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xlettex · 3 months ago

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Wandered, Now He’s Home || yuu nishinoya Surfer AU - Oneshot

Yuu Nishinoya, a free-spirited traveler and surfer, settles down in Hawaii, where his journey takes a new turn. There, he meets a marine biology student, a connection forms between them. As their relationship deepens, they bond over shared experiences and unspoken vulnerabilities, finding something real in each other’s presence.

pairing - yuu nishinoya x reader genre - romance word count - 3.8k rating - 13+

Authors Note - This fanfic is inspired by the phenomenal and breathtaking fanart of timeskip Nishinoya. Artist is @freaka_loonyz on tiktok, pinterest, twitter, and instagram!

Yuu Nishinoya had always considered the ocean a part of himself. It wasn’t just the adrenaline of the waves that called to him—it was the rhythm, the pulse of the sea. The highs and lows, the unpredictable swells that could take him soaring or pull him under. It was life in its most raw and honest form. And Hawaii? Hawaii was where he found his sanctuary, his place where the surf, the breeze, and the sun embraced him like an old friend.

He wasn’t born here. No, he’d come to the islands after traveling through half the world. He left behind his hometown, driven by the pull of something far greater. From Australia’s sunburnt beaches to the bustling, neon-lit streets of Thailand, Nishinoya collected memories and tattoos from each place—tokens of the adventures that shaped him. Each tattoo on his body was a story, etched into his skin like a living map of his life.

A giant wave engulfed his left arm, curling with intricate detail. Its crest is a jarring contrast of deep blues and whites. It was the first wave he had ever surfed in Australia making him realize he was born for this life.

Below it, a shark outline, bold and simple, a reminder of his time diving off the coast of Thailand—an encounter with a creature that had both terrified and mesmerized him.

Across his ribs, just below his heart, a small compass, its needle pointing north, symbolizing how he had always been drawn forward, seeking, never staying in one place for too long.

A phoenix rested on his right shoulder, its wings unfurled in a blaze of red and orange, rising as if reborn from the flames. It was a tribute to the day he nearly drowned in a particularly violent wave, only to emerge from the ocean stronger, with a deeper respect for its power. It was a reminder that even in the most brutal of challenges, there was always rebirth.

And then, there was the small, delicate dragon on his wrist, hidden from most eyes but always present—a symbol of protection and a quiet nod to his roots. He had gotten it inked during a return trip to Japan, not as a visitor, but as someone searching for a piece of himself he hadn’t realized he’d lost. Amidst the chaos of his wandering life, he had found an unexpected sense of peace there—a reminder that no matter how far he traveled, some parts of him would always belong to where he came from.

He was a man without borders, with a soul as vast as the ocean he adored. Each tattoo was a part of him, a piece of his story, and a reminder of the countless lives he had touched and the ones that had touched him in return.

For years, he’d been bouncing from place to place, finding solace in the rhythm of the waves, but it was only after he arrived in Hawaii that he finally felt like he could breathe again. The ocean here was different—warm, vast, endless. It felt like the last piece of the puzzle he'd been searching for, a sense of home amidst the ever-shifting world around him.

He had explored many countries, but no place had ever felt like home the way Hawaii did.

The University of Hawaii was just another stop along his journey, not a destination. It wasn’t where his heart was—it was just where he happened to be when the surf wasn’t calling. He’d enrolled in a few courses, something to fill the gaps when the waves weren’t up and he had time to kill. But truthfully, he never cared much about academics. The ocean was his true focus, his only real obsession was the thrill of the ride. Relationships had come and gone, fleeting as the waves themselves. No one had ever made him pause—no one.

That was until he met you.

It wasn’t dramatic or earth-shattering—nothing like the way movies depicted love at first sight. No, it was casual, a small moment that set something into motion deep inside him. It happened at a café on the edge of campus, a place that served overpriced coffee and cheap pastries, the kind of place you went to because you didn’t know where else to study.

“Yo, Noya! Come on, we’re getting coffee!” Tanaka’s voice boomed as he clapped a hand on Nishinoya’s shoulder, snapping him out of his daydreams. The two were practically inseparable, always together like a pair of magnets, always the loudest duo in any room.

“Alright, alright,” Nishinoya replied, ruffling his hair as he grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. He followed Tanaka, both of them weaving through the bustling campus, the sound of their voices and laughter drawing the attention of everyone they passed.

The moment they stepped into the café, the usual hum of background noise dimmed in Nishinoya’s mind. He noticed you sitting at one of the tables, hunched over a notebook, scribbling furiously in it. The sunlight coming through the window framed you perfectly—your wild hair bouncing lightly with every movement, your face lit by the soft glow as you chewed the tip of your pencil in thought. It was the kind of sight that made Nishinoya pause, something about it grounded him in a way he couldn’t explain.

