Chapter 10: Spoke Too Soon
Suga held him tight. It wasn't before long until Eijun finally processed everything.
That Suga is right in front and hugging him.
That the rest of the Karasuno team staring at him so lovingly, something that he hasn't seen since he got into baseball.
He missed them. Dearly.
His arms were around Suga and they both enjoyed each other's embrace. And for that moment, it seemed like a mother reuniting with her long-lost child.
And another thing that Eijun realizes at that moment.
They were just behind him all this time.
Suga let him go, and Eijun carefully hurdled back to the court while looking at them. The Karasuno team were all excited to see Eijun, and they couldn't wait to talk to him when he finally saw them, but now, seeing Eijun right in front of them smiling back at them was enough.
Sweat-drenched as he slowly catches his breath, Eijun was planning what to say to them. Seeing Daichi and Nishinoya was enough to make him cry a while ago but seeing everyone, well, he's going to cry a river at this point. Eijun held back but he could feel his eyes getting all watery.
"What's wrong, Eijun? Cat got your tongue?" Tanaka quipped, his smile turned into a grin. Eijun shook his head as he wiped his face with the back of his hands. He could feel his breathing is getting faster and smaller and he bit his tongue to hold it all in.
Crying right now will make people think it's because the Adlers took the 2nd set and Eijun isn't that much of a sore loser to cry about a lost set.
He lowered his hands and took a deep breath. It looked like he did cry a little from his watery yet glittering eyes. The Karasuno team was tempted to go and jumped over to hug him but couldn't.
Not now anyway.
"You guys are here," he said in a low, shaky voice. Holding back the tears.
"We are here!" They said in unison, wide grins and all.
Eijun blinked, and a tear fell. Oh wow, he didn't expect it at all.
His feet felt like they were stuck on the ground. The sound of his name being called by the Jackals snap him from his daze.
He wanted to talk to them some more. Wondering if they're proud of him being like this in front of them: a pitcher playing volleyball with the pros. There were so many things he wanted to say to them personally. But even Eijun knows now was not the time for it.
"I got to go for now. But I hope you guys are enjoying the game so far!" He sniffled a little before waving them goodbye and meeting with the Black Jackals. The Karasuno team watched him hurried with the Black Jackals as they all went for a huddle. They all took a deep breath and, following the flow with the crowd, cheered for Eijun.
The 3rd set. The last one.
Eijun and Haru passed by one another, yet neither has spoken with each other since the 2nd set started. They both know playing volleyball is the better communication there is. It was what finally fixed their misunderstandings after all these years after all.
Now on their side of the court, the team handed him back his jersey for the 3rd set-without snickering and giggling when they did. He tilted his head.
"Kuroo-san's idea" Was all they could say to Eijun as he went to their changing room.
'It's still the same jersey, right?' Eijun held the jersey tight in his hands. 'Right?'
Knowing Kuroo, that guy knows how to get away with murder, and with the jersey on his hands, perhaps something is embarrassing or even shameful about the jersey. Perhaps he tampered with it?
Oh god. Maybe the jersey has his entire face in it. Sure Kuroo's personality is worse than Miyuki in terms of provocation, but surely even Kuroo won't do anything weird about it.
Eijun took a deep breath before looking at his jersey.
It's just the same jersey when he played in the 1st set, right?
He hurriedly checks out the jersey.
The Black Jackals' jersey: Black jersey and matching shorts with three gold stripes resembling a claw, slashed across the front and back. It still had Sawamura's name at the back, thank god. But what was different this time was the number.
He couldn't believe it. He did mention to the volleyball bunch (Kuroo included) about his time being a volleyball player in middle school. But come on. Kuroo shouldn't have paid much attention to Eijun ''fond'' memories in middle school. He let out an unbelievable cackle, echoing around the room.
'That damned black rooster thought this through that it's giving me the creeps.' He grinned.
SAWAMURA
3
His old ace number back in middle school.
As per the club tradition, the number 3 is reserved for the ace regardless of year level.
Unlike the ace number in baseball, which is number 1, volleyball has its own set of rules for the ace.
A-C-E
Three letters, therefore, number 3. His club has an odd way to explain the ace number, he admits.
Eijun held the jersey and continued analyzing it front and back. He could smell the fresh laundry smell from it and wonder how long Kuroo even planned this jersey thing. It was weird how he even prepared the alternate jersey and the other jersey when Eijun confirmed his game attendance only last night. Unless Kuroo already planned this from the start?
'Nah, that's impossible,' Eijun thought, shaking his head.
He then slid the jersey into his broad shoulders, and it fits just right. He took a good look at himself in the mirror. He posed a bit, and a hint of childish grin plastered on his face.
And there he was, back in his old ace number.
He touched his reflection on the mirror and sighed.
His day off is about to end.
His playtime in volleyball is about to end.
Being with the Black Jackals would end along with the Karasuno team, and who knows when he will see everyone again. Heck, Nishinoya is going to go back to who knows where again.
Somehow, he suddenly felt sentimental.
Sure he's also excited to go back to pitching back in Seidou once this is all over, but…
Eijun almost forgot how fun volleyball is. Perhaps what happened between him and his former teammates still affected him even without him noticing it.
How could he ever forget the adrenaline rushing over his head when he plays volleyball? His thighs about to burst from jumping? The team relying on him when the moment counts? The ball heading his way?
He looked back into the mirror again and smiled.
"Play for myself," He reminded himself, remembering what he and the Black Jackals had talked about in this very room.
He sure as heck won't play half-ass this time, that's for sure (You hear that, black rooster!?)
A few minutes after, he met up with the Black Jackals, and they were all grinning at him with the new number on his jersey. He glanced at Kuroo, who was standing near the crowd, and the latter smirked at him teasingly when he caught him looking at him. It feels like Kuroo is asking him if he liked the number. Eijun just pulled his tongue out to him.
"How do you feel about your old number, Eijun?" Hinata wiggled his eyebrows; eyes sparkled in excitement. Eijun couldn't help but chuckle over Hinata's reaction.
Behind Hinata, he saw Haru talking with the Adlers and widened his eyes. It seems like he, too, is wearing his old number.
Haru caught him staring at him and the two looked at one another, eyes matching their determined faces.
'Number 2, huh? Just like the main catcher's number.' Eijun thought to himself, finding it amusing.
He then shifted his eyes to Hinata. "It's weird but I feel like I could spike every ball coming in my way," He admitted to everyone.
Hinata smiled, and both did their secret high-five that only they knew.
"It sucks that I won't be with you in this set, but let yourself loose out there for me, okay?" Hinata implored after their little high-five. "Show everyone what you're made of."
"This Sawamura Eijun shall oblige to your will. I won't let you down." Eijun stood straight and saluted at the orange-haired. The latter founds it cool, for some reason.
He quickly hugged him, which Eijun happily accepted.
It's odd. Before, Hinata used to be taller than Eijun, which he happily admits it was nice to stare down on people shorter than him for once, but now Eijun is taller than he is. And would possibly grow some more in the next few years.
A jealous Bokuto appeared and happened to ruin the moment of the crows, and Hinata had to kick him out jokingly.
