It was an impromptu training camp event.
To beat Ushijima Wakatoshi's trainer.
Even if it was in receive, a spike, anything. As long as they beat her, that was the plan, and that was the players' current motivation.
And the line was very long. The former players couldn't help but sweat uneasily as they looked at the line of players already looking forward for a chance. It was basically like a doctor's consultation period, or it does look like one. Until anyone overhears what was actually going on inside the match.
"Bad posture. This is why you're going to tire out easily."
"What kind of stance was that??? I thought you were playing since elementary?"
"That's not how you make use of your height and legs. You've been tall all your life and you can't even use it properly? This is how!"
The bystanders could only watched uneasily as your voice echoes off in the gym. but this was no consultation period alright. It was a straight up roasting session.
But that didn't bother them, nor the mental dread they feel from who you were playing against. That didn't matter right now.
There were more noticeable things to pay attention to right now.
"So she points it out then gives you a demonstration on how to do it in game?" Tendo Satori describes the whole thing before he lets out a sigh.
"That's cool... and annoying." He couldn't help the way his breath hitches as he points it out.
"But she's really good at pointing out weaknesses though." Semi raises.
"True. She could tell at a glance too. That's kind of messed up." Hayato nods.
"But I really do feel kind of bad for the kids. It must be stressful to be shown how to do stuff right in the middle of a match as if it's nothing."
Ahhh. They all collectively thought and they could only let out a sigh afterwards.
—
You frown inwardly before you crossed your arms. And even more when you looked at who you were up against next.
Or who they were, again.
"THIS IS YOUR FOURTH TRY." you shout at the Karasuno duo.
And the two of them flinched. You knew everyone was welcome and up for the challenge. But really? Going up against two persistent kids for the nth time was something you never expected.
But Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio had already been shameless for as long as they've been partners and they were just bowing as they both yelled yet again. "We're in your care!"
You sighed. You've gotten quite a grasp of their personalities now and they unfortunately share the same braincells, the only difference being how they show it. They were hella persistent and you know this wasn't going anywhere. But you couldn't afford to have the same results happen again.
"Have another player join in then." You waived it off and you see a tall, blonde dude be shoved in inside the court.
Eek.
It was the blonde four eyes from Karasuno.
You looked at him, stared as he stared back and a pout planted itself in your face.
You didn't like this dude.
He was systemic, persistent and most of all, he looks like he enjoyed literally looking down on you because of the height difference.
You glance at them on the other side of the court and the blonde didn't waste the opportunity to be witty as you expected him to be.
"So we're finally going for a 2v2? I guess even professionals do get tired." he says nonchalantly and you gave him a look.
Really? You've been playing for a couple of hours now, against energetic youths.
But bold of him to assume things.
"Oh we're not playing 2 against 2." You say, slightly laughing.
You stretched a little as you hand the ball over to them. "It's the three of you against me."
"Huh." You hear the blonde say before he narrows his eyes. He shrugs as he goes to his position, the same level-headed expression not leaving his face.
"Are you going to be fine in a 1v3?" Tsukishima Kei asks. The question was clearly out of concern. But his entire tone kept saying otherwise and you only looked at him with a dead stare.
I mean, even if there was a full team of them, you know they'd be the ones who would have a hard time. And the deadpan expression on your face says it all.
A tick mark appears on the blonde's head and he stayed silent before going in for another comment.
"But if Clara-san was taller, you'd be some sort of all-time superstar, right?" Tsukishima Kei suddenly asks and his own teammate looked at him with an annoyed expression. Ahh. Right, Hinata Shoyo must have also heard the same lines for such a long time now.
And it was basically to mock the only thing they could point out but you huffed.
Be an all-time superstar athlete, he says?
"But I already am though."
You say as a matter of fact and there was an evident stillness at the other side of the court.
"THAT'S SO COOL." Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio were both saying among themselves in a distance. And a tick mark appears on their smug teammate's head.
"Whose side are you idiots on?" Tsukishima fixes his glasses and the duo only flinched.
Ahh. They sure do get along well. But they're all basically kids alright.
