Yana missed a serve. She lost a point. It's all my fault. Twenty-four to Twenty-three. Yana swallowed as she felt her arms burn. She mumbled a quiet 'sorry' as the court went silent. She hadn't missed anything all match except that last serve.
"Don't worry. It's still match point." Kindaichi gave her a hard pat on the back which caused Yana to wince a little.
"Ouch."
"One more." Yahaba added with another pat. "It's the homestretch."
Yana nodded and once more the team took their positions. She released a long exhale before she looked back at the server. One more. She bent down with just enough renewed vigor to give her a solid stance.
Hajime stretched and prepared to serve. This time he put a little more power into it as he slammed it over the net to the back left of the court. Yana connected with the ball and it flew upwards still staying on their side of the court. The set was a little shaky but Shido managed to hit the ball with enough force to get over the net.
Much to Yana's dismay the other team managed to return the ball to their side of the court. Unfortunately, as soon as it came over the first touch of the ball went to the setter.
Yana called out to her team. She took a large step before she hopped from the back line and set the ball midair for the spikers to take "Hit it!"
Yuda slammed the ball down to the free spot of their opponent's court. It hit the floor with a bang.
"Twenty-five to twenty-three. Game end."
The team celebrated their little victory. They thoroughly enjoyed the practice match. Yana quietly walked over to her team after she had caught her breath. Yana apologized. "I'm sorry." She looked down at her feet. "I should have been able to return it cleanly."
Yahaba frowned. "Why are you apologizing for that? It's normal to miss a few balls."
"I have to catch all the balls. It's my only job. That's what my role is for. If I don't... If I don't pick them up..."
"What'll happen if you don't? We lose one point. It's just one."
"But..."
"No buts" The coach was looming beside the small team huddle. "I admit you do have more than enough skill to help teach our Libero, but you need to allow your team to do more. You can rely on them a little bit. You can't and don't have to pick up every single ball yourself." He had heard a certain team from nationals used that as their main strategy, but he never found out which school "What team were you on before?"
"Shōsha Academy, Girls' Volleyball"
The coach simply nodded. "I see."
"So, did I pass?"
"Oh, Yes. You may join as a student coach assistant. You won't have to do any of the manager duties since you will be helping with the team. I look forward to working with you." He handed her a club application form.
She smiled just the smallest amount as she filled out the form hastily. "I'm totally going to regret this after."
- ----AFTER MORNING PRACTICE-----
Class six had a substitute teacher that day since their main teacher was home sick. Naturally with a substitute teacher the students were a little rowdier and somehow managed to convince the teacher that 'we always work on our senior projects in the morning'. Which gave Oikawa the perfect opportunity to get his answers.
"You're a really good Libero. Did your team go to nationals?" Of course, Oikawa knew the answer, but she didn't know that he did.
Yana had long since given up hiding the fact that she was on a team once she agreed to the practice match in the first place, especially since now she was an official club member. "Yes, we went quite a few times actually."
"Wow that's so cool. Your team must have been really strong, huh?
"Very." Yana deadpanned, still trying to write the ideas.
"Why did you quit?" Oikawa fiddled with his pencil, bored.
"I don't like it much anymore."
"Why"
"I dunno." Yana lied smoothly
Oikawa was a little bothered by her one-line answers but tried to press on anyway. It was faster than trying to figure it out himself. "Do you like the sport?"
"Once upon a time I did."
"Did you like your team?"
Yana put her pencil down and looked Oikawa dead in the eye. The conversation was over. Yana didn't even need to say anything for him to get the message. "Let's focus on the project. We have a lot to do for this topic."
Oikawa nodded. He had unintentionally hit a sore spot. If he was anyone but him, he perhaps would have stopped prying right then and there. But he was Oikawa, he wanted to know. He had to know. Oikawa looked out the window up at the clear sky. How do I go about doing that?
-----
Thankfully after she had forcefully ended the topic Oikawa focused on his own portion of the research and never brought the topic up again. The class was dismissed, it was finally lunch. "Yana! Aiko!"
Yana knew that bubbly voice anywhere. Yana waved to Rini with a smile. "Careful! Don't run." Just as Yana finished her sentence Rini tripped about to fall face first. Thankfully she was caught by none other than Aiko.
Rini blushed and slowly regained her balance to stand up. "Thank you..." Rini felt butterflies in her stomach. "S-so how are you both?"
"I'm good"
"Hungry" Aiko sighed.
Rini's face lit up in excitement. "Aiko!" She took a bento box out of her bag and handed it to him. "I-uh, made too much this morning and thought it'd be a waste not to share!" Her ears were bright red, but her cheeks only had a pink dusting.
Aiko gratefully took the lunchbox from her. He was touched. Even thought there were just extra's she had chosen to give the box to him. He had wanted to taste her food for a while since her meals always looked delicious. "Thank you, Rini. I'll really enjoy this."
"I-I'm glad!" She squeaked. "I hope you like it"
"If it's from you, I'm sure it'll be delightful."
Yana made eye contact with Rini and smirked. She knew what was up. There was no way that Rini 'accidentally made too much'. Every day since Yana started school Rini always made the perfect amount for herself. It didn't take a genius to know that Rini had specifically made extra for Aiko. She was head over heels for the guy.
Rini knew that Yana had found out about her plan and blushed even more. Though, Rini was aware she wasn't being subtle about her feelings. Somehow Aiko just didn't notice Rini's advances. Rini was determined to try as many things as she could to try to win him over. She read in a magazine last night that the best way to a guy's heart was through his stomach. Rini decided that was another thing she would try; it sounded less crazy than some of the other things she had seen in magazines.
"Let's go find a place to sit, shall we?"
-------
"Will you be ok before the practice game with Karasuno?" Matsukawa asked.
Oikawa grinned and put up a peace sign. "Probably. It's just a sprain so it isn't too major. Don't worry Mattsun!"
"Oi, if you go to practice and you aren't fully healed yet, I'll hit you." Iwa-chan threatened with a glare. Oikawa knew he actually would follow through on his threat like he had done many times before.
"Yes, Iwa-chan!" Oikawa replied with a wink.
Iwa-chan nodded, as troublesome as Oikawa was, he knew that at the very least he would wait till he was fully healed before trying anything. If it was something about volleyball, the chances are, that he would be more inclined to be sensible...mostly.
"Oh! Iwa-chan, you didn't tell me that Yana-chan used to be on a volleyball team!" Oikawa pouted.
"Honestly, I had no idea she was. I only knew that she could play."
Oikawa nodded, Iwa-chan probably didn't know the reason why Yana-chan would quit if that was the case. Oikawa was a volleyball obsessed maniac; he couldn't quite grasp why someone so good at the game, who has been playing for years would just up and quit. He would understand if it was an injury, but Yana wouldn't have been so against telling him if it was.
- ----AFTERSCHOOL PRACTICE-----
"No, no you forgot posture, remember?"
Watari shifted his stance down making his center of gravity lower than usual. He had most of the basics down but sometimes he would go back to old habits. It's exactly how they say, old habits die hard. For most of the practice Yana had somehow roped some of his teammates in to come serve or spike the ball so he could try to hit them back. He got considerably better at returning and stopping balls but Watari knew it wasn't quite enough to help carry the team to nationals. He had seen how much the third years' wanted to win, so it was only right that as an underclassman he would help them achieve their goal.