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“E se o nosso romance tocasse no rádio?
E se o noticiário falasse de nós?
E se o resto da vida estivesse a um passo daqui?
E se hoje pudesse ser quando eu te encontro?
O começo de tudo.”
Tenta Acreditar, ANAVITÓRIA
⛰️
There are whispers in the corner of Tobio’s mind, whispers and memories of the day he and his partner said goodbye for the very last time.
Actually, it isn't a goodbye. They don't say goodbye to each other, but rather, see you later. See you.
On graduation day, they finally go their separate ways. Hinata Shoyo will soon be in Brazil, while Tobio is already being scouted by several colleges with excellent teams, until he is drafted by the Schweiden Adlers, in the first division of the V.League. He is so far, and yet so close, going on ahead. Meanwhile, Hinata has made the decision to start his volleyball career from scratch, training on the beach in search of new ground to flourish and reach greater skies.
And reach Tobio. Reach their promise, but no longer as his person.
But it's okay… Tobio is okay with that.
Sitting side by side on the wooden floor where they once flew together, Hinata and Tobio bask in the last rays of sunlight they daily relished in on that court. Now together, but soon to be apart.
Of course Kageyama Tobio would be there in the final seconds of their graduation, serving the ball relentlessly—one of his most powerful and merciless weapons, his gaze sharp and unwavering. And of course Hinata Shoyo would take the same decision to set foot there right after taking a photo with their diplomas held high in the spring air. He, Kageyama, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and Yachi are huddled together in their last record as classmates, as members of the same volleyball team.
It's the last recorded instance of Hinata and Tobio as official teammates.
“I think that's it, right?” Hinata says as he runs the back of his hand across his forehead. His hair is completely disheveled and sweaty, ginger curls curling even more at the ends. “See you, Kageyama.”
“You've already said that,” Tobio grumbles, though he feels safe and sound, pressed against Hinata’s side. His coppery hair is shining with humidity, catching the sunlight streaming through the gym windows just right, like freshly-cut gold. Up close, his eyes reveal small honeyed sparkles just for Kageyama to drink in and treasure in the memories of his eyes forever.
“Always good to repeat,” Hinata beams playfully. He leans his head against the wall and pours the affection oozing from his gaze onto the other boy, both of them immersed in a sensation of goodbye that sounds like a see you later.
See you at the top. In my future. Our future.
“See you,” Tobio’s tone comes in a warm breath, reassuring and sincere.
Slowly and tenderly, his hand reaches for Hinata’s, which rests between them. Larger fingers cover smaller ones in a soft touch; it's a featherlight skin encounter under the sun, with Tobio’s soft thumb running across lightly imprinted scars full of history.
“Did you get hurt again?” Tobio’s eyebrows are knitted together as he runs his thumb over a new faded line around Hinata’s index finger.
“Hmm…” the other boy bites his bottom lip. “Natsu sent the volleyball really far when we were playing in our backyard. Like, really gwaaaaah, I had to climb the tree where it got stuck in the branches, and I ended up cutting my finger on a splinter.”
Tobio’s frown grows deeper. “Be careful, dumbass. You need your hands to be in perfect condition to play volleyball.”
“I know that!” Hinata says, louder than intended. Apparently, the way Tobio is still stroking his finger prevents him from thinking clearly. “I'll be more careful! In Brazil, too.”
Tobio hums absently, “You better.” He smoothly slides his own fingers through Hinata’s and clasps their hands together in a tight grip. Tobio’s heart races, his legs tremble and the air begins to escape through his slightly parted lips. He's sure Hinata feels the same way—it's written all over the pink dust splattered on his cheeks. It's nothing new to Tobio that his heart flutters nonstop whenever he and Hinata are together, whenever a natural touch, a deep look, or a more intimate conversation is shared between them.
“It's better if we part ways,” Hinata says in a tearful tone. His gaze doesn't leave Tobio’s attentive fingers for even a second. “We can't be together right now...”
“Okay…” Tobio says. What more can he say? He can't be selfish and keep Hinata by his side, trapped, unable to grow or fly.
With a painful, dry gasp, Hinata continues, “So we can't continue dating either.”
Now, this is a painful blow. Tobio is certain that he wants Hinata to travel, to flourish more and return even stronger to him one day. He really wants that. But during their third year, he became so accustomed to having that boy completely his, to having Hinata Shoyo as his boyfriend, his one and only, that now it's difficult to go back to a reality where he is no longer his. A reality where Hinata Shoyo will no longer call Kageyama Tobio his person.
Despite the uncertainties of this near future, Tobio hums and presses a lighthearted kiss to Hinata’s temple—a silent promise.
I'll wait for you.
“Can I at least kiss you one last time?” The question leaves Tobio’s mouth before he can even think about it.
Can I kiss you? Can I keep loving you forever?
Hinata doesn't answer. Instead, he plunges Tobio into his light brown gaze. He stares at him with teary eyes, anxious but determined, and lunges forward to kiss him. Hinata captures his lips as if there is no tomorrow, desperately as if the world is about to crumble beneath their feet. Their fingers remain intertwined, as Hinata’s free hand cups Tobio’s face, tilting his head to deepen the kiss and slide their tongues together. His lips are warm, slightly chapped from the past winter, and with a sweet touch of spring fruits. It's a familiar taste, reminiscent of summer, the beach, and home, and Tobio simply loves it. He simply loves him.
And he will continue to even if Hinata decides to bury his feelings for now in the very ground he chose to soar on.
⛰️
Three years, seven months and fifteen days a̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ later
The hustle and bustle at the Sendai City Gymnasium culminates in a memorable, and at the very least, world-shattering evening.
From the encounter in front of the bathroom where Tobio first lays eyes on his (ex?) partner in years, to the match that transforms his life and becomes the absolute best of his existence, everything is crafted to be the most fantastic day ever.
Hinata has not only grown physically, but he's also matured. He is more confident, self-assured, handsome, still retaining youthful traits from his teenage years. His rosy cheeks are dotted with a thousand new freckles, soft skin now more tanned and the corners of his eyes crinkling whenever he smiles beautifully. Always so, so beautiful. His back and thighs are thicker, broader, and more truthworthy; the black and gold jersey sits tight around his shoulders, revealing perfect tan lines, and the hair that Tobio always loved sticking his hands in is shorter on the sides, but incredibly messy on top.
Some things certainly don't change.
There are several questions Tobio can ask right now. What is it like playing volleyball in Brazil? Did you eat well while you were away, dumbass? Did you think about me and our promise?
But of course, instead of something welcoming, Tobio blurts out: “You're not having any bowl issues today, are you?”
Fuck. He's an idiot.
