Strawberry Avalanche

Hiii~! Guess this isn't going to be a one-shot after all. Aren't you happy? I know I am :D

I intended Hinata's history as to how he became Kuroko's senior, have a good (apparently) relationship with the other Miracles, yet still be a Yukigaoka student as a mystery interwoven not unlike Kuroko's history with GoM. Everyone already knows Kuroko's history, it is going to be distasteful repeating it, so I twisted Hinata's life story instead.

In his first appearance, Tsukishima is actually 188.3 cm in canon, and 190.1 cm at November. I decided to make him taller in this story. It's my weird revenge for realizing that I'm way shorter than Hinata, and I'm a freaking college student. The anime and everyone in the fandom community made him out to be someone irrationally short – and then one day my little sister stretched a measuring tape on me on a whim and I realized 'WHAT! This is my height in centimeter?!' I just urgggggh #! If Hinata is a shrimp then what the hell am I?! A photoplankton?!

He he, I'm reading some Detective Conan fics while writing this. And there's this author Luna Darkside whom had a poll asking who tops between KaiShin/ShinKai, and the options are: (1) Shinichi tops. Duh. (2) Kaito, obviously. (3) They switch. Let's be real. *cackle* It's so funny.

Warnings: Divergent from canon since Day 1. Trying to make it 100% canon divergent. Updates are going to be sporadic. Like seriously slow; I jump fandoms constantly, in fact, I'm just itching to work on Bleach rather than this until I spotted that basketball at the corner of my room. I don't think there's any bashings in Haikyu – then again, I haven't read many fics either. Any kind of bashers will want to go elsewhere.

Requests:

a. Check my profile and PM me if you'll take up my prompt for KnB fiction. If you won't write it out, please at least spread the word. I really want that top prompt to be written well :3

b. Will someone give me ideas for Hinata's future nickname? When I think about fast and crazy stamina I think of Naruto and thought uh… Yellow Flash? But it doesn't fit. Orange Flash isn't much better. Orange Claw…? Nooo… In any case, your help for his title will be appreciated!

Chapter 2

Dramatic Sleep

"You just won't take the hint, will you?" The boy in Karasuno's black uniform wearing a dark expression, coupled with his onyx hair looked more like a demon than a human.

Well. Challenge returned, the orange spitfire merely held the chair they were fighting for even tighter. "Maybe there is no hint because you're not subtle enough."

Stomachs growling and demanding for food, no one cared about the two first years fighting for a spot on the chair, and soon tables were filled, and that chair remained as the only spot available.

"Fucking go away, bastard, I came here first."

Kageyama scoffed. "Sorry, have you seen how short you are? My legs came first."

Apparently deciding that the chair wasn't going to be taken by the black and orange haired students, a third year cussed them out to get their asses off if they aren't even going to sit.

"Now, look what you've done! There are no more chairs!"

"Shut up, first year! Just eat!" Hinata blanched and apologized to the senior. The short boy skulked off of the cafeteria with his bento and milk. He looked back to see Kageyama.

The ex Kindaichi setter stood there munching his chocolate filled bun moodily at Hinata and ignoring the hustle and bustle in the cafeteria – along with the crumbs on his face.

"Eat like a human being, aren't you a King?!" Hinata snapped at Kageyama just so he can have the last word and immediately stomped away angrily. Why, why, why, why—

What have you been doing for the past three years?

After that apocalyptic day Hinata had been a slave to his sudden fate. Kageyama was just some moron he met in the bathroom! A stupidly talented setter that takes his team for granted, ordering them around without care whereas Hinata do anything short of extreme to have a team! Beating Kageyama's face behind the shadows of that net had been a recurring nightmare and motivation for Hinata to get through his middle school year.

And after four months' worth of build-up desire to metaphorically (secretly hopeful it's going to be literally) kick his ass, Hinata sees Kageyama Tobio wearing the same uniform?!

Suddenly there was a hard pressure on his shoulder and someone was pushing him to the wall. It took all of Hinata's grip strength to not have his bento and milk box spill on the floor.

