The next night came and to the group's surprise Tsukishima entered the gym they were practising in, "Oya?" Akaashi asked.
"Oya oya!" Bokuto exclaimed.
"Oya oya oya," Kuroo added.
"Oya! Oya! Oya! Oya!" Hinata shouted, counting each oya on his hand to make sure he got the correct amount, the other three turned and laughed at him.
"Not so scared of Bokuto now, are we?" Kuroo teased him.
"Wait a minute! You're the tall blocker from Karasuno! What's it like being in Karasuno?" Hinata rambled on.
"It's fine," Tsukishima answered.
"Can you lend me some of your height? Pleeeeeaaaaasssseeeee?" Hinata begged Tsukishima.
"No," Tsukishima bluntly said.
"So anyway mister it's just a club, why're you here?" Bokuto questioned Tsukishima.
"Just a club? But you go to THE KARASUNO! How could you treat it as just a club? How could you treat volleyball as just a club?" Hinata gasped in shock.
"I know - we'll just have to explain to Tsukki here why volleyball is more than just a club," Bokuto grinned, "One moment, you'll do something really cool and impressive on the court, and from that moment on you'll be hooked,"
"Really Bokuto-senpai? You're clever! Bokuto-senpai the wise!" Hinata praised him.
"Of course I'm full of wisdom," Bokuto beamed, "What got you so hooked on volleyball Hinata?"
"I've just always been hooked on it I guess, ever since I saw the Little Giant play," Hinata shrugged, "But Bokuto-senpai, do you think that I'll have a similar experience but with my nerves instead?"
"Maybe," Bokuto replied, "Wait, yeah! You'll have one really cool spike or block when you suddenly realise that you are the best player after me and that being scared of everyone else is a bit silly. Just keep at it my protege,"
"Okay Bokuto-senpai!" Hinata smiled, Tsukishima tusked looking away.
"Idiots," he muttered under his breath.
"So should we do a three v three?" Kuroo suggested.
"I think that's a good idea, the three of you from Nekoma versus Bokuto, Tsukishima and myself," Akaashi replied.
"I wanna play with Bokuto-senpai!" Hinata pouted.
"Well I did want to try out Tsukki," Kuroo smirked, "So I guess if the two swapped that sorts everything out,"
"You make me sound like some toy," Tsukishima complained, "That I'm disposable,"
"Perhaps you are," Kuroo smirked.
"Am I disposable?" Hinata asked.
"No Hinata, we need you for your freak quick," Kuroo sighed, how many times had he told Hinata this.
"But I suck at receiving, my blocking is probably the worst on the team. I'm only good at the freak quick, that's all I am. I want to be a proper player on the team, a regular. Besides, I still can't do the freak quick with my eyes open," Hinata sulked.
"But you do have the freak quick," Akaashi pointed out, "I only know one setter-spiker duo who can do that, and even then that took them a lot of work. To think that this was almost natural for you,"
"What're you trying to say Akaashi?" Hinata asked like a curious child.
"Your freak quick is incredibly useful for Nekoma. It's hard for a defensive team to progress much with out a good offence, having those with a good balance between the two is good, but also having someone who is an offence overdrive is incredibly useful for them. They can put on a more defensive rotation without risking their offence as much. Not to mention your decoying, which also covers for a slightly weaker offence. To put it simply Hinata, whilst you may be an offence overdrive on a defence based team; that could be the very reason why you make it to nationals. Having you on Nekoma instead of Fukurodani could very well be our downfall, but I will make sure that we still win if we do have to play each other,"
"Would you say liberos like Nishinoya from Karasuno and Yaku-senpai are their respective team's defence overdrive?" Hinata asked.
"I guess so. Nishinoya is definitely a defence overdrive, but then there are others who also qualify as defence overdrives but don't play as a libero," Akaashi answered, "If you make it far in nationals I have no doubt that you'll have to play both the best offence overdrives and the best defence overdrives,"
"Then I'm gonna be as prepared as I can when that moment comes!" Hinata declared, "This year I'll focus on being Nekoma's greatest decoy, I'll focus on my offence now - but I do need to work on my defence. Then next year I'll work on my all around skills so that I can become Nekoma's ace one day! I could be like a combination of the Little Giant and Hisagawa!"
"I don't think coach would approve," Haiba laughed, "From what he's said Hisagawa was a handful. Also, I'll be the next ace, so you better work hard so I don't get the title halfheartedly,"
"Of course," Hinata smiled, "Let's play,"
The three vs three began and most of the time Hinata's regular quicks were blocked, Akaashi had tried to toss his freak quick but with no success. Bokuto was loudly surprised when Hinata pulled off a feint, even though Akaashi pointed out that Bokuto was the one who taught Hinata the feint. Soon the game ended, "Hinata, your read blocking's improved," Kuroo said, patting Hinata on the back.
