•Nekoma's Albatross [nekoma x reader]•

{chapter 10}

After both teams finished their warm ups, it was time for coaches' last speeches.
Dateko's coach: "Okay guys, we are playing against Nekoma, the cats. They are well known for their defense and blocks. They have a smart setter who observes your every move, but he doesn't like moving. So try to make him move, that is their weakness. But also, try not to be too oblivious, their albatross is watching. She is what we need to fear and be prepared for. Even if she isn't playing, she is our biggest and greatest threat. She will cover up all their mistakes. It is important not to let them have a momentum. Okay? Now, go and win this."
After coaches speech, the second year blocker, Aone, looked at his 'threat'. He knew about her, but she always seemed so sweet and innocent. How could she be a threat? And then their eyes meet. She gave him 'the look' which looked so innocent to the others, but it made Aone's spine shiver. That's when he realized she was more than a threat.

Nekoma's coach: Okay brats, listen up. Date Tech, strong blocks, medium spikes and not-so-well defense. As Y/n told us, their white head middle blocker blocks by read blocking. Use dumps only two or three times in this whole game. Yaku, be ready to save blocked balls. Also try using feints. That's it. If you lose, 50 laps around the gym. Now, go and win. Oh, and also y/n has something to tell you" everyone looked at you. "I will give you hugs if you win?" you announced. Their eyes grow bigger and suddenly, they NEEDED to win this. (Coach thought it was a good way to bribe them, so he smirked to himself).

It was time for captains to shake their hands. Kuroo and Dateko's captain shook hands and gave each other the 'we will not lose' look. After they went back to their teams and to their positions, the whistle was heard. The game can start. First ball was for Nekoma, Kuroo was up to serve. He hit it and it went over the net. Dateko's libero received it, sending it to their two-color haired setter. He tossed it to Aone who tried to spike it, but got successfully blocked by Kuroo and Kai. So, the first point went to Nekoma. 'Okay, good, we got the first point, now we can continue' you thought. You knew that having a momentum was your best option. As you continued to observe closely, both your team and the other, you noticed something was weird, but still didn't know what.

First set went good. Nekoma won 25-21, it was close, but you were happy that there were no time outs. You handed towels and water bottles to players. "Thank you, kitten" Kuroo said, chugging his water. "Y/n-senpai, did you found out something that may help us out?" Shibayama asked. "Well, for now I don't think that we need help, we are doing well" you stopped talking, trying to think of something. The other seemed to notice, so they all stared at you. "Do you think that it's weird that Aone, their white-hair blocker, blocks only on the right side of the court, and not on the both?" you decided to ask. They all seemed in their thoughts, no one really noticed it. Damn, big brain time. While you were in a middle of thinking, the whistle blew, signaling the start of the second set.

It's not good. Nekoma is losing 18-22 to Date Tech, all because Aone's blocks. Think y/n, think, what is so odd. 'He only blocks on the right side of the court, so his right hand is covering the outside of the court, and the left hand the inside-'. And then it hit. You suddenly stood up from the bench and called a time out. 'Oh fuck' all Dateko player thought of those two words. Red-team players all looked at you, hoping you found out something to save them. "Okay listen" you started bc you knew you didn't have time to lose "Aone, the white head blocker, I think he's only blocking on the right side of the court, bc he knows it is our goal to shut the ball further than the others can reach, so he's using his right hand to block our goal. He is using that hand bc, I think, his left is not as powerful as the other one. So stop trying to shut down the ball to the out. Shut it inside. He can't block it, and I remember their rotation, their libero is too far, he can't reach it". After you finished, everyones' jaws dropped, even coach's. They were really proud of you, some were thinking 'damn, I don't want her as my enemy' and others 'I'm so happy that we have her'. You hoped you were right, that is the only thing that is odd. As they were about to say something, the time out was over. It was time to continue, but with a new goal.

You were right. After the first ball that got through their block, you noticed Aone's face, the shocked expression. You enjoyed watching those expressions. You just waited the moment when cats will break the iron wall.

After your discovery, Dateko didn't score another point until the end, where it was over for them. Nekoma won 2-0 in the sets. You were celebrating with your champions. First thing that they said wasn't 'I'm so happy' or 'I knew we will win'. It was "NOW GIVE US HUGS" everyone shouted, but Yamamoto was the loudest. You hugged them, as a group hug. Kenma was closest to you, but Yamamoto was just trying to smell every inch of your hair. "WO, WHAT A TWIST. After everyone thought that we will be seeing the third set, Nekoma did a fantastic comeback from dead and won their first match. Was it bc of the 'Yuriko-san timeout' or just pure luck? Guess we'll never know. THE NEXT TEAM THEY WILL NEED TO PLAY AGAINST IS STILL UNKNOWN. WILL IT BE 'THE MIYAGI FOXES', INARIZAKI, OR, 'NEVER ENDING FUN TEAM', JOHNZEI. We will know the answer for a few hours." The narrator talked to his mic, while the big crowd was crying and shouting at the same time. Some were celebrating, and others were keeping their tears from falling. After the little celebration, you all went to the shower. Boys to boys' shower, and you to girls' shower.

In the shower was Kiyoko. Her team, Karasuno, won their first match and she was really proud of them. You exchanged a few infos about today's dinner and when will it be ready. You talked and talked, but you noticed it was getting late, so you two decided to head to your room, hoping other managers will be there too.

~the end of chapter 10~