Hi guys! Thank you for your patience, life has been utter chaos :'D My cat broke his leg and needed a VERY expensive surgery at the beginning of Nov, and then when things started to calm down, my husband tested positive for covid Orz Thankfully he had a mild case and is mostly better already, but needless to say, I've had trouble concentrating on this! I still appreciate every comment you all leave and hope you're safe and well! The next chapter shakes things up again, so stay tuned! 3
Darkness, that was the only thing Sugawara could see through the window in the infirmary, but coincidentally, it was also all that his mind's eye could see as nothingness began to slowly melt over his consciousness. He'd given into the sandstorm, but the pain had not decrease like his resistance. If anything, it grew. Alongside the ache in his heart, his head swam with a pounding that threatened to split his skull in two.
What was he supposed to do now? The injured setter stared apathetically out the dark window as his brain struggled to think straight. Leaving the team would be difficult for many reasons, first of all, Daichi. The other boy had clung to him like a life raft after Asahi had slipped through their fingers, his solid confidence shaken as the two of them were left staring at the Ace's back as he walked away. Even if Daichi really didn't need Sugawara anymore, he was simply used to his constant reliable presence. It made sense, Sugawara and Tanaka had been the only two players who hadn't left him at some point, Daichi wasn't so oblivious as to not take note of that. So even if the brunette didn't need him, he wouldn't let Suga leave easily.
That alone was enough reason to reject the idea of leaving, not to mention how much it would crush his heart to turn his back on the team. To watch his teammates from the bench was excruciating, but to watch them from his couch at home as they made it to nationals? That would be utterly unbearable.
So then where did this leave him? His other option was to stay on the team and attempt to disregard his blatant uselessness while simultaneously being reminded of it every time Kageyama stepped onto the court instead of him. He would have to keep smiling like he always did, continue to tell coach he wanted what was best for the team in favor of being selfish and grow used to the feeling of pity filled eyes watching him stand on the sideline as the only third-year who wasn't a starter. He had to keep being… kind.
Gritting his teeth as he clenched his jaw, Sugawara squeezed his eyes shut and fought the urge to scream with frustration. How had he earned this title of 'kind', when all he really wanted was to be greedy? If only everyone knew how much he wanted to complain without hiding behind a joke to keep others from feeling the discomfort of his sadness, his disappointment. Life wasn't fair, but damn did he want to point out how unfair it was that he'd spent the past two and a half years busting his ass to help Daichi achieve his dream, which had also become his own, only to have the results of that hard work taken from him. They had been a joke to their school and every other team, but now that they were finally taken seriously, no one even knew his name. It really wasn't fair, and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.
Suddenly there was a light brush of fingers at his temple, and Sugawara blinked his eyes open to find Kiyoko had her arm outstretched and was staring at him with quiet thoughtfulness. Using her index finger, she nudged his temple again and caught a tear that spilled from the corner of his eye.
"You're crying…" She said softly, a frown accompanying the small dip in her brows as she tried to understand what was bothering him.
"Are you in pain, Suga-kun?
Shocked that his body had reacted without his knowing, Suga's own thick brows pulled together and he swallowed thickly. Not trusting himself to speak, he nodded his head as his lip trembled. He wasn't lying, his everything hurt, but he meant it in a different way than she was asking.
Gently brushing hair from Sugawara's forehead with her light touch, Kiyoko sighed with concern lacing her features and returned her hands to her lap.
"I'm sorry I can't offer much, I could ask the nurse for more ice if you'd like?"
Letting his stare drift to the ceiling tiles between light panels, Sugawara struggled with his overwhelming despondency as tears continued to well up and spill from his watery hazel eyes, dampening the hair at his temples. With his left eye swollen and aching, it quickly grew too blurry to see anything and further soured his mood.
"Sure." He said, his voice hardly more than a warbled croak.
Watching him for a couple more seconds, Kiyoko nodded and got to her feet without speaking, leaving his side to murmur to the nurse at her desk near the entrance.
Drawing in a shallow shuddering breath through his nose, Sugawara squeezed his eyes shut as tight as he could and focused on the ache emanating from the bruising beneath the mole under his eye. He needed to pull himself together and collect his thoughts, but his brain quite literally felt scrambled. He wanted out of this room, the smell of antiseptic was making him sick and the crinkle of paper beneath him grated on his already frayed nerves.
Acknowledging any movement would surely be torture, Sugawara pushed up on his elbows and breathed out a tense breath as his head pounded and swam. He blinked rapidly as he continued to sit up, working to control the urge to vomit as his vision swirled and his dizziness threatened to drag him under.
"You shouldn't be doing that, why are you getting up?" Kiyoko demanded, appearing at Sugawara's side and bracing his shoulder as the silver-haired boy's head fell forward in exhaustion, his breath labored as he cringed.
