𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚌𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚢 𝚐𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚝 [𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯]

33 - CHAPSTICK

It was time. The battle against Fukurodani.

Yusei stood across the net from Bokuto and Akaashi, both of their eyes on him as he spoke with Kataoka and Akagi. "We're gonna win." Bokuto growled, stomping over to the endline as the two teams were about to begin. Bowing, they met in the middle to shake hands.

"Good luck Keiji." Yusei mumbled, his eyes on the setter as they clamped their hands together.

"Same to you." Akaashi nodded, a slight smile on his face as he maintained eye contact with him. Soon enough, the lineups were checked and approved, allowing Nishioka to go back and serve.

"Let's cut them off right here!" Konoha yelled as he got ready to receive, the other two backrow players doing so as well.

Nishioka served once the whistle was blown, and Konoha received it with his hands. Akaashi moved so that he was under the ball, his hands going above his head. "Bokuto-san!" He called, tossing the ball out to the ace who looked ready to murder it.

Yakoya and Ozaki jumped to block him as Bokuto reeled his arm back. His eyes went to the block, seeing that it was blocking his line shot. So instead of going line, he hit the ball cross, where Yusei was waiting with his tongue sticking out of his mouth in concentration. He received it almost effortlessly, making the owl growl in annoyance.

"Nice receive!" Nishioka called, jump setting a quick for Yakoya. Washio managed to get a hand on it, and their libero recovered it. Akaashi quickly got ready to set again, knowing Bokuto was still very revved up. He sent it his way, allowing the ace another shot. He went for the super sharp shot that time, but Yusei dove for it and managed to get it up.

"YES!" Kanai yelled, standing from his seat excitedly. Setting to the outside, Nishioka let Jiga handle it. The demon prince slammed it through the block, the ball landing right in front of their libero. The people on the bench screeched loudly as the Anaguma stands started chanting the cheer.

"Keep it up." Yusei told Nishioka, handing him the ball. Nodding, the setter once again went back to serve. Fukurodani managed to get a point after Anaguma had scored four, so Washio went back to serve.

"Mine!" Akagi yelled, receiving the ball. "Nishioka, all you!"

"Right!" The setter acknowledged, getting under the ball. Tossing a back quick, Ozaki obliterated the ball. Konoha shanked itbfrom the force, making him growl in annoyance. Akaashi could see what was going on, they were all too pissed to play like they should have been. Anger was clouding their judgement, which made them sloppy. The only good thing about that was they were focusing on the opponent in front of them.

Akaashi gulped as Yusei rotated to the front, a smirk present on his face as him and Bokuto had a hardcore staring contest. Of course, Demon King Yusei won as Jiga did his top spin serve. Fukurodani's libero got the serve up, but it was off a bit so Akaashi had to move. Setting quick for Onoga, Akaashi made sure to cover.

Yakoya made it into a one touch, and Jiga picked it up. Nishioka and Yusei shared the briefest look and they both knew what was about to happen. Yusei started her approach, and just as she jumped, Nishioka set it. The Demon King of Anaguma slammed that ball, the block not even touching it as it bounced so high it went into the bleachers.

"That's the demon king for you!" The announcers grinned, "It was recently announced that Yusei Udai is the fourth best ace in the country, I can personally say I most certainly agree with this. What are your thoughts?"

"Let us know in the comments!" The other commentator said, pointing at the camera. "Now, let's see what Anaguma has in store for Fukurodani next!"

Jiga was still up to serve, so once the ref blew the whistle, he did his jump top spin once again. Komi managed to get a good receive, allowing Akaashi to send a gorgeous set out to Bokuto. The ace scored by blasting through the block. "HEY HEY HEYYYYY!" He yelled in triumph, his team cheering.

"Ya know, Akaashi's lips are rougher than they look."

"HAH?!??!" Bokuto whirled around to face Yusei, who looked thoughtful.

"Oh? Sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud." The male smirked, obviously lying through his teeth.

"How the fuck would you know that?" Demanded the owl, his blood boiling with rage.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Yusei's smug face said many things, all of which Bokuto wanted to punch him for, "Why not ask him yourself? Keiji-kun~"

"No." Akaashi immediately shut it down, but the flush on his face told Bokuto exactly what Yusei was talking about. Clenching his teeth, the ace growled at him,

"Bastard!"

"Nah, there's nothing wrong with what I did," he said, moving just slightly closer, "you just didn't get to him in time."

With that said, the ref blew the whistle, which allowed Fukurodani to serve. Akagi received it nicely, directing the ball towards Nishioka. The setter jumped, tossing to the right side. Ozaki hit the ball, but Komi dove for it and got the ball up. Akaashi moved, jumping to set Bokuto. The ace slammed the ball, making Jiga growl as he missed it by just a hair's length.

Fukurodani's stands went up in cheers, clapping for their team as the ace held up his hands in victory.

"And that is how the owl's ego was inflated enough to be popped."

"EXCUSE ME?!"

"You're excused, you may leave."

"THAT'S NOT FUNNY!"

~*~

The match ended with full sets, but in the end Anaguma reigned victorious. "Good luck, Yusei." Akaashi told him as the two stood off to the side together after the match. His teammates had left them alone at his request, allowing them some privacy.

"My teammates and I are pretty determined, so you don't have toworry about me." Yusei chuckled, then paused as Akaashi's face looked so depressed it made him frown. Moving his hand to cup his cheek, the ace made him look at him. "Cheer up, beautiful." He mumbled, then pressed his lips to his for a split second. "Here." He handed him some chapstick, "You need it."

With that said, Akaashi watched Yusei leave him to rejoin his team, and he felt a single tear run down his cheek: this was the lastbtime they were going to talk for a long time.

"Hey! Ready to go?" Akagi asked Yusei, who nodded with a grin.

"Yeah—what are you doing?"

"You looked like you needed a hug." Kataoka mumbled, his chin on his head while his arms encircled around the ace's neck.

"Well thanks, since you offered I'd love a ride out to the bus." He smirked, making the other male's eyebrows furrow. A moment later, Yusei was being paraded out of the venue by Kataoka and Yakoya, them being the two tallest players on the team.

"Alright your highness," Kanai gave her an annoyed look, "if you would be so kind as to get into the bus, it would be much appreciated."

"Very well then." Yusei nodded, "Servants, put me down."

"As you wish, your eminence." Kataoka couldn't keep the grin off his face as he replied, the two middle blockers lowering Yusei so that his feet could touch the ground.

"Come now, peasants! Your king commands you to join him on his epic quest back to the hotel!"

"Yes sir!" The Anaguma players responded, and then they all burst out laughing before their coach herded them onto the bus so they could go back to the hotel.