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Going to the bathroom before a game became kind of a ritual for Hinata. It wasn’t like when he was young, he didn’t have stomach problems anymore. That he met talented players there didn’t change though. But that kind of wasn’t surprising anymore since he entered the pro-league. Or, like now, was at the Olympics. It was also way less intimidating.
But he was still a bit shocked to see Kageyama standing in front of him, considering he was just in their changing rooms. Did he find a shortcut or something? The venue was packed and Kageyama’s sense of direction was just as bad as his own. It was basically impossible for him to be here right know.
Just when Hinata was about to call out to him, he turned around and oh. It wasn’t Kageyama. Now that he looked closer, there were definitely some differences. They had the same kind of hair, but Kageyama’s was way shorter now. Also, the eyes weren’t as blue as Kageyama’s as well. Still, the similarity was baffling.
Hinata was standing there, frozen in his movements and observed the other boy closer. It must have been obvious because the second Kageyama came to a halt and stared back. At first he didn’t say anything but the mutual goggling must have gotten too awkward.
“Is something the matter?” His voice sounded different too. Much softer. Kageyama was too used to yelling probably.
Hinata shook his head and that was the sign for Kageyama number two to nod and walk past him and away.
After a few minutes of pointless standing, Hinata managed to actually go to the bathroom.
-
“I’m telling you, he looked exactly like Kageyama!”
When Hinata returned he obviously had to inform the rest of the team of his discovery. The problem with that decision was, simply put, that nobody believed him.
“Yeah sure.” Sakusa at least answered him, even though his tone sounded exactly like when he had to compliment Atsumu. Dishonest. Hinata sighed and tried for the last time.
“Why would I lie? I wouldn’t benefit from that like at all.”
“Maybe it’s a prank.”, Bokuto wondered.
“I believe you.” The real Kageyama stated, locking eyes with Hinata which brought forth a smile on his face.
“I think ya just let your fantasies run wild.” Atsumu decided to grace the group with his wisdom. “Two Kageyama’s just for you Shoyo-kun…” Atsumu placed his right hand on his chin and looked like he was deep in thought.
“If you don’t have anything intelligent to share, don’t share it at all.”
Atsumu’s chin dropped, and he let his hand fall down. He glared at Sakusa, hands balling to fists as if he had to physically restrain himself from strangling Sakusa. At that moment Suna decided to add his voice of reason as well.
“Projecting your own fantasies on Shoyo-kun, twin number two? And Sakusa don’t grin like that I know you just don’t have to project because there are already copies out there. Sadly.”
Behind him Komori snickered and a few others had to hold back their laugh as well. Sakusa sent Suna a look that could kill and inconspicuously distanced himself from the group. Which made them laugh even more. Atsumu didn’t seem to have heard a word after being named twin number two. He muttered something to himself that sounded suspiciously like: “If anything I’m twin number one, I’m older.”
With that, Hinata gave up on trying to convince his teammates and concentrated on warming up some more.
-
The match they played was exhilarating, there was just something special playing with so many amazing players. The fact that they represented Japan just made this so much better.
When the whistle blew for the last time, Hinata let out a loud scream. In a matter of milliseconds, the team ran towards each other and Hinata got buried in a group hug. Even Sakusa was there, probably forced by their second setter.
It was a close win, but they finally defeated the other team in the last set and all because of Kageyama’s and Hinata’s quick attack. Shoyo shed tears of joy and hardly felt the strong hand that tousled his hair.
When he looked up it was Kageyama, his setter, tears sporting in his eyes as well. They made it.
Well, almost. They had to play against Canada in the evening and Argentina tomorrow.
But they made it this far and played together again and it felt awesome. Don’t get him wrong, Hinata loved playing against Kageyama. He was his greatest rival, and nothing felt better than do defeat him. Still, playing together was fulfilling in another way. They both got better and when playing together, Hinata felt unstoppable.
Invincible as Kageyama pointed out in high school. Yes, he felt invincible.
-
At Lunch between matches Hinata wanted to go to the same toilet again just to check if he could see the second Kageyama again. The real Kageyama decided to grace Hinata with his presence as he followed him to the toilets, which wasn’t really a problem. If Hinata was honest, it was the opposite of a problem. He could do a one-on-one comparison if he found the second one. Maybe even take photos for evidence.
Sadly, they didn’t meet mystery Kageyama on the toilet, no matter how long Hinata decided to stay there. He had to leave when his teammate asked him to go for the fifth time, his voice way louder and angrier than the first few times.
Dejected Hinata walked off. As they walked back to the volleyball hall, bickering about random things, they passed a passage to the pool area. It happened when they walked past the entrance to that passage. He caught a glimpse of fake Kageyama. Or he thought he did.
Hinata suddenly stopped which resulted in Kageyama bumping into him.
“Oi Dumbass, why did you stop!”, Kageyama exclaimed.
“I saw him!”, Hinata cried out, excitement clearly audible in his voice. His whole demeanor changed from before.
“Saw who?”
Hinata didn’t answer and just pulled on Kageyama’s t-shirt. He ran into the general direction where he spotted the second Kageyama. After the passage they entered a big swimming hall with an even bigger pool. There were some people there but even after looking around the hall for the third time Hinata couldn’t see Kageyama number two.
Frustrated he let go of Kageyama, raised his hands in the air and exclaimed: “I was so close!” He showed Kageyama his thumb and index finger which were almost touching.
“What’s happening?”, the setter asked in genuine confusion and looked down on the smaller boy. Hinata looked up and sighed. “Your doppelganger! I saw him again and I wanted to follow him. But I lost him again.”
