HELLO AND SORRY FOR THE WAIT

The new episode was exciting as always. It's a shame that the third season will only have 10 episodes (so sad). And we wouldn't see much of the Shiratorizawa boys for a loooooong time :( ah well

For this chapter I have officially overtaken the episodes at the end, so if you don't really want to be spoilered DON'T READ!

LilweenGalatrass: You know, I'm glad that you are still reviewing and reading this. Your reviews make my day. I promise that I wouldn't disappoint with the story.

PandaHee: Yes, Izumi and Tamiko have been friends since junior high. She is the only close friend she has as well.

MagicXZ: Thank you very much :) I have a lot of life experiences helping me (lol) Ushijima is my favourite. He is new to the whole 'like' thing so it will be a lot of fun.

Guest Lili: Glad you are excited but you will have to wait for another week, sorry ;_; I will not disappoint though!


Chapter 12 - A final set

Behind every strong man

stands a woman shouting out to him

The two teams took another well deserved break. Tamiko slouched in her seat, arms folded on her chest and frowning. When the teams got ready and walked onto the court, Tobio stayed on the bench and Sugawara took the starting spot as the setter.

"Looks like your brother is staying on the bench for this one." Izumi noticed.

"He deserves a rest." she smiled.

Goshiki did the serve and Karasuno took the first point. The next point was taken by Ushijima, who's spike knocked over a point display on the judge's table. Tamiko clicked her tongue.

"That bastard. He still has a lot of energy." she cursed.

"Tamiko-chan, you are growing more frustrated." Izumi laughed. "That's not like you."

Karasuno took the next point but the following attack took everyone by surprise. Nishinoya jumped and tossed the ball while everyone moved in in synchronisation. Sugawara was the one to receive the toss and he spiked it to the ground.

"Did you just see what I saw?"

"The libero tossed to the setter for a spike."

With a two point lead, coach Washijo called for a time out. Then they got a three point lead after Asahi's serve. His second serve was received and Ushijima spiked it to the ground. Now it was Ushijima's turn to serve and it took a point, since Asahi didn't receive it properly. Shiratorizawa slowly caught up with Karasuno. When Tendou tossed the ball back to Ushijima to spike a cross, Shiratorizawa took another point. Ushijima's next serve also took a point and with that, they were one point in the lead. Tamiko clicked her tongue again and Izumi peeked over to her.

"Tamiko-chan, you're biting your nails." she reminded her.

Izumi knew her too well. If Tamiko was biting her nails, then she slowly growing anxious. It was a rare sight. The fact that she had been so calm the past 4 sets was no surprise but now everything was riding on this final set.

"It's almost annoying how good he is." she grumbles.

"He does represent japan." Izumi remembered.

The next point was also taken by Shiratorizawa.

"Those bastards. I'll swear, if they win, I'll never cook for them again. Bastards." Tamiko grumbled to herself.

"Your swearing vocabulary is as limited as always." Izumi grinned.

The next rally was long with three blocks but Ushijima managed to hit the ball to the ground. Tamiko let out her held breath when the line judges lifted their flags. But then the main judge lifted his hands. The spike was overruled and the point went to Shiratorizawa after all. But the frustration grew even more when Karasuno's coach ran onto the court. The last spike had hit Tsukishima's hand so hard that it injured his hand. He had to be taken to the infirmary.

"This is bad."

Synchronised attack is stopped by Tendou. The teams switch sides. Ushijima's serve hits the net.

"Well, nobody is perfect."

Izumi laughed. Their libero switched with Hinata. The following play took everyone by surprise. When Asahi's spike was blocked and flying towards Hinata, it bounced off his face and after the following toss, Karasuno got the point.

"That must have hurt."

"But he isn't injured. Lucky. If he was benched now as well, that would be very bad."

Suddenly Tamiko flinched. Her eyes widened and she pressed her lips together.

"What's wrong?" Izumi asked.

"It's going to get wild now." she smirked.

"What?"

"I have never seen Ushijima so serious before." she smiled to herself. "He must be having a lot of fun right now."

Izumi looked at the big smile on Tamiko's face.

