Fluidity on the Court [A Haikyuu]

The Formidable Ally

'Hi Hayashi! Its Sugawara! Could you meet me at the gym early before morning practice. I have a feeling about something and want your help.'

'Yeah. Let me get ready ill be there in a little bit.'

"Tōru!! I need you to drive me somewhere! Get your ass up!" Hayashi pounded on Oikawa's door as he walked to the bathroom. Grumbling could be heard from behind the older boy's door.

"If you don't drive me, I'll tell Hajime!" Hayashi taunted and heard a quick movement behind the door. He chuckled to himself as he brushed through his hair, making sure to go slow and carefully near his neck.

"If you want me to drive you, hurry up." Oikawa was in the doorway with his tracksuit on, most likely to hide his pyjamas from the world, and the keys to his car hanging from his pointer finger.

"Yeah, yeah. Let me get my bag and we can go." Oikawa nodded and left to go start the car. Hayashi stuffed a pair of sweatpants in his bag before heading towards the garage.

He plopped into the passenger seat, "To Karasuno High, please."

≔≕

Oikawa spotted a boy with silver hair standing by the entrance looking around between his phone and the area. He smirked at Hayashi as he got out. "Oh I see... I promise I won't tell mom or dad. Just use protec- AH!"

Oikawa held his nose as tears stung his eyes. "Shut up, Shittykawa. I just met him yesterday. I'm not a playboy like you."

"You've been hanging out with Iwa too much." Oikawa sniffled as he stared at his little brother, who only gave him a blank face in return. "I've gotta go now. Will you be safe to drive home with your injury?"

He nodded and the blank stare melted into a small smile. Hayashi tossed him a snack bar. "Love ya, Tōru. Get home safe." Hayashi shut the door and watched Oikawa drive off. He stretched and made it over to Sugawara.

The two greeted each other, "Yesterday after you left, Daichi came back and banned Hinata and Kageyama from practising with the rest of the team until they learned to get along. Now they have to do a 3v3 against the other two first years that just joined. I have a feeling that they are practising right now."

"Yeah, sounds like Kageyama. He lives for volleyball. Can't stand to take a break." Hayashi slid his shoes off while Sugawara stared at him. "Come on, Sugawara~san. I can hear them practising."

Sugawara slides open the gym doors with a smile, "I knew you guys had to be doing super-early practises." Tanaka, Kageyama, and Hinata all froze with fear.

"You were acting really suspicious yesterday, y'know. Asking obvious questions, volunteering to keep the key when you're usually the last one to arrive..." Tanaka tries to stutter out a response but Sugawara stops him.

"Don't worry. I won't tattle on you to Daichi. Besides, this kinda feels like doing special secret training. It's exciting!" Sugawara's confession made the boys sigh in relief.

They split up to do training, with Sugawara helping Hinata with his receives and Tanaka, Kageyama, and Hayashi doing spiking routines.

Kageyama set up the ball for Tanaka who sent the ball flying into the ground right in front of Hayashi's hand. "YEAH! I'm in the groove, man!" Hinata watched with awe, also getting hit on the head by the volleyball from his and Sugawara's rally.

"Hinata! Eyes front!" Sugawara scolded him while Hinata ran up to Kageyama begging to get a set but Kageyama shot him down.

"A set and an attack only happen after you've received the ball properly. Since you can't even do that right, you have no right to demand a chance to spike. During Saturday's 3-on-3, I'm going to set the ball for Tanaka as much as I can."

"Let him handle the offensive side of things. You concentrate on staying out of the way and not screwing us over." Hinata was quiet for a second, "if... If I get my receiving skills up to par.. Then will you set the ball for me?"

"I'll set to whoever I have to, to win. It's just I highly doubt that person is going to be you." Kageyama admits ignoring Tanaka and Sugawara's scolding to go clean up, "It's almost 7."

The boys, excluding Hinata, rushed to clean up the gym so that Sawamura didn't catch on to their secret training. Hayashi glanced at Hinata a couple times debating whether or not to speak to him but chose to leave him be.

≔≕

The door slid open behind Sugawara and Hayashi. "uhh... how long have they been at this?" Sugawara didn't turn away from the 15 minute long rally to answer Tanaka. "No way! 15 minutes straight?"

Both boys were tired, their movements slowing. "You've gotta be hitting your limit by now!" Kageyama sends another ball to Hinata who was able to dig it up.

"It's time to call it-" "NOT YET!! THE BALL...!! HASN'T...!! TOUCHED THE GROUND YET...!!" At Hinata's shout, Kageyama sent the ball shooting behind Hinata.

"Geez, Kageyama ! You jerk!" Tanaka called out to the setter.

"Even back in middle school Hinata's athleticism was impressive. But aside from that, I think he has something else... something just as impressive -- his drive to win." Sugawara admired Hinata as he took a step and lunged to get the ball.

Kageyama on the other hand, was staring at the ball as it flew back towards him. He was contemplating what to do but Hayashi smiled as Kageyama positioned his head above his head. Tanaka and Sugawara voiced concern about Hinata's stamina.

Hinata wore a bright smile as he ran to the net and slammed the set down. "He can still jump!" Hayashi clapped as Tanaka and Sugawara cheered. "The squirt actually managed to hit that thing. Not only that... he looked really freakin' happy about it too."

Hayashi walked over to help Hinata as he wheezed on the floor. "Nice kill, Hinata." He offered a couple pats on the back for comfort.

"Yo. Hinata and Hayashi looked up at Kageyama. "This Saturday..." Kageyama looked between the two of them, "We're going to win."

Hinata huffed, "Of course we're gonna--" he gagged and the others rushed to get him a water bottle. Hayashi couldn't help the laugh that erupted at the panic of the other boys. He may have missed Aoba Johsai but Karasuno was becoming home.