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Shoyo can feel himself getting more frustrated as the game progresses. He's used to the jabs about being short and the frequent targeting. Not only was he the shortest one on the team, but he always had a smile.So, of course, everyone was going to come after him first.It was fine.He’s dealt with it since kindergarten.But fuck, number seven was begging to get his ass handed to him. With only five minutes left on the clock, Shoyo felt his frustration simmer and form into anger as number seven thought this to be a perfect time to trash-talk him."Hey, stop fucking with me, alright? I get it." He muttered as he stood in position. He didn't care if he sounded whiney; he’d had a hard week, and this idiot was making it worse."What? Can't handle a little teasing?" he sneered, dark eyes glinting. Shoyo remained quiet.'Not everything deserves a reaction,' he told himself.He gritted his teeth and immediately jumped into action once the whistle was blown. He had caught the puck from his teammate, Tsukishima, before skating down the rink lightning fast.What he didn't have in height, he made up for in speed. Shoyo started to grin as he neared the goal, sure he could make it, when he was shoved from the side hard by none other than number seven. The shove sent him skidding across the ice and into the wall. He let out a strangled grunt and felt himself lifted by a mumbling Daichi, whose eyes were squinted in annoyance. Shoyo groaned as he got his bearings, looking up and seeing the shit-eating smirk number seven was sending his way.Shoyo supposed that was his last straw.He felt his body burn hot; all he could see was red. He threw off his helmet, shook Daichi off of him, skated full speed at number seven, and didn't stop until his fist collided with his stomach.And when his helmet came off, Shoyo punched him in the nose, feeling satisfied when a loud crunch ringed out. In his delight, he missed one of number seven’s teammates rushing at him from his left side and right-hooking him.Shoyo was out before he hit the ice. ……..All right, so Shoyo could admit when he was wrong.Maybe he should’ve just stopped at punching number seven in the stomach. Perhaps he shouldn’t have punched him at all.Perhaps.Number seven didn't exactly deserve a fractured nose, but personally, Shoyo thinks it’s fair retribution for calling him a bitch.Well, whatever. It's in the past. Shoyo can't change it now, so as his coach chews him out, he accepts it.What he doesn't accept is the one-month-and-a-half suspension."Are you serious? He targets me the whole game, but when I give him a taste of his own medicine, I'm the one who gets in trouble?" He asked, standing up. Ukai levels him with a passive look, and the principal looks worried. It’s not like he would punch Ukai because Ukai could easily block and then kill him. So, the principal’s worried glance hurts his feelings, but he guesses he deserves it."I don't remember him breaking your nose. Unless I missed that?" Ukai asked, eyebrows raised. Shoyo opened his mouth and snapped it shut with a click, falling back in his seat. "Look, Sho.” Ukai only ever called him Sho when he knew Shoyo was upset, so he felt a little hope."You sent another player to an emergency room. His nose is fractured in multiple places. I can't not suspend you. You're honestly lucky it isn't three months. I know you've had a tough week, but you understand why this is happening, right? View this as a vacation. Playoffs are coming fast, and we need your head in the game, alright?”Shoyo closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath before he tightly clasped his hands."Okay. I understand, coach. Am I allowed to come to practice at least?""No, you can't Hinata. I'm sorry, but you did destroy that young man's nose. It wouldn’t be fair for you to be able to participate when the player you injured can’t play,” the principal added.Shoyo suddenly felt awful. He wasn't a bully. He didn't go around randomly hitting people every time he got mad. Sure, he had a bit of a temper, but he wasn’t aggressive.This was the first person he'd ever hit on the ice, and now he was losing a month and a half of training because of it. "Don't stress Hinata. Just find something else to do in the meantime. There are other clubs."Shoyo nods, lips pressed together tight."Okay. Thank you, coach. Principal." He said with a respectful bow before grabbing his duffel and throwing it on his shoulder.And here he was, thinking his week couldn't get any worse. ….. Not being able to practice sucked.But not even being able to watch? It was simply unimaginable.Since Shoyo was in his third year and had been on the team since his first year, he had been gifted with a key to the rink that luckily had yet to be taken away, thanks to his suspension.He avoided the rink for the first three days of his suspension, but on Thursday, he decided he simply couldn't do it.He’d die or something.So, he made a plan. Practice ended at 9:30 on weekdays. It took them 30 minutes to cool down and pack up. Ukai usually stayed behind until 10:30 before locking up and leaving whoever else remained inside.Shoyo and Tsukishima usually remained, but they had keys, and Ukai didn't care what they did as long as they left and didn't overwork themselves. He somehow knew when they had pushed too far and yelled at them accordingly.Shoyo shook his head as he waited for Ukai to leave.Yeah, he was technically going behind his back, but what his team didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.Ten minutes later, Ukai came out humming a tune, pulling his coat tighter as he walked to his car. Shoyo grinned at not getting caught when he looked towards the building and saw that the light was still on.Who the hell could be in there this late!?