Chapter 2
Daichi rolled his shoulder and hissed when he heard it crack. Hinata had pulled him into the panel room so hard that he was afraid his arm would be ripped clean from his body. Hinata might not be the tallest one in a room, but he wasn't the weakest, either. Daichi rubbed the strained muscles in his neck and leaned back into his seat. There were quite a few people that stayed from the panel before, so Hinata's ideal seats, right by the aisle in the middle of the seats, by a microphone in the center of the room, were already taken. Hinata looked longingly at the microphone and pouted at the handful of people sitting in between them and the aisle. “I wanted to sit right next to the microphone so I could be the first one to ask Kageyama a question,” he muttered.
“We’re not that far away,” Daichi tried to reason. They were in the middle of the row of seats, not even ten feet from the aisle.
“But I’m going to have to climb over like twenty people to get there!”
Daichi rolled his eyes. “Try four. And you’re most definitely not climbing over them, Hinata, that's rude. Can’t you just go around? The aisle behind us isn’t that far.”
“I know. I just really wanted to be the first. What if everyone gets up there by the time I make it and their questions take forever and there’s no time for my question?” Hinata paled and Daichi was afraid he would throw up. He rubbed Hinata’s back, but laughed to himself quietly.
“Just relax. There’ll be time.”
“You don’t know that!”
Daichi looked around the room, which was bigger than he imagined, so, despite the line to get in and the people that had stayed, many of the seats were still empty, and most of the people who occupied those seats were seated and calmly flipping through their phones, unlike Hinata, who hovered over his seat like a puppy who was just told to “sit” but didn’t really understand what he was doing or why he was doing it. “True,” Daichi said, “but the room is half empty and you’re easily the most anxious person here. I also know for a fact that you’re fast. Like when it’s time to vacuum the store and you disappear, like freaking magic.” He wiggled his fingers in the air and Hinata laughed. Daichi was relieved when Hinata finally sat his butt on the chair. “What's so important about your question, anyway?”
Hinata grinned. “If I tell you, you’ll try to tell me not to ask.”
“It’s not going to be totally inappropriate, right?”
“Eh, maybe only a little inappropriate. Eek!” Hinata jumped back when Daichi glared at him. “I have a real question, too!”
“Two questions? And you were worried about other people taking up all the question time? Is that even allowed?”
Hinata shrugged. “Don’t know if I don’t try, right?”
“I guess…” Daichi was all for trying things, like new dishes at restaurants and reaching sales goals at work, but he didn’t like the evil grin that tugged the sides of Hinata’s mouth and the devious glint in his eyes. He didn't get the chance to ask more about it, though, because a group of people entered the doors at the front of the room and Hinata went completely rigid next to him. The group climbed on to the stage and sat behind the table, each at a microphone. Daichi squinted to read the name plates. Tsukishima Kei, closest to the wall. Next to him, Yamaguchi Tadashi. Then there was a Yachi Hitoka. And, finally, closest to the podium and right in front of the aisle, was Kageyama Tobio. Hinata dry gulped like he was a thirsty man and Kageyama was a tall glass of water.
Daichi watched the panelists adjust themselves and settle into their seats. Tsukishima had his head in his hands and a look in his eyes that was both far away and sharp, like he would be able to recall every detail of the audience without having seemed like he paid even a lick of attention. Both Yamaguchi and Yachi looked like they might melt into their seats and Daichi felt for them. He couldn’t imagine getting up in front of a crowd of people like that. Kageyama had a serious look plastered on his face as he watched the crowd, and, as much as he hated to admit it, Hinata was right about the brooding aura. His face was drawn tight and his mouth was set in a scowl, but his eyes were wide and alert, both expressive and analytical. The moderator introduced himself as Takeda Ittetsu, professor of comic studies at the local university, and started off by asking each participant to introduce themselves and Daichi tried his best to follow.
Yachi was a colorist and Yamaguchi did line art. Images popped up on the screen behind them and, and, even though Daichi had trouble keeping up with the unfamiliar terminology, he was impressed. Tsukishima was a writer but, unlike Kageyama, it seemed like most of his works were collaborations, and most of those collaborations were with the nervous guy next to him, Yamaguchi. Through the course of the panel, Daichi stole glances at Hinata, who gripped the chair in front of him with white knuckles the entire time. As Takeda asked questions and the panelists answered, Hinata leaned further and further forward, until his chin rested on top of the chair.
Finally, Hinata’s moment arrived and he shot up in his seat.
