𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖

lxxiv - extra practice

The next day, after doing their last penalty sprint up the punishment hill, Karasuno came back to the gym sweating, panting and tired. Well, most of them. "Time for personal practice!" Hinata sang as he hopped into the gym.

"Something feels off about Tsukishima," Asahi muttered as he watched said person trade his outdoor shoes for his volleyball ones. Tanaka came to stand next to the ace, his eyebrows raised. "He's as standoffish as usual, but.."

"I dunno what you're talking about," The cueball shrugged. "But I feel like he could, ya know, do all sorts of things if he actually tried!"

"All sorts of things?" Asahi repeated in confusion.

"You know.." Tanaka held up a finger as he tried to sound wise, but his brain wasn't in the wise department at the moment. "All sorts.. He's not living up to his 188cm potential!"

"I agree," Crow concurred, causing the two wing spikers to flinch, not having felt him approach. Then they all witnessed as Bokuto jogged over to the person they were speaking of.

"Hey Specky~" The owl came up next to him with his hands on his hips. "Wanna come help us with spike practice again?" He asked, his face holding an expectant smile. Right as Tsukishima was going to open his mouth, he caught sight of Crow. Their eyes locked for a moment, and the ravenette mouthed something.

Play.

"...I guess I could," He eventually agreed, pushing down the thoughts from looking solely at Crow's lips.

"Aaaawesome!" Bokuto grinned, patting him on the shoulder before also catching a glimpse of the ravenette as he made his way into the gym. "Oh, hey Crow! You should join us too!"

"Sure," He shrugged as Hinata chased after the tall blonde.

"You know Fukurodani's ace?!" The ginger demanded as he caught up with him, drawing an annoyed look on Tsukishima's face.

"I don't," He answered bluntly.

"But you got an invitation to practice with him and Crow-san! That's so cool!"

"Not really," He sighed. "Unlike you, I don't have endless stamina."

"Wha--where'd that come from?!" Hinata gaped at him as he continued to where his stuff was.

"Heyo Specks! We're going to the third gym again!" Bokuto yelled from across the gym, causing Crow to smack him. "OW! Hey what the hell was that for?!"

"Yelling right next to me, I'm gonna go deaf at some point and it's gonna be because of you, dummy."

"You don't know that! Anyway come on, let's go already! Akaashi, you coming?" He called back to the Fukurodani setter, who nodded.

"Yeah," He confirmed, walking towards them so they could all go together.

"Oi Kuroo! You coming too?!" Bokuto waved at the Nekoma captain, who shrugged.

"Gotta train Lev!"

"Come anyway! We got room!"

"Cool!"

"One more yell out of you, Kotaro," Crow smiled threateningly with the veins in his fists pulsing angrily. The sight made the Fukurodani ace go white as a ghost.

"...i'm sorry," He whispered, scared for his life.

"What am I going to do with you," Crow rolled his eyes, walking out of the first gym with Akaashi in toe as Bokuto sulked slowly behind them. Tsukishima soon followed along with Kuroo and Lev. Arriving at the gym, everything was already set up and ready to go, so Crow went about counting their balls to make sure he knew how many they had.

As he finished his task, Bokuto suddenly started laughing, causing the ravenette to catch the tail end of the conversation he, Tsukishima, Kuroo and Akaashi were having. "It's all about whether or not you have a moment like that. What happens in the future, if you can win the next match, none of that matters," The owl looked serious for once as his arms crossed, his full attention on the tall blonde. "Crushing the guy in front of you and the exhilaration of giving 120% are everything. Well," He digressed. "That's what it's like for me, it might not fit for anyone and everyone. I don't really understand why you say it's merely a club, but I don't think you're wrong. But," Bokuto smirked, moving his hands to his hips. "If you ever experience that moment.." He pointed at Tsukishima. "That's when you'll be hooked on volleyball!"

"Pointing is rude, Bokuto," Crow pointed out as he wandered over to them, causing the owl to flinch and lower his hand.

"Oops, guess you're right," He chuckled sheepishly. "But Crow why aren't you calling me Kotaro?? It sounds so distant when you call me my last name!!" He complained, so the ravenette cast a look towards him.

"I only call you Kotaro when you're in trouble, be grateful I'm not."

"Maaaan! Why can't you just do full name bombs when I'm in trouble instead huh?!" Bokuto tried to negotiate, but Crow wasn't having it. Tsukishima watched the interaction, still stunned by what the ace had told him. Then, he licked his lips and exhaled through his nose.

"Alright, let's get started," Crow said after thwoping the ace on the head, meaning he was sulking again. Thus, the extra spiking and blocking practice began, this time with Crow and Tsukishima blocking the owl together as Kuroo worked Lev to the bone.

During one of the water breaks, Kuroo decided to give Tsukishima some advice. "Focus your strength in your fingertips so that they won't be blown away by the ball," He said as he held his hands out in a blocking position, his fingers flexed out. "And put your hands in front of you, not over your head. In front," Then, he was suddenly pointing at Bokuto. "After that, make this annoying owl shut up!" He commanded.

"JUST YOU TRY!" Bokuto stuck his tongue out and made a face at the cat, who growled back at him. "Akaashi, let's keep going! I wanna hit more!"

"Coming Bokuto-san," The setter called, exchanging a look with Crow as the two made their way back onto the court to continue the little practice session.