Disclaimer: Haikyuu is not mine. It belongs to Haruichi Furudate, Weekly Shonen Jump and Shueisha.
Note: Sunshine Gaiden is Hinata's POV. Colourful Gaiden is Michiko an OC's POV. Blue Castle Gaiden covers events from Seijoh/Aoba Johsai's side of the story.
Sunshine Gaiden 02
The next day at school, I decided while only half paying attention to sensei that I'd invite Mogami-san to eat together with me, Izumin and Koji. It wasn't a lot, to say thanks, nothing at all really.
But I couldn't think of anything else!
I ended up embarrassing myself when I got to her classroom though, when I found out she already ate lunch with her friend, that ponytail haired girl – Ayasato Michiko... That's what Mogami-san said her name was.
Speaking of Ayasato-san, Mogami-san just got finished saying she always ate with her, and then she started pushing for Mogami-san to come with me no matter what.
Ayasato-san is kinda weird. I told Mogami-san that, but she only laughed, like she agreed.
Apparently, Ayasato-san has always been looking after her since they met. That's kinda nice.
Anyway, I ended up introducing Mogami-san to Izumin and Koji that lunch break.
Later, that afternoon, I came to the gym as usual to work on my spikes. Now that I had Mogami-san helping me, I was more excited than usual!
The girls went for their jog to warm up and I did a few warm-ups of my own back in the gym. When they started coming back in I was buzzing with anticipation.
When I spotted Mogami-san coming in, I hurried over to her, "Mogami-san! Are you ready?" I asked her.
She smiled, and nodded to me, "Yeah, come on," she said as some of the other girls started to whisper amongst themselves. I followed Mogami-san and she guided me towards one of the nets.
My mouth fell open. Whoa, already?!
"We're gonna use the nets?" I asked, surprised.
But what about that scary Coach of theirs...!? I looked over to check their coach's expression. Urk! Stony faced and intimidating as hell, as usual...!
"This isn't just practice for you, Hinata-san. It's also helping me practice setting. Since it's like that, Hatsumi-senpai said she talked Kaori-senpai and Coach Tezuka into it. So, yes, we're using the net!" Mogami-san explained happily.
This is great! I never could work up the nerve to even ask Coach Tezuka to use a net when it was free...!
I jumped into the air, excited, "Aw'right!" I cheered.
When I landed, I looked over to Mogami-san, but she was just staring at me with wide eyes.
I started feeling self-conscious, "W-What...?" I asked nervously.
"I-It's nothing!" she denied, "Just, you can jump pretty high huh? That's a great start, for volleyball." She added and I blushed under the praise.
"R-Really, ya think? That makes me happy..." I mumbled, feeling a little shy.
Jumping was really one of the only things I could practice on my own after all, so I did it a lot.
"Yep! Anyway, shall we get started...?" Mogami-san asked, picking up a ball and looking at me expectantly.
'Hell yeah, I'm ready!' I thought to myself, nodding quickly, and taking the ball.
"I'm still getting used to setting, but I'll do my best. Just throw the ball up to above my head and start your run up right after. I'll send it to you!" she said and I nodded, going to get into position.
I tossed the ball over to her position, and began my run up, heart hammering in my chest.
This was it! My first toss from a real Setter...! I gotta nail it!
When the ball hit my palm, I sent it flying, and it was like whoosh and bam! It was so cool!
After landing, I quickly looked at my hand. It was a little red, and I could feel it! My hand was a little sore, but it just felt right, ya know?
Uwaaaah...!
"So cooool...!" I cried, turning to look at her excitedly, "Can we do it again?!" I asked her, and after a moment, she smiled and nodded.
"Of course! This is practice for the both of us, so we're gonna keep doing this!" she told me.
Yes...!
So, we kept at it after that! She stuck with me for most of the practice, only being pulled away to do receiving drills with the other girls for about 15 minutes, and it ended up being like that for the next few days.
Mogami-san was very... Ahh, what's the word...! It's like...! She knew exactly how to send the ball to someone like me, who's technically new to this. She was good at explaining stuff; even though I didn't get it some things she never lost her patience with me and kept explaining it until I did get it.
She'd probably make a good teacher, I think...
