Chapter Text
Washijou knows why his coaches and scouts have brought Hinata Shouyou to his attention.
It’s not because of Kitagawa Daiichi playing this unknown team in the first round, if that was the case they would have brought him a later match - and they have, he’s looked at a few members of Kitagawa’s team. No, they’d brought that match to his attention because of Hinata Shouyou.
Because of Hoshiumi Kourai.
It happens every time a small spiker turns up. It happened when Udai Tenma played for Karasuno a few years back too. What little time Hoshiumi has had on the court so far during his prefectural qualifiers has caught everyone’s attention. And so Washijou’s scouts present his coaches with short players and they present him with the best of them as if one of them will one day change his mind about his style of coaching.
Washijou acknowledges Hoshiumi Kourai’s ability. He’s a skilled player. He’s got a lot of potential. Aaron Murphy is a good coach, Kamomedia High has produced a lot of very impressive players that have gone on to go pro. He’s sure if Coach Murphy has put him on his team, even as a sub for now, then he’s a good player. The rare short spiker who might beat the odds. But, Washijou has no interest in small spikers like him. In the end, when faced with the overwhelming power and height of Shiratorizawa, players like Hoshiumi Kourai and Udai Tenma will always lose at the net. He’ll go along way, but he’ll never reach the top.
“No?” Saitou says from across the desk.
“Yes,” Washijou says. Saitou lifts his head. “Put him on the list and invite him in for an interview.”
“Really?” Anabara says. Washijou nods once and Anabara adds Hinata Shouyou’s name to the list of potential students to be interviewed. “That’s unlike you, sir.”
“You’ll be running your own team next year, Takaaki,” he says. And Washijou is very proud of his student and junior coach moving onto his own team in the prefecture. “You have to learn to look out for potential where it needs to be nurtured.”
“He certainly has a lot of untapped potential,” Saitou says with a nod. “His jump is impressive and he’s fast. Too bad his spikes aren’t very well polished yet. There’s no sign of a coach, is it possible the team’s self taught.”
“I’ve never heard of the school,” Anabara agrees.
“Imagine what he could be with some training.”
Washijou hums. With some training indeed. His assistant coaches still have a lot to learn. He has no intention of letting Hinata Shouyou play at the net.
“First thing’s first,” Washijou says, “I need to meet him.”
They nod and continue onto the next tape and child on the list, adding more names for interviews. Washijou doesn’t think he’ll give Kageyama Tobio a recommendation in the end, especially not after his performance in the finals, but accepts his assistants’ recommendation to interview him along with a few other Kitagawa players before moving on.
It’s barely two weeks later that Washijou meets Hinata Shouyou in person. He’s the last interview of the day and is even smaller in person, creeping into his office like he’s trying to blend into the scenery. He’s on the small side of average, but in the world of volleyball average is not enough at the net. Bigger is always better at the net. But, on the back row, that size can quickly become a hindrance.
“Sit,” Washijou says once Hinata has stammered through an introduction. He quickly scampers into the chair across the desk, looking around slowly at the awards on display. “I am Washijou Tanji, director of Shiratorizawa Academy’s volleyball program.” Hinata looks confused by the idea, but Washijou ignores it. “First, I’m going to ask you simple questions and I want you to give me simple answers. Short, clear sentences. Understand?”
Hinata nods quickly. He might be too quiet for Shiratorizawa. Washijou requires his players to have a certain level of mental strength to withstand his harsh coaching. Not to mention, any athlete expected to compete at the highest levels of any sport has to be able to withstand high pressure situations. Perhaps he was wrong about him.
“You will answer my questions honestly,” Washijou says. Hinata nods. “Absolutely honestly. Don’t try to guess the answer I want, you won’t be right. Don’t try to give me some rehearsed, practiced answer either. I’ve heard them all.” Another nod. “Why do you want to attend Shiratorizawa?”
“I don’t,” Hinata says.
Washijou lifts his head from his papers on Hinata. Well, that is honest and simple. Washijou doesn’t think he’s met many players since Oikawa Tooru who’ve replied like that. He imagines then that Hinata is attending the interview despite not wanting to come here for the same reason as Oikawa.
“Then why are you here?” he says.
“My parents made me.” Exactly the same reason. Washijou nods for him to carry on. “My grades are bad. I won’t get into a good school with them. My parents say if I can get into a good school on a sports scholarship, I should.”
“What other schools are you looking at?”
