Heyo! Thanks for waiting on this next chapter, this story is quite the task because every time I start to write… I have to brush up on like 30 characters to make sure I'm portraying personalities correctly! Not to mention the dynamics of relationships, strategies, and plot, it's a whole lot going on haha ANYWAY, it's a labor of love because I have so many fun ideas I'm dying to have other fans also laugh at, or nod their head thinking 'oh yeah, they would totally do something like that!'. This chapter is just the tip of the iceberg, strap in for a whole lot of nonsense, and scheming! Thank you so much for following and commenting, your feedback makes me literally glow with excitement! LOL
"I'm telling you, Suga. I have a bad feeling." Daichi said, having rinsed the shampoo from his hair and now staring forlornly at his tired reflection in the mirror.
Suga sat beside him on a short stool, sudsing up his light grey locks, his eyes squeezed shut as he worked it into a lather and listened to his friend. "I keep telling you stressing so much is going to have long-term effects on your health." Fumbling on the wall in search of his sprayer, Suga felt around blindly until Daichi sighed and reached over to pick it up and put it in his hand.
"And I keep telling you with the team we have, it's impossible to not stress."
"Oh- Thanks."
Rinsing the shampoo from his hair, Suga ran a hand back over his head and then down his face to clear his eyes. He spoke as he continued to rinse himself and Daichi watched as the bubbles slid to the stone floor at their feet. "I told you, everything will work itself out. We've got a plan, what are you so worried about?"
Daichi hiked a brow and turned his attention back to Suga's dripping face. "You're kidding, right? Have you forgotten what Coach said? Or what we agreed to if we come in last place? Yeah, we have a plan, but getting these idiots to work together is near impossible. Our fate rests in the hope everyone can stop fighting long enough to pull this off. I don't like those odds."
From the steaming bath behind them, only the top of Asahi's head to his nose was visible, but he rose slightly out of the water to speak, the rest of him still submerged.
"Daichi might be right. They were still bickering when I went to get my towel and soap for the bath. Tsukishima said something like he didn't care if Hinata got his flag taken because he would probably mess everything up anyway… I don't know if it's even possible for them to work together."
"Hnnn… This is hopeless." Daichi groaned, his hands slapping his face and then dragging them down his cheeks dramatically.
Suga shot Asahi a dark look that sent him ducking his mouth below the water again and then gave an exaggerated eye-roll. "Asahi is already our team pessimistic coward, twos a crowd, Daichi."
Merely huffing, the captain allowed his head to fall back and stared defeated at the ceiling. Annoyed with his friend's theatrics, Suga turned the water to cold. He furrowed his brow and turned the freezing stream of water on the captain. With a yelp, Daichi fell off his stool and scrambled to get out of range of the sprayer.
"Suga, what the hell?!"
Turing it back off as Daichi slipped around and slid out of range, the vice hung the sprayer on the wall and crossed his arms without sympathy. "Are you done?" He asked, watching as Daichi wrapped his arms around himself and shivered. He glared at the light-haired setter but eventually sighed.
"Yeah, I'm done. A more positive attitude isn't going to change facts though, what are we supposed to do to get them to work together?"
Suga padded over to the bath where Asahi was still soaking and dipped a toe in to test the temperature before lowering himself into it with a grateful sigh. He nodded his head to the place on the bench beside him, and Daichi reluctantly made his way over. When he was settled in the steaming water with his fellow third years, Suga stretched his arms out on either side of him and rested them on the cool stone.
"I don't know that we have to do anything. Can you name one thing they all hate, and have in common at the same time?"
"Something… They have in common?" Asahi asked, doubtful.
Daichi thought on the question, crossing his arms, and studying the water as he contemplated. Suga allowed him time to think, a small smile on his lips as he watched and content to wait. It was quiet, and then there was a small intake of breath as understanding lit Daichi's eyes and he looked at the setter beside him.
"Losing. None of them want to lose."
"That's right, I knew you'd figure it out," Suga said, patting him enthusiastically on the shoulder.
"The thing they hate more than working together. It's the one thing they will always have in common. They don't want to lose. Do you honestly think Tsukishima would be more willing to run laps in his underwear while possibly linking arms with Hinata and Kageyama, overworking with them to not come in last place? Tanaka and Noya aren't going to let that Yamamoto guy from Nekoma look cool in front of Kiyoko. Kageyama doesn't want anything more than to surpass Ushijima and Oikawa, and Hinata will do whatever it takes to win so we can keep playing volleyball on Monday. We don't have to come in first, we don't even have to come in third. We just can't be last."