‘The Janitor,’ his brain supplies, but he knew the man always came early in the morning to clean. So once he was sure Ukai was gone, he tiptoed his way to one of the windows that directly faced the rink, stood on his tippy toes, and peeked through to see.His jaw dropped at what was waiting for him.A tall man with legs that seemed to go on for days stood in the middle of the rink, his eyes closed and his chest puffing up and down. He looked winded, Shoyo briefly thought. If the oversized university hoodie he wore was anything to go by, the man seemed to be his age or around it.He soon regained the ability to breathe correctly, and Shoyo started to get restless from just watching.He watched as the man spun, jumped, and swirled around the rink as if it were muscle memory, and he didn't have to think about it.It probably was. He was moving so passionately and beautifully that Shoyo found it hard to believe he was his age.Wanting to see such a mesmerizing performance up close, he landed back on his heels and raced to the door, quickly unlocking it."You’re back already? Don't tell me that you forgot- oh.…" the man trailed off, skidding to a stop.Shoyo winced. He had been hoping the man wouldn't have noticed him come in, but it's not like Shoyo hadn’t tried to be silent. The door was eternally creaky!"Oh...Uhm. Hi!" he exclaimed, taking careful steps towards the man."Hello. Who are you?" He asked, still standing on the ice and annoyed that someone had interrupted him."I'm Hinata Shoyo. I'm on the hockey team. Who are you?" He asked, standing just by the seats facing the rink. Now that he could see the man up close, his brain short-circuited, and his breath became short.His skating wasn't the only thing beautiful about the man.The man was unbearably pretty, with sharp, dark blue eyes and a smooth, symmetrical face. His dark, inky hair was long enough to curl around his ears, and his bangs pinned backward with a red hair clip. His nose was incredibly straight, and his shapely pink lips were pulled in a slight pout as he crossed his arms."Doesn't matter. Are you here for Ukai? He left a while ago." He said, already turning to continue skating.Shoyo spluttered, holding out his hands.Why couldn't he know his name? Was he some super famous undercover star?"No! I mean, I'm here to skate, " He eventually says, feeling light at the almost impressed look the man gives him."You figure skate?" he asks. His eyes seem to shine under the soft pink light. Shoyo feels terrible for disappointing him."No, sorry. It's just hockey, " he says with a small smile. The man shrugs back before turning away and pulling off his sweatshirt to reveal a skin-tight long-sleeve compression shirt.‘Ah’ is all Shoyo’s brain supplies as he stares at the wonder of a man who seems to be trying to focus on the ice more than his presence.Shoyo wonders if he's making him nervous and decides that he definitely is when he sees how tense the man's shoulders are.Nodding dutifully to himself, he asks questions to lighten the mood as he pulls on his skates."What's a figure skater doing in a hockey rink?" He asks, glancing up briefly. The man's head snaps up like he's surprised Shoyo is still talking to him."There's no skating rink available in this town. Ukai only lets me use the rink after hours because I begged him for a straight month," he responded, shrugging again. Shoyo doesn’t think he'd be able to say no, either.He makes his way onto the ice with less grace than the man beside him seems to have."Do you skate for fun?" He tries. The man stares at him intently."No. Skating is my life." He says earnestly, with every drop of conviction in his voice. Shoyo feels his cheeks warm, but he doesn’t know why."What's your name?" He asks, desperate to know more. He doesn’t know why but wants to know more about the man before him.The man lets out a sigh that sounds loud in the quiet rink."This feels like an interview." He groans, glaring at Shoyo.But his voice has no malice. Shoyo sends a sheepish smile as he skates behind him, following him around the rink."My name's Kageyama Tobio."Shoyo skids to a stop."Kageyama Tobio? The super-rich kid who bought his way into the university, Kageyama Tobio?" He asks before he can think better of it. He slaps a hand over his huge, stupid mouth at the terrifying glare Kageyama sends his way.Oh, he fucked up.Kageyama skates, well more like stomps, his way over to a frozen Shoyo."I didn't buy my way into this university, dumbass, I earned it. Now fuck off if you came here to judge me," He growled, dark eyes staring holes into Shoyo’s entire being."I'm so sorry!" He wailed, hands covering his face. " I didn't believe it! I just—that's the first thing I connected to your name! Cause I don't know you. Yet," He added hopefully.Kageyama regarded him with an analyzing glare. He didn't seem as angry as before but was still tense.Instead of making Shoyo kick rocks as he expected (another thing Kageyama Tobio was known for was his unfriendliness, but Shoyo was already on thin ice, so he kept his mouth shut), he started to skate around him, hands behind his back before he did a complicated-looking jump and landed gracefully in the corner of the rink, arms in an elegant pose.Shoyo felt his heart skip a beat."What was that?! It was awesome!" He exclaimed, jumping a bit on the ice."It was an axel." He said, looking put off by Shoyo skating in his space and complimenting him.Shoyo felt his body buzz with excitement at the prospect of being friends with Kageyama and possibly learning from him. Ukai had told him to do something else; figure skating wasn't hockey. And it was still on ice.Shoyo felt like he was flying!!!