Originally published on 2014-09-04.
Updated for style and consistency on 2020-04-29, six years later. :)
I tried to stay as true to the original writing as possible, no matter how cringe and excessive I think it is now.

Once more, please enjoy!

-/-

1: Flower crowns. Kagehina. Oh my gosh, these two. I couldn't resist! I love them way too much.

2: Seems like Hinata is the smarter one about their feelings in this fanfic.

3: The hill/field being referenced is the one at the end of ED 1 where Karasuno watches the sunset.


If It Was This Crown

Kageyama Tobio was absolutely and completely exhausted from volleyball practice.

It was a definite, undeniable, unquestionable fact.

The second he got home, Kageyama stumbled into his bedroom and collapsed on the bed. 'How have I survived volleyball practice this whole time?' he wondered, lying still as dull pain settled into his bones. Heck, he was even surprised that he managed to make it into his room from the doorway of his house. Today's practice wasn't even that long; there was still light outside judging by what he could see through his window.

Kageyama sighed, moving his arms to cover his eyes. The tiny action made him all the more aware of how sore his limbs were—especially his arms. If every volleyball practise was like this, he probably would've stopped practicing long ago if only because his body wouldn't allow him to continue. Somehow, he thought that his love for the sport would spur him onwards despite the agony of merciless practices.

'That's a very Hinata-like thought.'

He immediately dismissed the two notions from his mind.

His body wasn't this sore 24/7, so he supposed that usual practice wasn't as brutal as today's (I mean, what kind of game requires that many tosses?!). Practise was bound to get more intense at some point. It was better to try more things and practice while they can before important matches spring up.

They wouldn't fall behind rival schools. Kageyama had to smirk at that. Karasuno was better than ever with all of them there.

However, he'd have to think that later. Ignoring the protests of his aching limbs, he pushed himself up into a sitting position, then got to his feet and headed towards the bathroom for a shower.

-/-/-/-

A warm shower hurt no one, especially after practice. In any case, he felt more awake than before which was good considering he didn't want to pass out from fatigue the second he stepped out of the shower.

Kageyama went downstairs to the kitchen to grab something to eat, exchanging words with his parents when he saw them. They had already heated up food for him, and for that, he was grateful. He ate, although not much, then covered the rest and put it in the fridge for later.

Finally, he walked into his room. Kageyama took one glance at his bag where his homework awaited him and quickly turned away, deadpanning. Homework could wait until later. It was the weekend now, after all.

So... was it time to sleep?

He changed into some light pyjamas and laid down on the bed, not caring that the sun was only just beginning to set.

He closed his eyes.

...

...

But sleep wouldn't come. He wasn't tired.

Kageyama blinked. The very idea of sleeping was... strangely displeasing. But why so? Kageyama thought for a moment, raising his arms up towards the ceiling like he was going to toss. Sure as can be, the ache that accompanied the motion followed. Sore, yes, but not tired. He wasn't tired enough to sleep.

He scowled. He felt tired when he got home, so much that he felt like he'd fall unconscious then and there. Why not now? Letting his arms fall, Kageyama closed his eyes once more.

...

Simply not tired.

Ridiculous. He felt kind of ridiculous for being annoyed at not being able to sleep, but he repressed that feeling. What else was there to do? Definitely not homework. Or eating since he wasn't hungry at all now. He wanted to get rest over the weekend, so he'd be ready for more practice after it was over. It was best to rest with sleep.

'This is stupid. I should just fall asleep.'

But his body was telling him no. He let out another sigh, sitting up. He saw the volleyballs lying at the foot of his bed. Maybe volleyball?

His whole body suddenly ached as if to remind him. No, definitely not.

Kageyama looked out his window where an orange glow seeped through the glass panes. The slowly setting sun was layered with multiple shades of a beautiful muted orange. For a split second, he thought of Hinata—and immediately dismissed the thought again.

(Seriously, why did he keep thinking of him?)

With a huff, he walked over to his dresser, throwing on a light T-shirt and shorts. Another thought crossed his mind and he grabbed his black Karasuno jacket as well.

For now, he was going to take a walk.

-/-/-/-

The weather was warm enough. Listening to the rhythmic sound of his footsteps against the pavement, his jacket provided warmth against the chilly breeze that brushed against his face. The sunset illuminated the area with that still-beautiful orange, adding to the relaxing and snug atmosphere.

Kageyama wandered aimlessly around the neighbourhood. It was the same old places and the same old sights, but that didn't really matter. Everything seemed different during sunset.

He'd describe it as nice, for lack of a better word.