But today, the practice wasn't going so well. I mean, yeah, Mogami-san's tosses were great as usual! It's just that her ponytail friend, Ayasato-san had started practicing her receives against me.
I hadn't gotten a single point-winning spike in...!
But I won't give up! So what if it's not a real match!
If I can't win against Ayasato-san who's only practicing, I'll never win against someone who's actually trying to win a match!
"Hinata-san, do you want to give it a rest with spiking for now?" Mogami-san suddenly said and I widened my eyes in shock.
I turned to her, determined, "What?! No, I can do it! I swear I can! I've almost got it, I'm sure of it! Just a little more..." I gritted my teeth.
Please, don't stop tossing to me, Mogami-san...!
"It's fine, Hinata-san," she laughed, but not in a mocking way, "I was just thinking how we've been doing nothing but spiking for the past few days. I wondered if you'd like to try other things, like receiving. Volleyball's not all about scoring points after all – as you saw Micchan do, volleyball's about preventing the opponent from scoring too," she explained.
I relaxed a little, "Oh," I muttered. She did have a point, and I wanted to learn everything I could after all!
I nodded, "Let's do that then!" I agreed, ready.
"By the way, do you know how to receive?" she asked, and I flinched. Uh, about that...
And so, after getting it explained to me a few times, we spent the rest of that practice on me learning how to receive properly. I kinda messed it up on my first go - it nearly hit Mogami-san...! That wouldn't be a good way to thank her...!
Ahh, that was embarrassing...!
But by the end of practice, I wasn't messing up so often anymore... When we started packing up for the night, it was already really dark out.
So I decided to walk Mogami-san home, and when she questioned it, I shrugged my shoulders.
"Well... I thought, isn't it getting darker lately? It's already October... I didn't feel right about letting you walk alone in the dark..." I said.
"My house isn't that far away," she said; it sounded like she was smiling, in her voice, "But that's sweet of you, Hinata-san," she added, and I blushed.
"And I-I kinda wanted to talk to you too...! I never would've expected you of all people to offer to help me, ya know? 'Cause you seemed kinda shy!" I said, and looked up at the night sky,
"I've been trying on my own since I started up with volleyball, but I never really knew what I was doing 'cause I didn't have anyone to show me. All I could do was throw a ball at a wall and try to hit it right. And like today, I finally got to learn how to bump a ball up! I never would've got the technique down if it weren't for you, Mogami-san!" I said, smiling; I looked back at her and saw she'd started blushing too.
"E-Eeehh? W-Were my instructions okay...?" she asked, looking embarrassed.
Cute...
I nodded, "Yeah, they were great! You even didn't get annoyed when I didn't totally get it the first time!" I said, looking up again, "So far it'd just been me, and Izumin and Koji when they had the time, but I feel like now I'm really making some progress. And next year...!" I said, anticipation building up.
I looked back at her, determined, "Next year, I'm gonna get some new recruits from the 1st years coming in, and I'm definitely gonna play an official match! Just watch me!" I told her, and she smiled and nodded at me.
"I will! I'll be right there cheering for you!" she told me, before clarifying that it'd be if our matches didn't overlap, but all the same, it made me really happy.
Next year, I'll definitely get team-mates, I'll play in an official match, I'll win, and Mogami-san will be watching me when I do!
Time flew over after that, and Mogami-san and I kept on practicing together every time. Before I knew it, I'd survived the end exams, and the break between moving up a year had come and past before I knew it.
I spent the break hanging out with Izumin and Koji, and texting with Mogami-san, who's number I'd eventually gotten just before the break.
Today, was the first day back at school, and my first day as a middle school third year! Today, I'd finally maybe get some team-mates!
I was talking about it, early that morning, at the breakfast table with Okaa-san and my little sister, Natsu.
Natsu looked up from her sippy cup, "Eh, but don't you already have a team-mate, Nii-chan?" she asked me.
"Eh?" I looked down at her with a mouthful of egg over rice, and swallowed, "What d'you mean, Natsu?" I asked her, confused.
She sat up on her knees, and continued, "You're always talking about Mogami-nee who sends all the tosses to you, and teaches you all kinds of things!" she said.