“If you teach me how to do a jump, I’ll teach you something about hockey.”Kageyama raised a perfect eyebrow and snorted.“As if I’d have any desire to participate in such a barbaric sport,” he quipped, skating circles around Hinata.Hinata sputtered, trying to follow him with his eyes but ultimately getting dizzy.“It is NOT barbaric! If anything, figure skating is...is...” he stuttered, trying to think of an insult for such an elegant sport.Kageyama suddenly skidded to a smooth stop before him, his thin fingers coming up to flick his chin.He gulped.“Figure skating is what?” he challenged, looking down at him curiously.Hinata’s eyes widened at how ridiculously flustered he felt as his eyes dropped to rove over Kageyama’s very obviously toned body. His tights looked like a second skin, and his ass was amazing and-Shoyo’s eyes shot back up, feeling mortified at the knowing smirk Kageyama was giving him.Figure skating is fucking sinful, he concurs, watching Kageyama do graceful spins around the rink, basically ignoring his presence.Shoyo just stood there and watched him.Deciding that staring at Kageyama would get him nowhere, he went to the other side of the rink and started doing drills he knew he had been missing because he had not attended practice.……. “Okay. I’ll teach you how to do a jump,” Kageyama eventually said as he stepped out to take off his skates. He shuffled over to sit down, digging out a water bottle and taking huge sips.“Really? Awesome!” Shoyo yelled happily.“I’m assuming you wanna learn some hockey moves, huh, Kageyama?” he asked, skating up to him with a grin.Kageyama slipped back on his oversized hoodie, coming out with ruffled hair.“No, I don’t. Just be here by 10 tomorrow, okay?"The man was already in his sneakers, bangs covering his forehead, and sports bag on his shoulders.“Yes, coach!” He exclaimed with a salute as he made his way out of the rink.Kageyama let out a breathy laugh before disappearing into the night, leaving Shoyo staring after him.And still with one skate on.
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When Shoyo sneaks into the skating rink again, it's to the sight of Kageyama in sweats and a black hoodie. His hair is clipped back and he's wearing–god, he's wearing blue leg warmers.Kageyama Tobio was full of surprises.But the most surprising thing was the music that was playing. He was skating to it, his movements free and almost… happy-looking. It was obviously a disco song, and Shoyo personally saw Kageyama as a classical guy, but then again, he didn't even really know him.He watched quietly as the funky music continued to boom in the rink. Kageyama shaking his hips to it, doing turns, on one foot, unbelievable! How was that even possible?When Kageyama stopped and the music faded out, he made his presence known by clapping and whooping.Kageyama spun to face him, slack-jawed and blushing down to his neck."When did you get here?" he asked, sounding strangled. Shoyo grinned and pulled off his jacket."I never conned you as a disco person," he replied, grinning wider at how pink Kageyama seemed to get. It was adorable."Well, I'm not. I'm a…everything person. I can skate to anything," he proclaimed. Shoyo raised an eyebrow at that."Oh? Even country?" he asked. Kageyama's lips twitched like he knew he would ask."I'm especially great with country music."Just as Shoyo was about to put on his skates, Kageyama skates over to him, stepping out of the rink."What are you doing?""Don't you stretch before getting on the ice?" Kageyama asked with a tilted head as he removed his skates, leaving his socks on.Shoyo scratched his head sheepishly."Uh, when I remember."Kageyama rolled his eyes with a huff."You hockey players are like Neanderthals."Shoyo gasped."How does forgetting to stretch make me a Neanderthal?!" he exclaimed. Kageyama glanced down at him before standing on his tippy toes and reaching for the sky, urging Shoyo to do the same. He sighs before following his lead. All the stretches are pretty familiar he thinks, feeling guilty as reminders from Ukai to do them bombarded his memory.He's doing great with following Kageyama’s pace…until it's time for splits.Shoyo can not do splits.And of course, Kageyama can.He gracefully drops himself into a split, right before Shoyo, so he can't look elsewhere.He watches as Kageyama arches backward, his long arms going back in a curved arch, and for maybe the thousandth time in his 21 years of living, Shoyo wishes he was taller."Can you not do a split?"Shoyo blinks and looks up to see a now-standing Kageyama."I can't. Can you teach me?" He asks."Well, if you aren't already flexible, I'm not sure how I could teach you to be. But you play an ice sport so you should be able to do at least a half one."Shoyo flushes, before attempting to do one, and doing it quite well if he says so himself."Hmm, not bad. We'll get you to a split eventually," Kageyama says before returning to his skates.Shoyo stumbles up from his position off the cool ground, grabs the skates Kageyama got for him, and follows.