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Solar Eclipse [A TsukiHina Fan Fiction]
The Silent Storm
The squeaking noise from the volleyball shoes against the wooden planks was accompanied by their heavy breaths. The training was harsh.
Hinata had just hit a first tempo attack with Fukurodani's setter.
When the opposing team's player, Tsukishima, jumped to block it, the ball grazed his arm and slammed down to a straight.
Kuroo huffed as soon as Tsukishima's feet hit the ground.
Tsukishima felt himself flinch. He knew what was coming.
Kuroo
If you're gonna block him, do it right.
Kuroo approached him, his voice turning low and hushed.
Kuroo
You wouldn't want to lose to the small fry, now, would you?
Kuroo's provocative words crawled through Tsukishima's ears.
He glanced at Hinata, squinting from the heavy unsettling feeling he caught from Kuroo's obviously provoking statement.
Hinata
Nice toss, Akaashi-san!
Hinata's eyes gleamed as he high-fived Akaashi.
Akaashi
How was it for you? Is there a need to adjust?
Akaashi responded with a warm smile.
Not giving Hinata a chance to respond, Bokuto butted in.
Bokuto
Akaashi! That was a good toss! It went like, BAAAM!
Bokuto let out a loud laugh, resting his hands on his hips as he lifted his chin up.
Bokuto
You better throw me a good one next, too!
Tsukishima watches them behind the net. He saw Hinata's face, still managing to gleam.
It annoyed him that he lost against Hinata. That he got through his block and scored a whole point.
Kuroo slapped Tsukishima's back in an attempt to wake him up.
Kuroo
Let go of that long face.
Tsukishima groaned, now drilling holes in Kuroo's face.
Tsukishima
What long face?
Tsukishima spoke sarcastically.
Lev
Yeah, you DO have a long face on right now.
Lev yelled out from behind Kuroo as he threw the ball to the other side.
Tsukishima took a heavy sigh and steadied himself for another go.
Bokuto was serving this time.
Bokuto
Get ready, Lev! I'm aiming for you.
Bokuto hysterically laughed as he spun the ball in his grasp a couple of times.
Without another word, Bokuto's serve travelled through the air, and near Lev's feet.
Luckily, his hands were ready. He hit the ball up, though he was sent back a bit.
Bokuto clicked his tongue and ran inside the court.
Hinata ran to receive the ball to Akaashi's direction, and right above his head.
Hinata
Ah, sorry! It's a little low!
Akaashi hummed, and took a split moment to glance at Bokuto who was itching to make his march.
As soon as he let go of those words, his fingertips turned to Bokuto's direction, tossing the ball to him.
The toss was high, steady, and beautiful.
Bokuto smiled brightly as he ran in and jumped.
While he was in the air, he took quick looks to where he could hit.
But as he was about to make his attack, Tsukishima jumped in, with a serious look in his face.
Now taking Bokuto off-guard.
Bokuto hit near Tsukishima's fingertips instead of making a proper attack. The ball flew up, high enough to be saved in time.
Bokuto hissed as he saw the other side preparing to attack.
Lev received the ball, but it was unstable.
Kuroo ran to the ball, groaning.
Kuroo
This is why you should've train with Yaku instead!
Kuroo angrily tossed the ball to Tsukishima.
Kuroo
Get the last hit, glasses!
Tsukishima's gaze faltered a bit as he ran to the net, to where the ball was set.
He jumped. Though the jumped wasn't high, nor was it too low.
It was just enough to hit through.
Akaashi guided Hinata to jump at the right timing.
Just as Tsukishima hit the ball, he was blocked by Hinata's arm.
He was blocked by Hinata.
Tsukishima let out a steady breath as he landed on the ground.
Hinata jumped, his face gleaming once again.
Hinata
Thank you, Akaashi-san!
Akaashi smiled at Hinata. He took a moment to breathe, then turned to Bokuto.
Akaashi
Why did you hold back, Bokuto-san?
Akaashi crossed his arms when Bokuto approached him and Hinata.
Bokuto
Well, Lev is a still a novice at receiving.
Bokuto lifted his chin up with a confident grin. His tone seemed really confident, too.
Bokuto
Haha! I won't hold back next time, Lev!
Lev ran to the net and held onto it as he spoke to Bokuto.
Lev
Don't look down on me!
Kuroo laughed in result, and approached the group.
Kuroo
What did I tell you about running away from Yaku's training?
The rest of the group took a friendly laugh.
Tsukishima wasn't really laughing, though. He felt a bit heavy.
He never really cared for winning against Hinata, but despite Hinata's careless nature, he still managed to win a point against Tsukishima.
Yet he didn't know why he felt like it was a competition all of a sudden.
Tsukishima was slapped back to reality by Kuroo's voice. He gritted his teeth as he found it annoying that it was the voice that enjoyed provoking him so much.
Kuroo
You were blocked by the chibi.
Kuroo remarked, laughing as he rested his hand on Tsukishima's shoulders.
Tsukishima
I can't beat Hinata.
Tsukishima spoke, his tone nonchalant and empty.
Hinata stared at Tsukishima. His gaze burned through Tsukishima's skin.
Bokuto clapped, hooking everyone's attention and reeling them in.
Bokuto
Let's have dinner. I wouldn't want to get locked out from the cafeteria.
