Note: Unedited. No Beta. Slow and erratic update.

Palm Strike

11:

"We're competing and it's all set up!" a man – whom he was sure he had seen already before but couldn't quite remember where – came into the gym, panting hard and was sweating heavily as if he had run a Tokyo marathon without stop. "A practice match with one of the Prefecture's best 4! The AobaJousai High School!" he continued, ignoring how out of breath he was.

"Eh?!"

"Seijou?!" was everyone's quite understandable exclamations of disbelief.

"How in the world did they arrange that?" he heard Tsukishima asked and as much as he didn't want to, he couldn't help but agree with that question. One of the Prefecture's best 4? And just when classes started too.

"Isn't that a little dangerous?" Kijima asked him in that curious voice of his. He knew that his friend directed that question only to him but unfortunately, his voice was heard as everyone had turned quiet when Tsukishima asked his question. After all, how did this man managed to arrange the practice match?

At once, everyone looked at them along with the man who was now had even breathing than earlier – after he drank some water and used the towel Shimizu-senpai gave him to wipe away his sweat. He then gave both him and Kijima a disarming smile.

"Oh, you're Hinata-kun and Kijima-kun right?" they nodded at the inquiry, ignoring the fact that Kijima had asked a question. At the moment at least. Suddenly, the man bowed low in front of them and the move startled him so much by the abruptness of it that his hand suddenly clutched his friend's hands in fright. "I am sorry for the way the members of this club had treated you for the past week. It must have been distracting,"

"More like annoying, irritating, stubborn-"

"They get it Kijima," Hinata whispered to get his friend to shut up. It was obvious that the method of employment the team had chosen to do is going to stick inside his friend's head and wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.

Thankfully, Kijima stopped muttering. He saw the team members having a variety of reaction. Some were apologetic and sheepish while some were narrowing their eyes – cue Kageyama – and looked like he didn't care much at all – cue Tsukishima. Granted he didn't join the others in forcing him to accept the position. Still, that expression of his is really getting on his nerves. He had to do something about that.

Fast

"I am happy though that you accepted. I'm sure you'll be good for the team," the man said with a smile, seemingly ignoring Kijima's mutterings. "I'm the volleyball club's advisor, Takeda Ittetsu. I don't have any volleyball experience so I can't offer any guidance on the technical aspect so I am really happy you came,"

They didn't have anything to say to that.

"Whew! I didn't think I'd make it into this meeting at all since I've been going around asking directly for a practice match,"

He asked directly?

"Seijou is a really strong school sensei so… how did you pull this off?" Sugawara-san asked delicately. He saw the captain's face twisting into a mixture of grimace and incredulous.

"Don't tell me… you kowtowed again?!"

Kowtowed?

"I didn't! Not at all! Kowtowing is my strong point but I didn't do it this time!"

"Sensei… didn't do it this time…" they heard the captain say weakly.

Didn't do it this time?

Hinata and Kijima looked at each other once again, expression turning into incredulous before they both looked at Takeda-sensei and the rest of the volleyball team before sighing in unison.

It figured that the team members and the advisor would be the same.

"They had a condition though,"

"A condition?"

"Kageyama-kun had to act as the setter the entire game,"

"Wha-?!"

Everyone gasped as one, almost all looking outrage at that. Kageyama's eyes narrowed a bit while his whole countenance screamed serious. Hinata looked at the other setter of the team and saw that Sugawara-senpai didn't look even remotely displeased or irritated. Instead, he looked like he was seriously contemplating something.

"So they're saying that they have no interest in Karasuno itself? That right now, they would only want to guard against Kageyama, is that it?" Tanaka-senpai gritted out angrily, aura turning intense as he stared hard at Takeda-sensei. He looked like a delinquent about to beat up the volleyball club's advisor for being the messenger of what seemed like arrogance to them.

Hinata only looked on seriously, his glasses glinting in the light of the gym.

"What the hell? Are they mocking us?" Narita-senpai continued, looking like he was also seething.

"N-no! Uh… they didn't mean it in a nasty way…" Takeda-sensei said, sweating a little even though he was only standing this time.

"Th-that's fine isn't it? This isn't a chance you get every day," Sugawara-senpai suddenly said. Tanaka-senpai looked outraged at those words.

"Are you really okay with that Suga-san? You're Karasuno's regular setter!"

"I want to see how good our team will be with Kageyama as the setter against one of the top 4,"

"But isn't that dangerous?" Kijima asked once more after a few seconds of silence, and this time, they all listened and paid attention to him. "You still have new members. You haven't even clicked with each other yet. Your teamwork isn't stable at the moment. Even if Kageyama is a genius, it still won't be enough," They looked at each other for a second, but before one of them spoke, Kijima continued. "When is this match happening anyway?"

