"You good?," Suga asked. Kitsuna had been quiet for a while now, stewing over something in her mind. He glanced up, and saw the girls' team in the stands.

"Heard they lost pretty badly," Kitsuna said. She was speaking at a low volume, but it was hard to get a read on what was going through her head.

"Yeah. Do you feel bad?," Suga asked without getting too specific. Kitsuna knew what he meant, about her being with them instead of the smaller girls' team.

"Wouldn't be weird if I did," was all she said in response.

They watched the back and forth for a while, with Suga and the others cheering loudly when Karasuno managed to get past the wall of Date's blockers. Asahi went up, a plug like Nekoma did against them, and everyone roared. Suga let out another quieter celebratory sound as they set up for the next rally.

"Gonna cry over there?," Kitsuna teased, rapping his shoulder with her knuckles.

"You have gotta stop doing that," Ennoshita flicked the back of her head.

"Huh?," she whipped around and glared at him.

"I heard you, taunting that guy on the last team at the net," Ennoshita glowered back.

"Huh?"

"I think that was some sort of encouragement," Yamaguchi countered. Everyone looked at him, confused, except Kitsuna.

"What was your deal with him, anyway? He was staring holes in your head the whole time," Suga asked.

"Right. Uh. I might have gotten into a fight with him in middle school," she mumbled out, eyes darting to the floor. The crowd went wild, and all eyes returned to the court. Nishinoya had nailed a near impossible dig, using his foot instead where his arms wouldn't reach. Kageyama set to Asahi, and everyone cheered him on. He was blocked, and some of the other club members started to worry. Suga yelled out for one more, startling everyone. Asahi matched that, calling to Kageyama to set until he could make a point. They went with that, and the rally went on for what felt like forever. In the end, though, Asahi was able to break past the iron wall of Date's blockers and score the winning point. As they headed out of the gym, Kitsuna rushed ahead and down the hall. She had seen Yui talking to the third years from the stands, but they were long gone by the time the boys finished packing up.

"Shit, come on!," Kitsuna spurred herself on, launching out the doors and down the steps leading into the stadium. She landed hard, but made it to the bus just in time. The girls were filing on already, and didn't seem to notice her.

"Yui!"

The captain turned around, the other girls gathering behind her with hardened faces. Kitsuna doubled over to catch her breath, then stood tall and proud.

"Congrats on the win," Yui said. Her tone was harsher than intended, but Kitsuna didn't back down.

"Yui, I-"

"Don't you dare apologize," the tallest of the girls' team lashed out. Yui held up a hand, telling them to stand down. She was fully aware of the mixed sentiments toward her friend right now, but she wanted to at least hear her out.

"I'm not," Kitsuna declared. The girls got riled up at that, but again Yui silenced them.

"As shitty as it sounds, I'm not sorry. Both teams fought hard, that's a fact we all know."

Silence fell over the group, with palpable tension in the air. Kitsuna took a deep breath, as did Yui. There was conviction in Kitsuna's yellow eyes, burning almost orange in the setting sun. Something burning there that she needed to let out.

"I'm not sorry for choosing the boys' team. I thought it was weird that I didn't, but I just don't feel it. I could have helped you out more maybe, but whatever. Going forward," Kitsuna bowed then, taking the other girls by surprise.

"I know you're probably pissed at me right now. And I get it, even if I'm lacking any particular feelings of regret or guilt on my end. But I want in on future meetings, when there's time. Please," Kitsuna used words that felt like apologetic in nature, but her tone made it feel more like a promise.

"Huh?," the girls' team said in unison, with a range of tones. Kitsuna stood up again, standing proud to face the eyes that were fixed on her.

"The girls' team. It's weaker than the boys' right now. Maybe I could have helped even that out, at least in numbers. I didn't. But the girls' team doesn't have to stay weaker. I'm probably going to be more wrapped up with practice, and work. I want to help where I can, if you'll have it though. That's it," Kitsuna finished her announcement, then headed back in to join the boys.