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

47: One of a Kind

After the crowd had finished cheering, and the Jackals had stopped roaring over their victory, they strode up to the net to shake hands. Hinata could barely remain still, energy still crackling through his muscles, making him jumpy.

"Hinata-kun, stay still." Hinata glanced over at Sakusa, who had become particularly irritable in the aftermath of the game, as the noise from the crowd had quickly grown overpowering to the senses. Hinata chewed his bottom lip, trying his best to stay put so that the outside hitter could go back to the changing rooms and rest.

Kageyama's team strode up to them, and Hinata began the formal handshakes. Once he reached Ushijima-san, the giant man lowered his head, bending slightly at the knees in order for him to grasp Hinata's hand. "Well done. You and your team beat us fair and square. I take back what I said all those years ago - you are strong as an individual player." He said nothing more, and Hinata didn't have time to reply as they had to move onto the next handshake. However, as he took Hoshiumi by the hand, he couldn't help but allow a tear of joy to escape. He had done it. He had won his first match. He had expected to feel satisfied, but he knew the ravenous pangs of hunger he felt instead was a far better sensation. He still had so much to do!

His stomach rumbled. Oh wait, the hunger was just exhaustion from the game. Still...

"Oi!" Hinata jolted from his trance. The setter who had abandoned him nearly five years ago stood solemnly with his hand outstretched.

Hinata took it with a grin, shaking it once, firmly. "Good to be playing with you again, Bakageyama-kun."

The setter's face stretched into a strange half-grin, but a grin nonetheless. "This victory was a one-off," he replied, his expression morphing into one of mocking arrogance. "I'm definitely going to beat you next time."

"You sure about that?" Hinata chuckled, and Kageyama followed suit. Hinata's insides felt warm and fuzzy. It seemed right to be playing with Kageyama again, even if they were on opposite sides of the court.

"Hey hey heyyyyyyyy!" Hinata was thrown forwards as a large hand clapped him on the back. He glanced around him, seeing both teams waiting for him and Kageyama to finish their little bicker. "Hinata-kun, the rest of us have have finished the handshakes by now." The ace of MSBY grinned at Kageyama. "Bet you're jealous we have Chibi-chan now, aren't you?" Hinata winced at the nickname, but smiled to himself as Bokuto ruffled his hair. Some things never changed, he sighed to himself.

"Neh, Hinata, are you excited for later?" Atsumu waved his gaze away from Kageyama.

"For the banquet?!" Hinata's mouth began to water. The team had been promised a large banquet if they played well, and Coach had seemingly made good on his promise!

"Hahah, no," Atsumu laughed. "Although I'm excited for that too. What I meant is that the dinner isn't for another few hours, so we have some time to kill." Hinata's stomach whined in protest, but Atsumu wasn't finished. "You know what I'm talking about, Bokkun, don't you?"

Both teams studied Bokuto for a moment, as a ray of comprehension suddenly lit up his features. "The All-Stars game!"

All of the players chuckled. Clearly, this was a regular occurrence. "All-Stars?" Hinata asked, still slightly confused.

"We mix up the teams that have played that day and have a fun, friendly game against each other!" Bokuto frowned. "But we're the only two teams who've played today..."

"It's fine!" Hirugami-san, the Adlers's captain, brushed the comment off with a wave of his hand. "We can still play. Now who wants-"

"I'm going with Hinata," a possessive voice said from behind him. Hinata glanced at the source of the voice, but he already knew who it was. He could recognise that voice anywhere.