Not one hundred percent focused on where he was going, Kageyama stopped as fields of grass emerged on either side of the paved path. They sloped downwards, forming a formidable slant that would take considerable effort to climb back up, his stinging legs admonished him. The scenery was only vaguely familiar to him until he caught a glimpse of the sunset and remembered.

The Karasuno boys' volleyball team came here once before to view the sunset just like this. It really was a spectacular view from the top of the field. That was a memory he'd keep. It was one of the more magnificent ones compared to other memories involving the team.

Not that Kageyama wasn't fond of the other memories. He suppressed a smile at certain memories of Tanaka, Nishinoya, and Kiyoko-san as well as certain moments during various matches they had played. He held back a scowl at other memories, like the time he and Hinata met Tsukishima and Yamaguchi for the first time.

He really did have a lot of memories.

But that's currently besides the point. Kageyama stood, taking in the sight of the sun disappearing and the gradual fade of the stunning orange glow.

That's why it took a few minutes before he noticed the small, crumpled figure over to his right, lying still in the field of grass. The tiny, crumpled figure that seemed to be asleep. The tiny, crumpled figure that had bright orange hair.

In different circumstances, Kageyama might have thought that the person there couldn't possibly be the very idiot he was thinking it was. But there were not many people with bright orange hair and the black jacket lying beside him was identical to the one he was wearing in the current moment, albeit in a smaller size.

There really was only one person who it could be.

With his third sigh that day and a mutter of "Hinata, you idiot", Kageyama began to walk over.

-/-/-/-

Kageyama walked over, and yes, confirmed that the boy sleeping in front of him was indeed one Hinata Shouyou.

He crouched down and shook his shoulder. "Oi, Hinata."

The response was surprisingly instant. With a small groan and rub of his eyes, dark hazel eyes, clouded with sleep, blearily met blue. The smaller boy blinked. "...Eh? Kageyama, is that you?"

"No, of course not." Kageyama snorted, rolling his eyes. Looking around, he noticed how Hinata was dressed—a familiar white T-shirt and shorts—with his jacket and bag beside him. "Did you come here straight after practice?"

"Mhm," Hinata replied, the response quiet as he shook off the last dredges of sleep. "Practice was tiring and I like it here. It's peaceful." Kageyama could concede that was true, sparing another glance at the fading sun before turning back to Hinata and the warm hue coating the grass. The latter yawned and sat up, eyes questioning. "Why're you here, Kageyama?"

Kageyama took a seat in the grass beside him. "No reason in particular. Was walking about and somehow ended up here."

"I see."

It was then that Kageyama noticed something poking out of Hinata's hands. "Hey, Hinata, what are you holding?"

"Hm?" Hinata looked down at his hands, still clenching something from when he was sleeping. He opened his hands up, took one glance at it, and quickly closed it again before Kageyama could figure out what it was. "It's nothing!" he exclaimed, shaking his head.

Kageyama looked at him in disbelief. "Do you really think I'm going to buy that? Your actions give away that it's not."

"No, seriously! It's nothing important!"

At least he seemed completely awake now. "It's probably nothing," Kageyama agreed, "so why don't you tell me what it is?"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because! I don't want to!"

"You can really act like a spoiled brat sometimes, you know."

"Mou! I wouldn't be acting like this if you stopped asking."

Hinata glanced away. Kageyama looked at him, wondering what was going on in his mind. Then Hinata turned back.

"...Do you really want to know?"

"Well, I'm curious now."

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you... But you have to promise you'll never tell anyone else, ever!"

Kageyama once again found himself suppressing a smile with success. The boy in front of him resembled a little kid, maintaining a purity that kids that age tended to have. He might have laughed or maybe even smacked him. It wasn't like he found this part of Hinata the least bit endearing.

No, nothing like that.

Hinata pouted. Ignoring that thought (he blamed practice for how his mind was affixing itself on strange thoughts today), Kageyama stared back at the boy who was clearly awaiting a response. "Well? Do you promise or not?!"

"Yeah yeah, I promise."

Hinata still looked reluctant. As he glanced down at his hands, Kageyama had the impression that he really didn't want to show Kageyama what he was holding. "...Here." Hinata quickly shoved his open palm towards him.

Inside was a bunch of flowers. Pink roses, Kageyama recognized. He had to admit that Hinata had chosen some perfect ones though; there wasn't a single apparent flaw or misplaced petal. He wondered how delicately he was cupping the roses in his palm to not have crushed them while he was sleeping.

