Part 3

The sound of balls ricocheting off the walls and shoes squeaking against the floor from the recording filled the room, your eyes flickering between each player, mainly on Semi. You pick up footsteps from behind you, coming closer.

"How's the recording going?" Ohira asked you.

"Pretty well, except... well, you know."

"The tosses were fine, though."

"But average for Semi. He showed us so much more. Oh Ohira, this is all my fault... "

He shook his head. "Don't think about it. He doesn't hold it against you if that's what you're worried about."

"... We need to record the serves now, right?" He nodded.

Right, you need to go all out this time. You marched up to the beautiful light-haired setter with hazel eyes as he was spiking a ball against a wall by himself. The team watched you worryingly as you spoke up to him.

"S-Semi... ?" He turned his wary eyes to you, with dark circles under them. Oh, your heart. "Can I have your bottle, please?"

He walked away a few steps and returned with his almost empty bottle in hand, holding it by the cap so you could grab it just anywhere you wanted. Semi was so self-conscious and hyper-aware of you now. The whole team gasped when they saw you gulp down the rest of his water as you watched him, before you couldn't stand anymore and close your eyes.

He looked at you completely dumbfounded, he couldn't understand you anymore.

"You don't need to do that." He straightforwardly asked. You both knew what he was talking about. You didn't need to be all seductive and girly now the whole team knew the 'truth', only to boost his morale or reputation.

"... You're right."

Still, you walk away with his bottle in hand, and placed it in the middle of the far south of the court. For once, you raised your voice so everyone could hear you.

"This is no new exercise for you all, but we all know how hard this is with a serve... I need to record any of your outplays."

And so an excited round of serves, one at a time began. None of them managed, until Ushijima hit the net, sending the ball up before it luckily landed on the bottle. A big round of applause and cheers erupted. When it died down, you spoke again.

"This was nothing. It was pure luck." They all went silent. "Come on guys, I need something, or the coach is gonna get angry at you." They all winced and grimaced, seeing where you were coming from. "I bet 2000 yens Semi can do it." You suddenly but quietly declared.

Said setter was startled. He had yet to hit once too. He looked at you as if you went mad.

"I bet he can't." Soekawa said. And they all followed.

"Well I bet he can. And that I can too!" shouted Goshiki.

"I bet he does too." Shirabu surprisingly said , always observing the good plays of his seniors.

And so they all began to cheer and make a fuss about the outcome as Semi nervously took his place outside of the court despite his stern glares. You presented him the ball with an encouraging look. He scoffed at you.

He took the ball, did his habitual play around it and launched it in the air. He ran, the team cheered, following his speed and stance, his footing was off. He had too much pressure. His powerful serve hit the outside of the court on the opposite. He swore... the team made a big round of 'yeah' and disappointed whines.

"Wait a second. Semi is the only one with a bet on him. He gets three chances. After that, anyone who can do it wins."

"So harsh today (Surname)~."

You turned to him with another ball. He sent you an unreadable look back.

"Come on Semi. I know you can, more than anyone."

"Don't worry, I'll get you your money." He dejectedly answered. You tried not to show that derisive comment hurt.

He fetched the ball, and played around with it for a while. It gave the team time to calm down and let him concentrate. He bit his lip, and tensed his shoulders and arms. Then launched it far above. He ran, counting his steps, jumped as far as he could, and met the ball at the right time. His serve soared across the court, blasting the bottle away to hit behind multiple times.

You all cheered and applauded.

"Dat's cheating... !" Tendou complained. "He had (Surname) backing him up!" You laughed, not denying it, and so did the team.

Semi didn't look back at all of you. He was still watching the other side. You were sure he was pleased with himself, and the team wasn't so mean as being happy he would definitely fail. But this wasn't enough. He needed to remember how good he was, how highly you thought of him since always.

You were feeling the fire start ablaze once more.

"He can do way better. I saw it. Look!" You went to retrieve the bottle, you replaced the camera and poised the bottle on your head after some tries. You were in the front of the court, behind the three metre line.

"No, (Y/N), it's dangerous. Get out." Semi nicely demanded.

"It's alright, I trust you with my life. Go on, I know you can do it."

There was a loud round of whistle and cheer as they patted him everywhere, sending him in all the direction as he tried to keep his balance.

"I bet he's gonna hit her face."

"Count me in!"

"It's alright if you do, Semi. Come on!" You encouraged him.

He didn't move, still watching you severely.

"She said it was okay! What good are you, Eita! Are you chicken? Man up!" The coach shouted. Semi glared at him while the others winced and backed up from such harsh words.

Then he looked back at you. You thought he was gonna give up. But in the end, he concentrated, his hands moist and fretful. He served, watching you intently, calibrating his aim carefully. You weren't afraid, you were thrilled. This was the first time he ever fixed you so hard. You couldn't help but close your eyes, while staying put, as the ball soared above you. The bottle landed with a smack behind you.

