Chapter Text
“Y/n, have you seen this guy Tanaka? He looks so mean, like he’s angry for no reason.” I hum. This isn’t really something I care about, I just want to pass my classes and play volleyball. It’s the first day of school as a first year. I’ve yet to meet the team, but I hope it works out. I have some acquaintances from middle school, but none of them play the game. The signal of the end of class goes off and I head to the gym where the club meets.
Walking into the gym I scan my surroundings. To the left of the door are anxious looking guys, probably first years. To the right, is a very grumpy looking guy. About my height with frizzy, bleached, short hair. He gives off an intense and angry aura. I think this might be the Tanaka guy my classmate mentioned earlier. Shrugging I go stand next to him. I have a hunch there was a lot more going on in that head of his.
Soon after, a girl comes skipping through the doors to the gym and the guy -maybe Tanaka- immediately proposes to her. He looked absolutely enamored, like he had seen an angel. Sure she was pretty, but not my type if you catch my drift. From that moment we both came to realizations: he was in love with her, and I was in love with him. Well not in love, but definitely attracted to him. Like a crush or whatever. Let’s not put a name to it, or acknowledge it. It’s not a big deal. There is no time to pine over anyone, or really a reason to. I have two goals here, what’s the point hoping for or daydreaming about something that’s not going to happen. Tch. I’ve already spent too much time thinking about it.
~
Gradually over the following year he, the team’s Libero, Nishinoya, and I became an “unlikely bunch.” That’s what everybody calls it anyway. You don’t really get it. Tanaka and Nishinoya are both loud and intense, I tend to stay quiet, but we get along well. I'm still pining over Tanaka, and still in denial; for extra “fun” I have also started pining over Nishinoya. I've also started to humor them in their “Kiyoko protection squad.”
~
It’s the beginning of your second year and it feels like the team has fallen apart since our loss against Date Tech. Noya and Asahi had fought, leading to Noya getting suspended. Asahi refuses to come to practice and I just feel a little lost in the chaos. Tanaka, always headstrong and determined, is still coming to practice. I show up as well, but it’s not the same without Asahi and Noya.
“Y/n, are you feeling okay? You seem.. out of it.” Tanaka has always been conscious of others emotions- tuned in even more closely to those he cares about. I nod and hum, having not been talkative for a long time. Since before I even met Tanaka. I hope everything turns out okay. And that we have some good first years to maybe re motivate Asahi, and hopefully him and Noya can make up. It really does feel like the wall of safety I had built is crumbling. The team was really a safety net, a family. I feel I may lose it all. And fall apart, again. I've never been confident in myself; hiding behind sarcasm and volleyball. I can’t lose volleyball. Time to fight for something. I pat Tanaka on the back as we catch up to Daichi and Sugawara.
“We have a few applicants for the club this year, not as many as I hoped, but let’s take what we can get.” Daichi gives us a brief description of each person.
- “Kageyama Tobio, setter from Kitagawa first. His precision is robotic, but he is.. controlling.“
- “Tsukishima Kei, a middle blocker from Amemaru Middle School. He’s good, but not very enthusiastic.”
- “Yamaguchi Tadashi, he has played as a middle blocker. He’s not particularly skilled, but with encouragement and practice he could be great.”
- “Hinata Shoyo, umm.. he’s played in one official match. I don’t think he had a set position and he was awful at receiving and serving, but he was fast and he could jump. High. He was short. He would be a great decoy. He’s motivated, I feel like he’s going places.”
We step into the gym to see a tiny ginger and an angry dude. They’re arguing. I don’t have the energy for this, I have a feeling Tanaka is gonna eat this up. I let everybody else figure their shit out and grab a ball, and practice against a wall. I think the ginger is Hinata. He does look determined. He’s got a… confidence that I’m not sure he can back up. He has one goal and he’s going to reach it no matter what. I think the other guy is Kageyama, as Tsukkishima wasn’t motivated and Yamaguchi sounded anxious based on what Daichi said. Hm. Maybe they played against each other in middle school. I think Tana- OW!
“What the hell was that for?” I spin on my heel. The ginger looks panicked and Tanaka is laughing. Okay. The ginger messed up. That’s fine. But Tanaka is gonna get his ass beat. “Tanaka you son of a bitch this is not funny. I’m gonna have a headache for the rest of the day!” I look at the angry kid from earlier. “You, your Kageyama, right?” A nod “I’m gonna guess you sent that ball to ginger over there who can’t receive and he didn’t receive it?” A scowl and a nod. I hum. “You are teammates now, get that through your thick skull then come back. I don’t like being hit in the head.” God damnit I spoke too much. Now they hate me and I’m never gonna be in another game. I’m a failure. I might as well drop out now.
“Stop overthinking. It’s annoying.” Ryu flicks your temple. I scowl, but I grab his wrist and squeeze it in thanks. “You know, that Tsukishima kid Daichi was talking about sounds kinda familiar. Don’t ya think?”
“No, I’m plenty enthusiastic.”
“But you knew who I was talking about, so I’m right. I know you love the sport, but you don’t really show it. Almost like.. you’re afraid you’ll get shot down or hurt if you get too excited.”
“You remember Date Tech, of course I’m afraid I’ll get hurt. I always end up hurt when I love something.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way, y/n. I’ll stand with you, you aren’t alone anymore. If you get shot down or hurt, I’ll be there to help you get back up. It’s not like when you were younger.” He bumps my shoulder with his own. I squeeze his wrist again before he walks away to join the group again.