"Really?" Hinata looked up at him, starry eyes.
"Yeah, those were some really messy tosses back there, the types that I think most read blockers would struggle with. But what do I know? I'm not a read blocker,"
"Then I'll keep working on it!" Hinata said proudly. Akaashi couldn't help but to smile. The six packed up and began to leave.
"Hinata," Akaashi called out, "Would you mind staying for a second?"
"No problem Akaashi, what do you need?" Hinata stopped walking and turned around.
"Seeing you play, you're enjoyment of the sport. I've only ever seen it with that intensity in Bokuto. I strive to make sure Bokuto plays his best to fuel that hunger he has, and I want to do the same for you - rivals or not,"
"Thank you so much Akaashi!"
"It's fine Hinata. I said that you were your team's offence overdrive, but I don't think that it'd be impossible for you to become a slight defence overdrive as well,"
"But I could never become better than Yaku-san,"
"At receiving, perhaps. But the libero cannot block, however as a middle blocker your job is to block. Your defence could come from your read blocking,"
"I know, that's why I need to work on it,"
"Work on hiding it too. Nobody expects you to be a good read blocker, simply put you don't have the height for it. At first people would brush off your accuracy as being lucky or something like that. But as the match progresses they may come to realise that you've been read blocking, however you'd have gotten so used to their attacks that even if they try to change things you wouldn't be so easily tricked,"
"That's such a good idea Akaashi! You're super smart!"
"I'm not that good Hinata,"
"I think you are,"
"Thank you,"
"So what're we going to do?"
"This'll help your read blocking as well as your pursuit in becoming Nekoma's future ace,"
"Really? Okay, what do I need to do?"
"I'm going to teach you how to set,"
"But I don't play as a setter,"
"And Nishinoya is a libero, yet he is still trying to develop his back line set. Having another player on the court who can also set the ball when the setter can't is very useful. Not to mention, if you understand how setting works, it'll make reading tosses much easier,"
"Hmm, that does make sense," Hinata thought about it for a bit, "But I don't know if my basic skills are good enough yet,"
"Huh?"
"It's all fine and well for me to be learning all these new skills: read blocking, feints and setting. But if I can't receive the ball, block well or spike the ball with my eyes open then I'll never get put on the court to show off the new skills,"
"Fair point,"
"And before you mention my freak quick getting me on the court, I'll remind you, I don't want to be just my freak quick, I want to be a good player,"
"Very well. Would you like me to help you?"
"Huh?"
"If you do not want to learn how to set yet, then I would be happy to help you with your basic skills. I'm not just good at being a setter,"
"You would do that for me?"
"I want to help you, of course I would,"
"Thank you so much Akaashi! One day, I'm going to help you out and make you a better player. Maybe I'll teach you how to read block,"
"I'll be waiting Hinata. But for now we should rest,"
"But we have so few days left of the camp,"
"Fukurodani is not too far from Nekoma. I'm sure we could practise on weekends,"
"Okay! I'm looking forward to it Akaashi!" Hinata ran happily back to the dorms.
The next day the practise matches went the same and Hinata was going to return to his usual gym for his extra practise but he was stopped on his way there, "You, the fast cat," someone called out. Hinata turned around, it was the raven haired setter from Karasuno - Kageyama if he remembered correctly.
"Kageyama, wasn't it?" Hinata asked.
"Yes, and you are?" Kageyama asked.
"Hinata Shouyou - Nekoma's future ace and the best decoy in the world!" Hinata answered.
"Ace? But you don't even get put on the court consistently,"
Hinata pouted, "Sure at the moment - but that's why I'm our FUTURE ace, not our CURRENT ace. Besides, sometimes your other setter gets put on because of your attitude,"
"The quick you did with your setter, was that luck?"
"Nope, it's a regular move for us. Kenma's really cool and he worked really hard on perfecting that set so we could pull it off. Although I do need to work on doing it with my eyes open. I wanted to do that during this camp, but Kuroo-senpai's been training me. What about you? Can anyone on Karasuno actually get your really quick toss?"
"No,"
"Then why do it?"
"Huh,"
"If no-one can get it, then you're being selfish. You're basically giving the other team the point. No wonder they get annoyed at you when you toss like that. Kenma's such a good setter because he tosses for the players not for himself. Akaashi can get Bokuto-senpai out of his moves, and I'm sure if you tired you could do something good for your teammates. But you chose to be selfish instead,"
"We're both hopeless,"
"Hey! Who're you calling hopeless!"
