🔹🏐The Courts Calling🏐🔹- A Haikyuu Fanfiction

Training Camp (Part 4)- Game Skills

On my order, the team begins the rest of our before-game warm ups, which starts with full out running from one side of the court to another, then a set of lunges followed by a series of pushups and sit-ups to make sure all our our muscles were in tact. After that was a much harder exercise, where you had to pass the ball over the net, then duck under to receive it again. Most would fail on the first try, but considering that this was our normal routine, everybody was almost in sync.

After all the complicated stuff was out of the way, we were allowed to practice regular serving over the net with Nekoma on the other side. Most girls on our team knew how to jump serve, but for this time though, everybody took my advice and just warmed up with overhand, me included.

I watch as Miyu throws a toss over her head, then winds back to serve. It makes it all the way to the net, but then gets caught at the very top and rolls back down to the floor on our side. "Awwww!" She exhales in frustration. "Why does that happen every time?"

While Miyu has an impressive amount of skill inside that small body of hers, she still has a difficult time reining in her emotions. "You're tossing it to high again." I point out, grabbing another ball from my feet and handing it to her. "It's just your excitement. Take a deep breath and try to redirect your enthusiasm to when you actually hit the ball."

Her head tilted in confusion, so I just retract and shuffle my feet into position. "Just watch what I do."

She remained on the sidelines as I take a few steps back, giving the ball a quick twirl between my fingers. After a few seconds, I toss the ball up into the air, make a running leap, and soar upwards, my hand fitting perfectly over the object's surface in a strong hit. It makes it over the net and smacks down just between the front and back lines, which was where I always tried to aim. The middle of the court was almost always a team's weak spot, where every position met in blind confusion.

When I look back, Miyu was giving me a hyper applause, while Ren just stared with jeering annoyance from the other side of the Pup. "I thought you said to hold back?" She teased, picking up another ball at her feet.

My head rotates around to throw a gloating gaze at the wing spiker. "I was."

After her loud snort, I turn back to my young audience and reach up to ruffle the blonde hair atop her head. "You'll get there soon, Pup. Just keep working at it and you'll have the other court speechless in no time."

Miyu gives an excited squeal before reaching down for a ball and already winding back for another try. "Thank you, Alpha-senpai!"

The warm up lasts for another few minutes before the whistle blows and we were forced to line up for the team greeting. Over and over, I reminded myself of what we were suppose to do, but every part of me wanted to just forget about the rules and play the game in a natural way. For now, we would see how the game plays out, and how much reign Jiro will give us before he starts cracking down like a drill sergeant.

When both teams had bowed to each other, the captains were brought forward for the coin toss. After calling tails, the side I always choose, it turns out to be heads, which means Nekoma would get first serve. As usual, Kuroo extends his hand for the regular team player shake. With one last competitive glare at each other... and a sneaky wink from that sly feline, we part ways to take our positions on the court.

When I got to my area, which was position three, or on the front left, I give some last words of excitement in hopes of getting them hyped up even more than they already were. "Alright, Timber Wolves! Let me hear those howls!"

After that came the clear, distinctive howling of our school, followed by many confused, yet still awed, stares from the other team. We took our symbol seriously, only because it was everything we strived to become. A pack. Not even Jiro's disapproving stare could stop us.