It might have been the dumbest thing to say, but Hinata turns around with a glint in his eye, the corner of his lips curled up in a mischievous, eager grin. Weird… It's as if he never stopped loving Tobio, as if he never broke up with him. As if he still loves him to the moon and back.
Perhaps Tobio's daydreaming too much.
Their reunion is marked by silly bickering from the very beginning, right up until the moment they step onto the court, piercing eyes locked on each other.
“I'm not the same I was years ago, Kageyama!” Hinata vows triumphantly, those absurdly brown eyes bursting with excitement.
“Neither am I,” Tobio replies, although he knows that nothing has changed regarding his feelings for that man. That has never changed, and it never will.
Right from the first play, where Tobio is the one who serves, he can't wipe that stupid grin off his face. Idiot, idiot, idiot. He's an idiot for not being able to wipe that palpable joy from his lips, not even when Hinata receives his powerful serve that could rip an arm off; not even when he runs to spike without missing a single step, flying high to hit Atsumu’s flawless set at his highest point of impact. Tobio is still smiling even when Hinata scores the first point of the match, and he celebrates with their former high school friends, all beautiful and flamboyant.
“I'm here!!!!!!” Hinata cheers freely, arms outstretched upwards in victory like wings of glitter black feathers.
“Took you long enough,” Tobio says through his smiling lips. It's the match of their lives, the person of his life, within arm’s reach.
***
After the final whistle blows, they don't exchange many words beyond their typical win tally.
This is meant to make Tobio joyful, of course, but he feels like something is missing. While playing against Hinata, with sweat dripping down their flushed cheeks and greedy smiles exchanged across the net, Tobio had never felt so alive. He'd never felt so gleeful, free, and in love. Ah, it's the love feeling again. There's no other word to describe the knot in his heart: Tobio is still pretty much in love with Hinata Shoyo, and he doesn't know what to do with this realization. Yes, he knows they are very compatible on the court, but what about off it? Would they be able to rekindle their relationship even after years? To give themselves body and soul with promising careers ahead of them? Most importantly: does Hinata even still like him? Does Hinata Shoyo love Kageyama Tobio as much as he loves volleyball? Tobio needs to be sure of all that. He hopes that some answers come to light at the MSBY’s post-victory party.
The celebration takes place that same night, and everyone only has time to shower in the locker rooms before heading to the hotel where Hinata’s team is staying. The leisure area is huge, with a pool, green area, barbecue, and a bar in front of a dance floor. Apparently, there are other people besides the team members as Tobio spots several unfamiliar faces once everyone heads to where the food and drinks are. He doesn't feel comfortable in crowded bars, so he spends much of the party sitting at a round table away from the crowd, his long fingers curled around a glass of energy drink.
“Hey, buddy,” Hoshiumi greets with a toasty smile. He's all sweaty after awkwardly dancing to a country song from the 80s. “Enjoying the party?”
“It’s alright,” Tobio deadpans, making his teammate chuckle as he sits across from him.
Ushijima soon joins them with a glass of some kind of juice. His teammates point questioning gazes at him.
“Where did you get lemonade?” Tobio asks.
“Hinata Shoyo prepared it for me,” Ushijima responds as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Dude, how did Hinata Shoyo make lemonade out of thin air in the middle of a party??” Hoshiumi sounds amazed.
Ushijima shrugs. “It must be a recipe he learned in Brazil. He was at the bar helping the staff with drinks and even cooking.”
“Dumbass,” Tobio grumbles around the rim of his glass. Only that idiot would think of doing a little bit of everything in the middle of a party. That's just how Hinata is, after all, and despite his frown, Tobio’s voice is sprinkled with specks of affection.
Ushijima eyes him. “Sorry?”
“Sorry,” Tobio breathes out.
“Sorry, but…” Hoshiumi giggles awkwardly. “How's it going with him?”
Ah, him. There's no need to explain who ‘him’ is—Tobio senses it. He feels the name hanging in the air, unspoken by his tongue until now for fear that the sound might affect his heart deeply.
“Tell us if you need help,” Hoshiumi continues, reassuring him. He and Ushijima are aware of Tobio and Hinata’s relationship in high school; they know about the breakup and how Tobio has been waiting for his ex for years, hopeful that the two can get back together. Their promise surely has been fulfilled tonight, but Tobio still needs more so that his heart doesn't lack a piece anymore.
“Thank you,” he ends up saying, genuinely grateful for the support.
“Maybe you could talk to him about how you still feel,” Ushijima suggests. “It worked for me and Tendou.”
“And for me and Sachirou,” Hoshiumi smirks warmly. His cheeks take on a pink hue in the dim light of the salon.
“I'm happy for you guys. I just don't know if he's interested in it.” I don't know if he's still interested in me, is what's sitting anxiously on Tobio’s tongue.
“Are you kidding me!?” Hoshiumi lets out a mocking laugh. “He couldn't take his eyes off you earlier!!! Everything he did on the court, he looked at you, waiting for your reaction and praises.”
Ushijima nods slightly and takes a sip of his lemonade. He's a well of calm compared to the uneasiness swirling in Tobio’s chest.
Tobio tries to cling to his friend’s advice and believe it's true. He's certain of what he saw: the sparkle in Hinata’s eyes when they reunited, his reactions while playing, his gaze always lingering on Tobio, waiting, yearning... for something. Perhaps for someone? For him? For a future where they could be together again? It would be too good to be true.
Before those uncertain thoughts can lead him any further, the play of lights in the corner draws their attention and snaps Tobio out of his reverie. Just like on the court, Hinata is shining behind the drinks counter, serving one of his teammates. The colorful lights reflect the beauty of his tanned skin, with red, blue, and gold splashing from his tousled curls, as sweat drips down his face. Tobio has to be strong not to go up to him and brush away some wet curls that have stuck to his forehead, telling him he's a dumbass for pouring lemon juice into his teammates’ cups with that silly, beautiful smile, all flushed pink and goofy. All perfect.
“Why don't you take him to dance? He's not working all night long, is he?” Hoshiumi’s voice reaches Tobio’s ears, but he can't take his eyes off Hinata, who always draws him in like a magnetic field.
“Or just go over and ask him to make you some lemonade,” Ushijima suggests in all seriousness, licking his moist lips.
Hoshiumi giggles. “That’d be hella attractive.” Tobio and Ushijima stare at him at neck-wrecking speed. They genuinely believe that pouring juice to someone is indeed attractive. “I'm serious! I think you should do that!!”
“You sure?” Tobio stares at him, suspiciously.
“Yeah!”
“If it's you, it might get him aroused,” Ushijima pipes in, and Tobio frowns in disbelief.
“Just asking him for a lemonade...?”
