chapter 4

Golden Week Training Camp.

Shouyou was so excited to attend his first ever training camp as he looked around the entire building they would be staying in but then one look at the shared bathroom and he realized this would also be his first time being in the baths with Kageyama!

The thought made him feel super conscious of his own body and how the other boy might think of it! It would be one thing if they were just rivals and teammates on the court then it wouldn’t be such a big deal seeing the other nude but they were soulmates! It was different!

But Kageyama didn’t seem fazed by this arrangement and that bothered Hinata just as much as needing to share the baths with him.

Does he really not care at all about us being in that state? He can’t help but wonder.

“What’s wrong, Hinata?” Yamaguchi questioned as they were setting up their futons in the sleep area.

“Maybe I should just skip a bath tonight.” the ginger muttered.

“What?”

“Oh. Um…” Shouyou blushed before confessing, “It’s the shared bathroom. It’ll be the first time I’m going to see Kageyama,” he gulped, “without clothes on…” he hid his face in his pillow.

“Ohhhh, so that’s it.” Tadashi hummed.

“What in the world am I supposed to do about this?!” his muffle came through the sleep item.

“It’s tricky isn’t it? Seeing your soulmate like that…” the taller let his own blush form from the memories he recalled of when this happened to him and Tsukki, “To you they were already good-looking but now… you get to see them in a different light and it makes you nervous as heck.”

“Yes! It’s exactly that!”

“It’s okay, we’ll just stay on one side of the bath and I’ll cover you.”

“You will?! Thank you, Yamaguchi!” bowing his head in gratitude.

Tadashi just laughs it off and takes out a stegosaurus plushie from his duffel bag and places it next to his pillow.

Hinata looks at it curiously, “What’s that for?”

“It’s a plushie Tsukki gave me for my birthday back when we first met, he actually had one of his own already so we have a matching set. We bring them with us whenever we spend the nights away from our homes.”

Kei came onto the scene then looking mortified, “Tell me you did not just tell short-stuff here we have matching stegosaurus plushies.”

“Sorry Tsukki…” his soulmate sheepishly replied.

“That’s so freaking adorable!” Nishinoya came from behind the tall blonde, “Asahi and I have matching panda bears we won at the summer festival last year!”

Suga added in from across the room, “Daichi and I have matching penguin plushies and t-shirts we got from a zoo date!”

“Koushi! Don’t tell them that!” their captain retorted out of embarrassment.

The other second-years nearby laughed with Kinoshita voicing, “Is that a common thing among soulmates or is it just couplely stuff?”

“Pretty sure it’s a couple thing.” Ennoshita pointed out, “Lots of people that don’t have a soulmate yet tend to date and do romantic stuff like that.”

“But it’s a hundred times more special when it’s with a soulmate!” Tanaka motioned.

Kageyama had been outside the room when he heard all about the soulmate couples having matching stuff animals and began to deeply ponder if he and Shouyou should have something like that too when they have their marks.

He knows they have to seal the bond at some point but to seal the bond requires a kiss and they need to date before they can do that and Tobio was utterly clueless on how to handle that.

Maybe I should ask advice from the upperclassmen; no way will I ask that blonde asshole anything…

...----------------...

When the third years were set to go to the baths first after dinner that’s when it hit Tobio like a truck that this would be the first time he’ll see his soulmate *****!

The raven-head had become more self-aware of Hinata’s features in their time together in the last year and more so when being on the same team now and while he was curious to see more he didn’t want to overstep his bounds.

“You looked troubled.” Kiyoko voiced making the tall boy blanch.

“I- I’m fine!” Tobio sputtered out.

“If you’re sure.” she started gathering her things into her bag getting ready to go home.

Tobio grunted, “Okay, maybe I’m not.”

Kiyoko stared at him, prepared to listen.

“It’s… Hinata… we… I’m…” he started to flush like crazy.

Kiyoko nodded in understanding, “You’re soulmates and this is the first time you’re getting into a vulnerable position with him.” looking at her year mates heading to the baths.

His eyes widen in shock, “H-how did you…?”