……."What do you mean you can't teach me to jump right now?" Shoyo asks in disbelief and despair. Was all that painful stretching for nothing?!"I didn't just lace up and start leaping around the ice. I had to learn the basics. It's cool because you have prior knowledge, so it probably won't take long for you to learn."Shoyo nodded in understanding."You've gotta work on your posture Hinata. You should never be slouched on ice. Always be alert, ready."Shoyo nodded, copying his posture."Let’s start with stroking.""What's that?" Shoyo asks with a grimace."How don’t you know what stroking is?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.“I don’t think my coaches called it stroking.”Kageyama nodded in understanding.“Stroking is when you move along the ice. Propelling yourself along the ice with balance.""I learned how to do that when I was 5!" Shoyo exclaimed, feeling insulted. He was amazing at ice hockey; he wasn't clueless!"I know you know how to do it. Just…indulge me," He said with a shrug, breaking his perfect posture. Shoyo did the same but he felt a chop on his shoulder, making him tense up again."I didn't say drop your posture. I want you to stroke with perfect posture."Shoyo pressed his lips together and nodded, determined to do it in a way that pleased Kageyama.He started to move along the ice, doing his best not to go back to his usual form."Stop Hinata. You can drop your shoulders now. You've got them up to your ears ."Shoyo let out a huff of relief, stopping and letting himself relax. Kageyama skated up to him, pushing on him slightly. He glanced up at him in confusion and didn't budge or fall when Kageyama shoved him again."Are you tryna fight or something?" he asked, putting his fist up. Kageyama rolled his eyes again, a laugh tumbling out his mouth.He was cute. Shoyo shook his head to get rid of the thought. He was here to learn.Not flirt."No, you dumbass. I just wanted to see how sturdy you are. You're pretty strong." He finished, biting his lip as his hands lingered on Shoyo’s shoulders.Heat pooled in Shoyo’s stomach as he watched with held breath as Kageyama continued to examine him.Finally, after what felt like 20 years, Kageyama stepped back with a determined face."Okay, show me what you normally stroke-like.""Huh? " Shoyo asked."Show me what you. Normally. Stroke. Like," he said clapping for each word.He swallowed and nodded, before assuming his natural position, replicating how he stroked during a game.He skated around the rink, eyes closed and moving on memory alone."Hinata."His eyes snapped open and he stopped right in front of Kageyama."When you skate, you drag. You move fast. Incredibly fast. But you aren't precise. You already lack in height. You're what? 5'7? That's kinda small for hockey."Shoyo gritted his teeth. "Right."He knew by the blank look on Kageyama's face that he wasn’t being mean, just honest. Shoyo was simply tired of hearing it, which is what got him here in the first place."You’re one of your team’s top players, right? Good enough to get drafted?" he asked, expression unreadable.Shoyo smirked slightly, with a shrug. He was humble, but well."Yeah, I guess you could say-"Kageyama chopped him upside his head again and he grunted in annoyance."What the hell was that for?""Stop being cocky. It’s immature. You're good, but there will always be someone better. Don't drag your feet just cause you're at the top.”Shoyo’s eyebrows furrowed, ready to retort when he realized that Kageyama was right. He was getting lazy. He thought back to all his previous games and how many tricks they had to pull to win. When Tsukishima had told him to get his head out of his ass, he had assumed that he was just being his usual self. Who would have thought that Tsukki was offering useful information?"Holy shit.""Holy shit indeed. Now stroke for me again.”Shoyo nodded before letting go of his slouch and trying to get a good posture."Your shoulders are so fucking high...okay hold on," Kageyama sighed from behind him, sounding amused.He gently pushed Shoyo’s shoulders down and pulled them back again."Okay, like that."And off Shoyo went. ….. It's almost 12 when they finally stop, Shoyo taking large gulps of water. Who knew that doing strokes all day could have him heaving like this?Kageyama apparently, because he had a smug look on his face before it softened with curiosity."Why aren't you practicing with the hockey team?" Kageyama asked, leaning back on the ice, his arms holding him up.Shoyo felt surprised. He hadn’t heard? He expressed this to a Kageyama, who snorted."Oh, you think I keep up with college scandals?" He asked mockingly. Shoyo huffed, flicking water at Kageyama. It was rather surprising that he didn't know, considering people he passed in the hallways were looking at him sideways–some in surprise and others in fear.He wasn’t even a mean guy! He just had one bad day and it was probably gonna be held over his head for the rest of his stupid-"Hey! I asked you a question." Kageyama said with a small pout, his bottom lip