Ushijima simply nods.
“We will be here for you, man! Do your thing!” This is the last bit of support Hoshiumi offers before Tobio makes a decision.
He merely mutters something under his breath, finishes his drink, and slams his empty glass back on the table before standing up, his blood seething. Hoshiumi claps enthusiastically behind him, and Ushijima’s proud gaze weighs on his back all the way Tobio walks to the bar counter.
Hinata is in a corner pouring a green liquid into a guy’s glass. They don't notice Tobio approaching, so he just leans against the counter as he waits, his heart hammering against his chest. Damn, he's really an idiot. This is so stupid. It's just Hinata, for god’s sake! Just his promised person, now so close again.
“KAGEYAMAAA!!!” A loud scream makes Tobio jump from the corner he was leaning against.
Hinata barely finishes putting the juice bottle down and is already turning around the counter towards him, all dazzling and radiant, finding a home by Tobio’s side as if time between them hadn't passed.
“Hey!” He settles into a cushioned stool, soft curls bouncing with the movement.
“Hey,” Tobio replies. It's strange; he's worried about the future of their relationship but still feels so comfortable in Hinata’s presence. It's as if the mere fact that he exists is enough to make him feel safe.
“Any thoughts on me on the court earlier?” Hinata asks, his elbows slumped over the counter behind him. Sitting like that, the dim yellow light of the salon beautifully illuminates his coppery curls, and even the small chest hairs peeking out from under his button-down shirt. “Did you see when I saved the ball with my foot???” He beams.
“No,” Tobio is quick to lie as he also sits on a stool. His eyes travel from the more defined curve of the other man’s jaw to his arms, marked by beautiful tan lines and freckles.
“Uhhh?? But that was right after you jumped to block me, you liar!!”
“I managed to block you, so it’s a point for me.”
“Nooo, I tricked you as the greatest decoy ever!!” Hinata swings his legs back and forth excitedly. “I love being called that,” he admits in a whisper, his words private just for Tobio to hear.
“About time.” There's no surprise in that—he always knew that Hinata could be his own person, with his own strength yet to be unleashed.
A waiter quickly approaches to place two chilled glasses in front of them. Hinata turns in his seat and curls his fingers around both of them and offers one to Tobio, smiling lazily. Tobio doesn't even question what the liquid is and raises his hand to take the glass, his fingers growing warm just from touching Hinata’s. A powerful shock runs down his spine and butterflies flutter in his stomach at the simple touch, and Tobio feels all the feelings he unearthed in high school coming rushing back like a volleyball to the face. Hinata’s gaze is curious, as if Tobio were crystal-clear water before him; a slight blush paints his cheeks as he drinks the clear liquid, and a few drops roll from his lips to the curve of his throat. Tobio needs to take a sip of his own drink to stop himself from wanting to kiss the warm skin of Hinata’s collarbone, now damp, hot and more tempting than ever.
“Are you drunk, dumbass?” Tobio asks in a hoarse voice. Hinata is now completely red and with a goofy grin on his lips, hiccuping adorably.
“No, this is just sparkling water,” he plays with his empty glass, avoiding looking Tobio in the eyes. “I just wanna say…” Hinata bites his bottom lip. The slightly insecure boy from years ago is back in full force, and Tobio’s heart overflows with affection. “It was someone special who gave me the greatest decoy title.”
The upbeat music suddenly changes to a slow one, and several players begin dancing really close. Sakusa and Atsumu argue at the back of the dance floor, while a gleeful Hoshiumi sways back and forth with Sachirou, their dance more of an embrace than anything else. Tobio can't help but imagine the sensations that would erupt from his body if he were like this with Hinata right now, their bodies pressed together, their unified silhouette unwavering as they feel each other’s warmth, their heartbeats and breaths in sync.
“Did I say something you didn't like?” Hinata asks, suddenly worried. He now has his big, shiny eyes fixed on Tobio.
“Maybe you didn't say what I want to hear the most,” Tobio admits, in all honesty.
Hinata blinks multiple times. “And what would you like to hear?”
“I don't know, Hinata,” Tobio exhales heavily. He's starting to lose patience. “You've always had the ability to read me well, to understand me like no one else. What? Are things different now?”
“Yes!!” The immediate answer makes Tobio raise his eyebrow, stunned. “Things are different because we are different, we've grown and become stronger, but it's also not so different because we are still friends!!”
“I'm not your friend. And I don't want to be,” Tobio’s words are definitive, piercing like a sharp knife.
“Oh…” The pain is visible in Hinata’s eyes, as is in his voice. “Okay…”
It's hard to see the discomfort blossoming on Hinata’s features, but Tobio is just being sincere: he doesn't want to be his friend. Their relationship has never been reduced to a silly friendship between people with similar interests. They've always been much more, perhaps something nameless, something beyond human comprehension. Partners, lovers, each other’s person, someone even better—they are a huge mix, a chemical reaction of all these concepts that have sculpted an inseparable bond between them.
“You know I've always wanted more,” Tobio continues. His fists clench on his legs and begin to tremble slightly.
Hinata tries to stroke his skin, but Tobio pulls his hands away, making him swallow hard. “I’ve always wanted more from you, too... I still do.”
“Words are not enough.” For years, words and promises have been made to him, many of which have not been kept. Tobio is tired of having to yearn so much and accept whispers of empty promises. He wants genuine gestures and people who will stay by his side forever.
Someone even better will come and find you.
Wait… Why are his grandfather’s words coming to mind now? Is it because a promise was finally fulfilled to the fullest tonight? Is it because Hinata is sitting before him, hurt, but wanting to understand him? Wanting to assume the role of the person his grandfather once promised him?
His someone even better.
Tobio suddenly feels nauseous, too overwhelmed by this realization. He gets up abruptly and heads towards the exit of the party hall, without looking back. He feels his friends’ gazes linger on him but doesn't give them a chance to follow, and he only stops walking when he reaches an open green area of the hotel.
Some silver clouds gather heavily over the brightly lit Tokyo. Thunder roars in the distance, resonating with Tobio’s equally intense heartbeats, and a few icy drops from the incoming rain already kiss his cheeks here and there. The night wind gently caresses Tobio’s features and calms him a little. He closes his eyes as his breathing slows and he begins to whisper to himself: everything will be alright. Everything will be—
“Kageyama,” it's Hinata’s voice again, reaching him from behind. Tobio looks over his shoulder, slightly annoyed, and notices that the other is panting. He looks even more handsome, all flushed pink and moist. Did they walk that much? Tobio didn't even realize.
“Kageyama,” Hinata calls his name yet again, fiercely and breathlessly. His flip-flops make a soft sound on the wet grass as he takes a few steps forward. “I'm sorry.”
