If you didn't notice before, this will be a HinataxOC fanfic.

Things will NOT match up perfectly with either the anime or manga. Some things may be changed or altered for the sake of the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, but my OC's.

Two middle school students donning Yukigaoka Junior High uniforms were standing in the middle of a park.

The last day of their second year had just ended, meaning vacation had begun. The students were of opposite gender with the girl towering a little taller than the boy.

The girl took the boy's left hand into the both of hers. Sadness and regret filled the young girl's light brown eyes as she looked down at the ball of hands she made. She knew she couldn't let the boy see how she was really doing. Having him see would only make things more difficult.

"I'm sorry… Shoyo-kun… I'm breaking up with you," the girl said with a voice as soft as silk. Her hair was tied back into two long, thin braids that fell down to her butt. Her bangs went up to her eyebrows, but due to the angle she was looking down to the floor at, her eyes were hidden from the boy's view. The girl's red glasses began to slowly slip down the bridge of her nose due to gravity.

"…What?" the boy asked as if he didn't hear the girl correctly.

The couple's grip tightened simultaneously as if to hold onto the final moments they could be together. The girl sucked in a deep breath, regretting what she was about to do next.

She sent a silent prayer to any higher being listening to grant her the strength for the worst decision she would ever make in her life.

"I'm leaving you, Shoyo-kun! I can't be tied down by someone like you. I need to be able to spread my own wings in Japan. Being with you long-distance would just be a burden." With that said the girl retracted her hands and ran.

The left behind boy was frozen in shock. He wanted to go after her and demand a better explanation. He wanted to hold onto her and never let her go, but something was holding him back. It was as if fate had another destiny in store for the two.

Despite the pain her heart was in and the voice in her head telling her not to turn around, she did. She turned and saw the small figure of the boy she might always love for as long as she lived. A part of her wanted to run back to him and take it all back, but she knew in some weird way that this was how things should be. That didn't mean she didn't want him to run after her.

Tears that she fought back for the entire day fell as she continued to run away from her now ex-boyfriend. She promised herself not to look back again. She didn't want to remember the expression her beloved had any more than she already had to when she broke his heart to set him free.

A Year and A Half Later

Kaori's POV-

Today is the day…

"Kao, breakfast is ready! You can't be late to your first day of school! You'll get behind!" my mother called from the foot of the stairs.

"School already started, Mama! I'm technically already behind!" I shouted back as I quickly slipped on my new school uniform which consisted of a white dress shirt, a tan sweater vest, a dark navy blazer, and a gray skirt. I had brown combat boots, which were currently downstairs, and wore black thigh-high socks.

I stashed my new white and green indoor shoes into my backpack and took one last look in the mirror before I rushed down the stairs, nearly slipping, to the kitchen. I ruffled my younger brother's hair, earning a growl from him, and fell into my seat at the kitchen table.

"Should I just drive you two to school today? What if you guys get lost? It's been awhile since we've been in the area. You two probably don't remember the routes."

"Okaa-san, you're being too clingy," my younger brother complained as he shoved a piece of his pancakes down his throat.

"Nao is right," I said, backing up my brother. "I'm even walking Nao to school since he has a bad habit of getting lost."

"Oi!" Nao shouted at me.

"That's why I'm worried…," my mother admitted. "Kao, it was easier when you went to school with your brother at Yukigaoka."

I finished eating and put my utensils down loudly. "Well," I said, getting up. "We can't be dwelling on the past now can we?" I left in silence as Nao followed suit.

In all honesty, I was not looking forward to my first day at Karasuno High.

Kageyama's POV-

The class settled down and I looked to the back of the room to see Hinata already asleep, tired from morning volleyball practice.

Idiot.

I wasn't entirely interested in what was going on, but class started differently than usual today.

"We have a new student joining us today," the teacher said, writing a name on the board.

Saito…Kaori?

Right when I decided to follow Hinata and take a nap, the door opened. A girl walked in with brown hair that flowed down to her mid-back and bangs that were swept mainly to the right with any leftover hairs on the left side of her face being tucked behind her ear. Everything about her appearance and the way she held herself screamed out elegant, but I didn't look at what was on her outside as much as the inside. Something about her seemed off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

The girls were complimenting the new girl as guys were silently cheering amongst one another. I didn't understand their intense interest in this girl other than the rush of getting someone new. It's like when you get a new shirt and you want to wear it as soon as possible as often as you can.

