5 times you try to confess to Shoyo, and the 1 time he confesses to you - Hinata Shoyo x gn!Reader
A/N ; happy birthday to my literal sunshine, please have this fic I typed up today in honor of him!! (it's my first shoyo fic, too, please be kind!)
Warnings ; reader is kind of an idiot, but that's okay. Unedited. Words ; 5k Summary ; 5 times you try to confess to Shoyo, and the 1 time he confesses to you. Birthday Special!
The first time it happened was on a cold, rainy winter’s night. Shoyo was practicing late, working on something he said was “top secret”, and so you waited for him. That’s what friends do, right? Even if you weren’t allowed in the gym because he was being secretive. Even if he told you to go home before him, anyway. But it was getting late, and you still loved spending time with your bestie so you waited.
Luckily you took shelter from the rain on the gym stairs under the walkway, but it was still December, and it was still so cold you thought your bones were frozen. You tried not to shiver, really you did, but it was just so damn cold and wet that you couldn’t help it. You should have gone home hours ago, but like an idiot with a crush on their best friend you waited for him.
“Huh? Y/N? What are you still doing here?” Shoyo asked from behind you, warm air washed over you from the open gym door and you shivered harder.
“Hey, hey are you cold?” He crouched next to you, concern plastered all over his face as you met those beautiful brown eyes with your own.
“I just wanted to walk home with you,” you said with a small laugh, “but I think I might be frozen to the concrete.”
Shoyo stood and offered you a hand which you gratefully accepted. He hauled you up with ease, a stark reminder of just how much he’s grown in your time knowing him. No longer the slight, tiny kid from middle school; Shoyo now stood taller than you, and he was much more fit from his time spent practicing and training.
“You should have gone home, Y/N. We walk together every day, why are you being so stubborn about tonight?” he asked with a pout, “Your hands are freezing!”
He quickly took both of your hands and cupped them in his own, bringing them to his lips and huffing a hot breath to help warm your aching joints. Your eyes widened and a blush settled across your cheeks at this. He was just being nice but it felt so intimate with just the two of you. Wasn’t this something couples did..?
“Sh-Shoyo, I’m fine! Really! Let’s just get going, okay?”
Brown eyes pouted at you over your interlocked hands as he huffed another hot breath onto your chilled skin. He didn’t respond, instead opting to remove his own scarf and wrap it around your hands in a futile attempt to keep the cold at bay.
As soon as he looked proud of his handiwork, the scarf all but came unravelled and you giggled. It was sweet but...ineffective. “Ugh sorry! I guess I’ll just… Here.” Shoyo said and before you knew it he had stuffed one of your hands into your own pocket, and the other interlocked with his in his own pocket.
It was much warmer this way, you reasoned, or that could be the embarrassment flooding your entire body at this simple, yet loving gesture.
“Sh-Shoyo, please it’s fine…” you tried, but he didn’t listen, instead tugging you along as he started walking towards home.
Conversation flowed easily between you on your journey, it always has, but as you stopped in front of your door you faltered. The boy in front of you was… ethereal in the moonlight. The way his orange hair reflected the silvery beams, how his eyes sparkled even though it was nighttime. The warmth of his hand in yours as neither of you wanted to let go.
You smiled warmly at him, and he grinned confidently. “Guess you’re home! Oh!” he quickly removed your hand from his pocket and released it, “Suppose I should give that back, haha!” Shoyo scratched the back of his head sheepishly and … was he blushing? Or was it a trick of the light?
You wanted to think that maybe...maybe he held your hand the whole way here just because he wanted to? Because maybe he liked you, too. But you weren’t sure, after all Shoyo was a kind person. He’d probably offer the same to even Kageyama in the situation, so were you really special?
Sure you could ask him, you could confess and either ruin your friendship or…
Maybe it was the cold, the lingering warmth on your palm, the approaching holiday season, or whatever other excuse you could think of, but your mouth started before you could stop it.
