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Tobio grabbed a banana and his regular protein shake as he rushed out the door, careful to not disturb the silence of the house. He had to skip his normal breakfast today— he was already behind schedule.
Today was Hinata’s birthday. And Tobio wasn’t going to let him win a single competition.
The fall leaves scattered away from his shoes as Tobio jogged down the sidewalk. The sun had risen earlier, a sad start to his already rushed day. A car sped past him as Tobio made his way to Karasuno. And as the car turned left, away from the school, Tobio caught sight of a shock of orange hair. The small boy attached to it bolted across the street, with no regard to his personal safety. Tobio started sprinting in response.
Students stumbled into their friends in a haste to get away from them as Tobio pulled ahead of Hinata, who let out a squawk. Tobio grinned, the wind washing against his face as he reached the school building. He reached his arm out, straining to touch the wall as he ran.
A jolt of pain rang up his arm as Tobio’s hand finally connected with the wall. He ginned through the pain. Hinata was not going to get the pleasure of winning today, no matter what.
“You lose.” Tobio stared at Hinata while Hinata sputtered.
Hinata jumped up in the air, pointing a finger at Tobio. “Well, you’re only 9 wins ahead of me, and today with my Birthday Luck, I’m winning them all!”
Tobio rolled his eyes. Of course, that dumbass would make something so idiotic up.
“Dumbass.” Tobio walked away, secretly looking at his hand. It was a little bit… bloody. Not too bloody, though. Just a scrape or two.
“Kageyama!! What happened to your hand?!” Hinata popped up next to Tobio, immediately grabbing his hand, which did not do anything to Tobio’s stomach.
“Nothing. I’m getting some milk.” Tobio started to walk away again, but Hinata held him back with a surprising show of strength. “Let me go, you turd!!”
Hinata violently shook his head. “Nope! You need to get that bandaged! Aren’t you all about taking care of your hands?”
Tobio stopped struggling after that. He didn’t know why. Maybe he just didn’t expect Hinata to really notice… things about Tobio. Anyways, thinking hurt his head, so Tobio instead focused on the ground.
It was boring, just stones arranged in a melancholy pattern that was supposed to be attractive. Tobio did recognize them, though, and quickly realized where Hinata was going.
“Oi! Why are we going to the clubhouse?”
Hinata just marched on. His orange hair fluttered in the breeze, and the tips of it looked like molten gold. Tobio felt his eyes widen from behind Hinata. If only Tobio could paint in the air. He wanted everyone to be able to see what this looked like.
Not that it looked good . No. Hinata was just a dumbass. And that included his looks.
“Bloodyama! Come on in!” Hinata yelled from inside the clubhouse. Tobio sighed, slowly making his way inside, where Hinata sat with too much seriousness, a small first aid kit in front of him. “Give me your hand.”
Tobio held out his palm, unimpressed with Hinata’s acting. Hinata took out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. At least he knew what he was doing. The lid fell to the ground, rolling ominously as Hinata shakily held the bottle over Tobio’s hand. What was he doing? Ohhh. OH.
“Wai-” But it was too late. Hydrogen peroxide swept over Tobio’s palm, turning it into a raging fire, and pooling on the floor below his hand. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Hinata was furiously dabbing with a cotton pad at Tobio’s palm.
“I’m helping you, idiot!” Hinata then pulled out a bandage that clearly was meant for legs and started wrapping up the wound. Tobio still didn’t pull away, a bit too enraptured by the feeling of Hinata actually gently wrapping up his hand. It was… nice.
“There. Dumbyama, scraping your hand in order to win,” Hinata muttered. Tobio blushed.
A bell rang out from across the school, and Tobio jumped up, quickly pulling Hinata to his feet. They took off across the campus, yelling and laughing (on Hinata’s part) all the way.
(:)
Tobio had forgotten it. He had forgotten Hinata’s birthday present! And he couldn’t let Hinata win at gift-giving! When it was Tobio’s birthday, Hinata had smiled and gleefully said that Tobio would never be able to beat his present. But Hinata was wrong. Because today, Tobio’s present was going to shock Hinata. It was going to be way better than a season’s subscription to Tobio’s favorite protein shake.
Or at least, it was supposed to be. And Tobio couldn’t tell Hinata he had forgotten it. That would be admitting defeat. Plus, Tobio knew for certain that everyone else on the team was going to give Hinata presents. The absence of a present from Tobio was going to be scrutinized, especially by Tuskishima. That was not something Tobio was looking forward to. Maybe he could skip practice?
Pain sprung from everywhere in Tobio’s body as he forcefully rejected that idea. If he skipped practice for even one day his life may as well be over. He would be choosing not to play volleyball . Sheesh. Tobio could not even imagine that. Instead Tobio should skip gift giving time. Yeah. He could go and get milk whilst everyone else was giving out presents. Yeah. That was—
“Kageyama-kun. Would you care to answer the question?” Tobio hesitantly looked at the board. 6x^2 + 5x - 25 = 0. Um.
