Short Stuff [HAIKYUU: Tsukishima Kei x OC Fanfic] [Rewriting]

Chapter 21 - Everything Could Change

Jiro's POV
It was hard to follow whatever was happening at this point. Everyone watched in amazement as Akira dominated the match, getting faster and faster every time the shuttlecock goes to her side of the court.

"So this is how she really is, huh?" Tachi-san muttered as we watched the final moments of the match.

"Who would have thought she'd have that much skill and energy in her?" I asked in disbelief.

"I suppose I did," she answered. "It's funny, actually, when she first came to me. She looked like she had barely eaten in days but she had this sparkle in her eye as if she just found her purpose in life or something like that."

The score was 18 to 19 with Aki-chan in the lead.

"She said she wanted to get the badminton club back up and running and she begged me like her life depended on it. When I told her that the school was lacking in funds and couldn't support her request, she bowed down and said that she would raise the money herself."

Aki-chan smashed the ball right into the corner of the opposing side. The score was 18 to 20.

"I knew she was working a ton of jobs on the side to pay for her tuition and to support herself, but I couldn't say no to her offer. I would often see her walking down the hall with a look of despair and lack of inspiration. When she suddenly came up to me, wanting to start the club up again, I felt like I had a responsibility to help her find her light."

Aki got tricked with a fake short. The score was 19 to 20.

"She said that the outcome of this tournament would prove something," I told Tachi-san. "She said it would prove whether or not all the efforts she's made so far was worth it, that's why she wants to win so badly."

"Well, she doesn't need to win to find out," she replied with a smile.

Aki's opponent couldn't block her hit in time. The score was 19 to 21. She needed one more point to win the match. With one quick and powerful stroke, Aki smashed the shuttlecock straight through his racket, leaving a gaping hole right in the middle.

Tsukishima's POV

The stadium fell in silence as the shuttlecock fell to the ground. Everyone was staring at Akira in disbelief with our gazes going back and forth between her and the hole on her opponent's racket.

The referree's whistle blew.

"SHE WON!!" Hinata yelled and the rest of the team followed, along with Aki's new fans.

"Think a fight will break out?" Oikawa-san asked me. Aki was having a staredown with her opponent who was simply glaring at her in rage.

"I'll beat you next time!" he yelled loud enough for us to hear. "THIS IS BULLSHIT!"

The referree blew his whistle and the other team's coach pulled him out of the court in an attempt to calm him down. Aki simply walked back to her team and smiled widely.

"Your phone's ringing," Kageyama said.

It was Aki.

"I won!" she said as I picked up. She was looking up at the bleachers, waving at us.

"I knew you would," I answered. She stopped, looking shocked, then started laughing.

"Thanks for the confidence."

They had one more match ahead of them. The team's players greeted each other's coaches. The opposing team's coach and captain forced Aki's opponent to apologize, pushing him down to bow to her. He was persistent on blowing her off so the captain took him away.

"Looks like the coach took an interest in Aki," Hinata said as we watched Aki smile and bow at the opposing team's coach.

"Your girlfriend did good," Kuro-san said with a wide smile. "You better treat her to dinner for a job well done."

"She's not my girlfriend."

"But you like her."

"I didn't say that either."

"Well you're not denying it."

I kept quiet.

I didn't like her. I didn't like the short girl that was jumping up and dowm at the joy of victory. I didn't like the girl who I literally just met.

I didn't.

Did I?

"She sleeps at his house sometimes," Nishinoya said with a smile of mischief.

"Oho! How far have you two gone?" Kuro asked.

"Stop saying non-sense," I said letting out a sigh.

The next match would start after a five minute break. The teams headed for their assigned locker rooms while we waited on the bleachers, watching the other playing teams.

"Aki-chan!" Yachi yelled. I turned to see Aki running towards us. She was greeted with congratulations and high fives.

"Oi, say something to her," Daichi-san whispered to me. She stood in front of me with a wide smile. Everyone else was watching us intently.

"Well?" she asked.

I let out a sigh and stretched my arms out towards her. She smiled wider and jumped into my arms, wrapping hers around my neck.

"You were amazing out there," I whispered to her as we hugged.

"DON'T FORGET TO INVITE US TO YOUR WEDDING!" the seniors yelled while others began to take pictures. Aki began to pull away but I kept her in place.

"You can hug me later," she whispered. We finally pulled away and she went back to her team to gwt ready for her next match.

"You guys are perfect for each other," Hinata cheered. I kept quiet as we all went back to our seats.

"This would be their final match," Yachi said as the teams walked back onto the courts. "Whoever is the victor of this match claoms the cup for their team and wins the tournament."

"Isn't this a competition for Nationals or something?" Kageyama asked.

"Unfortunately no. A handful of teams are quite new so the council decided to hold two tournaments for badminton this year. They can battle for Nationals next year," she answered.

"If Aki wins this, she could get a million sponsors going after her," Ukai-san said. "Especially after she blew a hole through that boy's racket."

"Aki's life could turn around after this," Yachi said with a wide smile. "Everything could change!"