Training Trepidation Into Composure

Chapter 12

Something neither of them had thought of was the remaining training weekend in Tokyo before the qualifiers. Which made for an awkward greeting, quickly followed by a brush of fingers against her temple and a secret hug shared late Saturday night after dinner. Her head on his shoulder as they watched the clouds.

She'd asked about his exams and what he'd do for school, and his family, and a million other little questions to know him better. A million questions she hadn't yet asked him over their messages in the few weeks before this final camp.

"What if this is the last time we see each other?" She finally asked in a quiet voice, as though voicing the fear would make it come to pass.

He only laughed, a small and quiet thing, "You say that, and I don't know if I should feel sorry for Karasuno that their manager doesn't believe in them. Or if I should be mad you think I won't be able to lead my team to nationals."

She froze and before she could even utter a sound, his arm was around her shoulders and he tucked her against his side even closer. "In January, when we see each other in Tokyo. I'm going to take you on a real date." It was something they knew he couldn't promise.  Karasuno would only be able to be in town for as long as they were in the tournament, and if they lost early, any spare time would be spent watching the rest of the tournament.

And yet.

She let herself sigh, "where would we go?" She asked in a lazy voice as the clouds continued to drift.

"I feel like we'd have to go to the top of the sky tree."

She laughed, "You don't live anywhere near the sky tree!" She objected.

"I would make the trip for you."

She gave a low laugh in the back of her throat, "okay, the sky tree."

"I'd show you what it's like to be on top of the world, cause that's how I feel when I'm with you,"

She sat back slowly, then pushed his arm, "stop it," she said, barely able to contain her laughter.

"I'm being honest, and you tease me?"

She rolled her eyes and stood, "we need to get to bed soon." She said, knowing it to be true, and hating herself for being the one to say it.

He looked past her for a second, at the stars, into the forever, and sighed. He stood and dusted his hands on his pants, "you're right."

They walked to the girls dorm in silence. Slowly, their arms brushing each others' every few steps.

When she found out Nekoma made nationals, too, Yachi felt her heart lift a little. She'd be able to see him, just one more time. It would be enough. It would have to be.

Except it hadn't been. They'd walked past each other that first day, when both teams advanced to the next day. And he hadn't even spared her a glance. It had been a long day. She saw the toll it took on her own team, she could imagine a similar exhaustion in the bones of their destined rivals.

She'd been dead on her feet, the adrenaline having finally slipped from her system. So when she felt a brush against her hand, she jumped in surprise and jumped around to see if maybe.

But the red jackets had all moved past as one, none lingering behind, not one turning his head over his shoulder to see her reaction. She was surprised she had the capacity to feel any emotion, let alone the capacity for the deep disappointment that now sunk into her stomach.

She'd seen him on the sidelines of the Inarizaki match, his chin low as his hooded eyes watched the match, calculating and hungry. She took a step back to hide behind the scoreboard. If she was hidden, he wouldn't be able to see her. You can't ignore what you don't know is there.