Tobio whirls around to face him, hands shoved into his pockets. “For what?”
“For not being clear about my feelings,” he blurts it out without even breathing, his voice bleeding honesty. At that moment, he doesn't hide behind a pretty smile, but rather tears himself apart in several layers so that Kageyama can read every piece of his core. “For not telling you every day how much I still wanted you. How much I still want you...”
Tobio exhales heavily, “Why did you break up with me? We could make things work out even when far apart.” He opens and closes his hands several times, now out of his pockets, his nails scratching his palms anxiously.
“I also believe we could,” Hinata cards a hand through his hair. “But back then, I also felt like I didn't deserve you.”
Hearing that makes Tobio blink several times, his lips parting as he stares at Hinata with a single-minded focus. “What?”
“You’re amazing, Kageyama,” Hinata’s whisper is gentle against the moonlight, sprinkled with melancholy and more genuine than anything Tobio had ever heard. “You've always been since we met. Always strong, focused, and beautiful. And I was just… Me.” Hinata lets out a humourless laugh. A slight blush is painting his cheeks, the corner of his eyes glistening with unwelcome tears, and Tobio struggles not to reach out and run his thumbs across the length of his skin. “I was just a nobody and you were well-known at the top, so I wanted to change and become stronger before I felt I truly deserved you!”
The sky now displays a ghostly blue hue, flashing with more thunder. Raindrops begin to trickle down more aggressively, but Tobio cannot care less.
“You're ridiculous,” Tobio can't fucking believe it. “And dumb. And stupid!” Seriously, he can't believe he's been suffering for this perfect man who thinks he isn't perfect enough for him.
“Huh??” Hinata tilts his head to the side in confusion, proving that he's indeed a complete dumbass.
“I told you you could fly even higher,” Tobio takes a few steps forward, his voice determined and unwavering. Up close, he sees some raindrops gathering on Hinata’s coppery eyelashes, creating a colorful spectrum of colors. “You were always the best for me, too, and have always been more than enough.”
Hinata opens a sad smile. “You've always been my goal, and my favorite person. And you always will be. You're so gwahhhh to me.” The familiar sound effect makes butterflies flutter in Tobio’s stomach. He's a complete, infatuated idiot, too. “I hope you'll let me have you again. Now and forever.”
The rain now pours mercilessly upon them. Tobio pushes his newly-cut bangs aside as if they were a black curtain and gazes at Hinata, whose shiny curls are stuck to his forehead and the sides of his face. His button-down shirt is undone at the collar, revealing some already wet, reddish body hair, the gray fabric of the sleeves sitting snugly around his broader arms. Hinata is shining in the night rain, and not just because of his tanned skin that carries color spectrums from the sun itself. Tobio just can't take his eyes off him anymore, not now that he's back; not after everything he's vowed to him here and now, and many, many years ago.
“So now you think you deserve me? Or are you going to keep playing games?” Tobio breathes out between licks on his icy lips. A new challenge has been presented, and Tobio hopes that Hinata will be able to overcome it.
And of course he does.
The symphony of strong wind mixed with rain and lightning is the only thing screaming in the stretching silence. Hinata’s chest rises and falls, part of his skin exposed through his half-buttoned shirt, seeming smooth and warm even in the rain. His shorts and flip-flops strongly resemble the beach photos he occasionally sent, a youthful yet mature style that bathed him in a unique beauty.
Tobio can't help but grin at this moment. He really, really loves that man so much.
“You came to a party in flip-flops?” He shouts louder than the deafening rain. “Who's the square now, dumbass?” Tobio’s chest rises and falls in a frantic rhythm, his heart too big for it as Hinata approaches with sparkling eyes and the most beautiful smile there is.
Even with the storm roaring loudly, the sound of his person’s laughter is the only chant that reaches his ears.
The palms that frame Tobio’s face are warm, as are the smiling lips that smash against his, leaving a pleasurable sigh full of many more promises yet unspoken, but that will be uttered in time to come. Hinata kisses him like on their farewell day, intense and desperate, but now happier. More secure and soothing, as if he'd been swimming and swimming and had finally found the shore—his new solace. His one and only person. Tobio’s arms wrap around his waist and almost lift him into the air, the kiss taking them to the sky while the two savor each other’s mouths and tongues as if they were the source of their lives.
Everything in Tobio burns and erupts, exploding like thousands of stars as he feels Hinata’s mouth dancing against his, the taste of his tongue, and his rough hands, painted with scars of conquest, caressing the short strands of hair at his nape.
“Tobi…” Hinata sighs onto Tobio’s face, slightly dazed, his thumbs gently caressing the dampness of his flaming cheeks. “I want you.”
Tobio almost faints on the grass and lets the rain wash him away. “Me, too.”
“You what?” Hinata is quick to counterattack.
“I want the same…” He says awkwardly, squeezing Hinata’s trustworthy back. “You…”
Hinata throws his head back and laughs freely. If he weren't so handsome laughing like that, all wet, kiss-drunk and blushing, Tobio would have kicked him away.
“What are you laughing at??” He decides to gently tug on his annoyingly fluffy curls, just like he used to do in high school.
“I'm not mocking you!” Hinata reassures between giggles. Since Tobio continues to glare suspiciously, he comes over to give him a sweet peck with a loud ‘mwahhh’. It quickly softens Tobio up. “No, I'm serious! I'm just too happy to be with you. To be hugging and kissing you after so long.” His face sparkles with glimpses of longing, and Tobio is fast to transform the hair-pulling into a gentle caress against his scalp.
“I'm sorry,” Hinata lets out an airy laugh, intertwining his fingers with Tobio’s and kissing the back of his hand.
“I'm sorry, too. For saying all those things before.”
“‘S fine!! I understand what you meant!!” Hinata smiles fondly. Their clothes are completely wet, Hinata’s curls plastered to his forehead. “I'm a pro at reading you, right?” He winks at Tobio and tiptoes to kiss him again, again and again.
It's difficult to interrupt the way Hinata is sucking on his lower lip, but Tobio does his best to say, “H–Hinata… I—...” His eyelids flutter rapidly as he clears his throat. “I wanna be alone with you. Now.”
Hinata blinks once, twice, the honey of his eyes shining in the rain, now falling in gentler drops.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah. I want that, too,” Hinata replies bashfully.
“Let's go then.” Tobio can't help but grip Hinata’s waist tightly.
“Demanding, huh?” The ginger says with a mischievous glow at the corner of his lips. His arms tighten around Tobio’s shoulders nonetheless. “I wonder who taught you.”
“A dumbass.”
“It was a rhetorical question!”
“But I wanted to answer anyway!”
