Chapter Text
Some people find the things their good at when they are young, while others grow up not knowing and being good at nothing.
Hinata Shouyou was sadly the latter.
The small orange haired boy knew neither what his calling was in life nor what his talents were.
If someone asked him what he was good at, he'd probably say fighting.
Why does Hinata Shouyou fight?
Because he has never found what he is good at and it became his way of lashing out at the world.
---
Hinata's fights started to get out of hand once high school started.
People started playing dirty by bringing weapons and knives to the fights.
The shape he came out in got worse as it started to become more and more frequent.
His sister and mother became more and more worried about him.
Coming home battered and bruised was starting to become second nature to all three of them.
---
"Everyone!"
A broad shouldered upperclassman's voice boomed through the gym.
Everyone's heads turned towards the sound, the attention of everyone stolen in an instant.
Hinata thought it a shame this man went down an honest path.
He'd have gangsters eating from the palm of his hand.
"This is Hinata Shouyou, and from today onward he will be a member of our team!"
Sawamura Daichi said too enthusiastic for his outward appearance.
---
Hinata couldn't believe his bad luck.
The school was making a new policy that everyone was required to join some sort of club?
Was that even allowed?
A sigh escaped his mouth as he scanned the paper of possible clubs, mindlessly twirling one of his ear piercings.
Hinata may hate school, but he certainly wasn't going to risk expulsion.
What would his mother think?
He didn't fight on school grounds anymore and attended more of his classes after his guidance counselor begged him to behave himself for the school was seriously considering kicking him out.
Problem students cannot be tolerated.
Hinata had no talents.
After trying so many different things he didn't know what was left.
As he scanned the list, one option in particular caught his eye, something he had never tried.
Volleyball
---
The first one to greet the newbie was another upperclassman.
His smile seemed to reach from ear to ear as he greeted him, radiating with enthusiasm that could complete with the sun's rays.
It was a face Hinata had never seen smile before.
He was used to seeing it in passing on the streets, solemn yet unwavering in determination.
"Hello Hinata, my name is Su-"
" I know who you are " Hinata cut him off.
The boy who had greeted him was Sugawara Koushi.
His smile faltered and turned into something more somber.
"I see" he spoke softly, no indication on how he truly felt.
Daichi's face became serious at how the conversation shifted, and looked to Suga's face to see what the other was thinking, but saw nothing but a nostalgic sadness that he had never wanted to see cross the boy's face again
Hinata walked past him towards two more familiar faces, leaving behind the previous conversation.
"Hey Shouyou!" The only boy in the whole school who was actually smaller than Hinata rang out as he approached them.
"I didn't know you played volleyball!"
'Too enthusiastic' was all Hinata could think.
It was why he never hung out with these two often.
Nishinoya Yuu and Tanaka Ryuunosuke were too rowdy for his liking.
"I don't" he deadpanned
The two looked at each other and turned to Hinata with a kind of understanding, but still judgmental look.
"You joined because of that requirement thing right?" Tanaka spoke up, somewhat disappointed the orange haired kohai didn't share their love for the sport.
All Hinata did was nod.
---
With the new rule in play, a tactic by the school to get their students more involved, Hinata had no choice but to go to his guidance counselor and reluctantly tell the woman his choice of some sport he's never actually played before.
She smiled at him, so wide you could see the forming wrinkles that started to line parts of her face and dimple that sat next to her mouth on her left cheek.
Next was the small amount of paperwork.
It was actually a lot more but due to Hinata's lack of inspiration to do anything, he had to fill out very little information on himself.
---
Hinata recognized a few others that lingered in the gym.
A tall blonde kid named Tsukishima Kei, who none of the people he knew liked but wouldn't dare start a fight with.
Just the thought of going up against this guy's brother struck fear in some of the strongest guys Hinata knew.
---
Hinata didn't want to stay in school after deciding to join volleyball.
The more he thought about the decision, the more it dawned on him that he has never actually played and he was too old to learn.
He'd be out of place even more than normal.
With a lack of energy to attend classes, Hinata decided he'd go get a pack of smokes and hang out at the park.
It was lunch now anyway.
Nobody would miss him for the few hours that were left in the school day anyway.
Sneaking out of school wasn't as easy as it was in middle school.
They locked the gates when school started here.
He had to hop the fence behind the school so no one would see him.
It was simple, second nature to Hinata Shouyou.
He didn't even need to climb; he could just jump over the fence.
---
"Are you stupid?"
That was the first thing Kageyama Tobio said to him and Hinata felt his eye twitch.
"I wouldn't be here if I had a choice, now teach me how to play jackass." Hinata growled out, no indication that he was hopeful.
Hopeful he'd finally be able to say he has a talent that didn't involve breaking people's faces.
Kageyama glared at him, turned away and said "I only toss to whoever is important to winning"
"Huh?!" Hinata could feel his patience with guy running thin.
What a fucking ass.
"Fuck this" Hinata grumbled with fists clenched at his sides as he stormed towards the exit.
He knew from the beginning this was going to be a disaster.
---
"Hinata Shouyou!" A voice boomed at him as he sat at the top of the fence, ready to jump down.
The voice startled him he almost fell, but kept his hands gripping tightly to metal, knuckles white.
He looked down, wide eyed.
'Dear god a teacher caught me!'
It wasn't a teacher.
Relief washed over Hinata, but was soon replaced with confusion and anger.
'Who the fuck was this guy?'
"The fuck you want?" Hinata deadpanned
This was an upperclassman, but he didn't recognize him.
"You joined the volleyball club today correct?" The unknown upperclassman spoke, annoyance written all over his face.
"What of it?" He retorted, trying to show no emotion.
'What was this guy trying to get at?'
"The name's Sawamura Daichi. I'm the captain of Karasuno's volleyball team."
A grin appeared on Diachi's face and Hinata couldn't help but shudder.
For once, he could feel the excitement bubble in the pit of his stomach.
---
Suga couldn't believe how surprised he was at how taken aback Hinata made him feel.
He should have expected it.
That head of orange hair was hard to miss.
Even when he was a middle schooler, high school students like Sugawara Koushi knew the Little Giant.
It became the unofficial name given to Hinata.
He remembered what it was like, being in those shoes.
How it felt walking in here three years ago, no intention of changing.
Of course he has been worse off than Hinata.
Hinata still has a glimmer of hope in his eyes that screamed he's not just some lost cause.
However, Daichi pairing him up with Kageyama was not going to help him learn how to play volleyball.
No one can spike Kageyama's tosses, let alone if he even tosses to you.
Even with Daichi's ability to see anyone's true potential, no matter how hidden away it was, he was afraid the other had misread this one.
He knew Daichi could do it though, he'd done it before.