2. Distance (I)

At the shrill sound of the whistle, signaling the end of the match, a fledgling group of newly joined first years immediately come, bounding down from the stands and flocking over to the renowned Ace of the school's volleyball team.

'Akagi-senpai!'

But amidst the commotion, Kaga can only stand and watch from a distance, listening to the overtly enthusiastic chatters of the first years of the team, while Akagi proceeds to pacify them with a smile or two, and a pet on the head here and there.

Kaga is not a stranger to such a scene. It has happened time after time, especially more so, after the latest batch of first years has joined the team. But still, it doesn't exactly explain the tiny prick of something she feels in her chest each time.

So she pays no heed to it, after all it is something she has learned to ignore and downplay with time— like the throbbing of her muscles after every match.

Because things as trivial as emotions, are not worth wasting her energy on when she has obviously better things to do. So she wipes off the sting in her chest, in the same way that she does with the bead of perspiration that is trickling off her chin.

But even so, while Kaga might be able to keep her emotions in bay, the whirring thoughts in her head are something else altogether. Like an incessant buzz in the ear, it is something which she simply can't ignore all that easy.

It's tough, but it doesn't stop her from trying nonetheless. She's known for her willfulness after all.

So in the mean time, she'll just have to try to keep herself from thinking about how far away Akagi feels from her at the moment.

Or how the outline of her figure is starting to seem more and more like a speck of blur from where she's standing.

"Hmm, Akagi-san sure is popular amongst the first years."

Upon returning to the bench, she catches the casual remark of her fellow teammate, Souryuu.

"Ah, Kaga-san, here."

Murmuring a soft word of thanks, Kaga makes to grasp for the towel that is held out towards her, before slumping into the empty spot beside Souryuu on the bench, spent for the day.

She only vaguely listens to the chatter around her as she rearranges the towel around her neck after wiping the sweat off her face, and silently reaches for her bottle of water.

The first years are still going on about Akagi's play for today.

And Hiryuu and Souryuu are (unfortunately) caught up on the topic of Akagi as well.

Kaga sighs inwardly, gripping at her bottle with clammy palms.

The air in the court is stuffy and stale, tinged heavily with the scent of sweat. And along with her knee guards that feel oddly constrictive for the day, it almost feels like the whole world is out to smolder her to death, choking the air right out of her.

As dull as the throbbing of her heart is, Kaga does her best to stifle it down, along with everything else.

"Well, we're talking about Akagi-san, after all," replies Hiryuu, who's sitting to the left of Souryuu. "I'm sure Kaga-san has a group of first-years fawning over her as well, right?" She says, with just a tiny hint of tease, leaning forward slightly as she flashes Kaga a playful grin.

Kaga falters for the briefest of a second then. The fingers that are coiled around her bottle tighten almost imperceptibly, almost barely managing to crinkle the plastic film of the bottle.

She hides her frown behind her the rim of her bottle, taking a long languid swig from it.

"Unfortunately, I don't." She says, voice quiet and controlled as ever, without a single trace of emotion to give herself away.

But what she doesn't expect is the loud boisterous response she would get in return.

"What! But why?"

Both Hiryuu and Souryuu exclaim in unison, and Kaga notes, with idle amusement, that the surprise on their face is indeed genuine.

She glances up then, and watches the brown-haired middle-blocker from across the court for a good minute or so.

Watches the way she smiles ever so serenely— ever so gently— down at the bunch of first years crowding around her. Watches the way she assuages their enthusiasm with light-hearted conversations and utmost patience.

In that moment, the distance between them has never felt so far.

Even if Kaga were to reach out for her, it feels like she's barely even able to reach her.

Far… You're so far away from me, Akagi-san.

Her heart gives a twinge, and she finds it a whole lot harder to simply shrug this one off.

She tries to inhale deeply, but the giant block of unease in her chest is making it hard for her to breathe.

"If you think about it, there's nothing flashy about being a setter. During a match, we mainly toss and pass, sometimes block even and we rarely ever get to spike—"

Ah.

Kaga immediately stills upon catching a short glimpse of amber staring straight back at her from across the court.

Her breath hitches as Akagi flashes her a small smile.

A smile that has her crinkling her eyes into soft crescents. A secret smile. A smile that Kaga knows is meant only for her, and her alone.

No matter the distance, you'll still come back to me each time.

And in that moment, the knot in her chest dispels, overcome by a gush of pleasant warmth that rushes through her veins, invigorating her with a sudden burst of energy.

"But our main role is to support the team as a whole, and to supply the hitters with the best toss possible, in order to draw out your fullest potential with your spikes."

Eyes never once leaving Akagi's face, she further adds with a careless shrug.

"Working in the background and all, we're uncool like that, I suppose." She says, with just an imperceptible hint of a smile.

Jumping to her feet with much fervor, Hiryuu's protest is almost instant. "N-no! Setters are cool, Kaga-san! Without you, the offense of our team will be crushed." She insists wholeheartedly, with Souryuu nodding vigorously by her side.

"It's okay, though," says Kaga, with ever so much nonchalance and tranquility. "It's not like I care much about it anyway."

Feeling indignant over the whole matter, Hiryuu opens her mouth, words poised at the ready for objection when Kaga shoots her a sharp look.

The stare-off between the pair merely lasts for a good second or two.

Until the tension in Hiryuu's shoulders sags and the fiery words of dissent die off into a relenting sigh. Huffing, she flops back down beside Souryuu with a pout.

Because everyone knows that Kaga is irrefutable when she puts it that way.

"Hiryuu, Souryuu."

The girls in question stiffen, almost upon instinct, at the call of the team's setter.

As per usual, her voice is quiet and soft, but unlike most of the other times, it is lacking in its usual steely edge.

Kaga rises to her feet, footsteps echoing with much purpose, only pausing when she is standing before the two hitters of the team, who are left to await their fate with bated breath.

"Even though today is just a practice match, the two of you have done exceptionally well."

When gentle fingers reach forth to lightly tousle their hair, both hitters had very nearly flinched away response. Cheeks flushed and surprised beyond belief, Hiryuu and Souryuu brace a hesitant glance up at the stoic setter of the team, only to be met with an unexpected tender smile.

"Good job."

Even long after Kaga had withdrawn her hands, both Hiryuu and Souryuu were left, stunned and speechless.

The flushes on their cheeks only intensify further, burning the tips of their ears as well.

"Well then, I'll be hitting the lockers now. See you tomorrow."

Turning on her heels, Kaga makes for a swift exit.

It is only after a good five minutes later when both Hiryuu and Souryuu finally regain their ability to speak.

"If I was a first year, I would definitely fawn over Kaga-san."

"Yeah… Me too."

"And to think that we're all of the same age..."

"But Kaga-san really is cool."

"Yep, she definitely is."

A/N: There will be two parts to this one. The next one will be coming up shortly. Hopefully. Thank you for reading! :)