"Good morning, my name is Saito Kaori. Please take care of me!" The new girl bowed and a chorus of people saying cute began.

"Saito-san, why don't you sit next to Kageyama-san over there by the window," the teacher said. I froze when everyone in class quieted down and started at me, minus Hinata of course. Normally I wouldn't care, but now I am getting mixed signals from my classmates.

My eyes made contact with my new seat partner. I broke contact first to see if there really was no one sitting next to me.

Empty…

I don't know why I would try to make myself believe someone has been occupying the empty seat next to me until now. I was not in the mood for introductions since I would most likely make a fool out of myself.

Kaori's POV-

I made my way to my new seat. I looked at my seat partner, questioning silently why he was looking at my desk as if I was taking someone else's territory.

I shook it off and smiled at him, holding my hand out to shake his. "Nice to meet you Kageyama-san, please take care of me."

"Mm," was all I got from him as he turned to start ignoring me and the lessons for the entire time until lunch came around.

I was not as behind as I thought I would be going to a new school and having to catch up with their curriculum. My classes now are more behind than my old classes. I feigned paying attention to the lesson as I scribbled down lists of meaningless things to meaningful things.

I didn't get a good look at my classmates. I was too afraid to when I was in the front of the room.

What a mess I am… Things are supposed to be different this time around.

The bell rang and I left the room before I could be swarmed by my very eager classmates or pulled to the side by my teacher concerning how comfortable I was with my new surroundings. I wandered the halls, ignoring the whispers and stares, but taking mind of the classrooms, stairs, and trees. I found a nice bench next to one of the gyms in the school. It was quiet and any students nearby were all studying in silence.

Michimiya Yui's POV-

I dashed out of my classroom as soon as the lunch bell rang.

"Whoa! Hold on there, Michimiya," my friend Sawamura yelled, grabbing my arm. "Where are you off to in a hurry?"

Sawamura was a volleyball captain just like me, so he should understand my urgency.

"There's a new girl from Hakuryo Academy! Do you know what rank their girls' volleyball team is in all of Japan?! It's one of the top three!"

"And you're going to recruit her?"

"Of course I am! She's a valuable asset for the girls' team!"

After wasting time on Sawamura, I continued my search for the new girl. I had no leads on what she looked like or her name, so I started my search off in the first years' area, asking students if they knew anything.

"The new girl? Her name is Saito Kaori. I think I saw her near the second gymnasium," a random girl told me.

"Thank you!" I left for the second gym and kept my eyes open for any signs of Saito Kaori.

She could be anyone… Let's see, if I was a new student, where would I go?

I sighed.

I would be in class getting to know my classmates.

"Ah!"

If I wasn't getting to know anyone, I would have no one to be with…

I locked my eyes on a girl who was sitting alone, reading a book on a bench. I bet my rank as Captain that that was who I've been looking for.

"Hello! You're Saito Kaori, right?"

The girl I was speaking to flinched and held her arms up defensively at the surprise I gave her. "Y-Yes!"

I gasped happily and grabbed her free hand in mine. "My name is Michimiya Yui, from class 3-1."

"Nice to meet you, Michimiya-senpai," Saito said, smiling politely.

"Ah! C-Cute!" I yelled embracing Saito as she wiggled frantically as a reflex from my surprise hug. I let go of her and looked her over. "I've heard that you played volleyball at your old school. When you were in your last year of middle school, you were placed in a high school team, right?"

Saito's face scrunched up slightly with unease. "Y…Yes, I was a player."

I bowed. "Please join the girls' volleyball team! I know you're still adjusting to your surroundings here, but what better way to acquaint yourself with everyone than to join a team sports club?"

Saito frowned. "I'm sorry." She gathered her things and stood up. "I may have been a player in the past, but I put that behind me now…" As she was walking away I caught a glimpse of remorse in her facial features.

I cupped my hands around my mouth and called out to her. "I won't give up! I'll ask you every day if I have to!"

