Note: Thank you so much for the feedback. I originally wrote this on a whim and did not expect anyone to actually read this FanFiction. Yes, this is my first FanFicion so hopefully it will improve as time goes on. I've never actually written anything that wasn't in MLA or APA format. I will try to update this story weekly. I always welcome constructive criticism and any words of advice. The rating will go up eventually so be warned.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Haikyuu! or the characters.

The Meeting

I'll never forget that day.

It was the spring of my 3rd year at Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High. All I could think about was the final volleyball tournament of my middle school career that taking place that afternoon. We were facing the strongest team in the prefecture, Shiratorizawa Academy. They were completely undefeated. I think a lot about that day. I was focused and ready for the game, but I simply was not strong enough to carry my team. We fought tooth and nail managing to win one set against this invincible team.

At the end however; we lost.

We have to get stronger I thought over and over and over. After the lineup, an announcement was made and I was called to the front of the gym. To my surprise I had won the award of being the best setter in the prefecture. A conflict of emotion swirled around inside of me, I couldn't help feeling upset over my loss and yet I've never been happier than to win the award of Best Setter. The next thing I knew a joyous smile spread across my face. I walked back to my team with this flashy grin as Iwa-chan said to me," That's a rare smile, with no ulterior motive."

Flustered I commented, "My smile is always straightforward and pure."

"'Straightforward and pure' coming from you is already impure." He cleverly replied.

I was simply too happy in this moment, grinning at him," Of course I'm happy! It's the first time I've received this!"

Me and Iwa locked eyes for a moment and we knew that the award was proof that our spikers gave it all they had. We also realized that Ushiwaka was still ahead of us. It was then we started to cry. Large tears forms and continuously flowed down our cheeks and the air we were breathing was very thin.

Standing next to Iwa and crying like this I couldn't help but feel defeated. In between breaths I managed to speak,"Once we get to high school…that's when.. we'll show Shiratoizawa who's boss!" Now my eyes completely erupted into waterfalls.

Iwa who was staring at the ground wiped his head up and without hesitation said, "Naturally."

I spun around to face Kageyama, pointing at him I declared," I don't know where you'll go after this, but I'm gonna crush you! So be prepared!" At this point my nose was running and my face slightly puffy.

Tobio casually offered me a tissue as Iwa pointed out that the mix of tears and snot didn't make that line sound glorious.

Frustrated I told Tobio to shut up as I snatched the tissue. How could he look so put together.

(This scene is a reference to season 1: episode 22)

Yeah, I absolutely hated that brat.

The walk back to the locker room was a quiet one aside from the occasional sniffles.

I simply couldn't overlook the fact that we had lost after so much practice. Once everything was said and done all of us went back to the locker room which quickly filled with silence. I knew the 1st years were having a little party for Iwa-chan and I tomorrow. I should be looking forward to that, but only thoughts of not being strong enough filled my mind. I sat there on the bench still in my uniform staring at the ground maybe waiting for it swallow me whole. I couldn't figure out why I felt so weak, I know we were a strong team. It was irritating. I had to improve.

My fingers wrapped around the fabric of my dark blue shorts. Restless. Just as I was about to stand up and pull myself together I heard a voice echoing in the hallway. "Do you think he would be happy here? It's a very nice school and the athletic department is strong"…was that Sato Sensei. A transfer this late in the year, no way.

Curious I got up and peeked out into the hallway when suddenly felt something making contact with stomach, "AHHH!" hearing a disembodied voice made me step back to see a small bundle of orange on the floor. I extended my hand the small boy and smiled. He looked scared. He reached for my hand and with a firm grip, I helped pull him to his feet. Short, minuscule even I looked down at him noticing that his mouth was open slightly, a pink tint spread across his face. Cute, this boy was very cute.

I then thought about my face and wondered if I looked like a wreck. Quickly I came to the conclusion that even at my worst I was surely more attractive than the average person.

His mouth struggled to form words. Now his face was almost the same color as his unusual bright orange hair. I decided to speak seeing as he was probably never going to find words, "Are you transferring here next year? It's a very nice school you know, if you're interested in sports….you have to train very hard to make it!" I flashed my signature grin.

I felt something trying to unravel in my hands. "Oh!"'

