Part-Time Lover [NoyaHina]

Chapter six 「6 課」

At the back of the school was a forest of wild weeds that surrounded piles of unused building supplies, like random concrete slabs and a set of old soccer goals that was looked worn and rusted from age. The two tried to peer through the fence in hopes of seeing where the ball went; to no avail. Kageyama slapped the back of Hinata's head, causing him to lose his grip and fall onto the grass. "Good job. You're lucky that was just a random, old ball we found." His friend muttered like an old woman as Hinata rubbed his sore backside.

Now, they sat drearily on the bench next to the vending machine. Kageyama stood up and gawked at the selection of drinks. Hinata stretched out on the bench, feeling the carvings in the wood from past delinquents before his fingers touched something with a strange texture which caused him to pull his hand away in disgust. He looked over at his friend, mentally debating with himself on the drink he wanted. "Kageyama, I'm bored." Hinata huffed and rolled around. The sun was shinning on his face, he shielded his eyes with his fingers. He squinted and watched Kageyama insert change into the big, white vending machine. The setter didn't respond, still indecisive about what flavour milk he wanted.

"Hurry up, you only drink yoghurt." Kageyama grunted and picked the yoghurt; Hinata was right. He'd always debate between strawberry and chocolate milk but then always went back to the classic yoghurt drink. The milk box fell to the bottom on the machine with a clunk and Kageyama reached for it, poking the top with the straw. He pushed the tiny spiker aside and sat back down on the bench. "Shut up." He responded. The two stared off into the courtyard, radiating boredom. Kageyama had a brooding, natural gaze that scared almost everyone away from the pair.

Hinata especially, couldn't handle sitting down for more than five minutes. He jumped to his feet. "Let's go find the others!" He suggested. "Why?" Kageyama asked lazily. "To hang out with them, what else??" Kageyama had a weird look in his eyes, screaming that he didn't want to move from his spot. The boy sucked on his drink, leaning against the brick wall. "You can go, I want some peace and quiet." Hinata punched his friend in the arm, causing him to give a death glare. The punch didn't faze him. "You're the one who started eating lunch with me first!" Hinata squinted back remember how Kageyama just sat next to him one day during lunch, slurping his milk box loudly. He didn't say anything and just took his spot on the bench, and it was like that ever since. From there, they naturally found an old volleyball and would practise with each other during their break.

Kageyama just loudly slurped his yoghurt to Hinata's disgust. "Fine, I'll go find Noya-san. Better than talking to Boringyama." That's good. Hinata thought, complimenting his own nick-naming skills. He had a plethora of names he would call Kageyama every day. The tangerine walked off as Kageyama threw his empty carton of milk at his orange head. It bounced off and Hinata didn't seem to notice. He headed back inside the main building.

Hinata wasn't sure where everyone would be. The school wasn't massive like Seijoh but, it wasn't that small either. He climbed the stairs to the third floor where the third-year classrooms were situated. As he walked up the stairs, he passed crowds of fellow students talking among themselves. They blocked the halls and the small boy had to weave around them. He reached the third-years class and curiously peaked in. Several students were already gathered inside, tables pulled together as they ate lunch together. Hinata nervously scanned the room for his upperclassmen friends. He walked to the next classroom where he found Sugawara, Daichi and Asahi eating lunch together. They were facing each other and laughing, Kiyoko stood by their table, leaning on the windowsill while poking at something in her lunchbox. She looked as cool as ever.

Sugawara felt a chill go down his spine and shivered before noticing Hinata staring holes into him. The younger boy was too anxious to step foot in the classroom. The seniors were so much larger and taller than him, some even looking older than Asahi. Sugawara waved him in, smiling. Hinata gulped and rushed over to their table like an injured fawn.