“To make sure we have enough time for as many questions as possible, we’re going to open up the panel to the audience. If you all have a question, please line up behind the mic in the aisle-”
Takeda hadn’t even finished his sentence before Hinata was in Daichi’s lap with every intention of climbing over the poor strangers that stood between him and the microphone. Daichi cursed and shoved him in the opposite direction. Hinata sighed dramatically and scrambled over the empty chairs. By the time he made it to the aisle, he was fourth in line. He puffed his cheeks out and crossed his arms over his chest.
The first question was addressed to the group as a whole. In a shaky voice, the person at the mic asked them how they dealt with hate, if they encountered it at all as LGBT+ creators. Daichi cringed. The panel had been so upbeat and inclusive that he had been able to forget, just for a little, that the world was full of miserable people who had nothing better to do.
Tsukishima sneered. He leaned into the microphone and glared at the audience. “Easy. If some backwater cretin has something to say, I retweet them instantly and embarrass the hell out of them. Idiots are easily intimidated.” Yamaguchi bit his lip as Tsukishima spoke, and smiled as he nodded in agreement. Tsukishima glanced at him before sitting back, and Daichi thought he saw the tiniest inkling of a smile.
“I, uh, try to ignore them,” Yachi squeaked. “But I also talk to my friends and people in the community. And my girlfriend. She’s been in this business a lot longer than I have, so that helps. She’s…” Yachi blushed furiously, “so wonderful. You should stop by my table to see her work. Ah! Her name! Kiyoko. Her name his Shimizu Kiyoko.” She waved to someone in the crowd, so Daichi turned.
The woman who waved back made even Daichi’s solidly gay heart skip a beat. The black-haired, black-clad angel of a woman waved back with slender fingers, toned arms, and a small smile that could melt glaciers. It wasn’t easy for Daichi to tear his eyes away, but he didn’t want to be the creep that stares at pretty strangers. He wasn't that guy.
Hinata tapped his foot behind the person in front of him, who asked the panelists who influenced them the most in their work. Without hesitation, Kageyama answered, in a serious, strong voice, “I learned everything I know from a magnificent senpai called Sugawara.”
Someone in the audience burst into raucous laughter and Daichi turned around so quickly he almost snapped his neck. What kind of jerk laughed at someone like that? He was ready to shoot his most ominous glare, one that made even Hinata back down from whatever harebrained thing he was doing at the store, but when Daichi saw who was laughing, he found it hard to believe that he ever had any negative thoughts at all.
He wished that was an exaggeration, for his own sanity. Kiyoko was beautiful, but this guy? Daichi’s heart thumped against his ribcage. What the hell? This was a jerk that laughed at other people! Daichi brought his hand up and felt the corners of his mouth in disbelief. Why was he smiling?
The guy’s eyes crinkled as he laughed. His cheeks dimpled and his silver hair fell haphazardly from under his beanie and grazed his forehead. Daichi wanted to slap the guy. He wanted the guy to slap him. He couldn’t hide the look of panic on his face and attempted to strangle the life out of the treacherous thoughts that swarmed his brain and made it hard for him to breathe. Daichi tried to turn around to hear the rest of Kageyama’s answer, but his body didn’t pay any attention to the frantic signals his rational mind sent. Not the guy who stared at beautiful strangers, huh? He watched the guy hit the other guy next to him in another fit of laughter. The guy he hit was huge, with long hair and roughly trimmed facial hair, like a biker, or an enforcer from a mob movie, or something, and the other guy just hit him with a big smile on his face like it was nothing? Did they know each other?
When Kageyama went quiet and Yamaguchi started to talk, Daichi somehow managed to get a hold of himself and turned back to the stage. Kageyama didn’t seem at all fazed by the laughter. In fact, he looked more content than ever.
So maybe the guy wasn’t a jerk? Daichi wasn’t a religious man, but he prayed for the guy’s innocence. He tried to tell himself that the only reason he cared was that he was protective of Kageyama, a young artist so much like Hinata. Yeah, it was totally that and most definitely not that, for the first time in forever, he was immediately drawn in by a complete stranger and couldn't bear to think ill of him.
The microphone in the aisle fell over and Daichi looked to see Hinata bend down to pick up the stand and adjust it down to his height. Daichi sucked in breath and braced himself, grateful for the distraction from the beautiful laughing man and his giant friend.