Finally, it was time for the 3rd set.
'Just like what Shoyo-san said. Loose myself.' He said to himself, and his eyes turned into glowering-yellow as he held out a wide grin.
SUU
BAM
WHOOSH
PON
SAA
The sound of the squeaky shoes, restless breaths, and the loud voices of each player.
It was one score after the other. The crowd's heads were turning back and forth to follow the ball. To the people who hadn't heard about the name Sawamura Eijun, they were all baffled by this young man's skill in volleyball. Murmurs were heard. Questions that couldn't be answered all at once were there.
"Isn't he a pitcher?"
"Why didn't he play volleyball in his high school? This kid's a natural!"
"A flexible southpaw! You wouldn't see that every day, I tell you."
"Are you sure he's a baseball player?"
And many more.
Kuroo held out his laughter upon hearing these things from the crowd. If he hadn't met Eijun a long time ago, he would probably think the same.
Like most of those passionate about volleyball, Kuroo was surprised when he heard about Eijun's decision to choose baseball over volleyball. And it doesn't help the fact that Eijun keeps telling everyone that 'baseball is interesting!'
Oh come on. Volleyball is also interesting.
Why pick up a different sport when you're already good at another? He asked that question to Kenma one day when he was hanging out in Kenma's house.
"Leave him be," Kenma lazily said, fiddling with his console as he lay down on Kuroo's lap. "It's the same as when I play volleyball even though I'm better in gaming. Think about that."
And Kuroo did and for some reason, it does make sense. Well, kind of. Eijun has this natural touch when it comes to volleyball, but in the end, Kuroo just sort of goes with the flow of things. Hey, if the kid likes both, then go for it. But Kuroo would lie to himself if he said he never wanted to see Eijun play volleyball ever again.
The next time he saw Eijun, he started calling him 'Yakyu-shrimp'-his way of showing his support to him, more or less. But Eijun was pissed at that nickname given to him by Kuroo and decided to call him 'black rooster' to entice the annoyance of the taller man, which backfired because Kuroo doesn't seem to mind.
A few years back, Kuroo thought it'll be the end of Eijun's volleyball career when he heard from Kenma, who heard it from Hinata, that Eijun was scouted by a high school known for its baseball team, and it's one of the known powerhouses in Tokyo. Even Kuroo heard about Seidou High School. But opportunity rises when the Japan Volleyball Association said they should plan something for the fans to advertise the sport. A light bulb appeared on his head, and he immediately suggested letting the fans play with the pros to the upcoming game of the Schweiden Adlers and the MSBY Black Jackals.
And he's going to let Eijun play no matter what.
The organizers were skeptical at first. No one wanted to watch a game full of kids before a pro match. Plus, despite the huge fanbase that both teams have, anyone would be nervous playing with them. But Kuroo never gave up and decided to limit it to only the special VIPs, and they could put the chosen players in the inclusions for the ticket. They then agreed on it.
As luck would have it, the majority of the people who purchased the special VIPs were volleyball enthusiasts and Kuroo's higher-ups were thrilled. He had hope that Eijun would take notice. Heck, Kuroo is confident that Eijun will hear all about it right away since the match will be held in Tokyo. But for some reason, even when the game is near, he hasn't heard from him yet, even from Hinata and Kageyama.
He was elated when he heard that the Adlers and the Black Jackals are determined to get Eijun to their team as if they've felt the same way as Kuroo. Then, the Black Jackals finally confirmed that Eijun is going to be their player. He bumped his fist in the air as if winning the ticket lottery. A few minutes later, Daichi called him, knowing what the former Karasuno captain would say to him. He'd already prepared the tickets even before Daichi would ask him to.
How typical of the cunning mind of Kuroo Tetsurou.
Shaking his head to go back from the present, Kuroo looked at his companion beside him. A VIP, though the person doesn't want to take the VIP ticket but Bokuto insists on it.
"So, other than your boyfriend, it seems like you're having fun watching that Yakyu-shrimp."
Akaashi let out a gentle smile as he watched Bokuto jumping in the air and spiking beautifully, earning the team a point. He then had a huge smile on his face with his teammates. Akaashi always loved that about him. Added to that fact Bokuto was with Eijun in the court. Those two are almost always smiling whenever they're together that it's so blinding. He then watches Eijun gliding and running around the court like Hinata when the orange-haired was in his high school.
"I got to admit. He got a lot better in volleyball, even though he's doing great in baseball. I've read an article about him when he was in Genma."
"That one about Hakuryuu, right?" Kuroo chuckled, pointing at Akaashi, who nodded afterward. "Kenma had that article printed and framed in his house."
"Bokuto-san too," Akaashi admitted. Akaashi thought Bokuto was kidding when he said that he would enlarge the photo of Eijun from that article, almost 6ft in height, and frame it in their bedroom. The look on Akaashi's face when Bokuto contacted an actual frame-maker to make a 6ft frame was indescribable.
Sure, Akaashi adores Eijun as much as Bokuto, but he doesn't want to see Eijun's large face every time he and Bokuto would get hot and heavy in the bedroom. It would feel like Eijun is staring at them. No. Akaashi won't allow it.
They both argued about it in a while. In the end, they both compromise only to have it frame 3ft in height, and it's currently hanging peacefully in the living room.
Akaashi continues to watch his star in the court. There may be those who shine like him right now, but Bokuto will always shine the brightest to him.
Time passes. Finally, the score is 8-6 in favor of the Schweiden Adlers.
Haru had proved not only to the Adlers and Black Jackals his flawless skill as a setter but to everyone watching. Unlike Eijun as a setter, Haru was more aggressive but at the same time more calculative in his tosses. Amidst the pressure of the game, he remained calm and always handed the ball with equal care and speed for the Adlers. He never hesitates at his toss, and it was always in confidence. Kageyama knew this for a fact and accepted that his tosses were already high-leveled.
As expected of an All-Japan Youth representative.
Eijun, on the other hand, finally showed his skills as a wing spiker. It's like he has been waiting for this moment since the start of the match. Like Haru to his sets, he was more aggressive in spiking. He made use of his flexible joints to add that nasty spin, and it almost always ricochets out from the Adlers' side of the court. His vertical jump was also something to be impressed about. And honestly, he was thankful he and the Black Jackals let him practice the basics this morning. And luckily, his body still remembered. That sensation in the air, as if seeing the horizon from the other side, it felt surreal, and he didn't know he missed the feeling of it. Once he's in the air, he's unstoppable.
Hibarida Fuki, the coach for Japan's National Volleyball, observed these two young players with deep, immense curiosity. He already heard about Haru since he's also one of the coaches for the All-Japan Youth, but this other kid, Sawamura Eijun, was another sight to behold.
Hibarida only heard that he's a pitcher, but the way Eijun plays now seemed like he's more fitted to be a volleyball player. His knowledge in the court, adaptability in positions, and spiking power would undoubtedly be a huge contribution to the Japan Youth Team if Eijun would allow himself to participate, that is. Such a shame he's a baseball player, though. But one thing Hibarida is known for is that he likes diversity.