At once, everyone looked at Takeda-sensei, who became flustered at the sudden shift of attention. But he did answer.

"Tuesday, next week,"

"That soon?!" they exclaimed.

"It's because they already have other practice match scheduled for the weekend. It's the only available time at the moment. Since time is short, it will just be a one-set game," Takeda-sensei said seriously.

They were silent at that.

"It is a bit dangerous," Sugawara-senpai mused.

It is, he agreed. It's too short of a time to prepare. But then again…

He clapped his hands loud enough to gain the attention of everyone in the gym. "Since we are given such a short time to prepare, I guess we have to practice a lot!" he exclaimed, his excitement leaking out of his voice as his body started to want to bounce on his toes. He saw Kijima giving him a questioning look that quickly faded when he shot him a too-wide-to-be-normal grin.

"Be prepared! I'll be giving the team schedules for practices along with your own personal training!"

Both Hinata and Kijima smirked when the team members who were there when they finally managed to have him accept the position paled when they remembered what he had said that day.

"If they slack off even once on any of my training suggestions, I'm leaving and would immediately turn to the principal for their harassment,"

"Oh, my words still apply on everyone so take care," he chirped energetically.

They gulped. Takeda-sensei, Shimizu-senpai and Tsukishima all looking curious when the rest gulped.

. . . . .

It was hell. Training was hell. That much was obvious with the way the volleyball members were groaning at their Sunday afternoon training. Normally, Hinata wouldn't push them that much, but he couldn't' afford to be even a little lenient. The match was in two days. Too short of a time to be slacking off.

If he was going to be honest with himself, he could say that on Tuesday's match, Karasuno will lose. That's pretty much a given. No matter how hard they train, two days just isn't going to be enough. It's hardly an ideal time to help the members hone their skills, much less helping Yamaguchi for his confidence and develop his playing skills.

But he'd be damned if Karasuno will lose with too much of point margin. He might have accepted the very real possibility of losing, but he wouldn't accept being left behind, not when they had forcefully made him their trainer. He wouldn't waste his time being in the volleyball club, having broken his promise just to see them lose that much.

So they had no choice but to train.

. . . . .

Monday

Morning Practice:

"Don't slack off! Move and run!" Hinata barked. Everyone ran just a little bit faster than before, sweat dripping down their face. Kijima wasn't worried for the members, not one bit. But he was worried about Hinata. He looked like a man possessed.

Maybe he should tell his friend to tone down a bit?

"We've only been doing this for twenty minutes and your tired? Where is your stamina?!"

"You're killing us!" Yamaguchi wheezed as he began lagging off. He saw Hinata's eyes become just a bit more manic.

"If you had time to complain, then this isn't enough! Move!"

There were consecutive groans that followed the statement before the running started again. He winced at them.

So, maybe he felt a little bad for them.

He should tone down his friend's manic practices or he would really kill them.

. . . . .

Noon

Lunch Break:

"Come on! We have to practice!"

"Hinata, give them a little break," Kijima said, cringing a little as he heard his voice. It was soft, as if he was trying to not spook a wild animal. He just couldn't help it. Hinata really did look obsessed with practice.

Granted, they were never given much time to prepare, still, this pace they were in would sooner make all the others ran out of fuel.

"But-!"

"Shoyou," he started with a serious voice, making his friend freeze in his place. It wasn't a surprise really, his reaction. They might have considered each other as best friends, they might have clicked almost immediately upon meeting that first day, but they had never progressed towards calling each other by their given names. It wasn't indicated in any of their talks. They didn't speak about it since it never really bothered them. But he had to admit it's a little startling.

Especially for him, with how natural it got out of his mouth. He liked saying it even though it seemed a little too intimate with him than the usual when he spoke his other friend's name.

"Let them rest. You can still practice after class,"

"We're still new though," Hinata said, voice a lite subdued.

"Not really. The only new ones are the first years – us. The senpai's had been on the team since they were first year. They already know each other. I think they could cope up even with the new ones. Don't sell them short,"

There were a few tense moments before Hinata's tense shoulders relaxed and his eyes took on a normal look.

"You're right. I am not taking into account the other's experience," Kijima nodded.

"Besides, the match this coming Tuesday is only a practice match. It would be good to motivate them to grow. It's not like it's a death match,"

Silence.

"Besides, you got to trust your teammates. You may not play with them, but you help them. You're still with them even if you're not inside the court. Like you said, the sport needs all the members or none at all, that includes you,"

He might not like the others at the moment – their method of employment still irritates him whenever he thought about it – but he couldn't help but think that his friend had been pushing so hard because he had already set it inside his mind that they would lose. It wasn't that hard to think about.

Karasuno, a team whose members aren't even complete yet, going against one of the best 4. Anyone would think that Karasuno would lose by means of common sense. Still, thinking like that when they haven't even played yet already set their scores as losers.

