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Volleyball was something Kageyama Tobio cherished dearly. His grandfather had taught him how to play—he would spend hours teaching Tobio all he knew. Slowly but surely, under his grandfather’s guidance, he grew and prospered in his volleyball skills. His grandfather was the most important person in his life.
Volleyball was Tobio’s sole solace. It meant time spent with his grandfather, his rock. Playing with his grandfather was the best thing in his life; losing his grandfather was the worst thing in his life. The spark in Tobio’s eyes died that day.
Yet, Tobio kept playing. He sharpened and honed his skills. He pushed himself to the limit, and, once he reached it, pushed even further than those boundaries. Volleyball was all that he had to remember his grandfather—his grandfather lived on so long as Tobio kept playing and improving.
So when Tobio meets Hinata Shoyo one faithful day, he cannot help but scoff at the short boy. His skills were poor, his team even worse. Yet, Hinata kept fighting until the end. The match lasted only thirty one minutes, but Tobio could see that for even the shortest millisecond, Hinata gave it his all. How pathetic, he thought. How could someone so badly skilled call himself a volleyball player. Tobio put all his effort into becoming the best, yet this tiny ball of determination saw himself as fitting of the same title. But, at the end of it, it was just thirty one minutes. Thirty one minutes to show who was meant to be where.
After the tournament, Hinata approached Tobio and decreed to overthrow him from his title. Tobio knew he would win, so he accepted the challenge. He was the best after all, he had sharpened himself to a caliber no one else could reach.
Eventually, though, time passed and Hinata became an afterthought. Tobio became the tyrant king of the court and that was the end of their story.
-
But, the two boy’s story does not end there. One fateful day, they find themselves at the same gym at the same school—Karasuno High. They start off on the wrong foot, (again), but eventually overcome their differences.
Gradually, Tobio and Shoyo grew closer. They found out what makes the other believe in themselves—what makes the other push on. Shoyo talked so freely and easily to Tobio. He talked about his admiration for the little giant and he talked about all the dreams he had and everything in between.
With time, Hinata’s words start to ebb away at the edges of Tobio’s stoic heart. He thinks to himself, maybe life was not all bad, maybe he does not have to close himself off to protect himself anymore.
He thought back to how much Shoyo’s eyes sparkled with determination, his eyes so bright and genuine. No matter the circumstances he was given, Shoyo persevered. No storm however strong could weather his determination down.
As he gazed at Shoyo, Tobio secretly hoped to himself that those twinkling eyes would never dull.
-
Shoyo and Tobio kept growing closer. They worked well together, like two cogs meant for one another. They became a well oiled machine, they became stronger. Sure, there were goosebumps along the way, but they overcame them. With every game they played, they grew to know each other better. Nothing could stop them.
They learned, in the most damned way however, that they could be stopped. Shoyo developed a fever mid game and had to sit out. They lost to Kamomedai, in the most bitter way possible.
Shoyo, the strong willed Hinata Shoyo, cried that day. Tobio’s heart breaks. But, as he gazed once more into Shoyo’s eyes, he could see that, despite the tears, his spirit was still not broken. In fact, his eyes sparkled even brighter with determination and grit.
What beautiful eyes, Tobio thinks to himself, as bittersweet as the moment was. He knows, however, that these eyes will always shine, no matter how difficult the path may be. After all, today you are defeated, but what will you become tomorrow?