how to grow with sunlight

Sakusa Kiyoomi is eight years old when he learns that words can have multiple meanings. Eight years old when he learns that the word sun also means his cousin’s next door neighbour. Eight years old when he meets Hinata Shouyou.

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told in the form of an interview with myself

Q: Why did you choose childhood friends to lovers with omihina?
A: Short answer: I'm projecting, because I always wanted a childhood friends to lovers romance for myself but never had one. Long answer: Having Sakusa meet Hinata in his childhood allowed me to do things that I wouldn't otherwise be able to do because it wouldn't fit Sakusa. Like the pinky holding? Couldn't do that if they met like the way they did in canon because while Sakusa isn't a germaphobe, he is still averse to touching. So establishing that habit from when they were children was something I could do with them. PLUS, I just really like the potential friendship between Hinata, Komori, and Sakusa. Their personalities all differ but complement each other really nicely (and I hope I did a good job portraying that).

Q: What's the reason behind the names of your chapters?
A: Well, the fic title is "how to grow with sunlight" so naturally, the stages of the life cycle of a plant seemed fitting chapter titles to me. But tbh, it really sums it up for me in the last chapter, in the very last scene, when Kiyoomi reflects about the five lessons he learned throughout his life. Falling, Rooting, Growing, Blooming, Harvesting. They're all stages of his life and the titles (somewhat) reflect what happens in the chapters. Fun fact: Harvesting was almost called Reaping, since a fifth chapter was never intended, but I thought that sounded too morbid and that they were going to die in the last chapter so I thought harvesting was a more fitting word.

Q: Sakusa's father Ryota is absent throughout the entire fic, as well as his siblings. Why is that?
A: Sakusa, as well as his mother and grandmother, are estranged from his father and his siblings. While in the case of his mother, they were able to repair their relationship, Sayuri showed initiative and genuine desire to be a better mother. Ryota and Sakusa's siblings didn't care and don't care. Some relationships can't be repaired, and though painful, it's okay because Sakusa comes to learn that there are other people who want a relationship with him.

Q: What's with the constant pinky holding? And also why doesn't Hinata call Sakusa "Omi" or "Omi-san" like in canon?
A: Listen.... I just think it's a very cute way for them to hold hands without fully holding hands, especially as Sakusa isn't very physically affectionate (at least, in the beginning). As for calling Sakusa "Kiyoomi" rather than "Omi-san", well, I have a tender spot in my heart for couples who call each other by their full first name instead of their nickname that others give them. Let me explain, if someone is normally called Chris, but their S/O calls them Christopher instead. It's a different kind of intimacy. And I'm also projecting because I do this with my own S/O, I call them by their full name which no one else but me calls them by, while everyone else uses their nickname.

Q: Why didn't Hinata go to Itachiyama?
A: I personally felt that it would have been an easy decision to send him to Itachiyama but it would've taken away Hinata's entire development. He is already better than average in this AU (since he began at the age of 8 and played alongside Sakusa and Komori) and so by sending him to Itachiyama, he would have had everything he needed - Sakusa and Komori, Iizuna as his setter, powerhouse school - so he wouldn't have needed to go to Brazil after graduation and I really wanted to keep the Brazil arc because it's so so important for Hinata's character.

Q: Follow up question, why Fukurodani? Not Nekoma or Nohebi?
A: In all honesty, I was torn between Nekoma and Fukurodani. But I chose the latter because in Season 2, Kenma said how if Hinata was in Nekoma, he wouldn't be able to keep up because Hinata always wants to try something new and challenge himself. Plus, while Akaashi isn't a genius setter, he is still a really strong setter in his own right who also wants to improve and challenge himself - and other than Bokuto, who better to help him do just that than Hinata? ALSO, Konoha's "Jack of All Trades, Master of None" schtick was just perfect for Hinata because he still learns the same thing from him as he did in the ball boy arc where he learns that he needs to be good at everything: setting, blocking, receiving, spiking, serving etc hence his line, "I want to be a Jack of All Trades, Master of All." PLUS I'm also just a sucker for Fukuro!Hina and everyone doting on Hinata in their own way. Konoha, surprisingly, was one of my favourite POVs to write.

