𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖

xii - seijoh's captain

"Takeda-sensei sang our praises," Daichi spoke as the team was heading for the van after having left the gym. "but honestly speaking, we still desperately lack something required to take Seijoh on and beat them with Oikawa playing the whole match."

"Now that's a captain for you," A voice chirped in. It was Oikawa, who was waiting for them at the gate. "He knows what he's talking about," The man smirked lazily.

"The great king showed up!" Hinata was back in his sem-martial art pose as Tanaka's face contorted along with Yamaguchi's, meanwhile Crow just yawned.

"Got a problem?" Tanaka sneered as he and Hinata prowled up to him.

"What do you want?" Hinata demanded.

"You wanna go?"

"You wanna go?"

"No need to be so hostile," Oikawa waved his hand as he stopped leaning against the gate. "You, the little one. That play you pulled off at the end with the block and the broad jump was incredible."

"Huh?" Hinata seemed surprised to be getting complimented, causing a bashful expression to make its way onto his face. "Oh, uh...hehe.."

"Next time," Oikawa's own expression morphed challengingly. "let's go all out right from the start. I didn't get to show you how I set, after all. Well, I'm sure Tobio-chan and Crow could tell you, but it's not the same, now is it?" He raised his hand in apology. "Sorry I didn't greet you earlier, Crow."

"It's fine," The person twisted his pinkie in his ear. "I don't require greetings, especially from people older than me."

"Right," He hummed. "If anything, you try to do things as informally as possible. It was a surprise seeing you libero, though," The setter cocked his head as his eyes gleamed. Crow's golden ones glinted as well. "You're a spiker; staying on the ground doesn't suit you."

"It was a necessary sacrifice," Crow shrugged. "Besides, we have enough attack power without me, don't you agree Oikawa?"

"Your offense certainly is great," He agreed. "but if you guys don't get better at receiving, you'll soon hit the glass ceiling," He paused so he could start walking towards them, his hands now in his pockets. "I'm not the only one who's got a powerful serve, you know. The interhigh prelims are coming up soon. Don't get knocked out," The setter stopped and raised his hand, pointing at Kageyama. "Because I want to take this oh-so-precious junior of mine on, setter on setter, in an official match and destroy him!"

"We'll train extra hard to receive!" Hinata promised as he held on Tsukishima's jacket.

"Hey, let me go."

"You don't get better at receiving overnight," Oikawa did not look impressed with the interruption, putting his hand back in his pocket as he began walking back to the gym. "Though I suppose your captain knows that already. You don't have much time left. I look forward to seeing what you come up with."

"D-don't let him get to you," Kageyama tried to placate his team, concern written all over his face. "He just likes to mess with people is all..."

"Sure," Daichi chuckled. "There's not much time left until the interhigh prelims, but he'll be back soon."

"When he comes back, what position am I gonna fill?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, Crow. Who knows, you might just stay as a middle."

"Fuck."

"Excuse me," Hinata piped up. "Who's coming back?"

"Ah," Daichi grinned deviously. "Karasuno's guardian angel!"

~*~

"Let's clean up the place a little, and that'll be that," Daichi announced. "Well done boys!"

"Thank you!" The team responded, being lined up in front of the faculty advisor and captain.

"Thank you for today, sensei," Daichi said to Takeda, who shook his head with a smile.

"Don't mention it. You all did great today," He returned the compliment. "I was amazed you actually went and beat the Aoba Johsai!"

"But we're not quite there yet," The captain looked down, furrowing his eyebrows when suddenly, a cough caught their attention.

"Um..." Crow looked antsy, causing the third years to share a knowing look.

"Here," Daichi handed him the key to the gym. "Take as much time as you need, Crow."

"Thanks," The ravenette gave him a nod and a quick smile before jogging to tell the people lowering the net to keep it up.

"Crow-san!" The person being called flinched, glancing back at the voice who had just called his name. "You want to spike, right?" Kageyama tilted his head, looking a bit shy and unsure, but at the same time, he was trying to be assertive.

"Yeah," Crow answered eventually. "Are you volunteering?"

"If you're okay with me, then I'd love to work with you," He nodded, and his enthusiasm had the ravenette smiling a bit again. Asahi also smiled at the sight, looks like Crow's making more friends than just us third years, and he's not even trying like he was with us...

"Sounds good," He agreed after taking a moment to regard the setter thoughtfully. Thus, the gym was soon deemed clean and everyone left for the night, other than the two staying behind for extra practice. Hinata would have joined, but after he was caught practically falling asleep while moping, the upperclassmen made him go home.

"Before we start, I have a question I'd like to ask you," Kageyama addressed as he stood in the setter's spot with a ball cart by his side.

"Figures," Crow didn't look surprised at all as he crossed his arms with a sigh. "What is it?"

"How do you and Oikawa-san know each other?" The setter questioned.

"Oh, I saved him from getting raped."

"...You what?" Kageyama's jaw dropped.

"Yeah, about a year and a half ago, some drunk girls tried taking advantage of him on my territory. I was patrolling that night after a quick game, so I happened across them and saved him. We met up a few times after that to play volleyball together, since I wasn't on a team as of yet and he wanted to repay me or whatever," Crow explained.

"Oh, I see..." It still seemed unbelivable to the setter, but at the same time, with all the attention Oikawa got from the opposite sex, it wasn't exactly a shot out of left field or anything. After taking a bit longer to process, they got started on hitting fours.

The more they practiced, the more Kageyama thanked any and all gods out there that he had chosen to attend Karasuno. Crow lived up to his name, soaring high above the net and slamming the ball wherever he chose. It was at the end of their little session that everything changed. "Hey," Crow lifted a finger as he wiped his sweat with his shirt. "Can we try something?"

"Sure, what did you have in mind?" Since he had been the one to suggest the freak quick, Kageyama was sure that whatever he was going to say would be within his abilities, or that they would at least be able to work and get it eventually. What he did ask, however, sort of left the setter stunned.

"I wanna try doing the freak quick."