XI. Slowly...
Kangawa Senri was bored. They are in their 2nd lesson, but there's nothing really of note since it was just the 1st day of 1st year highschool in a completely new place, so it was mostly introductions and orientation. Shinra, his twin, was sitting beside him as he spinned a pencil with his fingers.
Senri opted to let his eyes wander around. Maybe let his mind wander to basketball and aikido instead. But before his eyes would wander some more, it landed on a certain orange haired boy diligently listening on what is being said.
The hair - he remembered a certain basketball player with exactly the same hair. A Teikou player that managed to avoid each of the twins attempt to make him commit a foul.
There's only one thing Senri could feel.
Lucky
Senri tugged Shinra's sleeve as he pointed at said orange head sitting in the same class as them.
Shinra crunched his face and tilted his head, like he wasn't quite sure what Senri is trying to convey.
Senri sighed, wrote something in his notebook and tilted it so that Shinra, who is sitting on the table beside could see.
GoM
Shinra blanched, and pointed at the same orange head with his own head tilted.
Really?
Senri nodded. Shinra took a deep breath to calm himself before he give a thumbs up at Shinra and then glancing the orange head before his gaze settled back to Shinra.
Recruit him?
Shinra replied with a thumbs up, before pointed his forefinger downward.
Yes. After this period.
Sad to say, but the orange haired boy declined. But it's not like they are giving up anytime soon. Not when someone of his caliber is here.
It was only the next day, when the volleyball team recruited him did they started to really plot. They might stop badgering him to join the basketball team, nevertheless…
They are smart. They searched for another method.
One of their classmates is a fan of Kise Ryouta, and she is on friendly terms. They made her message him about where the youngest Generation of Miracles is, by making her think that information about Kise's old team mate will please Kise.
Kise-kun, Hinata Shouyo is one of my classmate!
And a few weeks later - Kise is a model, so they understand that his schedule is packed - Kise finally made an appearance, with his middle school manager in tow.
Their plan is half succeeded.
.o0o.o0o.
Their newest member that Kageyama dragged in is small but Kageyama had declared that this orange haired teen could do so much more than just hit the ball he set in the fullest capabilities.
But Sugawara knew there's something with their shortest member, in both good and bad ways. He is flexible and much stronger and faster than he looks. He could've ran wild since the beginning, run the whole team down into destruction, but he didn't.
He stayed by their side, did his best to go along with them, adjusted his skills so that they play together and not entirely relying on him.
Suga had likened him to Karasuno's most recent legend, the Little Giant, and gave him a jersey with the number 10. Hinata had tilted his head in confusion and there was a moment of chaos in the team as they blunder about to explain the Karasuno Volleyball history.
Tanaka almost teared his hair off - not that there is any difference since Tanaka is as bald as is.
But Suga knew something more with the shortest member because he was much much more observant than most people. For all of Kageyama's skill with the volleyball, Suga always had leaps and bounds of social interaction and observation.
Hinata is… empty. Hollow, like he was just… wandering and wandering - like he was subdued by something even Suga could not understand - like he was not quite sure of what to do with teams and his skills.
Skills - Suga could see thousands and hundreds of possibilities Hinata had learned. There's a bit of gymnastics certainly, if the way Hinata runs for the ball is any indication, then maybe a bit of badminton from the way Hinata uses the balls of his feet to step quicker. Half Step, was it? Certainly track team too. And Judo intense marking too.
Hinata's ball handling is quite… it's okay, but it's like Hinata is not quite used to the size and weight of the ball. Like he had played with all sorts of balls and was quite hesitant to get used to one particular ball.
Understandable, knowing how Hinata often sneak into all sorts of clubs. It's some sort of open secret within the school.
Teams, however, seems like a topic Hinata can't quite discuss. Like he can't quite grasp that he is on a team right now, and would like to protect it from something Suga didn't understand.
First indication is the undoubtedly utter respect Hinata gave Daichi that made him quite uncomfortable. But there was an underlying fear and hesitation, which slowly melts into companionship and some sort of cute father - son relationship by the 3rd week.
The next one was when Nishinoya returned, and Azumane Asahi became the topic for discussion. He dragged Asahi into the club and threw him to Nishinoya, where Asahi got an earful.
