Work Text:
Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School was known for one thing other than it's odd name, and that was its sports teams. Specifically, over the past three years, it was the girls' vollyeball team that stole the spotlight, reaching semi-finals in nationals when only a couple years back they'd struggled to get pass their prefectural tournaments.
Such a reputation made it obvious to everyone who knew her why Nobara would choose the school. Of course she'd want to be on a team of the best, and they were more than willing to invite the ace spiker seen in many Junior High games.
However, that wasn't the only reason she joined. The other reason was a girl a year ahead of her, and that girl was Maki Zenin. Was it out of respect? Admiration even? More out of a sense of rivalry(and that alone, so she said). It had been the first thing she even said to her when they met.
"I'll become the better ace!" Nobara had boldly insisted to her, a prideful smirk on her face. Surely Maki, an infamous ace who surprised many seemingky effortlessly, wouldn't back down from the challenge?
"I look forward to seeing you try."
It was a genuine, honest reply, and that was what bugged Nobara the most.
They'd been on the same team for a few months now, and with the Winter Tournament around the corner, the entire team was more fired up than usual. Everyone else seemed to sense Nobara's determination to surpass the green haired girl, however Maki herself seemed unbothered. This only fueled her sense of rivalry. There was only one, glaring problem with the orange haired girl's self declared rivalry:
Nobara was fully aware of her huge ass crush on her supposed rival. And so it seemed was everyone on their team, except for Maki herself. The orange haired girl wasn't sure if this was for better or worse.
Still, volleyball came first. Her hopeless crush on Maki would have to wait for now, because there was no way she'd risk losing the air of comfortable competitiveness between them now.
Nobara found herself practicing her serves more often as their first official game of the season approached. Not that she was doubtful of her skills but serving wasn't exactly her strong suit, and no amount of Coach Akari's patient explanations would make it any better. She usually stayed just long enough for her upperclassmen to miss her as they went to lock up, but that was not the case with one day.
"Nobara? You're here late," Maki's voice echoed slightly in the gym and the younger startled, messing up her posture spectacularly as she tried a jump float serve once more.
"Practice makes perfect," Nobara responded with a smile, desperately hoping her slip up wouldn't be as embarrassing as it felt if she did.
To her surprise, Maki's eyes lit up too, a small smile on her face. Nobara had seen her smile plenty of times- when they won games, when someone else got gym cleaning duty, when Nobara showed off a new move she'd learned to the older. But this smile was something softer- something she hadn't gotten to seen before- and Nobara felt like one stray movement would ruin the movement.
"Were you trying to do a jump float serve just then? The spin on it was off," The green haired girl noted suddenly, causing the other to muster all she could to not appear flustered. Of course! It was just a tactic to get her rival to let her guard down. No way Maki would actually smile like *that* in front of her without amy hidden motives.
"Wasn't the key in the footwork?" Nobara asked without thinking. Conversing with Maki was just so easy.
"That's part of it. But you can't just toss it and expect to be able to hit it like a normal serve."
"Well duh. Not sure I get what you mean though," She said with a sigh, once again getting into her usual position. There had to be a trick to getting this serve down anyway. One not including listening to her stunning and talented upperclassman.
"Let me help then," Maki insisted, and before Nobara could ask how or why, the older was adjusting her palms positions on the ball.
"And when you jump, don't put so much of your energy into the distance you're trying to go."
Nobara was really trying to focus on this advice, but her mind was more focused on the fact that Maki was so close to her and her hands were warm and her eyes were even more pretty up close. Not that these were surprising revelations to Nobara, but usually she'd just be able to brush these thoughts off in name of her self proclaimed rivalry with the other. Now though, only one thought made sense to Nobara:
'I really wanna confess to her.'
She was saved from her internal gay panic when Coach told them to lock up already.
Nobara was many things: talented, pretty, determined. All things she'd say about herself with confidence that others couldn't help but find captivating.
One thing she did not expect to consider adding to that list, was oblivious. Because here Maki was, looking to Nobara with her cheeks red and a apprehensive look in her eyes.
"Nobara, will you go out with me?" The words seemed to good to be true. Too unbelievable to be true.
Maki had asked her to talk privately in a quiet hall not too far from the locker room. However, this was the last turn of events she had expected.
"Wait, for real?" Nobara asked, a little dumbstruck.
They were rivals, weren't they? Even if Nobara had wanted to confess, what would that mean in the long run?
"Yes?"
"I thought you'd find me annoying," Nobara said with her head in her hands to hide her reddening face.
"For what?"
"Y'know...always being so competitive with you. I've been told I must've scare you off by now," Nobara admitted. Not that she blamrd her teammates. They were only stating what anyone would assume.
"I didn't find it annoying? Volleyball's a team sport. We share a goal. I like when you challenge me because it feels like we're really agreeing to be the best we can be," Maki said, looking thoughtful as she chose her words. This clarification sent not only a wave of relief to Nobara, but one of hope.
"Maki-senpai..."
They were already standing pretty close, but Nobara stepped closer to close the rest of the space. Maki looked surprised that she had made the first move, but nonetheless moved in to meet her lips half the way. The kiss was short and chaste at first, but Maki pulled the orange haired girl in again and it deepened. Nobara snaked her arms around the other's shoulder's, practically melting into the kiss.
Maki's lips were soft and she tasted like that awful fruit drink she always got after practice. Suddenly, that awful fruit drink was on the top of Nobara's favorites list.
They only broke apart when their teammates' voices sounded near them, signaling the others had finished changing and were heading out as well now. Nobara took in the unfamiliar sight of Maki gazing at her with her cheeks flushed and her lips just a bit more red than they'd been a minute ago.
"Does this make us-"
"Girlfriends?"
Maki smiled at her. It was that soft smile again, and Nobara felt her heart flutter.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
Girlfriends...yeah, that sounded better than rivals. Even Nobara could agree to that.