"Well I can't get my team to like me, and you can't do your quick properly, not to mention you're overally crap,"
"HEY! I'm working on improving! I'll have you know that Hisagawa thinks that I can become something good once I get over the eye weakness,"
"Hisagawa? Of the DESSEO Hornets?"
"Yup! And he calls me the Little Jumper! I help him out all the time and he says I'm the reason that Nekoma can win,"
"Really?"
"Yes! So what did you want? Did you just stop me to insult me?"
"No, I want to practise with you. Perhaps you trust Kenma too much and that's why your eyes are closed,"
"Maybe. I need to open my eyes, and you need to get used to tossing where the spiker wants it. Perhaps we'll both get something out of practising together," the two went into the spare area of Karasuno's practise gym, with Hinata getting a few looks.
"Wait, he's the one who wants to be part of our team," Tanaka said, "He's basically one of us,"
"Am I officially a crow?" Hinata asked.
"Yes!" Nishinoya shouted.
"THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! OOH! CAN I HAVE THE NO.10 JERSEY! PLEASE!" Hinata yelled at the top of his lungs, "I'LL BE THE BEST DECOY KARASUNO'S EVER SEEN!"
"Boke! Are you going to spike my tosses or what?" Kageyama snapped at him.
"Of course!" Hinata ran over to Kageyama, "Let's do this!" the two did some simple spiking drills.
"Boke! Open your eyes dumbass!" Kageyama yelled at Hinata.
"I'm trying asshole!" Hinata snapped back, "If you could stop being so freakishly accurate!"
"Freakishly accurate?"
"It's a good thing,"
"Really?"
"Yeah, why can't you use that accuracy to get the toss where everyone wants it. Karasuno could be so much better if you applied yourself like that,"
"Okay, again?"
"Again!" the two did some more drills, "WOW! KAGEYAMA! I HAD MY EYES OPEN THIS TIME! I SPIKED THE BALL WITH MY EYES OPEN! LET'S DO IT AGAIN; TO SEE IF IT WAS A FLUKE!" they did it again, "Not a fluke!" Hinata cheered, the two continued to practise and Hinata kept his eyes open most the time, soon the two were told to stop, "Thanks for this Kageyama, let's stay in touch after this camp. And if I ever come to Miyagi, you better toss to me,"
"And if I ever come to Tokyo you better spike for me," Kageyama replied.
"Of course, see you tomorrow!" Hinata ran to his dorm.
"Where were you?" Kuroo asked him upon Hinata's arrival.
"Kageyama asked to practise with me," Hinata explained, "And we were working on the freak quick, and I finally did it consistently with my eyes open! I think I'm getting there Kuroo-senpai! Kenma! I can't wait to try out the freak quick tomorrow,"
"Okay" Kozume nodded before returning to his game. Everyone soon went to bed and the next day arrived. In the practise matches that he played in Hinata focused on hitting the freak quick with his eyes open, to his surprise he could do it. Another surprise that came was the BBQ after the camp. After eating until he couldn't eat anymore Hinata said his goodbyes, "Bokuto-senpai! I'm gonna make it to nationals to get the way of the ace top!" Hinata declared as he saw Fukurodani prepare to leave.
"If we have to play each other though - be prepared. I won't show mercy!" Bokuto declared back.
"And Akaashi, I'll make sure to take you up on your offer," Hinata said to Akaashi.
"Okay Hinata," Akaashi replied, Fukurodani left shortly after.
"Oi Kageyama!" Hinata shouted as he approached Karasuno, "You better make it to nationals so I can show you how much I've improved by then. And Karasuno, we better play that dumpster battle - or else I think both our coaches are gonna lose it, see you in January!"
"Hinata," Tanaka called out.
"Yes Tanaka-senpai, what is it?" Hinata asked.
"As your senpai, it is my joy to grant you your wings," Tanaka said dramatically.
"And as your other senpai," Nishinoya joined in, "We have to tell you to keep your cat features too,"
"So I'm a cat with wings?" Hinata asked, confused, the other two stared at him.
"I never thought of that," Nishinoya said in realisation.
"Yeah, something like that," Tanaka added.
"Hinata, we're about to go. Coach says he'll go without you," Kuroo said as he found Hinata.
"Sorry Kuroo-senpai, once again see you in January," Hinata smiled as he turned to leave.
"Yeah, you guys better make it, just like we will," Kuroo said before also leaving.