'Now this is interesting,' Hibarida hummed as he placed his hands on his hips, watching Eijun further.
The current rotation is pretty shitty. For the Adlers, that is.
Eijun and Sakusa, both flexible in their respective joints, are in the front row. If the ball is heading to either one of them, consider the ball a kill. The spins both have are nasty enough. A right-handed guy with a flexible wrist? The Black Jackals have him. A left-handed with flexible arms and legs? Coming right up. And added to that, with Sakusa's height, it doubles up for defense in front along with Thomas.
The ball finally went to the Black Jackals. Inunaki managed to bump it up, and Atsumu prepares to set it. It took a millisecond for Atsumu and Eijun to glance at one another before Eijun jumped in the air. Atsumu smirked and immediately set the ball to Eijun. They've been practicing the quick attack since this morning, and both insist they'd do it even once in the match.
"Relax. Concentrate on my arms and hand and go for it!" He reminded himself before giving out his devastating spike, which the Adlers had little time to react.
It was revealed on the screen that his spike speed just now was 115km/hr (or 71.4 mph), leaving everyone in pure shock. He huddled with the team, but to his surprise, they all opened their jaws. Even Bokuto was shocked. His spikes were known to be more in power, but he relied more on speed just now.
Heavy hitter plus speed? A deadly combo.
Sakusa remembered how he struggled to free himself from Eijun's tight grip around him when they were in the lockers. Despite his efforts, Eijun easily held him.
"It's because he's a pitcher," Sakusa concluded as if he finally found the answer to everything with the others.
Of course. His stamina, his core balance, his power, his oh-so-perfectly-toned thighs. It's all because of his baseball training. Indeed for Eijun, having a 115kph speed is slow for a pitch in baseball, but it's a different story in volleyball. They all stared at the young man in front of them, completely oblivious of his ability.
A high schooler with that kind of spike speed? Unbelievable.
Eijun tilted his head, confused by the team's shocking discovery.
On the Adlers' side, they were more impressed by Eijun's spike speed than losing a point. Haru couldn't believe that that Eijun, the guy who stopped playing volleyball for years, managed to get that kind of speed in his high school.
What the hell?
You don't see that kind of speed even in Nationals. Eijun really is a once-in-a-lifetime player, yet he still chooses baseball. Haru quickly shakes away his thoughts, doesn't want to think about it during the match.
Schweiden Adlers 8 - MSBY Black Jackals 7
Eijun's turn to serve, and it's his favorite jump floater. He was late in hitting it but luckily, it went in the net of the Adlers. The Adlers struggled to put it back. The ball went back to the Jackals' side, and Thomas spiked it in the first touch, finally tying the score.
Eijun served again and decided to spike serve, making the twins, especially Atsumu, proud. However, it hit the net. He apologized to the team.
"Junei, don't mind!"
"Shake it off, mah boi."
"It's okay. You could get it next time, Sawamura!"
Thankful for their reassurance, Eijun went back and focused once more.
Schweiden Adlers 9 - MSBY Black Jackals 8
Mei was getting impatient by the fact that Eijun had never noticed them despite being only a few feet away from them. He wanted to give his usual cheeky remarks to him, but Eijun was more focused on volleyball at the moment.
"Yes, yes. But what about baseball?" He prolonged the last word as he continued grumbling himself. He watched as Eijun spiked the ball to the blockers, but they deflected it, and his movements turned to a clock: Jump. Spike. Repeat. Mei rolled over his eyes. "Fine, quit baseball! It's going to make things easier for us in the Summer Tournament anyways."
"Mei quit it already." Carlos furrowed his eyebrows. All he wanted was to watch the match, not watching over and scolding Mei for every 5 minutes, geez.
Mei scoffed as he further leaned back to his seat. He started to tap his foot impatiently. He watched as Eijun was yelling like the others were, saying how he wanted the ball to be his and whatnot.
Ushijima finally ended the rally when he spiked it directly to Eijun, and the Adlers were first to get the double-digit score. The impact was hard and loud, and Eijun tumbled. The Inashiro bunch swore they heard him grunt when he fell.
By the looks of or it, it looked like Ushijima wanted Eijun out of the court. Or better yet, a reminder that no matter how good Eijun is, Ushijima is still the superior southpaw between them.
The super ace.
Mei shuddered. Even he could feel the aura of Ushijima and how strong he was.
So this is the real Ushijima in full gears, huh?
Mei let out a mischievous grin.
"Hey, Adlers! Win the set already. I don't want to be a kohai's errand boy. It's too shameful for the Prince to become someone else's servant!" He suddenly yelled out, surprising not just his companions but to everyone else near them. The other three were embarrassed and held him down.
"Prince" their ass.
Both teams continued to battle it out. Inunaki bumped the ball up to Atsumu. Eijun can feel at the back of his head that sensation with everyone.
Eijun finally got what he wanted for since the 1st set: a synchronized attack.
He couldn't help grinning. His face tells precisely what he feels like: Excited. Determined. Focused.
And hungry.
Atsumu readied himself and felt like he was having the time of his life right now.
Who wouldn't? Everyone wants to get the ball, but only he can choose which one of them gets it. Oh how glorious.
Except for Inunaki, everyone went for it. Eijun doesn't care if the ball isn't for him, but the feeling of chasing after the ball is thrilling. They simultaneously jumped, and Atsumu set the ball for Bokuto. A flawless cross-shot.
"Hey, hey, HEY!" Bokuto posed as the crowd cheered for him.
Just then, Eijun saw the look on Bokuto. Bokuto gave him his childish grin with his teeth showing and a wink that came right after. The teen flinched, understanding the meaning behind it but shook his head to the owl.
"Not yet," Eijun mouthed as they went to their rotation. Bokuto responded to him with a quick nod.
Some scores later, the Adlers called for a timeout when the Black Jackals managed to tie again, breaking the Black Jackals' momentum. The score is 11-11, and everyone is on the edge of their seats. Mei got quiet and, just like the others, was tensed to see who would win the match. Haru and Eijun stared at one another intensely. Behind them, their respective teams eye one another. For a friendly game, there's nothing 'friendly' about it.
Hinata and the Black Jackals doted on Eijun during the timeout, earning deadly daggers from the Karasuno team on the other side once again. The Jackals asked him if he was hurt in any way when Ushijima hit him again, which the teen reassured them, for the nth time, that he was fine.
Eijun tried to see if the Karasuno team was looking at him from the other side. He saw Suga waving at him from afar, and thus he jumped and waved back at Suga like a little puppy. His smile reached over his eyes, and tiny wrinkles formed around them. Hinata and the Black Jackals watched him with glee.
Carlos wanted to call out Hinata during the timeout, but seeing as how the security suddenly got near them, it's safe to assume that some people made complaints to them thanks to Mei's nonstop whining a while ago. He eyed the blond-haired. Maybe he shouldn't have invited Mei along and should've asked Yamaoka instead if he knew that Mei would be so noisy that the security ended up getting near them. Ugh.
