Archive of Our Own ^beta

Hitoka was never one for thinking about dating, she was much too busy with school projects, homework, cooking, cleaning, helping her mom, shopping for essentials, being a manager, or just simple little hobbies.

Hitoka knew that was just an excuse though, asking someone out wasn’t hard (no, that's a lie, because anxiety is a bitch). But getting together with someone just for the sake of getting together with someone was wrong.

Hitoka sighs quietly to herself as she was deep in thought, but those thoughts immediately vanished when she felt a rush of wind and heard the ball smack against the wall beside her, “Sorry Yacchan!” Hinata called.

She just nodded, “Focus Hitoka!” She mentally cursed at herself, she had been doing that a lot recently. Her thoughts drifted to the thought of dating, of course they did though! Everyone on the team was dating someone, all her friends, so of course she thought about it. Being a third wheel isn’t exactly the best, she wondered what it would feel like? The feeling of her partner holding her hand, or hugging her on a day where she felt sad for no reason at all. The feeling of cuddling with them, or going out on a date, the butterflies everyone talks about in their bellies. She wanted that connection with someone one day.

She looked down a little, her trusty clipboard clutched in her hands and against her chest. She looked back up and saw Hinata spike a ball into Nakoma’s court, and smiled softly when she added a point to Karasuno’s side. She looked back at the court absent-mindedly playing with the necklace around her neck, as she usually did when she was nervous or just needing to fidget with something.

She glanced at the other court, the one next to Karasuo’s, Fukurōdani was stretching and waiting to play whoever won. But as she looked at Fukurōdani, she saw Bokuto immediately turn away, like he was just caught doing something. Hitoka hummed softly, “I wonder what that was about?” she thought to herself as Neckoma scored a point, she changed the scores and looked through her notes.

She shivered slightly as she felt eyes on her, but when she looked up and around, there was no one, “I really need to calm down..” She sighed for what felt like the thousandth time today, and shook her head a little and just focused on her team and the game that they were playing.

___

After practice had wrapped up, Hitoka was helping serve dinner with Kiyoko tonight. After everyone had their fill and had washed up for bed, her and the other managers stayed up cleaning while making conversation.

“-nd I told Bokuto that he’d fall into the lake, but he did it anyways with Kuroo.” Yuki explained while washing dishes.

“I swear those two are dangerous together sometimes.” Kiyoko chimed in with a soft chuckle.

“Oh you have no idea- that was just the begining of that!” Kori laughed.

“If we wanted to tell you that whole story, we’d be in this kitchen all night-” Yaki laughed as Kori cut her off.

“ANd then some!”

All the girls laughed, Hitoka giggled, she loved moments like this, where she could relax into cleaning, and still have a nice time with her new friends!

“Sooo- what kind of hellish stories do you guys have at Karasuno?” Kori smirked as she grabbed Yuki’s onigiri making her pout.

Kiyoko smiled, “Well Karasuno is an open book, so basically what you see here is normal.”

Hitoka nodded in agreement. Although she may not have been there long enough for that stuff to happen, she knew most of them pretty well at this point. That was until she stopped nodding as she heard the topic change from team drama and funny stories, to relationships. Of course, when she was just enjoying herself this happened. 

The conversation flowed easily between Kiyoko, Kori, and Yuki. Kori was talking about her relationship with Konoha, Yuki talking about her relationship with Eri, and Kiyoko talking about her relationship with Mitchimya.

Hitoka didn't want to be rude and change topics, but she couldn't help but feel left out. She knows that that wasn't their intention, but it still happened. She didn't know what to do, she rolled the silver chain between her fingers as she often did to try and ease her nerves.

So she used her shortness to her advantage and snuck out of the kitchen and cafeteria without being seen. If they ask in the morning, then she'll make up an excuse.

She walked down the hallway, at least she got her side of the kitchen clean before she slipped out. Her original plan was to just go straight to bed, but she paused while walking by the gyms and looked out into the field.