As Daichi finally began to relax his shoulders from their tensed state, he leaned against the stone behind him and nodded his head. "Yeah… You're right. They might despise the idea of teaming up, but not as much as they hate the alternative. Maybe… Maybe things really will work out."
Mushing his hair down much like Hinata imitating Kageyama, Suga puffed his chest out and lowered his voice to make it sound deeper.
"We'll never win if we don't believe we can," Suga said as he hopped over on the bench and began elbowing Daichi with a smirk. "Didn't that inspirational cheese come from you, Captain?
Narrowing his eyes with a grin as Asahi tittered across from them, Daichi caught Suga's head under his hand and promptly shoved him beneath the surface of the water. The setter gave a garbled yelp as he was submerged, then came up laughing and sent a splash Daichi's way while he continued to throw out quotes.
"If you don't go into it intending to win, you'll never be able to! Blah blah blah, I'm Daichi and I can't take my advice." Suga sang, at this point, even Asahi was sitting up to laugh as Daichi shook his head and tried to grab his friend again.
"You're such a jackass." Daichi laughed, pretending to give up the chase and then lunging forward to grab Suga by the wrist and drag him in.
"Daichi! No wait, I was kidding!" Suga cackled, trying in vain to wiggle free.
"No, you weren't." He retorted, dunking him under a second time and cutting off the rest of his plea.
…
Scorching sun rays fell onto the backs of the Karasuno boys as they emerged from the dormitories. The bright cloudless sky stretched blue in every direction, and the babble of many other players milling about filled the air. With breakfast eaten, it was time to gather at the map by the woods, and guys from all teams, coaches, and managers were doing the same.
"Maaan," Tanaka moaned, yanking on the collar of his shirt to cool himself. "Black is badass in a gymnasium, but it sucks in the sun! We're gonna die of heat exhaustion!"
Beside him, Ennoshita lectured him with apathetic annoyance.
"Quit whining, it'll be cooler in the woods with the trees blocking most of the sun. What you should be worrying about is remembering the task you're responsible for. You do remember, don't you?"
Scowling, Tanaka folded his arms over his chest. "Of course, I do! I still don't get why Kageyama gets the cool job while Suga and I have to babysit."
"Don't think of it as babysitting, we're more like… Guardians. A special line of defense. Without us, his job would be a lot harder to accomplish." Suga said, approaching Kageyama and dropping a hand onto his shoulder. "Tell him, our job is just as important."
Brows pulling together and twitching peculiarly, Kageyama looked to Tanaka and tried to do as his upperclassman instructed.
"Uh, your job is important."
"Way to convince me." Tanaka deadpanned. "It's like talking to a damned robot..."
"Cut it out Tanaka, everyone's job is important. We need to stay focused and keep our heads on straight."
Daichi was laboring to stay positive after Suga's aggressive pep talk, but his nerves were still frayed as a well-worn rope. "If we're don't take this seriously from the very start, we could lose a lot of players and end up in a really bad situation. We need to start strong, I don't want to run laps in my underwear."
"Maybe we shouldn't have agreed to participate in such a stupid contest," Tsukishima said under his breath, to which Daichi turned around and addressed the whole team.
They were only a short walk from the map and teams were coming together as coaches and managers made their way to where Keishin leaned against the wooden frame. Holding his arms out on either side of him, Daichi stopped the team from going any farther and took a deep breath.
"Hang on a second guys. I have something to say, and I need you all to listen."
Coming to a halt, the group of boys squinted to see their captain beneath the blinding glare, some holding a hand above their eyes to shield them from the sun.
"I'll be frank, our teamwork sucks, and that makes me worried. The trust between everyone is shotty at best, and I'd be a fool to expect a miracle out of all of you." He placed his hands on his hips and looked over them.
There was silence, and then the loud second-year duo spoke up.
"Wow Boss, you're kind of crapping all over the team spirit," Tanaka said, his brow arched high as Nishinoya nodded beside him.
"Yeah, man. What's with the bummer speech?"
"I wasn't finished," Daichi said. He crossed his arms and met the eyes of all his players. "I said I would be foolish to expect a miracle, but that's not what I'm asking. Coming in fifth place isn't impossible it's more than doable. We have guys with speed, tactfulness, and pure athleticism. The tools we need to succeed are standing right here."
They looked between one another, reluctant to agree, and Daichi pushed on.
