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We were strangers, starting out on a journey / Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through / Now here we are / I am suddenly standing at the beginning with you
It was just before midnight when Hinata entered the Kamei Arena for the second time that day. Plenty of people had crowded the place in the afternoon, but now the large sports hall, framed by autumn trees, lay abandoned in front of him. Only the light from a few lanterns illuminated the empty place.
He quickly crossed the wide forecourt and looked at the entrance to the arena. Its lettering was difficult to see in the dim light, but the large advertising banner for the Japanese Volleyball League still fluttered impressively in the wind.
It was mid-November 2018 and a few hours ago he had made his debut as outside hitter for the MSBY Black Jackals, cheered by a few thousand spectators.
Hinata stopped in the light of a lantern and breathed in the clear autumn air. Their coldness filled his lungs, but the excitement and exertion of the game against the Schweiden Adlers - against Kageyama - was still pulsating heatedly in his veins.
It had been a clear victory for him and the MSBY Black Jackals, who won comfortably in just four sets.
He thought back on the match with satisfaction. The last point had been his feint. Even now he had to grin at the thought of Kageyama's horrified face.
He had actually done it, he had beaten the “King of the Court”.
Lost in thought, Hinata pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket and stared at the time display. It was midnight. He had no new messages and slipped the phone back.
About an hour ago, the same “king of the court” had sent him a line. Hinata had been eating with his teammates when the message appeared on his screen. It wasn't a question or a request that he read between sake, beer and O-don, but an announcement: “Midnight. Gym."
Damn Kageyama, he had thought, grabbing his gym bag with a grin, always a king at heart. His teammates had protested against the early departure, but of course curiosity had won.
And here he stood, in the place that symbolized the beginning of his journey like no other.
Impatiently, Hinata shifted from one foot to the other. The forecourt in front of him was still deserted, only a cat rushed across the distant main street. “Bakageyama,” he murmured and began to pace back and forth in the light of the lantern. “At least you could be on time!”
A cold wind blew into his face and made him shiver. If he were to stand here, in the worst case scenario he would catch a cold. He took one last look across the still empty forecourt before he quickly adjusted his bag and set off. Kageyama hadn't written to him exactly where they would meet, so it couldn't hurt to stretch his legs a bit.
Following a gut feeling, he walked around the hall to the left. Lost in thought, he glanced up at the rows of plain, dark windows.
A little over seven years ago, the Kamei Arena had been the place where he had first met Kageyama. Hinata could still remember how he had competed here - as a skinny middle school student with a ragtag team. His friends had helped him take part in the tournament and he had been determined to win, but in the first game they had already met the Kitagawa-Daichi and Kageyama's team had ended his first and only real volleyball experience of middle school with a merciless defeat.
He could still remember the frustration back then clearly.
The wind picked up as he rounded a first large corner. Now there was a large parking lot to his left, and the dark windows of the hall were lined up to his right. In front of him, from a distance, he could see a large staircase that led directly to the sports halls.
Hinata paused and looked thoughtfully over the steps. Here, too, the large, round lanterns cast only a dim light, but he would probably have recognized this place even in the deepest darkness.
Because full of frustration, disappointment and determination, he had sworn eternal rivalry to Kageyama after that very defeat on these very steps: “Someday I'm gonna beat you! And I’m gonna be the one who gets to stay on the court longer than anyone else!”
And despite all these years, he still remembered Kageyama's answer: “Only the winners get to stay at the court. Only the best. If you want to win, then get stronger, get better!”
And that's exactly what he had done.
After their encounter, he had studied like crazy to be able to go to Karasuno High School. It had been the school of the little giant, his childhood role model, and he had been determined to defeat the “King of the Court”.
He never expected that he would see Kageyama there again - as his grumpy setter in the Karasuno volleyball club. The shock was deep and the truth was that he really didn't like Kageyama at the beginning. He had been rude and unfriendly and had not been kind to him.
At the time it seemed impossible to him that they would grow together and become a team, but soon he could no longer count how many evenings the two of them had stayed behind at the Karasuno gym to train together.
Kageyama had been his role model. Hinata was impressed by his skills and discipline. Kageyama had undoubtedly been a genius, but Hinata had quickly realized that he, too, had to work hard for his success. And at the same time, the “king of the court” had always remained his biggest rival. And this rivalry had made Hinata train harder than ever before.
Over time, a bond developed between them, growing from effort, frustration, joy, victory and defeat.
And somewhere between their constant teasing and the unspoken understanding on the court, that connection had deepened and become something more than camaraderie or friendship. Because they were rivals and partners, because they challenged and supported each other, they became irreplaceable to one another.
Despite this, or perhaps because of it, over time he had fallen in love with the grumpy Kageyama. These feelings had surprised him and turned his world upside down, but they had been real. And most importantly, they had stayed, even though he had desperately tried to bury them on Rio's sandy beaches.
In the light of a lantern at the bottom of the stairs, Hinata dropped his bag and stared out into the dark parking lot.
All those years ago, at these stairs, he hadn't seriously considered making volleyball his career. And yet here he was.
It had been a long way and it almost seemed a little fateful that their two paths had led them back to each other here of all places.
Was Kageyama as aware of the importance of this place as he was?
Knew there was somebody, somewhere / Unexpected, what you did to my heart / When I lost hope, you were there to remind me - This is the start
“HINATA SHOYOU!”
Startled, Hinata spun around. At the top of the stairs, Kageyama had emerged from the semi-darkness.
“Your serves sucked!”
“Wha-?!”
“And your passing was lousy! It’s a miracle Bokuto got the last ball!”