Q: What else happens to Hinata in Fukurodani that we don't get to see?
A: Hinata becomes the ace-captain in his third year! Just like Bokuto! And takes his team to the finals again and that time, they win! Yes, Bokuto, Akaashi, and all his previous upperclassmen came to watch and yes they all cried.

Q: Who was the inspiration for Sakusa Nami's character?
A: At the time I was writing, I was rewatching One Day at a Time with my s/o and I just love Rita Moreno's character as Lydia Riera that she, more or less, helped bring Nami to life. I also took inspiration from Jane Fonda. I'm not close with my own grandmothers (one reason being one is dead and the other is on an entirely different continent to me) so I just wrote what my ideal relationship would be with my grandmother.

Q: Why did you choose a double proposal for Omihina?
A: As Ari so eloquently put in our DMs, who would win in a fight? Sakusa “months of long planning and prep for the perfect proposal” Kiyoomi or Hinata “the vibes were right so I just did it yolo” Shouyou? I just love that dynamic AND it's funny, especially since Motoya knew that both of them wanted to propose to the other but said nothing because like all liberos in Haikyuu, he thrives off chaos. Also I know it's quite popular within the Omihina nation that Shouyou would take Kiyoomi's last name to make Sakusa Shouyou but listen... Hinata Kiyoomi just sounds so pretty okay, I adore it.

Q: Kiyoomi's injury... Why?
A: Ah... Trust me, I didn't want to do it, but it made sense for me. I lean a lot on ch394 of the manga with regards to his characterisation and inner philosophy so to me, Sakusa could've done all the self-care in the world, but sometimes you misstep or you're half a second too slow and you're injured. And that's not on lack of proper care, it's just how it is sometimes. Accidents happen. And that's what it was. Just an accident. But everything he does on the court, he does so that in case it's his last game, he's done everything he can and he can be satisfied with all he's done. I hope that makes sense.

Q: Was there a reason for writing 'Shouyou' and 'Kiyoomi' instead of 'Hinata' and 'Sakusa' towards the end of ch4 and the entirety of ch5?
A: Yes, it was completely intentional to both visually (and audibly) make the difference between them before and after marriage. In ch4, after the minister pronounces husband and husband, that's when I start using their given names rather than their surnames - plus it would've been confusing since they're now both Hinata...

Q: Why twin girls?
A: Well, as Kiyoomi so eloquently put in ch5, "girls are just so much cooler." But also, I just love the visuals of Omihina spoiling their daughters.

Q: Is there a special reasoning behind the twins' names?
A: Yes! First, I'm a Final Fantasy stan, so using Yuna from FFX and Rinoa from FFVIII was an opportunity I just had to take. Second, I initially wasn't going to give them middle names, but I wanted something that contributed to their half-Brazilian side (as they are half-Japanese and half-Brazilian). Third, poetic names are my sh*t, I love names that have some combined meaning.
Yuna Vitoria Hinata: Yuna (Kindness), Vitoria (Victory), so: Kind Victory
Rinoa Aurea Hinata: Rinoa (Light), Aurea (Golden/Dawn), so: Golden Light/Light of Dawn
They also mirror Shouyou and Kiyoomi, in that Kiyoomi is emphasised to be kinder than he is, plus always winning, hence Yuna's names. And then Shouyou as the sun, all gold and beautiful, hence Rinoa's names.

