Me Or Volleyball

Chapter 14- Rising Tides

The week leading up to the practice match with Nekoma flew by in a whirlwind of intense training and stolen moments with Hinata. As we stepped onto the bus that would take us to Tokyo, I could feel the excited energy radiating from every member of the team.

Hinata bounced into the seat next to me, his eyes shining with anticipation. "I can't wait to show Kenma how much I've improved!" he exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement.

I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "I'm sure he'll be impressed. Just try not to get motion sick this time, okay?"

Hinata's face fell slightly at the reminder of his usual travel woes. "Don't worry, I came prepared!" He proudly held up a bag filled with anti-nausea medication and ginger candies.

As the bus pulled away from Karasuno, I noticed Tsukishima and Yamaguchi giving us curious glances from a few rows back. Despite the team's overall acceptance of our relationship, I still felt a bit self-conscious under their scrutiny.

Kageyama, sitting across the aisle, seemed to notice my discomfort. In a rare display of perceptiveness, he loudly asked Hinata about a new quick attack they'd been practicing, effectively drawing attention away from us.

The journey passed quickly, filled with the usual mix of chatter, strategy discussions, and Hinata's occasional groans as he fought off his motion sickness. Before I knew it, we were pulling up to the gym where Nekoma was waiting for us.

As we filed off the bus, I caught sight of Kenma, his two-toned hair unmistakable even from a distance. His eyes widened slightly as he saw Hinata and me holding hands, but he quickly schooled his expression back to its usual calm demeanor.

"Kenma!" Hinata called out, waving enthusiastically. "Did you get the new game I told you about?"

I gave Hinata's hand a squeeze before releasing it, silently encouraging him to go catch up with his friend. As he bounded over to Kenma, I felt a presence beside me.

"So, you and chibi-chan, huh?" Kuroo's drawling voice made me jump. The Nekoma captain was looking at me with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "That's an interesting development."

I felt my cheeks heat up but met his gaze steadily. "It is," I agreed, not sure what else to say.

Kuroo's trademark smirk softened into something more genuine. "Well, if he makes you happy and it doesn't mess with his game, then more power to you."

Before I could respond, Coach Ukai called us all together to start warm-ups. As I jogged over to join my team, I caught Hinata's eye. He flashed me a bright smile that made my heart skip a beat, before turning his attention back to Kenma.

The practice match was intense from the very first serve. Nekoma's defense was as solid as ever, but Karasuno had a few new tricks up our sleeves. Hinata and Kageyama's quick attacks were sharper than ever, and even Tsukishima seemed more fired up than usual.

During a particularly long rally, I found myself positioned perfectly for a spike. Time seemed to slow down as I saw the ball coming towards me, set beautifully by Kageyama. I jumped, feeling as though I could touch the sky, and slammed the ball down with all my might. It rocketed past Nekoma's blockers and hit the court with a satisfying smack.

The gym erupted in cheers from my teammates. As I landed, I was immediately engulfed in a hug by an ecstatic Hinata.

"That was amazing, Y/N!" he shouted, lifting me off my feet in his excitement.

For a moment, I forgot where we were, laughing and hugging him back. Then I became aware of the sudden hush that had fallen over the gym. Setting me down, Hinata seemed to realize it too, his face flushing red.

"Sorry," he mumbled, taking a step back. "I got carried away."

I could feel everyone's eyes on us, a mix of emotions playing across their faces. Embarrassment flooded through me, and I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

To my surprise, it was Kenma who broke the tension. "Nice spike," he said quietly, his golden eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before he turned back to his position.

The game resumed, but something had shifted. There was a new undercurrent of tension, not just between Karasuno and Nekoma, but within our own team. I could see Daichi and Suga exchanging concerned glances, while Tanaka and Nishinoya seemed unsure whether to congratulate us or pretend nothing had happened.

As the match progressed, I noticed Hinata's plays becoming more erratic. He was jumping higher, moving faster, but his timing was off. It was as if he was trying too hard to prove something.

During a time-out, I overheard Kageyama hissing at him, "Oi, dumbass! Stop showing off and focus on the game!"

Hinata's face fell, a mix of frustration and determination in his eyes. "I'm not showing off! I'm just playing my best!"

I wanted to go to him, to offer some words of comfort or encouragement, but Coach Ukai was already calling us back to the court. As we took our positions, I caught Kenma studying us with his usual analytical gaze, and I wondered what conclusions he was drawing.

The match ended with a narrow victory for Nekoma, but it felt hollow somehow. As we lined up to thank them for the game, I could feel the weight of unspoken words and confused emotions hanging over our team.

On the bus ride home, Hinata was uncharacteristically quiet, staring out the window with a pensive expression. I reached out to take his hand, and he intertwined our fingers, but his mind seemed far away.

As the lights of Tokyo faded behind us, I couldn't shake the feeling that we had crossed some invisible line today. Our relationship was no longer just ours; it had become a factor in the team's dynamics, for better or worse.

The excitement of new love was now tinged with the complexity of balancing our personal happiness with our responsibilities to the team. As I watched the darkening landscape rush by, I wondered what challenges tomorrow would bring, and whether Hinata and I would be strong enough to face them together.