Summary: It's time for a change. Hinata goes to Karasuno High School determined to make the most out of his high school life. He didn't know that someone would be quite obsessed in getting him to be a player in the volleyball club, ignoring his wishes to not play said game and basically makes his life complicated than he had expected. Well, he might just find himself loving the game he had wanted to leave but unable to again.

Note: This is my own version of Haikyuu! This would slightly deviate from the canon version even though I am currently satisfied with the anime I am watching. I would probably follow the original plot and am only going to add some scenes with my own version.

Please don't expect longer chapters. I can only manage to write some in my breaks while writing my research paper. I am a college student and my free time is very limited. And I am not a native english speaker so I am going to apologize first hand if you're unsatisfied with my grammar or see some mistakes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Haikyuu! and I am only writing for fun and for stress relief. I hope you like it..

Palm Strike

Chapter 01:

It was already the end of first day of class and various students in Karasuno High School began to enthusiastically invite their fellow students to different clubs and activities. Some were even vigorously shouting about their own clubs. The teachers, though annoyed at the various noises were already used to it since it had been happening for as long as they could remember so they left it alone for the moment. Besides, it was only the first day.

Volleyball Club Manager, Shimizu Kiyoko sighed quietly as she looked at the pieces of paper on her desk.

Only three this year, huh, she thought. She tucked some strands of her hair that slightly obscured her view behind her ears as she shuffled the paper on her desk, ignoring the stares she could feel on her as she was already used to it. And they're all first years…

She shifted slightly and opened her school bag, taking out the forms she made last night for the Volleyball Team and listed the three first years' name on it so that those guys could just look at one paper to know how many new members would be joining this year.

It wasn't like there are many…

It's a little disappointing but she could not really force anyone to join on the club she was in. When she finished she clipped all the papers into one and stood up, making all her classmates to shut up and looked at her. She looked at them questioningly and all she got was shaking of their heads while telling her that nothing is wrong. Really, why do all of them have to act like that around her all the time?

She just shook her head a little at that before going out of her classroom while holding the papers in her hand and closed the door. The noise inside returned and she wondered if her presence really was that intimidating to have them stop like that. She lightly shook her head again to get that thought out of her mind and went to Sawamura's classroom.

She stopped though when she's almost close to the captain's room. She just remembered that Tanaka Ryunosuke, a second year member of the volleyball club would always be with Sawamura and Sugawara at this time without fail to go to the gym together. And Tanaka always has this way of greeting her…

She took a deep breath and released it slowly before resuming her walk again. She just has to do her usual routine in dealing with the loud second year.

Ignore it.

"Sawamura!" she called in when she spotted him along with his usual company. He, along with the other two with him looked at her.

"Shimizu." Sawamura Daichi easily smiled at her along with Sugawara Koushi, vice-captain of Karasuno volleyball club.

"Ah, Shimizu. Good afternoon." Sugawara said with a little wave.

"Kiyoko-san! You're beautiful as always today!" came the rather enthusiastic greeting that she frankly already knew was coming. It had always been like this after all.

"…" Shimizu didn't answer and instead only looked at them. She nodded at the two and brought the papers she had with her before giving it to Sawamura. She didn't even look at the other since she knew that it would only encourage him. Really, it's too tiring getting along with Tanaka's mood.

"Here, new member's registration."

"You're ignoring my excitement!" Tanaka exclaimed loudly with his eyes shining brightly at her. Shimizu chose to continue not to look at him and instead just looked at Sawamura intently and told him with her eyes to take the papers from her hands. The captain did with a smile still on his face and followed Shimizu's example at ignoring the loud second year volleyball player beside him. Sugawara just shook his head at this display.

Sawamura's easy smile slipped into a grimace seeing the papers in his hand. "Not that many huh? And here I was expecting a little more…"

"At least our numbers will increase with this, right?" Sugawara said with an encouraging smile, patting the Captain's shoulder lightly to emphasize his point. Shimizu just looked at them with a little smile on her lips that looked almost non-existent if it weren't for the slight curve of her lips. She shared the same disappointment with Sawamura but still agreed with Sugawara. Even with just three members added, at least Karasuno's volleyball club will increase.

