♡ mutual pining // new neighbors au ♡

It wasn't until Oikawa opened the curtains of his room to let the sunlight in, did he realise that someone had finally moved into the apartment room that had been directly opposite to his in the other building.

He thought he was seeing things, maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him - but no, there was definitely a really cute orange-haired, shirtless boy laying in his mattress with the futon half on the floor and half under and around his legs.

Oikawa was frozen, dazed in a half-awake and half-asleep state that rendered his mind sluggish in a way that made him think that maybe he was finally hallucinating after always seeing those beige curtains closed and ready to be pulled open by someone beautiful.

Well, this someone wasn't awake and pulling the curtains open but Oikawa still felt elated to see his new neighbour. Seeing him shirtless and practically drooling was a bonus, for sure.

"Iwa-chan, I got a new neighbour," Oikawa rested his palms on his hips, pushing his chest out with a grin, Iwaizumi merely looked at him to continue, "he's really cute, too."

As if competing to see who had the cutest neighbours and whatnot, Iwaizumi clicked his tongue with indifference. They had been walking home as Iwaizumi lived on the floor below Oikawas' with his boyfriends.

Boyfriends, meaning plural, meaning Daichi Sawamura, Bokuto Koutarou and Kuroo Tetsurou.

Oikawa didn't mind it, it was always lively and when he was bored, he didn't just have to hang out with his best friend because they always seemed to come as a group and it was always fun to hang out with them.

They had all known each other in high school briefly, Iwaizumi and Daichi were dating initially, as was Bokuto and Kuroo but the two pairs got better acquainted in college and it seemed as if Kuroo and Bokuto had both been daydreaming about the other boyfriends more than they should've, really.

But it didn't matter to the two when they came to the conclusion that they should all start dating.

Hence why the other three were following, Kuroo and Bokuto swinging their hands together, obnoxiously high as they laughed together and Daichi walked beside Iwaizumi, an arm looped around his shoulders in silence,

"I bet you were perving on him, you creep."

Daichi stifled a short laugh and Iwaizumi almost let a smile show out of accomplishment when he heard the angelic noise, "I-I'm not a pervert, Iwa-chan! I'm serious, his curtains were just open when I opened mine this morning, he was sleeping!"

"And you just watched him, I bet he was half-naked and you stood there for like half an hour," Bokuto perked up when Kuroo yelled from behind them. The spiky white-grey haired male looked from Kuroo and then to Oikawa, "what's this?"

Kuroo merely nuzzled his spiky-yet-oddly-soft hair and murmured, "he's got a cute neighbour he says, babe."

"Oya?" Oikawa looked back at the two mischievous boys and rolled his eyes, his cheeks flushing a little when thinking about how Kuroo was right on the money, "Ah! That's why you were late to the first class, right?!"

Bokuto exclaimed, almost as if he'd win a prize for guessing correctly and Oikawa watched with a nervous grimace when Kuroo pecked him on the cheek as they all knew that Oikawa was late to his first class; that was shared with Bokuto, because of the new neighbour,

"I think we should go and introduce ourselves to this cute neighbour, right?" Kuroo's hazel eyes glimmered in the midday sunlight.

"Hi-.." Daichi paused, his eyes narrowing on the figure who had fallen from the bed and onto the floor, still asleep from when Oikawa had seen him about four hours ago, "...Your cute neighbour is Hinata?"

"Hi-" Oikawas eyes bulged, widened immensely and his vision snapped from his friend and then to the sleeping figure again. Maybe it was because a couple of years had past or maybe it was because Oikawa hadn't seen his bright, light brown eyes in a while, but the thought that he couldn't recognise the little, shrimpy volleyball player baffled him more than he could comprehend,

"Oi, Dai-chan," Kuroo's eyes narrowed on Oikawa though he continued speaking to Bokuto, "is he breathing?"