“Pass?” A few classmates covered their laughs. Tobio didn’t know why. Maybe it was because they weren’t allowed to ‘pass’ a question in math. But that was a stupid rule. The teacher shook their head, and called on Yukawaka-san, who smiled as she put up her hand.
Tobio sighed and stared at the clock. Stupid clock. Tobio wished it was faster. Another unsatisfying tick as the class became one more minute to being let out. The trees outside whispered amongst each other as the wind swirled around the leaves, making a mosaic of the sun against the classroom window. It was really… pretty. It reminded him of Hinata. Not because it was pretty. Just because the shivering wind was so loud.
Anyways, there were only five more minutes to go, so Tobio figured that he should probably start paying attention. He turned his head to face the board, saw a cubed root, and felt nauseous.
Soon enough, however, Tobio was out of class and headed for the gym. Thank goodness. Volleyball was way easier than math. And he could see Hinata (and crush him in another competition).
Screaming echoed in Tobio's innocent ears as soon as he opened the court door. A grimace quickly appeared on his face. Disgusting. The gym was a place to calm down and get hyped up, not to scream incoherently.
“Shut up, dumb-dumb.” Hinata whirled around as soon as Tobio spoke. Tobio's feeling only soured, though, as Hinata lit up with a grin and jumped like a whole meter in the air. "Why are you screaming?"
“Awww, our little Ka-ge-yama is curious!” Noya-san patted Tobio on the back quite ruffly and laughed. Annoyance spiked in Tobio's gut.
“I'm going to warm up.” Tobio shrugged off Noya-san and proceeded to stretch. This was stupid. Tobio just wanted to know why Hinata—
“Yama-yama! What's up?” Ugh. Hinata. Nothing was up, of course. Except for volleyball.
“Warmups,” Tobio deadpanned, turning away. The chatter in the gym increased once more as Tanaka-san entered. Why were vocal cords allowed for such redundant things?
“Oh! I take it your hand is better! Awesome!” Tobio froze, and the gym became silent. “Uh… Kageyama-kun?”
Shoes sounded against the wooden slabs as Coach Ukai crept over, clearly worried. Tobio kept stretching. Everything was fine. Completely. Totally. Everything was—
“Your hand?” Coach carefully asked. Out of the corner of his eye, Tobio could see the blood drain out of Hinata's face as the idiot realized his… idiot mistake. “What happened?”
Hinata was about to cut in, but Tobio luckily stopped him, blurting out, “Just a paper cut!”
A careful look from Hinata made Tobio gulp, but for some reason Coach turned away with a sigh. Tobio's shoulders relaxed from relief.
He could still play volleyball.
(:)
Tobio couldn't play volleyball.
Why, one may ask, would anything so stupid happen? Well, the one to ask this question would be horribly distraught that, in fact, it was Hinata's birthday that prevented a perfectly good practice. Not that Hinata had any choice. The pure desperation that had contorted his face into a valley of shadows when everyone started singing Happy Birthday and not doing digging drills proved that. Nonetheless, the dumbass still became engrossed into the celebrations after the gifts started appearing. Stupid gifts. Stupid teammates. Good at nothing but playing volleyball. And interrupting volleyball.
“Kageyama, where's your present? I wouldn't have thought you hadn't gotten one,” Tuskishima smirked, appearing next to Tobio in a very unpleasant manner. Yamaguchi was grimacing in embarrassment behind him. Tobio slowly blinked, a pit in his stomach opening up as Hinata turned to stare at him.
“Um. I—”
Hinata interrupted him, scratching his head nervously as he smiled. “Oh no problem, Kageyama! I wasn't expecting anything!” Oof. Tobio wouldn't lie, that stung a bit. But Daichi-san quickly handed Hinata another gift, and Hinata's wide eyes and open smile as he lifted out brand new knee pads made Tobio forget about his… confusing feelings for the moment.
Too soon the air became heavy and warm, full of the feeling of dusk. A few shy stars were peeking out from the low clouds, and a low shine from the moon made the path to his house glow ghostly. Tobio felt a strange melancholy brush against him as he opened his front door. Should he email Hinata, and tell him what happened? Tobio did think that the happy dumbass had been strangely subdued after Tobio's blunder.
The house was comfortingly empty when he stepped into the genkan. At least the oppressive silence never changed. Tobio winced as his shoes clattered on the wood a bit too loud. The house was spotless as always. His parents sometimes joked that Tobio kept the house like a maid with their hotel rooms. Tobio lately never knew how to act around his parents. When they're home, at least.