Itsuki suddenly arrived with a brown bag in his hands. He opened the bag and carefully handed some good onigiris to his senpais, reminding them that it was still hot. The smell was inviting, and the three senpais' stomachs rumbled right away. They took a big bite, and a symphony of flavors burst into their mouths.
"These are so good," Mei said, food stuffed in his mouth when he did. "Where'd you get these, Itsuki?"
"Over there," He pointed to where Osamu's stand is. "It's called Onigiri Miya. I heard from one of the customers that the owner is the twin brother of Miya Atsumu, the MSBY's setter. He used to play volleyball in their high school, too, but decided to put up his food business."
"Best decision he ever did, if you ask me!" Mei's cheeks were full, finally on his second onigiri. Itsuki was just glad Mei got quiet after eating the sinfully delicious onigiri. Narumiya Mei is not himself when he's hungry.
"A twin brother, huh?" Shirakawa looked over at the stand, munching on the onigiri. "First time seeing one."
The sound of the buzzer marked the end of the timeout, and they went back to the court.
"By the way, Mei," Carlos looked at his side. "Did Miyuki text you back after Sawamura got hit in the face a while ago?"
Mei was still chewing. He went to grab his phone to check if there were any new messages from Miyuki, but none.
"Nada," Mei quickly swallowed the onigiri and went to get another onigiri. He suddenly recalled Eijun blunder during the 2nd set. "Man, that was hilarious when that ball hit Sawamura!"
"Miyuki-san's probably worried for his pitcher. It's a catcher's duty to watch over his pitcher, after all." Itsuki said as he quickly glanced at Mei, who now goes for his third onigiri. If he knew this would've shut him up, he could've bought the onigiris since a while ago.
"You shouldn't have replied when he texted in the first place," Shirakawa scoffed. "That way, he and his team would start overthinking things over their pitcher."
"Don't be like that," Carlos elbowed him, but a grin plastered on his face. He and the others still don't know why Shirakawa is salty towards Miyuki. "I wonder how they're feeling right now, seeing how their pitcher is playing and got hit in the face?"
"Beats me. But it's weird he texted me how Sawamura was a while ago," Mei shrugged and wondered, but he knows Kazuya won't bother much about Eijun anyway. It's Miyuki Kazuya, after all.
Rewind time with the Seidou team
Twelve players in the court, six from each team but they're all looking at one person—the one who kept going back and forth in the court.
Sawamura Eijun.
This was probably the first time they ever saw Eijun being this serious outside of baseball. He wasn't loud, but he wasn't quiet either. It's like he knows when to open his mouth when the time comes. His recklessness, his agility, that acrobatic-like jumping, his knowledge in the game was something they never knew Eijun possessed.
Eijun was keeping the ball in play. They admit he was good as a setter in the first set, but as a libero? Man. It seemed like he had become a totally different person. He looked so focused, serious, and careful—
"Gwah!"
And Eijun towered down hard like a domino.
Yeoouch. That got to hurt.
Careful? Scratch that.
Miyuki closed his eyes and let out a deep, moaning sound coming from his throat. 'Conceal. Don't feel. Don't let them know, Kazuya.'
"His face... his face!" Zono was more vocal than Miyuki, something that the latter envied from his fellow vice-captain from time to time. "Is he out of the game? He's gotta be out! Is Sawamura okay? Of course, he's not. He got hit by a ball!"
They waited for any announcement. They then watched Eijun being approached by a player from the other team, and it was Kageyama. Apparently, he's being scolded by the Adlers' team setter.
'Serves you right for scaring me like that, idiot,' Miyuki scoffed. If he could fly right there to get him out, Miyuki would've done it a long time ago. It felt like his heart was on his mouth seeing that impact. And to think he was worried for Eijun's arms and legs. And now, his face added to Miyuki's worries. He and the team saw him nodding to everyone, probably telling them that he was okay. But Miyuki doubted that.
'Are you really okay?' Miyuki raised an eyebrow. He watched as his other fellow team members expressed their emotions so easily over Eijun's accident but him? What will he even say in this sort of situation? Verbally, he doesn't know what to say but perhaps...
Quietly, he glanced over to his shoulder and saw Kuramochi's phone on the table as the owner was busy twitching his eyes in annoyance because of his roommate. He stealthily grabbed the phone and tapped someone's contact.
During this time, Kageyama continued talking with Eijun over something, and Eijun's face turned from someone who got scared to someone looking like he was about to get some free ice cream.
Kanemaru gritted his teeth, his nose flaring.
"If he gets a head concussion, I'm going to kick him in the ass."
"Get in line then, Kanemaru," Kuramochi frowned at the television when the camera focused on Eijun and the rest of the players around him, cracking his knuckles as he did. "Sawamura's going to have a very warm welcome once he gets back here."
He then turned to find Miyuki curling to his seat. He raised an eyebrow. "Oi Miyuki! Why are you—-" he pulled him back and saw Miyuki holding his phone. "What are you doing with my phone?!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Miyuki tilted his head innocently as he effortlessly pressed Kuramochi's phone with great speed with only his one hand. "Seriously, I have no idea what you are you talking about, Kuramochi-san."
"For a person who only has a flip phone his whole life, you're awfully fast in adapting to a smartphone!" He shook him in the collar while the catcher just laughed as he continued to tap more on Kuramochi's phone.
"What can I say? I'm a fast learner," Miyuki continued grinning.
Annoyed, Kuramochi shook him harder. "What are you even doing? Give me my phone back, Miyuki! Or I freaking swear I won't let you go in to our room ever again and I won't let Sawamura enter yours as well."
"Boo, you're no fun. Haha!" Miyuki smirked as he handed Kuramochi's phone back to him. Kuramochi quickly checked what that guy just did on his phone as Miyuki relaxingly leaned back to his chair, his hands over his head. "Where's my 'thank you for returning my phone, Miyuki-sama'?"
"Kiss my ass," Kuramochi growled, his eyes scanning to his phone still. He could hear Miyuki mumbling about something, but he ignored it, too preoccupied with his phone. Then he went to his messages and saw the number of texts Miyuki apparently sent to Kinoshita. He stared back at Miyuki, who was pretending to whistle.
"over 15 messages?!" Kuramochi nearly fell on his chair. "What the hell? And almost every message is a fragment for a whole message. Why didn't you just sent one simple message? Since it's my phone, Kinoshita-san will think it's from me and not from a worried little prick."
"A worried little prick sounds exactly like you, if you ask me," Miyuki shrugged his shoulders. He saw Kuramochi glaring at him, and then he sighed. "Are you saying you're not worried for Sawamura?"
"Of course I am!" Kuramochi answered right away. "It's just that when I'm worried, I won't text that many like you did! I mean, c'mon, what kind of text is this?" He read some messages.
"Hello, Kinoshita-san. Next message. Is he okay? Another message. I heard from somewhere you could easily injure. Next message. Your head from volleyball. Next message. He's our teammate and an important friend and just now. Next message. It seems like he is. Next message. Injured from that ball."
Kuramochi trailed off as he lowered his phone. "What do you have to say to yourself, Miyuki?"