Ninety per cent of potential students reply Aoba Johsai. Coach Irihata does seem to enjoy making a team from Washijou’s rejects. He’d feel bad about thinking of Irihata and his accomplishments in such terms, but he has Oikawa and that’s enough for Washijou to take great pleasure in every time Shiratorizawa smacked Aoba Johsai down.
“Karasuno.”
Washijou almost sighs. Ukai. He’s due to return to coaching over the summer. How annoying to have him around again. How annoying if he got his hands on an Udai Tenma 2.0. Not that he’ll be a match for Wakatoshi and Satori and the team, but he would be a threat the year after if they’re not careful. Ukai would waste Hinata trying to create another Udai.
“Why do you want to play volleyball?”
“I love volleyball.”
Interesting.
“Do you want to win? Or do you want to play for fun?”
Hinata frowns thoughtfully for a moment before answering. “I love playing volleyball. Any volleyball. But I hate losing.”
“And what do you get for winning?” Washijou says.
“I don’t lose,” Hinata says. “And, I get to play more volleyball.”
Ah. Well, that’s the best answer he could have given, really. Ambition and a pure, unbridled need for volleyball. That reminds him of his best players all too well. He has the right spirit to go a long way.
“You understand you’re short for a volleyball player?” Washijou says.
“I might be short, but I can jump!” Hinata declares, eyes blazing.
And there is some fire in him too.
However, unlike Oikawa Tooru - who’d told him quite bluntly that it was him or Wakatoshi and nothing would sway him, even the offer of a matching recommendation for his ever present partner Iwaizumi - there’s no doubt in Washijou’s mind that Hinata can be brought around to Shiratorizawa.
So Washijou folds his hands on the desk. “Tell me, Hinata-kun, what do you really want?”
“I… don’t understand?” Hinata says.
“You are short,” Washijou says bluntly. Hinata flinches. “What is it that you truly want? A way to fight even though you’re small?”
“Of course,” he says.
Washijou shakes his head. “You don’t. I think, what you really want, is what they have. A pure and simple power that can force any opponent into submission.”
Hinata’s little face scrunches up in confusion and frustration. And, yes, Washijou is absolutely right. It’s plain as day from that reaction.
“Do you want to be as big as them?” Washijou says. “Are you jealous?”
“Of course I am!” Hinata cries. “And then people tell me I’m wrong for that! I should just be happy as I am! They don’t understand, they’ve never had to be my size! I’m not even small, I’m normal, they said so on my last check up! And just because I’m not some giant I’m not good enough?!”
Ah, there’s definitely some fire in him. And a pain Washijou recognises all too well. He knows. He knows that agony and yearning and anger. He sympathises greatly with the pain of realising trying hard isn't always enough. That idealism just hurts more in the end. And, despite what his assistants might think of him, despite his reputation, he doesn’t hate smaller players. He’s just realistic about their usefulness.
Hinata’s eyes widen after a moment and the colour drains from his face as he apparently comes to terms with his outburst. “I- I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell, I-”
“It’s fine, I told you to be honest,” Washijou says. Hinata nods nervously. “That feeling will never go away. It will take a miracle for you to reach the acceptable height for a spiker and you will never stop wanting what they have. Even if you get enough and are happy with your lot in life, even if you manage to find your own way of fighting, you will never stop that hunger for height.”
“So I shouldn’t even try?” Hinata whispers. “I should just give up?”
“No,” he says. Hinata lifts his head. “You find a place where they can’t compete. If you trust in my coaching and are willing to put in the work, you will be able to fight in your own way. A way to make their strength your own.”
“But…”
“Karasuno’s Little Giant had one spring to bask in his glory and never went pro,” he says firmly. “He never even played in college. Karasuno is middling at the moment. I thought you wanted to win. You wanted to keep playing as long as possible, didn't you?”
“I do!”
“Shiratorizawa is the only place in the prefecture that can all but guarantee you that.” Hinata bites his lip. “You will win at Shiratorizawa. You will go to Nationals. You will undoubtedly have offers from colleges and pro teams. I am not the type who’ll beg a player, I have enough candidates to fill out ten teams, but I do not like letting untapped potential be squandered. So, I think you need to decide where your priorities really lie.”
Hinata nods sullenly. Washijou does understand. He knows the despair of realising your own position in the world because of something you can’t help. But, he’s a young man now, he’s not a child. He can’t live in his delusions of grandeur forever.
“This,” Washijou says, sliding a large envelope across the table, “is information and an invitation to Shiratorizawa’s summer training camp. It’s where we have a good look at the potential candidates. Even if you intend to refuse an offer, it will be a good training experience you should certainly consider.”