"Natsu, sweetie, sit down properly or you'll hurt yourself," Okaasan called from by the kitchen, and Natsu whined and sat back down properly.
I blushed a little, and went to correct my sister, "She's not actually my team-mate, Natsu. Volleyball teams, at least in high school, can only be all boys or all girls. Mogami-san just helps me out, because she's really nice, is all." I said, and frowned, "But this year, I'll definitely get real team-mates...! Everything Mogami-san's done for me won't go to waste!" I said, adamant, and put some more rice and egg in my mouth to eat.
"Hmmm..." Natsu hummed, taking a spoonful of her yoghurt, "Is Mogami-nee pretty? Is that why you like her?" she asked and I spat out my food, blushing madly.
"Shoyo! Clean that up right away!" Okaasan told me off, but I was too busy trying to stop choking!
"Wh-What was that Natsu!?" I complained at her, my face hot.
Why the hell would she think I l-l-liked Mogami-san...!?
Natsu pouted, "It's because you're always talking about her, like almost every day! But you never bring her over, so I wanna know!" she whined.
I rubbed my mouth clear of egg and rice grains, regaining my breath, "W-We're just friends, Natsu! Right now, Mogami-san is being nice enough to help me out. A-And since volleyball is something I like to talk about, of course I'm gonna end up talking about h-her...!" I reasoned, trying to will my heart beat to stop racing.
It's like I was trying to convince myself...
Yeah. Mogami-san is really pretty, and so nice to me... she's patient with an idiot like me, and always smiles when I'm around. And when I'm with her, I also feel like smiling...
But that doesn't mean anything!
Mogami-san and I are just friends...
Stupid Natsu, why'd she have to say stuff like that...! I wonder if I'll be able to look at her with a straight face when I see her later today...
No! Before that, I had to get to school and start greeting new first years! I had to get there early and have all the flyers ready!
Scarfing down the last of my breakfast quickly, I grabbed the rest of my uniform, and all my stuff, and hastily bit Okaasan and Natsu goodbye for the morning.
The last thing I heard was Okaasan wishing me good luck.
I smiled, excited, and my embarrassment forgotten – today, I'd definitely get some new team members!
"Please! Join the boys' volleyball club!" I thrust a flyer towards another group of first year boys, who jumped in surprise, but didn't pull away right away. Good...!
I'd got a lot of 'no's and plenty of times I'd just been flat out ignored, but this was promising!
There were three of them; they looked anxious, and unsure, as they looked at the flyer I'd showed them.
"Volleyball club...?" one asked.
"I'd heard it was just a fan club, but I was kinda interested in it..." another murmured to his friends, who nodded.
I shook my head, smiling, "It's not anymore! I mean, there's just me for now, but with the three of you, we'll be four! We'd just need two more members! You said you were interested?" I said, turning to the boy who'd said that, excited.
He backed away, looking startled, but rubbed his cheek with his finger sheepishly.
"W-Well, yeah." he agreed.
"There's still more time this morning! If the three of you join and another two do as well, we'll have a full team and can play in official matches...!" I said, and hung my head, thoughtful.
An official match... I absolutely wanted to do it, at all costs. I decided, I'd tell them why it was so important to me that this club got members. About how after I graduated, the club would be forced to shut down; about how this was my last chance to play in an official match in middle school; about the Small Giant.
In the end, it totally worked...!
They even said they'd ask some of their other friends about it too!
Mori, Kawashima, and Suzuki! And hopefully, their friends Hayashi and Tosaka too!
That made 6 players!
In my excitement, as soon as I'd given the flyers and forms to Mori, Kawashima and Suzuki, I hurried over to where Mogami-san and Ayasato-san were to tell them the great news!
I was able to talk to her without what Natsu said to me this morning getting to me.
I was even able to ignore the light feeling in my chest when Mogami-san smiled so brightly and congratulated me.
But in the end... Only Mori, Kawashima and Suzuki came to the first practice of the school year that afternoon.
It was a blow, that was for sure... But I couldn't let them see how disappointed I was. I even had a gym for the boys' team all to myself this year, and with teammates finally, I was officially a captain now!
I had to be strong for those three, who were looking to me for guidance...!
For now, I told them they could watch me spiking, before trying it themselves, and they were happy to sit at the side and watch. They still looked really nervous, and a bit guilty.
