Work Text:
“Não importa se as pessoas vão se decepcionar. Se você não for verdadeira consigo mesma, a vida perde o sentido.”
Conectadas, Clara Alves
☀️
The sound of labored breathing and sneakers slapping against the orange court are the main soundtrack hanging loftily in the air. They're the star of the symphony that resonates across the stadium as the last ball of the game falls on the other side of the net—on the opponents’ side.
Shoyo stares bewildered as it rolls out with a soft, yet definitive, echo. They won. Japan has just swept the court with their victory over Argentina, and within seconds, the final whistle blows, bringing with it a shower of celebratory shouts that fill the deafening silence of the empty stands. Shoyo’s palm aches pleasurably from the last spike, his skin itching and red, still wanting for more. He wants to play more, to soar higher and reach the furthest stars in the sky, to grasp the best of feelings between his fingers and mold them into something eternal. Even after winning bronze, Hinata Shoyo still wants more, more of volleyball and life. And when he turns around to meet his partner’s gaze, the silvery ocean hues there also mirror his deepest, unwavering desires.
“We won, Kageyama!!” He pronounces this person’s name—his person—with almost uncontrollable excitement. The urge to jump into his arms right here and now and scream at the top of his lungs is overwhelming.
Bokuto and Atsumu arrive first, though, blocking Shoyo’s view by hugging him tightly from either side. The three embrace and begin jumping and frolicking like a happy circle dance, a perfect contrast to the energy of the defeated team.
“We're going to destroy you next time,” Oikawa says from the other side of the net, hands on his hips as he sports a determined, fierce look.
“Nah, we’ll keep our winning streak against ya!” Atsumu says, triumphantly.
The hustle and bustle lasts for long minutes at the Ariake Arena, the joy of the Japan National Team being broadcast for the whole world to see. Only after speaking with his teammates does Shoyo jump out of the crowd, standing face to face with him again. It's as if everything had aligned for this moment: with Hinata Shoyo scoring the match’s final point, securing their first Olympic medal ever, and by his side.
“Kageyama!!!” Shoyo shouts his name again, as if it were his favorite word to utter; as if it were a sacred word that he, and only he, can recite to the sun and the moon. “We won!! Did you see my beautiful spike???”
Kageyama Tobio stands tall just a few steps away from him, sweaty and strong, a force to be reckoned with. The carmine red of his uniform matches the beautiful blush dusting his cheeks, his skin soft-looking despite the fresh dampness painting along his jaw all the way to his collarbone. Shoyo is mesmerized. He has touched that skin so many times, he has kissed and worshipped every inch of his perfect body for months, years, even lifetimes, and yet, the feeling of being breathless in his presence doesn't cease.
“I didn’t,” Kageyama lies, teases even. Their relationship is heavily imprinted by teasing and silly banters, and of course, this moment would be no different.
Instead of getting annoyed, Shoyo joins in the joke, smiling freely. “Seriously? But it was a really hot setter who set the ball for me, you know?” Shoyo takes involuntary steps forward. His body is being drawn to Kageyama’s by this everlasting sentiment, as strong as the gravitational force that keeps planets orbiting the sun. “He’s my all-time favorite.”
Their chests are almost touching now. Kageyama reaches a hand out to push away some sweaty curls stuck to Shoyo’s forehead, his biceps flexing. “I don't know if he's incredibly lucky or unlucky.”
Shoyo’s grin grows wider. “All I know is that I'm the lucky one here.” He throws his arms around the shoulders of his favorite setter, his favorite person, tiptoeing to whisper against his face, “To have you. And to be yours.”
Their teammates are still celebrating loudly, but the sound is kept sealed in the outside world. Now, Shoyo feels that he and Kageyama are immersed in their own bubble, in their own exclusive universe where only they exist. It's a planet that's not so unknown anymore, but one that Shoyo never tires of exploring, living on, or diving into its deepest oceans. The tension that builds between them is palpable, solid, and irreversible, reaching its peak when Kageyama bends down to capture Shoyo’s lips in a delicate kiss.
There’s no turning back anymore. Right now, besides the throbbing energy slamming from his chest, Shoyo can only push himself closer to his lover’s body, closer to his heartbeats and soul, and kiss him back senseless. He brings his fingers to Kageyama’s nape and squeezes his soft, damp strands, earning a pleasant sigh in turn. Shoyo smiles without breaking the kiss, and he also sighs onto his lips when Kageyama’s hands grip his waist and back, holding every ounce of his being with much reverence.
He’s kissing his man.
He’s kissing his man in front of the cameras.
He is still kissing his man for the whole damn world to see and Shoyo can't care less.
Suddenly, he’s being lifted into the air, laughing freely with his forehead touching his boyfriend’s as Kageyama’s arms wrap tightly around him and the two twirl in their own little world. The bronze medal hasn't even been placed around his neck yet, but it's as if a whole piece of gold is close to his heart. All Shoyo can think about is his partner’s smooth, sweet taste; the smell of shaving foam and sweat, the heat that creeps through every inch of his skin, and the greyish glint stored in his eyes as soon as they pull away to catch their breath. It's as if Kageyama Tobio has the sea treasured in his gaze, with stars and the moonlight reflected in its salty waves, and Shoyo wouldn't mind sailing through those waters for a lifetime and beyond.