"I know what we're capable of, and once everyone else does, there won't be a person around bold enough to call us the flightless crows. When I told Aoba Josai's captain I don't doubt my team, I meant it. Every guy here will do their part." The severity in Daichi's eyes contradicted the quiet as they loomed over each player before him, his words not only encouragement but an order. "That means me, you, us. I won't take back what I said to Oikawa, so don't make me regret my words."
He expected them to cooperate, it wasn't up for debate. No longer did they mutter to each other but stared back with equally firm expressions. The team might disagree on many things, but Sugawara was right. They didn't want to lose, especially to Seijoh's pompous setter.
"We won't let you down, Captain! Leave it to me!" Hinata yelled, his hands curling into fists as he squatted down and sprang into the air with a battle cry.
"Us." Sugawara corrected. "Leave it to us."
He shook his head with a reluctant smile as the excitable ginger repeatedly punched the air, Kageyama sniffing him.
"You won't take even half the number of flags I do, dumbass."
"Wait and see, Crappyama, I'll take so many flags we won't have any more room for prisoners!"
Yamaguchi already looked tired, his face drawn down with exasperation as he put a hand on both their backs and began pushing them toward Coach Ukai.
"Uh guys, I think Daichi-san was trying to tell us we need to work together. If you're going to compete with anyone, shouldn't it be the other teams?"
"Hey- Quit pushing!"
"A couple of morons," Tsukishima muttered, a finger nudging his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he too continued toward the map and their coach.
The second years nodded to one another and followed their underclassman. Not wishing to be outdone by Hinata and Kageyama, Tanaka and Noya gave their battle cry and jumped in the air bumping chests.
"EVERYONE ELSE, GET WRECKED!" Tanaka bellowed as Noya yelled; "KARASUNO'S GONNA PECK YOUR EYES OUT!"
Ennoshita met Daichi's stare with a dull one of his own, then gave an affirmative nod before he turned to smack both on the head with a closed fist. Their mouths snapped shut with the hit and then they were clutching their heads.
"What was that for?"
"Why do you have to hit so hard!"
He grabbed a fistful of both their t-shirts and drug them along as Kinnoshita snickered and Narita smiled thoughtfully behind them.
"The real question is how many times were you two dropped on your heads as kids?"
"Hey, how'd you know my sister dropped me? Did she tell you or something?"
Dead panning, Ennoshita shook his head. "No Tanaka, just a hunch."
"Uh, Daichi? Did you miss a meeting with the other captains or something?"
"Hm?"
He turned toward Suga and found a finger pointed in a direction other than the park map. Aside the large group of players gathered and waiting, Kuroo, Oikawa, Bokuto, Ushijima, and Moniwa stood huddled up at the edge of the woods. It looked as though they were discussing something private and were deep in conversation. After a moment of watching them, Kuroo leaned back with a cackle and let his gaze drift through the crowd. It landed momentarily on Daichi, so he straightened as they made eye contact, then blinked as Kuroo smirked and turned his back to him once more.
Daichi furrowed his brow and tilted his head, perplexed. It was…Unnerving.
"No one said anything to me," Daichi murmured, his chin raising with suspicion as his eyes remained on the group of captains.
"Maybe they forgot?" Asahi supplied, looking to Suga with an anxious wrinkle scrunching his forehead.
The vice snorted in disbelief. "I don't think that's very likely."
Daichi agreed, especially after the look he'd received from the conniving captain of Nekoma. Eyes still trained on the group, he stepped away from Suga and Asahi to head toward them.
"I'm gonna check it out. Head over to Coach, I'll be there in a minute."
"Kay, good luck," Suga said, pushing Asahi toward the rest of their team as he stammered concerned.
Curiosity ate Daichi alive as he crossed the grass and weaved between guys. Why would they have a meeting without him, was it something about Karasuno? His theories didn't go much farther than that, he could come up with no other reason they would exclude him. As far as he knew, he had a decent relationship with the other captains, had he done something to make them mad? No, he was sure he'd know if he'd offended someone, but then… What? As he approached, he could hear muffled chatter.
"Gonna be hilarious- Keep your voice down- How long do you think-"
Thick brow rising, Daichi placed a hand on his hip as Kuroo's head popped up and the conversation abruptly dispersed. The five broke their loose circle and raised their heads as if they hadn't been discussing something and his curiosity burned like a wildfire, his eye twitching at their obvious attempt to act nonchalant.
