Note: Hi again! I'm so happy for all of the positive feedback I received. It really made my day even though I just signed up and Haikyuu still has a few fans in fanfiction. As a thank you, I decided to immediately post the second chapter even though I just finished writing this. I haven't even returned to my research paper yet just to write this. Hope you like it.

BTW, refer to the disclaimer on the first chapter. Enjoy!

Palm Strike

Chapter 02:

I'm late, I'm late, I'm laaate!

Hinata pedalled his bike faster. This is only his second day and he's already going to be marked as tardy. Aah! Why didn't mom wake me up?!

"ORAAAAA!" he shouted while pedalling a little bit faster than earlier, but had to stop because three students were right in front of the way his bike is and he cannot change the course of his bike that fast because of its speed. No choice, he thought. He stuck his feet on the ground and forcefully tried to stop the bike. Instead, the bike leaned down and he dropped from his bike and rolled a few steps away from the students he had tried to evade.

"Ow…" he rubbed his head as he sat up on the way. That hurt! He looked at where he saw his bike earlier and saw it toppled upside-down away from him, its wheels still turning in unbelievable speed. "Waah! My bike!"

"Hinata?" an incredulous voice said behind him and he turned to see that it was Ennoshita-senpai who had his eyes wide along with the other two beside him.

"Ennoshita-senpai!"

"Chikara? You know this shrimp?" asked the one with a shaved head beside Ennoshita-senpai in shocked voice. Hinata immediately jumped on his feet and glared at the one who spoke.

"Who are you calling a shrimp, baldy?!"

"Baldy you say?!"

Someone laughed and the two who are arguing turned to look at the one laughing.

"What are you laughing at Hisashi?!"

"Y-you sound like Tanaka, Kazuhito."

"Hinata, what are you doing?" Ennoshita-senpai asked which Hinata immediately shouted and looked for his bike.

"I'm late Ennoshita-senpai! And why aren't you hurrying?! You're going to be late too!"

"Huh? There's still plenty of time before class Hinata. It's still 6:50 in the morning."

"Eh?" Hinata immediately looked at his wristwatch and saw that it is 8:45. His forehead drew together, confused as to why his watch says otherwise.

"What time senpai?"

"6:50"

Hinata looked at the three in front of him confusedly before his mind drifted into how his sister snickered at him when he was running around the house trying to get ready so he wouldn't be late more than he already was. He wasn't even able to eat his breakfast and only took a piece of bread and the money his mother gave him to buy for food before he took off.

He remembered his mother shouting, asking him why he is in such a hurry and when he answered he's late for school, his mother said there's still plenty of time. He also heard his sister's laugh even from the distance…

"Natsu…" he growled, irritated at the prank his sister did. Let's see if she can still laugh later when he returns home. That little she-demon.

"Easy there Hinata. You're already here so why don't you just follow us?" Ennoshita-senpai stated. Hinata looked at him before finally giving a morose sigh.

"Alright senpai."

"You're going to bring this shrimp with us?"

"Stop calling me shrimp already, you… you pole baldy!" Hinata shouted. The three in front of him looked thunderstruck at his remark so he took that chance to go and take his bike. Good thing it's still in good shape, what with the way he had crashed earlier. And why hadn't he noticed that the sun isn't particularly shining that day? Sheesh, his panic probably dulled his mind.

The three second years only looked at Hinata, their minds going onto his retort earlier. Pole baldy… how did the freshman came up with that? Just thinking about it…

The three suddenly had an image of Kazuhito standing rapidly straight without movement with his shaved head on top and wires around everywhere, electricity running and electrocuting him in the process…

Hinata was startled when someone friendly patted his shoulder, bringing him out of his grumbling mind and saw the senpai with Ennoshita-senpai earlier who has short, spiky hair looking at him with that friendly look, though his eyes held an odd spark that Hinata cannot pinpoint exactly, not that he is great at eye-reading mind you.

"I like you firstie."

That triggered a snicker before a full-blown laugh was heard on the street.

"Oi! That wasn't funny!" baldy exclaimed, though Hinata saw that neither the two senpai's stopped their laugh.