I dropped his hand raising my arm up to scratch the back of my head. I was still holding his hand, a blush crept across my face. How could I….

"I SAW YOU TODAY!" he bellowed.

Why yes he did…I'm standing in front of him. Crossing my arms I began to question where he was taking this accusation. He abruptly continued to speak, now actually looking at me with his piercing amber eyes,"You were like BAW and so amazing, you went WHOOSH on the court and BAM with a point! Too cool! You're so tall and GHAW!" he panted as if he was exhausted by his own words. My heart was beating rapidly.

I'm sure my face was almost the same color as his in this moment. I realized he was praising me wholeheartedly. He had to be an elementary student, right? No one would ever say these things unless they were a complete child. My team even lost, is he sure about these words? Bouncing around he waved his arms, my guess to imitate things he saw from the game.

I took in a deep breath and slowly exhaling. This kid standing front of me was a hurricane. "Say do you even know what you're talking about? My team did lose."

He froze and cocked his head to the side,"I know about the game. This is just the beginning for you….. I mean you have tomorrow! You can win against that giant! You're not alone anyway….if you work together you can see the view! It must be nice to have a team..." mumbling now I watched as his face darkened.

"The view you say, if you want to see the other side of the net." I paused taking a moment to check him out. So short. So tiny. Surely he will be growing more "Perhaps if you jump high enough." I honestly meant it as a joke,but I guess he couldn't tell.

"I will jump! I….I..I can do that! I wanna be like the little giant!" beaming up at me bright eyes with so much hope. Talk about quick turnaround.

"Yeahhhhh, say aren't you supposed to be on tour?" I asked him with uncertainty.

"Mhhh I was, but I wanted to see the locker room." He looked at the door behind me.

I stepped to the side and opened the door to let him in, it was against the rules to let a stranger in the locker room. Not that I cared at this point, but I wondered if I happened to be found out would I get in trouble. I was a 3rd year after all, really it's not like I can be held back, right?

Grinning he at me and rushed into the room, quickly running around taking in every aspect of the locker room. I absolutely did not understand this human….was he human? I mean he was even looking at the showers like it was a magical experience. He finally stopped rushing around the room and stopped in front of a locker. My locker.

He pointed at it as if he wanted me to open it, so I did. Not caring that he saw my combination I let him hover next me. I figured he was more excited to see what the inside of sports locker looks like than breaking in at a later point. Even if he did come back and break in, nothing would be there. With a click the locker door swung open. He was so close to me inches away, I stared at the nape of his neck. Creamy, that would be the word to describe his skin. I bet he felt soft. What is wrong with me right now? I'm seriously frustrated due to some kid, however; his neck was thin, my eyes traveled to his arms then settled on small wrist. Raising his arm he pointed to a picture of me and Iwa tucked in the top corner. It was right after our first game in middle school, we both were put on the starting line. We looked like complete dorks. I had my volleyball tucked under one arm and the other giving a thumbs up to the camera, while Iwa-chan was simply flashing his pearly whites with his hands placed in the pockets of the dark blue school issued sweats.

"SAWWWAAA You're too awesome!" he bobbed his head and flapped his arms like a bird.

That small body probably could not contain his emotions.

"Thank you." I muttered as I felt this heat creep onto my face.

"I can't wait to go here! You know I start tomorrow! I'm a first year, my other school didn't have a volleyball team and I wasn't interested in the other sports so…. Ah! You have volleyball! I'm so excited!" He ranted on more about how couldn't wait to play with a team.

Meanwhile, he said he was a first year, was that really possible? So he's really only two years younger than me?

Before I could ask his age I heard yelling that voice was coming closer which directed my attention to the caught off guard by the absence of the boy's voice I looked down. He was already gone. I grabbed my sports jacket putting it on then I closed my locker, thinking maybe I was just imagining the whole thing.

I walked out to the hallway and started toward the main lobby. Seriously that blinding sunshine boy couldn't have gone too far. Hearing a loud squeal my body moved on its own to source of the sound. I opened the door to the weight room and peered inside noticing two people standing near the screen door that led outside to the track. Quietly taking a step forward it dawned on me…

It's him! That boy and…. his father?

