Edit 4/2/6/15: Fixed this chapter quite a lot. The chapters get longer the further you read, I swear.
Edit 5/7/15: God that was bad. My update made a glitch on the first chapter. It's fixed now. (LET ME KNOW IF IT'S NOT FIXED)
My eyes widen as the ball rushes through my peripherals. Wind whistles past my ears and all my senses are focused on one thing. My muscles tense and I am numb. I faintly taste blood from my gritted teeth in my mouth, but it doesn't hurt. My eyes shut and my arm reaches out in front of me, grasping at darkness. All my feeling comes back at once and the smack of skin on rubber fills my ears. My eyes open and I peer over the net that blocks me from my opponents. The tall teens look dumbstruck as the ball hits the ground behind him with a thud. The gym is filled with silence except for the quiet tapping the ball makes as it rolls across the wooden floor. The silence is filled, however, by the loud beating of my heart in my ears. My hand tingles and I stare at it with wide eyes. A grin spreads over my face involuntarily.
All at once sounds rushes back in my ears. My teammates cheer and the audience erupts into screaming. For me. I shake my head. For us. I glance at Kageyama and he is looking at me.
"Not bad, dumbass," he mutters under his breath. I laugh and stretch to wrap my arm around his broad shoulder.
"Thanks to you, of course!" my voice is higher than usual, from the adrenaline and excitement of the match.
I am practically dancing. I pull Kageyama around with me and we walk towards our team members. I laugh when I see Tanaka waving his shirt around, yelling threats to our opponents, but Daichi puts an end to that quickly with a cold glare. Sugawara snickers at the exchange but stops when the glare is directed at him. He smirks, desperately trying to contain his laughing.
"Sorry, sorry!" he waves his hands above his head in submission, before doubling over. Soon our whole team is laughing, even Tsukki, who turns away from the group, pulling Yamaguchi with him. I am too, grasping my stomach and bellowing. None of us know, I'm sure, what is exactly so funny, but we laugh anyway. Perhaps its the giddiness from winning, that never fails to wash through us no matter how many times we win, or maybe just the familiarity of our team's antics.
"Come on guys, we have to line up" Daichi gasps, struggling to contain himself. We release from our huddle and bow to the other team before we head to the bench to pack our stuff up.
I am talking rapidly with Nishinoya about how the ball went 'puaa' and the other team was all 'guaah' and he is agreeing with fast nods and leaps, when I am hit with sudden dizziness.
I fall against the wall of the gym as new sweat forms on top of the sweat from the game. The floor seems to spin and I slowly slide to the ground, my aching muscles protesting.
Nishinoya stops in his tracks and stares at me, confused. "Hey, are you okay?" He looks worried, so I nod my head tightly in response, unable to speak. I clutch at my abdomen as it growls and lunch threatens to come up and my bag clatters to the side as I fall to the floor on my stomach. I am shaking and can't appease the tremors.
Soon the team is surrounding me, looking alarmed. Sugawara pushes a water bottle towards me and I struggle to sit up. I grab for the water with shaking hands and chug from it greedily until it is empty. Soon the dizziness subsides and I am left panting, surrounded by worried friends.
"Sorry guys! I really dizzy there for a second." I force a laugh, trying to appease my concerned teammates.
I slowly pick myself up, leaning against the wall for support, and although my legs are shaking I am standing steadily again. They are still looking at me doubtfully, but Daichi shoos them away.
He waits till I am breathing normally before speaking, "Are we pushing you too hard?" there is genuine concern in his voice, and guilt floods through me even though I have no idea what happened either.
"I don't think so, I'm sorry! This is a one time thing. I just have to make sure to drink more water during the breaks next time, that's all." I smile genuinely, my guilt alleviating when his expression returns to almost normal.
"Alright, well come get changed and showered with the rest of the team. Let us know if you feel sick again," he sounds hesitant, but we walk into the locker room together. As I change in the corner, thoughts are racing through my head, but I block them out.
You already told Daichi. This is a one time thing, there is no need to worry... And I successfully push the worry to the back of my mind.
I join Kageyama to race home, but he stares at me and doesn't run.
"You probably shouldn't run today..." he mumbles. I am surprised there is no insult with his words but he looks at me with an oddly genuine expression.
"Stupid! It doesn't matter, I was just a little thirsty! I'm fine now!" I protest, but he refuses to run.
I grumble all the way home, but when he glares at me I shut up. There is an awkward silence the whole walk home, but when we part, I smile and wave.
"I'll beat you tomorrow!" I yell to him as he walks away.
He whips around with a glare, fast enough to make me stop in my tracks. "Yeah right, dumbass." he glowers at me, and I laugh as I skip home.
Despite the confusion, today was a good day.
I update each Saturday, and while I enjoy writing I get easily discouraged so I would love it if you could review if you have the time. Just say what you liked, what you didn't like (be nice about it) and what you are hoping to see next time. (My writing will also improve if you do this) It always makes my day. Thanks for reading. :)