Chapter Text
The scoreboard was relentless, showing an eighteen point difference in favor of Aoba Johsai. Karasuno seemed intent on making up ground, increasing the speed of their attacks in a desperate attempt to balance the match. However, you watched with concern as this change slightly disrupted their usual rhythm.
Ukai was on the edge of his seat, his brow furrowed and his gaze fixed on the court. The change didn’t seem to be working as expected.
“I think…” You paused, wanting to choose your words carefully. You looked back at Kageyama, whose tension was evident in every movement. His shoulders were stiff, and the expression on his face was a mix of frustration and pressure.
“I think Kageyama should take a break,” you finally said, leaning towards Ukai so that only he could hear you.
Ukai looked at you for a moment, evaluating your words, before nodding decisively. “You’re right,” he muttered before stepping forward and addressing the team. “Sugawara, come here,” he called, pointing to the court with a determined gesture.
Sugawara walked briskly towards the center of the group, the light squeak of his sneakers echoing against the court floor. With a calm smile, he took the small tablet with the number nine on it from you. “Thank you,” he said politely, displaying that characteristic calmness that always seemed to inspire confidence in others.
As Sugawara walked onto the court, Kageyama walked towards the bench with tense steps and his gaze fixed on the ground, clearly frustrated. You watched his expression and, after a short sigh, you carefully approached, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“Are you okay?” You asked softly, searching his gaze. Although he didn’t answer right away, you noticed that he was pressing his lips together, clearly annoyed with himself.
“I shouldn’t be dating,” he finally muttered, almost in a whisper. His eyes still avoided yours, but his voice held a mix of frustration and self-criticism.
You stood next to Kageyama as they walked to the bench, trying to find a balance between firmness and empathy in your words.
“Kageyama,” you began in a tone that was more of an order than a suggestion, though softened by genuine concern. “You need a moment to calm down. It’s important that you regain control before you go back on the court.”
The boy lowered his gaze slightly, a barely perceptible gesture that betrayed his internal struggle. It was rare to see him like this, but you knew that even the most talented players needed moments to compose themselves.
“Leave it to Sugawara for now, okay?” "Trust him like we all trust you," you added as you led him to sit next to the rest of the substitutes. Your words seemed to have an effect; although reluctant, he nodded and plopped down on the bench.
Sugawara was a notable contrast to Kageyama; it wasn't that one way of being was superior to the other, but the difference was palpable. The atmosphere in the team felt more lively than before, and that was certainly reflected in the performance on the court. Seijoh had managed to take the first set, but at least Karasuno had managed to regain a more suitable rhythm, allowing them to play with greater precision and effectiveness.
You stole a glance at Kageyama, who remained at your side, showing a more serene countenance than usual. However, it was a challenge to discern his mood, given that he always seemed to wear a mask of seriousness. "What are you looking at?" he asked, noticing your gaze fixed on him.
"Are you feeling better now?" he answered your words with another question. "I guess," was Kageyama's response, accompanied by a slight shrug of the shoulders, as if the conversation did not excite him too much.
“Sugawara always praises you when you score,” Shoyo chimed in, standing at the edge of the bench, watching the two of you. You and Kageyama looked at him curiously.
“I see…” the raven-haired boy replied, showing little interest.
“Sugawara seems to have a knack for picking up on how other players feel,” you commented, your eyes falling on the team’s number two. “Kageyama, maybe you should -” but you were interrupted by the loud cheers of Oikawa’s fans, prompting you to curse under your breath.
It was Oikawa's turn, who mercilessly launched a relentless attack on Karasuno's defense. Daichi managed to clear the ball, sending it to the setter in a precise move, allowing Tanaka to make a successful spike that resonated throughout the court. The echo of the impact seemed to revitalize the crowd, creating an electrifying atmosphere that further fueled the competition.
You returned to the bench, positioning yourself between Ukai and Kiyoko. The tension on the court was still palpable, and the murmurs of the crowd intertwined with the sound of the balls being hit. "I think Kageyama-kun is ready to play again, if that's okay with you too," you stated determinedly, straightening your back and crossing your legs. Coach Ukai nodded, his gaze focused on Kageyama as he called him over.
"Kageyama-kun," you said softly, managing to catch his attention by removing the small cardboard number two from his hands. “Try hard and be more communicative,” you suggestively shared a smile, finally handing him the clipboard that had been in your possession.
Kageyama looked at the clipboard with a slight frown, but there was a hint of understanding in his gaze. He took the instruction seriously; deep down, he knew that communication was key to the team’s success. With an almost imperceptible nod, he returned to the field, a renewed spark of determination reflected in his face.