It was then that Kageyama noticed the flowers blooming in the distance. In fact, he had never seen a field with as many different flowers before. At the bottom of the hill: chrysanthemums, daisies, and lilies. He spotted carnations over to the left as well. Were those marigolds beside them? And then there were the flowers he didn't recognize.

How did he miss all this? He looked around in both wonder and bewilderment at how a place could contain so many flowers before realizing what was going on and who he was talking to.

"What is this place?" he asked Hinata.

Hinata stared at him, confusion evident on his face. "You don't recognize it? We came here with the team once to watch the sunset." Hinata pointed towards said similar sunset.

"No, you airhead, I remember that. What I don't remember though is all these flowers."

"They weren't fully bloomed at the time. They were like, these little buds, ya know!" Hinata explained before dropping his voice. "I've been here quite a few times," he muttered quietly. "This is sort of a secret place that I go to. I was kind of shocked when we all came here since I already like this place a lot. I have no clue how they found this place, but I'm glad. Going here with everyone is something I'll cherish now as another memory!"

Beaming at Kageyama, Kageyama couldn't help but think that Hinata appeared even brighter, bathed in the light of the sunset. His hair was even more vibrant, something that Kageyama wouldn't have thought possible. If the current moment was a picture, Kageyama thought that Hinata would fit perfectly in it.

Hinata Shouyou was glowing.

"All the flowers bloom here naturally," Hinata continued, jolting Kageyama out of his trance. "I've seen them do it. No one even takes care of them! It's weird."

Kageyama nodded. That was kind of weird. Then again, his genius setting ability and Hinata's lightning fast reflexes could be considered weird (to others, not them. That was normal for them), so he let it go.

"Wait, you still haven't explained why you were holding those flowers." Kageyama assumed that would be what he had promised not to tell anyone.

To his surprise, Hinata's cheeks reddened slightly. "Right. So..."

He quickly muttered something so fast and quietly that Kageyama couldn't hear him.

Kageyama could tell he was trying to get out of explaining it again. "I can't hear you if you don't speak clearly, you know. I promised I wouldn't tell, so you can tell me." He met Hinata's eyes which were challenging but still uncertain. "Trust me, alright?"

At that word, the orange-haired boy seemed to relax but he still groaned. "I do! It's just that— like— it's kinda—" The boy stumbled, then sighed. "Fine... I like making flower crowns. Natsu likes them, at least."

Hinata was twiddling his thumbs, the pink roses lying temporarily forgotten on his lap. "I know hanakotoba too. Don't think I'm just picking random flowers!"

Hanakotoba was the language of flowers for Japan. Kageyama knew flowers had meanings in other places in the world as well. Still...

"That's it?" he questioned, looking at Hinata.

Hinata stared back. "Yeah. Wait, what do you mean 'that's it'?! Aren't you going to laugh?"

"Why would I? You make flower crowns and know about flowers. What about it?"

"Don't you think it's... stupid? Or maybe even girly?"

Kageyama shook his head. Were people low enough to laugh at something like this? Maybe he would've... if he was like he was back then. But he wasn't. "You said it's something you like, right? Then do it. Who cares what others think?" He shrugged, then continued thinking. "And girly? Well… Maybe a little? Those kinds of gender stereotypes are just stupid though. I can see why you hid it from people like Tsukishima, but he's stupid too so whatever. I don't think anyone's wrong."

Kageyama realized he was getting carried away and paused. "Do what you want," he finished.

Hinata looked stunned. Then, slowly, he grinned again, turning back to face Kageyama. "Kageyama, you're the best!"

Kageyama jolted, startled. "You're getting way too happy for such a little thing," he replied, confused and taken aback.

"No, you just don't understand!" Hinata countered, still smiling. "I'm so relieved. And just happy!"

"So I do understand—You're happy!"

"No, you don't!"

"Yeah, I do!"

Hinata stuck his tongue out and laughed, "Nope!" He picked up the pink roses from his lap, beaming all the while. Next, he grabbed some thin, intricately twisted branches from beside him on the grass that Kageyama didn't notice before. He then went to work.

"Making a flower crown?"

"Yup! I don't mind if you watch."

And so Kageyama did watch. He watched Hinata sort through the delicate flowers, holding them carefully with his fingers. He watched him plan where the flowers would go, moving them onto the branches and moving them off if he didn't like how it looked. It seemed like Hinata put a lot of work into his flower crowns.

"I don't get it," Kageyama spoke up after a while. "How do you put the flowers on? Do the branches help it stay on? Or do you like, poke the stem through the branch where it's hidden?"

"It's a secret!" responded Hinata, still not taking his eyes off the flower crown in progress. "I'll show you one day, maybe. Another time when we're together like this."

