The Sum of Our Parts

Chapter 7

They had discussed quite a bit prior to graduating what they wanted to do in the future. They both decided not to attend college. Neither of them were scholars, and with their tutor gone, there was a good chance that they would flunk out. Perhaps they would have had more leeway if they played on a college team, but they both agreed to only play volleyball for fun after high school.

Through connections in the family, Kageyama was able to find a few places willing to hire him. He decided on Tokyo for a lot of reasons. There was a high chance of finding jobs more willing to hire Hinata. In the sea of people, the two of them could be easily forgotten. Their caseworker wouldn't be able to visit as often, which was a huge plus.

Most importantly, they had a place to stay. Kenma's roommate had moved out, so he offered the spare room to the couple, and even agreed to float them a month while Kageyama worked towards his first paycheck. Being friends with the Nekoma team meant they had some connections in the area. It worked out well.

Hinata was a nervous wreck during the move. He'd never been on his own and so far away from his family. There was also the factor that he would be living together with his boyfriend. Sharing the same space. Sleeping in the same bed.

Kageyama could understand. A nervous excitement ran through him as well. He just wasn't so affected by it. He ended up buying a package of barf bags for Hinata. It was just easier that way.

Strangely, being around Kenma settled Hinata in a way that Kageyama hadn't been able to for the past week. It grated on his alpha instincts, but he ignored it. If the quiet, sedate beta was what Hinata needed, then Kageyama wasn't going to stand in the way of it. He let them have some time alone to catch up as he unpacked clothes into their new closet.

Kageyama was mostly done with his task when Hinata poked his head through the door. "Hey..." His shoulders were curled in and he looked guilty, possibly meek. It was very out of character. "Kenma is ordering takeout to celebrate us moving in. There anything you want?"

"I'll eat anything." Kageyama moved closer, and ran his fingers lightly through Hinata's hair. Those restless eyes fluttered closed for a moment, and some of the tension drained from the smaller man. "What's wrong?"

"Mmm..." Hinata looked up to make eye contact at last. "This is all new and... I don't know what to do."

"Whatever you want to do. Nobody's stopping you."

Hinata looked uncertain. "Are you mad?"

"About what?"

"About me freaking out all week."

"Why would I be mad?"

"Other than you growling a lot during the move? You've been ignoring us."

"I'm not mad. I just wanted to give you time to relax. It's the first time you've been calm in a while."

A smile tugged at one corner of Hinata's lips, causing his entire demeanor to change. "You're a good alpha, you know that?"

Kageyama swatted at Hinata, but he dodged the attack with a laugh. "I should be telling you to unpack your own shit."

"But you're so good at unpacking," Hinata whined, before laughing again as he darted out of the way of Kageyama's not-so-serious assault.

After that, things calmed down a lot. Hinata was still unsure of how to navigate such an unfamiliar environment, but he settled into new habits fairly well. They both slept fitfully, not used to sharing a bed with someone, but that also got better over time. Kageyama decided to keep intimacy between them chaste until they were used to their new routines.