𝟸 & 𝟺

-ten-

"Qualified teams have been been determined by the officials from tryouts!" Coach announced after practice. The boys team had the gym today, but it only felt right if Michimiya and you were they to cheer them on. It was only fitting, given they all had come to help you out with training and excursions.

The boys team had just been preparing for their return to the court, battling the rest of Miyagi for Nationals.

The tournament would start around that of the Mixed Doubles, never once intercrossing or interfering.

Although that couldn't have been said for the players.

"Coach and I are proud of all of you, but we do have definitive teams now. I want you all to give a standing ovation for your Karasuno Mixed Doubles teams..." Takeda continued, standing at the front of the gym, clipboard in hand and readied himself.

The rest of the gymnasium stood in anticipation, leaned forward and almost pommeled Takeda for the answers.

It took a bit of man power and some verbal rage from coach to have them settled before they could crack the surface on the teams.

"Drumroll please..." Coach played along, taping the surface of his legs, signalling for the others to do so as they watched the group.

Several taps and just on bare skin erupted in the echoes of the gym, Sufi if hung the intensity and the suspense of the announcement.

Who could it be. More so, who should it be.

The best nonetheless, yet how would you decipher that? No one was perfect, but then again there's what they call, the exceptions. The ones that aren't necessarily perfect, but they could be what the sport is, in real depiction.

Perfection from what could be seen as imperfect.

Teams had to be consistent, connected and very fluent. Anything of cracked or broken bonds would impose on success from the team.

It wouldn't even be a team, just two people standing on a court, lost.

"Your Karasuno Mixed Doubles teams are...The pairs of Daichi and Michimiya, and Sugawara and Y/N!" Takeda gleefully announced, smiling ear to ear and looking down every group member.

Applause and cheers rose from the edges of the groups and into the center as everyone announced emerged from the edge and into the middle, experience the out poor of support from every witness.

The air only filled with a wave of positivity, as cliche as it sounded. It only made the atmosphere a lace to be.

That is if it didn't feel as though it was only a faint moment, and the reality was set off in the distance. As though a soft instrumental played over the scene, highlighting the truth of the whole arch, and how the real deal was watching from afar, close to the back door.

You saw him, edging out his back and looking away. He knew he needed to congratulate you, it was only right.

But it still hurt to be dubbed out for the tiny giant prodigy. Then learn to know he didn't stand a chance to make it.

It was the "being the only bench player to not play a game you won" feeling. He felt that all too well.

You let the group relish in the moment, and you snuck out when the high of it all hit their heads, hiding the fact that you had seeped through back to the dark side.

Or really, just where Kageyama was by himself in his slump. Just by himself.

The philosophical music grew louder as it played over you, watching over you as you made your way to Kageyama. The darkness of the dimmed hall encased him.