hey, i just wanted to say sorry for always being so negative with recent chapters!
even though it's been years since i had started to write this crossover, i still get happy when people enjoy my writing. so, i will attempt to finish it as soon as possible. i hate it whenever i read stories and it never updates, so i will finish this crossover, and let this story rest.
thank you all for supporting me.
Cogs are churning in his mind.
Hinata felt the changes while running on the sand, grains embedded on the sole of his feet. The way that it didn't support him, the way that the floor felt so flimsy compared to the hard wood of a gym, the way that the wind can change everything in a game. It was completely different. Riko knew what she was doing.
Even playing basketball was a challenge. The basketball wouldn't bounce up as high as it would if it was dribbled across a regular gym floor. Hinata knew. He knew that he truly had to rebuild his strong, reliable foundation.
But that was so, so hard. To basically force yourself to forget everything you know, and then relearn it? It was something that a normal person cannot do in a day. But Hinata was a Genius. Of course he could do it. He can totally-
Restart.
And everything was a blur after that.
Kuroko watched his long time friend jump off the sand like it was nothing. The way that Hinata just absorbs the information that's around him was scary. Even the other members of the Seirin Basketball team were amazed that Hinata could still jump like that. Barefooted even!
When asked about how Hinata did it, the Miracle didn't know how to answer. All he said was: "It just felt right to do certain movements a different way. The outdoors are scary, the game can change at any moment."
What a Monster. Kuroko thought as Hinata finished his jump serve drills. Looking at his coach, Riko looked extremely smug as she stared at how much Hinata was improving. Finishing the last of his water, blue eyes gazed at the bottle, wondering if he'll ever improve. Even though he loved basketball with all of his heart, Kuroko knew that he wasn't as good as the rest. Watching Hinata improve made him realize that sometimes, life favors those who are prepared.
Just when the sun was starting to go down, Riko rushed the entire team plus Hinata into the hotel, and then the entire team realized what was about to happen.
Dinner time. Riko's Cooking.
The entire team rushed past their coach, with only Kuroko and Hinata being left behind. The latter looked confused while the phantom 6th man had his usual poker face. The two looked at each other before calmly walking after their coach.
By the time the duo entered the kitchen, the entire team was preventing Riko from putting vitamin supplements in their food. Hinata gaped in horror as he realized what was supposed to happen to his food, and he silently thanked Kuroko's teammates for preventing the death of his stomach and taste buds.
The food was pretty good, though Hinata was sure that it would've tasted like absolute crap if Riko actually put all of that pondered protein on top of their food. Today, Hinata didn't feel like eating as much as he would normally. One plate made him full.
That wasn't like Him though.
Maybe the stress was getting to him. Hinata thought. That night passed by with a blur, with Kuroko nearly snoozing off in the middle of their bath while Hinata and Kagami got a little competitive with playing card games.
The first day was a success.
:3c
The next day, as Kuroko, Kagami, and Hinata brushed their teeth, Midorima and Takao were arguing as they passed the trio.
Cogs churned as they all realized that they were staying in the same place. And Riko didn't help when she showed up with a knife and strawberry juice stains all over her face and apron. At that moment, she looked like she was going to murder the 5 of them.
After eating breakfast, Seirin ended up having to do practice games against Shutoku. The only disadvantage they had? Riko had Kagami fetch everyone drinks, one by one, while running on the beach. But they did have Hinata join in Kagami's place.
The sunshine tapped his feet against the solid wooden floor of the basketball court. It did feel much, much better than jumping off of sand. Cautiously feeling the grooves of the basketball in his hand, Hinata stared at the two teams warming up. Just as he was about to join them, Midorima walked over to him.
"Hinata." The tsundere said, acknowledging his former teammate. "Do not think that I will go easy on you." Hinata didn't spare him a glance.
"I know." Sneakers squeaked against the wooden floor of the gym as Hinata started to walk towards the members of the Seirin Basketball Club. "I'll show you how much I have changed. Midorima." Green eyes watched the Miracle do warmups with the rest of the team, and with Kuroko. Soon, a whistle pierced the air, signaling that warmups have ended and that the game was going to start within a few minutes.
:3c
Hinata hasn't changed. Midorima concluded, walking back to the other side of the court after he had thrown his signature three pointer. It honestly felt like Hinata went backwards when it came to basketball. He fumbled with using a basketball, his reactions are a bit slower, overall, it felt like he didn't improve at all. Disappointment filled up his stomach. It was to be expected since Hinata did leave basketball to play volleyball.
