Bouncing Sunshine

Peachy Prologue

Summertime in Japan meant many things, beaches, watermelon, cicada catching, and even the occasional matsuri! It was a time where kids could be hyper, without causing their parents immense amounts of stress.

So then, why was one of the most hyper children in the world, Hinata Shouyou, frozen in front of an electronics store?

"And with a thrilling spike, the opposing team has wo-OH! Karasuno has managed to save it with a daring dive! It's being set for the little giant himself, Udai Tenma! But with his height can he make it?!"

The blaring voice of an announcer had stolen Hinata's gaze, leaving the Ginger's eyes firmly planted onto the large tv placed in the storefront.

Hinata was nervous, beyond nervous actually. Could Udai-san make the spike? Could he manage to hit his kill? The opposition was taller than the Karasuno player by a long shot, but it was still possible right?!

"You can do it, Udai-san...." Hinata's voice came out as an angelically soft whisper, a plea, a prayer for this small statured teenager to break through.

As Udai's hand connected with the ball, time seemed to slow. Hinata felt his adam's apple bob slightly as he tried to swallow down a cocktail of excitement and dread.

With a loud smack, and a chorus of leaping feet from the enemy team, the match reached it's climax. To other spectators, this was simply the outstretched arms of the defense led by their main right-wing spiker.

To Hinata's active imagination, it was more like a wicked forest had sprouted, a forest intent on blocking the shooting star that the little giant had hurled toward it. luckily for Udai, the fingertips of the enemy team didn't even manage to graze the 'star' he had launched.

A loud smacking sound filled the court, as the 'star' managed to find it's kill. The game had been decided by that final attack. Leaving Karasuno celebrating victory, and the crowd going wild.

Likewise, Hinata felt something strange in his chest, an all consuming happiness. It was almost as if the ginger had found his wish, his life goal, and his purpose all wrapped up into a single thing.

"I'm going to play Volleyball!" Without any filter whatsoever, he squeaked out his wish to the heavens with vigor, his grin brighter than ever. Passersby would clutch their hearts, in the vain attempt to escape the sudden adorable vocal onslaught.

'O-oh! I should go tell Mom...and Natsu too! Oh! Koji and Izumin have got to know!' Happily thinking to himself, Hinata pedaled home with all his might. Heck, he even tried going beyond his usual speed, if he could do that, maybe this would count as early volleyball training!

'Bicycling and Volleyball are totally related....right? I'm not just pedaling at top speed for nothing, right? Also, what's the difference between pedaling and peddling? Mom tells me to pedal, but never peddle...aren't they the same thing? And another thin-' As various off topic questions started to fill his head, Hinata failed to notice a certain auburn haired friend trying to get his attention.

"Sho-chan! Hey! Sho-chan! You need to lookout for tha-" Izumi shook his arms with all the grace of a spasming seagull, trying desperately to get his orange haired friend's head out of the clouds. After all, Hinata was heading right for a hedge.

"Wha- Izumin.....!" Hinata whipped his head around to stare at the now stupefied redhead, the two sharing a long moment of staring deep into the eyes of the other, or rather, they would have. If only the small ginger hadn't crashed headfirst into the wall of bright green leaves.

It took a few moments for Izumi to process what had just happened, seemingly still in a daze from the short stare he shared with Hinata. Upon seeing the top half of his friend buried deep in the hedge, Izumi quickly sprang into action, trying to pull him out.