"Not guilty, your honor." Miyuki slammed the table as if he were in a court, earning another set of glare from the shortstop. "But do tell me once Kinoshita-san replies, though."
On cue, Kinoshita replied. Miyuki leaned forward, but Kuramochi stopped him. Kuramochi read it first, strengthening his grip just in case Miyuki steals his phone away from him.
'He's fine, Kuramochi-kun. ^^ I understand how you and your team are worried for Eijun's safety, but this is nothing to him. He's perfectly fine from where we are standing. Believe it or not, this is one of the common occurrences in a volleyball match, but in most cases, it's not that serious. Well, sometimes. Eijun is used to get hit by the ball all the time when he was a kid, but Eijun's still up and running even back then.'
'That explains why he grew up being an idiot,' Kuramochi joked. He quickly replied to Kinoshita, telling the older man that it was Miyuki all along who texted earlier along the way.
"So? Is he fine?" Miyuki went back to his usual calm voice, and it could've fooled anyone. But that anyone isn't Kuramochi. And Kuramochi would smell his bullshit miles away. He stared at the tanuki, and Miyuki was slowly getting impatient based on the constant tapping of his foot. He let out a sly smile with a hint of malice in mind.
'This is punishment for using my phone, you jerk,'
"Oh wow, I don't know what to say," Kuramochi deeply sighed, slowly closing his phone as he placed the phone back in his pockets; otherwise, Miyuki would grab it without him knowing again.
"Really?" Miyuki tilted his head. Kuramochi noticed how Miyuki kept on opening and closing his flip phone.
"Kinoshita-san said Sawamura might get pulled out in the game because he had a nosebleed," Kuramochi said, crossing his arms around his chest. "And it seemed like the ball cut his eyelids, so it's bleeding like crazy."
"Oh, is it really that bad?" Miyuki appeared to feign innocence. Kuramochi felt like punching that smug off his face for some reason.
"Yeah," but Kuramochi continued. He didn't notice Eijun on the television nodding to everyone and getting ready to go back to the court. "I'm afraid he's going to be gone for the whole set. Poor Sawamura."
"Hmmm," Miyuki just hummed and nodded at the shortstop. "Well, it can't be helped. That just means he's going to rest his arms throughout the game. That would definitely ease my worries by a ton."
"What the hell? Aren't you worried?"
"I am," Miyuki quickly turned to him. "But just like you said: he's going to be out of the game. Meaning he has to sit it out and rest. A nosebleed is a temporary thing, and some guys here have it from time to time during our training. And that bleeding of the eyelids? It's going to heal up pretty soon anyways."
Kuramochi watched him playing around with his own phone now. In Kuramochi's eyes, it seemed like Miyuki was a lot more worried than he was. He snorted out of the blue, amused by Miyuki's obvious fidgeting.
"I seriously can't believe you believed me," Kuramochi wiped out a tear. He finally admitted he was kidding.
He noticed Miyuki not reacting to his comment, and he soon realized Miyuki knew his plan on making him worry since the beginning as the four-eyes' smile didn't even reach his eyes.
"And I can't believe you believed that I believed you," Miyuki retorted, his mouth turned into a grin. Before Kuramochi could say anything, Miyuki showed his phone, waving it in front of the surprised ex-delinquent. "You were so slow in reading that I asked Mei instead, and although Mei replied rather annoyingly, Sawamura appears to be fine. For now, I assume. Of course, I'm still worried for our bakamura, and I would've preferred to have him benched out, but you know how stubborn that guy is. And FYI, you kinda suck at lying."
And at the timing of things, the announcer told those who are watching that Sawamura Eijun is fine and is in no need of medical attention, and the coach and the team's trainer already checked his condition, and he's ready to go. Kuramochi could hear Miyuki said, "Oh, speak of the devil."
The team was still doubtful, but for now, they couldn't do anything about it but believe what the announcer said. The first-strings remembered that the Karasuno team mentioned the Black Jackals wouldn't let Eijun harm himself as long as they're around, which might help alleviate their troubled thoughts.
Kuramochi twitched his eye as Miyuki let out an obnoxious chuckle. If the coaches and Rei weren't here, he would've kick Miyuki out in the dining hall already.
"You're such a prick. You know that, right?"
"One of my many nicknames."
Rei took a peek over the stoic man's trembling hands. Evident that he's worried about Eijun.
"He's going to be fine," she reassured him. Kataoka slightly nodded as they continued watching the game. "This is Sawamura-kun we're talking about, after all."
Present
The Adlers managed to deflect Eijun's spike. The spin was still weird in a way, but they were slowly getting used to it as Heiwajima chased it at the back and bumped it back to Haru, who set it to Hiragami. Luckily, Meian and Bokuto managed to out the spike from Hirugami. Meian once again smirked on the other side of the net, provoking Hirugami once more.
Schweiden Adlers 11 - MSBY Black Jackals 12
Eijun prepared for his run-up speed. He put all his weight to his right heel and then took off. His jump wasn't as high as Hinata and Hoshiumi, but it still looked like he was flying. Atsumu gently set it to him, and Eijun jumped over the attack line and twisted his arms to spike. The blockers waited for it and went for the kill, an out for the Black Jackals. He could've sworn Haru was gloating at his failed spike, but he could've been wrong.
Feeling the moment right now, it feels like he is back in his second middle year self. He always remembered how he'd get blocked, too, but instead of getting frustrated over it, it drove him to want more—something that his former teammates admired about him.
He smiled, turning away from the net as he went back in position.
"Atsu-san," he turned towards Atsumu. He clenched his fist and lowered his chin a little; his golden eyes lightened from the adrenaline and his surprising desire to play once again. "One more time."
Atsumu would love nothing more for his spiker.
The players yelling 'mine' was something Eijun could never get over ever since he started playing volleyball.
The greed of a spiker, he coined it.
Everyone knows what they're doing and Eijun could see the strategy behind it, well more on less only he could see: one or two players ready to spike while the others are in the defending position. He's at the back, and it only takes a split decision to decide whether he could join the others in the mid-air battle or just be in the defense for now.
However, he's been in the team's libero in the 2nd set and, even if the setter is still considered to be a hitter, he rarely gets to be the one to hit in that set. So now his hands are itching for more spikes.
The touch of tight leather when it comes in contact with his hands, the slight pierce of pain on his hand after contact, and the feeling of achievement all molded into one: the pride of an Ace.
He raised his arm and called out Atsumu.
"Right!" He didn't hesitate to jump afterward.
Atsumu nodded and gave him the ball. Eijun squinted a little and spiked it just on the line, but it went out.
"Gah, and it was only a hair's breadth away!" He scrambled his hair and gritted his teeth. "Sorry for that, Atsu-san! The Adlers were quick on reading me."
"You don't have to apologize to him, Sawamura-kun," Sakusa walked by nonchalantly. "Miya's just predictable, that's why. If anything, it's his fault for tossing it a bit too low."
"Thanks for that encouraging words for Eijun-kun, ya jerk." Atsumu scoffed, eyeing the curly-haired with his droopy eyes. Sakusa raised the curve of his lips slightly as they went back to position.
