Shiratorizawa vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

Inarizaki

The school band started to play as they cheered.

"Ni~ce ser~ve, Ya-ma-za-ki!!!"

"Nice serve, Nina!!" the team shouted.

I looked at Nina who was next to me, nodding my head in which she nodded back, our school section falling silent.

As she finished her serving routine, the shrill sound of the whistle signalled for the ball to be served.

Yamazaki tosses the ball high into the air and makes a running start then jumps, swinging her arm as she hits the ball.

The ball floated onto Shiratorizawa's side, they received and set up an attack.

"Watari-san!!!!" their setter called

As our three blockers tried to block Shiratorizawa's ace, the ace broke through the block as the ball came hurdling towards me like a bullet train.

I received the ball and sent it to the setter, falling back from absorbing the force as a sting lingered on my arms.

"Nice receive!!!"

"Pipe!!!" Haruko shouted

Nakamura tossed as she jumped and hit the ball from backcourt.

Shiratorizawa managed to graze the ball as they blocked.

"One touch!!!"

The setter managed to get the ball as she tossed to the ace once again.

'An attack straight off the bat?' I questioned as I continued to analyse them.

"Yuko, switch places with me" I uttered, she replies with a nod, swiftly switching places.

Watari jumps as she swings, the ball shooting towards the left side of the court like a bullet shot from a gun.

'A line shot?' I thought, moving my legs as I launched myself towards the direction of the ball, receiving it and successfully sending it to Nakamura-senpai as I rolled off to the side.

I felt a click in my left knee as I grimaced, cringing at the slight pain it brought. I ran back onto the court, taking my place once again.

"Nice receive!!!"

Nina makes eye-contact with Haruko, nodding.

Haruko runs and jumps, swinging her arm as the ball appeared in front of her hand, smashing the ball through the blockers, the ball landed in as it bounced off to the side.

Our team gathered up into a huge group hug as we all cheered and congratulated each other on our win.

I walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, feeling refreshed after washing the sweat off my body.

As I walked into my bedroom, I saw Haruko and Nina laying down on my bed in their pyjamas, reading a 'Volleyball Monthly' magazine together.

"What are yer doing in my room? Ya should be resting for our game tomorrow" I advised, standing next to the bed

"Well hello to you too, Guardian Fox" Haruko snickered, showing me a section of the magazine

"I don't want to look at it" I grumbled, looking away

"Aw c'mon~, its not that bad" Nina consoled, getting up from the bed and standing on the other side

"The Guardian Fox protects her team fro-"

"Stop reading" I cut her off

"from another potential loss as she-"

"Stop reading that damn thing" I raised my voice slightly, throwing a pillow at her as she dodges

"as she saves the ball, helping to secure Inarizaki's victo-AHH I'M SORRY!!!!"

I threw pillows at her like I was spiking volleyballs.

I continued to throw pillows at her as Haruko laughed.

Nina then accidentally threw a pillow at Haruko's face, making the room fall silent.

"Oh now you've done it" Haruko laughs lowly, picking up a pillow with an evil smirk on her face

Nina and I both gulp nervously.

.

.

.

After our 'battle', we settled down on the bed, laughing.

Our laughter eventually dies out as Haruko's eyes stare at my knee, now with a look of seriousness.

"I saw you after that great save. Your left knee is it?" she speculated

"....I thought you would be too dense to realise that" I admitted, slightly surprised

Haruko slaps my shoulder.

"Don't push yourself too much, you're gonna get hurt" Haruko finished, sighing a little.

"And if you get hurt, how will you continue to be our guardian?" Nina grins, making me roll my eyes playfully.

"I'll make sure to do that...and stop calling me that, its weird" I replied, throwing a pillow at Nina's face.

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

- Itachiyama

I was getting irritated from my spot on the left wing.

Itachiyama has been targeting me all game and its getting so damn annoying...

My knee hurt a little and I was tired but I shook it off and looked back to the front, looking at my opponent through the net.

She smirks, putting her hand on her hip.

"Oh? Getting tired, Fox? Looks like we're going to win this pretty easily" Kaneda taunted while her stare turned into a piercing glare.

"Don't get so cocky, yer weasel" I retorted, glaring back at her.

I heard the ball being bounced and the whistle blowing, signalling Itachiyama to serve.

*BAM*

The ball flew to the left corner quickly, getting quickly received by Haruko and sent to Nina as she tossed to Yuko.

She got blocked, however the ball came back to our side.

"Chance ball!!!" Mito shouted, sending it to Nina.