Tanaka’s voice broke through the moment. “Yachi!” He waved, and the girl sitting across from you at the table looked up. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and recognition, and Nishinoya followed Tanaka to the table.

“Hey Yachi!” Tanaka greeted, plopping down by her without waiting for an invitation. Yachi smiled warmly but seemed slightly frazzled like she’d been in the middle of something important.

Nishinoya stood by the table awkwardly for a second before Tanaka gestured for him to sit. And that’s when he saw you more clearly.

Your eyes met his for a fleeting second, a moment of quiet recognition. The kind of gaze that made him feel like you saw him, not just the loud, goofy guy everyone else saw. He flashed you a grin, the same boisterous one he gave to everyone else, but this time it felt different.

“This is Nishinoya. He’s a bit of a legend around here,” Tanaka said with a grin, proud of his friend’s reputation.

You looked at him curiously, clearly skeptical. “A legend?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nishinoya laughed and tossed his hair back. “Yup, that’s me! Surfer, traveler, all-around amazing guy,” he said with a wink.

You smiled at his energy, but there was something more restrained about your response, a subtle flicker behind your eyes—like you knew more than you were letting on. “Nice to meet you,” you said, your voice soft yet confident but with an undertone of something unspoken. You had your notebook open in front of you, the pages filled with carefully scribbled notes and diagrams of coral reefs and aquatic life.

Nishinoya, always perceptive to detail, couldn’t help but glance at your work, the complex sketches of marine life standing out on the page. He felt a flicker of curiosity. “Whoa, that’s some serious homework.” He leaned in a bit closer, his interest piqued. “What’s all this?”

You followed his gaze, then chuckled softly, a hint of embarrassment coloring your cheeks. “Oh, just some of my work. I’m studying… well, stuff about the oceans. Marine ecosystems. Not exactly the most exciting topic for a lot of people, but it’s my thing.”

Nishinoya’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. There was something about the way you said it that made him stop and reconsider. It didn’t sound like a typical academic subject—it sounded like something deeper, something you genuinely cared about.

He straightened up, his grin widening as the realization hit him. “Marine ecosystems? That’s amazing! I’ve seen some of the most incredible reefs while traveling. I mean, I’ve surfed in Australia, Thailand, Bali... but there’s so much more to see, right? There’s something about the ocean that just calls to you.”

Your eyes widened, and you seemed to soften at his words. There was a quiet shift in your gaze, as though you were seeing him anew—not just as the surfer, but as someone who might understand the ocean pull in the way you did. “What got you into traveling so much?” you asked, the curiosity in your voice unmistakable.

Nishinoya scratched the back of his head, his expression thoughtful. “I guess it started with the waves. It’s like… the ocean pulls you in, no matter where you are. Once I felt that, I just had to keep chasing it, you know? Every place has a unique beauty. Its own rhythm. I’ve always felt like there’s more out there waiting for me to experience.”

Your eyes softened as you listened, and for a moment, he thought he could see something in you—an understanding, something deeper than what you let on. “That’s... beautiful,” you murmured, almost to yourself.

A surge of pride rose in his chest, but it wasn’t the boastful kind. It was the quiet, personal pride of someone who had found something that resonated deeply with them. “Yeah, I’ve seen a lot. Surfed places most people only dream about. But there’s nothing like being in the water—watching the reef come alive beneath you. The coral, the fish, the way the ocean shifts... It’s breathtaking.”

Your eyes lit up at his words. It felt like you were on the same wavelength, sharing that same awe of the ocean. Your gaze held something—something warm, something that matched his excitement. “That sounds incredible,” you said softly. “I’ve only seen a fraction of the world—mostly just what I’ve read about in books or researched for school. But I dream of seeing those places. I want to experience the reefs like you have. To understand them.”

Nishinoya smiled, his tone softening, a little less boisterous than usual. “You’ve got time. And when you’re ready, I’ll show you a reef or two. No rush. When the day comes... I’ll be your guide.”

His words hung in the air; it wasn’t just what he said—it was how you responded. There was something in your eyes, something unspoken. A promise. An invitation not just to explore the ocean, but to share it. That feeling stirred something inside him, something warm and unexpected. For the first time in a while, it felt like he was seeing the ocean through someone else’s eyes—eyes that weren’t just searching the surface, but diving deep into its soul.

The spark of interest that had ignited in him earlier only grew stronger, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, he suddenly found himself wanting to know everything about you—not just your studies, but the way you thought about the world. The way you saw the vastness of the oceans, the creatures within them, and how it all connected to your heart.

