15. Revelations
In a blink of an eye, the preliminaries of the Interhigh competition has finally flown by— concluded, done and over with. And needless to say, it is another victory in the bag for Kaito Academy.
Small victories though, Akagi reminds herself. It's only the preliminaries.
The one they're gunning for is the big one— the Nationals— after all, so there's no room for slowing down.
Nor is there any room for conceit or arrogance, or so she tells herself and preaches it to the rest of the team like the responsible team captain she is.
Nevertheless, Akagi supposes that it shouldn't hurt to let their hair down and cut loose, at least for the moment. A victory is a victory after all, and a celebration is only in order.
In the rented bus back to Kaito Academy, the mood is kept relatively light, happy and full of cheer, with the excitable prattle of the first years rolling off the front half of the bus like an incessant buzz in the air. Though, this time, it appears that no one seems to be paying their ever-growing volume any mind, deciding to let it slip just this once, owing it to the good mood their victory has brought on.
Not even their coach, Houshou, or their club advisor, Mamiya, has so much as turned to glance over at them with a silencing look; appearing to be more caught up in their own excitable conversation than to notice the hubbub around them at the head of the bus.
Ah, such is the magic of a post-victory haze.
Doing a quick survey around the back of the bus where the rest of the Regulars are seated, Akagi finds herself greeted by the sight of multiple exhausted but happy faces blinking back at her hazily; sated and full of content, and it brings a small smile to her face. And as she turns to her side, her smile only softens, widening just much so.
"Someone's in a good mood," she murmurs liltingly to the girl beside her.
Shoulder slumped, with her back reclined wholly against the chair and head lolled towards the whizzing scenery outside, the Kaga now, is the very image of peace and serenity. A huge contrast to how she had been hours ago, when they were on their way to the sports hall. All regal and stiff like a board.
Akagi decides she likes this Kaga better.
Even with the apparent shadow of fatigue marring her features, there's that telltale spark in her eyes, lighting up amber pools to a daring shade of gold.
"Am I not allowed to be?" Kaga questions, with one of her few rare genuine smiles hinting at her lips, and her head tilted slightly in playful mirth.
"Of course not," laughs Akagi, instinctively reaching out for the hand resting atop her vice-captain's lap. Turning it over, she carefully weaves their fingers together. A movement that comes all so very naturally to her by now, that it doesn't even faze nor fluster either of them. "We've played a good game today."
Kaga makes a soft hum in assent, nodding as she squeezes at their linked fingers. "That, I agree."
And for a brief moment, everything stills over. The indistinct murmur of their underclassmen around them and the faint droning of the engine from the bus, it all peters out into a lulling silence as they stare, entrapped in each other's gazes.
Something in the air has shifted, deepening so, with a hint of emotion that Akagi can't exactly put a finger to, but it makes her chest feel all the more tighter; her heart beat, just a little faster.
Ever since the summer camp, things haven't exactly been the same between them. It is almost like the weights of some invisible scale had tipped, changed irrevocably, and now they're left, stuck; treading precariously along the dangerously narrow edge of friendship and something... more.
"Say, I've been wondering for the longest of time…"
And just like that, the spell over them is broken.
Zuikaku, and her mop of olive hair and twin-tails, peeks back at them from the seat in front.
"Akagi-san and Kaga, are you two together? And by 'together' I mean dating each other of course."
In that very instant, Akagi is positively sure that her heart had stopped for a split of a millisecond, the blood in her veins freezing over into ice. The impact, in which Zuikaku's question had struck her, had very much knocked the wind right out of her, momentarily robbing her of her thoughts and speech.
A quick glance over to Kaga, shows that she's is fairing no better herself, only barely managing to reel in her shock behind her usual flinty façade in time; the hold on her fingers being more like a death grip than anything else. Though, Akagi isn't particularly sure who is holding onto whom tighter. Herself or Kaga?
"Zuikaku!"
Up front, without missing a beat, Akagi hears the admonishment rising from the elder of the two sisters, the mortification in her voice ringing true and clear.