"Dammit! I came here to look at this school with you, because you wouldn't shut up about volleyball and then you just run off. Your mother would be so disappointed." A tall man in a dark blue suit with black hair was towering over the small boy. Yanking the boy's arm roughly he pulled him to the exit. For a moment my world halted as the boy made eye contact with me. He started to smile when a yelp escaped from his lips as the man catapulted the boy forward forcing him outside. I thought it was strange, but I didn't know him. How could I possibly react?

I should've chased after him

That weekend I spent hours thinking about that boy. A force like a hurricane and as bright as the sun. His words strange and effective on me. I no longer felt stressed or sad, I was excited. That boy made me feel like I could get stronger, he reminded me that I do have tomorrow. He believed he could jump high enough to see over the net, obviously I could believe in my ability to get even stronger. And then his neck…his tiny hands and those eyes of his that seemed to reach into my soul.

I should probably stop thinking about it, I promised a date with Rika-chan this week.

Even during the party the 1st years planned for me and Iwa-chan I spent most of my time thinking about him. I also spent most of my time making faces at Kageyama, who just ignore me. Irritating.

The weekend had passed and Monday was here. For once, I was actually excited about Monday. I woke up extra early and styled my hair with more care than usual. I wanted to see him.

Waiting at the school gates watching the flow of students pour into the school, I realized I didn't know his name. I should've asked for his name. The amount of students started to dwindle down and the girls that surrounded me skipped happily to class after gave them a signature wink. 7:00 A.M. School officially started. Where was he?

I continued this routine of waiting at the school gates for two weeks, Iwa-chan was concerned about my behavior. He told that I must be love sick.

I never thought of it like that. Love. I just simply wanted to see that adorable boy again. After two weeks had passed I decided I would just ask Sato Sensei. My final class was dismissed, I walked to the teachers' lounge and told Sensei how I met this boy on the day of the tournament who was supposed to transfer here. It was then I found out the boy I had been talking to was not going to attend junior high here, because of family matters. I tried asking about any information I could use to contact the boy, but I was not in luck.

What did that mean anyway family matters?

My mind traveled back to the tall man. What kind of family matters?

I spent the rest of the year practicing with Iwa-chan, trying to improve before we entered Aobajōsai High. When I was stressed and life was tough I thought of him; his wild orange hair, his smile, and words he said to me that day. I have tomorrow. Such a simple thing, why was I still thinking about him. Iwa-chan has said more inspirational things to me, even our new couch is good with words. What was up with that GHAAW and SAWAAA stuff?

So maybe it wasn't the words, I decided as I thought about his appearance.

As time went on I thought of the boy less, but I still thought of him often.

My 1st year I spent a lot more time watching movies about aliens, making high scores, going on multiple dates and training a lot. The only thing that changed in my 2nd year of high school was the addition of new players on the volleyball team and my new found information on Kageyama.

I heard that Tobio was called the king of the court, I thought about the genius setter and assumed it must praise. Iwz-chan also curious decided to tag along with me to watch our previous teammates play. After, I saw the match I realized it meant something else; he only thought of himself. He had become a dictator of the court and forced his teammates to avoid him. It was pitiful to watch. A pang of pure joy overtook me at the thought of his unraveling. Next year, I would be able to face Kageyama head on.

It was a few weeks before the end of my 2nd year when I injured my knee in a practice match. Iwa-chan had nearly torn my head off, because he found out that I had been practicing both early in the morning and late at night by myself. The doctor told me that the injury was something that had been building itself up over time or rather slowly breaking me down. I was ordered two weeks of bed rest followed by three weeks without volleyball. Which would mean I couldn't participate in the next two matches.

It was during this time off that I found myself thinking of the sunshine boy, it had been awhile since I thought of him. My memory of him had never faded. I still remember it clearly. I wondered if I would ever meet him again.

I entered my 3rd year at Aobajōsai High, I spent a little less time with girls and more time with volleyball. The second week of school I found out my dear anger filled Kohai decided to attend Karasuno. Surprised by this news, I contacted the school and set up a practice match. Only one stipulation, Kageyama must play.

Next week, I would play against the genius setter.

Little did I know I would also be seeing the boy who found his way unknowingly into my heart.