Chapter 1 Chapter 1: The King and The Sun

The sound of sneakers squeaking against the polished floor echoed through the gymnasium. The ball slammed down with a heavy thwack, followed by the familiar, frustrated shout that Hinata Shouyou had grown to know all too well.

“Boke! Your timing was off again!”

Hinata panted, hands on his knees, his orange hair sticking to his forehead with sweat. He looked up and saw those sharp, blue eyes glaring at him from across the net. Kageyama Tobio stood there, chest heaving, looking as perfect and annoying as ever. Even after two hours of nonstop practice, he looked like he could keep going forever.

“Shut up!” Hinata yelled back, his voice cracking slightly from exhaustion. “I got the point, didn’t I?!”

“You got lucky!” Kageyama retorted, walking closer until they were practically chest to chest. The air between them was thick, hot, and charged with electricity. “If you don’t jump higher and run faster, I won’t set for you anymore. I need someone who can keep up with me, not someone who trips over his own feet!”

Hinata’s face turned red—not just from the exercise, but from anger. He balled his fists. “I’m way faster than you! And I’ll jump higher than anyone in the whole world! You’re just scared I’ll become better than you, aren’t you, King?”

Kageyama’s eyes narrowed. The nickname hit a nerve, but instead of stepping back, he leaned in even closer. Their faces were inches apart now. Hinata could see every single eyelash on the taller boy’s face. He could smell the faint scent of soap and sweat mixing together, and for some stupid reason, his heart did a weird little flip in his chest.

“Scared?” Kageyama whispered, his voice dropping lower, rougher than usual. “I’m not scared of anything. Especially not you.”

“Then stop complaining!” Hinata shouted, trying to ignore the way his own voice shook. “We’re rivals! I’m gonna beat you, Kageyama! I’m gonna be the number one ace!”

“Then show me.”

The words hung in the air. The rest of the team had stopped playing, watching the two of them with amused and tired expressions. They were used to this. It was always like this—shouting, competing, clashing like fire and ice.

But today... something felt different.

Kageyama didn’t look away. He kept staring, his blue eyes dark and intense. He wasn’t just looking at his teammate. He wasn’t just looking at his rival. His gaze drifted down to Hinata’s lips for just a split second, so fast that Hinata thought he must have imagined it.

“H-Hey...” Hinata stammered, suddenly feeling very hot. “What are you looking at?”

Kageyama blinked, as if waking up from a trance. He quickly looked away, his ears turning a faint shade of pink. “Nothing! Just... get ready. We’re doing it again. And this time, don’t mess up.”

He turned around sharply and walked back to his position, gripping the volleyball so tight his knuckles turned white.

Hinata stood there, touching his own chest. His heart was pounding like crazy. Why? Why did it feel like his heart was about to burst out of his ribs just because Kageyama looked at him like that?

They were enemies. They were rivals. They were supposed to hate each other, right?

“Shouyou!” Kageyama called out, not looking back. “Stop spacing out! Or are you already tired, shorty?”

Hinata shook his head violently, trying to clear his thoughts. “I’m not tired! I’m ready! Bring it on, Tobio!”

He ran forward, eyes focused only on the boy in front of him. But as he jumped, high up in the air, all he could think about wasn't the ball.

It was Kageyama’s eyes. And how close they had been just moments ago.

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