Chapter Text
After the horribly devolved practice match against Aoba Johsai, Ukai had threatened to cancel the beach trip the volleyball club had planned, but Takeda had just asked what, exactly, the team had done wrong.
"Sugawara flirted with the opponents' ace until he looked like he was going to die from embarrassment, and their captain looked like he was either going to kill Suga or just die himself. That's unsportsmanlike conduct," Ukai declared.
"You went out drinking with the opponents' coach because neither of you could control your teams," Takeda countered. Ukai frowned and opened his mouth to protest, but Takeda continued, "Besides, Suga was only doing what he said he would: he neutralized Oikawa. Actually, there's only one thing I'm disappointed in about how he did it."
"The fact that it resulted in most of our team developing crushes on Iwaizumi, which led to that new poster in the club room?" Ukai guessed, referring to the fact that someone - no one would admit to being responsible, lest they face the coach's wrath - had acquired a picture of Iwaizumi shirtless, enlarged it to poster size, and hung it in the club room. Takeda shook his head.
"That's just motivation for the team," Takeda replied. "No, what I'm disappointed with is that fact that Suga stopped there." Ukai's eyes widened. "I mean, Seijou's number twelve probably would've crumbled with a wink. And I'm pretty sure their number sixteen would have been at least a little distracted if someone had asked him if he thought their reserve setter was attractive." Ukai gaped at the teacher, who was just standing there with a serious, thoughtful look on his face. "It would've been more effective if more team members had started from the beginning, too. Kageyama complimenting Iwaizumi probably would have driven Oikawa crazy even faster than when Suga did it."
"You are an evil man," Ukai informed him. Takeda shrugged.
"Maybe I should suggest all of that to Suga," he mused.
"What would it take for you to not do that?" Ukai asked, fully aware of and slightly embarrassed by the pleading note in his voice.
"I want that beach trip," Takeda replied. "Don't cancel it."
And that's how Karasuno ended up on a lovely beach, with the sun shining, an stretch of sand claimed with towels and a picnic blanket Takeda brought, with Hinata squealing and jumping excitedly because was that a beach volleyball court?
A few team members preferred to swim or lay in the sun instead of playing volleyball for once - Ukai wondered if maybe some of them were sick - but Hinata, Kageyama, Nishinoya, Asahi, Daichi, and Suga made their way over to the net. As they approached, a dismayed wail rose from a group already beside the net.
"Why is the demon here?" Oikawa cried. Hanamaki and Matsukawa grinned and waved to Suga, who went over to them.
"You guys didn't tell me you were coming to the beach today," Suga greeted them. "Is Iwaizumi here, too?"
"Of course he is! He's over there," Hanamaki answered, pointing to where Iwaizumi was leading Yahaba, Kyoutani, and Watari toward the beach volleyball area. A collective sigh of appreciation rose from the Karasuno group, and Oikawa scowled.
"Iwaizumi!" Suga shouted. Iwaizumi looked up, noticed the Karasuno players, and sped up, jogging toward them with his teammates in tow.
"Suga! Are you guys going to join our tournament?" Iwaizumi asked. Oikawa made a sound vaguely like a dying cat.
"You're organizing a tournament?" Hinata's eyes lit up.
"Three on three. A couple other guys are joining," Iwaizumi added, pointing to where, of all people, Ushijima and Tendou from Shiratorizawa, Kuroo, Kenma, Lev, and Yaku from Nekoma, and Bokuto and Akaashi from Fukurodani were clustered at the other end of the court.
"Please don't let Ushiwaka and the demon play," Oikawa complained. Hanamaki smirked.
"Not only are they playing if they want to, but we're randomly assigning the teams, so you can't hog Iwaizumi," he announced. Then he raised his voice so the others could hear. "We're going to assign teams now!" The others hurried over.
"Hinata! Long time no see!" Bokuto exclaimed, swooping in to grab Hinata in a hug. Kuroo grinned at Daichi, who shook his head. Yaku and Nishinoya greeted each other, then turned to Watari and apparently decided that he must become their friend, since he was a libero, too.
"Mattsun and I are going to announce the teams. They're randomly decided," Hanamaki told them.
"We put everyone's names into our phones and had them generate groups of three," Matsukawa added. "First up, Ushijima's team!" Ushijima tilted his head, waiting. "For your setter, you get Oikawa," Matsukawa declared.
"No! Absolutely not!" Oikawa shrieked. "I'm not setting for Ushiwaka! Redo the groups!" Oikawa demanded. Matsukawa shrugged and tapped away at his phone.
"Okay, Bokuto's team first, then," Hanamaki decided, looking over Matsukawa's shoulder. "Bokuto, you're getting Oikawa now." Oikawa blinked and glanced over at Bokuto, who was pouting.
"I wanted to be on a team with Akaashi," Bokuto complained.
"Yeah, well, I wanted Iwa-chan, so..."
"And for your third member..." Matsukawa began. Bokuto and Oikawa both turned their attention to the pair announcing teams.
"Ushijima!" Hanamaki announced. Oikawa and Bokuto exchanged horrified looks.
"Moving on, Akaashi's team!" Matsukawa said.
"No! Redo it again!" Oikawa demanded.
"No can do," Hanamaki replied. "Akaashi, you get Kyoutani and Asahi," he added, pointing out the two spikers. Kyoutani frowned. Asahi tried to hunch over and make himself smaller. Akaashi eyed his two temporary teammates, then shrugged.
"Kageyama's team is next!" Matsukawa said. "Kageyama, congratulations! You get Oikawa's darling Iwa-chan!" Kageyama blinked and glanced at Iwaizumi, who chuckled to himself.
"And for your third team member, you get that weird tall guy from Nekoma," Hanamaki added cheerfully. Kageyama waves Lev over, then started quizzing his new teammates on what kind of tosses they liked. "Now, Sawamura's team! You and Nekoma's libero take care of our dear little Yahaba, okay?" Daichi seemed kind of relieved as he moved to join Yaku and Yahaba.
"I'm looking forward to working with normal people for once," Yahaba admitted. Daichi laughed and shook his head. Yaku nodded understandingly.
"Next, three shorties! Kenma, Hinata, and Nishinoya are a team," Matsukawa announced. Hinata cheered. Noya grinned. Kenma tried to run.
"Suga, you get Tendou and Kuroo," Hanamaki informed him. Suga turned to study his newfound teammates thoughtfully. Kuroo smirked. Tendou grinned. "And last but not least, Mattsun and I get Watari!"
"You two must have rigged this somehow!" Oikawa accused. "Every setter is on a different team, and I ended up with Ushiwaka! You did this on purpose!"
"We did nothing of the sort," Matsukawa replied primly.
"And we resent your accusation," Hanamaki added. Oikawa scowled, but turned and stomped off to join Bokuto and Ushijima. Once he was out of earshot, Iwaizumi approached the duo.
"I half expected you to team me up with Suga," Iwaizumi admitted. Hanamaki and Matsukawa wore matching gleeful expressions.
"And miss the chance to see Suga flirt with you to distract you from playing again? Never," Hanamaki replied.
"Besides, if we'd done that, Oikawa would've thrown an even bigger fit, and we never would've gotten away with it," Matsukawa added. Then he raised his voice again. "Matches will be one set each. Who wants to know the bracket?"