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"You need to straighten up your back Nishinoya-senpai! You're going to hurt your back if you continue to sit like that!"
"(Last Name)... It's too early to be so bright and energetic..."
I couldn't help but gasp at this.
"Nishinoya-senpai... I thought you were known as the energetic one... The one who always had energy to smile for the pretty girls."
Flashing a smile, I couldn't help but feel a bit bad about pulling this on Nishinoya. But now that I can finally put this card out of my bag of tricks, why put them to waste...?
Knowing Nishinoya got this pep talk from a 'pretty girl', he immediately perked up.
"Yes ma'am!"
"That's the spirit!"
Turning, I noticed Asahi looking nervous as he ate.
"Stop your hesitation! Accept your anxieties and work on getting past them!"
The entire morning, I went around to the various teammates, helping anyone that seemed to need motivation. While I wasn't a fellow teammate anymore, I had been able to get a special connection with each of them since I had been a teammate and now I'm their assistant coach.
I never thought being a coach would be so satisfying. Even though I know I'm not the one on the court, I feel as though their victories are my victories.
Except we haven't won a single game yet...
"Don't lose faith guys! Today's the day we win a game! Just focus on what you know and trust in the skills you guys have as a team! It doesn't matter how good one person is if they're up against an incredible team!"
While I'll admit I'm new to this whole pep-talk deal... It seems I was able to get everyone ready for the practice matches. Even Tsukishima seemed slightly enthusiastic, which is saying a lot for him.
"You're the best coach ever!" Hinata praised, his eyes shining like a young puppy's.
"Um... Thanks..." I muttered, my cheeks heating up.
Do coaches usually get this kind of praise...?
"Hinata, I think Kageyama's looking for you so the two of you can warm up." Tsukishima mentioned, seeming to have popped up out of nowhere.
"Oh, thanks!"
And just like that, Hinata was off.
I had expected Tsukishima to head off as well, but he didn't.
"You're... You're feeling better, right?"
Tsukishima wasn't facing towards me as he asked this, but the tone said everything.
He... Was concerned about what had happened...
"Yeah, I'm feeling much better. Getting a good night's rest was just what I needed. Thanks for your concern."
He still didn't look at me.
"It's nothing."
And just like that, he was off to participate in the warm-ups. Guess I should go help with whatever I can.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Let's go..."
With defeated groans, the team went around the gym to take their 'punishment' lap for losing.
I feel so bad for seeing them like this... And unlike the running punishment, I can't really participate in this activity...
"Wow, I must admit I feel bad for those guys."
I turned to see Kuroo, who was taking a sip from his water bottle.
"Seriously though, it's hard to not feel some sympathy since they've lost every game."
I rolled my eyes.
"So what? You don't have to win to be practicing. In fact, it's more likely that you'll learn from your losses rather than your victories."
Kuroo chuckled softly, giving a smirk I had gotten used to during this training camp.
"I guess that's true. If I had known how this would've turned out I would've asked for you to be a coach for our team. We could use a cutie like you."
Adding a wink to his statement, I could faintly hear his teammates in the background groaning in second-hand embarrassment.
"I... Um..."
"(Last Name)-san, do you mind helping me with reapplying these bandages?"
I looked towards the bench to see Tadashi seeming to have trouble with the bandages. He had hit his leg earlier and needed some bandages... It wasn't anything serious, but we still wanted to take precautions.
"Sure. Be right there." I turned to Kuroo, giving a small bow of respect, "I guess I'll see you later Kuroo-senpai."
Joining Tadashi on the bench, I began to help him reapply the bandages.
"It doesn't hurt as much as earlier, right?" I questioned as I finished applying the bandages.
Tadashi shook his head.
"Not as much, but it can't hurt to be extra careful."
"I guess that's true."
I decided to grab my water bottle for a sip, but was cut off by someone yelling something along the lines of 'Look out!'. I looked to see a volleyball approaching at high speed, but felt my body being slightly shoved. It was soon apparent that Tadashi had done this, and had received the ball, sending it back towards where it came.
"(Last Name)-san? Are you alright?"
It only took a glance to see that Tadashi was insanely worried. Not only his expression, but how close he had gotten...
"Yeah... I'm fine. Yamaguchi-san, you're a little close..."
Once Tadashi realized this, he immediately pulled away, apologizing repeatedly.
"You don't have to apologize. If anything, I should be thanking you for helping me. Though I'm sure I could've handled it if I really had to..."
"That's true. I wasn't trying to make it seem like you were weaker since you were a girl or anything... Ah, I'm sorry!"
And thus started all the apologies and flustered statements.
"Yamaguchi-san, relax. I know you were only trying to help. Let's just calm down."
Taking a deep breath, I was able to help Tadashi do the same.
"Geez, I'm really sorry. I had mishit the spike. I hope you can forgive me."
A player who I could only assume was a first-year then bowed in front of me, eyes shut in what I could only presume was in fear.
"You don't have to worry about it. I'm fine, really. Perhaps you could find someone to work with you on your spikes after the practice games for today? It seemed like you had a lot of power behind the hit."
Giving him a small smile, I was able to raise his spirits as he thanked me and hurried back to his team.
"Wow, (Last Name)... You haven't been working as the assistant coach for too long, but you're already doing an incredible job."
My cheeks heated up due to the compliment.
"Thank you, but I can't accept too many praises. The main reason I've been able to connect with you guys is because I happened to be on all of the teams here at one point; granted some more than others. Even if it was under a different name, I was able to get to know everyone to some extent. As such, I can't say the success I've had is due to coaching skills alone..."
"I suppose that's true..." Tadashi muttered softly.
"Hey guys, are you not going to come to get lunch?"
We turned to see that Daichi was calling to us from the other side of the gym. It wasn't long before we realized mostly everyone had already left the gym.
"Right...! Be right there!"
Stumbling to gather our things, Tadashi and I rushed to follow Daichi out of the gym. It's hard for me to believe that neither one of us had noticed the gym emptying.
Oh well, what can you do?