Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

22-23 - Inarizaki

"Ni~ce ser~ve, Mi~to!!!" the school section cheered as the band started to play.

It was our turn to serve as our captain made her way to the back of the court, ball in hand.

She did her serving routine just before the whistle blew which also silenced the band.

She placed the ball in front of her, tossing it up, running towards it and jumping before hitting the ball.

The yellow and blue ball flew to the other side, getting received by Itachiyama.

They've improved at receiving our serves...good for them...

I thought, observing who the setter was tossing to.

She didn't look at anyone, catching me off guard.

So she knows that I'm watching her...

I figured out, watching the ball get set to Kaneda.

But that won't change anything...

Kaneda then smirked as she looked towards the space on her right corner.

What?...It can't be...

My eyes widen at the sudden realisation as I saw the flash of yellow and blue going past me and landing in the corner, just inside the court.

The whistle blew as I watched the ball roll off to the side.

Looks like our corner shot was spat right back at us...

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

23-23

So they've learned from our past game...

I thought, getting fired up for some reason.

"This is getting interesting" Haruko smirked, looking at the opponents.

"Indeed" I replied monotonously before walking back to my position.

It was Itachiyama's serve, the server bounced the ball around and did her serving routine before the whistle blew.

She tossed the ball up and hit it after she jumped, the ball flying directly towards Yuko as she received.

It ended up going to the other side.

"Sorry!!"

"Don't mind!!"

"Chance ball!!!" their Libero shouted, directing it to the setter.

The ball was set to Kaneda as she passed our blockers and went to spike in the corner.

Not this time..

I thought, quickly turning and diving for the ball before it hit the floor.

*click*

I rolled off to the side as I grimaced from the sudden pain.

I looked back at the court where Nakamura set to Haruko as she spiked it in the corner, returning the favour.

The ball bounced off to the side before the whistle blew.

I stood up, only to feel a jolt of pain going through my knee.

No...not yet...

I thought, shaking it off and running back to my place.

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

23-24 - Inarizaki

By this time, I was trying my best to ignore the pain and focus on the game.

I looked around, trying to find any suspicious looks from my team, finding none.

Luckily no one knows yet...

I thought, looking back in front of me, trying to take my mind off the pain.

Just one more point...I can do this...

I encouraged myself as the whistle blew for the ball to be served.

"Ni~ce ser~ve, Ma-ki-no!!!"

The school cheered as the band started to play.

Our pinch server then walked to the back of the court, ball in hand as she bounced the ball around.

The whistle then blew, silencing the school band just in time.

I'm never gonna get used to that...

I thought, looking back in front of me, meeting familiar taunting eyes through the net.

"Yo, Miya" Kaneda greets with her usual smirk.

I nodded in acknowledgement and focused on the game.

"Hey, it's rude to ignore" she retorted, smirking.

"It's rude to interrupt" I retaliated, looking at her emotionlessly.

Kaneda only laughed in response and shook her head.

She's trying to distract me...

The ball then floated to the other side, as it got sloppily received.

"Sorry, cover!!!" they yelled.

The setter managed to get the ball to Kaneda once again as she did a straight.

It rebounded off of Nakamura's arms, going to the right side.

"My bad!! Cover!!!" she shouted.

"Don't mind!!" Nina shouted back, running to the right side with a lazy smile on her face.

Haruko and I nodded at each other before she ran up and jumped.

The blockers followed her move and jumped in front of her with a smirk.

"Yer haven't won yet, yer weasels" Haruko growled before falling down.

The smirks on the blockers faded as they realised that they have fallen for a trap, falling down with Haruko.

'The ace was a decoy?!' they thought.

I then ran up and jumped, appearing behind the ace as she landed back on the ground and moved out of my way.

The ball then appeared in front of my hand before I swung my arm and hit the ball, full-force, to the other side, landing directly on the line.

There was a silence, as the ball rolled off to the side of the court.

We...won....we're going to nationals...

I thought, hearing the shrill sound of the whistle, declaring our victory.

Our school section started to cheer as the band started to play at the same time.

I felt myself get grabbed and brought into a group hug.

"We did it!!!" Nakamura cheered, laughing.

"Good job girls, I'm proud of ya" Mito announced, smiling widely.

I laughed along.

"WOOHOOO" Nina screamed, jumping on us as we all fell down onto the floor.

"NINA, YER SHIT" Haruko yelled, smacking her head.

"I'M JUST EXCITED, HARU-CHAN" Nina shouted back, rubbing her head.

Some things never change do they...

I laughed, the others eventually joining in as Haruko chased Nina around the court.

.

.

.

"THANK YOU FOR THE GAME" both teams bowed

We walked off the court, wanting to shower and change, getting stopped by a group of people on the way.

"NEE-SAN, YER SO COOL!!!!" Atsumu shouted, jumping on me.

"O-Oi!!" I shouted at the unexpected hug as both of us fell over.

The teams laughed at our interaction as Atsumu continued to ramble about the game.

I was then pulled up by Samu, who engulfed me in a hug and pressed his cheek against mine, affectionately.

"OI SAMU, I WAS TALKING TO HER" Atsumu shouted.

Osamu only looked at his brother and poked his tongue out.

"Yer little shit" Atsumu started.

I only sighed and pulled him in the hug.

"There will always be enough room for the both of ya, no need to fight" I said, rubbing their backs.

The twins hugged back, proud of their sister.

"Naw, well isn't this sweet" Haruko called out, sarcastically.

"You're just jealous that your cousin couldn't make it" Nina teased, poking Haruko.

"I could say the same damn thing about you too" Haruko retorted.

Before another fight could happen the girl's broke them up, not wanting a war to happen.

I sighed and walked to the locker rooms with the others, the boys trailing behind from a distance.

