No.

Kageyama watched the sun, rise, beaming, bright, as it entered the gym, smiling, eyes alight, floating almost.

It was indisputable.

‘Hey Hinata! Good weekend? You’re practically glowing!’

Nishinoya’s right. Everyone can see it. He IS glowing…

That familiar monster inside Kageyama raised its head. No. Maybe it had nothing to do with Oikawa. It couldn’t be. He was clearly upset all of last week because of that viper –

Oh no.

As practice progressed, Kageyama noticed with mounting dread that once again, on a Monday, Hinata kept looking at the clock.

HOW? He said his mom had banned him from seeing anyone after school on a weeknight – is he lying to me?

‘Kageyama!’

Kageyama barely reached the ball with his fist but he still managed to get it over the net.

Kageyama had been slightly worried that after Friday’s fiasco, Hinata would be odd or awkward or off his game but – the little spiker seemed fine. In fact, he seemed more than fine. Not only that, it was almost as if Friday hadn’t happened at all. Hinata barely looked over: no remorse, no guilt, no tension – just his stupid preoccupation with the clock.

Kageyama wasn’t sure which was worse – a changed dynamic between them or this. This being as if absolutely nothing had happened.

‘Oi.’

Kageyama forced his spiker’s attention onto him during the break. Those brilliant brown eyes fell onto the blueberry. Yes. Finally. There it was: Hinata slightly crumpled, a blush warmed his complexion, he immediately dropped his gaze.

‘Hey. Kageyama.’

Good. Friday did happen then.

‘How was the rest of your weekend?’ Kageyama asked.

Slowly, Hinata brought his head up and looked at Kageyama, a resolve in his eyes.

Fuck. What had happened? Coach blew the whistle calling everyone back in. Hinata started to run but a hand grabbed his wrist, holding him back. He turned. Kageyama stared at the floor, his head low. And when he  spoke, Hinata only just about heard him –

‘I wish you’d stop… running from me.’

Kageyama dared to turn and look into Hinata’s eyes. The spiker wasn’t heartless; the sadness in Kageyama’s eyes pierced him, not to mention he was also too aware of the sensation of the setter’s hand holding his wrist. Suddenly it brought back memories of last Friday – Kageyama’s kisses, ravenous, forceful – and Hinata’s blush increased.

‘Can we talk? After practice?’ Kageyama asked.

‘Not today,’ Hinata said and, out of habit, glanced at the clock. ‘But… tomorrow?’

Kageyama’s grip loosened and Hinata strode away before the setter followed. It was as if a gigantic weight had been tied around Kageyama’s neck, pulling at him, forcing him down – when he jumped, or set, or served he could feel it, as tangible and real as the ball that grazed his fingertips.

After practice, Kageyama noted how Hinata didn’t seem to be running off as usual. He stayed, talking to Suga and Daichi. That’s odd.

Some of the team left, in dribs and drabs, but Kageyama made sure to leave the same time as Hinata, who left with a good chunk of the bunch: Tanaka and Nishinoya with Suga, Daichi and Asahi.

As they all approached the school gates, just beyond, a figure, tall, and slender, stood, across the road, waiting by a tree. He wore –

An Aoba Johsai school uniform.

No.

‘Is that -?’ Daichi squinted, as Hinata quietly collected his bike. ‘Oikawa?’

Kageyama felt sick rise to his throat, felt his chest tighten as if chains had been roped around him.

‘What is Oikawa doing here?’ Suga asked.

Both Daichi and Suga noticed how Hinata had gone silent.

‘Is he here to rumble? We’ll take him down!’ Tanaka roared.

‘Yeah yeah!’ Nishinoya joined in.

‘Cut it out you two -’ Daichi hissed at them.

Even from where Kageyama stood, a metre or so from Hinata, he could see the blush on the spiker’s cheeks, the look of determination as the  middle blocker stared past the school gates, he could feel the anticipation off of Hinata, as if he had prepared for this…

As the team approached their opponent, Oikawa pushed himself off of the tree and stepped forward. As Kageyama knew, there was no shame or embarrassment, no nervousness or fear, no hesitation or insecurity in the third-year setter. He smiled that slippery smile, eyes glinting. Karasuno stood as a collective group a good few metres from Oikawa.

‘Good evening Karasuno,’ his voice was like sugar-coated bullets. ‘Greetings captain,’ he added, directly to Daichi.

‘Evening Oikawa,’ Daichi nodded, ‘what brings you to our neck of the woods?’

‘Your number ten.’

Everyone turned to Hinata. His hair ablaze, his cheeks inflamed but his face, resolute. He looked only to Oikawa, with fire in his eyes and couldn’t help the smile that tugged on the sides of his mouth.

‘Toru,’ he said, his voice with the boldness of an eagle.

TORU?