“Shoyo, I-”
“Y/N? Is that you?” Your mother called from the second story window, “What are you doing out there?! It’s freezing! Get your ass inside!”
Shoyo laughed openly and turned to leave, “See you tomorrow!” he waved over his shoulder and with that you were alone in the night.
The second time was during a Christmas party. You were invited along with Shoyo to celebrate with the volleyball team plus a couple of second and third years. There ended up being quite a lot of people there, but Shoyo was a social butterfly and talked amongst almost everyone easily. You were content to sip some punch and nibble some cookies as a wallflower.
That was until somehow you got dragged into a game of 7 minutes in heaven. That old fanfiction classic came back to haunt you, after all. How many nights had you laid awake dreaming of being shoved in a tiny closet, impossibly close to your childhood friend-turned-crush?
“Hinata! You go first!!” Nishinoya shouted, causing Shoyo’s cheeks to darken slightly.
“O-oh! Uhm...sure! I don’t see why not!” he said, grinning sheepishly.
Alright! This was your time, maybe...maybe he’d even kiss you? Your heart pounded in your chest at the thought of it and.. .why were your palms so sweaty?
“Yachiiiiii!!!!” the second year shouted, reading off the small folded piece of paper.
Your heart sank all the way to your belly where it nestled like lead amongst your guts. This...wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Surely he’d refuse and demand a redraw, right? Right? Why did he look so embarrassed? Why were they both grinning and blushing at each other? Nausea hit you like a sack of bricks and you quickly excused yourself.
Running to the bathroom you were grateful not to throw up sugary cookies and too-sweet punch, but your body still shook with dread.
You’d suspected something between them for a while, so it just hurt that much more when she was out there living your fantasy. But...Yachi was a sweetheart. She always tried her best and gave things her all. She would be a great match for Shoyo, they would build each other up and support each other. And despite that she was your friend, too. You should be happy for them.
So why did it hurt so damn bad?
You washed your mouth out in the sink to try and get rid of the acrid taste on your tongue, and freshened up your appearance in the mirror before leaving. Cheers and jaunts of “oohs” and “ooos” filled the hallway and you reasoned your crush and his crush had just finished up whatever they were doing.
You really didn’t want to face them right now, so instead of going back in to participate, you simply left.
You had half a mind to just go straight home but it didn’t feel right. The thought of just laying in bed and wallowing in your heartbreak sounded so pathetic, so you opted for something else. Sneaking a volleyball out was easy, there were so many people that nobody noticed you and besides, what’s one ball? You tucked it under your arm and made your way to the small playground you and Shoyo had played at as children.
It was about halfway between school and home so you passed it every day, and it was safe even this late.
You didn’t play volleyball, but you’d spent countless hours setting for Shoyo in middle school. Just spiking the ball off a wall was a good stress relief, so that’s what you did. Spike after spike, until you were panting and the cold burned in your lungs. At least it was something other than the dull ache in your chest.
It was your fault, anyway. You should have confessed a long time ago; been honest about your feelings and telling him how you felt. In all your time of knowing him you’d never kept a secret until now, so how would he know?
Maybe this was for the better, maybe you could get over this on your own and eventually these nasty feelings of heartbreak and jealousy would subside and you could be happy for him. He was still your best friend, after all.
You hadn’t realized you stopped your movement until ice cold snowflakes peppered your face and hands. Huffing out a sigh, you plopped into a swing and nestled the ball in your lap, wrapping your arms around it and your chin subsequently on your arms. It was cold. Much colder than before, but you didn’t feel it. You just needed to exist right now. Just to process all of these rampant thoughts and emotions.
“Y/N?” a familiar voice called, not the one you wanted to hear. Actually the one you least wanted to hear right now. But Yachi was your friend, and so you lifted your head and forced a smile as the blonde made her way to stand before you. “Hey...are you okay? Why’d you bail?”
You shrugged, “just didn’t feel like partying, I guess.”
