Author's Note: A huge thanks to the lovely Bekki for reading this chapter over for me! Also, I promise there will be more Kyoutani soon~

—

You weren't quite sure who the mystery power spiker was, but you did have a good idea of where to start.

The fanclub for Aobajousai's volleyball team (or, rather, their handsome third year captain Oikawa Tooru) went to many of their practice games to cheer on the team (or, again, mostly Oikawa). So you approached them, and asked if you could join them. They were a little wary of you at first…you were too shy to tell them about the boy you'd seen, and instead answered their questions on who on the team you were interested in with vague non-answers. Finally, after a fair amount of prodding, you admitted to them that there was someone on the team, someone you didn't know, or recognise, that you had become very…interested in. You were worried that once they learned it wasn't Oikawa you liked they wouldn't be willing to help, but instead they were even more eager (and probably a little relieved they didn't have any more competition). After that they become more comfortable around you. They seemed to sense your shyness and reluctance to speak about the person you were looking for (you'd had some…negative experiences in the past being too talkative about these things), and, mercifully, they didn't ask you any more questions. Instead, they happily welcomed you with open arms into their little club.

So, now that you weren't alone, you started going to Aobajousai's practice games. Most were at the large gym of Aobajousai, so you didn't have to travel far, and for games away from school you and your new friends would ride the bus or train together to get there. The girls were always kind to you, and extremely supportive, and you quickly came to look forwards to those trips as time you could just talk to them about anything and everything outside of school. They talked to you about the best stores, places to buy cute accessories and hard to find books, sweet shops…including (they would add, nudging you and laughing as you blushed) the ones that had special events for couples.

The first few practice games, the mysterious Stripey-san was nowhere to be seen. Your friends told you the names of all the other boys on the team (after all, just because they were here for Oikawa didn't mean they didn't care about the other members of the team, who were also some of their classmates, or the game itself), trying to help you out as much as they could while you were still too nervous to tell them anything specific, but you still didn't see the boy with the striped hair…you would scan the court anxiously, looking for him everywhere, and would sink with disappointment when you realised he wasn't there. Until finally, one day…one game, you finally saw him.

It was impossible to hide the way your eyes lit up when you saw him step onto the court again. The way you leaned forwards excitedly, unconsciously holding your breath as you saw him stand in position in front of the net. No matter how long it had taken him to stand on the court, he stood there with absolute confidence, as if there would be no question that that was where he belonged.

You hear some of the girls muttering around you, some confused ('Has he always been a member? He looks scary…', 'I've never seen him in a game before, did he play last year?') and some surprised ('He's back? I heard they kicked him off the team…'). You barely hear it though, since you're so focused on him…and the ball, as it flies from Oikawa's expert hands toward him.

You might have thought that, now that you knew what to expect, the spike would lose that incredible intensity that had you so enraptured by it before. It quickly becomes apparent that you needn't have worried.

The moment his body curves back, you felt your heartbeat speed up in anticipation. You wait anxiously, bouncing up and down on the balls of your feet excitedly, until his body snaps forward and you watch the ball slam past the other team's defense. It's in, although just barely, and Aobajousai has scored another point.

You hear shocked gasps around you, not unlike the stunned expressions of the opposite team.

"Amazing…" You whisper softly to yourself. Suddenly, you feel a gentle tap on your shoulder, and you jump slightly. You turn to the girl beside you, who's smiling mischievously as she leans closer and whispers quietly in your ear.

"His name is Kyoutani Kentarou."

—-

"Hey girl! I can count on you to—"

"Sorry! Can't do it today!" You pronounce quickly, cutting the girl off as you run out of the door as fast as you can.

"Wait, what the hell?!" The girl yells behind you, but you're already gone. When you're finally out of sight, you pause and breathe a long sigh of relief.

Well, you were finally able to refuse! …Even though you had to run away immediately to do so, knowing that if she got mad or started begging you'd cave immediately. But slow progress was still progress!

It did help that you had something to really look forward to.

"Hey, you're late!" Your friends scold you as you approach, although they don't look particularly irked.

"Sorry! I got held up, but I'm ready now!" You apologise, taking a deep breath as you stop running and skid to a stop in front of them.

All of you quickly enter the gym's side entrance, going up to the bleachers to watch. The game is just starting, and the first server is Oikawa. You give a mental sigh of relief…if you'd missed that, your friends would have been actually annoyed with you. You and your friends quickly go to your places, standing by the bars at the front of the bleachers.

"Yay Oikawa-san~" You cheer happily, as the handsome setter's serve hits the outstretched arms of a member of the opposing team before ricocheting with a fierce speed into the wall. Your cheers are drowned out by the yelling and loud joyous cries around you, but that's how you like it.

You were still a little shy (especially now that you were beginning to see Kyoutani play more), so you always cheered when everyone else was cheering…and, considering the group you were in, that was usually Oikawa.

Of course, you didn't mind. Oikawa was an amazing player, both as a setter and a captain. Just when you thought he was about to do one thing, he completely subverted your expectations.

Watching him serve again just proves that, as an opposing player manages to receive Oikawa's serve…only to misjudge the power Oikawa put into it, and have the ball fly right back to Aobajousai's side. Oikawa smiles pleasantly, and it's clear this is all according to plan.

Still, your eyes always return to the person who's ferocious playing fascinated you the most. Kyoutani, sharp eyes completely focused on the ball in front of him, runs up from the side of the court. Oikawa skillfully passes to him, and Kyoutani blasts a spike past two blockers that just barely misses their outstretched arms and the net.

"So cool~" You sigh softly, bouncing up and down on the balls of your feet animatedly. You hear one of your friends beside you laugh quietly, but you don't care. You may be too nervous to cheer out loud for Kyoutani, but you can't completely stop yourself from showing your excitement whenever you see him play.

There's a small break in the game, as the opposing team makes a player switch to one of their taller players. Your friend pokes you in the side suddenly, and you look up at her. She puts up one finger, telling you to wait, which you do (albeit with a confused expression on your face), and then gives a subtle point to the court. You turn back, looking around curiously, when you lock eyes with Kyoutani…who's looking at you from the corner of his eyes. You feel yourself freeze completely, your heartbeat speeding up, but before you can think of what to do (should you smile? Wave? Thumbs up? All of the above?) he turns away, his expression completely unreadable.

"That's the second time he's looked at you, you know. Every time you look away." Your friend nudges you playfully. You feel your cheeks turn pink, tugging at your hair shyly and anxiously. For the rest of the game you can't bring yourself to look at Kyoutani directly (you're getting a little nervous at all the slowing down and speeding up your heart is doing), much less cheer. You barely manage to clap and say some quiet words of encouragement for Oikawa, even with everyone around you cheering enthusiastically. Most of the time, you just try to watch him, as the expert setter tosses the ball to Aobajousai's talented spikers.

So, of course, you don't notice Kyoutani's eyes occasionally fixing on you…