Chapter Text
Hinata always liked volleyball.
But from a young age, he was drawn to basketball. He would play with his friends from elementary and spend his days dribbling across the court with sweat dripping down the side of his face as his heart pounds against his chest with so much excitement and thrill. During those days, basketball was actually enjoyable.
Unlike his friends, he joined Teiko middle school.
He barely passed the entrance exam, to which he cried and celebrated with his mom and sister out of it, and knew that he couldn't resist. The first year of middle school was full of joy and fun. His teammates were everything to him, and he thought that he was everything to them.
Hinata shakes his head, trying to rid the memories of his past. He sat near the back of the bus that they're taking to Tokyo for a practice match. Kageyama, who of course is sat with him, is bickering with Tsukishima. Yamaguchi just listens and occasionally chuckles where he is sat next to Tsukishima. He normally would have joined in with the argument, but he can't get his mind off the dream he had that morning about middle school.
"You can't be part of the generations of miracles when you're an insecure wimp who can't make it through practice!"
"Hinata?"
"You're getting weak, Shouyou. I didn't know you could be so pathetic."
"Is he okay?"
"HE'S DEAD!"
"He can't hear us.. Hinata? Hinata!?"
"We don't welcome people who can't keep up."
"HINATA!"
Hinata quite literally jumps and would probably be out of his seat and on the floor it wasn't for the seat belt securing him tightly. Looking around, he sees Kageyama, the third years, Takeda, Tanaka, Nishinoya and Ennoshita looking at him with concern in their features. He blinks a couple times in confusion.
"We were calling your name and you completely blanked out. Are you okay?" Daichi asks through the tensed silence. Hinata stiftly nods, trying to remember what happened. When he does, his cheeks grow warm in a way he knows that he's blushing.
"Ah- sorry. . . I don't know what happened there. Maybe I'm tired and slept with my eyes open?" He chuckles awkwardly. Ukai asks from the driver's seat if everything's okay, Daichi responds to him and after Takeda makes sure everything is okay with Hinata, they all go back to their seats.
"What kind of idiot sleeps with their eyes open?" Tsukishima questions and Hinata's head whips to the side to glare at him and snarl, to which he responds with a smirk that only makes Hinata feel more embarrassed. He grumbles but faces forward again and crosses his arm, waiting for the journey to end.
--
They got to their rooms about an hour ago. All three teams rented a room for themselves that are all next to each other. Hinata is in Nekoma's room, seated next Kenma who Inuoka is also sitting next to. They both watch Kenma play his new game,making 'Oooo's and 'Ahhh's sounds whenever Kenma explains something interesting.
"Do you guys get it now?" He asks and the watching boys nod their head.
"Can I play now?" Inuoka grins as Kenma passes him his phone, to which he quickly starts playing. Looking outside, Hinata feels like going outside. It's around four, almost five, and he really wants to play some basketball under the sunset play some volleyball under the sunset.
"Sorry guys, I'm gonna go." Hinata gets up, "I really wanna watch the sunset."
"Want us to come?" Inuoka asks.
Hinata shakes his head, "No it's fine. I'll catch you guys at dinner!"
They wave him goodbye, to which he returns before quickly before walking out of the room. He walks pass his teams's room and Fukurodani's room, finally making it to the exit. He walks down the roads and the further he walks, the louder it gets. The smell of cigarettes make his nose scrunch up, cars zooming pass him. He still remembers when he'd walk down this very road with people he called friends.
'Stop it. Why am I thinking of the past. I should be thinking about the future.' He scolds himself lightly, digging his nails into his skin to distract himself with the pain. Soon enough, he finds what he's looking for. An empty basketball court. He won't play basketball. He'll play volleyball. Because he only loves volleyball.
Grabbing the colorful ball out of his bag, he practiced with his receives. They aren't bad, but not good either. If he wants to get better, he needs to improve his skills. As he bounces the ball on him arms, he can't help but feel drawn towards the basketball in the corner of the court. He knows that he said he would never play basketball again, but something was urging him to play.
Giving in to his needs, Hinata stuffs the ball back in his bag before running to check the condition of the basketball. It's covered in wet leaves and dirt, but he doesn't mind. He bounces it a couple times before attempting to shoot it at the hoop. Of course it misses, and he frowns.
'I expected that. But it still pisses me off.'
Suddenly, a shadow looms over him and catches his attention. He looks behind him to see the huge figure of a male, looking back down at him with a curious gaze. Not only was he tall, but he was muscular too. His hair was two-toned, black and red and he quite literally has to tilt his head upwards to meet the crimson-red eyes of the male. He lets out a squeak and recoils back.
"Sorry kid, I didn't mean to scare you." Hinata has all the reasons to be scared but one look at his split brows are enough to make him burst into laughter. The red-head looks at him in confusion, "What's so funny, huh?"
"Why do your eyebrows look like that! It's split into two!" He laughs even louder and the man scowls.
"Stating the obvious. Anyways, what's a kid like you doing here. It'll get dark soon. The streets aren't safe in Tokyo at night." He asks after rolling his eyes.
"I'm old enough to look after myself!"
"Ten isn't old enough."