"I'm okay, I just want to use the bathroom."
Frowning, Kiyoko shook her head.
"You're not, you have a concussion and should stay here. You'll have to wait until the match ends and someone can take you." She told him, weary of the appearance of Suga's stubbornness, he could be painfully persistent when he wanted.
At the mention of the match, Suga's heart squeezed viciously and he shook his head. He needed to get himself together before the end of the match, not after. If he could just splash some water on his face and have a minute alone, he might be able to pull it off.
"I won't be long, I'll go and come right back." He promised, carefully sliding one leg over the edge of the cot and onto the floor, then allowing the other to slowly follow as he used the heel of his hand to wipe away his tears of frustration.
Lips pinching in disagreement, the dark-haired girl let out a sigh and then got to her feet beside him.
"Fine, but I'll walk you there. Don't bother objecting, you'd be more likely to run into a wall than make it there on your own. Accept my help."
Eyes widening at her bluntness, Sugawara struggled with a rebuttal and came up with nothing. Kiyoko stared back at him unphased as she waited, not unlike the elegant marble stare of a goddess statue, and forcing him to give in to the condition. Rubbing at the back of his head reluctantly, he nodded.
"Okay, you win." He agreed, then placing his hands on the edge of the cot, got to his feet with difficulty.
Grabbing him as he swayed on his feet, Kiyoko looped her arm around his waist and pulled his arm over her shoulder to steady him. He was able to support most of his own weight so even though he was about four inches taller, her presence helped to give him balance.
"Honestly, Suga, you are obstinate as well as kind."
Sore eye squeezing shut as he breathed through the ache in his head and the spinning, Sugawara gave a strained huff.
"Yeah, sorry about that."
…
"Trash talking that stupid setter only made them play harder, great plan." The boy with emerald streaks in his hair muttered between huffs to Kanda, panting heavily as he rested his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath.
Shortly after the Karasuno's captain spiked a ball into the large boy's forehead, the second set ended because Kita Wasaki failed to break Hinata and Kageyama's quick streak, promptly declaring them at a tie. With the momentum in the crow's favor at the start of the third set, the opposing team of alligators was struggling to regain control and was already using up the last of their time outs in hopes it would throw the bun haired ace off his powerful serves. The score was 13 to 10 with Karasuno leading, they only needed two more points to win. Heavily breathing himself, Kanda furrowed his thick black brows and gave number five a dark look.
"Pretty sure I didn't ask your opinion." He muttered back, taking a large sip from his water bottle.
"Never do." Five retorted, then snapped his attention back to their coach who barked at them for not paying attention.
"Like I was saying…" The heavy-set man continued pointedly, his voice lowered so that only his players would hear. "I don't care what means you resort to turn the tides, just do it. If that springy little ten keeps causing so much trouble, then maybe we need to stop dodging his block and aim it right at his face."
"Sir, are you implying we should intentionally injure Karasuno's number ten? Isn't that… Wrong?" The captain asked, his forehead was creased with unease, a towel clenched tight in his fist.
Leveling the third year with a chilling stare, Kita Wasaki's coach's face darkened.
"How can an accident be wrong, Fujimori? I suggest you worry more about this potentially being your last match in high school, rather than fretting over players from another team… Or would you rather I sub someone in for you?"
Stammering and at a loss for words, the third year clenched his jaw tight and dropped his head.
"N-no, Sir…"
Humming to himself and rubbing at his chin, the coach nodded.
"I thought not. Kanda, how's your head?"
Tossing his water bottle to one of the first years, the large boy grinned at the cowed captain before briefly glancing at the even larger man.
"More than fine." He assured, cracking his knuckles, and stalking back onto the court as the whistle blew.
Daichi was doing his best to pay attention to Coach Ukai as he commended them for getting their act together but found his gaze drifting over to the black and green team as they huddled around their own coach. He wasn't sure what it was, but some of the players on the other team looked weary while others looked… Predatorial? It was giving him the creeps and really making the brunette wonder what the intimidating man was saying to them.
Daichi didn't have much time to ponder the question as the whistle was soon blowing and the huddle was being broken. Curious of the other captain's reaction to the speech they'd received, he let his eyes wander across the net to find the boy's lips pressed into a tight line, his face the picture of reluctance. The expression startled him but before he could look away, the other captain happened to look up and catch his gaze. He held Daichi's stare as he returned to his position, but his eyes made a very intentional jump to the right before returning intently to his.
Blinking confused, Daichi looked in the direction the other boy had, but only saw his own teammates. Trying to be subtle, he lifted a brow to show he didn't understand, and then followed the other captain's gaze once more as it darted to the right and lingered on someone… Hinata.
