So here's how the story goes ;
There's a girl who sits in the back of every classroom, a girl who is so terminally shy she does not speak to anyone for the longest time.
She's a nervous wreck on a daily basis, a lonely, tiny star in a galaxy full of bigger, shinier celestial bodies if you will. And the story, well, it's not about that girl.
The story is about boys, because it's always about boys.
A group of boys who are so talented it hurts, who forge friendships over sport water bottles and ice cream. Who are good and kind, until they are not, until they are vicious and cruel and resentful and-
Of course, there's also a girl.
The girl, the one whose hair is soft like silk and whose lips constantly shine with bubblegum pink lipgloss, because there's always a girl like that - the one that has your heartbeat picking up, that has your hands sweating.
That girl is the farthest thing from our lone star.
If one is awkward and a frantic mess of limbs, the other is delicate and easy to speak to. The girl with bubblegum pink everything - from her long, beautiful hair to her electric eyes - is so smart and so bright, that people take her for an idiot.
Thus begins the friendship between the girl who belongs in a fairy tale and the girl whose head is in the clouds. That friendship may not last for ages, but well, you have what you have when you have it.
(life is only fleeting moments of in-between)
The thing is, there's no story that's coherent enough to be told. Just the mess that is teenage years, y'know, broken friendships and dramatic vows and heartbreak.
Our lonely star still does not know where she fits in that half-closed storybook.
Yachi Hitoka hates sports.
The sky is blue, the earth is round, and Yachi Hitoka hates sports.
Maybe it's not physical activity itself that she hates, she concedes the point to herself as she does enjoy a good jog or yoga session, maybe it's the ridiculous school pride thing, or maybe it's the stupid boys who play sports.
Of course, Hitoka is a well-mannered girl who would never say such a thing, even after her classroom has been invaded by said sports-obsessed boys.
(she doesn't need to see them play to know, that gleam in their eyes is more than enough to convince her - she's seen that look before)
How strange it must be, to let your passion consume you, to let it burn you from the inside until your skin turns to ash.
Wait, the blonde's surprisingly profound thoughts come to a sudden halt, did they even introduce themselves yesterday?! Their names, what were their names?
The blonde's hyperactive imagination - she was currently picturing herself out on the streets for her failure to remember names, is cut off by a loud exclamation of, "I'm Shouyou Hinata from class-1."
Oh, that's easy.
The boy standing in front of her has unruly, bright orange hair and a presence that commands attention by how bold, how intense it is, "He's Kageyama."
The tall, dark-haired one does not look bothered despite his friend introducing him, "Hey," he gives a slight bow that she repeats hastily, head almost crashing onto her desk, "He-hey."
This one is tall, much taller than herself and his friend with pale hair. Yet, the way he holds himself is almost as if to make himself smaller, with his back just a bit hunched forward and his hands in the pockets of his school uniform.
On the other hand, the one now known as Hinata seems to be much bigger than what he actually is, with the megawatt smile and lively, overwhelmingly loud personality, "Yachi-san, do you like studying?"
For a full second, Hitoka holds his stare with her own surprised one, he remembered my name?
"I don't hate it?" what was meant to be a statement comes out more of a question and she has to lean back when an English textbook is shoved in front of her face.
"Can you teach us this?!" Hinata's all-too piercing gaze falls to Kageyama who looks just as hesitant to deal with the sunny boy as she is, "Kageyama ask her too!"
Yachi's milk coffee-colored eyes widen the size of coins, lips parting as the taller boy does as asked, "Please teach us."
"What...but..."
"If we fail any tests this month, we won't be able to go to the Tokyo training camp," is it really already mid-June? "So we've been tutored by this tall, four-eyes guy named Tsukishima...but he's really irritated with us because we're too stupid for him!"
That's...a giggle threatens to spill out of her mouth, she forces it back in, that's so silly, who calls themselves 'too stupid' for someone else?
Worse of all is that Kageyama doesn't renounce the notion, nodding along to his tiny partner's words with a pinched expression, "I'm not scared of him."
"Me neither!" Hinata proclaims, then eyeing Yachi with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, "But wouldn't it be nice to have someone nice to tutor us?"
The way Kageyama visibly stops to think on the concept, all pursed lips and barely furrowed brows, makes Yachi realize the boy is not scary at all.
"I could," she says then, " If you think I'm good enough to help, although..." Hinata excitedly nods his head at a pace faster than any human being has a right to move at, "What makes you think I'll be any nicer than your current tutor?"
("Yacchin asks for too much," a low, pitiful groan from the mass of muscle laid on the library's table, followed by a louder, more boisterous voice from her left, "He's right! You're a real slave driver Yachi!")
The two share a glance, taking in wide hazel eyes that tint on golden and the incredibly soft tone of voice she uses, "Don't worry about that."