“It was pretty obvious with how you two act together, also…” she pulled her shirt collar down showing her cut diamond soulmark, “I get it.”

He blinked in surprise.

“Granted my soulmate and I haven’t been alone in a place that shows our more… private parts so I cannot give solid advice in that area but I suggest you ask Suga or Daichi once they’re out of the baths but as you will be with Tsukishima and Yamaguchi in the bathroom too, you might want to ask them instead.”

Kageyama inwardly groaned at the thought.

Kiyoko patted his shoulder in comfort, “I know you don’t get along so easily with your year mates, with the exception of Hinata, but they’re your best bet to get through tonight without panicking so much.”

He didn’t want to admit it but she had a point and gritted out, “Yeah… I guess you’re right…”

“Of course she is!” Tanaka bellowed next to them, “Kiyoko is always right!” and started going on a tangent complimenting her.

She sighed and shook her head at her soulmate’s pronouncements.

Ignoring his upperclassman’s flowery language, Tobio thanked the team manager for her advice and begrudgingly approach a certain teammate he just can’t seem to get along with no matter what and grumbled, “Hey, can we talk?”

...----------------...

How the hell did Tadashi and I get wrapped up in these bumbling idiots’ love lives…?! Kei bitterly thought as he was stuck on one side of the bath with Kageyama while his soulmate was with Hinata on the other side.

Both of the unsealed bonded duo had their backs turn so they couldn’t see the other as pathetic as that was.

Once they all felt clean enough, the steam surrounding the place at least somewhat helped cover them up until they grabbed for the towels and Hinata and Kageyama could finally look at each other again without feeling embarrassed. Kei could already tell this was going to be a common occurrence for the rest of the week and it exhausted him just thinking about it, putting his head on Tadashi’s bare shoulder who in turn knew what his soulmate was reflecting on as he patted his head and kissed it.

Seeing the sweet act, Shouyou inwardly whined, I want that!

Tobio had already left to go changed so his soulmate couldn’t see his blushing cheeks.

...----------------...

This went on for the next few days and when the team received their uniforms and jersey numbers, Shouyou was in absolute awe and excited by the fact he had the Tiny Giant’s old number!

“It must be destiny!” he exclaimed joyfully.

“Or a coincid-“ Kageyama started but stopped short when Hinata gave him a look so fierce it gave everyone in the gym chills.

Shouyou’s intense eyes were saying, I dare you to finish that sentence, Yama…

Tobio dryly gulped, okay so maybe he shouldn’t so be quick to scoff off destiny when he was currently soul-bonded to this man that is to be his lifelong partner.

Tanaka sweat-dropped while whispering to his fellow second years, “Okay, note to self, never ever make Hinata angry.”

They nodded with Kinoshita adding, “It’s always the cheery ones that are the most dangerous.” notioning toward Sugawara being too busy talking to Daichi.

“Hm-mm.” the group sounded in agreement.

...----------------...

Hinata stared at his jersey neatly folded next to his futon, not realizing Kageyama crouched down right beside him.

“It means that much to you?” the taller questioned.

Shouyou was slightly startled but calmed once he realized who it was, uttering, “Yes, it’s like all my dreams are coming true at last but I’m not completely satisfied with it since the only reason the coach is putting me in the line-up is because of your sets.”

“Hmm… I can’t say you’re wrong… but… I think in time you will improve so much so that you will stand on the court on your own without me.”

Pink brushed against Shouyou’s face, feeling warm and fuzzy by his soulmate’s words.

Yamaguchi came up to them, “Hey, they said the first years can have the baths now.”

“Right!” they both said and got up with their towels; falling into the same routine they had for the past few nights.

Tsukishima commented, “They are both so pitiable, we were never this bad when we shared our first bath.”

Tadashi smiled softly, “Maybe so but these things do take time, I mean we had countless sleepovers at our houses before we finally sealed the bond, Tsukki.”

“Even though we are practically engaged by fate you still call me that.”

“It’s a special nickname I hold dear to my heart, Kei…” giving the blonde a peck on the cheek before he coyly grabbed his towel and went straight for the baths.

Tsukishima just smirked in turn and grabbed for his own towel to join the others.

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