Empty

●Chapter Three●

*~*

Even after all the hard work, we couldn't get a set against them. Once they knew I could set and spike, they amped up their energy, made less obvious signs. It was almost as if they'd been going easy on us before. 

Today's punishment was a ten minute wall sit. Fun. 

"Well this is gonna suck." I sighed as I walked over to the wall with Daichi. 

"I know dude, but you got this. If you need to stand, I don't think anyone will judge. I'm sure none of us can do a full 10 minutes without standing back up for a second." He reassured me. I just nodded and tried to stick it out. I got to minute eight before I couldn't take the pain without crying. So I stood, let the pain dissipate a little, and went back to do the last minute and a half that was on the timer. 

After that, we still had a bit of time, as the other game going on was only on the second set. I went outside to catch some sun and relax. Daichi sat with me. 

"How you feeling?" He asked. 

"Mentally or physically?" I asked. 

"Both." 

"Physically, my legs hurt. And I'm not feeling the best in general. Probably dehydrated or something. Mentally...you don't wanna know." I lied. I knew I wasn't feeling good because I have no food in me, and haven't kept food in me for what? Two days now?

"But I do wanna know."

He'll never care, it's all pity. 

"I'm fine, really." I said. 

"Alright, I won't push you. If it gets to be too much, come to me and we'll talk, okay." He gave me a pat on the back. I just nodded and drank some water, trying to convince him that I'm dehydrated and I'm taking care of myself. 

Coach came to get us when it was time for our next game, which was against Ubugawa. I didn't start this game either, Daichi thought it was best to give me a little extra time to rest because my legs and the fact I told him I didn't feel good. 

I watched as Hinata and Kageyama landed quick attack after quick attack. 

You'll never be as good as them. 

They really were amazing. And Daichi was good at receiving, Tsukki could block, Asahi could do fucking anything and Noya...well...he's Noya, our guardian. He doesn't stop moving, he keeps the ball going no matter how difficult it is to dig out. 

"Time." Daichi called over to Coach. Coach stood and we were granted our time out. 

"Alright, here's what I wanna try. Suga, I wanna put you in for Kageyama, use hand signals to tell which spiker you want up," He said, showing us different hand signals and who they correlate to. 

"We're gonna try and fake them out." I said. 

"Exactly. And I know you can set to anyone from any way you face, so you got this."

Watch, you're gonna fuck it up.

"Let's try it." I shrugged. We subbed me in and restarted, with it being Ubugawa's serve, since Hinata hit a ball out of bounds trying to go cross court. 

Before the serve, I sent out a signal saying the ball was going to Asahi. 

The serve went between Noya and Daichi. I was afraid they'd both go for it, but Daichi stepped back and let Noya send it up to me, it was more controlled. I faced away, as if I was sending the ball to Hinata or Tsukki. I watched as the other teams blockers had all three of their front line Hinata and Tsukki, leaving Asahi wide open for a perfect downward. 

"Nice one guys, let's do it again!" Daichi yelled. I gave a smile and got back into position. After rotation, it was My serve. Oh boy. I do basic serves. I'm no service ace, I can't really aim a serve, no jump, nothing. My ball made it over the net at least. 

You're not talented enough for this team. 

I shook the thought, getting where I needed to be in the front row, ready to move fast. 

When the ball came back, Daichi dived to receive it, sending it a bit off for me to be able to set properly since I can't jump, seeing as my legal position is in the back row. Tsukki saw and acted quickly, taking an attack on it without it being set. He got the kill. 

"Nice kill, Tsukki!" I gave him a smile. He just pushed up his glasses and got back into position. I got back to the back row to serve again, sending it how I did last time. Maybe Asahi can help me practice serving?

This time, I delayed getting to the front, knowing they'd try to make a harder attack. I wasn't wrong, but I wasn't right either. It was harder to predict. Their setter dumped the ball. Daichi dove for the ball, digging it out and sending it back to me. I never said who I was sending the ball to...fuck. 

I knew Asahi and Hinata were always ready to attack and always jumped no matter what, so sending to either would be fine. I chose Asahi, simply for his strength. They received the ball pretty easily though, unfortunately. 

*~*

In the end, we lost that game too, having to do another goddamn round of wall sits. At least lunch was happening as soon as we were done, so I get to sit on an actual chair and not thin air. 

"Not again." I sighed. 

Even your best sucks.

The voice in my head just keeps going. It never ends. Nothing ends. 

It'll end when you kill yourself. 

Of course it will. 

I did my ten minutes, needing to stop twice because of the pain. I watched Hinata fall on his ass though, so that was funny. 

On the way to lunch, we all talked about what we could be doing better and what things we need to practice. 

"Serves." I said. 

"Definitely, we could all use the practice." Daichi said. 

"Synch-"

"Hinata, what did I say?"

"Okay fine, but at least one night while we're here we gotta try to practice with at least the majority of us."

"We'll see." He said. Hinata is really excited about that, but he's excited about everything. 

"Daichi, I'm not gonna eat, I don't wanna end up puking." I said loud enough for him to hear.

"As long as you eat dinner, I'll let it slide. I know you're not feeling that great." He said. I gave a small sigh of relief and went to sit down. 

"Suga, go eat." Asahi said. 

"It's fine, Asahi." Daichi came up behind him. I could tell both of them were worried, but the topic was dropped after that. 

"Y'all ready for the second half of the day?" Asahi asked. 

"No." I was honest for once. 

"What, why not?" Asahi looked confused, I usually am into my sport...not lately. 

"Tired, couldn't sleep. So now it's been two days with little sleep, so it's making me hate life." It wasn't a complete lie. 

"Get some sleep tonight man, as much as I want you to come practice with us, your health comes first." He said. Daichi looked at me with a soft smile. His smile always made me feel a little better. 

Soon enough, players started to head back to the court, and so we headed back as well. 

Word Count; 2507