Hinata nods once more, apparently lacking words now, and takes the envelope. Despite what many people think, Washijou is not cruel. Nor heartless. He is inordinately fond of all his students, simply stern and never one for unnecessary displays of affection, particularly in public. So, of course he feels bad for Hinata. That’s why he’s being what many would consider harsh. It’s always cruel, the way people lie to players like Hinata, that they can make it. Thousands of boys his age try to overcome their natural disadvantages and so few of them make it. Hoshiumi might be a once in a generation player who can beat all the odds. But it’s simple cruelty to let Hinata keep believing the lie that if he just tried hard enough he’d succeed. If simply trying your hardest was enough, the world would be a far kinder place.
They continue with the interview from there, Hinata a little quieter, and Washijou understands the pain facing your dream being impossible. They go through his grades, his training - which is abysmal, but knowing there’s no proper volleyball program and the effort he’s going through to make it happen makes sense of that - and what requirements would be necessary for his attendance. Hinata leaves looking broken-hearted, but thoughtful. Washijou can only hope he’s at the very least going to think about what he said.
It’s rather pleasing to see Hinata’s name on the list of summer camp students when Washijou is making final arrangements.
“Hayato.”
Their second year libero hurries over to where Washijou is sitting with his clipboard. He looks worried. Well, he supposes being called over right after warm ups is probably a little concerning. He’s not even had time to do any techniques that need correcting yet.
“Yes, Coach?”
“There’s a boy arriving today who we’ll be training as a libero,” Washijou says.
Hayato’s eyes light up. He’s always enjoyed being a senpai a little too much and Wasihjou is aware of his desire for a young libero to take under his wing given all they currently have no liberos younger than him. The first year intake had been incredibly disappointing for liberos this year. Hopefully he'll be pleased to have several potential new liberos in this summer's camp. It’s been mentioned before that Washijou has a habit of recruiting strange, quirky if they’re being polite, players - usually the comment was in regards to Satori, but the others weren’t immune to it - and perhaps so. But, Washijou has always been of the opinion that strange players tend to make the best players. Or perhaps, the best players are strange. Perhaps because they’re strange.
If Hinata manages to pull up his skills, he’ll probably fit in just fine.
“He doesn’t yet realise what a god given gift he has as a libero,” Washijou says, “but he has a natural talent for it. His basics are appalling, but he’s self taught. I’m going to have to be very hard on him, I think. So, I’m relying on you to help him.”
“Right,” Hayato says with a grin. “I’m gonna be the best senpai so you can be as harsh as you need to be.”
“I’m counting on it,” he says. “Get back to drills then. Try not to get too distracted.”
Hayato jogs over to join the other liberos and Washijou hums to himself, tapping his pencil against the clipboard as he considers the plan for them trainees. The assistant coaches are setting up for the summer camp. Hinata is going to be tricky to deal with. Unless he’s improved a miraculous amount in just a few short weeks, he will have to train him from the basics up and Washijou does prefer not to do that. But, Hinata has too much potential to waste. While there are several other coaches he’s sure could recognise Hinata’s talent, his is the only team that could take him to the heights of the national stage where a talent like that belongs. There's just nothing else for it but to single him out and put him through a crash course from hell.
It’s mid afternoon when the middle schoolers are escorted in by Saitou. Late enough in the way that the high school boys have had a pretty good training session before they have to start with the potential new boys. A lot of them look terrified or in awe of the gym. Even those Washijou knows are from schools with their own impressive programs. Most are from Miyagi. Washijou prefers to scout from within Miyagi for the most part. It cuts down on things like homesickness and boys wanting to go home long distances for breaks. Plus, it meant he could train kids in these summer camps, snce those dedicated enough to travel for summer camps at a school they're not even in are rare. He’s not the only one. Inarizaki and Itachiyama’s training camps are well known in Kanto and Kansai. They curate incredible teams from their areas using these summer camps just like he does.
“Is that him, do you think?” Satori whispers too loudly. “The tiny redhead?”
“Probably,” Eita says. “I can’t imagine he’s a hitter at his height.”
“Quiet,” Washijou says and the team goes silent.
Although, he will admit, Hinata is looking even smaller within the group. Particularly because he’s between Kitagawa Daiichi’s Kindaichi and Kaiji North’s Goshiki. But, at least he’s here, and at least he’s looking determined and eager. Now Washijou has a summer to create a new monster libero and start forming next year’s team.