𝟸 & 𝟺

-seven-

The suggestion of the beach wasn't left alone for a mere second, until the bus had been rush loaded, and on its way out of the crater and onto the highway back to the city.

The ride itself had many attractions, passing by the crater exterior, and the rivers in which intertwined and followed as the speed of the bus increased.

Each river they passed, a new one formed and connected within the split. The rushing water created reflective shines and glass-like surfaces.

The connection of rivers broke again, the water sped down the valley as the bus passed. The river was a rush of water to the edge, a rush of blood to the head.

The energy was chaotic, and riveting from the way the edge splashed with water, droplets flew into the sky and around the sweet grass.

The bus was mostly silent, quiet and calm. Many of the passengers had been fast asleep, or about to join the rest. With the absence of the sound and voices, it had sounded as if no one was there.

Though, the restlessness and tiredness of the peloton had been expressed through the amount of snores and sighs released per second.

Coach Ukai looked over his shoulder, noting all of the sleeping players and just how this was it.

This is what they needed. To channel their energy within themselves to conquer yet another obstacle.

Bringing themselves out to match someone like them. And of course to climb and hike around Mt. Zao. The physical strain of the team never stopped.

They were always going. They never seemed to have an ounce of retreat or refusal to keep going. They always kept going.

Maybe that's how they found the phenomenon of burning out so easy to experience. The witness was only 3 rows ahead of the teams. Coach and Takeda from the review mirror were looking in everyone's direction.

Both started to focus more in yours, eyeing your rising torso and slouched hips as you descended further and further into a calm and peaceful snooze.

All the while, the rest of the bus had followed pursuit, the action of the day weighing them down, further into the desire to replenish and recharge.

At least, that's what sort of thoughts tried to calm down the monochromatic Sugawara. Only sitting in the opposite row, a seat behind, he had been watching you since the bus had departed.

Flattering? Perhaps to the eye with context. Obsessed? It would be too soon to make that assumption. Interested? Only if he could've been the one to be sitting next to you.

As he sat next to Daichi, who had initially asked to sit beside his longtime friend, his eyes and overall focus kept running back to you, and just how much of an interesting person you were to him.

The fact that even such an evident person, through personality and movement, could still be a mystery.

He wanted to solve you, figure you out. Many of his questions were waiting for your answers. Even if he knew you didn't have any interest, he had too much.

If only you felt like uncovering his mystery...

...of why he was invested in the first place.

Maybe the trigger as to why the investment sky-rocketed was maybe because you had been sleeping against Nishinoya, considering he had asked you to sit with him on the ride.

It wasn't to dish out anything that had happened on the hike. It wasn't to even investigate the wounds on your knees. It was simply because as good friends, bonds don't last by staying apart.