"What?! I kicked your ass!” Hinata shouted back outrage, but Kageyama just grinned before picking up his gym bag from the floor and throwing it over his shoulder. Just like Hinata himself, he was still wearing his team uniform. The Schweiden Adler's white uniform stood out clearly against his dark hair and gave his figure clarity despite the dim light. He had grown significantly since their last meeting over three years ago, but not only had he grown in size, his shoulders had also become broader and his body had become more muscular. Hinata silently admitted to himself that the "King of the Court" was really handsome.
“You’re too late, dwarf,” Kageyama stated as he climbed down the first few steps to Hinata. “I thought you weren’t coming anymore.”
Hinata snorted. “You didn’t told where exactly we’re meeting, Your Highness.”
Kageyama gave him a frowning look, but before he could reply, Hinata asked, "So why am I here Meanieyama?"
Suddenly Kageyama stopped. Hinata had actually expected a snappy answer, but Kageyama seemed startled. He stared at Hinata in silence for a brief moment before looking away and asking, “Do you remember our first meeting here? Back then you swore to me that you would be the one to last longer on the field than me.”
“I-I do,” Hinata answered timidly. Kageyama's reaction had irritated him because it didn't fit with his otherwise quick-tempered character. He looked silently up the stairs, halfway up where Kageyama was now standing and continued to avoid his gaze. He looked tense, his shoulders hunched and his hands in his pockets.
Hinata couldn't quite explain why, but Kageyama's behavior made him nervous.
“I...I asked you here because I want to tell you something. Something important."
Kageyama slowly came down a few more steps. He didn't continue immediately and it seemed to Hinata that he was trying to figure out how to start: "When I was younger, I lived with my grandfather and my sister. My grandfather loved volleyball and taught me a lot. I learned how to play, how to train, but above all how to take care of myself.”
Kageyama took another step, but still avoided Hinata's gaze.
“My grandfather was the first person I was really close to.”
Hinata stayed silent. He knew little about Kazuyo. During their third year at Karasuno, Kageyama had mentioned him a few times, but Hinata had always felt that it was a topic he shouldn't press.
“In middle school I was really alone. I didn't make any friends and I didn't get along well with my team. I tried not to let it get to me, but…” He stopped and shook his head almost imperceptibly. Kageyama still didn't look at him, but Hinata knew that his middle school experiences had haunted him for a long time.
“When I came to Karasuno, all I wanted to do was train. I didn't really care who I was playing with or against. I wanted to gain experience and get better. And I was determined not to repeat my past mistakes.”
Yeah, Hinata remembered. Remembered the young, grumpy, unfriendly Kageyama, who had tried desperately to please everyone for almost a year. Of course, he ultimately failed. No one could permanently hide who they really were. Especially not a king.
Suddenly Kageyama turned back to him and looked him straight in the eyes. He had taken a deep breath and now resolutely came down a few more steps. For a moment Hinata felt the need to avoid him, but then Kageyama continued: "But with you, Hinata, it was different. You were loud and you pushed yourself in everywhere, but you couldn't do anything. And yet you stood up to me every day, didn't allow yourself to be intimidated and never gave up. With you I could always be myself.”
Hinata felt a heat rising within him.
It was rare for Kageyama to talk about his past and even rarer for him to talk about his feelings, but a compliment? To him? That was nearly a miracle.
Kageyama had now almost reached the bottom of the stairs and Hinata could see him clearly. The dim light of the lanterns cast soft shadows across his face and his eyes were clear as he continued: “You knew me better than I knew myself, Hinata. I don’t think you realised, but you really saved me.”
A slight blush crept onto his face. He quickly stopped and turned away, but before Hinata could reply, Kageyama explained loudly: “My grandfather taught me a lot, but two things are particularly important to me. Many years ago he told me that I would meet someone, someone who would love volleyball as much as I do. Someone who would challenge me, someone who would be a rival and yet a partner. My -Someone better-. And today, on the court Hinata, I finally understood what I actually knew on these steps all those years ago. YOU are my -Someone better-!”
Now here we stand, unafraid of the future / I know our dream will live on / I've been waiting so long / nothings gonna tear us apart
Hinata felt his heart pounding violently against his chest. The heat that he had initially only felt in his cheeks had now spread throughout his entire body. Every single fiber in his body was stretched to the breaking point and the thoughts in his head were spinning. They circled around the past, the match in middle school, the time at Karasuno, Brazil and Kageyama, always Kageyama.
“T-The second one…” Hinata finally stuttered, “What was...what was the second thing that...that...your grandfather told you?”
For a brief moment, Kageyama stared at him in shock and turned away. But it only took him a moment and his eyes searched for Hinata's again. And Hinata was almost startled. There was determination in Kageyama's eyes that he had rarely seen.
“My grandfather said that each person decide for themselves what is most important to them. And for me, for a long time, that always was volleyball. But... after I saw you today... your play... how good you are... how much... you've changed, Hinata. It’s not just volleyball anymore.”
Kageyama took the last steps.
“I am no longer afraid of the future. I want us to be on the world stage together, and I want you to still drive me crazy in 10 or 20 years. You’re not just my “Someone Better”, Hinata, you’re the most important person in my life!”
His gaze pinned him, running through his veins. And Hinata understood. Kageyama felt like himself. Loved him. The feelings that he had ignored for so long, no, that he had desperately pushed aside, were mutual!
“I love you Hinata and I want a future together,” Kageyama declared, closing the last distance between them. He was close and Hinata could see the burning blush on his cheeks. And the blue eyes that were still searching for his own. Always a king.
“Yeah,” Hinata smiled bashful and closed the final distance between them. “Yeah.”
Life is a road and I wanna keep going / now and forever, wonderful journey /
And in the end I wanna be standing at the beginning with you