The nerves rolling off the boys was enough to fill four giant swimming pools. Emiko wasn't sure what had caused her to settle on four swimming pools, but it seemed like the right amount of swimming pools. They were focusing on their warm up, but that didn't stop their nervousness.
Since Kiyoko had been on the court for the DateTech game, it was Emiko's turn to be on the ground. As the boys continued their warm up, she went down her list of to do items. As she checked the water bottles, she realized that some had been accidentally left on the bus. There was still some time before the game started, so she told Takeda-sensei that she was going to go get them.
"Alright!" he replied, the teacher also seemed to be teetering on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "But please hurry!"
Coach Ukai seemed to be amused by how nervous he was. "Saito, you might be one of the few sane people left on our side of the court, so please don't take too long, I can't handle a bunch of lunatics."
"Alright," Emiko laughed. "I'll hurry."
The trip to the bus was uneventful, and Emiko retrieved the water bottles quickly. But as she ran back to the gymnasium, she ran into another person.
"Ah!" Emiko dropped the water bottles.
"Oh! If it isn't Sa-chan!" an over-charming voice came from the person she ran into.
She looked up to see the person who had made her arms fear for the life yesterday: Oikawa Toru. He crouched down to help her pick up the fallen water bottles.
"Sa-chan?" she asked, somewhat dumbstruck. "Are you talking about me?"
"Of course!" he replied cheerily. "I love giving people nicknames but since I don't think I have permission to use your first name I had to come up with something from your last name."
"We've only met what, 2 times?"
"Let's just say that's correct," he said.
"O-okay," Emiko wasn't sure to be amused or concerned by Aoba Johsai's captain. "Well, sorry for running into you. I would wish you luck but you would need a lot more than what I could give you to win."
"Ah," Oikawa's voice changed from friendly to crafty. "Isn't someone awfully confident."
Emiko turned to face him. "Of course. I know how my team plays, and I know we can win."
"If you're so confident, why don't we make a bet? If my team wins, you have to go out on a date with me. And if Karasuno wins, I will put down in writing that Karasuno is better than Aoba Johsai and that Tobio-chan is a better setter than I would ever be."
"Um, no thanks."
She went to leave, but Oikawa's voice reached her. "My, my, not so confident now, are we?"
How did he know which buttons to press?
Emiko pivoted on her heel. The bet seemed a little unfair in her perspective, but she knew the joy that Oikawa's written statements would bring to certain people (liketanakanishinoyaandhinata). Plus, she was fairly confident in them winning. "Fine. I accept your bet." She stuck her hand out and Oikawa shook it, a huge smirk on his face.
"Can I have your number?" he asked.
"Why? You haven't won."
"Just consider it insurance."
"Then what's my insurance?"
"I'll send a text that I, Oikawa Toru, must abide by the statements I made or else Iwa-chan has to punch me."
Was this dude alright in the head?
"Okay, whatever," Emiko said. "But after that text, you can only use this number if, by the smallest chance, you win."
"Yes, yes, of course, of course," Oikawa held his phone out and Emiko entered her number.
She finally walked away when she heard him call out. "Better start thinking of date ideas!"
When she returned to the gym, her phone had a new text message
[unknown]: I, Oikawa Toru, promise to write down certain statements alluding to how great Karasuno is as made clear with Saito Emiko. If I fail to do so, then Iwaizumi Hajime has to punch me. Said Iwaizumi Hajime has gotten those statements and knows my end of the deal.
Emiko rolled her eyes. She couldn't wait until they beat Aoba Johsai so she could smack that smug look off the setter's face.
Sugawara cheered loudly as Kageyama dumped the ball over the net. It was a perfect play. Hinata, Asahi, and Tanaka had all prepared to spike, which drew Aoba Johsai's blockers attention to them. And then Kageyama did a setter dump.
A smirk appeared on his face as the young setter looked Oikawa square in the face and told him to watch as he was going to do it again.
Oh wasn't revenge sweet.
There was the sound of cackling from the bench, and Sugawara turned to see both Emiko and Coach Ukai with evil grins on their faces. Everyone was pleased by the play.
Oikawa's spike at the beginning had threatened to throw everyone off. But Kageyama's response seemed to pull them back onto familiar footing. It seemed to reassure everyone that Karasuno was not the same wingless crows that they had once been. They had found their wings and they were preparing to take off.
Sugawara was still nervous. It was true that they were being reborn into a new team, but Aoba Johsai was strong. They had been a cohesive team for some time now, plus they had Oikawa, who seemed to have the uncanny ability to draw out the strengths of his teammates.
Kageyama stepped up to serve, and Suga encouraged him even as the ball went out. He was worried about Kageyama. It was very faint, but it seemed as if Kageyama was under extra pressure. There were no cracks yet, but Suga prayed that the boy would hold up.
