Chapter Text
Imagine this, you were a setter for a **powerhouse** and all of a sudden this brat first year comes and you think 'Oh another setter well good thing he'll stay second string'. If you thought that you'd be miles off from the truth.
Practice was full of tension because at this point Semi and Shirabu would be arguing at least once a day, it's like any chances of them kindling a bond over their mutual position was immediately slaughtered the second Shirabu joined the first string. Outsiders might mistake them as friends for always being together but truth be told they're competing. It also didn't help that their personalities clashed like night and day. Semi with his short temper but surprisingly kind and caring side and Shirabu with his disrespectful and sternness.
Their fights had always dragged practice long to them being on cleaning duty everyday. Eventually Coach Washijou had grown sick and tired of their bickering and hijinks' so he called over the "duo"
<"Listen boy's, If either of you are wanting to go to nationals, You'll need to get both of your acts together. So I've decided that Eita will coach you, Shirabu starting today">
His words reverberated throughout both of their ears
WHAT
what had been Semi's thought was actually the words from both the boys
"You have to be joking- Right coach? I mean ME teach HIM?? do you really think he'll listen to anything I have to say? He's got a stick so far up his ass he's forgotten about it"
Semi grit his teeth as he turned to his kohai, him also being upset but he mostly looked disgusted and distained
"Coach, listen I know we're both setters but i'd rather drop dead then have him teach me how to play when he got his spot replaced by someone younge-"
Shirabu's words were cut off as Semi grabbed him by his shirt craning up to look at him
"You're so fucking unbearable yeah I get it you're the better setter but you don't have to rub the salt into the wound again"
He fumed as he walked still holding Shirabu by his shirt. Shirabu retaliated by scratching his forearms his short nails leaving pink marks on his tanned skin. Semi released him throwing him on the ground after Ushijima and Oohira rushed over to pull Semi off the younger setter
"Told you."
"fucking prick.."
Semi murmured under his breath and Washijou walked over.
<"If you two don't want to work together that's fine but that also mean's getting the boot off the team. It's your choice not mine">
(minor blood warning ↓)
This sucked, he wanted to set for Ushijima not get trained by Eita.
"Shirabu pay attention damn it, I don't want to do this either but guess what we have to"
Semi's words snapped him back into focus but he was too late. A ball came flying directly into his face, blood erupting from his nose
"FUCK"
Shirabu covered his nose with his hand as blood continued spilling out and Semi ran over picking him up walking him out of the gym urgently
...
"Sorry for that"
"Yeah whatever walk faster"
Shirabu snapped back as they walked to the nurses office to deal with his nose.
~
The nurse was gone so Semi had to stop it from bleeding, which wasn't such a big deal except for the fact Shirabu dozed off. 'What the hell how can such a snotty little brat look so pretty'. Semi scoffed as he washed off the blood residue from his underclassmen's face, Him waking up in the process
"Good nap sleeping beauty? Get your ass up and back to practice"
Semi stood up and left the room, Shirabu following and them resuming their "class" which was just Semi shouting at Shirabu.
It's been about 2 week's since Semi first started teaching Shirabu and the progress was evident, they'd been focusing on setting now its serving which Shirabu was weak at. Semi excelled in serving though so this would be a breeze teaching if Shirabu cooperated. The time was 9pm and they were the last two in the gym again, By this point the canteen would already be closed so they'd have to get vending machine food again. Great!
"Will you ever pay attention oh my god did you hear ONE word I just said??"
Semi grabbed Shirabu's shoulder turning him to face him, snapping him out his trance. Dark brown eyes squinted meeting his own amber.
"Show me some respect damn it at least when i'm teaching you"
"But you haven't earned my respect yet, What have you done? Yell at me thats not respect worthy"
Shirabu coldly replied and Semi burst into flames, again with his short temper
"GOD YOU'RE SO INFERIORATING! TEACHING YOU MAKES ME WANT TO RIP MY HAIR OUT YOU'RE SUCH A BRAT YOU KNOW THAT? I SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY GET AT LEAST A TWINGE OF RESPECT CONSIDERING I'M TEACHING YOU AND I'M YOUR UPPERCLASSMEN???"
The ball in Semi's hand's was long discarded replaced with bunches of Shirabu's shirt, Semi let go of him and picked up the ball
"Clean up practice is over."
The two of them cleaned up the gym in solitude as it goes everyday after every fight, There was no progress whatsoever in their bond unlike their practice.
Life is unfair
WHY DID HE HAVE TO TEACH SHIRABU???
"Tendou, Do you think this is bullshit? Like ME having to teach Shirabu who's a self absorbed brat who wont listen to anything I have to say"
"Wellllllllll It make's sense why you have to teach him cuz y'know same position. But like maybeee he's not listening to you because you're not speaking his language semisemi"
"What the hell does that even mean-? Better question why did I ask you for advice."
"Because you love meeee"
Tendou tackled Semi. Of course Semi pushed him off
"I told you to stop calling me that damn it. Whatever i'm gonna shower, talk to me when you have actual advice that's not bullshit like- Speak his language? As if i'm not already doing that like what else can I do? He'll only listen to- everyone besides me"
Semi ranted as he stormed off into the bathroom.
Kill yourself or get over it
He's being taught by someone worse than him?
"And that's what i'm not understanding- If anything I should be the one teaching him considering I'm not a fucking bench warmer- Like sure I guess he's my "senpai" but that doesn't mean he's better- And sure he got into this school via sports scholarship. But that proves nothing he's only swapped in as a pinch server. THATS IT!"
Shirabu chewed off his bestfriends ear essentially. Taichi glanced up from his phone
"Have you ever tried respecting him? I think you being on the starting lineup made your ego worse, Kenji."
"ME respect HIM?? TCH AS IF- The only thing respectable about him is his looks-"
"Okay I've heard enough- Weren't you gonna shower shoo go do that"
Taichi swatted Shirabu off and into the general direction of the bathroom.