Bokuto gloomed as he remembered last night. They were all training their blocking and attacks, and they lost track of time.
The managers intentionally locked them out of the cafeteria and only caved when Bokuto, Hinata, and Lev begged hard enough.
Hinata
Right! I'm pretty hungry!
Hinata chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.
Everyone else got their training jackets and got ready to leave the gym.
Kuroo
We'll see you there.
Kuroo hummed as he saw Hinata in deep thought, and Tsukishima tired from the last attack.
Lev
Don't be too late! We'll hold the door open for you.
Akaashi waved and dragged Bokuto out of the gymnasium, leaving only Hinata and Tsukishima inside.
Bokuto
Hey, why'd you do that?! I can wait for them, Akaashi.
Akaashi sighed as he rested his hand on Bokuto's back, leading him to the cafeteria despite Bokuto's desire to wait for his 'disciples'.
Akaashi
They can walk on their own. It's not like they were born yesterday.
Kuroo laughed playfully at Bokuto's mumbling to Akaashi's statement.
Kuroo stole a glance at Akaashi, his eyes squinting a bit as he realized Akaashi felt it too.
That the air was heavy between Hinata and Tsukishima.
Akaashi's eyes met Kuroo's, with both of their eyes widening a bit. They shared a silent exchange, nodding silently as they understood.
The looks 'You felt it too?' were passed on to each other.
They knew it wasn't their place to get in between of Hinata and Tsukishima. They were enemies training together, but they knew better than to make things worse.
Though Kuroo already contributed to the negative side of things.
Bokuto
Ah! I'm hungry. Kuroo, Akaashi, hurry up!
Bokuto and Lev bolted inside the cafeteria, with Kuroo and Akaashi behind him.
The silence didn't sit well with Tsukishima. He felt uncomfortable that Hinata wasn't talking a lot than he used to.
He knew he'd rather not speak to Hinata, but sometimes, it's easier to occupy the gnawing silence with stupidly annoying remarks from him.
Just as he was about to break the silence, Hinata spoke.
Hinata's back was turned to Tsukishima's. He stood still, with his jacket resting on his shoulder.
Tsukishima spoke in his usual tone.
Hinata approached him, gripping his jacket over his shoulder.
He looked up at him with a determined expression. It's like he wanted to pry someone for answers. Answers he failed to understand.
Tsukishima's gaze faltered as he saw the look in Hinata's eyes. He knew whatever he was going to say, he was going to hate it.
Hinata
Why did you hesitate?
Hinata's expression was empty. His eyes sparked as he waited for Tsukishima to answer.
Tsukishima knew what was coming, yet he was still caught off guard. Hinata's look of bitter curiosity nibbled on his patience.
Tsukishima
What do you mean?
Hinata dived in as soon as he heard Tsukishima.
Hinata
Why didn't you attack properly?
Tsukishima felt his patience grow thinner as Hinata kept speaking.
Hinata
I know you are capable of doing more. And I know you know that too.
Hinata's brows furrowed as he looked at Tsukishima.
Was it out of pity? Or was it just Hinata's stubbornness speaking?
Tsukishima
If you're worried I'd drag the team down, I won't.
Tsukishima slipped in his jacket.
Hinata angrily lurched closer to Tsukishima. He was caught off guard by his sudden movement.
Tsukishima
I'm not a monster like you, Hinata. Nor am I a machine.
Tsukishima turned around and kept his back to Hinata as he continued speaking.
Tsukishima
No one is as gifted as you.
Tsukishima bit inside his cheek as he realized his own words. He never wanted to say that.
Of course Hinata knew that others had limitations. But he didn't let Tsukishima go out so easily.
Hinata had always been like this, and they have played matches together for a while now. They won some, they lost some.
So why was Tsukishima's attacks a bother to him now?
Hinata
I'm not saying that!
Hinata shouted, his arms wailing in the air as he expressed himself with his limited vocabulary.
Hinata
When we were up against Seijoh, I saw how you played.
Hinata's tone was calm, but sharp.
Hinata
I saw how high you jumped and how strong you attacked.
Tsukishima's eyes widened as he kept listening to Hinata's words.
He turned around to finally face him.
Hinata
But you didn't attack like that earlier. Or the other nights.
Tsukishima gritted his teeth when Hinata stopped talking. The silence crawled back to them, filling the entire gymnasium with gloom.
Tsukishima was smart, snarky, and straightforward. The both of them knew that.
But he couldn't find the words he wanted to let go of. To tell Hinata.
Tsukishima
I have my limits.
Tsukishima stared down at Hinata, his expression cold and untelling.
Tsukishima
And I know you aren't that dense to not understand what limitations are.
Hinata's eyes widened, and his lips pursed.
He knew that Tsukishima wasn't his usual self right now, though he didn't understand why.
He didn't understand why Tsukishima wasn't his usual cocky, and collected self. That, alone, made him feel indifferent.
The look Tsukishima couldn't read.
Tsukishima was leaning at the latter.
Hinata wanted to speak more. He wanted to tell Tsukishima that he can do better. He wanted to tell Tsukishima that he is more capable than he thinks.
But Tsukishima knew it was coming. And he didn't want to hear it.
Tsukishima walked pass Hinata, leaving him cold on the court. His words echoed throughout the gymnasium.
Tsukishima left the gymnasium without another word.
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