บท 9: Chapter 9

Hinata was standing in front of Sakanoshita store and he couldn't help but feel nervous. This was very important and he couldn't afford to mess up. He went inside the store and just as he thought, Keishin Ukai was sitting there, behind the counter.

Keishin Ukai looked the same as he'd seen in his vision. He had blonde dyed hair and brown eyes with a few piercings. He looked like someone people could easily mistake as a delinquent at first glance. He sat at the counter with a bored expression on his face.

He greeted Hinata politely when he saw him and Hinata greeted him back. He quickly went around the store, taking whatever he needed and once he was satisfied he'd gotten everything, he went to the counter to pay for it and get it packed.

It didn't take long for Ukai to pack his things and just as he was about to hand it to Hinata and thank him for shopping at his store, Hinata spoke.

"Ano.. I wanted to talk to you about something. Do you have a minute?"

Ukai was bored and thought it would be better to hear what the kid had to say, so he nodded.

"My name is Hinata Shoyo and I wanted to talk to you about your Neighbourhood Association team. I was wondering if I could come to your practices"

Ukai was shocked! How the heck did a middle schooler know about their Neighbourhood Association team!? Especially one he hadn't even seen before. This was the last thing he'd expected to hear. He looked at the kid looking at him with expectation and sighed. Their training wasn't a place where middle school kids could hang out.

Hinata was watching Ukai and knew he was about to be rejected. So before Ukai could even say anything, he spoke once again. This time.. there was a bit of desperation in his voice.

"Please.. I don't have any team to practice with and I'm still solidifying my basics, but I love volleyball with a passion and I really want to get better. So please, let me join your practice!" he said and bowed at his waist.

Ukai could sense the plea and desperation in his voice. He took a deep breath to settle himself and decided to be honest with the kid.

"Look kid.. I don't know where you heard about our Neighbourhood Association, but we're an adult team. I can appreciate someone passionate about volleyball, but you won't be of any help in the practices and we're too busy to take care of kids." he felt bad saying that, but honesty was the best policy in this situation.

Hinata felt his hopes shattering but he refused to give up. He stood straight and looked Ukai in the eye. He didn't know it, but there was a different kind of intensity in his eyes.

Ukai suppressed a shiver watching those intense hazel eyes. It had a different kind of gleam in it. One he hadn't felt since his school days, when he was on the court and they were fighting tooth and nail for every single point.

"Please! I just want to learn and I'll use any opportunity I can get. I'm not asking to be taken care of.. I just want a chance to attend your practices and watch. I can be a ball boy. Just please let me join!" he said and bowed again.

After all that had happened so far, Ukai didn't expect him to say that. No serious volleyball player would volunteer to be a ball boy. They'd hate not standing on the court. To have someone with eyes like that ask to be a ball boy to get to learn.. it left Ukai speechless.

He thought for a while and sighed.

"Fine kid.. You can come to practice with me but I don't want to hear any complains later. You asked for this. We practice 3 days a week.. sometimes more. Give me your number.. I'll let you know the place and time. I'm just creating trouble for myself by agreeing to this so don't make me regret it." he gave in and decided to let the kid come. Besides.. he was now curious about him too.

Ukai saw his expression change drastically. It went form this intense desperate expression to a bright sunshine smile. The speed of the change itself made him blink twice to process the entire thing.

"I promise you won't reget it. I'll work really hard! Thank You!" Hinata bowed again and left the store with the groceries and a big smile on his face.

Ukai didn't know what it was, maybe it was the desperation, maybe it was the humility or maybe it was the intensity.. but he just couldn't refuse the boy's request. He couldn't explain it.. but he just felt refusing him would be the wrong thing to do. Who knows.. he might have just helped discovering a genius libero.

He naturally thought the boy was a libero. It would be extremely surprising if a short guy like him played any other position.

If only he knew..

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Hinata returned home with the groceries with the smile still plastered on his face. Despite not knowing the reason, Shizuka felt herself smiling too.

"You look pretty happy. What happened?"

He once again just picked her up in a big hug and spun her around. He put her down after a while and started to explain.

"Mom.. I found a way to improve my game. Everything is ready. I can finally begin my training. I don't have too much time but I think it would be more than enough if I work really hard."

Shizuka just smiled. At first.. when his craze for volleyball began, she thought he'd quickly grow out of it but instead, it became a real passion for him. His eyes lit up whenever he talked about it. She was worried about his future as not everybody makes it in a sports career but seeing how passionate he was and how he was willing to work hard for it.. she couldn't bring herself to discourage it. She was his mother after all. So she decided to just support her son and trust him. She just wanted her kids to be happy.

"Good. But don't neglect your studies okay? That's important too."

"Don't worry mom.. studying is the easy part in all of this. That's the least of my worries. I'll get good grades this time.. I promise" he smiled and went to his room.

She couldn't quite believe what she just heard. Studying being easy was something she'd never associate with him. He was basically with studies how Natsu was with vegetables. They just didn't mix. What had happened to her son so suddenly?

She began to think about all his recent changes and tried to make a connection between them.

Him suddenly maturing a bit.. smiling much more often.. taking care of himself.. desire to train.. wanting good grades.. her eyes suddenly widened!

'It couldn't be... right?'