Chapter 3: Steam and Secrets

The locker room was filled with warm steam and the sound of running water. Everyone else had already finished, changed into their uniforms, and left to catch the bus home, leaving the place completely silent except for Hinata humming off-key under the shower spray.

The hot water felt amazing, washing away the sweat and the weird, fluttery feeling in his stomach. He closed his eyes, letting the water hit his face, trying to forget about how close Kageyama had been sitting.

Stupid Kageyama. Stupid feelings.

He was so relaxed that he didn't hear the door open.

“Hurry up, Boke. I want to go home.”

Hinata yelped and nearly slipped. He opened his eyes to see Kageyama standing there, already out of his practice clothes, wearing only a towel wrapped low around his hips. Water droplets were sliding down his pale skin, tracing the lines of his muscles.

“W-Whoa! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Hinata shouted, covering himself even though there was a glass wall between them. “And stop looking!”

“I’m not looking at anything interesting.” Kageyama huffed, but his ears were turning pink as he turned his back to start his own shower. “Hurry up. I’m not waiting forever.”

Hinata grumbled but turned off the water. He stepped out, wrapping his own towel securely around his waist. His skin was all red and flushed from the heat. As he dried his hair with a towel, he glanced over at the other shower.

Kageyama had his head tilted back, eyes closed, water running down his face and chest. He looked... peaceful. And kind of pretty. Wait—pretty?! Since when did Kageyama look pretty?!

Hinata shook his head violently, making his wet hair fly everywhere. Stop thinking weird thoughts!

He walked over to his bag to get his clothes. But as he passed by Kageyama’s spot, his foot slipped on the wet floor.

“Whoa—!”

His arms flailed. He braced himself to hit the hard tiles, but instead, he crashed into something warm and wet and very solid.

Strong arms immediately wrapped around him to catch him.

“Oi! Are you an idiot?!”

Hinata looked up, wide-eyed. He was pressed right up against Kageyama’s chest. Both of them were only wearing towels, skin hot and slippery from the steam. He could feel Kageyama’s heartbeat against his own—fast, hard, and just as panicked as his own.

“I-I slipped!” Hinata squeaked, unable to move. His hands were resting on Kageyama’s shoulders, feeling the muscles there. “L-Let go!”

“Stop moving!” Kageyama growled, but he didn’t push him away. Instead, his grip tightened just a little bit more. “You’re so clumsy. Can’t you do anything right?”

The air in the locker room suddenly felt way too hot. The steam swirled around them, hiding them from the world. Kageyama was looking down at him, his blue eyes dark and cloudy, like he was fighting with himself over something.

His gaze dropped down to Hinata’s lips, then back to his eyes.

“You...” Kageyama started, his voice rough and low. “You really are annoying, Shouyou.”

“Then let go...” Hinata whispered, but he didn’t push him away either. His heart was beating so loud he was sure Kageyama could hear it.

Slowly, torturously slow, Kageyama leaned his face down closer. Their noses brushed against each other.

“...Maybe I don’t want to.”

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