"Huuuuh? Whaaaaat?!"

"Nice!"

"That's Semi for you!"

You picked it up with a smile, the teacher and the coach watching with interest, as you got on your knees, farther on the court, balancing the bottle on your head.

"One more, Semi!" You cried.

"Semi, nice serve!"

You could finally see a smile on his face despite the concentration. As you expected, the bottle smacked behind you again. You applauded and cheered with them, though alone on the other side. He was getting back on board!

"Just how!?" Goshiki protested.

"Incredible." Ohira shook his head from left to right.

"He's very good." Complimented Ushijima. "He really has the best aim."

"Okay, last one!"

You laid on the floor, the bottle on your forehead, near the camera. This was the end of the court. Semi's eyes widened. No way! But everyone was watching him. The coach seemed pleased. He took a deep breath, puffing his cheeks, then sighed out. He trapped the ball between his hands, observing his options carefully, your form laid in complete trust and vulnerable to his aim.

This was gonna be difficult.

"Eita nice seeeerve!"

Still, he launched the ball in the air, completely focused on his spike, speed, footing and strength. No one dared breathing. The ball disappeared in the blink of an eye and you jumped when you felt it graze your skin and hair. But he succeeded. He threw his fist in the air, shouting. The whole gymnasium went crazy.

Shirabu's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, while Goshiki gripped his hair, screaming and babbling broken sentences.

"How in the actual-!" Goshiki cried. The others laughed.

You got up on your feet and the noise quietly died down as Semi hastily made his way to you. He raised his hands but didn't know where to put them.

"(Y/N)! Are you alright? Did it hit you hard?"

"C-come again?" You were always nervous whenever he was close around.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt? Do you need to sit down?"

"Huh?"

"Argh!" He shouted, angry at himself, tightening his fists near his scrunched face. "I knew I'd mess up somewhere! Fuck, I'm so useless!"

Now you began to panic. You didn't do all this for nothing! Why was he like this?

"What are you talking about?" He turned back to you.

"Your forehead... (Y/N)." You searched for the injury on your face, feeling the burn but not quite finding it.

He came closer and gently put your finger on it, then he neared his face near your injury, eyes severe again. "Semi... " You blushed furiously, fingers trembling. Oh no, not again...

"(Surname), are you alright?" asked someone. The team was gathering around you. You sensed Semi tensing like treading on thin ice, a good foot away from you now.

"It's alright, it's just a scratch. The aim was good but it was a difficult shot. It's normal." Indeed, it was the only way to get the bottle and the ball inside the court. So all in all, Semi was still incredible for making this incredible narrow shot between your head and the end line.

"That was incredible, S-Semi." You looked right at him to compliment him, but right down the middle you couldn't hold your gaze and gazed down, very flustered. "The air... whooshing above me!" What a poor vocabulary. You were so done with yourself.

It still seemed to please him, as a proud smile returned on his lips.

With this, Semi should be able to get back on track and alright with the team, since they saw how you had no problem with him. In the end, he was just a guy pining for a girl.

Later that day, after practice, Semi waited for you outside of the gymnasium with Ohira. You watched him catch up to you, eyes aghast, as Ohira let you both alone.

"Here, some disinfectant and a band-aid. I'll be damned if I let you get back like this. Are you sure the ball didn't hit you?"

"I-i-i-it didn't. I-I swear." Oh god, when will you stop this stammering nonsense?! You blushed hard again. "I... Hum... " You blabbered, the items in your hands.

"You can't see it, so let me do it for you. I-if... that's okay with you, I mean. Please." He was uneasy as well.

You couldn't say anything except nod.

You closed your eyes. He sprayed the disinfectant on your forehead, then gently dabbed the product with a paper tissue. He was so close you were overwhelmed with his smell again, and you couldn't help but feel swooned and soothed by it. God, he smelled so good. It was like a drug.

"I'm sorry. About everything." He mumbled. Your head fell down.

He taped down the band-aid with a feathery touch, as careful as he could with you. You were already feeling healed with his hands and breath on it.

"N-no. No... " You grabbed his wrist, your eyes still closed. "It's me who's sorry. I-I... I don't pity you S-Semi. I should have told you that at-at least. I just... feel for you."

"... I shouldn't have made assumptions... should have been more discreet, if anything. I still want to apologise. I shouldn't have bothered you."

You gripped him harder. God, why was it so hard... to let go?

"It's nothing. I want you to feel confident, Senpai. Y-you are... nothing short of amazing." You opened your eyes, he looked at you surprised. "The team needs you in the next tournament. No matter how much the coach wants Shirabu ready, he's not. Ushijima's the captain but you're the one to call the shots on the court. You rule everything. I want you to win."

I love you.

But you couldn't tell him. You turned your head down again.

"I'm so sorry about this. I believe in you."

"... I know... " He answered with a gentle smile.

You could say nothing more. You let him go. You ran away home, and let him go, tears down your face.