Stiffening, Daichi did his best to not react but when he looked back at the other captain, he was stretching with a frown and no longer looking at him. Was that a warning? Had the other boy just informed him Hinata was their next target, and if so, why?
"Sawamura, you're in the back, move it!"
Drawn out of his contemplation, Daichi shook his head and quickly backpedaled into position. "Right, sorry!"
So, they were going to try and take Hinata, how did they hope to accomplish such a feat when the short boy was constantly sprinting and jumping around? The only time they could predict his location was… Eyes widening, Daichi took in a quick breath and summoned Hinata to him as Asahi collected the ball and made his way to the corner of the court to serve. He couldn't know for sure if his assumption was correct, but he was willing to wager it was. Appearing in front of his senior, Hinata regarded Daichi with an enthused but intense expression, tilting his head to the side in inquiry.
"Yeah, Captain?"
Bending down, he rested a hand on the first-year's shoulder and pulled him close to whisper in his ear quickly. With no time to spare, he told Hinata what he needed and then straightened once more before shoving the redhead back to his position up front.
"I can do that, but what for?" Hinata called back as he began to squat up and down to stay limber.
"I'll tell you later, just remember what I said and don't forget to do it." Daichi grinned, giving a thumbs up for good measure and feeling relief as the younger player smirked and returned the gesture.
The chirp of the whistle commenced the match and as the brunette glanced over his shoulder to check on his fellow third year, he let out a steady breath. After seeing Sugawara battered, Asahi appeared more focused and calm than he usually was. Even in this high-stress moment, Daichi had a gut feeling he didn't have to worry about him today.
Taking in a breath through his mouth, Asahi stared at the ball in his extended hand as he slowly blew it out and then tossed the ball high. Taking the few crucial steps he needed, the ace then launched himself into the air and brought his arm down diagonally, the ball careening to the left and then hooking to the right at the last second.
The libero from Kita Wasaki dove to retrieve it, but as the ball changed direction, he ended up being off and missed. Cheering with vigor on both the sidelines and the court, the players from Karasuno slapped their ace on the back and yelled fierce encouragement, as the guys on the opposite side of the net growled frustratedly.
"One more, one more! Come on, Azumane, finish it!" Ukai called, Takeda jumping to his feet and shouting loud praise with clenched fists, beside him.
They just needed this last point, but even now Asahi didn't look the least bit shaken. The same couldn't be said for the other team, the group of green and black players were bending at the knees to prepare for another intense serve, but they didn't look so confident anymore.
Wasting no time, Asahi caught the ball as it was tossed to him and closed his eyes as he took in another breath to calm himself. When the ref blew the whistle, his eyes opened once more, and the ball was tossed into the air. Although Kita Wasaki anticipated yet another powerful strike, the gentle third year took this opportunity to bump the ball lightly, just barely sending it skipping over the net and falling to the opposing team's side.
Fueled by pure adrenaline, Kita Wasaki's libero launched across the court to dig the ball up before it could hit the ground and sent it haphazardly into the direction of their setter who assessed the whereabouts of all the players from Karasuno, and set the ball to the left where a spiker was waiting. The massive, short-haired boy slammed the ball down into the opening in the center of the court, but cursed as Nishinoya sprung out of nowhere and got it neatly back into the air with a shout.
"Kageyama, yours!"
"Tanaka!"
Sending the ball behind him and utilizing the entire width of the court, Kageyama watched as the second year leaped and attempted a line shot that was picked up by Kita Wasaki's frowning but focused captain. As the ball ricocheted off his arms and shot high into the air, the setter had enough time to get beneath it, making eye contact with number four and then calling out to him as he saw Karasuno's number ten and eleven preparing to jump a block.
"Kanda, do it!"
Grinning far too wide, the black-haired wing spiker drew his arm back and prepared to smash a ball right into that annoying red-headed decoy's face, but just as he took aim and his hand connected, something went wrong… Ten didn't jump!
Unable to change the direction in a split second, Kanda followed through with his spike and sent it straight to their captain who seemed to completely anticipate this very play. Receiving the ball as if it were no challenge at all, Daichi grinned widely as he shouted.
"GET IT OVER!"
Swapping sides with Kageyama, Hinata lunged from his crouched position and practically materialized in the air on the opposite side of the court as the ink haired setter sent the ball shooting in his direction, both yelling at the same time.
"MINUS TEMPO!"
The players from Kita Wasaki didn't have so much as a chance to blink before Hinata slammed the ball down into the back-left corner, and then just like that, it was over.
Flipping the numbers to reflect the point earned, the score became 15 to 10 and the whistle blew.
"Karasuno has reached 15 with a two-point lead, they win the match!"