. All of them lounge in Kageyama’s lap, Pancake pawing at his chest, the tabby asleep on its back, and the Himalayan sitting proper right next to his leg.
Shouyou thinks he’s going to burst into a bunch of tiny pieces. Then he’d pathetically crawl to Kageyama’s door and ask him to put him back together. If he didn’t melt from the warmth radiating from his aching heart first, that is.
Bright blue feline eyes meet his and before he can blink, the cat darts off into a completely different room. Which then startles the tabby and it runs off in the exact same direction. Kageyama’s soft expression dissolves into a scowl as he stares after them.
Shouyou quickly ducks just in case, hand pressed against his heart as if willing it to stop beating.
Face burning, Shouyou crawls away from the window and pops to his feet when he’s a good distance away. He really wishes he could’ve gotten a picture though. Next time maybe (read: hopefully). But even so…. why did Kageyama have other cats in his apartment?
When he finally reaches his destination, he stands at Kageyama’s door all of 0.2 seconds before he knocks. It doesn’t take long for Kageyama to answer in all of his cat-hair covered glory.
“Hi,” he says simply.
“Hiya!” Shouyou grins at him, the fluttering in his chest worsening upon hearing Kageyama’s voice. “Ready to study?”
Kageyama nods and steps out of the way to let him in. Shouyou bounds inside, eyes locked on one thing and one thing alone.
At long last…Pancake.
Shouyou practically squeals at the sight. She’s rolled atop her back on the couch cushions, languidly licking her own paw and not paying him a single bit of attention, and totally perfect.
“Pancaaaaake!” Shouyou draws out as he approaches her. It is his time. The age of Shouyou being Pancake’s favorite has begun. “Hi, pretty girl.”
He reaches out and gives her belly a few good scratches. She stretches out lazily to allow the attention.
“Oh my god, Yamayama, I think I’ve gone to heaven. You have the cutest cat in the world.”
“Cats.”
Shouyou pauses, arching a brow at Kageyama. “Cats?”
“You…” Kageyama’s face scrunches in confusion. “You know I own more than one cat, right?”
Shouyou is pretty sure what exits his mouth is the verbal equivalent to a key smash. “No?! You never told me?!?”
“Oh,” Kageyama says plainly, though his face gives away his sheepishness. “I have 3 cats.”
Another squawk exits his throat.
Kageyama shifts his weight on his feet like he’s trying to make himself smaller. "Uh, their names are, um, Bean—the brown one—and Cookie.”
“Why don’t you ever send pictures of them?” Shouyou scoops Pancake into his arms. She merely blinks as if to demand he continue petting her. His fingers rake through her fur obligingly. “They don’t have accounts too?”
Kageyama shrinks even more, lower lip jutting out slightly and face filling with the cutest pink. “They’re shy.” His fingers curl in on themselves nervously. “That’s why I don’t post about them…or have many people over…”
Oh dear god this man cannot possibly get anymore precious. Shouyou is so full of unrestrained softness his mouth runs completely by its own will. “Please go out with me.”
Kageyama eyes widen impossibly larger. “What?”
“What?”
His brain catches up to his mouth. Oh shit, what has he done?
Shouyou’s head is flooded with cotton, soaking up every intellectual thought he could possibly have and replacing it with only the flood of his internal screaming.
Kageyama shuffles closer. He still looks much too shrunken for someone his size, his hands twitching right in front of him. “You want to, like…” His fingers are moving erratically now. “Date me?”
Shouyou nods quickly enough for his neck to groan in protest. Well, he certainly hadn’t been planning to ask Kageyama out today but...oh well? It's true and he already said it so there's no point in trying to take it back. “Desperately, if that’s alright with you.”
“Uhhh,” Kageyama makes eye contact, mouth in a nervous wiggly line. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s fine with me. I think I’d really like that. Please.”
Shouyou can’t take it anymore. He’s watched Kageyama be way too cute and hot for way too long and Shouyou discovered that it is just too much for him to handle. Not unless he acts on it immediately. That and he’s really wanted to kiss Kageyama’s stupid face for a while now.
He reaches for Kageyama’s wrist and yanks him down to his eye level. His knees hit the carpet with a dull thud and he’s so close Shouyou can feel his sharp intake of breath.. Kageyama blinks in surprise. Why is even that simple action so damn endearing? Shouyou’s heart aches.
“You’re...really strong,” Kageyama says—stupidly.
“Yeah, uh huh, very strong—Can I kiss you please?” Just when Shouyou doesn’t think his heart can grow any larger with the force of the tenderness, Kageyama raises a hand to brush over his cheek and nods slowly.
Soft as Shouyou tries to be when capturing Kageyama’s lips, the kiss ends up being sloppy because Shouyou smiles against his mouth.
Pancake meows and paws at the collar of his shirt.
Shouyou laughs through his nose backing up only slightly so he can see the adorable wobbliness of Kageyama’s smile back as Pancake purrs for his attention on his other side.
Mission Status: Success