He didn't like that. It reminded him very much of his days when he was in middle school. It's painful.

"Don't think that you'll lose when you haven't even played yet," he said. He looked at his friend and saw him sniffing, tears falling on his cheeks and his glasses hanging in front of his polo shirt. His eyes widened at the sight.

"Hinata!"

"I-I'm sorry!" his friend wailed. Good thing he managed to drag his friend on the roof already or his voice would have everyone looking and pointing fingers at him.

"D-don't cry!" he exclaimed. He took out his towel and gave it to his friend. "What's wrong?"

"I am so ashamed! Here I am thinking that they've already lost, having no trust in them when you do! I am the worst!" Hinata continued to wail. Kijima tried to hush his friend but his wail only got louder.

"Hinata! Don't worry about it. You can just ask for forgiveness to others later if you really want to. You're not the worst, you're just thinking realistically," he said gently, hugging his friend and patting his fluffy head gently.

"O-Okay," Hinata said, wails getting softer and turning into sniffles.

"Just don't tell them it's my idea," Kijima mumbled that Hinata didn't seem to hear as he didn't react at all.

. . . . .

Afternoon

After Class:

"I am sorry," was the first thing that was on his mouth when everyone gathered in the gym. There was silence after he said it but Hinata didn't mind. He was a little nervous doing this but with Kijima by his side, he felt determined to do what he had planned.

"I pushed all of you too much. I guess I got… crazy with the training," he looked at every one of them and showed his sincerity even as he was conveying his seriousness. "I admit, I thought we will lose on Tuesday," he started. Everyone's expression grew grim. "And I didn't want that," Well, at least I didn't. "So I pushed. I know I am wrong now and I am sorry. I had lots of scenario in my mind, about what would happen tomorrow. I didn't trust you even though I gave such a good speech last Saturday,"

He looked at Kijima and saw him gave a tiny nod so he continued. "Those words were from my father and I believe them, but I lost sight of it for a short time because I honestly don't know any of you and maybe, deep inside, I resented you for forcing me into this position," It wasn't his intention but a few of the winced.

"But that isn't going to happen now. We'll go for normal pace and I'll trust every one of you, even if I do find some of you annoying,"

Silence.

"Do you want out?" Sawamura-senpai asked, voice and expression serious. He looked at the other with his forehead furrowed in confusion. "I'm asking if you want to be out of the club. I know we forced you when we asked and didn't even accept your no's. I will understand if you want out. We won't force you anymore,"

He looked at the captain intently and saw that he was serious in his proposal. Looking at Kijima's intense eyes, and seeing no answer there, he began thinking what he really want.

He didn't want to be in the club, that was true. But he wanted to watch volleyball. He liked looking at these members practice and helping them grow. He liked the feeling of them becoming good because of him.

He liked being needed.

Maybe his first sentence wasn't true. Maybe he wanted to be in the club… he just didn't want to play.

Not yet. He wasn't ready.

But he wanted to be in the club.

He smiled.

"No, I'll stay. I want to be here. I just didn't like how you forced my hand," the tense atmosphere that he didn't even know was there dissipated when he saw Sawamura-senpai smile. His tense shoulders relaxed, especially when the others – barring a few – cheered at his words. Kijima walked closer to him and squeezed his shoulder.

"You did well," he murmured in his ear. Hinata felt himself relax fully.

"It's all because of you," he said, giving the other a wide, bright smile. Kijima looked taken aback before he grinned and bumped their shoulders together.

"Alright guys! Practice!" The others froze before looking at him apprehensively. He grinned at them. "Don't worry, it's going to be reasonable than before," they relaxed.

After he gave instruction and they started training, he walked to Kijima – who was off to the side looking at Shimizu-senpai – and he snickered. His friend heard him and gave him a glare.

"Stop it," he hissed. Hinata gave a grin before he looked at his friend in the eye.

"Thank you, Jun," he said with eyes full of sincerity, gratitude and trust before he walked away to oversee training with a bounce on his steps, but not before he saw his friend's eyes went wide in surprise.

It took a few moments for Kijima to snap out of his shock. He should have expected it really, especially when he was the first to initiate. It just really took him by surprise.

As he watched Hinata enthusiastically order his minions to continue, he couldn't help but smile softly.

It's worth every moment being in the club he was still in the process of understanding if they could make him feel warm.

He found another home.

TBC.

A/N:

Okay guys, I had another update here. Motivation and inspiration hit me hard.

Next stop is the practice match between AobaJousai and Karasuno! Watch out!

Btw, what do you think?

P.S.

Thank you for all who reviewed! I love all of you for loving this fic! I hope I get more readers, and reviews too! Haha... And for Guest Reviewer "Maiden Warrior", you've been my favorite reviewer, you help me out with ideas so much!

Review!