When the Sun Stops Shining

Chapter Three: Fukurodani

When Hitoka stopped the car outside of Fukurodani, Hinata let his volleyball drop out of his hands and onto his lap. His volleyball, the one he'd cherished for so many years. He was disappointed, that much was evident. He wanted to stay on the court for longer, he wanted to win more matches. He wanted to have more fans. But then his past had caught up and dragged him to this place. The couple stepped out of the car, looking at the plain building. Brick walls, barred windows and a sign in front. Fukurodani Penitentiary. They had an owl as their logo. It looked suspiciously similar to Hinata's teammate, Bokuto. Underneath, it said, "We're watching you". If Hinata hadn't been so tense, he might have chuckled at that.

"I'll visit you," Hitoka eventually said. "I promise."

"Yeah." Hinata knew that she couldn't promise something like that. Akiteru would take his chance to make a move on Hitoka while Hinata was out of the picture and there was nothing that he could do about it. He knew that Hitoka wouldn't be able to wait fifteen years. They'd known each other for five, but even Hitoka hadn't known about his gang activity. None of his friends had known. But now, it was out there in the open. It was already appearing in the media.

"Hey! It's him!" Suddenly, there was a swarm of reporters coming out from behind trees and bushes, wielding cameras as if they were weapons. "Hinata Shouyou, Japan's volleyball ace! Tell me, Hinata-kun. No, tell the world. How do you feel?" There was a microphone thrust into his face. One cameraman even had the gall to shove Hitoka to one side so that he could get a side-angle of Hinata.

"I feel like you need to stop shoving my fiancée." Hinata's gang side was beginning to kick in. Hinata had in no way been a feared gang member, but he'd learnt bad habits. He'd learnt how to fight with his fists. He'd learnt how to use his speed. He'd learnt how to intimidate with his words. The average Joe on the street would've been terrified of Hinata back in his gang days (even if Hinata did mess up every now and again) and right now, this reporter looked quite startled by the look in Hinata's eyes. Dark, cold and nothing like the Hinata everyone knew.

"Shouyou, it's okay—"

"No." Hinata went towards his fiancée, ignoring the cameras around them. He took her by the hands, kissed both of them. "Don't let anyone push you around while I'm gone. And don't play sour gooseberry with anyone until I'm out. Alright?" He mustered a grin, knowing that it would make his fiancée happy.

"Yeah." Hitoka managed a smile and gripped Hinata's hands, kissing them with her soft lips. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Hinata-kun, is it true that you were in a gang during your childhood?"

"Hinata-kun, how do you feel now that you've lost your spot on Japan's national team?"

"Hinata-kun, how is it that you—"

"L—Leave him alone!" Hitoka's nervousness was beginning to show. Even though she had a famous athlete as her fiancé, she still wasn't used to cameras, let alone big people. These reporters were massive.

Hinata turned to face the reporters, who were still bombarding him with all sorts of questions. "I could tell you the answers to those questions, but what would be the point? So people can titter at me from behind their TV screens, laughing at the athlete who's gone crashing all the way back down? My past caught up to me, and that's all there is to it. Now, I suggest you all leave me and my fiancée alone before my past catches up to you reporters too."

The reporters all let out various gasps, but none of them tried to question Hinata any further. They simply swarmed away, keeping the camera trained on him as they left. Although they'd disappeared out of sight, Hinata could still feel the lens trained on him and Hitoka. He clicked his tongue, but he didn't push the issue any further.