three words eight letters 【SemiShira】

❝ chapter 9 ❞

A week had passed. A week of no throwing of insults and foul words. A week of no glaring daggers to each other. A week of dealing with each other as if Semi is like an air to Shirabu and vice versa. A week of silence in Shiratorizawa had passed.

Well, considering Goshiki, he is the only one who can make every practice noisy and somewhat cheerful. Tendou doesn't even have the courage to be energetic because of what happened and what's happening between the two setters.

Tendou sighs loudly which made Ushijima glance at the redhead.

"Is there something wrong?" The ace walks towards the bench where Tendou is currently sitting. He sits beside him and casually tilts his head up to drink an amount of water. Then he faces Tendou.

"It's unusual, I know," Ushijima continues.

Tendou makes a small glance at the ace and then he immediately returns his eyes on Semi who is putting a white tape on his fingers across the gym. And then he looks at the other corner and saw Shirabu, he is talking with Goshiki with a scowl on his face.

The others are doing some drills and personal practices. Their coach got sick yesterday and told them that he should rest for a while.

"So... How can we settle this?" Tendou asks while running his fingers through his bloody red hair.
He hears Ushijima hums as if thinking of something. Tendou can't help but flash a shy smile. He can't explain the reason behind it but everything about the ace just makes him smile.

Ushijima shifted and before he could answer, they heard Goshiki shouts out of nowhere.

"I told you! My fingers are a bit swollen! Please Shirabu senpai, get the tape from Semi senpai!"

Tendou looks at how Shirabu stares at Goshiki without saying anything which made the black-haired guy tremble and steps back in fear.

Shirabu blows his uneven bangs up and finally speaks softly but stubbornly.
"Who's Semi? I don't know someone named Semi."

Tendou widens his eyes, Ushijima almost chokes on his water, Taichi and Hayato suddenly stops tossing balls, and the others glance at the second-year setter in unison. The gym suddenly fell silent. The slightly bouncing volleyballs are the only thing that can be heard.

After a long second of staring at Shirabu, Tendou hears a loud thud and squeak of volleyball shoes which happens to be Semi.
Semi stands up, clearing his throat. He tosses the white sports tape up and then catches it with his right hand and tosses back up again.

The taller setter walks casually towards where the two weirded-bangs guys are standing. Goshiki is in fear, expecting that something bad will happen if the two setters clash.

Semi stops walking, he stands in front of Shirabu. He tosses the tape towards Goshiki who is trembling two meters away from him. Goshiki almost didn't catch the bandage because of nervousness. But be managed to grab it. Shirabu looks up, meeting the dark gaze of Semi.

After a whole long week, this is the only time that they have the chance to look at each other. Part of Semi missed the smaller boy's face; the annoying scowl, the eyebrows that eventually meet whenever they argue, the emotionless eyes that can pierce someone's soul. And most especially, the slight shade of pink lips that Shirabu automatically bites when they stand closely at each other, like now. Semi missed them all, and he couldn't help but to half-smile.

"Are you done staring at me? Now get out of my sight."

Semi snaps back in reality when he hears the raspy yet irritating voice of the smaller boy. He shrugs and shakes his head to push all the unnecessary thoughts that were leaked a while ago.

I...just missed arguing with him. No more and no less!

Semi ignores the foul words of Shirabu, he steps back and decides to walk away. He aggressively grabs an amount of hair and grips it hard to clear his mind from his thoughts earlier. Then he enters the changing room and slams the door close.

At a corner, Tendou and Ushijima almost forgot how to breathe. They sigh in unison when they saw Semi walks away. Good thing though, because all of the players can't handle it anymore if they had another argument.

"I think we should do something about this as soon as possible," the red-head blurts out while looking at the ace beside him. Ushijima pouts, disagreeing about what the middle blocker said.

"We can't for now, Tendou. Next week is our examination and we don't have practice that time," he answered.

It was Tendou's turn to pout. He hates studying. He hates lectures and discussions. But he's very glad to listen when Ushijima is the one who tutors him when they have free time. Ushijima is very patient with Tendou in terms of reviewing and studying their notes and that made Tendou like the taller guy more and more.

Tendou smiles sweetly, "Well I'm not gonna worry about exams because I have you! Wakatoshi-kun!"

Ushijima just nods and finally stands up to continue practicing his serve and spikes. Tendou gladly suggests to block his spikes. The two walks towards the court and starts to pick some volleyball.

Inside the humid club changing room, there goes Semi sitting uncomfortably on the floor while hugging his gym bag contemplating on what is happening to his life right now. Most especially, what is happening between him and his junior setter.

He is trying to replay the events that happened between them and how do they end up ignoring the existence of each other. Semi still feels pissed, but there's this unusual thing that keeps on bugging him.

Even though he may not look like paying attention to Shirabu, he always makes sure to check the smaller boy's facial expression. And Semi doesn't know if anyone ever caught him throwing a short glance at Shirabu. Part of him, just one-fourth of his conscience, feels guilty.

He feels guilty but he doesn't know why. He doesn't know anything about Shirabu's personal life. All he does know is that the copper-haired guy stole all of the important things from him. Especially the starting position of being the setter and the memento guitar that his father left. Someone out there will say that it will easily be replaced but for him, it's not.

If Semi will relate it to other situations, he can think of one. If a child's parents got divorced and the father found a new wife to be the mother of the child, it's obvious that it's no longer the same as before. Even though the mother got a replacement, the relationship and bond gradually differ.

The same thing with his guitar, every part of it had a sentimental value. Even though the parts can be replaced, it's no longer the same as the original one. And the fact that it was intentionally sabotaged, is not forgivable.

That is Semi's principle. He knows it may sound nonsense but to him, it's not.

Semi sighs at the bunch of thoughts running on his mind. He doesn't even notice the club room door opens, he just stares at the floor while resting his chin on his gym bag.

Ushijima looks at the devastating face of Semi. He clears his throat to catch the setter's attention. Semi just looks up for a second and then he returns his eyes on the floor.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Ushijima's body stiffens as he heard Semi's soft and gentle voice. He is aware that Semi is feeling uneasy about something and it's probably about the second-year setter. He can't blame any one of them, both had their reasons but both did something unreasonable.

Not being biased, Ushijima knew what's going on about Shirabu. Starting from the issue about his parents, and his goal to be a great setter. The smaller setter told it all and Ushijima knows just one thing; Shirabu is hurting.

Ushijima sighs and walks slowly towards Semi. He gently pats his head.

"I can't really tell what's going on between you but remember this. Do not invalidate the pain you never experienced." The ace smiles at the setter.

-
This is kinda messy and might as well edit it if I have time. Classes already started and my mind is fucked up so bear with it if this chapter is boring. I'll do my best for the next chapter ^^

Thank u for those who are still reading this book and gomen , I can't reply on your comments but know that i love you all!!!