Chapter Text
The summer sun, high in the sky, shines as bright as Kageyama is bored. He lies on his stomach, gazing at his girlfriend as she spreads sunscreen on her thighs. Damn, she's hot and he's grateful for lying face down and not on his back. Only one week into summer break and he already misses volleyball as if he hadn't played in two years. He stirs a little and thinks of swimming for a while, so he sits lazily and groans on his towel over the soft green grass. He's so bored, ugh. Luckily he can enjoy such a sweet view while he waits for his girlfriend to end her shift at the swimming pool.
Yachi, the lifeguard of said pool, is happy with her life. She likes her summer job, she likes her apartment, her classes are over for the summer, and she loves her boyfriend... If somebody were to ask her if she wanted to change anything in her life she would only say that she would love to be more forward and determined and less shy. But, all in all, she's pretty content with her life style. Moving away from home to go to a good college near the coast was one of the best decisions she’d ever made, and now she can feel the freedom that she never had living with her mom, and having the freedom to invite her boyfriend over any time she wants is the best perk of being an adult — or a young adult, whatever.
She smiles as she lets her eyes wander over the clear surface of the water, wincing slightly when the reflecting sun hits her eyes. The pool is almost empty which means less work for her and more chances for her boyfriend to be even more bored. She knows that he's not comfortable around people if volleyball isn't involved, that's why she appreciates his offer of come along with her to all of the boring evenings at the almost deserted swimming pool
"You can leave whenever you want, you know," Yachi turns her head to Kageyama who looks like he’s having an internal struggle, fidgeting on his towel not knowing if he should stand or stay still by her side.
Kageyama darts his eyes away from her, trying his best to not to blush before whispering a muffled "No, I'm good here."
Yachi giggles "I know you're bored. We've been together long enough to tell what you're really thinking," and it's true, Yachi can read Kageyama a lot better than when they started dating. Back then she struggled a lot trying to figure out Kageyama's subtle facial expressions. She decided that if Kageyama is bad with words she'd be good reading his mind. Like a super hero, but instead of fighting crime she'd fight verbal constipation. She liked the idea. "We could go to the aquarium after my shift if you want. I heard they have new jellyfish in the main tank, and maybe we can stay a little longer than the last time watching the penguins," she offers, knowing her boyfriend's love for penguins and jellyfish.
A little smile sparks on Kageyama's face for a millisecond, eyes sparkling in excitement. Trying to compose himself again and still avoiding Yachi's gaze he starts to stand, attempting, and failing, to look as casual as possible "Yeah, sure, why not?" He stretches his arms over his head "It's been a while since the last time we went and I want to see if Pen Pen... I mean, that injured penguin from the last time is doing ok." Kageyama is definitely red.
Yachi can't hold it anymore and starts laughing, hands over her stomach, but she stops when something at the other side of the pool catches her attention. Though the swimming pool is pretty empty, pretty normal if you consider that you have a gorgeous beach 10 minutes away from there, the guy, with almost offensively bright orange hair and an even more insultingly ugly swimsuit, would stand out in the middle of a crowd.
Kageyama follows Yachi's gaze and snorts at the view. It's almost ridiculous how the guy walks to the edge of the water and jumps, like he’s afraid of the water or something, when he should be afraid of wearing such a stupid piece of clothing in public. Kageyama plans to verbally express his thoughts when he notices that the guy isn't coming out of the water. Instead he says "How long has he been down there?" But) Yachi is already jumping into the water, followed by Kageyama, who takes a second to admire his girlfriends body in a swimsuit (again), and her graceful and fast movement before the jump. Damn —again, she's hot. And damn his stupid hormones, failing at that precise moment when nobody wants their opinion.
Yachi opens her eyes under the water and she instantly spots the ugly swimsuit a few meters in front of her (bless the horrendous trunks) and swims as fast as she can, reaching the boy in two powerful stroke. The guy is obviously panicking and Yachi has to be careful before grabbing the boy under his armpits and dragging him to the surface. Kageyama is by her side in a blink, helping her with the shaking boy.
"What the fuck were you doing, dumbass? Do you even know how to swim?" Kageyama yells at the boy, who's sitting on the grass, trying to cough the water out of his lungs whilst Yachi rubs his back. "Why on earth would you even jump into the water if you don't know how to swim? Are you actually brainless?"
