I'm only a weakling | haikyuu

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆

Cause I really need somebody,

so tell me you're that somebody.

*

Luckily, your apartment wasn't too far from central Tokyo. Back then, I had to take taxis to get around, but now I can just jog to most places, you thought, figuring it also counted as a good workout.

After crossing the quiet road and leaving the crowded area behind, the fresh, cool air greeted you in the open field. The breeze gently blew the hair from your forehead, revealing a smooth, clear face. You absentmindedly gathered your hair back, unaware that your looks could easily make anyone fall for you. All you noticed was how refreshing and pleasant the air felt.

Standing on the uneven, lush green lawn, you were still in your usual casual outfit. The print on your white T-shirt was different from yesterday's, though—today, it read "Emperor" in bold black letters, with the Japanese translation printed below. You hadn't really paid much attention to the design, but it caught Kageyama's eye as he came into view, racing against Hinata.

Suddenly, Kageyama stopped dead in his tracks, completely thrown off. He wasn't even focused on Hinata, who was still behind him.

'Emperor? Isn't that like... king?!' Kageyama thought, freezing as he recognized the Japanese characters. He didn't know much English, but the meaning wasn't lost on him.

Meanwhile, you and Hinata were already greeting each other when you both realized Kageyama had stopped. Confused, you turned to look for him and saw him standing awkwardly, head down, trying not to make eye contact.

"Eh? Kageyama, what's up with you?" Hinata's voice rang out, loud and shrill as usual. At the sound of it, Kageyama flinched, his whole body tensing up. He quickly shot his head up and yelled, "Boke Hinata! I—I'm fine!"

Startled by Kageyama's sudden outburst, Hinata froze in place. Without giving him a chance to respond, Kageyama walked over to the two of you, looking stiff and unnatural. He was trying hard to act normal—if you ignored the slight redness on his nose, that is.

You exchanged a glance with Hinata, both of you equally puzzled by Kageyama's strange reaction. Despite the awkward moment, the three of you continued walking toward the training site together.

Meanwhile, Karasuno's practice match was in full swing. Bokuto and Akaashi sat together during a break, Bokuto's wide eyes constantly darting around, never staying still for long.

At first, Bokuto kept glancing at the gate with excitement, hoping to spot someone arriving. But after being scolded by his teammates for losing focus and missing a bunch of balls during practice, he only looked toward the gate during breaks.

"Ahh... why isn't he here yet?" Bokuto muttered, his frustration clear. He was slightly hunched over, looking like a dejected owl who had given up. He almost looked ready to squat down and hug his knees in disappointment.

Akaashi, sitting beside him, sighed helplessly, while Konoha, walking past, glanced at Bokuto with an expression of mild disgust.

But, as always, Akaashi's voice remained calm and steady, his expression unchanged. "Don't worry, Bokuto-senpai. Maybe he'll show up for the next game." He paused and added, "So, you have to stay in top form. When he walks in, the first thing he should see is you scoring a point."

Other players passing by couldn't help but look at Akaashi in disbelief. 'What kind of talk is that? Is he really just trying to cheer up a kid?'

'Who would actually take those words seriously...' But as they watched Bokuto immediately straighten up, full of energy again, they were stunned. It wasn't just that Akaashi's words worked—it was that they worked so well.