Chapter Text
Hinata still remembers the day he met Kageyama for the first time. Hinata remembers being intimidated, being mildly worried that the boy above him could crush him in a matter of seconds. Granted, Hinata doesn’t feel that way anymore, but he wouldn’t trade their first meeting for the world.
Hinata also remembers being intimidated by their height difference, even though HInata is used to being shorter than his friends. Kageyama is just so tall compared to him, and Hinata would be lying if he said that it didn’t annoy him at first. But now, Hinata likes seeing Kageyama above him, even though Kageyama always seems to be right next to him for every important moment in his life.
Which is why they’re here, holding hands as they walk to physics class. Their hands are tightly intertwined, but not so tight that it would hurt. The hallways are beginning to clear out, even though Hinata’s timer hasn’t gone off yet. It’s too early to be worrying about the laws of the universe, but Hinata has no choice but to suck it up and make his way to his lecture.
When they finally arrive at their lecture hall, Hinata is pleased when he remembers that this isn’t a goodbye. Kageyama walks with him into the room, and Hinata finds himself sitting next to Kageyama, in their usual seats, which are the best ones, in Hinata’s humble opinion.
“Good morning, everyone.” Hinata’s professor says, and they have definitely seen better days. Hinata feels bad for them sometimes, but his feelings go away when he remembers the copious amounts of reading he was assigned over his summer break. Hinata is on the verge of yawning, but Kageyama is concentrating on his computer, going over his notes with watchful eyes.
Hinata smiles to himself, because Kageyama looks cute when he’s focused. Hinata definitely prefers Kageyama’s studious nature to the way things were before. Hinata would never go back to the past, no matter the circumstances. After all, Hinata doesn’t know why he’d worry about the past when his future is sitting right next to him.
Hinata’s professor drones on, pointing to their presentation. And even though Hinata doesn’t have a Master’s degree yet, he does know that his last five assignments have been work meant to keep him busy. Hinata guesses that he can’t complain, because anything his professor assigns him is better than taking one test per week. Hinata barely survived high school, and he doesn’t plan on spending his college years nearly killing himself over his own homework.
Kageyama is typing something on his computer, and Hinata goes back to taking notes by hand. Hinata has been taking handwritten notes since high school, because he found that studying for history tests was a lot easier after pouring over his textbook and writing down concepts in his own words.
Hinata finishes another page of notes, and before he can look over them once more, his professor moves on to the next slide. Hinata just sighs, adding another page to his growing list of notes. When his professor finally stops talking for a moment, Hinata looks over at Kageyama, who gives him his usual smile.
The old Hinata would find Kageyama’s smile disingenuous, stiff, even, but that’s all in the past. Hinata now sees Kageyama’s smile as warm and inviting, even if it only looks that way to him. Even so, Hinata knows that Kageyama only cares about Hinata’s opinion, anyway.
-
Hinata can think of many bright sides to Kageyama’s situation. Hinata remembers the day he found out about Kageyama’s secret identity, and how much weight was lifted off his shoulders, even as more weight was added on. Hinata doesn’t feel that way anymore, but he sometimes wonders if Kageyama feels the same way as he did before—upset about his cover being blown.
That doesn’t seem to be the case today, Hinata learns, as he tightly holds Kageyama’s hand. They walk into a cafe, one that Hinata has never been to, but it feels like coming home. Kageyama guides them to a table where three other men sit, and Hinata is instantly intimidated.
Hinata feels silly for identifying the men based on their eyes, but Hinata also knows that eyes are the window to the soul. The first man he recognizes has an apathetic, yet stressed look about him. His face is framed by curly, black hair parted to one side, and Hinata identifies the man as the boxer known as Nightowl.
The man beside Nightowl is perhaps scarier than Kageyama himself. The man has short, brown hair parted down the middle. His name is Quicksilver, however, Hinata finds it funny that he knows Quicksilver from his appearances on national television as part of a famous wrestling team, instead of his career as an underground boxer.
Hinata tries not to gasp when he sees the last man. Better known as Iwaizumi from his college, or Oikawa Tooru’s boyfriend, which is a fact that everyone is aware of, Iwaizumi is also known as Subzero in the world of underground boxing.
Hinata takes a seat after realizing that he has been staring for a while, and he laughs quietly. Hinata smiles at the men in front of him, unable to say anything. “I’m a big fan,” Hinata says, and he wishes he could kick himself for greeting the boxers with such a lame opener.