‘Shoyo,’ Oikawa grinned back.

SHOYO!?!?

‘What the -?’ Tanaka began but Suga clamped a hand over his mouth as Hinata walked forward with his bike and stood in front of Oikawa, a single figure between the gap of Seijoh and Karasuno.

The both of them, with eyes only for each other, smiled at knowing they had faced their first hurdle together.

Hinata glanced over his shoulder, ‘I’ll see you guys tomorrow,’ and then to Oikawa, ‘Come on. Let’s go.’

They began walking in the direction of Hinata’s home. Oikawa turned back to savour the stupefied faces –

‘Farewell Karasuno.’

Oikawa then found the one face that mattered. Triumph ripped through Oikawa’s veins at the devastated look on Kageyama’s face. Oikawa’s eyes lit up in delight and he shot a look to the first year setter that said –

I’ve won.

He gloated in witnessing Kageyama’s expression splitting in two before turning his attention back to the ball of sunshine.

They ambled down the road together leaving behind a confounded group of crows.

The July air was perfect. It was warm but not too hot, the sun would soon begin to set, and Hinata’s favourite part of the day would begin.

Hinata and Oikawa walked side by side, feeling the piercing gazes of Karasuno on their backs. Oikawa glanced at the little crow expecting to find him flustered or aggrieved but was surprised to find Hinata already staring up at him, a slight smile playing on his lips and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

‘What’s that look for chibi-chan?’

‘I want to kiss you.’

Oikawa’s heart migrated from his body. He almost halted from the thrill of those words but he feared that if he stopped walking for a second, he’d be the one to swoop down and give in first.

Oikawa screwed up his face in agonised jubilation. ‘Believe me I want nothing more than for that to happen right now but – please be considerate to the lives of your teammates.’

Hinata laughed.

Oikawa sighed. ‘I’ll always love that sound.’

Hinata felt like he was walking on air on springs. Were evenings always this fragrant? That dilapidated shop sign – it had never looked so good as it did now. The boring fields Hinata cycled past every day –  they were verdant, lush – for some reason Hinata wanted to hop over the gate and run through the reeds. But he couldn’t take his eyes off  Oikawa, not even for a moment, for fear that this was all an apparition  and this beautiful hologram would disappear and Hinata would realise it was all his imagination.

They turned a corner.

Hinata stopped walking. Then Oikawa did too.

‘You really did… come and meet me after practice,’ Hinata said, half in gratitude, half in disbelief. ‘You really… came all this way just to walk me home.’

Oikawa half-grinned but with sadness in his eyes. Had he really held back so much that the crow had no indication of the depth of his feelings?

‘Everything I said to you on Saturday I meant,’ Oikawa said. ‘I’m happy to have this time with you.’

‘Then come here.’

Oikawa stared. What had happened? Ever since Saturday, ever since Oikawa had poured his heart out, Hinata had lapped up the contents and had become three times as bold. It wasn’t like Hinata had been holding back before, not like Oikawa but now the bird seemed even more free and untamed. And to Oikawa – even more beautiful.

He smirked and glanced past the spiker, making sure no one was around and then approached –

Hinata, as fast as lightning, grabbed hold of Oikawa’s tie, pulling the setter’s lips down to meet his, feeling the dried crusted roughness of his own blood still on the fabric, and hearing the clamour of his own bike falling down – but those lips were worth it. A sonic boom radiated  from Hinata’s chest filling his whole body with dizzying ecstasy: Oikawa likes me. He likes ME. As much as I like him. If not more.

Oikawa felt the hunger and passion in those lips, so much more than what it was before Saturday. Something had changed. Oikawa inserted his tongue into Hinata’s mouth and the spiker responded with his entire  being: Hinata pressed himself more into Oikawa, his arms latched themselves around the setter’s neck, his back curved as he drew the captain into an even deeper kiss. Hinata opened his mouth and sucked on Oikawa’s tongue –

Oikawa pulled away, gasping for breath. Flames had flickered on in the setter’s eyes. He had to stop. He was struggling to control his erection, his heart was beating way too fast and they were in public –

A wicked grin spread across that innocent face, and it made Oikawa even more hard.

Oikawa straightened up, taking deep breaths and moved his bag to cover his crotch but not before Hinata noticed.

Just in time – a car slowly turned the bend, and the couple had to  move out of the way as they were right in the middle of the road.

‘Is something wrong, captain?’ Hinata cocked his head to the side, a devilish look in his eyes.

Oikawa stared in wonder, a smile toying at the sides of his mouth. He shook his head at himself. ‘You’re so unpredictable chibi-chan,’ Oikawa  murmured. ‘Whatever shall I do with you?’

Hinata’s brazenness faltered; those pretty cheeks turned pink and Oikawa was pleased that his words still had that effect.