“Is this about me and Hinata?” she asked, her words were pointed but not accusatory.
“It doesn’t matter,” you brushed her off, sliding from the swing to meet her head on.
“Actually, it does matter. You really hurt his feelings by leaving without saying anything, you know?”
“Whatever,” you shrugged, “Figured he’d wanna spend more time with you and didn’t wanna get in the way.”
“Listen, Y/N. Stop being like that, okay? It’s not what you think and- and…”
“And..?”
Yachi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, “Do you like him?”
“Does it actually matter?”
“Yes it does!” she was exasperated by now, “It matters because-”
“I do! Okay!” You shouted, “I… I more than like him...I-” but before you could finish you caught sight of the familiar orange haired boy walking past, casually chewing on a cookie from the party. You clammed up immediately and brushed past her, shrugging her off when she tried to stop you.
“It doesn’t matter, Yachi. Just drop it.”
The third time was on his birthday, June 21st. The winter cold had long gone and with it your jealousy and inadequate feelings. When he’d asked about the Christmas party, you politely asked him to drop it, and so he did. Shoyo was not always so respectful of your boundaries, but you looked really upset when he brought it up, so he dropped it. Figuring you’d tell him in time.
You knew he had plans for his birthday, time with his family, with his friends, with the club, so you were going to keep your distance throughout the day.
That meant that you’d have to find the right time to wish him a happy day, and give him his gift. It just so happened that the two of you had this little habit of calling or texting each other right as the clock struck midnight on either of your birthdays. So, what would a little home visit matter, right?
And you were so excited to give him his gift. It had taken you months of careful planning and preparation, a lot of phone calls and strings pulled, but eventually you had secured it.
The walk to Shoyo’s was quick, and you whipped out your cell phone and gave him a call just as the clock hit midnight.
“Happy birthday, Sho!!!” You shouted as soon as he picked up. You heard a wild chuckle through the phone.
“Wait- I think I heard you all the way over here!”
“Come outside, dummy. I brought your present!”
Shoyo was outside in an instant, grinning widely and almost vibrating with excitement. “Y/N you didn’t have to! But it’s so good to see you!” He crushed you in a tight, warm hug, lifting you and spinning you around until you had to beg him to drop you.
Giggling and laughing breathlessly, you beamed up at him. Had he grown taller already?
“Well, here’s your gift,” you hand him the flat, wrapped package. Shoyo eagerly tore into it and his face dropped almost immediately upon seeing it.
With furrowed brows and a quivering lip he looked up at you, then back down at the framed picture. “Y/N… is this-”
“Yep! A signed promo of the Tiny Giant! You know only one official photo of him exists, right? It was really hard to find, and it was even harder to find him! But I pulled some strings and got some help tracking him down. I even got him to address it directly to you!” You were giddy with your own excitement. It had been such an endeavor to get this for him, and you were just hoping he loved it as much as you loved him.
“You… you did all of that for me..?” he whispered, biting his lip to keep the tears from overflowing.
“Sh-Shoyo… please don’t cry. I thought...I thought you would like it…”
“No! I love it, Y/N!!! I just...why did you go through all of that for me?”
Because I love you, you wanted to scream. Because I’ve been in love with you since we were kids. Because you deserve this and so much more. Because-
“Because I like you.”
“Oh...I mean I hope so. We are best friends, after all, and I like you too! But still… thank you, Y/N. I mean it from the bottom of my heart! I’ll treasure this gift forever!”
In an instant you were being pulled into him, softer this time, in a sweet, heartfelt embrace that had your heart breaking all over again.
Best friends. Right. That’s all we’ll ever be….
The fourth time was during that fall. You had remarked on how badly you craved hot coffee in the fall, and Shoyo offered to go with you after classes one day. The two of you walked comfortably as usual, conversation flowing ever freely. Time spent with Shoyo was never bad, he always had a way of making you feel lighter than air, no matter what matters weighed on your heart.