"What? You've been wondering the same thing too, Shoukaku-nee." Zuikaku retorts, huffing indignantly. "What with that whole scene in Akagi-san's room from that one time and during the summer camp where they both disappeared in the middle of the night to god knows where. Oh! And don't forget all that 'secret' hand-holding business when they think that no one else is lookin—mmf!"
At the mere mention, both Akagi and Kaga instinctively tears away from each other's hold, as if scalded by an invisible heat that only sears, blossoming against their cheeks in a telling rosy red hue.
Ducking sheepishly over from the side of the seats before them, with one hand clamped firmly over the mouth of her younger sister and the other forcing said-unrelenting girl's head down into an apologetic bow, Shoukaku rushes out in a panicked shrill, bowing off to the two seniors frantically.
"Please forgive her rudeness! She doesn't know what she's talking about."
"But Shoukaku-nee—" Comes Zuikaku muffled protest, but is immediately cut off short by a particularly chilling death glare from sister dearest.
However, the damage has already been dealt, too far gone for control at this point, with word spreading like wildfire amongst the rest of the other Regulars.
The younger of the two sisters from Ishikawa, has— after all— never been one for discretion, much to Akagi's chagrin.
"Oh my, oh my! What's this I hear? So is it true? Are you both actually 'together'?"
And now with Hiryuu catching wind of things, Akagi is more or less resigned to the fact that it might just take a whole lot more for this matter to slide quietly, as she tries to ignore the suggestive wagging of brows from the girl sitting across from the aisle beside her, her intention to tease as clear as day.
Meanwhile off to the side, Kaga silently face-palms herself.
Recollecting whatever that is left of her composure, Akagi braces on with her usual disarming smile, fixing her placid countenance firmly in place while she plays it off all cool and unaware.
"Oh my… I say, what a commotion this has brought on." She murmurs, liltingly, a pondering finger on her cheek with her head tilted over to the side with the sweetest smile on her face, in her means to charm her way out of this mess.
"Smiling your way through is not an option, Akagi-san." Hiryuu lilts back in turn, clicking her tongue at her chidingly whilst spotting a particularly impish glint in her eye and a devilish grin on her lips.
Akagi would have never thought it possible, but for one fleeting second, she actually panicked, and in her moment of desperation, she had hazarded a glance over to Kaga in her attempt to seek some form of comfort— support— in her overtly familiar presence.
And true enough, Kaga's eyes are locked onto her, watching her attentively in that ever so tranquil and collected manner of hers, and in those liquid amber depths, Akagi finds her respite— her strength and courage.
An assuring touch over her shoulder, and she sees the steel in her eyes soften down upon her with an indiscernible spark of emotion, the corners of her lips curving imperceptibly into a faint smile.
Akagi-san.
Even without speaking, she could still hear the quiet address of her name in that silken soft voice of Kaga from her steady gaze; svelte and blanketing, it soothes away the growing knot in her chest.
Let me handle this, the look in her eyes almost seems to say, and with a short breath, Kaga's features harden over, lips pressed thin and eyes narrowed slightly. Gone, is that soft and tender look as she dons on her usual cold and stoic persona that is very much known of the Kaito volleyball club's vice-captain.
"We're not… 'together', if that is what you call it," says Kaga, simply yet resolutely. Though as quiet as her voice is, there's that underlying hint of authority that commands everyone's attention within the vicinity. "And I would very much appreciate it if you could stop coming up with baseless rumors as such."
A frigid side-glance over at Zuikaku immediately sends the younger girl frantically spiraling back round to face front, despite herself. Because as much as Zuikaku is known for picking fights and getting into petty squabbles with Kaga, she still has some decency to know a lost battle when she is faced with one.
But having built up a certain immunity to Kaga's frosty approach over the years, Hiryuu remains heedlessly undeterred, merely waving her off with a careless shrug and a laugh.