Soon, the team arranges themselves around them, jumping and celebrating not only their victory, but also their kiss; their courage in allowing themselves to surrender to each other even with the eyes of the whole world lingering upon them. Shoyo gets embarrassed when his feet touch the orange floor again, his cheeks flushed the color of their jerseys.
“I guess I got carried away,” he scratches the back of his head. Kageyama still has his arm around Shoyo, and he feels safe sheltered in his embrace, his smile wide like a crescent moon.
“You both did, but it’s fine,” Bokuto reassures him. “That was hella cool! And romantic. I also wanna do that with Akaashi.” He brings his hands together near his face as if in silent prayer.
“Heck yeah!” Hoshiumi pipes in, throwing his arms into the air. “I'll call Sachirou and we'll recreate a similar scene tonight.”
“Wow, the gay parade came early this year,” Atsumu mocks as he runs a hand through his blonde waves. “Everyone’s coming out on the same day.”
“Everyone but you,” Oikawa says, strutting towards them. He stops in front of Atsumu, and looks him up and down before saying, “Why come out of the closet if yours has always been made of glass?”
“LOOK WHO’S TALKING???” Atsumu mocks and pulls out the same pose as Oikawa, both now with their hands on their hips and lips pursed. “Shoyo-kun!! Say something to your…” He also looks him up and down in a Mean Girls style. “Friend.”
“I gotta agree with him, Atsumu-san,” Shoyo replies between giggles, earning a mortal glare from Atsumu. “You all already knew about our relationship.”
“Yeah, but now the whole world does, too,” Oikawa points out.
“Oh!” Of course Shoyo is aware that the dozens of cameras recording the match have also captured their passionate kiss.
And he has no regrets.
The question is: Is Shoyo really ready for this? It's one thing to come out to friends and close people he trusts implicitly, but to come out to the whole world? To lay his heart bare before the entire universe and shout that he solemnly loves only one man?
Their steps into this uncertain future begin with the bronze medals being placed around the necks of the entire National Team during the podium ceremony. Because of the quarantine, only the athletes, coaches, and some journalists participate in the podium ceremony, fully experiencing this moment.
The bronze medal now hangs around Shoyo’s neck like a newly-sculpted crown, a golden cloak and a symbol, gleaming in the stadium lights. It's not the gold he dreamed of, but it's something giant, brilliant, and majestic. It's a huge step in his volleyball future, a new level reached in this sky he never stops soaring towards, and he has no plans to stop flapping those wings anytime soon.
All the players stand side-by-side on the podium, as their moment is broadcast globally. The Brazilian national anthem echoes through the stadium to celebrate their first-place finish for yet another year, and some of Shoyo’s teammates from Asas São Paulo sing along proudly at the top. He's genuinely happy for them.
Shoyo is immersed in this wholesome moment when warm fingers reach for his and squeeze his hand—a gentle, soft touch, reminiscent of home.
“Do you need to go to the bathroom?” Kageyama whispers as soon as they are dismissed from the ceremony, glancing sideways at his boyfriend.
Shoyo also side-eyes him. “No… What kind of question is that? I'm a bronze medalist now!”
“Just checking,” the edges of his lips curl up as he brushes his thumb across Shoyo’s index finger.
“You’re a menace, Kageyama Tobio,” he says fondly before elbowing him.
Just this sweet moment with him after their breathtaking kiss builds into a wonderful night where Shoyo feels truly victorious. And his prize goes beyond a medal. The gold is still an achievement to be attained, but he won the match alongside his partner, his one and only, and that means as much as a piece of the most glittering gold.
“Tobio…” Shoyo trails off, insecure. They’re in a corner of the court, isolated, but it's as if the eyes of the whole world are still lingering on them. His words are sincere and unchanging when he speaks, “I love a man.”
Tobio blinks swiftly at him. “Okay?”
“I love you!!” Shoyo declares fiercely, framing his boyfriend’s face and staring deeply into his soul so he can imprint his words into his memory forever. “Is that okay? Am I allowed to feel that?”
Tobio frowns and pouts, suddenly annoyed. He also frames Shoyo’s cheeks with equal tenderness, his tone definitive as he says: “You’re the only one allowed to feel this way for me, dumbass!!”
“I am!” Shoyo shouts, mostly to himself. “Then I will love you forever,” he promises.
Tobio looks overwhelmed, with a blush creeping up his cheeks. “Okay… Good!”
“Good!” Shoyo laughs softly under his boyfriend’s gaze. He doesn't have time to tease him or drink in sight of the pink beauty painting his cheeks anymore, as Kageyama leans in to kiss him again.
There’s a soft sigh that mingles between them, a relaxed, contented sound being swallowed when their lips brush together. Shoyo swipes his thumbs across Kageyama’s jawline while Kageyama brings a hand to stroke ginger curls and thread them around his fingers, whispering sweet nothings into his mouth.