And you could only sigh as you hear the whistle signal the start of the match.
Kageyama Tobio sends the ball to you in a jump serve, with a force that keeps going past his limits and you shake your head as you bumped it up by turning it immediately to a set, tossing it up, to perfectly matching your running approach.
The Karasuno setter could only shake his head with a grin as he sees it yet again for the nth time. It looks like he has to ask for pointers later.
The blonde middle blocker braces for it, Hinata Shoyo already with him, preparing to block. And if a bystander were to look, It looked like they could finally do something with that level of anticipation.
But something was off. You weren't in a motion to spike. Instead, you look like you were about to set the ball again...
They held back for a split second, looking out for when you were actually going to attack. They watched as you vertically jumped up, your hands ready for another toss. And Hinata Shoyo couldn't help but notice the sudden details on the difference between your jump and his.
He beats you in a terms of a higher reaching point, sure. But there was always the illusion as if you're dangling in the air just a little bit longer than he is.
And he realizes as he is in awe of how perfectly you were about to toss midair.
That was, until you changed from a setting form midair to a spiking one.
And the players before you could only grit their teeth as they grinned, in awe of what they just witnessed.
But they were still in a match, and they have to block this regardless of what it takes.
They have to block this spike. They have to... The two blockers immediately jumped, Kageyama Tobio in a position to anticipate the trajectory of the ball.
Until they realized when they saw the motion of your hand changed.
It wasn't a spike.
It was a dink. And they could even see what you used to tip over the ball to the other side of the net.
"A knuckle???"
And the unusual force you used on it wasn't something they anticipated in a dink neither.
"A POWER TIP."
Ukai Kenshin could only shake his head at the site as the top players from their team failed to immediately respond to the consecutive surprising moves. He couldn't blame them. That insane display of balance and bodily control was already surprising as is. But a power tip of all things too.
Plus, the kids have been mostly used to open handed tips, not a knuckle.
"She used her knuckles?" Takeda-sensei couldn't help but ask and the coach could only nod.
"Ahh. That's probably because open-handed tips are illegal in beach volleyball." the assistant coach from Shiratorizawa suddenly says to intrude.
"So they mostly used their knuckles."
And Yachi Hitoka puts the information together. "So Clara-chan's actually more used to controlling tips with a knuckle then?"
"Yes." The assistant coach says and a short moment of silence settles in the air as the coaches realize what you, using a technique in a sport you've played all your life, meant.
Yachi Hitoka could only sweat nervously.
'Ahh. Clara-chan's getting serious now.'
—
You hum as the ball you spike slipped past the blonde blocker's fingers once again.
Tsukishima Kei was probably one of the blockers you've seen through since the day you saw him play but there was one thing he wasn't good in and it needed to be said.
"You're... a late bloomer as a blocker, right?" You told the blonde blocker who just stood there.
"You analyze opponents as the match progresses before blocking where it counts." You guessed and he suddenly turns stiff.
Ahh. That looked like it hit the nail in the end. Or that you've probably told him his entire volleyball career.
Although that was typical in every sport you've been in. After all, you were the same type of player. Or you used to be.
But there was one fatal thing about such a playstyle.
"Not every match is long enough for you to analyze them and adjust." You say and he only looks at you.
He couldn't retort to that. After all, something he couldn't analyze ever since yesterday has appeared before him and was beating the hell out of them.
It was undoubtedly the worst matchup he's ever been in. An unpredictable player before an athlete who specializes in analysis was a living swirl of headaches. It's already proving how difficult it is to try to predict what you would do next. But even if it is...
"That's okay." you hear Tsukishima Kei actually say and you tilted your head in question.
There was a solemn and calm look on his face as he confidently says it.
"That's where my teammates come in."
He says and your eyes widened before you shake your head as you smile.
The two crows who hears him has their eyes widened in surprise. But they broke out in a grin afterwards as they stand behind the middle blocker.
But that's right.
That was how it's supposed to be.
Even if you were to lag behind, everyone on your side of the court was an ally.
This is a team sports after all.
"You better back that up." You told them and they only flinched before breaking out in a grin once again.