Hinata stares at him in disbelief. “Wait, who taught you what rhetorical means?”
“The same person who taught you, silly!! Yachi-san!!” Tobio presses a strong kiss against the other’s eyelid. A series of hearty laughs escape him, and the two are now grinning uncontrollably. “Now, you wanna go to a more private place or—”
“YESSSS!!!” Still laughing, Hinata throws himself into Tobio’s arms and surrenders himself completely. Just like Tobio did since day one. “No one will separate us tonight.”
“Or ever,” Tobio finishes with a voice that pours from the depths of his soul.
“Or ever,” Hinata repeats and allows their mouths and hearts to connect for a lifetime and beyond.
***
The moment Tobio steps into Hinata’s hotel room, he discovers a hungrier side of him than he ever knew existed.
Hungry lips are quick to find his neck, kissing from his collarbone to his shoulder and daring to explore lower and lower. Hinata has his hands around Tobio’s waist, holding him pinned between the wall and his chest, unable to escape.
Tobio's where he truly wants to be.
“You want to take it off?” He asks with his fingers wrapped around the hem of Hinata’s damp shirt, desperate to rip it off.
Hinata gives his collarbone a light suck, and Tobio sighs pleasantly. “Do you want me to?” He looks up at him with big eyes, lips all swollen and reddish.
“I want you,” Tobio croaks out, his voice hoarse, breathing growing heavier. “All of you.”
“You can have all of me,” Hinata immediately whispers, his words more than enough to give Tobio more courage.
His long fingers curl around Hinata’s ridiculously perfect waist as he guides him down the hallway. There, they come across a neatly made double bed illuminated only by the lights of Tokyo streaming through the floor-to-ceiling window. The rain still falls in serene drops outside, trickling down the glass and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Tobio doesn't spend much time admiring the room. In a few seconds, Hinata is already on top of him again, kissing him, sliding his fingers through his hair and sucking the oxygen out of his lungs. Sneaky fingers move quickly down the hem of Tobio’s shirt, pulling it all the way up and discarding it on the floor, leaving Tobio speechless, disheveled, and shirtless.
“Pretty,” Hinata murmurs in awe. He relishes the sight of Tobio’s bare chest, his palms tracing and squeezing the lines of his defined abs. “You're so pretty, Kageyama. It's unfair.”
“Shut up,” Tobio grumbles, his hands already reaching for Hinata’s shirt and peeling it off as well.
In a few seconds, his chest is also fully exposed in the dim light of the room, robust and filled with freckles. Tobio wants to kiss and count each one of them.
They begin to kiss desperately, their hands tracing inches and inches of bare, damp skin, tingling with warmth. Tobio continues guiding Hinata to the bed, and when his calve hits the mattress, they both quickly reach for each other’s waistbands.
“I'll take yours off first,” Hinata gasps between giggles. The two are basically pulling each other’s pants off and fighting to win.
“No. I’m taking yours off first,” Tobio says, a low laugh bubbling up from inside him. Hinata already won a few seconds ago by taking off his shirt first, so Tobio needs to turn this game around.
He remembers the thousands of sneaky kisses they shared in high school. On one of those occasions, Tobio was holding his waist tightly, and his fingers peeked under his shirt, making Hinata laugh. It was the most beautiful laugh and smile he had ever seen, with long curls falling across his face and lips red from their kisses, and that day, Tobio discovered a secret about Hinata’s waist: his skin is sensitive there.
Using this to his advantage, he lets go of his pants just to aim for his waist, tickling him mercilessly. Hinata immediately jumps back and falls onto the bed, laughing uncontrollably and writhing from side to side as Tobio rises above him with his fingers still digging into his skin, tickling him until the last laugh of joy leaves his body. He's overwhelmed with affection for that beautiful man beneath him, grinning from ear to ear, and Tobio presses light, affectionate kisses on the cheeks while finally pulling off his pants and underwear.
The sight of Hinata’s naked body is certainly the most wonderful his eyes have ever beheld. Not only are his arms and abdomen defined, but also the now exposed thighs that are absolutely firm and with reliable strength; his happy trail gleams with ginger strands, just like his pubic hair.
“Hinata…” Tobio’s voice comes through vulnerable; pleading. “Can I touch you?”
Hinata’s stomach flutters with the soft laugh he lets out. “Thought you were already doing that?”
“Dumbass, I need to be sure you're comfortable!”
Hinata suddenly props himself up on his elbows and reaches out to frame Tobio’s face, pulling him in for a slow kiss. Tobio sighs against his lips and melts like the raindrops that still stream down the window glass.
“There's no one I feel more comfortable with, Tobio,” the way Hinata pronounces his first name is low, but intense.
With his consent, Tobio can no longer stop loving and touching the one he has been longing for for years. He gently lays Hinata down on the pillow and positions himself between his legs, kissing him from his collarbone to his stomach as goosebumps break on his sun-kissed skin. He traces his tongue along the lines of his abdomen and delights in the low sighs Hinata lets out while he plays with Tobio’s damp hair. Tobio explores deeper and deeper every inch of golden skin, and when he reaches for his cock, he gives an experimental lick at the shaft. The way Hinata writhes on the bed and grips the sheet and Tobio’s scalp gives him more strength, more confidence, causing heat to course through the pores of his skin. He plunges in completely and closes his mouth around Hinata, tasting his salty flavor, and all the vulnerable layers he had hidden for so long. Tobio circles his large fingers around those ridiculously thick thighs and squeezes firmly, but gently, trying to keep Hinata still as he devours him. Hinata writhes in pure pleasure with each lick Tobio gives him, he breathes out an erotic song with each suck, his toes curling into the silk sheets as his spine arches deliciously.
“Tobi—” Hinata chokes on his words. Sweat paints his flushed face, his chest rising and falling swiftly. “I want all of you. Now.” His leg curls around Tobio’s spine, holding him in place, but demanding more and more from his man.
He pulls his mouth away from around him and smiles fondly. It's obvious that Hinata Shoyo would demand only the best from him even in the most intimate moments. And it's obvious that Kageyama Tobio would cherish every inch of his being so that he'd feel loved and deserving of his love.
“I don't wanna hurt you,” Tobio says when Hinata opens the drawer in the bedside table and throws a bottle of lube and a condom into his lap.
“You could never hurt me,” Hinata smiles gently. He's all disheveled and wet as his cock drips between his legs and sweat runs down the curves of his muscles. Tobio feels he can devour him completely, but he can also take his sweet time loving and worshipping him.
And that's exactly what he does.