Even if what weighed on your heart was him.
But you’d grown used to it by now; the longing. The pining. It’s not that you gave up, or that you didn’t want to tell him, you just got used to it. Things were fine, at least you got to spend time with him like always. At least you still had late night study sessions, and got to babysit his sister on weekends together. At least you still went on fun outings and trips together.
“I think I’ll get...agh I don’t know! Y/N what’s good?” he asked and you giggled. He wasn’t a big coffee drinker, you knew, so you suggested something light and sweet that he might enjoy and ordered your own favorite. Shoyo also picked out a pastry from the counter to enjoy before you both made your way to sit at a small outside table.
The chairs were made of metal and you could feel how cold they were through the material on your thighs, and there were only a few other people around.
“Thank you for bringing me,” you smiled sweetly across the table at your “just best friend”.
“Oh, uh, yeah. No problem.” he responded, though his eyes were focused somewhere else.
“Hey, Sho, are you alright?”
“Yeah I’m fine.”
“Really? I can read you like a book, you know? What’s on your mind? You can tell me.”
That was all he needed as Shoyo jumped right into the heart of the matter. He’d been feeling insecure about his height again, after another defeat against a taller player. Worried that if he could just jump higher, sprint faster, reach further - things would have gone differently. He finished just as the barista brought your coffees and his pastry.
“I’m just….frustrated.” he said at last, taking a whiff of the hot beverage.
“You know, Shoyo, those are all really valid concerns but I think you’re selling yourself too short, here. I’ve seen you play, and those other guys have nothing on you. You’re fast and you can jump high, sure, but that is no match for just how hard you’re working. You’ve put in twice the work and it shows! Don’t give up, okay? You’ll close the gap, I just know it! I think you’re amazing, Shoyou!”
The smile you gave him could melt an iceberg, he thought, and returned your smile with one of his own.
“Thank you, Y/N. You know what I needed to hear. You always know just what to say!”
You sipped your coffee carefully. It was still hot but cool enough to drink, and as it washed over your tongue it was like all the chill had left your body.
“It’s because I like you.” you said without thinking. It came out so casually, so easily, that you didn’t even catch it.
“Well yeah,” Shoyo chuckled, taking a bite of his pastry, “I hope so, I mean we’ve been friends forever!”
“No, Sho. I mean I like you.”
“Yeah, Y/N,” he said mockingly, “I like you too.”
You simply rolled your eyes and took another slow drink. “You’re so dense, Sho.”
The fifth and final time came on the next Valentine’s Day. You were growing weary of these feelings, the ones that you’d tried to shove aside but no matter how hard you tried it was like you just fell deeper, and deeper in love with him.
So this was it. Valentine’s Day. The day of love confessions. It was customary and polite to give chocolates to your close friends and fellow classmates, and you had done so on holidays prior. But this time was different. This time had to be special.
Making the chocolates would have been easy if you were just making the standard. But no, you had to be extra and so you spent the better half of that Saturday making tiny chocolate volleyballs. After a solid twelve hours of working, you had about 30 chocolates that looked good enough to give.
You even went the extra mile to print off the wrapping paper to look just like Shoyo’s jersey, complete with the little logos. It was perfect. Or at least presentable! And he should know who it was from, but just in case you added a little tag with your name.
The day came around and you knew you should be nervous. Why weren’t you nervous? You were going to confess, right? You’d spent so much time and energy on these chocolates just for him. So many years loving him. But maybe that was it, maybe your heart was just ready to get this over with so that you could finally move on in whichever way that meant.
You met with Shoyo after your classes but before practice started, he was chewing on some chocolate obviously given to him by someone else, but you tried not to let it bother you.
“Hey Sho! Guess what?”
“Hmm? What is it, Y/N?” his voice came out muffled through the candy which made you giggle.
“I see you already know what day it is, right?” he nodded, “Well you know how I always give you some cheap store-bought stuff since we’re friends or whatever?”