It feels surreal to be so close to his favorite underground boxers, and even more unbelievable that a famous underground boxer is his boyfriend. However, as the day goes on, Hinata comes to realize that life isn’t at all what it seems. In fact, from the moment he arrived at his university’s campus, Hinata had a feeling that his life would be a little wild.
What’s more, Hinata is also learning that Kageyama is a fever that he can’t sweat out, and in all honesty, Hinata has no plans of doing so. Hinata sighs, before relaxing against his chair. He doesn’t relax too much, for the fear of Kageyama’s boxer friends thinking he has gotten bored, but he relaxes just enough.
-
Even though Hinata is regarded as the sun, save for residing in a significantly smaller package, he often wakes up before the sun has secured its place in the sky. Hinata sighs, pouring himself a steaming cup of light roast coffee while checking the time. Knowing Kageyama, he’ll probably sleep for another thirty minutes, which gives Hinata enough time to put on another cup of coffee—dark roast this time.
Kageyama would never admit it, but he has been spending a lot of time inside of Hinata’s dorm. Hinata can’t complain, though, because he knows that Kageyama’s roommate may be tired of seeing Hinata around Kageyama’s dorm. Hinata takes another sip of his coffee, mentally going over tasks that he can skip today.
Hinata knows that it’s better to start on a project early, or risk being left behind as his grades plummet, but he also knows that starting a project is always the hardest part. Hinata honestly doesn’t know how Kei manages.
By the time Hinata crosses off three tasks from his to-do list, the sun is beginning to peek out from behind the clouds. Hinata counts to three before Kageyama emerges from their—virtually shared—bedroom. Hinata fights back a smile, as the sight of Kageyama with tousled hair greets his eyes.
“Damn it,” Hinata curses under his breath. “He’s cute,” Hinata sighs, looking at Kageyama from across the room—as if Kageyama may have gotten more attractive since Hinata saw him yesterday.
Kageyama doesn’t seem to hear anything, and if he does, whatever he hears is drowned out by the sound of seagulls making their way to the beach. Kageyama pours himself a cup of coffee before sitting down at the table, and Hinata decides not to comment on the fact that Kageyama is clearly not a morning person.
“Good morning,” Hinata says finally, and Kageyama takes a long sip of his coffee before setting his mug down on the table.
“Good morning,” Kageyama replies, slightly more cheery than when he first emerged from his room. Hinata hopes that Kageyama will take the time to enjoy the beautiful day ahead, instead of spending his time indoors. The true months of summer are beginning to approach Los Angeles, and Hinata knows that it’s only a matter of time before they have no choice but to stay indoors with melting popsicles and a malfunctioning air conditioner. Hinata plans to make the most of the spring until that time inevitably comes.
Kageyama hasn’t had a match in a while, and Hinata has yet to ask Kageyama why that is. Hinata guesses that Kageyama is focusing on school, which is a fact that he has noticed, and that Kageyama will be back in the ring when summer arrives.
Hinata is happy with the way things are, though, with the way he feels around the boy he has come to love. Hinata is sure, however, that he has loved Kageyama for longer than he realizes, and Hinata finds that fact even more peaceful than a warm spring morning.
-
Hinata has never been more nervous in his life. Sure, Hinata still remembers the trembling of his fingers as he drove to his first boxing tournament, but this tops everything Hinata has ever known.
Hinata and Kageyama are currently in front of Kageyama’s childhood home, and Hinata’s heart is threatening to fly out of his chest. Hinata grips Kageyama’s hand, as they knock on the door and wait for someone to answer.
Kageyama’s parents answer after a brief moment, and Hinata swallows thickly. To his surprise, they quickly usher the couple inside, closing the door behind them. If this were a cheesy horror movie, Hinata would be dead right now, murdered at the hands of an unassuming elderly couple.
This isn’t a movie, however, and Hinata is forced to face the parents of his boyfriend head on. “Sit down!” Kageyama’s mother says, a bright smile stretching across her lips. She gestures to the kitchen, where biscuits and tea sit on top of a platter. Hinata chuckles awkwardly, taking a seat at the dining table.
Hinata pours himself a cup of tea, but not before nearly burning himself. They sit there in silence for a while, save for Kageyama’s parents occasionally making small talk about school, and Hinata’s boxing career, or lack thereof. After five minutes of torture, Kageyama leaves for the restroom.