I got into position as Nina called out.

"Hana!!!"

The ball was tossed high, I ran up and jumped, swinging my arm and hitting the ball through the blockers to Itachiyama's side with tremendous force.

The ball flew past Kaneda's face and landed just inside the line of the right corner.

"Nice kill, Miya!!!" the school cheered as we won the point.

"Nice kill, Hana-chan!!!" Nina commented, slapping my back.

I nodded in response, grimacing a little as we rotated.

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

- Inarizaki

Everyone was exhausted however neither team wanted to give up and continued to play, burning with the determination to win.

Just one more point...

I thought while observing Itachiyama's setter, communicating with the players.

So they're planning some type of surprise attack...

"Kaneda!!!" their setter called out, the ball going in her direction.

Our blockers responded quickly and went to block her, suddenly the ball was sent to another player as they hit a cross-shot.

My eyes widened as I launched myself and saved the ball, rolling to the side.

*click*

My eyes widen, letting out a quiet pained grunt as I collided with the tables.

Such great timing I have...

I thought while standing up, slightly limping while I walked back to my spot.

"Haruko!!!" Nina shouted, setting the ball towards her direction.

Our ace jumped up and spiked, winning the final point.

It was all silent, until we heard the sound of the whistle, declaring our victory.

"YYEEAAAAAHHHHH" the team screamed, excitedly squishing each other in a huge hug which I avoided.

I feel like something bad is going to happen even though we won...

My suspicions were confirmed after Nina ran up and jumped onto the team, knocking them all over.

"NINA, YER DUMB SHIT"

"SHUT UP, I'M JUST EXCITED"

.

.

.

"THANK YOU FOR THE GAME" both teams shouted, bowing.

We walked off the court, shaking our opponent's hands on the way.

"We'll win next time, Hana and we'll make sure you can't receive any of our attacks so you better be ready" Kaneda declared, shaking my hand with a friendly smile.

"Yer so bipolar, Kaneda" I deadpanned, sweat-dropping at the sudden friendliness.

"OI, WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!"

After we took our showers, we regrouped in the locker room.

"You all did good today, I'm proud of ya" coach Fujiwara told us, smiling at us brightly.

"We'll be leaving soon, the bus is already outside" the coach finished before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

"Gah~I'm totally wiped out after that" Nina sighed out.

"I think we all are" Nakamura replied with a tired smile.

"I can't wait for next year!!!!" Nina yelled out, fired up.

I thought she said she was 'totally wiped out'...

Everyone chatted amongst themselves while we packed up and got ready to leave while I tried to ignore the lingering pain on my knee.

By the time the bus arrived at school, the sun was setting, the sky coloured with various reds, oranges and yellows.

We said our goodbyes and went our seperate ways, Nina walking by my side, cheerfully rambling about our win.

"I can't wait to brag about it to my cousin back in Tokyo!!! He's gonna be so jealous!!!" Nina shouted, clapping her hands.

"What are ya, a child?"

"HEY!!! LET ME ENJOY THE MOMENT"

After I saying goodbye to Nina, I opened the door to my house and walked in, hearing my parents's voices coming from the kitchen.

Finally...I'm home...

"Tadaima" I called out, walking into the kitchen.

"Okaerinasai" my parents responded.

"We saw ya on TV, congrats on the win" Otou-san mentioned, grinning proudly.

"Thanks, I'm actually getting kind of sick of people mentioning that we won cause Nina kept on blabbing about it on the way home" I complained, remembering the gruelling hours on the bus.

"SAMU, NEE-SAN'S HOME" I heard from upstairs along with the thudding of footsteps.

I sighed, not ready for the chaos that was about to come down the stairs, thanking the Lord that I walked off my knee pain beforehand.

My parents only laughed at my misfortune.

"Please help m-" I got cut off as my twin brothers jumped on me, falling on top of me as we fell to the floor.

"ONEEEE-SAAANNNN!!!! WE MISSED YOU!!!" they both cheered, smiling and making me forget about the reason why I called for help.

How adorable...its like they're kids again...

"Hey...Tsumu...Samu..." I said while rubbing their heads affectionately, the twins leaning in to my touch.

"We saw yer match on TV and you were so cool!!! Itachiyama didn't stand a damn chance!!!" Tsumu beamed, his dark brown eyes emitting stars.

Samu nodded his head in agreement, admiring his older sister as Atsumu continued to ramble about the game.

"Ok boys, get of your sister, its time to eat" Otou-san voiced.

"Hai~"