Winner [Haikyu!! x OC] (Completed)

Force

"Coach, why do you think we have such a hard time playing against Shiratorizawa?"

I'm seated on our bench before our practice set with our rival team starts. Six days of practice sets, and we've only won one against Shiratorizawa, though we've played through many grueling deuces.

The portion of the day when all the teams rotate to play practice sets against each other is my favorite for a few reasons. One, the Cougar Twins are stuck with their team, and I don't have to worry about them. Two, I get to see the boys and all the skills they've been practicing in action. And three, I learn a lot about our team while watching the matches.

"It's difficult to say," Coach Irihata answers me. "A lot of the struggle is mental. Shiratorizawa is an undeniable force."

Ushiwaka begins the serve with incredible power, demolishing our receive.

"Force..." I repeat. It definitely describes Shiratorizawa. There's a thought forming in the back of my brain, but it doesn't have enough substance to advance yet, so I just keep watching.

Coach Irihata calls a timeout at 6-10. He looks over all the players, one by one, then says, "Figure out your game plan." He returns to stand by Coach Mizoguchi and I.

"What do you think they're going to do?" I ask the coaches. "I feel like we keep trying the same things over and over and they're still not working. We need to switch it up. Majorly."

"Yes," Coach Irihata agrees. "But they have to break that cycle on their own."

"They're not on their own."

Coach Irihata raises his eyebrows at me.

Coach Mizoguchi leans in front of us. "Kara-kun, don't speak to your Coach that way!"

I fight not to roll my eyes. "I apologize, Coach Mizoguchi. I meant that they have both of you."

"Oh. Well, yes, that's true." Coach Mizoguchi sits back, pacified.

Coach Irihata watches me, waiting for what else I have to say.

"And they have me, too." I stand and join the team's circle before the coaches can say anything. I only catch the last few seconds of their talk before the timeout ends.

Iwaizumi is telling the team to chill out. They walk back on court and Iwa punches Mad Dog's shoulder. "Hit the ball as hard as you want."

"Yeah," Mad Dog agrees.

I make my way back to the bench. "Iwaizumi-san seems irritated," I note.

"I think he has come to the same conclusion we have," Coach Irihata states, not seeming worried in the slightest. "And so he has taken charge."

I grin with pride at the spiky-haired third-year. "That reliable little—"

"Kara-kun!" Coach Mizoguchi cuts me off before I say something endearingly foul.

"Hey, Mad Dog!" I run up to the second-year as soon as free practice starts. Usually this is when I need to be most on guard against the Cougar Twins, but I need to talk to Iwaizumi, so it's time for me to call in some backup.

We lost another set to Shiratorizawa, though we've won the majority of our sets against the college teams here. It should be encouraging, but everyone seems down. Everyone except Mad Dog, that is, who just doesn't seem to care.

"Mad Dog, can I ask you a favor?"

He just raises an eyebrow at me.

"I have to talk to Iwaizumi-senpai about something," I say, appealing to his respect for Iwa. "If the Cougar Twins over there," I point at Rina and Honoka who are standing on a different court, "come anywhere near our team captain, hit them with a volleyball." I press a volleyball into his hands. "As hard as you want."