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Shoppers flittered back and forth intensifying the stuffy heat. Even as many of the other items cleared up, this one volleyball was ignored, waiting to be purchased. Finally, a man stopped in front of its shelf. He was juggling several supermarket items and bags in his hands, and so scrambled to grab the ball with one hand. He squished it in place above a bag of milk bread- not quite the thrilling abode it awaited.
Then, it saw the distracted smile, and ignored the uncomfortable position it sat in. It knew determination.
My turn, thought the volleyball, it’s my turn to play.
The musing look in the man’s eyes phased away for a moment as his eyes widened. ‘Tobio-chan! Fancy seeing you again.’
There was a tightness in the way the man gripped the ball, like curiosity mingled with expectancy.
And shyness. The ball squeezed back.
‘Shopping on my home street, are you? Did you come to visit mother?’ asked Oikawa.
‘I was on my way, but got called to a surprise practice match with another team. Do you want to come to practice too, Oikawa-san?’
‘I might play a while, if you’ll have me. I’ll come mainly to say hello to the players. Lead the way.’
The ball no longer smelt the wood of its shelf or even the petrol of cars, and instead smelt air salonpas. It heard the clatter of a coin on the court.
The temperature was warmer here, and being amidst the thrilled greeting voices was intoxicating.
The players’ easygoing laughter filled the hall at Oikawa saying, ‘This time, I’ll win!’ The firmness of the voice made the ball tense in anticipation. Then, it felt itself soaring above the courts. It cackled joyfully at how its senses brimmed with the rush of wind.
As the inertia slowed, it bounced off a person’s wrist and back up in the air. It giggled as it somersaulted on a different course. At making contact with Tobio’s palms, it absorbed all the excitement, then gasped when a final man slammed it. All the excitement was released in its chorus of screams and cheering, and it landed in front of Oikawa’s feet, just out of his reach.
Dizzied, the ball stumbled around on the smooth floor. It felt itself picked up and nestled into someone’s hold.
‘Let’s do that again, Tobio-chan,’ said Oikawa.
The ball jolted in anticipation. It watched several rallies, saw emotions cross both boys’ faces, particularly determination. It finally found itself in Tobio’s hands. The fingers had no wrappings on them, and his skin was smooth.
With a calculated pressure hitting it, it was stunned and found itself revolving at an extraordinary speed. It gasped out a breath when it hit a surface with a bang.
It spun slowly in the air, seeing everything beneath it like in a trance. Oikawa scrambling off the floor. Tobio squinting his eyes in determination.
The lights in the courts appearing to flash and change.
It found itself gliding, all eyes on it. The faces of the Adlers were expectant and confident.
‘Free ball!’ called Tobio. The ball bravely let itself be hurled diagonally then found the reliable touch of Tobio, trusting itself to be passed upwards, in the calmest trajectory to be slammed accurately by the next person.
It saw the ground racing towards it. Swiftly, a hand appeared and it bounced off the knuckles.
It felt Oikawa approach the net where it hovered, with a sly bite of his lips. The ball felt the slightest pressure tapping it down, almost like it didn’t get touched at all.
It plopped onto the ground.
The players on the court groaned. Meanwhile, Oikawa was cheering loudly in surprise and hugging the hitter who looked like he wanted to shake sense into him. Tobio ran to the net.
‘Oikawa-san, you hit the net again!’
‘You watch my matches, I knew you did!’ said Oikawa with a superior smirk, ‘Did you see that? I scored against you!’ Oikawa cheered jokingly.
Both teams erupted in laughter. They decided to pause the match to practice their serving drills instead.
The ball felt the shakiness in Oikawa’s hands as he picked it up. Oikawa looked like he was waiting for Tobio to speak first.
‘Tap the ball more upwards instead of forwards,’ said Tobio, staring at the ball in Oikawa’s hand to avoid looking directly at Oikawa. The ball sensed an unsettling quiet between them. But there was also a rosy, blooming friendliness coming from Oikawa’s side.
‘I’m a changed person. At least I hope I am. I can take advice. I need to see mother now, but I’m willing to hear more about your thoughts on volleyball?’ asked Oikawa.
The ball first felt Oikawa’s hands shaking with emotion. Then it felt itself pressed snug against Tobio’s back covered with spandex, feeling hugged along with him.
‘I’ll come with you,' Tobio said.