ANIME IMAGINES

{Haikyu!!} - Hinata Shouyou

"Perfect Partner"

From kindergarten, to elementary school, to middle school– you and Hinata were always glued together, forming a bond that was too tough for anyone to break. The two of you always went to the same school, even until you entered high school.

Call it cliche and all but you treat him more than just a childhood buddy. Why does it always have to be the girl who falls for her best friend? And why is the reason to be held back is always about being afraid to ruin your friendship? Being by his side all these years made your feelings grow as much as your friendship did. You saw countless sides of him, the bad and good ones. Nonetheless, you loved all of him. You knew it was ridiculous for you to have hopes that he would feel the same because those things only happen in movies. And Hinata, as the volleyball dork he is, had said that he had no interest in love or dating at all.

"Boke! Hinata boke!" Kageyama yells at the boy for the sixth time already making you laugh by the benches. They were currently practicing their receives and Hinata was terrible at those.

Hinata was one amazing guy. He had both the talent and passion, he was the type to dedicate himself in something he loves doing. Back in middle school, he barely put up his own team but he never gave up and kept on playing despite the lack of his height. You loved seeing him so merry now that he's in an official team. His eyes were brighter than before and it made you so happy for him. Sure, he's inexperienced and lacking in many departments but you knew that he was trying his best to fill those gaps.

You knew him inside out. You had a long long list of the things he hates and the things he likes. You knew every single thing he was afraid of. Even if he doesn't speak, the expressions on his face were enough for you to understand what he's trying to say.

The smallest change of the looks on his faces would catch your attention. Whenever he's happy, sad, angry or hungry, you would know before he could say anything. You were happy to be that close to him, to have the opportunity to take care of him and see him grow. Even if your role remained as a friend to him, you were contented– at least you try to be.

"Kageyama is so mean today." Hinata pouts, walking up to you and you hand him a towel.

"Isn't he always?" your reply made him chuckle. "Say, Shouyou. Are you nervous about the upcoming tournament?"

"Not yet, I guess." he replies, wiping his sweat off with the towel you gave him. "I always tend to feel nervous right before the match starts."

"Yeah, I'm completely aware of that. And you have bad luck at bumping into enemies at the bathrooms." you laugh, remembering how he ranted to you about his so-called bathroom curse. "It's because you always go alone, dummy."

"I'd take you with me but it's not allowed to have a girl in the boy's bathroom, right?" he says with his face showing that he had no clue of what he was trying to say either.

You facepalm before laughing again. "You dumbass."
Yeah, I'm completely contended with this.

"Suga-san, here." you hand him a bottle of water after seeing him pant and he thanks you. Two days before the Spring Tournament and the whole volleyball team had been practicing hard after coming home yesterday from their training camp in Tokyo. You literally had a 4 hour long phone call with Hinata last night because he was so jovial about the other teams he had met there.

"You know, Y/N." Sugawara speaks up making you turn to him. "I'm surprised that neither you or Hinata have fallen for each other yet."

Surprised by his out of the blue statement, you told yourself to stay calm and to not make it obvious that you were startled. You fake a chuckle. "Why so? We're just best friends, nothing more."

"I guess so. But man, if I was in yours or Hinata's shoes, I'd find it hard not to fall in love with someone who's been by my side for my entire life." he replies after shrugging. He then glances at Hinata who was on the other side of the court, talking to Daichi. "I mean- someone who knows you for who you truly are, who's willing to be silly with you and would support you all the way. If a perfect partner like that exists, what better choice do I have to find?"

You blink a few times, trying to not feel suffocated by the sudden impact of his words. He was right and you were aware about all the things that he said but what could you do? "That's deep, Suga-san."

He spits out a chortle. "You think?"

"Yeah. But all of those don't matter if the other person doesn't feel the same, don't you think?"

"Yeah, you have a point." he replies before looking down at you with a small smile crossing his face. "But how would you know if you haven't asked yet?"

Sugawara's traumatic question rang inside your head like a noisy police siren and you couldn't seem to get rid of it. Your talk with him had given you the idea of trying to confess your feelings but you were too frightened. You felt too anxious, thinking about the possible answers you would receive and how you would deal with them.

"Hey. You alright?" Hinata asks, tilting his head with a concerned look on his face after noticing that you were oddly silent. It was seven in the evening and you were walking home with him after he had stayed behind with Kageyama for a few tosses to practice.

"Yeah, I'm good." you reply, sending him a small smile. He shrugs before looking back ahead while whistling. You stare at him.

His side profile was fascinating as always. The features on his face looked so delicate yet sharp. He had a childish aura on him but he had the heart of a fighter. His tangerine hair was as messy as ever but you knew how fluffy and soft his locks were since you loved playing with them. His brown eyes looked carefree as he moved his head sideways, enjoying how humid the air was.

"How would you know if you haven't asked yet?"

You shake your head to yourself when Sugawara's question popped into your thoughts again. You wanted it gone or it would affect you greatly and would probably make you go crazy. You took the opportunity to ask him. "Shouyou?"

He hums, turning to you. "What?"

"If you had to marry someone, who would it be?"

"That's funny. I haven't thought of marrying anyone yet."

"It's a random question, stupid. Just think of it as a matter of life and death situation."

"Eh? Why would anyone die if I don't marry?"

"Do you want me to kick you in the ass?"

"Eek! Scary!" he fakes a shriek before laughing to himself and looking up at the black sky, thinking. "Hmm... you."

You stop walking, surprised at his reply. He does the same, giving you a questioning look. "M-Me?"

"Yeah. Is something wrong?" he asks with an innocent expression on his face. "Don't you want to marry me too?"

"What?"

"I mean, you should marry the person who loves and knows you the most, right?" he says and you give him a small hesitant nod. "If that's the case then it's no question for us to marry each other! You're marrying me, right?"

You stare at him for a few seconds before chuckling to yourself. "Oh Shouyou." you smile at him and continue to walk. "Yeah, I'll marry you."

He blurts out a 'yey!' before matching his pace with yours making you laugh. He was clueless–for now. But his answer was enough for you to know how much he loves you.