Chapter 28 - Pulling a Pavlov

Timeskip to their Third Year High School...

Shoyo Hinata. You look don't look soft anymore, my pumpkin. You're different now. Better at everything. A lot spunkier. Badass. Unconsciously seductive. Your energy matured but is still in full blast. I'm forever captured.

Tsukishima's thoughts wandered off as he stared at Hinata teaching the first years on proper receiving. He was just outside the court. Another girl confessed to him after handing him a little basket of homemade butter cookies with a love letter. He got accustomed to declining respectfully as Hinata once scolded him for being too insensitive.

"You've been blessed with overall good looks and brains in this life. Be more gracious and accumulate good karma for your next life. You shouldn't be harshly dismissive even though you will not be reciprocating their feelings." Remembering what Hinata said before while imitating Tanaka's famous "praying" stance.

Both of them have grown. He's still a giant though, towering over everyone. Nothing much changed in his attitude, just got better at being sarcastic. Still the smartass and calm tsundere. Loving Shoyo Hinata more and more though...

Practice ended. Players are now slowly changing and preparing to go home. Tadashi Yamaguchi who is now the captain has been discussing their next interschool practice games with the managers, coach, and sensei. He, Akemi and apparently Kiyoko are still going strong as a throuple.

Kageyama and Yachi too, though she is sometimes a nervous wreck whenever she hears some 1st and 2nd years calling him "Kageyummy". This is despite being openly dating. Kageyama patiently reassures her every day that she's his one and only princess.

Tsukishima went back inside and started changing his clothes. He saw Hinata go in and changed his clothes too. After which, they carried their bags outside and started walking home.

"So...? How's the confession? You declined respectfully right?"

"Yes of course. I even accepted the cookies." He opened his bag and gave the cookies to Hinata, "Here."

"Hehe let's start eating then. Yes, yes, I have no shame. Eating the cookies made for my super hot boyfriend." Hinata contemplated while taking off the ribbon.

"Actually she heard that we are going out. But she decided to not care. She did not even give me the chance to confirm. She just said she just wants to get it off her chest and she's happy she's done with her confession."

"Oooh, what a brave soul," Hinata said while munching.

"You're no longer getting jealous huh..."

"Yeah, you hammered it down to my brain every time I get jealous so now I just kinda wait for some challenger. You know, sit back and see them try."

"I see, that's good...". They reached Tsukishima's home. He reached for Hinata's hand and dragged him inside.

"Mom we're hoooome!" Tsukishima announced.

"Yeah yeah, geez don't yell too much. I'm just on the sofa. Hi Shoyo. I cooked spaghetti with lots of meatballs and hotdogs. You want some?" She smiled at Shoyo.

"Woooooow!" Hinata exclaimed.

"Mom, again, I'm your son. Please ask me too. But yes, we will eat your delicious spaghetti. We'll just change in my room and be right back." He left the small basket of what was left of homemade cookies at the dining table before going upstairs.

They went into Tsukishima's room. As soon as the door closed, Hinata hooked his arms in Tsukishima's neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss.

"I wanna kiss you so much. You're so hot Kei."

"Ahmmm you taste like cookies. Yum." And he kissed Hinata again. He started undressing Hinata who went giggling.

"Don't get too excited. We're just changing so can go back downstairs to eat." He opened their drawers and chose comfortable clothes to change into.

"Hmp...". Hinata's giggles turned into a pout.

"Come on. I'll make it up to you later. Promise. I love you pumpkin." Tsukishima kissed him a slurpy one. He then gathered their uniforms before putting them in the hamper. They went back downstairs to eat.

"Mom, how did you know that dad's the one?" Tsukishima suddenly asked his mom while eating.

"Oooh, I wanna know too."

"It's nothing grand. If I have to choose a word. Hmmm... Perseverance. That would perfectly describe your father in winning over my heart. It's not like in a snap of a finger I knew. Throughout what, 4 years? I think. He has proven his love in small and big ways. Before I knew it, I cannot live without him anymore. He crept into my life like a vine and held on until he was a part of me."

Hinata blushed and smiled widely. Tsukishima noticed this and asked, "What?"

"That's your love language. It must run in the family. For how many months, you have done things that will make it so I cannot imagine myself without you by my side. Your dad may have done it to pursue your mom, but you did it while we are together."

"Mmmm, I see..." Tsukishima's mom said while staring at his son.

"Stop it, Mom." It's Tsukishima's turn to blush.

"Well, how about you, you did a Pavlov on me didn't you?." Tsukishima retorted.

"Huh?" Hinata, of course, didn't get what his boyfriend meant.

"Ivan Pavlov? Classical conditioning? Psychology? Haaah... you tried to condition my response to you as a positive stimulus by doing things I like."

"Ehhh, no... well yeah... but I think you liked me even before that was why you always singled me out. You bullied me because you like me like a kindergartener hehe." Hinata laughed with Tsukishima's mom.

"Haaah yeah okay, I concede. I've always wanted you okay? Can we eat in peace now?"

They ate while chatting about random things. Once finished, they went to Tsukishima's room. His mother said they can just rest and go back downstairs during dinner. Tsukishima turned on the ac. He also turned on his smart tv and went to the movie app so Hinata can choose what movie to watch. Hinata on the other hand went inside the bathroom.

Hinata went back out with Tsukishima's oversized sweater. Tsukishima looked at him from head to toe and then back to the hem of the sweater.

"Are you wearing anything underneath that?" Tsukishima said in a low voice.

"O—of course you perv...". Hinata lifted the sweater a bit and showed his black boxers.

"Heh, only in boxers? You're a tease. Who's the real perv here?" Tsukishima beckoned Hinata to come over to him in bed. Hinata complied and sat in between Tsukishima's legs. Tsukishima started kissing Hinata's neck, careful not to suck and leave hickeys. His arms were around Hinata's waist, hands clasped at the front. He asked Hinata to turn his face, "Can I have a kiss Sho?" He kissed Hinata deeply. His tongue gently nudged Hinata's mouth to open so they can share a more intimate kiss.

After the kiss, Hinata turned and straddled Tsukishima. Tsukishima, weak to him, just clasped his hands at Hinata's back this time and stared at him.

"What's the plan? Mom already knows I'm gonna sleep here."

"Hmmm watch a movie, review a bit, make out, dinner, make out then sleep?" Tsukishima suggested.

"Remove the review a bit, add a shower before sleep and we're good." Hinata declined to study to which Tsukishima laughed out loud.

"Hahaha! Okay, well but let's delay the review tomorrow, deal?" Tsukishima planted small kisses on Hinata's face.

"Okay fine." Hinata closed his eyes, accepting Tsukishima's tiny kisses.