The stars littered the sky and the moon looked a little like the Cheshire cat’s smile. She loved coming to Tokyo with her friends, but she missed when she was younger and her father had taken her out to an open field while her mother worked, and they just lay back watching the sky…

That was 10 years ago…she couldn't believe she went to school in Tokyo when she was in kindergarten when her mother told her. Who in the world would remember Kindergarten??

She smiled softly at the moment, her body relaxing a little. Though relaxing was not forever, she tensed up when two hands covered her eyes as she heard, “Guess who?~”

She immediately let out a breath of relief as she heard the voice, “Bokuto-Senpai?”

She could practically hear the grin on his face, “Haha, yeah.” His hand moved down and he moved in front of her.

“Whatcha doin 'up still Yacchan??” he tilted his head to the side, his eyes slightly glowed in the dark.

“Ah, me and the other managers were cleaning up and well-” she paused, she honestly didn't know how to approach that subject without sounding jealousy and envious.

Bokuto’s grin faltered, “Yacchan? Is everything okay?” He said, sounding more concerned and worried, then he wanted to.

“Ye-yeah! Just uh- they were talking about relationships and well I- uh-...I don't..” she struggled to find the words.

“Oh,” Bokuto nodded, his smile returning a little, “relationships, everyones in them except for that one person right? And that person is you?”

Hitoka nodded, “How-”

“Haha- funny story.. but let's just say I have a similar case…”

Hitoka nodded, “Oh… uh how long have you liked the girl?”

Bokuto blushed, “Wha-what-?! How'd yo-you-”

Hitoka chuckled softly at his reaction, “A sweet guy like you isn't single because he can't get a girlfriend… It's a girl right?”

He nodded, his blush rising, “Y-yeah..but I doubt she even remembers me…”

Hitoka tilted her head a little, she was confused, “Remembers?”

“Yeah, it's gonna sound really sad and maybe I'm holding onto something a little too long…but the girl lived here years ago, and we went to elementary school together… kinda-” he looked up at the sky, “She was in kindergarten, and I was in third grade.. I helped her around school because she was my neighbor…” Bokuto glanced at Hitoka, seeing if she was still listening, thankfully she was.

“Well…the thing is… she moved after that year, and since we were little we lost contact…I haven't seen her since…” A small smirk played on his lips as he took a step closer to Hitoka.

Hitoka shuttered slightly, everything just took a complete 180 in less than a second, she took a step back, “Bo-bokuto-” she stuttered as she felt shivers down her spine at the look in his eyes.

“Till now,” he put his hands on the wall next to her head, caging her against the wall, he leaned down “Hitoka,” he whispered in her ear, “do you remember me?” He mummers softly, as he inhales her scent…

Hitoka’s eyes widened and her heart started to race as the memories hit her. Everything from kindergarten, to her memories with Bokuto.. “Kou…” she breathes out softly, her eyes burned with tears.

He smirks, “Do you remember what I told you, before you left?” He whispers lowly in her ear, his lips graz the shell of her ear.

Hitoka nodded slowly and hesitantly shuttered, “You'd…you'd find me…no matter where I was…and said-”

“‘You're mine no matter where you go.’ “

Hitoka slowly looked up at him.

Koutarou’s smirk drops as he looks down at the necklace she's wearing.. he slowly grabs the necklace and lifts it and sees the silver band, with a small pink diamond that sat on it..

Koutarou's breathing hitches ever so slightly, as he looks at Hitoka in her eyes, “..you…wore it..”

Hitoka nodded a little, “I…I always do.. I-i didn't know why .. until now…”

His eyes flashed with a possessive glint, he shut his eyes and let go of the necklace and he clenched his fist, “wear it..” he mumbled just enough for her to hear… he needed her to wear it..

Hitoka's breath caught in her throat..she felt butterflies in her stomach and her heart was racing..and not from fear… the blush creeped up on her face faster then she could think.

She didn't waste another second, she took off the necklace and took the ring and put it on..

“...You know you, wearing that makes you mine right?” He looked down at her, his golden eyes shining with a possessive glow.

Hitoka knew that, she'd always known that. When she saw the necklace and saw the ring, she figured that it was obvious. But hearing him say it…that sparked new emotions, ones she never thought she'd get to experience. Love.

