When the Sun Stops Shining

Chapter Eleven: Takeru Will Tackle You

"Ta—Takeru!" His hands ran along Hinata's slender form, caressing and tickling wherever they could. Hinata lived for these moments, the moments when it was just those two and they didn't have to think about anything but the present. He loved it when it was just him and Takeru sharing a bed and acting like kids. They'd been together for just over three years now. Hinata had managed to get himself into a decent university, but Takeru had insisted that he didn't need education, he just needed a piece and he'd be A-OK.

"Shou-chan," Takeru responds, ruffling Hinata's soft bedhead. "You need to stop being so cute in the mornings." Takeru kissed Hinata's forehead, once then twice. And then a third time, for good luck.

"All I did was say good morning," Hinata huffed. He couldn't hide his grin at all the kisses Takeru was giving him, though. To most people, Takeru seemed like a hard-ass. But, Takeru had his soft side, just like any other person. Hinata had seen all of his sides. He'd seen Takeru when he was angry, frustrated and disappointed. But he was also able to see him when he was fluffy and loving, the way he was now.

"Exactly." Takeru's hands slipped under Hinata's shirt and pulled the boy closer to him, chuckling when he heard Hinata's yelp.

"Gwaah! You're cold!" Hinata rolled away from Takeru, only to end up rolling out of the bed itself. He was expecting Takeru to come and help him up with that concerned look on his face, but instead, he heard Takeru laughing so hard that Hinata was convinced he'd pass out any minute.

"Jeez, Shou-chan. You really take waking up on the wrong side of bed to a new level, don't you?" Takeru had rolled onto Hinata's side of the bed, watching the orange-haired boy with a soft look in his eyes. "Are you going to practice today?"

"Yeah. I have a tournament coming up," Hinata said.

"Ah. I'll drive you over if you want," Takeru offered, his eyes twinkling. "I quite like the idea of honking the horn at you as I drive away."

"I think I should walk. It'll help with my stamina." Hinata didn't want to admit that he was actually meeting up with a friend who was taking the same course as him. Her name was Yachi, Yachi Hitoka. Takeru got really jealous whenever Hinata talked about meeting other people. He always required Hinata to give him detailed information on every single person in his life, even things like blood type and zodiac signs (he thinks that the stars can tell him if someone's trying to steal Hinata from him).

"Ah, stamina. I could help you with that." Takeru winked. Not once, but twice. Oh no, thrice. Hinata thought that'd he'd blinked the third time, but he hadn't.

"Huh? You want to walk with me?"

Takeru facepalmed. "Jeez, Shou-chan."

"What?"

"Nothing." He shook his head. "Go get ready then, alright? You'll be late otherwise."

"Alright." Hinata hopped up to his feet and hurried over to the bathroom, intending to take a quick shower. He was at Takeru's house, having been roped into sleeping over by the ever-devious gang leader. Takeru had been in high moods ever since pulling off a particularly risky heist. The boy loved danger; he lived for it.

***

"I had fun today, Hinata-kun."

"Just Hinata," he said, returning Yachi's grin. "And so did I."

"When can we go out for burgers again?" The two of them were standing outside Sakanoshita, rubbing their stomachs as they walked down the streets. It was evening. They'd spent the day exchanging notes and tips for their university course, so it only made sense that they went for food as well.