But it wasn't their fault their friends had already joined another club!
No, I had to focus on the positives!
"Hinata-kun...!" Mogami-san's voice bounced off the walls of the gym, and I looked back to her, surprised.
"Eh? M-Mogami-san, what're you doing here...?" I asked her. She was the vice-captain of the girls' team this year after all! She probably had a lot of work to do with her team's new recruits, so why was she here instead?
I turned to her fully, and ran over to join her near the entrance, grabbing the ball from the ground as I did.
She looked really sad, and I didn't like that. I furrowed my brows.
"Eh? A girl came to see senpai..." I heard Mori-san comment, and Mogami-san turned to the first years. At seeing them, she looked relieved.
Ah... she was worried about me.
I pursed my lips, joining her at her side, before noticing she was looking at me again. I smiled for her.
"Ah, these are the three first-years I told you about this morning! Their names are Mori, Kawashima and Suzuki." I introduced them to Mogami-san, and then gestured to her,
"This is Mogami-san. She's a third year like me, and is the vice-captain of the girls' volleyball team. She's really helped me a lot when it was just me on the boys' team!" I said.
She blushed, "It's nice to meet you," she said, bowing to them.
They nervously bowed in response.
She turned to me, "Um... these aren't all of them, right? You said one of them was going to bring some friends...?" she said and I sighed quietly.
Mori-san then went on to explain and apologise, and Mogami-san started looking sadder and more concerned. I didn't like it when she looked so bothered...
I put my hands behind my head and sighed out, trying to sound optimistic, "Well baseball is pretty popular in Japan so it can't be helped, huh? I'm still really happy that you guys joined me this year, so it's all good!" I said.
After a moment of silence, I turned to Mogami-san, "We're both definitely going to play an official match this year! So... we're counting on your help, Mogami-san!" I said, and bowed deeply to her.
"Come on, you guys too...!" I said looking to the boys, who scrambled to follow my lead. Mogami-san gasped, caught off guard, and I stood back up.
"You'll be helping me this year, too, right?" I asked her and she looked conflicted; I bit my lip and continued, "Y-You are...right?" I asked her again.
Please... say 'yes', Mogami-san...!
I don't want this to be the end, just because I've got teammates now...! Please stay...
She nervously went on to explain all her duties this year, all of which I knew, but I still couldn't help but hope that she'd still stick with me, at least for the rest of this year.
She turned to the boys and gave them an encouraging smile, "I know you guys have just joined, and maybe you're not very experienced in volleyball, but it looks like your captain already has high expectations for his team. It's probably going to be rough, but I know you guys will try your very best." She told them, and they all nodded.
She turned to me, "I have a lot of responsibilities to live up to with the girls' team this year, so I won't have as much time as I did last year to help out. But I'm not just going to leave you behind. Especially not if you're going to be playing in official games this year, right?" she asked me and I was so relieved.
I smiled widely, grateful, and nodded, "O-Ossu! We definitely will! I'll make it happen, for sure! ...When you can come... We'll be in your care!" I said, and bowed to her in gratitude, followed by my kohai.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Mogami-san...!
'Is Mogami-nee pretty? Is that why you like her?' Natsu's words from this morning came back and I was so glad I was still bowing and she couldn't see my blush.
Dammit, Natsu...!
onigiriri: It's longer this time, yay! I managed to cover Chapters 3 to 5 this time, and there are some unseen scenes too! Hinata had been nursing a small crush on Moeka even this far back, but it wasn't anything serious at the time. It's all Natsu's fault that he started noticing it more, haha!
I hope you like it! I've decided I'm gonna finish up to the part of Yukigaoka arc that covers the VS. Kitagawa Daiichi match in Sunshine Gaiden first, before doing a bit of Colourful Gaiden (Michiko's story) towards the last few chapters of the Yukigaoka arc, since that is more focused on Moeka and Michiko than Hinata. Then, as soon as Seijoh is introduced in Sunshine Gaiden, Blue Castle Arc will also start!
Remember, this 'book' contains all three Gaiden!
Reviews are love~ Thanks for the support so far! I hope you thought this chapter was cute too! I'd love to hear your feedback!