"Eyyy, but Kaga-san, it's not baseless if—"
"—Hiryuu," interjects Kaga softly, the threatening undertone of warning and danger in her voice cutting through the air like a knife, "this conversation is over." She says, turning to pin said-brunette down with a withering glare.
For the very first time during this untimely confrontation, Hiryuu visibly wavers.
"R-right," she murmurs, her cheshire-like smile waning as she purposefully averts her eyes away from them both.
In the seat beside Hiryuu, her better half, Souryuu, merely sends both Akagi and Kaga a sheepish apologetic nod in turn, before looking to distract Hiryuu into some form of lighthearted conversation.
And with the weight of the spotlight— the prying eyes of everyone— finally taken off from over them, it is only then, does Kaga redirect her focus back onto Akagi, the ice in her eyes immediately thawing over as the hard edges lining her countenance eases away into something softer; warmer.
Again, she doesn't speak, only pressing a touch up against Akagi's arm. A firm squeeze, and she pulls away, the barest of smiles hinting at her lips.
It's meant to be a comforting notion, Akagi knows that. But for whatever odd reason, it only stirs up a whirl of emotions within her— an ugly twinge in her chest.
Because it has never been more clear to Akagi than this very juncture.
That whatever Kaga does has always been for her sake.
Always.
And to even go as far as to forsake her own feelings and to deny them outright in front of everybody…
The revelation of this new information, only puts a bad taste in Akagi's mouth.
After being awarded a good three full days of much deserved rest in compliance to their win, they are once again, back at it at full steam with their ever so grueling training and drills.
Not that Akagi particularly minds it or anything, her body has been so conditioned to the harsh Spartan-like regime of their training that the three days of break have only made her restless, flighty even; like a fish out of water. Being back on the court, with the rush of adrenaline pumping through her veins, the familiar feel of leather against her palms and the sound of balls— volleyballs— striking against the court filling her ears…
Yes, this is where she is meant to be.
"Eh, Kaga-san is still not finished?"
Is pretty much the first response she had, upon her retirement back to the benches with Kaga nowhere within sight.
Contrary to popular belief, the two of them are not as joined at the hip as everyone has made them out to be. It might seem that way at first, but it really is just not it. When it comes to training, it is more often than not that they would be separated, practicing by the side of their other teammates, unless it be a practice match of sorts.
With the key fundamentals of their club's victory riding on the extreme well-rounded development of their players, it wouldn't make sense if Kaga, their team's official setter, were to be focused solely on working with just a single hitter. Moreover, it would be most detrimental if Akagi were to fall dependent on Kaga's sets alone.
"Yep, she's still going at it with Zuikaku," answers Hiryuu, hand outstretched with Akagi's signature maroon-colored water tumbler, along with her face towel. "Here," she offers good-naturedly as Akagi receives her items with a quick word of thanks and a nod of gratitude.
It's a familiar gesture, one that is more than frequently carried out by her trusted partner, Kaga. Though, there is just something about Hiryuu taking Kaga's stead that doesn't particularly sit well with Akagi.
"Said that, she will not rest until they've managed to coordinate their quick sets." Souryuu supplies from the side, scooting just a little to accommodate for Akagi on the bench. "Even if it takes them the entire day, apparently."
"She sure is determined, though," remarks Hiryuu with a low whistle, eyes critically following after the oddly paired duo working in tandem by the net of the center-most court. "Nationals is only in a month's time away…"
Ah, so close!
Akagi winces, along with both Hiryuu and Souryuu on the bench, sucking in a breath as Zuikaku only barely misses Kaga's set by a hair's width, the ball sailing, grazing right past and over her fingertips before landing onto to her shoulders in an anti-climatic thump.
An exchange of scornful glances at one another and cue the usual bickering (and the collective sighs and grimaces from the benches.)
'Oi, don't you think that set was just a little way too high?'
'And I had thought, surely you would have at least what it takes to pull off a spike of that altitude.'