Was she anyone else, Yachi might have given a thought on how quickly they answered that.
She doesn't and the two boys each grab a chair, since most of her classmates had left the classroom to go eat outside. With the soft weather of the day, it was almost criminal to stay inside.
"What part of the chapter are you having trouble with?" she tears her eyes away from the sun that is just starting to peek out from behind clouds, and takes out her notes for English, "I'm in the advanced class so I don't think we're seeing the same material - bear with me okay?"
Hinata shies away from the blonde's inviting smile, from the warmth of it, "Uh, all of it?"
That's...Yachi cannot stop the soft snort that leaves her, "Don't worry that's fine, let's review it from the beginning and see where you get stuck," she motions for Hinata to hand her his textbook, looking at the table of contents - she's pleased to see that the first four chapters are the same as her own, as they had only dived in deeper material at chapter five, while the ones with normal English classes went into basic sentence structure.
The two eager volleyball players begin filling their notes with her own as she explains the basics, "Oh wow I get it now!"
Yachi's eyelashes flutter, an unsure look crossing her face, "You do?" there's a pause, "No-not that I don't think you can get it! It's just that was so fast, don't you have any other questions?"
Kageyama's speaks quietly, "Your notes are clearer than our teacher's, they're easier to understand."
Oh, Hitoka can feel her cheeks flushing a dark red hue, and looks away, mortified of her terribly inconvenient blush, it always seemed to play tricks on her, showing up at the least appropriate moment, "Thank you..."
Hinata nods, "You draw very well too!" How do people live so close in direct sunlight? she makes silly hand motions in front of her chest, shaking her head, " Not really! My mom works at a design firm so she's picky about things like that."
Hinata's face scrunches up, "Ok? You're still really good, I like the chick you drew in the corner, it's really cute."
A high, squeaky sound escapes the blonde, Hinata, and Kageyama startling at the girl's reaction.
"I-I'm fine!" she assures them, eyeing Hinata's notebook, "Sorry for that, I-I'm just a bit nervous...anyway! You should leave a space here, it's easier to fill in later, and maybe limit the colors you use?"
The two volleyball player share a look as the girl begins to fill in their notes, teeth sinking on the plump skin of her lower lip, "You could-..." Yachi's face pales, horror drawing itself on her features, "I'm so sorry! I drew all over your notes!"
Now they'll never forgive me and I'll lose my one chance at making friends, I'll become a recluse and die alone, and- Hitoka's hyperactive imagination is cut off by a glowing Hinata, "Wow, thanks Yachi-san! It's amazing," the boy takes back his notebook, eyes wide in wonder.
"I-it's nothing..." Kageyama watches, face carefully blank, as the girl splutters and fails to hide her happiness at the compliment.
"So Hinata-kun, Kagayema-kun," Hinata, never one to bother with honorifics, immediately asks the girl to drop the -kun, and if she's a bit uncomfortable, she tries not to let it show, "Do you not like to study, Hinata?"
"I hate it, sitting still for so long sucks," Yachi's lips part in unsaid words, he's so open with his emotions, "So you're trying really hard...for a training camp?"
She's noticed how the orange-haired boy's face scrunches up when he tries to understand what is written in his notes, tongue poking out as he struggles to do so. How much difficulty he's having with the material and yet does not give up. It's admiring, really, and all for a sport.
There's a familiar twitch in Yachi's gut, she's not sure she likes it.
"Yeah! We'll be having practice matches with some strong schools from Tokyo!" he brightens up and even Kageyama straightens up at the mention of volleyball. "There's this school called Nekoma High, their setter is super smart, and their leader has some really spiky hair-"
What it must be like, Hitoka wonders, to be this passionate about something.
But talking about that couldn't do her any good, it never did, Yachi knows just how different she is from people like that, like Hinata and Kageyama.
("how could you ever understand?! You've never fought for anything in your entire life!" she takes a step back as if slapped, "you're content with letting life roll over you, never standing up for yourself or what you want-")
"The libero from Nekoma is awesome," Kageyama's eyes are blown wide with excitement, even as he tries to concentrate on taking the notes written in Yachi's notebook, "He's on par with Nishinoya-san."
Lost in her own thoughts, she lets Hinata ramble on about volleyball, "-and Date Tech has the iron wall who's 190 centimeters tall!"
"190 centimeters tall?" she echoes, suddenly nauseous, "That's terrifying!"
"Isn't it?!" Yachi's heart goes on to Hinata who must be so overwhelmed by all of the indecently tall people around him. Kageyama grunts, "Stop talking and start noting, idiot."
"Hey!" Still, Tokyo...Hitoka bites on the inside of her cheek, mulling her thoughts over, "I'm sure you guys will make it to Tokyo, but be careful when you get there 'kay?"