Hinata squawks in disbelief. 'Is he really saying I look like a ten year old!?"
"I'm actually fifteen! You're five years off!"
The man actually looks shocked before he shakes his head and looks at the ginger-haired teen in front of him properly.
"Wait so you're telling me that you're only a year younger than me?"
It was Hinata's turn to look shocked.
"HUH!? T-THERE'S NO WAY!" Hinata couldn't believe it. This boy who was taller than Tsukishima and more muscular than Ushijima who's a third year, was basically the same age as Hinata!?
"Anyways, I'm sorry or whatever for getting your age wrong. I still kinda doubt that you're actually fifteen but I forgot my ball so how about we play against each other?"
If this was volleyball, Hinata wouldn't think twice before saying yes. But basketball. . .He didn't want to really get back into the sport. But. . .
"Why should I? You could just be a twenty year old tricking me."
A tick mark appears on the boy's face as he snarls.
"I-I DON'T LOOK TWENTY!" He shakes his head, "Look, I need a ball and you need someone to practice with. From what I've seen, you look pretty crappy at the game so I can teach you."
Past Hinata would have attacked him for that. He always tried his hardest when it came to basketball and for someone to make a stupid assumption about him would really piss him off. But Hinata was able to stop himself before that happened. He didn't even properly play basketball anyone. No need to get angry just because of that.
Instead, he put on a smile, "Sure then! Oh, and what's your name? Mine is Hinata Shouyou."
Hinata passes the ball to him.
"Taiga. Kagami Taigi." He says and something about him reminds him of someone he used to know.
'They even have the same aura. . .' Hinata thinks as he compares the two.
"You wanna learn how to dunk? I doubt you'll be able to do it since you're pretty short, but there's no harm in trying?"
Hinata resists the urge to scoff. 'I've known how to dunk since my second year of middle school Though, I bet I'm pretty bad now.' He nods.
"Right so-" Kagami gives a rough explanation on how to dunk before showing an example that makes Hinata freeze in his spot. Eyes wide, he can't help but admire the older teen. The way he jumped and easily put the ball in the hoop was something that seemed so easy. Of course it wasn't. "You try."
Hinata receives the ball that's thrown at him, bouncing it and moving back before running forward while dribbling the ball. He speeds up before taking two long steps and practically leaping into the air. His eyes are wide as he slams the ball into the hoop, hand slightly touching the rim before he lands right on his ass.
"Ouch. . ." He rubs the sore spot with a grumble before getting back up, "That hurt."
Looking back, he's barely able to hide his grin from the gaping teen in front of him.
"What- how- wait wait wait you didn't tell me you can jump like that!?" Kagami splutters out, "How the hell do you jump so high- you're basically the height of a middle-schooler!"
Hinata glares at the red teen before flashing a smile that only shows satisfaction.
"I might be short, but I can fly!"
"You can fly alright! What team are you on- and why haven't I seen you in any of the tournaments-"
"Oh- I think you're confused. I don't play basketball."
Kagami thinks the kid is kidding until Hinata just stares back at him with a neutral face. He gapes, trying to think of a reason why. An injury!? But he doesn't look injured. . . No basketball team? I doubt that's the reason.
"Why not? You're clearly talented if you can jump so high at that height."
"I play volleyball."
"You know how to dunk though. Not anyone can just dunk like that."
Their eyes lock together, Kagami's stern gaze and Hinata's equally determined expression as they compete to see who would stop first.
"I. . . I used to play."
"And you just lost interest?"
"Yeah. . ."
They stay in silence for a few seconds until Kagami looks up at the sky. Hinata completely forgot about the sunset.
"Oh I forgot!" He runs towards his bag and grabs his phone before turning the camera to face the sky. The setting sun beamed as the soft-vivid colors of pink and yellow swirl around each other. It's a beautiful sight, Hinata's totally making it his wallpaper.
He turns around the camera to snap a picture of himself, doing a peace sign at the camera. He spots Kagami in the corner.
"Come on, get in the photo!"
The red head is hesitant but complies and copies his gesture, even managing to put on a small smile. Hinata takes the picture and quickly makes it his wallpaper.
"So you're just gonna make a random stranger your wallpaper. . .?" Kagami raises a brow.
"You aren't a stranger. Well, at least after we play. You know, you should put it as your wallpaper too!"
"No way."
"How about if I beat you, you have to do it."
"And what do I get?"
"I'll buy you ice-cream?" 'That's if I even still have money in my bag.'
"First to ten. Deal?"
"Deal!"
Kagami ends up beating him, 10-7. Hinata grumbles as they walk towards a nearby ice-cream shop. He did find some money and gets a cherry popsicle for Kagami, and an orange one for themselves.
Hinata doesn't know, but Kagami made it his wallpaper despite the win.
--
"Hey guys!" Hinata waves at he enters the cafeteria. All of a sudden he's being surrounded by his teammates and some other people from another team.
"Where the hell were you!?" Kageyama yells.
"We thought you died!"
"You're the only one who thought he died."
"Shut your mouth!"
"No but seriously, where were you."
Hinata offers an awkward smile, "Just. . . playing some volleyball?"