"Kiyoko-san!"

Shimizu intentionally didn't reply to Tanaka's persistent greeting and still continued ignoring him, looking at Sawamura's sudden stiff frame, his eyes widened slightly.

"This guy?! Could it be…"

Shimizu along with the other two stared at him in confusion. Sawamura's exclamation was tinged with surprise and disbelief. There was nothing unusual with the paper. It just has three names in it. What was there to be surprise about?

"What? What is it Captain Sawamura?" Tanaka asked, looking at the paper in Sawamura's hand to get a good look at what made the captain exclaim like that.

"Kageyama Tobio."

"What?!" Tanaka exclaimed.

"That King of the Court?" Sugawara asked in a confused voice tinged with disbelief. Shimizu blinked at that. She didn't understand what the big deal is with that first year.

"This year is going to be interesting." Sawamura said.

"Maybe. Unless you can manage to talk Asahi-san to return, our club will really be strong." Shimizu said while tucking the strand of hair that had once again came in front of her face behind her ear.

"Asahi huh."

"Nishinoya is even coming back after that suspension." Sawamura and Sugawara sighed in unison while Tanaka's eyes lightened up like he had a brilliant idea.

"Let's convince Asahi-san right now!"

"Leave it Tanaka."

"Good luck with the freshmen later." Shimizu said.

"Ooh! Kiyoko-san, I will definitely take care of those firsties!" Tanaka said with a sparkling grin. Shimizu only turned around, intent on going back to her classroom.

"She turns me on when she ignores me!" Shimizu slightly shook her head at what she heard. It's better to ignore Tanaka than acknowledge his ridiculous antics. She didn't want to get caught up with his act. Besides, she's already used to it and had already told himself not to be bothered by the second year's enthusiasm in greeting her.

And to think that Nishinoya isn't even back yet. She sighed quietly and ignored the stares she kept on receiving while she walked along the corridors, mind already back to her studies.

. . . . .

Kageyama Tobio looked around him while walking around the campus on the way to the gym that the volleyball club uses. Karasuno wasn't bad sure but this wasn't really his first choice of school. Shiratorizawa Academy was where he wanted to attend but the school rejected him. Just thinking about it made him grit his teeth in annoyance and frustration.

He fastened his pace as he could already see the opened door of the gymnasium. He wanted to handle the ball some more before the seniors come. Before he could fully enter however, he heard some sort of ball hitting a wall. He was certain that that was someone spiking a ball on a wall. So someone was already inside.

He took a step inside and instantly froze. He saw someone on the other side of the wall just directly in front of his view spiking the ball on wall quickly and perfectly without fail and without any mishaps. The ball seemed like it was sucked into the person's hand as it came perfectly on his palm before he spike it again and again. The speed of it was amazing. Until the ball rose up higher than it did before as it bounced away from the wall. Kageyama thought the show is finished but it wasn't since the person playing with the ball quickly took a few steps back before he ran towards the wall again, bended his knee just slightly away from the rising ball and jumped.

He sucked his breath at the sight.

It was like he was seeing someone flying in the air with its wings flapping and stayed there like he was walking through the air. The person took on a spiking position in the air before he hit the ball with obvious strength while shouting along. The ball hit the wall with a hard slap before it bounced away again, dropping its height, rolling towards him slowly until it finally stopped on his feet. Still, he didn't pay the ball any mind and was instead watching the person who did the spike earlier as he descended on the floor gently like a dancer performing a play.

It was beautifully executed.

The person whose back was at his sight stood up straight and threw out a relieved sigh.

"Whoo! That was soo cool!" the person suddenly shouted and his voice echoed throughout the gym, that's how loud he was. Still, Kageyama continued staring at the person.

That- that was…

Kageyama had never seen anyone jump that high and has executed a beautiful spike in such a powerful yet elegant manner. Calm yet intimidating. Beautiful yet terrifying. His aura was that of a performer, you will be mesmerized by his play. He was caught off guard for a moment.