"What the hell, King?!"

"Don't call me that, dumbass!" Kageyama snapped loudly and attracted the other students' attention to the hallway. The larger boy let go of his hold, but he was still putting his foot down. "You don't know what you're talking about! You don't even know what you're doing I bet! You are joining volley, aren't you? I suggest you qui—"

"Pffft." Hinata shoved the hand holding his strawberry milk towards Kageyama. "Stop. I can't take you seriously with chocolate around your mouth. You look like my sister."

A blush erupted on the boy's face like a volcano and he furiously rubbed his face with his sleeves. Finally paying attention to the people looking pointedly at them Kageyama fisted the short boy's shirt and dragged him to—to… somewhere not so crowded!

He got a bad feeling and spied a quirked lip on the orange spitfire's face.

"Last one to the gym is going to be a sore loser!" And with that, Hinata yanked Kageyama's arm away and jumped every four steps down the stairs.

Fall fall fall fall damn you! Hinata doesn't even slip at all, unfortunately. Kageyama hissed in anger. If only the stairs could magically transformed into a cliff side at that very moment, preferably with an announcement board reading: NO DIVING! Karasuno Insurance does not cover acts of stupidity. They expertly avoided the students walking slowly (read: normally) and reached the juncture between the first year's building and the second year's building, the one that opened to the volleyball gym.

Kageyama pushed his legs to be as long as they can to catch up but Hinata, on top of being extremely fast – even faster than what he had been back in that tournament – had had a head start. In no time at all, Hinata's palm slapped on the gym's steel door.

"I win!"

"Pure luck!" Kageyama yelled.

"Sore loser! That's 1 point for me!"

The gym door opened to reveal the volleyball captain. "Oh! Hinata, you're here! And you are…" Sawamura squinted. "You must be Kageyama. Come on in, for the try out."

"Osu!"

"Hai!"

"Mah, now that—Hinata," said boy was blocked by his large hand. Sawamura pointed at the bento box and the milk Hinata was holding in his hands. "Didn't Kiyoko tell you that no members are allowed if they haven't eaten their lunch. Eat first!"

Thus, the gym door was closed, and Hinata's last view was his future captain's back and Kageyama mouthing 'one point for me'.

"AAAARGH!"

.

(╬ Ò﹏Ó)

.

Sugawara heard his captain was done and turned around from handling the new possible recruits. He noticed Kageyama, and his chest twisted at seeing the genius setter.

The first year caught his staring so Sugawara gave him a cheery smile. The boy's eyes looked all over his body before moving over, doing the same to the other players and the court, even the entire gym. Probably close to memorizing and analyzing everything. I didn't do any of that smart stuff before. When I first joined the club, I only wanted to play with the team and barely pay attention if we have enough balls or if the net isn't damaged.

"Kageyama-kun, right?" Sugawara approached the first year. "We'll be setting up the gym first. Why don't you stand over there with the other new players?"

"Hai, senpai." Kageyama responded and stood beside the row of tall players. He caught their eyes and merely grunted in greeting, looking away and trying to discern as much as he could from his new team.

That dumbass is probably wolfing down his lunch outside. He quietly glared in futile towards the gym doors as if it would do something nasty to the orange haired boy.

"Oh, look!" Someone beside him called out in a loud voice. "Yamaguchi, isn't this Kageyama Tobio? Praise the ground he walks on."

Hearing those words, Kageyama positively radiated his irritation.

"Oh no, the King's miffed."

Really, mind the senpai (and the manager) watching you – you don't want to blow up like a volcano on your first day.

(He ignored he had erupted already at the cafeteria and the hallways.)

On the corner of his eye, he noted that the one who was still mocking him was a very tall blond boy. Probably a third year—

"Why don't you stand over there with the other new players?"

—there's actually a first year this tall?

Kageyama hoped he's a third year who is repeating. Really. Imagine! Being in a team with a boy who possessed the desired height almost all volleyball players wish for – who is sadly, a complete asshole.