I had a hunch about Saito Kaori, but I couldn't be too sure.

Hinata's POV-

After successfully using the bathroom, I was proudly making my way back to class before the bell rang. I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings and bumped into someone.

"Ah, sorry!" I said, scratching the back of my head as the person I bumped into corrected their balance.

"It's alright. I should have been more caref-"

I looked at the girl I bumped into, wondering why they didn't finish their sentence.

The look in her eyes was full of dread, but it quickly washed away as she bowed to me and hurried off to her class. Something about her looked so familiar, but I couldn't place a name on her face. I shook it off, thinking it was just a student from one of the other classes.

My heart felt heavy for some odd reason, but that was probably because I wasn't in the gym spiking balls. Just thinking about practice made me all giddy.

Kaori's POV-

Dammit. I can't do this. I can't.

I sat down on the toilet, rubbing my temples.

What were the odds that he would be here and in my class?

I straightened my back and took in a deep breath.

No… I deserve this… This is my punishment for my sins…my mistakes…and lies…

After taking a few minutes to compose myself in the bathroom, I hurried to class before I would be late.

I'll pretend that nothing happened…he has his own life now. I shouldn't burden him. As far as he seems to realize, we're complete strangers…

I made haste to my seat and took out my books just in time for the bell.

Hinata's POV-

"Saito-san, can you come up to the board and solve this problem?" the teacher asked.

"Yes!" I looked up from my notes to see the girl I bumped into earlier pop up from her seat and ease her way up to the board.

The girl from earlier! She's in this class? Since when? What did the teacher call her?

"Ah!" a mixed group of students in the class gasped.

She was only up for less than a minute and she already answered the problem on the board. Even I didn't understand it. Then again, I don't understand most of what we cover in class. I wasn't the only one surprised at least.

After school ended the girl was surrounded by classmates. I couldn't help but stare at her. Something about her made my chest churn.

"Interested in the new girl, Hinata?" One of my classmates elbowed me in the ribs. "Fall in line with the rest of us."

I grunted and hugged myself in pain. "New girl?"

"Oh, that's right. You were sleeping this morning. Her name is Saito Kaori. Cute, isn't it?"

"Kaori…?" Out of nowhere, the words slipped off my tongue. "It's beautiful."

My classmates were just as shocked as I was at what I said. Then again, I probably said that because of a certain someone from my past.

Saito Kaori…

I looked back at the new girl and narrowed my eyes, focusing on her features.

Mid-back length brown hair and light brown eyes.

The Kaori I knew preferred her hair longer and braided, despite how childish she looked with them. She had poor vision and wore signature red glasses. Her chest was flat and she wasn't that tall. She was a timid girl who couldn't express herself well in front of others, but when she was on a volleyball court she would shine.

That Kaori and this Kaori are entirely different!

Saito is a common surname and Kaori is a good name for a girl, so it should be reasonable for there to be more than one Saito Kaori in Japan.

This Kaori was elegant and poised as if she were raised in a higher demeanor.

"Oi, dumbass, we have practice," Kageyama said, hitting me in the head with his bag.

If this Kaori is so different, why can't I keep my eyes off of her?

Kaori's POV-

"So you'll be done late then?" I asked my brother. Nao called me on my cellphone after school to tell me he had tennis practice and couldn't come home right away. "Call me when you're done, alright?"

"Of course, of course. Bye," I said before Nao hung up on me.

"Neh, Saito-chan. Who was that?" one of my classmates asked me.

"My younger brother," I replied.

"You have a younger brother!?" another female classmate asked.

Take it at your own pace, Kaori. Just smile and nod.

After fifteen minutes of chatting with my classmates I was released from them. They had to either go home or rush to club activities. I was invited over to peoples' houses and multiple clubs such as the tea club, photography club, and book club, but I respectfully declined the club offers and scheduled days to come over to my classmates' houses.

I had around two hours at most before I needed to pick up Nao and walk home with him. I could finish my homework, but it wouldn't take that long with the amount they give here. I needed something to do in the meantime, but what?

I settled to spend my hours in the library, finishing homework and reading a book on corvidae.