Who is that?

"Ah… That felt good! Spiking is really the best feeling ever!" the person exclaimed. He seemed to be in a good mood and he was looking at his right palm like they are the best thing he ever had. And since he is in the gym playing volleyball, maybe he is a member of the club. It would be good to know who the person is especially if he is going to be his teammate.

No way would that good of a player be not in the volleyball club.

"Who-who are you?"

Although that question didn't come out right.

The person stopped in his tracks and the good mood and energetic feel around the person suddenly vanished, replaced by a blank feeling he didn't like. It made him wary for some reason. What did he do?

"Um…" before he could speak more however, the person immediately turned around and rushed towards him with a speed of an Olympic runner without even looking up. His eyes went wide and hethought the person would just run towards him without caring that he was right in the way. But he didn't. He suddenly vanished in front of him and he only heard a 'whoosh' sound. He then heard another 'whoosh' before he saw an orange blur beside him running out of the gym.

He jerked out of his stupor and immediately whirled around.

"OI!"

No way would he lose sight of that person.

If it's that person, if it's that player, maybe he would be able to catch my toss perfectly. Maybe, maybe I won't be…

He saw him already away from him. That was fast! He gritted his teeth and started running towards him. Why the heck did he ran away? It wasn't like he is going to beat him up. And they are going to be teammates anyway, so why? He just wanted to know who he is!

He saw the student's back running away, saw that someone barricaded his way (probably wanting to recruit him in some sort of club, that's what most students are doing anyway). But instead of stopping, he just ducked on the tall and broad person who is wearing a number 4 uniform of the basketball club while jumping lowly and continuing his run.

What fast reflexes!

Before he could gain a distance towards the other, he was suddenly stopped by someone holding his hand. He turned around abruptly while flinging the hand holding his won as he jumped away.

"Whoa! Easy…"

"What was that?! Huh?!"

Kageyama looked at the three students in front of him and realized that they are his seniors in the volleyball club because of the jersey they had on him. He gritted his teeth in frustration, his face turning into a fierce scowl as he stared at his back where the spiker he saw earlier ran before looking back at his senior with an indifferent expression.

"Stop it with the act Tanaka. You're not really fooling anyone."

"I-I'm not fooling anyone Suga-san!"

"Okay." The one in the center spoke and the two stopped talking at once. "You're Kageyama Tobio right?"

"Yes." He simply said.

"Thanks for coming. I'm the captain of the volleyball club, Sawamura Daichi. This one's Sugawara Koushi, vice-captain and the other is Tanaka Ryunosuke."

"Oh, you've gotten taller than last year." Sugawara commented. Tanaka made a face at Kageyama while punching his chest importantly.

"What are you saying Suga-san? First impressions are important! Why aren't you coming at this first year looking dignified with more of a 'bang'! You will look weak in front of them!" Tanaka then slightly tilted his head upwards and stared at Kageyama with eyes trying to intimidate.

"Tanaka, quit it with the face." Sawamura said lightly. Tanaka looked reluctant but did as told.

."Hai, Daichi-san."

"Come on. Let's wait for the others inside the gym." The captain said and the three of them started to walk inside when Kageyama decided to speak. He can't get his mind off that spiker. He wanted to know who that was. Surely that wasn't a freshman? And if he is, do the seniors already knew his name? Was he scouted or was Karasuno his chosen high school?

"Captain." said captain stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Kageyama along with the two beside him.

"What is it?"

"Do you have a member that has a high jump?" he asked after a few seconds of uncertainty, though his face remained in that look of scowl.

The three looked at each other before looking back at him.

"Are you talking about the 'little giant' perhaps?"

"Uh, no. I'm talking about a current player." His eyes slightly narrowed when the three seniors in front of him stared at each other in confused manner. Perhaps they needed some more details? "He has amazing jumping power, fast reflexes and is an excellent spiker."

"Where did you see him?" The vice-captain asked him.

"Just now, in the gym. He was spiking on the wall when I came in."

