Akaashi's 18th (and the events that followed...)

21. Tsukishima - Jealous

The new first years were annoying.

It wasn't that Tsukishima had anything against younger children, he just didn't like the way they took everything, including - but not limited to - Yamaguchi's attention.

Yamaguchi had taken them on as a sort of mentoring group, which Ennoshita had heavily endorsed and advised Tsukki to do as well. Ennoshita had allowed Kageyama and Hinata off the hook, however, which Tsukki fully understood. If he were captain, he wouldn't let those two freaks within a volleyball court's length from the first years.

Currently, the new team members were cheering from the stands. The interest in Karasuno's volleyball club had grown so explosively since last year that a spot as a regular on the team was damn hard to fight for, and there were now too many, even including substitutes. Luckily, the four original first-now-second years were still on the team, as were all of the new third years.

Tsukki glanced behind him as Yamaguchi stepped up to the server's line. It wasn't just his serves that he had improved in the last year - he was much more capable of keeping the ball in play if his floats didn't score a service ace straight off the bat, and to still score a point so that he could have another chance at serving.

But, even though the server's focus had been on keeping the ball in play this year, Yamaguchi's floats had dramatically improved as well. Tsukki looked behind him as Yamaguchi took a confident run up, his float turning into a jump float - the serve he had been particularly keen on mastering. Tsukki smiled, knowing that it was only their team who could tell which type of serve Yamaguchi was going to do.

Yamaguchi had practiced so much that there was only a minute difference between his jump serve and his jump float serve - the set of his jaw. If he was going for an ordinary jump serve, he would leave his jaw relaxed until he jumped, before clenching it subconsciously, all the muscles in his body contracting to give as much power as possible. For jump floats, on the other hand, he would clench his jaw during the run up, then when he jumped, he would soar, every movement meticulous and precise, his jaw going slack and his lips parting slightly as he stared at the ball with some sort of wondrous expression in his eyes. Tsukki loved those serves best, for some inexplicable reason.

Nonsense. Who was he kidding? Yamaguchi looked amazing during those shots. Not that he would ever know.

This was a jump float, Tsukishima thought as he saw the run up, but quickly turned around to concentrate on the game. The ball flew to the other side of the court, the lack of spin throwing off the second-year libero. This was the first team they were playing at Spring Nationals, and they didn't seem an experienced bunch. They appeared to have no third years on the team.

The young libero couldn't react to Yamaguchi's serve, however it landed a mere centimetre over the line. The referee had to take a minute before giving the point to their opposing team. Tsukki searched for the disappointment on his best friend's face, but he found none.

"Gomen, everyone!" Yamaguchi called. "Swap me in during the next set and I'll make it up with twice the points," he said with a grin, and a light bow of his head. "Kinnoshita, when you go, give them hell from me."

Kinnoshita nodded, smiling broadly. Tsukki raised an eyebrow at Ennoshita, who appeared to be nodding towards Yamaguchi's direction, but making eye-contact with the other pinch server, Kinnoshita, who was smiling conspiratorially. What could that be about?

The next set they played, Yamaguchi made good on his promise, scoring three service aces and - even when his serves were received - he managed to keep the game going well enough for Tsukki, Narita or Hinata to score. In the third set, he also managed a two-serve streak. They took the game against the other team with ease, what with Yamaguchi, Noya and Hinata's positive encouragement, Ennoshita's steady leadership, and Kageyama being the annoyingly-talented brat that he was.

"Gather round!" Ennoshita called, just as Tsukki was swapping his sports-goggles in favour of his glasses, and everyone was brought in for a team huddle, including the first years from the stands. "Now, this is Spring Nationals, so as you all know, this is mine, Narita, Kinnoshita, Tanaka and Nishinoya's last competition.

"We decided that we would announce next year's captain after the first match, to give him some time before the end of the school year to decide if he wishes to take the position. Yamaguchi," Ennoshita smiled, "congratulations. We thought that you would be the best to lead this unruly bunch to victory in the future."

Tsukki raised an eyebrow. He hadn't even considered the fact that that Yamaguchi could be captain, but, when he thought about it... Yamaguchi was the only sensible option. As if anyone would make Hinata captain, with the fact he puts volleyball on such a high pedestal he would certainly value it over his kouhais' school work.

Kageyama would also be a decidedly stupid choice, what with his cold nature and intense mood swings from supportive to downright aggressive. I'm not the best option either; I don't ever make any effort to engage others, and I'm not even that interested in other people.

Yamaguchi on the other hand...

Tsukki's gaze fell on Yamaguchi's smiling face as the next captain was hugged and high-tenned by Hinata, Noya-san and the first years. Even Kageyama gave him a weak high-five, saying that he was pleased that Tsukishima wasn't captain, making Yamaguchi laugh. The first years looked up to him with such adoration it would be silly to choose anyone else, Tsukki realised.

He extended an arm around Yamaguchi's shoulders, pointing his chin down in order to make eye-contact, as their faces were that close. "It was obvious guys, I don't know why you're all so surprised," he said, expressionless.

He jumped as he felt a jab on his side. "Tsukki! They're just excited," Yamaguchi laughed, flicking his head to get his fringe out of his eyes. His face was slightly sweaty, and Tsukishima stepped back with a 'hmph' and pushed up his glasses to disguise the faint blush colouring his cheeks.

"You know," Tsukki said to his best friend, as the team dispersed with a cheer of 'Karasuno... FIGHT!' "You'll make a decent leader, so don't be worried."

"Haha, I'm not really worried, Tsukki, but thank you!" Of course you're not worried. You've grown up so much, and I've just stayed the same.

"Well, anyway, I hope you're thinking of trying out for college teams as well," Tsukki brushed off.

"Ah, I'm not sure," Yamaguchi replied with a shrug. "I love volleyball, and I'll definitely play it casually when I'm older. It's not really an experience you can just forget, you know?" Tsukki nodded. "But I don't think I'd play for a club or team when I'm older. I much prefer the calm feeling of a regular, predictable job where I'm not constantly moving around, and I can stay near to my family. I get such bad nervous symptoms before I play - to be playing matches every week would be too much." He paused. "But, you might?"

Tsukki sighed. "I've been thinking about it, that's all, so just shut up about it."

"But Tsukki-"

"Urusai, Yamaguchi."

"Gomen, Tsukki."

Tsukishima thought he caught Yamaguchi sighing from the corner of his eye, turning away. Tsk, he needed to stop caring so much about that boy.

(Word count: 1284)
(Total word count: 24,651)