"Careful with his tosses. We have to be gentle around him."

"I hope a bug lodged itself in your throat soon," Kageyama gritted out.

It didn't help his nerves that the guy he's talking to is snickering.

"Oi!" Sawamura clapped his hands. "Everyone gather up." He made further instructions to let all of the volleyball members and potential members spread out forming a semi-square facing each other. "Alright, before we start, I want everyone to introduce yourselves so we will all have an easier time getting up on our teamwork. I'll start, and copy me. I'm Sawamura Daichi, my position is Captain. I'm best at receiving, so I'm the defensive specialist here. I was from Tendo middle school. My goal here is to bring Karasuno to the nationals, so I expect serious plays from all of you! And I'm 17."

"My name is Sugawara Kōshi. I'm 17. I graduated from Monou. I'm the official Setter and Vice Captain. My goal," his cheeks flushed a bit, "As for my goal here is the same too."

After him—apparently they only have two third years (excluding the pretty manager)—the bald guy puffed up his chest. "I'm Tanaka Ryūnosuke! 16 and from Ishinomaki! I play for the Wing Spiker position! My goal is to win every match like a champion and be super awesome no one will be surprised when I reach the Olympics—!"

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, now shut up, Tanaka," the next boy sighed.

"Hey, I'm just spreading my ideologies! You're such a non-believer! Show more enthusiasm Ennoshita!"

"I'll show some when you're brought into the teacher's lounge. Again."

"Hey, where is the teacher's lounge anyway?" The tall blond freshman asked.

"It's the first building you'll see when you step out into the mid court yard. It's ill-defined… and roundish, like Tanaka's head."

"HEY!"

"In any case, I'm Ennoshita Chikara." A guy with slightly downturned eyes – which made him look sleepy – introduced himself. "I'm 16 years old. I was a student in Murakami middle school. I'm a Wing Spiker, like this guy." He jammed his thumb at Tanaka. "My goal here is to bring Karasuno to the top."

"My name's Narita Kazuhito. I'm a Middle Blocker. I was from Obanazawa… I'm 16." Lika Tanaka Ryūnosuke, his head was shaved – though he didn't have widow's peak. "I'm here to bring Karasuno to the top too!"

The next guy had short, spiky light brown hair, quite different from the other seniors who have all have black hair, and his eyes look like a cat's. "I'm Kinoshita Hisashi. I play as Wing Spiker, though I'm better at doing a pinch serve."

"Pinch serve?" Someone on the row of first years said, and Kageyama noted that it's the one who has been snickering in agreement with the blond asshole's taunts. "What's that?"

"Pinch Servers are switched into the game to get an advantage over the opponents or at crucial times, usually near match point. They have to perform risky serves to gain points for the team. I'm sure I'll get to explain more later. Anyway, graduated from Ishinomaki," he made a lazy wave to Tanaka, and Kageyama quickly recalled that Tanaka was from the same middle school. "I want to be a famous volleyball player. And I'm 16 years old."

And that's it.

Kageyama had noted the numbers, but it was incredibly depressing to know that the club consisted of only six original members; 2 second years and 4 first years – discounting the manager standing at the corner taking notes. Heaven forbid if no one joined this year.

After Kinoshita, the one beside him is the blond first year. The guy didn't look like he was going to introduce himself, with the way he was throwing glances at the other boy standing beside him. A quick glare and made him sigh in annoyance. "I am—"

The door slammed open. "Sorry!" That aho shouted.

"Hinata-kun," the manager got up from her seat and directed him to the locker room, telling him to change out of his school uniform. It didn't take long for the short boy to sprint back and placed himself in their lines, right beside Kageyama – who refrained from acknowledging his presence.

He discovered it was an extremely difficult task.

"Mah, well, we're introducing ourselves, Hinata. Go on," the Captain turned towards the blond guy.

"Tch. Tsukishima Kei. 15. I'm good at blocking. Yamagata middle school," the tall blond said. Sawamura guessed from the resulting silence that he was apparently finished, so he pinned the first year with his glare. When the silence continued, Tsukishima tched again. "I want to win games."