Iwaizumi emerged from the kitchen, a glass of water in his hand and he passed it to an eager Bokuto when he let go of Kuroos waist so that the black-haired boy could get up from the bed and come to the window as well.

Kuroo's arm snaked around Daichi's waist, pressing a chaste kiss to the side of his neck before he also looked at the sleeping boy, "oh," he smiled, amusement flickering in his cat-like eyes, "it is chibi-chan, he hasn't change much, has he?"

Daichi stayed quiet, looking at his ex-teammate a moment longer, "who would've thought..."

"Oi, shittykawa, stop staring and come eat."

Iwaizumi slapped the back of his head, lightly and awoke the fluffy-haired boy from his reverie, at the sound of food however, both Kuroo and Bokuto chased each other like children to get to the small, round table situated in Oikawas' living room.

There were five plates, all with one omurice each, steaming and Oikawa was the last to arrive, mumbling obscenities under his breath - possibly annoyed because he failed to realise his ex-crush and by sight of Daichi kissing Iwaizumi's cheek with gratitude for cooking before they both took a seat by each other.

He sighed, "what have I said about PDA in my house.." He couldn't help murmuring and his eyes found Iwaizumi who had been smirking,

"Ack! Iwa-chan~! How could you!"

"I don't know what you're talking about.." He answered, almost smug. Kuroo leaned over towards Bokuto, close enough to have Bokuto pucker his lips expectantly, only Kuroo proceeded to graze his thumb over Koutarou's bottom lip and the yellow-eyed boy flushed lightly, smiling at the attention when he enjoyed teasing Oikawa and the way Kuroo's eyes watched him.

"You guys!! Oikawa whined, slamming his palms on the table with a frown.

"Oh, he's waking up."

Kuroo sat on the love-chair with Bokuto in his lap that was situated by the window in Oikawa's room - the one that was directed opposite of Hinata's room. Bokuto lowered his frame and got closer to Kuroo's body to catch sight of Hinata whining in his sleep with a frown, yawning.

"What?"

Oikawa looked away from his phone briefly, unmoving, before he flinched, "W-what, really?!"

"Quiet!" Bokuto hushed him quickly and Oikawa halted in his half-squat position as he tried to race to the window without being seen from over the ledge when he heard that voice he hoped to and yet couldn't forget,

"Urgh.." Hinata was sluggish, Kuroo's eyes followed him and the way he scratched his slim torso sluggishly and he felt another presence behind him, Kuroo smirked inwardly and noted that Daichi and Iwaizumi were cuddling on the couch in the living room, opening his mouth to yell quickly,

"Well~" he dodged Oikawa's outstretched hand and grinned at Hinata who had flinched and snapped his eyes to the window, "if it isn't chibi-chan! What're the odds, huh?"

Hinata's eyes brightened, "Ku-Kuroo-san!?" His eyes flickered to the other male who'd been watching with wide eyes, and equally wide smile and Hinata was sure he was sitting on Kuroo's lap but he couldn't be sure from the way their lower bodies were hidden behind the wall,

"Bokuto-san!" He brightened and Oikawa sat on the floor, his back against the wall and his heart quickened as he heard how joyous the the smaller boy was. He held his breath and Kuroo smiled at him and yet he didn't say anything, thankfully, "hey, I have someone else you should see!" Hinata perked up, smiling and quickly forgetting about his hunger as he leaped to the window ledge to see the insides of their apartment and he blushed as Kuroo yelled, "babe! Come 'ere!"

"E-eh?!" Hinata turned pink, Kuroo saw and waited when he heard two pairs of feet entering, they opened the door slowly and the first thing they noticed was Oikawa on the floor, Iwaizumi's eyes narrowed, "o-"

He paused when Oikawa placed a finger to his mouth, his cheeks burning bright and his eyes panicked,

"hey, look who it is."

Daichi came to the window, perking at the sight of a very awake and energetic Hinata, "Ca-" he halted and Daichi smiled, "Daichi-san!!"

"Hinata! It's been a long time, how're you?"

