"Aaand there they go again." Sasaya said, sounding a cross between amused and exasperated.

Moniwa pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in response, the sound almost inaudible over the shouting coming from across the gym.

It had been almost a week now since they had lost out to Shiratorizawa in the third round of the Interhigh Tournament. The third years had retired. Moniwa was now officially captain, and Kamasaki his vice-captain. Moniwa had been an anxious mess for the first two days afterwards, fretting about how things would go once the third years were gone and he was in charge for real, but for the most part the week had gone surprisingly smooth. Even Futakuchi had been well-behaved. He knew that a big part of that was everyone trying to deal with the combined disappointments of losing their match and the upperclassmen leaving, but even so, he had foolishly started to hope that maybe this captain thing wouldn't be so bad after all.

Incorrect. He realized now that the last couple of days had merely been an adjustment period only and not a permanent change. And apparently Futakuchi had finished adjusting, because today he was back to his usual snide self.

"All I'm saying is that your last jump was a little slow, Kamasaki-san." the first year was saying. "It left a weak spot in our block. One that our next opponent will be sure to exploit." His eyes narrowed a fraction as he said it, and Moniwa stiffened. Kamasaki had had the same issue during their last match. Shiratorizawa's second year ace, already practically a legend from his middle school days, was nigh unstoppable now that he was an even taller and more powerfully built high schooler with a higher-level setter to support him. Along with Sasaya and their fiery ex vice-captain, Kamasaki was the only other player on Dateko's side who didn't seem even slightly intimidated by him. But in the last minutes of the final set, it had seemed like Kamasaki's nerves were finally getting the best of him. A few seconds too slow on the block, and it was Shiratorizawa's match point. Their setter had immediately capitalized on Dateko's momentary doubt by sending it right back to their ace the next rally.

Moniwa could still hear that last spike. It echoed in his ears with a sound akin to cannon fire. The ball had slammed into the floor so hard it had bounced the height of the upper level railing before coming back down in the corner of the court. He repressed a shudder. Dateko had terrifying members of its own, but Ushijima Wakatoshi was, without a doubt, a monster.

Which was exactly why, when Kamasaki was still acting hesitant in his blocks a week later, nobody had said anything. It had been all any of them could do to slow Ushijima, never mind stop him, so there was no point in singling out any one person for mistakes made while blocking him. Even their normally critical coach hadn't said anything, giving them all space to mourn their painful loss before they got back down to business.

'Count on Futakuchi to be the one person to finally say something, though.'

The thing was, this one time he didn't think Futakuchi was pointing out his teammate's flaws to be mean-spirited or mocking. If anything, he was trying, in his own awkward and overly blunt way, to give the older boy a bit of advice. From all the yelling, though, it didn't seem like Kamasaki understood or appreciated the gesture.

Moniwa frowned worriedly as the volume from the other side of the court continued to rise.

'Sure, everything's gone fine so far this week, but not without a ton of pressure on me. I know Kamasaki's just trying his best to ease that pressure and support the team, but in return he's putting too much of the burden on himself. And because of that he's letting the little things get to him way too easily.'

And anyways, Futakuchi was right in what he'd said about his last jump. It wasn't just that, though. The last couple of practices, on everything minus his blocks, it seemed like Kamasaki was almost focusing a little too hard and it was making his movements stiff.

Futakuchi put a hand on the other boy's shoulder and said something else that Moniwa couldn't hear. Kamasaki shoved him off roughly and Moniwa winced. They'd bickered most of practice and he'd let it slide in hopes that they'd work it out themselves, but it was quickly becoming obvious that that wasn't going to happen. Kamasaki was already on the verge of snapping, and Futakuchi was starting to get put out and raise his voice as well. If he didn't intervene now somebody was going to get hurt.

'Still,' he grimaced, 'I don't much fancy getting into the middle of that by myself.'

Movement out of the corner of his eye attracted his attention. He frowned thoughtfully at the boy standing next to him, an idea occurring to him.

"Oh! Hey, Aone."

The huge first year glanced down at him questioningly.

"I hate to ask this of you, but will you help me break the two of them up? I'm afraid that if this goes on any longer they're going to hurt each other."

Aone glanced at the two, standing close enough that their noses almost touched and both shouting now, and strode towards them without bothering to answer.

"H-hey, wait, I'll give you a hand-"

Aone put one large hand on Kamasaki's chest and the other right in Futakuchi's face and shoved them apart, nearly knocking the other first year over backwards.

"Um, never mind. I guess he doesn't need me after all."