Kageyama frowned. After a few seconds of processing the information he tried to console Hinata with a quick hug and some whispered words that made the redhead smile again: “Well, now you know he has something to do with swimming. Maybe we could look again in the evening?”
-
It was their last match for today which meant that they had free time before evening practice. This resulted in the players not rushing to their changing rooms like usual. While most of the team paid attention and found the room soon enough, six players of a certain monster generation didn’t.
It shouldn’t have been surprising that they lost their way. Honestly, they were at fault letting Kageyama and Hinata lead. But Sakusa and Atsumu were too busy bickering, Suna was too busy filming the two and Komori was just too distracted laughing at the other three. Bokuto was busy on his phone, probably writing to Akaashi.
They noticed that they walked in the false direction when the smell of chlorine filled the air.
“Smells like a pool. Where are we?” Suna pointed out, apparently finished with his documentary of yet another fight between Atsumu and Sakusa.
“Not at our locker rooms.” Sakusa noticed the obvious and stopped walking. The rest of the group followed his example and looked around. It sounded like something was going on. Considering they were at the Olympics, it had to be a race or something.
Komori took out his phone. “Yeah, we walked in the complete false direction. Thanks guys.” He glared at Kageyama and Hinata, the rest of the group did the same.
The two guilty raised their hands. Hinata immediately defended himself and Kageyama: “We didn’t go the wrong way. I just wanted to check something with Kageyama. We didn’t force you to follow us!”
Several facepalms rang out in the corridor. Atsumu groaned and Sakusa whispered to himself that he should have known. Bokuto finally looked up. He stopped because the group stopped and was now confused as to why they weren’t in the changing rooms.
“Keep up, Bokuto! We followed Hinata and Kageyama and now we’re at the swimming pools.” Komori explained.
Bokuto frowned and then said: “Why would you follow them?”
“Even Bokuto knows better.”, Suna added helpfully.
-
It was Hinata’s idea that they would come with them and watch the swimming competition. He talked about showing proof and having more witnesses. The group groaned and complained but, in the end, everybody joined him.
They entered the hall through a side entrance. A bit away from the other spectators they found some seats and watched the competition happening below them. Some very intense swimming was going on. Impressed, they watched one swimmer clearly taking the lead and after a few more seconds he won.
The big screen showed a close up of the swimmer. He should be celebrating like crazy, after all he just won gold. However, the swimmer was calm and collected. Still, a big smile was visible on his face which should now count as his celebration.
As he ‘celebrated’ he tore off his swimming cap and goggles and black hair fell over the upper part of his face. He shook the hair and now his whole face together with hair and eyes were fully on display. Hinata gasped, jumped off his seat and pointed at him.
“THAT’S HIM! KAGEYAMA NUMBER TWO!! DO YOU SEE HIM? LOOK AT HIM!”
“We can see, he’s on the close up, no need to scream like that!”, Kageyama scolded Hinata and swatted his arm but he gaped at the swimmer just like the rest of the volleyball players.
-
“Apparently his name is Nanase Haruka.”, Atsumu pointed out, scrolling through the information page of the swimmer.
“He likes to swim free the most. Whatever that means.”, Suna added.
“He looks just like Kageyama.”, Bokuto repeated for the xth time.
Hinata looked really smug. “I told you guys and nobody believed me!”
His smug expression vanished when Kageyama hold out his phone, pointed at something and, with a devious grin on his face, announced: “He’s taller than you, Shoyo.”
Everybody scooted a bit away from the former Karasuno players who started arguing over this statement and after that about who knows what, occasionally swatting at each other. They were all used to the antics of their freak duo.
For all the disbelieve in the morning, the volleyball players did believe Hinata now and even shortly before warm-ups for the evening practice were still scrolling through photos of Nanase Haruka, sometimes holding the phone up next to Kageyama to compare the two.
Even the other team members that weren’t present a few hours before were informed by the six players. They got absorbed in the phenomenon of the second Kageyama as well which resulted in team bonding in the form of staring at their phones together.
Eventually they had to stop because Kageyama got angrier by the minute and the coach wanted to start with warm-ups.
-
They lost the final match against Argentina and the great king Oikawa. They played well, they really did, but it wasn’t enough.
In their sorry state they decided to go drinking together. Nothing alcoholic of course because their trainer prohibited it for everyone. Which was a shame, honestly.
Taking a sip from his coca cola Atsumu wondered out loud: “I wonder how Nanase Haruka did in his competition?”
Sakusa huffed and answered: “We saw him win. Did you forget?”
“He could have had other competitions!”, Atsumu retorted.
“He won gold. At every competition he took place.”
Everybody looked at Suna, who was just shrugging his shoulders. When the staring didn’t stop, he turned his phone around and wiggled it in front of their faces.
Several pairs of eyes stared at the website Suna had opened. On it was a list of every race Nanase Haruka took place and his results.
Komori sighed loud and Atsumu grabbed his shirt, dramatically acting like he was wounded.
Hinata looked to Kageyama and said: “Looks like the second Kageyama is better than you, Tobio!”
Kageyama glared at his teammate. “That means he’s better than you too, dumbass!”
That shut Hinata up really quick. At least until he proclaimed:
“Next Olympics we will win! Against Oikawa, against Argentina, against every other volleyball team and also against Nanase Haruka!”
“What did he ever do to you.”, mumbled Sakusa as the other boys cheered. He still raised his glass like everybody else.