'Hah? What are you—'
"Well, you know how Kaga-san is," shrugs Souryuu, a tiny nervous chuckle escaping her from watching the pair have at it at each other's throat, right smack in the center of their school's indoor sports hall. "Even after getting her sets down, she'll probably want to fine-tune it even further. Considering that the upcoming Nationals may very well be the end of the season for us, third years. I'm sure she wants our next play to be the best one yet."
"Yes, that definitely sounds like Kaga-san, alright," murmurs Akagi musingly, glancing off towards the duo— more specifically, Kaga— with an especially soft look of fondness.
With practice having ended a good couple of minutes ago, the courts have more or less cleared out— save for a few stragglers— leaving just mainly the two of them on the court. Hence, making their petty row all that more apparent to the ordinary bystander.
With an amused chuckle and a quick shake of her head, Akagi straightens up, the soft glint in her eye steeling over slightly as she levels her gaze back on both Hiryuu and Souryuu, all dignified and very captain-like. "While granted, we do have at least a month to prepare for the coming Nationals, we should not become complacent following our victory in the Preliminaries. Ov—"
"—Overconfidence and arrogance are not to be tolerated." Hiryuu finishes with winning grin, a twinkle in her eye. "Right?" She winks, raising her fist up towards Akagi.
Playfully bumping knuckles with Hiryuu, Akagi smiles and nods, brimming, full with pride, "Well said."
Hiryuu laughs, preening just a little.
From the side, Souryuu, whose gaze is still intently glued onto the pair, makes a small pensive hum. "But looking at Zuikaku's condition now, it doesn't really seem like they'll be able to pull this off by today though."
And that catches Akagi's attention.
Now that Souryuu actually mentions it, she has to agree that Zuikaku does look notably drained. Then again, that is probably just an understatement.
The girl looks completely spent for the day; with every visible spot of skin drenched entirely in sweat and her hair all bedraggled and mussed, signature twin-tails drooping, hanging limply over on each side. Back hunched, palms firmly planted over her knee guards and lips parting slightly, even from afar, Akagi can tell that her breaths are coming out heavy in ragged puffs.
Definitely not a good sign.
Though, it's no surprise that she would be in such a state, since they have been reportedly going at it for nearly a solid four hours.
"But knowing how feisty Zuikaku is… And with how Kaga-san is constantly goading her on, who knows?"
"Oh, I guess that's one clever way to rev Zuikaku's engine! As expected of Kaga-san to know which buttons to press."
"Well, she is our setter after all. It's only natural that she knows us best."
"True that!"
Paying only half an ear out on the conversation between Hiryuu and Souryuu, Akagi turns her focus back onto Kaga, watching said-girl steadily with a heedful eye.
Despite looking the least bit affected on the outside, Akagi knows. She can see it in her eyes; the cloud of fatigue, laying on thick like a fog, piling over her and dulling out the precious gleam in those precious amber pools. There's that subtle pallor to her lips that Akagi notices— a contrast to the rosy flush of her cheeks— and it ignites a certain uneasiness in her chest.
Akagi frowns.
Between the two of them, ever since Middle School, Kaga has always been one to be somewhat lacking in her stamina. Not that it is especially prominent now, after all that hard work and conditioning. But four hours of non-stop training is definitely bound to wear her out, superb physique or not.
With that distinct slant to her brows, eyes narrowed in muted concentration and the slight, near imperceptible waver of her form…
There is no doubt there, that she is about to hit her limit too.
And neither has she been wearing her ankle guards for the day's training too, what with her history of ankle sprains and all…
Watching Kaga like this is just beyond worrying, thinks Akagi, teeth working hard— nervously— at her bottom lip.
"Just how far are you intending to push yourself, Kaga-san?" She mutters darkly under breath.
Hiryuu and Souryuu, both of which, whom had previously been absorbed in their chitchat, had turned their gazes over to Akagi curiously.
"Eh? Akagi-san did you say something?"
Catching her slip, Akagi quickly plasters on her usual unsuspecting serene smile. "Ah no, please don't mind me."