protruding."Sorry. Uh, I had a really bad week, last week. I was feeling frustrated because we weren't doing that well at our games that weekend. This guy, number seven, kept targeting me and talking shit."" So... " Kageyama prompted with his hands.Shoyo glared at him."I'm getting there, idiot! Anyway, he checked me really hard into the wall and I guess I just snapped. The next second I was punching him and his nose broke–fractured..whatever. Then his teammate knocked me out. So I'm suspended for a month and a half." He said, shrugging. Kageyama looked horrified."Okay, now you can't tell me that isn't fucking barbaric," He said lifting his hand to cover his mouth.Shoyo stared at him before letting out a howl of laughter, holding onto his stomach as more laughter poured out of him."You broke his nose? How!? He had to have been taller than you!"Shoyo struggled to respond over his laughs."Weren't you - ha- didn't you just say I was strong? Of course, I could take him!" He wheezed.“Yeah well, your biceps are pretty huge,” he murmured with narrowed eyes. Shoyo grinned at what he assumed was a compliment and glanced over at Kageyama.“Yeah, I guess. I feel bad though.”"You're insane," Kageyama said with a shake of his head. Shoyo fell back against the ice, his fingers starting to numb."And you aren't?"He didn't have to know Kageyama well to know how crazy and passionate he was about figure skating.Kageyama just hummed, his fingers tapping against the ice. …. "Where the hell have you been going every night?" Tsukishima asks one morning as he pulls himself out of bed, feeling dead tired. Shoyo didn’t have class today, but Tsukki does, which is probably why he's up with coffee at 8 am on a Friday.He offers Shoyo some, but he declines. He's going right back to bed after he pisses."Busy. Stuff. I'm doing stuff," he answers sleepily, flushing the toilet and washing his hands. He stumbled out of the bathroom and ignored the disbelieving look that Tsukki gave him."Right. Stuff that has you come home dead tired and at 1 in the morning."Shoyo wasn't seeing the problem as he crawled back into his bed."It's not that serious Tsukki, it’s nothing illegal, I promise," he slurred, snuggling into the heat of his bed.Tsukishima clicked his teeth before saying goodbye and then he was gone, leaving a quiet and warm apartment all to Shoyo. …… By the time Shoyo wakes up, it's noon. Two hours before his shift at the supermarket started. He sighed, rolling out of bed and stretching, his muscles roaring in protest. It's been a while since he felt this much of an ache in his bones. It felt good.He smiled at the thought of Kageyama yelling at him not to slack. In the four days that Shoyo had been with him, he could honestly say he'd never felt this worn out the next day. And all he did was stretch and skate around the rink!‘Kageyama had to be some sort of magician’ he thought as he walked into his kitchen, trying to find food before he showered and dressed. He told Kageyama they couldn't meet tonight because his shift was until 12.Kageyama simply nodded.Despite the lackluster response, Shoyo thinks Kageyama is starting to enjoy his company. He smiled to himself as he ate his lunch before showering.Not playing hockey sucked but he feels like this might be the next best thing. ….. His shift is the same as always. He scans people's food, they pay and he wishes them a good one. It was a simple job and he got paid enough to survive. During his lunch break, he ate with Yachi. Then he got back to work. He only had to calm down one customer, and that's because his card declined.Shoyo walked home, ripped off his uniform, and got right back into bed. His alarm was already set for tomorrow. ……. After two days of no contact, he bumped into Kageyama on campus, Tuesday morning. Kageyama looked surprised to see him, almost as if he had forgotten they went to the same school or something."Hey, Kageyama!""Hi.…" he trails off looking completely out of his element as his eyes dart.Shoyo also feels a little startled seeing him in everyday clothes. He looks even more attractive in the clear October sunlight. His bangs are hanging perfectly over his face and he wore a deep blue sweater and fitted jeans.So yeah, he looked good.Shoyo tried to ignore the probably stinky sweatshirt he had on and sweatpants. His hair was probably greasy too-"Uh, do you want my number? So it can be easier for us to talk and meet up?" Kageyama asks, eyes meeting his before bouncing away. Shoyo grins before pulling out his phone and handing it to him. Kageyama quickly puts in his number and texts himself, immediately pulling out his phone, and saving his contact."Okay, well. My class starts soon. So, bye," Kageyama says, backing away. Shoyo had half the mind to start teasing him until he flushed a pretty pink again but instead, he just smiled and waved at him.He was so cute.
