Summary: Y/N knows he likes Hinata. He just doesn't know how to tell him.
Tags: Canon Compliant; Friends to Lovers; Getting Together; Baseball Player! Reader; Not Beta Read
Word Count: 5,991 words
Notes: This became longer than I meant it to be, but that's a common thing that happens to me. However, it's okay because Hinata deserves more love. Also, this fic was hit with the OC curse where there are OC background characters. Hopefully someone else loves Kumiko, because I find her to be fun.
*****
The sunshine is so bright it bounces off of Hinata's hair, causing it to be a fiery red instead of gentle ginger. Y/N was recruited to practice with him and Kageyama, even though he's not doing much besides tossing the ball for Kageyama to set. He enjoys being included, though, no matter how many times they make him do it.
"One more time," Hinata says as he gets the ball and throws it to Y/N, who catches it with ease. He may not be a volleyball player, but he's played baseball for most of his life. Several university scouts were at Interhigh Prelims. Hopefully, they come to Nationals to watch him.
"You mean a hundred more times," Y/N says with a small laugh. Hinata flushes somewhat, but it's hard to know if it's from being caught or from the sun. Y/N doesn't care what he's from; all he cares about is how cute it is. "I don't mind as long as we get something to eat after."
Hinata perks up slightly, probably since Y/N isn't complaining. "Okay! We can do that!"
Y/N chuckles slightly while Kageyama lets out an exaggerated sigh. "Can we go back to practicing?" Kageyama asks, and Hinata looks at Y/N expectantly.
"Yeah, yeah," Y/N says as he rolls his eyes. "Get into position."
*****
Y/N faces the struggle of knowing he likes Hinata and wanting to spend more time with him, because Hinata will spend time with him. He will include Y/N in any plans previously made, even if he doesn't tell anyone else beforehand. He likes being next to Y/N when it calls for it, and sometimes when it doesn't. It makes the struggle even worse, because it only encourages these feelings.
Y/N is trying to get to class after going to the bathroom when he runs into Ennoshita. He doesn't really know him, but they see each other when Y/N and Hinata can walk home together. Ennoshita always gives them a look when it happens, and Y/N hasn't figured out what it means.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ennoshita-senpai!" Y/N says as he reaches out to grab him to stop him from falling. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
Ennoshita catches his balance as he laughs. "No, you're okay. I was in a rush," he says as he waves his hand to dismiss it. "Are you okay?"
Y/N nods. "Yeah, just fine. Maybe a little freaked out, but fine."
"That's good—not that you're freaked out, but that you're fine," Ennoshita says, and there's fondness in his eyes. "Can't have Hinata getting upset if you got hurt."
There's a pause as Y/N looks at him. He goes to ask what Ennoshita means, but the bell chimes, and they're both parting without saying goodbye. Y/N chalks it up to simple teasing since he's only vaguely connected to the team through Hinata. He's pretty sure his own captain would act similarly with Hinata, but it's a little different since his captain knows he likes guys, while Y/N doesn't even know if Hinata likes guys. It's never come up in conversation, and Y/N doesn't want to just bring it up randomly.
