Encounter #12- Yachi
It was no secret to anyone that Hinata and Yachi had become fast friends. Even though the girl wasn't anywhere near the first to be exposed to Hinata's charm, she was the one who fell for it the quickest after meeting him.
The first time Yachi had watched over volleyball practice with Kiyoko, the little ginger with smiles made of sunshine was the only one who didn't want to make her run away screaming for her life.
Everyone had introduced themselves to her, of course, and everyone was more than a little intimidating. Asahi was really tall, Tsukishima always looked like he was plotting something, Yamaguchi was just a little too quiet for Yachi to be completely comfortable around, Nishinoya was loud, Suga's karate-chopping scared her, she was sure Daichi's angry face would haunt her dreams for years to come, Tanaka seemed violent, but Ennoshita, Narita, and Kinoshita seemed calm enough. Still, Yachi was terrified that she might make them angry. Kageyama just looked plain intimidating, and Hinata...she had been pleasantly surprised to find that there was nothing about him that worried her, which was near impossible when it came to the blond's unmatched paranoia.
She'd heard enough stories about Hinata Shouyou, given the fact that at least four of her friends were absolutely smitten with him and his "adorable puppy dog face." Still, she'd never actually seen him in person. They were in different classes, and they'd never happened to run into each other at all before Yachi had shadowed Kiyoko at volleyball club.
When Hinata had greeted Yachi on her first day, she could certainly see the hype. He was all smiles, fluffy hair, and sparkling eyes, not to mention the way he interacted with all his scary teammates was astounding to someone was cautious as Yachi, who could never even dream of being so touchy and talking as casually as Hinata did.
The way he draped himself across Asahi's back, the way Nishinoya and Tanaka fought for his attention, the way he would poke Kageyama without fear and run away laughing afterward enraptured Yachi.
Hinata had some of the scariest high schoolers she'd ever seen wrapped around his little finger. That much was obvious.
The day she'd shadowed Kiyoko at volleyball club wasn't the day she encountered Hinata's unbeatable charm, though. She didn't interact much with any of the players except for the greeting at the beginning, and even though his sweet smiles made the blond go somewhat weak in the knees, she'd just chalked it up to nervousness from being around so many intimidating people at a time. She acknowledged the fact that Hinata was the only one that didn't make her want to shriek and run away, but she thought nothing of the fuzzy feeling in her chest every time she caught a glimpse of the way his face always split into a beam after doing something right.
When Hinata and Kageyama had approached Yachi for tutoring days later, she'd said yes without a second thought, which was more surprising for herself than for the decoy and setter, who had thanked her profusely and promised to work out the details before leaving her dumbfounded self to her thoughts.
Usually, she'd take a lot more time into considering the offer before agreeing or disagreeing to it, especially when it involved someone as intimidating as Kageyama, but with one look into those infamous honey-brown puppy dog eyes, her mouth had moved on its own accord.
Once again, Yachi thought nothing of it. Sure, she might've jumped the gun a little bit, but who cares? What better way to get accustomed to being a potential manager than to help out two of the players?
The three had their first tutoring session only two days later, and holy crap, it was no wonder the entire Karasuno volleyball was so fond of him. For the first part of the lesson, Hinata and Kageyama had been hanging on her every word, which made sense for Kageyama since the setter looked like the type to be able to focus for long but, you know, since Yachi had seen Hinata practically bouncing off the walls at practice a few days ago, she hadn't expected him to be this adamant about learning.
However, when she'd declared that Hinata had answered every single practice question correctly at the end of the session, his face had lit up like a Christmas tree and had unleashed a rain of praise and compliments upon her for her teachings, topping it off with an ecstatic grin and adoring eyes.
For the first time in a long time, Yachi found herself unable to utter a single word.
Kageyama shot her a knowing, sympathetic look, before roughly grabbing onto Hinata's head and squeezing it, yelling at him for being so damn cocky and that it "was only one lesson, you're not that smart, dumbass!"
Even in Yachi's stunned state, she could still see the begrudging affection in his blue eyes, clear as day.
It was no surprise to anyone when, at the next practice, Yachi and Hinata had burst through the doors laughing their asses off about some unknown joke or another. One glance at the blond girl's face told every single one of them all they needed to know.
She was just as far gone as they were.
xxx
Number #13- Kiyoko
Kiyoko had more restraint when it came to Hinata than probably 99.9% of the population of Japan. With so many boys trying to profess their love and woo her at every turn, she'd steadily grown immune to practically any and all charm that could be thrown her way. Whether it was the promise of expensive gifts, undying devotion, or eternal love, Kiyoko didn't so much as bat an eye. She'd been attractive since middle school, and she'd very quickly mastered the art of self-control and restraint.
Yes, she thought Hinata Shouyou was adorable, but who didn't? It was practically a fact of nature at this point. The sky is blue. The grass is green. Hinata is the human embodiment of happiness and puppies and all things good. The sun is yellow. You know, all the basic stuff.
Kiyoko hadn't fallen victim to sweet smiles, soft eyes, and the impossibly kind and charismatic persona everyone else had. She'd expertly trained herself to ignore all of those things from an early age. Yes, she liked Hinata, but for the life of her, she couldn't see why everyone else was so enchanted with him.