Don't break, he pleaded internally, Don't fall to his pressure Kageyama. We need you. You have a team now.
It was Oikawa's serve.
Sugawara held his breath as he recalled the monster serve the other setter had. The ball seemed to head to Nishinoya, but at the last moment it went to his right. Suga had a split moment thought that if Noya failed to receive it, it would crush the team's morale. But the libero received it, sending it to Kageyama who set it for Hinata for their freak quick.
As Suga cheered, he locked eyes with Emiko. She let out a deep breath and nodded. They were going to be okay.
And indeed, it did look as if things were going in Karasuno's favor. Aoba Johsai didn't seem to know what to do with Hinata, especially as he and Kageyama switched from their freak quick to a normal one, seemingly without any signal. But Sugawara was watching Oikawa, and he saw him smirk every time the first-year duo did something. A bad feeling started creeping in.
And then Aoba Johsai called a time out.
And all Suga could think was, They figured it out.
Emiko had felt confident in Karasuno's chances at the beginning of the game. But as time had gone on, they seemed to be breaking down bit by bit under Oikawa and Aoba Johsai's pressure. Especially after they figured out Kageyama and Hinata's signal, the first-year duo had been stopped almost at every turn. She hated to admit it, but Oikawa was really good. He was no Kageyama, but his genius seemed to lie elsewhere.
She watched as their opponents put extra pressure on Asahi and Tanaka. If those two lost their morale it would mean that basically their whole offense was out.
But it was Kageyama who truly worried her. The first year seemed to look like a hunted deer. And when his setter dump was blocked, Emiko heard Coach Ukai groan.
"Don't lose your cool kid," he mumbled.
To make matters worse, it was Oikawa's turn to serve after another one of Tanaka's spikes was blocked. And the Aoba Johsai captain aimed the monstrous serve at the second year. Tanaka failed the receive and Coach Ukai called a time out.
Emiko could feel the players distress as Coach Ukai told them to calm down and do what they knew what to do. The match began again, and right away Tanaka was blocked. Coach Ukai jumped up at called another time.
"Are you sure?" Takeda-sensei asked.
"If we lose Tanaka, we're going to be in trouble," Coach Ukai replied.
As the timeout was called, Emiko looked back at Kiyoko. She was biting her nails and looked concerned. Emiko followed her stare to Tanaka. Her friend's concerned was understandable. It was obvious that timeout was called for Tanaka's sake.
The players crowded together, and before anyone could say anything, Tanaka slapped his cheek.
"I'm sorry!" he yelled, bowing. "I didn't call for the toss right now because I was scared! I won't do it again! I'll call for the toss! I won't let you guys down!"
"We believe in you Tanaka!" Daichi said, grinning.
"Yeah man!" Nishinoya slapped Tanaka's back. "You call for those sets!"
"Tanaka! Look!" Emiko pointed to the stands. Kiyoko turned bright red at Tanaka suddenly looking at her.
"You got this!" she yelled across the space that separated them.
The look on Tanaka's face was priceless.
"I think he's died and gone to heaven," Sugawara whispered in her ear. Emiko blushed but nodded in agreement.
The timeout ended with Tanaka reinvigorated. It was a relief when he slammed a spike past Aoba Johsai's blockers. But as one problem worked itself out, another emerged. And this one threatened the whole team dynamic.
Aoba Johsai was winning by seven points. And as the lead increased, Kageyama's actions became more and more panicked. His plays became faster and faster and he seemingly did not hear the shouts telling him to slow down. The first year's agitation was obvious and he was starting to lose control.
"Sugawara!" Coach Ukai motioned the silver-hair boy to come to the bench.
Emiko sat up, wondering if what she thought was going to happen would happen.
Toru's smirk grew with every point that widened their lead over Karasuno. Poor Tobio-chan was obviously agitated and was not making the best decisions. Especially after he lost to him in pushing the ball over the net.
Oh this was fun.
Are you watching, Saito Emiko? Toru thought to himself. You can't think that your team will win now, can you?
He was excited for his date. To be honest, this was the most work he'd probably ever put into getting a date out of a girl, but it was quite satisfying.
He looked over at Karasuno's bench briefly, hoping to see Emiko watching him. But she wasn't. She was watching Karasuno's vice-captain as he walked to the line of the court.
And then the whistle blew.
Player swap.
Number 2 for Number 9.
Karasuno was changing setters.
Kageyema was out of the game.
A/N: This chapter was so much fun to write for some reason. Things are getting tightt. One thing that I love about Haikyuu is that no matter how many times you watch it, it is always a nail biter that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I was rewatching the end of the second season yesterday with a friend, and did it matter that this was my third time watching this season? Nope. Because I was still as anxious as they were watching it for the first time. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a comment/review/critique/suggestion/etc.!