Chapter Text
The crowd of volleyball players waiting to enter the gymnasium seems to just grow denser in front the glass doors entrance. Your coach and captain had your team on stand by right on the stairs, away from the cramp crowd. The downside is you feel the chill on your face and hands. With your sensitive ears, you have to put earmuffs on. The team’s bags are placed on the stairs while you wait.
Some of your teammates wear their excitement on their sleeves, smiles and radiate with energy to start a game at any moment. Others are in the process of mentally preparing themselves. Most of you are just themselves as usual or taking in distractions to avoid nervousness.
You are talking with one of the setters and opposite hitters about how long you all have been stuck outside already, that maybe the team could have come around thirty minutes later. The other argues that it could have rushed everyone by the time the team got here.
Eventually, the chat moves on from a topic you aren’t really knowledgeable enough to take part in. With not much to contribute to the conversation, you look at the scene outside the Tokyo gymnasium. Other teens in their winter wear. Groups identified by their team’s color and standing by the banners with their school name. The bright uniforms contrasted by the dule clothes of regular folk here to watch the games in person, mixes of grays, blacks, and beige. Everyone is walking and standing around, waiting to enter.
A new team arrives, stationing themselves not too far off by the stairs too. A boys team wearing maroon jackets with thick black lines over their shoulders and sleeves. The banner matching their jackets reads in bold black characters “Inarizaki”. It's the team ranked second place in the last nationals tournament.
You do your best to pay no mind to them, but you are very awestruck, and so are some girls in your team. The setters looking for Inarizaki’s setters. Your team’s second libero, ever the boy lover that she is, is checking out their entire team with one of your third year opposite hitter having to be the nearest ear to what she has to say. A middle blocker informs the team manager, who seems to have no clue who Inarizaki is.
Your team didn’t make it to nationals last time– losing at the prefecture’s finals– nor did you watch it in person. The faces from Inarizaki you knew, but couldn’t put names on. Only identifying them based on their positions.
The easiest you could identify was the ace and captain. The rest of the boys you had a hard time scanning to match the faces you remember from TV. Most of them are wearing masks. Leaving you with only their eyes and heights to go by. Much like the rest of the boys teams, they tower most of your teammates, including you.
Two of Inarizaki’s middle blockers you recognize, the tallest blocker standing next to the captain. His attention was on the rest of their team while the captain talked to their coach. The other, the one with an impressive torso, is standing next to the ace. Even back then you noticed that he slouches the most, but you didn’t think that he did it outside the court too. His hair is parted in the middle, straight on both sides, covering the thin sideburns next to his ears. His eyes are closed, as if he was sleeping up right. The last you notice are the twins and their dyed hair.
Other teams arrived and you watched them as well. Finding notable players and the players from the girl’s team’s to look out for. Another ten minutes fly by. Having done enough examining, you return your attention to your friends and teammates. Picking up your bag from the stairs as you all prepare to enter. Not that you’ll enter at any moment, just so you could all get a move on when you do. The sea of volleyball players walked at snail’s pace to let the people at front move. The teams still at the back are standing but stationed. One team after another, they enter.
Most of your attention is on the people in front of you and your team. With each shift of the crowd, Inarizaki and your team are now side by side in the crowd outside though still distant, waiting for your turn to pass the glass doors. Your eyes naturally wander back to the maroon colored boys team. They stand firmly. Their confidence as the powerhouse of Hyogo prefecture manifested itself. That aura compels you and many others to not get any closer.
Another team approaches and you mind your bag. To make room for your other teammates, you switch your duffle bag to your other shoulder, carefully maneuvering it not to hit anyone.
And then you feel a chill, not the cold, a sort of awareness. You don't know what it is but you ignore it. Attention on the crowd again, you scheme the heads for how many people left. Not caring where you look, you turn to your right.
Meters away, Inarizaki is facing forward, ready to march in at any moment. Except the slouching middle blocker. He has his eyes squarely on you. His gaze is a stab to your head, and it's alarming.
Everything is slower as you stare back, trying to find anything that his eyes are saying. They are narrow. Sharp as a knife. The shadow on his lids are prominent. An eerie combination. And yet, you don’t look away. It's hauling you in. Such eyes could only mean a scowl, but they feel expressionless. Without the rest of his face for you to see, you feel exposed, seen in your natural state of idling by.
However, a part of your mind says 'he’s looking at you.' but you are quick to dismiss the thought, not completely. You know what he looks underneath, and from what you remember, you did like what you saw.
Or his gaze may just so happen to land on you.
Not knowing if the guy is judging you quietly or is staring at you with other thoughts in his mind, you decide to have a little fun.
He doesn’t seem to know that you’ve noticed him. Holding eye contact as you tilt your head up slightly, the corners of your lips tug into a small lazy smirk, eyes playfully narrow at his.
You give him a quick, teasing wink.
