Kageyama
"The condition is that Kageyama Tobio has to be a setter throughout the game," the teacher completed his announcement by the door. Something like fear, and excitement coursed through his veins. He was going to see them— and him.
The setter looked at his rival, Hinata was scrunching up his face into an ugly expression at him as if saying, What's so special about you that they made that condition. Some weight he didn't know he was bearing melted off his shoulders. He felt as if he found that one missing piece in his life. He thought back to what his grandpa mentioned before he passed, about how he would eventually meet someone that pushes him to be stronger in volleyball. He had initially doubted those words of wisdom. He was always alone. It was something that came with being strong. Hinata was now giving him a questioning look since he didn't react to his stupid face. He clutched the hem of his jacket once more. A new school and new teammates. Back then he projected his frustration and loneliness as anger towards his teammates. It was an immature way he'd admit that. He almost did it again but Hinata...He bonked Hinata on the head before turning away as he allowed himself to hope.
This is going to be a new beginning...and we're going to win.
Ϫ
Y/n
The next day, you were invited to spectate practice again by Daichi. Apparently Sugawara and Tanaka had informed him of your coach-on-the side jig and he wanted you to help the team out too, since they didn't have a coach at the moment. "Any food you want it'll be on us." The captain had offered you with the 2 other seniors by his side aggressively nodding. Looking at their hopeful faces, how desperate they were. How can you not agree?... It's free food.
You were hunched over at the bench finishing up the draft of your game plan for Aoba Johsai's match when you felt a gentle poke on your shoulder. "Ano..."
You looked up to find Yamaguchi eyes darting and nervous. You sighed. " Are you here to apologize for your best friend?" And from the way his eyes shot up you knew you guessed correctly. "A-Ah! Yes. How'd you know?" he said, surprised. "Well, clearly you're the nicest between you two. And it seems like he isn't one to apologize for himself." True enough, Tsukishima was eavesdropping and peeking behind a pillar. You gave him a small wave and he hid completely behind it.
You turned back to Yamaguchi and smiled. "You two seem to stick with each other a lot. But I doubt he has any other friends who'd tolerate that attitude of his." A cough sounded behind the pillar." Tsuki can seem mean but he's actually really nice," he stuttered. "The iconic line of the nice friend justifying the mean one since he doesn't treat everyone the same way as he treats the nice one," you clapped your hands together.
"But Tsuki is ummm... he's not..." he looked up and pondered, face scrunching before releasing a sigh. "Yeah you're right," he admitted in defeat. "Pft, you're actually quite cute aren't you," you smiled while pinching his cheeks, stretching them like mochi.
"Ackkk Y/n..."
You released his cheeks, leaning forward to get a better look at his freckles. " Woah, now that I get a better look at your face, you're actually quite cute with a blush," you said amazed. Yamaguchi quickly covered his cheeks with your statement. " I think you would look beautiful with some blush and maybe eyeliner..." You were about to touch them when a voice stopped you.
" Can you please stop being an annoyance?" Tsukishima said. He didn't even look at his friend as he grabbed his wrist and pulled him away. "I need to discuss something with you," he said curtly.
You watched Yamaguchi get dragged a few meters away. Tsukishima was clutching the corner of Yamaguchi's shirt like his shy girlfriend as he spoke, an irk mark on his face yet the tip of his ears were pink. Yamaguchi seemed to be flustered at whatever he said and shook his hands inf ront of Tsukishima, seemingly to deny something.
Well, whatever. None of my business. You thought and headed over to your two friends, trying to stop them from practising during the break so they'd have energy to continue when practice resumed. And before they sweat all over their new jackets. Your two friends had been wearing that jacket like it's their new skin. Hinata had came to school with it on, Kageyama too when you caught him wearing it at the vending machine this morning.
"Y/n! Look at me! Do I look cool spiking with this jacket?" Hinata bounced towards you. "Shut up, boke!" Kageyama shoved him to the side. "Which one of us looked cooler?" He looks at you with expectation. "Hey!" Hinata pushed at his side. They continued bickering with each other infront of you, their faces were inches apart... You smirked. In one swift movement you shoved their heads together.
"MPPHHMMM!!!" Their lips connected and you laughed.
They retracted away from each other, gasping for air. " Y/N!" Kageyama turned to you mortified. " What? I just helped you guys relieve some tension. You're welcome," you shrugged and walked off to leave them bickering once more.
"That was my first kiss!" Hinata yelled at his rival.
"How was I supposed to know that? It was my first kiss too!"