Q: Any other fun trivia?
A: Hinata is presented as the "top" while Sakusa is presented as the "bottom" during sex but I honestly see both of them as switches.
Rae Taviera is entirely based on Takashima Rei from Daiya no Ace. Even their physical description mirrors each other.
Yuna, though she had a scholarship for indoor volleyball as a setter, switches to beach volleyball after one year playing in the Superliga. Later on in life, she's a nutritionist and also publishes her own cookbooks. Rinoa, on the other hand, studies to become a pediatrician, just like her grandmother. Kiyoomi was right, her choice to study biochemistry was inspired by that one time he got sick.
Renan Souza’s name is just inspired by several Brazilian volleyball players’ surnames and I also really like the name Renan. He was supposed to be blond but after creating what I imagined he would look like on picrew, pink suited him better. Also, Rinoa dyed her hair because of Renan! Just like she said she wanted to when she was younger!
The Sakusa-Hinata-Komori collective brunches are entirely inspired by that tweet Ren made about Komori/Sakusa family functions in where Sakusa likes waffles and Komori likes pancakes.
The post-engagement sex scene at the cove where Hinata touches different parts of Sakusa and asks him if he's told him how much he loves those different parts is entirely inspired by Madeline Miller's TSoA.

Q: Within the fic, favourite part about Komori?
A: I love how he's just been a constant in both Shouyou and Kiyoomi's lives while still being an individual with his own wants and needs. Though I tease him that he's the third wheel, he has an irreplaceable position within their friendship and is the anchor that ties Shouyou and Hinata together. I mean, without Komori, they wouldn't have met in the first place! I love how he's the bratty cousin, I love how he looks so sweet but he's so mischievous (it's a libero trait) but he's also so so considerate and patient and not without his flaws. I gotta say, without Komori, I don't think Sakusa would've had the courage to go after Hinata in Brazil in ch3.

Q: Within the fic, favourite part about Hinata?
A: Truthfully, my favourite thing about Hinata, within this fic, is how he hasn't really changed from canon? Or at least, I tried to keep his character consistent and as close to canon. And I tried, to my best abilities, to keep the development established in canon, by having him choose to get stronger by going to Fukurodani instead of Itachiyama, by him still going to Brazil. I know I said how without Komori, Sakusa and Hinata would never have met, but without Hinata, Komori and Sakusa wouldn't have the relationship that they do have. Hinata showed how easy it was to love, not just Sakusa, but anyone. He has so much love in his heart and I adore him.

Q: Within the fic, favourite part about Sakusa?
A: After 101k words of a mostly Sakusa POV fic, I feel really close to him, despite him not having as much coverage in the anime and the manga. One of my favourite things about him is how he let people in and by doing so, his support circle grew ever so gradually. First it was just him, Hinata, and Komori. Then it grew to Iizuna, Bokuto, Akaashi, Atsumu, and Ushijima. Then it grew again with Kenma and Aran, and later on with Renan, Francisco, and Rafael. His growth in learning the difference between being alone and being lonely was something that was quite cathartic to write. And it's not that Sakusa became more outgoing or extroverted because he's still quite introverted, but he knows now that there are other people out there who care about him. I love how dramatic his internal monologues can be and I had a lot of fun writing my take on his character. I hope people enjoy it too.

Q: Any last words?
A: If you're reading this, then thank you for taking the time to read HTGWS and this carrd. Initially, this was supposed to be a single-chaptered fic, with maximum 20k word count. Well, the fic multiplied itself by five, both in word count and in chapters. Childhood Omihina is something that I hold tenderly in my heart and this is my love letter to them. I hope you enjoyed reading Shouyou and Kiyoomi's story as much as I did writing it. Thank you ♡

Sky Restaurant 634 (the restaurant where kiyoomi took shouyou for his sixteenth birthday in ch2)
Osaru Coffee (the coffee shop in osaka featured in ch3)
Nakamura House (the house which inspired sakusa nami's boarding house in ch4)
Villa (the villa which inspired omihina's home in são paulo in ch5)
Acalanto by Nana & Dorival Caymmi (the lullaby sung by kiyoomi in ch5)

hint: click on the images to show full size!

