Balcony scene?!

The evening passed as loudly and as cheerfully as it had started, to the point where other customers and several waiters were glaring at the table of young men, who never noticed a thing. They talked about their jobs, politics (very shortly, and only by Tsukishima), TV shows and of course, volleyball.

Whenever the almost sacred word was said, a flame of passion was lit inside each of the young men's hearts, and their eyes seemed to shine brightly with excitement as they recounted their tales of playing the sport. It was clear that they all missed playing as a team; together on the floodlit court in squeaky shoes, jumping and blocking and receiving and setting and spiking in tune, against a wondrously strong opponent, their heads thumping, hearts pumping, eyes wild and dancing.

"Umm... I uh... I think I need some fresh air. I'll be back soon." Kageyama shakely excused himself and headed towards the outside balcony.

Daichi nodded in approval. "It is pretty hot in here... Hey Hinata, you look like you're suffocating! You better go outside as well!"

"Uh no I'm fine I..." Hinata started but Daichi's expression was crystal clear. No matter their age, the flame haired one still felt a sense of authority from the older male, so he quickly followed Tobio's lead to the balcony.

"If you're trying to set them up at least be less obvious about it. Jeez." Tsukishima remarked, sighing slightly.

"It's fine! Those two are totally about this sort of thing, after all. And besides, Tsukki"  Daichi put a large emphasis on his nickname, which made Kei squirm slightly in his seat while Yamaguchi looked on, smirking, "If not for a little setting up, you and Yamaguchi wouldn't have gotten together."

This made the blonde squirm even more, and a gentle pink blush crept up to his checks.

"Whatever." He snootily dismissed Daichi's comment, only to be taunted by the remaining members of the table.

Meanwhile, on the restaurant balcony, Kageyama and Hinata were standing next to each other in complete silence. Nothing seperated them, nothing stopped their arms, resting on the hand rail, from touching each other and yet, an invisible wall stood between them, unseen but menacing all the same.

It was Kageyama who broke the silence.

"So uh... How's your girlfriend?" It was the thing the dark haired make wanted to think least about, but it was the only thing that he could think of. "You... Haven't mentioned her so far this evening. Did something happ--"

"Girlfriend? Wh-what do you mean Kageyama?" Hinata's face exploded red, as much from the cold of the harsh December night as from embarrassment.

"W-well you said you were seeing someone... You know when you came to see me... In my office..." Kageyama couldn't help but look away, into the distance, observing the Tokyo skyline, halfhearteadly watching the little blinking lights that illuminated tte city.

"I... did..?"

Tobio couldn't belive it. Did he hear uncertainty in Hinata's voice? Did that mean he wasn't dating anyone at all? Or did it mean he was...

"Oh I get it..."

"You do?!"

"You have a..." Kageyama hesitated before saying the word. "... A boyfriend." It felt so strange for him to say the word. In the past he had been Hinata's boyfriend and it was hard to imagine that someone else had now filled the role in the years he hadn't seen Hinata.

But the orange haired man didn't answer. He remained silent, blushing furiously, eyes cast down low and with, what looked like to Kageyama, tears threatening to overflow.

"Right?"

The shorter male remained unspeaking. In response he only turned his head even more away.

"Right?!"

This time Kageyama's voice was louder. He was beginning to get frustrated and he wanted answers. If Hinata was seeing someone, why say it and then hide it? If he wasn't... Why? Why? Why? Why?

The word repeated in Tobio's mind over and over again, each time increasing in volume and anger.

Why? Why?! WHY? WHY?! WH--

"I'm sorry Tobio, I... I'm so sorry, I--"

Kageyama snapped back ino reality, and focused his attention on the insanely beautiful individual standing in front of him. Tears were falling from Hinata's face, big raw tears, and he was sobbing uncontrollably. Kageyama felt himself momentarily freeze up in indecision at the smaller male's tears. But what had shaken him even more was what Hinata had called him.

"Tobio"

"Shouyou... What is it? What's wrong?" Unconsciously, he had slipped back into calling him by his first name, and already he felt a strong urge to throw his arms around Hinata and hold him close.

Hold him close and never let go.

"Tobio, I--"

Kageyama could stand it no longer.

Quickly and firmly, he pulled the sobbing young man into a warm embrace, holding him so close he could feel his heartbeat from under his t-shirt.

They stayed like that for several minutes, saying nothing, breathing quietly in the cold night, savouring every moment, wishing they could stay like this forever. But all good things come to an end. Slowly, Kageyama pulled away from the flame haired boy, yet never looked away from his beautiful beautiful face.

"You're freezing Shouyou. Have this." Without a seconds thought, Kageyama pulled the sweater off his body and onto Hinata's, who was shivering almost uncontrollably from emotion and cold.

Both these acts had surprised Hinata, but he welcomed them with a familiar warmth in his chest. Once Kageyama's sweater was on, the loose material flapping widly in the wind, Hinata buried his face in Tobio's chest, wanting desperately to feel the tall man's heart as it beat arrhymically under layers of skin and muscle. His tears had nearly dried up now, over almost as quickly as they had started. And how grateful he was for it! He could see all the children he coached, jeering at him, a 24 year old snivelling sobbing shaking mess, clinging to another with the same desperate need as a babe clings to its mother.

"Tobio I... I lied to you." The words didn't form easily on Hinata's tongue, but now he was buried in Kageyama's warmth, it was easier to speak. He didn't know why. "I don't have a girlfriend, Tobio. I don't have a boyfriend. I... I haven't been with anyone since we split up." As pathetic as it sounded, it was true. He just couldn't get over Kageyama, no matter how hard he tried. Compared to him, everyone else was dull and boring. Everyone. He had tried very hard to move on, to forget about him - with every passing moment the idea of still liking him was more and more pathetic... And more and more enticing. Eventually, he stopped even trying to date.

"That's... That's fine Shouyou. Just... Just tell me why." Kageyama's voice, although partially muffled, still sounded shaky and uncertain to Hinata's ears.

"B-because..."

Kageyama waited.

"Because..."

Kageyama waited.

"Because the fact that I still liked you I... I assumed that you'd find it lame so I... I pretended I was seeing someone else... I saw your assistant and I assumed you were... Dating and so I--"

Kageyama's only responce was to hug Shouyou tighter, pressing his body close.

He then heard the orange haired boy whisper quietly "Tobio you're... You're crushing me..." after which he released his grip slightly.

"You're such a fricking dumbass Shouyou."

Delicately, he placed a single kiss on Hinata's forehead.

The smaller male pushed away gently from Kageyama, just enough so he could stand on his tiptoes and plant a kiss on the dark haired male's soft lips. Tobio's body reacted faster than his mind could, and before he knew it he was tilting his head to the side and kissing Shouyou, pressing his mouth to his and slowly, gradually--

"Hey you guys, we're leaving now so you might wanna--"

Tanaka stood in the doorway to the balcony, frozen.

"Ah."