something so unbelievably magical about the dynamic between atsumu and hinata when they're shipped together
because atsumu is so full of hot air lol. he's all bluster and swagger and confidence in the most annoying way - he armors himself against his insecurities with this put on persona of smug arrogance and smooth, effortless cool that is probably so infuriating to anyone facing him across the net or even standing with him on the same side. he's the type to respond to someone saying he's talented with a sly lil grin and an "I know" but he won't mean it, not actually. he won't internalize it because really, atsumu sees himself as flawed and not good enough and wanting always.
but here comes hinata, who is just overflowing with genuine sincerity and adoration for atsumu. who fullheartedly and truly BELIEVES that atsumu is as awesome as he fronts that he is. hinata who gasps and praises at every amazing set atsumu gives him, hinata tells atsumu constantly that he's incredible. and there's no loaded expectations with that praise, no unspoken but implied threat or pressure for atsumu to measure up, it's just hinata saying what he sees and what he feels which is that atsumu is utterly incredible in every way.
and i just think of how that must make atsumu feel. atsumu puts on the annoying, cocky armor on purpose, because he'd rather people be annoyed with him than see him as unworthy. because he'd rather be perceived as a a dickhead with a god complex than someone who is terrified of failing to measure up.
i think of how it must have knocked atsumu on his ass the first time he said "yeah, i'm amazing" to hinata, fully expecting the standard eye roll and shove response his inarizaku teammates would have given him, but instead he gets the light of the sun coming from hinata's expression as he nods and wholeheartedly agrees with atsumu, tells him again how incredible he is, even as atsumu stares bewildered at his face and tries to understand why seeing it is making his stomach do weird things.
I have posted about this Chinese comic before, 谷围南庭 (Gu Wei Nan Ting). I still have no idea if there are any English translation for this. But nevertheless, I am gonna spam more pretty pictures from the official source.
Pictures from official weibo of Gu Wei Nan Ting : 谷围南庭 微博
Official Manhua link: 谷围南庭 on kuaikanmanhua
hey guys check out this fish i found on the sidewalk