"Tamiko-chan, you know him so well, don't you." Izumi grinned.

"What?"

"You know all of the boys so well. I still don't understand why you didn't become their manager or at least date one of them." she teased.

"And in your opinion, who should I date?" Tamiko asked.

"Semi is a nice guy." she grinned.

"Just because you like him." Tamiko grinned back.

"Oh, I'm over him, remember?" Izumi raised an eyebrow at her.

"I can't date Semi. He's a childhood friend." she reminded her.

"So? My parents were childhood friends and are still happily married."

"Are we talking about dating now, or marriage?"

"I'm talking about a general relationship. You have never been with a guy. You are missing out. Keep your eyes open for one." Izumi told her. "I promise you, if you don't find one soon, I'll drag you onto double dates."

"Oh great." Tamiko groaned but with a smile at the end.

"Kageyama." someone said behind her. "Looks like your brother is warming up."

"Has he really rested enough?" someone else asked.

"That doesn't matter to him. He hates sitting on the bench after all." she grinned.

Another synchronised attack followed and it was a success. Tendou didn't even jump and coach Washijo yelled at him for not doing so. Tobio is switched in and it was his time to serve. The serve was powerful and flew back over the net and he already ran and jumped to toss it. It was over in a second. Hinata was on hand and spiked it straight down. The chants became louder and the points crawled to the 10 point mark for Shiratorizawa, Karasuno following close behind. Now Semi was switched in for a pinch serve. It was a no-touch serve, earning Shiratorizawa another point. The buzzer announced a short break when Karasuno high started to chant very loudly. Shiratorizawa Academy countered with the school anthem.

"By the way. I heard that Ushijima has a crush on a girl." Izumi suddenly reminded herself.

"Yeah. It was very surprising." Tamiko confirmed.

"Do you have any idea who it could be?" she asked.

She watched Ushijima walk onto the court, followed by his teammates.

"No, I don't." she muttered to herself.

Izumi glanced over to her, eyeing her friend's expression as she looked at the super ace. Again, Semi did another serve. This time, another incredible thing happened. Semi tossed to Ushijima who spiked it, but the ball was stopped by Hinata's flat hand. It bounced over the net into the corner of the court. The referee lifted his arm to Karasuno's side. Shiratorizawa's side was silent, all except for Tamiko's laugh.

"He blocked him with a soft block!" she laughed. "Wow, that's must be degrading."

"Tamiko-chan, you take the joy-of-seeing-someone-fail to a whole new level." Izumi sighed with a smile.

"He just underestimated him. I like to see the short ones fly." she grinned.

The plays continued with mistakes and good teamwork. The points grew but the gap didn't. Shiratorizawa was the first to reach the 15 point mark and tension grew, especially within Karasuno. Tamiko clicked her tongue when she saw the players in black drop their heads in exhaustion.

"Don't you dare look down!" someone shouted.

This silenced everyone. She looked over to the bench to see coach Ukai stand with a big grin on his face.

"Volleyball is a sport, where you're always look up!"

This sparked a fire once again and the team got ready to continue the game. Tamiko smiled to herself when commotion arose. Tsukishima was jogging back onto the court with a big bandage around his hand. After a break the set continued while Tsukishima stayed on the bench. He was already holding the replacing sign in his hand. The play went well. Karasuno gained their 15th point and Tsukishima was switched in. Tamiko sighed with relief. This was hopefully going to turn the tides. Both sides made mistakes and exhaustion was very present on both teams. But both didn't falter and kept attacking. And when the 20th point was reached, it was the final straw. Everyone moved, Hinata jumped, the ball hit past the block, Ushijima caught it. Then Shibaru tossed it, Ushijima spiked it, the ball hit Hinata, but the ball was still in the air. It was intense and Tamiko couldn't contain herself anymore. She stood.

"Tamiko-chan?" Izumi muttered.

Tamiko took a deep breath. Then she cupped her hand around her mouth.

"Take to the skies!" she shouted over the cheers.

They all heard her. And the fire inside their hearts burned even brighter than before. And a short moment later, the ball bounced off the floor and the referee blew the whistle.