“Yeah..?”
“W-well…” you presented him with your package that had somehow stayed pristine throughout the school day.
Immediately his eyes widened and his jaw went slack.
“Y-Y/N?? You did this for me??” he gawked at the package, then at you, then back at the package as if it were the most impressive thing he’d ever seen.
“Please, it’s not.. It’s nothing really. But open it! There’s more!”
He carefully opened the paper, being extra careful not to rip or tear it, which made you laugh. “Shoyo, please, hurry it up so you can get to practice.”
“But you did this for me...I don’t want to ruin it.”
“It’s fine, it’s not that special!”
He stopped what he was doing, and steadied you with those beautiful brown eyes that you just couldn’t get enough of. “It is special. To me.”
Shoyo’s words stopped you in your tracks, eyes widening and blush spreading once again. He had no idea what those words meant to you as he continued to carefully unwrap your gift. You fidgeted with the hem of your uniform while you waited, suddenly all the nerves from before flooding into you.
But the way his eyes lit up when he saw the tiny, bite-sized volleyballs. The childlike smile that spread across his face, brighter than the sun. And the way his lip trembled just a bit had you realizing that no matter what happened. No matter where he went or what came next, you always wanted to be by his side. As a friend or more, it didn’t matter. You loved him and you wouldn’t - couldn’t - stop.
“Thank you.” he said after a long moment. “You… you shouldn’t have done this for me.”
“Why not?” you tilted your head slightly to the side in confusion.
“Did you make these for anyone else?”
“Well, no. I didn’t want to make them for anyone else.”
“Why?” Shoyo stared intently at the chocolates, avoiding looking at you.
You swallowed hard, stepping closer to him and taking his free hand in both of yours, causing him to look at you finally.
“Because I lo-”
It was then that you were cut off by a harsh shove from a third year, effectively knocking you over and sending the chocolates scattering all over the ground. Your knee hit the pavement with a disgusting thud and you knew immediately it was busted.
“Get a room, losers!” she chided, briskly walking away and leaving you on the ground amid your hard work.
“Hinata!” Nishinoya called from down the path, “Practice is starting! Get a move on!”
Shoyo looked between you, the chocolates and his team mate, his mind running a mile a minute as his emotions were torn.
You looked up at him with a smile, ignoring the blood oozing steadily from your split knee. “Go on. I’ll clean this up.”
“Y-Y/N… are you… ?”
“I’m fine, Sho. Don’t worry. Just go practice hard for me, okay?”
“What’s going on with Y/N?” Noya asked as Shoyo caught up to him.
“I’m gonna have to skip practice today, sorry, senpai.”
You were too busy trying to fish something out of your bag to help the bleeding to notice Shoyo doing the same. He knelt in front of you and you almost fell back in your shock.
“S-Shoyo! What-?”
“It’s fine, Y/N,” he had produced a towel from his bag, probably one he’d borrowed from the gym and washed to bring it back. He pressed it gently to where your knee was still bleeding, causing you to wince.
“But practice-”
“Y/N don’t worry about it, okay? Let me help you. You’re always there to help me, so let me return the favor.”
You couldn’t argue, he obviously had made his mind up and Shoyo was nothing if not stubborn.
“Hold this here, apply more pressure if you can while I clean this up,” he instructed and set about gathering up every piece of soiled chocolate.
Once all the candies and packaging were retrieved and the bleeding stopped, Shoyo helped you stand. His demeanor was unusually serious, and you wanted to ask but the moment you put pressure on your leg, pain shot through your knee and you almost collapsed again.
Your “just a best friend” was quick to catch you, though, supporting you with one arm around your waist while the other slung your arm around his shoulders.
“Woah! I caught you!” he grinned and looked over at you, “You okay?”
“Y-yeah I’m fine, but you should really get to practice.” you returned his look with one of concern and his grin just grew wider.
“Why would I go to practice when today is Valentine’s Day?” he chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into you, sending heat flooding your face.
