Me Or Volleyball

chapter 1- A Love Like Volleyball

The rhythmic thud of volleyballs against the polished gym floor echoes through the air, a familiar soundtrack to my after-school routine. I'm perched on the cold metal bench, my eyes fixed on a blur of orange darting across the court. Hinata Shouyou, the boy who unknowingly holds my heart, moves with an infectious energy that lights up the entire gym.

As I watch him play, I can't help but draw parallels between his two great loves: volleyball and... well, not me. His passion for the sport blazes like an inferno, all-consuming and brilliant. But his feelings for me? They're as frigid and unyielding as ice. I've spent countless hours on this very bench, nurturing a warm ember of hope that someday, somehow, that icy indifference might thaw into something more.

Lost in my reverie, I barely notice as practice winds down. The squeak of shoes on hardwood fades, replaced by the chatter of tired but satisfied players.

"Y/N! YOU'RE STILL HERE!" The boisterous voices of Tanaka and Nishinoya jolt me back to reality. They barrel towards me with their usual exuberance, only to be intercepted by a stern-looking Sugawara.

"Guys, calm dow-" Suga's admonishment is cut short as a flash of orange collides with me, sending us both tumbling to the floor.

"Oof!" The air rushes out of my lungs as I find myself pinned beneath a very familiar mop of unruly red hair.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry, Y/N!" Hinata's warm brown eyes, wide with concern, meet mine. My face instantly flames to match his hair.

"H-Hinata," I stammer, acutely aware of every point where our bodies touch. "It's okay, but... could you maybe...?"

His face splits into a sunny grin. "Nope! This is too comfy. Y/N-chan cuddles are the best!"

My heart does a complicated gymnastics routine in my chest. I know I shouldn't read too much into this - Hinata's affectionate with everyone - but it's hard not to hope when he nuzzles into the crook of my neck with a contented sigh.

From my limited vantage point on the floor, I catch sight of Tanaka and Noya's comically outraged expressions.

"No fair!" Tanaka wails. "Y/N, how come Hinata always gets the cuddles?"

Noya nods vigorously. "Yeah! Spread the love, Y/N-chan!"

To my absolute shock, Hinata's head snaps up. His usual cheerful demeanor is replaced by something... possessive? "No," he says, voice uncharacteristically firm. "Y/N is mine."

The gym falls silent, save for the thunderous pounding of my heart. Did he really just say that? And in that tone?

Before I can process this development, Daichi's authoritative voice cuts through the tension. "Oi! Tanaka, Nishinoya, quit slacking and help clean up!"

The duo's protests are cut short by Daichi's patented captain glare. As they skulk off to their duties, Daichi turns his attention to us. "Hinata, you too. Help clean, then you can... resume your cuddling."

Is it my imagination, or is there a hint of amusement in Daichi's voice?

Hinata reluctantly extracts himself from our tangle of limbs, but not before murmuring, "Don't go anywhere, okay?" The intensity in his gaze makes me shiver.

As the team bustles around with mops and ball carts, I'm left to ponder this new, assertive side of Hinata. Has he always been this way about me? Have I been misreading things this entire time?

Clean-up finishes in record time, no doubt spurred on by Hinata's obvious impatience to return to my side. But just as he's about to make his way back to me, Kageyama calls out:

"Oi, dumbass! You promised we'd practice quicks after."

I see the conflict play out on Hinata's expressive face - his love for volleyball warring with... whatever this new thing between us is. I decide to make it easier for him.

"Go ahead," I say with a smile. "I'll wait for you."

Hinata's answering grin is brighter than the sun. "Really? You're the best, Y/N!" He darts forward, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek before bounding off to join Kageyama.

I'm left touching my cheek, a giddy smile spreading across my face. Maybe Hinata's feelings for me aren't ice after all. Perhaps they're more like a spark - small now, but with the potential to grow into a flame as brilliant as his love for volleyball.

As I settle in to watch Hinata and Kageyama practice, I realize that for the first time since I've known him, I'm not just an observer of Hinata's passion. Now, incredibly, wonderfully, I might be part of it.