"Don't stop on my account. Is something going on?" He lowered his voice to the level he used when being serious with his team, hoping it would have the desired effect of them spilling the beans, but unfortunately, these weren't a bunch of rowdy, bashful, underclassmen. They regarded him with different variations of cool casualness.
"Something going on?" Oikawa's voice was sickly sweet, the glint in his eyes telling him there was no question about it, they were keeping something from him. "Now what would make you think that Captain?"
The way he drug out 'Captain', grated on Daichi's fragile nerves almost as much as the setter's stare. It lingered on him as if he were a carnivorous animal, Daichi his prey. Straightening to his full height, despite it being a few inches shorter than almost all of them, he folded his arms over his chest and scrutinized the five.
"Well, it's not every day you see this group gathered to have a little chat. I'm feeling left out."
Barking a laugh, Kuroo reached out to pat Daichi on the back a couple of times before draping an arm over his shoulders and leaning on him.
"Aw, you're so cute when your suspicious, Sawamura. Relax, we were merely wishing each other the best of luck, weren't we fellas?"
"HA! He's gonna need it more than the rest of us." Bokuto said, throwing his head back as he laughed.
Shooting him a glare, Kuroo shook his head.
"You don't know how to shut up, do you?"
"What? I didn't say anything!" Bokuto bit back, fisting his hands and the picture of an oversized toddler.
"Alright, clearly I'm missing something. Anyone care to explain?" Daichi said, his voice and expression dripping exasperation.
The group did not attempt to answer as his gaze passed between them, and then Ushijima stepped around him.
"I am returning to my team I suggest you do the same."
Deflating, Daichi let him pass but turned back to the remaining four. "Moniwa?"
Laughing sheepishly, Date Tech's captain began to whistle and stride toward the other players dressed in dark teal. "O-Oh would you look at that, Futakuchi and Kamasaki are going at it again, gotta go!"
"Really?..." Daichi deadpanned.
"I think I hear Iwa calling. Good luck gentlemen." Flashing a peace sign and a grin, Oikawa slipped his hands into his pockets and made his way back to his team.
Daichi let out a heavy sigh and looked to Kuroo and Bokuto lacking amusement. "I suppose you two have to rush off as well?"
Kuroo's smirk was devilish, his eyes mischievous beneath his ridiculous bedhead. "Would you look at the time, the game will be starting any minute. See you around."
Giggling to himself, Bokuto spun on his heel and threw his fists into the air.
"Hey, hey, hey! Let's get this party started!"
Just like that, Daichi stood alone by the woods, completely clueless as to what transpired between the other captains. Dread filled him, no good could come from their mystery meeting and he was sure of it. With a final groan, he squeezed his eyes shut, then straightened to slap his hands roughly against his cheeks. A few of the players nearby turned to look at him curiously, but he ignored them and focused his eyes on his goal. It didn't matter what they were talking about, that wasn't his priority. No more whining, it was time to get serious.
Wasting not a second longer, Daichi shook off the nagging desire to know what they were talking about and made his way over to Coach Ukai and the rest of the team. As he took his place next to Asahi and Sugawara, Keishin called the attention of all the players, beckoning them closer.
"Hey, did you find out what was up with- Uh, what happened to your face?"
Suga eyed Daichi's ruby red cheeks, but the captain shook his head.
"They're keeping whatever it is, a secret from me. I don't know why, but it doesn't matter. All we can focus on is this game and our teamwork, whatever scheme they're plotting is just another hurdle we'll have to overcome."
The surprise was evident on Suga's face, then he grinned and nodded his head. "Yeah, that's right."
"Uh—Guys, Coach is glaring at us." Asahi lamented, drawing their discussion to a close and forcing them to turn their attention forward.
"Alright," Keishin announced, hands on his hips as he eyed his players before looking around at everyone else. "We're about to get started so listen up, let's go over a few things. As a reminder, you are not permitted to touch another player unless grazing them as you grab for a flag. When a flag is taken, it must be placed back on the belt it was pulled from, and the player becomes a prisoner. The prisoner will then raise both of their hands to signify they've been captured, and briskly make their way to the captor's base. That means you must jog, not walk. If you don't know where you're going, there will be coaches, managers, and supervisors who will act as referees and be stationed throughout the entire woods. They're familiar with the layout and will point you in the right direction."
The tension rose as guys stretched and shuffled in place, anxious to get started and hot as they stood in the sun.
"Any last questions?"
"Oh, I have one."