You’d been close with him before, you grew up together, after all, but this was different. He felt different somehow.
“Can you walk?” he asked, loosening his hold on you slightly as you tested your busted knee.
“Ah,” you winced again, “It’s probably better if I don’t. I should call my mom to come pick me up…”
Before you knew it you were being hauled onto Shoyo’s back with surprising ease. Just more proof that he was growing out of the boy you’d spent so many childhood summers with. He even grabbed your bag in one hand and wrapped his arms under your thighs to support you.
“No need!” he laughed openly at your surprised yelp and the way you clung tightly to his shoulders. “We can consider this training so it’s almost like I’m at practice, and I get to spend today with you!”
“W-with me?” you asked shocked, but buried your head into his neck when he started walking. You weren’t used to being off of the ground, much less supported so easily like this.
“Yeah, of course! Why? Who else would I want to spend Valentine’s Day with?”
“Sh-Shoyo I don’t understand…”
He laughed again, the most beautifully free sound you’d ever heard as he started spinning you in circles, causing you to grip onto him tighter.
“Sh-Sh-Sho!! I’m getting dizzy!” you scolded desperately, but he just kept laughing and spinning.
“I can’t help it, Y/N! I’m just so happy right now! My body is moving on it’s own!” he all but shouted.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Sho! I’m getting nauseous! P-Please!”
Slowly he came to a stop, laughs still rumbling low in his chest.
“I finally realized it,” he glanced at you over his shoulder as he started walking again, “I finally realized what you’ve been trying to tell me this whole time!”
When you stayed silent he continued, “You love me! You’ve been wanting to tell me this whole time and could never get it out! You were confessing to me today, right? I’m so happy, Y/N! I love you, too!”
Shoyo started jogging then, the excitement radiating off of him in such a way that he just had to get the energy out somehow.
“Wh-” you started but he cut you off.
“Sorry, Y/N! I just love you! I’ve loved you since we were little kids! Now I know you love me, too and I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy!”
You were sure by this point your heart would beat right up your throat and out of your mouth, that your skin would surely combust from how red you were, that he could feel the shaking of your limbs wrapped around him. If he noticed any of these things he didn’t comment on it, though, simply picking up speed as he started running.
The bouncing kept you unable to speak properly as he exclaimed, “I love you! Y/N! I love you and you love me, too!” all the way to your home. He was so excited that it was intoxicating, his passionate declarations and claims of love making you smile and giggle right alongside him.
Once he came to a stop at your door, he was panting and sweating, but neither of you cared.
“Took you long enough, Shoyo, gosh,” you poked his cheek before he set you down carefully, keeping you steady with his arms around your waist.
He looked at you then, really looked at you. Brown eyes drinking in every tiny detail of you; from the soft smile on your lips to the light that illuminated your beautiful face, to the way it felt to have you so close to him, finally. Slowly he leaned his forehead against yours and his eyes fluttered closed.
“I love you so much, I wanted to tell you ages ago but after the Christmas party you seemed to avoid me. I figured it had something to do with that stupid game, but you know? Nothing happened. Actually, that was when I told Yachi how I felt about you! She’s really sweet, Y/N, but I’ve only ever had eyes for you!”
You felt hot tears threaten to overspill, but fought them back by swallowing hard.
“Sho… I’m sorry. I… I tried to tell you so many times but you just brushed me off.”
“I told you that I liked you, too, didn’t I?”
You thought back to all the times you’d told him, and realization that you were the dense one this whole time flooded your system.
“God, I’m so stupid!” you laughed and opened your eyes to find him staring at you again. His expression was the softest you’d ever seen, a gentle smile making him look beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked, his voice almost a whisper. You nodded, tilting your chin slightly as he closed the distance.
His lips were softer than you could have imagined, and tasted slightly of mint. The kiss was slow and sweet and you parted after a few moments.
“I love you,” you mumbled.
“Took you long enough.”