"Glad to be of service, Miya."
Schweiden Adlers 13 - MSBY Black Adlers 12
Haru's serve was strong for a high schooler, but the Jackals easily bumped the ball up, and Atsumu, who still couldn't get the fact that Eijun lost a point because of his toss, set it once again to Eijun for redemption, and this time, it was high. Eijun knew the ball was for him right away and went to spike from the back row, but Heiwajima bumped it. Everyone thought it was a goner when Eijun spiked it, but the defensive specialist, Heiwajima, easily saved the play. Not without tumbling after he received it, though.
"Nice receive, Heiwajima-san!" Haru yelled. And quickly glanced to the other side and saw Eijun's intense focus in the game. He snorted a little.
Some things never changed.
As Haru made contact with the ball, everyone waited, but he quickly dumped it on the other side, earning some annoyed looks from the Jackals. But Inunaki quickly dived and it went up. He could hear Eijun cackled at his failed dump attack, and it pissed the hell out of him.
"Atsu-san!" Eijun called him out once more and jumped over the attack line.
Atsumu only glanced at Eijun, but to Eijun's surprise, Atsumu immediately set the ball to Bokuto.
Bokuto grinned and was quick to spike the ball; however, Heiwajima was there to save the ball once again.
The rally ended when Haru set the ball to Romero, who overpowered everyone, and the Adlers are now at their set point.
The Black Jackals quickly called for a timeout.
Schweiden Adlers 14 - MSBY Black Jackals 12
"If you could've just gave the ball to me, this wouldn't have happened!" Eijun quickly nagged the setter, who just kept listening as he took a sip from his drink. "But oh well, what's done is done. No need to look back from the past. We could easily score it back, right?"
"Yes, yes," Atsumu ignored him and gulped his drink. Afterward, he went to pat Eijun's head. "And for the record, yer old buddy Haru-kun kept on watching yer every move, so he coulda blocked ya if I gave it to ya."
Eijun let out a surprising gasped and glared at the other side. "Damn you, Haru!"
On the other side, he caught Haru staring at him.
Forgetting what Atsumu had told him after looking at Haru, a sense of guilt and nostalgia left on Eijun's mouth, yet he shook away those thoughts.
Not now, please.
What was once a fellow teammate now separated with different sports. But Eijun can still see him right in front of him. Only the net borders between them.
The former ace and his partner.
Eijun beamed him a friendly grin, and he could see Haru rolled his eyes. With a smirk, Haru gestured his thumb down on Eijun, pulling his tongue out.
'Is that all you got? So much for being the team's ace back then.' Was what Eijun can read based on Haru's expression.
A vein appeared on Eijun's forehead. In response, Eijun scowled and slid his thumb across his neck.
'Your sets are so easy to block and receive. So much for being the best setter in the nation.' Was what Haru can picture out based on Eijun's crude gesture.
Oh hell no. Eijun can make fun of anything about Haru, but not his skill as a setter. Not when it's about volleyball-related things.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU BLABBERING ABOUT?!" Haru took the simple hook, line, and sinker. The Adlers jolted, surprised by Haru's sudden shout.
"YOU started it!" And apparently, Eijun did too. The Black Jackals got surprised as well.
"No, I didn't!" Haru stomped towards the Black Jackals' side.
"Lies! You just looked down on me as the former team's ace." Eijun, too, on the Adlers.
"I didn't say that! I just gestured to tell you that you got sucky in your spikes after that little rest. It's no wonder Miya-san is now hesitant to set the ball to you."
"You little—! That's still the same!"
"It's true! And what the hell? You're gesturing the same way to me: telling me my sets are predictable and those kinds of crap!"
"I didn't gesture that! I simply motioned how I'm still going to kick your butt even if the way you set for the Adlers is pretty weak."
"I'm going to fucking shred you once this match is over."
"Come at me, bro! I've been trained by the very best fighter in my team: the cheetah himself."
"I don't even know who the hell is that. You freaking idiot."
"Oh, you will know once you get your ass whooped. Hyaha!"
"What the hell is that laugh just now?!"
Both the team captains hit their chosen players in the head and annoyingly dragged them away from each other.
Haru and Eijun glared as they got dragged away.
'I won't lose to you,' was what both of them tell one another. And this time, they both thought it right.
Everyone didn't know what just happened, but it was entertaining to watch the fellow chosen players getting so competitive this late in the match. It seems like the closer the set ends, the hungrier these two are.
The buzzer called the teams once more.
A service error from Haru and a deep back-row attack from Sakusa later, they did it.
The crowd stood up from their seats. Their voices echoed in the arena.
The announcer raised his voice, surprised as well.
'Just when we think this is all over, the Black Jackals managed to tie up with the Adlers and the game continues!'
Schweiden Adlers 14 - MSBY Black Jackals 14
A deuce.
This is where it gets more serious.
Eijun exhaled. It was a good thing Haru had an error in his service. Perhaps he was too excited to end the game.
It doesn't matter. What Eijun is glad now is he's back in the front row.
He watched as Atsumu served a nasty jump floater. Impressed, Eijun whistled at that fast serve.
Time passes, and it's one score after the other. And not long after, Eijun went back to serve.
BAM
The ball flew at the back, almost hitting where Daichi and the others were seated.
"A HOMERUN!" Eijun and the Black Jackals yelled in unison, eyes widened. Eijun scrambled his hair in frustration.
"So I can do a homerun in volleyball but not in baseball?!" He howled out, completely annoyed by his service error.
"Perhaps it's a sign, Eijun-kun?" Atsumu teased, lips curled upwards as he looked at Eijun.
"I don't want to hear that from someone who made the same mistake as I did," He retorted quickly, earning a playful punch in the shoulder by Atsumu.
The teams looked like they were enjoying the match on the court. Hinata stared enviously at the players, but he held it all in. This is all for the chosen players, after all. But damnit, Hinata wants to play too!
Eijun was doing a fine job as a wing spiker. The way he glides in the court as he was deliberately fooling the opponents as a decoy was always such an entertaining thing to watch. Hinata always knew Eijun was quick in copying their every move in a short amount of time. It was subtle, and only those with a keen eye would notice it right away. He bit his lip when Romero was about to spike the ball. He caught Eijun in a star-struck daze as Romero jumped, and the ball quickly went just behind him. Eijun twisted his mouth, and his eyes were like Hinata's when he saw Romero spike personally in front of him for the first time. Eijun will never forget this moment that he actually gets to play with a world-class ace.
Hinata smiled. He's glad that Eijun still enjoys volleyball despite his nonstop talk about baseball, which Hinata happily listened to since before. He watched Eijun spiking for a line shot since a while ago and remembered what they'd practiced this morning. He is still waiting for that one special attack of theirs that Bokuto suggested.
'It's already this late of the game, but they haven't done 'that' yet. Perhaps Eijun forgot all about it?' Hinata realizes. He kept on looking between Bokuto and Eijun for their hand sign for it but still none.
Hinata looked at the scoreboard, 19-18, in favor of the Adlers.