The fluttering of butterflies in Shoyo’s stomach is the only blooming sentiment he feels at the moment, alongside a warmth that runs from head to toe. For now, he only shelters in his person’s embrace and allows himself to be bathed in genuine love with many kisses sprinkled across his face, believing in that golden thread of hope that everything will be alright.
☀️
First-time Olympic Bronze medalists Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio came out as queer during the celebration of victory against Argentina in the Tokyo Olympics.
The athletic trainer of the Japan National Team, Iwaizumi Hajime, commented on their “courage, intense devotion, and partnership on and off the court” in the Instagram post that featured Hinata and Kageyama’s soap opera-worthy kiss that went viral this weekend.
By Globo Esporte — Rio de Janeiro
07/08/2021 10h09
────୨ৎ────
Hailing from the same prefecture in Miyagi, Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio met at age 14 during a volleyball match in middle school. Their rivalry was born there, and curiously, it intensified even further when they started playing on the same team in 2012, at Karasuno High School. They became known and feared as the freak duo, where Kageyama would set the ball perfectly and Hinata would already be in the air, flying, ready to spike any ball that was given to him. It was like that for three long years until they took different paths, but still with the same goal. Hinata Shoyo went to Brazil to flourish on the beach, and Kageyama Tobio settled in Tokyo, playing for Schweiden Adlers. Even on opposite sides of the world, their ideals were aligned, and when Hinata-senshu returned to Japan, the two supposedly fulfilled a promise to the fullest. The world-renowned Ninja Shoyo painted the Adlers’ house in black and gold, and Kageyama Tobio’s heart in the most beautiful crimson.
And that’s when the romance officially began.
Away from the noise and euphoria of the stadium, in the secluded corridors, the two pulled each other into a hug that felt like home, which evolved into an intense, breathtaking kiss, perhaps even straight out of a romcom.
It was only almost three years later that the secret relationship came to light, with a soap opera-worthy kiss broadcast for the whole world to see.
“I already knew I was homosexual, but damn, the king always has the rainbow-dash ability to outgay me,” stated Tsukishima Kei, middle blocker for the Sendai Frogs, who followed Kageyama and Hinata’s journey at Karasuno since day one.
When asked about their process of discovering their sexuality, the couple gave answers that could be inspiring for the global queer community.
“For me, everything went smoothly. At the time, I was focused on playing volleyball and wanted to learn and grow stronger, so I didn't think much about that. I only really had volleyball in my mind. And Hinata. I wasn't old enough to understand what those feelings meant, so, to be honest, I didn't give it much importance. It was a very natural process, as I think it should be,” Kageyama Tobio explained. “I knew I loved him. And I knew he loved me, too, so we figured it would be okay to wait. Time didn't matter.” With that statement, he reached for Hinata’s hand, which was restless on his lap. As their fingers slid together, that simple, featherlight touch made the nervousness leave Hinata-senshu’s body, the gesture proving all the sentiments that Kageyama-senshu had declared.
In Brazil, Hinata Shoyo felt safe to admit to himself that he could love any soul, whether man or woman. “Seeing queer people being free and more open about their relationships in Brazil really opened my mind, like, wahhh.” He made exaggerated miming and sounds in response, while Kageyama-senshu gave him furtive, tender glances. “I found beauty through moments shared with friends, strength when the sand kissed my feet, and love upon realizing that my concept of romance is only built for those I have a deep connection with,” the volleyball player stated. “And not so surprising to some, but almost overwhelming to me, Tobio is the one I have the most beautiful connection with,” Hinata-senshu finished his answer with a soft laugh, blushing.
None of them were afraid to talk about vulnerability, nor the differences in returning to the Japan National Team after coming out. Even though other members of the team are also LGBT+, the world still has prejudiced people who are volleyball fans and could affect their promising careers.
When asked about the challenges queer people face in society, the couple exchange knowing glances and simply shrug. “Nothing will stop us from continuing to do what we love,” Hinata-senshu said firmly. “Or from being with who I love.”
His chest remained puffed out after answering, leaving the interviews proud and satisfied with his response. Kageyama-senshu was quiet for a few minutes, and with a pout, bent down to give Shoyo a fierce kiss against his eyelid. Once again, the serene look the 25-year-old volleyball players shared proved all the words and love confessions they had declared, as recounted in the interview with Globo Esporte.
☀️
Ninja Shoyo ✓ @HinataShoyo
The bronze medal is ours! I'm fulfilling a childhood dream with this achievement, but of course I'm also planning to get gold one day 🫡🧡 Aaaaand I feel soooo victorious for having kissed this delicious man in front of the whole world! Did you know he’s mine and mine alone?? INSANE!! 🤯
🗨️ 910 🔄 55k ❤️ 300k
Atsumu ✓ @MiyauTsumu
Replying to @HinataShoyo
relax bro, nobody’s gotta take him from ya 😭
🗨️ 24 🔄 354 ❤️ 3k
Kotaro Beam ✓ @BokutoKotaro
Replying to @HinataShoyo
So proud of you my disciple!! Tho I think Kageyama should've smiled, too!!