Third was the way Hinata went out of his way to keep annoying Kageyama, like there was something Kageyama have that Suga can't see just yet but Hinata could feel it. Like Hinata was trying to prevent… something...
Teams are certainly a touchy topic for Hinata. But never once did he realize that Hinata was from that group.
Generation of Miracles.
It all came down to him when he saw the blonde model from the famous Teikou basketball club to understand.
And it took a few moments into the basketball match to realize just how much Hinata is holding himself back.
Jumps and spins and cartwheel and twists, accompanied by kendo steps and boxing quick steals and Judo intense marks, volleyball slams and parkour style runs and so much more that he can't see.
Scary, he found himself thinking, is that really Hinata?
The earlier volleyball match doesn't hold a candle against this basketball showdown, mainly because the both of them aren't exactly facing each other, but now, as he stood watch on the sidelines of the basketball court looking as the two sole players run back and forth the court…
"It's scary isn't it?" the pink haired girl said. "I am Momoi by the way. I used to be their manager."
"Ah, I am Sugawara Koushi. Vice-captain." Suga said as he watched the unfolding game alongside Karasuno Volleyball and Basketball. The basketball twins cheered on Kise noisily.
"Hinata has never mentioned about us, has he?" Momoi asked. "It's expected though… with how he was treated."
"He was very good at volleyball I thought that is his main sport." Suga said.
"He is a permanent member of basketball, volleyball and gymnastics back in middle school."
"Kise-san seems formidable too."
"Kise can copy any sort of movements. Perfect Copy allows him to copy any style he wants, and he is currently using the other team mate's skills."
"Is that so?" Suga chuckled, "And here I thought he was like Hinata who played different sort of sports."
"You aren't that wrong in that account."
.o0o.o0o.
Hinata has changed.
Karasuno basketball captain threw up the ball, and both he and Hinata jumped for the ball. He reached the ball first and push it into a favorable place.
Hinata has changed, Kise found himself thinking. He caught a glimpse of Hinata's amber eyes that leaves a trail of orange light and saw that something was twisting and roaring inside and since when does Hinata-chii look like that?
Hinata was on him the moment his hands grazed the ball on ground. He twisted his body, quickly snatching the ball before Hinata could really hold him down. But Hinata ducked, and used his arms to help him spring to the ball before Kise could evade.
Hinata went into a shooting position few steps from the 3 point line, like Midorima's, but not quite similar. Granted, Kise should've known that with the way Midorima favours 3 points, the sharpshooter would've taught Hinata too.
Only, Hinata must not have any reason to show it off until now.
3-0, in Hinata's favor.
Hinata still have 17 more points to go before Kise would shut up. Kise still has 20 more points to convince him to return.
Right… in this situation… he can use that, right?
Right. This is a quick match. There's no harm if he is to go all out.
Hinata was in front of him, dribbling the wall, trying to get past him.
Inhale… exhale…
Kise opens his eyes, did the things that is just so Akashi that causes ankle breaks. Hinata fell, surprised and disoriented. Kise took the chance to score a two point.
Hinata slowly stood up, looking at him with the expression that devours as he asked. "Isn't that Captain's?"
Kise smirked. "I've changed Hinata. Evolved. Thanks to Kurokochii."
How about you?
That question hung in the air, unasked, but weighing heavy on Hinata.
But Hinata changed too. Kise belatedly remembers. He keeps on evolving when all of them rested in stagnation, prowling in disatisfaction on top. Hinata kept reaching up and reaching high.
That's why, for Kise, there's no room to rest.
Kise copied Aomine to avoid Hinata's steals. Copied Murasakibara so he can shrug off Hinata as he jumped for the ring. Copied Midorima when Hinata's quite behind him.
15 - 15
He can do this. Hinata will return back to them. He have to do this. He can't fail.
He shoots.
.o0o.o0o.
17 - 15, in Kise's favor.
Hinata notes numbly. Slightly more than a year ago, Hinata is capable of keeping his scores above Kise. Both of them kept some sort of rivalry. Kise for being the youngest in basketball, Hinata for being the youngest in age.
"You really have changed." Hinata stated to Kise. They really have returned.
But he can't - he still doesn't want to return to basketball. He have volleyball right here, with this team.