She couldn't see why Suga occasionally placed affectionate kisses atop his curls while he karate chopped everyone else into oblivion. She couldn't understand why Kageyama put so much faith in the ginger from the first week they met when, back in middle school, he'd only relied on himself and not the help of his spikers. She couldn't see why Daichi had such a soft spot for Hinata no matter what he did. She couldn't understand why Tanaka and Nishinoya had personally made it their mission to shower their underclassman with as many gifts and sweets as they could afford.
Kiyoko just couldn't understand. She was a rather passive individual, all things considered, which basically made Hinata her direct opposite. She liked the boy. It was impossible not to, she acknowledged that much, but she wasn't prepared to die for him like everyone else was.
No, the way she fell into Hinata's friendship was much different than the way anyone else had.
For one, it was depressing.
Kiyoko often visited the cemetery. It was peaceful up there, and she could spend hours telling her grandfather about how well the volleyball club was doing, how her schoolwork was progressing, and Nishinoya's and Tanaka's recent endeavors to earn her love.
It had been another one of these days. Everything had gone as smoothly and routine as usual. Kiyoko dropped a bouquet off at her grandfather's grave, talked to him for a while, shed a few tears, told him she loved him, and went on her way.
However, one thing that was definitely not routine was the familiar sight of orange curls among the row of dreary grey gravestones.
Kiyoko frowned. If there was one place Hinata didn't belong, it was somewhere like this. She turned away from the gate she'd been about to exit through and walked in his direction, careful to keep her steps relatively loud so she didn't startle the boy. However, it appeared to be in vain when she put a tentative hand on his shoulder, and he shrieked in response and started throwing mindless punches.
"Hinata! I'm sorry! It's just me!" She drew back instantly, alarm evident on her face.
"I- Kiyoko?" Hinata's hands dropped to her sides, and only then did the manager notice trail of dried tears coating his freckled cheeks. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh..." Kiyoko tore her gaze away from Hinata's face, forcing herself to look him in the eye, and was taken aback to find they portrayed just as much sadness as his tearstained face. "I was visiting my grandfather."
"I'm sorry." Hinata's response was immediate, and Kiyoko could tell that he meant it. "Losing a family member is hard." He offered a shaky smile, so unlike his usual intoxicating grins. "I'm sure he'd be proud of the woman you are now."
If anyone else had said it with any less conviction, Kiyoko would've thought it was another awful attempt at flirting, but this was Hinata, one of the few boys in school that didn't go bat-shit crazy whenever she laid eyes on them.
"Thank you." Kiyoko tried to regain her composure, ignoring the sudden tightness of her throat. "That means a lot. He was very special to me."
Hinata nodded in understanding. "I'm sure he was. If he's anything like you, he sounds like he was a great man."
"Yeah." It was surprisingly easy to talk to Hinata, considering Kiyoko knew she wasn't very good with words. "I didn't have the privilege of knowing him long, unfortunately. He died when I was two, but I remember he was always very cheerful. I love him very much, and I know he loved me."
Hinata pursed his lips, and Kiyoko tried not to grimace as a stray tear trailed down Hinata's cheek. Sadness was just so...unfitting for him, and it made Kiyoko's gut twist in uncomfortable ways. Slowly, she craned her neck to read the gravestone the pair were currently standing in front of, trying not to make it too conspicuous.
Here lies Hinata Akira, beloved husband, friend, and father...
Oh.
Without thinking, Kiyoko threw her arms around Hinata's small frame, smiling sadly as she felt small, wet drops on her shoulders as he reciprocated only a second later. Oh god, Hinata had lost his father, a parent, and based on the date inscribed on the tombstone, he'd been as old as nine when it had happened. Nine years old, meaning he had been old enough to understand the weight of loss, understand his father wasn't coming back, and grieve.
Kiyoko already felt an unimaginable amount of sadness whenever she thought of her deceased grandfather, and she'd only been a mere two years old. She didn't even want to think about how heavy Hinata's heart must be with loss, how utterly agonizing it must feel knowing that he was only left with nine years of memories from his father, nine years of loving and being loved by him, only for him to now be buried six feet under, never to see the light of day again.
If the unrestrained whimpers and sobs coming from Hinata's mouth were any indication, Kiyoko could tell he was thinking something along the lines of the same thing.
To say Kiyoko fell in love with Hinata because of his charm like everyone else had would be wrong. It was his strength that made her look at him in a new light. This kid, at a mere sixteen years of age, had already suffered one of the greatest losses imaginable, and yet, he was still known as the poster child for sparkles and rainbows and happiness.
Yet, he was still the universal shoulder to cry on, and the person people went to for healing hugs and soft whispers of reassurance.
Yet, he laughed and played and lived life to the fullest as if nothing terrible had ever happened to him.
"Can you please not tell anyone?" Kiyoko's shoulder muffled Hinata's voice, but it was audible. "I don't want any sympathy."
A wave of motherly instincts crashed into Kiyoko at full force, and she knew she was a goner. The selflessness was too much for her to bear, and nothing could've prepared her for the rush of affection she felt for the trembling boy she held in her arms.