"Ngaw, look at the blossom of a new love," you place your palms on your cheeks. " Well at least you both don't need to compete with each other on who gets their first kiss first," you said, bursting out laughing.
The rest of the members watched as Hinata and Kageyama continued bickering. Sugawara squinted at you, "Evil, just pure darkness." Your wink as a response to his statement sent him hiding behind Daichi. Kiyoko however... You laughed at the thumbs up she gave you. A secret BL fan I see. You thought.
"You know what, if one day, Hinata and Kageyama came up to me and said that they're dating, I wouldn't be surprised," You started. The rest nodded in agreement. " They're both idiots, it'd make sense if they end up together since no one matches their stupidity," Tsukishima insulted your friends. Tanaka joined in the conversation and said," You know, you and Y/n are actually very alike too. So does that mean you're going to court her in the future?" he teased, leaning his face close to Tsukishima. "Ew. How in the world are we alike," the blonde cringed away.
"You're both sarcastic. You both can be scary too," Tanaka pointed a finger up.
"Not to mention smart," Sugawara nodded. The rest of the members chimed in one after another
" Straightforward"
" Can be mean"
" Doesn't seem to have much friends around..."
You cut them off at that. "Ouch, the last one was personal." You smirked at the lanky pole. "So what's your game plan Tsukishima? I'm not that easy to court you know," you said, enjoying how his face contorted in disgust from your statement. " What the hell is wrong with you?"
You whistled. "So commitment issues and a fear of rejection. What other issues you have?"
" Shut up," he grit his teeth, failing to come up with a retort. You burst out laughing. Another win for me. You thought. You reeled yourself back together. "Oh gosh. At this rate I'm going to get abs from laughing." You glanced over at his friend joining in on Kagyama and Hinata's shenanigans. You pointed to Yamaguchi putting on his jacket. "Speaking of which, I don't remember you putting on your jacket last time. Your bestie wore it. How insecure are you to not wanna try it on? Scared you don't look good in black?" you provoked him into putting on the jacket.
He clicked his tongue. "Insecure? Who says I'm that pathetic," he said while shrugging his jacket on, which Yamaguchi had conveniently handed him on cue. "And mind you..." he bent down to match your eye level as he snapped back at you, "...I look amazing in black."
Daichi
Sugawara and Daichi chuckled at how easily you manipulated Tsukishima to put on his jacket. "You know, even if Y/n is willing to help us, we still need a proper coach," Sugawara gave Daichi a sideway glance. The captain sighed. "Me and Takeda sensei have been working on it. But everyone turned us down the moment we mention our school name." He was really grateful for Takeda sensei for putting this much effort into the volleyball club even though he knew nothing about it. Takeda sensei is a relatively new teacher, and Daichi knew he was assigned to be manager of the volleyball club due to whatever political, patriarchy among the faculty. Their club was technically collecting dust compared to their old glory days.
He looked at the peculiar first years. All 4 of them scream trouble, but they also scream hope. A chance for nationals. Daichi shook that thought away. Nationals seem like a fever dream with their volleyball team in shambles. Even if they had the crazy duo pull off their crazy fast attack, a genius setter as the ringmaster and one intelligent, tall middle blocker, it's not the same without their ace. He looked over at Y/n now bickering with Tsukishima, with Hinata and Kageyama behind her giving moral support and poor Yamaguchi the only one trying to break the fight. If it's her, maybe he'd change his mind. He thought. He'd have to talk to her about it. A hand ruffled his hair. He glanced to the side to see Suga smiling at him. " It's going to be fine. It's going to be a tough process but our first years are nothing short in potential."
Daichi returned a smile. "Yeah? They are nothing short in trouble either." They both laughed.
Hinata
Hinata plopped onto his bed after racking his brains, hunched over his desk. He looked at his right palm. He could still remember the sensation of adrenaline coursing through his veins. After his hand had connected the first fast toss he managed to spike properly, he had been feeling super pumped ever since. He didn't tell anyone, but he peeked a little in midair the second time he spiked it and he swore time slowed. His heart had swelled at that view of the opposite court. It being the first time made it all that memorable. All he used to see was the looming hands of blockers, accompanied by that sense of helplessness.
I never thought being a setter could be this cool. He thought. He clenched his fist. He would engrave that high he felt deep into his memories and cherish it. He silently thanked Kageyama as it was thanks to him that he had that opportunity after all. Then he thought of his new teammates and huffed in annoyance. The height difference is always appalling every time I stand close to him. Hinata thought.
Word count: 1854