We Only Had Volleyball?

Chapter 17

Slowly the settled back into a happy routine, split between classes, practices and games. The awkwardness that had once filled their room was gone, the only patch of coldness that remained, was the empty bed of Hinata's, preferring to keep each other close and would snuggle up together in Kageyama's bed each night. Their relationship still wasn't free of the odd argument, but each time they would sort it out quickly, overcoming their stubbornness to speak about whatever was troubling them, neither of them wanted to return to the frosty anguish they had suffered in the past. A cloud of doubt still lingered in the back of their minds, as they clung to each other, afraid that the other might still yet disappear.

Kageyama was still yet to play a game with Hinata, but he was working hard to compete with Oikawa for the position of setter, before earning himself the chance three months after they had gotten back together. Halfway through the second set, of a hard fought game, Oikawa made the switch with Kageyama, putting him onto the court with an ecstatic Hinata. It was his first game since he had been injured, and the look on Oikawa's face showed that they were expecting something big from him...from him and Hinata, only adding to the nervousness he was feeling about being back on court.

The relationship was stronger than ever, but this was their first opportunity to play together and doubts began to niggle at his confidence. 'Would they still be able to do it? Does he still trust my toss?' rushed through his mind. He didn't have time to rationalise his thoughts as the ball came his way. As he tried to figure out which of the spikers to set it up for, a familiar voice rang across the court, digging Kageyama out of the black hole he had been sliding into. Just two words that helped him decide instantly.

"Bring it"

Without thinking, moving on instinct alone, he sent the ball flying towards the voice, propelled by the tips of his fingers. He didn't look to see where the ball went, just praying that the sound of the ball as it hit the ground, was occurring on the correct side of the net, afraid that his toss had not connected with the spiker. Teammates surrounded, patting him on the back shouting Welcome Back, assuring him that it had gone where it should of, that everything was just fine. Niggling doubts still continued to linger in the back of his mind, doubts that his teammates alone could not rid from his head. Doubts that lurked about, until the words he overheard from the oppositions mouths, blew them away, and almost had him on his knees crying,

"Did you see that?"

"Yeah it was a freaky quick attack..."

"Nah...not just that. Did you see that spikers face when he hit it?"

"No....Why?"

"H-h-he had his...eyes...closed! Who does that? Who spikes the ball with their eyes closed..."