I was about to enter the locker room with the girls before someone called my name.

"Oi, Hana" Kaneda called out, walking to me with a smirk.

My teammates all stopped, facing the ace of Itachiyama with a suspicious look on their face.

"What do yer want with her" Haruko said, stepping in front of me.

I sweat-dropped at her behaviour and put my hand on her shoulder.

"She's a...friend, Haru" I explained with a soft voice.

Haruko then looked at me, then the still smirking Kaneda before stepping down and walking in the locker rooms with the others.

I sighed and brought my attention to the girl in front of me.

"Hello, Kaneda" I replied, looking at her indifferently.

"Aw don't be like that, I couldn't help but to learn that cool corner shot your team is known for" she lazily smiled.

"I'm not upset about that, I was actually very impressed" I explained.

Kaneda nodded, understanding, then brought our her hand in front of me.

"Congratulations on the win" she said.

I looked at her weirdly but shook her hand anyways.

"Thanks" I replied, slightly dumbfounded by her behaviour.

We let go, her eyes looking into mine with a determined look.

"But I promise, we'll meet at the Spring High tournament again" she declared.

I hummed.

"I'll be waiting then" I answered.

"Well then, until we meet again, Miya Hana" she finished, bowing.

"Likewise, Adachi Kaneda" I replied, bowing in return.

Kaneda then turned and walked away to her team.

We have such a strange relationship...

I thought, walking into the locker rooms to shower and change.

.

.

.

"That was intense" Aran commented, watching as Kaneda left.

"What do you think they were talking about?" Suna questioned.

"I dunno, but I could feel the tension from here" Ginjima breathed out.

"I think that was her rival or something" Samu observed.

"That makes Nee-san sound so much cooler~" Atsumu gushed.

"Yer sound stupid..."

"SHUT YER TRAP"

The bus finally reached our destination as we all loaded off the bus, some stretching and some yawning.

"Go home first, I'll catch up with yer later" I told the twins.

"Where are yer going?" Atsumu asked, hands on hips, looking at me with a suspicious look.

"I'm only going to the park" I answered while flicking his forehead.

"AH" he cried, rubbing his forehead.

Osamu said goodbye before dragging his brother away, walking home.

I breath out heavily and began to walk to the park, oblivious to the presence walking behind me.

It was night time at this point when I walked in.

I looked around for a bench and went to sit down.

Gosh, I can't take it anymore...its getting worse...

I thought, sitting down on the seat as I let out a hiss of pain.

I looked at my left knee as it swelled up a bit and turned red.

I've been ignoring this for too long...damn it...

I almost had tears coming out of my eyes as I rubbed my knee, trying to get rid of the pain before I had to go back home.

I started to sniffle, the pain becoming almost unbearable now.

"Fuck" I cursed, trying to endure the pain.

I was trying to look for something to grip but saw nothing.

I closed my eyes, tears coming out of them as I silently wept in pain.

I then felt a hand lift my face up and wipe my tears away.

I opened my eyes to see Kita kneeled in front of me with a worried face as he continued to wipe my tears.

"How do yer feel?" he asked, worry laced in his voice.

I only shook my head in response, unable to use my voice as I grabbed onto his jacket and buried my head in his shoulder, crying more.

Kita didn't say anything and rubbed my back, comforting me until the pain faded away.

I grunted as more tears leaked out before the pain eventually did go away.

I pulled away from him, looking into his brown eyes.

"Thank you, Kita" I said.

"There's no need to thank me" he replied, wiping the remainder of my tears away.

"Since when?" Kita asked.

I hesitated.

"Since the last set" I answered, looking at the ground.

I felt a flick on my forehead.

"Ow...I guess I deserve that" I chuckled, looking back up at him.

"Yer need to take better care of yourself, why didn't you sit out?" Kita scolded.

"I-I was just too into the game and I didn't want to give up" I stuttered.

I felt another flick on my forehead..

"Ow! That actually hurts, Kita" I complained, rubbing my forehead.

He sighed before he stood up and squatted down in front of me, his back facing me.

"Huh?" I questioned.

"Get on"

"K-Kita I-"

"Get. On"

I shut my mouth and reluctantly got on his back.

Kita then stood up and began to walk as I rested my head on his shoulder, taking a small nap.

Kita walked to the front door and rung the bell.

He heard footsteps walk up to the door as it opened, revealing a beautiful middle-aged lady who smiled at him.

"Oh? Whats this?" she asked, smiling softly at her daughter who was sleeping on the boy's back.

"My name is Kita Shinsuke, ma'am and I'm only here to drop your daughter off" he explained, bowing a bit.

"Oh I see, please come in" she gestured, moving aside for the boy to enter.

"Thank you, sorry for intruding" Kita replied, taking off his shoes and walking inside.

"That's alright, her room is just upstairs, to the left, her door knob has a Mikasa volleyball pendant hanging from it" the woman informed, smiling at the boy.

"Thank you" Kita nodded as he walked up the stairs and opened her door.

Her room was neat and tidy, only a desk, chair, bed and bedside table served as furniture, in a minimalist style.

Kita placed the sleeping girl down in her bed and tucked her in.

She's quite beautiful even in her sleep...

He thought, brushing a strand of hair away from her face before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

I should leave now...

Kita stood up and walked out, closing the door gently as he walked downstairs.

"Thank you for returning my daughter home" the mother of three said, smiling softly at the boy.

"It wasn't a problem, ma'am, I'll take my leave now" Kita replied, bowing.

"Alright, have a safe trip home, Kita" she bid, admiring how polite the boy was.

My Hana has sure scored herself a good one...I'm so glad the twins are already asleep and that their dad isn't home yet...

The mother thought as she sweat-dropped.