His thin eyes instantly gape open, stunned. It brings a new aura to his face. One moment he looked like a young assassin that found his target. The next, he was a ruffled school boy. It endears you to him.
Eyes flickering away. He tugs his masked face under the collar of his jacket. No one from his team seemed to notice his sudden alertness. Save for their captain beside him, looking with minimum curiosity.
It wasn't what you expected, not that you had a reaction in mind. It's better than the disgust or indifference you supposed.
In a matter of seconds, the crowd's pace changes and your team is propelled into the entrance. In no time, you are already at the waiting area where teams prepare.
Still, Inarizaki's middle blocker's reaction lingers in your thoughts. The longer you think about his reaction, replaying it, the more you find it cute. Delighted to fluster a boy, you smile to yourself, humming a lighthearted tune as you change shoes
“You seem chipper all of a sudden. Are you excited too?” your manager asks worryingly. Were you smiling too much? To save face, you chew the inside of your cheeks, returning your expression to the usual unreadable.
“A guy was staring at me so I winked at him and he got shy” you recount matter-a-factually.
Hearing this, your starting libero said, “ahh, feeling bold today aren’t we?”
Bold, huh? It sinks in how embarrassing it could have been for you if he hadn't responded that way. From a different angle, it's like you were flirting at a player from a powerhouse school. What does he think of you now?
"Maybe."
"What team is he on? How hot is he? Or is he the cute type?" Your other libero probed.
Before you could say anymore, your captain called everyone.
"Get ready girls! The opening is in a few minutes"
During the first three days of the tournament. You sometimes feel that chill again.
Though you are aware that many eyes are watching, it's still different from what you experience.
It would be too much for you to assume that was him again, bordering wishful thinking. Especially when your team has not had a run in with Inarizaki since day one. You saw some of their players walking around and about the gymnasium. None of whom were that blocker.
Fortunately, you had the chance to get a glimpse of their game on the second day. Truly an impressive group. A promising ace. A near undefeatable defense specialist. Gamble making twins but the result often counts. And him, their middle blocker who can make the spikes at almost any direction. Such a shame you didn't get to see more, having to leave by the end of the second set.
Later on, you see in the tournament brackets that Inarizaki lost to Karasuno. The Miyagi team moving up to the next game.
It's the forth day, you and your team's captain, starting libero and middle blocker watched Ichibayashi High vs Kamomedai High after winning your match. Your middle blocker friend wanted to see the shortest Ace in the boy's tournament in action and you three accompanied her.
Standing behind the cement railings, you watch the game with an overview of the court. Other people are here to watch. So you pay no mind to everyone around you, watching only the match.
Then the chill is back. The same one you felt before. You turn to the crowd. Most are visitors. Players have sore thumbs for their jerseys. No one seems to be looking at your group, or you.
It's when you glance at the corner of your eye you see the guy, not too far from where you stand, that middle blocker from Inarizaki.
He is without a mask. The gymnasium lights lit his features well. You’ve seen plenty of attractive boys during the games that have a lot of girls swooning. He isn’t one of them. Except the longer you look, the more good-looking he becomes even when he isn’t trying. Brown hair almost neatly combed down in strange way. His posture is much like before, lean body slouching and hands inserted in his jackets pockets. You feel his towering figure even more now.
Other players from Inarizaki are with him too, the twins, captain and ace. They all intensely observe the match, occasionally hearing side comments from the twins and their ace rebutling them.
Although the middle blocker isn’t looking at you, the chill remains. Interacting and getting close was not an option. You can only steal glances of the boy as you watch on, distracting with the game in front of you. And it works, it goes unnoticed to you the people leaving and arriving by the railings. Then, Inarizaki left and their place was taken by others. When they return minutes later, they are closer to your group. And he is right next to you.
Another Inarizaki player arrives and inserts himself between the blocker and their ace. The middle blocker moving aside, even when there is still an entire foot of space. Moments pass as you remain tense, pretending to still have your whole attention to the game. You have the sneaking suspicion that he is doing so as well. There's too much unnecessary tension for two strangers to have.
You try to covertly steal a quick glance. But when you turn, his eyes are on you, just like before. The world slows again as you stare at each other. Eyes still sharp and a monotonous gaze that could petrify. The two of you trapped in this bubble in time. It's clear that you caught his attention. 'He’s definitely looking at you,' said a voice in your head and you had no choice but to agree.
Without a second to spare, you took your chance.
You softly chime, “Hello again.”
“Hello,” he said. His voice is low and cool, matching his face.
Impulse prevents you from thinking further ahead, so you just return to the game in front of you. Not caring for embarrassment. He does so as well. The noise of the cheers and smashing balls fill the air of the abruptly ended chat.
“Sorry about the other day.” He continues and you take a second to make sure that it was him and not your thoughts.
“Oh, it's fine. No harm done."
