Kageyama tightens his fingers around the handle of his stick, trying to drown out the incessant chirping in front of him.
"Aw, come on, Kageyama-kun. Don't look at me like that. You know it's so much sweeter when you lose," Hinata says, smile curling into something wicked. The words float like smoke through the chilled air, filling Kageyama's lungs and igniting a fire in his veins.
"Ugh, get a fuckin' room, Shouyou-kun." Atsumu says, spitting onto the ice, red from the busted lip Kageyama had given him during a brutal board check. The fact that moments before he had playfully swatted Hinata's ass had nothing to do with it. All is fair in hockey and war.
"I have one. Too bad it's right next to yours. You know, Coach is going to catch onto why you keep offering to room with Omi-san one of these days. Then the only reason your ass'll be sore is 'cause he's making you skate extra laps." Atsumu's face pales and Sakusa can't keep the smug smirk off his own.
"He can't ever shut his mouth in public. You think he's any quieter in private?"
"Gentlemen." The ref gives them all a reproachful look. They settle down and focus their attention back on the task at hand. Winning the game.
The puck falls from the ref's hand and drops rapidly towards the ice. Kageyama feels his arms moving on instinct, years of training and dedication worked into every muscle—every fiber—of his being. A slight tremor runs through the stick as it connects with the puck, sending it sailing to Hoshiumi on the left.
This is the first game of the playoffs. The air reeks of sweat and desperation. The tension swells at each slam of rubber hitting wood, each spray of ice underneath skates, each clink of the puck against the metal goal post.. The stadium is almost dead silent as their fans choke on the suspense.
Kageyama's lungs heave as he forces his leaden limbs to push forward faster, reach out longer, and send the puck harder. He risks the briefest glance at the clock, watches as the last minute slips into seconds. They're tied 2-2 and the idea of going into overtime makes Kageyama want to vomit straight onto the ice, but there's still time. The game isn't over yet.
Ushijima runs the puck up the left side, looking for Romero on his right. Atsumu is on his heels, but Ushijima fakes him out by coming to an abrupt halt and shooting the puck across the ice.
The next steps play out in Kageyama's head: Romero will get the puck, shoulder past Bokuto, and then send it in just above Inunaki's right glove—a weak spot for the goalie. It's perfect. Kageyama can already hear the sweet sound of the buzzer in his ears.
Then a flash of orange zips by his left side, and Hinata intercepts the puck in the middle of the rink, forcing himself across the ice with all the grace and intensity of a raging bull.
It all happens so fast, no one has any time to react.
"Shouyou-kun!" Atsumu has already turned around and is racing head first towards the other end of the rink. Kageyama tries to intercept, but the puck sails past him. Hirugami and Hoshiumi rush to get into position, but Atsumu doesn't even bother getting farther than the center line. He smashes his stick against the puck, giving it enough lift to sail through the air.
The siren signaling the end of the game erupts through the stadium speakers as the puck floats over Heiwajima's shoulder and sinks into the net.
The Adlers freeze on the ice, stunned silent. Kageyama feels the adrenaline leach from his body with each turn of the yellow siren above the goal. Distantly, he registers all of MSBY dogpiling Atsumu to the ground, but it's a far away thing as he registers the fallen faces of the crowd.
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Haikyuu Oneshots
FanfictionI ended up becoming obsessed with Haikyuu!! recently and I just have so many stories I've been banging out, So hey! Enjoy!!!