We have a brat in the team, Sawamura thought morosely. Why is there always someone with a blasted attitude in every year?

"I'm Isana Yashiro," he had white hair, and Kageyama wondered if it's natural or if Karasuno lets students get away with bleached hair. And his eyes were a peculiar shade of silver; they looked weird. "I'm 16. I'm, uh, only good at receiving. I went to Sakata. I don't really have a goal… I just want to—I like playing volleyball."

Sugawara, the gray haired one gave him a smile. "That's okay. It's a nice goal on its own too, Isana-kun."

The next one was a white haired boy too. An albino, considering his red eyes too. Though he was a great deal shorter than them, he was still taller than the orange haired nightmare. "Kuga Yuma. 16. I do best at defense so I'm trying for libero. Yamagata."

"My name's Yamaguchi Tadashi. I'm 15. Er, I guess I'm best at blocking. I'm from Yamagata middle school too." Yamaguchi sent an abashed smile at his middle school senpai. "I, I, uh, want to win games." He ducked from the small glare Tsukishima sent him for the line copying.

Shit. It's his turn now. "I'm Kageyama Tobio. I'm 15. And graduated from Kitagawa Daichi." He grimaced. He didn't have many good memories of his middle school life. "I'm a setter. My goal is to be the best setter of all Japan!" Better than Oikawa-senpai!

"Your turn, Chibi!"

Double shit. It's his turn now. "Not. Chibi. My name is Hinata Shōyō! I'm still 14! My middle schools were Yukigaoka and Teiko Academy!"

"Teiko Academy?" The volleyball captain echoed as three four others looked at awe. That's the most prestigious middle school in all of Japan!

"That's so sick. I mean, Teiko. I failed the admittance test," Narita whispered to his fellow second years.

"I failed the online admission," Tanaka admitted unabashedly.

"You went to two middle schools?"

"I transferred."

"Oh, of course. And what's your goal?"

Hinata's fore finger flew to his side and accidentally (or not?) poked Kageyama's cheeks. "I want to beat this guy in volley!"

Kageyama couldn't help it; he yelled. So Hinata yelled back. They were in their own little exploding world and it was when colorful words started pouring out that the Captain bonked their heads. "Too bad! You two are a team now! Feel free to have a rivalry, but if you two worsen our teamwork I have no qualms kicking you out of the club!"

Sugawara tried to placate them. "Maa maa, since that's a no go, why don't you name another goal, Hinata-kun?"

"I want to be like the Little Giant of Karasuno!" Hinata said without a moment's pause.

"Ah, I see! It's so nice to have you then, Hinata-kun!" Sugawara said and Sawamura smiled too, though Kageyama didn't understand why. Who was this little giant?

"Alright, now that we've all been introduced, we'll start with testing you guys on drills! We are going to test basic motor qualities like speed, strength, coordination and endurance. If you pass, you're in the club. If you don't, you're out. If you pass with flying colors, you might make it to be regular!"

He wanted to say it but Kageyama refrained from pointing out that there are exactly twelve people in this club, 6 regulars and 6 hopefuls. Is the Captain really risking to have some kicked out and go to a volley tournament with uneven amount of players?

And as if he could read the setter's mind, the Captain grinned as an answer. "So, line up!"

Absently hearing Kuga saying 'yes, straight to action. No briefing about rules', Kageyama turned his head to glare at Hinata, who had the very same idea. You're going to lose. Badly.

The manager –Shimizu Kiyoko, as she introduced herself quaintly – directed them to the starting area and asked started the basic athletic assessment test by aerobic capacity testing. A 1.5 mile run – with the first half a mile joined by the seniors for their own warm-up before they stepped back to assess their hopefuls – was done by circling around the gym. Minutes later Sawamura had to threaten the two hot heads again because the orange haired midget won the race by a long shot. The reprimand was repeated for the third time when Kageyama beat the other freshmen at the balance test hands-down. Sugawara took it upon himself to calm Hinata and Kageyama separately before they started going at it for the next thing he knew to be on Shimizu's list.