🗨️ 15 🔄 231 ❤️2,8k
Hoshiumi Korai ✓ @LittleGiant
Replying to @HinataShoyo
He’s still working on his smiles!! Some children are no longer scared of him, and according to Hinata, his smile has improved considerably…
🗨️ 13 🔄 211 ❤️2,3k
Tsukishima Kei ✓ @SendaiFrogsKei
Replying to @HinataShoyo
Gay love is truly blind
🗨️ 37 🔄 540 ❤️10,9k
Ninja Shoyo ✓ @HinataShoyo
Replying to @SendaiFrogsKei
MY VISION IS PERFECT, and Tobio looks so cute even when he’s constipated
🗨️ 24 🔄 479 ❤️ 9k
Kageyama Tobio ✓ @KageyamaTobio
Replying to @HinataShoyo and @SendaiFrogsKei
How do you expect me to smile when there’s a dumbass biting me?
🗨️ 21 🔄 349 ❤️ 7k
Ninja Shoyo ✓ @HinataShoyo
Replying to @KageyamaTobio and @SendaiFrogsKei
AS IF YOU DONT LOVE IT WHEN I BITE YOU!! And you love biting me too, you filthy thing!!!
🗨️ 34 🔄 313 ❤️ 6k
Kageyama Tobio ✓ @KageyamaTobio
Replying to @HinataShoyo and @SendaiFrogsKei
Whatever. It's your fault for having those... delicious thighs.
🗨️ 54 🔄 380 ❤️ 15k
Ninja Shoyo ✓ @HinataShoyo
Replying to @KageyamaTobio and @SendaiFrogsKei
IT’S YOURS FOR HAVING THIS… PRETTY ANNOYING WARM NECK AND BELLY 😩😩😩🧡🧡 I need to bury my face into it NOW!!
🗨️ 65 🔄 399 ❤️ 18k
Kageyama Tobio ✓ @KageyamaTobio
Replying to @HinataShoyo and @SendaiFrogsKei
??? What are you waiting for?? I'm knocking on your door right now!
🗨️ 76 🔄 540 ❤️ 25k
Ninja Shoyo ✓ @HinataShoyo
Replying to @KageyamaTobio and @SendaiFrogsKei
OMG GUYS BYEEE, I HAVE A NECK AND A BELLY TO CLAIM AS MINE FOREVER!!
🗨️ 45 🔄 400 ❤️ 38k
Tsukishima Kei ✓ @SendaiFrogsKei
Replying to @HinataShoyo and @KageyamaTobio
And I’m deactivating forever ☠️☠️
🗨️ 89 🔄 570 ❤️ 55k
☀️
Summer in Miyagi carries on with intense beams and gentle breezes. The Hinatas’ household is located in the rural area, surrounded by forest and the singing of cicadas that echo through the rice fields—a melody that Shoyo had grown used to hearing every time he rose with the sunrise. It's a complete state of peace compared to the chaos of the big city where he currently lives, so he tries to make the most of each day with his family.
Tonight is the first time Tobio will be coming to dinner as Shoyo’s official boyfriend, and honestly, he doesn't know how to feel. Sure, Kageyama has already been to their house—he has a permanent chair at the dining table and a spare mattress just for him; Natsu always pulls him by the wrist and guides him to the backyard so they can play volleyball together (which Tobio goes to without complaining), and Mom often strokes his hair as if he were the family cat. Seriously, sometimes it's like Tobio is her favorite son.
And Shoyo can only feel his chest swell with utter pride.
While waiting for Mom and his boyfriend, Shoyo makes sure to set the table. There’s baião de dois, moqueca de banana da terra and brigadeiro cake—his Brazilian specialties. He leans against the kitchen counter while sipping his evening lemon balm tea, and appreciates the sight of the table laden with plenty. The click of a key turning in the front door’s lock eventually reaches his ears, along with the sound of the door sliding open. Shoyo glances down the hallway, and within seconds, a disheveled Natsu pops up in the doorway, still dressed in training gears.
“Nii-chan,” she blinks a few times, looking a bit lost. “Am I late?”
Shoyo shakes his head, a soft smile painting his lips. “You arrived at the perfect time!” He sets the cup down in the sink and spreads his arms out to gesture at the table. “Dinner is served!”
“Oh,” the hint of a beam shines on Natsu’s face. She sets her bag down from her shoulder and approaches enthusiastically. “Is that what you learned abroad? I'm so jealous!”
“That, and a couple of other things,” he says proudly. “Okay, go take your shower ‘cause Mom and Tobio will be here soon.”
“Alright,” Natsu replies, although she remains standing in place.
Shoyo stares at his little sister with big, attentive eyes. “What is it, Natsu? Wanna tell me something?”
“No…”
He squints suspiciously, like a father who knows his daughter has been up to something. “Don't tell me you broke Mom’s bedroom window again. Look, that glass is expensive, but we can afford it now—”
“It’s—not that! I mean…” Natsu runs a hand through some curls that escape from her ponytail. She’s still a little sweaty from training, her Niiyama girls’ uniform glued to her body. “I guess someone else is coming over tonight.”