Hinata drowned himself down down below under the clear water surface. He faced the double door, still closed. But that doesn't matter, because -
When he blinks his eyes open, everything was so clear.
- this is the only thing he needs. He wants to show he evolved too. He wanted to show that he can now enter that place-that-he-was-unable-to-enter so easily right now. Show that he can reach the very bottom.
Kise is coming at him. And he makes a weird dribble, before darting to the side. Hinata could feel his feet losing their balance, his body slowly falling to the ground.
Akashi's Emperor Eye, Hinata realizes belatedly, ankle break.
The door started rattling.
Hinata twisted, using his hands to support him before he pushed off the ground and tried to steal the ball from right behind Kise.
He failed. Kise made the shot.
19 - 15
The whistle is a pain in his ears. When the game continues, he slowly - why is he so slow damn it - came to a stop in front of Kise who is dribbling the ball.
Kise skidded into a halt. Kise made a motion - back and forth, once - before he bent down and kicked off the ground -
Aomine's favorite, deceleration and acceleration Hinata recognized it, a move both he and Aomine loves so much to use.
He stole the ball when Kise is passing through, crossing Kise before he have the chance to actually go through him and ducking under Kise's arm with the ball in hand. He adjusted his hands at the sudden ball weight.
Hinata drop into a 3 point shooting position, because he is behind by 4 points - 5 more - until Kise can shut up about this.
Kise, as if he expected Hinata to do it, slapped the ball from behind Hinata, causing Hinata's aim to go awry. The ball rebounded, both of them raced for it.
The rattling became louder and louder.
Hinata leapt as quick as possible and didn't even bother to wait until he land to shoot.
19 - 17
Hinata wins if he shoot a 3 pointer. Kise wins if he score any sort of ball. It's not in his favor, but the difference is thin. He can win this. He will win this.
Damn it he missed this so much.
The rattling became so very loud.
Everything still seems agonizingly slow. He can see clearly, and he remembered all those times where he can see very very clearly like this.
Each time he was about to against blockers head to head in volleyball, each time he kicks the soccer ball into the goal, each time he wants to steal a ball, each time he saw the enemy coming at him with spirit and passion, each time he was soaring in the skies-
Yes. Yes. He can do this.
But the door was rattling. Rattling angrily and desperately.
The ball is with Kise. There was a flurry of movements, with Hinata trying to grab a hold of the ball. Kise, surprisingly, used one of Hinata's famed cartwheel-dribble to get past him.
Hinata broke out of his shock, jumped after Kise so that his fingers can graze the ball and so that Kise miss-
His fingers grazed the ball Kise threw. The ball bounced of the boards.
He dared himself to take a step, willed himself to open the door.
When is the last time he had this much fun? This much thrill? This much fun with his friends?
Hinata has faced people much better than Generation of Miracles in other sports - people more challenging.
But none beats going against his sempai.
No one ever has.
Sempais who nurtured him and was his friend, rivals, teachers who he always always yearn to win against.
Kise managed to steal the ball. And he could feel the subtle changes in the way Kise moved. There's more strength - more sturdiness and more grounded. Just like...
Murasakibara...
He was the only one Hinata had never managed to hold against. The difference in built was just too apparent. Hinata usually used his shortness as a weapon against Murasakibara, and only Murasakibara because it's only effective due to the drastic difference.
But Kise is not as tall as Murasakibara. The techniques used on Murasakibara will not be effective on Kise.
The door bursted open.
And suddenly, what was clear became even clearer. The movements that used to be quick became slow in his eyes. His light body suddenly felt like someone has stuffed lead inside.
Kise will go TA THUMP and toBAM! He can counter Kise with Thump FWOOSH tratathump SWOOSH!
But Kise's muscles suddenly stopped and rippled, like he could see Hinata moving to counter Murasakibara. Then he could see the muscles pulling and pushing and there was a sudden increase of tensing muscles on the legs and abdomen -
Aomine's acceleration, Hinata noted, FWOOSH and SWOOSH. Go Flick when he pass.