"Please join the girls' volleyball team! I know you're still adjusting to your surroundings here, but what better way to acquaint yourself with everyone than to join a team sports club?"

I put the corvidae book down and looked out the window at the sun. There was probably a half hour left before sunset.

"Why do I need help to acquaint myself with people…?"

Flashback Start:

I was sitting at my desk reading a bibliography on Confucius during break while Hinata was watching me. He had the chair in front of me turned to face my desk.

"Kaori-chan, how can you stand reading all the time? Just one word from it and I fall asleep," Hinata complained, pushing my book flat onto my desk.

"It's interesting, Hinata-kun. You just dislike studying and doing homework." I softly said with a smile on my face before I picked my book back up and continued where I left off.

Hinata pouted and sprawled his arms out on my desk, resting his cheek on one of his arms, looking up at me. I lightly blushed when I noticed him staring, but this was typically how our breaks between classes went. Hinata would socialize with our classmates, make conversation with me, or watch me read during our breaks.

"Kaori-chan, how come you don't talk to anyone else in class but me?"

I tensed up and looked away from my book to Hinata. My face heated up and I slouched forward a bit to appear smaller. "W-Where is this coming from?"

"You're always reading or eating by yourself whenever I see you."

I frowned and looked back at my book, straightening my back. "There's no problem with that."

"Are you afraid of socializing with everyone?"

"Ugh!" He hit a nerve and he noticed. He sat up and took my book from me before taking my hand and pulling me out of my seat. "Hinata-kun, what are you doing?!"

"Don't worry! I'll be right beside you. If you get nervous, just look at me and you'll get through this!"

Flashback End:

That was my first year of middle school before Hinata and I dated.

He had just started talking and hanging around me out of nowhere. Well, he later admitted it was because I looked like I needed a friend. Hinata helped me to face everyone and not be afraid to make a fool of myself when I fumbled over my words. Though it was all still a work in progress.

Whenever I would feel insecure, I just had to look at him and he would smile or take my hand and squeeze it. I didn't need much from him to get the courage I needed.

It should be noted that whenever times got too hard for me, I would look back on these times when life was simpler. I would look back on his smile.

"I don't need help making friends. I can manage on my own. I don't want to waste my time trying to befriend everyone when it'll never last."

I collected my things and left the library. On my way out of the school, I was passing by the small hall that led to one of the gyms. I could hear sounds of balls being hit against the polished floor and soft flesh. It brought back wonderful feelings of scoring points and holding the ball in my palms, but it also brought back pain.

I looked down the hall and through the open door. It was the boys' volleyball team working on some drills.

I shook my head and pushed myself back into motion. I needed to separate myself from volleyball.

"You're late," Nao replied, staring blankly at me as he shook a little from the cold breeze.

"Sorry, I was held up at school today." I fixed Nao's scarf to better warm up his face and neck. "How was practice?"

Nao yawned as we walked. "I came on the best day. Leg day."

I laughed. "You'll feel it in the morning."

"I suppose… Hey, did you know that they call the volleyball teams at Karasuno the Fallen Crows?"

Guess it's not that easy to get away from volleyball…

"No…" I made sure that my tone reflected that I wanted him to drop the topic.

Fallen Crows? Heh, how fitting that title is to describe my life. Saito Sora? More like a Fallen Saito now.

Kageyama's POV-

As I was lying on my bed practicing my tosses, I heard a scuffle out my window. I tried to ignore it, pushing it off as a bird, but birds didn't grunt or curse.

I tossed my ball to one corner of my room and opened my window to see what was going on.

Now I don't know what I was expecting to find when I looked out my window, but I can say for sure that I did not expect to see my seat partner, the new girl in my class, Saito Kaori, sitting on the roof of the house next door after climbing up there from the open window right across from mine.

As I was dumbfoundedly staring at her pink pajamas, she made a twisted face as if she was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing.

At the same time we pointed at each other and shouted. "What are you doing there?!"

"Here," I said, handing Saito Kaori a cup of tea. I sat down at my desk while Saito was sitting on my bed.

"Thank you," she politely said as she blew over the top and took a sip.