Hinata brightened even more though it seemed physically impossible and he leaned forward with excitement, "I'm great! H-Hey! Kageyama and Kenma are coming over today, we should all get together!! Do all you guys live there together?"

Oikawa frowned at the way Hinata had spoken Kageyama's name and he sulked at the sound of another,

Was one of them his boyfriend?

Why was he thinking about that?

"Oh, Hajime is here too! But this isn't our apartment, we live in the one below-"

Kuroo felt a pinch on his leg, he looked down briefly to see Oikawas begging eyes, "anyway," he had to change the conversation quickly, before Hinata started asking questions. He was already growing curious by the look on his face,

"B-But yeah, chibi-chan, we should all get together!" Bokuto continued quickly and the master and student ranted on and on for ages before Daichi finally made them bid each other their farewells. Daichi ensured Hinata that they would see each other soon and then closed the curtains.

Oikawa had been alone for hours now, after the four boys left, he didn't have anything else to do as his classes were finished for that day. He didn't have work at his part-time job either and he couldn't find it within himself to open the curtains no matter how much the darkness unnerved him.

He was restless and annoyed that his confidence was gone, vanished, ceased to exist and he sulked in the middle of his bed restlessly, reading the sports magazine with a scowl until he heard a yell,

"Finally!" He knew right away that was Hinata by the way his heart quickened again,

"Shouyou, Kageyama-kun and I happened to meet up halfway so we came together," Oikawa's brows furrowed as he didn't recognise that voice, "oi, didn't you just move in, why is this place such a mess? You're hopeless, baka!"

Oh, he knew that voice, he imitated Kageyama mockingly, repeating everything he said with a silly face to himself but he knew that his heart had sunken in his chest at the sound of Hinatas first name, he was most likely dating Kenma and yet he was too intrigued to leave the room, instead choosing to stay and listen even if it did hurt him.

"Have you gotten settled in yet, then?"

"Yeah! Oh, Kenma, you won't believe who lives over there!" Oikawa perked up, staring at the beige curtains almost as if he could see through them.

"Kuroo?"

Kenma spoke slowly, as if it was obvious and then Hinata squealed, "Waah~ you already knew?"

"Yeah, he lives with his boyfriends. So, you're living right by them, it that their room?" He Knew Kenma was pointing to his own closed window and his heart hammered in his chest, he wanted to reveal himself and he wanted to announce that he was the one who lived in the apartment with his room directly opposite of his high school crushes' and yet he stayed put, eager to hear where the conversation would end up.

"Bo-boyfriends?"

"Plural?" Kageyama questioned silently, it was quiet for a few seconds and Oikawa held his breath, wondering what Hinata's reaction would be to hear about the polyamorous relationship his ex-captain was in,

"yeah, Kuroo is dating Bokuto,"

"From Fukurodani? I thought they were best friends?"

Kageyama questioned with a stoic voice, "no, they used to like each other a lot and towards the end of their third year of high school, they confessed to each other."

"Woah... I had no idea.."

"obviously.."

"Wah- Sorry, Kenma!" Oikawa scowled again,

"And anyway," Kenma continued, monotonously, "And they're both dating Daichi, your old captain, and Iwaizumi from Seijoh."

It was quiet..

Then Oikawa flinched,

"Whaaaat~!! That's crazy!! That's so cool! They're all dating each other, no wonder they looked so close, how nice~!" Hinata dragged his words, Oikawa could tell that he was amazed just by the tone of his voice and he huffed a smile, wondering how and when he would introduce himself,

"W-wait," He heard Hinata again, "Wh-what ab-ab-about Oikawa?"

Kageyama clicked his tongue, he knew it was Kageyama but he didn't care for long when he heard Hinata saying his name for the first time in years, "still can't believe you used to have a crush on him.."

The eavesdropper's heart skipped a beat

What?!

"Ka-Kageyama! Shut up!"

"Huh~!? You tellin' me to shut up?!"

