Haikyuu! Project
Eclipsed Sun
Chapter One – The Awakening
THE MOON
He isn't very sure when it started.
It was first curious glimpses, prolonged stares, sometimes even outright glaring. Little by little he feels as though he caught on to something he'd rather not know. As though the very knowledge of this secret could change his entire perspective in life.
"Don't tell anyone- you can't tell-"
"What the hell… what the hell was that Hinata?!"
"Please, not the team-"
Tsukishima gripped his hands tighter, willing himself to calm down. Calm Down. He cannot think like this, so he must calm down.
He closes his eyes, ignores the stench of vomit in the air.
"Alright," he says, his voice sounding alien to his ears, "explain to me what the hell that was."
And Hinata, though reluctant, does.
Perhaps more explanation is needed.
You see, Tsukishima Kei, since a very young age has had one way of thinking: Logical. If something seems off, then something must be wrong somewhere. He regards emotions with much resentment, acknowledging its existence but wishing very much they didn't bother him so much (like flies).
This comparison has made Yamaguchi laugh in the past, on more than one occasion.
Upon starting middle school his entire view on volleyball (and life in general) has been altered after witnessing his brother's lie, and the lengths he went to just for a club. He then became more jaded than he already was. Not that he had blamed his brother much. He had always seen too much of the world. The weak was constantly bullied; be it in elementary school, or even against countries. People lie relentlessly to get their way, sometimes to gain favours, other times to stab you in the back.
He had always been a smart boy, so he picked up on a lot of things at an incredibly fast pace. The price? He grew up too fast. But he never seemed to mind this though. In fact, when asked, he seemed almost boastful about being so jaded.
"You still believe in miracles?" is a snide he once made to his 9 year old cousin.
When he went to Karasuno High, the very definition of teamwork has left him in awe. Not that he would ever outright admit it. He had too much pride in his heart, too much ego in his head. When facing against the elite Kageyama and his somewhat lacking sidekick Hinata, he was opened to a new world of volleyball, where idiocy ran a mock and potential knew no bounds.
Of course when asked he would simply brush it aside and say it was all to be expected. Kageyama came from Kitagawa Daiichi, an elite school filled with elite team mates and top notch coaches. Hinata Shouyou was infinitely gifted with an almost unnatural sense of athleticism, an unlimited source of stamina and the will to take on the world.
Everything and everyone was so damned predictable it was almost funny. He would wake up, go to school, ace exams and attend club. Nothing was going to change in the small town of Miyagi, especially in the insignificant life of Tsukishima Kei.
And then one day it did.
He honestly didn't know when it first started. If he thinks back really hard, it might've started 3 weeks ago, around the time exams finished.
It wasn't bad, or even remotely problematic. But it was distracting. Tsukishima hardly ever engages with anyone (willingly) except Yamaguchi. Suffice to say that he never really pays much attention to anyone unless he feels the need to. Though it irks him to admit it, he's probably the first (or the only one) who noticed it.
Hinata's quirks.
It started with a simple twitch. They had gone through an especially tiring practice. Spirits were high with everyone feeling that sense of accomplishment after a long day of practice. Hinata was chatting animatedly with Kageyama near the underused stage. It just so happened to be directly in front of where Tsukishima's bottle currently resides. He saunters over, feeling relief that practice was finally over (though it wouldn't surprise him if everyone suddenly decides they wanted a second helping of practice five minutes from now).
"Hey, Hinata, after this want your senpai to show you his Rolling Thunder 2.0?"
Hinata squeals unintelligible sounds, his eyes sparkling as though he had just been handed the world.
Tsukishima sighed inwardly. The Karasuna Volleyball team really are all demons. He closes the distance between him and his bottle, only half listening to what Yamaguchi was saying. Something about what Sayu, their classmate said to him during P.A.
He reached for his bottle, and looked down.
Fear.
Hinata's eyes were wide, almost like saucepans. His mouth was paused in a gasp that was inaudible. He literally froze up in front of Tsukishima. He had seen fear displayed by the small spiker countless times, even times when it was seriously warranted. But he never looked like this.
Tsukishima had joked to Yamaguchi about the many times he had witnessed fear. Like staring down on a shorter boy, or glaring at a particularly nosy classmate. But none of them ever looked like this,
As soon as it appeared it was gone. The sound of Nishinoya and Kageyama conversing brought Hinata back to earth from wherever he was and the group started casually walking towards the court.
"Tsukki? Are you listening?" Yamaguchi asks.
He hums, as he usually does. And almost, Tsukishima lets it go, because it doesn't concern him anyway. He glances towards Hinata one more time, hearing the exultations from Nishinoya-senpai's Rolling Thunder 2.0 and Kageyama's expression of approval.
Hinata has a watery smile on his face, his small hand clutching his chest, as though to contain something that might overspill.
/N: GOMENASAI. Holidays had just ended and me being myself have left a huge pile of holiday work unfinished. But I keep to my promise, twice a week. Let me know if there's anything strange or weird or inconsistent about this fanfic!