Sasaya shook his head, looking vaguely impressed. "Apparently not."

"What the hell, Aone?!" Kamasaki demanded, turning on him. The first year fixed him with an unblinking stare and he took an involuntary step back.

"Moniwa-san says stop."

The entire gym fell dead silent.

"Aone-kun just spoke." Obara said finally, looking amazed.

Moniwa held his hands up nervously as Kamasaki and Futakuchi stopped gawking at Aone and turned their gazes towards him instead.

"Um, please. Please stop."

Futakuchi huffed and shoved his hands in his shorts. "Whatever." He stomped to the side of the court where all their bags lay, snatched up his, and stalked out the door, rubbing his face where Aone had shoved him. Technically first years weren't allowed to leave until the gym was cleaned up, but Moniwa didn't call him back. It was best to just leave Futakuchi be when he was that upset. Forcing him to interact with others when he was in such a foul mood only ever made things worse.

Instead, he walked over to where Kamasaki still stood, shoulders hunched and clenched hands shaking. He patted Aone's arm in thanks as he passed; the younger boy simply nodded in acknowledgement and walked out of the gym after Futakuchi. Moniwa didn't call him back, either.

He didn't say anything for a few minutes, waiting for Kamasaki to speak first; but when it became clear that the other boy was determined to simply ignore him until he went away, he said softly, "You don't have to that, you know."

"Do what."

"You don't have to…to try so hard." He said it hesitantly; effort was obviously a touchy subject with Kamasaki right now and Moniwa had no desire to be the next target of his anger. Quickly, so the other boy didn't get the wrong idea, he added, "I mean you don't have to put so much pressure on yourself to be perfect. I know things have been difficult the last couple of days, and I know you're just trying to take some of the pressure off me, but you don't need to push yourself so hard. We're both still trying to figure this captain thing out. It's gonna take a while, and it's gonna be rough, but we'll get it. It'll just take some time."

After another moment of hesitation, he reached out and lightly touched the other boy's arm. "You don't have to do everything yourself, Kamachi." He rarely used the nickname Sasaya had come up with when they were first years, but now seemed like a good time for it. Despite his tough exterior Kamasaki was surprisingly easy to sweet talk.

He lowered his voice a fraction.

"I know I don't exactly inspire the most confidence in people, but I'm not made of glass, either. It's okay for you to rely on me every once in a while."

Kamasaki exhaled deeply and ran a hand through his hair, leaving blonde tufts sticking up in its wake. "I'm sorry." he said wearily. "I've been a real asshole today, haven't I."

"I wouldn't say it that way exactly." Moniwa said nervously.

"I would!"

"Sa-saya…!" he hissed frantically.

"Oh, shut your face, Sasaya." Kamasaki was grinning though, albeit a bit forcedly.

The slightly more cheerful expression gave Moniwa enough nerve to say quietly, "Futakuchi was just trying to help, you know. He wasn't trying to be a jerk. Not this time, anyways."

Kamasaki ground his teeth in reply. "I don't need him to tell me I'm screwing up. I know that well enough already."

"First of all, you know that's not how he meant it." Moniwa said reproachfully. "And secondly, you know none of us blame you for what happened in that last set." Kamasaki cringed and he added, "We all made mistakes that game. How many points did they score off me when I was on the front line?"

Kamasaki didn't respond, just ran his fingers through his hair again and made a face.

"I didn't mean to shove him." he said finally.

"I know. Just apologize. I'm sure he'll understand."

"Ugh."

"Don't "ugh" me. I always make him apologize to you."

"Fiine."

"And I don't mean later." he added, jabbing a finger at the taller boy's chest. "If you let this sit it'll just make things worse between you two."

"UUGHH."

"What did I just say?"

"Fiiine." He dragged the word out even more the second time, looking sulky. Moniwa ignored his pouting and turned to the rest of the team.

"Sorry, Sasaya, do you guys mind cleaning up? We have to-"

Sasaya cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Go do what you gotta do, captain. We got it under control here."

Moniwa shot him a grateful smile. "Thanks."

They caught up with Aone and Futakuchi at the school gate. The two were standing close enough that their shoulders were almost touching, talking in low tones. Well, Futakuchi was talking. Aone was listening intently.

'And honestly, that's probably all Futakuchi wants right now.'

"Oi, Futakuchi!"

"Geh!"