When Kageyama resumed his position as setter, things seemed to flow more positively for Karasuno. With determination, they managed to push forward, reaching a lead of twenty-three points. Hopes of winning grew, and surprisingly, Tsukishima and Kageyama established a coordination that allowed them to recover as many points as possible. To your surprise, even Kageyama praised the blond, which underlined the remarkable transformation in the team dynamic. After a considerable effort, Karasuno took the second set.
The last set represented the decisive outcome of all the effort invested up to that point. No one wanted to leave the court without having given their best. “You can do it!” you encouraged from your spot, feeling the nerves beginning to weave into a tangled thread in your stomach.
Your nerves were further heightened when, after Seijoh took the lead, Yamaguchi came in to replace Hinata on serve. “Yamaguchi?!” you exclaimed, confused, as you looked to Coach Ukai for answers. He, with a reassuring expression, said, “Relax, it’ll be okay,” patting you on the back a couple of times to calm you down.
“Okay? You’ve got to be kidding! Tadashi seems more nervous than all of you; he’s shaking more than me,” you inwardly reproached. If he missed this serve, it would be downright embarrassing. Not that you had little faith in the freckled boy, but you’d never seen Yamaguchi play an official match under pressure. “You can do it, Yamaguchi, we’re counting on you,” you reassured yourself, determined to try and calm his nerves.
“Yamaguchi, go mix the flow!” Ukai encouraged. “Changing the flow” might be an effective strategy at this point, but the worry was still there; it had already been enough of a cause for anxiety for Yamaguchi, and if he felt like he was ruining the game, it would only affect him further.
“Come on, Tadashi,” you encouraged him internally, eagerly awaiting that serve. However, as you feared, Yamaguchi’s serve was too weak, lacking the strength to get over the net, causing the ball to simply crash into it before landing on its own side. A wave of discouragement washed over you as you saw his embarrassed face.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get it back!” you tried to reassure the boy as he returned to the bench. “Sorry,” was all he managed to mutter, the look of guilt on his face.
Without any high expectations, you figured that at least the pressure would be less intense. After a few minutes, you decided to get up to take a break; a quick escape to get something to drink and take a short walk to the bathroom. “I’ll be right back,” you told Ukai as you stretched your back and felt your bones creak before you made your way out.
The hallways were relatively deserted, with a few players lying on the ground or chatting near vending machines. The atmosphere was calmer, a respite from the hustle and bustle of the match.
You walked over to one of the vending machines, and upon reaching it, you noticed a boy dressed in a white and grey sports jacket, who was happily chatting with his friend. “Uhm, excuse me, could you step aside?” you asked politely, trying to make your way through.
“Sorry,” the boy said, looking up at you. After a moment of reflection, your Karasuno colors did not go unnoticed. “Wait a minute, you’re from Karasuno, right?” he asked, his eyes shining with curiosity. “We watched their match against Dateko yesterday. It was amazing.”
“Oh yeah, thanks,” you replied, pulling a crumpled bill out of your pocket and placing it into the small payment slot on the vending machine. As you waited for the drink to fall, the boy seemed to perk up even more.
“I’m Kenta,” he introduced himself, extending a hand towards you. “What position do you hold on the team?”
“I help out as an assistant coach,” you replied, shaking his hand with a smile.
“Really?” Kenta turned to his friend, who was watching the scene with interest. “Man, Karasuno only has pretty managers,” he said in a slightly louder tone than he probably considered appropriate.
“Oh?” you blurted out, confused at his comment. Pretty? Well, thanks, I guess.
“Nothing,” the tall boy replied, brushing it off as if it wasn’t a compliment at all. “Well, bye.” They both bowed lightly, as if nothing had happened.
As you walked away, you opened your soda and took a big gulp, the cold liquid soothing the dryness in your throat. You knew you should get back to the court, but you decided to take a short stroll through the hallways of the area, enjoying the tournament atmosphere around you.
As you strolled, you watched other teams warming up, some players chanting to each other, while others focused on their strategies. Excitement was in the air, and as you walked through the space, you felt a mix of nerves and excitement coursing through your veins.
As you passed the seating area, you saw a group of fans cheering their players on energetically. The passion for the sport was palpable in every cheer and applause, and you couldn't help but smile as the dynamic between the teams created an electrifying atmosphere
You stood for a moment contemplating how far Karasuno had come to this point. Memories of training, nights of studying tactics, and the camaraderie you had cultivated with your teammates filled you with pride. The collective effort was worth it.
You continued walking past the locker room and briefly stopped in front of one of the display cases, where trophies and memorabilia from seasons past were on display. You looked at the medals in admiration, imagining what those players must have felt when they received those awards. "I want the team to have their name there one day too," you thought.