‘Maybe I should train you how to behave in public,’ Oikawa’s voice was like black silk, ‘by showing you what we shouldn’t do.’

Hinata’s heart pounded against his ears. Oikawa stared at Hinata like a hunter and the crow felt the exhilaration of being his prey. Hinata saw Oikawa glance past him and consider the fields of grass. Hinata’s heart tripped and fell down several organs. But then Oikawa’s expression changed, to one of high alert and he seemed to be listening out for something –

Not to mention, Oikawa had already calculated: these fields dipped down, they were too exposed, any imprints on the reeds were too noticeable; chibi-chan’s bike was a dead giveaway and the fence was awkwardly high to carry the bicycle over and then where would they hide  it?

‘We need to keep walking. I think some of your teammates might be catching up.’

Hinata scowled and picked his bike up off the ground. As they continued walking a light chuckle reached Hinata’s ears.

‘Don’t look so disappointed, Sho.’

Oikawa wasn’t sure why. Anyone else he wouldn’t have cared. He would’ve kissed them in front of their teammates or family, he would’ve dragged them into the blades of grass without a second thought and if they got caught well… that added to the thrill, didn’t it? But with this  one… the thought of the repercussions and interrogations on the little  ball of sunshine for Oikawa’s sake was too much for him to bear. He  wanted to avoid putting Hinata through any hardships as much as possible.

Wait.

Since when… did I become so considerate?

The thought struck Oikawa like a slap.

‘When am I seeing you next?’

That wonderfully demanding question stole Oikawa’s attention off of himself.

‘As soon as you’re free,’ Oikawa replied.

‘Friday.’

The setter grinned. ‘Friday it is then. I thought your mom didn’t allow you far from the nest on weeknights?’

‘She’s being lenient to Fridays because it’s kind of the weekend… and  also I’ve been trading it for more homework on Sundays which she seems  pleased about.’

They continued talking about their day, bantering and joking, even as the roads twisted and turned and got steeper. Night crept in but it didn’t faze them. Especially not Hinata. Ever since the blackout, Hinata had developed an affinity with darkness and the night that he never had before. He welcomed it, loved it even, as it brought back sweet and  intoxicating memories. Sure he loved the sun, but he also loved the moon like on a night like tonight where its full beaming face smiled down on them. Then again, wasn’t the moon just the sun of the night?

Even just a walk in the presence of Oikawa, to Hinata, felt like he was on holiday on an exotic beach with not a care in the world. Under  the guidance of moonlight and sporadic street lamps, they almost reached the end of their journey. Oikawa had also begun to recognise his surroundings based on the few times he’d been over.

‘My house isn’t that far up ahead – about five minutes from here. Toru,’ Hinata stopped walking.

They weren’t far from a lamppost and the light illuminated Hinata’s  eatures. The street was deserted. Oikawa stopped too and turned to face  he crow, his face mostly in shadow but still visible by grace of the moon.

‘Yes, Shoyo.’

‘I wanted to tell you that I thought about everything you said on Saturday. About us. I thought about it all weekend. And I came to a decision.’

Some villainous part of Oikawa knew – he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Despite everything he had said, and the disclaimers he’d given Hinata, in reality… they had to be together. Now that Hinata had vocalised his desires, now that he’d put his cards on the table, Oikawa matched him right there; he too had the same desires, the same wants. And when Oikawa wanted something… He got it. Three steps ahead Oikawa  knew, he would and could seduce Hinata oh so easily… By now he’d observed his own power, his own influence on the little Karasuno member. If he whispered in Hinata’s ear, if he stroked the crow tenderly, if he used his mouth to kiss, bite, lick or suck a part of Hinata, the spiker would succumb, helpless. And Oikawa hadn’t even got started yet. Yes. He would date Hinata. Either by submission or seduction, Hinata would date him regardless.

Hinata gripped the handlebars. ‘I still want to date you.’

YES.

Even quicker.

Oikawa smiled and closed his eyes basking in the sunlight and the moonlight at the same time. He sighed happily and opened his eyes again.

‘That’s music to my ears, chibi-chan.’

‘Date me.’

‘Nothing would make me happier -’

For a second time that evening Hinata abused his bike as he let go and ran to Oikawa, jumping up –

The setter caught him and brought him lower. Hinata wrapped his legs around Oikawa’s torso. As Oikawa held up Hinata, those tiny precious hands gently held his neck in return and they stared into each other’s eyes.

‘I’m so happy,’ Oikawa whispered into the eyes of a new universe, filled with excitement and possibility.

‘So am I,’ Hinata beamed, shining brighter than he’d ever done before. ‘I’ve never been as happy as I am right now.’

Oikawa brought Hinata lower, and their shadows on the ground merged, as their mouths met in agreement. The sun, the moon, the stars were all  here, in the warm July air, and all of it was perfect.