Hinata stilled, and Kise took the chance to go around Hinata towards the ring -
Kise can't pass through- He shouldn't pass through - Hinata hates to lose - he won't let him win - this is fun -more moremoremore-
Flick
- Hinata stole the ball with a flick of his hand. Using his superior gymnastic skills, he quickly reached the other court and went to a 3 point line shooting position -
No nononono - Kise is right behind - he is tall enough to stop Hinata's shots - what to do whattodo -
"Gymnastics, Hinata," the voice resounded a mere whisper in his mind, "Matsuri sempai. Don't you remember? The one with the spinning ball -"
Ahh… he did remember -
"Use it - useit! Spin the ball and volleyball slam it down with all our strength and let it bounce forward and then it will fly to the ring and if it looks like it will miss just rebound it or continue it with dunk or alley loop it doesn't matter either way because we will win - he won't expect it - Kise wouldn't know what hit him!"
Hinata stopped right before the 3 point line and turned around and he saw that Kise is fervently blocking his way upwards - Kise is tall enough to stop his shots from behind him - And he can't shoot up - not here - not now.
But he needed a 3 point to win this fast.
It doesn't matter either way, because Kise's legs are open, bent and tense in preparation for a jump, but wide enough for the ball to slip in -
It reminded Hinata of that time - the first time Hinata went and slip into the space between Murasakibara's legs.
The ball was held between Hinata's palms and he spun it in the air, spun it vertically from the ground and into his direction - Kise is focusing on a shoot, he won't expect Hinata will be going downwards and backwards instead of upwards and forwards - before he slammed it down, hard, with the palms of his hands - like one would serve in volleyball. The ball passed through the space between Kise's legs - look at his face, he is surprised - on the ground behind Kise.
The ball rested on the ground for a moment, before it was back to the air - soaring high and mighty -
But instead of the ball going into the other court, it went back to their direction - to Hinata's direction and the direction of the ring -
Swoosh
It entered the ring.
20 - 19, Hinata's win
He didn't realize that by the end of the match he was smiling wildly - happily.
.o0o.o0o.
Kise's plans when he entered Karasuno High had been simple.
Plan A was to play a basketball match against Hinata. If he win, Hinata will return.
Plan B was, if he lose, well… he was hoping the thoughts and memories of the fun challenges in Teikou will somehow bring back Hinata.
It did - Hinata smiled at the end of the game. There was challenge and wilderness in his face. But the moment Kise mentioned about how happy Hinata-chii looked and how all of the Generation of Miracles missed Hinata-chii in the court and that Generation of Miracles has gotten even stronger -
Hinata scowled, said that he won't be returning to basketball ever and asked him to leave and keep his promise no matter Kise and Momoi whined and wailed.
Kise and Momoi is considered the Most Irresistible Pair for a reason.
"Aahhhh…" Kise yawned, covering his mouth with his hands as they sat on the train back to Tokyo, "I didn't know Hinata-chii had gotten that much stronger."
"Well," Momoi sighed, "He is able to join more clubs and learn much more basic moves than back in Teikou."
"That last move is a surprise."
"That last move," Momoi hummed, "I'm pretty sure it's the first time he used it. Hinata learned delicate ball handling from the Teikou Gymnastics Club, but he never made any indication of ever using a move like that. It would have been too straining and difficult."
"What makes you say that?"
"Women's instinct."
Kise sighed once more.
Well… there's still Plan C…
Kise flipped his phone open and messaged the other Generation of Miracles.
"Ki-chin is vicious." Momoi grinned when she peered into his phone.
Kise just shrugged his shoulders with a smile, before retorting back, "Says the one who managed to get information spies from Hinata-chi's team."
"Mou, the two of them are rather gentleman in a funny way."
.o0o.o0o.
"Hinata," Ukai called, "a moment please."
"Hai!" Hinata said between his pants and gasps. He slowly stood up, stretching his body so that the pain and numbness will ease. It was rare that he got himself this tired, not when Hinata's stamina is off charts.
But Kise is a Generation of Miracle. Hinata's body is always sore after each show down with Generation of Miracle quality athlete.
"Coach." Hinata stood in front of the coach.
"Hinata, let's be truthful," Ukai said, "Do you like basketball?"
"Right now?" Hinata asked, "No. I'm favoring volleyball."
"Do you want to return to basketball?"