A Week Later

The afternoon stretched lazily, the golden sun casting a shimmering glow across the water. The ocean waves were primed for surfing, curling perfectly as they rushed toward the shore, eager and full of promise.

But today, Nishinoya's mind wasn’t focused on surfing. In the back of his mind, you lingered—a quiet thought, persistent and constant.

When he’d asked you to join him today, it wasn’t about trying to impress you with his skill or boast about his adventures. He wanted to share something with you, something beyond the usual laughter and loudness. He wanted to show you a side of himself that no one else saw.

And so, when the moment came, he didn’t take you straight into the surf.

Instead, he led you to a different kind of adventure.

The sand was cool beneath your feet, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of salt and ocean as you walked beside him. The sun hung low in the sky, painting everything in amber light. Nishinoya led you away from the busy beach, down a quiet path toward a secluded cove, a place where the world seemed to pause, quieter, more private.

“Most people don’t know about this spot,” he said, his voice softer than usual, carrying a quiet reverence. “It’s where I come when I need to think.”

As the distance between you and the crowd grew, he reached over, his fingers brushing lightly against yours before he gently grasped your hand. The touch was unexpected, warm, and somehow more intimate than anything you’d ever felt before. It felt like a promise, something unspoken, a silent invitation to step further into this quiet world he was showing you.

When his hand grasped yours, it was like a spark—a soft, deliberate touch, but one that made something inside you stir. The heat of his palm against yours lingered, and you felt it in the way your heartbeat quickened, a small ripple in the quiet tension between you.

Without thinking, your fingers curled into his, and for a fleeting moment, everything around you seemed to disappear. The ocean, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore—it all felt distant, as though you were in a world of your own, held together by the connection between your hands.

When you arrived at the cove, you could feel it immediately—the peaceful rhythm of this place. The waves here kissed the shore gently, not crashing with force like in the more crowded spots. Everything felt still and natural, a perfect reflection of who he was underneath the boisterous exterior. He sat down on a large rock and patted the space beside him, his grin still there, but it was softer now, like a side of him he rarely showed.

You sat next to him, the warmth of his presence next to you making the silence feel more like an invitation than a void. It wasn’t uncomfortable—it was the kind of silence that allowed you to just be, no expectations, no need for words. In that quiet, it felt like you understood each other more than you ever could through conversation.

“Thanks for coming out here with me,” Nishinoya said, his voice unusually serious, almost like he was letting down a wall. “Most people don’t get to see this side of me.”

You glanced at him, studying the sincerity in his gaze. “Because of your persona?” you asked softly. “The surfer, the adventurer?”

“Yeah,” he murmured, his eyes drifting out toward the horizon. “People see the loud guy, the guy always up for the next thrill. But there’s more to me than that. Sometimes... I just want to be alone with my thoughts. Not be the guy everyone expects me to be.”

His honesty struck a chord with you. For a moment, you found yourself wondering if he saw something in you that you didn’t always show others.

The breeze shifted, and for a heartbeat, everything seemed to slow. You turned toward him, the words rising in your chest before you could stop them. “I’ve... been watching you for a while now,” you said, your voice soft but steady. “I spend a lot of time near the water for class, studying the marine life. But, sometimes, I’d find myself just sitting there, watching you. There was something about the way you moved with the waves... like you were part of it. I couldn’t help but be drawn to that.”

There was a pause, a shift in the air between you both. His gaze softened, and in that moment, you realized you’d let something slip that had been hidden in the quiet corners of your mind for so long.

Nishinoya’s eyes flickered with surprise, his brow furrowing slightly. “Watching me?”

You felt a rush of heat flood your face. You hadn’t meant to say it so bluntly, but now that it was out, it was impossible to take back. “I—I’d sketch you sometimes,” you admitted quietly, your voice catching just slightly. “When I saw you out there on the waves, you looked... different. Like you were in your own world. I never really told anyone this, but... I’ve always thought there was more to you than what people see.”

Nishinoya’s expression softened, and there was a pause, an unspoken understanding passing between you. He gave a small, almost bashful smile. “I didn’t know you were an artist.” he said, his voice warmer than usual.“It’s... a side of you I didn’t expect. “I guess there’s a lot about me I’ve never let people see either.”

You tilted your head, curiosity flickering in your gaze. “Like what?”

He hesitated, his eyes drifting out toward the horizon. He was gathering the courage to share something he’d kept locked away. “I’ve never really told anyone this, but... I get tired sometimes,” he murmured, his voice quieter now. “Tired of always being the loud one, the guy people expect me to be. It’s hard letting people see me, you know? To let them see past the bravado. I’ve always felt like if they did, they wouldn’t like what they saw.”