I tried to look cool in my chair, but I was doing a bad job at hiding how nervous I was right now. Saito didn't look too composed either. Despite her posture being perfect, I could see from the liquid in her cup that her hands were shaking. We both sat in silence for a while before she decided to speak first.

"What are the odds that we are neighbors, Kageyama-san?"

I was grateful that she was the one who decided to break the ice.

"I didn't even know the house next door was for sale," I replied, pulling my ball over with my foot. "Why were you on your roof at this time?"

"I needed some fresh air."

My eyebrow twitched. "There are better ways to accomplishing that than climbing up to a roof."

Saito frowned and looked down at her tea. "If I climbed out of my bedroom window though, no one would notice I left."

That must mean her room is right across from mine.

I noticed her staring intensely at the ball I was spinning in my palms. Her fingers were flexing around the cup in her hands over and over.

"You're on the boys' volleyball team, no?" she asked.

I nodded, staring at the ball in my hands. I tossed it in the air and set it once before catching it.

"A setter...," she mumbled. She looked at my hands as if analyzing me to conclude that I was indeed a setter.

The ball accidentally slipped from my palms and rolled over to Saito's feet.

Shit!

"Sorry!"

I was about to retrieve the ball, but I stopped as Saito lightly poked the ball with her toe as if touching it anymore would burn her.

It's strange. This morning she looked like a poised princess-like character, but right now she looked distraught. That strange vibe I got from her when I first laid eyes on her returned.

Maybe she isn't who she appears to be at all. Maybe it's all an act. No, I'm overthinking this. What would she have to gain from pretending?

"…Do you play?" I asked, focusing on the ball that laid by her feet.

"…I used to…now I don't."

"What position were you?"

"... Sometimes I was a setter and other times I was a wing spiker."

S-Setter?

"What?"

"I've played as a wing spiker throughout middle school. I got pretty good so I suppose it wasn't a surprise when I became known as my school's Ace. I later…expanded to setter when I was deemed…not adequate enough to be called the Ace." Saito's grip on the cup tightened as she stared hard into the tea as if this was hard for her to say. She sighed and looked up at me. "Having an exceptional setter is essential to winning just as much as an exceptional spiker is." She stood and placed her cup on my desk. "Thank you for the hospitality, Kageyama-san."

She walked towards my window and opened it.

"Are you planning on joining girls' volleyball?" I asked, wondering what skill she must possess as a player.

She frowned and shook her head. "I can't…"

With that she climbed out my window and into hers. I heard the clang of her window closing signaling that she was safely inside her own room again.

"You can't?"

I shook it off and picked my ball back up again, continuing with what I was doing before I got sidetracked.

Kaori's POV-

Shit, I said too much.

I punched my pillow as I cowered underneath my covers.

Out of anyone who could have been my neighbor, why did it have to be him?!

I teared up and shoved my head underneath my pillow.

"Why can't I get away…?"

I woke up the next morning and got up just as I normally would do to get ready for school. I walked my brother to school and headed to mine. I greeted fellow classmates and commenced in small chatters with them until class began.

I looked over to Kageyama to see if he would press on more about volleyball to me, but much to my surprise, he was more focused on doodling strategies for setting to his teammates, making notes for what I guessed were all his teammates preferences. I didn't understand most of it though since he would write things such as: "woosh!" or "bang!"

While the teacher was writing notes on the board with his back turned, I sneaked a look behind me, scanning the students for Hinata. I spotted him struggling to stay awake. His head was rocking up and down. I nearly giggled at the sight of how cute he was being, but I restrained myself and wiped that cheeky smile off of my face. I had no right to think such thoughts about him.

The way I ended things made it so that it couldn't be mended unless I owned up to my lies. I lied and hurt him. I wouldn't take myself back even if I apologized for everything. I can't just pick up where we left off because there's nothing left.

At lunch, I made plans to eat with a few classmates in the classroom after I went to buy a drink from the vending machine. I was trying to show off that I could make friends if I wanted to, even if they may not last. It was also a good distraction to keep me away from my thoughts.

I put the appropriate amount of yen into the machine and pressed the button for strawberry milk. As I crouched down to retrieve my drink that just clinked to the bottom, I heard a familiar voice shouting out their displeasure. "Why do I have to get Bakageyama his stupid milk?! I should give him banana milk to spite him."