“This question is for Kageyama,” Hinata said breathlessly into the mic. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
Kageyama’s eyes went wide and he sputtered. Daichi couldn’t make out what he was mumbling, but he was pretty sure he caught “dumbass” and “stupid” and “what the hell.” At least he thought that's what Kageyama was saying, because he was thinking the same things himself.
“It’s not a dumbass question!" Hinata spit. "I’m serious! Do you have a boyfriend? Or girlfriend?”
Tsukishima snickered openly and Yamaguchi had his hand over his mouth in a poor attempt to hide his laughter. Yachi looked mortified and Daichi empathized. He wanted to hide his face, but, like a train wreck, he couldn't stop watching.
“I don’t care! It is and I’m not answering that!” Kageyama hissed.
Daichi burned with second-hand embarrassment. He tried to get Hinata’s attention and, when he did, Hinata winked. He wasn’t perturbed in the slightest, Daichi realized with horror.
“Fine! If it’s a big secret, I can ask something else.”
“Only if it’s not a stupid question.”
“It’s not! And my question before wasn’t stupid,” Hinata rolled his eyes. “So, are you really excited about anything you’re working on right now? Because I love your stuff and literally cannot wait to see more.”
Kageyama blinked and thought about the question for a couple seconds. It was amazing how quickly his demeanor changed when he was faced with a question about his work. “I’m looking for someone who might want to collaborate with me on a new project. Maybe an ongoing serial? I’ve never done one and they look like a cool challenge.”
Tsukishima laughed again. “You, Kageyama Tobio, king of young genius fantasy writers, want to collaborate? However will you stoop to anyone's level below your own?”
Yamaguchi hit him, but Kageyama didn't rise to the bait and answered, without breaking eye contact with Hinata, “Whatever. I want to try, at least.”
Hinata broke the hush of the crowd by jumping and down and waving his arms.
“GWAH! That’s so cool! What’s your idea? Who are you asking? It’s gonna be amazing! I know! Tell me-”
Tsukishima interrupted. “Not sure if either of you noticed, but there are other people in the room.”
“Your enthusiasm is wonderful, but I’m afraid he’s right,” Takeda smiled and pointed at the person behind Hinata. “We’ll take the next question, but you can always find the artists at their booths after the panel!”
Hinata nodded enthusiastically and bowed. “Right! Sorry! Thank you all for being here!”
Kageyama had a faint blush on his cheeks as he leaned into the mic to thank Hinata for his question, even if it was idiotic.
When Hinata slid into his seat, Daichi jabbed him in the side. “What the hell is wrong with you? You can’t just ask him that in front of a bunch of people,” he whispered harshly.
Instead of answering Daichi’s question, Hinata swooned. “I can’t believe I actually talked to him! And he said something back! We had an actual, real life conversation. Me and Kageyama Tobio! Whoa...”
“Yeah, I saw,” Daichi responded. Hinata slumped in the seat, smiling dreamingly, and Daichi decided that he was too far gone to be reprimanded for the invasion of Kageyama's privacy. Instead, Daichi glanced behind him and asked, “Hinata, do you know anything about the guy he mentioned? Sugawara?”
Hinata hummed happily. “Not a lot. He doesn’t have anything out right now and I’m not sure his books are in print. He doesn't really do a lot of public stuff, either. From what I’ve read, Sugawara’s stuff seems too intense for me.”
Daichi recalled the hours spent in the store listening to Hinata retell Kageyama’s stories and flip through sketchbooks. Characters and currencies and colloquialisms. Made-up languages and intricate economies, maps and fictional weather patterns, wars and hundreds of pages of strategy. He had a hard time believing that someone could be more intense than Kageyama. And, if that person was more intense, why had the guy laughed?
“Really?”
“Yeah. Kageyama is intense, but it’s more worldbuilding, like high fantasy or something. From what I hear, Sugawara’s stuff is, um,” Hinata bit his bottom lip as he searched for something in his head. “I think he’s more of a horror writer.”
Before Daichi could follow up, though, Hinata tugged on his sleeve and waved his phone around. “We gotta go!”
“What? But the panel’s not over?”
“I know, but Kageyama’s signing books at his table and I want to make sure I get all of mine signed. Plus,” Hinata waggled his eyebrows suggestively, “he didn’t answer my first question. And this time it’ll just be me and him!”
“You don’t ever give up, do you?”
“Nope!”
Hinata grabbed his bags and made to leave. Daichi took one last look at the laughing guy, who scribbled something in a notebook while the big guy next to him pointed to the illustration on the screen, and followed Hinata out of the room.