"My… my name's Kinoshita Hisashi, that… baldy there," Hinata blinked at the man whom introduced himself as Kinoshita-senpai. He was still laughing, though now was just heaving snickers along his introduction. But for some reason, he had paused for a second before saying 'baldy' like he was hesitating what to say. It's very confusing.

Seniors are really a weird bunch.

"… is Narita Kazuhito."

"Hinata Shouyou, Kinoshita-senpai!"

"Hmp. I'll call you Hinata if you stop calling me baldy." Narita-senpai stated which Hinata nodded with slight reluctance and enthusiasm. He wanted to call that rude senpai baldy but he didn't want to be called shrimp. The deal's okay at least.

"Ah! My glasses!" Hinata shouted and looked around for an orange-rimmed glasses that had fell off his face when he fell from his bike.

"Oh, you mean this?" Ennoshita-senpai raised his hand and let Hinata see glasses in his hand that looked the same as his own.

"Yes!" holding his bike, he went to Ennoshita-senpai's side and took the glasses before fitting it on his face once again. "Thank you, Ennoshita-senpai."

"Say, Hinata." Ennoshita spoke after a while when the four of them are already in front of the school gate. Kazuhito and Hinata already called truce in their fight and was now talking animatedly to each other. When the two aren't fighting, they are pretty much a match really. Hinata, as he can see is someone who fearlessly walks into a path and speaks bluntly without taking care of how to word his words in a careful manner while Kazuhito is someone who, while talking bluntly still speaks carefully especially to people whom he knows would take his words in bad light.

The two are almost the same that it wasn't really a surprise that they hit it off once they stopped arguing. He and Hisashi would just shake their heads off at the two who are walking in front of them.

Hinata cocked his head up to look at him and he cannot help but think of how short the first year is. He is even shorter than Nishinoya, probably.

Not that he would tell them that. Short people tend to take offense when their height is called out.

"Why are you wearing glasses? You didn't have that on yesterday. Is that prescribed?"

"No senpai." Hinata said with his voice taking on a confused note.

"Then why?" Hinata mumbled something under his breath and the two who also stopped to hear what he wanted to say didn't catch his words at all. "Come again?"

"For protection."

"From what?" Kazuhito asked. Ennoshita isn't sure but he thought he caught a slight glint in Hinata's eyes that made the hair at the back of his neck stand slightly. It suddenly felt chilly and he didn't know why.

"Nothing senpai." As Hinata said this, Ennoshita caught his kouhai's sharp eyes for a split-second before it was obscured by the glasses he wore reflecting the light of its lenses and Ennoshita suddenly understood in a strange way that Hinata probably didn't want anyone seeing his eyes turning into a sharp look. Because at that moment, Ennoshita can feel his gut tightening because of it.

He suddenly elevated Hinata's status as a dangerous person to cross in his mind and not just someone who is a dense idiot and an energetic first year he happened to befriend on the first day.

The four turned silent as they walked towards the gym where the volleyball club has its morning practice when Hinata suddenly stopped and looked around in a confused manner. He looked at them with his questioning eyes and Ennoshita can feel himself relax at his kouhai's expression. He didn't know that he'd been feeling tense since he's seen that look Hinata had earlier.

"Where are we going senpai?"

"To the gym of course. We have morning practice right now." Hisashi answered while Ennoshita just stared at the first year intently without seemingly trying to do it.

"Practice?"

"Volleyball practice of course. We are part of the volleyball club. Come on Hinata. I'll introduce you to everyone." Kazuhito got a hold of Hinata's hands and dragged him towards the gym. And because Ennoshita had been looking, he saw Hinata's eyes went wide and turn into panic.

He wondered why.

. . . . .

"So, what do you think?"

Hinata looked around the gym, silently impressed at the way some players practiced. As he thought, Kageyama really is a genius setter with accurate tosses. Though he have to practice to tone his fast play down because he cannot see anyone who can hit that fast toss precisely with power. He would have loved hitting it himself and he was sure that he would be able to, but he still is determined not to play the game.

He ignored the gnawing thought behind his mind that he had already played volleyball – again – albeit with only himself and the wall.

But the other one who has light colored hair who have a mole under his eye isn't bad either. With his careful, precise and easy toss, Hinata can say that he also is an excellent setter, though not a prodigy like Kageyama. With his toss, he is certain that even if that one isn't as good as Kageyama, he'll be able to give a toss that would be easy to hit and can bring his team's strength in the surface.