"Make it worth his time, Lev," Kuroo said, his voice monotone and his hand on his hip as he leaned back and listened to the announcements.
"It is!" He snapped peevishly, then turned to Ukai. "When do we get to eat lunch?"
Grunting, Yaku, punched his junior in the arm and shook his head, disgusted. "Really, Lev?"
"Ouch!-I'm not done yet!" He griped, clutching his arm, and rubbing it as he glared down at Yaku. "I wanted to know what happens with the prisoners while we're eating! Do they have to stay in jail, or do they get to go back to their team?"
"That's a good question," Keishin said. "We will take a lunch break at 3. Referees will blow their whistle to signify this, and free players will make their way back to their base. Any player in prison will remain where they are and eat with the team that took their flag. This is to prevent communication between teams and their lost teammates. If you wish to speak to a prisoner, you must either free them or get close enough for them to hear you from jail."
Unwilling to apologize but not spiteful, Yaku crossed his arms and remained facing forward as he pursed his lips. "Good question."
Annoyed, Lev continued to rub his arm and pout. "Told you so."
"Anything else?" Keishin asked, picking his head up and standing on the balls of his feet to look over the crowd and make sure he didn't miss someone in the back. After a solid stretch of silence indicated there were no remaining questions, he clapped his hands together.
"Okay, let's get this show on the road. In order of first place to last, each team will be released into the woods and will go to the base chosen yesterday." As he said this, the coaches and managers set to play as refs to leisurely make their way down the trail, off to their designated spots. "If you need help finding it, ask. Once each team is at their base, the whistle will blow, and the game will commence. If there is an emergency or complication, find the nearest referee and you will be helped. Cheating is prohibited, and if you get caught, there will be hell to pay, got it?"
A collective; "Yes sir!" Echoed from all around, and he nodded his head.
"That said…" He donned a devious smile and crossed his arms. "Let the games begin. Shiratorizawa, you're up. Go find your base."
They waited their turn as team after team was released, each disappearing between the trees and jogging off as a group. Every time another team left, Hinata grew even more jittery, anticipating their turn and beginning to bounce from foot to foot. The rest of the team chatted idly or stretched as they waited, or in Tsukishima and Kageyama's case, made snide comments to one another. Daichi did his best to keep his eyes on his players, but he couldn't help catching Kuroo leaning over to say something to Moniwa. Narrowing his eyes, he caught the taller boy's gaze until Nekoma was called, then felt a vein pulse on his temple as the bastard had the nerve to wink at him. Turning to his peers, he called their attention, and like the others, the team of black and red jogged off into the woods.
There was a sudden firm smack between his shoulder blades, and he flicked his head over irritably to find Tanaka's grinning face. "Relax, Daichi. That guy is trying to get under your skin. Quit getting so worked up. We've got this."
Daichi winced and rubbed at the stinging spot on his back but nodded his head. "You're right."
"I am?" Tanaka said, astonished, jaw-dropping.
Daichi frowned and quirked a brow at him. "Yes?... Why is that so surprising?"
Jumping to attention, he waved a hand and clutched at his chest with the other, tears springing to his eyes.
"I-It's not! You just never say I'm right! I was reveling at the moment, I didn't think I'd ever see the day."
Sugawara shook his head beside Daichi, his brows pulled together and giving a soft sigh. "Dial it back, would you? You're wearing me out and the game hasn't even started."
"Nice try, but you can't break my spirit, Suga!"
"Is that what he calls it?" Asahi chortled.
A few more minutes passed, and soon Date Tech was leaving them behind and running toward their base in the woods as well. Karasuno was the only group left, standing before their coach who'd dismissed every other team. In Date Tech's absence, the teens grew quiet and gathered at the entrance of the woods. They were ready, all they needed was the okay and they would be at their base quicker than anyone else. As they lingered in wait, there was a throat cleared behind them. Simultaneously, they turned and found Keishin regarding them with a firm set to his lips. Stepping up, Daichi addressed him.
"Yes, Coach?"
He watched them for a moment longer, then let his shoulders relax and smiled.
"I'm not going to give you another lecture, but I did want to say something. Working together isn't easy, but I think you'll find it comes naturally when you need it to. Learn from each other and make up for each other's weaknesses, that's how we will become strong."
The group bowed their heads. "Yes, sir."
"Last thing," Ukai said and dropped a hand to his hip. "Try to have a little fun, it's a game after all. Alright, that's all. Go steal some damn flags!"
"Right!"