Maybe obsession and possession wasn't for some people, maybe it was a red flag. But Hitoka couldn't help but feel excited? Thrilled?? She couldn't tell.

She nodded slowly, “Yes.” 

“Good.” He tilted her head up and softly kissed her.

___

Koutarou had left after that, saying she should sleep. Hitoka just nodded and went to bed.

Hitoka couldn't help but lay there looking at the ring, was she engaged? Was this a promise ring? Or was this something else entirely???

Millions of questions ran through her head, had she been in a relationship since kindergarten? Was this recently? Or was she even in a relationship???

She sighed and rolled to the other side and tried to silence her thoughts. She was mentally and emotionally exhausted from everything that had happened. Though she couldn't deny the excitement that had run through her.

After around 5 minutes she was finally able to get some sleep.

___

The next morning Hitoka woke up along with the other managers, when they asked how she slept all she said was “fine” and went to find some Tylenol or something that would help this headache.

She honestly didn't sleep that well, she just wanted to roll over and go back to sleep.

She sighed softly as she got ready for the day.

___

During breakfast she sat with the other managers, as she ate her breakfast.

“Hitoka-Chan? Are you sure you slept okay?” Kiyoko asked, worried about the younger manager.

The other managers looked at her concerned.

Hitoka sighed, “it's just a headache…I took some medicine.” She looked up from the table.

Kiyoko gasped softly and the whole cafeteria seemed to hear it because everyone stopped talking and looked at them.

“Hi- Hitoka?” Kiyoko looked at the ring on her finger, and the other managers followed her gaze.

Hitoka looked down and felt her cheeks flush, “Right..” she mentally cursed at herself for forgetting about the ring. No one else knew she had the ring, it was always on her necklace that was hidden behind her shirt.

She looked up and Koutarou’s face had the biggest smirk. “What should I tell them?! Should I tell them about last night?” She didn't know, her and Kou hadn't talked about this! What was she gonna say?!

“A-are you engaged?” Yuki had broken the silence.

Hitoka's brain short circuits for a few seconds, “HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ANSWER, WHEN I DON'T EVEN KNOW?!” She mentally screams at herself. She looks down when she feels her phone buzz and sees the text: Tell them it's a promise ring.

She feels a wait lift off of her as she looks up, “n-no- it's a promise ring..” She feels a breath of relief leave her throat.

“You were dating??” Hinata asks from across the cafeteria.

“Y-yea- uh we wanted to keep it to ourselves..” she blushed, that was the quickest and simplest lie she could come up with, without having anyone questioning her.

“Oh- that makes sense.” Kori smiled, “it was just unexpected- but congrats!!!” She smiles.

“Congratulations Yacchan!” Yuki smiled.

___ 

After breakfast and an ungodly amount of “congratulations!” Or “congrats” from everyone.

Hitoka went to the back to cool off when she turned the corner she was pulled into an empty classroom.

“Ah-” she looked up to see Koutarou smiling brightly, “Oh good it's just you Kou.” She relaxed and let out a breath of relief.

He chuckled and pulled her into a hug, “I wanted to apologize for last night, I was a little excited to see you.” 

Hitoka blushed and hugged back, “I could tell…thanks for the text..”

He nodded, “yeah, we uh…we have a lot to talk about but…I was being serious about the ring…it is a promise ring. And I would like us to have a real genuine relationship.”

Hitoka smiled as a faint blush creeped up into her cheeks, “I would like that…here.” She wrote down her number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. “That way we'll keep in touch…for good this time..” she smiled.

Koutarou grinned and nodded and took the paper, “yeah, for good… should we tell people?”

“Maybe in a few weeks? That way, you know..it's just us??” She asked shyly.

His grin softened and he nodded, “yeah…sounds good…I'll uh- I'll see you in the gym.” he smiled and kissed her forehead and reluctantly left the room.

For the first time, Hitoka didn't feel scared, or anxious, or stressed…she felt like she was at peace. And that alone.. felt like enough.