The two seemed to wrestle for hours on end after that and to make matters worse, Oikawa repeated Kageyama words continuously as he heard Hinata asking Kenma to stay the night,

'still can't believe you used to have a crush on him..'

The next morning, Oikawa revelled in the knowledge that he didn't have work or classes until midday. It was early, chilly from the lack of sunlight coming through the windows and he yawns as he finally rid the futon from his body to scratch his hipbone, running his hand down his naked torso as he made it to the bathroom in a daze.

He turned the tap, cold water pouring from the faucet and he dipped his hands in quickly and then scooped up the water in his hands, bending over as he splashed it on his face. He sighed, his eyes itching to move to his right, to see the window.

To see the person within the window.

He ended up moving around the doorway discretely to go into the kitchen and make himself breakfast. It was silent, only the sounds of the outside traffic and city life could be heard as he stared at the clock that read eight o'clock.

If it was anything like before, Hinata should be getting up into about three hours. That should make it okay for him to pulled the curtains apart and open his window, to see if the boy in his room also had his window open.

Maybe he did, Oikawa hoped he did.

And he stubbornly placed his dish in the sink, stomping towards his bedroom and through the doorway with determination and he neared the window, his hands finding the cotton of his obstacle being gripping in his grasp and he pulled, instantly, defiantly and with all intentions of being able to ease his heart at the sight of the boy.

He did.

Hinata was staring right at him.

His body, wet.

His body, naked.

And Oikawa did nothing but stare, his heart racing at the sight before him and he dared to say that he wasn't even giving thought to the part of his brain that ordered him; with red flags and all, to turn away and stop staring at the naked Hinata who had just emerged from the bathroom.

"I-U-Uh, so-"

"O-O-Oik-Oikawa?!"

Quickly forgetting that he was dating another, the words flew from his mouth and he didn't even regret it,

"Holy fuck, Shou-chan."

That day, Hinata had woken up with a start, hoping with prayers being murmured under his breath when he quickly dashed his hands under the blankets to find his phone. Once he did, he looked at the time and exhaled a sigh of relief.

He had planned on meeting Kenma at the local cafe to hang out for a while before Kenma had to head out to work at the flower shop a few streets down and he jumped into the shower to get ready.

Once coming from the bathroom, he almost cussed at himself for forgetting a towel and he opened the door, in all of his naked glory, and he searched the room briefly before a zipping sound made him flinch.

His blood ran cold but his heart completely stopped at the sight of those familiar wide, brown eyes that used to make Hinata's cheeks swell with pink and his knees tremble.

He couldn't move and Oikawa's lips shook as he attempted to utter out a quick apology, Hinata could do nothing but scream his name in desperation, humiliation and utter fear,

His brain shutting down as steam erupted from his temples when he thought he heard,

'Holy fuck, Shou-chan'

come from those pink, mesmerising lips.

Hinata closed the curtains of his window, scarred, and he left his bedroom with nothing to lose and he started to regret wearing a long-sleeved shirt because he could feel the heat radiating all over his body, he couldn't believe that apartment was owned by none other than his crush, his ex-crush and he didn't know how he was going to make it, how he was going to survive college and working and living in general with the grand king from high school - whom he hadn't seen in a couple of years now - living in the room right by his, his window connecting his and Hinata bet he could jump through them and land in Oikawa's bedroom if he wanted to,

"... are you going to move out, then?"

Hinata stared at the table hopelessly, Kenma sitting across from him as he had taken a sip of his large cappuccino, "I-I don't think so... that's the only place I could afford without making my mum worried.."

Kenma looked at the front counter, behind Hinata and he watched Oikawa conversing with Kuroo and Daichi in their uniforms, aprons being worn as Daichi was finished with a customer, smiling cheekily at a red-faced Oikawa, it made Kenma curious,

"what happened this morning, Shouyou?"