"Now, they’re in Oshinari Park, just minutes away from the Skytree when Hinata suddenly says, “Oh this is a good spot! Let’s take a photo here!” He gets his smartphone out of his pocket and swipes his finger left to open the camera. Then he extends his arm and attempts different angles to try and get himself, Sakusa and the Tokyo Skytree in the frame with little success."
—Chapter 2: Rooting

"There’s photos of the three of them proudly wearing their Dosho Middle volleyball uniform. Sakusa stands in the center with a weak half-smile while Hinata is behind him, slightly to the side, in a superhero-like pose. He smiles brightly while he holds the volleyball with his arms outstretched. Behind Hinata is Komori who follows his lead but on Sakusa’s other side, grinning as he throws up two peace signs with his hands."
—Chapter 3: Growing

"Sakusa turns to look at Hinata but the words crumble away in his throat when he looks at him. Fuck. He looks completely criminal and Sakusa is about to become an outlaw with him. Hinata wears a half-open printed shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The base colour is light cream and has mandarin-coloured tigers and olive green dragons printed on it. Hinata pairs the shirt with a mesh vest which he wears underneath and black, fitted trousers."
—Chapter 3: Growing

"He walks to the beach, which is only five minutes away from Nami’s house. Unsurprisingly, there’s still some people at the beach at six o’clock in the evening, all waiting for the summer sunset. Hinata continues walking, past the people and towards the forest that surrounds the beach with a hug, as per Sakusa’s instructions."
—Chapter 4: Blooming

“How does it feel?”
He lightly drags his hands down his haori, feeling the soft texture of the white silk. Then he holds a piece of his black hakama and lifts it lightly, allowing the fabric to fan out so that he is able to fully appreciate the beautiful hand-embroidered gold patterns. Sakusa smiles and allows himself a small twirl, letting the hakama flare out a little. He must look silly, he thinks, but he can’t find it in himself to care. He’s about to get married to the love of his life, his childhood sweetheart—he’s allowed to enjoy the little things.
“It feels perfect.”
-
"They have identical gold embroidered hakamas, but they have inverted colours for their haoris, where Sakusa wears black, Hinata wears white. Somehow, it makes his hair look as if it stole some light from the sun above."
—Chapter 4: Blooming

"“I’m so grateful to the universe for allowing our souls to meet and fall in love,” Kiyoomi tells his husband—wow, husband— once they finish changing into their linen suits, perfect for the warm weather and the beach setting. They have no ties, and instead have a V-cut in their shirts, accentuating the bulge of their pectoral muscles. He caresses Shouyou’s face and presses a loving kiss on his forehead."
—Chapter 4: Blooming

"The six foot ten giant in question is Renan Souza, Brazil’s twenty year old pride and joy who is currently playing in the Italian league. Must be spending his off-season at home, Kiyoomi thinks, before he flies back to Italy. Though he’s twenty, he looks so much younger in person with his brown eyes and sweet smile. Were it not for the ear piercings and the immense height he possessed, Kiyoomi might have mistaken him for a teenager. His rose quartz hair is long and is half tied up with some pins to hold stray locks in place, complementing his tanned skin quite nicely. "
—Chapter 5: Harvesting
(OC made on Picrew)

"He experiences that warmth whenever he or Shouyou give them a plate of food and without fail, always say with the utmost sincerity, “Thank you, papai!” or “Thank you, papa!”"
—Chapter 5: Harvesting
(Action inspired by Grey from Tiktok)

"It's strange, Kiyoomi thinks as he glances at his daughters in the rear view mirror. One day, they had just been these tiny babies in their arms, and the next, they're in their first year of college, ready to make their mark upon the world somehow, no matter how big or small."
—Chapter 5: Harvesting
(OCs made on Picrew) (Yuna, left || Rinoa, right)

aka the words of others which remind me of omihina

“Some say we can't choose who we fall in love with; love chooses us. Sometimes people fall for the complete antithesis of everything they believe they're looking for.”
—Alexandra Adornetto, Halo

"I love everybody because I love you."
—Mitski, Strawberry Blond

"He had the awkward tenderness of someone who has never been loved and is forced to improvise."
—Isabel Allende