He sounded sincere. Kageyama nodded, "Mhm. You probably could." Then he yawned, holding a hand to cover his mouth.

Hinata continued working, a small smile on his face.

For the next while, Kageyama divided his attention between the sunset, surprised it still hadn't disappeared beyond the horizon, and Hinata. They were both things that grabbed his attention. After all, both were pretty and interesting.

'Wait...'

Kageyama shook his head, dismissing a thought once again. His vision clouded and he rubbed his eyes.

Hinata worked all the same. The shy, honest smile stayed on his face.

-/-/-/-

"Kageyama, wake up! Oi, Kageyama, how'd you fall asleep, idiot!"

He felt a violent shake and forced his eyes open. Blurry colours filled his vision. Most of the colours were dark and dull, but there was one thing taking up most of his vision, looming right above him.

Bright orange...

The bright colour immediately reminded him of what he was doing—watching the sunset—and who he was with—this energetic moron he had as a teammate. Kageyama sat up, feeling the grogginess of sleep weighing him down. 'Strange. I couldn't sleep before,' Kageyama thought. 'I fell asleep on this field watching the sunset… and with Hinata?'

Could being here with...

Was it more peaceful?

Kageyama almost scoffed. Hinata and peaceful? Yeah, okay. Maybe when the world starts to end. Hinata had way too much energy for someone his size.

(But then why did he fall asleep if it wasn't relaxing?)

He was still sleepy, but he could still see. Kageyama looked around. It was dark out, the sun completely gone, yet probably it wasn't that long since it had set since there weren't that many stars out. The black sky accounted for the dark and dull colours he saw.

The bright part? He glanced at Hinata, who was looking happy. Definitely this. Hinata was practically a light in the dark.

"Ne, ne, Kageyama! Oh geez, so you did fall asleep." Hinata rolled his eyes. "And you were the one who woke me up from sleeping... Anyways, look! I finished the flower crown. Kageyama, look!"

The mentioned item was immediately shoved into his face. He squinted, trying to get sleep out of his eyes and focus. Pink roses patterned the branches, forming a delicate circle. They were thoughtfully placed, flowers side-by-side instead of being forcefully bunched together. He could see each flower fully as well as the dark brown branches poking through the spaces between.

The flower crown was pretty, to say the least. It was simple, yet beautiful. No wonder Natsu liked them. Hinata was good at making them.

"Well, what do you think?" Hinata asked, fidgeting slightly. It seemed like he was worried about what Kageyama thought.

"It's nice... Yeah, it is. I like it. I really like it."

Kageyama mumbled out his response, not thinking. That kind of thought might have been strange for him to say usually (even though their relationship has grown tremendously), but he was tired, and it was his honest opinion.

Hinata eyes lit up, relieved. "Good. Because it's for you!"

Hinata put the crown on his head.

Kageyama blinked, slowly raising a hand to lightly touch the crown on his head. "...Are you sure?"

Hinata bobbed his head. "Definitely!"

Well, then he had no objections. "Thanks, Hinata." Kageyama laid back down on the grass, which suddenly enveloped him like a soft blanket. The crown on his head felt light. He couldn't help but smile.

The two carried on in silence, content with the quiet moment under the darkened sky. Hinata continued to sit beside him, shielding the other from the chilly wind that remained from earlier. Silently, more stars appeared in the sky above the duo.

Kageyama relaxed in the grass which was now cool to the touch, eyes closed and comfortable with his surroundings (which included Hinata, but he might not have realized that). Hinata shifted his gaze from the night sky to the many flowers, mysterious in the dim lighting, and finally, to Kageyama.

And so they stayed like that.

After a while (ten minutes, maybe twenty?), Hinata spoke quietly, "Hey, Kageyama... Do you know the meaning of pink roses?"

He didn't wait for an answer, continuing hesitantly, "It has a lot of different meanings. In hanakotoba, they symbolize trust, confidence, and gratitude. There's also grace... And in other places of the world, they convey things like admiration and heartfelt appreciation. No matter where, pink roses have sweet meanings, don't you think?

"I think… it's a flower of gentle emotions," he finished, looking down. If you looked carefully you could see a soft smile on his lips.

'The crown represents all the things I feel for you.'

"That crown was going to be for you. I came here today to specifically make your crown today. I would've given it to you at the next practice, but I probably wouldn't have told you I made it myself!" he giggled. "Well, that would've been fine, but I like it better how this all turned out. Our relationship doesn't hold much time for "thank you's", compliments, and whatnot, wouldn't you agree?