Meanwhile, Oikawa was panicking and he didn't know if he should be happy or guilty to have been able to see Hinata's naked body in the morning, he turned to Kuroo for advice, even if he didn't want to and the latter only smirked at him, "why're you whining for? I thought you liked him~?"

"Ugh! This isn't how it's supposed to happen, though.." Oikawa looked positively defeated and Daichi placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, Oikawa looked up with hope,

"don't mind.."

His face dropped.

How could this happen, Oikawa had no idea where to go from here, not only had he seen the boy he used to like in school, he was starting to believe that his feelings were coming back for him. It wasn't good, not when he had come to the conclusion that Hinata was already dating someone, all he had to do now was hope they broke up but he didn't want to be a home-wrecker like that, or did he? No! Maybe? Urgh!

"You shouldn't be saying that Tetsu-chan! I thought you were friends with Kenma-chan!?" Both Daichi and Kuroo gave him odd looks, Daichi leaving momentarily again as another customer had arrived, "Kenma? What's he got to do with this?"

"What about me?"

"Yo! Kenma, what's up?" Kuroo grinned, joining Daichi at the cashier and Oikawa stared with horror, "Ke-ke-"

"Shouyou says he wants to drink his iced chocolate with a straw.." Daichi grabbed one from the stack and handed it over, "Hinata's here?" The smaller boy nodded, pointing over his shoulder as they all saw the boy leaning over the table with his cheeks laying on the shiny surface in despair,

"Wait, do you think Kenma and chibi are dating?" Kuroo cut in, Oikawa's heart almost jumped to his throat and he stared at Kuroo, unable to meet Kenma's eyes as he knew he was staring, he heard Kenma sigh in distaste and he grimaced, guilty and hopeless, "I'm an aro ace*.."

Oikawa raised a brow and Kuroo sighed, leaning his weight form one leg to the other as he placed a hand on his hip, "basically, Kenma doesn't feel attracted to anyone romantically or sexually," Kuroo shook his head, almost as if he was pitying the fluffy-haired hopeless boy, "how did you even think they were dating..?"

"Wait! So they aren't!? Shou-chan is single?!"

He didn't realise how loud he spoke until Hinata had spun around one hundred and eighty degrees with wide, light-brown eyes open in fear, "he used to have a huge crush on you in high school," Daichi murmured, a prideful smile on his face, "I wonder if it's gone away?"

Kenma took this as his queue to leave, he went back to the frozen orange-haired boy and noticed how his cheeks were ablaze, there was no way he couldn't not have a crush on Oikawa with a face as red as that and Oikawa seemed like a new man when he grabbed a muffin from there display window and grabbed a fresh napkin. He took a pen from his pocket and his tongue had poked out from his lips as he tried to ensure the napkin wouldn't rip as he wrote his digits on the paper.

He walked around the counter, eyes hard and narrowed on the boy the adored and Hinata stared, he couldn't take his eyes away and even if they did live right by each other, Oikawa couldn't bring himself to realise his mistake because it was pretty silly of him to give his number to Hinata when the two of them could talk all the time in their homes.

Still, he thought he was pretty damn suave when he stiff the muffin and napkin over to Hinata and he didn't take his eyes off of it, eyes begging for any sign of approval, or that this was what Hinata wanted. Hinata quickly looked away, embarrassed beyond belief and murmured,

"thank you.. Oikawa-san.."

Oikawa grinned so wide his cheeks hurt, "I finish work at two! Message me then," he winked when his voice made Hinata look up again, and the two might as well had fallen in love right then and there.

* Aro ace; a lack of sexual attraction towards anyone,

and a lack of romantic attraction towards anyone, respectively.'Character A didn't know they had a new neighbouruntil they realised their bedroom window faces Character B's.
Queue Character A thinking their neighbour is actually pretty cute,
accidentally believing that Character B's friend is their boyfriend/girlfriend,
Character B catching Character A staring at them when they get out of the shower
and wondering how the hell
they're supposed to start a conversation with each other.'