The gym smells like varnish and sweat and something electric you canât name.
Hinata is still breathing hard, hands on his knees, orange hair damp and sticking to his forehead. Practice ended ten minutes ago. Everyone else left. Somehow, you didnât.
Youâre sitting on the wooden bench by the wall, legs swinging, pretending youâre not watching the way his shoulders rise and fall. Pretending your heart isnât doing the same thing.
âUm,â he says, straightening too fast. âYou waited.â
You nod. âYou said you wanted to try that jump again.â
His eyes light up instantly. Too bright. Too open. Hinata always wears his feelings where anyone can see them, and thatâs the problem. Thatâs why this feels dangerous.
He grabs the ball. Misses the first toss. Laughs, embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck.
âSorry! I get nervous when⊠when youâre watching.â
That lands harder than any spike.
You stand. The distance between you is suddenly small. Too small. You can see the faint scar on his chin, the way his fingers tighten around the ball like itâs the only thing keeping him grounded.
âHinata,â you say, softly. His name feels different in your mouth. âWhy do you get nervous?â
For a moment, you think he wonât answer. Hinata isnât subtle, but feelings, real ones, still scare him. Then he exhales, quick and shaky.
âBecause,â he says, staring at the floor, âwhen youâre here, I want to do everything right.â
You reach out before you can overthink it, fingers brushing his wrist. He looks up, startled, like he didnât expect you to touch him. Like he didnât expect to be wanted.
âI donât need perfect,â you say. âI just need you.â
The silence that follows is loud.
Hinata steps closer. Slowly. Like heâs afraid the moment might shatter if he moves too fast. His hand comes up, hovering near your cheek, hesitating.
You donât answer with words.
The kiss is clumsy. Soft. His lips brush yours, miss slightly, try again. He makes a small sound( surprised, almost disbelieving) and then heâs kissing you for real, warm and earnest and completely Hinata. Like heâs giving you something precious without knowing how to hold it yet.
When you pull back, heâs smiling so wide it almost hurts to look at.
âWow,â he breathes. âSo thatâs what thatâs like.â
You laugh, forehead resting against his. âYou liked it?â
He nods immediately. Too fast. âYeah. I meanâyes. A lot. Did you?â
You kiss him again, quick and sure this time.
âThatâs your answer.â
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