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The morning sun spilled over Karasuno High, bathing the rooftops in gold as Hinata pedaled up the hill. His breath puffed in the crisp air, and his legs moved with the steady rhythm of habit and excitement. Every push on the pedals brought him closer to the gym, the court, and the game that consumed his thoughts.
He skidded to a stop near the bike racks, locked his bike with a practiced flick, and dashed through the school gates, weaving through students. Just as the bell rang, he slipped into his classroom, breathless but grinning.
Classes crawled. The math teacher droned on about quadratic equations while Hinata doodled volleyball plays in the margins of his notes. History class blurred into a jumble of dates and battles that couldn't hold a candle to quick attacks and synchronized plays.
When the final bell finally rang, it was like a starter's pistol. Hinata leapt from his seat, shouldered his backpack, and bolted from the room, tearing down the hall like his sneakers were on fire.
The gym doors groaned open as he burst in. The familiar scent of floor polish and sweat filled his lungs like home.
"Hey, Shimizu-senpai!" he called, spotting Kiyoko near the bench with her clipboard.
She glanced up, calm as ever. "Afternoon, Hinata. Ready to work?"
"Always!" he beamed, dropping his bag and stretching, arms swinging, legs pulling taut. His whole body thrummed with energy.
At the far end of the gym, Kageyama was already there, a shadow at the baseline. His form was sharp, focused, each serve a weapon hurled with deadly precision.
Thwack!
The ball slammed into the opposite side, the echo sharp and clean.
Hinata paused mid-stretch, watching Kageyama line up another. His gaze tracked the ball's arc—it spun violently, biting through the air.
Then—snap!—a blur cut across the court.
A low dive. Fast. Clean.
The ball popped up with perfect control, hovering just right.
Kageyama froze, momentarily stunned, his usual scowl replaced by a blink of surprise. "What the…?"
The figure rose—a short, wiry kid with wild black hair streaked with a thick gold stripe.
"Nice serve, man! Killer spin!" the newcomer called, shaking out his hands and bouncing on his toes like the gym floor was electrified. "Almost got me!"
Kageyama blinked. "…Who're you?"
The boy spun, grinning like a maniac. "Nishinoya Yuu, second-year libero—Karasuno's Guardian Deity, back from suspension!"
He jabbed his thumb into his chest with pride, then turned his sharp eyes toward the cluster of first-years—Hinata, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi.
"You guys—first-years, right? Names!"
Hinata stepped forward like he'd been launched. "Hinata Shoyo—wing spiker!"
Tsukishima sighed, adjusting his glasses. "Tsukishima Kei. Middle blocker."
Yamaguchi gave a small wave, nervous. "Y-Yamaguchi Tadashi…"
Nishinoya nodded approvingly. "Solid crew!" Then he turned and spotted Kiyoko, and everything about him changed.
His eyes lit up like twin fireworks.
"Kiyoko-san!"
He leapt toward her like a missile, arms outstretched in pure, unfiltered joy.
Without missing a beat, Kiyoko sidestepped.
Nishinoya sailed past—and slammed into Tanaka, who had just walked in.
The two of them tumbled out of the gym doors in a heap.
"OW—"
"Worth it!" Nishinoya groaned.
Tanaka laughed, slapping his back. "Noya! You maniac!"
They stumbled back inside, dusting themselves off, grinning like fools.
"So—where's Asahi?" Nishinoya asked, glancing around the gym.
Daichi looked up from his stretches, his expression unreadable. "He hasn't been back since last year's match."
Sugawara added, quieter, "Quit after that Date Tech match. Took it hard."
Nishinoya's grin vanished like someone flipped a switch. His fists clenched.
"What?! You mean… he's still hiding?"
"Noya…" Sugawara began, but Nishinoya cut him off.
"He got blocked, yeah, it sucked! But quitting? That's not the Asahi I know!" His voice rose. "No ace, no libero! If he's not back, I'm not playing!"
He stormed to the door, yanked it open, and threw himself down on the steps outside, arms crossed like an angry child.
Inside, silence lingered for a beat.
Hinata blinked, then muttered to himself, "We need him…"
Driven by something he couldn't quite name, he jogged outside and plopped beside Nishinoya.
"Hey, Nishinoya-senpai!"
Nishinoya glanced over, still fuming. "What?"
Hinata beamed. "You're amazing! I saw you catch Kageyama's serve like it was nothing! We need you—you're the guardian, right? The senpai we can't lose!"
Nishinoya flushed, looking away. "…Tch. I am awesome."
"But Asahi's still gone."
"We'll get him back!" Hinata promised. "You said it yourself—he's the ace. That means he's not just strong—he's ours. You can't guard the court without him, and he can't break through walls without you."
Nishinoya blinked, his scowl faltering.
"You're a team," Hinata pressed. "And we're joining that team too. So help us make it whole again."
Nishinoya stared, then finally muttered, "Alright. You get him back, and I'm in."
Hinata jumped to his feet. "Deal!"
He raced inside and grabbed Kageyama by the wrist.
"We're finding Asahi!"
Kageyama scowled. "What? Why me?"
"'Cause you're scary!" Hinata grinned. "C'mon!"
Together, they sprinted through the halls. Upstairs, around corners, dodging startled teachers. Finally, they reached the third-year hallway.
Hinata skidded to a stop outside Asahi's classroom, peeking in.
There he was—tall, broad-shouldered, hair tied back. Quiet. Distant.
"Asahi-senpai!"
The third-year looked up, startled. Slowly, he stood and stepped into the hall.
"You're the new first-years, right?" he asked, voice soft. "What is it?"
Hinata stepped forward. "Nishinoya's back—but he won't join unless you do."
Kageyama crossed his arms. "Team's incomplete without you."
Asahi's face darkened, eyes falling to the floor. "I'm… not coming back."
"Why not?!" Hinata asked, confused.
"I couldn't break through Date Tech's blocks. Every spike… shut down. I froze. Noya got suspended because of me. I'm not strong enough."
Hinata opened his mouth, but Asahi kept going.
"You're fearless. I saw you—against Aoba Johsai. You don't hesitate."
"I'm scared all the time," Hinata said, voice low. "But I move anyway."
Asahi looked up, startled.
"With Kageyama's sets, it's like flying," Hinata continued. "We want you to feel that too. The view from the summit."
Kageyama nodded once. "I'll set. You spike."
Asahi's hands trembled.
He could see it again. That court. The ball rising. The crowd screaming.
But fear clung to him like a shadow.
"I… need time," he whispered. "I can't promise anything."
Hinata nodded, eyes steady. "Okay. But we'll wait. And we won't give up."
They turned to go.
Asahi watched them disappear around the corner, his heart pounding.
Something had shifted.
He wasn't ready yet.
But maybe…
Just maybe…
He could be.
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To be continued…
Let me know your thoughts
Also give ideas for the storyline
Anything is welcome
Love interest, training, date etc