When Yachi rotates back to Karasuno, she was so happy to see the team made so much improvements. There were gradual improvements despite the misses, she was overall happy to note the difference in her notebook that Karasuno did improve so quickly during training camp.
She also noted somberly that it had been three weeks since Hinata fought with Kageyama and she observed that they weren't really talking to each other normally even during practice hours. She wondered if there was something she could do to help them ease the tension of their friendship but she doesn't want to interfere too much. What if it gets worse if she tries to be way involved?
Even so, not everyone is satisfied with their improvements during training. Even Tsukishima tries to work harder lately even though he looks completely relaxed. Perhaps it was the way he looks. He might not look like he's working hard but he's actually starting to do more individual practices with others to improve his blocking.
However, one thing that Yachi was actually looking forward to was the quick that Kageyama and Hinata were working on and it seems, even in the current match, that it wasn't doing so good since Hinata and Kageyama couldn't be in sync.
Hinata finally snapped in the middle of the match in the afternoon once he missed the toss from Kageyama. "You held back, didn't you?!" he yelled ferociously.
Even the gym seemed to quiet down after his exclamation. Everyone stood frozen in surprise to see Hinata finally snapping out during.
"Held back? Me? With volleyball?" Kageyama seethes with his teeth as he grabbed Hinata's shirt with growing storm. "Say that again."
Daichi could tell that this was going bad if they continued, "Hey, stop it you two." He ordered sternly after the two years.
In the end they had a time out to cool down the tension between Hinata and Kageyama. Everything shifted when Hinata returned back the anger to Kageyama.
"That wasn't the falling toss."
Yachi blinked at his exclamation. She furrowed her eyebrows and wonder, did Kageyama unconsciously forced himself to change the way he played with Hinata?
'But they seem to be trying to connect with each other but could it be that Kageyama's toss didn't match to Hinata's style instead?'
Ukai coach grumbled as he spoke to Takeda-sensei about what might happened between them with their play as he requested the team to cool down during the time out.
"It seemed that Kageyama was trying to ensure the best toss with his technique but since it's imperfect that's why it's stressing out Hinata. That's why Hinata claimed that he's holding back." Coach spoke, expressing his thoughts.
"Oh I see. It did seem like Kageyama was trying to pin point the ball but failed to do so perfectly." Takeda-sensei voiced.
Yachi overheard this and began to write it down in her notes. She concluded that if Kageyama isn't able to confidently give tosses to Hinata's comfortable spiking spot then their quick cannot be performed 100%.
Until the end of the day, Karasuno made rough improvements with today's practice and everyone else find their way going to the cafeteria before moving on with Free Practice. Yachi collects all the towels as she was deep in thought with Hinata and Kageyama's fiery interactions today.
"Oi, Yacchan~" Yachi felt a soft poke on her cheek when she looked to see Sugawara smiling at her with his towel in his hand.
"Sugawara-senpai." She greeted him, accepting his used towel to the laundry basket.
Sugawara chuckles before he pokes Yachi's temple with his finger, "Loosen your head a little, Yacchan. You'll get wrinkles early if you scrunch up your face too much haha."
"S-senpai." Yachi yelped as she rubs the spot where her temple was previously poked.
"Haha, cute." Sugawara proceed to pull Yachi's cheeks with his fingers – again. Yachi sighed in defeat as she could only protests with her eyes that she was a little annoyed.
"Senpai, are you going to practice more after this?" Yachi asked through her pulled cheeks as the third year vice-captain was having fun in his own world of pulling Yachi's soft plump cheeks.
"Hn? I guess I'll go eat some dinner first before continuing." He answered then releasing his fingers when he leaned down and asked, "Do you want to eat with me, Yacchan?"
"Perhaps next time, senpai." Yachi declined his offer since she had a few things to do left before she can be finished for the day.
Sugawara frowns as he leaned back, "Well that's too bad. I'll save you a seat for the next meal."
Yachi smiles sheepishly, "If it's okay with you."
Sugawara laughs lightly, pinching her cheeks once more before leaving her behind as he joins the rest of the third years to go to the cafeteria. Perhaps it was Yachi's own observing notes but lately the third years of Karasuno had been playing with her cheeks after practice hours.
It isn't uncomfortable but she sometimes feels odd that they came to her for some cheeks-playing sessions. The third years were already very comfortable with her to the point that they like to treat her like a little sister – it was a little strange but not unwelcoming.
'At least they don't think I'm a burden so I guess it's still a safe one for me.' Yachi thought inside her mind as she continues on with her chores for the night.
After finishing her managerial duties – she then joined Kageyama during Free Practice when Kageyama suddenly asks her for empty water bottles that he could use for individual practice.
This made Hinata question him when Yachi brought Kageyama a bunch of empty bottles and lined them up against the net in different linear spots.
"What are you doing, Kageyama?"
"Starting tonight, I'm not practicing with you." Kageyama replied easily. "And I won't be using the new quick with you during matches."
"Why?!" Hinata grumbled.
Yachi feared that they were going into another fight again as she held the bottles but to her luck, Kageyama answered, "You're the one who told me not to stop, didn't you?"
Kageyama continued to set the bottles on the ground in different places. "There is no point in us practicing together right now."
Instead of being upset about it, Hinata firmly understood his reasoning. "Okay."
Yachi then watched him running to the other side of the court where the rest of Nekoma members were practicing.
'It seems like there was nothing to worry about.' Yachi thought in her mind.
Kageyama turned towards her and asked, "Yachi-san…would it be okay if I ask you to help me pass some balls for my tosses?"
Yachi smiled at his request. "Of course, Kageyama-kun. I'll do my best!"