Hinata clasps his hands together, taking another sip of his scalding cup of tea. As soon as Kageyama disappears up the stairs, it feels as if a dam has been broken, or a barrier has been torn down, because Kageyama’s parents lower their voices and begin talking. “We have to ask,” his mother begins, “do you know…about his boxing?”
Hinata is caught off guard by the question, but he nods after a moment. “Yeah, I found that out the hard way.” He says with a soft laugh, thinking back to the day he discovered the truth about Kageyama’s secret identity. Hinata often walks through the events of that night, and it scares him when he thinks about how one night can change everything. “How did you know?” Hinata asks, and Kageyama’s parents go quiet.
“We knew all along,” Kageyama’s father says, shifting in his seat. “We told him that everything would be okay, but you know how kids are, always willing to help out people who are in a tough spot.”
“Tobio was always like that, though.” Kageyama’s mother says with a smile, “always willing to help everyone in his own way. We tried to stop him before he could get hurt, but he insisted on helping us.”
“It’s like arguing with a brick wall,” Kageyama’s father says, and Hinata couldn’t agree more.
“But he’s happy with you,” his mother says, laying a hand over Hinata’s, and Hinata feels his heart grow warm. “Tobio’s lucky to have someone like you,” she adds, and Hinata tries his best not to cry.
Kageyama finally comes back from the bathroom, and Hinata wipes his tears and swallows the lump forming in his throat. “What did I miss?” Kageyama asks, more clueless than the day Hinata met him, but figures that it’s for the best.
“Nothing,” Hinata replies simply, “we were just talking about your childhood.”
“You better not mention the supermarket incident,” Kageyama says through gritted teeth, and Hinata raises his head in interest.
“We haven’t even gotten there yet, but I’m excited to hear about it!” Hinata says, and Kageyama has no choice but to sit down and listen.
“Well, Tobio got lost inside of the supermarket.” Kageyama’s mother begins, “and we may have taken off without him.”
“But at least we came back!” His father says, and Hinata laughs harder than he has ever laughed in his life.
-
Summer is finally approaching, and Hinata has never been more emotional about the end of the school year. Hinata remembers celebrating the last day of school back in Japan, but in this case, Hinata feels as if he’s losing a piece of himself as the academic year draws to a close.
Hinata thinks a lot about how he got here, and what else life has in store for him. Hinata thinks it’s incredible, just how fast the year went by. It feels like just yesterday that he was landing in Los Angeles, and he entered his new dorm as the person at the front desk advised him not to lose his keys.
Kageyama was different when Hinata first met him, but at the same time, it feels as if nothing has changed, and Hinata likes it that way. Hinata remembers how Kageyama brushed him off, and he wishes he could relive the day when they got over their feelings and Kageyama kissed him for the first time.
Hinata is happy to say that Kageyama doesn’t take on dangerous fights anymore. He hasn’t lost a tooth since Hinata has met him, which is an impressive feat, considering the people that Kageyama has been matched with. Hinata would like to say that Kageyama has been injury-free, but he knows that Kageyama will never leave his underground boxing career. Hinata doesn’t fault him for it, but it’s a hard pill to swallow.
Kageyama has good grades now, which is something that Hinata never would have expected. With how much Kageyama was focusing on his underground boxing career, and how little he cared about school, Hinata was losing hope that Kageyama would graduate next to him. In that way, Hinata is glad that Kageyama had a change of heart, because Hinata would somehow blame himself for not intervening sooner.
Hinata is also aware that he never would have gotten here, if not for the support of his friends. Suga is sitting across from him, looking at Hinata and Kageyama like a proud parent, and Daichi is watching them with a similar look in his eyes. It appears that Kei and Yamaguchi have also confronted their feelings, and Hinata couldn’t be happier for the two of them.
Asahi and Nishinoya and also sitting in the common area, and Hinata personally thinks that they are wonderful together, if not a strange combination. Asahi is a gentle person, but Nishinoya may just be more energetic than Hinata himself.
Hinata is happy with the way things are, especially knowing that he worked hard to get here. Hinata knows that he will love Kageyama until the end of time, and he hopes that Kageyama feels the same way. Hinata knows that Kageyama feels that same way, and Hinata feels his heart glow out of love, as they sit under the watch of the Los Angeles sun.