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“So, what have you been up to?" Ukai asked. This was another downside to his suspension. Every week, he had to have a check-in with his coach."I don't have anger issues, Ukai. Is this necessary?" He asked slumping in his seat with a petulant frown. Ukai just gave him a stare that was just as eerily unimpressed as Kageyama's. He wondered how well they knew each other."I know that Hinata. This is a requirement, so if I were you, I’d just answer."Shoyo briefly considered telling him about the lessons he was getting from Kageyama but then realized Kageyama might get in trouble. Shoyo hated lying but wouldn’t let Kageyama suffer just because he hadn't been able to let him out of his grasp. "I've been keeping busy with my job." He replied carefully. Ukai stared at him before nodding and writing it down.Okay, this was just ridiculous. They're acting like there haven't been full-out brawls on the rink before!Yes, maybe none made it to the hospital, but this was a bit overdramatic in his opinion."How's your job?""It's good. Tiring but it's good.""Okay. Are you eating? Still exercising?"Shoyo feels like that's more of a Ukai question as opposed to a hockey check-in question but he won't tease."Yeah, Tsukki won't let me sulk," he says, laughing. Ukai smiles a bit before yawning."Okay, we're done. I'll see you next week,” he said already on his way out of his office. It was lunchtime."Yup! See ya, coach!" …… Today, Kageyama had a headband holding back his hair and not just a clip. Shoyo felt lightheaded staring at him, so he stopped."I miss playing hockey,” he whined in Kageyama's ears. The tall man winced, pushing him away, and continued to stretch."Shouldn't have tried to kill a player then.""I feel really bad, alright! And not just because I was suspended. I fucked up his face," he said solemnly."Yeah, and he has to live with a crooked nose while you just get a one-month suspension. Stop complaining and start stretching," Kageyama said with a pointed glare. Shoyo sighed, knowing he was right. One month and a half was nothing, he could do this."He shouldn't have made fun of my height though," he mumbled petulantly. Kageyama snorted before muttering a soft ‘dumbass’. Shoyo grinned."So, what's on today's agenda Coach Kags?" he asked, skating around Kageyama once they were on the ice."Don’t call me that. Don't do that again.""Why!? It's cute."He watched with glee as Kageyama flushed pink, shoving his hands in his hoodie pocket."Anyways, today I'm going to teach you how to swizzle.""Why the heck are the names so weird?""You're asking me as if I made the names."" Well, aren’t you the figure skating genius? ""No.""Humble!""Truthful."" Humble. " Shoyo sang, grinning again as Kageyama flushed.It was so easy to make Kageyama blush, it was ridiculous. Where was the stuck-up rich kid that Shoyo heard about?"Whatever. Watch me so you know what to do."Shoyo nodded dutifully and watched as Kageyama started to swizzle, skating by pushing both feet outwards, then inwards again. He thinks it looks complicated, but instead of complaining, he just follows what Kageyama does.“You’re a fast learner,” Kageyama said thoughtfully as he watched him do it.“Yeah, but I bet you learned it faster.”Kageyama raised an eyebrow.“It took me a month to even keep my balance,” he snorted. Shoyo’s jaw dropped.“A month? It took me a week to get comfortable. Who was your coach?” Shoyo asked, slowing down to face Kageyama.“I taught myself how to figure skate.”“What?!” Shoyo exclaimed in shock, stopping himself completely. Kageyama nodded slowly.“I taught myself to skate when I was five. I had a coach when I turned 10. Stopped getting lessons in high school,” he said like it was no big deal.It was a very big deal. He was in the presence of an ice skating genius.He pushed himself into Kageyama’s face and grabbed his cold hands.“You’re amazing!” he shouted excitedly, feeling so excited he could do one of those complicated jumps that Kageyama does. Kageyama looked at him in abject horror before trying to push him off, but as Kageyama had said, he was strong.“Stop! God, please stop!” Kageyama shouted, his blush getting even darker. Shoyo just laughed and laughed until he stepped back a bit too far and sent them both tumbling to the ice.“You fucking dumbass,” Kageyama said with a scowl.Shoyo hauled himself up to his feet and pulled Kageyama to his feet as they hobbled out of the rink together, sticking close.It was cold in the rink, Shoyo reasoned. That’s why they were so close. …… “Hey, Kags?”“Didn’t I tell you to stop calling me that? And what?” he sighed from where he was searching through his bag. Shoyo rolled his eyes, pulling a headband off his wrist and handing it to Kageyama, who shot him a grateful look.It had been three weeks since Shoyo had been suspended and started to figure skate with Kageyama. He still hadn’t managed to do a simple jump, but Kageyama told him his movements were more fluid and controlled now. Plus, he was faster, so that’s great.But, there was another benefit to the time they spent on the rink. Shoyo has learned a lot of things about Kageyama too. He was surprisingly forgetful with his belongings, especially his headbands and hair clips. Shoyo had bought some spares for Kageyama after a terrible practice that ended with him crashing into the wall because he had been distracted by Kageyama’s hair brushing his lashes.He had yet to get Kageyama to do a routine for him, but he wasn’t sure he’d survive it without jumping the said man.Shoyo also found out that Kageyama was a business major while he himself was a sports science major. Kageyama didn’t look like a businessman to Shoyo, but he was positive he’d look great in a suit.But even as he learned that Kageyama preferred meat buns over ice cream, was really strict about his nail care routine, and liked watching volleyball, he still had a burning question in the back of his mind. “I won’t stop calling you Kags, so just accept it. You call me dumbass!” Kageyama looked up from tying his skates and smirked.