"Tobio, enough," Yachi says softly, and that's all that it takes for Kageyama to shut up. Yachi can tell by his body language that he's more concerned than pissed. "Hey, are you alright? Can you breathe normally?" She's still rubbing the boys back even though he stopped coughing.
"Yes, yes... I'm... fine. Sorry," the boy croaks, voice hoarse because of the angry coughing. "I'm so sorry; I didn't know the pool was that deep there."
"There are marks at the sides, dumbass," Kageyama is still mad.
"Well, I obviously didn't see them," the boy snaps back. "I'm sorry, ugh, I'm so embarrassed," The boy seems really stressed looking around him, ears reddening by the second.
"Don't be, this happens all the time, believe me," Yachi tries to calm him with a reassuring smile. "I'm Yachi Hitoka, and he's Kageyama Tobio," Yachi glares at Kageyama, trying to make him be nice to the boy on the ground.
"Yeah... Hi...," Kageyama forces himself to be nice because he loves her and he wants to make her happy, and also because she can be scary when she's mad.
"I'm Hinata Shouyou," the boy presents himself, his breathing back to normal.
"Come sit with us for a while, Hinata, that way I can check you out if you start to feel weird. The dry drowning can be dangerous," Yachi coaxes Hinata to stand up and follow her to the lifeguard spot. She turns to the other four people at the swimming pool, who are watching them expectantly and waves "He's ok, he's ok!" And they turn around to attend their own business again.
While they walk to their spot Kageyama is suddenly aware of Hinata's height. He's so short he'd have drowned even in the kid’s pool, Kageyama thinks. He looks pretty young, younger than them at least, with those big eyes and faded freckles on his nose, cheeks, and shoulders.
They sit in silence. Yachi goes back to her job while the two boys sit awkwardly next to each other on Kageyama's towel. Hinata's hair is starting to dry under the hot sun rays, sticking up wildly around his head, giving him the appearance of a half drowned kitten. Kageyama begins to feel the weight of the silence, noticing a drop of sweat running down his back and he's quite sure that the heat is not causing it.
"You were right," Hinata whispers.
"Did you say something?" Kageyama turns his head to the shorter boy.
"I said that you were right, I don't how to swim!" Hinata repeats, raising his voice, annoyed with the fact that he has to recognize his failure again out loud.
"And that's why you went so straight forward and jumped into the water? Seriously, you're so dumb. Don't do that again"
"I know, I wasn't thinking," Hinata groans, head falling to his chest. "I need to learn how to swim before the end of the week"
"Why is that?" Yachi pokes his head from behind Kageyama's shoulder. "You're as skilled as a brick in the water. It will take you more than a week to learn, no offense"
"No offense taken" Hinata smiles a little and then sighs. "Next week I start working at the aquarium as a guide," Hinata says as it were the obvious answer. Yachi and Kageyama keep looking at him, waiting for the rest of the explanation. "Everyone who works at the aquarium has to know how to swim!" Hinata exclaims, flapping his hands trying to prove a point that nobody gets.
"Are you afraid of falling into a fish tank and dying or what?" Kageyama jokes.
"Exactly!" Finally somebody understands him.
"So stupid," Kageyama mutters, face palming.
Yachi shoves her boyfriend gently, sharing an amused look with him before turning her attention to Hinata again. "Kageyama can teach you if you want". She knows this is probably a bad idea — the worst idea even, but maybe this situation could be a learning experience for Kageyama and his social skills. That way she wouldn't have to worry about him and his boredom all the time.
"What?!"
"Really??"
"No"
"That would be awesome!"
"No, no, no... Wait"
"Tobio, please," Yachi holds Kageyama's hands gently between hers. "This could be a good thing. You won't be bored sitting here all day and I won't feel guilty for making your summer a total waste".
"Ugh, Hitoka, but he's so...,"
"Hey, I'm still here".
"Look, Tobio, if you do this, I'll do whatever you want," Yachi moves her hands from Kageyama's to cup his face. She locks her eyes with his and repeats slowly "whatever you want".
Kageyama gulps loudly and turns to Hinata without breaking Yachi's eye contact "Sure, I'll help you".
"Yay! Thank you so much. You won't regret it. I learn very fast and I'll be the best student you've ever had. You're literally saving my life! Thank you! Than... Mmpf," Hinata is cut off by Kageyama's hand over his mouth.
"Ok, ok, just shut up. Only one condition," Kageyama raises a finger dangerously close to Hinata's nose and the boy nods, wide brown eyes full of joy "Burn your swimsuit".