Moniwa put a hand to his heart, startled by the sudden outburst. Futakuchi jumped as well. It took him a moment to actually turn and look at them, and when he did his expression was bitter and guarded. Kamasaki stomped over to him, glaring. They stood nose to nose for a long, strained moment, and Moniwa didn't miss the way Aone tensed up and frowned at Kamasaki with narrowed eyes. He had gone after them equally in the gym because Moniwa had asked him to, but if things ever actually came to blows between the two of them Moniwa was pretty sure he knew whose side Aone would be on.

Kamasaki inhaled deeply and Moniwa felt a pang in his chest as he saw Futakuchi stiffen, like he was expecting a blow, or more likely another round of screaming.

"I'M SORRY!"

Futakuchi cringed at his deafening yell, before peeking at him from behind his long bangs in confusion.

"Huh?"

Kamasaki looked away, flushing. "I said I'm sorry! I shouldn't have yelled at you like that, and I definitely shouldn't have shoved you. That was a jerk move and I'm sorry."

The tension in Futakuchi's face and posture lessened. He hesitated, then said slowly, "…There's a time and a way to say things, right?"

The second year looked at him blankly.

"Oh!" Moniwa said softly, as Futakuchi snuck a glance at him. He vaguely remembered saying something like that the first time the two of them had seriously gotten into a fight. It felt like so long ago now that he couldn't believe Futakuchi still remembered it.

"I got so focused on the way I said it that I guess I didn't think about how maybe it wasn't the best time to say it." he mumbled, playing with the hem of his shirt. "I was just trying to help. I wasn't trying to make fun of you or anything." It was the most earnest Moniwa had ever seen him be, and his heart constricted a little with fondness.

"Look, just forget about it, okay?" Kamasaki said awkwardly. "It was my bad, not yours, so don't sweat it. We're all cool, kay?"

"Kay." Abruptly Futakuchi's face lit up, eyes twinkling mischievously. "This one time I'll forgive you, I guess."

"Huuuh? What'd you just say to me, you little punk?!"

And just like that, the mood was broken. Moniwa facepalmed. "And there they go again. That was short-lived." Beside him Aone exasperatedly rolled his eyes at the two in a very overt display of emotion for him.

Kamasaki rolled up his sleeves. "Ya wanna know why I put on all this muscle? So I can do this."

He wrestled Futakuchi into a headlock and noogied him playfully, the younger boy yelping and struggling against his grip.

"Ow! Let go!"

"Not until you admit that I'm awesomer than you."

"No way! And "awesomer" isn't even a word- ow! Ow ow ow!"

Moniwa groaned. "Aone, if you would, please." The other boy cracked his knuckles before forcing his way between the two and shoving them apart again.

"Hey! How come I'm the only one you ever push in the face?!" Futakuchi demanded, still rubbing his head after Kamasaki's assault.

Aone blinked at him. "Kamasaki-san is a second year." he said simply, as if that explained everything.

Futakuchi scowled at him. "So he gets a pass just cause he's a little older than us, but you'll shove your own best friend in the face? Harsh, man." Kamasaki smirked at him and Futakuchi stuck his tongue out in response, earning him another noogie. Aone frowned at them in disapproval.

"Alright, you guys, give it a rest." Moniwa said wearily. "Seriously." He noted the rest of the team coming up behind them and added, "Tell you what, behave yourselves and I'll treat everybody to food on the way home, okay?"

Kamasaki reluctantly released Futakuchi and the two chorused, "Kaaay."

"Thank you."

Futakuchi waved cheerily at the rest of the team. "Hurry it up, slowpokes! Moniwa-san's gonna treat us all to food."

Moniwa saw Obara and Onagawa exchange confused looks at the stark difference in Futakuchi's mood from earlier. Their expressions quickly changed to ones of relief and Obara rested an arm on Futakuchi's shoulder, grinning at him. "Cool."

The walk downtown was the most relaxed and at peace the team had been all week. Futakuchi and Obara chatted up a storm the whole way, Onagawa interjected a comment here and there as he felt like it, and Aone trailed at the back of the group, listening silently as always.

"And with that, I think things are finally back to normal." Sasaya said quietly, and Moniwa sighed in relieved agreement.

"For a little bit there I didn't think they would ever be." He sped up a few steps and patted Aone enthusiastically on the back. "Man, you were great though, Aone! From now on you're my right-hand man." He pointed at Kamasaki and Futakuchi. "I'm counting on you to help me keep these two in line, alright?"

"Kay."

"Hey!" Kamasaki protested. "How come he's your right-hand man? I'm the vice-captain, shouldn't that be me?"

Moniwa frowned at him. "So one would think, but in case you'd forgotten you're part of the problem here."