"Done drinking? Okay," Shimizu started, ending the ten minute break. "As we only have one bench press, we'll test your maximum muscular strength by doing back squats. Give me twenty five at least."

"There's no weights?" Hinata questioned. He kind of don't want to admit it, but only a single bench press and if there's no weights, it's a serious drop on quality from Teiko gyms.

"There are, but we won't use any today. Tomorrow. It's only your first day today, I highly doubt all of you expected to be strained with no complaints right away. That said," the manager pushed her glasses back up her nose bridge. "This exception is no longer available once you truly join the volleyball club. So start."

"I bet I can make it to thirty five," Kageyama sneered at Hinata.

"Are your pride so low you only raise it to ten? I bet I can make seventy!" Hinata challenged. He was really hoping Kageyama would give out. Then he could make His Majesty a very throne-like tomb encrypted with the words: RIP. Kageyama "Royal Ass Prick" Tobio lies here. His body could not take it.

"You two," the Captain whacked their heads, "Are overgrown infections. No betting! Now go to your stands!"

Tsukishima sighed a little loudly once they all went to the side of the wall and stood in front of their respective stands, just out of ear-shot from the seniors. "Why are you two so dead set? Soon enough you'll get sick of it."

Kageyama ignored him, pushing back his fringe to start his squats. Hinata thought it was in desperate need of a trim. Red has scissors… Red's not here. Shame. Hinata didn't follow suit. "Sick of what? Are you talking about volleyball?"

"What? Offended, midget?"

"You take that back, both of those, you freakishly tall mushroom!"

"Hinata-kun," Shimizu called out and Hinata gulped. The manager walked towards the freshman and gave him a hard stare, sending Hinata scurrying to get below his bar – which was embarrassingly easy since it was set pretty high. But Hinata didn't give the royal prick a chance to mock him as he easily dismounted his bar from the squat stands.

Shimizu nodded in satisfaction and walked past Tsukishima. "Yamaguchi-kun, keep your full feet on the ground. Don't distribute the weight to your toes since that would be bad for your knees."

"Er, okay, senpai."

Shimizu nodded and turned to the two albinos – if they were, they could have bleached their hairs for all she knew. She hasn't been pushed to research them yet. "Kuga-kun, your feet are too straight ahead. Your knees might cave inward. Angle them out."

"Hai, senpai. Thanks for the advice." Kuga said with a small pout.

As for the next one, "Isana-kun? Do you not know how to do back squats?"

"Erm," Isana rubbed his neck in embarrassment. "No. I've never done it, senpai."

Ennoshita swatted Tanaka for his snickering. As the manager guide Isana on how to squat, adjusting his positions whenever he did them incorrectly, most of the teenagers were feeling slightly envious. When Isana finally learned how to properly back squat and Shimizu left, Kuga had finished his fourteenth. He glanced sideways at Isana, not expecting him to notice. "You got lucky there," Kuga whispered so only Isana could hear it. The other albino didn't reply; a little embarrassed.

In the end, Isana managed twenty before giving up in lieu of the extra time allowed. Kuga finished first by four minutes, but he didn't bother to go for more. Yamaguchi made twenty six, while Tsukishima pushed till thirty. The blond mounted his bar back, went to an empty spot of the wall to lean on ignoring the manager trying to stop the blockheads from pushing through their forties.

The Captain called for a short break and the seniors huddled around to discuss things. This left the freshmen to themselves and they tentatively formed their own group. It looked like they were gravitating around Tsukishima but really, it's just because the blond was not moving from his spot and Yamaguchi was hovering near him while talking with Kuga and Hinata, in which the latter was sought out by Kageyama for a challenge (read: fight), and the former had Isana just standing beside him to listen in like the blond.

"So you three are from the same middle school? Sweet!" Hinata easily grinned. "Was it planned?"

