"Where's my disciple Akaashi?!!!"

"Calm down Bokuto-san, everyone said he would turn up later"

"Wait do you like my disciple as well Akaashi?!"

"I'm not doing this today"

——————————

Kenma and Kuroo had dragged the rather tired looking Hinata into the Nekoma cafeteria; it was dinner time after all.

However the two were slightly worried as to how Hinata would react seeing his team.

They simply thought he must've got into an argument with rest, and would be playing again in no time.

But Hinata only turned up since he would get some food. I mean, who would turn down free food?

The setter and spiker brought Hinata his own food and sat him down at their allocated table. Kenma and Kuroo occasionally glanced worriedly at each other while Hinata hungrily devoured the meal.

They had also come ten minutes early so the area was still completely empty. Hinata noticed something to be off between them and raised an eyebrow "what?"

The two shot a meaningful glance before shrugging their shoulders. Hinata narrowed his eyes before finishing his plate and rubbing his stomach dramatically "that was good, I'll be going now"

Hinata stood from his seat "thanks I guess" he stated before beginning to walk away from the table "chibi! u-um, just wait a little more please?"

Kuroo begged, voice raised a notch from his usual tone. Hinata rolled his eyes turning back to the two "I have to g-"

Before he could finish his sentence, someone ran up behind the tangerine; jumping on his back and toppling them both over.

Hinata let out a yelp from the sudden impact and looked up at who tackled him.

"MY DISCIPLE! WHERE WHERE YOU?" a certain owl screeched in happiness, sitting on Hinata's chest and ultimately pinning him to the floor.

Hinata sighed and smiled at the male, in all truth Hinata had missed his other friends and was happy to see them "hey Bokuto-san"

Hinata replied in a rather horse and ragged voice; this definitely caught the older male off guard. That was when he realised how different the tangerine looked since he's last seen him.

His usual plump cheeks were more hollowed and defined, bright orange hair seemed to have splotches of red that seemed to flake off at the touch? Along with his weird dull eyes accompanied with heavy dark bags.

However what he luckily didn't pick up on was how much skinner Hinata had got. Due to the baggy clothes Hinata was wearing, his unhealthily bony figure was completely hidden.

Bokuto was about to speak up when the whole Fukurōdani team arrived in the cafeteria for dinner.

The two who were still on the floor were greeted by Akaashi who groaned at Bokuto's enthusiasm "nice to see you Hinata" Akaashi greeted with a faint blush.

The black haired male yanked the owl off Hianta's chest and whacked him on the back of the head "oowww what was that for?!" Bokuto wined; his hair dropping and going into emo mode.

Akaashi ignored the other male and turned back to Hinata who was dusting himself off "missed me?" Hinata cheekily smiled, Akaashi's blush being noticed by the keen eyed orangette.

The second year laughed it off, scratching the back of his neck while he was getting glared at by a jealous Bokuto.

"Karasuno should turn up in a minute" Bokuto said out of the blue, wanting to break the two's flowing conversation.

Hinata instantly paled at this; however his shock soon turned into rage. Slowly tilting his head towards the guilty looking Nekoma teammates he glared at the two "I thought you said they wouldn't be here"

Hinata growled, wanting nothing to do with his previous teammates. Kuroo looked at Kenma for support "what's wrong with them Shōyō?" Kenma asked cautiously; after all Hinata did look very troubled at the idea.

Hinata said nothing.

He simply pulled out a packet of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one "I'll be going" he said through gritted teeth, walking away from the stunned boys.

However before he could depart, every team started to flood into the cafeteria for dinner. Many were extremely excited to see the precious boy, but were warded of by the fact he was smoking; a permanent scowl on his features.

The boys concluded that it was just someone that looked alike from their tangerine. That couldn't have been Hinata, right?

'𝑛𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡...'

Hinata managed to sneak around every single team, almost at the front door he looked behind him and chuckled at his ability to disappear unnoticed.

However his victory was very short lived.

He took a step forward and seemed to slam right into a solid brick wall. Well that's at least what it felt like.

"Hinata, follow me" a stern but caring voice demanded. The orangette looked up to see Coach Ukai. He groaned at the sight of the older male and continued smoking "nope, I have places to be"

He tried to manoeuvre himself around his coach but was stopped when he grabbed his wrist. Hinata sighed once again; his dead brown eyes making contact with Ukai's own.

"Hinata please, Everyone misses you" Ukai pleaded, not letting go of the No.10's wrist. Hinata rolled his eyes and took a deep breath of nicotine "don't you mean you miss my skills?"

Ukai raised an eyebrow at this, he hadn't been told about Hinata's reason for absence yet. He simply thought Hinata didn't turn up because Yachi accused him of the rumours.

However Hinata left because he heard of his teammates talking about him.

About using him.

"I see you're lost for words, let me simplify it for you" Hinata started, handing a cigarette to his coach and lighting it for him.

Ukai was hesitant at first but took the cigarette nonetheless; they both walked outside and sat on a short concrete wall.

"You see I was going for practice and stopped at the doors when I heard people talking" Hinata continued, blowing a deep breath of smoke in the crisp air.

"What were they saying?" Ukai asked cautiously, it must've been something bad for Hinata to act like this, right?

"I really don't want to put up with him but we need him to win nationals" Hinata mocked, making weird hand gestures and sticking his tongue out.

Honestly Ukai thought of his childish behaviour to be rather cute. Not in a romantic way though; more of how a mother thinks of her child as adorable.

Ukai was not a pedophile.

However he was extremely surprised at what he heard; surly the boys wouldn't say that? Ukai knew that everyone adored Hinata. Yes, Yachi did make up some fake rumours, but he wouldn't think they would go so far as to debate kicking Hinata off the team?

"Are you sure?" Ukai asked, uncertain about the news. Hinata sighed; laying his head on Ukai's shoulder.

Hinata felt sad.

He was seeking the comfort of a father figure; and he definitely thought of Ukai as one. As much as he tried to push the coach away, he still persisted and Hinata was grateful for that.

Hinata didn't bother responding to Ukai. He knew what he heard and and couldn't care less wether anyone believed him or not.

He had simply given up.

Ukai was a bit surprised at the action but eased off after a little. He smiled warmly and stroked a hand through Hinata's orange hair.

He felt a slight tangle in the boys hair and took a closer look; upon closer inspection he saw it to be dried blood.

Ukai's eyes widened as he looked closer to see a gash which had been messily sewn and obviously infected.

'ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡... 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡?'

"Hinata?" Ukai questioned, voice slightly shaky. Hinata hummed to show he was listening "what happened to your head"

Hinata's mood suddenly dimmed to its usual and he lifted his head of Ukai's shoulder "it dosent matter, now excuse me I have to go home" Hinata jumped down from the wall and threw his cigarette to the floor.

"HINATA WAIT!" Ukai yelled at the teen. Hinata sighed and crooked his head towards his coach "what?"

"At least stay over night? It's started to get dark" Ukai wanted the teen to be safe; Tokyo could be quite dangerous after dark and Ukai knew this.

"No... I'm sorry"

𝙁𝙪𝙣 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩: 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙞𝙩 🤧