Serve's Up! (A Haikyuu!! Fanfic)

Bright Smiles | Chapter 1 | Kageyama

"Toss!" He yells. As eager as ever, I see.

I give him a look. His bright orange hair is plastered to his forehead, his body is drenched in sweat, his legs are shaking, his breathing is heavy... He looks as if he's about to collapse, and yet he still wants me to throw him another pass? "It's time to go home." I tell him, turning away with the volleyball still in my hands.

"One more! Please!" He cries.

I turn to look at him for a second. He's bowing- begging me to give him another toss. Those eyes of determination... Will they ever be fulfilled? So bright it's blinding- even now... "Dumbass... Everyone's already gone home. It's late. We need to go." I begin to walk back toward the gym's entrance.

Though, I already know, it's not like that's going to stop him. Once Hinata's made up his mind he never turns back. He always bursts through the darkness like a solar flare- charging forward through the unknown head first. It's because he's so fearless and determined that I've always respected him. I never dive into the unknown. I never do anything unless I know for sure the outcome. I have no faith in him. I have no faith in myself. Why am I such a coward? I grip my hands into fists, however I don't turn around. I can never face him when I'm like this.

"Kageyama! Just one more! I pro-" His voice cuts off as the sound of his cell phone rings- echoing across the Karasuno gym.

The awkward silence escalates until he pulls the phone out of his pocket and answers it. "Hello?" I just stand with my hand on the door- waiting. What am I supposed to do? Wait and then have a conversation with him now? Leave and talk to him later? "All right. I got it. I'll be right there."

His tone... It's way too serious for Hinata... Just what is going on? However, before I can turn around to ask him, Hinata dashes in front of me and collides into the door right beside me. He doesn't say a word- just tumbles his way out the door and away from me. "Hinata!" I call after him, however he does not turn around.

Just what was that about? I let out a sigh as I rub my eyes. I'm exhausted. "Damnit..." I don't have the energy to chase after him. In all seriousness I don't think anybody could be fast enough to catch Hinata when he's determined. It's barely a flash and he's flying even higher than the sun. When you catch him in midair it's almost as if he's become the sun itself- or maybe even brighter.

I don't have anything else I can do, so I just exit the door and head home for the night. Whatever that call was about can wait until tomorrow.

*The Next Day*

The entire day, even at practice, there is no sign of Hinata. It's not like him to miss school or to miss practice- especially practice. When does a day go by when Hinata's not thinking about or practicing volleyball? And he doesn't even show up to practice? Something's definitely wrong here.

"Coach..." Normally I don't ask things of the coach, but if anybody would know why Hinata's not here it would be him. So, as I step to the side of the practice court with only Coach Ukai and Takeda-sensei are in earshot, I decide to ask the question we've all been wondering. "Where is Hinata?"

Coach Ukai and Takeda-sensei both look extremely discomforted as they turn to look at one another. Takeda-sensei nods his head, giving coach the okay. Apparently Takeda and Ukai are the only two people who seem to know about this. The coach turns toward me, keeping his voice barely above a whisper so that no one else can hear us. "By now Hinata is on the way to the bus station a couple towns over. He's going to hitch a ride to where his grandmother is."

I blink in confusion. "His grandmother? Why?"

"She's been diagnosed with cancer." He bows his head as if in respect. "He's going to visit her in the hospital far away from here."

"How far?" I ask- my eyes set in complete determination. I only have one thing on my mind and that's Hinata.

"Kageyama..." He looks up, and almost instantly he sees the recognition in my eyes and knows what I'm about to do. "It's a couple day's drive, but the hospital is kind of hard to find... So you should hurry- before he gets on that bus."

Takeda-sensei seems shocked. He looks at the coach- eyes open in disbelief. "Ukai-kun..."

"He deserves to know. He's his partner, isn't he?" Ukai sighs as he pulls a slip of paper out of his pocket and hands it to me. It has directions to the bus stations. Did Ukai plan this all along? "I'm worried about Hinata going alone, so find him. He's always doing reckless things, and that's only going to escalate if he's in grief."

"You don't have to tell me twice." I take the slip of paper and clench it between my fingers tightly as I make a mad dash out the door.

I begin to follow the directions that will lead me to the bus station. "Please... Please let me make it in time..."