Then it's quiet for about a minute. Now that he is next to you, you have the urge to talk to him, get to know him a little. But the silence between you two has lingered longer for you to feel comfortable breaking it.
"How were your games?" the middle blocker asked. his voice is monotonous and yet not disinterested. Loosely catching the attention of the boy beside him, though not interested to hear more.
"Its tiring really. Loads of fun though. We won the semi-finals so that's good," you state. Not really bragging. It's just the truth. The boy leans back to see you.
"Congrats," the middle blocker replied.
"Thank you.” looking at him again and him at you. There's a small softness in his expression that wasn’t there before. You stray a little “and you are?”
In a split second, he is still before he speaks. “Suna.”
And you offer your name in return. He nods, continuing to watch the match.
The static noise of loud merging voices and bad drums from cheers return. It could have ended there, but perhaps you really are feeling bold lately.
Still focused on the court, you said, “you played well yesterday”. He doesn’t say anything, likely because you just admitted to have watched him after your little interaction. And you aren't ashamed of it.
“Thanks” he says, this time catching the attention of their ace.
Him and the guy look at Suna, then at you as casually as they can. The air around you two tenses up for your respective teammates listening. Neither of you are facing each other.
“Wish I saw more. Had to leave by set 2”
“There's still next year,” he reminds you.
“That's true.” Cheekiness sparks in yourself. “Are you sure you’ll be here next time?”
The gray haired twin on the other side leans forward inconspicuously, taking interest in your private chat. Their white haired captain side eyes you from where he stands, arms crossed.
With dry yet natural confidence, Suna said, “We will.”
“Will you be here next year?” he asks. Genuinely questioning it too, you paused.
The Inarizaki players could only silently gawk in different ways, trying their best for neither you or Suna to notice. They did not expect his question. Taking notice of his team’s sudden change of focus, The blonde twin head’s snaps to you, confused.
Honestly, you said, “Depends, if we're lucky.” He seems content with your answer.
“Good luck, then.”
You look at Suna, arching a brow with that spark of cheekiness. “For my next game or next year?”
“Both, if that makes you happy”
Without much thought to keep in the flow of the conversation, you slip "for me or my team?"
Suna then turns to you, and says, "whatever makes you happy." His tone didn't change, yet there was more weight to it.
His answer makes your face a degree hotter. Especially when his eyes have hidden suaveness meant for only you to see. You've been out of the court for a while yet suddenly you're weak from your knees to the soles of your feet.
“Then I'll make sure it won't run out.”
As much as you enjoy the back and forth, it's cut short by your manager’s high voice piercing through the noise, “guys, coach wants everyone back. Let's go!” she waves at your group to comply.
Not following after the other girls leaving, you look at Suna one last time, giving him the smirk you had before. You didn't care if anyone else would see. Indeed, you are incredibly bold today.
"See you around, Suna-san”
Like the first time, you give him a quick wink but your stare lingers just enough. Intrigue in his eyes, Suna coolly nods back, one corner of his lips tucked into a smile.
His teammates gave a more colorful reaction you get a glimpse of as you jog away to your team. The most notable is the blonde twin turning to the middle blocker in shock as if he had done a crime.
All you heard was the loud fussing of the blonde as you left.
Walking alongside your teammates, your libero speaks, “it was him wasn’t it?”
“Him who?” you play innocent.
“Yeah who?” the captain asks the both of you.
“She said she winked at some boy the other day, and just now, she was flirting at a guy.”
The manager asks in a child-like giddiness, “so, was he?”
Should you bite their shallow bait? Given that they are witnesses and your admission the other day, you do, no point in pretending. “Yeah it was”
Your libero laughs as your captain and middle blocker are entertained and astonished.
“He wishes us luck, by the way.” You tell them
“More like, good luck to you” your captain teases.
Suspiciously squinting at her, you said, “listening in, are we?”
“Hard not to when your flirting with one of the best blockers of the nation”
“I wasn't flirting. We were just chatting” you clarify, ignoring the bit of information your blocker just stated. However, you are lying. You were half-flirting. That's not for you to admit.
“You asked if he’ll be here next year,” reminded your libero.
“And he asked if you’ll be too”, your captain adds as your manager cooed.
Hoping to deflect their antics, you retort "Who wouldn't want to be here next year?"
Hand on her chin with a thoughtful expression, your captain argues. "I don't know, but it really, really sounded like Suna-san specifically wants you here at the next tournament."
“We better tell the rest of the girls to do their best, then” your manager suggests and they strongly agree. Their teasing heats up your face.
“Alright, that's enough. Now shut it and keep walking” you said with clenched teeth. Pushing the short libero forward through the crowd.
The four of them laugh, taking it as your defeat. Rubbing your temple, you can only imagine the commotion among your team. To them, they'll be motivated to your benefit. To you, they'll be motivated at your expense. You regret ever opening your mouth.
But when you recall what he said and the way he briefly looked at you, you are far from regretting it completely.