"I told Kise, no." Hinata scowled. "Listen. I might be one of Teikou's basketball regular, but right now I am Karasuno Volleyball Player. Every sports I play in I will give it my all."
Ukai hummed with a smile. "Do you have anything in mind that can bring Karasuno further up?"
Hinata tilted his head, not quite understanding what Ukai is asking for, so the coach opted to rephrase his question.
"So, what kind of training do you have in your Middle School?"
Hinata coughed and paled. He looked at the faces of the volleyball members, before he looked straight back at Ukai.
Ukai grinned. Oh this will be good.
.o0o.o0o.
"Nekoma?" Hinata tilted his head, "As in Nekoma High, Tokyo?"
The volleyball club has been discussing about another practice match, thanking Takeda-sensei for his hard work in getting matches for Karasuno.
"Yeah. We'll have a practice match against them after the training camp." Suga asked. "Something the matter?"
"Eh…" Hinata hummed, "I think I played against their Middle School, once, in Junior High."
"Ohhh!" Tanaka grinned, "Tell us! Most of the players probably stay the same, you know?"
"Hinata spent a few years in Tokyo, didn't he?" Sawamura hummed.
"I used to party with the Nekoma when we lose the championship." Hinata said.
"Party?"
"Nekoma?"
"Something about the members, Hinata," Sawamura chided.
Hinata scrunched his face, before scowling and growling.
"The captain…"
"Yes, yes?" Nishinoya urged.
"...called me short acrobatic monkey."
That… that was the first time the team saw Hinata swearing vengeance and retribution.
.o0o.o0o.
During the training camp, Hinata didn't join them as they increased their stamina. Ukai forced him to smooth out his rough techniques.
When they returned from their run, it was to a grinning Ukai and a Hinata who is bragging about a FWUIIiiiWUH SLAM serve.
Hinata's palms are redder than ever.
Ukai warned him not to use it on Nekoma… not yet.
.o0o.o0o.
"You."
"Yep," said the person hanging his arms around his shoulders. "Miss me?"
"Let go of me! And I still haven't forgiven you for the insult!"
Kenma sighed as Kuroo immediately go into the opposing team the moment he noticed just who is one of the newest member.
"Oraa ora," Kuroo drawled, "I am the one who's supposed to be angry since you up and disappeared from Teikou in your 3rd year."
"Why do you even need to go to Teikou?"
"Scouting," he drawled, "But the student I specifically asked for is no longer a student there." He pointedly looked at Hinata.
Hinata had been trying to outmaneuver Kuroo's arms during the whole conversation. It's useless though, not when Kuroo's other hand were hooked on Hinata's jersey.
"S-sempai!" Hinata shouted, "Help!"
"Ohhh! We will protect you!"
"Let go of him!"
Two of the other Karasuno players, a bald head and the other shorty, jumped forward in Hinata's defence in a delinquent-like method. They snap their necks and crack their knuckles as they approach.
Kuroo can't resist himself. The situation practically asks him to antagonize them. "Hinata, you should've went to Nekoma," he grinned at the fumed Karasuno members, "Our defence is good and you can boost our offence. Fully offence. Don't you want that?"
Tanaka and Nishinoya exploded. The captain - good old soul that he is - managed to hold them back.
Not so good after all, Kuroo thought wrily as the other captain sent out a poisonous smile in Kuroo's direction as he dragged the two delinquent back.
And in the midst of the conversation Hinata has managed to wriggle himself free and was now following the other Karasunos.
Oh well… there's still time to antagonize them.
.o0o.o0o.
Hinata had gone out of control - again.
Kageyama grumbled under his breath as he watched Hinata throw back petty insults at the opposing team's captain.
Thankfully, it's not that prowling beast wanting to eat and devour kind of out of control - the team can't really handle a fast paced game that Hinata leads due to the huge gap in stamina.
Not yet, anyway. Coach Ukai increased their stamina training by leaps and bounds to fix that.
But Hinata can't concentrate enough for the game with Kuroo taunting at him every moment. It's like Kuroo knew just when Hinata is going into the game mood and said something offensive that trips Hinata and sent him into a childish rage.
The score is 19 - 16 in Nekoma's favor.
Hinata's not good in this game. Especially not when Kuroo is right in front of Hinata right this moment for the next rally.
