ㄒ乇卂匚卄 爪乇 - 𝕄𝕚𝕪𝕒 𝔸.

¹² іm 𝖿ᥙᥴkᥱძ

(I am switching back to Y/N's POV again)

If I am being honest the game on Monday gave me the confidence I desperately needed. Coach said she was content with my performance and Atsumu told me he was proud of me. To be fair when it came to the hug I acted out my instincts because I was simply so overwhelmed but I am glad he returned the gesture. None of my teammates saw this for some reason. I was quite surprised to hear that they didn't know the boys came to watch us. They must have been too focused on the game.

Mika and I chatted about it all the time during the breaks. Rintarou and Osamu butted in on our conversations from time to time. We were all excited about the preliminaries as both teams would be participating. I had a really good feeling after the match.

That feeling followed me around everywhere all week long. Sadly, also during practice. My newly found confidence was not the best training partner. It made me act pretentious. The arrogance let me make a handful mistakes that were incredibly unnecessary. Coach, of course, was furious. „Y/N, what's with your performance?! Concentrate!" I was getting more nervous with the second. Why was nothing working? None of my serves went over the net. My sets were horrible. There was only one and a half weeks left until the preliminaries. Why? I was more frustrated with the second. „Argh fuck." „Y/N, stop swearing!" „NO!" I smashed another ball right into the net. „FUCK!" „This is bullshit." „Y/N, come here for a second." Coach called for me. Oh shit. Haaaa, I hate it. „Y/N, sit down for a bit. Calm down and try again in 10 minutes." Huh? She wasn't screaming. That was something... I followed her orders and sat down for a bit.

I wasn't so sure about my plans with Atsumu later anymore. Normally, I would be looking forward to it, begging for training to be over just so I could work on my float serves. But today? Today was absolutely crappy. I hated it and I wanted to leave as soon as I possibly could. To be honest I was considering sending him a message saying I'm quitting Volleyball. That's how frustrated I was. Why was nothing going the way it should? What was the problem? Thankfully, today was Friday meaning I wouldn't have to deal with this shit for two days straight after this. Argh. What. The. Actual. Fuck. What was wrong with me today? It was even worse than the days before!

After the ten minutes were up I tried engaging in the game they were playing. My sets were better but literally every single serve went into the net. I was so freaking pissed.

„Y/N, is Atsumu coming after training? He didn't watch ours today." Mika asked me. „He didn't text me that he isn't coming, so I don't know." I shrugged.

My phone was constantly in my hand. I was looking at it hoping for a message from Atsumu stating he couldn't do it today. My mood was down the drain ever since the start of training.

The others left already. Mika said her goodbyes with the words: „Don't overwork yourself. Just stop if it doesn't work."

I started cleaning the part of the gym I knew we wouldn't use as I waited for Atsumu. He unusually late which didn't play into my current mood very well.

„Hey Y/N! Sorry, I'm late. My coach held a meeting about the preliminaries next week. How are you holding up?" Atsumu interrupted my perfect misery. That's how you could describe my state. „Bad? Horrible? Miserably?" „You sound frustrated." „Likely. It was horrendous today." „Why? Did you hurt yourself?" „My pride. I hurt my pride." He looked at me confused. „What do you mean?" „I didn't get a single serve over the net. All of those 40 serves straight up into the net. My sets were horrible as well. Not a single one went were it was supposed to. And even if it did, rotation creeped its way in there." I sighed. „You know everybody has bad days." „Ive never had such a terrible day. It's even worse than before you started helping me." Atsumu thought for a second and then said: „I have an idea." „I'm scared." „How about you do something other than setting and just serving today?" „What do you mean?" „How about I set to you?" „HUH?" „Some variety wont hurt you." I just nodded.

He started explaining how he wanted to go about it. It was simple really. We would try different timings and I quote „He would set the ball perfectly into my hands" since he is „the best setter" and people who can't play even though he sets them are „losers". To be honest that did sound a bit arrogant but somehow also a little cute since he had such trust in his abilities.

He would stay true to his words. His sets were absolutely flawless and easy to hit. I could spike first tempo even though I haven't done that in a really long time.

In all honesty, he was amazing when it came to motivating me.

„That was a great hit. Try again but line this time." We repeated the same thing a few times. This training was so much more fun. He didn't pressure me into anything. You could notice his qualities as a setter. And it was true.
He was Japan's best youngster setter after all.

His sets made me feel like I was an exceptional player. An emerging star player even. My confidence was slowly coming back. Bit for bit.

„I swear to god how hard did you work to set like this????" I was completely baffled. „Quite hard?" „It's so amazing. I mean they make me feel like I have improved in the matter of seconds." „That's what a setter is supposed to do, don't you think?" I nodded thoughtful. „To answer you question: Yes, you will be able to do that as well." I winced. Was he reading my mind?? He chuckled. „You're exceptionally easy to read." „That seems insulting." „It's not a bad thing. On court maybe but not outside of volleyball." „If you say so." I smiled sweetly.

After cleaning we left the gym and I locked the doors.
„Today was fun. Thank you." „No problem. It's not very amusing seeing you all frustrated and depressed." „You think so?" He nodded. „Well then it MUST be true." I snickered.

„Goodbye it is then?" He was zoning out a bit. I waved a hand in front of his face. „Atsumu? Hello??" „Huh? Oh sorry. I was thinking about something." „Ive noticed." „What did ya say?" „Goodbye it is then." „Ah yeah. One thing, I think the plans for the preliminaries come out on Monday. What do you think, should we have a look at them during the break? Analyzing and looking at a few plays of our opponents." „Second one?" „Sure, I'm coming to your class if that's okay." „Yeah, sure." „Okay, great then. See you on Monday." He gave me a quick hug and left to catch his bus.
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Wtf since when was he so affectionate. My shoulders and back still felt warm from when he touched me seconds ago.

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