The one with the short dark hair has solid stance and receive. If he can refine his strength more, be more controlled, Hinata is certain that one would be able to receive the ball and send it right back to the setter perfectly even if the serves and spikes he receives were powerful and fast. He also needed to time his swings and moves more.

"OOOOWHOAAH! TOSS TO ME MORE! ONE MORE TIME!"

Hinata looked at the one who had shouted and has to press his hand on his mouth to avoid laughing loudly, though he couldn't stop the shaking of his shoulders. He thought the senpai beside him accurately depicts a 'baldy' reputation but he was wrong.

"Narita-senpai," he started. Said senpai looked at him with an irritated and exasperated expression on his face which Hinata knew isn't directed at him but at the other senpai who was still shouting and is now half-naked while spinning his shirt above him. "I'm sorry I called you baldy."

"Huh?"

"You don't deserve the baldy comment after all all."

"Ah– of course not!" Narita-senpai looked at him with confused yet smug expression. Hinata nodded his head solemnly.

"And the pole baldy comment."

Narita-senpai looked half-annoyed and half smug as he said this. "I'm glad you now know."

"I think the other senpai deserved it. He got the award, I think." Hinata said grimly, with his expression stating how serious he is.

Narita looked at his kouhai, unable to clearly decide whether to be insulted or not while his two friends, Chikara and Hisashi turned to avoid looking at him. Ennoshita whistled lowly while Hisashi was grinning openly. He scowled at them before sighing. Well, it doesn't do me any good to be irritated like this.

This kouhai is really annoying and interesting at the same time, though Narita currently couldn't decide which describes Hinata best.

"What's his name senpai?"

"Tanaka Ryunosuke, second year wing spiker." Hisashi answered before he rumpled the first year's head. Hinata looked at him with a scowl which Hisashi just grinned at.

"Were going to practice now Hinata. Stay okay?" Hinata suddenly looked uncertainly at them and Narita found it curious. Why does he look uncertain?

"Don't worry, you won't have to play. You can just watch us." He said. Hinata just nodded slowly.

"Alright senpai. I'll watch you practice."

The three of them grinned before putting their bags on the corner and taking their uniforms off, changing into their practice clothes right there since they are already wearing their practice pants. Hinata went to them and told them that he'd watch for their things. He settled on standing beside where his senpai put their things, which is beside where all the volleyball balls were.

He looked around uncertainly and adjusted his glasses on his eyes, fidgeting before finally settling down again. It's no use to be nervous Hinata, he told himself. The only one who saw you that time was Kageyama and he hadn't recognized you. That means the glasses worked, so stop fidgeting. You're looking suspicious. Hm. hm...

He nodded his head, agreeing at what he is telling himself since it is practically true. Pep-talking with himself is really effective, especially when he is full of nerves. He took a deep breath, released it with a sigh and calmed down. There, much better.

He instead watched as the members of the volleyball club practiced, taking note of how they do their exercises and how they move. Making comments on his mind on how they should have done in order to improve.

He didn't like playing volleyball anymore, but he cannot hate the sport especially when he knew intellectually that it wasn't volleyball's fault that it happened. He might not be playing anymore but he always watches either a fun play or matches when it comes to volleyball. Playing with himself when no one is around.

That is the only times he allows himself to be with the sport he loved and yet decided to leave.

He knew he is contradicting himself but since no one knows, he didn't have to challenge his views at the moment.

He is so absorbed with his own thoughts that he didn't noticed that someone was already in front of him until that someone touched his head. He looked up and saw a tall person also wearing eyeglasses in front of him with someone beside him. He's huge!

"You're short."

Hinata looked at the man blankly before he scowled, slapping the man's hand away from his head. How rude!

"Are you a middle school student? What are you doing here?"

This… this man! Hinata glared at the person in front of him. "I'm a first year high school of Karasuno." How dare he tell me that! Doesn't he know how to speak politely? The nerve! Hinata pouted mentally. He ranted in his head while still keeping up his glare on the rude man in front of him.

"Oh. You're too short to be a high school student. Do you plan to be a volleyball player? You're going to be useless here you know."

