Thirteen Months

First Game

TW // disturbing imagery, dissociation

"Nice receive, Mizuko-chan!" Michimiya called. Mizuko gave her captain a thumbs up. After already taking the first set Karasuno's girls' team were feeling confident. They were gelling, working well together, and finally being taken seriously as a team. And it was all thanks to Mizuko. That girl was holding the team together, keeping them in the game with her amazing skills as a libero. With her acting as their defense specialist, the team was able to focus on their offense, something they'd never had the opportunity to do before.

"GO MIZUKO!" Mrs. Sawamura called as she and her husband cheered her on. Mizuko wasn't able to hide a smile as her heart swelled. They might not have been her real parents, but the Sawamura's were doing more for her than her own blood ever had. At that thought, Mizuko felt herself freeze up. Memories flashed across her eyes as a ball slammed into the court in front of her; an easy ball she should have saved.

"Move!" Ichika screamed at her from the bench. Mizuko flinched, guilt ripping at her for the careless mistake. She needed to snap out of it. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to shake herself out of the memories; they played over and over again in her mind, unable to let her focus.

Bruises.

Blood.

Broken bones.

After three more failed saves, Michimiya came up to Mizuko.

"Why don't you sit out for a minute?" The captain guided her to the bench, and Ichika subbed in, a nasty smirk on her face.

"How's it feel, prodigy?" she whispered, mockingly using the name some of the other students at school had started to call Mizuko; she knew that the second-string player hadn't meant it as a compliment.  Mizuko simply hung her head as she sat on the bench, refusing to make eye contact with the aloof girl.

First, the flood of memories.

And now the jealousy of her teammate?

Mizuko couldn't help but feel both overwhelmed and...over it. She just wanted to give up-- to curl up and sleep for a long, long time.

"DON'T MIND!" A voice seemed to rise above the crowd.

"YOU CAN DO THIS! KEEP GOING!" Another voice joined the first one. Mizuko jerked her head up to see Daichi and Sugawara breathing heavily near the entrance of the gym wearing only their shorts, white practice shirts, and kneepads; they must have run straight from their practice in order to make it for the second set of Mizuko's first game. A wide grin spread across her face.

"Oh my gosh," Ichika called. The rest of the team looked over. "Is...she...smiling?" Mizuko didn't even notice, she was too busy beaming at Daichi and Sugawara. Daichi held up a fist as if to say, You can do it, don't give up, and Sugawara placed a hand over his heart as if to say, I believe in you. Mizuko nodded and turned to Michimiya. The captain grinned and motioned for her to sub in. A new confidence could be seen in Mizuko's posture as stepped onto the court. She didn't even flinch as Ichika glared at her. "Don't mess up," the taller girl growled. "Oh, wait, please do." Mizuko only rolled her eyes in response. Jealousy wouldn't change the fact that Mizuko was just better.

"You ready?" Michimiya asked. Mizuko nodded, dropping into a crouch as she waited to do what she did best: receive.

***

"That was awesome, Mizuko!" Sugawara called as she exited the locker room.

"Can I hug you?" Daichi asked as he approached her. Mizuko smiled softly and motioned for him to lean down.