He slowly rubs a bit of lube between his fingers and brings them to Hinata’s entrance, circling invitingly around it. Tobio presses a single finger in, and explores previously unknown parts of his body, caressing Hinata’s walls in a hook-like motion. Hinata breathes out heavily as he stares at the ceiling with dazed eyes, his jaw clenched and teeth biting his lower lip.
“Shhh,” Tobio soothes him. “Does it hurt?”
Hinata lets out an airy chuckle. “It's okay,” he props himself up on his elbows and reaches for his leaking cock, closing a hand around it. “I always feel comfortable with you.”
With a satisfied sigh, Hinata begins to pump himself slowly, but intensely. He throws his head back while still biting his reddened lower lip, allowing pleasure to gush from every inch of his body. All that's left for Tobio is to watch his finger disappear inside him as Hinata masturbates and they both dive into this new wave of lust.
“Take your pants off,” Hinata calls for. His cheek hangs over his shoulder as he drinks in the sight of Tobio fingering him. “I wanna see all of you.”
Tobio is overwhelmed just by watching that hot man being stimulated in every possible way. He can't say no to Hinata, not now or ever, so Tobio kicks his pants and underwear off, freeing his already hard, aching cock. Then, he presses another finger in and causes a soft moan to leave Hinata, his back hitting the mattress again as he writhes in utter bliss. Every sound he chants in the moonlight, vulnerable and suave just for Tobio to hear, is enough to urge him to move his fingers deeper. He plunges in again to mark Hinata’s thighs, to stamp his bronze skin with love bites, claiming every inch of him as his own.
“I’m ready,” Hinata places a hand over Tobio’s when it becomes too much, and he carefully pulls his fingers out.
They're both very wet, breathing heavily, and they haven't even gone all the way yet. Tobio opens the condom packet and rolls it over his hard length, exhaling softly just from touching himself.
When he looms over Hinata’s naked torso, both panting onto each other’s faces, Hinata pulls him down to worship his neck. He lightly bites, sucks, and licks the curve of sweaty, warm skin, Tobio’s pulse throbbing with longing. He was supposed to be in control, but as always, Hinata demonstrates that Tobio is wrapped around his fingers since forever. All Tobio can do is groan as Hinata explores every inch of his neck, as he caresses his spine with attentive fingertips and the reverence he has shown him for years. Hinata’s wet cock is pressed against his stomach, and if they don't continue now, Tobio feels he might explode.
“Hinata,” he pronounces his name as if it were sacred, as if not everyone could recite it.
“Tobio,” Hinata murmurs against his skin, giving a light kiss to the purple-ish marks that he'd made flourish there.
Tobio, Tobio, Tobio. He also pronounces his name as if it were worthy of complete devotion. As if Tobio himself were worthy of his eternal devotion.
And so, as he slowly pushes in, being engulfed in a unique, tight, overwhelming heat, the two plunge together into this new sea of absolute pleasure.
And they don't mind drowning together in its greatest depths.
Tobio shoves his face into the crook of Hinata’s neck as he pulls out and slams back in with immaculate precision, hitting a spot that causes stars to be etched into their eyes forever. They build up a slow rhythm, with Hinata’s nails wavering down his spine as Tobio rolls his hips with no intention of stopping anytime soon, without the slightest desire to stop repeatedly diving between those perfect legs that shine gold even under the silvery light.
Hinata moans each time he is completely filled, he grows redder and sweatier with each touch of skin to skin, with each incessant thud of the headboard against the wall. Tobio rises to map every detail painting his expression, and finds Hinata writhing in lust, flushed crimson from head to toe, his sweaty, disheveled bright hair contrasting perfectly against the white pillow. Tobio himself isn't much different—he has completely surrendered to his man and to this moment. He presses his forehead against Hinata’s and allows their whispers and moans to mingle along with the soft chant of sweaty flesh slapping.
“H—Hinata,” Tobio keeps his palms resting beside Hinata’s head, his name constantly rolling tenderly from his tongue. “Shoyo.” He can't hold back and utters his first name, too, overwhelmed by the fiery passion Hinata sets him on.
Overwhelmed by how infatuated Shoyo still makes him feel to this day. Forever and ever.
“T—Tobio,” Shoyo whispers brokenly. His arms tighten around Tobio’s shoulders as if they were his solace and safe haven while he continues to moan and lose himself in the way Tobio hits his most sensitive spot.
Both are at their most vulnerable right now, and Tobio has never been so fulfilled to be utterly transparent with someone, to be loved and changed as their sweaty bodies dance and align as one single soul and heart.
***
When Tobio’s eyelids flutter open again, silence creeps up into the air.
Rain has stopped in the world outside, and morning breaks on the horizon with warm beams of sunlight. His body feels heavy as he tosses and turns under the white blankets, his smooth strands of hair spread to the sides like a bird’s nest. Memories from hours ago flood Tobio’s mind, and he recalls the unforgettable night he spent with Shoyo; with his person, the same one who's sleeping peacefully beside him, his snoring low and gentle. Unable to resist, Tobio pulls closer and curls an arm around his waist, kissing the freckles sprinkled across his shoulder. His lips are gentle and homely, and though light, they make Shoyo stir in his sleep.
In a few seconds, brown eyes blink open, too, plunging Tobio into a warmth hotter than the sun.
“Tobi,” Shoyo flashes a genuine smile, too big for someone who's still sleepy. “Bom dia.”
Tobio’s heart does a somersault, as it always does whenever Shoyo speaks in Portuguese. “Bum ‘ia?” He tries to repeat his vocabulary, his morning voice slightly hoarse.
Shoyo chuckles fondly. “Can't believe there's a hot guy talking to me in another language first thing in the morning,” then, staring dreamily at the ceiling, he continues, “I might still be having a very good dream.”
“Dumbass,” Tobio hides a smile in his collarbone and presses a silent kiss there. His neck trembles with the purple-ish marks Shoyo has left on his skin, and Tobio’s stomach fills with butterflies just thinking about it.
It's not even past 5:00 yet, and neither of them seems inclined to get out of bed anytime soon. Tobio settles on top of Shoyo and rests his head in the crook of his neck while the other strokes his dark locks and yaps nonstop.
“Hmm, I love your hair,” Shoyo hums, yawing. His fingers never stop lazily running through Tobio’s scalp. “There's a word for that in Portuguese. It's cafuné.”
“Kahfoonéh?” Tobio muffles, frowning, his cheek flat against Shoyo’s heartbeats.
“Yes, cafuné,” he repeats between giggles. His fingers push Tobio’s bangs to the sides, leaving his forehead more exposed as Shoyo plants a kiss there. “It's a word used for when you card your fingers through the hair of someone you—” He suddenly cuts off, the words getting lost in his tongue.