Shrugging, the two third-years merely return to their conversation at hand, leaving Akagi, once again, to her own devices as she resumes her careful observation of her vice-captain.
Watching Kaga like this, honestly just gives Akagi a really bad vibe about everything. Like a deep sinking feeling in her pits, gnawing at her persistently, and it makes her feel sick.
She doesn't like it all.
Doesn't like this.
This whole… watching Kaga from afar as she struggles to push herself past her limits, all the while, knowing that everything she's doing, she's doing it for the progress of the team. For the upcoming Nationals. For the latest addition to their team— Zuikaku. For Akagi.
Kaga may never openly admit it, but she has always been a little bit of a worrywart.
She would frequently worry about the team. And in more recent times, about Zuikaku and their supposed 'feud' possibly affecting their hitter-setter dynamics on the court.
'It's all part and parcel of being a setter,' Kaga had conceded, once, during their walks back home together after practice. Though, she had shrugged it all off carelessly, as if it hadn't really meant much, with only a sprinkle of amusement at the look of mild displeasure on Akagi's face.
Maybe she had felt the need to defend herself— her pride as a setter— or maybe had simply wanted to put Akagi at ease, but she had then went on to further explain herself, 'We just tend to worry a lot. Since the quality of your spikes are all based off our sets, after all.'
And then she paused. Almost thoughtfully, she added quietly under her breath. 'I wonder if we would be able to pull it off alright.'
From that glazed over look in her eyes, distant and muddled, Akagi had instinctively knew that she was once again at it with worrying herself; playing through the day's training out in her mind's eye, no doubt nitpicking at the shortcomings of her recent quick sets with Zuikaku.
And finally after a prolonged beat of silence, Kaga had whispered, through gritted teeth and clenched fists.
'I will have to work harder…'
Just the thought of that one memory, only serves to further stoke the roaring flame in Akagi's heart, blistering in her chest.
If anything, we should be the ones working harder. Not you, Kaga-san.
Is what she should have probably said back then, and she regrets terribly for not doing so.
Abruptly, Akagi shoots to her feet, finding herself unable to watch the duo no longer, lest her emotions get the better of her when she's out in the open like this.
Right as she is about to make her less than stealthy exit, the hesitant call of her name stops her dead in her tracks.
"A-Akagi-san…?"
Carefully reigning in her vexation, Akagi swiftly slips back into her usual impenetrable mask, pulling on her signature veil of calm; her countenance betraying none of her previous disgruntlement as she turns back around at Souryuu and Hiryuu
"I was just going to go out for a short run." She says, ever so pleasantly, her voice a controlled evenness.
"Eh? At this time?" asks Hiryuu, clearly perplexed by Akagi's sudden announcement.
"I won't take long."
"But wait, Akagi-san!"
"Do inform Houshou-san and Kaga-san if they end up looking for me. Tell them I'll be back soon, thanks."
Not giving either Souryuu or Hiryuu the opportunity to stall her any further, Akagi quickly turns on her heels and scurries for the nearest exit, leaving them both by the benches, stunned and absolutely baffled, staring after the tail-end of her silhouette, albeit in a daze.
"Now, that was strange." Hiryuu murmurs thoughtfully, after the initial bout of bewilderment.
"Totally…"
Pursing at her lips, she turns her gaze back onto the pair, working tirelessly in center court, eyes landing on the all-too familiar form of their vice-captain. "Do you think something happened between them?"
Beside her, Souryuu only sighs pensively, shrugging.
"Who knows?"
A/N: I really, really wanted to get this out much earlier in the month, but now that it has come to this... Take it as a slightly early Christmas gift from me? :P Ahh, but I don't know if its just me or my bad luck, but I was falling ill on and off while writing this chapter lol. But at least, it's finally completed! (And beta-ed too, again by my good friend sushimiyuu. Much thanks to her for the beta.)
Anyway, thank you all for reading, reviewing, alerting and fave-ing this fic. It means a lot to me and I seriously appreciate all and every tiny little feedback and support! And without further ado, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!