The vulnerability in his voice hit you like a wave, deeper than you’d anticipated. You had always seen him as this fearless, larger-than-life figure, but now, hearing this part of him, you were seeing him in a way you never had before—like the ocean was finally revealing its depths.

Without thinking, you leaned in a little closer, drawn in by the rawness of his confession. The air between you thickened, heavy with the weight of everything unspoken. And in that moment, you felt the pulse of something that had been quietly building since you first met.

Nishinoya shifted slightly, his fingers brushing his sleeve. As he did, you caught sight of the tattoos on his arm again, and he followed your gaze. “These... they’re not just for the pain," he said quietly, his voice almost reflective. "Each one... tells a story. One I needed to remember, even when I tried to forget." He traced the dragon on his arm with his finger, the edges still sharp despite the years. "I used to think they were just about surviving. But now... they remind me that I’m more than just the guy who keeps everyone’s spirits up." He paused, giving you a small, vulnerable smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ve been hiding parts of myself, for too long.”

You leaned in just a little more, the raw honesty between you both pulling you closer. “I don’t know if I could ever show people all of me, either,” you murmured, your voice softer now, mirroring the weight of his confession. “But maybe... that’s the part we’re meant to let out. The parts we’re afraid to show.”

Nishinoya’s gaze met yours, and in his eyes, you saw that same quiet understanding, the kind that didn’t need words. It was the kind of connection that spoke louder than anything you’d said out loud.

Then, his lips curved into something more familiar—a mischievous smirk creeping back in. “So... about these sketches,” he said, tilting his head at you. “Are they, like, super serious? Or do I look stupid in them?”

The shift in tone made you huff a quiet laugh, the heaviness between you both lifting just a little. “You don’t look stupid,” you admitted, shaking your head.

“That wasn’t a no,” he teased, nudging you lightly with his shoulder. “I gotta see them now. I need to know if you made me look cool or if I’ve been unknowingly starring in a collection of dumb surfer doodles.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at your lips. “They’re not dumb,” you muttered.

“So, they’re good?”

You groaned, and he laughed, the sound bright and easy. But when he looked at you again, there was something softer in his gaze. “I mean it, though. I wanna see them,” he said, voice quieter now. “I like the idea of seeing myself through your eyes.”

Something about the way he said it sent warmth flooding through your chest.

Nishinoya’s lips hovered near yours, the quiet between you two now charged with something unspoken. He’d just laid bare the weight of his past, his tattoos, and the silent battles they represented. His usual confident air faltered for a split second, and the briefest flicker of doubt passed through his eyes. He wasn’t used to being so exposed, so raw. His heart pounded just a little harder, but the moment was fleeting. Before he could mask it with his usual bravado, you met his gaze.

Your eyes held his, steady and unwavering. No judgment. No fear. Just an understanding that spoke louder than words. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, his breath steadied, his shoulders relaxing. The weight he’d been carrying, even if just for a moment, seemed to lighten. The vulnerability didn’t vanish—it was still there, just tucked away behind that soft, lingering connection between you.

With a deep exhale, he closed the distance, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that was gentle and slow, like the ocean itself—building gradually, yet overwhelming in its quiet intensity. It wasn’t a kiss of passion, but one of connection—a silent exchange that spoke volumes, letting everything that had been left unspoken rise to the surface. The world around you faded, the noise and chaos slipping away as the kiss deepened, each movement a slow wave of reassurance. The weight of the moment lingered, soft but undeniable, like the rhythm of the sea—a constant presence that spoke more than words ever could.

When you pulled away, your foreheads rested together, and for a short moment, the outside world felt distant. Neither of you spoke. The quiet wrapped around you like a soft blanket, the only sound was the steady rhythm of your breath and the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore.

Then, Nishinoya broke the silence with a soft chuckle, his lips brushing lightly against yours again—a kiss that was teasing, full of warmth, and something unspoken. “You know,” he murmured against your lips, his voice low and sincere, “you’ve got this way of making me feel like I’m not just the guy on the board.”

You smiled, warmth spreading through you that had nothing to do with the sun. “I think that’s the best part about you,” you replied, your voice as soft as the breeze. “That you’re more than meets the eye.”

He grinned, his fingers brushing playfully against your wrist. “Still wanna see those sketches, though.”

You rolled your eyes, but a small part of you knew you’d let him. Because, maybe, just maybe, you wanted him to see himself the way you did—just a little more than the guy on the board.

And in that moment, with the world fading around you, everything felt right. The ocean, vast and timeless, was your only witness, the waves were endless and unknowable—just like whatever came next. But for now, this moment was enough.

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