Tobio is confused. Shoyo’s breathing grows heavier, his chest rises and falls swiftly as his heartbeats pound loudly against Tobio’s ear. Concerned, he pulls away from the comfort of his neck and finds him more beautiful than ever. His red hair is adorably tousled, his cheeks a lovely hue of pink as his large, brown eyes sparkle, wonderfully star-lit.
“Someone you… What?” Tobio whispers, fascinated by how blown-wide Shoyo’s pupils are—a perfect mirror of his.
Shoyo swallows hard, cheeks growing darker. “Someone you love.”
His loud heartbeats and heavy breathing fill the hotel room for long seconds. Tobio’s eyes linger on every detail of Shoyo’s expression, on the way his swollen, reddened lips had just uttered the word love.
Love.
Tobio loves that man, without a doubt. So that means…
“You also love me??” He breathes out, hopeful.
Shoyo’s mouth opens and closes, his words taking time to be revealed. “What do you mean with also?” He blinks multiple times and sits up. The blanket is frantically being twisted between his fingers.
“I meant the obvious.”
“And what's the obvious, Kageyama-kun?”
“As if you can't say!” Tobio also sits down. The blanket barely covers his naked body, but he doesn't care at all.
“It seems too good to be true...” Shoyo says awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. This time, he doesn't leave Tobio confused in silence. Instead, he opens a reassuring grin and crawls over to him, sitting on his lap. Their naked bodies are bathed in the dim morning light, warm, red, and claimed by one another.
“Hey,” Shoyo wraps his arms around Tobio’s neck and starts caressing his hair again. “I love you,” he states explicitly, without hesitation—an unwavering truth.
Tobio’s lips part slightly, his skin erupting with an overwhelming heat.
I love you.
He loves him.
“Love…” Tobio stumbles over his words. It's strange: he's absolutely convinced that he loves Hinata Shoyo with every fiber of his being, and yet, it's difficult for him to utter these words now, right after Shoyo poured out that confession. “I—”
Once again, Tobio loses this stupid competition. He doesn't have a chance to finish the sentence, not when Shoyo looms forward and captures his lips in the first kiss of the morning; not when he brushes his mouth against Tobio’s and tastes his tongue after hours and hours of mapping each other’s skin.
“I won,” Shoyo triumphs onto Tobio’s lips, pressing several kisses all over his face.
“Idiot,” Tobio grumbles, but there's no bite in his voice.
He is being loved first thing in the morning as Shoyo lays him down on the pillow and kisses every patch of skin he can reach. He presses his lips below Tobio’s jaw, on his neck, his collarbone and pecs. Tobio’s stomach flutters with thousands of butterflies, and when Shoyo reaches the extent of his belly to start sucking near his happy trail, he feels himself getting hard again.
“Tobio… I love you so much,” he muffles against his solar plexus.
Tobio can't stay still. He props himself up on his elbows and pulls Shoyo into a kiss that's more teeth and tongue than anything else.
“And I love you,” he rasps before Shoyo’s dumbfounded face, lips still parted and wet from their kiss.
Shoyo laughs despite himself, as if he can't believe his own luck. “Let me take care of you, then.”
Tobio gulps. He might be an idiot sometimes, but further words are unnecessary when Shoyo’s expression and touch say it all. His scarred fingers curl firmly around Tobio’s thighs, and his eyes glint with that same hungry look he displays during matches.
Oh.
He really loves and wants to consume every ounce of his being.
“It's okay if you don't—”
“Let’s do it,” Tobio grips the curls at the nape of Shoyo’s neck and caresses them tenderly. There's no reason to hesitate when he himself wants to be fully devoured.
“You sure about that?” Shoyo asks, like the thoughtful idiot he is.
“Yeah.” Truth is: if it were with anyone else, Tobio doesn't know if he would allow himself to be so vulnerable. Sex had never been so on his mind, and although he had been curious about the sensations it brings, he hadn't really imagined exploring the depths of lust with anyone.
Of course, this has changed completely last night; it turned upside down because Hinata Shoyo has the ability to move and change everything around Kageyama Tobio, who spares no effort to open up completely to him, to peel back the deepest layers of his skin and reach immeasurable peaks of delight together.
Comfort is the star of the moment as Shoyo resumes with kisses on Tobio’s thighs. He murmurs sweet nothings against his skin and imprints the joy of his smiling lips there, sealing this moment perfectly. He reaches for the bottle of lube on the bedside table, but this time, he pours the gel onto his own fingers. Tobio shifts in bed and waits, but everything inside him burns intensely as he drinks in the sight of Shoyo, who is all red-faced, naked, and hard between his thighs.
His muscles seem a little stiff, and Shoyo inhales and exhales slowly before giving Tobio’s knee a little kiss and starting to touch him. He circles his fingers around Tobio’s still stiff entrance and slowly pushes one in, causing Tobio’s breath to catch in his throat. Shoyo is gentle as he strokes his walls, his tongue peeking out from the corner of his mouth—a sign of absolute concentration while he focuses 100% on Tobio’s well-being.
“Tobi…” Shoyo calls out his name while running a hand up and down his thigh. “You’re so tense. You sure you wanna—”
“Yes,” Tobio rasps against the pillow, trying to breathe properly. “D-don’t stop. I'm sure it will get better.”
“Oh! Okay,” Shoyo whispers, also breathless. “Try to focus on the way I touch you here.” He brings a hand to gently massage Tobio’s belly and kisses the secret dimples he has there, rubbing the tip of his nose near his navel. The touches are gentle and very sensual, not painful at all, and soften his rim as Shoyo presses another finger in.
This time, the touch is somewhat uncomfortable and burning, making him almost pull his fingers out from Tobio when he winces, but he swallows hard and signals for Shoyo to continue. He’s guided by the way Tobio touched him hours prior and starts mirroring his movements, scissoring his fingers and unlocking Tobio’s layers one by one, until the burning sensation gives way to a surge of smoothness and notes of pleasure pulse through his body again.
“Sho—” Tobio digs his nails into the mattress and blinks countless times at the ceiling. “I'm good.”
The fingers inside him suddenly twist and hit a spot that makes stars explode behind his eyes. Tobio groans and his spine arches off the bed, his jaw falling open obscenely.
“Sorry,” the idiot who caused this flood of pleasure says as he withdraws his fingers. “You called me Sho.”
“It's your fucking name,” Tobio rasps, breathlessly.
Shoyo looms over him and stares with star-lit eyes. “My name is Shoyo, actually! But I like when people call me Sho. When you call me that.” He beams. “It's the same as when I call you Tobi.”
Here he comes again, calling his name with so much affection. It makes Tobio swallow hard. “You talk too much.”