'I still wouldn't have it any other way.'

"But, I really am grateful. For your toss. For you being there. For Karasuno in general. You're my partner, right?"

Hinata stretched, putting his hands on the grass behind him before looking up at the starry sky. "Anyways, about the flower crown, it's a crown nonetheless. Even if you like it, I bet you hate wearing it, right? After all, you hate being called 'King'!" he laughed, a somewhat hollow ring in his voice. He was joking, but that line felt kind of cold. Still, for the most part, Hinata was happy.

"Don't be stupid..." Kageyama muttered.

Hinata turned to where he was lying on the grass, startled. "Oh, whoa! I didn't know you were awake... Honestly, I thought you were asleep and I was talking to the stars."

"Idiot... I wouldn't mind being called King if it was this crown."

In Kageyama's mind, he barely registered what he was saying. Truthfully, he only caught bits and pieces of what Hinata said. Mainly the last part. He supposed he got the gist of it though, so he worked through the haziness in his head to deliver an answer. He felt that Hinata deserved an answer for some reason. And for some reason, he was more than happy to comply.

Hinata felt his eyes widen. "Really?"

"Really."

Hinata grinned. "Aw, thanks... But hey, you're tired, aren't you?"

Kageyama probably didn't see the grin dropping, ever so slightly.

"Mhm..."

"So, you're not really thinking through what you're saying. You probably didn't hear what I was saying, either—or, well, you maybe you did but you didn't understand it."

"No... I—" a mumble. Then, "I did hear you. At least the last bit. I'm awake though." To prove his point, Kageyama half-heartedly swiped at Hinata. It hit but didn't hurt in the least bit. "Now let me sleep..."

It was kind of funny, seeing Kageyama like this. Hinata hoped he wouldn't hurt him later because of it. "Fine, whatever you want… King." he whispered under his breath, saying the word he didn't dare to say before this moment.

But the word wasn't an insult on Hinata's tongue.

Kageyama snuggled deeper within the grass. Hinata almost laughed.

Feeling a deep contentment and relaxation inside of him, Hinata watched his teammate then turned back towards the sky. "Sooo, did you hate it? Being here with me in this field? As I made a flower crown?"

A soft sound from Kageyama. A scoff most likely. "Obviously... Being near you and your never-ending energy is… annoying at all times." He rolled the opposite way from him. "I said let me sleep."

Those were Kageyama's last words before the tendrils of sleep pulled him once more into the comforting darkness.

Hinata didn't reply, too busying smiling. He thought he smiled way too many times today and that was saying something coming from him. It was almost ironic. His legs already ached from all the jumps he had to do in today's practice, and he was voluntarily making his cheeks tingle from the familiar pull of smiling. But he couldn't help it at this point.

Kageyama responded to his taunts. He even swiped at him for it. That meant he at least had some awareness and understanding of what was going on. That Kageyama could process what Hinata said and respond in kind.

Hinata took it as meaning that the things Kageyama said weren't just blurted out thoughtlessly because he was tired.

He took it as meaning that his feelings weren't fake.

-/-/-/-

Sometime in the night, perhaps in a dream, or maybe in reality, Hinata whispered.

"Also… roses are usually used to convey feelings of love, right?"

-/-/-/-

Another time in the night, perhaps in a dream, or maybe in reality, Kageyama walked.

He was walking down a path, somewhere at night. It was a path he didn't recognize.

Was he lost?

He looked at the stars, for some reason hoping that they could show him the way home. Back to somewhere safe where everything was okay.

The stars seemed to shine duller than he remembered.

No, that's not it. There was just something else.

It was a light.

One so bright that it made all the stars in the sky seem dreary and unimpressive. A light surrounding him, so radiant that it blinded him but made him see more clearly at the same time. A light that brightened his path but made him want to stay there forever despite that. A light that promised a future and happiness. A light that seemed to be full of energy.

It was relaxing.

And he thought that maybe, he was in a safe place after all.

Where everything was okay.

-/-/-/-

Sometime in the night, Hinata glanced at the sleeping person beside him, on a field where he made a flower crown of pink roses.

It might've been a dream.

Although, Hinata sure hoped it wasn't.

He snuggled down in the grass, closer to the person that was already laying there. It didn't matter that they were outside at night, not in their respective houses. They could deal with that problem tomorrow morning. Fulfilment was what he felt right then, along with a sense of hopefulness.

Nothing had to be done anymore. Not at this very moment.

And at that moment, Hinata had one last thought before he drifted off to sleep.

'Somehow, I think we'll be alright.'