With that, Daichi directed Karasuno to head to their base, Hinata, and Kageyama shoving one another to get there first.
Once they arrived at the space they'd been given yesterday, the first thing they did was take a more thorough look around. Upon further inspection, a first aid kit was found on a hook attached to one of the posts holding up the fort. About five feet from the structure, the large white square was painted to act as their prison, and a little way behind that was a table stocked with water bottles.
It was only a few minutes after they arrived at their base when the shrill sound of multiple whistles filled the air from all around. This was it; the game had begun.
Daichi's heart thudded painfully in his chest, this wasn't like a volleyball match where he was confident in what he was capable of and could always see his teammates. How was he supposed to keep control of the situation when everyone was scattered across ten acres? It was beyond him, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try. After all, he had Sugawara, and between the two of them and the less chaotic seconds years, they could handle this.
"Okay, that's the whistle so it's time to get serious. Kinoshita, Tadashi, Narita, as we discussed, you're on guard duty. I know it's a lot to ask but keep your eyes open. We can't afford to lose a single prisoner; I'm counting on you."
Visibly swallowing the lump in his throat, Yamaguchi clenched his trembling hands at his sides and gave a determined nod. "Right!"
Stepping up beside him, Narita and Kinnoshita gave thumbs up and nodded their agreement. "We'll do our best."
Feeling reassured by their resolve, Daichi smiled and turned to the rest of the guys.
"We remember the plan, right? Break into groups."
When everyone was situated, there were three groups of three. First, it was Daichi, Tsukishima, and Hinata. To the right stood Sugawara, Tanaka, and Kageyama. On the left were Asahi, Ennoshita, and Nishinoya.
"Remind me again why I'm responsible for watching after this moron?" Tsukishima asked dryly, his posture slouched and body language suggesting he was asked to do something offensive as wade through a mile of sewage.
"Hey, who're you calling a moron?!" Hinata barked, craning his head to glare up at the blond.
"You, obviously."
"You're one to talk, you four-eyed butt wad!"
Growling his annoyance, Daichi stepped between them.
"Cut it out. We went over this yesterday. The best way for us to get flags and prevent us from losing players at the same time is to split up. Hinata, Nishinoya, and Kageyama are the fastest players on the team, it only makes sense to leave flag and prisoner retrieval to them. It's a lot harder to focus on your surroundings if you're chasing after someone else, so it will be up to the rest of us to watch their backs and protect them from other players."
"Yeah, so stop being so selfish!" Hinata squawked from around Daichi's arm.
With a lethargic roll of his eyes, Tsukishima ignored Hinata and spoke to Daichi instead.
"Wouldn't it be more imperative to protect you? You're the captain, after all, we'll have to play with a five-point deficit if you're caught."
He had to admit it was a good point, but there was no way he could stand around and dodge responsibility while his team did all the work. Rubbing the back of his neck, he frowned.
"I hear what you're saying, but I think it would be more beneficial for me to help rather than hide. I'll be careful."
"Yeah, and if you do get caught, I'll break you out." Suga grinned, sticking his tongue out as he winked and gave a thumbs up that made Daichi chuckle.
"I'm counting on it. Alright, we'd better get moving, I'm sure everyone else has."
Sugawara nodded in agreeance a hand moving to his chin in thought and his stare shifting to his feet as he visualized the map. "The closest teams to us are Nekoma, Fukurodani, and Date Tech. We should go in those directions to prevent mass elimination. If we're all gathered, we'll be too easy to pick off. That said, if we do lose a member to our party, it would be best to regroup here and pair up with another tagging team."
Daichi nodded. "We'll head toward Date Tech, team Suga can head toward Nekoma. Asahi, your group will go in Fukurodani's direction."
"Uh-O-Okay!" Asahi chirped.
"Fan out and get to work, I know we can do this," Daichi said and held a fist in the air. "KARASUNO-!"
"FIGHT!"
The cheer echoed through the trees, and then the groups broke apart, jogging with their heads up and peering around alert.
…
"It sucks everyone knows where our fort is, but this valley is pretty sweet if you ask me."
Tanaka peered down below into the wooded crevice that split the ground before them. It was riddled with bushes speckled in red berries and wildflowers that sprung up between rocks and tree roots. It wasn't too deep, but it did require a wooden bridge to cross from one side to the other, one they were currently inspecting as they looked around for potential threats. The last thing they wanted was to be stranded on a bridge with opponents on either side. It was risky, but it was also the quickest route to the Nekoma players and would hopefully provide them a speed advantage.