And Hinata's mind abruptly went blank. His aura slowly but surely turned blank.

"You might as well give up. Volleyball is essentially for tall players. You wouldn't be of any use here."

Hinata's mind, like a computer rebooting, started running. His hand twitched.

"If I were you, I'd give up."

He snapped.

He had given up playing volleyball. He didn't want to play volleyball anymore. He had basically told himself to just forget about it and to just leave it, but he couldn't because he had loved the game. He couldn't give it up. But volleyball made him lose someone who is important to him. However, even though that were the case, he hadn't been able to completely leave it.

He played even with only as himself and the wall. He still loved to spike. He still loved the feeling of freedom it gave him. He still loved immersing himself within the play even if only by himself. And whenever he plays, he remembers the past, where everything is still alright and where his memories of him were still vivid.

He loved the sport. And Hinata acquired his love of volleyball from him, his father. He remembers his father by playing volleyball. Remembered how everything was before.

And this cocky man had the nerve to tell him that he sucked? That he's useless? To give up?

He had the nerve to tell him that when he knew nothing?!

"Tsukki, that was harsh." Hinata didn't pay attention to what the other man said. He didn't pay attention to what was happening around. He didn't know that practice had stopped. He didn't know that players around looked on to them. He didn't know that Ennoshita-senpai looked at him in alarm. He didn't realize that everyone was about to walk towards them since what the man in front of him told was heard around the gym.

He only knew of one thing.

His anger.

His hand twitched for a second time and no one saw when he did it, just that he had gotten a hold of a ball that was on the box beside him where they put all the balls before he had slammed the ball beside him.

His eyes took on a steely glint, and he knew without looking that the ball, after slamming it on the ground would bounce towards the wall he had been leaning on earlier and would bounce again upwards beside the man's face. He didn't need to since he had calculated it earlier and knew without a doubt that the ball would follow the course he had planned even if it was only on theory.

He had already done it before he had quit volleyball.

He bristled inwardly when he saw that it was five inches away when he had wanted it to be an inch only. As expected, he didn't have the same control as he had before he had quit.

He didn't linger on the thought though and only looked at the man in front of him with his eyes without tilting his face upwards. He wanted to convey to this man how angry he is. One didn't need to completely hit someone to convey one's anger.

And he knew this method is effective. He had done it before.

The man had frozen and his eyes went wide. At the moment, Hinata's attention was only on this man and no one else and he saw every miniscule reaction he had. From the way his breath slightly quickened, his fingers twitched and his eyes widening, he didn't miss anything and it made him extremely happy to know this man knew his anger, clearly.

That's enough for now.

"Excuse me."

He then left, nodding slightly towards the three stunned senpai's he had befriended earlier.

Serves that arrogant person right.

He didn't want to see him again.

. . . . .

"Daichi…"

Sawamura only nodded at Sugawara's inquiry. He continued staring at the retreating back of that short first year who had that unapproachable aura surrounding him until he was out of their sight.

He cannot believe that someone who looked like an energetic lad before can emit that kind of dangerous aura. Even though he had witnessed it, he still cannot understand how that was so.

When he had seen the first year earlier coming with Ennoshita along with his two friends, he thought nothing of it aside from the fact that the teen probably wanted to apply in the volleyball club and that he is short. Nishinoya would probably be thrilled to have someone like him. But when Ennoshita said that he wasn't, that Hinata only came because his sister apparently tricked him into thinking that he is late and that he had invited him to watch them train, Sawamura only nodded since he is okay with that.

Besides, with how Hinata watches them, he felt like they are under the scrutiny of an incredibly good coach, which is ridiculous considering Hinata is only a first year high school. But it's amazing though, how he watches their practice with such concentration. He cannot see his eyes because of his glasses but he is sure those eyes watched their movements carefully.

And then Tsukishima came and sprouted those words. Truthfully, he didn't like how his kouhai had spoken. His words were especially something he didn't like. Nishinoya is in their club and he is short like Hinata. But he is an amazing libero and can be counted on when it comes to their defense so he had stopped his practice and decided to intervene. He wasn't the only one who stopped though since Tsukishima's remark echoed around the gym.

