I'm Still just a Kid To you, Aren't I? Book 1

I have to go back...don't I?

 Hinata sighed, pushing himself up. His knees shaking as he stood. Scars from the battles he's concurred in the past few days littering his body. His phone in his hand the screen broke. The screen froze on a picture, one that he had taken the day everything went wrong. His smile was so bright then. He couldn't help but laugh at his slightly younger self. He knew that it was dangerous, yet he kept insisting it was worth it.

Thinking back on it he wondered what would have happened if he kept quiet. Would 'he' still be here instead of trapped within that dungeon. The only reason for him ever thinking about going back, but this time he'd bring more than just one other person. Memories of the mistakes he made on that part were fresh in his mind.

"I guess it's true." he laughed, not his old happy laugh but instead filled with despair. Venom dripped in his voice as he spoke. "You can't EVER trust a survivor." he fell to his back, arm draped across his eyes. "They always do something to make them the last one. Push others until they break. Lock their true intentions away to fool even themselves. Even risking their closest companion's life just to find some stupid thing they call treasure. But here I am."

Hinata grinned, his other hand holding up a gold chain necklace, an amulet said to protect. The irony that it cost him everything he'd brought to even hold it within his grasp. Almost like a twig snapping he growled, throwing the necklace against the wall of the gym. A cry of pain flashing within his eyes as they turned to a bright red.

"Take the necklace and run before he finds both of us! I'll get out right after." He could still hear his friend's cry right as the wall closed separating the two. The scream that followed after still haunting him. He ended up being the only one to leave, the only one to get out.

The door of the gym creaked open, the first team wandering in. They had to call both the Nekoma and Fukurōdani captains once he was back. Both teams had missing members which was what originally started his little adventure. That stupid house he was sent to. The traps set up even though it clearly wasn't being used.

The endless trapped feeling wandering through the hallways. Which felt like they went on forever, only for them to end with a Drop. The Drop was far deeper than they guessed, and that only added to their injuries furthering their attempt to get away by far longer.

Hinata frowned trying to clear the last moments inside the Drop from his mind. Hsi guilt for getting out taking over, he couldn't help it. If only he'd been paying attention to their surroundings better than he could have saved 'him'. It was his fault he should be the one to get back at them. But Daichi had to fulfill their agreement and call the other captains

Hinata glanced up, his eyes turning back to their normal color. Bokuto was the first one to step inside, his usual energetic energy replaced with a more serious one. He's been like that since Akaashi went missing. He offered a small wave, avoiding making any real eye contact. Instead, he just sat down waiting for Daichi to return. Hinata knew better than to ask but he couldn't help it. He's been gone for weeks and the first thing he has to do is meet with the captains before sending another team, with him leading, back to the same house.

"Did your team find anything in the past week?" he took a shot, not surprised when Bokuto didn't even spare him a glance.

"It went as well as yours did based on the looks of it. We lost two more. Even Shiratorizawa lost one of their second years just yesterday."

"Knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. If we try to send anyone else there, to that house. Then we'll need to be prepared. It's crazy there." Hinata shuttered.

"It's inevitable. Even if both of you did come back it wouldn't have made that much of a difference. We can't stop this guy now, and I really doubt we will anytime soon." he grumbled under his breath. "Just while you were gone Anahori ended up being the next victim... It's funny this guy, whoever he is, only takes the first and second years. Not a single third year has been a victim of whatever this is. Any idea why?"

Hinat thought to himself. He couldn't help but wonder if this person had a grudge against the third years, maybe they played a game against each other before and lost. Then a clue hit him, something he saw in that house right as he left. "I think I might have one, right as I was leaving there was a message written on the wall. I'm not sure if they were just messing with me but it seemed important." he thought back to the wall. Ignoring the red liquid, it had been written in. "It said 'another point for me'. Could it be talking about a game?"

"Possibly? But until we figure out what this guy has against us. I don't know what to do." Bokuto sighed, lifting his head up, a sad smile spreading across his face. "I feel like I failed. I failed as both a captain and a friend."

"Don't think like that! If you think you're the one who failed, then it means I did too. I couldn't protect him, couldn't even get him out of that stuipid house. He's the one who saved me. He pushed me out of the way before I ended up trapped there too. He did everything and gave up his attempt to escape just so I could bring that necklace back here. But we'll find them." Hinata promised. "No matter how long it takes. We will find them and bring them back. Each and every one of the team members taken. We'll get them out of whatever terrifying place they're being held." he choked out.

Hinata was sure that Bokuto noticed how he refused to say the name of his late companion. Silently thanking him for not asking why.

The door opened a second time, more than one set of footsteps entering the building. Hinata knew who they belonged to, they're the only ones besides the captains, who were called here. Nishinoya, tanaka, and Yamamoto were the ones Daichi felt coil handle the house. Combined chaotic energy versus the horrors of that house. Hinata smirked, wondering who would win.

They only held a single bag between the three of them. Hinata watched as Daichi and Kuroo joined them. Giving a small warning before calling Hinata and Bokuto over.

"Are you sure that you want to go back?" Daichi asked him. Hinata shrugged, it's not that he wasn't afraid of it. But that place changed people. It changed him, made him risk everything until he ended up like that. The shell of his former energetic form.

"I have too." Hinata explained. "I know what's stuck there. I've seen the cages, everything. I know what's hiding within those walls, so if anyone has to go there. It would be me."

Slightly taken back by the first year's behavior, Daichi moved on. Changing his focus over to the second years. "You do know this will be dangerous, right? If any of you want to stay here, I won't blame you. But besides that, thank you for volunteering. We couldn't risk the few first years that are left between any of the schools."

With few interruptions, Daichi explained their plan. Setting a walkie-talkie inside the bag. Claiming it was for emergencies, and to let him know, what exactly was held deep with the Drop. Hinata had gone and picked up the necklace, wanting to break it but he held back and instead gave it to Daichi. Letting him know to keep it hidden just in case.

Then they were sent off, Tanaka's sister dropping them off at the edge of the forest. She offered to join but was quickly denied, Hinata claiming that having more people would make sneaking around difficult.

Hinata led the way through the forest in the exact direction where he knew the house rested. A gate three times as tall as him blocked their way, he pushed past, knowing it wasn't locked. It couldn't be if the person who owned it was in a constant hurry. But he froze, looking back at the door.

He didn't want to go back, but he knew there was no other choice. He had too or else another person would disappear, just like Akaashi, like Anahori and like 'him'. He stopped himself calling the other three back just before they could open the door. At first glance they seemed confused but knowing that the first year knew what was behind the door, they listened.

"Before we even think of stepping foot in that place, I think it would be better if you knew what happened there. What to look out for and what to avoid. And the one thing you should never do; go off on your own."

"If you think it will help. Then we should hear what you have to say." Yamamoto agreed. Hinata knew the exact reason why he was the first to volunteer, besides the fact that his team had learned what happened before Hinata even reached the Karasuno gym. Yamamoto wanted to find his friend; it was as simple as that.

"The thing is," Hinata began. "It started when me and...me and Kenma first got here-"