Sugawara bobbed his head in agreeance with Tanaka but put a hand on his and Kageyama's back to guide them forward onto the bridge.
"It's great, but we need to get moving. We can't get caught on this thing, so try not to make a lot of noise. Kageyama will have the best chance to steal flags if we're able to sneak up on people, if we're lucky, they split up too. It'll be easier to pick them off if they're not in a large group."
The trio stepped onto the long wooden bridge and did what they could to muffle the hollow thud of their feet. Even if they were treading lightly, they were unable to prevent the squeak of old boards as they shifted beneath their weight. Just beyond the halfway point a sudden gust blew around them and rattled the leaves.
"Did you hear that?" Sugawara's head twitched to the right and he grabbed the back of Tanaka and Kageyama's shirts to prevent them going any further.
Incredulous, Tanaka looked around. "Uh-The wind? I think you're getting paranoid, dude."
Kageyama shook his head, his eyes narrowed, and held out his hand to stop Tanaka as he went to take another step. "No. There's someone up ahead, I can see movement through the trees."
"You're kidding me, how can you see something that far!"
"Shut up, they're going to hear us!" Suga hissed, shoving Tanaka's head down and then urging them forward. "Come on, we have to get off this bridge and see who it is, go, go."
The patter of their steps picked up as they maneuvered as fast as they could to the other side, then shuffled into the brush and ducked behind a couple of thick trunked trees. Kageyama stood behind Suga and looked overtop him as Tanaka crouched behind a tree beside them.
Pressing close to the trunk, Suga squinted and craned his neck to look around. "Where did you see something, are you sure it was a person?"
"There. I'm pretty sure. I saw black and red, I think it's someone from Nekoma." Kageyama pondered, reaching an arm over his superior's shoulder to point in the right direction.
Suga followed where Kageyama pointed and after focusing on the space between the leaves, he could see it too. Something red was steadily making its way toward them, coming down the trail and headed right for the bridge they'd crossed. This was their first chance, it was now or never. Suga dug his fingers into the bark and looked back over his shoulder at his teammates
"Okay, get ready to run Kageyama. It doesn't matter what team it is, once they get about 10 feet from the bridge, you're gonna jump out and grab their flag."
"Uh yeah, sure. How far is ten feet?"
Shaking his head half in sympathy, Suga looked back over his shoulder and hummed. "Hmm… Ah, see that rotting stump on the other side of the trail? Whenever he gets to that."
Kageyama nodded, he was taking the direction from the older setter seriously.
"Man, this is so lame. What are we supposed to do while he has all the fun?" Tanaka moaned, his nostrils flaring in his aggravation.
"Stop whining, we're his backup. If something goes wrong, we have to get out there and help before he loses his flag."
"Fine, yeah yeah, I heard you the first five times."
"Then why do you keep making me repeat it?"
"They're getting closer," Kageyama said, ignoring his upperclassmen's bickering and pressing up behind Suga to flatten himself against the trunk. The tree was large enough to conceal them both, but the moment was tense as their target drew closer.
Along with the crunch of footsteps, Suga was surprised to hear irritable muttering and took in a soft breath as he saw a familiar face come into view.
"Bedhead bastard… Dumping that giant on me… Doesn't have to deal with him… Height can't make up for stupidity."
Fuming and stalking down the dirt path was none other than, Morisuke Yaku. Suga wasn't entirely sure of everything Nekoma's libero was seething about, but he had an idea it was something to do with their new, ridiculously tall, and clumsy first year. From the looks of it, Yaku was on his own, and he continued to chatter to himself as he approached the bridge.
Behind him, Suga could feel Kageyama shift his body to the left and turn toward the bridge. He had some guilt over sicking the volleyball genius on someone he got along with so well, but all's fair in love and war. It was every team for themself, and he wasn't about to willingly do laps in his underwear.
As Yaku's steps brought him closer to the rotting stump, Suga's heart beat faster. He concentrated on the soft crunch Kageyama's feet made as he prepared to spring into action, and because of this, he registered Yaku's rambling a second too late.
"…Halfwit simpleton… Being smaller does not mean I'm ideal bait."
Bait.
Sugawara's eyes flew open wide, but his fingers only managed to brush the back of Kageyama's shirt as he shot out a hand and tried to stop him.
"Kageyama, no! It's a trap!"
