My match had a lot more attendance than I'd anticipated. Even from the locker rooms, I could hear the echo of fans chattering. My knee bounced up and down trembling.
Damn... I've never been this nervous.
I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my ears trying to drown out the noise:
What if I can't stand up to this girl? Every time we've been matched up I've gone down in straight sets.
My stomach felt like it was in knots and I had the urge the throw up. I swallowed shakily and bit my bottom lip. Suddenly, I felt arms wrap around me. My nostrils filled with a familiar smell: clean sheets and a hint of lavender.
I opened my eyes and that same goofy smile was plastered on his face. He was wearing dark sunglasses and a baseball cap. I'm assuming to remain inconspicuous with the crowds.
"Sorry I'm late," he sighed embarrassingly, "I meant to be here sooner before so we could see each other before you headed to the locker rooms.. but your coach said you've been in here freaking out for the last hour so I just-"
I leapt up without even a second thought. I didn't care that we both crashed onto the floor and the impact had knocked the air out of my lungs and had me dazed. I clung so tightly to him as if he'd disappear if I relented for even a moment.
"Whoa! Whoa!! Vanji!" Hinata exclaimed, "What's going on?"
I buried my face into his chest, "Is it.. really you?"
"Heh.. I hope so.. otherwise I'm still asleep on the plane," he joked.
"God.. it is you," I whimpered.
"Yea.. I.. I'm home," he breathed holding me close.
After we'd both had a moment to calm down, I realized. Hinata had left practice to attend my match. There was no way he'd done this without attracting attention.
"Does anyone know you're skipping?" I inquired.
"Yeah.. the team knows. I told them it was a family matter so no questions asked. But this is the first practice I've ever really missed so there will probably be news on it sooner or later," he explained.
"Heh.. Mister Popular aren't you, Shoyo?" I giggled.
When I faced him, he looked starstruck.
"W-what?" I raised a brow.
"Oh! Sorry.. It just kinda caught up with me.. this is our first time being with one another in a year. Forgot how my name sounds when you're near.." he blushed.
I panicked feeling flustered by his expression.
He still gets to me.. even after all this time.
I began to say something but then I heard my name be announced over the speaker to report to court side .
Hinata smiled softly, "Don't worry. I'll still be here when you get back. I'll be hidden out of sight but I'm still here to support you."
I smiled back feeling my heart race. For the first time in a while, I felt invincible.
~~~
I looked over at the scoreboard.
Set: 3
Miyagi: 30 Tokyo-Prefecture: 40
Shit...
I felt like my legs were going to cave in beneath me. I'd pressed myself all season in preparation of this moment and it still felt like she had an edge on me.
Her serves were killer. It was a split second of reaction time and my chance to attack was gone. She was at set point and I could see myself falling further behind.
I had requested a time out. The mounting pressure against me felt overwhelming. I quickly sat on the bench and leaned over, hugging my knees to my chest.
My coach sat beside me and sighed, "So... where do you go from here young lady?"
I tensed, "I... I can't get a grip, sir... I just feel so lost.."
"And that's the issue here.." he explained, "You're spending too much time analyzing and not enough time actually playing your game. Stop worrying about what comes next.. take it one moment at a time."
I smirked and nodded. My coach patted my shoulder and I jogged back onto the court. As I made my way past the net, my opponent chuckled:
"Soo... I noticed we have a celebrity in the crowd today. That make you nervous, Vanji?" she mocked.
"Celebrity?" I feigned ignorance.
"A MSBY Jackal is here. Strange that he'd be interested in tennis but he sure is cute..." she commented.
I tightened my grip on my racquet handle, "Shouldn't we get back to the match?"
"Oh don't fret, I'll end it quickly so I can have time to get acquainted with that volleyball hottie," she winked.
I gritted my teeth and quickly looked into the fence line, I noticed Hinata peeking out from behind a set of the stands:
So much for being inconspicuous..
Her next serve came flying, I felt the collision against my racquet and the ball soared over the net cutting against the right service line. Neither of us had time to blink.
My point..
I glared in her direction, "Eyes on me sweetheart. I'm not finished yet."
Deuce.
Her next serve was aimed directly towards my feet. I had to leap backwards and awkwardly return the ball. I stumbled on my ankle and felt a sharp pain ripple up my leg.
I didn't have time to dwell on the pain as her next receive soared through the air. I had to move fast and attack. My next shot was aimed straight towards the middle. This would require her to turn completely and give myself enough time to regain my footing. As she readied herself, I sprinting back to the service line and planted my feet. I wasn't going to let this stop me.
She reared back and put her entire power into this backhand. I heard the ball pop against the court. I stood stunned.
I heard the line judge's voice echo over the speaker, "Out. Advantage, Kageyama, Vanji."
This was it. My last chance. I moved to return to my defensive stance and the excruciating pain returned. I bit down on my lip, trying to distract myself from the sensation. Her first serve hit the net. I could read the frustration in her eyes. As her second serve entered my side of the court, I eyed the left corner of the court. She instantly darted in that direction.
Gotcha...
I turned my aim towards to the opposite direction, reared back and gave this final swing everything I had.
One bounce... Two..
I heard the echos of cheers. I slowly slumped to the ground and collapsed. My muscles cried out and I glanced at my ankle and realized how swollen my ankle had become. I felt tears of elation and severe pain. I heard the gate open behind me and my coach was kneeling in front of me.
"Vanji!" he shouted, "We gotta take you to the infirmary."
I absentmindedly nodded. Everything seemed so far away. I could feel myself going into shock. Two athletic trainers arrived and began lifting me onto a gurney. I heard my voice being called from in the crowd.
Confused, I looked around for the source. I realized Hinata was bolting through the crowd. His hat had fallen off so his characteristic locks and his were visible. I saw the flash of multiple cameras. Hinata had hopped onto the back of the ATV vehicle I had been loaded onto. I felt him squeeze his arms wrap around me tightly and he began running his fingers through my hair.
He leaned in and whispered into my ear, "You did it, baby.. You did it."
I laughed breathlessly, "I... I did it.. Shoyo.. I did it. I'm going to Nationals."
When the vehicle came to a stop at the infirmary, the trainers and Hinata began helping me off the gurney. My ankle felt like it weighed 1000 lbs. When the trainers offered to get me crutches, before I could answer, Hinata interjected and like a regular knight-in-shining armor, he lifted me into his arms and carried me bridal-style into the infirmary.