A creak slowly sounded out from Tobio's bed as he sat down. Hinata's present sat across from him, lying on a messy desk. Tobio sighed, the sound echoing in his room. The lights were off— Tobio didn't use them much anyways— and in the purple and gray lighting his room looked too unfamiliar. Hinata and his smile drifted into Tobio's mind, a now cozy thing. Tobio breathed out, in, and back out again.
The silence of the house was soon interrupted by socked feet tumbling down the stairs, slamming into walls, all in a haste to wrench the front door open and escape the strangeness of a quiet home.
Tobio burst out into the spring night, reckless bravery darkening his face. It felt as if the world around Tobio was still, turning itself inside and out. Trying to find something. An itchy splinter, perhaps?
Whatever it was, the night sky tore itself into a thousand parts as Tobio lay his eyes onto the golden light splicing out and coiling around a certain dumb-dumb’s house.
A smile graced Tobio's face, surprising the watching world.
(:)
Hurried footsteps drummed through the bright wooden door when Tobio nervously knocked. The clunk of someone turning the door handle made Tobio’s stomach start to churn. Maybe he shouldn’t have come. Maybe Hinata’s family would think it rude to impose on them at whatever o’clock it was. Maybe Hinata wouldn’t want to see him. Maybe—
“Kageyama-kun?!” Hinata’s wide eyes started into Tobio’s soul. He glanced down and found a twin pair of eyes looking at him with suspicion. A child. Tobio wasn’t good with children. This was bad.
“Yama-yama? Are you okay?” Tobio quickly nodded, flustered that he had spent so much time unresponsive.
“Yeah,” Tobio spoke too loudly. Hinata’s… sister? Whatever. They ran off, leaving the much too awkward boys alone. “Sorry. I don’t remember why I came. Sorry.” The heat from inside wafted over Tobio, making him realize how cold it was getting outside. He should go back home. The heat wasn’t on, so it was going to be cold. Eh. He was used to it.
“Dumby. Come in.” Hinata waved him in. It was so much warmer and brighter inside than Tobio had thought.
Hinata’s parents were… something. They were chatting in the kitchen, cooking something that produced these… spicy and sharp smells that were so much more vibrant than take-out food. Tobio had never seen his parents in a kitchen together. Maybe they were different at hotels, but at home they just sat around on computers, and then hired chefs to make dinner.
But Hinata’s parents smiled and greeted Tobio, like they were expecting him. Like they had known him for years. Tobio greeted them back awkwardly and stared at Hinata in a silent plea for help. Hinata just laughed with his parents and set the table.
Tobio stood there uncomfortably, wondering in the back of his mind if he was going to join Hinata’s family for dinner. Ugh, this sucked. So bad. At least in his cold house Tobio wouldn’t feel so weird. Tobio looked down as his shirt was tugged harshly. Did Hinata have a dog? Oh no. Dogs hated Tobio.
“Hey. Hey.” Oh, it was Hinata’s sister. What did she want? Tobio winced inside as he remembered bitter memories of past encounters with children. “Wanna play?” Hinata’s sister held out a volley- A VOLLEYBALL.
Tobio’s mind whirled. Of course he wanted to play volleyball. Why did she? What position did she play? How could Tobio set for someone so tiny? What advantages would this have for Tobio’s skills? But Tobio just nodded in response. Hinata’s sister ran off, and Tobio unsteadily followed.
It turned out Hinata’s sister was named Natsu-chan, and she was a middle blocker like Hinata. She wanted to have Tobio set for her, because according to my nii-chan, your sets are the best! Tobio did not blush at that. Or feel happy. Nope.
Anyways, Natsu-chan was actually not bad at spiking! Tobio crouched on the ground, aiming for higher and higher contact points until Natsu-chan was jumping at least forty centimeters in the air, which was impressive for someone that was probably only one hundred and thirty centimeters tall. Playing volleyball with Natsu-chan was quite… fun.
Too fast, dinner is ready and looks so good that Tobio is only reminded by Hinata’s light kick to mumble a quick ‘ itadakimasu ’. And wow is the food good. It looks like meat and noodles and some green stuff and chunks of vegetables. Tobio has never had it before. It’s so warm that Tobio is starting to wonder if everything related to Hinata is warm. Tobio might just be the only cold thing.
Hinata’s knee brushed against Tobio’s legs, and Tobio thought that he may have seen a smile flit over Hinata’s lips. Tobio pushed his thigh against Hinata in retaliation. Across from him, Hinata's okaasan and otousan seemed to have a full-on discussion with their eyes. Natsu-chan picked out the chicken, then shoved them all in her mouth. Hinata did that too, sometimes.
Hinata's otousan washed the dishes. His okaasan was tucking Natsu-chan in or something. Tobio wasn't even sure what that was. Sure, he had cuddled with his parents before, but now he could hardly even remember what they felt like. Anyways, now was not the time for Tobio to be gloomy. He was sitting on the couch, watching volleyball. Volleyball. Although right now the TV showed a commercial about soap. The pink light spilling out of the screen was washing onto Hinata’s face. Tobio once again wished he was a painter.