"Nope, we weren't really close," Kuga said. In his opinion, he didn't think anyone was 'close' to Tsukishima. The guy was never approachable in junior high, and it seemed he was still the same here. "I pretty much spent my entire time with this friend I have, Osamu. This is the first time I'm joining a school club."

"Oh, I hope you like it then. If you don't have fun, you're going to have a hard time. I joined loads of clubs back then. Aside from volley I joined track and basketball in Teiko. It was neat they allowed me to join all three as long as I kept my grades up. Soccer and tennis were great too though I only managed for two months 'cause my grades started dropping. Gymnastics was pretty fun in Yukigaoka, and the guys in the computer club were really funny, though I didn't join officially and—" and on and on Hinata listed even Tsukishima joined in the astonishment.

When Hinata was done, Yamaguchi probably uttered his first swear word. "Holy shit."

"I was looking for the word 'Wow', but that's fine."

"How can you manage all that?" Kageyama questioned.

"I don't get tired easily. Why? Do you?"

"As if! My stamina's fine! But you're definitely a freak—if what you're boasting is even true."

"Of course, it's true! Why would I lie?"

"To get popular?" Kuga suggested.

"Ew."

"What?"

"I said 'ew'. I hate that reason. Besides, I'm not saying that to make you join as much. You don't seem to like to do that much I think."

"Hmm. I think I strained a muscle today," Kuga said absently.

"Wow." Tsukishima spoke up for the first time, drawing their attentions. "You have a muscle?"

Hinata—was probably more offended than Kuga who didn't look like he even minded. "Wha—that was mean, you—"

"Break's over!" The Captain announced and Hinata immediately swerved his head to shoot a nasty glare at Tsukishima whose grin was equally nasty. He bet his limb the magnificent bastard timed his insult. "Freshmen line up and give me twenty sit ups!"

"That much?" Isana sighed.

"Followed with twenty push-ups. Start!"

No one failed—despite the complaints some of the freshmen grunted out. Everyone fulfilled their quotas and had a noticeable layer of sweat and labored breathing (except Hinata who for some reason is still bouncing with energy). After the Captain was, again, forced to reprimand Hinata and Kageyama from continuing their push-ups under the threat of being banned from setting foot in the gym, they're finally ending the basic drill tests with the conclusion that no one failed. Yet.

It's time for the fun part.

(╯°Д°)╯︵ /(.□ . ＼)

In middle school, extracurricular activities don't open till two to three weeks after students get used to middle school schedules. The next institution is a very different atmosphere that elementary school students often feel overwhelmed with, especially when they have older siblings who loved to tell tales of how busy they are every hour (which just proved that they don't considering they have so much time to complain via chat and facebook and twitter and skype and you get what I mean).

In a regular middle school, that is. Teiko Academy emphasizes its name (帝 (Tei) meaning emperor and 光 (Kō) meaning ray/light) with their motto 百戦百勝 (Hyakusenhyakushō) meaning "Ever-Victorious". Principal Naegi was not going to wait a month for the freshly graduated elementary school kids to get a feel of the middle school life. If they were going in Teiko middle school, they better expect to win. And the best way to win is to get a head start. Be it academic or sports that Teiko so prizes. Teiko Academy is no regular middle school.

"Alright, you worthless maggots!" Akashi Seijuurou with the jersey number 4 indicating his status as the Alpha in the gym yelled as he marched in front of the basketball's newest recruits. "I am Captain Akashi, and as of right now, all of you belong to me! That means I get to kick or swat you whenever I feel like it, and I promise that none of you will enjoy it!"

"I think he's enjoying this a little too much," Kuroko whispered to Aomine, slightly pitying the brave string members whom stayed in the basketball team. Kuroko planned to approach them personally later. He held hope that if he encouraged them enough like Akashi does with him, some might discover their own skills and tricks and rocket their way into the first string like him.

"Who had the bright idea that Akashi should be Captain again?" Aomine grumbled.

"Hinata-senpai is gone. Nijimura-senpai too. Akashi-kun kicked out some of those third and second years too… we're the only seniors in the regulars."