"We were together. I forget the rest."
—Walt Whitman

"Do all lovers feel they're inventing something? I know the gestures. I imagined it all, waiting for you."
"You dreamt of me?"
"No. I thought of you."
—Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

"You have to let the people you love know that you love them. Even if it causes you a great deal of pain.”
“Why? It sounds awful.”
“Because you’re alive.”
—Laurie Nunn, Sex Education (2020)

"The summer sun was not meant for boys like me. Boys like me belonged to the rain."
—Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

"I always thought I might be bad
Now I'm sure that it's true
'Cause I think you're so good
And I'm nothing like you
Look at you go
I just adore you
I wish that I knew
What makes you think I'm so special."
—Rebecca Sugar, Love Like You

"Don't you think maybe they are the same thing? Love and attention?"
—Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird (2017)

"Not a red rose or a satin heart.
I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love."
—Carol Ann Duffy, Valentine

"I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair."
—Pablo Neruda

"You play, you win, you play, you lose. You play. It’s the playing that’s irresistible. Dicing from one year to the next with the things you love, what you risk reveals what you value."
—Jeanette Winterson, The Passion

aka character theme songs and if scenes had background music (taken from the playlist)

chapter one: falling
love like you / rebecca sugar (caleb hyles cover)
youth / troye sivan
would you be so kind? / dodie
strawberry blond / mitski

chapter two: rooting
friend to lover / standing egg
sleepover / hayley kiyoko
end of the day / one direction
i will wait / mumford and sons
let me down slowly (acoustic) / alec benjamin
easy / troye sivan
ost without you / freya ridings
before you go (guitar acoustic) / lewis capaldi

chapter three: growing
love is (not) easy / chase atlantic
deep end / birdy
i don't want to love somebody else / a great big world
electric love / børns
comfortable / h.e.r.
the louvre / lorde
when you come home / mree
bloom later / jesse

chapter four: blooming
shelter / finneas
like i'm gonna lose you / meghan trainor (jasmine thompson cover)
come to me / the goo goo dolls
sunkissed / khai dreams

chapter five: harvesting
nothing / bruno major
lover / taylor swift
pluto projector / rex orange county

childhood omihina theme songs
sunny days, summer nights / sam kim
grow as we go / ben platt
sun&moon, nct
18 / one direction
still into you / paramore
nothing / bruno major
bloom later / jesse
for him. / troye sivan
goodnight n go / ariana grande

songs in the pov of sakusa kiyoomi
sunkissed / khai dreams
strawberry blond / mitski
sick of losing soulmates / dodie
grow as we go / ben platt
love like you / rebecca sugar (caleb hyles cover)
comfort crowd / conan gray
from eden / hozier
guillotine / jon bellion
scary love / the neighbourhood
every little thing she does is magic / the police (sleeping at last cover)

songs in the pov of hinata shouyou
someone to you / banners
stand by me / ben e king (florence + the machine cover)
talk to me / cavetown
fallingforyou, the 1975
i'm gonna be (500 miles) / the proclaimers (sleeping at last cover)
can't smile without you, barry manilow (sleeping at last cover)

hint: click on the images to show full size! also fanart is listed in chronological order of when they appear in the fic

“sakusa and hinata sleep together under the same blanket, their pinkies overlapped in a promise made in their dreams...”✨
scene from - chapter one: falling
commisioned from: ocha on twitter || kofi

#omihina: sharing food is one of our love languages 🍡
scene from - chapter one: falling
commisioned from: caro on twitter

“I wanted to know, even just for a moment, what it’s like to be loved by you.”
scene from - chapter two: rooting
fanart from: belle on twitter || kofi

ninjashou it took thirteen years but we got there in the end 🥰 #heflewtorioforme
scene from - chapter three: growing
commisioned from: kimiko on twitter

kiyoohina #ilivefor mornings like this 🥰 @ninjashou
scene from - chapter five: harvesting
commisioned from: shishou on twitter