“—and what an amazing spike from number 14! That sailed right over the blocker's hands!” Tobio's attention was quickly diverted back to the screen. He smiled in empathy with the setter, who was currently high giving his teammates.
"Hey, yama-yama-kun. That was a great play, huh?" Hinata's voice was low and quiet. Tobio felt the whisper create a solidness in the air. He didn't want to break it. He didn't want to leave this place. Tobio felt more comfortable on this threadbare couch than he had felt at home for years.
Tobio mumbled back, "Yeah."
Hinata reached over Tobio, his chest pressing against Tobio's stomach. Tobio could feel his heart swell at the warmth on top of him. It made his cold body feel almost human. But then Hinata pulled back, having grabbed the remote. The TV volume slowly turned down, until it was silent.
The game was over. Tobio didn’t bother looking to see who won.
"Are you leaving?" Tobio looked over at Hinata's questioning face. Yes. Tobio was leaving. Soon. He was going to walk back to his looming house and fall asleep, and then wake up and do his regular routine. He was going to leave Hinata's present in Tobio's pocket and never think of it again.
"Do you want me to?" Tobio wanted to slap himself. He didn't know why he had asked. Hinata was going to feel pressured to say yes and then the rest of the night was going to be miserable and awkward. Ugh, Tobio was stupid.
"No."
Tobio didn't dare look at Hinata. So, he kept his eyes angled at the ground and nodded in response.
"Do you want to, Yama-kun?"
There it was. A way out for Tobio, born out of Hinata's never ending kindness. All Tobio had to say was—
"Yeah." NO. NO THAT WAS NOT WAS TOBIO MEANT TO SAY.
Hinata smiled, quickly stopping Tobio's inner freak-out. Which was weird in and of itself, since Tobio didn't think of himself as someone who freaked out. Especially over something other than volleyball.
"—are you good sleeping in my room? We have an extra futon…" Oh. This was developing fast. Tobio nodded, and followed Hinata down a hallway, stopping halfway through to stare at a family photo.
Hinata was mid laugh, his sister sneezing, and his father a blur, rushing towards his sister. His mother was the only one in focus, a nonchalant look on her face.
Tobio liked the picture. He also hated it.
Hinata was saying something, opening a door as he chatted. It was probably his bedroom door. Where they were going to sleep. And probably where Tobio was going to die. Which was a shame, since Tobio had always dreamt of dying while playing volleyball.
The sky is a shining black. Rainbow lights, warm and cool and sharp, ebb through the flimsy bedroom windows, casting the room in a myriad of colors. A myriad of worlds.
Neither Hinata nor Tobio brushed their teeth that night. Why, when the closed door makes the darkness feel like a heavy blanket and they are sitting next to each other? Hinata made an awkward sound, cutting through the silence in a comforting way.
“I brought your birthday present,” Tobio started, much too uncomfortable with the sound of his own voice to have any semblance of chill.
“Oh?”
“Yeah.”
Hinata’s eyes stared at Tobio, and he stared back. The start of another unspoken competition. Tobio’s eyes started to burn from the strain, and he let them unfocus. Hinata’s eyes surrounded him, amber-gold and a mess of thousands of paints swirling together in murky water.
The colors choked Tobio. His bones started to melt together, and he wondered if he was about to black out. The fire in his eyes increased, tears gathering together.
Tobio blinked, tears rushing out from the prison of his eyelashes. He moved his hands, brushing the salt from his face, and slid down to his futon. Hinata was a shadow behind him.
“I win!” Hinata’s cheerful voice grated on Tobio’s frayed body. He grumbled something in response, uncaring about anything except for the newfound heaviness of his eyelids. They lapsed into silence for a while, relaxed in the presence of each other.
Tobio felt drunk on the warmth of the darkness. He felt brave. And so he disrupted the silence, whispering much too loudly, “Do you want your present?” Tobio wasn’t expecting a reciprocation to his question. He wasn’t even sure if Hinata was awake— time had run away from him while he stared at the shadows on the inside of his eyelid.
“Yeah.” It was a simple statement. Just a word. But it sent Tobio’s heart racing, and his stomach dropping into the ocean. Funny. Not really.
Tobio pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and pressed it onto where he assumed Hinata was laying. Eventually a calloused hand fell on Tobio’s hand, until the paper laying nervously on his palm was pulled away.
Tobio felt his body yawn and he rolled over, pulling the blanket up to his chin and turning away from Hinata’s bed. The present wasn’t much, just a helpful list.
And if Hinata recognized the meaning behind the heart, drawn shakily at the bottom, well… whatever.
Right now Tobio was too sleepy to think.
—
And Hinata was too happy to sleep.