"Now," Akashi said calmly, "Who here thinks they can beat me up in 5 vs 1 game?"

Several cocky young hopefuls stepped out of the line.

Several minutes later, all of them were quivering on the ground, while Akashi dusted off his hands and called for someone to mop up the urine (there wasn't any urine. No one pissed actually. But that doesn't mean the other cowering recruits know that there isn't any urine on the floor and he gets to bully the second-string acting-janitor too).

"All right, let's start with something simple. Everybody run laps until I get tired. MOVE!"

The new recruits practically fell over themselves in their hurry to get started, and Akashi yawned. It was a big yawn, and it was so impressive Murasakibara copied it.

"Bored already, Akashi-kun?" Kuroko asked.

"I'm losing IQ just watching them," Akashi replied.

"That's too harsh of an assessment," the slightly shorter boy rebuked.

"Hmm, perhaps it's because of Principal Naegi's speech. I can understand a welcome speech is necessary, but he threw a substantial amount of repeated lines."

"I'm sure Akashi-kun will get bored if you have been principal for more than ten years."

I'm sure the school Akashi will rule will either be demolished from constant public pressure driven by angry parents, or transformed into a military barracks. Midorima wanted to say, but he was too chicken to let them out of his private thoughts. Though, he was pretty terrified his mind donates Akashi with the word 'will' instead of 'might'.

Akashi took in his team's attendance in an instant and confirmed that no one is absent and they're ready for the first day. More than ready really. Kuroko, Aomine, Midorima, Murasakibara, Momoi, and their newest addition, Kise. Compared to the rest that is known as 'most people' they're gems waiting to be platinums. Haizaki was an unruly dog, but there is still hope. Nijimura-senpai was a sad case—skilled, but he doesn't shine. Hinata-senpai was a sad case too. He shone bright, but his time in Teiko was unfortunately short. But at least he found someone who might be able to fill in. Someone who could be a small forward like him.

"Kise."

"Hai, Akashicchi?"

"Train hard. You're going to cover Hinata-senpai's absence from now on. I'm throwing your lot on our first game two, hopefully ten days later."

Kise saluted in determination. "I understand, Akashicchi." Then he brightened like a sun and pumped his fist up in the air. "To win!"

Midorima snorted, but pretty much joined in the rest of them smiling.

σ( •̀ ω •́ σ)

Akashi's speech up there (and the consequent mutated lines) was stolen from Yachiru of Bleach in "Ichigo and the Beanstalk" by Nate Grey (READ IT. It's crack, a genre I hate, but surprisingly, a very very very awesomely written one I recommend you to read. READ and favorite it! It will make your day). It was so perfect.

Kuga is actually 141 cm, about 20 cm shorter than Hinata, but I'm keeping Hinata as the shortest player for now. Let's pretend Kuga Yuma of World Trigger is taller than Hinata Shouyou.

When I watched Kuroko no Basuke, I felt that their seriousness in basketball is a bit ridiculous once they reached the point where they started talking about the Zone as if it's magic common knowledge all of a sudden. When I watched Haikyu next, I suppose I can understand the sports obsession a bit. I mean, I'm not obsessed at sports in general, but I liked that feeling of winning or just doing something awesome during PE, and despite having a volleyball drop hard on top of my skull once in elementary, middle and high, I keep playing volleyball. It's so dumb, it caused much of my head injuries, but I still like volleyball. Based on this, there's a character here that's sort of a Self Insert of me.

Was Hinata being in so many clubs (separate times and unofficially mostly) too much? I kind of did the same, but at the opposite of the spectrum. I joined clubs for Indonesian debate for a while, long-time English debate, part scrabble, speech, one-time story-telling, science olympiades, gymnastics, photography, music (too bad it ain't a Glee club and a music instrument club), and joined in volley and just hang out at the other sports club like soccer and tennis and track and several more though these are the ones at the top of my head. I can relate with this Hinata; not good, like, prodigious good, but the experiences were fun.

Sooooooooo~?