At the corner of his eye, he saw Hibarida talking with Kuroo about something as they glanced at the players in the court. Curious, he followed their direction, and it appears they're looking at Eijun specifically. Hinata swallowed air as he clenched his hands. He may not know what they're talking about but seeing as how Eijun played well in the match, safe to say Hinata has an idea of what they're talking about.
Then out of nowhere, he saw Eijun trying to save the ball- caught his attention back to him.
"ROLLIIING-!"
Hinata's face lit up. He wished he was with Nishinoya right now. That guy is going to be so proud.
"THUNDER!"
BAM
The ball went to Atsumu, who set it to Bokuto for another nasty line shot, and they're both tied again.
Eijun stood up, and no one missed that smug face of his.
"That was perfect." He puffed his chest out and raised his chin. He grinned sparkly, and Haru would've punched that arrogant guy if he's beside him right now.
The Seidou team watches this, and they all wonder what the hell did their idiot just did and why do they find it annoyingly cool?
"WAY TO GO, EIJUN! THAT WAS AMAZING!" Nishinoya cupped his hands and yelled out. Eijun heard this even from the other side and did a victory pose to him.
"I LEARNED IT FROM THE BEST LIBERO!" He hollered back to him.
"Hey!" Both Heiwajima and Inunaki looked offended, and Eijun waved them an apology as a result.
'Eijun is still Eijun, I supposed,' Hinata sighed happily. He then wondered how Kageyama feels right now being benched like he is. He tiptoed a bit and saw Kageyama watching the game intensely with his arms around his chest. His eyes never leave the court, as if he is with them playing. Hinata could watch him all day if he wanted to. The way Kageyama wrinkled his nose when Atsumu did a setter dump or when the Black Jackals did a fake set, the way his body would twitch when the ball is in their side, or the way Kageyama stared at his hands, an itch to touch the ball.
'What a volleyball nerd,' Hinata laughed. Like Hinata is any different.
Back in the court, Eijun can feel the adrenaline rushing in his face and sweat had already accumulated his entire body as he wiped some off his face. The game was a bit fast-paced, and the score is now 20 - 20.
He noticed this a while ago, but the thumping of his heart is getting louder and louder after the first deuce.
But Eijun wants to chase the ball more. He heard himself panting but he still fought on. Sweat covering his body.
'Fun. Fun. This is fun!' He started to laugh.
Haru went back to serve and the ball went straight at Eijun.
This serve had more power, and Eijun fell on his knees after that low receive.
He saw Atsumu setting for a toss, but he slipped at his own sweat when Eijun was about to stand up. His knee pad went loose from the excessive sweating and it fell. He winced as he sharply slid his left knee on the rubber floor. Before anyone could see it, he put the knee pad back, adjusting it tightly. The team was too focused on looking at the ball that when Atsumu planned to set the ball to Eijun, the latter had already slipped from his sweat and the ball bounced right in front of Eijun. He and Atsumu groaned for that wasted toss.
Schweiden Adlers 21 - MSBY Black Jackals 20
The Black Jackals then used their last timeout.
"Tsum-tsum. Wan-san. Give me more towels!" Bokuto cried out as he waited for Atsumu and Inunaki to hand him a couple of towels. They effortlessly threw it to him, and Bokuto immediately covered the towels all over on Eijun, who was being fanned by Hinata and Thomas using their towels.
With the amount of towels covering most of his face, Eijun rasped sharply. "I can't breathe! Stop it, you guys!" He quickly removed the towels all at once as he finally caught some air. "Are you guys planning to kill me or something?!"
Meian and Sakusa just stared at their over-dramatic players. They're always like this when it comes to Eijun.
They went back to the court. Eijun is now refreshed and dehydrated.
He could feel a slight pang of pain on his knee, but he brushed it off—no need to worry everyone over something so minor such as a scraped knee.
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
Once again, the crowds followed the ball back and forth. Eijun was more careful, making sure he wouldn't sweat a lot this time. But he could feel the continuous stinging pain from his left knee because of the sweat from his legs.
Ushijima spiked it, but the Black Jackals deflected it back, but the ball went at the back of the court and was about to fall near the crowd.
Eijun chased after it and extended his arms to put the ball back in their side.
"He's heading right straight us!" Mei tugged Itsuki's shirt as he saw Eijun bumping the ball before hitting the wall.
Eijun tumbled and groaned when he fell just in the boundary wall between him and the audience.
Mei and Carlos took a peek at him over the wall as Eijun slowly stood up. Mei was snickering but stopped when he saw Eijun heavily panting.
"Hey, Sawa-"
Eijun realizes that the ball is falling, yet no one from the Black Jackals moved because they saw him fell and so he quickly stood up and ran back, completely ignoring Mei.
"YOU GUYS! THE BALL HASN'T DROPPED YET! WHAT'RE YOU GUYS WAITING FOR?!" They all jolted upright.
Eijun can feel the pain in his knee the more he runs, but he never stops.
It hurts, but he doesn't want to end this just yet. He wants to play more with the Black Jackals. With the Adlers. With Haru.
Everyone watched as he ran towards the net as if he had a pair of wings behind his back. Perhaps now is the time to do it when the Adlers are still distracted.
"Hey Junei, since you're left-handed and your shoulders are ridiculously flexible, there's something I'd like you for you to try."
Eijun raised his left arm, fully extending it at the back. It looked absolutely ridiculous for his arm and elbow to reach to the back. There's just no way he could do that with his joints. He could injure himself. But Bokuto knew precisely what he was about to do and called out to Atsumu.
"Do you think you can do it?"
'A line shot!' Hirugami read Eijun's position, and he and Romero covered the position right away, with Heiwajima on stand-by.
But they were wrong.
Quickly, Eijun shifted his arm. He could feel his abdominal muscles contract. He has to make sure the ball makes contact at the base of his middle finger. He could slowly see the ball heading towards him. He smirked.
"We'll never know until we try it, isn't that right, Kotarou-san?"
He swings the ball through at a deadly speed to the other side, surprising the Adlers. He landed on the ground with his right leg and paused to take a breather.
A back-row cross-shot with some nasty spin for some extra touch.
Bokuto's eyes glimmer with pride and the team all hugged Eijun for that excellent cross-shot. Like that freak quick from earlier, the team practiced the odd cross-shot with Eijun. It took a while, but they finally managed to pull it off.
"Kotarou-san!" He faced the owl. "We did it!"
"You," Bokuto corrected him, ruffling the hair of the energetic bundle of joy with his hands. "You did it, Junei."
Akaashi felt like he fell in love with Bokuto all over again.
Schweiden Adlers 21 - MSBY Black Jackal 21
Perhaps fired up by his and Eijun's successful plan, Bokuto scored for a service ace and he and the crowd posed for his infamous Bokuto-beam. Akaashi softly giggled at his boyfriend.
The Inashiro bunch had no idea who this Bokuto person was, but his energy was so infectious they all did the Bokuto-beam just like the rest of the audience. Well, Shirakawa begrudgingly did but still.
"One more until he and his team win, yeah?" Zono asked, eyes never leaving the television. He and the others cried for some reason when they saw Eijun doing his back row cross-shot. Everyone knew how flexible he was, but that moment right there sealed the deal.
