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Rain.
It’s all I could hear.
Pounding harshly against the roof of the gym and dripping down the windows, each drop racing each other till they pool up on the ground.
“I hate playing a game when it rains, Kageyama-kun.”
Hinata used to tell me that everytime we stood outside with our Karasuno jackets soaked from the water. He loved it anytime else. On our walk home he’d jump into puddles, purposely splashing me. I’d call him an idiot. He’d laugh in my face. I’d shoot him a glare then turn the other way with a grin pulling on my lips.
I never let him see it.
Standing at the front of the court, staring at Asahi, all I could hear was the rain.
Hinata would hate it right now.
“Nice serve, Asahi!” Nishinoya’s voice was loud as he stood, staring at the long haired boy. I bite the inside of my cheek, watching as the boy runs up after throwing the ball high, slamming his palm against it so it flies into the other side of the court. They receive it.
I look to my left, picturing the orange-haired boy standing next to me, his tongue sticking slightly out of his mouth, his legs bent, ready to play.
He’s not there. Tsukishima is.
“You’ve got this!” Coach Ukai yells from the sidelines as the ball gets slammed into our side, Nishinoya digging it.
“Nice receive!” Suga yells from beside Coach. I take a deep breath, watching as the ball flies over to me, settling perfectly over my head so I could easily set it.
He’s not here.
I turn slightly, my knees bending as I get ready to jump as the ball starts to fall.
Yes he is.
I jump up, my fingertips grazing the ball as I set it to the far left.
Come on, Hinata . . .
It spins in the air. A perfect set.
To nobody.
The ball falls, bouncing against the cold floor. I freeze.
“Kageyama!” Someone yells. My hands fall limply next to my sides, shaking slightly as my eyes stare at the spot where Tanaka stood, bent over with his hands on his knees, his eyes looking up at me with anger. I shook my head.
That’s where Hinata’s supposed to be.
“What the hell was tha-”
I drop to the floor, putting my hands on my legs, my eyes still wide.
He’s gone.
“Hinata . . .” I whisper. Tsukishima froze in front of me.
I felt water on my hands. Is the roof leaking?
“Kageyama…” I hear someone whisper. I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head, more drops of water falling onto my hands. Am I crying?
“Kageyama please,” they whisper again, now right in front of me.
“Hinata?” I reply, opening my eyes slightly, looking up to see Daichi squatting in front of me. Sympathy was strewn all over his face, his eyes glossy and his cheeks red. “Hinata’s gone, Tobio.”
I shook my head.
“He wanted to win this match, Daichi, I-” I stopped, tilting my head up so I could see him clearly. I felt the tears on my cheeks.
“I need him.”
Everyone’s quiet. The rain was pounding against the roof still, louder than before. Aoba Josahi’s team stood lifelessly on the other side, watching as my team crowded around me.
“Daichi I need him, please.”
“Kageyama,” Suga says next to me, his hand wrapping around my shoulder. I shrug him off, pushing the boy away from me. “No, Suga, you don’t get it!”
I ran my fingers through my messy hair, pulling on it slightly. “None of you do. Nobody ever gets it. You don’t care… you don’t-”
“Kageyama, stop!” Daichi shouts aggressively, placing his palms on my shoulders. I look up at him, tears reforming in my eyes. “I can’t do this anymore, Daichi.”
“Yes you can,” he whispers. “It’s what Hinata wants.”
“Hinata’s dead!” I yell. “You don’t know what the fuck he wants, he’s not here anymore, stop saying shit like that!”
I push everyone away from me, standing up, fuming.
“And for fucks sake, it’s fucking raining,” I say, looking over to the window on the other side of the gym. “Hinata hates when it rains on tournaments.”
“He still loved playing in tournaments despite the rain,” Coach Ukai states. “He wouldn’t be able to do this without you-”
“And I can’t do this without him. I can’t sit here and win without him, he’s supposed to get the winning point,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper and my hands trembling. “This isn’t fair.”