Chapter Text
"Look, Coach Ukai!" said Hinata Shoyo. He pointed across the blue-green sea at the rocky island ahead of them. The ferry was sailing towards it, dipping up and down on the rolling waves.
"Is that Rainspell Island?" he asked.
Coach Ukai nodded.
"Yes, it is," he said before looking at him with a stern expression. "Remember that the main goal of this getaway is a training camp, not vacation."
The waves slapped against the side of the ferry as it bobbed up and down on the water. Hinata felt his heart thump with excitement. He could see white cliffs and emerald green fields on the island. And golden sandy beaches, with rock pools dotted here and there.
Suddenly, a few fat raindrops plopped down on to Hinata's head.
"Oh!" he gasped, surprised. The sun was still shining.
Suga-san grabbed his shoulder.
"Let's get under cover," he said, leading Hinata inside.
"Isn't that strange?" Hinata said. "Sunshine and rain!"
"Let's hope the rain stops before we get off the ferry," said Mr. Takeda. "Now, where did I put that map of the island?"
Hinata looked out of the window. His eyes opened wide.
Kageyama was standing alone on the deck. His dark hair was wet with raindrops, but he didn't seem to care. He just stared up at the sky.
Hinata looked over at the others. They were busy studying the map. So Hinata slipped back outside to see what was so interesting.
And there it was.
In the blue sky, high above them, was the most amazing rainbow that Hinata had ever seen. One end of the rainbow was far out to sea. The other seemed to fall somewhere on Rainspell Island. All of the colours were bright and clear.
"Isn't it perfect?" Kageyama whispered to Hinata.
"Yes, it is," Hinata agreed.
Kageyama leaned over the rail and looked down into the shimmering water.
"The sea looks really deep, doesn't it?" he said.
Hinata stared at the waves. He saw something that made his heart skip a beat.
"Look!" he said. "Is that a mermaid's hair?"
Then he laughed, when he saw that it was just seaweed.
"Dumbass," said Kageyama, smiling.
The ferry was now sailing into Rainspell's tiny harbour. Seagulls flew around them, and fishing boats bobbed on the water.
"Look at that big white cliff over there," Kageyama said. He pointed it out to Hinata. "It looks a bit like a giant's face, doesn't it?"
Hinata looked, and nodded.
"There you are!" called Daichi-san.
Hinata and Kageyama turned round and saw Daichi-san and Suga-san coming out on to the deck.
"We'll be getting off the ferry in a few minutes," Daichi-san added. "Coach Ukai informed us that they have rented ten cottages for the trip. One for the couches and the other nine for all of the players that could make it here."
"Do you know who else is coming?" asked Hinata curiously.
"From Aoba Johsai it is Oikawa, Iwaizumi, Matsukawa, Hanamaki, Yahaba, Kyoutani, Kunimi and Kindaichi. From Shiratorizawa it is Ushiwaka, Tendou, my cousin who you know as Semi, Shirabu, and Goshiki. From Date Tech it is Futakuchi, Aone and Koganegawa. From Nekoma it is Kuroo, Yaku, Yamamoto, Kenma, and Lev. From Fukurodani it is Bokuto and Akaashi. From a school called Nohebi it is Daishou and the manager Mika. From Itachiyama it is Sakusa and his cousin Komori. And from Inarizaki it is Kita, Aran, Akagi, Suna and the twins." explained Suga-san.
Hinata's face lit up in delight that Kenma was coming.
Then the ferry docked, and everyone began to leave the boat.
"Our cottages are on the other side of the harbour," said Nekoma's coach Nekomata, looking at his own map. "It's not far."
The cottages were right next to the beach. Hinata loved the bedroom that was up in the attic, which he shared with Kageyama, Tsukishima and Yamaguchi. From the window, he could see the volleyball net that Coach Ukai, Ushijima-san and Kita-san had helped set up and the waves rolling onto the sand.
The sound of a door opening from behind made him look behind him. It was Kageyama, Tsukishima and Yamaguchi.
"Let's go and explore the beach!" Hinata grinned in excitement as he ran out of the room. While Tsukishima and Yamaguchi didn't follow him, Kageyama dashed outside to join him.
Seaweed lay in piles on the sand, and there were tiny pink and white shells dotted about.
"I love it here already!" Hinata shouted happily above the noise of the seagulls.
"Me too," Kageyama said. He pointed up at the sky. "Look, the rainbow's still there,"
Hinata looked up. The rainbow glowed brightly among the fluffy white clouds.
"Have you heard the story about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?" Hinata asked.
Kageyama nodded.
"Yes, but that's just in fairy tales," he said.
Hinata grinned.
"Maybe. But let's go and find out for ourselves!"
"OK," Kageyama agreed. "We can explore the island at the same time."
They rushed back to tell their coach where they were going. Then Hinata and Kageyama set off along a lane behind the cottages. It led them away from the beach, across green fields, and towards a small wood.
Hinata kept looking up at the rainbow. He was worried that it would start to fade now that the rain had stopped. But the colours stayed clear and bright.
"It looks like the end of the rainbow is over there," Kageyama said. "Come on!"
And he hurried towards the trees.
The wood was cool and green after the heat of the sun. Hinata and Kageyama followed a winding path until they came to a clearing. Then they both stopped and stared.
The rainbow shone down on to the grass through a gap in the trees. And there, at the rainbow's end, lay an old, black pot.