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hang in there!
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.
Suga looks at Tsukiko, as everyone starts cleaning up the volleyballs.
"Are you really going to?" he says.
"Yeah."
She picks at her shorts.
"I mean, if I don't do it now, when will I, right?"
Tsukiko sighs, leaning back.
"That little bonehead'll have the shock of his life, anyways."
"I - I see."
Hinata pats Daichi on the shoulder.
"Um," he says.
"Yeah?" Daichi turns.
"I've just noticed something, but - "
"What?"
"Suga-senpai's looking at Enami-senpai the way Enami-senpai looks at Tanaka-san," he says.
"What? Really?" Yamaguchi and Ennoshita turn.
"What? You're joking!" Nishinoya and Asahi gape, at a loss for words.
"Yeah, there's that, too," Daichi says heavily.
"Why didn't you tell us!?" Nishinoya wails. "All the things we did to get Ryuu and Tsukiko together - they must've really made Suga-san depressed!"
"But he participated in all our scheming!" Asahi says, confused. "So why - "
"It's because his first priority is Tsukiko's happiness, and not his," Daichi growls. "That Suga needs a whack - "
"Enough whacking for the day," Asahi nearly begs.
"What's this?" Coach Ukai and Takeda-sensei enter. "Why are you guys looking so stressed?"
Hinata and Nishinoya explain everything.
"... and so Enami-senpai likes Tanaka-san and Tanaka-san likes Shimizu-senpai and Suga-senpai likes Enami-senpai," concludes Hinata, "but nobody likes the person who likes them!"
"What a mess," Tsukishima says.
"Aah, seriously, you kids." Coach Ukai lets out a pfft, crossing his arms. "Fine, I'll help."
"You'll… help?"
"First of all, tell me about this Enami Tsukiko."
Everyone exploded into conversation.
"She makes bentos for Tanaka-san."
"She spikes like pow and bang!"
"She's pretty tall, I guess, but Tanaka's about a centimeter taller."
"Um, Enami-senpai seems like a girl version of Nishinoya-senpai."
Everyone stares at Kageyama.
"... really?" Nishinoya says.
Kageyama turns red.
"W-Well, she's energetic and knows she's good, but she doesn't brag about it," he mumbles, "so I thought that seemed pretty similar."
"Okay. Anything else?" Coach Ukai asks.
"Animals hate her," Asahi says.
"She dresses like a boy?" Nishinoya frowns, thinking.
"She does a killer delinquent face," Daichi offers.
"What does that have to do with anything?!"
"Well, she does!" Daichi says defensively. "Oi, Tsukiko! Come show these cocky first years your best delinquent face!"
To make a long story short, the first years were traumatized for life.
"Y-Yeah, she's kind of similar to Tanaka-san, too," Kageyama nearly squeaks.
"S-S-Scary," Yamaguchi says in a voice three octaves higher than normal.
"Just watch this," Daichi grins evilly. "Tanaka, Tsukiko! Do your Double Delinquent combo!"
Obediently, the two tilted their heads back and complied.
"You look way too happy," Nishinoya says.
"You've given them a death sentence, Daichi," moans Asahi.
"I - I can't - " Hinata chokes, then his head jerks back.
"AGH! Towel, towel! Someone get a towel and some water!"
"Hang in there, Hinata!"
