Have beaten Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa during prelims and now, who could expect the former powerhouse school Karasuno able to beat Inarizaki during Spring tournament? Indeed, the school rose up once again.

Ayumu's eyes flustered close once the last ball touched Inarizaki' court. Her shudder breath left her lips before she pursed them tightly as she was holding her tears inside. The whistle blew in the background, as a signal for the final set was over. Ayumu could not open her eyes to see her team members breakdown infront of her but she needed to open her eyes nonetheless.

Gripping to her book and pen tightly, Ayumu gathered all courage to open her eyes. Instead of looking straight towards her team members, she turned directly towards the score displayer. Karasuno; 32 and Inarizaki;30. They ended with 2:1. All win went to Karasuno. Ayumu felt her tears cascaded from her corner eyes which she instantly wiped the tears away.

Its over. Really overㅡ

Ayumu stood up along with the coaches by the bench whilst the players were going to thank the audience. She saw her brother; Atsumu, was standing alone at the middle of the court, having a word with Karasuno no10 and Kageyama. She had no idea what her brother talked about but whenever he turned around, a pair of determination eyes were the only Ayumu could see from him. Then, out of the blue Osamu hit his twin and they indeed argued in the middle of the court.

That able to bring back a small smile on her face. It just for a brief seconds though. Ayumu left the court with the team members. She walked at the back of the members while the members walked at the front. None of them were opening their mouth to say a word until both brothers of hers suddenly reached for Kita which put everyone to stop. Ayumu looked up at them in silence. She could feel the air around them, was starting to suffocate her. It ws thickㅡthe air.

"...its still pretty frustrating." Kita said, making everyone sealed their lips."We did everything we could, and I don't have any regrets."

Ayumu's heart twisted by the captain's words. She balled her hand into fist. Her eyes were on the captain as he spoke. She wasn't dare to listen to him anymore. It sounded so sad when it came from the captain himself. Ayumu took few step backwards secretly and leaned against the wall nearby.

" 'Well isn't my team mate amazing?' I wanted to say that even more." Kita said. Ayumu didn't know what expression he had since she was hiding behind the wall but she could imagine, the captain had a big smile on his face. That was the climax where it brought Ayumu to slide down against the wall and covered her face. Sobs left her lips no matter how hard she tried. She could hear some of her teammate was crying as well which made Ayumu wanted to cry harder than she already was.

"Come on. Let's hurry up and get change." Kita told the members. One step, two steps slowly drifted away, leaving Ayumu alone at the spot. The truth of Inarizaki lost on their second round was still hard for her to accept. Kita already reminded her a day before, as an athlete herself (a former even), Ayumu should know better than anyone else. Whenever it came to sport, win and lost would be a must and nothing could change that. But still,if your place at the lost teamㅡthe pain was unbearable.

"Miya."

Ayumu instantly looked up to the voice of her coaches and she quickly wiped her tears away. She jumped to her feet and brushed off the invisible dust on her.

"Sensei, gomen. " Ayumu forced a smile.

"Losing is hurt but we aren't going to stop here right?" Coach Kurosu said as Coach Taro smiled, who stood by his side.

Ayumu didn't say a word as reply. She just pursed her lips and nodded.

"Shinsuke done a great work as a captain for this year." Coach Kurosu added. " In leading the team, aware of his team members condition even we know how outward he is. But that is Shinsuke. He is too perfect to be replace. I almost cannot have a clear view of who gonna be the next captain to replace Shinsuke for next year. But. . . do ya think Atsumu can be a good captain for next?"

Ayumu's eyes grew wider. Did Atsumu got promoted to be the next captain?

"It just a rough idea. Don't tell anyone yet about it okay?" Coach Kurosu smiled. "Anyway, I would love to thank you too, Miya, for becoming our manager. For bringing the team this far to the national along side with Shinsuke. For always ready to be mental support for the teams.."

"Sensei, its not my right to get all credits." Ayumu politely said.

"But yer are one of the team as well. Without ya, there must be alot on Shinsuke shoulders for him to handle. With ya now the manager, that help Shinsuke alot without ya realise." Coach Kurosu said.

If he said so,Ayumu could not make comment any further.

"Let's come back next year. Okay?"

___

Ayumu handed out lunch boxes to everyone after they changed their official jersey to their usual black shirt and the jacket. They sat at the bleechers nearby and became apart of the audience whilst they were eating.

"Yumu, yer not eating?" Atsumu asked which brought the members' eyes on her.

"I'm craving for something sweet right now." She grinned.

"Banana will help. Wanna some Miya?" Omimi said, rose up the banana from his side.

"No, no. Its okay." Ayumu softly giggled. "Thank you by the way. Thought about grab some choco cookies at Inn later."

No want to push her further, the members let her be and returned to watch the ongoing match. Ayumu went back towards Inarizaki belongings spot and saw Kageyama was walking not so far from where she about to head to. Kageyama paused on his steps when his eyes caught hers. She smiled softly at him and continued mind her own business. She didn't seem excited like how she used to when she saw Kageyama. And Kageyama didn't blame her for that. He understood his bestfriend well on the way she behaved around him especially when her team just lost to his team.

Ayumu didn't show any sign of joining her team members by the bleechers after all as she was leaning by the wall with her eyes focusing on someone particular. Kageyama gazed on towards the same direction she looked at and he breathed out softly, approching her afterwards.

"Did he takes care of you well?" Kageyama asked without breaking his eyes from Kita who was in conversation with his fellow third years friends.

"If I already married to him, I will be in pounds right now." Ayumu joked with soft smile played over her lips. Just like how Kageyama was, she had no intention to look away from where Kita was."Say, he takes care of me as much as he could."

Kageyama nodded, happy for her. He could feel the strength of her loves towards the captain.

