Moonlight

Chapter 28

The Spring High begun with everyone's nerves in a tight knot. Akane looked around inside the bus and despite just being a spectator, she felt nervous just by seeing the boys doing their best to mask off theirs.

Matches took place throughout the day with Karasuno hot on the line of victories. Though it came with a few more mishaps; for instance, Daichi's accident with Tanaka.

"We are proud of you Ennoshita!" Akane cheered from the bleachers and waved wildly at the next-in-line captain. Ennoshita licked his lips unsurely but nodded his head firmly, nevertheless. Daichi had been told to get his injury checked at the infirmary and thus, Ennoshita had substituted as the team's captain.

The match went neck to neck as the opponent team's captain knew how to make his players motivated, but Karasuno took the win from them in a bundle of sweat and mental prowess. Daichi came back to see his team and was relieved that they continued to work despite his absence. They were being dependable.

"Wait, wait! It's Oikawa, right? Who are they playing up against?" Akane tugged Tsukishima's sleeves excitedly. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of her brown-haired friend.

"I think it's Date Tech. Do you want to watch?" Tsukishima answered. He did not move but glanced at her under his lashes. He saw her excitement and he smiled inwardly. She was like a kid who had just seen her favorite mascot.

"C-can I?" Akane asked, breathless suddenly at the weight of the question.

If she answers yes to his question, it would imply that Tsukishima will have to be with her and she cannot bear to burden the player when he could be resting instead.

Tsukishima sighed and patted her head, "Always. Come on."

Akane blushed furiously at his gesture and swatted his hand away. She turned to the rest of the team who were trying their best to hide their smiles by hiding from their towels, bottles, bags, and hands. They were failing badly and it only made her blush more.

"D-do you guys want to watch too?" She asked, refusing to answer their questioning looks.

"Ah, Akane-chan, I think we'd like to--" Sugawara tried to reject her but Keishin stepped forward, shutting up the younger lad.

"Sugawara means that we would really want to stay with you guys." He smiled widely.

Sugawara pouted subtly and muttered, "You just want to keep an eye on them."

Keishin smiled wider and bent to meet Sugawara's eye level, "And what's wrong with it, Sugawara?"

Sugawara stiffened, then he smiled sheepishly, "Nothing, sir. Let's go, the match is starting."

The team walked up the bleachers but whispers could never stop as they kept secretly glancing at the pair behind them. 

"Look at them being awkward and all." Asahi cooed and laughed.

"Did you see that gesture earlier? That was off-brand for Tsukishima, no insults at all!" Nishinoya whispered to Tanaka who nodded his head furiously. They were, after all, the most common receivers of the Saltyshima's insults.

Kiyoko, having had enough with the whispering, turned to Akane. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they heard her speak.

"Akane-san, are you and Tsukishima in a relationship?"

Everyone's mouth dropped at the pretty manager's bluntness. Then their eyes darted to the couple.

"We're just pretending!" Akane and Tsukishima responded in unison.