"Yeah. And then he's finally going back here." 'Thank god' Miyuki wanted to say that last part, but he knows Kuramochi will laugh at him. He just knows. Instead, he nodded as he quietly tapped his fingers on the table.
Eijun was panting, and the sweatier he got, the more he could feel the pain on his knee.
'How bad is it?' He clicked his tongue. He couldn't believe he let himself get hurt just because of his freaking sweat. Stupid sweat.
He turned away from everyone and pretended to readjust his knee pads. He took a peek at his left knee, which turned out to be much worse than he thought. His skin was scraped open, and chunks of blood were covered in his hand when he touched the pads. Fortunately, the knee isn't fractured, but it still needs some attention.
He gulped. He looked around. Everyone was laughing and cheering, and he didn't want to ruin this for everyone.
This is nothing. Once this is all over, he could tell everyone he's going to the bathroom, where he could then sneakily go to the clinic without raising much suspicion.
"Everything good there, Sawamura-kun?"
He looked over his shoulder to see Sakusa. He turned to face him and quickly nodded his head and grinned.
'As long as the knee pads are tight, it's going to be okay.'
"Everything's fine, Omi-omi-san!"
Haru watched Eijun running around the court. His hair was in a fluff as he jumped for the ball and making sure each spike wasn't wasted in response to the setter's toss to him. His form, though it looks awkward in a way, was still formidable. That insane back row cross-shot was incredible, and the Adlers were even in awe with it. He caught Heiwajima smiling as he shook his head, commending Eijun for having him missed the receive once again. He admits even Heiwajima himself couldn't get that one. And for a moment there, it looked like Eijun was back with him. With everyone's world centered around volleyball.
"I'm sorry for what I did, Haru."
His stomach suddenly turned; Eijun's apology to him from a while ago kept on bugging Haru.
He remembered when Eijun announced to him and the team that he was quitting to make his own baseball team, and everyone couldn't believe it. Frustrations and confusion were there, but in the end, Haru knew that as much as he wanted Eijun to stay, he certainly couldn't force someone to play volleyball. It would lose everything that volleyball is all about.
So why should Eijun apologize for it? To him, of all people?
Heck, it should've been Haru who apologized to Eijun after what he had said to him in the morning. He was Eijun's closest friend in the team back then, yet they never said a word to each other since. The misunderstandings, the betrayal, the frustrations. It suffocated him as time went on.
"Toss for me, Haru."
Would it change if only he could've talked with his teammates? What then?
Eijun is now a baseball player. No matter how much Haru convinces himself otherwise, that fact won't ever change. What's important is that Eijun is playing volleyball right now. With everyone here who shares the same love for the sport as Haru and Eijun. If Eijun didn't love the sport, he shouldn't have agreed to play in the first place.
He watches him slide around the court, tossing and receiving the ball as his face lit up when the ball is in the air. Haru could see Eijun's golden eyes reflecting from the ceiling lights; his whole body glistened with sweat. Haru couldn't accept defeat that easily.
'Argh damnit,' Haru steels himself as the ball goes back to their side. He set the ball as cleanly as possible. 'No way will I let a baseball player defeat me.'
Eijun quickly bumped the ball as soon as he saw Haru signaling to Romero. He could hear his teammates yelling 'nice receive!', to which he responded them with a huff from the nose and staring at them cat-eyed. It was then followed by Sakusa spiking it back, but the Adlers managed to deflect it.
In the middle of the rally, Atsumu noticed that Eijun hadn't called out for a toss, so he signaled him to be ready. To Atsumu's surprise, Eijun denied his call and gestured him to give the ball to Meian instead, which he did, but the Adlers deflected it once again.
Hinata saw what happened and furrowed his eyebrows. It's the first time Eijun ever denied a toss. At the corner of his eye, he saw Kageyama frowning and emitted a dark aura around him. Ugh.
'He's not even your teammate, bakayama!' Hinata shook his head, eyeing him narrowly.
Hinata continued observing Eijun's movements. He's been diving and spiking normally, so an injury is out of the question. Perhaps he's getting tired?
Hinata could imagine what Atsumu is feeling right now, and it seems like Eijun is probably going to get it once the game is over.
'Is that...blood?'
He felt something tickling down from his shin. He looked down, and to his surprise, tiny mixtures of blood and sweat were sliding down from his knees to heel. He quickly wiped it with his hands without anyone noticing anything.
'No, no no, no. I don't want to be pulled out this late in the game. I still want to play more.'
He bit his lip. If only he didn't feel the stinging pain from a while ago, he would've spiked the ball meant from him.
'Atsu-san's upset. I just know it,' He sighed, feeling a bit down himself as well.
Currently, this is the longest rally out of all sets. The crowd's heads are probably sore by now from watching the ball going back and forth in each team's side of the court. Will the Black Jackals end this match, or will the Adlers extend it?
In an attempt to make amends, Eijun called Atsumu. Atsumu heard him and gave the ball to him. Eijun attempted for a line shot, but Heiwajima was already behind the blockers when he did, and thus the game is still in play.
"Sorry, I'll get it next time!" He exhaled deeply, his eyes still glowing in their usual golden hue.
"'course ya will. Ya have me as yer setter, after all." Atsumu looked at him over his shoulder and grinned. Eijun couldn't tell if that is Atsumu's way of reassuring Eijun or he's just the usual condescending jerk that he is. Eijun nodded as they quickly positioned themselves back again.
The Black Jackals saw Ushijima ready to jump, and they backed away a little. To their surprise, Ushijima tapped the ball, and it curved shortly back to the Black Jackals. Eijun went back and managed to save the ball, and it went back to the Adlers' side.
'Oof, this is going to leave a deep mark all right,' He winced as his knees once again met with the rubber floor.
He looked up and saw Romero about to spike the ball back for the first touch. If he's going to stand now, Eijun won't save the ball in time.
BAM
Eijun grunted as he twisted his body to the side to receive the ball from his position. Everyone gaped their mouths open, some of the crowd stood up from the edge of their seat (one of them was Mei).
"No way he did that," Back in Seidou, Kanemaru widened his eyes. Shaking his head in disbelief. "But he was on his knees not a second ago!"
"Apparently, he just did." Tojou coughed out a nervous laugh, confirming Kanemaru's doubts.
While the rest of the Karasuno team were still in the process of what just happened, Nishinoya grinned; his brown eyes twinkled. First the rolling thunder, and now this? Oh, come on. Eijun is practically spoiling him.
Nishinoya watched how everyone was tugging each other's shirts. Some would point at Eijun in disbelief while the rest were scratching their heads. He laughed, surprising the Karasuno team.
"I told you a super receive is what excites the crowd," He mumbled to himself.
"Kotarou-san!" Eijun yelled, but he could already see Bokuto going for it.
BAM
Bokuto jumped and hit the ball onto Hirugami's arms, and the ball fell. Eijun could hear the sound of the referee's whistle, finally ending the game.
Schweiden Adlers 21 - MSBY Black Jackals 23