𝟸 & 𝟺

-two-

Your words stayed in the air as Coach Ukai looked back to you.

"Are you intrigued? You're on your toes about volleyball for the first time in a while!" Daichi commented, looking to you and back to Coach.

You eyed Daichi calmly, with a small passion lit presence that no one saw coming, "It sounds a bit
amazing. Why? Doesn't this sound....like the occasion?"

You dragged the word out, insinuating about the last conversation, and how Daichi had mentioned there would be an occasion in which would spark you to join back.

"You want this to be it?" The smile Daichi had only grew, hoping your answer was yes.

You thought about it for a second, not knowing entirely still. You softly smiled back and turned to Coach, who thankfully hadn't left the scene.

"What is it?"

Coach smiles and sighed, his breath seeming calm and heavy.

He looked to you with the answer on the tip do his tongue.

"Mixed Doubles Volleyball."

Mixed Doubles...Volleyball?...you thought it over in your head, matching the words together and imagining what the court would look like.

Mixed Doubles:

Two players. Boy and Girl.

Multiple positions.

A chance at game.

Your mind started to race with all the possible scenarios and outcomes.

"That's all I can say for now, the process and team formations will be out in a few days. The only thing I can say is that we don't have power in designating the teams."

Everyone turned to Coach, eyes glued and mouths speechless. Nishinoya and Tanaka exchanged confused remarks, while Kageyama and Hinata asked a variety of questions, some not related at all.

All you could do was look to Daichi, who reciprocated.

"What does he mean by not being able to designate a team?" You questioned, looking to Daichi seriously. He shared the same expression, looking back to Coach and ultimately drawing a blank page in his mind.

"I don't know. Maybe it's a special process in which we have to demonstrate teams infront of appointed specialists?" He said, observing the court and the multiple overlapping details in his mind.

He held the focused and conserved face as he looked onto the court. The face he held was all too familiar to you. He usually only showed it when games were approaching, or when something out of line took place.

Even if the first years were rambunctious and uncoordinated, that was the face that was plastered over Daichi Sawamura.

Though he denied ever having a specific focused expression, you knew deep down what it looked like and how serious he looked.

And how much fun you could poke at him about it later.

"Like appointed referees and match advisors?" You followed the topic at hand, and looked back to Daichi.

"If it's that much of a new and developed sport, I would say so." He responded, taking in a big breath and slowly releasing it.

Over the side of the court, you could see people congregating at the endless amounts of thoughts and events that could unfold with this new opportunity.

No! Not opportunity....occasion... you receded the idea of even declaring the even opportunistic.

That word had been forever mentioned by the countless talent scouts, coaches and even family members.