Kamasaki grimaced. Futakuchi snickered at him behind his hand and the older boy immediately grabbed him by the collar and shook him. "Quit laughing, jerk!"

"What did I say about the roughhousing?!" Moniwa demanded. "Cut it out or I'll sic Aone on you again!"

The two glanced at Aone, looming over Moniwa's shoulder with a warning expression on his face, and Kamasaki let go of Futakuchi's shirt, holding up his hands placatingly.

"Okay, okay, we got it. No more roughhousing."

It didn't stop them from racing each other the rest of the way to the convenience store, though, shouldering each other every couple of steps until they reached the door and disappeared inside. Moniwa massaged his throbbing head and moaned.

"Those two are going to drive me to an early grave, I just know it."

Sasaya patted his shoulder consolingly. "At least now you have your capable right-hand man to help keep them in line." he said cheerfully. Aone's cheeks tinged pink and he hurriedly ducked into the store with his head down. "Keep up the good work, captain." Sasaya added teasingly as he followed him, and Moniwa buried his face in his hands.

"Ugh. I'll try."

By the time he gathered himself and entered the store, everyone else had already chosen their treats and piled them on the counter. Moniwa quickly grabbed a water, pulled out his wallet, and then ducked back down an aisle for a snack as he realized he was actually starving.

'Managing a volleyball team when it's made up of problem children like ours is really takes a lot out of you.'

He hurriedly paid and his teammates scattered out the door, all munching happily. Eating left everyone too busy to talk for a few minutes, and Moniwa took a deep breath of the cool afternoon air, reveling in the few precious moments of quiet.

After spending the greater part of two years together he was long since used to Kamasaki's habit of touching him without warning, whether it was rubbing his head or punching his shoulder or resting his feet on Moniwa's knees when they sat across from each other at lunch. Kamasaki preferred to show his affection through touch instead of with words, it was just how he was. Despite all that, it still made Moniwa jump when the other boy suddenly wrapped an arm around his waist. Kamasaki pulled Moniwa tight against him, hand resting loosely on his hip, and after a moment of surprise Moniwa relaxed against his side.

"Sorry I was such a jerk today." Kamasaki murmured. "It's my job to be the captain's support, but in the end I just made things harder on you, huh?"

"Everybody has an off day every now and again." he said comfortingly.

"Or an off week." Sasaya said under his breath, but his tone was playful instead of accusatory. Kamasaki let go of Moniwa long enough to reach behind the setter and punch Sasaya in the arm. He then ruffled Moniwa's hair roughly before draping a heavy arm around his shoulders.

"But maan, you're pretty cool when you're being all tough and bossy, Moniwa."

He flushed. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like." Kamasaki poked his cheek playfully. "You should be like that more often."

"If I could I would!"

Embarrassed, he tried to wiggle out from under Kamasaki's arm, only to have the other boy yank him back to his side and noogie him. Moniwa felt a flash of sympathy for how Futakuchi's poor head must feel as Kamasaki's knuckles dug into his scalp. He smacked his hand away and squirmed out of his grasp. "What did I say about the roughhousing?" he demanded a second time, but he couldn't help laughing and Kamasaki simply smirked.

"Not a very convincing tough guy act if you laugh afterwards, Moniwa." Sasaya chided.

"I knooow."

Abruptly Sasaya put an arm around both of their waists, pulling them close to him and resting his chin on Kamasaki's shoulder. "I'm glad you two are back to your usual selves." he murmured. "You guys worry me when you go all moody and quiet for long periods of time like that."

They traded guilty glances over his head and Moniwa gave him an apologetic hug, nuzzling his cheek against Sasaya's. He regretted it almost immediately as Sasaya's prickly sideburns scratched against his skin. "Thanks for always having our backs anyways." He grinned. "Even when we're being weird and moody."

That prompted a smile from the other two, and a pleased Moniwa snuggled further under Sasaya's arm. "Seriously, I don't know what we'd do without you."

"Preach." Kamasaki agreed.

Sasaya tried and failed not to look utterly pleased with himself at the praise. "Somebody has to keep you two in line. Goodness knows Aone has his hands full managing Futakuchi." He raised an eyebrow. "And now Kamasaki, apparently."

"Still can't believe you sicced him on us like that." Kamasaki grumbled. "Twice."

"Well I certainly wasn't going to try and break you two up by myself." Moniwa said defensively, and Kamasaki considered for a moment.

"That's fair."