Yachi gathered some balls that were scattered around the court so that they could start practicing with more balls. As Yachi was gathering the balls, Kageyama unconsciously smiled warmly at her – happy that she was able to accompany him for his individual training.
Yachi grabbed one ball from the cart and goes to her position. "I'll start from here." Then began to start passing the ball overhead as it reached to Kageyama.
Yachi then accompanied Kageyama's individual practice for the rest of Free Practice hours for the night.
Yachi checks her watch when she realized that it was getting late. She then informed Kageyama about the time and reminded him that the cafeteria was closing soon so they had to wrap up and eat some dinner before it closes.
Kageyama breathes heavily before he looks at the clock on the wall. He also can't believe it's already getting late – he felt like he needed to practice more but knowing that he can't really go to sleep with his stomach empty, he decided to help Yachi wrap up their area before going to the cafeteria.
Since it was only the two of them in the first gym, the atmosphere was very quiet – safe for the squeaking shoes and quite breath but at this moment, Kageyama felt a little odd about being alone with Yachi at this time.
Perhaps it was night time or the fact that they were alone – Kageyama isn't sure what to make of the flutters inside his stomach when he stares at Yachi when they clean up at the gym.
But he definitely likes being together with her, that is for sure.
Once Yachi was done gathering the balls to the cart and pushed it to the storage room aside, she looks back to Kageyama. "Do you have all your belongings?"
Kageyama nodded once he checked that he has his water bottle and towel, Yachi took this as a sign that he's got everything and they both leave the gym together.
As they were walking to the cafeteria, Kageyama kept glancing to Yachi on his side. Despite being at night, the lights around them made it visible for him to see Yachi clearly. Even though she clearly looks like she was worn out and tired, she still looks pretty.
Kageyama thinks Yachi always look pretty but it was only recently that he also likes seeing Yachi this way too. Her bouncy blonde hair, bright brown eyes and rosy cheeks – the way she looks at him just sometimes made him feel like he's running out of air because he always forgets to breathe –
"What's wrong, Kageyama-kun?"
Kageyama blinked a few times and looked ahead, only to realize that he had been staring at Yachi intently for the past few minutes. He felt shy all of the sudden, feeling the warmth creeping up his neck and cheeks.
"Oh – um…I was just wondering that – you've been working very hard lately. You should…take it easy sometimes and rest when you're tired."
Kageyama was able to bluff some words so he doesn't seem too awkward about his previous act.
Yachi gave a tired chuckle, "Thank you for looking out for me, Kageyama-kun. I'll be sure to remember to rest well." She continued, "You should also rest when you can. I know you've been working very hard with your tosses and it's not easy so – good luck."
When she cheered for him, her eyes twinkled with a soft expression that Kageyama's inside started to melt at her loveliness and it seems like he's finally losing it.
'It feels like I'm getting sick but I'm not uncomfortable by it somehow….' Kageyama's thoughts wonder in his brain about what he thinks when he started to feel strange from interacting with Yachi lately.
"Hn. Thank you."
It certainly isn't bad to feel this way whenever he is beside her. And to think that he began to look forward in spending time together with her in the future, the strange feeling in his heart grew bit by bit every passing day.
When Yachi finished dinner with Kageyama early, she excused herself to go back to the dorm when she passed by the third gym. Seeing that there were still some people practicing at late hour. Seeing that the cafeteria was closing in few minutes, she hurriedly ran towards the gym and peeked her head inside.
It was the familiar faces of Hinata along with Tsukishima, Kuroo, Lev, Akaashi and Bokuto doing a three vs three match. Even though they seemed to be very into the game, Yachi had to break it to them that they should be finishing their practice and eat dinner quickly.
"Everyone! If you don't wrap up soon, the cafeteria will close and you won't get any dinner." She announced.
"Geh! Nani?!"
"We can't fight with an empty stomach after all."
"Food!"
Everyone was surprised by the info so they had to stop their match and wrap up the game, putting back the balls and head to the cafeteria.
Bokuto was among the first person to greet Yachi and made a surprise hug as he came close to her. "Yacchan! I heard that you're going to be Nekoma's manager tomorrow, that's not fair."
"B-Bokuto-san…please don't hug me when you're sweating." Yachi whined as she tries to pull away from the large captain.
Bokuto pouts, "Aww Yacchan, do you hate me? Do you hate my spirited hug?"
"Anyone would be uncomfortable if they had to hug when you reek of sweat, idiot" Kuroo bumped a fist on Bokuto's head which released the owl captain from Yachi.
Yachi took this chance to separate herself from them as she took a few steps away, "You must hurry since the cafeteria is going to close in less than fifteen minutes."
This made the boys perked up. "Crap, we gotta hurry!" Kuroo exclaimed as the rest followed him to hurry their way to the cafeteria.
"Yachi-san, did you eat already?" Hinata bounced next to her.
Yachi nodded, "I just did."
"You won't get any food left if you're the last one to the cafeteria." Tsukishima spoke as he passes by Hinata and Yachi quickly. Yachi could swore that she heard Tsukishima smirk behind his goading words.
"Gah! Damn it, Tsukishima. Yachi-san sorry but I'll go on ahead. See you tomorrow!" Hinata began to race to the cafeteria as he screams with all his might to get there.
Yachi couldn't help but shook her head while she laughs. "Silly Hinata-kun."
Author's Notes:
hello~
more interactions with kageyama-kun yay. you can tell that i'm struggling to write the chapter haha. it's so difficult to put the tense atmosphere between kageyama and hinata so it kind of comes off lazy in the writing but i hope you don't mind it that much. hmm i really want to make the plot faster tbh haha cause more exciting stuff on bbq day which i'm excited to share about.
i'm also in the midst of writer's block so i'm sorry that the writing is boring and choppy. i hope i can make it up in the future chapters.
thank you for reading!
