DISCE, OHSHC.

⁺ ♡ lost to a private daydream

Your impromptu spa session had left you feeling surprisingly refreshed. You went through your classes with more energy than you had in days, actually answering correctly when the teacher called on you in math and earning praise when you elaborated on an enzymatic structure during science. It was nice. You hadn't realized how much you missed participating in school. Being in your element.

You guessed that was how your life was split up now. Before Malta and After Malta.

As the last bell chimed, your feet surprised you by taking you to Music Room Three without prompting. You would never admit that you were looking forward to the Host Club, but it was a nice change of pace after spending so much time at home. As you paused by the water fountain to get a drink, a tumble of conversation made you look up.

"Lobelia has a crazy training schedule. They're an all-girls school but they practice like no one's business."

"That's why I've been telling you we need to stop wasting so much time going over tactics and work more on our physical skills. There's no point doing all of that if we can't serve."

"Shut up. You're the only one who can't serve."

The sound of your volleyball team laughing sent a crash of longing through you. Sure enough, a trio of them rounded the corner, gym bags slung over their shoulder and already passing a volleyball between them. Panic shot through you, and you tried to leave before one of them said,

"Hey, it's been a while, Cap! Missed you at practice lately!"

There was no anger in your teammate's voice. Only brotherly camaraderie.

"Yeah. How are you all doing?" you said, slipping your hands into your pockets and going for a nonchalant air.

"Pretty good. This one can't serve for anything but he's working on it, right?" Your libero punched your middle blocker's shoulder.

You smiled. Your middle blocker's terrible serves were an ongoing gag in the team, even though they had improved enough to be just as good as anyone else.

"Planning on coming back to practice this week?" your setter asked gently. Technically, they were also the team captain now after you'd retreated from playing. You had sorted it out between the team and your coach and everyone had agreed to it, but you still felt guilty when you saw them. Before, you had been one of the outside hitters, and even if you weren't the best, you had been named captain for your ability to negotiate with the referee about bad calls during games. The team had gotten more than a few points from your butting heads with the ref.

You shrugged. "Maybe. I'm, uh, still not feeling a hundred percent."

Your team exchanged a glance.

"Well, get better soon," your libero said. "The season is going to be starting up soon and we don't have time to waste. Not if we want to beat Lobelia."

"We never beat Lobelia," your middle blocker muttered darkly.

Everyone chuckled at this, and you waved goodbye, making half-hearted promises to show up for next week's practices.

You felt better, but you didn't feel that much better. Volleyball had been one of your main boasts when talking to Keiji, who couldn't get into sports for the life of him. It was strange, but you didn't feel worthy about going back to the team after puffing yourself up so much. You suddenly like you had ever been that good at it.

This was why you were going to the Host Club. They never failed to distract you when you started spiralling about Keiji.

You opened the doors to Music Room 3 and nearly got a boot in the face.