My Big Softie (Aone × Reader)

12

Y/n POV

I could feel my heart racing as I climbed the stairs. This time though it wasn't because I was climbing the stairs! It was because Aone had said he was glad I was here! Did that mean...no! He is just being nice! There's no way that he likes me as more than a friend. I mean we only just met Monday!

That's way too soon to be feeling feelings! Especially for someone like you.

He is just a nice person. He's too good to think about someone like you as more than a friend. You're too plain, too boring, and too....tall. Guys like short girls. Cute girls.

I slapped my face with both hands. It stung. I probably had marks on the side of my face but I don't care. I need to stop spiraling and focus! This is the match that really counts today!

Asahi is going to be on edge the entire time. He needs you now! So get out of your head and cheer him on!

I know he would do the same for me.

"THANK YOU FOR THE GAME!"

My attention was brought back to the court as the teams faced each other and prepared to get started. The cheer squad for Date Tech did there best to fill the gym. The tension from our third years was palpable, at least to me. The whistle sounded and the rally flew past! Kageyama set the ball to Hinata but the blockers were so quick they caught up to him! Luckily the ball fell between Aone's hand and the net.

I felt a small pang of disappointment that Aone's block wasn't entirely successful followed by a larger pang of guilt that I had just thought that! What would my boys say if they knew! Of course, I'm never going to tell them so it'll be fine!

Kageyama served.....straight to the libero. Seriously dude?! They set for a quick attack and I clenched my fist as Aone spiked the ball back over to our side. Noya quickly received the ball and Tanaka bumped it up so Asahi could do a back attack! He spiked the ball and it flew....directly into the blocker's hand.

POW. It hit the floor before anyone could stop it!

I could see the frustration on Noya's face as the whistle sounded, signaling the point for Date Tech.

"Keep moving, guys!"

Asahi made sure to comfort Noya and I fangirled, just a little! Oh to see my ship happening in real life! It's the best!

The whiste signaled the next serve and I pulled my attention back to the court to see Tanaka's spike blocked by Aone!

Another whistle. This point for.....Karasuno?? Oh! Aone seems to have touched the net. Lucky!

My heart was being tugged in two different directions! I felt bad cheering against my new friend, but also there was no way I could leave my best friend and the team who had taken me in last year!

I could tell some of the boys were getting antsy. I saw Kageyama talking with Hinata. He looked like Christmas had come early. I knew exactly what was about to happen. I couldn't stop the slightly evil giggle from slipping past my lips.

The freak quick attack!

I really want to see the look on Aone's face when this happens. So instead of focusing on my team or the ball, I watch him closely. When the ball soared past his teammates I wished I had my camera pulled up to take a picture.

His face was priceless!

Hinata served next. Straight to the net. Date Tech's serve was received by Noya, set to Tsukki, and spiked to the floor!

The teams were pretty evenly matched. Neither one let go of a point willingly. The tension started to rise. The point gap refused to budge. One team would score, then the other would. Neither one seemed to be able to break away.

Everyone watching kept talking about little number 10. Hinata was drawing in all the attention. That's the greatest decoy for you! He kept proving he was worth it with freak quicks! Well, him and Kageyama!

The confidence coming from Date Tech told they had a strategy, but would it really work? Or were they going to play right into our hand?

Another freak attack, another point! A normal quick, the panicked blockers jumped, but Hinata didn't! He spiked the ball over their heads as they started falling.

The next quick wasn't as successful, or successful at all. Aone blocked him!

Nice block, Aone!

Don't say that outloud though!!

The game progressed with little change in the point gap! Both teams were giving their all! Hinata jumped! But the ball flew to the back!

"NICE KILL, ASAHI!"

Aone's POV

"NICE KILL, ASAHI!"

I had jumped to block number 10, but he didn't even get the ball. Asahi spiked the ball straight past us. But that wasn't what broke my moral. It was the cheer that rang out through the gym.

To anyone else it was just a cheer. Just a random voice in the crowd. But I recognized that voice. I knew who that cheer was for. I knew who I wished that cheer had been for. Me.

I did my best to keep my focus on the game. To keep the iron wall strong. But after that point, it was like Karasuno was unstoppable! Either the point or the cheer one!

We didn't give up though. We made them work for every point they made. In the end, it wasn't enough. They won the first set 19-25. And powered through the second as well to finish 22-25. 0-2.

I couldn't bring myself to shake hands with Asahi after the game, but i did make sure to shake little number 10's hand.

I knew if we worked hard we could bring them down next time. We would go to nationals. Who knows! Maybe next time (y/n) would even cheer for us.  Or at least me.

Don't be selfish!

I saw (y/n) and Karasuno celebrating the win and turned to leave before my eyes started to water. I wouldn't cry over this loss. I refuse. I will become stronger. I will learn from this.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned, expecting to see one of my teammates. I didn't expect to see (y/n) with a slightly sad smile on her face.

"You were great out there. The Iron Wall of Date Tech truly is something else!"

"Thanks."

"We're gonna g-"

"Have fun. See ya."

I cut her off before she could finish. There was only a couple of ways she could finish that sentence and I'm pretty sure they would all be awkward. Or at least I would make them awkward. I'll just make it up to her at school.

"Let's go, (y/n)! Everyone's waiting!"

I didn't turn to see who had called for her. I'm pretty sure I could guess.

My heart sank a little further as I just kept walking the other way.