The two volleyball addicts - as Yachi has aptly decided to call them in her head, look at each other, trying to figure out the meaning behind her words. Hinata curiously tilts his head to the side, "Have you ever been to Tokyo, Yachi-san?"
The blonde tugs at the bottom of her uniform shirt, uncomfortable, "I lived there until a few months ago when my mom got a job opportunity here." Hitoka could've stayed, had she wanted to, her dad wouldn't have minded, would have been happy even to have her stay with him.
"Hah, really? That's so cool! Wait, you said to be careful, are big towns really that dangerous?!" She's not sure if Hinata is serious or not, and that's what worries her most.
"No!" she corrects, "Nothing like that, but it's...different than here, the streets are always full and it's really loud. I like Miyagi, it's a nice change of pace," she then hastily goes on, "But I'm sure you'll love Tokyo!"
"You don't look like you're a big fan," Yachi blushes up to the roots of her hair at Kageyama's blunt words, I'm really not, she almost says.
"So Kageyama-kun, Hinata," she changes the subject all-too-quickly, barely thinking of her next words, "Did you get to play in an official match yet, or will that be next year?" it's increasingly common for players to be on the bench until their second year.
The boys' faces fall and Hitoka's head tilts.
"Sorry, I didn't see you guys play yesterday, and since you're both first-years I assumed..." Kageyama roughly, but not unkindly, corrects her, saying they both do play in matches and that he is the team's official setter while Hinata is a middle blocker.
"Wow, that's incredible..." then she bites her lips, eyes narrowing thoughtfully on Hinata, "I'm sorry if this seems rude, but aren't middle blockers the super tall guys near the net?"
"Even if I'm not all that big, I'm still a regular!"
"I-I know!" she quickly says, eyes shining with fear of having offended the kind boy, "I didn't mean to second guess your words or anything like that! I just...I'm so sorry!"
Then, much to the two boys' surprise, the girl jumps off her chair and bows so low her head is hidden by her desk, there's a choked laugh from Hinata and a strangled sound from Kageyama.
She's so silly.
"It's fine! I'm used to it," that doesn't make it fine, and Yachi melts back into her seat with shame painted on her face, "I'm may not be tall, but I can fly."
Fly? the girl looks up, lips parting to ask a question that will forever be left unanswered. The look in Hinata's eyes shuts her up, the contrast on his features caused by the sun outside causes the inside of her mouth to dry up.
She had first believed the boy to be lighthearted of all things, how wrong she had been, that much is clear now.
Yachi gulps slowly, trying to unsee the intense, incredibly focused look that had been on Hinata's face seconds earlier. Boys like him are too much for her to handle.
(maybe they weren't, once upon a time, but now she knows just how pathetically low her limit is at)
She knows the type, the type that throws themselves into everything they start with 120% of their energy, with the passion of a thousand suns.
Hitoka is struck speechless.
"Oi, don't you need to copy this down?" Hinata hurries to go back to the English notes splayed out on the desk, dinner is almost over after all and Yachi knows many of her classmates will soon come back to the classroom.
"The other players are so big and strong," Hinata continues, eyes wide with excitement... no, hunger. "But when we're on the court I feel like I'm taking those people on. It's nerve-wracking."
Yachi sighs then, aware of her own thinning resolve to talk to Shimizu-senpai about not taking up the manager position, "You're amazing Hinata. Almost like a little giant," she mumbles, remembering the term from an article in Basketball Monthly.
Hinata shoots up once again, shaking with excitement, "What?! You know who the little giant is?"
Kageyama grabs the boy by the shoulder, left eyebrow twitching with annoyance, "Settle down." The unusual dynamic brings a smile to her lips, those two really must care for one and other.
"Sorry, I don't think we're talking about the same thing," she admits sheepishly, "I thought it was what we called Japanese players who faced much bigger opponents from around the world. The public always loves a good underdog."
"Oh, right," there is a second where Hinata considers her words, but he quickly brightens up, "Well I'm going to be the Little Giant."
Yachi doesn't blink, "I'm sure you are," goodness, I cannot actually be considering this? Why in the world would she want to do this, it doesn't make any sense. Still, the idea to join the volleyball club doesn't seem as unappealing as it did yesterday...
No! Hitoka thinks and prays to the stars she actually means it, I'm not getting involved this time, it won't do me any good. Yachi Hitoka you are done making things worse for yourself, you'll go talk to Shimizu-senpai after school today!
Thankfully for her worn-out heart, Yachi's classroom fills with students waiting for the class after dinner to begin and she walks Kageyama and Hinata out.
"Thanks, Yachi-san! See you after school," she waits until is out of view to clutch at her chest, where she feels like she has been pierced by an invisible arrow.
Still...she re-enters the classroom with a troubled look on her face, it's probably the most fun I've had in months, Hitoka tries not to think too much of it.