“Dumbass is a cute nickname though.”Shoyo opened his mouth before closing it with an annoyed huff. It was not fair to be using his own words against him.“Anyways. I had been meaning to ask this for a while. You can’t get mad at me, I’m only curious,” he warned as Kageyama waddled himself onto the ice, and came to stand near him.“Just say it, Hinata.”“You said you skate here because there are no skating rinks in this area besides this one? But like, there is. At first, I thought, maybe you just couldn’t afford it, and then I remembered that you’re the son of the richest family in this town. So what gives?” he finishes, peeking one eye open to look at Kageyama’s expression. His face is carefully blank. Nothing new, but his eyebrows seem a little furrowed. He looks like he wants to run away, but Shoyo figures that he knows that Shoyo will easily catch him.After a couple more minutes of silence, Kageyama heaves out a sigh before slipping down to sit on the ice, his legs pointed straight out. Even when Kageyama was lazy, his body refused to relax.Shoyo plopped down next to him with eager expectation.“My parents...aren’t exactly supportive of me figure skating. They think it’s a waste of time and money. That’s why I stopped getting coached in high school. My dad wants me to take over his business, which explains my major. If I had a choice, I’d be getting trained by the finest coach in the figure skating world, but I can't. I promised my parents I would focus on my studies so they wouldn’t force me to be homeschooled. And since I use the family card, they see where I spend my money. They know if I was buying sessions at a rink.” Shoyo nodded slowly, taking the information in. “I knew there was no way you’d willingly choose business as a major!” he exclaimed. Kageyama rolled his eyes but his lips twitched up into a smile.“Yeah, I wouldn’t. But, this is better than homeschooling. And when I get good enough, I’ll join a competition and work my way to the top.” he said, with so much confidence, Shoyo couldn’t even doubt him if he wanted to. Kageyama leaned closer to him and held out his pinky.“And you are going to keep practicing until you’re drafted, and even then you’ll keep pushing right?” he asked, eagerly.Shoyo felt his breath hitch at his utter conviction before he quickly curled his pinky around Kageyama’s.“To the top.”“To the fucking top,” Kageyama said with a sharp grin and that’s when Shoyo knew this man had him wrapped around all around his finger.His pinky one to be exact. …. “This is stupid, Hinata,” Kageyama whined.“Oh come on, it’s not even that hard. Just like...push it,” he says shrugging. Kageyama stands up straight, exasperated. “You are a terrible teacher.” he pouts, looking so cute that Shoyo clutches at his chest. He just sighs before placing down his stick and skating over to Kageyama.As expected he was a pretty fast learner when it came to drills, but he was trash at scoring anything. Shoyo wasn’t even a good goalie–like at all. He stood behind Kagyema, considering how to help him when his eyes subconsciously landed on his...round..plump...“Legs!” he squawked, eyes darting away fast. Kageyama turned to shoot him an annoyed look.“Speak properly dumbass.” “Your legs. You aren’t in the right position. That’s why you keep falling every time you try and shoot for the goal,” he explains helping Kageyama adjust his stance.He nods and Shoyo dashes back to the goal and pretends to be super serious in blocking Kageyama. He isn’t surprised when it shoots past him and straight into the goal… “I did it!” Kageyama shouted, looking gleeful, a wide smile on his face, eyes crinkling.Shoyo smiled back just as wide.“You did it!” He said, smiling even wider as Kageyama skated towards him at full speed.Shoyo’s arms are already open to catch him when they both freeze at the sound of the front door unlocking. In a panic, Kageyama stumbled into him, his hands gripping his shoulders before shoving him over the rink. He looked down to see Shoyo lying down in a crumpled heap, eyes wide. ////// Tobio mouthed a sorry before looking towards the door, just as Ukai walked in through the door.“Oh, hey Ukai,” he stuttered, feeling his heart start beating a mile a second. He knew Ukai was observant, but only when he needed to be. He hoped he somehow didn’t notice that he was in hockey gear. “Hey, Tobio. Uh..why are you in hockey gear, and holding Hinata's stick?” he asked, eyebrows raising high. Tobio stuttered, feeling his face flush red.“Uh, I was bored. I just found this stick lying around,” he lied shrugging. Ukai stared at him for a second, and he did his best to give him an innocent look. “I told Hinata to stop being so careless with his stuff. When you’re finished with it, put it in my office. And be careful, he doesn’t let anyone touch his stick. He might break your nose or something if there’s a scratch on it,” Ukai finished with a chuckle to himself walking into his office.Tobio giggles nervously, feeling his skin flush even harder. Hinata...didn’t let anyone use his stick? He had offered it to Tobio without a second thought.“Why’d you come back?” he asked, trying his best to get Ukai the hell out before Hinata sneezed or something like the dumbass he was.