Ahead of them the first years had gotten into some sort of conversation about workout routines, and Kamasaki slipped out from under Sasaya's arm and jogged ahead to join in. The other two separated as well, but when Kamasaki was out of earshot Moniwa nudged Sasaya with his elbow.

"Seriously, thank you. I know sometimes you kind of get passed over in the grand scheme of things, but neither this team nor the two of us could do it without you."

"If you keep laying it on like that I'm gonna start crying." Sasaya joked. He knocked a fist against Moniwa's and grinned. "Like I said, that's what I'm here for. I've got your back, captain."

"Huuh? Ya wanna repeat that, Futakuchi?!"

"I said, you devote all that time to strengthening your other muscles, but you should really carve out some time to strengthen your brain as well. That's a muscle too, you know."

"You calling me stupid?!"

An exaggerated sigh. "See, this is what I'm talking about, Kamasaki-san. That was a perfectly understandable sentence with a simple implication and you're still uncertain that you understood it."

"Futakuchi, I swear to God I am going to wring your neck."

Futakuchi stuck his tongue out. "Only if you can catch me. And with all that muscle weighing you down, I dunno if-" He let out a terrified shriek as Kamasaki easily cleared the distance between them with a flying leap. The rest of the first years scattered to avoid getting caught in the middle of their scuffle. Moniwa and Sasaya just stared at them.

Sasaya held up a finger. "Let me rephrase. I have your back except when it comes to that. You'll have to rely on your other right-hand man for that." And with that he sprinted to join the first years in watching the chaos. If Moniwa didn't know better, or at least if Moniwa didn't regularly fib to himself and pretend that his kouhai were more morally upright than they really were, he'd think Onagawa and Obara were placing bets on the outcome of the fight. He heaved a huge sigh and joined the lone figure standing at the edge of the group, holding up a hand when the other boy made a move to separate the two combatants.

"Don't worry about it, Aone. I've got it this time."

"Ow!"

"Oww!"

"Seriously. Break it up, you two. You're giving me a headache again."

"Sorry."

"…Sorry."

"What happened to 'certainly not going to try and break us up yourself'?" Kamasaki mumbled, rubbing the back of his head.

"I'm the captain here. I can't make Aone do everything for me."

Moniwa ran a hand through his bangs, watching the two brush the dust off their clothes and frown suspiciously at each other any time the other made a move. But at least they weren't angry and screaming at each other anymore, and for that Moniwa was grateful. His team was loud and rough and messy, but looking at them all teasing and laughing together now, he decided he wouldn't trade them for anything; not even for the quietest, most polite, least headache-inducing team in the world. This was his team and, he thought with a swell of pride, he was its captain. But that didn't mean he had to carry all the responsibility himself. Here he had been lecturing Kamasaki about trying to do everything himself, when he had been doing the same thing all week and driving himself crazy with the stress.

'A good captain knows when to delegate.' he told himself. Kamasaki ruffled Futakuchi's hair forcefully and Moniwa swallowed the instinctual rebuke that formed on his tongue, because Kamasaki was smiling and Futakuchi was laughing and leaning into the touch and Moniwa found himself swallowing the sudden lump in his throat instead. 'A good captain also knows when to relax and let his team just be.' He smiled. 'And when to join the fun.'

He raced to catch up, jumping on Futakuchi and Kamasaki and throwing an arm around each of their necks. The two let out startled yelps and reached out to catch him. His sudden entrance into their play-wrestling was apparently a sign to the other boys that roughhousing was now permitted, because suddenly Moniwa found himself in the middle of a large pile of laughing, shoving teenage boys. Even Aone joined in, with all the enthusiasm and emotion he did anything else; which is to say, with no visible enthusiasm or emotion whatsoever, although Moniwa could've sworn he saw him smile for a mere half of a second. Aone's version of play-wrestling was just as understated as everything else he did; he simply draped his arms over Onagawa's shoulders and leaned into him, nearly pushing the smaller boy over. Onagawa seemed to find this a perfectly acceptable situation, however; happily scooting away from the group and hogging Aone's affections to himself, which in turn led to a lot of loud complaining from a jealous Futakuchi. Moniwa stumbled free from the raucous group, a loud laugh bubbling up.

Maybe this captain thing really wouldn't be so bad after all.


*Emerges with a new chapter to this fic after 500 years* Hey what's up all I still love Dateko with all my heart. Also this chapter is dedicated to the fabulous Dorizard who left wonderful comments on all of my Dateko stuff (and some Nekoma stuff!) and made me remember how much I love writing these boys without them this chapter probably would've sat unfinished for another four months. They're the actual best.