Shoyo’s eyebrows quicken up. “Oh! A teammate?”
Natsu nods, blushing. “Yeah...”
There’s a pause that stretches. Shoyo senses his sister has something more to say, but the words remain stuck in her throat, and he decides not to pressure her. It's a habit he picked up from Tobio, who also became a brother figure to Natsu ever since their Karasuno years, being a safe haven where she can open up whenever she wants; if she wants to.
While Natu’s taking a shower, it doesn't take long for Mom to arrive, bringing some fresh peaches and plums recently-picked from their backyard. Shoyo helps her arrange them in bowls on the dinner table, and it is at this moment that the last guest announces his arrival, giving some light knocks on the door.
He’s here.
Shoyo is a 25-year-old grown ass adult who feels like a teenager as he runs to the entrance and flings the door open, his smile wide and radiant.
“Kageyama!!!” There’s no room for formal greetings when he throws himself at his boyfriend, his arms wrapping around his neck as soon as Tobio welcomes him in his embrace.
“Hinata,” Tobio breathes into his curls, voice slightly muffled. Shoyo is probably knocking the air out of his lungs, but he can't bring himself to care.
“‘Umbass. You’re suffocating me,” he complains, but doesn't move a muscle to pull away from the breathtaking snuggle.
They become a tangled mass of limbs at the entrance, their outline hugging framed by the moon and stars. It's true that they saw each other last week in their final match at this year’s Olympics, but even so, every fraction of a second spent together is precious and deserves to be cherished to the fullest.
As they make their way inside, Shoyo admires Tobio’s casual outfit: khaki shorts and a blue button-down shirt, almost a mirror image of what he himself is wearing. The only difference is that the fabric of Shoyo’s half-buttoned shirt is moss green, a shade that contrasts nicely with his tanned skin sprinkled with thousands of freckles.
Even when they reach the kitchen, Shoyo can't completely detach himself from him. He walks backward while Tobio pulls him by the nape for a kiss, their mouths crashing multiple times in an assault of pecks that breaks into genuine laughter.
“Shoyo,” Tobio murmurs, or rather, tries to murmur as much as possible when he’s with a man thrown on top of him, kissing and squeezing him nonstop. “Your family…?”
“Mom and Natsu are still getting ready. We have a few minutes alone!” Shoyo beams onto his lips and steps back a little to admire his boyfriend.
His handsome features are flawless as ever, cheeks flushed, hair all smooth and jawline speckled with moles. Tobio’s blue eyes hold beautiful hints of gray, like stardust in the night sky, and Shoyo knows he could lose himself in the vastness of that space forever. There, besides tenderness, sparkles an anxious glint, causing Shoyo to take a closer look at Tobio’s sentiments.
“You’re nervous,” he points out, even though he himself is experiencing this veiled anxiety.
“Aren’t you?” Tobio breathes out. His eyebrows are knitted together, breathing lowkey shallow.
“I am,” he’s quick to admit. There’s no reason to lie. “But we're in this together.”
Tobio hums. He softens a bit when Shoyo’s hands begin to caress his stiff shoulders. “I don't know if this is good or bad,” he says hoarsely. “Being with you.”
“Hey!” Shoyo digs his fingers into Tobio’s shoulders. He smiles when he catches a glimpse of his boyfriend squinting in pain, but still grinning teasingly. “No more massages for you before sleep, then!”
His playful grin blossoms further, along with secret, soft dimples that Shoyo loves to love. He rolls his eyes but can't hold back from smiling from ear to ear, immersed in an endless well of tenderness as he tiptoes to kiss each of his boyfriend’s dimples as Tobio’s muscles relax under his touch, remaining at ease until mealtime.
***
The summery night unfolds naturally. The atmosphere resembles that of calm days where the Hinatas drink hot chocolate near the lake and count the golden fireflies reflected in the water. Before indulging in the banquet that Shoyo prepared, Mom sips a glass of wine and asks him and Tobio to join her, while Natsu excuses herself for a moment to wait for her friend who’s running late.
“So… You two…” Mom takes an elegant sip of wine, her butterfly earrings glistening in the kitchen’s yellow light. “Are you planning to live together?”
Shoyo is pouring the purple liquid into his boyfriend’s glass, until their hands tremble at the sound of the question. “No. I mean, yes!!” He glances at Tobio, who stares back with a confident sparkle in his eyes. It's enough for Shoyo to get the message. “One day... When we’re retired.”
“Maybe we can rent an apartment near the beach. In Brazil,” Tobio is quick to suggest. They haven't actually discussed yet where they might settle down after retirement, so his answer comes as a surprise.
“I bet Shoyo would love that,” Mom says.
“I sooo would, but…” Shoyo confirms awkwardly. He puts the wine bottle down and fidgets with his hands over the table, suddenly restless. “You don't need to do all this for me. It's a decision we’ve gotta make together,” he says without looking his boyfriend in the eyes.
“I know,” Tobio deadpans.
