Training Trepidation Into Composure

Chapter 4

Once the games were finished, the managers started their tasks of clearing the gym to make room for further practice and to prepare for the next day. Gathering water bottles to clean, towels to wash, or collecting the volleyballs from around the gym. Once tasks were evenly divided, the girls got to work. Yachi was in charge of shagging that evening. She didn't mind, it was the least tedious of all the tasks and she appreciated her upperclassmen not claiming it for themselves the first night. Instead claiming that they were all too tired to teach her the ropes of any of the other tasks to be done.

Besides, it allowed her an opportunity to observe the boys from all the teams when they weren't in their aggressive, 'win at all costs' mode. To see them interact with teams they were antagonizing only hours earlier. To see them laughing and joking with each other. A friendly rivalry that really was based on friendship. She'd seen glimpses of it at Nekoma the other week. The way they shared tips, and trained with each other. Knowing they were making their opponent stronger, but also knowing that a strong opponent made a stronger team.  It was really inspiring to watch.

As she collected the balls around the gym, she heard small pieces of conversations from all the teams. Including Nekoma arguing about who would train Lev. Kenma sounded dejected and disgusted when he said, "I refuse to work with him until he can receive the ball better. If he can't connect, he has no business on the starting line up. And I'm not going to waste my time training him, if I'm never going to set to him."

"Kenma-" Kuroo started with a calm voice, when the libero interrupted him.

"No, Kuroo, he's right. I'll work with him today." He sounded equally unhappy about the prospect.

Kuroo hummed in agreement then pointed a finger at Kenma, "Fine, but you're blocking with me against Bokuto."

"No-!" Kenma started to complain when Bokuto slung an arm around Kuroo, the setter from his team close behind.

"Kenma, you gonna run blocks?"

"No."

The group laughed at that, just as Yachi walked slowly by, precariously balancing three balls in a triangle. She made it to the basket, but one still bounced away as she dropped them in. Her face twisted and she grumbled in frustration.

"Hey, why don't you go set up in gym 3. I'm going to help the managers a little bit."

Everyone sobered immediately. "You're not getting out of setting up the net," Kenma threatened.

Kuroo sighed and made a show of rolling his eyes, which worked on no one, as he said, "we still don't have a manager, which means they're picking up slack for an entire extra team. It's not fair. I'm just going to help-" he pretended to think about it for a second as Yachi chased down the errant ball, "shag the balls. Easy. It'll be five minutes, tops."

Akaashi and Kenma both raised their eyebrows in skepticism. But Bokuto seemed impressed. "Wow, that's really mature of you." Kuroo was about to express his gratitude that his friend appreciated his growth when Bokuto nodded towards Yachi and calmly quipped, "just don't scare her too much." He laughed loudly while Akaashi hid a laugh behind his hand and Kenma continued to observe with a disgusted grimace. Bokuto seemed like he was about to yell another joke across the gym as Akaashi grabbed his arm and nodded his head towards the exit. Bokuto just let out a small chortle and snuck Kuroo a smirk as he walked away.

Once they all left, Yaku just put his hand on Kuroo's shoulder, sighed, and shook his head, "wai- what is that supposed to mean?" Kuroo asked. Yaku said nothing, shook his head again, and walked away to collect Lev, "Wait- Yaku!" But no one paid him any mind, "bastards," he whispered under his breath.