“Oh, I just forgot my laptop and some paperwork. I’ll be out your hair in a second,” he called back. Tobio nodded before skating back over to where Hinata was lying on the cool stone floor.“What he said about my stick is not true. And I would not punch you,” he said with a flustered look, amber eyes darting back and forth.Tobio grinned, feeling his heart skip a beat. “Really? So who else has gotten to touch the great Hinata Shoyo’s stick beside me?” he purred, feeling bold from how flustered Hinata seemed to be.“Uh...my sister,” he says in a small voice and it takes all of Tobio’s self-control and remaining common sense to not hop over and kiss Hinata. Instead, he just blinks down at him and opens his mouth to respond but, of course, is interrupted again. God, Ukai sure had the worst timing possible.“Did you lose something, Tobio?” he asked. Tobio quickly straightened up.“No, just taking a break. I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asks. Ukai seems to be reluctant to leave him and Tobio has a small inkling as to why.“I promise I’ll take a break, Ukai,” he says with as much sincerity as he can. Ukai sighs but smiles at him anyway.“Okay. Be safe Tobio.”And then he's gone. Tobio lets out a sigh, as Hinata hops over the rink, looking appropriately worn out.“I almost pissed myself.”All Tobio could do was laugh. ……. It wasn’t until Shoyo bumped into Ukai on his way out of class that it occurred to him that he had really violated the rules of his suspension.He wasn’t supposed to visit the rink, he had done that. He wasn’t supposed to play hockey on campus and he had definitely done that last night. He couldn’t even blame Kageyama because he was the one who had brought it up.He was just racking up bad-guy points this month.“Oh! Hinata!” Ukai had exclaimed, unfortunately spotting him as he tried to go around. He balked.“Hey Coach…” he said with a nervous smile. Oh God, he had not been kidding when he said Ukai’s presence scared him nowadays.“Last night, a student found your stick in the rink. It’s in my office if you can come get it?” he asks.“Oh, thanks Ukai. Sorry for forgetting it,” he says feeling his cheeks warm at how Kageyama had teased him over not allowing anyone to touch his stick. It was his baby alright?Besides, it was super high-quality and it only made sense that Kageyma got to touch it. He deserved the best.Ugh, that was so embarrassing to think.He followed Ukai into the rink, almost weeping at the cold air that hit his face. He hadn’t been in the rink during the day in a while, and the sunlight dancing across the room was so pretty.“You missed it huh?” Ukai asks with a laugh. Shoyo laughs with a wheeze, guilt-crushing him.“Yeah, a lot.”When they got to Ukai’s office, the door was closed but Shoyo could hear cheers coming from inside the room, the lights also on. He raised a curious eyebrow while Ukai let out a sigh that reminded Shoyo of a concerned dad.He knocked on the door, and Shoyo watched with wide eyes as Kageyama opened the door, a meat bun in his mouth.“You’re back late,” He says looking at Ukai before his eyes drop to Shoyo, eyes widening in surprise.“You promised me you would eat with a friend Tobio. What are you doing here?” he asked, pushing past him to get into his office. Kageyama sent Shoyo a small embarrassed smile before taking his slack arm pulling him into the office and shutting the door.“Are we not friends?” he quipped with a smirk directed at an exasperated Ukai. Shoyo’s eyebrows rose even higher.Seriously, how close were these two?“I’m basically your father,” he said, reaching into his closet and handing Shoyo his stick. He takes it in silent confusion.Kageyama, deadpan, clutches at his chest.“Ukai, I mean, Dad. Do you mean it?” he asks, and it’s dead silent in the room before they both burst into laughter.“I’m so confused,” Shoyo said, eyes darting between them and the ice skating video on the TV.“Sorry Hinata. Anyways, This is Kageyama Tobio. He’s the one who found your stick. Don’t punch him because he has a pretty sick right hook,” he says, smirking. Kageyama seems to recoil at that and Shoyo rolls his eyes.“Very funny. Besides, we already know each other. I’m his-”“Classmate! In class,” Kageyama finishes, his grip on his bicep tightening. Shoyo nods with wide eyes.He had almost exposed them!“Oh, well. I’m glad you know each other. Sorry, Tobio. I have a meeting in about 5 minutes so no lunch,” he said with a sad smile.“That’s fine Coach. I’ll keep him company,” Shoyo exclaimed with a grin, leaning into Kageyama's side.He squinted at them before nodding and rushing his way out.Shoyo flinched away before Kageyama could grab his hair.“You dumbass! You almost exposed yourself!” Shoyo chuckled nervously. “Yeah, thanks for saving me. It’s so hard to lie to him,” he sighed plopping into the seat next to the one that Kageyama had migrated to.He bent down in his seat, looked through his bag, and pulled out another meat bun and a box of milk.“Here. Dumbass,” he tacked on for extra measure. Shoyo grinned, taking it with a small thanks. They remained quiet as they watched the ice skating compilation. Shoyo’s attention was divided between the TV screen, and Kageyama, who took most of it. His little reactions, gasps, and jumps at what he saw warmed Shoyo to his core. Yeah, ice skating was interesting but Kageyama Tobio was so much more.