“Wouldn't you miss Italy?”
“It's a beautiful country. My friends are great.”
“Do your neighbors still bring you blackberry pies?” Mom asks, recalling a comment Shoyo once made about Tobio being loved by the neighborhood grannies.
“They do,” his cheeks flush under his mother-in-law’s admiring gaze. It’s quite adorable, and Shoyo can't hold back a smile. “They’re extremely welcoming. It’s crazy their cats seem to put up with me, too.”
“Felines recognize one of them!” Shoyo giggles. He takes his boyfriend’s glass for a sip.
“Must be why the dogs always come to you. And they even pee on your leg,” Tobio flashes a mischievous smile. He brought back memories of the day they were sunbathing on a beach in Rio, and a golden retriever came all excitedly towards Shoyo, happy and pure. Until it peed on him.
“I'm amazing so he wanted to mark his territory on me! I belong entirely to that dog now,” he licks his purple-ish, moist lips, laughing until the edges of his eyes wrinkle.
“If you say so…”
“I do!! And I’m right.”
Perhaps it’s the alcohol having a slight effect on his body, but Shoyo feels like he’s floating, as if he were the sunrise meeting the morning sky. Mom and Tobio continue chatting about his life in Italy, and instead of joining the conversation with his loose tongue, Shoyo just pushes himself closer and snuggles into his boyfriend’s neck. Tobio doesn't even find the sudden touch strange—instead, he simply bends an arm around Shoyo’s chair and caresses the patch of skin under his shirt sleeve, right where his tan line begins.
He loves when he does this, when he traces all the marks and colors he’s earned under the Brazilian sun, when he maps with his fingertips the tiny changes in his body that make Shoyo who he is—strong, beautiful and eternally loved by that man.
He feels their voices fading away as Tobio’s touch almost lulls him to sleep. Almost. Shoyo’s dreams just don't reach him right now because, at that exact moment, Natsu reappears in the dining room. And she doesn’t come alone.
Imagine Shoyo’s surprise when a girl with straight black hair pops up next to his little sister, sporting a matching ponytail and blushing cheeks.
“H-hi!” The girl waves at them, her eyebrows furrowed and features marked by uneasiness.
“Hi!” Shoyo greets, rising from Tobio’s shoulder on which he’d been leaning.
She’s quite tall, perhaps as tall as Tobio. Her shiny black hair is similar to his, as are her pout and fists, which are clenched at her sides. Natsu isn't short, but the top of her head brushes the brunette’s shoulder, her yellow summer shirt and pants set providing a striking contrast against that girl’s purple clothes.
“Mom,” Natsu begins, still without facing Shoyo or Tobio. “She’s here.”
“I know, my dear,” Mom chuckles. She stands up and twirls over to her daughter, showing off her bluish skirt with embroidered designs of swimming carp. “Welcome home, Natsu. Haruka-chan.”
Both girls bow before her. Then, as Natsu rises again, she finally turns to meet her brother’s gaze, those big, brown eyes a perfect mirror of his.
“Nii-chan. Tobio-nii. This is my girlfriend.”
Those words take time to sink in.
It’s as if the world has stopped spinning. Silence is filled by the cicadas singing in the forest, their song resonating in Shoyo’s heart in a thrumming crescendo. He doesn't know how to react. He doesn't know what to say at first when he finds out that his younger sister is dating someone and bringing her partner home, who happens to play on the same team as her.
It's as if history is repeating itself.
Memories of a younger, dreamy Natsu linger in Shoyo’s mind—glimpses of a little girl who always had stars in her eyes when she looked up at her older brother. She would always jump into his arms as soon as he got home from practice, no matter how sweaty or tired he was, and he would go to great lengths to hold onto that small piece of him, to spend his sweet time giving her attention and guiding her steps; to be the one who shapes her wings.
And now it's no different.
Tobio is the first to stand up, followed by Shoyo. The two greet the girls, as if they were already a married couple welcoming them to their home. Shoyo laughs awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. His sister-in-law is really taller than him.
“So, Haruka,” Shoyo begins, unsure how to deal with the fact that his sister-in-law is indeed taller. “Did Natsu mention the food I cook for her? That it’s the best in the world?” He raises his nose proudly, hands on his hips.
“Nii-chan! She'll think you're a show-off,” Natsu says, her shoulders softening at her brother’s words. Shoyo softens as well, pleased to see the two girls slowly feeling more secure as they all make their way back to the table.
“Haruka-chan is also a setter, by the way,” Natsu comments while nibbling on a fresh peach.
“Really? That’s sooo cool,” Shoyo can’t help but swing his legs under the table and intertwine them with Tobio’s. A quick exchange of glances indicates that they're thinking the same; that they're witnessing history repeat itself in a new generation.
Haruka nods, “I am.”
“You are what?” Natsu asks with a smirk.
“Here she goes…” Mom says with a grin. She is well aware of the ginger menace she’s raised.
“Here she goes, indeed,” Haruka rolls her eyes, but there's only affection sprinkled in her gaze. “I am a setter.”