Kageyama sighed, scowled, scoffed for a bit and decided to just go to hell with it.
"You stupid mean Snake Man II!" Hinata shouted, "How come you are a snake in Nekoma? That doesn't make sense -Yowch!"
He kicked Hinata on the back of his knee.
"What was that for, Bakageyama!" Hinata glared at him.
For your loudness and lack of concentration.
"Concentrate, Hinata." Kageyama said, "You don't want to lose to him, don't you?"
"Ha? I'll win this and get my revenge!" Hinata declared, "Just you wait and see."
After the short exchange, Kageyama could see Tanaka and the captain giving thumbs up at him.
What…
.o0o.o0o.
27 - 25, Nekoma's win.
Hinata had considerably calmed down ever since Kageyama's knee attack and the scores had quickly increased to match Nekoma.
And Kageyama finally detected another threat in the midst of Nekoma with the form of a certain player that keeps on following Hinata as he spike and gets closer and closer towards Hinata.
He'll reach Hinata's spikes. It's only a matter of time.
The second set begins. Karasuno kept the lead thanks to the offensive freedom Hinata gave to the other spikers.
It was in the middle half of the game, when the points are 18 - 16 in Nekoma's favor that it happened again.
The player marking on Hinata had managed to catch up to Hinata for 3 consecutive times, and Hinata took it as a challenged and decided to up the game. Kuroo, as if he noticed the tell tale of a beast emerging, tried to diffuse the situation by making another crude joke.
But Hinata is too far in this time.
Look at me I am the strongest I'll defeat the blockers I can spike a point give me the ball I'll prove to them we'll win this nice and good -
NO!
Kageyama took a deep breath to calm down. He is the setter god damn it. He need to reign in Hinata for the sake if the team. He is the one who controls the pace.
The rally begins. And Kageyama could feel the whole court stifled with Hinata's presence -
No… don't get caught up.
Didn't he train for this? Ukai had them play with Hinata in this condition.
Okay.
Okay.
Nishinoya received the ball and it's currently flying in his direction. Hinata evaded that particular blocker and jumped, his hand raised in a spiking motion -
Pass to me give it to me look at me I'll break the defence for you let me-
No.
Another blocker followed Hinata, and Hinata becomes an invalid option.
But he should be able to do it-
No.
No.
Tanaka is jumping - he set the ball for Tanaka. Tanaka seemed surprised, but he managed to spike -
That's good. That's all that matters.
Behind him, Hinata whined, complaining about how mean Kageyama is, about how he thought Kageyama is going to pass the ball to him and about how embarrassing it was because he slammed his hand down with all his heart.
Kageyama smirked. That was payback for all the times Hinata drew his attention forcefully.
"Good decoy, Hinata," Kageyama said.
Hinata looked like he just saw a ghost.
What-
.o0o.o0o.
Second set goes to Karasuno with 31 - 29 and the third set goes to Nekoma 37 - 35.
After a brief discussion for improvements, Hinata moaned about his lost and demanded a rematch - to which the coaches laughed and agreed.
41 - 39 Karasuno's favor
37 - 39 Nekoma's
46 - 44 Karasuno's
Kuroo made a comment about how this match is just luck on Karasuno's side -
Hinata demanded another match.
33 - 31 Karasuno's
41 - 39 Nekoma's
34 - 32 Nekoma's
Hinata demanded another match, but by this point, Karasuno players are already too tired, with the exception of Hinata who, while sweating buckets, looks like he is still capable of bulldozing his way.
28 - 26 Nekoma
34 - 32 Nekoma
"One more time!" Hinata shouted, fit as ever, to which Kageyama slapped the back of his head.
Nekoma coach made a comment about Generation of Miracle's crazily out of league stamina and about how he never see the day he will confirm the information first handedly.
.o0o.o0o.
Nishinoya had never experienced Hinata's full spiking power. During a practice match among Karasuno members, most of Hinata's spikes are toned down by the middle blockers before reaching him.
But Nishinoya had seen those spikes. The easy way Hinata evaded anyone blocking him and the high jump he made for someone as small as him, followed by arm-snapping way Hinata forcefully hit the ball -
It boils his blood. He want to stop that. He wants to experience that spike. Hinata's spikes made him feel that exhilarating feel of facing a strong opponent.
