Love Me Harder // MatsuHana.

three

The next morning arrived in much the same way as the last-bright and clear, with the warmth of the sun hinting at the approaching summer. Hanamaki found himself once again on the path to school, earbuds in, head nodding lightly to the music as he replayed moments from yesterday's practice in his mind. The drills, the laughter, the unspoken determination that filled the gym-it all made him feel like they were on the edge of something great.

Before long, he felt a familiar tap on his shoulder. This time, he didn't flinch.

"Getting used to me, huh?" Matsukawa smirked, walking alongside him.

"Like I'd ever let you scare me twice," Hanamaki shot back, pulling out one earbud as they fell into step together.

"Good. Would've had to step up my game." Matsukawa's grin widened as they continued toward the school gates, the usual lightheartedness between them setting the tone for the day.

They spent the walk talking about the most random topics-everything from Hanamaki's latest Netflix binge to Matsukawa's half-baked plan to convince Iwaizumi and Oikawa to confess to each other before graduation. By the time they reached the entrance, both of them were stifling laughter over Matsukawa's latest scheme.

"You seriously think that's gonna work?" Hanamaki asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Hey, they're already halfway there," Matsukawa replied, holding the door open as they stepped inside. "Just need a little nudge."

Hanamaki chuckled but didn't argue. Matsukawa wasn't wrong, after all. The tension between Oikawa and Iwaizumi had been there for as long as he could remember, and watching them dance around it was like some kind of long-running soap opera. But that was how things were in their group-nothing was ever straightforward, and that was part of the fun.

The school day passed much like the last, but today, Hanamaki found himself more distracted. Maybe it was the weight of the tournament pressing down on him, or maybe it was the fleeting thought of graduation, but he couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping away faster than he wanted. Matsukawa, who sat a row behind him, would occasionally flick a paper ball at him to break his focus, causing Hanamaki to shoot a glare over his shoulder, but it never lasted. The distraction was welcome.

By the time practice rolled around in the afternoon, Hanamaki was more than ready to hit the court. As soon as he stepped into the gym, the familiar scent of sweat and the echo of volleyballs hitting the floor brought him back to the present. Iwaizumi and Oikawa were already arguing over strategy by the time the team had gathered, and Hanamaki smirked as he glanced at Matsukawa, who only raised an eyebrow knowingly.

"Guess the plan's already in motion," Matsukawa muttered, eyeing the bickering duo.

"Just wait for it. One of them's gonna snap," Hanamaki said with a grin.

Practice was intense that day, even more than usual. With the tournament drawing closer, the pressure was mounting, and everyone could feel it. Oikawa was relentless, pushing the team to be sharper, faster, better. Iwaizumi backed him up with his usual no-nonsense approach, shouting instructions and correcting mistakes with the precision of someone who took the game seriously.

Hanamaki was in the zone, his serves hitting their mark and his receives solid. Matsukawa, true to form, was a wall at the net, blocking with ease and throwing in the occasional witty remark that kept the mood from getting too tense. They worked together seamlessly, years of practice molding them into a formidable pair on the court.

During one of the breaks, Matsukawa sidled up to Hanamaki, who was leaning against the wall, catching his breath.

"Think we'll survive this tournament without killing each other?" Matsukawa asked, nodding toward Oikawa and Iwaizumi, who were in the middle of yet another heated exchange.

Hanamaki smirked, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Maybe. But if anyone's gonna kill anyone, my money's on Iwaizumi snapping first."

Matsukawa laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, probably."

After another grueling set of drills and practice matches, the team finally wrapped up for the day. Everyone was exhausted, but the fire in their eyes was unmistakable. They were ready for this-ready to take on whatever the tournament threw at them.

As they gathered their things and headed out of the gym, Oikawa called out after them, his usual grin plastered on his face despite the exhaustion in his eyes.

"Don't forget, we've got early practice tomorrow. No excuses, Matsun, Makki!"

"Yeah, yeah, Captain," Matsukawa replied with a wave, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

The two of them walked out of the school building together, the cool evening air hitting their faces as they stepped outside. The sky was painted with streaks of orange and pink, the sun beginning its descent toward the horizon. It was the kind of evening that felt peaceful, even after such an intense practice.

"You think we'll make it to nationals?" Hanamaki asked after a moment, his voice quieter than usual.

Matsukawa didn't respond immediately, instead taking a deep breath and looking out at the sky. "I think we've got a shot," he finally said. "We've got the talent. We've got the drive. And we've got the team. That's all we need, right?"

Hanamaki nodded, feeling the same determination that had been building all day. "Yeah. I guess you're right."

They walked in silence for a while, the camaraderie between them comfortable and unspoken. Hanamaki knew that no matter what happened-whether they made it to nationals or not, whether they won or lost-this was something he'd remember for the rest of his life. The team, the friendship, the moments of laughter and struggle-it was all part of something bigger than volleyball.

And as the school year crept toward its inevitable end, Hanamaki realized that it wasn't just about winning anymore. It was about holding onto the memories they were making, the bonds they had forged, and the way they had grown together as teammates and friends.

"Whatever happens," Matsukawa said suddenly, breaking the silence, "we'll make this last year count."

Hanamaki smiled, a sense of peace settling over him. "Yeah, we will."

With that, they continued their walk, the sun slowly setting behind them, and the weight of the future-both exciting and uncertain-looming ahead. But for now, they had each other, and that was more than enough.