Muahahahaha
Chapter 22 is heeeeeeeeeere!
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE 200 FOLLOWERS
PandaHee: Don't ya worry! Things are gonna go down the next few chapters!
LilweenGalatrass: Flustered Wakatoshi is the best Wakatoshi.
Chapter 22 - A favour
The days came and went and had filled almost have a notebook with notes. Since she didn't know the boys, a lot of information accumulated and she was more than excited and eager to see more of their development. However, soon the last day of the training camp approached and so the last chance to see how they had improved. Tamiko was up very early on that Sunday and was at the gym before the coaches had arrived. She waited in the staff room, enjoying a cup of coffee when Anabara and Washijo joined her, but one person was missing.
"Wasn't Saitou-sensei suppose to come today?" she asked.
Anabara swallowed and explained everything to her. Tamiko couldn't believe it.
"He's got food poisoning?"
"Yeah." he bashfully rubbed them back of his head. "It throws off our schedule as well. I don't know what we could do to make the last day worthwhile for them."
Tamiko thought for a moment and a short glimpse over to Washijou gave her an idea.
"Well, I think I may have a solution to this problem."
When she told them of her plan, they nodded in agreement. While the two men started the camp without her, Tamiko went to the school dormitory, looking for Ushijima. When she knocked on his door, nobody opened but his neighbour did. She told Tendou about the current situation and he helped her search for him. Ushijima wasn't in any of the other gym's or in the cafeteria. They found him just as he came back from his morning jog, by the school gate.
"Ushijima!" she called.
The ace stopped and the two approached him, Tamiko completely out of breath. She really had low stamina.
"We were looking for you." Tendou told him while Tamiko was catching her breath.
The two boys waited patiently for her to calm her breath and then she stood upright. She looked up to Ushijima, clapped her hands together before her face and bowed her head.
"I need you to do me a big favour." she said.
He blinked a few times but listened to what she had to say. After explaining the whole situation he nodded.
"Yeah, I can do that." he agreed.
Tamiko was elated. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a quick hug before she ran back to the gym.
"Thank you!" she squealed happily. "I owe you one!"
The two boys look after her as she ran into the distance and Tendou allowed himself to sneak a peek at his captain. Just as he suspected, Ushijima's face was bright red. The middle blocker didn't say anything but just smiled to himself. After a few seconds, Ushijima spoke.
"Let's get the others."
"Okay dokay." Tendou grinned.
When Tamiko returned to the gym the first years had already arrived for their last day. Hinata was present as well but today his sister wasn't there. Apparently little Natsu had caught a cold. Tamiko told Hinata to send Natsu her best wishes and then told the coaches her successful plan and the training began. It was a 2v2 match again and Tsuki was teamed up with Goshiki against Hyukazawa and Kunimi. Everyone else stood and watched them. It was an interesting play and even the first years started to analyse and comment on the plays themselves. Gaining an understanding of the sport was also important and that's what she was in charge of. She was proud to hear what the first years had to say. Especially for Hyukazawa. Ever since Hinata had a short but uplifting conversation with the giant, he was starting to find his rhythm and was improving. Once everyone had finished playing in the 2v2 plays, came the time for Saitou-sensei's instructions. However, because he wasn't present Tamiko's plan had kicked into action. A practise match.
"We are fortunate enough to have everyone of the Shiratorizawa volleyball club come in as an opponent for our practise match." Anabara announced. "Please do your best to make this match an improvement from your previous matches against each other."
The first years were elated and fired up. Tamiko was glad that Ushijima had managed to gather all of the members together at such a short notice. When their eyes met she gave him a thumbs up from the other end of the gym. And so the match started. Hinata was busy wiping the floors but his eyes were constantly locked onto the grand ace. It was a hilarious sight for Tamiko. Although she was only there for the first years, she also started taking notes on her boys as well. Once the first three sets had been played and everyone took a well deserved break, she approached them. They weren't interested in their own play but more in how the first years were improving.
"Hinata is strangely improving as well." she confessed after telling them about the improvements.
In that moment, the little Karasuno #10 approached them. He looked up at Ushijima and them spoke with determination.
"Ushijima-san. When you're receiving, what's going through that head of yours?" he asked.
Ushijima looked down at Hinata with a hint of confusion as to what he wanted from him. When he was about to give an answer, someone else approached.
"Ushiwaka-san!" Goshiki shouted.
Tamiko giggled to herself.
"He sure is right person to ask for advice." Semi noted.
"Yeah." Tamiko agreed.
And so the day went on with one practise match after the other. Hinata kept refilling bottles, washing, hanging and distributing bibs, wiping the floor and copying Ushijima. Tamiko enjoyed every minute of it, watching Hinata copying Ushijima. Even Tendou threw in a few words for the little middle blocker. In the end, the program was successfully completed and the first years all bowed and thanked everyone, the volleyball club and the coaches for running this camp for them. Then everyone started to pack up. The nets were removed, the balls were stored away and all the bibs washed one last time. Hinata told Tamiko that he didn't need a ride, he had his bike. One by one, the promising first years left the academy for the last time. The coaches had one more talk about all that happened and Tamiko gave them all of her notes for them to look at one more time. While the two men read the pages, Tamiko went over to the boys and thanked them.
"Anything for our manager." they grinned.
She smiled at them and then turned to Ushijima.
"I still owe you one for bringing the boys on such short notice." she reminded him.
She didn't know what he was going to say, what he wanted in return. But she was prepared for anything. Even if it meant spending a whole day with him. The others stared at her and then over to Ushijima. The ace looked down at her before wiping the sweat off his face with his towel.
"Don't worry about it." he said.
"Okay." Tamiko shrugged. "See you guys tomorrow."
And then she left. In some way she was a little disappointed that he didn't want anything in return. But for Ushijima, doing an act of kindness didn't need anything in return, she knew this. She had hoped for a little change. As soon as she was out of sight, the boys grabbed their captain. They pulled him against the wall, surrounded him like a pack of hyenas and the the questions started.
"Why did you do that?" Semi asked.
"Don't worry about it? Seriously, Wakatoshi-kun?" Tendou groaned.
"Wakatoshi, you could have asked for anything!" Jin reminded him.
"Like a date!" Yamagata listed. "Or she could have cooked something for you!"
Many complaints and suggestions were thrown at him but Ushijima stayed quiet. When Jin told them to all step back a little they all calmed down. There was a brief silence until Tendou spoke.
"But seriously, Wakatoshi-kun. We are just trying to help you get closer to her." he told him.
"I don't see the need. It is difficult for me to be near her for a long time." he told them with a straight face.
"Yeah, we know." Jin sighed. "Most of us have felt that before."
All the boys nodded. Silence fell and in that silence Ushijima began to understand. They really did only want to help him get closer to her. So far, he had seen it as a nuisance but now, it dawned him. Before he could apologise for his actions in the past, Semi stepped forward.
"Guys, I have an idea." Semi said and all looked at him in anticipation. "Christmas."
"Christmas?" they all repeated.
"It's perfect. Let's spend Christmas at my place." Semi beamed and waited for their response.
It was slow, but once it sparked, it burned like a wildfire after a long and dry summer. Ominous grins spread amongst them and Ushijima started to grow concerned.
"A Movie night." Yamagata grinned.
"A mistletoe." Tendou swooned.
"Presents!" Goshiki cheered.
"That's not the reason we are doing this, idiot." Shibaru muttered.
"Semi!" Jin grabbed his shoulder. "Go and find Tamiko."
He saluted like a soldier before he ran out of the gym. He had to find her and fast.