He didn't expect to see the first year to use the ball as his anger relief. No one saw how he did it. No one even saw that he had taken a ball. The only thing they all did see, and Sawamura is sure of this, is that the ball is already zooming to Tsukishima's side of face. It made all of them stop and stare, frozen out of their mind.

And then the temperature in the gym seemingly dropped and Hinata's aura changed from the energetic and sunny feel to something dangerous. His parting words were softly spoken and not an intonation was heard, but it made the aura around him that much prominent.

"He can be quite scary like you Daichi." Sugawara stated. Sawamura was pulled out of his mind by that remark. He stared at his friend, forehead creasing in slight confusion.

"Huh?"

Sugawara glanced at him before smiling. "Nothing captain."

"Oi––" Before he can say anything more, they all heard Kageyama's growl. They turned to stare at their genius first year setter.

"Kageyama?" he asked.

"He calculated it." He hissed, eyes staring at the door of their gym, glaring at it like he can still see the Hinata walking away from them.

Everyone who heard it began talking to each other, some were confused:

"Calculated?"

"What did he mean by that?"

"What was calculated?"

And others, like him who knew what Kageyama is trying to say were stunned. They cannot say anything because they are unable to.

"He calculated…?"

"The strength he had to release, the speed of the ball, the angle it will bounce towards, he calculated everything about the ball's course."

Sawamura's eyes widened. But, but that's…

"That's absurd!"

"Ridiculous!"

The chatters of everyone gradually turned higher and higher, their disbelief prominent on their faces and voice but Sawamura cannot really blame them. It was ridiculous. It might be done in theory but to be able to do it in practice…

"It's not ridiculous!" Kageyama snapped, instantly shutting everyone up. He glared at them fiercely. "I can do it." He declared, deflating instantly after a few seconds. "Though I have to adjust my strength. I still have problems with my control." he mumbled, but everyone heard it what with how silent the gym was.

He was astonished, along with everyone who heard that.

"I will show you all this afternoon."

And that was the end of morning practice, not even taking all of an hour and thirty minutes that was usually allotted time for morning club practices to finish.

It left all of volleyball members in a stupor as they walked out, leaving Kageyama for lock-up.

All are practically doubtful and skeptical yet are looking forward to Kageyama's practical presentation on what everyone thinks is only applicable in theory.

. . . . .

Tsukishima narrowed his eyes as he walked away from the gym with Yamaguchi at his side, looking at him worriedly.

He is angry, of that he is sure. Well, he thinks everyone knew that, what with what that shorty did earlier.

He's a first year, same as him so he is sure he'd be seeing him in the first year building, and then he'd be able to confront the teen. He just has a feeling that he'd be in the enemy list of that shorty and he didn't want that. No matter how bad-ass everyone he met thinks of him, no matter how they all think he has no fear with the way he speaks provocatively, he has a sharp instinct that he uses on his play.

It is tingling when he thinks about being with that shorty's enemy list. And he had always followed his instinct because it has never been wrong before.

That short freshman is dangerous, he just knew it so he'd better make sure that he got off the freshman's good side. Even being neutral is good enough than to be an enemy.

No matter how much it irritates him to be in his 'best behavior' with someone he had trouble getting along with. Uselessly hot-blooded people irritate him and that shorty, even though he can be quite dangerous, has that kind of smell in him.

And he hates that.

He just has to make sure he clarifies that with the shorty. He didn't have to play nice just to get out of his enemy list. He just have to make sure not to speak anything… ill with him and Tsukishima knew that would be enough.

"Tsukki…"

"Leave it Yamaguchi."

And Yamaguchi kept quiet, just silently followed him like he had always done since middle school.

TBC.

A/N: And there you have it. Hinata's second day sure is hectic huh? And it isn't even finished yet. I'll be introducing an OC in the next chapter and I am still uncertain whether he'll have a big role or not. It will probably depend on the story.

Don't forget to review k? I will really appreciate it... Who knows, I might even update faster, jeje..

P.S. I wanted to write about Prince of Tennis but I'm having difficulty when I tried. I'm lost. I have no idea how to play tennis, its rules and scoring and technical terms and what's with the deuce and advantage and fault? Ugh, it's making my head spin.. I'll try studying about it again, then we'll see..

Review k?

Ja ne,