"We don't have that kind of player yet. He might be a first year. Let's see later."

Kageyama looked behind him with narrowed eyes. That was a first year? If so, he might be a player in middle school. But why haven't I seen someone that capable before? He took a deep breath and looked back at his seniors.

"Yes captain."

He would watch out for that first year.

. . . . .

Hinata Shouyou panted lightly on bended knees before he stood up and drew a deep breath. He then released it with a shout, ignoring how the students around him jerked out in startled surprise when he did it. He patted his chest lightly trying to calm himself.

That was close.

He was pretty sure no one should have been around at that time so he did a little ball handling since he missed spiking a ball to his heart's content. He hadn't known that he would lose track of time! He hadn't wanted to be seen, he only wanted to play with the ball just a little bit. And it wasn't even just a normal student who saw him. It was the genius setter that was nicknamed 'King of the Court' during his middle school years, Kageyama Tobio himself. Though if he was asked, it's better that it was Kageyama and not the seniors.

That would have been terrible.

But still, what is he doing here? Kageyama is an elite and should have chosen some big-named school.

Ah, why should he care about that? He shouldn't since that wasn't his business. But he really is just curious.

He didn't know that his constant motions while thinking attracted the attention of the students around him and was being stared at, he wasn't even aware that he'd been doing some weird actions that it surprised him when someone suddenly touched him on his shoulders that he yelped.

"Oi, firstie. What are you doing?"

"Eh?"

He looked around and was confused when he saw his schoolmates looking at him like he suddenly sprouted a second head, or is an endangered species.

"Are you sick? You've been doing some weird motions there." The man said, and he instinctively knew that he is a senior, either a second year or a third year. He stood up straight from his suddenly bended form before rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Ehehe… I am not sick senpai!"

"Oh, alright. Still, better go to the infirmary."

"Hai!" he was about to sprint towards the infirmary when someone suddenly shouted.

"OII!" everyone stopped and stared at the person coming running with a fierce expression on his face. Hinata blinked when the man was suddenly in front of him, and he wasn't even wearing a school uniform but a uniform for… basketball?

"You're that energetic firstie who slipped past through me like a nubile athletic earlier didn't you?" Hinata's eyes went wide when the fierce person was suddenly on his face, glaring at him with that scary eyes of his.

"Eh? Uh.. umm.." he was flustered and he didn't know what to say. This senpai is scary…

"Oi, Nakajou. What do you think you're doing?" the senpai earlier who had told him to go to the infirmary was holding the scary senpai on his shoulder and Hinata swore that he saw some sort of black ominous presence behind the scary senpai. At that moment, he didn't know whether to be glad or frightened when the normal-looking senpai earlier who seemed to have a sleepy expression on his face suddenly turned into another scary one.

Nakajou-senpai turned to look behind him with an uneasy smile on his face.

"Ah, Ennoshita."

"Don't 'ah, Ennoshita' me you idiot! Are you bullying this first year to join your club again?" The newly-revealed Ennoshita-senpai asked with that ominous presence still within him. Hinata's eyes went wide and he looked around for help. Strangely, instead of being scared, the students around him looked on in interest at the scene right in front of him.

"I'm not bullying anyone Ennoshita! I'm just really happy I found someone good for my team!"

"That's bullying there Nakajou! What did I say about doing that to first years? Huh?"

"I wasn't!"

"Stop it with the over-enthusiastic way of asking then! Wait for their decision!"

"Hai." Nakajou-senpai said morosely. He then turned to him with that grin on his face and Hinata was ready to bolt away in case something happen.

"Firstie. I'm from the basketball club and if you haven't decided on what club to join yet, join us, 'kay? See you!" Nakajou-senpai then ran away to the direction he had been to before and Hinate sighed in relief. Whew, that was dangerous.

"Have you decided on what club to join yet? What's your name by the way?" Ennoshita-senpai had that almost sleepy expression on his face again and Hinata wondered if Ennoshita-senpai has a split personality disorder, like some kind of disease he had seen in dramas.