"Its not going to be so sad I guess, if Kita isn't a third year student. At least he can play next year too if he is not in final year now. But what can we do? His fate already written, its enough for him now. The volleyball" Ayumu said. "Aran-kun told me, Kita didn't plan to make living with volleyball either. So, its officially over for him, I guess."

"You know, I'm not going to say sorry for winning." Kageyama bluntly said which made Ayumu automatically scoffed.

"I'm not going to say sorry either if we win." Ayumu finally turned to look at her bestfriend. "We know this coming by mean, one of the team must be lost and the other will win. That how sport works after all. No matter how harsh the truth is, we need to accept that. Just, gimme time to adapt with it yeah, Tobio?" She nudged his arm while Kageyama nodded.

"For real, I thought about to run away from you as soon I saw you. Like how I completely ignore you after Seijoh lost to you." Ayumu told him. "I am immature didn't I? But it will be more immatured of me if I lash out on you. Don't ya think so?"

"That's what Miya Ayumu always do after all. Its nothing to be surprise. I am surprise enough now, you are talking to me instead of running away."

"Self growth? Can I call that?" She grinned at him and Kageyama wasn't even bother to say she was wrong.

"Kageyama."

A voice called up upon him which took Kageyama and Ayumu's attention. Daichi and the other Karasuno members seemed like ready to take a leave. Ayumu slightly bowed as she had eye contact with Daichi and Daichi nodded towards her.

"We are leaving now." A guy with grey hair said; if Ayumu wasn't mistaken his name was Sugawara Koushi.

"Okay." Kageyama replied to him and returned his gaze towards Ayumu. " Farewell I guess?"

"Guess so." Ayumu smiled. "I'm happy you get a great team now."

"I cannot ask for more."

Ayumu grinned at him and reached out for her fist to get bump with Kageyama's.

"Win. Okay?"

"Of course."

Kageyama responded and bumped his fist against her small fist. He softly caressed her hair and bid good bye to her, as well jogged towards his team.

"Tobio!" She called out for him."I don't know what Tsumu told you about but he is the man with his words, please be prepare. I'm warning you."

Kageyama shoot fowards his fist towards her and nodded his head. "Will keep it in my mind." He said.

"It was a great game with you guys by the way." Daichi said before they took the leave for real.

"Thank you, will let the team know.KitaㅡI mean, our captain said the same thing too. Congrats on your wining. Good luck for the next." Ayumu said.

"Thank you!"

It surprising her that the whole team thanked her with the package of them bowing towards her. Ayumu just shaking her head with a smile. As the rest of Karasuno left, Kageyama was at he last one followed them. He called for her once again.

"Kita-san loves you so much. He will never leave you. So, don't be sad about it yeah?"

Ayumu smiled at him and nodded. Kageyama waved his hand and caught up with his team members at the front. Ayumu heaved a sigh and went towards her team members. All of them were keen on the ongoing match till they didn't realise that Ayumu was coming towards them. She looked among the members, finding out Kita was nowhere to be found. She believed Kita with others just now and not anymore. Giving last glances towards her team members, she decided to go for Kita.

Walking on the hallway, she looked right to the left. She did spun on her feet in order to get a glimpse of Kita. But she didn't. She went for further searching till her feet brought her towards the outside arena. She looked to her both right and left side, fortunately this time she saw Kita stood under the snow falling with his face was facing upwards, letting the snow hit his face. His hands were deep inside his jacket pocket.

For whatever reason, Ayumu's heart hurt by the sight. It such as eyesore. She dislike it.

"If yer are frustrated with the result, at least said it with yer face." Ayumu croaked out, taking Kita's attention to look at her.

"Miya."

"It piss me off. Stop acting like yer didn't care about the outcome."

"We have tried everything we could, so I don't regret on anythingㅡ"

"DID YA DON'T UNDERSTAND OR YA JUST ACTING DUMB?! WE ARE FUCKING LOST, KITA!"

She gripped onto his arm, shaking his body. Her sudden risen voice, shocking him. There was no pleasent expression displayed on her face.

"Miya. . ." He softly called out for her, sliding his hand down to her forearms. "We might be lost today but not next year. Ya guys will come back next year."

"Next year!Next year!Next year!" She yanked Kita's hands away. "There always next year! Even three years later, there still next year! Butㅡ" tears cascaded on her face as she said the next words. " There no ya anymore,Shin."

With the tears on her face and her cracking voice, it instantly shattered Kita's heart into pieces.

"There is no ya anymore to whip their ass. There no ya anymore to remind them. There no ya anymore to correct them. There no ya anymore to put them in place. There no ya anymore to l-lead us." She sobbed. "Tㅡthere no ya anymore w-with me. Ya are no longer with m-me. Knowing ya for one yearㅡits not enough, S-shin. Will never be e-enoug-h."

She gripped onto his sleeve jacket with her head lowered, tears dripped onto the snowy floored. Kita gently cupped her face, making she looked up at him. Taking out of her surprise, the guy who she believed she never seen he shed tears, now she did witness it. Kita's eyes were watery. One bead to another bead of tears left his big eyes. But still managed to form a smile on his lips although his lips were quivering.

"S-shinㅡ"

"It's n-not enough at all." He said, leaning his forehead against hers which brought Ayumu to close her eyes. Her hands traveled to hold his. "But, please wait for me, Ayumu. So we can know each other longer yeah? Promise me? Wait for me?"

Clutching to his hand, with her forehead leaned against his, a quiet hum escaped from her.

"I love you." He said, pulling her into his arms, embaracing her tightly. Ayumu hooked her chin over his shoulders, her hands desperately clutched to his back, crying in his arms.

Just like ya want me to wait for ya...Promise me ya will wait for me too. Shin.

🏐

Thank you♥

Show a lot of love yeah :>