Not even his words reached the younger teen as he launched himself out of the brush and charged Yaku who pivoted on the balls of his feet. His grin was ferocious as he faced Kageyama, and as Suga feared, Lev jumped out of the trees along with Yamamoto, the second year with the bleached mohawk.
"Damn it, don't just stand there! Come on!" Suga didn't wait for Tanaka to blink out of his stupor.
Crashing through the weeds, Suga sprinted toward the duo closing in on his teammate, and called out to warn Kageyama.
"Don't take them on alone, get out of there!"
Startled by the appearance of others, Kageyama slid to a dusty halt and staggered back two steps.
Ducking his head, Yaku released a fiendish laugh and began to stalk forward. "What's wrong, weren't you going to take my flag? Go on," He purred, his eyes glinting dangerously. "Try it."
Kageyama's face screwed up in startlement as he met the stare, beginning to backpedal toward the valley as Lev and Yamamoto gave shouts and charged forward. Because he wasn't watching where he was going, he turned hastily to make a run for it and tripped over a tangle of tree roots. He went sprawling to the ground as he lost his footing, but Suga managed to get to his side and started yanking on his arm.
"I've got you, come on, we've got to move!"
As he fought to get the first year back on his feet, Tanaka managed to come out of his daze and barreled out of the trees. "Back off my teammates, bro! I'm gonna plow you into next week!"
Before he could get Kageyama back up, Suga panicked as the Nekoma players closed in around them and dropped him to whip his head in the direction of his other teammate. He could see the intent of Tanaka's body language and knowing he planned to take Yamamoto to the ground, jumped in his path.
"Tanaka, no tackling!"
With a startled yelp, Tanaka recalled Daichi's lecture, but far too late. As Suga jumped away to stop him, Yaku was free to snatch Kageyama's flag from his belt and did just that. Before the vice-captain could yell his frustration, Tanaka collided with him and threw them back with the force of his momentum. Somersaulting in a single mass, the two tumbled until they went over the edge of the valley and hurtled down the hill through bushes and foliage. Sticks snapped and rocks rained down on them as they hit every bump and sapling, their grunts muffled and the descent feeling as though it lasted forever. A stray elbow caught Suga above the eyebrow with a sharp stab of pain, and then they finally reached the bottom where they landed in a painful heap.
From beneath the heavier teen, Suga laid on his stomach and gave an agonized moan. His head was in a bush, his arms and legs stinging everywhere from what he was sure were a million scratches. When his head stopped spinning, he tried to push himself up and failed because of the weight pinning him to the ground.
"Uhh… Get… Off."
Tanaka groaned in pain but after a moment to gather his strength, pushed himself off Sugawara. Rubbing at his shoulder, he tugged his sleeve up to see a bruise already forming, a scrape on his elbow and burning as the wind hit it.
"Sorry, Suga… You okay?" He asked, releasing his sleeve to rub the back of his head, and watched as his upperclassman tried to get up.
Crawling out of the bush, Suga huffed and fell onto his butt in a less painful position. He was quiet for about five seconds, and then he turned on Tanaka, fuming.
"No, I'm not okay! What part of 'don't touch other players' is so hard to comprehend?! We lost Kageyama ten minutes into the game! I feel like I've been attacked by twenty raccoons, and now we've got to climb out of here! If we didn't need every player on the team, I'd drag you back up just to kick you off the bridge!"
Tanaka cringed beneath Suga berating him, his eyes squeezed shut and his head falling forward in dismay. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I got carried away!"
"Sorry isn't going to get Kageyama b—Isn't going to… To—"
Sugawara repeating himself had Tanaka creaking an eye to peek, then blinking concerned when he saw the other teen looking paler than usual. A dark smear of red ran from above his brow, and down to his chin where it dripped. Having turned spacy and lethargic, Suga looked to his palm marked with his blood and raised it gingerly to his face in search of the source.
"I'm bleeding." His voice was a quiet contrast to the volume it had been only moments before.
Shuffling forward, Tanaka pulled Suga's hand away from his face so he could see where the blood came from and spotted the shallow cut above his eyebrow.
"It looks like you've got a cut on your forehead, it's not too bad. After we climb out of here, we can head to the base and get a band-aid—Hey!"
As Tanaka spoke, Suga's eyes glazed over, and he dropped forward into his teammate. Tanaka caught him by the shoulders with alarm and supported him as his head sagged forward, unconscious.
"Suga?! Suga!" Still gripping Sugawara, he looked to the bridge above them and muttered under his breath. "Daichi's going to kill me."