Chapter 1: Once upon a time, Hinata might have been normal

For Hinata, the only thing that holds a candle to his love for volleyball is his family. He loves his mother, his father, and most of all, his baby sister.

Hinata Natsu.

He remembers the day as clear as the summer skies.

He'd been fidgety all day at school because really, it was a sin to be indoors on such a beautiful day which could be spent better- on volleyball. Despite the lack of a team, Hinata had taken to the sport like a moth to flame.

But there was another reason he was so jittery.

Tap tap tap

His pencil vented his frustration, and though he could see that his seatmates were getting a bit weirded out, he couldn't stop. Then, a man (Hinata's father) bursts into the small classroom with impeccable timing to snatch Shoyo out of his seat, eyes twinkling with sheer joy.

"Natsu. Natsu's here." His father breathes out, and Shoyo can feel his heart hammering as they rush to the hospital.

He falls in love at first sight.

"She's so small." His own voice is in awe, as he watches her play with his finger. Gurgled laughter comes from the freshly bathed bundle in his mother's arms. Hinata can't help it, he reaches out, imploring with puppy eyes at his mother who giggles and hands her over.

Blinking, the first thing he notices is her soft hair. It's orange just like his.

Heart swelling in pride, he lets her bat his cheek. "Natsu." He says, the name sounding perfect for her. As if in response, she locks eyes with him, and smiles, cooing and clenching her fists as if saying 'Yes, that's me, Hinata Natsu.'

Hinata grins, and nuzzles her. Seized with a sudden urge, he begins peppering kisses all over her as she giggles loudly, his parents enjoying the moment with a hint of tears in their eyes.

That's probably when it starts.

By the time he's in junior high, he'd gotten a bit of a reputation.

Nothing bad, just that he was the perfect friend, who didn't seem to have anything but pure intentions. 'Sunkiss', he was nicknamed. Warm, and gentle for all his tenacity, he'd kiss their cheeks, their hands, with nothing in mind.

Not that it offended anyone really. He'd stop, if they were too shy or uncomfortable, and reduce it to hugs, forehead bumps or nudges accompanied by a smile.

Hinata Shoyo was a people person, and it was as simple as that.

Still, sometimes he'd get the odd confession from boys, or girls, and that worried him because it just wasn't like that for him- and he'd wonder if this was wrong, because the adults looked bewildered and some disapproving.

He'd had a particularly harrowing day once, where the teacher had sternly told him that this behaviour wasn't acceptable, something about modesty, or proper conduct and it was wrong to kiss other boys.

That day, he'd broken down in his mother's arms as she sighed, running her hands through his hair and kissed his cheek, soothing. "Oh Shoyo, Shoyo, don't worry Shoyo. It's not bad, Shoyo. It's the way you connect Shoyo, who cares what that nasty man says;" She'd lifted his teary face, smiling.

"There's nothing wrong with showing the world your love and trust. But you know, Shoyo, not everyone can see the way you do. Some people are different from us. You only trust those that are worthy, ok?"

His father had said nothing from the kitchen, but his knife had seemed a little dangerous at the mention of the teacher.

Later, Natsu was still determined to get her Shoyo kiss quota filled right and proper. He breathes her innocence in as the two of them dissolve into laughter and sleepy grins.

The very next day, when Hinata arrived at school, he'd been a bit scared really. The girls had bounded to him, waiting for their good morning kiss, but Hinata smiled sadly, and gave them hugs instead, to their bewilderment.

Surprisingly, teenage girls are surprisingly intelligent. That, and gossip spreads really fast in places with congregations of people. And though teenage boys may be a bit awkward and gruff, they were good friends when you really need it.

It was how Hinata was treated to the sight of the teacher from yesterday being subjected to flour harassment by the Home Ec. Class.

"Sensei, you're the worst!"

"Did you really tell Hinata-kun off for something this minor?"

"Is it because he doesn't kiss you, sensei?"

And so on. Hinata's startled, for a moment, when the eggs come into play- he giggles a bit (Ok a lot because though he's kind, he's not mature enough to stem laughter at this kind of scene). But then, he realises, his mother was right. Not everyone was wired like him, really.

So, even if the teacher was a bit mean, there's no reason to treat him the same...

"Hey, guys, it's alright, really."

He means it.

Time flies, and it's the start of a new school- high school.

Karasuno High

It sounds so cool, and Hinata can barely contain his excitement. He's 15, and ready to take on the world on the volleyball court. Not that he's had any training, but he's determined if nothing else.

Breathing in the spring air, he smiles a bit wistfully. It's the start of a new chapter in his life. He wonders if he'll find people to trust with his real self, and be able to accept this side of him. He worries, a bit. Well, a lot- there wasn't a lot of people very open to the way he connected (he'd found this out during the last year of junior high).

It was lonely.

But he looks to the sky, and sees the beautiful blue and everything beyond. Natsu, he thinks, and closes his eyes against the breeze. Natsu was the one that taught him that connections were important. And she'd always believed in him.

Copper eyes opened.

It was time to believe in himself, too.