“You are! And you must be just as amazing as Tobio,” Shoyo takes a spoonful to his mouth. “Actually, you’re better than him!”
“And better than Shoyo,” Tobio pipes in as the menace that he also is.
“T-thank you,” the girl murmurs with a slight blush. She seems to remember something, as her gray eyes shine with a courageous gleam. “Did Natsu mention why we're only here tonight? Like girlfri—I mean partners—”
“Like a real couple…” Natsu finishes the sentence for her. She looks from her mother, to Shoyo and Tobio, licking her lips as she gathers the right words in her mind to continue, “Mom already knew it somehow, so I didn't have to tell her.”
“Moms know their kids well,” Mom winks at Natsu and gives her a kind, encouraging smile.
“And I thought I was hiding it well,” she lets out an airy chuckle and scratches her cheek. “Anyway, we just wanted to say that seeing you guys at the Olympics gave us the strength to come out.”
Haruka nods, pensive. This expression, too, is reminiscent of one of Tobio’s. “That kiss seemed surreal.”
“Breathtaking!” Mom adds as she raises her wine glass in the air, all triumphant. “Long live the gays!”
A soft laugh fills the room, the girls’ voices blending together. Shoyo forces a smile, his mind lost in the cosmos, connecting the dots like constellations. So that kiss really meant a lot to many people worldwide—to his sister. So that she would feel welcomed, accepted, and loved, something that Shoyo provides for her daily, without hesitation.
“You know we were going to support you, right?!” He rests his palms on the table and leans forward. There’s no reason for Natsu to feel insecure about loving someone—about loving another woman. Shoyo has helped her to shape her heart and love for volleyball, so it wouldn’t be any different with her love manifested in other strands.
A warm hand suddenly reaches for Shoyo’s thigh, pressing against the warm skin and sprinkling comfort from the fingertips. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices Tobio’s gaze on him, the two sharing the same sentiments again, like a red thread that keeps them aligned in this wave of emotions called life.
“Of course,” Natsu reassures him. “That’s why you and Tobio-nii are the first to know. After Mom, of course.”
“‘Cause you couldn't beat me!”
“We couldn't beat her,” Tobio opens a wee smile. His fingers don't stop caressing Shoyo’s thigh for a second.
“Now I know where my competitive spirit comes from,” Shoyo simply shakes his head from side to side, his smile now blossoming more lightly as everyone savors each second of their dinner, crafting a new piece of this puzzle that they call family.
“Natsu asked if I wanna marry you,” Shoyo asks, gazing at the moon and the stars. He and Tobio are now sitting side by side in the back doorway, bare feet immersed in the damp summer grass as their bodies fuse into one under the moonlight.
“And what did you say?” Tobio also asks, eyes fixed on the sky. The two simply keep their sides pressed together, just feeling each other’s warmth and breathing.
“Hmm, I've never really thought about getting married, you know?” He says with complete honesty. “But if it’s with you, I could try.”
A blush creeps down Shoyo’s cheeks. He reaches out and intertwines his hand with Tobio’s that rests on his lap, and his partner quickly squeezes their fingers together.
“Just try?” He asks in a tone that sounds like a challenge.
Shoyo hums enthusiastically. “Yup! Like I do on the court. I always give my best and achieve my goals.” He turns to wink at Tobio, beaming when he spots a smile sprouting on his face.
Tobio seems to understand what he means. Just like always. “Don't you dare slack off, then.”
“For you?? Never!!” Shoyo moves further into his space, untying their hands just so he can frame Tobio’s face and blow a smooch to his cheek.
The post-dinner atmosphere outside is so comforting with the warm summer breeze that Shoyo feels he can fall asleep right here, with just Tobio listening to his heartbeats. Tobio’s arms come to wrap around his waist, and Shoyo buries his face in his neck as the two blend into an embrace where it's impossible to tell where one begins or ends.
“Hey, Tobi,” Shoyo says after a yawn, snuggling closer to his partner’s body. “I’m happy for Natsu.” A glint of happy tears flashes in his eyes, and he doesn't know how Tobio notices without looking directly at him, but a thoughtful thumb comes up to run across his damp cheek.
Tobio presses his lips against the corner of Shoyo’s eye before saying, “Me, too.”
And just like that, this domesticity alone is strong enough to seal this moment forever as one of Shoyo’s all-time favorites in his existence.
☀️
June 21st, 2026
On his 30th birthday, Shoyo wakes up in the middle of the night with memories of sea water lingering on his tongue and the sting of the sand beneath his feet.
He stares at the ceiling with heavy eyelids, blinking slowly as he gets his bearings. His fingertips tingle a little and his stomach feels cold. Perhaps it's the unconscious worry of getting another year older. Shoyo tosses and turns to the side and finds his partner sleeping undisturbed, his cheek flat on the pillow as puffs of breath come from his half-parted lips. His bangs fall smoothly onto his forehead as Shoyo reaches out to run his hands through the silky strands, making sure that this is really undeniably real.
It is.
There’s no way it can't be real with the heat shared between their bodies under the covers. With the natural smell of his fiancé reaching his lungs and subtly calming him.