"What's up, Hinata?" Sugawara picked up a steamed bean from his lunch box with his chopsticks and took a small bite from it. "Have you seen Noya-san?" Hinata fumbled at his fingers. "Oh." Sugawara chewed and covered his mouth with his hand. He swallowed and replied. "Um, Asahi? Where would Tanaka and Nishinoya usually be?" The grey-haired setter looked over at Asahi while he fixed his headband. "Um...they're probably throwing rocks at something...or looking at porn magazines." Asahi replied quietly and looked back down at his phone. Hinata was surprised how close Asahi was with Nishinoya, especially considering how opposite they were. Daichi cleared his throat, looking at the nervous boy. "Have you looked behind the gym? They eat lunch behind there a lot." Hinata nodded thoroughly and sprinted out the door, sweating from social interaction. Dachi rubbed his head and laughed. "Does he know we're his friends? He was so scared coming in here." Sugawara nodded. "It's probably Asahi, he looks so scary. Hinata stared at the back of my head for at least a solid minute." This caused Asahi to stick his head up "Eh?? I'm not scary!" he cried.

-

Hinata ran through the school, almost colliding with other peers as he recklessly turned corners and took the stairs two steps at a time. He jumped off the rest of the steps and headed towards where he came from. Kageyama was still sitting in the same spot, it seemed like he was yet to move. The boy had his eyes closed and his head was resting against the wall, he was already asleep. Hinata walked down the bricked path to his second home; the gymnasium. Gingerly, he went around the back and looked for his second-year friends. Like Asahi described, they were sitting by a green electricity box under the shade of the building. Nishinoya was holding a magazine and pointing at pictures as Tanaka gawked in awe. Thankfully, it was just a foreign celebrity magazine and nothing more. The pair were too distracted and didn't notice Hinata sit down besides them.

"Dude, look how hot she is!" Tanaka exclaimed and pointed at a photo of famous singer in a pale blue two-piece swimsuit. The article was a collection of candid shots of celebrities spotted at the beach. Tanaka pointed at a photo of David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham holding hands while walking through the shore. "What about her? Oh, and wassup Hinata." He added, nodding at Hinata.

"Hey, Shouyou." Nishinoya looked up at him before returning his attention to the magazine. "She's hot. Though, I'm not gay but David Beckham is even hotter. I want a body like that, is that what soccer players all look like?" Nishinoya blurted out, causing Tanaka to give him a weird look that he shook off. He didn't say anything. "You sure bro?" Nishinoya didn't look at him and gave him a blunt "Yeah." Hinata could feel the awakward tension in the air. "I think so too, Noya-san." He spoke up. The libero looked up at him, meeting his eyes. "Right, Shouyou?" He laughed.

Nishinoya was staring at the photo a little too long and Tanaka flipped to the next page. They began to fawn over an article about Billie Eilish. Hinata looked at the article written in English, he couldn't read anything, and he assumed his friends couldn't either. The girl on the page had interesting hair, it was green and black. Hinata had never seen anyone in his town with brightly coloured hair. It looked strange to him. He didn't listen to much music either, so he didn't know anything about it.

"How did you get an American magazine? Can you read English?" He asked as they turned the page to see a gallery of sports cars. "Oh, Ukai gave it to me ages ago. It's kinda old." Hinata noticed how folded and crinkled the pages were when he had a closer look. The date at the bottom of the page said "2017". "And no, I can't read English to save my ass." He laughed loudly.

"Speaking of Ukai, he told me that he wouldn't mind me working with you again." Hinata ears perked up at this. "He said I could have all the Gari Gari-Kuns I want if I do all the lifting for him. You know how I am with Gari Gari Kun," He passed the magazine back to Tanaka who flicked back to the page with the bikini girls. "Really? Wow, that's so good." Hinata exclaimed enthusiastically. "That's if you don't mind me being there too- "Hinata cut him off "Of course you can Noya-san! It's so much easier when you're with me. You carry all the boxes because you're strong as hell!" He gushed, shaking the boy. Nishinoya almost glowed from the compliment. "Of course, I'll help you as much as you need, Shouyou!" He dramatically flexed his bicep and laughed, grabbing Hinata in a head lock. Hinata laughed as Nishinoya rubbed his head but didn't choke him like Kageyama would. Hinata grinned and looked across at Tanaka who gave him a small, but amused smile