"A-ah, Hinata Shouyou, Ennoshita-senpai! And I… haven't yet…" he trailed off uncertainly. He still didn't know what club to attend, just that he wouldn't join volleyball club.

"You better decide now because you only have a week. Karasuno's students needed to join at least one club you know."

"Yes, Ennoshita-senpai!" Hinata immediately answered, wary that this senior would go all demon-like on him. He looked at him and Hinata gulped.

"Ah, I'm Ennoshita Chikara, second year so don't be afraid of me. I'm only a year ahead of you." He said with a lazy smile. Hinata blinked before giving a huge grin and bobbing his head up and down. Ennoshita-senpai didn't seem so bad now, huh.

"Hai!"

Yes, Karasuno High School seemed like a better choice. He even has a second year friend now.

. . . . .

Sugawara had always known that there are better setters than him. He also knew that sooner or later, he wouldn't be able to play volleyball in the court during tournaments especially now that he is a third year students and has to prioritize his studies than clubs and sports.

But he hadn't known it would be this early.

He knew, as he watched Kageyama practice with the other volleyball members, that if tournament comes Kageyama would be chosen as a setter than him. It was an obvious choice so it wasn't really hard to arrive to that conclusion.

Kageyama is a prodigy, has an unbelievable talent and can create tosses that almost always make the team score more. And starting members are the ones who can give more opportunities for the team to advance to the next level.

But it didn't mean that he would give up his place easily.

"Sugawara." Said man looked behind him and saw Daichi coming towards him with a ball on his hand. "What are you looking at?"

Sugawara just turned to continue to look at Kageyama's practice. He heard a sigh.

"Don't tell me…"

"I won't give up my place that easily Daichi, don't worry." He said seriously. He felt a hand on his shoulder and knew that it belonged to their captain.

"Good. Besides, I don't think he will be able to get the starting spot as a setter from you that easily Suga." Sugawara turned and looked at Daichi with questioning eyes.

"Why is that?"

"Well," Daichi looked at him seriously before looking back at Kageyama with an equally serious look on his eyes. "You saw his game last year right?" at his nod, Daichi continued. "Even as a middle school student, Kageyama possessed incredible, overflowing talent. But right now, that talent does not remain."

"What do you mean?"

"He's using the 'one-person-team' method last year and he'll repeat using that here. That kind of play won't be of any help in our team. He sees the court as his domain and he can see what kind of toss is accurate to give the team a score, but the drawback is that no one will be able to synchronize with him."

Sugawara remembered Kageyama's tosses last year, and while they may be effective theoretically, such tosses are impossible on a player who won't be able to keep up with his fast-paced mind. His teammates last year barely managed to hit the ball he gave out. Such is how fast his tosses are.

"You're saying that he needed to learn team play?"

"That and we need to find a player that complements his fast play."

"Yeah. I get your point." Sugawara nodded.

"Someone who possesses phenomenon speed and reaction time to match Kageyama. I don't think we have anyone like that here." Both the captain and vice-captain sighed before Sawamura took a step back and motioned for Sugawara with the ball. They both went to position before they played.

"By the way Daichi, about what Kageyama inquired earlier." Sugawara hit the ball that was tossed to him lightly, and it bounced towards Sawamura in a perfect arch.

"Ah, about someone who had high jumps?" Sawamura hit the ball with a spike, which Sugawara returned without trouble.

"Hm. Do we have someone like that?"

"Not that I know of."

"What about the other two first years? They're still not here, right?"

"We'll see about it tomorrow."

TBC.

A/N: So, how was it? I made being in a club a requirement in Karasuno though I'm not really sure if it's like that in canon. Did you think Kageyama is in character? No matter how much I read, I can't determine if he is or not. Hinata, well I think he does have a different feel with him in canon when he's serious so I am trying to incorporate it here.

Anyway, that was good. Definitely made me want to finish my research paper faster. I wanna write more... Seriously, being a college student is stressful. And I am only a second year too. Huh.

Right, see you the next chapter.

[Don't forget to review, hmm..]