But he was proven wrong. Like in every scenario about Hinata, Midorima gaped as he saw his own signature 3 pointer move be used by Hinata. The Orange Miracle looked extremely smug as he was falling down from an incredible height. All that work that Riko had poured into at the beach had made Hinata a jumping monster. Combining his already strong legs with a strong and reliable floor made him so much stronger, he was able to jump faster, he was able to reach newer heights, he was able to jump above all of the walls that Blocked his path.
This new and improved strength Hinata had, made him so giddy. It was like he was a brand new person. It made him forget that he was a Miracle, a Genius. It made him remember that basketball was fun.
Hinata was having fun.
And the chest at the bottom of the sea burst open.
It was clear that the other members of the Shutoku Basketball team were having a hard time adjusting to Hinata. It was like he snapped into place after he managed to do a three pointer from across the court. It was like he belonged on the court. It was like he had never taken a break from basketball. Green eyes widened in shock as he saw the familiar orange streak follow the pupils of Hinata's eyes.
There was no way that Hinata was in the Zone right now. It wasn't possible.
Takao couldn't help but pant as he stared at Midorima in disbelief. The shock in Midorima's eyes had confirmed Takao's suspicions. Shutoku had never gone against someone who was in the Zone before. Never had they ever.
"Do you know how he is while he is in the Zone?" Takao asked, jogging next to Midorima, who shook his head in response to the question.
"Hinata had never entered the Zone before us. There was only one time where he had gone into the Zone, but we don't know much about it. Therefore, right now, Hinata Shoyo is an enigma." Midorima pushed up his glasses, "We must take caution." Takao nodded, staring at the other Miracle, preparing to use his Hawk Eye on him.
And the game resumed.
:3c
Meanwhile, on the other side, Seirin gaped in amazement as they watched Hinata enter the Zone. Kuroko stared at his friend before sighing and smiling slightly.
"Hinata-kun's second time going into the Zone." Kuroko said, running into position by Hinata, who had stolen the ball from Takao. Orange streaks flashed by the other members of Shutoku's Basketball club, them whipping around in shock at how fast Hinata had become.
A dunk, a freestyle shot, a three pointer. Hinata was scoring over and over again, and there wasn't anything that Shutoku could do. Yes, they can try to catch up using Midorima's insane three pointers, however, Midorima isn't a stamina monster. His shots take a long time to wind up, and he does get tired after a while. Just trying to get the ball back to Midorima was a struggle. It was like Kuroko and Hinata had a secret conversation, constantly passing to one another, then somehow getting Hinata to score and be the light.
It was utterly disastrous for the Shutoku team.
A complete defeat.
"Hinata." Midorima called out to Hinata, who was lying on the floor, stretching. "When have you managed to control your Zone?" The Orange Miracle squinted at his former classmate, unsure about what he said.
"What do you mean? I never entered the Zone...?" Hinata looked really confused before realizing something. The Chest. It was open. He opened it. After he swore to never open it again, after viewing how it had destroyed the friendship that he had created at Teiko, being a Genius had ruined his friendships. But he started to laugh at the irony. The fact that he managed to use the Zone after many years at not being able to. The fact that he had managed to use the Zone after swearing that he would never use it.
The Pure Irony.
The cogs were coming together. They melded so well together now.
Hinata felt rejuvenated. He had never felt so good before. His body felt like it was the greatest thing in the world. The Orange Miracle sighed before sitting up, staring at the others who were preparing for their second practice match.
Hinata knew what he had to do.
He had to have fun.
The rest of the training camp was a blur, with Hinata being the happiest he had ever been in years.
:3c
When Hinata stepped off of the train, he was engulfed in a hug from his sister, Natsu. Laughing a little, he patted the girls back and held her hand as they walked over to their mother's car. On the way back, he kept babbling about the training camp. It was clear that he enjoyed it, and it seemed like whatever was bothering Hinata was gone, confidence now replaced the anger he had. Hinata had changed.
It was clear that Hinata's attitude had changed the moment he entered the classroom. Beaming brightly at everyone, his classmates gaped at him, wondering if his mother's business trip really had changed him that much. Kageyama stared at their partner, having a feeling about what happened.
"Oi." Kageyama said as Hinata slid into his seat. "... You saw Kuroko, right?" Hinata stared at the setter before nodding a bit. "I hope you have found your resolve." And the duo went back to not talking to each other. But the tense atmosphere was gone, the multiple small cogs that represented Hinata started to move, connecting another set of cogs.
Cogs were churning for Karasuno now, and they will aim for even higher heights.