𝟸 & 𝟺

-six-

It was still only a small part of you that really found the enthusiasm of Sugawara announcing his interest in being a team with you straight in the dead of the gym.

The only small part being very reluctant at best. You still didn't even trust the intentions and just how far he saw this through.

How far he was willing to go to take you both all the way to the top.

Because staying on the ground under was no option.

All or nothing.

The mindset was clear, so was the expectation. To go at it with everything you had gathered, and to take it all down, game by game.

Why stop at the peak when there's taller mountains just beyond? The climb doesn't matter, it's the view from the summit that ultimately pays off.

The view that sets all pressure, exhaustion and fear aside. The view that speaks miles about just how much work you had done to get up so high. The high feels amazing and fresh, almost new.

It's also better to experience with someone who got there with you.

That small part of you admired Sugawara and his enthusiasm from near by as Coach Ukai called for a meeting straight after practice. He had found more information regarding the teams in contention.

He stood strongly against the wall, facing directly infront of 12 tired, and very distraught boys, all still sweating and decked in their gear.

The room breathed of tiredness and exhaustion. Even you were tired from running after all of them, screaming and cheering them on.

You wondered if they'd do the same if you were on the court instead of them.

Only time would tell. Assuming you had some before teams were decided.

Speaking of topic as Coach looked to you and Sugawara, then back to the crowd.

"After some planning, writing and last minute information..." Coach announced, eyeing the room and staying on track, "we have confirmed all the teams in which we will have."

The room fell silent, every pair of eyes looked to the front where both of the faculty stood tall.

He took a paper from his clipboard, and slammed it face up onto his desk, the writing facing the direction of the rest of the room. Everyone rushed over to get their fill, and relief from simply eyeing their name on the paper.

The paper read in clear Georgian italics, four teams.

Mixed Doubles Teams:

- Sugawara / Y/N
- Daichi / Michimiya
- Tanaka / Aihara
- Hinata / Rinko

As both Hinata and Tanaka read their names, they high fives each other, and cheered as they rubbed in the salt to the open wound that was Kageyama, being left out.

The surging anger over his face could've been seen from miles away.

"For the contending teams..." he continued, running his stressed hands through his rough hair and looking around hurriedly, "we found some information about the process and ultimately what it would look like. I'll let Takeda explain."

Takeda took his papers, nervously, and stepped infront of the room, "the layout is a bit unorthodox, and rough around the edges, but very straight when you understand it a bit better..."

All the boys looked to their advisor with confusion layered over the tired expression they had been delivering since being called in.

"Tryouts are laid out so each school tries out in one siting. All formed teams from one school will attend and showcase their skills infront of specialists." Takeda continued, looking over his papers again, then scanned the room.