The sun has not yet broken above the horizon, but Shoyo somehow senses that it’s approaching. Waking up next to Tobio has become routine, part of who he is, and in a way, it's volleyball, too. It's a habit ingrained in Shoyo’s roots, the fate he’s conquered with his own hands—sweaty, calloused, and soaked in secret tears—and yet, waking up now, he can only appreciate the man whose features he knows by heart.
They really are here together. He’s lying next to the love of his life, allowing himself to bask in his scent and warmth, in the safeness that he showers him with on a daily basis, and everything is alright. The world isn't going to fall apart or anything, and nobody’s going to snatch this flame of pure joy from his grasp. He’s just living this moment as a man loving another man, and everything is okay.
Sighing deeply, Shoyo approaches and hugs his fiancé tightly. He doesn't worry that he might wake him up at any moment—Tobio sleeps like a rock after all. Right now, Shoyo just wants to stare at him, to drink in the sight of his handsome, peaceful features and value even the most domestic moments they have. It might be just a casual early morning where they sleep and wake up together, but the meaning of it is simply exquisite. He's here with the love of his life. He is a professional athlete playing abroad, in one of the biggest powerhouses in beach and indoor volleyball. The name Hinata Shoyo is acclaimed worldwide, loved and cheered, an inspiration for children who will one day spread their own wings as phenomenal athletes.
And on top of that, being a queer symbol is a medal of honor he carries to this day.
To be a man who loves another man, to be good and to be free to love whoever he wants—Shoyo feels lucky to be allowed to fly freely, to reach the skies and shout at the top of his lungs how much he loves his lifetime partner. Of course, even if others didn't accept the person he wants to be with, he would still stay with him, but it's very comforting to have people by his side who support him. People who encourage him to spread his love, and who love him back, infinitely.
Morning rises on the horizon along with him. The bashful sun emerges from behind the mountains and slowly makes its way to the peak of the sky—its rightful place. Shoyo sleepily stares at the faint light streaming through the bedroom window, shifting under the covers to wake his sleepy fiancé.
“Wake up, Tobi. Querido,” he wraps one arm around Tobio’s waist and kisses his eyelids. “Come on, it’s my birthday! Time to spoil me!” He says drowsily.
Tobio’s sleepiness is affecting him as Shoyo can feel his own eyelids growing heavy again. Instead of surrendering, he continues to trace lazy lips all over his fiancé’s face, whispering sweet nothings across his skin until he reaches his favorite spot on his neck. He buries his face there and sighs pleasantly, bringing a hand to intertwine with Tobio’s over his stomach. Their engagement rings slide against each other, the matching golds gleaming in the morning sun. Shoyo’s has a carved sapphire, and Tobio’s is an imperial topaz. It's as if they both wear each other’s color every day, each other’s heart and deepest feelings, and Shoyo can't be more grateful for this reality that graces him every day.
“Sho—” Tobio eventually turns back and forth in Shoyo’s arms, his breathing slow. His eyelids flutter open, but his eyes still retain a lovely sleepy glint. “‘Umbass. You should be sleeping so I can make you breakfast!”
“But I wanna cook with you!” Shoyo counterattacks.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No!”
“Yes!”
That’s the last straw for Tobio. He rolls to the side with both hands clasped around his partner’s waist, causing Shoyo’s back to hit the mattress and his frame to become sheltered under Tobio’s body.
“I win,” he opens a mischievous, lazy smile, all annoying and handsome. “So I make breakfast.”
“Just because it’s my birthday!”
Shoyo revels in Tobio’s victory just because he gets to eat his food, and also receive more affectionate kisses. His fiancé keeps smiling stupidly, still sleepy as he leans down to press his chapped lips against Shoyo’s. He closes his eyes and smiles into the kiss, which is more of a soft meeting of mouths than anything else.
“Tobi…” Shoyo hums in delight. “This is nice.”
Tobio chuckles with that deep voice of his. “You say that all the time.”
“‘Cause it’s true,” he wraps his arms around his shoulder, rubbing the tip of their noses together. “Will never get tired of your kisses. Of you.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm!”
Shoyo is rewarded with another kiss, and many, many more. Tobio’s hand comes to caress his morning curls as he kisses each of his eyelids. Butterflies have a party in Shoyo’s stomach, so familiar and yet unique—with wings of feelings that never stop fluttering.
“It's crazy how I used to feel so fulfilled on my birthday,” Shoyo admits out of the blue. He’s feeling way too much under his fiancé’s body, a volcano erupting with the immense joy he makes him feel on a daily basis.
Tobio blinks a few times, suddenly worried, like the attentive dumbass that he is. “Is this year different?”
His thoughtfulness touches him, and Shoyo can't help but laugh freely against the sun beams, leaving Tobio even more confused. He gets his revenge from minutes ago and rolls them both to the side, Tobio’s back hitting the soft mattress again as Shoyo bends down to kiss him senseless.
“No. Not at all,” he sighs against his mouth, a beautiful promise that soothes his heart and soul as he reveals, “It’s even more perfect.”