“Only around people I love,” he plants a chaste kiss on his lips. Love is another word that makes Tobio’s legs tremble.
“You’re lucky I'm able to put up with you.”
Shoyo giggles. “Of course you can. You’re the only one.” He presses a last loud smooch to his cheek before reaching for a condom in the drawer.
He sits on top of Tobio while sliding it down his wet cock and applying a generous amount of lube, placing a pillow under Tobio’s hips.
They're still new in this, but Tobio already understands he loves gazing at Shoyo while they make love. He loves getting lost in his brown eyes rolling back with pleasure, in the blush on his cheeks, the sweat that gathers at the roots of his curls and clings to his forehead while they lose their breath and focus together.
Now is no different—when Shoyo aligns himself and slides in, his hips meeting Tobio’s butt, none of them can look away for even a second. Tobio is filled with an immense heat, feeling fireworks exploding inside him. He grabs Shoyo’s shoulders and draws him closer, their faces centimeters apart as Shoyo pulls out and slams back in repeatedly, the thrusts strong and well-aimed. It's like their performance on the court: Tobio gives everything Shoyo wants, and Shoyo takes everything and much more. He wrecks Tobio’s insides but reshapes him into something more beautiful, precious; he polishes the heart that beats for him for a lifetime and synchronizes their beats together, turning them into one.
They are beautifully connected in a dance that accelerates, the intense rhythm marked by low sighs and moans while the headboard bangs frantically against the wall and Tobio sinks further into the mattress. He wraps his legs around Shoyo’s waist, and the change in the angle causes his jaw to fall open, the erotic sounds emanating from it being swallowed by Shoyo’s lips.
It's all an otherworldly feeling of having and belonging to someone, of feeling the most neglected parts of your body being worshipped to the fullest.
Shoyo slows down the movements of his hips, panting onto Tobio’s face, both of them flushed crimson and with eyes glazed. His attentive thumbs slowly run across Tobio’s cheeks, spreading the moisture there like watercolor on a blank canvas.
“Tobi…” Shoyo chokes out the gentlest tone he'd ever heard. “Shhh, don't cry.”
Don't cry. Crying... Oh. Tobio is really crying.
“I'm here now,” Shoyo soothes him with a weak smile; tears are also gathering at the corners of his eyes like the empathetic dumbass he is. “I'm here now. And forever.”
“Dumbass,” Tobio tries to smile back. He can't believe he's actually crying. Sparks of electricity continue to gush from every pore of his skin, and he feels so good, safe, and overwhelmed with blooming sentiments. “Stop crying.” He brings a hand to Shoyo’s hair and starts carding his fingers through it.
Shoyo hums, sniffing. “You started it,” he teases. His lips brush against Tobio’s cheeks, one at a time, savoring the saltiness of his tears. The gesture is so tender and sweet that Tobio feels about to explode.
He doesn't know whether to call him a sap or hold on to his partner’s back as if it were his anchor, wanting more of his love. Of his lover.
“Meu bem,” Shoyo sprinkles smooches all over Tobio’s face. “Querido,” he keeps whispering unfamiliar words in Portuguese that sound absurdly warm and homely, and make Tobio chuckle under his breath.
“You’re such a sap,” he whispers while stroking Shoyo’s scalp.
“And you love me this way,” he murmurs through his smiling lips, though he sounds a bit insecure.
“I do,” Tobio pulls Shoyo down by the nape and crushes their mouths together. The kiss is desperate, marked by breathless whispers, more tears and low moans. Tobio’s mouth curves upward when he finds Shoyo completely dazed, his lips parted and wet. “Love you.”
Shoyo blinks a few times after chuckling softly, followed by Tobio’s own laughter. And so, their morning sex is filled with silly smiles, tears, kisses, and Shoyo’s precise thrusts, which mold layers of Tobio never seen before. Layers never loved before, but which will now be worshipped for a lifetime and many, many lives.
When they finish, Shoyo collapses on top of Tobio as they catch their breath. Under the morning light, there is only the intimacy of bare skin pressed against bare skin, lingering kisses, and lazy gazes locked on each other.
“Was it good?” Shoyo asks as soon as he comes to check on Tobio, his calloused hands cupping his face with unwavering reverence.
Tobio squeezes him in his embrace. He skates his fingers up and down Shoyo’s back, which now bears scratch marks like medals of honor.
“Not good,” he delights in the way Shoyo’s eyes widen, suddenly worried. “Perfect.”
Shoyo closes his eyes for a moment to breathe a sigh of relief, and Tobio grins. That's his thoughtful dumbass.
“Don’t scare me like that.”
“I was just being honest.”
Shoyo hums, finding a home in the crook of Tobio’s neck. “As you always are.”
They don't realize they end up falling asleep again, and hours later, they take a shared shower. There's something intimate about the feeling of bare skin touching bare skin, with them soaping each other up and pressing their lips against wet patches of each other’s body. It all feels utterly domestic, as if they’ve been married for years, ages or lives, and more than ever, Tobio is certain that he wants to continue writing his story with Shoyo forever.
Shoyo eventually calls room service and the two have breakfast in bed, side by side, dressed only in white cotton robes while they devour everything from the tray.
“Someone’s messaging you,” Shoyo hands Tobio’s phone to him, taking a bite of his meat bun.
Tobio sighs. He hates being interrupted in the middle of a meal, and when he unlocks his phone, he frowns at the screen. “Hoshiumi-san. He's asking if ordering for a lemonade worked out with you.”
“Huh? What does that mean??” Shoyo asks, curiously, as a few drops of water fall from the tips of his ginger curls.
“Nothing,” he shakes his head from side to side and throws his phone onto the bedside table. “Just that I’m here with you now.” Slowly, Tobio presses himself closer to Shoyo and wraps an arm around him, burying his face in his neck. He smells of lavender soap and a faint hint of something characteristic of him—a nostalgic, homely smell that Tobio loves to love.
“Ah, so you guys were planning for this moment, huh? They helped you get into my pants!”
“Dumbass! Don't say it like that—”
Tobio’s words are cut off when Shoyo tenderly frames his face and presses his warm lips against his. The kiss tastes of freshly-baked bread and tea, causing Tobio to melt completely.
“You don't even need to try very hard to win me over, you know?” Shoyo smiles onto his mouth, kissing Tobio over and over again. “I’ve always been yours.”
Tobio also frames Shoyo’s face and pulls him closer, their foreheads touching. “And I'm yours. I've always been and always will be.”
Their breaths keep mingling between them along with the beating of their racing hearts, and eventually, their promises cease to be whispers and become shouts. Shouts of devotion and commitment. Shouts of promises of love in its most unwavering form between two souls who wrote their lifetime vows together.