Suddenly, all of the special treatments and fond gazes Hinata received didn't seem that crazy.
xxx
Encounter #14- Takeda
Hinata's unrelenting drive had been the thing to reel Takeda in. The kid was short, shorter than most high schoolers his age. Yet, he'd insisted that he was going to be the ace of Karasuno someday, despite being taller than their libero by only a couple of centimeters, if even that.
The first time Takeda had witnessed Kageyama's crazy sets paired with Hinata's crazy athleticism, he had to resist the urge to cackle like a maniac. The two boys had talent, and their strengths complemented each other so well that Takeda could already tell Karasuno was going to have a damn good season.
The thing that surprised Takeda that most about Hinata was the fact that he never stopped trying. Yes, he may be short, and yes, the only way he could usually receive was with his face, but he was stubborn as hell, and one thing the teacher had noticed was that once a challenge was laid in front of him, he never gave up until he completed it.
That drive to do better and succeed had resulted in a lot of late nights at the gym and nearly mornings for Hinata, and most of the time, Kageyama as well, but that only pleased Takeda more.
In all honesty, he admired Hinata's urge to do better. It was a trait that was practically nonexistent in high school boys, something Takeda had grown increasingly more frustrated with as his teaching career unfolded. Yet, Hinata never ceased to surprise him.
Hinata Shouyou was a name spoken fondly among his teachers. Though he wasn't the smartest kid on the block, he was undoubtedly one of the most friendly. Though to Takeda's knowledge, he was closest to those on the volleyball team, he knew and was friends with nearly the entire student body, which was no small feat. The young teacher had lost count of how many times a random student had burst into volleyball practice wanting to talk or give Hinata something.
And yet, the ginger still focused a good majority of his time and energy on volleyball and the team, which never ceased to baffle Takeda, as well as make him swell with pride and happiness.
The Karasuno volleyball team was good, but it wasn't great. Though, with Hinata's and the other first-year's help, Takeda did not doubt that they'd get there.
Takeda didn't really have a specific moment in time where he was introduced to Hinata's charm. It was more gradual than anything else, and by the time he realized it, there was no backing out.
Hinata had asked Takeda for a day off from homework one time, apologizing profusely and insisting that he just had too much on his plate at the moment, and all he needed was one night without anything to worry about.
Takeda had agreed before he even had time to consider it.
xxx
Encounter #15- Ukai
Hinata was the reason Ukai didn't want kids.
Not because he didn't like the shrimp. It was very much the opposite, actually, because the things Hinata's puppy dog eyes could get him to do was literally scary.
At first, Ukai didn't think much of the little carrot-topped kid glued to the emo setter's side. It was clear from the moment he walked into the gym that he was the baby of the team, and as such, Ukai didn't have any high expectations for him.
He and Kageyama's quick attack had been a pleasant surprise, and the excitement on their faces was intoxicating. It reminded Ukai of himself, in the olden days, and how much he used to love the game.
The first time Hinata had used his puppy-dog eyes on Ukai had been at his convenience store. The blond could see the rest of the team waiting outside through the glass windows, but decided not to dwell on the fact that they only sent the shorty in to get food. When he could, he tried to avoid meddling in high schooler business.
"Hey Coach, can I get twelve meat buns please?" Hinata's voice took on a polite, professional tone Ukai had never heard before. Shrugging, he removed his cigarette from his lips and nodded.
"Sure, kid."
"Thanks."
Ukai could hear Hinata repeatedly rapping his knuckles against the counter, tapping out some sort of familiar rhythm the older couldn't quite place as he did his best to stuff twelve full meat buns in a single paper bag.
He finished relatively quickly, having grown accustomed to packing large amounts of food in small warping with all of his years working at the store, and was just about to turn around to hand them to Hinata when he spoke up again.
"Ah, this is kind of awkward, but Tanaka told me to ask you this so..." Hinata trailed off, licking his lips before continuing. "Do you think we could get these for free? Maybe? Just this once?"
Ukai was unable to contain a snort. Now that was a ridiculous request if he ever heard one. There was no way he was going to...
When Ukai turned around to hand Hinata the bag and laugh in his face, he was immediately greeted with the boy's trademark sparkly puppy dog eyes. Ukai cursed.
Goddammit.
The ginger wasn't even doing much, just standing at the counter and staring up at Ukai with his usual bright, honey eyes that the coach had seen so many times before.
Except this time, they were trained directly on him and nowhere else.
Whatever argument Ukai had been about to make disappeared entirely from his mind as whatever resolve he'd previously had crumbled under a single gaze. Damn puppy dog eyes. Ukai wished there was an off switch or something. He'd never been able to say no to Hinata's puppy dog eyes, and it seemed the rest of the team had decided to abuse that knowledge wholeheartedly.
Except for Hinata, of course, who was always so utterly oblivious to the power he wielded with just his smile and eyes.
Wordlessly, Ukai handed the ginger the bag and shooed him out the door with one hand.
Yep. If kids like Hinata could prompt him of all people to give away free food from his store, there was no way he was going to have any baby Ukai's running around.
