Chapter Text
"Are you nervous?" Kageyama asked, and the way he sounded made Shouyou want to run away faster than when he moved when spiking their oddball quick.
He swallowed harshly and looking away, even though they were talking on the phone, replied:
"Is it that obvious?"
Kageyama only snorted and Shouyou frowned. If they were speaking face to face, another argument would no doubt start in seconds. But in the silence that followed, Shouyou found his nerves resurfacing again – palms sweaty, stomach knotted tight, throat dry and raw – and he couldn't find the strength to be angry at Kageyama. He curled on his bed, one hand massaging his abdomen to chase away the dull ache that started pulsing around his navel.
"They're a good team," he heard Kageyama and focused on their conversation, slightly relieved to find the pain fading.
"I know, I know," he rushed to say. "I really respect them, and they have so many skilled players, and there's the Grand King, of course, but–" he stopped to take a breath, "–but that's not it."
Shouyou bit his lower lip, a wave of nausea making him sit up and grimace.
"What is it then?" Kageyama's voice was calm, inquiring, somewhat... trying to be helpful?
He took a deep breath, and another, swallowed the nerves and said:
"It's just..." He pulled his knees to his chin. "Do I join right away? Or should I wait till next year? Wouldn't that be cheating, if I just started playing with them so soon? I know everyone in the club said it was okay and that they were looking forward to playing against me, but–"
"Dumbass." Kageyama's anger surprised Shouyou into forgetting all about the ache in his stomach. "We wouldn't say that if it wasn't true, so just go and join the damn team. Can you even live without volleyball?"
No. No, he couldn't. Volleyball was everything to Shouyou. If it wasn't, he wouldn't have come to Karasuno in the first place. He wouldn't have met Kageyama. He wouldn't have spiked that odd toss that only he could match in speed. They wouldn't have become friends.
Shouyou smiled a little.
"Next time we stand on the same court it'll be as enemies again," he said. That unforgettable match from middle school flashed before his eyes. He lost back then, painfully, embarrassingly. But... "This time," His eyes sparkled. "I'll be the one to win!"
"Like hell you will!" Kageyama fired back, but Shouyou only grinned.
It wasn't the end. It was just the beginning.
His first day was going more or less great, Shouyou had to admit. His classmates were nice and welcoming, even more so when they learned he played volleyball. It seemed like the whole school followed the progress of the volleyball team, and nothing made Shouyou happier than spending his time talking about the sport he loved. Of course, he'd much rather be playing, but he guessed that as far as the first days at new schools went, this was actually a pretty good start.
Surprisingly, he had no problems with finding the Grand King either. He only had to mention Seijou's captain's name to one of the girls in his class and suddenly he had the full bio of said captain recited to him by heart. It was weird, and as Shouyou sneaked away on one of the breaks to find his way to the 3rd year's floor, he couldn't help but miss Karasuno.
In comparison, Aobajousai was huge. Not only in size, but also in the number of students who filled the halls to brims. Before Shouyou got to the stairs leading to the higher levels of the school, he thought he'd be squashed at least thrice. Thankfully, the way up was clear with only a few students passing him on their way down, so Shouyou jumped up a few steps at the time. He arrived at the 3rd year hallway and suddenly realized that he'd actually have to talk to Oikawa.
Without hiding behind Tanaka-senpai's back.
Shouyou swallowed hard. His nerves were back again and he wiped his sweaty palms on the chequered uniform pants. He'll be fine, it's not like the Grand King would do anything to harm him. Plus, they had no reason to fight anymore, they were on the same side now. Shouyou took a calming breath and stepped from around the corner–
–only to squeak loudly and jump away before he would have collided with someone's chest.
"Ah, and what do we have here~?"
That melodic voice Shouyou would recognize everywhere, so when he turned to face the person he almost bumped into, he wasn't really surprised to see Oikawa standing there and smiling down at him from all of that impressive 184cm.
"Umm..." Shouyou straightened and tried to smile, but his face was too tense with nerves. "Hi."
"Hi to yourself as well." The brunet in front of him didn't stop smiling and Shouyou felt his skin creep in alarm. "What might Karasuno's first year be doing at Seijou? Wearing our uniform, at that? I wonder..."
Oikawa took a step towards Shouyou, who automatically backed up. The smile on the other's face sharpened and Shouyou really, really, really wanted to run away then and there.
"I transferred," he replied, looking everywhere but at Oikawa. "A-and I was actually looking for you."
"Were you really?" The other's voice sounded a little surprised, but so pleased, Shouyou involuntarily took another step back. "What for?"
He chanced a glance up, gathering all his courage.
"Volleyball," he answered. "I want to join the team. You're the captain, right?"
Oikawa's smile softened a little, and mesmerized, Shouyou watched him reach out until one of Oikawa's big hands landed on his head, ruffling Shouyou's hair playfully.
"Yes, I am," Seijou's captain said. "Well, come on then, Chibi-chan. Let's get you a club form."
Shouyou stood in place, watching Oikawa pass him by. He absently touched his head where the other's large, warm hand was only moments ago. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad. He grinned to himself.
And then frowned.
"Hey, don't call me that!" He ran after Oikawa, catching up to him on the top of the stairs. "It's Hinata. Hinata Shouyou!"
Oikawa, who was already at the bottom, looked up at him. "Then who am I, Chibi-chan?"
"Huh?" Shouyou blinked in confusion. "You're the Grand King, aren't you?"
The other's lips quirked in a sharp smile. "Then you're Chibi-chan."
Shouyou opened his mouth and then closed it without a word, pouting. He sulkily came down to Oikawa's height, stopping a few steps up to be on the same eye level.
"Fine," he said, looking straight at Oikawa, the weird coldness that sometimes tickled at his skin when he was serious breathed against his neck. "Oikawa-senpai."
He could see the way Oikawa's eyes widened, surprise gleaming on the surface unrestrained. Briefly, Shouyou thought that maybe he shouldn't have said that, maybe it was inappropriate, maybe it was too early... But then Oikawa smiled in a way that Shouyou had never seen before on his face: warm and happy, and suddenly Shouyou knew why Seijou's captain was so popular with girls.
He looked beautiful. Fluffy hair, gentle eyes, and a smile that warmed your heart. Shouyou could feel the beginnings of a blush, the blood rushing to his cheeks, down his neck and up to his ears.
"How about we get you that form now, Hina-chan?" Oikawa winked.
Shouyou's whole neck, face, and even ears were red by then, and he looked away from the smiling Oikawa.
It was only the first day, but Shouyou already knew: this place will be really bad for his health.