But Nishinoya can see that Hinata's spike is slowly changing - trying to transform into something completely knew - and Nishinoya wondered what it will be.
Hinata's hand started to have a slightly longer contact with the ball he spike, and then there was a twitch of the fingers that causes one odd spin on the ball -
Nishinoya is curious.
The answer came days later, after the training camp and the practice against Nekoma, when the volleyball club is having an internal practice match.
Hinata, Sawamura, Sugawara, Ennoshita and Tsukishima on one side and Nishinoya, Asahi, Tanaka, Kageyama and Yamaguchi on the other.
It was Hinata's turn to serve, but instead of the usual plain serve Hinata dished out, Hinata stood further back from the line.
Jump serve? Can Hinata do that?
Jump serves are hard to get skills, unlike spikes and recieves which can be practiced thorough the game, serves are rare, so unless the player practices for it specifically, like Kageyama, the chances of success are low.
The ball was thrown, Hinata bended his knees and took a few steps -
Hinata can - but it's unreliable. Nishinoya observed. 40/100 chance of failure. Risky enough.
Hinata jumped, and hit the ball. There was a longer contact time with the ball, and a small odd spin -
Not just jump serve - somethin else -
The ball arched straight to the other side of the court, aimed towards Tanaka.
Out, Nishinoya thought. He served it too high, too far to the right.
No one moved because they are sure a ball like that would miss.
Then the ball swerved - curved - to the other side of the court, landing in the center back, but out of the court.
Hinata whined.
"Ohh! Hinata! What was that!" Tanaka shouted. "Is that what Coach Ukai is having you practice in the camp?"
A Curveball.
"Coach wanted me to score a service ace." Hinata said. "But I failed!"
"You'll get better Hinata."
"Yosh!" Nishinoya grinned as he punched the air. "I can't wait to see it full power! This Guardian will return it!"
How exciting.
They are all evolving. They'll take the Japan by storm. Karasuno will once again fly.
.o0o.o0o.
And so, the Inter High Volleyball Championship begins.
.o0o.o0o.
A/N:
Hinata might win the match but the final victory belongs to Kise. Hinata is closer to Kuroo than to Kenma. Andd…
I'm really sorry if there's a lot of things you can misunderstand on the battle against Kise. If you know what I mean… but I don't regret it.
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Library of Hinataesse! I'll adjust the whole story to meet this language next time. Please note that Hinata isn't exactly coherent in his language. Consider it like Japanese language, where one word can have multiple functions. But this is the general rule.
Ta - step
Tratata - consecutive steps
Thump - when a person/the ball lands/falls on ground
Slam/Bam - when the ball hits a surface with force
Swoosh/Fwoosh - when the ball enters the ring / when the ball is moving in great speed / speed/acceleration / matrix movements / GENERALLY FOR HUGE RANGE SPEEDY MOVES body wise or ball wise. Swoosh is more ball related and Fwoosh more body related. Note that these can be switched.
Fwiish - gymnastic related momentum movements.
Fuwaaa - Midorima shooting arc / slow fall.
Swish - stealing ball/ spinning the ball/ SMALL RANGE SPEEDY MOVES
Flick/tap - light touch to the ball
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For those who doesn't understand Hinata's new technique, further explanation is here.
When you throw the ball, normally it will bounce forward. However by adding a spin, the ball can bounce into other direction instead. Vertical spin can make the ball bounce even more forward or back to the thrower. Horizontal spin causes the ball to bounce left or right depending on the spin direction.
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QUESTION!
Now, do you have any idea of Hinata's 2nd power inside the zone?
1st power is clearly Hinata's ability with standard body movements. He combines standard moves from different sports into one - nothing as aberrant as Aomine who can shoot from any position. Hinata's movements stems from muscle memory - he can't use something he haven't practiced with the exception of few lucky shots.
Hint : Hinata's Zone power already have a name in KnB.
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Lastly, I'm sure you're happy to hear/read that I will extend this story to after Kuroko no Basuke - Extra game, (I just realized there's a sequel to KnB) so yeah, be happy let's party and let me rake my brains and rearrange the story.