Akaashi's 18th (and the events that followed...)

43. Somebody I Knew

This chapter is based on the song 'Somebody that I Used to Know' by Gotye. You can listen to it whilst you read if you like!

Hinata's heart soared as he relished in the moment. Match point, Karasuno 26, Date Tech 25. The ball soared up towards him, a perfect shot, a perfect finish.

SLAM

The whistle blew.

"Yeah!" Hinata called, running up to Yamaguchi for a high-ten. He turned to Kageyama, but the boy merely glanced his way before leaving to huddle around Coach Ukai. Hinata scratched his head - his setter had been absent in both mind and body throughout the past few weeks, ever since he had received his letter of acceptance. But directly avoiding him? That was new.

"Alright!" Coach Ukai called, and Hinata bounded over to huddle with the team after shaking hands with their opponents. "That was a good match - well done to everyone. Now - we have dinner to get to! This is the last session before our Autumn break, so Ittet- I mean, Sensei and I have decided to treat you!"
Hinata and Yamaguchi cheered, and the first-years ran off hurriedly. He only just spotted the waving figures of Suga, Daichi and Tanaka, who had been watching their match. "We have to get back to uni," Daichi explained. "But good luck in Tokyo, Kageyama! And well-played everyone!"

Hinata waved back, feeling a grin spread over his face. "Oi, Bakageyama!" he grumbled, running up to his setter and stopping him outside the Karasuno gym doors. He had as of yet to congratulate the setter, having moped a little about his absence. He hadn't said anything to Kageyama about being sad that he was leaving, but it was best to keep it that way. His feelings would only annoy Kageyama, and it was selfish to want to keep him behind. That wasn't what teammates were for. "Come on! It's your final day - show a little more enthusiasm for your last supper!" 

The boy in front of him stopped abruptly in his tracks, sighing deeply, and Hinata's stomach churned. "I have to leave tonight," Kageyama replied through gritted teeth, not facing him.

"So you have to leave the dinner early?" Hinata cocked his head. That was fine by him, he could always eat Kageyama's seconds.

"Hinata. I can't go to the dinner at all." He finally turned to Hinata, wearing the strangest expression, as though he had been caught doing something he shouldn't, and instantly regretted it.

"Oh." Hinata stilled, staring at the floor and trying to digest the words. His brain felt as though it had just been deflated, and he couldn't think of anything to say.

"Look," Kageyama started. "You've been a great... friend, but-"

"I thought we weren't just friends!" Hinata blurted out, biting his lip to stop the tremble in it. "I thought we were partners." He gasped internally, freezing where he stood. That hadn't been what he had wanted to say at all. Where had those words come from?

"We are partners! I just have to take this opportunity," Kageyama replied matter-of-factly.

Hinata hesitated. He couldn't deny Kageyama the opportunity of a lifetime. However, the thought of his setter leaving him in the dust felt so wrong. "Was it too late for me to earn your approval?" He asked in a small voice.

"Huh? No, like I said. It's an offer I can't refuse. I have to go," Kageyama's brow furrowed irritably, as though he couldn't believe Hinata could be this dense.

"But..." part of Hinata's brain - the rational part - was yelling at him to stop. But his instinctual side took over. "I want you to toss to me... forever and ever. As long as you're with me, I'm invincible, remember?"

    Kageyama brought his scowling face closer to Hinata's. From that close, Hinata could see tiny, clear droplets at each corner of his eyes. "Stop being so selfish!" Kageyama snapped into his face.