It was Hinata.

I quickly retrieved my drink and stood up in time to be face to face with Hinata.

Strangers. Strangers.

"Ah, you're from my class! We even bumped into one another yesterday," I said, chuckling softly as I put my hand up to my lips gently.

"You're Saito Kaori…," he replied.

On the inside, I was screaming out how nice it was to hear my name come from his lips again.

I nodded and put my wallet in my pocket. "It seems rather unfair how you know more about me already than I do you."

"… What do you mean?"

I swear there were pieces of sweat on my temple from his question. Then again, he wasn't always the brightest. "What is your name?"

"Why didn't you ask before!? My name is Hinata Shoyo. I hope we have a great year together! Ah, it feels like the first day of school for me all over again."

"Really? It feels like my first day every day, Hinata-san." I noticed him stop talking. He was just staring at me, as if analyzing everything about me. He didn't appear to register that I was the Saito Kaori from his past. I shuffled, uncomfortable. "Is there something on my face?"

Hinata shook his head, breaking his trance. He scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, you just remind me of someone I knew."

"Oh, am I this person?"

"I don't think you'd be asking me if you were. Plus, despite the similarities, there are a lot of differences."

"Really now…like what?"

"Your voice is different, your style, your composit-"

I stopped listening there.

THAT'S PUBERTY YOU IDIOT!

I self-consciously covered my chest with my arms and said my goodbyes to Hinata before things became more awkward.

At least he has himself convinced that I'm an entirely different person. That's good... There's no going back now... Honestly, when will the lies stop with me?

The whole lunch I had to answer questions and explain the different classes that were required at my old school such as: proper etiquette, home economics, world literature & art, music, dance, etc. It was prestigious for a reason. I myself wasn't rich. I was able to enter the school because of a family connection as well as my performance as a volleyball player. It was a rich kid school though. There were very few middle-class kids attending that were able to with a scholarship, and even then I felt left out.

Kageyama's POV-

As I was working on my homework, I heard shuffling outside my window.

Her again? Is she trying to get herself killed for some damn roof air?!

"YOU!" I slammed my window open and looked up at Saito's roof to see a bird flying away. "…"

The window across from me opened casually as Saito poked her head out from behind the curtains and leaned on the windowsill in a random sweater and leggings. She looked as if she just took a shower. "You're so loud at this time of night, Kageyama-san."

"…" I glared at her and she flinched.

"W-What'd I do?"

I shut my window and went back to my studies. "Stupid woman," I muttered under my break.

"Neh… Kageyama-san… Can I come over?"

Why does she want to come? What makes her think I want her to be here in my room!? It's not even appropriate for a girl to be alone in a guy's room! This girl is starting to become a pain in the-

"If not, I can always just settle for the roof." I could hear her climbing out of her window as she spoke. "Sorry for bothering you…"

I ignored her. What she did with her night was of no importance to me.

"AIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEECKKKK!"

I slammed my pencil down and opened my window to see that Saito was hanging on the ledge of her roof just dangling there, trying to get her footing on her window sill.

"I-It's there!"

I looked past her hands on her roof to see a raccoon lounging nearby.

"Sorry…," Saito apologized, accepting the tea I handed her.

I collapsed onto the floor next to my chair, tired from trying to help Saito from her dangling spot and fetching her some tea.

"Why can't you just stay quiet in your room?" I asked, sitting up, fiddling with my volleyball.

"There's nothing to do and I have too many thoughts..."

I groaned as Saito placed her tea on my bedside table. I tossed my ball in the air and started tossing to myself.

She said she was a setter, right?

As if to test her reaction, I tossed the ball over to Saito. Much to my disappointment, Saito just caught it above her head, but if I were to look closer, I would see that she caught it in a setting position; only, she didn't move to guide the ball up.

After she left for the night, I laid in bed, thinking about her reaction to holding the ball.

"I can't…"

I rolled onto my side.

Why couldn't she play volleyball? The look on her face as she was holding the ball was of someone with a passion for the game. Her eyes were fixated on the ball and her fingers were feeling the cushions that surrounded the sphere. It was like a child looking at a candy bar that they've been given after constant begging.